Tag Archives: Below Deck Sailing Yacht

May 15, 2023 – Michael Makes Peace With Sonny, More Adventure Than Intended On Deck, Craig Brings the Drama, Ryan’s Reunion & American

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Dex tells Josslyn that he has to say goodbye. He’s so sorry. She asks why he sounds like he’s leaving, and he says, because he is.

Sasha walks into the Home & Heart studio, and flashes back to when she was there last time. She introduces herself to a PA, who says her name is Julie, but they met last time. Sasha apologizes, but Julie says, there was a lot going on. Sasha says, that’s one way of putting it, and Julie asks how she’s doing. Sasha says she’s doing okay, and Julie welcomes he back, handing her a production schedule. Sasha asks if it’s cool if she goes on set to check everything, but Haven aka Morgan Fairchild tells her, no, it’s not cool. If Sasha thinks she’s going to work with someone as unstable as she is, she really is crazy.

Scotty asks N’neka for another martini, and Gladys comes to the bar. N’neka asks if she’d like another round, and Gladys says she’s done with seltzer. Scotch, straight up. She had to stay sharp up until now, for all the good it did her. Scotty looks the other way, and Gladys says, rude, when Cody comes out. He tells Gladys, that was an epic crash and burn, and she says, go away. He says, she’s in for a lot of cash. What’s the game plan? Does she have another garage she’s going to secretly sell? Gladys says, he cheated, but he says he didn’t even need to cheat. She’s a lousy poker player whose luck ran out a long time ago.

Anna arrives home, and hears something, so she draws her gun.

Sonny asks if something happened with Willow, but Michael says, she’s hanging in there; handling the chemo as well as can be expected. Sonny says, that’s good, and asks what brings him by. Michael says he needs things to change before it’s too late.

Anna scans the living room, when Valentin comes out of the kitchen. He says, don’t shoot, and she asks, why? He’s an intruder. He says, one that cooks, and kisses her.

Nina sees Drew at the hospital, and says she’s glad she ran into him. He rescued Aunt Liesl, and because of that, Willow now has a fighting chance. She’s really grateful. She thanks him, and he says she’s welcome. He’s really glad this is happening for Willow. All that’s left to do now is pray. She says she’s on it. Is everything okay, or… He says, since the SEC dragged him out of here? and she says, yeah, that.

Gladys thanks N’neka for the drink, when Mac and Felicia walk in. Felicia wonders if they should say hello, but he says he’d better not. Ever since he arrested Cody at the Nurses Ball, things have been tense between them.

Gladys excuses herself and Cody goes over to Scotty, who tells Cody to keep his grubby, sticky fingers off his wallet. Cody says he did not steal that damn bracelet; he was set up. Scotty says, by who? (It’s whom, Scotty) and Cody says, if Scotty agrees to represent him, he’ll tell Scotty. Scotty turns back to his martini.

Felicia and Mac sit at a table, and Felicia says she’s worried about Maxie. She sounded just awful on the phone. Mac says, at least she got someone to fill in for her. Who was it anyway? She tells him, Maxie didn’t say.

Haven says, this was not their agreement. Where is Maxie Jones? Sasha says, Maxie is sick, and asked her to fill in. She explained all of this to Haven’s producer. Haven says, no one told her, but Sasha says, her audience is going to love The Deceptor, and she’s more than capable of co-hosting the segment. Brook joins them, and tells Haven that she’s looking at the Face of Deception. Haven yells for someone to get her Russell – now. She leaves, and Sasha thanks Brook for the assist. She asks what Brook is doing here. She doesn’t work for Deception anymore. Brook says, Maxie didn’t tell Sasha? She’s back.

Josslyn asks where Dex is going, but he says he doesn’t know. He’s sorry, but he can’t stay in Port Charles. She says, of course (🍷) he can, but he says, not anymore. She says, the video of Sonny doing the Pikeman deal, the footage of Sonny breaking the law, he gave it to Michael, right? Then it’s only a matter of time. Willow will get the transplant, she’ll be fine. Then Michael will give the video to the Feds, and Sonny will be arrested. He says, Michael’s not turning Sonny in. Sonny’s not going to prison. She says, since when? and he says, since Michael backed out of their deal.

Michael thanks Sonny for throwing the SEC off Drew’s trail. It gave him time to find Liesl and bring her back home. He and Willow are forever grateful. Sonny says he’s just glad it all worked out, and Willow’s going to get the bone marrow transplant. Michael says, that’s why he’s here. Willow asked him to call off the war between them. Sonny says, it was never his war, and Michael says, she wanted Sonny to have a place in the lives of the people he loves. Sonny asks if Michael thinks he can do that, and Michael says, for Willow, and for his family; yes.

Sasha says she’s confused. Last week, Brook said she needed to be freed up to follow her passion. Brook says she realized it was a mistake. She loves this company, and there’s no reason why she can’t have it all, right? Music and Deception; she’ll make the time. Sasha says, that’s awesome, and welcomes her back. Lucy arrives, and says, it’s sweet of Brook to come support Sasha today, and Brook says, that’s what teammates do. Lucy asks if they joined some sort of sports team together, but Brook says, the Deception team. Lucy says she’s not following, but Sasha says, Brook is back at Deception. She already spoke to Maxie. Lucy says she just spoke to Maxie two minutes ago, and she didn’t mention anything about it, and Brook says, Maxie must have not realized it in her feverish state. Anyway, today isn’t about her. It’s about Sasha and her big comeback. Lucy asks if Sasha is absolutely sure she’s ready for all of this.

Walking with Russell, Haven says, the last time Sasha Gilmore was on this show, it was a disaster. She thought a doll was her dead baby. Russell says, that was almost a year ago. Maxie assured him that Sasha is strong enough. Besides, if she did freak out on camera, would that really be so bad? Their ratings were at an all-time high after Sasha’s breakdown. It reminded their viewers that anything can happen on live TV. Haven says, their ratings have been a little sluggish lately. Maybe they could make this work to their advantage. Uh… Not buying this. Maybe on a reality show, but not home shopping.

Scotty says, Cody wants his representation? and Cody says, should be an easy day, considering he’s innocent. Scotty tells him, says you, but unfortunately, Cody can’t afford him. Cody says he’s got 10K in his pocket that says otherwise, and Scotty says, that’s pocket money, so, no. Cody says, okay, fine. 20K. Scotty says he’s not interested, and walks away from the bar.

Felicia says she knew Mac had an ulterior motive. Not only did he say he’d come tonight, he picked The Savoy as well. He says he loves Holly, and of course (🍷) he wants to celebrate her safe return. What better place to do it at? She asks why they’re really here, when Scotty comes by, and says, two of his favorite people, pulling up a chair. Felicia says, since when? and Scotty says, mind if he joins them? He sits down, and Mac asks what they can do for him. Scotty says, for starters, why is Holly Sutton running around chloroforming people when she should be in a burn unit in Europe?

Nina says she’s sorry this is happening to Drew, and he says, it’s an ongoing investigation, and other than that, he’s uncomfortable discussing it with her. She says, understood, and he asks if she’s here to see Willow. She says, don’t worry. She’s not going into Willow’s room. The last thing she wants to do is upset Willow or Michael. She just feels better being close by. Has he ever wanted to go back in time for a redo? He says, once or twice, and she says, there’s a lot of things she would change. She loves her daughter. He says he believes that, and she says, all she wants is for the transplant to be a success so Willow can go back to her family. He says, a family Nina would love to be a part of, and she says, desperately.

Michael says, Willow made him see that by rejecting Sonny, he’s forcing some of his siblings to choose, and Sonny says, Donna and Avery? Michael says, Krissy too, to an extent. Dante’s the only one who can truly navigate this. It’s not fair to the rest of his siblings. He can tell them to have their own relationship with Sonny, but those are just words. Sonny says, what about Wiley and Baby Amelia? Does Michael feel the same way when it comes to them? Michael says, his kids should be able to know and spend time with their grandfather, and their aunts and uncles who love Sonny. That’s more important than his anger, so for the good of his family, he wants peace.

Josslyn asks Dex, Michael backed down? Of all the ways this could have gone down, Michael pulling the plug is probably the last one she expected. He says, him too, and she asks how Michael could do this to him. Dex says, Michael did it for Josslyn, and she asks what that means. He says, Michael did it for all of them. Michael doesn’t want Sonny going away to cause a permanent rift in the family, and it would have. She says, of course (🍷) it would have, but she thought they all agreed it was worth it. What is happening? This is so wrong. He says, it doesn’t matter. Right, wrong, whatever; Michael isn’t going to change his mind. She says she can’t believe this, and he says, this is the situation, and these are his options. He has to go. She says, then she’s going with him, but he says, no, she’s not.

Felicia says, the explosion at the hunting cabin was staged, and Scotty asks why Holly stole the Ice Princess necklace in the first place. Felicia says, because Victor ordered her to, and Mac says, he needed to find Mikkos’ hiding place in Greenland. Scotty says, those Cassadines. They like to keep things interesting, don’t they? If Holly survived this fake explosion, did the necklace survive as well? Felicia says, they wanted Victor to think it was destroyed while Holly figured out where Victor was holding Ethan, and Scotty asks where the necklace is now. Mac says, they don’t know. It was lost when the WSB sank the Haunted Star. Scotty says, that necklace is worth about 35 million clams, but Mac says, it’s worth nothing now that it’s gone. Scotty looks over at Cody.

Julie tells Haven, she’s on her way, and Haven says, excellent. She asks Russell, is it done? and he says, everyone on their social media is talking about Sasha’s appearance tonight and speculating what could possibly go wrong. She says, that’ll get them watching, and when they watch, they buy.

Sasha says she knows the last time she was here, she almost tanked the company, but Lucy says she’s worried about Sasha, not the company. She thinks it’s brave of Sasha to step up and take Maxie’s place, but if she’s not ready, she doesn’t have to do this. Lucy could do this segment in her sleep. Sasha thanks Lucy, and says, Lucy’s support means everything to her, but she’s the Face of Deception, and she’s a partner in the business. She really wants to pull her weight. Brook asks how it feels to be back here, and Sasha says, it was a little overwhelming at first, but she’s all right now. She keeps telling herself, this is an entirely different situation. She was self-medicating back then, she was deep in her grief for Liam, and then to be asked to model a baby carrier… Brook says, out of nowhere, and Sasha says she wasn’t prepared. Lucy says, no one would have been prepared. What they did was absolutely awful, but look how far she’s come. She’s doing so good, and Lucy is so proud of her. Brook says, if anyone tries to interrupt Sasha’s segment tonight, she’ll tackle them, and Sasha says she’d love to see that. They see Flora on the set, and Flora asks what on earth Sasha is doing here.

Selina says, the cards weren’t in Gladys’s favor tonight, and Gladys says she thought she had a strong enough hand, but then that damn Cody Bell with his flush. Selina says, Mr. Bell had luck on his side, and Gladys says, either that or he’s a cheater, but Selina says, no one cheats in the backroom. Gladys says, of course (🍷). She should be getting home. Selina says, not until they’ve discussed how she’s paying back the money she owes.

Scotty tells Cody, change of plans. He will represent him. Cody says he thought Scotty told him it wasn’t enough, and Scotty says, it’s chump change compared to what they’re going to get. He orders another martini.

Anna asks, what’s going on in her kitchen? It smells amazing. Valentin says his sauce is simmering, and he recently uncorked a bottle of very posh chianti. He’d like to let it breathe, but something tells him that she could use a glass. She says, just fill it to the brim please, and he asks, how was the briefing? She says, it went on forever. She feels like somewhere in the metaverse, she’s still answering questions. They wanted to know everything about Greenland, and Valentin’s father, and the pathogen… She’s very tired. He hands her the glass, and she says she just wants to drink wine and fall asleep in his arms. He says, that’s all? and she says, it depends on how good his pasta is. He kisses her, and the doorbell rings. She says, just ignore them, and they’ll go away, but it continues to ring insistently. She says, there are only two people who ring her doorbell like that. One is Obrecht, and the other is… She opens the door, and we say it together, Robert. Robert walks in, and says, word of advice. The next time she wants to pretend she’s not home, don’t leave the lights on.

Dex says, obviously, the idea of running away with Josslyn sounds amazing, but he has no one. She says, he has her, but he says, she knows what he means. He has no friends or family to fall back on. It’s just him and his skill set. She has this incredible family that not only loves her, they need her. Wiley and Amelia are the sweetest, and Wiley hero worships her. She thinks Wiley was more impressed by Dex, but he says he’s just some guy who used to be a soldier. She’s his Aunt Joss, who’s going to be a doctor. He can’t possibly be to her what she is to him. It would be incredibly selfish of him to say yes. She doesn’t need him as much as he needs her. She says she does need him though, but he says, she likes him and wants him, but she has so much else going on in her life – and that’s a good thing. If she came with him, it would be exciting at first; new identities, new lives… She says, they could make it work, and he says, for a while. Until one day she wakes up and realizes she doesn’t want to be a waitress named Trixie. She says she’d never pick the name Trixie, and he says, she’ll realize she misses her friends and her family; that she misses her life. And that will be his fault.

Selina says, Gladys gambled what she came in with, then dipped into Selina’s bank for $85,000. Gladys says she’s good for it, and Selina says she should hope so. Gladys asks if they can discuss a payment plan, but Selina says, she knows the rules. When players borrow from the house, payment is due at the end of the night. Gladys says she doesn’t have that kind of money at her fingertips, and Selina says, Sasha Gilmore does, and doesn’t Gladys control her daughter-in-law’s finances?

Flora says she’s so sorry. She had no idea she’d be seeing Sasha tonight. Lucy says, the feeling is very, very mutual, and Brook asks if one of her products is being featured. Flora says, a new line of bath salts called Change Your Moody. The little ones just love it, and the moms… Sasha says, it’s okay. Flora can talk about motherhood and babies in front of her. She’s so sorry for her behavior last time. Flora tells her, don’t you dare apologize. She felt terrible for Sasha and for the role she played, however unwittingly, in it all. Which begs the question, why would she of all people be asked to participate tonight? Brook looks at her phone, and says, because someone is trying to push Sasha over the edge.

Cody says, so Leopold’s necklace wasn’t destroyed in that explosion? and Scotty says, no, but due to the WSB’s itchy trigger finger, the jewels went to the bottom of the ocean. Cody says, so he’s back where he started, but Scotty says, that’s where he’s wrong because the necklace is part of Dominique’s estate, meaning Cody and Serina are owed a portion of that money. Cody says he agrees 100%, but regardless of how the necklace was lost, it’s still gone, and Scotty says, the WSB is the reason his and Serina’s big payoff went the way of the Titanic. Cody says, so Scotty is telling him… Scotty says, they sue the WSB.

Drew says he knows Nina thinks Carly is the reason she doesn’t have a relationship with Willow, but Nina says she actually just spoke with Carly about that… Drew says, obviously the reason was her treating Willow like dirt because Nina didn’t like her. Everything changed when Nina found out they were mother and daughter, but everything didn’t change for Willow. Nina says she gets it, and she’s given Willow more than one reason to be untrusting of her, but for the first time, her daughter asked something of her. Willow wants her to stop fighting with Carly, and Nina wants to give that to her, but she doesn’t know how to do it. If they could just start fresh… He says, Nina has to accept that’s just not an option.

Sonny says, peace is what he’s wanted, but he appreciates Michael meeting him halfway. Michael says he gives Willow credit, but Sonny says, it takes Michael too. He shouldn’t be surprised if Michael stepped up for the greater good. That’s why he gave Avery back at the end; he didn’t want to tear the family apart. Michael says, so they have an understanding, and Sonny says, when it comes to Michael’s siblings, and his kids, yeah, but what about when it comes to Nina?

There’s a mini remembrance of Jackie Zeman.

Dex asks Josslyn to talk to him, but she doesn’t know what to say. Dex tells her to say what she’s feeling, and she says she feels conflicted. Is she ready to give up all of her life to be with him? Is she ready to say that? He says he’d be worried if she wasn’t, and she says, but she likes him… a lot, and he says he likes her too. She says she wants to see where it could go. She doesn’t want this to be over, and she doesn’t want him to leave. But she really doesn’t want him to die, and doesn’t want him to spend the rest of his life in prison. He says, those are two possibilities if he stays in Port Charles, and she says, so yeah, she understands… conceptually. He needs to go, and probably should, but the thought of losing him hurts, and when she’s hurt, she gets very scared and anxious. He says he doesn’t want to lose her either, and pulls her close.

Watching Scotty and Cody talk at the bar, Mac says, it looks like Scotty is going to represent Cody, and Felicia asks if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Mac says, for all his faults, Scotty’s a decent defense attorney, and she asks if that means he wants Cody to beat the charges. His phone rings, and he says, it’s the department. She says she’ll give Holly his regrets, and Mac leaves the table.

Gladys says she won’t steal from Sasha, but Selina asks if she didn’t already cross that line when Gladys sold her Brando’s garage. Gladys says, exactly; sold. She didn’t give it away. Selina says, they both know she didn’t pay market price, but Gladys says she can’t do that to Sasha again. Selina says, then they would appear to have a problem, and walks away.

Cody tells Scotty, the only thing they know is that the necklace belonged to Taub. They don’t know if he gave it to Dominique outright. Scotty says, either way, the money is Cody’s – and his sister Serina, who he’s going to share it with, right? Cody says, absolutely. Where do they start? Scotty tells Cody to come by his office tomorrow. He’ll have an affidavit for Cody to sign confirming he’s Taub and Dominique’s son. Cody looks over at Mac, giving Felicia a kiss goodbye.

Brook reads: the Face of Deception returns to H&H. Meltdown part two; stay tuned. Hashtag: Home&Heart. Home & Heart is implying Sasha is going to have another meltdown tonight on the air to get people to watch. Flora says, that’s despicable. She refuses to be part of a disgusting set-up. Lucy says, Haven and her producers better buckle up, because she’s about to take off, but Sasha grabs her arm, and says, don’t. Brook says, Sasha can’t be okay with this, and Sasha says, the more people watching, the more people view The Deceptor. It’s free publicity. Flora says, it’s exploiting Sasha’s mental health. Haven is obviously trying to rattle Sasha. Why else would she be here? They should just call the whole thing off. Sasha says, no. Haven is betting against her. Time to show her that she’s making a huge mistake.

Sonny says, Nina is part of his life. She’s not going anywhere. Michael says he understands that. He can even respect that, but he needs Sonny to respect the fact that Willow needs to decide what kind of relationship, if any, she wants to have with Nina. Sonny says, that’s fair, and Michael asks if he can get Nina to back off; help her understand that Willow is fighting for her life. Sonny says, nobody knows that better than Nina, and Michael says he’s asking Sonny to get her to stop pressuring Willow. I’m not understanding this, since she hasn’t been doing that, but okay. Sonny says he can’t tell Nina how to deal with her own daughter any more than someone can tell him how to deal with his. He has to give her that courtesy. Michael asks if he can at least not advocate for Nina, and not pressure him or Willow, and Sonny asks if Michael feels pressured. Michael says, openly, Sonny is too smart for that, but they both know he’s good at getting what he wants. Sonny shakes his head, and says he agrees to let Nina and Willow figure out their relationship on their own. Can Michael do the same? Michael says he can live with that, and Sonny nods. Michael says he should get back to GH. Sonny says, if Willow needs anything – and he means anything – he’s here. Michael thanks him, and Sonny says he’ll see Michael at the hospital tomorrow, and he wants Michael to know, they’ll keep their distance, but they don’t want to be kept from their family.

Nina asks if Drew thinks Carly will never forgive him, but Drew says he’s saying, you can’t erase the past, or wish it away. A quick fix doesn’t apply in this case, and to assume it does sabotages the future Nina says she wants. She follows him to the elevator, and says she does want it. He asks if she’s willing to work for it, and she says, whatever it takes. He says she’s got to be honest with herself, and he means really honest. And with everybody else, she has to acknowledge her mistakes, and maybe they’ll find a place for her in their lives. He goes into the elevator.

Josslyn tells Dex, stay. They’ll figure something out. He says, even if it means he continues working for Sonny? and she says, for now. Together, they’ll come up with a solution. Don’t give up on us. He says, okay. He can’t imagine never seeing her again. He’ll stay. She hugs him, and says, they’ll think of something, she promises.

Cody asks if an affidavit is really necessary, and Scotty says, it’s important they establish Cody is Leopold Taub’s son.  Felicia looks at her phone, and says, no, no, no. This is horrible. Cody asks, what’s wrong? and Felicia says, Sasha is going to be on Home & Heart tonight, and they’re promoting it by suggesting she’s going to have another breakdown. Cody says, he’s got to… and Scotty grabs him, saying, he’s still on board, right? Cody says, yeah, he’ll call Scotty tomorrow, and jets.

Gladys asks Selina how she’s supposed to get all that money together so quickly. It’s impossible. Selina says, there might be another way for Gladys to repay her debt. Well, we know it’s not by being a card shark.

On the Home & Heart set, Flora asks Sasha if she’s sure about this. They can bail at any time. Sasha says she’s sure, and Haven asks Julie if everything is set. Julie says, they’re a go, and Haven walks onto the set, saying, Flora, darling, what a lovely surprise. Flora says, is it though? and Haven asks what she means. Flora says, they both know exactly what she means. You little… The stage manager says, five, four, three, two, one, action, and Haven welcomes everyone back to Home & Heart. She introduces herself, and says, tonight she has two very special guests: Flora Gardens and Sasha Gilmore. Sasha thanks Haven for having her, and says, her viewers are in for a treat. Haven says she hopes so.

Anna tells Robert that she just got off of a long flight. She’s very tired and it would be great if he wasn’t here. He picks up the bottle of wine, and she says, or she supposes he could just help himself to a glass of wine. He pours a glass, and says, it’s nice to see Valentin made it out all in one piece. Valentin says, thanks to the lovely Anna, and Robert says he heard all about the heroics – he nearly drains the glass – dashing into the chamber of death to save his sorry carcass – again. Valentin says, they take turns. Sometimes she saves him; sometimes he saves her. Sometimes they get trapped together, and they like to mix it up. Robert says, next time, do it by himself, and leave Anna out of it, and Anna says she chose to go on the rescue mission. Valentin says, as much fun as this is, he has to put the pasta on, and Robert says he likes his al dente. Valentin says he has no idea why he’d need to know that, and goes into the kitchen. Anna says, Robert needs to stop. She knows what he’s going to say. He says, good. Let’s say it together. Anna Devane, what were you thinking?

Michael comes out of Sonny’s office, and Sonny says he’s going to light a candle for Willow. Michael says, Willow will appreciate that… and he does too. He’ll see Sonny tomorrow. Sonny says, tomorrow, and Michael leaves.

Haven says, this is Sasha’s first television appearance since last year, and Sasha says, it is. Haven asks how she’s holding up, and Sasha says she’s fantastic, and she’s thrilled to introduce Deception’s newest product, The Deceptor. Flora says she’s still using her Deception products, and just loves them, and Sasha says she’s happy to hear that. Haven says, but it must have been a trying year for Sasha, but Sasha ignores her, and says, and now meet The Deceptor wand. Flora asks what it does, and Sasha says she’s glad Flora asked. It will help any woman at any age look her absolute best. Flora says, they could all use that, is she right? Haven says, absolutely, and a baby’s cry comes through Sasha’s earpiece.

Tomorrow, Carly says, Nina will have to do it on Willow’s terms; Haven tells Sasha, all eyes are on her; Robert asks if Anna shouldn’t be putting her family first; and Felicia asks if Holly is back in Port Charles for good.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Daisy cries in the bathroom as primary John looks for her. In her interview, she says she’s so frustrated, if didn’t cry, she’d set the boat on fire. The last thing she wants is another complaint. Gary radios that the guests decided to wait another half hour before going to the beach, and Daisy says, it’s more time for Lucy to do nothing. On the beach, Lucy and Alex do yoga poses. In Madison’s interview, she says, Daisy seems stressed, and she wants to help the situation. Alex tells Lucy that when they get to the beach, they’ll find two skeletons in pink shirts. The guests are finally ready, and Gary radios that they’re coming. He drops the guests off, and goes back for the food. The guests play football, while on the boat, Ileisha gets whole fish instead of the fillet she wanted. In Ileisha’s interview, she says doesn’t mind fileting a fish, but a giant monkfish is going to take her whole prep time. She hopes the primary is going to be happy. Some of the beach food is chicken wings, and Lucy finds there was no bowl packed to put the bones in. In Alex’s interview, he says he feels bad for Lucy. It’s a no brainer to pack a bowl for bones. Somebody is dropping the ball. Young guest Jacob takes a spill backward in his beach chair, taking the wings with him, and John says, it all ended up on the ground anyway. Lucy texts Daisy that John is complaining, and Daisy says she’s so over this. She tells Glenn that John has been complaining a lot.

John says, the beach excursion like when you’re at a nice resort, and want to go to town, but then when you get to town, you want to go back to the resort. Gary thinks it’s not that stressful, and in Daisy’s interview, she says, Gary is in his own . At the end of the day, complaints come back to the interior. He doesn’t give a sh*t how she feels. Gary radios that the guests want to head back, and Daisy says she hates people and hates her life. Lucy tells Alex, she’s glad they enjoyed it – she didn’t. Ileisha cuts her finger open, and in her interview, she says she should know better. She’s no stranger to injuries when she’s rushing. She nearly cut her thumb off one time, and had to go to the hospital. You have to suck it up, and shake it off. She puts a glove on over her bandage, and moves on to making pasta dough. Gary harasses Chase about not being on time, and in Chase’s interview, he says, the time isn’t what Gary told him yesterday. Even when he’s right, he’s wrong. Lucy tells Daisy about having to pick chicken wings out of the sand, and Daisy says she’s pissed at the boys. It feels out of control. John tells Daisy that they’re celebrating his book release tonight, but he has awards to give everyone else. He gives her certificates to fill out for him, and Glenn puts up the sails. Things start falling, and Ileisha says, not the beans. John says, they’ve arrived in life, and Gary tries to sweettalk Mads, but in her interview, she says she thinks he’s got the wrong one. The affection and love bombing are cringy to her. Gary doesn’t get her at all. Daisy tells Gary about the awards ceremony, and he offers to emcee. Guest Lauren asks if they have a steamer, and Lucy takes two dresses to steam. As Lucy is using the steamer, it melts off part of a dress, and Lucy says, her mum would be so disappointed in her.

Lucy says, Lauren’s husband got stitches, and now she’s ruined Lauren’s f***ing dress. Since she’s trying to take a shower, Daisy comes down in a towel, and Lucy tells her what happened. Daisy says, they can reimburse her, and Mads tells her, it says you can iron it on the label; it shouldn’t have done that. Personally, I think maybe Lucy held it too close. Daisy says, she’ll apologize, and in Daisy’s interview, she says she has to tell the guests, and there will be more sh*tty feedback from Glenn. Her anxiety is sky high. Glenn reminds Gary that they’re eating with the guests, and also tells Ileisha, who luckily has enough food. Gary reminds Daisy that he’s eating with the guests, and Daisy curses her life. She tells Lauren about the dress, and that they’ll reimburse her for it, and after an initial, oh my God, Lauren is cool with it. Gary tells Daisy that she creates a stressful environment, and in Lucy’s interview, she says, the tension between Gary and Daisy is going to spill into the rest of the crew. She hopes they sort their sh*t out soon. A gelato/drinks station is set up on the flybridge, and the stews make out the certificates. The guests are seated for dinner, and John tells Glenn that Gary has charisma😐and Gary talks about the town he grew up in. John asks about the name Parsifal, and Glenn says it’s originally from King Arthur. A German composer had named an opera after a knight, and the owner took it from that. In Glenn’s interview, he says, it’s too long between courses. He’s trying to distract the guests, but senses annoyance. Gary says he’s a momma’s boy, which is no surprise, and John blabs about the real estate he owns, which is no surprise either. Colin tells Ileisha to take a deep breath; the guests are happy with the food. Daisy tells the girls not to touch the dry ice at the gelato station, giving me flashbacks of a Halloween party my roommate and I once had. We ended up nixing dry ice because there were so many warnings, and we feared a tragedy. After dinner, Glenn thanks the guests for including him and Gary, and Daisy calls the crew to the flybridge for help. Gary hides and has a cigarette, and Colin says, it’s a d*ck move. Gary pretends he didn’t know, but in his interview, he says he doesn’t give a sh*t. He’s chief officer, and he’s going to have a smoke if he wants one. He thought Colin was on his side. Daisy wonders, WTF is going on?

In Chase’s interview, he says, if he hid on the boat, it wouldn’t be fine with Gary, but he has more important things to do, like work. The guests go to the flybridge, where caramel, peach, chocolate, and pistachio gelato await. Sigh… Daisy tells the guests that John organized a surprise, and turns it over to Gary. John is given the best book away, and swears he didn’t make it for himself. Jacob and Anastasia get the Straight A Student awards, and Natalia gets Best Accent award. There are probably more, but we don’t see that. Daisy complains to Colin about Gary, but Colin tells her, it’s not worth it. In Daisy’s interview, she says, if it weren’t for Colin, she would feel alone. No one gives a sh*t. Colin hugs her, and says, she’s doing a good job; she’s a great chief stew. In Colin’s interview, he says, considering how close Gary and Daisy are, he’s shocked at Gary’s behavior. Gary can go f*** himself. It’s finally bedtime for all, and in Chase’s interview, he says, anchor watch isn’t his favorite, but he had a sh*t job pressure washing dump trucks for $10 an hour, so he appreciates how easy the work is. He feels like he’s crushing it.

Last day of charter. Ileisha makes a watermelon fruit bowl, and I’m dying here. John asks for a bloody Mary and wonders if it’s not the tail of the cat. Is that a colloquial thing, or is he just way off? Anchor is home, and Alex says, Daisy seems happier. She made it through another round. She says, hanging by the skin of her teeth. Anchor is dropped, and John wonders if Glenn will take a selfie with him. Then as Glenn tries to listen to docking instructions, John keeps talking and talking and talking. In Glenn’s interview, he says, communication during the last meter and a half is critical. I’d be telling John to f*** off already.  

Somehow, Glenn manages to dock, and the crew lines up for goodbyes. John says, it was more of an adventure than he’s intended, but they took care of TJ the best they could. He didn’t think he’d smile after that, but then they dressed up like the Spice Girls, and he felt guilty for smiling. They’re the greatest small time yacht crew. He gives Glenn the tip envelope, the crew waves, and Glenn toots the horn. Daisy thinks the guests were happy at the end, but it was overwhelming. The boys pissed her off, and made her feel like she did a sh*t job. Ileisha says, she thinks Daisy did the best she possibly could. Daisy tells her that Gary said it was the best charter yet, but she didn’t know if he was being sarcastic, or just said it to piss her off. It was a d*ck move. He’s a f***ing wanker.  

At the tip meeting. Glenn says, it wasn’t the easiest charter. With what went wrong, the big one was TJ’s injury. Gary says he doesn’t know how they could have avoided it. Glenn suggests keeping a better eye on things, but Gary says, once the guests are out there and get close to each other, it’s out of the their hands. They can’t rely on the guests’ common sense. Glenn says, the 90s party was a real hit, and Daisy thanks everyone for pitching in. Glenn says he’s gotten an interesting perspective on Ileisha’s food from eating with the guests. She’s moving in the right direction, but the hold up between courses is longer than he was expecting. Ileisha says she’ll work on it, and Daisy says, they’re trying their hardest with the resources given. Glenn says he just wants them to give it some thought. He doesn’t mean work harder, but work smarter. It’s not about the first 95%, but the last 5% they should be pushing for. He asks for Daisy’s input, but she asks if they can move on and talk later. Glenn says, sure, and asks how Lucy and Mads feel. Lucy says, they were challenged… and Daisy leaves the room, starting to cry. Glenn says, they’ll put it on pause for a minute.  

Gary goes after Daisy, who says she just needs five minutes. She’s trying. Gary says he knows. The girls are grateful for her. He hugs her, and Daisy says she’s sick of hearing her f***ing name, and being asked questions she can’t answer. In Gary’s interview, he says, Daisy annoys the f*** out of him, but he feels protective. He doesn’t like seeing her break down. Glenn finds Daisy, and tells her to take a moment. She says she knows it’s not a personal attack, but she feel personally responsible. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s embarrassed that she lost control emotionally. She feels off her game. She’s doing the best she can, but she’s human and there’s only so much crap she can take. The meeting reconvenes, and Glenn says he doesn’t want to open another can of worms, but is there anything anyone wants to discuss? Colin says, everyone is doing a fantastic job, but they can all improve. Glenn isn’t talking about anyone’s shortcomings; it’s just constructive criticism. In Colin’s interview, he says he’s kind of taken aback. His first charter was stressful, but you didn’t see him crying. It’s about the whole crew, not just Daisy. The tip is $23K, or 2250 euros each, and makes everything okay again. In Alex’s interview, he says, it was just what they needed. Nothing cuts the tension like $23K. Glenn says he’s organized a tasting menu for them at a restaurant; the tender will drop them off. Daisy tells the girls that Gary has no f***ing clue about the pressure, and on deck, Chase tells Colin that he thinks Daisy is just stressed. Colin says, that’s why he was trying to back her up. Gary says he didn’t ask to be invited to dinner, but Colin tells him that taking a smoke break was a d*ck move. It wasn’t cool. Gary gets up and walks away, saying he’s over it. Colin says, Gary has to lead by example. Chase says, their department heads are all imploding; they’re all stressed. Daisy tells Gary to go f*** himself, and Chase says he’s glad he’s not the boss. It isn’t nice.  

Next time, the crew’s night out; Mads toasts to her and Alex; Gary asks if Mads is interested in him; Chase says he’s not taking the fall for Alex; a repeat charter; and smoke from the engine.

Summer House

Is it over yet?

Carl says he’s sick of this sh*t, and tells Kyle that Robert was bugging him about Danielle. Robert tells Danielle what Carl said, and how he was grouping her in with the girls. Danielle says she’s done, for the ten millionth time. Carl whines that the most important thing in his life was ruined because he didn’t do something he shouldn’t do. He’s so f***ing mad. Kyle suggests he take a breath, and Carl asks why it’s such a big deal. He and Lindsay moved in together and bought a car together. He told Danielle he was ring shopping; the writing was on the wall. There are bigger things to be upset about. Grow the f*** up. Kyle tells him that everyone else questioned his every move. Should he be doing a start-up? Should be with Amanda? It’s just human nature; people question everything. I hate when one of the people that’s usually an a-hole is the voice of reason. Carl says he gets it, but doesn’t know what to do about it. He ruined his own thing. He didn’t do what they wanted, and made Danielle feel horrible. He ruined a friendship with one decision. Lindsay comes out, and asks, what the hell happened? and Kyle says, Carl needed a minute. Carl says he ruined all kinds of things, and Lindsay suggests the go to South Hampton Social, where their real friends are. Kyle says he’s just hanging out and not a friend, and Carl says he didn’t like hurting anyone’s feelings. They leave, and Kyle tells Robert that Carl felt like he ruined the engagement, and they just left. Lindsay came up in a huff and puff, and decided they should go to South Hampton where they have friends. They do Jameson pickle backs, and Craig says he’s having fun, but it’s a little tense. He gets the gist of everything, and that they think it feels rushed. When he talked to Paige at Kyle’s birthday, it wasn’t until she started crying that he wondered what was going on. To Paige, getting engaged meant them moving in and her leaving her mom. He realized they had more to work out. He thought love was enough. Ciara suggested he stop fantasizing. She wants to meet someone to settle down with, but she’s strategic in how she dates. Craig says she was systematic. She moved to the city by herself and proved she didn’t need someone, but it’s fun to have someone to watch your shows with at night. Ciara says she wants to partner with a best friend, and she’s getting older. This summer she’s feeling older. Craig says, maybe there’s another Craig out there for her, and in Ciara’s interview, she says she’d love to meet someone, but fears she won’t, and it’s crippling. But it’s all in God’s timing and trusting in it. What’s meant to come to her will come, and she’s got to get herself ready in the meantime.

The group goes back to the house, Kyle puts on music, and they dance all over the place, including on the kitchen island. Yuk. In Chris’s interview, he says, when the summer is over, he’s going to miss these crazy nights. They’re dysfunctional, but they’re a family. He’s having fun with the people he’ll build experiences with that will last a lifetime. Ciara, Mya, and Paige push their beds together to make a megabed. In the morning, Carl and Lindsay aren’t back yet, Robert says goodbye, and – oh my God my eyes! – we see Kyle’s ass for the 4738th time. Everyone struggles to get up, and Mya says, you’d think the quiet would be good, but it’s not. It means a storm’s brewing. Amanda tells Kyle, it looks like no one was ever in Carl and Lindsay’s room. She doesn’t think they want to go on the boat today. He says, it’s been challenging, and he’s tired of being the ringbearer… He means ringleader. Amanda tells him to call Carl, and Carl asks, what’s going on? like nothing is different. Kyle asks if he and Lindsay will be joining them, but Carl says, they’re not going to make the boat. They’re with a friend of Lindsay’s where they spent the night. They thought it best to take themselves out of the toxicity. Lindsay thinks Danielle’s negativity is overwhelming, and right now, she’s the only source of negativity in their lives. Kyle says he’s sorry that’s how they feel. He asks if they’re coming back at some point, but Lindsay says she’s over the situation with Danielle. It’s best they’re not there, but it doesn’t seem like anybody cares. They think it’s best to take a break. Kyle says he’s not going to push them, but keep in touch. He hopes they come to the party tomorrow. Amanda says she feels bad that it went this way, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, if there was any hope of reconciling, he thinks it would be the opposite of what they’re doing. It’s like an F-U to the rest of them. He’s very discouraged. Word travels quickly about Carl and Lindsay not coming back for the boat, and Kyle says, they might not come back at all. They’re pushing their own snowball down the mountain. Paige says, Lindsay doesn’t need Danielle, so Danielle is now a non-factor. She has Carl now, and Danielle is angry and upset.

Kory arrives, and picks Sam up, kissing her. He says he’s running on fumes, and in Sam’s interview, she says, he gives her butterflies. When he walks in the room, she’s got to pee like a puppy. She’s been seeing him a lot and she’s not sick of him. It’s been a long time since she felt that way. They make food to take on the boat, and in Paige’s interview, she says, they’re keeping the Lindsay energy alive; all the men have to make their own sandwiches today. There are two boats, and they divide up. The small boat looks like a Fisher Price toy, and Kyle says he feels that this is a blazer moment. In Mya’s interview, she says, she’s here to enjoy the day with her friends, and got a weird DM asking if she and Oliver are exclusive. Who the f*** would be asking her status? She knows something is going on, but doesn’t know how to react. Gabby says her parents bought a house in Texas, and Paige asks if she’s freaking out. Gabby says she’s unwell, but trying not to put her feelings on them. She’s losing them, but she’s gained friends. She’ll be co-dependent in a whole new way. Chris makes Kyle do the Titanic pose on the bow of the boat.  

Carl and Lindsay come back to get their stuff when everyone is gone, and Carl puts something over the camera. A producer breaks the fourth wall, and tells him they need footage of them packing. Lindsay says she knows he’s pissed off, but they can’t just vanish. They have to show what’s happening. On the boat, Kyle toasts to Carl and Lindsay’s engagement, and Chris toasts to Danielle. In Carl’s interview, he says, the support they got was drowned out by the negativity. It’s best for them not to be here. Lindsay takes her pineapple upside down cake with them, which is pretty high on the tacky scale. Carl says he’s packing his sh*t and moving on to another pasture.

The remaining housemates come back, and Amanda says, there were two cakes, and one of them is gone. Danielle laughs, and Kyle says, that’s savage. Paige says, she respects the f*** out of that move, and Gabby says, all their stuff is gone. Sam thinks it was a dramatic reaction, and she doesn’t want them to look back and think they should have said goodbye. Their beef is with Danielle, but they’re not Danielle. Kory and Chris find cowboy hats that were left behind and parade around in them. Amanda blames Danielle, and Paige tells her, grow up. Kory and Chris pretend to be Crocodile Dundee, and Ciara asks if they’re not coming back. Amanda says, the cake is gone, which I guess is a definitive answer. Chris and Kory show off the hats, but Danielle says, they can do better than this, making them put the hats back. Amanda tells Mya that Chris and Kory were having fun with the hats, and Danielle says, it was stupid and weird. In Danielle’s interview, she says, as much as she hates that they moved out and she wasn’t part of the engagement, she’s still love them and is loyal. It feels permanent, like it’s an end; an ending she didn’t want. Ciara says, Danielle is still protecting them, even though they’re gone, and Mya says, people need to calm the f*** down. In Mya’s interview, she says, she thinks Danielle is consumed with what’s going on with Lindsay, since she’s been supportive of Lindsay in the past. Ciara says, Danielle is brainwashed and scared of Lindsay, and Kyle tells Danielle that he’s seen her go to bat for Lindsay for years. Danielle says, to a fault. She understands the engagement isn’t about her, but she thought there was a glimmer of hope that Lindsay hadn’t known she was left out. Lindsay knew and was good with it. That she doesn’t matter to them is a blatant stab in the heart while looking her in the eye. Craig says, the second Danielle wasn’t useful, she was cut out of Lindsay’s life. Carl is a great guy, but his is all happening because of Lindsay. She’s the poison. Agreed.

Craig and Chris prepare packaged sushi, which is good, since they’re way too drunk to be making it themselves. Craig says he’s happy that him dating someone pulled Kory into a place where he found someone he likes. He makes Kory says he likes Sam, and Paige wonders why there are shoes in the pool. Kyle says, the only rule tonight is, if you don’t like something, throw it in the pool. Craig explains how to make a maki roll, and thanks them for having him back. They play a game of charades using sexually related references like skinny dipping and striptease. When Chris and Gabby try to depict missionary, they get it backward. I fear for our future. In Paige’s interview, she says they’re having one of the most fun nights without Carl and Lindsay. Carl and Lindsay don’t want be stupid with them. Paige tells Craig not to throw a chair in the pool, and Craig says, before he got here, anything they didn’t understand, they threw in the pool. No surprise, he throws the chair in the pool. He goes inside and calls his mother to tell her happy birthday. Elsewhere in the house, Kyle lifts weights, and says, s*ck my wiener. I’ve mentioned he’s 40, right? Sam and Kory slip into the closet for a quickie. Chris comes by, listens for a second, laughs, and moves on. When they come out, Sam’s hair looks perfect, so it can’t have been that great. Craig tells the girls that he was crying over stuff, but he’s good. Everyone sees there’s something wrong except the one person he wants to see it. Oh, I get it. It’s passive/aggressive time.

