Tag Archives: Bravocon

August 11, 2023 – Bar Fight Repercussions, Newcomer, New Strike, Billie the Ally, Forget You, Pass the Salt, Costly Deck, Wishlist, New Dragons, Dead Talk, Next Year, Film Pups, Quotes Totaling Nine & Club

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Elizabeth goes out on the roof and tells Finn that he’s in her spot. He asks if she really comes up here often enough to claim a spot, and she says, it’s a perk of being head nurse. He says, she’s here late. Who’s looking after the boys? She says, it’s summer. They’re away at camp, and since night shift pays time and a half, she figured… He asks if it’s really her spot, and she says, yeah. It’s usually very clearly marked with a ginormous E. He asks what makes this spot so special, other than being exclusively hers? and she says she comes up here to make sense of everything that happens in this hospital. He says, that’s exactly why he’s here.

On the phone in bed, Sonny tells Ava, don’t worry. He’s taking care of this Betty situation; he’s handling it. She asks just how he’s handling it. This woman is going to be around Avery every day, and they know she can’t be trusted. He says he has eyes on Betty. If she does anything wrong, one of his guys will get back to him. She asks how long they’re going to have to play this sick game before they get Betty away from their daughter, and he says, it’s going to be over soon. Avery comes into Ava’s bedroom, and Ava asks what she’s doing out of bed. Avery asks who she’s talking to, and Sonny tells Ava to put her on the phone. Ava tells Avery that her dad wants to say hi, and hands her the phone. Sonny asks what she’s doing up, and she says she couldn’t sleep. He tells her that she needs some rest; it’s a big day tomorrow. She says she knows. She’s so excited. Betty’s taking her to day camp. He says, she’s not going to have fun if she’s falling asleep in camp, when Nina comes in. Avery says she’ll try to sleep, and he tells her, goodnight. Ava says she’ll talk to him tomorrow, and Nina gets into bed. She says, Avery is up awfully late, and he says, she’s a lot like her dad; she doesn’t sleep very well. Nina says she knows she’ll sleep great as long as he’s next to her.

Dante checks out Pikeman on his laptop, when Sam gets into bed. She takes the laptop and puts it on the nightstand. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, work is over for the day. He wonders what they’re going to do for the rest of the evening. He has a lot of energy. They start to get busy.

Along with a couple of officers, Chase leads a handcuffed Ned, Carly, and Olivia into the station. Ned says he didn’t do anything wrong, and Carly says, it’s crazy. Olivia says she was accosted, and tells the officer to get his meat hooks off of her. Carly says, Ned and Olivia were assaulted, and Ned says, he was just having a beer. And by the way, they arrested the wrong guy. Chase tells them, enough. Shut up or you’re all going to the holding cell.

Anna leaves the house in the dark as someone watches her.

Olivia tells Chase, so she and Carly wind up at the Highsider because they were talking about old times and wanted to blow off some steam. Carly chose the Highsider because it reminded her of this old bar called Jake’s that she used to really like to go to. So they run into Ned – Ned says, EddieEddie, and Eddie starts trying to pick up on Carly. Ned says, trying? He was doing a pretty good job. Carly says, no he wasn’t. She took advantage of the situation because she was trying to figure out what was going on with Ned. Ned says, Eddie… Wait. She was working him? Carly says, that’s so not the point. She was telling Eddie that she knew someone who went through the exact same thing. She was trying to spark some kind of memory in Ned, or get Eddie to go back to the Quartermaines and let them get to know him somehow. Chase says he doesn’t see where this is going. Where does the guy come in who wouldn’t leave Olivia alone, and how did this fight start that ended with all of them in his custody? Olivia says she had to go to the ladies room because she put her hand in a big blob of nacho cheese. She comes back from the ladies room and sees Ned… Eddie at the bar trying to pick up Carly. Meanwhile, this low life comes over to her, a really totally unpleasant guy, and was trying to pick her up, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Chase’s phone rings, and he steps away to take the call. He says, this is Detective Chase… He understands. He goes back to the group, and says, that was the manager at the Highsider. He’s not going to press charges. They all breathe a sigh of relief, and Olivia says, so they can go home? Chase says he can release all of them as soon as someone comes to sign them out. Would anyone care to make a call?

Sam and Dante continue to get busy, when she says, wait. She has to ask him something. He says, right now? and she says she promised she’d ask and doesn’t want to forget. Maxie wants to rent the house. He asks, whose idea was that? and she says, mine?

Sonny’s phone rings, and he looks to see who it is.

Looking up at the sky, Elizabeth says, it’s beautiful, and Finn agrees. She asks, what’s got him up on this roof so late? He doesn’t say anything, and she asks if he’s okay. He says he is, and she asks, what is it? He says he lost a patient tonight, and she says she’s sorry. What happened? He says, it was a parasite, and he was able to identify it, and started treating it, but something just wasn’t right. He didn’t seem to be getting better. She asks if he didn’t get treatment in time, and Finn says, time was the one thing he didn’t have. When he started treatment, Finn noticed anomalies in his blood, so he took further tests, and it turns out he also had Stage IV cancer. She says, he didn’t know? and he says, no one did. His cancer had metastasized. He still chose to fight; he wanted every moment he could spend with his daughter and wife. She says, that’s the worst part about their job. It never gets easier. He says he hates it so much. It’s like a little part of him dies every time this happens. This one hit him hard. It’s like it was personal. She says, personal how? and he says, his daughter was a classmate of Violet’s. It just made him think, what if that was him?

Anna goes for a run in the dark, which seems like a weird thing to do, considering the circumstances. Someone slips into her house, and we see men’s shoes, so I assume it’s a man, but you never know.

Elizabeth says, it’s a natural reaction to think of your own life when someone dies, and he says, this is different. He’s Violet’s only parent. What happens to her if he was gone? She says, God forbid if something were to take him away from her, she’d still have her Uncle Chase and her grandfather and her. But he’s not going anywhere. He’s just rattled. She’s sure he has provisions in place with his dad and his brother. He says, Chase is a cop. He puts his life on the line every day when he goes to work. She says, but he really loves her, and Finn says he knows, but maybe that’s not enough. He’s thinking maybe there’s someone better for Violet. She says, like who? and he says, her. Will she be Violet’s guardian?

Nina wakes up to find Sonny gone. She calls his name a few times, and lies back down, but then she gets up.

Sam asks if Dante is sure he’s not upset with her for suggesting Maxie rent his house, and he says he’s sure, but he hasn’t thought about that house in a long time. (Wait. Wasn’t he just talking about it a few days ago? Assumption of audience short-term memory loss.) She says, they don’t have to talk about it if he doesn’t want to, but he says, they can talk about it. She says, he should have seen what she saw when she went to Maxie’s earlier. It was a complete disaster. Georgie and James were fighting, and Maxie had to put Georgie in her room because Georgie and James share a room. Obviously, it’s too close for comfort, and they just fight all the time. Then you add Bailey Lou to the mix, and you have three kids and Maxie in that apartment, and it’s so small. She thought about his house and thought, what a great idea. Maxie would be a great renter and his house is open, and Maxie’s practically family, right? She asks him to say something, and he says he thinks it’s a great idea. And he thinks Lulu would be really happy Maxie is living there. He thinks Maxie would take care of the place and her kids would have a yard to play in. She says, that’s exactly what she was thinking. James would actually be able to use the yard to play soccer, and Maxie could get Bailey Lou some type of swing set, and Georgie would be able to have her friends over. They could get tents and camp out in the backyard, and do what kids do. She thinks it would be really great for them. He says, yeah. And if Lulu were to wake up one day, she’d be the one to decide what to do with that house. Sam asks if he’s sure he’s okay with this, and he says he is. Why should that house sit empty and hollow, when Maxie could be filling it with her family and memories? She asks again if he’s sure, and he says, yes; it’s perfect. She says, that’s her thought, and he says, everything is perfect, kissing her. His phone rings, and she tells him, take it. He answers, and Chase says, they have a little situation down at the station with his mother. Dante says, his mother? Is she all right? Chase says, Olivia’s fine, and Dante tells Sam that his mother’s at the police station. She asks if Olivia is all right, and he says, yeah, then asks Chase, what happened? Chase says, there was a run-in at the Highsider and when the cops got there, let’s just say his mom had a lot to say with a lot of attitude. She left him no choice but to bring her in.

Austin runs into his office, sees Mason at this desk, and asks what he’s doing here. What does he want now? Mason shows Austin the cut on the back of his head and says he needs a doctor.

The man pours gasoline all over the inside of Anna’s first floor.

Ava’s phone rings, and she tells Nina, it’s late. What’s up? Nina says, Sonny is gone, and Ava asks what she means. Nian says she woke up and he wasn’t next to her, and Ava asks if she checked the rest of the apartment. Nina says she did. She even asked the guard, and he just told her that Sonny had to step out. He didn’t tell her where Sonny went or why he had to leave. Ava says, honestly, what did Nina expect?

Austin says, Mason can’t just waltz in here and make himself comfortable whenever he feels like it, and Mason says he’s hardly comfortable. He needs medical attention and who better to come to than his cousin who happens to be a doctor? Austin says, the ER, urgent care, whatever normal people do. He has real patients he has to attend to. Mason says he doesn’t think Austin wants him going to the ER, bleeding all over the place, just to ask for his cousin. Austin says, what he wants is for Mason to not be here at all, and Mason says he was doing Austin a favor. Austin says, if Mason wants to do him a favor, get out of here, and Mason says he didn’t want to draw attention to either one of them. He was trying to be discreet for Austin’s sake. Austin says, thanks. Here’s what he thinks. He thinks Mason is hiding in here from whoever hit him on the back of the head. So before he treats Mason – if he treats him at all – does Mason want to tell him what happened? Mason says, not really, and Austin says, okay. Then he doesn’t want to bandage Mason up. He heads for the door, and Mason says, okay. He had an encounter with a lady in a bar, and maybe things got a little out of hand.

Carly says she doesn’t understand why they need somebody to sign them out, when Dante comes into the station. Olivia says she’s a grown woman, and she doesn’t understand… Chase says, oh boy. Is he glad to see Dante, and Olivia says, not as glad as she is. You know what? Things need to change at the PCPD. She gets hauled into the station for defending herself against some lowlife, while there should be a manhunt out there for the jerk who was trying to accost her. Dante asks, what the hell happened here? and Chase says, his mom, Carly, and Ned started a fight at the Highsider. Olivia says, he’s damn right they started a fight. The guy wouldn’t take his hands off her; he wouldn’t take no for an answer. If this was Bensonhurst, her cousins would have had that guy… Dante says, stop. Please. Let him handle it. What are the charges? Chase says, the manager at the Highsider said they weren’t going to press any charges. Chase thinks he was glad just to get the three of them out of the bar. Dante knows how this works. If he signs for them, Chase can release them. Dante says, let’s do that. He’ll sign for all three of them. Carly says, no, and Olivia says, Dante Angelo Falconari. She did not do anything wrong and she refuses to be released into her son’s custody. Dante says, let’s not do this here, but Olivia tells him, just turn right around and go back the way he came. Dante says, oh yeah? and Ned says, thanks for the offer, but his ride is here. They all turn to see Sonny.

Anna stops for a moment, checks her watch, and runs back the way she came.

A gas can is dropped on the floor, and gas pours out. A match is lit and dropped into the puddle. It bursts into flame, and the man leaves the room.

Olivia says she did nothing wrong, and she refuses to be released into her son’s custody for defending herself against some handy jerk at a dive bar, and she’ll stay the night here before she gets Dante involved any further. Dante says he admires her principles, and she says, he should. Because they’re the same principles she instilled in him, and that’s why he turned out so good. She doesn’t care. She’ll stay here all night. She’s standing her ground. She folds her arms, and Dante asks her to come with him, just for a second, and tells the others that they’ll be right back. He takes Olivia into the interrogation room, and says, she’s so hellbent on spending the night here. That means he’s got to spend the night here with her. She understands that, right? She tells him, go home and be with Sam and the kids, but he says he can’t do that. How can he leave her here in this place and act like nothing’s wrong knowing she’s here? She says, okay. She guesses she understands. He says, please. Do him the favor. Let him take her home. She says, if she lets him take her home, if she lets him sign her out of here, it means she did something wrong. She did nothing wrong. She’s not guilty. He asks if she’ll think about Leo for a second. He’s going to wake up in the morning, and she’s not going to be there. He’s already dealing with Eddie in there, and he’ll have to leave Leo in Tracy’s care. She says, all right. She’ll do it for Leo, but she’s not admitting she did anything wrong. They go back in, and Dante says he’ll sign out for Carly too, but Sonny tells Dante to take his mother home. He’ll handle it. Olivia asks if Carly wants her and Dante to stay here until she leaves, but Carly tells her to go. It’s okay. Olivia says, text her when she gets out, and Carly says she will. They hug, and Olivia leaves with Dante, Ned watching her. Sonny says, as soon as Chase finishes the paperwork, Carly can go with him. She says, he can take Ned. She’s not going with him.

Nina tells Ava that she woke up and Sonny wasn’t next to her. Is it too much to ask to go to bed beside the man that she loves, the man she’s engaged to, then wake up with him still beside her? Now she’s here all alone. He could have texted her. He could have left her a note. Anything is better than an empty bed and a blank stare from one of the guards. Ava says, the man Nina is engaged to a mobster, and Nina says she knows that. Ava says, then she knows he doesn’t work 9 to 5. He’s going to disappear in the middle of the night with no note or text. Then he’s going to return with no explanation of where he was or why. She thought Nina understood all that. Nina says, knowing it in theory is a lot different than waking up alone.

Austin stitches Mason up, and Mason says, ow! Take it easy. Is he doing that on purpose? Austin says, if he was doing it on purpose, Mason would know, and Mason says, he must have a dozen malpractice suits, but Austin says, not so much. Does Mason want to tell him what happened with this woman? Is she going to be pressing charges? Mason says he doubts they’re going to be looking for him. He was just hitting on a hot brunette with a feisty temper. Austin says, from the look of those stitches, she was more than just feisty, but Mason says, she’s not the one that hit him. Someone… he thinks it was her blonde friend, hit him with the bottle. The next thing he knows, cop sirens were blaring. Austin says, and he just stumbled out of there, blood everywhere? Anybody see his ugly mug? (Sounds like something Scotty would say.) Mason says, no. He managed to sneak out the back during all the confusion. He thought to himself, hey, what better time to visit his cousin than when he actually needs a doctor? Austin says, lucky me, and Mason says he figured he could check up on their girl Betty. How’s she doing taking care of Sonny’s daughter?

Finn says he knows it’s a lot to ask, but Violet loves Elizabeth, and he can’t think of a better person to raise her if anything happened to him. He knows she’d be safe and loved with her and the boys. Elizabeth says, nothing’s going to happen to him, but he says, that’s just the thing. No one knows that for certain. She says, he’s right. No one knows what the future holds, but she also thinks he’s just unnerved over losing his patient tonight. He says, maybe, but if something was to happen to him, can he count on her? She says, of course (🍷). Always.

The man lights another match and Anna’s foyer goes up in flames. He lights one more and sets an easy chair on fire. He walks out, closing the door. Anna’s whole first floor becomes an inferno.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he’ll sleep easier knowing there’s a place for Violet; that she’ll grow up in a loving home. He can’t thank her enough. She says, he doesn’t have to thank her. She wants to do it. He doesn’t have anything to worry about. Everything’s going to be okay. He tells her, when she says it, he actually believes it, and she says, good. Because he’s going to get to watch Violet grow up, graduate from high school, graduate from college; maybe become a brilliant doctor just like her dad. He says, or maybe a brilliant nurse like her aunt, and Elizabeth says she likes the sound of that. He says he wants to make sure she knows what she might be getting into. Violet is unique. She says she knows, and he asks if she knows Violet is very particular about how she likes everything organized. It’s borderline OCD, and Elizabeth’s not the most organized person. She says, what? and he tells her that he’s just saying, there’s all that clutter in her house and she never throws anything away, and there’s still Cam’s soccer balls lying there from when… He just wants to make sure she’s up for it. She says, how hard can it be? He’s doing it. He laughs, and I say, touché.

Dante comes home to find Sam asleep. He touches her hair.

Avery comes into Ava’s room, and says, mommy? waking her. Ava says, what is it? and Avery says she can’t sleep. Ava says, well, she had a glass of water, she talked to her dad, Ava’s tucked her in twice. How can she help Avery? Avery says she wants to sleep with Ava, and Ava says, what about her little stuffed bunny? Won’t he miss her? Avery says, he’s tucked in already. She told him she was sleeping with her mommy. Ava laughs, and says, all right, hop in. Avery gets in the bed, and Ava puts the covers around her. Ava tells her, just think about all the fun she’s going to have at camp tomorrow. They’ll be lots of games and snacks, and she’s going to make lots of new friends. Avery says she already has a friend – Betty. And she’s going to see her tomorrow. She’s so nice. Ava doesn’t look happy, as none of us would.

Austin finishes stitching up Mason, and Mason asks about Betty. Is she still in with Sonny’s little girl? Austin says, who’s Betty? and Mason says, don’t play dumb. Austin says, he’s not playing dumb. Betty is Mason’s mole, not his. She’s his to keep tabs on. Mason says, she’s theirs to keep tabs on; Austin’s, his, and Ava’s. They’ve got to take ownership in this. They have as much riding on it as he does. And his friend Ava? He hopes she realizes what happens if this doesn’t work out. Austin says, Ava does not need to be reminded of what’s at risk here, and Mason asks if he’s sure. She seems to be like a loose cannon. He only knows what Betty tells him, but from what he hears, Ava is not happy. Austin says, he put Ava precisely between a rock and a hard place. He’s thinking she’s not happy. Mason says he’s thinking Austin needs to rein her in, and Austin says, thankfully, Ava is a woman who will never be reined in. Mason says, if she slips up and tells Sonny something… Austin says, she’s not going to slip up. Mason has Ava’s daughter, her life, right in the palm of his hand. Mason says, okay. The last thing they need is for Ava to expose Betty, or worse, expose them. Austin says, from what he knows, Avery is thrilled with Betty, and lucky for them, Sonny is happy with her services too. Mason says, that’s good to hear. Betty is cooperative. The more Sonny trusts her, the greater their odds they get something about his deal with Pikeman.

Ned says he doesn’t know what the deal is with Carly and Sonny, but he’s ready to go back to the bars. If Sonny would please sign him out… Carly tells Sonny, just take Ned and go, and Ned says, Eddie. Carly says, take Eddie and go, and Sonny tells Carly, let’s go. Chase comes out and promises Carly, it’s just a formality. All Sonny has to do is sign her paperwork and walk her out, and off the record, she can just call a Ride Share. Carly says she’s fine. She called her daughter. Josslyn’s coming down here, and Josslyn can sign her out. Sonny says, let’s talk, but she says, he’s not going to change her mind. Ned asks if he can leave, but Chase says, not without Sonny. Ned says, this just gets better and better, and Sonny tells Carly, let’s talk this out, and they step aside.

Sonny asks why she’s doing this. Why doesn’t she just text Josslyn and tell her that she doesn’t have to come down here; it’s late. Carly says she doesn’t need him. She doesn’t need his help. He asks why she has to be so stubborn. He’ll sign the papers, and they’ll walk out of here. Why does she have a problem with him doing this? She says she doesn’t have to tell him her reasons. Those days are gone. He says, but this is now. Forget those days. She says, why doesn’t he just take Ned and go? and he asks why she always puts her pride in front of everything else. She says, because her pride is the only thing she’s got. It’s the only thing she can rely on. He says, she can rely on him, and she says, come on. He says, he’s here, isn’t he? and she says, he’s here for Ned. Just take him and go, since she knows Nina doesn’t want him here. He says, it’s not about Nina right now. It’s about them having a conversation. She says, just take Ned and go, and he says he sees he’s not getting through to her, and nothing’s going to change her mind. She doesn’t want his help. She says, no, she doesn’t want his help.

Anna comes back to the house, and reaches for the doorknob, but pulls back from the heat. She uses her shirt to open the door, and finds everything blazing. A beam falls, but instead of calling, oh maybe the fire department, she surveys everything burning.

Elizabeth points out the first star in Orion’s belt, and Finn says, it’s his favorite. She says, her too, and he says, when he was a kid, he’d make wishes on it. She says, let’s make a wish, and closes her eyes. After a moment, he asks if she made a wish, and she says, yeah. Did he? He says, yes, and she puts her head on his shoulder as they gaze at the stars.

Dante gets into bed and spoons Sam. She asks if his mom is okay, and he says, mm-hmm. Her and Ned and Carly got into some hot water at the Highsider. Sam asks if they’re okay, and he says, yeah. He took his mother home, and Sonny was dealing with Carly and Ned. He’s just happy to be back here. She says, her too, and they get back to getting busy. There’s a song part.

We see Nina tossing and turning, and looking at her engagement ring.

Carly says, as hard as it is for Sonny to believe, she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself. He says, look around. She’s still being detained. Unless she walks out that door with him, she’s going to be detained. She says, it’s her life. Whether she’s wrongfully detained or rightfully arrested, she can handle herself, and she can deal with the consequences. He says, it’s an easy fix. As long as she doesn’t make it so damn… She says she doesn’t care that it’s an easy fix. Ned called him; she didn’t. Sign him out and go. Sonny says, suit yourself, and signs the paperwork for Ned. Ned thanks him, and they leave. Chase asks if Carly has heard from Josslyn, but she says, no. She’s texting Josslyn, but thinks her phone is on silent. He asks if there’s anyone else she wants t to try calling, and she says her mom’s out of town and she doesn’t want to wake up Willow and Michael. He can just stick her in a holding cell if he has to. She gets it. He tells her to just sit by his desk and wait until her daughter calls, and she says, he doesn’t have to give her special treatment. He says he’ll get her a coffee, she sighs and sits down.

Finally outside on the phone, Anna says, her house is on fire. 232 Harborview Road… No. She’s standing out front. They need to hurry. It’s spreading rapidly.

Tomorrow, Dex asks, what’s the plan; Anna tells Valentin that someone out there wants her to pay for what she did; Mason asks why on earth he’d ever let Austin go; and Sonny says, there’s been a change of plan.

👶🏽 She’s Having Their Baby…

An addition to a storyline that already has us confused with revolving Davis girls. Cool that she gets to go to work with dad though.

🎳 Not The Strike You Think…

This sounds like a lot of fun. I’m actually tempted.

If you want to get tickets. The prices aren’t bad.

https://www.daytimestarsandstrikes.com/events.html

🍸 Still Drinking the Kool-Aid…

I have the feeling Billie Lee tends to go wherever the controversy spotlight is.

💎 LisaR Who…?

It’s not surprising. The relief has caused amnesia.

Like she cares. Sour grapes anyone?

🧂 Trailing Salt Lake…

It’s hard to take anyone seriously when they’re dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow or a drag queen. Love the blue cast photo though!

https://ew.com/tv/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-season-4-premiere-date-trailer/

More Than You Can Afford…

Wow. Just wow.

📺 Bravo Baby Come Back…

I loved the Shahs. I believe Bravo definitely wanted to distance themselves from Mike, but that shouldn’t have caused a cancelation. And I don’t believe for a second they couldn’t have figured out a budget.

🐉 The Dragons Are Coming…

What’s happening with Season Two of House of the Dragon. I missed the first couple episodes of Season One, and for some reason, couldn’t get into it, but maybe I’ll give it another whirl.

⚰️ Dead Happenings…

Those two crazy kids.

https://movieweb.com/the-walking-dead-rick-and-michonne-spinoff-unveils-behind-the-scenes-images/

Yep. We’ve all made bad decisions. Although most of them don’t result in us finding ourselves in France.

🏆 Pinning Down Emmy…

2024 is the new 2023. Unfortunately, it looks like the Daytime Emmy Awards have been postponed indefinitely. Susan Lucci can never catch a break.

https://ew.com/awards/emmys/2023-emmys-new-date-announced/

🐕 Lassie Come Home…

Dogs you might know.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g20687419/famous-dogs-from-movies/

🫧 Quotes of the Week

From the errors of others, a wise person corrects their own. – Pubilius Syrus

Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection. – Mark Twain

You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action. – Nelson Mandela

Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them. – Madam C.J. Walker

People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance. And while they seem quite eager to feed you their negativity, please remember that sometimes the diet we need to be on is a spiritual and emotional one. Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action. – Steve Maraboli

I’d bet on rabbits if you could get them organized. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety. – Aesop

Once you start name calling, cordial’s out the window. – John McManus, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days

The noisiest thing in the world is someone trying to be quiet. – me

🎤 Whoomp, There It Was…

Make a return trip on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a look at Kate and the Captain’s Couch. Until then, stay safe, stay continually learning new things, and stay understanding that if you’re engaged to a mobster, he’s going to disappear in the middle of the night with no note or text. Then return with no explanation of where he was or why.

