Tag Archives: Below Deck

April 1, 2024 – Blaze Becomes the New Face Of Deception, Jill Zarin Thinks She’s the Primary On Deck, Finale Of Who Lived & Ball

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny sees Dante slowly walking in the corridor at the hospital, along with a nurse, and says, it’s good to see him up and walking. He wasn’t there when Dante took his first steps, but he’s getting a taste of that right now. This time if Dante falls, he’ll be there to catch him.

Elizabeth calls upstairs for Jake to hurry up. She’d really like to take a shower after her shift. There’s a knock at the door, and Elizabeth asks Aiden to get that. She’s not dressed. She heads upstairs and Aiden answers the door to Jason. Aiden says, hi, and Jason says, Aiden, right? Aiden says, yeah. He’s Jason. Jason says, it’s been a while, and Aiden says, sorry. Does he want to come in? Jason comes inside, and Elizabeth comes back down. He says he hopes it’s okay that he stopped by, and she says, of course (🍷). He says he saw her at his arraignment and wanted to say thanks for being there, and she says she just wanted to see for herself what’s going on. Congratulations on having the charges dropped. He thanks her and says he’s sorry. He should have dropped by sooner. She says, that’s okay. To be honest, she doesn’t know what kind of reception he’d have received if he stopped by earlier. So maybe now the timing is just right.

In Alexis’s office, Adrian says, Nina made him associate publisher, and he has every right to weigh in on where his pieces are run, but Alexis says, he doesn’t have any right to decide the layout of the paper because that’s her job. He suggests they call Nina and see what she says, and he picks up the phone. Alexis asks if he’s five years old. This is not kindergarten. Is he going to call the principal? No, they’re not doing that. She puts the phone back, and Diane says, knock-knock. Bad time?

Blaze looks at the contract, and Maxie asks how it looks. Blaze says, looking at it makes it seem real, and Lucy says, of course (🍷) it’s real. They’re so excited that they’ve decided to have her as the new Face of Deception. Blaze thanks her. She’s glad they circled back and that it’s working out this time. Lucy says, of course (🍷) it’s working out. Blaze is the perfect pairing with Deception, like peanut butter and chocolate, or wine and cheese, or a facial and a massage. Brook says, Lucy is right. It’s going to be a perfect partnership. She says that not only on behalf of Deception, but also as Blaze’s music manager. This is a really smart step for her career. Maxie says, her popularity as an artist will bring eyes to Deception, and Deception’s leverage will boost her profile and expose her to a whole new audience. It’s a win-win. Lucy says, they just need her signature, when Natalia walks in. She says she’s so sorry she’s late. Traffic was crazy. Has Blaze signed that yet? Blaze says, not yet, and Natalia says, great, taking the contract from Blaze. Because it’s so much harder to tear these things up and start from scratch. (Um… Isn’t Brook her manager?)

Elizabeth tells Jason, excuse the mess. She just got off a double shift. She’s head nurse now. He says he heard Epiphany died. It’s just so much to process. First Bobbie, then Britt, now Epiphany. So much can happen in two years. But he’s happy she made head nurse. She deserves it. He knows Epiphany would be proud of her. She thanks him and says, big shoes to fill, but so far, she’s loving it. He says, she looks good, happy, and she thanks him. She says, he looks different, and he says, that’s because he is.

Alexis says she’s so glad she and Diane could meet. She was just showing Adrian out. She steers Adrian to the door, and he says, point of fact, they have not yet finished. She says, call Nina. She’s probably really busy, so email Nina and make sure he cc’s her. He says, make space for the review on the front page, as Alexis closes the door. She tells Diane, perfect timing, and Diane laughs and says, it looks like her day is going well. Alexis says, Nina has foisted this gossip columnist on her and made him associate publisher. Now he thinks he runs the place. Diane says she’s sure that’s fun for Alexis, but Alexis says, no. She’s determined to turn The Invader into some fluffy, gossipy, rag magazine, and making her life a living hell. Diane says, so obviously, she could use some good news, and Alexis asks if Diane has some to share. Diane says she’s done some digging, and with the information she’s found out, they’re half a step closer to getting Alexis back to practicing law.

Natalia says she understands this isn’t the first time they’ve approached Allison about being the Face of Deception. The woman who had the position until just recently, why did they separate? Lucy says, that’s Sasha Gilmore. Sasha was wonderful and amazing, and they love her. And they’re so grateful to her for all she contributed. It’s just that, you know pop culture is always evolving and changing, and her look was just a little too wholesome, and the magazines right now want hipper, edgier, the Gen Z that has that style. Brook says, Blaze, as a musician, obviously has that in spades, and Natalia says, that’s unacceptable. Maxie asks, which part? and Natalia says she’s not going to have the word edgy associated with Blaze because it has less than savory connotations. (Come into this century…) Now, creative, gifted, those are acceptable. Maxie asks what Blaze thinks, and Blaze says, her mom makes a good point. She defines herself as a creative. Whether people find her look, her presentation as edgy, so be it. That’s not something she’s striving for. Lucy says, they just want Blaze to be her own, lovely, wonderful self, and Blaze thanks her. Natalia says she’s having a little problem here with clause #3. It says something about Blaze being a spokesmodel for Deception products. What exactly does that mean?

Sonny tells Dante, anything he needs, he just has to say it, and Dante says he wants his strength back. He feels like he just ran a marathon or something. Sonny says, it’s going to take time because he’s been through a lot, but he’s getting his color back to his face. So when he was unconscious… Dante says, hey, he’s going to be okay. He was shocked when he heard Jason was arrested for shooting him. He’s glad he got that all squared up with Anna. Sonny asks if he’s positive that’s what happened, and Dante says, yeah. He went after the two suspects, caught up with them at the pier. He told them to stop. One of them did, the other one didn’t. The guy that did, he told him to turn around and put his hands in the air, and when he did, it was Jason. The other guy came back, and he opened fire.

Aiden says he saw on the news that Jason had been shot, but Jason says he’s okay and thanks Aiden. Jake comes downstairs and says the bathroom is all Elizabeth’s. If she still wants to get him that electric razor for his birthday… He sees Jason, who says, hi, and Jake asks, why is he here?

Diane says, something about the disciplinary hearing that resulted in Alexis’s disbarment has never sat right with her, so she did some digging. One of the original attorneys on the panel had to recuse himself. Alexis says, on what grounds? and Diane says, you tell me. The attorney in question, Fergus Byrne. Alexis says, Byrne… Byrne! and Diane says, as in the brother of Dr. Neil Byrne, with whom Alexis had a relationship, then lied to the board to protect. Alexis says, and also the reason she was disbarred. She had no idea there was a third brother, and yet he was the lawyer who recused himself in her case? Diane says, the Byrnes were quite the overachieving Irish American family – a doctor, a lawyer, and executive turned blackmailer. Alexis says, this is really intriguing, although, how does it help her? and Diane says, when Fergus Byrne recused himself, he was replaced with his very own law partner. That alone gives the whole proceeding an air of illegitimacy. Doesn’t she think?

In her office, Anna says she wanted to talk to Detective Bennet about a possible candidate for the police academy, and he says, they’re always looking for new recruits, especially one who comes recommended by the Police Commissioner. She says, his name is Dex Heller, and she wanted to talk to Bennet because he’s an instructor at the academy and she wanted him to access Dex’s potential. He says, sure. He’d be happy to meet with him. How did he do on the written exam? Anna says, he didn’t sit that yet. She wanted them to get the ball rolling first. He asks, why is that? and she says, he’s ex-military. He served in Afghanistan and so she’s sure he’ll pass the physical and the JST and the drug screening. She just wanted him to have extra time to study for the written exam. He says, that’s definitely not the usual process, but he trusts her judgement, and she thanks him. She says she has a good feeling about Dex. She thinks his experience with his former employer is going to be very useful for them. He asks what Dex was doing, and she says, working for Sonny Corinthos.

Dante tells Sonny that he’d never seen the other guy who shot him before. Not that it matters. They can’t find his body anymore and none of the forensic evidence was helpful. Sonny says he guesses Jason knows what happened to him, since they were working together, and Dante says, they were working together on the roof, yeah. Sonny says, lining up a shot at him, and Dante says he doesn’t know what Jason was doing, but he remembers Jason was trying to get him help and trying to stop the bleeding. Sonny says he guesses he knows where their tax dollars are going, and Dante asks what he’s talking about. Sonny says he saw Jason last night. He’s working as an informant for the FBI.

Jake says, Jason has been on the news a lot. Everyone’s talking about him, but Jake hasn’t heard anyone say where he’s been this whole time. Jason tells him that all he can say is, he got into some trouble and had to take a job he didn’t want in a place far away from here. Jake says, and they didn’t have phones in this faraway place or computers. Or did Jason just not feel like telling them he was alive? Elizabeth says, Jake… but Jason says, it’s okay. He’d be asking the same question. He knows this doesn’t make much sense to Jake, but if he could have gotten in touch, he would have. He knows it’s a lot to ask, but please believe him. Jake says, would you believe you?

Lucy says, Blaze would represent Deception at all their in-store product launches and of course (🍷) on the Home & Heart Shopping Channel. She would be showing off their merchandise and look at that face. This face would sell millions of units of beauty and wellness products. Brook says, and it will get a ton of eyes on Blaze. They can’t buy that kind of publicity. Natalia says, absolutely not. Blaze will do photoshoots, but she won’t be personally hawking products on some home shopping show or live events. No. Maxie says she’s sure they can come up with a compromise that works for everyone, but Natalia says, no compromise. Blaze won’t be signing the contract unless they agree that the Face of Deception is completely separate from this traveling salesperson of Deception.

Bennet tells Anna, in the old days, organized crime would quietly infiltrate the force or hand out bribes and put some cops in their back pocket. Now she’s telling him the department is actively recruiting mobsters. She says, Dex had a somewhat contentious parting with his former employer. She believes he’s left that life firmly behind and he will be 100% loyal to them here. He says, she knows hiring this guy is going to cause conflict with Corinthos, and she says she thinks it’s natural to have conflict between law enforcement and racketeers. He says he always thought she had a soft spot for Corinthos and tried to go easy on him, and she apologizes if she gave that impression. They go back… and Detective Falconari is his son, which she knows has raised a few eyebrows around here. But he’s never cut his father any slack, nor will anyone else in this department, including her. Sonny Corinthos will be held to the same standards they hold everyone else. He wonders if he can ask what prompted this change of heart, and Anna tells him, let’s say it was a series of events that occurred recently that shed light on the fact they have to check organized crime in this city, specifically limit Sonny’s influence. To that end, Dex will be invaluable to them. He will be able to give them insight into how Sonny’s operation is run. She thinks if they pass up this opportunity, they will never get one like this again.

Dante says, Jason’s been working for the Feds this whole time, and Sonny says, supposedly. Dante asks, why? Did he explain it? Sonny says, not really. He just said he’s working as an informant for the FBI and wanted him to swallow it, but how can he swallow something that’s the worst thing Jason could have done? Dante says, nice to know how Sonny feels about it, and Sonny says, the Feds? Jason is dead to him. Dante says, come on. Why doesn’t he get the full story first before he writes Jason off? Sonny says he doesn’t want to talk about it. Go ahead. Say it. Whatever it is Dante’s got to say, say it. Dante says, Jason was Sonny’s righthand man for years. Sonny relied on him. Sonny says, when he came back from Nixon Falls, he’d had amnesia. He comes back and his wife is marrying his best friend. He had feelings for another woman, and things were never the same after that. Jason’s not the Jason he knew. Dante says he’s sorry, and Sonny says he doesn’t want to waste their valuable time talking about this right now. Once Dante gets better, he wants Dante to even make fun of him if he wants. Dante laughs, and Sonny says, he won’t even care. He’ll even let Dante. How’s that? Dante says he’s going to hold Sonny to that, and Sonny says, he’d better.

Alexis says, this is all very intriguing, but she doesn’t want to get her hopes up, and Diane says she believes the implication of bias is further grounds to appeal her disbarment. Alexis says she should have paid more attention to Neil’s family tree. She knew there was a lawyer out there somewhere, vaguely, but if Neil’s brother Fergus was at his memorial, she never met him. Diane says, maybe there’s a very good reason Fergus didn’t introduce himself to Alexis. If he was even partially responsible for her disbarment, he’d want to stay as far away from her as humanly possible before she started putting the pieces all together. Alexis says, true, and Diane says, but Fergus is no longer on the disciplinary committee. She checked. So he won’t be a factor in her appeal this time. Alexis says, all joking aside, she’s truly impressed with the progress Diane has made on this so quickly. She’s just not sure she should proceed with this. Diane says, why the hell not? and Alexis says, because her job at The Invader is annoying and frustrating, but an argument in its favor is she gets to sleep at night. She won’t be up at 3 in the morning making revisions on a closing argument or having nightmares she makes a procedural error and gets her client wrongly convicted. Diane tells her, there’s a lot to be said for a restful night’s sleep, but the Alexis she knows never took the easy way out for anything. She loves a challenge and loves being a lawyer, so what is this really all about? Alexis says, Molly’s worried. She said the last time Alexis practiced law, she also happened to be a raging alcoholic and turned her life into a car wreck. And she’s worried if the appeal is dismissed, Alexis will dive right back into the bottle. Diane asks what she said to that, and Alexis says, Molly’s got enough on her plate right now, so she doesn’t want to worry her. She told Molly that she goes to meetings regularly and she’s working the program. And that is all true. But what if by trying to get her law license back, it derails her sobriety and everything else she’s worked so hard to salvage from the ruins of her old life?

Natalia crosses out some things in the contract and says, okay. She’s crossed out everything about the live participation and pitching products, and the rest of it looks good to her. Lucy says, what if they want the live participation to remain in force? and Natalia says, then they’ll have to find another Face of Deception. Lucy tells Blaze that she knows her mom wants the best for her and her career, of course (🍷), but she does realize being the Face of Deception is a very prestigious role. It’s big, big, big. Is she really willing to just pass that up? Blaze says, she doesn’t want to, but – she looks at Natalia – her mom makes a valid point. She’s a singer, a performer, not a spokesmodel. Lucy says she sees, and Blaze says, but she doesn’t think that means they have to forget about the whole thing. Would they be open to hiring a second Face?

Elizabeth tells Jake that she knows this isn’t easy. First, he had to mourn his dad and accept that he’s gone, and all of a sudden, his dad is back with no real explanation of where he went for so long… But this isn’t good for Jake to be so angry with him. Jake says he doesn’t think it’s good for Elizabeth to be so okay with this and act all nice to him like he didn’t do anything wrong and everything’s fine. She says, that’s not what she’s doing. She knows Jake is hurting, but that doesn’t make it okay for him to lash out at everyone around him. So can he turn down the snark just a little? Jake nods and asks if she knows. She says, know what? and he says, that his dad was alive. Jason didn’t call her or get in touch with her or send her something? Did she know and then keep it a secret from him? She says, no. God no. She didn’t know he was alive, she promises. Jake says, it’s just hard. He feels guilty because… Never mind. He starts to get up, and she says, no. Just tell her. All of his feelings matter, and he gets to feel however he wants about this, and he can talk to her. No judgement here. She promises him that. He says he feels guilty because he was so sad when dad died. He used to lay in bed at night, wishing he could talk to him, wishing he had more time. But now he thinks it was easier having a dead father that people would tell you stories about, rather than one who’s alive, but only shows up to commit crimes and get arrested and has nothing to say to his own family.

There’s a knock at Anna’s office door and she says, come in. Sonny walks in and asks how she is. She asks what she can do for him. She’s very busy. She doesn’t have a lot of time. He says, okay. He’ll get to it. He just got back from seeing Dante. She asks how Dante is doing, and Sonny says, he’s doing fine. He got up and he was walking. Full recovery is going to take a while, but he hates seeing Dante that way. She says, of course (🍷), but then the alternative is much worse, and he tells her that Dante also said he’s positive it wasn’t Jason who shot him. She says she’s aware. She has a lot of work to do so… He says, even if Jason isn’t guilty of shooting Dante, he’s still guilty of being on the roof with that sniper who shot at him. She says, fortunately, he wasn’t hit, and he says, that was lucky, but she knows Jason was there. Does she have any idea what she’s going to charge him with?

Jason goes into Dante’s room and says, sorry. He didn’t mean to startle him. Dante says he just didn’t know he would see Jason here. He wants to thank him. Jason says, for what? and Dante says, for the bandage, calling 911… He thinks he probably would have bled out by the time the ambulance got there. Jason says, if it hadn’t been for him, Dante probably wouldn’t have been on the pier in the first place, and Dante says, that’s a good point. He takes it back. He laughs and Jason almost smiles. Dante says, one thing he can’t figure out. Why did Jason turn around? If he didn’t want to be identified, why didn’t he keep running? Jason says, because he knew Dante wouldn’t stop chasing them. He thought it would be safer if he let Dante arrest him, but it turns out he was wrong. Dante says, let him ask Jason this, as a cop and a victim, can Jason tell him what happened to the guy who shot him? Jason says, no. The name he had for him was fake, but what’s real is, he’s dead. Dante asks, what happened to his body? but Jason says he has no idea. He has some theories, but it doesn’t really matter. Dante says, maybe Jason can tell him this then. Was he also an FBI informant?

Diane says, my friend, none of us knows the future. If Alexis’s appeal is denied, could the disappointment she feels cause her to start drinking again? She doesn’t know. She guesses anything’s possible. But she knows Alexis and knows how strong she is. She’s accomplished everything she’s set her mind to, so there’s no reason to think this would cause her to start drinking again. This place is a nightmare, but she’s not tossing them back, is she? Alexis says, no, and Diane says, so there you go. Alexis thanks her, and Diane says, let’s get to her other big news. Her petition to petition the court was granted. So now the justices just need to agree there are grounds for an appeal, even though technically speaking, that window was closed a long time ago. Alexis says, they both know motions to vacate disbarment are rarely granted, and Diane groans and says she doesn’t have the time right now to manage Alexis’s fear of success. So would she please stop being the voice of doom? She’s ready to run with this, but only if Alexis is committed to seeing it through. And of course (🍷) paying her back for all the hours she’s put in by joining her practice once they see this through.

Adrian barges in Alexis’s office and says, he and Nina have an idea he’d like to run by her, but Alexis says she’s busy. Can’t it wait? He says, it will just take a minute. Everyone has been loving his column so much, that he and Nina thought they could split it off into daily pieces. They’ll call it something like Spotlight of Society, highlighting what all the movers and shakers of Port Charles are up to. Who are the hot new couples, who’s getting divorced, who lost all their money? It could be a big hit. What does she think? Diane applauds, and Alexis says she thinks if Adrian doesn’t leave her office right now, he’ll be putting out the evening’s additional by himself. He walks up to her desk and says he knows that’s meant to be a threat, but… Alexis stands up and says, get out! Adrian backs up to the door, backs out, and closes it. Alexis tells Diane, do it. Please. Get her the hell out of here. Diane laughs.

The lawyer hands Lucy the contract and tells her to consider it official. Maxie says she’ll walk him out, and they leave. Lucy thanks Blaze and says she’s so glad they could work this out. They’re going to do amazing, great things together. Blaze says, her too. She’s the new Face of Deception. Natalia says, and what a gorgeous face it is, and they hug. Brook says, congratulations, and Maxie comes back. She says she has so many shoot ideas she can’t wait to talk to Blaze about. Lucy says, see? Everybody is so, so excited to get started working with Blaze, and Natalia says, just one more thing. This doesn’t have to be in writing or anything, but she really would like their word that moving forward, Allison will be a woman of mystery. Maxie asks what that means, and Natalia says, just that her private life will remain off-limits. So she won’t be doing interviews. They won’t publish puff pieces about her. Allison, or Blaze as they’ll be calling her, will just be known to the public by her beauty and her music. Maxie says, okay… Is that what Blaze wants? Blaze says, absolutely, but Maxie looks like she doesn’t quite buy it.

Elizabeth says, Jake’s father is a man of few words, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He wouldn’t have shown up here if he didn’t want to see Jake. Jake says, maybe he just felt like he had to, but she says, no. She doesn’t know where he’s been for the past few years or why, but she saw the way he looked at Jake just now. He wouldn’t have stayed away on his own. Jake asks why he’s like this, and she says, he’s complicated, but he never makes things up and he doesn’t lie. He may not say a whole lot, but every word that comes out of his mouth is the truth. Jake says, she always defends him, but she says she’s explaining him. It’s different. Jake says, it doesn’t matter anyway. Jason knows he’s mad at him. He doubts he’ll ever show up here again. She says she wouldn’t count on that. He’s not going to make some big declaration that he’s Jake’s dad and he loves him. Instead, he’s going to keep showing up until Jake realizes it’s the only explanation.

Jason says he guesses Dante’s been talking to Sonny, and Dante says, he left a while ago. Jason working for the Feds really messed him up. Jason says he’s an informant, not an agent, and Dante says, Sonny thinks he’s a traitor. There’s something else going on here. How many deals did Jason get offered over the years and he didn’t take them? How many times could he have flipped on Sonny, and he didn’t do it? Jason says he didn’t inform on Sonny, and Dante says, then who? Jason sighs and says, that, he can’t say. Dante says, the FBI must have some serious leverage, something big to get him to cooperate, and Jason says, it was big enough that he had no choice but to take their deal and do exactly what they wanted. Dante says, can Jason swear to him that it has nothing to do with his father? and Jason says, Sonny has nothing to do with this. He’s safe. And Jason is going to do his best to make sure he stays that way.

Anna says, son of a bitch. Sonny has the gall to come in here and try and get her to file charges against Jason. Sonny says he just wanted a heads up in case he has to testify, and she says, there are no charges to file. It’s clear Jason stopped that sniper from shooting him. Anyway, this is an FBI case now, so if he’ll… If he wants her to arrest someone, she can always circle back to the attack on Cyrus on Christmas Eve. He asks, where’s this hostility coming from? and she says, it’s an open case in her jurisdiction and she has a lot of DNA evidence collected from the victim indicating him as the attacker. Cyrus may have declined to press charges on Sonny, but honestly, she doesn’t need him to move forward. He says he thought they were getting closer and that doesn’t seem to be the case now. What’s happening? She says, it’s not the case. She thinks her attitude toward him was really colored by his friendship with Robin and what he did for her and Stone. But if he thought for one second that she was okay with him beating an old man bloody and unconscious, no matter if he’s a vile person, he was sorely mistaken. She’s Police Commissioner, and his days of thinking he’s going to skate no matter what the offense, they’re over. So if he doesn’t mind – even if he does mind – get out of her office.

Tomorrow, Stella asks why Curtis is keeping this from his family; Anna says, it’s her jurisdiction and she wants in; Dex says, that was a stupid and ugly reason to die; Willow says she thought Carly and Jason told each other everything; and Jason asks John why he should continue to honor that.

Below Deck

Port Louis Marina – We backtrack a little to Xandi asking why she has to change herself to make a 22-year-old feel good about herself. In his bunk with Sunny, Ben tells her that she needs to trust him, and she apologizes because she’s an idiot. He’s totally untrustworthy. The crew all go to bed, and Xandi mumbles that she’s a 30-year-old involved in child’s play. Apparently, she is obsessed with ages. In Kyle’s interview, he says that he and Barbie formed a relationship. He doesn’t know if he’ll be friendzoned, but time will tell. In the morning, Sunny says she needs to get a grip, and in her interview, she says she has an alter-ego when she drinks, and Sabrina is a jealous bitch. The guys she used to date were little a-holes and cheated on her. Sabrina was her protective shield, but she wants her gone now. Tequila Sabrina, buh-bye. Fraser whines that he’s so hungover, and Sunny apologizes to Xandi. Xandi tells her that there’s no reason to be jealous.

Fraser calls the interior to the sundeck and says, they were hoping for a new stew, but there’s been no news. Captain Kerry calls Curtis at yacht service and asks to see resumés. Fraser suggests they get everything done so they can clock off with a happy heart. In Kyle’s interview, he says, his mom is the best. She raised him on her own until he was five, when she got together with his stepdad. His dad came around later, but he decided his dad couldn’t just jump in when he felt like it. His stepdad adopted him, and he considers him his dad. The deckhands rinse down the boat and Fraser asks the captain about a new stew. Captain Kerry explains that it’s busy season, and asks, how’s the chef? Fraser says he thinks Anthony has too much on his plate and it’s a sh*tshow. We flash back to the galley in disarray, and Frasers says, the organization is terrible. He wonders if the captain can step in, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, chefs are artists. He once hired a good friend who was a chef and ruined the friendship. He tells Fraser, there’s got to be balance. Anthony will believe his art is being critiqued. In Anthony’s interview, he says, revenge is his motivation. Since he was a kid, he’s been dyslexic. It’s hard be focused and it makes the job more difficult. You need to love what you do. The captain calls Fraser, Anthony, and Ben for the preference sheet meeting.

Captain Kerry says he’s impressed with how hard they worked on the last charter. This charter, the primary is Melinda, who was a cruise director. There are a bunch of people coming with her, but the only important one is Jill Zarin, a RHONY OG, who is guest Gary’s girlfriend. Fraser asks what pickleball is and the captain tells him, tennis for rich people. There are tons of food preferences and foods the guests are allergic too. So many, I can’t even keep up. The primary is egg free, gluten free, and dairy free. She’s a vegetarian who’s beginning to integrate fish into her diet, but doesn’t want raw seafood. Anthony says he’ll give her dust. She wants a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free Piña Colada-inspired birthday cake for herself, and a regular-ass cake for her husband Noah, as they’re both celebrating. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s stressed. There are a lot of restrictions, and he keeps hoping it’s not real, but it’s real. Ben reads that one of the guests is a yogi, who will lead the guests in a sunset flow after pickleball at the beach. The crew gets to bed early, and in the morning, Dylan says he loves the feeling of getting a pump. If he doesn’t have a dumbbell, he feels sad. Well, he should have no problem with that since Ben is around. Captain Kerry walks around the boat with Ben and says, it’s better. Provisions come in and we find out the fridge is named Christopher because it’s a walk-in. BA-DUM-CHH! In Fraser’s interview, he says, he’s feeling a stew down, and Xandi says, yachting is f***ed.  

The guests are arriving in 15 minutes, and I’ve decided they must be a-holes just because they hang with Jill. The guests arrive, the usual happens, and Jill thinks the hot tub is too hot. Anthony slices the biggest avocado I’ve ever seen, and Fraser points out that there are quite a few dietary restrictions. Sunny calls departure for the first time, and in her interview, she says she grew up on the water and it reminds her of home in Montreal. When she went to university, she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life, and it damaged her self-esteem. Why it should, I’m not sure. She says, yachting opened a door to new self-esteem and confidence. En route to Le Phare Bleu, Jill complains that they don’t have the best ice machine and she needs her Diet Coke to be in the freezer. Barbie suggests nugget ice, and Jill is good with that. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Jill is the primary in her head. Jill tells the other guests that she just showed them how to make a good Diet Coke. Anthony tells Fraser that he wants to do lobster, but Fraser reminds him that the primary doesn’t like lobster. In his interview, Fraser says he thinks Anthony is overwhelmed. He’s not focused and doesn’t know what to do, so he’s not there. Anthony says, welcome to paradise.

Anchor is dropped, and Jill babbles to Fraser about guest Noah’s father inventing the Moderna vaccine. The toys are put out and the guests go into the water, while Jill sits on the boat. In Barbie’s interview, she says, this boat is three times bigger than what she’s used to, but her dad didn’t raise a quitter. Jill blabs to Captain Kerry about how she drove a boat. The captain calls Ben to the wheelhouse, and Ben says he’s putting more responsibility on the others. The captain asks if he’s worked out who his lead deckhand needs to be. Dylan has experience, but may or may not be the one. Dylan tells the guests that he’s happy to be here. This is living. And he’s going to be lead deckhand. Xandi and Captain Kerry eat in the crew mess, and Xandi asks how long he’s been with his girlfriend. He tells her, three years, and in her interview, she says, after her divorce, she had a good relationship, but they broke up and it hurt her. She went to a healer to release her from the pain. She needed to love herself and she’s taken a stage of celibacy. If you don’t want marriage and kids, move along. Jill wants a makeup mirror, and bitches that there’s no electric in her bathroom for her to dry her hair. Barbie explains that the outlet is hidden in the drawer and goes to the bathroom to show her. While Jill has a captive audience, she tells Barbie that every yacht she’s been on has a load of toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, etc. in a vanity drawer, so she can pocket them. In her interview, Barbie says, she’s annoying. It’s too much. The primary’s freeloading guest is so demanding, she needs another stew just for Jill. Jill kvetches that she wants a chocolate on her pillow, and I’m pretty sure now that Bobby died just to get away from her.

Jill starts the list again, and Barbie tells Jill that she’ll hook this whole situation up for her. She tells Fraser about Jill saying, yachts are supposed to have this stuff, and Xandi frantically tries to find toiletries. Barbie brings Jill a little basket of stuff, and instead of thank you, Jill says, somebody’s been scrambling. Captain Kerry texts about the new stew and is told they’re working on it. The table is beautiful with a collection of candles in different colors and heights. In Anthony’s interview, he says he loves scallops. They melt in your mouth. Someone is vegan and he wants to make them feel like the other guests, so he’s going to use tofu, so they feel like they’re at the same party. Fraser calls the crew to the upper pantry for the birthday cake presentation. Anthony tells the primary that there’s a pina colada flan and a raspberry shortcake. In their interview, Fraser tells Anthony, it wasn’t easy, but he nailed it, and they high-five. The guests go to bed at 11:30, so, there’s that. Barbie says, Jill is super needy, and she has to get to f***ing bed.

Second day of charter. Jill screeches for Gary, and says, that’s her life. Sadly, it’s Gary’s life too. The guests sit for breakfast. Somebody wants hot sauce, and another guest wants a drink. Jill says, they need a doorbell, when Fraser appears, and Jill says she recommend a button for her the primary to use. On her yacht, they used to have a doorbell that went to the kitchen. Fraser says, they must have loved her, and Jill laughs, but I don’t think he was being playful. He tells her that there’s usually a crew member around, but she says, most of the time, there isn’t, which is just an outright lie. She says, they can get a bell on Amazon, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, Jill is crawling into his brain and eating away his soul. He tells Captain Kerry about the button conversation, and it’s a hard no on the doorbell.

Fraser packs for pickleball, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, Dylan is a good lad, but they’ve high-fived more times than he can count. We flash back to several of those, and Jill tells primary Melinda that she put on her preference sheet that she wants food out all the time and thinks something should be out all day. When Barbie comes by, Jill tells her that they should have snacks on the bar all the time, and Barbie says she’ll make that happen. Jill tells Melinda that she has to get involved. She’s pushy, but they’ll be satisfied. Is that her word for embarrassed? Fraser and Sunny scout for a beach location, and Anthony looks spaced out when Barbie gives him lunch burger orders and writes it on the whiteboard. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s had dyslexia his entire life. Letters and numbers. He has no idea what to do. He’s lost. Has he bothered telling anyone this? Barbie writes it down on a legal pad, and in her interview, she says, lunch is turning out to be a complete nightmare. Jill says, her burger is cold, and yells if anybody else’s burger is cold, just tell them. They love it. Because she’s with a troop of five-year-olds and their crew of mommies. The offending burgers are bright back to the galley. On the beach, Fraser asks if Sunny has feelings for Ben, and she tells him about Tequila Sabrina. Jill gripes that they should done a buffet. Anthony says, it’s hard to understand, and Xandi says, the menu isn’t converted properly. Barbie tells the captain that Anthony is disorganized, and it caused a disaster. He tells her that he’ll do damage control, and at the table, Jill says she wants to know the meals in advance. The captain comes to the table and says he heard there was some confusion, but it looks like everything is all out now. Everybody tells him, it’s all great, so he goes back to his real job. Jill says, the captain shouldn’t be bothered with this, so apparently, there’s no pleasing her. Barbie tells the captain that she appreciates him. It won’t happen again. Dylan washes the fat residue from his ham, which I totally get. Jill wants to talk to the chef under the guise of Melinda talking to the chef. She says she has to be mommy now. Kyle and Ben laugh about pickleball, while Anthony goes to meet with faux primary Jill. He says he wants to make everyone happy, and chicken pad tai is decided on, along with a tofu option. Jill asks if they can have sushi at the bar before dinner, and crudites for her since she doesn’t do sushi. In Anthony’s interview, he wonders if the primary is okay with her friend taking over the boat like a f***ing captain. The guests leave in the tender, and Fraser welcomes them to pickleball beach. In Ben’s interview, he says, he’s been known to play Grand Slam champions, and we flash back to that last season. He thinks pickleball will be a breeze. Barbie calls friend Brit and complains about Xandi. In his interview, Fraser says, please, God, help me.

Fraser tells Jill that he’s sorry about lunch, and she says, don’t be, but then proceeds to complain about it. She says, something’s off, and in Barbie’s interview, she says, this situation is f***ed. She’s doing everything herself. The guests do meditation at the beach, while on the boat, Barbie complains to Anthony that she had to do everything while Xandi was doing yoga. When Fraser gets back with the guests, Barbie complains to him, and he says, they’re just going until they die. In Xandi’s interview, she says, Barbie has become Jill’s personal assistant. Fraser puts out the sushi and remembers the primary didn’t want any raw seafood. I’m guessing the primary didn’t remember either or doesn’t know what sushi is, since she was right there when Jill told Anthony to serve it before dinner. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Jill is rattling their cages. They should be focused on the primary; they’re number one and in charge. Anthony should be focused, but he’s out of his depth and imploding. He tells Fraser that they can’t afford these mistakes. They can’t drift from what the primary wants. Otherwise, they’ll make more mistakes.

Next time, the crew gets a day off; Barbie thinks Fraser wants to fire her; the new stew arrives; and Ben finds the new stew attractive. I’m pretty sure Ben would find Godzilla attractive if Godzilla had boobies.

⚰️ This Week In Ones…

I’m just going to put this out there. This was the finale, and it was good, but I felt a bit ripped off at the end. Either they should have had an extra-long episode or one more episode. It was a little too quickly and neatly wrapped up for me.

Rick meets with General Beale; General Beale tells Rick, the sword that kills is the sword that gives life – and they’re the sword; a hiding place inside a sculpture; reflection on everything that ever happened on The Walking Dead; a day completely about tomorrow; the CRM’s plans; burning things to bring things back; and love doesn’t die.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode-6-recap-finale-rick-michonne

🚴‍♀️ Better Late Than Even Later…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderMess. Until then, stay safe, stay not using your phone as a security blanket to avoid social interaction, and stay getting the full story before writing someone off.

March 28, 2024 – Jason Is Arraigned, Peace Out, Double the Awful, Not First Choice, VanderDeck, Wealthy Pets (!) & Can’t

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the courthouse, Josslyn asks Kristina if there’s any news on Dante, and Kristina says, not that she knows of. Josslyn says she guesses that’s kind of good news. He’s still fighting and everything. Kristina says, you bet he is, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know why they’re wasting their time with this hearing. They should be going after whoever actually shot Dante. Kristina says she thinks they already found him.

Michael goes into the courtroom and wonders how he knew Carly would be here early for Jason’s arraignment. She says she tried to get in to see him last night, but they wouldn’t allow any visitors. Has he heard from Diane? Do they know if he’s still okay? Michael says he’s sure Jason is still okay, and Carly says, he’s recovering from a gunshot wound. Michael knows Jason. He’s not going to speak up if he needs anything. He tells her to breathe. It’s going to be okay. Diane is going to get Jason out on bail. Diane comes in and says, that’s certainly the plan. Carly thanks her so much for being here, and Diane says she’s not doing this out of the goodness of her heart. Jason is just another client. It’s just a job. Carly says, that’s her story? and Diane says, and she’s sticking to it. She goes to the defense table, and Carly asks if Michael has seen any sign of Sonny, but he says, not yet.

Sam reads to Dante: Angelo took a deep breath, let it out, and case his line into the stream. Just as the lure hit the water, it hit him. He caught the wrong man. She tells Dante that she’s going to need him to wake up soon because she’s losing her voice. Portia comes in and asks if Sam wanted to speak with her, and they step outside. Portia asks what she can do for Sam, and Sam says she was just informed the hospital wants to move Dante to Turning Woods, and Portia is the sitting Chief of Staff. She needs Portia to stop that from happening.

At the Penthouse, Ava asks Sonny, how was Dante? and he says, no change. She says, he’s pushing himself too hard. Is there anything she can do for him before he heads back out? He asks if she’s kicking him out of his own house, and she says she just thought he’d be going to the courthouse for Jason’s arraignment.

Sam says, unless of course (🍷) there’s been a mistake, and Portia doesn’t think Dante should be transferred. Portia says she’s going to have to look into this. She personally isn’t aware of any transfer. But now that Dante appears to be stabilized, it might be in his best interest to be transferred to a better facility where they have the right equipment to care for him. Sam says, because the doctors don’t think there’s anything more they can do for him here, but Portia says, because the ICU doesn’t offer appropriate care. Sam says, but she thinks the doctors are right and there is no hope, and Portia tells her that she’s not saying that and certainly doesn’t believe that at all. Sam says, but she is backing the transfer, and Portia says, what she is going to do is look into it for Sam. Sam says, because she has to wonder if it was Curtis who had been slow to wake up after he was shot, would Portia be okay with the hospital transferring him? Portia says she does understand what Sam is going through and she’s going to do her best to get Sam some answers. Portia leaves, and Sam goes back into Dante’s room. She takes his hand and says, it’s okay. Just a little hiccup. He’s not going anywhere.

Josslyn says, Kristina doesn’t actually believe Jason is guilty, and Kristina says, Josslyn is telling her that she can’t believe Jason actually shot the cop who was following him? Josslyn says, Jason would never shoot Dante, and Kristina says, that’s not what the evidence is pointing to. Josslyn says, evidence is not proof, but Kristina says, it’s pointing pretty hard. Josslyn asks where she’s getting this information, and Kristina says, from Molly. She knows this case better than anyone. Josslyn says, Molly is prosecuting Jason? That’s not a conflict of interest? Kristina says, now Josslyn is questioning her sister’s ability to maintain her professional objectivity? and Josslyn says, no, but if Molly stays objective, despite this so-called evidence, it will be pretty clear that no one actually knows what happened. Kristina says, that’s what a trial’s for, and Josslyn asks why Jason should have to stand trial for something he didn’t do.

Alexis asks Molly how it’s going, and Molly says she’s a little nervous. Alexis says, it’s just an arraignment. She can handle it. Although Alexis is a little annoyed that Robert left Molly to handle his dirty work. Molly says, ADAs have to take the cases they’re offered. All she can do now is make her case and let the judge decide whether he wants to let Jason walk free or keep him behind bars.

Drew walks into the courtroom with Olivia, and Carly asks, how’s Dante? Olivia says, no change (maybe they could just wear buttons that say that), and Michael says he’s sorry to hear that. At least that means he’s stable though, right? Olivia says, Dante’s lucky to be alive. Armor piercing bullets are terrible things. Carly says, good thing Jason kept him alive until help arrived, and Olivia says, maybe Jason wouldn’t have had to keep him alive if he hadn’t shot him in the first place. Drew says, okay. Emotions are running high. This is not the time, it is not the place. Carly says she didn’t mean to upset Olivia, and Drew says he thinks they should find a seat. Olivia says, Carly and Michael need to open their eyes, and goes to sit with Drew. Michael says, Olivia is just upset about Dante, and Carly says, that’s because Olivia only knows one side of things. No one’s heard Jason’s side yet. Michael doesn’t say anything and looks away, and Carly says, Michael…

Kristina says, Josslyn is unbelievable. She wants Jason to be innocent, so he is? Never mind the evidence. Never mind the fact that Dante might die. Or the fact that Sam and her father both know he’s guilty. Josslyn says, they know that? They told her? Kristina says, Sam and her dad aren’t here today. Why does she think that is? Because they know he did this. They know he’s guilty. They don’t want to see him, let alone hear Diane make some convoluted argument about why he’s not. Josslyn says, now she gets it. Sonny thinks Jason is guilty, and in Kristina’s brain, Sonny can do no wrong. Wake up. Her father is wrong about everything. Kristina starts to respond, when Elizabeth comes along and asks if they want to go in. The arraignment is about to start. Kristina says, that’s a great idea, and Josslyn says she has to find her mom. She leaves, and Kristina says she’s sorry. This is the last thing Elizabeth needed, to hear them screaming about Jason. Elizabeth says she’s more worried about them getting removed from the courthouse, and Kristina says, what a shame that would be. Elizabeth says, people are going to feel how they’re going to feel. Josslyn isn’t the enemy. Kristina says, people are going to have to choose sides, and goes to a seat.

