(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Beta hangs a gourd filled with resin on a tree. Negan sits with Alpha in a clearing, and says he thinks he graduated to the next level of kinky Whisperer sh*t. She wants him to take a switch and whip her forearm, but, seeing the stripes already on her arm, he says she seems to have been cut up enough. She holds the switch out, and he lashes her arm. She says, again, he does it a second and third time. She says, now him, and he wonders if they’re bonded for life. She says, depends, and lashes his arm with the switch.
Zombies toddle forward with Beta and the others. Beta says, we are in the end of the world, and they chant, we take them all, over and over
Over the radio, Eugene tells Stephanie that the LP is MIA. She says she wants to hear the song, and tells him to sing it, but he says only a fool would attempt such a song without accompaniment. He says he counted three, and she says, three shooting stars? He’d better not be counting satellites; she saw one recently. He says, around sunset? and she says, yeah. He says, they’re close; only few hundred miles at most. She says he promised not to tell anyone, and he says he can’t help but believe their meeting was celestially ordained. She says her people are overly cautious. He tells her that he’s in Virginia. He gives her the details, and says, pick a day, and neck of the woods, so they can meet face to face. If she doesn’t like the cut of his jib, she can adios herself. He’d like to meet her. She says she’d like to meet him too. She’ll talk to her people. He says he’ll do the same. She says, don’t tell anyone. She’ll see what her people say first. He promises. They sign off, and he laughs to himself.
Earl and Alden see Aaron coming in a wagon, and wonder who the new person is. Alden asks if Alexandria took in another stray, but Earl says, they’re on lockdown. Aaron and his group come in, and Alden asks Aaron, who’s that? Aaron says, Mary. She ran away from Alpha’s camp, and she’s helping them out. Alden asks what she’s doing at Hilltop, and Aaron tells him that Adam is her nephew; she wants to see him. Earl says, no. The enemy is not seeing his son. Aaron says, she’s not the enemy, but Earl tells him to keep her away from his kid. Earl tells Alden what did Aaron think he’d say? They left Adam out to die. Alden watches Mary.
Ezekiel finds Carol in a ragged tent by the water. She asks how he found her, and he says, this is Daryl’s place. He thought she needed some comfort. He tells her that Kelly made it back. He heard what happened at the cave, and he was worried about her. He asks her to come back. He sits next to her, and says then he’ll sit there, and they’ll get eaten be mosquitoes together.
Luke tells Kelly she can’t walk, but Kelly says she’s not leaving her sister. She’s going with the rest of them. Yumiko says they’ll never know if the ceiling caved in, and Kelly says, if she thinks it’s futile, why is she coming? Daryl drives in with Lydia on the back of his bike. Luke asks if he found them, but he says they didn’t get that far. Luke says they’ve got to find their people, but Lydia says they can’t go out there. Her mother’s coming.
Rosita hears Stephanie saying she has one more question. She picks up the microphone, and asks, who is this? Eugene flies down the stairs, pushing her out of the way, and taking the microphone. He says, Stephanie, but there’s no answer. He tells Rosita, she needs to go now. She looks terrible. She says, a giant Whisperer took a swipe at her, and asks, what’s up his butt? He says he says someone trusted him to have a conversation mano a mano, and she made him break that promise. She needs to go before he says something he’ll truly regret. She leaves, and Eugene tries to get Stephanie back, saying he made a terrible mistake. He’s sorry. Does she copy?
Negan tells Alpha, he has some unsolicited advice. He knows it’s everyone’s favorite kind, but he can’t help himself. He’s thought of an idea that maybe she hasn’t. He respects a well-deserved massacre, but why take out Hilltop and Alexandria? She might feel better, but she should get those a-holes to surrender; bend the knee. He can get them to join them.
At Hilltop, Yumiko tells some scouts, if there are any signs of a Whisperer movement, let them know. Lydia says they can kill a hundred, but Alpha will have thousands left. They can’t stay. Earl says he’s not running again, but Alden says they can rebuild. Earl asks if any of the scouts have seen a place like Hilltop, and Yumiko says they only have a few dozen fighters; she doesn’t like the odds. Aaron says they don’t have to die, but Earl says if they can die fighting for a place like Hilltop, it will mean something. He can’t think of a better way to go. Aaron says they can go with his daughter’s life intact, as well as the other children. Daryl says they need to get the kids out first. Pack up. They’re going to Oceanside. Get weapons, food, whatever they can.
They pack up some wagons. Judith tells Daryl, she wants to fight. He says he knows she does, and puts RJ in a wagon. He sees Ezekiel and Carol walk through the gate.
Daryl leads the caravan through the forest, and comes to a roadblock (or pathblock, as it were) of downed trees. They look up, and zombies are hanging above them. Daryl says, it’s going to be like this now. We ain’t getting through. It’s Negan. He’s with her now.
Grace yells for Aaron, who comes out to see Daryl is back. Aaron asks, what happened? and Daryl says, the roads are blocked; they’re closing in. They had a window to get out, and missed it. Kelly tells him, he can’t say that. They all agreed they can’t stay there. Luke says, they can contact Alexandria, and get fresh fighters; it won’t be just them. Alden says they can’t get there in time. After what happened, they’re on their own. Earl tells them to divvy up the arsenal, and bring out the catapults. It’s what they’ve been practicing for. He tells them to get their heads on straight. This is going to be the fight of their lives.
Ezekiel opens a closet, and opens a chest of garments he uses to hide his tumor. There’s a knock at the door, and he closes the chest. It’s Carol, who sees the chest, and then his neck. He says, it’s nothing, and she says, never bullsh*t a bullsh*tter. He says he wanted to tell her. She she touches his neck, and kisses him. They get busy, because now’s the time for that.
Mary sees Adam, and starts to walk toward him. Alden asks where she thinks she’s going, and she tells him, to say hello to her nephew. They’re coming any second. He says, who’s fault is that? and she says she hates them too. Aaron steps in, and says Mary’s not going to hurt them, and she says she wants to fight. Alden says Earl is a better father than his own. They lost Tammy, and he’s been raising Adam alone. Adam isn’t hers, and never will be. Aaron thinks he’s being unreasonable. If they die, it will be for what they’re trying to build – for him. He picks Adam up.
Basking in the afterglow, Ezekiel says, that was fun. Carol says, that was never a problem. He says at least he’ll be remembered fondly for something. Not even an eyeroll? She’s lost her sense of humor. She says she hasn’t. She left it on the dresser in the Kingdom, and it burned down. He says, if it makes her feel any better, he left his pride there too. She says she hated that dresser anyway. He asks if this would have happened any other night, and she asks what he means. He says, if she didn’t think they were going to die tonight, and she says, they’re going to die tonight?
Eugene hooks up batteries to a truck in the woods. Rosita comes by, and says Coco is fine, but she’s worried about how close Beta got to her. He asks if she told Gabriel about the horde, but she says, hell no. She’ll tell him when she sees him. Rosita says she noticed he’s been working on his radio transmissions, and gives him something to drink (moonshine?). She asks if he likes the girl from the radio, and he says he knows his unpleasant countenance is unworthy of her attention. Rosita says they’ve been talking long enough for Eugene to know she likes him. Does he want to kiss her? Eugene gets close, and he and Rosita almost kiss, but he backs away. He says, it’s a special kind of peculiar, hankering for a kiss from someone you haven’t met. But it’s not time to be mulling matters of a forlorn heart. Rosita suggest that’s what they put on his gravestone: a loser with forlorn heart. She tells him, the skin freaks would love it if they rolled over. Screw that. Screw them. She says, if Eugene likes this girl, get off his ass and go get her. He kisses her cheek, and jets.
Lydia sits on the porch of a building, and sees heart with H+L in the center that she and Henry made way back when. Carol sits next to her, and lights a… where the hell did she get a cigarette??? Carly says Lydia should hate her, but Lydia says it’s hard when Carol seems to hate herself so much. Carol says she couldn’t kill Alpha, and Lydia says it won’t save them anyway. Carol says, but it would feel good. Lydia says she won’t be thinking about Carol, and Carol thanks her for telling the truth. Lydia says, people don’t know how to do that anymore. She’s sorry Carol’s kid died, and sorry Carol hates the world. She’s sorry her mother is a monster. Carol stays away, but then she feels lonely. Carol says, she had a whole life. She leaves, and Lydia tries not to cry.
Kelly and Luke make spikey things for the zombies to walk into. Yumiko tells Kelly that she’s sorry, and Kelly hugs her. They see rats running out of the woods, and Yumiko says, the horde is coming. Run back!
Eugene starts to sing When the Wild Wind Blows over the radio. As he sings, we see everyone getting ready. Some are putting the kids in a safe place, some getting dressed for battle, some are practicing technique. Judith gets on the radio, and Aaron says, give Mary a weapon. Daryl watches. Stephanie sings a verse back to Eugene, who smiles, then laughs. He says she’s got nice singing chops. She says she’s sorry for disappearing; she freaked a little. He says it falls squarely on him. He let his guard down, and apologizes. She says, it was a girl, and he says, Rosita. She says she can hear him smiling; he must be fond of her. He says, yes, very. She’s his proverbial BFF. He hopes they get a chance to meet. Stephanie does too, and Eugene says he doesn’t know when they’ll speak next. The last few days were incredible. She says she’s in West Virginia, and gives directions to a spot in Charleston, asking if he can be there in a week. He says he’ll be there, and not square. Over and out. Rosita asks if he’s ready, and he says, let’s get it over with. He’s got a date.
Ezekiel starts to put on a scarf, and sees Daryl in the mirror. Daryl asks if he’s okay, and Ezekiel says he has cancer, but it’s okay. Daryl says he’s sorry. They never had much to say to each other, but that doesn’t mean Daryl doesn’t know what Ezekiel has been through. Ezekiel is stronger than a lot of people there, and he’s glad. Ezekiel says Daryl is too, and thanks him. It means a lot. Things are going to get bad. He wants to know the kids are all right. If things go sideways, and something happens to either one of them, the other will get children out. He and Daryl shake on it.
Daryl finds Judith sitting by herself, and tells her to go be with the other kids. She says she can fight, and he says he knows. He’s sorry about today. She didn’t need to see any bodies. She says, they were just walkers, and she’s killed plenty of them. He says he knows, but they weren’t just walkers. She says she’s not scared, and he says he knows, but maybe he is a little. Maybe she could take care of RJ. She says she’s worried that he might get hurt, and she’ll lose him and Carol. Daryl says, there’s no shame in that, and knowing who you’re fighting for. She says she made him something for luck, and brings out his vest with the wings on the back. She’s repaired it. He puts it on, and he asks how he looks. She says, good, and he says, one other thing. If during fight, Ezekiel comes looking for her, go with him, whether or not she knows where he is. She has to promise. She does, and they hug. He leaves.
Carol looks at the portrait of Henry, and goes outside. She sees Daryl, and says, please don’t hate her. He turns around to face her, and says he’s never going to hate her. She cries a little, as he walks away. He picks up a weapon on his way to the gate. Outside, the first several lines of defense wear armor and carry shields, with more armed people behind them. They wait, as Daryl goes to the front.
It’s quiet. Kelly feels the ground, and nods at Yumiko. We can see a cloud on the distant horizon. A lone zombie toddles out. The rumble of zombie snarling is heard. Aaron tells everyone, get ready.
The horde moves forward, into an electrified barbed wire fence. It slices the first zombie’s head off, but they’re not too bright, and keep coming. They walk into the fence, even as it cuts them, but eventually their pushing against it, causes it to give. The wires start to spark and sputter, and short out as the zombies break through. Even I’m scared. Aaron says, break, and the shielded soldiers separate into two groups, and move toward the horde. They stab, whack, slice, chop, bash, and shoot arrows. Here’s where it pays to be pissed off.
Beta strides through the forest to a clearing, where the Whisperers wait. They put gourds, like the one he hung on the tree, into giant slingshots. I say many bad words. The balls splatter, and Luke says, it smells like a Christmas tree. Fires begin in various places.
Negan – who’s finally gotten his mask – tells Alpha, he thought she wanted Hilltop to join them. She says she does, but as part of her horde. He says, holy sh*t. She is a badass.
Daryl yells for everyone to go back inside, and they back up. The zombie horde pushes completely through the fence, and the Hilltoppers take off toward the gate. The Whisperers shoot flaming arrows at the walls of Hilltop, which burst into flames. Hilltop becomes an inferno, and everyone is like, fu…dge.
Next time – Alpha doesn’t have anything she wants, Negan says he’s found what she’s looking for, and the battle continues.
Shahs of Sunset
D’oh! Even though I posted it about the date change, I forgot the Shahs moved to Friday. Since I had four billion other things to do this weekend (slight exaggeration, but close), and we had the stupid time change, tonight’s recap is abbreviated somewhat. Which is a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.
Upon waking up with Adam at the Waldorf Astoria, Reza felt like he was a 65 year old hooker who’d worked the strip all night. Sara tried to get ahold of her brother Sam, who’s hooked up with Destiney the night before. When Destiney was asked what she remembered, it didn’t sound like much. She told Sam that she had plans to have breakfast with Reza and her mom.
GG and Yasmin went to one of those paint your own pottery places. In GG’s interview, she said she couldn’t drink, and had to cut back on weed, so it didn’t give her much to do. I don’t even know what to say to that. Even though the implantation was done, she didn’t feel pregnant yet, and was waiting for that call. She told Yasmin that she misses weed, and insisted her kid wasn’t going to whine like the one wailing its head off at the pottery place. In her interview, she said she didn’t want a man, so she was bucking it up, and doing it on her own. She told Yasmin that she needed to find a dude who was super chill with having sex with women who are pregnant, and I went ♫ la-la-la! ♫ Yasmin said she was too Persian for all that. I must be too.
Breakfast at the Waldorf looked amazing. A lot of these shows have a food porn subplot for me. Reza sized up the situation with Destiney and Sam pretty quickly – new outfit, same outfit. Destiney’s mom was early, and in Reza’s interview, he said, Persian moms don’t interact with their kids tricks. Destiney introduced them and Sam couldn’t jet fast enough. Reza was excited to see Destiney looking happy, but still gave her a hard time, asking, who was that man? When mom Tammy was like, yeah, who was that? Destiney distracted her with the food. In Reza’s interview, he was glad Destiney was able to meet with her mom, and said he thought part of her feel lost with her mom and sister living in Vegas.
Mike met with potential general contractor Barry. Bringing Paulina along, he wanted to check out one of Barry’s construction projects before hiring him. In Mike’s interview, he said he was under an immense amount of pressure. It was the first test his parents were watching to see if he passed. His dad was pressuring him to hire a guy he knows, but if he brought Barry on, Barry would be answering to him. Along with a building of apartments Barry had done, Barry showed Mike a proposal. Barry thought the project would cost around $8.5 million, while Mike had figured more like $7.5 million tops. Barry also expected the construction to last two years, and Mike asked if eighteen months was possible. In his interview, he said the difference between eighteen and twenty-four months was a significant number. They were losing $10K a month.
Sara went to Reza’s suite, wondering where Destiney and her brother were. Reza told her that they’d hooked up. In his interview, Reza said it was exciting to see Destiney with her guard down, he was afraid she’d regret not spending more time with her mom. Tammy told Destiney it was time for her settle down with a good man. Destiney told Tammy that she thought it was safer not to let someone in. She wouldn’t get hurt that way. Reza told Sara, they came, they saw, her brother conquered. Sara said that was his normal day.
Nema took Persian dance lessons, since Persian dancing gives him anxiety. His dad had taken away all Persian influence when he was growing up. Destiney joined him at the lesson. In his interview, he said he was a good dancer, but a bad Persian dancer. By the end of the lesson, he got the shoulder moves down.
Adam met GG at a cat café, where she wanted all the cats, as did I. In her interview, GG said she loved Adam, but until she got confirmation that she was pregnant, she was keeping it to herself. She told Adam that a work thing kept her from going to Vegas, and he told her that Destiney and Sam hooked up. GG did a spit-take with her lemonade when Adam said Destiney was straddling Sam at the golf range, and then she made Adam demonstrate. In GG’s interview, she said she wouldn’t be thrilled if she was in Sara’s place. She told Adam that Destiney always claimed to be a ride or die chick, but she wasn’t riding for another girl. She was just riding.
After their lesson, Destiney told Nema that Sam had been calling and texting, accidentally opening a d*ck pic in front of him. Nema got a text from Paulina, asking him to meet, and we flashed back to him kicking Mike out of his house. He told Destiney that he was shocked Paulina reached out to him, and Destiney said Mike was vulnerable with Paulina, and probably said things to her that he couldn’t say to Nema.
Nema met Paulina, and immediately asked if Mike knew about them getting together. Paulina said he didn’t, but didn’t think he’d be upset. She told Nema that Mike looked at him like a younger brother, and felt attacked. Nema had said Mike was a cheater and a liar, and that he questioned her allowing her kids around him. She wondered why her kids got pulled into it, and was offended by it. Nema explained that Mike had said Erica must be weird, and there was something mentally wrong with her for waiting seven years for a divorced guy, and he just went off. He apologized, and told Paulina that Mike had a history of picking on him. We flashed back to some of that, and Nema said the older brother was bullying the little brother. At the mud run, Mike had said Nema stole a company from him, when Mike was the one who tried to screw him and Shervin out of a deal, and lied about it. He wasn’t sure if Mike’s supposed positive feelings toward him were real or not. Paulina said she’d given Mike a clean slate when they got together, but Nema said if Mike couldn’t apologize, like Nema just did with her, he didn’t know if they could remain friends.
In her interview, GG explained that since she missed Vegas, she wanted to bring everyone together with a cooking class. The usual suspects gathered, along with GG’s friends Anita and Yasmin, for a cooking lesson and dinner with Chef Nicole. It was also a competition, which GG said a Persian could never pass up. She grouped everyone into three teams of three – GG, Reza, and Yasmin; Anita, Destiney, and Adam; and Sara, Nema, and Mike – deliberately putting Nema, Paulina, and Mike on the same team. Mike and Paulina were late, so they started without them.
On the way there, Paulina told Mike about her meeting with Nema, saying she’d wanted to confront Nema about the way he treated Mike. In Mike’s interview, he said he thought it was a huge slap in the face for Nema to agree to meet with Pauline. It was like Nema was trying tell him that he’s not in control. No comment. Mike asked Paulina to communicate with him first if she does something like that. She need to know what she was doing, and why. He said, those guys can be wolves.
The first dish the teams made was yogurt dip. By the end, Adam’s team was just throwing things in, but somehow they won. In Nema’s interview, he said what he lacked in Persian cooking skills, he more than made up in with his Persian Postmate ordering skills. When Mike arrived, Reza said he had good news, and bad news. The good news was, Paulina was on his team; the bad news was, Nema was on his team. When they made tahini, Chef Nicole told Mike’s team they were almost there, and Mike said that was the story of his life, but I wasn’t sure what exactly he was referring to. This time, Reza’s team won, and Mike toasted to Vegas, saying Destiney got to see her mom and sister. Not being able to leave it alone, Reza added, and bone Sara’s brother. GG asked if Destiney had talked to Sara about it, and Destiny said she didn’t need permission. GG said she didn’t find it funny, suddenly didn’t feel good, and headed for the door.
In her interview, GG said she felt a sharp pain, and she got scared she was having a miscarriage. It’s something she’s been waiting so long for, it scared the sh*t out of her. Anita and Destiney followed her out, and Destiney told her to calm down. Inside, Mike said, if you cry wolf enough times, people stop believing you. They sat down for the chef’s dinner, which rivaled the Waldorf’s breakfast. Reza got a text from Anita, saying GG was okay, but not feeling good; it was a weird stomach thing. Mike wondered if she’d touched the raw chicken, and Nema said GG hadn’t been drinking any alcohol. Destiney wondered if GG was pregnant, and Reza said, she could totally be pregnant. We flashed back to the Reunion, when GG told everyone about her plans. In Reza’s interview, he said, that would explain everything.
Nema asked if Mike knew about his lunch with Paulina – because, again, parties or public gatherings are the perfect time to bring up personal issues – and Mike said he just found out. Nema said he went on the assumption Mike knew, but Mike was already steamed. Nema said Paulina approached him, and Mike said Nema’s dad didn’t teach him how to be a man. Nema was like, don’t you talk about my dad, and in his interview, said there was a lot he could ask about how Mike’s parents raised him, but out of respect, he doesn’t. Destiney suggested they communicate properly, and Nema said if Mike did it again, there wouldn’t be a third time. Mike apologized, but in his interview, griped that he’d taken Nema under his wing. He’d been a good friend, given Nema advice, and helped him. Reza thought they should reconvene on that topic another time. In Mike’s interview, he said he thought Nema didn’t like that he and Paulina were in a good relationship. Nema was miserable, and wanted to make them miserable so they could join in on his pity party. At that point, the dinner broke up, and Reza said, this was a night.
Next time, Sara confronts Destiney, and Nema brings MJ to a pool party where she throws her drink in Reza’s face.
⏰ I Want It Back…
🌬 You, Sir, Are No Iron Maiden…
Actually, he wasn’t bad. Time for me to breeze on out myself. See you on the deckside.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Brook accepts an award, giving a special thanks to Julian, for making this special moment possible. She finishes her speech looking in the bathroom mirror, and then does vocal exercises using her hairbrush as a microphone. Olivia asks if Michael heard Brook rehearsing in the bathroom, and he says he just hopes she doesn’t wake up Wiley, who’s cranky. Olivia says, it’s a small price to pay for a miracle.
On the phone, Ned asks what they mean be a dead end. He’s paying for answers, not excuses. He knows it’s complicated. Life is complicated and so are the Quartermaine finances.
Linc stands on the pier. Julian walks out, and without looking at him, Linc says, it’s about damn time. He has better things to do than freeze. Julian says he really can’t think of anywhere else he’d want to be.
At the MetroCourt, Peter says Maxie is quiet. Is it work or something else? She says she turned down Spinelli’s invitation to lunch. He’s just going to ask annoying questions, and she’s not subjecting herself to another inquisition. Peter is making an effort to get along; why can’t Spinelli? If he doesn’t trust her judgement, it’s his problem, not Peter’s. Peter says he doesn’t want to come between her and Spinelli, and she can’t keep avoiding Spinelli on his account. She says this is one of the reasons she loves him, and she’ll think about rescheduling. Peter says he has to talk to her about something else. Spinelli isn’t the only one questioning his past. She’s probably wondering what came between Finn and Anna, and it’s time he told her the real reason.
Alexis tells Valentin, a penny for his thoughts, and sets one in front of him. He says he was thinking about how far he’s come since they last stood on the terrace together, and she says, since he found out he’s not Mikkos’s son. He says it’s good of her to check on him, and she says she’s glad he’s in a better place, but she doesn’t think her pep talk had anything to do with it. What changed?
In Rice Plaza, Finn asks if Violet is ready for her ice skating lesson. She says she wishes she could have one every day, and he tells her, don’t be in a hurry to grow up. She says, look! It’s Anna! and Anna comes over to them. Violet asks if she’s come to skate, and Anna says she’d love to, but doesn’t want to intrude. She was getting some tea. Violet tells Finn, make her stay, and Finn says, it’s hard to say no to his daughter. He doesn’t want to disappoint Violet. Anna says, of course (🍷) not. Violet tells him to go get the tea; she wants to talk to Anna. He asks if Violet wants a hot chocolate, and Violet says, with extra whipped cream. Anna guesses she knows who’s boss in the relationship. Violet says she’s missed Anna, and Anna says she misses Violet too, and they hug.
Maxie asks if Peter was trying to protect her, and he says, maybe himself too. Whatever the reason, she needs to know what’s being said about him. She says she knows, and doesn’t care, but he says, please. A lot of people have questions about his past, and he’s come to realize, in the end, it comes down to love. That’s what it’s really about. Jason loves Sam, so he’s searching for someone to blame for breaking Shiloh out of custody, which led Sam to kill Shiloh. Robert loves Anna, so he’s skeptical of Peter because he’s Faison’s son. Spinelli’s love for Maxie, and his faith in Jason, cause him to distrust Peter as well. Then Finn and Anna became engaged, but because Finn loves Anna, he can’t bear the thought that she’s possibly being conned by the son she gave up, even though there’s no proof otherwise. Maxie believes him, doesn’t she?
Brook comes into the living room, saying, hello, beautiful family. It’s a gorgeous day. The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. Michael says he heard one bird in particular, and Ned says he’s not sure Brook’s outfit is appropriate for the ELQ office. She says she didn’t think he was serious. She’s not equipped to answer phones. She calls him Eddie, and says he knows what it means to pursue a dream. Michael says he’s going to take off, but Ned stops him, saying he needs a witness so Brook can’t wriggle out of this. Brook says she thought Ned was challenging her to get her career in gear, but Ned says he was challenging her to grow up, and be responsible, like every other adult in the family. What she did was the opposite of responsible. Her contract is valid, and the producer refuses to sell it. Brook says she wouldn’t worry. She has a feeling Linc is coming around.
Julian tells Linc, some people think this is a bad neighborhood, but he likes the quiet. You could fall into the water, and no one would hear your cries for help. Linc asks if he knows Julian, and Julian says, maybe. He deals with a lot of people. Linc says he’s meeting someone, and he’s not into game playing with strangers. Julian says, you know who isn’t a stranger? Brook. Linc asks, what about her? and Julian says he thought Linc would never ask. He puts his hand on Linc’s shoulder, and says Linc has her under contract. He pulls Linc closer and says, that’s about to change.
Valentin tells Alexis, he was feeling defeated and hopeless, but realized it was just a temporary setback. He’s had them before. The great thing about setbacks is, they introduce you to your greatest strengths. She asks what he’s doing with his newfound strength, and he asks what she would do. Would she deny the legacy that’s rightfully hers? She says, if he’s talking about the Cassadine fortune, get over it. If he’s referring to the Cassadine name, he’s better off without it. Where has it gotten him? He says, Shakespeare would say, what’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. She says, words to live by, and he says, maybe, but he doesn’t agree. She says, unwise, but he says he’s keeping the name, and all that goes with it. With every drop of his blood, sweat, and tears, he’s earned it.
Alexis asks if Valentin is talking revenge, and he says, redemption. He was cornered like a common criminal, and wants his daughter’s respect. She says, if Charlotte is going to respect him, he has to respect himself. He says, not a problem, but she says he’s on the outside, looking in. She was too, and it wasn’t until she turned her back on the Cassadine name, and built a life for herself, that she got a modicum of self-respect. He says she might be right; he’ll look at it. She laughs, and says she won’t hold her breath. He says she’s too cynical, another thing they have in common. It took him learning about his sister to realize how alike they are. He kisses her cheek, and leaves.
Ned asks if Brook’s producer had a change of heart, and she asks if he thinks Linc has a heart. Linc is going to do what he thinks is best, and she thinks it’s in his best interest to tear it up. He says, whatever scheme she’s up to, stop it right now. He refuses to clean up another of her disastrous mistakes. Olivia says, they all know how he feels about the subject. Leo asked if Ned would visit him in the playhouse before he goes to the park. Ned says he and Brook aren’t finished talking, but leaves to find Leo. Brook asks if Ned is always such a sourpuss in the morning, and Michael says Ned is worried about her. She says he has a funny way of showing it, and he says, sorry if he made it worse by teasing her. He hopes she succeeds. She says she wishes him only happiness with Wiley; he’s so cute. Michael says, he is, but it’s hard for him to adjust right now. She says, he doesn’t know what a bad thing Brad did, and Michael says he has to make up for lost time, and forge a relationship. It’s different for Willow and Lucas. Willow is grieving a son she didn’t know was gone, and Lucas’s whole world has fallen apart. His husband is a liar and a kidnapper, and the son he loved isn’t even his. Brook flashes back to her conversation with Julian, and Julian saying Sonny will put a bullet in his back. It’s a lot of weight to carry, and what about Lucas? He’s going to lose another loved one if she puts a target on Julian because of her overactive imagination.
Julian asks if Linc is shaking because it’s cold. He pushes Linc toward the water, and Linc says Julian misunderstood. He really cares about Brook. Three albums in five years is the industry standard. Julian says he doesn’t know much about music. The car radio is about as far as it goes for him, but somebody like Brook doesn’t want to make music for Linc, and she doesn’t want to wait five years. She wants to fly solo. Linc asks if Julian is joking. Is he actually going to throw Linc in the water if he doesn’t let Brook break the contract? Julian says, it’s up to Linc. He has friends, a lot of them, and while he knows little about the industry, they know a lot. They can make it difficult for Linc to stay in business; deny him access to studios and distributions, disrupt his concerts, stop him from getting venues. He puts his arm around Linc’s neck, and says what happens next, is entirely up to him.
Maxie wonders how Peter can ask if she believes him. He says he’s the one responsible for the awkwardness between her and Spinelli. She kisses him, and asks if it answers his question. He says, very much so, but she says she’s not letting him off that easy. Don’t say he’s trying to protect her either. She’s not a fragile flower that wilts at bad news. Either they tell each other everything, or they don’t have a relationship. He says he was trying to protect himself. She asks if he’s worried she’ll believe what other people say about him. She believes in them. Too bad. No one can come between them, but them. He tells her she can come down off her soapbox now, but she says she likes it up there. He says she does look good on it. Obrecht comes in, and tells them, like a little girl with red shoes once said, there’s no place like home.
Anna asks Violet how Bella and Otto are. Violet says, they’re not talking. Anna asks, what happened? and Finn says, they had an argument. Violet says, Otto might change his mind if Anna visits. Anna say she knows how stubborn Otto can be at times. The skating instructor arrives, and asks if Violet is ready for her lesson. She tells Finn that his daughter is a great kid. Violet leaves with her, and Finn tells her, have fun. He’ll be watching.
Finn and Anna watch Violet skate. Finn says, it’s hard to watch when Violet falls, and Anna says, look; she’s back up. She asks how he is, and he says, her first. She wonders if they should continue talking about stuffed animals. They don’t have to be separated. They fell down, and it hurts, but they can get back up.
Obrecht gives Maxie some schnapps for her and Peter on those wintry nights, and some gifts for James. Maxie says he’s going to love them, and he’s going to love seeing his oma. She must have had a good time in Switzerland. Obrecht says, the spa was wonderful, and Peter asks if a tall, dark stranger swept her off her feet. She says she got something better; peace of mind. Maxie said Obrecht told her that she was going to do some soul searching, and Peter says, she has a soul? Obrecht says her problems are self-inflicted. She’s not unlovable, but hasn’t forgiven herself. Since Nathan’s death, she’s been angry at the world, in particular, Peter, as if he’s to blame, while she’s just taking on more blame. Maxie says, it doesn’t matter, and Obrecht says she realized she was angry with herself for not breaking away from Peter’s father sooner. Maxie’s phone rings, and she says, typical. She’s been trying to run something by Nina, and now she wants to call. Peter says, Obrecht was saying about his father?
Michael tells Brook, she’s not just talented. She has the presence that turns talented people into a star, and he’s sure she’s done what she can to make that happen. Brook says she’s got to go. Ned comes in, and says, tell him he ruined Brook’s good mood my mentioning the word job. Michael says, she’s just emotional. It’s an emotional time for all of them. Ned says, it’s almost too much to process, and Michael says, it’s as good a time as any to make his pitch. He’s been doing some thinking. Wiley is used to having Michael in his life, but not as a father. Olivia says, Wiley will come around; he’ll adjust. Michael says he comes home from the office, and kisses Wiley goodnight. He needs to sit down and have a meal with Wiley, play with him, and read him stories, not just at bedtime. Ned says Michael wants quality time with his son, and Michael says Ned has been good about pitching in at ELQ. He hates to ask Ned to do more, but he needs to take a leave of absence. He was hoping Ned could take over until he gets back.
Linc says, maybe there’s another way out of this. He could think more clearly if Julian would let go. Julian says, the way he sees it, there’s a plan A and a plan B. He already laid out plan A; tear up Brook’s contract. Linc asks, what’s plan B, and Julian says Linc goes swimming in the icy cold water of Port Charles harbor. He can decide. Valentin walks onto the pier, and asks, what seems to be the problem?
Julian tells Valentin, it doesn’t concern him. He’s passing on a message from a mutual friend. Valentin says, Julian has friends? Julian asks Linc, message received?Nod once for yes. Linc nods, and Julian says, good. He doesn’t want to meet again. Julian leaves, and Linc tells Valentin, he didn’t sign up for this. Julian said he’d make his life a living hell. Valentin says Linc has been well compensated for his effort, but Linc says, not really. No one told him that he could be ruined, or it could cost him his life. Valentin says, if Brook is having Julian threaten him, that means she’s desperate.
Ned tells Michael that he doesn’t have to step away. Wiley is comfortable with the nanny, and everyone is pitching in. Olivia says, before Michael knows it, Wiley will be going off to pre-K like any other well-adjusted, independent little kid. Michael says, Wiley’s life has been torn apart. Wiley needs to know he’ll be there, and his attention can’t be divided. Ned asks how long Michael is talking about, and Michael says, a month, tops. Ned tells him, how can he say no?
Anna says Finn is used to dealing with infectious diseases, but sometimes things just need a kiss to be made better. Finn says, a bandage is a temporary fix. Sometimes a cut runs deeper. Violet calls to them, saying, look at me, and Anna says, Violet is quite graceful. He says, she’s so resilient. Everything she’s been through has barely harmed her. Anna asks if Finn told the police about his suspicions, and he says he told his brother, but he didn’t mention Peter being involved with anything, or Anna withholding evidence. Anna asks what he actually told Chase, and Finn says he told Chase that he moved out because he doesn’t trust Peter.
Peter says, it sounds like the mountain air was refreshing and illuminating, and asks Obrecht, what else? She says it really hit her; all the ethical and legal lines she crossed in a desperate attempt to be worth of Faison. Peter says Faison had power over them, and she says, not any longer. She realized if she continued down that dark path, she could hurt Maxie and James, and she couldn’t bear it. She knows how he loves them, and nothing should ever change that. She says they’re very much alike. They’re both trying to live down their past. He says she used his past to her advantage, but she says she’s not that person anymore.
Ned calls his assistant to set up a meeting asap. He wants everyone to attend, including the executive staff and financial advisors. He’ll explain the CEO change when he gets there. Olivia says he forgot to mention, it’s temporary, and he says he’ll explain at the meeting. Olivia says, Michael might not want to give up his position, but Ned says, Michael has a lot going on. He wants to make things easier so Michael can take care of his son. She says, don’t kid a kidder, and he says he only has Michael’s best interest at heart. She says, as well as ELQ, and Ned says, not only is there a hostile takeover in the works, the Corinthos family is in turbulent times. ELQ needs more seasoned leadership. She says, nice speech, and he says when he sits down as CEO, he’ll make the deal permanent.
On the phone, Brook says she’s so sorry for what they’re going through. No matter what, they’re still a friend. Julian comes in, and she says, well? Did he give Linc the message? He says he was interrupted by Valentin, and she asks what Valentin was doing there. He says he doesn’t care. The point is, he had to walk away before Linc tore up the contract. She says, but he will, right? Julian says he’s gone as far as can go on own She says, if he walks away now, she’ll tell Lucas everything. How he knew about the baby switch, and caused the accident that almost killed his own son. Julian says she’s bluffing, and Brook says, try her.
Julian says Brook should stick to her singing career; he’s calling her bluff. She says she’ll tell Lucas everything, and he says she overheard him talking to Brad months ago, and thinks she heard him threaten Brad. She says he used the word eliminate, and he says he doesn’t know how many times he’s had an intense conversation with Brad. Brad has a talent of upsetting everyone he knows. She says, Lucas might have died in the accident, and he says, tell Lucas her fantasy. Maybe Lucas will believe her; then what? He’s lost his husband and son. Is she going to risk him losing any link to his father because he’ll be better off? She says, what about Sonny? He’ll take her at her word. He says she’s absolutely right, and Sonny will have him killed because her blackmail failed. Is she going to tell Lucas the reason his father is dead. Does she think her career is worth his death? She doesn’t say anything, and he says he didn’t think so. She pretends nothing gets to her, but he doesn’t think she wants his blood on her hands.
Valentin says if Linc is telling him it’s beyond his capabilities, then give back the money. Linc says he doesn’t want to blow the deal, but he wants to make it back to L.A. with his life and career intact. He’s not getting his hands dirty for Brook. Valentin says, Brook is ready to make a deal, and Linc is going to collect.
Michael thanks Diane for coming. She says his message was cryptic; what’s up? She knows Brad and Nelle swapped babies, and his survived, while Willow’s baby died. She’s incredibly happy for him. He says he’s still reeling, in a good way, of course (🍷). She asks what she can do for him, and he says he needs advice on changing Wiley’s name. She says, first or last? and he says, Wiley’s first name is what he knows, but he was never a Cooper or a Jones. He doesn’t know whether to give him Quartermaine or Corinthos. She says, they’re both notorious for different reasons, and he says he needs an objective opinion. What does she think is better for his son? She says, there’s no denying who Wiley is, or who he’s related to. Why not embrace and use both? He says, so Wiley Quartermaine-Corinthos? and she says, it’s a name to be reckoned with.
Anna says she and Finn are at an impasse. He thinks Peter is guilty, and she doesn’t believe he is. She asks if it’s a wall or an obstacle they can find their way around? Peter is a grown person, and has his own life. Is what he did or didn’t do worth sacrificing their future? He wishes it were that simple. He’d love pick up where they left off, plan a wedding, and have their happily ever after. She says, then let’s do that. Violet can be a flower girl, and carry a basket of violets. He says, if it was just them… He has Violet to look out for, and can’t take the same risk on Peter that she can. Violet comes back, and tells them the instructor said she was a natural. Finn says, of course (🍷) she is, and Violet asks if they can go back to Anna’s house now.
Obrecht says, whatever Peter did, whatever Faison led him to do, she understands. If he ever feels the need to unburden himself, don’t trouble Maxie. She’ll always be there to listen. He says she’s too kind. Maxie comes back to the table, and asks what Nina would do without her. She already did all the things Nina told her to do. Not to brag, but Nina needs to appreciate her more. She looks at them, and asks what she missed.
Finn fumbles with Violet’s jacket, and Anna says, step away from the zipper. She tells Violet, daddies are all thumbs when it comes to zippers. There’s so much they don’t know. Finn says, he’s practicing, and she says she gets it. He tells Violet, they’re going to be late for Brianna’s, and Anna asks her what they’re going to do with him. Violet doesn’t know, and Finn tells her, say goodbye to Anna, and let’s get going. Violet says she misses Anna, and asks if they can do this again. Anna says she’ll have to ask her daddy, and Finn says, we’ll see. He leaves with Violet, and looks back at Anna while they’re walking.
Obrecht tells Maxie, she just missed the most fascinating conversation. Who would have thought her time away would have brought her closer to Peter? Peter says, closer than she knows, and Maxie is glad they’re getting along so well. Peter says he is too.
Diane gets ready to leave, and Michael thanks her again. He asks how soon she can arrange the name change, and she says he might want to hold off on that officially. Wiley’s mother might have other ideas. He says, besides being involved in the baby switch, she attacked Willow. She’ll be back in prison. Diane says, that’s for a judge to decide. Until then, Nelle is very much a factor in Wiley’s life.
