(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Michonne walks through the woods with two chained, armless, mouthless zombie buddies. She whacks a non-buddy and picks up some bullets from the ground. She sees Andrea running through the woods, with some zombies following her. Andrea hits one in the head with a rock, and stabs another, but she falls. She tries to scramble away from a third, as Michonne watches and does nothing, then turns away.
Michonne unlocks the chains binding Virgil to the boat. He says she could have done that five hours ago, but she asks why would she? They walk through the trees to a field, and she says she needs to get back. Virgil picks some flower blossoms, and says he can’t show up empty handed. His wife wouldn’t like it. He explains that he’s picking herbs. They’re good for everything; pain, nerves, and sleep. Michonne asks where the munition depot is, and he says, the old lab has structural damage. It’s best to stay away. They walk to a building where a sign says restricted area. Virgil tells her that his little boy seems to think a sailor left buried treasure in one of the grain silos. It’s hard to keep him from going inside. He’s just like his mom; when he decides to do something, there’s nothing you can do to stop him. Michonne whips around with her katana, and tells him, stop the bullsh*t. Where the hell is his family? He says he told her that he was coming home to his family, and he meant it.
Virgil stops in front of three open graves. He says he promised his wife when they got married, he’d bring her flowers every day. Michonne says he waited until now to tell her? and he says, the words don’t come easy, and neither does trust. He promised to help her, and he will. The island isn’t clear. It was until the others came and brought violence. The sickness came with it, and killed his family. He never got good at doing what she does. She’s good with a sword. She wonders what he’s asking, and he says his family is still in there; his wife and his babies. That’s why he asked her to come. He needed her to come.
They approach a building, where a zombie waits just inside the door. Michonne busts in, kills the zombie, and walks forward. Virgil closes the door behind them. A zombie is stuck inside a hallway that’s been partially blocked by a refrigerator. Michonne pierces it’s head, and kills it. Virgil drags it out of the way, as Michonne opens the next door. On his way back, Virgil knocks over some stacked furniture, and blocks the passage. He says, sorry, which hardly seems adequate. A small crowd of zombies is gathered in a room further on. The door is locked, and Michonne tells Virgil, stay close, and thunders in, rushing the zombies, holding a cot in front of her. There are about ten to fifteen of them, and she gives Virgil the cot, telling him to get behind it. She stabs and slashes, slicing off the tops of two zombies’ heads. Virgil is pushed back, and blocks himself in. Wow. Michonne is fast. The zombies all down, Virgil thanks her.
She opens the door to yet one more room. Zombies hang from ceiling, still moving. Virgil looks around, and sees a woman’s shoe. He picks it up, and gently puts it back on a zombie’s foot. This is depressing, and I wonder where Negan is when I need him.
As they walk past some chairs and stacks of books, Virgil says he wanted give them something his daughter loved to take with them, and she loved that book. Michonne says she knows how hard it is, but she’s sorry. She’s got to get back. He says he had a hard time, and his wife talked him through it. Without her, he doesn’t know who he is. She says, it’s not too late to find out. He thanks her again, and she tells him to show her what she came for, so she can go. He says, it’s late. The tide is low, and he’s not sure the boat will go through the channel. He suggests she stay night, and not risk it. They’ll need to hole up. She says she kept her end of the bargain; he needs to keep his. He says, it’s getting dark. Some of the buildings aren’t safe. They can do it in the morning. She says, first thing.
Michonne tries her radio, but gets nothing. She walks to another building, and shines her flashlight around. She sees wooden crates, and looks inside them, but none of them have guns. She sees a group of cages with dead rats in them, some just skeletons. She quietly walks through into another room, and hears a voice say, everyone be quiet. Virgil shuts her inside, and tells her, wait until morning; it’s not safe. He trusted her, and now she ruined it. She tells him, open the damn door, but he walks away.
Michonne bangs on the door to no avail. She sits, sword at the ready. A faucet drips, and she says, sh*t. She sees a food tray, and bangs on the door again. She hears someone say, calm down. They’ve been trying to talk to her. She asks how long she’s been in there, and a man’s voice says, a day maybe. We see two men and a woman in the next room. She asks why they didn’t answer when she was calling out, and the man says, Virgil blows up. He gets in a mood. The woman says, when he’s angry, it’s best to be quiet. The man says, don’t bother to try to escape; it’s boobytrapped. Virgil comes there as little as possible; he doesn’t like to see them. They were researchers together. They wrote papers, and had a life there. Michonne says, they knew each other? and he says, they were friends. She asks, what went wrong? and the woman says, stragglers came by boat, and they took them all in. One night, the food supply ran low, and a fight broke out over rations when Virgil was late. A stranger pulled a knife, and was killed. When Virgil came back, he panicked, and locked all the doors. But he didn’t know… Michonne says, what? and the woman says, his wife and kids were inside. He snapped. The man says, he was never the same, and the woman says they’ve been there ever since. The man asks if Michonne is okay, and she says she will be. She’s not staying there long. The man says she can’t kill if she doesn’t have the strength, and suggests she eat. He asks her name. Michonne bites into an apple, and says, Michonne. Virgil looks in, and says he’s glad she ate. She tells him, open the damn door, but he says he can’t do that. She says, why the hell not? and he says she’ll kill him. She says, we reap what we sow, a-hole, and he says he doesn’t want to fight. Michonne feels weird, and starts to hallucinate. Virgil says, Violet has a gift. It can help Michonne the way it helped him. She sees a woman, but then the woman disappears. She asks what Virgil did.
The room spins, and she asks, what did he do? He says, it makes a nice tea. He wants her to see. She’s in pain, like he is. She needs peace, like he does. She realizes he’s drugged her, and Michonne says she doesn’t drug people and toss them in a cell. He needs to hear her. Think about his daughter and son. He tells her that he said that too; no one listened. Everything he did was to protect his family. She laughs, and says she’s sure they’re proud of him now. He says, she’s no angel. She falls onto her side, and he says, picture the sun. She sees Siddiq, and he says she was supposed to protect them. She says she did her best, and he says she let him die. This is how it feels to be her family. She touches him, and sees blood on her hands. When she looks at him again, he’s a zombie. She yells, make it stop! The faucet continues to drip, and she gets up. Virgil tells her, stop fighting it. Suddenly, there are chains around her wrists, and she’s pulled forward.
In the woods, Michonne relives seeing Andrea crawling away from the zombie, and turns away. She goes back to Andrea’s body, and takes Andrea’s knife, wiping the blood off it. She also takes Andrea’s canteen. She goes to the road, where a car is going past. She tries to flag it down, but they keep going. The car slows, and stops. Daryl gets out, gets something from the trunk. Although Michonne yells for help, Daryl ignores her, and says, come on; let’s go. The car takes off, and Michonne runs after it. She goes back into the woods, and kills a zombie. Negan comes toward her, along with a few other people, and says, look what we have here. She takes a swing at him with her sword, but misses, and he knocks her down with Lucille. He says, this chick has cajones. She says she doesn’t want trouble, and he says she shouldn’t take a swing at him then. He picks up her sword, and says he’s not much on saving people on the road, especially those who try to take his head off, but he likes her and her massive lady nuts. Besides, it would be a waste for her to have a nice sword without the strength to use it. A woman tosses her an apple, and he says, the name’s Negan.
Glenn comes into the room where Michonne is, and suddenly, she’s back at the Sanctuary with Rick and the Alexandrians (good name for a group!), who are shooting the place up. She shoots Glenn and Heath. Negan whistles, and we’re back to when Negan had them all on their knees in the woods, and he’s choosing who he’s going to kill. He points Lucille at each one, saying, eenie, meenie, miney, mo. He stops in front of Daryl, then says, just kidding, a-hole. He was going to do the next part himself, but his right hand gal Michonne is on a wicked-ass tear these days. Who the hell is he to stand in her way? He takes her sword, and holds it in one hand and the Lucille in the other. She chooses Lucille. She says, the Alexandrians didn’t know who they were or where they were from. They didn’t know sh*t about them, but they came in the dead of night and slaughtered them anyway. She faces Rick, and says, like a coward. Remember. They did this. What happens next – she points the bat – is their fault. Welcome to the new world. She swings. Well, I hate to say it, but point well made.
Michonne is running through the woods, and is shot with an arrow. She drops to her knees, and Daryl walks over and kicks her down. She grabs for her sword, but he steps on her hand. Rick cocks his gun, and shoots.
Michonne throws up into a bucket. Virgil asks if she feels better. He says she will, and gives her some water. She stabs him with a fork. They struggle, but he takes off, and she follows. The woman in the next room calls to Michonne not to leave them. Michonne runs out of the building, and the people run out behind her. They run to the shore, but the boat is on fire. Well, that sucks.
They run through woods, and Michonne knocks Virgil down. Virgil says he wanted help. He wanted to let them go, but he wanted her to be there, so they wouldn’t kill him. Then he knew she’d kill him too. He’s sorry. One of the men says, sorry doesn’t cut it. Virgil says his wife always did the right thing. When she was gone, he didn’t know what to do. The guy tells Michonne that she has as much reason to kill the a-hole as they do. She says, she does, and he says, do it, or move. She says, look at him. He owes them more than can ever make right. In taking his life, they loose more of themselves. Their mercy gives them something; they get something. The woman asks, what? and she says, peace. They mull this over, and one of the guys slugs Virgil.
Now Virgil is in a locked a room. He sits up, and Michonne says, there’s nothing there. She checked every building, even the ones he said had structural damage. There’s not a goddam thing. He says he never lied about the weapons. He never saw them, but told her that he could show her the spots. She says he’s got to do better, but he says, sorry; he can’t. Sometimes he finds a stray shell; nothing more. She says she’s not going back empty handed. He tells her to take what she wants, and clear his debt with Oceanside. She took the risk. She says she had no choice. She had to find out. There’s no tea, so don’t even ask. She asks what he sees when he’s tripping anyway. He says, Violet with her damn camera pointed at everyone. His babies, and daughter sitting by the fire with that damn book, asking questions about a world she’d never know. Him and his son looking at stars; at heaven. He wanted, hoped, that she would see that too. She says he took her family from her, and she saw hell. He says he’s sorry. The only world he ever wanted, was the one they were in. He doesn’t know how to do without them. She says, he tries, like the rest of them. Now how about if he tries to find her stuff?
They look around, Michonne carrying the flashlight. She sees a pair of boots. She looks them over, and cries. She grabs Virgil, and asks where the hell did he get these?
There’s a large ship right off the shore. Inside, Michonne pushes Virgil into the captain’s quarters, and he says the boots washed up. He doesn’t know where they came from. She looks through the captain’s log, and whatever papers are there. She sees a dead cell phone, and realizes there’s a picture of herself and Judith etched into the glass, along with Rick and some figures. Virgil says, holy sh*t; it’s her and the kid? She says he knew. He came to find them at Oceanside. He asks why he’d do that, and she says, because of this. He says he’s never seen it, and she asks what it’s doing there. He says how would he know? and she says he knew the boat was there. He says, the world ended, boats wash up. She grabs him, and says he knew there were no munitions. He was setting a trap, and laid a trap for him. What did Virgil do to him? Virgil asks who she’s talking about, and she presses her sword lengthwise against his throat. She slowly releases him, and looks at the phone. He says he doesn’t know what she thinks he has, or who she’s looking for, but maybe it wasn’t an accident that they met. If the others help, he thinks he can get the engine working again. If the person was on this boat, maybe she can find him again.
Next to the road, Michonne caresses Rick’s boots. Virgil pulls a wagon, and the three people take their stuff from it. She says, it’s going to take some time, and Virgil says they’re out of time. She says they’re willing to let him come. There’s only one boat left. Either he leaves now, or doesn’t leave. He says, after everything, he can’t believe they’d want him to come, and she says, sometimes the most injured are the most forgiving. They’re good people. They’re giving him a chance; a way off the island. He says he promised her flowers every day.
The boat moves off. Michonne looks at Virgil, standing on shore.
Michonne cries as she looks at the phone. She takes out her radio, and says, Jojo, are you there? It’s Danto. Anyone? There’s dead air for a moment, and then crackling. Judith says she’s there. She’s been trying to get Michonne. Michonne says she’s sorry; she’s here now. Judith asks if she’s still with Virgil, and Michonne says, no, but she found three people she’s bringing back. She missed Judith and her brother so much. RJ says, mama? and she says, hey baby, and tells him to talk in code for safety. She asks how he is, and says she loves her little brave man. She asks Judith how she’s doing, and Judith guesses okay; better now. Michonne asks, how’s home? Anything with the Whisperers? Judith says they got them. Alpha can’t hurt them anymore. Michonne cries, and says she found something. It’s something really important to all of them. Judith asks, what does she mean? and Michonne says she found something that belonged to the brave man. It points to where he might have been recently. She doesn’t know what it means, or if means anything at all. Judith asks if he’s alive, but Michonne doesn’t know. Judith says if Michonne thinks he’s alive, she’s got to find him. Michonne says, not now. Judith and her brother need her with everything that’s going on in Alexandria. Judith says Michonne has to go. She has to. They’re okay. What if he needs her more? What if he’s trying come home and no one will help? Michonne says, if she goes, and Judith interrupts, saying, when she goes. Michonne says when she goes and finds the brave man… One of the men says, they’re at the coast, and Michonne says she has to go. Judith says, she knows. Listen to Uncle Daryl. Michonne says she’s going to try. She’s heading north. She’ll call every morning for as long as she can. Judith says she’ll take the walkie with her everywhere. Michonne says she loves Judith and her brother so much. Judith says they love her too. Go get him. Over and out. Michonne heaves a huge sigh.
Michonne cuts the arms and mouths off two zombies, and ties them to her. She walks through the woods, and sees a man and woman, stumbling through an overgrown field. They ask if she can help; they’ll leave without them. She asks, who? and looks out over the cliff, seeing a crowd of people forming a square. The woman says, please. They won’t wait.
Michonne remembers how Rick let her into the prison. The man asks who she is, and she swipes her sword across the necks of her zombie buddies, slicing their heads off. The couple is afraid as she comes toward them, but she holds out her hand, saying, come on, and helps them up.
The camera pans out to show several blocks of people in formation in the distance.
Next time, Alpha’s head on a pike, Negan tells Carol to hold up her end of the bargain, carol says she’s not coming back, Eugene is willing to be the fool, and Beta gathers the Whisperers.
⭐️ Best quote of the night: Sometimes the most injured are the most forgiving.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
No surprise, I missed the beginning. Heaving huge sigh, but knowing you’ll figure it out.
Brook says, it’s one thing for Lulu to mess with her, but she spit in the face of all the Quartermaines.
Chase asks if Violet got to sleep okay, and Willow says, it only took three stories. Chase praises Willow’s skills, and tells her, having fun is serious business. She says it’s nice hearing him laugh again; it’s been a while. The same with his smile. He hasn’t been smiling as much as he used, and he has such a sweet smile. He says that’s on her.
Michael tells Carly, they have to sit down as a family tomorrow, and figure out how to stack the odds against Nelle. Carly says, another ELQ disaster; they’ve seen their fair share. She asks what his strategy with Nelle is, and he says he’s been following Diane’s instructions to the letter, including allowing Nelle to visit. Carly knows. Nelle couldn’t wait to show her a selfie. He says, if it’s any consolation, he and Sasha were with her every second, and Carly says, it’s some, but not much. Michael needs to win custody by any means necessary.
Jason tells Anna, he and Peter are nothing alike, and she says he sees no parallels? He says, zero, and she says, has he or has he not been every DA’s whipping boy? He insists he’s not like Peter, and she asks if he’s not at the top of the list of the PCPD’s usual suspects. When he walks down the street, people stare at him. He says he doesn’t notice, but she says he notices everything. There’s the look of fear from complete strangers because of his reputation. He says he doesn’t care what strangers think about him, only the people he cares about; Robin, Maxie – and her.
Spinelli goes to Maxie’s apartment, and Georgie runs to him, asking where he was. Peter tells him the sitter had to leave; a family emergency. She had to rush to the airport, but he’s in for the night, and spending time with Georgie is a real treat. Spinelli directs Georgie’s attention to her coloring, and asks Peter if he can explain how the sitter worked her way down the telephone tree, and got to Peter. Peter says, she tried Maxie, and then Spinelli, but couldn’t get ahold of them. He was next on the list, but he’s glad it worked out. It gave him and Georgie a chance to do some old-fashioned bonding. Spinelli is sure any time Peter spends with Georgie is more than abundant, and Peter says now that Spinelli has moved back to Port Charles, he’s sure they’ll have plenty more.
Nina tells Jax, Maxie is family. The last thing she wants is a rift. He tells her not to beat herself up about it. Maxie has gone through disappointment before, and she’ll be fine. Nina says, not like this, and not from her. She says, this isn’t working for her, and he asks if she wants him to go, and she says she does. She needs to problem solve before the damage snowballs out of control. Maxie breezes in and gives Nina a paper, saying it’s something she whipped up. Jax tells her that he knows she deserves a raise, but the budget is set for the year. They can make it work next year. Maxie says, they won’t, and Jax says he promises. She says, they won’t because they can’t, and Nina says, because Maxie is resigning. Maxie says, she’s quitting.
At the MetroCourt, Valentin wants to talk to Lucy. She says, if it’s about his number for the Nurses Ball… but he says, it’s about Deception. He can expedite her company’s return to the market. Why have multiple investors, when she can have just him? She says she heard his wallet has diminished since Nikolas came back to claim his inheritance, but he says he has other sources of income.
Brook asks where Lulu’s gratitude is. She grew up in the Quartermaine mansion when her father was sponging off Brook’s granny. Lulu says she didn’t grow up there; she only lived there a few years. Brook asks if she doesn’t owe Michael any loyalty, and Lulu asks if Brook even knows what the deal is about. ELQ is merging with a foreign med tech company. That means they’ll be closing a local facility, and people will be out of jobs. Thanks for the lead. Brook says Lulu doesn’t care about the workers, just getting over on her. She knew Lulu was jealous, but didn’t know how bad Lulu wanted her life. Lulu says she really wants to be busking in the subway, and Brook says, at least she has talent. All Lulu has are kids from another broken home.
Chase says he loves Willow so much. She’s a never-ending source of joy. She asks if he’s not laying it on kind of thick, but he says he’s serious. Even when he’s not happy, he’s happier when she’s with him. She asks why she feels like there’s something off, and he says, Nelle, and everything she’s been putting Michael and Sasha through, and them by extension. It’s exhausting. She says she thought he was upset with her, and wondered why he didn’t immediately shoot the suggestion down that she marry Michael. Chase says they were all in shock. He and Sasha agreed they wanted to protect her, Michael, and Wiley, but not with some crazy idea. Willow says, he and Sasha agreed to what?
Michael says by any means necessary, he assumes Carly means exclusively legal methods. Carly says, yeah, sure. She and his father are ready to help; just say the word, He says, let him handle it, and she says if he wants to explore other options, just ask. He says she and Sonny have enough on their plates, and Sasha says she hates to be that girlfriend, but Michael has a workout on his calendar. He says he didn’t put one on there, and she says she did. He needs to blow off steam. He says they’re in the middle of something, and she says they’re not going anywhere; he is. He says they’re getting rid of him, and asks if everything is okay with him and Sasha. Sasha says they’re fine. It’s just the last 48 hours have been a challenge with Nelle. He leaves, and Sasha tells Carly, she wishes she could do more to help, but Michael won’t let her. Carly knows the feeling.
Jason says he respects Anna, but she’s using it to shield Peter. He can deal with that, but Spinelli is different. He loves Georgie, Maxie, and James, and doesn’t want to see them hurt. The truth is Peter is behind Drew’s plane going down, Andre getting stabbed, and the attack on Andre and Franco. Then he conveniently shot the assassin. Anna says, meanwhile, the WSB confirmed Obrecht was behind all of it.
Peter gives Spinelli a beer, but Spinelli sets it down. He looks around, and says he’s sure Georgie played with every toy. He’s glad; it’s time well spent. Peter says they played Operation, and Georgie won. It’s cool she wants to be a doctor. Spinelli says, yesterday, she wanted to be a wallaby, and the day before, a rainbow. Peter says he’ll support whatever she wants to be, and Spinelli says, it’s getting late. It’s a shame he can’t wait for Maxie. He tells Georgie, daddy is in a hurry, and looks for her teddy bear. Peter says he thinks it’s in the kitchen; they were going to make cookies. Spinelli asks if it isn’t late, and if Peter’s intention was to get her hopped up on chocolate chips. Peter says, it was a sugarless recipe. Spinelli says Peter has an answer for everything, and Peter says, clearly, he has an adversary in Spinelli.
Jax says that Maxie doesn’t really mean it; it’s just negotiating tactics. Maxie says she’s assisted and supported Nina through her entire career, and proved she’s capable of much more, but she’s not worth any compensation. Jax isn’t willing to loosen the purse strings. Jax wishes Maxie well, but says, the market is dicey. She’s going to have a hard time finding a job. Maxie asks if that’s a threat, and he says, no. He’s just saying she might not get a better deal. She says, so she should settle for an unhappy situation, but Nina says, why leave a sure thing when she has two kids? Maxie says she teaches her kids to stick up for themselves, and she’s setting a good example. Jax says he’s known Maxie a long time. She’s creative, intuitive, and impulsive, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But do herself a favor, and take a step back before she does something rash. She says she appreciates his concern, but she always lands on her feet. She’ll only be unemployed until tomorrow. Nina asks if she has another job lined up.
Valentin tells Lucy, he has an intriguing proposition. He’s offering her independence, and he’s willing to finance it. Lucy says if she throws in with him, she’ll blow her deal with Crimson out of the water. No thanks. She needs Nina’s power, money, and influence more than what he can provide. So, ta. She leaves, and Valentin says, ta.
Lulu asks if Brook knows why everyone hates her. She drives away anyone she knows. Brook says Lulu should truly ask herself why Dante dropped his life and ran off. He’d rather take another bullet than endure her boring self-righteous, passive/aggressiveness. No wonder he went nuts. He couldn’t stand coming home to a boring basic bitch any longer. Lulu calls Brook a has-been who never was. She shakes up the bottle of champagne, and sprays it all over Brook.
Lulu says, who’s basic now? and Brook punches her in the face. Lulu hits Brook back, and Brook grabs Lulu, swinging her around into a table. Valentin watches as they start hair pulling, going around in a circle. Lulu kicks Brook, who smacks into someone else. Valentin tells Lulu, his money is on Brook, and Lulu tells him, shut up. Brook yells, bitch, and gets Lulu down on the ground. Valentin starts filming with his phone.
Chase tells Willow, the other day, he ran into Sasha, and they were talking about what Michael and Willow are going through, and wanted to make sure they were okay. He didn’t mean to overstep. Willow says she’s glad Chase can talk to Sasha. She and Michael share a terrible loss in different ways, and sometimes she’s worried that they’re leaving Chase and Sasha one the outside looking in. Chase’s phone rings, and he says he’s on his way. He asks if they’re good, and Willow says they are. She tells him to be careful.
Carly tells Sasha, she’s noticed that Michael separates himself when it comes to solving problems about Nelle. Sasha wishes he’d expand his horizons when it comes to Carly’s expertise. She got rid of Michael so they could talk about Nelle. Her ideas keep getting shot down. Carly says, such as? and Sasha says she thinks Michael should marry Willow.
Nina asks if Maxie has been entertaining other offers, and Maxie says she wasn’t, but apparently she is in some demand. She asks Jax if knowing that loosens the purse strings. She knows the financial picture can be manipulated when it suits him. He says he wishes her well, and is sure they can keep Crimson humming without her. Lucy comes in, and Maxie says, say hello to her new boss.
Spinelli tells Peter, it’s just that no one advised Georgie’s father about her sugar intake. Peter says they’re certainly not friends, but he’d like it to be different. Spinelli says, that’s difficult when they’re at opposite ends of the cosmos, and Peter suggests they change that. They could grab a beer or go on a hike. He’d like them to be more than barely cordial. He’s the man who’s going to be in Georgie and James’s life, and he’s going to be in Maxie’s life permanently. Spinelli asks what Peter means, and Peter says he and Maxie are getting married.
Anna asks what it would take to convince Jason. What would it take for him to consider Peter might not be guilty? Does he have to see it with his own eyes? He can’t deny the evidence. Jason says, it could have been doctored. Peter framed Obrecht. Anna says, Obrecht framed Peter. She said she’d destroy Peter, and set out to do it. The sad fact is, Jason is playing into her hands. He’s not the first person Obrecht has played for a fool, but he’s the most bright. She leaves the gym, not bothering to work out.
Lulu says she’s going to kill Brook, and Brook says she’d like to see her try. Bring it, bitch. Lulu throws a bottle at Brook, but misses. Brook starts to throw something back, and hits Chase, who’s just walked into the fray. She says, oops.
Sasha tells Carly that Michael marrying Willow would make a stronger argument for him getting sole custody. Sasha was his first choice, but… Carly says, Sasha committed fraud, and Sasha says, exactly. Willow is a different story. The only time she went to jail, it was to protect Wiley. It speaks to her courage and commitment. Carly says she can imagine how that went over. Sasha says she thinks Willow was considering it for a moment; Michael too. Carly says she’s impressed. She didn’t think Sasha had it in her.
Willow tells Anna, welcome home, and Anna asks how Violet was. Willow says, an angel, as usual. Anna thought Chase was there, and Willow says, duty called. Anna says, it has a habit of doing that. Willow asks how Anna’s workout was, and Anna says she skipped it. She asks if Willow wants a drink.
Jason hits the punching bag, and Michael comes into the gym. Jason says it’s all his, and Michael asks if Jason has something on his mind. Jason says somebody he respects a lot is lying to themselves. People believe what they want to, and their belief is being used as a smokescreen to get away with murder.
Spinelli asks if Peter and Maxie are engaged, and Peter says, not yet. Spinelli was there at the MetroCourt when Maxie said they were planning to get married. Spinelli says her exact words were, what if they get married? It’s not a statement of intent. But if it’s on Peter’s mind, why doesn’t he propose? Peter says he doesn’t want to rush Maxie into a commitment just to prove something to her former non-husband. When Spinelli challenges the relationship they have, he wonders if it’s because he doesn’t trust Maxie, or does he still have feelings for her?
Nina says after their negotiations, Lucy poached her creative director? Lucy says she did no such thing, but Nina says Lucy got the seal of approval from Crimson, and this is how she repays Nina, by stealing her talent? How long has she been whispering in Maxie’s ear? Lucy says she has no idea what’s going on; it’s a misunderstanding. Jax says they were under the impression Maxie has a new job with Lucy, but Lucy says, it simply isn’t there. Sometimes she feels it would be great if Maxie had better listening skills. Maxie says Lucy gave her a card and said to call if Nina didn’t see what she had in her. Lucy says she wanted to give Maxie a shoulder to cry on. She’d never take her away from Crimson. Maxie says, so no fresh start? She just quit her job for nothing? She walks out, and Nina says, don’t go, but she keeps walking. Lucy says, that was quite a scene. Jax and Nina don’t look amused.
Chase handcuffs Brook, who asks if that’s necessary. Valentin says Brook is hardly an active threat, but Lulu says, you can’t be too careful. Brook says, Lulu started it, and Chase says, tell it to the judge. He reads her rights, as they go into the elevator.
Lucy tells Nina, she’s sorry. It was just a miscommunication. Jax says they know better than that. Lucy didn’t want to risk the deal, and tried to bring Maxie on after it was too late to back out. Nina says, it’s never too late. There’s no partnership anymore. Lucy tells her, don’t throw the baby out with the rose water, but Nina says Lucy can buy ad space, at the premium rate, no discount, but as far as an endorsement goes, she’ll get no help from Nina.
Spinelli says he wondered when Peter would resort to that tactic, but Peter says, it’s a legitimate question. Spinelli says, once upon a time he believed Maxie was his soulmate, but then he grew up and met Ellie. So the answer is no. Peter says he didn’t think so, but he had to be sure. Even a whiff of angry jealousy could poison Spinelli and Maxie’s relationship. Spinelli asks if Peter is implying his relationship with Maxie is at risk, and Peter says if Spinelli can’t find a way to tolerate him, Maxie will be forced to make a choice. Peter is comfortable with that, but is he? Maxie storms in and says, nobody talk to her. She’s says, Spinelli is here already? Don’t answer. She’ll tell him when. He says he’ll gather Georgie and bid her goodnight, but she says her daughter can’t see her like this. Spinelli asks if she’s ill, and she says, worse; unemployed.
Michael asks if Jason is talking about Nelle, but he says, no. Michael says, whoever it is, if Jason needs him for anything, he’s there. Jason says he’ll figure it out, and Michael says he has no doubt. Jason asks, what’s going on with Michael’s custody battle? and Michael says, Nelle had her first visitation. She has as much legal right to custody as he does, but so far, the only tactic he’s been given is to marry Willow.
Sasha tells Carly, it’s not like she’s pushing Michael to marry Willow. Carly says, it doesn’t serve Sasha’s own interests; it serves Michael’s. Sasha says, exactly, and Carly says she’s not judging Sasha; she’s applauding her. Some people blur the lines to get ahead, and others do it so the ones they love get ahead. She’s willing to let Michael marry another woman just to get Wiley away from Nelle. Sasha is her kind of person. A good person who knows how to do bad.
Anna asks if Willow would like another drink, and Willow says she would, but she’s driving. Anna thanks her for looking after Violet, and Willow says, it’s her pleasure. Violet is an angel. Anna says Violet really likes Willow, and Willow says she doesn’t have anywhere to be right away. They’ve never had a chance to talk and get to know one another. Anna say she appreciates that, but Willow should go, and find Chase. She has work to catch up on. Willow says the WSB keeps her busy, and Anna says, some cases refuse to be closed.
Jason asks Michael, whose idea it was for him to marry Willow, and Michael says, Sasha’s. Jason guesses Carly would probably agree. It makes sense. Michael says, if they ignore the fact that Willow is in love with Chase, and he’s in love with Sasha. Jason asks if he could ignore that, and Michael says, possibly, but Willow couldn’t and it’s not fair to ask her. He’ll have to find another way.
Sasha says the last time she was expelled from a family for being a liar and a schemer. She never thought she would be welcomed into a family for the same reason. Carly says, it’s Nelle they’re talking about. It’s not revenge, but justice, and thanks to Sasha, Carly is feeling better about the odds. Sasha says she hasn’t done anything, and Carly says, not yet, but her imagination can do anything. Michael doesn’t think outside the limits of the law, but it’s an obstacle to be tiptoed around. Sasha asks what Carly wants her to do, and Carly says she has Michael’s ear and can bend it. She has the feeling they’ll come up with the perfect plan to take care of Nelle.
Chase closes Brook’s cell door, and she says she’s sorry. She didn’t mean it. He says it felt like she did. She says she wasn’t trying to assault him; she was trying to assault Lulu. It was mutual. He asks if she remembers what he told her about remaining silent. For once in her life, just do it.
Valentin tells Lulu, way to create content, and she says, get bent. And delete the video. He says, too late for that, and Lucy comes out of the elevator. Lulu is on her way in, and Lucy asks, what happened? but Lulu doesn’t say anything. She says, thank God Valentin is still there, and he says, from Prince of Darkness to the Almighty. He says he was on his way out, but she tells him to stay; have champagne on her. They have business to discuss. He asks what business she’s talking about, and she says the earlier business that’s so near and dear to both of their hearts. The business of Deception.
Nina asks Jax what she’s going to do without Maxie, and he says he’s sure she’ll do fine. She’s had the magazine humming along for years. She says that’s because of Maxie’s continuity, industry, and savvy. Now she’s gone. Jax says, hire her back. Let bygones be bygones. She asks if that means she can give Maxie the money now, but he says she knows the answer. She says she also knows Maxie has too much pride to take her job back under those circumstances, much less ask for her job back.
Maxie breathes into a paper bag. Spinelli is sure Nina will take her back, but she sasy she can’t go back. She made a huge scene, and insulted Jax. Her phone rings. It’s Lucy, and Maxie says she has some nerve, and Lucy says she thinks Maxie overplayed her hand; she didn’t make an offer. Maxie says, it was implied, and Lucy says, it wasn’t, but forget that. It’s explicit now. Lucy wants Maxie on her team. Maxie asks if Lucy isn’t worried about Nina pulling out of the deal, and Lucy says, she already has, but that’s okay. The two of them and Sasha can work without Crimson. Maxie asks, how? and Lucy says she just secured an investor who will not only ensure the launch, but their success for years to come.
Valentin hands Lucy a drink, and they clink glasses.
On Monday, Sonny gets bad news, Curtis needs a favor, and Jordan asks where the hell her son is.