Paige follows Craig, and asks what she did. He says, every time he’s sad or has a feeling, she tells him to stop being a p*ssy. He tells Kyle that he missed his mom’s birthday, and he’s sad. She’s been a solid rock in his life. Kyle says Craig has others, the company and Paige, but Craig says, sometimes he feels alone. After Paige throws her guts up, Paige and Craig take Lindsay and Carl’s room, and Craig says he feels better. Kyle wakes up Amanda, who asks why he always wakes her up, which is exactly what I’d been thinking. She tells him that he’s on her sh*t list.

In the morning, the girls commiserate about the summer almost being over. Paige comes in and says, Craig was trying to hug her all night. Now he wants her to shower with him. He always acts dramatic, and it’s her fault. He gets mad because she’s not sensitive. Ciara says, while Paige was throwing up was not the time to be an attention whore. In Paige’s interview, she says she gets Craig is having an emotional whirlwind, but crying on a Saturday night because he misses his mom? And then he says she’s not comforting enough. Where was he when she was throwing up his dinner. The girls laugh, and Craig finally wanders in to get Paige, who says, he’s so dramatic sometimes.

Drinking commences immediately in the morning, and Amanda digs around in the freezer for her face roller. Gabby volunteers to do the inflatables and jungle juice, and Sam says she’ll do the lanterns and smaller decorations. They all work on setting up for the party, and Paige instructs Craig to make the door look like a lion’s mouth the guests will walk through. Amanda tells Kyle that her body knows it’s the last weekend. She doesn’t think she should feel like this after just a few drinks yesterday. Kyle says, Craig was in tears. He thinks Craig is realizing the possibility of an engagement is further away then he thought. He doesn’t know what to tell him. Lindsay and Carl come up the drive, and Lindsay says, it’s the last time they’ll be driving up this driveway this summer. They go into the house.  

Next time – finally, the finale – goodbye to the summer of ’22; a conga line; Craig says his ultimate goal is to get closer to an engaemtn; Mya asks why Olivier cheated on her; Kyle tells Amanda that Lindsay doesn’t think her friendship with Danielle is repairable; and Danielle calls Lindsay a monster.

🍀 Here’s Hoping…

Catch the Ryan’s Hope reunion on May 17th at 3 pm.

🌳 Don’t Shake My Tree…

Join me tomorrow for soap and those awful women in New Jersey, because the Hamptons isn’t enough. Until then, stay safe, stay making sure others know you appreciate them, and stay remembering, nothing cuts the tension like $23K.

May 8, 2023 – A Body Is Found In the Wreckage, Wannabe Spice Girls On Deck, Danielle Turns To the Awful Side & Grown

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Carly tells Dante, the only reason she was allowed to go home was because of Sonny.

Nina sees Sam, and asks if she came to the hospital to check on Michael, and Sam says she wanted to see if he or Willow needed anything. Nina says, that’s very kind of her. She was wondering if she could talk to Sam for a second. Sam says, sure. What’s up?

Josslyn goes to Dex’s apartment and when he answers the door, she hugs him. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, they can’t find Spencer.

Somewhere in Greenland. In what looks like a waiting area, Trina tells Ace, the WSB doesn’t mess around, huh? It seems like they got this place set up in seconds. But don’t worry. They’re going to find his big brother. They have to. Valentin comes in, and she asks if there’s any word on Spencer.

Willow says, this is where Michael gets to say I told you so, but he says, him? Never. She says, he never gave up hope or stopped believing they’d get a miracle. It worked. Their miracle is on its way. He says, she’s the miracle. She fought so hard to hold on, and now they get to spend the rest of their lives together. In fact, they get to properly celebrate Paris. When this whole nightmare began, they were planning a trip to Paris. She says she couldn’t find her passport. That’s what started the search for her birth certificate in the first place. It feels like a lifetime ago. He says, so when she’s recovered from her transplant and she’s up for travel, their first stop will be Paris. She asks how his French is coming along. As she recalls, he was working pretty hard on it. He says, oui, oui, mademoiselle, and she says, so he’s in the exact same spot. He says, pretty much, and she says, you and me in the City of Lights. She can just picture it. He says, even better; they’re going to live it. They kiss.

Diane says, so she guesses they’re done, and Sonny says, she’s been more than his and Carly’s lawyer, through two divorces and one remarriage. (That’s all?) She says, and? and he asks if she doesn’t think it’s a little too late to be a stickler for rules. She says she was born a stickler. It’s the knowledge of those rules and the adherence to them that gives her the power to maneuver through the legal system. He says, she can maneuver all she wants. All he wants to know is what Carly is up against and how they get her out of it. She asks why he cares.

Dante asks why Carly is crediting Sonny with her getting released, and she says, because the SEC wanted Drew’s location, and he’s magically located on a flight manifest from San Diego to Hawaii? Dante says, he was actually in Greenland on that rescue mission, and she says, someone sent the Feds on a wild goose chase to buy more time. They both know it was Sonny.

Nina says, Sam was the officiant at the wedding, so any details Sam would feel comfortable sharing, she’d like to hear them. Sam says, Sonny didn’t tell her about the ceremony? and Nina says, you know how guys are. She asked him about the flowers and the dress, and he said they were nice. Sam laughs, and says, that’s an understatement. Willow was a vision. Her dress was understated, but very elegant. Nina says, just like her? and Sam says, just like her. And the bouquet of flowers was just beautiful. (Hmm… that kind of borders on nice.) Nina asks, what about the kids? and Sam says, Wiley was the cutest ring bearer you could ever see. Nina says, so proud, and Sam says, Avery and Donna were the most amazing flower girls. They had these flower crowns on their heads. Nina says, Donna loves a good crown (as we all do), and Sam tells her, the vows were heartfelt. Nina asks if it was sad, but Sam says, no. If anything, she’d say, it was real. She thinks it was hopeful. You’ve never seen two people more in love. She thinks Michael and Willow would say the wedding was perfect. Until of course (🍷) the SEC showed up.

Josslyn says, Trina called her from a WSB satellite phone, and Dex says, from Greenland? How was that connection? She says, about as good as you’d imagine. They only talked for a minute. She said everyone was safe, but the Haunted Star exploded and they can’t find Spencer. He asks if Spencer was on board at the time of the explosion, but she says, it’s unclear. They’re still searching for him, but she could hear it in Trina’s voice. She’s so terrified he’s dead. He says, when a buddy’s missing, they don’t say it out loud if they think they’re gone. It’s like a superstition. She says, why, because it will make it true? and he nods. She says, but what if it is? and he holds her.

Valentin tells Trina that he’s sorry, but there’s no sign of Spencer. Sit down. He’ll tell her everything he knows. They sit, and she asks how he’s feeling. He says he’s feeling better, and thanks her. Say what you will about Liesl, but she was able to outmaneuver his father, and get him the cure. She saved his life. Trina says, thank goodness; that’s amazing. Is there any update on the Haunted Star? He says, the WSB is searching the wreckage, and the nearby shoreline. Anna Devane is in London smacking around meeting with the director, the senior officials, and a number of disgruntled diplomats who want to know about Victor Cassadine’s affiliation with the Bureau. Curtis is being debriefed, and as soon as that’s finished, there’s a plane waiting to take them home. She says, no. She’s not leaving without Spencer. He’s still out there; she can feel it. An agent comes in, and tells Valentin, they’ve recovered a body from the wreckage.

Dante says, things have been strained between Carly and his father even before the divorce, right? and Carly says, things have been strained since Sonny came back from Nixon Falls. He says, let’s not relitigate who did what to who and why. The bottom line is, Carly expected Sonny to step back and let her handle her own problems? She says, something like that. Sonny doing what he did last night just showed her that Sonny might be different in many respects, but at his core, he’s still the man he’s always been.

Nina says she heard Carly had some trouble after the wedding, and Sam says, whoever decided to tip off the SEC has the most heartless timing. Nina flashes back to telling Martin that she hasn’t changed her mind. Just the opposite. She wants him to expose Drew and Carly for engaging in insider trading. Just make sure to keep her name out of it. Sam says, at least the ceremony was over, and Michael and Willow were officially husband and wife by the time the Feds showed up. Nina asks if Willow was really upset, and Sam asks, how can she not be?

Diane says, Sonny’s most recent divorce, while legally straightforward, was acrimonious to put it mildly. When Carly severed ties, she meant it. She waived her right to millions of dollars in assets. All she wanted – all she would accept – was her home and joint custody of Donna. He says, Diane just answered her own question, and she says, how so? He says he and Carly share Donna. She’s Donna’s mother. Does Diane think he’s going to allow Donna’s mother to go to prison? She says, so all this is being done for Donna? and he says, yeah. She says, then she has to hand it to him. She’s very impressed… considering the temptation. Don’t tell her that he hasn’t thought about it. If Carly goes to prison, he now has sole custody of Donna. Not only that, he can share her with Nina.

Willow asks if there’s an ETA on Drew and Liesl, and Michael says, they’re still en route, but they’ll be here some time today. In the meantime though, how about if they look at some potential accommodations in Paris? How about a five-star hotel, where all their needs are taken care of? Or they could go the whole authentic Parisian route, and rent an apartment. He starts looking on his phone, and she asks if he still has the footage on there that incriminates his father. He says, yeah, and she asks if he’s turned it over to the FBI. He says, not yet, and she says, good. She wants him to delete it.

Trina and Valentin are lead to a room with a body bag on a table. She says, that’s not him. It’s not him. It’s not him. It’s not him. The agent unzips the bag, and we see it’s Victor. Trina nearly collapses with relief, and says, it’s not Spencer. He can still be alive.

Sonny says he loves Nina, and Diane says, that much is apparent. He says he’s thrilled that Nina and his girls have a relationship, but for him to be thinking they’re going to raise Donna is a non-starter. She says, because Carly is not going to prison, and he says, that’s why she’s here. So they can strategize and figure out how they can insure that. Is she done poking around in his personal life? She says she can talk about Carly’s case in the hypothetical. How’s that? He says he’ll take it, and she says, hypothetically speaking, the SEC is putting together a strong case against Carly. He asks, how strong? and she says, it’s her belief that the SEC can prove Carly was involved in insider trading. If the case goes to trial, Carly will lose. He says, then the case can’t go to trial, can it?

Carly tells Dante that she hates that her family is divided, but she won’t pretend to be okay with Sonny’s choices. He says he gets that, and she says, specifically, the way he sided with Nina going after Michael and Willow. She knows Dante doesn’t want to talk about that, and Dante says, everything went downhill pretty much from the visitation hearing, right? She says, right, and then she didn’t tell Willow that Nina was her mother, and Sonny got all upset about that. He says, that’s understandable. Regardless of how she feels about Nina, Sonny cares about her, and if she’s hurting, he’s going to be hurt too. Carly tells him that she and Sonny are pretty far apart, but when she realized he was the one who helped her last night, she wasn’t really surprised.

Sam tells Nina that Willow is worried sick about Carly, but not only for Michael’s sake, but Willow and Carly have forged a relationship. Carly has become a friend, a mentor. Nina says, Carly has become the mother that Willow has never had.

Michael tells Willow that he’s gone through a lot of trouble, and someone in particular took a lot of risk to get this footage, and she says she understands. He says, this isn’t doctored; this isn’t a set-up. It’s proof his father was involved in illegal arms dealing, a violation of Federal laws. Why shouldn’t he be brought to justice? She says, because it will hurt a lot of people Michael loves, specifically his little sisters. He says he’s thought about that, and she says, really? What will Avery and Donna do if their father is in prison, especially if Carly’s there too? Avery will have Ava, but Donna will have no one. He says, that’s not going to happen, but she says, he doesn’t know that, and he says, he’ll move heaven and earth to make sure his mom doesn’t go down on insider trading charges. Donna is not going to be alone. If anything, if Sonny’s in prison, his sisters are going to be a lot safer. She asks if he really thinks his sisters are in danger, and he says, everybody in Sonny’s orbit is. And he knows his father does everything in his power to protect his family, and more often than not he’s successful, but even if Donna and Avery are physically safe, eventually, they’re going to find out their father – she says, who they love – is breaking the law. He’s doing things that they have to pretend they don’t see or hear. She says, they’ll become complicit in Sonny’s way of life, and he says, just like it was with him and Morgan. He doesn’t want that for his sisters. She says, those are all valid points… He says he’s sensing a but here, and she says, but if he turns Sonny in, Donna and Avery don’t only lose their father, they lose him too.

Josslyn tells Dex that she’s known Spencer for such a long time, and for most of that time, they were fighting. Dex asks, about what? and she says, everything. He was an entitled, spoiled kid who liked things his way. He says, no wonder they clashed; they were two of a kind. He’s kidding. She says she will admit she was indulged as a kid and liked things her way. She still does, but at her worst, she was maybe a seven. He says, and Spencer? and she says, off the charts. He says, but she liked him, and she says she couldn’t help it. When Spencer wasn’t… Spencer, he was fun. He kept things entertaining. Dex says he could see that, and she says she just can’t wrap her head around the fact that funny, infuriating kid she grew up with could be gone. He holds her.

Trina tells Ace that she knew it. She knew Spencer was still alive. Can she tell him something about his big brother? He can be a real pain in the a… butt, but he’s definitely worth it. She flashes back to telling Spencer that she wishes she could wake up and have these past few days just be a bad dream, and he says, the past few years for him. He’d change everything, except coming back to Port Charles, because he wouldn’t have met her. She remembers seeing him at Pier 54, and him saying, the only thing he knows for sure is that he wants her in his life. She flashes back to telling him that she doesn’t know who she is anymore, and him saying, he does. She’s the sweetest, smartest, bravest person he knows. She remembers their first kiss, and him telling her to be careful on the Haunted Star. She tells Ace, definitely.

Valentin walks around Victor’s body, and says he’s standing here wondering what he’s supposed to say. A word of regret? Some wish that things could have been different between them? He doesn’t think so. Victor always said he watched over Valentin from afar while he was young. He’s grateful. Grateful Victor stayed away. He was a full-grown man by the time he learned he was Victor’s son. He’s grateful he wasn’t raised by Victor. He’s grateful for the family name, which, as of today, is no longer Victor’s; it’s his. And he’ll make sure it’s one that future generations of Cassadines can be proud of. But mostly he’s grateful that he never has to think about Victor again, and this is the last time he says it – goodbye, father. He walks out.

Carly says she and Sonny have always come through for each other, and Dante says, even when they couldn’t stand each other. She says, it’s comforting to know that hasn’t changed; that she can count on Sonny if she needs him.

Nina says, it still boggles her mind, and Sam asks, which part? Nina says, the whole thing. This devotion to Carly, even though Carly withheld information that could have spared Willow this entire ordeal. Think about it. If Carly had told her and Willow the truth that they were mother and daughter, they could have started testing for donors when Willow was diagnosed with leukemia, and her Aunt Liesl could have been identified as a match months ago. And Willow wouldn’t be on death’s door. Sam says she understands Nina sees it that way, but Willow doesn’t. In Willow’s eyes, Carly has been nothing but kind, loving, and supportive. She accepts Willow just as she is. Nina says, and she hasn’t? and Sam says, from Willow’s perspective, no. Nina cries, and says, she’s made mistakes. She’s made a lot of mistakes, but she’s still Willow’s mother. Sam says, sometimes knowing that makes things worse.

Willow says, if Michael turns Sonny in, and he gets arrested, is he planning to hide his involvement? Michael says, no. He’s not a hypocrite. He’s going to tell Sonny and his family about his involvement. She says, that’s exactly what she thought, and exactly why he can’t do it. When Sonny gets sent to prison, Michael’s siblings are going to blame him, and hate him for it. Maybe not Dante. He understands the complexity of the situation, but Kristina… He says, Kristina adores their dad; he can do no wrong as far as she’s concerned. She says, and Avery and Donna. All they’ll understand is that daddy’s gone, and it’s Michael’s fault. At best, they’ll be conflicted and confused, and at worst, they’ll turn away from him. That can’t happen. Those little girls need him too much. The whole family does.

Sonny tells Diane, at this point, no charges have been filed; no arrests have been made, right? She says, because the Feds want to wait to move forward until they’ve had a chance to talk to Drew, and he says, so there’s still an opportunity to make this go away. He’ll put out some feelers and contact some people. She says, he has contacts with the ability to suppress a Federal case? and he says, it’s not a case yet. They’re still in the preliminary investigation stage, right? She says, so he thinks with just the right amount of pressure, the Feds will say, forget it. We’ll just make this go away? He says, it’s possible, but she says, it’s not. He asks, why? and she says, it’s way too late for that. The Feds were acting on a tip from a legitimate source, and now they have uncovered evidence to corroborate the allegations. You can’t walk that back. He says, you do if you discredit the source, and she says, of course (🍷), but they don’t know who the source is. He says, so let’s find out.

Carly tells Dante, the strings Sonny had to pull on her behalf, she doesn’t expect it from him. But if he has any information he can share, that would be great. He says he doesn’t have the SEC’s notes or know what evidence they have, so he can’t say anything with certainty. She says, if he had to guess? and he says, if he had to guess, they’re moving pretty fast, he’d say they have a case. She guesses she has to talk to Diane to see if she can beat this thing, and he says, for the record, he hopes she can too. If there’s anything he can do – legally – he’ll be happy to help. She says, thanks.

Sam says, when she found out Alexis was her mother, it wasn’t welcomed news, and Nina asks if they didn’t get along. Sam says, not at all. In fact, she resented the implication that just because they were related, she had to instantly love Alexis. Nina says, they love each other now. How did they get there? Sam says, time… shared experience… a lot of trial and error for her and Alexis to form that mother/daughter bond. Nina says, time might not be something she and Willow ever have, and Sam says she bets Carly could help Nina with that.

Willow says, she and Michael talked about this when she asked him to invite Sonny to the wedding. Does he remember what he said? He tells her that he said Avery and Donna were more important than anything going on between him and his father. She asks if that’s changed, but he says, no. It’s just the opposite. Can’t she see that he’s doing this to protect his sisters? She says she can understand the argument that they’re better off without Sonny, but he’ll never convince her that they’re better off without him. They count on him. He says he’s not going anywhere, and she says, physically maybe, but in order to lean on him, his sisters need to trust him. They need to know that he’d never do anything to hurt them. No matter how he looks at it, sending their father away will hurt them. Not only that, it will draw a line in the sand that can never be erased. It will make Donna and Avery feel that by loving Sonny, they’re betraying him. Don’t do this to them. Don’t make them choose between him and their father.

Diane says, Sonny cannot compel the SEC to reveal the source of their tip, and he says, so this person screws Carly and Drew and gets off scot-free? She says, the bigger problem is the timeline and corroborating evidence. Carly made a substantial purchase of Aurora stock right before the proposed merger with ELQ. It drove the stock price up, and had the merger gone through, she would have made a fortune. He says, but it didn’t go through, and Diane says, it doesn’t matter. Carly was in possession of privileged information thanks to her personal relationship with Drew, and that can be corroborated. And that is the textbook definition of insider trading. He says he doesn’t see how it benefits the SEC to take Carly down. She lost a lot of money on the deal, and she’s not like a hedge fund manager or a corporate CEO… but Drew is.

Josslyn says she knows Dex doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Spencer, and he says they couldn’t stand each other, but he understands there’s a side of Spencer that he didn’t get to see. She asks if they’re really talking about him in the past tense, and he says, tell him about when Spencer came back to Port Charles. She says, he was a real peach. He was cynical and bitter, almost willfully shallow. He’d put up this wall around him. Trina was able to break through it. He says, brave girl, and she says, Trina saw another version of Spencer. She gave him chance after chance; she believed in him. So much so, she followed him on to the Haunted Star, and now they’re here. She’s going to be so devastated if he’s really gone. She can’t help thinking, why does she get to be the lucky one?

Valentin tells Trina, it’s time to go, and she says, where? The agent says, Mr. Ashford has been debriefed, and he’s already on the plane, and Valentin says, they’ve been cleared to leave Port Charles. She says, they can’t just leave without Spencer, and the agent says, the odds are… Valentin says, they’ve searched the wreckage, and she tells him, then search it again. This baby is totally cracking me up. He’s watching them talk like it’s a tennis match. Baby acting! Valentin says, there are no survivors; just bodies waiting to be identified. She says, he’s wrong. Spencer’s alive. They have to keep looking for him. Valentin says, they’ll keep looking, and she says, good. Then they’ll wait. The agent leaves, and Valentin says, Trina needs to take Ace back to his mother. Her loved ones are waiting for her as well. She says she can’t leave him. He made it. She would feel it if he didn’t. Spencer’s alive. He says, there’s nothing more to do here. It’s time to go home.

Nina says, Carly would never help her, and Sam wonders if Nina has ever asked. Instead of constantly going on the defensive, and doing tit for tat over who’s more wrong, has she ever thought of stepping back and saying, I’m sorry and I need your help? It’s just her opinion. She wishes Nina good luck, and leaves.

On the phone, Dante asks if the SEC guys are still there… Any idea where they went?… All right. Thanks. Sam walks over to him, and kisses him. She asks who he was talking to, and he says, the other woman. He was helping Carly out with something. She says, that’s nice of him, and he says he’s a nice guy. Carly and his dad might be at odds, but family’s family. She says she loves him, he says he loves her too, and they kiss.

Carly and Nina come face to face in front of the elevator.

Willow says, Michael also has to consider his own children. Doesn’t he want Wiley and Amelia to grow up with Donna and Avery? He says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says, then don’t create a rift between them. She’s not asking him to forgive Sonny, or even make peace. But she grew up without a family, which makes her realize how precious theirs is. she realizes that may make her sound hypocritical given her stance on Nina… He says, the two situations are completely different, and she says, she and Nina have never had a relationship; not a good one anyway. Them being estranged doesn’t affect anyone; there’s no collateral damage. With him and Sonny, it affects everyone Michael loves, and she totally believes that keeping their family whole is more important than bringing Sonny to justice. There’s a knock at the door, and Deanna says she has good news. Drew Cain and Dr. Obrecht just landed, and they’re on their way to GH. Time to get Willow prepped for the first step of the transplant. Michael says, it’s time to save Willow’s life.

Sonny says, the Feds are after Drew; Carly’s the leverage. Diane says, that may explain why they were so willing to release her last night when they got a location on Drew. Who, let us not forget, is the CEO and major shareholder of Aurora. He’s the one who broke confidentiality. He’s the one who violated SEC rules when he told Carly about the merger in the first place. He asks if she thinks they’re going to give Carly a deal to give up Drew, and she says, if they do, does he think Carly will take it? He says, one step at a time. First things first. Let’s wait and see if that deal is on the table. She says, once again, she is representing Carly, not him, and he says, anything he does is in Carly’s best interest. She says she has to wonder. If the situation were reversed and he was the one facing Federal charges, does he think Carly would be doing all this for him? He says, no doubt.

Josslyn tells Dex that she and Trina both took chances this year; big ones. Trina fell for Spencer… He says, and? and she asks if he’s going to make her say it. He says, yes, ma’am, and she says, and she fell for him. He says, that makes him the lucky one, but she says she thinks it makes them both lucky. And once Michael turns in the evidence Dex got him against Sonny, Sonny will be arrested. Dex says, they both know that’s not going to happen overnight. He doubts Michael is thinking about anything except Willow undergoing her transplant. She says she’ll wait as long as it takes, because at the end, he’ll be free, and they can figure out what they mean to each other out in the real world. He says, out in the wild, and they laugh. She says, there’s a chance Trina and Spencer never will, and snuggles back into his arms.

Outside, Laura, Trina, and Valentin holding the baby follow the agent. They hear something, and Trina says, Spencer? Spencer walks out from behind a rock, and even though he’s limping, she launches herself into his arms, wrapping her legs and arms around him. She must be a featherweight, since she doesn’t knock him over. Everyone is thrilled, and Spencer and Trina kiss. Maybe she’s a gymnast, since he’s no longer gripping her around the waist, and it’s like she’s suspended on him.

Tomorrow, Sam tells Dante, for someone’s sake, she’s willing to make the effort; Tracy asks about the crisis no one told her about; Willow says, this could be the last time she holds Michael’s hand; and Nina begs Carly for help.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Iggy Marina, Portisco. Gary kisses Mads in the hot tub, while Alex stumbles around the crew mess trying to eat. Colin tells Alex, everybody’s gone to bed. In Colin’s interview, he says, leaving your girl in the hot tub with Gary is like waving a banana in front of a monkey and expecting him not to eat it. A rookie error.

In the morning, Lucy curses her life, and Colin asks if anyone hooked up. Chase says he’s done with the lady situation, and in Alex’s interview, he says he thinks he drank too much. He’s pretty sure he blacked out, and thinks he f***ed up his chances with Mads. It hurts. Colin asks Gary how was his first crew night out? What did he do? Mads tells Lucy that she and Gary hooked up, and Lucy asks if it was long or passionate, but in her interview, she makes a face, and says, that’s just gross. I concur. Mads says she wishes she’d made out with other people, and Gary tells Colin that they kissed, and he feels bad off today. Colin says, Gary does it again, and Chase joins them. Glenn asks how everyone is feeling, and Alex says, delightful. They start turning the boat around, and Glenn calls  Gary, Ileisha, and Daisy for the preference sheet meeting.

It’s charter three, and Glenn says, the primary is John, a serial entrepreneur. (Ugh.) He’s bringing his family and friends to celebrate the launch of his new book. His girlfriend Natalia is allergic to dairy, and doesn’t want sea food, and friend TJ wants no fried food or meat. Glenn says, it’s going to be tough, and Daisy reads that they want a steak-tastic dinner (I guess not for TJ unless it’s portabella) with a 90s theme, a formal dinner, and post dinner, they want a drink and gelato station. Gary reads that they want to go to the beach, and have some games. He tells Daisy that any time the guests are going on the tender, he wants somebody from interior on service. Daisy says, serving beer and wine is pretty basic, and they can do a lot on the boat, but Glenn says, it’s the same with the deckhands. If all the guests are off the boat, they can afford to send someone. It speaks to a higher level of service. In Glenn’s interview, he says, if he noticed things need adjustments, he’s going to challenge his team to make adjustments. We flash back to Glenn freaking out about no ice on the tender when it was in the ice bucket, and he says he wants the guests feel waited on hand and foot. Glenn tells them, let’s get cracking.

Gary asks how Mads feels, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, oh, one of those. He had fun, and he’s not trying to start drama. In his interview, he says he’s not going to embarrass her if she doesn’t like talking in the aftermath. Chase complains about there being so much hair in the jacuzzi, and my stomach turns. Colin asks if Daisy made out, but she says she’s not hooking up; she’s staying away from everyone. What are his plans? He says, the stews are too young and the chef has a boyfriend, but he doesn’t find them attractive that way… or her. They flirt without flirting. Gary tells Alex that he hooked up with Mads, but they just kissed. If Alex is into her, he’ll back off. Alex says, no, he’s good, and in his interview, Alex says he doesn’t know why Gary is choosing to tell him this. What does Gary want him to say? Thanks for hooking up with the girl he likes?  

Mads talks to Alex about kissing Gary, and he says, they’ve all got little first officer in them; her literally. In Mads’s interview, she says she’d rather not have made out with Gary, but Alex was very drunk, and a girl needs her needs met. While chatting with some of the others on deck, Ileisha says, she used to be able bend over backwards, and apparently, she still can because she demonstrates a backbend. In her interview, she says she grew up in a small town where there was a circus. She was in love with it, and part of it from when she was nine to thirteen, but it didn’t get to the extent where she traveled all over the world. She tells the others that it was called the Spaghetti Circus, and she was great on the unicycle. Gary asks Chase to do anchor watch, giving him 12 to 7:30 am, and in Chase’s interview, he says, he needs a break from Gary’s bitching that he’s doing everything wrong. He welcomes the shift where he can fly under the radar. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Provisions come in and it’s 25 minutes to guest arrival.

As the guests board the boat, primary John takes his shirt off, and in Lucy’s interview, she says, he’s giving her high school d-bag vibes. Daisy gives the tour, and Glenn tells Gary to have a guy follow them in the tender when they pull out. John says, everything in Italy is smaller, and he felt like he was going to break things. Appetizers are served; some appealing little smoked salmon roll-ups that I very much would like to taste. Gary grumbles to Daisy that he doesn’t think the tender would be able to tow the boat, and gets all moody, mumbling that he’ll need one of the girls. In Daisy’s interview, she says, Gary thinks he’s f***ing with her after Glenn implied she wasn’t doing her job well. Gary thinks she’s sexy when she’s angry, but she’s pissed, and not feeling sexy.

The sails go up, and guest Natalia says she’s wanted to do this her entire life. Glenn radios Daisy that they’re starting to sail, and things move and slide. John’s son Jacob says, this is awesome; it’s so sick. Guest Anastasia gives Glenn John’s gold chain, saying, John insists he wear it. Jacob requests a cookies and cream milkshake, guest TJ asks for a grilled cheese, and several different drinks are ordered. In Lucy’s interview, she says, it’s too much right now, and Daisy says she thinks they’re going to ask for everything under the sun. One of the guests asks for SPF, and John asks where his espresso martini is. In Daisy’s interview, she says, nobody sees how many directions she’s being pulled in. F*** off. The sails come down, Chase farts, and anchor is dropped. John says they’d like to do water sports, and Daisy relays the message to Gary. She tells the stews that it’s a 90s theme tonight. She doesn’t know how to do the 90s, and suggests they dress up like the Spice Girls. She’s going to make Gary do it since he pissed her off. Some of the guests use the e-foils, and Gary gives Jacob a lesson. Daisy tells Lucy that she has no time for a break, but she’s going to try and take one tomorrow. Daisy tells Gary that they’re doing the Spice Girls, and he thinks it’s a good idea. She says, he and Alex will be participating, and they’re like, no, but she says, thanks. She appreciates it. Jacob and TJ collide on their boards, and Glenn asks if they’re all right. Jacob is fine, but TJ is bleeding, and Gary washes the wound, then goes to get gauze.

Gary says, TJ got quite a knock, and Glenn suggests he have a seat and relax. In Gary’s interview, he says, they have miles of ocean to play in, and Glenn makes sure TJ didn’t lose consciousness. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, every course will have two options; one for vegetarians. She loves making dairy free and vegetarian dishes because that’s what she likes to eat. When the guests have restrictions, she brings out her party tricks. Gary bandages TJ’s head, and Glenn calls the medic come take a look. He tells Daisy that the medic will be here in an hour, so maybe dinner should be later. TJ says he’s retiring from water sprots. The stews blow up gold balloon letters for the 90s theme, and hang them up. Medic Conor arrives, and tells TJ that he’s going to need stitches because the wound is still bleeding. TJ leaves for the hospital with guest Lauren, and Daisy tells Ileisha, there are two less for dinner. There will be no vegetarians. Ileisha wonders what she’s doing now. Gary tells Glenn that he thinks TJ will be okay, and Glenn says, but it’s not fun. Well, yeah. John says, Jacob knocked out a guest, and wants to invite Gary to join them for dinner. In her interview, Daisy says, is this f***Int happening right now? After a day like today, serving Gary is a sick joke.

Since Gary is busy dressing like Sporty Spice, Daisy asks the guests if tomorrow is okay. They’re good with that, and in her interview, she says, f*** if he’s having dinner on her watch. Not today. Daisy tells the servers not to put dirty plates on clean plates. Let’s not do that. Let’s use our brain. Gary tells Colin that Mads doesn’t want to talk about the other night. Maybe she’s into Alex; maybe it was just because they were the last ones left. Colin says, last man standing, and Gary says, exactly. Daisy radios for Gary and Colin to come help serve, and Gary says, when Daisy calls, Gary listens. When Gary calls, Daisy does not give a sh*t. Glenn tells the guests that there’s nothing to report yet; TJ just got to the hospital. Daisy tells them to gather on the flybridge, and in Chase’s interview, he says, Gary isn’t exactly Sporty Spice. More like Old Spice or Hairy Spice. Daisy announces to the guests, all the way from London, they’ve brought in the Spice Girls to dance for them. I have to admit, the Spice Girls are my not-so guilty pleasure – I saw them twice and I love them! They put on an amazing show, but it’s doubtful all five will ever get together again. In Lucy’s interview, she says she’s finding the guys in dresses both hot and not her jam. Gary says he used to be ripped once upon a time. Now he’s just a creepy uncle. Glenn gets a text from Conor that TJ is in the waiting room. Did they go to an NYC ER? In the morning, they still haven’t come back, and when John checks the empty cabin, he says, what the f***? He asks if Chase knows what’s up, but Chase says, he has no idea; no one filled him in. In Glenn’s interview, he says he’s worried wondering if this guy is okay. John tries to call TJ’s phone, but gets a recording saying his call can’t be completed as dialed. Chase apologizes for waking Glenn, but says, the primary is up, and TJ and Lauren still haven’t come back. In his interview, Glenn asks, what the hell happened? Why are they still in the hospital 12 hours later? In this case, no news is not good news. John says, this is a disaster, and tries TJ’s phone again, but gets the same recording.

John says, OMFG. Now he’s worried. There must be a reason they’re not back. TJ finally calls, and says he’s okay. There were a ton of people, but they’ve got to call his name at some point. Sooner rather than later, he’ll be ready to rage. Conor texts Glenn that they’re just getting in to see the doctor, and he’ll keep Glenn posted. Glenn gives John the update, and says, he’ll be back on board soon. For breakfast, there are, among a million other things, Nutella strawberry crepes, and I’m mystified how they can make stuff that’s unappetizing to me sound so good. Lauran calls John, and says, they’re done. TJ says, he got stitches with an anesthetic, and John asks Daisy if they can have food waiting when Lauren and TJ get back. Daisy says, of course, and tells Ileisha that they’d like a spread for when they get back. Daisy decides to send Lucy to the beach. God forbid the guests drop a crudité and there’s no stew to pick it up. Glenn says, the water taxi is approaching, and Gary leaves to take Alex and Lucy to the beach to set up. Glenn says he’s glad TJ is okay, and tells him that Daisy is bringing them food. He asks if they’ll be going to the beach, but Lauren wants to take a nap first, so John suggest they wait until she’s up. On the beach, Lucy wonders who invented wind, and in Daisy’s interview, she says she’s pretty sure Lucy is doing f*** all while they’re busting their asses. Lucy and Alex lie on the beach, and she asks if they should make a sandcastle or write welcome. Alex suggests they write SOS. Daisy says she’s thisclose to having a meltdown, and in her interview, she says she feels like she’s drowning. She can’t get things under control. If she pushes too many things down, she’ll crumble, and she feels so beaten down. TJ calls for Daisy, but she’s crying in the bathroom.

Next time, John complains; Lucy burns a guest’s dress with the iron; Colin tells Gary that he made a d*ck move; Glenn says, they don’t have to work harder, but have to work smarter; Chase says, all the departments are imploding, and he’s glad he’s not the boss.

Summer House

In Lindsay’s interview, she says she never thought she’d get married to anyone, but Carl is the most beautiful human being ever. He’s the sweetest soul. Sorry girls, he’s off the market now. Kyle gathers everyone together, and tells them, at this very moment, Carl is on one knee, proposing. The housemates aren’t going to the beach. They’re going to Dockers to congratulate and toast to Carl and Lindsay. He doesn’t think Lindsay knew, and Paige wonders if that’s why Carl was in the hospital. Kyle says, Carl flew in Lindsay’s dad and stepmom. It’s their first time in the Hamptons. Danielle says she’s glad she was included. Really f***ing cool. It says a lot without saying anything. Because complaining about that isn’t enough, she says, and now she’s got to show up in dungarees. Paige has to explain to some of the others, that dungarees means jeans, and Danielle says, that’s why she was pushed away. Everything she’s done for this friendship. It’s f***ed up. Beyond crazy. Mya gives Danielle a hug, and Gabby comes around the other side. Danielle says, it’s so f***ed up. Not even a text from Carl. She can’t give up more tears for those a-holes. She tells Kyle that she was cut out of the entire engagement, and Kyle suggests salvaging the friendship, but Danielle says, there’s nothing left. This is the final straw. In Danielle’s interview, she says, that’s all Lindsay thinks of their friendship. For however many summers, Lindsay has been her girl, and Danielle has been rooting her, especially when it comes to men. We flash back to Lindsay telling Danielle about Carl fingerbanging her, and I cringe. In another flashback, Lindsay she’s done with Stephen, the guy who she had the fight with about the sandwich. Danielle says, Lindsay finally found her Prince Charming, and she got no part in it, just because she gave a not over-the-moon supportive opinion about the relationship. It breaks her heart. Outside, Mya is telling Ciara about the engagement, when Danielle comes flying out crying. She tells Mya that she’s so pissed off, and Mya says, let’s talk to Ciara. Danielle says, she had no idea, and Ciara says, that’s weird to her. Mya says, everyone is in a state of shock, and in Ciara’s interview, she says, if Craig was proposing to Paige, and didn’t tell her, she’d beat him to death. She says she thinks it’s rude, and Danielle says, it reiterates they don’t give f*** about her. Inside, Andrea says he’s happy for Carl and Lindsay, but has no idea what’s going on. In Sam’s interview, she says she’s blown away be the volume of Danielle’s rection. She’s super happy, but she’ll be happy over here. Chris thinks Danielle needs to process everything, and Kyle says he’s not helping. He doesn’t know what to say. Danielle sobs, and says she doesn’t want to interact with them ever again. At the beach, Lindsay says, now she’ll be calling Carl her fiancé. Then she calls him babe. I told you they don’t know each other’s names. He says his heart is full, but racing, and in Carl’s interview, he says, he flew in Lindsay’s dad and stepmom to fly in, and her best girlfriend from DC and her husband. It’s all a surprise. The timing for his parents didn’t work out, but the focus is on Lindsay and her family and friends. Chris tells Paige that he knew, and Paige can’t believe that Carl told Chris, but not Danielle. Kyle says, let’s go, and producer Nathan – breaking the fourth wall – tells Danielle that she doesn’t have to go, but Danielle says she’ll never forgive herself if she doesn’t. She looks in the mirror and says, I can do it, about a thousand times. And for my thousandth time, I can’t believe these people are so dramatic at their age. I never once had, or know of any of my friends having, a situation like this. All this angst over someone’s engagement.

The housemates go to the restaurant, and Danielle says hello to Lindsay’s dad and stepmom. Andrea’s girlfriend Lexi  is there, and Danielle says, she was told absolutely nothing. She then tells anyone who will listen or within earshot, even though their friendship wasn’t the greatest, she only learned about the engagement an hour ago, and doesn’t think she deserves what’s going down. Some chick named Dannia tells her to snap out of it. She can’t make this about herself. Danielle insists she’s not; she’s just saying. Mya says she’s worried about Danielle, and Sam says she is too. Paige says, she shouldn’t be doing that here. Carl and Lindsay arrive, and Carl remarks how packed the parking lot is. Danielle says, this is the last straw, when Lindsay and Carl come in. Lindsay is all surprised, hugs her dad, cries, and gets on with showing off the ring. Mya tells Danielle that she’s doing a great job, and Lindsay tells everyone how she had no clue Carl was going to propose. In Paige’s interview, she says, Lindsay wore shoulder pads to the beach. She knew she was getting proposed to. She curled her hair. She’s proud of Lindsay. Be prepared, girl. Paige asks Sam when she thinks Kory is going to ask her to be exclusive, but Sam says she doesn’t know as he will. Paige says, he’s telling other people, and in Sam’s interview, she says, it’s making her nervous. They’re approaching the place where she can get hurt, and that’s when she usually pumps the brakes. She doesn’t want to f*** this up. Kyle calls Amanda, and tells her about Lindsay’s engagement. Lindsay gets on the phone, and Amanda brings the pups with her on screen. She says she’s excited and happy for them. Carl goes to the bar with Kyle, and Kyle says he’s proud of Carl. He’s excited for Carl. Carl’s been through a lot this summer, and hasn’t let it cloud his excitement and happiness. Kyle knows it’s the real deal. He might have given Danielle a heads up though. Her reaction was emotional because she assumed she should have been in the know. It hurt her that she was left completely in the dark. Carl says, given how things have gone, he wants to let Danielle and Lindsay sort out what they need to, and Kyle asks if it’s about them, or about Carl and Lindsay. A bunch of people come back to the house, and Paige calls Craig. She tells him about Danielle getting upset, and says, it got awkward. Danielle made sure everyone knew.

Sunday. Danielle shuffles into Mya’s room, and wonders why her life is such a disheveled mess right now. Carl passes out football jerseys that say Vixens and Villains, along with neon green ties for the guys. Danielle whines that she doesn’t want to make it about her, but Paige says, it’s too late. Everyone gets ready to go to the beach, and Sam says, the thought of having to run makes her want to die. At the beach, Andrea sets up cones for the parameters. Lindsay says, everything is perfect, and Carl tells her about Kyle saying he should have given Danielle a heads up; she was hurt that she wasn’t in the loop. He’d told her that he was going ring shopping, but he didn’t tell the girls anything. Lindsay tells him not to feel defensive or like he needs to justify who he told. It’s not about Danielle, and of all people, Danielle should be clear on why she’s not involved. She’s not entertaining this topic any longer. She tells him not to apologize. He owes no one anything.

They play pseudo football, and Sam tells Kory that she didn’t ask the girls to grill him. Mya said he likes her, so tell her in his own words what he’d like the plan to be. Kory says he’d like to hang out and keep seeing each other, and see what happens. She says, her too, and in Kory’s interview, he says, for some reason, he finds it hard to talk about his emotions. He freezes and sweats, and doesn’t know what to say. He’s always trying to be the cool guy, but he doesn’t want to do that with Sam. He sees this as bigger than a Hamptons summer fling.