Brook meets Linc, who tells her that she needs to find new friends. The one he met belongs in a cage. She suggests they get it over with, and asks if he’s tearing up her contract or not. He says, for what it’s worth, he believes she has what it takes, and he’s sorry he won’t be the one to make it happen. She can forget the three record, five year deal. She has her freedom now. She says she’s not sleeping with him, and he says she doesn’t have to. She asks, what’s the catch; what does he want? He takes out a folder, and pushes it toward her. She looks at it, and he says, her shares in ELQ.
Tomorrow, Olivia asks if Brook got an actual offer; Jordan says she’s turning herself in; and Sonny tells Jason and Curtis that Cyrus is a threat, and they have to find a solution.
The Haves and The Have Nots
Benny says, a million dollars? and Candace says, it’s okay, The officer says she’ll be back with the receipt, and Benny asks for $100K in cash. The officer leaves, and Benny says, this is real. Girl, I love you. Candace says, he’d better, and he says, eight dollars; that’s cold. That’s what he’s talking about. She wonders what they’re going to tell Hanna, but he doesn’t care. He’s got a million dollars. He tells her, don’t worry about Jim, and asks what she wants to do. She doesn’t know, and he says, get out of there? She says, for sure. New York, L.A.. He says, that’s it, huh? Don’t look back. She says she won’t, adding, this is all too much. He says he’s getting back to work. He’s getting a truck, and buying a place. He says he’s going to get momma, but Candace says, she won’t move. Benny says, it don’t matter; she will. He thanks Candace, and she says she loves him. He says he loves her too.
Still in the hospital, Jim asks if David has come up with a plan. David says Jim doesn’t want to know what it is. Jim says he won’t tell, and David says he told George that Veronica shot Jennifer, but he didn’t buy it. Jim asks what George said, and David tells him that George thought he was being set up. That’s all he needs; that little weasel breathing down his neck. He can’t go after Veronica now. Jim says, an untraceable accident, and David says, like a plane crash? Jim says he doesn’t want to know. He asks if David talked to AG Kyle, and David says, once. Jim says, he hasn’t called again? and David says, no. Jim says, one bitch at a time. He hands David the papers he was served, and asks David to do him a favor and shred them. He can’t believe his own damn son shot him. David asks if he wants to see Wyatt, and Jim says he does. He is Wyatt’s father. David says, maybe he needs a new one. Jim wants to get out of the hospital. He’s been there long enough. He says he’s going crazy, and asks David, please, get the doctor. David says he’ll talk to Dr. Danny, and Jim says, use two shredders. David leaves, and Jim says, where’s my damn pants?
Veronica’s doorbell rings. It’s George, and she asks what the hell he wants. He wants to talk to her, and she asks if he brought chicken. He says, sorry, but she lets him come in. He says her home is always lovely, and she says, she’s a queen. Queens have lovely homes. What can she do for him? He says he’s letting her know, he spoke with David. David wanted immunity to testify against her for Jennifer’s murder. She says, is that right? He already has the perpetrator of that crime, doesn’t he? She asks if he’s not sure, and he says he’s not. She says he’s wasting his time; she had nothing to do with it. He asks if she was there. Veronica says, so David wants immunity. He asks again, was she there? She says David is playing him. He can blame anything he wants on her. George says that’s what he thought, but then he started thinking, there was so much bad blood between them. he might take David up on it. She tells him, do what he must. Can he leave now? He goes, and she calls David.
David asks why she’s calling, and she says she spoke with George. David says she went after his son, and she tells him, remember, she has evidence about the murder. He says, they both do, and she says, by the way, that girl is not his son. He should get a DNA test and see. He’s been played. Jeffrey might be Jim’s. He calls her a pathetic whore, and she says, thank you; she tries. He says he’s coming for her, and doesn’t need George to do it. She says he does; he’s a weak ass bitch. He doesn’t even know how to kill a bitch. He says she’s a murderer, and she says, bing, bang, boom, Erica. He says they’re coming for her, and she hangs up. She makes another call, and says, send over the candidates today. She knows she’s been putting it off, but she’s ready now. Send a lot over today.
Marty asks if Kathryn is sure she wants to do this. Kathryn says she does, and Marty give her a pen, telling her where to sign. He shows Hanna where to sign, and notarizes it. He tells Hanna, now she has power of attorney. Kathryn asks if she and Hanna can have a minute, but before he goes, how is bail coming? He says, it’s coming, and she asks if she called the judges she told him to. He says, no one wants to touch it. He’s sorry. She says, after all she’s done for them, and he says he’s on it. Kathryn tells Hanna, she can’t believe no one is calling back. Hanna says, that’s the way things happen for a lot of people. They have a saying; nobody loves you when you’re down and out. Kathryn says, it’s just sad. She’s glad she knows Hanna, and says her life is in Hanna’s hands. Wyatt is just hoping they don’t press charges, but it’s not going to work. Hanna says, it’s so sad, and Kathryn says she can’t think about it right now. Hanna says, maybe Wyatt will be sent to a prison where he can get help. Kathryn says, Wyatt tried to kill them. Hanna has too much of a soft spot for her son. Hanna says nobody is saying let him get away with it, but send him to a place where they could hold him and help him. Kathryn asks Hanna to go by the house, and check on things. Make sure the blood is cleaned up. She doesn’t want to see it when she gets home. Hanna says she’ll make sure. Kathryn says, she’s coming home; trust her. Can Hanna do it today, and make sure the plants are watered? Her accountant will come by and explain everything, but don’t let him do anything without seeing her first. She thanks Hanna, and Hanna says Kathryn knows she loves her. Kathryn says she does, and the guard says he has to take her back. Kathryn tells Hanna, to the presidential suite. Hanna says she’ll see Kathryn later, and Kathryn says, yes, she will.
Benny’s kidnapper comes into Jim’s room, and Jim asks what the hell he’s doing there. The thug says, he’s gone. The Malones came in and got him. Jim calls him a first class idiot, and says, go get him. The thug says he can’t. They told him not to, and he doesn’t even know why he was there in the first place. Jim tells him, get the hell out. The thug leaves, and Jim makes a call. He asks if he got a wire, and the bank officer says, yes, but it’s not what Jim thinks. It’s only for eight dollars. Jim says, that bitch. The officer asks what he should do, when Candace walks in, and says, hi.
Jim says he was just about to call her. She didn’t give him his money. She says, no; she did. He says, eight dollars. Care to tell him why? She says she was going to return all of it, but then Jim thought it was a good idea to kidnap her brother. He’s gone now, so that’s it. He says, give him his money, and she says, nope. He says she has no idea what he’s planning to do to her mother and brother if he doesn’t get it. She doesn’t think he’ll do anything, and he says, care to make a bet? She says, $7 million dollars. She just realized that she has a good, solid group of friends in the White House. He says, her name is mud in Washington, but she says she’s talking about the Malones. They’re loyal when you do them a favor. He says he’s done favors for them himself. She says, he also pissed them off, and he says, so will she. It’s only a matter of time. Until then, live it up. That’s his son’s inheritance, and he’ll chase her to the ends of the earth. She says, happy hunting, and he says he knows where her mother and brother are, and he’s going to get her. She says, okay. Her friend has something to say. Jim says, alert the media; she has a friend. Mitch comes in.
Mitch asks how Jim is doing. Jim says he’s been better; have a seat. Mitch sits on the bed, and asks if Jim remembers him. Jim says he does, and Mitch says they need talk about the money. Candace is special to them. Jim says, special to the Malones? and Mitch says, yes. Jim says he happens to know the Malones don’t like Black people. Mitch laughs, and Jim says he thinks that’s funny? Mitch says they like her. She did deliver War to them. Jim says she did that for herself, and Mitch says, it doesn’t matter. His grandma owes her a favor, and Jim knows how Grandma Rose is about favors. Jim says he does, but Candace owes him $8 million, and he’s going to get it back. Mitch says, he understands, but they’re not happy about how Jim harassed her mother and brother. Let this one go. Jim says he can’t; he’s going to get his $8 million back. Mitch says then he’s going to have to talk to his grandma and explain. Jim doesn’t think Mitch understands, and Mitch says, if he doesn’t let it go, he’s going to his grandma, and saying he got caught in the crossfire during Benny’s kidnapping. Jim says they both know that’s not true, but Mitch says, she won’t know. Forget about the money. Mitch doesn’t care how Jim handles it, but he has to let it go. Jim doesn’t know if he can, and Mitch says, a shotgun blast is just a warm up. Jim’s not going to win this one. Jim says Mitch wants him to let $8 million go for Candance because she did a favor? Mitch says she’s got the family behind her, and Jim knows what that brings. It’s his decision. This is just a warning. Jim appreciates him coming, and they shake hands. Mitch says, get better. When he’s gone, Jim says, son of a bitch. I’m laughing. That was fun to watch.
AG Kyle walks into his office to find Connelly sitting in his chair. He asks what he can do for Connelly, and Connelly says he just wanted to come by to look at his new office. He’s been asked to take the appointment. Kyle says he thought it would be Connelly, and Connelly says, confirmation is good. Kyle asks if he can get Connelly a drink, but Connelly says he never touches the stuff. Kyle says, good for him, and Connelly says he doesn’t seem convinced. Kyle says Connelly knows how this town is with rumors, and the rumor is, Connelly drinks a lot. Connelly says, you have to in this town, but no. He remarks that Kyle’s office is smaller and darker than he thought. He might paint. He wonders what Kyle is going to do now that he’s out of a job. Kyle says he has a few more months, but Connelly says, the day is coming. Kyle says, it is, for all of them. Connelly says, some sooner than others. Kyle asks if Connelly would like to see the cafeteria, but Connelly says he doesn’t want anything. He came to tell Kyle that he never liked him. Kyle is a slimy SOB. Kyle says, tell him how he really feels, and Connelly says he knows what Kyle did to his guy, and they don’t have short memories. Kyle asks if that’s a threat, and Connelly says to him, and his whole party. Kyle says he thinks they’re done, and Connelly says, they’re nowhere near done, but he’ll go. Before he does, one name for Kyle – Candace Young. Kyle says, that whore from Savannah, and Connelly says, that’s the one. Kyle asks why he cares, and Connelly says when Kyle tried to take his guy down, it was a personal vendetta. Kyle says, that was horseplay, and Connelly says he caused a lot of grief. Kyle says, tell Charles,it was politics; get used to it. Connelly tells Kyle, keep that arrogance. He hopes Kyle dotted every i, and crossed every t during his tenure. Kyle says he did, and Connelly says, then he won’t mind an open investigation into the entire justice department. Kyle says, go right ahead, and Connelly laughs, saying, no one wants that. Kyle knows if they look hard enough, they’ll find something. Kyle says, thanks for the warning. He’ll make sure his tracks are covered. Connelly says, that’s exactly what he wants Kyle to do. By the way, he farted in Kyle’s chair. HAHAHAHA!
Veronica looks at a candidate for maid, and says, all wrong. The agent says Veronica didn’t talk to her, and Veronica says she doesn’t have to. Exit through the garage. Next. The next woman walks up, and Veronica says, she looks like she steals. Exit. Keep them coming. The next woman holds out her hand, saying she’s loyal, and can clean all day and night. Veronica says, she’s wrong. Follow the others to the garage. She asks the agent if the only candidates are white women. She wants a Black woman who doesn’t eat fried chicken. No greasy maids. The agent says, that’s racist, and Veronica says, she’s Black; she can say it. She wants a Black woman who’s in shape, has class and style, and favors her. The next woman is Black, but Veronica says, not someone who looks like her mother. The woman says, Laura is running late; she’s coming from another job, but Veronica can’t discriminate against color. Veronica asks if white is a color. She’s a lawyer, and the first two barely got through the door, the others look like they’d steal, and the other two looked greasy. The last one looked like her mom, and was not what she asked for. Do her job. Laura comes in, and Veronica says Laura is her size. The agent thinks smaller, and Veronica asks what she’s saying. The agent says, nothing, and Veronica says, she’s hired. She drains her drink, and says she’ll take Laura upstairs, calling her Linda. Laura corrects her, and Veronica says, like she said, Linda. They go upstairs.
Justin pulls up to David’s house, and tells the guard he’s there to see Jeffrey. He’s a friend of his. The guard says he needs to talk to Jeffrey first. Can he tell Jeffrey what it’s about. Justin says he just needs to talk; he’s leaving town. He gives the guard his name, and the guard tells him, wait there. The guard tells Jeffrey that Justin is there, and Jeffrey says, tell Justin he’s not there. Wait. Let him in. The guard tells Justin, come on.
Justin tells Jeffrey that he looks great, and asks if he’s ever coming home. Jeffrey asks what he wants, and Justin says he’s leaving. He can’t take this anymore, so he’s done. Jeffrey says, okay, and Justin says that’s all Jeffrey has to say after what they’ve been through? Jeffrey says he’s sorry, and Justin says Jeffrey’s mom won’t let him be who he is, and won’t make them stop. Is Jeffrey in this with her? Jeffrey says, no, and Justin says, then make her stop. Jeffrey says, nothing can make her stop. Justin says Jeffrey is just going to let him go? and Jeffrey says he can’t stop Justin. Justin says, it’s because he’s seeing Madison, but Jeffrey says he’s not seeing anyone. Justin asks why Jeffrey is dressed up. Where is he going? Jeffrey says Justin said he was leaving, so he should do that. Justin says, wow. So cold. Jeffrey says, it’s a cold world. Buzz off. Justin says Jeffrey did this to him, but Jeffrey says Justin did it to himself. Justin says he begged for Jeffrey’s help. He’s sorry. Jeffrey says, goodbye. Justin says, goodbye, and leaves. Jeffrey wonders what the hell he’s up to.
Veronica tells Laura to dust all day; she likes it spotless. Laura has a pile of clothes in her arms, and Veronica says they’re going to charity. Laura says, some still have the tags on them, and Veronica says she didn’t get to wear them before the season was over. Does Laura like them? Laura asks if she’s serious, and Veronica says she can have them, on one condition. She has to wear them to work. (What is this? The Gap?) Laura says she can’t work in them, and Veronica says she can change when she gets there. She’s a giving person, and wants Laura to know what it feels like to walk in her shoes. Speaking of shoes, What size is Laura? Laura says, six, but tells Veronica her shoes are a little big. Veronica says, they’re not, and asks if Laura has a car. Laura doesn’t, and Veronica asks if she can drive. Laura says, yes, and Veronica says sometimes she’ll want Laura to take her car to the carwash. Let her show Laura around. This is gonna be fun. Not too obvious.
At county, Wyatt calls to Kathryn, who says she’s not in the mood. He says he thinks he wants to die. After all he’s done to her and his dad, he thinks they’d want him to die. Kathryn says she’s heard all this before, and he says she doesn’t think he’d do it. She says he’s in jail, and safe from himself. Just leave her alone. Wyatt asks if she wants to see how easy it is to kill yourself in there. He takes out a toothbrush, and says, you can easily get a shank like this. There’s a razor inside; he can slit his wrists. She tells him, don’t do anything stupid, and he says, it’s not stupid. It’s a way out. Doesn’t she think she and his dad would be happy. She says she’s not playing around, and he says, neither is he. He sets his wrist on one of the bars, and takes the razor blade out. Kathryn calls for a guard, but Wyatt says he timed it so it’s the guard’s shift change. Tell his dad that he’s sorry. She says, please, and he cuts into his wrist. She calls again for the guard, and asks, what has he done?
Next time- the mid-season finale – Hanna says she’ll have Candace and Benny arrested, Jim plans an accident, the AG says the favor Jim did doesn’t pay this kind of debt, and Wyatt collapses.
Vanderpump Rules
It’s Stassi’s birthday, and she says she didn’t want sh*t to happen. She wants all or nothing, and with so much going on – her sister’s wedding, and Brittany and Jax’s wedding – this time, she wanted nothing. She and Beau meet Schwartz and Katie at a coffee shop. Katie tells her, happy birthday, and Stassi shushes her. Katie says, next year, and Stassi says she’s going to have so much built up birthday sh*t, it’s going to be like nothing they’ve ever seen. In Stassi’s interview, she says, this year, she’s a newly hatched baby dragon. Next year, she’s going to be in fully grown dragon mode, full of fire and anger, that didn’t die. We flash back to her previous birthdays. Schwartz asks if she’s ever revisiting the joint birthday, and we flash back to her Ice Queen party with Ariana. She tells Schwartz that she wasn’t really friends with some of the guests, and doesn’t want to make small talk. She says Jax and Brittany are going to Ariana’s birthday party, and she’s surprised. Schwartz wants to try and mend this. He wants to support Jax, but feels like Jax will regret it in the future if Tom isn’t there. In Schwartz’s interview, he says Tom is Jax’s best friend, but he doesn’t know if it will be the same after this. Stassi says, Ariana might not go to the wedding, Jax’s mom isn’t invited, and Lisa can’t make it. Stassi tells Schwartz to suggest Jax invite Tom back. In Stassi’s interview, she says she knows Jax and Brittany will ultimately want Tom there. If they don’t invite him, they’ll look back at it, and be sad. The waitress brings a cupcake with a candle in it, and Happy Birthday is sung. Beau blows out the candle, and unwraps the cupcake. I assume he eats it too, but we don’t see that.
Lisa’s business partner Nathalie comes by Villa Rosa with flowers. Puffy! She and Lisa hug, and Nathalie says she’s very sorry. She remembers Lisa’s mom as being flamboyant, smart, and gorgeous. In Lisa’s interview, she says her mother was in Mensa and could solve a Rubik’s Cube. She remembers going water skiing with her mom, and playing tennis. She says, there’s a progression with a parent, and maybe we get mentally prepared during that time, but her mother died suddenly from deep vein thrombosis – it came out of nowhere. Nathalie gives Lisa a photo of her mom in a frame. Lisa gets weepy, and Nathalie says she didn’t mean to make her cry. Lisa looks at a picture of herself with her mother, and says she looks so young. She tells Nathalie, life is difficult sometimes, and she doesn’t want to miss the good stuff. She can’t dictate when the funeral is, and told Jax and Brittany that she can’t be there. She tells Nathalie to have a chocolate, and Nathalie says, only if she can have the pink one. Lisa says Nathalie knows that’s hers.
Danica asks Raquel and Dayna to help fold napkins, since Peter didn’t make anyone do it last night. Raquel tells them that she went out with some of the girls last night, and drank way too much. We see her dancing around in someone’s InstaStory. She says she blacked out, but Scheana made sure she got home. She left her phone in the kitchen, and passed out. When she woke up, she had a million texts from James. Whore. Slut. Dayna says Raquel deserves better. In Dayna’s interview, she says she doesn’t care who you are, or if you’re drunk, or shooting heroin into your eyeballs. No one talks that way to someone they say they love. She says she’d tell him to suck an effing egg. In Raquel’s interview, she says she didn’t even look at all the texts. She didn’t want to see everything. A producer asks if she’ll read through them, and she reads. F*** you. I’m breaking up with you. Whore. Slut. Whore. F*** you. She says, it makes her literally want to throw up. Dayna says Raquel is so much better than that.
It’s Ariana’s birthday, and Tom asks if she wants a glass of wine, as she gets ready for the party. He brings her wine in a glass so big, it’s only slightly smaller than Amy Schumer’s joke glass. She says she finally slept, and Tom says he woke up before her, and let her sleep. In Tom’s interview, he says, Ariana has always dealt with depression. He’ll do anything he can to be there for her. He tells her that he figured he’d let her save up her birthday energy. She says she’s not woohoo about it, but she needed some reset sleeping. In her interview, she says, the last thing she wants to do is go to a party when she’s depressed. Life is made up of highs and lows, and she needs to learn to surf the lows better, and not drown in that ocean. She asks Tom if Jax texted back, and he says, no. She says, Brittany is coming, so she assumes Jax is coming with her. Tom says he didn’t think he’d change Jax’s mind. We flash back to Tom reading Ariana the text he sent Jax. He asks if Ariana has thought about what she wants to do about the wedding, but Ariana says she doesn’t know. She has to tell Brittany tonight. In Ariana’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to abandon Brittany, but Tom is her guy. It’s the hardest decision she’s made maybe ever. She tells Tom, there’s a lot based on this decision, and she doesn’t want to make one.
There’s a marquee outside the venue that says, Happy Birthday, Ariana, and it gets crowded quickly. Charli tells Dayna about her date with Brett. He said he wanted to get to know her, and then talked about himself and his ex-girlfriend. We flash back to that, and her saying she doesn’t sit through podcasts this long. She tells Dayna, they broke up two years ago. In Max’s interview, he says, the date sucked. It was like dealing with a child. She’s got to fix her sh*t. Lala says, Ariana is still not there. She is planning on coming, right? Last night, she told Ariana that she wanted her to be honest, and Ariana said she wanted to drive off a cliff. She’s going to be miserable in Kentucky without Tom. Brittany says it breaks her heart. Katie asks if Tom still isn’t welcome, and Brittany says, he apologized, but Jax is headstrong. She thinks if Tom isn’t there, Jax is going to regret it. She can’t stop thinking about it. Tom and Ariana arrive.
In Jax’s interview, he says, after twenty years of friendship, a text is like a slap in the face.All Tom had to do is say he was sorry. He doesn’t want to be walked on. In Stassi’s interview, she says, Jax and Tom have done worse sh*t to each other than this. We flash back to a few times they’ve gotten into fistfights. She’s pretty sure they can get past this. Stassi thinks if Jax doesn’t invite Tom, the friendship is done. Katie says she can’t believe Jax would give Tom a third chance at being best man, but Brittany says, he can just invite Tom. Stassi says they need to talk it out. In Brittany’s interview, she says, the situation has caused her so much anxiety. She hates it. Brittany asks to talk to Tom, and says she’s going to explode over this situation with Jax. She’s not going to hate Tom forever because of one argument. Tom says, when he left, he assumed the friendship was done. He was dead inside. He’s angry about it, and sad about it. He didn’t know what do or say. She says Jax was just looking for an I’m sorry, and Tom says he felt like Jax just wanted him gone.
Jax joins them, and says he thought the two people he wouldn’t have to worry about were his best men. Tom admits that he could have handled himself better. He didn’t want it to be like that. He apologizes. Jax says, it’s water under the bridge. Of course he wants Tom at his wedding. Tom says, whatever Jax wants. He can come as a guest. Jax says he still wants Tom to be best man, and they hug. Ariana hugs Brittany. In Tom’s interview, he says, I’m back. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he feels like he can breathe again. He’s been watching tutorials on how to tie a bow tie all week. In Jax’s interview, he says he’s not over it, but it was easier to give in. One less problem. Jax says, let’s have a good wedding. No more hiccups.
Katie tells Kristen, she’s getting the sympathy of going through a breakup, but she’s not actually going through one. She can’t watch Kristen drink the poison called Carter. If she wants to do that, Katie can’t help her. She asks if Carter is coming to the wedding, and Kristen says, of course. Katie tells her to stop saying they broke up. Katie says, no one gives a f*** if Carter is there. He’s only been invited because Kristen wants him there. Kristen says Katie is being super hurtful, and Katie says Carter hasn’t even been around them lately.
James tells Raquel, they probably won’t stay, but she says they were invited to a party. He should be happy they were, and be there for a second. She’s glad he’s not drinking tonight. They have to talk about the other night. The way he texted was completely inappropriate. He says, if she’d answered, he wouldn’t have gotten so triggered. Oh, okay. I guess it’s her responsibility to cover him in bubblewrap. In his interview, James says, when she doesn’t answer, he thinks she’s doing what he used to do. A girl like Raquel doesn’t get left alone at parties.
Ariana says she has to get Stassi a present, but Stassi says, no present. They sing HappyBirthday, but I don’t see a cake anywhere. Maybe Beau ate it. Ariana’s brother Jeremy is there though. Ariana says she knows they like it when she’s drunk. Yay for her being born.
It’s the next day, and Jax asks Brittany if she wants to call Lance. She says he’s in Hawaii, but they don’t have much time. He sent a transcript of the ceremony. Jax says he doesn’t want Lance talking more than four minutes. Brittany says everything in it is beautiful, and Jax asks if she thinks they can ask him to sing No Strings Attached. Brittany laughs, and says she’s so excited. Jax says, focus, and she calls Lance. Lance asks, what’s going on? and Jax says they’re planning a wedding, and thanks him for officiating. In Brittany’s interview, she says tomorrow, they’re going to Kentucky. It’s wedding week. No turning back. Jax says he wants Lance to wear a multicolored robe. Lance says, like inJesus Christ Superstar? and I say, no, it’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The answer is right in the name of the show. I’m hoping Lance was just drinking heavily, and mixed up his musicals. He tells Jax that he’s honored, and Jax says they want Lance to enjoy himself. Afterwards, Jax tells Brittany, he thinks he sounded stupid. Well, he didn’t correct Lance.
Ariana and Raquel go out behind SUR to talk. Raquel asks if Ariana is tired after her birthday extravaganza, and Ariana says she has to pack for Kentucky. She barely saw Raquel at the party. She saw Raquel talking to James. She says she heard about the texts, and Raquel says if she hadn’t gotten drunk and kept James updated, he wouldn’t have been drinking. Ariana says, it’s not her fault; it’s on him. She asks to see the texts, and Raquel says she’s not proud of any of them. She shows Ariana the phone, and says, it goes on a while. Ariana reads; I hate you, we’re breaking up, I’ll never marry you. Ariana tells Raquel it’s only a matter of time before words like that become what Raquel thinks of herself. Ariana has been there before. In her interview, Ariana says she was in a verbally abusive, controlling relationship. She didn’t do what she should have; end it as soon as it happened. She tells Raquel, she doesn’t want to see her sacrifice her own self-worth to help James, when he’s not helping himself. In Raquel’s interview, she says, no girl thinks she’ll be verbally abused going into a relationship. She doesn’t want to go through that again. It was scary to her. She tells Ariana, it’s the last straw.
Brett asks Scheana how her trip was. In Scheana’s interview, she says she loves Ariana, but had already booked a job on the east coast singing Good As Gold. Charli showed up dressed as her, so she was there anyway. Brett says it’s too bad Scheana wasn’t there. He didn’t want her to feel the way she did about his lunch date with Charli. Scheana says she just doesn’t want him to get hurt, and he says it’s not serious. She says she’s not giving him advice anymore. Speak of the devil… Charli joins them, and Brett jokes that they’re wearing the same outfit. Charli says she wanted to talk to both of them. Scheana told Brett that she was untrustworthy. Scheana say she doesn’t use that word, but she doesn’t trust any new people. Charli says it seemed weird, and she had the feeling Scheana liked Brett, but she’d said she wouldn’t let it get between a friendship. Scheana says she doesn’t like Brett like that. Charli says Brett told her that Scheana was questioning her intentions, and it’s a turn-off for someone to bring up their girlfriend of two years ago. Brett says, it clearly wasn’t a date, and wonders if he was supposed to make the whole conversation about her. He says he was being honest, and now he’s being scolded for it. This is why he can’t have girls as friends; they take sh*t to the next level. In Brett’s interview, he says he’s got a Charli and Scheana smoothie, and it’s a disgusting drink. Charli says she has to get back to work. She loves them both – don’t hate her. Brett says she has to have the last word, and make him look like an idiot. Charli tells him to write about it in his diary. In Scheana’s interview, she says she didn’t poison the well. She doesn’t want Charli and Brett to be together, but she didn’t do it on purpose. Her bad.
Lexington, Kentucky. In Brittany’s interview, she says she’s always known she wanted to get married in the Kentucky Chapel, surrounded by family and friends. It’s her dream venue. Two days until the wedding. At the castle where everyone is staying, Brittany says, it’s her kingdom, and she’s so excited. It’s perfect. She says, people are there, and tells everyone, welcome. Stassi says, it’s a mixture of Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey. Brittany shows them to their rooms. One of their dogs has a poopie issue, and in her interview, Stassi says, even though the room smells like dog sh*t, it’s the most romantic place she’s ever been. Brittany hugs everyone, and tells them that she loves them. Schwartz says, a bathroom with chairs; amazing. Scheana asks Kristen if Carter is coming, and in her interview, Kristen says Carter isn’t staying in the castle with the rest of the wedding party. It’s at their request, but he’s also not her boyfriend. She and Scheana have a drink while they get dressed. Brittany says, it’s two and a half hours until the rehearsal. The girls have gotten gift bags, and put on their robes and sleep masks. Lala gets dressed, and Stassi says she can’t wear that; it’s white. In Lala’s interview, she says she didn’t realize they couldn’t wear white during any of the wedding functions. She wouldn’t be mad if someone wore white to the rehearsal dinner for her wedding. She goes to change anyway.
Schwartz says he doesn’t really want do anything. Before they left, he went to check on their lizard, Daug, but he’d passed away during the night. He buried Daug in the backyard. Daug, gone too soon. Jax and Brittany go out on their bedroom balcony, and Brittany yells, I’m getting married! Jax says, him too
Meanwhile, at TomTom, Lisa stops in, and asks Max for a cup of tea. She says she’s seen the figures, and it seems to be running smooth. She tells Max that she hasn’t felt up to being around customers, and faking it. He doesn’t blame her, and she says she has to start getting out. Life is punctuated by important moments. It’s significant that Jax and Brittany are getting married. She watched Jax attempt to grow up. In Lisa’s interview, she says Jax has been in her life for so many years. We flash back to after Jax’s father died, and he told Lisa it was a wake-up call. We move to Lisa talking to Jax’s mom Marie. She says, they’ve gone a long way. Max says he’s sure they’ll miss seeing her at the wedding.
Everyone gathers for the rehearsal at the chapel. Planners Mitchel and Christie give everyone orders, and say, those not in the wedding party can stay or go in the shade. They’re doing a dry run. Tom brings out a cooler with at least three different drink choices. In his interview, Tom says he’s good at being a best man. He’s been busting ass. Maybe he should start a business. We see a fake commercial with Tom saying he puts the best in best man. He’ll make sure you don’t sweat. He doesn’t throw shade – he provides it. Schwartz says, at his wedding, Tom took care of his dog and cried real tears at the same time. Scheana says Tom wasn’t her best man, and now she’s divorced. Tom says, see you at the altar. That was pretty funny.
They go through walking down the aisle, and who’s walking together. Mitchel asks if someone will be Randall. Brittany tells her dad, looking out the window, it hit her; it’s real. They look out, and see everyone lined up. Tom puts an umbrella over Jax. There’s a disagreement over who should come first – there are tons of people involved – and in Jax’s interview, he says, Tom isn’t number one. Schwartz is his best friend, and needs to walk out first. He’s paying for this huge day, and wants it the way he wants it. He tells Brittany, it’s the one thing he asked, but she says she didn’t want to upset anyone. In Tom’s interview, he says he’s been Jax’s friend for almost twenty years, and thought he’d be next to him. He fights back tears, and says, to be moved past to Schwartz is expected, but it hurts.
James makes chicken tacos. Raquel is bummed, but James says he’s tired of hearing about it. He’s over it. in James’s interview, he makes fun of the hashtag Jax is using on everything – #JaxGotItRight. Raquel says, no one is posting, Maybe they’re so wasted, they can’t. James tells Raquel, let’s not go there, but she says she’s not pretending it didn’t happen so he feels better. He tells her that he says a lot of things when he’s drunk. She says he gives her a tone, and he says, it’s his personality; he’s from England. If she doesn’t love who he is, goodbye. She says she’s not telling him not to express his emotions, and he says he’s so over this conversation. He walks out of the apartment, and in Raquel’s interview, she says she’s the one person who’s stood by him. She cries, and says she’s given him so many chances, and it hurts. He comes back, and she says he doesn’t like hearing the truth, but they have to talk about it. He says he’s sorry; he knows. She says she’s not blaming herself for his actions, and she’s not going to be embarrassed for him. The way he talks to her when he’s drunk scares her. If they have kids, she doesn’t want to put them in any situation that’s even relatively close. If he can’t get his sh*t together, then they’ll break up. She wants to go to self-help meeting as well; Al-Anon for those who have loved ones in their lives who drink. James says he’ll go to meetings, and stop drinking. In James’s interview, he says they’ve talked about this before, but there’s something about how Raquel is looking at him, and how upset she is, that he knows he needs to get a handle on it, before she walks out the door, and he’s left wondering what happened. She says it scares her, and he says he knows. He tells her not to cry. He’s doing it. He promises. Raquel says she can’t stop him from drinking anymore, and he says he’s sorry.
And did he just call her Bubba?
Next time, Jax gets sh*tfaced the night before the wedding, Beau tells Kristen that Stassi is his world, and a server tells Dayna that she saw Max with another girl.
🌅 Don’t You Dare…
I’m more like touchy in the morning, but I do love Miss Ross.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly asks Sonny how Dev is, and Sonny says he and Josslyn are arguing about whose turn it is to pick a movie. Carly says, so they’re back to normal, and Brando says, speaking of which… Sonny says, normal depends on what you’re used to. He wants Brando and Dev to stay under his protection, and Brando says, the kid can stay. He’s not going to.
Michael tells Willow, she can still be her; wonderful, sweet, loving, and caring her. Wiley needs this, and to be honest, so does he. She says she loves Wiley so, so much. That’s why she has to let him go.
At the hospital, Elizabeth wonders what’s taking so long, but Franco says Curtis told them Cameron wasn’t hurt. She says she knows that in her head, but won’t know it in her heart until she sees him. Cameron and Trina comes out, and Cameron hugs Elizabeth, who says, thank God. Trina says she has to find her father. Jason tells Epiphany that Trina is Taggert’s daughter, and Epiphany says, they’re stabilizing him, and prepping him for surgery. She asks Trina to come with her. Jordan runs in and hugs Curtis. She asks if he’s all right, and he says, he’s fine. It’s her buddy Taggert who’s hurt. She says she knows; they’re working on him. She asks, what happened? and he says, it was crazy. She says, crazy is right. Both of them, and the kids, could have died. Never mind that she’s his wife. She’s the Police Commissioner; she should have been his first call. Instead, he and Taggert cowboyed their way in, guns blazing, on their own. They could have been killed.
Curtis tells Jordan, he wanted to call and fill her in, but Trina’s not his daughter, and she was caught in the crossfire. Taggert was told if he involved the cops, Trina would be killed. Jordan says Curtis knows better. The best thing to do in a kidnapping, is to call the police first. She would have made sure Taggert was protected. He says, maybe that’s what Taggert was afraid of. She’d try to save them both, and Trina would pay the price.
Willow says she appreciates Michael wanting her to be in Wiley’s life, but he isn’t hers; he never was. Now, knowing the truth about her son – that he died, that Nelle used him as a weapon to hurt Michael, and that Nelle and Brad treated her baby boy like a prop – it’s all she can think about, especially when she sees Wiley. Michael says he’s sorry she’s going through this. And here he is… She says, he’s thinking about his son. She’d love to stay a part of Wiley’s life, but children are sensitive to the people around them. She doesn’t want Wiley picking up on her feelings. It’s not good for either one of them. Michael wishes him getting his son back didn’t mean Willow losing hers all over again.
Jason asks Curtis how he got involved, and Curtis says, he was helping a friend. Jason tells him, Taggert wanted to team up with Sonny to take Cyrus down. Whatever is going on between Cyrus and Taggert isn’t just business; it’s personal. Where does Curtis fit in? Curtis says, he told Jason. He was helping a friend.
Epiphany says Taggert is stable, and will be in surgery soon, but Trina can stay with him. Jordan asks if Curtis squared everything with Jason, but Curtis says, not really. He wanted to know about Taggert’s personal connection with Cyrus. Jordan says she’s sorry she came at Curtis like that. He says he knows it’s not him, and she says, it is, but not just him. She’s mad at a lot of people, and at the whole situation. Taggert is fighting for his life because someone leaked the names of the original task force to Cyrus. Curtis says that’s not on her, but she says, they knew it was coming. If she can’t keep one man safe, how is she going to protect a whole city? Laura comes in, and says she was briefed. She asks how Taggert is, and Jordan says, he’s being prepped for surgery. Laura asks if it was Cyrus, but Jordan says she doesn’t know. Laura asks if the gunmen acted on Cyrus’s orders, and Jordan says, yes.
Carly tells Brando, he has to stay in Port Charles. Sonny says, like it or not, he’s a part of it. Brando says, if anyone asks, tell them that he’s out of town on a job. As for his son, he’s finishing the school year there. Sonny asks, what’s in Chicago that’s so important? and Brando says, just his job, his home, and his life. Carly asks, who says he can’t have that there? and Sonny says he’ll set Brando up. Brand asks if Sonny is going to put in a word to someone at a garage, and Sonny says Brando can open his own shop. Anything he needs, Sonny will get. Brando says, what if he needs to leave? and Sonny says, anything except that.
Cameron tells Elizabeth, the driver took him and Trina to a warehouse, where there were four other guys waiting. Trina’s dad showed up, and it was obvious they weren’t going to let any of them go. He started to fight, and so did Trina. Guns were drawn, Curtis came in, and there was gunfire; it was crazy. He broke away, and Taggert told him to run, so he did. He doesn’t think he ever ran faster in his life. One guy came after him, and he tripped. The guy was standing over him with a gun, and he thought the guy was going to kill him. He heard a gunshot, and the guy dropped. He looked up, and saw Jason. Elizabeth says, thank God Jason got there, and Cameron says, Jason saved him, but the guy… He was a bad guy, but he’s dead. Elizabeth says she’s sorry he had to go through that, and that it happened to him, but he’s there and safe. She hugs him.
Brando says he did as Sonny asked, and backed Sonny’s story, but that’s as far as he goes. Sonny says they’re family, and Brando says they’ve been family for five minutes. Sonny says, they’ve always been family, even though they just met, and family takes care of family. Donna cries, and Carly goes upstairs. Sonny says, five minutes or not, what Brando did at the warehouse, saving Carly, makes him a target. He’s not leaving Brando unprotected. Sonny’s phone rings. It’s Jason, who tells him, Cyrus used Taggert’s Daughter and Cameron as bait. They’re okay, and safe, but Taggert is going into surgery. Sonny says, keep him posted, but Jason says, there’s something else. The Commissioner and Taggert are connected somehow. Sonny says he’s on his way.
Elizabeth sees Jason, and asks if he has a minute. He asks how Cameron is, and she says, all things considered, he’s okay with just having had a brush with death. He told her that Jason saved him, and she can’t thank him enough. He thanks her for calling him. She says she needs to know; is Cameron safe? Jason says, they were after Taggert. Cameron was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She asks, whoever is doing this, what do they want with Taggert? Jason’s phone rings.
Jordan tells Laura, the PCPD is running with everything they have. Laura says she has every faith in them, but what Jordan is describing are pretty straightforward police tactics. It’s clear Cyrus is capable of working around their methods. Jordan says, shootings, explosives, kidnappings; he’s leaving a trail. Laura says, he is, but his next attack won’t be conventional. They need to think of a better plan of attack.