Shahs of Sunset
Mike asks MJ, what happened? and she tells him that Reza said she had ten abortions. Mike can’t believe what came over Reza, and MJ says Reza yelled that she was 50 years old, and ended up bleeding out in the hospital because she’d had ten abortions. Mike says he didn’t realize they were going to act like animals. When he persuaded Reza to talk to her, he thought they’d talk. She says Reza decided to believe Ali over his friend of 30 years. In Mike’s interview, he says, Destiney approached Reza, and soon after, all effing hell broke loose. We flash back to the lunch with Ali. Mike says, in the meantime, MJ was giving birth, and we flash back to Reza reading Mike the text he got from Tommy about MJ needing emergency surgery. Mike thinks MJ heard a rumor and spread it , but didn’t start it. MJ says Reza brings up sh*t they know about each other, and she doesn’t do that. Mike begs to differ, and we flash back to MJ telling Reza to go back to his cheating husband just before the whole thing exploded. She says she didn’t bring attention to everything, and their problems have nothing to do with her. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza and Adam’s troubled waters aren’t a secret. We flash back to the reunion when Reza said they’d talked about divorce, and the naked Jenga stuff. She says, they were Adam’s actions, and it’s easier for Reza to blame her than look at himself and his husband. We see a clip of her calling Tommy from the party, and saying she told Reza to get TF away from her, and he screamed that she was 50 years old, and nearly bled to death because she’d had ten abortions. Mike says, it’s going to get messy. MJ says if Reza is going to Phoenix, she’s not coming. She has her baby to focus on, and she’s going to pray for Reza.
24 hours later. Reza looks at his patio, which is a mess. In his interview, he says he and Adam were having brunch with Reza’s mother, and Adam got a Ring notification on his phone. We see a clip of Tommy on their patio, smashing stuff and throwing things around. Reza comes in the house through the back. He tells Adam, when they were driving to his mom’s house and Tommy called, he didn’t realize that Tommy was in the car headed toward their house. In Reza’s interview, he says Tommy called in a state of rage, saying he was going to effing kill Reza. Reza thought, okay, low class trash, and hung up. Adam says he doesn’t feel safe.
MJ meets Nema for lunch, and wonders how she and Reza got there. She’s saddened that this is a time in her life when she should be celebrating. It’s all about love and being supported. Never in her wildest dreams did she think Reza would act like that. Nema says MJ threw water in Reza’s face; it’s an invasion of personal space. She says, Tommy had the proper reaction (!), and Nema wonders who says that? Mike joins them. I note he’s wearing a magenta beanie, and wonder about his fashion sense.
Reza asks what MJ was thinking. Was she sending her criminal thug husband over there to scare or hurt them? He’s not intimidated. He tells Adam that he has a temporary restraining order against Tommy until the court hearing on June 14th. He wants to make sure Tommy stays away, and wants to see him prosecuted.
MJ wonders how she got dragged into this. Nema asks if she knew Tommy was going over there, and Mike says, of course. Nema asks why she didn’t stop him, and MJ says Tommy has to protect his wife and son. When someone says horrific things, and takes it to social media, they can’t expect him to lay [sic] down. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza went on an Instagram rant, showing private texts between him and Tommy, and her personal medical history that Tommy confided in him. Tommy was furious; Reza fanned the flame, and poured gas on it. MJ tells Mike and Nema that she doesn’t feel good about what Tommy did. Nema asks if she thinks it was okay, and she says she never said that, but he just messed up some plants; so what? In Mike’s interview, he says he thought MJ would be apologetic, but she’s being defensive, and making light of it. It makes her look worse. Nema says she needs to come down on Tommy, and she says she did. Nema says, it’s a game changer, and in the end, it’s on her and Reza. He wonders if their group of friends is going to be like divorced parents, and spend one day with Reza, and a different one with her. In Nema’s interview, he says, MJ just had a baby. She has better things to worry about. He tells MJ, she needs to own her part in it, and be done with it. MJ says she wanted to clear the air, and that’s it. She says she’s had enough bullsh*t, and leaves.
GG goes to see her lawyer Atousa. Arousa asks GG, please don’t tell her that she’s in trouble, or needs a prenup. GG says she doesn’t, and Atousa says GG just got divorced. She got a phone call from Shalom saying he’d sign the documents, and send them overnight. GG is in shock, and says she doesn’t know how Atousa did it. Atousa says she just kept it real, and told him what he was doing wouldn’t resolve it; the law is not on his side. In GG’s interview, she says, Atousa is an amazing attorney. She thought she was just going to have to file papers, wait in line for a court date, and be divorced. She was married six and a half to seven weeks, and the divorce took about two years. We flash back to the reunion when she talked about being in the process. Then we see a clip of Mike on the phone with Shalom, telling him to stop calling GG, and Shalom saying he loves her. Atousa says Shalom still wants her back, and no matter how they communicate, he’s going to end up being sulky and not happy as a result. GG says, especially if he finds out she’s trying to get pregnant. Atousa warns her that they’re still not past the time period where Shalom can contest the divorce. He could say there was fraud, or he didn’t know about things she didn’t disclose. Don’t cause trouble, and leave him alone. GG says her whole being was for this, and Atousa says now let her whole being be for the baby. GG tells Atousa, she used an anonymous sperm donor. In her interview, she says she saw his picture, and she had her nose done, but his was good to begin with. She weighed everything out after the genetics.
Destiney meets Nema at a restaurant, and they order drinks. She says she didn’t want to go to Sara’s party, and he says he didn’t even see her interact with Sara. He didn’t realize she was still talking to Sam, and she says Sara didn’t want her to. We flash back to Sara telling Destiney not to continue seeing her brother. Nema says Sara really must not like her. Destiney smokes a hookah, and says she was going to see Sam in Vegas but her flight was delayed. In her interview, she says she and Sam are still talking, and as long as it’s fun and flirty, she’ll continue enjoying the moment with him. She says her event in Arizona is on Saturday, but she’d like them to come earlier. She’s invited everyone except Sara.
GG drives to an In-N-Out Burger. In her interview, she says it’s been ten days since the transfer. She has to eat before her mom gets to her house. Lord help her with a Persian mother. She doesn’t know if she’s eating for two or nervous eating.
MJ changes Shams’s diaper. In her interview, she wonder what a mother should call her son’s penis, and decides it’s not pecker. She brings Shams out. Her assistant Sienna is there, and her trainer Craig lets himself in. In MJ’s interview, she says she’s been in bed a month now, and it’s time to start getting healthy. Craig says he came bearing gifts – collagen water and healthy drinks. He asks how MJ’s state of well-being is, and she says she’s a bit of a wreck. He thinks she should address this thing, and make sure she’s feeling good about where she is in life.
Destiney goes to Mike’s house, and he says she’s in time for breakfast. He asks if she has any idea why Reza wants to talk to all of them. She guesses he wants to talk what went down at Sara’s pool party. In Mike’s interview, he says he loves Reza, but Reza has a way of rallying his troops. Either you’re going to be on his or their team.
Reza and Adam get to Mike’s, with Nema following. In Reza’s interview, he says, the loss of a best friend is unimaginable. He needs all the love and support he can get right now. He tells Mike and Destiney that he can never have anything to do with MJ and Tommy again. First, she sent her gay minions to destroy his marriage. We flash back to Reza calling MJ about the lunch with Ali, and Reza says, then, she sends her thug husband to… what? Rough him up? Mike says he and Nema met with MJ, and told her that Tommy’s actions were unacceptable. Reza asks if she was remorseful. In Mike’s interview, he says they acted like savages, but you can’t flush a friendship over a disagreement. Sara joins them, and asks where GG is, and Reza says she had an appointment at 10. He apologizes profusely for acting like an animal. We flash back to him throwing papers all over the place. He says he’s so sorry, but Sara says he doesn’t have to apologize, and asks who invited MJ? Nema says he was trying to bring friends together, and realizes it was wrong. He was thinking they had a 30 year friendship, it was a tiff, and it would be over. Reza says he thinks Nema was being flippant, but he’s disappointed in himself, and wishes he hadn’t said what he did. MJ’s medical history had nothing to do with what the argument was about.
Craig tells MJ that her dad came to him in his sleep. He said he’d really like her to be able to address the situation with Reza. In MJ’s interview, she doesn’t think revisiting the disgusting things Reza said will help her heal. She tells Craig, she hates talking about this, so he brings out resistance bands, and suggests they regroup.
Paulina is the last to get there, and Reza says he wants to fill everyone in courtwise. Tommy has to stay 100 yards away from their home, Adam, himself, and their cars. Nema asks if there are jailtime consequences, and Reza says there are. He asks them, please do not try to mend things or help the friendship or relationship with MJ or Tommy. In his interview, he says he doesn’t want be friends with MJ’s friends. He wants no connection, or for her to know anything about him. He tells Destiney, as much as he wants to go to Arizona, he’s taking Adam to Hawaii for his birthday. He tells everyone that he loves them.
Nema rings Shervin’s doorbell, and Shervin jokes that he’s not interested in whatever Nema is selling. Shervin, Mike, and Nema head to the airport. In Mike’s interview, he says they’re having a guy’s weekend. They’re going to watch mixed martial arts fighting, and get away from the drama. Mike says he can’t wait to get away.
In Phoenix, Destiney gets ready, along with her assistant Rose. She says, what are the odds that her package would get lost? In her interview, she says, all her clothes, including the dance costumes, never arrived. Her company is doing an anime/boxing event. It’s a vibe. She’s glad her friends are coming, but wishes Reza was going to be there. Rose is her left hand, and she has to delegate. She wonders why she can’t just live and enjoy the moment.
The guys arrive at the hotel. In Nema’s interview, he says they were late because they were kicked off the plane in L.A. because they’re middle Eastern. In Mike’s interview, he said someone was saving seats for them, and a guy ran to grab them, but the attendant had already made up her mind that they were guilty, and they had to get off the plane. We flash back to when they were detained in Israel. Mike says, thank God the worst is out of the way, and Nema says they hope it’s the worst. They decide to have a cocktail, and Nema says he wants to see Shervin strike out. Destiney meets them in the lobby, and Nema asks how is she hammered already? Mike says she smells like tequila. In her interview, Destiney says her dancers are on point, and the fighters are prepared for the weigh-in. Now everybody is cleared and ready to go. In Mike’s interview, he thinks she’s holding guilt over Reza and MJ, and that’s why she’s wasted the day before her big event. She tells them, dinner in an hour, and Mike says, no more for her.
Vida visits MJ, and in MJ’s interview, she says her mother is retiring after 36 years as a make-up artist at Bloomingdale’s. MJ thinks Vida is ready to have a new chapter with her grandson. She tells Vida that Destiney was talking to her about the event months ago, but decided she needed to cover her ass, so MJ didn’t get an invite. In her interview, MJ says, Destiney should keep as far away as possible. The moment she faces the truth, she’ll be implicated as a being a big liar. We flash back to MJ telling Destiney that she can’t blame people who aren’t there to defend themselves. Vida says it’s better for MJ to stay with her precious baby. One day they’re friends, and the next, they’re enemies.
GG sits with friend Yasmin and mom Fatima. Fatima says GG is getting cravings early, but GG says she doesn’t know if she’s pregnant yet. In her interview, she says it’s been an agonizing twelve days. Her anxiety has built up, and she can’t focus. The fertility nurse calls, and she hesitates to answer, but finally does. The nurse says, guess who’s knocked up? and they all scream. The nurse says GG is going to be good mother, and congratulates her. GG hugs Fatima and Yasmin.
Looking for Shervin, Mike says he’ll just follow the smell of Drakkar. In his interview, he says, it feels weird that his best friends aren’t there. Who will he worry about, since MJ was always late? And he’ll miss Reza’s sense of humor. You haven’t traveled until you’ve smelled the spray of the finest liquid ass money can buy. We flash back to their RV trip. MJ calls, and Mike says he, Shervin, and Nema are grabbing dinner. He asks how she is, and she says she hates missing out. She didn’t feel good after their lunch. She felt like they gave her the third degree and attacked her. Nema wonders if she’s crying, and Mike says he’s sorry she’s upset, but it’s not a little feud. Everyone is talking about it, and each person involved has a responsibility in what happened. She says she doesn’t know why Destiney and Ali lied, and Mike says that’s two people who are saying she was involved. She says she’s not trying to duck out of this, but Tommy went storming out. Do they think she wanted that to happen? We flash back to the pool party, where MJ called Tommy, and while she was giving him a blow-by-blow, Mike was saying, don’t do it. She says she’s not in charge of her husband’s behavior or her best friend’s. Mike says she hasn’t taken responsibility for what she’s done. MJ says she was aware Ali wanted to talk to Reza, and didn’t think the issue exceeded strip Jenga. Which still continues to sound stupid. In Mike’s interview, he says MJ is crying because she realized she stirred the pot. It’s setting in that she took it too far. He tells her that he hopes they get past it, and she says, okay.
The guys go downstairs to the steak house. Nema feels the stress of the fallout. Destiney says she ordered already, and Mike tells her that MJ called, but she’s not taking responsibility for what she told Ali. She said she doesn’t condone what Tommy did, but she can’t control him. Nema says, she knew the intention was there. In Destiney’s interview, she says MJ knew what Ali was going to say, and told him to do it. She says, it’s sad that MJ’s not owning up to it. She looked Destiney in the face, and said Destiney was lying, but MJ put her in the situation, and made it seem as if she was lying when she wasn’t. She didn’t know what Ali was going to say. Mike tells her, be honest, and she asks what she’d have to lose. They’re drinking the Kool-Aid. Shervin tells her to own her sh*t. She knew about the rumor, and brought it to Mike instead of talking to Reza. She asks if he’s smoking crack. Mike tells her, don’t bullsh*t, and she says she doesn’t need to bullsh*t. Enough is enough. No matter what the end of the journey, she knows where she’s going. She calls Shervin a POS, and leaves. Mike tells her, don’t walk away, but she keeps going. Nema says she knows she’s caught. If she’s innocent, why is she acting guilty? Mike says, nothing is settled, and Shervin says, she’ll never own up to what she did.
At MJ’s house, Tommy feeds Shams. In MJ’s interview, she says, after the horrible things Reza said, the next day, he posted her and her son’s medical history on Instagram. She was shocked and shook, and shared it with Tommy. He called Reza, who hung up on him, and Tommy made a beeline for the door. He stood up for her, even though there were legal consequences. Tommy tells her, he broke some plants, but he wanted to break Reza’s legs. Reza is lucky. Reza can’t talk like that to people, or someone will come and break his legs. They’re two men, and he wasn’t coming to play Jenga. He was there to kick ass. MJ says, at the same time, that’s not who they are. Tommy says he’s grateful no one was there, or it would have escalated. MJ tells him, calm down, and he says he promised her dad and made vows to her to protect her and keep her safe. When she was in a hospital bed, he couldn’t do anything. Tommy cries. In her interview, MJ says when Tommy was waiting to find out if she’d make it, he was taken back to the loss of his mother. Tommy tells her, everyone said it would be the best night of his life when he’d hold his kid, but it was the effing worst experience of his life, and he can’t get it out of his head. She says she doesn’t want to see him like this, but he says he can’t help it. He cries about it all the time. She says the best thing is to look at their beautiful baby. Their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is in the nursery. She knows it will become a distant memory, and she loves him. In MJ’s interview, she says, in the last fourteen months, she lost her father, got pregnant, almost died, and almost lost the baby. If her friends knew the truth, they’d understand what pushed Tommy to the limit. She’s 100% standing by her husband, and doesn’t care if he’s wrong in the eyes of the law.
Next time, Destiney’s even happens, Vida has a birthday, and MJ doesn’t give a f***.
👩🏽🏫 Quotes of the Week
In an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it. – Herbert Simon
The things which have the greatest value in use have frequently little or no value in exchange; on the contrary, those which have the greatest value in exchange have frequently little or no value in use. Nothing is more useful than water: but it will purchase scarcely anything; scarcely anything can be had in exchange for it. A diamond, on the contrary, has scarcely any use-value; but a very great quantity of other goods may frequently be had in exchange for it. – Adam Smith
Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager. – Susan Sontag
🌪 Just When You Thought Friday Would Be Easy…
This week is over now, right? Stay safe out there, and see you when the dead walk.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Michael goes to the ELQ office, and asks to see Ned. Brook says, sorry. She doesn’t see him on the calendar, but she’ll see if she can find some time for him. Michael says she’s really good at this. She says if she’s going to spend the next five years waiting out her hella contract, she’s going to be the best assistant ELQ has had.
Carly tells Sonny, Nelle is so predictable. She did exactly what Carly said she was going to. She had her court appointed visit with Wiley, took a selfie to prove it, and came straight to the MetroCourt to wave it in Carly’s face. Sonny says, and…? and Carly says, nothing. She didn’t hit Nelle, or pull her hair out by the roots, although God knows she wanted to. Jason comes in, and Carly tells him, congratulate her. He asks, why? and Sonny says, Nelle tried to provoke her, but Carly didn’t take the bait. Jason says, good work; keep that up. Carly says, she’ll try, and asks if he’s there on business. She says she’ll leave them to it, but first, how’s it going with Brando?
At the gym, Brando hits the bag, and Spinelli asks if he minds if he cuts in.
Nina tells Jax, that’s it? Just no? He says, there are several reasons, and she says she’s not asking him to buy the Empire State Building. When she was otherwise occupied, Maxie stepped up. She went above and beyond for Crimson, and deserves a raise and recognition. Why can’t he give her the money she deserves?
Anna comes up behind Finn at the hospital, puts her arms around him, and says, hi, fiancé. He says he hopes that’s her, and she laughs. He asks how her appointment was, and she says her bloodwork is perfect. She thought she’d celebrate by going to the gym. He says, sounds terrible, and she says she wanted to talk to him about Violet’s birthday party. Has he done any preparations? He says he keeps making lists and gets stuck. How can he make sure his little girl’s birthday is perfect, when her mom’s not there to celebrate? Anna says just concentrate on her, her favorite things, her favorite color. She asks what that is, and he says, purple, obviously. Anna puts it in her phone and says she’ll order purple party decorations; nothing understated, the full swag.
Lulu says Maxie isn’t going to believe what Brook just posted on Facebook. Skootch. They sit closer together, and Lulu says, Brook just posted a video of her desk at ELQ. Maxie says they do that at Crimson for promotional stuff. It’s kind of cute Brook is excited. Lulu says, forget the cuteness. Look. Maxie gasps.
Peter comes in, and Robert says, working late? Peter says he is, and Robert says he figures Peter’s always got time for him. Sit a spell. He insists.
Carly asks Sonny how Brando likes the garage. Sonny says, he likes it okay. He wants to go back to Chicago, but understands he has to stay. She says, maybe once he settles in, and makes the garage his own, he’ll see Port Charles isn’t so bad. She’s taking a snack upstairs, where Josslyn and Avery are showing Donna The Little Mermaid; apparently, you’re never too young to start watching. Sonny asks Jason if he was right about Brando accepting that he has to stay there.
Brando instructs Spinelli, telling him, try to target his punches. Spinelli apologies, saying, despite his glove and attire, his skills are better served behind a computer. Brando says he can’t let his aggression out on a computer. (God knows I’ve wanted to.) Spinelli says, too true, and confesses he knows Brando, even though there’s no way Brando could know him. He introduces himself to Brando, saying, Damien Spinelli at his service. He says he’s good friends with the Corinthos family and Jason, and he’s aware Brando saved Carly’s life. He’s deeply grateful. It must feel empowering to charge in to the rescue, guns blazing. Brando asks if Spinelli knows someone who needs rescuing, and Spinelli says, as a matter-of-fact, he does, but they refuse to be rescued. Hitting something makes him feel less helpless. He punches the bag again, sort of.
Maxie asks Lulu if that’s a confidential deal memo under the paperweight. Lulu says, you can actually read the fine print. It’s a merger between an ELQ owned company and Mertin Med Tech. One of the deal points is closing a local facility in Port Charles. According to Brook’s story, she’s the only one who has viewed this so far. Maxie tells her, a good person would call Brook before anyone else sees it, and Lulu says, what about a good reporter?
Ned gives Brook some things to file, and sees Michael. He says it’s a nice surprise, and asks if Michael misses work that badly. Michael says he was running errands, and thought he’d bring Wiley by and give him a tour. Brook tells Wiley, if he takes over the company in the future, pay more attention to the aesthetics, and update the hold music. Ned tells Michael, Brook isn’t a fan of the music, and she asks if Michael has ever been on hold. The music is great for insomniacs. Michael says he never noticed, but maybe he can take care of it when he comes back from leave. She says maybe she’ll get to first. She tells Michael, better watch out. He’s not going to recognize the place when he gets back. Ned says it’s nice to have the whole family back in business at ELQ.
Robert approaches Peter at the MetroCourt bar, but Peter says he doesn’t have much time to talk; he has a deadline. Robert says, it must be nice to be able to work anywhere, like in an upscale restaurant. Peter says, it has its perks. Robert wonders what Peter is going to order, and says, there’s nothing like the taste of freedom. Peter asks Robert what his point is, and Robert says he just came from a meeting with Obrecht. Peter asks if she’s still claiming she’s innocent, and Robert tells him, she says Peter is the one who’s responsible for killing Drew, and sending the assassin after Andre and Franco. Peter says, it’s so sad, the lengths Obrecht will go to destroy him. Robert says he thought they had a truce, and Peter says, so did he. That’s why he hired her to write a column for The Invader. She had him fooled. She must have been trying to get him to lower his guard. Robert says, imagine if she’d framed Peter for her crimes. That means Obrecht would be sitting there tonight.
Anna goes over things for Violet’s birthday party with Finn; the guest list, balloons, games, party favors. Finn says he thought showering Violet with gifts would be enough. Anna says if he thinks this is too much, wait until they plan their wedding. He says, right, the wedding. She says it’s been almost a year since he gave her the ring, and they don’t have a date. It’s fine, but she feels like they’re dancing around the subject. She knows she’s been gone a while, and that didn’t make it any easier, but she’s here now. She’s happy he and Violet have moved back in. Finn says they’re happy too, and she says she was wondering if the three of them will be moving forward together. He says he thought that’s what they were doing, and she says, it is, but are they moving forward like they are now, or as a married couple?
Peter tells Robert, it looks like justice prevailed, and Robert says, it depends on your definition of justice. Olivia asks if Robert is harassing her customers again. He says only because it encourages her to come by and stop him. Peter says he has to get to work, and gets up to move to a table. Robert tells him, enjoy his meal. Olivia asks what she interrupted, and Robert says, it’s nothing to worry about. She asks if he has time for her, and he says, absolutely. What’s on her mind? She says, it’s been a month since she’s heard from the WSB. Does he have any news about Dante?
Nina tells Jax, Aurora has millions. How hard can it be to pad the budget to keep her best employee happy? Jax says he thought the reason of Crimson’s autonomy was to keep him away it the first place. She says, okay, Mr. CEO. Give her the money she wants, and she’ll leave him alone. He asks if that’s what it boils down to, and she asks what he means. He says, the reason he can’t give her the money is her.
Maxie tells Lulu, she’s not a fan of Brook’s, but reporting this could mess things up. Lulu asks why she should feel bad about that, and Maxie says, she wouldn’t just be messing things up for Brook, but for ELQ and the Quartermaines, some of whom are Lulu’s former in-laws. Lulu says, technically, she’s not doing anything wrong by reporting a data breach. Brook took the video, and if she didn’t want it to go viral, she shouldn’t have hit post. Maxie says, a lot of people they love work for and with ELQ, but Lulu says, none of them are Brook. Maxie says, it’s Lulu’s call. Lulu looks over at Peter’s table, and says, actually, it’s Peter’s. She’ll be right back.
Brook answers the phone, and says, Mr. Quartermaine is in a meeting. Can she take a message? She says she’ll totally squeeze them in asap. She plays with Wiley, who’s sitting in his stroller.
Michael asks if Ned has heard anything, and Ned says the contract was prepared, and sent out for Llewellyn’s signature. They’re keeping the merger quiet until it’s finalized. Michael says he doesn’t envy Ned when it goes public. Nobody is going to like the anticipated layoffs. Ned says he’ll spin it. It will be great news for the shareholders. Michael thanks Ned for picking up the slack. He obviously left the company in good hands.
Spinelli tells Brando, a woman near and dear to his heart has moved in with a dangerous man. Brando asks, how dangerous? and Spinelli says, he’s done despicable things, both in the past and the present. While the lady involved believes his criminal past is behind him, Spinelli knows he’s in as deep as ever. Brando asks if Spinelli has proof, but Spinelli says, he’s a master of deceit. Spinelli doesn’t know if he should respect her wishes, and leave them alone, or fight to protect her from harm and heartbreak.
Jason tells Sonny, Brando’s not happy, but he knows he’s not going anywhere. He had his first customer while Jason was there. Willow’s mom Harmony said she needed work on her car; a 2019 model, fresh off the lot. Sonny asks if he’s concerned, and Jason says he checked with Willow. Harmony is living in a halfway house, and working as an aid at Turning Woods. Sonny says, no way she could afford a new car. Jason says, at first Harmony was friendly, but then she got nervous. She said she was going to take the car back to the dealer, but he suggested she let Brando take a look. Brando said there was nothing wrong with car.
Lulu tells Peter, she knows finance isn’t her usual beat, but a deal between ELQ and Med Tech? It’s important to the local economy. Not to mention The Invader would be first with the scoop. He tell her, go for it. His phone rings, and he says, yes, of course (🍷). He’ll be right there. He tells Lulu, nice job.
Robert wishes he could help Olivia, but he doesn’t know Dante’s status or location. She says it breaks her heart that her son feels he has to lock himself away from people he loves to keep them safe. They never got a chance to hug him. Does Robert still want to help? Some people have forgotten him already.
Finn tells Anna, he’d like get to married, if she still wants to. She says, of course (🍷), with all her heart. He asks how she wants to do it? A big church wedding, or something simple?Paris? A county clerk? She says, mmm, Paris. Although with a county clerk, she can wear a suit and carry a spray of flowers; no fuss or anxiety is appealing, but she doesn’t think it would work for Violet. He supposes Violet would like something big and sparkly, and Anna says she might like that too. He says, then that’s what they’ll do. They kiss, and Anna asks if Finn has any idea how happy he’s made her. He says, if it’s anything like how happy she’s made him, he has a good guess. They kiss again.
Robert tells Olivia, he can try reaching out to a couple of friends; strictly off the record. She thanks him, saying she’d be so grateful. He says, don’t thank him yet. It could come to nothing. She looks at her phone, and says, Mary, mother of God. He says, bad news? and she says, you might say that. She has to take care of something.
Lulu goes back to her table, and suggests they talk about Maxie’s big news; her well-deserved promotion. It took Nina long enough. Maxie says she’s gone above and beyond for Crimson, and it’s nice to finally be compensated for it. Lulu says she deserves all this and more, and Maxie thanks Lulu for encouraging her to do it. She can’t stop thinking about all the projects, and the photo shoots she’ll get to arrange. Lulu says it calls for a celebration, but Maxie asks if it can wait. She has an idea to run by Nina. Lulu says, now? and Maxie says, no time like the present. Order the champagne, and she’ll be right back to drink it.
Sonny asks if Jason thinks Harmony brought the car to Brando because Brando is connected to him. Jason thinks it’s possible. Sonny owned the property for years. Sonny asks if she asked about him, and Jason says, she mentioned them, but it made sense, since Jason was there when she showed up. But there’s something he doesn’t like about it, so he went to talk to Willow, who said Harmony was distancing herself. His guess is, Harmony is into something shady. Maybe doesn’t want Willow to know, but whatever it is it’s connected to Sonny. Or he could be overthinking it, and Harmony got a loan for a car she couldn’t afford, and is hiding it from her daughter. Sonny tells him, keep looking. He needs to know one way or the other.
Brando says, it’s obvious Spinelli cares for his friend, and Spinelli says, more than words can express. Brando says, if Spinelli thinks this guy can hurt his friend, he should follow his gut. Spinelli says it could create conflict which might be a negative in his domestic harmony. Brando says, not as negative as someone dying, and Spinelli says, this individual thinks nothing of eliminating anyone who stands in his way. Brando tells Spinelli, he’s got to step up. Better she no longer talks to him, than no longer talks period. Brando’s phone rings, and he says he has to take it.
Nina says, it’s her fault? but Jax says he’s not saying it’s her fault. He’s saying if he gives money to Crimson, how will it look to the other departments? She says, because they’re sleeping together? He says, it would look like favoritism, and he doesn’t want anyone to thinking it’s a quid pro quo. She says, Maxie is a deserving employee, and he says if he could help, he would, but they have to keep their boundaries straight. Work is work, and fun is fun. She says, in that case, he needs to go. He asks if they’re fighting, and she says, oh yes, no, I don’t know. He needs to go, so she can figure out how to tell Maxie she’s not getting the raise she deserves.
Brook and Wiley are eating cookies when Ned and Michael come out. Brook tells Wiley they’re busted; she found them in the diaper bag. Ned asks, who’s answering the phone? and Brook says she can snack and answer the phone at the same time. She gives him a list of phone calls he needs to return, in order of importance. Michael tells Ned to keep him posted on the deal, and Brook tells Michael that Wiley is a wonderful assistant. Ned says, speak of the devil. Llewellyn is on the phone. He asks if Llewellyn got the contract, then says they didn’t post anything online… The Invader? He doesn’t know what Llewellyn is talking about. Michael’s phone dings, and Ned says he can’t hear Llewellyn. Olivia barges in, and asks Brook what she’s done.
Lulu calls ELQ, saying she’s from The Invader, and working on a follow-up to her post about the ELQ merger. She’d love to get Ned’s comments – or his daughter’s.
Ned asks how Brook could be so careless. That document represented millions to ELQ. Now that deal and the profits are gone. She says she was trying to give the company a little social media buzz, and he says, by posting confidential documents on the web? She says it was on her personal Facebook page. She never thought it would go viral. Michael says, it was an honest mistake; there was nothing malicious. Olivia says, that honest mistake cost ELQ millions of dollars. Brook says, tell her how to fix it, but Ned says, she’s done enough. They have to talk damage control – in private. Ned and Olivia go into Ned’s office, and Michael tells Brook that he’s blown his fair share of deals. She tells him not to try and make it better, but he says, Ned will take care of it. Tell Ned that he had to take Wiley home. Brook says she’ll watch Wiley. She’d consider it a personal favor if he cleaned up this mess for her. He hands her Wiley, and goes into Ned’s office.
Sonny gives Brando some coffee, and Brando thanks him for the garage set-up. It’s a nice shop. Sonny says Jason told him that Brando had his first customer. What did he think? Brando says if Jason filled Sonny in, he has nothing more to tell him. Sonny says he got Jason’s point-of-view, but he’d like Brando’s. Brando says, it was a new car, and there was nothing wrong with it. Sonny asks if Brando thinks she came to ask about him, and Brando says, it’s possible. He didn’t tell her anything. Sonny says he didn’t think Brando would, and Brando says he has nothing to tell. He knows Sonny set him up to keep him in Port Charles, and it wasn’t supposed to have anything to do with Sonny’s business. Yet Sonny’s business found him anyway.
Carly says she got Jax’s text that he needed to talk to her. What’s up? He asks if Josslyn mentioned their recent conversation, and she says, no; why? He says he offered Josslyn an extended vacation in Australia, and Carly says she suggested the same thing, but Josslyn doesn’t want to go. Jax says maybe they should reconsider. It might be a good idea for Josslyn to be on the other side of the planet for a while. Far away from the dangerous situation in Port Charles. She says he means far away from Sonny, and he says, yes.
Maxie goes to Nina’s office, and Nina says, perfect timing. She was just thinking about texting Maxie. Maxie says she has a great idea, and Nina says, that’s fantastic, but please sit down. Maxie sits, and Nina congratulates her, saying, as of tomorrow, her new title is Crimson’s senior vice president of creative marketing. She’s going to fly all over the world, meet fashion figures, oversee fashion shoots, and approve articles. Maxie says, and finally get the salary she deserves. Jax approved everything, right? Nina says, not in so many words.
Anna sees Spinelli at the gym, and asks about Ellie and Georgie. She asks how Ellie’s new job is, and he says she loves it, and Georgie loves her school. She’s made more friends already than he has in a lifetime. Anna suggests them getting together with Violet, and Spinelli says, if she’s suggesting a playdate, that’s a resounding yes. She says she’s planning a family get-together, and Maxie and Peter will be there. Jason comes in, and Anna says, perfect. She’d like to talk to both of them about Peter
Robert sees Finn at the hospital, and says, just the man he’s looking for. Finn asks to what he owes the pleasure, and Robert congratulates him on moving back in with Anna. Finn says, news travels fast, and Robert says he’s more concerned about Peter. Finn says he’ll always be concerned when it comes to protecting his daughter, but this was important to Anna, and evidence suggests Obrecht was behind Drew’s death and the attempts on Andre and Franco’s lives. Robert says, nice and neat, and wrapped up. He’d like Finn to do him a favor. Stay on guard when he sees Peter around Anna. Finn asks if Robert is asking him to spy on Anna.