Back home, Gabby goes to meet a date, and in her interview, she says, Matt is her first blind date, technically. She usually stalks them online first, and this is completely new territory for her. She’s a control freak, but she’s decided to throw caution to the winds, and let fate decide. They talk dogs and top ten lists, and Matt seems cool. Kyle says he missed Amanda’s doctor’s appointment, and she says she had bloodwork and an ultrasound. Her estrogen is lower than average, and reflects someone who’s postmenopausal. Low estrogen causes shifts in mood, headaches, and depression, as well as trouble concentrating and fatigue. Kyle says, that’s spot on, and she says she’s going to see an endocrinologist. She feels relief that she can start feeling like herself again. She knew something wasn’t right. In her interview, she says, since going off birth control, she’s been dealing with a lot. There’s nothing worse than knowing something’s not right. Knowing the reason and that there are things to help makes her feel validated. She tells Kyle that she asked if it would interfere with having a baby, and the doctor said she wasn’t infertile, although it might be more difficult to get pregnant. She asks how long he’s keeping the mullet, and he says he thinks it’s hitting its stride. He thinks it’s his ego now, not just his alter ego.

On the way there, Paige tells Craig that she feels like she’s the one who gets most notoriously drunk on Labor Day weekend. He says, all the couples are in a different place. Carl and Lindsay are getting married. Sam and Kory sound like… Paige says, they’re going to start dating, and he says, and they’re working toward blending their life courses to a collective course. Robert joins Danielle at the house for the weekend, and on the way there, Gabby tells Mya and Ciara about her date. She met him through a friend of friend, and they went to a steakhouse, but he’s a vegetarian. She’s keeping an open mind. They all keep talking about how it’s the last weekend, and I say, thank God. Robert says he sent a text to Carl and Lindsay. They could have just explained that they’re not as good friends, but now it seems malicious. In Danielle’s interview, she says, Robert is boiling. He knows she’s hurting, and wants to have her back… which is hot. Kyle thinks Carl’s biggest fear is pissing off Lindsay, and that had he involved Danielle, Lindsay would be pissed. Lindsay and Carl arrive, and Lindsay goes immediately to the kitchen to make a pineapple upside down cake. She just wants to enjoy the weekend and have fun. In her interview, she says she has zero interest in Danielle. All week, her friends told her in detail how Danielle complained about not being included. Danielle acted the fool, and made her engagement – the happiest moment of her life – about herself. It’s the icing on top of what she’s already done. They’re not just not best friends anymore; they’re not friends. She’s done. Carl tells Kyle that it’s been a whirlwind week. They had literally 400 texts to answer. Kyle tells him to bask in the glory, and Carl says that he didn’t go out of his way not to tell Danielle. In Carl’s interview, he says, he knew Danielle before anyone else. She’s seen him at his worst and still been cool with him. He loves her, and wants to extend an olive branch, but they’re hurt too. A separation is okay. He tells Kyle that he thinks it’s sad to have to choose Kyle says he just wanted Carl to see it from her side. When the time comes, and they’re talking, it might help in how they’re talking. Carl worries that there’s a breaking point in some friendships.

They dress up and head out to a restaurant with private cabanas outside. Robert talks to Carl, and Danielle says she wants to be available and ready in case Robert wants to go. Sam says she can physically feel the discomfort. Carl tells Robert that the engagement was exciting, but it’s been a lot, and Robert says he’s happy for them. A lot happened, and Danielle wondered why he didn’t tell her. She was the last one to know, and it’s kind of embarrassing. Carl says he sees that, but he didn’t tell the girls in the house anything. Robert says, Danielle isn’t a girl in the house. She took a glass to the chest for Lindsay, and the last time Lindsay had a breakup, Danielle was there to pick up the pieces. Them finally being happy is just as important to Danielle as it is to Lindsay, and Lindsay is throwing all that away because of an uncomfortable summer. Carl says he feels bad, but Lindsay isn’t comfortable talking to Danielle about the relationship. Robert asks if it’s about his and Danielle’s relationship, or Lindsay and Danielle? and Carl says, because of the tension, they haven’t talk much. Robert says he wants them to be happy, but now they’re just two people who got engaged who he and Danielle knew at one time. Carl says he needs to take a break, and leaves. Kyle looks stunned, and Danielle goes over to Robert. Robert says he told Carl that they want him and Lindsay to be happy, but it hurts that they can’t be happy with them. Kyle finds Carl, who says he’s done with this sh*t. He doesn’t want any cameras. Kyle says, give him a second, and Carl says, no f***ing cameras, giving the finger to it.

Congratulations to Danielle, who I once thought was the normal one in the house, but this week, gets the award for most awful.

To be continued…

🌻 Ready To Spring Into Summer…

Come back tomorrow for soap and another group of awful people from New Jersey. Until then, stay safe, stay cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen (unless you live alone, then be a slob if you want to), and stay not making someone else’s engagement party – or any other party that’s not yours – about you.

May 1, 2023 – Anna and Holly Head For Greenland, Gary Is An Awful Person With a Man Bun On Deck, Carl Panic Attacks Himself Into the Hospital & First

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

A huge crate comes into the warehouse, and a guy we’ll just call Mr. P tells a guard to bring in the others, but Sonny says, not yet. Last time he did something for Pikeman, he was ambushed at his own warehouse. Let’s talk about that.

Somewhere in Greenland. Obrecht looks at some slides, and Victor comes in, since he won’t let her work in peace. I’m not sure how he expects anyone to get anything done when he’s interrupting them all the time. He asks her to give him some good news, and she says, the antigen is sound. He asks why she doesn’t sound more upbeat about it, and she says, the antidote is uncertain and you won’t stop bugging my ass. Without it, those he has marked for survival may perish. A significant roadblock, no? He says, that’s the thing about roadblocks. You just have to find your way around them, and he has complete faith she can do just that. She says she can find workarounds, but these things take time. He says, that’s the one thing none of them have, especially not her great niece Willow.

Outside, a guard says, let’s go back, and the other says, sounds good to him. As they’re about to leave, the phone Valentin dropped starts to ring, and one guard asks if the other heard that. Valentin pops out from behind the rock, and they tell him, don’t move.

Martin meets Nina at the MetroCourt, and she thanks him for coming straight from the airport. How is his mom? He says, his mom is high-spirited and happy, and thanks her for asking. He just wishes he could say the same thing as for his sister. Nina says, she must be going through it. Nina also has someone she loves trapped on the Haunted Star, and it’s been non-stop fear. Martin says, Laura hasn’t answered any of his calls today. He’s going over to her place after they take care of business. That being said, what was so important that Nina had to see him the minute he landed? She says she asked him to inform the SEC about Carly and Drew’s insider trading, and he says, what of it? She says she needs him to call it off.

Carly goes back to the Quartermaine mansion, and Michael lets her in. She hugs him, and says she feels awful for ruining Willow’s big night. He says he and Willow are married; tonight is far from ruined. Besides, it’s not her fault; it’s Ned’s fault. She asks if Ned actually admitted turning them in, and Michael says, of course (🍷) not, but if it wasn’t Ned, who would have gone to the SEC?

Martin tells Nina that the SEC isn’t Wyndham’s. They don’t have a return policy on criminal behavior. She says, that’s what she figured, but she thought she’d ask, and he says, now it’s his turn. What’s with the second thoughts? She says, there are just some things she hadn’t fully considered with regard to potential fallout. He says, that might be, but he’s sorry. This is a done deal. She says, this could be a lot of worrying for nothing. There’s no guarantee the SEC is going to act on the anonymous tip that he left anytime soon, or at all. He says, actually, he thinks she’ll find the government has exceeded their expectations. He got a call from a friend of his about Carly. She was there at the police station tonight, being interviewed by the SEC.

Mr. P says, Pikeman was alarmed and dismayed to hear about the attempt on Sonny’s life, and they want to assure him, they’d never be party… Sonny says he knows Pikeman wasn’t behind the shooter. He confirmed their lack of involvement. Brick says, the shooter was untraceable. No fingerprints or DNA in any database. Mr. P says, so a professional, and Brick says, of a specific kind. He’s had military training, probably special ops. Sonny says, that’s not the kind of personnel he deals with, which leads him to believe he was just a means to an end. So whoever tried to kill him, did it to screw with Pikeman.

Anna says, Jordan is going to run interference for them long enough to keep the WSB at bay, and Holly says, Robert should be here any minute to help them hammer this out. The WSB absolutely cannot find out that Victor may be about to deploy a biological weapon on the world. Scotty walks in and says, that’s not their decision to make.

A guard asks, who else is here with Valentin? but Valentin says he’s here alone. The guard asks who he is, and he says he’s Valentin Cassadine. He’s here to see his father.

Holly says she doesn’t know what Scotty thinks he heard, and Scotty says, she seems to have made a miraculous recovery for someone who was burned up in a fire. There’s no scars or anything. If the two of them think they’re going to sacrifice his girlfriend, they’ve got another guess coming. Robert comes in, and tells them, keep it down. He could hear them all the way down the hall. Scotty asks if Robert is in cahoots with them as well, and Anna says, Scotty is operating under the misapprehension that they don’t want Liesl rescued. Robert says, as usual, Scotty has it all backward, and Scotty says, does he? He overheard Drew a while ago, talking about how Robert is withholding some information… Anna asks how long he’s been listening in, and Holly says, Jordan just left ten minutes ago. Anna says, he hasn’t done anything, has he? and Robert says, please tell him that Scotty hasn’t made contact with the WSB.

Obrecht tells Victor, don’t dare threaten Willow. Willow is her family, her great niece. She needs Obrecht’s help. Victor says he’s not threatening anyone; he’s just stating facts. The longer it takes her to prove the efficacy of the antidote, the less time her niece has to undergo a lifesaving procedure. She asks if she has his word he’ll release her if she completes the project (like his word means something), and he says, there’s only one way to find out. Do her job. A guard tells Victor that someone claiming to be his son is on the island, and Victor says he wants to speak to them. The guard radios that Victor wants to speak to the intruder, and Valentin says, hello, dad. Victor says, bring him here. Now.

Scotty says, news flash for Robert. After Ashford left, what he did or didn’t do is none of Robert’s business. Anna says, whether Scotty believes them or not, they’re all working toward the same outcome. So he needs to tell them if he relayed any information he heard to the WSB. Scotty says he doesn’t think they’re all working for the same outcome, but just to be on the level with them, he hasn’t said anything to anybody… yet. Anna says, he does understand people’s lives are at stake, and he says, how dare she say that to him? Liesl’s being held by a madman who wants to burn down the world. Robert says, they’re all working hard… Scotty says, at what? They have information that they could pass along to the WSB, and they can take out Victor. Now they’ve got the Commissioner working for them. None of this makes any sense to him. Holly slips out of the room, and Scotty says, Liesl’s done some pretty horrible things in her day, but he won’t let her be collateral damage for Anna and Robert. Anna tells him, just listen… but he says, save it. Because you know what? If they don’t tell the WSB, he sure as hell will.

Nina asks if Martin is telling her that Carly was officially questioned. She’s kind of shocked that the SEC acts so quickly. Martin says, so is he (me too!). Turns out the government is flat-footed and backlogged in everything but insider trading. That, and alimony payments. Just miss a couple of those suckers, and see what happens. Then again, it probably has more to do with his herd of ex-wives than it does with the government. Nina asks, what’s next with Carly and Drew? and Martin says, doubtless, Carly will face some sort of investigation, as will Drew. He’s sorry. At this point, it’s in the attorney’s hands. Now if there’s nothing else he can do for her, he’d like to go visit his sister. She thanks him, and he says he understands she’s worried, but there’s no point in second-guessing anything. She didn’t incite Drew or Carly to do anything. If there was insider trading, they did it themselves. All she did was report it. He says, goodnight, and leaves.

Michael brings Carly into the living room, and Willow says, they were so worried about her. Carly says she’s sorry the whole situation with the SEC overshadowed Willow’s wedding, but Willow says, the wedding was over. She’s just glad the police didn’t hold Carly longer, and that Drew is safe. Carly says, Sonny showed up and told the SEC that Drew was on a plane to Maui, and it did buy them some time. She’s no fan of Sonny’s, but she’s grateful he showed up when he did. Willow says, as far as she’s concerned, that’s proof they’re still important to him, and Carly looks at Michael. That’s right, Michael. Put Sonny away, and there will be no more stepping in to help when you need a weird favor.

Sonny tells Mr. P, seems to him, someone had a vested interest in preventing the shipment. So he has to wonder if that has something to do with what’s in the cargo. Mr. P says, that was a third party trying to stop them. He doesn’t see why the contents of the shipment is relevant. Sonny says, somebody tried to take his life. Mr. P doesn’t think that’s relevant? He had the assumption they were shipping weapons. Now he’s beginning to think they’re moving something bigger than guns. Mr. P says, they were under the impression Sonny wanted to minimize his involvement. Provide storage and facilitate shipping only. Sonny says, his impression’s wrong, and Mr. P signals to his man who picks up a crowbar, and opens the crate. Lousy spy Dex looks at the camera he hid. Brick moves some of the packing material around, and says, what the…? He tells Sonny, these are some of the world’s most powerful explosives, and Sonny asks, how powerful? Brick says, one brick could take out an entire city block. He steps aside with Sonny, and tells him, that stuff is in high demand. It’s very hard to get. People like it because it’s malleable and waterproof, and a little goes a long, long way. The US military keeps it under tight control; real tight. Sonny tells Mr. P, if this is the cargo they’re sending through his docks, he’s surprised more people didn’t take shots at it, and Mr. P tells Sonny, what can he say? Great rewards come with high risks. Sonny asks what fortune cookie he got that from says, this is something he’s not understanding. He feels like he’s taking all the risks.

Carly says, putting aside her situation with Sonny, she knows he’s worried about both of them, and Michael says he thinks the most important thing right now is to bring Liesl home safe and sound so she can be a bone marrow donor for Willow. And Drew is the one making that happen; not his dad. Willow says, Sonny decoyed the SEC to give Drew time to go after Liesl, you moron. Doesn’t that count for something?

Mr. P says, in regard to what’s in the crates, that information is tightly controlled. Leaks are very rare, and when they occur, those involved are dealt with swiftly. Are they going forward or not? Sonny adjusts his tie and says, Pikeman can use his docks this time, but not again. Not until they renegotiate the deal. By renegotiating the deal, he means he wants information on who’s behind the ambush. Mr. P says, understood, and tells his men to close the crate. Sonny thanks Brick for taking care of the Drew situation, and Brick says, his pleasure. Sonny asks if Brick can take care of the rest here. Nina’s waiting for him, and Obrecht’s missing. Brick says he’s got Sonny, and Sonny says he appreciates it. He tells Mr. P that his associate will take charge of the shipment from here, and calls Dex over. He says, Dex just needs to make sure the cash exchange goes smoothly. We see the camera recording them.

Victor snatches the walkie from his guard, and says, once they’ve brought him his son, check on their guests they left aboard the Haunted Star. Obrecht says, what an intriguing turn of events. But of course (🍷) he’s the man who thinks of everything. She’s sure he thought of his son showing up. He tells a guard to conduct a thorough search. There’s no way his son came here alone.

The guards move Valentin along, and behind the rock, Curtis says, there’s only one way to tell if it’s safe for them to move. He draws his gun, and comes out, Drew motioning for Laura to stay put.

Robert says, they can’t have Scotty rushing off to the WSB with what he just heard, but Scotty says, he doesn’t need their permission. Anna says, he has to understand, they have their reasons, and he says he’s all ears. She says, first of all, they don’t have incontrovertible proof, and he says he thinks he’ll just give the WSB a little call, taking out his phone. Anna says, if he makes that call… when Holly suddenly puts a cloth over Scotty’s mouth and nose, and he passes out. Holly smiles.

Mr. P hands Brick a briefcase, and says, it’s all in there. Brick says, they’re going to count it to be sure, and passes it to Dex. Dex opens the case, and Mr. P says, the last thing Pikeman would do is cheat Mr. Corinthos. They’re hoping this is the beginning of what will be a profitable relationship. Brick says, that will be up to Mr. Corinthos, and Mr. P says, deals this profitable aren’t easy to come by. Mr. Corinthos will find his affiliation with Pikeman will be life changing.

Michael says he sees Sonny is making an effort, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be held accountable for his actions in the past. Carly asks if they can’t just focus on the future, or try to, and Michael asks, what happened at the police station? Carly says she knows the government has frozen Aurora’s accounts and assets, and Michael says, damn it, Ned. Although he shouldn’t be surprised Ned’s games impacted the family business. What he can never forgive is Ned hurting Carly and Drew in the process. Willow asks if he really believes Ned would hurt them this way. He’s always been so kind. Michael says, Ned is a Quartermaine. He always puts ELQ ahead of everything else. He gets that it’s hard for Willow to see that; she always sees the best in everybody. She says, not always.

Nina walks into Pizzulo’s, and tells Kevin that Sonny’s expecting her.  He opens Sonny’s office door, and she goes in. She and Sonny kiss, and Sonny says, sorry to call her down here, but he needed to talk to someone. She says, tell her about the wedding, but he says he’s not going to. He doesn’t want her to be sad, but she says she wants to hear about it. How was Willow? He says, she looked beautiful, a vision, and Nina says she knew Willow would be. Everything wasn’t too much for her? He says, she did great. Nina should have seen the kids. She says she’s sure Wiley was very handsome. How did Donna and Avery do as flower girls? He says, terrible… Just kidding. She should have seen Baby Amelia; she had this pretty little dress on. He took pictures like she wanted. She thanks him, and says she’s glad Willow had a perfect day. He says, it wasn’t quite perfect, and she says, it was too much for Willow, wasn’t it? What happened? He says, no. Some agent from the SEC hauled Carly into the PCPD for colluding with Drew on insider trading. Nina flashes back to being on the phone with Martin, and saying she hasn’t changed her mind; just the opposite. She wants him to go all out and expose Drew and Carly for insider trading. She says, it happened at the wedding? and Sonny says, the good news is, they only held her a few hours. She asks if he thinks that’s the end of it, but he says, no, not for Carly or for Drew. The SEC is trying to find him now. She asks if Drew wasn’t at the wedding, and Sonny says, she hasn’t heard yet?

Curtis comes back, and says, the coast is clear. There’s no sign of any other guards. He thinks the best plan is to head to the Haunted Star. Laura says, but they don’t know how many guards Victor has on that ship, or scouring the rest of the island. They have to assume Victor knows Valentin didn’t come to the island by himself. Drew says he can go with Curtis to get everyone off that boat, and Curtis says he thinks the two-man approach is probably best. Drew asks if Curtis wants him to get Victor’s attention, and keep it off the Haunted Star, and Curtis says, exactly. Does he have any idea how to gain entry into the bunker? Laura says she knows how. (Of course <🍷> she does.) They give Victor exactly what he’s looking for – Valentin’s accomplice.

Robert gently settles Scotty into a chair, and asks Holly, sweetie pie, what have you done? She says she neutralized the threat; temporarily anyway. Anna says she thought she was getting through to him, but Holly says, he was literally dialing the phone to the WSB. They couldn’t take that chance. He’s got tunnel vison. He would literally do anything to save Obrecht. And doesn’t the Bureau strongly recommend against forming attachments? He says, that’s a rather cold calculation, and she thanks him. Anna asks how long he’ll be out, and Holly says, for a few hours. Then he’ll come around with a devil of a migraine. Anna says she’s concerned that Laura and the rest of the crew have no idea what Victor is actually planning, and Robert says, along with everyone else on that island. Holly says, which is why they have to get on the next flight to Greenland. Robert says he’s ready within the hour, and Anna says she’s ready now, hopping out of bed.

Laura says, Drew captures her and holds her prisoner, and gains entry by delivering her to Victor. Drew says, she’s here to rescue her grandsons. He can’t put her at Victor’s mercy, especially when he doesn’t have any. She says, he’s right, and she’s not going to rest until her grandsons are safe, and he’s not getting past those guards without her. Curtis says, he and Laura have been friends a long time; they’ve trusted each other with their lives. Trusting him with her life is one thing; trusting he can rescue her grandkids is another. He promises her, he won’t leave the Haunted Star without them. He’d rather die before he’d let anything happen to Trina or her boys. She says she believes that. So she’ll go with Drew, and keep Victor busy. They hear radio static coming toward them.

Robert asks what Anna is doing, and she says, taking care of business. It’s what she does. He says, it’s what they all do, what they’re best at, but she’s recuperating and has nothing to prove. She says she believes she has a score to settle with Victor, and he says, she’s one stubborn woman. Holly tells him, she would say brave, but she does have to ask. Is Anna sure she’s up for this? Anna says she has to see it through, and Robert asks if this is because of Valentin. Is this guy really worth the risk? Anna tells him, stop talking, and looks around for her clothes. She finds the bag with her stuff, and Robert asks, what about Scotty? Holly says, he’ll be unconscious for some time. He says, then he’ll just go home, pack a bag, and… Don’t even think it. Anna says, he has to stay here, and not just because there’s an unconscious man in her room, and Holly says she’s with Anna. If the WSB gets wind of what they’re doing, he can buy some time. And he can keep them posted on what’s happening in Port Charles. He says, it’s not that he doesn’t have faith in them – he does – but this is probably the most dangerous mission they’ve ever embarked on. Anna and Holly go on either side of him, each taking an arm, and walk him to the door. Holly says, she and Anna were both married to him, and they’ll survive. She gently pushes him into the hallway, and closes the door. She and Anna fist bump.

Victor tells Obrecht to get back to work, and she says, what’s the point? Valentin found him. It’s only a matter of time before others do too. He says, all the more reason to expedite her work, and she says, time is not the only impediment here. The stabilizers and some stuff I don’t understand are all insufficient. He says, in layman’s terms, what’s going on? and she says, in order to make this work, she needs preservatives, single dose vials. Otherwise, the antidote could be easily contaminated. He says, precisely why he has her here. He knows she can get past these problems. She says, even if she could solve the preservative problem, this endeavor of his is reckless, futile, doomed. He says he seems to recall her saying this could be a crowning scientific achievement, and she says, scientifically speaking, she still does, but it’s time to retreat, regroup. He says, if he stops the process now, who knows how long this will set him back. She says, he’s made a valiant effort. His brilliant plan just can’t come to fruition under these circumstances. He says he supposes she’s right. He just has to reevaluate part of his plan. She says, good, and thanks him for listening to her, but he says he hasn’t been bested. Not by his son or by any doubt. He still holds all the cards, including her.

Sonny says, there’s a possible location on Nina’s Aunt Liesl, and she asks where Victor took Obrecht. He says he can’t say, because he doesn’t know, but what he does know is, Drew went out to find her. That’s why he was missing from the wedding. He went out to find Nina’s aunt. He’s going to bring her home and save Willow’s life. Don’t worry about it. He threw the SEC off the scent. He got Brick to make Drew’s name appear on a manifest for a flight going from San Diego to Maui. They won’t know he’s not there until he doesn’t get off the plane. She says, but that’s just a temporary dodge. Eventually, the SEC will find out it’s a false lead, and be back on Drew’s trail. What if the SEC finds Drew before he can bring Aunt Liesl home? What does that mean for Willow? I’d say, there’s no way they’re going to Greenland, but since they show up on an anonymous tip before you hang up the phone, who knows?

Carly tells Willow, it’s all her fault. Drew did everything he could to discourage her from investing in Aurora, but she wouldn’t listen. Michael did too, but she was so determined to support them. Now look. It all came back to bite her. She lost her hotel, there’s an SEC investigation, Aurora’s assets have been frozen… Michael says, let’s forget about that. It can be dealt with later. He thinks they should call it a night. Carly says, of course (🍷). She agrees. She suggests she walk Willow to the gatehouse while Michael wraps things up here, and Willow asks Michael to find her bouquet. She wants to put it in water, and make it last a few more days. Carly tells him to make sure he gets the top of the wedding cake. They have to put it the freezer at the gatehouse, so they can eat it on their first wedding anniversary. True story. We did that, but since our freezer was so small, my in-laws kept it in theirs. The day before our anniversary, my husband went to pick it up, and his brother had eaten it the previous day, not knowing what it was. FYI, frozen cake does not taste that great after a year.

The guards come around to the rock again, when Laura comes limping out, wailing for help. They ask what she’s doing here, and she thanks them, saying, she needs help. She limps to them, and before they realize it, locks arms with the both of them, and says, now boys. Curtis and Drew rush the guards.

Brick takes the briefcase, and tells Dex that he can find his own way back. He goes to the door, turns around, and says, words of advice if Dex wants to stay in this business. Outside of Sonny, trust nobody. Dex says, not even him? and Brick says, especially not him, and leaves. Dex flashes back to hiding the camera when Brick was talking to Sonny on the phone.

Sonny tells Nina, Drew’s a smart guy. He’s sure Drew’s taken every precaution in covering his tracks. She says, but the government is resourceful. Drew is missing. Won’t that intensify everything? He says, probably so, and she says, this could interrupt the rescue mission; make it impossible for Drew to bring Aunt Liesl home. And Aunt Liesl is Willow’s last chance. Again I ask, why aren’t they actively looking for another donor? Sonny tells her, take it easy. He’s going to do everything he can to make sure Drew’s mission is successful. She thanks him, and says, surely the SEC has bigger fish to fry than Carly and Drew. He says he doesn’t know about that, and don’t call him Shirley. From his experience, the government prioritizes its money. He doesn’t know who tipped off the SEC, but they’re not only hurting Carly and Drew, they’re hurting Willow.

Carly brings in the wheelchair, and Willow says she never thought she’d get to the point she couldn’t walk to the gatehouse. Carly says, it’s been a long day for Willow, helping her into the chair, and Willow says, for Carly too, and not in a good way. Carly says, Diane’s an amazing lawyer. She’ll get it all figured out. Willow asks how she can be so sure, and Carly says she knows if they stick together as a family, they can make it through anything. They join hands.

Dex gets the camera, turns it off, and says, gotcha. He takes out his phone, and leaves the warehouse.

Michael’s phone dings, and he says, Dex. He sees a money and camera emoji, and flashes back to telling Dex, so Sonny draws the line at drugs, but is willing to ship weapons of war. Dex says, there’s only two reasons people want to ship under the cloak of darkness. Either what they’re shipping is dirty, or what they’re moving is being supplied to dirty people. This deal is extremely lucrative for Sonny, but extremely dicey. Michael says, this is how they bring Sonny down.

Holly lets Robert back in the room, and he says, Anna is in no shape to go charging off to Greenland. She says, perhaps he’s right, but she feels that they’re all in for a world of hurt if Victor’s plan is successful. Holly says, sorry to leave him with this mess, and he says he’s been cleaning up messes for the both of them for years now. He’s highly experienced at it. Anna says, and they love him for it. She and Holly kiss Robert on the cheek, and he smiles. They leave, and Scotty mumbles in his sleep.

Laura waits behind the rock, when Curtis and Drew come back dressed in the guards’ uniforms. Laura says, very convincing, and Curtis says he is going to bring them home safely. All of them. She says she knows he will. Good luck. He jets, and Drew asks if Laura is absolutely sure she wants to do this. She can still wait by the seaplane until he gives the all-clear. She says she knows he wants to protect her, but he can’t get past those guards without her. And once they get inside… they’ll think of something. He has to trust that she knows what she’s doing. He says, okay. Let’s do this. She says, from this point on, she’s his prisoner, and he ties her wrists in front. They head for the bunker, Drew following Laura with his gun drawn.

Victor says he’s sure it fits with Obrecht’s agenda for him to give up now, but his plan is moving ahead. He just has to speed up the timetable. She says, there’s no way to know if the antidote is viable without testing it on a human subject, and he says, that’s the plan. She says she refuses to use Spencer or Trina as her test subjects. She won’t risk cutting short a young, innocent life. He asks if she’d have qualms about using a more mature subject. Someone who’s decidedly less innocent. Valentin is brought in, and Victor says, perfect timing, son.

The text says, In Loving Memory of Nneka Garland, and we see photos.

Tomorrow, Dex asks Josslyn how Drew managed to avoid the SEC; Robert asks Elizabeth to trust him; and Valentin tells Victor to end this madness.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

2nd day of charter. In Colin’s interview, he says, Chase has a good work ethic, but in Gary’s interview, he says, Chase thinks he knows more than he does. There’s no way in hell he’d talk back to a superior that way. He’s been working on boats for 12 years. Shut it and listen to him. He tells Chase, the boat looks good, and asks Glenn if they’ll be sailing, but Glenn says, there’s not much breeze in the forecast. Glenn tells primary Kim that they’re not getting any wind, so there won’t be much sailing, and she says she understands. He suggests taking them out in the tender, and setting up the rope swing. Breakfast is served, and there’s smoked salmon eggs benedict that makes me want to cry. In Daisy’s interview, she says, the negative feedback makes her feel like she’s sh*t at her job. So she’s taking the opportunity to train the stews as much as she can, and make sure Glenn stays the f*** off her back. Ileisha ordered eel for making sushi, and realizes she’s received a live one. In her interview, she says, they’re like the snakes of the ocean, and freak her out. Growing up in the bush, a python once came through the window, and wrapped itself around the bath. She screamed for help, and her dad had to chop its head off. She was traumatized. Colin cuts the head off, and Lucy screams. She says, it’s horrible, and in the meantime on deck, Kim is saying, this is the most incredible experience.  

The guests go swimming, and Daisy tells the stews to do the cabins. Gary finds that the eFoils (kind of like surfboards) haven’t been charged, and whines about things not being done. Chase asks if one of the stews can come on the tender to pour drinks for the guests, but Gary says he’s sure Chase can go by himself. Lucy tells Glenn that Daisy is sleeping, and she’s not making the call, so Glenn says he’ll make the call. He’s sending her with Chase. In Chase’s interview, he says, thank God he’s self-. The guests are expecting a certain standard. If this was his first time working on a boat and he needed to be taught, considering Gary’s leadership style, he’d be f***ed. When Daisy wakes up, Mads tells her that Lucy went on the tender, but fails to mention Glenn is the one who sent her. Colin and Gary get the eFoils going and ride them out to the tender, and when Daisy sees them, she gets doubly pissed off. In her interview, she says, the boys can f*** around, but the girls have to be with the guests at all times. She’s fuming.

The guests come back, and Lucy explains that Glenn told her to go. Glenn curses the fact there’s no wind, and Chase tells Mads that he’d like to get with Mads. Gary tells the guests that they’ll set up the rope swing for after lunch, and Lucy tells Mads about Chase. Mads says, that’s literally not happening, and in her interview, she says, it was one kiss bro; relax. It’s not that she’s not interested, but there are a lot of other guys on the boat, and she’s sure there are other options. She loves samples. In Alex’s interview, he says he typically dates models with daddy issues, and it hasn’t gone extremely well. Mads is new for him. She’s not high maintenance. Maybe it’s time to break the mold. Ileisha is running late, and in Daisy’s interview, she says, Ileisha is feeling the pressure, since she’s a little late with service, but the guests are so lovely, she doesn’t think they really care… which she’s grateful for. When I see the lunch chef has prepared, I’d willingly wait for it too. Anchor is home, and Daisy tells Ileisha that the guests very happy. The boat moves along, and Glenn asks Colin how the engine is doing. Colin says, it’s purring, and Gary tells Chase to take a break, but Chase says he’s got to set up the rope swing. Gary thinks it’s going to be a long season, and in his interview, he says, it doesn’t seem like anything he tells Chase matters. Daisy complains to Gary about Lucy leaving the boat, and in Gary’s interview, he says, it’s easier licking Daisy’s ass than disagreeing with her. He’s just going to tell her what she wants to hear.  They anchor at Grande Pervero, and Chase falls asleep in the crew mess. In Ileisha’s interview, she says she’s doing a bourbon tasting menu, and it’s best to serve something soft, smoky, salty with a heavy liquor. She’s making southern comfort food, and plans on knocking it out of the park with her presentation. Guest Justin (Guarini) tells the others to tell his children that he loves them before going on the rope swing. I have to say, he looks good; a lot better than when he was on American Idol. Guest Kelly lets go too early, and wails that she hurt her right boob.

Daisy says, they’re doing the table in orange and brown, and eww! Gary with his hair out of the man bun is worse than in the man bun. As far as I’m concerned, there are only two men in the world allowed to have man buns; Sensei Guillermo Gomez and Roger Howarth. Daisy tells Gary that he smells of tea tree and his fly is open. He asks why she’s looking. Primary Ian says, the attention to detail is amazing, and in the galley, Ileisha frets over the lamb being overcooked. She says, there’s always something. She can never do everything right. Glenn tells her not to let it get to her; she’s doing great, and he thinks it will be fine. Ian realizes they left a mess of clothes on the floor, and jets to the cabin to pick everything up, but Mads and Lucy already have it done. He says he came down to clean up their mess, and Lucy says, that’s their job. He says, it wasn’t intended, and reminds me of another true story. Someone broke a glass at my wedding reception, so I went back into the kitchen to get a broom to sweep it up. The caterers were like, um… that’s not your job. Kim says she’s warm, fuzzy, and happy inside, and Glenn tells Ileisha that it’s okay to be a perfectionist, but don’t let it break her flow. In Ileisha’s interview, she says she’s a people pleaser, and thinks it comes from her upbringing. She has survivor’s guilt because her mom lost two kids. It was ingrained in her to be the best version of herself, and puts pressure on herself to make sure people are really full and happy. Alex goes on anchor watch, and it starts to thunder. The wind picks up around 1 am, and Alex says, sh*t’s about to get weird. The wind is up to 15 knots by 2 am, there’s lightning, and things are rocking.

Glenn comes out to check what’s happening, and Alex says, there was no wind. He went out to put on the covers, and it suddenly came up. In Gary’s interview, he says, Alex has done everything right so far, but Glenn is quick to react after last season’s anchor drag. He thinks if Colin farted, Glenn would jump out of bed and run to the bridge. Glenn tells Alex to keep a close eye on it, and call him if there’s anything over 20 knots. Another amazing breakfast is served, and I think about the leftover Chinese food I had for dinner. the guests don’t want to leave, and Ian says he saw some cupboards they could hide in. Gary gets picky about something else with Chase, and says, it’s all about being prepared. In Chase’s interview, he says he can’t catch a break with Gary, who’s just looking for a reason to be upset, and in Gary’s interview, he says, Chase is trying to piss him off. The boat is docked, and Glenn radios the crew to say goodbye to the guests. Ian says, he can’t even express what an amazing adventure they’ve been given, and Kim says, they were blown away about the kindness they lead with. She gives Glenn the tip envelope, and says, it’s an honor to give them this. As they leave, Glenn blows the horn and everyone waves. Glenn tells the crew, well done. Daisy tells the stews, the more we get done today, the more we do tomorrow [sic]. I think she might be a little off, and the drinking hasn’t even started. Gary says, he came late, so he’s just being a fly on the wall when they go out. He asks who Colin has his eye on now that he’s single, and in Colin’s interview, he says, Gary’s had it easy for the last two seasons. The girls were fighting over him. For the first time, he has a little competition. Gary says he doesn’t cause drama; drama tends to find him. Ugh. He’s such an a-hole.

At the tip meeting, Glenn says, what a charter. A complete 180 from the first one. He tells Daisy that she did a good job; service was on point. It seems her team found their groove. She says she’s happy with the teamwork and communication, and in her interview, she says she’s elevated by the positive feedback. It’s what they needed, and she’s one step closer to a margarita. Glenn says, they’re good attitude makes a difference, and commends Colin on getting the engine running. He tells Ileisha that it’s not easy doing a meal like the bourbon tasting. Her food has been delicious, and she’s doing a great job. He’s glad Gary is back; it made a big difference. Gary says he’s happy with his team, Alex says he learned a lot, and Glenn says, there’s a reason they have a first officer. The tip is $23K, or 2250 euros each. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, yes and yes. She’ll take that sh*t. You’re welcome. They work for a hot minute, and Gary gets on the radio, saying, this is your captain speaking. It’s time to get f***ed up. The crew changes, and goes to an Italian restaurant. A few of them step away for a smoke, and Ileisha asks who Gary is crushing on. He says, everyone, and Ileisha asks who Chase’s type is – say it. After some poking and prodding, he admits it’s Mads. At the table, Alex says he spent 45 minutes getting ready, and Lucy says, he spends more time on his hair than she does. Gary comes back, and tells Lucy that red is her color. She tells him, f*** off, but Chase senses crying himself to sleep. In his interview, he says, f***ing Gary. He just admitted he liked Mads. He knows a snake when he sees a snake, and Gary is kind of an a-hole. Kind of?

Gary tries to kiss Daisy, but she’s not having it. In her interview, she says, she can’t read Gary. She sees how he behaves with her, and he does the same thing with every single girl. We flash back to Gary putting the moves on pretty much every stew he’s worked with, and Daisy says, it’s hard to take him seriously. Gary says, they can’t have that conversation when alcohol is involved, and the crew goes back to the boat. They get in the hot tub, and Mads tells Gary, touch her, and she’ll  knock his man bun out. Chase sits by himself for a while, then gets out of the jacuzzi and goes to bed. Mads and Gary are left with a falling asleep Alex, and Gary tells him that he’s going to drown. Somehow, Alex manages to get out of the tub, and toddles off. Gary says he thinks Mads is gorgeous. He tells her that both Chase and Alex said they liked her, but at the end of the day, they’re just deckhands, like he’s a huge step up. They kiss, Alex falls asleep as he’s eating in the crew mess, and everyone else is snoring.  

Next time, charter three; high school d-bag vibes; in Daisy’s interview, she says she thinks Gary is f***ing with her; and a guest has an accident.

Summer House

Help. I’m watching this nonsense and I can’t turn away.

During the week, Lindsay meets with Gabby, and in Gabby’s interview, she says, when it comes to her type, it’s better for her to show than tell. She’s made a pdf of men who are possibilities, men she’s slept with, men she wants to sleep with, the ones she’s dated and matched with, and men she’s thought about. Boys for Gabby. Lindsay says, they’re all male models, but Gabby says, some of them have jobs. Ciara meets Rachel at a restaurant, and in her interview, she says she’s throwing a party for herself. She’s been in NYC a year, and thinks this Georgia peach is trying hard to become an apple. NYC has helped her come into adulthood, whether she wanted to or not. She tells Rachel that now when she leaves the city, she can’t wait to get back. I know this feeling. It’s like, ah, the not-so-sweet smell of the subway; I’m home. In her interview, Ciara says, it was hard to leave her friends in Atlanta. Her friends have been the light in her situation, and continue to shine. She needs quality friendships, and in NYC, you can have surface level bullsh*t. Ciara tells Rachel that Chris met Cassidy at a party, and fell off the face of the earth, but he’s supposed to come. I’m guessing Ciara must do okay with being on this show, since I don’t think her nursing salary paid to rent this space. The housemates trickle in, and in Lindsay’s interview, she says, it sucks being in a bad place with Danielle. There’s no reasoning with her. Their versions of being a friend are very different. Carl says he invited Cassidy, and Chris says he did too, but she’s ghosting him. He asked her to text him when she got home, but she didn’t, and he’s not playing that game. Carl says he can run interference, and Kyle says, what he lacks in height, he makes up for in volume. Paige tells Ciara that not everyone can move to NYC, and Craig asks how the dating is going, and she says she’s figuring it out. He says he would never leave his house. People in NYC go on dates with people they don’t know. Ciara says, that’s how dating works, and in Paige’s interview, she says, in South Carolina, everyone knows each other, and they’ve all dated. In NYC, a random man could be the love of your life. She doesn’t know if Craig can vibe in NYC; he might be scared. Yeah he might. Once when I went to a family party in Ohio, one of my young cousins pointed at me and said, she takes the subway at night. Carl tells Kyle and Chris that he picked up the ring; it’s exciting and surreal. Ciara asks everyone to gather around, and says she hates giving speeches. She thanks them for coming, and says, it means so much. She gets teary, and says she loves them. They’ve changed her life, and made NYC feel like home. She can’t wait for the next years. This committed bitch ain’t leaving. In her interview, she says, she’s also committing to herself and her journey. She’s figuring out who she is and fixing what needs to be fixed. She’s down for whatever ride God put her on. She opens a bottle of champagne.

On the way to the Hamptons, Kyle tells Andrea that there’s no Ciara or Amanda this weekend. Andrea says his girlfriend Lexi is coming, but he’s sad Amanda won’t be there. Kyle says, she was very torn, but the dogs got spayed two days ago. Andrea says, she’s doing her mommy job, and getting ready for the real thing. Kyle says he got a call from Lindsay that Carl was in the hospital last night. He calls her, and she says, they went to a concert, and he had his arms around her from behind. He suddenly said he needed to sit, and grabbed her. His legs were wobbling, and he said he couldn’t feel them. She got him to the infirmary, and they said his blood pressure and heart rate were so low, they were sending him the ER. He was discharged two hours ago, and now he’s napping. In Kyle’s interview, he says, Carl texted him from the hospital, and thought it was too much caffeine and Red Bull, but he thinks there are other things going on. Been there, done that. We flash back to Kyle sweating it out before he proposed to Amanda, and he says, Carl knows the proposal is upon them, he fainted, and now he’s in the hospital  freaking out. Lindsay says, they’ll either be there later tonight or first thing in the morning. Kyle tells her, no pressure, and in his interview, he says, only he and Chris know. He’s trying bottle this secret as best he can.