Willow tells Michael, since she never knew her son was gone, she never mourned him, and it haunts her. Part of her feels like she should have known. The mother in her should have looked at Wiley, and known he wasn’t her child, but she didn’t know the difference. What kind of mother doesn’t know her own child? Michael says, what kind of father doesn’t? They were lied to; it’s not their fault. She loved Wiley the best she could, and he loved Wiley the same. He grieved her son as his own, and she fought to protect his son as her own. It kind of makes them brothers. He asks her, please don’t shut Wiley out. If anyone deserves a place in Wiley’s life, it’s her.
Trina says Taggert is waking up. Lucas and Epiphany run in, and Epiphany tells Trina that the police need to speak to her father. She can see him again before surgery. Jordan promises they won’t be long. Outside the room, Curtis says he’s going to tell Trina’s dad how brave she was, and Trina says he wouldn’t have gotten shot to being with if they hadn’t ditched him in the first place. Lucas comes out, and says they can go in now. Jason watches.
Jordan asks if Taggert can talk, and he says he guesses he’s in trouble. She says, not as long as he’s breathing. If he’d gotten himself killed, he would have been. Taggert thanks Curtis for making sure Trina got out okay. Curtis says, at least someone appreciates him. Taggert asks who’s been giving him a hard time, his wife or Trina, and Curtis says, all of the above. Taggert says Trina is everything to him, and he can’t repay Curtis for making sure she’s safe. Curtis says he was happy to help. Jordan asks what the hell he was thinking, going into the situation without backup. Taggert says he couldn’t involve the police, but Jordan says he could have involved her. Cops or not, she could have worked with him. He says his one thought was getting Trina out, and she says, two attacks, back to back, and he’s still alive. Be ready for the third. From now on, no exceptions. They work together as a team, and finish this together.
Cameron thanks Jason for saving his life, and Jason says he’s just glad Cameron is safe. Sonny says, Cameron told him what happened, and he’s glad Cameron is in one piece. Cameron thanks him, and says he’s sure Sonny and Jason have a lot to talk about. Sonny asks where Taggert is, and sees Curtis and Jordan come out of the room. He goes in, and asks if Taggert is up for a visit. Taggert says he’s still breathing; sorry to disappoint Sonny. Sonny says Trina’s life was on the line, but if their arrangement is going to work, Sonny has to be his first call. Taggert asks if they’re working together. Sonny never answered. Sonny says, this once. Don’t make a habit of it. Taggert says, it’s definitely a one-time thing. Sonny says, so Trina is his daughter. He never took Taggert to be a family man. Taggert says he got lucky, and Sonny says, Trina is the best. She’s smart, and always there for Josslyn. Always. Taggert beckons Sonny closer, and says he knows this isn’t over. Look out for Trina. Sonny says, that goes without saying.
Sasha walks in on Michael and Willow’s conversation, and says, sorry. She knows they have a lot to talk about. Michael says they’re not necessarily finished, but is everything okay? Sasha asks if he remembers their conversation earlier about training Wiley to sleep through the night. She’s a pushover. Wiley woke up crying, and she went in. She turned off the monitor, thinking she could get him back down, but she’s having trouble. Michael tells Willow that he’ll support whatever choice she makes to help herself heal, but she’ll always have a place in his family. He goes to tend to Wiley, and Sasha asks if Willow is okay. Willow says, not really, but she’s better than she was. It looks like Michael is adapting quickly. Sasha says, don’t let him fool her. He’s constantly doubting the transition from fun uncle to dad. Willow doesn’t think that should be a problem, and Sasha says neither does she, but it’s adorable watching him think it is. Willow says Michael will be a great father, and she’s glad he has Sasha in his life. Sasha thanks her, but as much as she can cheer Michael on, and pitch in to help with Wiley, she’s not his mother. Willow says, it turns out neither was she. Sasha says Willow is more of a mother than a lot of real, biological moms. The two greatest mothers Sasha has seen in Port Charles are Nina with Charlotte, and Willow with Wiley. No biology, and all the love. Willow says it’s kind of Sasha to say, but Sasha says she’s calling it as she sees it. Since she’s gone that far, she might as well go all way. Wiley isn’t the only one who needs Willow; Michael does too.
Jordan leaves a message for TJ, saying she’s checking in. She wonders how his big night went, and asks him to call her. Curtis asks Jordan if everything is okay. Jordan hopes so. If Cyrus is willing to kidnap Trina, he might do the same to TJ. Laura is right. Cyrus isn’t going to be stopped with them going by the book. He asks what she’s going to do, and she says, for starters, tell Laura the truth.
Sonny asks if Laura is okay, and she says it’s lucky Jason showed up to save the kids. Lucas tells Trina that Taggert is waiting to see her, and Trina runs in. Laura tells Sonny, she couldn’t help but notice that he visited Taggert. Was it about burying the hatchet, or more like an the enemy of my enemy kind of thing? He says, a little of the first, but mostly the second. She says, Cameron almost died. She’s grateful to Jason for saving him, but it’s a temporary fix. This guy is dangerous. If Sonny retaliates, God only knows what he’ll do next. As the mayor of this town, Cyrus is now her problem.
Trina says she was so scared she was going to lose him, and Taggert says, he knows. He’s sorry. She says, now that he’s there, maybe he can stay in Port Charles longer. She wants her friends to meet him. He says he’d like that, and bets she already has an itinerary for him. She says she has a debate this week, and a track meet next week. Maybe he could come. He says he’ll do his best. He tells her that he feels like having some malted milk balls, and she says, they’re gross, like candy chalk. He asks, who’s the one in the hospital bed? and she says he can choose the candy this time. He says she knows how much he loves her, right? She says, of course (🍷) she does, and kisses his cheek, saying she loves him too. She leaves, and he says he loves that kid.
Carly asks Brando where Sonny is, and Brando says, he had to take off after he got a call. She says it will give them a chance to talk. Brando wonders what’s left to say, and she says she always has more say. He says he’s getting that impression, and she tells him, Sonny offering him a garage isn’t a bribe. Maybe a little, but it’s a way of letting Brando know he understands the sacrifice of Brando leaving his life to stay there. Brando says he hasn’t changed his mind, and she asks what the real problem is. He says he doesn’t want to be beholden to Sonny.
Jordan tells Laura, she and Taggert worked on the DEA team to bring down Cyrus. There were four of them, and now two have turned up dead; murdered, and it was made to look like an OD. The attacker got away, and when the ambush failed, Cyrus went after Taggert’s daughter. Everyone is fair game. Laura asks if Jordan thinks Cyrus orchestrated everything from behind bars. Jordan says, he’s got people working on the outside, and Laura says, not if he can’t get in touch with them. Jordan says, the warden won’t move Cyrus to solitary without cause, and Laura says she’ll give him cause.
Trina tells Cameron that they need to stock the vending machines better. She had to go to the cafeteria to get malted milk balls. Cameron says, that matters because… She says her dad asked for them. He’s awake and talking, and promised to stay in Port Charles indefinitely. She and Cameron hug.
Alarms go off in Taggert’s room. Lucas runs in, and Epiphany follows. Everyone watches, holding their collective breath.
Carly says if Brando is afraid to be beholden to Sonny, he has it all wrong. Brando saved her life. If not for him, Donna would be growing up without a mom. If anything, they’re beholden to him. Brando says Donna is beautiful.
Willow tells Sasha, as much as she loves Wiley, it’s too painful. It’s not good for her, and she doesn’t think it’s good for Wiley either. Sasha wants to level with her, and says, after all Willow has done to fight for Wiley to have the best life possible, why stop? He deserves someone as fierce and selfless as Willow in his life. Willow thanks her, but says she can’t. Sasha asks how she knows if she hasn’t tried. Isn’t it important enough to try? Willow has so much love to give children. Anyone can see that; even Charlotte came around. And when Willow thought she was pregnant, it was profound. She doesn’t mean to strongarm Willow… Willow says she does, and Sasha says, okay, she is. Willow says, it’s okay. Sasha is looking out for Michael and Wiley. She’s glad there’s someone in their lives who cares about them.
Lucas comes out, and tells Jordan, he’s sorry. She says, no. He’s told them Taggert was stabilized. Lucas says they’ll do an autopsy, but it appears there was a blood clot.
Trina tells Cameron that it’s unrealistic to think her dad will make the debate, but he can probably come to her track meet. Cameron says, awesome. They turn the corner, and everyone turns and looks at them. Elizabeth asks Trina if they can talk, and Trina asks, why? What’s wrong? Elizabeth says she’s sorry, but Trina’s dad is gone. Trina asks what she’s talking about; they were taking him to surgery. She asks Lucas to tell her that her dad is going to be okay. Lucas said he’d be okay. Lucas says, sometimes with gunshot wounds, and blood clot is formed quickly, and goes to the brain. They did what they could, and he’s sorry. Trina collapses onto Elizabeth, weeping. Elizabeth holds her.
Jordan goes into Taggert’s room, where Trina sits next to him. She tells Trina that she doesn’t know how much her dad told her, but she had the privilege of working with him a long time ago. Trina says she didn’t know that, and Jordan says, sometimes on a job, you spend a lot of time doing nothing but waiting. Besides football, all he ever talked about was his little girl. He was proud of her. Trina says she was proud of him too, and Jordan says, she should be. He was the best agent she ever worked with.
Jason tells Sonny, when he asked Curtis what he was doing at the warehouse, Curtis said he was helping a friend. He barely knows Taggert. Sonny wonders what the connection is, and Jason says, Jordan. The whole time they were talking, Curtis was looking at her. Sonny says she’s Curtis’s wife, and Jason says, it turns out Jordan and Taggert have a DEA connection. Sonny says he knew Taggert didn’t come to Port Charles on business. Jason says, it was personal reasons. There were two attempts on Taggert’s life in the same day. This vendetta is as personal as it gets, but what if it doesn’t end with Taggert?
Sasha tells Willow, shutting Wiley out may be what she needs right now, but it’s going to hurt people. Not just Michael and Wiley, but her. They all deserve better. Willow says she hears what Sasha is saying, but sorry, she can’t. She jets, and Michael comes in with Wiley. He asks if Willow is gone, and tells Wiley, sorry, buddy, but look on the bright side. Michael brought him downstairs. Sasha asks, what happened with getting Wiley back to sleep? and laughs, saying, she couldn’t resist either. Willow watches them through the window.
Laura and the warden walk to Cyrus’s cell. The warden goes inside, and Laura gets a text saying Taggert died from his wounds. Cyrus tells the warden, he asked not to be disturbed, but the warden says he has a visitor. Laura goes in, and says she doesn’t think they’ve been properly introduced. Cyrus says she’s Laura Collins, the mayor of the great city of Port Charles. She says, correct, and he says she’s looking well after her recent ordeal on the docks. He asks if they ever found the gunman, but she says she doesn’t have the patience for a game of cat and mouse. A friend of hers died tonight. He says he’s so sorry, and Laura says, he was a good man. He was a good cop, and left behind a daughter. Cyrus says, how tragic. She must be devastated. She says he has no idea how she feels.
Carly tells Brando, to be honest, she’s scared. She doesn’t want him to be a target because he risked his life to save her. Is she clear enough? He says, if it’s that important, he guesses he’ll stay. Carly says he’s learned an important lesson. Don’t waste time arguing with her. When she wants something, she gets it. She takes Donna back upstairs, and Brando kind of smiles. I think he has a crush on Carly.
Trina holds Taggert’s hand, and Epiphany comes in. Trina puts the candy box on Taggert’s chest, and walks out. Jordan tells Taggert that she’s going to protect his daughter and make this right. She leaves, and outside, Trina walks past Curtis without saying anything. She tells Elizabeth, when they were kidnapped, their phones were thrown out. She needs to call her mom. Has Elizabeth been able to reach her? Elizabeth says she hasn’t, but in the meantime, Trina can wait at their house for her to call. Franco asks if Cameron is okay, and Cameron says, yeah. He was just thinking… When he thought they were going to lose Franco, Trina was there for him. He couldn’t shake her. She said there was always hope to hang on to, and Franco would come back, and here he is. Trina’s dad is gone, and there is no hope. He’s not coming back. Franco says, now is Cameron’s chance to be there for Trina. Cameron says he will. He just hopes he can be as good a friend as she was to him. Curtis comes by, and Franco shakes his hand. Curtis touches Cameron’s shoulder. Jordan tells Curtis that they’ll talk later. TJ is safe, and she knows what she has to do to keep him that way. Disappear. She’s going to resign.
Laura tells Cyrus that she and the warden were talking, and she persuaded him that part of rehabilitation is the ability to enjoy the solitude of one’s own thoughts. Cyrus says they can’t send him to solitary without cause; it’s a violation of his rights. She says there’s evidence potentially linking him to several violent crimes, the most recent one tonight. They can no longer afford him to have opportunity to contact the outside. He asks how he could possibly do that, and she says, give orders from behind bars? Let her count the ways. His attorney, visitors, other inmates and their attorneys, via code, and cell phones smuggled in. He says, if only she had proof, and she tells him to look around him. He’s in prison, not a court of law. She doesn’t need proof. He says, abuse of power on her part won’t stand. She says, if he doesn’t like it, file a complaint. He says, by the way, about her friend, he is sorry for her loss. She says, no, he’s not, but he will be. Cyrus is taken away.
Tomorrow, Anna asks Finn what he told Jason exactly; Maxie says if she and Peter don’t tell each other everything, there’s no relationship; Julian says Brook is bluffing, and Brook says, try her.
😥 This was not fair. Although it seemed like Taggert was dead at the end of Friday’s episode, the preview hinted that he would live, and so he did. Only to die of a blood clot. They lifted us up, just to bring us down. It was heart wrenching, especially when Trina left the candy with him. I’d already been calculating him into the cast equation. Was this really necessary?
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Jenna tells Adam about Georgia being slow on turndowns, and acting disrespectful. He says, break her down to a pulp. He would can her ass personally. In Georgia’s interview, she says Jenna talking behind her back is becoming a bit of a pattern. It’s unfortunate she came across as disrespectful, and she’s going to have to watch her back. Adam says it’s good Jenna held her ground.
Some of the guests go to the beach for the campfire picnic. Madison says it would be nice to know where she’s going beforehand. Jenna and Georgia have one job; she has five. Paget takes the guests to the beach, where Madison is waiting. She welcomes them to their private beach. In Georgia’s interview, she says, face to face she thinks she and Madison are on the same team, but she doesn’t know if she can trust Madison at this point.
The beach looks so pretty in the firelight. The guests roast marshmallows, make s’mores and drink wine. One of the dudes says he hates sandy feet and wet kneecaps. I’m wondering why he wants to go to a beach then. After finding out he’s a 34, Georgia tells Paget that she doesn’t think he’s fat; he’s the manliest man on the boat. He jokes that she always upsets him, so he’s going. He leaves to bring the guests back. Jenna asks how the beach was, and all of the guests are happy. Ciara tells Paget that she’ll clean up, and he can go to bed. In her interview, she says they’ve been bickering a lot, and she doesn’t want to deal with it. There’s not that much stuff on the beach, so she can do it on her own. When she was little, her nickname was, I Do It. She just wants some space right now.
Jenna cleans up, and Georgia tells Madison that she hates to be the bearer of bad news, but the laundry isn’t finished. In Madison’s interview, she says, laundry is Georgia’s job. Either she’s bad at it, or Jenna is bad at giving instructions. This mystery needs to be solved. Madison is finally in bed at 4:30 am, saying, it’s been a long day. Some of the crew are getting up, and I once again despise the sound of their alarm clock, since it sounds like mine. I want to smash it.
Parker tries putting new covers on the tender cushions. Jenna asks how the guests slept, and tells them breakfast will be between 9 and 10. In Georgia’s interview, she says the laundry hasn’t been completed, and she has enough problems with Jenna. She doesn’t want to lose her job on the premise of someone else’s mistake. In Adam’s interview, he says he’s enjoying the flirtatious banter with Jenna, but he knows how quickly and easily he can be infatuated. We flash back to one of those infatuations, and he says, if it goes belly-up, it could be a disaster. He asks Jenna if it’s warm in there.
Breakfast is served. Jenna says, there are pastries galore (and there are!), and guest Adam says he’s going to need a major diet after this. Paget tells Parker that he needs to change into his polo shirt while they’re sailing. He doesn’t want Parker to look bad in front of the guests. In Parker’s interview, he doesn’t think the guests care if he’s wearing a polo shirt or T-shirt. They just care what they’re getting for breakfast. Georgia whines that Madison didn’t help her with laundry last night, and Madison says she understands what it’s like, and it’s frustrating. She’s doing the best she can, but even though she’s the middle person, Georgia needs to watch how she speaks to her.
Parker suggests to Parker that they wear ascots. Jenna tells the guests that Paget is going to take them cliff jumping, and Captain Glenn plans on doing some sailing later. Along with Ciara, Paget takes the guests on the tender to a beautiful little island with an old lighthouse on it. Georgia tells Jenna that she can get the cabins done, but has to do it uninterrupted, and in her interview, she says she doesn’t care who gets the gold star, she just wants to get through the day with no complaints. Jenna isn’t trustworthy. Byron asks what Jenna is bitching about. Jenna says she wasn’t bitching, and he jokes that he saw her lips moving.
The guests come back, and guest Adam says, it was solid. Captain Glenn notes the wind is 22 knots, more than was forecast. In the captain’s interview, he says he has to be cognizant of the guests’ safety, especially with a baby. As captain, he’s always a little worried, but they should be fine. Fingers crossed. The sails go up, and in Paget’s interview, he says, once the sails go up, they’re in the hands of the gods, so to speak. They sail a while, the guests marvel at how big the sails are, and anchor is dropped. In Parker’s interview, he says, there are endless things to learn, and he wants to learn them all. He’s a visual learner. Lunch is served, and primary Sylvia asks Captain Glenn to join them for dinner. She tells him that he has a great life. In his interview, the captain says, in the yachting industry, it’s hard to be in a relationship. He’s fine with it, and not having a partner to do things with doesn’t stop him from doing anything. The crew eats, and when Ciara sits down, Parker tells her that Paget wants one of them on deck. If she wants, he’ll go. In Ciara’s interview, she wonders why Parker is telling her what her boyfriend wants her to do. If Paget wants her to do something, he’ll tell her. Parker says, it’s a precaution to always have a person on deck. She gets up, and heads upstairs, saying, he’s the boss.
In her interview, Ciara says she’s pissed. She’s Paget’s number two. She doesn’t take orders from a deckhand. Adam flirts with Jenna in front of Madison. Ciara tells Parker that they have to put the covers on the tender cushions, and he says he did that already. She checks the tender, and says, they’re still wet. She wants to wring them out, and put them in the dryer, so they’re fresh. In Parker’s interview, he says he knows he’s green, but he knows what she’s talking about, Ciara thinks because she’s Paget’s girlfriend, she can boss him around. The guests see a little shore town, and ask if they can go inland for a drink. Paget tells Georgia that he loves hearing her voice; it’s sensual. In Georgia’s interview, she says she dates emotional unhealthy guys, and likely psychopaths that will leave her for her best friend.
Ciara asks Paget if they can talk. She’s pissed that Parker is telling her what to do and how to do it. And he doesn’t listen. The guests prepare to leave. Paget tells Parker to take Ciara’s lead. Parker says he and Ciara were eating at the same time. Paget says he wants one of them on deck. Parker says he was just telling her what Paget said, and asks if she thinks that’s undermining her. Ciara says, don’t tell her what to do; just tell her what he’s doing. Ciara asks Jenna to stall, while she puts the covers back on. Paget tells Parker that speaking directly to other people about what he wants them to do gets their back up. They’re adults, and have to work together and be a team. Parker says they’re on the same page; he’s not disagreeing. In Parker’s interview, he says, working for a couple, he can’t win. He did everything that was asked, and he’s still the one getting scolded. He tells Paget that Ciara put the covers back in the dryer when he said not to, and Ciara tells Paget, they were soaking wet.
The guests get on the tender with baby Angelica. In the crew mess, Parker asks if he can have some club soda, and Jenna says it didn’t come with the last provisions, and she needs to make sure they have it for the guests. Parker points out that Byron has one, and Jenna says Parker’s attitude is heavy. If he wants something, put it on the list. He adds it on the dry-erase board, and says he’s not trying to piss her off; he just wanted a club soda. Jenna says, if she tells him, no, let that be the end of it. His commentary puts people off. She says she’ll give him an example, but he says, that’s okay, and jets. Adam says, clearly, it went in one ear and out the other.
Paget picks up the guests, Adam makes dinner, and the table is set. Madison starts turndowns before dinner, and Jenna isn’t happy. In Jenna’s interview, she says they don’t start until the guests sit down to dinner. You need to be a magical fairy, who cleans the rooms, but the guests never see. In his interview, Captain Glenn says, dressing up for a fancy dinner is not his forte. He’s more of a burger, ribs, and pizza kind of guy. Jenna tells Madison that she should have waited, but Madison says there were no guests there. The captain says, wish him luck, and joins the guests for dinner. Madison goes to help with turndowns, and Georgia tells Madison that she should have waited until the guests were sitting down to dinner. Madison tells her, no one was there, and Georgia snarks that Madison is the boss. Madison says, no, she’s not; she’s trying to be proactive. Jenna radios for Madison to be on service. In Madison’s interview, she says, if you want respect, don’t flirt with the chef when you should be working. Jenna asks Ciara for help with service.
Captain Glenn tells Sylvia that he bought a sailboat in ’92. In his interview, he says he feels awkward, but he has to do his best to keep it going. It might be a nice rapport, but he doesn’t like being the center of attention. It makes him feel self-conscious. Dinner is served, Mmm… yellowtail… seared… Captain Glenn says he loves Adam’s food, and the guests agree. They discuss cooking, and Angelica cries. Jenna tells Adam that she likes the way he’s spreading the strawberries on the dessert, and he says he’s good at spreading things out. Jenna says, they’ll see, and in Madison’s interview, she says something like, errggh. Sylvia toasts to a great trip, and Angelica.
The captain says he’ll see them in the morning, and everyone goes to bed. If I was shelling out the kind of money it takes to go on a trip like this, I’d be up 24/however many days the trip was. Jenna tells Adam, it’s a calm charter, and Madison tells Georgia to go to bed; she’ll finish. Georgia says she needs to be up to make sure the laundry is done, and Madison asks if that’s a jab at her. Georgia tells her, stop making drama, but Madison says she’s not. Don’t say she has to get the job done as a jab at her. Jenna tells Adam that she’s going to bed, and he massages her shoulders. Madison tells Georgia, just let her know where the laundry is at. Georgia tells Madison that she started the drying cycle, and wrote down what’s needed. She goes to bed, and Madison mumbles they’ll have to work on that. Captain Glenn asks Georgia if everything is okay, and she says, it’s always good.
In the morning, there’s a glorious sunrise. Georgia sees that she finally got some help, and says, thank God. She did it. Paget’s hair is slicked back, and she tells him, she likes his wet look. Breakfast is served. Mmm… eggs benedict… with a crab cake underneath… The captain tells the crew, ETA, five minutes. In Paget’s interview, he says he and Parker have been butting heads the whole charter, and the last docking was a disaster. One screw up can cost tens of thousands of dollars in damage. They dock uneventfully.
The guests say goodbye. Sylvia says Captain Glenn is their favorite captain. They did a great job; the crew kept their rooms up, and the food was amazing. She gives him a fat envelope, the captain blows the horn, and everyone waves goodbye. Adam says they nailed it. The crew cleans up the boat, and Captain Glenn calls for a charter debrief. He says he thinks it was another great charter. The tip is $14,000 or $1550 each. In Paget’s interview, he says, the tip is the icing on the cake. Knowing the guests had a great time is what counts. Ha-ha-ha! I’m so sure I believe that. Captain Glenn says they’re on a roll, but he’s starting to see a grinding of the gears. It’s a lot of pressure, and they’re working long hours in small spaces. In his interview, he says the crew is starting to get on each other’s nerves. It’s like running a floating foster home. He needs to alleviate the tension before it blows up.
In Jenna’s interview, she says she’s excited to go out. She’s getting along great with Adam, but since the hot tub debacle, she’s going to let him make the first move. She tells him, she can’t wait to get out of there. The crew gets ready to go out. In Madison’s interview, she says she and Georgia are like sisters, but more like bro’s. They’re ready to kill each other, and the next moment, they’re bro’ing out. The crew goes to shore.
Why do so many cafés and bars have swings? Do people bring kids? I don’t think the option of a swing is a great choice where people are drinking. They eat at a table right next to the water. In Ciara’s interview, she says she hasn’t connected that well with the other girls. When she was younger, they moved a lot, and there wasn’t much of a chance to make friends. She’s very self-sufficient, but it’s lonely at times. After dinner, the crew moves on to a bar. Ciara doesn’t feel like drinking, but Jenna wildly swings her ponytail in a way that might be some kind of mating ritual. Paget asks if Ciara is going to be wiggling her butt, but she’s not having it. Adam and Jenna flirt, and in Madison’s interview, she says, she’s an awkward flirt. If she’s awkward and weird, she’s flirting, but Parker hasn’t noticed. He probably thinks she’s having a seizure or something. In Ciara’s interview, she says all she needs is a little alone time with Paget. Ciara tells Paget that she doesn’t want to be there; she’s tired. He asks if she’s crying, but she says she doesn’t want to talk. She’s not having fun, and just wants to sleep.
Ciara puts her head in her hands, and Paget walks away. Madison wiggles around next to Ciara, and Ciara asks what she’s doing, and laughs. Madison says Ciara isn’t going to cry; she’s going to laugh. She puts her boobs in Ciara’s face. In Madison’s interview, she says she wants everyone to be happy if it kills her. The crew goes back to the boat. In Parker’s interview, he says he’s aware that Madison might have a crush on him, but falling in love takes a very long time for Parker (he literally talks about himself in the third person). Adam and Jenna sit in captain’s chair, and curl up together. Adam says, it’s the best seat in the house. He likes her; she makes him laugh. She makes his day easier. She says she could tell he liked her, and he says, it’s not every day he’s attracted to his chief stew. She says, sh*t happens. Why question it? They kiss. In Adam’s interview, he says, the texual shension [sic] is high. Jenna says she really likes him, and Adam asks if she wants to go on a road trip. She says, yeah, and in her interview, Jenna says she can’t think of a better night. Adam says, round two, and they go to bed. Separately; not with each other.
Adam comes up behind Jenna while she makes juice, and they hug. Georgia sings as she does the laundry. There seems to be something about doing laundry on boats that inspires song. It happens a lot. Captain Glenn tells Madison that he’s going off the boat, and she tells him to enjoy his time. He leaves for who-knows-where. Ciara looks out, and notices the boat is hitting the dock. She calls for Paget, and then Byron, but no one is around. The boat continues to scrape the dock, and she runs through the boat, looking for anyone. She says she doesn’t know where he f*** anyone is.
Next time, Adam wants to take it slow, the guests are chest bumping Long Island dudes (looks promising!), Captain Glenn says hitting the dock is a big deal, and Madison says it’s absolute insanity on the boat.
🕶 Remember Her…?
No reason you should. I didn’t. I think she’s the one with the eating disorder.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Beta enters an RV. Two Whisperers remove a chair, and open a secret door in the floor. Beta drops down. He lights a lantern, and goes through a tunnel.
Baby Coco stirs, and Rosita gets up. She goes to get the baby’s blanket, and I gasp out loud. When she turns back, Beta is standing over the crib. Beta raises a knife, and plunges it downward. Rosita wakes up.
The gate at Alexandria parts. Gamma is standing there, surrounded by armed guards. She removes her mask, and says she’s the one who knows Aaron. Gabriel says they know who she is. She says, they’re in trouble. They’re trapped in a cave where Alpha placed the horde. They might have gotten out; she doesn’t know. Gabriel says she told them it was in a field, and she says, Alpha moved it. He says, the whole thing? Right before their group got there? Gamma says she’s just telling them what happened. She’s trying to help. Rosita asks, why? and Gamma says, the baby that the Whisperers left at Hilltop is her nephew. Gabriel asks where the baby’s mother is, and Gamma flashes back to pushing her sister into the zombies. She says, dead. Gabriel looks at Rosita, and asks Gamma, if they give her a map, can she show them where the cave is? She says she can, and the guards lower their pokey sticks. Gamma moves toward the gate, and Rosita punches her in the face, saying, she’s a liar.
Daryl hides in a crevasse, and sees Alpha. She takes an arrow out of the head of a zombie, and moves on. Daryl follows behind. Holding a knife. Another Whisperer comes out of a cave. They lead a group of zombies out.
Gamma wakes in the cell. Rosita says she’s not the first one, and Gamma asks if Rosita killed the last one. Gabriel says, he did. Rosita says they were sent to spy on them, and killed her baby’s father two days ago. Gamma says she doesn’t know anything about that, and Gabriel says it’s amazing how much she says she doesn’t know. He’ll lay it out for her. She’s working hard to convince them that she’s different from the ones who lie, walk with the dead, and eat worms. She says, what if she can’t? and Rosita says, then she’ll die. No second chance. Gabriel says, by the way, she’s the third one. Gamma says she’s telling the truth, and Gabriel says, this isn’t for show. He’s a servant of God. He’s heard many confessions, and he can tell she’s holding back. Outside the gate, her story was that she’s the baby’s aunt. Gamma says, it’s not a story, and he says it tugs at the heartstrings, but she’s hiding something. That makes the whole thing a lie. She says, ask God if she’s lying, and he says God told him to hang her. Gamma says she killed her sister. She killed her sister for Alpha. Alpha didn’t even have to ask; she just did it. Does he believe her now? Gabriel says, get her a map.
Alpha and two other Whisperers continue with a small zombie group. A zombie gets shot with an arrow, and the Whisperers split from the group. Daryl fights with Alpha, but gets cut, and there’s blood in his eyes. He can barely see, but gets her back down anyway. He asks where they are, as the zombies come closer. He slaughters a few, but Alpha grabs her knife from where it fell, and stabs Daryl in the leg. Daryl still can see a little, but everything is red, and he struggles.
Gabriel says, fourteen miles inland. He asks if there are any other ways in or out, and Gamma isn’t sure, but says they’ll be guarded. Rosita says, what about the border?It’s guarded all the way, but Gamma says, it’s too long for Alpha to defend. Most of the patrols are near the cave. Gabriel tells someone to take Gamma back to her cell. When she’s gone, Gabriel tells the others that they’ll get two rescue parties together. Rosita says they don’t know if the information is real. Scott asks Gabriel if he’s sure Gamma’s not lying. Gabriel says he is and he does know. They’re hesitating because they’re afraid, and they shouldn’t be. Scott asks, why? and Gabriel says he brought her in so they could see the Whisperers are cowards. They broke her completely, and they can break others. Keep them alive. Pull their teeth, and take their fingers; get more information. The more pain and fury they pour on the Whisperers, the sooner they’ll drop their act. Which is what it is.
Alpha follows Daryl to a gas station, carrying a shotgun, and is obviously hurt. A knife sticks out of Daryl’s leg, as he grabs for things on the table above him. He gets a metal bar. Alpha comes closer, but then sits down. She bangs on a pipe with the gun. Zombies start to come.
Gabriel arms himself, and Rosita does the same. He asks if she’s okay, saying, she seemed off in the meeting. He suggests she stay and work defense at the gate. The smart thing would be for her to sit this one out. She tells him, don’t worry; she won’t freeze. She’s good. He should worry about his sh*t. It’s erratic. It seems like he’s itching for a fight. He says, so what if he is? and Rosita says, she doesn’t want… He says he knows, and she says she’ll see him out there.
Judith talks to Gamma through the cell window, asking what her name is. Gamma says, no one has asked since she got there. It’s Mary. Judith asks where she was before the Whisperers, and Mary says she’s from Santa Monica; it’s in California. Her parents’ names were John and Alice. She went to school… She doesn’t remember. She tells Judith, Alpha has a way of making you forget. Judith says, she really doesn’t remember anything? and Mary says, echoes of left feelings. Her life was ordinary; that much she knows. When it all went down, she and her sister kept making bad decisions. They needed someone to make decisions for them. Then they met Alpha. Judith says they met the wrong person first. If they’d met her mom and dad, she wouldn’t be in the cell. Mary doesn’t look like a monster to her. Rosita calls to Judith, who says, bye. Rosita looks at Mary.
Alpha continues to bang on the pipe, and zombies continue to move toward the sound. They walk past her, except for one, who makes close-up and personal zombie noises in her face. Daryl kicks a fire extinguisher down from the wall, and whacks a couple of heads with it. He tussles with a zombie, and ends up pulling the knife out of his leg. He stabs the zombie in the head, but now he’s bleeding like a stuck pig.
The groups get ready to go out. Gabriel hears over the radio that a herd is headed for Alexandria, and makes the decision for Laura and Rosita to stay back. He and Scott will each take a squad, and break up the herd. He tells Rosita that he’s not speaking for her, but she admits it could get them both killed, and says, it’s better this way. He kisses her goodbye, and says he’ll see her soon.
A zombie rises out of the earth from a grave inside Alexandria. Oh wait, it’s Beta, that crazy kid. He brandishes a knife in both hands.
Inside a house, two guys talk about the Whisperers being a joke, and get ready to go out. Beta gets inside, and screams come from the house. Beta kneels on the floor, as a guy crawls away from him.
On the radio, Gabriel asks, what the hell happened? They saw nothing coming? Rosita says, nothing. Scott wonders, what the hell is going on? Beta kneels in the middle of carnage, bodies surrounding him. Gabriel says most of them are out there. There’s hardly anyone back home.
The dead start to come to life around Beta. Outside, Rosita leads a group through the street, and sees zombies coming. She radios Gabriel, saying, they’re here, and runs toward the zombies with the group. Beta goes to the cell, and unlocks it. Mary says, it isn’t what she said. She lied. Beta says, these are not her people, and Mary repeats, she lied. He says, she is your Alpha, and opens the door. He says she was dead the moment she came to them. Step toward him. He holds out his hand, and she says, why? He says, she wants you. She said death would be painless, but if you fight, it will not be. Step toward him. She stays where she is, and says all Alpha wants is her in pain. He’s lying for her. Again he says, step toward him. Mary moves forward, and says she’s not afraid of him. He says, yes, she is. Beta feels a blade at his back, and Laura stands behind him holding some kind of battle ax. She tells Mary, get help, and Mary runs out. Beta grabs the ax, and they struggle, but Laura jumps on him. Outside, Mary yells for help, and hears a voice says, up here. Laura and Beta fight, but he knocks her out. He stomps out to the street.
He goes inside house, and quietly walks upstairs. He looks around, slipping into a bedroom and out again. He sees a closed door, opens it, and a shot in the chest blows him back. It’s our girl Judith. She and Mary run, but Mary lingers, and Beta grabs her ankle, tripping her. Beta gets up, and we see his wearing some kind of chest plate. Rosita says, hey, and he turns. He has a huge chef’s knife, and rushes her, but Rosita slugs him in the gut with a bat. They struggle, and he gets Rosita down. Mary tells him, stop. Alpha wants her alive. She holds a knife to her own throat, and tells Beta, step toward her. Nice move.
Beta and Mary walk down the road. Beta says, you will fall. You will rise. You will walk with your sister again. Gabriel and his squad are suddenly in front of them. Mary hits the ground, shots are fired, and Beta jets. The group points their guns at Mary, and she says she didn’t betray them. He was going to… please. She’s telling the truth. Gabriel looks at her, and puts his gun up on his shoulder.
Alpha takes off her mask. She asks Daryl if he can see beyond the darkness to the light, but he says no. She says she’s teeming with joy. She sees the ones who brought her around them. She says, thank you for making me strong. They made her, and her daughter. Daryl says she lost her daughter. Alpha drove her away because she didn’t love her. She asks what he said, and moves toward him, saying, she’s all ears. She stumbles and falls, and crawls along the floor. She lies there a moment, and sees a blurry Lydia. Lydia takes her hand, and Alpha asks if she’s really there. Lydia says, yes, mama, and Alpha says, don’t call her that; Lydia knows better. She came home. Alpha says, I am you, and you are me, Lydia. She starts to sing, Lydia, the Tattooed Lady. She puts a knife in Lydia’s hand, and covers it with her own. She says she wants to make sure Lydia is ready, but Lydia says she can’t. She didn’t come for Alpha, but the others. They’re not perfect; just human. It’s all she ever wanted, and what Alpha never gave her. She touches Alpha’s face, and Alpha says she wants Lydia to stay.
Alpha opens her eyes. Lydia is gone. Alpha gets up, obviously in pain. She limps toward where Daryl was, but Daryl is gone. The knife is stuck in the table, with the words, your way is not the only way, carved next to it. Alpha laughs.
Gabriel walks with Scott and points to where Beta gained entry, saying, this was Dante. Scott says, the Whisperers sealed whole sections. Aaron returns, and Gabriel and Scott hug him. He says he’s all right, and Gabriel asks, what happened? Where are the others? Aaron says, they got separated, but most of them got out. Scott says, most of them? and Aaron says, not everyone.
Rosita sits in a wagon, and Gabriel asks if she’s sure she doesn’t want to take Coco. It’s a short trip. She says she wants Coco safe, and she’s safe with him. A little caravan gets ready, and Aaron lifts Judith into one of the wagons. Mary sits with Rosita, and Rosita formally introduces herself. They shake hands, and the caravan heads out.
Daryl comes to, leaning against a tree in the woods. Lydia tells him, easy. He asks how long he was asleep, and she says, most of the day. He says, she was just out there watching him? She says, and watching them. Deciding. He says, deciding what? Did she kill Alpha? Lydia says, if it was Daryl’s father, could he?
Alpha lies on her back, holding the knife. She says she’s no longer weak. She’s stronger than ever. The horde will consume them. Their screams will be songs to her. A couple of Whisperers help her up, and she says, bathed in blood; we are free. We love no one; we are free. We hear nothing; we are free. We are the end of the world.
Next time, Lydia says her mother coming, and everyone gets ready for a fight.
💥 News Flash: Starting this Friday – March 6th – the Shahs will be moving to Fridays at 9 pm.
Shahs of Sunset
Reza says he needs a new shoe closet, and Adam says he wants to convert the garage to a big closet. Reza is like, thanks but no thanks. He has a promotional gig in Las Vegas coming up, and says he has to kill it at Sally Beauty Supply with his haircare products. If he doesn’t, it’s $500K down the tubes. He tells Adam, the product isn’t generating the income they need to live. GG texts that she has to cancel coming along. Reza relays the news to Adam, and says Destiney will be coming. He says he’s forgiven her, and Adam says he’d rather move on than hold a grudge.
MJ and Tommy fawn over Baby Shams. Vida comes by, and says she thinks Shams should be on the cover of People. In MJ’s interview, she says she thinks she and Tommy are naturals.
GG’s mom Fati cuts up several pineapples. In GG’s interview, she says, in trying to get pregnant, she’s been googling everything, and pineapple is supposed to be helpful in thickening the uterine lining. She’s going the embryo transfer today. She started with IVF treatments in October of 2018, and says her ass is black and blue from the injections.
