Tag Archives: Below Deck

November 8, 2021 – Sonny Bestows a Favor, Off the Cast List, Soapy Christmas, Obnoxious Drunks On Deck & Ain’t Workin’

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly and Sonny have lunch at the MetroCourt, and she says she missed nine months of lunches with him (like they do this every day). She thanks him for making the time before his meeting with Ms. Wu. He says, what he learned from his time away was prioritizing what’s important, and she’s at the top of his list. She says, they were apart for so long. She’s so grateful for every moment with him. She puts her hand on his.

At Kelly’s, Esme tells Cameron, the more she thinks about them getting away, the more excited she gets. One of the best things about boarding school was that so much was an hour away; London, Berlin, Geneva. What’s a really cool place that’s an hour away from here? She’s open to anything. He says, it’s not exactly London or Paris, but Joss has a family cabin in the mountains that’s real pretty. It might be their best bet since they’re going on a budget. She says, not for long. She thinks Spence is handling that situation as they speak. He asks if that’s why Spence took the delivery bike, and she says, he wants to make things right with his dad. Cameron says he’s all for peace in the family, but Spencer’s shift starts in five minutes, so who knows when he’ll actually be there. Outside the door, Spencer flashes back to telling Nikolas that he doesn’t want one penny of their family’s money, and from now on, he’s going to find his own way in the world. He’s no longer his father’s son and no longer a Cassadine. He says, Esme is so not going to like this news, and goes inside. Esme asks if Cameron has ever been to Cabo; it’s still warm enough to lie on the beach. He says, look who’s here on time, and Esme runs to Spencer, giving him a kiss. She says, lying on the beach sounds great, doesn’t it? But first, tell her, what happened with his dad?

Alexis says Harmony isn’t going to believe what just happened, and Harmony asks if she had a conflict with another inmate. Did she have an argument? Alexis says, no, and Sam and Diane walk in. Sam hugs Alexis, saying, she can’t believe it. Diane called her with the news. Is this really happening? Alexis asks if it’s true, and Diane says, congratulations. She’s finally going home.

Peter goes in to Britt’s room, and Britt asks, where’s her mother? He asks if that’s any way to great her host, and she says she needs to check Obrecht’s injury. He says, Liesl is resting comfortably, and she says, what about Jason? He says, Jason isn’t as comfortable, but he’s alive. At least for now. She says she wants to see her mother with her own two eyes; his word means nothing to her. He says that’s actually why he’s there. He wants them to come to an understanding. After all, they are family.

In chains in the wine cellar, Jason tells Drew to answer him. He gets no response, and yells for Drew to get on his feet. Drew, also in chains, gets up, and says, what the hell? Where are they? Jason says, Cassadine Island, and Drew asks what he did.

Alexis says, so there’s been no mistake. This is an actual pardon. Diane says, correct. She got the call, reached out to Sam, and they rushed right over. Sam asks how soon Alexis can be released, and Diane says, the paperwork is being processed. Alexis is going to sleep in her own bed tonight. Alexis says, that’s great, and Harmony says she’s truly happy for her. Sam says she knows Harmony works there, but has she become friends with Alexis? Harmony says, she’d like to think so, but she knows how Sam feels about her, and deservedly so, so she’s not going to step on this terrific moment. She tells Alexis that she hopes they get a chance to talk before Alexis goes, and leaves. Sam tells Diane, she’s so grateful, and Diane says she’d like to take all the credit, but she’s just the messenger. It wasn’t her who arranged this pardon. Sam asks, who did? when Nikolas walks in, and says, he did. Sam says, that’s amazing, and Alexis says, amazing, but not benevolent. It was Nikolas who was going to withhold that pardon if she didn’t do his bidding.

Cameron says he was just about to bet Esme that Spencer was going to show up at least an hour late for work, but Spencer says, of course (🍷) he was on time. He understands how this job works. He doesn’t know why Cameron always thinks the worst of him, and Cameron says, because Spencer always gives him reasons to. Like the time he disappeared halfway through his first shift. Esme says, the main thing is, Spence is here. Talk to her. What happened with his dad? Spencer says he’ll get to that in a minute. Why were they talking about Cabo when he walked in? Esme says, for their weekend getaway. She and Cameron were discussing possible destinations. Spencer says, her and Cam, when did that happen? and she says, that’s not what she meant, and he knows it. She still thinks it’s a great idea for them, Cam and Joss, and Trina and… somebody. She wants to get to know all his friends. What better way to do that than a mini vacay? They can rent a cabin with three bedrooms, or four if Cam and Joss want separate rooms. Spencer says, this weekend getaway, Cam and Joss are on board with this? Cameron says, as long as it’s not too pricey. That’s why he thinks that Joss’s family’s cabin is still their best bet; it’s free. Esme’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Spring Ridge. It must be about her internship. She leaves to take the call, and Spencer says, it’s just like Esme to get carried away. He and Joss don’t have to go if they don’t want to. Cameron says, it’s complicated, and Spencer says, he means because of the separate rooms? He and Joss haven’t had sex yet?

Ms. Wu goes over to Sonny, and says it’s wonderful to have him back, safe and sound. He tells her that Jason and Carly told him about her giving them inside information that saved their lives, and Wu says, it was the right move to make. She thanks Sonny for agreeing to meet with her; they have so much to discuss. He says they need to come to an understanding of how to move forward now that Novak and Buscema are gone.

Britt says, if they’re family, Peter will let her see her mother, and he says, they’re pretty much estranged siblings. If she wants to see her mother, she’ll have to earn it. She asks, how? By telling him that she understands what he’s doing? He says, if anyone does understand, it would be her. They’re Faison’s children. She says she sure as hell tries to forget that, and he tells her not to be shortsighted. There’s only one way off this island for her – by his side.

Jason asks what’s the last thing Drew remembers, and Drew says, his cell at the compound. Peter showed up, and said he had a job for him. He tried to jump Peter… then he’s got nothing. Jason tells Drew, he wasn’t there, but can tell him what the others said, and Drew says, please tell him; all information is welcome. Jason says, Peter ordered the head guard Russel to kill Valentin and Victor Cassadine. Then Drew showed up, and shot Russel. Drew kind of wishes he remembered that, and Jason says, he shot Russel in the leg, and he survived. Then Drew and Valentin took off. They were headed to a dock and had to cross a footbridge. Anna and Robert were waiting, and they saw Peter ambush them. Peter shot Valentin, Drew turned back to give cover fire, and then Peter shot Drew point-blank three times. He fell off the bridge into the sea. Drew says, all he has is a graze on his arm, and Jason says, Peter must have given him a bullet proof vest. Drew says, so Peter staged the whole thing. Why would he do that? Jason says, Peter must need him for something.

Sonny and Wu go to a private area, and Sonny says he knows trust among the families is difficult to maintain, especially since he was away, and everybody thought he was dead. It pretty much proves that if Wu hadn’t warned Carly and Jason, he would have lost the two people closest to him. He wants her to know that she’s very much a trusted ally. She says, Novak and Buscema saw his presumed death as an opportunity for them to stop working together as a group. She was tired of their greed upsetting their very delicate balance. She doesn’t revel in anyone’s death, but she’s happy they’re no longer here to cause trouble. And as she understands it, Joey Novak is in the hospital, after almost being beaten to death. He says, she had nothing to do with that beating? and she says, no, they did not. He says he went to visit Joey in the hospital, and Joey wants out of the family business, so the Corinthos organization is going to take over their family holdings. She smiles, and says she thought that might be the situation, and he laughs. He says, he thought it would only be fair if he gave her half of Novak’s assets. She says she’ll happily accept his generous offer, but she wants to be clear. That’s not why she asked to meet with him today. He says he can’t say enough how important Jason and Carly are to him. So if she ever needs help, he wants her to come to him. She says, by giving her half of the Novak holdings, she considers his debt paid. They’re even. However, the reason she asked for this meeting, she does have a favor to request.

Spencer tells Cameron, don’t be embarrassed, but Cameron says his relationship with Joss is none of Spencer’s business. Spencer says, of course (🍷), and Cameron says, they’ve both been really busy recently. They both started college, and moved into dorms, Joss’s stepdad came back from the dead. They’ve just had a lot on their plate. Spencer says he’s sorry if it sounded like he was judging Cameron, and Cameron says, Spencer was judging him. Spencer says Cameron is right; he was. But life in a boarding school is very different. There are teachers, but no parents, so sex is pretty much a constant topic. Everybody knows who’s done what with which person, but when he stops to think about Cameron and Joss, he guesses it’s not that much of a surprise. Cameron asks what that means, and Spencer says, it means he knows Joss isn’t the type of person to take something like that lightly. He’s not trying to be nosy. He’s honestly trying to be a friend. Is that a problem for the two of them? Cameron says, no, but it hasn’t happened yet. Esme comes back, and asks what they’re talking about. What hasn’t happened yet?

Britt asks if Peter is giving her the join-me-and-we’ll-rule-together speech. He has been on the run for far too long. He’s completely lost touch with reality. He says, she’s the one who refuses to see the truth. There’s nothing for her in Port Charles. She says she’s Chief of Staff at GH. People respect her. She has friends. He says, Brad was in Pentenville last time he checked, but she says, Brad’s not her only friend. Maxie’s her friend. Peter says, please. Maxie’s so kind-hearted, she’d befriend anyone. She says, even him? and he says, even him. She accepted him when no one in Port Charles would. Britt says, news flash, that was then; now she hates his guts. He says, Maxie is the mother of his child, and she asks, where is that child? Because of that psychopath he hired, Maxie’s baby was kidnapped. He says, Louise is his daughter too. Does she think he’s not in agony every day, worried sick about where his child is? Is she safe? Is she all right? She says she can tell him one thing, Peter isn’t going to find her on Cassadine Island. He says she’s right, that’s true. He needs to wrap things up here, and get on to more important things. She says, wrap things up here, how exactly?

Drew asks how Jason found him, and Jason says, Russel. He was trying to escape; he took Britt hostage. Drew says, Britt Westbourne? She’s looking for her mom. Jason says, that’s right. Peter took Drew and Obrecht, and Russel said he was headed there. Drew says, so Jason and Britt are working together, and Jason says, yes. Drew says he thought Sam would be with him, and Jason says, Sam made it as far as Crete. Then she heard Drew got shot and was missing again, so she and Dante decided to go back. Drew says, Dante? and Jason says he and Sam aren’t together anymore. Sam and Dante have gotten close, and Dante came to help find Drew. Drew says, that’s the problem. Spending years as a prisoner, you kind of miss out on everything. Jason says, he knows that feeling, and Drew says, so he and Britt tracked them to Cassadine Island. Then what happened? Jason says he got Peter at gunpoint, but by then, Drew got Britt at gunpoint. Drew says, Jason should have shot him.

Sonny and Wu sit down, Sonny pulling out her chair for her, and he says, whatever she needs, name it. If it’s within his power, he’ll make it happen. She says she knows he has pull with the parole board at Pentenville. Her nephew’s parole hearing is coming up. She was hoping Sonny could convince the board to grant him parole. Sonny asks what her nephew’s name is, and she says, Brad Cooper.

Alexis says, Nikolas is the one who had Hayden shot, and Nikolas says, that’s Shawn’s theory. Of course (🍷) there is no proof to back that up, and as a reminder, Hayden is still very much alive. Sam says, Nikolas still had to very much cover his tracks, even if he had to pressure her mom. He says, her mother refused his deal, but even after that, he made sure her pardon came through. Sam says, that’s probably because it was too late to cancel, and he says he never intended to cancel the pardon. Alexis says, he threatened he would, and he says, Shawn has no evidence, but spreading false rumors about him is damaging. So he tried to help himself as well as his aunt. Is that really so wrong? Sam and Alexis both say, yes.

Esme asks, what’s the big secret? And don’t tell her it’s nothing, because she can see it in their faces. Cameron says he was just telling Spencer that he and Joss haven’t had a chance to get away since they’ve become a couple, and she says, then they’re overdue. Since this is a getting-to-know-you trip, she thinks they should find a place that suits all of them, so they can all discover it together. Cameron says, that actually won’t be too hard for him, since he’s hardly been anywhere. They did do a trip to Niagara Falls once, but that did not end well. Esme asks, why? Did his family tag along? He says, no. It was him, Josslyn, Trina, and Oscar, and she says, Oscar, Josslyn’s first boyfriend who died of brain cancer, right? That’s so sad. Cameron says, yeah, it was rough. Niagara was their last road trip. She says, if Oscar and Josslyn were together on the trip, does that mean Trina and Cameron were a couple? Cameron says, no, but it was actually the beginning of him and Trina getting close. Esme tells him, you don’t say. Exactly how close did he and Trina get?

Drew asks if Jason had a clean shot, and Jason says, yeah. Drew asks why he didn’t take it, and Jason says, Monica, Danny, Sam. Drew says, they never had to know, but Jason says, they want him back. Drew says, not like this. Not when Peter can activate the conditioning whenever he wants, and get Drew to do whatever he wants. He knows Jason knows what it’s like to be a prisoner, but Jason has no idea what it’s like to wake up and have no idea how you got here. No idea what you’ve done, who got shot, or who got hurt. Nothing. What scares him most is the possibility of waking up the next time, and finding out he took an innocent life. Jason says, there’s a way to make sure that doesn’t happen, and Drew says he’s listening. Jason says, get rid of Peter. Take him out. If he’s dead, he can’t control Drew.

Diane asks if she can join Carly, and Carly says, please. Diane says Sonny asked her to meet him to discuss some legalities about the Novak property. Carly says she knows. He’s at a private table with Ms. Woo, discussing things Diane doesn’t want to know about, which now are above her paygrade. Diane says, sounds like Carly is missing being the one in charge, but Carly says, not really. It’s refreshing seeing Sonny in business mode. It’s like having a visit from the Sonny she used to know. Diane says, a visit? and Carly says, Nixon Falls did a number on Sonny. To be more accurate, it did a number on them. Diane knows they’ve never been the picture of domestic bliss. Diane says, that’s true, and Carly says, it didn’t matter because they knew each other so well. Now they know each other less. Nina months less, thanks to Nina Reeves.

Sonny says, he forgot Brad was related to Wu’s family, and she says, he’s her brother’s son. Then he was adopted by the Coopers. Still, he’s her family. Sonny says, Brad stole his grandson, and he watched his own son grieve for a year for his son who was alive. She says she knows that, and she’s very sorry; so is Brad. She visited him in prison and he swore it wasn’t his idea. He was grief stricken over the death of the real baby he and his husband Lucas adopted. Brad made some horrible decisions, and he’s paid a high price and deeply regrets his actions. But he’s her family. He’s been in Pentenville for 18 months, and won’t survive much longer. Can Sonny find it in his heart to help, as a personal favor to her?

Nikolas says he’s getting Alexis out of there. He did a good thing. She says she doesn’t appreciate the way he did it, and he says, bottom line, his tactics get results. She says, the ends justifies the means. That’s so very Cassadine of him. He says he’s sick of everyone saying it’s a curse to be a Cassadine. Even Spencer is saying he wants nothing to do with him. Sam laughs, and Alexis says, what about the Cassadine money? He says, Spencer claims he wants give up the trust fund, and Alexis says, good for him. He listened to her. Nikolas says she encouraged his son to turn his back on him? and she says, she encouraged him to find out what kind of man he was going to be, and if that means cutting out the bad influences in his life, then so be it.

Cameron tells Esme, he and Trina never dated; they decided they were better off as friends. Spencer asks if that means they were considering dating, and Cameron says, there was a time they were, but that was a million years ago. Before they can decide where they’re going on their weekend getaway, they have to figure how much they can afford. Cameron asks if Spencer patched things up with his dad. Did Ava give him access to his money? Spencer says, not exactly, and Esme asks, what happened? His dad didn’t accept his apology? Spencer says he didn’t apologize. He told Nikolas that he didn’t want any Cassadine money.

Sonny says, he’s sorry; he can’t grant Wu that favor. She says, can’t or won’t, and he says, if Brad had merely hurt him, he’d do it, but Brad hurt a lot of people; especially Michael and Wiley. Brad had a year to tell the truth, and he didn’t. He can’t intercede on behalf of the man who hurt his son and his grandson. She says she sees. Then they really have nothing further to discuss. He says, you know what? There’s something else he can do for her.

Diane says she has to admit, when she found out Nina knew where Sonny was all along, and lied about it, she’s been waiting for a call from the PCPD to come defend Carly from assault charges. Carly asks if Diane could get her off, and she says, she’s Diane Miller, but she’s glad she didn’t have to. Why should Carly endure with another bout with the legal system courtesy of Nina Reeves, especially after all Nina’s done to her? She congratulates Carly on her rare display of forbearance, and Carly says, don’t give her the credit. She would gladly attack Nina physically, financially, any way she could, but Sonny doesn’t want her to. Diane says, that’s too bad. She could file one hell of a lawsuit. When she was done, that spoiled little brat of an heiress, wouldn’t have a dime to her name. Carly says, Sonny doesn’t want to dwell on the past, or making Nina pay, and Diane says, she could file a lawsuit for Carly and her children, and base the damages on her pain and suffering; leave Sonny out of it entirely. Carly says, it’s not gonna happen, and Diane says, because Sonny doesn’t want it to. That’s not like him at all. Carly says, that’s what makes it so hard. Sonny wants her to leave Nina alone and she agreed. Of course (🍷) she agreed. Sonny thinks it’s the best way for them to move forward, and maybe for him it is. Diane says, but not for her, and she says, hell no. Not for her.

Drew says he hopes Jason is right, and one of them gets a chance to kill the bastard, but it doesn’t seem feasible at the moment. Jason says, Peter’s already made mistakes. He’s made another one by leaving them alone in this room together. Drew wonders how that is. They’re chained to the wall, and Peter can control him. Jason says, what if he’s wrong? and Drew says, if Jason is going to tell him to fight the conditioning, Obrecht already told him that; she told him to focus on Scout. You’d think thinking about his little girl would give him the strength to fight back, but obviously that didn’t work. Jason says, the last time Peter activated the conditioning , Drew was in his cell at the compound. The conditions worked in Peter’s favor; Drew was isolated with no way to fight back and nobody to help him. It’s different now. They’re here together in this wine cellar; the more Peter has to improvise, the more things can go wrong. They can use that to their advantage. Drew says, Peter’s not in control. Not here.

Esme says, Spencer did what exactly? and he says, he knows the last time they talked, he was going to acquiesce, and tell his father and Ava whatever they wanted to hear. Esme says, right. Not out of weakness; he was just being practical. He says, but then Trina told him exactly what he needed to do. She says, Trina helped him change his mind? and he says, she helped him get his head on straight. Cameron says, Trina gives great advice, but did she really tell him to go to his dad, and tell him to take his money and shove it? Spencer says, in a much more sophisticated way, but that was the gist of it. Cameron asks if he’s crazy. That is literally the dumbest thing he’s ever heard. Spencer says, really? Cameron is Mr. Get-a-job-and-support-yourself, and he thinks Spencer did the wrong thing? Cameron says Spencer has been working less than a week. He has no idea what it takes to survive in the real world. Spencer says, he might not be the best waiter, but he’s getting better. Cameron says, he’s living for free. The clothes he wears, and the lifestyle they lead, being a waiter isn’t going to support that. Get a grip. He’s lived a very pampered life, and Cameron thinks it’s in his best interest to go to his father and beg his forgiveness. Spencer says, Esme has been unusually quiet. What does she think? Does she agree with Cameron? Does she think he should crawl back to his father?

Nikolas says, so now Alexis is calling him a bad influence on his son? No matter how sanctimonious she is, he’s not going to call the governor back and cancel the pardon. He walks out, and Sam runs after him. Alexis tells Harmony that she’s sorry for the way Sam talked to her; it was rude. Harmony says, no one can says she didn’t earn it. She congratulates Alexis on her pardon, and asks how she’s feeling about life on the outside. Alexis says, apprehensive, grateful, relieved, terrified of making the decisions she doesn’t have to make in there, including staying sober on her own. Harmony tells her to do what she has to, to remind herself that she’s not alone. Alexis says she’ll miss their talks, and Harmony says, Alexis has her number. She doesn’t work 24/7. They can grab a coffee and talk. Alexis has her family, but she has friends too. Wow. Alexis forgot about Shawn pretty fast.

Peter says Britt has a choice to make. She can either be part of his plan, or collateral damage. It’s up to her, but he does want her to make an informed decision. He opens the door, and says, come with him.

Carly tells Diane, she wants it to be over too, but she’d have more closure if she knew Nina was going to pay. Diane says, she is facing criminal charges, and Carly says, thanks to Michael. Diane says, the face of a choirboy; the heart of an assassin. It’s a pity he didn’t go into law. He would have done very, very well. Carly says, Sonny told Michael he was wrong for what he was doing. Her head almost exploded. (I’d like to see that.) She said nothing, because she’s not going to fight with Sonny over that bitch. Why would she do that? Diane asks when Jason is coming home, but Carly doesn’t know. Diane says, the moment he does, take him somewhere, some dive bar, and cut loose. Get hammered and confess to him every vicious scheme she’s concocted for torturing Nina, and let him talk her off the ledge. Carly says, Nina took that away from her too, and Diane says, tell her. Carly says, if Sonny hadn’t come back, she and Jason were going to be together as husband and wife that night. Sonny is having a hard time with that. It doesn’t matter that they thought he was dead; it doesn’t matter that they just said their wedding vows. To Sonny, it’s his wife and best friend. It’s going to take time for Sonny. So she doesn’t have Jason the way she used to. She doesn’t have her best friend to run to, and dump all her problems on. She can’t go to him and say all the horrible things she wants to, and feel safe, because… She just can’t. So for the sake of her marriage, she has to put her friendship with Jason on hold. Diane asks if Jason knows, and Carly says they haven’t talked about it, but she’s pretty sure it’s the reason he left town. She knows he wants to help Britt. Of course (🍷), but she’s pretty sure he’s giving her and Sonny some space. Diane says, based on her considerable experience with Sonny, that seems to be the best course, and Carly says, that doesn’t make it easier.

Sonny tells Wu that he won’t help Brad, but if Brad is granted parole on his own merit, he won’t stop it. She says, what about Michael? and he says, Michael has every right to talk about what Brad did to him and Wiley. She says, but Michael can do more than speak at the hearing. He’s a Quartermaine; he has powerful connections. He could pull strings and block Brad’s parole altogether. Sonny says, he’ll make sure no strings are pulled for or against, and Wu says, if parole is granted, it won’t mean much, if Brad meets with a fatal accident after he’s freed. Sonny says he gives her his word that he will not retaliate against Brad, but he has to stay away from Michael and Wiley. Wu says, that seems more than reasonable, but he’s not the only Corinthos who might wish Brad ill. Is he speaking for himself, or as head of the entire family?

Diane tells Carly that she has another client who needs to be bailed out.. literally. Please tell Sonny, she’ll call and reschedule. She’s obviously not Jason, but any time Carly needs to vent, she’s here. Friend to friend. Carly says she might take Diane up on that.

Wu tells Sonny, please know, she means no disrespect, but there have been a lot of changes in his organization in the past year. So she just wants to be clear on what his favor entails. Will he personally leave Brad alone, and ensure that no one in his family will hurt her nephew? Sonny says he’s back in charge, and speaks for his entire family.

Esme asks if Spencer is kidding. No, she doesn’t agree with Cameron. She hugs him, and says she’s super proud of the man he’s becoming. He says, she’s proud of him? and she says, of course (🍷). He has to stay true to himself. Cameron says, he thinks this new true self is boring, and goes behind the counter. Spencer thanks Esme for standing with him, and she asks if he’s really that surprised. He says, yeah, a little. They’ve always lived a pretty extravagant life. She asks if that’s why he went to Trina instead of her. Did he think she woudn’t understand? He says, it wasn’t like that, and she says she wishes he felt like he could confide in her. He says he does. She’s the most important person in his life. She has to know that. She says she does know that; it’s just nice to hear it once in a while. Cameron says he’s sorry to interrupt, but just because he’s standing around doesn’t mean Spencer’s on time. Get to work. Spencer goes in the back, and Esme sits at the counter. She asks Cameron if she’s really that horrible of a person that her boyfriend can’t talk to her. He says, it’s not like that. Trina’s just super easy to talk to. Even though he completely disagrees with the advice Trina gave Spencer, she’s a solid friend. Esme says, it’s very clear how persuasive Trina can be. She’ll have to get to know Trina better. Asap.

Nikolas tells Sam, he’s not in the mood for any more hypocritical moralizing; he’s heard enough for today. She says she just wanted to actually say, thank you. She may not always agree with his methods, but she’s beyond grateful that he got her mother out of prison. Scout and Danny are going to be beyond thrilled that their grandmother is coming home. He says he appreciates it, and leaves.

Harmony says she’s happy for Alexis, when the warden walks in, Sam behind him. He says, her release has been fully processed. She’s free to go. I’ve never been to prison, and have the feeling it might be more complicated than that, but okay. Alexis tells Harmony, here I go, and Sam says, let’s get out of here. Alexis finally gets her life back.

Wu thanks Sonny for his generosity. She looks forward to their continued partnership. He says, so does he, and Carly joins him. Wu says, it’s good to see her again, and Carly says, her too. Wu goes to the elevator, and Carly asks what Ms. Wu was thanking Sonny for.

Britt walks into the wine cellar, and sees Jason. Peter comes in behind her, putting a gun in her back, and saying, don’t be shy. He doesn’t want her to miss the show. It looks like Drew is back to his normal self. Drew says, you bastard. He’s going to kill Peter. Peter says, that’s what’s not going to happen, but he will kill someone. Britt looks at Jason.

Tomorrow, Willow says someone is the last person she expected to see, Peter says he’ll be taking it out on Britt, Drew is reporting for duty, Carly asks why she’s having this conversation, and Jason says next time he and Peter meet, there will be a different ending.

😔 Quel Disappointment…

From what I read on Twitter, it’s not the first time. I feel sad about that.

🎄 Ho-Ho-Ho…

I’m not one to rush the season, or watch Hallmark movies, but if you’re into that sort of thing, this has quite a few soap stars in it. Erika Slezak is one of them, which makes it almost worth watching for me. Almost.

Below Deck

The crew gets up hungover from the night before. In Rayna’s interview, she says she kissed Jake. Whatever. Who cares? It was so hot. Fraser says he drank too much, and Jake says, he was drunk before dinner last night. In Heather’s interview, she says she’s irritated with her team. They have to do better. They begin cleaning the boat, and Captain Lee calls Heather, Eddie, and Rachel to the crew mess for the preference sheet meeting. The primary is Michael, a real estate broker, who appreciates fine whiskey. He’s bringing his broker friends. The captain points out that Michael’s photo is the classic real estate broker pose. He says, they’re big bourbon drinkers, and want his presence at a white party/whiskey tasting dinner. They also want a luau, but it’s a late pickup, so Rachel doesn’t have to worry about lunch. Another request is golf balls off the back of the boat. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s playing nice with Eddie, but what he’d said last season felt like a betrayal, since he was a friend to her face. She has a tad of bitterness, but needs to get rid of it. It’s not her flavor. Fraser tells Rayna that he was a bit tipsy to put lightly, and asks if he did anything stupid. She says he went to bed, which I’m sure is a relief. He teases her about Jake, and she says she likes someone who lives in Canada. In her interview, she says, they’re just talking, and trying to figure it out. She tells Fraser that she’s still single, but doesn’t want to mess it up. He says, it was just a friendly flirt.

Rachel calls for provisions, asking for a pig for a luau and a spit. She asks to talk to Eddie in the main salon. She tells him that she wants to have a little chat. Last season, the things he said about her were a vicious attack. He went straight for her integrity and character, and it was uncalled for. It threw her for a loop, and it was hurtful. So far, it’s stayed for the duration of the season. Eddie says he’s sorry. They didn’t get along, and he’s sorry he didn’t talk directly to her. In his interview, he says, they started off good, but when Rachel started drinking, she was a different person. We flashed back to some of Rachel’s drunken antics, and Eddie says he should have talked to her personally. The only thing he can do is be better. He tells her that he gets it, and thanks her for giving him another chance be her friend. In Rachel’s interview, she says she thinks they can play in the same sandbox without stabbing each other with spades. Eddie calls the provisioner for golfclubs, biodegradable golf balls, and AstroTurf. Jessica calls her mom, who’s smoking a cigarette, and gambling on her phone in the garage. In Jessica’s interview, she says, when she wanted to go into cosmetology, her mom told her to be a mortician, so Jessica could do hair and makeup on her body. Jessica said no.

Heather tells Jessica to iron the captain’s clothes, and provisions come in. The captain calls the crew to the sky lounge, since he hadn’t had a formal meeting with them, and they have time because of the late pick-up. He says he only expects them to do their jobs. The radio is his pet peeve. If they’re looking for their radio, odds are he already has it, and he’s going to have their ass. He gives them the two rules: do not embarrass yourself and do not embarrass the boat. Whoomp! There it is! He says he has no problem getting rid of someone in the middle of a charter. He hopes he doesn’t have to use his pocketful of plane tickets, but he’s not afraid to use them. It will be swift and hard. In Rayna’s interview, she says Captain Lee reminds her of her dad. (Me too!) He’s like a chocolate chip cookie that’s hard on the outside, and soft and mushy in the middle. At least she hopes Captain Lee is like her dad. He tells them, do their jobs, or they’re fired. Afterward, he tells Eddie this could be the year; he likes what he’s seeing. Eddie says he wants to promote Jake to lead deckhand, and in Captain Lee’s interview, he says, it’s not like he doesn’t want to, but he’s seen that backfire. Give someone too much responsibility too soon, and they can crash and burn. And it’s your fault because you set them up to fail. He tells Eddie that he wants to observe first. In Heather’s interview, she says, the had a bad start, and it’s lingering. They don’t have it together. She’s done every sh*t job there is. She busted her ass, and expects it from her team. There’s no room for error. She meets with Fraser and Jessica, and tells them that she needs them to be fluid. She also needs them to step it up on the laundry and cocktails, but not drop the standard. She wants to keep the ball rolling. In Fraser’s interview, he says, it’s the same as the last load of sh*t. He’s never worked for a chief stew who wasn’t impeccable, and he feels insecure with Heather as his leader. In Jessica’s interview, she says, Heather reminds her of her grandma, micromanager Marian. They have to do everything the way Heather wants. I’m confused. Isn’t that how it is with most bosses? The captain radios for the crew to change into their whites.

The guests arrive, and Jake says, they’re definitely boozy. Eddie says the crew has no idea what’s in store. The group seems very aggressive, and are apparently already drunk. Captain Lee says Heather will give them a tour of the boat, and they’ll get the hell out of Dodge, and have some fun. Primary Michael says, sounds like a good plan. One of the guests admits they finished a bottle of Tito’s while they were waiting, and in Heather’s interview, she says, it’s a great sign. They’ll have hangovers in three hours, and probably skip dinner. Omg, I like bourbon too, but this one dude is chugging it. The boat heads out, and Heather reminds the guests they have a white party/whiskey pairing tonight. She goes over the various whiskeys, Guest Justin asks for a thermal cup, and in Heather’s interview, she tells us, nothing says classy like whiskey out of a thermos on a mega-yacht. Wes asks how Jessica’s department works, and she says she’s the third, so she does the grunt work. Anchor is dropped, and Heather checks in with the captain about dinner. He says he can join the guests for dinner, but can’t take part in the whiskey tasting. She suggests apple juice, and he tells her to put in a little lime. She predicts they’ll be a couple of guests down, and he says, the guests weren’t lying when they said they had mouths like sailors. The dudes shoot golf balls off the back of the boat, and Eddie bugs the captain about promoting Jake again. Captain Lee say,s they can use a lead deckhand, but he’s concerned it’s too soon. He wonders if Jake can step up to the plate, without his nerves getting the better of him, and coming apart like a cheap suit. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Captain Lee hired him because he trusts him. He hopes the captain respects his decision. He thinks Jake will be a good lead deckhand, and then he can move off the deck. He tells the captain that Jake is goofy, but has a good head on his shoulders. The captain tells Eddie that he hopes he doesn’t regret it, but if he does, so will Eddie. He calls Jake to the wheelhouse, and Eddie offers Jake the position. He says the other crew members don’t have Jake’s experience, but he thinks Jake can lead them.   

Rayna squeals when Jake tells her the news, and in her interview, she says, that’s perfect for her. What’s he going to do? Yell at her? That’s not going to happen. In Wes’s interview, he says he thinks Jake is solid. It’s mostly the moustache. It commands respect. Jake invites Rayna to help him cover-up the sundeck furniture. Guest Justin says he’s excited to sit next to the captain. Captain Lee joins them, and Heather calls Jessica to help with service. Justin gets super insulting to the one female guest, Terri, saying that he’s surprised she went to college, and asking how many words does she use in a day? The first pairing is served, and Justin burps loudly. Fraser says, the poor captain. Justin says, they’re a bunch of real estate buffoons, and asks for tequila. Another guest points out that they’re in the middle of a whiskey paring, and Justin says, f*** you. Colin tells him, STFU. Justin says he’s throwing himself off the boat, and storms off, sitting on the edge of the boat.  

Heather tells Rachel that they’re down a guy; he left the table. Justin tells Wes that he can’t stand a formal dinner with a bunch of kiss asses. He’s going to sit and enjoy himself. Wes keeps an eye on him, and in the captain’s interview, he says They’re  drunker than a four-peckered goat. Than a herd of four-peckered goats. Morons. Bored and alone, Eddie says, anchor watch is pure excitement. Wes asks if he can get Justin something, and in Wes’s interview, he says, never give him whiskey. He’s a goddam gremlin. He had a fight with a jeep once. Justin asks to have his dinner there, and at the table, Captain Lee looks grim. A little table is set up for Justin, and Fraser mumbles as he does the guest cabins. In Jessica’s interview, she says, Fraser is entitled to his opinions, but he needs to put his feelings in a balloon, and let it go. At the table, Michael says, he feels fat. After Michael insults Florida where the captain lives, Terri repeatedly asks the captain where he grew up – Michigan – and says they grew up in the same place. Guest Colin leans over and says he loves her, but she’s repeating herself. Jessica says, Justin is happy as a clam, and she and Wes laugh. Captain Lee thanks them for dinner, and on the way downstairs, tells Heather that he got hit with two root canals. He says, it was brutal. Justin is just flat out rude, and he doesn’t know how many times Terri asked him about Michigan. Dinner was good though.

Terri suggests Michael go to bed, and he somehow makes it down the stairs without falling headfirst. Colin calls down to Justin, telling him to go f*** himself; he’s a d*ckhead. Terri says she’s so effing pissed. She asks Eddie, what’s going on with Justin, and Eddie says, he’s just sitting there. Terri goes down, and tells Justin to go f*** himself. Rayna wonders if this is normal, and Justin says he’s comfortable. Terri says he’s being a jackass. Rayna tells Jake, white folks crazy as hell, and I die laughing. In her interview, she says, drama finally, and it’s not her drama. Justin says he’s wonderful and comfortable, and Terri goes back to the table. Eddie says, now he’s babysitting, and Rayna tells Wes about Terri and Justin fighting.

Justin goes back to the table, and Terri says she doesn’t like him. He says he doesn’t give a f***, which was to be expected. She tells him that they were all at dinner, but he didn’t show up. Fraser calls Heather to come listen, and Terri says, they came together as a family, but he wasn’t there. Guest Colin (I think – they all look the same) says she doesn’t understand STFU. In Heather’s interview, she says she thinks Terri and Justin are secretly screwing, and Justin is finally drunkenly taking the upper hand in the relationship. Justin tells Terri that he’s confident sitting there. Guests Sean and Colin have wandered upstairs, and can still hear them. Rachel joins Heather and Fraser listening in. In Fraser’s interview, he says, it’s not chic. They probably won the trip. Justin tells Terri he’s doing her a favor. He’ll walk her back to her room and she’ll STFU. Get her ass up, and get TF down the stairs. Let’s go. Rachel sees Heather watching from the sidelines, and says, crouching tiger, hidden stew. Justin says, it’s a circus, and in Heather’s interview, she says she’s nervous something will happen they can’t control. Terri  tells Justin to stop, and Justin orders Heather to come here. He points at Terri, and says, she needs to go away now. Heather asks him to elaborate, and he says, Terri needs to go to her room and STFU. Eddie says, this is out of control. It’s overly aggressive, and unacceptable behavior from a charter guest. It’s dangerous. Justin starts following Heather, and Eddie suggests he and Terri stay away from each other. Eddie stops Teri from following Justin, who says, someone is being shoved off the boat tonight. Wow…

There was no preview.