In Danielle’s interview, she says, tonight was inspired by Chris. They’re having Latino night. She’s making empanadas like her mom does, and when you make food close to home, it’s like offering a piece of yourself. In Paige’s interview, she says, no one on the planet doesn’t get excited when Andrea shows up. You don’t know what he’s saying, but he smiles and he’s good looking. She’s glad he’s in love; she hates seeing him cry. It’s against their religion for him to cry. Kyle relays the message about Carl going to the hospital and the drinking commences. Chris is now seeing Lauran, who Mya says she’s been trying to introduce him to since Kyle’s party. Mya demands to know the rating of their sexual encounter, and does a drumroll. Chris says, it was an eight, and everyone cheers.  Sam says, it’s a good number for a first time. Chris says, Danielle is making badass empanadas, and then they’re going to teach everyone to salsa. In Sam’s interview, she says, she and Kory have officially gone below the neck. She didn’t get the ick (I assume this is some immature way of saying she didn’t get laid), but she wants to do it again. Kyle calls Carl, and asks how much he thinks nerves, anxiety, and stress had to do with him ending up in the hospital. Carl says, it was a big part. He’s trying to pull off the surprise of the century. Then he’s bringing in Lindsay’s parents and friends. Kyle says, tomorrow is the big day, and Carl says he thinks some rest will make it better. He had to get it out of his system before getting down on one knee.

Sam says Danielle has outdone herself; everything looks beautiful. Danielle thanks Chris for helping, and has everyone hold up their empanadas for her mom. They do, and Danielle takes a photo. She says she’s enjoyed the summer with Chris there. He brought her Hispanic side out. She hasn’t really shared that, and pushed down that part of her persona because she wanted to succeed. Being in finance, she was around white people, and Gabby says she can identify. She grew up around white people and people of color who weren’t interested in Black girls. She thought she could only be attractive to someone who had a predilection for Black girls. Mya says she always claimed she was an acquired taste, and Danielle says, it’s taken a while to celebrate that side of her and not repress it. Chris says he feels her, and when they met, he felt she was his hermana, his sister. They had a connection. Danielle says she’s happy when the group has these moments, when they do stuff together. Family is about sharing. In Danielle’s interview, she says she feels for the first time in a long time she’s been heard. She’s being her true self, not her Hamptons self; Danielle Rivera, Puerto Rican. They move to another room, and Chris teaches them to salsa. Kyle tells Chris that he talked to Carl, and he looks good. The day before he proposed to Amanda, he was feverish, and recognizes this. Chris asks if he thinks Carl is having second thoughts, but Kyle says he doesn’t think so. Although he thinks Carl would love for Lindsay to be on good terms with her best friend. It’s weighing on him.

In the morning, despite everyone looking like they’re hella hung over, Kory and Kyle go to the gym. Mya says she wants to make the house an all-inclusive resort. She wants to do a boozy brunch. Carl and Lindsay arrive, and there are lots of hugs for Carl. He says he feels rested and better. It was a combination of dehydration, exhaustion, and stress. Lindsay tells the story again, and in Carl’s interview, he says he panic attacked himself into the hospital. Another reminder of how beautiful Lindsay is, is that she slept with him the entire time. And she doesn’t know what’s about to happen. On a whiteboard, Mya writes, Myadani Bottomless Brunch, and in Paige’s interview, she says, if there’s a whiteboard around, Mya will use it. Andrea’s girlfriend Lexi comes in next, and Kyle says, they have a bonfire planned for later, and the attire is elevated chic. For whatever stupid reason, Andrea says he wants to be roasted, and they ask a bunch of inappropriate sex questions. Chris asks what it’s like having Lexi here with Paige at the table.

Lexi says, it’s not like she doesn’t know they slept together, and Paige says, it was a fling, and she never wants Lexi to feel uncomfortable. Have brunch manners. Sam says she’s going to make out with Kory, and Gabby says she loves new love. Lexi talks with Lindsay and Carl, and asks how long they’ve known each other, and Lindsay says, since summer 2017. Lexi asks if there was always an attraction, and Carl says, for sure, and we flash back to Carl saying, she’s like a sister. Lindsay asks how Lexi felt when Andrea was trying win her back, and Lexi says she blocked him, but literally every weekend, she would run into him. He’d pour his heart out, so she decided to give him a chance. She starts to get weepy, and says, it was harsh of her to do to someone she loved so much. Andrea says, it was intense, and Lexi says she’s happy they found their way back to each other. Andrea says, it was his fault, and I hope these two are a good influence on the babies in the house. I know. It’s asking a lot. Mya asks, what’s going on with Sam and Kory? and Sam says, they’ve talked about liking each other in a cute way, but they haven’t talked about what happens after the summer. Have they considered passing notes in the hallway? Mya says, in the grand scheme is where it gets complicated. Carl and Lindsay are going to get firewood, but not really. In Carl’s interview, he says, his plan is perfect. Lindsay thinks they’re getting firewood, but she’s going to realize quickly they’re not doing a fire. He can’t wait for this to be over; it’s stressful. Kyle tells him to knock it out of the park.

Lindsay and Carl head for the beach, and at the house, Mya asks Sam if she wants to be exclusive, and Sam says she’d be so in it. Mya says she thinks Carl is going to propose next weekend, and Danielle asks if she’s talking out of her ass. Mya says she listens to every conversation, and infers things. She saw him talking to Kyle and Chris at Ciara’s party, and thinks he’s planning the engagement for next weekend. Danielle says, then she’d rather not come next weekend, and they can live f***ing happily ever after. Alrighty then.

Carl leads Lindsay to a spot on the beach where there’s a blanket spread out for an upscale picnic. Carl says, they haven’t had a chance to break away from the group and do something special. She asks if she should sit, but he tells her to stand for now, and gets down on one knee. He says, since the day they met seven years ago, he knew she’d be someone special in his life. She’s his person, his best friend, and his lover. He’s excited to build a future with her. She says she loves him so much, and he asks her to marry him. She says, a thousand times yes, and there are kisses and I love yous. He puts the ring on her finger, and I wonder if they keep forgetting each other’s name, since they only seem to call each other babe.

Next time, Paige feels that she gets notoriously the most drunk on Labor Day weekend; Sam asks Kory what he’d like the plan to be; Gabby goes on a date; Danielle gets upset about Carl not telling her about the pending proposal; and Carl doesn’t want a camera following him.

🤸🏾 Tra-La It’s May…

Stop by tomorrow for soap and those awful New Jersey Housewives. Until then, stay safe, stay never forgetting where you came from, and stay remembering your brunch manners.

April 24, 2023 – The Haunted Star Is Found Off Greenland, First Mate Back On Deck, Deck Idol, Awful People Tomorrow & Hard Rain

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Olivia goes over the list of food for the wedding, and Michael says, they can always order pizza. She tells him to bite his tongue. If he wasn’t the groom, she’d throttle him. Carly comes in, and promises to stay out of the kitchen, but there has to be something else she can do to help get ready. Michael says, Willow is more important than anything, and asks how she’s doing. Carly says, she’s sleeping soundly. How is he? Brook says, he’s trying to be cool; pretending to check his work on his phone. Carly says, he’s not working, and he says he had to make sure a project was on track for later. He’s putting it away now. Besides, he’s getting married today. Carly says, he is, and hugs him. Brook says she’s heading to the gatehouse to help Willow when she gets up. Besides, it’s tradition. She was the one who helped Willow get ready the last time. Carly says, she looked lovely then; she’ll look lovely now. Brook says, she’s going to blow Michael away, and he says he can’t wait to see his beautiful bride.

TJ asks what the doctor said, and Molly says, it’s highly likely that she has endometriosis. It’s an unofficial diagnosis. They won’t know until the results of the biopsy are back. Alexis says, a biopsy? and I love how everyone is acting like this is a death sentence.

Holly clings to Ethan on the plane going back home, and he tells her that he’s not going to disappear. He doesn’t even have a parachute. She says, he’ll have to indulge her. She searched the globe looking for him. Now that he’s next to her, she’s not letting him go. He says he appreciates the save, and she says, as much as she hates to admit it, Tracy’s the one who saved the day.

Felicia tells Tracy that she still can’t get over her showing up at the black market auction dressed in all white. She does have a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t she? Tracy says, wardrobe critique aside, she couldn’t very well let Luke’s son get executed. Although she didn’t expect to spend that much money to save him. What was Holly thinking, driving the price up to ten million? Felicia says, Tracy only paid four, and Tracy says, it should have been two. Felicia says, even so, it’s incredibly kind of Tracy to have saved Luke’s son, no matter what the price. Tracy says, that’s nice of her to say, but the truth is, she only got involved because Victor Cassadine was behind the auction, and she won’t rest until she proves that man killed Luke.

Valentin goes into Anna’s hospital room, and she asks if he has any news on his father. He asks if she means has he gotten any updates in the five minutes it took him to get this coffee, and she says, yes. He says, no, and she says she can’t just lie here doing nothing. He tells her to take it easy. She just got out of the ICU, and can’t just start dancing. She says she’d settle for a little walk, and he says he knows how frustrated she is, but her job is to heal. Victor will be caught and dealt with. She tells him, they’ve been saying that for the last six months, but he says, now Victor’s overreaching. He’s getting close to his goal and he’s making mistakes. Letting Valentin live for one, and kidnapping Laura’s grandsons for another.

Drew tells Laura and Curtis that he thinks they’re making progress, but just because Victor wanted information on Project Demeter doesn’t mean they’re headed for this spot on the map. Robert comes by, and Laura pulls him over, saying, thank God he’s here. He says he came to visit Anna. What’s happening? Laura says, they think they have a lead on Victor, showing Robert the map, and Drew says, it’s the map his SEAL team used when they were working on Project Demeter. Robert says, the one Victor was interested in. What are all these locations? Curtis says, they’re not sure, but they think they’re connected to Mikkos Cassadine. Laura asks if he recognizes that, pointing, and he says, 1981; a good year for stopping Mikkos. She says, and that’s Cassadine Island. They think these sites are somehow related to the Cassadines. Robert wonders why they’re spread out; there’s no logic in that. Curtis says, Trina was able to provide them with the heading from the Haunted Star. Combined with these locations, there’s one shared point. Drew points, and says, right there, off the coast of Greenland. That’s where they think Victor’s headed. Laura says, it’s a longshot, but it’s all they’ve got, and Robert says he thinks he’s figure out how to find Victor.

Ned tells Brook that Valentin isn’t answering his calls. Now his voicemail is full; probably from all the messages he left. Brook says, Valentin is at the hospital with Anna. Maybe she could head over there, but Ned says, it’s not her responsibility; it’s Valentin’s responsibility. ELQ stock has taken a major hit, and their CEO is MIA. Michael and Drew were right. Only a Quartermaine will make ELQ a priority. He looks at Michael, and says, and only a Quartermaine should run ELQ.

Valentin looks at his phone, and sees the missed call. Anna says, Drew? and he shakes his head. She says, oh, Ned. He wants to talk about ELQ. Valentin will have to talk to him eventually. Valentin says he will, but not right now. He wants to stay focused on wracking his brain about what Victor told him about his master plan. He just wishes they’d cracked the code. Portia walks in and apologizes for bothering them. She asks how Anna is feeling, and Anna says she’s actually feeling better. How’s Portia? Portia says, since the demented man who has her daughter is Valentin’s father, she’d like him to tell her everything he knows about Victor Cassadine.

Felicia says, she and Anna always suspected Luke’s death wasn’t an accident, but how did Tracy find out? Tracy says, the longer she thought about it, the less sense it made. Luke Spencer dying in a random accident, in Switzerland of all places. What was he doing there? He certainly wasn’t there for the chocolate or the skiing. He used to go to Switzerland – Zurich – do his banking and get out. So she went to see that twit Jennifer Smith in prison. Something about her having the Ice Princess diamond didn’t add up. She’s a schemer, but she’s a nincompoop. She couldn’t mastermind a theft from Luke Spencer. So when she looked Jennifer straight in her vapid eyes, and Jennifer told her that she’d been framed, she knew Jennifer was telling her the truth. Felicia says, the WSB just wanted to tie it all up. As far as they were concerned, they got the diamond back; case solved. Except, it wasn’t. Tracy says, too bad nobody ever bothered to tell her, Luke’s widow, and Felicia says, they thought she was getting on with her life, but Tracy says, they wouldn’t let her in on it. They wanted to do it their way. Meanwhile, she’s spent 14 months trying to prove Luke was murdered by herself. Felicia says, Luke wouldn’t want that.

Drew says, if the site belonged to the Cassadines, wouldn’t Victor already know about it? They’ve been assuming the code etched into the diamond has been a set of coordinates, but what if it’s completely unrelated? Curtis says, the best information they got was the heading from Trina, and that site is directly on that heading. Laura says, they have so many pieces of this puzzle, but they’re missing that one crucial piece that brings it all together. Robert comes back, and she asks if he contacted help, and he says, satellite imagery show’s a ship parked in the code just outside Greenland. Interesting point is, there’s not supposed to be anything there; there was a research station back in the 50s, but it was abandoned. What’s even more interesting is, the ship is running in the dark with no transponders. Curtis says, that’s it; that’s the Haunted Star. Laura asks how soon Robert can get the WSB there, but he says, they can’t. There’s a problem.

Molly tells Alexis, the way Dr. Navarro explained it, endometriosis happens when the tissue meant to be on the inside of the uterus grows on the outside of the uterus. They’re usually non-cancerous, but these growths can cause painful periods, which she’s definitely experienced. Alexis asks how long this has been going on, and Molly says, a few months maybe, but she’s always had bad cramps. They’ve just gotten more and more intense. Alexis says, Molly has to take her health seriously. She can’t get so wrapped up with work that she puts her self-care on the back burner. Molly wonders who she inherited that from. She seems to remember Alexis not exactly leaping to get her bone density checked. Alexis says, they’re not doing tit for tat right now. Do as I say, not as I do. Molly says she hears Alexis. It took her a while to realize each month was getting worse. When they decided to have a baby, she was looking forward to getting pregnant right away so she wouldn’t have any periods at all. It didn’t happen, so she’s back to dealing with this. Alexis asks if there’s a treatment, and Molly tells her, Dr. Navarro said, usually hormone therapy is prescribed, and Alexis says, that’s bad because… TJ says, the hormone is estrogen, and Molly says, the hormone stops ovulation, which means she wouldn’t be able to get pregnant.

Anna says, they were told Trina made contact, and Portia says, she found a satellite phone, and she was able to relay the ship’s heading. Valentin says, her daughter’s a very brave woman, but Portia says she’d rather Trina be cowardly and safe at home. She’s sure they can imagine how terrified she is right now, not knowing what’s going on; whether she’s safe, whether they found her or not. Has Jordan reached out to Anna at all, or maybe her agency? Anna says, sorry. There’s been no updates on Victor’s whereabouts. She really understands how Portia is feeling, because she’s been in Portia’s position. Valentin says he has too. If they hear anything, they’ll tell her directly. She has his word. His phone dings, and he says, Ned again. Anna says she thinks he really needs to take the call, and he leaves. Portia says she’s here as a mom, not a doctor; a mother who’s very terrified for her child. She hates to ask this, but needs to know right now. How much danger is her daughter really in? Is Victor Cassadine capable of harming Trina?

Ethan says he’s sorry Victor made Holly do his bidding. She was in prison too. The mess was entirely of his own making. He should have seen Victor’s men coming. She says, it seemed there were quite a few participants in that digital auction. Ethan had quite a following; none of whom were admirers. He says, she knows him; rob from the rich, and give to the poor. She asks if there are any particular charities he’s benefitting these days, and he says, a couple of orphanages, and a wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe. He’s been out of commission for a while, so they’ll definitely need some funding. Holly says, before he goes running back to Monte Carlo or wherever, he’s going to need some time to recuperate, but he says he’s sorry. He can’t stay with her in Port Charles. Too many people after him. It’s best he go right to Australia, where he knows the place and who’s got deep pockets and who not to cross. He needs an influx of cash for his charity work, and to pay off a couple of the bastards who want to kill him. She supposes there’s no point in telling him to be careful, and he says, only if she is.

Tracy asks who Felicia is to tell her what Luke would or wouldn’t want from her, and Felicia says she’s his friend. Someone who knew him, and knows he genuinely loved Tracy. He wouldn’t want her spending her time and money trying to avenge him. She thinks it’s good Tracy is coming back to Port Charles. She needs her family around her right now. Tracy laughs and asks if Felicia has met her family.

On the phone, Ned says, Valentin is really alive. He was starting to wonder. Valentin tells him, knock it off. What does he want? Ned asks if he has to remind Valentin that, since he’s not dead, he’s still the CEO of ELQ, but Valentin says he has other priorities at the moment. Ned asks if Valentin even listened to the messages he left? and Valentin says, no. Anna’s been in the ICU; she’s been fighting for her life. Ned’s the Chairman of the Board. He figured Ned could handle whatever came up. Ned says he has been, for months, but that was when Valentin was dead. Now he’s very much alive. Is it too much to ask for him to put out a statement for the shareholders and board members? The general public are all very curious as to why Valentin pulled that stunt. Valentin says, it wasn’t a stunt. His daughter’s life was in danger. Victor Cassadine had to be stopped. Ned says, let’s talk about your father. He now understands Victor is a wanted man. Not a good look on the heels of Valentin’s disappearance. No one understands what’s going on, let alone their CEO’s involvement in it. From their shareholders’ perspective, Valentin has committed a major fraud. Valentin says, his attorney will be handling that, and Ned tells him, cut the crap. He needs to step up and do his job.

Holly says, wherever Ethan goes, he has to keep in touch, and not disappear off the face of the earth this time. He says, Victor knows she wasn’t burned in the fire. He knows she tricked him, and he’s not likely to forget. She says, good, and he says, satisfying though it may be to know she got the best of a megalomaniac, is going back really a good idea? Is there really anything left in Port Charles for her now?

Robert says he realizes how frustrating this is, and Curtis asks if the WSB won’t act because of jurisdictional issues. Laura says, there must be someone he can call, and Robert says, it’s all about the increased scrutiny on intelligence agencies that they have to put up with these days. Curtis says, he told them there was noting on that island. What difference does it make which country it belongs to? Laura says, four innocent people have been kidnapped, and one of them is an infant, and Drew says, and one of them is a bone marrow donor for a women with Stage IV leukemia. Laura says, exactly. She just doesn’t see how anyone could object to sending out a rescue team under the circumstances. Robert says, nobody hates red tape more than he does. He’s doing his best to plough through it, but it takes a bit of time. Curtis says, they don’t have time, and Laura says, neither does she. The hell with the WSB. She’s getting their families home now.

Alexis asks if Dr. Navarro definitively told Molly that she couldn’t get pregnant, and TJ says, hormone therapy is not permanent. Molly’s ovulation will resume when she stops taking the hormones. That’s probably why Dr. Navarro wanted to wait. What they’re dealing with is all speculation and worst case scenarios. This might be a speedbump, not a dead end. Molly says, but what if it is? She’s already done a search on endometriosis, and knows it can cause infertility.  He says, in some cases, but not all, and she says she knows he’s right; they just need more answers. She’s going to write down some questions, do research, and ask Dr. Navarro also. TJ says he has to check on an ER patient, and asks if Molly will be okay. Alexis says she’s got this, and Molly says she’ll be okay, kissing him. She says she’s got to check her messages. She’s waiting for discovery on a case. He leaves, and Alexis says, talk to me. Molly says she’s just being irrational, and Alexis says, feelings aren’t always rational. She asks Molly to tell her how she really feels, and Molly cries, saying, she feels like she’s just been told she’ll never be a mom. Alexis hugs her.

Portia tells Anna that she just realized what a ridiculous question she’s asking. She’s asking the woman who Victor shot if he’s capable of harming someone. She’s sorry. She doesn’t know what she was thinking. Anna says, she’s not thinking. She’s feeling helpless because her child is in danger, and Anna is feeling useless because she can’t be out there, helping Trina and Spencer and Ace get back safely. Portia tells her not to even think about getting out of that bed, because that’s not happening, as much as she’d like Anna to be out there leading the charge. Anna says she’s been told she can’t. Portia won’t be able to get answers, because they have to be careful about the information they put out there, but Anna can tell her, Victor is ruthless. He hates Anna, but he’s very smart, and he knows Trina is his leverage over Spencer. So he’s not going to hurt her, because then he’d lose Spencer. Portia wonders if Victor really cares about his family, and Anna says she believes he does. He could have killed Valentin, but he didn’t. He went for her, and let his son live. She takes Portia’s hand, and says, there are some very good people out there on that man’s trail. She feels they’re going to get a break soon. Portia prays Anna is right, and prays they find Victor, but she’s also getting the feeling it might be too late.

Valentin tells Ned that he’s not going to get into it right now, but there’s more at stake than ELQ stock, and Ned says, his point exactly. If their stock doesn’t rebound, there are real world consequences for their employees. It’s their responsibility not only to protect their shareholders, but their employees’ livelihoods. Valentin asks what Ned wants, and Ned says he wants Valentin to either get back to work, or step down so he can take over. Valentin says he’s not stepping down. Once his father has been apprehended, he’ll get back to ELQ. In the meantime, he trusts Ned can handle whatever comes up. Goodbye. Ned says, unbelievable.

On the phone, Laura says, they’ll be there. She tells the others that they have a charter plane fueled up and ready to go. She has a helicopter coming here in less than an hour. They can use the helipad on the roof. Drew says, that gives him just enough time to get home, update the family, and get what he needs, and Curtis says, it gives him enough time to check in at the club. Laura says she has to check in with Doc too, and Robert says he’s in, but she says, no. He has to stay here and keep putting pressure on the WSB to act quickly. He says he can do that anywhere, but she says, he can’t.  He, Valentin, and Anna are the only ones who are going to know exactly what’s going on. She needs him here as back-up. He protests, but she says she needs him here; he knows that. He says, stay in touch, and she says, lean on the WSB. She tells Drew and Curtis to meet her back here in less than an hour. She leaves with Robert, and Curtis says he’s going to the club to brief N’neka, and retrieve a little something. Drew says, what about Portia? and Curtis says he’ll see Portia before he goes. She’s still upstairs in her office trying to distract herself with work. Drew says he’s sure she’s going to appreciate that they have a lead.

Carly asks how many roses Olivia got, and Olivia says, enough to fill the baskets of course (🍷). Carly says she’s surprised they were able to get the baskets away from Donna and Avery. Avery has been practicing non-stop. She can’t wait for Avery to get here, so they can practice together, and Donna insists her big brother deserves the best flower girls ever. Michael says he appreciates how hard the whole family is working to make this day special for Willow, and Brook says, and him. They all love him… for some reason. They laugh, and Ned gazes at his family.

Molly says she knows she’s just being stupid, and Alexis says, stupid? Her daughter? Impossible. It’s very normal to be upset when you know something’s not right with your body, especially if it’s something you were counting on doing, like getting pregnant. It’s very upsetting. Molly says, logically, she knows she can still be a mom, even if she’s infertile. Being a parent is so much more than biology. Alexis says, absolutely, but they’re also getting ahead of themselves. They don’t even know if she has endometriosis until the biopsy comes back. Molly says, Dr. Navarro seemed pretty certain, and she has all of the classic symptoms. Alexis says, one step at a time, and grabs Molly’s phone, saying, she’s taking this. Do not look at the internet for information. Molly says, sitting around and waiting is not in her DNA, and Alexis says, it’s not in hers either. She’d be all over this thing, trying to face the worst news head on. Molly says, exactly. Knowledge is power. Alexis tells her, so they say, and glances at the ALS pamphlet in the pocket of her bag.

Laura sees Valentin, and says, they think they know where Victor is, and he asks, where? She says, a small island off the coast of Greenland, and he says, what’s in Greenland? She says, according to the satellite, the Haunted Star and nothing else, but Robert thinks there’s some kind of lab there that was abandoned in the 50s. Valentin says, Mikkos preferred his underground bunkers; they were easier to conceal. She asks if he remembers anything about a Cassadine holding in Greenland, but he says, not at all. She says she guesses they’ll find out. She’s leaving with Curtis and Drew in less than an hour. He says he’s going with her, and she says, great, pressing the elevator button. He says, wait. He can’t do that. She says she understands; Anna needs him. She’ll keep him updated as much as she can. He wishes her good luck, and the elevator doors close.

Walking into his office on the phone, Robert says, the situation is critical. He needs the director to authorize the operation now… It’s critical. He’ll be waiting for the call. He tosses the phone down and sits, when Diane walks in. She asks if someone is bothering him, and he says, not for long. She says she’s sensing this is a bad time, but he says, no, come in. He’s waiting for a call; he can’t do anything. What brings her by? She says she was at an arraignment, and on her way out when she heard his dulcet tones. She’s glad she ran into him. He says, she didn’t really run into him; she came to him. She says, that’s absolutely true, because she has something for him. He says his day’s about to look up, and she slides a paper across the desk, saying, it’s her dry cleaning bill.

Holly says she has unfinished business in Port Charles, and Ethan says, good or bad? She says, as yet to be determined, and asks if he’s up for a few questions. He says, go ahead, and she says, when he was Victor’s prisoner, did he ever mention anything he was up to, anything about his organization? Ethan says he was there so long, the guards got comfortable around him and talked in front of him. She says, tell her everything.

Tracy asks if Felicia really thinks she’d go running home to the bosom of her family to be embraced and comforted? Her family doesn’t do tea and sympathy. They just have survival of the fittest engraved on their family crest. But it makes them sharp and strong, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ned asks if he can pour Michael a drink, and Michael says, maybe later. Was Ned finally able to reach Valentin? Ned says, for all the good it did, and Michael says he’s sorry. He wishes he could pitch in and strategize… Ned says, no. Michael needs to focus on his family unlike Valentin. He’ll handle ELQ. Michael appreciates Ned’s understanding, and says, at the end of the day, they both want ELQ to thrive, despite their differences. Maybe they aren’t so different after all. Michael says, how’s that? but Ned says, today’s not the day to talk business, but one day soon, he’d like to sit down with Michael and Drew, and talk about ELQ. It might be time for some changes. Drew comes in, and asks Michael if Willow’s around. Michael says, she’s at the gatehouse, resting, and Drew says he needs to speak to her, but obviously he doesn’t want to disturb her. He can’t walk Willow down the aisle. They have a lead on the Haunted Star. Carly says, they found Liesl? and Drew says he thinks so… He hopes so. He, Curtis, and Laura are heading there now. Michael says he can’t thank Drew enough, but Drew is putting himself on the line. Drew says, this has to be done. Michael doesn’t have to thank him. Michael knows he’d do anything in his power to rescue those hostages from Victor, and get Liesl back here. Michael says he just prays it’s soon.

Curtis finds Portia asleep at her desk, and says, he will bring Trina home. That is a promise. He leaves her a note.

Carly catches Drew before he goes out the door, and asks if he has everything he needs. He says he does, and she asks if he can tell her where he’s going. He says he’s going to an island off the coast of Greenland, and she says she wishes he didn’t have to go, but she’s grateful because she knows Willow’s life depends on it. He says, Michael and Willow are his family, and she says, please be careful. He says he’ll see her soon, and leaves, but she follows him out the door, and he kisses her. She says, please come back, and he says he will, kissing her again.

TJ asks if everything is okay, and Alexis says, it is, and now that he’s back, she’s going to leave. Molly thanks her, and Alexis says she’s here for Molly… and TJ. She leaves, and TJ says, Molly looks better. Good talk? Molly says, it was. How’s his patient? He says he can see a definite improvement, and she thanks him for giving her and her mom some time to talk; it really helped. He says, they’ll get through this – together – and she says she knows. She’s glad he’s back. Her mom was definitely comforting, but she can’t do this. She kisses him.

I miss a little something here, but Robert suggests he and Diane pick up where they left off. He’s about to kiss her, when Holly walks in.

Ned tells Michael, there’s one lesson in business he’s been slow to learn; work can’t love you back. Michael learned that before he did, and Ned admires him for it. Michael says, don’t give him too much credit. Willow’s the one who set his priorities straight. Carly comes back, and tells Olivia and Brook that the baskets look great. She looks over at Ned and Michael, and says, that’s nice to see. Olivia says, it just goes to show you, family really is about coming together; celebrating the good times, and comforting each other through the bad. Brook says, today is a little bit of both, and Carly says, but they’re not going to have any tears, right? They heard Drew. He’s going to find Liesl, and Willow’s going to have her bone marrow transplant. Before they know it, they’ll be celebrating Michael and Willow’s ten year anniversary. Ned says, hear, hear, and Olivia says she likes the sound of that. And this family is going to be stronger because this family’s bonds are unbreakable, no matter what life throws at them. They hear a door slam, and Ned opens the living room doors. Tracy storms in, and asks what on earth Monica was thinking. They planted daffodils all the way up the drive. It looks like the Easter Bunny threw up out there. Thank God she’s home to put things to rights.

Laura tells Curtis that they should really go up to the roof. She just hopes to God that Victor doesn’t find what he’s looking for and leave before they can get there. Curtis says, they can’t think like that. their mission is to rescue Trina, Spencer, Ace, and Liesl, and that’s what they’re going to do. Drew joins them and says, amen to that. Did Curtis get everything he needs? Curtis says he did. Is Drew’s bag what he thinks it is? Drew says he’s just glad they’re not going through airport security. Laura says, her too, and Curtis asks, how long is the flight? Drew says, about 7 hours, plenty of time for them to go over everything they’re going to do when they hit the ground. As the elevator doors close, Valentin stops them. He says he’s changed his mind. Is it too late to hitch a ride?

Tomorrow, Tracy asks what else they’ve been keeping from her; Diane tells Robert to trust her a little more, and use her a little less; and Carly says she needs to tell the bride about one more shock.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

In Chase’s interview, he says he’s a redneck guy and this is crazy for him. This crew parties. In Daisy’s interview, she asks, why? Why so much regret? Alex stumbles down the stairs, but keeps on going, and Daisy asks Mads if she’s okay as she throws her guts up. She says she is, then Lucy takes quite a tumble trying to get into the top bunk. Ileisha and Daisy help her into the bunk, and Daisy puts up a guardrail. In her interview, Daisy announces that this is a public service announcement. If you drink, don’t take the top bunk. Captain Glenn wonders why there’s a water bottle in his bed, and from the bunk above him, Alex says, ishmabud.

7 am. Gary texts Glenn, guess who’s back? Everyone is still snoring when Gary boards the boat. Glenn meets him, and they hug. Gary says he heard it was a sh*tshow, and asks if the engine works. Glenn says, they’re testing it today, and Gary looks around, saying, the crew had a big night. In her cabin, Mads says she can’t believe she threw up on night one. Glenn says he’s happy to have Gary back, and Gary says he’s happy to be here, and they hug again. In Glenn’s interview, he says, the boat’s not the same without Gary. They’re like an old married couple, and know what each other is thinking. Gary gets in Colin’s bunk with him, and in Colin’s interview, he’s says he’s hugely relieved. They desperately need him on deck. Gary slowly meets the crew, and Lucy shows everyone a scrape on her back. Chase suggests getting some antiseptic, and Gary says, they had a big night last night. It sounds like a wild bunch; injuries on day one. Ileisha thinks someone did something, and Glenn asks if it’s still in the jacuzzi. Gary wakes daisy, and in his interview, he says, it’s good to see Daisy. They bumped heads and touched tongues, and he hopes this season they pick up where they left off. Alex tells Chase that he tried to give Glenn water in the middle of night. Glenn tells Colin that he’ll be happy if they can get up to 6 knots, and Colin tells him to go high as he can. In Colin’s interview, he says, they can’t get off the dock relying on the on wind, and until they’re motoring, the won’t know for sure about the engine. They need to find out their cruising limits. In Alex’s interview, he says, they’ve been lost without a boss. It’s a load off his shoulders. In Chase’s interview, he says, now that they know what they’re doing, they’re finally set up for success.

They leave the dock, and he and Colin discuss boat stuff with a lot of numbers involved. In Colin’s interview, he says he has to inspect everything, and make sure there are no oil leaks when they’re doing the test. If it gets too hot, there are parts inside the engine that are corroded and can break. If something breaks, things can literally bust out of the engine. He tells Glenn, everything is stable and looks good, and in his interview, Colin says, this is exactly what he wanted. It’s a good feeling to have it working like this. Glenn says, the season’s not cancelled, and in his interview, he says, what Colin’s done with the workaround is a temporary fix, but they can continue the season. Gary wants stories about the crew’s night off, but no one remembers anything. Chase says he had a quick kiss with Mads, and Alex made out with everyone in the hot tub. In Gary’s interview, he says, that guy’s got game. It took him two and a half years to kiss Daisy. Good for him. Glenn brings the boat back to the dock, and in his interview, Gary says, his one concern about coming in late is, the crew has been working by their own initiative, which is great, but there’s only one way to do things – my f***ing way, bitches. Gary talks to the deckhands about their previous experience, and Glenn radios for Gary, Daisy, and Ileisha to meet him in the crew mess for a preference sheet meeting.

Glenn says, charter two. The primary is Kim, who has a company called Powerful Professionals, where they do coaching and education. Her husband Ian is a luxury real estate agent, and they’re bringing some long-time friends with them. Daisy reads that they’d like a formal dinner with a bourbon tasting, and in her interview, she says she feels this will be better than charter one, which was a complete disaster. She thinks they’ll be fine. Gary reads that on day two, the guests want to experience all the boat has to offer, including all the water toys. After the meeting, Daisy tells Gary that he waltzed on after a horrific charter. He asks if she has a crush on the boat, but she says she’s over the season already. Lucy calls her dad, and tells him that she has hangxiety – i.e. the anxiety that sometimes comes with a hangover. She tells him that she fell, and scraped her back, and he tells her to get over it or don’t drink. In Lucy’s interview, she says, when she’s hungover, she calls her father. Her dad is her inspiration and her best friend. He says, just chill and have some water. She’ll be fine. My dad was my inspiration and we were very close, but I think he might be the last person I’d want to talk to when I was hungover. The crew goes to bed, and we see Colin scratching his ass.

Daisy calls a meeting with the stews, and asks if they were happy with the last charter. Mads and Lucy think they worked well as a team, and Daisy tells them not to take the feedback from the charter personally. But regardless, make sure to refresh the cabins and check on the towels and toilet paper. In Lucy’s interview, she says she’s going to work her ass off. She wants to be known as the one who works as hard as she can to get the job done. The provisions come in, and Gary tells them to just put the mozzarella in his cabin, as we all would. The guests arrive, and Glenn formally welcomes them. He tells them that they’ll be sailing today, since there’s a good breeze. Daisy gives them the tour, and in Glenn’s interview, he says, he’s confident now that his first mate is back, and the boat can get off the dock. Only so much sh*t can go wrong, then something has to go right… Fingers crossed. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, she has to get her sh*t together. She’s always a little nervous with the first meal. Exciting music plays, even though nothing exciting is happening. Daisy serves some glorious appetizers, and guest Justin (see below) says, it’s out of this world. The sails are put up, and Colin says, they have epic sailing conditions. The start heeling, and everything slides. Glenn says, they have to be happy with this heel.

In Colin’s interview, he says, after the last charter, to be out sailing is surreal. The guests are loving it. They’re so lucky. It’s incredible. They drop anchor, and primary Kim tells Glenn that she has a weird request. She’s wondering if dinner could be done as a buffet, and the entire crew could eat with them. Glenn says, they’ve never done that, and tells Daisy about the request. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, the request is crazy, but she’ll do family style and include everyone. Gary wants fewer water toys in the space where they’re kept (it has a name, but I forget what it is), and Chase argues the point. In Gary’s interview, he says, he doesn’t know if Chase is trying to prove something, but Chase is getting on his nerves. In Colin’s interview, he says, Chase has huge potential, but it has to be harnessed the right way. He requires guidance and leadership. Gary needs to man up. Mads says, this is so different from the last charter. They had no time to breathe. There’s sand in the sea bob, and Gary tells them, it can’t happen again. Chase says he thought it had been rinsed, but apparently not, and acts like it’s no big deal. In his interview, Gary says, Chase was talking disrespectfully in front of the guests. It’s a sh*t d*ck move.

In Gary’s interview, he says he’s more pissed about the lack of respect then how they’ve been looking after things. Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of the season? Daisy  tells Gary about the crew joining the guests for dinner, and Gary says his social skills are terrible. The guests play on the water toys, and Ileisha frets that the guests won’t like mussels. Colin says, she’s the chef, and it sounds delicious. (It does.) He helps clean the mussels and make the pasta, getting more points from me. Daisy explains to Mads how to set up the tables for everyone. Colin hangs the pasta on hangers, and says, it’s going to be 14 people, and Ileisha picked the most time consuming thing. Ileisha worries they won’t have enough food, and in her interview, she says, there was no way she could have pulled this off without Colin’s help. They did it. The food comes out, and the guests applaud. Kim makes a toast to a night we will never forget with friends we will always remember. Gary says, Glenn is the captain he’s ever worked for, and the crew is so much nicer than previous crews. In Glenn’s interview, he says he’s proud of Ileisha. This was a massive win for him and the crew. Colin tells the guests that this isn’t normal. In his 14 years of working on a superyacht, he’s never been invited to eat with the guests. He thanks them for treating the crew with respect. Guest Ian says, they’re happy to share the evening.  

As the crew talks about how they got into yachting, Gary says he joined 3 years ago, and never looked back. Chase goes to check the hot tub, and finds it cold. Ian says, the dinner is positively spectacular, and Glenn says, then it’s their gain. It’s been special; very cool. Gary leaves to check the hot tub, and Chase says he just turned on the heater on. Gary calls Glenn up, and tells him about the hot tub, also showing him a smudge on the chrome. Chase says, that’s why he came up in the first place, to check the tub, and in his interview, he wonders why Gary keeps throwing him under the bus. He’s trying his hardest, but he’s just getting sh*t. Gary tells Alex to be vigilant on anchor watch. He gives Alex some instructions and pointers.

2nd day of charter. Gary complains to Colin about Alex not listening, and says he’s been here a long time, and knows how everything works.  Colin says, when he has to deal with someone like that, the only way is to nip it in the bud, or it will end up exploding. He thinks Chase and Alex had a system, but Gary says, he has different ideas. He appreciates them getting the boat through the first charter, but not it’s his way. Glenn tells Chase to keep on top of the fingerprints, and in Chase’s interview, he says, when he wakes up before the captain, and it looks like sh*t because no one cleaned the night before, it looks like it’s him.  It’s a situation he can’t win. One with Gary talking sh*t at the top.  

Next time, who’s zooming who; Gary and Daisy kiss; a storm comes up; and the boat drags anchor.

🎤 Runner-Up On Deck…

Blink and you missed him. I haven’t seen this guy since that beach movie he made with Kelly Clarkson.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/below-deck-sailing-yacht-justin-guarini-is-a-charter-guest

🤽 Excuses, excuses. Since the fun never ends, it’s already been a week, and it’s only Monday. So I’m saving Summer House for tomorrow, when you’ll get double the awful when it’s coupled with RHONJ. Although the former are mostly awful because they’re a bunch of immature dummies, when the Jersey crowd is just plain mean.

🌍 Go Ahead, Earth My Day…

As stated above, come back tomorrow for a duo of awfulness, along with the usual soap. Until then, stay safe, stay checking for bunny nests before you mow or weed, and stay not taking the top bunk if you drink.

April 17, 2023 – Victor Holds an Auction, The Mother Of All Intense First Charters On Deck, Still Awful In the Summer & Truth

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Michael answers the door at the gatehouse, and Carly and Josslyn are there. He says, that was fast, and Carly says, they dropped everything as soon as he called. Whatever Wallow needs, they’ll do. Willow says, that’s a good thing, because they need both of them, and Michael says, now more than ever.

Sonny sees Robert at the hospital, and says he just stopped by to see Anna. Robert is carrying two to-go cups, and Sonny asks if it’s coffee for Anna. Robert says, tea, Earl Grey, her favorite, and Sonny says he just sent her some flowers. Robert asks if that’s how it works now; take with one hand, give with the other. Is this his current M.O.? Sonny says he doesn’t understand. Do they have a problem? Robert says, since Sonny used Diane Miller to circumvent the law, he thinks they do.

Brook runs into the CCRB meeting room, and sees Chase. She says, right on time, and he says, the meeting hasn’t started yet. She already submitted a letter on his behalf. Why is she here? She asks why he thinks. Someone has to make him presentable. She straightens his tie.

Alexis says, if Chase and Finn heard Gregory was ill, they didn’t hear it from her, but he says he didn’t come here to argue with her. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he will be if she does him a favor. He promises it’s the last time he’ll ask.

Somewhere off the coast of Venezuela. There’s a knock at Felicia’s room door, and a voice says, housekeeping. A housekeeper carrying a humongous stack of towels says, someone asked for more towels, but Felicia says, she must have the wrong room. The housekeeper toddles in with the towels, and Felicia says she’s going to call the front desk. The maid says, please don’t, and dumps the towels on the bed. It’s Holly, and she and Felicia hug. Felicia asks why Holly is in disguise, and Holly says, when you’re supposed to be mummied up in a Swiss burn unit, hiding out from Victor Cassadine, you can’t afford to be too careful. Felicia says, for someone who was burned in a housefire, Holly looks pretty amazing, and Holly says, the ultimate chemical peel; people pay thousands for that. Speaking of which, Felicia looks amazing. Whatever she’s doing with Mac, keep it up. Felicia thanks her, and says, ever since she got back in the P.I. game, it’s been good for her. It keeps her on her toes, which is how she got the brilliant idea to fly to Caracas, hop a boat, and catch up with Holly on this island. Holly says, let her guess. This has something to do with the Ice Princess necklace. Felicia says, so she knows Victor has the real deal, and Holly says, Robert got word to her that it was especially important that she lay low right now, because if Victor has the necklace, it’s likely he knows she pulled a fast one. Felicia says, unfortunately, he’s taken hostages. She’s sure he won’t hesitate to grab Holly again if he gets the chance. Holly suggests they turn up the heat, but first things first, and Felicia says, first they find Holly’s son. Then they find the person who killed Luke.

Sonny says he’s getting the impression he crossed the line in some kind of way. What’s that about? Robert says, somebody hired Diane Miller to represent this lowlife who was hired to take out Lucy Coe at the Nurses Ball, and Sonny says, every defendant has the right to legal representation; Robert knows that. Robert says, legal representation, but not an A-list attorney like Diane Miller, who happens to be on Sonny’s retainer. Sonny made this person an offer they couldn’t refuse. Sonny says, correct him if he’s wrong, but didn’t this person of interest reveal that Victor has hostages aboard the Haunted Star? That was because of Diane’s information. Nina comes by, and Sonny says, Diane got this information, now they’re armed with all this knowledge. Who cares how they got it? Robert says, that depends. How far is too far, eh, Nina? He goes into the elevator, and Nina looks at Sonny.