Sonny says he’s not going to the arraignment, and Ava says, clearly, this is tearing him up. Has he seen Jason? He asks if she knows how many hours he’s spent at Dante’s hospital bed, listening to those machines that are trying to keep him alive, willing his son to open his eyes. The last thing he wants to do is see the man who put him there. She says, there could be another explanation, and he says, they saw Jason’s surveillance picture. Jason was at Selina Wu’s warehouse. Dante followed him and some other guy to the pier. Even if he didn’t pull the trigger, Jason was involved with these guys who want him dead. She says she knows it looks bad, but if Jason shot Dante – if he wanted to shoot Dante – why did he help him? Why not leave him for dead? He says, how would he know anything about what Jason wants anymore? No one knows. She tells him that she’s not saying he doesn’t have a reason to doubt Jason. There are a lot of questions. Why was he there? Why did he help Dante? Why did Jason let everyone believe he was dead for all these years? Sonny says he can’t answer that. All he cares about is whether his son is going to make it. She says she’s sorry. She knows how much Jason’s betrayal hurt him. He says, you know what hurts the most? Knowing his choices put his son in the hospital.

Ava asks what Sonny could have possibly done… Sonny says, it’s his business, his decisions. That’s why Dante got caught in the line of fire. She says, Dante is a police officer. He puts himself in the line of fire. Sonny says, Dante’s a cop and he is what he is. There’s always been a wall between them; the personal side and what they do. She says she thinks that wall is a gift that they give one another, so despite their work, they can be father and son and have a relationship that’s meaningful. He says, they’ve formed a bond in the last couple years because of the compromises that Dante’s made, and she asks if Dante has ever found evidence against him and looked the other way. He says, only in the beginning when he shot Dante. He didn’t know Dante was his son and Dante lied to cover for him. She says, since she’s known him, it’s been very obvious that the two of them love each other very much. Sonny says, that’s because of Dante. Dante always gives him another chance, even when he got together with Nina. His son’s a good man. Better than he’ll ever be.

Stella opens the door to Dante’s room and asks if she can come in. Sam says, yes, of course (🍷). She’s sorry. She’s not quite sure what she should call Stella. Stella says, because Sam’s not sure if she’s there as family or representing the hospital? Sam says, maybe a little bit of both. She’s just realizing that Curtis is one of her closest friends and TJ is essentially her brother-in-law, but she and Stella really don’t know each other. Stella says, how about if they start? Call her Stella. Sam shakes her hand and says she’s Sam, and Stella says, nice to meet her. Dante’s looking better. Sam tells her, that’s what she’s been saying. She should probably apologize to Portia. Stella says she’s sure that’s not necessary, but on behalf of the hospital, allow her to apologize. Sam shouldn’t have been blindsided by this decision. Sam says she’s been in this town a long time and knows this hospital really well. She’s been a patient here, she’s lost loved ones here, she even almost married a doctor here. Stella says, sounds like a story, and Sam says, maybe she’ll tell it to her sometime. But one thing she’s never seen this hospital do is give up on a patient.

Carly asks what Michael isn’t telling her, and he says, not here. She asks if he’ll tell her after, and Josslyn joins them. She says she’s so sorry she was almost late. She was here an hour early. She had an interesting conversation with Kristina. Nina walks in and asks Carly, how’s Dante? Carly says, as far as she knows, there’s been no change, but if Nina came here hoping to run into Sonny, there’s been no sign of him. Nina says, Sonny is still her husband, and she cares about him and his family, and Carly says, really? Has she asked how they feel about her? Nina says, believe it or not, one of the reasons she came here was to thank Carly, and Carly says, for what? Nina says she’s back at Crimson. Carly probably already knows that, and whatever she said to Drew helped him see the light, and fortunately there’s nothing Carly did in her brief tenure at Crimson that can’t be undone. Carly says, let her be really clear. She doesn’t give a damn about that magazine right now.

Olivia asks Drew, what’s going on with him and Carly? and Drew says, nothing. She says, it looked like something, and he says, they broke up. So nothing. She says, when? and he says, when Jason came back to town, he realized Jason would always be first with her. The bailiff says, court is about to convene. Everybody, please find your seats. Jason is brought in, and there are soap looks all around. An officer takes his cuffs off, and Jason looks at Carly, imperceptibly nods, and she smiles.

Stella says, no one is giving up on Dante, and Sam says, palliative care? That’s what they give people who are dying. Stella says, it’s what they give people they want to make more comfortable, and Sam says, while they’re dying. Stella says, and while they’re recovering, which is where Dante is. He’s out of danger and he’s getting stronger, but it may be a while before he wakes up. Sam thanks her for sugarcoating it, but Stella says she doesn’t sugarcoat. Now as for Turning Woods… Sam says, when she hears Turning Woods, she just thinks if Dante’s grandfather Mike losing himself there, then finally letting go of everything. Stella says, Mike was very dear to her. They became very close. But when he passed, it was after a long, long fight and it was on his terms. He knew it was time for him to leave. Sam says, it’s not Dante’s time, and Stella says, exactly. Anyone could see that Dante’s a fighter. He came this far, but for him to go all the way, he needs to be in a place that can give him the tools and the comfort to win this battle. Sam says, Turning Woods, and Stella says, they provide excellent care and a more homelike environment. Look around. Sam says she knows. There’s no place like home. Stella says, there sure isn’t. And she understands how difficult it is when a loved one is stuck in limbo the way Dante is. It can wear your down. When was the last time Sam had a good night’s sleep? Sam says, it’s been a while. She gets an hour here and an hour there, but before Stella tells her to go home… Stella says she wasn’t going to, and Sam says, really? Stella says, Sam wouldn’t, so what would be the point? and Sam says she can’t leave Dante. She sleeps when she sleeps, but the nurses are always coming in to check his vitals, which is good. It’s great that they’re on top of things. Stella says, hospitals aren’t very restful, and Sam says, no. And she sees what Stella just did there, and she hears what Stella is saying about Turning Woods. Stella says, but she’s not convinced, and Sam says, sending Dante there is like admitting defeat, giving in to the idea he might never wake up. Stella says, but once he’s there, he might wake up sooner, and Sam says, okay, maybe, but that’s not it. Dante’s son Rocco, his mother is in a long-term care facility, and if Dante winds up in one, Rocco is going to think he lost his father too. And she’s not going to put him through that.

Ava says, like Sonny, Dante’s a good father, and a father should never lose hope in his child. Or is she wrong about that? Has he lost hope in his son? He says, she knows the answer to that, and she says, damn right she does. He has to believe it in his heart that he and Dante have plenty of time left together. He says, time to disappoint him, and she says, time to disappoint each other. He says, Dante could never disappoint him, and she says, tell her that the next time Dante slaps the cuffs on him. He says, that would be his brightest moment, and she says, liar. He says he’s glad she’s here. He’s glad she can help him and talk to him. Who would have guessed? She says, sometimes people aren’t who you think they are, and he says, sometimes they are not.

Molly gets up and says, at this time, the defendant Jason Morgan is charged with two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, as well as conspiracy to commit murder. Further charges pending. Danny walks in, and the judge asks the defendant to please rise. He asks how Jason pleads to the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. After a long pause containing soap looks, Jason says, not guilty.

Ava hands Sonny a folded paper and says, it’s Avery’s get-well card for Dante. He says, she sure loves her big brother, and Ava says, she does. He makes such a fuss over her, and she loves every minute of it. Sonny says he remembers when Dante went to Avery’s class on career day. She always brags about her big brother. A little boy went up to her and says, he doesn’t look like your brother because he’s too old. Avery’s feelings are hurt, so she wanted to call Dante, and the teacher called the PCPD, and Dante came back to class. The teacher told him what happened, so Dante gets in front of the whole class and says, Avery, is your dad my dad? She says, yeah, and he said, that’s because you’re my sister. So they high fived and he left the class. She says, Dante to the rescue, and he says he just hopes Avery gets to have more days with her big brother.

Sam says, Stella should see Dante when he’s conscious and not pale. He’s a good guy. Totally not her type. Stella says, have it bad for the bad boys? and Sam says, the more dangerous they are, the harder she falls. Stella says, and Dante isn’t dangerous, but Sam says, that’s the thing. She thinks he may be the most dangerous man she ever loved, because he’s a good guy. He’s got a sense of right and wrong and justice. That’s not to say he can’t be a total wise ass about it. There was this one time they were both after Jason and Britt Westbourne. Not together, but she needed to get to them first. Stella asks what she did, and Sam says, what any good woman would do. She slashed his tires. Stella says, and this is where their great romance began? but Sam says, no. He showed up at her place, slashed tire in hand. Stella asks what she did, and Sam says, he demanded reimbursement, so she was very old school about it and wrote him a check. Stella says, that is old school, and Sam says, which he tore up. Stella says, sounds like a good man, and Sam says, he’s the best, taking his hand, and he knows it.

The judge says, the defendant has entered a plea of not guilty. Where do the people stand on bail? Molly says, the people ask that the defendant be held without bail. Mr. Morgan is a textbook flight risk. Diane asks if she may, and the judge says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Diane thanks him and says, if the defendant had wanted to fly, believe her, he would have flown already. Instead, he turned himself in. Mr. Morgan is eager for his day in court to prove his innocence. Molly says, after disappearing for years, allowing his loved ones to believe he was dead, and only resurfacing in a shooting that left a member of local law enforcement in mortal peril, and Diane says, if esteemed counsel will let her finish. Molly says she apologizes. She thought Diane finished. Diane says, no. Mr. Morgan has deep ties to this community. He is the son of the late Dr. Alan Quartermaine and Dr. Monica Quartermaine. Molly says, it’s worth noting that Mr. Morgan’s rap sheet is longer than a CVS receipt, and Diane says, this discussion is about bail as it pertains to current charges against her client, not his long, long list of acquittals and dismissals. They ask that Mr. Morgan be released on his own recognizance. Molly says, it’s also worth noting the brutality of the crimes involved. There is video evidence placing Mr. Morgan at the warehouse where an attempt was made on the life of Sonny Corinthos, Mr. Morgan’s former business partner, and DNA evidence places Mr. Morgan on the pier where Detective Falconari was shot using armor piercing bullets. Said evidence also places the defendant in direct contact with the victim. Diane says, this DNA evidence could only exist if the item in question had been used to staunch Detective Falconari’s bleeding. Molly says, the defendant fled and evaded capture for days. These are the actions of a guilty man. Diane says, right, because only guilty individuals want to avoid incarceration. May she remind the court of the PCPD’s long history of demonstrated bias against her client. Molly says she wonders why, and the judge thanks them both. He says, indeed, he’s familiar with the PCPD’s history with Mr. Morgan and Mr. Morgan’s history with the law, and he’s ready to make his ruling. Bail is set at 5 million. Court is in recess. The bailiff says, all rise, and Danny jets. Elizabeth follows and watches him go down the hallway. Josslyn says she hopes Michael brought a check, and Jason asks if the officer can give him a minute. He goes over to Carly and hugs her. Drew and Nina watch.

Sam thanks Stella, who says, of course (🍷). She can understand Sam’s reservations about Turning Woods, but that’s where Dante can get the best care and have the best chance of recovery. Sam says she hears what Stella is saying, and Stella says she’ll talk to Rocco if Sam would like her to, and make sure he knows there’s still hope. Sam says, Stella would do that for her? and Stella says, of course (🍷). And as someone who’s worked in this environment five days a week, hospitals might be a good place to get well, but they’re an even better place to get sick. Sam says she’ll talk to Sonny and Olivia about Turning Woods, and Stella says, it really is the best choice because no one is giving up on Dante. She leaves, and Sam looks back at Dante.

At the station, Diane says she’ll get the ball rolling on Jason’s bail, so when they’re ready for Michael… He says, he’ll be here, and Diane leaves. Josslyn says she’s so glad Jason doesn’t have to wait behind bars until the trial, and Michael says, Jason hates being locked up. But that didn’t stop him from getting himself sent to Pentenville when Michael needed him. Josslyn says, of course (🍷) he did. He shows up for the people he loves, unlike Sonny. Michael says he can’t believe Sonny didn’t show up at the hearing, but Josslyn says she’s glad he didn’t show. Jason’s better off. He says, why is that? and she says, Sonny doesn’t deserve Jason’s loyalty. He never has.

Kristina tells Molly that she was a stone pro. Never flinched, never wavered. Alexis says she’ll be right back, and asks Drew, what’s up? Drew says he has some good news for her, and she says, about? He says he thought she should know, Nina’s back at Crimson. She says, define back, and he says, she’s Editor-in-Chief once again. Alexis says, but Nina’s still her publisher, and he says, technically, yes. Olivia says, but between running the MetroCourt with her… Drew says, and running CrimsonAlexis says, Nina won’t be able to torment her anymore? He says, pretty much, and Alexis says, welcome news indeed. He says, congratulations, and she thanks him. She goes back to Molly and Kristina, and Olivia tells Drew, welcome back. Drew says, to what? and she says, the support group of people forced to work with Nina on a professional basis. He asks if the group has a name, and she says she was thinking, Oh No Not Nina Anonymous, and he says, there’s a ring to that. They leave, and Kristina hugs Molly. She says she’s so proud of Molly, and leaves. Alexis says, so ADA Lansing-Davis, and Molly asks if she has any notes. Alexis says she didn’t want to interrupt Molly and Kristina, but she has a few, and Molly says, hit me. Alexis says, she presented the facts of the case not only with accuracy, but she effectively landed the argument. And she did it with flair and the judge was impressed. Molly says, he still granted bail, and Alexis says, five million dollars. But considering the case, the evidence, and Diane, it’s a victory, so take the win, kid. Molly says, when she puts it like that… Was Alexis ever, maybe not glad, but maybe not terribly disappointed when she lost a motion? Alexis says, of course (🍷). Why? Molly says, between Alexis and her, she thinks Jason is innocent, and Alexis says, okay, so she kept her personal opinions to herself, and she followed the law, which, by the way, is what she’s supposed to do. Molly thanks her.

In the hallway, Kristina asks if Nina is waiting for her father, and Nina guesses it’s pointless to deny it. She’s sure Kristina has thoughts about that. Kristina says she does. She knows things between Nina and her dad are… bad would be an understatement, but for what it’s worth (🍷), she saw how happy they were together, and she hopes they work it out. Nina thanks her and says she can’t tell Kristina how much that means to her. Kristina says she just wants him to be happy, and Nina says, believe it or not, so does she. She’s really surprised he’s not here. Kristina says, his absence speaks volumes, and Nina wonders if he’s lost faith in Jason. Kristina says, whatever he’s thinking or feeling right now, she knows he must feel very alone. She’s not saying it’s a good time to reach out to him, but she’s also not saying it isn’t. Nina says she wants Kristina to know she’s committed to her marriage, and Kristina says she got that feeling. Nina says she’s going to prove to Sonny that they belong together.

Ava asks if there’s anything she can do to make things easier, but Sonny says, she’s already doing it, and thanks her. There’s a knock at the door, and Ava tells him, stay right there. She’ll get rid of whoever it is. Ava opens the door to Carly, who says she needs to talk to Sonny. Ava says, it’s not really a good time, but Carly says she doesn’t give a damn, and walks in. She asks Sonny, where were you? and he says, with his son. Where else would he be? She says she just came from Jason’s arraignment, and he asks if they charged Jason for shooting Dante. She says, he didn’t do it, and he says, how is he supposed to know Jason is not the reason that Dante might die? Ava again looks like she’s watching a tennis match.

Sam wipes Dante’s neck and hands with a washcloth, and settles into a really squeaky chair. As she’s about to drift off, she hears something, and sees the cup of water on the floor. She goes to the bed and tells Dante that he moved. He dropped her water on the floor. Look at me. Open your eyes. You’re coming back to me.

Molly tells Alexis, so she told Kristina that she didn’t mean to imply Kristina wasn’t doing what was best for the baby, any more than Kristina meant to imply she would let her personal feelings influence her professionally, which was kind of what they were both doing. So here they are. Alexis says, Molly knows her sister believes in her, and Molly says she does. Kristina was here for her today, even though she still treats Molly likes she’s a teenager writing romance novels. Well, romance novel. Alexis says, her best-selling romance novel, and Molly says, if only she could convince Kristina she’s an assistant district attorney. Alexis says, about that. She thinks it’s really difficult for a lot of people to understand why lawyers are so committed to the law. She thinks it’s difficult for them to understand that, since every rule has an exception, and every law has a loophole. It can be wildly unfair, right? And when you bring politicians and power brokers into it makes it even worse. Not to mention the people they help when they prosecute. One would think that Lady Justice is not only blind, she’s left the building entirely. She hasn’t. And despite all the system’s vast imperfections, it’s people like Molly who make sure the law is followed and that justice is tempered with fairness and mercy. As much as she thinks Molly won’t believe this right now, when the system does work, it’s because of lawyers like her. Molly says, that was exactly what she needed to hear, and Alexis says she tries. Molly says she hopes Alexis does get her law license back. When she was disbarred, everybody lost. Alexis says she did kind of bring it on herself with that whole perjury thing, and Molly says, stack that against the people she helped and got justice for, and all the people she could have helped. Talk about an unfair system.

Carly asks how Sonny could think Jason would ever shoot Dante, and Sonny asks, what’s going on with Jason? Has he said anything to her? She says she went to the police station, but they wouldn’t let her see him. Sonny and Anna are friends. She might have made an exception for him had he bothered to show up. He says he was with his son who’s dying, and she says, who’s only alive because of Jason. He says, he only got shot because of Jason. Jason wouldn’t have stayed away this long and then come back and try to kill him. She says he’s jumping to conclusions. The truth is, he doesn’t know why Jason came back and doesn’t know why he was in that warehouse. But he does know Jason has saved his life so many times. He owes Jason the chance to explain. He says, I don’t owe Jason nothing.

Jason comes into the squad room, and Michael says, bail is posted. They’re good to go. Jason thanks him, and Diane says she’s sure he doesn’t need to hear the caveat about not leaving town, and Jason says he’d never do that to Michael. She says, just a small piece of advice. It might behoove him to keep a low profile for a while. Michael says, no crashing through skylights, and Diane says, please don’t make her have to prepare a second defense because she’s going to be real busy with this one. Jason says he promises, and she says, good, and leaves. Michael says, let’s go home, but Jason says he’s sorry. He can’t go home yet.

Tomorrow, Sam asks if she can get Dante anything, and he says, Anna; John Brennan says he was starting to think he’d been abandoned; Elizabeth says Jason is lucky to have Danny in his corner; and Sonny asks Jason why he should believe him.  

✒️ There Goes Another One…

What’s up with this changing of the writers? All those Emmys weren’t’ good enough?

🏊‍♂️ A Tale Of Two Awful Houses…

I can’t look.

https://shows.acast.com/ebbm/episodes/welcome-to-season-2-a-pop-culture-roundup-summer-house-marth

🛟 Not Mine Either…

Although if we go by the lesser of two evils, he’s better than Jared was.

https://ew.com/below-deck-captain-kerry-ben-willoughby-not-first-choice-bosun-8619631

🍸 Deck On Pump…

I blinked. I missed it.

🐈‍⬛ Pets With More Money Than Us…

Come on. They deserve it.

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/the-wealthy-paws-richest-celebrity-pets-and-their-net-worth/3415885

🎆 Baby, You’re a Sparkler…

Join me tomorrow for soap, Dragon talk, and more. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping voicemails simple, and stay being aware that while hospitals are a good place to get well, they’re an even better place to get sick.

March 25, 2024 – Trina Has Her Own Memorial For Spencer, A Murder Mystery On Deck, Those Ones & Because

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason sits in the interrogation room, while in the squad room, Chase calls Anna. He says, she has to get down here right away. He asks if Brook is good, and she says she’s glad Jason is alive and turned himself in, but she doesn’t know what it all means. Chase says, neither does he, but he’s going to get answers… for Dante’s sake. John walks in and asks, where’s Jason Morgan?

Trina walks into Bobbie’s and says, Josslyn’s working. Josslyn says she’s just taking over for her mom, but the lunch rush is over, so they can actually talk. Trina says she’s actually meeting someone, and she doesn’t have much to talk about. Josslyn says, that’s fine. It’s just she hasn’t seen Trina since she broke up with Dex. Where has she been?

Elizabeth frantically looks around for something at the reception desk, and Willow asks if she’s looking for this. She found it in the linen cart. She hands Elizabeth a tablet, and Elizabeth thanks her. She says, between Heather Webber and the missing meds, this has been quite a day, and on only two hours of sleep. Willow says she’s so sorry. She’s sure it’s been hard on Elizabeth’s family since they found out Jason’s back. Elizabeth says, thanks, but Willow has nothing to be sorry about, when Willow’s phone dings. Willow sees Michael’s text: No groceries. Boathouse empty. Elizabeth asks if everything is okay, and Willow says, everything is fine. It’s just Michael texting about groceries. She can’t believe he has time to remember about apple juice. Elizabeth says she’s completely out of everything at home. She can’t believe she’s so on edge. Willow says, can’t she? Give herself a break. Elizabeth says, believe it or not, this is her giving herself a break. She just wishes she knew anything about Jason.

Chase tells Jason, this is Special Agent Cates with the FBI. Jason doesn’t have to speak with him without his counsel present. Jason says he doesn’t need his lawyer, and Chase says, since when? She was with him when he turned himself in. If he thinks talking to Agent Cates without Diane present, that he’s going to get out of this on a technicality… John says, he’s waiving his right to counsel. Is that correct? Jason says, that is correct, and John thanks Chase and says he’ll take it from here. Chase leaves and John asks, what the hell is Jason doing here?

Willow walks with Elizabeth, who says, her whole family is on edge. And Jake is so moody and angry right now. Willow says, about what? and Elizabeth says, about what’s been on the news and online, and who knows what the kids are saying at school. Willow says, he didn’t tell her? and Elizabeth says, just wait until they get to be Jake’s age. You expect them to come running to you and tell you their feelings. You have to dig, which she does, sometimes lovingly, sometimes with a pickax. Willow says she’ll remember that. Elizabeth is a good mom. She’s sure Elizabeth is handling things in the best way possible. Elizabeth says she’s trying, but honestly, she’s as anxious as Jake. She desperately wants to know something too. She guesses all she can do is hold her breath and wait like everyone else, right? She shrugs and goes to the elevator.

Trina says, it’s not that big of a deal. She’s been busy at the gallery and Josslyn made it clear that she didn’t want to talk about Dex all that much. So she just figured they needed space. Josslyn says she didn’t mean to push Trina away. She just knows Trina is going through a lot and she misses her. They’re not roommates anymore; she’s never on campus. They should hang out. Trina says she’s not ready to do that yet. It’s different. She’s not that much fun to be around. Josslyn says, neither is she. That’s why it’s perfect. They can be downers together. Trina says she’s sorry for what Josslyn is going through, which is why she figured Josslyn needed space. She didn’t want to pile on. Josslyn says, Trina can tell her anything, and Trina tells her that she didn’t want to say anything before because Josslyn was so upset about Dex. Josslyn says, this is about her? and Trina says she’s trying not to put Josslyn in a difficult position because of Jason Morgan, because she knows how much he means to Josslyn and her mom. Josslyn says, this is about Jason, and Trina says, yes. It’s about Jason. Hasn’t it occurred to her that he could have been the one who shot Trina’s father?

Brook says, Chase is telling her that Jason agreed to talk to a federal agent without Diane present? and he tells her that’s what he said. What does she want to bet Cates is going to offer Jason a deal? His shift is up. Why doesn’t she go home, and he’ll catch up with her later? She says, he’s making all kinds of assumptions right now. He’s being really reactive, which is so not like him. Just take a minute, okay? Tell her what he’s really thinking. Tell her what he wants. He says he wants to get out of here. He wants… he needs to see how his partner is doing. She says, then that’s what they’ll do, and leaves with him.

John asks, why turn himself in? and Jason says, to set the record straight. He didn’t shoot Dante Falconari. John tells him, the evidence says otherwise.

Josslyn says, Jason didn’t shoot Curtis. It’s just not possible because the shooter was aiming for Sonny and Jason would have never shot Sonny. Trina says she doesn’t think Josslyn knows Jason as well as she thinks she does, because why did he leave Port Charles? Why did he let everyone believe he was dead? Josslyn says she doesn’t know, but she’s sure there’s an explanation. She’s just grateful he’s alive. Trina says, lucky him, when Michael walks in. He asks Josslyn if Carly is here, but Josslyn says, no. Carly is picking up Donna and she’s covering for her. What’s up? Michael tells Trina that he’s sorry about Spencer, and Trina says, thanks. She’s got to go. Josslyn says, stay. Let’s talk about it. But Trina says she has to meet her Aunt Stella. She tells them, take care, and leaves. Michael asks if everything is okay, and Josslyn says, everything’s fine. What’s going on? He says he has some news about Jason.

John asks, what happened? and Jason says he was on the roof of the warehouse at 257 Water Street with the sniper at 8 pm, exactly like he told John. John says, he sabotaged the shot? and Jason says, yes. But he wanted to try again. He told him that they didn’t have time. He told him to leave the rifle. John says, as instructed. So what went wrong? Jason says, Dante saw them leave the area. He followed and ran into them on the pier. He told them to stop. He did. Hamish didn’t. He raised his hands and turned around. Dante recognized him and that’s when Hamish shot him. John says, it was a mistake to turn around and let Falconari ID him. Although as it happens, his cover was already blown. Sonny Corinthos had video surveillance in the warehouse and a drone covering the roof. There’s a clear shot of Jason right beside the man with the rifle, which adds conspiracy to the laundry list he’s facing.

In the hospital elevator, Chase tells Brook, there has to be a deal on the table. That’s the only reason Jason would talk without a lawyer. She says she thinks they should take a moment before going to see Dante. He’s still all amped up. He says, she’s right, and they get out of the elevator. The last thing he wants to do is bring this negative energy into Dante’s room. She says, it had to come as a real shock seeing Jason, and he says, it was a punch to the gut. Willow and Elizabeth listen, and he says, Dante is fighting for his life and in walks the guy who tried to kill him? Lawyered up and angling for some kind of deal? She says she knows he’s worried about Dante, but he still doesn’t have all the facts and circumstances, so he can’t lose his cool or objectivity. He’s better than that. He says, not today, and she says, every day. He asks what she thinks about all this, for real, and she says, honestly, she doesn’t know what to make of it. If Jason shot Dante, then he immediately turned around and tried to save his life. At least Jason had the decency to turn himself in. Elizabeth looks stunned.

Stella meets Trina outside Bobbie’s and says she’s sorry she’s late. The parking was awful. Has she been waiting long? Trina says, not long. She was actually just texting Stella. Stella asks why she isn’t inside. It doesn’t look too crowded. Is that Josslyn in there? Why isn’t Trina in there with her? (Because today is assumption day.) Trina says she just felt like being alone. Besides, it’s really nice out. Stella asks if Trina was texting her to cancel. Doesn’t she want to have lunch with her auntie? Trina says, it’s not her. She’s not up to being anywhere with anyone. Stella says she’s sorry. Grief is so personal, and at the same time, universal. But that sadness and the pain she’s feeling will be different in the weeks to come, the months, the years. Trina says, that’s the thing. She barely knows how she’s feeling from one moment to the other. She mostly feels numb. Every now and then she’ll feel pain or anger, but for the most part, she’s just walking through a fog. She doesn’t really taste what she’s eating, she doesn’t care about much anymore, and she’s really just going through the motions. Stella tells her, like she said, it’s personal. It sounds to her like Trina is still in shock. Trina says, maybe, and Stella says, and this going through the motions is admirable. She supposes Trina is doing it because she feels like she’s supposed to be moving on, but the question is how? Trina asks if there’s even a way how, because she sure can’s see it. Stella says, that’s why she asked Trina to meet her here. She’s been worried that Trina is taking this a little too well. She doesn’t want Trina to think she has to suffer in silence because she doesn’t. And she shouldn’t.

Michael tells Josslyn, Jason contacted Diane and asked her to meet him at the PCPD. She did, and Jason showed up. He turned himself in. It’s probably going to be all over the media soon, so he wanted to give her and mom a heads up first. Josslyn thanks him and says she guesses it’s a relief. They know where he is, and they know he’s alive. But if Dante dies and Jason gets blamed, he could be set up for murder.

Elizabeth leaves to do inventory, and Willow chases her with the tablet. Elizabeth says she’d lose her head if it wasn’t attached, and Willow says, that’s actually when you’re super stressed. She’s not trying to pry, but they both heard the same thing just now. Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what to think. Is this a good thing that Jason did? Is it a strategic move? Willow asks if it couldn’t be both, and Elizabeth asks how Jake is supposed to take this. He’s so afraid his dad is guilty and she’s the one who’s been pushing him to keep an open mind about this. Maybe this was a mistake or happened for a legit reason. Willow says she sees that this has been a real challenge for their whole family, but she thinks before Elizabeth tackles them, she should be clear with herself first. What does she believe? Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. She wants to believe Jason is innocent and that he turned himself in to clear his name. What does Willow think? Willow says, Elizabeth has known Jason longer than she has. They share a child. For what it’s worth (🍷), Michael is his family and Dante is Michael’s brother. Not only that, he’s Sonny’s son and everyone says Sonny and Jason were like brothers. So in putting all that together, she can’t believe under any circumstances that Jason would shoot Dante. Just her two cents. Don’t give up hope. Elizabeth says, thanks. She needed to hear that. The boys are getting out of school soon and she needs to get home so she can talk to them about all of this before they hear it from anyone else. Willow says, good luck, and Elizabeth says, thanks. She’s going to need it. Teenage boys are a handful under the best of circumstances, and these are not the best. Willow says, maybe it’s a pivot point. Maybe Jason turning himself in will lead to him proving he’s innocent.

Brook asks if Chase is feeling calmer, and he says, as long as she doesn’t bring up Jason’s decency anymore. She says, okay, then she’ll bring up his. He’s far too good, too smart, to let his personal feelings interfere with his work. He says he knows. That’s why he’s doing everything by the book. She says she’s actually really glad he decided to leave. He’s a stand-up cop, but he’s still a human. He can protest all he wants, but she knows every bone in his body wants payback for Dante.

John asks, what happened to the sniper? and Jason says, he’s dead. (I swear there’s a hint of a smile.) John says he doesn’t have time for this. He has no idea when the Police Commissioner is going to show up here and he doesn’t want to be here when she does. So Jason needs to tell him everything, from the minute Dante Falconari was shot on the pier until the minute he walked through the police station door to turn himself in. Jason says he went to check on Dante. Hamish just wanted to leave. They were supposed to meet the extraction team on Pier 50. He told Hamish to go without him, he pulled his gun, they exchanged fire. Jason shot him. John says, they didn’t find a body. Did Jason dump him in the harbor? Jason says, no. He left him where he fell. If he had to guess, the extraction team came back, looked for them, and took him. John sits down and says, they know Jason gave Detective Falconari first aid. They know he called 911, knowing they record on calls and knowing they would eventually ID his voice. Jason says, yeah, he called 911. He left the line open so they could pin Dante’s location. He stayed until he heard the sirens, then he left. John says, why not call him? Why not come in? Why did he run?

Trina says she can’t do this, and walks away. Stella says, do what? and follows her. Talk. Trina says she’s not up for exploring her feelings or even thinking about a way to get over Spencer, and Stella says, nobody’s asking her to do that, certainly not her. Trina’s friends and family don’t want her in pain. They don’t want her walking around pretending she’s okay. Trina says, what if she doesn’t want to be okay? What if she never wants to get over it? Stella says, ever? and Trina says, no. Maybe. She just knows she never wants to get over Spencer. She never wants to get over him. She loved him so much and now he’s gone. Stella hugs her and says she understands. She thinks holding onto the pain is going to keep Spencer alive in her heart. She knows what Trina and Spencer had was special and she loved him very much, but Spencer loved her very much too. She doesn’t think he’d want his memory swaddled in pain. He wouldn’t want her to suffer because of him. Trina says, but what if he was the love of her life? and Stella says, she has her whole life ahead of her. Maybe it’s too soon to wonder about the future, so just focus on the here and now – they sit down – and leave herself open to trying to heal herself. Trina says she doesn’t know if she can do that. When she’s not down, she’s angry. And she stuffs it down because she hates Esme, and she has so much anger that it scares her. Stella says she hears Trina. And now that Esme’s gone, she has nowhere to put it. Trina says she doesn’t even care that Esme is dead. It’s like she got away with it, with blowing up their lives. And it’s not fair. Stella says, it’s not. None of it’s fair. But that anger she’s feeling is going to pass. It’s still fresh now because there’s been no closure. It’s a shame they weren’t able to give Spencer a proper funeral. She knows it must seem like some antiquated ritual, but it can help loved ones come to terms with their loss. Unity. Coming together to bear witness and support those who are left behind. Trina says, they gave Spencer a memorial, but she doesn’t think it was enough. She barely even remembers it. Stella says, maybe it wasn’t enough. Maybe she should create one of her own. Something special for her and Spencer.

In the kitchen at Bobbie’s, Josslyn tells Michael that they know Jason didn’t shoot Dante because they know him. But they’re the only ones. It’s all over the media that Jason is a suspect in Dante’s shooting and for possibly taking a shot at Sonny. Which missed, so that should be everyone’s first clue that this wasn’t Jason. Michael says, Jason would never shoot his father, and she says she knows that, he knows that, and mom knows that, but nobody else does. And people are starting to blame Jason for other shots taken. He says, they’re wrong, and she says, how do they prove that? Does Jason have an alibi? Where has he been? He didn’t tell mom anything. Michael says, he didn’t have a chance to talk to mom. What did she say? Josslyn tells him, she said Jason showed up in her living room, he’d been shot, and they didn’t really get a chance to talk about anything because Anna showed up with that FBI agent with a warrant to search the house. He says he knows about the FBI agent. Willow said he was at the hospital, questioning Elizabeth Baldwin about Jason. She says, thank God Jason turned himself in before he questioned them. Except she kind of wishes they had. She    would have loved to call Diane and watched her tear into everybody. Speaking of Diane, has Jason not told her anything about where he’s been? Michael says, no. She called him after she left the PCPD. She said they talked, but only about the charges he’s facing. He asked if she thought she could get him out on bail, but she told him not to get his hopes up. Josslyn says, she makes everything sound worse, so her victory sounds that much better, and he says he hates to break it to her, but he doesn’t think Diane is exaggerating this time. It really is that bad. He should go update Willow. By the way, does Dex know that mom talked to Jason? Josslyn says she doesn’t know why he would. She hasn’t talked to him. Go be with his wife and talk to her later. He says, okay, and leaves.

As they walk in the house, Aiden tells Jake that he’s cultivating wild yeast and friendly bacteria. That’s why he has to feed them every day. Pretty cool, huh? They go to the kitchen, where Aiden takes down the jar. He says he thinks it’s about ready. Does Jake want to see?  Jake says, no, and Aiden says, the real test of the starter is baking a loaf that rises. There’s this chocolate walnut recipe he saw. Jake says he doesn’t care about bread, and Aiden says, fine. Elizabeth walks in, and Aiden says he was just trying to… Jake says, what? Make him feel better about his psycho dad? Elizabeth hears them, and they hear her close the door.

Chase says, when Brook’s right, she’s right, and she says, absolutely. Wait. What? He’s agreeing with her? He says he doesn’t want to do anything that could compromise this case. It’s too important. He just has to figure out what went down at the docks and how Dante wound up with two bullets in his chest. He has to somehow figure this out. Not just for Dante, but for his family. She says she knows, and he will. She just knows it. He’ll figure it out and bring whoever’s responsible to justice. Let’s go sit with Dante. Chase can tell him right now. Chase can tell him every day until he wakes up. Chase says, until Dante tells him to shut up already? but she says, that’s her job. He’s really such a good man. She’s so lucky to have him. He says he’s the lucky one. He doesn’t know what he’d do without her. She tells him not to do anything to find out, and they head for Dante’s room.

Jason says, Dante saw him. Dante can ID him. John says, he had two bullets in his chest. He had to have known his chances of surviving were slim at best. Jason says he called 911, and like John said, the police had his voice on record. He couldn’t go back to the extraction team. If they hadn’t figured out he’d killed Hamish, they’d figure it out pretty quickly when they heard an APB out on him as Jason Morgan. John says, Jason should have called him, but Jason says he left the phone with Dante. John says, there are back-up protocols, but Jason says, the sirens were close. He had to keep moving. John asks where he went, and Jason says, the bridge. John says, he and the Commissioner were already at the bridge when Jason showed up. He went somewhere else first. He went to Carly Spencer.

Jason says, John and Anna got to the bridge ahead of him because he was shot and he was on foot, but John says, no. Jason was already at the house when he and the Commissioner arrived. He heard every word of Carly’s epic stonewall. Jason says he went from the pier to the bridge, and John says he already got a search warrant for the house. He can get another one and Jason was bleeding. There will be traces of his DNA. Jason doesn’t say anything, and John says, Jason agreed to full cooperation. This isn’t cooperating. After a long pause, Jason leans forward and says he went from the pier to the bridge. John says, fine. He was trapped on the bridge. Why not turn himself in? Why jump? Jason says, the Police Commissioner was there. He didn’t think John would want her or the local police involved. John says he sees. Jason was just being helpful. Jason holds up his hands with the cuffs on, and John says, after he jumped from the bridge, he disappeared. Where’d he go? Who took care of him?

Michael finds Willow at the hospital and says he needs to talk to her. They step away, and she says she’s so glad he’s here. She just overheard Chase say Jason was at the PCPD. He says, he turned himself in, and she says, why? She thought he was helping Jason escape. He says, he turned down going to the Keys. He said there would be consequences if he left. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t know. He wouldn’t get into it, but it must be something severe if he’s willing to risk taking the fall for Dante’s shooting. She says she feels so guilty. She’s grateful that at least by turning himself in, he’s keeping Danny out of it. Michael says he didn’t like Agent Cates snooping around and talking to Danny; that was too close. He guesses it’s over now. She says, is it? and he says, Jason would never give them up. Jason didn’t say this, but he thinks that’s the reason Jason turned himself in, to stop the search and make sure they’re not implicated in any way. He’d rather go to prison than have this coming down on any of them.

Elizabeth sits with Aiden and Jake, and says she knows they must have a lot of questions. She’ll do her best to answer them. Aiden says he heard Jason jumped off a bridge. Was he hurt? She says she heard that too, and she doesn’t know. If he was, someone must be taking care of him, because he hasn’t been admitted to GH. Aiden asks if he’s going to jail then, and she says she imagines he’ll have to go to court. Jake says, of course (🍷) he’ll go to jail, but she says, they don’t really know that for sure. Jake says, they know he was here in Port Charles, hiding. Why would he do that? She says she doesn’t know. She’s sure he has his reasons. Jake says, why doesn’t she just tell them the truth? He turned himself in. That means he did it. His father’s a killer and everyone knows it. He hopes Jason gets life in prison so they can just go back to thinking he was dead. He starts to leave, but Elizabeth says, wait. She’s sorry all of this is happening. She’s sorry for all of it. She’s just really sorry.

Josslyn tells Stella that she heated up her pie, and Stella thanks her. She asks if Josslyn can sit, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷). She’s sorry Stella and Trina couldn’t have their coffee date. Stella says, she had something important to do, and Josslyn asks, is she okay? Stella says she thinks Trina is doing the best she can, and Josslyn says she’s worried about Trina. She’s not sure how to be Trina’s friend right now. Stella says, she’s an excellent friend and her saying that just proves it. She really cares about Trina. Josslyn says, Trina’s her best friend, and Stella says, and Josslyn’s hers, but she’s going to have to give Trina time to process what she’s going through. She knows Josslyn wants to rush in, but she can’t. Josslyn says she understands. When Oscar died, everyone kept saying these motivating things to her to try and make her feel better, but sometimes they made her feel worse. So she learned you’ve just kind of got to do that yourself. Stella says, so Josslyn knows how it is. Everyone’s just kind of got to walk through grief their own way in their own timeline. Their Trina is a strong young woman. She’ll find her way home.  