Mike visits Nema, bringing along his French bulldogs. Nema says he’s finally found the super ultra-modern home he’s always wanted. Mike explains microfiber to pup Lexi. Pet massage therapist Gene comes by to give Nema’s dog Jack a massage, since Jack broke his back a couple of years ago. In Nema’s interview, he says he rescued Jack, and got Jack in the divorce. Erica then became Jack’s stepmom, and got involved in Jack’s life, so now they’re co-parenting. Mike says he thinks Nema is leading Erica on, and Nema tells Mike that he never says Mike is leading Paulina on. They bicker, and then apologize to Gene. Gene says his focus is on the dog. Mike says Erica and Nema work together, and Nema keeps saying he’s going to marry her one day. We flash back to Nema telling Erica that they can’t not end up together, and her saying, not if he’s like he is now. Nema says, Paulina is dating a guy who cheated on his wife, and she has two kids. Mike tells Nema not to judge him on his past. In Mike’s interview, he says he’s grown, and deserves to be treated right. Nema says he doesn’t want advice from Mike. Since Mike is a dishonest guy, the advice it tainted. Ouch. He doesn’t think Mike is ready to be a stepdad. In his interview, Mike says Nema has never even seen him around Paulina’s children. They’re like his own. Mike gathers up his dogs, and leaves.
Destiney and Sara get ready to go to Las Vegas. In Sara’s interview, she says, Destiney is a lot. Destiney lives in Destiney’s own world, but Sara is glad to be getting to know her.
Reza and Adam check in at the Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas. They meet with Dan and Sheree Funsch, Reza’s business partners. Reza says he’s so nervous, he had a nightmare that no one showed up. They sit near the pool, and a waiter brings over an incredible mini spread and Bloody Marys with lots of garnishes. In his interview, Reza says the products are selling on the website, but to make real money, they have to be in a national chain store. He asks what’s expected of him, and Sheree says he has to be the ultimate politician. In Reza’s interview, he says they have a one year exclusive, and he wants to convince them the products are going to fly off the shelves. Sheree says it’s his first big test, and in his interview, he says if he doesn’t kill it, he’ll be back to slinging real estate. He tells Dan and Sheree, let’s go do it.
GG frets about having to quit smoking weed. For the last three years, she’s only gone a couple of hours without it.
Sara and Destiney check into the hotel. Destiney tells Sara about the time she was mistaken for a prostitute in Vegas, and in her interview, Sara says she wouldn’t want to share that information with anybody.
MJ and Tommy talk about having another baby, and Vida says they’re crazy. In MJ’s interview, she says the night before the baby came, Reza checked in. After she’d delivered Shams, Tommy texted Reza about how she’d had complications, and was in the ICU. Reza’s response was, prayers for a speedy recovery. We see a clip of Reza reading his response to Adam, and that’s the last sentence in a rather long paragraph filled with care and concern. So wtf? Tommy tells MJ, Reza knew how bad it was, and starts getting loud and animated. In her interview, MJ says instead of racing to see her, he confronted her on the phone. Everyone knows that Adam has a sexually deviant sense of humor. Tommy calls Adam the hillbilly whore of WeHo.
In the Presidential Suite, Reza puts on his gold leopard belt buckle. In his interview, he says, it’s sad, being in Vegas without MJ. They’ve been going there together since they were kids. He’s doing this without the help of his best friend. Destiney and Sara come to the suite, and they make dinner plans. Reza says he has to hustle, but a car will be waiting for them to pick them up for the event.
GG is being a back seat driver from the passenger seat. In her interview, she says it was the worst decision of her life to ask her mom to drive. An Uber motorcycle would have been better. GG’s dad Mahmoud meets them. GG says it’s a scary, but fulfilling moment.
Adam tells Reza, the launch is going to be amazing. Adam wears the same shirt he wore the night Reza proposed, and tells Reza it’s his lucky shirt. In Reza’s interview, he says having Adam there means the world to him. He’d invested in the product behind Adam’s back, but they got over it. Ali tried to take them down, but he couldn’t. At Sally’s Beauty Supply, Reza talks with the buyer, and says it’s an honor to be there. He sets up a display table. It’s kind of like a book signing. In his interview, he says he is honored. He’s a little Persian kid whose dreams are all coming true. He explains, the secret to good salesmanship is, one, understanding who you’re dealing with; two, knowing how to interact; and three, knowing when to close the deal. If you master those, you can sell anything.
Destiney and Sara arrive, and buy one of everything in Reza’s line. The manager announces that they made 120% of their sales plan. In Reza’s interview, he says, it’s a big deal for a middle-American company to have confidence in a gay middle eastern man.
Vida fusses over Shams. I don’t think she’s going to give him back.
On the way back, GG tells Fati that she can’t believe it. She asks if Fati cares how her driving affects others. In her interview, GG says her parents are rock stars. Not many Persian parents would be okay with their daughter being single and getting herself knocked up. She shows her dad a video of the procedure, done using an ultrasound. In GG’s interview, she says, and no foreplay. Mahmoud tells her that she has to watch funny movies, and Fati suggests Mel Brooks. GG says, Mel Brooks is ancient. She starts a video baby diary, and explains to the baby that she’s got to lay low for the next 48 hours. Mahmoud tells her, everything is good; she’ll be fine. She says she can’t be the baby anymore. He says she’s almost 40, and she threatens to punch him in his bad knee.
Destiney makes plans on the phone to meet her mom for high tea the next day. In her interview, she says her mom loves Vegas, and is literally her best friend.
Mike tells Paulina that Nema said something was off about her since she was allowing a guy as dishonest as him around her and kids. Not quite what Nema said, although I do think it was none of his business. In Mike’s interview, he says, when people tear others down, they’re deflecting from their own shortcomings. Nema should get therapy, rather than talk sh*t about him. Paulina says she’ll confront anyone who talks sh*t about Mike.
In the car, Nema tells a friend he’s going on a blind date, and she suggests his teeth might be intimidating. Ha-ha! In Nema’s interview, he says Mike doesn’t get why he’s not sleeping with half of Los Angeles like him. He meets his date Aimee at a restaurant. He tells her it’s his first blind date, and she says she’s been on dating apps. In his interview, he says he was married in his 20s, when he was supposed to be out and fun. After his divorce, he dated Erica, so this is a new frontier. He asks about her last relationship, and she says, he cheated. He tells her that he was cheated on, as well as his father having been cheated on. His father always had a chip on his shoulder, and Nema didn’t want to turn into that person who’s pissed for the next thirty years because of a cheater. He says, it’s a great blind date, and in his interview, says this is proving he’s over Erica, and can enjoy someone else’s company. He says, let’s get out of here, but Aimee has already called an Uber.
Sara’s brother Sam joins them for dinner. In Sara’s interview, she says Sam lives in Vegas. He’s the brother of four older sisters, and the only boy. They’re very protective. She worries about his decision making. They’re shown to a private room for a four-course menu with a wine pairing. Sam says his goal is to make money between poker and sports betting. In her interview, Sara says, it’s a stereotype in the Persian community, if you’re not a doctor or a lawyer, you’re a failure. Sam and Destiney flirt. He says he’s never dated a Persian girl. In Destiney’s interview, she says he’s mysterious and edgy, and she likes his muscles. Reza says, the meal was off the charts. They have a shot of tequila, and make faces like I do when I taste that nasty stuff. Reza says he took care of the bill, and Sara says she loves having rich friends.
The group busts out on the party bus. In Reza’s interview, he says there’s a point in the evening where your buzz is in the perfect spot, and he’s in that zone. They go to a rooftop bar that also has golf. Destiney orders tequila. Reza says, Destiney is feeling Sam. In his interview, Reza says, Destiney is always talking about the man she wants. She doesn’t need to be a good picker in Las Vegas. He’s thinking it’s wham bam thank you Destiney ma’am. He tells Sam get behind her, and show her how to swing. In Sara’s interview, she says Sam hooked up with her makeup artist at her sister’s wedding. She’s not Sara’s makeup artist anymore. Reza says, she didn’t get ball in, but she’s going to have a baby in nine months. Sara asks Sam not to sleep with Destiney, but he says, Destiney’s got game. Destiney sits next to Sam, and he says Sara was telling him not to flirt with her. She says, is he flirting? She thought they were having a conversation. In Reza’s interview, he says he doesn’t know what’s bothering Sara, but he’d rather his brother hook up with an acquaintance than a skank from Vegas. Sam says he’s going to have Destiney, and Reza tells Sara, this is happening. Destiney sits on Sam’s lap, and they kiss. Reza says the car is there, and Sam and Destiney hold hands on the way. Back at the hotel, Reza drags Sara into his and Adam’s suite, and Destiney and Sam get busy.
In Reza’s interview, he says it’s hard to think about the milestone moments in his life without his best friend by his side to celebrate. It makes him sad, and he wonders if this is a new chapter.
Next time, a cooking class turns sour. This season, MJ and Reza have it out, Destiney says enough is enough, GG doesn’t believe either one of them, Tommy gets out of hand, and GG gets knocked up.
⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…
Too bad George Romero won’t be around to see this.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Jordan tells Taggert, let her get straight. He asked Sonny to work with him to get Cyrus. Taggert says, it wasn’t an easy decision, and she says she bets it wasn’t. She tells Curtis that Taggert spent most of his time there working to put Sonny away. Taggert says if they want to take Cyrus down, they might as well team up with the most powerful man in Port Charles.
Sonny tells Jason, Laura means business. If they can’t stop this from getting bigger, she’s going to get involved. Jason says, if she does, it will make her a target – for real this time. He suggests they continue to stop shipments, so Cyrus’s distributers lose faith in him, but Sonny says it will take too much time. Jason says they know people on the inside at Pentenville, and could possibly arrange an accident.
Carly finds a bullet in the stuff that fell out of Dev’s backpack. She calls upstairs to him, but there’s no answer.
Trina tells Cameron, smile nice. Her mom and dad are going to see the pictures. She takes a selfie, and the driver watches in the rearview mirror. Trina says they’d better take more with Josslyn and Dev at the dance. Cameron asks if she’s sure they’re coming, and she says, Josslyn just texted; they’re on their way.
Elizabeth tells Franco that he didn’t have to get her anything. Cameron is at the dance, and Aiden and Jake have a sleepover. Franco says he’s aware they’re alone, and she says that’s all the gift she needs. He says, it won’t take long, and she opens the box. A note tells her that she’ll find a surprise under the fries, and he says, it’s a scavenger hunt. She asks if he’ll give her a hint, but he says he’s not going to make it easy. He loves her, and it might not be what she wants, but it could turn out to be something she needs. She says having him back is all she needs, and they kiss.
The driver says, it looks like there’s traffic; there’s an accident ahead. He asks if Trina and Cameron mind if he takes a shortcut, and Trina says, whatever’s fastest. The driver does something with his phone, and Cameron tells Trina, one more. She says, serious, but not too serious, and they take another selfie. They bicker, as the driver keeps an eye on them.
Alexis sees Molly at the MetroCourt, and says she’s dressed to the nines. Molly says, as opposed to her usual burlap sack, and Alexis asks what the occasion is. Molly says Alexis’s guess is as good as hers. TJ insisted on treating her to a special romantic evening. He’s the best boyfriend.
TJ is at the hospital, messing with his phone, when Neil comes by. Neil asks how it’s going, and TJ says he’s been busy. Neil asks if he’s cracked any more medical mysteries, but TJ says, it was a stroke of luck with Alexis, and he had a lot of people helping before he made the diagnosis. Neil asks if TJ’s luck has continued with Molly. Did he propose? TJ says, not yet, and Neil asks, what’s the hold up?
Trina wonders where they are, and Cameron says the driver is taking the scenic route. Trina thought it would get them there faster, and Cameron hopes so, since they’re going to be late. She teases him about wanting to see Josslyn, and says she can’t believe her dad didn’t show. He’s sure her dad has a good reason, and she says, at least Cameron dodged a grilling. He says when Trina showed up, she looked… She says, flawless? She knows. Cameron tells the driver they seem to be going out of the way, and the driver says he figured they wouldn’t mind alone time. It’s their first date, right?
Elizabeth goes into the kitchen, and asks Franco if she’s getting warmer. He says he’s not telling her, and she remembers there are leftover fries in the refrigerator. She takes the container out, and there’s another box inside. It tells her to look under the chapeau, but she says she doesn’t speak French. He tells her it means hat, and she sees a bowler on top of the paper towels. She finds a box underneath, with a note that tells her to look in the cabinets, where she finds one more box. That note tells her to look under the pillow. Franco tells her it’s technically under the pillow, but it’s really under the sofa. She pulls out a bunch of art supplies, and he says he and the boys were talking. They thought, like him, she’d like to have art in her life again. She thanks him, and he sits on the floor next to her. He says he can’t wait to see her paint. She kisses him, and her phone dings. She looks at her phone and says, Cameron sent the ride share information; it’s all good. Franco asks if she wants to set up her paint set, but she says, after this, and kisses him. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her more.
Jordan says, no way in hell is she working with Sonny, and Taggert asks, why not? She says collaborating with one mobster to stop another is ethically compromising. Taggert says, and they’ve never crossed the line before. Curtis asks if Taggert got Sonny on board, and Taggert says Sonny didn’t refuse; he sees the advantage. Jordan doesn’t get it. Just because they have a common enemy is no reason to partner up. If he wants to do that by himself, go ahead. Taggert says he never brought up Jordan’s name. He respects her position, and she’s made clear she wants nothing do with this. Jordan asks if he pitched a specific plan, and Taggert says she can’t have it both ways. If Sonny chooses work with him, he’s keeping it to himself unless she changes her mind. He gets up, and says his daughter has a big dance, and he’s late to take pictures. Keep in touch. He leaves, and Jordan asks if Curtis heard that. Curtis says he can actually believe Taggert. He’s right. If Sonny is down to help them, she should take him up on it.
Sonny says, it won’t be easy to get to Cyrus in Pentenville. Maybe Taggert has a way. Jason asks if Sonny wants to trust him, and Sonny asks if Jason doesn’t think he should. Jason doesn’t know, but says if Taggert is telling the truth, and he was on the DEA taskforce that took Cyrus down, he saw how Cyrus operates. He knows how much damage Cyrus could do in Port Charles. Maybe his offer is sincere. Sonny says they still have to be careful. Even if they cooperate, Taggert isn’t going to look the other way if they take Cyrus out.
Carly looks for Josslyn, and starts to panic. She remembers Josslyn said she changed her mind about going to the dance. She grabs the phone, and the doorbell rings. It’s Josslyn, Dev, and Brando. Carly asks what’s wrong with Josslyn? She specifically told her not to go to the dance. She said not to leave, but Josslyn did it anyway. Why? Josslyn says, it’s Dev’s last night in Port Charles. Unfortunately, Brando found them leaving. Carly is glad he caught her fugitives. Carly tells Dev, talk to her, but Josslyn says it was her idea to go to the dance. Carly says, it’s not about the dance, and Josslyn asks what the problem is. Carly says, this, and holds up the bullet. She asks, why was there a bullet in Dev’s backpack?
TJ tells Neil that he keeps waiting for the perfect time, and then things get in the way. Neil says, they always will. Does he want some advice? TJ says, by all means, and Neil says, don’t wait for perfection; it doesn’t exist. The truth is, the closest we get to perfection is when we stop trying to make things perfect. The time will come when TJ least expects it. TJ says he doesn’t want to regret anything, and Neil says, if it feels right, go for it. TJ says he was planning on tonight. He shows Neil the ring, and says he’d better go. He doesn’t want to keep Molly waiting. He asks Neil to wish him luck, but Neil says he doesn’t need it. He and Molly have something special; cherish it. TJ thanks him for the advice, and leaves.
Molly tells Alexis that she and TJ are giving their night out another shot. Their first try fell through. TJ had to study and went to the library, and she went through more emails from Jamie. She can’t believe how much time and effort has been wasted on this superfluous drama. Alexis tells her not to let it ruin her idea about a wedding and marriage. Molly says, too late, and Alexis says, it’s about love, and… yeah, she sounds like a greeting card. Molly says, a little, and Alexis tells her, enjoy her night.
Jordan asks if Curtis is siding with Taggert. He says he’s on her side – always. He understands her reservations about Sonny, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She says he just blew up a warehouse, but Curtis says, no one died. No one was hurt.But Cyrus lost a shipment and a lot of money. It’s a great way to send a message. Jordan asks if he approves of Sonny’s methods, and he says he approves of anything that will stop Cyrus. Taggert could have been dead from an OD like the other two, and he’ll be damned if Jordan will be next. She says she can protect herself without getting involved with Sonny, but Curtis asks, what if that’s the only thing that’s going to keep her alive?
Sonny admits the bastard is smart. Cyrus made it public, so it’s difficult to retaliate. Jason says they don’t want the Feds involved. Sonny says, if that happens, they have to make sure the Feds don’t find anything leading to them. He’s worried about Laura. She’s his friend, but she’s the mayor, and under pressure from the media to clean up the waterfront. Jason asks what he wants to do, and Sonny says, they have people in Pentenville watching Cyrus. Have them figure out when he’s alone, so they can get access to him. To be clear, he doesn’t want to take action. Not yet.
Carly says the bullet fell out of Dev’s backpack, but Dev says he doesn’t know how it got there. What would he do with a bullet? Carly asks him to walk her through every step of his day, and he says he woke up, went to school, and came back; that was it. She asks if he left early, and he says he went to all of his classes. She asks if he made a stop, and Josslyn asks why Carly is interrogating him. Carly says because she found a bullet and needs to know how it got there.
Elizabeth tells Franco that she’s missed painting. While she’s creating, time flies. He says, doing the portrait reminded him of how fulfilling it is, and he wants that for her. He asks if she’s going to set everything up, and she says, maybe later. She wants to do something else first. He likes that idea, and she takes his hand. The doorbell rings, and he says, don’t even. It rings again, and he suggests they hide; it’s not their problem. She answers the door, and it’s Taggert. She invites him in, and introduces him to Franco. She says, so he’s Trina’s dad, and he says, small world. They’ve both been busy since they last saw one another. He’s sorry he’s late, and guesses he missed the kids.
Cameron tells the driver, they’re not on a date; they’re going out as friends. Trina says she should have hired backup. Cameron is going to be trying to get Josslyn’s attention all night. Cameron says, make a left, but the driver says he knows a better way.
Alexis sees Neil at the hospital, and tells him, careful. He might turn into stone. She asks what he’s up to, and he says he’s in the running for a staff position there. They’re making their final decision after his review. How about her? She says she goes to meetings there. He thanks her again for agreeing to make a statement, and she says she never turns down a trip to the Big Apple. She’ll see an opera, he’ll keep his medical license; it’s a win-win. He says, except for them for the next two years. She says she was trying to be altruistic.
TJ arrives at the MetroCourt. He gives the hostess the ring, and she takes it in the back. He sees Molly at the bar, and says their table is ready. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, Chelsea emailed her about lunch tomorrow to discuss her wedding. Her bridesmaid total is four gowns she’ll never wear again. It’s a consumerist joke. He says, there’s more to it than that, and she says, like a whole history of patriarchal subjugation. Fathers used to give dowries along with a woman. He says, it’s not like that anymore, but she says, want to bet?
Jordan goes to Pozzulo’s, and asks Sonny if it’s a bad time. He says he’s got to get home, but she says, it won’t take long, and he says, if she insists. Curtis says he’ll stay out there, and Sonny asks what he can do for her. She says she was hoping to ask about a visit from a former associate of hers. He says he was there earlier, shortly before he was attacked.
Elizabeth shows Taggert the pictures, and he says they look happy. Her son is a fine young man. She says, most of the time, but Trina is amazing all of the time. Taggert says, no argument, and Franco says he’s not clear on how they know each other. Elizabeth says she was friends with Taggert’s sister Gia a long time ago. She asks Taggert how Gia is, and he says she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, and got a law degree. She’s now an immigration lawyer in Texas. She asks what he’s doing there, but his phone rings. He says he needs to make a quick call, and goes into the kitchen. It’s a text with Cameron and Trina’s picture, saying, we have your daughter, and if he doesn’t meet them, she dies.
Cameron says the driver missed another turn. What is he doing? The driver says, driving, and Trina tells him, take them to the school now. He says, there’s been a change in plans.
Molly tells TJ, she knows she should respect their decisions, but she can’t watch them throw their lives away for a stupid fairytale. He says, maybe it’s not a stupid fairytale to them, and they want to get married. She says, since they were girls, they’ve been convinced marriage is the be all and end all, and don’t get her started on the ring industry. Why can’t it just be about love? TJ says, maybe it can, but she says, it’s rooted in the man controlling the narrative. Even the proposal. It’s so unfair. He says he’ll be right back.
Taggert tells Elizabeth that he has to leave. Everything is good, and he appreciates her hospitality. He’ll let himself out. When he’s gone, Franco says, weird, and Elizabeth says, hurry. They head upstairs.
Carly asks if anyone else handled Dev’s backpack. Brando asks if he left it when he used the bathroom. Dev doesn’t think so, and Brando asks if he had it the entire day. Dev says, no. He had to leave it in his locker when he went to gym. Brando says, it was planted, and Carly says, they were hoping she and Sonny would find it and get the message. Josslyn asks, what message? Brando says, obviously there’s someone watching everyone in their family, and they’re all within reach.
Jordan tells Sonny that Taggert said someone was tailing him when he left. He led them to an alley, intending on confronting them, when he was met with a second assailant. Any idea who’s responsible? Sonny says, it wasn’t his guys, if that’s what she’s suggesting. She says she’s not suggesting anything. She knows he and Taggert have a complicated history. Sonny says, it’s over now, and asks if Taggert is okay? She says, he was roughed up, but he survived. Jason asks who she thinks it might be, and she says, who does he think? Cyrus might be locked up, but his reach goes far. He has his eyes on Sonny’s place, and everywhere else he and his family frequent. Sonny says he’ll beef up security, and thanks her. He owes her one. She says she’ll remember that. Sonny leaves, and Jason asks if Jordan has a second. He has something to ask her.
Curtis asks Sonny, how’d it go? and Sonny says, it went. Curtis says he sure hopes Sonny gets a handle on the situation before anyone else gets hurt. Sonny leaves, and Curtis’s phone rings. Taggert says he needs Curtis’s help. Trina has been kidnapped; Cyrus’s man took her. Curtis says, hang on. He’ll get Jordan. Taggert says Curtis can’t tell her.
Trina tries the door, but shakes her head. Cameron says, let them out. They’ll find another ride. The driver just keeps going and Cameron says he’s going to file a formal complaint. The driver makes a sharp swerve, and takes out a gun. Trina says, don’t shoot, and he tells them to hand over their phones. Now. They do, and he starts driving again. Trina takes Cameron’s hand and cries quietly.
Alexis says Neil helped Kristina get out of DoD, and helped her out of a number of messes. And he saved her before Kendra rendered her road kill. He’s very good at saving people, and it’s unfair of her to keep him from saving anyone else. Two years will go by like that. He says he used to bury himself in work. Then he met her, and she made him want to pay attention to the world around him. She says he had his dating app, and he says, the dates were awkward, boring, or both. Until he went out with her.
TJ tells the bartender that he’s looking Candace. She’s supposed to deliver a dessert to his table. The bartender says, he’s the ring guy, and says, there she is. Candace is already putting a small cake on the table in front of Molly. The ring is on top, and Candace says, wow. Lucky lady. TJ tells Molly, he can explain.
Carly checks Josslyn’s backpack, but Josslyn says she had it he entire day. Carly says, all clear; nothing out of order. Dev says he’s sorry. He guesses he should have been more careful. Brando says, it’s not his fault, and Carly says he’s right. There’s nothing he could have done. Josslyn says, it’s insane. They just got over the shooting at the pier, and now there’s a bullet in Dev’s backpack. What next? Sonny walks in, and Carly says, thank God he’s there. They got another message. She gives him the bullet.
Elizabeth looks at her new supplies. Her phone dings, and she sees a message from Cameron. Kidnapped. HELP! She says, oh my God.
Curtis tells Taggert, he’s got to get the police involved, but Taggert says, no police, especially not Jordan. They made it clear, if he shows up with law enforcement, they’ll kill Trina and Cameron. Curtis says, they want Taggert dead, and Taggert says, at least he can trade himself for his daughter. He asks Curtis to help him.
Jason says, when Jordan first came to Port Charles, she was with the DEA, right? She says, yeah; why? He says he was just wondering, which I’m so sure she believes. Jason would never ask a question for no reason. She leaves the office, and asks if Curtis is ready to go. Does he want to grab some food? He says he just got a call from a client, and has to go. He jets, and she calls the station. She tells Martinez that she’s headed back, and to make sure the latest reports on the Corinthos shooting are on her desk.
Jason’s phone rings. It’s Elizabeth, who says she needs his help. Cameron has been kidnapped.
TJ tells Molly, the ring belonged to his mom. He thinks it was from an ethical source, but they can have it appraised and verify that. She says it’s beautiful, and he says he knows she has reservations about marriage, but they can make it work. He promises. He’d never ask her to sacrifice her career, or anything else. He wants them to be equals, and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He loves her so much, so will she marry him? She sits there, just staring at the ring, and says she’s sorry. She’s overwhelmed. She loves him too, more than she can put into words. He’s very brave to propose after she went off like that, but she doesn’t want to marry him.
Alexis tells Neil, so they won’t mess with success. The one kiss they had was perfection. Neil says, the closest they’ll ever get to perfection, is when they stop trying to make things perfect. (Good for him. He was able to use that gem twice within an hour.) She asks if that’s a Neil original, and he says, as of a half hour ago. He told TJ the same thing. TJ was getting ready to propose to Molly. Alexis says she ran into Molly, who said they were having a special night. Does Neil think TJ is popping the question? Neil says, it seems so, and she says, maybe they’ll have something to celebrate in New York. He says he won’t be celebrating anything if he’s not still practicing. She says she doesn’t want to be late to her meeting. He says, take care, and she says, him too.
Brando tells Sonny, he thinks the bullet was planted while Dev was in gym class. Carly says, that means they got into the school; this has to stop. Josslyn says, maybe it’s a good thing Dev is leaving, but Brando isn’t so sure that’s a good idea. They know what everyone is doing. What’s to stop them from getting into the boarding school? Sonny says Brando has a point. It’s best stay to close where he knows he can protect them. He puts the bullet on the table.
Jason tells Elizabeth, they’ll figure it out. The best thing to do is stay calm. Elizabeth says Cameron was going to a dance with Trina, and sent her a picture of the driver and the license plate number. She sends it to Jason, and says maybe he can use it to find them. Jason looks stunned, and says, he knows this guy.
Taggert goes to the meeting place, and opens the door. The place is empty, and no one is there. He calls out that he’s there. He followed their orders. Where is his daughter? The driver/Cyrus’s guy comes out, and says, take it easy. Taggert says, bring her to him, and the guy says, the way he sees it, Taggert is in no position to make demands. Taggert says, if he doesn’t see his daughter right now, their plan will go up in smoke. The guy calls for Trina and Cameron to be brought in. Two men with guns bring them out, and practically shove Cameron down the stairs.
Curtis lurks outside with a gun.
Tomorrow, TJ asks Molly if she’s saying no, Willow thinks she knows the best thing for Wiley, and Jason tells Elizabeth not to call the cops.
Project Runway
Two designers were going to be ousted tonight, leaving four to go home and prepare collections for New York Fashion Week. The two-day challenge was avant-garde – ahead of the pack – what Brandon described as something that challenges your feelings, and goes beyond the norm. The destination for the runway would be The Vessel in Hudson Yards, a venue where no one had shown before. Geoffrey said it was his favorite building in NYC, and while I think it’s cool, we radically disagree on our style of favorite. Since she was the winner last week, Nancy got first pick of models, and then chose who would go next. It continued that way, until Victoria was the last designer, like being the last one waiting to be chosen for the team. In her interview, she said maybe the others were afraid of her, but I thought it was more that she was unfriendly, self-absorbed, and rude. The contestants were told to show why they deserve a collection for Fashion Week, and Brandon told them, go big or go home. In his interview, Marquis said he’d done a lot of ballroom work, which calls for avant-garde. In Brittany’s interview, she said she was nervous about the challenge, but Sergio was already thinking ahead to female samurai warriors, and how he wanted to show that while women were viewed as weaker, they can still do what men can do.
It was the designers’ final shopping trip to Mood, where Christian begged them not to use satin, or he would cut them. They got a whopping 60 minutes, and $600 to shop. Nancy thought the challenge was going to take everything she had, but Geoffrey said avant-garde was his thing. He was going for ceremonial and regal, and if he didn’t nail it, his client base would be blown. No surprise, he headed for the satin, but Christian intervened, telling Geoffrey how much his satin was hated by the judges the previous week. He decided to use latex, a skill set he hadn’t shown yet. In his interview, he explained he had a latex company, and he still does custom latex. He could make it do stuff no one else could. After buying a ton of horsehair fabric, Nancy puzzled over what she was actually going to make. Geoffrey said Nancy liked to do things on the fly, but he didn’t think that was a good idea for this challenge. Marquis rose to the occasion, deciding to make pants out of chains, but Brittany was freaked out by there being no rules.
In Sergio’s interview, he said he thought he set the bar high for the other designers, and his most difficult competition was himself. Modest too! Nancy FaceTimed with her husband, who she’d met on a golf dating site. She’d been his one and only date, but he hadn’t been hers. Christian interrupted the designers with a surprise, which caused everyone to panic, but he said it was a good surprise. He told the designers to follow him, and took them to a room that housed all the pieces they’d made throughout the season. Seeing everything she’d done, Brittany felt accomplished. In Marquise’s interview, he said his brother had been shot, and it was one of the reasons why he’d moved to NYC. His brother had given him $200, and told him to stay focused and make his dreams happen, because time is limited. He didn’t want Marquise to lose sight of why he was there. Christian said they were to show their unique point-of-view by choosing two past looks. They’d be creating a retrospective that proved who they were as a designer, and also showing what their collection would be like. They would also get a seamstress to tailor the garments to the models. Nancy said it was going to be one magical moment.
Approaching Brittany’s humongous, poufy pink jacket, Christian said he was afraid the judges would think it looked like a pink straightjacket. In Sergio’s interview, he said he wore his confidence like armor, and was voted most likely to succeed in high school. He told us, understanding you can do anything you set your mind to is empowering. Christian introduced the designers to Justine, a stylist from Tresemme (brand placement!), telling them that hair design was a crucial part of the avant-garde look. They’d be collaborating with her on hairstyle. In Nancy’s interview, she said it was all about the details, and she was taking every suggestion. Christian announced the show would be at dawn, and the contestants had to be back at work at 3 am.
Geoffrey pricked his finger, getting blood on his fabric. Since he’d gotten black from an iron on last week’s dress, I wondered if he’d been stain jinxed. He said blood wasn’t avant-garde, and immediately ran for the sink. Sergio suggested licking it, as saliva removes blood (good to know), but luckily it came out with water. Nancy was having trouble believing it wasn’t all a dream, while I pondered why there were geese wandering around outside the design studio.
At the Vessel, afraid of heights, Brandon refused to go one the admittedly scary glass elevator, and opted for the stairs, but freaked out a few flights up, and just stayed there. Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) was introduced as guest judge. When the judges were assembled, the models came up in the elevator, and walked down. I doffed my cap to every single one of them, going down those stairs in gigantic confections and high heels, without death-gripping the banister. Elaine said the designers had done a great job curating their collections, as everything was cohesive. Much of it was indescribable, but Elaine said it best when she described Nancy’s dress as a piece of walking art. She said Sergio was pushing the classic modern aesthetic, and always his own biggest fan, he said in his interview, he felt like he always did that more than the others. Victoria said she was trying to take pictures with her eyes of a once in a lifetime moment. The model trios stopped on various landings to display the collections, then came together to form a circle, so everything could be seen together. After that, it was back to the regular runway.
Brittany got kudos for the pink color of her jacket, which she thought represented her, but Karlie said although she was close, Brittany fell short. Brandon liked the coat, which was covered in plastic and fabric butterflies, but Nina thought the plastic took away from the upscale look. Elaine said Nancy’s garment was like looking at a sculptural piece, and Karlie called it wearable art. Nina said she was a fan, but also a truth teller. Because of Nancy’s black/bronze color combo, she felt like it was a black cloud, and said Nancy had missed the opportunity to use color. She thought Marquise’s outfit was over-complicated (although everyone loved the chain pants), and Brandon said that was a common mistake. He said Geoffrey’s piece – a jacket/shorts ensemble with a train – was other-worldly and sexy. Elaine added that usually latex was skin tight, and the fluidity was poetic. Brandon said Geoffrey’s creation matched the location the best, but it was very Land Before Time, whatever that means. Sergio explained how female samurai fought in wars alongside the males, and his design was an avant-garde version of who he is as a designer; it was theatrical. Elaine said the image of his model going up in the elevator was haunting, Nina said both Alexander McQueen and John Galliano had similar designs, and no surprise, Sergio pleaded ignorance, as he’d done before when called out on the backward tux. Victoria was praised for her use of color – champagne – and Karlie said she could tell Victoria’s model felt regal. However, Elaine was a bit taken aback by a huge earring thing going on, and said it overcomplicated the outfit. After the designers went backstage, Victoria said the judges had been tough on them.
Elaine said there wasn’t a single loser. Every designer left was talented. Nina said Geoffrey’s engineering blew her away, and while some designers fall, he’d gained momentum throughout the season. Elaine said, he takes his designs to another planet. Brandon said Victoria had brought out unexpected romanticism, but Elaine said Victoria’s design didn’t knock her dead. Brandon said he was surprised, since she’d been excited by a latex panty. Elaine said Nancy’s design was true avant-garde, and a show piece. Nina was impressed by so much passion. Elaine thought Brittany’s jacket was elegant and cool, and she wanted to buy it. Karlie said the jacket looked avant-garde, but up close was a full-on Monet. Nina said Brittany had the right fabric, but couldn’t carry it to the end. Karlie said Marquise had raw talent, but needed mentorship. Nina thought his silver effort looked like the Tin Man. She said Sergio’s problem was referencing the work of other designers, but Elaine said, considering the time constraints, Sergio was a cut above.
The designers were brought back out for the final critique, and Karlie said they were all deserving, but only four could go through to the finale. Geoffrey was the first one in. Brandon said he showed up and he showed out. Nina told him to think streamlined and sophisticated. Brandon told him, it was okay to be nervous (he is kind of a nervous guy in general), as long as it’s translated into confidence with his fashion. Victoria was the next one in (sigh), and Karlie told her to not just think of one woman while she was designing, but think of all the women who would want to wear her designs. NANCY was next, and the clouds parted to reveal angels singing. Nina said Nancy represented a second shot at living your biggest dream, and I swear, I got tears in my eyes. Elaine told her, no more oversized, ill-fitting garments, and she looked like she was going to cry. Karlie said she wished all of them could be in, but Brittany was out. Brandon said she was a great designer, and her strength was in the way she carried herself. It was a joy to be let into her talent. Brittany said she appreciated being there, and in her interview, said she didn’t think she’d be going home. It wasn’t that she didn’t think the others didn’t deserve it, but she thought she deserved it more. Sergio was in, and Elaine said it pained her to tell Marquise that he was out. He blossomed there, and should be proud. He thanked them, and said it had been a blessing. In his interview, he said, being self-taught, he was at a phenomenal standpoint, being able to show what he could do. He and Brittany commiserated, while Nina told Sergio not to hide behind excuses and other people’s work. She told everyone to go home, and in five months, create a ten-piece collection for Fashion Week (for which they get a $10K budget).
Christian said Marquise had amazing moments, and he’s going to do amazing things, because amazing is Christian’s favorite word. He said he was ready for it all in menswear from Marquise. He told Brittany that she’d also be amazing, and he was proud of them. In Marquise’s interview, he said he was thisclose. It was a bummer, but he was going to continue to grow, move on to harder things, and put his all into designing. In Brittany’s interview, she said she was allowed to come into her own, and was reassured that she’s on the right path, and doing the right thing. She’ll make it to Fashion Week eventually, but it might be a longer road. Christian poured champagne for the finalists.
Next stop, New York Fashion Week. And as Brandon said, let the games begin.
🍸 On Sunday, March 1st, Bravo will be having a Vanderpump Rules Leap Day Marathon. It starts at 10 am if you’re up for it.
👠 So I Was Thinking…
Not that any of my exes would be dating Lady Gaga, but if they were, I’d ask for an introduction. Way to use it to justify overspending though.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Ava tells Carly to notify the guard that she’s ready to leave. She says it’s inconvenient having an armed escort just to visit her daughter. Carly asks, more or less than living on an island? She wonders when Ava is planning on introducing Avery to her new husband.
Franco helps Cameron with his cufflinks, saying it’s a throwback to another era when men needed valets. He tells Cameron that he looks like James Bond, and Elizabeth says he looks adorable. Cameron says he doesn’t want adorable. There’s a knock at the door. It’s Nikolas.
Brook sees Julian at the MetroCourt. He tries to ditch her, but she says, no drink for her? He says, she gets no favors from him. What she thinks she heard in a private conversation was out of context. She’s jumping to conclusions. He had nothing to do with Brad passing off Nelle’s baby as Willow’s. She asks if passing off is a polite euphemism for kidnapping. She doesn’t think Sonny will appreciate the difference. Does Julian think Sonny will believe him or her when she tells him about her suspicions?
At the Pozzulo’s office, Sonny asks Jason how Michael is doing. Jason says, happy mostly. He knows it’s not over, and he still needs to gain legal custody. The cops have found evidence, and he hopes it’s enough to convict Nelle. Sonny wonders if it’s enough to show that Nelle had help.
Curtis goes to Laura’s hospital room, and is surprised to find her dressed and ready to roll. She asks what he expected, and he says, she’s recovering from a gunshot; maybe extra recuperation time. She says she’s going stir crazy in there, and the doctors said she’s healthy enough to leave. He asks where Doc is, and she says he’s the guest speaker at a medical conference. He wanted to cancel, but she told him not to. Her driver is also her bodyguard, and she’ll get home safe. He tells her that she needs to rest, but she says the sooner she gets back to work, the better. Port Charles needs her.
On the phone, Jordan asks if she and Taggert are on for today, but he says he’s working his own plan. She asks, what kind of plan? but he’s already hung up.
Sonny tells Jason that he doesn’t buy Brad and Nelle pulling it off by themselves. There’s a knock at the door, and one of Sonny’s guards says it’s someone who claims they knew Sonny back in the day. Taggert comes in, and Sonny asks if he took a wrong turn. Taggert says he and Sonny may have a mutual problem. Maybe they can help each other out.
Sonny says, this is a first. Taggert is on the side of the angels. Taggert laughs, and says, there are no angels in this room, or in Pentenville. Sonny doesn’t follow, and Taggert says, Michael was targeted on Pier 55. Carly was caught in an attack on the warehouse, and Sonny was targeted in Brooklyn. Then an industrial warehouse turned into a Roman candle. Sonny says he doesn’t know anything about it, and Taggert says he’s not there to bust Sonny. Sonny says, since when? and Taggert says, since they’ve been trading information about Cyrus.
Jordan joins Laura and Curtis, and Curtis tells her that Laura plans on going back to work right away. Jordan says, sounds right, and he says he should have known better. Laura asks to be brought up to speed. She heard there was an explosion on the industrial pier, and asks how much damage there was. Jordan says, whoever planted the explosive was a pro. No loss of life, but the warehouse and its contents were obliterated. They did find traces of opiates though. Someone blew a major drug operation sky high. Laura wonders who’s stupid enough to take on Sonny.