Anna tells Spinelli and Jason, Peter and Maxie are living together, and Georgie is going to be spending time there. Children are susceptible to an undercurrent of emotion, so for Georgie’s sake, she wishes they would accept the fact that Peter has been exonerated. Dislike him if they want, but don’t treat him like a criminal. He’s not. Spinelli says he already had a conversation with Maxie on this topic, and he told her he’s doing his best to live and let live. Spinelli’s phone rings, and he excuses himself. He sees two unanswered voicemails from Maxie.
Nina tells Maxie that Jax can’t find money in the budget, and there’s no room to pay her what she deserves. It might be available next year, but in the meantime, she can give Maxie more vacation days, days to work at home, so she can spend more time with James and Georgie… Maxie says, but no money for a raise. Nina says she’s sorry, and Maxie says she doesn’t understand. She’s done so much for Nina and Crimson. She’s covered for Nina so many times, and missed out on time with James. Nina says she understands, and understands Maxie deserves a raise. Maxie says, understanding it and making it happen are two different things, and walks out, Nina calling after her.
Lulu reads, Brook Lynn must be the most incompetent secretary in the history of secretaries – Clint Buchanan. She says, you got that right, Mr. B.
Coming out of the office, Michael says, Olivia will handle the press contacts, and Olivia says ELQ regrets the accidental publication of confidential documents, and is investigating the matter. Ned says he’ll get in touch with Llewellyn and smooth things over. Michael says they know where to find him. He thanks Brook for looking after Wiley, and she says, Wiley is a lot less judgy than some other family members. Ned tells Brook to get his PR team on the line. Never mind; he’ll do it. Hold his calls and order dinner. It’s going to be a long night. On second thought, he’ll order dinner. Go home and hunker down. She says she knows how to order dinner. She wonders what The Invader is doing on her Facebook page, and says, of course (🍷). Lulu Spencer. Why is she not surprised?
Brando tells Sonny, his mother lied, but he’s been transparent. He did prison time, but he’s cleaned up his act and made a good life. Anyone coming after Sonny, stands between him and that life. Sonny says if this is Brando’s way of asking how long he has to stay in Port Charles, he can’t answer that. It could be a day or a year, or somewhere in between. Brando says Sonny knows his history. If there’s anything he can do to help sort things out so they can move on with their lives, say the word.
Carly tells Jax, Josslyn agreed to be home schooled. She hired Josslyn’s favorite teacher as a tutor, and Josslyn can still be on the volleyball team. Jax says, with bodyguards, and Carly says, unfortunately yes. He says, she wouldn’t need a bodyguard in Australia, but Carly says, she doesn’t want to go. Jax asks if they can get real, and actually parent, and agree their daughter isn’t safe there. Carly says, it’s not perfect, but it works, and he tells her, stop putting a spin on it. This is no way for their daughter to grow up. She needs a normal life somewhere. Carly says, this is normal for Josslyn, but Jax asks if Carly hears herself. She already lost Morgan to mob violence. He’s not losing Josslyn to it.
Sonny says he thought Brando didn’t want to be involved in his business, and Brando says he doesn’t, but he seems to be involved one way or the other. If Sonny’s enemies come back looking for information, wouldn’t it be helpful if Brando tells them what Sonny wants? Sonny appreciates the offer, but thinks it’s best for all of them if Brando stays away from his business. Brando says he guesses that’s it then, and Sonny says, he’s afraid so. Brando says he’s going back to work. He’s got to earn his keep somehow.
Carly says how dare Jax use Morgan’s death to manipulate her; they’re done here. He apologizes, saying he was insensitive. He just wants to keep Josslyn safe. She asks if he thinks she doesn’t, and he says he knows it’s hard for her too. He doesn’t want to take Josslyn from Port Charles; he has plenty of reason to stay himself. But no reason is more important than their daughter’s safety. Can they talk as parents about how to keep their daughter safe? Carly says she wants things to stay the way they are, with them both monitoring the situation. They can figure out any changes they need to make together. If that means going to Australia, great. If it means staying here, great. But they need to make decisions for Josslyn together.
On the phone, Nina says, it could have gone better. Maxie didn’t take it well, and she could really use a friend.
Lulu asks Maxie how it went, and Maxie says, horrible. Lulu says she thought the promotion and raise was a done deal. She ordered champagne. Maxie says Lulu will have to drink it without her. She just got denied, and she’s going to get even.
Spinelli says, over his dead body, and jets. Anna says she knows Jason and Spinelli are good friends, and Jason has a tremendous influence over Spinelli; he admires Jason. She was wondering if Jason could soften Spinelli’s attitude toward Peter, but Jason says, he’s sorry. He can’t lie. He can’t pretend to believe something he doesn’t.
Robert says he wants Finn to stay on guard; nothing more. Finn says he wants to talk about Violet’s upcoming birthday party, and Robert says, he’s invited of course (🍷). Finn says, yeah, okay, but Anna also invited Peter. He wonders if Robert thinks he can be cordial for a couple of hours. Robert says he’ll try, but can’t promise anything. He tells Finn, eyes open.
Brook storms into the MetroCourt, and finds Lulu. She says, you bitch, and Lulu says she was just enjoying Brook’s Facebook post. Brook asks, how could she? and Lulu says she just reports news; Brook makes it. Publicly posting ELQ’s most top secret business plan? For a has-been, Brook sure knows how to stay relevant.
Tomorrow, Peter says he and Maxie are getting married, Nina asks if Maxie is entertaining other offers, and Anna asks Jason what it will take to convince him that he’s wrong.
👨🏻🍳 Top Chef returned tonight, and the chefs were in Hawaii for redemption. This season, previous contestants are returning to see how they’ve progressed since their last competition. The quickfire challenge was in three parts. First, the chefs had to break down an artichoke, and the fastest chef who did it correctly, moved on. The rest had to peel and separate and orange, with the fastest again moving on, and the last group had to shell twenty almonds perfectly – without a nutcracker. They then proceeded to split into three teams, with the three fastest chefs being captains, and were required to make two different dishes with the prepped ingredients. The one thing I learned, was that PFTS stands for, I got people for that sh*t, which one of the chefs said as he tried to break down an artichoke. I don’t, which is why I don’t make artichokes. Moving on to the elimination challenge, the chefs had to make a seafood feast on the beach, with no electricity or appliances – just their knives and their talent. They were to make three cohesive dishes, family style. Restauranteur Jeremiah Tower was guest judge, and pronounced Chef Gregory technically perfect as he got the winning spot. But poor handlebar mustache Joe (who I actually remember from a previous season) was out. As usual, all the food looked impressive to me, and I was craving blackened swordfish by the end. At this point in the game, there are too many people for me to even keep track of their names, but once they’re weeded out, I’ll be more detailed. It looks like a fun season, with the chefs going to Europe for the finale.
😭 Because Life Isn’t Sad Enough…
GH SPOILER ALERT. If you don’t want to know, don’t even look at this link.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Since it’s week two from hell, I missed the very beginning again, but also again, nothing crucial to the plot.
Nina tells Jax, in regard to Obrecht getting arrested, is she disappointed? Yeah. Is she surprised? No, but what she is, is done.
Jordan puts on her gun, when there’s a knock at her office door. She opens it, and Harmony is there. She tells Harmony she has no time, but Harmony says she’ll want to make time. It’s important. Jordan says, sorry. Police business, and walks past her. Harmony looks miffed.
At the MetroCourt, Curtis tells Portia that he wants to talk about Trina. He has questions, and thought she might be ready to give him answers.
Cameron and Trina kiss. They break apart, and Cameron stammers. Trina says, she never thought… Josslyn comes out, and says, one good thing about going to school online is, she can reschedule her tutorial. She sees them several feet apart, looking weird, and asks what she missed.
On the phone, Ned says the documents are sensitive, and he wants to stick to a hard copy. He sees a great future with this company. He’ll send a courier. He calls to Brook, but hears a her desk phone ringing. He looks out, and she’s not there.
She’s at the MetroCourt, having a drink, and surrounded by shopping bags. Maxie and Lulu come in, and Lulu says, someone did some shopping. Did Brook charge it to the family account or use her trust fund? Either way, it must be nice.
Sasha tells Chase, Michael’s best shot when petitioning the court, is to show he can provide a better stepmother than Nelle will ever be a mother. Michael says they already went over why marrying her won’t work. The doorbell rings, and Michael opens it to Willow. She says Chase told her about Nelle. What can she do to help? He says they were just strategizing, and all ideas are welcome. Chase hugs her, and says he’s glad she made it. She says she’s guessing Nelle had her visit and left, and Michael says she’s lucky. She says, no argument there, and Sasha says, everything is okay. Or It will be, thanks to Willow. Willow asks what they want her to do, and Sasha says, marry Michael.
Brook tells Lulu that Nikolas would buy her anything she wants. Or did he fail to live up to her moral standards, like Dante? They both disappointed her. It must be lonely being up on the pedestal by herself. Lulu moves toward Brook, but Maxie gets in between them. She says, amusing as this is – and it is entertaining – their table is ready.
Portia says she remembers that Curtis was always straight to the point. So instead of him asking questions, she’ll just give him answers. He’s clearly done the math. Trina is the correct age to be his daughter, but she’s not. Taggert is Trina’s father.
Jordan approaches the warehouse, and sees a phone on the ground. She picks it up, and recognize it’s TJ’s. She hears someone, and wheels around, her gun ready. Harmony asks if she really thought her son would be there.
Brook gets a call from Ned, asking where she is. She says, lunch, and he tells her, come back now. She says, calm down, and tells the bartender to put her order on the ELQ account. She leaves, and Lulu wonders if the diva is in trouble. Maxie says, she could be, but she doesn’t care; she was talking. As she was saying, she needs some super serious life-altering advice. Lulu asks, what’s up? and Maxie says she loves her job, but some days, she wants Nina’s job, and some days – some weeks – she’s doing Nina’s job. You’d think Nina would thank her, or at least notice. She was gone for about thirteen weeks, and who was there to pick the pieces up? Her. It’s not that she doesn’t love Nina, or doesn’t want to help, but there’s nothing wrong with hearing job well done. Lulu says Nina probably has no idea how dissatisfied she is. She needs to talk to Nina. Maxie says, she will, tomorrow, but Lulu says right now, before she talks herself out of it. Maxie says she needs to prepare what she’s going to say, and Lulu asks how worried she is about rocking the boat. Maxie says Nina is James’s aunt, and now that Obrecht is in jail, his closest relative on his father’s side. Lulu asks what the problem is, and Maxie says she doesn’t want work to come between them. Lulu says, it already has. She has to push her thoughts out of the way, and talk to Nina. It’s the only way she’s going to know where she stands.
Nina tells Jax, she feels sorry for Obrecht, but she did it to herself; unlike Michael or Willow. She didn’t get along with Willow, but now, when she thinks about what Willow is going through… He says, Nelle has a lot to answer for, and she asks how Josslyn is dealing with all of this. Jax says, she’s doing fine. Wiley’s situation hasn’t affected her, but being under house arrest is another story. Carly is home schooling her until Sonny figures out what to do about the latest threat against his territory. Josslyn has less than a year and a half before she goes to college, and he didn’t want it like this. Nina takes it that he has a contingency plan, and he says he does. He’ll tell her about it, after he speaks to his daughter.
Chase says he doesn’t want to speak for Willow, but she tells him to go ahead. He says, absolutely not. Willow says Michael, and Sasha are together. Why would he marry her? Sasha says, Michael has to marry the right person, and Willow took on the world for Wiley. At every turn, she put Wiley first. She went to jail, and has spent Wiley’s life so far acting as his mother. Why stop now?
Portia tells Curtis, she became pregnant after Taggert came back from an undercover assignment. Curtis says, Trina is a wonderful young woman, and Portia says, but he’s relieved she’s not his? He asks if that makes him horrible, but she says, it’s understandable. He says he didn’t really know Taggert, but one thing was clear; he and Trina loved each other. Portia says, they absolutely did. Taggert was a terrific father, even after the divorce. She was in a bad place when she met Curtis. It’s no excuse. She shouldn’t have let him believe she was single, and doesn’t blame Curtis for breaking it off after he found out the truth. He says it was messed up the way he did it. He should have been kinder, and regrets that. She appreciates it, but says, a clean break, no matter how painful, was the best way. It was such a long time ago, and he found his way to the right person, so there’s that. Curtis says, Jordan is a remarkable woman.
Harmony asks if Jordan can point her gun somewhere else, and Jordan says, where’s her son? Harmony says, they moved him hours ago. Did she think Cyrus would allow her to find him so easy? Jordan says Harmony is right; she wasn’t thinking. Harmony says she wasn’t. She was thinking like a mother, not a cop. Jordan asks if Harmony can at least tell her if TJ is okay. Harmony says, as far as she knows, he’s safe – for now – but she wants to tell Jordan what Cyrus wants in exchange for her son’s life. Jordan points her gun at Harmony again, and says maybe Harmony will take her to her son in exchange for hers.
Chase says he knows Sasha’s heart is in the right place, but does she hear herself? Sasha says, it makes sense. Chase says Michael is with Sasha, and everyone will know he and Willow aren’t together. Sasha says, it wouldn’t be first platonic marriage for the sake of a child. Willow asks where she would live. Would she move in there? Sasha says Wiley has to have a stable home environment, and Michael asks if Sasha would move out. She says there would be a change in their situations until it’s over. Michael says that could take months, and Chase says, or years. Nelle isn’t going to give up. It won’t work.
Maxie goes back to the office, and Nina says, her timing is great. She needs an article from the July issue, and asks Maxie to get it for her. Maxie says, no. She can’t get the article for Nina. That’s something her assistant needs to do. Nina says her assistant is out on an errand, and Maxie is the creative director. Maxie says, it’s not her job to fetch for Nina. Nina says, she didn’t mean… and Maxie says, but she’s been doing it anyway, for years. She did it when Nina was in Tunisia, and when her life fell apart because of Valentin. Maxie literally lived there. She had a cot and a toothbrush in the office. She spent nights away from her son. Nina says she had no idea, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) she didn’t. By the time Nina got home, the magazine came out on time and under budget, but it was on Maxie’s back. Nina says she can’t imagine doing it without Maxie. That’s why she’s the creative director. It’s under editor-in-chief, with no space in between. Maxie asks why she does so many jobs and just gets paid for one? Something has to give, and it can’t be her. Not anymore.
Josslyn leads Cameron and Trina in a study about A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and says, compare Helena to Hermia. Anybody? She gets silence, and says she’ll start. They’re both women in love who are willing to risk their reputations by running away with the men they love. Cameron and Trina don’t say anything, and Josslyn asks, how are they different?Trina? Trina says, Hermia has more confidence, and Helena is more… Or is it the other way around? Their names both start with H and end in A, so… Josslyn says, Cam? and he says, one of them is tall, and the other one is short. Josslyn says, what is it? What’s going on? Clue her in. Something is obviously wrong. Cameron says, nothing is wrong. He just doesn’t feel like English. Trina says, her neither. She’s going. Josslyn says, don’t leave. They can pick something else, all right? Cameron says, whatever she wants, but Trina says she needs to be alone, grabs her stuff, and heads for the door. Jax is there, and asks if she’s okay. She says she’s fine, and jets. He says Trina doesn’t appear fine, and Josslyn says, she’s going through a lot. Jax asks, how about Cameron? He and Trina went through quite an ordeal. How is he coping?
Harmony tells Jordan, she doesn’t know where TJ is. Cyrus will only tell her if he wants Jordan to know. Jordan can kill her, but it will just be an inconvenience to Cyrus for a hot five minutes, and he’ll send a replacement. Jordan suggests they team up, and work together to finish Cyrus, but Harmony asks, how? Jordan says, play along until the find a moment, and take it. Harmony says it’s very cinematic, but she loves Willow too much to risk it. She’s begging Jordan for both their sakes, do what Cyrus asks. It’s the only way she’ll see her son again.
Harmony says, Cyrus has an important shipment coming in. It’s going to enter the city limits around 11 o’clock. Jordan says, and he wants her to look the other way. Harmony says he wants her to divert police attention elsewhere, so they get through with no trouble. Jordan says that’s what she thought, and Harmony says he’s not asking her to kill a witness; it’s just traffic. It means seeing her son alive and well. Don’t wait too long to give him an answer. Harmony walks away.
Brook goes back to the office, and tells Ned she’s there; what’s the emergency? He says, it’s hard to concentrate on a meeting when the phone is ringing off the hook. She tells him, that’s what voicemail is for, and he says, that’s what an administrative assistant is for. Clients prefer a human voice. She says she needed to get lunch, and he tells her not to leave her desk unmanned. He has an important conference, and has documents he wants treated with great care. He doesn’t want some temp to see them; that’s why he hired her. She says she gets it, and he tells her that he wants them signed, sealed, and delivered by courier. They’re for her eyes only. Can she do that? She says, of course (🍷). He gives her the documents, and goes back in his office. She says, well, desk, since we’ll be spending more time together, it’s a new day; come my way. She fixes up her desk, including putting out a fancy paperweight from one of the shopping bags, does her makeup, and says, voila!
Lulu talks to herself, saying, okay. Brook’s career is shot, and she knows Brook can’t have a job, so let’s see what she’s up to on Facebook.
Curtis says Portia has her career on track, and she says she’s thinking of transferring to GH from Mercy. They’re looking for a new GP. He says, GH is a great hospital, but maybe he’s biased. Trina walks in, and says, what the hell is this? Portia tells Trina, lower her voice. Trina says her father is dead, and her mother is having coffee with the guy who didn’t save his life. Curtis thinks maybe it’s a good time to get going, and Trina says, that’s what cowards do – they run. Portia apologizes, and Curtis says, it was good catching up; he’ll see her around. When he’s gone, Portia say she knows Trina is upset, but being in pain doesn’t give her the right to give other people pain. Trina says she doesn’t want to hurt other people. Just Curtis.
Cameron says Josslyn is super supportive, and he and Trina have been leaning on each other. Josslyn says it doesn’t feel like it’s actually helping, and Jax says, sometimes the only way out is through. Think about when she lost Oscar. Josslyn says, they were there for her, every step of the way. She wants to be there for them now. Jax says they need a safe place to grieve. That’s what friends are for. Cameron says he might have kissed Trina’s safe space goodbye, and Josslyn asks what he means. He says, nothing; it’s stupid. He’s got to go. He leaves, and Jax asks if Josslyn wants to go after him, and she says she thinks that’s the opposite of what Cameron wants. Sometimes you need to be alone to think about what you need.
Maxie says she loves Nina, but she can’t continue to allow Nina to take her for granted. Nina says Maxie is 100% right. Maxie is her parachute, her backbone, her savior. Maxie trained her. When she started, all she knew was what looked good on her. Maxie is the reason Crimson is thriving, and it’s shameful that she hasn’t acknowledged it before this. She suggests they put their heads together and reexamine Maxie’s role. She wants to give Maxie a new title, and a salary equal to what she contributes. Maxie says Nina would do that? and Nina says Maxie deserves a raise, a promotion, and a new title. She deserves everything and anything she wants. Let’s make it happen.
Jax tells Josslyn, it takes a while to process trauma and heal. Josslyn says, Trina and Cameron will get there, but he says he was referring to her. How would she like to go to a place where she doesn’t have to worry about dodging bullets? She says, yes please. Where is he thinking? He says, Lady Jane’s house. They haven’t been there in a while. She says, Australia is on fire, but he says, not everywhere, and they’re contained. Maybe they can help out with animal rescue, or volunteer at a shelter. She asks if he talked to her mom. She swears they’re having the same conversation as she and Carly had. Carly asked if she wanted to go to Australia, and part of her does, but the bigger part wants to stay there. It’s her home. Her family and her life are there, at least until she goes to college. She doesn’t think he wants to leave either. If she can choose, she chooses to stay there for lot of reasons.
Brook makes a video, and says, hey, fans and followers. She’s on a small hiatus from her performing career, and thought she’d show them the other half of her life with an up close and personal tour of her desk. It’s a tastefully corporate, visually stunning dive into the family business. First, see the efficient, sleek company phone. It’s standard for an office, but she intends to update the hold music, and maybe get something more ergonomic. Organizing is a big skill of hers, and when she does have papers on her desk, they’re held beneath this fun and stylish paperweight. (You know what’s going to happen, right?)
Willow says she loves Sasha, but her idea… Chase thinks the word she’s looking for is insane. Sasha says, Wiley needs all their help, and Michael says, Nelle created the lie that started all this first. They can’t lie to rectify it. Sasha says, it’s not the same thing, but he says, close enough. They promised to do everything to protect Wiley, but they didn’t promise to do anything dishonest. Sasha says she’s sorry Willow lost her son, but her bond with Wiley is real. Wiley loves her like a mother, and she thinks Willow loves Wiley the same way. Willow says she does, and she’d do anything to protect Wiley, if she thought it would work. Sasha says, it can, but Chase says, it’s too much to ask. He’s sorry he came down hard on Sasha, but it’s not happening. Michael says he’s sorry he can’t ask Willow to marry him, but he can offer a consolation prize; a visit with Wiley. Willow says she’ll gladly take him up on it. Michael says Sasha is welcome to join them, but Sasha says her phone has been blowing up; she thinks it’s Lucy. Chase says he’s got to get back to the station. He’ll see Willow at home. Michael and Willow go to the nursery, and Chase asks Sasha, what the hell was that? She says, the best way to keep Wiley safe. They agreed. He says they agreed to lean on each other, not come up with the craziest idea he’s ever heard. She asks if he’s got anything better. He stammers, and says, Willow can’t marry Michael. She loves him. She says, you know who else Willow loves? Wiley.
Jax goes back to Crimson, and Nina asks how Josslyn is. He says, good. He offered for her to go to Australia for a few months, but she made it clear that her life is there in Port Charles. It would have just been temporary until Sonny’s mob war is over. She says she wants Josslyn to be safe, but she’s glad he’s not going anywhere. He says, him too, and they kiss. He asks if she’s ready to wrap it up, and she says, almost. There’s something she’d like to discuss with him. She thinks he’ll love it.
When Jordan gets back to her office, Curtis is there. He says she doesn’t seem happy to see him. She says she’s always happy to see him, but a drug lord is starting a war in her city, and she doesn’t know how to stop it. He asks if that’s why she’s amped up; she couldn’t make it better? She says she needs to stop it, and he says she will. He knows his wife, and she’ll get this done. She says she’s glad he’s there, and he says, of course (🍷). He’s kind of wonderful. She says he is, but it’s pretty obvious he didn’t stop by just to check on her, and he says he can’t put anything past her. He knows she has questions about his connection to Portia, and he wants to give her answers.
Ned asks if Brook got the documents sent off; they haven’t gotten them yet. She says she handled it as entrusted, and he asks what she means. She says she handled it, but when he’s gone, she puts the documents in an envelope.
Portia tells Trina, take a deep breath. Trina does, and Portia says, there you go. Does she know why she can do that? Why she can breathe at all? Trina says, because Curtis saved her life? Portia says she knows it’s easier to be mad at Curtis than angry at her father for dying. Curtis was honoring her father’s request to keep her safe. Trina says, so everything she does from now on, it’s because of Curtis? and Portia says, it is. That’s why she should reconsider the way she’s treating him. Trina asks why Portia cares if she hates him, and Porta says, for one thing, it’s not good to hate; Portia doesn’t want that for her, and her father wouldn’t either. Trina wonders if Portia wants her to forgive Curtis for her father’s sake, but Portia says, there’s nothing to forgive. She and Curtis were friends before Trina was born, and he’s an honorable man. More than she knows.
Curtis tells Jordan that he and Portia were involved seventeen years ago. She didn’t tell him that she was married, and when he found out, he got out. Maybe not as kindly as he could have. He hadn’t seen her until Taggert’s sendoff. She says, Trina is just the right age to be… and he says that’s exactly why he went to see Portia; to get answers. Jordan wanted the truth, and Trina is not his daughter. Jordan says, thank God. Trina is a great kid, but… Curtis says he hears her. Even before he went to see Portia, he made a deal with himself to tell her the truth, no matter what he found out. It’s what they promised. No more secrets. She says she loves him, and appreciates him telling the truth. Her phone dings, and she says, sorry. He says, go save the city, and she says she’ll do her best.
Nina tells Jax that Maxie has been doing heavy lifting lately. She’s been running the magazine when Nina hasn’t been around. With everything she’s been going through, it’s been several months. Jax says, Maxie has made a considerable contribution, but Nina says, that’s an understatement. Maxie has gotten no credit, from Nina or in print. She doesn’t know that Nina appreciates her, because Nina’s been taking her for granted. Maxie is the heartbeat of Crimson, and she needs to make it right. Jax asks what Nina proposes, and she says she knows the budget for this year is locked in, but she did some figuring. If he approves the amount, she can give Maxie what she wants; a raise, a promotion, and a title apropos to what she does. Nina can adjust it with the budget for next year. Jax says he hates to disappoint her, but no.
Maxie tells Lulu that she totally underestimated Nina. She was amazing, and completely understood. Lulu is glad, but says, you never know with Nina, and Maxie asks if she’s suggesting Nina is unpredictable. She said she’d do everything in her power to get Maxie a higher salary, and her own office; she needs her own space, and deserves it. Lulu’s phone dings, and she says, oh my God. Maxie is never going to believe what Brook posted on Facebook.
Michael thanks Willow, and asks if she’s okay. She says, is he? Sasha is his girlfriend, and she just told Willow to marry him. Michael says they were tossing ideas around. It’s an insane idea, but he gives Sasha credit for originality. Willow tells him, they keep saying they’d do anything to protect Wiley. Marrying him would certainly do that, and he says it’s okay if she doesn’t want to. He doesn’t either. She says he’s so sweet to say that. He says he and Wiley know she’ll be there when they need her.
Jordan calls Mac, and says she wants to move the team around. They can’t get complacent. She wants him to pull the team to cross points on the west side; spread their eyes around. Let her know when he’s done it. She hangs up, and looks at TJ’s picture on her phone.
Tomorrow, Jax explains to Nina why he can’t give Maxie the money, Sonny tells Jason to keep looking, and Brando meets Spinelli.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey – The Reunion: Part Three
Or as I like to call it, thank God it’s over.
Marty arrived, to be supportive of Danielle. He thought she was ganged up on last year. I empathized with Danielle when she had to give Fendi liquid medicine, as I’ve dealt with many a lock-jawed dog.
Delores wondered if Juicy Joe was speaking better to Teresa, and Teresa said he was. A viewer asked how much money he cost Teresa in legal fees and back taxes, and we found out it was over a million. He also said if it wasn’t for the show, all of this wouldn’t have happened. Apparently, he’s still not taking responsibility for his own actions. Melissa said he looks at it like Teresa ruined his life. Teresa didn’t think Joe was going to ask for spousal support, and Melissa agreed, but said her husband was of the opposite opinion. Joe #2 joined the group again, and said he thought Teresa should sign the divorce papers immediately. He’d looked the other way regarding Joe #1’s treatment of Teresa during there marriage, saying he didn’t think it was his place to interfere, unless there was physical abuse. Teresa said she wanted more for herself too, and Melissa said Joe #1 was still arrogant, and she was livid over his treatment of Teresa in Italy. Teresa shrugged it off, saying she was used to him. Andy said, if ICE saw his attitude, why would they help him? and Joe #2 thought he should be more humble. Teresa said she felt bad for him, since he only knows one way to express himself; the hard way. Joe #2 said he’d basically stayed out of it because Teresa didn’t want him to interfere. He said he might not like Joe #1, but still feels bad for him.
We went down the Memory Lane of Joe #1’s case, ending with him going to Italy. Andy wondered what the chances were of Joe winning his appeal, and Teresa said, not a lot, and it breaks her heart for her daughters. Milania was probably the most affected, but Gia is also seeing a therapist. She said she and Joe #1 could get through anything – they’re adults – but she hated that the kids had to. Punishing the kids wasn’t fair. Agreed. She told Andy that Joe was in Mexico on a guys fishing trip, and he was also working. Joe #2 thought Joe #1 was going to go after Teresa’s money, and if Teresa found the perfect guy, it would trigger him to be spiteful. Melissa looked sick during this discussion. Teresa admitted Joe #1 wanted to have sex with her in Italy (which seemed pretty clear when we saw that episode), but Adriana wanted to sleep with her, and was a good c*ck block. She said everything changed after she lost mom; she was resentful. Joe #2 thought the convictions played a part in their mom’s death because of the stress. Delores told Teresa to let someone else do her dirty work, and just sign the divorce papers. Andy believed Teresa had a great love waiting for her.
Danielle refused to come out unless she sat next to Andy, and said she didn’t have to come. Andy came back to the dressing room, and she said she needed to be heard. He said that’s why she was there, and she said she wanted to sit next to him because the last time, she couldn’t hear. Every time he said her name, no one would shut up. He said Teresa and Marge were on either side of him, and he wasn’t putting her next to Teresa, since the last time, he got pushed. We flashed back to that, and he said he wasn’t putting her next to Marge either because of the hair pulling. She said she deserved the same respect leaving as she got when she came. She wanted to make sure she could speak, and Andy told her that she could do that no matter where she was sitting. It was her call, and he hoped she decided to join them. On stage, Marge said Danielle was such an a-hole. She could feel the Danielle drama. Danielle told Marty that she was sorry she brought him into this, and Andy told the others to try not to interrupt too much, which I was sure would be an impossibility. He said he wanted Danielle to leave feeling she was able to have her say. The executive producer told Danielle, if she was ready, she had to go out now.
Andy welcomed us back, and Danielle decided to join them. Andy told Marge that he’d been surprised that she got into it with Teresa, and Marge said she was disappointed and devastated that Teresa kept defending Danielle. Teresa said she felt like she was being asked by everybody to make a choice. They were all telling her to stay away from Danielle, and she’s a grown woman who can make her own decisions. Well, we see how well that’s worked out. Danielle hadn’t done anything to her. Marge said they were judging Danielle by her behavior toward everyone else. She judges people by their character. She doesn’t like Jennifer, but knows Jennifer has a heart of gold. At the core, they’re all good people. Teresa said, when her mom was sick, Danielle called every day. Andy asked where Teresa and Danielle stand now, and Teresa said they hadn’t spoken since going to the Shore. Andy asked Danielle how the cooking thing was going, and she said it was an emotional rescue for her. We found out she’s still living with Marty, while she’s working on buying him out. Andy brought up her engagement to Oliver, and said he was hoping she’d be a duchess, but Danielle said Oliver wasn’t well, and in the end, she had to take care of herself, and not other people.
Andy asked if Danielle and Marty were hooking up, but Danielle said they were just really good friends. Andy reminded her that she’d said Marty had been abusive, and she said abuse was a broad term, and she wasn’t willing to talk about it in a group that didn’t care. He asked how Danielle figured Marge was the cause of their divorce, and Danielle told him, had Marge not said the things she did, they might have worked things out. She said, Marge felt entitled to get involved, but Marge said Marty reached out to Joe #3. A viewer asked if Teresa regretted defending Danielle, and Teresa stammered for a while, then said Danielle proved everyone right. Danielle insisted she didn’t, and we flashed back to the ponytail pulling at the boutique, and Teresa’s subsequent tantrum. A viewer asked if Marge didn’t provoke Danielle, and Marge said she didn’t think something like that would happen. Danielle said anytime she did anything toward Marge, it was because she was reacting to something Marge did to her. Andy asked if Danielle had no remorse, and Danielle said Marge had been coming at her for two and a half years. She continually called Danielle a prostitute, and knew the name Beverly was hurtful. She doesn’t get to call Danielle a loose cannon and leave it at that. Andy questioned Teresa about encouraging Danielle’s hair pulling behavior, and she said she was caught up in the moment, as well as drunk. Andy read a tweet from Jacqueline, who said Danielle had wanted to prosecute her daughter for pulling Danielle’s weave a million years ago. We flashed back to that, and Danielle said she’d really been hurt, and ended up in the hospital. The circumstances were different. She didn’t provoke Ashley, but Marge had provoked her. Teresa claimed she hadn’t seen how bad it was, and wouldn’t have stood up for Danielle if she had. Marge said she’d never said a bad word about Teresa, and Teresa said she never meant to hurt Marge. Jennifer thought Teresa was mad because Danielle told on her, and Teresa said Danielle wasn’t a loyal friend for doing that. Danielle broke Teresa’s trust. Danielle said she didn’t think it would be a reason to end their friendship after all they’d been through. So in other words, it was all good for Teresa, and she would have remained friends with Danielle, if Danielle hadn’t mentioned Teresa’s part in it. Got it. Marge said, in re-watching it, she realized how violent it was, and it upset her all over again. Teresa told Marge she was sorry, and went over to hug her. She said she loved Marge, who had been there for her, and when she saw the show, she was horrified. She made a bad judgment call, and had gotten caught up in the moment. It was like what she tells her daughters; if you hang out with the wrong person, you do wrong things. Danielle said she was the same person who called Teresa when her mom was sick. Teresa stood up for her, then stabbed her in the heart. She’s been an OG, having started with the show, something Marge could never hope to be. Andy asked what she wanted to say on her way out, and she said she was graciously thankful for the fans. She learned that if you don’t fit in with a group, you should leave, but she’d thought over time it would work. She’d thought she was doing well, but apparently she wasn’t. Now she needed to figure out what makes her happy, and she couldn’t do it with these people, who don’t like her. Andy complimented her on having the strength to come to that realization. He had the feeling it wasn’t the end of them seeing her, and she said, probably not.