Carly asks, what’s going on? When they were asked to come by, they assumed it was a health related issue. Willow says, it is… in a way, but what she needs is help in planning their wedding. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). They’d be happy to help, but they thought that wasn’t for a few months. Willow says she wanted to wait until after the transplant, but now with her donor missing, she’s reconsidered. What does Carly say, does she have Carly’s permission to marry her son tomorrow? Michael tells her, please say yes.

Alexis says, the last time Gregory will ask her for a favor? What does that even mean? He says, let him clarify. He means he won’t bother her again if he’s imposing. By now, it’s public knowledge that Alexis’s family is involved in what may turn out to be the story of the year. Alexis says, he’s heard about the ghost ship then, and he says, it’s impossible not to, but what’s really blowing up the internet are the names of the villain and the victims. To her they’re not just names; they’re family. She says, that’s her family all right. She has reporters on it. Nikolas has vanished – nobody knows where he is – and his sons apparently are hostages. And the mastermind of the whole thing is her Uncle Victor. He says he’s sure it must be overwhelming to juggle her job and her emotions. So that’s why he’s here, to offer his help.

Brook tells Chase to be still. He wants to look his best before the committee, doesn’t he? He says he doesn’t think the CCRB is going to give him a thumbs up or thumbs down because of his appearance. It’s his character and judgement that are in question. She says, they’d be lucky to have him back… anyone would be. They hear people in the hallway, and Brook says, just look each of them in the eye, be himself, and he can’t lose. He asks if that’s his manager talking, but she says, no. She’s just someone who believes in him. The committee files in and takes their seats at the table up front. Brook asks if it’s okay if she stays, and Chase says he’d like that. She tells him, break a leg, and the chairman says, this meeting of the Civilian Complain Review Board will come to order. They’re here to consider the reinstatement, or permanent dismissal, of Detective Harrison Chase. He asks Chase to come forward. The committee has reviewed his work record, and in many ways, it’s exemplary. Chase says he appreciates that, and the chairman says, but given he’s twice resorted to violence in his off-duty life, the committee is concerned he might lack the temperament and the discipline required of an officer of the law, much less a detective. To that end, this is a forum both for those opposed to and in favor of restoring his badge. Chase says he understands, and thanks them for the opportunity, when Blaze walks in. She says she’d like to speak in Chase’s favor, and Brook says, atta girl. The chairman asks her name, and she says, Blaze. He asks if it’s her first or last name, and she says, it’s her stage name. Her real name is Allison Rogers. The chairman asks her relationship to Chase, and Blaze says, he’s her singing partner, and she’s enjoyed every minute of performing with him. But as talented as Chase is, and a real natural on stage, she knows his true calling is being a police officer. He asks how she knows that, and she says, Chase stood up for her when her creep of a manager was sexually harassing her. But Chase didn’t throw his weight around, if that’s what they’re thinking. He just put Linc Brown on notice. Chase made her feel safe and protected… even respected. And isn’t that what a cop’s supposed to do – serve and protect?  

Alexis says, honestly, she didn’t know if she was going to see Gregory again. Their last visits would have implied that. Gregory says he considered keeping his distance, not wanting to add to her troubles. But then he thought his friend Alexis is trying to put out a newspaper while holding her family close because this story strikes so close to home. So he put everything else aside, got in the elevator, and here he is. She says, so he gets to help her, but she doesn’t get to help him. Interesting terms of a friendship.

Carly says, of course (🍷) Michael and Willow have her blessing; they’ve always had her blessing. Is Willow sure she wants to push the wedding up… Willow says, when she’s living on borrowed time? She doesn’t want to waste another minute. Josslyn asks if Michael is okay with it, and he says, absolutely. He wants Willow to have everything she ever dreamed of. Willow says, so Maxie is overseeing, Brook is taking care of the arrangements at the house, and Sasha is contacting the vendors. Josslyn says she wants to do something too, and Carly says, whatever Willow needs. Give her a job.

Sonny asks what Nina is doing, and she says she wanted to talk about alternative treatments for Willow with Dr. Randolph, but it’s no use. Willow never signed the release for her to have the medical information. Sonny says he’s sorry, but she says she’s just grasping at straws. Willow pretty much said there weren’t any other treatments. They have to find Aunt Liesl in time for the transplant. At least they know why she disappeared from the Nurses Ball and who has her, thanks to Sonny. He says he doesn’t know exactly what she heard… She says, there’s no reason to keep her out of the loop anymore. It’s common knowledge Victor Cassadine disappeared with the Haunted Star, and Aunt Liesl is one of his hostages. It’s a lot more than they knew last night. She asked Sonny to do whatever it takes, and he took her at her word, didn’t he?

Robert thanks the reception nurse, when Diane sees him, and says, coffee run? He says, Earl Grey, one supposedly for Anna, but she’s being examined right now, and he supposes it will be cold when she’s finished. Maybe Diane would care to join him. Or would this be looked on as a conflict of interest by her boss? She says she’s the senior partner of her own law firm. She doesn’t have a boss; she has clients. He says he doubts Sonny knows the difference. She’s not here to receive her marching orders, is she? She laughs, and says she’s here to dispose a client who is being wrongfully accused of malpractice. She’s no wartime consiglieri. She’s an attorney with principles. She starts to leave, and he says he’s sorry if he was out of line. She says, yes, very, and he asks her to accept his apologies and this lukewarm cup of tea.

Holly tells Felicia that she hates to admit this, but she’d almost given up hope of finding Ethan. Even with all her contacts and Robert’s trusty rusty Rolodex, it was as if he’d vanished off the face of the earth. Felicia says, people have a way of vanishing when they’re in Victor Cassadine’s orbit, and Holly asks if it’s true about Liesl Obrecht. Felicia says, yeah, and most likely, Spencer and Nikolas Cassadine’s infant son, and Holly says, God knows what Victor’s got in mind. Thankfully, she finally got a lead that Ethan is being held somewhere here on this island. Felicia says, so she knows where he is, but Holly says, no. Just this, and literally in the last 24 hours. Felicia asks if it doesn’t strike her as convenient, coming on the heels of Victor fleeing Port Charles, and Holly says, without a doubt, but this is her son they’re talking about. She had no choice but to follow the lead. Felicia says, of course (🍷). Then what are they waiting for? Let’s go find him. Holly says she can’t go in the maid’s outfit, and Felicia holds up two dresses, saying, take her pick. Holly wonders what she’d do without Felicia.

The chairman thanks Blaze, and says, the committee will take her testimony into consideration. That being said, they also have to consider Detective Chase’s poor judgement and his temper. Frankly, there’s also concern about his commitment to the badge. They understand someone without pay has to earn a living, but pursuing a music career? Perhaps he has a new calling in show business. Geez, it’s not like he’s doing porn. Brook gets up, and says, excuse me. She thinks she knows what Chase’s true calling is. The chairman asks who she is, and she says, Brook Lynn Quartermaine. He says he believes she’s already submitted a written statement in support of Detective Chase, and she says she did, but she has more to say. If they want to know where Detective Chase’s heart lies, nobody knows that better than her. Nobody.

Gregory tells Alexis, in his book, friends don’t always have to agree. Sometimes they fall out for years. He hopes that’s not the case with them. Her daughters are a strong support system for her, but sometimes it’s good to have the support of friends who you can communicate with in a different way. She says, in other words, he missed her, and he says, guilty as charged. He’s hoping she feels the same way. She says she does. She likes their connection. She likes being able to talk to somebody who’s intelligent and observant. So yes, she missed him to. Sit down and let’s get to work. He says, it will be a story to tell, a story that cuts close to the bone. He thinks if they put their heads together and set their egos aside like they did on the trail of The Hook killer, they can make this work. He asks to see a proof of tomorrow’s front page, and she turns her laptop around, but shuts it before he can see, and says, hang on. He asks if he’s already stepped on her editorial toes, but she says her toes are just fine. First, they need to tell another important story; his story.

Sonny asks if Nina is sure she wants to know. If he tells her, she can’t unknow it. She says she knows (ha-ha!) what she’s asking, and he says, Victor’s enforcer – the guy who tried to kill Lucy – wasn’t going to talk to the cops. So he arranged for the guy to have legal representation with Diane. Nina says, he was doing his civic duty, and Sonny says, something like that. In the meeting, the guy and Diane discussed how he might accept a lesser charge in exchange for certain information. She says, so he gives up Victor Cassadine, and gets a lesser charge, and Sonny says, exactly. We don’t live in a perfect world, but one thing he’s learned, one thing you can count on… nobody does anything for free.

Both of them dressed up, Holly leads Felicia into a beautiful living room with a roaring fireplace, and Felicia asks, what is this place? It seems way too formal to be on a tropical island. Holly says, if you have to ask, you’re not a member, and Felicia says she’s not. Is Holly? Holly says, no, but Victor is. A man in a tux comes out, and says he’s sorry, but tonight’s closed to the public; it’s members only. He’s afraid they’ll have to leave. Holly presses some money into his hand, and asks if he couldn’t make an exception in their case. He says he’s sorry, but she made a serious mistake, and two bouncers come out. The guy tells them to escort these ladies off the property, but Holly says, he doesn’t understand. They represent a consortium that does business with Victor Cassadine. He says, so? and Felicia says, so their clients insist they bid for them in person. They can’t risk leaving a digital footprint, if he knows what she means. He understands, right? Felicia slips him more cash, and he says, very well, telling them to take a seat. The bidding will begin shortly. He tells the other two to bring the item up. And remember Mr. Cassadine’s instructions – handle with care. He leaves, and Holly says, that was some fast thinking. Felicia wonders how this gets them any closer to Ethan, and Holly says she thinks they’re even closer than she thought.

Robert asks what they should drink to, and Diane suggests trust, but Robert says he trusts and admires Diane. It’s too bad she has to be compromised by the likes of Sonny Corinthos. She asks if Robert is compromised every time he takes a plea deal, and he asks if that isn’t apples and oranges. She says, is it? Was he compromised when he and Holly were running around carrying out those dubious operations for the WSB? Or every time he and Anna broke the rules just to take down the bad guy? Robert says, it’s different; it’s not the same thing. Diane says, let her guess. Because he was doing it for God and country. Admit it. They don’t deal with saints. They choose to deal with complicated men and women, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sonny asks if Nina has second thoughts about asking for his help, but she says, not a one. The Mike she fell in love with in Nixon Falls is still the Sonny she’s in love with. She learned she can’t pick and choose the parts of him that she loves. He says he thought it was the dimples, and she says, the dimples too, for sure. She says, now that they know where Aunt Liesl is, are they any closer to bringing Aunt Liesl home in time for Willow’s transplant?

Willow asks to talk to Carly in private, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷), leading Michael outside. Willow tells Carly that Michael has been wonderful about the wedding, but as soon as she starts talking about what happens after she’s gone, he doesn’t want to hear it. Carly says, neither does she, and Willow says, but Carly is a mom, and she understands. Willow wants her children to have what she never did; to grow up surrounded by family. Carly says, between them and the Quartermaines, Amelia and Wiley are going to have more family than they can handle, but Willow says, it’s the aunts and uncles she’s worried about. If Michael is at odds with Sonny, his siblings will feel like they’ve got to choose sides. She’s not worried about Dante; he’s able to navigate between the two. But Kristina is fiercely loyal to Sonny, and she’s already pulling away from Michael; not out of malice, but she sees the situation from her father’s point-of-view. As they get older, what if Avery and Donna do the same? She doesn’t want those little girls to miss out on having Michael as a big brother, and she doesn’t want her children to miss out on Avery and Donna. Carly wonders if Willow is asking her to make peace between Michael and Sonny.

Gregory says he had no plans to tell Alexis that he was sick. He regrets losing his temper and blurting it out. And it was wrong of him to dump it on her. She says she’s not glad he’s ill, but she’s glad he shared it. As much as their collaboration means to him, his health and well-being mean more. She can’t unhear what he told her. He says he’s not asking her to pretend she didn’t hear it. He’s asking her not to let it get in the way of what they do so well. If she can do that, he can promise not to let his little problem get in the way again.

Brook tells the committee, what she didn’t say in her letter is that Chase does have a problem. A big one. He cares too much. When you boil it down, that’s what Blaze was saying, and all the people who wrote letters. Chase isn’t just a cop; he’s a human being. That’s what caused him to come to her defense – not once, but twice – and he’s paid the price and learned from it. Chase is good at being on stage for the same reason he’s good at investigating a crime. Because he puts his heart and his soul into it. He never quits until he gets it right. He never quits on anyone… even if they deserve it. They need more people like that enforcing the law in this town. The kind of person who feels for people and fights for them. The kind of cop – the kind of man – they’re all proud to call Detective Harrison Chase.

The chairman says, Chase’s witnesses spoke quite eloquently on his behalf. Does he have anything to add? Chase says, not very much. Because no matter what the Review Board decides, he’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Port Charles as a detective. It was a true honor. However, if they decide to reinstate him, he’ll do his very best to deserve their trust. The chairman says, the committee will adjourn to discuss their decision, and the members leave. Chase thanks Blaze, and she says she only spoke the truth. And if they don’t reinstate him as a detective, she’d be thrilled to be his duet partner for life. They hug, and she says she’s sorry she can’t stay for the decision; she’s due at the recording studio. She’s putting together a new demo. He tells her, good luck, and she says, him too. She leaves, and Brook asks how Chase is doing. He says, no matter what happens he’s going to be okay… because of her.

Alexis says she appreciates Gregory not wanting her to know anything about his illness, but if something happens to him, how will she know what to do? He says, what if she gets hit by a bus? What if he slips and falls in the shower? What if an asteroid hits the planet? Is life just one big what if? He can understand her wanting everything out in the open about his illness, but ultimately, it’s happening to him. All he’s doing is asking her to respect his privacy so they can get back to doing what made her want to work with him in the first place. She says, not a bad argument. He should have been a lawyer. He asks if that means he’s gotten through. Let’s forget about everything else, and tell this story.

Willow tells Carly that brokering peace would mean pressuring Michael, and she doesn’t want that. But she also doesn’t want to leave her children in a divided family when she’s gone. Carly asks her not to say that. Of course (🍷) she’ll be with Michael if anything happens, but can they not put that out in the universe? Please don’t say when. Willow says, if she goes, she wants Wiley and Amelia to be able to see their grandfather and their aunts and uncles, and not feel the tension underneath. Carly says she gets where Willow is coming from. What does she need? Willow says, part of the reason Michael has drawn such a hard line with Sonny is out of loyalty to Carly, and Carly says she knows that. She didn’t expect it, and didn’t ask Michael to turn his back on Sonny. Willow says, of course (🍷) she didn’t, but she is Michael’s mother. Sonny treated her unfairly, and Michael resents it. It’s made him question everything else about Sonny, and it’s all perfectly justified, but being right doesn’t build bridges; compromise does. For the sake of their youngest family members – for Avery, Donna, Wiley, and Amelia – she’s asking Carly to be the one who builds the bridge.

Josslyn says she’s not sure if it matters to Michael, but Sonny knows about her and Dex. He asks, since when? and she says, since the night of the Nurses Ball. He found them together and told them that he’s known for months. He said he was disappointed in Dex for keeping it from him, but that Dex saved his life. Michael says, Sonny acknowledged that Dex saved him? and she says, yes. He also said she was mom’s daughter, so it’s mom’s issue to deal with. He wasn’t happy of course (🍷), but he wasn’t that mad either. Michael knows what he’s like when he’s mad. Michael asks, what happened next? and she says, nothing. He gave Dex another job, which turned out to be looking for Obrecht. Anyway, her point is, Dex told her that Sonny is using every connection to find her. Michael says, Sonny called him and told him that he’d do anything to help, and she says, Sonny called him? Michael says, there was something in his voice that made him almost forget about all the destruction and broken lives. For a moment, he sounded like… Josslyn says, like who? and he says, he sounded like my dad. She hugs him.

Sonny tells Nina, they need to focus on the positive. Jordan has all the information. She’s going to notify everyone from Interpol to the US Navy. Nina says she knows Jordan is doing the best she can, but she also knows he has more resources, and he’s working behind the scenes. She just wants to be able to help him. He tells her to help her daughter as much as Willow will let her, and she says, in other words, stay out of it. He says, it’s safer this way, and she says she trusts him. If she wanted safer, she’d have left a long time ago. She’s not asking him to share his trade secrets with her, but he doesn’t need to shield her. She’s sure she loves him, and she’s sure she trusts him. And she’s sure he’s going to put her and his family before anything else. She’s not asking for anything more. Just him… all of him. He says, she has him, and he kisses her.

Felicia and Holly are seated, and the tux man puts on a monitor where he’s being filmed. He welcomes the audience in several different languages, and says, as they know, they represent a select group invited by their host Victor Cassadine to bid on what he dares say is a one of a kind item. One that has a personal meaning to each and every one of them. Bring him out. The two bouncers bring in a hooded man between them, and sit him down in front of the camera.

Carly tells Willow that she’ll do her best, and hugs her. Michael and Josslyn come back, and Michael asks if everything is okay. Carly says, it is. She was just telling Willow that she’s going to do everything she can to make their wedding everything the two of them want it to be. Josslyn says, they both will, and asks if they should head out. Carly says, yeah, hugs Michael, and says goodbye to Willow. They leave, and Michael says, it looks like they’re good to go wedding-wise. Willow says, almost.

Nina says she really means it. Sonny doesn’t have to protect her. She’s not trying to change him. She loves him. He says he loves her too, and he’s not giving up on her daughter. They’re going to find her Aunt Liesl and bring her home in time to save Willow – whatever it takes.

Chase says, it meant a lot that Brook spoke on his behalf today, and she says, Blaze did too, which really impressed her. Because if he gets his badge back, Blaze is going to lose a duet partner. He tells her, what Blaze said was amazing, but he doesn’t have the same history with her that he does with Brook. She says, he’s right; she owed it to him. He says, but still, thank you, and she says, he’s welcome, taking his hand. She drops it when the committee comes back in, and Chase stands in front of them. The chairman says, Mr. Harrison Chase, the CCRB have made our decision.

Alexis says, the first time they met, when Gregory almost hit her in the head with a frisbee, she knew he was as stubborn as she is. He says he doesn’t like to show all his cards at once, and she says she’ll go along with this if he promises that, if it gets worse, he’ll tell her and let her help him. He says, maybe or maybe not; it depends on the situation. She says, he’s exhausting. It’s a good thing she likes his work. He says, which means… She says, which means, she’ll cooperate. For now. Have it his way. Let’s get to work, professor. Don’t just sit there. Take this copy and do his thing. She hands him some papers, and he reaches for them, but falls to the ground.

Diane says, Robert does realize of course (🍷), it’s been weeks since he promised to take her out to dinner and fill her in on the mystery that began with the fire that scarred poor Holly and ended up destroying the Ice Princess necklace. He says, weeks? and she says, then of course (🍷), that only deepened with the murder of Eileen Ashby. He says, the Deputy Mayor had her share of enemies, and she says, and now apparently there’s this ghost ship floating around with hostages on board. He says, no time like the present; they’ll have dinner tonight. She says, so he just assumes she doesn’t have plans this evening? and he says he’s sorry. He didn’t realize she had plans. She says she doesn’t, but in the future, a lady likes to be given a little advance warning. He looks confused, she laughs, and they leave together.

The man tells the bouncers, show everyone exactly what they’re bidding on, and they remove the man’s hood. Holly says, Ethan, and the man says, for the privilege of ending the life of Ethan Lovett, the bidding will start at one million dollars.

Another one I didn’t see coming. I must be losing my touch. Victor is doing what I kinda, sorta thought Austin’s family might be up to.

Tomorrow, Diane tells Robert that she knows where the line is and won’t cross it; Brook tells Sonny that she may have called in a little favor; and the CCRB gives Chase their decision.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

When we last left, the engine expert team had told Glenn that the boat’s engine needed to be rebuilt, and it would take 15 days. In Glenn’s interview, he says, it’s BS. They need it fixed, and need to get onto it fast. They don’t have a rebuild kit, and it could take days to find one. On top of it, they have guests on board. It sucks to be him. We see the cabins, and these guests are incredibly messy. Daisy asks Glenn to talk to the guests about today’s plan, and he tells them that they’re not leaving the dock. He’s sorry and embarrassed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go somewhere and have fun. In his interview, he says, they have to come up with ways to keep the guests entertained, and it brings the stress up to 110%. He tells them, there’s a beautiful beach nearby, and they act like this is a great idea, then bitch about it the second Glenn leaves. Glenn tells Daisy to take the tender and the van, and Daisy tells Colin that she’d like to send the guys. Colin says, Alex will take the tender run, and Chase will drive the van, and she decides to send Lucy along, In Daisy’s interview, she says, all she’s seeing are dirty dishes and laundry. Sending both of the girls to open beer bottles isn’t practical, and Gary isn’t here to argue with her. Glenn makes a million calls, trying to find a rebuild kit, but comes up empty. In Glenn’s interview, he says, he can’t find anything, even used. He could have all the money in the world, and it wouldn’t matter. Gary has covid, the guests are disappointed, and they could be f***ed. Daisy texts Gary, who says, he’s trying be positive, and sends a video of him dancing around. Colin calls another engineer, and suggests a possibility. The engineer says, if they were in a Mad Max world, it would be viable. In Colin’s interview, he says he has experience with salvaging engines. He bought a hurricane damaged boat, and knows how bad salt water can effect an engine. There has to be a quicker solution than rebuilding. The guests ask Glenn to join them for dinner. No doubt so they can personally yell at him. As the guests are about to get in the tender, one asks for an espresso martini, so Daisy has to run around to accommodate her majesty. Since Glenn is a man and can’t find things on his own, he radios Daisy that there’s no ice in the tender. Daisy says, it’s there, and he tells her to just bring more. She hotfoots it to the tender, as he’s telling her that he can’t f***ing find it. In his interview, he says, he’d rather have two and get going.

Daisy shows the guests where the ice was – in the ice bucket. In Lucy’s interview, she says, Chase isn’t annoying, but he’s so positive. Moaning about things gets her through life. Colin suggests some engine stuff to Glenn, and says, they’ll probably have to cruise a few knots slower, but Glenn says, any knots are more than they’re going now. In Colin’s interview, he says, what he’s going to do is completely unorthodox, but if he doesn’t try it, they have no charter. The salt water makes things corrode. If they corrode, they become weak, and if they become weak, they break. He’s going to suck out the water, put in diesel fuel, then suck that out. It’s a tedious task, and pushing him to his limit. Lucy comes back to the boat to do cabins, and they’re atrocious. Lucy says she couldn’t live like this. Me neither, sister. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, this dinner is so much pressure, and Glenn is going to be there. She keeps looking at the clock, thinking, another minute gone. At the beach, Chase thinks the guests are getting stirry, so they head back. In Madison’s interview, she says she wants to be on Daisy’s good side, and will fake it until she makes it. Lucy drops a dish and it breaks, and she starts to cry.

Daisy says, it’s just broken glass, and in Lucy’s interview, she says she feels like a child. Like the boat is ruining her. One of the guests wonders, if this is a sailboat, why aren’t they going out? That was my question last week, and we still don’t get an answer. Alex deposits the guests back at the boat, and says, they were mostly drinking again. More espresso martinis are demanded. Appropriately named guest Karen whines that if they don’t check the engines before a charter, it’s on them. She can go to the beach in Florida. She’s disappointed. In Colin’s interview, he says he got as much water out as he possibly can. The next step is to start the engine, and shoot out whatever’s remaining in the cylinders. It excites him in a way. Glenn texts Gary, who says his next test is tomorrow morning. Daisy tells the stews that it’s a black and gold themed dinner, and Colin says he has very good news. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, after working in fine dining, throwing out imperfect dishes becomes second nature. She wants them to be perfect, so she’s hard on herself. Daisy points out the spots Alex has missed in polishing the glasses, and in her interview, she says, Alex is good looking, but she doesn’t want to hook up with a junior deckhand. She tells Alex that it was a good attempt, and she’d put them on the table. An alarm goes off in the engine room, and Colin curses his life. The engine sputters, and Colin says, come on. The engine finally comes to life, and he runs to tell Glenn. They high-five and hug, and in Colin’s interview, he says, he’s so f***ing stoked. In Glenn’s interview, he says, Colin has always been a legend, but he’s gone up three notches. Until they’re out at sea, he’s not going to get too excited, but he’s feeling good. I told you that Colin is the only decent guy on this boat.

Alex helps serve, and he’s nervous. The guests thank Glenn for joining them, and Lucy and I both say, ugh, when we see the cabins. In Lucy’s interview, she says, there’s blood on the carpet, and it stank of fish. She’s not their f***ing maid… well, she is. Seriously, it’s absolutely disgusting. In Mads’s interview, she says, personality is everything. Alex is more mischievous, while Chase is more of a gentlemen. She wouldn’t mind screwing the crew if the crew knows how to screw. Lucy tells Daisy that the bed is covered in blood, and I have no words. Ileisha frets about the anxiety she never used to have that leads to self-doubt. That’s when she makes mistakes. She just has to focus. Primary Stephanie wants a massive nap, and everyone goes to bed.

Glenn says he doesn’t want to try taking the boat out yet. The guests have to leave at 12, and it’s raining. Gary texts that he tested positive again, and Glenn says he needs a drink. Daisy apologizes to guest Joni for not being able to get off the dock, but Joni says, life happens. She loves all of them. It just wasn’t the best trip. Deemed the most outspoken, Karen goes with Stephanie to approach Glenn. Karen gets all weepy, and says she thought she was being punked. They had no toilet paper, towels, or bath mats. Aside from being with her best friend and the company, this was the worst trip of her life. In Glenn’s interview, he says, WTF is going on? Glenn tells her that they take pride making sure the guests have everything at all times, and grabs Daisy as she’s going past. He tells her that the guests were saying they dropped the ball in a few places, and Karen, who I don’t think expected Daisy to be in this conversation, says, they had no toilet paper, etc. and no one took out the trash. Daisy says she’ll speak to the girls, and Glenn assures them that it will all be addressed. In the other room, Joni says she thinks they just didn’t want to cough up the extra money. Karen thanks Stephanie for loving her even when she’s an a-hole. I’m glad she recognizes that, but along with Glenn, I say, WTF?

Finally, it’s time to say goodbye to these slobs, and Stephanie tells Glenn that the picnic was amazing. Some things could have been better, but overall, it was a fantastic; the girls trip of a lifetime. Glenn blows the horn as the guests walk back to their lives. Glenn talks to Daisy about the lack of service, and Daisy says, one time they asked for towels and she brought them straight away. They never said a word. Glenn suggests the toilet paper situation be checked on a regular basis, and Daisy says, it was. He asks if she thinks they’re making it up (yes), and Daisy says she thinks a lot of alcohol was consumed, and now they’re coming down. Glenn tells her not to be defensive. He thinks because they couldn’t leave the dock, there was a massive black cloud over the charter. Just make sure the guests have a full roll of toilet paper at all times. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s a mixture of embarrassed, upset, and shocked. She tells Glenn that by the end of the season, they’ll be an amazing team. She tells the stews that she’s confused if it was really that bad, and they all agree that they did all they could. In Mads’s interview, she says, it doesn’t make her want to give up, but it dampens the day. They were working as hard as they could. Daisy tells the stews that she thinks they did good. It was a hard charter.

At the tip meeting, Glenn says, this was the mother of all intense first charters. They had no engine or first mate, and the fact they survived is amazing. It was the most challenging engineering problem they’ve had, and he can’t thank Colin enough. He knows that there was an extra strain on Daisy because of being stuck, and thanks her for her efforts. The guests were also pleased with the food, and he agrees. The tip is 19.1K or 2105 euros each. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s shocked. She guesses the majority of them were happy. Glenn says he’s organized dinner and drinks for them; have fun. They get changed and leave, and Glenn tries to figure out how to use the blender, which is pretty funny. In Mads’s interview, she says, drinking is the only way to release herself after that sh*tshow. Daisy toasts to Colin, but after she drinks a tequila shot, spits it out. Yep. I feel the same way about tequila.

Colin suggests sculling, and says he’ll judge. The guys chug their drinks, and Alex wins. Colin thinks they should head back to the boat, and Chase pushes Daisy back in an abandoned shopping cart. In Chase’s interview, he says, when Daisy drinks, she’s like his spirit animal. He thought she was prim and proper, but actually she’s a good time. In Colin’s interview, he says he still feels anxious. He’d love to get sh*tfaced with his workmates, but he has to be up tomorrow for sea troll day. He needs to be mature. Colin goes to bed, but the others get in the hot tub and drink champagne from the bottle. Alex is all over Daisy, and Chase gives Mads noogies. Chase suggests playing Truth or Dare, and dares Alex to make out with Daisy, and they do. Everyone cheers, and then Alex makes out with Lucy… and Mads. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, if this is night one, she doesn’t know how the rest of the season is going to go. Then Alex kisses her too. Yuk.

Next time, the morning after; Gary returns; the guests request the entire crew join them for dinner; and an exhaust leak while trolling.

🤽‍♂️ In the Summer House that seems to drag on longer than any summer, Lindsay apologized to Danielle, then Danielle apologized to Lindsay, who apologized again. They vowed to try and be better, and went back to the hoedown that was still going on. Gabby wanted Sam to make out with Kory, but Sam wanted Kory to make the first move. She said, normally she wasn’t weak, but he had some kind of power. Once again, I guess you have to be there because I just don’t get it. He doesn’t seem like he’s got any mind meld thing going on to me. Everybody jumped in the pool, and Kory kissed Sam. In her interview, she said they’d been almost kissing all day, and he was finally sealing the deal. I started wondering, how many hours is this party? when Amanda brought out the cake and an off-key Happy Birthday was sung. Everyone went inside, and there was more partying until Kyle was the last one standing, and announced, this place is demolished.

On Sunday, the place looked like something out of an episode of Hoarders, if the hoarder enjoyed a Western theme and hoarded bottles, cowboy hats, and inflatables. Paige said she hated Kory, and didn’t want him near her children. Sam told Gabby that Kory was so hot, he must have been grown in a lab for her. She couldn’t tell how he felt and she loved it. That confused me to no end. In Paige’s interview, she said she was happy that she and Craig talked things out, and that she wasn’t getting engaged for a while. She suggested women just cry to get out of it. Chris made a Spanish breakfast, and Lindsay announced a friendly reminder that she and Carl were having a housewarming on Wednesday. Everyone was invited, even Kory. Carl said it was Lindsay’s birthday as well. Ciara looked around and said, this place is vile, and I concurred. Robert called and Danielle asked if he could make the housewarming, but he said they were doing a tasting menu for a special buyout. Whatever that meant.

In Ciara’s interview, she said, Amanda had been concerned about her fertility, and we flashed back to that. Ciara said she knows Amanda’s ass didn’t try to make an appointment, so she ordered tests for Amanda, herself, and Paige, thinking it would be a good starting point. They met at Ciara’s apartment, and Paige got there first. She said she was curious, since she’d been on birth control for a year, and Ciara said she didn’t want to scare Amanda, but she was also concerned about Amanda’s weight loss. Paige said, Ciara was a nurse, and knew when things weren’t right. Amanda arrived, and said they were in an interesting place in their lives, getting together to do this . In her interview, she said she wasn’t ready to have kids, but being able to do this with them made her more comfortable. The test involved putting three drops of blood on a card, and Ciara helped them with that. She said they’d get the results in a couple weeks, and could open them together. Amanda thanked them for doing this with her, even though she would have done it alone. Ciara said, no, she wouldn’t have.

Lindsay told Carl that she was sorry the housewarming fell on a sad day, but he said, it was also her birthday. She said her birthday was secondary, but I wondered about that, since, if it was so sad, why not have it on another day? In Carl’s interview, he said, August 11th was the day he found out his brother had passed away. It was also Lindsay’s birthday, and they were going to celebrate Lindsay’s life and their friendship. Lindsay said when she talked to her therapist, she’d said, Lindsay got the best birthday gift ever. She’d been searching for love for the last 35 years, and now she’d found it. So, she’s been searching since she was one year old? Carl said, God only knew what would have happened if she hadn’t been with him, and Lindsay said his brother would be proud of him. Carl said, his brother was protecting him and keeping an eye on him. He wished his brother had met Lindsay, but he’d inspired Carl to build something with her. His death put things in perspective. He had to trust that everything happens for a reason. I know people say that, but I’m on the fence about whether that’s true, or is it just something people say to make themselves feel better about sh*tty things that happen?

Danielle came bearing cool gifts, and she and Lindsay had a drink on Lindsay’s amazing balcony. She asked if Danielle was good, and Danielle said she had a lot going on with work, Robert was insanely stressed out, and she thought she took on his stress. When he had time off, she didn’t get to talk about her stuff, and she needed her best friend. Lindsay said she felt shunned by Danielle, and not supported in her relationship with Carl. Danielle said, of course she wanted Lindsay to be happy, but she thought of Lindsay like a sister, and if her biological brother was moving too fast, she couldn’t turn a blind eye to that. Lindsay asked what she considered moving insanely fast, and Danielle said, they hadn’t even hit the year mark yet, and there was talk of marriage. If Lindsay wanted her to be a mute, fine. Lindsay said Danielle was allowed to have an opinion, but she wasn’t living her life on Danielle’s timeline. Why did she need Danielle’s blessing to date someone? Danielle said that sounded like crazy pants to her, and told Lindsay not to ask how she was feeling. She was sorry she had a reaction. Lindsay suggested they take a breather, and Danielle stomped off. Honestly, this is one of the stupidest fights ever. If I was just hearing about it, and not seeing how old they are, I’d think they were in middle school.

Kory and Sam showed up, and Paige said they looked like Ken and Barbie. Well, Sam looks like Barbie. Again, are they wearing special Kory goggles or something? In Sam’s interview, she said, Kory brought out the best parts of her; parts some guys were scared of. She told the girls that they’ve been having so much fun, she invited him to the house this weekend. Carl’s mom Sharon and dad with no name arrived, and Sharon told Lindsay that she didn’t know what to feel or think. Lindsay said, neither did Carl. Paige said the party had engagement party vibes, and figured it was because Carl and Lindsay were moving into a $13K a month apartment.  Ciara asked if Danielle and Lindsay made up, and Lindsay said she’d thought they’d had a productive conversation at Kyle’s party. Paige said Ciara had called her several times, saying she wasn’t sure Craig was a good choice. Ciara gave her all the reasons, and Paige thought them over. Carl showed Kyle the ring he’d picked out for Lindsay. Kyle remarked how big it was – three carats – and Carl said he was only going to do it once. He got why people were saying it was fast, but it was the right move. Kyle said, Carl was the only person who needed to feel it 100%.

Back in the Hamptons, Carl said, Wednesday was a lot, but also a lot of fun. Paige asked how Chris’s date with the denim shorts girl went, and he said he took her ax throwing. We saw a clip, and Paige asked if she was good. Chris said he told her that if they crossed paths with a bear, give him the ax. Rather than continuing to call her Denim 2, he found out her name was Cassidy. In his interview, he said he thought there was a vibe, and he wanted to know more. Lindsay told Carl that Danielle finally admitted it had been weird to see them dating, and Carl wondered why Danielle didn’t like it. Was she jealous or projecting? Kyle said he’d just had his first employee quit, and Danielle asked if it was Carl, but that was a no. Carl said he was making homemade pizza for dinner, but Sam said she also had dinner reservations, so the group split up – Kyle, Danielle, Amanda, and Gabby staying home with Carl, and the others going to the restaurant. Since she’s rarely away from Carl, I’m guessing Lindsay wanted to get away from Danielle.  

At the restaurant, while Kory was in the bathroom, the others pumped Sam for information. Sam said she loved making out with Kory, and would be open to more, but forcing something serious could wreck things. Carl told Danielle that he thought she and Lindsay had been receptive after their conversation at Kyle’s party, but it seemed like something happened at the housewarming. Danielle said, a lot couldn’t be undone, and Carl wondered if she didn’t want them together. Danielle said she loved them together, but thought they were moving hella fast. Carl said he appreciated Danielle defending him with Kyle, but she’d moved in with Robert after two months. My brain shorted out a little, since I couldn’t grasp how those two things were related. Danielle asked if Carl wasn’t shopping for rings, and he said he was. She screamed into a pillow.

Next time, more idiocy; the test results come in; Carl tells Lindsay that she’s being rude and to stop.

🚿 April Showering…

Retrace your steps tomorrow for soap and those horrendous women in New Jersey. Until then, stay safe, stay not texting while driving, and stay remembering that being right doesn’t build bridges; compromise does.

April 10, 2023 – Nurses Ball Aftermath, Can’t Get Off the Dock On Deck, New Crew, Why & Sky

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Josslyn asks if Sonny has Dex working all night, but he says he doesn’t know. They hug, and he asks if she has any plans. She says she’s going back to the dorm; she guesses there’s an after-party. He tells her to have fun, and she says, text her when he’s done; maybe they can meet up. Sonny comes in, and wonders why he keeps finding them together.

Michael wakes Willow, and says, she has a big day tomorrow. She says, the Nurses Ball is over? What did she miss?

Carly asks Nina, what happened during the magic show? Is Liesl backstage? Nina says, no one’s seen her since she stepped into the vanishing cabinet, and Carly says, Liesl is supposed to donate her bone marrow for Willow’s transplant tomorrow; where is she?

Portia knocks at Trina and Josslyn’s dorm room door, and calls to Trina, but there’s no answer.

Laura goes to Esme, knocked out on the floor, and asks if she’s all right. Esme tries to get up, holding her head, and Laura helps her to the sofa. Esme says, it happened so fast. She opened the door and this man… He forced his way in, and she tried to fight him off, but he knocked her over and… he took her baby. Laura promises they’ll get her baby back, and holds her, as Esme says, why? Why would he do that? Laura promises they’ll find her baby, and it will be okay.

Valentin says he hates being powerless to help Anna, and Felicia says, they have to trust that the doctors are doing everything they can to help Anna. Jordan says, Anna would be the first to tell them to focus on stopping Victor, but Robert says, first they have to find that bastard.

Victor tells Spencer to make himself comfortable and leave everything to him, and Spencer says, the boat is moving. Where is Victor taking him?

Sonny says he’s disappointed in Dex. He’s known for months Dex and Josslyn are together. He gave Dex the chance to come clean, and Dex lied to him – repeatedly. Unless Dex wants to deny what’s right in front of him. Dex and Josslyn look at each other, and Dex says, no, sir. Sonny says, Dex risked his life to save him. He’s lucky, because otherwise, they’d be having a different conversation. Dex proved himself to Sonny, and how he handles his personal life is his business. Does Josslyn’s mom know she’s seeing Dex? Josslyn nods, and Sonny asks if he should take her word for that. Josslyn says, he can ask her if he wants. Her mom doesn’t love it, but she respects that it’s Josslyn’s decision. Sonny says he doesn’t like to be lied to, and Josslyn says, no one does. Sonny says he has a job for Dex, and Josslyn makes herself scarce. Sonny tells Dex that he has no interest in being the romance police. Josslyn is Carly’s daughter, and if it’s all right with her, that’s her business, as long as it doesn’t interfere with Dex’s work. Dex says, it won’t, and Sonny says, good. He has a job for Dex.

Victor says he thinks Spencer will find the accommodations on the Haunted Star are first rate. Spencer’s state room is ready if he wants to make himself comfortable. Alternately, he can have someone escort Spencer to the upper deck to take in the harbor lights. Spencer says he’s not interested in the state room or an escort, and why are they taking a tour of the harbor? and Victor says, soon they’ll be headed to the open sea. Spencer says, they’re leaving Port Charles? Why didn’t Victor tell him? Where are they going? Victor tells him not to worry about a thing. He’s checked everything out. The Haunted Star is as safe as any ocean liner. Spencer says, like the Titanic? He’s out. Whatever the next stop is, he’s getting off this boat. Victor says he’s afraid that’s out of the question. They won’t be stopping for a while. Spencer says, then he’ll swim for it; the shore isn’t that far off. Messenger guy – whose name turns out to be Ambrose – steps in front of Spencer as he tries to leave.

Esme cries, and says, her baby needs her, but Laura says she called for help. They’ll be here any minute. Dante arrives with paramedics, and Laura says, a man broke into the house. She thinks Esme was hit in the head. The paramedics tend to Esme, and she says, he has my baby. Dante asks, who? and she says, his father, Nikolas Cassadine.

Willow say she can’t believe she slept through Magic Milo. She knew Milo was coming to town, but who else was in it? Michael says, TJ danced again, and somehow they recruited Cody and Dex. She’ll never guess who else they got to dance. Remember that bodyguard Valentin got to watch Brook and Bailey? She says, Yuri? and he nods. She says, oh my God. To see Yuri dance onstage. She can’t believe she missed that. He says he recorded it, so they can watch it another night, but remember, he used to be a Magic Wand, so when she’s back on her feet, he can do a private show she’ll never forget. She asks what else she missed, and he says, her bone marrow donor was in a magic act. She says, Liesl did a magic trick? but he says, more like she was the magic trick. Maxie’s kids put her in a box, and she disappeared. He knows it was a magic trick, but it looked a little too real.