⚠️ Caution: Lyrics may not be for sensitive ears.

October 19, 2022 – Cyrus Offers Spencer Protection, the Beverly Hills Reunion Marches On, Discomfited Captain & Season

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nikolas tells Ava, it’s not a good time, but she breezes past him, saying they have a lot to talk about. He suggests they meet at the PC Grill later, and she says, how about now? but he says, she can’t be here.

Esme works at the lock with the picture wire, but is unsuccessful. She says she doesn’t know how big the baby’s brain is yet, but they need all the help they can get. How are they going to get out of here?

Spencer picks up some torn pieces of paper from the library floor, and Cyrus comes in and says, tear-aways. Men tear pictures of women out of men’s lifestyle magazines. He shrugs, and Spencer says, that’s pathetic. Cyrus says, prison is a lonely place. The magazines are full of holes. Spencer says, just like Cyrus’s redemption story.

Kristina meets Sonny and Dante at the MetroCourt, and apologizes for being late. She had to train the manager who’s going to sub for her. Sonny asks if she’s looking forward to her trip, but she says, it’s not a trip; it’s a management incentive. Sonny says, they’re overdue for a family meal, and Kristina asks which guard Sonny has today. Frank, or is Dex back?

Alexis says, Diane scared her, and Diane says, Alexis doesn’t scare easily. Alexis says she’s always scared. It’s just manifested as righteous indignation. Diane asks if it was Alexis’s fear that made Alexis goad her attacker.

Robert calls Anna, and asks if she found Lucy, but Anna says, no, and she doesn’t like it. The reminder on Lucy’s calendar was a sunset cruise leaving from Pier 47, but there’s no sign of her or a boat. Anna hears the shots from Pier 55, and runs toward them.

Sonny says, Dex is back, and Kristina says, thank God Sonny finally backed off Dex being a person of interest. She tells Dante, it made no sense whatsoever, and Dante says, it kind of did, but they’ve since found evidence that points them in a different direction. She says she told them. For a minute there, she thought Sonny lost confidence in Dex too. Sonny says, for a minute there, he did.

Alexis says, Diane read the open letter in The Invader, and Diane says she’s been very busy, but managed to find time. Alexis says, when she saw Diane on that garage floor, she wanted to do something. She wanted to get the attacker, smoke him out, goad him into slipping. Diane says, her; the attacker was a woman. Alexis says, good job in keeping her presence of mind to make the partial ID. She thought the open letter was a good idea at the time, but now there’s been another attack, She didn’t mean to provoke… Diane says, objection, counselor; that’s speculation. The real killer doesn’t need to be provoked. She wasn’t the first victim, and she won’t be the last. Alexis made a valiant effort, and she appreciates it. Alexis says she would hate it if she was responsible for anyone else having to go through what Diane did, but Diane says she’s still standing… lying, sitting. And besides having time to read Alexis’s profound journalism, it’s given her a chance to put things in perspective. Like if she’s living her life to the fullest. Maybe there’s something out there she’s been missing. Robert stands in the doorway, and says, ka-nock, ka-nock. Now there’s a sight for sore eyes.

Ava asks Nikolas if Uncle Victor is telling the truth; he said Nikolas was going to divorce her. He steps away from her, and she asks if he was going to tell her, or was she just going to answer the door one day at Nina’s, and be served with papers? He says, it’s not what she thinks, and she says she doesn’t know what to think. She thought he wanted to work on things. He says he does, and she asks why Victor thinks otherwise. He flashes back to Victor demanding he divorce Ava, and says, Victor probably got the wrong idea because he’s been so cynical about their chances. It’s not like she’s been giving him hope. She asks if he thinks he deserves it, and he says, probably not, but he will spend the rest of his life trying to win her back, and won’t let anyone stand in his way.

Esme says she knows she’s asking a lot of the baby, but they’re the only reason Nikolas hasn’t wrung her neck. She tries the wire on the lock again, and says, you’re my ace in the hole, kid, and your daddy knows it. That’s why he’s trapped them in there. She really knows how to pick them. Just wait until you meet your brother Spencer.

Cyrus says, Spencer has every right to be skeptical. In his previous life, he was a scoundrel by every definition, but he’s no longer that man. Spencer says, he’s reformed, and Cyrus says he was faithless once too. Spencer says he has faith, just not in men who say one thing and do another. Cyrus says, like Spencer’s father, or Spencer, and Spencer says, Cyrus doesn’t know him. Cyrus says, we’re family, but Spencer says, no. He’s a Cassadine. Family is simply a means to an end with them. Cyrus says, that saddens him because he values family greatly. Martin and Laura… Spencer tells Cyrus not to say his grandmother’s name, and Cyrus says, he merely meant to convey his regret in pushing away the two people he’d like to get closer to. In Spencer, he sees an opportunity to make almonds amends. Spencer says he’s sorry, but the adopt-an-inmate program has been discontinued, and Cyrus laughs. He says he notices Spencer’s uniform isn’t his size, and heard his bedding went missing. He can endure this hazing or let Cyrus look out for him. Book comes in and says, careful. If Spencer relies on this old man, he won’t last ten minutes in this place. Is this guy new or just stupid? Not to mention, Cyrus looks like he could easily take most inmates on.

Anna calls 9-1-1, and says, shots fired on Pier 55. She walks out to the dock, and sees a shoe near the edge. Victor calls to Lucy, and runs onto the pier. He says, is that Lucy’s shoe?

At the MetroCourt, Alexis nearly runs into Dex, and says, he works for Sonny, doesn’t he? He says he’s working right now. Sonny is having dinner with her daughter. She says, Kristina’s here?

Dante says he’s sorry, but duty calls. A raincheck on the family dinner? He says goodbye to Sonny and Kristina, and leaves.

Anna asks what Victor is doing here, and he says he might ask her the same thing. She says she heard shots, and he says, as did he. He was on his way to meet Lucy at Pier 47, when he heard the shots. He told his driver to pull over in case someone needed assistance. He doesn’t see anyone here but Anna. Anna says, she was at Pier 47, and Lucy’s not there. Victor wonders where she could be; she’s not answering his calls. Anna shines her flashlight around, and he says he hopes nothing’s happened to Lucy. He’ll feel so responsible; he’ll never forgive himself. Anna says, is he responsible? and he says, it’s his fault she was out here all alone. He was late, and if that shoe’s any indication, she was waiting at the wrong dock. He calls Lucy again, and says, still voicemail. He’ll call the PCPD. Anna says, she already did, but he says he wants to make sure they’re en route. She says she’ll call the harbormaster.

Book tells Spencer, prison is all about partnerships, and Spencer says he’s just trying to keep his head down. Book says, he can go that route, but the attention he’s getting won’t stop at his fluff and folds. He adjusts Spencer’s collar, and Cyrus says, take your hands off him. Book says, it’s all in who you know. Isn’t that right, old man? Spencer might think he has it made, but those Corinthos guys can’t be everywhere all the time, and the best he’ll get aligning himself with this prehistoric pusher is an extra helping at mealtime. Cyrus asks if Book thinks Spencer should align himself with his lot, and Book says, no one can look out for Spencer 24/7 in a place like this. It’s dangerous and random. Spencer asks what he wants, and Book says he wants his work assignment back. Spencer asks where he is now, and Book says, laundry. Spencer looks at Cyrus, and says, mystery solved. Book says, what does Spencer say? Spencer gets his protection for his old gig back?

Ava says, Nikolas would fight for them? and he says, clearly she wants him to. She moves closer as if she’s going to kiss him, and says, how arrogantly presumptuous. Nikolas tells her, admit she still loves him and doesn’t want to give up on them any more than he does, but she says she admits nothing. He asks why she’s here. The minute she thinks he’s going to throw in the towel, she shows up. She tells him not to flatter himself, and he asks if she has another reason to be here. She says she does. She has to take inventory when she closes the gallery, and left some files in the tower. So she’ll go get them and they can continue this conversation when it’s more convenient. He says she can’t go up there, and she asks, why not? What’s really going on around here?

Robert says he didn’t mean to chase Alexis off, but Diane says, he didn’t. They had a long and lovely visit. Did he capture her assailant? He says, not yet, but he thought he’d see how she was doing. He went to the ICU, and they told him she’d been upgraded, which he expected, her being a tough cookie and all. She says she tries. She guesses this is the universe’s way of telling her to slow down, and he says, it’s too bad the universe can’t give us these messages in a less painful way. She asks what she can do for him. Does he have more questions for her? He wonders if any details have crossed her mind; it could be totally insignificant. She says she’s tried, but aside from the fact it was a woman with jangly bracelets, the only things she can remember is her life flashing before her eyes. They say that happens, and it’s true. He says he’s been there, once or twice.

Anna asks why Victor and Lucy were meeting, and Victor says, they were going on a sunset cruise. She says she doesn’t see a boat. Why does he suppose her shoe is here? He says he hasn’t a clue, and asks what brought her to the docks? Anna says she told him, and Dante comes in with some officers. He tells Anna that he got a call about a missing or abducted person. Does she know anything about that? She says she believes the shoe belongs to Lucy Coe; they found it there. Victor says, to be accurate, Anna Devane found the shoe. He arrived shortly after the gunshots. Dante examines the shoe, and Anna says, two gunshots in rapid succession, from a small caliber weapon. She can’t be sure of the precise origin, but if Lucy’s missing… Dante says, is Lucy missing? and Victor says, it would seem so. They were supposed to meet here, and Lucy’s nowhere to be seen. His calls are going to voicemail. Dante tells an officer to cordon off the area, and get CSI and forensics down here. They also need an underwater dive. Victor asks what Dante thinks happened, but Dante says he doesn’t know, but he’s going to find out, and then so will Victor.

Esme fails at lockpicking again, and throws books and paintings around the room. She screams at the top of her lungs, then flings herself on the bed, pounding on it, and throwing a tantrum.

Nikolas tells Ava, a pipe burst in the north tower. It’s not safe to go up there; it’s a mess. She says, all her files will be ruined, but he says, don’t worry. Everything was boxed up and moved to a different area; there’s no damage. When the tower is structurally sound, he’ll grab her files and get them to her. He hustles her to the door, and she asks if he’s trying to get rid of her, but he says, it’s just the opposite. He has to get back to check on how the work is coming. She says, it’s night, and he says he has to meet the foreman in the morning, and likes to be hands-on. She says she’s meeting Nina for dinner anyway. About what Uncle Victor said… He says, nothing can be further from the truth. There is no third party intervention needed. He wants her; the ball’s in her court. She says, all right then, and leaves.

Spencer tells Book, it’s a tempting offer, but he thinks he’ll watch his own back. Spencer heads back to the shelves, and Book tries to follow, but Cyrus blocks him. He says, Book heard his nephew, and Book punches Cyrus in the jaw, but Cyrus is hardly fazed.

Esme continues to pound on the bed, then sits up, wondering, what was that? It felt like butterflies. Is the baby moving around or just giving her indigestion? Either way, she supposes they’re right. She can’t give up now and start feeling sorry for herself. She won’t give up. We won’t give up. She picks up the wire, and works at the lock some more. It opens, and she says, we did it. Let’s go see your grandfather. She steps out, and Nikolas is there. He asks if she’s going somewhere.

Sonny tells Kristina, he’s proud of all his children, Michael included. Even though they’re not blood related, Michael is the most like him, and the first child he raised. You think you know what it’s like to be a parent until you become one. She asks if things are still tense between him and Michael, and Sonny says, tense is an understatement. He thinks it’s over, but Kristina doesn’t believe that. She says, Michael is hurt and angry, but underneath all of that, Michael loves him and he always will. He says, like her and Alexis, and Alexis walks over to their table. Kristina asks if she’s heard from Diane, and Alexis says, Diane is out of the ICU, and recovering by leaps and bounds. Sonny says, that’s good to hear, and tells Alexis, have a seat. He has to take care of something. He leaves, and Alexis sits down. She says she’ll just sit for a bit. She doesn’t want to take time away from Kristina’s dinner with her dad. Diane said Kristina called; that was thoughtful. Kristina says, Diane is Alexis’s best friend, and Alexis says, and she also saw the flowers Kristina sent to Brando’s memorial service. Kristina says she’s sorry she had to miss it, but she’s going out of town, and couldn’t take time off before she leaves. She’s sure Alexis thinks her slinging drinks and wings isn’t as important as her cousin’s funeral.

Cyrus tells Book, the Bible says, if someone smite thee on thy cheek, turn to him the other one, and Book says he’s glad God approves. He raises his hand, and in a second, Cyrus has that hand twisted behind Book’s back, and Book up against the wall. He says, it also tells us to put on the full armor of God, so ye can stand against the wiles of Satan. He lets Book go, and says, move… on. Book says, and if he doesn’t? Is Cyrus going to drop the spiritual act, and do what? Cyrus says, only God can judge him, when a guard walks in and asks if there’s a problem. Cyrus says, Book’s got a shiv, and Book says, he doesn’t. The guard reaches in Book’s pocket and takes one out. He says, looks like Book earned solitary confinement, and hustles him out, as Book wails, it’s not his. Like no one in prison has ever said that. Cyrus asks Spencer, now what were we discussing before we were so rudely interrupted?

At the docks, Dante talks to Victor, and Anna leaves a message for Valentin. She says, when he gets this, he needs to call her immediately. It’s about Lucy. Victor asks if she’s calling his son, and she says, it’s none of his business. He says he is right here; he does have ears. Anna says, and Valentin’s unreachable, as Victor knows. It’s such a coincidence, isn’t it, that Valentin is in Switzerland when all of this happening? He asks if she’s accusing his son of something. Charlotte has an equestrian event, and she’s like her father there. That’s the only reason Valentin is there. She says, it’s understandable, given how long it’s been since he’s seen her, and he says, what’s less understandable is Anna feeling the need to loop Valentin into Lucy’s situation. She says, Valentin is a major shareholder in Lucy’s company, and he says, yes, of course (🍷). He underestimated how heavily Valentin is invested in Deception. Dante joins them, and says, officers are checking Lucy’s home and office. Victor’s driver corroborated his story. Victor says, so he’s free to go? and Dante says, he can leave the pier. He doesn’t think it would do Victor any favors to leave town. Victor says, of course (🍷) not. Please let him know if they find out anything. It’s all so troubling. He does hope Lucy didn’t meet with foul play.

Nikolas says he should have known how enterprising Esme could be, after she stalked Ava, framed Trina, and seduced him. She says, it didn’t take much to seduce him, and she may be enterprising, but he isn’t remotely equipped for this. Does he think he can shove her in a room for six months with no preparation or planning? What is this, amateur hour? Like father, like son. He tells her, shut up. She’s taken everything from him. She blew up his marriage, his son is in Pentenville all because she came into their lives. He’s so sick of her. She asks what he’s going to do to her; she’ll scream. He tells her, go ahead. Nobody’s coming for her.

Sonny asks how Dex is holding up, and Dex says, good. Sonny asks if he wants to take off for a couple hours. Dante left, and he just ordered with Kristina, but Dex says he doesn’t mind staying. Sonny says he wants to thank Dex for not holding what happened against him. Mistakes were made; Dex was treated unfairly. One good thing that came out of this is, Sonny knows how strong and discreet Dex is. That’s very important in this business. Dex says he hopes he’s proved his loyalty, and Sonny says, loyalty is very important, and rare, and he doesn’t take it for granted.

Victor sees Ava at the MetroCourt bar, and says, twice in one day; what a delight. She says, for him, and he says he’s sorry. Has he offended her in some way? She asks if he’s forgotten the glad tidings he brought her earlier, about her husband’s plans to divorce her? He says, no, but he’s a little surprised at her reaction. Nikolas betrayed her. He would have thought she’d want to be rid of him. She says, they’ve been over this several times, but she’ll try it again. Her marriage is none of his concern. He says, of course (🍷), but allow him to be candid for a moment. As much as he cares about Nikolas, he’s hardly her equal.

Spencer asks if Cyrus set Book up, and Cyrus says, that’s one way of looking at it. Spencer asks if Cyrus knew the guard was coming back or was that just luck? Cyrus says, he believes in blessings, not luck, but he does have connections Book knows nothing about. People often mistake bluster for power, but real power is much quieter. Spencer asks if the Bible doesn’t also something about bearing false witness, and Cyrus laughs, saying, apparently, God isn’t through with him yet. It’s hard reconcile sometimes, but there’s a spiritual world and there’s a real world. It’s not his job to take Book off this planet, but he can remove him from Spencer’s sphere, at least temporarily. Maybe he’ll think twice approaching Spencer next time. Spencer supposes he should thank Cyrus, but Cyrus says he’ll settle for the benefit of the doubt.

Diane asks if all of Robert’s injuries are work related. He doesn’t have a scar or broken bone from something more pedestrian? He says, there was a scar after his cancer surgery, but he’s not letting her see it until she buys him dinner, or maybe vice versa. She tells him, don’t make her laugh. Point taken, and point made. He’s no stranger to brushes with death. Before this, the closest she came was a broken pinky toe sliding into third in elementary school. He says, she was a tomboy? and she says, not so loud. People think she’s classy. He says she gets brownie points because someone came after her with a hook; that never happened to him. She says, it’s not a thrill she recommends, and he says, he remembers the times he thought he was going to die. He felt very uncomfortable with that vulnerability. She says, perhaps that’s why they have empowering jobs, and he says, or perhaps they’re just as tough as old boot leather. She says, in any case, coming face-to-face with her mortality was sobering, and he says, we are not now that strength… She says, which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson)

Anna tells Dante, she was looking for Lucy on Pier 47, and heard two shots. They seemed to come from this direction, and she arrived on the scene a few minutes later. No one was there, and something caught her eye; the shoe. She can’t swear it’s Lucy’s, but it’s definitely her style. Dante says, back up. Why was she looking for Lucy in the first place? She says, she was worried for Lucy’s safety, and he says, why? It can’t be a coincidence that she and Victor were on the same dock. She says, it’s not. She believes Victor knew Lucy was going to be here, on Pier 55, not Pier 47, where she was informed Lucy would be. He says, informed by who? and asks if she thinks Victor had something to do with Lucy’s disappearance. She says she does. She can’t prove it, but yes. He says he trusts Anna’s gut. So assuming Lucy’s missing, why would Victor target her? She says, Lucy was working for her to get information out of Victor so she could take him down. Before Dante can say anything, she says she knows. She was trying to get Lucy to stop, but she refused. She called Lucy’s office to find out who she was, and they said she was going on a sunset cruse with Victor, leaving from Pier 47. She came to try and extract Lucy from the situation, but then she heard the shots, and came here, and found the shoe. He says, so she thinks Victor’s on to Lucy? and she says, an hour ago, she had no reason to think so, but now, she believes Victor found out somehow, and he’s done something about it.

Kristina tells Alexis, she knows. Why become a better manager when all she manages is a pub? Alexis says, Kristina’s job is important to her, and what’s important to Kristina, is important to Alexis. Kristina says, but it’s just a job, not a career, and Alexis admits that she’s sometimes questioned how Kristina goes about things, and Kristina says she’s not even going to pretend she doesn’t know why. Alexis says, but she sees Kristina being responsible and enthusiastic. She’s being recognized for doing a good job, and seems happy. Kristina says she is happy, and Alexis says, that’s what’s most important. She never wants Kristina to think she’s not proud of her. She’s so proud of Kristina.

Sonny tells Dex, he had the best working for him; dedicated, steadfast, but he’s gone now. Dex says he knows he can’t fill his shoes, but he’d like to try, and Sonny says, Dex kept his head, and came through for him. He needs a lieutenant he can trust. Dex says, he’s Sonny’s guy. He thinks he’s ready for a new challenge. Sonny asks if Dex can think of anything more important than protecting his family, and Dex says, no, sir.

Cyrus says he’d like to get to know Spencer better, but perhaps he’s asking too much. He starts to leave, but Spencer says, wait. This just arrived this morning. He picks up a book, and says, this is William Tyndale’s 1534 translation of the New Testament. Cyrus says, that’s the seminal version. It contains his prefaces and his notes. Spencer says he hasn’t logged it into the system yet. It’s Cyrus’s if he’d like it. Cyrus says, bless you, taking the book. Spencer says, it only seems fair; a book for a Book. Now he doesn’t owe Cyrus anything. Cyrus says, he never did.

Esme pounds on the bathroom door and yells, as Nikolas removes everything from the room. She says he can’t leave her locked in the bathroom, and he asks, who’s going to stop him? She says he’s made his point. She shouldn’t have tried to leave when he was just trying to help her. He says he’s clearing this room. She’s lost her privilege of luxury. For the sake of the baby, he won’t make her sleep on the floor, but she’ll have little else. She tells him, do this, and he’ll be sorry, and he says he’s already sorry. She screams, let me out!

Diane says she didn’t peg Robert as a lover of poetry, and he says, nice to know he has some surprises left. She says, it will be no surprise when he catches that killer, but please make it soon. He says he’s doing his best to make things safe for her, and gets up. He says he does like sparring with her in court, and she says, it’s going to be a while before they do that again. He says he guesses he’ll just have to come in here and spar, and she says she looks forward to it.

Victor says, he really does care for Nikolas, but he’s aware of Nikolas’s limitations. Frankly, she’s too much woman for him. She asks, what’s that supposed to mean? and he says, he thinks she knows, but he’ll spell it out for her. She’s full of life, vivacious, beguiling, a force of nature. He hates to see such a woman wasted on the wrong man. She says, not that it’s one iota of his business, but who pray tell, is the right man? He says, one who would repay her loyalty with devotion of his own, and she asks if he has someone in mind. He says, as the Americans say, he should stay in his own lane. Let it suffice to say, he does know the crushing disappointment of putting your trust in the wrong person. They both deserve better. She watches as he leaves.

The forensics team works at the pier, and Anna tells Dante, if Victor is onto Lucy, then he’s onto all of them. Which means this investigation is compromised, and Victor won’t be charged for his crimes. Dante says, she means Luke Spencer’s death, and she says she should have never done this. She should have never enlisted Lucy to work Victor. She was trying to keep Lucy safe. He says, for all they know, she still is, and Anna says, what are the odds of Lucy leaving a designer shoe on the docks willingly? They have to assume Victor has figured it out, and he’s dealt with her. They know what he’s capable of. Dante says, and they know Lucy, and know what she’s capable of. Lucy is relentless. If anyone can survive Victor, it’s her.

Lucy pulls herself out of the water, and onto a rocky shore, where she passes out.

Tomorrow, Martin asks if there’s any news about Lucy; Epiphany is holding Marshall personally responsible; Anna tells Victor that she’s making it her business to destroy him; and Willow sees something that makes her scream.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – The Reunion – Part 2

We jump right in because we were already there. Garcelle says she doesn’t hate Diana. She just wants to be left alone. She doesn’t want Diana posting about her and harassing her on social media. Diana says, Garcelle called her evil, and Andy asks if that wasn’t after Diana called Sutton the c-word. We see a clip of the after-show, where Garcelle calls Diana’s behavior evil, and Diana asks, what’s worse, calling someone the c-word or evil? LisaR says she calls herself the c-word, and finally we agree on something. The consensus is that evil is worse, because this is bizarro world where everything is topsy-turvy. Andy asks if Sutton needs to say anything to Diana, or clear anything up, but Sutton says she’s clear on their non-relationship. Diana says she’s disappointed and hurt about Garcelle, and Garcelle laughs, saying, it’s always her. Diana says, no one in the group would go after Garcelle’s sweetheart son, and Garcelle is stone-faced, which she is throughout a lot of this show. It totally beats all the weird faces the rest of them keep making. Andy says, Diana filed a lawsuit to force the revelation of who’s behind the bots. Andy asks who it’s filed against, and Diana says, John Doe. Andy asks, whose job is it to uncover the name? and Diana says, her lawyers are going to be busy. Which means it’s them? Andy asks Garcelle’s reaction to the lawsuit, and she says, good. Erika says, Diana has good intentions good. Garcelle is hurt. Garcelle says, she’s hurt, but she’s not putting things on social media about Diana, and Andy asks, what kind of stuff is Diana posting? Garcelle says, she doesn’t want to fuel it anymore; she’s good. Andy thanks Diana for rallying to join them, and it’s goodbye. Several cast members hope to God they’re breaking for lunch. Behind the scenes, LisaR picks at an energy bar, and says, it’s sad. The bot thing causes division in the group. She and Erika agree that’s the reason behind it. Sutton hangs out with Garcelle, who points out that Sutton’s socks have her dog Waylon on them. Sutton says, Garcelle did great with Jax talk, and Garcelle says she’s not going to stop until she knows who bought the bots. She’s glad Sutton and Crystal have been able to move on, and Sutton says, it was nice to see some support. In another dressing room, Dorit tells Kyle that Crystal is struggling to admit she wasn’t telling the truth to cover her ass. We flash back to Kyle saying, there was no real dark story, and Kyle says, if you don’t tell the truth, you can’t keep your story straight.