Andy said it had been ten long years, and how things had changed; the hair, the fashion, even their set. We saw clips from throughout the seasons, and Andy said Jersey girls get better with age. We flashed back to more clips – Rosie! – ending with, you’re husband’s in the pool. He asked if it was what any of them thought it would be when they signed up, and everyone said, no. To celebrate, they were creating a time capsule, and everyone brought an object that was dear to them to represent New Jersey. He intended to open it in another ten years.
Dolores brought a romance novel – Ex Without the Sex – that had a picture of her and Frank on the cover. Jennifer contributed her Sorry Not Sorry T-shirt, saying it was representative of New Jersey. Marge donated a pigtail wig, and Jackie brought a box of donuts, since everyone thought she didn’t eat. They each took one before she put the rest in the capsule, and Andy pronounced his choice, a gorgeous effing donut. Those should be pretty disgusting ten years from now. Melissa brought flash cards of Jerseyisms, like fuggedaboutit, down the shore, and you’s. Teresa put in a family portrait that included her mother. Andy sealed the capsule, and they toasted to what he hoped would be another ten years. He said, to family and Jersey, and finding Teresa a Jewish man.
And we’re out.
😴 Send Sleep Now…
Help. I’m being held prisoner in another dreadful week.
In Madison’s interview, she says, the guests are horrible, and one of their guests threw up. It’s absurd and it’s mayhem. She asks if any of the guest’s guests need help, and tells one of them not to smoke inside the yacht, while Parker cleans up after the sick guest. And let me tell you, it’s gross, and I really appreciate them showing me that just after I ate dinner. In Parker’s interview, he says, it’s bros living it up. He doesn’t care if they’re rowdy. They paid good money to do as they please. I guess he can say this since he wasn’t lifted off the deck by one as if he were a free-weight. The smoke alarm gets set off, and Madison wakes up Byron, saying she’s sorry, like it’s her fault. A guest yells for a sh*tload of tequila. Byron asks, what the hell is going on? and says, this is out of control. One of the guest’s guests asks for a vomit bag, and Byron says he’s going back to bed. In his interview, Parker says he worked in a Russian cigar bar, and every wrong move earned him a slap on the hand. This reminds him of that. Guest Lenny demands more food, and Madison says she can make hummus and veggies. By his reaction, I don’t think he even knows what that is. Captain Glenn joins the fray. In his interview, he says he wants to make sure the guests are having a good time, but there’s a line. Guests can’t abuse the crew or the boat; it won’t be tolerated. Call him Captain Buzzkill, but he’s going to make sure the boat gets back in one piece. He tells the guys that he thinks their friends are ready to go. In Madison’s interview she says, get TF off the boat. The guest’s guests leave on the tender, and one of the guests yells for grilled cheese, extra butter. It’s 4 am, and they finally start going to bed. The DJ packs up, and Madison gives two fingers up in her interview. She says, they can all eat d*ck; they need to be tranquilized. Parker is glad he and Madison were working together. Madison tells Ciara, who’s just getting up, it was a sh*t show, and she had to wake up the captain.
Paget finds food on the walls. Georgia thinks it seemed to go well, since she wasn’t there for the stupidity. Paget asks Ciara about last night, and she says, the captain had to come out, and a girl vomited. He says if the guests want to treat the boat like that, they need to be treated like children. Paget asks if Jenna was working last night, and she mimics one of the guests being demanding. He says the guests don’t talk to the guys like that, and asks if it’s a sexist thing. He needs to ask this??? Jenna says, it’s definitely sexist, and he says they probably come from an industry where women are whores and men are gods. Ciara says she’s still finding glasses everywhere, and Captain Glenn asks if anything else happened after he went back to bed, which is a no. Madison asks Jenna if she can sleep later, and Jenna says that’s fine, but next time, wake her up. In Jenna’s interview, she says she feels bad. She wants to be there to assess the guests, especially when they’re d-bags.
In the crew mess, Georgia tells Paget, the boat has made it apparent how single she is. In her interview, she says, Paget is very cute. Jenna suggests Madison go through the cupboards when there’s time – like now. Captain Glenn puts the engine on, and the anchor is picked up. Madison and Georgia organize the cupboards, and Georgia asks how Jenna prefers it done. Jenna says she doesn’t care, and in her interview, she says, sometimes she feels like she has to explain everything. If you’re going into stewardessing, at the bare minimum you should have good organizing skills. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be on the boat.
When the guests get up, their first order of business is to open champagne, and in her interview, Madison says, f***, dude. Adam says, here they come, and can’t believe he’s starting breakfast at three in the afternoon. Jenna wants Madison to make coffee, and radios for her, but by the time she gets there, Jenna has already made the coffee, and tells her to go back to doing turndowns. Madison gripes to Georgia, and in Georgia’s interview, she says she has a relationship with Madison, but wants to maintain one with Jenna. She’s stuck between a rock and a stick of dynamite. Adam says he’s made the fastest breakfast ever. Captain Glenn tells Paget to get the tender ready, and Jenna tells the guests that they’re close to a beach club. They’re definitely down for that, and she says, in the meantime, water sports are available. Guest Marshall asks if drinking is considered a water sport, and the others laugh like it’s a lot funnier than it is. In Jenna’s interview, she says, even if drinking was an Olympic sport, these guys still suck. She tells the captain that the guests want to go to the bar as soon as they can, and Parker says he’ll take them in. In Parker’s interview, he says he’s the director of fun. It’s where he’s most comfortable. He’s funny, caring, and appropriate, and that’s what cool people do. Primary Richie asks if he wants to be in the fraternity, and Parker says he’s the pledge.
Adam tells Jenna, he’s never been so stoked in the galley. In Jenna’s interview, she says, every day, she and Adam get closer. She hates waiting until the next crew night out. It’s hard to be close, and not act on her emotions. Georgia does laundry, and the guests go to shore with Parker and Ciara. One of them sabres a bottle of champagne on the tender. Parker tells Ciara that he’d better stay with them, and she tells him, don’t start drinking. He says if she’s worried, she doesn’t know him.
Madison whines about everything she’s dealing with, and Adam tells her they’re all busting ass. He’s not giving her a cookie every time she does something. Madison says she doesn’t want a cookie, but just say, nice going. She’s doing what she can, and it’s exhausting. In Jenna’s interview, she says, Madison wants a gold star for basic tasks. Adam tells Madison that he promises Jenna’s not that bad, and he’s not just saying that because he wants to bang her. He’s seen a lot worse, and Jenna is a godsend in comparison. Jenna overhears, and tells Madison that she’d prefer Madison talk about any issues with her directly. Madison tells Jenna that she beaten down. In her interview, Jenna says Madison acts nice to her face, then complains behind her back. Jenna tells Adam that she’d never behave like that as a green.
Jenna tells Madison that she knows it’s frustrating, but it’s hard to back Madison up when she gets attitude. Some days, Madison is happy, but other days, Jenna gets eye rolls. Madison feels like there’s no respect for her sometimes, and she doesn’t feel valued. Jenna says she does the best she can, but her primary focus is the guests. She has no time for hand-holding. In her interview, Jenna says, Madison’s energy is exhausting. Madison is like a child, pulling at her, when she has no time to give her attention. In Madison’s interview, she wonders why it’s so hard get any gratitude. She thinks Jenna must have had some sh*tty chief stews to guide and nurture her. The boat is like a beautiful prison.
At the tiki bar, the guests act like the a-holes they are. Paget tells the captain that he’ll clear the water line, while Parker dances around at the bar. In Parker’s interview, he says he thinks he has a line drawn, and he’s being professional. He doesn’t want to just sit and watch them like a bodyguard. Paget scrubs at the boat, and Parker radios they’re on their way back. Jenna reminds Adam about the caviar tasting the guests’ requested, and asks the guests what they were thinking about doing tonight. One of them says, getting more effed up and partying, and another dude steps on a piece of glass, which was inevitable. The party guy pours champagne on the cut. In Paget’s interview, he says, every time they sabre a bottle of champagne, glass goes flying. Just open it normally, and drink it like a normal person. He’s trying not to laugh. You deserved that because you’re a nobhead.
Jenna tells Adam that Madison is moody, and he says, she’s another Parker. Captain Glenn asks what the guests plan to do tonight. In his interview, he says, last night was out of control. He wants the guests to have a good experience, but he’s going to have to limit their options, and set a curfew. He tells them that he needs to get to the dock tomorrow before noon, and needs sleep tonight. Richie says they’re just going to hang out. In the captain’s interview, he says, that was almost too easy. Jenna says, by this time tomorrow, they’ll never have to see these guys again.
The guests get ready for the tasting, and Adam brings out the caviar and accoutrements. Lenny says he wants to drink so he can feel normal, and Richie says, that’s his boy. In Georgia’s interview, she says she’s getting into a bit of a rhythm now. She’s not effing up, and she’s learned from other’s mistakes. She thinks she’s got this thing. A guest says, Adam is a serial killer in the kitchen, and again the laughs are disproportionate to the joke. Jenna tells Adam, they said he’s the best chef in the world, and better than their favorite restaurant. Georgia tells Jenna that she did the cabins in a little more than an hour. In her interview, Jenna says she’s glad Georgia is improving, but Madison has more energy to complain than to do her job. Jenna and Adam hug. In Parker’s interview, he says he understands how this could create conflict. Flirting is dangerous. Jenna tells Adam, it was a good hug. The guests go to bed, and in Madison’s interview, she says, praise Jesus. They went to bed. In Jenna’s interview, she says, going to bed alone sucks.
The next morning, Byron asks Adam if he thinks the money these guys have… Adam says, came from their parents? Yes. In Jenna’s interview, she says, d-bags, be gone! She starts serving breakfast, and one guest says he’s not drinking for the rest of his life. I add, or until next weekend. The boat is about to dock, and Paget says they’re coming in tight. They only have about two meters of space, and any damage could he tens of thousands. Ciara takes the tender out to help guide the boat. Guest Thomas sees a helicopter on one of the yachts at port, and says, that MF’er is living the life.
The guests pack, and say a final goodbye. They take the rest of the champagne with them. One of them says, don’t worry; they’re never coming back. Richie tells Captain Glenn that the crew was very patient with them, and hands him an envelope as a token of their appreciation. He says they’re rock stars, and he hopes to see again soon. In her interview, Madison says, no.
At the debriefing (aka tip meeting), Captain Glenn says it was the mother of all charters, but the crew rose to the occasion. They did an amazing job, and he was glad they got him up. He tells them if they’re ever wondering if they should get him up, do it. The tip is $20K; $2200 each. Jenna says, so they redeemed themselves? In Ciara’s interview, she says she’s amazed. They were disrespectful of the crew and the boat, but it makes sh*t taste sweeter. Parker hears Adam gripe that he hasn’t made his bed once, and he tells Adam that he’s never said anything, and might have let him know face-to-face. Adam says, Parker is going to his unmade bed to cry. In Parker’s interview, he says, if Adam has a problem, he doesn’t have to say it publicly. Be a man, and talk to his face. Adam tells him, relax; chill. Byron tries to explain that it’s a courtesy, and Parker whines that it’s his first boat; he didn’t know. Byron tells him not to take it personally. In Byron’s interview, he says when he first started, he was like a sponge. He’s trying to teach Parker the unspoken rules of yachting, and he’s not learning. It’s easier to make a bed than make excuses. Parker grumbles to Paget next, who tells him, it’s common courtesy. Parker says when he’s worried about getting on deck on time and doing his job, it’s the last effing thing he’s worried about. He gets hit with a pillow for snoring, and has to tip-toe when he needs to get up for watch, It pisses him off, but he doesn’t say sh*t. He doesn’t give a f***. In Paget’s interview, he says, Parker doesn’t get the hierarchy. It’s not rocket science. Parker says he’ll start making the bed because he doesn’t want to hear it, and walks away from Paget.
Jenna radios Ciara to come to the crew mess. She tells Ciara that she’s going to the decoration store, and asks if she wants to come. In Jenna’s interview, she says, those d-bags broke so much sh*t, she has to replace half of the glasses on the boat. The rest of the crew decides to go swimming. In Parker’s interview, he says he’s sensitive, and the negative energy is toxic. He needs to keep on being himself, and feel confident. Georgia tells Paget, they’re going swimming in the radioactive pond, and he asks if she wants a tender ride.
On shore, Ciara asks why Jenna didn’t ask one of the stews to come, and Jenna says she needed a break from them. In her interview, Ciara says she’s worked in interior, and even though she and Paget are bickering, she’s glad to be working on deck. She thinks it’s beneficial to their relationship parker. Parker says, the water smells like sewage. In Madison’s interview, she says she likes Parker, but has no idea where they stand. Jenna asks Ciara if things are good with Paget, and Ciara says, for now. Jenna says they seem like brother and sister, and Ciara says they have to at work. Jenna says she and Adam show affection, but Ciara says she and Paget have been around a lot of crews, and act like co-workers. Georgia tells Paget he has the most prominent T-shirt tan she’s ever seen. In her interview, she says she likes to challenge boundaries. It’s not like she has a mistress personality (whatever that is), but she can see how a woman wouldn’t like her making jokes to their man, Jenna and Ciara decide stop for a drink, but see the others sunbathing. Jenna notices that Georgia and Paget are lying next to each other, and says, this is weird. Ciara says Paget is free to do what he wants, and if he wants to screw around, she doesn’t want him. She and Jenna join the others.
Everyone decides to go back to the boat. Jenna tells Adam, it’s hard to be on the boat with everyone, and feel like they have alone time. She thinks they could do that in a hotel. In Adam’s interview, he says, if he’s entering into a relationship at the heart of a charter, he has to do it methodically and slowly. Jenna is fired up and ready to go. He doesn’t know what to do. He tells her that he doesn’t think it’s a great idea, but Jenna says, the purpose is to be alone. In her interview, she says she thinks Adam is giving her mixed signals. She doesn’t know if he’s nervous about a relationship on the boat, or not interested. At least she’s trying.
The crew goes into town, and Georgia drinks from a flask on the way to the restaurant. Jenna is still trying to get Adam to go to the hotel, and he says he’s never done that with a crew member. The pressure is on. Parker tells Paget to stop saying the eff-word at the table. Would his mother be proud? Ciara says his mother is worse than he is, and Parker says, his isn’t like that. He’s trying to eat dinner, and hearing f***, f***, f*** is making him not want to eat. Is he kidding? Those frat boys that he wanted so badly to be a part of, barely knew any other word, and he just said it not ten minutes ago. Ciara asks if Adam and Jenna have a date planned, but Jenna says, not at the moment. She asks if they’re having sex, and Jenna asks if Adam wants to. He says he’s feeling awkward, and she tells him that she wants to be close; she feels vulnerable, and doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable. In Jenna’s interview, she says, one day Adam is hot, and the next, he’s cold. She’s not sure how he wants her to react. Adam suggests they go back to the boat. He and Jenna, and Paget and Ciara head back. On the way, Adam says he thought he and Jenna were on the same page. She says, give her a break. It’s hard for her. She gets that he doesn’t want to sleep with her, but what does he want to do? She walks off, and sits on the dock. Adam tells Paget and Ciara that he has to diffuse the situation. He asks why she’s crying, and she says she felt rejected because no one’s sleeping with her tonight. Here’s his choice. He can give her a hug, and they can never talk about it again… He says he doesn’t work like that, and she says he continues to jerk her around. In his interview, Adam says, the emotional level is to high for him. It’s a circumstance he doesn’t want to deal with. He tells Jenna, have a good night, and walks back to the boat, leaving her on the dock.
Next time, Ciara is sick of Parker, Glenn tells Parker that he needs to respect the hierarchy, the guests only want to look at food, and Jenna decides to let Adam go.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
👩🏽💻 Since GHwas interrupted in some areas, and won’t be shown again until 3 am (thanks, ABC), using the magic of the internet, I watched the rest of it earlier, and thought you might want to read about it earlier. So while I’m still editing Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which I’ll post in a little while, here’s GHin it’s entirety.
General Hospital
Ava calls Julian, and leaves a message asking about Brad’s guilty plea. She says Brad being in prison works out well for him, and asks him to call her.
Julian reaches for his phone from his bed, but ignores the call. Britt wakes up next to him, and says, good morning. He says, it can’t be as good as last night, and she laughs, covering her face with the sheet.
At the MetroCourt, Nikolas asks if Ava can explain why he woke up to contractors all over the house. She says, you’re welcome, and he says he sent them away. She says she’s redecorating, but he says, no; she’s not. One decent thing he can say about Valentin is, he kept Windymere the way Nikolas liked it, but if she’s unhappy with her surroundings, feel free to move elsewhere.
Elizabeth and Franco walk into the hospital. She says, last night was quite the event, but he says that’s not the word he’d use. She says, sitting in front of the fire with the boys was kind of fun. He says, there’s no electricity, the basement is flooded because the pipes froze, and the whole house has to be rewired. He doesn’t know how to do that, and what does it even cost? She says, they’ll figure it out, and he asks, how?
Josslyn comes home, and Carly asks, how was volleyball. Josslyn says, good, but it was weird not going to school afterward like everyone else. The coach asked if she’d be able to go to the tournament this weekend, but she didn’t know what to say. Carly says that’s what they have to figure out. Not just volleyball, but school and other activities. They have to decide what this looks like moving forward.
Sonny shows Brando a garage – a clean-shaven Brando, who at first I think is a new guy – and says, welcome to his new place of business. See what he thinks. Brando says, he appreciates this a lot, but Sonny got the wrong impression of him.
Ava asks if the mood at Windymere doesn’t depress Nikolas, but he says, it suits him. She says, that’s telling, and he says no one is forcing her to stay. Call Lucy Coe, and let the hunt for her new home begin. Or, less work for her, go back to her penthouse. She can hang a portrait of herself on every wall. She says, he’ll be lonely, but he says he’ll manage. She asks what he’ll do with the solitary hours. She’s doing him a favor. He’ll be tempted to cheat, and lose everything – to her.
Elizabeth tells Franco, look on the bright side of things. In the grand scheme, burst pipes aren’t that big of a deal. They and the boys are healthy, Cameron didn’t get hurt when he was kidnapped, Jake is fine, Franco came home, and those are the things that matter the most. He says, money matters. The house is in disrepair, and he has substantial medical bills. He was a whole other person for a bunch of months, and doesn’t exactly have income coming in right now. She reminds him of Ava’s portrait, and he says, that’s one commission. She says, it’s better than nothing. He calls her a bright side virtuoso, and she says they’ve got this. He asks if she’s sure. She says she is, and they kiss.
Elizabeth goes to work, and Finn asks if she’s heard anything about Hayden. She says she hasn’t, and he says he has to find her. Violet’s birthday is coming up, and all she wants is to see her mom.
Anna sits with Robert at the MetroCourt, and asks if he saw Nikolas. He says he did, and she says she was thinking about confronting him about Hayden. He says, but she figured it would be a waste of her time? She says, pretty much. He asks how Violet is, and she says, incredible, given the fact that her mother isn’t there. She’s confused, and misses her mother, but Anna thinks Violet is better now that she and Finn are back together. Robert says, all it took was for Obrecht to get arrested. She says, Peter was the issue with Finn, and he no longer is. She can see Robert still believes he is though.
Julian asks if he can buy Britt breakfast, but she says she has no time. He says, right. She has to visit her mom in jail. She says she told him that? and he asks how much she had to drink. She says, too much apparently. Julian wishes her luck, and says he doesn’t suppose he can have her number, and she says she knows where to find him. He says, maybe he’ll see her around? and she says, maybe; maybe not.
Obrecht lies on the bed in her cell, and says she was framed. Anna fell for this travesty, and not only refuses to look any deeper, but is speeding it along like a runaway freight train. As if she’d hire incompetent hitmen. If she wanted someone dead, they’d be dead. Liesl Obrecht does not mess around.
Brando tells Sonny, he knows where this is going, and one trip to prison is enough for him. He gets that Sonny wants to protect Dev. He’s also grateful for how Sonny treats his mom, given that she straight-up lied to Sonny, but if this is a front or a chop shop, he can’t be involved. It isn’t worth the risk. Sonny says Brando stated his case; now let him state his.
Carly tells Josslyn, she’d love to say it will be over in a couple of weeks, but she doesn’t know. Sonny is working hard on a solution, but what she does know is someone put a bullet in Dev’s backpack. That means they’re being watched, and it’s too dangerous for her to go anywhere on her own, especially after what happened to Cameron and Trina. Josslyn asks, what now? and Carly says, there’s home school, but it’s not the only solution. Josslyn says her dad could take her to Australia, and Carly asks if that’s what she wants
Anna tells Robert, she’s not the one who produced the evidence. It was Howard, and he’s a Bureau Chief. Robert says he knows Howard, and Anna says, he’s the one who brought it to the Bureau’s attention. Which makes sense, since he covers Switzerland, where Obrecht had her shop of horrors. She ran wire transfers through her old clinic all the way to Brice and David. She made payments to both of them. He says he read the report, but she says she’s sensing he needs a refresher. Howard also discovered that prior to being delivered, Jason and Drew both spent time at Obrecht’s clinic. She wasn’t just in on this whole thing, she was an integral part of it.
Britt visits Obrecht, who says she didn’t know Britt was coming. Britt says, surprise! and Obrecht says she’s a sight for beleaguered eyes. How is she? Britt says, better than Obrecht, and Obrecht asks if it’s legal for her to be there. Britt says, no. She broke out of jail, and then came to jail. Obrecht says she missed Britt. Even under these horrible circumstances, it’s wonderful to see her again. Britt asks, did she do it?
Sonny respects how Brando has made his position perfectly clear. Brando says he’s not judging, and Sonny tells him, he’s not saying that. In kind, Sonny is going to be transparent. He doesn’t want Brando involved in any part of his business; not the coffee warehouse, and not anything he allegedly takes part in. It’s Brando’s garage, and he can run it as he sees fit. The cops can inspect it any time Brando wants; there’s nothing illegal there. Not by Sonny. Sonny asks Brando to excuse him. He has business to take care of. He puts the keys on the table, and leaves. Jason says, not sold? And Brando says he understands what Sonny is trying to accomplish, but thinks it’s better for everyone if he goes back to Chicago.
Josslyn says, part of her totally thinks Australia is the way to go. She loves Lady Jane’s house, and knows Jax would put her in a great school, but it’s always been the place she goes to visit; not her home. She doesn’t want to leave Carly. Carly says she doesn’t want Josslyn to leave either, and Josslyn says she can’t leave Donna, Avery, or any of them. As much as she knows her dad would do it, he just moved there. He set up his life so they could be together. What she’s saying is, she doesn’t want to leave. Carly says, thank God, and hugs her. She doesn’t want Josslyn to leave. Josslyn says she’s confused as to how this works, and Carly says she thinks the best thing is for Josslyn and Dev to be home schooled. She knows it’s not ideal. Josslyn says it’s not, but she can handle it. She’ll take online courses, and she’s sure it will be okay, but it’s not the same as having actual human interaction. Carly said she knows, and was thinking of hiring a tutor. Josslyn says, a grad student from PCU? but Carly says, no. She was thinking one of Josslyn’s current teachers could do it. If Josslyn could pick one, which would she choose?
Nikolas says, if Ava wants to continue to live at Windymere – she says, want is a strong word – he can’t stop her. It’s a big house, and he’ll even play the game in public. When people are around, she can impersonate his loving wife, but in private, she’s blackmailing him for his inheritance. This is a business arrangement; nothing more. Ava says she gets it; he detests her. But he has to admit she’s an excellent art dealer with impeccable taste. She’ll leave the living room alone, but imagine what she can do with the rest of the house. Have a little vision. He says he’s not changing any of it. Spencer loved Windymere, and he wants it to stay the same.
Franco thanks Scotty for coming to the hospital. He’s in a bit of a jam. They walk as they talk, and Franco says the jam is of the household variety. Scotty asks how much he needs, and Franco says he was thinking a hundred… Scotty takes out his money clip, but Franco says, that’s not going to work. He was talking about a hundred thousand. The basement is under water, but even before that, he and Elizabeth were feeling a bit of a squeeze. The boys need all this stuff, and Cameron is going off to college soon. He doesn’t know how he’s going to manage it himself. Scotty says he’s just taking in the new and improved Franco. A guy who has his eye on the future for a change. Franco says what he has his eye on are three growing boys. When is the growing going to stop? Scotty says, when it does, and Franco says, until then, he’d like them to have the little things, like heat and electricity. Scotty salutes Franco, but admits he doesn’t have that kind of money. So he’s going to help Franco get a loan. Franco asks if he has collateral, and Scotty guesses he could put his bachelor pad on the market. They’ll work it out. Franco says, now he sounds like Elizabeth, and Scotty tells Franco, he always said she was a smart girl.
Nikolas says Ava was decent when they went to visit Spencer, and appreciates everything she did for him. She says she did it because she gets it. He doesn’t give a damn about anybody else he hurts, but this is on a whole different level. What he did to Spencer haunts him. After how he used Kiki’s memory against her, Ava should be gloating, but she can’t do that. He caused his child pain, and she knows what that feels like. It’s the worst feeling in the world.
Elizabeth asks if Finn has tried talking to Nikolas, but Finn says Nikolas dodges his calls and won’t answer the door. What does that tell her? It means Nikolas can’t find Hayden – or worse.
Obrecht tells Britt, she knew nothing about a memory transfer. There’s no reason for her to be going around killing these people. Britt says, before Obrecht starts this whole spiel, she needs Obrecht to hear her. She’s been in hell for the last five years. A lot of it is her own making, but a lot of it is because of Obrecht, because of the crimes she was guilty of, and what she pushed Britt to do. And now, finally, she’s getting her life back on track. Obrecht is her mom, and she needs to know what really happened. She’d appreciate the truth. Obrecht says, the truth is, she was framed by Peter August, who was aided and abetted by his mutter.
Anna tells Robert, it’s glaringly obvious. Obrecht was afraid Franco – or Drew – was going to remember something. It had nothing to do with Peter at all. He says she’s right. It checks all the boxes, which is why he thinks it’s a frame up. She says he just wants Peter to be wrong, because he has nothing to base it on. The WSB is satisfied, the PCPD is satisfied, and she’s satisfied. It was Obrecht. Case closed.
Brando tells Jason, with all due respect, he just wants to know what the deal is. Jason says, it’s what Sonny told him. Brando is grateful for what Sonny has done for his mom, and it’s great she’s reconnected with Mike, but he thinks the best thing is for him to go back to Chicago. Jason says, it might be the easier fix, but it’s not how Sonny wants to handle things, and he knows what he’s doing. For now, Brando needs to stay in Port Charles. For now, he has a new business, and Jason and Sonny will do everything they can to support him.
Brando doesn’t get it. Is Jason Sonny’s enforcer, or his business partner, or…? Jason says Sonny is his best friend, and so is Carly. It’s a separate issue. Besides any debt Sonny owes Brando, Jason owes him too, and will repay him any way he can. Brando says, what happened that day at the warehouse isn’t what Jason thinks.
Obrecht tells Britt, Peter is rotten to the core; complicit in all of Faison’s plots, including the memory transfer, and he didn’t want to be found out. So when Jason started connecting the dots, Peter needed someone to take the fall. Britt says, and that someone is her? Obrecht says she didn’t do it, and with Britt’s help she can prove her innocence.
Anna says she can’t stop Robert from hating Peter, if that’s what he wants to do, but he’s innocent. She didn’t prove it, and neither did Peter. The WSB proved it, so he has to let this go. He says she must realize just one of them can be right, and for her sake, he hopes it’s her. He gets up from the table, and leaves.
Scotty tells Franco not to be too hard on himself. He can’t think of anything. Franco says, water needs to be running through the pipes so it can’t freeze. Scotty says, Elizabeth didn’t think of it, and Franco says, she has a lot on her mind. Scotty asks how Cameron is doing, and Franco says, better. Scotty tells Franco that he was kind of pushed into fatherhood; he has to expect some growing pains. Franco says, it’s hard when it effects the whole family, and Scotty says he’ll get Franco a plumber and an electrician. They’ll get the heat and water back on. Franco thanks him, and Scotty says, it was freezing last night. How did they get by? Franco says, they made a fire, and kind of huddled. Elizabeth said it was nice, and that the boys had fun. Scotty says, without heat, the warmth of a family is a gift any guy would ask for.
Nikolas says he can’t repair his relationship with Spencer, unless Spencer is willing to hear him out. Ava says, that’s true, and he says the only amends he can make for the damage he caused, is with Hayden and her daughter. If she were Hayden, and wanted to disappear completely, where would she go? She says she can’t speak for Hayden, but she’s obviously a savvy woman. There’s no way she doesn’t know Nikolas returned, that he’s reclaimed his inheritance, and the danger posed by Valentin is over. The fact that she hasn’t come back, strongly implies that she can’t. So, either she’s in trouble with somebody else… Nikolas says, who? and Ava says, take your pick. Hayden has a lot of adversaries. Or, she actually did meet with some kind of accident. A car crash, a plane crash. Ava doesn’t know. Nikolas wonders how the hell he can explain that to Elizabeth. She says, he doesn’t.
Elizabeth tells Finn, it doesn’t make sense. Now the danger is publicly over. Nikolas is back, and Valentin is on the defensive, so why didn’t Hayden come back? Finn doesn’t know, and she says, Hayden would never leave her daughter this long voluntarily, and all Nikolas did was convince her to go. Finn asks if he could be lying, and she says, he doesn’t seem to be, but who knows with Nikolas anymore? She certainly doesn’t.
Nikolas says Finn and Elizabeth have so many questions, and Ava suggests he string them along. Tell them he has a lead. Nothing definitive, but it sounds positive; something like that. He says, it’s not right, but she says, if it gives them one more moment of happiness, it is. He says he’s going to hate himself for this, and she says he always hates himself after the fact. He’s always so, so sorry. Sorry he didn’t tell Spencer he was lying. Sorry he used her daughter’s death to manipulate her. Being sorry is the easy part; making amends is the tough part. Sometimes, it’s impossible, so try not doing it in the first place. She leaves the bar, and the cheese Nikolas sits alone.
Britt says, it makes sense, and it’s all very compelling, but it’s also like Obrecht to lie. To do to Peter what he’s doing to her. As much as she loathes Anna, Anna is much too fond of her reputation to frame anyone. Obrecht tells Brit, she didn’t say Anna did it consciously. She’s too attached to the idea that her son is a good man. He’s not. Peter is much more dangerous than she realized. And to make matters worse, he’s now living with her beloved Maxie and James. What if Peter had Nathan killed on purpose? They don’t know how deep his machinations go, but they do know he’s living in the same house as her grandson, Britt’s nephew. She could kick herself for buying into Peter’s innocent act. She should have killed him when she had the chance; when he was tied up in that cabin. Britt says, she’s out. This is why she can’t have anything to do with Obrecht. Britt made a mistake, paid for it, and now she’s on parole. She needs to avoid drama and can’t get swept into it. Obrecht says, it’s not drama; it’s the truth. Britt says, part of her wants to believe that, but she can’t afford to get involved. Obrecht created this; it’s her own situation. So Britt is choosing self-preservation. She calls for the guard, and tells Obrecht, goodbye. She leaves as Obrecht calls after her.
Ava goes to Franco’s studio, and says, he rang? He says he can’t paint a portrait without a subject. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, nothing. She says, it’s something, and he says he needs a lot of money, and his art isn’t generating a lot of income right now. She says, hello? and he says he’s grateful, but unless she’s commissioning him to paint a portrait for every room at Windymere… She says he just got back on his feet. Give it time. His art will be lucrative again. He says, what if it isn’t? What if his talent disappeared when his tumor did? She doesn’t believe that; not for one second. He got a lot of use out of those demons, but she’s sure the creativity is in there. He’s just got to find it. Maybe there’s something even greater waiting to come out, now that all that darkness is gone.
Elizabeth finds Nikolas at the MetroCourt, and asks, where’s Hayden? And don’t lie to her. He says he was geared up to tell her a story about how he had a lead, and things were hopeful. She says he doesn’t have it in him to lie anymore? and he says he doesn’t have it in him to lie toher. She asks, what’s happened to her sister? and he says, she’s gone, without a trace. Hayden either ran afoul of someone else or she’s met with some kind of accident. He’s sorry.