Carly assumes Nina called Liesl, and Nina says she did, but Obrecht left her phone in the dressing room. Carly asks if Sonny knows she’s gone, and Nina says, he went to look for her, when Sonny returns. Nina asks if he’s had any luck, and he says he has Dex searching for her. Speaking of Dex, did Carly know he’s seeing Josslyn? Carly asks if he wants to get into this right now, but he says, it’s a question; that’s all. She says, yes, she’s aware. She’s not crazy about it, but it’s Josslyn’s life and she can make her own decisions. Sonny says, okay, and Nina says she’s sorry to interrupt, but can they focus on Aunt Liesl right now? Did he talk to the stage manager? Did she fall through the trap door? Carly says, trap door? and Nina says, there was one in the vanishing cabinet, and another one on the stage. Drew joins them, and asks Sonny if he can have a minute. Sonny says, if this is about how Lucy made it from the safe house to the stage at the Nurses Ball, just go ahead and say it. Nina asks what he’s talking about, and Sonny says he gave Lucy, Valentin, and Anna a place to stay so they could be safe from Cassadine. Nina asks if he’s saying Valentin is alive, and Sonny says he just saw Valentin a few hours ago. Nina says she doesn’t know whether to be relieved or furious, and Drew says, in Valentin’s defense, he was trying to exonerate Anna and trying to protect Lucy. He had to make Victor think he was dead, but something went sideways. That’s what he’s trying to tell Sonny. Anna was shot. She’s in the OR right now, fighting for her life. According to Robert, Victor and some gunmen went to the house, Lucy escaped through a bedroom window, Anna and Valentin were captured, and Valentin gave up the necklace. Sonny says, dammit, and Nina says, what necklace? Sonny says, the necklace Britt inherited from Peter August, and Drew says, it was cut from the Ice Princess. Some of the stones had a code on them that Victor has been looking for; now he’s got it. Before he left, apparently, Victor thought the best form of revenge for what he felt was betrayal, was hurt what Valentin loves the most. Carly says, so Victor shot Anna as payback.

Robert says, if Valentin wants to play the blame game, Anna was part of this right from the start, and Jordan says, Felicia gave her word that Mac isn’t a part of this, right? Felicia says, that’s right, and Jordan says she appreciates Felicia’s honesty, even if it’s belated. So Eileen Ashby’s murder was part of this as well? Felicia says, that’s what Anna believed, and Jordan says, that implies that the mayor was part of this plan too? Don’t bother to deny it. She knows Laura would do anything to protect her family. Valentin says, it’s more than Laura’s family. It’s more than all of their families combined, and Anna knew that. That’s why… He walks off, and Jordan asks what Victor wanted so badly, he’d kill for it. Robert nods, and Felicia says, it concerns the Ice Princess necklace. Jordan says, that Holly Sutton stole? That was burned in the fire that injured Holly. Robert says, Holly’s injuries were faked, along with the destruction of the necklace. They had it, and now Victor’s got it, and God knows what he’s going to do with it.

Josslyn sees Portia outside the dorm room, and Portia says she was coming here to see Trina. She knocked, but… Josslyn says she doesn’t think Trina’s back yet, and invites Portia in. Portia says she was on her way home, and found herself coming here. Seeing her on stage at the Nurses Ball, so happy and beautiful, Portia wanted to tell Trina that she was proud of her. Josslyn says, she should be back soon. They were going to change and go to a party. Portia says she’s thinking this wasn’t a great idea; just tell Trina that she came by. Josslyn asks her to wait, and says she knows Portia and Trina are having issues. She’s not trying to get in the middle, but maybe Portia can stay and see how Trina reacts.

Dante asks if it’s true Nikolas showed up and took the baby, but Laura says she wasn’t here when it happened. Laura asks if Esme saw Nikolas here tonight, and Esme says, no, but if not Nikolas, then who? Spencer? Is that why Laura left? Laura says, no. She’s on Esme’s side; Esme knows that. Dante says, the paramedics will take Esme to GH, but Esme says she’s not going anywhere without her baby. Laura says, they need to know if she was seriously injured. In the meantime, Detective Falconari is going to do everything he can to find her baby. Esme cries, and tells Dante, please. He’s all she has in the world. Laura says she’ll get to the hospital as soon as she can, and Esme leaves with the paramedics. Laura asks if Dante knows what happened tonight, and he says, Eileen Ashby is dead, and Anna’s been shot and is now in surgery. Laura says, and now Esme’s baby has been kidnapped. How far do they have to look to find the common denominator?

Victor tells Ambrose, it’s all right. His nephew was just kidding. He’s not swimming anywhere. Spencer says, Victor told him that they’d be working together. Victor was going to help him find a way to send Esme to prison, and he was going to make sure his little brother gets the life he deserves. Victor says, that was the plan, but plans change, and Spencer says he doesn’t understand. Victor told him to follow his man’s instructions without question, and he did, but now Victor’s taking him somewhere against his will? Victor says, don’t be so dramatic. He’s not abducting Spencer; he’s saving him.

Portia says she remembers Josslyn and Trina being excited about getting bigger rooms as sophomores. So much has happened since then. She picks a sock up from the floor, and says, Trina is still misplacing her socks, of course (🍷), and Josslyn says, neither one of them are clean freaks. She’s changing, but she’s also going to text Trina that Portia is here, so she doesn’t feel ambushed. Portia thanks her, and Josslyn watches as Portia starts to pick up after Trina, then leaves.

Drew says, the details are sketchy, but Valentin was able to call 9-1-1, and get Anna to GH. She was in critical condition, and like he said, she’s in surgery as they speak. Carly says, this is crazy. Victor shot Anna just to get back at Valentin; that’s attempted murder. He can’t charm or bribe his way out of this, and he can’t stay in Port Charles. Drew says, maybe he doesn’t care. Maybe his plans or whatever don’t involve Port Charles anymore. Sonny says, he’s even more dangerous; he’s not even bothering to cover his tracks. He’s just going to target anybody who stands in his way. Nina steps to the side, and he asks if she’s okay. Nina flashes back to Carly telling her that Sonny needs to be with someone who knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about him and his business; who will stand beside him no matter how dirty things get.

Felicia sits next to Valentin, and says, he knows Anna’s a fighter, and he says he thought she was indestructible, but that was before. Felicia says, before what? and he says, before she came in contact with his family. There’s something truly toxic about the Cassadines; they poison everything and everyone they touch. Felicia says, that’s not true about all of them. Valentin proved himself. That’s one of the reasons Anna fell in love with him. He asks if she really thinks so, and she says she does. Anna’s in that OR right now, fighting to come back to him. He says, if the worst should happen… but she says, he can’t lose hope. She won’t let you. He tells her not to speak for Anna, but she says she isn’t; she’s speaking for Charlotte. He looks toward the elevators, and Charlotte is there. They hug, and he cries.

On the phone, Laura says, a visit from them would be just what she needs. They’re one of the few people Esme actually trusts, and she’s frantic right now. It’s going to take every one of them to keep her calm until they find her baby… Okay. She loves them. Bye. She asks if there’s any update about Anna, but Dante says, she’s still in surgery. Laura says, what she doesn’t understand is someone could walk in and walk out carrying a baby, and nobody saw that? He says he’s got people pulling surveillance footage from the building. They’re going to pick up Ace’s trail. They’re going to get her grandson back to her.

Spencer says, Victor is trying to save him? From what? Victor says, from himself, amongst other things. He was there for Spencer when Spencer’s father turned his back on him. Nikolas has been nothing but a big disappointment to all of them, but Spencer’s different. He trusted Spencer to step forward and do whatever’s necessary to protect their family. Spencer says he’s so grateful for everything Victor’s done for him, but he was of the understanding that Victor did them out of love, not to compel him to obey. Victor says he doesn’t want Spencer’s obedience; he wants Spencer’s loyalty. Spencer says, Victor has his loyalty. Why won’t Victor trust him with the truth? Perhaps his grandmother was right about Victor all along. Victor tells Spencer that he can’t believe a word that woman says, and Spencer says, then let him go home to his family. Victor says, doesn’t Spencer understand? His family is right here. Spencer says, he has more family than just Victor, and Victor says he’s well-aware of that. He calls Ambrose, who comes in with a woman holding Ace. Spencer asks what Ace is doing here, and Victor says he told Spencer; his family’s all here on this boat. Spencer says, give him his brother, but Ambrose holds him back, and Victor says, don’t worry. He’s arranged a wonderful nursery on board for little Ace. Spencer asks, where’s Esme? and Victor says, Miss Prince won’t be joining them. Spencer says, there’s no way she would give that baby up, but Victor says, Ambrose can be very persuasive. Spencer agreed with him that Esme should have no part in little Ace’s future. Esme is back there with all the other mediocre people in Port Charles, and they’re here because they’re different – they’re Cassadines. They deserve better. So for Spencer, him, and their entire family, full steam ahead.

Josslyn comes back, and says she wishes her mother would clean her side of the room. She asks if everything is okay, and Portia picks up a spiralbound book with a painting on the cover. She says she didn’t mean to pry. She wanted to look at the art, but something’s written inside. She hands it to Josslyn, who opens it and reads, Trina, every day with you is a gift. Portia says, it’s not signed, but then again, it doesn’t need to be, does it? That’s from Spencer, isn’t it?

Dante comes back into the apartment, and Laura asks if the doorman saw something, but he says, no. They did put out a missing child alert for Esme’s baby. Laura says, hopefully, someone saw something, but they can’t go with that, and Dante says, hopefully, forensics gets him this footage. All they need is a picture of the person who broke in here tonight and took Ace. His phone dings, and he says, they emailed him the footage. Maybe this is the break they need.

Valentin asks when Charlotte got here, and how did she get here? Charlotte says she was staying at her friend Melissa’s, when Felicia sent a police car to get her. Felicia says, it was Mac who sent the car. She just told him that they needed to be together. Valentin thanks her, and Felicia says she’ll give them some time alone. She leaves, and Charlotte asks, how’s Anna? How bad is it? He says, it’s bad. She’s got really good doctors, and she’s in good hands… and she’s the strongest person he’s ever met. She asks if it was her Grandfather Victor, and he says, it was. She says she hates him, but Valentin says, don’t hate; he doesn’t want that for her. That just makes him too important. Her life is her own, and it marches by. Please don’t spend it hating. She’s better than that. She says, don’t ask her to like him, and he says, no. He just wants Victor gone. Charlotte is going to have such a life, with people to see and places to go. He wants it to be so full, there’s no room for thoughts of Victor. She says, it would be a lot easier to forget about him if he was locked up, and Valentin says he promises her, he will be, and hugs her. One way or another, he’ll be stopped.

Willow says, Lucy’s alive? She showed up at the Nurses Ball, and Sonny saved her life? Michael says, that’s what’s being reported, and she says, he’s proud of his dad, isn’t he? He says he’s happy Lucy is safe, and he’s always known his dad is physically courageous. It doesn’t make him like Sonny any more. She says, none of them can change the past. We can only try to be better in the future. He asks if that goes for Nina too… Sorry. That was a cheap shot. She tells him, it was fair. She does hold what Nina’s done in the past against her, but she has to admit, she’s a big part of why Liesl agreed to be her donor, and she owes Nina for that.

Nina says she’s trying to understand this. Victor shot Anna in cold blood just to punish Valentin, and then he’s going to target other people who opposed him? Dex comes back, and Nina asks if he found her Aunt Liesl. Sonny says, Dex can talk in front of everybody, and Dex says he checked under the trapdoor on the stage and found this. He shows them a dragonfly charm, and says, it looks like a charm from a bracelet. Does it look familiar? Nina says, that charm was her cousin Britt’s; it’s very precious to Aunt Liesl. She can’t imagine her being careless with it.

On the phone, Jordan says she wishes they had better news. She’ll be in touch. Robert says, now what? and Jordan says, a missing child; Esme Prince’s baby. Robert says, Nikolas Cassadine is the father of that child. This can’t be a coincidence. Felicia says, it sounds like Victor’s getting all his ducks lined up in a row, and Jordan says, his ducks and his diamonds. Let her know when they get word about Anna. Robert asks where she’s going, and she says, to get answers, and leaves.

Dante gets on his laptop, and says, here’s the nighttime view of Laura’s building. They see the service elevator, and a guy in a black hoodie gets in. She asks if that’s the kidnapper, but Dante says, they can’t see his face. He freezes the frame, and they see a gun sticking out of the guy’s waistband in the back.

Portia says she’s known for a while now that Spencer became more than just a friend to her daughter, and Josslyn says, especially after Rory died. Portia says, and after seeing them together tonight, the connection they have is pretty obvious, and Josslyn says she takes it Portia doesn’t approve. Portia asks if Josslyn does, but Josslyn says, it’s not up to her; it’s up to Trina. Portia takes that as a no, and Josslyn says she’s known Spencer a really long time, and she knows he can be a… jerk, but she also knows if there’s anyone who’s going to make him want to be better, it’s Trina. Portia says she’s going to go. She appreciates Josslyn, but she’s been here long enough. If Josslyn could just tell Trina that she misses her. Josslyn says, no matter what mistakes Spencer may or may not end up making, she does know that he’d never knowingly hurt Trina again. Portia says, knowingly, and that’s the part that scares her, and she leaves.

Spencer says he knows Victor thinks he’s doing what’s best for him and his little brother, but leaving Port Charles means leaving the people he cares about, who are going to start wondering where he is as soon as they realize he’s missing. Victor says, if Spencer is referring to his grandmother, it’s high time he stop letting Laura control his life. Or is this about the young lady who always seems to bring out Spencer’s weaker, more sentimental side? Spencer tells him not to talk about Trina like that, and Victor says, romantic attachments are all very well and good, but now is the time to make his family his priority. He’s speaking from experience. In no time at all, he’ll have forgotten all about Miss Trina Robinson. Victor takes a sip of the skimpiest martini I’ve ever seen.

Sonny wonders if it’s possible the charm fell off Britt’s bracelet without Obrecht knowing, but Nina says, that doesn’t make her feel any better. Aunt Liesl knew how important tomorrow is for Willow. What was she doing in a crawlspace beneath the trapdoor? That definitely wasn’t part of a magic act. Carly thinks Michael and Willow should know what’s going on, and Sonny asks if she wants Dex to drive her, but Drew says he can do that. Carly says she appreciates it, and Drew says, of course (🍷). They leave, and Dex says he’ll pull the car around. Nina tells Sonny, for once she’s not upset that Carly gets to be the one with Willow. Carly will be able to reassure her and comfort her, because Nina needs to find her Aunt Liesl… and Sonny’s going to help her. Sonny asks if she realizes what she’s asking him, and she says she does. Her Aunt Liesl’s life is at stake, and her aunt is the only one who can save Willow. She wants Sonny to do whatever it takes to find her. He asks if she’s absolutely sure, and she says she is.

Michael says he’s not taking no for an answer. Willow needs to rest before her big day tomorrow. There’s a knock at the door, and Michael lets Carly and Drew in. Willow asks if something is wrong.

Laura says, they should see the same hooded figure leaving the building, and Dante says, right. They watch as the guy in the hoodie comes back in the elevator holding Ace. Laura says, my God, and the guy turns. She tells Dante to freeze it, and he asks if she recognizes that face. She says, it’s hard to forget; it’s Ambrose. It’s Victor’s bodyguard.

Esme tosses and turns in a hospital bed, and sits up with a start. Jordan comes in, and says, she was just having a bad dream. Esme says she kept seeing the face of the man who broke in and took her baby, and Jordan asks if she recognized him. Esme says she doesn’t know who he is. All she knows is, he took her baby. But why? Why did he take her baby? She cries.

Victor suggests the woman take Ace back to his crib, and she leaves with the baby. Spencer asks if it isn’t past Ambrose’s bedtime as well, and Ambrose says, it’s kind of Spencer to be concerned, but he’s a night owl. Victor says, Ambrose is here for his protection and Spencer’s, as well as his little brother’s. The sooner Spencer understands that, the better off he’ll be.

Felicia comes back with Robert, and Valentin says he’s going to speak with Robert a second. They step away, and Felicia sits with Charlotte. She asks how Charlotte is holding up, and Charlotte says she hates waiting. Felicia says, her too.

Valentin says, what’s the word on Anna? but Robert says, there’s been no update. That in itself is an update. It means she’s still fighting. He knew she would. Valentin says, Anna’s going to make it. He wants Victor found, and he wants him dead. And then he wants to dig a hole and bury Victor with his bare hands.

Josslyn wonders where Trina is. She sends a text, and we see she’s texted: Meet me at our room. Trina texted back: Okay, and Josslyn’s next text says: Thought we were meeting at our room – Where r u?

Spencer says, how about if he makes Victor a deal? He’ll go with Victor wherever Victor wants to take him, but Victor has to let his baby brother go home. Victor says, Spencer still doesn’t understand – he is home. And so is Spencer. Here, with him. As long as they have each other, they have everything they need.

Trina peeks out from around a curtain, looking at Spencer and Victor, then goes back to hiding.

Tomorrow, Esme asks Laura, if Nikolas didn’t take her son, then who did; Nina tells Scotty that they might have to find Obrecht on their own; and Victor says he brought someone here for a different reason.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Glenn tells us that he’s been with the Parsifal for 13 years. The boat’s had a lot of problems, but has never let him down. We see several clips of the boat going sideways, and Glenn says, every season, he likes to take it up a notch. If you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job. In Daisy’s interview, she says she feels like a life skills coach instead of a chief stew. All she does is babysit. In Gary’s interview, he basically says he’s cringeworthy, so points for knowing and admitting that. In Colin’s interview, he says he’s a free man. He has nothing tying him down, and it’s all new to him. We move on to the new cast/crew members, and Chef Ileisha says she’d describe herself as energetic and sensitive, but she’s a chef, so she’s a little crazy. Stew Lucy says her nickname is Lucky, but she’s not. She’s clumsy, which can be taken as unlucky. Deckhand Chase says, people either love or hate him. He thinks he’s too high energy and extra. Stew Madison (Mads) says she’s not opposed to screwing the crew and doesn’t have high standards. Alrighty then. Gary is getting lucky. Deckhand Alexi says he’s the wild, chaotic black sheep of his family. We see clips from the upcoming season, mostly disasters.

In his interview, Glenn says, his first time Sardinia was his first taste of yachting. He loves it there. It’s special. In Daisy’s interview, she says, at this point, she’d imagined she’d be married with children, but she’s still serving a-holes. She doesn’t understand what went wrong. It’s good to be back though, and she’s bringing the same motto she brings every season – my way’s best. In Colin’s interview, he says, it’s so good to be back. He missed Glenn, and the boat, and his friends. It’s entertaining, and he suggests getting the popcorn out. He and his girlfriend went their separate ways, so now he’s single. He’s hoping the season doesn’t have too many hiccups. He asks Daisy if she has a make-out session scheduled with Gary, and she tells him, shut up. In Glenn’s interview, he says, Gary has covid, which is the worst thing that can happen. Every day he’s hopeful Gary will test negative, but he hasn’t been, and Glenn doesn’t know when he’s coming. It sucks massively. Ileisha arrives, and in her interview, she says she worked in the restaurant industry as a private chef. A family she worked for had a small yacht, and she would go on day charters. Fast forward 8 years, and she wondered, why work in a restaurant when she could work in the elements? She’s a perfectionist, and wants to prove herself. Hard work is how you achieve great things. In deckhand Chase’s interview, he says he’s from Charleston, and they’re all about being in the water, sailing, and crabbing. He knew yachting was what he wanted to do, and he got a job on an 80 meter. He wants to retire by 30, and he’s here to make money, money, money, and also money. Alex has an interview, but it’s short and boring, and Mads says she grew up in Boca Raton, which is full of old retired people who have a bunch of money and boats. Because of her appearance, people think she’s going to be a bitch, but she’s a ray of sunshine. I’m not sure about this, since I think she might be being sarcastic. In Lucy’s interview, she says she grew up in a small town in Wales where everyone knows everyone.

Since Gary’s not there, Glenn tells Alex to make a to-do list. Daisy meets with the stews, and says she had drama with the second stew last year; she was thirsty. So she’s making them both junior stews, but she considers them all a team. She’ll make sure they both spend time with the guests. Alex tells Chase that he’s a captain in the Miami area, but he has no background in sailing. In his interview, he says his energy often comes from being around other people. He thinks he’s looked at as empathetic and tough to read. Glenn calls a meeting, and welcomes the crew. He tells them that first officer Gary isn’t here at the moment due to positive covid testing, and in Chase’s interview, he says, it’s a brand-new crew, and they’re picking up a charter with no boss. He’s thinking they’re kind of f***ed.

Glenn tells the deckhands that he can’t say if Gary will be there before the first charter, but he and Colin will pitch in to pick up the slack. He tells the crew that he considers the department heads God in their department. After the meeting, he asks Colin if he’ll step in for Gary, since he’s chief officer and has the experience and the certificate. In Colin’s interview, he says he’s always willing to help, but Gary’s had over 2 years’ experience on the boat, so he has big shoes to fill. They go over a bunch of boring stuff, and Daisy talks with Ileisha, who agrees that communication is key. Daisy tells her not to be afraid to ask for help. Colin tells Glenn that the main engine won’t start, and to give him an hour. Glenn says, the boat just crossed the Atlantic to get here, and it was working fine. Provisions come in.

The primary is Stephanie, who’s in sales, and she’s bringing a group of her best girlfriends. They want to hang out on the beach, have an EDM party, and have requested a steak and seafood dinner with truffle on everything. Colin tells Glenn, the engine still isn’t working, and Glenn says, don’t give up. In Lucy’s interview, she says, she’s an eternal child. Some people like to create arguments, but she likes to joke and not be mean. Colin radios Glenn, and says, it’s not an electrical issue. He says, it’s either the engine or the gearbox, and the only way to tell is to separate them. In Glenn’s interview, he says, this is the worst news he can receive. They need to motor people. It’s not a charter if they sit on the dock. This isn’t a hotel. They want to go somewhere.

Colin says he’s going to disconnect the gearbox from the engine, and Glenn says he hopes they’re moving by tonight. He does whatever, then tells Glenn that he doesn’t think it’s the gearbox. Glenn says, they can’t get off the dock tomorrow, and will have to keep the guests entertained. In Chase’s interview, he says, all they need to do is keep the boat clean and distract the guests. It might be a blessing in disguise since they have no leader. Gary calls, and he’s still positive. He suggests the guests be taken on a tender cruise. The captain tells the crew to get ready for the guests, and Colin says, it’s going to be a long f***ing season.

Glenn says, it’s not going to be easy being the bearer of bad news, and Daisy says, the pressure is on her to make the guests happy and create incredible memories. The plan is to keep their glasses filled, their stomachs filled, and their memories short. After the guests are greeted, and have champagne in their hands, Glenn says, they have a little problem with the main engine. They’re in the process of fixing it, but he doesn’t think they’re getting off the dock today. They’ve still got the tender and the toys, and they can do the beach set-up. He quickly passes the guests to Daisy for the tour, and she says, the chef is making canapes, which will be sent up. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, the first meal has to look good and taste good. You have to wow them. She might look young and small, but she’s been cooking for 16 years. Don’t mess with her. Stephanie asks what their options are, and Glenn tells them (again), they have the tender and the toys. They decide to go on a tender ride, and Daisy decides to send Alex because he’s hot. She says, they’re hammered, and in Alex’s interview, he says, day charter drunk guests are his specialty. The guests get in the water, and act like idiots. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, the guests have asked for a local Sardinian dinner, and she’s thinking tomato, oil, and seafood. The guests return, and Colin tells Glenn, they have another roadblock. The engine is full of water. They’re not going to be moving for a few days. Too bad they can’t just sail, eh?

In his interview, Colin says, there’s a malfunction because there’s saltwater in the engine, and it needs pure, clean oil. Any time there’s an issue of this this magnitude, it would be irresponsible for him to tackle it alone; they need the manufacturer. Daisy asks for help getting the EDM party ready. Glenn makes a call, and says, he needs the Caterpillar legend guy asap. I feel like one of Pavlov’s dogs when I see dinner; oysters, lobster and shrimp ravioli, and asparagus. Mads wonders if it looks like an EDM party, and Chase says, it looks like a 7 year old’s birthday party. One of the guests says, the chef hit a home run, and Daisy wonders how they’re still sitting up at the table. She jinxes them, and guest Mary Lynn falls backward in her chair. Even better, she gets herself situated in another chair, and goofing around, does it again. It’s all good though, since God protects drunks and fools. Mary Lynn laughs, and says, go big or go home. Alex and Chase put on groovy makeup, and dance with the guests.

The Caterpillar team comes, and Chase curses his life, cleaning the body paint from all over the flybridge. The legend guy says, it’s an evaporation problem. They remove the cooler to see where it’s broken, and it’s full of water. Colin sees that the air intake is full of salt water, and the legend guy says, they need to dissemble the engine, clean everything, then rebuild the engine. Glenn asks, how long? and the legend tells him, 15 days. In Glenn’s interview, he says, if it’s 15 days, their season is finito.

This season, Glenn says, it’s not about the 95%, it’s about the last 5% – whatever that means; a-hole guests; lots of making out; Colin and Daisy hooking up; Gary pretending he’s not jealous; Daisy saying she can’t win; and a dangerous situation with the boat dragging.

⛵️ Meet the Crew…

The newbies on the Parsifal.

https://www.distractify.com/p/below-deck-sailing-yacht-season-4-cast

⚖️ Just to even it out, and get me to bed earlier (it’s been a day), I’m saving the torturous Summer House for tomorrow. Woohoo. Kyle’s birthday party; a hoedown celebration of the mullet. I can’t wait to discuss.

🎹 Not the Piano Man…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and two reality shows competing for the most awful people in the cast. Until then, stay safe, stay dancing to no one else’s tune, and stay working hard. It’s how you achieve great things.

April 7, 2023 – A Surprise Guest Crashes the Ball, New Life, Bad Cop, Joisey Tawk, Daisy’s Pick, House Spin, VanderChatter, Happy Place, Exactly Eleven Quotes & Sun

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Valentin brings Victor the necklace, and Victor says, finally; that’s more like it. He whips out his jeweler’s loupe and checks it out, saying, to think they could have done this together, father and son. Instead, he’s had to choose another heir to carry on the Cassadine name. Valentin’s betrayal broke his heart, so he thinks it’s only fair he return the favor. He shoots Anna, who slumps to the floor.

The audience applauds the magic act, even though Obrecht disappeared and never came back. Molly says, Georgie and James were so adorable, but where did Obrecht go?

Esme watches the Nurses Ball at Laura’s apartment, bouncing Ace on her knee.

Backstage, Nina asks Maxie where Georgie and James are, and Maxie says, in the dressing room. Georgie is trying to figure out what went wrong, and James keeps insisting magic is real. Nina asks, what happened? Did Aunt Liesl get stuck or something? Maxie says, that’s the mystery. Liesl vanished from the vanishing cabinet.

Bobbie tells the audience not to go anywhere. The next act is the act they’ve all been waiting for, and they don’t want to miss it. The audience applauds, and the bracelet bodyguard asks Sasha where Gladys is. Sasha says, she was here a second ago. Maybe she went to the ladies room? We see Gladys sneaking around backstage, sans bracelet.

Josslyn asks if Trina is still upset that Spencer talked to Dex like that, and Trina says, Josslyn was pretty annoyed with him too. Josslyn says she’s still furious, but she’s not dating him.

Sam says, Spencer is brooding at the bar. Is he just being a Cassadine, or did something actually happen? He says he blew it with Trina – again.

Gladys comes back to the ballroom, and Sasha says, the bodyguard was looking for her. Gladys wonders if a lady can’t powder her nose in peace, when Sasha asks, where’s the bracelet?

Victor leaves with his goons, and Valentin runs to Anna. She tells him to go after Victor.

Gladys says, a bazillion dollar piece of jewelry has just been stolen, but Sasha says, it probably just fell off. Look around. The bodyguard comes back while they’re looking, and asks, what’s wrong? Where’s the bracelet? Gladys says, that’s what she’s trying to tell Sasha; somebody stole it. Sasha says, maybe it’s just missing. Maybe the clasp broke. The bodyguard asks, when was the last time she thought she had it? and Gladys flashes back to putting it in Cody’s tux pocket backstage. She says she doesn’t remember, and just prays they find it soon.

Trina tells Josslyn, it’s not just the way Spencer spoke to Dex. It’s like he went out of his way to pick a fight. Josslyn says, maybe he’s just being an entitled jerk. He’s overcompensating for his own insecurities by lording his imaginary status over those who actually work for a living. Trina says, but he wanted to do better. She really believes that. Spencer was lashing out, and Dex was the nearest target. Something’s going on with him. Josslyn says, like what? and Trina says she doesn’t know, but she’s going to find out. She’s not letting Spencer hide this from her anymore.

Obviously in pain, Anna struggles to breathe. She tells Valentin, if his father gets away, they’ll never find him, but Valentin says he’s got to get her to a hospital. He calls 9-1-1.

Walking into the Haunted Star, Victor tells Watkins, that was nice work with Miss Devane. Watkins provided just enough incentive to get his son to talk. Watkins says, it’s Victor’s new strategy, and Victor says, and an effective one, if he does say so himself. He asks if Watkins has followed up on Holly Sutton, and Watkins says, she’s still listed as a patient in the Swiss burn unit, but she’s not there. She doesn’t have a room, she’s not being treated. There’s no patient there matching her description, so she’s not using an alias. Victor says, all the more proof that fire was a ruse. Miss Sutton has been looking for her son when she should have been recovering. Watkins asks if Victor wants them to move him, and Victor says, in a manner of speaking. It’s time to offload Ethan Lovett… at a profit. Victor’s phone rings, and he says, when it rains… taking it out of his pocket. He asks if they’ve found Lucy Coe… He wants her home, the PCPD, and the MetroCourt under constant surveillance. That’s probably where she’s going to run to. She’s one of their remaining loose ends – he messes with the necklace as he talks – he needs to have tied up, now that he has everything he wants.

Gladys wonders who would steal the bracelet, and at a charity even no less, but Sasha suggests Gladys retrace her steps. Did she leave the ballroom, other than going to the bathroom? Gladys says, she’s been here the whole… wait… she went backstage to tell Maxie what a great job she’s doing. The bodyguard asks if she talked to anyone else when she went backstage, and Gladys says, now that he mentions it, she did see Cody Bell.

From the stage, Maxie asks for everyone’s attention. They have another anniversary to celebrate. Ten years ago today, at the 2013 Nurses Ball, there was a performance that not only brought down the house, it set this place on fire. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen them, but they are now back. She’s so happy to introduce The Magic Wands. The Magic Wands, including Milo, and is that Yuri? dance to Devil in Disguise, going out into the audience and back, and ending with showing the audience Nurses Ball 2023 on their behinds. The dancing is pretty good, with some unknown dudes doing a lot of flips and old school break dancing.

Backstage, Maxie tells Milo, once again, he blew the room away. He says, the guys were really good, but she says, every football team needs a quarterback, and every heart-stopping, jaw dropping all male review needs a centerpiece, and that’s obviously him. Some little girl runs through, nearly colliding with them, and Milo says, break a leg. She looks at him, and he says, that means good luck. She gives him a thumbs up. I can see no conceivable reason for this scene, so I’m wondering, who is this kid related to? Maxie says, her performance is going to be darling, which reminds her, she has to tend to the performers. She thanks Milo for coming, and he thanks her for having him. He leaves, and she says, now if she could only find Liesl. Nina walks in, and Maxie asks if she’s seen Liesl. Nina says, no, and this is ridiculous. She knows she has a bone marrow harvest tomorrow.

Laura comes home, and asks if the Nurses Ball is still on. Is Esme enjoying the show? Esme says, there’s certainly a lot of local talent on display. She asks if it happens every year, and Laura says, almost. She loves how their community comes together to raise money for a good cause. Esme says, it certainly seems like everybody… yes, and Laura says, Ace looks a little bit tired. She reaches for him, and Esme says, don’t touch him.

Sonny comes backstage, and Nina tells him that they can’t find Obrecht. Maxie says, they questioned Georgie, James, the stage managers, but everybody says the same thing. Liesl stepped inside the disappearing cabinet, and never stepped out. Sonny asks how it works, and as he looks it over, Maxie says, there’s a false back that the assistant hides behind to disappear. Then they slide back to reappear. He says, there’s a trapdoor at the bottom? Is there a trap door on the stage? Nina says she’s not sure, and Maxie says she’ll text the stage manager. Nina says, maybe she fell through the trap door. Aunt Liesl could be hurt. They all walk out.

Spencer asks Trina to tell him that he hasn’t screwed up the best thing that’s happened to him. Can they talk please? She says, okay. Tell her, what is going on with him?

Felicia fans herself, and Robert asks what she thought of Magic Milo. Mac says, those Magic Wands have her all flustered, and she says she’s not apologizing for enjoying the act, but the one who always gets her flustered is her Mac. Robert says his brother’s a very fortunate man, and Mac says, doesn’t he know it.

TJ comes back to the table after getting out of his Magic Wand skivvies, and Molly says, he was so good. He says, the things he does for charity, and she says, what about her sacrifice? She had to share him with a ballroom of thirsty women. He says, okay, the things she does for charity, and they kiss.

The bodyguard says, the bracelet’s been found, and Gladys asks, where was it? The bodyguard says, one of the people in wardrobe found it when she was moving some clothes. It fell out of a tux pocket. Gladys says she told them it was stolen, and Sasha says she can’t believe someone would actually do this. Who was it? Cody comes in and asks if anyone’s seen his… What’s going on?

Victor’s messenger, now dressed in sweats, comes onto the Haunted Star, and tells Victor, everything went fine on his end. Victor says, excellent. Now he wants messenger guy to check the state rooms; make sure they’re appropriately prepared for their guests. He asks if Tobias is back, but messenger guy says, there’s been a complication.

Valentin tells Anna, please stay awake, and she says, if anything happens… He says, nothing is going to happen, but she says she’s glad they found each other. He says he doesn’t know how he got so lucky, and she says, he’s a good man. He says he doesn’t know about that. He thinks there are plenty who would disagree with her. She says, they don’t know him like she does. They don’t know his heart like she does. He says, she knows him better than anyone, and she says she loves him. He says, and he loves her, and he hears the sirens in the distance. She starts to fade, and he calls her name.

Esme says she’s sorry. She didn’t mean to snap at Laura like that. Laura says, that’s okay. Esme knows she’d never hurt the baby, right? Esme says, of course (🍷) she knows that. Did Laura ever hate leaving her kids out of her sight for even a second? Laura says she has, and Esme says she feels like everyone is making some claim on Ace, and he’s all she’s got. Laura says she understands, but babies pick up on the emotions of people around them. How does Esme think her constant anxiety is going to affect him? Esme says she’d never hurt her son, and Laura says she knows that; that’s not what she meant. Laura’s phone rings, and she says she has to get this. She answers, Laura Collins…  Oh my God… Where is she?… Okay, she’ll be right there. She tells Esme that she’s sorry, but she has to go right now. They’ll talk later. She rushes out.

Spencer says he’s sorry about what happened with Dex, and Trina says, sorry because he treated Dex like dirt, or sorry because she’s disappointed? He says he’s sorry he upset her. That’s the last thing he wants to do. She says, he does know that’s the wrong answer, and he says, Dex is not a good guy. Whatever is going on with him and Josslyn… She says, is none of his business. He says, Cam is his best friend, so it is his business, but she says, Cam is in California, living his dream, and that is not the reason he went after Dex. Spencer was spoiling for a fight, and Dex was there. And Spencer knew Dex works for his uncle and wasn’t going to fight back. That is the definition of a coward. He says, she’s right. He’s sorry. He’s trying to do better. She asks if he means that, and he says, of course (🍷) he does. She says, good. Apologize to Dex. His phone rings, and he sees it’s Victor. She asks if he’s really going to answer the phone right now.

Robert’s phone rings, and he says he’ll meet them at the hospital.

The bodyguard asks if that’s Cody Bell, and Gladys says, that’s him. Cody says, or the guy could just ask him, and the bodyguard asks if this is his jacket. Cody says, all tuxes look the same, and the bodyguard asks, so where’s Cody’s? Cody says, it went missing when he was on stage, so it may or may not be his. What’s going on? Sasha asks, did he maybe find a bracelet on the floor, and put it in his pocket for safekeeping so he could return it later? Cody says, no, and the bodyguard asks, then why was it found in his pocket? Gladys says, because he stole it, but Cody says, if it was in his pocket, it’s because someone else put it there. Maxie blows through, and asks them to take this conversation elsewhere. She’s trying to put on a show. Sasha says she’s sure they can clear this up, but Cody says, there’s nothing to clear up. He has nothing to do with the bracelet, but the bracelet’s back, so no harm no foul. He starts to walk away, but the bodyguard stops him, and Mac walks in. Mac asks, what’s going on here? and the bodyguard tells Mac, arrest this man.

Dex and Josslyn make eyes at each other, when Sonny calls Dex over. Dex asks, what’s up? and Sonny says, they have a problem.

Cody says this is a mistake, and the bodyguard says, a million-dollar bracelet was found in his jacket pocket. Cody says, but he didn’t steal it. Mac has to believe him. Mac says he’s just following the evidence, and Cody says, Sasha please. Gladys says, this guy’s been hanging around her all night, insinuating himself with her daughter-in-law. Following her, and apparently casing her so he could strike at the perfect moment. Does Cody deny following her in here? Cody says he doesn’t deny it, and Mac says, so he admits to following Gladys.

Trina says, they’re right in the middle of something, but Spencer says he’s sorry. It’s his Uncle Victor. He has to. He steps away, and says, yes, uncle? Victor says, it took him long enough, and Spencer says, sorry about that. Now’s not a good time. Victor says, it doesn’t matter. Does Spencer want to get his brother away from Esme? Spencer says, Victor knows he does, and Victor says, then come to the Haunted Star immediately, and tell no one.

Laura walks into the hospital, and asks Valentin, where’s Anna? He says, she’s in there, pointing, and Laura asks, what happened? He says, Victor shot Anna in the abdomen. Robert comes out of the elevator, and Valentin says, the bullet’s still inside of her. She coded in the ambulance – he starts to cry – but they were able to bring her back. Laura says, Anna is very strong; she will make it through this. Robert asks where Victor is now, but Valentin says he doesn’t know. He got away. Laura asks, what about Lucy? Where is she? Valentin says, she was able to get out of the house, but he doesn’t know where she is now.

Slipping into the Ball backstage area, Lucy says, if she can just find Mac and tell him that Victor found the safehouse. A muscley dude comes up behind her with a gun, and says, don’t move. She turns around, and muscle man says, if she screams, he’ll shoot her. She says she’d really rather he didn’t, and he says, good. Let’s go. She says, this is just a whole case of mistaken identity… Actually, it’s not, but she’s not a spy. She doesn’t know how to decode anything… He tries to grab her arm, and she says, one thing she does know how to do its this, and kneecaps him. He doubles over, holding his knee, and she runs.

Robert tells Laura, when Valentin called from the ambulance, he said Anna had been shot. Did he offer any other details? She says, Valentin didn’t call her; the hospital did. Robert says, when? He was under the impression Anna and Valentin arrived at the hospital… She says, right before her. She asks Valentin if Victor gave any clue as to what his next move might be, and Valentin says, he only said he’d chosen a new heir. Robert wonders what he meant by that, when the doctor comes out. Valentin asks, how’s Anna?

Accompanied by messenger guy, Spencer walks into the Haunted Star, and says, so this is where Victor is staying. Victor says, it suits his current needs. Did Spencer tell anyone he was coming here? Spencer says, no. He followed Victor’s instructions to the letter. So tell him, what’s happening with Ace? Is everything all right? Victor asks why it wouldn’t be, and Spencer says, when they spoke this afternoon, Victor told him to sit tight. Has something changed? Is there something Victor needs him to do?

Nina tells Sonny that Obrecht’s bag is still in the dressing room, her car is still in the garage, and no one’s seen her. Dex comes in, and says, no sign of Dr. Obrecht, and Nina says, she’s scheduled to have that stem cell transplant tomorrow. Willow cannot wait, and if Aunt Liesl is missing, or if she’s hurt somewhere… Sonny says, they’re going to find her Aunt Liesl, and everything’s going to be fine, and he holds Nina.

Mac says, so Cody admits to following Gladys tonight, and Cody says, yes, he followed her, but not to steal some bracelet. Mac asks what reason he’d have. How does Cody even know Gladys? Cody says he and Gladys have crossed paths a few times, and Gladys says, there’s no big mystery here. Cody saw that bracelet on her wrist, and thought it was an easy payday. Mac asks if Cody has anything else to say, and Cody says, he didn’t steal the bracelet. He guarantees his fingerprints aren’t on it. Gladys says, that doesn’t prove anything. You can wipe off fingerprints, and I oughtta know. Mac puts handcuffs on Cody, and tells him his rights.

Jordan says she knows TJ and Molly are still in the trying stage, but can she probably expect a grandchild within the year? TJ says, they’re still in the seltzer solidarity stage. They have a long way to go. Jordan says, they’re two of the most efficient people she knows. It probably won’t take too long. Her phone rings, and she says, ugh. It’s the station. She steps away to take the call.

On the phone, Jordan says, Anna Devane’s at GH?

The doctor says, they’ve prepped Miss Devane for surgery to remove the bullet, and Robert asks, how bad? The doctor says, she’s critical, but they’re trying to keep her blood pressure up enough to affect her organs, including her brain. Gunshots can create considerable damage from the bullet fragmenting. They won’t know the extent of the damage until they’re inside, and can assess what they’re dealing with. He leaves, and Laura says she has to make a call. She goes down the hall, and says, come on, Esme, pick up.

Felicia runs into the hospital, and asks Valentin what the doctors said. Robert says, this is your fault, Cassadine. She wouldn’t be in this state if it wasn’t for you. Felicia says, stop it. Did Valentin shoot Anna or did Victor? Don’t take this out on Valentin. Valentin says, Robert’s right. Victor shot Anna to hurt him. This is all his fault.

Lucy tries a door on the next landing, but it’s locked. She squeals, and turns around, but muscle man is there, and says, it looks like she has nowhere to go. She says, he has great big muscles, and a tiny little gun… but she has this. She pulls down a boa from a costume box, and starts smacking him with it. As he’s dodging the feathers, Sonny comes up behind him, hitting him with a large cane. He drops, and Sonny says, a boa? Really? Lucy shrugs.

Mac asks if Cody understands his rights, and Cody says he always does. Mac starts to take him away, when Sam runs in, and asks, what’s going on? Cody says, it’s a frame-up. This time, he’s innocent. Mac leads him away, with the bodyguard following.

