Tag Archives: Bravo

July 19, 2021 – Spencer Makes a Slip, Roy Jr. Makes a Conscious Choice & Friend

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny tells Nina that he hates to bother her when she’s busy. He didn’t really want to make this call. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, they need her; Lenny, Phyllis, and him. Is there any way she can come home? She says she doesn’t understand. What’s going on? He says he promised Lenny back in Nixon Falls that he woudn’t say anything, and she says, back in Nixon Falls? Where are they? He says, they’re all in New York, and Nina looks pretty startled.

At Ryan’s Pub, Valentin says, if they’re waiting in an Irish pub, he’s not drinking domestic beer, and puts a glass in front of Anna. She says, is it warm? and he takes a sip, and says, oh yeah. She asks if he couldn’t get anything else from the bartender. He tells her, if the nurse at New York Methodist is right, the Medivac pilot is a regular here. She says, when he gets there… and Valentin says, it’s her show. She says, right now, this could be a way to track Peter down, and find Maxie’s baby.

Brook brings Bailey/Louise into the hospital in a stroller, and tells Deanna that they’re here for Bailey’s check-up. Deanna fusses over the baby, and says she can’t decide who she looks like, Brook or Mr. Cassadine. Brook says, you know babies. One minute they’re a dead ringer for you, and the next, they’re a dead ringer for Winston Churchill. Deanna goes to see if the doctor is in, when Maxie comes out of the elevator. She tells Brook that she hopes everything is okay with Bailey, and Brook says, just a check-up. Maxie lowers her voice, and thanks Brook for arranging this meet-up. Brook says, of course (🍷). It’s Maxie’s last chance to see the baby before she leaves, and with Monica working from home today, it’s her best shot. Maxie says, the last thing she needs is another conversation with Monica about her fixation on Brook’s baby. Austin says, as I live and breathe. He asks what the two of them are up to.

At the pool, Trina looks at her phone, and Josslyn asks if it’s her mystery man. Trina says she doesn’t know why she gave him her number. She guesses she felt sorry for him. Josslyn asks what he did to deserve Trina’s pity, and Trina says, it’s not pity. Victor grew up without a mom. There’s something lost and lonely about him. Josslyn says Trina likes him, and Trina says, the same way she likes stray puppies.

At the MetroCourt, Nikolas says, that’s what’s happening at Cassadine Industries, and asks if Spencer is sure he’s not bored. Spencer says he finds it fascinating, and especially likes seeing Nikolas back in charge. Nikolas says he’s flattered, but shouldn’t Spencer be spending time with friends? Spencer says he plans to, but right now this is the only place he wants to be, and Nikolas says he feels the same way. Spencer says, even if that means Nikolas’s wife isn’t part of it? and Nikolas sees Ava come out of the elevator.

Nina asks, where in New York? and Sonny says, somewhere in Manhattan; New York Methodist Hospital. Lenny is sick. She asks, how sick? and he says, it’s bad. Lenny doesn’t have much time. Lenny needs her. He needs her.

Brook asks how what they’re doing is any of Austin’s business, and he says he just figured… She says, he just figured because he claims to be her family – which, by the way, they’ve heard a thousand times before – somehow her business is his business? He says, really, and she says, she and Maxie were just talking. So he can run along. Shoo. He gives Maxie a little wave, and asks, how’s his former patient? Deanna tells Brook that the doctor is ready to see Bailey, and Brook follows her, telling Austin, private family business. Maxie says he and Brook are related? How did she miss that? He doesn’t know where to begin, and she says, maybe with why he left his cozy country practice, and chose to be on the staff there. He says, she of all people should know how quickly life can change.

Josslyn asks Trina to tell her more about Victor, and Trina says, he’s excessively fond of the park. Tell her what she missed on the 4th after she took off. Josslyn says Trina is deflecting, and Trina says she’s glad Josslyn caught that. Did she and Cameron do anything else besides stay and watch the fireworks? Josslyn flashes back to their kiss, and says, actually, she’s been waiting for the right moment to tell Trina. Trina says, tell her what? when Cameron walks in. Trina waves, and tells Josslyn, please, no. Josslyn says, please no, what? and Trina says, please, no Josslyn and Cameron. Don’t tell her they’re at it again.

Nikolas asks if Ava wants to sit down, but she says she doesn’t want to intrude. Besides, they said everything there was to say at Windymere. He says, that’s not quite true. He has something to tell her that’s going to affect them and their future.

Sonny tells Nina, they came for a second opinion on Lenny’s heart, but instead they found a tumor. Nina says she wishes she’d have known. She would have dropped everything to be there. He says that’s why Lenny didn’t want him to tell her. He didn’t want to interrupt her time with her grandson. She says, as it happens, she’s with him right now, and his mother, and Sonny says he’ll let her go, but she says Willow is helping Wiley get ready. She has time to talk. He says there’s one thing he needs to ask her that he hates to ask, and he knows Lenny would hate for him to ask. She says he doesn’t need to ask. Cancer treatments cost a fortune. She would love to help.

Anna says, if David Hopkins makes a move or goes for the exit… and Valentin says, David will have to get past him. She makes a calm down gesture, and says, here we go. David walks in and goes to the bar. The bartender pours him a shot, and Anna walks up, looking at her phone. She says she has no bars, and asks if he has service. He says, let him take a shot. She’s from London. She says, oh wow. He’s good… for an American.

Maxie says she’s surprised to hear Austin moved to Port Charles. He seemed so at home in Pawtuck, where he delivered her baby in the woods. She thanks him again, and he says, right time, right place. He wishes he could have stopped whoever took her baby. Any word? She says, not yet, but they were talking about him. How is he related to Brook? He says Brook is his cousin, and Maxie says, that makes him a Quartermaine. He says, guilty as charged, but she tells him, the first thing to know about that family. Never admit guilt, as long as you already know you’re getting away with it. He says, getting away with what? and she says, doesn’t matter. Getting back to how he’s related to Brook… He tells her that his full name is Austin Gatlin Holt, and she says, that makes his father Jimmy Lee, one of Edwards illegitimate children. He asks how she knows that, and she says, it’s all in Lucy Coe’s book, The Travel Guide to Port Charles. He laughs, and says, that’s a thing? and she says he can buy it online, and it’s also in Edward’s unauthorized biography. How are his parents? He says, his father died 6 months ago, and she says she’s so sorry. So that’s why he’s there? To connect with family? He says he is. Did she think it was for some other reason?

Cameron asks if he’s butting into girl talk, and Josslyn says, they were just talking about the 4th of July. He says, best day ever, and Trina says, really? Not birthdays or Christmas? Cameron says, what about them?

Nikolas asks if Spencer can give them a moment, and Spencer says, gladly. He starts to get up, but Nikolas says, stay put; he won’t be long. He steps away with Ava, and tells her that he spoke with Martin, who suggested a no-fault divorce. She asks what they have to do, and he says, both parties have to agree the marriage has broken down irrevocably for at least six months. She asks if he agrees to that, and he says, if that’s what she wants. It will take at least six weeks to finalize; it was the swiftest option they had. She says, the stalker could do a lot of damage in six weeks, and he says he’ll make sure a bodyguard is ever-present, and out of sight, just like he is today. She asks, what about Avery? and he says, Avery is safe with Carly. She says, for another six weeks… Okay, a no-fault divorce it is. And the sooner their lawyers get started on it, the better for everyone.

Phyllis remembers when Lenny’s fishing line got tangled, and he got so mad. He says he lost the flathead he’d been trying to catch, then he heard her laughing. She says, because it was funny, and he says, not to him it wasn’t. She says she could see that too, and he says he was about to give whoever was laughing what for, then he saw her. She says, and he forgot all about the fish. They laugh, and he says, that’s not the way the story goes. She says, she’d like it to, just once, but he says, it’s not as good a story if he’s not mad at her for rooting for the fish. Why was she rooting for the fish? She says she always roots for the underdog, and he says he was the underdog. That fish had the upper hand, and it didn’t even have hands. She says, when she asked what he was going to do when he caught the fish, he said, bring him in, weigh him, throw him back, and catch him again. That’s when she knew he had respect her for life, and more patience than anyone would guess. He says, don’t tell anybody, and she says his secret is safe with her. She puts her head on his shoulder.

Anna tells David that she’s new in town. The Big Apple. Does anybody call it that anymore? He says, no, and she says she didn’t think so. It’s quite intimidating… unless you have somebody to show you the ropes. He says, you get used to it, and she asks if he’s a newcomer as well. He tells her, you could say that, and she says, something they have in common. What brought him there? A job? A new life? Reinventing himself? He says, trying to forget, and she says, a woman? He says, sort of. His sister is dead. Valentin watches the exchange, and Anna says, she’s sorry. She guesses they have something else in common. Her sister died recently as well. Valentin gives a half-smile.

Sonny thanks Nina, saying he knew she’d want to help, and she says, of course (🍷) she’d want to help, and thanks him for asking her. He says now he just has to convince Lenny and Phyllis to accept the help, and she says, it’s Lenny’s life they’re talking about. She would always help; pride be damned. After the kindness they’ve shown her, she wants to do something in return. He says, they’ll be very happy, eventually, and she says he’ll just have to convince them. He says, after they give him hell for calling her in the first place. She says she can get a ticket to New York tonight, but he says they’re heading home tomorrow. She says, then she’ll see him in Nixon Falls tomorrow. In the meantime, if there’s anything they need, let her know. He says, just her… She knows what he means. She says she knows. She misses him too. Willow comes down with Wiley, and says, somebody can’t wait to hit the water.

Nina says, one second, and Willow tells her to take her time. They’ll be outside. Nina says they don’t have to go; just one second. She tells Sonny that she should run. The man of her dreams just walked in. He says, competition? He knows who would win this round. She says she’ll see him later, and to give Phyllis and Lenny her love. And don’t take no for an answer. He says, done and done. Willow says she’s sorry she interrupted, but Nina says her timing is perfect. She takes Wiley from Willow, and says he’s just the medicine she needs. She’s so glad he’s in her life. Willow asks, what’s wrong? Bad news? Nina says, a friend is sick. Just when she and Wiley are getting to know each other again, she has to leave him.

Maxie tells Austin, good luck with the Quartermaines. She wishes she could be around for the fireworks. He asks if she’s going someplace, and she says, it’s difficult for her to see Brook with her baby. Brook has been nice about it, letting her spend time with Bailey, and they thought it would help, but… He says, every time she sees Bailey, she sees Louise, and she says he has no idea. Brook comes out with Bailey/Louise in the stroller, and Maxie asks, how was the check-up? Brook says her little angel passed with flying colors. She asks if she missed anything, and Austin says, just tragedy. Maxie is leaving just as he’s settling in. He wishes Maxie the best of luck, but she says he’ll need it more than she will. He tells Brook, he’ll see her when he sees her… unless she sees him first. He leaves, and Brook asks what Austin knows. Maxie says, more than she does. Why didn’t Brook tell her that he was her cousin?

Trina says, know what would be totally fun and awesome to do right now? and Cameron says, a dip in the pool? She says, even better. Let’s look at our classes. She pulls out a folder, and Josslyn says, right now? Cameron says, they have all summer, but Trina says, is the pool going anywhere? Cameron says, well, no, and she says, but they are – to PCU. Do they believe they can shop for their classes? Pick whatever you like, then decide whether you want to take it or not? Isn’t it wild? Like this humanities program where they can learn about various countries and cultures. They could use more exposure to other people. Or have they already decided what they want? Cameron looks at Josslyn and says, pretty much, and Josslyn asks him to go get them something at the bar. He leaves, and Trina says, well? Josslyn asks if she remembers when they vowed never to let a boy come between them, and Trina asks, why? Josslyn says she needs Trina to trust her that it’s still true.   

Ava says, Spencer is getting a little antsy, and thanks Nikolas for the update. He can call Scotty with anything further. She starts to leave, but he takes her arm. She says, broken irrevocably, remember? She leaves, and he goes back to the table. Spencer says he’s sorry this is upsetting Nikolas, but maybe it’s better this way. Nikolas asks, how? and Spencer says, Ava isn’t his favorite person, but if someone is trying to freak her out with a cockroach under Plexiglas… Nikolas asks how he knew about that.  

Anna asks what David’s sister’s name is, and he says, Marie. She was his baby sister; just a few years younger than him. She was a beautiful girl; so smart. Too smart for her own good. Anna asks, how so? and he says, she was a risk taker. She could get herself in trouble. This time, she died doing the right thing, trying to save a baby. Anna says, she was a hero then? and he says, the mother was running away with the kid to keep her from her dad. What kind of person does that? Anna says, so she rescued the baby, and gave it to the father? He says, she tried, but never got the chance. She fell, literally, into a hole. What’s it to Anna? Anna says, nothing. She’s just lending an ear. He says, no. Something is going on. He gets up, and asks, who the hell is she?

Sonny knocks at the examining room door, and asks if he can come in. Phyllis says, of course (🍷), and Lenny says, they were wondering where he was. Sonny says he talked to the doctor, and told them to get started while he talked to Lenny. They need to get a jump on fighting this thing. Phyllis thanks him for taking charge… but Lenny says, there’s no way they can afford it. Sonny tells him, don’t worry; we’ve got this. Lenny asks, who’s we? and Phyllis says, he called Nina, didn’t he?

Wiley plays with his trucks very LOUDLY, while Nina tells Willow that it was a friend of hers in Nixon Falls. Not the one she was talking to; another friend was just diagnosed with cancer. If they don’t throw everything at it… Willow says, of course (🍷) Nina wants to go to them. They can change the pool date if she has to go. Nina says they don’t have to move their pool date. She wants to spend as much time possible with Wiley as she can. Mike can take care of their end, and keep her posted. Willow says she likes this Mike person, and Wiley says, this red thing! Willow says, maybe she’ll meet Mike someday, and Wiley says, it’s broken. Nina tells Willow, the only man in her life right now is her grandson.

Josslyn tells Trina, there they were, thinking everything had gone wrong. All the signals they got crossed, or misinterpreted. Then they were… you know… it was.. yeah. Trina tells Josslyn, she has to say, she’s a bit shocked… that it took them so long. Josslyn says, Trina knew? and Trina says she thought they were acting differently at her graduation party, but she didn’t want to say anything. Josslyn says, so Trina’s not mad? Trina asks why she would be mad that her two best friends have wised up that they’re meant to be together? Josslyn says, because for a while… and Trina says, that’s so high school. They’ve matured since then. Before they know it, they’ll be college graduates. Josslyn says, so Trina is genuinely happy for them? and Trina says, she’s happy for Cameron. She feels nothing but pity for Josslyn. Cameron comes back, and says he got them Shirley Temples; they can get sodas anywhere. When they just look at him, he asks if they’re good, and the girls laugh.   

Brook says she didn’t tell Maxie that Austin claimed to be her cousin because she doesn’t know if it’s true. Quartermaines get pretenders all the time. Everyone was all shocked, except Monica, who has ice in her veins. Maxie says, can Monica give her a transfusion? She’s freaking out that Austin will recognize Brook from the woods. He could blow their whole story wide open. Brook says, they’ve been over this. Austin was completely unconscious. And he’s already seen her a quite a few of times and hasn’t connected it. He’s way too busy vindicating his late father to pay attention to anything else. Austin might be a minor problem for the Quartermaines, but not for Maxie and her baby.

Austin sits next to Ava at the bar, and she says, hi, Austin. He says, she remembers him. That’s a good sign. She says, when they met, she may have been… spirited, but not unconscious. It’s nice to see him. He says, likewise. He’s glad it’s not an unhappy reunion. He sees her husband is there, and asks if they’re still doing that thing. She says, what thing exactly? and he says, where they’re trying to prove they’ve grown apart by showing up at the same time in the same place. How’s that working for her?

Nikolas tells Spencer, stop trying to change the subject. How did he know about the cockroach when he was half a world away? Spencer says, it happened in a restaurant, and a customer posted it online. People freaked out, it blew up on social media, and he saw it. Nikolas asks if he can see it, and Spencer says he could have at the time, but he thinks someone from the PC Grill contacted the poster and had it wiped, because it’s not there anymore. Nikolas says, is that right? and Spencer says he’s kind of glad. It was disgusting. He woudn’t wish it on his worst enemy, even Ava. Nikolas tunes out, looking at Ava talking to Austin, and Nikolas snaps his fingers. Nikolas says he doesn’t know what Spencer means, but Spencer thinks he clearly does. Maybe it’s time to turn the page. It certainly looks like Ava has.  

Anna tells David that she’s just pointing out they both had recent losses, and he asks why she’s so interested in his sister. What the hell is this? Valentin grabs David, and slams him against the bar, pinning his arm behind his back. Valentin says, move, and he’ll break David’s wrist, and the bartender runs over, and Valentin tells him, go clean some glasses. He backs off, and Valentin tells David, apologize to the lady flyboy. David says he’s sorry, and Valentin asks if he’s going to talk. David asks what they want to know, and Anna says they want to know about the baby his sister helped kidnap, and the father, Peter August.

Brook and Maxie go into an examining room, and Brook tells Maxie to say goodbye to her baby before someone sees and the gossip gets to Monica. Maxie says she thought Brook lived for gossip, but Brook says, about other people. Start talking. Maxie tells Louise/Bailey that she knows Louise won’t remember this, but she will. She’ll remember Louise’s sweet little face, her tiny little fingers, and her brand new baby smell. She’ll remember, and take it to Texas with her. They say things are bigger in Texas, and she’ll miss Louise that much more, love her that much more, and be her mommy that much more. Brook says she hates to do this, and Maxie says she knows; time’s up. But she won’t say goodbye. She can’t say goodbye.

Ava apologizes, and Austin asks, why? She says she’s mortified, but he says, don’t be; it was fun. He’s from a small town. It’s quiet, and not much happens there. To be part of a public matrimonial drama, he’s in the deep end. She says, he’s off the deep end, and he laughs. He asks how are things with Ava and her husband? and she says they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s sorry to hear that, but some differences are irrevocable. She says, it’s a matter of life and death.

Spencer tells Nikolas, it seems like his wife found a friend. Nikolas says, the last time she saw Austin… and Spencer says, it’s not the first time? Interesting. Nikolas tells him, don’t, and Spencer says, don’t what? State the obvious? Nikolas says, don’t try to stir things up, and Spencer says, it’s an old habit. Speaking of which, Nikolas should kick this one. Nikolas says, Ava isn’t a habit. She’s the woman he loves. Spencer says, she’s awfully interested in that guy at the bar, but Nikolas says, they’re just talking; it’s no big deal. Spencer says he’s taking off since Nikolas is preoccupied. Nikolas says he’s sorry, and Spencer says he really does have somewhere to be. They hug, and Spencer says he can’t help wondering if Ava having and company are have a real conversation, maybe it’s a bigger deal than Nikolas thinks. He leaves, and Nikolas looks at Ava and Austin.

Cameron says, Josslyn told Trina? but Josslyn says, she already knew. Apparently, they were the only ones who didn’t. Trina tells him, don’t think this changes anything. Sisters before misters. He asks he gets that, and asks if the same rule applies to Trina’s imaginary friend, and Trina says, he’s not imaginary. Cameron asks why they’ve never seen his Instagram or any photos, and she says, some people don’t have a social media presence. And right now, she doesn’t blame him. She tells them that she left her cover-up in the changing room, and leaves. Cameron says he was just joking. He put his foot in it again. Josslyn says, so what else is new? and he says, them. She says she guesses they are.

Willow promises to send lots of pictures, so next time Nina won’t be surprised at how much Wiley has grown. Nina says she’ll hold Willow to that. She hopes by next time, Chase is on his feet. Willow says, they all want that, and Nina says, maybe they’re thinking about a little brother or sister for Wiley? If that’s any of her business, and she doesn’t think it is. Willow says, it’s fine. It’s just that they haven’t really thought about that yet. Nina says, Chase will probably be a great dad. Willow is already proved that she’s a great mother. She hopes Willow gets exactly what she wants; fingers crossed. Willow says, you never know. If Nina and Carly can start to get along, anything is possible. Nina flashes back to Sonny kissing her, and Willow asks if she said something wrong.

Sonny tells Lenny and Phyllis, he’s sorry. He broke his promise, and reached out. Nina is coming back to Nixon Falls. Lenny says he wishes to hell that Mike/Sonny hadn’t done that. This disease has cost them enough. Now it will cost Nina precious time with her grandson. Phyllis says, Nina can make her own decisions. Since they’re being open and honest, she’s glad Mike/Sonny called. She knows, as much as Nina wants to be with her grandson, they need all the love they can get now. Sonny says, Nina is offering more than love, but Lenny says, no way. He won’t take a dime. Sonny says, it’s not about keeping the Tan-O afloat or paying the utilities. This is Lenny’s life, and it’s more important that his pride or bank account. Lenny says he doesn’t want to be indebted to anyone, but Sonny says he and Nina owe them. They love Lenny and Phyllis, and they’ve given him and Nina so much. Let them repay their debt. They’ll fight this cancer together. Got it?

David swears he doesn’t know where the baby is. It was his job to pick up the father. Anna says, Peter? and he says, yeah. He was supposed to fly Peter to the rendezvous point, along with his sister, the baby, and her mother. She asks, where? but he says he didn’t know. She says, so he was hired to pick up Peter on the roof of GH. Where did David take him? David says, he didn’t.   

Austin says, and Ava feels like the stalker is forcing her toward divorce? and Ava says, yes. But they do what they must for their children, right? In her case, it means handing her daughter to Carly Corinthos. Austin says he just met Carly; she seems nice. Is she Ava’s friend? Ava says, no. Carly was married to her daughter’s father. If she’s being honest, her daughter is happy and safe there. Austin says, it’s awful, parents being separated from a child, and she says, it is indeed. He says he doesn’t know firsthand, but was thinking about Maxie and her baby. Ava says, that’s not the same thing at all, and Nikolas starts to walk toward the bar, but Martin calls. Nikolas says he told Ava. She said, a lot could happen in six weeks… No. He’s not holding out hope Ava will change her mind, but he’s hoping the stalker will slip up. Then they can bring him to justice of the Cassadine variety.

Josslyn and Cameron hold hands as they sun themselves. Cameron asks if Josslyn would like more sunblock, and she says, yes. She can feel herself roasting. He puts some on her back, and a voice says, watch your hands, townie. They look up, and see Spencer.  

Maxie calls Bailey/Louise a little superhero. Her identity is a secret to the world, and to her. She’s Bailey Quartermaine now, but here and here – she points to their hearts – she will always be her Louise. Brook says she wants Maxie to know that she promises Louise will always be cared for and loved. Maxie says she knows. If she had any doubts, she woudn’t be able to do this. She leaves.

Nina tells Willow that she already misses Wiley, and Willow suggests breakfast if Nina isn’t leaving too early. Nina says she’s leaving first thing, so why not make the most out of today? She tells Wiley, come here, handsome. She lifts Wiley up, and says, let’s go. Wave to mommy. She thanks Willow, who says she’ll see them later. Have fun. Nina leaves with Wiley.  

The nurse comes to the examining room, and tells Lenny that the doctor is ready to discuss treatment options. Lenny says, it looks like he’s outnumbered. Let’s do this. He goes with her, and Sonny tells Phyllis, one day at a time. Is he right? She says she knows. It’s just that some days are harder than others. They hug, and he says he hates that. There’s never enough time.

Valentin lets David go, and Anna says, David told them that Peter hired him to take him off the roof at General Hospital, and David says, that was the plan. He couldn’t get the chopper close enough, so he had to abort. Anna wonders, if David didn’t airlift Peter out, how did he escape?

Tomorrow, Alexis thinks something might be unavoidable for her and Shawn, Cameron asks how long Spencer is in town, Trina says Victor/Spencer is full of surprises, and Anna asks if David can describe the other person on the roof.  

Below Deck Mediterranean

Sibenik, Croatia. Mathew tells Lexi not to speak to him, and Courtney says, Americans are so dramatic. Mathew says they’re going to hate each other this charter, and in Lexi’s interview, she says she thinks Mathew is a poke the bear person, and doesn’t know how to chill. Katie says she hates the hierarchy on boats. She doesn’t like people who take the piss out of it. She tells the others that she never wanted to be a chief stew because of the persona. You’re going to be thought of as a bitch. David says, that’s because so many chief stews are effing bitches. Courtney asks who wants to go for a ciggy break, and Zee and Mathew go with her. Malia says she’s not sure who Mathew is going to murder, and Lexi says it will probably be her first. All of his lightbulbs are dim. Courtney dances around, and sits on Zee’s lap. In Zee’s interview, he says, happy birthday, Zee. Katie says she was a cradle snatcher once. It was a vibe thing. Malia asks about Lloyd’s goose tattoo, and in Lloyd’s interview, he says he and his best mate had an obsession with geese, and both got tattoos. They worked around Europe together, and referred to a night out as, the goose gets loose. A dance party in the master cabin is called for, and they head back.

In Katie’s interview, she wants to mix it up, so the master cabin it is. She’ll be the one cleaning it. She warns everyone, if they spill something, she’ll kill them. Everyone dances around, and in Courtney’s interview, she explains she’s learned twerking from YouTube videos. Because it’s cool. She dances around Zee, and the cake is brought in. David tries to feed a piece to Malia, and in his interview, he says she’s his boss. If it doesn’t work out, he’s left with an awkward situation, but if you don’t go, you never know. Lexi goes back to her cabin, changes clothes, and calls… her mom. The last person I would call if I was drunk. Lloyd twerks. Sort of. Courtney gets all on top of Zee on the bed, then kisses him. Katie says, whoa. Things have really escalated. In Malia’s interview, she says, night out number one.

In Zee’s interview, he says he wasn’t expecting that kiss. Drunk Zee is rowdy. Courtney tells Katie that she’s an amazing chief stew. The crew staggers back to their cabins. We hear Lexi’s mom say, put down the alcohol, and Lexi says, I haven’t drunken anything… else. She wonders if drunken is a word. She tells Malia that her mom is old school, and Malia says her mom was strict. Lexi says her mother is holding on to her because of her dad. She has to keep control. Lexi feels unstable, and Malia asks if she’s okay. Lexi says she’s fine, and Malia says she’s sorry about Lexi’s dad. He’s watching her. He’s her biggest fan. Lexi says, he was, and Malia says, dads always are.

Six hours before charter. Zee says he’s effing hung over, and Malia says she’s dying. She radios for the deckhands to meet on the main deck aft. She tells them to pay attention to the windows of the master and the bridge. In David’s interview, he says he wants to be helpful, but not overly helpful. Courtney doesn’t remember the evening, and asks Zee how he’s feeling. He says, a little bit of demons. Courtney is surprised she kissed Zee, and in her interview, a producer tells her, more than once. She says, nooo. Malia asks if Zee is in love, and he says, love at first night. She tells him boat romances are dangerous. Mathew shoves food in his mouth while standing in front of the refrigerator. As we’ve all done, but most of our refrigerators aren’t as big as an NYC apartment.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting. Roy Orbison Jr. and wife Asa are the primaries, along with their two kids, a friend, and  their nanny. Mathew says he’s a big fan of Roy Orbison. The captain says, they want non-alcoholic beer and champagne so non-drinkers can be part of the fun. Malia reads that they want to use the jet skis and water toys for the boys. Captain Sandy says, it’s a short charter, so they want to make every moment count. In her interview, the captain says a short charter is usually jam packed, and the crew need to be on their toes. Katie calls for supplies, and in Zee’s interview, he says he’s not bringing it up if Courtney doesn’t. Katie requests musicians, and provisions come in. Lexi tells Matt that he needs to be outside, so they know where everything goes, and he says she’s argumentative about nothing. In Lexi’s interview, she says she has a list of things that bother her, and Mathew is going to be at the top. She mumbles that she’s going to be in an effing European jail.

It’s 36 minutes to charter, and Courtney says he never has the time to make herself look nice. The captain radios for everyone to get in their whites, and meet in 30 minutes. Katie tells Lexi and Courtney that she and Courtney will do dinner, and Lexi can do lunch. In Lexi’s interview, she says she doesn’t mind giving someone a break, and it’s good to give them experience, but the 3rd stew is usually the laundry bitch. Katie says it will be the same as last time. She’ll do the tour while they do the drinks. The crew greets the guests, and Captain Sandy says, welcome back. Katie will show them around, and they’ll get underway to their first anchorage. The primary cabin is gorgeous, and I could see spending an entire cruise in there. It’s also lined with windows. The kids are brought to the bridge, and Roy Orbison III asks the captain, how do you beep-beep? She lets him blast the horn. In Zee’s interview, he says he feels like a bit of a burden. The rest of the crew has more experience, but if he doesn’t ask, he won’t be where he needs to be. He thinks Malia understands. One of the kids yells, the party starts now.

Courtney wonders, if she was a crib, how would she be put together? In her interview, she says she should be able to do this. Help me. She radios for help, and Zee is on it. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he loves learning on the job. He’s had determination his whole life. He played tennis when he younger, giving up weekends and evenings, and training on the Wimbledon courts. But he gave up because he wanted to be a kid. Zee and David help Courtney assemble the crib, and Courtney says Zee is a real life daddy, since there’s been a running thing with her calling guys daddy. Guest Roy says he’s feeling it already, and I don’t think anyone is drinking the non-alcoholic stuff. In Mathew’s interview, he says he wants to make up for how he started. He’s excited to have kids on board. It’s fun energy. The guests eat how he likes to eat, healthy and light. In Katie’s interview, she says she deeply wants kids, and thinks it’s more important than marriage. She loves kids, just not on a yacht.

Malia and David put out the floating platform, and Lloyd says, the slide is every deckhand’s worst friend. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she thinks Mathew’s head is around it now. Maybe he needed to find his feet. She doesn’t know, but whatever he did, she’s happy he’s where he is. She tells Mathew that the kids love the food, and Mathew says, good. When the first meal goes well, it’s incentive to keep going. In his interview, he says he’s in a great mood. Nothing can go wrong, and it’s going to be the best day ever. A fire starts in a pan behind him on the stove.  

In his interview, Mathew says, the zero on the dial has the nine next to it, and he’d meant to flip it on zero. And he had grape seed oil in the pan. It could be worse. He reacts, then panics after. In Courtney’s interview, she says it was nice of Katie to let her do service. She worked in a café when she was 16, and poured boiling water into a customer’s lap. It was lucky they thought it was funny. Captain Sandy says, the wind going to start howling, and talks to Malia and Katie about docking early and at night because of it. Roy goes down the slide, and the guests play on the water toys. Malia puts some gear on one of the kids, and says, he has a life jacket and helmet. Now run free. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, Roy seems like a fun dad. His dad is his best mate. He plays reggae music, and dances. We see a clip of that, and Lloyd says they’re peas in a pod. Mathew tells Lexi, a good first meal is a good start to the trip, and she says he’s boss of the galley. Malia ends up having to watch one of the kids while Asa goes on a jet ski with the nanny. In Malia’s interview, she says, I guess I can watch your child… The captain tells Mathew that his food for the crew is beyond, and he says she’s too kind. She says she’s happy his knee is okay, and he says, him too. We all know what she really means is, thank God he got a grip, and decided to do his job.

Katie explains the change in schedule to Asa, and Roy says he’s trying to be drunken; it’s a conscious choice. He got comfortable on the boat and with the people. They’re great. Lexi is like, oh my God. Malia tells the deckhands the have a musical guest coming in between 6 and 7, and will be doing a nighttime docking. Katie tells Lexi, dinner will be at 9, and says she can set up and then go on laundry. Courtney will do bar. In Lexi’s interview, she whines that she had to learn, but nobody showed her during the charter season. It’s not the right time. The slide comes in, and Mathew makes pizza, which causes the kids to jump up and down. In his interview, Mathew says, it’s so fun cooking for kids. Who doesn’t love pizza and spaghetti? He ordered off the kids menu the last time he was at a resort. It’s hard coordinating the crew meal with a meal that has several courses, but he thrives under pressure. (Really?) if he has too much time to think, he buckles. The deckhands laugh in the crew mess, and in Lloyd’s interview, he says, the last boat he was on, it wasn’t a very nice work environment, and he wasn’t supported. This boat is eye opening. Malia notices Lexi’s burn list, and says, oh my God. Is she on there? Lexi shows it to her, saying that when you win pageants, you meet evil people. In Malia’s interview, she says it makes her want to sleep with one eye open. She says, long burn list, girl. I forgot Lexi was Miss Bahamas. That might explain a lot.

Zee asks David if he has a soft spot for anyone, but David doesn’t want to say, and tells Zee that they might be competing for the same girl. Zee says he has limited options, and David starts to say, superiors are… and David says, behind you. Malia comes on deck, and they all start laughing. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, it was quite embarrassing. Lexi covers the table, and complains that life is so unfair. So wrong. The musicians arrive, and Lexi radios Katie, asking what to do. Katie says, because of social distancing, they can’t come on the boat, so have them stand by until the guests are ready. Lexi says she didn’t know. She’s not Miss Cleo. I dunno. Is it me? Lexi seems like an unpleasant person who whines a lot, and doesn’t understand the boss is the boss.

Lexi tells the musicians, 20 minutes, and Katie gathers up the guests. In Lexi’s interview, she says, managing situations is not Katie’s strong suit. She doesn’t like not knowing what she’s doing. She can do nothing but have an awkward stare-off. Hmm… So does she need to be trained on the job? The kids are given flags and come kind of national hats, and the band starts to play. Roy says, the magic of Croatia. Mathew works on dinner, and in his interview, he says he’s had so much experience in cooking, but no formal training. The guests have eaten in the best restaurants. He’s never confident that he’s at that standard. Well, at least one of them is so drunk, it won’t matter.

The guests get ready for dinner, and Zee visits Courtney in the laundry. They make small talk and in Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t believe that happened. Zee tells her that if she needs a hand, it’s probably going to be a quiet night. Nanny Rebekah is teased for having a crush on David, and she says, David smells good. Lexi agrees. The kids go to bed, and Katie radios Courtney to help with dinner. In Katie’s interview, she says, every other boat she’s been on has rotated the housekeeping and service in the interior. She was never big on housekeeping, and some other girls might feel the same way. If you have a problem with it, don’t go into yachting. When she first started, she had some basic service training, but laundry can be overwhelming. It can become a sh*t show real quick. Her supervisor left her in the deep end, and it was the best way to learn. It was an amazing foundation that she’s used for every boat she’s worked on. In Lexi’s interview, she says she’s been in yachting for three years, and she’s glad Courtney is learning other things, but she’s not going to say she’s glad to be making the beds. Roy babbles drunkenly, and wants to go in the water. He says something indecipherable, and the others try to get him to ear. Katie asks if Courtney noticed how sh*tfaced he is, and Courtney says, how could she not? In her interview, Katie says she thought they weren’t big drinkers; a family. Clearly she was wrong. Roy yells, it’s happy time! and Asa suggests he go to bed. Oh man. The way he’s looking at her, I can tell he’s at that point where he’s feeling no pain, but doesn’t realize everyone else isn’t on his wavelength. And by the looks on everyone else’s faces, for sure he’s the only one having happy time.

Malia asks why Zee is nervous about the heaving line, and he says he just wants to get it done. Lexi gripes to herself, and Courtney raps in the galley. In Mathew’s interview, he says, Courtney being on service is a refreshing change. He loves her. She brings the best vibes. Captain Sandy says they’re going to anchor in five, and Roy stumbles to the bathroom. Asa says, he’s annoying, and Katie asks Mathew if she can hear Roy in the galley. One of the guests tell Katie that she may want to clean the bathroom, since Roy peed everywhere but the toilet. Katie thanks them for letting her know. Courtney says she’ll go, and in Katie’s interview, she says, poor Courtney. She was on service for a hot minute.  

In Malia’s interview, she says, coming in at night can be tricky because the visibility is limited. Your confidence builds each time you go through one. Captain Sandy tells her that the wind is coming. Roy brings out a tambourine, and walks around the hot tub. The captain says, the current is wicked, and tells Malia to line her up. Zee is petrified. It’s a darker night than he thought it would be. Katie instructs Courtney on plate placement. Roy wonders what if he doesn’t embarrass himself, and just eats and goes to bed? but instead, he asks for more drinks, and talks about jumping off the boat. In David’s interview, he says, the pressure is on everyone with the night docking. Roy is yelling, and practically jumping off the side of the boat, when the same guest who gave Katie the good news about the bathroom, pulls him down. Captain Sandy hears the commotion, and asks, what’s happening? Asa tells Roy, go to bed now, but he continues to carry on. The captain says, WTF?   

Next time, a drunk crew, a nakey David, Malia is impressed, Mathew has a meltdown, Malia tells Mathew to STFU, Mathew packs, Lexi is done being nice, and pushes Zee. Wow.    

🏀 Time To Bounce…

You know it’s bad when you feel like you put in a full week on Monday. Or like it was seven days in one, to those who have stopped using the names of the days. If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow is the finale of The Haves and The Have Nots, which I will sorely miss. Until we bid it adieu tomorrow, stay safe, stay checking rainbows for that pot o’ gold, and stay not calling NYC The Big Apple. Nobody calls it that anymore.

July 16, 2021 – Lenny Gets Bad News, Jimmy Lee, New Songs, Other Gigs, Cameo Tease, Accusations, Crazy Like a Fox, Going Down, Togetherness, Rebuttal, Knot Tied, Update, Nominations, an Interview, an Egg Carton of Quotes & Paradise

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly tells Jason, it’s driving her crazy that Gladys wants them to bring Brando in, but he tells her, forget Gladys. Brando risked his life for them when he went to work for Cyrus. He’s proven he’s loyal, and if this is something he really wants… She says, so he’s okay with bringing Brando in, and he says, Brando is having a kid. The smarter choice is for him to stay away from the business, but he’s capable, he’s loyal, he’s smart. If this is the job he wants, Jason isn’t going to turn him away. Sam walks in, and looks at Carly and Jason.

At the pool, Sasha looks at Brando sunning himself, and starts to walk out. He notices her, and says he was going for a dip in the pool. Would she care to join him? She says she’ll have to pass. She can’t find any lounges to put her stuff on. He tells her to take his. He’s not letting his kid’s mom go without.

Dante tells Rocco, no cannonballs this time, but Rocco isn’t listening. Dante sees Chase on a lounge chair, and says, Chase is a cop. Can he arrest Dante’s kid? Chase says, Dante wants him to arrest his son for doing cannonballs? and Dante says he does. Scare him a little bit. He doesn’t listen to a thing Dante says. Chase says, last he heard, Dante rejoined the force, while he’s on a nice, long paid vacation. Did he bring handcuffs? Dante says, enough with this paid vacation stuff. Get himself back on the force and they can arrest his kid together. Just like old times, eh, partner?

Willow lets Nina into the gatehouse, and Nina says she got a text from Michael saying to pick Wiley up there. Are they upstairs? Willow says, Wiley is napping, and Michael is running late; a meeting with his family. Nina says she heard there was some drama last night at the ELQ Board meeting. Currently, there’s never a dull moment when the Quartermaines get together to talk about business. Willow wonders how old Wiley will be when he joins the fray.

Brook walks in, while Ned is on the phone. He says he looks forward to talking with Pasqual and his team, and Brook says, talking to the ELQ lawyers about Austin? What’d they say? Ned says, they need time to study the matter. Michael sent them the docs supposedly proving that Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son, but they’ll be asking for their own DNA test. Michael says, just to make sure the birth certificate and DNA test Scotty gave them are legitimate. She says it really burns her how great-grandfather cheated on great-grandmother Lila. The woman was a saint. Ned says, grandfather’s indiscretions are beside the point. They have to assume their own DNA test will prove Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son. He may actually be a relative. She says, but does that entitle him to a slice of the Quartermaine pie?

Austin looks at the staff photos on the wall at GH, and focuses on Alan. Monica says, doing his homework? and he says, Alan Quartermaine’s reputation was legendary. Gifted doctor, devoted father, pillar of the community. She says he forgot philanderer and scoundrel. He says he did. She’s his new boss. He’s trying to be polite. She says, or is he just trying to play dumb? Pull one over on her and her family, just like his father did back in the day.

Valentin says he thinks he may know Phyllis, but she says she doesn’t see how. Unless he’s a former patient. In which case, she apologizes for not recognizing him. He says he’s not a former patient, but he thinks his ex-wife may have been – Nina Reeves.

Sonny is about to leave the examining room, just as Anna is passing by. Anna hears the door handle, and stops, but a nurse asks if she can help Anna. Anna says, maybe she can. She’s looking for somebody. Sonny hears her voice.