🍂  Falling Back…

See you tomorrow for some soap and a few Pumptinis. Until then, stay safe, stay being a solid friend, and stay away from whiskey if it turns you into a gremlin.

November 2, 2021 – Nikolas Makes Shawn an Offer, Lala Plays the Victim, New Location, Costumes Of the Stars & Another One

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Alexis is reading The Brothers Karamazov, when Harmony startles her. Harmony asks if she’s okay, and Alexis says she’s just catching up on the classics. Russian. It’s really heavy on the misery. She puts it down, and says she doesn’t need to read this. She can just look to her family for their dysfunctional DNA.

Nikolas asks if Shawn is satisfied. Nikolas’s own son turned his back on him, his father, his only living parent, who would gladly die for him. Hell, he did that, or at least he let the world believe he was dead to regain control of the Cassadine legacy. And Shawn wants the satisfaction of taking all that away. Shawn can’t believe Nikolas is positioning himself as a victim here. His son opened his eyes, and saw Nikolas for who he really is, the bastard who let Shawn go to prison for six years for a crime he didn’t commit. Nikolas is the one who wanted to kill Hayden, but he let Shawn take the fall. Nikolas doesn’t want to see the truth, but his son has. For all of Spencer’s faults, he’s ten times the man Nikolas pretends to be.

Trina sings to herself as she works at the gallery. She hears someone come in, and puts her hand on her pepper spray. She turns to see Spencer.

Josslyn goes to Kelly’s where Cameron is working, and asks, where is everybody? She doesn’t see anyone else working. Can she help out? He says he’s good, thanks, and she asks if someone called in sick, but Cameron says, Spencer walked out in the middle of his shift. He couldn’t even survive one day. Cameron sticks his neck out for Spencer and hires him, because he has no experience and a lousy attitude, and Spencer bails on him on day one. What’s wrong with the guy? Esme breezes in, and says, good; they’re here. No sign of Ava or Spence’s dad. She can’t tell them what a relief it is to be among friends. Josslyn says, where? What friends?

Britt shines the light on Obrecht, who’s not just handcuffed, but has a fishing spear sticking out of her. I don’t know how I missed that yesterday, but apparently, Britt shot her by accident. Britt says, mother, and Obrecht says Britt came to get her. Britt says, my God, what did she do?

Peter bandages his hand, while talking into the radio, asking if they have a location on that woman. Hello? Do they hear him? He wants answers. He turns to see Jason, pointing a gun at him. Peter says, Jason shouldn’t have come there, and Jason tells him, shut up. Move. Peter tries to run, and Jason grabs him from behind.

Alexis tells Harmony that she thought her nephew Nikolas might be a good Cassadine, because he had a nice mother. He was good for a while, but then after ten years or so, he went bad. He went to the dark side and became a real Cassadine. Then there’s his son Spencer, who went to France, boarding school; graduated, then came home back to Port Charles. He decided he couldn’t stand his father’s wife Ava, and he set out to break them up. Harmony asks, how bad did it get? and Alexis says, he stalked her. At first, he started out with just sending her creepy gifts, and then it accelerated into full-blown stalking, until finally, he torched her car. Harmony says, the Cassadines don’t sound so strange to her. Not compared to Shiloh and Dawn of Day. She spent years under the spell of a man who demanded unwavering loyalty from his family, in exchange for betrayal and abuse. So at least, no matter how misguided Spencer’s actions were, they were motivated by love. Alexis supposes that’s one way to look at it. The poor kid idolized his father. If he’d just seen his flaws and recognized them, instead of becoming like him. Harmony says she’s not really speaking about Spencer, is she? Alexis says Harmony might have made a good therapist. No, she’s not, because the same holds true for Nikolas. She just had so much hope that he’d become that young man that she knew and loved so much. Alas, he didn’t.

Nikolas tells Shawn to spare him the holier-than-thou attitude. Shawn doesn’t give a damn about Spencer. Shawn was just trying to use Spencer to wring a confession out of him. Shawn says he did Spencer a favor, and opened his eyes. So now maybe Nikolas’s son doesn’t have to turn himself inside out, making everyone miserable to earn Nikolas’s respect. Nikolas doesn’t suppose Shawn explained to Spencer why he pled guilty to shooting Hayden, did he? Shawn doesn’t say anything, and Nikolas says, yeah, I didn’t think so. Shawn thought he actually shot Hayden, because he was at that garage under Sonny’s orders to kill someone. Or is Shawn going to stand there, and claim that his hands are clean? Shawn says he paid for his mistakes, just like he paid for Nikolas’s. He still wonders about the outstanding debt Nikolas has owed Hayden ever since he tried to have her killed. She’s entitled to justice, and Nikolas is going to give it to her.

Trina asks what Spencer is doing at the gallery, and he says he took a chance she’d be there. Is Ava around? She says, no, but she can get Ava there in minutes. She picks up the phone, and says, or the police. He says, please don’t do that; either call. She says she hasn’t seen him since he was arrested, and he says, a lot’s happened since then. She says, Joss told her that Dr. Collins paid for his bail. She also said Cam got him a job at Kelly’s. Isn’t it his first day? He says, it was, and she asks, what happened? looking at his hand. He says he burned himself trying to make an espresso shot. At least that will heal. She says, if he has troubles, he has a girlfriend. Talk to Esme. He says, she’s busy. She started her internship at Spring Ridge. Besides, Trina is the person he really wanted to talk to. She asks, why? and he says, because he needed a friend, a real friend.

Josslyn says she thinks she and Esme use the word friend very differently, and Esme says she knows they’re more Spence’s friends than hers. She realizes they have some differences, but at the end of the day, like at Spence’s arraignment, they’re on the same page. Now he’s out on bail, and thanks to his good friend Cam, he has his first real job. Cameron stomps away, and Esme asks what she missed. Where’s Spence? Josslyn says her guess is as good as theirs. Esme says, he’s not here? and Cameron says, he actually walked out without saying goodbye. He had to cover for Spencer. Esme says, Spence quit, and didn’t even tell Cameron? She’s so sorry. Chalk it up to that dysfunctional family of his. Spence’s dad and Ava showed up, and expected Spence to wait on them. He hadn’t even figured out the ropes of how to do his job well yet, and he was embarrassed. He didn’t say anything, but she knows it really upset him. Josslyn says, no matter how hard Spencer tries, he just can’t escape the influence of the Cassadines.

Britt says she swears she didn’t mean to hit Obrecht, and Obrecht says, didn’t she? If Britt wanted her dead, she made her point. She laughs, and Britt says, stop. It’s not a time for mom jokes. Just lie still. Britt examines her, and says, thankfully, the arrow just pierced her side, and missed all her vital organs. Obrecht says, some people would say she has no heart to hit, but they’re wrong, because if she dies, she wants it to be in Britt’s arms. Britt says she’s not going to die. She didn’t come all this way to lose Obrecht. She turns Obrecht, so she can look at her back, and Obrecht asks how Britt found her. Did she come by herself? Britt says, first things first. The barbed tip came out the other side. Obrecht says Britt has to push it all the way through, and Britt says she knows that, but she doesn’t have anything to numb the pain. Obrecht says, after two weeks of being captive, seeing Britt’s beautiful face is all she needs to sustain her. Britt says she thinks Obrecht is delirious, and puts something in Obrecht’s mouth for her to bite down on. She says, ready? and pushes the arrow out. I can barely watch, and Obrecht passes out from the pain.

Peter says, Jason isn’t getting off this island alive; he knows that. Jason says, first sign of a guard, Peter is dead, and Peter says he must have something Jason wants, or he’d be dead already. Jason says, maybe he should reconsider, and Peter says, if Jason shoots him, every guard on this island will be there. Jason says, yeah? But Peter would be dead, and that will make a whole lot of people happy. Peter says he has something Jason wants. Kill him, and he’s not going to get it. Jason says he wants Obrecht, and she’d better be alive. Peter says, what the hell does Jason care whether Obrecht lives or… Britt sent him, didn’t she? Or did she come with him? Jason says he’ll find Obrecht himself, and Peter says, not if the guards find Jason first. Liesl could be anywhere. She threw acid on his hand and left just before Jason got there. A guard comes over the radio, saying, there’s no sign of her, and Jason picks up the radio. He tells Peter, order the guards to converge at the lighthouse on the north end of the island to await further instruction. Peter says, converge at the lighthouse on the north side of the island, and wait there for further instructions. The guard copies, and Jason says, get up; let’s go. Peter asks where Jason is taking him, and Jason says, not the lighthouse.

Britt bandages Obrecht, and Obrecht praises Britt for her professionalism, saying, Britt does her proud. Britt says, it’s temporary. She still needs to get Obrecht to a hospital. Obrecht says, perhaps she spoke too soon. The dressing is too tight. Didn’t they teach Britt that in medical school? Britt says, sorry. She must have missed how to treat a spear wound in an abandoned fishing shack class. This’ll have to do for now. Where is he? Obrecht says, he who? and Britt says, Obrecht doesn’t think she infiltrated Cassadine Island alone, does she? Jason Morgan came with her. He’s gone searching for her. Obrecht laughs, and says she knew it. Jason came to his senses, jilted Carly, and came running to Britt’s side. Congratulations on her victory.

Nikolas asks if Shawn remembers why Hayden first came to Port Charles. When Drew Cain was struggling with memory issues, Ric Lansing hired her to come to town and claim to be his wife. Shawn asks if that entitles Nikolas to have her killed, and Nikolas says, obviously, Shawn recorded his conversation with his son tonight. So what? There was no confession. There’s no proverbial smoking gun. The police haven’t been interested in this case for years. All his lawyers have to do, is remind the court that these claims are being brought by a former hitman for the mob. Shawn will be laughed out of court. He’s got nothing. Shawn says Nikolas is no innocent. Everyone knows he’s shady and can’t be trusted. Nikolas says, and somehow, Hayden is more trustworthy? Why does Shawn keep talking about her like she’s Mother Teresa? Hayden Barnes is a grifter. Shawn says, she may or may not be a saint, but she’s a human being who was shot, and she still deserves justice. Nikolas asks if Shawn thinks he’s on some noble mission. The truth is, Hayden already knows. Hayden has always known.

Trina says she hears the tone of Spencer’s voice, and he sounds sincere, but there are a lot of bells going off in her head, telling her to run, not walk, to the nearest exit. Spencer says he never meant to hurt Trina, and he’s really sorry for what he did to Ava, but he did it for his father because he truly believed Ava was bad for him, and wanted to free him from her influence. He knew the stalking was wrong, that it was a risk if he got caught, but he thought it was worth it. Now he realizes that his father’s not the man he thought he was. It’s almost like he never knew his father at all. Trina’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Joss, and ignores the call. He asks why she didn’t answer, and she says she sees how badly he’s hurting, and she wants to believe him, but part of her can’t help asking, is this another one of his lies?

Josslyn leaves a message for Trina, asking if she’s seen Spencer tonight. Just text her back. Esme says, if Trina had convinced Ava to drop the charges, they wouldn’t be in this mess. Cameron says, no. Her boyfriend got himself into this mess the day he decided to stalk his stepmother. Now he’s left shorthanded, and has to cover Spencer’s shift, when he has plenty of homework that needs doing. Spencer thinks of no one but himself. Esme says, wait. She understands that Spence let him down, but they have to understand that this is all new to him. He’s never had a job before, much less one waiting tables. He’s not used to those kinds of responsibilities. Spence is spoiled. He’s an only child, he’s never had a mother, and he’s facing criminal charges. Josslyn says, Spencer’s been charged with something he actually did, and Doc bailed him out. He’s not even on house arrest, so please. Esme says she knows, but he feels isolated and all alone. He needs to be around people who he cares about, who also care for him. So she was thinking, they could get him out of Port Charles, just for a day or so. Cameron says, like a road trip? and Esme says, what a great idea. The four of them on their own. What better way for them to bond.

Britt asks Obrecht if they can wait until they’re off this godforsaken island before they discuss her love life, which, for the record, is non-existent. Obrecht says, so she’s not back together with Jason? and Britt says they came there to rescue her; isn’t that enough? Obrecht says, no. Jason is willing to risk life and limb to help Britt rescue her, who he despises for past transgressions. That should indicate some interest on his part. Britt says, he didn’t jilt Carly; he married her. They would still be on their honeymoon if Sonny hadn’t come back. The marriage was invalid, so Jason was free to help her rescue Obrecht, which is nice, but he’s a nice guy. Obrecht says, he’s a lethal killer, and Britt says, who really wants Peter dead, so they’re collaborating; there’s nothing romantic. Obrecht asks if Britt is certain, and Britt asks if she missed the part where Jason was fully prepared to marry someone else. He chose Carly. He will always choose Carly. Obrecht says, but her husband is back, and Britt says, it doesn’t matter. She will always come first in Jason’s life, and Britt refuses to come second. Obrecht says, good for you, doctor. Demand the respect you are due, and stick to your guns no matter how tempted you may be to relent. Britt says, she’s not tempted, and Obrecht says, yet. But danger and gratitude are powerful aphrodisiacs, and if Jason succeeds in getting them off this wretched island, she may find herself wavering. The door starts to open.

Harmony says, she understands Alexis’s disappointment in her nephew, but in all fairness, Nikolas is the same person who defied Cyrus to make sure Alexis was safe in Pentenville. She knows firsthand what it’s like to go up against Cyrus Renault, and her nephew had to be very brave to do that. Alexis says, he’s a very complicated guy. With one hand, he takes what he wants, for himself, and with the other hand, he offers her something no one else can. Harmony asks, how so? and Alexis says, he’s friends with the governor, and can arrange to give her a full pardon. Harmony says, Alexis can go free? and Alexis tells her, all she has to do is say yes. Harmony says, Alexis makes it sound like it’s a problem. What’s stopping her?

Shawn says, Hayden told him she had her suspicions, but she didn’t say who, and Nikolas says, that was five years ago. Shawn is a little behind the times, so listen to him. Hayden knew, and Hayden being Hayden, used it to her advantage. He and Hayden came back to Port Charles together to claim the Cassadine estate from Valentin and return it to him. Shawn says, Hayden told him that she was working with Nikolas. He’d assumed it was because she didn’t know Nikolas had tried to kill her once. Nikolas says, Hayden stood to profit from his return. She was willing to let bygones be bygones in order to line her own pocket. So if Shawn thought he was doing right by Hayden, he’s sorry. She’s over it. Nikolas can’t help him, but if this is about Shawn moving forward and putting the past behind, he’s come to the right man.

Spencer guesses he deserves Trina’s suspicion, but he swears he’s not lying. She says, and she knows this is true because his nose isn’t growing? Spencer says she knows him, but she says, she thought she knew Victor, but he turned out to be a fake and a fraud. He used her. He used their friendship to do something cruel to someone who’s been nothing but kind to her. He says, Ava is not what she thinks. Someday Trina will learn the truth about her. She says, just like she learned the truth about him? She’s sorry, but if he thought he was going to find a shoulder to cry on, he came to the wrong place. She just doesn’t trust him… any more than she trust her feelings about him.

Esme tells Josslyn and Cameron, there are all kinds of cool cabins to rent on this website. They’re a little rustic, but have all the major conveniences. She shows Josslyn her phone, and says, here’s one that has a fireplace in every room, with a California king size bed. Perfect. She and Spence can stay in one cabin, and Josslyn and Cameron can stay in another. Cameron says, it sounds really nice, but he can’t really afford to take the time off of work. He goes in the back, and Esme asks if it’s something she said. Josslyn says, no. He has work obligations, and she’s going to the library. Esme says she’s not trying to be nosy, but how long have they been dating? They still haven’t had sex yet? Don’t worry. Things didn’t happen overnight for her and Spence either. For all his sophistication, Spence is really shy and inexperienced, but they figured it out. Josslyn and Cam will too. Josslyn says she doesn’t care what Esme and Spencer do or don’t do when they’re alone. Esme doesn’t know anything about her and Cam. Esme says Josslyn doesn’t have to be uptight around her. She would never judge her friends. Josslyn says, except they’re not friends, and Esme knows that.

Jason shoves Peter in ahead of him, saying, get inside, and Peter says, he’s the boss. Peter says, nice of you to join us, and we see Drew is there with a gun drawn, holding on to Britt’s arm. Peter tells Jason, say hello to your brother.

Alexis says, Harmony doesn’t know the details of what Nikolas wants in exchange for her release. It’s complicated. Harmony says, because he wants something in exchange? Isn’t that the way the world works? Alexis says she thought she was cynical, and Harmony says, no, not cynical, just realistic. Dealing with the likes of Shiloh and Cyrus, you just have to put aside the rose-colored glasses. She stopped holding out hope for goodness and virtue to triumph, because in her experience, they rarely do. She asks what Alexis is waiting for. She’s sober; she’s making it up to the people she hurt. There’s no reason not to take her nephew’s offer. Unless… Alexis says, unless what? and Harmony says, unless she’d rather stay here.

Nikolas says, Shawn didn’t go right to the cops with his theory, which tells Nikolas that his claim is weak. There’s no shame in that. Shawn took his best shot. Now it’s time to bargain. Put his cards on the table. There must be something he wants. Shawn says, all the time Nikolas stole from him; no amount of money can buy that. Nikolas understands how Shawn feels that way, and hopes he feels better now that he got that off his chest. Let’s get real. Nikolas can’t give him the time back, and Hayden’s over the situation. So instead of focusing on the time Shawn lost with TJ, focus on enjoying the time with him now. He’s open to negotiations. Name a figure that would enable him to leave the past in the past, and allow them to both move on.

Spencer says, then Trina hasn’t given up on him. He hasn’t made her hate him? She says she doesn’t hate him. She just can’t let herself believe in him, or anything he says. He says he knows he has to win back her trust. He didn’t come there tonight for her to hold his hand, and say, there, there. She puts her stuff in her bag, and says, really? Because it seemed like that’s what he wanted. He says he wanted someone to be honest with him. To talk to him the way nobody had talked to him until he met her. She may not trust him, but he trusts her. He came there tonight because he wanted to let her know that he’s over this sad, pathetic game with his father. To hell with him. Spencer will find his own way, he promises… She says, no. No more promises. Spencer is good with his words, but his words don’t match his actions. So she needs something else from him. She needs him to prove himself. Not by what he says, but by what he does.

Josslyn asks if Esme remembers what she said at the hospital, that Josslyn minding her business is free, but minding Esme’s will cost her? Right back at her. Don’t mind her business. Don’t comment on it. And don’t waste her time pretending to be Josslyn’s friend when they both know she isn’t. She just hopes Spencer wakes up in time to see the real Esme before it’s too late.

Peter says, will you look at this. Brothers reunited, but on opposite sides. He smells a miniseries. (Ha-ha-ha! If I didn’t hate Peter, I’d love him.) Jason says, let her go, and Peter tells Drew, if Jason kills him, kill Britt. Obrecht tells Drew, don’t listen to him. Think of his daughter; think of Scout. Britt tells Jason, kill Peter. Kill that son of a bitch, and they’ll figure the rest out later.

Alexis says, this place is a helluva lot better than Pentenville. She and Harmony both know that, but why the hell would anyone want to stay here if they didn’t have to? Harmony says, lots of reasons. Because Alexis is safe here. Because almost every decision is made for her. You know who you are in here. Alexis smiles, and says, she’s pretty good. Yeah. Alexis knows what to expect here. Every day when she wakes up, she knows what chores she’ll do, she knows drinking won’t be an option,. When she leaves here, it will be totally unknown, because she won’t have a job to go to, or a special someone to go home to. Plus, she’ll have a lot of free time on her hands. There will be a lot of alcohol everywhere; in every bar and every restaurant. Or she can just order it, and have it delivered at home, like she used to. Harmony says, it’s okay to be scared of life on the outside; it’s a whole lot of unknowns. It’s okay to worry she hasn’t actually hit her rock bottom. Alexis laughs and says, she used to pride herself on having her own mind, and making her own decisions, but now she’s terrified of her decisions. There are temptations she doesn’t have access to here, that she will when she’s out there. It’s easy to be strong when you don’t have the option to be weak. Harmony agrees, and asks what Alexis is going to do. Is she just going to stay here hiding? Life is full of prisons, and she’s not talking about this one, with locks on the door and a fence around the perimeter. She’s talking about the prisons we create for ourselves in our own minds. Trust her; she’s been there. So before Alexis turns down an offer to go free, ask herself something. Can I do more good in here, or out in the world?

Nikolas says, there’s no price tag on the years Shawn spent in prison. Like he said, it’s not about Shawn’s past; it’s about his future. His opening offer is $500,000. Shawn says, nah. He’s not like Nikolas. People aren’t a commodity to him. Nikolas says, without a confession, Shawn has nothing. Without Hayden, he has less than nothing. Shawn says, Nikolas will make sure of that, he knows. Nikolas says, Hayden’s gone. She chose to leave her old life behind. Now it’s Shawn’s turn. He needs a new life. That costs money, and Nikolas can make that happen.

Spencer asks Trina to help him out. Tell him what he can do to repair things. She says she can’t tell him what to do, but what she does know is, he has to stop looking at other people to define him. Isn’t that what he was doing with his dad? Isn’t it what he’s doing with… his girlfriend? He says he just wants Trina to respect him. He wants her to be proud to be his friend. He really values her opinion. She says, he wants to earn her respect? It’s not going to happen overnight. It starts by honoring his commitments. Go back to that job he hates. Stick with it, and start to do it well. Then maybe he can be someone his friends can count on. Maybe that starts by choosing better people to associate with. He says, what if he can’t escape it? What if no matter how hard he tries, he turns into his father? She says, that’s BS and he knows it. She doesn’t believe in fate or destiny. Those are just excuses for laziness or selfishness. If he doesn’t want to turn out like his father, then don’t. This is on him; just him. She gestures toward the door, and he leaves.

Esme says she wishes things didn’t have to be like this with her and Josslyn, but it is what it is. Sorry she tried to have an adult conversation with her. She won’t make that mistake again. She leaves, and Cameron comes back out. He says, kitchen crisis handled. He realizes something is up, and asks what he missed. Josslyn says, no one important.

Britt says, kill him, Jason. Kill him. Peter says, he has that Navy SEAL training; take no prisoners. Britt says, don’t worry about her, but her mother needs medical attention. Do what he has to do. Obrecht says she’s not going anywhere without her Britta. Shoot that schwein and be done with it. Peter says, there’s only two ways to save Britt. Lower your gun, or kill your brother.

Cameron asks where Esme went, and Josslyn says, she left, and she took her friendship with her. Cameron says Esme really gets on her nerves, huh? All that talk about spending the weekend together. She asks if they can talk about anything else, and kisses him. Spencer runs in, and says he’s really sorry about taking off before; something came up. It was a family emergency. He’s so sorry. Cameron says, so that justifies Spencer walking off the job? Josslyn says, she’ll leave them to it, but Cameron tells her, stick around. This won’t take long. She says she has things to do, and jets. Spencer says he really is sorry, but Cameron says he doesn’t care about Spencer’s apology. He went out on a limb for Spencer, by hiring him, by giving him a chance, and how does Spencer repay him? He walks out without even saying a word. That’s it. He blew it. He’s fired.

Trina’s phone rings, and Trina asks Josslyn, what’s up? Josslyn asks what Trina is doing tonight, and Trina says she’s supposed to be working on a project, but she had an unexpected visitor. Josslyn says, let her guess. It was Spencer. Trina says, yep, and Josslyn asks if she’s okay. Trina says, she’ll live. Josslyn? Josslyn says she just had a run-in with Esme. She’s a piece of work. Trina says, sounds like they both need to talk. Meet her at Kelly’s? Josslyn says, no. Cam’s not done working. She’ll come to Trina. Josslyn leaves, and Esme comes back through the gate, and looks in Kelly’s window.

Spencer says, Cameron wants to fire him? Let him make it clear, he didn’t quit. He had a family emergency, with his father. Cameron asks if his father was hurt, and Spencer says, no; it wasn’t that kind of emergency. Spencer had something really important to ask him. His answer told Spencer everything, and he’s done with him. He came back here because he really needs this stupid job. He’s not saying he likes it; he needs it. And he thinks he could have been really good at this job, but he guesses now they’ll never know. He starts to leave, but Cameron says, wait. He takes off his apron, and shoves it at Spencer, saying, take it. Now get back to work.

Nikolas tells Shawn, this offer is good for a limited time. He’ll never get a better one. Not from the PCPD, or the DA’s office, and definitely not from Hayden. So what does he say? Can he leave the past behind to invest in his future?

Harmony gets why this is difficult for Alexis. Once you leave these locked doors, there are a whole bunch of unknowns out there, as well as all the people who have disappointed you. Alexis says, not to mention all the times and ways she’s disappointed herself. Harmony asks if Alexis has any idea what she’s going to do, and Alexis says she knows what she’s not going to do. She’s not going against her conscience to gain her freedom. She doesn’t want any part of her nephew and his dirty offer.

Peter says, come on, Jason. You’re an excellent shot. You could take out Drew right now, and leave Britt unharmed. Just like Jason shot his father when he took Carly hostage. Jason’s only other alternative is to kill him, and hope Drew doesn’t hurt Britt. Britt says, she’s okay with that. She’ll take her chances. Just kill this bastard. Obrecht tries to sit up, and says, no, Britta. Peter says, Drew will kill her. It’s his mission. If Jason doesn’t believe him, ask Obrecht. Obrecht says, Peter’s right. Drew’s conditioning is active. Nothing will stop Drew from completing whatever mission he’s given. Peter says, it boils down to one simple question. Does Jason want his brother’s blood on his hands? Jason and Drew briefly lock eyes, and Jason lowers his gun, putting it on the floor. Peter laughs, because soap villains have to, and tells Drew, take him. Drew tosses Britt toward Peter, and pushes Jason to a kneeling position. Britt makes a move for the gun, but Peter is faster. Peter says he just saved Britt’s life. If she’d tried to shoot him, Drew would have killed her and Jason for trying to save her. Look at it this way. They all get to live a little longer. For now. Britt looks at Jason, who looks worried.

Tomorrow, Curtis is just getting started, Portia thinks someone is in trouble, Maxie tells Brook that the danger is closer to home, and Sonny says Cyrus got off easy.

Vanderpump Rules

Randall planned a poker night for the guys, and Lala told him about her conversation with Brock at the Belmont. She said Brock’s baby mama had slapped him with a restraining order. Katie told Schwartz all about it, and he futilely suggested it was Scheana and Brock’s business, and they stay out of it. James told Raquel that Brock had literally flipped, and mimicked him. We flashed back to Brock getting teary about his family. That’s rich coming from James, considering he’s a HUGE crybaby. In Raquel’s interview, she said, clearly life isn’t what Scheana portrays it to be in her vlog.

Scheana and Brock filmed Brock making both a standard apple pie, as well as one with crumble on top, which is the only kind of pie I like. And chocolate pie with a graham cracker crust. But I digress. In Scheana’s interview, she said her track record didn’t help, but the comments about Brock were frustrating because she knew he was the real deal. She was using YouTube and Blog as vehicles to show a deeper insight into their relationship. The true authentic version of herself, unedited… except by her. Brock made baking a pie look simple, which I have my doubts about. Lala told LVP that she was concerned about the domestic violence charge. She said she would hope were she in the same position, someone would ask her if she was being smart. Scheana was concerned about Lisa thinking less of their relationship, and said Brock had some explaining to do because Lisa was concerned now. Brock said he’d gladly talk to Lisa because he had nothing to hide.

Schwartz and Sandoval met with their new business partner Greg, and in Sandoval’s interview, he said they’d known Greg back when he owned the Belmont. They would get a level of creative control they weren’t going to get with Lisa. Colors, light, drama, seclusion, but also … a community interactive event. Schwartz told Greg that they’d settled on a name, but I thought it was more like Schwartz settled for something he hadn’t wanted. Greg pointed out that Schwartz couldn’t even say it, and wondered if it would say, a different kind of deli. People were going to show up thinking they could get a pastrami on rye. In Schwartz’s interview, he said that he wasn’t falling in love with the name, but he was falling out of hate. Greg said they had to convince him that they knew what they wanted, and suggested their mission statement be their number one priority. They needed to convince him that he should want to partner with them.

Raquel wasn’t happy with a nose job she’d gotten, pointing out a slight crookedness that you wouldn’t notice if she hadn’t said something. Her doctor had given her exercises to do 14 times a day. That’s insane. I had to do physical therapy with one of my dogs three times a day once, and I thought it was a lot. James told her that he’d spoken to Max, and it was all good. We saw a clip of Max telling Lisa that he felt James’s apology was sincere, and Max wanted to move on with him. Raquel said James’s anger issue still wasn’t resolved, and James admitted that his temper was out of control sometimes. It ruined his own mood and day, and that of those around him. She asked if he was open to AA, but he said he wasn’t 100% sober because he smoked weed. He was a creative person with a job in nightlife. In James’s interview, he said weed was legal in California, and he was a very high energy guy. It put him back down to neutral. He was stoned right now. Raquel suggested mediation or boxing to channel his energy, and James said he had been working out more.

In Sandoval’s interview, he said he and Schwartz had been through a lot. They’d spent money together and saved money together. We flashed back to some of that, and he said it was a match made in heaven. They met with Lisa and Ken, and Lisa said since they had a new partner, she felt protective, and thought Ken should weigh in, in case they had questions. Ken said he was worried about them mortgaging their houses. In Lisa’s interview, she said Ken had a lot of experience with leases, and complicated scenarios regarding a new business. She felt the Toms could benefit from his expertise. Ken asked how long their lease was, and Sandoval wasn’t sure. Lisa asked what happened with their homes if the business went into liquidation, and in Tom’s interview, he said he knew she was concerned about them getting in over their heads, but getting in over your head pushed you to the next level. Lisa said they only wanted to help, but could never get a straight answer about anything. We found out that Schwartz has Horton’s toe, where the second toe is longer than the big toe. The more you know…

Server Jesse cut Tom’s hair, and in Ariana’s interview, she said Tom got his hair cut more often than she washes her hair. He said he felt fresh. Ariana said it should be an interesting night; she hadn’t hung out with Lala since Palm Springs. In her interview, Ariana said, their last conversation hadn’t been the most productive. We flashed back to that, and Tom said Lala had been secretive about her relationship with Randall in the beginning, and Ariana said they’d lied for her, but that was back then. The situation was different now. James and Raquel met with boxing trainer Robbie in the park, and in James’s interview, he said he was willing to do anything it took to channel his angry energy into something else. He was surprised at what a good boxer Raquel was, saying she had little baby wrists. He didn’t know how she was hitting so hard. He said, boxing hadn’t really excited him. If anything it made him more angry. They sat down on a blanket afterward, and Raquel said it felt good to punch something. James said he’d do anything to help him respond to situations differently, and Raquel was concerned about his habit of saying things that hurt people. She was afraid that when they had kids, James would say something to hurt their self-confidence. Raquel said Lisa was taking her to her own doctor for her nose, and she was going to have to tell him that James bumped her. In Raquel’s interview, she said, after her nose job, James had gone in for a kiss so hard, he hit her nose. We saw a clip from two months earlier, with James being concerned that people would assume something. He told Raquel not to mess up her nose. He was afraid of hating the way she looked. Not too superficial, although we are talking about a nose job.  

Schwartz and Katie went to Villa Rosa to have pedicures. Puffy! Lisa said her life was coming back, and Schwartz said he wanted to feed her grapes. In Lisa’s interview, she said, TomTom had been closed forever. They were finally reopening, and changing the cocktail menu. They’d lost some staff, and it was about paring down, and making it simpler. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he’d been turned down for the home equity loan. He got confused when it came to profession. He didn’t think mactor – model + actor – was what they were looking for. Why he wouldn’t have put restaurant owner, I have no clue. Lisa told him that if he needed to be bought out of TomTom, she would do it, and in her interview, she said she was nervous for them. They were putting their house up for security, and wanted to have a baby. Schwartz politely declined Lisa’s offer, and said there was no chance of him giving up his stake in TomTom. Lisa said the offer was there if he needed it.    

In Lala’s interview, she said she hated hosting because she wasn’t good at it. She couldn’t tell the guests to bring their own White Claw and they’ll pop open a bag of Doritos. She told Ariana that she’d gone shopping, and Isabel laid it out for her. On her kitchen island, bowls were lined up with Post-It notes in them. Lala asked if she and Ariana were moving on, and in Ariana’s interview, she said the seed of their friendship had been planted. It was TBD if it grew into a flower or died. Randall had his poker night, and Jesse Metcalfe joined them. In Sandoval’s interview, he said Jesse probably didn’t remember, but they met over ten years ago. He and Kristen gave him a ride home from a Coachella after-party. Randall said he’d lost $17K the last time he played poker with the Toms. All the girls arrived at Lala’s place, and in Charli’s interview, she said she brought her own food, since Lala wasn’t empathetic to her issues. Better safe than starving. The poker game was No Limit Hold ‘Em, and in his interview, Sandoval said, the rules are pretty simple… Um… Maybe he was stoned too. Randall ended up on the losing end again, although only to the tune of $5000 this time. He said he wasn’t going to have another boys night for a long time.

Lala talked to Katie and Raquel about Brock, and in Raquel’s interview, she said Brock had already been put on trial. Why were they putting him on trial again? Katie said she didn’t believe in painting red flags with glitter. Omg, you’d think this guy was a  serial killer when they only have a couple of facts really. Raquel told Scheana about the conversation, and Scheana said it wasn’t fair to question her judgment, and thought Lala’s concern was bullsh*t. In Scheana’s interview, she said she didn’t know what this obsession with Brock was all about. Lala had said she would stop, and it was really annoying her now. Lala, Ariana, Katie, and Raquel got in the hot tub, while Charli and Scheana sat on the side. Scheana said Brook only gave Lala a highlight from what happened, and she took it as he was beating his wife. She wished Lala would trust her judgement. She wouldn’t have a baby with someone she thought was a terrible person. What was even more frustrating was, why wasn’t Lala concerned the first year Scheana and Brock were together? Lala said she didn’t know he hadn’t seen his kids in four years. How is he not a bad guy when he got slammed with a domestic violence order? These were Brock’s issues, and Scheana, her baby, and his other children were victims. I have to say, I think Lala’s concern is genuine, but she’s blowing this way out of proportion.

Everyone went to Lisa’s house for a cocktail tasting presented by the Toms. Lisa came into the kitchen, and saw a mess of bottles and garnishes and glasses and bowls on her kitchen island. She said she could make a four-course meal with less mess than the Toms were making, creating two cocktails. It was Brock’s first time at Villa Rosa, and he told Scheana that it was pretty impressive. This lady has swans. Lisa toasted to the opening of TomTom. Brock asked if he could talk privately with Lisa, and wanted everyone to know he was an open book. He had a history, but had learned from his mistakes. In Lala’s interview, she said, that’s what grossed her out the most. He displays something horrific, and puts a bow on it. Some people only see the bow, but she doesn’t see it. It just seems like she’s being unfair, not giving this guy any credit whatsoever, when we haven’t seen him act crazy or anything. Schwartz brings out watermelon margaritas, with a full-size slice of watermelon as a garnish, and a branch from a maple tree large sprig of mint or basil or something. Brock told Lisa that he’d done some things he wasn’t proud of, but the person he was today isn’t the person he was ten years ago. He’d tried to have a conversation with Lala, and tried to explain that it was more complicated than him kicking in the front door to see his kids. It was a toxic situation with his partner, and he’d slapped her, which he wasn’t proud of. In his interview, he said he was 19, and they’d were having an argument, and he slapped her. It wasn’t what prompted the restraining order though. They moved to France, and their boy was born. They separated, and his ex found out she was pregnant. She had a girl, and there was an argument with her dad, which is when the domestic order happened. He’d needed to appeal it to get it lifted. Lisa asked why he hadn’t made an effort to see his children since then, and he said in the time he’d been in America, his ex had married, and they had a daughter together. She and his children had a new life. In Lisa’s interview, she said she wanted it to be okay because Scheana wanted it to be okay, but it was terribly worrying. He told Lisa that Scheana made him a better person brings, and brought the best out of him, and he got weepy. When Lisa came back, she asked Sandoval for the strongest drink he had. Seeing the mess even messier, she said God forbid he ever had a dinner party. Sandoval introduced a whiskey cocktail he claimed smoke rose from, but Katie didn’t see it, and neither did I.