Josslyn says Carly has been great, taking this all in stride, but she knows how worried Carly is about them. Does she ever want to bail? Say, this isn’t okay anymore, and go? Not that she’s suggesting it; she knows how much Carly loves Sonny. Carly says, yes. Every minute of every day. She wants Josslyn to understand, there’s no staying to the bitter end for her. If Josslyn’s or Donna’s life were seriously in danger, her job as a mother supersedes her love for Sonny. She’s always taking the temperature, wondering what’s wrong, what’s too much, what can she normalize? That’s why she needs Josslyn to check in with her, so she can factor in Josslyn’s feelings. Josslyn says, okay, and they hug.
Brando tells Jason, he saw some really ugly action overseas. When he came home, he was pretty messed up. Jason says, PTSD? and Brando says, yeah. He thought he’d worked through it, but obviously not. When he walked up to the warehouse, he was right back in it. When he went inside, the first thing he saw was a woman pinned down, and he had to get her out. It wasn’t an act of courage; there was no conscious thought going on. He thanks Jason for the credit, but says he doesn’t deserve it.
Julian goes into his back room to find Sonny there. Sonny says he has some questions. Julian paid for Brad’s defense? After everything Brad did, why would he help that man?
Ava tells Franco he has to believe in his talent; she does. Does he think she’d have her portrait painted by a sub-standard artist? She didn’t hire him to be nice. She hired him because she knows a great artist when she sees one. And he’s a great artist. She doesn’t want the painting out of vanity, but wants something that will increase in value over the years. Something that contributes great art to the world. She knows he can do it. He thanks her. She says, anytime.
Elizabeth says Nikolas told Hayden to run for the sake of her daughter, and she did, and now something terrible has happened to her. But she didn’t have to run in the first place. It was just something made up by Nikolas to protect his great revenge plan. If her sister is dead, it’s his fault. It blows her mind to remember how close they used to be. She depended on him and confided in him, and now he’s gone. He says he’s right there, but she says, no; he’s not, and walks away.
Anna puts a package on the reception desk, and tells Finn it’s a tea set; real china, all the way from England. He says, Violet will love it, and thanks her. Violet is really missing her mom, and he wants her birthday to be special despite her mom not being there. Anna says it will be special because of him. He says, and the tea set. He thanks her again, and says he loves her. She says she loves him too, and they kiss.
Robert visits Obrecht and asks, how’s it going? She asks how he thinks it’s going, and he says, that good, huh? She says he should be ashamed of himself, kicking an innocent woman when she’s down. He says, innocent is hardly a word he’d apply to her, but on this particular occasion, he admits she’s not guilty. She asks what he’s saying, and he tells her, he’s saying they might be able help each other.
Josslyn thinks home schooling is a great compromise. She’d rather be in school, but Dustin is awesome. She thinks they can make it work, as long as it’s not forever. Carly says, it better not be, and thanks Josslyn for making it easy. Josslyn says that’s because Carly included her in the conversation. It’s strange what happened to Cameron and Trina. Carly says, it’s awful, especially for Trina, and Josslyn says, but she can see a difference between them and her. Carly asks if she means having a kind of mental preparation for something like what happened, and Josslyn says, versus being blindsided. Carly says they have a certain resilience around things like this that her friends don’t have. Josslyn says, only because she learned it from Carly, and they hug.
Julian says he doesn’t know what Sonny thinks he knows, and Sonny says, maybe Brad has something on Julian. Brad is in prison. Whatever Julian did won’t make a difference. Julian asks if they’re okay, and Sonny says he’s never okay with Julian. But if he finds out Julian has anything to do with helping Brad steal his grandson, it’s something Sonny will have to address with him. Sonny walks out.
Jason says how Brando got to the warehouse is his business. All Jason cares about is that he was there and Carly is alive. He owes Brando for that. Brando is glad he could help, and Jason says he understands it’s a situation Brando didn’t create, and he’s being a stand-up guy. Sonny likes a stand-up guy, and they’re aware and respect that Brando wants to rebuild his life. Nothing that happens there will get in the way of that. They both hear someone trying to come in, and Jason draws his gun.
Tomorrow, Alexis tells Neil that she’d do it again in a heartbeat, Michael says there’s nothing Diane can do, and Jason asks what Harmony is doing at the garage.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
I made a lot of noises during this show. Be prepared for, what?!
Hilltop burns. Carol shoots arrows at the horde like it’s going to help. Some of the zombies are on fire, but continue to move forward. Daryl slices the top of one’s head off. It’s chaos. The Hilltoppers stab and slice, whack and stomp, but they’re way outnumbered. Mary tells Lydia that she can’t go back out, but Lydia says she’ll never walk with Alpha again. Ezekiel grabs the kids, and starts to run, but Judith is missing. Earl finds Judith about to stab a Whisperer (sans mask) who’s on his last legs anyway, and he grabs her, saying they’ve got to get to a safe place. Zombies crowd the gate. Eugene runs toward Hilltop, and Rosita runs after him. I say, this is hopeless. A zombie pile-up slows the horde, and Eugene and Daryl get medieval on the zombies.
Yumiko gets ready to shoot an arrow, and sees Magna walking with the horde. She’s covered in blood and guts to blend in. Yumiko lowers her bow. Carol watches as everything around her fall apart.
Negan, now wearing a mask, walks through a field, and whacks a zombie. Alpha says that was one of them, and he says, his bad. She says they have to gather and replenish, and he asks if she doesn’t want to savor the victory, but she says, it’s not victory. She doesn’t have everything she want. He says, Lydia, and Beta tells him, it’s not his concern. Negan says he’s seen her, but not among the dead. He won’t stop until he brings Lydia home to Alpha. Beta blocks his path, and Negan says he’s at Beta’s service. Beta tells him to gather, and Negan says Beta wants him to herd walkers? Beta walks away, and Negan says, he’s such a d*ck.
Negan sees zombies toddling around in the woods. He goes near one, and it walks past him. He’s obviously relieved, but the zombie doubles back, and he’s like, WTF? He says, screw this, and whacks the zombie with his bat, and laughs. He sees someone limping through the forest, and follows.
Aaron pulls Luke on a stretcher. He’s headed for a cabin in the woods (not to be confused with the cabin in the woods), and sees Negan. Aaron reaches for his sword, and Negan says, hold on, dammit. Don’t do something stupid. Aaron says the only stupid thing would be not to kill him. Negan says he can explain, and zombies start to gather. Aaron says, enough of Negan’s bullsh*t, but the zombies are coming closer, and he’s conflicted about what to do. Negan backs up, and Aaron is surrounded. He starts to chop at the zombies.
Lydia looks up at the trees. She sees Negan walking without his mask, and he grabs her. She struggles, but he tells her, stop it. He says, sorry, kid.
Kelly walks down the road, with Alden who’s holding Adam, while Mary follows. Adam cries, and Alden tries to quiet him. Kelly says, nobody likes a cute baby voice, not even babies. Mary says she can help, but he says he told her to stay back. She says she can help Adam, and he says, the hell she can. Kelly says Mary knows him, but Alden says, knew him. Her people left him to die. There’s no way she’s getting her hands on this kid. He tells her, move away. Adam continues to cry, and Mary tells Alden how to pat Adam’s head and make a shushing noise. He does, but Adam isn’t having it, and Mary asks him to let her try. He finally hands the baby over, and Mary smiles at Adam, bouncing him in her arms. He quiets down, and Kelly smiles at Alden.
Mary, Kelly, and Alden sit, and Mary rocks Adam. Alden asks what Mary’s sister’s name was; she never said. Mary tells him, Frankie. Her name was Francis. Adam meant everything to her. Kelly says, and Frankie was everything to Mary, right? Mary says if she had it to do all over again, Frankie should be the one there holding him, not her. She gets up, and says, they’re coming. They jet, but zombies are on either side of them. They run across the road, and Mary tells them to follow her. The run to an abandoned van, and Kelly tries to get the door open, but it’s stuck. The zombies are coming closer, and Adam starts to cry. They finally get the door open, and Kelly and Alden get in. Mary hands Alden the baby, and shuts the door. She screams, and leads the zombies away from the van, which is now surrounded. Alden is like, sh*t.
Mary leads the zombies to a creek, and stabs them in the head one by one. When they’re all down, she laughs and looks at the sun. A knife plunges into her stomach. It’s Beta, and she feebly hits at him. He says she’ll walk, and she rips his mask off, saying, never. He pulls the blade upward, finishing her off, and drags her body to a tree. He leans her against it, and picks up his mask. A lone Whisperer comes by, and says, it’s you. Beta puts a finger to his lips, and says, shhh… Then kills the Whisperer.
Beta waits. Mary’s hand twitches, and she rises. I say, bite him, but an arrow pierces her head. It’s Alden, shooting from behind a tree. Beta jets before Alden can get another arrow in the bow.
Carol sits in the woods with Eugene on a fallen tree, while Magna sits with Yumiko. Magna tells Yumiko, they were either dead or trapped under rocks. She kept pushing. They took turns, and before they knew it, they were in the horde. She and Connie were together, and Connie’s hand just slipped out of Magana’s. Magna cries a little, and says she couldn’t find Connie again. Carol starts walking, and Yumiko asks if she’s leaving. Carol says she wants to get there before dark, and Yumiko says Magna has been through a lot; she needs to rest. Carol says she can stay as long as she likes, and Yumiko asks if Carol is going to leave her behind again. Carol tells her, she didn’t say that, and Yumiko says, instead of ignoring Magna, Carol should be begging her forgiveness after the sh*t she put Magna through. Carol asks if Yumiko thinks that’s what Magna wants from her. Like it will fix anything. They go through sh*t to go through more sh*t. Yumiko half slaps, half punches Carol in the face, and walks away. Good. Somebody had to, and Daryl wasn’t going to do it. Yumiko goes back to Magna, and wonders what the hell is wrong with Carol? Magna asks if she should have done that, and Yumiko says, she’s so sorry, but she’s not going to sit there and take that. Magna says, things don’t always work out the way they want, and Yumiko tells her, she never said they did. Magna says she can’t do this anymore. She’s thought a lot about the last time they talked. Now she gets it. Yumiko was right to kick her out. At least Yumiko doesn’t have to worry about someone stealing her pillow. Yumiko laughs, and they both laugh/cry. Yumiko takes Magna’s hand.
Carol walks alone for a while, and sits. A hand comes out of the leaves, and touches her. She smacks it away. A zombie starts emerging, and Carol smacks at it again. Eugene comes by, and she stabs the zombie in the head. Eugene says he didn’t mean to intrude, but he thought he should keep an eye on her. She asks if he knows what it feels like to want something so bad, go after it with everything you have, pissing off literally everyone, and getting people killed, and still having nothing to show for it. He says he does, and sits next to her. He says, there’s a meeting of extraordinary importance; a moment of do or die proportions. The biggest meeting of his life is coming up quick. Unfortunately, he can’t share the details, but obviously he can no longer attend. It’s just that it’s not often you meet someone you… Carol says, if it’s important, it’s simple; you go. He protests, and she says, just go to her. He says he sincerely hopes she gets what it is she wants, and leaves.
Carol walks near to where the zombie popped out, and finds a Hilltop staff.
Daryl and the others cross a field. Rosita wonders about the kids, and Daryl says, they should be at the rendezvous. Nebila leans on Jerry as they walk, and says, it’s still burning. He tells here, they’re almost there. They see the cabin, and a zombie toddles out. Daryl starts to run, and Dianne shoots it in the head with an arrow. Rosita says, this is the spot, right? and Nabila cries, where are her babies? Jerry tells her, it’s okay, and Daryl says, let’s spread out.
Inside the cabin, Judith asks Earl if he thinks they’re safe there. Did he see them? Earl says he won’t let anything happen to them, and she asks if he thinks Ezekiel is okay. There was so much smoke, she couldn’t see. Then he was gone. Earl says, he’ll be there. Ezekiel is one of the bravest men he knows. He tells the kids, they’re all doing great. They’re all so good, and their folks will be so proud. A girl asks, soon? and he says, real soon. He tells them, shhh, and closes a curtain between the rooms. Alone, he overturns a desk, and takes out a hammer and railway spike. He pounds the spike through the desk, and rights it again. He rolls up his sleeve, and we see that he’s been bitten. Judith appears, and says he lied to them. He says he did. He did it to protect them. Judith says, he can’t do this, but he says he doesn’t have much choice. She says she can stay there with him, so he’s not alone. He says he has his son Alden, who will take good care of Adam, and Judith is so strong, so brave. Now he needs to keep the kids safe from himself. He ask her, please don’t come near him again. A single tear falls from Judith’s eye. She touches his hand, and leaves.
Bodies are everywhere at Hilltop, and the smoke is thick. Jerry approaches quietly, with Daryl following. A door lying flat on the ground, starts to move. Jerry gets ready to attack, but Ezekiel comes out from underneath it. Ezekiel says, the kids, and they all run.
Earl looks at the spike. He gets close to it, and slams his head down on it.
The kids sleep. Judith quietly slips into the other room, where Earl is now dead, his head lying in a pool of blood. She comes closer to check on him, and he grabs her arm and makes guttural zombie noises.
Daryl, Ezekiel, and Jerry approach the cabin. Daryl takes out a hunting knife, and pushes the door open. The kids come running out, and Jerry’s kids run to him. Daryl asks if Judith is in there, and looks inside, calling her name. He sees her sitting next to Earl’s body, her sword resting on her knees. He takes the sword, and sits next to her, putting his arm around her, and she leans on him (both literally and figuratively).
Negan approaches Alpha. He says the thing she’s been looking for? He found it.
Lydia is tied to a chair in another cabin. She struggles to get free.
Negan and Alpha see a zombie (ha! sounds like the name of a children’s book). Negan says, what he sees is a bag of bones, and gnarly-ass teeth. She says he’ll see soon, but he says he’s not ready to meet his Maker. She says he’s proved himself again, finding her. Like a lion cub leaves the pride, it’s time he finds his pride. He asks if she wants him to preach her gospel, and she says she wants him to become a lion. He says he may not be hip to the Greek alphabet, but Beta is not an Alpha. If she’s sticking with the lion thing, doesn’t the young lioness take her mother’s place? She tells him, walk.
Lydia continues to struggle against the ropes holding her.
Negan tells Alpha, a long time ago, before the meat lovers started showing up, he lost someone close to him to pancreatic cancer. When the disease wasn’t eating her insides, the chemo was kicking the sh*t out of her. Maybe the cancer put things in perspective. She was never more beautiful. It didn’t matter how frail she got; even when she lost her hair. Alpha says, be grateful death set her free, and Negan says, when she was gone, he didn’t feel much of anything anymore. He didn’t feel scared or happy. He didn’t feel anything; he was just there. She says, that’s his strength, and he says he’s dead to the world, but she’s pretending, thinking that it makes her strong. She thinks the emotions are real, and they’re animals, but it’s bullsh*t and she knows it. Now she claims she has to kill her own flesh and blood. Alpha says, it is her destiny. That disease took his wife because it’s what nature intended. She couldn’t take him with her, but every day she wishes she could. Lydia was made for this. To be free with her.
Lydia gets the ropes off her hands.
Negan asks if Alpha still loves Lydia. They look at the cabin, and Alpha says she has to do this because she loves Lydia. Lydia will always be her baby.
Lydia works on the ropes binding her feet.
Negan and Alpha kiss. She thanks him, and goes toward the cabin. Negan follows. Lydia gets the last of her ropes off. Alpha reaches for the front doorknob, as Lydia opens the back door. Alpha and Negan start to go inside, but Negan turns, and slashes Alpha’s throat open. He holds her, kisses her, and gently places her on the ground.
Negan tosses Alpha’s head, mouth gaping and moving, at someone’s feet. Carol says, it took you long enough.
I didn’t see any of that coming.
Next time, Michonne is back, along with her armless zombie buddies.
🐴🌎 Someone’s Not Thrilled…
I don’t care if it sucks canal water. Aaron Paul could read the phone book, and I’d probably watch. Ditto Ed Harris. I wasn’t able to see it tonight, but I’ll catch one of the 57 reruns encore performances.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Franco brings Elizabeth to The Floating Rib. Sam and Spinelli walk in, and Spinelli tells Sam, it pains him to admit it, but Peter did a masterful job framing Obrecht. Sam says, one might say she had it coming, but Spinelli says, in this time and in this moment, she shouldn’t be in jail. Franco doesn’t mean to interrupt, but asks if they just said Obrecht was in jail. Sam says, Anna arrested Obrecht yesterday, and Franco asks, why? Spinelli says, a plethora of charges, including trying to kill Franco.
In her cell, Obrecht shouts that she’s a victim of Nelle’s maternal guilt, and that woman needs a psychiatrist. Nina comes in, and Obrecht says, it’s so good to see a friendly face. Nina doesn’t look happy, and Obrecht asks, what’s the matter?
Chase and Willow walk into Charlie’s, and Willow says she swears Nelle was goading her on purpose. Chase says, of course (🍷) she was.Nelle is always scheming. If she can get you to blow up, she can play the victim. Willow says, so she should ignore her? He says, if possible. Try not to give her anything she can use in family court. The goal is to weaken her case, and strengthen Michael’s. She tells him that Sasha told her about Diane suggesting they get married, and she’s considering it. He says, Michael is too. Harmony walks in, and Willow asks if she wants to join them.
Julian says, Britt works with his son Lucas at GH, and she says she did. Although she’s closer to his son-in-law. Brad’s her best friend. He says she might want to find a new one. He’s facing serious time. She says she just saw him at the courthouse before they transferred him to Pentenville. Julian asks how he’s doing, and she says, at rock bottom. She can’t believe he kept Wiley’s paternity secret all by himself. It’s crazy. She’d almost say it’s unbelievable.
Michael tells Sasha, hypothetically, if they did get married… Sasha says, hypothetically, it could tip things in his favor with Wiley’s custody. He says he doesn’t want to pressure her into something she’s not ready for, and she says she didn’t think she was at a place where motherhood works for her, but then she ran into Willow. The thought of Wiley growing up with Nelle gave her a sinking feeling, and she’ll do anything she can to stop Nelle. And she can. If marrying him will help protect his son from that awful woman, she’s in.
Curtis asks Jordan, what’s going on? and she says maybe it wasn’t the best idea for her to see Cyrus tonight. She was more emotional than she realized. Her phone dings, and she looks at a text. Tell no one about TJ. Don’t want to ruin Aunt Stella’s visit. You’ll have a visitor soon. Be alone. She tells Curtis, ballistics traced every shell casing, but there’s nothing that tie it back to Cyrus. He asks if that’s all, and she says she told him, she shouldn’t have gone to Pentenville. Cyrus was gloating about killing Taggert without actually incriminating himself. Curtis says, of course (🍷), and she says, every time he said Taggert, she saw Trina’s face, and she lost it in front of him. She got emotional, and showed him that she was in pain, and she hates giving him that satisfaction. He tells her not to let it poison her. She doesn’t have to go back. It’s over. She says they both know it’s not, and asks him to take Stella out to dinner so she can decompress. Tell Stella his neurotic wife needs time alone. He says his beautiful wife isn’t neurotic. He’ll book Stella a room at the MetroCourt. She thanks him, and he says he’ll let her know where they end up getting dinner. If she changes her mind, they’d love for her to meet them.
Franco tells Spinelli, when Andre was performing the memory map procedure, they were interrupted by a gunman. Anna thinks Obrecht hired the gunman? Spinelli says, Anna was led to believe Obrecht hired the gunman, and Elizabeth says, by whom? Sam says, evidence. That’s what they heard. Sam says sorry to interrupt their night, and Spinelli says, apologies. They move on, and Elizabeth tells Franco, sorry. She knows Obrecht has done her fair share of terrible things, but she and Franco are friends. Franco says, there’s no way Obrecht hired the gunman, and asks if Elizabeth disagrees. She says, Anna isn’t one to act rashly. If she arrested Obrecht, it was for a good reason.
Obrecht says Nina doesn’t actually believe the heinous lies that are being told about her. Nina says she’s lost track of how many times she’s forgive Obrecht. Each time, she’s convinced herself she did the right thing, but Obrecht is making it harder and harder to defend her. Obrecht says she was framed by Anna’s devious son. Peter arranged Drew’s plane crash, and sent the assassin after Andre and Franco. And that conniving weasel set her up to take the fall.
Britt tells Julian, Brad adores Lucas. He’d never intentionally hurt his husband. She admires that about Brad. She doesn’t know if she would have done the same in his shoes. Julian asks, what? and she says, take the fall by himself. Julian tells her to just come out and say what she’s after, but she says, where’s the fun in that? She knows he was helping Brad. What made him throw Brad to the wolves?
Harmony apologizes to Willow for not being more available, and asks how she’s holding up. Willow says, some days are better than others, and Harmony says she’s grateful Willow has Chase. Chase say he’s doing the best he can, and Willow says, he’s been amazing. Harmony says Willow has her as well. Willow thanks her, and says she knows it’s been a lot for Harmony too. Harmony says as long as Willow’s okay, she’ll be fine.
Michael asks if Sasha is really okay with this, and she says, better than okay. He takes her hands, and says he’s lucky to have her. She says she’s the lucky one. He’s always had faith in her, even when she didn’t deserve it. His support restored her faith in herself. He’s a good person, and she’s stronger with him. He says they’re stronger together, and Sasha agrees. He says he’s not just saying this because it’s what you’re supposed to say to someone you’re marrying, but he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he asks if she could love Wiley. She says she already does.
Franco tells Elizabeth, Obrecht’s track record is troubling, but she’s always been there for him. She’s never judged him, even for his past, and she’s been such a rock of a friend; it makes no sense. She says the only one who can answer that question is Obrecht. Franco wants to go to the PCPD, but it’s their night out. She says they’ll have plenty of nights out, and he deserves answers. She tells him to go; she’ll wait there.
Spinelli asks why Sam cut him off, and she says he was about to tell Elizabeth and Franco everything they know about Peter. He says, the more people that know he’s deceptive, the better, but she says, no. Peter will feel cornered and desperate, and who knows what he’ll do. He could come after them or their families. Spinelli says he’d like to think Peter wouldn’t actually hurt Maxie or her children – not physically – but the toll it’s going to take on Maxie, knowing she trusted the wrong guy… Sam says she’s sorry, but there’s no way they can help or warn Maxie. If Maxie is pushed, she’ll feel forced to choose, and they both know what her choice is going to be.
Stella asks if they aren’t waiting for Jordan, but Curtis says they’re going without her; she needs alone time. Stella didn’t know her presence was such an inconvenience, and Curtis says, it’s not her. Jordan’s not up for company right now. She says, family doesn’t skip out when someone is struggling, like Jordan is. She wants to be there to support her. Curtis says supporting Jordan means giving her the space she asked for. Stella says, for the record, she’s still worried about Jordan, and Curtis says, noted, and they can talk all about it after dinner from the lovely room he booked her at the MetroCourt. She says he’s sweet.
Jordan sends a text. I’m alone. Now what?
Nina tells Obrecht, Peter changed. He and Maxie are building a life together. Obrecht says, one destined to be ruined, but Nina says, he’s not the same man. He’s actively trying to be a better person – unlike some of us. Obrecht says she’s committed many transgressions in the past. But while Peter only pretended to change, she really did. She didn’t kill Drew, and didn’t order the attack on Franco and Andre. Please believe her and help her. Nina asks why should she? and Obrecht says, because Nathan would want her to.
Julian says Britt doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but Britt says she and Brad have a very open friendship. He tells her everything. Julian agreed to work with him, then bailed, and worked against him. What gives? Julian supposes Brad failed to tell her that he was blackmailing him; threatening to tell Sonny that Julian was keeping his grandson from him. Britt admits Brad did fail to mention that. He doubts Brad told her that he repeatedly refused to listen to him, and sabotaged their plan at every turn. It’s Brad’s fault everything fell apart. She says she hasn’t seen Brad in a while. He’s completely lost his nerve, and is still concerned what people think. Julian says, that’s not a bad thing, but Britt says, people should live however they want. Why care about the choices you make? She sure as hell doesn’t.
Harmony’s phone dings. She looks at it, and frowns. Willow asks if everything is okay, and Harmony says, it’s work; she has to go. Willow suggests a hike on Saturday, and Harmony says, maybe. She tells Willow that she really appreciates the second chance, and she’s taking it seriously. She leaves, and Willow says, that was interesting. Chase says he didn’t realize Willow and her mother were getting close.
Michael tells Sasha, they’ll talk about any problems that come up, and they will because that’s life. Sasha promises to be honest and communicate, and he says he’ll do the same. She says, so does that mean… He gets down on one knee, and says, Sasha Gilmore, will you marry me? She says, yes, and they kiss.
Obrecht says, Nathan made them a family. If he was there, he’d want Nina to help her. Nina says he sure as hell wouldn’t want Obrecht to use his memory to manipulate her. Obrecht says, that’s not what she’s doing, but Nina says she’s done being dragged into this; it’s gone too far. Obrecht is on her own. Obrecht says, please, wait. She can explain how Peter did it, but Nina tells her, save it. Accept the consequences of her actions just once. She’s in a cell because of herself. If she genuinely cared what Nathan would have wanted, think about how important Peter is to Maxie and James. He’d want them to be happy. Consider that the next time she wants to tear their world apart. Nina calls for the guard, and leaves.
Diane asks Michael why she’s there. More Nelle shenanigans? He says he and Sasha have given some thought to the best way to fight Nelle. Diane suggested he get married, and Sasha agreed to be his wife. Diane says, that’s an absolutely awful idea.
Britt says, bottoms up, and she and Julian drink a shot. He says it’s probably a bad idea, but she says, who cares? Life is too short. No one hands you happiness. You have to reach out and grab it for yourself. Julian says, that’s awfully philosophical. Maybe when he was in his 20s, but he has a family now. She says that’s not what she heard.
Willow tells Chase, her mom is busy, and they mostly email or text. Chase says, letting her mom back in her life is a big deal, even if it’s in a small way. Willow says Shiloh messed with her mom’s life as much, if not more, than he messed with hers. It took courage to face it and break free. Her mom stood up to Shiloh, and she’s proud of her. She doesn’t want to waste a chance at a relationship with her. Chase says, if that’s what Willow wants, he supports her. He hopes Harmony lives up to her expectations.
😷 Here’s where there was a special report, but you know the drill.
Jordan looks at the picture she was sent of TJ. There’s a knock at the door. Jordan opens it, and asks what they’re doing here. Harmony says, Cyrus sent her, and walks in. Okay. Didn’t see that coming.
Franco visits Obrecht, who says he doesn’t believe this nonsense. He says, is it though? Is it nonsense? Did she hire someone to murder him? She says she’d never do anything to harm him. He’s her best friend. He says best friends don’t do things like hit you over the head at the pier, and she says, or put you in a position to get caught by the police. He says that’s what he’s talking about. Maybe they’re not so close after all. She says she never wanted him dead, and he says, except that one time she did. She says, not ever. He says, so when Andre was performing the procedure to restore his memory, she wasn’t concerned Drew might remember something that would incriminate her? She says she wasn’t involved in Faison’s demented scheme, but he says, maybe she was. Maybe her cover was blown, and she had to improvise. That meant destroying everyone who was in her way. Even her best friend.
Julian says Britt doesn’t know anything about his family, and she says Brad told her about his bumpy relationship with Lucas and his daughter doesn’t speak to him either. He says she really doesn’t care if she hurts someone else’s feelings, does she? but she says, she’s just saying what’s the point in acting like life’s a fairytale? You should take life as it comes; good, bad, and everything in between. He says she has a point, and she says she’ll drink to that. He says if she insists.
Diane says, the whole point of the marriage is to show that Michael can provide a more stable environment than Nelle, and can give Wiley a stable mother figure. He says, Sasha is a lot more stable than Nelle, but Diane says based on Sasha’s previous conduct, Nelle’s attorneys could argue otherwise. He asks who she thought he was going to get married to? and she says she may have been a little hasty in the suggestion department, especially now that she’s been briefed on Sasha’s past. He says, she did a background check? and she says, yeah. She wants to beat Nelle’s lawyers to the punch, and needs the full picture before the custody hearing. She was unaware of how untruthful Sasha had been while she’s been in Port Charles. Sasha asks if she would hurt Michael’s chances if she married him, and Diane says, unfortunately, she would.
Spinelli looks at his iPad, and says, there is no perfect frame. He’s going to find something to expose Peter. At the bar, Sam asks Elizabeth how Cameron is doing. Elizabeth says, he’s staying strong, but still has nightmares about that guy chasing him down and trying to kill him. She’s glad Jason was there. Sam says she thought the kids were in a warehouse, but Elizabeth says, they were. Then Taggert told Cameron to run, and he did, but a gunman followed him, Jason shot him before he could hurt Cameron.
Stella tells Curtis how much she enjoyed the meal, and he asks, what’s next? She says he doesn’t have to humor her anymore. She knows he’s worried about Jordan. She doesn’t blame him. The last time Jordan pushed them away, she was dying of kidney failure. Curtis says they learned a lot from that, and she’ll never keep anything important from him again.
Jordan says Harmony is working for Cyrus? How the hell did that even happen? That’s what I’d like to know too. Harmony asks if it even matters, and Jordan says, that she’s working for the head of a drug cartel? She’d say it matters a little bit. Harmony says she does what she can to get by, and Jordan says, why her? Harmony says she’s easily overlooked and dismissed. The crazy cult lady with the weird name. No one would suspect she’s working for Cyrus. They won’t suspect Jordan either. Jordan asks what that’s supposed to mean, and Harmony tells her, she’s going to be Cyrus’s person inside the PCPD. When shipments come in, she’ll assure the police attention is elsewhere. Cyrus will communicate through Harmony, and if she has a message for Cyrus, Harmony will make sure he gets it. Jordan says Cyrus thought this one up. Does Harmony know he has her son TJ, and he’s threatening to kill TJ if she doesn’t cooperate? Harmony says Jordan had better do what Cyrus says, and Jordan asks how long she’s supposed to break the law before TJ is freed? What guarantee does she have that TJ will be let go if she follows his orders? Harmony says, none. The only guarantee she has is what Cyrus will do to him if she doesn’t. She knows what Jordan is thinking. That she won’t compromise her morals, and turn the tables on Cyrus somehow. She thought the same thing. She has some advice. Jordan shouldn’t waste her time thinking. Cyrus is too powerful and his reach is too long. Until he says otherwise, Harmony works for Jordan, and so does she. Cyrus doesn’t want a trail leading back to him, so if she wants to reach Cyrus, she goes through Harmony. Jordan asks what Cyrus has on her, and Harmony says he offered to pull some strings so she could go with the early release program. She jumped at the chance to be near her daughter, but didn’t know the favor she’d have to do would be this big. If she messes up, it won’t be just her that pays. Jordan says Harmony is an accomplice to kidnapping and extortion, all while she’s on parole. Does she have any idea how big of a risk she’s taking? Harmony says, going against Cyrus is an even bigger risk. She has to go, and Cyrus will be in touch – through her. Jordan says, before Harmony leaves, she has a message for Cyrus. She needs proof TJ is alive. She wants photos of her son with the date and time, every single day. Harmony nods, and says she’ll do that. She leaves, and Jordan leans against the door.
Nina goes to The Floating Rib, and runs over to Stella, hugging her, and saying she’s glad Stella is okay. Curtis slides over so Nina can sit. Nina says the jetset lifestyle suits Stella, but Curtis is always happier when she’s in town. He says, he is? Nina says, he is, and she wishes she could say the same about herself and Obrecht. Stella says she heard about Obrecht’s arrest, and Nina says, unfortunately, she thinks Obrecht is guilty.
Obrecht says she won’t let Franco throw away their friendship, and he says then she has to give him something to work with; evidence, an alibi. She has to give him a reason to believe her. She says she can do one better. She’ll give him the person who actually did this – Peter August. He needed a fall guy, and chose her, and it worked. Everyone is willing to rush to judgement against her. She just never thought Franco would too. He knows better than anyone what it’s like to be wrongfully accused. She’s done things she’s not proud of. She wasted years of her life on Faison, but that ended when he killed Nathan. She’s a changed person, and didn’t do what she’s accused of. He has to believe her.
Diane says Sasha committing fraud is a problem, and Sasha says, even though she was never charged? Diane says she’s sure Nelle’s lawyers can find people who are willing to testify as to how she deceived Nina. That could badly undermine Michael’s case. Michael says, there has to be a way around it, and Sasha tells him, don’t. Diane is the only lawyer in the room right now, and knows what the courts will be looking for. Diane is right. She can’t marry him. Diane says that’s her recommendation. Unless Michael can marry a paragon – someone with good character, potentially Snow White and Mary Poppins all in one, don’t get married at all. She leaves, and Michael says, sorry about that. Sasha says, don’t be, but he says he wishes it was different. She laugh/cries and says they were engaged for all of fifteen minutes. Why is she so disappointed that they’re not getting married?
Julian comps Willow and Chase’s meal, saying he enjoyed seeing Willow take Nelle down a peg. Willow tells Chase, she may have thrown a drink in Nelle’s face. She knows it’s not very mature, but she couldn’t stand hearing Nelle talk about Wiley. It’s obvious she doesn’t care about him, and is just using him to hurt Michael. Chase asks how it happened, and Willow says, Nelle said something, then she said something back, then Nelle said something, and then she was wearing a drink. It’s everything he warned her not to do, but she can’t say she regrets it. He wishes he was there to see it.