Carly tells Ava, then again, what’s the point?Not all marriages are built to last. Ava wonders how Carly is judging her marriage when hers involves a sharpshooter on the roof. Carly says she’s not judging; she’s giving Ava a heads up. Sonny is going to want to know how much Nikolas is in his daughter’s life, and he’s not Nikolas’s biggest fan. Whatever game they’re playing, the less it includes Avery, the better.
Josslyn asks if that’s what Dev is wearing to the dance, but he says he’s not going. Josslyn says she wasn’t planning on it either, but Cameron and Trina will be there. The more she thought about it, she realized the first rule of having fun is showing up. He asks, why be around people he won’t be seeing again? After tomorrow, he won’t be living there. He’s leaving Port Charles.
Franco asks Elizabeth if everything is okay, and she asks if he minds hanging out with Cameron. He says he’ll get Cameron pinned up, and goes back inside. Elizabeth tells Nikolas, make it quick. It’s a big night for her son. Nikolas says, Cameron has grown up, and she says, kids do that. Why is he here? He says he’s determined to prove what he told her, and she suggests another time. He says now that he’s secured his inheritance, he wants to make a donation to GH; something specific. She says he can talk to Monica, but he says Elizabeth would know where it would do the most good, and she’s his friend. She says, is she? Inside, Franco pins a boutonniere on Cameron, saying he thought it was only for weddings. Cameron says he did too, but Trina disagrees. Franco says, Trina is a good friend.
At the café, Brook tells Julian that she has a situation with a record producer. He says let him guess; the producer refuses to sign her. She says, just the opposite. He refuses to let her out of her contract. Julian says, get a lawyer, but she says she did, and it’s iron clad. He says, she’s a Quartermaine. Get daddy to buy him out. She says Julian doesn’t get it. Ned tried, but Linc won’t set her free at any price. He says she must be quite the talent. He’s not sure where he comes in, and she says she’s exhausted all legal alternatives. Julian has skills her father and the lawyers don’t have. Make Linc an offer he can’t refuse, and if he stonewalls, give him ten broken fingers for starters.
Julian tells Brook that her faith is flattering, but his days of breaking bones are over. He runs a respectable pub. She says he can either work with her, or take his chances with Sonny, and he says, there she goes again threatening him. Let’s talk about how that might go down. Say Sonny puts a bullet in his back. That’s a lot of weight to carry on her conscience. Does she want Lucas to lose another loved one because of her overactive imagination? Brook says, what Sonny does is up to him, and what Julian does is up to him. It’s his choice, and his funeral. Julian says, maybe there’s another way.
Elizabeth says she and Nikolas’s friendship wasn’t automatically restored. He says she was kind and sympathetic about Spencer, but she says that doesn’t take away the fact that her niece is without her mother because of Nikolas. He can’t buy her friendship with hospital donations. She tells him, find her sister. He says he hates disappointing her, and appreciates and respects their friendship; it means more than he can say. She says he needs to go. He says his inheritance wasn’t everything. You wouldn’t think Windymere could be colder or lonelier. She says he made his choices, and has to live with them. Unfortunately, so does Violet.
Ava says since Carly is so concerned about what’s best for her daughter, she doesn’t like Avery living under siege. Windymere is safer. Carly asks, how many have met untimely deaths there? And she doesn’t want Avery to be a witness to Ava and Nikolas’s spitefest of a marriage. Ava says she doesn’t know what Carly is talking about. Carly says she doesn’t know Nikolas well, but did know Emily, the love of his life, and Ava couldn’t be less like her. Now that Nikolas has his hands on the codicil, she doesn’t think Ava will be his wife much longer. Ava says Carly is very much mistaken. Carly says, we’ll see, and Ava leaves.
Elizabeth takes pictures of Cameron, and he asks if she has to take so many. The doorbell rings, and Trina comes in, looking gorgeous in a black and silver cocktail dress. Elizabeth asks if Cameron minds if she takes one more. Cameron says Trina looks great, and she says, he’s not so bad either.
Josslyn asks Dev, why leave town now? It’s only a few weeks until spring break, and they have the SATs and final exams. He says, it’s a top school, and they do that there; he won’t miss out. Sonny made it happen. She says, what about Gladys and Brando? What about everyone who cares about him? Everything is set up for Dev to stay there as Sonny’s cousin. He says he’s not dragging this out; it won’t change anything. Carly comes in, and asks for a minute with Josslyn. Dev gives them privacy, and Carly guesses Dev told her. Josslyn says, please don’t tell her Dev is leaving because of her.
Jordan tells Laura, there’s no proof that organized crime is behind what happened, but it’s happened too many times in this town. A crime lord decides he can make more money by taking over Sonny’s territory, and it escalates until it’s over – unless Sonny intervenes. Laura says she can’t help if she doesn’t know who she’s dealing with. Jordan says, Cyrus Renault. He’s a major drug trafficker in the Pacific Northwest. He was busted ten years ago, but it appears he’s trying to expand his territory from maximum security in Pentenville.
Sonny asks what Taggert knows about Cyrus, and Taggert says, more than Sonny. He helped put Cyrus away. Jason says, when Cyrus was busted by a DEA task force, and Taggert says, right. When he left, he signed on with the DEA. Cyrus was a high priority, and his team did all they could to have Cyrus put away. Sonny says, Cyrus is behind bars, but still in operation. They underestimated his reach. Taggert says, right now, Cyrus has his eyes on Port Charles; that’s where Sonny comes in. He has more options than a former agent. He tells Jason, the warehouse explosion was a nice job, but Jason says he doesn’t know what Taggert is talking about. Sonny asks, what’s it to him? Taggert doesn’t live there. Taggert says there are people he cares about in Port Charles, and no one is safe when Cyrus is in play. Jason asks if Taggert is offering his help, or asking for theirs.
Sonny says, so Taggert wants to work with him to help take Cyrus down. Taggert says he has no use for Sonny’s business, but he knows Sonny’s not like Cyrus. Cyrus is bad news, and they don’t want him taking charge. He’s seen the ugly things this man can do. Sonny says, give him some time to think, and Taggert says, don’t take too long. He leaves, and Jason asks if Sonny buys that. Sonny says, every word.
Through Pozzulo’s window, we see Taggert’s shadow go by. A few seconds later, another shadow follows.
Jordan tells Laura, it’s a dangerous lot connected to Cyrus, and Laura says, someone is letting him pull strings while he’s behind bars. Curtis says, it’s convenient, and Jordan says she’d be interested in finding out how Cyrus landed there in the first place. Laura says he ride is there; they’ll continue later. Curtis asks her to tell him that she’s going home to rest, and she says, wars are fought on many fronts. Let them work on their side of the battlefield, and she’ll take care of hers. When she’s gone, Jordan says **j has ocnn don’t have info can’t afford share until Cyrus is no longer a threat
Josslyn tells Carly, it was one kiss. She’s over it, and hopes Dev isn’t overreacting. Carly says, it’s not about the kiss. Josslyn says, Brando agreed to cover, but Carly says there’s only so much they can ask Brando to accept. Dev thinks it’s best, and she and Sonny agree. Josslyn says, Dev was there after Oscar died, and it helped. He drove her crazy sometimes, but she’ll miss him. Carly says she will too, and hugs Josslyn.
Brook asks what Julian’s plan is, but Julian says he doesn’t have one yet. He needs some time. She says every day she wastes is killing her career. She needs to get back out there before she loses the little momentum she had. It’s the only way out of her contract, so is he helping her or not? Nikolas approaches their table, and Brook says she doesn’t know whether to slap him or kiss him. He says he gets that a lot, and Brook thanks him for the call. She would have been offended if he’d come back from the dead and left her out. She heard he got married. Who’s the lucky lady? Ava joins them, and says, good; Nikolas got her message. She asks who this is, and he says, Brook Ashton, but Brook says she’s Quartermaine now. Nikolas says, this is his wife, Ava Jerome. Ava says, actually, Cassadine now. Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine.
Cameron gives Trina a wrist corsage, and she thanks him, saying, it’s beautiful. He’s glad she likes it, and she says she wishes her dad was there already. He wanted to take some pictures.
Taggert walks near the piers, and someone follows. We see it’s one of the guys from Cyrus’s warehouse. Taggert goes around, and comes up behind the guy. He asks if the guy is looking for him, and the guy says, no. He’s looking for him. Another guy walks up, and they’re on either side of Taggert.
Sonny tells Jason, for Taggert to come to them, he must be desperate. Jason says, Cyrus was convicted ten years ago. Why is Cyrus after Sonny at the same time Taggert shows up? The guard knocks again, and says Sonny has another visitor. Sonny says he’s busy, but Laura asks if he has time to see an old friend.
Carly says, it’s so unfair. Josslyn has had all these losses, and now she has another one. Josslyn says, this is different. Letting Dev go is doing right by him, and she understands. She says she needs to get dressed if she’s going, and Carly asks, where? Josslyn says, it’s the mid-winter formal, and Carly says she thought Josslyn was going. Josslyn says she changed her mind. Cameron and Trina are going, and Trina gave her a whole lecture about showing up to show school spirit. She has a point. How can Josslyn expect her peers to show up to her volleyball games, and cheer her on, if she doesn’t support them? Carly says there’s no way Josslyn is leaving the house tonight.
Brook asks if she can borrow Ava’s husband, and Ava says as long as he brings her back a drink. Nikolas and Brook go to the bar, and Ava sits with Julian. She says she hopes Nikolas remembers she likes vodka martinis. Like any of us would forget that. She asks Julian why he was huddled with Brook. Or to rephrase that, what the hell kind of trouble is he in now?
Brook says Nikolas looks good for a guy who’s been dead three years. He says she’s still gorgeous, and impossible. She says if she didn’t know better, she’d think he was flirting, but he wouldn’t be doing that with his wife there. He says, true. Ava is never far from his thoughts. His marriage is more important than he can possibly say.
Sonny is glad Laura is up and about. She says she just got out thirty minutes ago, and he says she came straight to see him; he’s honored. He gives her his word that he had no idea who the people were targeting his family. She believes him, but asks, what’s really going on? How’s his family? She heard what happened in Brooklyn, and knows Mike was there. He says his dad is okay. Everybody is okay, and it’s going to stay that way. She says, he can’t guarantee that, and they both know it. So let’s talk – for real.
Jordan and Curtis find Taggert in an examining room. Jordan asks, what happened? and he says he got jumped by two guys. He realized he was being followed, and led the guy into an alley. Taggert got the jump on him, but another guy came from behind. He got a shot off, and they ran toward the 500 block. Curtis asks what Taggert was doing there, but Taggert says he’s answering Jordan’s questions, not Curtis’s. Taggert takes out a handkerchief, and gives it to Jordan. She unwraps a syringe, and says Taggert was going to OD, like the others.
Julian tells Ava that he thought he’d buy himself some time by getting Brad a lawyer. Now that spoiled pop star wannabe is tightening the screws. Ava asks, how? and he says she came into Charlie’s when he was arguing with Brad. He had no idea who she was, and they talked. He vented, and said too much. Ava asks how much Brook knows, and he says she figured out that he was helping Brad with the baby switch. Even better, she’s tight with Sonny and she’s threatening to get him involved. Brook laughs, and Ava says, she seems like a handful, all right, but Julian was already doomed when he got mixed up with Brad to begin with. He says he doesn’t know what to do at this point. He’s tired of the shakedowns. Ava says, too bad. If Brook goes to Sonny with her theory, it won’t go well. He asks what she suggests, and she tells him, just say yes for now; buy some time. Two Jeromes are more than a match for one measly Quartermaine.
Brook says she’s sorry about what Nikolas has been through, and Nikolas says she’s the only person who hasn’t come down hard on him. His mom, his sister, his son, even his best friend Elizabeth, all judged him without caring about what he’s been through. Brook says, Elizabeth judged him? Shocker. He guesses Elizabeth is entitled to her feelings, but Brook says, so is he. It’s hard enough coming back without people lining up to criticize. She knows what it’s like to need a friend, and thinks maybe she can fill that void.
Josslyn tells Carly, there’s plenty of security. One of Sonny’s guards can stay at the dance, and Dustin is chaperoning; he saved her life. Carly says, he’s an English teacher, not a superhero. She and Sonny agreed, it’s best to avoid public gatherings, and she wants to err on the side of caution tonight. Donna cries, and Carly goes to tend to her, while Dev comes back into the kitchen. Dev asks if Josslyn’s mom explained it to her. She asks if he’s really okay with it, and he says, it has to be this way. Josslyn says, then he has to say goodbye to Cameron and Trina. She tells him, get dressed, and meet her in the living room in ten minutes.
Cameron tells Trina that their ride share is almost there. She says her dad hasn’t responded to her texts; she guesses he’s not coming. Cameron looks out, and sees an SUV. He says they’re going premium tonight. He tells Trina that he can talk to the driver, and see if he’s willing to wait, but Trina says, let’s just go. She thanks Elizabeth for the pictures. She’ll have some great shots to show her dad. Elizabeth tells them, have fun, and Cameron says, will do. Franco hustles them out, and Cameron wonders if he’s trying to get rid of them. Elizabeth reminds him to text the driver’s information to her. They leave, and Elizabeth asks Franco if Cameron is right. Was he trying to get rid of them?
Jordan says Taggert is lucky it wasn’t worse, and Curtis says, then there would be one. Taggert says Cyrus will find him if he wants to. Jordan says they’ve been catching up since Bob was killed, and it’s time to get in front. Taggert said he had a plan; let’s hear it. He says she’s not going to like it.
Laura says she and Sonny have been friends a long time. She knows there’s a line he won’t cross in his business; he has a certain integrity. When she took the oath of office, she vowed to put Port Charles above all else, including her personal relationships. Sonny understands where Laura is coming from, and says he’d never ask her to compromise for his sake. She appreciates that, but says she can’t look other way if a turf war threatens the safety of the city. Jason says, with all due respect, they care about the city as much as she does. She says she doesn’t doubt that, but in Sonny’s business, there can be some very ugly turns, and she thinks that’s what happened. Sonny says he didn’t start it, and she says she knows that, but it doesn’t matter. This is on her watch. When innocent people are shot at, the piers are a war zone again, and warehouses are blowing up, the people who live in those areas – low income people who don’t have a lot of choices – are afraid. The parents wonder if their kids will get home safe, or at all. All they want, is for it to stop. That’s why she’s there. If anyone knows how stop this thing, it’s him.
Elizabeth tells Franco, she thought Cameron and Trina were just friends, but after the way Cameron looking at Trina tonight, she’s not so sure. Franco says, it’s a big night for them – and him and Elizabeth too. He says, she thought he forgot. He gives her a small box, and says, happy anniversary.
Brook and Nikolas clink glasses. Ava says it will be her pleasure to help Julian handle Brook, and it might help her solve a problem of her own. She needs Nikolas to cheat, and she needs to have proof, or she can’t get out of the marriage. Julian says, that’s barely a minor inconvenience, and she says Julian is so grouchy when he thinks he’s backed into a corner. He’s lucky he has a sister who’s a pro at thinking outside the box. She was going to use Elizabeth to tempt Nikolas, but it’s important to have back up, and Brook just might fit the bill. Ava walks over to the bar and says, forget the drink. She’s changed her mind. She’d rather be home with Nikolas. She takes his hand, and leads him out. He asks if she’s jealous. She can always divorce him. She says, not on his life. They made a deal, and he’s sticking to it.
Brook returns to Julian’s table, and says, so before they were rudely interrupted, what’s his answer? He says, she told him, all ten fingers, correct? He holds out his hand, and they shake.
Laura tells Sonny, she came out of respect because he’s an old friend. She gets up, and says, but if she’s wrong, and Sonny isn’t able to end this thing before it escalates any further, she’ll have to do what she has to in order to protect the city. Sonny gets up, and says he wouldn’t expect anything less. After all, he voted for her. Jason holds the door open, and she walks out, holding back tears. Jason and Sonny look at each other.
Josslyn comes downstairs, looking lovely, also in a shimmery cocktail dress. Dev asks how she did that so fast, and she says nothing inspires her more than being told she can’t do something. She tells him, they have to go, and he follows her out.
Taggert tells Jordan, he’s crossed the line in the past. Each time, he weighed the risks, and made a choice, believing the ends justified the means. Now he’s crossed a line he never thought he’d cross. Curtis says, desperate times, and Taggert says, right. The stakes are too high for pride or holding a grudge. He went to Sonny, and asked if Sonny would work with him to take Cyrus down.
Carly sees Dev’s backpack, and says, really. The kids leave everything lying around. She picks it up, and everything falls out. While she’s picking it all up, she finds a bullet.
Cameron asks the driver if he can step on it; they’re a tiny bit late. Trina says she doesn’t mind, and tells him to take his time. Better safe than sorry. Cameron and Trina chatter back and forth, and we see the driver is the guy who followed Taggert to the pier.
Tomorrow, Neil tells TJ, if it feels right, go for it; Carly asks why there’s a bullet in Dev’s backpack; Taggert calls Curtis for help; and Cameron and Trina’s driver says, there’s been a change in plans.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
When Melissa met with Danielle, Danielle said boutique owner Steven told her to pull Marge’s hair, and Teresa encouraged her. We saw a clip of Teresa getting in Danielle’s face, and saying, do it! Do it! Do it! Melissa said she was shocked, and going to let Teresa know what Danielle said. Rather than badmouth Teresa, Melissa said it confirmed that Teresa was not in the right frame of mind. Danielle said Marge had put her through a lot, but Melissa wasn’t having it. She said Danielle had gone too far and shouldn’t have put her hands on anybody, and ended their friendship. At the house, the party was beginning to start, with an amazing barbecue that had just about everything imaginable on the grill. In Melissa’s interview, she said Danielle was a pathological liar, but she didn’t think Danielle would throw Teresa under the bus like that if it wasn’t true. And if it was, it was the end of Marge and Teresa’s friendship. By the time Melissa got to the party, it was in full swing, and there were tons of guests, including my favorite, Marge Sr.
Melissa was basically accosted by the group, who wanted to know how the meeting had gone. Melissa told them it was rough. She said Danielle said that Steven told her to pull Marge’s hair, and Marge didn’t believe it, but we saw a clip of that too. I find it a lot more disturbing that a grown man, who owns a boutique, is making this kind of suggestion to a woman, than table-flipper Teresa encouraging that behavior. Melissa said Danielle also said Teresa told her, do it. Marge didn’t believe that either, and of course everyone said what a liar Danielle always is. Melissa asked Teresa if Danielle was lying, and Teresa said she was drinking and everything happened so fast. In Dolores’s interview, she said it never crossed her mind that Teresa was involved in the hair pulling. Marge called Teresa an a-hole, and said Teresa’s good friend Danielle threw her under the bus to save herself. Marge walked off, and Teresa gave the finger to the camera, then went on a rampage, flinging a Solo cup at the camera, and throwing stuff around. Girlfriend was very stressed.
Teresa stomped inside, saying they were all effing a-holes. I’m not sure if she meant the group, the party guests in general, or the production team. She said she was going home. In her interview, Melissa said she’d known Teresa a long time, and when you call her out on something she shouldn’t have done, she doesn’t take it well. Teresa holed up in the bathroom, and outside the door, Dolores said the only way to rectify it, was to apologize to Marge and never talk to Danielle again. Melissa said she got that Teresa wanted to have fun with all the stress in her life, but she was choosing the wrong people to have it with. When Teresa emerged, she said she was glad Danielle stood up for herself. In Teresa’s interview, she said she was angry at Marge, and drinking a lot. Out in the yard, while Marge didn’t let this stop her from enjoying the food, Joe #2 said he thought they should talk it out. Marge said it made her sick. Dolores told Teresa that Marge deserved an apology. Right then and there, Teresa called Danielle, and told her that Melissa had outed her for outing Teresa. But ultimately, it was Danielle’s decision to pony pull. Danielle told Teresa that afterwards, she’d said she wished she hadn’t done it, and not to let this come between them. Teresa stood firm, and said they weren’t friends anymore. She told the others, she wanted to talk to Marge in private, and she’d be on the front porch.
Marge met with Teresa, who apologized, and said she felt bad. Marge said her first instinct was not to believe it. Teresa said she knows she shouldn’t have done it (can you hear this in her voice?), but maybe it had to happen for her to wake up, and be done with Danielle. Marge said she needed time to process it. In Marge’s interview, she said the idea of someone she’s close with being in on attacking her was mind-boggling. And on top of it, Teresa defended Danielle. In the backyard, Jennifer said, if any good came out if it, at least Teresa realized her friendship with Danielle is toxic. When Marge came back, she said she didn’t know whether to sh*t or go blind, and I wondered when was the last time I heard that phrase.
Since the second half-hour was dedicated to Teresa’s Italy trip with the girls, they did the finale credits here. There was absolutely nothing of interest, except that David still hasn’t moved into the new house. He’s living with Dolores and Frank. Dolores can’t get him to move out, or give her a ring. Whatever works.
Five months later. We sped through what happened with Joe, ending with him moving to Italy. He now looks like Mike The Situation Sorrentino. There was the fastest trip to Italy ever, not even using the Concord, and we flashed back to a previous trip when the girls were little. The girls were thrilled to see their dad, but two seconds in, Joe said he’d forgotten how stressful they could be. They checked into a gorgeous hotel, and Teresa asked if Joe expected sleep with her. They hadn’t been together in four years, and it was kind of weird. He was the same uncommunicative jerk he’s always been.
They took the girls to the Amalfi coast, and on the way, a rainbow dazzled us all. Gia leaning her head on her dad’s shoulder broke my heart. They went shopping, and in Gia’s interview, she said their family had been on an emotional roller coaster. It made her realize it was the little moments that count. She was holding on to every moment, and cherishing it. In Teresa’s interview, she said she thought Joe wanted to be a couple again, but she hadn’t been happy with him for a long time. She didn’t want to hurt him, but sometimes you can’t get over what happened, and need to move on. At a tearful dinner, Joe told the girls that he was sorry about what happened, but would always do what he could to keep them together.
Teresa asked Joe how he saw them, and said she wanted someone with her every day. She reminded him that he’d said hurtful things, like he wished he’d never married her. He was supposed to protect her, and she trusted him. Joe said it was a bogus crime that people don’t even do time for, and it was in the past. Teresa said she hadn’t been the same since. A lot had happened, and they lived in two different countries. He asked if she wanted to just end it now. In her interview, Teresa said it was infuriating. After four years, Joe still wasn’t taking responsibility for what he’d done. He hadn’t changed. She told Joe that she never wanted to hurt him, and wanted him to be endlessly happy. He said he felt the same about her, and that he’d spend the night with the girls. They hugged for the first time, and it seemed genuine.
Teresa said she wasn’t ready to tell the girls, and they were still fighting the appeal. There was still a chance Joe could come back to the US. She was just happy Joe was out and free, and that her daughters can be reunited with their dad, even if they had to get on a plane to do it. It wasn’t the end.
The ending text said that the girls spent Christmas with Joe. They were still waiting on the appeal, and were hopeful. Teresa said since now that chapter was closed, she could start thinking about what makes Teresa happy.
My big question. Why does everyone think a party is where to bring up a personal issue? In Melissa’s case tonight, she was immediately surrounded, but the traditional practice is for someone to bring up a hot button issue in the middle of a party. Usually the celebration of some poor, unrelated, unsuspecting person, and it ruins the good time. Even better, it’s often in public. I’m just glad I don’t know any of these people personally.
💰 She Does Have Bank Now…
I actually think this is one couple who won’t need a prenup because they’re going to make it.
I honestly think she’s just thoughtless, and I’m sorry to see her go. And it’s kind of like when new neighbors move in. Even if you’re glad to see the old ones go, you wonder what you’re going to get.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
In Sonny’s kitchen, Cameron asks what there is to eat; he’s starving. Trina says Josslyn just told them about her new nephew. Josslyn says, the same night Nelle tried to kill her brother, she had Brad steal the baby. Trina says, the good news is Nelle was arrested, and will end up in prison. Josslyn’s brother has his son back, and can now keep Wiley to himself. Cameron likes the way Trina thinks; a silver lining. Josslyn says she’s going to find her mom, and tells them to help themselves. Cameron tells Trina, Nelle is crazy. Why would anyone risk getting Sonny mad? Trina says they have to focus. They need to talk about the dance. Josslyn can’t blow it off. She needs be there.
Ned finds Olivia at the MetroCourt, and she says it’s a pleasant surprise. She thought he had a meeting. He says, it ended early. He thought she’d want to spend time with him, and their new family member. She says, Brook was on the schedule… He says, don’t tell him. She’s a no show. Brook runs in, saying she’s sorry she’s late. She just booked studio time, and it’s supposed to start now, but she needs her paycheck.
At a table nearby, Alexis says, Brad and Nelle replaced Willow’s baby with Michael and Nelle’s baby? and Sam says, Wiley is Michael’s son. The adoption Alexis delivered to Brad didn’t live. Alexis asks how they were able to switch the babies, and Sam says, no surprise, Nelle was behind it. Julian approaches, and Alexis says Sam told her what happened. She’s so sorry about his grandson. He must be devastated. Is there anything she can do? He says, there is. He needs a lawyer for Brad.
Michael tells Jason, on one hand, he realizes how complicate the situation is. Once he gets the legal technicalities sorted out, he can officially file a legal document regarding Nelle’s rights. All of that is important, but it seems so small in comparison to the reality that Wiley is there with him. Jason says, Wiley is Michael’s son; that’s the truth. On paper, it’s another story. Michael’s got to make a plan about Nelle. Michael says he’ll handle it, and Jason asks, how? Michael says, by doing the one thing Nelle can’t. Play by the rules.
Nelle calls to the guard, saying she needs to know where her son is. Carly walks in, and the guard tells her to take as much time as she needs. Nelle asks how her son is; is Wiley okay? Carly tells her, drop the act. Nelle doesn’t give a damn about her child except to use him as a weapon to hurt Michael, and she’s not about to let that happen.
Ned tells Brook that her only shift was yesterday, and she expects to be paid? and Olivia says she can’t bail without giving notice. Ned says, according to the terms of Brook’s contract, anything she records belongs to Linc, but Brook says she can record, even if she can’t release it at the moment. She’ll create art for art’s sake. Dustin comes up behind her, and says he’d like to hear that.
Trina tells Cameron, if Josslyn doesn’t feel like going, they’ll have to talk her into it. This is for him. He’s been kind, supportive, and respectful, and it’s time Josslyn opened her eyes to what’s right in front of her. He says, what if she still doesn’t see? and Trina says, then it’s her loss, and he can move on. Josslyn comes back, saying her mom isn’t home. She’ll have to see her later. Trina says Josslyn will be at the mid-winter formal. She’s the one who opened the school’s eyes to be inclusive about gender identification. Josslyn says she wasn’t the only one. Oscar helped. She’d like to get to know Wiley better, and do some journaling.
Nelle asks Carly if Wiley is okay, and Carly says, he’s more than fine. Wiley went to the Quartermaines. Michael is over the moon, and Wiley is with everyone who loves him. Nelle says, if only she’d known the lifeless baby in her arms wasn’t hers, and that Jonah was alive. If she could have stopped Brad, she would have. Carly says, give it up. She’ll never see Wiley again, and if the legal system doesn’t make certain of that, Carly will.
Sam says, Julian is asking Alexis to be Brad’s lawyer? After what he did? Lucas must be devastated. Alexis tells Sam, she’s got this, and Julian says he knows what Sam is saying. His heart is breaking. Lucas is his son, but Brad is his son-in-law. Sam says, not for long. Lucas is never going to forgive Brad, and their marriage will never recover from this. Julian says, if they truly love each other, they can survive anything. Sam should know that better than anyone.
Jason asks what Michael means by playing by the rules. Michael says the law is on his side. He’s lucky he’s in a position where he can afford the best lawyers. He just has to file the paperwork. Nelle violated the terms of her parole, and should be on her way back to prison, but she can still technically petition the court for access to Wiley, and request supervised visits. He says, Diane thinks she can block it, but Jason says he can’t plan on things going right, and has to figure out what he’s going to do if they go wrong.
Trina tells Josslyn that she journals too much. Some people have a cell phone addiction, but Josslyn has a journal addiction. If she’s not careful, she’ll spend more time writing about her life than living it. Why doesn’t she want to go to the dance? Josslyn asks why Trina cares, and Trina says, it will be fun, and they can show school spirit. Not everyone is involved in a sport or gets awards. They do their part by showing up, and Josslyn should be one with them. Josslyn asks if Trina is involved with camp, but Josslyn says she’s one of those people. Cameron asked her, so they’ll be going together. Josslyn wonders when Cameron had time, since he was away, and Trina says they were texting. When Cameron got back, they confirmed they’d go together, before he met her dad. Josslyn asks what Cameron thinks of Mr. Taggert, and he says he’s as scary as Josslyn’s dad and stepdad combined. Scarier. Trina says, he’s nowhere near scarier. Cameron tells Josslyn, he read about the shooting. He wishes he’d been there, and could have helped. Josslyn says, she’s okay, thanks to Michael and Dustin.
Brook says, Dustin wants to hear her music? He says he’s always been a fan, and thinks there are big things in store for her. She says, if he promises not to tell she’s recording material, she’ll let him in on it. She asks if it’s okay with his girlfriend, and Dustin says she’ll be okay with it. He hopes Brook gets back to songwriting. Maybe there’s an award in her future. Brook’s phone rings, and she steps away to take it. Olivia tells Dustin that Carly informed her about the school dance, and he says he was hoping to talk to Carly. Olivia says Carly isn’t there. He’ll have to talk to her instead.
Brook tells Ned, the studio is double-booked. She has to reschedule. Ned says, then she can work her shift. Brook says, after she gets her paycheck, maybe they can go over the schedule, and make sure it doesn’t conflict with her studio time. It’s complicated. Olivia says she’ll uncomplicate it. Brook is fired.
Jason says Michael knows what Nelle is capable of, and knows she gave Wiley to Brad. If she gets a sympathetic jury and walks, what does he think is going to happen? The doorbell rings, and Michael tells Wiley to keep an eye on his Uncle Jason. Jason puts Wiley in his lap, and says, Michael will always be there for him because Michael is his dad and loves him. That will never change. If he’s upset, Michael will be there. If he makes a mistake, Michael will forgive him. Does he know why? Because Michael’s love for him is bigger than the whole world. One day soon, Wiley will realize that.
Nelle says, keeping a child away from his own mother; what if someone did that to Carly? Oh that’s right, Carly couldn’t bear to be a mom, and pushed Michael away. She didn’t have a choice. Brad stole her baby. If Carly wants someone to blame, blame Brad. Carly says Brad is going to get what he deserves, and so is Nelle.
Sam says Julian has a helluva nerve asking Alexis to defend Brad. She tells Alexis to say something, and Alexis says she can speak for herself. Julian has a helluva nerve asking her to defend Brad. Julian says he’s not; he just needs a referral. Sam asks why he cares about Brad, and he says Lucas is grieving his son, and can barely think straight. He highly doubts Lucas wants Brad in prison for the rest of his life. Sam says, Brad isn’t innocent, even though it was Nelle’s idea. Julian says Nelle is playing the victim card, saying she was unconscious, and when she woke up, she was holding a baby who’d already breathed his last. Alexis asks if Nelle is saying Brad switched the baby without her knowledge, and Julian nods. He says, Brad says just the opposite. He was in emotional distress and couldn’t think clearly. He believes Brad over Nelle; wouldn’t she? Sam says she’s got to agree with Julian on this one.
Brook tells Olivia, she’s sorry she didn’t do a good job, and Olivia says Brook might have given her a heads up. Brook says, the truth is, she needs to be writing. Then, after she waits out her contract, she’ll have new music to drop. Olivia says, good luck. She has customers to take care of. She walks away, and Ned says, let him get this straight. Brook has five years free, and in the meantime, she’ll be writing. Brook says, all music, all the time, and Ned says, without working? She says, music is work, and he says let him clarify; without working for pay. She says he knows artists live on faith and courage. She thought he’d be proud of her. He says he is, but faith and courage don’t pay the bills. She needs to find a real job and work in the real world. She says it will destroy her soul, but he says, she’s an adult. It’s time she acted like one. She can work with him at ELQ. She says, doing what? and he says he’ll figure something out. She asks what makes him think she’s more suited for office work than restaurant work?
Sam says, Nelle lies as much as she breathes, and Julian says Nelle is telling everyone she’s the poor, innocent victim, and Brad is a monster. Sam says, Brad’s no saint. Before he confessed, he allowed Lucas to fall in love with a baby he thought was his. Michael thought his baby was dead. Brad didn’t come up with the idea, but he’s just as guilty. Alexis says, the bottom line is, Wiley spent a year and a half with the wrong parents. That kind of upheaval is detrimental, and both Brad and Nelle should be held accountable and punished. Sam says her mom is right. Julian should walk away. Julian says he can’t.
Chase tells Michael, forensics combed Nelle’s possessions to find possible evidence for the case against her. They searched her car and her bag, and found something. He can’t confirm the details, but what they found appears to contradict Nelle’s version of events. Michael is glad to hear it, and asks how Willow has been. Chase says, it’s been rough, and it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. Michael says, Willow tried hard to protect her son, and Chase says, she’s questioning everything now. It’s a lot to handle. Michael says she has Chase, and Chase says he’s trying his best.
Carly says, Brad needs to pay for his crimes, but his crimes pale in comparison to Nelle’s. She’s not talking about the murder, or the attempted murder that sent Nelle to Pentenville the first time. She’s talking about kidnapping, fraud, and child endangerment. Shiloh kidnapped Wiley because Nelle lied. Nelle says she never lied. Brad stole her precious baby, and if she hadn’t heard Brad say he was actually her son with Michael… She went to Chase’s apartment to hold her baby. Carly says, too bad Willow was there to stop her. Nelle says she feels bad for Willow, and Carly says, she knocked Willow unconscious. Nelle says she was desperate, like any other mother would be, except maybe Carly. Carly asks if she’s really going with this defense. She hopes the jury sees through Nelle, but if they don’t, and the worst happens and she walks, Nelle’s first steps in the sunshine could very well be her last.
Carly tells Nelle, it’s a big, dangerous, crazy world out there. Lots things happen. She should plead guilty; it’s safer for her in prison. Nelle says she learned a lot from Ryan while she was in Pentenville. Too bad Carly didn’t learn from him when they were in Ferncliff together. Or was that Kevin? Nelle wishes she had a twin, so she could be in two places at once. Chase comes in, and says he needs to talk to Nelle. Carly says, good luck, and leaves. Chase asks Nelle to tell him again. Why was she at his apartment last night?
Michael tells Jason, the police found evidence that contradicts Nelle’s story. Jason says, good, and Michael says he asked about Willow. Chase said she’s really struggling. He can’t begin to describe what it feels like to lose a child. He’s been there, and knows what she’s going through. She would have grieved anyway, but to spend the last year and a half, thinking she gave up Wiley and loving him when he wasn’t hers; and the baby she trusted to Brad is gone. In some ways, Michael thinks Brad and Nelle hurt Willow the most.
Alexis tells Julian that he’d said he wanted to go good and decent things. Does he think getting involved with Brad and Nelle after what they did is good and decent? He says he just wants a lawyer. Alexis had said everyone is entitled to a good defense. Did she change her mind because it’s someone she doesn’t like? She says she’ll have her assistant text a list of attorneys. He thanks her, and leaves. Sam wonders why he’s so determined to help Brad. What’s that all about?
Brook tells Ned, forget the whole employment thing. Open up her trust fund so she can pursue her passion. He asks if anything he said made the slightest impression. She has to rely on herself; no one else. She says Olivia just fired her, and Ned says he won’t ask Olivia to rehire her. He wants to stay married. Maybe Brook can find something more to her taste. She’ll never know if she can do it if she doesn’t try. The free ride stops right now.
Cameron says, Dustin threw himself into a gunfight? Poetry man? Josslyn says, he’s not all about poetry. He’s amazing. He saved her life. Cameron says, no argument from him, and Trina suggests they go. Josslyn tells Cameron not to bring alcohol this time, and Trina says Dustin will probably follow him around with a breathalyzer all night. Josslyn says, Dustin is going to be there? She looks at the flyer for the dance.
Dustin tells Olivia that he appreciates her help. Olivia says Carly will kill her if she doesn’t do something nice after what Dustin did for Josslyn. She’ll make pizza, and he says, the kids will love that. He thanks her, and she says, Lulu and Dante love a good Bensonhurst slice. He says, sorry. He’s not trying to take Dante’s place.
Brook sees Julian at the bar, and asks how Lucas is. Julian asks what she thinks, and she says everyone is happy at the Quartermaines, Monica most of all, but they feel terrible about Lucas. It wasn’t just the lie, but who did the lying; the person he trusted most. She hears Brad is in jail. Funny thing, the first night she and Julian met, she saw him with Brad. He said Brad was an associate, but Brad was actually his son-in-law. Julian tells her, it’s always a pleasure speaking to her, but he has to go. She says she’s confused. When she suggested he terminate his partnership with Brad, he agreed, and said he would. After that is when the car accident happened, and the police still can’t figure out why the brakes didn’t work. Julian wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would he?
At the café, Cameron says, a way of showing school spirit? and Trina says it was the best she could come up with on short notice. He says, it’s not subtle, and she says, subtle doesn’t get the job done. Josslyn finally needs to see what she’s missing out on. Cameron says, or not, and she says, either Josslyn sees what she’s missing, or he can cut her loose, and some other lucky girl will find him.
Josslyn plays with Wiley, and tells Michael, she’s officially in love. He says she loved Wiley before, but she says she’s his aunt now; it’s a different kind of love. When is he going to say aunt? Michael says he’ll make it his first order of business after he teaches Wiley to say dad. Josslyn says Michael will be a great dad. He always watched out for her. He said he stopped her from swallowing rubber bands, and she says he also taught her to high-five. She tells Wiley, everyone is telling him what a great dad he has. Too bad about all the time he was with Brad and Lucas. Michael says he made a deal with himself; no regrets. He’s not going to be angry or sad about what he missed. Josslyn wonders if they all survived the shooting so it could lead to this. Michael says he learned you have to take life with both hands, and not let go. Josslyn says she’s starting to feel that way too. She’s emerging from a black hole. He says, that’s great, and she says she knows she’ll never get Oscar back, but she’s feeling like she’s starting to get herself back, and it feels really good.
Nelle tells Chase, she went to see her son, the boy Brad stole who she gave birth to. Chase says, she was unconscious, and she says, yes. Brad took her kid, leaving her with the wrong baby. When she regained consciousness, she believed the lifeless baby was her own. It wasn’t until she heard Brad’s confession that she realized what he’d done. She wanted to hold her kid. Chase says, no matter who got hurt? and she says, sorry about Willow. Willow was keeping her away from Wiley. Chase says, so they fought, and she knocked Willow out. She says she was desperate; she didn’t know what she was doing. Is Willow okay? Chase says, Willow was examined at the hospital, and learned Wiley wasn’t her son. Nelle says she hopes Brad’s conviction gives Willow some comfort, and Chase says, go to hell. Focus on her own conviction. She came to his apartment fully intending on taking Wiley and disappearing.