Trina goes to the cemetery and says, hi, Spencer’s grave. She’s sorry. She can’t call it Spencer because Spencer’s not here. You’re just a stand-in, a tangible marker for the incredible lifeforce that went by Spencer Cassadine. No disrespect, but you’re at a complete disadvantage, because there’s no way you could encapsulate what Spencer was. She kneels down and says, but you’re all I’ve got. So, hi, Spencer. She supposes Laura picked this spot because it’s toward the water. That’s fitting, huh? She knew he loved the water. The last time she saw him, it was near the water. Sometimes, she keeps wishing she gets a call that he made it to shore somewhere, that this is some horrible nightmare, that he’s fine. She knows that’s not good for her to fantasize about something that won’t ever happen. But she does like being near the water. She touches the stone and says, because it’s calm and it feels like he’s near her. Even when it rains, it’s like he’s near her. It’s like he’s in the atmosphere or something. Like he’s everywhere. But she feels like she’s disappeared.

Trina says, and she goes to her classes in the morning. He comes to pick her up at the end of the day, and her classmates want to know, who’s her mysterious and devastatingly handsome boyfriend? Did I hear that he was a prince? But she plays it cool, and they spend their free time going to museums, continuing their debate on who’s better, Monet or Degas? It’s Monet. Then they visit galleries, and bookstores, and they dine at bistros rating the coq au vin, and they just walk around the streets of Paris, hand in hand. That’s her fantasy. Her reality, she’s back in Port Charles. She’s not in school. She’s living at home and working at the gallery. And these days, even art hurts, but she does it to fill the time, so she doesn’t miss him so much. Because she doesn’t want to say goodbye to him. How can she say goodbye to him while he’s nowhere and everywhere at the same time? But she’s got to try, because if she doesn’t, she’s going to drown too.

Aiden says, there could be all kinds of reasons why Jake’s dad was alive and why he came back. They don’t know. That’s basically the point. He tells Elizabeth, it’s going to be okay, and puts his arm around her. Jake says he’s sorry. He didn’t mean what he said. She says, it’s okay. He gets to be angry, and so does she because this is hard. She’s just glad she has her boys with her. She takes their hands and says, maybe they can help each other through it. They have a three-way hug.

Michael says he didn’t give Willow much of a choice about helping Jason. He didn’t have time to think. He needed her help and Danny was already involved. She says she’s not blaming him and doesn’t regret it. She’d do it again. She hates what comes next. She’s worried about Jason and his children and she’s worried about Elizabeth. She heard Chase talking about Jason and not only is she grappling with everything that’s going on, she’s really worried about Jake and how all this is affecting him. He’s bound to be confused. She wishes they could tell them that Jason didn’t shoot Dante. He says, they can’t tell anyone. They have to keep quiet and let this play out.

John says, the booking report indicates a healing gunshot wound on Jason’s left side. It’s been sutured. Apparently by a professional, so it couldn’t have been done by him. Who helped him? Was it his lawyer? Did she arrange something for him? Miss Miller’s got quite the reputation of defending guilty clients and setting them free. But she would need to be a magician to get him out of this one if Dante Falconari dies. Since the sniper disappeared, Jason is on the hook for shooting a cop. That’s capital murder. He’ll spend the rest of his life in prison. Jason says, Dante is still alive. He could recover. John says, Jason better hope he does. They’ve invested two and a half years in this investigation. They place Jason inside that organization and now his cover is blown. So if after all this time and energy and intelligence they don’t get anything back, the Bureau will have no choice but to move forward with the evidence that leveraged his cooperation in the first place. And they both know he doesn’t want that. John walks out.

Tomorrow, Chase asks if Brook is saying they should call off the wedding; Gregory tells someone to back off; Sonny says, anything’s possible, and Michael wonders, even forgiveness; and Anna says Jason has to tell her the truth if she’s going to help him.

Below Deck

Captain Kerry says he’s picturing the Titanic; the boat going down and the band playing. Xandi says, they all have these personal things going on, and in her interview, she says, Barbie gives her anxiety. There’s a term she uses in yachting – spinning. You seem busy and productive, but aren’t getting anything done. She wants to give Barbie a Xanax. Fraser says, they need a crime and clues, and in his interview, he says, they’re in deep sh*t. He’s never done a murder mystery. They’re missing someone and have run aground, but they have to pretend to the guests that it’s all good. Kerry says he can ferry the guests to the beach, and in his interview, he says, usually the amazing places are the most difficult to get to. The current is pushing him, and he has to think, is the risk worth the reward? When it comes to this beach, it is. Guest Lesley says she was anxious about not being fed enough, but she’s being fed too much. Well, just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to eat all of it.

The guests leave for the beach. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Carriacou is the most amazing beach in the world. It’s absolutely spectacular. The guests are ferried over and agree that it’s gorgeous. In Anthony’s interview, he says, tonight, he’s having an ocean party. Grenada has the best fresh seafood in the world. He has to be organized, but he and organization are not the best match. He acts with his feelings. After dropping off the guests, the captain has difficulty pulling the boat back out. In Ben’s interview, he says, it’s a sound you never want to hear, sand stuck in the impellor. The grinding and crunching means you’re in trouble. Captain Kerry says, they have no battery. They’re f***ed. In Barbie’s interview, she says, they’re a stew down and she has to be everywhere. She’s exhausted. In Xandi’s interview, she says, it’s frustrating. They should all work together and do what they’re told. The captain suggests packing up while the guests hang out. They’ll put all the stuff in a small boat they have and get the guests off by working with the tide. On the yacht, Anthony can’t find the garlic, and in his interview, he says he has no idea WTF he’s doing. He’s spending his time and his life looking for stuff. Instead of cooking, he’s going to the store. Bad weather is coming, and Captain Kerry says, they’ve got to get the guests back. Ben radios the boat, and in his interview, he says, not only is bad weather approaching, the tide is changing. If they beach the boat, they’re stuck here for the night. The crew packs up around the guests, and when it’s time for them to get in the boat, primary Lesley is a little too anxious. The captain barks, no one move toward the boat until I say! startling her so hard, she jumps back. She tells the others, the captain is getting agro.

In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he’s doing what he can to keep the guests safe. There are a lot of moving parts and it’s a very dangerous situation. Because all that’s not enough, it starts to rain. The guests are finally in the boat, and Fraser says, welcome to the experience. After the guests are back safe, Xandi tells Fraser that she’s literally sat down for three minutes since the morning, and Fraser says, they’re ready to get a murder under way. Proud of the seafood, Anthony says he was expecting a disaster, but got an – he wrestles with the word – extravagrande [sic]. And an extravagrande it is. Fraser asks Ben to do a murder scene and in Fraser’s interview, he says he’s never done this before, but he’s got the gist. He ordered props and bits and bobs, and he’s shifting the responsibility to someone else so he can focus on service. That’s what the job is about as a manager. Ben tells the deckhands, let’s make up some crap, and they confer in the crew mess. In Kyle’s interview, he says he’s not the most theatrical person, but he’s got good ideas. He does have moments of brilliance.  Blue marlin en papillote is served – papillote is not unlike when you cook something in an aluminum foil pouch, but parchment paper is used – and in his interview, Fraser says, the chef is brilliant and they vibe, but he’s concerned about cleanliness in the galley. He can’t take on another job, and that’s what he feels like he’s doing. Captain Kerry swings by the guests’ table, explaining that he got firm at the beach, but he was worried about their safety. Behind the scenes, Barbie messes up her hair. She runs out screaming, there’s been a murder! She flops on the floor, her skirt flying up and exposing her no undies look. Lesley says she quite forgot this was happening, and Barbie runs back out. Fraser comes in and says, they’re first clue is on the deck closest to the sun, where they can play 21. They go to the deck and find the next clue: find the bell. It has a story to tell. They find the bell along with the next clue: spin the globe and the world is at your feet. Fraser is told that they’re coming, and the guests read the next clue is to be found outside room 104. They find the pizza roller that was the weapon and read: open the door. Someone might be on the floor. Fraser is lying there with a bloody cloth on him, along with the last clue: retrace their steps. Whoever has the number one has killed me. They go back to the table and guest Kristi (I think; they all seem interchangeable) has the number one on the bottom of her glass. There’s much applause, and Kyle says, the guests are happy, right? Ben says, no, they’re drunk.

The guests go to bed. Fraser says he’s aged 30 years, and Xandi says she’s the hot mess express. Anthony cleans in the galley until 3 am, and in Anthony’s interview, he says he spent hours cleaning. It’s hard to be creative in that vibe. He asks Fraser about what he should serve for breakfast, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, Anthony’s not bringing it. That’s not how yachting works. There’s only so much he can do. He suggests a breakfast sandwich, and wonders who came up with that one. Anthony correctly answers, McDonald’s. Curtis from yacht service calls Captain Kerry, and says, new deckhand Dylan is arriving. The captain calls Ben and says he has good news. He tells Ben that Dylan has been a chase boat captain and also been on bigger boats, and in Dylan’s interview, he says he’s originally from Cape Town. He’s 23, and he’s been in yachting for four years. He’s worked from deckhand to chase boat cap, so far. While he’s running, he likes to give people he passes a high five. They won’t understand, but they will remember him. In Sunny’s interview, she asks, who’s that model looking man coming on board? Ben tells Dylan that he hasn’t made a decision on lead deckhand, although I could swear that honor went to Sunny. In his interview, Dylan says he’s ready to show Ben what he’s got. The guests are seated for breakfast, and Fraser says, the specials are French toast and an Egg McMuffin British breakfast bun. Captain Kerry points out an enormous carrier at the dock, and in Ben’s interview, he says, there’s a lot of sh*t riding on this. Sunny doesn’t know the boat well and they have to nail this, or he might as well pack his bags. They come up to Port Louis Marina next to this big honking boat, and in the captain’s interview, he says, it’s massive. If he comes in too far, he’ll hit the buoys and possibly the reef, but if he’s not far enough, he could wipe out the back of the ship. He can’t f*** this up.

The docking is done, and the guests get ready to leave. There are hugs and goodbyes, and Lesley says, this is making her emotional because it’s something that’s been on her bucket list and they truly exceeded all expectations. She’s truly grateful and had an extraordinary time. She thanks them and gives the captain the tip envelope. The guests leave, and Captain Kerry says he’s never had a better thank you from guests before. In Sunny’s interview, she says she’s feeling positive about her and Ben’s relationship. The last guy she was involved with was a mountaineer while she was a mermaid. He got away, but there’s Ben. Dylan tells Sunny that if he has a choice between McDonald’s and a salad, he’ll take the salad. He was fat and bullied when he was a kid. In Dylan’s interview, he says he decided it could break or make him. His proudest accomplishment is his double chest bump. He flexes his pecs individually (my dad could do that) and introduces us to James and Barry. His pecs if you didn’t gather that already. He tells Sunny that he has stretch marks. He had a proper fat ass. It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry welcomes Dylan. He says, they kicked off the charter a crew member down, then Cat departed. He saw them help each other and they did an amazing job. He doesn’t know when they’ll get another stew, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, it’s been an emotional roller coaster. It’s tough, but they’ve just got to take what they’re given and roll with the punches. The tip is a generous $30K or $2,727 each. The captain tells them that he took $50 out of each one so he could give Dylan $550. Nice! That reminds me of a job I 2 weeks paid vacation after I’d only been there 2 weeks. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, they did an absolutely amazing job. They surprise him all the time. He’s extremely impressed.

The crew heads to a restaurant, while Captain Kerry practices Turkish on the boat. Barbie asks if they think déjà vu is a real thing, and after trying to get Kyle to snort a shot, Dylan says he thinks there are different timelines, and it’s a memory from one. In Barbie’s interview, she says if she was dating Dylan, she’d ask him to be quiet for the whole dinner. The guys go for a smoke, and Dylan tells Anthony that all the ladies are sexy. Anthony tells him that Sunny is with Ben. He’s waiting for the other stew and hopes she’s hot. At the table, Fraser says, the galley is a mess. He feels like he’s doing too much for what’s expected. He’s got to talk to Anthony. Enough is enough. They move on to a club, dance, and do many shots. Dylan says he’s loving it so much, and tells Ben, vibe time is my time. Ben dances close with Xandi and says, she’s his favorite. Sunny sees Ben whisper in Xandi’s ear, and in Sunny’s interview, she says, he’s pissing her the f*** off. He’s being touchy feely with Xandi and it’s disrespectful to what they have. It makes her want to set his bunk bed on fire.

In the bathroom, Barbie tells Sunny that Ben’s not into Xandi and they’re not here for f***ing love story. On the way back, Kyle says he loves Fraser, and they kiss. In Fraser’s interview, he says, people love making out with him. Straight men sometimes show appreciation more than by being a bud, by giving him a kiss. He’s not mad about it. Back at the boat, Ben asks how Sunny’s night was, and she says, good, but she needs a minute to herself. He says he’ll leave her to it, and she says, in her cabin without so many people. Ben tells Fraser that he can’t deal with Sunny. He can’t read her and he’s sick of the bullsh*t. In Ben’s interview, he says, it’s been a rollercoaster. One minute, they’re kissing, and the next, she gives him the cold shoulder. We flash back to some examples, and he says he doesn’t know what to do. That’s why he doesn’t get attached. Too much bullsh*t comes with a relationship. Dylan eats a bunch of drunk food, and says, tomorrow is a big gym session. Ben and Xandi are talking on deck, and Sunny asks if he has a cigarette left. He says, it got wet, so he threw it out. Sunny says, copy that, and leaves. She vents to Fraser who says, she and Ben have had a thing since they got on the boat. Sunny says she made it, but he wanted it. Barbie tells Xandi there’s drama and Sunny is getting a bad vibe. When Xandi is drinking, Ben wants to take care of her, but Sunny sees it differently. Xandi says she probably has more chemistry with Sunny than Ben. He’s like a brother. Barbie says, Sunny doesn’t get that, and in Xandi’s interview, she says, Sunny’s got nothing to worry about. Ben’s a friend and she’s doing nothing wrong so get off her tits. Barbie says she thinks it’s a personal issue Sunny is projecting through Xandi. Ben tells Sunny that his dancing with Xandi isn’t sexual, but Sunny says she has a hard time accepting that. Xandi asks why she needs to change herself to make a 22-year-old kid feel better about herself? In her interview, she says she’s changed for enough people. She’s not changing being herself. The whole thing can f*** off. Kyle says, Sunny is young in this situation, but Xandi says, cash me outside, which sounds even stupider when she says it. She tells them that she’s done with this sh*t.

Later this season, Captain Kerry says, they don’t do this because it’s easy, the easy sh*t is on shore; Anthony thinks he’s not good enough; Fraser wants Barbie to go; Karry lectures Ben; Xandi has a panic attack; in Dylan’s interview, he says he has a d*ck, but he’s not going to be a d*ck; a lot of falling; Jill Zarin is a difficult guest; Anthony needs a translator in the galley; a new stew arrives and Ben says he’s in trouble; Barbie decides she likes Kyle; lots of crying; Captain Kerry says, if they’re not thriving or adding value to the rest of the crew, he can’t have them here; half the guests’ food ends up in the water; Ben has never been this stressed in a speedo in his life; Kyle talks to the captain about insubordination; and a disappointing tip.

⚰️ This Week In Ones…

A fearful old friend returns; an odd friendship with a Same Time Next Year vibe; calcified zombies (like perogies); ungrateful a-holes; you don’t get noodles for pulling a gun; Jadis finds something she’s looking for; amazing fight scenes; Jadis in palazzo pants; and irony!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-recap-season-1-episode-5-become-jadis

🐰 Hoppin’ Down the Bunny Trail…

Walk right back tomorrow for soap and VanderNotions. Until then, stay safe, stay putting gratitude into action, and stay remembering, vibe time is your time.

March 18, 2024 – Marshall Correctly Diagnoses His Misdiagnosis, Two Goodbyes On Deck, Let’s Talk About Ones & Born

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn asks what Nina means. Dex was there when Cyrus was there? Nina says, that’s right. Cyrus survived the beating from Sonny and also survived his hospital stay, which she’s guessing was just as dangerous. Josslyn asks what Dex was doing there, and Nina says, he was in hospital scrubs. Let’s not forget that detail. Josslyn’s smart. She’ll figure it out. Nina leaves, and Josslyn looks at Dex.

Sitting next to Dante’s bed, Sonny says he knows Dante is in God’s hands, and he believes Dante’s spirit is strong enough to come back to them. He knows Dante can hear him and wants Dante to know he hasn’t given up on him, and he doesn’t want Dante to give up on himself. If Dante can hear him, Sonny wants him to know that his father is always with him. He puts his hand on Dante’s.

Tracy puts a blanket on Olivia, who sits up and says, Dante. Is he okay? Tracy says, no change, and he’d want her to sleep. She was at the hospital all night. Olivia checks her phone and says, no word from the hospital. She thinks she’s going to take a nice, hot shower. Tracy says, actually, she just walked past Olivia’s room, and Sam and Scout are asleep on her bed, and Olivia says, hot coffee it is (because there are no other showers in the house). Tracy says, coming right up, and Olivia says, Tracy is going to make it? She didn’t think Tracy knew how. Tracy laughs, and leaves for the kitchen.

At the gallery, Trini tells Ava, what a talented artist. Ava knows she studied at the University of Paris, right? Ava says she knows that, and Trina says, so many colleges and universities, all a part of each other and around each other. Paris is really the perfect creative environment. Ava says she understands the impulse to throw yourself into work to help you cope, but maybe being here, around all of this, isn’t helping. Trina says, yeah, but she doesn’t know what will.

Diane says, the Appellate Division came for Alexis after a ruling in front of the medical board, correct? That’s a division of the Department of Health, and that’s deep state. Alexis says, now they’ve gone from magical thinking to just being ridiculous. It was regulatory body; she was under oath. Diane says she knows plenty of elected officials who have lied under oath and none of them have been disbarred, and Alexis says she knows a lot of them should have been disbarred, but how does any of this have anything to do with her?

Marshall tells Doc, it’s true. During that time, he was a young Black man, down on his luck. And yes, he felt a certain kind of way toward the world around him. Curtis says, angry, right, pop? and Marshall says, yes. He was angry. Stella says she has to take issue with two things. They don’t characterize low-income people as poor. Being deemed poor isn’t good for one’s self-esteem or state of mind. And that anger Marshall was feeling was justified. But she understands what Doc was trying to say. Marhsall says, so does he, but given how things were back in the day – his age, his social standing, his Blackness – how well-adjusted could he possibly be? That doctor called him schizophrenic. Did he have to be mentally ill to feel how he felt? Doc says, exactly. Marshall just correctly diagnosed his misdiagnosis.

Josslyn asks why Dex went to the hospital, and Dex says he was told to go. She says, by Sonny? and he says, yes. She says, to deliver some sort of message? and he says, no. She asks why he was in scrubs, and Dex doesn’t answer. She asks if Sonny asked him to do something, and he says, yes. She says, to kill him? and he says, yes.

Lois puts a cup of coffee under Olivia’s nose, and Olivia sits up. She says she must be really tired. Wasn’t Lois just Tracy a few minutes ago? Lois says, no. Never in any lifetime. But she did have to go, so she asked Lois to look after Olivia. She said to bring her this – she hands Olivia the coffee – and make sure she enjoys every sip. Olivia says, aww, and takes a sip. She says, damn. That is good coffee. Did Lois make this? Lois says, no, and asks if Olivia is okay, but Olivia says, no. Is there any word from the hospital? Lois says, no, there isn’t, but she can call if Olivia wants her to. She just figured they’d call if they needed anything. Olivia asks if she means like if there’s any change in her son’s condition. Honest to God, she doesn’t know if she should be relieved or terrified.

Ava says she knows it sounds trite, but Trina has to give herself time. She’ll get through this. What did she say about that painting? It’s fire? That’s more than going through the motions. Nina comes in and asks if Ava has time to talk, and Trina says she’ll just take the painting to the back. Trina leaves, and Ava asks if Nina is okay. What’s going on? Nina says she’s not okay. The Invader ran this really insensitive story about the shooting on the pier that mentioned Sonny. Ava asks why she’s acting surprised by this, and Nina says, because she’s the publisher of The Invader and they slipped it by her and published the story. If she’d known, she would have done damage control or she would have killed it altogether. Ava says, if she’s worried about Sonny, he couldn’t care less about the story, and Nina says she ran into Josslyn. She went over to Dex’s and Josslyn was there. Ava asks why she went to see Dex, and Nina says, because she can’t see Sonny. She can’t even go to the hospital to check on Dante. Ava asks if Dex said anything, and Nina says, no, and she probably just made everything worse. But she doesn’t care because she’s being pushed aside when her husband needs her most. She has to find a way to get to him and she’s running out of options. She needs Ava to help her.

Diane says, right off the bat, she wants to take issue with a couple of things. The charge of perjury against Alexis came long after Dr. Byrne’s hearing in front of the medical board in 2020. Right? Yes. And that charge stemmed from Julian Jerome and Britt Westbourne, both of whom were known perjurers, both of whom were criminals, both of whom are dead. Alexis says, but neither of them brought this to the attention of the bar, and Diane says, but they had to be deposed and they’re both liars. That’s off to the side. What she wants to circle back to now is why Alexis never defended herself. Why she never mounted any sort of filing for herself. Alexis says, because it was true, and Diane says, irrelevant. Let’s just say, she was never presented the opportunity… No. She can’t do that. It’s just them here. Alexis knows full well she has the right to mount a defense. So why didn’t she? Alexis says she guesses at the time she didn’t think she had anything left to fight for. Diane says, well, snap out of it. Shake off the poor me’s and wrap whatever’s left of that steel-trap mind because she’s got two things to focus on now. Number one, why working here isn’t working for her, and number two, how she plans to get out of it.

Doc asks if any of them have heard of a book called The Youngest Science, and Stella says she read that. If she recalls correctly, it’s an account about medicine evolving as a science from an influential doctor’s point of view. Doc says, yes. It’s a personal, historical accounting of 20th century medicine’s evolution. It’s a fascinating read. Marshall says, sounds great. Maybe he’ll pick it up. Why are they talking about it? Doc says, as a reference. Medicine as a science has come a long way, but after a long period of time. Psychiatry is much younger, and as a discipline, it’s made all the same mistakes all the other disciplines have made. Think of it as how astronomers used to believe that the sun revolved around the earth. The point is, scientists and researchers like to be right, and they often fall into the trap of proving what they already believe. Curtis says, that happens everywhere, and Doc says, which brings them to Dr. Braddock and his work. He wasn’t alone in his beliefs and practices. And Doc won’t defend the mistakes his discipline made when psychiatry was still trying to figure out what the heck mental health even was. The point being, the big question at the time was, what is normal and does that mean being like everybody else? Curtis says, like everybody else, and Doc says, right, and if you’re a mid-twentieth century psychiatrist making that determination, you tend to look to the people you already know, which are going to be decently educated, employed, church going, and predominantly white. That was the control group, and if you didn’t belong to this normal, predominantly cultural group, if you don’t share any of those hallmarks, or maybe you’re not as adept at code switching, then you present a problem, an illness.

Josslyn says, so Sonny gives Dex that order and he says, yes, boss. She can’t believe he’d agree to something like that. He says he tried to talk Sonny out of it, and she says, of course (🍷). Dex would never go through with something like that. It’s just Nina stirring up trouble, per usual. He says, except that’s not how it went down. He was going to do it, but Sonny stopped him.

Tracy goes into Dante’s room and says hi to Sonny. She says, any news? and he says he’d give her some if there was some. She says she left Sam and Olivia are both back at the house. They both needed sleep. She hopes he won’t ruin her reputation as being cold and unfeeling, and he says, her secret is safe with him. She says she’s sorry. Every time she sees a hospital bed, it reminds her of seeing Luke lying in it.

Diane says, perhaps Alexis’s memory is impaired, because as she recalls, Alexis wasn’t living her best life at the time. Alexis says, no. She was drinking. Defintiely not making good choices. Diane says, she never even had a proper hearing. She was the one who informed Alexis of the decision by phone. Remember? Alexis says, rings a bell, and Diane says, there’s also a case to be made for bias. Alexis says, why? Because she’s a woman? Diane says, because she’s a lawyer. Who does the medical profession hate more than anyone? Alexis says, lawyers. She hates most lawyers too, but more than anything in the world right now, she wishes she still was one.

Doc says, long ago, psychiatrists deemed aggression, anger or offensive dislocation from the dominant cultural group as a mental maladjustment. Never mind the societal injustices that existed only because they hadn’t been challenged for centuries. Curtis says, which was the actual maladjustment to begin with, and Doc says, right. So defiant, anxious, young Black men were tagged as schizophrenic, whether the diagnosis was accurate or not. Especially when one of the hallmarks of the disease is a misconception of reality, such as an institution or society at large is out to get them. Someone might be obsessed about it or angry about it. Marshall says, or desperate to figure out why his heart is suddenly racing for no reason. Why his hands are sweaty and it’s suddenly hard to breathe, or why people are just looking at him funny. He couldn’t play his horn like that. He was mad and frightened. He thought something was wrong with him. He thought somebody was trying to do something to him. Doc says, so he sought help and he, like a lot of young men, was deemed schizophrenic when all he was doing was perceiving the reality around him. On top of that, the medications he was likely prescribed would cause unexplained behaviors, which would likely reinforce the diagnosis. Stella says, Lord have mercy, and Doc says, an entire generation of unhappy women were prescribed valium. It’s a muscle relaxer. Gay, lesbian, and trans people were tranquilized, hospitalized, or worse, electroshocked into acquiescence. And that’s only if they had health insurance, by the way. Did Marshall? Marshall says, for a short time, until the insurance companies knew he’d been institutionalized, and he was dropped. Out the door with all those others he was talking about who couldn’t pay. They’d be found in the streets or bars or prisons, worried they’d pose a danger at home to the people they most loved – he puts his hand on Curtis’s shoulder – or bring shame on them. Doc says, it’s no shame for Marshall. The shame is, and always will be, ours.

Josslyn asks if it was that night Adam was in the hospital… Oh my God. It was, wasn’t it? She was in the chapel, and he came in. She fell asleep. When she woke up, he was in there, and she remembers thinking how lucky she was that he was there, and she could always depend on him. Now he’s telling her that if Sonny hadn’t stopped him, he would have what? Just come and sat in the chapel with her. He says he doesn’t know what would have happened. All he knows is what did. He was in scrubs. He had lifted a bottle of fentanyl from the pharmacy storage, and he was going to inject it into Cyrus’s IV line, when Sonny showed up. She says, and if Sonny hadn’t stopped him, if he hadn’t walked in right then, Dex is telling her that he would have done it? Dex says, yes, and she says, who are you? (Like, she didn’t know he’d been a mercenary? Told you that she was too immature for him.)

Nina says, Ava promised to help her put her marriage back together. The need to come up with a strategy, a way to break through Sonny’s anger and get him to see he still needs her. Ava says, the timing isn’t very good for Nina. What is she going to say? Sonny, don’t look at your son whose life is hanging on by a thread. Look at me. Nina says, of course (🍷) not. No, it’s more like, Sonny, let me be there to support you. Let me love you. Let me be there while you’re going through this incredibly difficult time. Let me be your wife again. That’s what it would be. She cries, and says she understands why Ava was with Sonny at the warehouse, but that means Sonny trusts her. If Ava advocates for her, he will listen. Trina comes in and says she just tracked the other packages, and another should be coming in today; a delivery was pushed up. Ava says she has to go out. Is Trina up to staying here and receiving it? If it comes before she gets back, just log it in and lock up. Trina says she’s got Ava. Is she all right? Ava says she’ll be fine and leaves with Nina.

Lois asks if Olivia remembers when her Nona told them that boys were easier to raise than girls, and Olivia laughs, saying, she lied. Either that, or she didn’t know any of the kids Dante grew up with. Lois says she thinks maybe it was just their neighborhood, because those boys were maybe just a step above hooligans, and she means a tiny step. Olivia says, and Dante was one of them. That kid got into so many scraps at that high school, they felt they had to send him away for counseling. She was scared to death there was actually something wrong with him. But it turns out it was just Dante being Dante. He was always standing up to bullies, defending the weaker kids, and not letting anyone get pushed around. That’s why he’s such a great cop. The best kind. The ones who know what it truly means to protect and serve.

Stella tells Doc that she was a social worker for many years before she was a patient advocate. The reason she switched was because she saw the inequities I the medical system firsthand. Those mistakes he spoke of were born of racism, sexism, and all the other isms, plain and simple. And what happened to Marshall wasn’t a mistake. It was malpractice, signed, sealed, and systemic. She’s sure he’s seen the stories of how Blacks, minorities, and women experience medical bias. It’s all over the news lately, but it’s nothing new. It’s been going on since the Jim Crow era and they still aren’t taken seriously by medical professionals. She knows because she has patients she has to fight for in this very hospital. Not to mention the ongoing maternal health crisis for women of color. And what burns her up is, they have great, talented medical professionals in this country. There’s no excuse for any of this. She’s sorry. She could go on, but she’s done. Curtis says, as Doc can see, his auntie is a passionate social justice warrior. Stella says, but she’s getting tired of this fight. Why, after all this time, are they still reckoning with things like this? They’re all human. It doesn’t matter the variety. Biology is biology. Doc tells her that she’s an advocate in every sense of the word. He hopes she never stops. He knows an apology from someone like him at this late date is meaningless… Marshall says, no, not meaningless. Not at all. Doc told the truth. He validated what Marshall has been going through most of his life. He just wishes he’d been able to understand all of this sooner, and not handed over his sanity and his life to some guy with a degree because he thought the doctor was helping him. Curtis says, that’s hard to do if the person he trusted to help him was attacking him. It’s insidious. He just wonders how many other people Braddock did this to. Doc says, oh there were others. Braddock was a respected, published doctor. Marshall says, they always figured it was something like this. Not only did Doc confirm it, but he’s shone the light on his life. It’s a lot to process. He gets up and says he’s so grateful to Doc, calling him kind sir, and Doc says he’s sure Marshall is a bit leery of shrinks right about now, but his door is always open if he’d ever like to talk this through. Marshall says he’ll think about it, and Doc laughs, saying, of course (🍷). They shake hands.

Dex says, Sonny gave him an order. He didn’t have to option to refuse. Josslyn says, he’s telling her that he would have killed for Sonny, and he says he didn’t want to. He just didn’t see a way out. But Sonny asking him was a test. And either he passes, or he’s the one who gets eliminated. He’s just lucky Sonny changed his mind. She says, he’s not understanding her. In her head, yeah, he’s working for Sonny, but he’s also working for her mom and her brother, her whole family. She never thought he would cross this line. She’s pictured a life with him that isn’t possible. She was willing to give up everything for him. Now she feels like she doesn’t even know him. He says, that’s not true. She does know him. And he knows her. He’s glad it didn’t happen. He didn’t see the point in getting himself killed for refusing to take out Cyrus. She says, this isn’t about Cyrus. She hates Cyrus. This is different. Neither him nor Sonny were being shot at. There were no guns out. This was a defenseless old man in a hospital bed. She cannot unsee the image of him going into that room. This is about him killing someone. Does he understand? He says he’s killed before, and she says, he’s right. He has. And she’s put him on this pedestal in her head and never imagined this is something he’d be okay with, but she’s not. This changes everything. She can’t do this anymore. She picks up her things and leaves.

On the phone, Alexis says, when they wake up, give her a call and let her know if there’s any news about Dante. Love you. Bye. Diane says, Sam? and Alexis says, voicemail. So what did she find out? Diane says, apparently, she has to file an appeal with the Appellate Court before she can file an appeal with Appellate Court. She’s glad Alexis understood what that means. Maybe she’s remembering how redundant and full of catch-22’s the law actually is. Maybe that steel trap isn’t as rusty as she thought. Alexis says, it’s creaky, but functioning. She’s supposing it has to be a special pleading since she did lie so Neil wouldn’t lose his medical license, and then he lost it anyway. Diane says, Alexis threw away her career for him, and Alexis says, why did she do that again? Diane says, because she’s a rescuer. She wants to be the heroine in everybody’s life but hers. In hers, she’s the arch villain. So no punishment is ever enough.

At the desk, Tracy tells Stella that she’d like to request a phone call if there’s any change in Dante’s condition. Her cell phone number is on file with the hospital board. Stella says she’ll note it in Dante’s file. And speaking of the board, there are a few things she needs to run by Tracy. Tracy says, oh? and Stella says, but they don’t have to get into it right now. Tracy says she’s here right now, so let’s get into it right now. Unless Stella has something else she needs to be doing.  

Curtis finds Marshall in the PT room and asks how he’s doing. Marshall says he’s sorry he took off. He just figured he needed some time to himself. Curtis says, some history lesson, and Marshall says, Dr. Collins broke it down for them, didn’t he? But he didn’t say anything they hadn’t already put together. Curtis says, if Marshall wants to be left alone so he can rant, vent, curse, and damn Dr. Braddock’s name to hell, he can take off. Marshall says he came in here intending to do just that, to holler and curse, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t get something Stella said out of his head. Curtis says, which part? She said so much. Marshall says, she’s something else, but she got him when she said they’re all human, and Curtis says he guesses at the end of the day, that’s what it all boils down to. Marshall says, then why in blazes can’t they act like it? It’s so wrong. Most everybody is all wrong about everything they think about. He lost decades because of how people wanted to see him or not see him. That doctor lost a lifelong career because of his misbeliefs. It’s so senseless. Curtis says, Marshall’s being very philosophical about this doctor. Him? Not so much. Marshall says, he’s dead, and now he finds himself in the position where he has to forgive that man. Because that’s what Curtis’s momma would want him to do. Irene always said, forgiveness isn’t for the other person as much as it is for ourselves. If he carries around hate for that man, he’s going to turn into a hateful person. He’ll be just like him. Curtis says, maybe he has to work harder on that, but he will. For Marshall and himself. Marshall sits down and says he just thought of something. That disgraced doctor is six feet under and he’s here. He’s here with his family; his beautiful, accomplished, talented family. A family any man would be proud of. Everything he thought was wrong somehow turned out to be right. Or is it just another proof that there is a God?

Josslyn come into the gallery crying, and Trina hugs her and asks, what happened? Is it Dante? Josslyn says, no. She doesn’t know how Dante is doing now, but… Trina says she needs Josslyn to calm down and stop crying, because she’s two seconds away from joining her, and if she starts, she’ll never stop. So take a deep breath – Josslyn does – and tell her what happened. Josslyn says, it’s Dex, and Trina asks if he’s leaving town again. Josslyn says she hopes so. She hopes he never comes back. Trina says, what? and Josslyn hugs her again.

Stella says, Tracy is the only board member who hasn’t made an appointment for their annual complimentary wellness exam. Tracy says, it’s not necessary. She’s no longer seeing Dr. Finn. His brother is marrying her granddaughter, so it felt a little too close. Stella says, there are a lot of doctors in this hospital, and Dr. Randolph would be happy to see her. Tracy says she’ll get around to it, and Stella says, when? Tracy says, when she gets around to it. What’s the big deal? Does she look sick to Stella? Stella says, no. Tracy looks foolish. She just came down off a soapbox, talking about the inequities in the medical system, and how people are literally dying for proper care, and here Tracy is, the very picture of privilege, refusing to get a free annual exam.

Lois asks Olivia if it isn’t a rip. Olivia’s son and her daughter growing up together, and now she’s going to marry his partner. Olivia says, life is funny. Chase is really a sweetheart. Lois agrees, and Olivia says, very devoted to his job. How is Brook handling that? Lois says, she’s crying her eyes out and hiding it from Chase so that she doesn’t worry him, and Olivia says, that’s her new reality. She honestly doesn’t even know what to say to her about it. Lois says she doesn’t know how Olivia put up with it all these years. She’s terrified that her daughter is about to marry a cop. Olivia says, you’d think it would matter that Dante is on the right side of the law. A bullet doesn’t care. Sonny didn’t get shot. Dante did.

Alexis says she doesn’t think she’s still her own nemesis. She’s had her dark night of the soul. She goes to meetings, she does the work, she knows that she’s going to be the only one to champion herself. Diane says, so she’s out of the rescue business? and Alexis says she may get a cat. Maybe three. Diane laughs, and Alexis says, but in her personal life, she’s hung up the cape. But old impulses die hard. She still roots for the underdog. Diane says, until they get her law license back, the only underdog she wants Alexis rooting for is herself. Now she’s going to see how far and how fast she can push this appeals process along. In the meantime, she needs two things from Alexis. Don’t sleep with any more doctors. As far as she’s concerned, attorneys should just sleep with attorneys. Alexis says, maybe just District Attorneys. That way, they narrow down the pool. Diane says, the second thing is, get rid of that insipid gossip columnist that came for her. She leaves.

Ava puts her hand on Sonny’s shoulder. He looks at it, then back at Dante.

Josslyn tells Trina that she thought nothing could ever change the way she feels about Dex, but she was wrong. She feels like she doesn’t even know him. She feels like he’s a different person. Or maybe he’s always been this person and she’s just now seeing it, but what he’s okay with, she’s not okay with. And what he can live with, she can’t. She won’t. Trina hugs her.

Dex gets on his phone and says he needs the police non-emergency number.

Tracy tells Stella not to make a federal case out of this. She’ll get her free wellness exam. Stella says, good. Should she set it up now? Tracy says, no. She has to check her calendar. She’ll get back to Stella. Stella says, fine. You do that. Tracy says she will. Stella starts to leave, when Tracy calls her name. Stella says, yes, Miss Quartermaine? and Tracy apologizes for being rude. She’d also like it if Stella would call her Tracy. Stella says she was a little worked up already and Tracy has been rude to her before. They both start to laugh.

Sonny says he’s surprised they let Ava in, and she says, no one stopped her. In fact, they told her at the nurses’ station that Dante was stable. He says, they’re not really supposed to give out that information. Only to family. She says, maybe they thought she was Nina, and he says, don’t say that name. She says she’s sorry. She won’t even talk. She’ll just stay and wait here with him a minute. She stands at the foot of the bed, and Sonny takes Dante’s hand.

Tomorrow, Brook says John is a disgrace to his badge; Carly tells Josslyn that it’s not a realistic option; Dex says he did it and he’s prepared to pay for it; Sonny asks if someone can keep a secret; and Jason says, they can make it like it never happened.

Below Deck

Captain Kerry tells Kyle and Jared that he can hear them in his cabin and tells them to hit the sack. In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s the second time he’s been woken up, and this time, it sounds like threatening behavior. He heard yelling and screaming, and it’s unacceptable on his boat. In the morning, everyone fumbles around, hungover. Kyle says, rock and roll. In Jared’s interview, he says he doesn’t feel like he handled last night well. He has a lot on his mind and he’s stressing out. We flash back to him trying to call his daughter and not being very smooth with Barbie. He says, it doesn’t excuse how messy things were. He could have handled it better. The girls talk about Jared getting reamed out by the captain, and Barbie says, he was a total d*ck last night. Ben dances around stupidly, and Kyle says, Jared was on his ass before he had a chance to clean up.

Kerry calls Kyle to the bridge, and in the captain’s interview, he says, there was a lot going on he didn’t see last night, but it looked like Kyle was trying to deescalate the situation. Jared has a history of getting drunk and he’s going through sh*t. He needs to know the facts of the evening. Talking to the captain, Kyle admits he left a mess. They were all drinking. Separately, Barbie tells the captain that Kyle was bunking with her, which was no problem, since they’re stupid friends. Kyle stormed into the room. Captain Kerry asks if he made threats, but Barbie says, it wasn’t directed toward her, so she didn’t feel threatened. Kyle says, it was more demeaning, and Jared was angrier than he needed to be. Barbie says she thinks it was a personal thing. Cat tells Xandi that she feels alone, even though she’s surrounded by people, and Xandi tells her, that’s what she says about yachting. You’re never alone, but you’re lonely. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Jared released heavy equipment on the dock without permission, and he’s made several docking mistakes. We flash back to that, and the captain says, alcohol doesn’t help. We flash back to Captain Kerry lecturing Jared, and he says, at the end of the day, his primary responsibility is the safety of the vessel and crew, and this guy is creating a problem. Barbie tells Fraser about Jared busting into her cabin, and Captain Kerry calls Jared to the bridge. He tells Jared that they had a discussion yesterday and he told them all to have a great night. Jared’s not getting it. He was absolutely f***ed for the second time and exhibited bad behavior. He’s in a leadership role and he’s got to be above the fray. The way he’s treating the crew isn’t acceptable. The captain has tried to show compassion, but Jared’s got sh*t going on and he’s his own worst enemy. He needs to depart the vessel.