Julian asks if Britt wants another round. She says she shouldn’t, but he pours it anyway, and she laughs. She says she has to visit her mom in the morning in jail. She definitely doesn’t want to be hung over for that. She told herself she was never setting foot in a jail again. At least she’ll be on the other side of the bars this time. But tomorrow is still some time away. She feels like letting loose tonight. She drains her drink.
Spinelli and Sam clink beer bottle and glass, respectively.
Obrecht asks Franco to tell her what he’s thinking, and he says he honestly doesn’t know. She asks him to chose to believe her, but he doesn’t think he can. She’s been a good friend, but she’s a survivor and it frightens him how far she’d go to protect herself. He leaves, and Obrecht looks really sad.
Jordan asks Curtis how dinner was, and he says it was nice. He thought she was going to bed. She says she can’t sleep anyway, and he says she didn’t even change her clothes. She says she got distracted, and asks if Stella is upset about not staying there. Curtis says, a little, because she wanted to help Jordan. Jordan looks like she might cry, and Curtis says he’s there for her; they’re in this together. She says she’s just upset about Cyrus. He doesn’t seem to have any weak spots. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does. Everybody does. They just need to find his.
Michael tells Sasha he’s sorry, and she says, don’t be. He says, even though she’s not Wiley’s stepmother, Wiley is lucky to have her in his life. So is he. She thanks him, and he says he trusts her with Wiley completely. She says she trusts him, and they kiss. She asks what they do now, and he says, go back to the drawing board. There are plenty of ways to beat Nelle, and they’re going to find one that works for them. She says, sounds like a plan.
Willow asks Chase if he thinks Nelle will press charges for having a drink thrown on her. He says, anything’s possible, and she says that’s why she shouldn’t engage, but she’ll always stand up for Wiley whatever the cost. He says he loves that about her, and they kiss. He suggests they get out of there before Julian changes his mind. She says she feels weird leaving without thanking him again. Did Chase see where he went?
Julian is in the back room, crazy kissing with Britt. They get busy while there’s a song part. Didn’t see that coming either. Well, not until they started drinking anyway.
Sonny gets bad news, Jordan gives Sam false information, and Cyrus is surprised.
Shahs of Sunset
At Mj’s house, she says that life is baby laundry, nursing, pumping, feeding, and golden showers. The best gift she got is a peepee teepee, to keep Baby Shams from taking a shot at her during a diaper change. She’s focused on her incredible, beautiful, innocent angel. He is pretty cute. Nema video chats with her, and asks how Shams is. She says, he’s very well-tempered. Nema can’t believe he hasn’t seen her, Tommy, and Shams since the baby was born. He tells her to soak up much Shams as she can, but they should hang out. We flash back to Shams’s birth a month ago, and in her interview, MJ says if her uterus wasn’t removed, she was going to die. No one saw her or came to visit. It was like she and her baby weren’t important. Nema says he can’t wait to see her. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza’s favorite thing about pup Marti is how he clasps his paws, and Shams clasps his hands the same way. It reminds her of Reza, and it’s like a tsunami of pain. Her friends were anywhere but there.
Adam visits GG, and she asks where her cake is. He says he kind of ate it. She asks what happened after she left the cooking class, and Adam says, everyone was worried. In GG’s interview, she says the pain sharp, and we flash back to her leaving the class. We see a clip of GG calling the IVF nurse. The nurse tells her if she’s not having spotting, she’ll be okay. Spotting would mean she’s having a miscarriage. GG, Anita, and Yasmin go back to GG’s condo, and she goes into the bathroom. She comes out, and says, no blood. So should they party? She says she’s just kidding. Adam says the wondered if she could be pregnant, and in GG’s interview, she says that’s not the way she wanted anyone to know, and she’s not ready to tell them. She tells Adam that she’s already upset with Destiney. It’s like she has a new personality. She slept with Sara’s brother, and d*ck seems to be more important than friendship. She wants to talk to Destiney, but if Destiney comes at her hard, she’ll snatch Destiney’s wig off. Adam tells her about Reza wearing a piece of Destiney’s weave on the party bus going back.
Reza meets Sara at Aerial class, and says, it smells like excitement and regret. In his interview, Reza says somehow he lost his way, and gained some weight. If using the silks can help him lose some, he’s all for it. The instructor shows them how to hang upside down, which I’m sure is harder than it looks. Reza slides to the floor. He wraps himself up in a silk, and says he’s sure there’s a market in Iran. After class, he and Sara sit on the floor and talk. Sara tells him about two special agents knocking on her door, and serving her with a subpoena about her ex; his life is playing out in the media. In Sara’s interview, she says there’s a lot of media attention about her ex-boyfriend. Reza asks who the hell her ex-boyfriend is, and she says, Robert Kelly. They met in 2013, and were together three years. In her interview, she says he was charming and kind, and definitely not what she expected. Reza asks if he was anything like the person being described in the documentary (Surviving R, Kelly), and she says, no. It was an adult relationship, and there was never anything that was a red flag. Reza says, all she can do is speak the truth. She says she broke up with him when she found out he was sleeping with other women. In her interview, Sara says that he was having a party in Chicago, and told her, if she can’t be cool, don’t come, It was literally a full-on club; a happening. When a couple of women showed up, it hit her that he was screwing everyone. She watched the documentary, and the person she loved was a monster. Reza says she can’t blame herself, and she says she doesn’t understand how it’s possible. In her interview, she says that it wasn’t a perfect relationship. He was controlling, but she thinks her experience was different because of the boundaries she set. In hindsight, every small boundary and decision altered the dynamic, saving her life. Reza is glad she confided in him, and promises he won’t say a word to anyone.
Destiney goes wig shopping. In her interview, she says wigs are her thing. Hers was not a normal childhood, so maybe she’s living her childhood life as an adult. She chooses a wig that she thinks looks like a cross between Marie Antoinette and Elvira. She says, her first alter-ego was Rosie, who had a bowl haircut. She asks can she hide things in the wig, and the clerk is like, um… GG joins her, and says she didn’t recognize Destiney, who’s now a blonde. GG says she’s never worn a wig, and Destiney thinks she should try some on. She does, and says it feels like she’s wearing a helmet. She broaches the subject of the cooking competition, and Destiney says, it was intense. GG says she was irritated, and has been seeing a different Destiney than the one she met. Destiney was all about woman power and loyalty. Destiney says if she’d slept with GG’s brother, she would have talked to her first. GG says, maybe that’s why Sara is hurt, and they should have a conversation. In Destiney’s interview, she can’t understand why she’s pissed everyone off. Frankly, me neither.
Reza goes to a fancy jewelry store, and picks up a $95K Rolex. Nema joins him, and Reza says it brings a tear to his eye that Nema is getting his first Rolex. In Nema’s interview, he says, if you’re in the market for gold, a Rolex, or rubies, get a Reza. Nema’s life goal is to connect with his Persian culture. The next step in the evolution of his Persianity, is a gold Rolex. It goes gold, Rolex, Bentley, He says Reza is bougie when it comes to his Rolexes, and he and Nema’s tastes don’t line up. Nema picks out a simple $6500 watch, and the clerk congratulates him.
Mike puts together a wagon for Paulina’s kids. In his interview, he says he never thought he’d be with a woman who had children, and he wants to be with Paulina for the rest of his life. He wonders what he’s doing sometimes, and if he’s ready to be a stepdad. What Nema said, affected his thoughts, and it runs in his head non-stop. We flash back to Nema telling Mike that he doesn’t think Mike is ready to be a stepdad. Nema doesn’t get that Paulina knows Mikes strengths and weaknesses. He shares his insecurities with her, and he’s sure she knows he’s not perfect, but because she loves him, she sees he’s attempting to do it, and gives him a pass.
Nema meets MJ for lunch. He says she looks amazing, and she compliments his white teeth. He says it’s hard to see what happened to her and Reza. She says Reza claims she meddled in his marriage, and Nema says, instead of going to Reza directly about Adam, she went to Destiney; then Ali got involved. MJ says she had nothing to do with it. Nema says that’s huge difference from what Destiney is saying, that she was at the start of this. It makes her look like a homewrecker. Like she was bored in her hospital room, wondering how to eff up Reza’s life. She says she’s sure she wasn’t bored. Nema doesn’t want the perception of her to be like that, and she says that’s not her problem. It’s coming from people who are riddled with fear, jealousy, and lies. In Nema’s interview, he says both MJ and Reza like to meddle in other people’s drama constantly. We flash back to MJ and Reza springing Shalom on GG in the middle of a public event, and telling Jessica about Mike cheating. Nema tells MJ about Sara’s pool party that’s coming up. In his interview, he says, at the end of the day, Reza and MJ are better together. He tells MJ that she can come as his plus one. Thirty years of friendship is worth a conversation. She says she’ll think about it.
Destiney aka Veronica, who has shoulder length kind of blue hair, meets Sara at a restaurant. Destiney tells Sara that she wanted to go over some things. She did get Sara’s text about the party, and Sara says she hopes Destiney comes. Destiney thinks it would be super weird if she goes before they have a conversation. Sara says she’s not concerned that Destiney hooked up with her brother; it’s just awkward, since it’s not like a real love connection. Sam and Destiney are at different places in their lives. She wonders why Destiney is even talking to Sam. In Destiney’s interview, she says Sara can tell her this all day, but aren’t they all adults? Destiney says they’re planning on seeing each other again, and Sara doesn’t understand what she wants. Destiney says nobody is going to tell her how to navigate anything in her life. In Sara’s interview, she says when she and Destiney met, it was awkward. Now Destiney is hooking up with her brother. Sara says Destiney wanted to meet up to talk more sh*t, and it takes the soul and energy out of her. (I’ll have to remember that one.) Destiney doesn’t understand why Sara feels that way. Sara says she wants Destiney to come tomorrow, but doesn’t have the energy to care more. As she’s leaving, Sara says her brother won’t be there.
Adam tells Reza that he doesn’t know how to play Monopoly. Reza says, the game was made for Persians, and helps make you more successful in life. In Reza’s interview, he says he and Adam are doing better. We flash back to Reza confronting Adam about strip Jenga, and the inappropriate texts. Because Sara is having a pool party, he called a tanning guy to come and spray him and Destiney. He asks Adam if he wants one, and Adam says he’s in. Destiney joins them, and Reza asks what happened when she met with Sara. He knows she feels hurt. Destiney says she doesn’t hook up randomly, but doesn’t regret it. She and Sara had a powwow, and she tried to tell herself to understand, since she doesn’t have a brother. Reza says he wants details. WTF did she say? She says Sara wasn’t okay with it, and didn’t realize they were going to continue seeing each other. Reza says, she thought he was just going to hit it. Destiney doesn’t want it to be uncomfortable at the party. Spray tan specialist Robby arrives, asking, are they excited for tans or what? reminding me of a substitute dance teacher I had once. Reza wants to get alarmingly tan. Robby drops pearls of wisdom like, once you go Persian, there’s no other version, and the key to a good tan is drying as you go. In Reza’s interview, he says the spray tanning makes him sad because it reminds him of MJ. We flash back to when they got tans together. Robby says, the tanning has come to an end, and Reza says, he feels like he had a three-way. In his interview, he says he never imagined that on the day MJ give birth, she’d be thinking of coming at his marriage. It makes him feel sad.
Sara gets the house ready for the party, while friend Benny helps out. The DJ sets up, the food comes, and floaties are put in the pool. I’m ready.
Nema gets ready. In his interview, he says he’s the product of divorced parents. He’s had two separate Christmases his entire life. Awkward or not, he’s bringing MJ. All he’s asking is that she and Reza talk. If they talk, and still can’t move forward, at least he’ll know he tried.
MJ meets Nema at his place. Tommy brings in Shams, and Nema says they must be on cloud nine. In MJ’s interview, she says, what really mattered was her best friend of thirty years should have been there.
GG says she hired muscle, in case someone decides they want to step up to her. She’s more familiar with getting into a fight, and might forget what she’s going through, since it’s brand new. Destiney is a blonde, and GG’s bodyguard introduces himself as C. Destiney tells GG that she’s Cynthia today, and in GG’s interview, she says, fashion is expression, so let it be.
Sara loves the set-up, and thinks the bartenders might need to take a drink, since her friends are a lot. Destiney makes GG go in first, and Destiney walks in on C’s arm. In Sara’s interview, she says, Destiney is always like, look at me. Reza and Adam arrive, and GG attacks the food. Mike and Paulina come in, and Mike thinks Destiney looks like a character from Mod Squad. Destiney keeps getting her heels stuck in the deck, and GG says, maybe Cynthia isn’t feeling it today.
In the car, Nema tells MJ to absolve Reza, since he’s coming from place of hurt. He helps MJ put on her necklace, and says she has too much hair. She tells him, she has too much weave.
Adam jumps in the pool, trying to land on a floatie. Nema says he brought a friend, and Reza says he’s leaving. GG says she’s going too, and Reza says he’s not at a place where he’s ready to talk. The betrayal is in his heart, and he needs time to process sh*t. Nema tells him, don’t leave, and follows him, saying, a thirty-year friendship. Reza says Nema could have texted him. Nema says MJ has a different perspective; hear her out. GG asks how Nema could do that, and not tell anyone, and he says he wants to be peacemaker. She says ambushing people isn’t peaceful. At the party, MJ says Reza ran like a bitch. In MJ’s interview, she says, how dare he? Where does he think he’s going? And after she’s been loyal for thirty years.
Mike tells MJ that she should engage with Reza. Ali is the problem. MJ says she almost died, but she should go away? This had nothing to do with her. Out by the cars, GG says, MJ isn’t a good person. She’s screwed everyone who’s good to her. What did Adam ever do in all this? Nema asks Mike to convince MJ to come down. In Mike’s interview, he says he sees the issue from both sides. They need a therapist or a mediator. MJ tells Destiney, she can’t blame other people who aren’t there to defend themselves. Destiney told them that MJ told her to bring up Adam’s cheating. Destiney tells MJ, she never said that. She had lunch with Reza and Ali, and Ali brought it up. What motive would she have to say MJ told her to do that? MJ says she chooses not to believe Destiney, and Mike says, it’s too many years of friendship to waste on a possible rumor. In Mike’s interview, he says a sliver of him thinks maybe Reza is in such a dark place, because he didn’t have his friend of thirty years to confide in. He hopes they connect, and make sense of this craziness.
Reza goes back to the party, and MJ tells him to get away from her. Destiney says, it’s a thirty year friendship (should have done a drinking game with that one). MJ tells her, STFU, and Reza asks if MJ isn’t embarrassed. MJ tells him to go back to his stupid husband. They can cheat on each other, and go to the bathhouse. I’m not even sure if there are still any of those around. I think the last one in NYC closed recently. If you haven’t guessed, I’m a font of useless information.
It gets kind of chaotic, and by now, everyone has noticed, and is like, WTF? Destiney says she never lied, and MJ throws a drink in Reza’s face. He asks if she isn’t embarrassed, and now Sara says, WTF is going on? Reza says MJ has no shame, and she tells him, STFU, which is obviously her go-to phrase. Adam gets into the mix, and Reza tells MJ to screw herself. Go home and watch her baby. Why is she even there? Mike says it’s all he can do not to slap the sh*t out of Reza; WTF is he thinking? He’s talking to a woman.
MJ says Adam’s cheating has nothing to do with her. Reza says no wonder MJ’s uterus exploded, since she’s had ten abortions. I literally gasp, and say, nooo. I can’t believe he said something like that, and in the middle of a crowded party. Destiney says, enough is enough. Stop. Mike asks WTF Reza thinks he’s doing, and Reza says, f*** you people. He takes a binder out of a car (MJ’s?) and throws the contents up in the air, and the papers rain down. MJ says he’s an effing liar, and Mike goes after Reza.
Next time. Mike says it’s going to get messy, Tommy trashes Reza’s patio, Tommy says he broke a plant when he wanted to break Reza’s legs, GG says it’s the most agonizing twelve days of her life, and Reza tells Nema to butt out.
Just so you know, the only Corona you’ll find here, is beer.
🎙 Quotes of the Week
Sometimes it’s easy to lose faith in people. And sometimes one act of kindness is all it takes to give you hope again. – Randa Abdel-Fattah
It is our wounds that create in us a desire to reach for miracles. – Jocelyn Soriano
When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. – Malala Yousafzai
Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of. – Roy T. Bennett
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. – Maya Angelou
Anger, it’s a paralyzing emotion, you can’t get anything done. – Toni Morrison
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. – Niccolò Machiavelli
We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane. – Kurt Vonnegut
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. – Lao Tzu
The great Western disease is, ‘I’ll be happy when… When I get the money. When I get a BMW. When I get this job.’ Well, the reality is, you never get to when. The only way to find happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here. And happiness is not next week. It’s now. – Marshall Goldsmith, American Author
🎪 No Surprise…
Of course this week would end with Friday the 13th. See you in the Deadzone.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Michael tells Brook that Wiley is unstoppable. She says she’s starting work at ELQ tomorrow, and he says he looks forward to seeing what she does with the place. The doorbell rings, and Brook goes to get it. It’s Chase, who asks if he can come in. She asks if he has a warrant.
At Charlie’s, Nelle asks Julian about Brad’s arraignment. He refuses to engage with her, and she threatens him with a scathing Yelp review. He tells her, do what she’s going to do, but from over there. She sits at a table, and calls Zara. She says she needs to know what happened at Brad’s arraignment. Willow and Sasha walk in.
Brad sits in the empty courtroom with his head in his hands, and Britt comes in. She says he sure looks like he could use a friend, and he says she has no idea. They hug, and she asks how he got there. He asks where she’s been, and if she didn’t get his voicemail. She says she’s sorry, but she’s been fighting to get her license back. Everything worked out, and she’s sorry she missed his arraignment. She assumes he made bail. She says, he doesn’t want to go to prison. You’re never alone, always looking over your shoulder, and the food is terrible. Brad sits back down, and she says, cheer up. She’s here now, and they’re not going to let Nelle win. He says, she already has. He pled guilty.
Stella shows up at Curtis and Jordan’s place, and asks what Curtis has gotten himself into now.
Jordan tells Cyrus, if he has something to say, say it. He says, no locked windowless room, no mayor, no Commissioner, no one can keep a very determined man from doing what’s necessary to get what he wants. She asks if he has her son, and he wonders why she’s asking. She says, where is her son? He just said no one can stop him. He says he was merely commenting on the state of the world. The powerful do what they must to retain power. He has nothing to do in solitary, but become philosophical about how he got there, and all the wrongs he has yet to right.
Sasha tells Willow, they can go somewhere else, but Willow says she’s not going to let Nelle chase them out. That’s giving her too much power. Sasha says they don’t want to give her the satisfaction. They sit down, and Sasha says she’s so glad they could get together. How is she doing? Willow says, she’s coping. The best thing Sasha can do is give her a distraction. Fill her in on some juicy gossip or tell her what’s going on with Deception. Sasha says she has some juicy gossip, and Willow asks, who’s it about? Sasha says it’s about her and Michael talking marriage.
Chase says he’s there to see Michael, and Brook yells for him, saying, it’s the cops. Carrying a six-pack (of the beer variety), Chase says Michael couldn’t come to The Rib, so he brought The Rib to him. Michael says he’s a true friend. Chase says Brook can join them if she promises not to swing one of the bottles at his head. She says she has to meet with Ned, and Michael congratulates her on her new job, telling Chase, Brook has an exciting new role at ELQ. She leaves, and Michael asks if everything is okay. Chase says, not completely. They need to have a conversation about Nelle.
Britt asks if she’s taught Brad nothing. Never admit guilt. He’s guilty of loving his husband, and wanting a family. He made a mistake in the midst of a tragic event. He was coerced when he was deep in grief, and didn’t mean to hurt anyone. She knows Brad, and knows he doesn’t roll over so easy. Something happened; what? He says, Sonny happened. He made Brad an offer he couldn’t refuse. Plead guilty and live. She says, it’s a compelling offer. She’s thought his father-in-law was helping him keep the secret, but Brad says, he did. Until he didn’t.
Nelle tells Julian that her lawyer said Brad pled guilty. She wonders why, and Julian asks if she isn’t happy. She says, justice was served, but no amount of punishment will change the amount of suffering she and Michael were put through. Julian says, no one is buying her act. They all know Brad didn’t steal her baby. She traded Wiley like baseball card, and isn’t fit to be a mother. She says he’s no shining example of fatherhood. She’ll have a better relationship with Wiley than Julian has with Lucas. He says, Wiley is a Corinthos, and they don’t compromise. He bets by the time Wiley is grown, he won’t know she exists.
Stella asks if Curtis expected her to stay an ocean away, when she heard about a shooting where his partner got killed. He says Taggert wasn’t his partner; he was just helping out. Stella says he was like a partner. Thank God they managed to rescue the kids. She knows Cameron, and met Trina; she’s very impressive. She’s so sorry Trina’s daddy was killed. She asks if Curtis is all right, and he says he’s good. She says she knows he’d lie to protect her, but he insists he’s good. No bullet wounds, no broken bones. He’s got some bumps and bruises, but he’s good. She says it could have been him who was shot. Taggert died, and he lived; how does that make him feel? He says, awful. He left Taggert in the warehouse, and now his daughter is grieving. She says, it’s not his fault.
Jordan sends a text to TJ, saying she needs to hear his voice asap. It’s an emergency. Cyrus supposes there’s nothing more terrifying than the feeling when your child is missing. No matter what their age, it’s excruciating. Not knowing makes your mind go to the worst case scenario. She says if he’s hurt her son, she’ll kill him herself, and he tells her, be careful with the death threats; the walls have ears. She tells him, stop the toying and the doublespeak. He has her son. He says, prove it, although now that she mentions it, snatching the Commissioner’s son on his way home from GH, gives tremendous leverage to someone who wants to exact a favor in exchange for his continued health. She asks what he wants, and he says the same thing she does; TJ’s safe return. Her phone dings, and she takes a quick look, but puts it back in her pocket. He asks if she isn’t going to answer that, and she says, TJ is the only person she wants to hear from. He says, the text might be important; you never know. She opens it, and finds a picture of TJ, sitting up, but leaning against a wall like he’s passed out.
At the café, Ned asks how Brook’s day was. He was surprised when he got her call accepting the job offer. She says she surprised herself too, and he says, it’s the mature, responsible thing to do. What changed her mind? She says she’s a Quartermaine, and should work for the family, but maybe she has something to offer; a more modern sense. He says Michael isn’t ancient, and neither is he. He appreciate her enthusiasm, but needs to clarify that she’ll be coming on board as an assistant. She says, executive assistant, and he says she’ll have to answer phones and take messages. At least at first. She says she can update the music on the phone, instead of it being just a step up from elevator music. He says they use a service, and any music played in a public environment has to be licensed. Since she can’t read a contract, he doesn’t know if she can deal with licensing. She says she can be the in-house music curator. She’ll start there, and maybe she can create an ELQ streaming system that the employees can listen to in the break room. He says she’s ambitious, and she says, but…? He says, no buts. He likes it. He likes how she’s trying to connect to ELQ in her own way. Maybe there’s a consultation fee in it for her. She says, good, because she wants to put her family first.
Sasha says, family court can still be traditional, and it will be hard to get a judge to bar Nelle from Wiley’s life. Unless Wiley has a mother figure. Willow says, wow. Sasha could end up being Wiley’s mom. Sasha says it’s freaking her out little bit. She and Michael only moved in together because of Nelle. Raising a child wasn’t on her radar until a month ago. Everything happened so fast. Willow thought things were going well, and Sasha says, they are. She and Michael are so compatible, and it’s wonderful knowing she’s going to see him every day. Willow asks if Sasha is having a problem loving Wiley, but Sasha says she loves the little guy. She’s just having a hard time thinking of herself as a mom. Raising a child is huge. Willow says, it’s everything.
Nelle tells Julian, it’s wrong of Michael and his family to think they keep her away from her son. They think they’re above everyone and everything. He says she just wants to stick it to Michael and his family. She doesn’t care about Wiley. She says she doesn’t like the name Wiley; she never did. She’s going to change his name. She likes the name William. Willow approaches Nelle, and says, what? Nelle says, it’s a classier name, and Willow says, Wiley is the name he knows. Nelle says, he’ll adjust, and Willow says, he’s a person. She can’t just change his name. Nelle says she’s sick of Willow’s self-righteousness. She’ll raise her son how she pleases. Willow is delusional, and needs to remember that her son is dead, and stay the hell away from hers. Willow picks up a drink, and throws it in Nelle’s face.
Michael tells Chase that Diane thinks the chances of him getting full custody are good. Chase says Michael is the obvious choice in this situation, but Michael says Nelle is still insisting Brad stole her baby, and the court might find that sympathetic. Chase says sometimes he feels like the criminals have all the protection. Michael asks if Chase is sure there’s no way to prove Nelle assaulted Willow. They have evidence that she was planning on kidnapping Wiley. Chase says they haven’t located the forged passports, and Michael wonders how they could get lost. Chase says they were stolen.
Britt asks why Brad didn’t give Julian up, and Brad says he needed to leave Lucas something. Lucas is the only man he ever loved, and he’s already taken on so much. He was a coma for a month after the accident. Britt says, the brakes failed, and Brad says, before that, he told Lucas the truth, then he lost control of the car. She asks if there had been anything wrong with the brake system before. Brad says, no, and the cops couldn’t determine what happened, since there was too much damage. They were lucky to get out alive. It felt like a miracle when Lucas woke up, and didn’t remember, but he was on borrowed time. Then he got the job in Portland, and for a moment, he thought they’d get away and have a fresh start. Has he been delusional, like Nelle? She says, no; just crazy in love. He says he was. The lies and deception were wearing on him to the point that he couldn’t eat or sleep, and was physically sick. He thought he was going to have a heart attack, and could have used a friend. She says, sorry. She was busy readjusting to normal life after a year in prison. Speaking of which, she heard her mother was arrested for attempted murder. She didn’t see that coming. She thought once her father died, her mother was committed to being a doting grandmother. Brad says, who blackmailed him every chance she got.
Curtis tells Stella, they thought Taggert would pull through, but suddenly the alarms went off, and that was it. Stella says, it’s heartbreaking. Trina’s father sacrificed himself for her. Curtis says Taggert drew fire, so he could get Trina out safely. She says, and that’s what he did. Thank God neither of them were hurt. He says, Trina isn’t so grateful. All she knows is that her father was shot, and left to die. Stella says, she’s young, and not aware that she’s blaming herself for surviving. She can’t process it and needs someone to be mad at. He says, it makes sense, but it doesn’t make seeing her pain any easier. She says he can’t take on the guilt. Taggert put his life on the line to save the child he loved. It was his right as parent.
Cyrus asks if something is amiss, and Jordan says, where is he? He says, it looks like TJ’s been through quite an ordeal, and she asks what Cyrus has done to him. He says he’s locked up, away from the world, in solitary no less, and without a phone. She says they both know he has people on the outside doing his dirty work. What the hell does he want? Obviously not to kill her. It’s something else. What?! He tells her, calm down. She needs to focus. She’ll have to move fast. From what he sees in the photo, the people who have TJ aren’t concerned about his health. She says her son has nothing to do with this. He’s going to become a doctor, and save people’s lives. Cyrus says he’s sure TJ is fine, and he knows she’s the type of woman who will do anything to bring him home safe.
Curtis says, somehow Stella always manages to make him feel better, even when facing the hard truth. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. He asks how long he’s going to have the pleasure of her company, but she’s not sure. She wants to call TJ, and asks him to make room in his busy schedule for her. He says, that might be a problem; TJ has been a ghost lately. She asks, why? and he says, TJ proposed to Molly, and she turned him down.
Ned asks if Brook minds if he asks why she changed her mind. She says she was visiting Mike, and singing for the folks at Turning Woods. Olivia sent meatballs over. Ned says it was sweet of her to go, and she says it’s one way she can perform off of Linc’s radar. She knows how much Mike means to her mom. He and Sonny are part of the old neighborhood, and anyone from there is family. Ned asks how Mike was, and she says, to be honest, the Alzheimer’s pretty advanced, but she got him to smile. He started going on about how important family is, and it struck her. A guy who’s losing so much still remembers how important family is. They don’t always get along or like each other, but they’re the ones who show up for you and support you when you need it most. Ned says, you’d better believe it.
Britt says her mother helped deliver Nelle’s baby? Brad says, when Obrecht got back, and was exonerated, she put it together that the babies had been switched, and the baby he and Lucas adopted was Michael and Nelle’s baby. She used it to make him do her bidding whenever she wanted. She says, forget Julian. Use her mother to confirm Nelle was involved. He says he figures she’d lie to keep herself out of trouble, and Britt says she’s sorry her mother made things harder for him. Brad says, we all do things we regret, but at the end of the day, Obrecht wasn’t the problem; he was, and all the terrible decisions he made. He just wanted to be good enough for Lucas. He’d do anything to make Lucas happy. She says, that never works. We can’t change who we really are, no matter how hard we try.
Nelle says she’s going to have Willow arrested for assault, but Willow makes an innocent face, and says, it was an accident. Julian says, it looked that way to him. Nelle says she’s not paying a dime for dinner, and stomps over to her table. Sasha laughs, and Nelle asks if she has something to say. Sasha says, encore? Nelle deserves more than a drink in her face. Nelle says Sasha is nothing more than a tramp, wandering around the Quartermaine mansion, until Michael is sick and tired of her. Sasha says, at least she’s welcome, and no one has packed her off to sleep with the boats. Willow says she thought Nelle was leaving, but Nelle says she’s not going anywhere. Get used to it.
Michael says he was hoping they’d found the forged passports. They were either buried or taken, but by whom? Chase says, that’s what’s disturbing. Either there’s someone on the inside, or with access. Michael says, Nelle has an ally they don’t know about. She threw Brad under the bus and he’s in jail. Who else is out there who would help her? Chase says, another true believer helping Shiloh’s widow, and Michael says, possibly. The only other person who helped Nelle was Ava, and she regretted it pretty quickly. Chase says, the thought of someone backing Nelle up is all kinds of bad, and Michael says they have to stop her, no matter what. Um… Daisy anyone?
Brook asks Ned how this works, and he says he usually arrives at 7:30. She says, a.m.? She thought it was 9 to 5. He says, the hours are more fluid than that, and she says, good; she’d like to work 12 to 8:30, since she’s not a morning person. He says he’ll see her at 8; coffee helps. She panics, saying she doesn’t know how to work a word processing program or anything else, but he says she’s smart, talented, creative, and thinks outside the box; qualities he looks for in an ELQ employee. He thinks the music idea is good. There might even be a title for her down the road. There’s a learning curve, but he believes she can do whatever she puts her mind to. She says, except what she loves most. Five years without singing. She’s always been a singer, and doesn’t know who she is now.
Britt tells Brad, she knows what it’s like to fall in love with a child that’s not yours. She carried Lulu and Dante’s baby just to get Patrick back, but she loved Ben (now Rocco) so much, she couldn’t bear to let him go. Brad is glad someone gets it. Britt says she would have never let Julian walk away. She would have handed him over to Sonny without a second thought. He asks if she thinks he made a mistake.
Sasha tells Willow, she’s totally jealous. How did it feel? Willow says, extremely satisfying, but she wishes Nelle had melted like the wicked witch she is. Sasha says she feels bad for Michael. The mother of his child is a nightmare, and now there’s a brutal custody battle brewing. She wishes there was something she could do. Willow says, it seems like there is, and Sasha says, marry Michael for real? She doesn’t want to jump into something they’re not ready for, but what if they are ready, and didn’t know it?
Chase asks Michael, assuming they can’t send Nelle back to prison, how are they going to keep her away from Wiley? Michael says, Diane had an interesting idea. She thinks he should get married. Chase slides the beer over, saying Michael needs it more than him. Michael says, it doesn’t scare him… much, and Chase asks if he’s considering it; Sasha has been by his side through everything. Michael says, she’s been amazing, but married is a whole other level. Chase says, so is fatherhood, and Michael adjusted. He put Wiley first. Michael asks if he shouldn’t, and Chase says, of course (🍷) he should. What he’s saying is that he thinks Michael should do it. Michael says, propose to Sasha? and Chase says, if it were him, he’d consider anything to give himself the advantage over Nelle.
Jordan comes home, and Curtis says they were just talking about her. Look who’s here. Jordan hugs Stella, who says Jordan is shaking. Jordan says she’s chilly, but happy to see Stella. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and Stella asks if Jordan wants to talk about it. Jordan says, it’s just been a long day. She could use some downtime. Curtis says she’s clearly upset; what happened at Pentenville? She says Cyrus got under her skin, and Curtis explains that Cyrus is the man they believe is responsible for Cyrus’s death. Stella says, it must be awful to be face to face with a man who took someone she cared about. Jordan says she’s sorry, but she can’t do this.