Phyllis says, and he is? and Valentin says, he’s Valentin Cassadine. He assumes Nina told her about him, and supposes he didn’t come off terribly well. She says she’s sorry, but she can’t discuss her patients, former or current. He tells her that he completely understands, and for what it’s worth (🍷), he deeply regrets all the harm he caused Nina. She’s a very special woman. Phyllis says, yes she is, and she can tell him this much; Nina is doing just fine without him.

Anna tells the nurse that she’s looking for a Medivac pilot. His name is David Hopkins. Sonny listens on the other side of the door. The nurse asks if he was injured, and Anna says, not as far as she knows. The nurse says, then he wouldn’t be in the ER. She’ll take Anna to human resources. Anna leaves with her, and Sonny comes out.

Willow says, Wiley’s schedule is off this morning. He went down late for his nap, and he’s still down for it. Nina says, that’s okay. The Quartermaine pool will still be open. Willow asks if she’d like to reschedule, but Nina says she’d like to wait if it’s okay. She brought some of Wiley’s favorite snacks, and these really cute water wings. She shows Willow, and says, Willow and Michael probably have a ton of them, but they were so cute, she couldn’t resist. Willow tells her, stay, of course (🍷). Wiley will up soon, and he’d be devastated to miss an afternoon with his Grandma Nina.

Ned tells Brook, it’s too early to say whether Austin will end up with a stake in ELQ, and Michael says, it depends on the outcome of his lawsuit contesting great-grandfather’s will. Brook asks how Austin can claim rights to assets that his father never had to begin with, and Michael says, that’s for the lawyers to argue. She says, like Scotty? That’s the guy Austin chooses to go after their money? Let’s face it. Austin isn’t trying to legitimize dear old dad; he’s shaking them down.

Austin says he’s sensing Monica didn’t like his father, and she says, they had their ups and downs. He says, just like her and Alan, and she says, and Edward and Tracy. He asks if there’s a Quartermaine she didn’t have an issue with, and she says, Lila. And Annabelle. He says he doesn’t recall an Annabelle from the family tree, and Monica says, she was the family dog. He says, and a dog will never disappoint you, and Monica says, she got knocked up by a mutt way beneath her station. He says Monica doesn’t like the strays, but if she gives him a chance, he’ll try not to dig up the rose garden.

Dante asks Chase how’s newlywed life, but Chase says, married life still hasn’t begun. He can’t walk. Despite physical therapy, this is his great success. He wiggles a few toes, and Dante says, that’s great success. Chase asks when Dante became such a ray of sunshine, and Dante says since he decided he needed his partner back to stop him from doing questionable things. Chase says, like…? and Dante thinks back to kissing Sam. He says, never mind.

Sam goes to the MetroCourt restaurant, and Carly says, it’s been a while. Does she want a table or is she sittting at the bar? Sam says she’s meeting Maxie. She sees Carly’s ring, and says, nice rock. She asks if she can talk to Jason for a minute, and Carly says she’ll tell Maxie that Sam is there. Carly tells Maxie, Sam’s here, and Maxie looks over at Sam and Jason. She says, this should be interesting. Sam tells Jason, you and Carly, it’s finally happening. He’s sorry she didn’t hear it from him first, and she says, it’s not his fault. They keep missing each other. He asks if she told Danny, and she says she’s going to leave that one up to him. He thanks her, and she says she wouldn’t know the first thing to say to Danny because she doesn’t know the first thing about his engagement.

Brando brings Sasha a pillow, and asks if it’s too much sun. Does she want anything from the bar? She says she’s good, and thanks him. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, no… yeah… no… yes. He doesn’t want to invade her space, but he hasn’t seen a lot of her lately. She says she’s been busy, and it’s not like she’s seen a lot of him either. He says she didn’t tell him about her last check-up, but maybe she wanted him to stay away.

Chase says Dante just came back to the PCPD, and he’s already racking up demerits? Dante says, no, not him, and Chase asks, what’s going on? Is this even about work? Dante says, it’s about a woman.

Sam asks when Jason and Carly even decided they wanted to marry each other, and he says she knows Carly’s his best friend. She says, and he was able to express his feelings after Sonny died? He says they both know what it was like losing Sonny, and both have an empty space in their lives. She says, a shared loss, and he says, yeah. She says, and nothing else, and he says, they understand each other. They know what they’re getting into. She says she knows all about that. She’s always known where he and Carly stood with each other. First in line, ahead of everybody else. She walks away.

Carly tells Maxie that she’s not worried, and sits down. Maxie says, good. Then congratulations on her engagement. She knows Carly and Jason will make each other very happy. They’ve been friends for a long time, which is why she’s not too surprised. Carly thanks her, but says she really wanted to talk about Maxie. She’s not sure if Maxie is aware, but when Michael was a baby, he was kidnapped. Maxie says she knows; by her Uncle Tony. She knows the family lore. Carly says, the point being, she kind of knows what Maxie is going through, so if she needs a shoulder to cry on, Carly’s are available. She knows the police and the FBI are searching for Peter, but if there’s anything she and Jason can do, please let her know. Maxie thanks her, and Sam joins them, saying, sorry to keep Maxie waiting. She asks if she can speak with Carly for a second, and Carly says, of course (🍷). They step aside, and Sam takes Carly’s hands. She says she knows Carly and Jason wouldn’t have gotten engaged if there weren’t some sort of good reason, or if she hadn’t lost Sonny. So if there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Carly says, yeah, and Sam goes back to the table.

Nina says it’s sweet of Willow to say she made an impact on Wiley’s life, but she’s been away for so long, he’s had to get used to her all over again. Willow tells her not to sell herself short. Wiley knows when the people around him love him. He’s crazy about her. Nina says she was worried when she came back to Port Charles, that Wiley would run screaming from this stranger, but Willow says, that wasn’t going to happen. She picks up a digital photo album, and says, it was important that Wiley know who both of his grandmas are. Nina sees photo of Carly, then herself, and Willow says, she and Michael call this Wiley’s family. They tell Wiley about her all the time. Because Nina is his family.

Phyllis tells Valentin that Nina is staying with her and her husband in Nixon Falls. He says, that’s where Nina went when she was told she couldn’t see her grandson, and Phyllis says, Wiley. He thanks her for helping Nina, and she says, it wasn’t only her and Lenny. Mike had a lot to do with it as well. He says, Mike?

Sonny ponders the cap some more, when Lenny walks in with the doctor. Sonny asks if Lenny is done with the tests, and says he’ll get Phyllis. Lenny says, don’t, and Sonny asks, why? Lenny hesitates, and Sonny says, it’s bad, isn’t it?

Brook asks what they think; hold their noses and buy this guy off? Ned says, Austin is in this for his father, the late, not so great, Jimmy Lee Holt, and Brook asks if Ned ever met him. What was this guy like? Ned says he’s only heard stories, but what he does know for sure is, when Jimmy Lee left Port Charles for Pawtuck, grandfather washed his hands of him. Which is why when he wrote his will, he specifically said, Jimmy Lee and his heirs get nothing. Brook says, so if they give Austin some stock, they’re literally violating great-grandfather’s final wish, and Ned says, yes. Michael says, so they can’t buy him off, they can’t let him retain any stock… They’ve got to win him over.

Monica tells Austin that she was sorry to hear about Jimmy Lee’s passing. May she ask how? He says, in the end, it was the COPD. Not a pleasant ending he’s afraid. She says, no it wouldn’t be, and he says, there was nothing he could do to help ease his father’s passing. He could barely talk, but it didn’t stop him from asking about Edward. Monica says, after all these years. She hadn’t realized how much Jimmy Lee’s estrangement from Edward weighed on him. Austin says, he was on his deathbed, wondering how he had offended his father, begging for a chance to know how to make it right. She says, so now Austin wants to make it up to Jimmy Lee by getting a seat at the ELQ table that was denied him, right? He says, like it or not, he’s family, and he’s not going to let her, or any of the other Quartermaines, tell him otherwise.

Sasha asks why Brando thinks she doesn’t want him around, and he says, she’s busy with Deception… He pulls a chair up and sits down, saying, and then there’s his mom. Sasha asks, how is his roomie? and he says, full of unwanted advice. She asks if Gladys is the one who told him that she doesn’t want him in the baby’s life, and he asks if his mom is right. She says she wishes Gladys hadn’t said that to him, and he says he wishes he could feel better about her answer, but his mom isn’t entirely wrong, is she?

Jason asks Carly what Sam said, and Carly says, they have her support. It’s better than being damned to hell. She imagines Sam’s not too excited about their engagement. He says, Sam hasn’t told Danny. She figured he should be the one to explain. Carly asks what he’s going to say, and he says he’s going to tell Danny that they’re doing what they think is right, and that he loves Danny, and nothing is going to change. He’ll always be Danny’s father. She says, sounds good to her, and he asks her to tell him again exactly what happened with Joey Novak. She says, okay, but she doesn’t understand. She thought he said he wasn’t worried. He says, he’s not, but this guy could do something stupid; something that requires a response. She says, whatever Jason did hurt Joey’s pride, because he got up in her face and said, tell your fiancé he isn’t as secure as he thinks he is. He asks what she said, and she says she told Joey to say it to Jason’s face. Then she went to text him, but Brando stepped in, and Brando really knows what he’s doing. He says, maybe Brando saw her and thought she was going to throw down with Joey, and stepped in to do a good deed. She says, and if she would have thrown down? He says he would have backed her, but he’s glad it didn’t get that far. She says, her too, and he says he has to go see Monica. He’ll see Carly back at the house. He kisses her cheek, and she makes a soap face I can’t decipher. Maybe confused is the closest description.

Sonny asks how soon Lenny starts treatment, and the doctor says she’ll set up a series of appointments for him. She asks if Lenny has any questions, but Lenny says, not at the moment. She says she’ll give them some privacy, and leaves. Sonny says he’s going to get Phyllis, but Lenny says, she’s talking to some stranger. Let’s leave her be. Sonny says, Phyllis has to know, and Lenny says, she will, but she came here looking for hope. Let her hang on to that hope for another minute before he takes it away from her.

Phyllis tells Valentin, Mike works for her and Lenny in Nixon Falls. They own a bar called the Tan-O. Valentin says, and this Mike was helpful to Nina, was he? and Phyllis says, extremely. Anna returns, and asks if she’s interrupting, but Phyllis says, it’s perfectly all right. She has to check on her husband. Valentin says it was nice to meet her, and she says, him as well, and leaves. Anna asks, who was that? and he says, a friend of Nina’s. She says, small world, and he says, isn’t it? He asks where she’s been; he was worried about her. She says she has a lead on the pilot.

Dante tells Rocco, fifteen minutes, and sits back down next to Chase. He sees two umbrella drinks, blue in color, and asks, what the hell is that? Chase hands Dante one, and says, one sip of this baby, and he’ll be singing the name of the girl of his dreams. Dante says he’s still not going to talk, and Chase says, Dante is a cop; he knows how this goes. The harder a witness tries not to give a straight answer, the more they have to hide.

Maxie asks if everything is okay with Jason, and Sam asks if Maxie means how she feels about him marrying Carly. Maxie says she did hear Sam torched some of his belongings, and Sam says, wow, word gets around fast. Actually, she’s fine. It makes sense for Jason and Carly to get married. Maxie asks if Sam has been seeing Doc, and Sam says she doesn’t need a shrink. Really. She’s at peace with it. But it didn’t hurt to burn some of the mementos of the bad old days. Maxie says if it were her, the only way she’d feel peaceful about it is if she had someone to go home to, and Sam flashes back to Dante kissing her. She says, that wouldn’t help as much as she thinks, and Maxie asks why she’d say that. Does she have a man?

Brando says he and Sasha were doing so well when she shared their baby’s ultrasound with him. Then she went radio silent. He can’t help but wonder was it something he said or did? She says he’s been nothing but thoughtful and dependable, and he asks her not to give him that whole it’s not you it’s me speech. She says, okay, she won’t. Because it is him. He says he wasn’t expecting that, and she says, he’s exactly the kind of man she’d want to raise a child with. But if her choice is to raise this baby by herself, or to raise it with a man who’s working for the Corinthos family mob, or any mob, there is no choice.

Nina says, Willow has a picture of her and Wiley, and Willow says, she and Michael are always looking at the family album with Wiley and talking to him about his family. They want to make sure their son has relationships with everyone, even those he doesn’t see very often. Nina says, that’s really wonderful. Still, Wiley must wonder why his grandma Nina was away so long. Willow says, Wiley was at the playground a couple months ago. He fell and scraped his knee, and had to take it easy for a while. She told him that his Grandma Nina had a boo-boo of her own, and that’s why she had to go away. She had to take it easy too. Nina says, and if Wiley asks if she’s all better? and Willow asks what she’ll say. Nina tells Willow that she’ll say that she is. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Carly, who says, Michael asked her to come by, but she wanted to see her grandson first. She realizes Nina is there.

Michael says, the closer Austin gets to them, the less likely he’ll wage war. Ned says, a charm offensive, but Brook says she has a better idea. Why don’t they hire a P.I.? Michael says, they don’t have time for an in-depth investigation into Austin’s background, and Ned says, especially when there’s no guarantee they’ll find anything defamatory. Michael says, Austin’s goal is Quartermaine recognition of his father, so why not give it to him? But Ned is the CEO-in-waiting, so it’s his decision.

Monica tells Austin, why fight a family when you can be part of it, right? He asks if she’s offering him shares of ELQ, and she laughs, saying, no. It’s not even in her control. Besides she doesn’t think he’d be all that happy with just shares. He says it wouldn’t make him happy or unhappy; it would make him family. When his father was disowned by Edward, the rest of the family never gave him a second thought. He thinks it would have been different if his father had shares of ELQ, and a vote to cast. She tells him, he said ELQ was family, and family is ELQ. He says, isn’t it? and she says he can ask her son Jason how he feels about ELQ. Jason approaches, and she says, and he’s still very much a part of the family.

Willow tells Carly, Nina has a pool date with Wiley today, but he’s still napping. Willow goes upstairs to check on him, and Carly says, Wiley has such a full schedule, she should have made an appointment first. Nina says, maybe after Carly talks to Michael, she could join them at the pool, but Carly says she doesn’t want to intrude. Nina says, it’s no intrusion. She’s sure Wiley would love having both his grandmother’s around. Plus it will give her a chance to toast Carly’s engagement.

While Austin is on the hospital phone, Monica tells Jason, Edward’s libido strikes again. Austin’s father, Jimmy Lee Holt, was the product of a dalliance between Edward and a woman named Beatrice LeSeur. Jason asks what Austin wants, and she says, he wants to be a Quartermaine. Jason says, is he? and she says, he brought his birth certificate and a DNA test to prove it. He asks if she wants him to shut this down, and she says, would he? Unless he’d prefer to keep his distance. He says, no. He’s happy to help.

Ned sees no reason why they can’t welcome Austin, until they figure out a way to shut him down, but Brook says, wrong. They don’t have time to welcome the good doctor into the family fold. He’s dangerous. Ned asks, how so? and she flashes back to Maxie wondering what if Austin got a glimpse of her and saying that everything might come back to him if he sees her. Ned asks, what makes Brook think Austin is anything more than a potential problem for ELQ? What does she know about this man that he and Michael don’t?

Anna tells Valentin, she showed her WSB badge to the head of human resources, and told her that David Hopkins was a person of interest. He says, and? and Anna says, they told her that he was at Ryan’s bar. He says, the one they just left? and she says, yes, opposite the hospital. He goes there after finishing his shift. He says, let’s go, but she grabs his arm, and says, she feels like a subtle approach is going to be necessary for this, so she wants to do this alone.

Maxie says, Sam does have a man in her life. Good for her. Who is he? Does she know him? How long has this been going on? Sam tells her, calm down. There’s nothing to tell. Maxie says, please. She has very little joy in her life, so she needs something to be happy about. Sam says, all right. There is a guy. Maxie says she knew it. Details please. Sam says, they kissed, and Maxie says, oh my God. What happened? Sam says, it wasn’t a big deal. She’d just found out Jason and Carly were getting married, she was totally wasted, they kissed, and it doesn’t count. Maxie asks if she’s kissed anyone else since she and Jason split, and Sam says, eww, no (because she’s five). Maxie says, then the kiss definitely counts.

Chase asks if he knows her, and Dante says, what part of he’s not talking doesn’t Chase understand? Chase asks if Dante wants to quickly cough something up. It’s better to just get it over with. Dante says, it was a weird night. She was in a rough place, and they got to talking. That’s all; it was nothing. Chase says, but Dante thinks it could be something? Maybe this mystery girl could turn into something if Dante gives it a chance.

Phyllis apologizes for taking so long, and asks if she missed Dr. Kishore. Lenny says, he’s afraid so, and she asks what the doctor said. What’s going on with his heart? Sonny puts his hand on Lenny’s shoulder, and Lenny says, it’s not his heart. It’s cancer. Phyllis starts to cry, and Sonny hugs her.

Dante says Chase wasn’t there; he was. She was in a bad place. He’s not going to be the guy who takes advantage of something like that. Chase says, sorry, and Dante says, Chase gets a get-out-of-jail-free pass since he’s on the newlywed train, and thinks everyone is wandering around all happy and in love just because he is. Chase says he highly recommends happiness, and if Dante ever gets another chance at it, do himself a favor and take it. Dante says he doesn’t know if it’s in the cards for him, but it would be nice.

Sam tells Maxie, okay, the kiss counts. Happy now? Maxie says, no, not yet. She’s going to dwell vicariously on this. Sam says, there’s nothing to dwell about. Maxie asked her there for a reason. What is it, and what can Sam do for her? Maxie says she needs to ask Sam a favor. She’s taking Georgie and James to Texas to visit her family for a while. Sam says, so she can stop worrying about Louise for a while? and Maxie says, and Peter. She needs to catch her breath, and put herself back together, and she can’t do it in Port Charles with everyone walking on eggshells around her. Sam asks what she can do for Maxie, and Maxie says she wants Sam to keep an eye on Spinelli. Ellie left him, and since Maxie is going to have Georgie with her, he’s going to need looking after. Sam says, poor Spinelli. Go to Texas, don’t worry about him. She’ll look after him.

Austin asks Jason where Monica is, and Jason says, she had a meeting. Austin says that he and Jason have something in common. He understands they’re both from the illegitimate branch of the Quartermaine tree, but Jason says, it doesn’t make him care any less about his family. Austin asks if he cares about ELQ, and Jason says, if it matters to them, it matters to him. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them both; the family and the company.

Brook wonders why Austin is suddenly claiming rights to his family now. Something happened where now he thinks it’s the right time to fleece the Qs. Ned says he gets it. Brook is still trying to make up for selling her shares to Valentin, but she’s more than redeemed herself. There is no evidence that Austin is this threat she’s afraid he is.

Sasha says she overheard Brando’s mother say that he could be Jason’s righthand man, and Brando says he respects Jason. There’s worse people to work for. He worked for one. Sasha says, he only took the job with Cyrus to spy on him for Sonny and Jason, but she got close to Cyrus too, and almost died because of it. But at the time, she had no one to protect;  now she does. That’s all the reason she needs not to set foot in that world again. Is that enough reason for him? He doesn’t say anything, so she gets up and leaves.

Valentin asks if Anna is saying he can’t be subtle, and she says, yes. A woman on her own is far more approachable than a woman accompanied by a man. He tells her, play it any way she wants to, but there’s no way in hell he’s letting her go in there by herself without a wingman. She says, great, but they do it her way, and he says, she’s the boss.

Phyllis takes Lenny’s hand, and he tells her, Dr. Kishore decided to look further than his heart. He had a scan, and there’s a mass on his pancreas. She says, how large? and he says, it’s pretty far gone. Sonny says, that doesn’t mean Lenny doesn’t have options. The doctor said there’s chemotherapy, there’s surgery… Lenny says, that could put them in the poorhouse. He’s not going to do that to her. He leaves, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it’s all right, and she follows Lenny.

Nina says, Jax mentioned that Carly and Jason got engaged, and Carly says, she’s sure Jax did more than just mention it. Nina says he’s worried about Carly, and Carly says, for no reason. Her engagement to Jason, that’s the way things are supposed to be. Nina says, okay. She guesses it’s been a long time coming. Nina’s phone rings. She sees it’s Mike/Sonny, and ignores the call. Carly says she’s going to go talk to Michael, and Nina says, Carly… Carly turns back, and Nina thanks Carly for giving her time with Wiley. Carly says, the way their grandson smiles at Nina, it’s clear she makes him very happy.

Carly leaves, and Nina calls Sonny back. She says she’s sorry she didn’t answer his call earlier (like, literally two seconds ago), and he says he’s sorry to bother her. He didn’t want to make this call. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says they need her; Phyllis, Lenny, and him. Is there any way she could come home?

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook, he could blow their whole story wide open; Spencer tells Nikolas, maybe it’s a bigger deal than he thinks; and Valentin has someone pinned to the bar with their arm behind their back.

🧔 Who’s Your Daddy…

All about Todd Franco Austin’s father.

🎼 Our Funny Valentin…

He doesn’t just sing at the Nurses Ball.

🧼 Soap Sunday…

See what else your favorites have been up to.

🐇 Kim Cameo…

But will she bring the bunny?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/andy-cohen-teases-possible-kim-richards-cameo-rhobh-season-11

👠 Not So Pretty Mess…

The divorce saga continues.

Trustee Sues Erika Jayne For $25 Million, Accuses RHOBH Star of Hiding Money For Thomas Girardi and Demands She Return Jewelry, Money, and Assets Fraudulently Transferred to Her

https://people.com/tv/erika-girardi-accused-of-using-her-notoriety-to-hide-assets/

⚖️ Get On the Scale…

If Bethenny is crazy, I don’t want to be sane.

https://okmagazine.com/p/bethenny-frankel-difficult-scale-of-crazy-says-shark-tank-star-kevin-oleary/

📉 Ratings Nosedive…

While I probably wouldn’t miss Ramona, I don’t think she’s the reason for the ratings being down. I think the audience is ready for fewer fights and more fun. Although I think NYC is the least offensive of the franchise.

https://okmagazine.com/p/rhony-ramona-singer-fired-eboni-k-williams-downplay-drama-ratings-plummet/

👗 Porter’s Debut…

But will she inherit Sutton’s wardrobe?

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/14/sutton-stracke-will-always-remember-filming-with-her-daughter/

https://screenrant.com/rhobh-about-sutton-stracke-daughter-porter-stracke/

👏 Clapping Back…

Leah is not having it.

https://www.inquisitr.com/6493808/leah-mcsweeney-claps-back-at-critics-shaming-race-conversations-

👰🏼 It’s Only Been 20 Years…

Emma Bunton finally ties the knot with her long-time love and the father of her children. Loving the dress.

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3280987/emma-bunton-jade-jones-relationship-married-kids/

https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210714117505/emma-bunton-jade-jones-wedding-dress-secret-detail/

💃🏽 Tell Me What You Want…

Where my guilty pleasure is now.

https://www.distractify.com/p/spice-girls-now

🏆 An Award Named Emmy…

All the nominations. You can find the categories in the drop-down menu.

https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2021

🐅 Be There Or Be a Rectangle…

This Sunday at 2 pm, check out the Mupo and Friends interview with The Beastmaster himself. And I helped.

👄 Quotes of the Week

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around…  – Unknown

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail – it’s just the opposite – we aim too low and succeed.Sir Ken Robinson, English Author, Speaker and Education Advocate

A woman once drove me to drink, and I never had the decency to thank her.Sir Winston Churchill

You’re the perfect candidate for a total disaster. – Dr. Terry Dubrow, Botched

An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. – Roald Dahl

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. – Albert Einstein

To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility – these are marks of maturity and graciousness. – William Arthur Ward

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. – Audrey Hepburn

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying. – Oscar Wilde

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. – Friedrich Nietzsche

If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes. – Corrie ten Boom

👩🏽‍💼 See You Around the Water Cooler…

It’s here again, those two days we used to, and might again, call the weekend. Regardless of what you’re calling it these days, make sure you stay safe, stay discriminating, and stay knowing a dog will never disappoint you.  

July 15, 2021 – Who Knew the MetroCourt Had a Pool, Moving In To Sell, For Only $15 Million & Cool

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis and Portia run into each other, making a move for the same lounge chair at the MetroCourt pool. (New set!)

New York City. Valentin brings coffee over to the table where he and Anna are sitting in a bar/restaurant. He tells her that he managed to locate the source of the singalong in the back room. Apparently there’s a woman leading them in a chorus of Danny Boy; she’s the owner. Anna is messing with her phone, but says, if there were any other circumstances, she’d join in. He says, no she wouldn’t, and she says he’s right. He asks if she’s heard from her aviation contact, and she says, she just got off the phone with her. Anna thinks David Hopkins is their key to finding Peter, and if the flight route is correct, he’s on his way to New York Methodist. Valentin points across the street, and says, that New York Methodist? That’s convenient.

In the New York Methodist emergency room, Phyllis says, this is ridiculous, but Lenny says his chest pains didn’t warrant a visit to the ER. (Good luck with that in NYC. Maybe they’ll see him in a month.) Sonny says Lenny has come a long way. He might as well see the doctor. The doctor comes out, and says they must be the Caulfields, but Sonny says he’s just a family friend. Phyllis thanks the doctor for seeing them, and says her husband is in a great deal of pain. The doctor says they’ll run some tests, and Lenny goes with her. Phyllis and Sonny hug.

Spinelli plays with the umbrella from his drink at the MetroCourt bar, when Jason approaches. Spinelli tells him, gracious greetings, and Jason asks if everything is okay. Spinelli says, the answer depends on which lens you’re looking through. He and Ellie are over.

Gladys and Brando go to the pool, and as Gladys sits in a lounge chair, she says she has to give it to the Widow Corinthos; she knows how to put on a scene. This place is hopping. It’s the perfect spot to show off her new look.  She takes her sun hat off, shaking her hair out, and we see she’s got highlights now. She says, risking her life to see that justice is served has given her a whole new perspective. He says, is that so? and she says she almost died. She has to embrace life after such a harrowing ordeal. Brighten things up a little; invest in herself. He says her hair does look good, and she says, Silas said it took ten years off her looks. She says fifteen, easy. He laughs and says, as long as she likes it. She sees a waiter, and asks how Brando thinks the bloody Mary’s work. On the house, like at the casino? He asks if this looks like a casino. If you want a drink, you pay for it. She says, too bad. She hopes she’s not cramping his style, and he asks what she means. She says he’s a young, good-looking guy. There are plenty of eligible young ladies here. He says he’s not trying to pick anyone up, and she says, so he and Sasha are a thing. It sounded like Sasha wasn’t too clear on where he stood with her, or his baby.

At the MetroCourt restaurant, Maxie thanks Sasha for doing this for her, especially on such short notice, and on her day off. Sasha says, of course (🍷). She was going to check out the pool anyway. What’s up? Maxie hands her some papers, and says, it’s research and press information that she’ll need to make another pitch to Labella. Sasha says she thought getting their products on the shelves was Maxie’s area of expertise, and Maxie says, it is. She’s taking a step back. Sasha says, from Deception? and Maxie says, from everything, but definitely from work. She talked to Lucy; she knows Maxie is taking a leave of absence. Sasha asks, for how long? and Maxie says, just for a few weeks. The kidnapping has been traumatizing – Sasha says, of course (🍷) it hasand being in Port Charles is making it worse. Sasha says she’s so sorry. She’s sure having a pregnant co-worker isn’t helping, but Maxie says, no. This doesn’t have anything to do with Sasha at all.

Brook comes into Nina’s apartment, wheeling Bailey in the carriage, and says, at ease, Yuri. She tells him that he can wait in the hallway, and Nina asks if he wants a bottle of water or something. Brook says, he’d prefer flat, and Nina goes to get it. Brook tells Yuri that it’s a secure building with vigilant doormen, so he can stand guard, but no accosting anyone. Nina comes back with the water, and he tells her (I assume) thank you in his native language. Nina says she doesn’t know what that was, but she’s got him. She closes the door, and Brook apologizes for the entourage. Nina says, Valentin? and Brook says, how’d she guess? Nina says she got there quickly, and Brook says there was some major drama at the house – what else is new? – so that was incentive to get there, but she also wants to prove herself to Nina and Deception. Nina thanks her for that, but says, this has nothing to do with work. Brook asks what it’s about, and Nina says she knows Brook’s secret.

Portia says she guesses she and Curtis had the same idea, and he says, he and TJ just wanted to get some sun. She says, it’s a perfect day for it, and tells him, enjoy. She starts to pick up her bag, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she thinks she’ll find somewhere else to sit. He says she was there first; they’ll find someplace else. She says, no, she will. TJ joins them and says, hello, and she says, hi, TJ. Wait. Dr. Ashford is what she should say, right? Congratulations. They’re all very proud of him. He thanks her, and says, he gives it a week before she and the senior staff are complaining about him like they do the other interns. She says she highly doubts it, and TJ asks if Curtis wants to swim. Curtis says he’ll be there in a minute, and TJ goes in the pool. Portia asks if it’s going to be awkward between them.

Nina says, Bailey’s not Brook’s, and Brook starts to protest, but Nina says, she belongs to Maxie and Peter. Brook asks how she found out, and Nina says, how does she think? Maxie. She’s losing her mind, understandably so. She needed someone to confide in. Brook says, she gets that, but she and Maxie agreed it was necessary to protect Louise from Peter. She must have told Nina that. Nina says she did, and Brook says, she didn’t believe Maxie? Nina says she did – she does believe her, that she’s trying to protect her daughter. The person she can’t figure out is Brook.

Maxie asks how Sasha’s pregnancy is going, and Sasha says, overwhelming. Maxie says, that’s pregnancy in a nutshell, especially when it’s your first time, and Sasha says, it’s a lot to take on alone. Maxie says, but she’s not alone. She has Brando to help out, right?

Brando tells Gladys, he has no reason to think Sasha doesn’t want him to be a part of her life, or the baby’s. Gladys smiles, and he says he doesn’t know; they haven’t talked about it. She says, exactly. Maybe Sasha is worried about him being a good provider. Brando says, the 1950s called. They want their sexism back. Sasha has her own company, and doesn’t need him to provide for anything. She says, so that’s it? He made his donation, now hit the road? He laughs, and says, my God, and she tells him, she’s just saying. Maybe it’s time for him to worry about his own career. He says, the garage is doing fine, but she says, fine isn’t good enough. Carly walks in, and Gladys says, now the <air quotes> Corinthos Coffee Company <end air quotes>, that’s where the money is. And there’s been a shake-up in management lately, to put it mildly. Brando needs to strike while the iron is hot. With Sonny gone, this is his time.

Spinelli tells Jason, he didn’t realize he and Ellie’s relationship was moving in a direction she’s not comfortable with. She said if she wanted to find a different life, she needed to act now. She’s not wrong. Jason says, no. She’s got to do what’s right for her, and Spinelli has to do what’s right for him. He doesn’t have to choose Jason and the business over Ellie. He can always walk away. Spinelli says, no, he can’t.

Portia says she meant every word she said the other day, and Curtis says, every word? She says, being together with him while he’s on the rebound… He says she’s not a rebound, and she says, it’s not worth the risk of losing him as a friend. She misses the way it used to be, just hanging out and having fun. He says he misses that too, and she suggests they just rewind. Go back to the way things were before she kissed him. He asks if she really thinks it’s that simple, and she says, probably not, but it’s worth a try. Tell TJ that she’ll speak with him later. She leaves, and Curtis watches her.

Spinelli says he misses Ellie, but the bulk of their relationship was during Jason’s absence. The person he was without Jason could fit into Ellie’s world perfectly; he let her take the lead. Jason says Spinelli can still be that person, but Spinelli says he doesn’t want to be. He likes working for Jason. It’s where he’s comfortable. It’s where he thrives. He wants to use his substantial skills, and wants to play for big stakes, take chances. He realized that, and it forced him to face the facts. Ellie’s life and career goals don’t match up with his anymore. Jason asks if Spinelli is okay with that, and Spinelli says he desperately wants her to stay, but that would be selfish. Holding on when he knows it’s wrong would be the wrong thing. Telling her that he’ll change when he knows he won’t. Jason says, to start a new life that he doesn’t believe in, and Spinelli says he knows he’s doing the right thing. Jason says, that doesn’t make it any easier, does it? and Spinelli says, no, it doesn’t. Jason pats him on the shoulder.

Carly tells Brando and Gladys, welcome, and Gladys asks if Carly’s ears were burning, or is she in the habit of sneaking up on all her guests? Carly asks if they’re enjoying themselves, and Gladys says, yes, but not as much as Carly is. She heard about Carly’s engagement to Jason, and Brando tells Carly, congratulations. He’s really happy for them. She thanks him, and Gladys says she’s sure her dearly departed cousin would agree. Carly suggests Brando get his mother a drink, and tell the bartender the tab is on her for the rest of the afternoon. Gladys says, so generous, and Brando leaves. Gladys says, Carly is finally deciding to treat them like family, and Carly says, Gladys is a lot of things, but family isn’t one of them.

Sasha says, Maxie is right; Brando definitely wants to be involved with the baby. Maxie says, but she doesn’t want him to be. Or maybe she doesn’t want to raise the baby at all. Sasha says, she does. It’s not exactly the timetable she envisioned, but she’s always wanted to be a mom. Maxie asks, what’s the problem? and Sasha says, it’s not a problem per se, it’s just that Brando’s such a great guy. He’s so excited about the pregnancy, and them being a family… Maxie says, but? and Sasha says, but he has close ties to Carly and Jason, and that whole life. It makes her a little nervous.

Phyllis tells Sonny, she’s trying so hard not to be one of those people asking constant questions while the doctors are still trying to figure things out. He says, she sees it all the time at the clinic, and she says she does, but she never realized until now how hard it is to just wait. Sonny says he’s glad they got in some sightseeing, and she says, her too. She and Lenny haven’t been to New York in so long, it brought back a lot of memories. She sits, and says, what about him? Does he think he’s ever been there before? He says, it did seem familiar for a second, but he thinks it’s just from TV and the movies. She says, so that’s where his mind was this morning. She noticed he was distracted. She figured he was thinking about his call with Nina the other day.

Brook tells Nina, she admits in the beginning it was all a manipulation. She wanted to redeem herself from the whole ELQ debacle. Nina says, in her father’s eyes, and Brook says, and in her own. When she initially reached out to Maxie with her proposal – Nina says, interesting word choice – Brook wanted to help her, but It was also serendipity. Maxie needed someone to hide a baby at the exact moment Brook needed a baby. It was a win-win, and it was at that time she learned what a psycho Peter really is. So that’s what it became for her, a way to protect this precious little girl, because Peter is way more dangerous than Nina knows. Nina says, Brook doesn’t have to tell her that, and Brook says she got so wrapped up in the Louise aspect, the whole stock thing just fell by the wayside. She had to play it out, since that was the original premise. Nina says, and if she lost interest, Valentin would get suspicious and might figure it out, and Brook says, exactly. Nina says this is where the plan loses her, because Valentin is nothing if not a great father. It’s his Achille’s heel. It’s where he goes from cold and calculating, to a goofy pile of mush. Brook says, true, and Nina says, so she also knows there would be no one in the world more willing to protect that baby from Peter than Valentin. So why not tell Valentin the truth?

Anna tells Valentin that she thinks they should wait for confirmation before they head over to the hospital. The longer they’re hanging out there, the more suspicious they appear. Valentin agrees, and says he can think of worse places to hang out. He asks if she knows what this place reminds him of. That pub in Dublin… She says, Mulligan’s, and he says, they were there celebrating their first field assignment from the Academy. Remember that? She says, vaguely, and he says, this from a women who remembered the name in two seconds flat. She says she doesn’t enjoy thinking about that time in her life, and frankly, neither should he. He asks if it’s their troubled past that’s got her in such a mood, but she says she’s not in a mood. This isn’t a mood. Yes, because what else would it be about? He says, us. Here and now.

Jason says Spinelli probably figured this out already, but he and Carly are… Spinelli says, getting married to present a united front to the outside world? Surprising, but at the same time, not surprising. Jason and Carly are soulmates. Perhaps not romantically, but in every other sense of the word. They support and love each other like no one else can. So it might be for optics, but he for one can imagine a more perfect union. He clinks his glass against Jason’s.

Brando sees TJ getting out of the pool, and says, what’s up? Cool spot, huh? TJ says he envisions himself spending a lot of time there. Brando tells him, have a good one, and starts to walk away, but TJ says, congratulations on the baby. He doesn’t think he said it when Brando told them Sasha was pregnant. Brando says TJ doesn’t have to do that, and TJ says, do what? Brando says, be the bigger person. TJ was the first real friend he had in this town, and he screwed it up by not telling him the truth. TJ says, Brando did, but he’s been thinking a lot lately about lost time, and was reminded that holding grudges doesn’t do them much good. So, seriously, best of luck to him. Brando says, thanks, and they bro shake.

Carly says she appreciates Glady’s assistance in ridding this town of Cyrus, but that is the end of their professional relationship. Gladys says, but it shouldn’t be for her son. Brando deserves a bigger piece of the pie. Carly says, what’s funny is, if there’s one thing that makes Jason not want Brando to be a part of the business, it’s because he’s attached to Gladys. Gladys says, it’s his birthright. He’s the only real Corinthos left. Or at least the only one old enough to want a piece of this. Joey Novak walks in, and Carly says, this conversation’s over. Gladys says, because Carly says so, and Carly says, yeah, pretty much. She walks over to Joey, and asks what he’s doing there.

Sasha tells Maxie, don’t get her wrong. She really likes the Corinthos family. When she was dating Michael, she got to know them pretty well, and she knows they’d put the safety of their loved ones above all else. Maxie says she can vouch for that, and Sasha says, but at the end of the day, there’s only so much they can do. She doesn’t want to raise her child like that. When every time they leave the house, she holds her breath, praying they make it home. Maxie says, FYI, she’s always going to feel that way as a mom. Mob life or no mob life. Sasha says, great, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) she completely understands. Sasha asks what she should do, and Maxie says she thinks Sasha needs to be realistic about Brando’s involvement in all of this. Like, how committed does he seem to this alleged organized crime thing? Sasha says, Brando only went to work for Cyrus as a favor to Sonny and Jason, and Maxie says she figured that. Brando seems like a really nice guy, and Cyrus definitely doesn’t. Sasha says she can’t really complain, since working for Cyrus put Brando in a position to save her life. Maxie says, fortunately, Cyrus was shipped off to federal prison where he belongs, and she knows from experience that Jason would never force someone to work for him who doesn’t want to. Brando’s kind of free to be the man he wants to be.

Sonny tells Phyllis that he talked to Nina, and it was nice, but it was kind of hard keeping this from her. She needs to know what’s going on with Lenny. Phyllis says, and she should, and she’s going to tell Nina once they have more information. Does he want anything from the vending machine? He says he’s good; he doesn’t want anything. She says, her neither, but she wants to get up and walk around. She tells him, don’t let Nina slip through the cracks. He’ll regret it if he does. She leaves.

Nina says, to keep Valentin believing, and loving, this baby as if it was his own child, it’s not fair. Brook says she doesn’t disagree necessarily, but it’s Maxie’s daughter; it’s her call. Nina says she knows, and she wouldn’t go against that. It just makes her sad. Brook says, all she can hope, is that when Valentin finds out, no matter how angry and disappointed he is, that he understands why she and Maxie felt the ends justified the means. Nina says, he will understand. The only thing up for debate is Valentin’s broken heart. He’s not going to stop protecting that baby. He’ll fight for that baby, and he will play his role to the hilt. They both know that. Come on. Brook says, okay, so what about Charlotte?

Valentin says, he and Anna aren’t children. He doesn’t know why they can’t discuss this like adults. She says because she’s way over it. He says he likes her. He has feelings for her, and she has feelings for him. She tells him, if he says so, and he tells her, he does say so, and so would she if she’d stop fighting it. She says, it was a kiss, a fleeting kiss, and he says, which had been building for years. There was nothing fleeting about that kiss. He’s felt this way about her his entire adult life. This is real. He can see it’s scaring her. She asks if she looks scared, and he says, no, but something’s happening here, and he’d like her to admit that. Her phone dings, and she looks at it. She says, Hopkins has returned to the hospital. It’s go time.

TJ joins Curtis on the chairs, and asks where Portia is. Curtis says, she found another spot. She said she’d see TJ around the hospital. TJ says he was hoping to get in good with her, but Curtis thinks he’s in good already. TJ asks if Curtis is ever going to talk to him about this. He knows there’s something going on between them. Curtis says maybe TJ should have spent more time being a P.I. instead of being a doctor. TJ says Curtis raced to Portia’s place when he thought she was in trouble, and Portia didn’t leave his bedside at GH. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon. Curtis says, one day, TJ could be one, and leans back in his chair.