Jared says, it sounds like he’s getting the boot, and the captain says, yes. He’s got a lot going for him, but his emotional side apparently isn’t where it should be. Jared says he’s not in the right place at the right time, and Captain Kerry says, exactly. He doesn’t blame Jared. Take the time to work on himself. Keeping him would be doing him a disservice. Jared says he respects that, the captain says, goodbye, and they shake hands. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s not going to be easy on the rest of the crew in the short term, but in the long term, it’s the right decision. Jared distressed and acting out, and it’s not fair to his crewmates or safe. He’s got to go. The captain calls Ben to the bridge.

Jared tells Barbie that he’s been let go, and she tells him to go meet his daughter and be happy. Captain Kerry tells Ben that Jared is leaving, so they’ll be down a crew member. Can he handle being bosun if person they’re a person down? Ben says he can, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he doesn’t have a whole lot of choices. Ben knows the boat, so this needs to happen. Ben will have to lead and go along with decisions he might not agree with because the captain said so. He asks if Ben will be okay with more pressure, and Ben says he will. In Ben’s interview, he says he’ll finally be able to show Captain Kerry what he can do. Jared says goodbye to everyone and pretends he’s happy about it. In Jared’s interview, he says he thought he was in a good headspace, but he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that it wasn’t as much as he’d like. The situation sucks, but he does feel lighter. His last words to the St. David are, damn, I’ll miss you. See you down the line. As he leaves, they all yell that they love him.

Kerry texts yacht staffing about a bosun and calls a crew meeting. He tells them that the deck team is down a person. He’ll help and Ben got a promotion. Either they’re going to bust out this charter or unfold. Fraser gives the stews some instruction on making beds, and I take notes on fluffing pillows. Captain Kerry calls a preference sheet meeting. The primary is Lesley, who is a mortgage loan officer. Ben reads that the guests want a surf and turf dinner with Mardi Gras décor. They also want to go to Carriacou, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s the most beautiful, sexy beach on the planet. There are reefs everywhere and people flock there for diving. The place is magnificent. Anthony is happy to read, no French food, and says, it’s like a vacation. Ben reads that the guests request a murder mystery after-party, and the captain congratulates Ben on his promotion. It’s a big deal. How he’ll interact with the crew will need to change. Meanwhile, Barbie tells Xandi and Fraser that her mom is a sex therapist, and in her interview, she says she tells her mother everything. Her father is super conservative and she’s in the middle. It does get weird, but she embraces it. It’s weirder for her brother. Cat’s friend calls and she’s crying hysterically. In Cat’s interview, she says, it’s a situation she can’t talk about, but her friends are her family. So she feels sh*tty that she can’t be there for her.

In Ben’s interview, he says, the tender is out and they’re a deck member down. There’s two of them on deck to run a 60-meter boat and get it off the dock. Provisions come in, and they almost make scrambled eggs trying to balance the egg cartons. There’s the last-minute running around, and Anthony calls his mom, who asks if the guests and passengers are happy. Anthony says, so far, and asks if Fraser wants to say hi. Fraser talks to Anthony’s mom in French, and says, everybody is happy with Anthony. She must be proud of him. In Anthony’s interview, he says he misses his mom.

The guests arrive, and Captain Kerry welcomes them. Fraser gives the tour and promises snacks at all times when he finds out primary Lesley is a snacker. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he’s working harder because he’s a team player. He worked with a captain who would be in his room and pretend to be on the phone. He caught him with the phone next to his head and no call. What kind of a-hole doesn’t help when it’s needed? They pull out, and in Ben’s interview, he says he’s nervous, but can’t let it show. He saw the pressure Jared was under and saw Jared’s mistakes before he made did them. He knows what the captain expects. When they get out to sea, Ben says, and we are underway. Thank God.

Fraser schmoozes with the guests and finds out all the women do mortgages and there’s one realtor. Sunny goes out on the tender, and in her interview, she says she was never given the opportunity to prove herself on her other boat. She wanted to learn the tender and she did. She does a happy dance. At least I assume that’s what it is; she didn’t preface it. Fraser welcomes the guests to Pan Asian Japan for lunch and tells Barbie that the table is stunning. Sushi is served, and Fraser tells Anthony that the guests are loving it. Would he lie? Yes. Is he lying now? No. Anthony comes up for compliments from the guests, and Fraser says he has huge lashes like a baby camel. The guests get in the water, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he’s watching Ben and things are running smooth. He has more confidence in Ben than he did Jared. Ben is ahead of the game. The guests get in the hot tub, while Mardi Gras décor is put out. In his interview, Anthony says, tonight is surf and turf, the filet medium rare. If you ask him for medium well, he’ll say, f*** you. Agreed. In Sunny’s interview, she says she went to bed with a lead deckhand and woke up with a bosun. It’s kind of hot. She hopes it doesn’t create a rift in their relationship. Fraser tells the other stews that his sister is at Mardi Gras. She’s got huge knockers. The guests are seated, and even the beet salad is exquisite. In the pantry, Captain Kerry says he’ll do the dishes and fixes Fraser’s tie. As the lobster and filet mignon are served, I realize I’m staring at this amazing dish open-mouthed. Food porn at its finest. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s like a butterfly flying around the galley. It’s perfect. The guests love it. It’s a celebration day.

The stews are behind with the cabins, and Fraser tells them to go as quick as they can, and Barbie joins in with housekeeping. Anthony comes up with the vanilla cheesecake and takes a bow. Lesley tells the others that you can say what you want in French, and it doesn’t matter. These easy-going guests go to bed at 11:11, and Barbie deflates the unicorn.

Second day of charter, en route to Halifax Harbour. Guest Brian wonders how Fraser is so chipper all the time, and Fraser says he’s got to be. As the boat heads for Tyrelle Bay, Xandi radios Cat several times before getting a response. She tells Cat to check the sinks and mirrors. All surfaces weren’t wiped. Cat says she’s done. She’s over this sh*t. Barbie asks if she wants to talk, but Cat says, no. She goes into the bathroom and cries. Breakfast is lobster eggs benedict, and I weep into my box of  water crackers. Fraser asks if Cat is okay, but she says she’s not good, as she sobs in her bunk. She says she wants to push through, but she’s losing her mind. Fraser says he’d rather put her health and mental health first and get her help as soon as he can – if that’s something she wants him to arrange. She says she feels like she might need it. She’s sorry. They hug, and in Fraser’s interview, he says he doesn’t know what’s going on, but there’s a look in the eyes sometimes that says a person has no more to give or do. They’re going through enough. Cat needs to do what’s right for her. He tells her that she’s been amazing and to do what’s right for her. Get her stuff together and they’ll make this happen. Barbie says she thinks Cat is finished, as the guests rave about the incredible food. Kyle tells Ben that Cat is leaving, and Xandi asks if Cat wants to talk. Cat says she can’t, and Xandi says, if Cat does, she’s here for her. Fraser tells the captain that Cat was in tears. She doesn’t want to disclose the information, which is fine, but he asked he if she needed to deal with it immediately and she answered yes. In his interview, the captain says he was worried about Cat’s mental state, and we flash back to Fraser telling him that Cat is fragile. Fraser says, it could be horrific, but maybe not. They need to give her the benefit of the doubt. Captain Kerry says, to Cat it’s horrific. Cat packs and anchor is home. Fraser tells Kyle and Sunny that Cat is leaving. Sunny asks if she’s all right, but Fraser says he doesn’t think so. The captain tells Cat to ask if she needs help, and in his interview, he says, his number one job is to take care of the crew. He’s well aware of mental health and Cat has to go now. He helps her with her suitcases, and Ben radios the crew to the aft deck. A guest wonders what’s going on, and the crew says goodbye to Cat. In Cat’s interview, she says she wishes she could stay, but no. It’s way too much. She needs to be with the people who need her. She’s at her breaking point and needs to protect her mental health. Her support system is at home, not here. She gets in a little boat, and heads for shore. Ben says, that’s yachting, mate, and Captain Kerry says, being one down will be hard. Two down… He sighs. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s been in tough situations before, but this is one of the toughest. Regardless of personal issues, where the guests happiness is concerned, they could all be in trouble.

Next time, a murder mystery party; new guy Dylan arrives, and Sunny is turned on; and a storm.

⚰️️ This Week In Ones…

A helicopter accident; creepier zombie deterioration; progress and redemption through innovation; Michonne reminds Rick of his own words, when folks try to save the world their own way, it tends to go to sh*t; Michonne gets trapped; a double eye poke; a double zombie poke; and lots o’ lovin’.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season1-episode4-recap-spoilers

🗣 Asking For a Friend…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderChatter. Until then, stay safe, stay not standing in front of the elevator (or train) doors when waiting for them to open, and stay being the hero in your own life before trying to be the hero in anyone else’s.

March 15, 2024 – Heather Gets Surprising News, Clarification, Next, Which Ones, Fallout, Awful Summer, Upcoming Dead, Latest In Pets (!), A Half Dozen Plus One Quotes & Feeling

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone at the hospital, Portia says she’s trying to locate a Dr. Paul Braddock… Yes, this is concerning one of his previous patients… Okay, she’ll hold. Stella, Marshall, and Curtis wait, and Nurse Sarah asks if Portia didn’t want these test results right away. Stella says she can take over and Portia hands her the phone. She leaves with the nurse, and Stella says, yes, she’s here… Yes, she understands Dr. Braddock has retired, but he was part of the Med Psyche Evaluation Faculty. Shouldn’t they be able to reach him?… She thanks them for looking into it. They can call her back at this number. Curtis says he guesses he was being a little overconfident, thinking they could drive down to Maryland and get answers. This Dr. Braddock is hard to find. Stella says, they’ll track him down eventually, and find out why he misdiagnosed Marshall with schizophrenia. Now go on. Marshall asks if she’s trying to get rid of them, and she asks Curtis, does he or does he not have physical therapy? Curtis says he does, and she says, then get to moving. Marshall says, best not to argue with the lady, and Curtis says, bye, Aunt Stella, as Marshall wheels him away.

Gregory thanks Finn, and Finn says, that’s the third time he’s said that. Gregory says, Finn has better things to do than proofread his copy, but Finn says he’s happy to. Gregory says, unfortunately, his keyboard game isn’t what it used to be, and Finn says he can tell. What’s that supposed to be? Gregory reads, went about his way, and Finn says, that makes a lot more sense. He can actually type this for Gregory. It will take him two minutes. Gregory says, it will actually take much longer than that, and Finn is a busy man. His son, the doctor. Finn says, no… when Portia knocks at the door, and Finn asks what he can do for her. She says she just got the radiology report from Heather Webber’s MRI, and Gregory says, that’s his cue to make his exit. It’s good to see Portia. He leaves, and Finn says he takes it there’s something interesting in the report, and Portia tells him, you could say that.

Nina goes into Alexis’s office and says, unbelievable. Alexis says, thank you… Oh, she didn’t mean that as a compliment. Nina says, far from it. That follow-up piece she put in today’s paper about the incident at the docks? Alexis says, what about it? and Nina says, it was an outrage, that’s what about it. Alexis tells her, like Nina said, she ran the piece; she didn’t write it. Nina says, so? and Alexis says, so that’s how it works in local news. Nina says she’s seen how it works, but it was a smear job on Sonny. Sonny knows she’s publishing this newspaper and the last thing she wants is to antagonize him. Alexis says, then quit. Better yet, why doesn’t Nina run the paper, and stop antagonizing her?

At the hospital, Diane looks at her phone as she walks down the hallway with Robert. She gasps and says she’s going to break her kneecaps. He asks, whose kneecaps? and she asks if she said that out loud. He says, she did, when Portia and Finn come out of the elevator. Portia says, DA Scorpio. Just the man she wanted to see.

Standing next to Laura, Doc asks if Heather can state her full name for him, and she says, Heather Grant Moore Taylor… No. Baker, then Taylor. He says, that wasn’t a fair question. How about, what is today’s date? She says, March… something. The days are just blending together. He asks, who’s their president? and she says, the guy with the aviators. She can’t focus. Doesn’t Laura understand? It’s too painful to look at him. All she can see is his brother.

In the hallway, Doc says he wishes he could report Heather is in her right mind, but… Robert says, sane or not sane, he doesn’t really give a damn. She’s being transferred today. Portia says she’d be glad to see the last of Heather Webber, believe her, but unfortunately, she’s not going anywhere.

At Dex’s apartment, he asks if Josslyn can hand him another box, but she says, no. He says, please? and she says, no. She’s not going to help him do the very thing she doesn’t want him to do and that doesn’t have to happen. He says, they’ve been over this, and she says, it still makes no sense. He loves it in Port Charles. He says he does, and she says, and he loves her. He says, even more, and she asks, then how can he leave? He says he’d ask her to come with him, but he knows she needs to stay close to her family, and she says she needs her family, and they need her, but she needs him too. They kiss, and he picks her up, carrying her to the bedroom where they get busy.

Alexis says she has a suggestion for Nina. Why doesn’t she run The Invader the way she sees fit, and leave her out of it? But she can’t, can she? Because she doesn’t know how to edit a newspaper. Nina says, nor does she have any desire to, and Alexis says, then let her do her job. Gregory walks in and says, here you go. Sorry, he didn’t realize she had… Nina snatches the papers out of his hand and asks what Alexis has him writing. Alexis says, Nina… and Nina says, call it quality control. She doesn’t want tomorrow’s paper resembling today’s. Alexis says, that is psychotic, let alone obsessive, and Gregory says, it’s an article on the police department outreach to kids ages 8 to 14. Alexis says, scandalous, and Gregory says, they do field trips, athletics, arts and crafts. His son Chase is one of the volunteer officers. Nina says, it’s highly unprofessional. Look at this, with all of the red marks, the cross outs, the typos. And why didn’t he electronically submit this? Alexis takes it out of her hand and says, if she wants the edition out by tomorrow, Nina needs to get out of her office right now. Out! Nina leaves, saying, whatever, and Alexis slams the door.

Portia says, these are Heather’s MRI images, showing Doc her tablet, and Robert asks, what exactly are they looking at here? Portia says, this is the reason she isn’t being discharged today, not in this condition, and Diane says she loves a good guessing game, but she has the feeling she’s not needed here, so good luck. Robert says he thinks he’s going to need it, and Diane leaves. Dr. Enoch joins them, and Portia thanks him for making the time. Laura asks if somebody can please tell them what’s going on, and Portia tells Dr. Enoch that he can actually speak in front of Mayor Collins. She holds Heather Webber’s health care proxy. Laura says she does? and Portia tells her, that’s what the paperwork says. Laura says, dear God. She supposes she might be the nearest thing Heather has left to family. Doc says, scary thought, and Robert asks if they can get back to the matter at hand. Dr. Enoch says, see these orbs of brightness? They suggest metallosis, specifically, cobalt poisoning. Laura asks how you get that, and the doctor says, fractured or slowly deteriorating hip replacement hardware. Doc says, so Heather’s hip replacement is poisoning her? and Dr. Enoch says, to confirm, they’ll need a blood test, tox screen, and a panel for heavy metals. Finn says, already ordered, and Dr. Enoch tells Doc, that’s the working theory, yes. It’s sometimes accompanied by a spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Have they noticed any changes, however subtle, in Heather’s behavior in recent years?

Curtis lifts his foot, and Don says, good. As he gets stronger, he can increase the use of weights. It’s going to help his quads and hamstrings. Marshall says, and they’re all for that, aren’t they? and Curtis says, how many reps? Don says, as many as he can tolerate. As long as his pain level doesn’t go above a three. Curtis says he knows Don has other patients. Does he mind if Curtis stays at it a minute? Don asks if Marshall will keep an eye on Curtis, and Marshall says, absolutely. Don says, let’s go for it, and leaves. Curtis thanks Marshall for staying and Marshall says he loves it, watching Curtis work so hard, He’s proud of Curtis. Curtis says he’s proud of Marshall. Confronting Dr. Braddock when he knows Marhsall had reservations. Marshall says, oh, that, and Curtis asks if he’s thought about what he’s going to say to him when they’re finally face to face. Marshall says, if it’s the same psychiatrist he remembers, it won’t be anything nice.

On the phone, Finn asks if there’s anything on those orders Dr. Robinson put through… Great. Thanks. He tells Portia that Heather’s test results should be in, and Portia says she’ll look them up. Here we go. She shows Dr. Enoch, who says his preliminary diagnosis is confirmed. Doc asks, what now? and Dr. Enoch says, the hip that’s failing needs to be replaced immediately. Robert asks if the federal pen of the women’s division can’t do it, and Laura says, Robert… He says, she’s a homicidal maniac, and Laura says, yes, but now they’re learning there may be a medical reason for that. He says, she’s always been a bit loony, and Laura says, loony, yes. She used to do crazy things. Like once she tried to give somebody LSD, and she ended up drinking it herself, but she’s not a murderer. She’s definitely not a serial killer. That’s just… Doc says, new, and Portia says she’s not a fan of Heather Webber, but this is about human suffering. She checked with Dr. Randolph, who agrees with her. If they fail to treat Heather Webber, they can be opening themselves up to an investigation for possible liability. Laura tells Robert that they’ve got to let this go, especially if it poses a risk to the hospital. Robert tells her, right, and walks away as he says, to think he missed breakfast in bed because of this.

The reception phone rings, and Stella answers, Dr. Robinson here… Can they say that again?… She thanks them for getting back to her, and watches as Doc goes up the stairs to his office.

Basking in the afterglow, Josslyn says she’s glad they’re still good at that, and Dex asks if she thought they wouldn’t be. She says, no. It’s nice to know, that’s all. They kiss, and he says he wishes they could stay in bed all day. She asks why they can’t, and he says he has to pack, and gets out of bed. She says, he’s still leaving? and he says he has to. She tells him to stop saying that. He doesn’t have to. He’s making a choice to do this. He says, it doesn’t feel like a choice to him. He realized he didn’t know Sonny as well as he thought he did. Maybe that’s how she feels about Jason now that he’s suspected of shooting Dante. She says, Jason did not shoot Dante, okay? That she knows. What he did do was wrap that bandage around him and call 911. You know how she knows that? The two of them are very similar. They’re both good, decent human beings. Just like how she doesn’t understand how he and Jason are so loyal to someone like Sonny. He says he was loyal to Sonny. He’s also afraid of him. Maybe not him so much, but who he’s becoming because of him. Maybe she should be too.

Alexis says she’s so sorry about Nina, but Gregory says, she doesn’t know. Alexis says she doesn’t care what Nina knows or doesn’t know. She had no right to talk to him that way. It was callous and it was rude. He says, maybe, but as her publisher, Nina is allowed to set standards. And after today, it’s become clear to him that he can no longer meet them. She says she disagrees, but he says, pretending otherwise does him no favors. Please allow him his dignity. He takes the papers out of her hand and says, this will be his last article for The Invader. He heads for the door, and she asks where he’s going with that. He says he’s going to make the corrections that Nina wanted, and then he’ll submit his final copy electronically like all her other writers do. She thanks him, he says, the pleasure’s been his, and he leaves.

As Curtis lifts the weights with his legs, he says he knows how Marshall feels about Dr. Braddock now, but what were his impressions of him at the beginning? Marshall says, Dr. Braddock was kind, at first. He was compassionate and understanding. When Marshall told him that he felt like everything was against him, and he meant that… Curtis says, money, work, and Marshall says, family obligations. He was sympathetic, and assured Marshall that it wasn’t his fault. Curtis says, a chemical imbalance, and Marshall says, the way he put it was, there was a part of his brain that was fighting itself. That was an explanation that gave him relief. It was an explanation as to why everything was going to hell. But he didn’t have insurance, so when the doctor prescribed him pills that he couldn’t afford, he was out there cobbling that money together. Don’t ask him how he did it. Curtis says he won’t, and Marshall says, anything to help him better take care of Curtis, his mother, and his brother, but those pills made him rigid. He couldn’t play. He could barely feel his fingers. His mouth was so dry, the reed just stuck to it. Curtis asks if he told the doctor, and Marshall says, that’s when the doctor offered him those shock treatments at the bargain price of $800 a pop. Curtis says, get out of here, and Marshall says he ain’t kiddin’. Curtis says, so what did he do? and Marshall says he blew up on him. He vented his anger, and he vented his frustration. Curtis asks, how did Dr. Braddock take it? and Marshall says, not well.

Heather says, metallosis? That sounds like something you get when your tongue freezes to the flagpole. (Ha-ha-ha! It does.) Portia says, Dr. Enoch believes the condition is what’s causing Heather’s symptoms, and Heather says, her symptoms? Laura says, both physical and mental, and Heather asks Dr. Enoch if he’s saying this poison is making her think things and do things she normally wouldn’t. Dr. Enoch says, it’s a very real possibility that metallosis has altered her perception and behavior, and Heather says, no doctor has told her anything ever except that she’s crazy. Dr. Enoch asks, how long has the pain in her hip been acute? and Heather says she’s not sure, but it feels like an eternity. He says, they would surgically remove the defective apparatus and replace it with a current model, and she says, he means like, buying a new car, and you just junk the old ship and replace it with this year’s model? He says, as with many surgeries, there are significant risks. A standard hip replacement takes approximately two hours. Hers may be double that. She’ll be under anesthesia and carefully monitored. However, in rare cases, patients experience complications from anesthesia. Heather says, complications meaning you never wake up? and he says, in rare cases. But before they do the surgery, they’re going to start her on cobalt chelation… Heather asks if she could just have a minute, indicating with Laura, and the doctor steps aside. She tells Laura that she doesn’t understand what he’s saying. She hears the words, but all that medicalese just sounds like white noise. Does Laura know what he’s talking about? Laura says she thinks she does, and Heather asks if Laura can just figure out for her, please? Laura is her guardian now. Laura says she’s not Heather’s guardian. It’s just in case she can’t make decisions for herself. She’s just in charge of Heather’s medical care. Heather says, as Laura can see, she’s having a hard time with that, and Portia says, she’s having a hard time with what exactly? Heather says, with making decisions. There should be a will. It’s in her file she thinks. Portia says, yes, she’s seen it, and Heather says, short and sweet. Portia says, she leaves her entire estate to her grandson Ace, and Heather says, not that she has anything to leave, but she doesn’t want to leave him. So what does Laura think? Should she have them take out her whole hip and put in a new one? Laura says, it’s a personal choice, and Heather says, please, help her decide. Laura says she thinks Heather should do it, and Heather exhales.

Finn says, Gregory’s back, and Gregory says he changed his mind. Finn says, about? and Gregory asks if he’d mind retyping this, after work. Finns says he doesn’t mind typing it right now, and Gregory asks if he’s sure. Finn says, positive, and Gregory thanks him and sits down. Finn asks, what was the verdict? Is Alexis a fan? Gregory says, Alexis usually likes what he writes, but he’s decided this will be his last article. Finn asks, how come? and Gregory says, the newspaper gig just isn’t for him. Finn says, it will certainly free up some more time. So he can finish up that Chaucer book he’s been working on. Or he always said he wanted to write a novel. Gregory looks at his shaky hand and says, it’s on his list. Finn says, start scratching a few things off, will he? There’s no time like the present, so they say. Gregory says, the present is all we’ve got.

Diane blows into Alexis’s office, tossing her bag on a chair, and marching up to Alexis’s desk. Alexis asks, what’s her problem? and Diane unfolds the paper and reads, Port Charles own redheaded mob lawyer shacking up with the District Attorney. She tosses the paper onto Alexis’s desk, and Alexis says she never said that. Diane says, her paper sure did.

Stella goes to Doc’s office and says she hopes she’s not interrupting. He says, nothing too important. What can he do for her? She says she was hoping to pick his brain, and he says, pick away. She asks if he ever encountered a psychiatrist by the name of Paul Braddock. He practiced out of Baltimore, but from what she gathers, he was fairly well known. Doc tells her, you could say that.

Alexis says she had nothing to do with that, and Diane asks, is The Invader not her publication? Alexis says, Diane seems to have forgotten she has a new publisher, who has shoved a gossip columnist right down her throat. She hasn’t seen anything about that. Diane says, she might want to start reading it. She assumes Alexis is going to print a retraction tomorrow. Alexis asks what Diane wants her to say, that she’s not a natural redhead? and Diane fake laughs. Alexis says she has something Diane might be happier about, and Diane says, thrill me. Alexis says, Nina has forbidden them to mention Sonny at all. Nada. Zip. Not a word. So Diane’s number one client is officially off limits. Diane asks if the woman has a single redeeming quality, and Alexis says, Diane tells her that like she’s going to follow Nina’s orders, and Diane says, a lawyer can dream, can’t she? Alexis says, she means a redheaded mob lawyer, and Diane fake laughs again.

Josslyn says, what if she told Dex that she’s coming with him? and he says he’d tell her that she was lying to him, but mostly to herself. her family is way too important to her. And that’s a good thing. He wishes he felt that way about his. She says, he’s important to her, but he says, that’s different. She says, yes. She loves her family, but she’s in love with him. He says he loves her too, so much. He’s never said that to anyone before. That’s why he wants what’s best for her and that can’t be him. She asks if it’s Sonny he’s worried about. If it’s that, she might be able to protect him. She’ll talk to her mom; her mom can talk to him. She knows they’re not together, and she knows they’ve been through it, but she has the feeling Sonny will still listen to her. He says, what if it’s already too late? when there’s a knock at the door. Josslyn says, what if what’s too late? and there’s another knock. She says she’ll get it and opens the door to Nina. She asks if Nina is looking for more backs to stab. Sorry. She’s fresh out.

Marshall says, it was nice watching Curtis work so hard, putting all this work into his recovery, and Curtis says, don’t do that. His recovery is quantifiable. If he does his exercises, he’ll be back on his feet sooner, but that wasn’t the same for Marshall. Marshall says, their situations are different. Does he know what that difference is? Marshall ran and gave up. Curtis didn’t. Stella comes in and says, working hard or hardly working? and Marshall says, she knows her nephew can’t stop, won’t stop. Curtis asks if she located Dr. Braddock, and she sighs. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says she’s got good news and bad news. Which do they want first? Marshall says, bad, and she says, Dr. Braddock died just before Christmas. Marshall says, they won’t find him mourning the man, and Curtis says, no one would expect him to. Marshall says he knew all this searching stuff would lead to nothing, and Curtis says, Stella told them that she had good news too. She says, the answers they’ve been searching for aren’t hiding in Baltimore. They’re right upstairs in this hospital.

Laura shows Heather, pictures of Ace on her phone, and Heather says, look how big he’s getting. Laura says, baby today, Mayor of Port Charles tomorrow, and Heather asks if Laura thinks he’ll follow in her footsteps. Laura says she doesn’t know what he’ll grow up to be, and Heather says, better Laura’s path than hers. That is for sure. All this went so wrong. When? How? Besides this metallosis stuff, what happened to her? Laura says she doesn’t know. If it makes Heather feel any better, she feels like she’s lived a few different lives, and sometimes she can’t always connect the dots between them. Heather says, that’s exactly it. It’s so random, so disjointed. Sometimes she feels like she’s in freefall, and the only thing worse than the fall itself is the ground rushing up to meet her. Laura asks if Heather knows the upside to having gotten it all wrong, and Heather says she didn’t know there was an upside. Laura says, there’s still time for her to get it right. (Do I smell a contract in Heather’s future?)

Nina asks if Dex is here, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know. She asks Dex if he’s here, and he comes to the door. Talking at lightning speed, Nina asks if he can relay a message to Sonny. She had no idea The Invader was going to run that story about him today. She’s only been running that newspaper for a very short time, and they don’t run anything by her. Josslyn says she doesn’t think she’s ever seen Sonny read a newspaper, and Dex says, he has not. But Sonny’s very well informed. He just gets his news through other means. Josslyn says, okay, great. So Nina’s in the clear. Okay. Bye. Nina puts her hand on the door and says, hold on. Is Dex going somewhere? Is Sonny going somewhere? Is Dex accompanying him as his guard? Josslyn says, first of all, that’s none of Nina’s business, and second of all, Dex is through with Sonny. Kind of like how Sonny’s through with Nina. Nina says, she is her mother’s daughter, and Josslyn says, and proud of it. Nina says she sees what’s happening here. Dex broke up with Sonny. And that can only mean Josslyn is next.

Alexis says she hates complaining, and Diane says, and yet… Alexis says, the newspaper business is… How does she phrase this? Diane says, miserable? and Alexis says, yes. In general, nobody reads anymore. They scroll. Specifically, it’s this place. It’s this publisher. She’s dishing gossip to make Nina Reeves happy. Who is she? What has she become? Diane says, that’s a rhetorical question? and Alexis says she’d take up the law again for free if it meant giving up this nasty job. Diane says, really? In that case, she has a proposal for Alexis. One that will get her out of this place and away from Nina Reeves for good.

Looking over Finn’s shoulder, Gregory says, the semi-colon should be a period. There are no semi-colons in newspapers. Finn says, noted, and makes the change. Handing Finn a paper, Gregory says, here’s the web address for The Invader worksite. He can post it there. Finn says, this is the password? and Gregory says, yeah. Finn says, all right, and types. There you go. His final article has been uploaded. Gregory says, excellent, and Finn asks if he wants to stick around and have lunch. He knows it’s not the MetroCourt, but the turkey chili is pretty decent. Gregory says, thanks, but he thinks he’ll get home. Try to squeeze in a nap before Violet gets home from school. He thanks Finn again for this, and Finn thanks him for everything. Gregory says he’s not done quite yet, and Finn says, better not be. Gregory says, see him at home? and Finn says, see him at home, and Gregory leaves.

On the phone Finn thanks Boden for getting back to him. Where did they send him this time?… Wow. He heard all hell’s breaking loose there. He realizes his timing is terrible, so he’ll make it quick. His dad’s been diagnosed with ALS… He thanks Boden and says he appreciates that. He knows the course of the disease is different with every patient. It seems to be accelerating with him, and Boden is the best neurologist he’s ever worked with, so he wants to know if Boden has anything. He doesn’t even know what he’s looking for. He thinks a little magic at this point, but… No, he knows the drill. Go save some lives and stay safe. He puts the phone down.

Diane tells Alexis that she doesn’t want to take another hit piece like that gossip columnist just leveled at her. She’s a phenomenal lawyer. Alexis says, Diane isn’t going to get any argument from her, and Diane says, also, she’ hates to think she’s the kind of person who cares what people think of her, but her reputation matters. And she doesn’t want anybody out there thinking she only takes cases for mob money. That’s not why she got into the law in the first place. Alexis asks, why did she? and Diane says she’s going to assume for the same reasons Alexis got in. To be of service. To strive for justice… even if the definition of justice seems to vary a little bit between her and Alexis. Alexis asks if Diane wants her to write a puff piece, but Diane says she just wants Alexis to zip it. Pay attention. Come work with her. Alexis laughs and says, as what? Her receptionist? Diane says, no, as her very esteemed, every other day, colleague. And if Alexis is very good and very nice to her, at some point soon, her partner. Alexis says she thinks Diane is forgetting the small matter of her disbarment. She’s not able to practice law anymore. Diane tells her, says who? and Alexis says, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. It was a swift and decisive ruling, she might add. Diane says, and it’s a ruling she’s betting she can get overturned.

Nina says, now that they’ve established that Josslyn is a chip off the old Carly block, she bets the only secrets Josslyn likes are the ones she keeps herself. Dex says, that’s enough, get out, but Josslyn says, no. What does Nina mean? Nina says, she should really aim that question to her boyfriend, and Josslyn asks Dex what she’s talking about. Nina tells him, don’t be shy. Tell Josslyn about the day she caught him dressed as an orderly coming out of Cyrus Renault’s hospital room.

The guard says, remember, no funny business, and Heather says, there’s nothing funny about surgery if you ask her. There’s paperwork on the tray in front of her, and she asks, who’s got a pen? Laura asks if she’d like Dr. Enoch to go over the procedure with her one more time in layman’s terms before she signs, but Heather says, no. It’s not necessary. Laura thinks she should do this? That’s good enough for her. Portia gives her a pen, and Heather says, gracias, doctore. She signs, and Portia says, they’ll submit her consent and get the ball rolling. Heather holds up her arm, and Portia says, yes, of course (🍷), locking the cuff again. Dr. Enoch says, they’ll talk soon, and leaves with Portia and the guard. Heather asks Laura, what’s Doc like in bed? And Laura says, excuse me? Heather says she was just wondering if there were any similarities with Ryan in that department, and Laura says she thought they were getting along so well. Heather says, they were. They are. Laura tells her, have a good day, and leaves. Heather wonders what she said.

Stella, Marshall, and Curtis sit in Doc’s office, and Doc says he understands Marshall was a patient of Dr. Paul Braddock. Marshall says, once upon a time, yes. He takes it Doc has heard of him. Doc says, he made quite a name for himself, and Curtis says, is this guy famous or something? Doc says, some might go with infamous, and Marshall says, he’s the one who diagnosed him with schizophrenia. Doc says, Stella told him, and Marshall says, gave him all these dire warnings about how it might progress, how he might hurt himself or his family, and the shame it would bring upon them if that happened. He was so scared, he left his boys and let his wife and Stella raise them without him. But none of it was true. Doc says, Marshall didn’t have what Dr. Braddock said he did, and Marshall asks, what would make a doctor tell him that he was schizophrenic when he wasn’t? Doc tells him that he can’t say for certain, and Marshall says, guess. Curtis asks if Doc won’t please help them out. They need answers. Doc says he believes Marshall was misdiagnosed because he was young, male, poor, angry, and Black.

On Monday, Doc says, Marshall just correctly diagnosed his misdiagnosis; Alexis asks Diane what any of this has to do with her; Olivia wonders if she should be relieved or terrified; and Nina asks Ava to advocate for her.

📋 Changing His Status…

Sounds like we’ll be getting another two years out of Stone Cold.

🛟 There Can Be Only One …

I don’t even remember Heather and I love Fraser, but there will never be another Kate. She and Captain Lee made a dynamite team that will never be topped.

💎 Diamond Come Back…

Judging from the photos in their social media, they must be taking Photoshop lessons from Kate Middleton. Where’s Dorit’s other foot???

🍸 Collateral VanderDamage…

The drinks weren’t bad isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

🤽 Worst Of the Week…

What is wrong with that woman?

⚰️ Her Turn To Shine…

Michonne does double duty.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-ones-who-live-episode-4-written-by-danai-gurira-release-date-and-new-photos-01hrsmz0c9cd

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/watch-rick-and-michonne-in-the-ones-who-live-episode-4-trailer-01hs1tsy8kt4

🐶 This Week In Pets…

He’s a trooper.

https://people.com/mark-wahlberg-four-pet-dogs-canine-costar-but-allergic-exclusive-8608149

More on that Mess(i).

https://people.com/oscars-2024-jimmy-kimmel-rehearses-jokes-with-dog-from-anatomy-of-a-fall-video-8606983

A PSA. I hadn’t even thought of this and I’m a helicopter pet mom.

https://people.com/keeping-dogs-and-cats-safe-during-total-solar-eclipse-expert-pet-advice-8609468

🎋 Quotes of the Week

I thought you married Jane because I was getting old. Then I realized it was because you had. – Mona Sterling (Talia Balsam), Mad Men

A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t. – Jack Dempsey (Apparently, I’m a champion every morning.)

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. – Mary Anne Radmacher

Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude. – Ralph Marston

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.Suzy Kassem

I think the only answer is to live life to the fullest while you can and collect memories like fools collect money. Because in the end, that’s all you have – happy memories. – Sarah Strohmeyer

What would you rather have, a new car or Peanut the Elephant?The Beanie Bubble

🦘 Miles To Go Before I Sleep…

Enjoy the wearin’ o’ the green if you’re so inclined, then come back on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a Deck to behold. Until then, stay safe, stay not being an amateur drunk on St. Patrick’s Day, and stay scratching a few things off your bucket list, because the present is all we’ve got.

February 26, 2023 – Curtis Has Words Of Wisdom For Drew, A Waterfall Wedding Off Deck, First Ones & Beautiful

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Kristina wakes up and sees Blaze is already awake. Kristina asks Blaze to please say she’s not watching her sleep, and Blaze asks if that’s creepy (a little). It’s Kristina’s fault. She looks so beautiful when she sleeps. She was thinking how lucky she is to have Kristina in her bed, and her life. They kiss.

Spinelli comes out of the bedroom and says, Maxie? Children? Maxie runs in the front door and says, he’s up. He asks where everybody is, and she says, the kids are in the car, but he says, school doesn’t start for an hour. She says she knows. Her mom has Bailey. They’re meeting them at James’s school to help his teacher to set up for the Arts and Crafts Fair. She thought she mentioned it. He says, she didn’t, but he’s glad to know the early start isn’t because she’s avoiding him.

John walks into Kelly’s and Carly tells him to sit anywhere he likes. He sits at the counter and says, she owns this place. She shouldn’t be waiting on tables. She says, one of her waitresses is running late, so here she is. She doesn’t mind serving him. Can she get him some coffee? He says, yeah, and as she pours, she says, the last time they met, he didn’t tell her why he was in town. He says, work, and she asks what he does. He says he’s with the FBI. Agent John Cates.

Drew attacks the heavy bag with vigor, when Curtis rolls into the gym. Curtis says, wow, and Drew says he didn’t hear Curtis come in. How long has he been here? Curtis says, long enough to know he doesn’t want to be on Drew’s bad side.

Nina comes into the gallery and asks if Ava is in the middle of something important. Ava says, that was phrased like a question, but sounded more like a demand. What’s going on? Nina says she’s about to lose Sonny for good, and Ava says she does have an appointment in just a little bit, but she does have some time later this afternoon. Nina says, just let her know when Ava can fit her in, and Ava says, hold on. Last she heard, Nina and Sonny were in a holding pattern. Has something changed? Nina says, Sonny had her served. He wants a divorce. Ava tells Nina that she can’t say she’s surprised.

Maxie asks Spinelli why she would be avoiding him, and he flashes back to kissing her. He says, because of what happened last night? when there’s a knock at the door. Sonny says, hello? and Spinelli opens the door. Sonny says, Damien Spinelli, you are a hard man to find.

Blaze asks if Kristina is hungry, and Kristina says, for food? Blaze says, she has someone else to consider here, and Kristina says, Blaze heard her stomach growling. This baby is not subtle. She thanks Blaze for helping her process everything last night and sort through her feelings. She feels really seen. Blaze says she thought it was time she returns the favor, and Kristina says, still, thanks for being there for her and this little one. Blaze says, always, and what would the little one like for breakfast? and Kristina says, they would like eggs benedict and home fries. Blaze says, coming right up, and I swear I will marry this woman tomorrow.

Curtis says, either Drew has beef with that bag, or something else is bothering him, and Drew says, sometimes you’ve just got to show that you mean business, right? He’s honored that Curtis wanted him in the gym his first workout after his surgery. That means a lot. Let’s get to it. Where does he want to start? Curtis says he’d love to start with what’s bothering Drew, and Drew says, it’s just Carly. She’s worried about him. She’s worried he’s changed since he came back from his time in Pentenville, that’s all. Curtis says, prison can change a man, but the Drew he knows is fundamentally the same guy, so what’s got Carly concerned? Drew says, she thinks he’s holding on to everything that’s happened, and Curtis says, he means the whole Nina situation. Drew says he knows she’s a friend of Curtis’s, and Curtis says, but that doesn’t mean he’s okay with Nina turning Drew into the SEC. He’s not cool with that. Drew is his friend too, and it’s okay if he’s mad because Curtis would be mad too. Carly doesn’t understand that? Drew says, she’s not trying to tell him how to feel. It’s just that she’s more concerned with his behavior. She thinks he’s more focused on payback instead of getting through this and moving on. Curtis says, and he is, isn’t he?