Britt says Brad passed up a chance for revenge for Lucas’s sake. He put the man he loves first. He did the right thing. Brad says he doesn’t hear that much. Maybe one day, Lucas will understand. She hopes so, for both their sakes. Lucas will never find someone who loves him as much as Brad. A man comes in, tells Brad the waiver is ready to be signed, and cuffs him. Brad says that’s his cue, and Britt says, goodbye. He says, it can’t get much worse, right?
Jordan tells Curtis, Cyrus is hateful, dangerous, and should be dead, not languishing in prison. She apologizes to Stella. She knows Stella is probably tired, but she can’t stay there tonight. Stella asks if Jordan is kicking her out.
Ned says he understands what Brook is going through, but he has complete faith in her. He has no doubt she won’t lose who she is. She says she doesn’t want to become a corporate drone. No offense. He says, none taken. Neither did he. He resisted ELQ, but he kept finding himself being pulled back in. She asks why he kept going back, and he says, mainly because her grandmother would harangue him until he gave in. And also what Mike said. It all comes down to family. He wants to continue his grandfather’s legacy. He wants ELQ to remain in the family, and give a prosperous future to her, Leo, Wiley, and their kids. She says she has no plan to pop out babies any time soon, and he says he’s glad to hear it. She needs to focus on her career. She says, thanks to Linc, her career ended before it started.
Chase tells Michael, they need to hash out a plan, and Michael says, at least they have a start. Chase says he can’t tell Michael how much he regrets not dealing with Nelle when she killed Zack. If he hadn’t bought into her lies, Michael wouldn’t be in this position. Michael says, then Wiley wouldn’t be here, and he’s worth all of it. He just hopes Nelle doesn’t inflict her misery on him. Chase says Michael has a strategy for that, and Michael says, marriage. Chase says Michael and Sasha are the real deal. He has a piece of friendly advice. Michael can speed things up, and neutralize Nelle, or risk Nelle having a permanent place in Wiley’s life.
Ned says he knows five years sounds like forever, but you never know what can happen. Think of it as simply putting her career on hold. In the meantime, she can still be creative, when she’s not taking ELQ by storm. She says she’s ready to be a cog in the corporate machine, and he says, it’s not that bad. Tonight is karaoke night at The Floating Rib. Does she want to go, and celebrate her first day on the job? She says she’d love to sing with Eddie Maine, and thanks him. They hug, and he tells her that he loves her.
Chase finds Willow sitting outside of Charlie’s, and asks if she isn’t cold. She says she needed some air; Nelle is inside. He asks if she wants to leave, but she says, no. Now that he’s there, she won’t even notice Nelle. They kiss.
Julian asks Nelle, cash or credit? and she says she’s considering getting dessert. He says they don’t have it, and she says he doesn’t know what she wants. He says, whatever she wants, they don’t have, and she storms out without paying. Britt is at the bar, and Julian asks what he can get her. She says, that’s the question.
Sasha goes back to the Quartermaine mansion, and Michael says, hi. She kisses him passionately, and he says her greeting is better than his. They both start talking at once, and Michael tells her to go first. She says she was thinking about them and marriage. He says, so was he, and she wonders if they weren’t a little premature, saying it’s not an option. He says, maybe it’s not such a crazy idea after all, and she says, if it can sway his case even slightly, it’s worth talking more about it, isn’t it?
Curtis asks Stella to please give them a minute, and Stella says she’ll go freshen up – if that’s okay. Jordan says, of course (🍷). Sorry. Curtis tells Jordan, they’re alone now. Please tell him what Cyrus really said.
Tomorrow, Michael asks if Sasha can love Wiley, Chase hopes Harmony lives up to Willow’s expectations, Britt tells Julian that she knows he helped Brad, and Stella is still worried.
Project Runway
Karlie asked Steven if he thought all four designers deserved to move forward, and he said he did. Elaine said, hell yes, and Nina agreed. Brandon said he hated to be the one to deliver… the fact that he agreed with everyone. Like there was any doubt at that point. Karlie said they were all going to Fashion Week. In Sergio’s interview, he said those were the best words he’d ever heard. Geoffrey said he was super proud, but still had three designers left to battle. It was far from over. Karlie reminded them to take the judges advice into consideration when finishing their collections. They had 48 hours, and Brandon told them to show up and show out. Geoffrey said his mantra was, get it done.
Christian texted the designers to meet him at the CFDA. There, they met Sara Kozlowski, the director of professional development, and publicist Rachna Shah, who works with Givenchy, Fenti, and Victoria Beckham, who would give them one-on-one guidance on branding. Rachna agreed with the judges that Victoria had too much branding going on, and suggested she do at least one piece of work without any. Victoria fretted that it might be too simple. Nancy told them that she didn’t see gender, and it was a journey of textiles. She said it didn’t matter about age, size, or gender, and Rachna told her that she still needed to define what the appeal was for different people. She suggested Nancy go with her empowerment message. Geoffrey said bravery and survival were a big part of who he is, and Christian suggested he lead with that, not the fabric. Rachna told Sergio that just seeing the clothing would necessarily impart his narration, and he should pay attention to the hair and makeup as well. He said the judges had said the collection was too dated and old fashioned, and Rachna told him not to lock himself into one clientele age group. He said he was going to figure out how to modernize his collection to make it younger and fresher.
Going to Mood was next, where the designers had a budget of $400 and 45 minutes to shop. Christian told them that they would have seamstresses to help, because he’s nice and they needed it. Sergio said he was trying to make his collection messier, and Christian said him taking advice was a first. It only took the whole season. In Sergio’s interview, he said, being a perfectionist, it was hard for him to mess things up. Geoffrey was hoping to alter the crazy purple dress with enough sleeves for an octopus, and bring it back. It was time for them to work with the models, and Sergio said he wanted the model to not only feel the garment, but sell it to the judges. Nancy wanted to find models that didn’t just fit the garment, but reflect her mission of inclusivity. Stylist Karla Welch returned, and Christian told the designers that they’d be fitting five models the first day, and the other five on the second. In a double-duty commercial break, Christian discussed the fashion in the new Mulan movie with Sebastian, last season’s winner, and costume creator for the film.
Sergio said his collection needed a lot of alteration, which was a problem. The designers moved on to their makeup consult with MAYBELLINE. Victoria said ideas were fighting each other in her brain. The group took a break, going to West Wine Bar, where they talked about the loved ones coming in for the show. Geoffrey said his father was having a knee operation, and couldn’t make it . Sergio’s partner was going to be there, and Sergio said Kade had put his own career on hold in order for Sergio to come to New York, and he intended to propose.
The designers worked with the models, and Christian brought in Karla to work with the styling. She told Nancy they were getting rid of the wine tote, and suggested there be nothing superfluous. Geoffrey was all about putting one gigantic earring on each of his models, but Karla said it would throw off the symmetry. In Geoffrey’s interview, he said she gave him the same advice as the judges, and he was trying to find a way to meet in the middle. Dial back, yet stay true to himself. Karla told him not to do anything that would take the eye away from the clothes. In Sergio’s interview, he said Victoria was a force to be reckoned with, after she whipped up a gorgeously simple white gown in like, two hours. Karla suggested Sergio replace a fringed jacket he’d paired with a skirt, with a T-shirt. Sergio said it wasn’t his vision, and he was going to have to go to a place he wasn’t comfortable with, and push himself to the brink. Karla pointed out that Victoria had a mixture of styles, so she should have no extra distractions, and suggested all the shoes be nude. In Victoria’s interview, she said her mother wanted to be a designer, and was living her dream though Victoria. Geoffrey couldn’t find his bag of face studs, but Karla told him again not to detract from the garments, so he let it go. Next came hair with TRESEMME.
Christian said they weren’t done yet, causing the designers to panic, but he was just there to give a pep talk, telling the designers it had been about them being themselves, and figuring out who they were and who they wanted to be. He hoped they were proud. He let them know their guest judge was going to be Serena Williams. Rather than a T-shirt, Sergio decided to create the most wonderful knit turtleneck the world had ever seen. Nancy announced it was their last half-hour in the workroom, freaking everyone out. Geoffrey started crying, and then couldn’t see what he was sewing. He was nervous that he still had a ton alterations, and no time. If this turned out to be his last show, he’d need to go out and get a job. He was afraid of making a mistake he’d never forgive himself for.
It was the final day, and Geoffrey said he was a steaming hot mess, but thankful for the opportunity to grow. He’d found himself as a designer, and somehow pulled it off. Victoria said it was an important moment, and thought about the sacrifice and struggle it took her to get there. She said it had been a tough journey. We flashed back to her almost quitting, and she said she learned an amazing lesson – it was okay to fail some along the way. Sergio said he was confident coming in, since he was good at sewing, but the experience taught him to be open, and evolving as a person and designer. He made three friends, who all had outstanding collections, and he knew it was going to be a tough decision for the judges. Nancy said she’d been the underdog, not because of her age, but her lack of experience. When she had looks in the bottom, she listened to the advice, and said this was her authentic self. It was where she belonged, and hoped she’d shown it was never too late to live your dream. Don’t let anyone stop you.
The designers dressed their models. Sergio found there were holes popping out in his turtleneck. He said it was his worst nightmare, and rushed to fix them. I wondered why he didn’t just leave them, since Brandon’s advice was to f*** it up.
Karlie looked stunning in a black cut-out long-sleeved belly shirt, and black ballgown skirt with a high slit – and pockets! Victoria was up first, saying her collection, Revelation, was inspired by her home country and her mom, and told her husband that she loved him. In her interview, she said this had been her dream since she was a child, and she couldn’t believe she’d come this far from her tiny country. It was a strange feeling, and she didn’t want to take her eyes away, because she wanted to see every moment. She’d been a good designer, but not designing to her fullest. She thought her collection was modern and chic, and every piece was her aesthetic.
Nancy explained her collection, Sustain-Our-Ability, was zero waste wearable art, and her brand mission was inclusivity and sustainability. She dedicated it to her husband and son. I liked her collection, but was especially impressed with an amazing distressed jumpsuit. She said she didn’t have any particular woman in mind, she just designed for people. She wanted her fashion to allow people to express who they were as individuals. She got cheers for one of the dresses made of liquid fabric, and Nancy thought it was magical. She said she might be the oldest designer ever on the show, but she belonged there. She has a place in the fashion world.
Sergio said his Ocean Anthem collection portrayed what humanity doing arctic, and dedicated it to his partner Kade. The sheer white dress was a lot less sheer, and Sergio thought the model looked like Mother Nature herself. He’d totally revamped everything, and I was pretty impressed, thinking was going to be the winner. In his interview, Sergio said it was an emotional experience, seeing his collection in this amazing space on beautiful models, the way he’d envisioned it coming to life on the runway. He thought it was super chic, with a twist of modernity; designed for the woman who wants to be the best dressed at the party. He said, everything was so beautiful, ethereal, and elegant, and the movement spectacular, and he’d conveyed the entire story in one collection. All of his years in the industry was a warm-up for this moment.
I was surprised Geoffrey didn’t have a heart attack, but he rallied, and introduced his Purple Heart collection, saying it was about survival and bravery. He thanked his friends and family for their support over the years. In his interview, he said it was everything he’d been hoping for, and couldn’t be more proud. He’d revamped it well, but it still wasn’t my taste. Except for that one dress I loved from last week, which he’d given more shape to by taking in the bodice from the back. He said he learned it was okay to be shy and nervous, as long as his designs were fearless. His self-worth had magnified to a level he’d never dreamt of, and he was proud of his edit and collection. It was everything he’d hoped for, and he had no regrets. It was truly his best work, and he believed in it.
Karlie said it was going to be tough. Serena said it was a strong show with amazing designers. Karla was super impressed. Backstage, Sergio said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Kade, and asked Kade to marry him. Luckily, it was a yes, since it would have been really embarrassing had it been a no. Karlie told the designers it had been a fabulous show, and they’d all earned the right to be there. She reminded everyone that the prize was a quarter of a million dollars, their designs included on Bluprint, a feature in Elle magazine, $50K from Pilot pens, and a career changing mentorship with the CFDA.
It was time for the final judging, and Geoffrey was up first. Elaine said they’d seen a range of emotions from him (no kidding), and he had a Billy Eilish take on fashion. Brandon said Geoffrey’s brocade looked moved him emotionally, but I have no idea what that meant. Serena said she was a huge fan of outerwear, and loved his jackets, most of which would swallow me whole. Nina thought how he manipulated fabric so that it felt modern was amazing, but was concerned about the work being referential to Rick Owens. Karlie said his work became stronger and better, and he let it speak for itself. Karlie was glad he lost the bag with the face studs, saying all the over-styling was unnecessary.
Nancy was told both her designs and models were inspiring. She’d incorporated who is and what she stands for, and the industry needed more of that. Nina said Nancy proved sustainability can be fashion, and Elaine praised her clear intention. Brandon said he could tell she’d thought about how good the fabric would look on the runway under the lights, as well as the hair and makeup. Serena loved the collection, but would have like more of a silhouette, and Nina said she would have liked more pieces like Nancy’s tailored suit, but the collection came from her heart, and was bold authentic.
Nina said Sergio was most skilled in execution and polish, and his collection was high luxury level, but it seemed frozen in time. She wanted to see a more relaxed version. Sergio said he grew up in a very conservative place, and taking control made it feel safe. Brandon made safe place took longer control to feel safe. Brandon thought he needed to take more risks, and go for it. His favorite was the sheer turtleneck, which he said felt modern, and I imagine he would have liked it even better if Sergio had left those holes alone. Elaine said they’d gotten a glimpse of Sergio 2.0, and Serena said she loved classic design, so she loved his collection.
Serena told Victoria her execution of the cut-outs was on point, and they were difficult to do. Elaine gave her kudos for creating clothing that real women will want to shop for. It was fresh, but Victoria had gotten clear feedback about the branding, and still had a head-to-toe labeled outfit that was hard to see next to her elevated pieces. Brandon said everyone wanted her all-white dress, including him. Nina said it had a never before seen fluidity, and was like a graduation for Victoria. I guess that was another way of saying, it wasn’t the same asymmetrical cut-out mini dress that they’d seen ten thousand times.
The designers left the stage so the judges could discuss. They agreed they had a good problem, since all four designers were incredible. Brandon said it was clear Victoria loved the female form, and everyone loved the white dress, Brandon saying she could win on that alone. Serena loved the tailoring, and Karlie thought Victoria’s ideas could easily be commercial. Elaine said, Nancy definitely had a dog in the fight, which she wouldn’t have bet on in the beginning. She had the ability to evolve quickly, and Brandon said that stood for something in the industry, but she needed to push herself creatively, although her designs were both inspirational and commercial. Karlie said her fabric was lux, but thought the designs lacked variety, even though they were beautiful. Serena thought Nancy was amazing. The judges thought Sergio’s color story was poetic and moving, and Nina said it was perfect, polished, and dreamy, while Brandon added that it was also sellable, but didn’t know if it was something the market needed. Karlie said it was technically finished to perfection. Elaine said Geoffrey’s perspective was exciting. Brandon thought his ideas were crazy, but Nina said they were commercial as well. He had big ideas that would translate commercially, and if they didn’t have big ideas, they had nothing. Backstage, Sergio said it was the beginning of something big for all of them.
The designers brought back out, and Karlie said they all showed extraordinary work, but the winner delivered a warning shot as to what future was to come in fashion. Geoffrey was the big winner, and I was like, what? since I did not see that one coming. He said he’d worked hard his whole life to find a way to be an artist. His new confidence was insane; all the counseling in the world wouldn’t have done the same thing. It had been an incredible ride that he wouldn’t change for the world. He needed a rest, and was going to take four days off in a row. There were lots of hugs, and the champagne was flowing. Jeffrey called his dad and stepmom, and said he hoped he’d made them proud. He did.
🚴🏻♀️ The Never-Ending Week Continues…
I swear, every problem solved this week was replaced by three more. Is it Friday yet? Oh, wait, it is. Tea tomorrow, but bed right now.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Alexis and Neil bask in the afterglow. They smile at each other.
Michael builds a dollhouse. Sasha comes in, and says he was awfully quiet last night. He says Diane gave him a lot to think about, and Sasha asks if he wants to talk. He says he’d appreciate her take on this. To bolster his case for custody, Diane suggested he get married.
Ava runs into Julian at the hospital, and asks what he’s doing there. He says, looking for his son, and she asks if Lucas is talking to him again. He says, first, Lucas loses Wiley, then has to kick his husband to the curb, and he rushes back to work. Ava asks if he’s worried about Brad’s arraignment, but Julian says it doesn’t have anything to do with him. She asks if he’s not afraid Brad is going to give him up. He says if Brad makes him the bad guy, he could go prison for aiding, abetting, and kidnapping.
Scotty tells Brad to untie his hands; give him something. Brad wonders what else he can give Scotty to make it better, and Scotty says something to blur the lines and give reasonable doubt. Something to get the guilty off of him.
At The Floating Rib, Mac stands next to Taggert’s picture, and says they’ve gathered to celebrate the life and memory of Marcus Taggert. He suggests Jordan go first, but she says, what is there to say? Taggert was the bravest man she ever knew. She raises her beer bottle, and says, to Marcus Taggert, and everyone else follows suit. Trina thanks Cameron for coming, and Elizabeth tells Portia that she’s sorry. Portia says she appreciates it. It means a lot to Trina that they came too. Trina says she’s right, and hugs Cameron.
Laura sees Curtis at the hospital, and asks if he’s okay. He says he gave blood, and she says doing his civic duty. He says he’s just in it for the cookie; helping others is a bonus. She finds that hard to believe, and says he was missed at the funeral. He says, that’s another reason why he’s there. He thought he could do more good donating blood after all that’s been shed. She tells him to stop beating himself up about what happened to Taggert. He says, if he’d had more time or a better plan… but Laura says Taggert had a plan. He wanted Curtis to get his daughter out alive, and Curtis did it. She tells him, Mac is hosting a wake at The Floating Rib, and he should go. He says he’d feel out of place, but she says, if anyone should be there, it’s him.
Mac asks if anyone else wants to say something. Sonny says he does, but Jordan says, the memorial is for friends, family, and cops. He says he just wants to pay his respects. He asks if he can have a glass, but Mac says, it’s for cops only. Sonny says he can do it without one, and walks up front. He says, if he had a glass, he’d raise it to Taggert. It’s no surprise they didn’t like each other. They had a lot of battles, but in the end, he respected Taggert. He was a brave man; loyal to the people he loved, and committed to the code of honor. He says, to Marcus Taggert, but no one responds. I feel sad for Sonny.
Brad says he told Scotty a billion times. The only other person who knew about the baby switch was Nelle. It was her idea. Scotty says Nelle insists Brad stole the baby while she was passed out, and Brad says, she’s lying. Scotty says he needs prove it. He needs to know if there’s somebody else mixed up in this with Brad.
Ava says Brad knows Julian is his only friend. He says, when a ship sinks, that kind of friend takes the raft. Brad is the person he’s least concerned about. If Sonny finds out… She says, there’s one solution; Sonny can’t find out.
Michael tells Sasha, on one hand, it might help to show he’s more qualified to care for Wiley. She says, living in a mansion with a full-time staff might help. He says, it doesn’t hurt, but a nanny isn’t a substitute for a mother’s love.In the meantime, Nelle has money from the sale of her ELQ shares. She says, what about character witnesses? Does Nelle even have any? He says, he has more stability, and Wiley will be loved and nurtured. It’s not even close, but it’s Nelle. Sasha says, she’s a master manipulator, and Michael says she’s turned playing the victim into an art form. She asks, what about him? What does he think about this marriage thing?
Alexis and Neil kiss. She says she needs a therapist, and he says he thinks she just had one. She says, it was really great, but a mistake, since he has a hearing in less than an hour about what they just did. He asks if they can forget about the hearing for the next five minutes. She asks what he wants to talk about, and he says, the opera, and the fact they ended up in the same box. And it wasn’t just any opera. It was Aida, a story of forbidden love. She asks if they’re not all like that, and he says, only 80%. Then there was the walk home; a romantic stroll through Manhattan. The bar, the ride in the elevator, and them struggling to say goodnight. Alexis says, it can’t happen again. When he goes before the board, his license is at stake. He says he needs to tell the truth that they’re more than friends.
Jordan says, Port Charles was Taggert’s home, and he did everything he could to keep it safe. She’s not sure if everyone knew, but he was planning to move back full-time, so he could be closer to his daughter. Now he’s a part of her – and them – always. Everyone raises their bottles again. Sonny tells Trina that he’s sorry, and she thanks him. He says he and Carly have her in they’re prayers. He tells Portia that Trina is great, and if they need anything, let him know. Portia thanks him, and says, it’s kind of him to come. She knows Taggert would appreciate it very much. Sonny says, he was a good man, and Portia says, yes; he was. Sonny asks how Cameron is, and Cameron says, he can’t complain. Well, he guesses he could… Sonny asks how his left hook is, and if he’s ready to come back to the gym. Cameron thinks so, and Sonny asks how Elizabeth is. She says, glad the kids are safe and sound. Sonny tells her, make sure to keep them safe. Josslyn wants to ask Sonny something, and they step away. She asks if it’s okay if she stays a little longer. She thinks Trina might need her. He says he’ll tell Michael and Wiley that she said hi. He leaves, and Josslyn says she hopes it was okay with Trina that Sonny came. Trina says she’s glad he did, and she’s not just saying that. Even though they were on opposite sides, like Sonny said, they respected each other, and that’s important.
Laura says Taggert asked Curtis to help him. He wanted Curtis to protect his daughter while he did what he knew he had to do. Curtis says he shouldn’t have left Taggert alone, but Laura says, according to the kids’ statements, it’s obvious if he hadn’t been there, they’d be having funerals for Cameron and Trina. He says he knows that, but… She says, no buts. When Taggert found out Cyrus had his daughter, he knew how it would play out. He put his daughter’s life in Curtis’s hands, and Curtis got her out of there. He says he doesn’t think Trina sees it that way, and Laura says, that’s the good thing about facts. It doesn’t matter how others see it. Curtis might not be a cop, but at the moment Taggert needed him most, Curtis was his partner.
Alexis asks if Neil is insane. He says, legally or psychologically? and she says, it’s not funny. If he tells the truth, he can kiss his career goodbye. He says if he doesn’t, he undermines his colleagues, and she says there won’t be anything to undermine. He tells her, say he lies, and they put whatever they’re calling this on hold for two years. He doesn’t think they can, but she says they have no choice. Someone reported him, and if they keep this up, they’ll report him again. He says he’ll tell the truth, but she says, no. He’s a great doctor, and this is coming from a patient he fired twelve times. He’s good at this. it’s who he is, and she’s not letting anyone take that away from him, including him.
Neil tells Alexis, like it or not, he has to tell the truth. Alexis says, the truth is, while he was treating her, they had an attraction, but didn’t act on it until she stopped treatment. He says, but they did, and she says, please don’t do this. He says he has to get ready, but before he does, he wants her to know, no matter what happens or what the board’s decision is, he doesn’t regret last night. He kisses her and leaves. She says, wow.
Ava shows up at the memorial, and Trina says she’s glad Ava is there. Ava says, of course (🍷); they’re friends, aren’t they? On a day like this, they all need friends. Portia watches Ava, and Jordan watches Portia.
Sonny goes to visit Michael, but says he’s not staying long. He just stopped by to see how Michael is doing. Sasha greets Sonny, but says she has to make some calls, and excuses herself. Sonny asks how Michael is doing, and Michael says, so far, so good. He’s spending every minute he can with Wiley, who’s napping right now. Sonny says, Michael will be a good father, and Michael says he learned from best. Every minute feels like a gift, especially since Wiley was taken away from him for so long. He knows he spent a lot of time with Wiley, but knowing Wiley is his son… He has to be sure Wiley stays with him.
Julian stands outside the door, listening to Scotty and Brad. Scotty says, it’s never too early to prepare a good defense. He needs to know if there’s someone Brad can share the blame with. Julian walks in, and Scotty asks what brings him by. Brad says he and Scotty are discussing legal stuff, and Julian asks Scotty if he can have a word with Brad. Scotty tells Brad to think about it, and don’t take too long. He tells Julian, the check cleared, and Julian asks if there was ever any doubt. Scotty says, yeah, especially with his clientele these days. He’s surprised Julian is there, since Brad isn’t Lucas’s favorite person right now. Julian says, like it or not (phrase of the day), Brad is still his son-in-law, and he’s here for him. Scotty says, touching, and leaves. Julian asks Brad if he gave Scotty any names, and Brad says, not yet, but they’re running out of time. Scotty thinks someone else is involved.
Jordan follows Portia to the bathroom, and asks if she’s okay. Portia says she’s fine, and Jordan asks if she’s sure. It can’t be easy. Portia tells her, she never said anything was easy. She loved Taggert very much, but he was never going to let go of his work. Jordan says, Taggert loved her and Trina; she has to know that. Portia says, she does know that, but so what? When it came down to choosing between them and his job, she and Trina never stood a chance.
Trina tells Josslyn and Cameron to talk to her about anything; college volleyball, even soccer, which is only interesting every four years when they compete for the World Cup. Josslyn says she wants a distraction? Something right in front of her to keep her focused? Trina says she does, and Josslyn says, college visits. She’s looking at schools in Florida, but her mom isn’t happy about that. Trina sees Curtis, and asks what the hell he’s doing there.
Trina says Curtis is the reason her father is dead. Because of him, all she has left is the burial flag. Everyone says she should be grateful to him for saving her life, but he should have saved her father. Portia comes over, and asks, what’s wrong? Trina says she wants him gone. She says, Curtis? and Curtis says, Portia? Trina says, they know each other? Jordan is like, hmm…
Sonny says he heard as soon as the charges were dropped, Nelle sued Michael for full custody. Michael tells him not to worry. He saw it coming, and he was ready. He took a leave of absence from ELQ, so he could focus on his son, and providing a home that no judge will want to take Wiley away from. Sonny understands where Michael is coming from, but says he loves running ELQ. Michael says it’s nothing in comparison to his son. There’s something else. He’s been dreading Brad’s trial, and having to listen to Nelle justify taking his son away. Sonny tells him not to worry. Things have a way of working out.
Julian tells Brad that he’ll do what he can, and Brad asks what Julian wants in return. Julian says he wants Brad quiet. If Brad cares about Lucas, don’t take one more thing from him. Brad says, meaning Julian, and Julian says Lucas has lost Wiley and Brad, and he’s the last thing Lucas has. Brad says, so Julian gets away with keeping Wiley from his family, while he takes the fall.
Alexis goes to the hearing. Dr. Crouse introduces herself and thanks Alexis for coming. Alexis says she’s happy to clear things up. Neil arrives, and Dr. Crouse suggests they get started. They’re here to review a complaint against Neil. She’s read their statements, and asks if Neil has anything to add. He says, not at this time, and she says, then they’ll be hearing from the other party first.
Trina says, Curtis and her mother know each other? Portia says, they used to, and Curtis says he didn’t mean to interrupt. He’s just there to pay his respects. Laura says, it’s her fault. She thought Curtis should be there. Portia thanks her, and Laura says she knew Taggert twenty years ago. He was a wonderful man and a dedicated cop. Trina says, now he’s dead. Why is everyone being nice to this man, when he’s the one responsible? She’s done. She runs off, and Cameron and Josslyn say they’ve got this, and follow her. Mac asks if Curtis wants a drink, but he says he’s good. Mac asks what about Ava? and she says, her? Yeah.A vodka martini with three olives. Jordan watches Curtis and Portia look at each other.
Portia tells Curtis, she’s so sorry. Forgive her daughter. Curtis tells her, Trina said nothing he hasn’t been telling himself. Portia says Trina owes him her life, but he says Trina’s father saved her life. He was just backup. She asks how long it’s been since they’ve seen each other, and he says, years, adding, he’s sorry for her loss.
Outside the bathroom, Cameron says they’re taking too long; he’s coming in. He asks if everything is okay, and Josslyn says, it’s all good, more or less. Trina says the less is that her father is gone, and the man responsible is an old friend of her mom’s. How twisted is that? Cameron knows she doesn’t want to hear this, and she says, then don’t say it. He tells her, he’s glad she’s alive, and she says he didn’t see what happened. Her dad against all those guys. Curtis dragged her away, and she can’t be grateful. Josslyn says, she got to say goodbye. If she can’t be grateful that she was saved, be grateful for the extra time she had with her dad. She doesn’t have to pretend. Cameron guesses he’s pretending too, but he’s not doing half as good a job. The whole morning was terrible. He’s glad he’s there, but knows it’s terrible for them too. Josslyn says, it is, and hugs Trina. Cameron comes in from the other side for a three-way hug.
Elizabeth tells Portia, they were so close to losing their kids, and Portia commends Trina’s support system. Ava says, Trina has a lot of people she can count on, including her. Portia says, what a wonderful role model. Ava says, it’s her husband’s memorial, and Portia can say what she wants. Curtis asks if Jordan is okay, and she says, it’s another reminder of life cut short. She asks how come he never mentioned he knew Trina’s mother, and he says he hadn’t realized who Trina’s mother was until just now.
Laura approaches Ava, and says she wondered if Nikolas would be joining her. Elizabeth says she was just asking about him. Ava says, Nikolas. Poor man, moping around that big house, looking like he lost his best friend. She’s hoping Elizabeth and Franco can join them for dinner sometime.
Brad tells Julian, the best thing to do for Lucas, is tell him his father lied every step of the way. Julian says he wouldn’t say every step. He’s kept Brad’s secret for the last few months, but he’s not the one who stole Wiley; that was Brad and Nelle. And he wouldn’t be part of this mess if Brad hadn’t begged him to keep the secret. He tells Brad, stick to the script, and he’ll take care of the rest.
Michael asks how Lucy is, and Sasha says, the same as always. She asks what his dad wanted, and he says Sonny was just checking on him, and wanting to solve all of his problems. Sasha says, everyone thinks they know what’s best for him and Wiley, and he says, it’s the story of his life. She says, he knows better than anyone what’s best for Wiley, and asks if he has any thoughts about Diane’s advice. He says, in olden times, the primary purpose of marriage was a business transaction – property, armies, money – it wasn’t about love. Sasha says she’s practically swooning, and he says, to a degree, it’s still like that. Maybe what Diane is expecting is for him to get down on one knee. As a lawyer she thinks marriage will help his custody case. Sasha wonders if he’s asking her.
Brad wonders where to begin, when Sonny walks in.
Dr. Crouse says, a complaint was filed that Neil and Alexis have a personal relationship, and asks if there’s any factual basis. Alexis says, the facts are as follows. They found themselves in the same venue – Bingo. She won, and doesn’t typically win that kind of thing, so she was super excited and kissed him impulsively. Nothing romantic; it was strictly out of joy. Dr. Crouse says, from winning at Bingo? and Alexis asks if she’s ever won. Dr. Crouse says she has, and there’s nothing like it. Does they have anything else to add regarding the relationship? Neil says, no, and Alexis says, actually, yes. She asks the board to take into account, Neil’s acumen as a therapist. Her daughter Kristina ended up in a cult, Dawn of Day. Dr. Crouse says she’s familiar with it, and she’s sorry to hear Alexis’s daughter got embroiled in it. Alexis says, Kristina’s father hired Neil to extricate her, and he was very successful. He led Kristian back to her family, and she has a healthy relationship with herself again. If not for Neil, Alexis would have no relationship with her daughter today. Dr. Bern is a very good therapist. He helps people; sometimes in sessions, and sometimes as a friend. After their sessions ended… Dr. Crouse says, they became friends? Alexis says, it’s a small town, and they run into each other, and frequent some of the same places. It would be ridiculous if when one of them walked in, the other walked out. They’ve chatted, and she wouldn’t say they’re friends, but friendly. Dr. Crouse says the board recognizes that Neil is a gifted therapist, which is why it’s even more imperative that he do what’s right. She asks Alexis to tell them in her own words, of what nature is her relationship with Neil?
Ava tells Elizabeth, let’s have dinner soon, and moves on. Laura tells Elizabeth that she guesses it wasn’t the place to say she wouldn’t be taking Ava up one it, and Elizabeth says she’d be fine blowing it off, but it will be hard to talk Franco out of it. Ava and Nikolas are up to something. Laura says, of course (🍷) they are. Trina comes back, and Portia asks if she’s okay now. Trina says she’s feeling better, and Portia suggests they go home. Ava tells Trina, it’s okay for her not to rush back to work, and Portia says, how kind of her, allowing Trina to mourn her dead father. Ava says she knows what a terrific multi-tasker their girl is. She’s sure Trina had it in her head to come in tomorrow. Trina says she was going to come by today, but Ava says she’ll do no such thing. Take her time. Her internship is waiting. Trina says they’ll talk later.