Joey says, Mrs. Corinthos. He holds out his hand, and says, Joey Novak. She ignores his hand, and says, nice to meet him. What is he doing at her hotel? From a distance, Gladys and Brando watch. Joey says he thought Carly should know, her fiancé isn’t as secure as he thinks he is. She says, is that so? and he says, the Novaks are in a position to make things very unpleasant for her family, so please, give Jason this message. Jason got the jump on him once, but he’s not afraid of him. She says, it sounds like he wants to speak to her fiancé himself. Why don’t they call him down there? Brando walks up, and says, Mr. Novak. Brando’s heard a lot about him. It’s good to see him in Port Charles. Joey asks who Brando is, and Brando holds out his hand, saying, Brando Corbin. Sonny Corinthos is his cousin; was his cousin. Joey shakes his hand, and Brando says, if he can ever be of any assistance to Joey, his garage is over on Third Street. Any Novak vehicles in Port Charles, consider them taken care of.

Spinelli sees Maxie, and she says she’s glad she ran into him. She has a favor to ask him. Actually, he probably won’t think of it as a favor; he’ll want to say yes. She and James are going out of town for a few weeks. He asks where she’s going, and she says, to visit her family in Texas. Anna said she’d be as much in the loop there as here. Spinelli says, if anything comes up with Baby Louise, she’ll be the first to know. And the favor? She says she doesn’t want to intrude on their custody arrangement, but would he and Ellie be okay keeping Georgie while she and James are gone? He tells her that he’s not sure that would be the best idea.

Brook tells Nina to really think about it. If they tell Valentin the truth, she doesn’t think he’ll tell Charlotte? There’s no way he would allow her to continue falling in love with her little sister. Nina says, that’s already happening, but Brook says, except he doesn’t know, and Valentin is complicated. Like Nina said, he’s a really great father, and nothing’s more important to him than Charlotte. Nina says, and now Bailey, and Brook says, so why would they put him in that position? He either has to lie to Charlotte – which she’s not sure he would – or tell her the truth. Then they’re burdening this young girl… No, they can carry this. When this all comes crashing down, Valentin loses out big. And Brook hates that. So tell her. If Nina had to pick one person who she knew could handle this devastating loss, that she knew was strong enough to survive this, who would she pick? Nina says, Valentin.

The doctor comes out, and asks Sonny if Phyllis is there, but he says she stepped away. He’ll get her. The doctor says, that’s all right. Lenny has given her permission to bring him in on the conversation. Why doesn’t he follow her? She’ll let the staff know where to tell Phyllis to find them. Sonny goes into the examining room, just as Anna and Valentin walk into the waiting room.

TJ says, if Curtis doesn’t want to talk about this because of his mom, he gets it, but he’s not a kid. Curtis says, no, he’s not a kid, and TJ says, mom is mom. He’ll always want her to be happy, but Curtis is his family too. Curtis says the vibe TJ is picking up on between him and Portia was a slow burn, and it happened after he and TJ’s mother were separated. It doesn’t matter now, because he and Portia have decided to just be friends. TJ says, because it’s what Curtis thinks he should do, or because it’s what he wants to do? Maybe he should clear that up.

Sonny asks Lenny if they shouldn’t wait for Phyllis, but Lenny says, Dr. Kishore doesn’t want him to lose his place in line for a scan. They have to move quickly. Sonny says, sounds serious, but the doctor says, despite Lenny’s chest pains, there’s no immediate danger. She did see something in one of the tests that she wants to follow up on. It could be nothing. Sonny says they’re still going to do a scan, right? and Lenny tells Sonny, explain to Phyllis, so she doesn’t worry too much. Sonny tells Lenny to get checked out, and Dr. Kishore says, that’s the plan. She tells Sonny that he can wait there, but Sonny says he’s going to look for Phyllis. Lenny goes with the doctor, and in the hallway, Sonny sees a cap just like Mike’s smart cap, lying on the floor. He picks it up, and remembers telling Mike that he forgave him a long time ago, and wants him to go in peace and love. He goes back in the examining room, and ponders the cap.

Joey says he likes Brando’s attitude. Carly’s fiancé could learn a thing or two from this guy. Carly tells him, have a nice day, Mr. Novak, and Joey leaves. Gladys says she hopes Carly is properly grateful, and Brando says, mom. Gladys says, look what her boy did for Carly. Imagine the embarrassment if there had been a whole mob kerfuffle in Carly’s fancy pool and spa, which is supposedly separate from all of that.

Spinelli says, they’re separating, and Maxie says, no. He says, unfortunately yes, and she says she’s so sorry. He says it’s just that he doesn’t think it’s the best idea for Georgie to see Ellie right now. If Maxie doesn’t mind taking her to Texas, he’s sure she’d enjoy it. Maxie says, so will she. Ellie’s really leaving? Does Maxie need to talk some sense into her? Is she going crazy? Spinelli says, no, she’s made the right decision. She’s not comfortable sharing her life with someone who has dangerous associates. After Maxie’s experience with Peter, he’s sure she can relate.

Anna tells Valentin, she’s going to throw her badge around, and see if she can get anyone to tell them where David Hopkins is. Why doesn’t Valentin stay there in case he passes through? Valentin says he’s on it. Anna leaves, and Valentin walks over to where Sonny and Phyllis had been sitting. He literally runs into Phyllis, and she drops the sodas she’s carrying.

Curtis goes finds Portia, and asks if he can have a seat. She says, sure, and asks, what’s up? He says, as friends, he thinks they should get everything out in the open. She says, okay, and he says if she wants to explore this between them, he’d really like that, but if she doesn’t feel it’s a good idea for her, he gets that too. He still thinks she’s holding back because of his Aunt Stella and not because of herself. She asks, is that all? and he says, all right. He’s going to head off to the nightclub. She says, that’s right. Tonight is the official opening. He says, yeah. It’s a big night for him, but it could be a big night for them. If she changes her mind, she knows where to find him. Geez, you’d think he’d invite her as a friend.

Gladys says she’s proud of Brando, but he says, it’s no big deal. She says, it is. If he keeps stepping up like that, he’ll be Jason’s righthand man before he knows it. Sasha walks in and overhears. Gladys leaves, and Sasha makes a soap face like, I don’t know about this guy.

At the bar, Carly tells Jason that he just missed Joey Novak at the pool. Good times. He asks if there was a problem, and she says, there almost was. She was ready to go off on the guy, and Brando stepped in. She has to say, as much as she would hate to give Gladys what she wanted, Brando could be a real asset. He says he’ll keep it in mind, but in the meantime, don’t let Joey Novak provoke her. That’s what he wants. She says, that kid is a hothead, and he says, unlike her. Just take a deep breath. She says he’s right. She doesn’t want to escalate things. They’re trying to calm the waters; she gets it. He says that’s what they’re hoping their marriage will do.

Brook says so she and Nina are on the same page, for Maxie’s sake. Nina says, for Maxie’s sake, she won’t tell Valentin what she knows. Brook thanks her, and Brook’s phone rings. Brook says she has to take it, and asks Nina to watch Bailey/Louise for a second, jetting into the next room, and answering, ELQ, what’s up? Nina says hi to the baby, and tells her that she’s awfully cute. Look at her, all loved and cared for. Safe. That’s all that really matters, isn’t it? With all the secrets she’s keeping, who is she to judge?

Valentin hands Phyllis the soda cans, and apologizes, but Phyllis says she wasn’t looking where she was going. He says he hopes she wasn’t planning on opening them anytime soon, and she says, good tip. He asks if she’s waiting on word about someone, and she nods, saying, it’s not her best event. Him? He says, the same. He doesn’t think it’s anybody’s best event. She hands him one of the cans and says, it seems her friend has disappeared. He says he collided with her, the least he can do is keep her company until her friend shows up. They sit, and she thanks him, introducing herself. Phyllis Caulfield.

Sonny looks at the cap some more, while Anna is walking by in the hallway. Sonny turns the handle of the door to leave. Anna hears, and stops, looking at the door.

Tomorrow, Maxie says, this should be interesting; Dante tells Chase, it’s just like old times; Austin says Monica isn’t telling him what to do; and Sonny says, it’s bad, isn’t it?

Million Dollar Listing New York

Fredrik was back in NYC, and danced in the rain, which was the weather throughout the entire episode. In his interview, he said every cell in his body alive. He could hear the rumbling of the subway, and smell the garbage. He was home, and it was amazing. I actually understood this. When I would come back to NYC after visiting my homeland of Ohio, I’d be like, ahh, the smell of the subway stop, a combination of urine and garbage. He also had a lot of business to catch up on. He met developer Cliff at the 10th Street penthouse, which still wasn’t sold, along with the 8th floor apartment. To refresh your memory, the penthouse was nearly 5000 square feet, had a lot of marble, herringbone floors, 10 foot ceilings, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, more marble, and 8 terraces. All this came at the asking price of $15 million. The 8th floor apartment was 1600 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, and a 725 square foot terrace, for the asking price of $6.5 million. Fredrik said these were crazy times, but thought they could get it done if Cliff gave him an extension on the listing. Cliff seemed hesitant, saying Fredrik hadn’t sold it in a year. Fredrik told Cliff to remove 7 months because of the pandemic, which seemed fair. Cliff said Fredrik had been doing well by him until he went to L.A., and Fredrik explained that he wanted to find buyers for NYC in L.A., and vice versa. Cliff said, at this point, he wasn’t looking at how much he was going to make, but how much he was losing. He wondered why he should keep Fredrik, and if he should bring in new blood. Fredrik said he’d build a social media campaign. While Instagram used to be a fun guilty pleasure, now it was a catalyst for real estate sales. In his interview, Fredrik thought it would drum up interest, and took a selfie with Cliff, telling people to swipe up to see the listing. He immediately had 9000 clicks on the listing, and Cliff agreed to the extension, provided Fredrik move in, live there, and promote the hell out of it. I didn’t believe for one second this wasn’t set up ahead of time.

Steve was working on selling Artemis Farm, which was more of undertaking that he’d thought. He had Dorinda Medley on board, telling us that she wasn’t just the Queen of the Berkshires, she’d been a successful realtor. She had a true knowledge of upstate New York, and knew her stuff. He spoke with Dorinda on the phone, and she thought the farm was absolutely incredible, having different components that could be used for different purposes. Steve said he’d thought the buyer he was looking for would want something that hadn’t been listed. That hadn’t worked, so in a pivot move, he’d decided to list it. Dorinda said it was hard to describe, and she thought people really needed to see it. Steve said it was about the experience, and in his interview, he said he couldn’t overstate the value of one celebrity mention when it came to real estate. He promised to find a cool neighbor for Dorinda.

Tyler took his OCD client Andrea to meet agent Talia in a new building in the East Village, where Tyler said developers were investing. It was a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath ground floor duplex, with Miele appliances, quartz counters, and 18 foot ceilings. In Tyler’s interview, he said the apartment had what Andrea was looking for; nobody had lived in it before, it was private, and had outdoor space. She also worked at NYU, which wasn’t far. Andrea wasn’t thrilled with a humongous window that made her feel like she was on display. I guess no one had told her about those things called shades and curtains. Tyler asked what was up with her not wanting a previously used apartment, and she said she was freaked out knowing there was residue in the corners from humans. They decided to check out the penthouse, also for sale, and Talia pointed out that dealing with the doors was totally touchless, and you used your phone. Of course my mind immediately went to, what if power went out, and there were zombies, and… The penthouse was 1880 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, 16 foot ceilings, and views of both the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. There was also a private roof deck, but the stairs to it were part of the buildings staircase, so therefore public. I didn’t blame Andrea for being concerned people would disregard the roof being private. She told Talia that made it feel less like it was part of the apartment. She also wasn’t sure that she wanted to be that far east.   

Steve wanted to get a celebrity to the farm, and thought his kid was a star, so he took the family there by helicopter. No surprise, Baby Rose was very cute with the animals. He said upstate was hotter than ever, and he called his broker contacts to invite them to an open house. A farmer’s market was set up for the brokers to enjoy, as well as support the local community. As Steve joined them, the helicopter took off, bringing Rose and her mom back home. Noticed by the guests, Steve said that someone had come to see the farm that morning, but he couldn’t say who it was. In Steve’s interview, he told us, nothing said buzz like a high-profile flyover. I had to admit to being impressed by his cleverness. He said I was all about seducing brokers with the local lifestyle, and picked up the tab for their market purchases. KJ arrived, and in her interview, she said her clients were interested in luxury properties. They had places in Manhattan, but wanted a place outside the city as well, and wanted a turnkey property that was move-in ready. They didn’t want to do massive renovations. She admitted to not being a large animal person, and seemed hesitant of the horses. In KJ’s interview, she said her grandfather had horses, and she’d tried riding a couple of times, but fell off. It wasn’t her thing. In Steve’s interview, he said he was about as comfortable on a farm as he was reading Ryan’s blog. He showed the brokers the main house, a 6000 square foot 1900s colonial, with 6 bedrooms and 5 baths, 5 fireplaces, and a closet literally bigger than my first apartment. In KJ’s interview, she said she wasn’t sure she agreed with Steve’s assessment that it was country chic. It was very country, but not so chic. In Steve’s interview, he said it wasn’t about bringing the city to the country. It was about escaping the city. KJ wasn’t getting it. KJ said Steve wasn’t going to get $4.2 million for it.

Fredrik said living in the space he was selling was weird. He didn’t like showing his own bathroom or clothes, but instead of having an open house for 30 brokers, by using social media, he was reaching 30 million people. In doing a private showing, he said everyone saw something different in the pattern of a marble fireplace. He saw a huge commission The broker did point out Fredrik’s unmade bed, which is a big no-no, and I was surprised at him. Even Fredrik thought the asking price was high, but worried that if it was lowered, buyers would come in really low. It was the big question in real estate; to lower or not. Tyler brought Andrea to see the 8th floor apartment, and in Tyler’s interview, he said he thought it was overpriced, and worth $4.5 to $5 million in today’s market. The last time he’d gone to Fredrik’s open house, he hadn’t been the friendliest to Tyler’s buyer. In the grand scheme of things, it was water under the bridge, but he hoped Fredrik was nicer this time. In Fredrik’s interview, he said everyone was a tiny bit of a germaphobe right now, but it wouldn’t be easy avoiding germs. He loved NYC, but germs were kind of a part of it. Tyler said Andrea’s budget was $5 million, and in his interview, Fredrik said, that was like 40% off. There was no covid discount of 40%. Anything below $5 million was a lowball. Fredrik mentioned the amount of sales he was doing to Tyler, and in his interview, Tyler said, the more bragging some did, the more insecure they were, and Fredrik was shining a light on that. I dunno. The numbers are the numbers. They squabbled over what was worth what, while Andrea took a walk around the terrace. In Tyler’s interview, he said he thought Fredrik’s pricing proved he’d spent so much time in L.A., he didn’t understand how affected NYC had been by covid. He’d lost his perspective and his damn mind if he thought he was getting $6.5 million.

Steve told us that his driver Will was more than just a driver and an agent. He had a lot of side hustles, and it was a little known fact that he was in Dorinda’s cooking show on YouTube. Steve wasn’t sure how he ended up there, but thought it was because he was friends with Greg, who was also in the show. We saw a clip of Dorinda cooking, and two guys wearing aprons with no shirts did some test tasting. Broker Rich called Steve while he was in the car. Rich had come to Steve’s open house for the farm, and had given Steve a lot of positive input. We saw a clip, where Rich said it was like a Norman Rockwell painting. Even though the event was a massive success, Steve had yet to receive an offer, and he was getting concerned. Rich said he had clients who were interested, but not completely sold on living in the woods. They wanted to know if the seller would rent. They were offering $12,500 a month, with 6 months upfront. In Steve’s interview, he said it wasn’t what he was hoping for; he’d been hoping Rich would bring him a great offer. It was upsetting since he’d put so much work into it, and wanted to do right by Cornelia. He told Rich that he’d have to present it to his client, but they were on the market to sell. Don’t hold his breath. Rich said they did have something else lined up, and rentals were in demand, so he needed an answer quickly. Steve called Cornelia in Texas, and said she’d be getting $75K upfront. She asked what if someone wanted to buy it, and he said they’d break the lease. He also thought $15K a month was more reasonable. Cornelia liked the idea of having some immediate money, and also being able to show it to people. Maybe the renters would have friends who were interested. Steve said they’d put a clause in the contract to be able to show the house. He called Rich back, and said a little more money would make it work for his client, but the tenants would also have to vacate for a showing. Rich asked if 24-hour notice was cool, and Steve said that was acceptable. In his interview, he said it was risky, but he had zero offers. Cornelia would get $90K up front, and Steve would get a $6750 commission. He’d put money in Cornelia’s pocket, and he was going to get it sold.

Fredrik met with team member Keith about East 10th Street, and flashed back to Kelly Bensimon taking a pass on the property. Keith had a client that was interested in renting with an option to buy at $22 million, and Fredrick said Kelly not coming through was a bummer, but he was optimistic the seller would consider rentals. The asking price for the property was $28 million, which would be breaking a record, but dropping it to $24 million would still do it. Fredrik asked who the decision maker was, and Keith said, the wife. Fredrik asked what she was like, and Keith said she had a strong personality, and liked the arts, gardening, and cooking. In Fredrik’s interview, he said people thought real estate was easy. The listing had been lingering for 18 months, which meant he’d had it pre and post-covid. It was stressful, but he’d gotten into real estate to set records. Taking over the process, Fredrik made the call. The wife argued the price, but Fredrik said it was no financial risk; it was an option. She asked how many options he had, and he reminded her that the owner didn’t want to rent, and this was out of the goodness of his heart. But the option would be in place, even if they decided months from now, when real estate prices were going up. She said she’d talk to her husband, and Fredrik deliberately walked by subway grates, saying, he couldn’t hear, so call him back. He said Keith wasn’t kidding; the woman was on fire. She was a power mama. Keith got a text, and said it was tough to understand, but Fredrik did something right. They’d agreed to an option of $24 million. In his interview, Fredrik said it felt amazing being back in NYC. He’d just finished the biggest deal ever. It felt good. He and Keith went out for Italian food.

Next time, Ryan plays tour guide for international clients, Kelly wants to work with Fredrik. KJ’s clients are insulted about an offer, and Ryan gets fired. Maybe.  

🌆 Living Where You Work…

The $15 million penthouse.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1287846/see-fredrik-eklund-move-into-a-stunning-s15-million-penthouse-on-mdlny

🛣 Hitting the Road…

See you tomorrow for rounding out the week with soap, tea, and whatever wise words I can dig up. Until then, stay safe, stay changing lanes – both literally and figuratively – with caution, and stay investing in yourself. Brighten things up a little.

July 14, 2021 – Austin Tells the Qs His Agenda, Erika’s Hands Are Tied, Bershan Blows Up the Night & These Days

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mike/Sonny asks what the doctor said about Lenny’s heart, and Phyllis says, his condition hasn’t improved. Lenny tells Phyllis, his heart’s not failing him now. There’s no need to tell him for a week or two. Sonny says, tell him what? and Phyllis starts to cry. Lenny says his old ticker is getting worse.

On the phone, Ava says she wants to get to Windymere as soon as possible, then back to town in an hour… No, she doesn’t have to wait. She’s Ava Cassadine, at least for the time being… Who, may she ask, is holding the launch at Spoon Island? Who has more right to that launch than she does? (Seriously? She has to wonder about that?)

Laura tells Nikolas that she’s sorry she brought Spencer up. She thinks she just made things worse. He says he’s fine, and he’s glad she tried to get Spencer to call him. Her heart was in the right place. A voice says, father, and Spencer walks in. Nikolas says, Spencer? and Spencer says he’s home. He tells Laura that he’s sorry he didn’t call. He wanted to surprise them all. She knows how he loves surprises. She says, he got what he wanted, and so did she, and hugs him.

Referring to Austin, Michael says, no offense, but who the hell is he? and Scotty says he’s glad Michael asked. Let him introduce… Austin says he’d really like to take care of this himself. He looks at Michael, and says, you’re Michael, right? I’m Austin. Austin Gatlin Holt. Ned says, so he’s telling them… and Brook interrupts, saying, she knows who he is. He delivered Maxie’s baby. He says, yeah, and Olivia says, in the woods? Before the baby was stolen. He asks if Brook knows Maxie, and she says she’s Brook Lynn Quartermaine. Maxie pointed him out to her the night her baby was born. She also just told Brook that he got hired at GH. He says he did just get hired at GH, which makes Monica his new boss. It’s a pleasure to meet her. Monica says, no GH staff members introduce themselves by sabotaging an ELQ meeting, and he says he thinks she knows why he’s there. Does she want to tell everybody, or does she want him to take care of it? She says, if his name is any indication, his father was Jimmy Lee Holt, and his mother was Terry Gatlin. Scotty says, that’s right, and that makes him the grandson of his old pal, Edward Quartermaine.

Anna walks through the hospital with security guard, who says, when Dr. Quartermaine brought him on as security chief, she made it clear he’s to do everything in his power to help the WSB and the PCPD with their investigations. She says she’s trying to track down a helicopter pilot, David Hopkins. He flew Medivac for GH, but she’s learned he since left Port Charles, and is living in the tri-state area. She was hoping he could use his contacts at other hospitals to pin down his whereabouts. She gives him the only photograph she has, and he says he’ll get right on it. He leaves, and Finn approaches Anna, and asks what that was all about. She says, the search for Peter.

Nina says, if Maxie needs help, she’ll get it for her. She knows that. Nina loves her, and will always love her, no matter what Maxie tells her, but Maxie has to talk to her right now. Is she afraid she’s going to steal Bailey? Maxie says she wouldn’t be stealing Bailey; she’d be bringing her back home where she belongs. Nina says Maxie doesn’t mean that. She knows Bailey’s home is with her mother. Maxie says she can tell by the way Nina is looking at her, that Nina thinks she’s lost it. She promises she’s not delusional. She’s not thinking of snatching a baby that’s not hers. She would be bringing her home. Nina says, and her home is with Brook Lynn.

Nina says she knows Maxie is hurting, and no one knows that hurt better than she does. Maxie says she was thinking about that as she was driving there; how Nina lost Nelle, and how she had to give up Avery. That must have been devastating. That’s why she wanted to talk to Nina. Nina is glad Maxie brought up Avery, because like her, Maxie can’t take a baby that’s not hers. Maxie says, that’s not what’s happening, and Nina asks, what is happening? She wants to help Maxie. Please. Maxie says Nina has to promise she’ll keep the secret forever, even if she thinks Maxie is wrong. Nina says, oh God, Maxie. What’s the secret?

Sonny says, the old ticker is still ticking, and Lenny says, for now. Phyllis says, Lenny, but Lenny says he’s just trying to be realistic. Sonny says, Lenny has to listen to the nurse standing beside him, and asks Phyllis what they do to get this ex-Marine in fighting shape. Phyllis asks if Lenny heard that. Mike’s not giving up on him, and neither is she. Lenny says, who’s giving up? He’s just trying to face facts; keep things real. Sonny says, if he’d kept it real, he woudn’t have been able to crawl out of that water. He would have just gone under and given up. Lenny says that was just him being stubborn, and Phyllis says, good thing he was. Sonny says they took him in, and gave him another chance at life. Lenny can consider this payback, but he doesn’t care. He’s not going to let Lenny go.

Laura says, Spencer is so grown, but Spencer says he’s just older, and a little wiser and cuter. She laughs, and asks how long he’s been in town. Where’s his luggage? He says he has a room at the MetroCourt, and Laura says she sees. She says Nikolas is so quiet. Doesn’t he have something to say to his son? Nikolas says, plenty, but he’s not sure if his son is there for him, and Spencer says, that’s understandable. Nikolas is the one who’s been reaching out, while he’s been keeping his distance. Laura says, none of that matters now. Does it, Nikolas? Nikolas says he hopes not. It’s good to see him. Spencer asks if that’s all he’s got, and says it’s good to see Nikolas too. He holds out his hand, and Nikolas asks if that’s all Spencer’s got, and they hug.

Michael asks, who was Jimmy Lee Holt again? Ned says, Jimmy Lee Holt was… Olivia blurts out, the bastard son of Edward and Beatrice Latour. Sorry. As a former single mother two times, she’s not judging him. Austin thanks her, and she tells the others, she read Edward’s memoirs, so sue her. Austin says, as he understands it, illegitimacy wasn’t unique among Edward’s offspring, and Olivia says, just wait until he reads the book. Brace yourself. Valentin says, that means Mr. – Austin says, doctorDr. Gatlin Holt is entitled to a certain number of voting shares, but Michael says, not so fast. Anybody can just waltz in here and say they’re entitled to voting shares. Austin says, can they? and Scotty tosses a manila envelope on the table, and says, here’s the proof. DNA, birth certificates, affidavits… All the proof that entitles his client to his rightful share.

Finn asks Anna how it’s going, and she says, slowly. He says, good luck, and she asks, how’s Violet? He says, she’s having one of those magical summers you only get when you’re that age, and Anna says, that’s beautiful. Tell Violet she misses her. 4th of July seems so long ago already. He says he’ll do that… or Anna could tell Violet herself. She’s at Lila’s Kids in the morning, but after that… She says she can’t do that. She’s in New York tomorrow. He asks if she’s seeing a show, and she says, nothing like that. Although she was going to pop into the store at The Plaza to see if she can find something for Violet. They loved reading Eloise together. If that’s all right. He says she doesn’t need his permission to do something nice for Violet, and she says she just didn’t want to overstep; give Violet the wrong idea. He says, about what? and she says, about you and me.

Sonny says he’s sure Dr. Ford is an excellent doctor, but Lenny is going to need a second opinion. Lenny asks Phyllis to tell this guy there’s nothing free in this life, especially the kind of second opinion he’s talking about. Phyllis says, Mike is right. There are plenty of specialists out there, and new treatments coming out all the time. And they have insurance. She starts to walk to the back, and Lenny asks where she’s going. She says, what good is her medical training if she can’t use it for her husband? She’s going online, and she’s not going to stop until she finds a cardiologist that can help him. She leaves, and Lenny tells Sonny, see what you’ve done? Now you’ve given her hope.

Anna tells Finn, forget she said that, and walks to the elevator. He follows, and asks if they can’t talk for a minute. She says, sure, and they walk to a bench. He says he’s always been up front and honest with Violet. She knows they’re not together anymore. They sit, and Anna says, good. She doesn’t mean… She means she’s glad Violet understands. He says he also made sure Violet knows she’s important to Anna. Anna says, she is, and thanks him. He says, and Anna is important to him; she always will be. She says, really? and he says, really. She says, after everything that went down with Peter and Chase, she was pretty sure he wanted nothing to do with her. He says he was angry. Sometimes he still is. When he was working around the clock to save Chase, there were moments he blamed her. She says, it was her fault, but he says, it was only one person’s fault – Peter. She says she’s going to find Peter and bring him to justice, and he says, justice would be good, but it’s more important to him that Chase is improving. She says she still has so much to make up for, and he tells her, stop. Can they stop talking about Peter for just one moment? Find a way to… She says, be friends?

Michael says, of course (🍷) they’re going to request that all the paperwork be independently verified. Ned says, Dr. Gatlin, and Austin says, he was wrong about that; just call him Austin. Ned says, Austin. He hates to be the bearer of bad news, but even if those documents are real, Austin has no right to any share of ELQ. His grandfather was explicit about cutting Jimmy Lee and all of his descendants out of his estate. As he’s sure Jimmy Lee knows. Otherwise, Jimmy Lee himself would be there. Austin says his father has the best excuse in the world not to be there. He’s dead. Six months ago. Monica says she’s sorry for his loss, and Austin thanks her. That’s why he’s here, to stake his claim. Because what was rightfully his, is rightfully Austin’s.

Nikolas says Spencer’s grandmother is right. He’s a grown man now. He’s just sorry he missed seeing it happen. Laura asks, what happened to his trip around the world? The last time she talked to him, he was on the Amalfi coast. He says, nobody goes there anymore; it’s too popular. She says it’s nice to know some things never change. He’s still a snob. Spencer says, just particular. He learned from experts. Nikolas says, obviously, he’s overjoyed to see Spencer, but after all those months of radio silence, why now? Spencer says he wasn’t sure he’d be welcomed; hence, the MetroCourt. Nikolas says, Windymere is Spencer’s home. Spencer is always welcome. He’s sorry if he made Spencer feel otherwise. Spencer says, it’s all right, father. It wasn’t him. Ava comes in, saying, who’s monopolizing the launch… She sees Spencer and stops short.

Nina tells Maxie, if there’s one thing she’s learned to do effectively, it’s keep a secret. Maxie says, good, because it’s a matter of life or death. Nina says she can see it’s tearing Maxie up. She’s here, and promises to keep Maxie’s secret, no matter what. Maxie thanks her, and says, Bailey isn’t really Brook’s baby. Bailey is hers. Nina asks what she means, and Maxie says she gave her baby to Brook to keep her safe from Peter. She starts to cry again, and Nina says, Brook had her baby in a hotel room in Ithaca, and Michael and Willow brought them back here. Maxie says, no. Bailey doesn’t exist; she never did. Brook’s baby is Louise.

Ava says hello to Spencer, and Spencer apologizes for tying up the launch. He wasn’t sure of his reception, and thought he might have to make an early departure. Nikolas says he told Spencer this is his home, and Ava says, of course (🍷) it is. Welcome home. She didn’t want to interrupt. She just came by to make sure the movers didn’t forget anything. Spencer says, grandmother told him that Ava and his father were experiencing difficulties, and she says, if by difficulties, he means divorce. He says, the last he heard, they were renewing their vows. What changed? Ava says, it’s okay. He doesn’t have to pretend to be sorry their marriage is ending. He says if he’d known, he’d have come home sooner, and she says, to hammer in the final nail? but he says, to be there for his father.

Finn tells Anna, what he’d like to think is they’re… What are they? Friends? Exes? He doesn’t think it matters as long as they’re good. She says she’d like that, but they both know there will always be this thing between them where she turned a blind eye to Peter and what he did. He says she had to learn the hard way. Peter had… has a way of bringing out the worst in people and making them betray their best intentions. He flashes back to being with Peter on the roof, and Peter telling him that Anna broke the rules. He didn’t sentence Chase; Anna did. Finn remembers throwing Peter down the stairs, and Anna asks if he’s all right. He says he’s sorry for being so hard on her. He realizes the truth can sometimes be complicated. He should have been more understanding. She shrugs, and thanks him. She asks, what changed?

Sonny asks, what’s the matter with hope? and Lenny says, it may help Phyllis now, but it will cost her a lot more in the end. Sonny doesn’t know what Lenny means, and Lenny says, whatever they do about his condition, it has to be within their means, because insurance only covers so much. Sonny tells him, don’t worry; he has it covered. Lenny says, he’s the one who pays Mike/Sonny. He knows how much Mike has. Sonny says, it doesn’t matter about the money. Lenny gave him a chance. It’s only fair. Lenny says he’s touched by the offer, but it ain’t gonna be cheap. And he can’t… He can’t drive Phyllis deeper into debt. He’s dying, and by the time he’s in the ground, Phyllis could lose the Tan-O, and for what? Sonny says, for the only thing that matters. She would do it for him.

Nina says, what about Maxie giving birth in the woods? and Maxie says, that’s all true. Nina says, and the hiker who happened to be a doctor helping deliver the baby… Maxie says, he’s real. He’s in Port Charles. Nina can ask him herself. Nina asks if Brook was with her when Louise was born, but Maxie says, it was just the hiker/doctor and Peter’s imposter nurse. Nina says, she didn’t take the baby? and Maxie says, she tried to. Maxie clocked her and ran. Nina says, after giving birth? and Maxie says, adrenaline is a wonderful thing. Nina wonders if she even has to ask Maxie how the nurse ended up in the mine shaft, and Maxie says, she lured the nurse into it, but she swears she didn’t push her. Nina asks how Brook got involved, and where’s Brook’s baby? Maxie says, Brook was only pretending to be pregnant. She was going to give Brook her baby without anyone knowing, especially Peter. It was the only way Maxie could protect her from the monster who is her father. Nina says she understands, but there’s one thing she’s unclear on. Everyone in town thinks Valentin is Bailey’s father. Is he in on it too?

Valentin says, on behalf of the Quartermaine family… Ned says, of which he’s not a part, and Valentin says he’s Ned’s granddaughter’s father, but Ned says, that doesn’t make him family. Valentin says, anyway, if Austin is joining them, the more the merrier. Olivia says, if there’s another member of the family, the voting shares get shuffled yet again, right? and Ned says, not for Jimmy Lee’s descendants. Olivia says, but he’s Edward’s flesh and blood, and Austin says, before the speculation starts to spiral out of control… Brook says, if he thinks this is spiraling out of control, he’d better head for the hills, because this is nothing. Austin says he’s heard. Their family squabbles are legendary. Olivia says if he thinks the squabbles are interesting, wait until he sees Thanksgiving. Austin says, to be perfectly clear, he’s not here for a free meal, Thanksgiving or otherwise. He was just hired at GH, and from what he understands, he’s going to be paid pretty well, so that’s not why he’s here. Monica asks, why is he here? and he says, because his father was really fond of Port Charles, even though Port Charles was never really fond of his father. Ned says, grandfather’s will was probated years ago. Scotty’s client may be related by blood, but he has no legal standing to be at this meeting. Scotty says he has news for Ned. Austin’s legal standing has just gone up a notch. Ned asks how he figures, and Austin says he’s contesting his grandfather’s will. A judge will decide his rights. Not Ned, or any of the other Quartermaines.

Lenny tells Sonny, Phyllis is his life. She’s his heart, his everything. Even so, she didn’t sign on for this; going broke just to buy him some time. Sonny asks if they promised to love each other in sickness and in health, and if they did, she signed up for it. Lenny says, til death do us part, and Sonny says, that’s not going to happen, because he’s going to find a way to meet these bills. Lenny asks how he can be so sure, and Sonny says he doesn’t know, but he’s going to find a way.

Maxie says, Valentin has no idea Bailey isn’t his daughter. Nina says, so every day he’s bonding with a baby that isn’t his? and Maxie says she’s focused on protecting her daughter from Peter. She hasn’t given much thought to Valentin’s feelings. Nina says, she gets it. Valentin is far from perfect, but… Maxie says, but what? Exactly what does Nina have a problem with? She’s trusting Nina with her daughter’s life. Nina says, all right. She won’t tell Valentin. They all have their secrets, and she swore she would protect Maxie’s. Maxie says, thank God. Nina has no idea how hard it’s been to be around her daughter, and pretend she’s not hers. She’s been doing a terrible job of covering, which is why she thinks she needs to put some distance between them until Peter is caught and behind bars.

Finn says, Anna is right; something has changed. She says it’s clearly troubling him. Is there anything she can do to help? He says, Anna… when the security guy calls her name. He hands her a paper, and says he may have found what she’s looking for. She thanks him, and Finn asks if it’s about Peter. She says, it is. Can he wait a minute? She has to make a phone call. He says, no worries, this can wait, and she leaves.

Nikolas tells Spencer not to worry about him. He can take care of himself. It’s Ava that… Spencer says, Ava what? What’s going on? Laura says his father didn’t want to worry him, and Ava says, she and his father have different priorities. Spencer says, clearly. What’s come between them that’s so insurmountable? Ava says, she’s sure Spencer recalls that her marriage to his father began for all the wrong reasons. It’s ending for all the right ones. Now if they’ll excuse her, she doesn’t want to interrupt this happy family reunion. She is glad he’s back. For his father’s sake.

Michael asks what right Austin has to challenge a will that’s already probated? Scotty asks Austin to let him handle this. Only their attorneys will be copied. He filed the papers today challenging Edward’s decision to give certain family members shares, and other family members nothing. Monica says, that was his right, and Brook says, it doesn’t have to be fair. It’s family. Just ask her grandmother. Ned says, all he left her was a jar of Pickle-Lila relish, and Austin says he’d like to know more about that. Brook says, enough about the pickles. Those were his wishes. Austin can’t just come in here and change things. Austin says, spoken like a true child of privilege, and Brook says, this family isn’t changing for him. Michael says they’ll have the documents checked out and go from there. Ned says, it won’t matter; the will is ironclad. Valentin gets a text, and says, excuse him. Normally he enjoys watching them savage themselves, but he is CEO, and can’t allow the proceedings to continue if there’s confusion as to who gets a vote, and how much vote they have. Ned says, he’s telling them, Austin doesn’t get a vote. Valentin says, either way, they can’t continue if they don’t know who gets how much voting share. It would leave the company open to all kinds of outcomes, and he’s not going to let that happen on his watch. Olivia asks if Valentin is correct, and Ned says, he’s not entirely wrong. Valentin says, this meeting is adjourned. Good day everyone. He leaves, and Monica says, for once she agrees with Valentin. They can’t pass judgement until they have all the facts.

Nina says she supports Maxie’s decision if she feels that’s what’s best for her and her baby, and Maxie says, but…? Nina says, but, if Maxie and Brook brought Valentin into the loop, he would go along with it. The only difference is, he won’t have his heart broken any more than it’s going to be. Maxie says she can’t risk telling him, and Nina promised she wouldn’t either. Nina says she won’t; it’s Maxie’s secret to tell, but she really wishes Maxie would. That way she could stay in Port Charles and fight. Lure Peter out of the shadows, and Valentin will be right by her side. So will Anna, and Britt, and Aunt Liesl, and her. They love her. She’ll have an army of people at her side, and if Peter dares show his face… Maxie says, Peter won’t show his face. And they’ve lost too many people for her to ask anyone to risk their life for her mistakes, but she can’t think of anyone she’d rather be in a foxhole with. Nina says, they’re sisters. Whatever Maxie needs. Nina hugs her.

Lenny says, fine. Mike/Sonny wants to help him live longer so he gets more time with the woman he loves, he doesn’t have the strength to fight him. Sonny says, don’t worry. When Lenny gets better, they’ll put on the gloves, and he’ll kick Lenny’s butt. Lenny says it feels like he already is. He’s not going to quit, is he? Sonny says Lenny’s not going to quit either. They can’t do that, for Phyllis. Phyllis comes back in, and says she’s been looking for just the right specialist. She sets the laptop on a table, and says she thinks she found one.

Anna says she had to adjust her travel plans, and Finn says, New York? She says, yeah, and Valentin joins them. He says he got her text. Sorry if he’s interrupting. Anna says, Valentin’s been helping her with her search for Peter. Valentin asks what she’s got, and she says he knows she was looking for the helicopter pilot. She found a lead, and she’s going to follow it to New York, but she realizes he’s working hard at ELQ, so she’ll just keep him posted. He says things are very much up in the air at ELQ, and that’s not going to stop him from going with her.

Austin apologizes for melodrama, even if it is kind of a family tradition. Ned asks what he knows about the Quartermaine family traditions, and Olivia says he doesn’t know the half of it. Austin says, she’s Olivia, right? He saw her at the MetroCourt. She says, nice to meet him. Don’t mistake her friendliness for being on his side. This is her family. He says he’s her family too, and she says, remains to be seen. Austin says, please understand. He’s not there to take anything away from any of them. He’s just there for vindication for his father, and to take his seat at the family table.

Laura says it’s so good to have Spencer home, and he says, it’s good to be home. Ava tries to slip out, but Nikolas sees her. He asks if she found something, and she says, this was left behind in one of the drawers. Does he remember? She shows him a bracelet, and he says, of course (🍷) he remembers. He saw it in the window of that boutique on Charles Street. He bid against someone for it. Spencer says he hopes Nikolas didn’t bid too high, and Laura says, Spencer. Nikolas says he would have spent ten times as much, and she says, yes. She thinks she’ll give it to Avery; she’ll love it. He says, as long as someone is enjoying it, and she says, Spencer doesn’t need the launch after all. She’ll be on her way. She’s so glad he has his son back. She hopes it’s a comfort. She leaves, and Laura says, wait, and follows. Spencer says he’s sorry Nikolas is upset. He wishes there was something he could do. Nikolas says, spare him the crocodile tears. It’s what he wants, isn’t it?

Ava tells Laura, this really isn’t necessary. Laura has always been polite about it, but Ava knows she’s never approved of her marriage to Laura’s son. Laura says, that’s not true. As time has gone on, she’s seen that Ava and Nikolas belong together. Ava says she has a choice to make. Her marriage or her daughter’s safety. It’s really no choice at all. Laura says she understands. She really does, but she wants Ava to know she’s going to do absolutely everything in her power to find this sick bastard who came between Ava and Nikolas, and bring him to justice, so that Ava can be with her family. So she can be with their family.