Lisa announced that the margaritas were definitely on the menu, and Tom asked if they’re doing the whiskey… Before he could finish, she said, no, which was pretty funny. She wondered why Lala was so quiet, and Lala said she felt awkward. Lisa said that wasn’t like her, and Lala said she’d had a girls night, and went to Scheana as a friend with concerns. Scheana twisted it again, when she’d thought they were friends. She thought she knew Scheana well enough to ask if she was being smart. In Scheana’s interview, she said she didn’t know why Lala wouldn’t let her live her life in peace. Forgive her for questioning Lala’s motives, but they hadn’t had a solid friendship. Sandoval interrupted Lala, and Lisa asked him to let her talk. Sandoval had the nerve to tell Lisa, give me an effing second, and she told him not to talk to her like that, and apologize. Which he did. In his interview, Sandoval said Lala was always the aggressor, but then played the victim. She had no business talking about Brock. Scheana said she wanted to hear what Sandoval had to say, and Tom said, what if he brought up sh*t Randall had done ten years ago when he and Lala started dating? Lala said this was not going to happen, because God forbid her own life should be examined. Lala said she wished Scheana the best, but they didn’t mesh well as friends and she was exhausted by it.  

Lala headed for the door, and got all emotional with Lisa. She said she was worried for Scheana because she had the baby. She’d voiced her concern, and it backfired, making her the villain. How was this happening? My guess was because she wouldn’t STFU about Brock for five minutes. She left, and Scheana said, well, that was fun.

Next time, Lala talks to Ariana about Tom’s pattern of attacking women verbally, and Tom tells Lala that she has a double-standard.

🛥 Where No Deck Has Gone Before…

Showing Kate in the picture is just cruel.

https://www.distractify.com/p/below-deck-season-9-location

🎃 Halloween Eye Candy…

What the celebs wore. I’m sure I’ll be posting more. It’s the best part of Halloween

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20211101_c5d604e889704cacb51faa7d9638afbf/

Some oddball choices.

https://www.gq.com/story/celebrity-halloween-2021

Quick change artist.

https://ew.com/tv/mindy-kaling-dresses-as-legally-blonde-veep-insecure-characters-for-halloween/

Día de los Muertos

🍂 Making Like a Tree…

See you tomorrow for some soap, and what I hope think is the final chapter of the RHOBH Reunion. See Erika get mad. See Erika shed tears. See Erika make vague threats. Until then, stay safe, stay setting your personal bar higher, and stay proving yourself not by what you say, but by what you do.

November 1, 2021 – Obrecht Makes an Escape, Boat Daddy On Deck, Crazy Guests, Being His Own Meme & Ghosts

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny sits at the MetroCourt bar, and Carly tells him, she still can’t believe Nina was arrested yesterday, and was in her restaurant today. Then she had what seemed like a million hotel distractions to deal with, but now he gets her undivided attention. He says, there’s a call he thinks she should know about, and she asks, from who? He says, Cyrus Renault. He wants Sonny to visit him in prison. Sam and Dante walk in, and Sam hugs Sonny, saying, she can’t believe he’s alive. He says it’s good to see her, and she says it’s great to see him. Sonny asks if they just got back, and Dante says, they got back last night. Carly asks if they were traveling together, and Sam says, yep. Everyone smiles.

Spinelli is sitting in a surveillance van, and Shawn joins him, thanking Spinelli for doing this. Spinelli says, Shawn’s assistance with Jason’s escape was greatly appreciated, so he’s happy to return the favor. Any success in sowing seeds of doubt in young Spencer’s mind? Shawn says he’s not sure. Spencer was non-committal, and if anything, he was defensive about his father. Spinelli says he tracked Nikolas to the pier, and he’s usual a directional mic that should pick up any conversation there. Shawn just hopes Spencer talks to his dad, and asks the right questions, and Spinelli says, eureka. Spencer’s with his father now. Shawn puts on a headset.

Nikolas asks why Spencer wants to talk about Hayden; she left Port Charles almost two years ago. Spencer says, and years before that, she was his stepmother. She was clueless about how to handle children, and that endeared her to him a great deal. There was a food fight, and Hayden got caught in the crossfire. Nikolas wonders why Spencer is bringing that up; it’s ancient history. Spencer says, the point is, he liked Hayden a helluva lot more than he likes Ava, and to this day, after all these years, he has no idea why anyone would want Hayden dead.

Valentin says, if Gladys wanted his attention, she’s certainly gotten it. Would she mind getting this bear out of his face? Gladys says she thought it would make him smile, but have it his way, and tosses the bear aside. He says she told him that she had knowledge of something, and she says she certainly does. He asks if this knowledge concerns him, and she says, only in the most important way.

Brook asks if Austin just said Gladys was going to visit Valentin, and he says he did. Is it a problem for her? Maxie asks if Brook is okay, and Brook says, no, and runs off. Austin wonders what that was all about.

Obrecht lies on a floor, and someone pushes her with their foot. She says, no, no, and Peter bends down, asking if she’s feeling better. She says she’ll feel better when he’s dead.

Jason and Britt come out of the water, wearing scuba gear. Britt says, he told her it was a short swim; that was anything but short. He says, it had to be done, and she says, so this is it? He says, it’s Cassadine Island.

Spinelli says, Shawn can hear both Nikolas and Spencer, right? and Shawn says, loud and clear. Spinelli says he’s also recording everything, and Shawn says, good. Let’s hope Nikolas admits to the crime. Come on, Spencer. Question Nikolas like Shawn told him.

Nikolas tells Spencer, as a reminder, Hayden made her fair share of enemies. Shooting her was terrible, but fortunately, she made a full recovery. Spencer says, so Nikolas is telling him, he’s glad Hayden didn’t die, and Nikolas says, of course (🍷). Even though their marriage fell apart, he’s still relieved Hayden wasn’t killed. Spencer asks if that’s all he has to say, and Nikolas says, that’s the story. Spencer says, that’s the story, but it isn’t the truth, is it, father?

Maxie tells Austin that she has no idea what’s upsetting Brook. She does know Gladys has been problematic at work lately, and he says he heard them talking about that. She says she’s never met anyone more entitled and less deserving than Gladys, and he says, right. What’s her connection to Valentin? Maxie says she doesn’t know. She didn’t even know Gladys knew Valentin.

Valentin says it’s more than kind of Gladys to stop by, but he’s due in surgery shortly. If she has something to say to him, then clarity is a virtue. She laughs, and says, virtue. What a perfect choice of words. He really hit the nail on the head. He says he’s sorry, but he’s not following her, and she says she’s talking about his girlfriend, and her lack of virtue. He says, his girlfriend? and Brook runs in. She says, Valentin is scheduled for surgery, and Gladys says he told her, and she’s not about to leave when she’s just getting to the good stuff. Brook tells Valentin that he’ll have to excuse Gladys. She was just at the MetroCourt, knocking back Manhattans like they were water. She’s obviously drunk, and clearly has a crush on him. Gladys says, she’s not drunk, and Brook says, that’s exactly what a drunk person would say. She grabs Gladys’s arm, and pulls her up, steering her out the door, Gladys asking, what gives Brook the right…? Valentin shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

Jason tells Britt to remember it’s a private island and there are guards all over. Britt sheds her gear, and says it has to be the most uncomfortable thing she’s ever worn. Who invented these things? She’s sure it had to be a man. He hands her a bag, saying, her dry clothes are in here. Get changed. She asks if he’s not going to turn around, but he says, it’s pretty dark. She gives him a look, which he can obviously see, and he turns around while she changes.

Peter asks what’s the last thing Obrecht remembers, and she says, being dragged from Drew’s prison cell and thrown into her own. Someone came in with a syringe. He says he was told she fought like a cornered bobcat, and she says she’s glad he finds this all so entertaining. After she was injected with whatever was in the syringe, the world went blank, but she remembers quite clearly that Peter activated Drew’s conditioning. How like him to exploit his father’s genius. He says he thought she despised his father, and she says she’s confident Cesar is burning in hell where he belongs, but she can’t deny his brilliance. Peter took advantage of his work. Where is Drew Cain? What has Peter done with him?

Sam tells Sonny, unfortunately, they never caught up to Peter, and Dante says, but the WSB is on it. Anna told them that Drew was in fact alive, and being held in a compound… Sonny says, Drew’s alive? and Carly says Sam must be thrilled. Sam says, there’s more to the story, and Dante says, Peter arranged for Drew to be abducted. That whole plane crash over the Gulf of Adan never happened; the whole thing was staged. Sonny asks, where’s Drew now? and Sam says, that’s the hard part. They have no idea. Dante says, Peter shot Drew, and Drew fell into the ocean and has not resurfaced. They’re looking for him, but haven’t found him yet. Sam says, but Drew has SEAL training, and he’s survived a lot, although there’s no proof he’s alive. Dante says, there’s no proof he’s not dead either, and Sonny says, Jason and Britt are in Greece look for Britt’s mother. Sam says they know that, and caught up to them, and filled them in. Dante says, they’re looking for Obrecht, but when Drew turns up, they can help him too.

Britt says, next time Jason says a swim is very doable, she’ll know what he means. What’s doable for him, is not doable to the average person. He says, it was the only way they could get there undetected. They had no choice but to leave their speedboat as far away as possible. She asks how they’re getting back to the boat, and he says he has it covered. She says, don’t get her wrong. She would swim the English Channel if it meant getting to her mother… He holds up his hand, and she says, what? He pulls her into the bushes, and someone comes by with a flashlight, and a man says, this way, in Greek. Two sets of feet go by, presumably guards, and the second man asks the first one if he’s sure he heard something. Jason and Britt stay hidden.

Sonny says Sam and Dante took longer than he expected, and Dante says, one thing kind of led to another. They started in Monte Carlo, and ended up in Crete. Sam says, they hated giving up the search after having come so far and getting so close, but she had to get back to Scout and Danny, especially since the WSB are looking for Drew. If they come up with any information, especially if Drew is alive, she needs to be there to tell Scout her father’s coming home. Dante says he had to come back for Rocco too, and Sonny says he took the liberty of visiting his grandson, and he misses his dad very much. Dante says, that’s good. They spent the whole day together. Sam says she did the same with her kids. She’s glad they made the decision to come back to Port Charles. Dante says they can debrief over dinner, and she says, if that’s what he wants to call it. Sonny asks if he can have a minute with his son, and Sam says, of course (🍷). Carly says she’ll show Sam to their table, and Sam leaves with her. Dante says he feels terrible. He hasn’t seen Sonny much since he came back from Nixon Falls. Sonny says, now that Cyrus is in prison, Dante is free to focus on other investigations, and Dante says, it’s definitely a lot quieter here. Port Charles is about a thousand times better without Renault in it.

On Cassadine Island, the man says, he’s good; let’s go back. The two guards leave, and Jason tells Britt, they need to find a better hiding place. She says, where? It’s not like they can check into a hotel. He tells her, follow him, and they come out.

Peter says there’s no need for Obrecht to trouble herself, worrying about where Drew is. She has plenty of problems of her own to worry about. She asks where they are, and he says, Cassadine Island. She says, but he’s not a Cassadine. Where’s Victor? He says he and Victor had a parting of the ways. He has no idea where Victor is, or what happened to him. The only thing Obrecht needs to know, is that Victor is no longer available to protect her. If it’s any consolation, he’s sure wherever Victor ended up, he’s still pining for his dear Liesl. She says she doesn’t understand. Why did he take the trouble to have her drugged and transported there, when he could have just killed her and been done with it? He says, because of Maxie.

Maxie says, when Austin told her that his fight with Brook wasn’t over, what did that mean? He says he thinks it’s pretty self-explanatory. Can he ask her a question? She made a point of telling him that chasing the shares of ELQ at the cost of his medical career, would be a real shame. She says, more than a shame; it would have been a tragedy. He asks if it’s genuine concern, or is she just helping Brook with her manipulation to get him to give up his claim?

Brook pulls Gladys away from Valentin’s room, and asks what she was doing in there. Gladys says she was there to tell that poor man that Brook is a lying schemer, who’s passing off some other man’s baby as his. Brook asks why the hell she would do that? and Gladys says, Valentin is having surgery. He should know the truth before he dies. Brook says, no one is dying; dial back the drama. Gladys says she’s not the one trying to pass someone else’s kid off as Valentin’s. That trollop would be her. Brook says, yes, but has Gladys really thought this plan of hers through? If she tells Valentin the truth, then her blackmail is over. Her meal ticket goes away, and frankly, so does her job. If Gladys doesn’t keep her secret, Gladys has no leverage on her. Gladys asks what that matters if Maxie and Sasha are going to question every move she makes? They made her go back to work after she told Brook that she was taking a mental health day today, so this is really on Brook. Get her friends on board, or Gladys is telling Valentin everything.

Nikolas asks where all these questions are coming from, and Spencer says, Shawn Butler was wrongly convicted for the attempted murder of his stepmother. Mr. Butler did six years hard time in prison. Now that Spencer’s been in jail a night, he knows how awful it is. So if Nikolas knew Shawn was innocent this entire time, and didn’t tell anyone, just tell him. Nikolas comes up to Spencer, feeling his shirt, and Spencer backs up, asking what he’s doing. Nikolas tries feeling Spencer’s pants, but Spencer dodges him, and Nikolas asks if he’s wearing a wire. Spencer says, no, and Nikolas asks if that isn’t why Spencer is questioning him. So he can record Nikolas saying something incriminating about Hayden’s shooting. Spencer shouts that Nikolas has it all wrong. He’s there confronting Nikolas, so Nikolas can tell him that he didn’t try to have Hayden killed.

Dante says, the good thing about Sonny not being there is, he completely missed out on Renault’s final reign of terror. He’s sure Sonny heard about it, but there was a shootout at General Hospital, a stand-off. He took hostages, the whole bit. Sonny says, Jason told him all about it. Has Dante heard any rumblings about Renault’s people trying to regroup? Dante says, no. In fact, he checked in with PCPD this morning, and Chase said everything was pretty quiet. It could be the quiet before the storm, but he hopes not. Sonny says, him too, and Dante says, what’s up? Does Sonny know something about Renault?

Carly says she can’t imagine Sam’s disappointment and frustration. Coming so close to finding Drew, only to have him disappear again. Sam says she keeps reminding herself that Drew has survived a lot, and maybe he can survive this too. Carly says, Drew is like Jason. He’s incredibly resilient. You can’t count them out.

Jason and Britt enter a building, and Britt asks how he found this place, and he says, Spinelli used satellite images to scout the island. He said there was no traffic in and out of this building. She says, it’s not exactly a hub of high-tech activity, and that motorboat has to be twenty years old. He says, it could help them get back to their boat, and she says, he means if her mother is drugged or injured, or she can’t make the swim? He says, they’re not going to have a lot of time to get her off the island; they have to move fast. She asks how they know the boat works, and he says he’ll check on it. There’s a gas can and some tools… She says, they’re so close. They have to find her. With Nathan gone, she can’t live in a world where, besides her nephew James, Peter is her only living relative. He says, Peter drugged her mom, and took her with him, when it would have been far easier just to get rid of her. He thinks Peter still needs her.

Obrecht says, Peter is keeping her alive because of Maxie? and he says, trust him. He would love to kill her, preferably a long, slow death. Something similar perhaps to what she tried to do to him in that cabin, when she kept him in that bed, torturing him for months. Remember? And when she dragged him to that stable and nearly burned him alive. He remembers that. Tell him, what did she plan to do to him in St. Lucia? Perhaps some more torture; maybe waterboarding this time? She says, as much as she would have enjoyed that, her plan was to make it short and sweet. He says he’s offended. No pretense even of remorse now? She says she loathes him. When she made a mistake trusting him, he turned around and framed her for his own crimes. Now he wants her to help him with Maxie? He says he has a plan to win Maxie back, but can’t do it alone. That’s where she comes into play. She picked up a lot of expertise in her years with his father. In fact, she, almost more than anyone, knows as much about mental conditioning as he ever did. She says he wants her to condition Maxie to forgive him and take him back? Impossible. He says, come on. This is an opportunity to spare her life, perhaps save it altogether. It will require compliance on her part. Her back to him, she looks at what’s on the table.

Jason says, that should do it, and Britt asks if they should test it. He says, that’d be noisy, and she says, valid point. They hear someone talking, and she says, the guards are back. He listens at the door, and says, they’re not headed this way. Spinelli tracked their patrols. They go from east to west, then north to south. If they’re passing by, that means they’re not going to be back for a while, so that means it’s safe for him to go right now. She says, what about her? and he says she has to wait there, and picks up the boat motor.

Maxie says she’s not trying to influence Austin into backing off ELQ, and he says, okay. She says she’s seen him around the hospital several times, and he thinks it’s where he’s at his best. Not like when he’s with the Quartermaines; he’s not at his best there. If his lawsuit had been successful, he would have been stuck with this squabbling family business, and not there helping people. So she was happy when he chose his medical career over ELQ. That’s not because she wanted a win for the Quartermaines; it’s because she thinks he’s a good and caring doctor. Plus, he was with her when her baby was born. He says, he was. Lucky him; she was so impressive. They sit, and he says he means that. There she was in the woods, giving birth to her baby, and she’s not panicking. She doesn’t seem frightened at all. She’s just concerned for the well-being of a child. All she cared about was her baby. He admires her. She tells him not to admire her too much. One of the reasons she was happy he dropped his lawsuit was, she couldn’t stand to listen to Brook complain about him every time she saw her. She hated being stuck in the middle, and likes him too much to hear Brook badmouth him.

Brook tells Gladys that Maxie and Sasha aren’t just her friends; they’re her bosses. They happen to be very smart and savvy businesswomen. There’s no way they’re going to believe she gave Gladys a corporate card for personal shopping and massages. Gladys says, then Brook should have done the right thing last night, when she played Brook the recording on her phone. Brook says she should have grabbed Gladys’s phone and destroyed it, and Gladys asks if Brook thinks she was born yesterday. She made copies of the recording and stashed them in multiple locations. Brook says, Gladys is an experienced blackmailer; what a shock. Gladys says, the right thing to do, since Brook is a Quartermaine heiress, would be to pay Gladys with her own money, and Sasha and Maxie won’t be any wiser. Then she wouldn’t have to break the heart of that elegant, injured man in that room. Valentin is so sophisticated, he even looks good in that hospital gown. Brook tells Gladys to take her credit card. She’ll call account management and let them know Gladys is authorized to use it. Will that buy her silence? Gladys says, for now, and flounces away with the card.

Nikolas tells Spencer, Hayden was shot years ago. She’s alive and well. None of this is relevant anymore. Spencer says, and Nikolas gets to decide that? We see Shawn and Spinelli listening, and Spencer continues. He says he knew stalking Ava was wrong, but Nikolas and Ava have committed their own share of crimes against their own share of people, and neither of them can admit to their wrongdoings. Even now. Nikolas is doing everything possible to avoid telling him the truth about Hayden. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. His crime versus Nikolas trying to have Hayden killed; which is worse? So be honest with him. Did he do it? Did he arrange to murder Spencer’s stepmother? Nikolas tells Spencer, like he said, Hayden isn’t dead. It doesn’t matter. Let. It. Go. Spencer says, oh my God. It’s true. He asks if Nikolas knows what this means. It destroys everything he ever believed about Nikolas. He’ll admit, at first he was furious when Nikolas left him. He tried to find justice for Nikolas’s so-called death when he was alive and well. He could blame all that on Valentin. He could say he was reacting to what Valentin did to Nikolas, but all of this happened way before Nikolas had even seen Valentin. It’s attempted murder, and even worse, Nikolas let Shawn take the fall for his crime. Nikolas says, there’s no proof that he had any part… and Spencer says he doesn’t need proof. He can see it in Nikolas’s eyes. What he does need is a reason. Why? Why did he do it? Spencer really liked Hayden. Why did Nikolas want Hayden dead? Please help him understand.

Shawn says, Cassadine isn’t admitting anything, and Spinelli says, he’s certainly not denying it. Shawn says, it’s not enough. He needs Nikolas to say it, not talk around it. Spinelli tells him, Nikolas said enough important words. He could put together a confession if that’s what Shawn wants. Shawn asks if he can guarantee the cops won’t detect it if he edited it together, but Spinelli says, there are no guarantees. Shawn says, it’s not going to work then. There’s got to be another way to find justice for Hayden. Spinelli says, and for Shawn, he might add.

Brook tells Valentin, she’s so sorry about Gladys, and he says, she was definitely hinting that she had information about something. Brook asks what Gladys said exactly, and he says, something about virtue and his girlfriend. She tells him, like she said, Gladys was definitely drunk, and she was trying to win points with Valentin because he has a vested interest in Deception. He asks how it’s going, working with Gladys as her assistant, and Brook says, honestly? She’s a total nightmare. He says, get rid of her, and she says she can’t. She’s working with Gladys as a favor to Sasha. She’s driving Sasha and Brando crazy. Actually, she feels a little sorry for Gladys. He says, being a mother has changed her. She’s more patient and generous. She’s going to be a wonderful role model for their daughter.

Austin tells Maxie, it was a kind thing she said. He appreciates it. She says, he’s a good guy, and he says, thanks. She gets up, and says she’s going to see what got Brook so worked up. He says he’s glad it’s not him, and she says, not this time.

Jason tells Britt that he has to go; the boat’s ready. She says, that’s super nifty, but she’s more interested in why he’s taking off and she’s staying there. Why can’t they both go? He says, because two of them approaching the house, doubles their chance of getting spotted.

Obrecht asks what Peter wants her to do to her former daughter-in-law? He knows she would never hurt Maxie. She wouldn’t do that to Nathan’s memory. He says, the last thing he wants is to hurt Maxie. She doesn’t trust him anymore. In fact, she doesn’t want to be anywhere near him, but she would welcome Obrecht. What he wants Obrecht to do is convince Maxie to take him back. Because deep down, he knows they still love each other. They need each other. They need to be together to search for their little Louise. She turns away, and walks toward the table, saying, even if she were to help him, Maxie knows how she feels about him. If she suddenly sings his praises, Maxie is bound be suspicious. She grabs a measuring cup, that has clear liquid in it, throws it at him, and runs. He writhes in pain, grabbing his arm. I assume the liquid was acid.  

Jason says, walkie-talkie, and hands it to Britt, saying, he’ll radio when he can. Just keep the lights out, okay. He hands her a gun, but she doesn’t take it. He says, in case she needs it. She still doesn’t take it, so he puts it on the table. She says, thanks, I guess, and he says, it’ll be okay. She says, he’d better be right about that, and he starts to leave. She tells him, be careful, and he says, her too. He leaves, and she shines the flashlight on the gun.

Spencer says, if Nikolas would just explain why he targeted Hayden, maybe he could forgive him. Was she having an affair? Nikolas asks, who told Spencer about this? They’re using Spencer to hurt him. He realizes that, doesn’t he? They’re trying to drive an even bigger wedge between them, getting back at him. Was it Alexis? He knows Spencer trusts her. Did she leverage that trust? Spencer says, it wasn’t Aunt Alexis, and Nikolas says, was it Sam? Molly? Who in the family turned Spencer against him? Spencer says, it wasn’t Sam or Molly, and Nikolas says, then who? Shawn walks in, and says, it was him. 

Sonny tells Dante, he’s always on guard with enemies like Cyrus, and Dante says, okay. Sonny says, so Dante and Sam, are they dating? and Dante laughs. He says, that was a good change of subject. They’re just decompressing after the search for Drew. Sonny says, whatever Dante wants to call it. As long as she puts a smile on Dante’s face, that’s all he needs to know.

Carly sits at the table with Sam, and says, she and Dante have had their differences, but he’s a really great guy, and a talented investigator. She’s glad he had Sam’s back when she was looking for Drew. Sam says she likes Dante, and Carly is right. He is a very talented investigator. She’s glad he was there to help her. Dante approaches the table, and Carly gets up, giving him her seat. She says she’s going to have the waitress bring over their best bottle of champagne, and Dante says, they don’t need champagne, but Sam says, it sounds good. Carly says, she’s just really glad they made it home safely, and she really does wish them the best. Because she has them married already in her head. She leaves, and Sam says, she thinks Carly just gave them her approval. He says, he thinks his father just did the same, and she says, not that they needed it. He says, they don’t, but it makes life easier.

Carly joins Sonny at the bar, all excited. She says, the detective and the former con artist, and he says, stranger things have happened. She says, she knows. Like him coming back to her.

Gladys breezes through the hospital, carrying several shopping bags, and Austin says, retail therapy at the gift shop? She says, they do have beautiful things. They are pricey, but she just got a bonus at work. He says, that’s awesome. So did Valentin appreciate his oversized stuffed bear? She says, she’s not sure. She might have misjudged his taste. He says, even though they’re family? and she says, right. He asks how well she knows Valentin.

Maxie finds Brook near Valentin’s room, and says she’s been looking for her. Why was she so freaked out about Gladys? Brook drags her away from the room, and says she’s been trying to tell Maxie about this all day. She was trying to tell Maxie when Austin interrupted them with the wonderful news that Gladys was visiting Valentin. Thank God she got there in time. Maxie says, why? and Brook asks if she remembers when they were at the PC Grill, talking about Valentin. Gladys was recording the entire conversation so she could take notes on the meeting. Maxie says, oh my God. She knows about Bailey. She knows Peter is Bailey’s father. Brook says, no. All Gladys heard was that Brook dreads the day Valentin finds out Bailey’s not his daughter, but Maxie says, that’s enough to blow this whole thing wide open. If Glady’s opens her big mouth to the wrong person, that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to the truth about Bailey, and she won’t be safe from Peter anymore. What are they going to do?

Peter drags himself up, and gets on the radio. He says, Obrecht’s escaped. She can’t have gone far. Find her. Find her now. He grips his arm in pain, and makes sounds.  

Britt hears someone say, Peter’s furious, in Greek. She hears noise outside the door, and aims the gun at it.

Brook says she hasn’t decided what to do about Gladys, but she can count on Maxie, right? Maxie says, of course (🍷). She can’t have Gladys blowing this up until she knows Louise is safe from Peter. Brook says, they have no choice. They have to do this, and soon. Maxie says, whatever Brook is thinking, she’s in. They have to stop her. Brook says, stop her dead in her tracks.

Gladys says, honestly, she doesn’t know Valentin all that well, and Austin says, even though they’re family. She says, distant family, but she always felt a special bond; a connection. He asks, why is that? and she tells him, let’s just say she likes the guy, and doesn’t want to see him get hurt. She walks away, and Austin puzzles over this.

Nikolas says, Spencer barely knows this man, and allowed himself to be manipulated by him. Why? Is Spencer really so angry at him that he wanted Nikolas to incriminate himself? Spencer says he didn’t confront Nikolas to get a confession. He came there to prove Shawn wrong; to hear his father say he didn’t try to have Hayden murdered. But he never did. He walks past Nikolas, and tells Shawn, he’s all yours. He leaves, and Shawn and Nikolas face each other.

Carly says, they sure are cute together, and Sonny says, they are. She asks if he’s still thinking about Renault, and he says, something Dante said helped him make up his mind, and he’s got to do this before it’s too late. He’s going to visit Cyrus in prison.

It’s quiet, and Britt lowers the gun. She picks up a flashlight, and goes toward the door. She pushes it open, and shines the light up a woman’s body, who’s lying on the floor. She sees it’s Obrecht, tied up. Obrecht smiles, and says, daughter.  

Peter bandages his arm, and says they’d better have a location on that woman. Hello? Did they hear him? He turns to see Jason, who’s aiming a gun at his head.

Tomorrow, Esme tells Cameron that it’s a great idea, Trina asks if Spencer is telling her another lie, Shawn says he still has an outstanding debt, and Peter tells Jason, kill him, and Jason’s not going to get it.

Below Deck

Whitehouse Bay, St. Kitts. The guests wonder if they shouldn’t be on the beach already. Captain Sean has Eddie toting and fetching, and Eddie says, this is such a sh*t show. The captain tells Eddie to grab a bag of seashells, and take the price tags off of them. In Eddie’s interview, he says, the captain is kicking his ass. This day isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. F*** his life. Heather radios Fraser to meet her in the sky lounge, and one of the guests thinks that something must be going wrong, since they’re not on the beach. In Fraser’s interview, he grumbles that he has to make sure the cabins are perfect, but also make cocktails and keep the guests entertained. Get your sh*t together. A guest wonders, where is the fun? and on the beach, Captain Sean gives Eddie non-stop orders, but works just as hard himself. In the captain’s interview, she says he’s not a micromanager; he’s hands-on. There’s been nothing on board a boat that he’s not willing to do himself. Heather tells the guests that the tender is ready, and when they get to the beach, they proclaim it beautiful and say the captain and Eddie did great. It’s less a picnic scenario than something you’d see in a rich person’s pool cabana. In his interview, Eddie admits Captain Sean sets up a helluva beach picnic. The captain is great in a sense, but is going to kill them. Eddie goes back with the captain to the boat for the food, leaving Fraser to tend to the guests. Back on the boat, Jake, Wes, and Rayna clean the deck, and Wes and Rayna kind of flirt. In Rayna’s interview, she’s skeptical about crew romances. She got involved with a chef once, and when they broke up, people felt like they had to pick sides. She says she’ll flirt with Jake, but that’s all.  

Sean gives a guest one of the shells, saying he found it. Well, now she knows it’s store bought. In Rachel’s interview, she says, when she watched the show last season, she was shocked at Eddie’s behavior behind her back. We flashed back to Eddie trash talking Rachel to Captain Lee, and Rachel says, she was hurt. Where she comes from, they call that spineless. Rayna asks if Wes thinks he’s met his wife already, and in Wes’s interview, he says his last relationship lasted eight months. She moved to Australia, and is still living there. He heard it has a great surf, so he understands. Rachel tells Jessica that she’s from Florida, and Jessica says she drove an Uber in Florida until the cops showed up at her door. She’d picked up a guy who’d committed a hit and run, and her grandparents said, what did you do? She tells Rachel that she’s originally from Long Island, and Rachel does a spot on impression of a Long Islander. Eddie asks what the guests want to do, but they’re tired, so they go back to the boat. Captain Lee calls Captain Sean, who asks how he’s doing. Captain Lee says, better now, and asks about the crew. Captain Sean says he has no complaints, and Captain Lee asks how Eddie is doing. Captain Sean says Eddie is very helpful and has a great attitude. In Captain Sean’s interview, he says he’s never had to leave a boat halfway through a charter. He set the bar high, and hopes the crew continues to raise it higher.

Captain Sean radios for all crew to come to the pilot house. He thanks them for coming, even though he knows they have to come when he calls. He says he’ll cut to the chase, and tells them that Captain Lee will be joining them this evening, and he’s going to be leaving. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it’s a bummer to see someone leaving, but don’t let the door hit him on the way out. Her Captain Lee is coming back. Captain Sean shakes hands with everyone, and the guests head for the hot tub. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says he’d rather sandpaper a tiger’s ass in  phone booth, than miss a charter. He might be late, but he’d back. In Eddie’s interview, he says his boat daddy is back. Captain Lee arrives, and hopes the crew hasn’t abused Captain Sean too much. Captain Sean says, overall, the crew was good. Captain Lee asks, how willing are they to learn? and Captain Sean says, extremely. Captain Lee tells Captain Sean, there’s a boat waiting, if he’d like to say his goodbyes. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says he’s glad Captain Sean helped out, but now get off his boat. Captain Sean tells the guests that he won’t be able to have dinner with them, but Captain Lee is back; he just got on board. One of the guests says Captain Sean is fun, and he says he knows he’s fun, but he’d leaving them in good hands. Captain Lee tells everyone that Captain Sean is departing the vessel, and thanks him. In Eddie’s interview, he says, maybe he and Captain Sean will do the Northwest Passage together sometime, but probably not.  

In Rachel’s interview, she says, she went overboard, no pun intended. She’s making a tasting menu, Japanese style. She likes to push herself as far as she can go, shatter, then put herself back together with Gorilla Glue, but not in her hair, and push herself more to make her stronger. In Heather’s interview, she says it’s important she been seen as a successful head of a department. She wants to impress the captain. She needs to calm down, take a deep breath, and remember that she’s got this. Rachel brings Captain Lee something to eat, and gives him a hug. Heather joins them, and says it’s a pleasure to meet him. In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s extremely hard to find a good chief stew. He has high hopes for Heather, but time will tell. I’ll bet he misses Kate. I know I do.

In Jake’s interview, he says on the first date, he kisses. On the second date, he leaves before anything happens, and on the third it’s whatever he wants. Ugh. He seems cool, and I realize he’s young, but he also seems like a user. Rachel asks Captain Lee if he wants to join the guests for dinner; it’s black tie. He’s wearing a different style of uniform, and says, he decided change things up. In Rachel’s interview, she says she loves Captain Lee’s new look. It’s so Captain Red October. They show pictures side-by-side of Captain Lee and Sean Connery from The Hunt for Red October, and Rachel is so right, even the producer laughs. The guests get ready for dinner, and Eddie tells Captain Lee, it’s like they never left. The captain says, Eddie is now working as a first officer, so Eddie is directly under him. Eddie says, with great power comes great responsibility. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Captain Lee has expectations for him that he’s worried he’ll never reach. Eddie tells the captain that he thinks Jake is good deckhand, and the captain says he and Eddie need to have one of those serious conversations. He brings out some papers, and tells Eddie it’s his fiduciary responsibility to show him this. He points out a list of issues he had; he wrote everything out while he was in the hospital. Eddie asks if it was a heart attack, but the captain says, it was AFib. He tells Eddie, they fixed it; it’s amazing what they can do now. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says it’s a condition he was born with, and explains that AFib is when your heart randomly goes in a different rhythm. At the hospital, they burned off the trouble spots, but it took a lot out of him. He tells Eddie that he doesn’t want to be treated any differently, and Eddie says he’s going to run the captain harder. Captain Lee says he’ll run Eddie’s ass ragged if he doesn’t.  

The guests get ready for dinner, and Captain Lee puts on his tux. He says, it must be like putting on a bra, and joins the guests for dinner. He introduces himself and says it’s an honor. In Rachel’s interview, she says the stakes are higher when you’re cooking for the captain. She doesn’t want to disappoint him, especially after her previous actions. We flash back to the eat my cooter episode, and Rachel says she should have just taken a valium and STFU. Dinner is going to be her take on street food in Japan. Jessica says she’s never met people who use more towels then these guests. Mmm… The second course is goyza. The captain tells the guests that he was thrilled to get back, and his wife was damn glad to get rid of him. In his interview, the captain says, knowing the yacht was leaving and he wasn’t on it, didn’t make him happy. A boat without a captain is like a boat without a rudder. It’s where he thrives. Jessica tells Wes that she’s 35, and still in a third stew position. In Jessica’s interview, she says her ex-boyfriend lived on a houseboat, and there was a yacht in the marina looking for a stew. It’s so easy to romanticize the industry, but it’s like any other job, and has positives and negatives. The guests wonder how Rachel was capable of doing the whole menu by herself. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, Rachel f***ed up last season, but everyone deserves a second shot. Rachel is the best chef he’s worked with. It’s been a long time since someone told him to have intercourse with himself, and didn’t regret it. I have the feeling the last time was never. He tells Rachel how great everything was.

Final day. Primary Nikki tells Heather that she didn’t get towels. In Heather’s interview, she says she feels like she just got the wind knocked out of her. She put Fraser in charge. Why is a guest coming to her, saying the housekeeping is not up to par? She asks Jessica where the towels are, and Jessica says they were put away in the guest cabinet. Heather gives Nikki towels, saying, it’s unacceptable; her apologies.   

Rayna is looking around for a dustpan, but Heather says she doesn’t have time to help look. Rayna calls her an effing idiot under her breath, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, when she was young, she was quick witted and always popping off. With age, she realized you can’t do that. Fraser serves morning coffee to the guests, who tell them they had a blast. Captain Lee discusses the docking with Eddie, and in Eddie’s interview, he says, it’s the first time docking the boat this season, and he’s sure Captain Lee is nervous too. It’s a new dock, with a new crew handing the lines, and the weather is not ideal. It’s nerve wracking. In Rachel’s interview, she says, working with Heather is great. She’s had hardly any problems with communication compared to last season. We flash back to the mahi mahi debacle, and Rachel says, f*** Francesca. I tend to agree. I didn’t like Francesca. Anchor is home, and they set off for the dock. In Jake’s interview, he says he works hard because it’s in his blood. His dad began working at 14, and Jake looked up to him. They get to Christophe Harbor in St. Kitts, and the guests pack, Nikki wondering why it fit when she packed it the first time. I know the feeling; the struggle is real. Captain Lee says he wants radio silence for docking, and in his interview, says he’s as nervous as a cat with a long tail in a room full of rocking chairs.