Andy welcomes us back, even though we haven’t gone anywhere. They talk about Kyle’s tattoos, all of which are boring because Kyle is boring. Andy says, for 12 seasons, Kyle has shared her life, which has gotten more fabulous with each season. We flash back over Kyle’s most recent season, and not all of it is boring. Some of it is stupid. Andy asks if Farrah has set a date, and Kyle says, not yet, but they want to get married in La Quinta. Andy says, the bride’s family foots the bill. He assumes they’ll spare no expense. Kyle says, Farrah doesn’t want anything over-the-top, but it’s their first, and they have to go as big as Portia’s Bat Mitzvah. We see a clip of that, and Andy moves on to rumors of Dorit cheating with Mauricio. Apparently, viewers read something into a three-way hug between PK, Mauricio, and Dorit. We see a clip of it, and the thought of it being anything other than what it is, is stupid beyond belief. Erika says, when she was at the World Cup in Berlin, a guy asked if she and her friend were in porn, and his name was Paul Kemsley. Dorit says, he was being an ass, but Erika says he was just being his sassy self. Andy says, Garcelle’s hustle never stopped. She had a book come out, bought a beach house, and a Birkin. Mazel. We flash back to the Birkin party, my favorite line being, does it come with money in it? Andy asks, who owns one? and everyone except Erika raises their hand, and she says, it’s not her thing. Andy says, Garcelle’s book has a chapter on Bill Cosby, and she says, he called her modeling agency, and asked for number. They asked her, and at the time, he was huge. She’d just turned 18, and got a small part on his show. He invited her to his townhouse to work on her acting, and gave her some Sambuca. She took a sip, and it didn’t feel right being there, so she ran. The name of the chapter is, Listening to Your Gut. Andy asks if Erika skimmed Garcelle’s book before chucking it in trash, and we see the post with it in the garbage. LisaR says she was the one who threw it in the trash.

LisaR says, she and Garcelle had a handshake agreement; the kids were off limits. Garcelle mentioned Amelia in the book, and not in a positive light. It turns out to be just a rehash of a moment on the show where Garcelle asked if LisaR thought her body image affected her daughter. LisaR says, it didn’t have to be in the book, and Garcelle says, LisaR read it, and the next thing she knew, LisaR’s lawyer called her manager. LisaR says, then it got hot and heated, and Garcelle says, it was a week until publication, and they decided to print a second edition where the reference was removed. LisaR says she was good with that, and had only sent the video to the group chat. One that Garcelle is not privy to, but Erika chose to post it. Erika says, Garcelle also used her remark about Erika not needing her to make herself look bad to promote the book. She’d posted the clip on Instagram, and said, another way to make yourself look bad is not buy her book. There’s a big discussion on recycling, which apparently was an issue after this staged photo was posted. Andy says, even LVP weighed in, saying Garcelle should have sent Erika a scratch and sniff book so she’d understand, which I think is pretty funny. Erika gives a nasty retort that I’m not breathing life into. Andy brings up Oliver working for LVP in Las Vegas, and Garcelle says, LVP was having an event for Haiti, and she was invited. It was the first time they met, and she knew Oliver was looking for a job. Andy asks how recently Garcelle saw LVP, and she says, pretty recently. We see the headline about them filming together, and LisaR says, wow, like this is some betrayal. They take a break, and talk more about recycling.

Once again, we’re welcomed back, and Andy says, Lois was beloved by family, friends, and fans, but LisaR’s anger took over. Was it excusable or out of line? We see clips of Lois, LisaR talking about Lois’s death, the group cheersing Lois, then on to the anger. We see Sutton’s interview, where she said, it would take an exorcism to get the soap actress out. We flash back to LisaR’s breakdown, and the poor strangers at the table. Andy asks how it’s been, and LisaR says, it’s hard to come do the show, and maybe it would have been better if she’d taken time off. She’s done the best she can, and she’s sorry for being a crazy maniac, screaming, and doing what she did. Andy says, there was a memorial in July, and LisaR says, waiting to put Lois to rest was difficult, but Lois had asked them to wait until the summer. She left a lipstick print on Lois’s urn. They talk about Lois’s belongings, and a viewer wonders if LisaR is using others as a scapegoat for her grief. LisaR babbles that she’s never been so all over the place, and Andy asks if she’s talking to a therapist. She says she has from the beginning, which is worrisome. Erika says, they’ve talked privately, and it’s hard for LisaR. Andy asks what Lois made of LisaR on the show, and LisaR says, she never judged. She never made LisaR feel bad or less than. I wonder, then why does LisaR dishonor her by doing that to other people?

Andy asks if Sutton’s clumsiness is an asset or liability, and we flash back to Sutton’s awkwardness throughout the season, and LisaR and Erika talking about Sutton. A viewer suggests that Sutton reacted differently to Dorit’s home invasion because of her past, and her father committing suicide. Kyle says, it felt flippant, and Sutton says, it’s the worst thing she’s ever said in her life, and she’ll regret it until the day she dies. Dorit tells Sutton that it feels like that’s what she needed, and they’re good. A viewer says, Kyle got so physical with Sutton at Garcelle’s party, but she didn’t like it when Brandi shoved her down the stairs. We flash back to that, and it’s still good for a laugh. The surprise on Kyle’s face is priceless. Kyle says, the two things are very different, which they always are when it’s her. She says she didn’t hurt Sutton, but Sutton says, Kyle pulled on her aggressively, and immediately went to Diana’s side. Andy says, Kyle doubted Sutton’s miscarriages, and Kyle apologizes. Andy asks if Sutton was making it about herself or relating, and Kyle says, she gets now that Sutton was trying to relate. Andy asks Garcelle if Sutton makes things about herself, and Garcelle says, if she’s being honest, a little bit. Andy asks Erika why she considers Sutton a liability, and Erika says, she obstructs them getting to know Garcelle. Sutton wonders if the same can’t be said for everyone, and Andy asks if Erika is a liability to LisaR. Garcelle says, she never hustled Sutton out of a party to protect her, and we flash back to LisaR shoving Erika toward the door at some party, I forget which one. Erika says, we’re all different, hooray, and I have no idea how this applies. Crystal says, the others protect each other more than they claim Garcelle and Sutton do. We go over the sauce and the Elton John thing for the billionth time. A viewer suggests that Sutton does not want LisaR as a friend, and Sutton says, LisaR has shown that she hates her. LisaR says she doesn’t hate anyone, but Andy says, Sutton was a bit of a punching bag for her. LisaR says, Sutton pisses her off, and Sutton says, even after filming, LisaR came after her on social media. LisaR goes back to her tired excuse of, she had a rough season, and Sutton says, LisaR didn’t do it to anyone else but her. She doesn’t consider LisaR a friend; how can she? Viewer Andrea from San Francisco says that LisaR’s behavior toward Sutton at the wine tasting was disgusting, especially after accepting Sutton’s apology. Andy says, LisaR and Sutton’s lunch was fun, and we flash back to that. Sutton says she talked to LisaR during the time Lois was in hospice, so when she was getting yelled at repeatedly, she kept thinking, did LisaR not remember? She was a  good steady friend, and turned into a dead horse. She was giving glue to every elementary school in L.A. She needs an apology. LisaR says she’s sorry, and Sutton says, it was a pattern. LisaR says she’s sorry she took her pain, anger, sadness, and fear out on Sutton. Dorit says she doesn’t get the glue analogy, and it has to be explained that they make glue out of horse’s hooves.

Andy says he’s spoken to LisaR privately, and said her social media is disastrous. She has no impulse control, and makes trouble for herself with posts she later deletes. Dorit says, it’s like getting a thrill for people with no impulse control, and Andy says, even if it’s negative? LisaR says she doesn’t like the negative, but yes. Andy says, she posts sh*t, and he’s like, what is she doing? She blaming production for the bots. LisaR says, she was expressing stuff, and Andy says, production was upset. She says she doesn’t always think it’s bad when she’s doing it. She’s a work in progress. I hate that phrase because it sounds like what it is, an excuse, and Andy says, it’s in her control. She says she knows that; give her a chance. He asks if she’s had any thoughts about giving social media up for a time, and she says she tried. A viewer says she needs to be put on pause, and LisaR says, put her on pause. She doesn’t care. She sips her drink with her Creature of the Black Lagoon lips, and Andy says, there was a post she deleted that said, when they fight with Garcelle, they’re called racists. I’m not afraid of you ho’s. LisaR says, she was talking to the trolls and haters, and Garcelle says, sometimes what is said is perceived differently when comes to them. It  could have undertones that are racist or microaggressions. Crystal says, that’s how she felt about the Sutton conversation. It wasn’t Sutton’s original intention, but it’s how she felt. Kyle says, this is different, and Crystal says, Kyle has to stop. Kyle says, Crystal said something was real that didn’t exist. Garcelle says, people don’t realize the impact, and Crystal tells Kyle to stop making it about how she experiences it. It’s her truth. Kyle doesn’t understand it, and never will. She doesn’t want to get in trouble. Andy says he thinks Kyle and Crystal are talking about two different things, and Dorit ends this nonsense by asking if anyone feels anyone in the group is racist. It’s a hard no from everyone, and Dorit says, they have a lot to learn. Erika says, things are changing, and it’s subtle, yet the consequences are big.

Andy tells them, what’s going to happen is, they’re going to do one more package, take a break, then bring Kathy out. Everyone suddenly needs a drink, and a limo pulls up outside. Kyle asks where Kathy is sitting, and Andy says, next to him. Kyle can’t believe she’s having coffee at this hour, and says, she’s f***ed. Kathy gets out of the limo in her PJs, robe, and slippers. Inside, LisaR paces, babbling about the truth. In her dressing room, Kathy says she brought her tequila.

Next time, the conclusion. Thank you God. LisaR talks about being traumatized; Erika doesn’t talk about the earrings because it’s on appeal for legal reasons; Kathy’s big entrance; Kathy says LisaR said, I get it. You’re preaching to the choir; and Kyle says, the only one that gets hurt is her.

🚤 I was watching Andy’s Mystery Door panel at BravoCon on Watch What Happens Live, and Captain Lee looked obviously uncomfortable. Like if he could disappear, he would. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so uncomfortable. I guess it helps pay the bills. It all looks chaotic, and makes me glad I wasn’t there.

🧳 Packing It In…

Drop by tomorrow for soap and possible smack talk about Winter House. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and stay not mistaking bluster for power. Real power is much quieter.

September 16, 2022 – Sasha Gets News About Brando, Madame Mayor, Reese, a Goodbye, Jersey Talk, Won’t Be Missed, Boatmance Fail, Daryl’s Spin, But Wait, Game Of Weather, Quotes Tenfold & Dance

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Lying on a chaise with her eyes closed, Britt hears someone walking near her, and says, prosecco not champagne; do you even have to ask? Selina – is she wearing Pucci??? – says she pegged Britt as more bitter than sweet.

Dante comes to the stable, and Cody says, howdy. How was the first night in the new pad? Dante says, cut short. His cousin Brando was attacked last night. Cody says, Brando; he’s married to the model, right? Is he going to be okay? Dante says he doesn’t know. Brando is in surgery. Cody says he’s sorry to hear that. Let him know if there’s anything he can do to help. Dante asks if Cody can tell him where he was last night.

Curtis sees Jordan at the hospital, and says he’s guessing she’s here because of Brando. That’s terrible news. She says, it is. She’s got to catch this person before she strikes again. Everybody’s already on edge. He says, good luck with that, and she says, him too. He says, luck? Does he need it? She shrugs, and says, you tell me.

Gladys wonders why it’s taking so long. Why haven’t they been told anything about Brando yet? Sonny says, these things take time. They’re just going to have to stay positive. She says she’d rather be informed, and asks if he can’t do something. He’s a big shot donor here; Brando is Sonny’s family. Sonny says he’ll go check, and see what he can find out. He leaves, and Gladys goes back to Sasha, who says she can’t believe they’re here again.

Dex approaches Sonny, and Sonny asks if Dex stayed out of sight like he told him to. Dex says, Josslyn never saw him. The door was pretty secure, but he kept watching her room all night. Sonny bangs the desk, and looks like he has a headache. He says he’ll be damned if he’ll let that maniac hurt anyone he cares about again. Nina joins them, and asks if there’s any word on Brando. Sonny says he was just going to ask the nurse. How is she doing? Nina says, not great. She’s worried about Sasha, and praying for Brando. She’s okay, but not great. He says he wants her to stay that way; understand him?

Kristina brings Gladys some coffee, and asks if there’s any news. Gladys says, not yet, and thanks her. Portia approaches, and Sasha and Gladys get up.

Britt tells Selina, let’s just get this over with. Selina doesn’t want Britt hanging out with Brad. Selina says, on the contrary. She’s come to realize that Britt’s association with her nephew has its advantages. Britt says, because she helped convinced Brad to work for Selina? Not her finest hour. Selina says, but look how Bradley is thriving. Britt has proved to be a good friend to him. Britt says, one who caved under pressure, and Selina says, because she mentioned the incident in 2016? Britt was free to ignore her wishes, and risk exposure of the incident in question. The fact that Britt chose the more prudent choice, makes Selina more supportive of Britt’s friendship with her nephew. Britt says, being Selina’s errand boy is only a temporary position for Brad. She may have her hooks in him now, but she assures Selina, Brad’s his own man. Brad comes back with drinks, and says he wasn’t expecting Selina. Can he get her a mimosa? Have his.

Cody says he’s sorry about what happened to Dante’s cousin, but he didn’t have anything to do with that. Dante knows that, right? Dante says, of course (🍷) he knows Cody didn’t have anything to do with that. He’s trying to see if Cody has an alibi. Cody says, probably not, unless he can take statements from the horses. He made sure they were ready for bed, did his walk-through, and went up to his room. Dante asks if anyone can verify that, but Cody says, nope. He doesn’t have an alibi for an attack on a total stranger he’s never even met. So what now? Is the Chief of Detectives going to interrogate him personally now?

As they walk to the stable, Leo asks if Brook remembered the lumps of sugar, and she says she’s got them, but maybe she should have worn different shoes. Leo says, like cowboy boots? but she says, never… Maybe if they had fringes or studs. Leo says he bets Chase would like that, and she says, you know, smarty pants… you’re right.

Curtis tells Jordan that he already feels lucky. He’d feel luckier if those divorce papers were already signed and filed. She says she couldn’t help but notice some tension between him and Sonny at Trina’s party the other night. Is everything okay? He says, it was nothing, but she says, it didn’t look like nothing. He wonders if she’s asking as the Commissioner or as his wife, and she says, neither. She’s asking as his friend. He says, he and Sonny just had a difference of opinion about favors. Why the interest? She says, just a renewed curiosity in Sonny Corinthos’s relationships, friends and enemies. Curtis isn’t the only one Sonny’s gotten on the wrong side of lately. Both Ava and Brando have close ties to Sonny, and both were attacked. It could be a coincidence, or it could be that a pattern is emerging. He says he can’t speak to that. He lifts the Styrofoam container he’s holding, and says, Portia’s breakfast is getting cold. Jordan asks if they’re good, and he says, if she’d asked him that a couple of days ago, he’d have said, absolutely. She says, and now? and he says he’s not sure anymore.

Portia says, Dr. Chang just got done operating, and wanted her to let Sasha know that her husband made it through the surgery. Gladys says, thank God, and Sasha asks how he’s doing. Portia says, the damage was extensive, but the doctor was able to repair it. The good news is, Mr. Corbin is strong, and he’s in good health. Sasha says, and the bad news? and Portia says, there are always concerns after major surgery such as Brando’s, but she wouldn’t categorize it as bad news. These are just cautions. Sasha says, like what? and Portia says, one of the common concerns after a surgery like this would be sepsis. When chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight infection, are actually triggering inflammation. But it’s highly unlikely. They’re keeping a very close eye on him. Gladys asks if they can see him, and Portia says, family only, and only one at a time. Gladys thanks her, and Portia leaves. Sonny tells Nina that he has something to take care of. He’ll be right back. He goes over to Portia by the elevator, and says he wanted to thank her for the way she handled Sasha and his cousin Gladys. They were terrified, and she was very calm. She says, there’s no need to thank her; it’s part of her job. He says he knows, but she has a good way about her. She’s very direct, so he’s going to be direct with her right now. He wants her to tell him what the chances are of his cousin pulling through.

Dante asks what Cody did here last night. Did he call anyone? Send any emails? Cody says he watched TV. What the hell is going on here? Dante says he’s helping Cody establish an alibi. He already told Cody, he doesn’t think Cody had anything to do with the attacks. Cody says, thanks, but tell his boss to back off. Dante says, his boss isn’t going to listen to him. Mac is going to run the investigation the way he sees fit. Cody says, turning it around on him? He doesn’t need this aggravation. He doesn’t need to be on the Chief of Detectives’ radar. He just wants to do his own thing. Keep it moving. Brook comes in with Leo, and says, yoohoo, buckaroos. Dante asks, what’s going on? and Leo asks, how’s Comet today? Cody says, he’s great. He’s missing his buddy. They do a fancy handshake, and Cody says, Comet is out back. He was just going to feed him. Does Leo want to help? Leo says he has the lumps of sugar, and Cody says, let’s get to it. They leave, and Brook says she hopes they didn’t interrupt. Dante says he’s always glad to see her, and she calls him a liar. What is this she hears about him and a change of address? He says, how… Chase, and she says she does live with his mom. She’s up on all things Dante. Congratulations. It’s great he and Sam are moving in together. He says, back atcha. Her and Chase. It took them long enough. She laughs, and he says he’s got to go. Tell Cody that he’ll catch him later, and don’t sweat it.

Selina says she keeps her mind sharp, and Brad asks if he can get her some coffee, something to eat, a chaise. She says, that’s not necessary. She’s just passing through. He says, right; the high roller from Easton. Speaking in Chinese, she says, do not speak of work in front of outsiders, and he responds in kind, apologizing. He asks if she needs his assistance right now, but she says, enjoy his time off. He’ll know when she needs him. Speaking in English again, Selina says, since Britt is a cocktail aficionado, Brad must introduce her to the Green Dragon sometime. Always a pleasure. She leaves, and Britt says, the Green Dragon? Brad says, it’s a green drink, popular in China. The green liqueur makes it an acquired taste. She says, like his aunt, and he says, on the bright side, he thinks she’s starting to warm up to Britt. Britt says, Selina doesn’t like her as much as she doesn’t like Brad. They’re just useful  to her. He asks how Britt is useful to his Aunt Selina.

Jordan says she thought she and Curtis were in a good place, and he says, so did he, until he found out they were still married. She says, so this is about the divorce papers? She apologized, and he seemed to understand. He says he accepted her apology; he never said he understood. How come he didn’t hear from her when she learned about those papers? She didn’t call him or send him a message; nothing. Instead, he had to come to her. She says, bottom line, they discovered the mistake before his wedding. So it’s all good, right? He says, is it? and she asks if she’s given him reason to think otherwise. He says, actually, yes. He knows her and he know how organized she is – to a fault. Yet one of the most important documents of their lives gets lost on her watch. She says, he knows good and well what kind of time she was going through. She was very ill. He says, that’s what he’s trying to tell himself, that’s all it was, and she says, what else would it be? He asks her to answer this honestly. How does she feel about him and Portia getting married? She says she wants him to be happy, but he says, that’s not what he asked. He needs her to level with him. She knows how important honesty is to him. She asks if Portia knows that, and he asks, what does that mean?

Britt asks what Brad and Selina were talking about, and he says, just business. She says, so life as a foot soldier for auntie dearest is working out for him? and he says, things are going surprisingly well. He’s no longer feeling aimless, and he’s definitely not bored. Britt says, Selina hasn’t asked him to do anything he’s uncomfortable with, right? and he says he’s adapting. So far, he doesn’t hate it. What more can he say? She asks if he regrets working for Selina, and he says he’s fine. Why? She says she’s just checking up on her bestie.

Cody asks if Dante left, and Brook says, yeah. He said to tell Cody goodbye and don’t sweat it. What exactly is he sweating? Leo says, yeah, what is he sweating? and Cody says he made a big mistake. He broke something that’s very important to him, but – he picks up a small trophy of a horse – he thinks he fixed it. Can Leo be careful? He gives it to Leo, and Leo says, he won this? Cody says he did, when he was about Leo’s age. Brook’s phone rings, and she says she needs to change her shoes. Cody says, if she’s got to take off, he’s got Leo, and she asks if Leo is good here. Leo says, with Cody? Yeah. She leaves as she answers the phone, and Leo says, Cody won this in a competition? and Cody says, someone once told him, you earn your trophies during practice; you just pick them up at competitions. It’s kind of like winning or losing. It all comes down to how well prepared you are ahead of time. He never forgot that, and never will. Leo says, neither will he.

Sonny tells Portia, give it to him straight. Should he be preparing Sasha and Gladys? Portia says, he knows she can’t tell him this, and he says he’s not asking her to give it up; he just wants to be ready. She says she gets it, and she’ll give him this. These type of wounds can have complications. It’s not unreasonable to be prepared. Is he a praying man? He says, yes he is, and she says, prayer helps. She has every reason for cautious optimism. Now if he’ll excuse her, she’s been here all night. She’s going to grab some breakfast. He gets in the elevator with her, and says, breakfast is on him

Jordan says, people getting married should be on the same page. She and Curtis weren’t, and it was their downfall. Curtis says, that’s why this time he wanted to do it differently. He and Portia have been completely transparent with each other. Jordan tells him, if you say so, and he says, that’s the second time she’s made a comment like that. Does she think because their marriage failed, he and Portia can’t succeed, or does she just not want them to? Portia and Sonny get off the elevator.

Sonny asks Jordan if there’s any word on who attacked Brando, but she says, nothing yet. Curtis asks what Portia is up to, and she says she was just going to grab a quick bite. He hands her the container (which no doubt is cold by now), and says, quick enough? She thanks him, and he and Portia get in the elevator. Curtis says he’s sorry to hear about Sonny’s cousin, and they all say their goodbyes. Sonny says he’s not used to seeing Jordan this way, and she says, what way is that? He says, rattled, and she says, it’s been a long night, when Dante comes by. He asks how Brando is, and Sonny says, the surgery went well. Jordan says, glad to hear that, and asks if Sasha and Gladys are around. Sonny says, they were on their way to ICU, and she says she’d like to ask them a few questions, but Sonny says, that’s not a good idea. They’ve had a rough night. She’ll have to make do with him.

Brad asks, what’s up with Cody? Is Britt going to give him a second date? She says, they’re in a holding pattern, since Cody is considering leaving Port Charles, and Brad asks, why? He’s got a good job, a cushy living situation – in the Quartermaine manse, no less – and he’s dating a bombshell. Why would he want to leave? She says, the PCPD has been asking too many questions about him.

Cody teaches Leo how to sit on a saddle, and tells him to pretend he has a string in the middle of his head, pulling him up, but relax his butt in the saddle. He’s a natural. Leo says, then what? and Cody says, then you take your horse to do some tests, like different gaits. The point of the competition is to show control, your mastery of the horse. Leo asks, who taught Cody all this stuff? and Cody says, there was a horse trainer on the estate where he grew up. The trainer taught him everything he knew about horses. He was the closest thing to a father Cody had. Leo says, dad isn’t his birth father either, but he’s kind too. Cody guesses they’re both lucky, and they fist bump.

In her office, Portia asks if Curtis is going to tell her what she and Sonny walked in on, and he says, just some housekeeping with Jordan. She says, the divorce papers? and he says, among other things. She says, he didn’t, and he tells her, he’s not saying Jordan intentionally misplaced the papers, but after talking to Portia and TJ, he’s thinking it’s a possibility. She asks what TJ said, and Curtis tells her, he didn’t say anything about the divorce specifically, but it’s clear Jordan is throwing herself into work and neglecting her personal life. Portia says, maybe she’s not ready to get out there just yet. With her work, she probably has no time to sleep, much less meet someone new for a coffee date.