Spencer says Nikolas wasn’t there when Ava went back on her word, and refused to testify against Valentin. He thought Valentin had killed Nikolas. Nikolas says Ava had a badly scarred face from the fire, and Spencer of all people, should have sympathy for that. Spencer says he didn’t come home to start a fight. He’s here because… Nikolas says, because? and Spencer says, because he loves Nikolas. And believe it or not, he misses Nikolas, and if his grandmother says Nikolas needs him, isn’t that reason enough? They hug, and Laura comes in and smiles.

Austin says he doesn’t expect them to hand over the keys to the kingdom, but he does hope the next time they see each other, it’s a little easier, because there’s going to be a next time. He walks to the door, and they all follow. At the front door, he turns and says, you know, it used to make him really sad that he didn’t know his grandfather. That he didn’t know what it felt like to be in a home like this. And he really looks forward to getting to know them, and spending some time with them. Because they’re family, right? He walks out, and they stand there like a sad family portrait.

Maxie says she knows Nina has other things on her mind. Other people in Nixon Falls. Nina says, wherever she is, be it there or Nixon falls, if Maxie needs her, find her. She’s really proud of Maxie’s courage. Maxie says, courage? She’s running for her life. She doesn’t know if she’d call that courage. Nina says Maxie is doing what she needs to do to save her baby. The next time she sees Maxie, she hopes it’s in Port Charles, with her little girl in her arms. Maxie hopes so too, and thanks Nina for keeping her secret. She knew if anyone would understand, it would be Nina.

Sonny says it looks like Phyllis hit paydirt, and she reads the doctor’s credentials, and says, education and training at hospitals so impressive, even Lenny has heard of them. Professor at an even better school. She’s also director of cardio care at one of the highest rated hospitals in America, and she specializes in Lenny’s form of heart disease. Lenny says, sounds expensive, and she says, sounds like they found their second opinion. Sonny says, hear that Lenny? Phyllis has spoken. Lenny says, she does that, and Sonny tells Phyllis, do him a favor. Keep Lenny on his meds, and he’ll take care of the rest. Phyllis asks Lenny if he heard that. She and Mike/Sonny have decided they’re all going to New York Methodist Hospital whether he likes it or not.

Valentin asks Anna, what’s the new lead? Finn says he’ll leave them to it, but Anna says Finn deserves to hear this too. The helicopter pilot is now flying out of New York Methodist, and if she’s right, he was piloting the chopper that almost landed on the roof the night Peter disappeared. Valentin says, if anyone can tell them if Peter got on board the chopper, it’s him. Anna tells Finn to wish them luck, and he says, good luck. Anna and Valentin leave, and the smile falls from Finn’s face.

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Sasha that she’s taking a step back, Nina says she can’t figure Brook out, Gladys tells Brando that it’s his time, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it does seem familiar.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

We revisited the stupidity of last week’s altercation between Sutton and Crystal, when Crystal tried to educate us on the definition of violate, and Sutton said Crystal had ugly leather pants. Garcelle took Crystal aside, and told her that the word she’d used wasn’t cool, but Crystal said Sutton had crossed the line. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, girl, please, which about summed it up. More hot toddies were consumed, and in Dorit’s interview, she said, insulting someone’s outfit goes below the belt. I wondered how long it took her to think that one up. Sutton apologized for what she’d said about Crystal’s pants, but said it was hard for her be with Crystal, since Crystal had been talking smack about her. Crystal refused to apologize for Sutton’s actions, and said Sutton was an inappropriate and awkward person. Period. Everyone was obviously surprised and/or shocked by this, and I wondered why no one said anything about this mean girlchild. Garcelle asked what Sutton wanted to move on, and Sutton said Crystal had hurt her, especially using the word manic; it was too much. Crystal stomped her foot and said she wasn’t taking it back. Dorit tried to explain why it was wrong, saying Sutton had confessed that her father committed suicide and was manic. Crystal said she wasn’t judging Sutton based on her father, but understood why it was a trigger. She took it back, which sounded juvenile, and LisaR made her repeat everything, which was even more juvenile. Sutton said she was more than happy to move on, and in her interview, said she was lowering her expectations and moving on. LisaR said, be true to yourself, take it a day at a time, be in the moment, and lock your door. Apparently, she’s writing fortune cookies now. Hey, she’s admitted she’s a hustler.

Kathy, Dorit, and Kyle tested positive for covid, and Kyle got seriously emotional along with it. We saw the headlines saying Erika had helped Tom embezzle from airplane crash victims, and that their divorce was a sham used to hide assets. Erika told the women, things were said that were wrong, and people were believing it. It was terrible, and she did nothing wrong. Her divorce wasn’t a sham. In her interview, she said, divorce was painful, and for it to be called a sham made it even more so. It took a lot of courage to leave, and in two seconds some a-hole said it was a sham, and had everyone believing it. The lawsuit was against the firm, and she was being attached to the firm. LisaR said Erika was strong, and would get through this. Erika said she had high anxiety because of lockdown, and she didn’t do this, and started crying.

LisaR and Crystal visited Erika in her new place, bringing muffins and liquor respectively. Erika said the best part of the house was outside, and they sat in the cabana. LisaR said it had a great vibe, and Erika said her new motto was, why not? as she poured champagne. Garcelle went over to Kyle’s place, and Kyles said she’d been cleared, but wanted to stay safe. She met with Garcelle in the backyard; her standing on the upstairs terrace, and Garcelle on the ground. Garcelle said Kyle looked good, considering, and in Garcelle’s interview, she said she and Kyle had come a long way. We flashed back to the Reunion where Kyle said Garcelle hadn’t ponied up her charity bid, and Kyle subsequently apologizing. Garcelle said she couldn’t believe she was playing Romeo to Kyle’s Juliet, but she wasn’t drinking poison for Kyle. Kyle said her family had burned rubber leaving when she tested positive, and in her interview, she talked about her character having Scarlet Fever on Little House on the Prairie. She didn’t need life to imitate art. She told Garcelle that she wanted to do a girls trip to La Quinta, and was inviting everyone.

Erika said she was not good, and had called her shrink. LisaR said it was hard when you put a person on a pedestal… and Erika said, then found out they were a POS. In her interview, Erika said she didn’t want Tom’s actions to kill what she’d created. Garcelle told Kyle that every day there was another horrible allegation. Erika told LisaR and Crystal that every day she asked herself what else was coming. In Erika’s interview, she said Tom wasn’t going down with the ship. He was taking all of them with him. People who’d stayed loyal to him. Garcelle told Kyle, she didn’t think Erika knew; they all understood husbands had secrets. Kyle said, maybe Erika saw it coming, and got out. Erika talked about being in the dark as far as Tom’s finances went, and we found out that Crystal was also clueless, which was much less of a surprise, since she’s five. LisaR said most women didn’t know anything about the home financial situation, because they didn’t make the money. She paid the bills in her household and knew everything. In LisaR’s interview, she said she’d always known where the money was, and where the dead bodies were buried. Erika said the more money Tom made, the more he shut her out. In Crystal’s interview, she said she knew Rob would be happy to share the information, but if he didn’t, it would be a red flag for her. In Erika’s interview, she said she knew how mean, vicious, and utterly dismissive Tom was. He wins; you lose. That was the way it had always been.  

Kyle visited Kathy, who showed her some Christmas wreaths she’d made. Kyle said she was still depressed, and Kathy said covid was an emotional thing. Kyle whined about not doing a good job parenting right now. Portia had slept through some of her classes. In Kyle’s interview, she said, while other parents talked about their kids missing their friends, her fear was that Portia would like being alone. Kathy said Kyle wasn’t alone, and in her interview, told us that she and Kyle hadn’t been on good terms for a while. It felt wonderful to be there for each other. They talked about Erika, and Kathy said, at the end of the day, life was a poker game, and everybody had to show their cards. Kyle told her, shut up.

LisaR visited Sutton, and met her new blonde lab puppy Waylon. Her daughter Porter was also home. In Sutton’s interview, she said Porter was her oldest child and a college freshman. She was a girlie girl like Sutton, and quiet, not like Sutton. She was double-majoring in history and French, and was a mother’s dream. Sutton wanted to keep her kids being kids for as long as possible. She also said, divorce sucked, and Erika’s was the worst ever. She told LisaR that she wasn’t making any judgements without knowing the facts, and LisaR said, why would she? I dunno. Maybe because that’s what most of them do on this show?

Kyle met Erika in the park, and Erika said she’d never been so overwhelmed. She was in a place where her hands were tied. She’d never have predicted this. She said she had a story, but couldn’t tell it. It was so hard. They were both crying, and Erika said there was nothing she could do but wait to tell her side of the story. The feeling of not knowing was huge. Things were alleged, and it was a lonely place to be. Being the possible target of a Federal criminal investigation was not cool. Things were said that were untrue, and everyone was questioning everything. It was lonely and quiet. She said Kyle would be shocked to find out how quickly people turned from you and distanced themselves, but they’d been there when times were good. In her interview, she said, if you wanted to know who your friends were, go broke, go to jail, or ask where to bury the body. Tom was a proud man. He was resistant to anything, even a conversation. She told Kyle that she’d noticed he couldn’t see or hear well, and apologized for laying all of this on her. Kyle said, that’s what friends were for, and Erika could always call her. Another headline said Tom wanted Erika to pay his attorney fees, and she said he knew she couldn’t perform. He knew everything. In her interview, she said, as much as he’d encouraged her, she thought he envied her. His view of her had changed. Who TF did she think she was? He gave her the ball, and she ran into the end zone with it, and now he didn’t like it. People didn’t know what it was like. They saw it was so great on the outside, but it wasn’t so great at home. She didn’t think anyone understood how the outside looked one way, but she’d go to hug him, and he woudn’t hug her back. She told Kyle, Tom was down to punish her ass to the ground, and Kyle said Erika had to be scared for her future. Erika said it was all she could do to wake up, and not want to go back to sleep. It was a disaster. Tom was in his own personal hell, and she couldn’t help him. It was torture to see someone melt.   

Next time, a trip to La Quinta, Tom’s assets are frozen, and Erika says she’s not going be okay for a long time.

The Real Housewives of New York City

When we last left, Ramona had literally run away from a conversation with Eboni because it was too heavy for her. She told Sonja that she knew the issues were out there, but if she talked about them all the time, she’d go crazy. Eboni said she didn’t give a damn about changing Ramona, but wanted to go forward from a place of authenticity. Ramona didn’t get to tell her to lighten up, and change the topic. Sonja said Eboni was energizing her, but Ramona only wanted to hear about the matchmaker. In Sonja’s interview, she said the women didn’t listen, and had to learn that skill. Eboni said she wasn’t mad, she just wanted to have a conversation. Ramona wouldn’t engage, putting her in a tough position. They sat down at a beautifully decorated table for a gourmet meal, and Eboni wanted to tell them something. All of a sudden, Leah started bawling, but said it wasn’t about her. Ramona wondered why the waterworks, and Leah pointed at Eboni. Eboni said she wanted to share that her grandma had passed. I think Eboni would have gotten through this announcement just fine, but Leah’s crying made her cry. There was a group hug. In her interview, Eboni said, this is where Ramona shows up. They might have their differences, but she was big sister Ramona at times like this.

Eboni wanted a tattoo, but Ramona said she was emotional and should wait. In Eboni’s interview, she said she didn’t want to wait to honor her grandmother, and knew this was the moment. She told tattoo artist Ryan, don’t f*** it up. In Leah’s interview, she said she and Eboni had lost their grandmother’s within two weeks of each other, and getting tattoos together was beautiful and special. She got the name Marie tattooed in her wrist in script, and Eboni got Katie. Sonja got drunk. In her interview, Bershan said nothing logical was coming out of Sonja’s mouth. Ramona wouldn’t quit trying to get Eboni to change her mind, and Leah finally told her, if she couldn’t be supportive, get out. In Eboni’s interview, she said, it hurt like a bitch, and in Leah’s interview, she said Ramona had the amazing talent of being annoying in every situation. In Bershan’s interview, she said Eboni’s delivery wasn’t going to work with this group. They didn’t want a preacher or a teacher, but a friend.

In her interview, Leah said the women were going to get a history lesson whether they wanted to or not. They were there to be 100% tourist. They went to Pioneer Village, a recreation of Salem 1630. Tour guide Daniel told them to put on pilgrim costumes, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said she hadn’t come this far in life to dress like that. She and Ramona suddenly had to go to the bathroom, and Eboni said, wearing the colonizer’s uniform rubbed against her spirit, and passed. Eboni and Leah discussed Sonja’s drinking, as Sonja once again blamed it on her water pill. Leah said, it was always everything and everyone else, but not the drinking.

Ramona made poopie on the bathroom floor, causing Sonja to pee herself laughing. Once again proving the casts on these shows are really five. The women went to an Italian restaurant. You could tell by the red checkered table cloths, but it was still Salem-ed up. The owner came over to their table, and LuAnn was compelled to speak to him in Italian because she couldn’t help herself. Bershan said the group was boring, and they were being grandmas, but I wasn’t sure what she wanted, since it wasn’t like they were in Vegas. In Leah’s interview, she said that wasn’t the way to get to know people. Steam came out of The Countess’s ears, and LuAnn said Bershan had the audacity to call them old ladies. She didn’t know them. Bershan said she didn’t mean to be insensitive, but LuAnn said that was exactly what she was being. In Bershan’s interview, she said she just wanted to change the mood. Are they on a girls trip or not? Again, I wasn’t sure what it was she wanted out of it. Eboni suggested Bershan tell them about herself, and Bershan said she was suing a lot of people. Sonja said never sued anyone; they sued her. Bershan said she was in some kind of fight with her ex over her eggs, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said that didn’t mean Bershan got to scramble theirs. Bershan made fun of how animated Sonja can get, and said Sonja never wanted to be normal; just an effing clown. Ouch.

Leah said Bershan didn’t know them well enough to make those judgements, and LuAnn said, how dare she talk to any of them like that? In LuAnn’s interview, she wondered where Ramona’s loyalty was, since she was laying low. In Ramona’s interview, she said, Bershan was never like this one-on-one. She was always embracing and funny. This isn’t funny. After the waitress was sufficiently uncomfortable, they ordered food. Ramona got on a nearby table, and danced, even though I don’t think there was any music. In her interview, she said she wanted to steer the boat in a new direction. Bershan was being embarrassing. Bershan said someone in the group had been dissing Leah, and in her interview, Leah said Bershan was a bullsh*t artist, who put herself in this position. She said Bershan came at her, and didn’t want to finish it. After the entire table cajoled, pleaded, and threatened, Bershan finally said that Ramona told her that she didn’t really connect with Leah a lot. This was the big reveal?  We saw a clip where Bershan asked if Ramona considered Leah a friend, and Ramona said she wasn’t sure, but they were working on the relationship. Leah said she didn’t connect with Ramona either, even though she’d just called Bershan a bullsh*t artist, and she left. LuAnn suggested Ramona dance on the table some more, and they all left Ramona and Bershan sitting at the table. I hope they tip these poor people who have to wait on their sorry asses, and then they dine and dash. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t blame them for leaving. She wanted to leave too, but she was the one who brought Bershan. Sonja was straggling behind the others, and about to sit back down, probably forgetting why she got up in the first place. She said she’d stay for Ramona, and told Bershan that she was rude and not intuitive. In Sonja’s interview, she wondered, who would take advice from this woman? She wouldn’t. The three of them went outside – again, I hope after leaving a tip. Ramona said Bershan messed up big time. She went after Leah, when all Ramona had said was that Bershan should make her own decision about Leah. They were so loud, people were looking out their windows from apartments up above. Ramona told Bershan that she never said anything negative about Leah. While she was saying this, she helped Sonja drink a glass of wine through her mask.  

Bershan called them phonies, and Ramona ran back in the restaurant to get her scarf. Sonja went with her, and said Bershan was a wet blanket. Leah, LuAnn, and Eboni were already back at the hotel, when Bershan showed up, saying she was sorry; she’d had too much to drink, Leah said she didn’t get to do that because she Bershan hadn’t had a lot to drink. In Leah’s interview, she said Bershan couldn’t use drinking as an excuse, and pretend she didn’t blow up the whole effing night. Bershan said she thought Ramona set her up, although she didn’t exactly explain how, and she’d been the one to bring it up. Sonja and Ramona stumbled into the elevator, and went to the basement. Eboni told Bershan that she thought an apology would go a long way. In Eboni’s interview, she said she thought Bershan was sorry about the fallout, but not for her actions. Leah said she’d thought she and Ramona had a breakthrough in the Hamptons. That’s why it hurt to hear that Ramona said something negative. We flashed back to Ramona comforting Leah, and talking about Leah’s grandmother.

Sonja and Ramona stumbled back to the others, and Sonja said Bershan still rubbed her the wrong way. Bershan told Sonja to walk away, and said Sonja was being a clown again. In Ramona’s interview, she said she’d just put out a fire. Now Bershan was torching the room. In LuAnn’s interview, she said it wasn’t bad enough Bershan called Sonja a clown the first time. Now she was going in for the second round. Sonja and Bershan made animated gestures at each other, and Bershan said, where’s your speaking, bitch? Leah said, enough, and Sonja said Bershan was projecting. Use your brain, bitch.  

Next time, Sonja and Bershan get in each other’s faces, and security is called; LuAnn says, Ramona started this sh*t; Leah talks to Sonja about her drinking; a session with a medium; and a haunted house.   

🌅 Before the Dawn…

I had an exciting day yesterday, contributing to the next Marc Singer’s interview on Mupo & Friends on YouTube. It will be airing this Sunday, July 18th, at 2 pm. You can always catch it another time, but there’s live chat during the premiere, and we can talk. Sort of. Join me tomorrow for soap and what will no doubt be the most amazing properties you’ve ever seen, but will never ever be able to afford. Until then, stay safe, stay ethical, and stay remembering, at the end of the day, life is a poker game, and everybody has to show their cards.

July 9, 2021 – Britt Has the Last Word, New Son, Joining GH, Celebrations, Harry Has the Feels, Collection, Sorry, the Squad, AHS Update, Dragon News, Amazing, 4 Great Quotes & There

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn sees Elizabeth at the hospital, and says they have to stop meeting like this. He asks, on a scale of one to ten, how’s her hangover? and she says, bad enough to give her a headache, but not bad enough to make her forget she and Sam started a fire on the pier. He says, or Sam and Dante falling in the harbor, and she says, at least it gave her something else to think about… besides the secret hanging over them. He tells her, let’s go.

Maxie comes out of the elevator at the MetroCourt, and sees Austin. He says, it’s nice to see her, and she says, he’s back. He says he is, and asks how she’s doing. She asks what he’s doing in Port Charles.

Anna drinks coffee at the bar, and flashes back to her kiss with Valentin.

Valentin is also daydreaming at the Quartermaines, and Monica asks if she’s interrupting. He says, no. He’s just waiting for his lawyer; he’s late. She asks if they’ll be discussing ELQ, and he says they will. She asks if he doesn’t see the conflict. He’s living in her house (Alan gave it to her, in case you didn’t know), and he’s stealing from her family’s company. He asks if she intends to evict him, and she says, why shouldn’t she?

In the elevator at the hospital, Carly wonders if Monica is going to hate this more or less than when she found out AJ was marrying her, but Jason says, it was a long time ago. She says she and Monica have a grudging truce. Monica has never forgiven her for what she did to AJ, and as a mother, Carly can’t say she blames her. Now she’s marrying Monica’s other beloved son. She’s going to hate this. The doors open and Britt is there. She says she’ll get the next one.

Portia looks at a photo of her and Curtis on her phone, and Terry says, Dr. Robinson. Portia wonders since when they’re being so formal, and Terry says since she wants to make a formal pitch to Portia. Portia says, about? and Terry says, backing her campaign for Chief of Staff.

At Charlie’s, Curtis asks if Stella said something to Portia about him and Jordan, and she says she most certainly did. She told Portia that he needed to recover from the end of his marriage, and the last thing he needed was a rebound relationship. He asks where Stella gets off telling Portia something like that.

Jordan takes a flashdrive out of her computer, and tells Molly and TJ, Judge Carson starts off by speaking in code. Molly says, taking into consideration each defendant’s previous record, and Martin says, how they’re raised; what they’re future’s likely to be. TJ says, Judge Carson actually said, some people only respond to incarceration, and Martin says, one thing’s for sure. She absolutely admitted to handing down different sentences to different defendants based on race. There’s no denying how obvious her biases are. TJ asks if Jordan thinks the recording is enough to call the judge’s sentences into question.

Alexis tells the guard she can’t. She looks at Shawn, and says she can’t go back into solitary. He says she knows what they practiced, and the guard reaches for her. She backs up, and says, no!

Austin says he has some business in Port Charles, and Maxie asks if it’s something new. She’s never seen him anywhere around Port Charles. Anna joins them, and Austin says it’s nice to see her. She says she’s been meaning to thank him for the use of his home in Pawtuck, and he says, his pleasure. He hopes she and Mr. Cassadine were warm and dry. Are they any closer to finding Maxie’s baby? Anna says, no. She’s afraid the rain washed any evidence away. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and to let him know if there’s anything else he can do. He gets in the elevator, and Maxie and Anna smile at each other.

Valentin thanks Monica for letting him and Charlotte stay in her beautiful home. It means the world to be close to Bailey, and she’s so young, he’d hate to have to schedule bouncing her from house to house. She says, enough. She’s not going to kick him out. She’s put up with a lot worse over the years. Her sister-in-law comes to mind. He says he hopes he can repay her sometime, and she says, when they vote him out as CEO, be gracious in defeat. She goes to the door, and Yuri opens it for her, saying something in Ukrainian. Or Russian. Or wherever he’s from; I forget. She responds in kind, and he watches her go.

Portia says, so Terry is serious about becoming Chief of Staff, and Terry says she seems surprised. Does Portia think she’s too young? Too inexperienced? Portia says, hardly. GH could use some fresh faces, and some fresh air from Cyrus and his reign of terror. Terry says, so she can count on Portia’s support when she presents her case for Chief of Staff to Dr. Quartermaine? Britt has joined them, and asks if Terry is trying to get the popular kids on her side. Did she put up election posters in the cafeteria? Terry says, if Britt’s worried about this being a popularity contest, perhaps she should question why she’s so unpopular. Britt says Terry can retract the claws. She’s leaving as soon as she drops this chart off. She’s welcoming a new doctor to their team; a responsibility of the Chief of Staff. As Britt walks away, Terry tells her, enjoy it while she can, and Britt says she will. For years to come. Terry tells Portia, sorry. She kind of took the low road there. It’s so not her style. Portia says, Britt tends to bring out the worst in all of them, but never mind her. Before Terry talks to Monica, she wants Terry to understand how difficult and time-consuming the Chief of Staff position really is. Terry thinks she must be speaking from experience, and Portia says, that’s because she is.

Curtis says Stella has no business meddling in his private life, and she says he’s still a married man, and Portia was getting ideas about him. He says, that’s between him and Portia. He guesses Portia would have ideas, since they kissed. She says, he’s kissing another woman and his marriage isn’t even over? He says he signed the divorce papers, and she says, has Jordan? He says she will, and Stella says, then he’s not divorced yet. She sits down, and he says, auntie, the marriage is over, and sits with her. He says, the trust has been broken, and Jordan broke it repeatedly. She says, and he thinks he can trust Portia, and he says, so far, so good. They enjoy each other’s company. Who knows? They might be on to something good here, but he’d at least like to explore the possibility, so why is she meddling? She says, because someone has to save him from himself.

Jordan says she’ll be sending Martin’s recording of his conversation with the judge to the Judicial Review Board. While the review is pending, she’ll be petitioning the Attorney General to put Shawn and Alexis somewhere that they’ll be safe. TJ says, the recording is legal, since New York allows single-party consent. If one person knows they’re making a recording, the other can be recorded without their knowledge. Martin says, that is correct, but it’s no guarantee Judge Carson is going to face consequences, even with recording and documentation. Jordan says, judges are extremely protected. It’s not easy bringing accusations against them. TJ says, but there’s hope, right, that this will all be worth it in the end?

Shawn asks Henry to let him handle this, and Henry steps away. Shawn tells Alexis, remember what they talked about; breathe in for four, breathe out for four. She says she can’t, and he says, Henry already did him a solid in letting him see her. He can get in serious trouble, and so can she if she doesn’t go back to solitary. Henry says, he’s right, and grabs Alexis’s wrist. She jerks away, and drops to the ground, clutching her wrist and crying.

Carly says, Britt didn’t look happy, and Jason says, no she didn’t, Captain Obvious. She guesses Jax wasn’t as much of a consolation as Britt thought. She should be enjoying that, after Britt rubbed their noses in the fact they were sleeping together. But she’s been where Britt is. Lashing out because it’s the only way to stop yourself from curling in a ball and crying. He says, Britt believed she could count on him, and then he blindsided her. She says he didn’t have a choice, and he says, he didn’t, but he still hates that he hurt her. Carly puts her arm around him.

Elizabeth says she’s glad Finn didn’t turn himself in to the PCPD. Maybe because the discovery of Peter’s death would gain him nothing. It would cause him to lose Violet. Not to mention, it would cause GH to lose a brilliant infectious diseases specialist. He says, the longer Peter is down there, the more likely it is someone’s going to find his body, and she says they need to figure out how to move him. He says he’s open to suggestions, and she says, what if they involve Jason? He says he doesn’t think so. If he gets caught, it makes things worse for them. She says, Jason doesn’t get caught, but he says, everyone gets caught eventually. Right now he doesn’t want to risk Jason’s luck running out when their future is on the line.

In her office, Britt thanks Austin for helping Maxie give birth, even if it didn’t have the happy ending they all hoped it would. He says, no, the end was him getting knocked out cold, and some psychotic nurse stealing Maxie’s baby. So not ideal. He hopes that doesn’t preclude him from getting the job. She says, if anything, it makes her more inclined to hire him. He delivered a baby in the woods under less than ideal circumstances. If it was up to her, she’d pin a medal on him. He says, it was his understanding that he’s already been vetted and approved, and his meeting her is just one final hurdle before becoming one of the staff. She says he’s correct, but he has a private practice in Pawtuck. Why would he give that up to join a hospital staff in Port Charles?

Maxie joins Anna, and says, what’s this about her and Valentin seeing Austin in Pawtuck? Anna says, he was very kind. He leant them his rental for shelter because it started to rain. Maxie says, Anna told him that they didn’t find any evidence that would lead to Louise, and Anna says, that’s true. Maxie says, Anna doesn’t think Austin had anything to do with Louise’s kidnapping, does she? and Anna says, does she? Maxie says she’s 100% certain he had nothing to do with it, but Anna seemed sort of suspicious of him just now. Why is that? Anna flashes back to showing Valentin the photo she found, and saying she knew Austin’s father. Anna tells Maxie, no. She doesn’t think Austin had anything to do with the nurse or her accomplice. It’s just strange that when she found out Austin’s last name, she wondered if he could be related to someone she knew years ago.

Valentin says, Yuri and Dr. Quartermaine have gotten pretty close, and Yuri says, she’s very nice lady. Valentin asks if they speak often, and Yuri says, Dr. Quartermaine says he’s very good listener, and Valentin says, really? Was he listening to what Monica said to him just now, because he wasn’t really paying attention. His mind was elsewhere; he was thinking about something else. Well, someone else. He guesses it’s to be expected, since they have a long history together, and they’ve been through a lot lately. He says Yuri is a good listener, but he’s not much of a conversationalist, and walks away.

Jordan says she’s going to give a copy of the recording to Warden Alvarez at Pentenville. Hopefully, this will be enough to have Alexis and Shawn released into PCPD custody. She says she can try to keep Molly’s role out of all of this, and Molly says, but the more details Jordan provides to the Review Board, the better the chances Judge Carson will be reprimanded or even removed. TJ says Molly might lose her job, and Martin says, at the very least, she won’t be very popular with her colleagues. Jordan asks what Molly wants her to do, and TJ says he has Molly’s back, whatever she decides. Molly tells Jordan, do whatever it takes to make this right, and Jordan leaves. Martin tells Molly that she did great, and follows. TJ hugs Molly.

Shawn tells Henry that Alexis has osteoporosis and has to be taken to the infirmary. Henry says, nice try. Step aside; she’s going back to solitary. Alexis says, no, please, and Henry pulls Shawn away. Shawn stands between Henry and Alexis.

Martin apologizes to Valentin for being tardy. He was talking to Commissioner Ashford about a delicate matter. Valentin asks if it’s anything he should know about, but Martin says, no. He’ll probably hear something about it tin the next few days, but he thinks right now they should focus on the upcoming ELQ shareholders meeting. Valentin says he gave Brook her ELQ shares back as a way of gaining access to Bailey, and before Martin says anything, he’d do it again even though it reduces his room to maneuver. Martin says, indeed. Valentin’s only hope is to sway some of Ned or Michael’s loyalists to his side. Valentin says, that’s not going to happen, and Martin suggests he pay Michael a visit at Aurora. He’s got his own company to run now. He might be interested in some sort of power sharing arrangement. His impression is that Michael’s always been a pragmatist, and he’ll know Valentin is good for ELQ’s bottom line. It’s worth a shot. Many a successful partnership… Valentin is staring into space, and Martin says he’s sorry to bore Valentin. He should have attempted to be more entertaining. On their next rendezvous, perhaps a rubber nose, oversized shoes… Maybe some pants that explode. Valentin says, what? and Martin says, a rubber nose, oversized shoes… Valentin says, Martin isn’t boring him. His mind is on something else. Martin says, judging by the look on Valentin’s face, if it’s not business, he’s distracted by matters of the heart. Valentin says, it’s a personal matter, and Martin says, they’re talking about Anna Devane, aren’t they?

Maxie asks if Anna really waited out the storm with Valentin. If she hadn’t been scared out of her mind, she would think the cabin would be cozy… in the rain… a fire crackling in the fireplace… Anna asks if Maxie is writing romance novels now, and Maxie says, come on. Everyone knows Anna and Valentin are… intense. Anna says, no. They’ve become good friends. They trust each other. That’s all.

Austin tells Britt that he has business in Port Charles that requires him to put down roots. For him, it’s convenient to practice medicine in the town he lives in. Britt asks how long his business is projected to last. Will he be sticking around? He says, that’d be the idea.

Carly says she’s sure Jason gave Britt an explanation. He didn’t just say, I’m marrying Carly, and that’s it. Jason says, he told Britt that they decided it was best for the family and each other to get married. But he also told her that he’d still be there for her. Carly says she’s sure Britt told him to go to hell, and Jason heaves a sigh. Monica comes by, and says a pleasant surprise. Jason asks if she has a few minutes to talk in her office. Monica says, sure. They can talk in her office. She walks ahead, and Carly says she thinks it would be better if Jason spoke to Monica alone. She doesn’t want to be there when Monica tries to talk him out of it. He says he thought she wanted to do this together, and she says she’s just being nice. She doesn’t want to spoil their engagement by having a big fight with his mother. So go break the happy news.

Portia tells Terry that both of her parents were doctors. She’s obviously very proud of them. Terry says she’s sure Portia’s parents are proud of her for following in their footsteps. Portia says, a while back, her father become Chief of Staff at the hospital where he worked his whole life. The job quickly fell short of his expectations. Terry says, let her guess. He was suddenly schmoozing Board members instead of diagnosing and healing patients? Portia says, not to mention dealing with the mounds of paperwork. She saw him grow to resent her mom, who still had that connection with her patients. Terry strikes her as someone who loves treating patients above all else. Terry says true. Her feelings about Britt aside, she knows she would do good as Chief of Staff. GH is great, but there are still institutional blind spots. Some prevent trans patients from getting the care they need. She knows she could make a difference. Portia says, wow. That’s a good answer.

Stella says Curtis may be a grown man, but she’s known him since he was born. When someone hurts him, he puts walls up so high, there’s not a ladder big enough to scale them. He says, her point? and she says, when she had her issues with Jordan, and he nearly kicked her out of his life. Eventually he came around, and forgave her. He asks if she’s saying he should forgive Jordan, and she says, she’s asking him to lower the walls, and really listen to her. Listen to the love she still has for him, and the love Stella knows he still has for her. He says he’s not denying his love for Jordan, and she says, but he wants to box it up and stow it in the attic. Loving Jordan was complex and difficult. What he might have with Portia looks simple in comparison, but believe her, it’s not.

Henry says, stand down inmate, and Shawn says, make me. Henry raises his club, and Jordan walks in. She asks if there’s a problem, and says Henry is the one who needs to stand down… now.

TJ beings coffee to Molly, who’s waiting in Jordan’s office. He says, the coffee here tastes like sludge, and hands her one. She asks how he’s doing, then asks if it’s a dumb question. He says she never asks dumb questions. He’s doing about as well as she is. He takes another sip, and tosses his cup away. She says, when she thinks Shawn is in prison for a crime he didn’t even commit… TJ says, he could have been out by now. Despite pleading guilty, it doesn’t make sense that he was denied parole. Molly says TJ must be angry for Shawn, and sad about the time they lost. He says he and Shawn were close before he knew Shawn was his father. Since he found out, he hasn’t been able to hug Shawn. How messed up is that? Molly hugs him.

Jordan asks, why is a guard from the male wing escorting a female prisoner back to her cell? Shawn says, it was a misunderstanding, and she says, apparently. Alexis is still sitting on the floor, and Jordan crouches down, and says, she’s so sorry this happened. Alexis says she’s been in solitary for days. She can’t go back there. Jordan says, she won’t. She’s safe now. She tells Shawn, they both are.

Valentin asks, what makes Martin think he’s talking about Anna Devane? Martin says, Valentin and the divine Miss Devane have a long and complicated history. He believes at one point, Valentin was infatuated with her. Valentin says, they studied together ages ago. Anna was bright, driven, stunning. It was easy to become infatuated with her. They had a falling out. Martin says, only because of Anna’s sister Alex. Would he be right in guessing Peter’s disappearance brought the two of them closer together? Valentin says he might be on the right track. Martin says, he is? and Valentin says he might be on the right track about him meeting with Michael. He pays Martin for legal and business advice. If he wants it about his personal life, he’ll ask for it.

Maxie asks how the whole trust thing is going with Valentin, and Anna says, good. He’s a skilled investigator. She would trust him in a dangerous situation. He’s a valuable colleague, and that’s it. Nothing more. Maxie says, okay. Maybe Anna hasn’t noticed how Valentin looks at her, but Maxie has definitely picked up on it. Anna thinks that after all the lies she’s told, she doesn’t feel she deserves anything more, or anyone, right now. Maxie puts her hand on Anna’s, and says she’s sorry about how angry she got over Peter. Recently, she’s come to see things from Anna’s point-of-view. How secrets can be worth it if you’re trying to protect someone you love. Anna asks what Maxie means, and Maxie says she forgives Anna, and wants her to forgive herself and be happy. Anna doesn’t know if any of them can be happy until they find Maxie’s baby. Maxie says it’s been great talking to her, but she has to pick up a prescription for James. Anna asks if he’s okay, and Maxie says, he’s fine. She suggests they do this again, and Anna thanks her. Maxie smiles at her, and leaves.

Elizabeth says she knows Finn is uncomfortable with Jason helping them, but what about Anna? He says, out of the question, and she says, Anna wouldn’t turn them in. He says, she used to work for the WSB; she’s in law enforcement. If they tell her the truth, that he killed Peter and Elizabeth helped him hide the body, that’s like asking her to break the law; it’s accessory after the fact. Elizabeth says, Anna loved him. She doesn’t think Anna would sacrifice Finn’s freedom to uphold the letter of the law, especially to get so-called justice for Peter. He says, it’s still a risk he’s not willing to take. She says, then she guesses it’s up to them. They’d better move while the loopholes Cyrus put in GH security are still in place.

Jason and Monica go to her office, and she says she doubts he’s there to congratulate her on her return to GH. He says, that’s not why he’s there, but he’s happy for her, and the hospital. She’s definitely the right choice to undo the damage Cyrus caused. She says, it’s daunting task, but she’s determined to succeed. She thanks him for his faith in her, and asks how he is. He says he’s fine, and she says she heard he got shot. He says, it’s not bad, and he’s almost fully recovered. She says, good. She also heard all the charges against him were dropped, and he says he’s sorry for worrying her. She says she knows everything he does has a reason, and he says, that’s why he’s there. He and Carly are getting married.

Carly asks Britt if she has a minute, but Britt says, nope; super busy. She goes to the computer, and says, actually, let’s get this over with. Jason saved her life, and she sort of balanced the scales by keeping him from bleeding to death. They were fugitives together, and it was a crazy time. Jason was really good to her, but that’s over, and he’s marrying Carly. Britt starts to walk away, and Carly asks if Britt knows why.

Portia says Terry officially has her support, but don’t say she didn’t warn Terry about the long hours. Terry says, lucky for her, she has no personal life, and Portia says she wouldn’t call that lucky. She, Terry, and Elizabeth are long overdue for a ladies night out. It’s been a long time since she’s been somebody’s wingwoman. Terry asks, who says she’s not going to be trying to find someone for Portia? Unless she’s off the market and failed to tell Terry.

Curtis tells Stella, when he and Portia originally met, she was married and had just started rehab. She says, which neither one of them knew because of him wanting to keep it simple. Here they are, years later, and he’s thinking he might have another chance. He says, what he thinks is his business, and starts to get up. She puts her hand on his, and says she has no doubt Portia has feelings for him. Why wouldn’t she? But it’s unfair going into this thinking she’s any less three-dimensional than Jordan. Portia has flaws and secrets like everyone else. He asks how that justifies her warning Portia away from him, and she says she was looking out for him as discreetly as possible. He says, discreet? That translates into, don’t tell Curtis. So how does that make her any different from Jordan? She says, a woman who’s willing to move heaven and earth, and willingly sacrifice everything for the people she loves? She’s been compared to worse. He gets up, and she says, he’s leaving? He says he has some unfinished business to settle, and walks out.

Jordan and Shawn help Alexis up, and Jordan tells her that she’ll make sure a doctor sees her. Rest. She tells Henry that she has permission from Warden Alvarez to take Alexis and Shawn into protective custody, pending an investigation into their respective trials. Alexis doesn’t understand, and Jordan says, it turns out TJ and Molly didn’t listen to Shawn. She couldn’t be more proud.

TJ touches Molly’s face, and thanks her. She says, for what? and he says, loving him. She says, as if she had a choice, and they kiss. She asks if he’ll still love her if she loses her job, and he asks if that’s a real question. She’s his hero; risking the career she’s so passionate about to save her mom and his dad. She says she’s not sure she’s so passionate about the law anymore. It allowed Judge Carson to impose biased sentences and inflict harm for years. He says, he thinks the law needs fewer Judge Carsons, and more Molly Lansing-Davises. She says, and TJ Ashfords. She knows medicine is his passion, but he’d make a spectacular attorney. She couldn’t have done it without him. He says, if they don’t try to right the past, what future will they leave behind for their kids? They kiss again.

Monica says, Jason and Carly, and he says, yes. She says maybe she should ask… He says, ask what? and she says, was it Carly’s idea or his idea? He says, they decided together that getting married was what’s best for the family and each other. She says, she and Carly have certainly had their differences in the past, but she knows Carly loves him. Obviously, he loves her, and they’re both tremendously loyal to each other, which is a good foundation for a marriage. Jason says, they think so, and Monica asks if he thinks he can be happy. She’s not talking about Carly. She’s talking to him, her son. He says he thinks he can, and she says, okay then. She’s happy for him. She hugs him, but neither one looks happy.

Carly tells Britt that she and Jason admitted their feelings for each other a month or so after Sonny’s funeral. Before Franco died; before Jason was arrested. But it felt wrong. It was too soon after Sonny, so they decided to take a step back, and let it go. But since Jason came back from Pentenville and being on the run, they realized they can’t hold their feelings back, so they decided to make it official. She’s sorry. They didn’t intend to hurt Britt. Britt says, it just comes so naturally.

Anna waits for the elevator, and the doors open. Valentin is standing inside, and he makes that crooked smile he’s so good at.

Maxie sees Austin again, and says, so his business was at the hospital, and he says he had some paperwork to fill out. He’s officially on staff. He’s moving to Port Charles, so she’ll be seeing more of him. Nice to see her. She says, him too, and he jets.

Valentin tells Anna, he was hoping to run into Michael; he’s supposed to be meeting an associate here. She says she didn’t see Michael, and he says he’ll wait at the bar then. He leaves, and she smiles. Her phone rings, and she says, Kurt. Has he found information on the helicopter pilot they were looking for… Great. Thanks. He’s a good friend.