Carly looks at the dance flyer. Jason comes in, and she asks how it went. He says, Michael is happy and focused on Wiley. He’s thinking ahead, and already called Diane for legal strategy about Wiley’s custody. The cops also found evidence against Nelle. Carly says, Nelle is as slippery as ever, and he asks what she means. What’s going on? She says she went to the PCPD to see Nelle, and he says she played right into Nelle’s hands.
Alexis tells Sam, she has no idea if anything suspicious is going on with Julian and Brad. She has more pressing concerns. It’s time for Neil’s review, and she’s going to New York to make a statement on his behalf. It was one date, one kiss, and not a relationship. Once the board understands, Neil’s reprimand should be expunged. They just have to stay away from each other for two years. Sam asks if Alexis is going to follow the rules. There should be a way two smart people can pursue a relationship without getting caught. Alexis says she’s not standing in the way of a career that Neil loves. Sam says she’s not letting the parole board keep her away from Jason. Alexis says, give her a dollar, and Sam does. She tells Sam, anything she says is now protected under attorney/client privilege. What are they planning? It better not be murder. Sam says, it’s not, but if her parole officer has done something illegal or something she can get fired over… Alexis says she’s blackmailing her parole officer, but Sam says she didn’t say that. Alexis says, please don’t do this, but Sam says nothing is going to stop her. She learned from Alexis to never give up.
Julian says Brook doesn’t know what she’s talking about. He wouldn’t hurt his son. She says, maybe not, but he said he couldn’t trust his associate to hold up his end of the deal, and it was high stakes. Maybe Julian wanted Brad out of the way because he threatened to blow up the baby switch. It makes sense, and she wonders if anyone else would agree.
Trina tells Cameron that she’s got to get ready for the dance. He says, they’re going through all this to make Josslyn jealous, and she might not even be there. Trina says, it doesn’t matter. His mom and her dad will take a million pictures. They’ll post them, and when Josslyn sees, maybe she’ll be jealous.
Joss keeps repeating Aunt Josslyn to Wiley. Michael asks, besides teaching Wiley to talk, does she have anything fun going on tonight? She says the school has a mid-winter dance. She wasn’t going, but thinks she’s changed her mind. He says, good for her, and she says she has no date, but her friends are going, so they’ll hang out. He says he’s ridiculously proud of her, and she says, for going to a dance? That’s lame. He tells her, it’s not. Her courage and strength are going to be a big inspiration to her nephew.
Dustin tells Olivia, listen… but she suggests they keep the conversation about pizza. She says she needs to get to work, and he says he didn’t mean to throw extra work at her. She says she doesn’t mind. He did go out of his way to protect Josslyn. That makes him kind of a hero; the kind of guy who would sleep with her son’s ex-wife.
Ned asks if Olivia is okay? He’s guessing her conversation with Dustin was as uncomfortable as his conversation as his was with Brook. She says, that bad? and he says he supplied his daughter with tough love, and she supplied the rejection. Olivia says she’s sorry, and hugs him.
Julian says Brook has taken a random conversation, and twisted it into a conspiracy theory. It has zero basis in fact. Whatever Brad and Nelle did, is between them. Brook wonders what if she goes to Sonny with her theory, and Julian tells her go to whoever she wants. He didn’t do anything wrong. She says she wouldn’t want to admit her guilt either, and he asks what she wants. She says, maybe a small favor.
Alexis tells Sam, please don’t do this. Don’t make the situation even worse. She likes going out with Sam, and getting together with Sam and the kids. She doesn’t want the next place she visits Sam to be the penitentiary. Sam says if Delores wants to come between her and Jason, she’s coming between Delores and her job. Alexis asks if there’s nothing she can say to stop Sam, and Sam says, she will be with Jason again, no matter what.
Jason says, Nelle knows how to play the victim, and asks if the guard heard Carly. Carly says, no, and he asks if she threatened Nelle. She says, not exactly, and Jason says she’s smarter than this. Nelle is going to do what she can to bait Carly, and fighting will do no good in this situation. If she wants to help Michael, and keep Wiley as far away from Nelle as possible, she needs to keep her cool. She says she hates Nelle, and he says that’s what Nelle is counting on. She thinks she can play Carly, and Carly has to prove her wrong. He knows Carly would do anything for her kids, even control temper, and she needs to do that right now.
Josslyn thanks Michael for his words about strength and courage, but thinks he needs them now. He says he has everything he needs in Wiley, and she says, what about Nelle?What if she goes free, and seeks custody? He tells Josslyn not to worry about him. Wiley is there to stay, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure of that.
Nelle asks Chase if he thinks she wanted to kidnap her son. She just wanted to hold him. He asks if that’s her story, and she says, it’s not a story; it’s the truth. He asks how she explains these, and shows her the passports.
Tomorrow, Brook asks Julian if he’s going to help her or not, Elizabeth tells Nikolas that he mad his choices and has to live with them, and Taggert tells Sonny they have a mutual problem.
The Haves and The Have Nots
Outside Jeffrey’s bedroom door, David says, damn. Jeffrey says, oh no, and asks Madison how much he thinks his dad saw. Madison says, enough. He should go. Is Jeffrey okay? Jeffrey says, no. His dad just walked in on them. Madison says he’s not Jeffrey’s mother. He knows. Jeffrey says, knowing is one thing; seeing it is another. Madison says Jeffrey has to stop thinking being gay is such a bad thing. How would Jeffrey feel if he was a girl? Jeffrey says, embarrassed, but maybe not as embarrassed. Madison says, there you go, and Jeffrey says he’s got the point. Madison says Jeffrey’s dad is an open minded guy; just go with it. Jeffrey says, easier said than done. Madison says he’s going to go, but Jeffrey says, wait. He wants to go out for dinner. Madison says he works late, but Jeffrey can come by and they can get something in the cafeteria. Jeffrey says he wants a nice restaurant and dinner, and Madison says, Jeffrey wants a date. That should have come before the sex. Jeffrey jokes that he wants Madison to buy him dinner because he was so good. Madison says he’ll see Jeffrey later, and Jeffrey says he looks forward to it.
David paces downstairs. He hears the door, and sits on the couch pretending to read. Madison says, Mr. Harrington, and David says he didn’t know Madison was there, but doesn’t turn around. Madison says, it’s good to see him. David says, thanks, and Madison asks how his back is. He can take a look at it if David wants. David says, it’s fine, and Madison says, cool. He asks David if there’s something interesting in that book, and David asks if Madison is waiting for Jeffrey. Madison says, no, and David says, he’s leaving then? Madison says he is, and Davis asks why he’s still standing there. Madison says he’s trying to make David uncomfortable, and David asks what makes Madison think he is? Madison says he can see David blushing, and David says, please leave. Madison says, good seeing him, and trots out the door. Jeffrey comes down, and David says he was just going to the kitchen. Jeffrey asks if David wants to talk about what just happened. David asks if it’s okay if he doesn’t, and Jeffrey says, yeah. David says, good, and starts to walk to the kitchen. He comes back, and says he just didn’t expect to see that. Jeffrey says he knows. Talk to him later? David says, yeah, and starts to head upstairs. Jeffrey says he thought David was going to the kitchen, and David says, that’s right, and goes the other way.
Celine goes to Veronica’s house. Veronica asks if she’d like a drink, and says, it’s over on the desk. Celine says Veronica wants her to pour? and Veronica asks, how else would they have it? Celine pours two drinks, and asks what this is about. Why would Veronica want to help her? Veronica says, a maid with attitude; that should be a reality show. Celine says if Veronica’s not going to help her, she’s going to go, and Veronica tells her, calm down. Why has she been quiet? She has two children by that a-hole, but she’s been quiet. Celine says, she’s moving on, but Veronica says that’s not how they do it around there. If someone does something to them, they get them back. Celine says she just saw Jim at the hospital, and Veronica asks how he is. Celine says he’s the same jerk, and Veronica says she wants to sue him. She wants to get child support, and pain and suffering. She wants to make Jim pay for the years he abused Celine; she’ll be a rich bitch. Celine asks why Veronica wants to do that, and she says because she’s Veronica. She loves this kind of drama. Celine wonders what Jim did to her, and Veronica says she won’t stop, she won’t rest until the Cryers are broke, and on the street, begging like Celine had to. Is she in? Celine says she’ll have to think about it, but Veronica asks, what’s to think about?You could be rich, dumbass. Celine tells her, watch your mouth. She has reservations, and doesn’t trust Veronica. Veronica says Celine shouldn’t. She’s a cold-blooded bitch, but Celine is on her right side. Celine says Veronica is using her, and Veronica says she is. Otherwise, she couldn’t care less about Celine and her kids. Celine says she has to think about it, and Veronica says, don’t think too long. She’s trying to find the best way to get Jim, and she knows Celine is facing eviction. She knows Celine works two jobs. Her oldest son is in college, and her youngest should be in a private school. Celine tells Veronica not to pretend it’s about her, but Veronica says, no, it’s about me. What is Celine waiting for? Let’s do this. Celine thought it would be better to leave and move on, and Veronica says, what dumbass chick does that, when they have a man with money? Celine says she couldn’t take it anymore. She couldn’t sleep or eat, and decided it was for the best to let it go. Veronica says, praise God. Rest, and let her handle the heavy lifting. Celine says she has to go, and Veronica says, do something quickly. She’s always watching. Celine walks out, and Veronica asks herself, what kind of dumb bitch wouldn’t take advantage of this?
Charles looks through folder Oliver gave him, but says, it’s not the one. Landon produces another, and says, here, sir; highlighted in yellow. His call is in the living room. Charles goes to the phone, and Oliver asks if it makes Landon feel good, making him look bad. Landon says, actually, it did. Oliver says he can play that game too, and Landon says, not for much longer. Charles likes things a certain way. Oliver says, the Landon way. Landon suggests Oliver be careful. Charles comes back, looking for Landon. Landon tells him, the Attorney General is here, and Charles says, send him in. Landon says Charles should enjoy this, and Charles says he intends to.
The AG comes in, and Charles tells Oliver, that will be all. AG Kyle says he finally gets a chance to tell Charles congratulations on his victory. He knows how much Charles wanted to win. They make small talk, and Charles asks how Kyle’s wife is. Kyle says she’s his rock. He can’t tell Charles how important the right woman is in his life. He knows why Charles called him; to let him know he’s being replaced. He seems like the kind of guy who would need his own AG. Charles says, that’s usually how it’s done, but Kyle says, not always. Charles says, it is this time. Kyle gets up, thanks Charles for the visit, and walks out. Charles smiles, and I’m like, that’s it?
Hanna goes to the jail to see Kathryn, and asks how she is. Kathryn says, not good, and Hanna can understand that. Kathryn asks how Hanna is, and Hanna says she’s okay. Kathryn asks how Hanna got in, and Hanna says Marty is outside on the phone. Kathryn hopes he’s trying to get her bail, and Hanna tells her, hang in there. Kathryn says she’s trying. Wyatt calls to Hanna, and asks how she is. She says, all right, and he asks her to pray for him. She says she will, and he says he can’t believe what he did; he’s so sorry. He asks how his father is doing, and Hanna says, okay. He says, thank God. He asks if Hanna has seen him, and she says she did. Wyatt asks how he is, and she says, he had surgery, but he’s okay. They had a little altercation. Kathryn says, what? and Hanna says, when she thought heard Benny get shot over the phone, but he’s okay. Wyatt says, tell Benny he’s sorry, and Hanna says, if she sees him. Wyatt says, it was the drugs. He got the bad stuff. Hanna says, it’s all bad stuff, and he says he’s really sorry. His mom doesn’t believe him. Kathryn says, he’s right. He’s not being remorseful, and he’ll say anything to get out, but it’s not happening. Wyatt says, that’s not true. He really is sorry. A guard comes and opens Kathryn’s cell. He says, let’s go. As Hanna starts to follow, Wyatt asks her to pray for him again. She says, she will and she does.
In the visiting room, Kathryn asks if Hanna can believe this. Hanna says, it seems like a nightmare; she’s so sorry. Kathryn asks if Hanna doesn’t want to know if she did it, but Hanna thinks it’s best she doesn’t know. Kathryn says she’s probably right, and asks if Marty told Hanna why she’s there. Kathryn wants her to sign a statement. There’s no one she trusts, other than Hanna, to hold her estate. Everything; every dime. Hanna asks what she’s talking about, and Kathryn says she put all her assets in a trust, and she’s giving Hanna power of attorney. She’ll have total control of all Kathryn’s money and businesses. If she doesn’t, Kathryn can lose everything. Hanna doesn’t know, and Kathryn says she won’t have to do anything. The bills are paid through her account, and the interest covers everything else. It’s to make sure her assets are protected from law suits and Jim. She wouldn’t give him a strand of her hair, and she has no one else to turn to. Hanna has to help her. Hanna says, Lord Jesus, Father, Mother, God. Okay, but what does she do. Kathryn says she doesn’t have to do anything. Kathryn will call when she needs money. She doesn’t trust the SOBs working for her, and she needs someone in charge to make sure everything is protected. She asks if Candace has returned the money, and Hanna says she thinks Benny and Candace are on their way or at the bank. Kathryn says, Jim has nothing, and will be all over Candace. She has to give it back. Hanna says she wants Candace to return it, but she can’t make her do it, and Kathryn knows how she is. Kathryn says, if Candace returns the money, Jim will leave Benny alone. Hanna asks how Kathryn knows, and Kathryn laughs. She says, Jim has nothing. He’ll have to come to Hanna for permission to buy a candy bar. Hanna says she doesn’t want nothing to do with that man, but Kathryn asks if she doesn’t want to get a little revenge. Hanna says, so Kathryn is telling her, Jim will have to come to her… Kathryn says, for every dime. Hanna doesn’t like it. Well, maybe a little. Kathryn says, that’s the way Hanna can help. Hanna says, okay, and Kathryn asks Marty to bring the papers for Hanna to sign.
Mitch, Benny, and Candace are at the Iron Bone. Candace is on the phone, and Benny pokes at her, saying, she ain’t giving the money back. When she’s done, Benny says, so? She says, it’s all set. They’re going to the bank. He says, he’s not, but she says he is. He asks why she can’t be a smart person, take money, and run. She says she’s not doing that. She phones Hanna, and says they’re on their way to the bank right now. Benny is right next to her, and he’s going. Hanna wants to talk to Benny. She tells him, Jim is already mad as hell. Kathryn gave her power of attorney over the estate – all of it. Jim has to come to her for money. Benny says, damn, and she says, just until Kathryn is out of jail. She doesn’t want issues with that man, so make sure Candace gives back the money, and call when they’re done. When he’s finished, Candace says, so? Benny sips his drink.
Landon asks why Oliver just stood there. Oliver stammers, and Landon asks if he really wants this job. Oliver can start by being nice to him. Oliver says, it’s just… and Landon says, just what? It’s just that he’s an a-hole? Oliver says he won’t take this abuse. He didn’t do anything. Landon says Oliver did some things that pissed him off, and Oliver says Landon hired him because he spoke his mind. Landon says, a decision he regrets every day of his life. Oliver says, sorry, and Landon says, that’s better. Oliver says he means it. He’s been working hard to get close to Charles. Landon says he doesn’t need to get close to Charles, and Oliver says Landon is protective. Landon says, it’s his job, and Oliver says Landon has already made him out to look like a moron. Landon says Oliver did that himself, and Oliver asks Landon to try not to humiliate him in front of Charles. Landon says Oliver did it himself. Oliver suggests Landon fire him, and Landon asks if Oliver thinks he won’t. Does Oliver think because he has power from DC behind him, Landon won’t kick his ass onto the street? Get out of his face. Call his daddy, and ask how much money he can give Oliver. Oliver asks if that’s it. Because he comes from money, he’s not qualified. Landon says, no. Oliver didn’t have to work as hard and be good at his job. Oliver tells him, take that back, and Landon asks if he’s going to cry. Oliver says he’s been nice to Landon, which is confusing, since he really hasn’t been nice. He admits he can be an a-hole, and Landon tells him, be an a-hole someplace else. Goodbye. Oliver leaves, and Landon says, is he going to cry? There’s no crying in politics.
Candace asks what Hanna and Benny were talking about, and he says, Kathryn gave Hanna power of attorney over everything while she’s in jail. She was arrested for murder. Candace wonders, what the hell is going on? Benny doesn’t know, and right now, he doesn’t care. She says they’re going to the bank, and he says he’s going to the bathroom. She tells him, hurry. Mitch says Candace is plowed, and Candace asks what he’s talking about. He says, if her mom got power of attorney, he knows what she’s thinking. She says she’s not thinking that, and he says, good. Don’t do that; it’s not worth the risk to take it all. She says, the old Candace would have worked it out. All she knows is, if she doesn’t give the money back, they’ll come after Benny. He says, what if could assure her that they wouldn’t? She asks, how? and he says he’s a Malone, baby. He’s trying to give her options, and she has the entire estate. Think about it. She says she’s already thinking about it.
David visits Jim, who asks, what’s the matter? He knows the look on David’s face; something is wrong. David says he’s concerned about Jim, but Jim says, BS. David can tell him. David says he walked in on Jeffrey having sex. (The two of them look like they’re having a hard time keeping a straight face, and it’s hysterical.) David says he doesn’t mind that Jeffrey is gay, but he’s not ready to see it. He doesn’t mind if Jeffrey displays signs of affection with another male, but to see him in the act took the wind out of David. He loves his son; he’s just not ready. Jim says he understands, and so does Jeffrey. Is David okay? David says he needs a minute to get a mental adjustment. Jim laughs and says, sit down. David says he doesn’t want to talk about it, and Jim says, all right; he won’t ask. He says, Celine was there, and David says he knows. He going to tell Jim after he was feeling better. Jim says he told her to get her tight ass out. He wants her to suffer. David says he met with George about Veronica; he’s going to turn state’s evidence, and give George everything he has. They need to talk. He has immunity, and suggests Jim do the same. Jim says immunity is a slippery slope. It’s a dangerous tactic. David says, it will get Kathryn out of jail. Veronica is going to take the rap for Jennifer’s murder. He’s giving George all her dirty deals. Jim says, their fingerprints are on all those dirty deals, but David says, now, Veronica is going after Jeffrey. He has no other choice. Jim says he should have held Veronica under the water longer, but David says he can’t do that again. Jim says, let him do it. What if Veronica has an accident; not a fender bender, but a big accident, a catastrophe? David hopes he’s not talking domestic terrorism, but Jim says, if Veronica is in the wrong place at the wrong time, there’s bound to be collateral damage. He’s telling David, an immunity deal with George isn’t the way to go.
Veronica walks into Jim’s room, and David say, oh hell. Jim says, speak of the bitch devil herself. Veronica says speaking of Jim’s little penis, said everyone who’s ever taken a ride on it. He says they’ve never had sex, and she asks if he doesn’t remember that day. Jim says, it never happened, and she says he has a mole under his belly line; it’s not too cute. They did it another time when they were both drunk; remember? Jim says, it didn’t happen, and it’s more of a freckle. She says he might want to have it checked; it looked like cancer to her. He says he’s looking at cancer now. David tells her to get out, but she says she’s there to serve Jim. She hands him some papers, saying they’re from Celine, and he says he’s not touching them. She says Celine is suing him for back child support, sexual harassment, and a slew of other things. He asks if this little bitty case isn’t beneath her, and she says Celine will see a lot of money. She asks how David’s back is. Is he still burned? Jim says David should held her under longer. Doesn’t he know a cockroach can’t hold its breath that long? Veronica says Jim’s son shooting him is cold-blooded, and he asks if her son didn’t put a knife in her chest. David says, get out, and Jim suggests David pimp slap Veronica. Veronica says she’d love for him to try. Jim says he’s been served; get the hell out. Veronica tosses the papers on the bed, saying she’s served him, and his very disappointing little peepee. She leaves, and Jim says, David doesn’t believe her, does he? David says he does, but frankly, he doesn’t give a damn. Jim asks if he’s free to do what he wants to her now, and David says Jim has his permission and blessing. Jim says, excellent. He’ll show David how it’s done. David says, confession. He slept with Kathryn – on their wedding night. Jim says, somebody had to do it. Thank you. Ha-ha! It doesn’t get better than this.
Benny and Candace go to the bank, Benny complaining the whole time. Candace tells the officer that she has an account in a subsidiary bank, and asks if she can manage it from the parent branch. The officer says she can, and Candace says she was told online that she’d have to show her ID. Benny doesn’t want to give her his, saying giving back the money is the dumbest thing she’s ever done. The officer says she’ll be back with the paperwork. Benny says, the dude kidnapped him. Why is she giving the money back? She says, it’s the right thing, and he says he doesn’t get her. One day, she’s cold-blooded, beating a bitch down, and now she wants to give back the money. The officer comes back, and Candace signs the paperwork. Benny doesn’t want to hand over his ID, and the officer asks if he doesn’t want to open a new account. Benny says, no… and Candace says it will be a single account, only in Benny’s name, not joined with their mother. Benny says, this is stupid and crazy, and hands Candace his ID. She gives it to the officer, and the officer says she’s making a wire transfer for the new account. She’s wiring $8.25 to Jim – Candace says, exactly – and she’s transferring one million dollars to Benny’s account. Benny says, what? and he and Candace make faces at each other.
Next time – only one more episode until mid-season finale – Jim finds out he only got eight dollars, Candace and Mitch visit Jim, Justin can’t take it anymore, and Wyatt tries to kill himself.
Vanderpump Rules
Stassi visits Schwartz and Katie. Schwartz tells her that he’s worried about his lizard, Dog. Dog hasn’t eaten since he got him. We see a clip of him acquiring the lizard. In his interview, he calls Dog the newest member of the Schwartz family. He puts Dog on Stassi’s shoulder, and Stassi suggests Dog stay with her a while. She can breathe life into him. Katie says Tom was trying to make himself seem woke at the party, and Stassi says he really came at Brittany. He said she and Jax got rid of the pastor because of Lisa, not because they personally felt that way. Katie says, Brittany was sitting there sobbing.
11 days until the wedding. Brittany goes over the seating chart, and Jax says Tom is no longer in the bridal party. He hasn’t heard from Tom in four days, and if he was concerned, he would have called or texted. In Jax’s interview, he says he and Tom have been at odds for a while. Tom stopped responding to his texts, and didn’t come to his LA bachelor party. This time, he crossed the line. Jax tells Brittany, he doesn’t know if Tom is even invited to the wedding, but he’s definitely not in the wedding party. Jax isn’t mad about it. He’s going to stop at SUR before dinner, and if Tom admits he handled it wrong, he’ll be invited.
In Tom’s interview, he says the person he loves, Ariana, is bisexual, and the pastor was speaking out against the love of his life. He has questions, and he doesn’t think if he and Ariana were in the same position, Ariana’s answer would be to hit him. In Ariana’s interview, she says, Brittany’s approach was to tell Jax to knock Tom out. Brittany might say she’s living her version of a real life fairytale, but she doesn’t know any fairytales where the princess encourages the price to commit aggravated assault. Jax asks Brittany what she’s doing about Ariana, and Brittany thinks Ariana should come to her. In her interview, Brittany says there’s no way she wouldn’t have reached out by now. She respects their friendship more than Ariana does. She tells Jax, they’re supposed to be making wedding plans, and they’re only talking about Ariana and Tom. She wants to focus on the wedding, but she would never do that to somebody.
In Lala’s interview, she says she’s engaged to her soulmate Randall. He’s kind and generous, and on a daily basis, makes her feel like she’s the best person on the face of the earth. She tells Randall, this is their first and last home renovation. Randall says they’ll be there a long time. He tells her that she should move in already, and she agrees, but wants to finish the master bedroom first. In her interview, Lala says they gutted the entire house. She’s never doing this again. You couldn’t pay her. Randall says they’re close, and Lala says if they ever decide to move, they’re doing what Jax and Brittany did; a turnkey. He says Jax has been texting him non-stop. He thinks they get along because he’s closest to Jax’s age. They have fun and laugh together. Lala says it sounds like a girlfriend, and Randall says Jax was upset about what Tom said, and Lala says, it was effing bad. She doesn’t see it going away any time soon, unless Tom deeply apologizes, and he’s incapable of that. Randall says, they’re best friends; they’ll work it out. Lala says they’ll find out tonight.
Brett goes to Villa Rosa, and Lisa says he’s going to hate her, but her foot still hurts. He says she’s wearing heels, and she says her leg would have to be broken for her not to. She invites Brett in, and asks if he wants some tea. In Brett’s interview, he says when he goes to train Lisa, sometimes they don’t train. He’d cool with that, as long as he gets paid. If he gets his hourly rate, he’ll do whatever she wants. A producer says, whatever? and he says he shouldn’t say it that way. She asks if Brett is working tonight, and he says he’s working Charli, one of the new girls at SUR. In his interview, he says he and Charli have gone out a couple of times. He likes brunettes. Lisa wonders if he can’t date outside of her businesses. He tells Lisa that Scheana makes you coddle her, and he doesn’t have those feelings. Friends is where it ends. Lisa says, Scheana only hears what she wants to hear.
Schwartz and Katie hang out at TomTom. Schwartz says he’s hurt; he was the last person to find out that Max and Dayna are exclusive. At SUR, Dayna tells Raquel that she and Max are exclusive. He brought it up and she was caught off-guard. She didn’t know they were there yet. Max wonders what exclusive really means, and Schwartz says, it’s not putting your wiener in other vaginas. In Max’s interview, he says it’s basically making someone a priority. You care about them, and they’re your plus one. He thinks Dayna might be taking it more seriously, which is okay. He tells Schwartz, he loves Dayna, but he also loves single Max.
Tom is working behind the SUR bar with Ariana, when Jax asks to talk to him outside before they get busy. They go out back, and Tom asks, what’s up? Jax asks if Tom has anything to tell him. Does he have anything to say after what happened, like, I’m sorry or it was wrong of me? Anything like that? He and Brittany found out their pastor lied, and they took care of it. Problem solved. In Tom’s interview, he says he’s glad Lisa said something, but leading up to this point, Jax and Brittany were intentionally ignoring it. Tom says, in the past… and Jax says, now it starts. Tom says, the only people who don’t like the past brought up are hypocrites and people with bad credit. I wonder where on earth he got that one from. In Jax’s interview, he says Tom will never tuck his tail. He’ll never apologize without a but. Jax asks Tom if it’s worth it in the big picture, to see his best friend upset on his wedding day. Tom says that’s why he brought it up at the party. Jax says it seemed like a dig, if not sabotage. Why can’t Tom just say he’s sorry? He was waiting for a text. All Tom would have had to say is sorry, and it would have been done. he doesn’t understand why Tom is putting him in this position on the one day that’s his. In Tom’s interview, he says, it feels like it’s been Jax’s day for over a year. Tom tells Jax, if he wants friends who never question him, and always agree with him, that’s never going to be him. Jax says the only person he has a problem with is Tom, and he won’t have that at his own wedding. He can’t believe it’s a week and a half before, but he can’t have his wedding upset because of Tom. In his interview, Tom says Jax thinks he’s making him feel small, but he doesn’t know what else he could have done. Jax tells Tom, he said what had to say. He says, have a good one, and leaves.
Brett asks Charli how the night is going, and if she wants to have dinner with him. In Charli’s interview, she says Brett is nothing like the guys she’s dated, who she likes to call rough boys. But a millionaire she met once told her to say yes to everything once. It keeps people guessing about the second and third time. She says she’ll check her calendar, but thinks she can squeeze him in.
Randall and Lala meet Jax and Brittany for dinner. Jax and Brittany get to the restaurant first, and Jax tells Brittany that he’s been burned by Tom multiple times. Tom has burned multiple bridges. Lala and Randall join them, and Jax says he needs tequila asap. Randall says, Jax came in hot, and Jax says he went to SUR. Tom is no longer in the wedding party. He’s not even inviting Tom. All Tom had to do was text. He knew Jax was upset about it, but he wants to be an investigator, and figure out the issue. He should figure out his girlfriend’s issue, like what sex she is, since it changes every day. Brittany says she’s okay with being asked a question, but it was the way he did it. Jax tells her to stop making excuses; she’s spinning things. She says, despite that, whatever Jax’s decision was, she was always going to support it. He and Tom have been friends for twenty years. Randall says, at the end of the day, it’s their wedding. They have to clear their heads. Randall goes to the bathroom (after asking Lala if it’s okay – she has him well trained). Brittany asks what Lala would do about Ariana, and Lala says she thinks Ariana is a wet blanket. She wouldn’t want Ariana at her wedding. In Lala’s interview, she says, there are two versions of Ariana; the fun chick, twerking on you, and on the other side, the one who’s not happy for her friends. We flash back to both. She says, Ariana and Tom live on their high horse together, when they all want to cut both of them. Jax says he’d originally wanted to have Randall in the wedding, but thought he’d be in production. Randall comes back, and Jax says he could not have been more wrong about somebody in his life if he tried. In Jax’s interview, he says, Randall is a giver. He’s flown them everywhere, and they became friends naturally. Jax says he has something to ask Randall, and gets down on one knee. He asks if Randall will do him the honor of being in the wedding. He knows it’s last minute. Randall says he’s speechless, and in shock. He loves Jax. 100%, he’ll be there, Brittany squeals, and Randall and Jax hug.
At TomTom, Beau asks how Tom is feeling, and Tom says he’s chilling. He talked to Jax, and it didn’t go well. He needs to talk to Schwartz real quick. He leaves, and Katie asks, what happened? Ariana says, Jax came in heated, and now Tom isn’t invited to the wedding. In Katie’s interview, she says it’s Jax’s wedding, and he can cry if he wants too, but she thinks he took it too far. At the bar, Tom tells Schwartz about not being invited to the wedding. Beau asks Ariana if she’s still going, but she doesn’t know. She wants to see them married and happy, but doesn’t know if she’ll be comfortable without Tom. In her interview, Ariana says she feels like it would be an admission it’s okay that Tom’s not there. If she stays in LA, she’s not there to support Brittany, and gets the wrath of the hot one (I guess she means Kristen?). Either way, she’s screwed. Ariana says she’s not telling Tom to claw his way back in. Schwartz asks Tom why he doesn’t reach out and say the timing was off. Tom says, somebody turned a blind eye to it, because he wants to make his point more than anything. Schwartz says he came at it accusatory; his tactics aren’t good. Tom agrees he’s not perfect, and he screwed up. Schwartz says he’s devastated. They’re getting the tuxes tomorrow, and it won’t feel right without Tom. He feels like he should make a case, but Tom says, it’s not worth it. Schwartz says, don’t say that again, and Tom says, just be the best man. Schwartz says he doesn’t know how, and Tom says he’ll show Schwartz. Schwartz cries, and I roll my eyes. Then Tom cries, and I roll my eyes harder. Tom says he’ll hook Schwartz up with a survival kit for the wedding. Wear it, and Tom will be there in spirit. Schwartz says, it doesn’t feel right. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he remembers how special it was to have Jax and Tom up there with him at his own wedding. To think that Tom isn’t going to be there… He feels gutted. He says he doesn’t know how to tie a bow tie, and Tom says he’ll tie them. Tom says he loves Schwartz and Jax. Schwartz says Tom is the best, even though sometimes his tactics are wrong. He feels terrible.
Scheana calls Brett from the car. She says she was getting ingredients for making enchiladas, and asks what he’s doing tonight. He says he has a date with Charli, and Scheana says they’re friends. It’s weird, since Brett had said he’s not attracted to her, and she does her makeup bad. Brett says Scheana is putting words in his mouth, and she says she thinks he and Charli would be better as friends. Charli is a lot younger, and he should date someone more mature, not like an adorable club rat. In Scheana’s interview, she says she can’t see them together. Physically, but not personality wise. Brett says he’d like to get to know Charli better, and Scheana says they’re all getting to know each other. I wonder who Scheana thinks she’s kidding, besides herself. She’s so transparent about being jealous.
10 days until the wedding. The guys in the wedding party, sans nuRandall, stop by Jax’s house. Jax tells Brittany, they got their suits. In Jax’s interview, he says he got to choose the suits, but not really. Brittany gave him two options, and said she didn’t like one of them. Ariana comes by, and tells the guys, it’s her birthday on Friday, and everyone is invited. She goes upstairs with Brittany, who thanks her for coming, and they sit in the bedroom. In Brittany’s interview, she says she likes Ariana, but sometimes she puts up a wall. She doesn’t want Ariana to drift away. Brittany says there was a lot of drama and it hurt her feelings that no one reached out. Ariana says she wanted Jax to hit Tom. Brittany says she was upset. Tom knows who they are. Ariana says he knows their hearts, but he was horrified by what the guy was saying. He was afraid the guy would be at the wedding if it didn’t come back up. Brittany says they would have gotten rid of him months ago if she had seen it. In Ariana’s interview, she says she believes Brittany, but thinks Brittany works hard at maintaining her ignorance. Brittany says it was blown out of proportion, but she was feeling hurt. Downstairs, Schwartz tells Jax that Tom was crying. Jax says, Tom cries if it’s sunny outside and there’s a dog. Schwartz asks if Jax is sure he wants Tom disinvited? Jax says Randall is standing in for him. In his interview, Schwartz says, it’s so final now. I’m laughing because both Tom and Schwartz thought Schwartz would automatically go up a notch. Brittany asks what Ariana is thinking, and Ariana says she’d like to be there for Brittany, but it will be so weird and uncomfortable. Brittany says she would hope, as a friend, Ariana would come. Ariana is a bridesmaid, not just a guest; it’s a big deal. In her interview, Ariana says she deals with mental health issues, and it doesn’t help that her friends are creating more stress. Brittany says it’s tearing her up inside. She needs to know soon, so she doesn’t stress about it.
Charli meets Brett at a really empty restaurant, and they get smoothies. In her interview, Charli, who’s Mexican, calls them white people sh*t. She tells Brett that she just tried an avocado, and she’s never had pasta. In Brett’s interview, he says he’s Italian, and they eat pasta with a spoon. She finds out he was born in New Jersey, and asks if he goes back a lot. He says he’s only been in LA two months. He always wanted to live there. He left after a five-year relationship ended. It was the only relationship he’s had. In Charli’s interview, she says, any guy who brings his ex up on a first date – bye. Get over it, bro. She asks what he looks for in a girl, and he says, when you look at someone, and feel like you’re home; genuinity (which is not a word). He tells her that Scheana called him, and was mad that they were having lunch, and said she didn’t know who Charli was. Charli says she doesn’t take someone’s guy.
Brittany and Jax go to Villa Rosa. Jax says he’s usually not called to the principal’s office. Puffy! Lisa comes in, and says she has to make it brief, but wanted to talk about a couple of things. She knows the pastor thing got complicated, but she wants them to promise to focus on their wedding. The second thing. She doesn’t think she can come to their wedding. She starts to cry, and says her mother died. Brittany says she’s so sorry. In Lisa’s interview, she says her mother suddenly passing is a shock. She doesn’t think anyone was prepared. She just lost her brother, and to lose her mother like that… She tells Brittany and Jax that she has to go to London. It was unexpected, and no one else knows. She tells them to get their priorities straight; life is short. Don’t worry about what anyone said. Jax hugs her, and in his interview, he says he feels awful. Losing a parent is the worst thing you can go through in your entire life. Brittany says she’s so sorry, and thanks Lisa for being so supportive. Outside, Jax says he has nothing to say. The little things aren’t worth it. He took care of a family member and a best friend. What next?
Schwartz schmoozes at TomTom. At SUR, Dayna calls Max, and asks if he can hang out. he says he’s going to be there until 3 or 4. He can come over after. She says, it sounds like a booty call. She thinks she’ll pass. It’s nothing scary. In her interview, she says Max isn’t prioritizing her like she expected. It feels like once he put it out there that they have a relationship, it sent things in the other direction. Tom tells Schwartz he thinks Lisa could use a vacation, and Schwartz says he thinks Tom can use one. Randall is standing in his place. In Tom’s interview, he says he’s known Jax 20 years, and Jax has known Randall for five minutes. It hurts. Jax’s dad passed away last year, this year he’s getting married, and next year, Brittany will be pregnant. He’s tired of walking on eggshells, while Jax does what he wants. Schwartz says Jax can be a pain in the ass, but he wishes Tom had just killed it.
Ariana hangs out at TomTom with Lala and Stassi. Lala asks, what’s going on with the wedding? and Stassi says, even if they’re not getting along, Tom deserves to be there. Lala says, it’s a big deal to ask someone to be in a wedding. Stassi wishes Ariana and Tom would just roll over and say, sorry. In Ariana’s interview, she says her friends are more concerned with what she’s supposed to do than the personal dilemma she’s faced with. Stassi says they’re like a dysfunctional family, and she doesn’t like when another family member doesn’t want to be a part of the family. Lala says it doesn’t seem like Ariana enjoys being with them. Ariana says she doesn’t enjoy much. On the way home, she often considers driving off a bridge, but she doesn’t talk about it. She doesn’t want to be a downer. We flash back to several times when Ariana’s been called a downer. Stassi says she’s been there, and in her interview, says she’s struggled with depression and anxiety. She was at a place in a hole where she didn’t want to live, when there was nothing that should have been making her feel that low. And you can’t really explain it. In Lala’s interview, she says it breaks her heart. She gets it; she’s been there. We flash back to when her dad died. She says she had no idea these were Ariana’s thoughts, or she would have done something. Lala thinks Ariana should talk about it, and Ariana says she’s so miserable, she would probably ruin the wedding. She’s emotionally unstable. Lala says it’s a bigger deal than she was thinking. Talk to her. Ariana says she doesn’t want to be a victim or a martyr.
Tom sends a text to Jax, saying he’s sad he won’t be there on Jax’s big day. Ariana sits with him. She’s crying, and says she doesn’t want to seem mean, but people tell her it’s a safe space and to talk to them, but she doesn’t think they’re safe to talk to. He says, talk to him, and she tells him, they said they should just roll over do what Jax and Brittany want. She can’t do this anymore. In her interview, she says she feels like she’s outside herself. Tom shows her the text he sent Jax, and reads that he’s sorry it’s so close to the wedding, and he hates seeing Jax upset. Ariana says she just wants to get in a car, drive away, and never come back. Never see anyone, and start a new life. Tom says he knows, and she says he doesn’t know. (I hate when people say that, or I understand, when it’s obviously not possible.) She says she wants to leave her life. In Tom’s interview, he says he’s seen her this low before, but it’s very rare. it weighs on him a lot because he loves her and wants to see her happy. He does what he can, but he feels powerless sometimes. Ariana says her friends don’t care who she is as a person; they don’t see her. People think she’s cold as effing hell. He says he sees her, and wouldn’t have her any other way.
Next time, the wedding weekend, Charli argues with Brett, Raquel tells the girls that she got a million texts from James, and James threatens to leave. Now there’s a great loss.