Dex sees Kristina by herself in the waiting area, and asks if she’s okay. She says she guesses she’s more freaked out than she’s willing to admit. She can’t believe she saw that psycho stab Brando. He asks if she saw who did it, and she says, not clearly. The alley’s not lit, and it was pouring down rain. He saw she was also probably in shock, and she asks if that’s ever happened to him. He says, the first couple times he saw action. It takes a while to learn how to focus in stressful situations. She says, it’s a good thing he was there when Ava was stabbed. She heard he was calm and collected. He says, you know how they say a swan glides on the surface, but is paddling furiously underneath? She says, so he’s not as unruffled as he seems? and he says, half of keeping your cool is faking it. She says, she’ll keep that in mind, but she’s definitely had her fill of horrible situations. He says, that’s too bad. He hopes she never has to see anything like that again, but if she does, just keep paddling.

At Brando’s room, Gladys says she’ll go in after Sasha, but Sasha tells her to go in first. Gladys thanks her, and goes inside, where Brando is hooked up to machines. Nina asks Sash what she can do, and Sasha says, tell her it won’t happen again; that she won’t lose Brando too. Nina tells her, Dr. Robinson said he’s doing fine. And think about everything Brando has to live for, Sasha being at the top of that list.

Gladys sits next to the bed, and says, it’s like when she brought him home as a newborn. She was so afraid to hurt him. This time, he’s already hurt. Tell her who hurt him. Open his big blue eyes, and tell her who put him in this bed, so she can hunt them down, and give them an ounce of the hell she’s going through.

Leo asks if there are any competitions in Port Charles, and Cody says, he’ll find out if there’s a local chapter of the Stirrup Society. It’s an organization for kids that teaches riding and sportsmanship, and how to take care of horses. Leo says, Cody already taught him all that stuff, but Cody says, Leo could learn a lot more if he took lessons with the Stirrup Society. They do riding events and competitions. Maybe he’ll take Leo to one. Leo says he’s going to tell Comet, and runs off. Brook comes back, and says, Cody is so good with him. Cody says, Leo is good with him. Leo is one of the only people he doesn’t have to pretend with. She asks if he does a lot of pretending, and he says, being the new guy in town. It’s hard to make a good impression. She says he seems to have been successful. Olivia adores him, and Sam and Dante. Britt’s not complaining… much. He says he and Dante go way back. Not many people have given him multiple chances. Sometimes it seems easier to start over than fix something that’s broken. She says she’s been there. She’s run away, but wherever she arrived, there she was. He says, damn. She has layers. She laughs, and says, that’s an understatement. She doesn’t know what he’s facing, but everyone in the house is glad he’s here. She hopes he sticks around.

Britt says, then he threatened to punch Mac, and Maxie walked in, and Brad says, wasn’t Maxie on Team Cody? She says, not anymore, and he says, as the town pariah, he’s experiencing sympathy here. Cody’s reaction makes sense. Finding out your a person of interest in a brutal attack would put anyone on edge, especially when you don’t know the victim. She says, which was her point to Maxie, but Maxie wasn’t having it.  Now she thinks Cody’s not worth Britt’s time. He says, Maxie’s cool and all, but judging from her last fiancé, she might not be the best source of romantic advice. She says, and we are? and he says, speak for herself. He just exchanged numbers with a guy at the bar earlier. The mojo is back. She asks, who says mojo? and he says, whatever. Magnetism, charisma, swagger… You know who else has swagger? She tells him, don’t say it, and he says, face it. She’s drawn to that big, brash bull of a man. So why doesn’t she just cast aside all doubt, and take Cody Bell by the horns?

Curtis tells Portia, Jordan is a busy woman, but whether or not she’s dating isn’t an indicator if she’s over him or not. Portia says, but he seems to feel like she isn’t, and he says, Portia brought it up first; tell him. Portia wonders why it even matters at this point, and he says, it would explain why he gets the sense Jordan is holding back when it comes to those papers. She says she does believe Jordan still harbors feelings for him, but she doesn’t get the sense Jordan is angling to get him back. He says, then why didn’t she file those divorce papers? and Portia says, let’s say Jordan intentionally lost the papers, and wants him back. Would that change things for him?

Dante asks Sonny, where’s Kristina? How’s she doing? Jordan says, she’s on the 10th floor. Why doesn’t he go up, and she’ll meet him there? He leaves, and Jordan asks if Sonny can tell her anything about Brando that might help. Any disgruntled employees? How’s his relationship with Sasha? Sonny says, everybody loves Brando; he doesn’t have an enemy in the world. She says, what about Cyrus Renault? Brando used to work for him at some point. He asks if she’s looking at Cyrus, and she says, she’s looking at every possible scenario, including a possible link to Sonny. Has he had any business problems lately? He says, just the normal ones, but Brando and Ava don’t work for him. She says, if he wants to help her stop this maniac, stop stonewalling. The only possible connection she can find between Brando and Ava is him.

Dex tells Kristina that he usually goes to Perks, but this place is around the corner from where he lives, so he figured, why not? After waiting in line ten minutes to overpay for a pour over coffee this big – he separates his thumb and index finger about two inches – now he knows why not. She says she knows the place he’s talking about; on the corner of 8th and Van Nyes. He says, that’s it. The most pretentious, ridiculous… Dante joins them and hugs Kristina. She tells him, Brando made it through surgery, and he says he heard. How’s she holding up? She says, it’s been rough, but Dex is helping her keep her mind off of it. Dante says, Dex is a real great guy. He seems to be everywhere these days. Dex says, that’s what he gets paid for, and Dante asks if Kristina knows he works for Sonny. She says she does, and Dante asks if one of his jobs isn’t to protect the family. Dex says he does, when called upon. No one in Dante’s family is at risk from him. Dante says, they both know that’s not entirely true, right?

Gladys comes out of Brando’s room, nods to Sasha, and Sasha goes in. Nina asks how Brando is doing, and Gladys says, he’s not in any pain that she can tell. Nina says, that’s good, and Gladys says, they’re taking it for him. She would take it all if she could. She asks how Sasha is, and Nina says, desperate not to lose him. Gladys says, that makes two of them.

Sasha takes Brando’s hand, and says, he goes to bat for everyone around him; her, Gladys, Sonny and his family. She knows it must be exhausting for him. She must be exhausting. She’s asking him to rally one more time. Fight. She needs him to fight for her. She knows he’s tired, and knows he’s hurting, but he needs to push through. Fight for her. She promises he doesn’t have to worry about her anymore. She’ll do whatever she has to, to get better for him. He deserves the best because he is the best. She believes in him. She believes in him more than she’s ever believed in anyone or anything. She kisses his hand.

Britt asks Brad why she would agree to date a man who runs at the first sign of trouble. Brad says, Cody’s still in Port Charles, and she says, for the moment, but they all leave eventually. He says, maybe Cody is different, and she says, Maxie thinks Cody’s up to no good. He says, like that’s a deal breaker. No disrespect to Maxie or anyone else, but if she likes the guy, if she thinks they might be good together, take a shot. Don’t freeze him out. She asks if he’s advising her to give Cody the benefit of the doubt, and he says, a novel concept, he knows. She thanks him for saying she’s a bombshell, and he tells her, don’t be so modest. Get her swagger on. She knows she could melt dry ice. Besides she’s always looking out for him. It’s the least he can do to thank her for it.

Leo says he told Comet their joining the Stirrup Society, and Cody says, he told Leo they could go watch; there’s a big difference. Besides, he’ll need his parents’ permission to participate. Leo tells him, they’ll say yes, especially when he explains why they should. Brook laughs, and says, she thought she was the only one who could play her dad like a fiddle. She tells Leo, competition takes a lot of training and practice. Is he ready for that? Leo says, Cody will train him, and Brook wonders if he’s asked Cody. Leo asks if Cody will train him. He already knows where he’s going to put his trophy, but he can’t do it without Cody. Cody says he won’t have to, and they hug.

Curtis says, this wasn’t the conversation he expected to have this morning, and Portia says, neither did she, but they’re in it now. What if Jordan wants him back? He says, he and Jordan loved each other, and fought hard to be together, and Portia says, that type of love doesn’t just vanish when you move on. He says, no it does not. He’ll always care for Jordan. They built a history together, but that’s exactly what it is; it’s history, it’s in the past. Portia is his future; his beautiful exciting new future. She says, he once viewed a future with Jordan, but he says, that’s before he realized they had fundamental differences. Before he learned of all the secrets she kept. This isn’t about how Jordan feels about him, it’s about how he and Portia feel about each other. He couldn’t be with Jordan because he could never build a future with someone who had a problem being truthful with him. She says, but what if Jordan was truthful with him? What if she was honest about everything? Would they still be together?

Jordan says, both of the victims are related to Sonny in some way, and Sonny says, true; Brando’s his cousin, and Ava is the mother of his child. But that could just be a coincidence. She says she doesn’t believe in coincidences. Does he? She’s doing her best here, but he’s got to help her out. He says, how? and she says, tell her what’s going on. She’s heard things aren’t going right with his business, but he says, they’re regular ups and downs; nothing major. She says, is it possible his family could be under attack? and he tells her, listen to him. Does she have any evidence to suggest that? She says, no, but why else would the person who targeted Ava also attack Brando? What if this is just the beginning?

Dante tells Kristina, he and Brando caught Dex threatening Michael in the Quartermaine stables, and Kristina asks if it’s true. Dex says, he misinterpreted something her father said, and decided to follow up. He thought he was showing initiative, but he thought wrong. Dante says, so Dex got upset that they intervened, and got upset that Brando mentioned it to Sonny. Dex says, he and Sonny worked it out; so did he and Brando. Dante says, good, and Kristina says, if dad trusts Dex, that’s good enough for her. Dante says, it’s funny. This guy is literally everywhere something happens. The picnic right after Ava got stabbed… Dex says, that’s a good thing… Dante says, the alleyway right after Brando gets stabbed… Dex asks if Dante is implying something, and Kristina asks if that offer for coffee is still on the table. Dex says, that depends, and she says, they’ll go to Perks, not the place on Van Nyes. Dex asks if he and Dante are good, and Dante says, for now. Kristina says, let’s go, and Dex leaves with her.

Sasha says she’s sorry for pushing Brando away, and she’s sorry for wasting time she should have spent being with him. She’s sorry for every time she didn’t tell him how much she loves him. She can’t lose him too. Please come back to her. She cries, and he squeezes her hand. She says, Brando? and he opens his eyes.

On Monday, Sonny says he won’t be left in the dark; Elizabeth wonders why this memory is coming back to her now; Gregory has a proposition for Alexis; and Josslyn feels like someone is watching her.

✈️ Back In the States…

Boy, is she going to have a lot of catching up to do.

💣 Blast From the Past…

I must have slept through this time period. I’m surprised I don’t remember Kari Wuhrer being on GH. She’s in my favorite movie, Beastmaster 2. Stop laughing.

🥀 Before My Time…

Another GH alum departs this life.

https://www.soapoperanews.net/2022/09/ghdays-of-our-lives-alum-mark-miller.html

💋 What Happens In Jersey…

I wouldn’t mind seeing Caroline come back.

https://okmagazine.com/p/dolores-catania-caroline-manzo-think-about-returning-rhonj/

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The old tomato.

💎 No Con For You…

They probably don’t want rotten fruit thrown at them.

Disruption On Deck…

Why are these chefs always such immature twits?

Clearly she likes toxic relationships. Case in point: Dave.

⚰️ If He Says So…

Daryl is going to be in France? Mon dieu!

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-norman-reedus-daryl-spinoff/

📝 Post Apocalyptic Credits…

It might be fun, but no doubt it will be a lead-in for one spin-off or another.

🐉 And In Weirder News…

I wonder if the forecast was, will be raining dragon poop. Seriously, how do they deal with that in Dragonstone? Is there a big litter box?

https://people.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-star-matt-smith-takes-over-today-weather-report/

🐬 Quotes of the Week

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home. – Confucius

If you’d have a drink, I’d make a lot more sense. – Nucky (Steve Buscemi), Boardwalk Empire

Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world. – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Never make someone your number one if you’re their number two. – Judge Star Jones, Divorce Court

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. – Mae West

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (Before he started talking to empty chairs.)

If I can’t eat it, bang it, or bet on it, it’s not in my phone. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

There are no regrets in life. Just lessons. – Jennifer Aniston

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. – Bruce Lee

🖥 Buffering…

Take the next two days off from whatever you did for the last five, then join me on Monday for soap and Deck antics. Until then, stay safe, stay intrepid, and stay paddling in stressful situations. Half of keeping your cool is faking it.

Today’s musical interlude is dedicated to Jennifer Coolidge.

November 22, 2019 – Hayden Makes a Deal With Valentin, Worst Wife Ever, LVP Reigns Supreme, Six Quotes From Fred Plus Two That Aren’t & If Only

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Carly leaves a message for Jax, saying he has to call her. They have to discuss how far they’re going to cover for his houseguest. What affects him, affects Josslyn. They have to be on the same page with this. Sonny walks in, and says, sounds important. More secrets she’s keeping from him?

Stella goes to visit Mike at Turning Woods, and says, it’s good to see him. She just got back in town. It’s been a while, and she thought she’d come by to see him. He says he’s great, and thanks her for asking. He tells her that he’ll have a scotch/rocks. She says, he wants to order a drink? He says that’s why he came to the track. Have a couple of drinks, and play the ponies. She’s going to be in for a big tip. She says she’ll get his scotch. He says, make it a double. He’s feeling lucky.

Finn calls Anna from the hospital, and says he got called in on an emergency. He’s going to be a little late. She’s at the MetroCourt, and asks if he wants to just meet at the house. He says, no; he’ll be there. Jason is with her, and Anna tells him, Finn got held up at the hospital, so she has more time than anticipated. He says, to do what? and she says she needs his help solving a mystery.

Jax says, Nina wants to destroy Valentin? She says, yes. At least that’s what she thought she wanted.  Their big reconciliation was just an act. When Sasha confessed, she knew Valentin was behind it. It was too thorough; too perfectly executed. He lied to her about finding her daughter so she would forgive him. So the plan was, to give him a taste of his own medicine. See how he feels; to deceive him like he deceived her. Jax says he knew she was too smart to fall for Valentin’s lies.

Nikolas skulks around behind Valentin with a fireplace poker. The doorbell rings, and Nikolas is like, drat! and I laugh. Valentin answers the door to Hayden, and thanks her for coming on such short notice. He invites her in, but she says she doesn’t know why she came out there. She owes him nothing. She doesn’t work for him. He says, maybe they can find a way to change that.

Carly tells Sonny that she was leaving Jax a message. Sonny says he figured that. When she said they have to be a team, it was a giveaway. She says Jax called, but Jason was there. Did he hear about Sam? Sonny says, two years, but she could end up with community service. He’s been trying to call in favors. Carly says, Sam doesn’t belong in Pentenville. That’s why Jason was there. He doesn’t know what to tell the kids. Sonny isn’t surprised Jason was there, since he and Carly confide in each other. Did she tell Jason what she’s been keeping from him?

Anna tells Jason, there are still questions about Cassandra’s escape and probable death. And how he managed to turn up at the pier at the perfect time. He tells her that Cassandra and Sam were cellmates, and ended up on work detail with one another. Cassandra escaped, and he didn’t want Sam to be blamed. Cassandra is Valentin’s only known associate, and he thought Valentin would know where she’d run. Anna asks if Valentin seemed guilty, but he says, no. Nina was the one who got upset. Anna says, Charlotte had been abducted, and Jason says he assumes that was it. The only change in Valentin was when he got a phone call. He didn’t answer it, but it seemed like he wanted to. After that, Nina kicked him out. Anna wonders if it was Cassandra calling, and Jason says that’s what he was thinking. So he went to the pier to check, since it’s isolated. That’s where he ran into Charlotte, and Anna knows the rest. Anna says it’s no secret Cassandra was using Charlotte as leverage to negotiate with Valentin. Who else could supply a boat? And who else could wire the boat to explode?

Hayden asks if Valentin is offering her a job, but he says he’s offering to pay for information. She says, about what? and he says he’s caught her snooping around twice. Once when she was there with Jax for cocktails, and the nanny caught her. She says she got lost, and he says then Obrecht caught her going into the trophy room, where Helena’s portrait was. Hayden stammers, and Valentin says, tell the truth. Although he knows it’s a tough concept for her, she’ll earn a great deal of money if she does. What’s so important about the portrait?

Jax says Nina almost had him convinced she believed Valentin. She says, almost?  He says when they sat together that night, when she ran out of the wedding, he saw how much pain she was in, and she was pretty convinced Valentin was behind it. Nina tells him that she doesn’t remember half the things she said; she was so upset. He was very sympathetic while listening to her; he deserves a medal. He says he was trying to be a friend. What troubled him was her falling for Valentin’s lies. He knew she wasn’t that gullible. She says, no, she’s not, but he’s the only one who shares that opinion. No one else had trouble believing Valentin snowed her again. He says, that was the idea, wasn’t it? She says, it was part of the set up. To pull the rug out from under Valentin, and watch him fall apart. Jax says, it’s a great plan, but completely wrong for the situation.

Valentin tells Hayden that Ava had a nervous breakdown, and submitter herself to Shadybrook. He just came from a visit. They had an enlightening conversation about the portrait, and how it came into her hands, despite the fact that he threw it away. Hayden asks if she still has it, and he says, not in Shadybrook. It’s difficult to say where, but she said Jax and Hayden were searching for it. That would explain why she was searching his home. She says, he puts a lot of faith in a nervous breakdown. Valentin says he’ll make it easy. He’ll pay her a quarter of a million dollars to tell him what’s so important about the painting. Nikolas listens in.

Nina says, it’s a good plan, but the wrong plan? and Jax says he knows it’s tempting to take revenge; make Valentin feel the heartbreak she felt. But it’s a lose-lose situation. She asks how? and he tells her take his word for it. Revenge doesn’t always give you the satisfaction you’d expect, and it can hurt more than the person you’re targeting. She tells him to offer her a different solution. He says, it might sound cliché, but living well is the best revenge. End things, cut your losses. Don’t press charges for fraud, and drag Valentin into court; it’s a waste of time. All those weeks won’t matter once she’s free. He tells her, don’t get tangled in revenge. Focus on the good things in your life that are in front of you. Nina says Valentin won’t let her go. He’ll come after her. He says she has to make Valentin think she’s moved on; found someone else. She could fake date him if she wanted. Nina says that’s because he wouldn’t date her in real life. He says he didn’t say that.

Jason tells Anna that Cassandra held Valentin’s daughter hostage. Why not retaliate? Anna says, that’s not how the law works, but he asks, what good is the law, when it  puts the wrong person behind bars? Sam was convicted of manslaughter, and sent to Pentenville for two years. Anna says she’s sorry, and wouldn’t have asked him to meet her if she’d known. He says he needed something else to focus on. Something he understands. She asks if the children know. He says, not yet. He’s figuring out how tell them. He can’t wrap his head around it, and nothing is working. She asks if she can offer some advice. Be honest with them. Tell them as much as he thinks they’re old enough to process. The most important thing is to reassure them that he’ll be there for them. Jason thanks her, and she says he’s a bit unconventional for a father, but she thinks he’ll be brilliant. He hopes so.

Stella gives Mike a glass of water, and tells him, sorry, but they’re out of scotch at the bar. He says, it’s probably just as well. He has to work tonight. His boss is a jerk, and if he smells booze on Mike’s breath, he’ll make a big case of it. Stella says he doesn’t want that, and asks where he works. Mike says he won’t be there much longer. Just long enough to show his girl’s father that he can hold a steady job. She says he’s got a girl? He says, the most beautiful one in the world. Stella asks her name, and he says, Adela. She’s an angel. The only thing wrong is, her father doesn’t approve. She asks, how come? but Mike says he hasn’t asked him. He couldn’t care less, but being with her is world anything her old man puts him through. He just needs one good score, and he’ll have enough to make his own business. He’ll use what’s left over for a down payment on a house. It will make Adela happy; she wants to have kids, just like he does. Stella is sure he’ll be a wonderful father, and Mike says, his own childhood was hit or miss, but he’ll be different for his kids. He’s going to do it right. He’ll be home for dinner at six, Saturdays in the park, and mass on Sunday morning. Stella says, it sounds lovely, and he says as soon get he gets married, they won’t see him around there.

Carly tells Sonny that Jason was focused on Sam going to prison, and how he was going to break the news to the kids. She didn’t think it was the time to bring up a conversation about Jax. Sonny says Jax is lying about why he doesn’t want Josslyn to move in. He’d never chose a girlfriend over Josslyn. Carly says they have to get along, and Sonny says he’s trying. She tells him, try harder. He says he has no doubt Jax loves Josslyn, but also no doubt he’s using the situation to his advantage.

Jason goes to the Quartermaine mansion, and Monica says it’s good to see him. Scout was out by seven, but Danny is probably awake. She tells him, Robert called about the verdict. She’s so sorry. Jason says the lawyer is pushing for parole, but the kids need know Sam could be gone for a while. Scout is too young to understand, but he doesn’t want to risk Danny finding out some other way. Monica says what’s important is stability, consistency, and reassurance. He’s going to need help while Sam is away, and she wonders why they couldn’t live there.

Sonny tells Carly that Jax is going to push himself into their lives and family, judging everything Sonny does. Jax would love nothing more than to catch him doing something illegal. Carly says Jax already has. He knows Sonny is breaking all kinds of laws having Dev there, and said he’d keep the secret. Sonny says Jax wants to be Josslyn’s hero, but what if he finds something to use against Sonny that Josslyn isn’t involved in? Don’t think Jax won’t turn him over to the cops.

Jax tells Nina, what he’s saying is, she runs a successful magazine. Her boss thinks she’s wonderful. Nina says, does he? and Jax says, he does. Doesn’t she think it best she focus Crimson instead of destroying Valentin? Millions of people get heartbroken every day, but not many have her choices. She can wallow in hate and revenge, or choose to chase what makes her happy. She says he makes it sound easy. He says, ditch the revenge, detach herself from Valentin, start living her life. and the world is her oyster. She says, what if she doesn’t want that particular oyster? What if she wants to forgive Valentin? He asks why she’d want to do that.

Finn meets Anna at the MetroCourt, apologizing for being late. She says she met with Jason to go over the Cassandra incident. Did he know Sam was convicted of manslaughter? She’s been sentenced to two years in Pentenville. Finn says, it’s horrible, and she says, it’s terrible. Jason is grappling with how to tell the children. It made her think about how complicated life is, and how their circumstances impact their children. She tells him that she met with Hayden, and he asks how it went. She says, pleasant enough, and Finn says, but… She says she doesn’t think she trusts Hayden all that much. He says, sadly, that’s not a surprise.

Valentin says Hayden has experience in high finance. She can aggressively invest the money, and Make a princely sum. It would be all hers. She says she’d love to take his money, but she doesn’t know anything about the portrait. He says he’d prefer to pay her for the information, but he can exert influence in other ways. Once the money is off the table, it’s going to get unpleasant. He’s going to ask one more time. Do they have a deal? She says they do, and tells him to wire the money to an offshore account. He says he’ll need something up front, a gesture of good faith. She says, the reason Helena gave the portrait to Nikolas… Charlotte comes in, interrupting the conversation.

Nina tells Jax, she’s been planning her revenge since the day of the wedding. When she went back to work, she ran into Sasha, and she lied again, saying the scam was all her fault. She went to Windymere, hoping Valentin would tell the truth, but he didn’t. He lied again. It’s who he is, and who he’ll always be. Why let the truth stand between him and what he wants? So she decided to play his game, and she’s been playing him ever since, until Charlotte was abducted. Then, revenge seemed pointless. All she could think about was how much she loves Charlotte. She’d give anything for Charlotte to have a safe at home with the father she loves. She loves the three of them; they’re a family. It’s hard to give up, no matter what Valentin does or the crimes he’s committed. Jax says, please don’t say Valentin is a good father.

Sonny tells Carly that he just wants honesty from his wife. Admit Jax is out to get him. She says Sonny would already be feeling it if he was. He could be a threat to Sonny’s coffee business, which would leave his real business in serious trouble. Sonny should be grateful that Jax isn’t as vindictive as he is. What would he do if someone had him deported and kept away from his child? If all Jax does is annoy Sonny, he’s getting off easy. Sonny asks why it’s his fault. Carly put it in motion when she slept with Jax.