Finn and Elizabeth walk out of the elevator, and he says, maybe they’ll do the whole thing in reverse. Since the elevator in the subbasement only goes to the roof, they can take Peter up there, take the stairwell back to 10… She says, Cyrus made sure all the cameras leading to the roof were turned off, and he says, yes. Monica comes by, and says she’s sorry. She couldn’t overhearing, and they have nothing to worry about. She’s talked to security, and they assured her the cameras have been restored everywhere. Nobody is sneaking anything illegal in or out of the hospital. Finn smiles, but he’s probably not feeling it.  

Portia tells Terry, actually, she’s not seeing anyone, so put a night on the books for them, and they’ll go searching for Mr. Right. Terry says, sounds like fun. It’s time for her to do rounds, and she says she’ll text Portia. Terry leaves, and Curtis comes out of the elevator. He says, just the doctor he was looking for. She says, concerning what? and he says he didn’t like the way they left things. He thinks it’s time they finally fix that.

Jordan brings Alexis and Shawn back to her office, and Molly hugs Alexis. Shawn walks up to TJ, who says, dad, and they hug. Everyone looks happy… for now.

Britt tells Carly, so, what she and Jason had was a fling to take his mind off Carly? She doesn’t believe it for one second. Carly says she can’t make Britt believe what she doesn’t want to believe, but what Britt and Jason had was a moment; it was fleeting. What she and Jason have is forever. Jason returns, and says, Britt. Britt says they can both go to hell, and walks away. Jason asks Carly, what’d you do? Neither one of them looks happy.

In case I haven’t said it, I hate Carly. I would love it if this is the straw that finally breaks the back of her friendship with Jason, but I know that’s asking a lot.

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook that they’re in huge trouble, Austin is having the time of his life, Obrecht apologizes to someone, and Carly asks if Jason is hoping for the same thing.

👨‍👦 His Father’s Son…

Nikolas weighs in on his new progeny.

🌲 Latest Addition…

Another Pine Valley transplant comes to Port Charles.

🎇 Better Late Than Never…

What the soap world did on the 4th.

⚔️ Ursula Andress Be Damned…

Harry isn’t comfortable with the age gap. Scott is old, and has three kids, but #WhatDidHarryDo?

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-lisa-rinna-husband-harry-hamlin-feelings-daughter-amelia-romance-scott-disick/

💰 Mixed Feelings…

She shouldn’t have gone along with it, but on the other hand, it’s seriously taking from the little guy in comparison. And I would never say she didn’t work hard for the money.

https://ew.com/syndication/tom-girardi-embezzlement-victims-can-collect-payments-from-erika-girardi-judge-rules/

🍸 Apology Tour…

Hopefully, she stays out of the bushes for good now.

https://pagesix.com/2021/06/29/luann-de-lesseps-apologizes-to-her-daughter-victoria-de-lesseps/

🦈 Rain On Me…

Behold. The new Suicide Squad movie. The Rain trailer rocks.

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/everything-we-know-about-the-suicide-squad/

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a837989/suicide-squad-2-cast-trailer-release-date-plot-news/

https://www.dccomics.com/videos/the-suicide-squad-official-rain-trailer

👹 Here’s the Story…

John Carroll Lynch, Danny Trejo, and a drive-in. I will love this.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/american-horror-stories-trailer-released-spinoff/

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a29396639/american-horror-story-season-10-release-date-cast-theme-trailer-plot/

https://ew.com/tv/american-horror-stories-preview/

🐉 Dragon Game…

All you need to know about House of the Dragon.

https://ew.com/tv/2019/10/30/house-of-the-dragon-thrones/

🦒 Something To Aspire To…

Can you believe the fabulousity of this place?

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/lance-gross-kenya/

👩🏽‍💻 Quotes of the Week

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky

PB&J. It’s only twenty-five cents a sandwich if I use the grape jelly where grapes aren’t an actual ingredient. – Kyle (Christoph Sanders) Last Man Standing

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. – E. Cossman (Or sometimes a good stiff drink.)

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.Steve Jobs

⛅️ Early Night, Early Morning…

Wrapping it up because I have to get up early, since my hair is out of control, and the only appointment available was at the crack of dawn. And I called two weeks ago. Not her fault. Covid has caused a long wait for hairdressers and veterinarians. It’s also time for me to switch hats and become a copywriter for Mupo & Friends celebrity interview show on YouTube. Airing soon will be Marc Singer, my all-time favorite actor, and I’ll be making a cameo appearance. The actual interview is this week, so I’m pretty excited about that. See you on Deck on Monday, and make sure you stay safe, stay perceptive, and stay righting the past to give everyone a better future.

July 8, 2021 – Molly Sets Up Judge Carson, Spencer Switch, Bi-Coastal Hustler & Blues

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone in her office, Jordan tells someone that she and the PCPD appreciate their assistance. Good luck. There’s a knock at the door. Curtis comes in, and she asks if everything is okay. He says he just heard from his lawyer. Has she decided to fight the divorce?

At Charlie’s, TJ asks Molly to tell him again that she knows what she’s doing. She says she does, and he gives her a kiss for luck. She leaves, and runs into Stella outside. Stella asks if Molly isn’t joining her and TJ, but Molly says she has a really important appointment, but next time. Stella goes inside, and asks TJ, what’s up with Molly that she’s not joining them? He says, she’s a born crusader. If she thinks there’s a way to help someone, she’ll step up.

Ava joins Portia at another table, and asks how their girl is. Has she recovered from her scare at the gallery? Portia says, Trina’s no victim, so in the end she was more angry than scared that her big entrance to her graduation party turned into a scene from a horror movie. Once she got herself cleaned up, she had a terrific time. Portia doesn’t know where she gets it, and Ava says she thinks she’s looking at her.

Trina is reading in the park, when Victor/Spencer comes along. He asks if she’s reading anything good, and she says a book about mask-wearing feminists calling out misogyny in the art world since 1895, and he says, sounds enthralling. She says, they’re badass, unlike him who ghosted her on the 4th when he went in search for a bottle of water. He hands her a bottled water, and says, better late than never.

Nikolas approaches Martin at the MetroCourt, and asks if Martin got his message. Martin says he did. He was going to get back to Nikolas later today. Nikolas sits, and says, since they’re both there, does Martin have a minute? Martin says, a minute? Have a seat. What’s on his mind? Nikolas says, divorce.

Alexis babbles about the weather to a guard inside a prison office. She says, it smells good after it rains, doesn’t he think? The guard looks up from his book, and says, what? She says, never mind. She’ll just keep talking to herself. Shawn walks in, and says, or she can talk to him. She asks what he’s doing there; he’s going to get them in trouble. The guard opens the gate, and Shawn says, Henry is going to look away while he accidentally runs into her while she’s doing her daily exercise. They go into the other room, and Henry says Shawn owes him. They sit, and Alexis says she doesn’t want Shawn jeopardizing himself for her. He says he’ll be fine, but she says, nobody’s fine in here. She rubs her wrist, and he asks if it’s bothering her. She says her osteoporosis is acting up, and he asks if she’s taking anything for it. She can request medication that helps her stay healthy. She says she’s so grateful for working in the library, she didn’t want to request any special favors. She could ask Diane to help her with it, but she has no idea when she’s going to have a conversation with anyone on the outside again. He asks if solitary is getting to her.

TJ tells Stella, even though Molly wanted Alexis to take responsibility, she’s worried about Alexis being behind bars. She says, it’s hard on the whole family when a family member is in prison, especially during personal milestones, and TJ says, like graduating law school. She says, and graduating med school. He says she knows he’s been keeping in touch with Shawn. He and Molly saw Shawn the other night, and she says, that’s nice. He says, no offense, but when she says nice that way, she means anything but. It’s her right to feel how she feels, and he’ll always consider   dad his father, but Shawn is too. She says, Shawn is his birth father, and it’s natural for TJ to want a relationship with him. TJ thanks her for understanding, and she says, of course (🍷). She asks how his mother is.

Jordan says, Curtis is there about the divorce papers? and he says if she has a problem with the terms, they can talk about it, although he thought they were extremely fair. She says she doesn’t have a problem with the terms. They agreed to be amicable, and she thought that’s what they were doing. He says so did he, then his lawyer told him she hasn’t delivered the signed papers, even though he gave them to her weeks ago. He has to ask, what’s the problem? She says she’s had a lot going on. The initial investigation into Franco Baldwin’s death; Peter August attempted a kidnapping, then escaped; Chase was poisoned and nearly died; there’s been an uptick in overdoses because of Cyrus, who also took the mayor hostage and shot Curtis; Jason Morgan escaped from GH, where he was shot; and she had to deescalate a situation with Cameron Webber where he could have been shot. Oh, right, then her son graduated from medical school. He says he doesn’t mean to downplay her formidable list, but how long does it take to sign some papers and stick them in an envelope?

Trina takes the water from Spencer, says, thanks a bunch, and goes back to reading. He says she’s not giving him an inch, is she? She asks why she should. He must think he’s cute or something. He says he’s been told he has a certain charm, and she goes back to her book. He asks if she’s going to ignore him now, but she says she’s trying to read. He says she took his peace offering, and she asks what more he expects. He says, forgiveness maybe. He apologized. She says, no. He gave her a bottle of water on a hot day, and he says, okay, he’s sorry. He apologizes for disappearing on the 4th. Something came up. She says, it’s no big deal. After all, they barely know each other. He gets next to her on her blanket, and says, let’s change that.

Martin says he was wondering if he’d hear from Nikolas. He got a confusing call from Scotty last week. Was he right? Nikolas and Ava are getting a divorce? Nikolas says, despite his best efforts, yes, and Martin says he’s sorry to hear that. He hasn’t known either of them long, but it seemed they were a good match. Nikolas says, they were a perfect match. They’re being stalked, and Ava is terrified. She doesn’t want to put her young daughter Avery in danger. Martin says, that’s understandable, but why get a divorce? Nikolas says, this maniac wants them apart, threatening them with twisted gifts. He has Ava scared to the point where she’s convinced if they give him what he wants, he’ll leave them alone. Martin says he heard about the gallery break-in the other night. He has to admit, fake blood in the sprinkler system is a rather grisly way to get your point across, and Nikolas says it seems to be escalating. He asks what the police said. Is the new lead enough to catch him?

Molly approaches Judge Carson, and says she’s sorry to keep her waiting, but the judge says Molly isn’t late. She’s notoriously early. Molly sits and thanks the judge for meeting with her, and Carson says she’s glad Molly decided to take her up on her offer. She’s always happy to mentor promising new talent. Molly says she hopes the time prove  beneficial to both of them.

Jordan tells Curtis, it’s just one of those things. She thinks about signing the papers, and finds herself in the middle of another crisis. When she remembers to sign them, she’s already home, and the papers are at the office, and she promises herself that she’s going to sign them the next day. He says he gets it, but she also has a habit of using work to avoid personal issues. He thinks their marriage is about as personal as it gets. She tells him that she can’t say he’s wrong. She’s put off signing the papers for too long. The fact is, the two of them need to move along to whatever comes next. Maybe he already has.

Portia tells Ava, since the hostage situation, she’s been watching Trina closely for cracks, but there never seem to be any. She threw herself into her graduation, she’s focused on PCU in the fall, and she’s eighteen now. It’s not like Portia can be a helicopter mom, even though she wants to. Ava says she’s not surprised Trina is moving on; she’s so tough. Ava understands Portia’s instinct to hover. She hasn’t gotten over the terror she felt, seeing Trina standing there, covered in what looked like blood. It was such a nightmare. She had this moment of disconnect. She was telling herself that what she was seeing couldn’t possibly be real. She had that same feeling when she saw Kiki… and that of course (🍷) was real. She can’t tell Portia how relieved she was when the blood turned out to be fake. Portia says, her too, and Ava says she couldn’t bear to lose Trina. She hopes she’s not overstepping, and Portia says they’re past all that. It takes a village, right? She’s glad Ava is looking out for Trina. The college reference letter Ava wrote was so lovely, and she appreciates Ava continually encouraging Trina in her passion for art. Ava says, she’s so talented though. She has a great eye, great sensibility… Portia says, Trina told her the gallery is closed now? Was there really that much damage? Ava says, the paintings can’t be saved. She has insurance of course (🍷), but so much beautiful artwork gone. Portia says, that’s so terrible. She can’t even believe Ava is being stalked. What kind of person would want to cause that much pain?

Trina asks where they begin, and Spencer says, she likes art. Who’s her favorite artist? Other than guerilla feminists. She says, there’s too many to list. Before this book, she was reading Vermeer and studio method influences on twentieth century art, and of course (🍷) there’s David Driskell and Ray Reardon. He says, very well-rounded, and Trina says she loves art and art history. She’s majoring in fine arts. He says, at PCU, and she says, and at the Jerome Gallery. He says, where she got the… and she says thanks for reminding her. She’d almost forgotten. He says, sorry, and she says, what about him? What’s his deal? He says, kind of a large question, and she says she’s never seen him around before last week. Did he just move here? He says he has a place on Pierpont; it’s a studio. She asks if he lives by himself, and he says, we’re all we have in the end. She says, deep, and he says, so, PCU, fine arts; he sees she’s digging in. She says, they have a great art history program. Does he have a problem with art? He says, not at all. He likes art. The Museum de Some-French-word-I-don’t-catch in France is one of his favorite places of all time. Who’s her favorite impressionist?

Shawn says, solitary is tough, even for the strongest of personalities, and Alexis says, it’s ironic. She used to fantasize about having a place to go to where she could just have peace and quiet. Then when Julian and the girls are gone, and she’s all alone in the house, does he know what she did with that peace and quiet? She drank so she could make the time go by faster, because silence is not peaceful; it’s oppressive. And there are no windows. She starts to panic, and says there are no windows in her cell; none. Does he know Star Wars, when they’re in the trash compactor, and the walls keep closing in, and in, and in, on them. That’s a movie, so the walls were actually closing in on them, but she’s in her cell and the walls are stable, solid, bare, but she thinks they’re moving. She starts to cry and hyperventilate, and he tells her, calm down. Look at him. Focus on him.

Judge Carson asks if Molly is sure she doesn’t want a cocktail. Pinot? Molly says she’d better not. She still has work to do, and she really doesn’t drink much. Carson says, because of her mother? It’s probably prudent. Looks like they’re keeping Molly busy at the DA’s office. Molly says, yes, and she has so much to learn. Any free time she has, she’s going over old case files, researching precedents… Carson says, that’s industrious. She must be familiar with the County Clerk’s office by now. Molly says she is, and some of Carson’s old cases too. Carson says she guesses over the years she’s had a few cases that were precedent setting, and Molly tells her, she’d say so. As well as stretching the parameters of some of her felony cases. Carson says, stretching? and Molly says, in certain cases, Carson gave out maximum sentences, even when the defendant showed remorse. Carson says, the operative word being, shown. Some defendants are excellent actors, particularly during sentencing. It’s her job to protect the community. Molly says, especially when the defendants are Black?

Martin says he thought Nikolas heard. They found a footprint from the perpetrator. It’s a very unique footprint. They’re confident they can match the boot treads. Nikolas says he hadn’t heard. How did Martin find out? Martin says Nikolas isn’t the only person who has his sources, and Nikolas says, this changes everything. He has to go. Martin asks if he’s going to call about his divorce, and Nikolas says, there’s not going to be a divorce.

Trina tells Spencer that she’s not only about art. Her mom is a doctor, and she used to read her mom’s medical books. Spencer says, it sounds like a fascinating childhood, and she says, it was colorful. What does his mom do? Does she work, or is she a society mom? He asks why she’d think that, and she says she had him pegged as a trust fund kid; a studio on Pierpont. He says his mom died when he was little, and she says she’s sorry. She didn’t mean to be insensitive. He says, it’s a perfectly normal question. He hates that the answer always stops the conversation cold. He never really had a mom growing up, so he doesn’t know what he’s missing, right?

Shawn tells Alexis to focus on him, and asks if she can breathe with him. In for four, out for four. Got it? Let’s try it. They breathe together, and Alexis calms down. She says she thought she was having a heart attack, and he says he’s had panic attacks himself; they’re not fun. She says, it was scary, and he says she’s not alone. Try to remember that. She says she always admired that about him, and he says, breathing or counting? She says, he’s stable, and he makes people feel safe. He made her feel safe, even when she knew he was working for Sonny. He says they do go way back, and he’s glad she trusts him. She says she does, and wants him to tell her what’s going on. He says he knows her, and he doesn’t want her to freak out. She suggests he just tell her what’s going on, and he says he told Molly that Alexis’s stay in solitary might be thanks to Judge Carson, and she says, what?

Carson tells Molly, that’s a loaded statement. One could even call it an allegation. She should exercise more restraint in commenting on things about which she knows nothing. Perhaps she was mistaken in thinking Molly showed promise. Molly says she’s sorry… Actually she’s not sorry. It’s all there in the record. On comparable charges Carson routinely gave non-white defendants longer prison time than their white counterparts. That is not justice. Carson says, young lady, I’ll remind you that you’re speaking to a judge, and Molly says, a judge that exerted pressure to keep her mother in solitary because her mother is on to her. Carson says perhaps she should let the DA’s office know the disrespect she’s shown a prominent judge; they’ll see it as a liability. Molly laughs, and says she’s not afraid of Carson. And she has no respect for a judge who can’t or won’t act impartially. She’s trashing the very system she’s sworn to uphold, and Molly and her mother are going to stop her. Martin comes by, and says, excuse him. Is there a problem?

TJ tells Stella that his mom is doing well. Busy, as always. Stella says she’s so glad Jordan got that devil Cyrus Renault, and put him behind bars once and for all. He says, everyone is sleeping better now that Renault’s locked up, and she says, Jordan and Curtis make quite a team. Are they talking? He says, they talk. Why does she ask? She says, any talk of reconciling? but he says he doesn’t know. He doesn’t think it’s very likely since they just got divorced. She says, you never can tell. There’s always hope.

Curtis says, Jordan thinks he moved on? and she says she knows from Portia’s statement that he called her the night Cyrus took Portia and Trina hostage. Thank God he did. If he hadn’t reached out, that night might have had a very different ending. It also pointed to maybe a connection between him and Portia. He says, it’s true. Over the past few months, he and Portia have been spending a lot of time together. That’s why he called her that night. They kissed, and honestly, it just brought up a bunch of questions. Jordan says, he’s single, Portia’s single, so… He says she didn’t know about it? and she asks how she’d know. He says he saw her talking to Portia at Trina’s party, and she says, they talk all the time. Why would he assume they were talking about him? He says, because Portia’s been sending him mixed signals, and he thinks it’s because someone warned her away from him. She says, and he thinks that someone is her?

Ava promises Portia that she can keep Trina safe, especially now that she’s doing what that maniac wants, and getting a divorce. Portia hates that Ava is paying such a high price, but she does understand. When Cyrus had his gun trained on Trina, she was prepared to do anything to keep her safe. Ava should focus on keeping herself safe too. Nikolas walks in, and says he apologizes, but he has to speak with Ava. Portia says she has to get going, and leaves. Nikolas asks if Ava minds if he sits down. She says, only if he’s brought divorce papers, and he says, the PCPD has a lead on the stalker. It’s only a matter of time before he gets caught. She says she’s not having this discussion with him again. She can’t keep living like this. She sent Avery to live with Carly. At least there, she knows Avery is safe, but she doesn’t want to be separated from her child. She doesn’t want to look over her shoulder, afraid of what might happen next. Nikolas says, that’s no way to live, so – he takes her hands – run away with him.

Jordan says, for the record, if she had a problem with Curtis seeing Portia, she wouldn’t have gone to Portia. She’d say it to his face. He says, duly noted, and she says, not that who he sees is any of her business at this point. Now if he’ll excuse her, she has to get back to work, but don’t worry. She’ll sign the papers, and get them over to his lawyer asap. An officer comes in with a file Jordan requested and apologizes for interrupting. Jordan says she didn’t; they’re done here. Curtis leaves, and Jordan looks at their wedding photo, then puts it upside down in a desk drawer.

Spencer asks what Trina does for fun around there, other than read art books. She says she likes the beach. Has he been there? He says, she calls that a beach? and she asks if they have another name for sand meeting water where he comes from. He says, la plage, and she says, a beach by any other name is still a beach. He says she seems fond of hers; maybe they should go sometime. She says, formidablé, and his phone dings. She reaches for it, and he shouts, stop! startling her.

Alexis says, Shawn told Molly that she’s in solitary and Judge Carson is involved? Her baby daughter. He told her that Alexis is being persecuted while she’s incarcerated; is he insane? Dammit! Henry hears, and says, settle down. Alexis pulls Shawn to the other side of the room, and says he knows how Molly is, as determined as she is naïve. She thinks justice triumphs, and she will go charging into this fight, and it will ruin her law career before it even gets started.

Molly tells Martin, there’s a problem, but he says he was speaking to the judge. He asks if Carson is all right, calling her Naomi, and she says she’s fine. She shouldn’t have lost her temper, but this girl is making outrageous accusations. Molly says, the facts are plain as day if you look in the right places. Case in point, Shawn Butler is serving a 20 year sentence for attempted murder, while Judge Carson has given white defendants minimal prison time for the same charge. Martin says, young lady, that is no way to talk to her honor, and Carson says she’ll defend her record any day. A more seasoned lawyer would know that each case has to be evaluated on its individual merit. Looking at a bunch of sentences means nothing. She asks Martin why she’s even having this conversation. This girl hasn’t even passed the bar yet. Martin says Molly is obviously impetuous like her mother. He believes the case she’s looking at is her husband’s father. Molly says, domestic partner, and that is not the point. Carson says she thinks they’re done here. Just know that the DA’s office and the Bar Association will be made to understand Molly’s slanderous attacks on her reputation. Martin says, if he were Molly, he’d leave while he still had a job, and Molly says, gladly. Just so he knows, everything she said is true, and she’s going to prove it. She walks out.

Ava says, after everything she’s shared with Nikolas – her fear that this maniac might target Avery to get to her – does he think running away is going to change anything? He says they can take Avery and disappear. She always wanted a yacht, right? He’ll get a luxury cruiser, and they can sail for a month or so, until they get to Cassadine Island. They can wait there until the stalker gets caught. She says, and if he’s not? and he says, then Avery grows up on a Mediterranean island. She says he’d walk away from Windymere, after everything he did to get it back. He’d leave Laura. He says he’ll find a way to keep in touch with his mother, and can’t worry about the rest. He can’t lose her. He’ll keep telling her until she believes him that he’ll do anything to save this marriage, even if it means losing everything.

Trina says she was going to give Spencer her number, and he apologizes for being abrupt. He says, it’s locked, and unlocks it, handing it back to her. She puts her number in, and says she sent herself a text so she has his too. Is that cool? He says, formidablé. Portia calls Trina’s name, and comes out into the clearing. Trina says she didn’t realize it was so late, and Portia asks if she’s ready for dinner. She tells Spencer that she’s Trina’s mom Portia, and he says, how do you do? He’s Victor. Trina says she should have introduced them, and Portia asks if he’d like to join them for dinner… unless he’s expected at home. Trina says, mom, and Spencer thanks her for the invitation, but he has to get going. It was a pleasure meeting her. He tells Trina that he’ll see her later, and leaves. Portia says, so… Victor, huh? and Trina rolls her eyes.

Ava gets up, and tells Nikolas that she appreciates the gesture. She starts to leave, and he follows her, saying, it’s not a gesture. They can do this. They can take Avery and disappear. She says, running away won’t work. She can’t take Avery away from everything she’s ever known. She just lost her uncle, and her father, and her grandfather recently; all of whom she loved. She can’t take Avery away from her brothers and sisters. It’s just much too much disruption. He asks if it’s out of the question to fight for their marriage, and she says, it’s out of the questions to put Avery at risk just so they can be together. He might be willing to risk it. He might be able to dismiss the stuffed bear as some kind of prank, but she knows that if the stalker got that close to Avery once, he can do it again. She can not and will not take that risk. If he loves her, he’ll help her. He won’t fight her on the divorce, and he’ll agree to it to help expedite it. He says it seems he doesn’t have a choice. He’ll have Martin get the ball rolling on the divorce. They’ll file the paperwork, fill it with lots of boilerplate, negotiate everything from the division of property to a financial settlement. He’s sure Martin and Scotty can find plenty of ways to stall for time.

TJ tells Stella, he loves Jordan and Curtis, and hopes they work things out, but he’s pretty sure that ship has sailed. They’re both committed to moving on. She says, with other people? and he says not that he knows of, but it’s bound to happen at some point. He thinks she needs to accept that his mom and Curtis are over. She tells him, life takes many new twists and turns. Hasn’t he ever heard that saying, it ain’t over til it’s over? He asks what she did.

Carson tells Martin that she contributed to the African American associations and charities. She even had a Black roommate one semester in college. How dare this girl accuse her of bias or question her commitment to the law? He says, it’s outrageous. He can only surmise that Molly is prone to her mother’s unique instability. She says, so it would seem, and he says, seem? He’s known the judge for 20 years, and they travel in the same circles. He’s always known her to do what’s right. If Molly could look at this situation calmly, she’d see that the law isn’t only what’s written in the penal code. It has to adapt to social mores, lend itself to… interpretation. She says, absolutely. She has to evaluate each defendant not only on the basis of their past record, but how they were brought up, and what they’re future is likely to be. Some people only respond to incarceration, and that’s just the sad truth. He says he knows exactly what she means.

Shawn says he only told Molly because she’s already involved. She’s the one who brought Alexis the records. He wanted to warn her to stay away from Judge Carson. Alexis asks if he thinks Molly took is warning and is going to listen to anything he said, and he says he told her to take it to Diane and let her handle it. Alexis says, she’s not going to let it go. She’s not going to tell Diane; she’s going to keep it from Diane. She’s going to go in there, and try to rectify it herself, and Alexis can’t even go to her and try to talk some sense into her. Alexis starts to get wound up again, and says she has to get out of there. She has to get out of solitary.

Trina says, Victor is just a guy she knows. Don’t give him the third degree. Portia says she doesn’t know what Trina is talking about, and Trina says, all those questions about his family; she scared him off. Portia says all she did was invite him to dinner, and Trina says, then she asked if he was expected at home. Could she be more obvious? Portia asks if Trina is interested in this guy. He sure seemed interested in her. Trina says, he did? She means, he’s okay. He seems nice. Portia says, and hot, and Trina says, mom! Portia says she’s not blind. Where’d Trina meet him? Trina says, he works at The Savoy. If Curtis trusts Victor enough to hire him, then Portia can trust him too. Portia says, oh really? So this boyfriend’s for hire now? Trina says, my God, and Portia says she’s teasing. She can’t help but be interested in any boy who puts a smile on Trina’s face.

Spencer went to the cemetery, and looked at Mike’s gravestone.

Ava tells Nikolas, no stalling, no dragging things out. Do not fight her on this. He says he’s not, but she says he’s certainly not cooperating. What is it going to take? Something tragic to happen? She’d never be able to forgive herself, and she certainly wouldn’t be able to forgive him. He says, all right. He’ll tell Martin to make a quick divorce. Don’t worry. She says she won’t, once this is done. He touches her arm, and says he’s only doing this because he loves her. She says she knows. She loves him too. She leaves.

Curtis goes into Charlie’s and asks Stella what she’s been up to. She says she was just with TJ, and they were talking about how Curtis and Jordan still have some unfinished business. He says he wasn’t aware TJ knew about his and Jordan’s business or their divorce, and she says, that’s just it. After everything he and Jordan have overcome to be together, and she includes herself in that, they can’t just quit on each other. Given the time, they can work it out. He asks what she means by given the time, and she says, only that he and Jordan are together, and she’d say that to anyone. He says he has the feeling she already did.

Alexis says, this is partly Shawn’s fault. He knows he shouldn’t have told Molly. He says, because keeping things from Molly always works out so well. She hadn’t been able to reach Alexis. She was going to find out. He wanted Molly to watch her back so she didn’t rush into anything blindly. Molly might be idealistic, and even naïve, but she’s still smart. Smart enough to avoid trouble like Judge Carson, now that she knows about her. Alexis hopes he’s right. She has to believe that because she really has no other choice. He tells her, remember, Molly’s got people to lean on, and at this moment, she needs Alexis to work on herself. Focus on getting out of solitary. Can she do that? She says she doesn’t know, and he says, if she gets anxious, close her eyes, focus on her breathing, and stay in the moment, one breath to the next. She says she’ll do her best, and Henry says it’s time for them to go back to their cells.

There’s a knock on Jordan’s office door, and she says, come in. It’s Martin, and she asks if he has something for her. He says, only a recording of a very incriminating conversation with Judge Carson. We see Molly and TJ are in the office, and Molly says, the dishonorable Judge Carson is going down.

Tomorrow, Curtis asks where Stella gets off telling Portia something like that, Jordan asks what Molly wants her to do, Maxie asks what someone is doing in Port Charles, and Carly is going to let Jason break the happy news.

🗯 What I Should Have Said…

A teeny bit late, but saying goodbye to the old, and welcoming the new. Spencer is all Rico Suave now.

https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/nicholas-alexander-chavez-is-cast-as-the-new-spencer-cassadine-on-general-hospital/article

Million Dollar Listing New York

We learned KJ had moved to Rye when she was 11, and had her first listing there. NYC had been hit hard with covid, and people were moving to places like Rye. She didn’t usually sell outside NYC, but thought it was a unique opportunity to use her skills in another market, plus, it was her home town. She joined agent Kim at the property, where they met with owners Ravi and Lisa. KJ said she wasn’t used to so much green, and she didn’t mean money. The house was 5700 square feet, with 20 foot ceilings, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and ¾ of an acre. The kitchen was massive, with Miele appliances, and the primary bathroom had a jacuzzi and heated floors, but the coolest thing was a secret passage from the upstairs into a bedroom above the garage. In KJ’s interview, she said one of her greatest strengths was her honesty with sellers. They needed to hear from an expert what modifications had to be made for the property to sell. She told the couple what she thought needed to be updated, and believed $3.8 million was the highest they could go (her potential commission being $114K). The owners agreed, but hoped for a bidding war.

Fredrik was driving his convertible Bentley in L.A., but said he was in constant communication with his team in NYC. The 10th Avenue property was a test to see if the bi-coastal thing would work. If you remember, Fredrik participated in the showings as a robot – i.e. an iPad on a stick – and he said the showings were a massive success. He got two offers, one of $6 million and another just under that. He thought any offers were an accomplishment considering the market. He grooved to the stereo in his car, saying, since nightclubs were closed, the car was the new dance floor. He drove to Palm Springs to visit property owner John, and the temperature was 116 F. I will never, ever live in Palm Springs. He’d sold John the apartment in 2009, but John was retiring with his partner, and Fredrik wanted to do his best for him. He explained that NYC wasn’t doing too well, plus it was an election year, and no matter what, the uncertainty affected the market. There was also the pandemic, and around 40,000 apartments available. If he wanted to sell now, Fredrik thought they should entertain the offers. They’d asked $6.95 million, and John said he was disappointed. He’d hired Fredrik because he was supposed to be the best, but it looked like he’d be losing money. Fredrik called the two brokers involved, and the best he could do was get the $6 million as a firm offer. John decided to wait it out. BTW, Fredrik and Derek’s twins certainly grew.

Ryan was involved with developer Avi’s 138 unit, humongous building in Brooklyn. In Ryan’s interview, he said it was going to be the most luxurious new development project Brooklyn had ever seen. Avi was tough, but Ryan said he was nothing if not persistent. He’d sent Avi a tree because he wanted to grow the relationship, along with a video marketing the building as if they were already hired. He told us, play it like you’ve got the money in your pocket. It worked, because Ryan got the building. He had a lively discussion with driver Yuriy about how many floors it was, Ryan explaining it was 21 floors, and Yuriy insisting it was 155. Ryan said Yuriy had to work on his Russian counting. The building façade was now entirely up, and inside, the rooms had been formed. Ryan had been worried the project would stop after non-essential workers had been non-working for four months. His potential commission was a heart-stopping $9 million, but dropped to $0 when Avi told him to put it on hold; they were possible doing rentals. He told Ryan the election was bringing nerve to market, and covid was still very real. They had decisions to make, and might have to pivot. Where was Brooklyn going to be in a year? Ryan was sure the market would bounce back, but Avi wasn’t budging.

KJ set up a picnic for potential buyers and brokers, so they could wait in the backyard comfortably, while waiting for their private tours. She said when she was growing up, she didn’t know what her career path would be, just that it would be fabulous. We saw a lot of old photos.  

Fredrik said having twins and a big-ass career was a lot. He had one phone for the East Coast, and another for the West Coast. He approached Derek about possibly having more kids, but Derek thought life was going by too fast as it was, and they hardly had time together. In Fredrik’s interview, he said he understood, but didn’t want to look back and think coulda, shoulda, woulda. We flashed back over their journey to parenthood, and Fredrik told Derek, he’d finally found some friends on his level with the twins. Derek said he just didn’t want their life to get too complicated, and Fredrik said if Derek wanted simple, Derek shouldn’t have married him.

The owners had taken KJ’s advice, and she said the small changes would make a big difference. The picnic was set up, and it was adorable, with round blankets that had picnic baskets in the center. KJ said there was no comparison to the space you got there to what you’d get in the city. It was lush, private, and large, and what New Yorkers wanted to move to. Kim entertained in the backyard, while KJ did the showings. KJ’s mom, with the unfortunate name of Karen, came along with some buyers as their interior designer. In KJ’s interview, she said her mom had been in the business for 38 years. Tyler brought a couple who were his clients, and in her interview, KJ said before the pandemic, she and Tyler weren’t the best of friends. We flashed back to that, and KJ said that during quarantine, Tyler had FaceTimed her and apologized. We saw a clip of their conversation, and in Tyler’s interview, he said it had been his ego talking.

KJ said her mother had a lot of opinions, but she just let her talk during showings because it was usually going in the right direction. Sometimes she even paid her mom commission. She thought it was a great event. It had showcased the property well, everyone had a good time, and they had perfect weather. She’d gotten incredible feedback, and hoped for an offer.

Fredrik said the $6 million wasn’t the best offer, but in this market, it was. John rethought things, and decided it was the best they were going to get in the near future. It took him like ten minutes to spit it out. Fredrik’s commission was $180K, and he was thrilled with his first deal in NYC from L.A. It made him a true bi-coastal hustler, and his rap name was Six Percent.

Next time, Steve has a farmers market at Artemis Farm, a client is unhappy with Fredrik, and a germophobe doesn’t want to live where someone has lived before. Shades of Teresa from RHONJ.

🐎 Happy Trails To You…

It’s that time again, the end of another work week, or five sunrises and sunsets for those who are in non-work mode. Tea time tomorrow, Friday soap, and whatever quotes I’ve picked up. For right now, stay safe, stay extraordinary, and stay calling out the dishonorable.

July 7, 2021 – Bad News Travels Fast In Port Charles, Sutton Has Enough Of Crystal, NYC Goes To Salem, VanderPup Marathon & Dawn

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny and Phyllis walk through a 4th of July celebration, and Phyllis hands Sonny a flag. She tells him that Lenny is going to join them at the parade. He loves the high school band, and the majorettes in the unforms that are always a little too snug. He says he misses Lenny, but he’s glad Phyllis talked him into taking it easy tonight. She says, what about him? He seems to be working like crazy. Why doesn’t he take it easy, and enjoy some rare time off?

Dante asks if Sam and Elizabeth really started the fire, and Elizabeth says, it was just some harmless fun. Finn says they might not want to say anymore, and Sam says, please. Everything was under control… until she had a little bit of tequila. Maybe a lot. Dante says, that’s funny. All these buildings are full of flammable materials. One spark, the whole thing goes up. Sam says, boom, and Elizabeth says, but it didn’t. He says that’s not the point, and Sam says, seriously, take off the badge; it’s a holiday. Elizabeth gets up and says she’s taking Sam home, but Dante says, no one’s going anywhere. Not until he gets some answers. Sam says, or what? and he says, or he takes them down to the station.

Cameron says, if Dev hadn’t made him think Josslyn wasn’t into him, what would have happened? Would they have gotten together after they kissed at the dance? Would they be together now? She says she doesn’t know. They never got the chance to find out.

Maxie rocks Louise/Bailey, and says she’s so happy to see her. She’s missed her so much. With all her heart and soul. Monica comes in, and Maxie says, isn’t she beautiful? Monica says, yes, she is. She’s gorgeous. Can she hold Bailey? Maxie seems hesitant.

Anna and Valentin kiss, and Anna asks what he’s doing. None of that. He says he kissed her, and if you ask him, it’s long overdue. Ditto if you ask me.

Obrecht meets Nina at Charlie’s and they hug. Obrecht says their paths have barely crossed since Nina has been back in town. Nina says she knows, but now they have time to catch up. Tell her everything. How is she? Obrecht says, so much has happened, she wouldn’t know where to start, and Nina says, all good, I hope. Obrecht says, some wonderful, some heart-wrenching, but they can talk about her later. Nina is the one who’s been off on an adventure. Nina says, that’s one way of putting it, and Obrecht asks, what exactly is out there that’s kept her away from Port Charles for so long?

Sonny says, if the heat continues, he may take Phyllis up on her offer, and she asks what the weather has to do with it. She takes out her keys, and says, take her car. Go visit Nina in Port Charles. She holds the keys out to him.

Carly says sorry Jason has to stick around for Vincent Novak’s sake. She knows he’d rather be at the bridge. He says, wouldn’t she? and she says, hell yeah. The view of the fireworks is much better from there. He says he’ll survive, and she tells him, she used to resent that bridge. She hated it because it was a Jason and Robin thing. It felt very off-limits to her. (Have I mentioned that I hate Carly?) He says he took her there himself, and she says, it’s a girl thing. They should go back to the bridge one day. He says, whenever she wants. Deal? She says, deal. Britt and Jax come out of the elevator, laughing, and walk over to the bar. Carly asks if they’re together, and Britt says, sure are. Small world, isn’t it?

Elizabeth says, the station? and Dante says, yeah. Sam gets up, and says so he wants to detain them? Arrest them? She holds out her wrists, and he says he wasn’t going to take it that far, but he could have them for drunk and disorderly, public disturbance… She pushes him, and asks why he doesn’t add assaulting a cop while he’s at it. He says, right here, pointing to his cheek, and she takes a swing at him, but fails miserably, nearly falling. He tries to grab her, but they both fall in the water.

Josslyn asks if Cameron and Dev ever talked about… He says, they talked around it, kind of. The more he thinks about that last night, the more he thinks Dev wanted to come clean about that journal. She says, he just ran out of time. It’s so stupid. He says, what? and she says, why didn’t they all just talk to each other, and say how they were really feeling? He says, that would have made things a little easier, but she says, it would have made them real. Instead, they were just pretending. He says she has no idea. Does she remember when he helped her make Oscar jealous? She says, yeah. He brought it up a couple months ago, and let it drop. He says, if he’d had the courage to finish what he was saying, it was that when he was pretending to be into her, he wasn’t pretending at all.

Monica suggests they put Bailey back in the carriage, but Maxie says, it’s okay. Monica says Maxie’s arms must be getting tired, but Maxie says she could hold this little peanut all day long. Monica asks if she doesn’t want to spend some time with James and Georgie, and Maxie says, they’re with her mom and Mac, which allowed her to spend some time with this little one. Brook walks in, and Monica says she’s sure Bailey wants to see her mommy.

Anna backs away from Valentin, and says, this is inappropriate. He moves forward until her back is to the railing, and says, is it? She says, it’s not their relationship; it’s never been their relationship. He says maybe he’s crazy, but it felt like she kissed him back. She says, okay, fine. She kissed him back, but it can’t happen again.

Sonny thanks Phyllis for the offer, but says, it’s no time to take a vacation. She asks what he’s afraid of. That Nina’s happy where she is without him, or if he goes and tells her how he feels, she might just say she feels the same way?

Obrecht says, what’s waiting for Nina back in that Pennsylvania town? Or is it a who? Nina says, Obrecht just assumes there’s a man? and Obrecht says, is there?… There is. Nina says, yes, there is. She met someone and it’s really good for her. She believes it’s really good for him. Obrecht says, that’s wonderful. Does this mystery man have a name, and does she have any pictures? Nina says, Mike, and Obrecht says, Mike, how industrial. Mike…? Nina says, Mike, and Obrecht says, no last name, no photos… Ach nein. Tell her he’s not married.