Captain Lee radios the crew to get in their whites. The guests don’t want to leave, and Heather jokes that they’ve canceled all the other charters. Everyone says goodbye, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, the industry is predominantly white, which most people don’t realize. When she becomes a beautiful Black captain, she can open the door for other minorities. Got it good. Nikki says they had an amazing time. She’d talked to Heather about some interior issues, like the trash and towels, but she definitely tips her hat to Heather. She gives Heather her fancy captain’s hat, and gives Captain Lee the tip envelope. The guests leave, and the captain tells everyone, get to work. Heather calls her boyfriend, and in her interview, she says he was a charter guest. It’s kind of taboo, but it’s one of hottest relationships she’s ever had. It’s hard to go for long stretches without seeing someone, but for the time being, he’s supportive. The captain radios Heather, and asks to see her on the bridge. Yeah, she knows what’s coming. He tells her that he has a question. It was mentioned there were hiccups on the charter. Can he inquire as to what they were? She says, a trash bag was left from the primary’s bathroom, and this morning, she had no towels. He says, it’s not good. It’s minor, but can have a major effect. It’s not a great start. They’ll have to work smarter and harder. Heather says it’s not how she runs a boat.  

Eddie tells the deckhands that they’re killing it, and Jake is a born leader. Captain Lee radios the crew to meet in the crew mess asap. He tells them that he knows they ran their asses off, but one f*** up cancels out 14 attaboys. The tip is $18K, or $1500 a piece, which I still consider good, but the captain says, when they’re counting out the money, all they remember is one f*** up. He tells them to enjoy themselves, but in the morning, their ass belongs to him. What? No two rules??? Faithful viewers will remember: don’t embarrass yourself and don’t embarrass the boat. The turn over the boat, and Rayna talks to her mom on the phone. In her interview, she says her mom is her best friend. They, grew up together, since her mom was 19 when she’d had Rayna. They talk multiple times a day. She tells her mom that the crew is going out. She doesn’t think she’ll mess with anyone, but sometimes when she gets tipsy, the way she thinks is not the best. In Jessica’s interview, she says she missed a lot of details. That’s why she likes hiding in the laundry; there’s no pressure. It’s like solitary confinement, but she’s good at being an only child. The crew gets ready to go out.

At the restaurant, they toast to happy seas ahead. Eddie says he has an apartment, and his girlfriend is taking care of it while he’s away. In his interview, he says, he’s in a relationship now. He’s at a point in his life where he’s ready to settle down. He’s 36; better late than never. Wes tries to figure out who will get drunk, and Jessica says she had no idea. Fraser and Heather talk on the side, and he said he took the housekeeping issue personally, but the majority of his time was spent on serving. Heather says, moving forward, there’s no room for a f***-up, now that they know the boat. They could pull off the greatest party, but at the end of the day, a trash bag and towel can take that away. In Fraser’s interview, he says, there’s no kindness, warmth, or vulnerability. He can’t warm up to an ice cube. Heather says, there’s a great learning curve, and she’s sorry housekeeping fell on him. He says he doesn’t want to disappoint her, and she says, they’re reflections of each other. Let’s see what charter two brings. The crew drinks at the bar for a while, and Rayna says, they’re officially the guests they all hated. They go back to their table, and take selfies. Jake kisses Rayna’s neck, and Heather says he’s their Johnny Depp. Rayna tells Jake that he’s crazy, and they all go back to the boat. Rachel wisely goes to bed, and Fraser and Jake get in the hot tub. Rayna sits on the side with her feet in it, and says, it’s too cold to go in. Jake tells Fraser that he’s sure Rayne wants to <insert your imagination here>, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, eight billion people in the world, and Jake thinks he’s found the one person for him on the boat. He’s never seen a crew romance work out. Jake and Rayna make out, and she says, it feels weird because they’re on the same team as Wes. Jake suggests they put Wes in the middle. Rayna jumped into Jake’s bunk, and in her interview, wondered why she got involved, since she doesn’t need that.  

Next time, Rachel confronts Eddie, Heather thinks the interior needs to pick up the pace, Captain Lee thinks he has morons on his hands, and Heather and Eddie try to diffuse a situation between guests.

🛥 Old News But Fun News…

I remember all of these guests, and also remember thinking, in no job should you have to tolerate this kind of abuse. They also left out the shame cocoon.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1116662/all-of-the-craziest-guests-who-have-been-on-below-deck

🎃 Hallo This Ween…

There will be much more on costumes later in the week, but for now, the man who won Halloween.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steve-buscemi-dresses-up-as-his-own-meme-for-halloween/1100-6497581/

🚤 Cruisin’…

Every year, on the day after Halloween, I wonder why I make such a big production for one day. And why did I eat those Taco Bell Nachos Belle Grande and the Three Musketeers bar? While those questions remain unanswered, it remains sure that I’ll be here for some soap and some Rules. Until then, stay safe, stay gleaning wisdom from unlikely sources, and stay out of the crossfire in a food fight.

September 27, 2021 – Maxie Has Something To Tell Carly, New Old Deck, Another House, the Show Went On & Champs

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yuri brings Brook to Charlie’s, along with Bailey/Louise, and says he’ll be sitting at another table, looking – how you say? – discreet. She says, that’s him; straight with a capital T. Maxie comes in, and Brook tells her, Yuri is here, so no worries. Maxie says there are also two plainclothes cops outside. As far as worrying goes, it seems like that’s all she’s doing lately. First, she was worried that Peter was going to go after the baby; now she’s worried she’s his target.

Valentin sits on Chloe’s bed, where she’s unconscious and hooked up to machines. He wonders, did Peter do this to her? Or was it someone else? Either way, she’s safe now. Anna comes in and asks how Chloe is, and he says, the doctors say she’s still unconscious. Any luck? She says, no. She didn’t find out much beyond Chloe’s name.

Obrecht tells Victor, she can’t lose her Britta; not after losing her Nathan. She has no choice but to trust he’ll keep his word. He stands behind her, puts his hands on her shoulders, and says, don’t worry, darling. The worst is over now. She whips around and puts a knife to his throat, and says, wrong again, darling. She shot him once and left him for dead, and he survived. This time, he won’t be so lucky. He asks if she’s sure this is how she wants to play this.

Elizabeth looks at a flyer that says GH Trivia Night, when Finn comes out of the elevator. They say, hi, and he says he saw one of the flyers for Trivia Night upstairs. Is she interested? She says she hasn’t given it much thought, and he says, him neither. She presses the elevator button, and says she has to get these files upstairs. He says he’ll see her around, and she gets in. Chase comes by and asks Finn, what’s up with him and Elizabeth?

Sonny tells Nina, she needs to stop fooling herself. Mike’s gone. She needs to forget he ever existed. She says she’ll never forget what she and Mike shared together, and he says she had nothing with him. She was in love with some guy she thought he was. Let’s start with that. Tending bar in Nixon Falls, mopping the floors; if he wanted to do that, he would have stayed in Brooklyn. That wasn’t his life plan, and it still isn’t. She says, this is? Is he happy with this life here in Port Charles? He says, yeah, with his wife, his kids, and his business, even though she wishes he wasn’t.

Jason tells Carly that he has to go and talk to Diane about this Buscema/Novak thing. He knows the cops are going to call him down. She says there’s something they need to talk about. What are they going to tell Sonny? How are they going to make this okay for him? He asks what she means by okay. Sonny doesn’t know their marriage was almost real, and it doesn’t matter because it’s over. (First World made-up problems.) She says she knows that, but Sonny’s been gone for nine months. Unless he said something to Jason, they have no idea how he’s been dealing with his bi-polar disorder, or if he’s been dealing with it at all.

Terry sees Elizabeth, and thanks her for the assist in keeping Britt’s mind off her mother. Elizabeth says, she totally saw right through it, but it was pretty fun nonetheless. Terry wonders if she dare say Britt’s growing on her, and Elizabeth says, stranger things have happened. Terry says Elizabeth seems distracted. Is everything okay?

Maxie tells Brook, she’s being as safe as she physically can be, so she knows she’s being irrational. Brook says, those are the same instincts that kept her away from Peter. She should listen to them. There’s no harm in a little extra caution. Maxie thanks Brook for arranging this, and Brook says, of course (🍷), but if anyone asks, they’re here on Deception business. Josslyn comes over to their table, and says hello to Maxie and Brook, and remarks that Bailey is getting big. Brook says, champion eater, this one, and Maxie says she’s surprised to see Josslyn there. She thought Josslyn would be home celebrating. Brook says, celebrating what? Carly and Jason’s wedding? Maxie says, Brook hasn’t heard? Brook says, obviously not, and Josslyn says, Sonny’s alive.

Nina asks if Sonny was happy as Mike, but he doesn’t know how to answer that. She asks again, and he says, yeah, he was happy, but he didn’t know what he was missing. She says, doesn’t that tell him something? That there was this happy, non-violent, better guy living inside of him, just waiting to come out. He says, no. You know what that  tells him? The guy had amnesia, but the real him was still in there. Remember when there was trouble, he’d take care of the situation? She says, true. They went to Corinth, and there was that guy. She was terrified that Sonny would come out, but there was Mike. He was kind to the guy. Sonny says, because he made the smart move. He may not always be right, but he doesn’t like to think he’s stupid. Why would he beat the hell out of the guy when he could make the guy his ally? You have to look at the situation and turn it to your advantage. She says she thinks that’s part of it, but she doesn’t believe that’s all of it. He says she has to listen to him, okay? He’s sorry that she fell in love with Mike. She says, and Mike fell in love with her, but he says, that was an illusion, plain and simple.

Carly says, she and Jason don’t know anything that’s been going on with Sonny the whole time he’s been gone. He seems okay, which makes her think he got his hands on some kind of medication, but if he hasn’t, maybe he thinks he doesn’t need it anymore. He says she’s right; Sonny seems pretty level. She says, although there were times before when he wasn’t on medication and seemed level, and then he crashed. Jason says, and if anything is going to make him crash, it’s this. She says, us.

Finn sees Chase at the hospital, and asks how he is. Chase says he got the all-clear from his physical therapist, and Finn says, back to work? Chase says, back to work; back to everything. Finn says, that’s really great, but cautions him to go easy in the gym. Chase says he’s been warned, and Finn says, but will he listen? Chase asks how Finn and Elizabeth are. From what he saw on the camping trip, things seemed to be progressing between them. Finn says he guesses they were, and Chase asks, what happened? Finn says, it’s more like what didn’t happen. They almost kissed.

Anna tells Valentin, Chloe abandoned her car after the accident, and made her way into this little village. She said she was an American, and gave them her name. Then she collapsed, so the local authorities were alerted, and the American consul ran her name and identity. He says, she was listed as a missing person, and Anna says, exactly. He says, and that alerted the WSB because she was already in their register, and Anna says, because the fake Chloe used her ID when she kidnapped Maxie and the baby. But how the real Chloe ended up here is anyone’s guess. He says, it has to be Peter, right? and she says, but she doesn’t remember Faison having a base of operations there in Greece. He says, other than the work he did for Helena? and she says, of course (🍷). Cassadine Island is very close, isn’t it?

Victor says, one of the things he’s always found sexy about Obrecht, was her intelligence. But let’s review the situation. Obviously, she’s on his compound, with a full staff keeping watch, so does she really think pulling a knife on him is her best strategy? She says, it’s the only strategy. She’s not available to be his prisoner. She’s getting out of there, and going home to her daughter. He says she didn’t used to be this sentimental, and she says, losing her son changed her. It made her understand what is important and what is not. What is worth it, and what is not. Clearly a lesson he hasn’t learned. So in case there is any doubt, she will kill him to get back to her only remaining child in a heartbeat.

Chase tells Finn, last he heard, almost kissing was a good thing. Finn says, it was just a moment. He’s not sure Elizabeth wanted it to happen. Chase asks why he’d say that, and Finn says, it’s awkward now between them. Chase saw them just now. Chase says, he did. The vibes were coming from both of them. Did Finn want the kiss to happen? Finn says he got lost looking into her eyes. If Scotty hadn’t fallen from the sky, who knows? Chase says, Finn would still be kissing her right now, but Finn says he doesn’t want to push anything. If she’s not into it, or she’s having second thoughts, he understands that. Chase says, okay, but what if she’s neither of those things?  

Elizabeth tells Terry, things were going really well. The kids were off with Chase, and she and Finn had a moment alone. Terry says, and…? and Elizabeth says, and they were close to kissing, when Scotty showed up. Terry says, so they were interrupted. Big deal. Just pick up where they left off. Elizabeth says, that’s the thing. She’s not sure Finn wants to.

Victor says he’s sorry he and Obrecht rekindling their relationship isn’t in the cards, but he still doesn’t think their time together was a waste. She says, nein, but he says, it’s given him a chance to see her in a whole new light, and appreciate her even more. He sees how much she loved her son, and regrets Nathan wasn’t his. He also regrets that they have to do this the hard way. She tells him, don’t worry. She won’t kill him unless she absolutely has to, but he says he doesn’t think she’ll see it the same way he does. Obrecht feels a gun in her back, and Peter says, hello, Liesl.

Josslyn sits down, and tells Maxie and Brook, it was so surreal to walk into that room and see Sonny. Not only alive, but smiling. She didn’t know what to feel first. It was a roller coaster of emotion; shock, to joy, to confusion, to relief. Maxie says she can’t imagine it. When she heard, she was blown away. Josslyn says, that’s an understatement, and asks how Maxie found out. Maxie says, she hears things from people who know stuff, and Josslyn says, that’s just so weird. Sonny only came home to her mom and Jason… Brook says, on their wedding night. Josslyn says, that’s a whole other story, but then Dante showed up, and she and Michael got the text to come over. She asks if Dante was the one who shared the news with Maxie.

Sonny tells Nina, forget the fact that he’s married. He had an entire life. What did she think she was going to do, go on indefinitely? Even if his memory never came back, that humble bartender is so far from who he is. She says he’s right. She was in denial, 100% complete in denial, but she wants to make something really clear. There wasn’t one morning, not one, she didn’t wake up and say to herself, today is the day she tells him the truth, and makes things right. He says, but she didn’t, and she says, because she’d see him smile, and see how peaceful he was, how happy. Then her willpower would just evaporate. It was like Nixon Falls was a parallel world where only good things happened; there was no pain and he wasn’t in danger. She never meant to hurt him. He says she didn’t think it would hurt him being away from his family, leaving Carly and Jason to pick up the pieces? She was great. They were great together, but it wasn’t real. She nods.

Jason tells Carly, the vows they said, the life they thought they were going to have, that’s not going to happen. The feelings will go away in time, and they’ll get back to normal. She says, what if Sonny finds out they were planning a real marriage? Jason knows how Sonny operates. His paranoia is huge when he has a manic episode. Jason says, and if Sonny is having a manic episode, they don’t know. She says, the worst thing that could happen would be Sonny being paranoid against them. The two people who can help him.

Finn says, it’s complicated, but Chase doesn’t get why. Finn and Elizabeth are both adults, who work in the same field, who for weeks and weeks worked to try and save his life –thanks for that, by the way – it makes sense they would have grown closer together. Finn says, it was a heightened situation, and Chase says, so? Finn says, so Chase is better, thank God. Now things are going back to normal. Chase says, exactly. Finn and Elizabeth have a chance to explore things between them in a regular setting. Finn says, that’s what worries him.

Elizabeth tells Terry, when Chase was sick, it was a distraction. Terry says, she means from losing Franco? and Elizabeth says, yeah. And working with Finn to save his brother was all consuming, and exactly what she needed. Not to mention, they made a pretty good team. Spending all that time together… Terry says, they got closer, and Elizabeth says, it felt that way. Terry says, it looked that way too, but Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. Now that things have calmed down, they’ve taken a step back. Maybe she mistook their teamwork for something else.

Valentin says, Anna is right. Cassadine Island isn’t far; it’s about twenty minutes by boat. She asks if he’s okay with that. How does it feel being so close? He says he has mixed emotions. He left the island when he was six, so he doesn’t have any fond memories there. What really bothers him is Nikolas got the entire inheritance. Anna says, in such a dramatic way. Typical of Helena to set things up that way. He says, absolutely, but the fact of the matter is, the money wasn’t his to inherit; he’s not a Cassadine. He’s not beholden to Mikkos or Helena. He is the man that he made himself to be. She says, he’s his own person, and he says, and you know what? He thinks he’s starting to like him. Anna says she thinks she is too. Yes! I love them together.

Victor moves the knife away from his throat, and says Peter certainly took his time. Peter says he was busy launching himself off a cliff to escape Anna and Valentin. Victor says, and he was busy arranging Peter’s retrieval. And he’s welcome. Obrecht says, they’re working together, and Peter says, that’s not any of her concern. She tried to kill him. She says she tried to kill him because he deserves it. She only regrets it didn’t work. He’s a despicable excuse for a human being. Victor says, perhaps, but he has his uses. He asks if Peter took care of that mess in Pennsylvania, and Peter says he burned that hole-in-the-wall bar to the ground. Oh, and Obrecht’s niece was inside. He doubts anyone survived. Now that he’s taken care of one loose end, time to tie off another. He aims his gun at her.

Brook tells Josslyn, she’s learned to never ask Maxie about her sources. Maxie knows things, and they get to benefit from that. Let’s backtrack. Sonny is alive? This is incredible. What happened? Josslyn says, when Sonny fell in the river, he didn’t drown. He washed ashore in a small town in Pennsylvania, but had no memory of who he was. Some nice people took him in, and he’s been living for the past nine months with no idea he had an entire other life waiting for him. Brook asks if he’s okay, and Josslyn says he is. Brook says she can’t wait to see him, but doesn’t want to push herself on him if he’s overwhelmed. Is he really doing okay?

Nina tells Sonny, he keeps saying it’s not real, and she understands; she really does. But at the same time, it happened. We fell in love. Sonny says, don’t say we, and she says, she and Mike fell in love, but he was Mike. He says, but he wasn’t. She had feelings for someone, but it wasn’t him, and he gets the feeling she doesn’t like Sonny Corinthos very much. She says, she just didn’t know him very well. She believed he had every reason to hate her, and she’s read stories and articles that put him in a negative light. But Mike didn’t happen in a vacuum. Mike’s kindness, that love, patience, and willingness to listen came from him. He has those qualities, but she didn’t know that. So her saying Mike is a better version of him, is her judging him. She didn’t know him really, and obviously, now she never will.

Carly tells Jason, everyone was there, and saw them at their wedding, including Michael. Michael knows it was more than just politics for them, or at least it was going to be. If Sonny gets suspicious and asks questions, what do they tell him? Jason says, if he asks, they tell Sonny the truth. They wanted a real marriage, but it didn’t get that far, because Sonny came back, and everything changed. What he needs her to hold on to is that they didn’t do anything wrong. I’m finding it difficult to see what the big deal is.

Terry says, the first thing she’s going to caution Elizabeth against, is putting herself in Finn’s head. She has no idea what he’s thinking. Elizabeth says, doesn’t she? Last night they were talking about the camping trip, but all Finn brought up was the kids. Nothing about the almost kiss. Terry asks if Elizabeth brought it up, but Elizabeth says, there was a reason she didn’t. Terry says, like what? and Elizabeth says, like maybe it’s just too soon. For Finn and her too. Terry says she doesn’t believe that for one second.  

Finn tells Chase, Elizabeth lost her husband not that long ago, and he’s fresh off a bad breakup. Chase says, fresh might be a little bit of a stretch, and Finn says, the timing’s not right. Chase says, the timing is perfect, and Finn says, not to mention Violet. Chase says, who adores Elizabeth. She thinks Elizabeth walks on water. Finn says Chase saw how hard Violet took it when he and Anna ended things. Say he and Elizabeth get close, and then it doesn’t work out? He’s not putting Violet through that again. Chase says he’s right, and Finn says, he is? Chase says he doesn’t think Finn should get involved with anyone ever again on the off-chance it doesn’t work out. Finn tells Chase, he’s not saying that, but Chase says, yes, he is.

The doctor tells Anna and Valentin, brains do heal. They’re hoping for the best with Miss Jennings. Valentin asks if he has any idea when she’ll come out of it, but he says he’s sorry; there’s no timetable for this. Anna asks what he can tell them about her condition, and he says, she has a concussion, most likely from the car accident. She was also dehydrated, disoriented. She’d clearly come from some stressful situation. Valentin says, she’s probably not a person who ran off the road because she was drunk on vacation, and the doctor says, no. Anna says, it’s sounding more and more like Chloe was being held against her will.    

Victor steps in between Obrecht and Peter, and asks what Peter is doing. Obrecht is his guest. Peter’s not calling the shots; he is. Put the gun down. Obrecht tells Victor to take what he wants, the knife or her life, just let her kill Peter first. Victor says, that’s the trade? and Peter says, stupid woman, but Victor says, hold on. Let him think about this.

Josslyn tells Brook and Maxie that Sonny seems great, but she doesn’t know. She has no scale to judge it on. Last night was amazing and wonderful. Sonny was so happy to see them, and they were just as happy to see him. He seemed to be the Sonny she’s always known. Brook asks if Sonny told them what he’s been up to, but Josslyn tells her, he didn’t say much. She’s sure he will once he settles in. Brook says, that makes sense, and Josslyn tells them, Sonny said he knew where he was and what he was doing, but nine months is a long time. She’s sure there are holes. She doesn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, and gets her not revealing her sources, but if she does know something, it would be great if Maxie would tell her mom. Maxie says, she thinks Josslyn is right. She definitely needs to talk to Carly. Why, Maxie, why? Why aren’t you letting Nina do that?

Jason says he and Carly would have never let themselves go down that road if Sonny hadn’t disappeared. Carly says, of course(🍷) not, but she doesn’t want Sonny to think he’s in their way, or that they’re still together, because they’re not. Jason says, they’re not, but there’s nothing to hide, and Sonny will pick up on that. So let’s just take this step by step. Carly says she’ll talk to Sonny about his bipolar disorder, and they’ll take it one day at a time, and if he asks any questions, they’ll tell him the truth. Jason agrees, and she says she hopes he doesn’t ask.

Nina says her reckoning day has come, hasn’t it? All the lies she told to the people left to grieve for him. They’re going to feel betrayed, and they should. Because that’s what she did; she betrayed so many people. She betrayed their trust, and the trust she and Mike/Sonny had with each other. She betrayed Michael and their grandson. Sonny says she didn’t lose the connection, did she? When she was video chatting with Wiley, that call wasn’t dropped; she ended it because she didn’t want him to see his family. She says, yes. Of all the choices she could have made, she chose the one that alienated everybody. Now she has to live with the anger and resentment; theirs and his.  

Preface: These are two separate conversations going on at the same time. Elizabeth says, then there’s the whole Violet angle, and Terry says she’s shutting it down before it’s begun. Finn says, no, he’s not, but Chase says he’s way overthinking this. Elizabeth says, no, she’s trying to be an adult, and Terry says, and does she want to be a happy adult? Finn tells Chase, of course (🍷) he does, and Chase asks if Elizabeth makes Finn happy. Elizabeth tells Terry, yes. She loves spending time with Finn. Chase tells Finn, then get out of his own way already, and see where he and Elizabeth are with each other. Then he can find out if they’re on the same page. Terry and Elizabeth get in the elevator, and Terry says, if they’re not, no harm, no foul, but Elizabeth will never know if she doesn’t try. Finn tells Chase, okay. When he puts it like that… Chase says Finn didn’t think his little brother was so wise, and Finn says he didn’t, but let’s not go overboard. Chase says, he’s there for advice anytime Finn needs it, and Finn says he’s created a monster. He tells Chase to show himself out, and turns, running into Elizabeth and Terry coming out of the elevator.

Peter says Victor can’t be serious, and Victor says, as tempting as he finds Obrecht’s offer, the truth is, he can’t trust her. Obrecht says, but he trusts Peter? and he says he and Peter have their own arrangement. She says Victor is a bigger imbecile than she thought. Peter will double-cross him as soon as he sees an opening. Victor says, that’s just a chance he’ll have to take.

Carly tells Jason that she loved their wedding and their reception, and she’ll treasure those memories for the rest of her life. But that’s private, for them. She’s not trying to shut Sonny out, but he wasn’t there; he wasn’t a part of it. Trying to explain it to him will only cause tension. Jason says, first of all, It’s Sonny. The three of them have been through way worse than this. It’s a good thing Sonny’s back. She says, it’s a miracle. She prayed for this every moment he was gone, but at the same time, it’s disorienting. He says, there’s always going to be bumps, but they have Sonny and he has them. It’s going to be okay. She laughs, and says she loves that about him. When he says it’s going to be okay, he means it. He laughs, and tells her, now you say it, and she says, it’s gonna be okay. They hug.

Sonny says, let him tell Nina something, and it’s coming from experience. It’s never a good thing to play God with someone’s life, and that’s what she did. Now there’s going to be a fallout. She says she knows, and he says he’s sorry about that. Being honest, aside from her first initial impulse to get back at Carly, he doesn’t think she did anything with malice. He thinks she made a mistake, and just kept going on. She says, that pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? For what it’s worth (🍷), she truly is really sorry. She hopes he doesn’t suffer from her mistakes. She leaves, and he ponders this.

Yuri tells Brook, he ordered avocado on toast for Monica, and Brook says, that’s so sweet of him. She’s sure Monica will appreciate that, but they have bigger fish to fry. He says, Peter August, and she says, he’s still out there. The guy’s got a screw loose, and for all they know, Peter could be planning a full-blown assault on the house. Yuri says, if he tries, it will be the last thing he ever does. He won’t get near her or that baby.

Anna thinks she and Valentin should head to the village, and conduct some interviews. See if someone saw Chloe, the car, or both. You never know what sort of details you can turn up. He says, let’s go, and Anna tells the doctor to notify him if she wakes up. He says, will do, and they leave. I have a bad feeling about this.

Finn smiles, Elizabeth smiles, Terry smiles, and Chase moves over by Terry. Finn says, hi again, and Elizabeth says, hi. Chase says he thinks they should make themselves scarce, and Terry says that’s their best bet. They walk to the reception desk, and Elizabeth laughs. Finn says, so how is she at trivia? and she says, not great, but it’s more about fun than skill, right? He says, right, and it’s for a really good cause. She says, exactly, and he says, so maybe next Wednesday? She says, sure, okay. She’ll be there. She grabs Terry by her lab coat, and they leave. Chase smiles at Finn, and Finn shakes his head.   

A lackey grabs Obrecht, and she asks where he’s taking her. Victor says he’s saving her soul, and the lackey takes her away. Peter says Victor is making a mistake keeping Obrecht alive; she’s dangerous. Take it from someone who knows. Victor says he’s well aware that she’s dangerous – to Peter. That’s why he locked her up. Peter asks, why take the risk when he can get rid of her? and Victor says, that’s for him to know, and Peter not to. Peter says Victor isn’t nearly as smart as he thinks he is, and Victor says, they’re done here. Peter walks out, and Victor’s phone rings. He asks what they have for him. The doctor with Chloe says, Miss Jennings just had two visitors from the WSB.

Josslyn brings Maxie to the former home of the moss bowl, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says Maxie has something she wants to tell her.

Sonny goes to Mike’s grave, and says, hey, dad. He’s home. It took him a while, but he finally made it. It wouldn’t have happened if Mike hadn’t come to him in the woods. Mike saved his life. Sonny threw his watch away… It’s a long story, but… Jason joins him, and Sonny says he’s glad Jason is there, but first things first. Can they get rid of that thing? He points to his own gravestone.  

Tomorrow, Willow thinks something is going on with Nina, Valentin says he’s staying with Anna, Carly wants to know what Nina knew and when she knew it, and Sonny tells Jason that it’s Nina’s fault.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy tells Malia, the reality is, during the first meeting, she’d asked Malia to come to her if there was an injury, so do it from now on. Any injury is a liability, even if it’s a bruise, and David has a massive effing bruise. She says she can’t trust Malia. Malia goes back on deck, and says, f*** that; she’s over this. Courtney and Katie put the finishing touches on the boat, and Malia tells David that he has to make a report to the First Officer. David tells Mzi that he could hear the captain screaming at Malia. Mathew wonders if it’s going to be an early morning/early night crowd. In Katie’s interview, she says she had seven girls under her in the past, and now she has one. If it blows up in her face, that’s on her, and she’ll take responsibility. Malia tells Mzi and Lloyd that she should have reported David’s injury, but it hadn’t been during working hours. She’s obviously upset, and Lloyd and Mzi hug her.

Mathew asks David what the vibe is on deck, and David says, limping tea. Mathew says, since it’s a religious group, they should get with the prayers. In his interview, he says he’s like Matt the Cat, and feels that he’s escaped the fire many times. As usual, Mathew is a nervous wreck, but David says he’s done five charters, and the guests have loved everything he’s done. The captain calls Malia to the bridge, which I always think must be like being called to the principal’s office. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she didn’t know severity of David’s injury. He might feel fine now, but God forbid it gets worse, and he gets a blood clot or something. If an injury isn’t reported, those liable are the owner of the vessel and her.  

Lloyd and Mzi discuss what superpowers they’d like to have, and Mzi says he’d like to read minds. Lloyd says he’d like to speak to animals, but what if they’re thick, and all they’re saying is what they’re saying. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, it’s worrying leaving there. He’ll have to be concerned about people’s impressions of his lifestyle. The captain tells Malia that she made it clear from day one, if someone is injured, she doesn’t care what it is; she wants to know about it. Malia says, if it had happened when David was working, she would have filled an incident report out, but it happened after hours. Captain Sandy says she sees where Malia is going with this technically, but David is limping. Malia says she sees what the captain is saying; it could become more serious. She’s sorry. In Malia’s interview, she says, the captain has the right to know what’s going on with the crew at all times, especially an injury. She should have reported it, and at the end, it’s her fault. The captain says she trusts Malia 1000%, and it was a blow when she found out. Malia says the captain saying that she didn’t trust her, hurt her to the core. She’ll make sure it happens from now on.

Doctor Tea calls the captain, and says three of the guests were delayed in travel, and now they need to wait for negative covid test results. In Malia’s interview, she says she’s putting David on the night shift, since there’s not as much physical labor. She tells him, as long as he can stand and wash dishes. She says, Lloyd and Mzi are going to need to step up their game during the day. Hopefully, the captain will see that she’s trying to remedy the situation. Captain Sandy radios the crew to get ready, and tells them there will be three latecomers. The crew gets in their whites, and Katie quickly goes over everything with Courtney. The guests come up the dock, and the captain says, Katie will show them around the vessel. They board, and Captain Sandy finds out the other guests’ tests are negative. Katie gives the tour, and Mathew makes charcuterie boards. In Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t believe they’re doing the trip with only two stews. The anxiety is real.

In Mzi’s interview, he says he hasn’t manned the bow before, but it seems straightforward. Malia tells him that he’s got this. Primary Anthony tells Katie that his go-to drink is Sprite, and he laughs about it. In Katie’s interview, she says, he doesn’t drink, and it’s what she and Courtney needed right now. Malia says, all straight lines are on board, and tells Captain Sandy that she’s awfully close to a dolphin. In the captain’s interview, she says, the Lady Michelle is a heavy vessel. 909 gross tons, two different currents, and the wind going with one, makes it difficult to get out of a hole. She’s coming out heavy on the stern, and could hit a dolphin. She makes it, and tells the crew, nice work. Malia tells Mzi, good job, and Katie asks the deck crew to clean the crew mess. Anthony says when they’re in a restaurant, they order like children. Everyone gets a Shirley Temple. Malia tells the captain that she’s put David on nights, and the captain thanks her. She tells Katie that Malia is scouting picnic areas, and Malia says, they’ll set up using two of the deck crew. In Malia’s interview, she says, this is where Delaney would help. Sometimes extra hands are just extra hands. It’s unnecessary stress on the deck crew. Malia says they’re going to a national park, and Katie tells Courtney, they’ll be fine.

They drop anchor in Borovnik, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s better at her job when she’s running around like a headless chicken. She’ll take physical stress over emotional stress any day. The delayed guests arrive, and Katie pops champagne. Guest Holly says, that is the song of my people, so I guess the late group drinks alcohol. In David’s interview, he says he feels useless, although he’s helping in the laundry. Katie tells Mathew, it’s going to be a bitch to carry everything, and In Mathew’s interview, he says, the vibe is better and more chill without Lexi. His spiral has subsided. In Malia’s interview, she says the picnic site is on top of a mountain over the water, and contains the remnants of an old movie set. The sites in the Med are usually castles or old ruins, as opposed to sandy beaches. Anthony asks if Captain Sandy will join them for dinner, and she accepts. In Malia’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be a d*ck, but they need an extra person. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s worked for billionaires and celebrities, but none of them have seen him have a meltdown and kept him employed. He wants to prove himself more to Captain Sandy than the guests. Malia and Mzi set up the picnic, and it’s quite a hike up the mountain. These jobs are a workout unto themselves.

Malia tells Mzi that they need to double-time it. Back on the boat, Katie is impressed with Courtney’s laundry skills. Mzi and Malia set up lunch on the mountain, and the late guests have a shot. Mathew asks Katie, how does it feel to be the world’s best chief stew? and she responds with an unenthusiastic, yeah. Mathew just keeps cooking. I imagine if the guests don’t drink, they’re going to want to eat. The guests arrive for the long trek up the mountain, and Anthony is impressed that the crew hauled everything up there. The food looks so good, I can almost taste it. It’s a build your own poke bowl buffet, with tons of stuff. David almost falls over the railing of the boat, leaning to unhook the tender, and I almost have a heart attack. Wait until Captain Sandy watches this. The guests talk about what they’re doing next, and one says he wants to get on the jet board. I’m assuming the mixed up jet ski with paddleboard, unless there’s some hybrid I don’t know about. In Courtney’s interview, she says, no matter what, Mzi is a friend for life, but she knows she doesn’t want anything more than friendship. Her last boyfriend dumped her during lockdown. To make it worse, they were watching Ozark together, and she never finished. He ruined it for her. I could totally understand this.

The guests return to the boat, and tell Captain Sandy that her team pulled it off. It’s the best charter ever. On shore, Katie and Lloyd take pictures, posing like they got married, It does not look like fun hauling this stuff around. In Courtney’s interview, she says she feels… exhaust? and a producer says, exhausted. Yep, she’s that tired, since she’s been working 9 hours without a break. Katie tells Mathew, the guests loved it, and Anthony says he wants to jet ski for a second. Malia tells him that they have to stay 300 meters off shore, and another guest goes with him. One bounces on the trampoline, and another paddleboards. David tells Malia that he thinks they took the jet skis to town, and Malia says she’ll go to the bridge and get eyes on them. She sees them go under a bridge, and tells the captain that they went into town. Captain Sandy tells her, go get them, and in Malia’s interview, she says they’re going to get a ticket. Lloyd says, they are in big trouble.

Malia takes the tender out, and yells, hey! at the guests, reminding them of being 300 meters from shore. Courtney takes a break, and the captain says, bad boys. Malia shows them the way back, and radios the captain, telling her the capture of the guests was a success. When they get back to the boat, David tells them not to go under the bridge. They use the slide, and a few of them jump off the boat into the water. I would love to go down that slide, but jumping off the boat, not so much. It’s awfully high. Mathew asks Katie about dinner, and in her interview, she says she enjoys working with Mathew. It’s nice that he asks her opinion, but at the same time, she needs him to do his job and make his own decisions. He asks if he should put the parmesan on the table or on the dish. The guests get in the hot tub, and Lloyd brings up the slide. Katie brings out snacks, and the guests chant her name. Courtney yawns, and Katie tells Mathew that dinner is at 8:30. He asks her to say a prayer that the captain likes everything. In his interview, Mathew says, it’s generational. His dad is an actor, and his mom is a chef. He works better off positive reinforcement. I wonder, doesn’t everyone? Guest Ben chats with Katie as she works, telling her about taking a camper van through Europe. In her interview, she says she’ll take whatever she can get right now. She has nothing else going on.

Courtney hangs tiny lights about the dinner table. In Katie’s interview, she says Courtney rocks the laundry and can smash a cabin out, but wasn’t confident in service. She’s definitely improved since she’s had the opportunity. It does look beautiful. Lloyd calls his dad for help with his CV, and in his interview, he says David recommended him for a job. The guests sit for dinner, and in Mathew’s interview, he says he always wants to make the guests happy, but Captain Sandy gave him a third chance, and he wants to impress her. His stress levels are up. He tells no one in particular that he’s freaking out. The captain joins the guests, and says, it’s her first dinner; she’s excited. The captain asks what their favorite part of the cruise has been, and guest Holly tells her, the hike and the picnic site. It was like being in a movie. Captain Sandy says, everywhere they anchor in the Med is pretty spectacular. Katie brings a pasta course, and the captain asks where her Italian accent is. She tells them again, sounding like someone from Saturday Night Fever. Katie tells Mathew, the guests are loving it. Malia goes over the morning responsibilities with Mzi, and Mathew asks Katie, who’s the happiest? Please say Captain Sandy. Katie says the captain is telling a story right now. We see her talking to the guests, and I think it’s the pirate story. The captain excuses herself from the table, and stops by the galley. She tells Mathew, dinner was excellent, but her plate had a lot of dark fish, and she doesn’t like that. He apologizes, and she says, now he knows. In his interview, he says, that sucks. He looks really sheepish and sad, and Captain Sandy tells him, it was still delicious. In Mathew’s interview, he says, she’s 100% right. If he ordered bass in a restaurant, and had more dark than white pieces, he’d be disappointed too. He tells Katie all about it, and in her interview, she says, she’s not his mother.  