Carly says, Cates. Any relation to Michael Stone Cates? John says, his little brother, and Carly says she never knew him, but her ex was close to him, but obviously he knows that because he and Sonny share a history, and they’re not great memories. Now he’s an FBI agent, and now she knows what he’s doing back in her restaurant. He asks if he can’t just like the coffee, but she says, no. He’s here because he wants information on Sonny. He says, that’s a cynical outlook, and she says, because it’s not her first rodeo. Feds making small talk with her is never a coincidence, so let her know when he wants to put in an order. She starts to leave, and he says, believe it or not, he didn’t know she was Sonny’s ex the first time he stopped by. She says she knows he’s here to make a case against Sonny, and she’s telling him now that he’s wasting his time. He says he’s not currently building a case against her ex-husband. However, if he had his way, her ex-husband would be behind bars.

Sonny hopes Maxie doesn’t mind he stopped by. He was surprised to see Spinelli moved in here, and she says, temporarily. He’s got a plumbing emergency at his place. Sonny says, is that so? and Spinelli says, it came on suddenly. Maxie finds a lunchbox and says, got it. She’s got to get the kids to school. Spinelli asks what she was looking for and she holds up the lunchbox as she dashes out the door. He says, Georgie’s. That’s the second time this week. He apologizes to Sonny for his attire, and Sonny says, it’s early. She’s something else, isn’t she? Spinelli says, a force of nature. Sonny didn’t say what brought him here. Sonny says he has a job for Spinelli.

Nina says, Ava expected Sonny to end their marriage without so much as a word? but Ava says, no. Of course (🍷) not. Nor does she approve of him doing so. It tracks though. She thinks Sonny’s been reexamining his whole life. Nina says, he’s taking some hits lately. She’s not giving up on him. She loves him and hates that he’s had to face these challenges alone. Ava says she’s not the one Nina needs to convince. She needs to convince Sonny. Nina says she wishes she could. He’s not taking any of her calls or texts. She thinks he’s blocked her. He barred her from the penthouse. Ava says she gets it. That must hurt. Nina says, it’s a nightmare. If she could only just have a conversation with him. If she could only just look him in the eyes and remind him of what they are together, what they’ve come to mean to each other. Ava says, maybe she’s right, and Nina says she is. That’s where Ava comes in.

Blaze says she’s going to grab a quick shower. Breakfast should be here shortly. Kristina says she should get up, but Blaze says, no she doesn’t. They’re having breakfast in bed.

Spinelli says, it’s been some time since Sonny availed himself of his skills. May he ask, why now? Sonny has qualified personnel in-house as it were. Sonny tells him, let’s just say, out of an abundance of caution, he’s outsourcing this one. Spinelli says he sees, and Sonny asks if he should find another guy. Spinelli says he has the utmost respect for Sonny, but since the passing of their dear friend Jason, he hasn’t worked for anyone in Sonny’s field. Arguments over his previous hazardous exploits led to the demise of his relationship with Ellie. Sonny says he’s not twisting Spinelli’s arm. The task is relatively low risk. Spinelli was his first choice. Spinelli says he’s gratified, but also somewhat baffled. Sonny found him pretty annoying. Sonny says he did. He used to complain to Jason all the time, but Jason always said Spinelli was the smartest person in the room and he could trust Spinelli with his life, so that’s good enough for him.

Nina says, if Ava could somehow get her and Sonny in the same place alone together… Ava asks if she means like, lock the two of them in the backroom or something, but Nina says, no. Maybe Ava could get him here and he’d have to hear her out. Ava says, no. She can’t do it. Nina asks, why? Ava is her closest friend. She has access to Sonny. Ava really isn’t going to help her? Ava says she wants to help Nina. She just doesn’t think Sonny would take very kindly to her interfering in his personal… He knows they’re good friends and she’s walking a delicate tightrope as it is. Nina says she understands that she’s putting Ava in a very awkward position, but she’s running out of options because Sonny’s family has closed ranks against her. She can barely get a civil word out of any of them. Ava goes to her desk, and Ava says she’s sorry she’s interrupting Ava’s very busy day, but Ava says she’s not trying to brush Nina off. It’s just no good can come of her involving herself in this. At least not while she’s still under Sonny’s roof. Meddling in their marriage like that could really harm her relationship with Sonny. Nina says, Ava and Sonny have a relationship now?

Kristina looks at her sonogram on her phone and sinks down under the covers, smiling. She hears someone coming into the hotel room, and a woman says, Allison, mami’s here. She looks at Kristina in the bed.

Ava tells Nina that by relationship, she means co-parenting. She has Avery to think about, and Sonny still has primary custody. That factors into every single thing she does. Avery is her first priority and she’s not going to apologize for that. Ava says she understands that. She just got thrown when Ava said she and Sonny had a relationship. Really, what else would she call it? Ava says, going along to get along. They’re co-existing very well at the moment and she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. Nina says she gets it, when a man comes in and says, Ava Jerome? Ava says, yes, and he says he has a registered delivery. He’ll need her to sign for it and he’ll need to scan her driver’s license. Ava says, sure.

Kristina quickly gets out of bed and puts on a robe and introduces herself to Mrs. Ramirez (Natalia). She says she’s so happy to meet her. She’s heard so much about her. She holds out her hand, and Natalia says, it’s not Mrs., it’s Ms. Ramirez, and she hasn’t heard anything about Kristina. Blaze comes out drying her hair with a towel and asks if the food is here already. The sooner they eat, the sooner they can… Kristina says, look who came early, and Blaze says, mami. What is she doing here? Natalia says she has the same question about the young lady she just found in Blaze’s bed.

Drew says he’s focused on sending the message that he’s nobody’s victim, and Curtis says, not a victim, definitely a survivor. He went through hell and back. Drew starts to life weights and says, held captive for years, got out only to be put in prison and attacked, sent to the hospital. He’d say that kind of qualifies, right? Curtis says he hears Drew. It’s a lot to process. Drew says, the goal is to get through this and move on to the good stuff, and Curtis says, but that anger won’t let go, huh? He knows what that feels like. When he was shot and lying there in that bed, knowing he might be paralyzed, he felt everything from rage to despair to self-pity, but mostly rage. Because he doesn’t like being vulnerable. He doesn’t like being a victim. So he was mad at the world. He was mad at God. Does any of that sound familiar? Drew says, very. It’s taken him a while to access these feelings. Feelings aren’t one of his strengths. He just wishes Carly would understand that what he’s going through is what he’s going through, his process at his speed, even though it may not be the way she wants him to. Curtis says, okay. So this thing with Carly, is it a minor disagreement or something more? Drew says, they’ll see, but Curtis didn’t come here for a therapy session. It’s really good to see him. He’s amazing. He looks incredible. Curtis thanks him and says, that procedure was a godsend, and because of it, he and Portia reconnected. Drew says he’s happy for both of them, and Curtis thanks him. He says, all the challenges they’ve been through, he never thought they’d be that close again. Drew says, he did it. He got through. Congratulations. Curtis thanks him and says he’s just glad they never gave up.

Ava tells Nina, escrow papers. As of today, Windymere and Spoon Island are now somebody else’s problem. Nina says, the sale went through, and Ava says, just this morning. The money was deposited into her account. Not nearly enough to make up for her pain and suffering, but a nice little nest egg. Nina says she can’t believe Ava found a buyer for that place (if not Nikolas, Jason?), and Ava says, credit to Lucy. It took a while, but she was finally able to find a developer who bought the house and land instead of separating them into separate lots. Nina wonders what they’re planning to build, but Ava doesn’t know. Maybe they’re going to turn the house into condominiums. Maybe they’ll tear it down. That would be her vote, but it doesn’t matter really. That awful place with all the awful things that happened are part of a past that will not be revisited. The only person who had an emotional connection to that place was Spencer. Now that he’s gone and little Ace is living with Laura and Doc, nobody needs that place, least of all, her. Her focus is on the future.

Spinelli says he’s honored by Jason’s faith and that he spoke so highly of him to Sonny. He was a kind and gracious friend. Sonny says, he had zero patience for fools, and the fact that Jason put up with Spinelli, and also found him as a collaborator and associate… If he recommended Spinelli, that works for him. He knows Jason trusted Spinelli and he trusts Jason’s judgement. He has to make a decision now. Spinelli says, this job can’t put anyone in this house in danger, and Sonny says he’d never ask Spinelli to put his children or Maxie in danger. He knows how much Maxie means to Spinelli. Spinelli says he’s sure Sonny does. Sonny knows from his own experience, while a romance may end, one who becomes family is family forever.

Carly says, if John wants to continue this conversation, he can call her lawyer. Her name is Diane Miller, and he can look up her number online. She goes out to the tables and John follows. He says he’s not here to question her and he’s not in Port Charles to investigate her ex-husband. She says, he just said that, but he also said Sonny belonged in prison, and he says, he does. She says, really? After everything he did for John’s brother? He says he doesn’t deny Sonny was good to Stone, and Carly says, good to Stone? He bought a penthouse so Stone would have a place to live. He paid for the best care that was available at the time and he nursed Stone until the day he died. There’s an entire wing at the hospital dedicated in his brother’s memory, endowed by a gift from Sonny worth millions. Does he know that? He asks if she thinks that buys Sonny redemption, and she says, like she told him, she didn’t know his brother, but she heard a lot about him. Her son, Morgan, his middle name was Stone. John says, his son’s name is also Stone, and she says, isn’t it ironic that he and Sonny, who hate each other, both loved Stone so much, they named their sons after him? He sits back down and she goes behind the counter. He asks if she’s saying he should back off Sonny for Stone’s sake, and she tells him, what she’s saying is, if she were in his position, she’d be grateful a person took care of someone she loved. He says, what about a person who hurt someone she loved? Exploited their vulnerabilities to turn a profit. He’s going to take a wild guess and say she’d come out swinging and not stop until they paid. She asks, what makes him say that? and he says, professional assessment. There are people who freeze when they or someone close to them are threatened. Others will negotiate or placate. And then there are those who fight. She’s a fighter. He’d stake his badge on it. She asks what he and his badge are doing in town, if it’s not to take Sonny down, and he says he’s here to help Sonny. The attempts on his life are part of a bigger conspiracy. So far, Sonny has been lucky, but he can’t end this without the help of law enforcement… Sonny never told her about this, did he?

Drew says, when Curtis found out Trina might be his, and even when he found out she was his, he gets it. He knows what it’s like to lose years and years of time with your daughter. Curtis says he knows, and he did his fair share of blaming Portia, but recently he’s had to admit he withheld the truth about something that could affect his family. He told himself that he was doing it for the right reasons, but that was just an excuse. And he has to be honest; it hurt both of them and justice is hard to swallow. Drew says he hears that, and Curtis made it through. Curtis says, thankfully, but he sure didn’t make it easy. When he first got shot, he acted up, he acted out, he pushed away everyone who loved him, especially Portia – again. Finally, he had to accept that if he didn’t want to live his life miserable, he needed to take a long look at himself in the mirror and be real. Get out of his own way. Because the ability to change his outlook and his life, starts and ends with him and him alone. So now he and Portia are back on track, happy, and they’re excited about moving forward together. Drew says, Curtis is a lot of things, but he’s not slick, and Curtis says, they’re just having a conversation. Drew says, Curtis is dropping these pearls of wisdom, trying to give him advice not very stealthily. But he hears Curtis, and it’s exactly what he needed to hear, and lesson learned. Because he hasn’t really been playing fair himself. Carly didn’t want him to go to prison to protect her, but he did it anyway. And in one heat of the moment slip of the tongue – he punches the teardrop bag – he made it seem like he resented her for that. Curtis asks if he does, but Drew says, no. He’s the one who made the deal with the DA, even though he knew she wouldn’t want him to. Now she feels responsible for what happened to him in Pentenville, and since he’s been released, all she’s been doing is being supportive and being there for him, even when it’s meant compromising what matters to her. He flashes back to Carly telling him that she really appreciates his sacrifice, but she can’t move forward until Nina is behind her. She doesn’t want to think about Nina anymore, she doesn’t want to argue with Nina anymore, and she doesn’t want to hurt Nina anymore, because it always comes back to bite her, and she doesn’t want to do that to herself anymore. Drew tells Curtis, you know what? Maybe it’s time for him to do the same thing for her.

John says he’s sorry. He thought Carly knew about the larger conspiracy. He just assumed Sonny would keep her in the loop. She says, now that he brought her in the loop, how much danger is her family in? and he says, her family hasn’t been the focus so far. She asks, then what’s the focus? and he says, three former and current heads of major crime families. Now there’s four. She says, Olivia Jerome being the fourth.

Natalia says she’s waiting for an explanation, and Kristina looks at Blaze, who seems frozen. Kristina says, they were having a girls’ night last night and it was super late, so Allison let her crash here. Natalia says, okay. Allison is so generous like that. Blaze asks how she even got in here, and Natalia says she booked the room on Your Escort and her name is on the paperwork, so she just asked for a key. She hugs Blaze and says, but she never would have come so early if she’d known Blaze had plans with a friend.

Nina says, now that Ava has sold Windymere, is she going to have Lucy help find her and Avery a place? and Ava says, eventually. Assuming Sonny is going to let them leave. Nina says, but it’s just temporary, right? He’s not thinking of having Ava and Avery stay there permanently, is he? Ava says she doesn’t know what he’s thinking. She doesn’t know what his next move is and she’s not going to pressure him. Like she told Nina, she and Sonny are in a good place right now. She knows from personal experience that he lashes out most when he’s hurt. Nina says, Ava doesn’t need to tell her that; she lived it. She can’t believe Sonny slammed to door in her face like she wasn’t even there. Ava says, but the fact that he’s hurt means that he still has a lot of feelings for Nina. So she thinks Nina just has to give him time. Nina says she has been giving him time. She’s given him space. Ava says, and she’s right to do so. He’s going through a tough time lately. Nina says, it was a blow when he lost Spencer, and Ava says, and now Dex is gone. Nina asks, what happened to Dex? and Ava says, it doesn’t matter, but Nina says, it matters to her. She’s not budging until Ava tells her everything that happened.

Sonny puts on his coat and says he needs a decision. What’s it going to be? Spinelli says he’ll do the job, and Sonny says he appreciates that. He wants to do something for Spinelli in return. What’s that problem he’s having in his apartment with the plumbing? Spinelli says, it’s been since Christmas Eve… and Sonny says, that’s unacceptable. He’ll have his contractor go over there and he’ll fix it by the end of the week. Spinelli says, that’s not necessary, but thanks just the same, and Sonny says, the way he feels, if there’s a leak, you have to deal with it. Spinelli says, that’s a wise course of action, but in this case, there is no leak. He staged the whole thing to give himself an excuse to move in here to help Maxie with her financial situation. Sonny says, that’s one way to show someone you care. The other way would be, why doesn’t he just tell her? Spinelli says he’ll take that under advisement, and Sonny goes to the door. Spinelli says, he misses Stone Cold too… He’s sorry. Has he spoken out of turn? Sonny says he’ll keep in touch, and leaves.

Kristina comes out fully dressed, and Blaze says, the food they ordered arrived. Kristina says, her mom is probably hungry after traveling, so she’ll let them enjoy, but Blaze says, there’s more than enough to share. Kristina should stay. Kristina says she has a full day. She should just get going. Blaze tells Natalia, Kristina is starting a youth center, and she also manages a restaurant, and Natalia tells Blaze, look what I brought back from Puerto Rico, showing her a pair of sandals. Aren’t these adorable? Blaze says, but are they vegan? and Natalia says, does that matter? Blaze says, it has for a while, and Kristina tells Natalia to enjoy her stay in Port Charles. Natalia thanks her and says, all of Allison’s friends call her Natalia. Natalia takes a covered dish out of her suitcase, and says, look what she managed to smuggle in, Blaze’s abuela’s tembleque. Blaze thanks her, but says she’s told Natalia before, she doesn’t really like coconut pudding. Natalia asks when Blaze told her that, and Blaze says she told Natalia multiple times. Natalia never listens to her. Natalia asks what she doesn’t like about it, and Kristina says, the texture. She’s the same way about avocado and flan. Natalia says she thinks she knows her daughter, and Kristina says, of course (🍷), but Blaze asks if Natalia really knows her. She didn’t know Blaze lied to her earlier and it isn’t the first time Blaze has kept something from her.

Drew finishes with some pull-ups, and Curtis says, that’s impressive. Good work. Drew says, so good to see him. He’s so happy everything is working out for Curtis. Curtis says he doesn’t know what’s going on, but it must be important since Drew looks like he’s in a hurry. Drew says he is, and jets.

John says he can neither confirm nor deny the death of Olivia Jerome is connected to the case he’s working, and Carly says, so now he’s clamming up? He was super talkative a minute ago. He tells her, this much he’ll say. He’s making headway on this case, and he promises her, he will nail whoever’s behind this. She says, before or after Sonny’s death? Play this right and it saves him the hassle of building a case against Sonny and putting him away, right? He says, Sonny is a potential victim and he’ll do everything in his power to make sure Sonny is safe. If, after this case is closed, it becomes his business to investigate Sonny on charges of racketeering, he’ll do everything in his power to secure a legal conviction against him. He doesn’t cut corners. It does no good to catch criminals by becoming one himself. She says, he sure does pride himself on his integrity, doesn’t he? You know what’s funny? The most honorable man she knew, he’d consider a criminal. He says, and she doesn’t? and she says, no. He was her friend. She adds, and by the way, he’s drinking Corinthos coffee, and walks away.

Ava says, Sonny doesn’t really share much with her, and Nina says, it doesn’t seem that way to her. She thinks Ava knows more about her husband than she does. Ava says, the assumption of proximity, nothing more, and Nina says she’s not asking for a lot. She’s just asking for the opportunity to have a conversation with her husband. He evicted her from their home, he’s kept her at bay, and he hid behind his lawyer when he served her with divorce papers. Sonny walks in, and Nina says, if he wants to end their marriage, the least he could do is have the decency to say it to her face. Sonny says, here he is.

Nina asks if she can have a word with Sonny, and he asks if Ava is ready to go. Ava says, just about, and Nina says, her appointment was with Sonny? Ava nods and goes in the back. Nina says, while Ava grabs her things, can they just talk? She’s been waiting, she’s been biding her time, hoping he’d realize what they mean to each other. He says, not now, and she says, then when? After she’s given him a divorce? They made vows. He swore he’d love her until death, and now he can’t even spare her an hour?

Natalia says, Blaze lied? About what? Blaze looks at Kristina, who starts to leave, but Blaze says, don’t go. Please. She needs Kristina here for this. Kristina puts down her bag, takes off her coat, and stands next to Blaze. Blaze says, Natalia doesn’t know her as well as she thinks, and it’s partially her fault. Natalia says, partially, and Blaze tells her, when Kristina said that she let her crash here, it wasn’t the truth. Kristina was covering for her. Natalia asks why she’d need to cover for Blaze. What has she done? Is she sick? Blaze looks at Kristina and says, she’s great actually. She lied to Natalia. She and Kristina are more than just friends.

Maxie comes back and tells Spinelli that she feels like she’s had a full day already, and she hasn’t even gone to the office yet. But the Craft Fair looks great. He says he’s sure it does with her help and creativity, and she says, Sonny’s gone? He says, Sonny left a while ago, and she says, the kids are having so much fun at the Craft Fair, she didn’t want to leave. Bailey’s really enjoying playing with the clay and James is making something special for Spinelli, but she’s not allowed to say what it is, so… He kissed her last night. He says he did, and she kissed him back. She says she did, and he says, so what happens next?

Carly comes out to find John gone, and a note with his check that says, sorry for upsetting you. She flashes back to asking him how much danger her family is in. She remembers telling Drew that he agreed to her condition of ending his war with Nina if she became Editor-in-Chief of Crimson. Then telling him that this was her first and last issue. She looks at the note and says, you’re not the only reason I’m upset. I’m just so sick of not being considered. She crumples the note, and Drew walks in.

Ava comes back, and Sonny tells her to go ahead and leave. Send the car back, and he’ll try to make it to the school. If he can’t make it, he’ll talk to her tonight at home. She says, okay. Sounds good. She quietly tells Nina, good luck, and leaves. Sonny says, the floor is Nina’s. What’s she got to say?

Tomorrow, Kristina asks if Blaze is sorry that she called Kristina her girlfriend; Spinelli tells Maxie that he thinks he’s falling back in love with her; and Carly tells Drew that she doesn’t see how this relationship works if he can’t let go.  

Below Deck

Second day of charter. Fraser tells Captain Kerry that Barbie thinks everyone is against her and they’re not, but she’s been vile to him. The captain asks how she gets along with the rest of the team. He can’t just say someone is gone, but if they’re not fitting in, they’re not fitting in. Fraser says, she’s not a team player, and Captain Kerry asks if he’s happy with her work. Fraser says, she could be an asset if her attitude changed, and the captain tells him to think about it open minded and professional. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, with Fraser, emotions are involved. He doesn’t have to like her. Fraser says he’ll talk to her and keep it short, sweet, and professional. Barbie tells Sunny that she feels underappreciated, and in her interview, she says she grew up with a dad who applauds her 24/7. All she knows how to do in this situation is shut down. She’s in a hard place and it sucks. Oh, does she mean actually being required to listen to her boss? Captain Kerry tells Jared that they need to be on the dock at 11, and in his interview, he says, there are going to be two vow renewals and one couple getting married. He became ordained, but he knows more about divorce than weddings. In Sunny’s interview, she says she’s mad at Ben for calling her out over the radio. It makes her look bad. She’s had past issues with men on yachts. She worked with two deckhands and a bosun, one of the deckhands being a greenie. He kept telling her what to do and she cried. Then she became emotional and sensitive in their eyes, so she’s learned to stand up for herself.

 St. George’s, Grenada. Some of the crew goes to set up by the waterfall, and Captain Kerry calls his girlfriend. She asks if he can marry them, and he says, they could get mirror and go for it. We find out Barbie is most interested in Jared, and in her interview, she says she’s attracted to people’s souls. Seeing her past boyfriends, you can tell she doesn’t go for looks. Not that Jared is ugly. In the taxi with Fraser, Jared says, everyone wants a piece of Barbie, and Fraser says, he might have to hurry. In Kyle’s interview, he says he has no competition. He’s already won. She just needs to see it. Fraser says, he’s not getting a positive attitude from her and getting backlash on everything. It just takes one bad apple to spread to other crew members. Jared says, it’s like bacteria. Barbie calls her mom and says, her boss told her that she lacks respect. He’s making her look like an a-hole. He pushes her every second and attacks her constantly. In Barbie’s interview, she says, at this point, she can’t win. She tells her mom that she’s not sure this is the best thing for her.

Barbie’s mom tells her that she’s capable of handling this, and in her interview, Barbie says, she’s going to push through. She thinks quitters are losers and she’s a winner. Sunny confronts Ben about him calling her out on the radio, but he says, it wasn’t on her; it was on Jared. He didn’t know it came across like that. In Sunny’s interview, she says, recognizing that he hurt her feelings would be something. He’s a d*ck and an a-hole. Good thing they’re close together. At the waterfall, the crew sets up a gazebo, and the guests leave for the shore. When they see the set-up, groom-to-be Robert says he thinks pretty damn romantic, and Fraser says he’s getting goosebumps. The couples get ready – primaries Steven and Tara and guests Ran and Rachel are doing a vow renewal, while guests Michelle and Robert are getting married. Captain Kerry gives an amusing take on performing the ceremony, adding things like, I will trust you sometimes; and I will give you my hands, my heart, and my love, but not my last beer. He has them exchange rings to remind them of their eternal love and the promises they made today, and then tells them to kiss the bride of their choosing. In Fraser’s interview, he says he loves seeing people in love after 7 years (Steven and Tara). If he gets married, he wants a small, intimate beach wedding, wearing linen. Afterwards, the guests have sushi and cocktails. I cry because I will never be able to afford a vacation like this. In Anthony’s interview, he says, the captain is serious about crew food. They’re going to have so much food, a f***ing buffet every day. In the crew mess, Xandi tells Ben that yachting means different things to different people, and Ben asks if she wants it forever. He calls it Neverland. She says, it’s not normal, but it becomes your normal. Jared texts Ben to bring the tender for the guests, and Barbie tells Jared that he’s her favorite. In her interview, she says, she’s being her regular, honest, tragic self, and in Jared’s interview, he says he was taken aback. Maybe there’s something there. He doesn’t know.

Anthony needs help, and Kyle offers. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’d love to find love. He was married at 26 to a chief stew, and one of his uncle’s, who was a captain, found her a job. He never heard from her and guesses she left him for his uncle. For the moment, he’s literally in love with his cat. We see a photo of him with a beautiful black kitty. Aww! The guests get ready for dinner, and Fraser tells Barbie that he’s putting Cat on service, at least at the beginning. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Fraser’s moving her off service. What? Why? If he wants to mix people around to get back at her for the attitude that she knows she has, fine. At the end of the day though, it’s affecting service. Fraser goes over instructions with Cat and calls the captain to dinner. In his interview, Anthony says, love is in the air. It’s going to be important to keep following the vibe. Last night’s steak was not that great. We flash back to Robert saying it was tough, and Anthony says, it’s more pressure because it’s the last dinner. He’s got to be in shape, be strong, and do his best. It’s a parade of food porn – salmon tartare, some kind of beet thing, a local crab cake, asparagus risotto with red snapper, and a lamb chop that Anthony personally accompanies. One of the guests asks if the captain has ever had crawfish, and he says, when he was growing up, they caught something similar called a yabby. You can catch them with a cake of soap and a string. I’d like to hear more about that. Do they try to eat the soap? Do they ride on it? What? Fraser goes over cutlery for the next course with Cat, who’s been committing minor, yet noticeable, infractions. In Fraser’s interview, he says, quite honestly, it’s a cat-tastrophe. The crew is called to the galley for the wedding cake, which is white and topped with raspberries. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, the mistakes Cat is making are showing him that she’s not trained well enough to do service. Barbie peels some aloe for Kyle’s sunburn, and in his interview, he says he knows she likes Jared, but he has nothing to lose. Don’t write him off just yet.

The captain and Fraser discuss Cat’s mistakes, and Captain Kerry says, her response is great to them being pointing out, but she didn’t have the eye to notice. There’s lobster eggs benedict for breakfast, and Xandi suggests they see if the guests consummated the marriage. Eww! In Jared’s interview, he says, the first docking didn’t have the best communication. Inside, he’s screaming, fack – with an a. In the captain’s interview, he says, the last docking was the worst experience. He’s feeling confident, but nervous. Jared tells the captain, 12 meters, no, 20, and says, he needs to work on his meters. Ya think? In his interview, he says, nailed it, then catches a fly with his fingers, surprising himself. That reminds me of the time my father did that – in church. Why is it always the places where you shouldn’t be laughing? It’s guest departure time, and Tara says, they couldn’t have asked for anything better. Steven wishes them the best of luck for the rest of the season and gives the captain the tip envelope. They leave, and Captain Kerry says, amazing charter, and the deck team has a wash party. Jared tells the deckhands that he hasn’t met his daughter yet, because his ex isn’t allowing it, and in his interview, he says, he wasn’t ready for it when his ex got pregnant and didn’t handle it properly. Now he’s trying like hell to correct it, but it’s hard to sew back together a wound without leaving a scar behind. The captain calls the tip meeting, and he says, the guests were happy. The docking was better, and the wedding was wild with the logistics involved. It was a magical experience, and the guests were impressed. The tip is $22,500 or $1730 each. In Xandi’s interview, a producer asks what she’s doing with the money, and she says, therapy and a chiropractor. Captain Kerry says, the first round is on him, and Jared unsuccessfully tries to call his daughter. In his interview, he says, he’s on a set schedule to talk to her, but the lack of cellular service puts him in a difficult way. His fear is, if he doesn’t maintain the schedule, his ex will cut him off.

Port Louis Marina. The crew heads to the restaurant, and the captain joins them. They all agree the guests were easy, and Captain Kerry says, high maintenance they can deal with. It’s a-holes they can’t. Jared knocks over a glass, then goes to the bar for a shot of tequila. Fraser thinks he seems pissed off, and the captain makes his exit, telling them, be good or be damn good at it. Jared picks the salt off his shot glass and clinks glasses with Barbie. He asks Cat if she likes ass (negatory), and in Barbie’s interview, she says, his sloppy behavior is turning her all the way off. It’s like when you’re on a first date and think, I’ve met my husband. But on the second, you think, no, I did not. She decides to hae a smoke with Kyle and sits with him on a beach couch. Ben asks Sunny to go for a beach walk, but not in a romantic way. I don’t think. Barbie complains to Kyle about Fraser and says, the guests love her and she works her ass off. Sunny tells Ben that he likes to stir the pot (agreed) and he’s being a d*ck (also agreed). He says, there’s a difference between being a d*ck and being cheeky, and he’s being cheeky. She says, it comes off as being a d*ck, and in her interview, she says, she’s been lied to, humiliated, and hurt by former boyfriends, and she doesn’t trust anybody. Ben tells her that he’s an Aussie and charismatic, and she says, he can gaslight her all he wants.

Cat asks if they can’t have a chill night at the boat and play card games, but that’s a no. Ben asks if Sunny was worried about the captain hearing the radio, and she says, yes. He tells her that it doesn’t matter. She needs to be thick skinned. He’s sorry he offended her, but she’s probably the captain’s favorite crew member. Music happens and they dance. There’s a bonfire and Cat tries talking on the phone with a friend, but the call keeps dropping. In Cat’s interview, she says she doesn’t feel a genuine connection with anyone. It’s a huge trigger. Growing up with her foster family, she suppressed who she was. Now she’s been thrown on a boat with people she doesn’t know, and it makes her feel insecure. She’s not fully able to feel like herself. Fraser puts his arm around her, and she cries. She says she’s sad and tired and hopes she’s not bland. He says, there’s nothing bland about her, and she says she’s used to having close friends. It doesn’t feel like her previous teams. In Fraser’s interview, he says, Cat at the moment is a Leaning Tower of Pisa. She’s been through so much, it’s no wonder it’s a shock to her system. He tells her that she’s beautiful, she’s fun, and she’s everything they need. She’s his most precious stew. He tells her that he’ll be her family for the next six weeks. He’ll be there for her. In his interview, he says he sympathizes. He’s been there before. All they need is to take a breath. He tells Barbie to be fragile with Cat. He can’t deal with her attitude. She says, he’s sassy too, but he says he doesn’t have sass. If something isn’t done correctly, he’s going to be annoyed. She says she’s not doing the yes, sir, no, sir thing, and in his interview, he wonders where she gets off thinking this attitude and approach to a superior is going to work. He doesn’t care how good she is. If she goes against him, it’s going to be an issue. He tells her, f***ing bring it or bring it home.

Next time, the captain has a talk with Jared; problematic and demeaning guests; and a guest’s comments affects Jared’s self-worth, making him cry.

⚰️ About Last Night…

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Hard to tell from just the first episode, but this one looks like a keeper. Rick is now a cosignee, working outside a secret CRM city in Philadelphia, PA. Their code is security and secrecy above all, and cosignees work outside the city, killing zombies, until they get promoted to be citizens. There are also not-so-secret cities in Omaha and Portland, which the CRM has their eye on. Remember how Jadis referred to Rick as an A at the end of Walking Dead? It turns out that’s not such a great thing to be as a general rule, since A’s are intelligent and strong and the CRM doesn’t want them around. It’s the B’s who get taken in, while the A’s are eliminated. Fortunately for Rick, someone has his back. If you want to know more, read on.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-episode1-recap-spoilers

🥁 Banging the Drum At a Moderate Tempo…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderBS. Until then, stay safe, stay always following your words with actions, and stay accepting that if you don’t want to live your life miserable, you need to take a long look at yourself in the mirror, be real, and get out of your own way. The ability to change your outlook and your life begins with you and you alone.

February 19, 2024 – Valentin Has a Surprise For Alexis, Fraser Is Done With This On Deck & Kitchen

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly knocks repeatedly at Dex’s door and asks if he’s there. She says she’s looking for Josslyn and knocks again.

Brook tells Tracy that the Deception feature looks huge, and Tracy asks if she’d say they got maximum exposure at a bargain rate. Brook tells her that she would say just that. Tracy’s negotiation skills were awe inspiring. She got credit, Carly got a great first issue, and Deception got huge exposure. Everybody wins, except Nina. Tracy asks if she didn’t tell Brook that they’d be able to run this company with or without Maxie, and Brook says, let’s not even go there. Lois comes in and says, has she got a surprise for them.

Marshall comes out of the hospital elevator, and Stella says, hello, stranger. It’s so nice to see… Is he in there? He realizes she’s talking to him and says he’s so sorry, kissing her on the cheek. He got kind of caught up in his head there for a minute. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s perfectly fine physically. He just came from his psychiatrist. She asks how it went, and he says he was prepared for bad news. He knows how to deal with bad news. But he got good news and he’s got no idea how to handle it.

Gregory looks at The Invader headline, DEAD ON ARRIVAL, and reads, notorious criminal is shot while being transferred from Pentenville. Alexis says, notorious doesn’t even scratch the surface of who Olivia Jerome was, but it’s technically correct. He says, the headline does lean in the direction of the more lurid, but it doesn’t tip over into it, and she thanks him, taking the tablet. She tells him, it says she didn’t see her death coming. That’s unfortunate. It’s a mercy she didn’t deserve. He says, wow, and she says, it doesn’t matter what she thinks. If she can get readers who expect some sparkling headline to actually read this article, they’re going to read something that really matters. About gun control, about rising violence – Valentin approaches the office – about prison reform. Yes? Gregory says, from what he read, she got the catalyst she was looking for, and Valentin says, she usually does. There’s no one better at turning a headline into a cause than his cousin.

Carly says, come on, Dex, open the door, when Josslyn opens it. She says, he’s gone.

Trina is looking at her turtle dove, when Curtis rolls in. She asks, how was physical therapy? Was everyone blown away by him? He says, it was okay, and she says, he’s improving every single session. Everyone can see that. She and mom are amazed by how far he’s come. He thanks her for the encouragement, and she says, they’re going to throw him the biggest party this zip code has ever seen once he’s back on his feet. He says, walking over to her and her mom for a hug is all the celebration he needs. So she doesn’t have to worry about a party. She says she guesses she should cancel the caterers then, and starts to leave, but he says, she doesn’t have to hide from him. And she doesn’t have to run away from how she feels.

Stella tells Marshall that people don’t usually need her help handling good news, so she doesn’t have much experience in that area, but she’ll give it a shot anyway. Marshall says, his psychiatrist has been weaning him off his meds, and she says, for a few months now, right? He says, yes, and in all this time, there’s been no episodes. No seeing things, no hearing voices… She says, no indication of schizophrenia? and he says, it confirmed what Portia first suspected and what all this testing and observation seems to bear out. She says, back in the day, he was misdiagnosed, and he says, yes ma’am. She says she guesses there’s no sense in railing at the past, and he says, it’s not like he can track the doctor down and what? Beat him up? Sue? She says she’s not sure it would do any good if he could. So instead, why don’t they just thank the good Lord that the sword that’s been hanging over his head for 40 years is finally gone. He’s finally free. He says, that’s the thing. He doesn’t feel free.

Josslyn says, when she got here, it was too late, and Carly asks, too late how? She says, Dex was already gone, but Sonny was here and gave her this – she picks up the letter and dog tags (I’d thought he kept one, but I guess not) – as a consolation prize. She tosses it back on the table, and Carly says, so Dex left on his own. Josslyn says, it’s not like he had much of a choice, and Carly says, but Sonny didn’t hurt him. Josslyn says, not according to Sonny, and Carly asks what Dex’s letter said. Josslyn tells her that it said that he left because it was safer for everybody and that he loved her, and he was grateful for the time they had together. Carly says she’s so sorry, but Josslyn says, Dex was right. He said this was going to happen. Sonny had to send him away. He was too much of a liability. Whether it was the cops or Sonny’s enemies, they were going to come for him. He knows way too much about the organization. Carly says, he does. He’s right. Josslyn asks what she’s supposed to do. She’s supposed to be grateful that Sonny sent him away instead of having him killed? (Well… yeah.) Assuming that’s what happened. Assuming Sonny didn’t make him write this letter and kill him anyway. Carly says, Sonny wouldn’t do that, and Josslyn asks if she’s sure. She didn’t think Sonny would leave Carly. She didn’t think he would turn on Michael. (Speaking of which, why is no one angry with Michael since he’s the guy who started all this mess?) She didn’t think he would treat someone who saved his life like a traitor, but he did all of that and more. So before Carly sits here and tells her that Dex is somewhere safe, please ask herself, would she bet her life on it? Because Dex just did.

Valentin says he’s sorry. He’s interrupting? Alexis says, of course (🍷) he is, hugging him. But actually, it got her off her soapbox. He says he thought she was just hitting her stride, and Gregory says, she was. In fact, they were just in the middle of… Valentin says, running a newspaper. He understands. They should be taking a victory lap for showing restraint for running a story that in lesser hands would have become a voyeuristic tale of a vicious criminal brought down in a manner even more grisly than she herself employed. Alexis thanks him for saying that, but she doesn’t think that’s why he dropped by, and he says, not entirely. He’s guessing Shawn Butler hasn’t talked to her yet. She says she just got an email from him, but she hasn’t had time to respond to it yet. How did Valentin know he was trying to reach her? Valentin says, he and Shawn have just completed a rather substantial business arrangement and Shawn was supposed to tell her. Alexis asks, what kind of business? and Valentin says he bought The Invader.

Trina says she’s not hiding anything; she’s fine. Curtis says, okay. He has to take her at her word, but he just wants her to know if there’s ever a time she’s not fine, she doesn’t have to pretend anymore. She asks if he thinks that’s true, deep down true, and he asks what she means. She says, sometimes people will ask you if you’re okay and you can desperately see they’re hoping you’ll say you’re okay. That way they can say they checked in to see how you were doing. But God forbid you tell them the truth or give them a hint that things are not so great. They get uncomfortable. He says he knows. Then they start glancing at their watch or checking their phone, and what do you know, they’ve got a message, and all of a sudden, they’ve got to go somewhere, anywhere. And not too long ago, you were laughing, having drinks, putting something on the grill, no problem. Now it’s like they don’t know what to say or how to handle it. He knows a little bit of how that’s like, but that’s not how it goes here, and not with him. She says she does know that, but she’s afraid to let everything she’s feeling come out. He says, why is that? and she says, because she feels like if she does, she’ll fall apart and she’ll never be able to put herself back together again.

Alexis says, Valentin is joking, right? He’s never expressed any interest in The Invader, let alone buying it. He says he knows this comes as a bit of a shock given his lack of experience with publishing or the media, but she stepped out of law and became an editor and look how well that turned out. Gregory asks if she’s okay, and she says she will be once she calls Shawn. Valentin says he knows she has a long history with Shawn and should make that call, but he did make a substantial offer above market and Shawn took it. She says, Shawn doesn’t chase money. It’s not his thing. His thing is political and social issues. Valentin says, in his non-profit organization, which not only funds The Invader, it underwrites various media outlets around the world, and with this infusion of cash, it will bolster his non-profit and expand his reach. Gregory says, and he’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart? but Valentin says, not entirely. His heart’s not that good, but The Invader’s business possibilities are. Alexi says she didn’t get into this to print money. If she had, they’d still be telling stories about UFOs and celebrity diets. Valentin says he knows that and respects her incorruptibility, and she says, if he’s come here to take away her editorial control and put a corporate slant on things, she can save him the trouble of making a really difficult call because she quits.

Lois reads, it is with great joy, together with their families, Brook Lynn Quartermaine – she rubs Brook’s arm and says, that’s youand Harrison Chase invite you and a guest to the celebration of their wedding. Doesn’t it just get them where they live? Brook says, they’re just perfect. Aren’t they, granny? Tracy flashes back to Gregory telling her, no more petty fighting and arguing. All that matters is those two beautiful souls belong together and we all do everything we can to make that happen. Brook says, they’re just perfect, but Tracy says, far from it.