Britt says it’s not really a surprise they’d all run into each other. Carly owns the hotel, Britt’s room is downstairs. It’s so nice, by the way. Doesn’t Jax think her room is nice? I laugh, and Jax says, very. Britt says, speaking of surprises, Carly and Jason. Wow. Carly says, kind of like Britt and Jax, and Jax says he and Britt actually discovered they have a lot in common. Vincent Novak watches, and Jason suggests he and Carly get a table. Carly tells Britt and Jax to enjoy their evening, and Britt says, them too. Carly and Jason go to sit down, and Jax asks if Britt is okay. She says she could use some air, and they go out on the terrace. Carly tells Jason, Britt and Jax came there because they knew Jason would be there. And they’re sleeping together. Does he realize they’re sleeping together? Jason says, thanks, Captain Obvious. Not really, but he should.

Sam and Dante are out of the water, and Sam says, it was just an accident. She’s thankful for it, because it’s like, 90 degrees out there, and now she’s cooled off. Dante tells her that she’s skating on really, really thin ice right now, and Sam yells, melted ice! Cuz it’s hot! Elizabeth says, obviously, they acted impulsively, arguably stupidly… Dante says, arguably? and Elizabeth says, there were mitigating circumstances. He says he’s listening. What was it? Sam was declaring her independence. From what? Sam says, not what; who. Elizabeth says, obviously they haven’t heard about the big engagement, and Sam says, Carly and Jason are getting married.

Cameron says he’s liked Josslyn for as long as he can remember. That doesn’t take away from their friendship; he thinks it actually strengthens it. She says, because the trust is already there, and he says, right. She’s someone he can talk about anything with. She says they should try that sometime, and he says, she’s someone who’s been there with him since he was a kid. Someone who’ll give him a kick in the butt if he needs one. She says, and then some, and he says, it’s really special. She says she knows, because that’s exactly how she feels about him.

Brook thanks Maxie for watching the baby, and Maxie says, any time. Monica says they were just going to put her down for a nap. Maxie says, good idea, and Brook moves to take her, and Maxie says, watch her head. Brook asks Maxie if she’d go to the nursery and grab the fuzzy blanket with the ducks; it’s Bailey’s favorite. Maxie says they can’t have Bailey getting cold, and Brook thanks her. Maxie says, no problem, and goes upstairs. Monica tells Brook that she’s got to disagree with Maxie. They have a big problem.

Anna tells Valentin, things have been stressful for her lately, and obviously, she’s not thinking clearly. He says, obviously, and she says she doesn’t know what happened. He says, it’s called a kiss, and she says, it’s called proximity. He says, so if the mailman had been there, she would have kissed him instead? and she tells him, don’t try to be cute. He says he doesn’t have to try, and she says they’re all entitled to errors in judgement, and this is not irrevocable by any means. He says he thought it was a good kiss. She says, it was, but that’s not the point. The point is, the two of them, and everything they’ve been to each other over the years. That’s why this is wrong on so many levels. He says, it won’t happen again, and she says, no. He says, why not? and she asks if he’s not listening to everything she’s saying. He says she’s so beautiful and enchanting – he pulls her to him – and he’s wanted her for years. She says, that’s the other problem. He just doesn’t see her clearly; he never did. That’s why none of this is real. He says it felt pretty real to him.

Nina asks if she and Obrecht can talk about something else. Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Mike/Sonny. She decides to ignore it. Sonny gets voicemail. He says he was wondering how her 4th of July was going, and hopes she’s having fun. Obrecht asks if it was him, and why didn’t Nina answer? Nina asks if she’s always been this nosey, and Obrecht says, yah. Nina says she has actual news she needs to tell Obrecht, but the only reason she’s telling her is because it directly affects Britt. Obrecht asks, what is it? and Nina says, Britt and Jason have gotten really close. Obrecht says, finally, the man who’s a match for her Britta, and vice versa. Nina says she’s sorry. She hates to be the one to tell Obrecht, but Jason and Carly are getting married. Obrecht looks crestfallen.

Carly tells says she’s so sorry. She knows this must be hard for Jason. He says, Britt can do whatever she wants, and Carly says, she’s rebounding so hard, she might as well be on a trampoline. And so is Jax. He’s supposed to be so in love with Nina, why the hell is he jumping into bed with Britt? Jason says it’s none of their business, and Carly looks miffed. Good. I hope he starts telling her to shut up. Vincent approaches their table, and says he tried to pay his tab, but was told it’s on the house. He thanks them for their hospitality. Carly says, of course (🍷), and he says, congratulations again. Expect a wedding gift from the Novak family. Carly says they love gifts, and Vincent leaves with his crew. She tells Jason, that went well, and he says, as well as it could. She says, now that Novak is gone, she’s going to talk to Jax. Jason tells her, don’t, but she says she didn’t listen to him before, and she’s not listening now that they’re getting married. She walks out to the terrace.

Dante says, if he’s shocked, he can only imagine how Sam is feeling right now. She says she’s fine, but he says she doesn’t seem fine. No offense. Finn goes over to Elizabeth, and asks if she’s okay. She says she and Jason were over a long time ago. It’s Sam she’s worried about. She just didn’t want Sam to be by herself. He says, that’s nice to hear, and when Sam suggested pyrotechnics, Elizabeth couldn’t talk her out of it? She says, well… and he says, it was her idea? She says it may have been her idea, but it was for a good cause, and nobody got hurt. He looks at Dante, and says, almost no one. Dante tells Sam, come on, and she asks where they’re going. He says she’ll see, and she asks if he’s taking her to the station. He says, no. Does she trust him? She says she doesn’t know. Does she? He takes her hand, and tells Finn that he’ll make sure Sam gets home. Finn says he’ll do the same there, indicating Elizabeth. Dante leaves with Sam.

Josslyn says, for the longest time, she thought she was betraying Oscar by having feelings for Cameron, so she never acted on it. He says he felt that too. Like somehow he’d be taking advantage of the fact Oscar was gone. She says, imagine if they’d just talked about this like normal people, and he suggests they talk about it now.

Brook puts Bailey in her carriage, and Monica says, if Brook heard what she heard, and she did, she’d know the situation is very serious. Brook says she doesn’t know if she’d call it a situation, and Monica says, if Maxie is using Bailey as a substitute for her pain, that’s very unhealthy.

Anna says she knows Valentin has a dark past, and all these demons and things, and she’s always been unattainable to him or whatever, but go see a shrink. He can’t go around kissing her to work it out. He asks what her therapist would say about her kissing him, and Anna tells him, she would say that he’s the avatar for all her mistakes, and she feels he has empathy for those mistakes. That’s the reason she’s drawn to him, and blah-blah-blah psychobabble. He says she gets him like nobody gets him, and she says, don’t do that. Don’t do the whole shorthand thing. He says so she admits there’s a shorthand with them, and she says, yes, but… He says, but nothing. They understand one another. He’s fascinated by her, and he’s intensely attracted to her. He doesn’t want to apologize for that.

Sonny tells Phyllis that he tried calling Nina, but she didn’t pick up. He guesses she’s busy with her grandson. She says, probably, but she bets Nina is wondering what he’s up to. She’d be jealous as all hell to find out they’re feasting on barbecues and beers before watching the fireworks. He says, it’s pretty nice, huh? and she says, like heaven. Just missing one sweet blonde angel. He laughs.

Britt tells Jax, she’s sorry he had to see that. It was childish and snarky. She’d say it’s way beneath her, but thinks they both know that would be a lie. He says he doesn’t mind that she’s picking a fight with Carly, but he wants to warn her that it’s an unpleasant experience. She says, please. She grew up with Liesl Obrecht. Carly doesn’t scare her. The devil herself walks out, and asks if she can have a moment with Jax. Britt asks Jax if he’d like to have a moment with Carly, and he says, sure. Britt says she’ll be at the bar, and leaves. Carly whacks Jax with her hand, and tells him, stop being fake. She gets that they’re consenting adults, but what’s wrong with him? He knows Britt fell hard for Jason. Don’t take advantage of that. He says he’s tempted to say, if she knew about Britt’s feelings, why didn’t she restrain herself? and she says, but he’s not going to say that at all. He says he thinks it’s kinder this way, saving Britt from what Carly put the others through. She says, what others? and he says, Robin, Courtney, Elizabeth, Sam. They all thought they had something special with Jason, right? But the truth is, they didn’t, because she has this stranglehold on Jason, and refuses to let go.

Jason sits by Britt at the bar, and heaves a sigh. I want to smack him. He says, Carly doesn’t know about the Huntington’s, and she says, okay, refusing to look at him. He says, nobody does. He hasn’t told anyone, and he’s not going to. He knows they’ve been over this, but he wants to make something absolutely clear. Just because he’s marrying Carly, doesn’t mean he’s bailing on her. He’s there for her, whatever she needs. She guesses it’s her turn to be clear, since it obviously didn’t sink in the first time. Go to hell.

Finn tells Elizabeth, it’s just him there; she doesn’t have to worry about Sam’s feelings. It’s okay if she’s feeling upset about Carly and Jason. She says Sam was feeling upset about Carly and Jason. She’s not upset, and she’s not surprised. Carly and Jason always came first with each other, everyone else be damned. He says he’s heard that before about a certain person and the WSB. No matter who you are, you always come in second. She says, look at them. Misery loves company. He tells her, that’s what they say, but he’s not miserable. Is she? She says, no. Not right now anyway.

Josslyn asks where they start, and Cameron says, the dance might be a good place, where they kissed. She says, for the record, it was an awesome kiss; she really loved it. He says he thought so, the way she kissed back. Then the Dev stuff happened. She says she kept hoping he’d bring it up, but he never did, so she assumed the kiss didn’t mean anything. He says, she thought it didn’t mean anything? and she asks how she was supposed to know. He says, it meant everything, but she says, it was so long ago. So much life has passed. They can’t go back. He says, maybe not, but maybe they can move forward.

Valentin says, if Anna is telling him it’s more than she can do right now, that’s fine; no harm, no foul. She says don’t make it about her being weak and not being able to handle it. It’s that she can’t be interested in him that way, and she never will. He asks if she’s sure, and she tells him, don’t stand there thinking he’s all irresistible. He says he is irresistible, and she laughs, saying, oh my God.

Dante and Sam go into Charlie’s, and Sam says she’ll buy the coffee. It’s the least she can do. He says he’s buying; she had a rough night. She says, that’s no excuse. Obrecht approaches them, and says, so it’s true. Jason and Carly are getting married. Sam says, word does get around. It’s true. Jason and Carly are getting married. Obrecht sits back down, and Nina says she’s so sorry. The news seems to be hitting Obrecht hard. Is she going to be okay? Obrecht says she just thought her Britta had a chance at happiness. What if it’s the last one she gets?

Britt says, Jason made his choice – Carly. Let’s move on. Jason doesn’t get to marry Carly, then make himself feel better by swooping in and protecting her. She doesn’t need help. She’s strong enough to deal with her diagnosis on her own. He says he knows, but he gave her his word, and his word means something. She says, really? Then something more important came up? She gets it. They’ve known each other three months, and he and Carly have been friends for decades. Of course (🍷) Carly is the one he’s committing to, and she gets kicked to the curb. He says, that’s not… She says, what happened? and he says, that’s not how he felt. Britt meant something to him; she still does. She says, there is no choice where everyone gets everything. It’s impossible. Even Superman had to pick a lane. (Ha-ha! Nerd joke.) Does he want to do something for her? He says, anything, and she says, be honest, and admit he’s been in love with Carly all along.

Jax says, it was inevitable, and Carly asks, what was? He says she just had to come first in Jason’s life. As soon as Sonny died, it was inevitable that she and Jason… She says, watch it, and he tells her, he’s not saying she didn’t love Sonny; he knows she did. But it was convenient that Jason was Sonny’s best friend. She could be Sonny’s wife, but keep a grip on her fallback. She says, Jason’s not a fallback, and Jax says, he’s much more than that, isn’t he? He was an idiot to think this might be a way out of this life for her. The irony is, Jason would have let her go. Sonny, probably not, but Jason would have. But it’s not what she wanted. She wanted Jason, and he comes with the mob. So here she is, as cemented in this life as ever.

Finn says, it’s nice sometimes, just letting everything go, and Elizabeth says, for a little while. She might be hungover in the morning. He says, that might be a distinct possibility. She tells him, it’s worth it. The fireworks start, and she says, they’re starting. She watches the fireworks, and Finn watches her.   

Josslyn says, Cameron asked what would have happened if Dev hadn’t forged her journal, but she said she didn’t know. She says she knows what she wanted to happen, and he says, him too. He kisses her, and fireworks go off. Literally.

Monica tells Brook that Maxie is talking as if Bailey is her own baby. She thinks Maxie needs counseling. She’s going to talk to Mac and Felicia. Brook says, Maxie is a grown woman. Monica doesn’t need to go to her parents. Monica says, then who else? and Brook says she’ll talk to Maxie. She’ll voice Monica’s concerns, gently of course (🍷), and try to make her understand. Monica says, and if she can’t? Brook says, then they’ll revisit the parent option. She promises she’ll be careful. Maxie walks in, and says, careful about what?   

Anna says, Valentin is endlessly resistible to her, and he says, but he’s charming. She says, charming, yes. He’s somewhat amoral, but he’s a good father; she’ll give him that. But then he solves his problems with blackmail and murder. He’ll just encourage her to give in to her worst impulses. That’s just it. He’s a terrible influence on her. He says, her worst impulses are the sexiest he’s ever seen, and he couldn’t influence her if he wanted to. She says she’s going to keep it that way.  

Sam and Dante look at the fireworks, and Dante says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks Jason messed up. He had the chance of a lifetime, and didn’t take it. If it had been him, he’d have chosen her. Sam moves toward him, and they kiss.

Jason says, he’ll always love Carly. She always took him as she found him. Britt says, so did she, and he says, he and Carly have been to hell and back; name it, and it happened to them. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t love the other women he’s been with, because he did. With Carly, it’s not more or less; she’s just a part of him. Britt says, who wouldn’t want to be loved like that? She’ll give Carly this much; she knows it, and knows the good thing she has in him. She loves him as much as he loves her, so congratulations. She hopes they’ll be happy together. She walks away from the bar.

Carly says, nothing Jax is laying out is as simple as he makes it. She’ll tell him this, and he can believe it or not. Marrying Jason is the best choice she could make for her family. He says he knows she believes that. That’s what makes it so damn sad. Britt comes out, and says Carly’s fiancé is waiting, and Carly goes back inside.

Elizabeth says Finn isn’t the only one who needs a break from everything. He doesn’t want to start a fire, but he thinks he knows where she’s coming from. Elizabeth puts her head on his shoulder, and he says, the last few weeks, spending time with her, he doesn’t think she realizes how much it meant to him. How important she is to him. He looks at her, but she’s asleep, and he smiles.

Josslyn tells Cameron, that was awful. She laughs, and says she’s kidding. He says she’s the worst, and she says she knows. He says she’s his best friend, and she says she knows. She tells him that she has to get going. She has to get Donna and Avery. He says he should probably get Jake and Aiden at the pool, and they say goodnight. Josslyn starts to walk away, but he calls her back. He asks if she wants to hang out some time, and she says, when? He says, tomorrow? but she says she can’t tomorrow; she’s already made plans… But she thinks she can cancel them. He says, cool, and she says, cool. She leaves, and he looks up at the fireworks.

Brook tells Maxie that she was talking about being careful with the temperature. The AC can get aggressive, and they don’t want Bailey to freeze. Maxie picks up a blanket, and Brook says, got it, taking it out of her hand. Brook puts it on the baby, and Maxie says she was checking out the nursery. Monica says, it’s so sweet, and Maxie says, the sweetest nursery for the sweetest girl in the whole world.

Valentin says he can’t force Anna to see things the way he did, and she says, he can’t. He says, if it’s just a kiss, he’ll take it, but if she wants more, she knows where to find him. She asks why he keeps doing that. Act like he’s backing off, then do the opposite. He says because she denies it, when she knows there’s more pulling them together than pushing them apart. She says she’s not going to stand there, dissecting kiss didn’t mean anything. He knows who she has to find. If he hears anything from his contacts, let her know. He says, absolutely, darling, and she leaves.

Dante says, sorry, and Sam says she can’t do this. She walks away, and he sits outside Charlie’s.

Nina says she knows Obrecht is worried about her daughter. She’s sorry Obrecht has to go through this heartache, but she thinks the situation is something Britt will figure out on her own. Obrecht asks how that’s working out for Nina. Any idea what comes next?

Phyllis tells Mike/Sonny that she’s sure Nina will call back after her time with her family. He says, God knows he’s enjoying spending time with his family. Everyone watches the fireworks.

Carly tells Jason, Jax knows how to stick the knife in and twist it. Not like Sonny, where it was just cheap shots. The problem is, a big part of her is afraid Jax might be right. Jason says, come on, and she asks, where? He says, if they go to the bridge, they’ll miss the fireworks, and they walk outside. He says, they’re doing what they have to do. Whatever happens, he’s glad he’s there with her. She says, her too; happy 4th. She hugs him, and Britt watches.

Tomorrow, Nikolas talks to Martin about the divorce, Curtis asks if Jordan is going to fight their divorce, and Stella tells TJ, it ain’t over til it’s over.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The show started at a party, with Sutton asking Crystal why she’s so defensive, and Crystal saying Sutton is upset because she’s jealous. Sutton says, jealous of what? Crystal’s ugly leather pants? Sutton left the party, trailed by LisaR asking, what happened?

3 days earlier. In LisaR’s interview, she explained that Harry’s three specialties were Harry’s meat, which was Kobe beef, blueberry pie, and bolognaise. He was the domestic one, and no one wanted her cooking. She was a great cheerleader though, and could make you feel fabulous while you’re doing all the work. Sounds like a position I’d like. Erika, Crystal, and a couple of Crystal’s friends went to Kathy’s place to use her tennis court. In Erika’s interview, she said, Kathy told them, just let yourself in, and that’s what was great about friends like Kathy. Erika was trying to motivate herself to go out and do things, and not wallow. So she was there… and she was terrible. Erika spoke the truth. I probably play better, and I stink. In Crystal’s interview, she said she was a total tomboy, and seriously into sports. A lot of people said she was competitive, but whoever said that was probably a loser. I think Crystal’s problem is, she wants to be a cool girl, and ends up just sounding mean. More like a cool girl who rules by fear, and ends up on the losing end, like Regina George. I will give her this, she’s a good tennis player, and she and Erika ended up winning the match even though Erika was the worst. In her interview, Crystal said that Erika’s willingness was a 10, but her skill level was a 2. They had lunch with Kathy, and Erika said her new place was in shambles, Kathy said, but it was hers, and Erika agreed. She said she was trying to be social, and Kathy asked if she’d been social when she was married, Erika said, all the time, but it was all business. It was all of what Tom wanted. In her interview, Erika said, it was all set up already; she just inserted herself. Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t mean you’re independent. She had no housekeeper or gardener now, but she valued her privacy. Plus, she could throw her sh*t all over because it was her place. Kathy said Erika’s smile seemed genuine and not forced. I have to note, Kathy has several dogs, but one is either a Pekingese or a Peke mix. Information you need to know…   

Kyle and family took their Christmas card photo, all wearing matching red PJs. Kathy came by, and pulled an amazing amount of items out of her bag. In her interview, she said you could find everything in her bag; socks, extra shoes, a sweater, a pair of sandals for a pedicure… In Kyle’s interview, she added carpet samples, drapery samples, and wallpaper samples. I carry a lot of stuff too, but never home goods samples. Kathy said she’d talked to Kim for three hours, and Kyle said she was worried about Kim being in quarantine. Kathy said she’d asked if Kim wanted to come along, but Kim said she was too nervous. She also gave Kyle the news that Kim had changed her phone number. We saw a clip of Kyle telling Mauricio that she and Kim weren’t talking, and the relationship was strained. At times, they were okay, but it seemed hard to get all three of them on the same page at the same time. Kyle said she had a husband, children, and dogs, but Kim was by herself. Kathy said Kim claimed all this was supposed to have happened, so they could have quiet time, and figure out where they wanted to be in life.

LisaR visited Erika in her new home, which we found out costs $9500 a month to rent. LisaR said it had a good vibe, and in her interview, she said it gave her a hopeful feeling seeing Erika in her own space that she created. It wasn’t easy to go from a life where you had help and everything was done for you, to doing everything yourself. In Erika’s interview, a producer asked if she had money concerns, and she said she did, but she’d also had a bunch of lucrative projects in a row, like her book, being on Broadway, and several collaborations. She had enough for her little house. Sutton joined them, and brought Erika a housewarming gift of Dolce & Gabbana’s book, Queens. In Sutton’s interview, she said, what better housewarming present? When Erika was sad and lonely, she could see Sutton’s picture – twice. She told Erika that she hated to say it, but she seemed happier, and Erika said there was only so much time you could have with someone before you wanted to talk about real things. In her interview, Erika said she’d mentioned to Tom that she was seeing a shrink, and all he said was, okay. Because what does she have to be depressed about? Sutton said Crystal wasn’t willing to back up, and say maybe she used the wrong word. LisaR asked if Crystal was still talking about it, and Sutton said the peeping Tom thing needed to be dropped. In her interview, she said she didn’t think peeping Toms knocked on the door. They peeped.

Garcelle’s son Jax was learning Japanese, and got frustrated when Garcelle made to much noise in the background while he was taking his online class. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, being trapped inside with two teenage boys was maddening. They were home schooling, and everyone was on top of each other. She found herself going to the pantry for a quick shot of tequila. She was on the teenage hormone train, and didn’t know what was coming next. Last week, Jaid wanted her all to himself, but this week, he wanted nothing to do with her. When she was growing up, she wasn’t allowed to have those emotions.

LisaR had Harry prepare an Italian meal for the women, and in her interview, she said that Harry had lived in Italy for three years; it was in his blood. He had LisaR taste-test sauces, and LisaR discovered she liked the one with the tomatoes from their garden the best, which made sense, since they’d be freshest. In LisaR’s interview, she said Garcelle had wanted a birthday party, but couldn’t have one due to covid. They were still in the process of repairing their relationship, but knew she couldn’t force it. At the end of the day, they might not end up being great friends. Kyle visited Dorit, who had a fabulous Christmas village set up. Kyle said Dorit made her feel like an underachiever, and Dorit said Kyle had three trees. Kyle said, but she didn’t have a Santa village. In Dorit’s interview, she said she’d mostly designed swimwear and leisurewear, but was moving into bridal. Designer Nektoria had reached out to her to collaborate on a wedding dress line, and she couldn’t wait to see the first bride walk down the aisle in her design. She’d wanted something comfortable, but special, for her own wedding, and wished she’d designed her own dress.

Harry welcomed the women to Napolitano, where they sat at an amazing outside table under an arbor.  In Dorit’s interview, she said Harry was a gourmet chef, while PK specialized in, babe, can you get me a sandwich? Harry pointed out that their pool wasn’t for them. It was so their kids would come back with their kids. Kyle said she’d been Amelia’s age when she had her first child, nearly giving Harry apoplexy. When Sutton arrived, someone – I think Kathy – said, hi, Thomasina, which did not go over well. Sutton said she was ready for that to end. Garcelle reminisced about being there for a party where she and LisaR had been on the dance floor all night. In her interview, she said her assistant had been her date, and she hadn’t remembered stumbling out. Harry joined them for the meal, and LisaR said that the girls were going to Cabo for Thanksgiving. They’d originally planned on meeting them, but were concerned about the borders closing because of covid. It was the first time she wouldn’t be spending Thanksgiving with the girls or Lois. She wasn’t asking a lot of questions about Amelia and Scott, and Crystal chimed in that Rob was older, but they were the exception. Of course they are. Crystal is also a can-you-top-this person. LisaR said she was trying to be easy with it, but the tabloids had them engaged. In her interview, she said her mom saw one at the market, and called her asking if it was true. That’s what she was dealing with. Harry said the age difference between him and Ursula Andress was 14 years. He’d been 29 and she was 44 when they had their son. In her interview, LisaR said, you never think it will come back to haunt you when you have kids. Harry ate, then dashed to the kitchen, bringing out a cake. Garcelle’s birthday wish was, she wanted him hung like a horse, and Harry told her to be careful what she wished for. Garcelle said she probably wouldn’t know where to put it. She said she appreciated the party, especially LisaR throwing it. In Garcelle’s interview, she said last year, it was a rocky road with her and LisaR. They needed to figure out if they had a friendship and what it looked like. That LisaR was making an effort, definitely meant something.  

It was present time, and Crystal, Kathy, and Kyle kicked in to get Garcelle a duplicate of a ring she’d admired on Crystal. Erika gave Garcelle a fluffy jacket that was no doubt cashmere, and Dorit gave her a designer cap. Kyle asked Sutton what was wrong, and Sutton said she didn’t like being where she didn’t like people. Kyle asked who she didn’t like, and Sutton shifted her eyes to Crystal. Kyle told Sutton to come with her, and they went to a bar out in the yard. Sutton said she wanted to go home, and Kyle asked what she’d missed. Nothing had happened. Sutton said to tell the truth, she had a difficult time being fake, and in her interview, she said it was hard to sit across the table from someone who obviously didn’t like her. She told Kyle that Crystal had been talking bad behind her back, and was looking smug at her. I have to agree here. Crystal smirks a lot. Sutton said it was wearing at her, and she still felt weird. Crystal had talked behind Sutton’s back, Sutton had tried to say her piece, and Crystal never apologized. In Kyle’s interview, she said this wasn’t the Sutton she knew. Sutton was being extremely emotional and irrational. Yeah, let’s not even get into what a very poor judge of character Kyle is. If someone was smirking like that at me all the time, I’d be hard pressed not to wipe it off their face, but Sutton doesn’t know what to do because she’s polite. She told Kyle that she wasn’t over being told she violated someone. Kyle said Crystal had told them she didn’t mean sexually, and we flashed back to that.

At the table, LisaR screeched that they should do shots, and everyone chanted, shots, shots, shots! Sutton told Kyle, she was so not okay, and she couldn’t get it together. Garcelle turned into that person, and came over, asking, are you crying? very loudly. Sutton gave the standard reply that she had bad allergies. In Garcelle’s interview, she said she thought Sutton was more hormonal than her kids. Sutton said she was upset about the insinuations. It was hard to pretend things were great, and hunky dory when they weren’t. In Kathy’s interview, she wondered if Hunky Dory was someone’s nickname. Sutton told them that she just had moment. By this time, the whole miserable gang was there, and Sutton said Crystal had said a lot of things about her, and she couldn’t sit across the table from her . Garcelle asked what Sutton needed from Crystal; tell Crystal what she needed, so they could move on. Sutton said she thought it was sh*tty that Crystal had used so many words about her. No surprise, Crystal kept interrupting, and Sutton finally told Crystal to let her say her piece. The word violated was crazy to her. She asked what planet Crystal lived on, and Crystal said, not Sutton’s, as she once again looked smug. Garcelle said they weren’t going to get anywhere, and Crystal said she wasn’t changing the word, since she’d used it correctly. Garcelle again asked what Sutton needed, and Kyle said she thought Sutton wanted an apology. Crystal said she was sorry Sutton was upset, and Sutton said that wasn’t an apology, which we all know. It’s like a murderer saying they’re sorry the victim died, leaving out the fact they killed them. Crystal told Sutton to look up the word. It meant abuse of privacy. Is this woman loopy? First of all, I don’t know what dictionary she’s using, but the standard ones don’t exactly put it that way. Secondly, there are plenty of words that have several definitions, but are known by a certain one, gay being a prime example. Garcelle said that Sutton hadn’t known Crystal was naked, and Sutton asked why Crystal was so defensive. Crystal said Sutton was upset because she was jealous – period – and Sutton said, of what? Crystal’s ugly leather pants? I wondered jealous of what too. Sutton said she was out, and Kathy told LisaR, it was her house, so she should get a handle on this. Sutton headed out, asking again what she was jealous of. The rest of the women followed her, except for Crystal, who stood there with her hands in her ugly leather pockets, and smiled.

To be continued…  

Next time, Crystal says she won’t apologize, and calls Sutton an inappropriate, awkward person; Erika deals with the headlines saying her divorce was a sham to hide assets; and Erika says she could have never predicted this effing sh*t.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Leah video chatted with everyone, and said the election was driving everyone nuts. To keep their sanity, she thought they should get out of town. With covid restrictions, they couldn’t really travel, but a place she’d always been fascinated by was Salem, Massachusetts. In Leah’s interview, she said she could be kind of witchy, and was into manifesting. And these women were a bunch of witches. It would be like visiting the motherland. She wanted to do a latex and leather themed dinner party the first night, and told Ramona that she wanted to invite Bershan. In her interview, she said she pretty much wanted to do anything the women wouldn’t normally do.

Ramona met Bershan for lunch, and Bershan wondered if Ramona really had vertigo, or just didn’t like Eboni’s Night in Harlem event. Ramona asked what Bershan thought of it, and Bershan diplomatically said, it was educational. Ramona said, it was a hard sell. In Bershan’s interview, she said she thought it was long winded, but appreciated that Eboni wanted to teach the girls. Bershan told Ramona that she liked the women, and Ramona warned her about them fighting on the trip. She added that they made up, and these women were her core. Bershan said she was in.

In Sonja’s interview, she said she was glad Eboni was trying to set her up with someone. If it had been Ramona or LuAnn… She just shook her head. Sonja told Eboni that she had a hard time getting her words out around the other women because they cut her off, and they didn’t listen. Eboni said, they shut down conversations, and we flashed back to Eboni refusing to let Ramona do that. In her interview, Eboni said she was going to be patient with Ramona, because she’d actually pushed through the panic and was talking to her. She and Ramona were going to be an experiment. She was looking at the trip, not as a do-over, but a do-more.

Sonja and Eboni flew privately to Philadelphia to meet Devyn, Eboni’s matchmaker. In Eboni’s interview, she said Sonja needed to give love a chance again, so she was excited about this introduction. Sonja was afraid her reputation preceded her, but trusted Eboni. Devyn asked what causes Sonja was passionate about, and Sonja said, the vulnerable. No broke-ass men either. In her interview, Eboni said, Sonja married the bank. Where do you go from there? She told Devyn that she thought Sonja was ready for a new chapter. Sonja said she trusted that Eboni had described the real her, not the straw that stirs the drink.

Everyone packed for the trip. LuAnn said since they were going to a haunted house, she needed a good chapeau, and freaked when her assistant put her hats on the bed, which is bad luck. Leah FaceTimed with Sonja and Eboni, telling them to get their asses home and pack. In her interview, Leah said, let’s get out of our comfort zone. Let’s get spooky, bitches. She told them, no sh*t in Salem. They got on the most gigantic bus ever, and Leah said it was rock star style. Sonja thought it was so LuAnn, and they were the groupies. She thought it was getting weird because she’d packed grey and black, and Ramona was wearing those colors. Along with pink, so that was a stretch. LuAnn asked about Sonja’s matchmaking trip, and Sonja said she was ready for commitment. Ramona and Leah took naps, while the others talked about marriage and divorce. Bershan said she found out she had stage 4 breast cancer two weeks before getting married to a British banker. In her interview, she said, she was told she had three months to live, and prayed, telling God she’d be a warrior for everyone on the planet if she survived. When someone tells you, you’re going to die, you wake up. She’d been cancer free for 14 years. Leah said there would be fortune tellers at the leather and latex dinner, as well as tattoo artists, and she’d be getting one. Dinner was going to be at the tattoo shop. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t want to deface her body.

They arrived at the Hawthorne Hotel, named after Nathaniel, which Leah described as spooky, but beautiful. On the way to dinner, Eboni considered the tattoo thing. This was some tattoo parlor. It looked like an upscale antique store, with a restaurant in the back. It was really gorgeous. In her interview, Leah said the women were impressed, and although they had a few days, she felt like she’d already gotten an A+ on the trip. There were a pair of spooky twins that Sonja found cute, and the fortune teller passed out fortunes. The women sat down in a large booth, and Sonja babbled on about how Eboni was new to the group, and had wanted them to understand her life’s work. In LuAnn’s interview, she said Sonja was stirring the cauldron. Eboni said, they couldn’t get to the kiki if she had an outstanding question on whether they’re aligned with white supremacy. Everyone was a little startled, and in Eboni’s interview, she said white supremacy wasn’t the Jim Crow south. In today’s United States, you were either anti-racist or a racist. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t know where Eboni was coming from, since none of them had given any indication of being racist. LuAnn said all of them heard her, but Eboni said LuAnn could only speak for herself. Ramona hadn’t wanted to hear her.

Leah said she thought it was more about Eboni’s personality. When the new woman came in, they got sh*t on. She got sh*t on by Ramona. We flashed back to that. She said, Eboni wasn’t allowing that, and in 14 years, they’d never had a Black woman in their group. Could they imagine the pressure? Every news outlet was talking about it. Ramona said, ignore the press, and Leah told her, STFU. Leah said Ramona lived in a tiny bubble, and Ramona said Leah didn’t know who she was. Leah said Ramona was what’s wrong with the world. Ramona tried to jet, saying, she wasn’t enjoying the conversation. Everyone urged her to stay, and Eboni said she’d come a long way. Ramona sat back down, and Bershan told Eboni her delivery could be harsh. Eboni said she received and heard Bershan, and knew it might feel exhausting. Every MF’ing day, it was something else. Ramona got all animated, and said Eboni had a great life. Eboni told everyone that Ramona was saying something a lot of people say when they see her. In Leah’s interview, she said, no one saw Ramona struggling, but she probably had to deal with some stuff. Triple that, and that’s Eboni. Eboni said that some people aligned with Trump were white supremacists, and in her interview, said, if you support him for economic reasons, say so. You’d get pushback, but she could have a dialog. Ramona woudn’t even go there. Everyone started saying, not me, and Ramona tried to make herself really small, hoping to blend into her seat. Eboni said her mother voted for Trump in 2016, and had her reasons, but she was vocal about it. Ramona slid out, and in her interview, she said she just came for some fun. She didn’t need this. Leah asked if Eboni thought anyone who voted for Trump was a supremist, and Eboni said, no. She just wanted to know where Ramona stood on the issue. That was it. Eboni said she could respect supporting him for tax cut reasons or economics. Leah said Ramona couldn’t have this conversation; she barely knew the English language.

Surprisingly, Ramona came back, but she acted all weird, saying she wanted to play a game, and then making a cheer out of, I want a game. She was also wearing a black latex catsuit, by the way. In Leah’s interview, she said she was cringing. Ramona should have stayed wherever she was. She would probably never live down coming back and doing the I’m white dance. Leah told Ramona that they had to go through this, and Eboni said she was still Black. Ramona said she was sorry she was white. Did Eboni want an apology? Her mother came there with nothing. Leah said, it didn’t matter; this was different. Several of the women scattered, leaving Leah, Eboni, and Bershan. Leah said, and then there were three.

To be continued…

Next time, Ramona does a table dance, the women reenact pioneer days, Eboni gets a tattoo, Bershan says they’re being grandmas, and – big surprise – Sonja overdoes it.

🐶 Bravo had a Vanderpump Dogs marathon, and I love this show so much. They also train service dogs, and match them with owners, so we saw some of that. The dogs are adorable, and the stories, both pup and human, are both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Some people have negative things to say about LVP, but I have great admiration for her work ethic and her love for dogs, which is more than apparent in this show. I’m also still wondering if she’d consider adopting an older child. My dogs and I wouldn’t take up much space. She’d barely know we were there.

📋 Past Quitting Time…

Wives as promised, and now to bed. Until we meet on the morrow, stay safe, stay engaged, and stay not rebounding so hard, you might as well be on a trampoline.

July 5, 2021 – The Stalker Is Unmasked, No Wedding On Deck & City Summer

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jax tells Britt, save the date? For what? She says, Jason and Carly’s wedding. Surely he’s heard about it. He says Carly told him (and stop calling him Shirley), but he’s confused as to why she cares.  

In the visiting room at the prison, Molly asks if TJ is okay. He says, it’s not like Shawn to call out of the blue and ask him to visit. Molly says, at least Shawn was able to make the call himself. It’s been days since she’s heard from her mom.

Alexis paces, and tells herself, don’t think; just breathe. She sits on the cot, and says, she doesn’t think. She hears her own voice say, that’s her problem. She doesn’t think. She sees herself dressed in business attire, and other Alexis looks around, and says, Alexis brings her to the best places.

Josslyn asks what Cameron is talking about. She doesn’t think he’s a bad kisser. He says he read it in her journal. Should he not believe her own words? She says, believe this, and kisses him.  

Ava asks if Portia has any idea where their girl is, and Portia says, she should have been there by now. She was going to stop by the gallery. Portia starts to text Trina, and Taggert approaches her. He says he doesn’t want to monitor Trina on her graduation night, but if she doesn’t show up in ten minutes, he’s going to start texting.   

Trina walks in, and everyone looks shocked. She’s covered in what looks like blood, and says, mom? Portia and Taggert run to her, and Taggert asks if she’s okay. She says she is. She doesn’t know what this is, but she’s drenched. He asks if she’s injured, but she says, no, and Josslyn asks, what happened? Jordan tells Trina to take a deep breath, and Trina says she was going to the gallery to talk to Ava. It was a trap.

Trina says, all of a sudden, someone appeared out of nowhere, and she pepper sprayed him. Taggert says, that’s his girl, and she says, Nikolas was trying to catch the stalker, and he caught her instead. Ava wonders why Nikolas was at the gallery, and steps away to call him. She leaves a message that she’s with Trina, and to call her right away. Taggert asks Trina to tell them what happened, and Trina says, After that whole mess with Nikolas, she left the gallery. Then she realized she’d left her phone. She went back in, saw a remote control on the floor, and picked it up before she realized it hadn’t been there before. A guy in a mask was suddenly there… Portia asks if he had a weapon, but Trina says she doesn’t know. She saw he had a bag, and assumed he was a burglar. She tried to pepper spray him too, but the canister was empty, so she threw the remote at him. The sprinklers went off, but instead of water, this red goop that looked like blood poured out. Portia asks, what happened to the burglar? and Trina says, he ran off, but she chased him. Portia asks if she’s insane, and she says, obviously, it didn’t work, so she came there, and that’s how she made her dramatic entrance. Curtis says, the most important thing is, Trina is unharmed, and Portia says she’s glad Trina didn’t catch the stalker; he could have hurt her. Taggert says, he’s so proud at her for being brave, but when they run, just let them go, and Portia says, the most important thing is, Trina is okay. Jordan joins them, and says she just got off the phone with Dante. The fire department responded to the sprinklers going off, and when they saw something that looked like blood, they called the PCPD. She’s headed over there now. Ava says, she’s going with Jordan, and they leave.

Shawn sits across the glass from Molly and TJ, and says, Dr. Ashford, and Molly Davis, Esquire. It’s great to see them. He’s sorry he couldn’t see TJ graduate. TJ says he is too, and Shawn says, sorry to have gotten TJ’s hopes up that he might get out. He would have loved to see Molly graduate too. She says she would have loved having him there, and TJ says, the parole board is messed up. Shawn agrees, and TJ asks what they can do. Why did he call? It sounded urgent. Shawn says he’s afraid he has bad news. Alexis is in solitary.   

Britt tells Jax that Cyrus sent men to her office that were going to kill her. Jason showed up, and got her out of there. Jax says, ever the hero, which is pretty funny coming from him. Britt says, Jason got shot, and she operated on him in a safe house. They slept in a barn, crossed the border with fake passports, and ended up in a lighthouse on Lake Ontario. Really exciting stuff. He says, so she and Jason are… They were… She says, what else are they going to do in a lighthouse? and he says, that’s too much information. She says she has to admit, for a guy who’s not very expressive, Jason helped her through a difficult time. She thought they were… you know, and then Jason asked Carly to marry him. C’est la vie, and au revoir. Jax says he wouldn’t take it too personally. Carly and Jason’s first loyalty has always been to each other. And to Sonny of course (🍷). Now Sonny is gone, and it’s just the two of them. Britt says, maybe it’s better off being single, and he says, truer words. Here’s to being alone, single, whatever, and they clink glasses.

The gallery walls are dripping red, and Ava says, oh my God. Dante tells her not to touch anything; it’s still an active crime scene. Jordan guesses they don’t have to worry about footprints, since the fireman have been all over, and Dante says, they had to clear the building. She asks what he has, and he says, it’s nothing toxic. It’s like what you’d use on Halloween or for a stage play. Jordan says, ingenious, and he says, a remote was used to set it off the sprinklers. Jordan says, that matches Trina’s statement, and he says, there was some kind of silent alarm set off by the front door, but Ava says she doesn’t have one. It’s an art gallery; she wants the alarm to be as loud as possible. Does he think the stalker set it up so they would know when she came there alone? Dante says, it’s possible, but it doesn’t sound like something the stalker… Nikolas comes in, and says, the stalker didn’t set up the alarm; he did.   