🥂 Let’s Hope So…
If there was any more, my eyeballs would have fallen out of my head.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the hospital, Nikolas approaches Elizabeth, but Ava comes out of the elevator, intercepting him. She says, a happy coincidence, and he asks if she’s following him. She says, he wishes. The sight of him brightens her day. She hugs him, and says, rest assured she treasures every moment they’re apart. He asks why she’s there, and she says, Franco had an opening, so she’s going to sit for her portrait. And him? He says he’s seeing his mother, and Ava says to give Laura her best. Nikolas says Laura opposed the marriage. The less he mentions Ava, the better. She says she thought they agreed to show the public that they’re a loving couple, and he says they did, but he had no idea how demoralizing it would be. He goes to the reception desk, and Elizabeth asks how she can help him. He asks if she’s seen his mother; she’s not in her room. Elizabeth thinks Laura is getting her final round of tests before she’s discharged. She starts to walk away, but Nikolas asks her to wait. He needs her help.
Willow gets ready to leave for work, and Chase startles her. He asks if she wants to join him for breakfast at Kelly’s. She thanks him, but says she has to get to work. He’s surprised she’s going in today, and she says, why wouldn’t she? The world doesn’t stop because something terrible happened to her. He suggests she call in sick; she’s recovering from a head injury. She says she wouldn’t have been discharged if she wasn’t fine, but he says she’s not fine. She needs time for herself. She’s going through a lot. She says she has to keep busy, or she’ll cry all day because her baby is dead.
Julian goes in to see Brad, and Brad asks if Wiley is okay. Nelle was in the cell across from him, but she wouldn’t tell him what happened. Did she hurt Wiley? Julian says, Wiley is fine; he’s with Michael. Brad asks, what about Lucas? and Julian says Lucas won’t return his calls or texts. Brad wonders if Lucas is still at Carly’s, and Julian says he wouldn’t know. Sonny kicked him out. Brad says he tried to protect Lucas, and it backfired, but he loves Lucas so much. He asks why Julian is there, and Julian says he wanted to thank Brad for not telling Lucas that he knew. He can help Lucas get through this. Brad tells him not to kid himself. He can still blow Julian’s cover.
Sitting in Sonny’s kitchen, Jason tells Sonny, nothing yet. He’s doubled down on security on all of their properties. Carly comes in, and asks if they were ever going to tell her. The police are calling the warehouse explosion suspicious. Jason asks how Michael is, and she says it’s his first day as Wiley’s dad, and he’s sent about thirty pictures. Sonny is glad Michael got his son back, but he should have never lost time with him. Brad and Nelle are going to pay for that.
Michael tells Wiley, he thinks they’re off to a good start. Breakfast went smoothly. He says he loves Wiley so much. He’s going to do the best he can to be the best dad. Monica comes in, and says she didn’t know Michael had Wiley today. Michael says he’s going to have Wiley for a while. It turns out Wiley’s not his godson. Wiley is his son.
Nikolas tells Elizabeth, he’s at a loss. Spencer won’t answer his calls, so he emailed. Spencer wrote him back. He takes out a letter, and reads, don’t contact me again. Any further correspondence is pointless. Spencer writes, his father died three years ago. He mourned being an orphan, but realizes how lucky he is. Nikolas says, it’s on stationery. Who still writes letters? She says, people like Spencer. He says he misses Spencer, and Elizabeth says Spencer seems like he’s done with Nikolas, but don’t give up hope. Not yet.
Franco finds Ava watching Nikolas and Elizabeth, and says, all set? She says, just a moment. She asks Franco what her husband and Elizabeth are doing, and he says he doesn’t know. She suggests he go over and find out. Show Nikolas who’s boss. He says, it’s not a good day to punch someone’s lights out. She says, what about tomorrow? and he says Elizabeth told him that she can handle Nikolas all on her own.
Brad says Julian didn’t come there to thank him. He’s covering his own ass, and keeping himself safe. Don’t get used to it. Julian asks if that’s a threat, and Brad wonders what Sonny would do if he found out Julian helped keep Wiley from Michael. Julian knows it’s hard on Brad, but says Brad asked him to help. Brad says he was just keeping his family together, and now he’s stuck by himself, paying the price. He lost everything. Julian says, that’s on Brad. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and had to tell Lucas the truth on Thanksgiving. Brad is the reason the plan fell apart.
Monica says, what an ordeal, and Michael says he and Chase found Nelle before she could leave with Wiley. Monica tells Wiley that he had an eventful night, and Michael says, it turned out all right. Monica says she’s thrilled for him, and the fact there’s another Quartermaine in the family. She doesn’t mean to suggest a name change, but Michael says he wouldn’t mind. She asks how he’s feeling. It must be overwhelming. He says he’s exhausted. He didn’t sleep; he was up every hour checking on Wiley. It feels like a dream. She says, it’s real, and Michael says he got a miracle, but not everybody was so fortunate.
Chase asks what Willow is looking for, and she says her ID badge. He asks if she checked her purse, and she says, twice. She can’t believe she lost it. She dumps her purse out, saying she can’t be late. He says they should talk, and she says she knows he wants to help. His support meant the world to her, but he can’t hold her hand forever. He says, why not? and she says he doesn’t get it. She needs to keep busy, and going to work will help. He asks if she’s sure she’s in the right mindset to be around kids, and she says, what? He says, that came out wrong. She’s always telling him that kids pick up on emotions. Does she want to bring everything she’s feeling to the kids she works with?
Carly says she wanted to see Lucas, but her mom just texted that Lucas wants to be left alone. She wishes he’d let his family help. Sonny says, if he wants space, give him space. He’ll just try to convince Carly that he’s okay to make her feel better. Carly guesses she’ll stay there, and wait for him to ask for help. She asks if she can get them anything, but Jason says he’s on his way out to see Michael and his son. Carly loves the sound of that, and Sonny says Michael brought Wiley over last night. Whatever was broken inside of him, seems healed. Jason can’t wait see that, and says he’s heading over there right now. He leaves, and Sonny asks Carly if she’s okay. She says, yeah, but he says she’s not very convincing. She says she’s overjoyed that Michael got his son back, but it’s killing her that her brother lost his son. All because of Nelle. She’s determined to destroy their family. She gaslit Carly, and had her sent away. She nearly killed Michael, and kept him from their grandson for almost two years. Sonny says, Nelle is heading back prison, and Michael has his son back. Nelle lost; they won. Carly says, she’s in custody, and she’s weaseled out of prison before. Someone has to stop Nelle for good.
Franco suggests he and Ava brainstorm. He wants her to share her feelings. Does she want to go Mona Lisa? Ava says, too conservative, and he says, The Birth of Venus, but she says, a little too naked. He says she doesn’t want her new husband to have a heart attack, unless that’s what she’s going for. He asks how the marriage is going, and she says, it’s functional. He says, it sounds like a transaction rather than a marriage. She says, if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck… He hopes whatever she’s after is worth living with the dark prince. She says, it’s not so bad. Elizabeth found it in her heart to forgive Nikolas. Franco says, that’s who she is, and Ava says she understands Elizabeth and Nikolas were close once upon a time. Franco says, Elizabeth felt it was the biggest mistake of her life, and not just because she was married to Lucky. Ava says, Elizabeth and Nikolas had an affair?
Elizabeth tells Nikolas, Spencer is just a teenager; however, he has every right to be furious. Give him some space, and see what happens. He says Ava told him the same thing, and Elizabeth says Nikolas talked to her about Spencer? He says they had time to kill on the way back from Paris. It got her to open up about Kiki’s death. Elizabeth says it was shocking and senseless, and Nikolas asks if Kiki and Elizabeth were close. She says they got to be while Kiki was working there, but she knew Kiki first through Franco. Nikolas says he vaguely remembers that Franco thought he was Kiki’s father, but it turned out to be Silas. Elizabeth says, Franco and Ava had a brief affair when Franco was starting to make a name for himself, but they weren’t together when Kiki was born, and weren’t speaking. He says, now, Ava is representing Franco professionally, and he’s painting her. He guesses time really does heal all wounds.
Jason walks into the Quartermaine living room, and Monica asks if he heard. He says he did, and she says, Michael’s son is home where he belongs. Jason says, fatherhood looks good on him, and Michael says he’s seesawing between excitement and terror. Monica says, that sounds about right, and asks if Jason can stay a while; she needs to freshen up. He says he’ll stick around, and when she’s gone, Michael says, not to change the subject, but he got an alert about the warehouse fire. Jason says, there’s nothing to worry about, and Michael says he’s glad, especially now that he has even more reason to keep his family safe.
Carly tells Sonny, what Brad did was unforgiveable, but he was following Nelle’s lead. He’s weak that way. Nelle was the mastermind. Sonny has no doubt, and she asks what they’re doing about it. He says it didn’t happen to them, but she says Nelle let them believe their grandson was dead. He says, it’s about Michael’s son, and he’s a grown man. It’s up to him. She says, Michael will never retaliate in any real way that makes a difference. They have to make the decision for him. it’s time they remove that psychotic bitch from their lives once and for all.
Willow says she’ll tell her students the truth. She lost someone she cares about, and misses them, and it helps her to focus on her students. Chase suggests she take a personal day, but she says she can’t. She shouldn’t even be around him. It’s hard to keep herself from screaming, she’s so angry. He says, ofcourse (🍷) she is, and she asks why God took her little boy. Why does Nelle get to be a mother when all she does is hurt people? He says, it’s not fair, and Willow says, it’s not. Michael deserves to have his son back, and she’s happy for him. Chase says she doesn’t have to be; not now when it’s so raw. Curse, cry, do whatever she needs to. She says she doesn’t know what she needs to do. It’s all she can do to keep from screaming. He says he’ll scream with her. He loves her. He loves everything about her, even her anger. He’s angry too, that she has to go through this, but let him help. She says, if he wants to help, give her some space, and she leaves.
Brad tells Julian that he wanted to be honest with Lucas. He thought they could work through it, and eventually Lucas would forgive him. It’s not possible now. Julian says Brad has no one to blame but himself. Brad says Julian is probably grateful for the accident. Their car crashed before he could tell Lucas that Julian was in on it. Julian says it was the worst day of his life. Lucas never should have been in the car in the first place. Brad asks what Julian means.
Nikolas wonders what drew Franco and Ava together. Physical attraction? The artist and his muse? Elizabeth asks if he’s jealous, but he says, not in the slightest. She says, good. Whatever happened in the past, they’re just friends. Nikolas hopes he and Elizabeth can be friends, but she suggests they not get ahead of themselves. He says he feels lucky Elizabeth is speaking to him, and she says, that’s only because of Spencer. He appreciates her compassion for his son, and she tells him, don’t act like the Nikolas she remembers. The one who acts with thoughtful consideration. It almost makes her forget how angry she is with him. Almost.
Franco tells Ava, lighten up. If he draws her all moody and broody, they’ll think she’s Helena. She says she’s surprised to hear Nikolas and Elizabeth had an affair. She’s only heard about Nikolas’s great love Emily. She says she’s curious about what happened. Was it puppy love, or something more? He says he’s going to draw warts on her if she keeps it up. If she’s that curious, consult her loving husband. She says maybe she will. Who someone chooses to sleep with says lot about that person. He says, fascinating theory, and tells her, chin up; to the right.
Jason says Michael and Wiley always looked alike, but now the resemblance jumps out. Michael says he’s still in shock. Wiley laughs, and Jason says Wiley is lucky to have Michael as a dad. Michael says, before Brad confessed, Wiley had his own world. He had his home and two dads. Now Wiley’s just got him. Wiley has spent plenty of time there, but now he lives there. It’s got to be confusing. Jason says, he’ll adjust, just like Michael will, but it might take Wiley a while to realize he’s home. Michael says, Wiley has already been through so much. What if he can’t be the father Wiley needs? What if he’s not enough?
Brad asks what Julian means by Lucas shouldn’t have been in the car. Julian says neither one of them should have been hurt; it was a freak accident. Brad says they still don’t know why the brakes gave out, and Julian says, there was no way to know; the undercarriage was too badly damaged. His point is, it’s just beginning for Lucas. He’s going to need the support of his father to get through it. Brad says Julian should tell Lucas he was keeping the secret, and let Lucas decide. Julian says he knows Brad was protecting him because Lucas will need help after losing Wiley. Brad says, so Julian and Nelle walk, while he’s left twisting in the wind. Nelle went into victim mode, telling the guard that he was harassing her. She said Brad stole her baby after she gave birth, and she had no clue the babies had been switched. Not only did she lie, it’s a complete reversal. It was her idea in the first place. Julian says, Nelle isn’t just a psychopath; she knows how to protect herself. If Brad does as Julian says, Julian will protect him, but they need to work together on this.
Nikolas says when Elizabeth is ready, they’ll get back in a good place. It will take a while, but she might forget what a jackass he is. She says, it will help if he doesn’t do anything to remind her. She’s sure his mom’s tests must be ready by now, and Nikolas goes off to find Laura. Chase runs in, and asks if Elizabeth has seen Willow. She asks if he checked the children’s wing, but he says he went there first. Elizabeth says she’ll check the schedule, and says, Willow called in sick. He asks, when? but she says, it doesn’t say. She asks if something is wrong, and he says, Willow just lost someone precious to her.
Willow goes to the cemetery. She keels by the baby’s grave, and brushes snow off the headstone. She says, hi. She should have visited long before now, but she didn’t know he was there. She says, it’s your mom; I’m right here.
Carly tells Sonny, Nelle denied them their grandson. She’ll keep using Wiley against Michael if she’s not stopped. Sonny says she’s the worst user in the world, and he wishes Michael had never met her, but he did. Now she’s Wiley’s mother, and however Michael wants to deal with it, they can’t interfere.
Jason says he had a big advantage with Michael. He had zero experience with babies, so he had no expectations, and followed Michael’s lead in letting him know what he needed. His advice is for Michael is to let everyone help. Michael says when he couldn’t sleep, he looked up kids and memories online. Wiley probably won’t have conscious memories of what happened, but he’s bound to feel the absence. What about when he’s older? How much does Michael tell him? Jason says, it’s up to Michael. Tell Wiley the truth when he feels Wiley is ready. Michael is in control. Michael went through a lot of chaos when he was a kid, and knows what Wiley is dealing with more than anybody. Michael says, but he’s facing what Jason didn’t have to. Nelle as Wiley’s mother. He doesn’t want her anywhere near his son.
Brad says Julian got what he wanted; Brad is out of Lucas’s life for good. He can take his empty promises, and get the hell out. Julian asks if he’s sure. When he walks out, the deal is off the table. Brad asks, what deal? and Julian says, if Brad keeps his mouth shut about his part in this, he’ll make sure Brad walks out.
Ava tells Franco, she’s proud of them, remaining close like Elizabeth and Nikolas. She understands better now why Elizabeth forgave Nikolas. They have a rich past history. Franco asks what she’s doing, and she tells him, she’s just saying that once you share an intimate connection, it binds you forever. Whether it’s a sweet one night stand or a passionate love affair, when you see the person, you get a spark. I’d say that’s debatable, but Franco asks again what she’s doing, and she says, contemplating the human condition. Posing for a petulant artist is giving her time to conjure deep thoughts. He says she acts like she’s been there for hours, and she wonders, why after all these years, he’s never painted her. He says, because she’s impatient, and she says maybe the time would go faster if he was better company. He says, she didn’t just insult the person who’s painting her. Nikolas watches through the window.
Brad tells Julian that he’s listening. Julian says Brad has a chance to dodge this conviction. He’ll hire the best defense attorney money can buy, and Brad can beat the charge. Brad says, in exchange for…? Julian says, his continued silence. So do they have a deal?
Jason asks Michael what he and Chase found, and Michael says, Willow was unconscious. Jason says, a felony assault, and Michael says, Nelle was headed out the door with Wiley. She had plane tickets and fake IDs. Jason says, that’s kidnapping. Nelle isn’t going anywhere but back to Pentenville. Michael doesn’t think Nelle is going away that easy, and Jason says, she can always be dealt with. Monica returns, and says, three generations of Quartermaines has to be documented. She takes a picture of Jason, Michael, and Wiley, and Jason says he’ll take one of her. They sit on the sofa, and Monica says she wants to remember this forever. Jason takes a picture, and asks how he did. Monica says, good. She loves it. She shows her phone to Wiley. Who immediately deletes all of her pictures. Just kidding.
Willow doesn’t know what to say. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to die before her. She cries, and says she gave him up because she wanted him to have a better life. She wanted him to have a family who would give him all the love, support, and opportunities he deserved, but he didn’t get any of those things. He died the day Brad brought him home, and she’ll never know what would have happened if she’d kept him with her.
Nikolas goes into Franco’s studio, and says, there’s his beautiful wife. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says, being a devoted husband. She tells him, save his charm. Franco knows. Franco says, they despise each other, and are in it for the money. Their secret is safe with him. Nikolas says, somehow, he doesn’t find that comforting. The reason he interrupted is to remind Ava about dinner tonight. She says, networking for Cassadine Industries; she wouldn’t miss it for the world. Nikolas says, happy sketching, and leaves. Franco and Ava laugh, and Franco says, it’s like they’re in the park and he’s making her into a cartoon. He doesn’t know how Ava puts up with Nikolas, and she says, eyes on the prize. When Nikolas breaks the terms of their contract, she’ll have all of the money with none of the ball and chain. And he will break them. He won’t be able to stop himself. Franco asks, how? and she says that’s for her to know, and her husband to find out. In the hallway, Nikolas says his turn is coming.
Julian asks if they have a deal, and Brad says he’s not feeling there’s an alternative option. Julian says, yes or no, and Brad says they have a deal. Julian says he can’t guarantee anything, but Brad says he can. If Julian’s lawyer fails, he’ll bring Julian down with him.
Willow says, she hopes he was asleep when it happened. She hopes there was no pain. She sobs, and says she’s so sorry. She is so, so sorry. Elizabeth approaches, and says she didn’t mean to startle Willow. Willow asks what she’s doing there. Elizabeth squats next to her, and says Chase was looking for her. He told her about the baby. She’s sorry for Willow’s loss. Willow says, Brad put him down in his crib, and when he came back, her son wasn’t breathing. He was all alone. Elizabeth puts her arm around Willow, and says she’s not alone. Willow cries.
Michael tells Jason, it feels right, like it always should have been this way. He should have known better. Things didn’t add up. Jason tells him not to be hard on himself, but Michael says he knows with Nelle, nothing is what it seems. There’s always an agenda. Jason says, don’t worry about Nelle. Wiley is Michael’s and no one is going to take him away. He’ll handle Nelle.
Sonny asks what Carly is thinking. Can’t she let go, and be happy that Michael has his son and they have their grandson? She says, Nelle has beat the system before, and Sonny says, and she got caught. No one is going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Carly says she’s thrilled and relieved, and Sonny says, if the justice system does it’s job, Nelle will be sent back. Carly says, agreed, but that’s a big if.
Tomorrow, Ned tells Brook the free ride stops here, Trina tells Josslyn she’s going to spend more time writing about her life than living it, and Carly says Nelle’s first steps in the sunshine could be her last.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Paget tells Ciara, nothing has been done, and she says he’s only looking at what hasn’t been done, not what has. In his interview, Paget says Ciara has to respect his authority. This is too much. The guests tell Jenna which crew members they’d like to hook up with. Jenna radios Madison, asking her to make coffee. In Madison’s interview, she says she’s worked with stellar chief stews in the past, and the interior was a cohesive unit. Here, she just doesn’t know. Paget asks if he and Ciara are cool. She says they are, but her expression says, I don’t think so.
Parker has anchor watch in the middle of the night, and disturbs Adam’s sleep on his way out of the cabin they share. In Adam’s interview, he says, a sure sign that Parker has never worked on a yacht – slamming doors. Later, he tells Parker about waking him up, and in Parker’s interview, he says he knows Adam has one of the most important jobs on the ship, and Parker doesn’t want to hinder him in any way. Moving forward, he’s going to be quiet as a mouse. Adam says, everyone can take a nap except him. Paget flirts with Georgia, kind of. The guests tell Jenna that they’re ready for breakfast anytime. Captain Glenn says it might be more exciting sailing today than it has been, and tells the crew to make sure all of the cupboards are locked. The sails go up, doors bang, and the boat nearly turns sideways. In her interview, Jenna says she’d never serve breakfast while sailing, but what the guests want, the guests get. Adam says he knows his job is to cook, but it couldn’t be more windy. It’s absolutely ridiculous. He asks the captain if they can pull the sail for forty minutes, and cruise in for breakfast, but the captain says, the guests want to sail. In Captain Glenn’s interview, he says, there was no wind yesterday when the guests wanted to sail, and he can’t pass up the opportunity. Adam doesn’t get to tell him how to sail. Jenna serves breakfast, and the captain says they’re heading back to the dock. They’re sailing upwind, and have to tack their way in. Tacking means to zigzag your way up. Things slide all over the kitchen, and a glass container of something slides off the breakfast table, and crashes to the floor. Jenna calls Parker to clean up the mess on deck, and he suggests they find a nice vacuum cleaner that picks up glass. In Jenna’s interview, she says, Parker has a kind heart, but he doesn’t get it. The number one thing she learned starting out was that you have no opinions. You just shut your mouth, and do your job. She tells Paget that Parker has opinions.
A guest goofs around, sliding across the floor on her ass, and the rest of them laugh. Paget radios Parker, and points out that Parker asked Jenna why they didn’t have a vacuum cleaner in front of the guests when he was sweeping. Parker says, he loves Jenna, and doesn’t want to piss her off. Captain Glenn says they’re going to be backing up, and in his interview, Paget says, a sidewind of more than 15 knots makes it difficult to dock. It’s an expensive boat, and if they hit the dock, it could be hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Paget tells Parker that he’s throwing the wrong line, and Parker freaks out, saying the guy on dock asked for it. Paget says Parker doesn’t throw anything unless he says so. Ciara is having difficulty pulling on another one, and is afraid it will snap. I have the feeling Parker isn’t going to last the season. Captain Glenn asks, what’s happening back there? Paget manages to tie up the line, and the captain says he has no reference, and needs someone to give him the distance. Paget goes to the line Ciara is struggling with, and secures it. Glenn says he can’t see where he is, and he can’t stop because the boat has momentum. In Parker’s interview, he says he threw the line because he thought it was the right thing to do. He just wants to make people happy, and do a good job. It’s tough to know he screwed it up. I’m not so sure yachting is for him.
The crew says goodbye to the guests, and primary Whitney apologizes for their debauchery. She thanks Adam for putting up with their dietary restrictions, and gives Captain Glenn something for their trouble. The captain tells the crew to finish up, and then they’ll have a debriefing. Paget hugs Ciara, and says he was worried about her hands getting caught. In his interview, Paget says they’ve been bickering lately, but he loves her confidence and work ethic. He doesn’t want to say she’s like his mother, but he said it.
Captain Glenn calls the crew to the saloon. He says, the deck had a problem with communication on the dock. Make sure it doesn’t happen again. He tells Jenna that he was impressed with the interior, and Adam was challenged, but he nailed it. The tip is $13500, or $1500 each. Adam was expecting more, and so was I. The captain says there’s still a lot to do, and tells them to power through. Byron hands Jenna a woman’s crew shirt that was in his clothing. In Jenna’s interview, she says, at the bare minimum, she expects a stew to be good at organizing. It’s not rocket science. She tells Georgia, the laundry is a sh*t show. She has to get it together; stuff is not going back properly. Georgia says she has no system to work with, and Jenna says they’ve all been doing everything. In Parker’s interview, he says, the last charter was rough. He wants to make the captain and crew proud, and feels like he let them down. He hopes everybody sees something great about him this charter. The crew gets ready for dinner.
They go to a restaurant, and order a tasting menu. In Jenna’s interview, she says she’s enjoying the casual flirtation between her and Adam. She doesn’t want to eff it up like last time. We flash back to the hot tub fiasco, and she says, no red wine for her. Georgia says Parker has zoned out. She doesn’t like to see his energy level dip like this. He says he doesn’t either, and in her interview, she says she’s trying to get him to cheer up, but it’s not helping. The crew goes outside to drink and check out street food. Adam says chicken fried steak is his favorite thing, but Paget says he’s never had it. Neither have I. In Paget’s interview, he says, it’s nice to go out with the crew, have a drink, and treat each other as friends. He talks with Georgia, and in Ciara’s interview, she says, in between charters is the only time she and Paget get quality couple time. She wants a little attention. Parker apologizes to Madison, and says his vibe has been off. They go back to the boat, but Parker hangs back a little, moping along. In Adam’s interview, he says Jenna is cute, and she makes him laugh, Maybe for the first time, he can get through a charter season without being miserable. Parker tells Madison that he’s tired, but wants to give Adam some space. In Madison’s interview, she says she wants to be there for her bud, and let him be him. They snooze in the crew mess.
In his interview, Parker says, yesterday was tough. He needs to keep being him, and be confident. PositiveParker is back and ready for action. Paget tells Ciara to do something, but she says, if it’s not a priority, she’s not doing it. Georgia tells Madison that Jenna won’t show her how to do anything. In Madison’s interview, she says Jenna doesn’t give two sh*ts about them. She’s been in the same position as third stew, and she’s glad she can be there for Georgia.
The new primary is Sylvia, a single mom with a cleaning service. She’s bringing along her daughter, son-in-law, her two sons and their girlfriends, and her daughter’s one month old daughter. The captain says, obviously, they need to think about safety. They want to do some cliff-jumping, and one couple wants a secluded beach campfire by themselves. There are no dietary restrictions, which thrills Adam. Parker asks Georgia to talk to him while he deals with some chores. She asks about his last relationship, and he says it was two years ago; she’s doing yoga sh*t in Thailand. In his interview, he says parting ways was the hardest. He never believed in love at first sight, but had it with her. It took him a long time to recover. He tells Georgia, if that hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t be there.
Paget tells Parker to cut his conversations short with the guests. In Paget’s interview, he says Parker has a problem with rules and discipline. He has to repeatedly tell him what to do, and it’s becoming a problem. In her interview, Georgia says she’s giving it her best shot, but Jenna nitpicks things that haven’t even happened. She feels it’s a testament to Jenna that she’s not paying attention except in the galley. She doesn’t know what’s happening in her own department. In Jenna’s interview, she thinks Georgia should get her sh*t together, and organize the laundry. It’s not that complicated. Georgia tells herself to harden up, and in her interview, she says she doesn’t like sharing emotions. It gives her more control over the situation. She goes into the bathroom and cries.
An hour before charter, Madison asks if Georgia is okay, and says she appreciates her. Georgia says she’s not an effing moron, and she’s frustrated. In her interview, Madison wonders if Jenna thinks the worker bees are going to think it’s the best job ever when she’s being a d*ck to them. Jenna comes by, and asks if Georgia is okay, and Georgia quickly closes the bathroom door in Jenna’s face. In Jenna’s interview, she says she doesn’t set out to make people cry, but it’s her job to hold them accountable. Suck it up, and do your job. The laundry. Jenna tells Georgia that she doesn’t want to upset her, but she has to do a job as well. Georgia says she’s 100% right; no problem. Jenna moves in to hug Georgia, but Georgia puts her hands up. Captain Glenn tells the crew to change, and they put finishing touches on everything.
The guests board with baby Angelica, and Adam says they have precious cargo this time. In Jenna’s interview, she says, the parents are crazy. How are they taking a vacation when they had a baby one month ago? Take a breather. She gives the guests the tour, and Sylvia’s daughter says there’s been a change in her preferences. She can’t have eggs, dairy, nuts, or coffee. Jenna relays that to Adam, and in his interview, he says, oh my God. He was so close. Madison decorates the table with shells. Parker talks to the guests about where he’s from, and Paget asks if Ciara thinks Parker talks too much to the guests. In Paget’s interview, he says, Parker gets too personal with the them. He needs to cut the conversation short, and continue on. And he’s got to listen to his boss. He calls Parker over, and Byron points out that Parker has a shammy. Parker says he’s supposed to have one at all times. Paget says the guests shouldn’t see it (like it’s Disneyland), and he told Parker about talking to the guests. Parker says the guests talked to him. In his interview, Parker says it’s rude not talk with people who engage with him. It’s what people do.
Adam makes lunch, and Sylvia says she wants a private chef. Adam describes the menu to the guests, competing with the baby wailing her head off. In Byron’s interview, he says seeing the family reminds him of his daughter. Saphira is 14 months old, and the light of their lives. Being a dad is the greatest thing he’s ever done. Bringing a little human being to life, and nurturing and educating them, is a miracle. Captain Glenn points out a beach, asking Paget if he thinks it’s a nice place for a campfire. Jenna asks if Parker will be checking it out, and Parker says, when his superior tells him. Paget says Parker is still not getting it. He told Parker to keep his voice down, and a guest is right there. In Paget’s interview, he says, Parker is really frustrating. He can’t baby Parker for the whole season. He tells Jenna that he already told Parker to keep his voice down. Parker tells Paget that he’s not saying anything negative, but Paget says, the guests don’t need to know who’s who, and he should be aware. In Parker’s interview, he says he’s not perfect. He’s growing and learning, and doing a kick-ass job at being the best Parker he can be. At least he didn’t say he was a work in progress.
Madison gives Georgia some laundry tips, and Georgia thanks Madison for helping her. Byron is informed that there are some guests who would like to see the engine room. In his interview, he says, in the sixteen years he’s been doing this, no one has asked to see the engine room. It’s not like they know what they’re looking at. He could tell them a bullsh*t story that he machine makes diamonds. He has no problem though, if it increases the chances of them getting a better tip. If they want him to dance around naked, he’ll say, okay.Go sit over there.
Three guests go water skiing on the tender. In Jenna’s interview, she says her appendix burst when she was seventeen, and the doctor told her that she was infertile. She thinks she’d be a good mom, but she has satisfaction in other aspects of her life, and made peace with it. In Adam’s interview, he says he dated a single mom who had two little girls, and he played dad. It was fun, but after six or seven months, he learned he didn’t like having screaming little sh*ts around. In the crew mess, Georgia tells Paget that his hairstyle looks nice; it matches the aesthetic of the boat. He says her hairstyle is nice, and matches the head it’s on.
Ciara goes to the beach with Paget to start prepping. Adam says he’s excited about dinner. He’s not sure how he managed to get Japanese Kobe beef out in Greece, but they’re going to love his elevated meat and potatoes dish. On the beach, Paget starts digging a firepit, and Ciara tells him that he’s not digging a grave. In the galley, Jenna tells Adam, the food looks dynamite, and he says she looks dynamite. Byron says, this is a professional environment, and laughs. Dinner is served, and the baby starts crying. Angelica is handed off, and Adam explains the meal while competing once again with her wails.
Paget doesn’t know what’s a bigger pain in the ass; breaking rocks or Ciara telling him where to place them. After four years, you’d think he’d be used to her nagging, but no. Jenna asks Madison why she’s not helping Georgia, and Madison says because she was doing service. In Madison’s interview, she says she’s spreading herself so thin, the whole thing sucks. Jenna tells Adam they have teen ‘tude on the boat. Madison asks if Georgia did the master, but Georgia says she hasn’t; that’s why she’s worried about time. Jenna tells Madison that she’s going to the beach. She’s concerned about the time Georgia is taking. In her interview, Jenna says if they have charter guests who want to go to bed before dinner, and they’re still ironing the sheets, that’s a problem. She tells Georgia to do the master, and Georgia says, f*** me. Jenna goes back downstairs, where Madison is getting her shoes on, and Madison says it would be nice to know where she’s going, but not twenty seconds before she’s leaving. Jenna says at least she’s getting out of turn-down. Jenna tells Adam that it’s taking Georgia two hours to do three cabins. When she told Georgia to do the master, she said f*** me. Adam asks what Jenna is going to do, and Jenna doesn’t know. Georgia will cry again. Adam says, break her down to a pulp. In Georgia’s interview, she says she’s torturing herself trying to do the best she can. F*** you guys. Adam tells Jenna, personally, he’d can her ass, and Jenna says, maybe…
Next time, lots of wind, Georgia leaves laundry undone, Parker asks if Paget thinks he’s undermining him, Jenna admits she really likes Adam, and the boat hits the dock
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
As we left them, Carol and Daryl’s group are trapped in a cave of zombies. They stand on a ledge, the zombies below them reaching up. Alpha stands above them with a torch, and when Carol sees her, she screams. Alpha goes outside, and tells the guard, they don’t get out. She drops the torch.
Magna tries jumping up to the next level, but falls. Luckily, not into the zombies below. Daryl says, it’s too high; she’ll break her neck. The zombies are so noisy, I can barely hear the dialogue. Daryl looks around with a flashlight, and asks if they’re ready. He jumps onto a rock that sticks above the zombie horde. The zombies gather around him, and he jumps to the next one. Carol follows. Zombies clamor around them, but they kick the dead away. Magna is next, and nearly slips. Jerry comes after. Connie tells Kelly to step in the same places she does, and jumps. Aaron says, do it now, and Kelly jumps, but nearly falls. She punches a few zombies in the head, and regains her balance. On the other side, Daryl helps Carol. Aaron makes the leap, and Connie and Kelly cling to each other. A zombie grabs Jerry’s leg, and he cuts its arm off. Daryl begins to climb up. He tells Connie that he needs her stay there, and keep everyone together.
Aaron asks Jerry how he’s doing, and Jerry says, not great. Kelly asks how long Jerry thinks they’ll be there, and Jerry says he doesn’t know, but they’ll get out. He wonders how the zombies got there, and Aaron says, they’re theirs. Carol says she’s a little winded, and Aaron tells the others that Carol is claustrophobic. Magna says, she should have thought of that before, but Aaron says it’s not the time for that. Magna says it seems like they have plenty of it. She asks Carol what she was thinking of, running off by herself. Daryl tells her, they have no time for this sh*t. They got into this mess together, and they’ll get out of it together.
Negan hangs with the Whisperers. Gamma tells Alpha, the enemy is watching them. Beta says they underestimated them, and Alpha says she wants patrols around the camp. She tells Gamma, take a walk around the border. Negan watches everything.
The group stands in a cave of stalactites. Aaron fixes his hand. Kelly asks Connie if she thinks it’s day or night, and Connie signs, try not to think about it. Magna asks Daryl for his matches, telling him that she needs to do something. Daryl gives them to her, and Carol sits next to him. She says she never told him that she was claustrophobic, and he says if he hadn’t known, he wouldn’t have said it. He can’t even turn his back on her anymore. It’s bad enough Negan is with the skin freaks; now he worries about her going off half-cocked every time they go outside. He begged her to talk to him; he wants to be there for her, and doesn’t know what to do anymore. Carol says she can’t stop thinking about it. She has to, but she can’t. She doesn’t just want to kill Alpha; she wants to hurt her. She wants Alpha to beg her forgiveness, and then kill her. Daryl says, if he’d gone through all the sh*t she did, he’d feel the same way – unless she tried to stop him. She has to quit all this. The people they care about are starting to get hurt. Carol says she didn’t mean for any of this to happen. She knows she has to… He says, don’t bullsh*t him. She’s got to promise. He’s got to know they’re on the same page. They’re fighting for a future, not revenge. Carol says she promises, and leans on him.
Magna looks around using the matches as a light. She looks in a hole, the match goes out, and she shouts.
Daryl and Jerry fight off zombies. Daryl tells Magna, let’s go. Magna is concerned they’ll get split up in the dark, and Carol says, stick together. They move forward. Daryl looks inside a crevice.
Back at the Whisperer camp, Negan tells Alpha that he wants to talk to her. She asks, what about? and he says, Gamma. Alpha needs to keep her eyes peeled. Alpha says, there’s a spy in the woods, but he says he has an alternate theory. The spy she’s looking for is in the camp. He’s been where she is, and if she doesn’t want to end up where he is now, he suggests she zig where he zagged. She says they’re very different, and he says he had people, he had a system, and thought they believed in him. Stay king or queen long enough, people will keep telling you your sh*t doesn’t stink, and even you’ll start believing it. The thing is, it still stinks. Based on his personal experience, she should look closer to home. He’s not talking about Frankenstein; he’s talking about Gamma. She’s close enough to Alpha to know where the horde is. She’s guarding the border, and is close enough to the enemy, that they could have gotten to her. Alpha puts her knife between his legs, and pushes it against his crotch; not cutting him, but he’s definitely uncomfortable. She says she won’t have him paranoid, and pushes him to the ground.
The group continues through the cave system. Carol tells Connie, she’ll be fine in a minute. Connie takes her hand, and spells out U R OK on Carol’s palm. Carol joins the others, and one by one, they squeeze through a narrow passageway. It’s a tight squeeze, but they make it through to a thin tunnel where they have to crawl. Aaron asks if Jerry is okay, and Jerry says it’s a hard fit in airplane bathrooms. Why wouldn’t he be okay? Daryl finally pulls himself out, and says, follow his voice. He helps the others as they come through. Carol hyperventilates, and Daryl calls to her. He asks if she’s hurt, and she says she’s okay. He tells her to follow his light, but she says she can’t. He says she can; they’re going to get through this together. She forces herself to move, and he pulls her out. We hear something in the tunnel, and Jerry realizes zombies are crawling up behind him. He tells them, go! and I says, no, not Jerry.
It’s chaotic as they try to move faster. Daryl reaches for them, helping them out. Jerry gets closer, but a zombie keeps pulling at him. He says he’s stuck, and Daryl says, take his hand. He pulls, and two zombies (I guess they’re pretty thin, since they’re wasting away) grab at Jerry’s leg. Jerry takes his gear off, while the zombies tug at him. Daryl finally pulls him out, and stabs the first zombie in the head. Jerry’s shoe is torn up, but Kelly says he wasn’t bitten. Aaron splatters the other zombie’s head.
Magna says, look, and starts moving forward, but Daryl pulls her back. She’s at the edge of a cliff. Daryl creates a makeshift torch, and drops it down. It falls a million miles, and they hear zombies. Apparently, they’re on another ledge, higher up, and basically where they started.
They move on to a more open area, and see that it’s a mine shaft. Kelly tells Connie, they have to be careful. Take out the wrong thing, and the whole thing will collapse.
Obviously jazzed, Alpha wants to talk to Beta. She asks where Gamma is, and Beta says, she never made it to the border. Alpha wants a scout sent out to find her, and Beta wonders if she’s been captured. Alpha says, or she’s a spy. Track her down, and bring her. Beta says if Gamma betrayed Alpha, he’ll kill her, but Alpha says that’s her job.
Daryl tells everyone, find something to dig with. Kelly uncovers a box of dynamite, and brings a stick over to Daryl. Jerry says, really cool, but it’s sweatier than he is. Maybe someone left it because it’s dangerous. He tells her, put it back, very carefully. Kelly places it back in the box, and covers the box back up. Aaron and Magna pull pieces of wood and such out of the way. Aaron says Magna wants to get home in a hurry, and she says she doesn’t want be there any longer than she has to. She didn’t leave things good with Yumiko. Aaron says he’s sorry.