Lloyd’s dad tells him that his CV looks good, and the guests go to bed. For Courtney and Katie, it’s been 16 hours with no break. David goes on anchor watch, and the crew starts getting up at 5:30 am. It’s Mzi’s first morning shift. Holly is up at the crack of dawn, wanting to paddleboard, and in his interview, Mzi says, it’s a lot of responsibility in the morning. Captain Sandy tells Malia that no one was there first thing, and Malia says it’s Mzi’s first time on mornings. She’ll tell him for next time. She explains to Mzi that the boards should always be out, and Mathew makes all kinds of baked goods. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he’ll be leaving the supportive bubble he has there, and he’s concerned about what happens going forward and trying to get the same level of acceptance with new people. I’m not sure why he feels this way, since it’s not like he acts in some bizarre way. Mathew asks Katie what the vibe is, and she says, they love him. In his interview, he says he feels insecure when he gets any criticism. All he hears is that he f***ed up, and that’s not healthy.

It’s time to haul anchor. The anchor is home, but as they get to port, Malia says a fender is in the wrong spot. The captain tells them to take the anchor ball down. They don’t look like pros. In Malia’s interview, she says she thinks people are getting tired and not doing a thorough check of their work, but she’s not letting it slide. The crew has six minutes to get in their whites, and the captain tells them to hustle. The lines are thrown, and Malia says there’s a dolphin in front of the boat. Mzi says, they’re about to hit some ground lines and it’s his fault.

Next time, a crew night out without Lexi, Malia says they’re making rookie mistakes, Katie says everyone is anxious, Malia thinks something is off with Lloyd, and Lloyd ends up at the doctor with high blood pressure.  

🛥 Delayed Captain…

The new season of Below Deck, my favorite of the Deck franchise, will return October 25th. Captain Lee will be arriving a little late though.

https://screenrant.com/below-deck-meet-new-season-9-cast-members/

It’s Not Possible…

And I thought Summer House was bad. Winter House, premiering October 20th, looks like a real nightmare. The gents from Southern Charm share a Vermont rental with the Summer House cast. No surprise, there will be some peeing in the snow. And not by a dog.

https://www.bravotv.com/winter-house

🎭 Curtain Up, Light the Lights…

The winners.

https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/

You know.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1303336/74th-annual-tony-awards-red-carpet-fashion-see-every-look-as-the-stars-arrive

🧸 Rockabye and Goodnight…

Tune in tomorrow for soap and a VanderReturn. Until then, stay safe, stay spicy, and stay never playing God with someone’s life. Because there will be a fallout.

February 15, 2021 – GH Is Catching Up, a Pandemic Halts the Deck, Behind the Real, Another AMC Reunion, Reuniting On Edge, Valentine’s Soap, Daytime Goodbye, Real Take Two, a Different Stand, Fashion Break, Today’s Fact, Two Holiday Quotes & Respect

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

There don’t seem to be any new episodes out there, and today ABC aired this one:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/february-9-2021-not-preempted-4u-phyllis-gives-nina-a-confirmation-will-they-or-wont-they-all-about-alex-unmasked-a-goodbye-new-wonder-dead-news-globe-list-today/

I’m guessing we’re done with preemption… for now.

Below Deck

Jolly Harbour. Francesca tells Elizabeth that every charter, she’s been putting in her energy, and checking up on her. Elizabeth sleeping in the guest cabin was the final straw. She’s been super disrespectful of the interior, and Francesca has come to a decision that she’s going to have to let Elizabeth go. Elizabeth looks panicked, and says, what? Francesca says, sorry, and Elizabeth asks if they can’t stick it out. Francesca says Elizabeth has exhausted her chances; sorry. Captain Lee says Francesca will help Elizabeth get her stuff together, and Elizabeth tells him, sorry. He says, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Elizabeth tells Izzy that she’s been fired, and Izzy says, what the sh*t? Rachel asks Izzy if Elizabeth just said she got fired. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she’d be the first to admit if she was wrong or she sucked, or she did anything to deserve it. It feels like it’s not even real. She says she can’t believe Francesca is doing this, and Francesca says Elizabeth’s behavior toward her is bullsh*t. It’s not nice, and she’s disrespectful. She’s been chatting to everyone about Francesca, and it’s coming back to her. Really? How come we never saw that? Elizabeth asks if Francesca will talk to the captain, but Francesca says she made the call. Rachel tells Izzy that sh*t rolls downhill. The only person actually keeping it together is Ashling. In Rachel’s interview, she says she understands Elizabeth’s foibles, but Elizabeth is close to her heart. We flash back to them having fun together, and Rachel says, it sucks, and it’s unfair. Francesca tells Elizabeth that she’s given her chances, and when Elizbeth reaches for Francesca’s arm, Francesca says, please don’t touch me, which is just a little overdramatic IMO. In Francesca’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be a bad chief stew. Elizabeth was given chances. We flash back to Francesca calling Elizabeth out, and Francesca says Elizabeth shouldn’t be surprised. Elizabeth tells Rachel that Francesca doesn’t respect her, and wants her to go. Rachel says, stay calm, and just pack. Francesca tells Ashling about firing Elizabeth, and in James’s interview, he says he’s going to miss her. Izzy asks if James is okay, and he says he’s fine. In his interview, a producer asks if a part of him is relieved, and he asks why they said that to him. God, I’m an a-hole. At least he admits it. Elizabeth wails that now she has to go back to New York, and deal with the virus. She doesn’t want to go.

James tells Izzy that it shows how bad Elizabeth and Francesca got on, and Izzy says she thinks it’s personal. She tells James that she and Rachel had plans to get Elizabeth a birthday cake. Ashling the snake hugs Elizabeth, and in her interview, Ashling says, in some ways, she feels guilty. It should have happened three or four charters ago, but it never did. She doesn’t think yachting is for Elizabeth. Izzy tells Rob something about rinsing down the side of the boat, and he walks away, saying, just smile and nod. Francesca starts carrying Elizabeth’s bags downstairs. In Eddie’s interview, he says Francesca was looking for an ultimate reason to fire Elizabeth. It’s pretty evil, but it’s what’s best for the crew. Elizabeth tells Rachel that she’s okay. She says goodbye to everyone, and tells them that she loves them. James tells her, keep in touch, and she says, this sucks. He says he knows, and in her interview, she says, when an opportunity closes, it’s like a compass for her, and sends her in a better direction. She feels wronged, but believes in karma. What goes around, will come around for Francesca. She decides to call her energy healer.

March 13, 2020. Rachel says, it’s the eighth charter, and she’s so frustrated. In her interview, she says, Elizabeth is gone; who is going to be blamed now? Francesca’s done nothing to fix the problem. She tells Eddie, everything will come out in the wash, and become clear as day. In Francesca’s interview, she says it’s like a huge weight has lifted from her shoulders. Rachel is pissed about Elizabeth, but at this point, Rachel can jump off the boat. Rob tells Ashling, they’re going to nail it, and the crew gets ready to go out. The captain says, the whole goddam world has gone mad. James’s mother calls him, and tells him about all kinds of things being canceled, and how they can’t get hand sanitizer or soap. She thinks it’s going to get worse before it gets better. He wonders if he’s going to be stuck in Antigua, but she says it’s better than being stuck in the house.

They get in the taxi, and James says, Elizabeth was his drinking partner, and now he has no one. I play my violin. Ashling announces that it’s traumatic in Italy; all the shops are closed. Francesca says, it’s mental, and they all scroll their phones for news. Eddie thinks it will get bad for two weeks, then probably get better. Ha-ha-ha! That’s what we all thought. The birthday cake comes out, topped with sparklers, surprising Rachel. Francesca stupidly toasts to Elizabeth’s birthday, and everyone starts grabbing at the cake. The waitress says they started before she brought the knife, and Rachel says, it’s already in somebody’s back. BA-DUM-CHH! In Rachel’s interview, she says she ordered the cake, but then canceled it, and the sh*t showed up anyway. Francesca seems super stoked that Elizabeth isn’t there. Let’s celebrate. That’s f***ed up. Izzy tells the rest of them that she and Rachel assumed this wasn’t happening. Rachel leaves the restaurant, and Francesca suggests they go back to the boat. Outside having a smoke, Rachel says, tasteless as sh*t. Francesca sees Rachel sitting on a bench, and asks if she wants to come, but Rachel says she’s good. She thought what happened with the cake was distasteful, and not appropriate; she needs a moment. In Francesca’s interview, she says, Rachel is a ticking time bomb. She feels like if she says anything wrong, Rachel will explode. In Rachel’s interview, she says she was upset that the cake came. She thought that it was distasteful and handled wrongly. In the taxi, James says, Rachel is just using it as an excuse to be mad. Rachel takes a separate taxi back by herself.

Francesca feels she should talk to Rachel, but Eddie says he wouldn’t. Rachel comes back to the boat, and says it was the most distasteful thing she’s seen. Eating someone’s cake on their birthday when they’re gone was the wrong move. In her interview, Rachel says, there’s a pandemic, and these a-holes are celebrating Elizabeth’s departure. She doesn’t think it’s right. Rachel walks through the crew mess, and says, fine, whatever, and as she’s walking, she tells Francesca to shove the cake up her ass. Go Rachel. On deck, Rob tells James, it was the icing on the cake. Groan.

Rachel calls Vincenzo, who tells her that it’s 5 am. She says her friend got fired, then her birthday cake showed up at dinner. The crew cut the cake and celebrated, so she walked off. Vincenzo says, he’s happy to hear her voice, and in Rachel’s interview, she says Vincenza is her confidante. He makes everything better. She says she’s glad to see his face, and in her interview, she says he takes her away from a sh*t situation. Francesca whacks her head on the top of her bunk, and I laaaugh.

March 14. A newscaster says, they don’t know much, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg. In Rachel’s interview, she says, last night was a huge deal. Francesca is a super bully. She had to fire someone because she’s inept and incapable of training them. She effing sucks. Eddie tells the crew that the goal is to put things away, and leave them better than they found them. James says, the UK has been shut down. Rachel radios the captain, asking if he’s available, and Francesca wonders what she’s going to say. She knows Rachel is upset about Elizabeth, but what else might she say to the captain? She’s been trying hard to maintain a relationship, and not say anything. Rachel tells Captain Lee, this isn’t okay. She has issues with service. Captain Lee says they have two more charters; six effing days. He could do them standing on his head. He sees her frustration, but Francesca had to pick up the slack for Elizabeth. She’s been going to bed too late, and getting up too early, like Rachel. In his interview, the captain says, both Rachel and Francesca care about what they do, and want the same end result, but they each take a circuitous route. It’s a sh*t sandwich. Time to take a bite.

HA-HA-HA! Francesca hit her head on an open cupboard door. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s starting to think she’ll have to talk to Rob. That sh*t brings up anxiety in her. She tells James that she doesn’t want to act like an a-hole, but she has to point out her authority. In her interview, she says Rob takes pleasure in bringing her down. She doesn’t know if it’s insecurities that he needs to talk to a therapist about, or he’s genuinely a d*ckhead. Eddie says he hates this effing island. Rachel radios Francesca to talk in the galley, and in her interview, Francesca says the last thing she wants to do is have a meeting with Rachel, but they have two charters left, and have to sort something out. Rachel says when Francesca is on service by herself, and needs help, she understands. Elizabeth wasn’t the best stew. Francesca says she gets where Rachel is coming from, but don’t take it out on her. Rachel apologizes (!), and says, they should make a good go of it, and kill it. In Rachel’s interview, she says, there are certain people you can’t bark at. If she gets aggressive with Francesca, she can’t get the end result she needs. Francesca says, if something isn’t working, they’re both proactive enough to fix it. In her interview, Rachel says, opening the communication barrier will help them be cohesive. They have two charters left. Then Francesca can s*ck her effing d*ck. Alrighty then.

Rob points out that James is using half a jar of peanut butter on his sandwich, and James says that’s because he’s on a diet. The captain looks at his phone, and tosses it down. He says, Jesus Christ, and ponders heavily. He says, the world is going to hell in an effing handbasket. He radios the crew to be in the main salon in five minutes. Rachel wonders what happened, and Eddie says, something’s not right. The crew gathers, and the captain says they have a situation. Their last two charters have been canceled, and effectively, their season has ended. In his interview, the captain says it’s something he’s never experienced, and it’s scary as hell, and frustrating. There’s not an effing thing he can do about it, and he’s not used to that. He tells the crew they’ll make their exit tomorrow. He’ll take care of the travel arrangements. In Francesca’s interview, she says she can’t believe this is happening. Her family isn’t well, and she’s afraid of what she can bring back. It’s a situation she doesn’t want. The captain says they’re done; they’ll wrap up tonight. Carry on. Rob says, that escalated quick, and Eddie goes to the bridge. He and Captain Lee agree that it got real, and in Eddie’s interview, he says he never thought this would happen. He’s worried about his family. He’s hearing there’s no toilet paper, and he doesn’t know what’s going on. Captain Lee tells him, it’s been a pleasure.

James calls his mom, and Izzy calls sister Tory. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s not ready to leave. She’s not ready to go out and face the world in a pandemic. James tells his mom to fill the fridge, and put on an apron. There’s cooking that needs to be done. Ugh. I think he’s joking, but coming from him, it rubs me the wrong way. Rob whines that they lost five grand. I seriously doubt two more charters would have netted them five grand. More like  three. Rachel texts Vincenzo, and in her interview, she starts to cry, saying, she can’t see her boyfriend. She loves him, and he can’t come to the US. She just wants to see him. Vincenzo tells her, don’t stress. They’ll organize tomorrow In her interview, Rachel says she just wants to go home. The crew gathers in one of the lounges, and Eddie says he’s disappointed to have it end this way. They pour drinks, and the captain walks through. They offer him something, but he says he’s not in a celebratory mood. Francesca wonders why he’s not in a celebratory mood, since she’s such a moron, and Eddie says they might as well celebrate what they did this season. Francesca pops some champagne, and they toast. They put on some music, and take pictures, dancing and jumping around like idiots. Eddie finally decides to go to bed.   

Francesca says going to Australia means quarantining for 14 days. In Rob’s interview, he says he was just setting up there. He feels nervous. He commanded boats to escape the rest of the world, but he can’t this time. He tells Eddie that his dad messaged him from Canada, and he thinks he has to go there. In Francesca’s interview, she says she has a 30 hour flight back, and doesn’t know what to expect. I break out my violin, and think, at least Elizabeth got a head start.  

March 15, 2020. To top things off, it’s raining. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, when he woke up, for a brief moment, he thought he had to get up for charter pick-up. Then the realization hit him, and he sat there going, WTF? He needs to be home with his family to take care of them. The engineer and delivery crew will take the boat back to the owners, and they’ll see how everything shakes out.

Francesca asks Eddie what his rose and thorn of the season were, and Eddie says his rose was charter one. We flash back to those very entertaining gay dudes, and he says his thorn was the entire goddam deck crew. Izzy tells James the way Rob acts toward her is rude, and we flash back to Rob being extremely disrespectful to her. James texts Rob, telling him, heads up. He thinks Izzy wants to have a chat with him about his rudeness. In his interview, James says, he likes them both, but Rob’s his boy. Izzy says, Rob has locked himself in the bathroom, so no one can speak to him. In Rob’s interview, he says he thinks it’s time for him to get back into the science swing of things. He likes mixing it up. Rob sees Izzy, and says he’s been meaning to talk to her, weirdly turning the tables. He wants to say he’s sorry for giving her a hard time. If anyone deserved to be lead deckhand, it’s her, and he’s glad. She says the way he treated her, and his passive comments were disrespectful, especially to someone in a new management position. It’s not appropriate, and a 32 year old shouldn’t act like a 12 year old. He says he’s sorry he made her feel that way, but she says she knows he doesn’t give a f***. He says, sometimes you see the error of your ways, and she asks if he has. She doesn’t think so, but hopes he has a safe trip home. He  thanks her for taking the time to talk to him. Ashling and Francesca eavesdrop like they’re 12 years old, and Francesca says she didn’t know the extent of the issue.

In Ashling’s interview, she says she sums up the experience as fun, vibrant, interesting, and weird. She says goodbye to Francesca, and in her interview, says, it’s goodbye for now. Who knows what the future holds? She might not be able to leave the country. Rachel goes to the bridge to say goodbye to Captain Lee. He tells her that she’s a talented chef, and he enjoyed working with her. In his interview, he smiles, and says, Rachel is a piece of work. She’s brilliant at her job, but there’s no doubt she’s wound up a little tight. He doesn’t mind. She wanted a shot at redemption, and she did him proud. Now that he knows which buttons not to push, he’d work with her again. In Rachel’s interview, she says she has no regrets, but she’s happy to get off the boat, and deal with what’s happening in the real world.

Francesca passes around a shammy for everyone to sign. Izzy tells James that she knows he tipped Rob off. In her interview, Izzy says, James is infatuated with Rob; they have a bromance. But she’s disappointed in him. It was a d*ck move. She tells him that he’s a sh*tbag. In her interview, she says she’s disappointed that James didn’t have her back, but it’s such a bromance, she’s not surprised. In James’s interview, he says he wants to go back to complaining about the English weather, going to the gym, and winding his parents up. The season was a muddled blur of work, arguments, and drama, with a sprinkle of fun. He and Izzy hug, and in her interview, Izzy says, they’re not divorced. They’re separated and taking a break separated. It’s a conscious uncoupling. James leaves, and Eddie tells Francesca, everything is nuts. Izzy goes to see Captain Lee, who tells her that she was a pleasure to work with. She says she learned so much, and has so much more to learn. She wants to prove she can do it. He says he thinks she’s capable of more than she realizes. He’s proud of her. They hug, and in Izzy’s interview, she says, the season ended much how she imagines sex with James would be – abrupt and unsatisfying. She started as third stew – she and Eddie clink beer bottles – and she’s ending the season where she deserves to be. She has a good feeling. She thanks Eddie for encouraging her to be an effing legend. He says if she keeps going the way she is, she’ll be bosun in no time. They hug, and she thanks him again. In Eddie’s interview, he says, it gets him choked up.

Francesca tells the captain goodbye, and gives him the shammy signed by the crew (sans Elizabeth), to remember the season by. He tells her, it’s sweet, but he won’t forget it any time soon. In his interview, he says that Francesca had big shoes to fill, but she’s very bright, and genuinely loves to please people. In Francesca’s interview, she says she had a lot to manage this season, and it was exhausting. It will be nice to go home, and see her family. Especially in times like these, that’s what’s most important. I wonder what the hell Francesca is wearing. She has a huge infinity scarf hanging over a nude top, and it looks like she’s wearing no top except the scarf.

Eddie goes to the bridge, and tells Captain Lee, the time has come. He has a flight to catch. The captain says, they made it – sort of. Eddie says, it sucks that it ended like this, but it was a wild ride, and the captain says he’s proud of Eddie. He made progress, and handled his team well. There were a few speed bumps, but there always are. The captain gives him a set of stripes, making him a first officer. Eddie says, it’s the second pair the captain has given him, and we flash back to seven years ago, when Eddie was made bosun. Captain Lee says he appreciates Eddie, and Eddie says, it was a good season. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says Eddie made the season easier. He worked tirelessly, and made the season for him. Eddie is what he would have wanted his son to turn out like… had he lived. He tells us, that’s all he can say, and I want to cry, looking at his face. He quietly says, he’s a great kid.

In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s honored to be given another stripe from Captain Lee. The captain is someone he holds to a high standard, and considers a good friend. It means the world to him. He walks down the dock, and says, that’s it, rounding the corner.

Captain Lee packs. In his interview, he says, it really sucks. He started the season in a hospital – we flash back to him telling Eddie that he has broken ribs – it didn’t start well – we flash back to Shane being let go, and Rachel walking off – and it didn’t end well – we flash back to the firing of Elizabeth, and news of the coronavirus, the announcer saying, this just may be the tip of the iceberg. The captain says, this year was tough. You have tough years, but don’t toss in the towel. You pick yourself up keep going because there are people who depend on you. It’s not the end of the world. We’re tougher and better than this. He hopes everyone gets home safe, and maybe to a better place than the one they left. As always, he tells us that he has the best goddam job in the world. He tells the boat, thanks, old girl.

Next time, I assume The Reunion.

😈 That evil mastermind of reality television, Andy Cohen, is premiering a new show. For Real: The Story of Reality TV will begin on March 25th, on the E! network.

🙌🏽 Reunited Again…

Join some of the Pine Valley residents on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. EST.

🌃 On the Edge…

And somewhere in Monticello, another reunion will be happening on Thursday, February 18, at 3 p.m. ET.

💘 Celebrities, They’re Just Like Us…

Except they get Godiva instead of Dove.

🧛🏻‍♀️ From the Shadows…

A sad farewell to a vet of the soap world.

🗽 More Real In NYC…

I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that they were all available. Have they been held in suspended animation since the show ended? Don’t they have jobs? Since Eric will be around, can we get The Grind back too?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/the-real-world-returning-to-paramount-with-original-new-york-cast

🎡 A Stand-Up Ending…

The Stand has concluded on CBS All Access. Apparently, it met with Stephen King’s approval, and mine too. Alexander Skarsgård was especially impressive as devil incarnate Randall Flagg. WARNING: SPOILERS IN THIS ARTICLE.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-stand-finale-differences-stephen-king-book/

👗 A Moment of Fashion…

What does that even mean, broke the internet? Mine’s still working just fine. And please. Since when does fashion have a moment with a seven-year-old?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1235524/from-jennifer-lopez-to-north-west-these-are-the-fashion-week-moments-that-broke-the-internet

📌 That’s a Fact…

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, in 1773. Born in Gambia and sold to the Wheatley family in Boston when she was 7 years old, Wheatley was emancipated shortly after her book was released.

Bars Fight, written by poet and activist Lucy Terry in 1746, was the first known poem written by a Black American. Terry was enslaved in Rhode Island as a toddler, but became free at age 26 after marrying a free Black man.

Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter, was the first novel published by an African American, in 1853. It was written by abolitionist and lecturer William Wells Brown.

– from Oprah magazine

🔥 Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.Joan Crawford (My contribution to and acknowledgement of Valentine’s Day.)

🏛 Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson (My contribution to and acknowledgement of President’s Day.)

⛸ Time To Skate…

Since tomorrow is a heavy work day, it’s time for me to slide over to another lane. See you tomorrow with whatever I can come up with, but until then, stay safe, stay evolving, and stay not tossing in the towel. You have people depending on you.

February 10, 2021 – No GH Just a Bag Of Rocks, Salt Lake Joins the Reunion Ranks, Good Sport, Almost New, Oh *That* Marick, She’s Back, Oblivious, a Break-Up, Finalists, Zoom Cat, Today’s Fact & Can’t Help It

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Well, my secret sauce source had it posted for a hot minute, but it was taken down quickly before I could get to it. So take the day off. If you were preempted on February 9th, you can find that episode at:

https://tvwiththeresa.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/february-9-2021-not-preempted-4u-phyllis-gives-nina-a-confirmation-will-they-or-wont-they-all-about-alex-unmasked-a-goodbye-new-wonder-dead-news-globe-list-today/

If it’s on tomorrow, I’m guessing that’s the one it will be. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to investigate the whereabouts of the next episode. Just for the record, George Stephanopoulos sounds like he’s the commentator at a golf tournament during this thing.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – The Reunion – Part One

I hate reunions, since they always turn into a screaming fest. Old stuff is brought up that everyone forgot about, and they get mad all over again. Ugh. Since these women are first timers, I hope it doesn’t mark them for life. 

The set was decorated as a winter wonderland, and the women were wearing sparkles to match. Andy congratulated them on a wild and wonderful first season well, daring to give it two thumbs up. He was no doubt referring to Heather saying her thumbs up to Lisa was really a f*** you. Later, Lisa said it was the intention behind it, since no one on the planet has ever heard of that being a thing. We found out Heather got a supportive DM from Rihanna, telling her to keep it real, so that was pretty cool. We flashed back over the season.

Meredith said Jen had picked on Brooks via social media, when she’d clearly flashed the kids at Meredith’s house, and Andy said they’d get to the vagina later. Lisa talked about Jen’s dual birthday for her and Meredith, and how Jen make it about her. Then, Heather and Lisa got into it, each saying the other was dismissive. Heather kept interrupting, and Lisa complained she wasn’t getting a chance to talk. Andy wanted to move on, but Lisa said they weren’t going to move on. So she and Heather talked at the same time, we heard nothing, and finally moved on. Mary’s fashion was called into question, but I love her look, so I moved on. It reminds me of the crazy combos I wore in the 80s, and is similar to Sutton’s style on RHOBH.

We took a trip down Jen Memory Lane. It was hard for me and Heather to watch her talk about her father’s death. We found out that both Mary and Heather’s fathers had also passed away last April. They talked plastic surgery, and Whitney joked that her boobs were natural. We all laughed. Jen talked about her Shah Squad, and said a lot of them worked for her various companies. Andy asked what the blip she actually did, and she said she owned a direct response marketing business. Then she said a bunch of stuff about things like algorithms. The bottom line is, they create things like pop-up ads. She talked about Coach Shah (aka Sharrieff), and how his job was such a headache for her, with him being away all the time. She said, even though it was what she signed up for, she hadn’t expected to be so lonely, so she’d held a lot of anger in. Andy asked if something had happened in the past that caused Jen to think she couldn’t talk to Sharrieff, but we never really got an answer on that. She said he’d been in Washington when she called to tell him that her father died, but he didn’t rush to her side. Even when he was home, it would be only for a day, so she didn’t feel she could dump on him. A viewer said she was a little old for tantrums, and Jen said the year had been a lot. It was a lot for me too, but I didn’t freak out at my own party, and throw glassware.

Jen was asked why Mary triggered her, but she said it was just the hospital smell thing. She finally apologized to Heather for getting her drunken ass in the car after the party freak-out, but Andy wasn’t so sure it was sincere. He thought it was suspect that it took her a year to apologize, but Jen said she realized when she saw the show. Heather said it felt like Jen had been trading up, and tossing her aside for Meredith and Lisa, but Jen insisted that wasn’t the case. Heather said she’d always be a friend regardless of how she was treated, and Mary told her, if you’re a friend to someone, they should be a friend in turn. Sounds correct to me. Jen told Mary to take her own advice, but Mary said she didn’t want to be friends with Jen.

Then came the vagina. Meredith said she wouldn’t have talked about it if Jen had admitted she’d made the kids uncomfortable. Jen acted shocked that the kids had seen her hoo-ha when she did high kicks on the sofa with no underwear. On second thought, she probably was really shocked, since I don’t think she focuses on anyone but herself for the most part. Jen said the only time she’d ever seen Brooks uncomfortable and pissed was when he caught Meredith smoking. To her credit, Meredith didn’t get up, call Jen a bitch, and pop her one, since we all know Jen only said it to make Meredith look bad. No judgement here. Andy asked if Meredith was a secret smoker, and she said, once in a while. Mary said it was her business, and I said, amen. Jen then moved on to say Meredith had asked her to sleep over afterwards, apparently forgetting Meredith canceled that date. Meredith said Jen had passed out at her house. The tracksuit line of one design was discussed, and Andy announced he wanted one. He asked if the women were more understanding about Jen, after knowing her motives. They said they’d always been sympathetic, but Mary said they were supportive of Jen talking smack about her. Lisa insisted she was kind to both of them, and she’d encouraged Jen to make up with Mary.

Andy said, according to the women, Lisa loved Lisa, and we flashed back to her contribution to the season. Melissa from Michigan asked if Lisa’s ambition was more important than family, and we flashed back to Lisa declining her kids’ call when she was at Sundance. Lisa said she had a nanny, and a husband who was actually involved in their kids’ lives. She started crying, and said her kids were everything to her. Andy said he had just been thinking Lisa was so unemotional, and wondered what her vulnerabilities were. Mary suggested that Lisa had a stick up her butt, and Lisa said she thought people misinterpreted direct as cold and bitchy. Whitney said Lisa didn’t see herself as rude and condescending, but it landed that way with some people. Heather said Lisa acted like things were a gift, that should really just be common human interaction. Mary said she was also accomplished, and didn’t make people feel less than. Lisa begged to differ, and said Mary was condescending to Jen and the people in her church. Mary said no one was bringing up Lisa’s alcohol, so don’t bring up her church. She said she wasn’t confrontational, and everyone could always learn something. She asked if Whitney felt less than, and Lisa said Whitney was too busy kissing Mary’s ass to feel that way. Heather said Mary could be harsh, but she wasn’t mean, and Meredith said she thought it was how they interpreted each other as individuals. They all had different dynamics. Andy brought up Whitney complaining to Lisa about the bartenders at her event, and Whitney brought out receipts of badly Xeroxed text messages, that Andy couldn’t even read. Well, it was her first time.

Andy asked Jen if everyone had an incorrect picture of Lisa, and Jen said it was a communication style. Lisa said Heather had called her a bitch and a mean girl, and Heather says she thought Lisa was rude, dismissive, and manipulative. Lisa, running out of words, said, no, you. Jen said Lisa felt misunderstood, and Lisa said she had only so much energy to give to a friendship. She said her DMs had been flooded with nasty comments because of how Heather portrayed her. Heather said she’d done it to herself.

Next time – Part Two – the hospital smell is discussed, Lisa refuses to apologize, and Jen points her finger at Mary.

⛪️ Mary Crosby was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and despite her weirdness – or maybe because of it – I like her. She proved herself to be a good sport too, when Bridget Everett dubbed her Glory to God T*tties.  

💼 Moving To Port Charles…

But as who, we don’t know.

💡 Now I Remember Him…

And I’ve also been spelling his name wrong. Damn that spellcheck.

👸🏻 A New Throne For the Queen…

LVP has a new show, premiering March 18th at 9 pm on E!

https://www.etonline.com/lisa-vanderpump-lands-new-show-and-its-not-on-bravo-160155

Um… She’s been known to work on more than one show at a time.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/14000564/vanderpump-rules-fans-think-bravo-hit-is-really-canceled/

🦶🏻 Open Mouth, Insert Foot…

Apparently, the beverage company is not so positive about Kelly.

https://people.com/tv/kelly-dodd-positive-beverage-controversial-covid-comments/

It sounds like Rick’s daughter is sending some mixed messages, but no surprise Tamra is all about sour grapes.

🛥 Deck Downside…

I don’t imagine months apart helps a relationship.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/chef-rachel-hargrove-boyfriend-vincenzo-breakup-explained

🎸 Short List…

Oh, just let them all in.

😹 Best Thing I’ve Seen In a While…

I just know the guy in the upper right corner is going to bust a gut the second the camera is off him.

📌 That’s a Fact…

As we go through Black History Month, we’d be remiss in not celebrating the various creators behind the pen who brought their vision to the page. Icons like Batman, Green Lantern and Plastic Man may have been created by white writers in the 1930s and ’40s, but the breadth of imagination in maintaining those heroes was augmented in no small part by creators of color, without whose influence the DC Universe would be a far less interesting world to visit. While there are many, many heroes of comics this list could cover—from Trevor Von Eeden‘s pioneering work on Black Lightning to Damian Scott‘s unforgettable run on Batgirl, let’s zero in on five particular Black creators and their contributions to DC’s long history…
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/02/04/making-their-mark-five-iconic-black-dc-creators

🛌🏽 Taking It To the Sheets…

Not much going on in Bravoland tomorrow. Southern Charm Secrets Revealed, in which nothing will be very secretive or revealing, and the terrible people invading the Hamptons on Summer House. The good news is, they had to be quarantined, so at least they didn’t inflict their awfulness on outsiders. But I’ll make sure to have a pot of tea ready, so until then, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay not being so direct that people misinterpret it as cold and bitchy.

February 8, 2021 – Peter Confesses To Valentin, AKA Alex, the Other Shoe Falls, IMO, Today’s Fact & Blues

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Terry tells Franco, the technician will make sure his head is immobile. The treatment is painless, but some people experience side-effects, like fatigue or nausea. Franco says he could stand to lose a couple of pounds. Holiday baking. She says he may lose his hair, and he says, now she’s going too far. Elizabeth says, whatever it takes, they’re doing this.

Valentin tells Peter, Franco is channeling Drew’s memories, which means they’re resurfacing. Peter says all he knows is that Franco’s tumor has returned, which makes him a potential threat. Valentin says, Peter didn’t feel like that when burst into the OR to save Franco, and Peter asks what he’s getting at. Valentin says he’s just playing with puzzle pieces to see what fits. Not long ago, Peter came to him concerned that he’d crossed Jason. Peter’s life is about to unravel, and he’s acting like he doesn’t realize it.

Anna asks Britt where her mother is, and Britt says, she’s in prison, where Anna can’t shoot her. She’s sure Anna has plenty to do other than sic Finn on her. Doesn’t she have wedding plans? Anna asks if Britt was in contact with Obrecht through a phone call or a letter, and Britt says she has a hospital to run. She has nothing to do with her mother. Anna says Britt was convinced Obrecht was guilty when she was convicted, but she told Finn she didn’t know, and thought Obrecht might be innocent. She’s wondering what changed Britt’s mind.

Josslyn puts flowers on Mike’s grave, and says, they’re for him, so he knows she loves and misses him. Carly puts flowers on Morgan’s grave, and says she’s sure his dad and Mike are with him, and she hopes they’re happy together. They’re missed so much. Say a prayer for them tomorrow. It’s Sonny’s funeral, and it’s hard to say goodbye.

Sonny answers the phone, Tan-O, Mike speaking, and Nina asks if he said it was the Tan-O. He says yeah. What can he do for her? She asks what he said his name was, and he says, Mike. She asks, Mike who? and Sonny looks puzzled.

Josslyn asks if Carly really thinks Morgan, Sonny, and Mike are together, and Carly says she does believe that. It’s the only thing that makes it bearable. What about Josslyn? What does she believe? Josslyn says, Oscar told her to look up at the night’s sky, and he’d be there, but they don’t know much about the afterlife, do they? Carly says, all they can do is hope for the best, and Josslyn says she likes thinking of them all together. She hopes someday, years from now, she and Carly will see them again. She and Carly hug.

Sonny asks if Nina would like to place a delivery order, and she says, no. She’s looking for Phyllis Caulfield. Is she there? It’s Nina Reeves calling. He tells Phyllis, and she takes the phone. Nina thanks Phyllis for taking her call, and Phyllis says she can’t tell Nina how often she thinks of her. How is she? Nina says, fine, but she has some news. She thinks she knows who has the other half of the necklace. Phyllis says, she found her daughter? and Nina says, she’s almost certain. Phyllis says, wonderful!

Elizabeth tells Finn that she was hoping to see him, and he says it’s good to see her and Franco. He asks if everything is okay, and Elizabeth says she just wanted to let him know they can’t go to the wedding. Finn says, okay, but they’ll be sorely missed. Do they want him to pass their regrets along to Maxie and Peter? Or are they the reason for not coming? Elizabeth says, obviously, and Franco says, mostly Peter. Elizabeth says they wish Finn, Anna, and Maxie well, but she can’t say the same for Peter. He published Franco’s medical records, and now people think Franco is a maniac. Finn says he understands. He hopes everything turns out all right. Elizabeth says she still can’t figure out how Peter got records he never should have had access too. In all her years there, she’s never seen it happen. Finn says, it was a security breach, and Franco says he knows who did it.   

Peter tells Valentin, he’s about to marry the mother of his child, and Valentin says that’s why Peter can’t be in denial any longer. He knows Peter arranged for Drew’s abduction, and if Franco remembers more, the memories will be like dominos tipping. Then Maxie will be forced to learn the truth about him.

Britt says she lets her guard down for one second and Finn runs to Anna like Chicken Little. Anna asks what convinced her of Obrecht’s innocence? When Obrecht left, Britt thought she was guilty. Britt says her mother didn’t leave; she was hauled off because of Anna. Anna says, semantics. Britt must have made contact with her, and Obrecht pleaded her case. Britt asks if Anna thinks she’s not capable of coming to her own conclusions, and Anna asks, based on what? Britt says she doesn’t have to answer; she has a hospital to run. Like she told Finn, she doesn’t know where Obrecht is. Anna says, that implies Obrecht is no longer in prison, and they’ve made contact. Where is Obrecht now?

Someone looks over The Last Will and Testament of Alexandra Merrick.