Without being seen, the stalker comes into the Savoy. Trina says, this is a lost cause, while the stalker slips through the back of the club, and goes through another door. Trina thanks everyone for coming, but thinks she should call it a night. She’s not in a party mood. Josslyn says Trina’s dress is in the back, and suggests Trina get cleaned up, and then decide. Trina doesn’t know, and Taggert says, or she can let a criminal ruin her night. Josslyn says she’ll help, but Trina says she might end up covered in this stuff. Bartender N’neka says she can help; she can get goop on her clothes. Curtis thanks her, and she says, don’t worry, boss. Taggert says  he needs a drink, and Nina says she does too. Josslyn says, it’s been a crazy night, and Cameron says, in more ways than one. Why did she kiss him?

Molly asks what Alexis did that she’s in solitary, and Shawn says, there was an incident at the library. Technically, Alexis assaulted a guard, but she was only trying to help him. TJ says, at least none of the prisoners can mess with Alexis in solitary, but Shawn says, solitary is no vacation. Molly says, time alone with nothing to do but think. Sometimes her mother’s brain can be her worst enemy.   

Mirage Alexis says, what is this? Sage? It’s not her color. Alexis says, great. She’s only been in there two days, and she’s already losing her mind, and imaginary Alexis says, relax. She’s dreaming. The good news is, she finally fell asleep. Alexis asks who dream Alexis is; her conscience? Dream Alexis says, hell no. She’s just there to tell Alexis to stop screwing up her life. Alexis says, it’s a bit late for that. Okay, Ghost of Christmas Past, tell her what she could do better. Phantom Alexis says, don’t do anything. Do nothing. That’s her advice. Alexis says, that’s her advice? It’s impossible to do nothing, so it would help if she’d be more specific, and tell her exactly what she should stop doing. Dream Alexis tells her not to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.

Curtis tells Trina, there’s a green room in the back where her dress is waiting. It has a private bathroom where she can wash up. Portis says, if she wants to stay or go, it’s fine, but Trina says she’s got this. She knows she freaked out, but she’s okay now. Curtis says, it’s perfectly reasonable to be upset. She ran into a man in a ski mask, and ended up covered in blood. Trina says she thought it was blood, but it’s not real. She wasn’t hurt, just scared a little. Portia says, Trina… and Trina says, okay, a lot. Portia tells her to go change, and let her know if she wants to stay or go. No pressure. Trina thanks Curtis, and leaves with N’neka. Portia and Curtis look at each other, and Curtis follows Portia back into the club. A good-looking young man comes out of a door to the hallway, presumably the stalker. The stalker is definitely not Hayden.   

Jax says, Britt should celebrate; she dodged a bullet . She’s already learning things about Jason and Carly that he never will. Jason only cares about himself, not who he hurts, as long as he can hold on to Sonny’s power. She says, wow. He’s known them a long time, but doesn’t know the first thing about Jason. He’s not like Jax describes. Is he a user? Sure, but he truly wants to protect those loves. Jax says, that’s a short list, and Carly is on top. Whatever Carly wants, Jason gets. If she says, jump; he asks how high. Britt laughs, and he says, it’s true. She says, it is. For instance, when they were on the run, Jason was so supportive, even steadfast. That’s an old-fashioned word, but it still applies. He was someone she could count on. Then Carly called, and Jason ran so fast, he left a vapor trail. Jax says, trust him; she’s better off. She says she should have known the good guy wasn’t going to choose her.

Ava asks if Nikolas is all right, and he says, it just stings. Trina has good aim. Dante asks, what’s up with this silent alarm? and Nikolas says he set it up to catch their stalker. It went off, but he found Trina instead. He startled her, and she pepper sprayed him. Dante says, a teenager got the drop on Nikolas; that’s good. Jordan starts to ask Nikolas a question, and Ava asks if he’s sure he’s all right. He says he was checked out at GH, and should be fine. Ava says she’s so glad… and she’s so mad. She smacks him with her purse.

Curtis asks if Portia is all right, and she says, other than feeling sick that her daughter came face-to-face with the man who’s been terrorizing Ava, she guesses she’s okay. He says, Trina is okay, and whoever it was didn’t hurt her. She says, but they could have, and he says, speaking as someone who’s been on Trina’s bad side, trust him. That clown didn’t stand a chance. She thanks him, and tells him to keep reminding her of that, and he says, can do.   

Nina asks if Taggert is wishing he was out there looking for the creep who scared his daughter, and he says, damn straight, but he’s retired, so Jordan would kill him. He thinks it’s more important that he be there for his daughter, and she says, spoken like a loving dad. He thanks her, and says it’s the best compliment he can get. She toasts to parents and children, and they clink glasses. He says Nina is by herself, but there’s got to be some lucky guy in her life. She says, not at the moment; what about him? He and his ex get along well. He says, that’s why they’re exes. Portia tells Curtis, what bothers her most is Ava’s reaction. Whoever the stalker is, they got under Ava’s skin. He says, for now. He doesn’t know Ava well, but he knows she’s resilient and a fighter. Does that sound like anyone? Nina tells Taggert, Portia is feeling better, and he says, Portia has doctor instincts. She’s always calm in a crisis.

Josslyn says, Cameron claimed she thought he was a bad kisser, and she said he wasn’t. He wouldn’t shut up, so she thought maybe she didn’t remember. and decided to find out. He asks if she confirmed what she wrote in her journal, and she says she didn’t write that. Why doesn’t he believe her? He says Dev read it to him, and then showed him. He saw it with his own eyes. Was he hallucinating? She says she didn’t write it, and he asks why Dev would say she did. She says, maybe he was lying, or maybe he wrote it himself.   

Jax tells Britt, he’s sorry to set the record straight, but Jason’s not a good guy. She says, actually he is; he’s just unavailable. What about Jax? What’s his deal? Is he still pining for Carly, and longing for a reconciliation? He says he’s not longing or pining, and she says, really? He looks like he has someone on his mind, and he says, the woman in question doesn’t want anything to do with him. She asks what he did, and he says he betrayed her trust. She says, cheated or lied? and he says he kept a secret. He tried to fix the relationship, but it didn’t work. She says, in the end, he did the right thing, is she right? He says he thinks so, and she laughs, saying, doing the right thing is so overrated. She has a reputation as a selfish bitch, and she’s starting to think she should get back to that; looking out for number one again. Enjoying the life she has left. He says he thought she and Jason were together for just a little bit. Is he really going to leave that huge of a hole in Britt’s life? She says, absolutely not. What she meant is that she needs to stop being nice. Stop taking life so seriously, and have some fun. He says she’s talking his language, and they clink glasses.

Molly tells Shawn, that’s terrible. She’s glad her mom has Shawn to talk to in there. Shawn says Alexis only saw him in the library, and his privileges have been revoked. TJ asks, why? and he says, that’s what he needs to talk to Molly about… alone. He’s always glad to see TJ, but now that Molly is a lawyer, he wants her advice. Molly says, that’s flattering, but she hasn’t actually taken the bar yet. But she can consult for guidance. TJ says, he’ll leave them to it, and Shawn tells the guard that he’s consulting with his lawyer; he needs privacy. Both the guard and TJ leave, and Molly tells Shawn, to be absolutely clear, he knows he can’t officially practice law yet, but he says they needed to talk without the guard there. Alexis isn’t in solitary for pushing a guard. She’s in there because of Judge Carson.

Alexis supposes by sticking her nose in, dream Alexis means Judge Carson. Dream Alexis says, that would be the immediate concern, yes, and Alexis asks if she’s supposed to ignore Carson’s pattern of bias, and that she’s imposed stricter sentences on people of color, like Shawn. Dream Alexis says she’s in no position to call Judge Carson into account. Alexis says, Shawn is her friend, and shouldn’t be in prison at all, let alone this long. Nobody is helping him. They need to help him. Dream Alexis asks, how is this helpful? How is being in solitary confinement helping Shawn? Alexis says, it isn’t, and dream Alexis says, good. Now she’s learning.

Trina thanks N’neka, and says she’s a lifesaver. N’neka says it’s her pleasure. Enjoy her party. Trina says she intends to. N’neka leaves, and Trina comes face-to-face with the stalker sans ninja outfit. She asks who is he, and what is he doing there?  

Ava asks what the hell Nikolas was thinking, setting up a silent alarm behind her back. He says, the stalker found their way around regular security. He needed to make sure no one knew, not even Ava, and she says, so he came there to face the stalker by himself? He asks what she’d have him do, and she says, maybe call the cops. He says he was trying to stop the stalker so she could stop living in fear and forget the stupid divorce neither of them wants. She says she not only wants the divorce, she damn well intends to have it.

Cameron asks if Josslyn thinks Dev lied. She says, she didn’t write that, and Cameron is telling her that he saw it? He wonders if that means Dev forged the entry, and she says she doesn’t want to believe it, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. Cameron asks why Dev would do that, and she says, Dev told her that he was interested in her, but she never thought of him in that way. He says, right… and she says, what? He says, the night of the bombing at The Floating Rib, the night Dev died, before the bomb went off, Dev kept trying to apologize for something. Does she think Dev meant coming between them?

The stranger says he wanted to make sure Trina was okay, and she says she’s asking again, who is he, and why would he care? She doesn’t know him. Why is he back there? Does he work there? He says he does, and she asks what he does. He says he’s a barback; he saw her come in. She says sorry he had to see that. He says he promises not to tell s soul, and he’ll take down the Facebook post. He’s kidding. She says he’d better be. She’s already having a terrible night. He says he figured, which is why he wanted to check on her. She says, no one is going to forget that entrance ever; covered in fake blood, calling out for her mom. She just wants to run out the back door and go home. He says he agrees on one thing. People will definitely remember her entrance for a long time. Because it was epic.

Shawn says he and Molly’s mother found a pattern of bias in Judge Carson’s sentencing. She imposed significantly harsher sentences on non-white defendants. Molly says, the records her mom requested were all criminal cases in Port Charles County from 2015 to the present, and he says, Alexis didn’t want anything to alert Carson, but he thinks the judge got wind of it anyway. She says, oh my God. Does he think Judge Carson exerted pressure? He says he can’t be certain, but yes, that’s what he thinks happened. She says, so her mom didn’t push the guard? and he says, she did, but the most she should have gotten was one day, not three. Molly says, if Judge Carson is exerting undue influence, she needs to be brought in front of the Commission for Judicial Conduct, and that’s just for starters, but Shawn says he’s telling her this as a warning; stay away from Judge Carson. Molly says she can’t just drop it, and Shawn says, tell Diane what’s happening, and she’ll take it from there. Leave it alone. Don’t jeopardize her future for Carson. Alexis is under enough pressure. Don’t make Alexis worry about her too.

Dream Alexis says, drop it. Forget Judge Carson ever existed. Alexis asks if she knows how many people of color are serving longer sentences because they were unlucky enough to have Carson as a judge, and dream Alexis asks what the Prison Advisor told Alexis. Alexis says she told her a lot of things, and dream Alexis says, do your time, and keep your head down. Alexis tells her, she also said, find your purpose. She can’t just sit around reading the classics while people are being unfairly imprisoned. Dream Alexis says, how’s this for following her purpose? Stay out of solitary. Because if she keeps on doing what she’s doing, she’s going to end up living there. 

Nikolas says, the stalker has just been trying to scare them; they haven’t been violent. Ava says, not yet, when Jordan joins them. She says, whoever accosted Trina was a male, and Nikolas asks if Trina is okay. Ava says, Trina isn’t okay. She showed up at the Savory drenched in blood. Jordan says, fake blood, but Ava says she didn’t know that at the time. Trina was clearly traumatized. Nikolas says, Trina wasn’t hurt; she was just shaken up, but Ava says, that’s not okay, and Dante says, Trina wasn’t the intended target. Who knows what the outcome would have been if they’d come across Ava or Nikolas. Jordan asks Dante to walk her through the rest of the crime scene, and they leave. Nikolas says, look… and Ava says he can’t keep doing this. She means it. She doesn’t know how much more she can take.

Nina goes over to the bar, and clears her throat to get Curtis’s attention. Curtis turns around, and she says she saw him and Portia talking; they look really good together. He says, they do. There was definitely a spark, but he doesn’t know. It’s like she remembers something, then she shuts down. Now that he thinks about it, he knows he’s right. Somebody definitely warned Portia away from him. Nina says, maybe, but it’s definitely not Taggert.

The barback says he heard Trina tell her friends what happened at the gallery down the street. She took on some sketchy guy in a mask. That’s pretty badass. She asks if he thinks so, and he says, definitely. What he wants to know is – and feel free to tell him that it’s none of his business – she says she will – what was she doing there when the gallery was closed? She says she works there; Ava, the owner of the gallery, has been good to her. He says, right, and she says, excuse me? He says, Ava is notorious. Didn’t she kill someone? Trina says she doesn’t know. She wasn’t there; was he? He says, no, but… She says Ava is her friend, and he’d better watch what he says. He says it’s what he’s heard, and she says, then he needs to stop listening to gossip. Ava is a good person. He says he believes her, and he’s truly sorry. She says he should be, and he says she’s pretty fierce. That creeper didn’t stand a chance. She says she stands up for her friends, and he says her friends are lucky. Doesn’t she want to go party with them? It’s her night, and she looks amazing. She says, she and N’neka did the best they could. He says, his complements. So is she going to sneak out and run home, or go in there and show everyone that she’s not going to let some jerk ruin her night?

Charlie’s bartender says they’re going to close in thirty minutes, and Britt tells Jax. this place has gone downhill since it became family friendly. Jax says if they were in Melbourne, he would take her to this place that has amazing beer and barbecued snags. She says, snags? and he says, in Australia that means sausages. She says, sounds good. She’s a red meat kinda gal. Most doctors are, but don’t tell anyone. He says he won’t, and she says, but she’s not hungry. He says neither is he, but he doesn’t want to go home. She suggests he come home with her.

Dream Alexis says, who is Alexis? And Alexis says, this again. A fighter… an idealist… and an advocate. But how is she supposed to be an advocate if she can’t advocate? Dream Alexis says, if she’s stuck in there, and losing her mind talking to herself, she can’t. She’s Alexis Davis. She’s enough. She doesn’t have to save everybody. Alexis sits up, and says, this is not forever. She can do this.

Nikolas tells Ava that he’s sorry. He’s trying to end this. She says they are ending it, by getting a divorce, but he says they can’t be sure it will appease the stalker. She says, it’s better than antagonizing them. Why is he still fighting her on this? He asks why she thinks. He loves her, and won’t let this come between them. Why is she giving up? She says the stalker has proven he can get to them, get past security into their home, in her workplace, and all the way to her little girl. Avery isn’t safe, and she needs Avery to be safe. That’s why she wants a divorce, and she’ll do what she has to, to get one.

Britt puts her card key into her room, and for a moment, we think she came in alone. Then she starts ripping Jax’s clothes off, and they get busy.  

Alexis tells herself to pull herself together. She’s okay. She breathes, and says, I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay.  

Molly comes out, and TJ asks what that was about. She says, Judge Carson, and he says, the one who sentenced her mom? She says, the one who basically offered to take her under her wing. She intends to take her up on it.   

Trina says the barback never told her his name, and he says, Victor. She says she’s Trina, but he knew that. Nice to meet him. So is he coming? He says he’s got to get back to work, but maybe he’ll see her around. She says, maybe, and he watches her leave, appreciating what he sees.

Nikolas says Ava knows he doesn’t want a divorce, and she asks if he remembers the time he was gaslighting her when she was in Shadybrook? He was so good at it. He asks why she’s bringing it up now. She knows he hated that he did that, and he’ll always regret it. She says, if that’s the case, why is he doing it again? He says he’s not, but she says he is. He’s telling her the things she thinks, feels, and sees aren’t real. He says, no. He’s telling her that he loves her like she loves him. Things they both know are true. Ava says, except what she’s telling him is true is real. She doesn’t want to be married to him anymore. Does he understand? Get out of her face. She can’t stand to look at him. She walks out, and Jordan tells Nikolas that she’ll need his official statement. He says, first thing tomorrow, and leaves. Dante and Jordan look at a tablet, and Dante says, there are a lot of shoe prints. Trina went out the front, and hers are almost done. These are standard issue, police and firemen… Jordan says, there. She makes one picture bigger, and says, there’s no other foot traffic in this area. We see a solitary red footprint, and she says, the tread is not standard issue. He says, it’s not Nikolas’s shoe. They might have their first lead right there.

Nina tells Curtis that Taggert hit on her. He says, did he? Now he knows Taggert has good taste. She says, thanks, but that’s not the point. He saw Curtis and Portia talking, and there wasn’t a trace of jealousy. Curtis and Portia were smiling at each other, and it didn’t bother Taggert one bit. He says, if Taggert didn’t warn Portia off, who did?  

Cameron says Josslyn didn’t regret kissing him? and she says, not at all. He asks if that means they should… but Josslyn says, stop. He says he hasn’t started, and realizes Trina is behind him. Josslyn says, killer dress, and Cameron says Trina no longer looks like the last girl in a horror movie. She thanks them for their support, and says she’s ready to party. Cameron says, ready and waiting, and Josslyn says she’s glad Trina changed her mind. Trina says, fortunately, someone reminded her that it was their night, and not to let some lame-ass stalker ruin it.

Victor cuts himself on his bag, opens it, and wipes off the blood with a cloth. He takes out a photo of him, Laura, and Nikolas, and says, sorry, father. It’s for your own good. Victor is Spencer. All grown up. And nicely, I might add.

Tomorrow, Maxie says she can’t help herself, Trina has a better idea, Carly and Jason have something important to tell Josslyn, and Willow wheels Chase into Charlie’s.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Ostrica, Croatia. Guest Terez berates Captain Sandy about the terrible dinner, saying, it was unacceptable. She screeches, it’s a mega yacht! and the captain agrees, saying they have no chef because of covid. She’s never been in this position, but anyone coming on board has to be quarantined for seven days. Guest Jordan says, come on, girl. We’re on your team, and I wish they’d stop calling the captain girl. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she gets it. She has no chef and a new crew. It’s never easy to hear criticism, but she has to shoulder it and do all she can to please them. In David’s interview, he says he’s more than happy to help any department, but imagine finding him in the galley, and thinking he had anything to do with the food. Katie wonders if Mathew is coming back, and in her interview, she says, it’s like losing a limb. She’s praying he comes back, but she wants to strangle his little head. Everyone goes to bed.

Captain Sandy says, it’s like a bad dream, and Katie asks if Mathew is coming back for breakfast. Malia says she’ll help by starting to prep, and in her interview, she says she’s never seen a yachting crew without a chef to cook for the guests. It’s probably the worst thing she’s ever faced, and they’ve crashed tenders. Behind closed doors, Terez’s significant other says she’s getting mad at him because of the trip. They can’t get their money back. She says she’s going to bed, and she says she doesn’t care. In Zee’s interview, he says he thinks his brothers in yachting would be proud. Lexi tells Courtney about how she was Miss Bahamas, and went to Russia for the Miss Universe pageant. Guest Jordan wants someone to do an airplane, and Katie volunteers. I have no idea what this is, when Jordan lies on her back on the floor, raises her legs, and Katie balances on top of them. WTF? Lexi peeks out of the galley, and says, it’s getting freaky now. Jordan says Katie is their girl, and she’s going to lift Katie higher next time. Imfowerments [sic]; she’s a little drunk. Lloyd goes on anchor watch, and in his interview, he said he’s worked with people a lot in his career. He sold cars for a while, and it was the worst part of his life. They made him stay late on the phone, while he stood on a table and people threw things at him to try and make him smile. It made him the strong person he is today. Again, WTF? Katie takes stuff out for breakfast, and Lexi vacuums. In Katie’s interview, she wonders how the f*** they’re going to survive the rest of the season if this day one. Lexi tells herself that her brains are fried. She calls her mom, and says she’s used to working charters, but this is madness. In her interview, she says her dad died a couple of months ago. They weren’t allowed in the hospital with him because of covid, and her mom got a call that he hadn’t made it. Talking about him makes her sad, and she hasn’t really dealt with it.

Day two. A storm is headed their way, and Malia asks David if his roommate is back, but he says, no. In Malia’s interview, she says, they’re toast. She tells David, they have a bachelor party to throw, and Captain Sandy texts Mathew, asking if he has any word. David says, this weather came out of nowhere. The captain texts Norma from yacht staffing, and in her interview, she says she has to figure this out. She also needs a deck stew, so she’ll never be caught without a crew member in quarantine again. Norma says she’ll send a chef to quarantine, as Courtney cuts a pineapple. Good luck to her. Those are hard to cut. In Courtney’s interview, she says she’s glad to be out of the laundry, but she’s not supposed to be in the galley. Mathew calls the captain, and says he got the results back from his MRI.

Mathew tells the captain that it’s nothing serious. He’s sore, but he’d love to come back and start fresh. Captain Sandy says, first and foremost, she’s glad he’s okay, and asks if he’ll be there for breakfast. In her interview, she says, as captain, she’s had to deal with a fire on the Red Sea and she’s faced pirates, but no chef is like the end game. The big question is, is he capable of continuing? She radios the crew, who all respond with comments like, thank the Lord and hallelujah. The captain says a water taxi is approaching, and hopefully, it’s their chef. Mathew gets on board, and Captain Sandy tells him, welcome back. He takes off his booties and mask, and tells her that he’ll get changed and get to it. The captain tells Katie that she was going to drag Mathew’s ass back if he wasn’t coming. Mathew says, it’s nothing serious, but he’s in a little pain. In Mathew’s interview, he says he always has deep anxiety before the first meal with new guests. Instead of dealing with that, he bailed. There were two jobs that he left before he started them because of anxiety. He wants and needs to overcome it. I wonder why this didn’t come up as far as references go, and Katie tells Courtney that she’s never been so excited to see a bloody chef in her life. In Zee’s interview, he says, Courtney has a beautiful smile. Katie says Mathew owes them big time. She wants to make sure he knows that, and that he’s not leaving… let’s hope not. Mathew asks if it was a disaster, and Courtney asks if it matters. In Courtney’s interview, she wonders where Mathew’s limp went. He came in, acting like he was fine. Mathew tells Captain Sandy, it was a sad start to the trip, and he’ll talk to the guests. He suggests having someone else do the crew food, and ordering a wedding cake. The more he can outsource things that don’t matter as much to the guests (like the wedding cake???), the more he can focus on the more important stuff. The captain says, they have to do the crew food? and he says, he’s still getting used to the space, and he’s in pain. He tells her he’s going to speak to the guests, and in her interview, Captain Sandy says, I mean, come on. She knows chefs can be very finicky, and some are temperamental. The last thing she wants to do is bombard Mathew when he’s asking her for help. She can’t get a new chef, so she wants to ease him back into the role. Mathew apologizes to the guests for the start of the trip, and the captain tells Malia that they’ll have to do the crew food; sorry. Malia says she’s cool with it.   

Malia tells David to get out the unicorn island, and Zee helps them blow it up. In Lexi’s interview, she says, after speaking to her mom, she feels better. She was exhausted and overworked. Malia hugs the unicorn, since she doesn’t have a boyfriend right now, and David says it’s going on its maiden voyage. They name the floatie Maureen the Magical Unicorn. Lexi dances and sings while ironing, which is why she has that job and I don’t. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s trying to stay positive. He’s in a weird head space, and in pain. He’s trying to internalize, be calm, be cool. Maureen is put in the water, and Malia makes paninis for lunch. Katie serves drinks to the guests in the hot tub. David needs to find radishes, but doesn’t know what they look like. Third WTF this evening. Lloyd and David talk England, and David says he grew up in Brighten, which was a wicked city to grow up in. Katie has to bring so many drinks to the hot tub, she says, her poor arms. She’s not a stew anymore; she’s a bartender.   

Lloyd preps for the next round of paninis. Jordan suggests Katie just leave a bottle of champagne and a carafe of orange juice, so they can do their own refills. In Malia’s interview, she says the crew is still getting up to speed, but she doesn’t see any red flags… yet. Captain Sandy asks how Mathew is doing, and he says, there’s too much stuff; he doesn’t know what’s where. I might interject, he’s the one who ordered too much stuff. The captain says she can help him organize, and he apologizes about the crew food. She says he’s not even at the starting line. Once he’s there, he’ll do the food. Seeing the huge amount of fruits and vegetables they have, the captain says, ridiculous. Malia says the paninis are ready, while David wrestles with Maureen. Katie tells Courtney that they have a bachelorette party coming up, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, all of her friends are having weddings, houses, babies, and dogs. Traveling girl, single and alone, just getting drunk in the corner. Katie and Lexi set the table for lunch, and Katie does some correcting of the silverware. In her interview, she says she’s not one of those chief stews who are particular about a lot of things, but she notices if the table setting isn’t cohesive. Captain Sandy curses her life while organizing the pantry, and says, he’s on his own. Zee makes himself a baloney sandwich, and tries to engage Courtney in small talk. In his interview, he keeps hearing, don’t screw the crew, but if you enjoy someone, why not give it a shot? At the same time, he’s green.

The guests head to the table for lunch, and in Mathew’s interview, he says he never thinks of wowing the guests, he just puts his heart out there and hopes they like it. He gives us the six Ps of yachting – proper preparation prevents piss poor performance. The guests are loving it, and happy he’s there. One of them says he totally redeemed himself. Malia asks if Zee is good, and he says, good-ish. He asks if she’ll show him how to tie a line, and she demonstrates for him. She tells him to keep an eye on the jet ski line. Lexi tells Mathew that she loves him, and in her interview, she says, always lie to the chef. Tell the chef you love them. Mathew makes chocolate mousse for dessert, which redeems just about anything, and Terez says, everything is on point. Katie asks Courtney to help clear lunch, so they can set up dinner. Captain Sandy asks how lunch went, and Katie says ,it’s a good vibe. A guest wonders what that jet ski is doing floating away.  

Zee tells Malia that he’s not sure how it happened, but she tells him, it’s okay. In her interview, she says she’s letting him off the hook, since she also watched a jet ski float away. It’s a rite of passage. David drives the tender to a fishing spot for Clint’s bachelor party, while Karry and her pals get in the unicorn for her bachelorette. Clint says his life is officially over, and Karry asks for a bottle of vodka. In Zee’s interview, he says he worked in hospitality, and guests are happier when they’re drunk. It’s the first thing he’s been comfortable with. One of Clint’s party suggests that the chef bring down a fish, and they can say they caught it. The tender comes back, and Malia brings the fish out, asking if they want to take a photo. Karry and Clint kiss, and Mathew says he prepared dinner for the crew. Captain Sandy tells him, lunch and dinner for the crew while they’re on charter, and in her interview, she says she knew he’d come around to making crew food. She had to play her cards right; one step at a time. Let him settle back in. David and Lloyd talk women, but I’m skeptical as to whether either one of them has ever been on a date. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he doesn’t get to speak much to Katie. Plus, she’s chief stew, so she’s also scary. Katie and Courtney set the table for dinner, and in Katie’s interview, she says, the more stews you have under you, you lean more toward administration. Some chief stews don’t like to get their hands dirty, but she still likes a challenge. The guests get ready for dinner.

The wind picks up, and it starts to rain. The crew covers the deck furniture. In Mathew’s interview, he says, he’s going in with his first dinner, and doesn’t want to overcomplicate things. He knows he can do this, but needs to prove to the guests, captain, and crew that he can do this. In Katie’s interview, she says, synchronization is so important. Plus she thinks it looks good, bringing everything in at once. Katie tells Courtney to do turndowns, then laundry. In Malia’s interview, she’s skeptical about how much Mathew is physically hurt. It starts to get windy outside, and a guest’s wine glass gets broken. Katie says they’ll have to move everything inside, and Mathew frets about the food getting cold. He tried to make it perfect, now his whole dinner could be f***ed.    

They move operations inside, and… Did Clint just whistle for a drink? What is he, a heathen? The fish is served, and everyone loves it. Jordan toasts to Karry and Clint. Clint brushes Karry’s hair back, telling her to show off her outfit, by which he means her boobs, and she gets annoyed. Katie says, the guests have been drinking since 8:30 am, and Karry tells Clint that he’s drunk. He starts getting snarky, and she rolls her eyes. The dessert comes out, and Clint yells, cream [sic] brûlée! Malia says Mathew is efficient; she thought it would be a disaster. Mathew says, based on yesterday, she probably didn’t have very high expectations. In Lexi’s interview, she says Mathew thinks he’s a hero, but he isn’t. He screwed them over on the first day. He signed on to cook. Why should he get a pat on the back for cooking? Courtney says, on no boat has she witnessed this madness, and Malia says Mathew seems temperamental.

Clint and Karry go to their cabin, but Clint says he doesn’t want to go to bed. They argue over whose phone charger is whose, and Clint says Karry is drunk as sh*t. She says she’s calling her mother, and he tells her, go ahead. She calls him a d-bag, and he says, call him that again… She says he’s a d-bag, and she’s not marrying him. He says he doesn’t want to get married anyway. He’s done. Katie jets from her eavesdropping position in the hallway, as Clint comes out the door. In the room, Karry cries, and lightning strikes over the ocean.  

Next week, Lexi says there’s a weird vibe, David is attracted to Malia, Terez won’t eat the lamb, and Mathew tells Lexi to get out.

😵 Is It Friday Yet…?

Tomorrow brings Temptation Tuesday, but I probably won’t get to those wacky NYC Wives until Wednesday because I am a slave to the Zoom meeting. It could be worse. So until we see who has and has not, stay safe, stay fearless, but not stupid, and stay out of solitary. It’s not helpful to anyone.

July 2, 2021 – Trina Meets the Stalker, In Memory, Goodbye Joe, Baby It’s Real, What’s On, Best Dressed, Double Farewell, Garcelle Spills, a First Look, Another One, Many Short Quotes & Back

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Britt sits down in the prison visiting room, and picks up the phone. She says, lookin’ good, hot stuff, and Brad says, what’s with the red-rimmed eyes? Oh my God. Did they cancel Grey’s?

Michael says, for as long as he can remember, Jason and Carly have been friends. Friends doesn’t even cover the loyalty they have for each other. Even when they disagree, they’re still on each other’s side. He has no doubt they love each other, but he does doubt that’s the reason they have to get married. Jason says, it’s the best option they have right now under current circumstances, and Michael asks, what circumstances? Carly says, there are problems with the business.

Jax walks into Trina’s party, and sees Cameron and Josslyn. He says he heard Cameron is going to PCU. Maybe the two of them could keep each other out of trouble? Josslyn says, like Jax never got in trouble. Curtis says, Taggert made it, and Taggert says, he has so much to celebrate. He thanks Curtis for everything he’s doing for Trina, and Curtis says, no problem, but watch out. That daughter of his is going to keep him on his toes. Portia joins them, and says, she gets it from her mom, and Taggert says, that’s right.

Ava and Nina walk in, and Ava says, this is great. Maybe they could get Curtis to offer Nina’s boyfriend Mike a job there. Nina says, first of all, he’s not her boyfriend, and secondly, he’s not moving to Port Charles. Jax tells Josslyn he never got in trouble in college, and Nina asks if Ava can just drop it. Ava says her lips are sealed, and Nina walks over to Jax. Jordan arrives, and Ava tells her, congratulations. She heard Jordan took down Cyrus Renault. Too bad she couldn’t shoot to kill. Jordan thanks Ava, and tells her to enjoy her night. Ava says, highly unlikely, since she has a madman terrorizing her and her family. She wants Jordan to tell her what she’s doing about it.

At Charlie’s, Laura asks if Doc is ready to go. He looks at his phone, and says, yeah… and she asks, what’s wrong? He says he hasn’t been able to reach Nikolas. She says, he left without saying goodbye, and he was preoccupied when he was here. He’s not in a party mood; he has a stalker and a divorce looming. He says, Nikolas isn’t planning on a divorce. He’s determined to fight for his marriage at any cost.

Trina walks into the dark gallery, and literally bumps into someone. She sprays them with pepper spray, and we see it’s Nikolas, who throws up his hands and yells in pain.

Taggert wonders if Trina is going to make a grand entrance, and Portia says, Trina texted her, and she needed to make a stop before she came. Taggert says, that gives him time to practice his speech, but she says, no speeches. Don’t embarrass Trina. He tells her, speak for herself. There’s only three times a grown man gets to cry over his daughter; graduation, marriage, and childbirth. He will not be deprived. She says, so get ready for the waterworks. Ava tells Jordan that she believes she’s entitled to a thorough investigation; this has been going on for months. Taggert excuses himself, saying, his former partner needs rescuing. He picks up a couple of glasses of champagne, and goes over to Jordan. Portia tells Curtis, Taggert likes to seem tough, but he’s full of emotion when it comes to Trina. Curtis says he doesn’t doubt it. It seems Portia and Taggert are getting along well. It gives him hope with him and Jordan as exes. She says they keep it civil for Trina, but they both still have their moments. As a matter-of-fact, Taggert mentioned to her that he knew about her and Curtis’s prior relationship.

Britt tells Brad, they’d never cancel Grey’s, but there’s talk that the series might end soon. He says, no, and she says she can’t even go there right now, but she still has a DVD player, and they’re going to watch all the box sets she’s been keeping. As soon as he gets out, she’s going to take a couple of days off, and they’ll do the ultimate binge watch. He says, and Meredith hasn’t found true love, since Derek… She says, true love doesn’t even exist. The hot guys aren’t even what they used to be. He says, liar, and she says she just doesn’t want to make him feel bad. He says, in this Eden of teardrop tattoos and toilet wine? And she says, don’t tell her he drinks that. He says, it’s like 200 proof, and only on Sundays. She says he has no idea how much she missed him, and he says he might have some idea, She says, of course (🍷) he does. She’s sorry she hasn’t come by more, and he says, it’s okay. He knows she’s busy. She says he has no idea, and he asks, how’s Wiley? She says she hears he’s growing like a weed. They don’t travel in the same circles, but she’s sure Michael and Willow are taking good care of Wiley. Not as good as him of course (🍷).

Carly says, as Michael knows, when Jason was on the run and unavailable, she took Sonny’s seat at a meeting with the Five Families spaghetti sauce with mushrooms. She told them she was in charge, and then Jason came back. Jason says, the other families expect one of them to push the other out, and Carly says, specifically, they want Jason to push her out. Jason says, that hasn’t happened. One family in particular, the Novaks, sees an opening, and the Novaks have hit them a couple of times. Michael asks, how bad? and Jason says, they took out a warehouse. Michael asks if they retaliated, and Jason says, last night, the Novaks lost a building where their main offices are located. No one was hurt, but the building was burned to the ground. They also had 27 trucks stolen. Michael says, it’s impressive, and Jason says, it sends a message. Carly says, her and Jason’s engagement will send a message too.

Josslyn says hi to Nina, who says she hopes it’s okay that she crashed the party. Cameron says, it’s Trina’s party, and he’s sure Trina will be happy to have her. Nina congratulates Josslyn and Cameron, and gives Josslyn a gift. Josslyn thanks her, and says it’s great that she’s there. She’s sure Wiley will be glad to get to know her. Will they be seeing more of her? Nina says, maybe, and Jax smiles.

Ava tells Jordan, in the absence of a viable suspect, she’s had to upend her life. Taggert comes over, and hands Jordan a glass, saying, he thought she could use this. She thanks him, and tells him to grab a table while she and Ava finish up. He leaves, and Jordan suggests Ava come by her office, and they can talk.

Laura tells Doc, Nikolas isn’t answering her calls either. What else did he say? Doc says, that he’s not taking this stalker business lying down, and she says, that’s what she was afraid of. He mentioned something about setting a trap for the stalker. Doc says he has a bad feeling that trap might have been sprung.

Nikolas rubs at his eyes, and Trina says she’s so sorry. Don’t rub at your eyes! He asks, what the hell was that? and she says, pepper spray. Her dad gave it to her to fend off attackers. He says, congratulate him on a job well done, and she tells him, sit down. She helps him wash out his eyes with a bottle of water. He asks why she sprayed him, and she says she thought he was an intruder trying to snatch her. She didn’t know it was him. Why is he even there? He says he’s trying to save his family. The ninja peeks out, and sees them. Trina tells Nikolas, be still. Pepper spray is a thousand times hotter than if he wiped his eyes after handling a jalapeno. He says that’s not making him feel any better, and she says he needs to concentrate on something else. Psychologically, it might be better to have something to take his mind off the pain. He says the only thing he wants to think about is why he’s there; he’s looking for Ava’s stalker. She says, and they thought the stalker might be there? They might have told her. She’d like to know if someone is creeping around Ava’s place of business. He says he didn’t want to scare her; he thought he could catch the person responsible. Why is she there, and not at her party? She says she heard about the divorce, and she wanted to check on Ava. Maybe she should call Ava… He says, no, please. She’s not going to be happy. She needs to hear it from him. He suggests she go to her party, and says, her friends are waiting there. She says, no; she’s not leaving him like this. She’s getting him help whether he likes it or not. If it’s not Ava, who’s it going to be? He hands her his phone, and she asks if he has communication issues.

Laura says, Nikolas should have gotten back to them by now, and Doc says, maybe he’s giving his statement to the police. Her phone rings, and she says, there he is. Trina says, it’s her. She’s at the gallery, and Laura’s son needs her. Laura says she’ll be right there. Doc says, what? and she says she’ll tell him in the car.   

Curtis says, Taggert spoke to Portia too, and she says, Taggert told Curtis that he knew about them? He says, not in so many words, but he got his point across. Luckily with a shrug of his shoulders, and not a fist to Curtis’s chin. Portia says she’s glad Taggert didn’t make a huge deal about it, and Curtis says, him too. Did he with her? She says, no; he was pretty understanding. It’s all water under the bridge anyway, but she should have mentioned it to Curtis, and sort of warned him. He says, well, they haven’t been connecting lately. He’s beginning to think it’s intentional.

Cameron and Josslyn step outside, and Cameron wonders what happened to Trina. Josslyn says, maybe she wants to make an entrance, and Cameron suggests she open Nina’s present while they’re waiting. Josslyn says she doesn’t know. Things are still kind of weird between Nina and her dad, so she didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. He says, she’s worried it’s going to be what? Rolling papers? I wonder where that came from. She tells him, stop it, and he says, open it; let’s see what it is. She hands him the bow, and opens the box, because on soaps, there is never traditional wrapping paper. She says, it looks like a book, and he says, maybe it’s a hangover cookbook for college. Josslyn takes out a leather-bound volume, and says, it’s a journal. Wow. Is Cameron ready to party, or what? He seems to be down for some weed and wine.

Jax says, it’s sweet of Nina to give Josslyn a gift, and she says, it’s nothing really. He says she looks great. Has she been seeing Wiley? She says, yes. Michael and Willow, and Carly surprisingly enough, have been very gracious… especially given the circumstances surrounding the invitation. He says he doesn’t regret clearing the way, and she says, even if it means things are difficult with Carly? He says he thinks he’s the farthest thing from Carly’s mind, and she asks why he’s saying that. Did something happen? He says she’ll find out sooner or later, but Carly and Jason are getting married.

Jason tells Michael, the Novaks and the other families are watching for signs of a power struggle. If they see him and Carly fighting, they’ll up the pressure, hoping to rip this family and the organization apart, and they’re going to step in and help themselves to their territory. Michael says, but there is no power struggle? and Jason says, no. They know that, but the other families don’t. Carly says, their marriage will send a message that she and Jason are a united front. Michael says, but do they want to get married?

Britt holds her phone up to the glass, and Brad says, thanks; he’s good. She says she thought he’d want to see Wiley, and he says he does, but there’s only so much he can take before it goes from heartwarming to gut wrenching. Where did she get the pictures? She says, they were all around Bobbie’s office, and he says he thought Bobbie got the boot. She says, she did, but she and her stink-eye are back patrolling the halls, now that Cyrus is kicking rocks. He says he can’t keep up. He assumed she’d gotten the photos from Jason. She asks why he said that, and he says, please. He saw her slobbering after him on Valentine’s Day. She says, shut up; she did not. He says, whatever. He can almost see it. Jason has the looks, the body, the smarts; factor in the – he lowers his voice – contract killing and mob boss BFF, it’s a helluva catch. She says Brad doesn’t know what he’s talking about. There’s more to Jason than that. He asks, how would she know? Is she sleeping with him? She says, no… not anymore.