Jason tells Monica, he appreciates the offer, but he just doesn’t know. It’s hard enough the kids will be separated from Sam. He doesn’t know if he should take them out of their home. Monica says they spend a lot of time there anyway. It’s comfortable and familiar; they have their own rooms, and adore the nanny. They’ll have consistency and security, and won’t be confused about Sam’s absence when they come home from school. Jason says he’ll talk to Sam, and see if it’s okay. Monica says he doesn’t have to say anything, but Scout and Danny’s mother is in prison. Scout’s dad is dead, and Jason is the only parent they have. Please think before taking any chances that might get him killed or put in prison.

Charlotte says Valentin promised they’d read her book. She knows they were going to wait for Nina, but she wants to start tonight. Valentin suggests she go upstairs for a bit, but Hayden says she doesn’t want to intrude. She asks what the book is, and Charlotte says, Little Women. Hayden says it’s one of her favorites. She’ll see herself out. Valentin says he and Charlotte will show her out. He doesn’t want her wandering off somewhere she doesn’t want to be. Nikolas puts the poker back, and slips out the secret door. Valentin thanks Hayden for coming, and tells her to get the account number for him. She says, no problem about everything they discussed. When she’s gone, Charlotte wonders why Valentin didn’t introduce her, but he says, there was no need. He doubts they’ll see her again.

Jax tells Nina, Sonny is a good father too. That’s how Carly rationalized going back to him time and again. Now one of her kids is dead, and her life is in a mess. He doesn’t want that to happen to her. Nina says it’s not his decision to make. Jax says she’s right. He should know better. He can’t live someone else’s life. She has every right to choose Valentin. All he can do is give her a better alternative, and hope she’s smart enough to take it. She hands him the invitation, tells him, don’t forget to RSVP, and leaves. Geez, think he likes her?

Carly says she slept with Jax when she had reason to believe Sonny had sex with Nelle, and was covering it up. Does he think she forgot that he slept with her lawyer Martina, or flirted with Margaux right in front of her face? If he wants to compare lists, his is way longer. The house phone rings, and Sonny says, send her up. Carly asks, who’s there? and he says, Stella. He knows it’s not a good time, but Carly says, of course (🍷) Stella should come in. They need to finish this though. Sonny opens the door, and Stella says, hey, stranger. He asks how she is, and Carly says she’s here from across the pond. Stella says, just for a quick visit. She was just visiting Sonny’s father. Unfortunately, he had no idea who she was.

Finn tells Anna that Hayden is Violet’s mother, but he’s under no illusion that motherhood transformed her. As happy as he is to have Violet in his life, he’s not sure he can forgive Hayden for the time she’s taken from him. Anna says she’s sorry, and Finn says, this is where science does him a favor. He looks at the facts, and wonders if he and Hayden can find a way to co-parent that’s best for Violet. Anna says, for Hayden, the best way might mean the two of them getting back together.

Jax looks at the invitation, and Nikolas walks in. Jax asks where he was (déjà vu!), and Nikolas says, out. Jax asks if he was breaking more drug traffickers out of custody. Nikolas asks what Nina wanted, and Jax says to invite him to the wedding. She’s marrying Valentin at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Nikolas says, she’s a fool, but Jax says, she knows what she’s doing. She’s a good person, and too many people lied to her, including him. He’s done.

Nina walks into Windymere, and hears Valentin reading to Charlotte. She sees them on the couch, Charlotte’s head on Valentin’s shoulder. She watches them.

Jason tells Danny that he wants to talk about something that happened. He had to testify in court. Danny asks if it was for his mom’s trial, and Jason says it was. Danny ask if she’s okay, and Jason says what he’s about to tell Danny is complicated. He’s sure Danny will have a lot of questions, but he’ll explain everything. Danny’s mom was found guilty of something called manslaughter.

Stella tells Sonny, she’s not surprised. She and Mike met after he developed Alzheimer’s. He was so fully immersed in another time and place, with no sense of disorientation or uncertainty. It’s clear Mike’s Alzheimer’s is progressing. Carly asks, how long before he won’t remember them? but Stella says, it’s impossible to say. Sonny says, based on her experience, what’s her guess? Stella says, the day when Sonny’s father won’t remember him at all, is coming a lot sooner than they think.

Jason says Danny’s mom was protecting him, and as a result, Shiloh died. The judge found his mom partly responsible; that’s what manslaughter means. He asks if it makes sense, and Danny asks if Sam is going to prison. Jason says, yeah. The judge wants her to go for two years. Danny says, no, and Jason says the lawyers are trying to get her home sooner. Danny wonders what will happen with him and Scout, and Jason says he was talking  to Grandma Monica. She thought they could stay there, and he doesn’t think it’s a bad idea. But if Danny wants to be home, they can do that. Whatever he wants. Danny thinks he wants to stay. If they’re at home, they’ll just miss their mom more. Jason says, it’s okay. Jason will need his help. If Scout sees Danny is okay, she’ll be okay. Danny says he can do that, and Jason says he knows Danny can. Jason promises to do everything to get their mom home, but whatever happens, Danny has him. He’s not going anywhere. They hug.

Hayden goes back to the MetroCourt, and sees Anna and Finn at the bar. Anna says now that Finn has had time to think, does he have any insights to share? He says, just one. He loves her. He would have never asked her to marry him if he’d had any doubts. She says she doesn’t have any either. He says, whatever happens, they’ll deal with it together, and she says, of course (🍷). Whatever it takes. She loves him. He says he loves her too, and kisses her. Hayden watches.

Nikolas asks what Jax means by done. Jax says if he can’t find the codicil by New Year’s Eve, he’s going to tell Nina everything; that Nikolas is alive, and about his involvement. Valentin will be focused on Nikolas, and he’ll rape Cassadine Industries, bankrupting Valentin. Nikolas says Jax will render the estate worthless, and Jax says that’s Nikolas’s problem. Nikolas asks, what about Spencer? and Jax says he can take care of Spencer, without further involvement in his family’s politics. Nikolas asks, what happened? and Jax says, his priorities have changed, and he wants to make sure Nina comes out unharmed.

Nina says she can’t believe they started without her. She would have rushed home. Charlotte says she loves it so far, and Nina says she knew Charlotte would. Charlotte says she can’t believe papa didn’t know the book, and Nina says it’s on them to keep him educated. She takes the book, and says, her turn. She reads, and Charlotte says, those poor girls. She doesn’t know what she‘d do without her papa. Valentin says she doesn’t have to worry about that.

Nikolas calls Hayden. He says he needs to see her tomorrow. Don’t say a word to Jax. This is between them. It’s urgent. Everything has changed.

On Monday, TJ tells Stella that he’s going to propose to Molly. Neil asks Alexis what she and Kendra work on, and Trina asks if Dev is Sonny’s cousin or not.

🔥 Oh Hell No…

I’d rather watch five of anyone else.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7704209/Brandi-Glanville-confirms-shes-heading-Real-Housewives-Beverly-Hills.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailceleb

👑 Oh Hell Yes…

The queen can still do no wrong.

https://pagesix.com/2019/11/20/lisa-vanderpumps-potential-vanderpump-dogs-spinoff-still-in-the-works/

No surprise, she also wins most popular.

https://allaboutthetea.com/2019/11/20/lisa-vanderpump-bravocon

📢 Quotes of the Week

Because it’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood, some quotes from Fred RogersMr. Rogers to you.

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.

Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.

How sad it is that we give up on people who are just like us.

I think of discipline as the continual everyday process of helping a child learn self-discipline.

Parents are like shuttles on a loom. They join the threads of the past with threads of the future and leave their own bright patterns as they go.

And because it can’t all be sunshine and rainbows.

Honey, her wig is desperate.NeNe Leakes, Real Housewives of Atlanta

Nothing ruins a beach picnic like a fatality. – Kate Chastain, Below Deck

🌠 I Wish…

I’ll spare you the songs from Oliver! that are somehow stuck in my head.  See you when Alexandria and Oceanside meet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 19, 2019 – Franco Says What We’ve Been Waiting To Hear, Braunwyn Has a Weaning Party, Worst Date, New Wife, New City, Stassi Spins Off, Teresa’s Latest & Adam Gives Thanks

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Elizabeth tells Franco, it’s not a good time; she’s working. He asks her to get someone to cover. It’s important. She tells him, he already said goodbye. What’s left to say?

Kim opens the door, and Hayden is there. Hayden says she was supposed to meet the agent for a walkthrough. She just rented the apartment.

Anna fiddles with setting the table, and tells Finn that she’s almost done. He says, it looks great, and gives her a huge vase of flowers. She tells him, they’re beautiful, and he says, like her. He asks if she cooked, and she says, Pizzulo’s cooked; she plated. Some things never change. Finn says, some things do, and she nods.

At Charlie’s, Julian tells Brook Lyn to hit the road, but she says he hasn’t told her what the fight was about. He asks why she cares, and she says, it must have been juicy for him to close up shop before the dinner rush. He says maybe he doesn’t need the business. She asks what he does need, and he says, time to think. If that’s okay with her. She says, bartenders are always listening to other people’s problems. It sounds like he needs someone to listen to his. And she needs a refill. How about if they make each other happy?

Lucas tells Brad, all he has to do is tell the truth. Is Obrecht holding something else over him? If he loves Lucas, it shouldn’t be this hard to tell the truth. Brad says he does love Lucas, and Lucas says, then trust him. What did Obrecht mean when she said she knew the cold hard facts about Brad and Wiley’s father? What else is Brad hiding from him?

Olivia hopes Ned doesn’t mind, but she asked Sonny to come over. Ned asks, why? and she says she’ll let him know when Sonny gets there. In perfect soap timing, Sonny walks in. She thanks him for coming, and he asks, what’s going on? She shows him a big manila envelope, and says she got it from the WSB.

Judge Madrigal says, after careful consideration of the evidence and testimony, both oral and sworn affidavit, she’s prepared to make her ruling. She asks the defendant to rise. She says, for the charge of murder in the first degree, she finds Sam not guilty. Sam hugs Diane, and Jason smiles.

Elizabeth tells Franco, don’t make it harder than it already is. Franco says he had an intense conversation with Scotty. She says she knows; Scotty told her. He asks if she knows what it was about, and she says, yes. He asks why he had to hear it from Scotty. If she knew that Franco had saved him when they were kids, why not tell him?

Kim tells Hayden, she didn’t realize there was already a renter. Hayden introduces herself, and asks if Kim owns it. Kim says she does. She was going to sell it, but Lucy told her it’s a buyer’s market, so she went back to making it a rental. Hayden says she got the same speech. She hopes she didn’t come too soon, and Kim asks if she’s moving in today. Hayden says, no. She’s just measuring, but she’s glad she caught Kim. Is there anything she should know? Kim says, it’s a great apartment. It’s spacious, and has beautiful views. She hopes Hayden will be as happy there as she was.

While they eat dinner, Anna says, another medical mystery solved thanks to Finn, but Finn tells her, it was a team effort. TJ first thought of rat poison, but they still have to figure out how Alexis ingested it. He congratulates Anna on rescuing Charlotte, but Anna says that was also a team effort. Jason arrived in a timely manner, and Charlotte was impressive. Most children would be too frightened to make a move, but she saw her chance, and didn’t hesitate. It was a thing of beauty. Cassandra was distracted, and Charlotte bit her. She thought Cassandra would have a stroke, she’s so worried about infection. She admits she shouldn’t take satisfaction in it, since Cassandra is most certainly dead. Finn says they can’t pretend they’re not relieved. Anna says she’d like to know who arranged it, and Finn asks if it wouldn’t be Valentin.

Olivia tells Sonny that she’s been writing to Dante. He asks, where? The WSB won’t tell them where Dante was sent. She says she sent the letters to the WSB office in Manhattan, then out of the blue, she got this back. Ned says, through some back channels, he contacted some old school friends who work in defense and intelligence. Maybe the WSB is ready to give them some answers. Sonny wonders if the WSB is giving Dante treatment for his PTSD. Maybe he’s recovered enough to tell them what’s going on. Olivia says that’s why she asked him over. They’re Dante’s parents. She thought they should open it together.

Sam takes Jason’s hand, and the judge tells Diane to advise her client that court is not adjourned. The defense made a compelling case for extenuating circumstances. Shiloh’s history of violence against Sam and her family is undeniable. The court finds her act wasn’t premeditated, however, the court isn’t persuaded that she acted solely in self-defense, nor that she exhausted her duty to retreat. Evidence and testimony indicate that Jason is more than capable of fending for himself, and his life wasn’t in jeopardy. Had Sam not chosen to fire the flare gun, Jason could have subdued Shiloh alone. For those reasons, on the charge of manslaughter and negligent homicide, the court finds Sam guilty. Please. Is she kidding me?

Gabriel says a bench trial was requested to expedite the proceedings, and he’s prepared to accommodate that by asking for immediate sentencing. Diane says they intend to appeal, and thinks it’s premature. The judge says they have the right to appeal, but the prosecution’s point is well-made, and she’s prepared to hear their arguments.

Julian tells Brook Lynn, what he says goes no further. He and his associate had a disagreement. Brook Lynn says Julian was staring daggers at the guy. Julian says, maybe he deserved it. They were involved in a high stakes situation. Reputations were at stake; familial loyalties. Things money can’t buy. She says she knows all about family. She spent many years making sure her paths didn’t cross her nearest and dearest. Like a black cat. One of them is bad luck for the other. Julian says, that would be an understatement. His associate can’t be trusted to hold up his end of the deal, and she says, why risk it? Terminate the partnership. He says she took the words out of his mouth.

Brad asks Lucas if they can go somewhere more private. Everyone already assumes he’s in the wrong. Lucas says he’s Brad’s husband; the man who loves him. Talk to him. What does Obrecht have on him? Brad says, nothing, but that doesn’t stop her from inventing more lies and messing with them. She’s a miserable woman. Her own daughter prefers him over her. Lucas asks if it’s about Britt, but Brad says, no. Obrecht just wants to make him look bad, like Julian did. Lucas asks why everyone is after him, and Brad says, they’re jealous. Julian’s relationship history is a minefield, and Obrecht has been alone forever. He and Lucas are happy, and they’re not. Right? They’re happy, aren’t they?

Elizabeth asks what Scotty told Franco, and Franco says that he and Franco shared a part of his childhood. Jim Harvey sexually abused Franco, and Franco pushed him down the stairs, trying to protect him. He was injured and sent to a state home. At the time, it was assumed Franco was disturbed because no one had any idea what was going on. She says she considered telling him, but didn’t think it was her place. If she’d told him about Jim, she would have felt like she was betraying Franco’s trust. She hopes he understands. He says, after all she did, all her fighting to get Franco back, there was a line she wouldn’t cross because she loved him that much. She says she still does, and always will.

Gabriel tells the judge that Sam shot Shiloh in the back. She fired no warning shot, didn’t ask him to stand down, and gave him no chance to surrender. By her words and actions, she considered herself judge, jury, and executioner. She has an extensive criminal record of fraud and larceny. She was a grifter. That way of life first put her in the path of Shiloh. She has ties to the criminal underworld to this day, and the people request the maximum sentence.

Diane says, several weeks ago, a fellow prisoner, a vicious woman named Cassandra Pierce, injured a guard in an attempt to escape. When Sam had the chance to escape, she chose to stay with the guard until the police and paramedics arrived. That’s not the action of a criminal or a con. Sam fired the gun to save Jason, her ex-husband and the father of her son. She has two young children waiting for her at home, and strong ties to the community. Incarcerating her accomplishes nothing, but allowing her to return to her place as a productive member of society, benefits them all.

😱 Sidebar: Just as Franco begins to talk, ABC interrupts with the hearings again. No warning; no nothing. I momentarily freak. I can’t believe they’re busting in on the moment I’ve been waiting for. Then I get a grip, and go to my trusted secret site.

Franco tells Elizabeth, ever since he came to Port Charles, people have been weighing in on Franco; the good, the bad, and everything in between. He didn’t think it affected him. It was like hearing stories about a stranger. He doesn’t remember much about his life before he was sent to the state home. Names and faces; Bobby was one of them. To find out Bobby saved him, and made it possible for him to have a life… He was a SEAL, and he loved being a SEAL. Bobby made it possible for him to meet Kim, and he loves her. They had a child. There’s a lot about his life to love, but it’s not his life, is it?  This life belongs to Franco, and it’s time for him to give it back.

Hayden tells Kim, she’s been staying with her sister. It will be nice to have her own space again. Kim says she lucked out with the neighbors. Hayden says give her the dirt, and Kim says the lady upstairs is hard of hearing, and the man next door keeps to himself. Hayden asks how he is with noise, and Kim says, he’s tolerant. Just don’t play any metal. Hayden says she has a little girl. She’s a single mom, and thought the apartment would be the right size for the two of them. Kim says it’s cozy, but big enough that they won’t be on top of each other. Hayden can tell this place meant a lot to Kim, and Kim says, it did. It was home, and now it’s Hayden’s. If she has any questions, just have Lucy reach out to her. Kim takes her bag, and Oscar’s stuffed toy falls out. Hayden says, she’s a mom.

Finn asks about Anna’s travels. Any closer to finding Alex? She says she went through Alex’s records in Hungary, and followed her trail form Paris to Singapore to Dubai. She’s convinced Alex is more of a dilettante than a spy. She goes wherever the wind takes her or the money beckons. She guesses she’s been looking for answers, but she only has more questions. Finn asks why she came back. She says she hit a dead end, and had nowhere else to go. He says, he was the default, but she says her life is with him. She came back to be with him.

Ned says Olivia and Sonny probably want to read what’s in the envelope in private, and he has to call the probate lawyer anyway. He leaves, and Olivia says she’s afraid to open it. Sonny takes it, and opens it. He says he’s sorry; they sent them back. She spills her letters out on the table, saying, they never sent them. Sonny pulls a single sheet of paper out, and Olivia asks if it’s a form letter. They regret to inform her that her son no longer cares about her. Sonny says, it’s not a form letter. It’s for her. She looks at it, and says, it’s from Dante. She reads; mom, stop sending me letters. Sonny holds her while she cries.

Judge Madrigal thanks Diane and Gabriel for their well-considered arguments. She sentences Sam to two years in prison. Diane gets up, but the judge says she’s not finished. Diane apologizes, and the judge says, the sentence is neither the minimum or maximum. She took into consideration the threat posed by Shiloh, and Sam’s heroic actions during Cassandra’s escape. Accordingly, the court will ask that Sam be allowed early release, and to finish her sentence on probation or parole. Until that time, she’s remanded to Pentenville immediately. Court is adjourned.

Diane tells Sam and Jason that she’ll do everything in her power to persuade the parole board to release Sam. Jason asks, what about an appeal? Diane says she was under the impression that Judge Madrigal was fair and impartial. She doubts there will be any grounds for appeal, but she’ll do her best. Sam says she’s actually going to prison, but Diane says there are many avenues she can pursue. Jason asks for a moment, and Diane steps away. Sam whines that she’s going to be in prison for two years, but Jason tells her to just focus on what’s in front of her. That’s how they’ll get through this. One day at a time.

Julian says Brook Lynn is a good listener, and she says, it’s a gift. He says it helped to get it off his chest and clarify things. He puts some money on the bar, saying, time is money. She could have earned more elsewhere. She says he’s paying her for her time? He thinks she’s a hooker? He says he’s not judging. He heard her on the phone with her boss, saying he doesn’t own her. She says, that’s right; no one owns her. And no one pays her. He can keep his money. She hopes his partner screws him royally. She walks out. Outside she takes out her phone, saying, it can’t wait any longer.

Lucas asks if Brad thinks he’s unhappy in their relationship. Brad doesn’t know; is he? Lucas says all he’s ever wanted is Brad and Wiley. If anyone seems unhappy, it’s Brad. He doesn’t remember the last time Brad went a full week without being stressed out or snapping about something. Brad says he’s sorry, and Lucas says, what they had has grown into something bigger. They’re a family now. That’s why it hurts so much to think Brad is keeping things from him. Brad says Lucas has no idea what he’s done for their family. The choices he’s made; the prices he’s paid. Lucas says, obviously not, so clue him in. What has Brad done for their family that he couldn’t do with Lucas?

Elizabeth says she doesn’t understand, and Franco says he’s volunteering for the procedure reversal. He hopes it brings Franco back to her. She says, what about him? He was leaving town, and starting over with Kim. He says, Kim has to heal. He’s not someone who can help her with that. She asks if he told her, and he flashes back to his conversation with Kim. He says he told Kim that he owed it to Franco to do everything he could to get him his life back. Kim said, no matter what, she was leaving Port Charles, so he guesses he is too. Just in a different way. Elizabeth wipes a few tears away.

Anna says she missed Finn; she missed them. He says, he did too, but can’t help wondering if something else with Alex comes up, will she take off again? Anna admits she wants closure. She worries about Alex blowing back into town, and claiming Peter as her own. Finn understands. She’s gotten close to Peter. She’s been good to him, and shown him there’s a life after Faison. She says Alex could undo all that. If she comes back, and tells Peter that she’s his mother, whether she has proof or not, she could ruin everything. Finn says, it’s just a thought, but maybe if Anna spent more time with Peter, and had more influence in his life, it would lessen the impact. Instead of chasing after Alex, maybe Anna should commit to spending more time with Peter. Anna says things have changed a lot since she left. Now Finn has a daughter.

Finn thinks they could put off the discussion about Violet for tonight, but Anna doesn’t think they’ll do themselves any favors by avoiding it. Violet is going to change Finn’s life. He says, she already has. It all happened so fast. He knows he’ll need her help to figure things out, and he wants Violet to know her.

Kim tells Hayden that it will be a great apartment for her. Hayden apologizes for holding Kim up, but Kim says, it’s fine. Hayden wants to give her a proper sendoff. She takes out a bottle of champagne, and suggests they have a toast. From one mom to another.

Franco tells Elizabeth if she can put him in touch with Andre. Hopefully, they can start the procedure sooner rather than later. She asks, what about him? Does he want to take time for himself? He smiles, and says, after months of fighting, and insisting he have this procedure, taking him to court to have him committed, she’s trying to talk him out of it? She says, no. She wants him to have the procedure, but realizes it wasn’t her choice to make. It’s his. He asks what Franco told Cameron to tell her, and she says that he loves her and he’ll be back. He says, because that was Franco’s intention. Because Franco wants to come back to her, to his life with her. Franco has already decided and made his choice to have the procedure. He’s choosing to get out of Franco’s way.

Lucas says Brad doesn’t have to go it alone; they’re a team. Brad says, that’s the idea, but not the reality. The truth is, he’s been the one making the sacrifices and taking the hits. Lucas asks what he’s talking about, and Brad says Lucas doesn’t even see it. Lucas says he doesn’t, so let him in. Brad says he’s telling Lucas how he feels. Why isn’t that good enough? Lucas says because Brad isn’t being fully transparent. He’s clearly keeping secrets. Brad says he’s keeping their family together. If Lucas can’t accept that, and keeps looking for problems, he’s going to break them up. Is that what he wants? Lucas tries to grab Brad as he starts to walk out, but Brad brushes him off.

Ned asks, what’s going on? and Olivia tells him, don’t worry. Dante’s not dead. Sonny says, they’re dead to him. Ned looks at the paper, and says he’s so sorry. Olivia says, he’s ashamed of breaking. He feels that he has to protect his family, so he’s pushing them away. She gets that, but he can’t get better if they can’t reach him, and he’s refusing to let that happen.

Sam is cuffed, and she tells Jason to let the kids know she loves them and will call as soon as she can. Don’t bring them to see her. He says they’ll figure it out. They exchange I love yous, and she leaves with the guard.

Anna wishes she could see into the future, and Finn says he thought she was all about the unexpected. She says not where her children are concerned. He’s about to find that out for himself. He says he’s already there. Now that Violet is a part of his life, he’s obsessed with finding out what comes next. She says, whatever it is, she’ll be there for him. His phone dings, and he says, it’s Chase. He says it’s really important. Anna tells him, go. She’ll be there when he gets back. She promises. He kisses her, and says he’ll be quick.

Kim tells Hayden that she has a plane to catch, but save it, and share it with someone special. Hayden says she’ll take good care of the place, and tells Kim, good luck. She’s glad to have met her. Kim says, her too, and leaves. Outside, she looks a little stunned.

Franco asks if Elizabeth is all right. She says there are a million things she wants to say, but all she can come up with is thank you. He’s making a big sacrifice. He says, however it turns out, he’s ready. She says she’ll call Andre for him, and he says he’ll talk to her soon. She watches as he leaves.