Josslyn tells Carly that she knows who Sonny is and she knows what he’s capable of, and he just doesn’t want to admit the fact that he was vulnerable, that he actually owes Dex. Carly says she doesn’t believe Sonny had Dex killed. Sonny let him live and he did that for Josslyn. Josslyn says, Sonny doesn’t get to play God their lives just because the rest of them let him do it with theirs. She won’t let him keep her and Dex apart. She won’t do it. She’s been here all night looking for something – she starts pulling open drawers – looking for an address, a phone number, something from Dex’s life before he came to Port Charles, something that will help her find him. She looks at the dog tags and says, he did two tours in Afghanistan, and he came back, so he can’t be gone now.

Curtis tells Trina that he gets it. She feels like if she gives it an inch, it’ll take all of her, but that pain she’s feeling, that hurt, can’t be contained forever. She can try to hide it, she can lock it deep inside her, but it’s still there. And it ain’t getting any smaller. It will turn toxic, and all that toxic grief will seep out and eventually, it will get to her heart. It’ll make it harder and that magical light inside her will dim. That’s not going to happen to her. She says, but she doesn’t know what to do with all that she’s feeling, and he says, share it. Let it out. He did and it broke him to pieces, but he was surrounded by family. His family fixed him – her mom, Aunt Stella, his dad, TJ, her. They all put him together. When he had no strength, they gave him theirs. And she, too, is surrounded by family and love, so let it out. Fall apart if she has to. They’ll catch her every single time.

Stella says she’s not sure she understands, and Marshall says, this misdiagnosis. Ever since Portia showed him that his test results didn’t show the genetic markers for schizophrenia, he’s been wrestling with this in his head. And now that he’s been weaned off his meds, there hasn’t been any reoccurrence of symptoms. It’s no longer a question mark in the back of his mind. It’s a fact. It’s real. He was misdiagnosed. She says she hopes he’s not blaming himself for believing what they doctor said all those years ago, and he says, it’s hard not to. He got one diagnosis, and he didn’t question it. She says, nobody did. Doctors were gods back then. What they said was the final word. He says he has one question. If what he was experiencing wasn’t schizophrenia, what the hell was it? And what if it happens again?

Josslyn says, every second she spends crying brings more miles between her and Dex, and Carly says she knows Josslyn is hurt. She knows Josslyn is angry at Sonny, but Dex is alive, and it could have gone differently. Josslyn says, the only reason it didn’t is because of Carly, so she has Carly to thank, not Sonny. Carly says, it’s the least that she owed Dex, but he was working for her, so some of Josslyn’s anger should be directed at her. Josslyn says she also knows that Dex was going to protect Sonny. No matter how many times she warned him otherwise, he still believed in Sonny. Just like Carly. Why, when he’s been so awful? Don’t say, because of Donna. Carly says, it is because of Donna. Because Donna loves her father every bit as much as Josslyn loves hers. It’s a really difficult question to answer and she’s probably not going to understand and that’s okay. She and Sonny have a history, and she knows he’s flawed. She knows him better than anyone. He’s hurt her and disappointed her, but she’s hurt him and disappointed him. Josslyn says, it’s not the same, but Carly says, let her tell Josslyn something. There have been people in her life who wouldn’t quit on her no matter how bad she messed up, so she doesn’t quit on Sonny, even when she doesn’t agree with him and even when he’s wrong. Josslyn says, Sonny doesn’t deserve her loyalty or Dex’s.

Valentin says he admires Alexis’s journalistic integrity, and of course (🍷) he wants to make money, because The Invader’s a business, not a hobby. But Alexis has been solidly in the black since taking over and he sees no reason to change her approach. Alexis says, it’s highly unusual for a new owner to leave everything exactly as is. Typically, they want to tinker or fine tune. Gregory suggests she hear the man out before she makes any decisions, journalistically or otherwise, and she says, fine. Please continue. Valentin says, she is the editor. He has no interest or desire to tinker with her work, and she says, that’s a relief. He says, The Invader is her baby, and he intends to keep it that way, and she says, good. Maybe they can even work together sometime within those parameters. Gregory says, that’s great, and Valentin says, that’s the spirit. But with Shawn gone, she’s going to need a publisher, someone with vision and prior experience. She says, of course (🍷). Does he have somebody in mind? Nina runs in and says she hopes she’s not late.

Tracy asks if Brook is seeing what she’s seeing, but Brook says she can almost guarantee she isn’t. Lois takes the invitation and reads, it is with great joy that together with their families, Brook Lynn Quartermainethat’s youand Harrison Chase invite you to the celebration of their wedding… Oh. Tracy says, exactly. Even Yuri rates a plus one. Lois asks, what’s that supposed to mean, even Yuri? She happens to find Yuri very handsome and charming, and that accent is to die for. Tracy says, he is free to attend the wedding with a companion of his choice, which she would be if there was an and a guest, which there is not. And she can only assume it’s Lois’s subtle way of implying that she’s not going to be able to find someone to take to the wedding. Lois says she had nothing to do with that, but if she did have something to say about Tracy’s love life or the dating apps she should be on, she wouldn’t be that subtle. Brook says, they can all agree on that, and Tracy says, there is nothing subtle about removing and a guest from her invitation. And do not try to tell her that this is just a coincidence, because years ago, she didn’t think Lois was good enough for her son, and now all these years later, Lois doesn’t think she’s good enough for anybody. Lois says, good enough, sure. Nice enough, that depends upon the day Tracy is having. Tracy says, rest assured, there are plenty of people around the globe who would be thrilled to be her guest, and Lois says she would gladly welcome any one of those lucky winners that she wants to bring. Tracy tells Lois, sure, she says that now, and Brook says, nobody is trying to slight her. It was a misprint. The and a guest was accidentally dropped from her invitation. See for herself. Here’s the master they sent to the printer. Tracy looks at the paper, and Lois says, see? So bring whoever she wants. Tracy says, fire the printer, but Lois says she’s not firing anyone. It was an honest mistake. Tracy can bring someone. She can bring a boatload of someone’s. Just let her know so she can make sure there are enough chairs. But just between us girls – and Tracy knows she can tell Lois – who’s the lucky guy? Come on.

Nina asks if Valentin told Alexis, and he says he was just about to, but her entrance kind of speaks for itself. Gregory asks if Alexis is okay, but she says, hell no. He knows Nina Reeves, the former editor of Crimson magazine. Valentin says, Nina may have been editor… Nina says, she’ll take it. If Alexis is thinking she accepted Valentin’s offer with the intention of pushing her out as Editor-in-Chief and taking over, then… Alexis says, did she? and Nina says she likes that, getting straight to the point instead of beating around the bush for half an hour. Alexis says, did she? and Nina says she was as surprised as anyone when Valentin proposed that she become publisher of The Invader, and once the surprise wore off, she got really excited because she’s watched what Alexis has done here. She’s taken this common tabloid newspaper and turned it into a vehicle for serious journalism. Alexis says, that was the point. It’s what she and Shawn Butler agreed upon from the beginning. Nina says, and she’s so honored to be part of this team. She’ll do anything she can to help Alexis hone her vision. Alexis says she appreciates that very much. What she would like to know is why the person she’s now taking orders from got fired from her last job.

Trina tells Curtis that she doesn’t know if this feeling is ever going to go away. She hates it, but she can’t make it stop. It’s like, without Spencer, all the color in the world is gone. It’s just grey and she feels like a zombie just going through the motions. Everything she thought was important, like art or good grades or the Sorbonne, she looks at it now and none of that is important. And it’s not like she doesn’t care. It’s like she doesn’t care that she doesn’t care. Curtis says he hears her, and she asks if he thinks it will go away with time. He says he’s not thinking anything, just listening, and she says she keeps getting emails from PCU asking if she’s coming back for the fall semester, and she doesn’t know if she can do that. He says, so don’t. Don’t do it. She says, but what if she never can?

Carly says, Josslyn doesn’t need to remind her that Sonny often hurts the people he cares about, then rationalizes it by saying he’s following some code. She’s watched him do it for years. Hell, she’s watched him do it to her. But she knew what she was getting into when she chose to be a part of Sonny’s world. So did Dex. Josslyn says, so this code just justifies everything Sonny’s done? and Carly says, no. It just explains it. It’s his world. It’s how he operates. It’s what he’s done for years. By now it’s a part of his DNA. Josslyn asks if loyalty is a part of this code. Why is it everybody, Dex included, has to be blindly loyal to Sonny, but he doesn’t have to be loyal to them? Carly says, Dex isn’t stupid or naïve. He’s ex-military. Adapting to situations is what he does. He’s lucky he was dealing with Sonny, and he’s even luckier he had Josslyn. Josslyn says, no. She’s part of the reason Dex is in this mess, but Carly says, she’s not. She’s probably the only reason Dex is still alive. Her and the fact that Sonny loves her. Josslyn says, he doesn’t, but Carly says, he does. Or Dex wouldn’t have gotten the option to leave. Josslyn says she doesn’t want Sonny’s kind of love. She just wants Dex back, so can Carly please help her find him? Port Charles is the only true home he’s ever known. Carly says, before Josslyn takes off and blows up her life trying to find Dex, she needs to ask herself a very important question. Josslyn says, what if she doesn’t find him? but Carly says, what if she does?

Trina tells Curtis that she can’t think of doing the things normal people do in college, not after losing Spencer. She’d just be pretending, and she doesn’t even have enough energy to pull that off. She can’t even bother trying. Curtis says, it may be one of those times where fake it til you make it doesn’t apply. If she’s not feeling college, don’t go. She says, try telling that to mom, and he says, that’s going to take some time, but she’ll get there. No matter how old, dependent, or self-sufficient Trina becomes, she’s always going to be her mother’s child. And he mom wants what every parent in the world wants, and that’s for her to be happy. Trina says she doesn’t think she’ll ever be happy again, and Curtis asks if she has an idea of what it would take to be happy again. She says, a miracle, and he says, barring that? She says she just needs to find a way to keep Spencer present in her life because she feels like she’s losing a little bit of him every day. And what if one day, the only thing she has left of him is this? She shows Curtis the turtle dove.

Marshall says he wasted half his life because some doctor thought he knew what was wrong with him, and Stella says, but doctors know more today than they knew back then. He says, but he may never know what happened to him and he has a hard time letting go of that one. She says she thinks he can be forgiven for that. What happened to him back then was a mystery and people need a mystery solved. He says, and as much as he wants answers, he’s not sure he can afford to spend the limited time he has left on this earth trying to find them. Is it fair to his family? Is it fair to the people he cares about? She says, only he can answer that.

Josslyn says she knows exactly what she’s going to say when she finds Dex. She’s going to tell him, the hell with Sonny. He’s coming back home with her. Carly says she doesn’t doubt Josslyn has what it takes to find Dex, but Dex isn’t in Sonny’s world anymore. He’s not under Sonny’s thumb. Isn’t that what Josslyn always wanted? Let Dex start a new life.

Valentin says, Nina’s exit from Crimson but Nina says she’s got it. Alexis asked a very valid question. She deserves a response. She tries to keep her personal and professional worlds apart. Drew chose to merge the two. He put Carly in place as Editor-in-Chief solely to get back at her. So if anyone put Crimson and its staff at risk, Alexis should be looking in Carly and Drew’s direction, not hers. Alexis thanks her for being so forthright, and Nina says she’ll always be like that. Any more questions? Alexis says, not at the moment, and Nina says she knows her exit from Crimson was a little dramatic, and the whole drama between her and Carly and Drew is a little scandalous, but a little scandal does not need to get in the way of serious journalism. Ask Woodward and Bernstein. Gregory says he knows it might not be his place to point this out,  but Woodward and Bernstein investigated a scandal; they weren’t a part of the scandal. Nina says she knows she hasn’t run a daily before, but she has years of experience in publishing. Perhaps a little bit more than Alexis. Alexis says, that’s true, and Nina says she knows how this industry works. She can get things done and she’s prepared to make this work. Is Alexis?

Curtis says he wishes he had something different to say, but his advice is the same. If Trina wants to keep Spencer present, then share her memories of him. Tell her mom, tell Josslyn, tell him. She says, but even he’ll get tired of that, and he says, try him. And she can start with that figurine. What makes it so special? She flashes back to both she and Spencer bringing their doves to Paris, and Spencer saying that he takes it everywhere with him. She tells Curtis that it’s a turtle dove. There’s a pair of them, like in the Christmas carol – two turtle doves. Spencer originally wanted to give her this for Christmas, but so much happened, he gave it to her months later. She didn’t care about the delay. She loved them, like she loved him.

Marshall says he guesses he’ll just have to learn to live with the fact he may never know what was wrong with him, and Stella says, better than the alternative. They laugh and she asks how he’s doing now. He says, better. Better than he has in years. The symptoms haven’t shown any signs of returning and the stress… He’s waiting for it to happen again. He didn’t know how much it was weighing on him until it was gone. She says, he’s been carrying a heavy burden for a long time. Is he ready to put it down? He says, the past is the past. Let’s focus on today. He’s been focused on yesterday and he hears today is where the good stuff is anyway. She asks if he’s sure about this, and he asks, what other choice is there? How can someone take a look at him and diagnose a condition he had 40 years ago that hasn’t reared its ugly head since? He’s got to let it go. She says, you can’t stop a man with a plan, and he says, she-bop-du-bop-bam (or something like that)! Not this man. Not this plan. He can’t tell her how much he appreciates her listening to him. He appreciates her more than she knows. She says, it’s what she does, but he says, it’s a lot more than that. He kisses her cheek, thanks her again, and leaves. She calls Felicia and asks if she can trouble Felicia with something.

Tracy says, at the moment, there is no one in particular she wants to take to the wedding, and Lois asks if Tracy wants her to introduce her to someone. Or she could help Tracy set up her dating profile for that apps. Tracy says she really doesn’t. She’s actually quite content being single. Lois says she’s talking about someone pleasant for the wedding. Someone who will open the door for Tracy, or take her coat, give her a little dip on the dance floor in the middle of the reception. Tracy says, pass. She thanks Lois though. Brook says, Tracy Quartermaine and a guest, and hands Tracy the invitation. Better? Tracy says, much, and takes it. She leaves, and Lois says she can see it in Brook’s eyes. She’s worried about her grandmother. Don’t be. Tracy doesn’t need anyone but Tracy. Brook says she’s not so sure about that. For all granny’s bravado, there’s a loneliness inside her. It’s been there ever since she lost Luke. Maybe this wedding will be a way for her to feel a little less lonely. Lois says, yeah.

Alexis shakes Nina’s hand, and Valentin says he knew she’d make the right decision. It’s for the best for The Invader. Alexis says, that’s what they all want, and Valentin says, they’re going to take off. He knows Alexis has some work to do. Nina says she also has some work to do, familiarizing herself with the operation. Alexis says she’s just a phone call away and she’ll do everything she can to make this arrangement work. Nina says, that makes two of them. It’s unanimous. They leave, and Alexis says she knows what Gregory is thinking. Just go ahead and say it. He says he’s thinking she’s taking a risk, but she already knows that. She says, of course () she knows that. She sees what’s going on. She’s not ready to leave The Invader. She wants to see what those two have going on.

In the hallway, Nina thanks Valentin for having her back and he says, of course (🍷), but make no mistake. He’s expecting great things from her and Alexis. That is, if she meant what she said. Nina tells him that she meant every word. The Invader can be a bit self-righteous, but Alexis does great work. But the newspaper could use a little sexing up. He asks how she intends to do that, and she says, it’s simple. You just focus on the stories that the readers are hungry for. He says, such as? and she says, such as Carly and Drew.

Josslyn picks up the dog tags and tells Carly that she can’t let Dex go. She’s sorry. He just means too much to her. She’s going to find him and if he doesn’t want to come back to Port Charles, they’ll go somewhere else. Together. She leaves the apartment.

Tomorrow, Laura asks Robert what his office has decided; Cyrus wonders why someone wants to say that to him; Sonny asks if someone is going to do this for him or not; and Diane serves papers to someone.

Below Deck

Port Louis Marina, Grenada. Barbie and Cat agree to try to work together peacefully, and in Cat’s interview, she says she was excited to work with girls, but… In their respective interviews, both she and Barbie say, this girl is a bitch. Fraser says he needs a drink. The crew starts drinking on the boat, then go to the restaurant. They talk tattoos on the way, and Max tells Fraser that two years ago today, his dad died. After drinks are served, Fraser toasts to a great charter, and Xandi tells them, the way to toast in French is sens mon cul, which translates to smell my ass, but they don’t know that. Barbie says she had three nannies growing up. One cooked, one cleaned, and one did her hair. I’m sure this will endear her even more to everyone. Jared tells the crew that he and his girlfriend weren’t getting along, when she got pregnant and moved to Alaska, not telling him about the baby until well after his daughter was born. Now, he FaceTimes with her twice a week. The last thing he wants to be is a deadbeat dad. On the boat, Captain Kerry eats dinner while he FaceTimes with his girlfriend. In his interview, he says he adores her, and he’s going to learn Turkish so he can ask her to marry him. He’s not single. Sorry, ladies. The crew moves on to do some dancing, and Sunny says she’s in paradise with a hot guy – i.e. Ben. She’s not expecting anything, but she’s thinking of something. Kyle says that Barbie is the kind of girl he’d take home to his mom, which surprises me, and the crew heads back to the boat. Jared says he finds truth in Barbie’s eyes. Back on the boat, it’s hot tub time. Fraser realizes he spent 300 f***ing dollars, says, what a bunch of lunatics, and goes to bed. In Kyle’s interview, he says, Xandi is pissed as a fart. A fart goes everywhere, so she’s pissed as. The first time a British friend said she was pissed as a fart via Facebook, it took me a minute to realize she didn’t mean angry. Sunny texts Ben that she wants to kiss, and he tells her to meet him in the cabins. They kiss for a while, and Ben jets.

In Jared’s interview, he says, the first charter was rough, and we flash back to his many mistakes. He says he’s been f***ing up. Slow down, calm down, and breathe. Think past the tip of your nose. Kyle thinks he’s in love with Barbie, and in Cat’s interview, she says, in the boats she’s worked on in the past, she was close with the crew. This crew is hard to connect with, and she feels super alone. It sucks. Captain Kerry is surprised the boat looks like no one was there the night before, and Jared says, that’s because he was up at 6 tidying it for the captain. Apparently, past the tip of his nose is brown. Fraser has an interior meeting and says he’s going to mix things up. Cat will be on housekeeping, Xandi on service, and Barbie wherever he needs her. In Ben’s interview, he says, everything he said he was not going to do, and here we are. This could be trouble. In Sunny’s interview, she says she separates work and play, but she likes him. The captain calls for a preference sheet meeting.

The primaries are Tara, an event planner, and her husband Steven, a contractor. They’re bringing friends Michelle and Robert who are engaged, as well as another couple. Fraser reads that the guests want to go to a waterfall where two of the couples will renew their vows, and one will be married. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Annandale Falls is absolutely enchanting. He can’t think of a more perfect setting. We see the Falls and right he is; it’s stunning. Fraser reads that the guests want surf and turf the first night, and then an old Hollywood themed dinner, as well as a wedding cake. Fraser radios Cat to meet with him, and in his interview, he says, it’s evident Cat is a sensitive soul. He feels that she might want to be heard more. He never had someone to look after him when he started in yachting, and he wants to be that someone to someone else. They sit down and have a beer, and Cat tells him that her dad passed away when she was 9 and her mother passed away when she was 13. She and her brother were thrown into the system and separated. The family she went to was involved with a cult religion and wouldn’t let her talk to her brother. In Cat’s interview, she says she lived in Orange County from 13 to 18 years old, and was part of her family’s culture, life, and dynamic. She felt like a prop. She tells Fraser that it was extreme, and in her interview, she says she wanted to forget her past life. At 18, she chose her brother and living her life for herself. She became independent, and now she and her brother are close. He’s her best friend.  

Provisions come in, and after going up and down the stairs with boxes and bags, Anthony says his ass is going to be a badass ass. Fraser calls another interior meeting in the master cabin and says his standards haven’t been met. This is not how you roll a towel. It’s unacceptable. The high standard not being met puts them back where they were, so he’s putting Xandi on housekeeping, Cat wherever, and Barbie on service. In Fraser’s interview, he says, maybe Cat is overwhelmed. Super yachting is very intense, but if you want it bad enough, you’ll do what you have to in order to get there. His first job was the crew mess stew, the crew member to the crew, the bottom of the barrel. His first day, the chief engineer found out he was gay, and the engineer was homophobic. While Fraser was doing dishes, the engineer poured the boiling tea Fraser just made him on Fraser’s hand. This was his first day in yachting, but he told himself, just keep f***ing going. One day, none of this will matter. He’ll be at the top and get the engineer fired. And one day he did. Unfortunately, he does not tell that story, but I’d like to hear it. Fraser asks Barbie to be extra sensitive with Cat, and Barbie says she’s sorry she’s so terrible, but he says he doesn’t want to hear that. In Barbie’s interview, she says, what the f***? She has no filter, but she apologizes and owns her sh*t. She’s making an effort, but he’s stuck on, don’t hurt Cat’s feelings.

The guests arrive, and Fraser gives the tour. In his interview, Fraser says, the guests seem a bit tacky, but fun. In the captain’s interview, he says he sees a quality team, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. They’ll go step by step until they operate the vessel how he wants. They head out to sea, and there’s a whole big to-do between Fraser and Barbie on how a margarita is made. When Barbie leaves, he tells Cat that he wants a margarita made in less than 30 seconds and don’t give him attitude anymore. In Barbie’s interview, she speaks in Spanish, saying, she’s five minutes from losing control. He’s such a d*ck.

In Anthony’s interview, he says, it was amazing growing up France, but school wasn’t for him. He didn’t dream of having a Ferrari, but dreamt of making his mom happy (aww!). He wanted to take care of her so she wouldn’t need to work and went to culinary school. Fraser tells Barbie not to ignore him, which is becoming her M.O., and she says, yes, sir. He says, she’s giving him attitude, and she says he’s jabbing at her. She feels underappreciated. In Fraser’s interview, he says, Barbie is great at service, but if she can’t compose herself, it’s a serious issue. If she can’t learn quick, he’ll filter her out of the crew. Lunch is served and we get our first dose of food porn. The entrée is cordon bleu, which I don’t even like, but I’d make an exception here. Guest Robert wants Fraser to tell the chef they hated it to f*** with his emotions. (This was in a funny way, not a mean way.) In Ben’s interview, he says, Jared is picking up his game, but they’ll see how long it lasts. The guests play in the water, and the crew runs out of food in the crew mess. Fraser talks to Barbie about her attitude again, and Barbie says she feels like she’s trying and not being appreciated. He tells her, that’s her paranoia. It’s how she responds to him, if she responds at all. Her attitude isn’t going to fly. Barbie says, he’s treating her like a bitch, and he says, she’s being a bitch to him.

Fraser says, Barbie is giving him attitude and she’s rude to him. He doesn’t like working with that. She says, fair enough and she’ll work on it, but she’s not happy. He says he’s sorry that’s the case and hopes it changes. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s thinking game night equals steakhouse, his way. His way looks pretty damn good, and the table is very cute with those red and white popcorn containers that look like bags in the centerpiece. In Fraser’s interview, he says, car park tailgating football is the theme, and he’s going with it. For service, he dresses like a referee and wears a whistle. Anthony says he’s reinvented French onion soup, and I’m in. Primary Steven prays before the meal, and thanks God for the food, asking that it makes them better and makes them do awesome sh*t. Ha-ha! That’s kind of how I pray.  While cleaning cabins, Cat tells Xandi that she’d like someone who makes her laugh, but there’s been no genuine banter between her and any of the crew members. The entrée is surf and turf, and I think about how long it’s been since had that. Robert thinks the filet is chewy, but it’s not the chef; it’s a bad cut. Barbie tells Anthony about the steak and asks if he has any A1. In Anthony’s interview, she says, it’s not his fault. They’re in a little island. Do they think the islanders make filet mignon every day? Barbie grumbles about Cat not doing the toilet paper right or something, and in Cat’s interview, she says, growing up with trauma makes you insecure. Her foster family did things to make her feel like she wasn’t perfect, and she had to be. How her work ethic is viewed is important to her. If she’s made to feel weak, it gives her anxiety.

The captain tells Anthony that they need more food put out for the crew. The deckhands alone could eat a whole chicken breast. Nothing extravagant. It can even be sandwiches. In his interview, Captain Kerry says, all chefs are artists and strive for perfection. But the crew needs fuel, not something amazing. Fraser mumbles that he just doesn’t like Barbie. Barbie sits with Kyle, and they have tea.

Second day of charter, Halifax Harbour. Jared sees Sunny on a jet ski without a life jacket, and calls her back in. Jared feels the need to broadcast Sunny’s mistake, and in her interview, she says she’s annoyed. She knows she made a mistake, but he made her look bad on the radio. The problems in the team should be dealt with within the team. The captain doesn’t need to know the mistakes. She tells Ben he can f*** off, and Ben thinks she’s having a day. Fraser goes to the bridge and tells Captain Kerry that he had a talk with Barbie about being harsh and disrespectful to one of the other girls, and he’s been getting attitude. He requested she be nice to Cat, and she thinks it’s something against her, but that’s not the case. Now she’s being vile to him. He’s a very kind and caring person, but he’s said his piece and he’s done with this.

To be continued…

🍦Admitting I’m Powerless Over Ice Cream…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and VanderNonsense. Until then, stay safe, stay navigating social media with care and contributing positively, and stay focused on today. It’s where the good stuff is.

February 16, 2024 – Sonny Gives Dex a Choice, Her Response, Two Firsts, No Salt, Bad Crew, VanderFave, New Chefs, Reunited Ones, Last News, Vamping, Throne Report, Big Change, Just Over 8 Quotes & If

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Doc says he just got off the phone with Martin, and Laura asks if his office got the paperwork. He says, they did, and he beneficially added to the adoption petition, which means everything is on track for them both to become Ace’s parents. She says, music to her ears, and they kiss. There’s a knock at the door, and Laura opens it to Cyrus, who says, hello, sister.

Anna asks what Dante’s got, and he says, Pentenville confirmed that they were relocating Olivia Jerome. CSI says the transport van was sabotaged and two guards were restrained, but unharmed. This is just an overview until they get the crime scene report. Jordan says, sounds like a prison break gone wrong, but Anna says, with Olivia Jerome, nothing’s ever that simple.

Sam lets Alexis into her apartment and says, she didn’t have to come over, but Alexis says, Sam seemed a little frazzled when she bailed on lunch. Not to mention vague. So she thought, why not meddle? Is she okay? Sam says, yeah. She’s just keeping an extra eye on Danny. Alexis asks, why? and Sam says she’s going to tell Alexis, and then Alexis is going to tell her that she’s worried over nothing, and nothing serious is going on with her kid.

Ava tells Josslyn, Sonny isn’t here, but she’s more than welcome to come in and wait for him. Josslyn asks if Ava can call him because he’s not picking up for her, and Ava says she’s sure he’s just busy. Josslyn says, but she’s Avery’s mom, so he might not be as busy for her, and Ava says, maybe she can help, but Josslyn says, no. It’s really Sonny she needs to speak to and it’s very important. Ava tells her, like she said, Josslyn is more than welcome to wait, and Josslyn asks if she knows when he’ll be back, and Ava says, not precisely, no. Josslyn says, then she’s going to look for him, but Ava says, wait. Don’t do that.

Dex lets Sonny in, and Sonny says, he didn’t run. He didn’t even start packing. Dex says, Sonny has at least one guard stationed nearby, and Sonny says, Dex knows how he operates. That’s why he’s carrying. He also knows his only way out is through him. What’s he going to do? Is he going to take a shot?

Laura asks, what happened to the ground rules? Cyrus is supposed to call her before he comes over. He says he knows, but he was in the neighborhood and just wanted to say hello to his sister and his grandnephew. Doc says, now is not a good time. They just put Ace down for his nap. Cyrus promises this will just be a quick visit. He has another engagement immediately after. Doc says, and yet he found time to stop by, and Cyrus says, one should always find time for family. Doesn’t he think? Laura looks at Doc, who shrugs, and tells Cyrus, come in. They hear Ace coo on the baby monitor, and Cyrus asks if he can just have a glimpse of him, but Doc says he’s afraid even a glimpse is out of the question. Naps are just so important at his age. Doc goes to Ace’s room, and Cyrus says, it seems Ace isn’t the only one in need of a nap. She says, don’t let them keep him from his next appointment, and he says, before he goes, has she been in touch with Nikolas since he left for Pentenville? She says she has, and he says he knows how hard this must be for her, and Ace. She thanks him, and he asks how they’ve taken to being Ace’s temporary guardians. She says she guesses there’s no reason she shouldn’t tell him. She and Doc have decided to legally adopt Ace. He says, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations. She thanks him and says she’s pleased that he’s so pleased, but she’s a little bit surprised. He asks why his happiness at her good fortune should surprise her, and she says she supposes it shouldn’t. He says he can’t think of two better people to shepherd their little angel through this world, and she says she thinks there’s something they need to get clear right now. Ace’s adoption does not guarantee Cyrus a bigger role in Ace’s life. As a matter of fact, or any role.

Josslyn asks why she doesn’t want to look for Sonny. Ava knows where he is, doesn’t she? Ava says, Sonny doesn’t apprise her of his movements, and Josslyn says, but she knows what he’s doing. Ava says, what she knows is, it’s a waste of time scouring the city looking for him when the one place they know he’ll show up is here. And if what Josslyn has to say is so important, then stay. Josslyn asks if Ava can just call her when he gets back, and Ava says, she’s obviously very upset and Josslyn can tell her; has something happened? Josslyn says, it’s personal, and Ava says she sees. So this must be about Dex. Or Michael.

Dex says he doesn’t want to hurt Sonny, but he’s not going down without a fight, and Sonny says, if he wanted Dex dead, he’d be rotting in the ground right now, no matter what Carly said. But he’s right about one thing. Dex says, what’s that? and Sonny says, Dex joined his organization under false pretenses, working for Michael the whole time. Dex says, his job was to protect Sonny, and he did, and Sonny says, Dex knows too much about his business and about him. And all he knows about Dex is that he can’t trust him. So if Dex was in his position, how would he handle this?

Dante says, they’ve got the crime scene report, handing it to Anna, who asks, what do they know? He says, the transport van hit a spike strip that blew out the tires. They pulled the van over and they were ambushed by two masked men. They tied up the guards and took Olivia Jerome. Shortly thereafter, they heard a gunshot. They freed themselves, one of them called for help, the other went into the woods in the direction of the gunshot and found Olivia’s body. Anna says, did they pick up the gunman’s trail yet? but he says, not yet, and she says she needs to see the body.

Alexis says, Danny was drinking? Danny? Sam asks if she’d be less surprised if it were Rocco or Scout, and Alexis says she couldn’t be more surprised. Danny? She never in a million years. Sam says she knows. Here they are. Alexis asks if Sam flipped out. She would have flipped out. She has flipped out. The trouble Kristina used to get into took years off her life. Sam says, actually, no. She was angry, but she didn’t really raise her voice or give him a long lecture or anything. Alexis asks if she gave him a short one, and Sam says, they had a really good conversation about it. Alexis says, good, and Sam says, it was actually quite mature… of her, not him. Alexis asks if she grounded him, and Sam says, hell yes. Alexis says, how long? and Sam says, until he learns responsibility. Alexis says, so she guesses Sam didn’t want to tie herself down to a specific timeline, and Sam says she didn’t think of it that way, but she likes the way Alexis thinks. She thinks somewhere between one month and forever sounds good. Alexis says, sounds reasonable, and Sam says, they got to a good place. Alexis says, okay. Is Sam ready for her to be honest? Sam says she doesn’t know. Is it something she’ll want to hear? Alexis says she thinks so. She thinks what Sam did was very normal parenting. Actually, it sounds like excellent parenting. But it sounds like Sam is still bothered. Sam says, taking the you’re grounded, but if this ever happens again and you find yourself in this position, you can call me or Dante and we’ll come and get you, no questions asked route is a normal course of action, right? Alexis says, last time she checked, and Sam says, but Danny is Jason’s son and he’s getting more and more like him every day. And Jason was drawn to danger. What if Danny is too?

Cyrus says, of course (🍷) he’ll respect Laura’s wishes as Ace’s adoptive mother, and she says, good idea. She moves to open the door, and he says, but he must ask… She says, that was fast, and he says, why would she want to deprive Ace of family after he’s already lost so much? She says, it’s because he’s lost so much that she wants Cyrus to keep his distance. She wants Ace to have some kind of stability in his young life. Cyrus says he would only bring stability. He’d be a constant presence in Ace’s life. As constant as she deems appropriate, no more, but certainly no less. She says she appreciates his good intentions, but he has to just rest assured that Ace has a lot of family who really love him. He says he knows that, and it gives him comfort, but it’s a family he’d dearly love to be part of. It’s one reason he stopped by today, to offer her what comfort he could after losing Spencer and seeing Nikolas go to prison. He cares about her. She says, he keeps telling her that, and he says, and she keeps doubting. How long is she going to distrust him? He thinks he’s proven by now that he’s turned over a new leaf. She says, it wasn’t that long ago, when he expressed his distress over somebody else’s misfortune, when what he was really doing was rubbing their nose in it. He doesn’t deny that, does he? He says he does not. He owns his misdeeds and carries the shame of them. She says, okay, but the rest of them remember it, and he says, okay. She tells him that if he wants the rest of them to believe he’s turned over a new leaf, then it may take more than just his word. He may have to forgive them their trespasses if they need more time to forgive his. He says he understands, which is why he asked her about Nikolas. Not to rub her nose it in, but because he wants her to know that he’s arranged for Nikolas to be protected in Pentenville, so that she can have the peace that comes in knowing he’ll be safe. She says, this is exactly what she’s talking about. How can he expect her to believe that he’s turned over a new leaf when he’s offering to pull strings in prison?

Josslyn says, what makes Ava think this is about Michael? and Ava says, Michael came by, and he confessed to Sonny. She happened to overhear. Josslyn says, shocker, and Ava says, come on. This can’t be the first Josslyn’s hearing of this. Josslyn asks what Michael confessed, but Ava says, he didn’t mention it. And she doesn’t think it occurred to Sonny that Josslyn and Dex are too crazy about each other to keep secrets, especially big secrets. Like the fact that Michael hired Dex, first to spy on Sonny and then to protect him. Josslyn says, fine. Yes, she knew. Ava says, that’s a heavy burden to carry. She empathizes. If Josslyn would like somebody to talk to… Josslyn thanks her, but says she thinks she’d rather talk to her mom, and Ava says, of course (🍷), but it looks like she needs somebody to talk to right now. And since she’s here right now… Josslyn asks why she cares so much.

Dex says he expected Sonny to handle it the way he almost did, and Sonny says, in Dex’s opinion, what should he do now? Dex says, if it were his call? and Sonny says, yeah. Dex says, start over. All the cards are on the table. He’s fresh out of secrets. It feels good. Yes, if it were up to him, he would keep working for Sonny, but he knows that’s not possible. He’s become a liability Sonny can’t afford. Sonny says, perceptive as usual, and Dex says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he didn’t just learn about Sonny’s business. He learned about Sonny and the man he is. When Michael hired him, this was just a job, but then he got to know Sonny and his family and realized Sonny had a code and principles that guide him. He knows Sonny has no reason to believe him, but he wasn’t lying when he said he admired Sonny. Even now. He knows he shouldn’t, but he does.

The morgue attendant slides a body out, and Anna looks under the sheet. She says, yeah, that’s Olivia. Shot point blank in the back of the head. Olivia Jerome was executed. (We don’t see her, so I guess it was too expensive to bring her in just to lie there.)

Cyrus says he’s long since cut ties with the criminal element and those who kept him trapped in the dark far from the Lord’s love, and Laura says, if it’s not his henchman who would be looking after her son in jail, then who is he talking about? He says he found another group of men in prison, lost souls seeking redemption, just like him. Well- intentioned men living with the consequences of their mistakes. His mission is to provide them an example to live by, to offer counsel to guide them through their sentences, so they can turn their life around in prison and out. She says, right, but they’re inmates, criminals. He hasn’t said they’re not dangerous. Cyrus says, of course (🍷) they’re dangerous. They wouldn’t be able to provide protection if they were meek little lambs. She says she guesses she was hoping he bribed a few guards or something, and he says, with what? He has no riches to bribe anyone. She says, maybe with those hidden riches he uses to bribe people secretly? and he laughs. He says, if only he were half as colorful as he is in her imagination, and she says, then he’d be wearing half an orange jumpsuit. He laughs again and says, she’s so funny. All she needs to know is that after his release, he never abandoned his flock. Nor has he abandoned his cause. She asks, what is his cause? and he says, with the Lord’s blessing, his flock is about to get bigger. This afternoon is the inaugural broadcast of his radio show. Soon, very soon in fact, he’ll be spreading God’s word to everyone in Port Charles.

Sam tells Alexis, on Valentine’s Day, she and Dante decided to have a date night here at the house. He cooked for her. They thought all of the kids were in their rooms, and then there was a knock at the door just as they were about to get romantic. And Dante opened the door and there was a cop with Danny. Alexis says, perspective. Danny isn’t the first teenager to sneak out of the house with his friends and go drinking. Sam says, sneaking out is one thing, but sneaking out by a fire escape that’s suspended to the side of a building on a penthouse floor? Alexis says, clearly, Danny doesn’t have any fear of heights? and Sam says, gee, I wonder who he takes after? What if Danny hadn’t gotten caught and he would have tried to sneak in the same way? Up the building? What if he slipped or lost his balance? Alexis says, okay. She’s right to be asking all these questions and she’s right to be extra vigilant. However, one incident is not a pattern necessarily. Sam says, so this is normal teenage stuff? and Alexis says, all she knows is what Kristina did to her. Sam says, Kristina’s an angel right now compared to those things, and Alexis says she never raised a boy, so she has no idea what’s normal for boys. Sam says she gets that all teenagers take chances, but what if Danny’s hardwired to take bigger chances? And if so, how does she keep him safe? Because if he’s anything like his father, the more she tries to control him, the more he’s going to fight to be free.

Anna closes the morgue vault, when Dante comes in. He says he debriefed the detectives on the scene. They found this nearby. He hands Anna a plastic evidence bag, and she takes out a gun. She looks it over and says, oh yeah. Jordan asks if she found something, and Anna says, see that marking right there? The WSB put it on all the guns they seized. That means, whoever tried to kill Sonny is also behind Olivia Jerome’s murder.

Sonny says, Dex had a lot of potential. More than he’s seen in anyone in a long time. Dex proved his abilities to him, but Dex reminded him, being capable and trustworthy don’t really go hand-in-hand. He wishes he could just let Dex go; forget he ever existed. But he’s too big of a liability. Dex says he understands there’s a risk Sonny’s enemies might use him to get to Sonny, but he was willing to take a bullet rather than give up Carly and Michael. Sonny knows he can hold up under pressure. Sonny says he has kids to consider. Dex said himself that he’ll do anything to protect his family. Dex says, so what now? and Sonny says, the only way he sees it, Dex is going to have to disappear.

Ava says she knows she’s not Josslyn’s favorite person, but Josslyn still went out of her way to get Spinelli and Dex to find her when Mason took her. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). She did that for Avery. Ava says, Josslyn still did it. She owes Josslyn her life for that. So if there’s ever anything she can do for Josslyn, no matter what it is, all she has to do is ask. Josslyn asks if she really means that, and Ava says, absolutely. Josslyn says, then please help her find Sonny, but Ava says she told Josslyn, she doesn’t know where he is. Josslyn says, then call him or get the guards to summon him home. Steering Josslyn toward the door, Ava says, she really thinks it’s best… but Josslyn shakes her off and says, Sonny is going to kill Dex. Ava knows that and she knows that. She needs to speak to him before he does something drastic. She might have helped, but Dex is the one who rescued Ava. Twice. Once at the Quartermaines when Heather Webber attacked her and once in Pautuck. Ava owes him her life twice over. Please help her protect him.