Doc examines Nikolas’s eyes, and Laura asks, what happened to calling the police? Nikolas says, for all he knows, the stalker could be in law enforcement. Obviously, they’re familiar with Ryan Chamberlain, and have enough technical knowledge to bypass the security at Windymere, and using Ryan’s voice in that toy bear. Trina asks how Nikolas is. Is there going to be permanent damage? Doc says, he’s going to be fine. She got him good though. Trina says she thinks she emptied her cannister, and Doc says, it was excellent aim given the pressure she was under. She says her dad taught her well. Laura asks if Doc thinks they should  take Nikolas to GH, and he says, he thinks they should, to be on the safe side. They get on either side of him, and Laura tells Nikolas to walk while they steer. She tells Trina, sorry. She hopes they didn’t ruin her big night, but Trina says, it’s okay. She’ll just be fashionably late. Laura says she’s such a good sport, and when they leave, Trina turns out the lights. The ninja comes back out.

Brad tells Britt, do not leave a single thing out; he’s deprived. The gossip in there centers around who got jumped, the menu, and how to score two-in-one shampoo. Start talking. Go. She says laughs and says, okay. Cyrus sent two thugs to kill her, and Jason saved her life. As they were escaping, in a jailbreak of sorts, Jason got shot. They went on the run, and she was taking care of him. They wound up in a lighthouse in Canada, and they got really close. He says, and? and she says, if he was hoping for a play-by-play, forget it. He says he’ll forego position for the sake of accuracy. Was Jason everything she’d hoped he’d be? She asks what he thinks, and he asks why she looks like that then. She said not anymore. Does she mean to tell him that she scored the city’s hottest gangster, and it was a one and done? And since when does she withhold details? She says, she and Jason experienced something extreme together, and now that’s over. No hearts, no flowers, no frou-frou romance. It was all circumstantial, and that was all it was every going to be. He says, holy crap. She really cares about the guy.

Carly says she wants to be married to Michael’s father, but that’s not possible. This is a business arrangement, but she wouldn’t do it with anyone else but Jason. Jason says, Carly’s right. This is for the business. The only reason it makes sense is because they understand each other, and they know it’s going to work. Michael says they’ve obviously thought this through, and know what they’re doing. Have they set a date?

Nina says, Carly and Jason are getting married? She never thought of them as anything other than just friends. Jax says, back day, they were much more. For the first few years of Michael’s life, everybody thought Jason was his father. Nina says, is this a reunion of sorts? and Jax says, or a return to disfunction. He knows Carly’s personal life is none of his business, he just doesn’t want to see her make the same mistakes over and over. Nina says, it is his business, because Carly is the mother of his child, and Jax loves her. He says, it might seem ridiculous, but he doesn’t want to see her get hurt, and she says, that’s his M.O., but try as you might, you can’t control someone else’s choices. Even if you can stave off the pain and stop the hurt, maybe you shouldn’t. He says, why? Because it’s not his place? She says, because sometimes hurt is necessary. They grow out of pain and find out how strong they are. They can rebuild their lives, and sometimes if they’re lucky, be happier than they were. He thanks her for her wise perspective. He’s missed that, and he missed her too. He touches her arm.

Josslyn says, Nina must have remembered that she journaled last year, and Cameron says, but she gave that up, right? He supposes she can start again, and Josslyn flashes back to Trina telling her that Dev showed her journal to Cameron. She says, why, so he can read it like the other one? and walks away.

Curtis says, ever since that kiss… and Portia says, they discussed this. He made it clear that wasn’t something he wanted. He says he remembers something different. He remembers being in the hospital, and it was just after surgery. She told him it had been a mistake. Portia says she was agreeing with him. Why are they revisiting this conversation if they’re of the same mind? Curtis says, maybe they aren’t.

Taggert bets Jordan is grateful he ran interference with Ava. What is her problem? Jordan says, she’s got a fan… super dedicated.

The ninja steals though gallery, and a light comes on. The ninja knocks a device off the desk, and Trina comes in. The ninja slips away, and Trina picks it up. She says, damn. She’s really late. Stop screwing around, Trina. The ninja touches Trina’s shoulder, and Trina turns around. The ninja puts a finger to their lips.

At the hospital where Nikolas lies with a mask on his eyes, Laura says she can understand Nikolas wanting to hold on to his marriage no matter what. Nikolas says, but it’s not worth it? and she says, on the contrary. She can see how much they love each other, but she also understands how terrified Ava must be right now, knowing how close the stalker came to Avery. Maybe down the line, things will be different, but right now he has to honor Ava’s wishes, and let her have her space so she feels safe. Doc says, not to alarm him, but his pushback could actually endanger Ava. Nikolas sits up, taking off the mask, and says, that’s exactly what the stalker wants them to think. He won’t stand by and be forced out of his marriage. He tells Laura, don’t worry. He’ll make sure nothing happens to Ava, and she doesn’t get hurt. Laura says, even if he’s right, what if something happens to someone else?   

Trina tries using her pepper spray, but she was right; she emptied the cannister. She asks the ninja, please don’t hurt her.

Josslyn runs through the club with Cameron on her heels, saying, wait. He follows her out the front door, and says, it’s not at all what she thinks. She says, so he did read her journal. He says he didn’t go hunting for it, and she says she knows; Dev showed it to him. He asks if Trina told her. How long has she known? She says, not long, but this isn’t about Trina; it’s about them. How can they be friends if he’s not honest? He asks where she gets off lecturing him about honesty, when the proof of everything she doesn’t say was in her journal? Like what she really thinks about him.

Curtis says he’s sorry if he put Portia on the spot, and she looks over at Jordan and Taggert. She says she knows he didn’t mean to, but nothing can come of it. He asks how she knows, and she says, because it wouldn’t be received well. She excuses herself and walks away.

Jax says he didn’t mean to overstep, and she says, it’s okay. She hopes she didn’t give him mixed signals, and he says she didn’t. He just thought that maybe… Forget it. He thought wrong. She says, it’s good to see him, and he says, it’s good to see her too, and she moves on.

Carly tells Michael, this all just happened. They haven’t planned a ceremony yet… She means she hasn’t planned a ceremony. Jason says, there are people they need to tell in person, and Michael says, like grandmother? Carly says she knows Monica is going to hate it, but she needs to hear it from them. Maybe Jason should handle it solo. Jason says he’ll figure it out, and Carly says, Josslyn doesn’t know, but she didn’t want to overshadow Josslyn’s graduation celebration. Michael says, a lot of people are going to be surprised, but once they have a chance to think about it, they won’t be surprised at all. Carly says she told Jason the same thing. Even people who don’t know the business part, she doesn’t think that many people will be surprised. Jason flashes back to Britt saying he told her that he wasn’t good at what ifs, and she really liked that about him. Don’t lose it now; just get out.

Britt asks Brad, how pathetic was she? What was she thinking? That they’d be a couple? That they would pick out furniture and move in together? When did she get so lame? He reminds her that she’s talking to a man behind bars, who conspired with a homicidal maniac to steal a baby from the child’s father. She says, they were running for their lives, and following the 10-hour rule. She let herself get caught up in dreaming of a future, when actually she doesn’t have one. Brad asks what’s stopping her, and she flashes back to Jason saying it could be thirty years. It’s her life and her choice, but for what it’s worth (🍷), he’d still like to know her six months from now. She says she wants to know him too. Britt tells Brad, with Jason, she means. Brad says she obviously likes him. He had no idea Jason was so smooth. She says, he was just kind to her and she ate it up like a hot fudge sundae. Poor Britt, starved for affection, took common decency for a love connection. He says he’d thank her not to make fun of his best friend. She’s smart, beautiful, funny as hell, and a doctor, which makes her fierce. He knocks on the glass, and asks if he’s getting through to her. She says, thanks; she’s a catch. Just not one you catch and keep. He says, that’s on Jason, and if he’s not smart enough to realize it, too bad for him. Britt says, there’s only room for one woman in Jason’s life, and it’s not her. He asks, who would that be? but she says she doesn’t want to get into it. She thinks she should see a doctor. She feels like a hippo is squatting on her chest, and someone is playing her stomach like a marimba. Brad says, she’s not sick, just heartbroken.

Doc says, the messages are a direct threat. This person has physically intruded into their lives, their home. Nikolas says, if the stalker wanted to hurt them, they’d have done it, or worse. They can get in and out of Windymere, and their room at the MetroCourt. Why’d they stop with the messages? Why not take the opportunity to do worse? They’re trying to scare him and Ava, and he thinks it’s time he calls their bluff.

Trina says, please, and the ninja reaches for the device. Trina runs across the room and throws it at them. It bounces off the ninja and onto the floor. They both look up.

Taggert tells Jordan that she’s not going to solve the case tonight while they’re celebrating Trina’s graduation. Portia approaches their table, and says she’s glad Jordan could make it. They make small talk, and Curtis watches.

Josslyn says she doesn’t know what Cameron is talking about. What exactly did he read? He says, nothing. Dev read it. He didn’t want to intrude on her privacy, but Dev insisted he hear it, and once he heard it, he couldn’t unhear it. So if she wants to be friends again, the radical honesty starts with her.

Jax walks out of the Savoy, telling himself that he’s such an idiot.

Brad tells Britt, the guard is giving him the wrap-it-up glare. He’s sorry if he said something that set her off, and she says she shouldn’t have come there and dumped this on him. He says, please. It’s the most normal he’s felt in a long time. She says she’s happy to oblige, and he says he’s sorry Jason hurt her, but it might be a blessing in disguise. Staying away from Jason will probably add years to her life expectancy. She says, of course (🍷) it does, and he says, do him a favor. Go do some self-care. She says, it’s too late for a massage, but he says he was thinking more like, get drunk and make a mess. She says, without her wingman? No way. They’ve got to get him out of there. He says he has a parole hearing coming up, and she says he’d better work it. The Nurses Ball is coming up this fall. He says, she’ll have the ice cream? and she says, and Sam’s red carpet whoopsie on loop. He laughs, and says he’s there. They fist bump through the glass.

Carly tells Michael, she and Jason are going what they need to do to protect Sonny’s legacy and their family. Michael says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks dad would understand and approve. He realized, he never asked, but does Jason want to run the business? Jason says he never wanted to, but he knows how to run it, and to keep things stabilized for this family; it’s necessary. Carly says she appreciates Michael’s concern, but they’re going into this with eyes wide open. Michael says, then they know some people won’t like this at all. Jason says he knows.   

Carly walks Michael to the door, and thanks him for looking out for them. He says if Jax gives her any trouble, let him know; Jax owes him one now. She says, does he? and Michael says, it’s all good. Congratulations. He’s happy for the both of them. He leaves, and Jason asks, what was that about Jax? She says she’s 99% sure Jax blackmailed Michael into letting Nina see Wiley, and he says, blackmailing with what? She says, that’s the detail she doesn’t know, and Michael refuses to tell her, and she’s sure he’s doing it to keep the peace with Josslyn. Jason says, it makes sense. The last thing Josslyn or any kid wants is friction between their parents. She says, so Jax gets what he wants by taking advantage of Michael’s concern for his sister? He asks if she wants to pick a fight with Jax, and she says she wouldn’t be the one picking the fight. He asks again, and she says, no. Jax is really angry that they’re getting married. He asks what Jax said, but she says, he didn’t have to say anything. She could tell what he was thinking. Sonny tied her to the business, and all the risks that come with it. Jax was thinking, with Sonny gone, she was free, but now she’s marrying Jason, which ties her to the business again. He says, sorry, and she asks, why? He’s not forcing her to make this decision; they made this decision together. He’s not having second thoughts, is he? He says, no. They’ve looked at it from every angle possible. Getting married is the best way to stabilize the business, and more important, the best way to protect this family. She says she was just making sure, and he says, what about her? Is she having second thoughts? She says, no. She’s just not excited about the judgment that’s coming her way. Maybe if Jason had spent years trying to run off every man she wanted in her life… Although many could make the argument that he did. He asks, how’s that? and she says, because of all the times she turned to him and he was there, especially when her life was falling apart. It never bothered Sonny, but Jax hated it. So maybe he is just as responsible for them winding up together. He asks if that makes her happy, and she says, sure. A shared blame is better than taking the fall alone. She looks at her wedding set, and says she guesses it’s time; she has to take these off. Jason takes her hand, and says, only if she’s ready. She says she’s not, but it has to be done. She always loved them. They were just so flashy and so Sonny. He loved showing off. She cries, and says she misses him. Jason says he misses him too.

Jax is having a drink by himself. I don’t know where, but Britt walks in, and asks, is this seat taken? He shakes his head, and she sits down. She says, so. Did he get a save the date?

Laura tells Nikolas, baiting and taunting a stalker who wants to emulate Ryan is dangerous. Doc says, Laura is right. Let the police handle this. Nikolas says his family isn’t PCPD priority, but it’s his. So he’s going to do what they can’t. He’s going to string this bastard up by his toes before he can make another move. She says, and he could get killed in the process. He should be thankful that the only thing he encountered tonight was Trina and her pepper spray.  

Josslyn says, what hasn’t she been honest about? and Cameron asks why she couldn’t have said she just wanted to be friends. He might not have liked it, but he would have accepted it. She left him hanging. Instead of talking to him, she wrote in her journal that he was a bad kisser, that he was gross and clumsy and sloppy. She asks what he’s talking about. She doesn’t think he’s a bad kisser. He says, he read it in her journal. Is he not supposed to believe her own words? She grabs his lapel and says, believe this, and kisses him.   

Nina tells Curtis, nice soft launch, and he thanks her. She asks, what’s going on with the mother of the graduate? Any progress? He says, not really, but he thinks he’s figured it out. Portia didn’t back away from him on her own. She was pushed. He looks at Jordan and Taggert, talking to Ava. Ava asks Portia, any idea where their girl is? and Portia says, she should have been here by now. She was stopping at the gallery. Portia decides to text her, and Taggert says he doesn’t want to monitor Trina, but if she doesn’t show in the next ten minutes, he’s going to start texting her.   

Trina walks slowly into the room, and everyone looks horrified. Trina is covered in blood. She says, mom?  

Today’s theory. Whatever that is the ninja dropped set off something that broke the skylight.

Curtis tells Nina that someone warned Portia away from him, Cameron asks if he confirmed what was in Josslyn’s journal, Shawn has some bad news, and Trina says, it was a trap.

👑 Fit For a Prince…

An upcoming tribute to Stuart Damon is in the works.

Another Star Falls To the Sky…

Ray MacDonnell, aka Joe Martin from All My Children, has joined the ranks of heavenly soap stars.

🤰🏻 IRL…

Sasha’s baby bump is the real deal.

🎇 Holiday Schedule…

GH will be on. Not so some of the others.

👰🏽 Who Wore It Best…

I voted for Anna from GH. Right now, she’s coming in second.

🎞 More Than Soaps…

Another loss, for both the soap and anime world.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/philece-sampler-dies-digimon-mimi-voice-actress-anime/

💎 But Would She Really…?

On Watch What Happens Live, Garcelle literally said that Denise would come back if someone left. When Andy suggested that someone might be LisaR, Garcelle laughed like a hyena, which said it all. I wish.

https://ew.com/tv/real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-garcelle-beauvais-denise-richards-would-return-wwhl-video/

⚰️ Latest On Dead…

Fancy. The trailer looks like something Zack Snyder directed.

https://ew.com/tv/the-walking-dead-season-11-mercer-first-look/

🦈 It’s Getting Closer…

The newest of the new Suicide Squad trailers. It looks good. Love the shark guy.

https://www.dccomics.com/videos/the-suicide-squad-official-rain-trailer

🐓 Quotes of the Week

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

Only the paranoid survive. – Andy Grove

Happiness is an inside job. – William Arthur Ward

To be inspired is great, but to inspire is an honor. – Stacey T. Hunt

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. – Maya Angelou

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. – Elmer Davis

Deserve your dream. – Octavio Paz

The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do. – Andy Warhol

Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. – Carl Sagan

Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort. – Fred Rogers

It takes 30 seconds to make an impression that last 30 years. – Loren Brovarnik’s father, 90 Day Fiance: Pillow Talk

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!Audrey Hepburn

Liberty is the breath of life to nations. George Bernard Shaw

A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. – Elbert Hubbard

Be the change that you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi

Without music, life would be a mistake. – Friedrich Nietzsche

I call her BF, which doesn’t stand for best friend. It stands for bitch face. – woman on Dr. Phil whose sister slept with her boyfriend

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. – William Faulkner

💥 Be a Firework…

July 4th is here once again, and whether you watch Hamilton or the kinder, gentler 1776, remember although the forefathers made mistakes, they also dumped the tea, and gave their all for today’s freedoms. While we still have miles to go, if not for them, you might be paying for Queen Elizabeth’s hats. Until we meet again, stay safe, stay keeping your pets safe from the fireworks, and stay making them go, oh! oh! oh! as you shoot across the sky (sky, sky).

July 1, 2021 – Carly Makes an Announcement, Irreplaceable, Life After GH, a New Role, Nervous, a Bummer, Questionable, Recovering & Ten Minutes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cameron’s graduation celebration at Charlie’s has begun, and Laura asks how it feels to be graduating. He says it’s awesome, and Portia says they’re so proud of all the kids have accomplished. Laura says, they persevered, even thrived. It’s truly admirable. Trina asks if they can believe they’re headed for college. Soon she’ll be in a dorm. Portia asks if she can please enjoy the last few months with Trina, and Trina says she’s not moving to another state. She’s not even moving to another city. Besides, she knows her mom, and Portia will be getting into all kinds of trouble with her out of the house. Freedom! She and Cameron high-five, and Curtis walks in.

Doc tells Nikolas, it was very nice of Ava to close Charlie’s for this. He’s just sorry she can’t be there. Nikolas says he is too, and Doc says Laura filled him in; he’s sorry to hear about the divorce. Nikolas says, there’s not going to be a divorce. He’s doing everything in his power to make sure Ava and Avery come home to him.

Nina walks into the gallery, and asks Ava if she’s ready for their long overdue catching up. She knows they said martinis, but she reconsidered, and brought wine for the occasion. Ava says, thank you, no. She’s mainlining water right now. Did they set something up? Not that she’s not happy to see Nina; she is. Nina says Ava doesn’t remember because they didn’t set anything up, but she saw Ava’s post from last night. Throwing her wedding rings at Nikolas’s foot? Ava says, one of her finest moments, to be sure, and Nina pulls up a chair, saying, Ava has to spill. When Ava mentioned divorce, she thought Ava was exaggerating. She and Nikolas were in love. What happened?

Bobbie says Josslyn got the biggest cheer when she went up to get her diploma, and Josslyn says, because they were so loud. Carly says, even Jason piped in, and Jason says, it doesn’t happen often, but when it’s something as important as Josslyn graduating high school… Josslyn says she’s glad he was there, and he says, him too. Michael says, his little sister, all grown up, and Josslyn says, college bound. He says, it seems like only yesterday he was teaching her to dive a speedboat, and she says, now he eats her wake. He asks if he can have a hug, or is she too cool for that now? but she says she’s never too cool for a hug, so they do.

Carly tells Jax that he doesn’t have to worry. Whatever he did to Michael, he doesn’t have to worry. Michael would never tell Josslyn. He would never do that to his sister.

Jason’s phone rings. It’s Britt, who says, she was thinking, since they got interrupted last night, how would he like to have dinner with her on Friday?

Jax tells Michael, what a day, and Michael agrees. Jax says he’s really happy for Josslyn, and Michael asks if they can not do this small talk thing. Jax says, he’ll get straight to the point then; thank you. Michael says, for what? and Jax says, for not telling Josslyn about what happened between them. Michael says, what happened? That’s a nice way of putting Jax blackmailed him. He’s not going to tell Josslyn because Jax is her father, and it would break her heart, but to be clear, he might be smiling in photos with Jax, but he hasn’t forgotten or forgiven him. Jax broke something, and the worst part is, he didn’t even have to. Jax made his choice, now he has to live with the consequences. Michael walks away, and Josslyn comes by. Jax says, there’s his graduate, and she asks if everything is okay. He says, everything is fine, but more important, how is she doing? She says she’s good, and he says, she just graduated high school with honors and she’s just good? She says she’s on the fence about going to Cameron’s party, and he asks if things are still tense between them. She says, it’s not so much tense, but distant. They’re headed in different directions, so she doesn’t know. Now that Cameron is going to PCU, she guesses all that could change. He says, if they’re drifting apart, and Cameron is no longer going to be a part of her life, would she miss him? and she says, yes, a lot. He says he thinks that says it all, doesn’t she?

Jason asks if Britt can meet him tonight, and she says, absolutely. What time? He asks if now is good, and she hesitates, but says, now is great. She’s in her room at the MetroCourt. He says he’ll see her soon, and she looks around her mess of a room. She says, crap, jumps up, and heads for the bathroom.

In the MetroCourt restaurant, Obrecht says she’s glad Scotty could join her for coffee, but he says he can’t really stay. He’s late. She asks if he’s meeting with a client, but he says, no. Cameron’s graduation party. Just like that – he snaps his fingers – Cameron is off to college. She says she sees; a family only affair. He says, Trina’s coming, and Trina’s mother, Josslyn… He doesn’t really know. She asks if he could bring a date.

Ava says she and Nikolas can’t be together, and Nina says, that sounds very different that not wanting to be together. Ava says, it’s not really what she wants, and puts her hand to her head. She says she has this headache, and really needs it to go away before Trina’s party. Nina says she’s so sorry. Curtis invited her. Ava asks if she’s going, and Nina says she doesn’t know. She has a gift for Josslyn, but thought it would be weird to just show up on Carly’s doorstep. Ava says, it would; that’s good thinking. Nina says she doesn’t mean to be rude, but Ava doesn’t exactly look party ready. Ava laughs, and says to tell her the truth, it’s the last thing she feels like doing, but she told Trina she’d be there, so she’ll be there. Nina asks if Ava has eaten, and Ava says, no. Nina suggests they grab a bite, and then go to the Savoy, and Ava says, okay. Nina says, great. Let’s go. Ava can tell her what’s really going on with her and Nikolas. She grabs Ava’s hand and pulls her up.

Curtis congratulates Portia on her day, and Portia thanks him. She says she didn’t realize he’d be there. Doesn’t he have to get ready for tonight? He says, please. He has people for that. Being the boss means you get to show up when the party starts. I dunno about that. It is the soft opening. He says, she looks beautiful. Is she ready to party, or what? She says she has to make a call to check on one of her patients, excuses herself, and walks off.

Trina and Cameron see Jake, and Trina asks, who won, him or Aiden? He says, won what? and she asks who gets Cameron’s room when Cameron goes to the dorm, and who stays in the one they share now? Cameron asks who says, he’s giving up his room? They’ll have to fight for it. Jake says, no battle. Aiden can have it. He likes the room he has. Cameron says, Jake is the older brother, and his room is bigger; Jake should have it. Jake says, his has better lighting, and Aiden doesn’t care. He spends most of his time in the kitchen. He’d rather keep the room he has. He tells them that he’s going to say hi to his grandma, and leaves. Trina says she guesses Jake is still mad at Cameron for accusing his father of killing Franco, and Cameron says he wishes Jake would get mad. He wishes they could have a huge, screaming fight, where Jake could unload all his anger, but it’s not like that; it’s just… polite. Josslyn warned him this could happen. That by the time he realized he was wrong and was ready to apologize, it would be too late. She says, it’s never too late. He’s Jake’s older brother, and Jake wants to forgive him. He’s just got to give Jake a chance. He says he’s apologized, and she says, keep apologizing until Jake knows he means it. Deep down, Jake misses Cameron as much as Cameron misses Jake.

Nikolas sits down with Doc, and says, whoever’s sending these threats, has Ava afraid for Avery’s life. Doc says he’s been keeping an eye on Ryan’s condition, and hasn’t changed at all, but Nikolas says he doesn’t think Ryan is the stalker. Doc says, Ava does, and Nikolas says, or someone equally as dangerous. He has to prove to her whoever is doing this is just playing head games, and there’s no reason for them to be apart. Doc says, it would help if they knew who the stalker was, and Nikolas says, it just so happens, he may find out tonight. Doc asks, how? and Nikolas says, he set a trap.

Jason tells Josslyn that he has to go, and she says, that’s okay. She thinks she’s going to go to Cameron’s party now… unless that’s weird. He says, for him? He doesn’t have a grudge against Cameron. She says, really? and he says he appreciates her having his back, but she never has to be the one who fights for him. He doesn’t ever want something he did to cost her a friendship or anything else. She thanks him, but says, she stood up for him because he was innocent. As much as she hated fighting with Cameron, she couldn’t pretend to believe something that she just didn’t. Yes, Cameron was grieving, and probably not thinking clearly, which is why she chose to forgive him, but defending Jason was as much for her as it was for him. He says he’s so proud of her; he loves her. She says she loves him too, and they hug. Jason goes over to Carly, and says, Britt called. He’s going to go see her. She says, okay, and he leaves.

Scotty says, so Obrecht wants to go to Cameron’s party? and she says, why not? He says he just didn’t give it any thought, and she says, he doesn’t want her there? He says he didn’t know she’d be interested, and she says, well, she is. He says, let’s go, and she says, yeah? He says, yah, and they get up. Nina and Ava walk in, and Obrecht hugs Nina, saying she didn’t know Nina was back in town. Nina says, surprise, and Scotty tells Ava that he has a little legal business to discuss. Nina and Obrecht step away to chat, and Scotty tells Ava that he talked to Nikolas’s lawyer about what they discussed. Ava says, and? and Scotty says, he knows nothing. She says, he knew nothing about how to proceed? but Scotty says, he knew nothin’ about nothin’. Nikolas never called him about the divorce.

Nikolas asks Doc, the stalker is focused on Ava, and where does she go every day? Doc says, the gallery, and Nikolas says, he added some extra security and connected it to his phone. If the stalker trips the silent alarm, he’ll know about it. Doc asks if the gallery doesn’t already have security, and Nikolas says, so does Windymere. It didn’t stop them from getting around it. He added a motion sensor at the entrance that only he knows about. Doc says Nikolas isn’t thinking of confronting this person on his own, is he?

Laura asks if Elizabeth has heard from Scotty, and Elizabeth says, he just texted and he’s running late. And he’s bringing a friend. Any idea who that is? Laura says she thinks she might.

Trina asks Cameron where Josslyn is, but he says he doesn’t know. She never gave him a formal yes or no. Trina says, she’ll be there. Josslyn and Cameron are back to being friends, right? He says he hopes so.

Britt straightens up her room like a madwoman, and gets dressed. Jason knocks at the door, and she tells him, come in. She took the liberty of ordering dinner since they have to eat, but the night is totally flexible. We can eat before… or after, or… What’s wrong? He says he has something to tell her, and really needs her to hear him out.  

Scotty says hi to Elizabeth, who says she didn’t realize Obrecht was his mystery guest. Obrecht says she’s thrilled to be part of their family gathering, and Scotty says he’ll get them a couple of stiff drinks. Elizabeth says she’s glad Obrecht could join them, and Obrecht says she thinks Franco would be too, doesn’t Elizabeth? Laura tells Scotty, bringing Obrecht to a family celebration. Wow. Big step. She laughs, and asks if she’s reading too much into it.

Nikolas tells Cameron to enjoy his moment; he’s proud of him. He hugs Cameron, and goes to the bar. Cameron asks if Trina heard that Nikolas and Ava are getting a divorce. Trina says she did. Ava tried to hide it, but she looked miserable at the ceremony.

Ava tells Nina, she’s been getting threats. Nothing violent yet. Just a creepy little gifts and notes. Whoever is doing this obviously doesn’t want her and Nikolas together. Nina says, so that’s it? Some whacko is fixated on breaking them up, and Ava goes immediately to divorce? Ava says, not immediately, but everything changed once the whacko made it clear they could get to Avery.  

Josslyn asks Carly if she’s sure it’s okay if she goes, and Carly says, it’s her graduation night. She can do what she wants… within reason. She hugs Josslyn, and says she’s proud of her. Jax says he thinks she speaks for them all, and Bobbie says, he definitely speaks for her. She hugs Josslyn, and tells her, have a good time. Carly says Milo is going to be with Josslyn all night. Don’t go anywhere without him. Josslyn says, copy that, and Michael says he loves her. You did good, little sis. She says, so sentimental, and he says, just this once. She asks him to give Wiley a kiss for her, and he says, of course (🍷). Jax says he’ll walk her out, and on their way to the door, she says she wishes Lady Jane could have been there. Jax says, him too, but she was with them in spirit, and so were Morgan and Sonny. She says, and Grandpa Mike, and he says, right. Everyone who loved her. Now go paint the town red, or whatever the PCU colors are. She hugs him, and says she’ll call him tomorrow. She leaves, and Jax tells Carly that he’s thinking of heading out, but she asks him to wait a minute. There’s something he should hear. They go back to the living room, where Bobbie and Michael are, and Carly says she knows they have lives to get back to, but bear with her minute. She has something important to tell them.

Britt says Jason sounds ominous, and he tells her, what he’s going to say changes things… a lot. She says, don’t make her stand there and dread it; spit it out. He says he and Carly are getting married. She laughs, and says that might possibly be the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth. She would think he was joking, but he doesn’t do that. He says, it’s not a joke, and she says, when did… How long have you been.. engaged? He says, it just happened, and she says, like right before he got there? He says, yeah, more or less. They realized it’s what’s best for the family and each other for them get married, so that’s what they’re going to do. She says, okay. Thanks for the update. You can go now. She heard him; he’s getting married. She opens the door, and says, get the hell out of her room. I hate Carly even more now, and hope Jason never sleeps through another night.

Laura says, so? and Curtis says, so… She says he and Portia seem to be enjoying each other’s company a lot. Has he asked her out yet? He asks if they’re in junior high, and she laughs and says, yes. He says, they’re just friends, but she says, not from where she’s standing. Friends don’t generate those kind of sparks.

Josslyn comes in, and Trina says, told you. Cameron says Josslyn made it, and Josslyn says she did. He hands her something to drink, and she says, they’ve been friends for a long time; nothing can change that. Trina says, finally, they can celebrate properly. She doesn’t know what else to say except, they did it. Cameron says, they did it, and Josslyn says, this is huge. They clink Solo cups.

Nina says, the teddy bear with Ryan’s voice is beyond creepy. Ava says, it’s disturbing. Luckily, Avery thought it was just a toy, but she got the message loud and clear. She even sent Avery to stay with Carly, just in case. Nina says, that must have been hard, and Ava says, it broke her heart, but she knew it was the right thing to do, like she knows she and Nikolas must divorce. Nina says, Nikolas doesn’t feel the same way, and Ava says, no, but despite how much they love each other, she and Nikolas are coming from different places. Kiki was murdered, and it’s not something she’s just going to get over. Nina says, she shouldn’t, and Ava says, Nikolas doesn’t have a memory like that, but she does. She simply can’t take any chances. If she ignored this, and stayed with Nikolas, and something happened to Avery, she wouldn’t survive; she just wouldn’t.

Carly says she and Jason are getting married, and Bobbie says, Jason who? Carly says, what does she mean, Jason who? Their Jason. Jason Morgan. Bobbie says, it’s a little sudden, and Carly says, it is, and it isn’t. They’ve both been struggling since Sonny died, and left a big hole in their lives. She knows they’re not unique to that; everyone has their own grief and loss. But after their friendship, and all the years they’ve known each other… Sonny wasn’t just her husband; he was Jason’s best friend. The three of them were a team, and the central person is now gone, and Jason’s the only person who really knows what she’s going through. And not just that. They need each other, and Sonny would want them to take care of each other. They’re not just doing this for themselves, but they’re doing it for their family, and she’s asking them to accept it. I hate Carly.

Jason goes to the door, but closes it. He says, yes, he’s marrying Carly and he can’t be with Britt the way they were, but he understands what she’s facing. He said he’d be there for her, and he will. She says, wow, unbelievable. Thanks but no thanks. She doesn’t need his pity, and definitely doesn’t need his support. She doesn’t know why she’s so surprised. It was obvious from the day they met, Carly comes first. They have a commitment between them that can’t be broken. She witnessed it the night Carly literally opened a vein for him, and gave him her blood. That’s great. Good for them, but she’s not going to stand in line waiting got a few minutes of his time, like some charity case, because he happened to be with her when she found out she was dying. He says, that’s not the way he sees her… but she says, it’s good. Trust her. He did her a solid. Even she can admit that, with his whole, if it suffocates you rather than frees you thing. He’s right; now she knows. She has her whole life ahead of her, but you know what? He will not be there for her. He will not show up for her. He will not lend her a hand, or anything. Because he’s now otherwise engaged, pun intended.

Ava tells Nina, she has to admit Avery is happy at Carly’s. The next thing on her list is finding a place to live. She can’t camp out at this hotel forever. Nina says she has an idea. Why  doesn’t Ava camp out in her newly decorated guest room? She’ll be the first to stay in it. Ava says she couldn’t impose, but Nina says, she’s not. Besides, it used to be Ava’s apartment. Ava says Nina paid fair market price, and Nina says, thanks for the not discount. That doesn’t mean she can’t offer a really good friend a room. Besides, Ava would be doing her a favor; she’s hardly ever there, and her future plans are up in the air. Ava asks if it’s got anything to do with Nina’s new friend, and Nina says, she and Mike/Sonny have a connection; at least it feels that way. It has none of the disfunction of her past relationships. Ava says, so no lying, no deception, like with Valentin, and Nina says, no. Mike is an open book. Ava asks, what’s this guy do? and Nina says, he’s a bartender. She met him through her friend Phyllis. They have a lot of fun together. Ava asks, how much fun? and Nina tells her to get her mind out of the gutter. They haven’t even had a real date. She’s just happy to be around him. Ava says, it sounds so nice, like it has real potential. Nina says, could be, and Ava asks, when Nina isn’t in Port Charles, is she thinking about being with Mike.

Michael congratulates Carly, and Bobbie says, yeah. If any two people know what they’re getting into, it’s Carly and Jason. They trust each other implicitly. Carly says, they do, and Bobbie says, if it feels right, she’s all for it. Michael says he is too, and Carly says, so soon after his dad passed? He tells her, like she said, dad would want this. For her, for Jason, for all of them. He believes Sonny would understand better than anyone. Carly says Jax is awful quiet over there, and he says no one ever stopped her and Jason from doing what they wanted to. He wouldn’t dream of trying now. She says she’d appreciate it if he kept it quiet. She’d like to tell Josslyn herself; she knows Josslyn is going to have a lot of questions. He says, ya think? and she asks if that’s a yes. He says he thinks he’s going to do what he thinks is best for their daughter, and walks out. Bobbie says she guesses not everyone is thrilled with this development.

Britt asks why Jason is still there, and he says, because she matters to him. Not just because she saved his life. He cares about her. Britt wipes her tears away, and says he has an interesting way of showing it. He says he’s not the kind of person who spends a lot of time thinking about if things were different, but if things were different, they’d be at dinner on Friday; they’d be in that bed right now. She says, remember when he told her, he’s not good at what ifs? She really liked that about him. Don’t lose it now; just get out. She turns her back to him, and he reluctantly leaves. She cries, and I hate Carly.

Someone dressed like a ninja walks into the gallery with a tool bag. We see their eyes, and it looks like it might be a woman. Hmm… I wonder if it’s Hayden.

Laura asks Portia, where’s Trina? and Portia says, she went to the gallery to talk to Ava. She wanted to let Ava know that she doesn’t have to feel pressured to come tonight. Laura says, always thinking of others, her little girl, and Portia says, not so little anymore. Laura guesses not, and Portia says she’s so sorry to hear about Ava and Nikolas, but Laura says, relationships don’t happen in a vacuum. Sometimes outside forces can pull a couple apart. Portia looks at Curtis.

Cameron tells Josslyn, this is going to be the summer of the lake, doesn’t she think? Before things get crazy? She says, it sounds great, but she doesn’t know how much time she’ll be able to spend there. The PCU volleyball team starts training in a couple of weeks, and their schedule is intense. He says he totally understands. She’s going to be pretty busy. She says, looks like it.

The ninja hears someone, and grabs their tool bag. Trina walks in, and call out, asking if Ava is there.

Nikolas’s phone chirps, and Doc asks if that’s what he’s been waiting for. Nikolas says, yeah. He has to go. Doc says he’ll come; Nikolas shouldn’t go alone. Nikolas says he’ll call the police on his way there, which we all know he has no intention of doing.

Nina tells Ava that she’s thought of relocating, and it’s not just Mike. She’s fallen in love with the town. She loves the people, and loves who she is when she’s there. Of course (🍷) this was before Michael changed his mind about Wiley. Now she’s just trying to figure out what to do about Mike. Ava says, that’s not a big deal. Get to know him some more, figure out what he means to her, and if she can’t live without him, maybe he could come there. Nina says, no, that can’t happen, but Ava says, he’s a bartender; he can work anywhere. Nina says they should get going. Trina’s party is probably starting… Ava asks why Nina has to choose between having Mike or Wiley in her life. She can have both, can’t she? Nina says, trust her. If she knows one thing, it’s that there’s no future for her and Mike in Port Charles.  

Bobbie says she doesn’t know how Carly is going to tell Monica, but she would proceed with extreme caution. She is not going to be happy. Michael says, actually… No. Bobbie is right. She’s going to hate this. Carly says she and Jason have weathered worse than Monica. They’ll be fine. Jason comes in, and Bobbie tells him, congratulations, and hugs him. She says, welcome to the family, not that he hasn’t always been a part of it. She says she has to go, and tells Carly they’ll talk soon. Jason says, so Michael’s mom told them the news? and Michael says, she told them that they’re getting married, and she explained why, but she didn’t explain everything, did she? He looks at Carly.

Curtis tells Portia and Laura, he’s about to get ready for the next party. Laura says, have a good time, and Portia says she’ll see him there, and he leaves.  

Scotty says he’s so glad Obrecht came with him, and she says he’s welcome for the suggestion. He asks if that’s a smile he sees on that pretty face of hers, and she says she’s just happy. She’s with a nice man, and Britt is with a nice, if somewhat dangerous man. All is right with the world.

Britt shoves the cart with dinner on it into the hallway, leans on the door, and cries. She pulls herself together, and says, to hell with him. She gets her bag and jacket, and leaves.

Josslyn follows Cameron outside, and says, even with volleyball, she’ll always make time for him and Trina. Save her a chair at the lake for her. He says, it’s going to be a great summer, and she says, yeah, but they start with tonight. He says, they do. Shall we? He gives her his arm, and she takes it, and says, we shall. Scotty and Elizabeth watch them from the window.

Trina goes back into the main gallery room, and runs into someone. I think it’s Nikolas, but we don’t see a face, and he and the ninja are both dressed in black.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Portia that he thinks it’s intentional, Doc believes the trap has been sprung, and Michael doubts that’s the reason why Carly and Jason have to get married.

👑 🥀 Good Night, Sweet Prince…

I was remiss in not posting this yesterday. Stuart Damon was truly a treasure. I actually stopped watching GH for a while after they killed Alan off. Realizing their mistake, and bringing him back as a ghost did not make it any better. I still miss him reading the Christmas story at the hospital party every year, and no one will ever be as charming of a prince.

💣 Moving On From the Mob…

What comes after life in Port Charles.

📽 Carrrlos…

He certainly didn’t let being shot and dumped in the river slow him down. And he was Don Draper’s guru.

💏 Can’t Say I Blame Her…

He’s too old and he has three kids.

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-lisa-rinna-is-nervous-about-daughter-amelia-hamlin-dating-scott-disick/

🔬 An Unwelcome Return…

I’m not exactly a Nene fan, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, and give her credit for being so supportive. God help me though, I couldn’t help noticing her amazing cheekbones. Did she have implants? Is she on the Keto diet? What’s going on there?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/nene-leakes-confirms-gregg-leakes-cancer-has-returned-details

He Has Questions…

I haven’t seen this, but I get the impression it’s like that Kurt & Courtney documentary.

https://people.com/tv/andy-cohen-addresses-questionable-erika-jayne-documentary-and-how-it-might-affect-her-rhobh-future/

👨🏼‍🦽 Hope He Has His Own Bell…

Michael has possibly one of the best jobs on earth. While he obviously works hard, I’m sure he will never lack for anything. I love these two, and wish they had their own spin-off show. Whitney could make cameo appearances.

https://people.com/tv/southern-charms-patricia-altschul-butler-michael-kelcourse-after-spinal-cord-stroke/

🏃🏽‍♀️ Freedom For Me…

Calling it an early night. Tune in tomorrow, for soap, a pot ‘o tea, and only the best quotes. Until then, stay safe, stay being proud of whoever you are, and stay always making time for old friends.