Carly takes the stage, introduces herself, and says she doesn’t work at GH, but her mother is an integral part of the hospital. She asks Bobbie to come out, and everyone cheers. Bobbie says, for the few who don’t know her, this is Barbara Jean Spencer; she’s nursing officer at General Hospital. More cheers, and Carly says, they’re not just celebrating General Hospital’s 60th year, they’re celebrating Bobbie. This beautiful woman has been helping people and saving their lives for the past 45 years. What makes General Hospital so special is its people; the passion and tradition of helping communities and making the world a better place. No one embodies that more than her mother, Nurse Bobbie Spencer. More applause and cheers, and Bobbie flashes back to when she was practically a baby nurse; telling Monica her cancer prognosis; giving BJ’s heart to Maxie – I remember that, and even though I had no investment in the storyline, it made me cry anyway; with Laura; giving Elizabeth the morning after pill when she was raped, even though she wasn’t authorized to do it; threatening to bitch slap Tracy to the Canadian border; making peace with Carly. Carly says, she is a consummate healer, infinitely kind and loyal to those she loves, and equally fierce to her adversaries. Carly should know; she’s been both. Bobbie found Carly when she was at her worst, and loved her until she was her best. And she’s not the only one.  That’s what she does to anyone whose life she touches. That’s what Nurse Bobbie Spencer does for General Hospital. Bobbie is given a standing ovation.

Sonny asks if Lucy is okay, and she says she’s not dead. He says he can see that. Good for her. She says, thanks to him, and he says he does what he can. How can he help her? He holds out his hand, and she steps over muscle man. She tells Sonny that she has this really important errand, but what does she do with… She looks at muscle man, and Sonny says he’ll take care of it. She thanks him, kisses him on the cheek, says, ta! and dashes out.

Victor says, Spencer’s already done his part. He called on Spencer, and voila! Here he is. Spencer says, so now… what? He hears something, and asks, what’s that? Victor asks if he doesn’t recognize the sound of ship’s engines, and Spencer asks, what’s going on?

Laura sees a pacifier in the hallway outside her apartment, and picks it up. She lets herself in, and the place has been tossed. Esme lies unconscious on the floor, and there’s no Ace. Laura says, oh my God.

Jordan says, she was told Valentin died in Paris, and Valentin says, the reports of his death are… exaggerated. She says, clearly. Here he is. Meanwhile, she has reports of multiple shots fired at a house in a quiet suburban neighborhood, and now one of her best friends is fighting for her life. So why doesn’t he tell her what the hell is going on. He says his father shot Anna, and she asks, where is Victor? Valentin says he doesn’t know, but he does know, whatever insane plot Victor is hatching is going to be unleashed on them very soon. They have to stop him.

Bobbie thanks Carly for the beautiful and unexpected tribute. It’s an honor. And it’s also an honor to be involved with General Hospital’s first 60 years. She’s also been given another honor this evening; the chance to speak about Lucy Coe. The curtains part, and there’s a giant photo of Lucy. Bobbie says, it might seem counterintuitive that she’s up here, because she and Lucy were never friends. She and Lucy were tearing each other’s hair out – Lucy arrives backstage, and listens – long before the word frenemies was even invented. Lucy came to town dressed as a librarian, and seduced the man Bobbie loved. That was only the beginning. Lucy lied. Lucy cheated. She even married a Quartermaine. Backstage, Lucy says, Bobbie’s one to talk. She started off by lying to Laura that she slept with Scotty. Lucy heads up the stairs to the stage, and Bobbie says, somewhere along the way, in 1994 to be exact, Lucy shocked everyone, especially her, by discovering a passion for giving. Lucy finagled herself a place as Mistress of Ceremonies at the very first Nurses Ball, and it transformed her. All of that willfulness, all of that guile, the conniving, the deceit, the vanity… In the wings, Lucy says, vanity? Bobbie’s red hair hasn’t been natural for a hundred years. Bobbie says, Lucy cajoled, she arm twisted, she blackmailed to get all of them there, either onstage or in the audience the first year, and many years thereafter. From 1994 to the early 2000s, and 2013 to the present, the General Hospital Nurses Ball has raised millions of dollars for HIV and AIDS related charities. She turns to the photo, and says, and Lucy Coe was the leader, the inspiration, and yes, the relentless nag that made it all happen. Lucy Coe isn’t here tonight, but none of us would be here… Lucy stomps toward the stage, but slips on something on the floor, and busts right through her photo, faceplanting. Everyone is shocked, and Lucy gets up. She says, what the hell did Bobbie call her? Bobbie says, she’s alive, and Lucy says she’s back. Deal with it. Bobbie says, welcome home, and moves to hug Lucy, but Lucy backs away. The audience gives Lucy a standing ovation, which is only fair.

On Monday, Portia thinks something wasn’t such a great idea; Victor says he’s not abducting Spencer, he’s saving Spencer; and Carly asks Nina where the hell Obrecht is.

✈️ From Across the Pond…

She took a big step, but we only regret the things we don’t do. Or so  they say.

🚓 At Least He’s Honest…

I wouldn’t want to be a patient at the hospital either. The security there leaves a lot to be desired.

👠 Really, We’re Good…

This sounds like as good of an explanation as any.

So, are we good?

⛵️ Green Is Not His Color…

Gary wouldn’t have been just a step down from Colin. More like several stories.

🏖 Desire To Be Awful…

Actually, it remains to be seen whether this show will rival the Hamptons in immaturity, but I trust nothing after seeing a 40-year-old in a mullet.

🍸 Don’t Leave Home Without It…

Reunion prep.

I don’t know about must see. I doubt it will get the show any new viewers, but for those already watching, it adds a fresh level of interest.

https://www.avclub.com/scandoval-has-made-vanderpump-rules-must-see-tv-1850280936

And how is LVP friends with this guy?

https://www.aol.com/entertainment/steve-o-calls-scandoval-greatest-215315189.html

Schwartz’s word salad.

https://jezebel.com/andy-cohen-tom-schwartz-tom-sandoval-raquel-leviss-scan-1850306803

🦩 And In This Corner…

What more do we need when we have pets and Barbie?

https://people.com/pets/drew-barrymore-loves-7-pets-4-cats-exclusive/

I so can’t wait for this film.

https://ew.com/movies/dua-lipa-joins-barbie-movie-posters/

🐣 Quotes of the Week

You have the need and the right to spend part of your life caring for your soul. It is not easy…To be a soulful person means to go against all the pervasive, prove-yourself values of our culture and instead treasure what is unique and internal and valuable in yourself and your own personal evolution. – Jean Shinoda Bolen

For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know. –Wise Man (Scott Glenn), Sucker Punch

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. – Robert Louis Stevenson

On Love: Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves—to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him: wishing his good, not feeling fond of him nor saying he is nice when he is not. – C.S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity

A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence. – Jim Watkins

Accept me, Lord, as I am, and make me such as thou wouldst have me to be. – Mary Livingstone, African missionary

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes. – Oscar Wilde

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.Arthur Ashe

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. – Marcus Aurelius

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. – Bruce Lee

Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration, and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

🐇 Hippity Hopping Down the Bunny Trail…

A Happy Holiday to all celebrating both Passover and Easter (aka Resurrection Sunday). After the festivities, stop in on Monday really Tuesday for soap, setting sail, and the original awful Housemates. Until then, stay safe; stay taking a spring break, even if it’s only in your mind; and stay never overcompensating for your insecurities by lording your imaginary status over those who actually work for a living. In other words, don’t be an entitled jerk.

March 23, 2023 – The Ethics Committee Makes Its Decision, Casey Landing, Big Leap, Retiring, Why, Sailing, Jax Speaks, Reunion Buzz, Next Last, Festival News & Army

Standard

I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Terry tells Elizabeth that her part is finished; they’re making their decision now. Elizabeth wonders how long it’s going to take, and asks if it’s good or bad. Terry says she wishes she knew. What she does know is, Elizabeth is an excellent nurse, and she made that clear to the Board. Terry’s phone dings, and she says she’ll be right back. She leaves, and Elizabeth tells Finn, part of her wants this over, but the other part wants it to drag on forever because, what if these are her last minutes on staff? Either way, she needs to face it and deal with it. He says, and she will. He knows how important her independence is to her, and if she wants to face this alone, he understands. She says, her life might be about to change forever. There’s no one else she’d rather be by her side. Terry comes back, and says she just got a notification that they’ve reached their decision. Elizabeth says, here we go, and some grey-haired guy I don’t know approaches her. He tells her, after careful consideration, the Committee has decided not to take any disciplinary action against her.

Gregory goes to Alexis’s office, and she says she has his car keys. He says, she called Finn, after he specifically told her not to discuss what’s happening in his life with Finn or Chase. She asks how she can explain what’s happening in his life if she doesn’t know because he won’t tell her? She’s worried about him. He says, about what? She just said she doesn’t know anything, so let’s just leave it that way. She says she can’t. He’s her friend. She cares about him whether he likes it or not.

Maxie, Sasha, and Gladys sit at Kelly’s, and Maxie says she’s getting a whole new education about the elements of the Nurses Ball. They wouldn’t believe how important it is to have the right lighting package. Fortunately, the lighting designer Lucy always used is available, but he’s not cheap. Thankfully, the Nurses Ball is fully funded, so all the proceeds can go to AIDS/HIV research. Sasha says she’s so glad Deception’s able to donate 300,000, and match the donations, and Gladys says, that’s a lot of money. Maxie says, Lucy will be so excited… God rest her soul, when Cody comes by, and asks Sasha if Kelly’s makes biscotti. She says, not that she knows of, but the cupcakes are spectacular. She asks if he knows Gladys, and he says, sure do. They met at The Savoy. Right, Gladys? Maxie asks what Gladys was doing at The Savoy, and Cody asks if Gladys is going to tell them, or should he?

In the hospital elevator, Portia flashes back to asking Curtis if there’s hope for them, and if their love for one another is strong enough to get them through this; and him saying, he doesn’t think their love can fix this. She comes out, and sees Marshall. She asks if everything is okay, and he says he’s just coming out from his follow-up with Dr. Samuels. She asks how it went, and he asks if Curtis didn’t tell her. She says, Curtis said he’d tell her if he could, but the information is private. She thinks that says it all, doesn’t it?

Curtis goes to the bar at Charlie’s, and orders scotch, neat. Jordan comes out and goes over to him, and he says she doesn’t have to worry. This is his first drink, but he promises it’s not his last. It might get ugly, so she might want to get while the gettin’s good. She says she’ll have what he’s having, and sits down. Yuck. I hate the smell of scotch.

Trina stops by Laura’s, and tells Spencer that she was in the neighborhood. She wanted to see if the baby is settled in okay. He says, things didn’t exactly go the way he hoped they would, when Esme comes out with Ace, followed by Laura. Trina says, Esme’s here? and he nods. Esme says, they live here now. Laura is Ace’s grandmother. Just one big happy family. Laura says, it’s nice to see Trina, who is not receptive to a hug, and Trina says she’s sorry to just show up. Laura says, she’s always welcome, and Trina says she didn’t want to disturb the baby. Laura says, this is a very recent development. Everybody thought it would be best if Esme and Ace stayed with them. Spencer says, the alternative would be to get Esme a place above Kelly’s, but that’s no place for a baby, and Esme tells Ace, mommy came up with a compromise. Laura says, it seemed like a good idea, and Trina asks if Spencer is going back to Sonny’s place, but he says, his grandmother has been generous in letting him stay here. That way, he can be here if his little brother needs him.

Jordan asks why Curtis is at Charlie’s instead of his own nightclub, and he says, too many things to bother him at his nightclub. Tonight, he doesn’t want to be bothered. He will have another scotch though. He tells her to go ahead and ask him what’s wrong, but she says she figures if he wants to tell her, he will. If not, it’s decent scotch. He always did love a fine highland malt. He says, she remembered, and she says, cop’s curse. He says he ran into Trina tonight, and she says she’s guessing by his bar tab, things went badly. He says, actually, it was the opposite, and she says, Trina’s a good kid. He says, Trina’s the best, but she still doesn’t want to take a DNA test. There was a moment there he thought they could really have a relationship. There’s just one big if. She says, if she turns out to be his daughter. It sounds like they made a nice start. He says, it was… until her mom walked in.

Marshall says he hates that there’s still so much distance between Portia and Curtis, and Portia says she knows it’s her fault. But Curtis has so little trust in her, he wouldn’t want to share Marshall’s latest medical evaluation? She just hopes the information Marshall got from Dr. Samuels was good. She starts to leave, but he says, wait. Don’t go. Is there somewhere they can talk? She says she doesn’t want him to feel obligated to keep her in the loop, but he says, this isn’t obligation; this is gratitude. She’s the one who suggested he might have been misdiagnosed 40 years ago, so she should know what the specialist said. She suggests they go to the breakroom.

Gladys says, it’s still a free country, isn’t it? Can’t she stop in a club without it becoming the town gossip? Sasha tells her not to be upset. It’s just not like her to go to The Savoy by herself. Cody says he thinks he knows why Gladys was there. The same reason he was there; it was ladies night. Gladys says, he’s got her.

Gregory says, if Alexis was really his friend, she’d stop prying into his personal and professional lives, but she says, if she didn’t pry, she wouldn’t know he’d been lying to her for months. If she didn’t speak to the dean, she wouldn’t know he didn’t work there anymore. He says, which wasn’t her place, and she has absolutely no business pressuring Finn to dig up information on him. If he hadn’t been with Finn when she called, she was going to tell his son everything, wasn’t she? She says, she doesn’t know anything. She doesn’t know what’s going on with him. She’s just trying to help. He says he doesn’t want any help. Is that clear enough for her?

Grey-haired guy says, the Committee has determined that Elizabeth cooperated with Nikolas Cassadine in the service of providing medical care to a pregnant woman. They believe she had reason to assume involving the authorities would cause Mr. Cassadine to run off with Miss Prince, or worse, cause her harm. Dr. Finn and Dr. Randolph convinced them that Elizabeth might have saved Esme and her baby’s life. As such, no further action will be taken against her. Elizabeth thanks him, and he says she has an outstanding record, and many supporters. It was clear to the Committee that she’s an asset to the hospital. He wishes her good luck, and leaves. Terry says she has to speak to the Committee on another matter, and follows. Elizabeth hugs Finn.

Alexis says, so Gregory thinks she overstepped, and he says, she did. He’s not the one with a drinking problem. So in the future, please, save her sympathies for the people in her meetings. She says she jumped to the conclusion that he had a drinking problem because he appeared drunk at 11 am; then he was belligerent. And then he lied to her about really important stuff for a long time. He lost his job and lied about it. What is she supposed to think? He says he was wrong about her. She’s not a journalist. She’s like a cop who pulled him over. What’s next? A breathalyzer? She says, you tell me. Would he pass or fail?

Elizabeth thanks Finn for standing by her side through this whole awful ordeal, and he says, anytime. Terry comes back, and says, the Committee was influenced by what Finn had to say, but Finn says, it wasn’t just him. There were a lot of people willing to vouch for Nurse Baldwin’s commitment to this hospital and nursing. Elizabeth says, and Epiphany, but Terry says, fortunately, the Committee didn’t need to hear directly from her supervisor since she’s out of town, and there are several testimonies from Epiphany already in her file. Her support for Elizabeth is well known around here. So no excuses. She expects to see Elizabeth here tomorrow in uniform for her first shift. Terry leaves, and Finn asks if Elizabeth wants to call the boys with the good news, but she says she wants to tell them face to face when she gets home. This is her home too, and she almost lost it. He says he hated the thought of doing his rounds without her here having his back, and she says he’s managed without her in the past. He says he didn’t know what he was missing.

Cody says, Gladys was there for the music and the dancing. He was there because when it’s ladies night, there’s bound to be a few unattached ladies. Maxie asks if he got lucky, and he says, she knows how it is. It comes and goes. Right, Gladys? Gladys coughs, and says, went down the wrong pipe. She sips some coffee, and Cody says, be careful. Maxie says she has an offer for Cody that will change his life, and drags him outside. Sasha says she knows Cody upset Gladys, and she knows why.

Curtis says, Jordan doesn’t have to worry. He tried drowning his sorrows in a bottle on his wedding night; didn’t work. Tonight he’s just blowing off some steam. She says she’s probably not the best person for him to be talking to about this. If she hadn’t opened up to Stella, Trina might never have confronted Portia. He says, she wasn’t trying to sabotage his wedding. She knows him, and knows the kind of lies that… She says, the kind that blew up their marriage. She didn’t want the same thing to happen to him and Portia. He says he believes her. He’s just afraid it’s too late to do anything about it now. She says, as long as he meant the vows he said when he married Portia, there is something he can do. He says, which is? and she says, do what he couldn’t do with her – forgive her.

Trina says she hopes Esme knows how lucky she is to have someone like Laura looking out for her and her baby, and Esme says she did have her doubts when Spencer suggested she move above Kelly’s while Ace stayed here. She won’t be separated from her son. Laura says she never wanted that, and Esme says she did have a hard time believing that part, and that Laura’s loyalty wasn’t to Nikolas and Spencer. When she suggested they both stay here, Laura was so kind and quick to say yes, it reassured her. Laura says, they all want what’s best for Ace. Don’t we, Spencer? He says, it’s the only thing that matters, and Trina says she hopes it all works out for them. She has to go. Spencer says he’ll walk her out. In the hallway, Trina says, there’s no need to walk her to her car, and Spencer says he’s sorry. He didn’t want to spring this on her. She says, he doesn’t owe her an explanation, and he says, he wants her to understand the only reason he’s going along with this… She says she gets it; she really understands. Spencer and Esme get to raise him together. He says, that’s the last thing he wants, but if Esme and the baby hadn’t moved in here, he would have lost his brother for good. It was a necessary evil. Esme has the law on her side, and the power to keep his brother away from him. She says, moving Esme into his grandmother’s house was the only way to keep him close; she understands.

Esme and Laura come back from putting Ace down for his nap, and Esme says, the way Laura sang to Ace was so pretty. Laura says, it was the same lullaby she used to sing to her children, and Esme says, somehow she can’t picture Heather, or Ryan, singing to her, even if they had the chance. Laura says, fortunately, her biological parents didn’t raise her. She’s sorry Esme doesn’t have more good childhood memories, but it’s not to late to make sure her son will.

Trina says, in other words, Spencer is counting on Esme being someone completely new; a totally different girl than the one who was trying to do her crazy father’s bidding, and harm as many people as possible. He says, she has no memory of that time, and Trina says, she doesn’t seem to. When she visited Esme in Spring Ridge, she didn’t get the feeling Esme was putting on an act. But just because she doesn’t remember doesn’t automatically make her a good person. What if the new Esme is even worse than the old one?

Curtis asks what that makes him, and Jordan says, a loving husband, but he says, no. It makes him a hypocrite. Their marriage ended because of lies Jordan had been telling him for barely a year. So how is she okay with Portia’s even bigger lie that she told for 20 years? She says, he’s forgetting it wasn’t her choice to end their marriage.

In the breakroom, Portia says, Dr. Samuels is sure Marshall doesn’t have any of the markers for the disease? He says, not a single one. Of course (🍷) that doesn’t prove he doesn’t have schizophrenia, according to the doctor. She says, it makes it less likely because he doesn’t have any of the genetic markers, and he says, exactly. She says, it also explains why, after his original diagnosis, he never experienced another episode, and he says he can’t say he’s not pleased, after walking around for 40 years being afraid of a ticking time bomb in his head. He doesn’t know what he has, or if there was even ever anything wrong with him at all. She says, it seems like you’re stumbling around in the dark, and he says, it sounds like she knows the feeling.

Gladys says she hopes it hasn’t made Sasha doubt her. She couldn’t love Sasha more if Sasha were her own daughter. Sasha says she loves Gladys too, and knows Gladys is grieving Brando as much as she is. She just hates Gladys going out alone when they could be together. She suggests they make the Nurses Ball their coming out party. They’ll get all glammed up, and wow them on the red carpet. Gladys says, Sasha will have to wow them without her. She’s seen the fancy gowns they all wear, and she doesn’t have anything like that. Sasha thinks it’s a good excuse to buy her one, and Gladys says, with what? Sasha says, her money. What’s the fun in having it if she can’t share it with her? (Truth. I had money for a hot minute, and looking back, the things that made me happiest were doing things for other people.)

Cody keeps looking inside at Gladys and Sasha, and Maxie says, hello. Cody. Woman right here, giving him a great idea. Is he even listening to her? He asks if she wants him to ride in on a horse at the Nurses Ball. Do some rope tricks; what? She says, when she told him that she needed a cowboy, she meant to dance with the others, and he says, what others? She says, Magic Milo and the Magic Wands. Great music, they get to do this choreographed dance, all the women in the audience are screaming for him, and his costume is… simple. He gets a shirt that he gets to wear for about a minute, and he has these breakaway pants. He says, so this is a strip show. She wants him to take off all his clothes. She says, of course (🍷) not. He gets to keep his boots on.

Gregory tells Alexis that he’s going to say this one more time. He doesn’t have a drinking problem. Yes, he stumbled at the MetroCourt. Everyone stumbles now and then, even her. She claims he was slurring his words, but maybe it’s a case of confirmation bias on her part. She wanted to believe he was drunk, so she saw and heard what she expected. What she didn’t see was him pouring vodka into that orange juice. She says, just because no one saw, doesn’t mean… He asks if she’s ever seen him over his limit or out of control. In all the time they’ve been together, has he ever been drunk in her company? She says, no. Will he please explain to her why he got fired… He says, he wasn’t fired (told ya); he quit. She asks why he’d do that. That doesn’t make any sense. He loves to teach and loves journalism, yet he walked away from both. She can see something is really wrong here. Will he please let her help him? He says, he’s sick, and she says, is she allowed to ask what’s wrong? but he says, no. He already told her more than he intended. Next, she’ll want to see his medical chart. She says, no. He has someone to help him. Finn will get him the best hospital or whatever care he needs. He says, Finn doesn’t know, and it’s going to stay that way. She says, that doesn’t make any sense. Finn is one of the best doctors in the country. Why wouldn’t Gregory tell him? Gregory asks if she really wants to help him, and she says, she does. He says, there’s one thing she can do for him, and she says, name it. He says, give him back his car keys, and holds out his hand.

Elizabeth sends a text to Epiphany: I have some good news. Can we talk? Finn comes out of the elevator with Violet, and says, look who just got dropped off. Violet and Elizabeth hug, and Violet says, they’re going to Beradino’s for spaghetti and meat balls. Does Elizabeth want to come?

Maxie says she knows what Cody is thinking. This will be cheesy and embarrassing, and they’re exploiting men, but it’s not like that at all. It’s good, clean fun, and everybody loves it. He’ll be shaking his bootie for a fabulous cause. He says, for her, he’ll do it, and she says, that’s it? He says, no worries. He’s been a body double on location shoots before. He’s even shot a whole scene naked, on horseback. Just him; the horse still had his saddle on. She says, he’s still amazing, and they hug. Her phone dings, and he looks inside again.

Gladys says, Sasha is so sweet, but she wouldn’t feel right using Sasha’s money on herself. Sasha says she’s been doing some research. Traditionally, the conservator of a guardianship gets paid a salary. Gladys has been managing her finances this whole time for free. It’s only fair she get paid for all her hard work. Gladys says, that’s nice of her, and Sasha says she knows how hard Gladys has been trying to honor Brando’s memory. He would want her to do this. Maxie comes back with Cody, and says, who’s ready for some great news? but Sasha says, her first. They’ve got some shopping to do. Guess who’s going to be the belle of the Nurses Ball? She puts her arms around Gladys.

Portia says, she’s fine, but this is about Marshall right now. She’s sure Dr. Samuels explained that they’d be weaning Marshall off his medication, and monitoring him in case he had any unusual reactions. Marshall says, or that he doesn’t have any more episodes. Blah-blah-blah. What does that even mean? Were they that careless 40 years ago when they diagnosed him? Or did they just call it schizophrenia when he might have had something else? She says, Dr. Samuels is the expert in this field; she isn’t. He says, but she’s family, and he trusts what she tells him. She says she appreciates that. What she can say is the understanding of diseases like schizophrenia has evolved greatly over the last four decades. But she doesn’t want to second guess his original doctors, or hypothesize a theory, until they know more. He says, seems to him, she already knows more than she’s saying. Haven’t they learned keeping things to yourself does more harm than good?

Curtis says, if Jordan didn’t want their marriage to end, why didn’t she fight harder for it? and she says she fought as hard as she could. In the end, his happiness meant more to her than her own, because… She sips her drink, and he says, because he pushed her away. He was furious at the secrets she kept, but what if he wasn’t so quick to judge her? What if he’d handled things differently? Would they still be together? She says, they would.

Spencer tells Trina, that’s another good reason for Esme to stay here with the baby. If she starts to show her true colors, he’ll be the first to know. She says, Esme fooled him in the beginning, but he says, that was a long time ago, before he knew Trina. It’s like imitation vanilla; imitation anything really. Like that buttery stuff they put on your popcorn. Imitation crab, like a California roll. She asks if he just compared her to a California roll, and they laugh. He says, it’s easy to settle for an imitation of something, but everything Esme gave him, or pretended to give him in their relationship – support, understanding, connection – it was all fake, and he bought it and believed in it. Until he experienced the real thing. Trina showed him real support and real understanding, and a real connection. She gave him something that Esme could never give him – honesty. He may not always like what she has to say to him, but he never has to question whether it’s the truth.

Esme tells Laura that she wants to do right by her son; give him all the things she never had. Heather… her mother warned her not to trust Spencer… or Laura. Laura says, Esme’s mom isn’t anyone she should be taking advice from. Ace cries, and Laura says she’ll get him.

Trina says, the baby’s crying; Spencer should go. He says he’s sure the baby has all the help he needs, and she says, so does he. He says, does he? and she says, he knows he does. They move toward each other for a kiss.

Esme has her hand on the doorknob, when Laura brings out Ace, and says, she thinks this sweet little boy just missed his mommy. She gives Ace to Esme, who says, he should be sleeping.  She doesn’t know what’s keeping his brother. Laura says she’ll go warm up a bottle, and Esme thanks her. Laura leaves, and Esme opens the door, seeing Spencer and Trina. She says she thought Trina left.

Jordan tells Curtis, there’s no point in reliving all this again. The past is the past. Curtis says, but they’re still here, and she says, and drinking, which always makes people sentimental. He says, she knows good and well, it ain’t the blues, and she says, it’s been a long time since they’ve talked like this. He says, too long.

Portia thanks Marshall for his concern, but she thinks she’s burned all her bridges. In fact, she’s torched them. He says, she and Curtis need to build new ones, but she says she thought they were talking about him. She thinks if he wants answers, he should contact the original medical team that diagnosed him way back then. He says, if any of them are still around, and she tells him, it’s like he said, if a bridge is burned, build another one. She leaves, and he takes out his phone.

Sasha says, this is so exciting. She and Gladys are walking the red carpet together. Gladys says, and Sasha insists on buying her a fancy dress. How lucky is she to have such a generous daughter-in-law? Cody says, she’s lucky all right, and Maxie says, actually, they’re all lucky here, because Cody has decided to join Magic Milo and the Magic Wands, and bare almost everything for charity. He says, it’s for a good cause, and Maxie says, exactly. Now that her work here is done – she takes Gladys’s hand – let’s figure out something for Gladys to wear. She leads Gladys to another table, and says, she wants to know what Gladys is thinking as far as designers.

Sasha and Cody sit down, and Sasha says, he really made Maxie’s day. He says, same as she did with Gladys. So things are okay between her and Gladys now? Sasha says, they’ve both been struggling with their grief. That doesn’t always make for the best communication, but they’re working through it. Their conversation was so good today, she decided to start paying Gladys a salary. He asks if she thinks that’s a good idea, and she says, why not?

Gregory says, he asked Alexis to leave his keys – which, by the way, she had no right to confiscate – with the concierge, but once again she decides she knows best. She says she took his car keys because she cares about him. Whatever this is, he doesn’t have to go through it alone. She promises he can trust her. She promises, whatever he says to her won’t leave this room. He takes his keys, says, he hopes she meant what she told him about it never leaving this room, and leaves.

Elizabeth tells Violet, spaghetti and meatballs are her favorite. How could she say no? Violet asks if Jake and Aiden can come too, and Finn says, of course (🍷). What about Cameron? Violet says, he’s still too sad about Josslyn, but Finn says, maybe a night out would cheer him up. Violet says, then he can come too, and Elizabeth says, all her favorite people. That’s what she calls a celebration. Finn and Elizabeth each take one of Violet’s hands, and they leave.

Cody says, if Sasha thinks she can trust Gladys, who is he to say otherwise? and Sasha says, there’s a but in there somewhere. And she doesn’t mean the one he’ll be showing off at the Nurses Ball. He tells her, all he’s saying is, if she’s going to put Gladys on the payroll, trust, but verify.

Maxie tells Gladys, the more she knows Cody, the better she likes him. Yes, she’s grateful he agreed to be a Magic Wand with minimum fuss, but she knows Cody has flaws; everyone does. Maybe it’s that he doesn’t pretend otherwise. He’s got that whole broke cowboy with a sweet side thing. They look over at Cody and Sasha laughing, and Maxie says she sees a lot to like in him. She thinks Sasha would understand what she means. Does Gladys think there’s something going on there? Gladys says she hopes not, and Maxie asks, why? Doesn’t she like Cody? Gladys’s phone dings, and she sees a text from Selina: Your favorite poker buddies are in town for tonight’s game. You in?

Portia asks Terry if the Committee has made a decision about Elizabeth yet, and Terry says, she’s been reinstated. Portia says, what a relief. Elizabeth must be so happy. Terry says, it’s about time we had some good news around here, right?

On the phone, Marshall tells Stella that he knows she’s been avoiding him… since the wedding. He needs a favor… Does she still have all of Irene’s papers?… Are his medical records among them?

Jordan and Curtis are about to kiss, when an officer tells Jordan that her car is outside. Curtis says he thinks he’s about reached his limit, and she says, her too. Scotch is a lot stronger than she remembered. Her driver is ready. He says, a very good thing, and Jordan tells the officer that she’ll be right out. Curtis says, the drinks are on him, and Jordan thanks him. She tells him to have a good night, and leaves.

Trina says, she and Spencer were just… Spencer says, Trina was telling him how PCU has daycare in case he wants to take classes during the summer. Spencer is starting to really irritate me, the way he acts like Esme doesn’t even exist in the equation. Esme says , that’s very kind of her, but he won’t need to take care of Ace. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of her son. She goes back inside, saying, isn’t that right, Ace? Mommy’s going to take care of you. Trina presses the elevator button, and Spencer thanks her for stopping by. They say goodnight, and she leaves.

Tomorrow, Anna says, none of them are free; Esme tells Laura that she gets a really bad feeling when Victor Cassadine is around; and Victor asks what Spencer wants to happen to Esme.

🛸 Craziest…

This was one of my all-time favorite storylines. It was also when Faison was introduced, although we didn’t know he was Faison. When he arrived in Port Charles, he was romance writer PK Sinclair.

📺 Whatta Tease…

As usual, not much info, but I watch so little on network TV, I didn’t even know they’d revived Quantum Leap.

👗 A Good Kind Of Goodbye…

I’m a big fan of the wardrobe on GH, and hope her retirement doesn’t mean things will go downhill. Hmm… Maybe they’re also fans of my wardrobe. I’ve seen sweaters I own on the show a few times.

🏖  Thought So…

Yeah, I didn’t think Melissa just told Gia no with no explanation. I don’t blame her for not wanting a bunch of kids there alone. If there’s excessive drinking and anyone gets in an accident, NJ law would hold the homeowner responsible.

⛵️ Next In the Deck…

Captain Glenn rocks, but if you want some truly awful people, set sail.

🤼  Awful Speaks On Awful…

Yep. It’s pretty bad when the most awful human being on earth calls you out for being awful.

Oh, I didn’t realize he was 40. It’s a midlife crisis thing. Menopause for men. Or Tomopause if you will.

🍸 Reunion Build Up…

LVP and Ariana get the coveted seats. Both deserving.

Let’s have a kiki.

The gladiators enter the arena.

I’d be willing to bet Raquel wrote them up herself.

🛣  About the Last…

What’s up with Season 2.

https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-season-2-everything-we-know/

Fun, but useless, trivia from Season 1.

https://ew.com/tv/jason-ritter-clicker-wife-melanie-lynskey-the-last-of-us/

🎸 Lolla This…

The latest on Lollapalooza. I always think I’d love to go to one of these festivals, but then I think porta-potty, and don’t.

https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/2023-lollapalooza-festival-lineup-1235290621/

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/lollapalooza-2023-lineup-headliners-chicago-full-lineup-red-hot-chili-peppers-billie-eilish-kendrick-lamar/3100043/

☔️ Making It Rain…

Double back tomorrow for a dose of soap, a dash of tea, a liberal sprinkling of quotes, and a dollop of music. Until then, stay safe, stay never body shaming anyone, including yourself, and stay not being imitation anything. You don’t want to be that buttery stuff they put on your popcorn, or the crab in a California roll.

July 5, 2022 – Drew Makes Nina an Offer, Legacy Role, Changing Roccos, an Engagement, Celebrating, Post Yachting, Real Friends & Bikini

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Sasha, Maxie, and Lucy dash into the Home & Heart studio. Sasha says, they’re finally here. It looks smaller than it does on TV. (It almost always does.) Lucy asks someone to pinch her so she knows she isn’t dreaming, and Maxie obliges, but Lucy yells, ow! That’s kinda hard. Maxie says, now Lucy knows she’s not dreaming, and Lucy tells her, admit it. She’s just as excited about this, and Maxie says, is Lucy kidding? Getting to show their products on Home & Heart? This show is like the holy grail of makeup sales. Lucy says, that’s why Enchanted Cosmetics makes a killing every time they nab a time slot. Sasha sees Felty, who holds up his press pass, and Maxie wonders if they’ll see Erica Kane. Lucy says she’d just die; she’d keel over. Maxie says, not before they make a killing and count their profits, which will be huge. Lucy says, of course (🍷). That is if their beautiful face of Deception is up to the task. Maxie asks Sasha if she’s got this, and Sasha says, absolutely; let’s do this. Felty lurks around.

Brook and Chase grab a table by the pool, and she says, they need to talk. He says, lately, every time they talk, his life goes sideways, and she says, she’s sorry. But not anymore. Drumroll please… Today is the day she changes his life.

Josslyn asks Cameron, what’s wrong with him? but he says, wrong? There’s nothing wrong. Why would there be anything wrong? Trina says, maybe because he keeps saying the word wrong, and Josslyn says, it’s his whole vibe. Trina says, look at his face, and he says, that’s just the way his face is. Josslyn says, it’s not his usual open and honest Cam face, and she wonders why.

Spencer tells Esme, what is he doing here? He’s looking for her, of course (🍷). He takes her hands, and she says, well, he found her. Now what is he going to do with her?

At the MetroCourt bar, Britt watches Dante, Cody, and Rocco balance spoons on their noses at a table. Spinelli comes in, and says, how serendipitous. He was hoping to avail himself of her counsel. She asks if he’s pregnant, and he laughs, saying, he never noticed how humorous she is. No, his problem’s not physical. It is in fact… roman…tical.

Cody says he gets another shot, and balances his spoon, but Dante says he’s not giving Cody the crown. Cody tells Rocco that his dad is afraid they’re making a scene, and Dante says, they are, and it is kind of a classy restaurant. Cody says, Rocco’s dad wasn’t always so classy. He used to be a hell raiser. Rocco asks if Cody is sure, and Cody says he taught Dante everything he knows, but Dante says, nah.

Nina walks into her office, and someone is sitting in her chair. She says, her assistant didn’t tell her that she had a visitor, and the chair swivels around. She sees it’s Drew, and asks if she can help him. He says he doesn’t think that’s going to be necessary, but he can help her.

Olivia says she understands Carly not wanting to take money from the Quartermaines, but what about her ex-husband? She’d say Sonny owes Carly a favor or 500. Carly sees that Sonny has come in, and tells Olivia, don’t say a word, but Olivia says, he’s going to find out. Carly says, okay, let him find out, but not now. Sonny walks over to them, and Olivia says, she’s going to go take care of that… thing, and jets. Sonny says, Olivia beat it out of here quick. She didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire? Carly says, the crossfire? and he says, or whatever bad news she’s going to tell him.

Chase tells Brook, his life doesn’t need changing; he just wants it back. The life he had when he was a police detective. She says she gets it. Things look bad now, but being temporarily barred from the PCPD is just that – it’s temporary. He will get his badge back. Until then, there are other ways to be productive. He says, like what? and she says, like a career change.

Felty comes up behind Sasha as she’s looking in the mirror, and takes a picture. She stomps off, and goes to the display table. She tells Lucy and Maxie, the selection looks great, but it needs to be rearranged. They’ll segue from lipstick to their cutting edge lip plumper to the lash lift, and they’ll probably go eyeshadow after that. Morgan Fairchild Haven De Haviland walks in with her assistant, and says, it’s not going to work. Can she have her 5 o’clock changed to 6 o’clock? She thanks her assistant, and Lucy says, Haven De Haviland. Okay, deep breath. She has to tell Haven that Haven is absolutely her idol. She curtseys, and Maxie says she never misses a chance to watch Haven. Haven thanks them, and says she’s a big fan of Deception, and the sales they’re about to rack up. And here’s the Face of Deception herself. She shakes Sasha’s hand and says, it’s an honor, but Sasha says, the honor is all hers. Felty suggests they take some photos for the fans, and as he snaps away, Maxie tells Lucy, Sasha told her that she hired some publicity for Deception. Felty says, how about one with just Sasha and Haven? and takes a couple of photos. Sasha tells him, that’s enough for now. They’ll take more later. She leaves, and Felty says, how about some of the queen on her throne? and Haven says she likes the way he thinks. Lucy asks Maxie, is it just her, or is something just a little bit off with Sasha?

Britt says, Spinelli would get better romantic advice from an amoeba, and he asks if he can draw on her experience then, specifically her experience with Society Set-Ups. She asks if the sermon at the pool didn’t tell him all he needed to know, and he says, Maxie told him she received six months of free service after her incident with the skydiver. She’s had no success since then? She says she’s been busy washing her hair, and he asks, why she doesn’t partake. She says, Society’s match-ups are either duds or no-shows, and he says, that’s unfortunate. He’d hoped if things had turned around for her, they’d bode well for him. She says, if he’s thinking of joining, don’t, and he says, it’s too late. He’s already scheduled date number three with match number one. He shows her a picture of a beautiful woman on his phone, and says, here she is; Brandi. Yeah… no.  

Olivia comes into the restaurant, and Dante introduces her to Cody. She says, the Cody? Cody Bell from camp? Cody says, the one and only, and hugs her, picking her up off the floor. He says, Mama Falconari, and she asks Rocco if he has any idea how many calls she got from their camp counselors about all the mischief these knuckleheads got themselves into. Dante says, this guy’s apparently turned over a new leaf, and Cody says, trying to at least.

Cameron says, his mom is sick, he has to take care of his brothers, he’s working two jobs, and he’s still getting creepy texts from randos about his sex life. So stop overthinking his Cam face. Josslyn says she’s sorry, but he says, no, he’s sorry. It could be worse, right? He’ll quit complaining. Josslyn says, he wasn’t complaining, and Trina says, he was just describing what’s going on with him. Josslyn says she wishes he’d do more of that instead of bottling it up, but he says, trust him. She has no idea how much he’d like to unload, and she says, why doesn’t he?

Spencer says he was thinking of going on a picnic, but Esme says she hates ants, and suggests they go back to the pool. Spencer flashes back to Cameron telling him, go to the pool first, sit with Joss, and don’t leave him hanging. He tells Esme, the pool scene is so bougie, and she says, or they could fly to Manhattan, get a suite, and go out, or… stay in. He says, tempting, but let’s enjoy what’s left of the sun, and she says, the pool it is.

Carly says, Donna’s fine, and Sonny says, and everything else in her life is irrelevant to him? She says, those were the terms they agreed on in their divorce, and he says, all right. If she reconsiders, she knows how to reach him. He leaves, and she seems puzzled that he gave up so easy. Because she always wants it both ways.

Nina says she doesn’t see Drew in these offices much since he took over for Jax (who?), and he says, she runs a tight ship; profitable, and he doesn’t like to micromanage when business is going well. She thanks him, and says, yet he’s here to offer her some help? He says she makes his help sound like a different four-letter word, and she says, he made it clear what he thinks of her, so it’s making her wonder if his help would be beneficial. He suggests they leave Sonny and Carly out of this. It’s not personal; this is just business. She says, but she’s hearing his business isn’t booming these days, after the Aurora/ELQ merger that didn’t happen, and he says, Valentin did get ahead of him and Michael. She asks what that means for his future, and he says, the stock is going to recover eventually; so will Aurora. Maybe even faster with a change at the top. She asks if he’s stepping down from Aurora, but he says, no. The shareholders aren’t very happy with him, so he does have to make some moves to placate them. She asks if his first move is to replace her at Crimson, but he says he has no intention of replacing her. He does intend to off-load Crimson. The shareholders will respond very positively to the sudden cash infusion from selling the magazine. She tells him, good luck to him, but please communicate to the future purchasers that her contract indicates she has independence; she can run the magazine how she sees fit. He says, they can avoid that issue altogether if she buys Crimson herself.

Sasha walks backstage, when Felty ambushes her. He says, no worries; he’s not going to take her picture. It wouldn’t be the most flattering. She asks what he wants, and he says he was about to ask her the same questions. Does she need more pills? She says she’s good, and walks away. He asks if she’s sure. It’s going to be a long day.

Haven sees Sasha, and says she assumes Sasha got her script notes. Sasha says, start with lipstick… and Haven says, keep it personal. Give their viewers a confidential glimpse into her life; make them feel like they’re in the know. Maxie and Lucy join them, and Haven says, but don’t get so specific she loses her appeal. Keep it warm, but not too effusive. Sasha has to maintain her credibility. Give the viewers something to aspire to, but don’t come off as conceited. Lucy says, their Sasha is never conceited, and Maxie says, Sasha’s got this, right? Sasha says, of course (🍷), and Haven tells them, just remember what Erica Kane always says… Lucy says, remember to have fun, and Maxie adds, and sell, sell, sell. She and Lucy high-five, and Haven tells Sasha, they’re on in 15, so just take deep breaths and don’t smear her lipstick. She asks Lucy to go over the products with her one final time, and they leave. Maxie asks how Sasha is doing, and Sasha says she’s good; maybe a little dry. Maxie says she’ll go find Sasha some water, and when she’s gone, Sasha goes in her bag, digging out the pills. Brando comes up behind her, and says, need a boost?