Lucas looks at picture of Wiley and Brad on his phone.

Brad goes to Charlie’s and sees it’s closed. He bangs on the door, and asks Julian to open up. He knows Julian is in there. Julian turns the lights out, and Brad says he needs Julian. They can help each other. They need to stick together. Julian disappears into the back, and the cheese Brad stands alone.

Olivia grabs the letters, saying she’ll shred them or burn them. There’s no need to keep them. Sonny tells her, hold on. Don’t do that. Someday Dante will come back to them, and she’ll want them. She asks what she’s supposed to do. Say more prayers? Write more letters? For how long? Sonny says, for as long as it takes. Dante is protecting them, which means he still loves them, and he’s coming back. Ned tells her, you know what they say. Home is where they have to take you in, no matter what.

On cue, Brook Lynn breezes in, saying she almost broke her ankle getting back there. Ned says, Brook Lynn, and she says, hi daddy. I’m home.

Tomorrow, Chase confronts Finn about Violet, Valentin says Ava has Helena’s portrait, and Jason says he should have killed Shiloh from the start.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Vicki and, Tamra meet for lunch. Tamra asks if Vicki has seen what Kelly is doing on social media. She’s been blocked. Vicki says Kelly blocked her too. Tamra says that Kelly claims she said Kelly pushed her mother down the stairs, but she’s taking the conversation out of context. Someone secretly recorded her conversation with Shannon, and posted it on the internet. She was telling Shannon about the terrible things that were said at the tea party – we flash back to that – but she was supporting Kelly, not spreading rumors. Tamra must think we’re all blind, deaf, and really, really stupid, along with having short term memory loss. Emily joins them, and Tamra says it’s been a crazy morning. Kelly’s gone to a level that’s psychotic.

While waiting for Shannon at a restaurant, Kelly calls brother Eric and mom Bobbi. In her interview, Kelly says, not having a relationship with her mother for the past two years has been hard on her. She tells Bobbi that she loves her, and she’s sorry for everything. She doesn’t like this. In Kelly’s interview, she says it takes a big person to say they’re sorry, but it feels good in her heart and conscience. She tells them that she misses them, and Eric says he misses her too. Bobbi says they’re good. She has no problem with Kelly. Kelly says she’s being attacked by everyone. Tamra said she threw Bobbi down the stairs. Bobbi says, you can get sued for defamation of character. She doesn’t know where Tamra is coming from, saying hateful things like that. In Kelly’s interview, she thanks Tamra, and says getting her mother back was the silver lining. She didn’t throw her mom down the stairs, she put her outside the door. She tells Bobbi and Eric that she’s meeting with Shannon. Shannon arrives, and Kelly says she just got off the phone with her mom and brother. Shannon tells Kelly that she looks pretty , and it’s possibly the first time she and I have agreed. I’m loving Kelly’s blue and white striped top. It’s tailored like a waistcoat. Shannon says she was up until three. She woke up saw Kelly’s text. Tamra told her that she was defending Kelly. She was repeating what was said, but she told Shannon that she felt like the others were bashing Kelly. Kelly says, they were, and Tamra is the culprit of all of it.

Tamra asks if they’ve seen what Kelly is doing. She’s been tagging Jim Bellino, when Tamra and Shannon are in a lawsuit with him. In her interview, Tamra says, she and Shannon are in a lawsuit together, and they’ve spent a half million dollars on legal fees. It’s been financially devastating. In Emily’s interview, she says she’s good friends with Alexis. We flash back to Alexis and Jim, being his usual a-hole self. Emily says Shannon and Tamra went on a podcast, said negative things about Jim’s personal life and business, and Jim sued them for defamation. She tells Tamra, it has nothing to do with Kelly. You can’t talk about someone publicly; there are repercussions for that. Tamra says Kelly knows what it’s cost her financially. Her kid’s college fund is being taken away.

Shannon says Kelly’s low blows cloud her good points. In Shannon’s interview, she says even though she won the case Jim had against her, they’re moving to the court of appeals. It’s like starting over again. She says Kelly knows the damage it can do. Kelly says Tamra did damage to her sick mother, and Shannon always sticks up for her. In Kelly’s interview, she says Shannon is of high intellect, but she’s getting manipulated by trailer trash Tamra. She thinks Tamra was probably Patty Heart’s captor. Look up Stockholm Syndrome in the dictionary, and there’s Tamra’s face. She tells Shannon that she can’t be a part of it. She says, Tamra is telling everyone that Shannon is a drunk, and Shannon says, give her a break. Kelly says she has the text, but she’s not stooping to Tamra’s level. In Shannon’s interview, she says she believes Tamra. They’ve reached a point in their friendship where they tell each other the truth. Shannon must be delusional.

Vicki says, Kelly needs psychological help. Emily says Kelly lashes out from a place of hurt, and Vicki tells her, they’ve all been through sh*t. Emily says she’s not giving Kelly a hall pass; it’s not right what happened with Shane. We flash back to Kelly calling him a little bitch, which I totally agree with. Vicki says, Kelly is an effing victim all the time. In Emily’s interview, she thinks a line has been drawn between Tamra and Kelly, and they’re only allowed to choose one side. It’s difficult, because she has no issue with either one of them, but if she has to pick a side, she’s going with the person she trusts, and that’s Kelly. Tamra says Kelly crossed a line.

Kelly tells Shannon that Tamra can do what she wants. Shannon doesn’t see her point-of-view, and Kelly is tired of it. Tamra has knocked her down, and she’s not putting up with it. Shannon is sorry Kelly feels that way, and Kelly says if Shannon wants to be a part of it, she’ll have to remove herself from the tres amigas. She gets up, and says, the good news is, she got back with her mother. Her mother hates Tamra. She told Kelly that Tamra is an evil person, and to stay away. She’s right. Kelly leaves Shannon sitting by herself.

In the car, Braunwyn tells Sean that her apartment will be perfect for her weaning party. In her interview, she says it’s something she invented. After 18 years of breastfeeding, she wants a celebration. She tells Sean that she told everyone to bring only inappropriate gifts. She’s excited to see what she ends up with. She hopes everyone embraces the spirit. Sean says she’ll have as much fun as she wants to, and Braunwyn says, it’s going to be epic. She and Sean stop at a gift store, and Braunwyn wants to get a humorous tea towel for Kelly. She wonders why Tamra wants to fight. Kelly said Tamra called her a drunk. Sean doesn’t understand why, since Tamra says nice things to her face. That’s not a good friend. She has to ask Tamra why. In Braunwyn’s interview, she says she’s shocked that Tamra said this. (I’m not.) They hit it off quickly. We flash back to them making out. Braunwyn says, if it’s true, it hurts, Sean asks if Tamra is coming to the party, and Braunwyn says when she invited Tamra, she thought Tamra was a friend. Sean says she’ll have to reach out. I suggest she do a freeze out. I’m so sick of Tamra. She does all the things she accuses others of doing. She’s not a Christian, she’s a freaking Pharisee.

On the way to a sex accessory store, Emily tells Gina that Shane thought she said Braunwyn was having a weenie party. In Gina’s interview, she says she’s never been to a weaning party unless you consider drinking an entire bottle of wine by herself when she was done breastfeeding, a party. Emily asks about Gina’s date, and Gina says, on one hand, meeting Dr. Hottie is the best thing that could happen to her, but Matt was so upset, he cried. It’s the first time she’s seen him cry in twelve years. In her interview, Gina says, seeing him cry for the first time, she feels he gets it; the family was impacted. And she believes he’s committed to wanting to repair it. Emily says, on the other hand, Matt hurt her deeply. In Gina’s interview, she says, on one hand (phrase of the night), she’s moving on, but on the other side, it feels good to be wanted and loved. It’s confusing. I’m not confused. He’s a dog with a bone, shedding crocodile tears. Stay away. They go into the store, and Emily asks if Gina is ready for some inappropriate gifts for the party. Emily explains to the clerk what they need, and the clerk says there’s no shortage of inappropriate items there. In Gina’s interview, she says, it sounds like it’s going to be a crazy orgy. She’s going to chuck dildos and run. In Emily’s interview, she says, anytime you get to be someone different is fun. She asks Gina if she thinks Braunwyn would like a swing, and asks the clerk if it’s good for three people or only two.

Shannon irons. Lots of ironing going on in reality TV this week. She gets ready to go to her first deposition. David’s attorney is going to ask her questions about the marriage. The divorce has been completely contentious. David’s attorney is Tamra’s old attorney, and she hears he’s a bulldog, so who knows how it will go? She calls her business manager, and says it needs to be up and running at the latest mid-July. In her interview, she says she created a low calorie food line, and she’s launching a website. She doesn’t want to rely David financially, but she’s uneasy not knowing what the final settlement will be. Her manager tells her to breathe. In Shannon’s interview, she says she still gets emotional, and a pit in her stomach, when she sees David. There’s so much anger when she sees him, but she feels stronger, both mentally and physically. She’s not very organized though. She’s trying to balance all of these folders and books, and I’m wondering why she didn’t use a tote bag.

Braunwyn meets Tamra at a bar. In Braunwyn’s interview, she says normally, if she’s uncomfortable, she doesn’t pick up the phone, but she hasn’t seen Tamra since the tea party, and wants to find out what made Tamra call her a liar Braunwyn says she doesn’t know where to start. Tamra called her a liar, but she didn’t bring up Kelly’s boyfriend. Emily asked how they’re doing. We flash back to the tea party, and Tamra says she wasn’t talking about that. Braunwyn says she thought Tamra meant she brought it up, and she owns her sh*t. Tamra says, as she does, and I choke on my coffee. Braunwyn says, the next night at dinner, Kelly said Tamra thinks she’s a drunk and didn’t like her tea party outfit. Tamra says Kelly asked what Braunwyn was wearing, and she said it was cute. Kelly takes a little information, and twists it. Braunwyn says she’d love it if Tamra would come to her if there’s a problem. Tamra asks if she looks like the type who wouldn’t. In her interview, Braunwyn says she was conflicted. She believed Kelly, but now she believes Tamra. She’s sure the truth is somewhere in the middle, but it doesn’t involve her. She’s taking a step back. She’s good with both of them, and it’s not her problem. Tamra says Kelly is going dirty, and she thinks it’s best if she doesn’t go to the party. Kelly’s temper scares her. Braunwyn suggests she come early and hang out beforehand. Tamra says, okay, but if Kelly comes at her, she’s leaving. Braunwyn says, fair enough. They hug, and Braunwyn says she was nervous because she really likes Tamra. Tamra says, what’s not to like?

Tamra gets her hair done, and Vicki joins her. Tamra shows her the cake, a pair of boobies with a bikini top double nip slip. Vicki says someone told her they’re lactating tonight; the party is about boobs. Tamra says, it’s weaning, and Vicki says, it sounds like a puppy. Shannon FaceTimes Tamra, and Tamra asks if she’s been crying. What happened? Shannon says she just got back from the deposition. She made the most money she ever has last year, but less this year, and they won’t look at that. Tamra says, no way Shannon is walking away with nothing, but Shannon says, it’s a possibility if they can find a case to support it. In Shannon’s interview, she says, even though it was common property, David started the business before they were married. The bulk of it grew after they were married, but if that’s not applied to her, she’s screwed. Shannon tells Tamra, seventeen years count for nothing. Tamra says all she can do is move forward. It’s just money. They hang up, and Tamra tells Vicki that Braunwyn just sent a picture of her boob. Vicki says, Braunwyn likes herself. Tamra is the one who invited her; she never heard from Braunwyn. Tamra says, Braunwyn has loyalty to Kelly, and Vicki says she’s going to drug test Kelly. We flash back to the reunion where Kelly said go ahead and test her.

At Braunwyn’s love shack, the bartenders take their shirts off, and the DJ sets up. The guests arrive, and it gets crowded pretty quickly. Vicki says she doesn’t need a swing. She has jungle gym with Steve at home. I find this really hard to believe. Tamra tells Braunwyn, Vicki thought it was a lactating party. Braunwyn says, that would be less fun. She’s done, but instead of being sad about having no more babies, she’s celebrating. She tells them that Kelly isn’t going to be there. She didn’t want the focus on her, since it’s about Braunwyn. Tamra breathes a sigh of relief.

Kelly goes out with friends to a restaurant. She thanks them for coming and supporting her. Drama free night. In her interview, she says she knows if she goes to the party, the sh*t will hit the fan. She wants to disengage, and be a stronger person. They toast to loyalty.

Gina is impressed be Braunwyn’s apartment. She asks about Kelly, and Tamra says she’s not coming. Gina asks if it’s a kind gesture, and Tamra shrugs, telling Gina, she has no words.

Kelly says Tamra told everyone she did a train, and threw her mother down the stairs. Pump the breaks, Becky. She admits to going off the handle, and she’s tried drugs, but doesn’t do them. Her brother put some things out there on the internet, and her mom took Eric’s side. Kelly says they’ve made amends, but any information Tamra knows about, she twists it. She’s dumber than a box of rocks.

Shannon shows up at Braunwyn’s party, and Braunwyn asks how it’s going. Shannon says her divorce trial starts on Monday. Gina asks what she means, and Shannon says David’s lawyer found a case that would support her getting nothing. In Braunwyn’s interview, she says, a stay-at-home mom raising three daughters is a job. If she and Sean got a divorce after she raised seven children, she’d expect to get everything. Vicki tells Shannon that Kelly isn’t coming, and Braunwyn says Kelly decided it’s her night, and didn’t want to be a distraction. Braunwyn knows they got into it a little at the tea party, and she bores Vicki, but she loves them all. She wants them to come with her to Miami, where she’s from. She and Sean are checking on some places they own. In her interview, Braunwyn feels that her personality will make more sense to them when they see her in Miami. They say she’s too loud, but everyone is like that there. She’s not crazy, she’s just from another city. Well, maybe a little crazy. She passes out gift bags that contain little blackboards inviting them to a party in Key West. Shannon says she’s not going; it’s where David started his affair, but Tamra says she’ll stay with Shannon. In Shannon’s interview, she says David went on a trip with an organization that included one woman. She believes David started his affair with her on one of the group retreats, and it was in Key West. She remembers him calling her. We flash back, and Shannon says David called her at midnight last night. He’s up until midnight when he’s in Florida. Why is he up late with other people, and not her? He says they’ll have to change that, and she tells him she’s going to hold him to it. She thinks that’s the night the affair started.

Emily spanks one of the bartenders. A pseudo cop comes in, with a woman in a low-cut shirt that says SWAT. He says there have been complaints of loud noises and lewd behavior. He looks at Vicki’s butt, and says it’s as he suspected. They have crack. Okay, I laughed. Vicki wonders if it’s a bachelorette party. Braunwyn gets lap dances, and tells Tamra that she’s not cheating on her. Tamra says that’s why she didn’t get a blonde. In Emily’s interview, she says she was thinking breasts, not shirtless guys, and not strippers. In Vicki’s interview, she says, here we go again. It reminds her of Mexico. She tells Emily, it’s not her jam, and Emily asks if Vicki wants to paddle her with the bitch paddle. Vicki leaves, and Tamra says, that’s the way to get Vicki to go; hire a stripper. Emily rides on a dude who motorboats her, and in her interview, Tamra says she thinks that’s the most action Emily has gotten in a long time. Braunwyn shouts, no more babies! Gina wonders if this is the way everyone does it when they stop breastfeeding. Braunwyn nearly falls, and flashes everyone. Gina says she didn’t have this sh*t at her bachelorette party.

Braunwyn asks if Shannon is okay. Shannon says she’ll go to Miami, but Key West is on her no fly list. She believes David started his affair there. Emily asks if he was there for work, and Shannon says, it was a work retreat, and there was one woman on the trip. Emily suggests it might help her heal to go, but Shannon says she’s not that kind of person. She doesn’t want to think about it. Emily says if she conquered it, she might feel empowered. Gina  tries to interrupt, telling Emily that Shannon said she’d conquered it. In her interview, Gina says she remembers when she found out about the affair with Matt. She couldn’t function or breathe. If Key West is a trigger, she doesn’t know if Shannon should go there. Shannon say she’s not emotional about the demise of her marriage, but she doesn’t want to bring up the memories. Braunwyn says Shannon has a legit girl gang with her.

Shan visits lawyer Ben, and says she’s been emotional since the deposition. Ben says he doesn’t blame her. Shannon says she was told no facial expressions; not a peep. It was hard watching David burst into laughter and smirk. In her interview, she says, it’s as nasty as it can be. A part of her wants to be amicable because she wants to be the best co-parent she can be. Shannon says she knew if she said anything, she’d start to cry, so she stayed silent. Ben doesn’t think she lost it; she kept it together admirably. He wanted to orient her as to where they’re going when the trial concludes. It’s common for permanent support to be less than temporary support, and her income has increased since the end of the marriage. Shannon says, it’s declining now, and Ben says it’s not the ideal time for her to go to trial, but he doesn’t know where it’s going to crack up. She says when David started his business, it was out of his rented place. He didn’t get his first million dollar job until after they were married. Shannon says, there’s no way they can argue it was a separate property. She helped him grow the business. They were married seventeen years, and she’s the mother of his kids. In her interview, Shannon believes she can support herself, but never thought it was a possibility that she was entitled to nothing. She guesses being at home with the kids adds up to nothing. She tells Ben that she’s emotionally and physically exhausted, but she’s not going to let David get the best of her.

Next time, Gina and Mett get a hotel room in Laguna, Shannon can’t wait clean her hands of the marriage and move on, the Miami trip, and Vicki gets engaged.

🙈 I’m being forced into watching Blind Date because it’s wedged into the half hour between two other shows. The second episode was as bad as the first. Worse, because it was the same. It’s like they took the worst people, put them in the worst show, and sent them on the most boring date. The name of it should be, Two Jerks in a Hot Tub, since that’s what it seems to amount to. It’s like watching the worst Tinder date ever. Maybe not the worst, but pretty bad. Tonight, one guy went on about how he had to take a pee, and then when in the hot tub, remarked that the water was warmer. Eww! Please, Bravo, get rid of this show yesterday.

🗽 Replacing Bethenny…

The new Real Housewife of New York

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/11/leah-mcsweeney-joins-rhony-cast/

🙋 Joining the Franchise…

This should be interesting. Will we see Sister Real Housewives?

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/11/bravo-announces-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city/

🍔 Basically…

Stassi is on a roll.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1094274/vanderpump-rules-stassi-schroeder-gets-her-own-show

🍷 In Giudice News…

Not so happy reunion.

https://radaronline.com/photos/teresa-and-joe-giudice-argue-during-italy-reunion/

Teresa at Bravocon.

https://radaronline.com/photos/teresa-giudice-parties-at-bravocon-after-tense-reunion-with-joe-fails-in-italy/

Keeping him in our thoughts and prayers.

https://pagesix.com/2019/11/18/teresa-giudices-father-hospitalized-with-pneumonia/

🍗 Before Hanukkah Comes…

Definitely drumstick worthy.

November 18, 2019 – Sam’s Hearing Concludes, Fraternity On Deck, WWHL Presents Bravocon, Blind Date Bore & More Pirates

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

I missed the first few minutes, and hope this isn’t indicative of the week.

Kim asks if Franco is ready start their new life. He says he’s very sorry, but he can’t leave Port Charles with her after all. Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!!!

Alexis asks if TJ is saying that she somehow ingested rat poison. There’s an antidote, right? Elizabeth comes in with Finn, and asks how Alexis is feeling. Finn says her blood pressure has dropped to its lowest point, and Alexis says it probably shot up after she heard TJ’s theory. TJ says her symptoms are consistent with thallium poisoning. Finn says, it’s been banned for decades, but TJ suggests they run tests to be on the safe side, and Finn agrees.

Kim tells Franco that she doesn’t understand, and asks if it’s about slowing down. He says, that’s not it, and she asks, why stay in Port Charles? She saw Monica, and Monica understands. He says, it has nothing to do with Monica, and she asks if it’s about Elizabeth and the boys. He says, it’s about Franco, and what Franco did for him when they were kids.

Julian flashes back to Kim saying he was never her Charlie. That man never existed. It was him pretending to be someone he’ll never be. A woman (let’s just say it, Brook Lynn) asks if he’s working today. She wants a black Russian. He says he’ll get someone to help, and she says, or he could pour it himself. Unless he has something better to do.

Brad says he didn’t know Lucas spoke to Julian, and Lucas says, yesterday. He was with Julian when Brad called. Once Brad said Charlotte had been abducted by Cassandra, it slipped his mind. Julian just made excuses about how he was protecting him and Wiley from Brad’s shady dealings. Brad says he was set up, and Lucas says, in reality, the only person they needed protection from Julian. Julian is nothing to him. If they see him when they’re out somewhere, they’re going to turn the other way. He’s sorry Brad got set up. It seemed like he and Julian were getting close, and he knows how that hurts. Brad says, it hurt Lucas too; he’ll miss his father. Lucas says he misses the father who raised him. He doesn’t miss Julian. Lucas’s phone dings, and he says he has to get back to work. Brad says he and Wiley will be waiting.

Diane tells Jason and Sam that they don’t need to debate the evidence. It’s already on record, and Judge Madrigal has a reputation for fairness. The judge comes in, and the bailiff says, court is now in session; the United States vs Sam McCall. The judge asks if they’re ready, and Diane introduces herself as council for the defense. She says they’re ready, but the US attorney seems to have something better to do. Judge Madrigal asks the bailiff if there’s been any word, but he says not that he knows of. Diane says, in light of the no show, she’s asking that all charges be dismissed immediately. Jason makes a face like one of my dogs makes when I have food in my hand.

Diane says, her honor is of course (🍷) familiar with the spurious charge of murder against Sam. She doesn’t use the term spurious lightly. At the time of Shiloh’s death, Jason was definitely unarmed and in imminent danger. The charges against her client were hyper-inflated, and are now outright lies. They say Sam arranged Shiloh’s escape for the sole purpose to kill him herself. Phone records show Sam answered a call from Dev Corbin, who was on the Haunted Star. She went unprepared and unarmed, which is illogical. If she arranged to kill Shiloh, why go unarmed? It makes no sense. Sam never should have been charged and taken from her home, where her two children need her, to spend even one hour to clear her name. It’s a clear-cut case of self-defense. She asks that the charges be dismissed. A man – who looks a lot like Anderson Cooper – runs in, and introduces himself as Gabriel Burke. He apologizes for being late, but he was interviewing the victim’s friends and supporters. They were once homeless and down on their luck, and they’re now thriving. They all tell the same story. If not for Shiloh, they’d be on the street. The man Sam shot in the back and erased from the world was a healer, helper, and hero. We all gag.

Obrecht asks Lucas how Wiley is, and he says she doesn’t even have a vague interest in his son. Brad is finished with her. She says she’s sorry to hear that. He’s been in contact with Britt, and she has an update. He tells her, give it a rest. She’s been blackmailing Brad. She took advantage of him being an anxious new father, and wrote a prescription for him. She took advantage of it, and used Brad to tamper with Sasha’s tests. Obrecht says she doesn’t know if he’s naïve or being deliberately ignorant, but in his eagerness to put the blame on her shoulders, he conveniently ignores what he knows about his own husband. Brad is a liar, and capable of lying to him.

On the phone, Julian tells Lucy that he has the right to keep Olivia’s deposit (he still hasn’t mentioned in what world), and to get her client under control. Brad asks if he’s having a bad day, and Julian tells him, get out. Brad says Julian might want to hear his deal first. Julian says Brad got the best of him this time, but he still has a story to tell, so don’t get cocky. He’s not done. Brad tells Julian, never mention how Wiley fell into his arms again, or Sonny will be over to visit so fast, it will make Julian’s head spin. But he has a more positive reason for visiting. Something that should make Julian happy.

Alexis says she’s sorry she doubted TJ, and TJ says he doubted himself too. Maybe he’s wrong, but her symptoms are specific. He wonders how she might have come in contact with the poison.

Franco tells Kim, Franco sacrificed himself, and his life was damaged irreparably. Despite monumental challenges, Franco rebuilt his life. Franco had a relationship, a family, and a home, until he showed up and took them away. Kim says, Shiloh and that crazy doctor did that. He had no choice. Franco says, Franco sacrificed himself for Cameron, and years before, did the same for him. Kim says if he feels obligated to visit Elizabeth’s family and be a friend to the boys, she’ll accept it. It won’t be easy, but they can stay. She just wants to be with him. He says he wants be with her too, but he can’t. He has nothing but love for her, but he’s going to have the procedure reversed. I say, thank God, and God laughs because these people aren’t real.