Phyllis says she’s prayed for this, but Nina says she’s not 100% sure she found her daughter. Before she goes further, she’d appreciate Phyllis’s input. She has pictures of her daughter’s possible adoptive father, and some other bits of information. She’d love to run them by Phyllis, and can arrange to fly Phyllis to Port Charles, whatever time works for her. Phyllis says she’d love to help, but it’s not a good time for her to go away. Can they do it online? Ava stands quietly by the door, and Nina says she wanted to talk to someone face-to-face; someone who remembered and knew her daughter as an innocent baby, who won’t judge her or her daughter. Phyllis says she hears Nina, but things there are a bit complicated. Nina says, of course (🍷). She realizes what she’s asking is very presumptuous, and an imposition. She didn’t think it through. Phyllis says, it’s okay; Nina doesn’t have to apologize. Nina says she’ll figure out something, and thanks Phyllis, telling her to enjoy her evening. Ava knocks on the door, and says she came by to see if Nina wanted to get a drink at the MetroCourt, but Nina says she thinks she’s going to avoid the MetroCourt for a while. Ava asks if Nina wants to tell her what’s going on, and Nina says, she didn’t hear? She thinks she found her daughter. Ava tells Nina that she’d say congratulations, but Nina doesn’t seem like she’s celebrating. Nina says, her daughter was Nelle Benson.

Josslyn asks if Carly has ever been to Nelle’s grave, and Carly wonders why she’s asking. Josslyn says she knows Nina put Nelle in Woodlawn. She hates the idea of Nelle being in proximity to their family, and Carly says, she does too. Nelle is buried on the other side of the cemetery. Josslyn says she knows Nina had the best intentions. She obviously believes everyone has the right to a decent burial, even people like Nelle, but no matter how far away Nelle is, it seems like their family can never escape her. Carly says she understands how Josslyn can feel that way after what Nelle did to their family. Josslyn says, she’d never wish death on anyone, but she’s glad Nelle is out of their lives. She’d be relieved if she never heard Nelle’s name again. Carly says, she will. She’s going to hear Nelle’s name over and over again, because of her and Jax.

Britt says she thought WSB agents were trained to be dispassionate, analytical, and cool-headed, but Anna’s pursuit of her mother has been personal, including the trumped up charges. Why? Anna says Obrecht poses a threat to her family, and she needs to know where Obrecht is. Britt says, if she’s missing, wouldn’t Anna’s own agency provide the answer?

Peter says, it’s been months since he told Valentin about the part he played in Drew’s abduction. Why bring it up now? Valentin says, all he knows is, if Obrecht is in town, she’s going to maintain Peter framed her for Drew’s death and the attempted murder of Franco. Peter killed the assassin, which begs the question as to why Peter needed to silence him. Peter says he should go, but Valentin says he’s trying to help Peter. If there’s any merit to Obrecht’s proof that Peter framed her, Peter’s life is going to explode. He’s going to lose Anna and Maxie. Peter says, yes. Obrecht is telling the truth. He did frame her.

Phyllis looks out the window at the rain, and Sonny asks how it’s going. Phyllis says, fine; there’s a storm tonight. He says, ever since she took the phone call, she’s been in another world. Does she want to talk? Before she says, no, she’s always checking in on him; he’s just returning the favor. She says, he might not remember who he is, but he sure knows how to use those dimples. Okay, she’ll tell him. The call was from a former patient; a woman she took care of long ago when she worked in the city. She was in a coma, and pregnant with a baby girl. Her mother told Phyllis that the patient’s husband was responsible for her coma, and she didn’t want him to know about the baby, since he was abusive. She’d arranged for a private adoption, and had Phyllis take the infant to the adoptive parents. She recently learned it was all a lie. Nina’s own mother had put her in the coma. Sonny says he’s sorry, and she says she feels terrible for her role in depriving Nina of her daughter. Sonny says Phyllis was lied to; it’s not her fault. He hasn’t known her long, but he knows she’d never hurt another living soul.

Nina tells Ava, that Jax and Carly said they were protecting her; that’s why they stayed quiet so long. Ava says, that old song, and Nina thanks her for not saying, I told you so. Ava told her that Carly and Jax had an unbreakable bond, but she was hoping to prove Ava wrong. Ava says she doesn’t know Jax, but what she knows, she doesn’t like, and she trusts Carly about as far as she can throw her. When the Corinthos clan turned against Nelle, Ava gave her a job. Nelle reminded Ava of herself, and she was pregnant at the time. Nina says, that’s right; Nelle worked at the gallery, and Ava says Nelle was motivated and competent. She was fond of Nelle until Nelle blackmailed her. Nina says she hired Nelle against Carly’s wishes too. She was engaging, and so intelligent. Nina didn’t think it was an act, but that Nelle was being the person she wanted to be. Ava says, of course (🍷) those attributes were part of who Nelle was, or who she would have been, but keep in mind what Nelle could do, and what she did.

Elizabeth asks if Franco thinks he knows how his records were accessed, and he says he knows for sure. He went to confront Peter, and Britt was accusing Peter of using her to access his files. Finn says, maybe, but he doesn’t trust them, and Elizabeth says she doesn’t either. Finn says Elizabeth’s instincts are usually good. He’s sincerely sorry about what happened, and wishes Franco good luck with the radiation. If he can do anything to help, let him know, but Franco is in good hands with Terry. He leaves, and Terry joins them. Elizabeth tells her that they need a few minutes, and Terry says, it’s not going to be a problem. The technician scheduled is refusing to treat him.   

Peter tells Valentin, he’d made a mistake hiring the hit man. He tried calling him off, but couldn’t, so he saved Franco and Andre. Valentin asks, why Peter needed them dead. Why were they a threat? Peter says, Andre wanted to recover Franco’s memories, but said the procedure would risk reinforcing Drew’s memories instead. Valentin says, then he could reveal Peter’s pivotal role in Drew’s disappearance. Peter wasn’t an innocent pawn; he was an integral player, and responsible for Drew’s death. Peter says, Obrecht is sadistic, and held him captive, and Valentin tells him to answer the question. Peter says, yes. He had Drew killed. He made arrangements for Drew’s plane to be sabotaged. Valentin says Peter is right to be afraid of Jason. He stole years of Jason’s life, and Peter is responsible for the death of Jason’s twin brother because he got too close to the truth. Peter says, yes. He did that all of that and more.

Anna tells Britt, the WSB wasn’t forthcoming about Obrecht’s whereabouts; there’s some level of secrecy about Obrecht’s release she has yet to comprehend. Britt says, they’ve shut Anna out. Wow. Interesting. Anna has always been a hot shot at the WSB; their go-to agent. What does their silence tell her? Maybe they don’t trust her anymore. That’s tough, but instead of using her for intel, why doesn’t Anna look at herself, and figure out why the WSB left her out in the cold.

The mystery person sets the will down on the desk, and picks up a flashdrive. They pick up an envelope that says, For Peter, and put it into a manila envelope, along with the drive.

Ava tells Nina, Nelle was a broken person who couldn’t be fixed. She was violent. She killed her fiancé, and tried to kill Michael. People tried to love her, but she took their love and twisted it, making something ugly out of it. Nina had to tell the court to protect an innocent child. Nina says, who protected Nelle? She was an innocent child. She was raised without love, and had an abusive father. Whatever role her mother played, she was out of the picture by the time Nelle’s father sold her kidney. She and Ava both know what it’s like to be physically and emotionally upended by their mothers. Ava says Nina’s mother was a nightmare, and Nina wonders if the drugs her mother gave her while she was pregnant with Nelle didn’t impact Nelle’s brain development and cause her psychosis. Ava says, there’s no way to know, and Nina says, because her mother gave Nelle away. If she hadn’t, Nina would have had Nelle, and maybe there was a chance she would have gotten help. Ava asks if Nina has heard a word she’s said. There was nothing Nina could have done. Nina says, it’s too late for Nelle, but it’s not too late for Wiley. She’s going to be a constant presence in his life. She failed her daughter, but she’s not failing her grandson.

Carly tells Josslyn that she and Jax wanted to spare Nina the pain of finding out her daughter was dead. Josslyn says, and grew up to be Nelle. Carly says, it’s a lot for Nina to process, and she’s furious they didn’t tell her they’d found the necklace. Josslyn says, her poor dad. He’s crazy about Nina. Can’t he make her understand? Carly says, he’s trying. Carly prays once Nina has calmed down, she realizes he was just trying to protect her because he loves her. Josslyn says, no matter how hard you try to keep your loved ones safe, sometimes you can’t.

Sonny says Phyllis has no reason to feel guilty, and she tells him, Lenny says she’s gullible. It really bugs her, but in this case, he was right. She took Madeline’s word, and handed off Nina’s baby to a total stranger. A few months ago, she was contacted by a P.I. Nina recovered, and was desperate to find her child. Nina wanted to see her, but she couldn’t tell Nina much. Now Nina thinks she found her daughter. Sonny says he saw Phyllis light up at the news, and she says, it makes her so happy. He says, so why doesn’t she want to see Nina? Is it because of him?

Terry tells Franco and Elizabeth, the technician has a cousin out west who read the article, and the article brought it back. Elizabeth says, brought what back? and Franco says, when he was the other guy, he hurt someone they care about. Terry says, the technician refuses to come near Franco. It’s unprofessional, and unacceptable, and she’s already filed a report with HR. There’s another tech on the way. Elizabeth says she’ll wait there, and Terry says, she’s got this. She’ll take good care of him. She leads Franco away.   

Elizabeth sees Britt, who says she heard about the problem with the radiation tech. Elizabeth says, no thanks to Britt.

Valentin asks, why? What did Peter hope to accomplish? Peter says, originally he wanted to beat his father at his own game. Acquire his father’s wealth and power, and leave him with nothing. He didn’t care who he used, Valentin says, Peter redeemed himself, but Peter says, the past caught up to him. He kept putting fires out, and doing damage control. Valentin says, now Franco is hearing his voice. Drew’s memories aren’t another fire he has to extinguish. Why did he put Franco’s medical records in The Invader? Peter says he wanted to discredit Franco, so anything he said would be the raving of a madman with a brain tumor. Valentin says, discredit? and Peter says Valentin wanted answers, and he gave them. It feels good to let it all out. Now Valentin has to be honest. What is he going to do with the information?

Finn runs into Anna, and says he didn’t know she was there. She says she was just rattling Britt’s cage about Obrecht, and he asks why she’s the one who looks shaken. She says Britt implied the WSB doesn’t trust her and that’s why she can’t get information. He asks if they’d do that, and she says, perhaps, because of her closeness to Peter. He says, that means they suspect Peter of something, but she says she doesn’t need them. She’s not waiting for Obrecht to strike. She’s going after Obrecht herself. He asks, when? and she says, right now.

Phyllis asks Sonny how they’re fixed for ice, and Sonny says, everything is good. He’s taking his medication, and doesn’t need her to supervise him. She tells him, the doctor said to watch how he reacts, and he says, it’s been good so far. He’s been a little down, but other than that, he’s fine and doesn’t need her to hover. She asks what if his depression gets worse, or he gets energized? He tells her to deal with her patient; it’s a day, not a week. The last thing he wants to do, is keep her from what she does best; taking care of people.

Ava tells Nina, take it from her, getting access to a Corinthos child is easier said than done. Nina says, Wiley is her family, the only part of her daughter that she has left. They can’t keep her from family. Ava says Nina needs proof, and Nina say she was just on the phone with the nurse who delivered her baby to the adoptive family. She’s going to have her ID a picture of Nelle and her father. Ava says, that’s not enough to prove Nelle is Nina’s daughter, but Nina says, it’s enough reason to have a DNA test done on Wiley. Ava says, this could be the beginning of a long ugly fight. Before Nina pursues this further, think about who Nelle was and the things she did, and ask herself, does she really want to know if Nelle was her daughter. Nina’s phone rings, and it’s Phyllis.

Elizabeth says, it’s all Britt’s fault; she gave Peter access to Franco’s medical files. Britt says she’d never do that, but Elizabeth says Britt was definitely angry when Franco saw her in Peter’s office, and Franco was under the impression she was responsible for the information being released. Britt says, there was a security breach, and as Chief of Staff, she’s ultimately responsible for what happened. Elizabeth says, how convenient. She’s taking responsibility while distancing herself. Britt says she’s truly sorry for the pain and chaos Peter caused, but she wasn’t willingly involved. She’d never wish what happened to Franco on anybody. Elizabeth asks if that’s an apology, and Britt advises her to take it before Britt takes it back. Terry comes out, and Elizabeth asks how Franco is.  

Valentin tells Peter, when everything comes out, it will destroy Anna. She may even be considered an accomplice because of her association with him. Peter asks if Valentin thinks he doesn’t know that, and Valentin says, what about Maxie? The longer this goes on, the harder she’ll fall. Peter can’t sustain this kind of damage control. He can’t kill everyone who discovers the truth. Peter says he never wanted to, and Valentin says, then just stop it. Confess, and Obrecht has no power over him. Peter says he can’t. He’s marrying Maxie in a few days, and they’re bringing a baby girl into the world. He wants to give his daughter a happy loving family life, unlike what he had. She deserves that, and he’s desperate for his mother to know she was right to believe in him and have faith in him. Valentin says, what about him? He knows the truth now. If he keeps Peter’s secret, he’s an accomplice. Why should he stay silent when he knows how bad it will hurt Anna and Maxie? Peter says he’ll make it work for them. If Valentin can’t keep his secret for him, please do it for them. Don’t break their hearts. Valentin nods.

Finn says, Anna wants to leave town now? and she says she has to find Obrecht. He says when they’d just gotten engaged, they had to deal with Alex. Now she wants to split before the wedding? She says she has no choice. If Obrecht is out there, she’s got Peter in her sights. She’s gone after Peter before. How comfortable would she feel, getting married without knowing where Obrecht is? She let her guard down with Alex, and Alex nearly killed Finn and kidnapped Maxie. She’s not letting it happen again. He says if he can’t talk her out of it, and she’s really going, he’s going with her.

Terry tells Elizabeth, the procedure is underway, and so far, so good. Elizabeth says she’ll wait for Franco to come out, and leaves. Terry says she has a sensitive matter to discuss with Britt. The technician refused to treat Franco. Britt says, she already heard from HR, and thanks Terry for reporting it. The tech has been put on suspension, and will be terminated. She can’t have the staff determining who is and isn’t worthy of treatment. Terry completely agrees.

Valentin tells Peter, Obrecht has been released from Steinmaur, and they have no idea where she is. Peter is concerned she’s going to exact revenge, and Valentin says he’ll handle Obrecht. Peter says he needs Valentin’s word that he’ll keep what Peter told him to himself. Can he count on Valentin to do what he promised? Valentin says he’ll do whatever is in his power to make sure no pain is inflicted on those they love the most. He leaves, and Peter thinks about that. I would too, since Valentin didn’t exactly say he’d keep the secret.

 Anna says Finn doesn’t have to come; he’s still recuperating. He says he was cleared to be at work, and she asks, what about Violet? He says Violet will be upset if anything happens to Anna, so for Violet’s sake, he’s going to watch Anna’s back. His father has been begging to spend time with Violet, so he’ll love to stay with her. They have to make this quick; what else has she got? She says she doesn’t know what she’ll encounter, and he says he can take care of himself. He suggests they not waste time arguing. The faster they handle Obrecht, the better, and he’s not keen on surprises. Anna says, not after her sister. She’s not taking any chances. Obrecht is no Alex, but she’s every bit as lethal.

We see the return address of D. Merrick V. on the envelope.

Ava asks if Nina wants to hear her advice, and Nina says, go ahead, but there’s no guarantee she’ll take it. Ava tells her, think long and hard about meeting Phyllis. If she can’t confirm Nelle is Nina’s daughter, how is she going to feel? And if she can, what does that mean going forward? How is Nina going to grapple with the missed chances in Nelle’s life? Nina says she has to pursue this. In her heart, she knows Nelle is her daughter. Nelle had a child, and what Nina lost with Nelle, she can make up for with Wiley.

Josslyn tells Carly, she was thinking about how people lie or keep secrets in the name of protecting the people they love. The lines feel blurred; they’re actually protecting themselves. Like how Jordan lied about Trina’s father. Trina is struggling, and she understands why. Carly says Josslyn is right. They set out to protect someone, but do a fair amount of protecting themselves. Sonny is a perfect example. He’d do anything to protect the people he loves, but he’s also protecting himself from watching them get hurt. Josslyn says she’s sorry Sonny is gone. She knows how much Carly loved him, and she did too. Carly thanks her for saying that. Sonny loved her so much. Carly knows it doesn’t feel like it now, but knowing they have that love, and remembering how much he meant to them, will help them go on. They leave the cemetery.

Phyllis tells Sonny, it’s all set. She’s going to Port Charles. She hopes she can confirm her patient found her daughter. Sonny is glad, and she thanks him for convincing her. He’s glad he helped, and says, maybe at some point, she can help him figure out who he is. She says, if Nina could find her daughter after all these years, there’s plenty of hope for him.

Tomorrow, Nina meets with Phyllis, Jax says the odds are in Carly’s favor, and Sonny tells Lenny to get off his case.

🕶 Alexandra Merrick…

Also known as, Anna’s twin Alex Devane.

https://www.soapoperanews.net/2019/03/characters-of-past-ghamcs-alex-devane.html

Below Deck

Five Islands Harbour, Antigua. We backtrack to Daniel (finally a name) telling James and Ashling that it’s their vacation, not his. He’ll go downstairs, and leave them alone. He leaves, mumbling that he’s being given a bedtime, and they’re limiting his alcohol. In Ashling’s interview, she says, he was beyond wasted. As soon as you cross the line of safety, you’re out. She could get in trouble with Francesca, the captain, and possibly Daniel’s parents. Daniel tells David, the crew’s whack, bro. James says Ashling is adorable, and they call it a night.

March 12 2020. Rachel starts the day by cursing out the toaster. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, yesterday was the worst day ever. She was almost fired, and James didn’t acknowledge her birthday. A stranger would be willing to give her a kiss. Not that she wants a stranger to kiss her. She’s just saying. The guests start to get up, and Francesca tells Izzy that she feels the need to be there for service. She doesn’t trust Elizabeth. In Rachel’s interview, she says, sh*t rolls downhill, and she knows where it’s coming from. We flash back to the mahi mahi issue, and Rachel bitches that she has to troubleshoot when the chief stew is supposed to do that. She tells Elizabeth that she feels like she’s in kindergarten.

Izzy gives Rob a short list of chores, and Eddie goes to the bridge. He asks Captain Lee how it’s going, and the captain says he pulled up the news. There are 938 cases [of covid] in the US. Eddie says, that exploded, and Captain Lee says, and 29 deaths. Some people get it, and don’t know they have it. In his interview, Captain Lee says, things are getting serious. Everything on the news is about corona, and he can’t wrap his head around it. They’re lucky there are no cases on the island, but it’s scary stuff. Izzy tells herself to smile through the pain. Rachel says, ask for pickled quail eggs, you shall have quail eggs. Jackie tries to get Rob to do a yoga pose, and he says he has to find inner peace.

James asks how Elizabeth is, joking that they haven’t talked in so long, he forgot her name. In his interview, he says it was Elizabeth’s birthday, and he didn’t even give her a kiss. At 30, you wonder where your life is going. At 26, he’s in the prime of his life. I hate to tell him, but technically, as a man, he passed that nearly ten years ago. A producer asks why James doesn’t tell Elizabeth that this isn’t going anywhere. He says, she’s smart enough to know what’s going on. Surely. The producer says, don’t call her Shirley. Not really, but it was the perfect opportunity. Izzy tells Rob, she could put Jackie’s bra on her head, and it would be a perfect fit.

Daniel tells a couple of the adult guests (not his parents) that he drank half a bottle of Hennessey when he was cut off. In the crew mess, Ashling tells Elizabeth that he was blackout drunk, and wanted to get in the hot tub. Daniel says, he was told no, and Francesca overhears. He says they told him the hot tub was draining, but he went upstairs and it wasn’t. Francesca asks who told him that? and he says, Ashling and James. He was made to feel not welcome. She says she’s so sorry. Ashling tells Elizabeth, he probably won’t remember anything.

Daniel tells Francesca that he was told it would be better for all of them if he went to bed. She asks if he was really told that, and he says he was, but she doesn’t think so. Ashling tells Elizabeth, Daniel is a spoiled brat, while Daniel tells Francesca that he was made to feel not welcome. He wanted to stay up, and he was upset. The crew members said they couldn’t go to bed if he was still there. Francesca asks Ashling, what happened? and Ashling says, he was wasted. Francesca tells her he claimed they told him that he should go to bed; did they? Ashling says, they took the alcohol away because Daniel was plastered, and wanted to jump on the tender. They almost had Delores 2.0. We flash back to Delores jumping into the water, and Ashling says she’s surprised he remembered. Francesca says he didn’t tell her anything about the tender. Yeah, like that would happen. In her interview, Francesca says, now that she’s heard the story, the law would have definitely been on their side. She trusts Ashling if she thought he had too much to drink, and it became a safety issue. She’s on Ashling’s side, and gives her 100% backing.

Izzy and Rob inflate the slide, while Francesca takes breakfast orders. Daniel whines to his parents about being forced to go to bed, but dad David says, good. He should be thinking about work, not play; that was smart. In Ashling’s interview, she says, thank God. Francesca asks Ashling to go on the excursion, and in her interview, Francesca says, her expectation of Elizabeth is zero. She can’t wait to say she’s letting Elizabeth go. Breakfast is served, and Francesca tells the guests they’re going to be swimming with stingrays, and going to a private island, where they’ll set up for lunch. Rachel tells Francesca that she needs condiments, and what to pack for the picnic. Francesca  tells Elizabeth that she’s going to stay on the boat, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she says, surprise, surprise. It’s pure punishment, clearly. One of the guests says their Japan trip and European trip was canceled. One of the guests thinks it’s the democrats blowing it out of proportion because they want to mess up the election for Trump. (I look into my fictitious camera blankly.) Rachel wants ice packs, but can’t seem to get them, and says she’ll do what she can to see the food doesn’t rot. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Rachel isn’t happy with the interior. Hopefully, she doesn’t stab anyone. She’s she type of person who would. Rachel tells Elizabeth, this bitch can make it work. She’s effing over this sh*t.

Eddie drives the guests on the tender to Jolly Harbour. On the boat, James tells Elizabeth, it’s just them, and in the taxi, Francesca asks Rob if he thinks Elizabeth and James will sleep in another guest cabin. Elizabeth asks if James missed her last night. He nods, looking pained, and she says it was so hard not to celebrate her birthday. The day started wrong. In his interview, James says he doesn’t want to tell her that it’s not going anywhere. It may hurt her feelings, so he’d rather keep it going. Avoid and run away. As long as the cabin thing doesn’t come back to bite him.

In the taxi, Daniel says he wants to go back to the boat. In Ashling’s interview, she says, ugh. Here we go. Captain Lee notices a ton of dishes in the galley sink, and in his interview, he says, is she sh*tting him? Why can’t Elizabeth deliver.? There are things she should know. Maybe her energy broken again. He politely asks if Elizabeth will do him a favor, and knock out the pots and pans, so the galley is clean when Rachel comes back. Eddie tells the captain, time flies when you’re in hell, and they laugh. Daniel says he needs a lot of drinks of liquor, and Francesca tells him, after lunch. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, she’s stressed about Francesca, and James is being weird. With her ex, everything happened fast, because her head was in the clouds. She learned the hard way. Maybe she should pull back. She’s feeling pretty rough right now.

The guests are taken to a stingray habitat. On the boat, Elizabeth asks the captain if she can use the slide, and he says, as long as her stuff is done. At the habitat, the guide says, they have about an acre and a half. The rope is only on the surface, so the stingrays come and go as they please, and leave when they’re ready. Jackie tells her sons that they’re scaring the stingrays away, since they’re acting like a-holes as always. The stingrays are very cool, and I want one. On Laviscount Island, Izzy and Ron set up for lunch. Elizabeth uses the slide a few times, then stays in the water. Eddie tells Elizabeth that the current is strong, and asks if she’s a mermaid now. Elizabeth says she’s working out, and Eddie tells James that she’s weird. In Eddie’s interview, he says Elizabeth will probably name her first born something like Moonbeam or Star Child. Or Crystal Good Vibes. Crystal will be a stripper. Izzy tells Rob that she has to inflate Jackie’s Versace innertube, and he says she’ll never miss it if she doesn’t see it, but Izzy says she kept talking about it. In Izzy’s interview, she says, when a guest specifically asks for something, it’s a priority. She tries to inflate the innertube with a pump, and says, so extra. She tells Rob that she can’t get it. Rob says, just tell her it’s a knock off, and it doesn’t work. He helps Izzy, and gets it inflated.

Rachel asks if Francesca brought condiments, but that’s a no. Because she’s too stupid to understand they go with hot dogs. Rachel says she thought they’d bring the condiments; she only brought specialty stuff. In Francesca’s interview, she says, Rachel can’t admit when she’s wrong. She’s been walking on eggshells, since she doesn’t want Rachel to leave, but f*** you. She’s over it. Um… Rachel did tell her to bring condiments, so who can’t admit what? I really don’t like Francesca at all. I only marginally liked her at the beginning, but now I’m at zero.

Jackie wants to check out the tortoises on the island. In Rachel’s interview, she says, she told Francesca to bring condiments. We flash back to that, and Francesca even repeats what Rachel said back to her. Rachel says, not only does the lack of communication f*** her, now it’s super annoying. Elizabeth goes back to work, while on the island, we see giant tortoises and baby tortoises. The guide says they also have iguanas. Izzy goes to the snack bar, and asks if they can spare some ketchup. Jackie asks if the tortoises bite, but the guide says they’re very friendly and social with each other. Jackie says she wants a tortoise. In Izzy’s interview, she says the galley and interior need to communicate more, so sh*t like this doesn’t happen. Now they have ketchup. In a Homer Simpson moment, David says, hot dogs… mmm… good. Francesca tells Ashling that Rachel said she was going to make condiments, and now she’s shifting the blame. In Ashling’s  interview, she says she doesn’t know who’s wrong, but the tension is intense. It’s really awkward. The guests head back. While cleaning up, Ashling burps, and Rachel says, it’s the most uncouth thing she’s ever heard Ashling do; she’s very proud. Ashling burps even louder.

Captain Lee radios Elizabeth to have cold towels ready for the guests, and Elizabeth greets them with a tray of towels. Rob tells James that he thinks the beach day went according to plan, but Izzy micromanaged a little bit. Francesca tells the captain it was a success, and the lunch was fabulous. The guests use the water toys, and Jackie takes pictures. Rachel discusses dinner with Francesca.

Izzy wants a quick talk with Eddie, and tells him that Rob is being passive/aggressive. He’s been saying it’s a dictatorship, and got snarky when they were bringing in a jet ski; he wouldn’t get off. She had a conversation with him, and asked if he was offended that she’s the lead deckhand, but he said he didn’t care. He said, the title didn’t mean anything. We flash back to Rob saying she didn’t get promoted to captain, just lead shammy. She asks Eddie how to handle it, and Eddie says lead deckhand does mean something. He tells her to let Rob know that if he keeps up the attitude, and keeps coming at her, either get TF off, or say what he feels. If it continues, let him know and he’ll get involved. In his interview, he says, for women in the industry, respect isn’t as easily earned. Izzy is an extension of him, and if they don’t take it seriously, he’ll give them something to take seriously. He won’t fire them, but he can make their lives a living hell.

David tells Ashling that they’d like to invite the captain to dinner. Ashling tells Francesca, who asks the captain. He says, it’s his pleasure, and Francesca suggests to Ashling that they go all out, and use candles. Rachel asks if anyone is available to make holes in coconuts. Surprisingly, not one person makes a joke, but Rob says he has a license for that, and will be right there. The table looks very pretty, with candles in lanterns as part of the centerpieces. Jackie wears a sash and tiara, and gives the stews tiaras. She goes to the galley to give one to Rachel, telling her that she’s a princess. The captain sits down to dinner with the guests, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, the Queen might be spicey, but David is a simple eater. (However, David also receives a tiara.) She’s doing Thai versus American steakhouse; family style, as long Francesca doesn’t f*** it up. David tells Captain Lee that his staff is incredible. Jackie says she wants to steal them, and the captain asks if she can until he’s done with them.

Rob and James chat on deck, and Rob says, just a couple of guys polishing rails. At the table, one of David’s sons says he wrecked a Corvette when he was a baby. Captain Lee says, not many people can make that claim. Elizabeth hugs James, and says she’s been wanting more than a hug. James says, work has been stepping up, and it’s hard to find time. Elizabeth says she wants to ask him about his feelings. In her interview, she says she knows he has his guard up, and it’s scary. She wants to know how he feels. She needs to hear from him because she’s feeling things. James asks if she believes in long distance relationships, and she says, no. He says, there you go, and she asks if he believes in crazy situations. She’s open to travel and having new adventures; it’s how she rolls. In James’s interview, he says, he’s literally in a trap with this conversation. Talking about feelings makes him want to jump off a cliff. Elizabeth says, maybe they can travel somewhere together, then they’ll end up hating each other and saying goodbye.

David says, Disney and Universal are shutting down. In the crew mess, Elizabeth tells James that her schedule is pretty open, and in Ashling’s interview, she says, are they kidding her? Elizabeth needs to choose work first, over playing with her boy. Get your sh*t together. Elizabeth asks if James wants to talk later, but he says he’ll be hiding somewhere. A palate cleanser of coconut water is served to the guests. Francesca asks Elizabeth for a hand in the pantry. Elizabeth asks if she should finish the cabins first, and Francesca says, yes, but she’s obviously irritated. I’m not sure why. James goes to the pantry, and starts washing dishes. Elizabeth joins him, and Francesca says, clear the pantry first, then the galley. Daniel announces that more people have died from coconuts falling on their heads than shark attacks. Elizabeth asks James to tell her what they are, and James says, or they’re not. Is that the answer she’s looking for? She says, not at all. Francesca tells Ashling that Elizabeth and James are chatting in the pantry, and James tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t have this conversation until three or four months in. Elizabeth says she needs to know his intentions. Francesca bursts in, and tells Elizabeth, go to bed. She leaves again, and Elizabeth tells James that if he’s into her, act into her. He says he doesn’t want to get in trouble, and like a boomerang, Francesca is back, and says, stop talking, and go to bed. She tells James, finish the job. In her interview, Francesca says, how many times does she have to tell them to get their work on? She’s done. Things are changing around here. Francesca tells James, finish the pantry now. Downstairs, the captain thanks the guests for another delightful evening. David thanks Captain Lee for joining them. Another guest says they love spending time with him.

In the morning, Elizabeth sets the table, but true to form, Francesca points out that they only use one fork in the morning. Elizabeth says she doesn’t usually do mornings, and didn’t know. She asks if Francesca wants to keep the extras there, but Francesca has her back to Elizabeth and ignores her. Elizabeth nods and leaves. In the galley, Rachel and Izzy arrange something for Elizabeth’s belated birthday. Izzy says, no one deserves a crap birthday. Rachel pushes the French toast for breakfast, and one of the guests says it’s the best French toast they’ve ever had. Daniel whines that a stew usually packs for him, as he shoves stuff into his suitcase. The boat docks.

The captain radios the crew to get into their whites and meet on the aft deck. Jackie tells Rachel that she gained five pounds. It was the best vacation they’ve ever had. David tells Captain Lee that his kids want him to buy the yacht if he comes with it. The captain says, if they buy it, he’s there. David gives them the tip envelope, and they leave. James says, another happy customer. The captain tells them to be in the crew mess in five.

At the tip meeting, Captain Lee says, they have number seven in the books. It was a tough start, but they performed well. The tip is… I swear Captain Lee says, $18,500 a piece, but I think he meant total, since they’re not jumping up and down and ditching the final charter. He tells them, now isn’t the time to toss in the towel. Rachel and Francesca need to go over things communication-wise. He doesn’t want to have a repeat of day one. We flash back to the mahi mahi debacle again, and the captain says he wants to see Francesca on the bridge. Everyone else, get back to work.

James and Rob have a contest to see who can hold their breath the longest. Rachel tells Elizabeth, Francesca f***ed up on service. Francesca says, it’s the last day for Elizabeth. James wins the contest, and on the bridge, Captain Lee suggests he and Francesca talk about the elephant in the room. Where is her head at? Francesca says, there are too many slip-ups, and the captain says he has someone lined up, but can’t 100% guarantee they’ll get there because of travel restrictions due to the health issue. The may have to do charter eight down one. How does she feel about it? Francesca says she has no choice, and Captain Lee calls Elizabeth to the wheelhouse. James says, someone’s in trouble, but Izzy says, no way.

The captain says Francesca wants to talk to Elizabeth, and Francesca says she’s been putting in energy and checking up on Elizabeth every charter. Her sleeping in the guest cabin was the final straw. She’s come to the decision to let Elizabeth go. Elizabeth says, what?

Next time, the Finale – Rachel has an issue with service, the captain tells Rachel to stick it out, Elizabeth tries to talk to Francesca, Izzy says Rob has a PhD in passive aggressiveness, Elizabeth says she believes in karma, the virus gets worse, and Captain Lee says they have a situation.

📣 Just my opinion, but I don’t see what Elizabeth has done that’s all that bad, besides sleeping in the guest cabin. And I might point out, he got called on the carpet, but then it was forgotten about. They have one more charter, and frankly, I think it’s despicable that Francesca is firing her at this point, especially since they know places are being starting to be shut down because of the virus. What if she gets stuck in freaking Thailand? Francesca has been gunning for Elizabeth since nearly the beginning, treats her badly, and this is obviously a personal issue. And Ashling is her phony lapdog. Like Elizabeth with the stranger’s kiss, just saying.

📌 That’s a Fact…

One in four cowboys was Black, despite the stories told in popular books and movies. In fact, it’s believed that the real Lone Ranger was inspired by an African American man named Bass Reeves. Reeves had been born a slave but escaped West during the Civil War where he lived in what was then known as Indian Territory. He eventually became a Deputy U.S. Marshal, was a master of disguise, an expert marksman, had a Native American companion, and rode a silver horse. His story was not unique, however.

In the 19th century, the Wild West drew enslaved Blacks with the hope of freedom and wages. When the Civil War ended, freedmen came West with the hope of a better life where the demand for skilled labor was high. These African Americans made up at least a quarter of the legendary cowboys who lived dangerous lives facing weather, rattlesnakes, and outlaws while they slept under the stars driving cattle herds to market. While there was little formal segregation in frontier towns and a great deal of personal freedom, Black cowboys were often expected to do more of the work and the roughest jobs compared to their white counterparts. Loyalty did develop between the cowboys on a drive, but the Black cowboys were typically responsible for breaking the horses and being the first ones to cross flooded streams during cattle drives. In fact, it is believed that the term cowboy originated as a derogatory term used to describe Black cowhands.

– from www.pbs.org/black-culture

🦅 Gonna Fly Now…

I have to get ready for work tomorrow, writing for https://mupoentertainment.com/ . Give us a click. You can find me under the magazine section. And whether you click or not, stay safe, stay united with humanity, and stay doing what you do best, whether it’s taking care of people, or something else.

February 1, 2021 – Jax Tells Nina the Truth, the Queen of Versailles On Deck, Sailing, a Lost Diamond, Starting the Month & Proud

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna knocks on Finn’s office door, and asks if he heard about Dante. He says he heard Alexis went after Dante with a syringe, but he’s going to be all right. Anna says she needs Finn’s help. 

Elsewhere in the hospital, Nikolas tells Laura, poor Rocco; first his mom, now this. She says she’s worried about Dante’s mental state, and Anna is concerned. Anna doesn’t think he was properly treated for PTSD. Nikolas says, maybe Rocco should stay with Olivia long term, but Laura says Dante has never been anything but loving with his son. She doesn’t think it’s necessary. He says, if Rocco needs anything, let him know, and she says she’s happy to hear him say that. His life seems to be back on track, and he seems so much happier. He says, most of the credit goes to Ava, and Laura says she’s glad things are going well so well. He says, they’re going so well, he asked his wife to marry him.

Trina and Ava meet at Kelly’s, and Ava says she’s missed Trina at the gallery. What’s she been up to? Trina says she’s been thinking about what Jax and Ava said about what her dad did, and why he did it. She’s not up for a visit yet though. Ava says she’ll figure it out, and Trina asks, what about Ava? She seems good. Ava says, almost too good.

At the counter, Scotty tells Cameron that Ruby would have had his head for not wearing an apron, but Cameron says he’s fine without one. Franco comes in and says, self-awareness is good. He asks why Scotty is there, and Scotty says, it’s better than an empty apartment.