Negan takes bark off tree stump. Alpha walks past, and says, you. He says, looks like mom’s mad at him, and follows. She drops behind him, and tells him, keep walking. He says it feels like some sort of fraternity initiation. Is he getting his skin suit, and learning the secret Whisperer handshake? She tells him, eyes front. She doesn’t want to talk. He says he’s down with that. He just… won’t… talk. After two seconds, he says he’s big enough to admit he’s not good with long uncomfortable silences. She says, stop here. He starts to turn, and she tells him, she said eyes front. He says, sh*t, and she tells him to take off his clothes. He says, she was right. They are different. He made himself into a monster because it’s what the world needed. He takes his clothes off as he talks. He says he built something. He saved people. His name meant something. She tells him, turn around. He says, whoa. She’s naked, and says, he’s a crass man. She reckoned he’d appreciate a crass reward. He says, for what? and she says, the spy. Gamma. It took courage to do what he did. She wants to express her gratitude in a way he understands. Negan asks if she’s just going to leave the mask on, and she asks if her true skin disturbs him. He says, not at all, and they almost kiss. He says, wait. It’s not some sort of praying mantis situation, is it? Where she’s going to cut off his head after. They almost kiss again, and he says, sorry. He can’t help but notice she didn’t say no. It’s been a long time, so he reckons he’ll take his chances. She touches his face, and tells him, stop talking. They kiss. Alrighty then.
Daryl sees daylight, and Kelly looks through a hole in the ceiling. She says, just a little more, and he asks where Carol is. He says, dammit, and turns back.
Carol is wandering around like the nutbar she’s become. She starts to climb up the side of a wall, lights a match, and slips. We hear zombies below. A shadow falls over her. It’s Daryl, who tells her to take his hand. He pulls her up, and asks, what is she doing? She’s going to get herself killed. She says Alpha killed her boy, and he says she’s got to come back with him… please. She slips again.
The ceiling starts falling in, and Aaron tells everyone to move. Connie asks signs to Magna, asking where she’s going, and Magna says she’ll be right back. Someone might be hurt. Connie goes with her. Kelly pops out back into the world, and we hear crumbling sounds from the mine. A Whisperer comes running toward her, and Kelly fights it off. She calls to Aaron that they’ve got friends; there are more coming. Inside the mine, Jerry holds up the ceiling beams with his shoulders, like he’s Aquaman or something. Kelly fights off a couple more Whisperers. By now Aaron is out, and helps her. Connie and Magna help Carol. Daryl gets out, and helps bring Carol out. Dirt is starting to shower down, and I wonder how on earth Jerry is going to get out. Magna sees a Whisperer in the mine, and tells him, get out. Aaron helps gives Jerry a hand, and joins the others, but the cave implodes, trapping Magna and Connie.
Kelly yells, no! and runs back. Daryl tries moving rocks away, but Aaron says, it will take a week to clear it. Kelly cries, but tells Daryl the zombies are close. They don’t want their backs pressed against the mountain when the walkers come. They can’t save the others if they’re bit. She cries some more, and Carol tells Daryl, he was right; just say it. She reaches out for him, but he throws her hand off. She says they’re gone because of her; just say it. Carol seems to be totally falling apart. Daryl tells Aaron, go home. Tell the others they found the horde. Aaron asks where Daryl is going to be, and Daryl says, others got out before them. There has to be another way in. Carol stands there while the others head back.
Next time, Gamma tells the Alexandrians that the people they sent out are in trouble, Gabriel makes a strategy, and Daryl is trapped.
Shahs of Sunset
Reza runs while he flashes back on his problems. In his interview, he says MJ sent him a text, saying she didn’t have anything to do with anything, and now he can’t trust Destiney. How did this happen?
GG meets Reza at a park, and he tells her that he and Adam are doing a mud run. Adam has been begging him to do it. In Reza’s interview, he says, with all the negativity swirling around, thank God. Any time he does unity building activities with his crew, there’s a moment he loves them. Then afterward, they can go back to picking that scab. He and GG jog, and he tells her, wave to the people. She says she’s tired already, and tells Reza that her doctor told her to start doing light cardio. In GG’s interview, she says she started IVF, but she’s keeping it secret for now. They sit on a bench, and discuss Ali’s accusations about Adam. GG says Ali told her that it was the three of them – him, Destiney, and MJ – but she doesn’t believe any of them. Reza says he lost his mind when Ali said Adam had sexually harassed him. He must have talked to someone. GG says, when she’d shown MJ the pictures Adam sent, MJ she said it was borderline sexual harassment. Reza says, this doesn’t feel good.
Destiney’s 1965 Lincoln convertible (named Poison) has a flat, and she waits for the tow truck. In her interview, she says she doesn’t like being vulnerable. There are moments when she wishes she had a husband to handle a situation. It’s different when a dude says he’s got you. The tow guy comes, and a possum peeks out from the bushes. Destiney nearly runs into it, and teleports backward, hollering. I nearly die laughing. She asks if it’s okay, and realizes it’s pregnant. The tow guy is now dying laughing. In Destiney’s interview, she says it’s a damsel in distress. She tells the possum, she’s got this. She’s an effing possum. She’s strong and crazy. A stranger comes, and picks up the possum in a towel, finding a safe place for her to deliver her babies. In her interview, Destiney says, he’s some sort of Prince Charming. She’s not into princes, but hopes here’s a Viking warrior out there for her.
Nema goes to his office, and tells editor TJ that he has footage for him. In his interview, Nema says his partners’ offices are half jungle gym, half photo studio. It’s where influencers make videos that make you feel bad about yourself. He says his assistant Erica was the right girl at the wrong time. They dated for two years after his divorce, but then came GG and the almost kiss. We flash back to that. He says, Erica is still working for him, and asks how you let go of someone so supportive and loving? Erica is going to Barcelona for two weeks, and Nema wonders how he’s going to manage. She’s running talent for a major shoe brand, and it throws him back in to the minutiae of their projects, when he has other things to do, like go to the gym. Erica says they have a strong working relationship, and he says he thought they’d get married, but she’s like, no. He says he thinks she’s the best relationship in his life, but he’s the worst in hers. She thinks she can definitely do better. At least they’re honest. There’s something to be said for that.
GG meets a friend at a Chinese herb place, where they also make health drinks. She explains to the owner that she’s having a bumpy ride with the IVF. She asks him to surprise them, and he concocts something that’s supposed to improve a woman’s jing, which is the essence or life force. In GG’s interview, she says she had egg retrieval at 37, and she’s trying thicken her uterine lining, by using everything from patches to suppositories, but nothing is working. GG takes a sip, and says she’s already glowing. The owner says he sees the glow. Her friend asks, what’s going on? and GG talks about her uterine lining. She says she wants it so badly. In GG’s interview, she says she’s worried about being pregnant at her age. When she was younger, she was irresponsible. She was lucky to live in California where she had a way out, which I guess is a delicate way of saying she had several abortions. She says, now she’s trying, and her body isn’t responding. The owner brings another drink, and says, it’szen shen, to lift the spirits. In her interview, GG says the day the embryo is placed in her, is the day she stops smoking weed, and everyone is making a bigger deal out of it than it is.
Mike goes to Kenmore, the property he and his brothers invested in. He goes inside, and discovers they left everything behind. He calls his brother Jonathan. In Mike’s interview, he says, to get the final permits, he needs an empty building. He explains to Jonathan how to take selfies. Dad Shawn appears, and in his interview, Mike says he wonders if his dad trusts him. Shawn says, the most important thing is the loan, but Mike says he needs a contract first. Shawn wants to wait until a guy he knows is free, but Mike has someone who’s ready to go. In Mike’s interview, he says his father studied electrical engineering in Germany, and has does electrical contracting since coming to America, but his father won’t be dealing with the contractor; Mike will. Shawn tells Mike that he’ll have to be on top of things. There will be no second chances. In his interview, mike says he had a hard time connecting with his dad while he was growing up, but as he’s gotten older, he’s realized how much wisdom his dad has to share. It’s his last chance to prove himself, and he’s trying to keep his composure.
Miss Moo! In his interview, Reza says, all the things he loves about Adam are why Ali was able to get so close so fast. Adam thinks everyone is good until they show him they’re not. With Reza, they have to jump through a thousand hoops, and if they persevere, he’ll let them in. GG comes by, and Reza tells her, he needs an over-the-top Persian team T-shirt for the mud run. He says, what about Hood rats? In GG’s interview, she says she called Reza a hood rat when he’d been acting like one. Now it’s turned into a joke. Reza irons the name onto a shirt. Reza asks if she wants some carrot cake, and slices a piece for her. In his interview, he says, GG smokes more weed than Snoop Dogg. She’s high all the time. She’s not someone who eats regularly, or exercises, and they’re trying to change that. Sara arrives, so Miss Moo is relegated to the bedroom. She’s afraid of animals, and we flash back to her encounters with various pets. In her interview, she says she had a paper route growing up, and dogs would charge her. She has to make sure she knows where all pets are. The group makes shirts, and a kumquat tree is delivered. It’s from Destiney, and Sara asks, what’s going on? Destiney had a whole episode at the beach. We flash back to that, and Reza says Destiney didn’t reach out. GG says, maybe she’s scared; he’s a scary person. She thought he was her big brother, and now she’s hurt him. Reza says, when GG hurts someone, doesn’t she want to reach out? GG says, maybe Destiney is figuring out how to do it.
Destiney goes to get her lashes done. She hopes Reza sees the kumquat as an olive branch. Well, an actual olive branch might have gotten that point across better.
Adam reads the card. Paraphrasing, Destiney says she hates how everything came down, and hopes they like the kumquat tree. Adam tells GG, Destiney didn’t say she was sorry, and GG suggests he focus on what Destiney said, not what she didn’t say. She tells him, some people have a hard time with it, and that’s coming from someone who does. Adam says GG apologized to him, but she says she didn’t apologize to Reza for years. We flash back to that altercation. Reza says, maybe if Destiney had sent it the day after, he’d feel different. They can co-exist, but he doesn’t want her to know anything about him. In his interview, he says he’s looking at the potential loss of a 30-year friendship, and the potential betrayal of a childhood friend.
Destiney looks at Reza’s text. He thanks her for the plant, but goes on to say her actions aren’t pure. He says he doesn’t trust her, but can co-exist with her. He tells her about the mud run, and says, if she wants to, she can come. She tries not to cry, and says she’s used to men who are family, or like family, giving up on her. In her interview, she says she has no male figures in her life who she can trust. The only person who’s been there for her is Reza. We flash back to Reza encouraging her to talk to her mother about her father. She says he’s the only person who’s seen and felt what her family would have been if everything had been okay.
GG’s mom Fati calls her while she’s driving to the doctor. Fati asks if GG needs anything, or wants her to come along, but GG says she’s good. Fati says to call her after the appointment. In GG’s interview, she says it’s her last shot. If she couldn’t get her uterine lining thicker, she might have to consider another option where she doesn’t carry her own child.
Destiney and her assistant Rose go to pick up Destiney’s car. In Destiney’s interview, she says she doesn’t drive Poison all the time, since she doesn’t want many miles on it. But when she’s feeling sad or depressed, she puts the top down and takes her bra off. It makes her go into a zone of peace. She tells mechanic Benny, it might be the only thing she’s ever really cared for. She slips him some cash, and tells him, hold onto it, like she’s getting on a roller coaster and giving him her purse. On the way back, Destiney tells Rose that Reza doesn’t want to talk to her, but she loves him. He’s the only one whose seen the dynamic of her mom and dad. She was crying when Reza got in the fight with Ali. Can’t she be human? It’s so effed up.
Reza gets the T-shirts ready for the gathering before the mud run. Reza gives Mike his shirt, saying it came out so well, he wants it back after the run. Mike says he’ll sell it to him. He tells Reza that he’s not participating because of his sciatica. Been there, and feel his pain. He asks if Adam’s shirt says naked Jenga on it, and Adam turns around to show Mike that it says, I’m with him >, and Mike says, unless he’s out of town. To my surprise, both Adam and Reza laugh. Nema and Sara arrive. In Reza’s interview, he says, after the week he’s had, he feels truly blessed. They’re going to exercise, and cheer each other on. They’re going to act like sweet white people who didn’t flee a country.
GG comes out of the doctor’s office, and gets in her car. She doesn’t look happy and dabs at her eyes, so I’m guessing the news wasn’t good. Then she says, it’s last few weeks she can smoke pot. Ha-ha! She fooled us. She calls Fati, and says, they’re doing the transfer on Friday. In GG’s interview, she says her uterine lining is finally thick enough. It’s exciting. She’s finally going to be pregnant. Fati says, it’s good to hear that.
In his interview, Reza says, Destiney’s shirt was made with the least amount of love. He wrote her name in White-Out pen, and it looks like a reflection of their friendship at this point. Destiney shows up, and tells Nema that she doesn’t know if she should come in, but Nema and Mike welcome her. She hugs Adam, and says she wants to talk, but Adam thinks she should talk Reza first. She asks Reza if she can talk to him privately before they head out. He’s surprisingly agreeable, and she says she didn’t want to be uncomfortable. He says he’s not uncomfortable. She says he thanked her for the plant, but it’s a tree (like this matters). He says he thought they were going to talk about naked Jenga. Ali talked about sexual harassment, and if he’d been Destiney, Reza would have said this is the first he’d heard of it, but she didn’t. He assumes she knew already. She says she didn’t know what Ali was going to say; it threw her for a loop. She never wanted to be involved, and Ali specifically told her that MJ told him to do it. In Destiney’s interview, she says, after her lunch with Ali, she yelled at him, and he said, MJ told him to do it. She took a step back, and realized maybe the person she loved as a sister had set her up. Reza said he knew Destiney was either set up or involved. Destiney says she effed up, and he says that’s all he wanted to hear. He hugs her, and says now that he knows she was used, it’s 100% authentic, and they’re good. In Reza’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Destiney is involved. She wasn’t held up at home on bedrest, moving chess pieces around, and trying to figure sh*t out. They get in the van, and Reza tells everyone, they had a good conversation. Now can they get excited?
The race starts. Mike and Sara cheer from the sidelines. It’s like a huge obstacle course, and GG says her hip hurts already. She and Destiney hang back, and GG says, they’ll cheat. The others have to come back this way, so they’ll just pretend they did it. They splash some water on their faces, jog in place, and hyperventilate. On his way back, Nema asks how they did with the wall. In Reza’s interview, he says they’re going through obstacles together, and helping each other, but in life, they’re not practicing the things they’re practicing here. It’s not happening if they can’t be there for each other in life.
GG says she’s doing a dirt walk. Reza says he’s got mud in his crotch, and a great sense of accomplishment. He says he wants that for GG, and pushes her into a mud puddle pool. Destiney says, the last time she did this sh*t, she was running from the cops. She runs up to wall that everyone else is scaling, and takes the stairs on the side. In Nema’s interview, he says his friends are the only healthy relationships in his life. They’re like family, and replaced the huge void left post-divorce. They go down a huge slide, into another mud puddle. Cool. I’d do that. Mike takes pictures.
Afterwards, the group heads to the beer and sausage tent. Mike pulls out a Jenga game. In Mike’s interview, he says he loves the fact that they’re cheering each other on, but a part of him is empty because one of his best friends isn’t there. GG knocks over the game, and Adam tells her, get naked right now.
Next time, Baby Shams comes home, Reza’s hair products are going to be sold in Las Vegas, and Sara’s brother gets busy with Destiney.
🏎 Coming Soon…
A new season of 90 Day Fiance: What Now? begins on Monday, April 20th on TLC. You can check out who’s who here:
And also on TLC on April 20th is a new offering, Dragnificent, a makeover show that looks like a lot of fun and very promising. You can read all about it here:
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
I missed the very beginning, but the only important factor was that Jordan went to see Cyrus.
Sasha meets Chase at the door, and says he needs to hear this for Willow’s sake. Carly tells Michael, she knows how horrible it is, but it all makes sense. Wiley looks just like him. His son is alive, and all Michael has to do is just go get him. Michael faces Brad, and asks if Brad has any idea how many lives he trashed, and the pain he’s caused. For the past year, Willow has been sacrificing and agonizing over a baby that’s not hers. Lucas fell in love with a baby that’s not his, and Michael and his family grieved. Brad says, it was Nelle’s idea, but Michael says it doesn’t matter whose idea it was. How could Brad do it? Brad says he was in shock, and Michael says Brad went along with it for over a year. How could he do that to the people he claims to love? How could he do that to Wiley? Brad says he was grieving; he couldn’t see straight. Michael says he made the worst mistake possible, and now he’s going to pay for it.
Nelle brings Wiley out, and passes Willow, who’s slumped on the floor. Nelle says all Wiley needed was his mom. Here she is, and she’s not going anywhere.
Cyrus asks what he should call Jordan, and she says, the Commissioner of Police. He says there’s no time like the present, but she was more interesting in the past. A passionate woman; his right hand. He asks if she remembers those days, and if the things she did haunt her. She says he gave the orders, and made things happen. He asks if she was always a traitor, or did someone turn her? She asks what he thinks, and he says he thinks she was a young, single mother, eager to learn, or she could have been gathering evidence. Her child must be grown now, and out of college. Med school perhaps?
Jason tells Sonny, they sent a clear message. Cyrus has to understand; he has too much to lose. Sonny says, controlling the Port Charles harbor might not be the end game. When he visited Cyrus last time, he said he had personal reasons for being there.
Curtis lurks outside of Kelly’s. Cameron says Trina didn’t mention her father was in town. Trina says she usually goes to see him, since the world revolves around him. Taggert says, fathers are the center of their daughter’s universe; everyone knows that. Call him old-fashioned, but he likes to know the young men who take his daughter out. Cameron says, sir, after everything, and doesn’t know why he’s saying it. Taggert says, manners, or maybe instinct. Trina apologizes to Cameron, saying her father is a retired cop, and his life’s mission is to embarrass her. Taggert asks how he’s doing, and she says, for his information, they’re going to the dance as friends. He says she neglected to introduce him to Cameron, so she does, and says, happy? and Cameron says, nice to meet him. Taggert asks if he’s any relation to Elizabeth, and Cameron says, she’s his mother. Does Taggert know her? Taggert says he knows a lot of people in Port Charles.
Cyrus says he’s a man of few mistakes, and trusting her was his biggest. She says it worked out all right for her. Look where she is and look where he is. He says he’s looking, but more important, he sees. He wondered what happened to her and if she got back in the trade. Did she bring her new employers down? She says, sometimes. He asks if that’s how she became Police Commissioner, and she says, something like that. He says, imagine his surprise when he found out his protégé was Police Commissioner of Port Charles. She suggests they get down to business. Somebody leaked her identity to him. He says if she came to embarrass him, mission accomplished. He admits one traitor is a mistake, but four? To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, it sounds like carelessness. He hopes her associates are okay, and she says, two are dead. He says, natural causes? and she asks if they’re going to do this dance. He says, it’s been so long since he’s seen her, he wants to savor every moment. So yes, they’re going to… She says, two men are dead with drugs pumped into their systems. He says the drugs weren’t his; he was holding them for a friend. She says he thinks this is funny. That’s the kind of monster he is. Uh-oh. I thought it was funny too.
Brad knows he was wrong, and regrets it more than he can say. Michael says he was in it with Nelle, and Carly asks if that’s why Brad insisted on speaking with Nelle alone. Brad says, yes. She wanted to say goodbye to Wiley. She insisted on seeing Wiley, and he… Oh God. Michael asks what Brad did, and Brad says he told Nelle that Wiley was with Willow at her apartment. Michael says, let’s go, but Carly says they’re not done. She asks how Brad could let Nelle near Wiley when he knew what she was capable of? He cares more about protecting his own ass than taking care of that little boy. It’s unforgivable .
Nelle checks Wiley’s bag, and says, no change of clothes. His daddies must have thought they wouldn’t be away long. It will have to do for tonight. She looks at Wiley’s passport, and shows him. She says, from now on, she’s going to be Barbara Langdon, and he’s her little boy William. Thank God he looks like his picture. She says she’s going to get his coat, then he and mommy are going on a little trip.
Trina tells Cameron, her dad lived in Port Charles back in the stone age. He says he met Trina’s mom there, and Cameron says, small world.
Jordan says Cyrus killed them both, but he says he has an alibi. She says he ordered the hits, and he says, DEA agents never have any drug problems? They call it, occupational hazard, but he calls it karma. Speaking of which, the others were expendable. If he comes for her, she’ll be watching as all she knows and loves burns to ashes. Starting with the city she’s sworn to serve and protect. Wow. That’s a lot of bravado for a dude whose first move totally tanked. She says he’s moving in on Sonny’s territory, but he says he’s rotting away in there. She says he started a mob war to get back at her, and he says the fact that there’s a mob suggests she’s not as good at her new job as she was at her old one. Thanks for the tip. She says she’s going to make sure he doesn’t get away with this, and pledges that the good citizens of Port Charles will sleep soundly. There’s a knock at the door, and a guard comes in. Cyrus says, visiting hours are over. Their time is up. Have a lovely evening. I don’t think it works like that, since she’s a Police Commissioner, but okay.
Jason asks what Sonny means by personal. Cyrus has no history with them. Sonny says, not before now, but because of the ambush, Cyrus has got to be talking about somebody else. Jason says he had a monopoly in the Pacific Northwest, and suddenly decided to branch out? Why wouldn’t he just expand the territory he has; it’s too risky. Sonny says, unless Cyrus is in it for more than money.
Cameron says his mother never mentioned anything about a snake, and Taggert says, somebody put it there. When they’re old enough, and mature enough to understand, they’ll learn the legend of Faith Rosco. Trina says she knows who that is; it’s in Lucy’s book. So can Cameron take her to the stupid dance? Taggert asks what Cameron’s intentions are, and Trina says, they’re going as friends; there are no intentions. Taggert says he’s choosing to believe her. She says, thanks, and he tells her, thank her mom. He talked to her, and she told him the same thing. Trina asks if he’d like them to write a statement and have it notarized. He says, possibly, but in the meantime, have her mom give him a call. There’s something important they need to discuss. He notices Curtis outside.
Carly says, a squad car is on the way, and they’re going to make an arrest. Brad reaches out to Lucas, and says he has to understand why… but Lucas says, don’t touch him. Julian says, it’s not the right time, and Carly says Brad is going to be arrested for kidnapping and fraud. Brad says, okay, but asks if someone can reach Willow and warn her. Lucas says Brad has been harboring this dirty little secret with Nelle for a long time. Tell him – and for once tell the truth – did anybody else know?
Nelle gets Wiley’s jacket, and opens the door. Chase and Michael are standing there, and Michael looks at Wiley.
Taggert, Trina and Cameron leave Kelly’s and Taggert says, hey Curtis. Trina asks, what’s going on? and Taggert asks if Curtis is following him. Curtis says he came to pick up an order, and Taggert says, is that why Curtis was peering at him through the window? Did he think it was a drive-through, and realize he had no car? Curtis says he came to get a burger, and saw Taggert. He’s seen enough of him for one day, and figured Taggert felt the same way, so he decided to go to The Floating Rib. Taggert says, but first Curtis thought he’d corner him and give him the third degree about spending time with his daughter? Curtis says he didn’t know Taggert had a daughter, and Tagger wonders why. Curtis has been running a background on his life, and it’s none of his business. Curtis says, the hell it isn’t. If Taggert hadn’t been creeping around town with Curtis’s wife, it wouldn’t be going down this way. Jordan shows up, and says, that’s enough.
Michael tells Nelle, put the baby down, and she asks if Chase is going to shoot her while she’s holding her son. Chase says, it’s time to give Michael back his son, and she says he’s her son too. Chase says Brad told them everything, and she says she’s sure Brad told them a lot of things, but she can guarantee it’s not everything.
Lucas asks Brad, who else knew Wiley was Michael’s son? Tell him. Brad says, besides him and Nelle… no one was involved in switching the babies. Lucas asks how Brad could do this to his family; to their family. Brad says he panicked. He wanted be the strong one for a change. He’s always been the mess, the screw-up. For the first time, he was the strong one. He’d told Lucas nothing could stop them from having a baby. We flash back to Brad promising Lucas that they’ll bring the baby home, and be amazing parents. Nothing can stop them. Brad tells Lucas, he couldn’t say no to a second chance, and Bobbie says, please. It wasn’t a second chance. It was kidnapping, plain and simple.
Chase tells Nelle, he’ll bite. What hasn’t Brad told them? She says, the truth. Does Michael believe she hates him so much, she’d keep his baby from him? Michael says, she tried to kill him, and left him for dead. He believes it. Nelle says, even if she did, does he think she’d give the baby to Brad? He says, Brad is her only friend, and she says, he stole her baby. She was delirious. She’d just given birth on the side of the road. The baby was beautiful, and she decided to go back for Michael, hoping to get back in time to save him, and maybe save their family. When she saw Jonah’s face, it made her forgive Michael, and she thought their son would have the same effect on him, and he’d forgive her. He asks, what stopped her? and she says she was in and out of consciousness, holding on to their boy, trying to protect him. The next thing she knew, there was a poor, lifeless child in her arms. I sincerely hope Michael and Chase aren’t buying this.
Jordan asks if someone will tell her what this is about, and Cameron says he has nothing to do with it. He just got off probation, and it’s the last thing he needs. Jordan asks for an explanation, and Taggert says he was in Kelly’s, spending some rare, precious time with his daughter, and Curtis was tailing him. Curtis says, if he’d been tailing Taggert, Taggert would never have known. Taggert says he has reason enough to be looking over his shoulder, and Jordan says, let her handle it. Curtis wonders why he’s the one who needs to be handled; they’re keeping secrets. Jordan tells him to back off. Trina asks if everything is okay, and Taggert says, everything is fine, and suggests they go back inside.
Jason tells Sonny, maybe Cyrus is telling the truth, and transferred to Pentenville because of personal ties. Since he’s been there, he saw the opportunity to expand, but when he tried to take them out, he failed. His first shipment was blown up, and he lost $20 million. Why not cut his losses? Sonny asks, what’s more important than money? Love and revenge. Jason doesn’t think Cyrus is there for love, and Sonny says, that leaves revenge. Sam calls Jason, and says, there’s something he and Sonny need to know.
Nelle says, when she heard there was a party, and overheard the baby was actually Jonah, she came back. Chase asks how she heard there was a party. Was she lurking? She says she was curious, so she peeked in from the terrace. Thank God she did. When she heard Lucas say the baby wasn’t their son, suddenly, it all came back. She remembered being in the woods, in and out of consciousness, and remembered Brad taking her baby, and placing the dead child in her arms. She had to get there. For all she knew, Willow was part of the lies. Michael asks where Willow is, and what Nelle did to her. Nelle tells him, all she has to say is, she’s as much of a victim as he is. Would they believe Brad’s word over hers? Chase says, in a heartbeat. She says, believe what they want; she finally has her baby back, and no one is taking Jonah. Michael says she’s not going anywhere, and his name is Wiley. Nobody is going to believe her. It’s over this time. Don’t make it more difficult than it has to be. Give him his son. Standing behind Nelle, Chase says, hand over the baby. Michael takes Wiley, and Wiley smiles.
Bobbie says Brad almost had her with the grieving father bit. He says, it’s not a bit. Bobbie says, the baby died, and he brought home and kept Michael’s child. He didn’t care about Michael, Lucas, or anyone but himself. Brad says he did it for Lucas, and Lucas says, really? Brad stole his nephew’s baby, and caused pain and grief. Now he’s supposed to thank Brad? Brad says he thought about coming clean, but he convinced himself he was doing the right thing. Sam asks, how? and he says Nelle convinced him that the baby was safer with them than Michael. Bobbie says, it still didn’t give him the right, and Lucas says, if he’d just told the truth, even the next day. He would have been heartbroken, but they would have gotten through it together. Now, not only did he lose his son, he’s lost their family. Brad says, that’s not true, but Lucas says Brad devastated them. He can’t even look at Brad. He turns away, and Carly glares at Brad.
Trina asks Taggert what that was about, and Cameron asks if they want to talk alone. Taggert tells them, stay there. There’s nothing Trina needs to worry about. She says, it didn’t sound like nothing, and he says there’s something he needs to take care of; stay. If Cameron is going to show he’s trustworthy, this is his one and only test. Make sure to walk Trina home tonight. Trina says she’s getting a ride share, and Taggert tells Cameron, make sure she gets home safe. Cameron says he can do that, and Taggert tells Trina to make sure her mom calls him. It’s important.
Back at her office, Jordan asks what the hell Curtis is doing. Stalking Taggert? He says, following, not stalking, and she wonders what the difference is. He says she’s been lying to him since Taggert hit town. What was he supposed to do? She says, trust her, because she’s his wife. He says that’s exactly why she should trust him. She says there are things in their respective lines of work that they can’t tell each other, and he says, the secrecy is about work? She says, yes, but he says he knows her, and knows when she’s not being truthful and when she’s in over her head. She tells him, drop it, and he says, and do what? She says, let it go, and he says, and let Taggert enjoy quality time with his daughter? The daughter she never mentioned? She says, why should she? and he says he wants to know if she has something to do with it. What he’s asking her is, is she Trina’s mother?
Chase finds Willow, and checks for a pulse. He says, thank God, and tells her that he needs her to wake up. She asks, what happened? and he says she was hit on the head. He’s going to get her to the hospital, and everything will be okay. He promises. He comes out, carrying Willow, and an officer is arresting Nelle. Michael asks how badly Willow is hurt, and Chase says he’s going to take her to the hospital. Michael thanks him, and Nelle says, bye, Willow. Sonny arrives, and asks if Michael is okay. Michael says, they both are; him and Sonny’s grandson. Nelle is taken away.
An officer cuffs Brad. Brad tells Lucas, he did what he thought was best to do for their family, because he loved Lucas and Wiley so much. If any part of Lucas understands, just look at him. Lucas refuses to turn in Brad’s direction, and Brad is taken away.
Jordan says, really? and Curtis says, stranger things have happened. She says, fine. Yes. Trina is her daughter. In fact, she’s had at least one child with every man she’s ever worked with. The world is littered with her undercover babies, as she likes to call them. He says, that’s not an answer. She says, let her make something abundantly clear, she and Taggert have never been involved in any way other than professionally. He asks, then how come every time she and Taggert are together, they hide secrets? Not just little secrets about the bad old days, but big secrets, the kind you take to your grave. If they’re doing like that, let him in. Taggert comes in, and says, Curtis is right. It’s time they told him everything.
Trina says her dad means well, but that was extreme. Why shouldn’t she make sure Cameron gets home safe? Cameron says her dad asked him to look after her, and he has the feeling if he doesn’t, her dad will know. She says, he will. Cameron says, he seems… She says, intense? Stern? Old school? All of the above? Cameron says he felt like he should be saluting, and she says she could tell since he called her dad sir at least twelve times. She tells Cameron, don’t worry. He’s not as intense once he warms up to you. He says he can’t imagine her dad being more intense. That thing that happened with Curtis. Does it happen often? She says she’s seen her dad angry, but that was next level pissed. He asks if her dad is going to be armed when he comes to pick her up, or is he going to chaperone? Trina says, why do that when he could follow them?
Jordan tells Taggert, come in, and close the door. She tells her assistant to hold her calls; she’s conferring with the DEA. Curtis asks if he missed something. Since when is Taggert back with the DEA? Jordan says they need to discuss a case they worked on, and Curtis can’t be part of it. Curtis says he’s already a part of it. Taggert says, Curtis is right. They need to tell him, so he can protect himself. Or does Jordan want the body count to keep rising?
Sam tells Jason that she’s going to go. The last thing she needs is her parole officer showing up. They kiss, and she says she loves him.
Lucas says he can’t wrap his head around it. How could Brad do something like this? Jason comes in, and asks if Carly is okay. She says, it’s a twisted version of history repeating itself. They kept Michael from Sonny for the first years of his life, and now the same thing happened with Wiley. He asks if she’s worried that she’s going to be called a hypocrite, but Carly says she doesn’t care. They were trying to make sure Michael had the best life possible; Brad and Nelle were just looking out for themselves. Look at the damage they caused. Jason says he’s sorry, but he has to take care of something. Just tell Michael that he loves him. Carly hugs Jason, and says, he knows. Go.
Willow sleeps. When she opens her eyes, Chase is there. He tells her that she’s at GH. She’s had a minor concussion, but she’ll be okay. She asks, what happened? The last thing she remembers, she was watching Wiley. She starts to sit up, saying, oh my God, Nelle was there. She wanted to take Wiley. He says, it’s all right, and she asks where Wiley is, and if he’s okay.
Lucas doesn’t understand how Brad could keep this kind of secret. Not just from him, but from Michael. Julian says Brad thought he was protecting Lucas, and Bobbie says, only Julian could find a rationalization for Brad’s behavior. Julian says he’s not condoning it, but they’ve all made mistakes to protect someone they loved. Lucas says, not like this. This was… Bobbie says, indecent. Carly says they’re all there for him; his entire family. Lucas says, not the entire family. His husband is a stranger, and his son… Sonny walks in, followed by Michael holding Wiley.
Tomorrow, Curtis says there’s something Jordan is still hiding, Julian tells Ava the truth about Wiley, Sonny wonders how Brad got his hands on Michael’s son, and Willow freaks out when she learns the truth.
🐍 Snake On the Loose…
Or what Taggert called, the legend of Faith Rosco. I looked it up, and have no recollection whatsoever of this storyline, but I might not have been watching for one reason or another at the time. What Taggert was referring to, was on May 14th, 2003.
Victoria said her brain was not ready for a new challenge. It was her birthday, but she didn’t feel inspired. She came out to find at least three dozen roses from her husband, and in her interview, she said her husband had sacrificed everything so she could go into designing. She didn’t want to think of disappointing him. Karlie told the designers, at this point, it was about raw talent, lot of work, and the spark of ambition and drive. She introduced a group of Team USA athletes, who would be competing in Japan at the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. She explained that athletes had unique bodies, and it was hard for them to find clothes off the rack. And while athleisure was great, they sometimes wanted to dress up. The challenge was to create a victory dress to wear when they celebrated their 2020 games accomplishments. Adaptive design was also an important factor – the ability of those with special needs to get in and out of the garment. In Nancy’s interview, she said she was an all-inclusive designer, and her perfect match was the sprinter in the wheelchair. In a moment of Divine Providence, they were paired up. It was a one-day challenge, and the contestants began with a 30 minute sketch period, in which their client was also involved. At Mood, Christian fretted that there were too many red gowns, but no one wanted to give up their color. Geoffrey said he wasn’t going outside what the client wanted, and they wanted red. Nancy’s client requested a train, and Nancy said if it got caught in the wheels, it would be goodbye Nancy.
Sergio helped some of his competitors with technical issues, and in his interview, he said he was happy to help. He want to beat the others on the runway, not because they didn’t know how to do something. Nancy said this challenge wasn’t about wining, but fulfilling her client’s fantasy. Geoffrey’s client was pregnant, and also had something specific in mind. Christian wanted more going on with Geoffrey’s design, and in his interview, Geoffrey said Christian was trying to be helpful, but wasn’t in on the consultation. His client didn’t want giant sleeves, and wanted something elegant and classy Brittany said they were shooting for something that would make already accomplished athletes feel like winners.
Tragedy struck when Geoffrey went to iron his red dress, and there was something black on the iron. He said his garment went from fabulous to crap in a matter of seconds. There were only two black dresses – Brittany’s and Nancy’s – and it looked like the culprit was Nancy. She said she always tried to be careful, and felt pretty badly about it. I wondered what kind of fabric sticks to an iron?
The guest judge was Lindsey Vonn, from the USA Ski Team, who’s had 82 victories (more than any other woman), including four World Cup championships. Victoria’s dress was short, and her usual asymmetrical with cut-outs. Zzzz… Sergio made his pregnant client a long, flowing yellow gown, with a cut out in back, and she looked gorgeous. Marquise’s client not only had a prosthetic leg, but was quite small, and one of her issues had been finding clothing that was for adults. He’d made her gown as requested with a slit to show off her leg. Brittany’s was more formal, black, off-the-shoulder, and sparkly. Geoffrey’s was short, satiny, and sparkly, with rhinestone spaghetti straps. Nancy’s creation also sparkled, and she achieved her goal of a train that didn’t get stuck, despite her client twirling.
Nancy’s gown got high praise, and she pointed out that it was also adaptable, since she used Velcro on parts of it. The skirt detached to reveal and under-skirt, exciting Brandon (a reveal!), and the train was also detachable. Karlie said no one even noticed the chair; they just saw her. Nina said it was fashion, function, and fantasy; a winning combination. Geoffrey’s client was a wrestler, and said she’d dressed like a boy growing up, because she wanted to fit in. Now, she wanted to show young girls that they didn’t have to change their femininity to be included. Brandon said as far as the iron stain was concerned, it was a non-issue, since accidents happen, and he thought the look was expensive.
Lindsey was impressed with everyone, and Nina said their goal was to make their clients feel incredible, and everyone had achieved that. The scores were the closest they’d been in the entire competition. Nina thought Sergio’s gown radiated joy and beauty, but it was very day, and she thought the client’s baby bump could have been celebrated more. Sergio said he was going for comfort, but Brandon said comfort wasn’t always about loose. It was about confidence and feeling good. Nina felt Brittany’s dress was pretty, but cliché, and wanted to see something more creative. Brittany said her client was happy, and that’s all she needed. Lindsey said a client might want something particular, but a designer might give them an idea they end up liking more. There was a big color debate over Nancy choosing black, but it had been a client request as well. It also wasn’t like an LBD, there was a silver overlay going on. Brandon said Nancy had done a good job accommodating the client’s needs. Nina told Geoffrey, while there were no points off for the stain, when his client moved, you could almost see too much. Although Marquise had tried to get away from his client looking girlish, both Karle and Lindsey thought her gown could have been more sophisticated.
Karlie said it was impressive and inspiring how the designers catered to their client’s needs. Elaine said Victoria managed that while staying true to herself; they could see immediately that it was her design. Yeah, like I said, zzzzz… Nina said Nancy went the extra mile, and Brandon said he’d seen Nancy had been consistently concerned about the person she was dressing. Lindsey felt Marquise hadn’t put much time or thought into his dress, and Karlie said it was a standard silhouette. Brandon said Sergio’s cap sleeves and bust were a mess, but he liked the unexpected cut out in the back. Nina said Brittany’s client might have been happy, but the dress was a standard black dress. Brandon added that any woman could wear it. Elaine told Geoffrey, she thought his dress was tacky, but Karlie thought it was the only one that looked like a victorious party dress; something the client could go to the club in afterward. Elaine said, tacky and shiny, and Brandon said he thought it was fabulous. Well, there you go.
Victoria and Nancy were the two favorites, and Nancy was the big winner. Nina said she was impressed. The dress was a celebration of an athlete with a disability, and was both functional and fashionable. Nancy said if she’d had an opportunity to win every challenge, she would give it up for that one. Brandon told the remaining designers that they’d all succeeded in making their clients happy, but there were mistakes that couldn’t be overlooked. They were all… safe. Brandon said they’d fallen short on some design elements and technicalities, but all of their clients felt like the best version of themselves. Afterward, Geoffrey said he was terrified, since they’d be letting two go next time. Victoria said she’d wanted them to be less [sic].
Next time, the designers are challenged to be avant-garde, using NYC’s Vessel in Hudson Yards for inspiration. They have to go big or go home.
Having gotten an opportunity to participate in life outside of a screen tomorrow evening, I probably won’t be able to post Friday’s usual until Saturday. That’s if I don’t decide to go off on a motorcycle and find myself…
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 