TJ says, maybe a local exterminator is using the poison, and Finn asks if Alexis has eaten any take-out. She says, only the usual; Kelly’s, Charlie’s, the Floating Rib, the MetroCourt. None of them would use something like that. Finn says it’s possible an employee had it on their hands. TJ says there would be other cases if that happened. Elizabeth brings back the test results, and Finn says, TJ is right. It’s thallium. Alexis says, now that they know what it is, tell her there’s a cure.

Franco says he’s not trying to hurt Kim, but he has to do right by Franco. He was never meant to be there. Kim says, but he is there. She can touch him and feel him. He says his memories are in another man’s body. A man who saved him when he was too little to save himself. Kim says he can’t. It’s too dangerous, and he could end up in a permanent coma. He says, the last thing Franco said to Cameron was, tell Elizabeth that he’d be back. Kim says, Elizabeth is handling this. Please. She can’t lose him. He says he has to try. He’s no good to her, himself, or anyone else if he doesn’t.

Brad tells Julian that he’s willing to let bygones be bygones. What Julian did was despicable, but not unforgiveable, especially since they were starting to be one big happy family. Julian asks what Brad wants now, and Brad says he’ll ask Lucas to give Julian another chance. Julian asks how he’ll mange that, and Brad says, he’ll have to take it slow; wear Lucas down over time. But Julian has to play his part. Keep his distance, and Brad will make sure he and Lucas are close again. As long as Julian doesn’t even think about exposing the secret about Wiley.

Lucas tells Obrecht to stop playing her twisted mind games. They don’t work; not with him or Brad. He doesn’t trust her, and if she ever tries to blackmail Brad again, he’ll go to the authorities. Obrecht says then she has no choice but to reveal the cold hard facts about Lucas’s husband, and why she was involved.

Judge Madrigal says Gabriel was late, and now he’s grandstanding. It’s a bench trial, not the theater. The only important thing she’ll pay adherence to is a productive argument and the charges. Prior to his death, Shiloh had been charged with sexual assault, attempted murder, murder, blackmail, and money laundering. He was a complex man who had a complex death, and it’s her job to judge whether there was malice aforethought or not. Diane calls Jason to the stand.

Jason says when he got the Haunted Star, Shiloh was standing over Sam, who was lying on the ground with broken glass all around her. Shiloh was attacking Sam, and he told Shiloh to stop.

Sam says, once she was alone on the boat, she knew she had to plan her escape, so she kept Shiloh talking. She went to the bar to pour a drink. That’s when he told her that he was responsible for his father’s death; that he tampered with the breaks on his father’s car. Gabriel objects, saying Shiloh isn’t on trial for his father’s death. Diane says it shows the state of her client’s mind; she was clearly in fear for her life, and it shows intent. Shiloh – the hero – admitted to murdering his own father. The judge says, continue, and Sam says Shiloh was closing in on her. She took the bottle to use as a weapon, but Shiloh got it out of her hand, and threw it on the ground. Then he threw her to the ground on top of the glass. He forced her legs open, and started to unbuckle his pants.

Jason says he shot Shiloh. He hit Shiloh in the chest, and thought he was dead. He didn’t check Shiloh’s pulse, and went directly to Sam. Diane asks how Shiloh survived, and Jason says, he had a bulletproof vest he took from a guard when he escaped. Jason didn’t realize, and was on deck when Shiloh came at him with a gaffing stick.

Sam says, Shiloh was going to kill Jason. She had no time, so she just reacted, shooting him in the back with a flare gun. He stumbled, and fell overboard. Gabriel says what she described sounds terrifying. Was she terrified? Sam says, of course (🍷). Gabriel says, then why did Sheri say in her sworn statement that Sam knew Jason didn’t need help, and could deal with Shiloh on his own? She shot Shiloh because of what he’d done to her sister and her. Diane says, hearsay, but Gabriel says Sam wanted Shiloh dead, didn’t she?

Finn tells Alexis the antidote is in paint, like the kind in Van Gogh’s Starry Night. It’s also used in blueprints. It binds to the metals in the body, and flushes them out safely. Alexis wonders how someone came up with it. They licked a paintbrush? (That sounds like something I’d ask. I know. Let’s try drinking paint!). Finn says she’s going to be okay. TJ comes back, and says there’s no report of anyone else being poisoned in or around Port Charles. Finn says the symptoms are unique to Alexis, which brings them back to why.

Sam says she won’t apologize for wanting Shiloh away from her sister or the other young women he preyed on. But no matter what, she took a shot to protect Jason. Gabriel says, so she was mistaken. She didn’t think he could handle it himself. Diane says, hearsay, which the prosecution should understand. He’s using backdoor maneuvers to get the statement on record. The judge says, sustained. Move along.

Gabriel suggests that Sam and Jason set up a sting operation, but Diane objects, saying that’s a speculative premise. The judge sustains her objection, and Gabriel asks if Jason ever physically assaulted Shiloh. Jason says they fought, and Gabriel asks, how many times? Did he ever throw Shiloh down the stairs?  Diane objects again. She says Gabriel had ample opportunity to present the evidence of Jason allegedly throwing Shiloh down the stairs, but none was presented. There’s no way to prove it happened. Her objection is sustained. Gabriel says there are numerous counts of assault, and Diane objects again. Judge Madrigal says, sustained. She warned Gabriel about grandstanding, and next time, she’s going to cite him. Gabriel asks if Jason was so inexplicably defenseless, that if Sam hadn’t shot Shiloh, he wouldn’t have been able to defend himself. Diane says, that calls for speculation, and Gabriel says, withdrawn. Diane brings out the gaffing stick, and asks Jason what it is, for the record. He says it looks like the gaffing stick Shiloh was going to hit him with, and Diane says, Shiloh’s fingerprints were all over it. Gabriel – who’s really reaching now – says Sam could have placed it in Shiloh’s hands after he died. Diane says, false narrative, but Gabriel says, Sam, Jason, and Shiloh were alone on the water, with no witnesses to give history. The only life in danger that night was Shiloh’s. I wonder why they’re not making more of Dev’s phone call.

Julian says Brad loves throwing Sonny’s name around. Maybe he should tell Sonny his grandson is still alive. He’ll be so grateful, he’ll shake Julian’s hand. Brad says he came to Julian in good faith with a peace offering, but Julian says, how about extortion? Brad says Julian can get his son back if he lets them keep theirs, but he’ll have to agree to the terms. Julian tells Brad that he’d better not screw up. Brad holds out his hand, but Julian doesn’t shake it. Brad leaves, and Julian announces there’s a problem in the kitchen, and they’re closing. Their charges are covered, but they have to get out. Brook Lynn continues to drink.

Kim says, so he’s giving up his life, but Franco says it’s not his life to have; it’s Franco’s. If he holds on to it, he’s no better than the men who did the procedure in the first place.

On the phone at Charlie’s, Brook Lynn says, they owe her. O-W-E, owe, not own. They can find someone else if they want someone to push around. Go to hell. She hangs up, and tells Julian, black Russian, take two. He says, the bar is closed; she has to leave. She says she’ll get where she’s going eventually. In the meantime, she’s comfortable. Is he going to pick her up and toss her out, or call the cops? It would be simpler to just get her the damn drink.

Franco asks what Kim will do now, but she says she doesn’t know. All she knows is, she can’t stay and watch, hoping it doesn’t work out. However it turns out, he’s no longer hers. Franco says she doesn’t need to leave because of him. She says she needs to leave because of her. Without him and Oscar, there’s nothing left for her in Port Charles. Franco says, she’s an amazing woman. He wishes he could love her the way she deserves. She says he did once; they both did. She guesses this is goodbye. She cries, and says, goodbye, Chief Andrew Cane. He holds her, and says he loves her. She says she loves him too. He walks to the door, and walks out without turning back. She cries, and says, she always will.

Alexis tells Finn that she’s careful with her diet, and she’s working out with Kendra. Finn asks if she’s gotten any herbs or teas from the internet. She says, the only other thing is the supplement she’s been taking, and she had her doctor check it out. Finn asks if she’d mind if he took a look at it, and TJ says he has a key to the house; he can pick it up. Alexis says, that’s not necessary. She can have Kendra drop some off. Why? Why did she say that? Elizabeth comes in with Alexis’s first dose, and Finn says she’ll feel better in a couple days. She drinks it, and says, tastes like paint, but if it saves her life, she won’t complain. TJ says they still need to uncover how Alexis got exposed. He thinks she probably got it from a restaurant. Finn says he has a hard question. Is there any chance someone poisoned her intentionally?

Lucas tells Obrecht that she has no right to blow up their life. She says that’s not what she wants. She’s never subscribed to the philosophy that the truth will set you free, but he seems like he was raised on that principle. He should thank her for full disclosure. Lucas says her manipulation no longer works. She has nothing to tell him that he doesn’t already know. She says, is that so? His husband has a colorful past. So many highs and lows. She has something to tell him. Brad blows in, and asks, what’s going on? Obrecht says Lucas was lauding Brad’s honesty and disparaging her in the same breath. If his manners don’t improve, he’ll live to regret it, and so will Brad. She walks off, and Lucas asks if that’s a threat. Brad tells him, forget it. She won’t say anything or she’ll be implicated too. It’s over. Lucas says he doesn’t think it is.

Gabriel says Sam paid Brice to arrange Shiloh’s escape, but Diane says the defense admitted an affidavit from Brice’s lawyer. He was in the process of cutting a deal and amending his statement, when he was brutally murdered. The judge says the court has read it, and the statements offset each other. Neither will be counted to weigh more than the other. Gabriel says they only have the testimonies of Sam and Jason. Shiloh can’t give one, and conveniently, there were no security cameras. Perhaps Sam arranged that so she could kill him, and fabricate a story of attempted assault. Diane says, seriously? Hearsay and speculation. Gabriel says they haven’t offered once ounce of tangible proof, and the judge says, point taken, but she’s warned him. Gabriel says Sam shot Shiloh in the back, not to save Jason, but to snuff out a man she despised. Shiloh deserves his day in court. She took his life, and should be held accountable. Jason’s arrest record proves he was anything but defenseless. Judge Madrigal says she’s heard what she needs to hear. There will be a short recess before she gives her ruling. Spinelli tells Sam and Jason, everyone is in good health, but he has an emergency, and has to leave. His heart is with Sam. Sam asks Jason what he thinks. Is it going to go in her favor?

Alexis says she can’t think of anyone who would want to poison her except Helena, and she’s dead. She supposes Helena could have left posthumous instructions. TJ wonders if it could be a disgruntled client, or the family member of someone Alexis had put away. Finn tells Alexis to rest and let the medicine do its job. They’ll deal with the rest later. He leaves, and TJ starts to go, but Alexis says, not so fast, you. He saved her life. She thanks him, and he says he’s glad she’s okay. He’ll call Molly and let her know. She tells him to make sure to tell Molly about his role in it, or she will. He says he’ll check on her later. When he’s gone, she gets a text from Kendra asking how she is. She texts back, great news. I’m going to recover.

Kim looks around the empty apartment.

Elizabeth is at the reception desk, when Franco walks in. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says he needs to talk to her.

Julian asks the woman, why stay in a place that’s closed? She asks, why did he close it? What’s up with that guy he was talking to? It seemed heated. He says it’s none of her business, but she says she’s a total stranger, and they can be the best listeners. What not take advantage of that?

Brad tells Lucas, back to normal, but Lucas says, every time he turns around, there’s another secret. Brad asks what he means, and Lucas says Obrecht told him she knows the cold, hard facts about Brad and Wiley’s father. What else is Brad hiding?

Sam asks Diane how she thinks it went, but Diane tells her, it’s difficult to say. Sam and Jason were both compelling and straightforward, which works in their favor, but it’s hard to imagine Jason being defenseless. That shouldn’t count, but it can cast doubt. She asks Jason, how many fights he had with Shiloh. Jason says, real fights? Four. Diane asks, what’s a real fight? and Jason says where one of them almost killed the other.

The judge comes back in. She says, after careful consideration of the evidence and testimonies, she’s prepared to make a ruling. Will the defense rise?

Tomorrow, Kim hopes Hayden is as happy there as she was, Lucas asks Brad why everyone is after him, Olivia suggests she and Sonny open something together, and the verdict is read.

Below Deck

27 hours before charter. Brian says he kissed Courtney last night, and Ashton says, sh*t went down. Kate tells Ashton, good morning, lover boy. He asks how they hooked up, but Kate says he put his tongue in her mouth. That’s all that happened, so stop saying that. She loves him, but not that way. In Ashton’s interview, he doesn’t know how that happened, but it wasn’t him; it was Smashton. That’s the way Smashton operates. Kate tells him, get out of here. In Kate’s interview, she says she looks at Ashton as a brother, and she’s not that kind of family. Tanner feels better, like a new person, and says sleep was what he needed. Kate tells Tanner about Ashton kissing her, and he asks how that was. She says, disgusting. Tanner asks Courtney about Brian kissing her, and she says, that never happened. It was a peck. Ashton says they were so cute together, and she says, never going to happen. In Courtney’s interview, she doesn’t know how she feels. She’s a bit picky. Did she cringe, or does she want to kiss him again? Those are the two options. Tasks are given out. Tanner swills water.

Tanner watches Cortney and Simone fold clothes, and jets before he’s asked to help. Simone tells Courtney that she has to stop breathing when Tanner is around. Kate tells Simone that she’ll be on late, so she’ll be helping more with service. She asks what part of service Simone wants to work on, and Simone asks what Kate thinks she needs to work on. Kate asks how she is at opening wine, and Simone goes, uhhh… In Kate’s interview, she says it’s like on a sports team when someone is saying, put me in coach, but she doesn’t want to rush Simone either. Kevin makes up songs in the galley. Kate hands Simone a bottle of wine, and tells her to show her skills. Simon fumbles around. Kate tells her to do it without using the counter. In her interview, Kate says, that Simone doesn’t know how to open a bottle is a little troubling. She said she worked for a year on yachts. No one drank on that boat? Kate shows her how to open the bottle, and they move on to pouring.

Time for the preference sheet meeting. In Simone’s interview, she says most of her experience has been on laundry and housekeeping. She wishes she could get full service instruction. Captain Lee says their new primary is Michael Blackton, who owns a helicopter charter business. He and his closest friends went to Florida State. Kate says she knows people who went there, and the only major is drinking beer. In her interview, she says, no employer goes, wow, when they see Florida State on a resumé. The captain tells them that Michael says the crew isn’t prepared for what’s going to transpire on board. Kate says all they’ll need is red Solo cups. The captain says they want a beach lunch, a college style party with garnet and gold decorations, a pirate day, and they want the crew to come up with another theme dinner of their own creation. It’s going to be full-on. He asks how Tanner is, and Ashton says, he’s 100%. Captain Lee says they need him back. In Ashton’s interview, he says he has a calm exterior, even though inside, he’s pretty nervous. Kate makes a call to get a bunch of pirate stuff. Brian slips on deck, and hurts his knee. Tanner asks Ashton if they’re going to have hats and eye patches and sh*t, and Ashton nods.

Captain Lee watches as Simone irons. She tells him the iron is malfunctioning, and he shows her how to use it. Kate says it’s an honor and a privilege to watch him iron. I actually think it’s sexy. Tanner tells Kate about Brian whacking his knee, and asks how her tongue is doing after the attack. She says it recoiled to the back of her throat.

Ashton wants the boat looking nice and sharp, and the deckhands take care of last minute details. In Brian’s interview, he says he’s not sure what’s happening with his knee; it’s swollen. He can still do his job, but he can’t focus 100%. He hopes the pain goes away soon; he doesn’t need this on deck. The provisions come in, and Courtney says, yay Florida. Brian says his knee is hurting, and everyone gets changed to their whites. Tanner says he’s dripping sweat, and the captain says, four minutes to show time.

Kate brings out gold and garnet leis. As the guests come up to the boat, one says they’re going to get ripped every night, and Michael says, they have no idea what’s coming for them. Captain Lee says he’s not ready for these guys. In his interview, Ashton thinks the girls are beautiful, and it’s going to be a distracting charter. I’m a good bosun. I am a good bosun. The captain tells the guests they have a fun few days planned. Kate will give them a tour of the boat, and they’ll get this party started. Kate does the tour, and anchor is pulled up. One of the female guests wonders when Ashton’s shirt is coming off. Kate describes Michael to Kevin as still being in the fraternity and having a Republican haircut. She puts Courtney on laundry duty. Michael wants to see pirates. I don’t think Captain Sandy would agree that’s a good idea. Kate tells Simone to check on the guests. In Kate’s interview, she says if Simone wants to improve in service, when she says, check on the guests, that doesn’t mean wander around. She didn’t speak to one of them. A guest comes to the galley, and asks for a vodka/Sprite. Kate tells Simone, look at every guest, and ask if she can get them anything. You never want them to have to ask.

Michael is already making all kinds of inappropriate remarks to Simone. Courtney suggests Brian get an actual bandage on his knee, and tells him to stop touching it with dirty fingers. Simone says she wants the guests to be super happy and drinking. Kevin makes ribs, and says, Michael is fantasized [sic] by an American type steakhouse. Tanner asks if Brian is going to text Courtney to marry him. Kevin sings, love is in the air. Kate says Courtney has a glow, and Courtney says that’s because she got some sun. Kate says, he’s the son of someone. Michael says, let’s get loose, and asks when Simone gets to drink. He tells her that he was going to bring his girlfriend, but they broke up before the trip when he found out she was a hooker. He thinks this is pretty funny, while the rest of us just look at him blankly. He grabs Simone’s hand, asking about her ring finger, and guessing her size, telling her, he’s good at that. They arrive in Koh Roi. Simone tells Kevin, the main guy is ugh. In her interview, she says she’s trying to be professional, and Michael is being creepy. Get her out of there.

Kevin tells Kate that he wants to go over to the beach with the food. Ashton explains that he’ll make the initial run with the crew, and while they set out the food, he’ll go back for the guests. In Kevin’s interview, he says he wishes he could trust Kate with the beach picnic, but she’s checked out. We flash back to Kevin looking for Kate the last time. He says she needs to manage better, and he doesn’t trust her with any of the aspects of a beach picnic. I dub Kevin officially insane. He tells Kate that he’s going along because he doesn’t want to make more work for her. Ashton has a meeting with the deckhands, and the tender is put in the water. Captain Lee asks Ashton what Brian did to his leg, and Ashton says, that’s how hard he fell for Courtney the other night. We all laugh. Tanner asks Brian how his knee is, and Brian says, effed up.

Kate gets ready for the picnic, and says, the gang’s all here; Tito, Jack, and Jim. Ashton thinks it’s the hottest day so far. They leave to set up, and one guest asks for a banana daquiri. Simone says she can do it, and then looks it up on her phone. Courtney says, it’s just a daiquiri with bananas in it. Kevin sets up, making Ashton and Tanner change things around from what Kate told them. Ashton says they’ll just do what Kevin wants to do, and Kate says, welcome to her life. In Kate’s interview, she says, usually, she’d like the chef to show up and participate, but Kevin is very OCD, and it makes everything more difficult. Simone conquers the daquiri, and the guest pronounces it delicious. Kevin starts talking about dinner, but Kate wants to deal with lunch first. The guests arrive, and Kate tells them, welcome to lunch. Kevin tells Kate not to forget the salt and pepper, and she says it’s on the table already. In her interview, Kate says, whenever Kevin jumps into the service realm, he’s doing it to overpower her. Kevin needs to stay in his lane, or take over the job fully, and she’ll take a vacation. She tells Simone, practice makes perfect, and to serve the guests so they don’t have to get up.

Courtney doesn’t understand ironing. It just rewrinkles. Tanner tells Courtney, it’s going to be a chill charter for her – until the laundry starts coming in. In Courtney’s interview, she says, it’s like a frat party, but they’re forty. It’s chill, but it’s pretty sad. I think it’s just pretty sad. The guests play in the water. Simone stays to pack up, and the guests return to the boat. Brian tells Simone that guest Kim is hot, and Simone says, Kim is a scorcher. He asks if she has any comments on the guys, and she says, Tanner makes her… and she fans herself. Brian says, he makes her flustered

Kate tells Courtney, tonight it’s garnet and gold forever. And beer pong. In Kate’s interview, she says the guests are having a college-themed party because the college years were the best years of their lives. Anyone still talking about college, peaked in college. It’s embarrassing. She makes Courtney the creative director of Jell-O shots. Ashton gets the slide ready by himself. The guests jump into the water from the side of the boat. Brian says his knee is worse; the pain is intense on the sides. Ashton says Brian’s knee isn’t looking good. In his interview, he says, there’s a massive difference between being one man and two men down. He hasn’t had a full-strength team all season. He’s exhausted. He asks to talk to the captain.

Ashton tells Captain Lee that Brian banged his knee, and it’s swelling. In his interview, the captain says he has to come up with a backup plan in case Brian can’t work. He feels like a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest. Kevin goes over dinner with Kate. Tanner tells Simone that he thinks he found the coolest spot on the yacht. Simone agrees, and they catch a breeze. One of the guests says she’s trying to get a buzz. She’s way too sober. Tanner tells Simone about Brian’s knee. Michael goes to the galley, and asks Kate where the group shots are. Tanner asks if Simone misses home. She says she misses her grandma, and talks about her all the time. Tanner says his grandpa is his best friend. They have to treat each experience like they don’t want it to be the last one. In Simone’s interview, she says, not only does Tanner have his symmetrical God-given face, he appreciates his grandparents. He asks how old her grandmother is, and she says, ninety-five. In Kate’s interview, she says, Simone is exhibiting all the telltale signs of being a yachty with no experience. If she can hear Simone, the guests can hear her. It’s not Simone’s cruise. She tells Kevin, Simone is having a conversation on the sundeck, and the guests are listening to her life story. Kevin says Simone talks too much. Kate says she’s like a puppy you want to train, but don’t want to break its spirit. Kevin says you need to give it house rules. Everyone looks at the sunset. Kate tells Simone to change into her blacks. The guests get dressed for dinner. Kevin prepares a New York cheesecake.

Kate tells Simone to get the glasses for dinner. Ashton tells Tanner that Simone likes him, and asks if Tanner likes her. Tanner says, that’s dangerous. Kate tells Simone that the guests could hear her talking to Tanner. She was busy making drinks, and didn’t hear what it was about. Should she ask the guests, or does Simone want to tell her? Simone says they were just talking. In Kate’s interview, she says she’s annoyed that Simone is playing that she wants to learn. If she wants to learn, a little less this – she makes a hand gesture for talking – and more of this – she gestures like she’s cleaning something. She tells Simone, if guests are around, be careful.

I just have to interject here. I’m always surprised at how brazen the guests are, like with asking a deckhand to take their shirt off or being forward with a stew. It’s never once crossed my mind to make a pass at any kind of waitstaff or server when they’re technically in my employ. It’s outrageously inappropriate. Does money make people stupid? I had money for five minutes once, but the only inappropriate thing I ever did was take a limo to a Spice Girls concert, and it wasn’t even my idea.

Ashton tells Kate that he’s another man down, and Kate asks, how down is he? Ashton says he needs to rest. As usual, Kate makes a gorgeous centerpiece, using green/gold netting and fairy lights. Kate tells Simone, during service, keep conversation to a minimum. The guests hear everything. A guest says there’s finally a breeze, and Michael says he hasn’t had a BJ this good in years, causing all of us to collectively roll our eyes, and push him off the boat. Okay, I made up that last part. In Kevin’s interview, he says he hasn’t really been around college students before. They’re toasted, and he thinks they’ll be impressed with dinner. Michael talks about playing the drinking game, Never Have I Ever, but never have I ever played that game, nor have I ever been interested in playing. In his bunk, Brian puts a towel over his face.

Tanner and Ashton continue working. Ashton wishes he could go to bed. The captain looks at Brian’s leg, and says it’s going to be a pain in his ass. He’ll probably have to get a doctor. He tells Brian to put ice on it. The guests ask for green tea shots with Red Bull (bleh), and they need them quickly. Simone tells Kate, and Courtney brings some cheesecake to Brian. He asks if she’ll get him some ice, and promises to take her for champagne when the crew goes out. Kate downs one of the shots, and declares it good.

Kevin delivers the cheesecake, singing, once, twice, three times a cheesecake, on the way. Michael toasts to waking up and not getting pissed on. A guest says it’s the best cheesecake they’ve ever had. Michael tells them, it’s college night tonight, and Kate says they have beer pong, and a two-story beer bong. The guests change, and then play beer pong. Simone watches and laughs. Kate tells Courtney the laundry is looking good. Courtney says, it’s a nice change, but it’s boring. Kate asks her to help Simone for a while. These people really are acting like they’re in college. I’m embarrassed. Michael messes with the kayak that’s hanging on the side of the boat.