Dex asks if Sonny is going to kill him, but Sonny says he expects Dex to leave town. He’ll have Frank take Dex to one of his safe houses and tell Brick to set him up with a new identity, passport, driver’s license, and then once he’s gone, they’re going to cover up his tracks and set him up with money. Dex says, what about Josslyn? and Sonny says, the way this works, he and Brick are the only ones who have to know what’s going on. They bring Josslyn in, she’s going to drive Sonny’s enemies to Dex. Dex says, they know how to be careful, and Sonny says he knows Josslyn loves Dex. She loves her family too. But if they involve Josslyn, it’s all for nothing. Dex says, then shoot me, putting Sonny’s gun to his stomach. It’s not worth it. Joss made his life worth living. Without her, Sonny might as well finish him off here.

Ava says she would absolutely help if she could, and Josslyn says, but she won’t. So everything Ava just said, if she ever needs anything, that’s all crap. Ava says she meant every word, and she is aware of how unsparing Sonny can be with those who cross him, but Josslyn says, Dex didn’t cross him. Literally the opposite. How many times did Dex almost give Sonny his life and that counts for nothing. Ava says she knows it seems unfair, but Josslyn knows as well as she does that Sonny can’t risk fairness when it comes to his family’s safety. Josslyn says, so Ava is telling her that there’s nothing she can do, and Ava says, yes.

Laura says, Cyrus has a radio show? Who would put him on the air? Cyrus says, someone who sees the value in his message? She says, no, something is deeply off here, and he says, it saddens him that she still doubts his intentions. Fortunately, the Lord provides him strength to continue proving he’s changed. He knows he can never erase the terrible things he’s done, but he can at least counteract them by putting some good out in the world. That’s his purpose. She says, but what is his motive? and he says he can only hope one day she believes the change he’s showing the world and accept the man he’s become. He must take his leave. He goes to the door and says his debut is but fifteen minutes away on KZPC radio. He does hope she’ll tune in. He leaves, and Doc comes back. He says, it’s a miracle that Ace is still down. Then again, maybe he was trying to avoid their company. What did Cyrus want? She says, the same thing he always wants. Her trust.

Sam tells Alexis that she tried to shield Scout and Danny from Jason’s life, and when she realized she couldn’t, she broke up with him. Alexis says, Sam seems to give her kids stability despite all that, and Sam says, what if she wasn’t enough? Danny always wanted more time with his father. Jason was in and out of his life, then all of a sudden, it wasn’t enough. Danny took Jason’s death really hard. And what if in a way to get closer to his father, Danny is starting to take the kinds of chances Jason used to take? And if so, how long has this been building up in him and why hasn’t she seen it before? Alexis says, listen to her. She understands how Sam feels. At some point, every parent does in one way or another. But Sam didn’t cause this. Does she understand that? Sam says, yeah, and Alexis asks if Sam believes her. Sam says she wants to, and Alexis says, whatever Danny is going through, Sam will get him through this because she’s a wonderful mother.

Anna re-bags the gun, and Jordan says, Olivia Jerome’s long history with the mob certainly tracks with their gunman’s pattern, targeting organized crime leaders. Anna hands the gun to Dante and says, absolutely. See if they can confirm that the bullet that killed Jerome matches that gun. Dante says he’ll see if they can put a rush on it, and she says, they need to move fast. As soon as the Feds are apprised of this development, Agent Cates is going to want to take over, and they all know how thrilled he was they didn’t back off in the first place. Jordan says, it’s not like he can be any less cooperative, and Anna agrees and says, it’s common knowledge there won’t be any tears shed over Olivia. But those guards could have been injured or worse, and Curtis already got caught in the crossfire. Agent Cates needs to understand that they need to put a stop to this before any more innocent bystanders are hurt.

Sam thanks Alexis for the encouragement, because she doesn’t feel like a good mom, much less a wonderful mom. Alexis says, you know who thinks they’re wonderful moms? Terrible moms, that’s who. Sam says, so it’s good to doubt, and Alexis says, yeah. It’s like if you think you’re going crazy, the fact that you’ve asked that question means you’re way ahead of the game. Sam says, that’s good to know, and Alexis says, in the meantime, just take it one step at a time. This is just one incident. Sam says she knows, but what if it was just the first? and Alexis says, then she will know. If she sees it escalating, she’ll do something about it. She’ll take care of him just like she always has. And she doesn’t have to do it alone. Sam can count on her. Sam can always count on her. And they will figure it out. Is that a deal? Sam says, it’s a deal. Alexis’s phone rings and she says, it’s one of her reporters. She says, what’s up?… Sam asks if everything is okay.

Jordan says, their best lead is the gun dealer Philip O’Neal. His lawyers want a deal, but the FBI isn’t biting. Anna says, he’s still not talking? and Dante says, this doesn’t make any sense. It’s like this guy has a target on his back. He can ID who he sold the guns to. Anna says, it is concerning, but interestingly, whoever it is who’s after the organized crime figures, waited until Olivia was out of prison before they made their move. Dante says, that just makes him think, whoever this is doesn’t have access to anyone on the inside, and Anna says she thinks she’s going to talk to Agent Cates. She’s going to try and persuade him to keep O’Neal in Pentenville, rather than moving him out of their reach. Dante asks if she thinks they can get something out of O’Neal, and Jordan says, just because he’s not talking to law enforcement, doesn’t mean he won’t talk to anyone.

Josslyn says she should have known better and thanks Ava. This conversation was a big help. Josslyn opens the door, and Ava says she didn’t mean to upset her. Josslyn says she just wants someone to help her. She loves Dex. Does Ava understand? She cannot and will not give up on the people she loves. She won’t do it. She leaves, slamming the door behind her, and Ava takes out her phone.

Sonny says, if he pulls this trigger because Dex asked him to, he won’t be breaking Josslyn’s heart; Dex will. Dex pushes the gun away and says he loves her. He thought it had been beaten out of him. He thought it would never happen for him, but it did. Sonny says, Dex knows the best thing for Josslyn is for him to leave town. Sonny’s enemies are going to be tracking Dex down for the rest of his life. Does Dex want to put her in danger? Does he want her to be the target? Dex says he can’t lose her, and Sonny says, here’s the deal. If Dex wants to keep his life, he’s never going to come back here again. He’s not going to have any contact with anyone again. It’s up to him. Sonny’s phone rings, and he tells Dex that he needs an answer – now.

Jordan says, O’Neal might not talk to them, but he might talk to someone in Pentenville, and Anna says, she means, plant an informant? Jordan says, could work, and Dante says, seems like a long shot. Given this guy’s line of work, you’d think he’d have to be pretty tight lipped, no matter who he’s talking to. Jordan says, exactly. Right now, he’s probably more surprised than they are that he’s still alive. There might be something he wants to get off his chest just in case. Anna says, they’d have to find someone who’s good at extracting that kind of information. And also someone Robert would be willing to offer a deal to. Dante says, a lesser sentence in exchange for some information? That would be pretty good incentive. Jordan says, yes, but no one who poses a significant threat to the general public upon release, and Anna says, on top of finding this person and making a deal with the DA’s office, the informant also has to establish some kind of trust with O’Neal in order to make this work. This is all going to take time. Dante says, it’s time they don’t have, and Anna says, until they think of something faster… Jordan’s phone dings and she says, it’s from Laura. Anna asks, what is it? and Jordan goes over to a very convenient radio, turning it on and finding a station. We hear Cyrus say, this is KZPC radio and welcome to Searching with Cyrus. You’re probably asking, what can I have in common with you…

Laura and Doc are also listening, and Cyrus continues. After all, I’m an ex-convict who was serving hard time in Pentenville, but one thing I learned there is, we are all prisoners. But if we give our burden to the Lord, He will set us free. That’s why I’m here, to help you share that burden and give voice to your troubles, so that you may live a life of peace. Ace starts to cry and Doc says he’ll get Ace. He’s heard enough of this guy. Cyrus says, I’m living proof that God never gives up on any of us, and Doc suggests Laura turn it off, but she says she’s going to listen to every word. She needs to understand what Cyrus is really saying. Doc tells her, good luck with that, and leaves. Cyrus says, if I can find my way to a better place, so can you.

Josslyn runs to Dex’s apartment and sees the door isn’t closed all the way. She pushes it open and sees Sonny sitting there. She says, where’s Dex? and Sonny says he’s sorry. Dex is gone.

On the phone, Alexis says she definitely intends to run it in the morning. She just wants to be able to check it first before it goes to press. She glances at the guard outside Sonny’s penthouse, and says, but she’s going to have to call them back, because there’s something she has to do first.

There’s a knock at the door, and Ava opens it to Alexis. She asks if Alexis is looking for Sonny, but Alexis says, actually, she’s here to see Ava. Ava’s phone rings, and Alexis asks if she needs to get that. Ava says, it’s Pentenville. She’s sure it’s Alexis’s darling nephew, calling collect, but Alexis says she doesn’t think that it is. May she come in? Ava says, please. Is this a social call or are they on the record here? Alexis says she heard it from one of her reporters and she thinks Julian would want Ava to hear it from someone she knows. Ava says, conjuring her late brother’s name can’t be good. Julian would want her to hear what? Alexis says, her sister Olivia is dead, and Ava says, is that so? Alexis says she’s sorry for Ava’s loss, and Ava says, is she really? Because after what she did to Alexis, she thinks Alexis is probably wondering what circle of hell she’s roasting in.

Josslyn says she wants to see him, but Sonny says, that’s not possible. She says, where is he? What did Sonny do to him? He says, Dex is alive, but he’s not coming back to Port Charles, and Josslyn says, he’s a liar. Dex would never leave her. Sonny says, Dex did what he had to do, what was best for everyone, and Josslyn cries, saying, not for her. Sonny says, especially for her. He picks up an envelope and says, Dex wanted him to give her this. He holds it out and she snatches it from him. She takes out a note, a dog tag on a chain falling to the floor. She reads the note and says she hates Sonny. He’s a criminal and a liar and she will never forgive him for this. (When you think about it, it’s really Michael’s fault.) Sonny says he knows, and leaves. Josslyn looks at the note again, picks up the dog tag, and sinks to the floor, crying.

On Monday, Lois says, has she got a surprise for Tracy; Marshall tells Stella that he has no idea how to handle it; Nina hopes she’s not late; and Josslyn tells Carly that she and Dex are not going to be kept apart.

👠 How She Really Feels…

Apparently, she died and came back once before. That explains why I kept thinking she was dead before she died. And again, who knows? We didn’t see a body.

Tonja Walker Responds to Olivia Jerome’s Death on GENERAL HOSPITAL

📹 From Soap to Cinema…

They’re branching into new milieus.

🧂 Won’t Back Down…

I actually believe her. They probably laid a trail of breadcrumbs for Heather to find too.

🛟 Walking the Plank…

Not exactly the best way to stand out from the crowd.

https://www.dexerto.com/reality-tv/below-deck-fans-accuse-producers-of-hiring-bad-crew-for-more-drama-2531397

And will she be the first to go?

https://screenrant.com/below-deck-season-11-barbie-pascual-fired

🍸 Breakout Star…

Give that woman a raise immediately.

🔪 They’re the Top…

Here’s hoping Padma’s shoes can be filled.

https://ew.com/top-chef-season-21-cast-premiere-date-trailer-8559815

https://parade.com/tv/top-chef-season-21

⚰️ Reuniting the Dead…

Not too long now.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-on-set-rick-and-michonne-reunion-8576529

🌁 News Of the Last…

Season 2 of the show.

https://comicbookmovie.com/spider_man/madame-web/madame-web-star-isabela-merced-on-filming-her-first-scene-as-dina-for-the-last-of-us-season-2-a209371

https://comicbookmovie.com/spider_man/madame-web/madame-web-star-isabela-merced-on-filming-her-first-scene-as-dina-for-the-last-of-us-season-2-a209371

Chapter 3 of the game.

https://www.ign.com/articles/neil-druckmann-teases-concept-for-the-last-of-us-part-3-theres-probably-one-more-chapter-to-this-story

🧛🏽 On Tap…

Cutting their teeth on Season 2.

https://ew.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-2-premiere-date-new-cast-third-anne-rice-tv-show-announced-8559740

🐉 It’s All In the Game…

New spin-off.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-aegon-conquest-spinoff-reported-8574988

Throne serendipity.

https://www.etonline.com/sophie-turner-reacts-to-game-of-thrones-reunion-with-kit-harington-in-new-movie-the-dreadful-219622

🐶 After the Bowl Is Over…

This is the best story.

https://people.com/how-20-years-puppy-bowl-changed-pet-adoption-8575625

🐦‍⬛ Quotes of the Week

Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you.T.A. Barron (So don’t step on any butterflies.)

Better to stay quiet than get hit with a rock. – Manuel Vëlez, 90 Day Fiancé

On truth: *I suppose there are two views about everything,* said Mark. *Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there’s never more than one.*C .S. Lewis, from That Hideous Strength, compiled in Words to Live By

Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. – Jim Rohn

Goals are the thing you talk about instead of the thing you do. – Cherry (Rose McGowan), Planet Terror

We must all learn not only to not fear change, but to embrace it enthusiastically and, perhaps even more important, encourage and drive it. – Tony Hsieh

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. – William James

Humor worked with pickles, but pickles are funny. The way beans are funny, we can’t use that. We have to fight it actually. – Raymond Geiger, Heinz rep (John Sloman), Mad Men

It’s not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache. – Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), The Rocky Horror Picture Show

🍹 Presidential Day Drinking…

Return on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s doing on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay enjoying the long weekend if you have one, and stay keeping in mind that one incident is not a pattern necessarily.

February 12, 2024 – A Major Decision Is Made About Ace, Dicey First Docking On Deck & There

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Doc comes into the living room to find Laura with Ace on her lap. He says, he’s in better spirits today, and Laura says, her too. She finally got him to sleep through the night. Their little baby has been shuttled between so many homes, and he’s not even a year yet. He says, she’ll give him all the love and stability he needs, when there’s a knock at the door. Laurah hands Ace to Doc, and opens the door to Martin, who apologizes for coming by unexpectedly. She says, that’s okay. What brings him by? He says he has some very important paperwork for her that concerns her and her grandson.

Tracy sees Gregory sitting at a table at the MetroCourt, and says, this is a nice surprise. May she join him? He says he supposes he could handle another cup of coffee before he starts packing. Today is his last day living at the MetroCourt. She says she hopes he’s not moving back to the west coast, and he says, no. He’s moving in with Finn. It seemed like the thing to do, considering. She says, congratulations. Not only will be living with his adorable granddaughter, Finn is a decent backgammon player. He won’t be bored. Suddenly, she’s hit with a roll, and turns to see Lucy behind her. Lucy says, that’s all the dough Tracy is getting out of her.

Ava nearly collides with Dex at the gallery and asks if he and Frank can’t be a little bit less conspicuous. They’re going to frighten her customers. Dex says, sorry. Sonny wanted her to have a little extra security right now. She says she thinks he and Frank are a little excessive. Doesn’t he? Trina comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Ava asks what she’s doing here. Trina says she’s all cried out. She needs a distraction. She knows Ava hired someone else. Ava says, she can come back here anytime. She’s putting up a new show and would really love Trina’s input. On phone in the hallway, Frank says, don’t worry. He has eyes on him. Sonny says, good. Don’t let him out of his sight.  

Sonny asks if Brick found something on Dex, and Brick says, yeah. Sonny’s going to want to hear this.

In the MetroCourt elevator, Drew says, Carly seems excited and happy about today, and she says she was unsure of taking over as Editor-in-Chief, but since she saved the Prinzer and Golden account, she feels like she’s getting into her groove. They came up with the best ideas last night. He says he knew she could do it. She’s going to be the best editor Crimson has ever seen. She suggests they not get ahead of themselves. First, she has to get the first issue out, but from what she’s seen, it’s going to be great. He says, she’s great, and kisses her. (Bleh.) The elevator doors open to Crimson, and there are tarps, ladders, and buckets everywhere. Carly says, what the hell?

Willow sits up on the couch and looks at the time. Michael comes in with coffee and tells her, no worries. Wiley’s off to school and Amelia’s been fed. She actually drank out of a sippy cup. He thinks she’s starting to get used to it. She says, he did all that? Why didn’t he wake her up? (Maybe she better check the kitchen to see if he cleaned up after all that.) He says he thought she could use an extra hour before work, and hands her a cup. She says, wow. It’s so nice when someone else makes the coffee. He says, she’s so not a morning person, and she says, guilty. (Same.) She didn’t mean to pass out here last night. Where did he sleep? He says, in the chair. It’s not the first time. He used to sleep there when she was sick. She says, he took such good care of her, and he says, she paid him back by getting better. She says, it was really nice having him here last night, and he says he liked it too. (He likes it! Hey, Mikey!)

Gregory asks if Tracy is okay, and Tracy says, she is a lunatic. She always thought Lucy would go off the deep end one day. At a nearby table, Robert tells Diane, oh goodie. The floor show is about to start. She laughs and says she has to cut this date short, as pleasant as it’s been. He says, date? and she says she misspoke. She doesn’t really equate omelets and toast with dates. Before they go, a colleague gifted her with two tickets to the Port Charles Ballet. Is he interested? He says he’s really not much into the ballet scene. Try Alexis. She says she has to confess, she asked Alexis first. She’s booked. He says he’ll try not to be too insulted, and she says she supposes she could have picked a more opportune time. Gregory Chase was in Alexis’s office, and he’s still mad at her about arguing the malpractice suit against his son.

Gregory asks Lucy, what’s wrong with her? and Lucy says, he should be grateful. It could have been much worse, because this friend of his has systematically destroyed her life. Tracy says she gave Lucy an out. Thanks to her kind companion, she went to Martin and explained that she’d been misleading him. That Lucy was, in fact, true blue. Lucy says, gee, thank you. But her change of heart came just a little too late. Tracy says, too late for what? She starts laughing and says, this is rich. Gregory asks if he’s missing something, and Tracy says, Lucy did really sleep with Scott Baldwin.

Martin says he took the liberty of drawing up the paperwork for Laura’s petition before he left. The forms are all ready for her. When she makes her decision, just put down her John Hancock. She says, a petition for what? and he says, to legally adopt Ace.

Drew yells, who the hell is in charge here? when a man in a work uniform comes out and says, it’s not safe. They shouldn’t be here. Carly says, this is her office. What the hell is going on? Nina comes in, says she’s got this and tells the man to go about his business. She appreciates him. Drew asks, what happened? And Nina says she’s so very sorry. There was a flood a few floors above and it leaked into the walls last night. The building notified all the employees on the floor to stay home today. They didn’t get the notice? Drew says, Aurora has a lease. She can’t come in here and rip out all of their offices. Nina suggests he check the lease, because as owner of the MetroCourt, she’s allowed to address all safety and health matters. The construction team needs to get into the walls to repair the damage, and more importantly, they need to dry out the water to prevent the mold from spreading. Obviously, some of the fiber optic cables needed to be temporarily replaced, so the internet on the floor is down. But not to worry because this isn’t a long-term project. The crew should be out of here in three days or so. Carly says, and the deadline for her first issue is tomorrow. But then again, Nina knew that, didn’t she?

Tossing a folder on Sonny’s desk, Brick says he did an in-depth background check of Dex last year, and it came back clean. But now it seems like Dex came into a huge windfall twice last year, through some untraceable shell corporation. Sonny says, twice? When were these payments? Brick says, the first one was after Sonny was attacked last March. The second one was just last week, the day after Sonny and Ava were targeted on the island.

Laura tells Martin that she thinks there must be some mistake. She and Doc were only supposed to watch Ace until Nikolas gets out of jail. Martin says, come on. Nikolas confessed to kidnapping. It’s going to be quite a while before he’s even eligible for parole. He’s already been talking to Nikolas about ceding his parental claim to her. She says, he what? and he says, don’t forget, Heather Webber and their brother have ties to this little guy. Doc says he did see Heather at Esme’s grave and she seemed interested in Ace. Laura says, Cyrus got out of jail early, and God forbid Heather… Martin says, yes, God forbid. She would most likely win if they ever decided to challenge her guardianship, but he thinks the best course of action is for her to have permanent custody, and the best way for her to do that is for her to officially become Ace’s parent of record.

Tracy says she’s right about Lucy. She cannot resist Scott Baldwin. Lucy tells her, zip it. Does she want to announce that to every single person in the restaurant? Tracy asks if she thinks anyone would be surprised. Lucy has been having her tawdry affair with Scotty on the installment plan. A few years on, a few years off, and now she’s back on. She’s been sleeping with Scotty. Lucy insists she hasn’t… Well, since she and Marty broke up… Tracy says she’s not responsible for Lucy’s rebound choices. But Lucy is definitely responsible for her dry-cleaning bill. Lucy says, but Tracy is responsible for orchestrating all of this. Tracy says, Lucy had Scotty romance her with the intension of swindling her out of her Deception shares, and now Lucy is whining because she paid her back. Gregory says, perhaps she can afford to be gracious in victory, and Tracy says, really? She likes gloating. Okay, if he insists. If Martin is open to it, she would be willing to try and mend fences. Lucy says, fat chance. He’s sending all her calls to voicemail. Gregory says he spoke with Martin this morning to thank him for his help with Finn. He mentioned he was going to his sister’s to drop off… Lucy says, Laura. Perfect. She’ll know exactly how to make Marty forgive her. Thank you. Ta. She leaves, and Tracy says, ta? They sit back down, and Gregory says, Scotty was romancing her? Tracy tells him that she said he tried. Only Lucy Coe would think he had a prayer of succeeding. He asks if she’s immune to Mr. Baldwin’s charms, and she laughs. She says, charms? Once, in a spectacular moment of bad judgement, she did get close to Scotty. He says, how close? and she says, close. Blame it on the 90s. The good news is, she learned her lesson. Lucy obviously never will.

Willow asks, how many of Wiley’s magic tricks did he sit through last night? and Michael says, about four, but he is getting really good with the ball one. She says she knows, right? It was good having him back home last night. It felt right. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Josslyn. She says she’s sorry to interrupt. She was on her way to see Dex and found this in the car. She holds out a stuffed giraffe and says, Amelia’s lovie. Willow says, there it is, and thanks her. She has to get ready for work, but Michael can make Josslyn some coffee if she wants. She goes upstairs and Josslyn says, well? Michael says, well, does she want some coffee? but she says, no, she wants the tea. Spill, please. He spent the night last night? Are things back to normal? He says, they’re taking it a day at a time. There’s still a long way to go, but they’re making progress. She says she’s happy for them and the kids. Nina is not worth them fighting. Michael says he agrees, and Josslyn says she can’t wait for Sonny to divorce Nina so she’s out of their lives. He says he saw Sonny yesterday, but he doesn’t know what Sonny is going to do about Nina. She asks, how was seeing Sonny? and he says, they talked. He thinks things are better. She says, good. When there’s friction between him and Sonny, it freaks her out and she thinks it makes things more dangerous for Dex.

Trina carries a painting and stares at a heart on it. She drops it, and says, oh no. Dex rushes over and says he’s got it.

Brick tells Sonny, the shell corporation was created for the soul purpose of funneling money to Dex. He doesn’t know who set it up, but it sure tells a story. Dex gets paid to tip them off about Sonny’s location, his enemies, and of course (🍷) to highlight his vulnerabilities. Sonny wonders why he’d do this to Josslyn, and Brick says, maybe he used Josslyn to get closer to Sonny. Sonny says, it’s genuine, and Brick says, maybe Josslyn disapproves of his life with Sonny. Sonny says, she does, and Brick says, maybe he’s going to get out of this life with her. What better way to avoid a bullet from Sonny then to set Sonny up to take one?

Nina says, Carly’s not insinuating she’s trying to sabotage Carly’s next issue of Crimson? but Carly says she’s not insinuating anything. She’s accusing Nina. This has her written all over it. She is surprised Nina would jeopardize the jobs of her former employees, the ones she claims to care so much about. Nina says, editors have back-ups of all their articles, templates, and spreads on the cloud. Carly doesn’t know this? Carly says, yes, she knows that, but coordinating all the back-ups from around the cloud could make them lose a day’s work easy, which would make the issue late to the printer, which is exactly what Nina intended. (Are we using the same cloud? It’s not that hard to find something.) Nina says her focus is on the hotel. She’s just wanting what’s best for the MetroCourt. Carly says, if she talks to Olivia, the other owner of the MetroCourt, she’ll back up Nina’s story? and Nina says she has authority to sanction emergency construction. Olivia could disagree and she could overrule Nina, but the process has already begun. It could take a few days and even more to get all the offices back together even if they stopped, and it’s certainly not cost effective. So she thinks they all know it’s best to just let the repairs play out. Then they can come back when it’s all done. Carly says she thinks she’s heard enough. Nina will be hearing from her lawyer. Until then, she has a magazine to put out. Nina says, good luck, and Drew tells Carly to go ahead. He wants to have a word with Nina. Carly says she’ll call him later and leaves. Drew tells Nina, keep playing with fire and see where it gets her. (Just a thought, but Drew probably shouldn’t be threatening his landlord.)

Robert asks if Diane thought Finn was capable of negligence, and she says, uh-uh, but it wasn’t her place to decide that. It was her job to present the strongest argument possible that Dr. Finn was guilty of negligence and let the jury decide. Of course (🍷) the jury was never able to deliberate, so they’ll never know if her argument was convincing or not. He says, fair enough. The rule of law doesn’t always make for winning friends. She says, he must have come up against that, where he has the evidence to convict, but his gut its telling them that the defendant just might be innocent. He says, unfortunately, yeah. It’s happened where an innocent person has pled out. The system isn’t always fair. She says, maybe together, they could make the system a little more fair, one day at a time.

Trina says she’s so sorry she broke the stretcher, but Ava says, that’s why they have insurance. She asks Dex to take the painting to the backroom. Her assistant will send it out for repair. He leaves with the painting, and Ava says, see that? The crisis is finished. They sit down, and Trina says, but it’s not. She starts to cry and says she can’t stop crying. It’s like everything she sees, everything she hears, reminds her of Spencer. It’s like she’s losing him all over again. And there’s a pit in her stomach and she can’t breathe. She’s gasping for air. She doesn’t know how to live with this feeling. She can’t live with this feeling. She wishes it was her who died instead of him. Ava tells her not to say things like that. She knows the feeling. When Kiki died, she was in so much pain that she didn’t want to live. She would have done absolutely anything to trade place with her, to die so she could live. But she was gone, and Ava was here, and she realized she needed to stay here for Avery. Just like Trina needs to stay here for her mom and for Curtis. She has a strong, wonderful family and they’re going to get her through this, okay? And truthfully, she’s very grateful to Spencer that he did what he did so Trina could live. Because Trina is here with her. Trina and Avery are everything to her. She holds Trina as she cries.

Laura says she guesses this is the obvious next step. She just hadn’t considered it before. What did Nikolas say? Martin tells her that Nikolas gave him permission to start the paperwork. Just be honest. Is this not something she wants to consider? She tells him that she’s not saying that. It’s just a lot to consider. He says he knows. He just wanted to make sure she was set up. The paperwork is right there. She wants to make that decision, wants to cross that bridge, she’s got everything she needs. They’ll have to forgive him. He’s got to get out of here or he won’t make his flight. He’ll be gone from Port Charles for a while. He’s only a phone call away, and he’ll come back if she needs him. She says she loves him and tells him to travel safely. Martin leaves, and Doc says, so, what are her thoughts? She says, everything her brother told them makes sense. It would be better for little Ace to have a permanent parent instead of a temporary guardian, but this is not just her decision to make. Doc says, if she wants to adopt Ace, he’s totally on board, but she says, no. We would adopt him together.

Doc tells Laura that he moved some appointments around at the hospital so they could talk, and she says she hates that he has to rearrange his schedule. He says, this is so much more important, and she says, and it came completely out of the blue, but she can’t imagine doing this without him. He says, which is why they need to spend some time with it, and there’s a knock at the door. This time, it’s Lucy, who asks if she can come in. Laura says, yeah, and Lucy says she was so sorry to hear about Spencer’s unbelievably tragic… She’s sorry. Laura thanks her, and Lucy says she was just wondering if Martin was around. She heard he was here. Doc says, Martin left just a little while ago, and Lucy says, darn it. She needs to catch up with him and he’s avoiding all her phone calls. Do they know where he went by any chance? Laura tells her that Martin said he was going to visit his mother and he was going to be gone for a while, and Lucy wonders how he can leave like that, without saying goodbye. She can’t believe Tracy Quartermaine did this to her. Okay. She did it. She did it to herself. Like she always does, right? She just thought this time it was different. She thought she was different. Why does she do this? Why does she always sabotage the very best things that happen to her? Maybe she just doesn’t deserve to be happy. Laura says, that’s ridiculous. Everyone deserves to be happy. Life is too short. Marty was just here, and he was going straight to the airport. If Lucy hurries, she might be able to catch him before he gets on the plane. Lucy hugs Laura, thanking her, and runs out the door. Laura asks Doc if that was foolish, but he says, it was generous. Which is exactly what he expects because that’s who she is. Now where were they before they were so rudely interrupted?

Gregory looks at his phone, and Tracy says, breaking story? He says, no, it’s from Finn. The move is on for this evening. She asks if he needs any help, but he says he just has a few things. Books, papers, stuff like that. She says, figures. So what brought this on? He knows how fond she is of Finn, but his place has limited space. He says he’ll manage. As to what brought this on, he’s starting to feel a little irresponsible living on his own, especially since he’s trying to make it to the big wedding… Don’t do that please. She says, do what? and he says, she’s the one person in his life who doesn’t give him that look. So don’t start now please. He doesn’t want her pity. She says she doesn’t pity him, but she thinks she does know him a little, and she thinks he has reservations about this move. Is she right? He says he doesn’t like depending on anyone, even his family. He knows Finn’s just trying to help, but he hates the idea of giving up his own agency. It’s been his greatest fear ever since he was diagnosed. He knows at some point he’s not going to have control of what his body does or even what happens to him. She says, and the move? and he says, it’s forcing him to face that reality. It feels like this might be the first part of his final chapter.

Carly tells Diane that she’s sorry to interrupt. Diane’s assistant told her that Diane would be here. She needs to talk to Diane. It’s an emergency. Robert says, that’s his ticket out of here, but Diane says, don’t you move, and asks Carly, what’s up? Carly says she’ll give Diane three guesses as to who’s trying to sabotage Crimson, and the first two don’t count.

Nina tells the construction worker that she wants all these walls checked. It’s better to replace all of them than have the mold spreading. (Having had a house flood, if indeed there had been a leak, Nina would be correct in rebuilding walls.) She asks Drew if he was on the phone with his lawyer, because everything she did just now was completely legal, so don’t be threatening her with a lawsuit. He says, she made the choice to escalate, and she’s going to have to live with the fallout, but she says, it can’t be any worse than what’s already happened to her. She lost her husband and her family and her magazine. Sure, she regrets some of the things she’s done. She’s made mistakes, just like the rest of them, but she doesn’t understand why she has to continually pay for a crime Drew and Carly committed. She’s through with the injustice and the indignity of being the pariah. Legally, she did nothing wrong, and she’s not going to take it lying down anymore. He asks if she went to prison. She doesn’t know the meaning of the words indignity and injustice. He gets in the elevator and says, but believe him, she will.

Michael tells Josslyn, it’s not like Dex is working for Sonny against his will. He insists he’s found purpose in Sonny’s organization. She says, don’t remind her, please, and he says, there’s something else. This arrangement with Dex has gotten more important lately. Dex is keeping everybody in their family safe. She asks what that means, and he says, things have gotten more dangerous lately. She asks if he’s talking about the shooting in Puerto Rico, and he says, the fact that somebody got to his dad on the island, and somehow, they were apparently able to bypass security, means they have inside access. She asks if he’s saying it’s someone inside Sonny’s organization, and he says, sometimes the simplest explanation is true. Someone who Sonny trusts sold him out.

On the phone Sonny asks if Dex has made any calls or sent any texts… All right. He’ll be in touch. He tells Brick, Frank said Dex is just doing his job, protecting Ava. He’s not jumpy, he’s just… Brick says, look, he was just presenting a theory, and Sonny says, but he’s got a lot of evidence. Brick asks what they’re going to do about this.

Drew joins Carly, who says she was just telling Diane about how Nina was trying to undermine Crimsonagain. Drew says, great. Tell him how they can strike back and teach her not to mess with them again. Robert says, this really does sound like his cue. He’ll talk to Diane later. He leaves, and Drew says, that’s probably for the best. Any talk about retaliation should be kept between attorney and client privilege, right? Carly asks, who’s talking about retaliation? She just wants to get their offices open as soon as possible, so they can get the issue out on time. He says, so Nina can sabotage the next issue? They’ve got to shut her down. Carly says, they can’t focus on Nina. She’s a distraction and she’s getting what she wants. They need to think about the magazine. His magazine. He tells her to do that. He needs to take a break. He leaves, and Diane asks why she has the feeling Carly’s frustration isn’t just with Nina, but also with Drew.

Trina tells Ava that she’s really sorry about the painting. She thought she was ready to get back to work, but she guesses not. This grief, the sadness, is it ever going to go away? Ava says, no, but it dulls and somehow you get used to it. Between Trina’s mom and Curtus, Marshall, Stella, and her, they’ll get her through it. Count on it. Dex brings them chamomile tea, telling them that Josslyn says it helps calm her down. He thought it was worth a try. They thank him, and Frank tells him, let’s go. Dex says, they’re supposed to watch Ava, but Frank says, change of plans.

Josslyn says, if there’s a traitor inside Sonny’s organization, Dex is in trouble, right? but Michael says he doesn’t know. The thing is… Willow comes back and asks if everything is okay. Josslyn says, yeah. She’s meeting Trina at the gallery, but it was so nice to see Willow. Willow says, her too, and they hug. Josslyn tells Michael that they’ll talk soon, and she leaves. Michael says, not that Willow asked, but he and Josslyn were discussing a family matter that involves Sonny. She asks if it’s something she needs to know about for the kids’ safety, but he says he doesn’t know. He promises if there’s something she needs to know, he’ll tell her. Although she has every right not to believe him. She says, of course (🍷) she believes him.

Martin waits for his flight at the airport, while Lucy goes to a desk and says, her boyfriend is on a flight to North Carolina, and she really needs to talk to him. They won’t let her through security without a boarding pass and she needs to tell him something. The clerk tells her that she can’t go through security without a boarding pass, but she says she has to apologize. Just let her run down there. She won’t delay the flight. He can send a little guard with her. He says, she can’t get through security without a ticket, and she hears Martin’s flight being announced. She says, okay, fine. She’ll buy a ticket. When’s the next flight? He asks where she’d like to go. They have a flight to Bora Bora, Duluth… She says, eww. Not Duluth. They were so rude to her. She lost an earring at a Coco Cosmetics convention, and they were not helpful at all. She puts her credit card on the counter and says, Duluth it is.

Laura says she knows Doc didn’t sign up for this, the idea of having a child. And having a baby at their age? It’s going to be a daunting task. He says she’s right, for both of them. She’s been a parent. She knows what it takes. For him, outside of a brief stint as a stepparent with Lucy, this would be a new experience for him. She says, if they become the parents of record, Ace will grow up with them. He’ll rely on them. It’s a huge responsibility. If he has any hesitation, he should say so now.

Laura brings Ace into the room, and says, from the shortest nap ever, and Doc says, all right. She asked for the truth. Here it is. He’s never felt more a part of a family as he has since he married her. He’s seen her capacity for love and her children and her grandchildren. And her love for him has opened his heart in ways he couldn’t imagine. But adopting a child at this stage of their lives is complicated. She says, it’s a little crazy, and he agrees. But it feels right. It feels like them. She says, so like them, and he says, if this is what she wants, he’s in. He’s all in. He asks what Ace thinks, and says he thinks Ace approves. They kiss.

Martin boards the flight, and the airline employee closes the door. Lucy calls to him, and yells, wait! She says, it’s too late. He’s gone. He’s really gone.

Tracy says, Gregory has a lot of decisions he’s going to have to make about his future. Some sooner rather than later. But moving in with his family doesn’t have to be something that holds him back. She comes and goes time and time again, but always ends up back at Monica’s. Why? Because as much as every single person in that house infuriates her, living under the same roof as them, it feels like… He says, home? and she says, home.

Carly tells Diane that she can’t blame Drew for hating Nina and wanting revenge for everything she’s done to him, but she wants that parasite out of her life. Diane says, that’s easier said than done. Nina has considerable resources and she’s obviously willing to devote all of them to undermining Carly. Carly says she knows. She’s still grieving her mom, and the last thing she wants to do is go to war with someone she doesn’t care anything about. And every move that Drew makes to go after Nina just keeps pulling her back into Nina’s twisted orbit.

On the phone, Drew says he wants a list of everyone that’s done business with Aurora who’s interested in working with Nina Reeves… It’s time they drew a line in the sand.

Nina asks the worker how long it will take to put all this back together, and he says, they’re making progress. They should be done in another day or two. Nina says, that won’t do at all. She wants them to take all the time they need to make sure this job is done correctly. She hands him a wad of cash and says, understood? He smiles and tips an imaginary hat.

Willow says she believes Michael regrets the way he handled things. And she believes he wanted to protect them and that’s why he did what he did. He says he should have believed she could handle it. They’re always so much stronger when they work together. He’s sorry he forgot that. She says she appreciates him giving her the space she needed to process everything, but last night having him here felt right. She’s not saying she wants everything to go back the way it was; they still have things to work out. But maybe he doesn’t go back to the main house. What if he comes home for good? He says, that would mean the world to him. Is she sure that’s what she wants? she says she’s willing to try if he is and kisses him. She says she’s really got to go, or she’ll be late. She’ll see him later. He says he’ll be home, and she leaves. He sighs with relief.

Josslyn comes to the gallery and asks Trina, how’s it going? Trina says she thinks she came back to work a little too soon, and Josslyn hugs her. Josslyn says, something smells good, and asks if that’s peppermint tea. Trina says, Josslyn’s boyfriend made it for them, and Josslyn says, Dex is here? Ava says, he was. She just missed him. He and Frank left in a hurry.

Frank brings Dex to a car and tells him, get in. Dex gets in the backseat next to Sonny and says, boss. What’s going on? Sonny says, how about you and I go for a little ride?

Tomorrow, Gregory tells Finn that he can’t put it off any longer; Molly asks Kristina if this is why she’s not pursuing things with Blaze; Brick says, it’ll all be over soon; and Dex asks if Sonny thinks he’s the one who betrayed him.

Below Deck

La Phare Bleu, Granada. Primary Rebecca tells Fraser that dinner is delicious, but they need to speed it up. Fraser asks Chef Anthony to get the next course out asap, and Anthony says, French people spend an hour on a bite of steak. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s got to be that bitch, and finally, at 10:55, the Tomahawk steak entrée comes out, and it literally is just a bite. Rebecca wants more wine, but guest Leigh suggests water might be a good idea and it would be best to focus on that. Kyle realizes one of the stews is stacking plates while clearing, and in his interview, he says, don’t put a plate on a plate. This is not the Waffle House. There’s poached pear for dessert and guest Lyne says, it’s the best pear she ever drank. No more for her. In Anthony’s interview, he says, day one was a crazy motherf***ing day. He loves to take his time. He’s making love on the plate. Rebecca tells Fraser that everything is delicious, but they need it quicker. The guests get in the hot tub, and Barbie bitches about Cat not stocking the bar. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Cat is a sweet girl, but she’s taking her sweet time. The guests decide to let the crew off the hook and go to bed, except for the newlywed primaries Brian and Rebecca, who stay and get nakey. Barbie tells the others that she’s pretty sure they’re f***ing upstairs. In her interview, she says she promised her dad and herself that she wouldn’t hook up on the St. David, so she’s not hooking up on the St. David. In Kyle’s interview, he says he doesn’t have much trouble with the ladies. The accent turns them on. In Barbie’s interview, she says, especially not Kyle. She can barely understand what he says.  