Obrecht drags Britt into an apartment, and Britt says, nice. Who’s place is it? Obrecht asks if she’s sure she wasn’t followed, and Britt says she’s sure. She tells Obrecht that she’s swamped at the hospital, and to get to the point. Obrecht asks if she saw the piece in The Invader, and Britt says she did. Obrecht asks if she gave Peter access to Franco’s medical information, and Britt says, kind of. Obrecht tells her that she can’t trust Peter, but Britt says she already knows that.

Jax tells Nina that he can’t lie anymore. What Carly said wasn’t how it happened, and she needs to know the truth. Valentin says, it sounds like Carly left some things out, and Nina says, what truth is he talking about? Jax says he went to Carly about the possibility of Nelle being Nina’s daughter, but it wasn’t last night. Nina asks when it was, and he says, months ago.

Anna tells Finn, she tried to access the WSB records, and was completely shut down. She did find out Obrecht’s doctor was Warren Kirk. Has Finn heard of him? Finn says, never, and she guesses it doesn’t matter now; he was killed. Doc knew Kirk by his reputation. He was doing cutting edge neurological research. Finn says, Kirk treating Dante’s PTSD is useful, but not exactly cutting edge. She says Doc got Dante’s files, but they were completely redacted. Then she found out Obrecht was Kirk’s patient. Finn says, it sounds like more than a coincidence, and she says, exactly. She got the runaround from the WSB, but she has an unofficial contact at Steinmaur. Her phone rings, and she says, that’s them now.

Obrecht asks if this is Britt’s way of humoring her, but Britt says, no. It’s her way of saying Obrecht was right about Peter. Obrecht asks if she’s seen Peter’s true nature, and Britt says she has; he used her. He asked her to log in to the GH server, knowing full well she has access to everything. Then he asked her to walk away. Obrecht says, and Britt did what he wanted? and Britt says, to test him. She wanted to see what he was up to. She came back right away, but apparently, he got what he wanted, and now Franco’s medical records are splashed across the Invader website. Obrecht says, and Franco was attacked, which is precisely what Peter wanted. She asks if Britt confronted that weasel, and Britt says she told Peter that she didn’t appreciate being used. Obrecht asks what excuse he gave, but Britt says, he didn’t bother with excuses. He threatened her. Obrecht says, no one threatens her Britta.   

Laura says she’s glad Nikolas wants to marry his wife, but she’s a little surprised. He says, it surprised him too, but a lot has changed with them. Laura says Nikolas stood by Ava during the situation with Julian, and after Julian’s death. Now Sonny is gone, and they have Avery. She can see where those things would make them feel closer, and where they might really want to marry for real. He says he and Ava always had a connection, ever since they were seated next to each other on the overseas flight. Laura says, when he was on run, and had framed an innocent man for his murder. He says he’s not proud of what he did; he’s just saying they felt something even then. Even with the craziness all around them now, they find stability with each other.

Trina says she’s glad Ava and Nikolas are getting along better. She wants Ava to be happy. Ava thanks her, and says she is. As Trina knows, she and Nikolas started off on the wrong foot. They weren’t exactly their best selves. Trina asks how Ava got past it. She knows her dad loves her, and wants to protect her, but she can’t get past the pain and hurt. All she wanted was to have him back, and now that she does, she’s so confused. Ava says, no one can hurt you like someone you love; it makes you vulnerable, and that takes courage. Trina says Ava was brave enough to let Nikolas in. It was worth it, wasn’t it?

Franco says he has something to tell Scotty and Cameron before they hear it from someone else. Scotty says, something happened? and Franco says, he’s fine. Scotty says, out with it, and Franco tells them, there was an article about him in The Invader. Scotty says, that rag sheet. How did they get his medical records? He should sue. Does he want to sue? Franco says he’s not ruling it out, but there was a reaction. Cameron asks, what kind of reaction? and Franco says, someone tried to kill him tonight.

Nina says, Jax has known for months that Nelle was her daughter? He says, he suspected it. They saw Avery wearing the necklace before Thanksgiving. Carly says, they didn’t know for sure, and Valentin says they knew Nelle had been hiding in the cabin with Wiley. Did they think it was a coincidence? Carly says, even if Nelle lost it, that doesn’t mean she was Nina’s daughter. She could have found it, or even stolen it. Nina says, Carly is right. They couldn’t have known, but that’s not the reason why Jax didn’t tell her, is it? Jax says he believes Nelle was Nina’s daughter, and that’s precisely why he didn’t tell her.

On the phone, Anna asks, when?… On who’s authority?… Are you certain?… Okay. She thanks them, and says she appreciates it. Finn says, no good? and she says, Kirk facilitated Obrecht’s transfer to a WSB clinic in Geneva months ago. He wonders what the point a transfer to a mental health facility is, and she says, Obrecht got to him. Bribed him or threatened him. Finn asks if Anna thinks Obrecht murdered him.

Britt tells Obrecht, don’t do anything drastic. She doesn’t want Peter dead. She just wants him to pay for framing Obrecht. Obrecht assures Britt that Peter will regret crossing her, and Britt asks, what’s the plan? Obrecht says, none of her busines; stay out of it. Britt wants to help prove Obrecht’s innocence, but Obrecht says she can’t take that risk. When Peter is backed into a corner, he becomes more dangerous. Like his father, he’ll strike anyone who gets in his way. The thought of losing Britt like she did Nathan…

Scotty asks Franco if Alexis was liquored up, and Cameron says, this means Franco is in danger. Scotty says, if it’s not Alexis with a syringe, it will be some crackpot or crazy person with a knife or a gun. At least now he’s ready, and can be on guard. Cameron suggests Franco get a bodyguard, but Franco says he’s going to stop them there. They don’t need to worry.

Nikolas tells Laura, Ava isn’t the ice queen everyone thinks she is. It’s a façade she wears to protect herself. Laura says, she’s his mom, so she has to ask. Does he trust Ava? He says he does. He understands her in a way he never did before. She wants a home and a family. She was given away by her mother, and grew up in foster homes. She didn’t have a Laura to show her what family could be, and he wants to give her the sense of family she deserves. Laura says, that he deserves too.

Trina goes over to see Cameron, and Franco tells Scotty that he scared the kid half to death. Scotty says, Cameron is right; he should get a bodyguard. Ava comes in, and asks if she can have a word with Franco, and Franco says, Scotty was just leaving. Scotty says he’s leaving Cameron a twenty; so long. Ava tells Franco, she read the article in The Invader. Is it true? Is the tumor changing his personality and behavior? He says he doesn’t feel that, and she asks if he thinks it might have been him who painted over her portrait. He tells her that he can’t say for sure, but it’s the only option that makes sense. He’s sorry. She says she doesn’t care about that; she cares about him. She worries, and doesn’t want him going back to that dark place. He says, trust him. He’s on the lookout for anything he does, but he hasn’t done anything, so that’s something. Why doesn’t Ava quit being miserable, get on with her life, and divorce Nikolas. She says, the thing is, she doesn’t want a divorce anymore.

Jax says he realizes Nina feels betrayed. He did that, and he’s so sorry for hurting her. By time he knew Nelle could be her daughter, Nelle was already gone, and it was too late to have a relationship. Valentin says Jax withheld information, and had Nina stop looking because she might find out the truth, and expose his lie. Carly says, this has nothing to do with Valentin, and Jax takes Nina’s hands. He says she told him that she was at peace, knowing her daughter had a happy life. He thought it was better for her to keep believing that, but he was wrong. He lied, and he shouldn’t have, but he did it because he loves her. Valentin wonders how that’s different from what he did. All he wants is for Nina to be happy. Carly says, Jax didn’t pay someone to pose as Nina’s daughter. He didn’t want Nina to know she was a psycho. Nina says, Nelle wasn’t a psycho; she was damaged. If she’d had anyone who cared about her as a child, her life would have been different. She didn’t have anyone who cared or loved or understood her. That’s why they had a connection. Carly tells Nina, stop. None of that is true. Nelle slashed Brook’s throat, kidnaped Wiley, and took off with him. Nina says, Wiley was Nelle’s son, and she loved him. She didn’t want to be cut out of his life, and she wanted a different life. She had a vision board. Did Carly know that? Carly says, and a rap sheet filled with horrific crimes. Nina has to see who she is. Nelle was a compulsive liar and manipulator, incapable of love. Nina said so herself on the stand at the custody hearing. Nina says, it was her. She was the one who took away her daughter’s only hope of being a mother to her child.

Anna tells Finn that Obrecht’s file is classified, and there’s no information available. She couldn’t even get the name of Obrecht’s new doctor. She wouldn’t put it past Obrecht to murder Kirk, but what benefit would it be to her? He was obviously useful. Finn says, unless he outlived his usefulness, but Anna wonders if that’s how Obrecht would take advantage of her newfound freedom. Finn asks if Anna thinks she had a contact on the outside, but Anna doesn’t know who. She wasn’t on good terms with Nina or Maxie, and now she has no friends. He says, but she has a daughter.

Obrecht says, that swine took her Nathan, and her freedom be framing her, and Britt asks why she has to stay out of it. Peter is too much like her father to walk free. Obrecht promises her that Peter’s days are numbered. Britt tells her, whatever she says. Where did she find this place? Britt sits on the sofa, and pulls a tie out from behind a pillow. She asks if Obrecht is living with a man. Does she have a boyfriend? Obrecht tells her not to change the subject; it’s rude to ask personal questions. Scotty walks in, and Britt laughs. He asks what she’s doing there, and Britt says, wait. This is his apartment? Obrecht says Franco is Scotty’s son, and the three of them have joined together against Peter. Britt asks who else knows Obrecht is there, and Obrecht says, Britt, Scotty, and Franco. She’s helping treat Franco. Britt says, good. What is she helping Franco’s father with? Scotty says, let’s go. Do not come back. He doesn’t want her followed. Britt leaves, and Scotty asks Obrecht, who’s the dummkopf now? Is she trying to get them killed?

Nikolas says, he takes it Laura isn’t close to Ava, and Laura says, they get along. She’s seen Ava through some dark times. She asks if Nikolas believes Ava can love him unselfishly, and he says believes she can and does, and he loves her. She says, then she’s happy for both of them, and he thanks her, saying, her approval means everything. Laura asks what he has planned. Are they having another wedding? He says, not exactly. She hasn’t said yes to his proposal.

Franco asks Ava if she and Nikolas are together together, and she says they are. He asks if she thinks they have a chance, and she says she doesn’t know. Love never worked out for her before. He says, she only needs once, and she says he asked her to marry him for real. He asks if she blew Nikolas off, and she says, not exactly, but it was at a gym; not the best setting. He says, the art therapy room, on the 10th floor at GH; that was the moment. He knew he loved Elizabeth from the bottom of his soul. He looked at her, and knew he loved her with all his heart, and wanted to spend every minute of the rest of his life with her. Ava says, they’re talking Nikolas. How does she know he’s serious? Franco suggests she’s overthinking it. Maybe Nikolas loves her no matter what. What is she waiting for? Stop getting in her own way, and be happy. Life is short.

Nina says if she hadn’t testified, Nelle wouldn’t have been at the cabin with Wiley, but Carly says Nina’s testimony wasn’t the only reason Nelle lost custody.  There was plenty of evidence proving her to be unfit. Jax says, Carly is right. There was nothing Nina could have done to save Nelle, even if she’d known Nelle was her daughter. Valentin says he doesn’t know that. Michael said it himself; he never saw Nelle wear the necklace. Nina says she didn’t wear hers for years, but Valentin says, Nelle was a manipulator. It’s possible she got ahold of the necklace and was planning on pretending to be Nina’s daughter. Nina says, there’s a way to prove it one way or another. She has Nelle’s things. She gave Nelle a burial, and was given her personal effects. There in a storage closet at Crimson. She heads for the elevator, and Jax starts to follow, but she tells him, no. She can’t deal with him. He says he can’t let her go through this alone, and Valentin says, she’s not alone. Carly tells him, this is between Jax and Nina, and he says she’s right. He doesn’t have to watch Jax’s handsome self. He knows the outcome. That relationship is over.   

Carly says she bets Valentin thinks he can wiggle his way back into Nina’s life, and recapture her like a hostile takeover. But it doesn’t work that way in relationships. He says he and Jax did the same thing. Jax lied, except he used a charming accent. Why would Nina forgive him? She says, because Jax is a good man, and they both know that’s something Valentin will never be. I beg to differ, but okay.

Nina looks thorough the box of Nelle’s things, when Jax knocks at the door. She tells him, go away, and he says he won’t say anything. She says, good. There’s nothing more for him to say. He tells her that he doesn’t want her to do this alone, and she pulls out a stack of letters.

Obrecht asks if Scotty is hungry. She can heat up some schnitzel. He says, no schnitzel. She was supposed to hide out, not hold family reunions. She says she wanted to warn Britt about Peter, but Britt already uncovered his true nature on her own. He asks if Britt knows she’s been exonerated, and Obrecht says she’s an innocent woman. He says, there’s nothing innocent about her. She barely got out, before she killed Kirk. She says, he killed Kirk, and he says he did it protecting her. Kirk was coming at him, and he still has nightmares, seeing the switchblade sticking out of Kirk. She says, that’s why she had to protect him, and help him with the body. He says, that’s why they’re palsy-walsy now, but she can’t be too cautious. She says, they’re running out of time, and he asks if she thinks the WSB is after him. She tells him to concentrate on Peter. She’ll make some calls to make sure what happened in Geneva, stays in Geneva.   

Britt arrives back at the hospital, and says, Finn paged her. What’s going on? He says he needs her to sign off on his overtime request for his lab assistant. She says, he paged her to sign a form? He says, her rules, not his, and she says she rushed back for this? He says he didn’t know she was out; her assistant said she was working. She asks why he’d interrupt her work, and he says he was being compliant. He thinks those are questions she should ask herself. How long is she going to punish him for his part in her forcing her mother back to Port Charles? She says he forced her to betray her own mother, and it was awful. All in the name of justice, and the charges were dropped. He says Obrecht skated, then tried to kill Andre and Franco. Now she’s facing real justice. Britt says, she didn’t do it.

Trina tells Cameron, she can’t believe Mrs. Davis is so extremely seriously messed up. Cameron is worried other people will want vengeance, and she says, it’s too bad. Franco is nothing like that now. Cameron tells her, that’s not what The Invader says. They want people to be afraid of Franco.

Laura asks Nikolas, what’s going on? Is Ava playing games with him? He says, no games, and she asks why Ava didn’t accept. He says he doesn’t think she took it seriously. He sprung it on her at the gym, and didn’t even have a ring. She says, there’s something to be said for spontaneity. To be completely honest, Doc did the same thing, but she wanted something more special. Then he kept tricking and teasing her until she gave up. That’s when he proposed. Nikolas says he’s ready this time, and has the perfect ring, a Cassadine heirloom. Now he has to find the perfect time. Ava runs in, and says she’s so glad he’s still there. Yes. He says, yes what? and she says he asked her a question before not ready to answer. She’s ready now, and the answer is yes. He says, no. That’s not how they’re doing this. Ava’s smile falls.

Finn says Britt’s mother hired an assassin to kill Franco and Andre, but Britt says, she was manipulated. There was no evidence. He asks if that’s what Obrecht is saying, and Britt says she hasn’t talked to her. She doesn’t even know where Obrecht is. She signs the form, and gives it to Finn, telling him that she’d appreciate going back to work now. He thanks her, and says, it’s always a pleasure. He goes over to where Anna has been listening, and Anna smiles.  

Cameron and Trina go back out to the counter, and Franco says, looks serious. She says Cameron told her what happened, and she hopes he gets a bodyguard. Josslyn has one, and it’s cheaper than ride share. He says he’s glad it’s working out for her, but this is an isolated incident. It’s never going to happen again. Cameron wonders how he can possibly say that.

Ava asks if Nikolas changed his mind, but he says, no. He wants to do it right. She asks what he means, and he looks at Laura, who says, don’t mind her. She steps aside, and Nikolas gets down on one knee, while the nurses watch. He says they shouldn’t work, but they do. It’s not the best place to start a proposal, but the truth is, they both know they value the truth, even if they don’t always show it. They guard who they are fiercely, and have to be protective, but he sees her, and thinks she sees him too. He loves everything about her; her passion, her intelligence, her strength, and her style. He wants to spend the rest of his life with her, and that’s his truth. He’d be the happiest man in the world if she’d be his wife.

Valentin tells Carly, Jax lied about Nina’s daughter; that cuts to the core. Their love was ten times what Nina feels for Jax, and she forced herself to walk away. Carly asks if he’s kidding. Nina ripped him to shreds at the wedding, and left him in the dust.

Nelle looks in the box, and tells Jax, Nelle spent her life thinking she should have a ton of possessions. Now her life has been reduced to a little box of things. She opens a jewelry box, and takes out photos. She looks through them, saying she never saw them before. She takes one out, and cries. We see it’s a little girl wearing the necklace.

Franco asks if he can give Trina a ride home, but she says she’s meeting her mom for dinner. He tells Cameron that they can talk more at home, but he doesn’t need to worry. Cameron says, cool, and tells Franco that he’ll meet him outside. Franco says he’ll warm up the car, and leaves. Trina says she knows that look. What’s Cameron planning? He says he doesn’t know… something. No matter what, he’s going to keep his family safe.

Scotty says he knew it. He’s on the WSB’s most wanted list. Obrecht says, they know nothing. As far as the world is concerned, Kirk was the victim of urban violence. He asks why she’s acting so strange then, and she says, Kirk’s files, including hers, were requested by and sent to Doc. Scotty wonders why he’d want them, and she says, Doc is just a puppet, with Anna pulling the strings. Scotty says, he’s a big dumb puppet. What does she mean, they’re running out of time? She says, Anna is on her trail.  

Anna says, so good, Agent Finn. Britt would never open up to her like that. He says he’d do it again. Anna says, Britt touting her mother’s innocence means they’ve been in contact, and Finn wonders if Obrecht has phone privileges. Anna says, maybe she’s not at the clinic anymore. Maybe classified is code for released.

Nikolas shows Ava the ring, a gigantic, Elizabeth Taylor worthy, square diamond. He says, Ava Jerome Cassadine, will you marry me… again? For real. She says, yes she’ll marry him, and everyone watching applauds. He puts the ring on her finger, and everyone is happy and smiling. They hug, and Laura nods at Nikolas.   

Valentin tells Carly, he doesn’t understand why she’s not thrilled Jax is on the open market again. Jax is her fallback, and since Sonny is dead, her bed must be cold. Maybe Jax could warm it up. She smacks him across the face, and tells him to get the hell out of her restaurant now.   

Nina tells Jax, Nelle had the necklace when she was a little girl. She shows him the photo, and says, Nelle didn’t steal it from anyone; it was hers. It’s true. Nelle was her daughter. Can he just go? He says he’s sorry. He doesn’t want to leave, but it’s her decision, so he respects that. She says he needs to just go, and he says he’s not going to give up, okay? She touches the picture, and Jax goes to the door. He looks back, but doesn’t know what to say. He leaves, and Nina says, her poor baby girl. She cries, and says, you were right there and I never knew. She hugs the picture to her chest.

Tomorrow, Anna asks if there’s something someone wants to tell her, Peter asks why Maxie is defending someone, Elizabeth wonder who the real Peter is, Obrecht says they have to access Franco’s memories while there’s still time, and Dante wonders what he’s doing in the hospital.

Below Deck

My Seanna heads for Jolly Harbour, while Francesca and Elizabeth go back and forth about what sleeping in a guest cabin means, and if it actually involves sleeping. Francesca says Elizabeth keeps arguing with her; what’s wrong with her? In her interview, Izzy says she feels like she’s at the U.S. open, watching them. Francesca says she’s had enough, and walks out. Rob says, sprinkles? and shows Izzy and Elizabeth some bread with sprinkles on it. Izzy says, oh my God, fairy bread, which is something I’ve never heard of. Elizabeth tells Eddie about Francesca speaking in an abrupt way to her about being in the guest cabin. She’s calling her energy healer. Rob says, she’s a gentle soul. On deck, Elizabeth calls her spiritual advisor, and asks if she can get some virtual healing. He babbles about past lives and negative energy, then he chants. Elizabeth takes some deep breaths, and everything is okay now. The captain sees Elizabeth, and asks how she’s doing. She tells him, good, and says she just spoke to her energy healer. In the captain’s interview, he says, is her energy busted? Did she break it? Elizabeth goes to bed.

In Francesca’s interview, she says Elizabeth was talking back to her, and it wasn’t respectful. She’s disappointed in herself. She should have been more stern from the start, and not given so many chances. She really doesn’t know what to do. In the morning, Eddie raises the flag, which is not a euphemism for anything. Izzy asks Elizabeth how it feels to be 30, and James says he could hear her and Francesca over his headphones. Rachel talks to herself, saying she’s got Alzheimer’s like a MF’er. In her interview, she says, the guests are polar opposites, which seems like something they’d laugh about. Rob asks Izzy where they should start, and she says, if they’re five years old and need direction, they can start at the crow’s nest and work down. In Izzy’s interview, she says, Rob is acting like a petulant twat, and it doesn’t help. James tells Izzy that he’s just kidding, but she says, it doesn’t help. He says he gets softer throughout the day, which is a double-entendré. Francesca calls Elizabeth to the Sky Lounge.

Francesca tells Elizabeth, she was so disappointed last night. Elizabeth says she wants to be professional, but Francesca doesn’t see any of that. She needs to bring that game every day, and not be sleeping in a guest cabin; it’s not her yacht. She doesn’t like Elizabeth’s attitude, and how Elizabeth is looking at her with an attitude. I actually have no clue what she means here, since Elizabeth isn’t looking at her any particular way. Project much? James is washing windows on deck, and Eddie suggests he not look in that one. Francesca says she’s pissed off, and it’s the final straw. She tells Elizabeth to finish the cabins, and take charge of the laundry. In her interview, she says she doesn’t know why Elizabeth keeps pushing her buttons. Elizabeth needs to go. She’s had enough. Francesca gets weepy, and I have zero sympathy.

Provisions come in. Francesca doesn’t want to deal with anything, and in Ashling’s interview, she says she feels terrible. Francesca is Elizabeth’s superior, and Elizabeth has to listen and help. She’s tired, and Francesca is tired. She’s done with Elizabeth. Izzy asks if James is going to surprise Elizabeth on her birthday, and in his interview, he says he’s not Elizabeth’s boyfriend, but he’ll do his best as a friend to make sure she has a good day. He didn’t come there to stress, and birthdays are just reminders of how many fewer years you have left to live. Francesca tells Captain Lee about James and Elizabeth using the guest cabin, and he says, it’s an effing no-no. In his interview, he says he has no patience left. F*** this sh*t. He asks Eddie what James is doing, sleeping in a guest cabin without asking. If James wants to play hide the salami with his girlfriend, he doesn’t care, but not in their effing bed. Eddie radios James, and tells him that he’s only going to say it once. If James sleeps in a cabin again without asking permission, he can pack his sh*t and leave. That was a major f*** up. In James’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Eddie is being unfair, but would he do it again? No question. Yes, of course. Captain Lee says he’s sure Francesca had a similar conversation with Elizabeth, and Francesca says she doesn’t want to work on the yacht with Elizabeth. How mature. In his interview, the captain says, they’ve been down this road before. We flash back to him telling Francesca, sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. He can’t afford for the chief stew to walk out. He tells Francesca that he can’t promise he can get someone this late in the season, but he can try. Francesca says, as soon as he gets someone, she’ll let Elizabeth go.

Izzy tells Rachel that it’s Elizabeth’s birthday, and she’s been upset all day. Rachel suggests making a chocolate cake, with chocolate whipped cream. Eddie tells the deck crew to take a break. He asks if Izzy is okay, and she says, it’s a hostile work environment. James is acting like a complete child. He tells her, rise above, and don’t buy in. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she hopes James does something special for her birthday. Something super cute and romantic. She needs some cuteness in her life. James slurps his cereal as he sits next to Elizabeth in the crew mess. In her interview, she says, right now, it sucks, and James burps. Francesca tells Ashling that she talked to Elizabeth. She says she’s not a bitchy chief stew, which I think is debatable. Ashling says, it’s annoying. It’s only them working on laundry, housekeeping, and service. Ashling gets weepy, and says, Elizabeth doesn’t give a sh*t. Again, zero sympathy. James tells Rob that he won’t get caught next time. Francesca tells Ashling, just between them, she’s getting someone else after this charter. The situation is temporary now. Ashling thinks they could handle it without Elizabeth; just push through it. I’m not saying they’re wrong, but I also think Elizabeth needs better direction, and she does do some work. Francesca is handling this all wrong. For one thing, she shouldn’t be discussing it with Ashling.

March 11, 2020. Elizabeth tells herself to rise above the bullsh*t. Rachel tells Francesca that she wants to do a Thai/Vietnamese thing for dinner, and asks if Francesca is all right. Francesca says she’s good. She finds Ashling, and tells her that Rachel is doing an extravaganza. In her interview, Francesca says, as much as she’d like to get rid of Elizabeth, the guests are used to super yacht style service all the time. It’s not worth the risk to be down right now. She says she thinks Ashling will gel better with these guests. At least they’re working toward something. James tells Izzy that her ass is looking good, and the captain tells everyone to get in their whites.

Francesca tells Ashling, the kids are twenty, and technically, can’t drink in America. The guests arrive, and Eddie notes that David has sweet tea in a Styrofoam cup. In his interview, he says, he loves that old-style sh*t. The captain welcomes the guests to Antigua, and tells them, Francesca will give them the tour, then they’ll get off the dock. David lies down on one of the beds, telling everyone that he’s trying it out. While bringing on the luggage, Ashling notes Jackie’s $10K Vuitton bag. James says, so much Louis. David wonders what the poor people are doing. Ugh. The boat heads for Five Island Harbour, and Eddie tells Rob, drinking is age 18 on the islands. The kids will probably get wasted, and then throw up on deck. Rob is like, yay.

Izzy drops anchor, and the captain says, nice job. David and Jackie take some of the other guests along with them to the bridge. David tells Captain Lee that he raised 14 children, and wore out three wives. He asks if the captain has any children, and Captain Lee says he has four. They had five, but one of them passed away from an opioid overdose. David says his daughter died from an OD, and in June it will be five years. Jackie says, it’s devastating, and the captain says, he’ll think he can get over it, but knows he won’t. David tells him, he never will, but it will get better, and in Captain Lee’s interview, he says, everything is still fresh and raw. He can’t imagine surviving something like this. It’s hard. Jackie hugs him, and he gets teary when they leave. So do I.

Captain Lee is invited to join the guests for dinner. The primaries’ sons flirt with Ashling at the bar. They think the media is blowing the virus out of proportion. Francesca tells Rachel that the captain is having dinner with the guests, and takes lunch orders. Elizabeth tells Ashling, even if it wasn’t her birthday, she’d still be pissed. She went to a guest cabin, but it’s not fun being spoken to in a certain way. Ashling tells her, try not to think about it, and I want to smack her. Eddie gives instructions to one of the sons about a motorized surfboard, and Izzy is given Jackie’s designer innertube to blow up. In Izzy’s interview, she says she doesn’t think Jackie needs a floatation device. She indicates her boobs, and says Jackiehas two flotation devices right there. Izzy and Rob ask if James gave Elizabeth a card (that’s a no), and Eddie looks up their signs. In James’s interview, he says he needs to do this and needs to do that. In his head, he likes her, but it’s a lot of effort. An effing card is a lot of effort? This guy is such a loser. I can’t understand why anyone is interested in him. Eddie says according to their signs, they don’t belong together. Francesca gives Rachel the orders, and in Rachel’s interview, she says Francesca’s communication is lacking. Sorry, you suck. Rachel goes to an upper deck to grill octopus, when Francesca hunts her down for another mahi. In her interview, Rachel says she doesn’t know where the f*** this is coming from, but there’s no excuse. In Francesca’s interview, she says, it’s Rachel’s fault, but this is no time for her to freak out. The Queen of Versailles is waiting for her fish. Rachel wonders why the service isn’t up to par, and we flash back to all the times she was left waiting on them. She says she’s over it. 

Rachel sings, Rachel is going to lose her sh*t, and the guests want more mahi. Rachel tells the captain that things got mixed up. She’s had problems with food being expedited more than once, and they need to have a conversation about service. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, Rachel has a wild hair up her ass, and he doesn’t need it. Francesca says she wrote it down, and tells Rachel the guests are loving the fish. The captain asks Francesca about communication with Rachel, and Francesca shows Rachel where it shows five orders for mahi. Rachel notices two orders are on the same line. In Rachel’s interview, she says, maybe she’s wrong, but she sees four orders on the ticket. She doesn’t know how to speak with Francesca, and it’s driving her nuts.

Izzy says she’s so not surprised that the boys aren’t taking her seriously, and they’re making jokes. Rob is a petulant child, and he’s 32 years old. Francesca goes over dinner with Rachel. In Ashling’s interview, she says, the whole world is losing people every second of every moment. The virus is becoming full-on and real. Izzy wonders what happened to the cake. The captain tells Eddie that, unfortunately, the primaries lost their oldest daughter, and he hopes the dinner conversation is lighter. Part of him is looking forward to it, and part of him is dreading it. Bringing up the memory is like ripping a Band-Aid off again, and he’ll have to deal with it. Elizabeth talks to her friend Kim on the phone, and says, it’s the most depressing 30th birthday ever. She feels like sh*t. In the galley, Rachel says she thinks dinner is going to be amazeballs.

Rob tells Izzy, it’s not like she got promoted to captain. She got promoted to lead shammy . In Izzy’s interview, she says, you only hear about the old salty sea dogs – men – and not about the women who work on the sea. At the dinner table, Jackie says the wine is a $1000 bottle from their cellar. One of their sons announces that Tom Hanks and his wife have covid, and David says, it’s no worse than the flu. A guest looks at her phone, and says, international travel has been suspended. Izzy feels bad  that Elizabeth didn’t even have a cake, and asks Rob if they should make a fairy bread cake. In her interview, Izzy says, Rachel was supposed to make a cake, but had no time. Everyone should have a cake their birthday. She, Rob, and James work together, and make some weird stack of buttered bread with sprinkles, and drizzle chocolate all over it. James says, it’s the hardest they’ve worked all day.

The captain joins the guests, and says he has a hunch they’ll be having a few conversations. David says they’re both in a club they don’t want to be in. They’ve learned how to cope. Captain Lee says he needs to learn those skills. David asks him how his son’s drug use started, and Captain Lee says his son had demons he couldn’t fix. It was a terrible feeling to have as a father. David says, you feel helpless, and the captain says, it helps to talk to someone who’s been there. They know how he feels, and how to do it. Jackie says, the first six months were a blur, and David asks how the captain’s wife is coping. Captain Lee says, not well. Josh was the only product of his wife and himself. David says, that’s tough, and the captain needs a minute. Francesca asks how it’s going, and he says, it’s okay, and keeps walking. Ashling tells Eddie that they were talking about the captain’s son, and he walked out, taking deep breaths. At the bridge, the captain takes more deep breaths.

The captain tells himself, try to pull it together. James radios Elizabeth, asking her to come to the crew mess, and they give her the makeshift cake. She says it’s the best cake she could have asked for, and she appreciates it. James eats a huge chunk, and says he feels sick. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, call her delusional, but she’s hoping James comes through with a kiss. Okay. She’s delusional. This guy is a d-bag, and deliberately ignoring her birthday. The captain tells the guests that he’s sorry; he needed a minute, and Jackie says, so did a few other people. He says, every day is a battle; a struggle. David says, they’ll help him through it, and Jackie says if they don’t talk about it, it doesn’t help anyone else. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, sometimes you have to confront the elephant in the room, as tough as it may be. He doesn’t believe in closure; there is no closure. But given enough time and assistance, he can develop skills to cope better. He has people who depend on him to take care of them. Maybe observing how Jackie and David cope, he can help his wife and the rest of the family. Jackie says Captain Lee is family now. Francesca tells Elizabeth, happy birthday, and goes to bed. Elizabeth says, finally. It’s been a sh*tty day. She goes to the crew mess, and says, goodnight. James just tells her, goodnight, and she walks to her cabin, saying, WTF?

Francesca asks Ashling if she’s uncomfortable serving the boys, and tells her to call James if she needs back-up. In Ashling’s interview, she says, the boys are drinking loads. She’d be asking for a glass of champagne. James looks for his Baby Ray’s sauce in the refrigerator, and Izzy finds it in a millisecond. Eddie asks how she did it. He was looking for 20 minutes. She says, a woman’s look. Ashling asks James to help with the dishes, and getting the sons to go to bed. No jacuzzi, no nothing. One of the sons suggests jumping off the boat, and we flash back to Delores. Ashling tells him, no, and in her interview, she says she feels like a babysitter. Next, he suggests taking the tender, and she says she thinks a good idea for them to go to bed, so they can be up for breakfast. David Jr. goes to bed, while Daniel says he wants to use the hot tub, but Ashling says, it’s out of order; it’s draining. In her interview, she says, it’s a white lie. She doesn’t know if it’s going to come back and bite her in the ass or not, but she’s keeping him safe. He goes upstairs anyway, and says, it’s effing full and hot. He’ll take another vodka. Ashling says, no more alcohol, and he says they’re here to make his vacation as good as possible, and they’re limiting his alcohol. He says he wants them to enjoy themselves too. It’s their vacation, not his. Ashling says, no… and he finally gets up. He heads for his cabin, saying he’ll make them breakfast in the morning, and they can go in the hot tub. James wonders if he’ll be back, and Ashling says he drank half a bottle of Hennessey. As he closes his door, Daniel says, the crew is whack.

Next time, swimming with rays; the captain says the virus is scary stuff; Eddie says if the deckhands don’t take Izzy seriously, he’ll give them something to take seriously; Francesca says Rachel can’t admit when she’s wrong; and Captain Lee calls Elizabeth to the wheelhouse.

⛵️ Below Deck Sailing Yacht will begin its new season on March 1st.

📚 Ringing the Last Bell…

Is it me, or are celebrities dropping like flies?

https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/saved-by-the-bell-cast-react-to-dustin-diamond-death-48141744?stream_view=1

📌 That’s a Fact…

The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

❄️ Snow Day…

Living near the ocean means less snow. Like Charlie Brown and his trick-or-treat bag of rocks, all we get is a bunch of rain. But it’s almost a given that every February, we get one good blast. It came early this year. Whether you got snow or no, stay safe, stay dry, and stay not getting in your own way. As Franco said, life is short.

January 25, 2021 – Valentin Lights a Fuse, Beach Clean-Up On Deck, Rachel’s Not-So Secret Career, Messy Attendant & Again

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny is working on a table he has turned upside down, and Lenny asks what he’s doing. Sonny says the table was wobbly, so he thought he’d fix it. He hopes he didn’t overstep. He also fixed the dishwasher door, tightened the hinges on the cupboards, and did a bunch of other stuff that he’s talking too fast for me to catch. Lenny asks what time he got up. He did all that this morning? Sonny says, it’s morning already? and Lenny asks if he’s been working all night.

Carly looks at a photo of her and Sonny, and thinks about hugging him. The doorbell rings, and when she opens the door, she says they have no idea how glad she is to see them, and how much she needs them today.   

Nikolas says, now Ava thinks it’s too cold to ride? and she says she knows she agreed to go, but Carly called. She wants to meet to discuss Avery’s schedule, so she invited Carly there to talk about it.

Michael looks at the annulment papers, and tells Willow, it looks like everything is in order. She says, all they have to do is sign them, and their marriage… He says, is officially annulled, as if never happened.

At the MetroCourt, Maxie tells Sasha she thought they came there to talk about her story. A woman comes up to them, saying she’s from The Sun. She asks if it’s true the face of Deception almost died from an overdose.

Chase and Jackie sit at a table, and she says she thought he’d be too busy with the warehouse district blood bath to meet. He says he figured that’s why she asked him for coffee; to pump him for information. She says she asked him because she loves him and doesn’t get to see him enough, but she can’t help wondering if Cyrus is on his suspect list.

On the phone at the MetroCourt bar, Martin says he did what Valentin asked in defending Alexis. Now it’s Valentin’s turn. What’s happening with Valentin finding his mother? Valentin says he has a lead he’s following up on now. Martin asks, what lead? But Valentin has already hung up.

Jax answers the door, saying, he’s expecting a delivery. Valentin is there, and asks if Jax has a minute. Jax tells him not to think he can just drop by, and no, he doesn’t have a minute. Valentin asks if Nina knows what he’s doing for Carly, and Nina comes out, and says, good question. Does she?  