Elizabeth asks if she can give Josslyn a ride, but Josslyn says, Sonny has a car waiting. Cameron says, and bodyguards, and Elizabeth says, you can never be too safe. They look at Taggert’s picture, and Josslyn tells Cameron, she knows she’s said this a hundred times, but she’s glad he’s okay. They hug. Elizabeth tells Josslyn, be careful and stay safe. Jordan looks at her phone, and Curtis asks if it’s a text from TJ. She says, yeah, and the text reads that he needs time away to think things over. Don’t worry. Curtis says, TJ is licking his wounds. He’ll work it out. She says she’s not worried, but texts back for TJ to call and leave a message. She wants to hear his voice. She tells Curtis, she’s just verifying.
Dr. Crouse says, before they answer, she wants to emphasize that the patient review board is relying on their honest, concise, and forthright answers. She’s asking for what she hopes will be the last time, what is the nature of their relationship? Alexis says her relationship with Neil is strictly professional. Outside of the incident she told them about, their relationship has been cordial. She was his patient, and he was her therapist.
Michael tells Sasha, he’s willing to protect his son by any means necessary, but a marriage of convenience isn’t fair to anyone, especially her. Sasha appreciates him saying that, but if he was considering it, she would understand. He says he has no desire to create an instafamily for appearances sake, and she says she’s glad they’re on the same page. He says, but if the day ever came that he decided to get married, he would want it to be for the right reasons. Wouldn’t she? I wonder if I’m watching The Bachelor for a moment, and Sasha says absolutely. They can’t let anyone else dictate how they live. How they live is up to them, not Diane, and certainly not Nelle. They hug.
Brad asks what Sonny is going to do to him. Sonny says, that depends on what Brad says in the courtroom.
Tomorrow, Laura says they’ll use Cyrus’s own tactics against him, Brook visits Mike, and Sonny tells Brad to plead guilty.
The Haves and The Have Nots
After all he’s done to his mother and father, Wyatt thinks he wants to. Kathryn says she’s heard all of this before. She thinks he’s in jail and safe, and tells him to leave her alone. He asks if she knows how easy it is for him to kill himself there. He shows her a shank made from a toothbrush, and says, you can easily get a shank like this; it has a razor inside, and you can slit your wrists. She tells him, don’t do anything stupid, and he says, it’s just a way out. Doesn’t she think they’ll be happy if he does this? She says she’s not playing around, and he says neither is he. She calls for the guard, but he says he timed it so they’d be on shift change. Tell dad he’s sorry. He cuts his wrist, and she yells again for the guard.
Wyatt says, it shouldn’t be too long, and Kathryn tells him to put pressure on it. He says, it’s all too much, and she says she loves him. He says he knows, but he just can’t do this anymore. She continues to call for the guard, and Wyatt says, tell dad he loves him. Kathryn says he’ll be able to tell his dad himself; don’t do this. He tells her, don’t panic. They’ll all be much happier. She says they both love him, and he says he thought she said she didn’t. She says she gets upset sometimes. She cries, saying she gets angry and says things. He says, the truth always comes out. When he was seven, she always blamed the banana fosters. He loved those. She begs him to put pressure on it, and calls for the guard, but he says, doesn’t she want their last conversation to be one of peace? He loved those banana fosters; they were so good. He’d come home from boarding school, and be so excited to see her and dad, and asked her make him a banana foster. After a week, she’d start yelling at him; they’d get sick of him. Does she remember that? They were screaming because of something dad made her do. That’s the day the priest did to him what he did, and all he wanted was a banana foster to make him feel better. He just wanted her to hug him, but she looked at him, and made him feel so sad. He starts to slump, and falls. She screams his name, and sinks to the ground, sobbing. She calls for the guard again. I guess it must be a long shift change.
Jim’s thug comes into his hospital room, and says, Jim wanted to see him? Jim says it’s his lucky day; he’s giving another chance. The thug says, sorry, but Jim says, don’t be. This has nothing to do with the Malones. This one is easy. Veronica Harrington. He wants her. The thug asks how long Jim wants her held, and Jim says he wants her killed. He wants her dead, and he wants it to look like an accident. How does he think he’ll do it? The thug says he’s not sure, and Jim says, understand. It needs to look like an accident. The thug says, a car accident? but Jim says, something big; catastrophic. She hangs around with thugs. Come up with something plausible. The thug leaves, and Jim’s phone rings.
It’s AG Kyle, who says he heard Jim had an issue. Jim says he’s as well as can expected, and Kyle says Jim’s colleague said Jim wanted to talk to him. What’s going on? Jim asks if it’s a secure line, and Kyle says it is. Is Jim’s? Jim says, yes, and tells Kyle that he wants to talk about the situation. Kyle says he’s all over that, and Jim asks when he’s reaching out. Kyle says, tomorrow, but he can’t do anything about the other part. It’s a murder charge. Before, it was just conspiracy. Jim asks if Kyle is sure there’s nothing he can do, and Kyle says, it’s highly unlikely, but Jim says, at least try. Kyle says the little favor Jim did about Candace doesn’t pay this kind of debt. Jim says he can be helpful to Kyle if given the chance, and Kyle says, okay; he’ll consider it. Jim thanks him, and Kyle tells him, try to stay out of trouble. Jim says, not a chance in hell, and Kyle says he’s learning that about Jim. They’ll talk soon. Jim hangs up, and wonders, what the hell is going on?
Kyle tells Scott that Jim was calling in a favor, and Scott asks what Jim wants Kyle to do. Kyle says Jim wants him to help his wife, and Scott says, it’s a murder charge. Kyle says, Jim is something else. He thinks the little info he gave Kyle on Candace is enough. Scott tells him, be careful with Jim. These are the kind of people he has to watch, and not take for granted. There’s something going on with Candace. The press has turned the tide; they’re murdering him, and consoling her. Someone is behind this. Kyle has a gut feeling Scott knows who it is, but Scott insists he doesn’t. He tells Kyle, be careful with that Cryer guy, and Kyle says, just do his job.
Benny finds Mitch waiting for him as he drives up in his new truck. Mitch asks what the hell he’s doing with that thing, and Benny says it’s his. Mitch asks, how? and Benny says Candace set him up, so he bought two. Let’s get back in. Mitch asks where Candace is, and Benny says, she had to make a stop, but said she’d be back before she left. He wants to get the towing back up, and get at it with Mitch. Mitch asks how he got the money, and Benny says, don’t worry. Candace gave him a lot. Mitch says, it was nice of her, and Benny says Hanna is going to be mad as hell, but it’ll be all right. Mitch hopes the both of them will be all right, and Benny says, Hanna will be mad, but he’s not worried about Jim. If Jim comes after him, he’ll be ready with his badass truck. A horn beeps, and Candace pulls up, also in a new truck. Mitch says they all got big boy trucks, and Benny says they’re doing big boy things. Mitch asks if he can borrow Candace’s truck, and she says she bought it for him. She tosses Mitch the keys, and says she’s tired of seeing him drive around in that… He says his car is vintage, and she says, it’s a piece of junk. Mitch thanks her, and Benny wonders why Candace got the truck for Mitch; he didn’t do nothin’. Candace says, he saved Benny’s life; be happy for him. Benny says, all right. Candace says she has to pack for the airport, and they go inside.
Mitch says his new truck is bad as hell, and he and Benny fist bump. Benny says, they’re back in action. He realizes Hanna is there, and she says, so this is how it is. She asks what Candace got, and Candace says, nothing. Hanna says, no red bottoms? Her brother was kidnapped, and her baby was killed. Benny says, mom, but she tells him, shut up; she’s talking. She asks what they’re going to do when Jim comes for him, but Benny says, he won’t. She asks how he knows, and Benny says, he just knows. She says he’s crazy, and asks Candace, did you do something gansta, princess? Candace says, no, and Hanna says he’s coming, but Mitch says, he won’t. Hanna asks if he was in this conversation, and how does he know? Mitch says he talked to Jim. His family can be persuasive. Benny says, Mitch talked to Jim? Mitch says he did, and Benny asks what he said. Mitch says he told Jim that he can’t mess with them anymore. Hanna says her family is now gangster talking kids, and Benny says he knows she’s upset, but she’ll get over it. Candace gave him a million dollars.
Hanna says, a million dollars? and Benny says he’s keeping every dime. She says, then get out. He says he knew she’d say that, and if she likes, he’ll be glad to leave. Hanna says, so this is how it is, and Benny says, sorry. She tells him, get his sh*t, and get out. He says he thinks he’ll get a house; something small, around $200K. When Hanna calms down, she can come live with him. She wants no part of his gangster lifestyle, and he says when she’s tired of freeloading, let him know. She says she’s tired of her children not knowing how to do the right thing. They’re grown. She tells Benny, it won’t last, and he says he’s going to enjoy it while it does. She says she expected it from Candace. She was holding out hope, but wondering how long before Candace went back to her old ways. Candace says she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Sorry. Hanna tells her, get her stuff and leave. When she comes back, she wants them both gone. And if they come back, the police will be there. She’ll have them arrested for stealing money. Candace says they didn’t steal it, and Hanna says they’ll let the police decide. She’s always said, she’d rather see Candace alive and in jail, than dead in the street. She can’t believe them. She leaves, and Mitch says, she is pissed. Benny says, she’ll be all right, and Mitch wants to take a spin in his new truck. He goes to do that, and Candace sits on the couch, with her head in her hands. Benny says he knows she’s not feeling bad. He suggests they get her stuff, and get hell out.
David goes back to his house. Jeffrey is lying on the couch, and asks if he’s sneaking in. David says, no, and Jeffrey says, it looks that way. He’s tiptoeing around like the Grinch. David asks if Jeffrey was sleeping, and Jeffrey says, this early? David says he knows Jeffrey likes to nap, but Jeffrey says he wasn’t asleep. Does David want to talk about it? David says, what? and Jeffrey says, what he saw. David says Jeffrey is a grown man, and Jeffrey asks if he minds that it was in the house? David says, no, and Jeffrey asks if he minds that it was Madison. David repeats, Jeffrey is grown. He does have a problem with what he saw, but it’ll be fine. Jeffrey asks why David is avoiding him, and David says he didn’t expect to see all that. Jeffrey asks if it weirded him out? and David says, to be honest, yes. Sorry. Jeffrey says, don’t be sorry, but David says, it’s who Jeffrey is. He’s just never seen it before. Jeffrey says, not even in college? and David says, no. Jeffrey says, damn, and David says he grew up in a different time. Jeffrey asks what gay people did back then, and David supposes they hid their sexuality; a lot of them were in the closet. Jeffrey guesses they had to be afraid, and says, it’s sad. David says he doesn’t want that for Jeffrey. He wants Jeffrey to be free. He says if Jeffrey had been with a girl, he wouldn’t feel this way. Jeffrey asks, what way? and David says he doesn’t know how he’s feeling. He needs time to deal. He tells Jeffrey that he loves him, and Jeffrey says he loves David too. David says, no matter who Jeffrey is sleeping with, just make sure they’re a consenting adult. He says he bought Jeffrey something, and Jeffrey says he saw it, but he doesn’t need a fifty pack of condoms. David says, they were on sale, and Jeffrey thanks him. I loved this scene. There was just the right amount of uncomfortable, and lots of love.
David asks if Jeffrey really likes Madison, and Jeffrey says, he’s still getting to know him. He knows what it’s like. David can’t tell him that he never had sex with someone he was still trying to get to know. David says he does, and he likes Madison better than Justin (said everybody). He’s happy for Jeffrey. Jeffrey says he and Madison are supposed to go out to dinner, and asks if it’s okay if Madison comes over afterward. David says, sure, but please, lock his door. Jeffrey and I laugh, and Jeffrey says, make sure to knock next time. David says he loves Jeffrey, and he’s a little embarrassed, but he’ll get over it. He tells Jeffrey, enjoy his dinner. Jeffrey says security phone him, and David says not to panic. It’s necessary. Jeffrey asks if David thinks Veronica will try it again, and David says he knows she will. Jeffrey says, damn, and David asks if Jeffrey loves his mother. Jeffrey says, she makes it harder every day. Why is he asking? David says he just wants to be sure. Jeffrey asks what he’s thinking, and David says he’s not thinking anything; he’s just asking. Jeffrey says David doesn’t ask if there’s not a reason. Is he going to do something to her? David tells him, have a nice time, and tell Madison he said hello. Jeffrey says, should something happen to his mother, he understands. He asks if a guard is going to follow him, and David says the guard will keep his distance. He’ll keep an eye out, and look out for his mother’s henchmen. Relax and enjoy himself. They’ll talk more later.
Scott says, Kyle wanted to see him? Kyle says they may have an issue. Senator Connelly Westlake. Charles wants to make him the AG. Scott says they were expecting it, but Kyle says they weren’t expecting him to get up in his bonnet over Candace. He was really upset. Scott says, Connelly has no reason to be upset about a whore, and Kyle says, well, he is. Kyle wonders if Charles is in love with Candace; impossible. Scott says, he’d be a fool, as would anyone who falls for a piece of ass. Kyle says the reason he called is, they need to make sure everything was done by the book, especially the last eight years. He doesn’t want Connelly opening an investigation about them. Scott says he’s on it, and Kyle says, itshould already be done. Scott says he’ll make sure it’s done correctly. Kyle says he thinks Scott might need to get rid of any evidence. He thinks she recognized him when she robbed him. Clean it up, and make it look like accident. Make it look a suicide. Charles will be heartbroken. Make sure it’s on Federal property, so they can make a Federal case out of it. Scott says, say goodbye to the President’s mistress.
Laura tidies up, and Veronica says she likes it a lot; Laura is good. She tells Laura that she needs to pick up the dry cleaning and to take her car. Laura protests, but Veronica says Laura isn’t taking her five grand suits on the bus. She says Laura is a sweet girl, and Laura tells Veronica, her mom… Veronica interrupts, and tells her she has a job to do, and Veronica just expects her to do it. Laura says, sorry, and Veronica says, don’t be sorry; be better. There’s a knock at the door, and Laura answers it. She tells Veronica, he said his name is Rondell (yay! a name!), and Veronica says, let him in. Rondell walks in, and Veronica asks, what’s going on? He says he just came to holler at her. They’re out for her. She asks, who? and he says he doesn’t know; a foreign dude. She says, it’s probably David, and he says she needs to watch her back for real. She says her back is fine, and he asks if she’s sure she doesn’t need muscle around, but she says he’s not muscly enough. She sort of flirts with him, and takes his hand, asking if they’re good, now that she paid for his brother’s funeral and his kids’ tuition. He says they are, but she needs to lay low until this blows over. The dude who’s looking for her ain’t a good dude. She says she can handle it, and he says she ain’t scared of nothing, is she? She says, not really. Except the whore he’s sleeping with. He says he’s been checked, but she says he’s not touching her until she sees the blood test. He says he’s glad they’re cool now, and to let him know if she wants anything. He leaves, and she says, damn. Weed and malt liquor. Veronica has to do better than this. She calls for Laura, saying, Lucy bring the air freshener please.
Madison and Jeffrey go out to dinner, and Madison thanks Jeffrey for asking him out. Jeffrey says he didn’t really ask Madison out, and Madison guesses he’s right; he demanded it. Jeffrey says he hopes Madison brought his wallet, and Madison says he hopes Jeffrey brought his appetite. Jeffrey says he did, and Madison says, how about his sexual one? Jeffrey says, that was lame, and Madison says, don’t act like he didn’t want to finish. Jeffrey asks if they’re really talking about that right now, and Madison says they can talk later. He tells Jeffrey, for someone who’s trying so hard to resist, he seems to be getting excited. Jeffrey asks how Madison knows that, and Madison says, when Jeffrey is excited, he acts like he’s not interested. He needs to lighten up. Jeffrey asks, what’s on the menu? and Madison says, him. Jeffrey asks what’s wrong with him? and Madison asks if Jeffrey can blame him. Since day one, when he saw Jeffrey, he wondered, who is that? Jeffrey says he did too, and Madison says, then don’t act like he didn’t want the same thing. Jeffrey says he did, and asks if they can order now. Madison asks if Jeffrey is in a hurry, and Jeffrey says, the sooner the meal is over, the sooner they can leave. Madison calls, waiter! and they order.
Laura goes home to her apartment, and her boyfriend? husband? asks where she’s been. She says she got the job. He says, with Veronica? and she says, yes. He says, it’s the score they’ve been looking for. He asks how Veronica is, and Laura says, she’s a bitch. He wouldn’t believe it. She needs him to case the place, and he says he could do his pool boy thing. She doesn’t like it, but he says, it’s the best way in. She agrees, telling him to do what he’s got to. He says he loves her, and she says she loves him too. He says they’re about to be so rich. She says, they are, and she’s so horny. She tells him, take his clothes off, and he asks if she’s got dollars. She says, it’s on credit. Tonight’s a good night, and she’s going to cash in. He takes his shirt off, and she grabs his belt, pulling him closer. He kisses her, and carries her to the bedroom. Since she never once called him by name, I picked up one character’s name, only for a nameless one to negate it.
Candace tells Benny, Hanna is pissed. Benny says he knows, and she says they were just getting on good terms. Benny says, it’s crazy for her to think they weren’t taking the money. Candace says she almost didn’t, and Benny says she would have regretted it for the rest of her life. She says she’s not looking back, and Benny picks up his laptop. He says he’s looking up Derrick, and Candace says, for what? He says Derrick pissed mom off, but Candace says, let it go; she’s serious. He shows her a mug shot, and says, dude is in jail. He reads something, and asks if the man who raped Hanna didn’t have a lion tattoo on his chest. He and Candace look at each other, and I think he knows Candace knows who Derrick is.
The Haves and The Have Nots returns in the fall.
Vanderpump Rules
Fingers crossed that James does something stupid. Oh, wait. If he’s in this episode, he’ll be doing something stupid. No finger crossing necessary.
Kentucky Castle, Versailles, Kentucky. Brittany thanks everyone for coming. Jax says, they’ve come a long way, and he and Brittany appreciate it. A guy walks through the guests to the front, and says he’s a Junior Detective with the New York Police Department, and wherever he goes, murder seems to follow. In her interview, Brittany says, it’s a murder mystery party. The guy says he’s recruiting them be amateur detectives. In Stassi’s interview, she says everyone who knows her, knows she loves murder and solving mysteries. This is the role she was born to play. We see what looks like an old black and white film, with the title of The Case of the Kentucky Castle Killer. The guests try to solve the mystery, and in her interview, Stassi says, it’s legit the most romantic thing she’s ever seen.
One hour later. The pseudo detective asks, who had the most motive? and Lala guesses correctly. He says, Lindsay killed her brother, and the person playing her says she had no choice; he was running the business into the ground. In Lala’s interview, she says Lindsay’s dad wasn’t leaving the company to her because she’s a woman, so she killed her brother. Lala tells Stassi, you can’t overthink the game; she never asked one question. Brittany’s niece Presley, comes over to where Stassi and Lala are sitting, and switches her wristlet for Stassi’s designer purse.
Lala tells Katie that she’s confused about Carter. He and Kristen aren’t together, but he’s coming to the wedding. Katie says, he was only invited as a guest, not on his own. Lala asks Kristen if Carter is her date, and Kristen says he deserves to be at the wedding. He’s her best friend. We flash back to their train wreck of a relationship, and Stassi asks if Kristen can’t be real for one second. She’s tried to have conversations with Kristen, but she won’t be honest. Lala says they care about her well-being. Kristen tells Katie that she’s a bitch, and she knows it’s hard for Stassi. Because Kristen is conflicted, Stassi doesn’t know where she stands, and she’s being obnoxious. Brittany swoops down on them, and says, no more fighting. In Kristen’s interview, she says she feels like she’s on a friendship peninsula that’s turning into an island. Her two best friends want nothing to do with her. She can’t imagine doing that to anyone.
At SUR, Dayna and Adriana (not Madix) commiserate about the restaurant being busy. Adriana asks what’s the deal with Dayna and Max, and Dayna says they’re exclusive and dating. Adriana says, this is awkward, but she saw Max with another girl. He didn’t see her, but he was with a girl, and they seemed friendly. It was right after Pride, and she told Danica about it. They stalked the girl on Instagram, and she thinks she found her. She shows Dayna a picture, and Dayna says, that’s TomTom’s Pride shirt. In her interview, Dayna says the shirts were made for Pride at TomTom’s, and Max was the only person who had them. He didn’t even give her one. Adriana says Dayna knows what happened with her and Max, right? It’s the same pattern. Dayna says she literally (she loves that word like Christian Siriano loves awesome) feels sick. In her interview, she says, everybody was right about Max.He’s a f***boy. Adriana says, Max is not a good guy, and Dayna says, wow.
Stassi’s mother is there for the wedding, and in Stassi’s interview, she says, Brittany is so into family, she let them invite anyone they were related to. Brittany says they’re getting mani/pedis tomorrow, and she’s so excited. Lala tells Brittany that she’s marrying the love of her life, and they’ve gone through some sh*t. In Brittany’s interview, she says she and Jax planned everything together, and it’s weird he’s not there tonight. She’s hoping he’s okay. In Jax’s interview, he says he stayed in. He needed time to himself, and to spend with his father. He knows his father is out there, and when he thinks about him too much, he goes into a hole. He wants to make his father proud. Getting hammered isn’t it, which is why he’s not going. He’s doing what he thinks is right. Lala asks Brittany about Lisa, and Brittany says she texted Lisa before they left L.A. She told Lisa not to stress about the wedding.
Beau wonders who will cry. Tom says, if Brittany cries, he’s going to cry, and they hug. Kristen asks Beau if he’s having fun. He says he is, and she says they were friends even before he met Stassi. He says he’s still her boy, but it’s different now. He and Stassi are in a relationship, and Stassi is his number one. At this point, Kristen leaves the real world, and says she’s tired of everyone coming down on her about Carter. She and Stassi were arguing earlier, and she wants to know why she’s being dragged for something that’s hard for her. No one is asking if she’s cool. She calls him self-involved, says, screw you, and goes off on him for favoring his girlfriend over her. In Beau’s interview, he says Kristen is giving him anxiety just listening. She talks to you and over you, and doesn’t get it. Beau suggests they get unselfish, and focus on Brittany and Jax. They clink plastic cups.
Brittany tells Jax, one more day. She wishes he would get a pedicure, but he says he wouldn’t do that to someone. Wedding planner Mitchell knocks on the door, and brings in what looks like a small woodgrain upscale cooler. In Jax’s interview, he says his dad has been in a box for two years. He talked to Mitchell about what to keep him in. He likes to take him out, and put him in the front seat for a drive, or take him out in the backyard. Jax gets all emotional, and thanks Mitchell.
Everyone nurses their hangovers, and gets ready to go to the pool. Lala stops by Scheana and Kristen’s room She asks if Kristen is grumpy, and Scheana says Lala was kind of yelling at Kristen. Lala thinks they have a different point of view about yelling. Kristen says she’s tired of it. You don’t treat the people you love like that.
Katie tells Schwartz that Kristen makes her feel psycho, and he says he lived with Kristen. She’s the only person he’s ever wanted to murder. Beau tells Stassi about how Kristen got upset when he told her that Stassi was number one in his life. Stassi says, Kristen needs to understand that she’s not number one in someone else’s boyfriend’s life. In Stassi’s interview, she says, when Kristen slept with Jax, she had to get over it. She doesn’t like when Kristen texts Beau to discuss a falling out with her. She thought nothing could shake their unbreakable bond, but no, sh*t can. She tells Beau, Kristen is a psychopath, and Beau suggests they stay on opposite sides of the pool. Stassi says, once the wedding is over, she’s saying goodbye to Kristen.
Schwartz and Jax stop by to get Beau on their way to the pool. The guys ask what Jax did last night, and he says he watched Friends. He can’t do three nights in a row of drinking. Schwartz says he was never legally married, since there was no license. Stassi is shook. In Schwartz’s interview, he says it was his duty was to make sure the license was in a secure place, and he lost it. It was a piece of paper, and he didn’t understand it was important. He let it slip to the one guy he shouldn’t have let it slip to (Jax?), and now that the cat is out of the bag, he needs to tell everyone first. Stassi asks how he and Katie do their taxes, and he says, married, separately. She says, but they’re not married. In his interview, Jax says he never thought he’d be the first guy out of the group to be married.
At the pool, Stassi says she’s upset with Katie. She thought they had no secrets, and Katie isn’t married. In Katie’s interview, she says she planned the entire wedding. This is on Schwartz. We see a clip of them with Lisa at their wedding, and Lisa asking about the license. Tom says he doesn’t know where it is. Stassi shouts that Schwartz and Katie are single.
Scheana tells Lala about James blowing up her and Raquel’s phones, after Raquel went out drinking with her and some other friends. She had twenty-two missed calls. Ariana says, James was texting Raquel messed up stuff, and she warned Raquel that she was going to start believing what James was saying if it continues. Scheana says Raquel and James talked, and James said he’d go to an AA meeting. Lala asks if she’s sure he said he’d go to a meeting, and Scheana tells her, he’s never said that before. Lala says, it’s the first step. In Lala’s interview, she says she’s seen James at his best, and she’s happy for him. She tells Scheana, she’d be more than happy to talk to him about her experience, and Scheana thinks that would mean something. Lala says she’ll reach out. Right now, she has to pick Rand up.
Tom asks Brittany if they’re going to Lexington tonight, and she says they’re going to a cool speakeasy for a meet and greet, then the girls and guys are separating. Stassi sees Kristen talking to her mom, and says Kristen is tainting her brain. In her interview, Stassi says Kristen latches on to her friends and family, and talks to them and texts them. She sees Stassi’s mother more than she does. She tells Katie about how Kristen got mad that Beau wouldn’t put her first, and Katie thinks it’s weird. So do I. He’s not her brother for God’s sake.
Max comes by Dayna’s apartment, and she asks if he has anything he thinks he needs to tell her. He says, no, and she says, he’s not dating this girl? She shows him the picture, and he says, no, but he sure looks guilty. He said he’d been seeing her in San Diego, and then she moved there. Dayna asks if she moved there for him, and he says he was easing her off of him (oh please). Dayna asks why she has a Pride shirt, and he says he gave one to everyone. She asks when was the last time he saw her. He says after Pride, and Dayna asks if they went out alone. He says they did, and Dayna asks if he screwed her. He says, no, and in his interview, he says he’s tired of defending himself. They went to lunch, and it was like lunch with his mom. He threw a shirt at her before they parted company. It’s not like she was naked in his bed and had no shirt to wear. He tells Dayna, he feels awful about how she feels, but he’s wondering if this is a good idea. Dayna says, screw it. She’s not into this bullsh*t; this is done. Max says, that’s it? In Dayna’s interview, she says she’s hurt right now. This is not how she saw things going with him. She has sensitivity to someone wasting her time or not valuing her. She puts his necklace in the litter box, and swirls it around. She tells the cat, when she sees him at TomTom, hitting on every girl and their mother, she’ll know he’s wearing a poo necklace, and she’ll feel better about that.
At the speakeasy, Stassi and Katie try to avoid Kristen. Ran arrives, and there are hugs all around. Everyone goes into shock when they see he brought Lisa. Brittany starts crying, and hugs her. Lisa hugs Jax, and says, it was last minute. She thought she’d be in London, but the funeral was delayed until next week. In her interview, she says the funeral was happening later than she thought it would, and she realized she could make the wedding. She called Rand, and said they needed to get there asap. Puffy! She’s there to support Brittany and Jax, and show how happy she is for them. She can stand in the gap, since Jax’s mother isn’t there. In the light of losing her own mother, she understands the importance. Jax says, it means so much to him.
Jax sit with Lisa, and outside the window, Lexington’s Gay Pride is going on. Jax says he’s got to laugh. Lisa asks if his mother had any reaction to the wedding weekend, but he says he doesn’t know. His godmother Jane is giving him away. He chokes up, and says they’re the family he has, since he only has his sister Jenny. He appreciates Lisa being there. In his interview, he says she’s been like a mother to him since they met. He looks up to her, and since he has no parents there, having an alternate parent is wonderful.
Brittany keeps up her mantra of I’m getting married. Stassi can’t believe Lisa is there, and says Lisa won’t believe what she found out. Lisa asks if it’s something important, and Stassi says she thinks Lisa might laugh. Tom and Katie aren’t legally married. Lisa asks what she’s talking about. In Lisa’s interview, she says, you’ve got to be effing kidding. All the effort she put into writing the vows – we flash back to the ceremony – and they’re not even married. She put more into it than they did. Everyone looks out the window to see Beau line dancing. Stassi says she loves it so much. In her interview, she says it warms her heart that he’s extra. It makes life lively, and he brings the energy up wherever he goes. She’s not like that.
James goes to TomTom, and orders a Coke. He tells Max it’s weird that no one is there except them. Max says, someone has to run TomTom. They marvel at Jax getting married, and Max says he’s clearly not happy about what happened with Dayna. James asks if they were going official, and Max says they weren’t official, but he liked hanging out with her. Someone brought out an old girlfriend, and created a story when they saw them at lunch. Now they’re kind of ending it, and it’s a mess. In his interview, Max says it would have been fine if everyone had stayed out of their business. Max tells James, Danica has been saying negative stuff. In his interview, he says, Danica has been effing stuff up since day one. He doesn’t understand why she wants to sabotage him. He tells James, he wants to 86 Danica. James says Raquel gave him an ultimatum. She wants him to quit drinking; he thought she was about to whip him. Max can’t see Raquel mad, and James says he agreed with what she said. In James’s interview, he says he and Raquel talked about his drinking. He hasn’t gone to a meeting yet, and doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to drive across town, and talk to a bunch of people, eating donuts in a cold room, and listening to their stories. But if Raquel wants him to go, he’ll go. She means everything to him. Yeah. I can tell by the way he treats her.
20 hours until the ceremony. Jax asks if everything is okay, and Brittany says they’re getting married tomorrow. He asks if she wants to call it off, and she says, never. Tom says, it’s surreal that their boy is getting married. It’s a moment he never thought would happen. In Tom’s interview, he says, this isn’t just any guy. It’s Jax-effing-Taylor. He’s banged at least 300 women, and that’s just at SUR. He was a f***boy before it was a phrase. Brittany tells Jax, it’s the last time they’re going to see each other before they walk down the aisle. Schwartz says, Jax used to do full-on speeches about not getting married, and called him a chump. In Schwartz’s interview, he says when he flash backs to when they lived together, and fast forwards to now, it’s surreal. Brittany tells Jax, the big day is tomorrow. He says he’s going to hang out with the guys, but he’s not drinking anymore. Brittany says, let’s party, but be good.
The girls gather. In Brittany’s interview, she says she told them all to being onesies of something that would live in a castle, like a princess, unicorn, or mermaid. She loves the fantasy world, and was raised on everything princess. Kristen walks around with her onesie half falling off, and in Stassi’s interview, she says, Kristen is oblivious, and can’t keep it together. Stassi says Brittany is going to be part of a new family, and Brittany says she gets a new sister tomorrow. They have a twerking contest. In her interview, Stassi wonders how everyone suddenly became twerking masters. She feels she’s at a disadvantage with her flat ass. The girls screech over Brittany getting married, and she hopes Jax isn’t still drinking. She thinks it’s time to call it a night.
At the guys’ party, Beau shows up dressed as a knight. In his interview, he says, they are in a castle. He’s Sir Ladles-a-lot. He slays soups, and drinks shots. When Jax comes in, they all chant his name. Tom says he has everything. He even brought tampons – top of the line tampons. In Jax’s interview, he says, Jax doesn’t want to go away quietly. This is his last dance. He drinks out of the bottle, and says he probably should stop drinking. He tells the others, he’s not going to lie; he’s pretty sh*tfaced. He never thought in a million years he’d get married, but Brittany is the best woman for him. We flash back to the beginning of their relationship, and in his interview, he says she’s his best friend; his partner in crime. He 100% believes the person he was before, wasn’t good enough for her. We flash back to all the problems they had, and he says, when he cheated, it was typical Jax, sabotaging his relationships. He didn’t make the best decisions. Brittany could have left at any time, but she didn’t. He put her through hell and back, and she deserves the world. Tom says he’s about to be married for the rest of his life, and Jax says he’s super happy. In his interview, Jax says he’ll have to work on the relationship for the rest of his life. It’s not as easy for him as it is with other people. His life is in a good place. He thinks he’s grown, and doesn’t see himself going down that road again.
Katie says Brittany is a princess in a tower, and Jax is the Beast. Brittany says, he’ll be a prince tomorrow. She says she’s excited, and it’s time for lights out. In Jax’s interview, he says he’s scared. His worst fear is Brittany not being happy anymore.
Next time, the wedding is here! Stassi tells Beau, a proposal is the one part of her life she doesn’t have control over; Kristen calls out Carter for being abusive; and Dayna asks if Max still has feelings for her.
💃🏾 I checked out Family Karma, and although I couldn’t give it my full attention, it looked like fun. I love seeing how other cultures live, and they seem like a colorful bunch. No doubt there will also be marvelous food porn throughout the season. You can check the cast out here:
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 