Fraser compliments Xandi on her tablescape and asks if she’s interested in going on the kayak excursion. In Xandi’s interview, she says she doesn’t go in the sun. She’s like translucent. F***ing Twilight. She doesn’t need sun or human contact. Jared goes over priorities with the captain, and Kyle wishes Lune a happy birthday. He tells the guests that the table is ready for breakfast, and Rebecca announces to the table that she and Brian got nakey in the hot tub. In Kyle’s interview, he says, good for them, but now he has to drain it. Dirty bastards. In Sunny’s interview, she says, Jared is a complete mess, but she has to respect him as a superior. That’s what yachting is. Maybe she should tell some of the others (especially Natalya) about that. Fraser talks with Barbie and says, Cat needs to be given a sense of urgency. Fraser asks if Ben will make sure the refreshments go over to the beach and explains everything in detail. In turn, Ben tells Jared to tak the bags, but when the guests get to the beach, they have no refreshments. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s a bit what the f***. When it’s an excursion with stews, it’s their screw up. He tells Fraser that the refreshments were forgotten, and he says he gave the information to Ben. His mistake. He thought it was done. In his interview, he says, now this is the captain’s first impression of him. He looks like an idiot because Ben didn’t do what he asked Ben to do. He stupidly trusted someone else to help facilitate his job, and it won’t happen again. Jared hustles the bags over to the beach.

In Jared’s interview, he says he was diagnosed with ADHD, but never gave the medication a chance to work. When he’s under stress, his attention is at a deficit. Once in a while he’s like, a squirrel! but then he’s right back to it. Xandi gets the bags from him and says, the party’s here. The guests do some kayaking, while back on the yacht, guests Michelle and Leigh have stayed behind and wonder if the bar is stocked. Leigh says, it could be better if she was on a steady beer diet. Fraser radios Cat and Barbie, telling them that he’s leaving for the beach and to keep checking on the guests that are still there. Fraser gets to the beach, and in his interview, he says, it’s an absolute travesty. The next time, he’ll go first. The set-up is horrific. But Kyle looks like a rugged farmer and my crops need cutting. He’ll turn this around. Barbie asks where Captain Kerry is from, and he says, southeast Asia. He shows her where he’s been on a wall map. Cat tries to find out if Barbie has checked the guest cabins, but Barbie is snippy with her, and in her interview, Cat says she doesn’t understand the attitude. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Fraser knows that she knows her job. Cat is the kind of girl who will make a burn book, but to your face, it’s all good. In Cat’s interview, she says, Barbie is giving her Regina George vibes. Fraser tells Ben that because of him, the captain now thinks he’s sh*t. In Ben’s interview, he says, Jared hasn’t worked on a big boat and he’s missing the mark. It’s just a cooler, and now he put a wave through the whole boat.

Cat tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel respected by Barbie. She wanted to get their tasks lined up, but when she asks what Barbie is doing when she’s not doing anything, Barbie asks why she wants to know. It’s disrespectful. Fraser says, her telling him is helpful to them as a team, and in Cat’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to deal with Barbie all charter. She’s stressed enough with the guests already. She doesn’t want stress with the crew. The lunch set-up is super cute with conch shells and the Cuban sandwiches are a hit. Back on the boat, Xandi shows off her sunburn and in her interview, she says, it looks like she was burned at the stake.

It’s 80s Miami night, and in her interview, Barbie says she’s from Miami and went to school for design. Now she gets to show what she does best. She loves aesthetics. Brian falls getting into the tender to go back. I only mention this because it’s pretty damn funny watching him fall on his drunken face. Fraser tells Ben that Cat finds it difficult to take direction and criticism from Barbie, and I wonder how he got that from the conversation they had. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s bringing a Latino vibe tonight. When he was 21, he opened his first restaurant, and it had Miami vibes. It’s going to be mucho caliente tonight. Ben tells Barbie that Cat is unhappy with her. What is wrong with these people? Better question, how many times have I said that about a reality show? Barbie says she was schmoozing with the captain, but she’d worked her ass off the day before. Barbie tells Fraser that Ben told her Cat was talking sh*t about her, and Fraser wonders why Ben is meddling. Barbie tries to blame Cat, but Fraser is like, no. Ben’s been watching all day. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he doesn’t know what Ben’s game plan is in stirring the pot with the girls. He’s getting the attention he so desires. He asks Ben not to get involved with interior drama. He’s riled Barbie up and she’s fiery. In his interview, Fraser says, Ben doesn’t give a sh*t what he does to them as the interior team or the crew. F*** off and leave his girls alone.

Everyone gets ready for Miami night. The stews agree Ben is only deckhand worth checking out, if he shaved his head. I could agree that he doesn’t have the best haircut, but why so extreme? For dinner, Anthony makes Venezuelan chicken, and Cuban beef stew (Ropa Vieja), and the cutest cake ever with a flamingo sitting on top. No, not a real one. The crew dons wigs, even Captain Kerry, and they bring in the cake, singing Happy Birthday. The deckhands chat, and Kyle says, he’s been single for six years. In Jared’s interview, he says he’s separated from his daughter’s mother. His daughter is the love of his life, but he and her mother’s lives took different directions. When you love someone, you have to let them go so they can flourish and fly. He tells the other deckhands that he’s now port to port.  

This is so boring, I can’t stand it.

Anthony announces, the stove is a piece of sh*t. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says his kids are the best kids. His son is a huge character with a big heart and sensitive, and his daughter is a firecracker. They’ve had a close bond since the children were small. He’d been gone for ten months, so when they got a little older, he found jobs where he was there more often. He’s a family man 100%. He tells Xandi that when he’d fly with his kids, he’d apologize to the people sitting around him in advance and buy everybody drinks. Xandi says, when she’s on a flight with kids, she considers birth control. Then, in the most glorious food porn moment of all, lobster benedict is served. It’s total art and I have no doubt it tastes like heaven. The captain has a docking meeting, and the deckhands pretend to listen. In the captain’s interview, he says, he hopes they’re good on the radio. It’s a tight area, and the crew isn’t familiar with the boat. There are no airbags on boats. Brian says, leaving is breaking his heart. He doesn’t want to go. Barbie tells Cat to speak to her instead of everybody on the boat, and in Cat’s interview, she says, the only person who could have told her is Fraser and she’d be shocked if he gossiped. Barbie says, if Cat has any complaints about her, she’s here. During the docking, Kyle spaces out or gets confused or something on stern and isn’t giving the distance. Captain Kerry says, he’s sh*tting himself. He’s in trouble.

Kerry flies around boat and yells for fenders. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s not getting calls back, and he’s a bee’s d*ck away from bailing out. In 20 years, he’s never been in that situation. We see each deckhand in their interview all saying the same thing – f***. It’s time for guest departure and Brian says, the food was awesome and otherworldly, and the tablescapes were on point. He gives Captain Kerry the tip envelope, and says, they also brought a bit of Texas, giving two food baskets to the deckhands and stews. Afterward, the captain says, the guests had a fabulous time, and he wants to see the deck crew in the wheelhouse. Fraser tells the stews to do a quick wash up, and Ben says, the captain was not happy with the docking. When they get to the wheelhouse, Captain Kerry says, first docking. He’s not real happy. Actually, he’s pretty pissed. He can’t have people on deck if they’re not going to tell him what’s going on. Jared says, he didn’t have it set up the way he wanted. He’s still scrambling. The captain says, not enough time isn’t an excuse. If Jared isn’t ready, tell him. He needs to know the distance since he can’t see the stern. In his interview, the captain says, Jared is used to a smaller boat, but he’ll get there. Fraser says he wants all the bathrooms to be stunning.

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry says he’s like a dog with two tails. The guests were happy with the food and the service was amazing. It was incredible. Well done. Excellent work. They need to eliminate the schoolboy errors, the little stuff they’re getting wrong, but he believes they’re a great team and can make the season successful. Surprisingly, even with the slow food issue, the tip is $25K or $1923 each. They clink glasses and get ready to turn the boat over. Fraser tells Cat and Barbie to meet him on the sundeck, and in his interview, he says, last year, he focused on his team as individuals, but it’s important they see the team as one. It’s not about you; it’s about us. And success calls. He tells the stews that they want to try and treat each other with respect and care, like they were all at the level of captain. Barbie says, on the first day Cat was slow, and that’s why she was talking to Cat the way she was. She wasn’t up to par. Then Ben told her that Cat had said negative things about her. She was wondering why Cat was talking about her when Cat was working at a snail’s pace. Cat says, the first day, she was stuck in the pantry with non-stop dishes. She’s levering different roles and has to change directions when asked. The last person that was a floater had the same complaint, so maybe it’s not her. Fraser says, they wouldn’t have known this if they hadn’t had this conversation. Cat could also make the decision to finish a task and then move on, because she’s doing a fluid job. Fraser thinks it’s all good, but Barbie says, Cat came down before the picnic and said they were supposed to be working. Cat says she didn’t, but we flash back and she kinda did. Barbie says, Cat needs to be sensitive about how she speaks, and Fraser says, this is going nowhere constructive and it’s getting petty. He has no time to be petty. So they can be good stews and they’re going get along. If they can’t, they’ll both be gone.

Next time, Ben says, everything he told himself that he wasn’t going to be doing, and here they are; Captain Kerry tells Anthony that they need crew food out more often and faster; and Fraser tells Barbie that she’s rude.

💭 Thoughts: This season is starting off as a real snooze. And why is it only the female deckhands seem to understand that your superior is your superior at work?

🐶 Team Ruff For the Win….

Make a U-ey back tomorrow for soap and the latest Rules. Until then, stay safe, stay taking it easy on yourself for that holiday weight gain (but maybe take it easy on the Valentine’s candy too), and stay knowing that grief and sadness might never go away, but they dull and somehow you get used to it.

February 5, 2024 – Laura Tells Nikolas To Turn Himself In, New Captain On Deck, Nothing But the Grammys & Everyday

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Sonny says, listen to him. Somebody tried to take him out on his own private island, and they haven’t found out who it is yet? There’s a knock at the door, and he says he’s going to give them 24 hours to find out who it is. If they don’t, he’s going to find a new head of security. Do they understand him? He opens the door to Dante and Sam, and Sam hugs him. She says she can’t believe Spencer is gone. He says he can’t either and invites them in. Dante says he’s sorry about Spencer. He was one of a kind, right? Sonny asks how Alexis is holding up, and Sam says, mom is doing what she does best and just diving into work.

Gregory tells Alexis that he just wanted her to know he’ll be unavailable for the next several hours. He’s taking Tracy to either a late lunch or early dinner. Whatever it is, it’s in the name of future in-law solidarity. Alexis says, good. Have fun. He asks if everything is okay, but she says, no. Everything is not okay. Her nephew Spencer is dead.

On a photoshoot set, Lucy tells the assistant that she needs better hay. This is wrong, so very wrong. It’s coarse, it’s brittle, and it’s icky. The assistant says, they tried the artificial hay, but it was reading fake, so she put it back on the truck. Lucy says she doesn’t care. They’re selling rustic romance, not barnyard reality. The assistant says she’ll get right on that, and Lucy asks if Martin happened to call for her at the office, but the assistant says, no. Lucy says she really needs to let him know where to find her, and the assistant says she left him a message about the photoshoot. Lucy says, great, did she leave him all the… and she says, time, location, and her number if for any reason he can’t reach Lucy. Lucy says, while she’s still standing there, she knows what they need. Giddyap. The assistant leaves, and Lucy looks at her phone. She says, not a text. Nothing. Fine. If he’s not going to call her, then she’ll call him – again, and again, and again. Scotty walks in and says, not to worry. He’s here. She says, great. She could really use some good news, so please tell her, how’d it go with Tracy and the flowers? He says he doesn’t know; he hasn’t talked to her. Lucy says, that’s not good news, is it? and he says he can’t get Tracy to just call him. Lucy suggests he call her, but he says, that would look desperate. She says, then he can call her in a non-desperate way, and he has to make it fast. Marty is so annoyed with her, and she can’t exactly tell him about their plans to revenge on Tracy. So could he please call Tracy, and fast? He tells her, take it easy, and takes out his phone.

At the MetroCourt Tracy’s phone rings with a call from Ambulance Chaser (ha-ha!). She says, he’s going to have to twist a little bit longer, when Martin walks in. She goes over to him at the bar and asks if he’s okay, but he says, actually, no. She’ll have to forgive him, but at present, he doesn’t have the will or the patience to entertain her constant insinuations about Lucy and Scotty. As he’s stated ad nauseum, Lucy’s past is none of his business. She asks if that isn’t the exact problem. Lucy never puts the past behind her, and when she gets involved with someone, Scotty starts sniffing around like he is now. Martin says, if she’s going to make the accusation, the least she can do is provide some evidence of it, and she says, he wants evidence? The other day when he and Lucy had their public dustup, Scotty bolted off, abandoned her, and went to comfort Lucy.

Jagger tells Anna and Jordan that O’Neal is in custody, and Anna says, good. She introduces Jordan to Jagger, and he says, John, please. He’s outgrown the old nickname. Jordan asks how they know each other, and Anna says, John is a friend of her daughter Robin’s. He says, tell her that she owes him an email, from six months ago (I suddenly feel guilty about several people), and Anna says she’ll mention it. Can he fill them in on this investigation? He says he’s the special agent in charge, and the two of them are interfering. His agents told Jordan to stay out of this. She should have listened.

Laura opens the door to find Nikolas holding Ace, and he says, hello, mother. She says, thank God he’s all right, and hugs him. He says he heard that Spencer… Is it true? She says, yes, Spencer’s gone, and he cries, asking, what happened? She invites him in and says, Spencer went overboard. He was on a ship on the Seine. The French authorities couldn’t find his body, but he couldn’t have survived that. He asks if it was Esme, and she says, yes. He says, which means Spencer’s dead because he took Ace. His son is dead because of him.

Tracy says, if Martin doesn’t mind her asking, what did he and Lucy fight about? but he says he does mind. That is personal, between Lucy and himself. She says, don’t tell her the two of them broke up, and he says, no, they did not. He’s so sorry to disappoint her. She says she’s sorry. She’s sorry to see what Lucy has done to him. Doesn’t he get it? Scotty and Lucy cannot stay away from each other, and worse yet, they don’t want to.

Scotty tells Lucy that he doesn’t know why Tracy cooled on him. He thought he was making progress with her. In fact, she even got a little jealous when she saw him paying attention to Lucy and her dandy of a boyfriend and their little squabble. She asks if he means when he abandoned Tracy in the middle of the MetroCourt, and he says he was worried about her. She asks, how is being worried about her endearing himself to Tracy? and he says, pardon him for thinking about her emotional well-being. She says her emotional well-being is just fine. It will be. She knows Marty is really angry, but she thinks she can convince him to work things out with her. He says, maybe she can, maybe she can’t, but she says she can, and she will. He asks if this guy is really worth it, and she says, of course (🍷) he is. They’re just hitting a rough patch. They’re really good together. He says, then he hopes they work things out, and she says, does he really? He says, no. He just wants her to be happy. He puts his hands on her shoulders, and she says she’s got to go right now. She’s got to find Marty now. Right this minute. She’s going to go look for him. He says, what about the Tracy business? and she says, don’t worry. She’ll take care of it. Stay put and she’ll be right back.

Sonny tells Dante and Sam that he briefly spoke to Trina. She’s broken up. She’s with Ava right now. Dante asks, what’s happening with that? How long is Ava staying here? Sonny says, it’s open-ended. She’s going through a lot right now, but at least they get to spend more time with Avery. Sam says she’s amazed the two of them have been able to co-exist this long, and Sonny says, Avery is happy with her mother and that’s all that matters. Dante asks, how was the family vacation on this island? and Sonny says, it had its moments. Sam says she’s got to get going, but Sonny says he wanted to offer her coffee. She says she’s good. She’s going to see her mom at The Invader. She tells Dante that she’ll see him at home, and they kiss. She says she loves him, and leaves. Dante asks if Sonny wants to tell him what’s really going on, and Sonny says, death is never easy, especially if you’re blindsided. He still can’t believe Spencer is gone. Dante says, it feels like something else is happening. Sonny’s got extra security. Was there some kind of threat? Sonny says, there was an incident on the island, and Dante asks what he means. Sonny says, somebody almost took him out.

Jordan tells John that Curtis Ashford is her ex-husband. He almost died in the shooting. John says he understands that, but neither of them are law enforcement, not anymore. They’re not even deputized. So he’s telling them, stop pursuing this. Jordan says, or he could deputize them, and Anna says, problem solved. He says, that’s not happening, and Anna asks if he doesn’t understand. She and Jordan were there when Curtis was shot. She doesn’t understand how he expects them to walk away. He says, because this is an FBI investigation, and Curtis’s shooting is only one part of something much, much bigger.

Alexis tells Gregory that they’d all have been much better off if Esme had just left town. Her nephew would be alive if she hadn’t offered Esme that job. He says, but she gave Esme a chance to prove herself, and she did. She proved to be a capable assistant, and proved to them all that she was a capable mother because of Alexis’s generosity of spirit. She says, no good deed, and he says he doesn’t believe reaching out to someone is ever a mistake, but she says, it clearly was a mistake, wasn’t it? And now they’re all well down that road to hell that she helped build. Nikolas is God knows where with Ace and Spencer is dead.

Nikolas sniffles on the couch, and Laura says, Ace is finally down for a nap. She didn’t want is son to see him so upset. He says, she means his one remaining son. He thanks her and says he wasn’t thinking. She says, they’re all in shock. She thanks God that he still has Ace. That is something to be really grateful for. It’s so good he came home. He needs to be with his family now. He says he was afraid she’d slam the door in his face, and she says she supposes she should have, after everything he’s put her through. He knows he should never have taken Ace, right? He says he knows. That’s what led to his Spencer’s death. She tells him, please sit down. This is important. She wants him to listen to her. He’s not responsible for Spencer’s death. He didn’t do that; Esme did it. Esme was trying to attack Trina, and Spencer tried to stop her. Nikolas says he knows, and Spencer lost his life in the process. He knows he didn’t put Spencer in the Seine, but his actions did put him in Esme’s crosshairs. He doesn’t even know how she could look at him right now. She says, he’s her son. She loves him. She’ll always loves him. She’ll always be here for him. Always. He thanks her and says he knows he doesn’t deserve her kindness, but she says, he does. He did the right thing by coming back here… He’s not going to stay, is he? He says he can’t. If he stays, he’ll go to prison. She says, he held a pregnant woman captive for months. Has it occurred to him maybe he belongs in prison? He says he knows it’s what he deserves, but he still has one son who needs him. He’s sorry, but he has to go. She asks if he’s kidding her. If that’s the kind of man he is, if that’s the kind of father he is, Ace would be better off without him.

Lucy goes over to Martin at the bar and says, his secretary told her where to find him. She supposes she should be glad he allowed his secretary to tell her. He says he needed a little space, and she says, does he still? He says, yeah, and she tears up and says, as he wishes. Before she goes, she just wants to say, he’s really hard to apologize to if he won’t answer her phone calls. He gets up and says he’s honestly not sure if there’s really much to say, and she says, for God’s sake, it was just a slip of the tongue. She said she loved him and she did; before that moment, during this moment, at this moment. She loves him. She doesn’t know what happened. She panicked. She made a mistake. He says, they both know how she meant it, but she says, no. Please just give her another chance. Tracy watches from her table.

Dante says he doesn’t understand. Sonny’s island is like a fortress. How did anyone get that close to him? Sonny says, they’re looking into it, and Dante asks what he means, but Sonny says he doesn’t want to talk right now. He doesn’t want any questions or anything. He’s not in the mood. Dante says he’s on Sonny’s side. Sonny knows that, right? Sonny says, really? Because it didn’t seem that way when he was being cuffed. Dante was reading him his rights. Dante says, they already talked about that. If he doesn’t want to be arrested, don’t beat people up in churches. Sonny says he’ll take that as good advice, and Dante says, Sonny’s his father, no matter what. He loves Sonny, no matter what. And he wants to help Sonny if he can. Sonny says, Dante’s right. He shouldn’t have snapped. It’s just that he doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Dante asks if he’s saying it was an inside job.

Nikolas says, Laura’s right. His taking Ace isn’t the only thing that led to Spencer’s death. The loneliness that led him to being vulnerable to Esme in the first place. Allowing him, and all of them, to believe he was dead. What kind of father does that to his little boy? Ace is better off without him. He’s going to leave Ace here with her and Doc where he belongs, and he’s going to disappear. Laura says, that’s not what she meant, and Nikolas says he’s agreeing with her. He wants Ace to have a good life. She says, yes, he deserves to have a good life – with his father. If Nikolas would just face the mistakes he’s made and take responsibility for them, it’s not too late for him to have a good life too.

Now seated at a table, Lucy tells Martin that she’s so sorry. She has been distracted and so worried about keeping eyes on Tracy and Scotty. But he has to believe her; it’s more about Tracy than Scotty. He says, this isn’t about Scotty, and she says, it isn’t? He says, it’s about her and him. It’s about them. Her moving away from him, little by little, inch by inch. It’s been quite a while now. Since Bobbie Spencer died, she’s wanted to be with someone else. With Scotty, not him. She says, it’s just because her, Bobbie, and Scotty have had a long and complicated, turbulent history, that’s all. He says, kind of a tired euphemism for a love triangle, isn’t it? It doesn’t really matter what the reason is. The simple fact is, now whenever she requires solace, her instinct is to turn to Scotty. That’s got to say something about him and Lucy, doesn’t it?

Gregory apologizes for keeping Tracy waiting, but she says, that’s okay. She’s been kept waiting longer. He sees her staring at Lucy and Martin, and says, at least she found something to keep her occupied. She laughs and says, those two? Who wouldn’t be curious? He says, given their expressions, he’d imagine they’re discussing the same subject that held him up. She asks, what would that be? and he says, she doesn’t know. He’s not sure how well she knew him, but Martin’s great nephew, Spencer Cassadine, was killed in Paris.

Alexis thanks Sam for coming, and Sam says, just tell her what she can do to help. Alexis says, it’s incumbent on her to write Spencer’s obituary, and she has no idea how to begin. Sam says, that’s a lot. She doesn’t know. He had a lot of flair. Alexis says, he did indeed, and if she has to talk about him in the past one more time, she’s going to lose it. Sam says she bets she could make Alexis smile with one word, but Alexis says she bets Sam can’t. Sam says, chupacabra, and Alexis half-smiles and says, chupacabra. She forgot about that. Sam says, and it turned out to be Heather Webber hiding in the stables, but all along they thought it was Spencer because he insisted.

Alexis asks if Sam remembers went all Phantom of the Opera at the Nurses Ball. Then there was the election tampering where he sent his chauffeur into the harbor to retrieve the stolen ballot box. Sam says she thinks that covers the big-ticket items from when he was 10. Spencer was a dramatic child. Alexis says, he never ceased to amaze her, and Sam says, damn right. Alexis says, he was brilliant kid, and he had a lot to offer. And now all they have are memories.

John says, out of professional respect for both Anna and Jordan, he’s going to bring them up to speed on a few things. If only to persuade them that they have this under control, so they can let it alone. Got it? Anna says, by all means, and John says, the weapon that was used to shoot Curtis Ashford is one of a number of unmarked weapons stolen from the WSB. Other weapons in the same cache have been used in a string of shootings throughout the US. He’s afraid that’s all he can tell them. Anna says, come on. Don’t be ridiculous. He says, she knows how much he respects her and he’s aware of Jordan’s exemplary record as Police Commissioner of Port Charles. Jordan thanks him, and he says, then again, neither of them are currently law enforcement. He can’t have them conducting their own investigation. Anna says, of course (🍷) he can’t, and he thanks her for understanding. She says, so bring them in. They can work together.

Nikolas tells Laura that it is too late for him. He made all the wrong choices, and in the process, he lost his son. She says, but Ace is still here. Instead of giving him up, do what it takes to deserve a place in his life. He says, by going to prison, and she says, he’s got to make this right. He has to fix what he can, and he has to atone for the rest of it. She’s sorry, but it’s the only way. It’s the only way for him to be the good man that he was. He says he doesn’t know if he can do that, but she says, he can try. For Ace’s sake, he’s got to. Please. They just lost Spencer. Don’t make her lose him again too.

Nikolas asks if Laura really still has faith in him, and she says, always. He says, even if he was to run away today? and she says, that would break her heart, but she would still hold out hope that he would one day find the strength to come back, to be a good father to the child he has left. He says he’s amazed she thinks he has any strength, and she cups his face in her hands, saying, she knows he does. Because she saw it in Spencer, and he got it from Nikolas. Nikolas cries and she hugs him.

On the phone, John says, thanks for letting him know, and Anna asks if his superiors need a little more convincing before bringing them in. He says, actually, he’s been informed that the two of them have blown his best lead, and Jordan says, how could they possibly… He says, Mr. O’Neal, the gun dealer they met tonight in their little citizen sting operation. He was supplying the unsub with weapons. He’s just lawyered up and he’s refusing to talk without the promise of full immunity, which his boss will not sign off on. So thanks so much for their help. Jordan says she’s sorry about that, but he says, her being sorry doesn’t do him much good right now. If they really want to help, tell him about the meeting with the dealer. Did they get anything useful from him?

Lucy admits that she’s been different since Bobbie died and tells Martin that Bobbie’s death affected her in ways she couldn’t imagine. He says, losing a loved one will do that to you, and she laughs. She says, that’s just it. They didn’t even like each other. She thinks sometimes hate is too strong of a word, but they certainly never got along. And it wasn’t just because of Scotty. There were so many other reasons. Martin says, in one way or another, Bobbie was important to her. Think about it. They saw each other at their best over the years. They got to know each other, intimately, at their worst. That forms some kind of bond. She says she guesses she never thought about it that way… Yes. He says, now you lose that person, that bond gets broken all of a sudden, you look at your life with a new sense that time really is short; that it’s precious. You get to realize the importance of letting go of something when it’s just not working anymore. She says, they’re not working?

Gregory says he’s sorry he had to be the one to tell Tracy. He didn’t realize she and Spencer were close. She says, they weren’t close. She hardly knew him. He says he doesn’t know all the details, but apparently, Esme Prince was involved. She’s also missing and presumed dead. She says, it’s all a tragedy. How’s Alexis? He says, grieving, and she says she’s sure. He says, and blaming herself, and Tracy says, for what? He says, for taking a chance on Esme. He believes Esme was making a sincere effort to be a better person. She was proving to be an excellent mother, he’s sure to everyone’s surprise. So he mourns the loss of the person she could have been if her father hadn’t manipulated her feelings, turning her into a bitter, angry young woman. Tracy looks at Lucy and Martin.

Sonny tells Dante that the shooter knew the layout and security so well, he got past the guards. He even knocked one guard out. Dante says, now he can see why Sonny thinks it’s someone from his organization, and Sonny asks if he has any ideas. Dante says, not yet, but he’ll see, and Sonny asks, what’s next, detective? Dante says, question suspects, and Sonny asks if Dante means the people closest to him, but Dante says he has to question everyone, no matter how much it hurts. Everyone is guilty until proven otherwise.

Alexis wonders how they distill the best of Spencer Cassadine in 450 words, and Sam says, just focus on the positive. Alexis says, so they leave out his teenage crime spree? and Sam says she thinks they focus on what made Spencer Spencer. His love for drama obviously. Alexis says, of all kinds, and Sam says, and his love of horseback riding. His quick quips. Alexis says, his quips and schemes. Spencer acting all shallow and spoiled, he was pretending. It wasn’t real. He was just guarded. He was fearful and he had every right to be. Then he grew up and he really opened up and allowed them to see who he really was, and he was a gift.

Martin says, now there’s this thing with Scotty, but Lucy swears it’s not what he thinks. He says, it’s something, and whatever it is tends to eclipse what they are. Or might have been. He’d be the first person to admit he hasn’t always been the most honorable man, but he loves her. How he loves her. More than any of the women he’s married. And that’s done something for him. He doesn’t want to spend too much time looking over his shoulder wondering what the hell is going on. He thinks he deserves better. She cries and says, but… He gets up and says, goodbye, Lucy. She runs to the elevator, crying, and gets in.

On the phone, Gregory says, thanks. He’ll call right now. He tells Tracy that he’s sorry. The doctor’s referring him to a specialist, and he has to get an appointment right away. She says, go ahead. Take his time. He thanks her and says he’s sorry. He didn’t realize Spencer’s death would affect her so much. She thanks him and says she’ll be fine. He leaves, and she watches Martin sitting alone.

Lucy finds Scotty sitting on a bale of hay, and he asks, for cryin’ out loud, what took her so long? He realizes she’s crying and says, uh-oh. What happened? She says, Marty broke up with her. He said… Scotty says, if he insulted Lucy, he’ll knock Martin’s teeth out and then he’ll slap a lawsuit on the dentist that fixes them. She says, no. He said he deserves better. Scotty holds her as she cries.

John says, so they did get something from their gunrunner friend, and Anna looks at Jordan, who nods. Anna says, yeah. They learned something about the unidentified subject. But rather than just give John that information… Jordan says, after which, he most certainly would discard them, and Anna says, she proposes that they have an exchange of information. Like they tell him everything they know about the dealer, and he tells them everything he knows about the unsub so far. Jordan says, everything for everything is a fair trade, and Anna says, for starters, obviously, they don’t believe Curtis was the intended target. They think it was Sonny Corinthos. He says, believe it or not, the FBI did consider the possibility that the crime boss might be a more logical target than the nightclub owner, and Anna says, there you go. And Sonny has reason to believe that whoever’s after him is still trying. So whatever he can tell them about the unsub will be incentive for Sonny to tell them what he knows. He says, they want him to provide them with intel they plan on sharing with Sonny Corinthos? The man should have been in prison decades ago. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Anna says, that’s the Sonny he remembers. That’s not the one she knows. He says, only because that’s the Sonny he shows her, and she says, perhaps, but she can keep him in line. He says, really? Because nobody’s ever been able to put a leash on Sonny Corinthos. She says, maybe she’ll be the first.

Sonny thanks Dante for coming through for him like this, and Dante says, of course (🍷). Sonny says, it hasn’t been easy with Michael and Nina… What he’s trying to say is, it’s hard to trust anyone, but he knows he can trust Dante. Dante says, Sonny’s damn right he can. And he promises this will stay between him. His phone rings and he says, it’s Laura. He asks, what’s going on? and Laura says she’s home. She needs him to come over as soon as possible. He asks if everything is okay, and she says she’s here with Nikolas. He’s ready to turn himself in.

Tracy approaches Martin’s table, and he says, stop. As he’s sure she’s observed by now, he’s not exactly in the mood for company, so he’d consider it a favor if she left him to his solitude. She says, this won’t take long, and sits down. She says she owes him the truth.

Lucy tells Scotty that she doesn’t know why, she meets a guy and he’s nice enough of a guy. Maybe the man of her dreams. And she just screws it up. She keeps screwing it up. He says, she’s being a little hard on herself, but she says, no. She thinks she’s being much too easy on herself. He says he’s not going to listen to her talk that way about herself. If Martin is too stupid to know how great she is, then to hell with him. She’s Lucy Coe, the best that there is. He kisses her.

On the phone, Sonny says, it’s him. He needs to see them right away.

John says, what about Jordan? Is she wiling to vouch for Sonny Corinthos? She says, Sonny’s been useful in the past. As for this, she trusts Anna. Anna says, it’s best for them to work together. What does he say? He says he hopes she has a good lawyer, because they’re both under arrest for obstructing a federal investigation.

Alexis reads, Spencer Cassadine is survived by his father Nikolas, his brother Ace, his grandmother, the Mayor Laura Collins, and an extended family who remember him dearly. His legacy will be the Spencer Cassadine Drama Fund, devoted to teaching theater, particularly the works of Shakespeare, to prison inmates, underserved communities, and children. To quote his favorite work of the Bard, now cracks a noble heart… She starts to cry, and Sam puts her hands on Alexis’s shoulders. Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Alexis breaks down sobbing, and Sam puts her arms around her.

Dante asks if Nikolas understands his rights as explained to him, and Nikolas says he does. Dante says, let’s go, and Nikolas asks if he may say goodbye to his son. Dante nods, and Nikolas turns to Laura holding Ace. He tells Ace that he loves him and kisses his head. Laura says, they’ll meet him at the station, and Nikolas thanks her… for everything. He wants her to know that he’s doing this for her and for Ace and Spencer. He wants to become someone they can all be proud of. Dante leads him out, and Laura watches from the doorway.

Tomorrow, Sonny says he needs people he can trust; Tracy says she’s the reason Martin and Lucy broke up; Dex says he’ll do everything in his power to keep them all safe; and John says, Robert is insisting they drop the charges.

Below Deck – The Next Generation

I’m less than thrilled that Captain Lee was retired involuntarily. I’m guessing it could be for insurance reasons, so now I really can’t wait for Teresa Giudice to cause Bravo a lawsuit. New Captain Kerry is from Below Deck Adventure, which I watched once upon a time. It was good, but I can only watch so much Deck.

This season’s port of call is Grenada. Fraser is chief stew, and a familiar face. Just not the one I want to see. In his interview, he says he’s not going to be as easy going this time around. This year, mommy is still here for her babies, but don’t bite the tit that feeds you. The bosun is Jared, who says in his interview, being bosun is f***ing horrible and hard, but what better way to travel then on someone else’s dime while making a nickel? Ben, another familiar face and more welcome, is lead deckhand. In Ben’s interview, he says, after being a bosun, coming back as lead deckhand is a kick in the gut. We flash back to his happier bosun times. In Chef Anthony’s (aka Frenchie) interview, he says he’s going blow our mind. Cooking brings people together. Fraser wonders who else is coming to destroy his life. Stews Barbie, Xandi, Cat, and Sunny arrive, and in Barbie’s interview, she says, people think she’s snobby. She comes from a good family, but her father taught her to work. Now she works hard so she can buy all the stupid sh*t she wants. Deckhand Kyle rounds out the crew.

At the crew meeting, Captain Kerry rolls out his resume, and we see clips of his previous adventures. He tells the crew that both their physical safety and mental health us important.  He won’t pick on them for having a sulk, but don’t take his kindness for weakness. In his interview, he says he’s firm but fair. He gives a crew his respect, but if they disrespect him, they’re out of here. Hard work will be rewarded, but if you f*** around, you’re off the boat. He tells the crew that they’re going to bust it out. No baseball references for him. In Fraser’s interview, he says, last year was tough. He had two stews who didn’t get along and he gave too many chances. This year is going to be different.  

Captain Kerry wants no surprises on the boat. The captain has to be aware of everything. Communication is key. We find out everyone is single, and in Ben’s interview, he says he and Camille met up after the season, but long story short, she cheated on him. He doesn’t want to get as involved again. He’s wounded, but wiser.

At the preference sheet meeting, Captain Kerry says, their first guests are Brian and Rebecca, newlyweds, both in finance. Coming along are their oldest and dearest friends. Anthony reads that they want a multi-course dinner, and in his interview, he says, it’s a lot of pressure. He grew up being the kid no girl wanted and needed to make an impression. (Hint: The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.) Jared reads that guest Leanne wants an 80s dance party for her birthday, and all guests except Michelle want to take kayaks to the mangroves. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he loves eco-tourism. He especially loves kayaking and getting up close and personal with the mangroves. We see a clip of this, and it looks amazing. Sign me up. Jared says, the guests also want to go to the beach, and the captain says, they’re going to have their hands full. In Xandi’s interview, she says she loves housekeeping. She’d rather put her hand in a blender than make small talk. She was a chief stew for years and wants a break. Let someone else be chief bitch. In his interview, Captain Kerry says, he left working on multimillion dollar yachts to paint houses so he could be there for his kids and get himself better. I’m guessing he went back to those multimillion dollar yachts when those same kids needed to go to multimillion dollar college. In Jared’s interview, he says he has a 3½ year old daughter, but because of the distance, he only gets to do video calls. Cat places her amethyst (I think) rock on a shelf near her bunk and says, now she can feel rested. It’s early to bed for the crew.

In the morning, Fraser meets with the stews. He says, Barbie will be on service, Cat will be on the late shift, and Xandi will be on housekeeping and laundry. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he can’t run the boat by himself. A good crew can make a bad captain look good, and a bad crew can make a good captain look bad. The guests arrive to background music that does not fit with them at all. Think middle-aged Florida tourists being accompanied by rap music. The captain welcomes them aboard the St. David, and in his interview, he says, Grenada is stunning, but challenging. The winds are terrible. As they leave the marina, Jared seems to have difficulty telling Captain Kerry how much room he has. In Jared’s interview, he says he works in feet and needs to transfer it to meters. Doing multiplication on the fly with stress could make this go tits up. Moving right along, Jared follows his feet/meters bumbling with not being sure of how much chain to let out while anchoring. Then blames Ben for not telling him. Not a good look. In the captain’s interview, he says, the anchor can be dislodged if there’s too much chain let out.

In Anthony’s interview, he says, first lunch, first impression. It has to be amazing. We are more than chefs; we are artists. M-m-m… Asian fusion… Bao buns…. In Fraser’s interview, he says, there’s a lot of sexual energy with the guests. He thinks he’ll have a good time, but not as good as the guests will have with each other. Ben thanks Jared for throwing him under the bus, and in Ben’s interview, he says, if there’s any question, Jared should check in with the bridge. He’s giving Jared the benefit of the doubt. It’s charter one and they need to get the cobwebs out. M-m-m… lobster pad Thai. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he’s impressed with Anthony’s cooking, but the galley looks like a bomb has gone off. He thinks Anthony will perfect that, but if not, they’re f***ed. The guests jump off the boat and lounge on the swim platform, while Captain Kerry checks out the interior of the yacht, which he seems to do constantly. He tells the stews to make paper folds on the toilet paper, but everything else is fantastic. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Cat is slow and it’s annoying, and in Cat’s interview, she says she’s helping everybody. Fraser finds Cat in the crew mess crying.

Cat whimpers that it’s a big boat and a big crew, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, they need thicker skin. Cat says she doesn’t want her work to go unnoticed, and Fraser hugs her. On his way up the stairs, he mumbles that she’s not going to last. In Sunny’s interview, she says, she’s all here for learning, but it’s hard because of Ben being eye candy. In Anthony’s interview, he says he took so much time prepping, he has two hours to make four courses. In Barbie’s interview, she says she suffers from OCD, and tried everything. Crystals and sage do the trick. Ben says, day one is not off to a good start. Jared is nervous and Ben thinks it’s because he’s been out of the game. He forgot what big boats were like. He’s got to perform, or he’ll find himself on the dock. He feels dumber already when he’s around Jared.

Anthony is running late on three courses and dessert. In his interview, he says, perfection is important. Like with a woman, he needs to take time if he wants to make them happy. It’s slow going with the entrée, and primary Rebecca asks Fraser to speed it up. Fraser asks Anthony to get the entrée out as soon as possible, and Anthony says he’ll do his best. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, the key to management is mutual respect. He doesn’t want to micromanage, but the bosun has made a few mistakes and the chef is behind. He’s getting to know everyone, but the jury is out. If they can’t do the job, he’ll change them out. Man, it’s a mess.

This season, meditation; angst in the crew; food porn; waterfalls; a guest wants their plate set down more quietly; a disgusting hot tub; Fraser gives someone a New Year’s kiss; a murder mystery party; Fraser tells Ben not to get involved in interior drama; and Captain Kerry says, it was a total disregard for his authority.

🤷🏽‍♀️ So far, eh.

🛟 Meet the Crew…

All the deets, including their star sign.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/below-deck-season-11-meet-the-cast-captain

🏆 Who, What, and WTF…

The winners. Taylor Swift and Taylor Swift.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2024-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list

Best and worst moments.

https://people.com/2024-grammys-best-moments-8558642

https://ew.com/grammys-2024-best-and-worst-moments-8558533

Most important, the fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/36824/grammys-2024-celebrity-red-carpet-fashion

After the show is over and before Denny’s.

https://pagesix.com/2024/02/05/style/grammys-2024-afterparty-outfits-megan-fox-paris-jackson-and-more

And the worst dressed. Wow. There are some real head shakers here. My jury is out on Chrissy Teigen though. In the video, it actually looks kind of cute.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13044865/Grammys-2024-WORST-dressed-stars-revealed.html

🍕 Pizza My Heart…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the seemingly endless, awful season of RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay never pretending to be someone you are not, and stay realizing the importance of letting go of something when it’s just not working anymore.