Josslyn asks why Cameron can’t unload like he wants. He knows she’s not going to judge. He sees Spencer come in with Esme, Spencer giving him a little shrug. He tells Josslyn, some people have it harder than him, and Trina says, like her? Don’t go there. She doesn’t have a monopoly on problems. He doesn’t have to strong or silent on her account. He asks if just strong is okay, and Josslyn says she’s fine with that, kissing him. Trina sees Spencer and Esme heading their way, and says, incoming. Esme says, isn’t that sweet. One last hurrah before the trial of the century?

Olivia says, Sam told her that Cody might be sticking around, and he says he might be. Her son has a couch with his name on it, just until he gets some gainful employment. Dante says, Cody can stay as long as he wants; they’ve got plenty of room. Olivia says, Dante told her that Cody has a way with horses, and Dante says, this guy wants to own his own ranch. She says, really? Her family happens to be looking for a new overseer for their stables. Cody says he’d love to hear more, he promises. He’s not trying to be rude, but he has to check on something real quick. Excuse him.

Britt says, this is Brandi, and Spinelli found her on Society Set-Ups? He says, Society Set-Ups found them. It’s probably too good to be true. If Society Set-Ups can’t find a match for someone as eligible as Britt, what success can he hope to achieve? Cody grabs Spinelli by the shoulders, and says, take heart. There’s hope for all of us, even the hardest of hard luck cases.

Chase tells Brook, he burned through his savings during his last suspension. He thought he aged out of ramen when he turned 25. She says, there’s an age limit for ramen? (Never!) He says he guesses he could go into private security, and she says, he would look hot in an all-black suit, but she can’t see him turning the other way when his billionaire boss does something shady. He says, then what? Should he become a P.I. and drive around PCU in a golfcart, busting underage drinkers? She tells him, she didn’t say job change; she said career change. He’s qualified for way more than cop without a badge work. He has assets. He says he’s not doing a Magic Milo act, but she says she’s not referring to his body; she’s referring to his voice.

Carly orders a glass of house white from the pool bar, and Cameron says, let him get Josslyn a fresh drink. Anyone want anything? No? Good. No trouble while he’s gone. People don’t come here for drama, but for diversion. He pats Spencer on the shoulder, and Spencer says, I hear you. Cameron leaves, and Esme says, if it will make Josslyn and Trina happy, she’ll move to the other side of the pool, and take a break from Trina’s constant puppy dog eyes at Spencer. Trina says, no drama, and Josslyn says, Trina sees right through Esme’s boyfriend as if he’s not even there. Meanwhile, Esme can’t seem to keep her hands to herself. Did she tell Spencer how she was all over Officer Cabrera the other day? Spencer asks what she’s talking about, and Esme says, Joss is just making up stories because it’s Trina who’s into Officer Cabrera, managing to contradict herself in less than a minute. The thing is, he’s just another guy who wants nothing to do with Trina. Trina laughs, and moves toward Esme, but Josslyn stops her. Cameron goes to the bar, and Carly asks how he’s doing. He says he’s doing okay, and she asks, how’s his mom? Has he been to Shadybrook to visit her? He says, a couple of times, yeah. Actually, he noticed she has lipstick on her teeth, and she says, we can’t have that, and thanks him, wiping her teeth with a napkin. Cameron looks at Spencer, and Josslyn says, Spencer needs to get his girlfriend under control. Spencer tells her, back off. The porno queen of PCU is in no position to judge anyone. Josslyn asks what he just called her, and Esme says, he called her the porno queen of PCU. Josslyn pushes Spencer into the pool, and Carly says, dammit. Josslyn tells Esme, she heard him the first time, and Esme says, hear this, you bitch, pushing Josslyn in. Trina says, the only bitch is Esme, and pushes Esme in. They splash water at each other, and it actually looks like a lot of fun.

Nina says, Drew wants to sell Crimson, and he wants to sell it to her, and Drew says, she has the institutional knowledge, and she has a great track record. She can take her chances with a new boss, or she could be her own boss. She says, how generous, and thanks him for coming to her first. He says, there is a deal to be made here, and she says, a deal that may just be too good to be true. Why does she have the feeling there’s another angle?

Spencer says, Josslyn pushed him in the pool again, and Josslyn says, please. He and Esme both deserve it. Carly walks over to the pool, and Cameron eyes the napkin she used.

Britt says she doesn’t recall asking Cody to weigh in on her love life, but he says, actually, he was referring to his love life, or lack thereof. She says, but he’s such a great catch; accident prone, uncouth, poor… He says, what’s not to love? and tells Spinelli that he’s free if Spinelli wants to talk riding lessons. Britt asks, since when does Spinelli ride? and Spinelli says, since Brandi suggested it for their third date. Britt asks if Cody wasn’t planning on riding out of town, but he says, not anymore. He’s sticking around. Yippee-ki-a.  

Sonny walks into the restaurant, and Rocco goes over to hug him. Sonny messes up Rocco’s hair, and says, now he likes it a lot better. He asks, what’s going on with Olivia’s business partner, and Olivia says, that’s none of his business. He asks if she’s looking out for Carly, but she tells him to worry about his own life, not his ex-wife’s. Dante asks if Sonny wants to join them, and Sonny says, he’d love to, but he’s got a meeting. He tells Rocco to remember their rematch with the video game. Rocco ain’t beating him. Sonny leaves, and Dante says he thinks Rocco will beat him.

Brook says, listen… and Chase says, when she starts making sense, he’ll listen. She says, but he’s a good singer, and he says, for charity events and Nurses Balls, maybe, but he can’t support himself. Does she know how long professional singers train before they sing in front of a paying audience? They’re entire lives. Does she know how much training he has? Zero, zilch, nada. She asks if he knows how many audiences pay to hear autotuning and lip syncing, and he asks which one he is; Chris Martin or Milli Vanilli? She says, he’s Harrison Chase, and he has what it takes… mostly. He says, mostly? and she says, it takes more than pure talent. It takes personality, charisma, tight clothes, not to mention the B Factor. He says, the B Factor? and she says, B is for Brook Lynn. She’ll be his manager.

Sasha says, Brando surprised her, and he says, good surprise or bad surprise? She says, good surprise of course (🍷). She thought he was backed up at the garage. He says, he was, but he ran into Michael, who told him about Willow going to the hospital, and he realized he couldn’t be away from her on her big day. Any day really. Sasha asks if Michael said how Willow was, and he says he’s guessing much better because Michael was in a damn good mood. Sasha flashes back to overhearing Deanna order an OB consult for Willow, and she says, of course (🍷) he was. Brando asks what she means, and she tells him to wish her luck. He says he’ll do her one better, and kisses her. He says, good luck, and leaves. She says, one minute, takes the pills out of her purse, and pops one.

Haven tells the television audience, good afternoon. She introduces herself, and says she’s the host of A Little Bit of Haven. Today she has a wonderful guest; Sasha Gilmore, better known as the Face of Deception. She welcomes Sasha, and says she’s so excited to hear about the amazing products from Deception. Where would Sasha like to start? Sasha just looks around like she’s not sure where she is, and Haven says, Sasha?

Cody asks, is it done? and Spinelli says, everything is prepared as he required. Cody pats Spinelli on the back, causing him to spill his drink, and says, good man. Spinelli says, hardly, and Cody says, come on. Don’t be sad. When all is said and done, the payoff is going to be Powerball sized. He just needs to be real cautious… Spinelli says, stop. He need hear no more. Their business is concluded. Cody says his feelings are hurt. Hasn’t he been taking good care of Spinelli, keeping his secret? Spinelli says, it’s called extortion, and Cody says, extortion is more impactful when the party being extorted is innocent, which Spinelli is anything but. Sonny joins them, and says he’s sorry he’s late. Who’s Spinelli’s friend?  

Brook tells Chase to take his best shot. Tell her all the ways she’d be a horrible manager; how it would never work, blah-blah-blah. He says, actually, it’s the first sensible thing she’s said. If anyone can make him a star, it’s her. Reality though? Picture him on a stage at some sleezy bar where peanuts stick to the ground, for a paycheck that doesn’t pay his rent. She says, that’s the beauty of her plan. If this thing works, he’ll make bank quick, or at least enough to cover his expenses until he finds out when he can get his badge back. He asks how they’re going to pull that off, and she says, he’ll never have to set foot on a real stage. All they have to do is present an aura of success, enough to attract a real manger; one who will pay through the roof for his contract. A manager like Linc.

Now out of the pool, Josslyn says, Esme ripped her hair out. Esme says, come closer and she’ll rip out some more, but Carly gets in between them, and says she doesn’t think so. She tells Spencer that she wants him and his girlfriend to get the hell out of here. They’re banned from her hotel. Out. They leave, and she looks at Josslyn.

Drew says he took the liberty of drawing up buyout if Nina is interested. Obviously, it’s just a bunch of legal jargon, but if she buys Crimson, she takes control of the magazine, and her destiny for that matter. But the only way this happens is fast. Have her lawyers take a look at it, but don’t take too long. He holds it out, and she doesn’t take it, so he tosses it on the desk. He leaves, and she picks it up.

Drew is about to go into the elevator, when Olivia comes out of it. She asks if Nina is in her office, and he says he just left her. She asks him to hold on one second. Carly told Olivia about her situation regarding her stake in the hotel. She’s been wracking her brain trying to figure out a way to keep Carly in business, and can’t think of anything. She offered to float Carly a loan, but she can’t finance it without help from Ned. He says, Carly probably wouldn’t allow that anyway, and she says she learned that the hard way. Any ideas he’d care to share? He says he has one, but it’s not a sure thing yet, and he doesn’t care to share. She says, remind her never to play the market with her half of the MetroCourt. This place is like a second home to her. It kept her sane even with all the craziness with the Quartermaines. She can’t imagine losing it, and she’s sure Carly feels the same way. Nina comes out, and says, Drew forgot his briefcase.

Sasha tells Haven, yes, the products; the Deception products she means. She knows she saw them here somewhere. Haven says, before she tells them about the products, why doesn’t she tell them how she got involved in Deception? Maxie gives Sasha two thumbs up, and Brando mouths, I love you. Sasha takes a breath, and says, beneath the Face of Deception is someone who’s incredibly nervous. She can handle a photo shoot, no problem, but being here live, in front of millions of viewers has thrown her. Haven says she remembers her first day on the set. She couldn’t stop clearing her throat. They laugh, and Haven says, they have their first caller. Please, rescue us from ourselves. Gladys asks if they can hear her, and Haven says, they can. What would she like to say to Sasha? Is she familiar with Deception’s products? Gladys says, is she? She’s seen Miss Gilmore’s face in magazine ads, and now, watching her on TV, she is gorgeous. She’d pay anything to look like Sasha. Haven says, that’s nice of her to say, and Gladys tells Sasha, she’s not getting any younger. Can Sasha tell her how the lip plumper works? Sasha says she sure can, and gets up, going to the display table. She picks up the product, and says, Deception’s lip plumper was designed by makeup specialists who understand the needs of a maturing woman. It’s state of the art; there’s nothing even close to it on the market. This color, pink rose, is her personal favorite.

Spinelli introduces Cody to his close, dear, very personal friend, Sonny Corinthos. Perhaps Cody has heard of him. Cody says, as in Corinthos Coffee? and Sonny says, the one and only. Cody says he’s actually friends with Dante. They went to summer camp way back when. Sonny says, no kidding, and Cody says he’s got some old photos if Sonny ever wants to take a look. Sonny says, maybe one night Cody and Dante could come to dinner, and they can go through the album. Cody says he looks forward to it. Dante knows how to get in touch with him. He grabs Spinelli in a bro hug, and says, well played. You got game, kid. He leaves, and Sonny asks what kind of trouble is Spinelli in with Cody. Spinelli says, there’s no trouble with Cody, and Sonny says, he’s got nothing to do with this wardrobe upgrade, the fact that Spinelli is spreading money around, that he’s hinting he’s doing things, but doesn’t say what. Spinelli says, he’s the skydiver that fell into Britt Westbourne at the pool… and Sonny says, just answer the question. Spinelli called him here for drinks, and introduced him to this guy. Spinelli didn’t want him to know they were close? How bad is it? Spinelli says, it’s handled; there’s nothing to worry about. Sonny says, if Spinelli doesn’t want to tell him, it’s none of his business, but his business is his name, and when Spinelli drops it, he needs to explain why. He’s going to take a raincheck on those drinks. Think about it. Sonny leaves, and Britt comes back in. Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Zelda. She asks, what’s up?  

Dante tells Cody that he’s got the tab, and Cody says he’ll pay Dante back. Dante says, if Cody wants to pay him back… and Cody says he knows; get off his couch. Dante tells him, he was going to say, if Cody wants to pay him back, hook Rocco up with a horse riding lesson. Cody says, maybe he can do better than just one lesson. Did the job Dante’s mom mentioned include room and board?

Chase says, Linc owns Brook’s songs. He punched Linc in the face. Linc isn’t going to want anything to do with them. Now Brook wants Linc to manage him? What’s that about? She says, Linc is dirty. Once he buys out Chase’s contract, Chase will be in the perfect position to get the goods on him. Chase says, so the PCPD can arrest him, and she says, don’t be so conventional. Then they can really blackmail him into relinquishing her songs. She sees Chase’s face, and says, not really. She means… He says he knows what she means. She doesn’t want to help him at all; she wants to help herself.

Sasha thanks Gladys for her purchases, and hopes she enjoys them. Gladys says she knows she will. That’s why she bought two of everything. Haven says, and Gladys isn’t the only one buying Deception’s products. They’re in danger of running out, so the viewers need to make those purchases while they’re still in stock. Brando gives Sasha two thumbs up, and Maxie says, Gladys will be excited; she’s finally getting a raise. Haven says, they have a surprise guest. Please welcome their star seller, Flora Gardens. Flora runs onto the set, and Maxie says, this wasn’t in the script, and Lucy says, let’s see what Sasha does with this. Flora says, with Deception products on sale, she couldn’t resist showing up early, and Sasha asks if she’s up for a makeover. Flora says she couldn’t… except she really wants to, and Sasha says, they should always start with a fresh canvas, which means Fresh Glow for the face. It’s a mild cleanser that softens the skin and makes it receptive to all the natural ingredients… Maxie tells Haven’s assistant that if they need more Deception products, they’re in the stockroom, and the assistant thanks her, but says she’s getting ready for Flora’s segment next. Maxie asks what she sells, and the assistant says, a whole range of products. This one’s really sweet. Maxie looks in the box, and gets an uh-oh look.

Nina says she wasn’t aware she and Olivia had an appointment, but Olivia says she came to see Nina’s assistant. Nina says, her assistant isn’t here; she’s at lunch. Can she help Olivia with something? Olivia says, from now on Nina’s invoices for rent and business lunches will be coming from her office, not Carly’s, so all payments should go to her. Nina says, anything for Carly, and Olivia says, thanks. She gets in the elevator, and Drew holds out his hand for his briefcase. Nina says, so now she knows why Drew is selling Crimson, and he says, she’s got him. Why is he selling Crimson? She says she thinks he wants to cover Carly’s bad bet on the merger. She stands to lose her half of the MetroCourt? Why didn’t Drew just tell her? He says, because he knew she would have rejected him if he did. Unless… She says, unless what? and he says, unless saving Carly is an opportunity Nina just can’t pass up. What does she say?

Josslyn thanks Carly for backing her, but Carly says she wishes she didn’t have to. Things are going to get worse now that she’s banned them from the hotel. Josslyn says, it’s not about them. There’s something else going on. What is Carly so stressed about? Carly says, life is stressful. Just go home and cool down. That would make her happy. Josslyn says, but… and Carly says, but nothing. Go. Carly leaves, and Trina tells Josslyn, let’s go before someone pushes me in the pool. On their way out, Josslyn says, wait. What happened to Cam?

Outside, Cameron asks Spencer if he got it, and he says, when Esme wasn’t looking. Please tell him that stealing Josslyn’s hair was worth making a lifelong enemy of his oldest friend. Cameron takes out a plastic bag with the napkin in it, and says, he’s not proud of it, but he told Josslyn’s mother she had lipstick on her teeth. So now they use her saliva as a DNA sample. Spencer says he hopes Cameron is right. This needs to fool Esme into thinking he knows who her biological mother is. Cameron says, so they can save Trina from prison. Esme comes out, and Spencer hides the samples behind his back. She says she’s so wet. She needs to get back to Spoon Island for some dry clothes and a hot shower. She asks if Spencer is coming, and Spencer says, she leads, he follows.

Brook asks why Chase doesn’t understand that she’s trying to help him, and he says, getting her songs back from Linc is just an added bonus? She says, actually, it just occurred to her right now, and he says, that’s because it takes a detective to connect the dots. Too bad he may never be one again. He walks off.

Britt tells Zelda, sure; send her the profiles… Yes. She promises to look them over. No promises beyond that though. Spinelli joins her, and she says she just told Zelda that she’d give it one more chance… One. He says he has a strong sense her luck is going to change, and she asks if he’s psychic now. He says he’s not jesting. He thinks this go-around with Society Set-Ups will be the charm. Olivia walks up with Cody and Dante, and tells Cody that he’s going to love the stables. The Quartermaines take excellent care of their horses. Britt asks if Cody’s found a new home, bedding with horses, and Dante says, Cody is going to run the Quartermaine stables. Cody says, and get a penny to his name, but Britt says, still accident prone and uncouth. He says, but not broke; one improvement at a time.

Sasha asks if the viewers are ready for the final results of Flora’s makeover, and Haven says, oh yes. Sasha says, ta-da! and Flora turns around. She looks in the mirror, obviously pleased, and Haven says, how marvelous. Maxie tells Lucy, they may have a problem, and Flora wonders how she can repay Sasha for making her look so beautiful. Haven says she’s sure Flora has a token of her appreciation handy, and maybe a sneak peek at her upcoming sale. She just happens to have it right here. Flora says she has a must have gift for all the ladies out there who are expecting. A one-of-a-kind baby papoose. She takes it out, and she and Haven gush over it, while Sasha looks troubled, and Maxie, Lucy, and Brando quietly freak out.

Sonny goes to Nina’s office, and says, sorry he’s late. Spinelli invited him to have drinks, and he ran into Carly. Nina says she can’t imagine how that went. She really did it this time, didn’t she? He says, what did she do?

Drew finds Carly with her feet in the pool, and she tells him, take off his shoes; the water’s fine. He sits on a chaise, and she asks, what’s wrong? He says he did something, and… she’s not going to like it.

Tomorrow, Cody thinks he has the perfect way to repay someone; Nina says, those are her reasons for saying no; and Brando says he has to stop this.  

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 It’s a Family Affair…

All I have to say is, he’d better get his sister an invite to the set.

👴 Aging Fast…

Seems like just yesterday, Rocco was a toddler. Oh, wait…

💍 Permanent Plus One…

Fake Nurse Chloe is getting married.

🎇 They’re a Firework…

How the soap stars celebrated Independence Day.

⛵️ Bleh…

It’s no surprise. Too bad Jax is already married. They could be the most awful couple on the face of the earth.

https://people.com/tv/ashley-marti-made-more-money-on-onlyfans-than-below-deck-sailing-yacht/

💸 Knowing Their Friends…

But I still don’t know what they do or did for a living.

https://okmagazine.com/p/todd-julie-chrisley-real-friends-during-trial/?utm_source=Jeeng

🌪 Twisting the Night Away…

Tomorrow, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming… I think. So join me for soap and the lowdown on Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay unplugging once in a while, and stay always making improvements, even if it’s just one at a time.

June 28, 2022 – Last Minute Meeting, Winners, Soap Spin-Off Anniversary, Sailing Reunion Minus Ashley, Ex-Wives, Eva’s Take & Floor

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

And get this, they were supposed to be taking a break until after July 4th, but decided to squeak in one more. Pfft!

🏆 Close Enough…

Not exactly a sweep, but GH cleaned up pretty well at the Daytime Emmys. And bravo! to Jeff Kober for winning Outstanding Supporting Actor for the second time!

Behind-the-scenes.

🧛🏻‍♂️ And It Feels So Good…

I loved this show! It was so weird, and vampire Caleb was the best. Every once in a great while GH gives it a nod.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht – The Reunion

Andy welcomes us to the Season 3 Reunion, and thinks this is the first Reunion group that’s actually happy to see each other. He introduces Parsifal III’s Captain Glenn. Gary is next, sporting his detestable man bun, followed by Daisy, who’s in her London apartment. We find out Gary is also in Daisy’s apartment, and Daisy says, he literally arrived ten minutes ago. Andy says, the question is, when is he leaving? and Gary says he’s been there for a week. Daisy says, afterward, they’re having a celebratory drink, and he’ll be on his way. Colin is in Costa Rica; Marcos is in his car in L.A.’s Koreatown; Gabriela is in St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands, which gives Andy major FOMO; and Kelsie is in San Diego. Andy introduces the crew members who are used to joining after everyone else, Scarlett and Barnaby. The closed captions say he’s a d*ck hand, and I’m sure that was on purpose, but wouldn’t necessarily be wrong had it been Gary. Andy says, it was a great season, and while we saw all sides of Ashley, we won’t be seeing her today, since she’s a no-show. I quickly Tweet that she’s a coward, and Tom says he spoke with her yesterday. She said she doesn’t need this in her life, and she’s not interested in taking part. I interpret this to mean, I’m a coward who can’t face what a sh*thead I am. Gary says, when you sign up, you know there’s going to be a Reunion, and Andy says, he sensed she wasn’t thrilled with how the show turned out. Marcos suggests she’s busy, and Daisy says, they’re all busy; cut the bloody bullsh*t. Andy says, just because you don’t show up, doesn’t mean we can’t talk about you, so diving in… He asks how Gary’s love life is, and Gary says, Daisy? Andy tells us, Gabriela is now dating deckhand Wes, and she says they met on Instagram. He was in St. Thomas, and she knew he had a boat. She asked if he planned to sail, and they fell in love. A viewer commends Colin on going public about girlfriend Silvia, and Colin says, they’ve decided to go their separate ways. D’oh! Andy tells us that Colin is back on the market, and I hope if Colin is still single next season, he doesn’t disappoint me by acting like Gary. Andy asks Scarlett, who was the most welcoming besides Gary and his magic tongue (yuk)? and Scarlett says, everyone was great, even though there was a lot of tension.

Andy says, Marcos pulled off a rare feat; he got along with the chief stew, and the guests loved his food. He rarely lost his cool, but he did lose a piece of his head. We revisit Marco’s season on Deck, and Andy says he assumes everyone is trying to hire Marcos now. Marcos says his life is crazy. He opened a restaurant in downtown L.A., a bar, then another L.A. restaurant in Koreatown. He also has a contract with UCLA, and he’s cooking for 1600 people. Andy says, he’s booked and blessed, and we flash back to Marcos’s accident. A viewer asks about guest Charles, who said he could get better food in a ballpark, and Marcos says, Charles was lucky they were on camera. Andy asks Colin which of Marcos’s meals most impressed him, and Colin says, the molecular gastronomy. He was there for most of it, and he’d never seen that before. A viewer asks for Gabriela to shine a light on her relationship with Marcos, and she says she thinks she just rubbed Marcos the wrong way from night one. They kept their distance from each other, and although they had a couple of great conversations where they connected, most of the time, they avoided one another; it was kind of awkward. Marcos agrees 100%, and Andy asks if Marcos apologized for throwing Daisy on Gabriela in the pool. Gabriela says, Daisy accidently kneed her in the face, but she doesn’t think Marcos knew. Andy asks if that’s why Gabriela got so upset, and Gabriela says she was kneed in the face, then hit in the head with a floatie, but she was laughing until Marcos said she was a problem. Andy asks if they sorted things out, and Marcos says, they’ve talked and it’s all good, but I’m not so sure from the look on Gabriela’s face. Andy asks if they’d work together again, and they agree that’s a no. He asks Glenn if Marcos is one of the best chefs he’s worked with, and Glenn says, he’s a legend. He pushes hard, but can hold it together; he’s an amazing chef. Andy asks about Marco’s dating life, and if it’s going down in his DMs, and Marcos says he doesn’t want to go there. But he does, and says he gets naked photos, marry me, and cook for me, and now he has to go cook. I assume not for one of the DMers.

Andy tells us that Gary had a complicated web of boatmances; locking lips with four stews. We flash back to that, as well as the Ashley and Tom debacle. Andy asks Tom if it was Ashley’s tatas that drew him in, and gets a yes. Andy asks Daisy if she wishes she’d given Ashley some advice, but Daisy says she was shocked, and never would have predicted it. Next time, she’ll give everyone a warning. Andy asks if Colin has ever tried to stop Gary, or is it personal entertainment for him? Colin thinks the girls just flocked to Gary this season. He studied the show, and watched how Gary does it. He floods them with compliments, and they get weak in the knees. Gary says, they kissed him, and Daisy tells him, piss off. Gabriela says, not her, but Gary says he begs to differ. Kelsie says she’s the only smart one, and Andy asks if Daisy doesn’t remember them kissing. Daisy says she kissed everyone; it’s not that big a deal. Andy asks what Glenn’s reaction is to Gary and Daisy making out, and Glenn says he’s not surprised; there’s obviously something going on. Andy asks if Daisy regrets kissing Gary, and Gary takes out his earbuds. She says she did for a long time, but time passes, and they’re good friends. She wishes she remembered, since it looked great. She has no regrets.

A viewer asks what Gabriela thought of Ashley’s cringeworthy pursuit of Gary, and Gabriela says she thinks Gary likes a chase. He likes flirting and a chase, and Ashley came on too strong. Gary says, she’s correct, and another viewer says, even though Ashley was a real a-hole, it was no excuse for Tom to berate her and throw a drink at her. Tom agrees that you should never treat anyone like that, especially a woman. Although there was an element of comedy to it, he would take it back if he could. Daisy says, Tom was massively gaslit by Ashley and Gary, but Tom says he shouldn’t have been drinking the way he was. Andy asks how Tom was gaslit by Gary, and Daisy says, Gary told him it was just an innocent massage. Gary is old enough to know, there are no innocent massages. He was making fun of Tom, saying he was crazy; it was just an innocent massage. Tom thanks her for being supportive, and Gary says he didn’t see it the same way, but maybe he should think more. Tom says, when he and Ashley hooked up, it was because she wasn’t getting anywhere with Gary. She was so drunk, she was going to get what she wanted from someone; it didn’t matter who he was. He thinks she was just bored, but Daisy says she doesn’t agree. She thinks Ashley was making a point. Kelsie says she agrees with both of them. She thinks Ashley was jealous, but she’d also expressed that she could separate intimacy from a relationship. She threw Tom under the bus pretty fast when the boat was dragging. Gary says, what about Tom’s feelings? and Daisy says, that’s what she was saying about being gaslit. Jealousy is a nasty trait, and some handle it better than others. A viewer asks if Gabriela regrets kissing Gary, and why did she tell Daisy that she touched Gary’s weenie? Gabriela says she doesn’t regret having a good time, and her words came out like word vomit to Daisy; she had to tell someone. Daisy says she didn’t need to know, and everyone needs to stay away from Gary’s penis. Tom mentions that he has to watch this with his family.

Once again, Andy welcomes us back, even though we’re not the ones who went anywhere. He says, Kelsie has the distinction of being the only woman who didn’t kiss Gary, and asks if she feels left out. She says, no. She and Gary have an amazing relationship that’s strictly a friendship, and she wants to keep it that way. Andy announces that Mary from Wantagh has the million dollar question. No offense, but what do all the women see in Gary that makes them want to be with him? She’s sorry, but Colin is hotter. I couldn’t have said it better myself, and Andy asks them to tell him about the allure of Gary. He’s curious. He’s never met Gary in person. Gary says, Andy would fall head over heels for him, and Scarlett says, Gary was lighthearted, and she was drawn to how she felt with him. Daisy says, it was a win-win for Gary, since there was no competition. (Reminder: Colin was in a relationship during the season.) Andy asks how tall Gary is, and Gary says he gets asked that a lot. His IMDb says he’s 5’3”, but he’s 5’ 8”. Daisy says he compensates with his personality, and Gary insists he’s not short. Gabriela says, Gary has the confidence to flirt with everyone, and casts a wide net. Andy tells him that Daisy said he had a small weenie, and Daisy says she’s heard that a lot from multiple people… She’s joking. It was a low blow because she was pissed. He had small d*ck energy, and she was annoyed. The girls were fighting, she thought he was more to blame, and she was being mean. Andy asks, what about Gary’s weenie freaks her out, and she says, it’s been a lot of places. Gary wiggles his pinky, and she says, she needs to know where her car’s been; how many miles are on it. Andy says, Gary’s hook-up with Ashley got everyone talking. From many viewers’ perspectives, he was sexually assaulted. Gary says, to be honest, he and Ashley aren’t friends, but in her defense, he didn’t think anything of it. He thinks people are being harsh, and feels they should leave Ashley alone. Andy says, that’s not how it seemed, and if their situations were reversed, it would be quite serious. Gary says he understands that, but can’t stress enough to leave her alone. Daisy asks him to clarify that Ashley didn’t assault her, and Gary says, she didn’t. When fans reacted, he’d sent her a message apologizing, and telling her not to take anything too hard.

A viewer asks Gary, who’s the better kisser? and he says, Colin. Andy asks if Scarlett bought it when Ashley said she wasn’t interested in Gary, and Scarlett said, Ashley told her that she was over it. We flash back to Ashley’s bullsh*t, and Scarlett says, from day one. Ashley made it clear she wasn’t interested, but she was hearing things from everyone. She was new, and she had no background. Daisy says, that’s why she was frustrated; it wasn’t jealousy. She was concerned because of what happened with Sydney and Ali. They weren’t going to admit they were jealous, so their outlet was to behave badly. When she saw Ashley getting drunk, she saw herself. She’d done all this, and jealousy makes people nasty; it’s not a good trait. Andy asks how Scarlett felt when she overheard Ashley saying, nobody’s special. We flash back to Ashley saying, nobody’s special and it’s hilarious to her, and Scarlett says, there was so much talking behind her back. She wishes she’d been talked to directly. Andy asks if she thinks Gary led Ashley on, but Scarlett doesn’t think so. Gabriela says she was told Gary would flirt with anything or anyone, but flirting doesn’t mean he’s leading someone on. He told Ashley that he wasn’t interested, so how was he leading her on? Kelsie disagrees, and Daisy says, you have to be careful who you flirt with. People have feelings, and some aren’t as strong as others. Gary protests, but she says, he was the grown-up in the situation, and he was flirting with someone not mature enough to handle it. Colin agrees, and Andy points out that in the Shag-Marry-Kill game, all the women chose him to marry. Colin wonders what that means, and Andy says he thinks it’s good, but Colin says, no one ever wants to bang him, just marry him. Andy says, they all wanted to kill Gary, and Daisy says, if they marry Colin, they get to bang him for the rest of their lives. Andy asks if Daisy’s three-year dry streak has ended, but she says, it was a joke. He asks what her reaction is to Gary saying she’d be a good shag, and she says she’d be a fabulous shag. A viewer asks why Gary was after Daisy this season, and Gary says, if you watch Season 2, you can see he’s always had a soft spot for her and was attracted to her, which is weird to say, since they’re in the same space. He thinks Daisy is gorgeous and a superstar. Andy asks Scarlett if she thinks Daisy has a thing for Gary, but Scarlett says, she thinks they have a great friendship, and love each other as it is. Andy asks who thinks Gary and Daisy will hook up tonight, and Gabriela thinks they should start now. Gary runs into the other room, and grabs Daisy, causing her wine glass to fall, spilling wine on her and smashing the glass. Gary says, love makes you do crazy things, and Andy says, they’re electric. Viewer Vonda asks when Gary is going to realize he’s in love with Daisy, and he says, perhaps there’s some truth in that. Daisy says, whatever, and Andy asks for a show hands from who thinks they should hook up, amending it to make love when everyone except Gary raises their hand. Gary raises his, and Andy says, Gary is optimistic, and in her apartment.

Andy moves on to Tom, who almost puked on his boss on night one. However, that wasn’t his rock bottom, and things got much worse, We flash back to the anchor dragging because Tom wasn’t paying attention; Colin saying in his interview, that it’s 100 times worse than hitting the dock; and Glenn saying he knows Tom wasn’t purposely negligent, but he has to let him go. Andy asks if the make-out session with Ashley was worth it, but Tom says, it was literally 30 seconds. He says, of course he understands it’s his fault, but at the time, he went into self-defense mode. Now that he’s had the time to look back, he’s spoken to everyone, and takes full responsibility. Andy asks what Glenn’s reaction to Tom and Ashley’s canoodling was, and Glenn says he figured it was something like that. He thinks if Tom had been less defensive, it might have gone differently, but he knew there had to be a major distraction; you can feel the conditions change when anchor is being dragged. Andy asks if after Tom puked the first night, Glenn questioned not having his own captain’s quarters, and Glenn says he would love that, but they don’t have enough cabins. He wasn’t upset about it, and was glad Tom had the good sense to cut himself off before it became an issue. Andy asks if being a man down was better than Tom staying, and Glenn says he couldn’t keep Tom on, thinking it might happen again. How would he answer to the insurance company, his boss, and the guests if it happened a second time. He can’t take a chance like that. Andy asks Barnaby if he thinks Tom deserved the boot, and Barnaby says, you can’t stay on the same boat after that; you’ve got to be cut and start again. Andy asks the deckhands if Gary is a good manager despite his drinking and messy hook-ups. He wonders if that made them look differently at Gary, and Kelsie says, Gary is sensitive, but fun. She learned to adapt to his moods. It’s not always fair, but she’s used to doing it in a male dominated industry, and Gary is a very hard worker, and Barnaby says he feels like they’re friends who work together, and Gary tells him what to do. If Gary was busting him all day, it wouldn’t be the same. Glenn says, there’s off the clock and on the clock. When the crew is on, they’re professional, and when they’re off, they have fun, and he sees all of it. He thinks Gary does an amazing job of running the deck. Andy asks what Gary’s response is to Tom saying he was set up for failure, and we flash back to that. Gary says, it blew him away. He was shocked, and had to reflect on himself. Tom says, at the time, he was acting on emotions, and didn’t want to admit he messed up. But he’s grown and understands that he didn’t take responsibility’ Gary wasn’t setting him up. He was immature, and didn’t realize he had some growing up to do, and has to learn from his mistakes.

Andy says, Gabriela traded healing at sea for personal healing on land, and we flash back to the asshat that is Ashley. Andy asks what annoyed Gabriela the most about her, and Gabriela says, Ashley didn’t learn from or take direction from her. He asks Daisy why she made Gabriela second stew, and if she regrets it. Daisy says, it was mainly her age, since age gives more life experience. She has no regrets, but she’s learned that to some people a title means something. She’s not competitive, and doesn’t care as long as she gets paid and has fun (a woman after my own heart). Gary wonders if they needed titles, but Ashley was still under Gabriela and was deliberately disobedient. He wouldn’t have deckhand under him like that. Andy asks if Daisy thinks the relationship with Ashley was one reason for Gabriela’s departure, and Daisy says, she wasn’t involved with that, but thinks it’s a small element to the vast scale of what was happening. Gabriela thanks Gary for his support, and says, it was a one-sided competition with Ashley. Gabriela wasn’t competing; she was just trying to do her job. Ashley undermined her and poisoned her well of feelings. She felt justified in leaving after seeing how intense Ashley’s hate campaign was. She had no clue, and then saw Ashley tried to do the same thing to Scarlett, and felt validated. She’s not imagining things or making it up when she sees Ashley tried to do it to someone else. Andy asks if Daisy saw anything on the show that made her feel differently, and Daisy says she’s a strong woman with strong opinions. She was never influenced by Ashley, and only saw it all after she watched the show. Post-show, she was more disappointed in Ashley, but Ashley had never spoken badly about Gabriela to her. She was fine with how Gabriela was managing, and told Ashley to suck it up and get over it. Andy asks Gabriela, if Ashley hadn’t  been targeting her, would she have left?

Gabriela says she doesn’t think the experience she had was good, and thinks it was because of Ashley. Gabriela’s down points were exhausting and toxic, but she thinks she could have stuck it out if she hadn’t had someone stepping on her toes the entire time. Glenn agrees, and thinks Gabriela was a great second stew. You have to be a good follower before you can be a leader. He thinks Ashley messed herself up, and had an effect on Gabriela. A viewer asks Glenn if he thought Ashley was stirring the pot or was justified, and he says, she may have had some valid complaints, but she was stirring the pot. Daisy chose Gabriela as second stew, and Ashley desperately trying to move up did her no favors. Barnaby wonders why the stews can’t be like the deckhands, and the deckhands have a virtual group hug. Andy asks if Ashley being made lead stew surprised Gabriela, but Gabriela says, Ashley had been there long enough to know the boat. Gary says, it was to shut her up, but Daisy says, she worked hard and deserved it. Scarlett says she did need direction, which Ashley gave her, and Andy asks why Daisy waited until the end. Again, Gary says, to shut her up, and Daisy says, the work was there. All she needs is someone to rely on who will get the job done, and Ashley was amazing with the wedding. She didn’t like the pettiness, hooking up, and getting sh*tfaced. She gets sh*tfaced, but she’s hilarious, while Ashley was just annoying. She needed Ashley to work well with Scarlett, and genuinely felt that she was learning. She felt straight away that Ashley hated Scarlett, but by the end, she felt they were fine. Andy asks how Scarlett felt to hear Ashley say, Scarlett having no experience gave her life. That actually sounds pretty sad, but Scarlett says she was shocked. Ashley seemed unhappy about a lot of things when she was coming in, but her lack of experience probably did give Ashley life, and she’s happy if that’s what Ashley needed. Gary says he was angry when Ashley told the guests that they’d kissed. He thinks she has learning to do if this is the career path she wants. The last thing guests want to hear is crew drama. Andy says he loves hearing crew drama on a cruise, and if I went on a cruise, I would too.

Andy asks if Barnaby really taught Barrack Obama how to surf, and Barnaby says, Obama came to a private island where he was working. It was amazing. Andy asks Glenn if he bought Erika’s public apology or does he think the skimpy tip was an intentional slight. Glenn says he thinks she had a gripe from the prior season, and it was on purpose; there was nothing wrong with the food. Daisy completely agrees. She doesn’t know if they even know what planet they’re on. Andy asks if she still has the necklace Cyndi gave her, we flash back to that, Daisy says, no, and I wonder if she put it on eBay. Andy asks who Barnaby’s favorite guests were, but he says he can’t even remember any of their names or anything about them. Andy asks how Gabriela felt, being the most diverse person in the crew, and she says, anyone who works in an industry that’s not very diverse would understand. Being on the show was a good way for people to see there’s room for them in the industry. It’s uncomfortable not to feel anyone understands you or you have support. She’s never worked under a Black captain before, and it’s a proud feeling. Lead by example, and work hard. Do the course, and you can do it too. Andy asks if there’s anyone Glenn wouldn’t rehire, and if this was his favorite crew. Glenn says, without the anchor dragging incident, he’d work with Tom, and he was very impressed with Barnaby and Scarlett coming in at the end. They did an amazing job, despite Scarlett being new on the job, and dealing with the politics of Ashley and Gary. He loves them all. Scarlett thanks Glenn, and he says he knows it wasn’t easy, and he wouldn’t want to work with Ashley again.

Andy asks who’s still in yachting, and Colin says he got a catamaran; he’s sailing around the world. Everyone else is still in boating, except for Barnaby, who took his tip money and built a business converting Land Rovers to Tesla electric power. Go Barnaby.

Andy says it’s time to officially end the season, but since Gary and Daisy are under one roof in the UK, he’ll have to follow up.

The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girl’s Trip, Ex-Wives Club

Bravo had a sneak peek of the show tonight, and while I doubt I’ll have the time to watch this on Peacock, I’m sure it will eventually find its way to Bravo, where I’ll no doubt partake of yet another guilty pleasure. I hate half the cast, but it’s an eclectic mix, and who doesn’t love Bluestone Manor, fish room and all? Okay, maybe Vicki. The flashbacks were fun, and Vicki was already bitching about being back in the franchise she didn’t want to leave.

My quick take on the cast…

Dorinda: I love her, and love how she takes hostessing so seriously. Eva: I don’t know her. Literally, not like Mariah Carey doesn’t know Jennifer Lopez. Phaedra: I feel like I shouldn’t like her, shady as she is, but I do. She has a fabulous way with words. Taylor: I’ve always felt badly about her situation, being married to that awful husband, and then him committing suicide, but it looks like she’s blossoming now. She’s remarried, stands up for herself, and even gained some weight. She was scary skinny by the end of her run. Brandi: She makes me want to throw up. I can’t stand her, and hate that she’s still profiting from the franchise. Tamra: Ditto, but she has the added anti-bonus of being a fake Christian. Vicki: Ugh. While she’s had her good moments, she’s always been bossy and entitled. She just can’t understand why she was let go. Um… no one cares anymore. Jill: Thirsty AF. It makes me uncomfortable when a woman embarrasses herself like that. Which is why I don’t watch The Bachelor/Bachelorette shows.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhugt-who-is-in-the-cast-of-season-2-ex-wives-club

🏰 Another Perspective…

Eva weighs in on the latest Girls Trip.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-ex-wives-club/style-living/eva-marcille-talks-staying-at-bluestone-manor-dorinda-medley-berkshires-house

⛺️ Folding My Tent…

Check in tomorrow. I think there will be soap, and Beverly Hills, where there’s a new villain in town. Until then, stay safe, stay being a safe place for others to be real, and stay not being jealous. Jealousy makes people nasty and it’s not a good trait.