Sonny rights the table, and Lenny asks if he got any sleep last night. Sonny says, what do they say? I’ll sleep when I’m dead. (Ha-ha! That’s what I always say.) Lenny says, right now, he’s lucky to be alive, and Sonny says he’s making the most of it. He checks over the table, and Lenny calls Phyllis. He says he knows she’s volunteering at the clinic today, but he needs her at the roadhouse. It’s about Mike. Hurry.

Bobbie says she was headed to Charleston, when she got Carly’s call. Carly asks how their leverage is, and Bobbie says she’s getting plenty of TLC. Carly asks if Bobbie trusts the nurses, and Bobbie says, they’re all former colleagues. They’re excellent nurses, and they’re discreet. She thinks it’s an unorthodox solution, but doesn’t suppose Cyrus gave them any choice. Carly says, he didn’t, and Bobbie says, that’s why she agreed, but she doesn’t suppose Carly invited her over for a progress report. They could have done that over the phone. Carly says she has to tell Bobbie something that could only be said in person. It’s about Nelle.

Nikolas tells Ava to call Carly, and cancel. He’s not standing by while Carly mothers another child who’s not her own. Avery is going to grow up with her mother. Ava says, of course (🍷) she will. This isn’t about Carly; it’s about Avery. Like it or not, Avery has a strong emotional attachment to Carly and her sisters. She keeps asking when she’s going home, and when she’s sleeping in her own room. It breaks Ava’s heart, so for Avery’s sake, she’s going to hammer out a regular visitation schedule. He commends her for compromising, but asks if it has to be today. He thinks Ava has better uses for her time.

Michael tells Willow, no rush. Diane isn’t expecting the documents until the end of the day, if she wants to take time to think. She asks if he needs time, and I think, here we go again. I’m so very tired of them going around this question. He says they’ve talked about it, and wanted to figure out how they feel about Chase and Sasha. They can’t do that if… She says, if they’re married. The good news is, they’re making the decision together. He says, the marriage served its purpose in keeping Wiley safe, and they can move on with no regrets or complications. Wiley comes in. He’s in college now. Just kidding, but he’s getting pretty big.    

The reporter asks what Sasha has to say, and Maxie asks if she has no compassion or shame, in exploiting Sasha’s heath crisis, If the reporter doesn’t get out of Sasha’s face, Maxie will have Olivia escort her out. The reporter leaves, and Sasha tells Maxie, that’s what Nina was trying to protect her from, and Maxie says Nina meant well, but another sleazy reporter is just going to tell Sasha’s story. That’s why they need to control the narrative. She says she has an idea, and drags Sasha out of the room.  

Martin approaches Chase’s table, and asks where Chase’s manners are. Kindly introduce him to this legendary, and exceedingly lovely lady. Jackie asks if she knows him, and he says, Martin Grey. Her next big story. 

Nina says she knows the search for Sonny was called off, and Jax is doing his best to support Carly. Valentin says Jax is always willing to be a shoulder to cry on, but is he willing to be a partner in crime? Nina asks if someone standing by a friend in need is what Valentin calls a crime. She tells Valentin she’s not threatened by it. They’re clear where they stand with one another. Valentin says, Carly tells Jax everything. Since Nina and Jax are close maybe she knows where his attorney’s mother was taken. Nina says he lost her, and Valentin says Martin’s mother was taken; kidnapped from her long-term care facility in Vermont. Nina isn’t clear on how Jax is connected, and Valentin says, it might become clear when she knows the cast of characters. Martin’s mother was kidnapped, Jason is responsible, and if Carly knew, that means she played a wiling part in it. Which begs the question, how much does Jax know? 

Nina asks what Valentin is talking about, and Jax says he has no idea. The only contact he’s had with Martin is when he represented Nelle in Wiley’s custody hearing. Valentin says, Martin wasn’t her only child. She had another son – Cyrus Renault. If Jax is withholding information that would lead to their mother’s safe return, that makes him an accomplice. Jax says he doesn’t involve himself in the criminal activities of Sonny or Jason, and neither does Carly. Goodbye. Valentin says, goodbye, and leaves. Jax says Nina doesn’t believe Valentin, does she? She says, of course (🍷) not, but Valentin isn’t the kind of guy who makes up stories. Martin and Cyrus’s mother disappeared, and if Jason is involved, it’s likely Carly is involved somehow.

Martin tells Jackie, without naming names, a prominent family is responsible for abducting an innocent woman from a medical facility, and holding her hostage. Chase says, there’s no evidence, besides Vermont isn’t their jurisdiction. Jackie sees Maxie signaling Chase, and says, looks urgent. Go see what Maxie wants. Don’t worry about her. She can handle Martin. Chase goes to see Maxie, and Jackie says, about Martin’s story. He said big with a capital B. She doesn’t do the lowercase alphabet. He says, with all due respect, his brother is just as worried as he is about their mother. She says, and his brother is? He says, Cyrus Renault.   

Chase tells Maxie, it better be important, and she says, it is. She tells Sasha, she’s on, and tells them to sit. Chase sits down with Sasha, and asks, what’s going on? She says he needs to introduce her to his mom. She needs to ask Jackie a favor. Chase says, what favor? and Sasha says she wants Jackie to tell the world how she trashed her life.

Willow says, the most handsome man in the house. Sorry, Michael. Michael looks at Wiley’s stuffed tiger, and sees one of the ears needs mending. He says he thinks emergency surgery is needed, and Willow asks if he went to medical school. He says he didn’t, but he knows someone who did; Grandma Monica. She’s famous for sewing up the Quartermain stuffed animals. He says he’ll take the tiger to her, and see if she can sew it, and Willow says, it will give her more time with her favorite guy. Michael leaves with the toy, and Willow says Wiley doesn’t have to worry about Stripey. She promises the surgery won’t hurt. She glances at the annulment papers on the table.   

Nikolas tells Ava to call Carly, and says she’s sorry, but she has other plans. She says, it needs to be figured out today, or Carly will keep calling, and Avery will keep asking when she’s going to see her sisters. She promises there’s a silver lining. If she accommodates Carly, it will put Carly in her debt. Does Ava live in a dream world? Fat chance of that.  

Carly tells Bobbie, Nina already identifies with Nelle, and had Nelle buried at Woodlawn. She’s convinced Nelle’s life would have been totally different if someone had intervened. If she finds out Nelle was her daughter… Bobbie says, she’ll be devastated, and Carly says, and she’ll look for someone to blame. Carly was the last person to see Nelle alive. If Nina finds out the truth, it will not only be heartbreaking, it will stir up trouble Carly can’t handle. Bobbie says, Nina can’t learn that Nelle was daughter, but as long as there’s a chance she’ll see the necklace, she can see it was a match. Carly says, that’s where she’s going to need Bobbie’s help. She’s going to Windymere. She has a meeting with Ava to discuss visitation, and she wants her loyal mother to come along. Bobbie says, a person who knows their way around; she wants to find out where Avery is keeping the necklace. But if Avery thinks it’s her good luck charm, how are they going to steal it? Carly says she’s not going to steal it; she’s replacing it. She takes out a similar necklace, and says, it turns out a half-heart isn’t that uncommon. If Nina sees it… Bobbie says, it won’t fit. There’s no path to lead back to Nelle. Carly says, that’s right.

Nina tells Jax, Valentin didn’t come there out of the goodness of his heart, doing a favor for his attorney. He’s trying to drive a wedge between them, and what better way than Carly? Does he think Carly is involved with the abduction? He says, if by involved, she means backing Jason, he’d say so. Carly would follow Jason into a burning building. Nina doesn’t think Jason would kidnap an old lady, but Jax thinks it’s possible if it’s leverage against Cyrus, and that Carly would go along. He needs to talk to Carly. He has to convince her that taking Florence is a bad idea, and Jason needs to have the good sense to return the poor women to her family. Nina says, wait. She thinks that’s the last thing he should do.

Jackie tells Martin, despite Cyrus’s turn to philanthropy, he’s been long suspected as a drug trafficker. Is Martin not concerned about rumor or innuendo? He says he’s only thinking about his mother being found and returned unharmed. She says, it’s a compelling story. She’ll look into it.

Sasha tells Chase that Maxie and Lucy gave her the chance of a lifetime, and she repaid them by making the company vulnerable. He asks if the company won’t be even more vulnerable if her story goes public, and she says, a reporter already confronted her. If she sits with Jackie, she can tell her own story in her own words, and Jackie won’t sleaze it up. Chase says, if Jackie agrees, she’ll be fair, but she’ll ask the tough questions. Is Sasha prepared?

Willow tells Wiley, don’t be jealous, but she thinks his daddy is handsome too. Clearly Wiley takes after him. Not just in looks, but his sweet temperament and loving nature; the way they both made her feel like part of a family. The family she never had growing up. She flashes back to her and Michael with Wiley, and says she always wanted a family and home. This is more than a home. She found someone she could count on, who needed her as much as she needed him, and it became something more that she didn’t see coming. It makes her wonder… Michael comes back with Stripey, and says, the surgery was successful. Grandma Monica says the patient is going to survive. He asks Willow what he missed.

Sonny messes with the chairs, and Lenny tells Phyllis, see what he means? It’s worse than last night. Phyllis tells Sonny that he needs to stop; take a break for a while, but Sonny says, there’s so much work to get done. She says, not this minute. He just got out of the hospital. He could be making his injury worse. Sonny says, he feels so good, he could run a marathon, and not break a sweat. He goes back to work, and Lenny tells Phyllis, she was right. It must be something mental.

Carly thanks Ava for seeing her on such short notice. Bobbie looks around, and says, it’s not exactly bright and cheery, but it’s a definite improvement on what it looked like in Stephan’s day. Nikolas asks Carly if his wife is so scary she had to bring reinforcements, and Carly says her mom insisted they work things out. Ava thanks Bobbie for encouraging compromise, but Bobbie says, it’s about an innocent little girl, whose needs come first. Ava says, exactly. They need to put their differences aside, and do the best they can for Avery. Carly tells Ava, she couldn’t have said it better herself.

Jax asks if he’s supposed to look the other way, but Nina says, Carly is still grieving. If Jax tells her that Jason is wrong, and she should distance herself from him, won’t she do the opposite? He says, what if Cyrus retaliates, and goes after Josslyn? and Nina says, what if Jason believes striking Cyrus where he’s most vulnerable is the only way to keep everyone safe? He says, that’s exactly the kind of thinking that caused Sonny to go after Julian Jerome in the first place, which led to his death. Nina says, Valentin isn’t like Sonny. He’s relying on Jax’s determination to right a wrong, and Jax asks how that’s bad. She says, it’s not, but Valentin is setting Jax up to prove his first loyalty is, and always will be, Carly.

While Nikolas discusses a painting with Bobbie, Carly tells Ava, she knows Avery isn’t part of the meeting, but is she home? Ava says Avery has a playdate. She thought it best that Avery wasn’t there. Carly says she’s sure Avery was delighted to get her necklace back. Josslyn told her that Ava came by. Ava says she was under the impression Carly was having it repaired, but Josslyn found it in her jewelry box. Carly says, there was a lot going on. She guesses it just slipped her mind. Ava says, Avery insists it’s Sonny’s favorite, and she needs to wear it everywhere. She suggested Avery just wear it on special occasions. Can Carly imagine the meltdown if she loses it? Bobbie asks if she can go freshen up, and Ava says she knows where the bathrooms are. Carly tells her, don’t be long.  

Martin tells Valentin, he’s too late. Jackie agreed to do a story on his mother’s abduction, and Jason won’t be able to escape public scrutiny. He tells Valentin, feel free to let him know how impressed he is. Valentin says Martin has made a serious miscalculation.

Jackie asks who Chase was talking to, and he says, Sasha Gilmore; she’s a friend who would like Jackie to tell her story. Jackie says, today must be her lucky day, and he says Sasha made some mistakes when she came to Port Charles, but she overcame them, and was doing well, but she lost way and nearly died, thanks to Cyrus Renault. She says, there’s that name again. Are they talking illegal drugs? He says, yes, and she asks why he’s involved, and he says, because he’s responsible.

Willow says, Michael missed quality time with their son, which she’s going to give him now. She’s going to check on breakfast for Wiley and Stripey. She leaves, and Michael asks if he’s told Wiley how much his mom loves him, and would do anything for him. She has a way of knowing what they’re thinking. He thinks back on his time with Willow, and says, before they became a family, he and Willow were good friends. Sometimes they acted like kids themselves, and before they knew it, their relationship had changed. He looks at Stripey, and says, Grandma Monica did a good job, and Wiley snatches the tiger back, which is hysterical. Michael looks at the annulment papers.

Ava says she knows how fond Avery is of Josslyn, Donna, and of course (🍷) Carly. Carly says, it makes sense considering Avery grew-up in their house, and considered it her home. Nikolas says, Windymere is Avery’s home now; Carly doesn’t want to confuse her. Carly says she just wants Avery to be happy, doesn’t he? Ava suggests Nikolas go riding, and Nikolas agrees it’s probably best for Ava to handle the visitation issue on her own. He leaves, and Ava apologizes for her husband’s tone. He just wants to be her advocate, but she’s sure she and Carly can work out a more than reasonable agreement. Carly says, Nikolas seems to want to lay claim on Avery, and isn’t interested in being reasonable, but Ava says, like it or not, Nikolas is a part of Avery’s life now. Carly’s phone dings, and she sees a text from Bobbie saying, can’t find the necklace. Ava asks if there’s a problem, and Carly says, yeah. Ava’s husband is the problem.

George Stephanopoulos, affectionately known as FU George in the GH fan circle, breaks in, but…

Nina tells Jax, Valentin didn’t go to the police with this suspicions, because his end game isn’t Florence Grey. It’s making her doubt Jax. He’s always predicted that one day, Jax would choose Carly over her. Jax says he’d never do that, and Nina says, there was a time she was threatened by his relationship with Carly, but not anymore. Not after what they said to one another. He says he meant every word, and she says, so did she. She suggests they show Valentin that nothing and no one can come between them.

Valentin tells Martin that Jason is proficient. If he’s taken Martin’s mother as leverage against Cyrus, he’s covered his bases. He doesn’t respond to pressure, and he doesn’t care about public opinion. How does Martin think he’s going to react when Jackie writes a story connecting him to this alleged crime?  Martin says he’ll advise Jackie that he’s changed his mind, but Valentin says, it will just make her more curious. Martin asks what he should do. Give him something. What’s the best way to save his mother?

Jackie tells Chase, he’s truly a good guy. She wishes he and Sasha had come up with a less painful way of helping his friend get custody of his child. He says they couldn’t come up with another solution, but he thinks Willow understands why they came up with the extreme they did. At least he hopes she understands. Jackie asks if there’s any hope for Sasha and Michael, and he says he doesn’t know. He thinks right now, Sasha just wants to move on with her life. She thinks telling her story will give her some kind of… redemption. She asks if he told Sasha how she works; no subjects off limits, no punches pulled? He says she does, and Jackie says, and Sasha still wants her to tell her story? He nods, and Jackie says she likes Sasha already. She’ll hear what Sasha has to say, and see if there’s a story in it. Chase gets up, and motions Maxie and Sasha over. Maxie thanks her, but Jackie says, don’t thank her yet. She’s interested, but not committed. Sasha says she understands. Where does she start? Jackie says, how about at the beginning?

Willow comes back, and says, apple juice and pancakes are now being served in the kitchen. She hopes Stripey likes chocolate chips in his pancakes like Wiley. Michael says she’s sure Wiley will eat them if he doesn’t. He asks if Wiley is ready for breakfast, and picks him up, saying, it’s Wiley’s favorite. The three of them head to the kitchen. Zzzz…

Sonny sweeps the floor, and Phyllis tells Lenny she believes the cause must be an underlying psychological disorder. Lenny asks what they do, and she goes over to Sonny. She asks if he can do her a favor. Come back to the clinic with her. He asks, why? and she says she’d like a doctor to check him out; make sure he’s okay. He asks if she’s trying to get rid of him, and she says, of course ( 🍷) not. She’s trying to help him. He could have an illness he doesn’t know about, or something he doesn’t know he has. Sonny says, there’s nothing wrong with him that a little hard work won’t cure. He walks out of the room, and Phyllis sighs.

Ava says she thought Carly came there in good faith, not to take cheap shots at her husband. Carly says, the man who pretended to be dead so he could get his hands on his family’s fortune? (Well, to his credit, it was really his.) The man who let his own son believe he was dead? That’s the man Ava wants raising Sonny’s daughter? Ava says, Sonny’s dead. She’s there. She’s alive and well, and perfectly capable of raising her daughter. She suggests they examine Carly’s life, and see if she’s capable of taking care of hers. Bobbie comes back in, saying, hey, what’s going on? What happened? Carly says she needs a minute, before she says something she’ll regret. She leaves the room, and Ava tells her, don’t walk away. Bobbie says, leave her go. She tells Ava, she doesn’t know what was said, but try to remember, Sonny’s presumed dead. Carly is grieving. Why don’t the two of them work out Avery’s schedule? Outside in the hallway, Carly sneaks upstairs.

Carly sneaks into Avery’s room, and spies the necklace in Avery’s dollhouse. She says she’s so sorry, but Avery will never know the difference. She picks up Nelle’s necklace. Ava tells Bobbie, there’s nothing to work out. She wanted to include Carly in Avery’s life, but if this is how Carly thanks her, it’ll be a cold day in hell before Carly sees Avery again. Bobbie says Ava is absolutely right, and she doesn’t blame Ava for being angry. She loves her daughter, but Carly can be her own worst enemy at times. However, she has no doubt she and Ava can be the adults in the room.

Lenny asks what Phyllis thinks is wrong with Mike exactly, and she says his behavior is like one of her patients who has bipolar disorder. Mike needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. Hopefully, they can refer him to a psychiatrist to get an accurate diagnosis, and he can be put on the right medication. Lenny says, Mike won’t like it, and she says, most pre-diagnosed bipolar sufferers don’t. She’ll find a way to convince him it’s for his own good. Sonny stands in the hallway, listening in.

Willow and Michael come back to the living room, and Michael says, so, Mrs. Corinthos, what are we going to do about these? indicating the annulment papers. She reminds him that they said they’d always do what’s best for Wiley, and he says, Wiley before themselves. He says he wants her to be happy, and she says she wants the same for him. He says she deserves to find out what she wants, whether it’s Chase or someone else. She says, he deserves the same with Sasha. He picks up the pen, and asks what they’re waiting for. He signs the papers, and she takes the pen. She looks at him, and signs. Finally. Thank you, God.

Phyllis asks if Lenny has seen Mike, and Lenny says he thought Mike was in the back room. She says, he’s not there. She searched both floors, and he’s gone.

Jackie tells Sasha, she already told Chase that she wishes they’d found a less hurtful way of helping Michael get custody of his son. It sounds like Sasha paid an even bigger price than Chase did. Maxie asks if that means she’ll do the interview, and Jackie says, it won’t be a puff piece about Deception. Sasha says all she wants is a chance to tell her story, and show people that if she can learn from her mistakes, they can too. Jackie says, it’s very noble, but truth, like a lie, has a life of its own, and unintended consequences.

Valentin tells Martin, forget about Jackie Templeton. Despite what Martin thinks, Valentin is working on his behalf. Martin says he needs more than work; he needs results. Does Valentin have a location? Valentin says, soon. Jason may be unbreakable, but Carly is not. He lit a fuse under someone very important to her, and if he’s right, it will lead to Martin’s mother’s safe return.

Nina and Jax kiss, and Nina says, so much for Carly coming between them. Jax says, even so, they can’t continue to let Carly make this terrible mistake. Nina says, Carly doesn’t see it as a mistake. She trusts Jason implicitly, doesn’t she? Jax says she does, and Nina says, then Jax needs to trust Carly. Carly trusts Jason to protect her and the family. He asks when she started being Carly’s cheerleader, and she says she doesn’t think she and Carly will ever be best friends, but she admires any woman who fights for the people she cares about.

Carly stands there, with the necklaces in her hands. She hears someone coming.

Tomorrow, Finn wonders how he knows for sure, Chase is having second thoughts about Sasha’s interview with his mom, Bobbie says Ava can’t go after her daughter, and Carly tells Jax, it’s one vacation too many.

Below Deck

I have to start by wondering why anyone is interested in James. He’s not even all that attractive. Is desperation that bad on a yacht? Let’s not even talk about Ashling’s attraction to guest Justin.

Falmouth, Harbour, Antigua. The guests have breakfast, while some of the crew lounges in the crew mess. James asks to use Rob’s phone, and says he’s going to double-tap all the fit birds. Elizabeth gets up and leaves, and Izzy tells James to be considerate. In his interview, the producer asks James why he said what he did, and he says Elizabeth didn’t stick up for him. He’s effing loyal; a loyale with cheese. He thinks for a millisecond, and says maybe he made a mistake and shouldn’t have done it. He admits he’s an a-hole. First thing he’s gotten right all season. The captain pops into the galley, and Rachel says she has a stomach bug, but she’s not going to die. He says he’d rather she didn’t. There’s lots of paperwork and sh*t. Francesca asks if Ashling wants to see the doctor, but Ashling says no. Francesca says Ashling is like her. She’s not sick until she’s on her deathbed.

The guests use the slide. Eddie goes to get Dr. Williams, and tells her that they have a stew with a UTI, and a chef with a stomach problem. Eddie brings the doctor back to the boat, and Francesca gets Rachel and Elizabeth. Dr. Williams asks if Elizabeth is sexually active, and Elizabeth says she could be. The doctor gives her some medication. Elizabeth asks if a UTI is contagious, and I make a face like 😮. Rachel tells Dr. Williams what’s been going on, and Francesca asks Elizabeth to make some bellinis. The doctor says Rachel has gastro-something, and thinks she should come in for IV therapy, the rehydration one. Rachel asks if it can wait until tomorrow, and the doctor says okay, giving her something for the pain. In Rachel’s interview, she says it hasn’t impacted her ability to do her job. It hasn’t impacted anything. That’s the problem. A shirtless Justin wanders around, and Ashling gives him a drink. In her interview, she says it’s awkward. She has a crush on him, and doesn’t know how to talk to him. I make a face like 😣.

Francesca tells Captain Lee that Rachel has gastro-whatever, and is going to need an IV tomorrow. Eddie tells the deck crew to put the toys away, and Izzy and Eddie take in the slide. Eddie says she’s badass. Guest Erika takes GiGi (apparently how it’s spelled, even though it’s short for Georgia) to go potty, and in his interview, Rob tells us how he met his dog. He was sauntering with a falafel, and fell in love with a stray. He spent the next year and a half convincing her not to bite people. She now lives on a farm, eating all the chickens. It’s a love story. The guests play beer pong, which is just what I’d do on superyacht, not at all.

Elizabeth and Ashling eat in the crew mess, and James asks, what’s going on? Elizabeth says, it’s all good, and tells James that she’s not feeling well. He says, it’s a good thing she’s not working late. He looks at Ashling, and says, and she’s got someone covering. I have no words. Well, I do, but my blog is rated PG-13. Ashling asks what he means, and James says hopefully, Ashling will cover for Elizabeth. Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what’s going on, and jets. In her interview, she says she doesn’t like games, and she’s not someone who gets played. If this is how he rolls, it will be game over soon.

One of the guests remarks that there’s a super moon tomorrow. James farts, and says, lordy! And this is the coveted guy. I just don’t get it. Eddie tells Captain Lee that Izzy knows her stuff, and the captain says, she’s no creampuff. Eddie says, she’s a badass. He was wondering how she’d do as lead deckhand, and Captain Lee says he’s fine with that. Eddie says, she’s been busting her butt, and in his interview, Eddie says he wants to give Izzy the opportunity. When she first joined the deck crew, she was nervous and scared. We flash back to that, and Eddie says, now she’s blossomed into an invaluable member of the crew. That’s a lead deckhand. Eddie tells the captain that he likes to see someone progressing, and Captain Lee says he does too.

Elizabeth asks if Ashling thinks James likes her, but Ashling says, no. Elizabeth asks Ashling to tell her if she knows something, but Ashling promises there’s nothing. In Ashling’s interview, she claims she doesn’t know what Elizabeth is talking about. She’s not interested in James at all. Francesca radios for someone to clean up, and asks Ashling to deal with the crew mess. Elizabeth picks up outside, and James asks if they can chill tomorrow. Elizabeth wants to know if James is trying to get with Ashling; he’s been flirting with her, and didn’t acknowledge Elizabeth. James says Elizabeth knew how he was when he first got on the boat. He’s a flirt; it’s his personality. Does she trust him?  Elizabeth thinks it’s a strange way to flirt, suggesting they go on a date. In James’s interview, he says, what man – boy, whatever he is – in his right mind would flirt with another girl in front of the one he’s dating, and not have them think it’s a joke? James tells her, it was a joke, and he didn’t think anything of it, but he’s glad Elizabeth got it off her chest. In James’s interview, he says, it’s his personality. He flirts.

Ooh, tiny dog! Eddie asks Izzy to meet him on the sundeck. He asks if she’s interested in being lead deckhand, and she says she wants to do it, and thinks she can. He says she knows what the job entails, and what needs to be done. She wonders if James will be upset, and in her interview, she says she’s worried about James and Rob supporting her. Or will they act like d*cks? Captain Lee joins the guests for dinner, and Rachel says her stomach is still bothering her. She’s even more crampy and gaseous tonight. The dinner is going to be simple AF. It looks impressive to me – some kind of pasta dish where it looks like a nest. Everyone literally shovels it in.

In the crew mess, James asks Ashling about continuing on with yachting, and says he kind of wants to settle down. Elizabeth comes in to get something, and leaves quickly. She tells Rachel that every time she sees James, he’s with Ashling. In Rachel’s interview, she says, hello? Told her so. Ashling wraps Gigi in a blanket and squees. I have to admit, I do too, in my head. Gigi is so very tiny! Rachel makes cannolis, and Elizabeth says they were her dad’s favorite dessert. Francesca tells Ashling to go to bed, and Eddie tells James that his bottle of hand sanitizer is worth 50 bucks. James says he thought this would blow over, and Eddie says, it’s pretty bad. It’s going to be in the islands. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, part of her thinks she’s being naïve again, and overly trusting someone she just met. But maybe she’s wrong, and he deserves another chance. She asks if James wants a cannoli, but he doesn’t know what that is. She radios him to meet her in the main salon, and brings a cannoli with her. Francesca pokes her head down from the staircase, and asks what they’re up to. She’s the only one slaving away. Elizabeth tells her to go to bed; she’ll take care of it. Francesca says she thinks Elizabeth is full of excuses, and that may be, but I fail to see how that applies here. Elizabeth says Francesca can radio her. She tells James, she’s tried every single way, and she’s not even on service right now.

Francesca tells Eddie that she found Elizabeth and James chatting on the aft deck. He tells her, go sleep; he’ll check. In his interview, he says he’s losing patience. He stuck his neck out for them. We flash back to him trying to explain to them how they can’t goof off while they’re at work. Eddie says, if they’re announcing what they’re doing on the radio, that’s not fine. Disappointed dad is coming out, and they don’t want disappointed dad. Francesca tells Ashling that she found Elizabeth and James taking a break, while Elizabeth should have been relieving her. She hasn’t even had a break. Ashling says she should go to bed, but Francesca says she’ll go when the captain does. Captain Lee thanks the guests for dinner, and Rachel  radios Francesca, asking if the guests need anything else, but Francesca says, they’re fine. Eddie gives Elizabeth and James a mini lecture, and they clean up. They kiss in the crew mess, then go their separate ways.    

It’s the final day of charter, and Captain Lee tells Eddie that he wants to be back at the dock at 11:30. Justin asks Ashling for aspirin, and in her interview, she says Justin is cute, handsome, and lovely. Apparently, we are looking at two different people. She says he lives in America, while she lives in Australia, so it’s not going to work. That’s just how the cookie crumbles. Francesca takes breakfast orders, and feels she hasn’t seen enough of Gigi. I agree. Gigi should have gotten a lot more screen time. The captain looks at the news, and says, Jesus effing Christ.  

The guests look at the internet news, seeing there’s a recession in the US because of the virus. They wonder what covid has to do with money. A lot. Francesca asks Elizabeth what she thinks should be done next, and Elizabeth says, the cabins, but Francesca tells her to do laundry. Elizabeth heads for the laundry room, saying, she can’t do anything right. The captain heads out to Jolly Harbour. The interior changes into their whites, and the guests pack.

Captain Lee tells everyone to change, and James starts putting on his blacks until Izzy points it out. The guests say, goodbye, and the captain pets Gigi, as we all would. Primary Chris says, on behalf of himself, his family, and friends, he thanks them. Memories like this wouldn’t be possible without the captain and his crew. It was a great trip, and the crew was professional and in tune with their needs. He gives the captain the tip envelope, and when the guests are gone, Francesca tells the stews to change. Everyone complains about how hot it is. Ashling balances a platter on Rachel’s head, and Rachel walks back and forth with it, making Elizabeth and Ashling laugh. Elizabeth says Rachel is a natural, and Rachel says, she may have been on season 3 of America’s Next Top Model. We see photos, and yes, she was. She says, Tyra told her she wasn’t serious, and she said she likes snacks. 

The crew meets in the mess for the tip meeting, and Captain Lee says, number six is in the books. It was a good charter, and a lot of fun. Not everyone was feeling up to par, but they powered through it, and stuck with it. They didn’t miss a beat, and did an outstanding job. The tip is a $17K, or $1400 a piece. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s used to $2000. I wonder if Eddie’s disappointed dad feels disappointed. The captain says they’re going to do something different today – adopt a beach. They’re going to do some clean-up work, and try to give back to the island. In his interview, James says, they’re going litter picking. Yay. Captain Lee says he hopes it’s fine because he volunteered all their asses. They’re going to do good for Antigua. In James’s interview, he says he wants to eat, drink, and relax, but he’s a team player because he’s a nice guy. I’m back to 😮.

James asks if he can drink, and Izzy says they’re cleaning up the beach. Why would he want to drink? He says, because they’re cleaning up the beach. She tells him that he doesn’t always have to drink. Rachel goes to see the doctor, and says she’ll meet them later. The captain says, let’s go, and they take a taxi. James talks about shaving his chest, but Elizabeth says she likes it hairy. They meet Jennifer, founder of Adopt a Coastline. She says they’re in Belfast Bay, and they want to sustain the marine industry, but still make it enjoyable. The crew goes litter picking, and the captain finds a pair of underwear. Jennifer says, when they’re on the boat, they see the beautiful shoreline, but when they get close up, they can see how humans behave. They pick up tons of trash, and I empathize, living near a beach myself. It’s disgusting what washes up. In Eddie’s interview, he says they rely on areas that are environmentally beautiful, and between the trash, pollution, and the mass killing of the habitat and marine environment, it’s going to destroy the industry they work in. It’s important to take care of the planet they have. Rachel comes back from the doctor, and goes to bed.

The crew returns around 10 pm, and Ashling says she’s dead. Elizabeth takes a shower, and Ashling calls her mom. She says she’s not feeling great; her stomach is not good. The chef is sick, and she might have the same thing. The crew eats take-out pizza, and James wonders why he and Rob don’t share a room. Rob says it’s his time with Eddie. He’s sleeping his way to the top. James texts Elizabeth, asking if she wants to meet in the guest cabin. She says, sure, and he says he’s a naughty boy. They go into the cabin, and we hear the sounds of TMI.   

Eddie tells James and Rob that it’s Izzy’s first day as lead deckhand, and they applaud. He says, so when some sh*t goes wrong, call Izzy. His life is sitting in the wheelhouse now. In Rob’s interview, he says, Izzy does a good job, but does it need a title? Francesca tells Elizabeth to take charge of the laundry, and don’t finish until it’s done. She gives Ashling the crew mess, and asks if Ashling wants to see the doctor. Ashling says she’s got to go, and runs to the bathroom. Izzy tells Elizabeth that she looks like a dirty, aged hot mess, but Elizabeth disagrees, and says, she’s the one who’s aging. Izzy says, Elizabeth is 30 tomorrow, but 30 is the new 20. Francesca tells Ashling that she has an appointment with Dr. Williams at 1.

James soaps the windows, and Izzy asks if that’s what he was doing to Elizabeth in the guest cabin last night. Their cabin was lonely and quiet. He says they used the VIP, and in James’s interview, he says they work on a boat; there’s no secrets. If the options are, going to a guest cabin with Elizabeth, and potentially losing his job – yes. Ashling can’t get to Francesca fast enough, and tells her that Elizabeth slept in the guest cabin with James. What a POS she is. Francesca says, that’s not cool, and in her interview, says it’s a big fat no in the yachting industry unless authorized by either the captain or the chief stew. For them to have slept in a guest cabin without her knowing is so wrong. Rob calls Izzy a dictator because she expects them to work. She suggests one of them rinse, and one dry, and James asks why she has her hands on her hips like she has some kind of authority. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s going through what every woman on deck has experienced before – a couple of men not listening because they think they’re better than her. James tells Rob he might be the captain on other boats, but not this one. The captain radios for Eddie, Francesca, and Rachel to meet him for the preference sheet meeting.   

Jackie and David Siegel are returning guests. Francesca starts laughing when she sees Jackie is the Queen of Versailles, which only betrays her ignorance. In the captain’s interview, he says they’re no strangers to lavish vacations and extraordinary service. They’re going to be joined by son Steve, his wife Janessa, Jackie’s best friend Mia and her husband Orlin. The charter screams moneyed up. Captain Lee reads, hard boiled jalapeno pickled quail eggs, and says he’s salivating. Although David has requested cheese pizza and angel hair pasta. He thinks sliders would be a good idea, and in Rachel’s interview, she says she’s worked with people like David before. They want simple food that reminds them of home. Crew food combined with opulence. The captain says, they want to swim with marine life and use the water toys. Francesca asks Eddie if he heard anything about James and Elizabeth using the guest cabin, but he says he doesn’t know. Ashling comes back, and tells Francesca, the doctor said it probably had to do with food. She got a muscle relaxant and is supposed to rest. Francesca says, go rest.

In Francesca’s interview, she says as soon as she heard about the guest cabin, she thought it was just boat gossip, and it wasn’t true. The things in that room are probably worth all the crew tips they got the whole season. That Elizabeth thinks it’s okay to sleep there with James is so inappropriate. Francesca approaches Elizabeth while she’s eating, and asks if she slept in the guest cabin, which obviously takes her unaware. She says it wasn’t made up, and Francesca says, yes or no? Elizabeth says, she was in the cabin, and Francesca asks if she slept there; yes or no? Francesca says she was on the bed, but it won’t happen again. Francesca says, there won’t be a next time, and Elizabeth says she wants to keep it professional. Francesca says Elizabeth is far from professional, and she’s had enough of her.  

I think Elizabeth is an air head, but she has a good heart. Ashling is a sneaky bitch, and Francesca has just had it out for Elizabeth for whatever reason all season. I’d love to slap her and Ashling silly.

Next time, the Queen of Versailles returns; Rachel says, Francesca sucks; Izzy calls James a perpetual twat; Captain Lee joins the guests for dinner, and needs a moment (Jackie’s daughter also died); Ashling tells Francesca to get rid of Elizabeth; and (it looks like) James gets the boot.

👠 About That Modeling Career…

I loved how Rachel’s response to Tyra saying she wasn’t serious enough was, I like snacks. Be sure to check out the video.

https://www.etonline.com/below-deck-chef-rachel-hargrove-explains-her-2005-americas-next-top-model-audition-exclusive-158812

✈️ Thrilling To the Max…

If you get HBO, HBO Max is free for you. If not, it’s 15 bucks a month, but it might possibly be worth it if The Flight Attendant is any indication of their original programming, not to mention the first-run films premiering throughout 2021. Kelly Cuoco stars as a flight attendant with a messy life, who ends up in a messy and dangerous situation when she’s blackout drunk, and wakes up next to a dead man. Since I’d only seen Kelly in Big Bang Theory, I was amazed at her acting skills in this series. So many of the characters are likeable, despite their glaring faults, that I couldn’t help but root for them. Bad guys turn out to be good, and good guys turn out to be bad. I just never knew where they were going, and that’s saying a lot. It’s also been renewed for a second season.

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/28/938843484/the-flight-attendant-is-a-fizzy-dark-and-funny-mystery

🙃 Rolling Along Like the Caissons…

Remember the days when we used to go out, and didn’t have to wear a mask, or stay six feet away from each other in the grocery store check-out? Remember when kids went to school at school? And when movies were shown on a big screen instead of 140 streaming services? I hear there’s a future beyond the mask sometime soon, so don’t lose hope. And while you’re hanging onto that, stay safe, stay ready for a new day, and stay not flirting with someone else in front of the person you’re dating, and then saying it was a joke. We all know there’s a lot of truth in joking.