Ashton tells Michael, no. Please don’t do that. In his interview, Ashton says, what the hell does Michael think he’s doing? He’s beyond drunk, and he’ll snap the kayak, and himself. Michael says Ashton is effing up his kayak experience, but commends Ashton on saying it properly. He puts his arm around Ashton, and Ashton says at least he got the message. Simone tells Courtney that she’ll finish up. Ashton puts the slide away by himself. Brian tosses and turns in pain.

Kate asks Kevin to practice his pirate talk. He says, arghhh! Kate says, yay! Pirate day! It’s not the most  gentile, elegant thing, but she can play along. Shiver me timbers. Arghhh! In Brian’s interview, he says his knee is worse. He couldn’t sleep, but he’s not the type of person who can do nothing, especially since he’s lead deckhand. He feels guilty. Ashton looks at Brian’s knee, and in his interview, he says he tried having a positive mindset, but he needs to deal with the fact that he might lose Brian. One of the guests is stoked that it’s pirate day. Kate tells Kevin that she can only use one hand. When he asks, why? she says she only has one, and shows him the hook prop on her other one. I actually have one of those because we did Peter Pan one year for Halloween.

Kate tells Kevin that she’s a leprechaun pirate. Captain Lee tells Ashton, be ready to rock and roll at 8:30. Kate gives the captain a gentle reminder that it’s pirate day. He says, them’s that dies be the lucky ones, and she says, totally. They pull anchor. Kate tells Courtney, she looks like she’s a lame not-team player. She’s working with a hook. She says it’s Courtney’s last chance to choose her own outfit or she will. The captain asks about Brian, and says if he sees his ass up and around, he’ll have his ass. He gives Ashton the helm, and says he has a new deckhand coming. Brian is so close to being down, he wants to get her on board. In his interview, Captain Lee says, when you’re shorthanded, you run the risk of injury. It’s dangerous, and they can’t continue down this road. Ashton asks if he can look at a copy of the deckhand’s CD, and the captain says he already knows her. It’s Ryleigh. In Ashton’s interview, he says, you have to be effing kidding. Captain Lee says they’ll see if she learned anything.

This season, elephants; Captain Lee tells the crew that some of them aren’t getting his two rule message – don’t embarrass themselves or the boat; Ryleigh says she’s back, bitches; Ashton isn’t ready for this; Ryleigh says she’ll make Brian forget Courtney; Kevin says it’s getting heated; Alexis Bellino is a guest; a guest calls Kate a bitch; a nasty child; Kate hopes the boat sinks, and a cat in a snuggly.

📺 Tonight, I also watched a rerun of Watch What Happens Live, the Bravocon edition, aka WWHL at Bravocon. While I still wish I could have gone, holy! it was crowded. During the show, Andy basically trotted out all the Bravolebrities, so there was a massive amount of people on stage as well, but I can’t imagine even standing in an autograph line with this many people. You would have needed some kind of VIP ticket just to survive, and I’ve been to crowded conventions. I loved seeing LVP, joining the Vanderpump Rules cast, along with Puffy. She looked like the princess she is. I’ll never give up wishing she’d adopt me. Even with all my dogs, her house is so huge, she’d never even know I was there if she didn’t want to. And I’d treat her so much better than Cedric, or whatever the hell his name was. That POS from the first season of RHOBH. The highlight was Andy introducing Kim Zolciak, and not knowing the words to Tardy for the Party, but singing along anyway. You know. Like you do in the car. They played Squash That Beef, and Ramona had to go up quite a few times. Shep, Jax, and Vicki won the drawing for the shotski. The whole thing must have been insane.

👓 I also checked out Blind Date, and was not impressed. The premise is exactly what you’d think, watching a blind date, but stupid pop-ups are scattered throughout. Dating: No Filter (on E!) is a thousand times better. I think the narrator for Blind Date might have been the same person who narrates the Olive Garden commercials, since for a moment, I thought the couple went to Olive Garden when I was looking at an ad. I give it a D-.

🚣 Because It’s Stuck In My Head Now…

Arghhh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 13, 2019 – GH Was Preempted But I Got You, Midlife Birthday Crisis, New Jersey Mention, Old Nik, Unchosen & This Month

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What I Watched Today

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

 

Today’s episode of GH was preempted in most areas, however, I was able to watch it via my super-secret source. SPOILER ALERT – they will probably show this episode on Thursday, but if you want to be ahead of the game, read on…

General Hospital

At the station, Laura holds Lulu. Jordan tells Robert that the coastguard is searching, and they’re talking to anyone in the vicinity. Nina asks Valentin if he heard that; an explosion. Valentin says, Charlotte was nowhere near it, but she says, what if…

Charlotte runs in, followed by Anna, and runs to Valentin. He holds her tight. Anna smiles.

Hayden tells Finn, good morning. He sees breakfast out, and asks if she cooked. She says, have they met? She got it from Kelly’s. She pours him coffee. He says she didn’t have to, but she says it was a special occasion. He says he barely slept, thinking about it all night. Violet is going to know he’s her father.

Dante goes back to Jax’s house, and Jax asks where he was. Dante says he had business to attend to, and Jax grabs him by the collar, slamming him against the wall. Jax says he had to lie to his own daughter, and now Carly is involved and has to lie. He’s about thisclose to blowing Dante’s cover. Quit leaving the house.

Trina doesn’t understand why Josslyn wants to move. Josslyn says there are no memories of Oscar in her dad’s house; it’s like a clean slate. Trina gets it. Josslyn doesn’t get why her parents are making her wait. She sees Carly, and asks if it was a rough night. Carly flashes back to seeing Nikolas.

There’s a knock at Ava’s door, but she says, no visitors this early. Sonny thinks she’ll make an exception for this one, and brings Avery in. Ava gets out of bed, and Avery hugs her. She tells Sonny she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t surprised, and he says Avery has been asking for her. She asks why he brought her, and he says he saw Laura the other night. She told him that Ava wasn’t dangerous or violent, and reminded him of his own history. Mental illness runs on both sides of Avery’s family, so there’s a greater possibility that she’ll have to deal with it when she’s older. He doesn’t want her to feel any stigma, or that she can’t ask for help. Ava doesn’t want that either.

Nina hugs Charlotte. Lulu and Laura come out, and Charlotte runs to Lulu. Lulu hugs her, saying she’s so happy Charlotte is safe. Laura says that makes two of them. Valentin says, Anna was a part of this rescue? Anna says, right place, right time. Charlotte tells Lulu that Anna saved her from that horrible Cassandra woman. Nina says, she is horrible. Valentin says he owes Anna, and she says, he owes Jason. He says, but he does owe her. He’s been so angry at her, and it’s made them both miserable. With this, she’s transcended everything. He can’t tell her how grateful he is. She thanks him. She says she hopes Charlotte never gets into trouble like that again, but he should know he has a very resourceful girl on his hands. He says Anna is hurt. He puts his fingers to his lips, and touches her hair. Lulu asks why Charlotte left the restaurant alone.

Hayden tells Finn, last chance. Say the word, and he can back out. He says he’s not going anywhere. Violet is his daughter, and he wants everything that comes with that. She was hoping he’d say that, and tells him, it’s going to change everything. Their talk meant a lot to her. He says, him too; it put everything in perspective. Violet runs downstairs, and Hayden says, show time.

Carly tells Josslyn that she was up with Donna a lot last night. Josslyn says, that’s weird; she didn’t hear Donna crying. Trina says she has to go. She’s grounded, and she’s supposed to be checking on her internship. Which, technically, she’s about to do. She leaves, and Carly says Josslyn is up early. Josslyn says she thought it would be a good time to finish their conversation about her moving in with Jax part time.

Nikolas says, Carly is a grown woman. If she chooses to protect Jax and Spencer, that’s on her. Jax says, she has to lie to her husband now, and Nikolas asks since when does Jax care about Sonny and Carly’s marriage? Jax says the three of them have committed to providing a stable home for Josslyn, and Nikolas needs to understand that.

Lulu asks why Charlotte left Kelly’s by herself, and Charlotte says she wanted to see if the launch was clear. Lulu says, the launch is nowhere near Kelly’s. This is completely unacceptable. She can’t wander off, especially at night. Valentin says, Lulu is right. Before Charlotte leaves anywhere, she has to check in with whoever is watching her. Charlotte says she’s sorry; she guesses she wasn’t thinking.

Jordan asks Chase to take the lead in the situation with the guard. They also need Anna’s official statement. She welcomes Anna back, and Chase says he knows someone who’s going to be especially excited to see Anna. Anna says, the feeling’s mutual.

Finn puts syrup on Violet’s waffles, trying to make a dog shape. He says he needs to work on his syrup pouring skills, but in his defense, Roxie doesn’t eat waffles. He pours Violet and Hayden some juice, and Finn tries to pour a fairy princess shape. I can relate to this, having had Goofy-shaped pancakes demanded of me once.

Chase asks if Finn knows Anna is back, but she says she was a little preoccupied. He says he has something to take care of, and tells her, welcome back. Lulu tells Charlotte, they’ll have plenty of time to discuss it at home, but right now, she wants Charlotte to thank Anna. Charlotte says, no, then turns to Anna, and thanks her. Anna says, any time, but Valentin says he hopes it never happens again. Charlotte tells Lulu, when she said no, she meant she wasn’t going home with Lulu.

Ava plays with Avery. She asks if Laura told him why she’s there. Sonny says, only because it involved her son. Ava says she’s seeing dead people. It’s pretty unnerving, especially when she  thinks about what Sonny could do with the information when it comes to their daughter. Sonny says he only wants to tell Avery that her mother is getting better. So get better, for her sake. He asks Avery if she’s ready, and Avery tells Ava she loves her. Ava loves her too, and hopes she sees Avery soon. They start to leave, and Ava thanks Sonny. The nurse asks if that’s her little girl, and says she’s a doll. Ava says she isn’t arguing. The nurse gives Ava her medication, and Ava says she doesn’t think she’ll need it much longer.

Josslyn says she doesn’t want Carly to think she’s not enough, or that Josslyn doesn’t love her. She is and she does. Carly says Josslyn just needs to be somewhere that doesn’t remind her of Oscar. Josslyn says, while it’s not Carly’s fault, Carly knew Oscar and spent time with him, and Jax didn’t. It makes it easier for her to not be grieving and just be herself. Carly gets it, and she’s not mad. She’s going to miss Josslyn, but gets this is where she is right now. She just hopes Josslyn’s dad understands.

Nikolas says he’s handling it, and Jax tells him, shut up. This has turned into something that could hurt his kid. This is where a smart businessman would probably cut his losses. The bell rings. Jax says Nikolas knows what to do. It’s Jordan, and Jax invites her in. He asks how he can help her. She says, as he probably knows, Cassandra escaped. She got away in a rental van, paid for by a J.J. Jax of Alaska corporate credit card. He tells her, his card was stolen. She can check; he reported it. She says she already checked, but finds it interesting that it was used to break out a woman that he’s been investigating since he got back to Port Charles. Nikolas listens in.

Josslyn says she doesn’t understand why Jax wants her to wait. She’s fine with crashing on the couch. Carly says she’s not sleeping on a couch while she’s in school. In addition to the renovations, her dad is in a bit of a situation right now. Josslyn asks if he’s okay, and Carly says, he’s fine, but needs to deal with it first. When it’s all cleared up, her moving in will be a go. Josslyn says, okay, and Carly says she doesn’t want Josslyn to think they’re micromanaging her. Josslyn says, really, she’s fine. Carly asks what Josslyn is thinking, and Josslyn says she’s going back and forth on everything these days. She feels all over the place, and misses feeling confident. Carly says, she’ll get there. When you’re in the middle of this place, your decision making sucks. She knows from experience. That’s why not acting on impulse is important. Recognizing your judgement is impaired, you need to think things through carefully. Josslyn says, sounds like work, and Carly says, it is.

Charlotte says, it’s papa’s week, and she wants to go home with him. Please. Lulu says she missed Charlotte last night, and was hoping to make it up. Valentin says they need to teach Charlotte proper boundaries, and it is his week. Maybe it’s best for everyone if they stick to the schedule. Laura agrees, and Charlotte asks if Lulu is mad. Laura says they were just worried, and Lulu just wants to keep her close. Now that they’ve seen her, and know she’s okay… Valentin says, shall they? Charlotte hugs Lulu, and leaves with Valentin and Nina. Lulu can’t believe she just let her leave with him, and Laura says they have to find a better way to do this.

Robert tells Anna, nice entrance, but he expected nothing less. She asks what she’s missed.

Violet asks go to park, and Finn says, before they go, there’s something her mom and him wanted to talk about. Hayden says when Violet asks about her daddy, she always says her daddy loves her very much, but it’s a story for another time. That time is now. Finn says her mom and him aren’t just old friends. They were very much in love. Hayden says, Finn saved her life, and Finn says Hayden saved his back. They were so in love, they made a baby, and that baby is her. He’s her dad. Violet says, for reals? and Finn says, for reals. Violet asks if that doesn’t mean he loves her, and Finn says, yes, more than he ever thought possible. She asks if that makes Roxie her sister, and Finn guesses so. Violet says, cool. Finn says Violet can totally say no, but does she think he can give her a hug? She nods, and hugs him.

In the interrogation room, Chase tells Officer Sommers that he doesn’t know if she’s aware of it, but there’s evidence that after money was anonymously transferred into her account, she reassigned the prisoners who were on work detail. Cassandra should never have been cleared to leave the prison, yet she was – by her. You don’t have to be a detective to realize this facilitated her escape. The guard says she doesn’t know anything about that, and he asks what she does know. She says, just that she was asked to clear the prisoner for work detail. He asks, by who? He wants a name.

Jax tells Jordan, his interest wasn’t in Cassandra, but in Valentin. Valentin’s history, which is public record, was just one more stone he had to turn over in his investigation. Jordan says, now she’s dead. Someone provided a getaway boat, and it exploded shortly after it left the pier. Once the coastguard examines the blast, they could be looking at a murder investigation. Nikolas continues to listen.

Carly tells Josslyn, everyone tells teenagers not to drink alcohol, but it’s not about getting drunk; it’s about the decisions you make when you’re drunk. Like getting behind the wheel of a car, or jumping into a pool. Grieving affects you the same way; it impairs your judgement. You can choose not to drink, but you can’t just stop grieving. You can be aware though. Does it make sense? Josslyn says, it does. She just wants to get back to who she was. Carly says, and she will. Josslyn wonders how to do it without letting Oscar go. Carly says, that’s the hardest part. You feel like moving on is disloyal. Josslyn says she thinks she’s genuinely not ready to let go of who she was. Now she’s talking in circles again. Carly tells her, stop being so hard on herself. She’s right where she’s supposed to be. She’ll be okay. Carly hugs her, and Sonny comes in. He asks if he’s interrupting, but Carly thinks they’re done. Josslyn goes upstairs to write in her journal. Sonny asks if everything is okay, and Carly says he has to make more of an effort where Jax is concerned. She thinks it’s important for Josslyn. It’s good for her, and he needs to do it for her. Sonny asks, why not go back to their plan to have Josslyn move in with her father?

Jax hopes Jordan isn’t implying he had anything to do with Cassandra’s death. She says, no. They don’t even know if there was foul play, but if they do have to open an investigation. All kinds of people will be asking questions, so if he’s hiding anything, now is the time to tell her. He says he’s told her everything he knows. She says she’ll be in touch, and leaves.

Nikolas comes in (that seems to start a lot of sentences), and says he really appreciates Jax not saying anything. Jax asks if Nikolas murdered Cassandra.

Nina asks if Charlotte is okay, and Valentin asks if there’s anything she’d like to talk about. Charlotte says she’s okay, and Valentin asks if he can talk; ask her questions. She says, sure, and he says she knew how dangerous Cassandra was, and she knew what Cassandra looked like. How did Cassandra get her to go with her? What happened? Nina says Charlotte can tell them anything. Charlotte says she went because Cassandra said she’d send Nina to jail if she didn’t.

Officer Sommers tells Chase, they never met. She never got a name. She had no idea they were planning anything like that. Chase says, and she didn’t care, as long as she got the cash. They’re tracing the origins of the deposit. She says, her lawyer… and Chase says, is on their way. In the meantime, he suggests she think about her colleague who was almost killed, and ask herself, was it really worth it?

Anna tells Robert that she knows it was her idea, but can they table the catch up for another day? She just wants to go home. She wants to be in her own bed, and she wants to catch up with Finn. Robert says, before she does anything, he thinks there’s something she should know.

Hayden asks if Violet has any questions, and Violet asks where Finn has been. Hayden says, mommy and daddy had a  misunderstanding, and mommy moved away. It’s not that her daddy didn’t want to be with her; he didn’t know. Finn says, mommies and daddies sometimes make mistakes. The important thing is that they forgive each other, and figure out a way to do things better. Hayden says, and that they love her. Finn says he’s glad in Violet is in his life, and Violet says, her too. And mommy too? Hayden says, that’s right.

Charlotte tells Valentin and Nina, Cassandra said Nina did something bad, but she wouldn’t tell. Valentin asks what Cassandra told her to do, and Charlotte says, show her the back way out of Kelly’s, and she did, but when they got to the pier, Cassandra took her phone. She said she was calling him, and if he did what she wanted, she wouldn’t tell the bad thing Nina did. Nina says she loves Charlotte, and that Charlotte was trying to protect her, but she needs to promise never to do it again. Never put herself in danger for Nina – ever. She loves Charlotte so much, she’d rather go to prison a thousand times over than have something happen to Charlotte. Charlotte says she knew it would be okay, because Cassandra was calling her papa. She knew he’d fix it, like he always did.

Jax tells Nikolas, don’t try to tell him it’s a coincidence. Nikolas says, is he going to cry tears over Cassandra’s death? No, but he didn’t kill her. Think about it. She had explosive (his word – ha-ha) information on Valentin. Now it’s gone. Jax says Cassandra was going to expose Nikolas. Maybe he did the math, and thought she was too much trouble to keep alive. Nikolas says, it wasn’t him. It was Valentin.

The doorbell rings at Windymere. Nina hugs Charlotte, and says there’s a horse out there who wants Charlotte to ride him. Valentin says, look who it is, and Laura and Lulu walk in. Lulu says she knows it’s Valentin’s week, but she missed Charlotte last night and thought they could have a snack together. Valentin says, that sounds pleasant, and Charlotte says, stop. She knows they can’t stand each other.

Anna tells Robert, spit it out. She’s exhausted. Robert says, Finn’s ex came back. Anna says, Hayden? She knows about her, and Robert says, that’s not what she needs to know. Anna asks why he thinks she would be threatened by Hayden. Chase walks up, and says he needs a word, but Robert says, this is important. Anna says they’ll catch up after. It’s good to see him, and Chase. She leaves, and Robert says, didn’t Chase think he was in the middle of something important? Chase says, poking holes in Anna and Finn’s relationship? Robert knows as well as he does, Hayden isn’t a threat. Robert says, that was before. Now, Finn has found out he has a child. Don’t think things won’t be different.

Violet asks if they can go to the park, and Finn suggests she play in Anna’s room for a while before they go; there are a lot of toys in there. He hugs her, and tells her, have fun. Finn says his heart exploded, and Hayden says, hers too. She thinks it went surprisingly well. Violet finally got a dad, and she thinks it’s awesome. It’s Violet’s best day ever. Finn says, his too.

Trina visits Ava. She tells Ava she wanted to check in and see how Ava is doing. She has bad news. She won’t be able to commit to this Wednesday. She got in trouble, and has detention. Sorry. Ava says, it’s okay. Don’t worry, Kiki. Trina says, Kiki?

Carly tells Sonny, you know what would be nice? If Sonny would be more accommodating. He asks, is it post-partum hormones talking, or what? Carly thinks Jax has something going on that’s stopping him from having Josslyn move in, and she’s asking him to do something – be kind to her daughter’s father, not just deal with him. She’s been putting up with Dev for Sonny, so she thinks he can do this for her. He says he thinks Jax is in trouble, and she knows what it is.

Carly says, if he must know, she thinks Jax is seeing someone. Sonny asks if Carly has met her, and she says she didn’t ask for details; it’s none of her business. He says, even if it effects Josslyn? She says, if Jax prefers she not meet her, that’s his prerogative. Sonny says nothing, and she says, what? Why is he staring at her? He says, no reason. If Jax has a guest, and doesn’t want Josslyn to know about it, he doesn’t have a problem, but it seems she does. He goes upstairs.

Josslyn writes while a song plays. These words remain…

Ava says, she meant Trina. The medication makes everything hazy. She knows who Trina is. Trina says, as long as she’s getting better, and Ava says, that’s the plan. What she needs now more than anything is rest. Trina says she’ll visit again soon.

Laura suggests she and Charlotte give her mom, dad, and Nina a chance to talk. She can tell Laura about what happened. They leave, and Nina says Charlotte is smarter than the three of them combined. Lulu says she does hate Valentin, but she thought she was doing a better job of hiding it. Valentin admits he’s not doing any better. Charlotte deserves more from them. Nina says, they have to present a united front for her to get through this. Valentin agrees, and Lulu says she’ll do anything for Charlotte.

Charlotte tells Laura, the explosion was so big, and Laura says she’s glad Charlotte was far from it. Charlotte says, what’s weird was, when everyone was looking at the flames, she saw a man. When she turned back, he was gone. Laura asks if Charlotte recognized him, and she shakes her head. Laura says he was probably just a dock worker. Charlotte says, probably.

Nikolas says, Cassandra held Charlotte hostage. What would Jax have done if it was Josslyn? Cassandra crossed Valentin and he killed her for it. Jax says perhaps Valentin is more lethal than he realized. Nikolas says, it’s a problem, but he’ll figure it out. Jax says, do that, or he walks. It’s his final warning.

Chase says, Finn has a child? and Robert says he sees Finn didn’t tell him. He and Hayden have a little girl named Violet. Chase says, he’s an uncle, and their dad is a grandfather. Finn never even.. Robert says, if it’s any consolation, Finn just found out. He’s sure Finn’s life has turned upside down. Give him time.

Finn says, whatever is going on in their lives, he and Hayden are Violet’s parents. She’s their first priority. Hayden agrees 100%. He asks why he’s sensing a but, and she says she thinks after what happened, they’ve earned the right to be honest with one another. Co-parenting is the number one priority, but she can’t guarantee the only way she’ll see him is as Violet’s father.

Anna comes in, and asks if Finn is there. She’s home. She looks over, and sees Finn and Hayden sitting together on the couch.

They had no preview. I suppose because they weren’t even supposed to have the episode. Again, I think they’ll be showing this tomorrow on ABC.

The Real Housewives of Dallas

Brandi and LeeAnne meet for drinks. Brandi says LeeAnne is a real housewife now. She gives LeeAnne a T-shirt that says, Recharging My Awesomeness, and a gift certificate for a couples massage. LeeAnne is happy for the opportunity to get naked with Rich.

Stephanie and D’Andra meet to shop for party outfits. Stephanie tells D’Andra that Kameron isn’t coming to Travis’s party because of something her kids have going on. We flash back to Kameron complaining that Stephanie used her kids to get out of going to LeeAnne’s shower. D’Andra says, what are the odds? 

Bryan and Brandi pick up Stephanie and Travis. Travis has no idea where they’re going. In her interview, Stephanie says, Travis is worried about his father. He’s stressed out,  and doesn’t know if his father is going to survive. She wants to make him laugh, and feel like a kid again. They pull up at Medieval Times. I’ve never been there, but I’ve always wanted to go. I’d want to dress up though. Bryan says he hasn’t been there since… The girls crack up laughing. The group is bestowed with paper crowns. A page tells the queen that for his 50th birthday, Travis desires to become knight of the realm. Travis is knighted, and Bryan is knighted as well. When they sit to eat, Bryan is a big baby who doesn’t want to eat without the proper utensils. There’s a jousting match that looks amazing. Stephanie asks how Travis’s dad is, and Travis says his dad wanted them to bring him back. He thought he was dying. He’s taking is medication, just less of it. Travis is frustrated because he can’t do anything about it. In Stephanie’s interview, she says Travis puts on a brave face, but he’s barely sleeping and stressed out. Travis says, it will be an interesting trip.

Court and Kameron take the kids to do archery. In her interview, Kameron says, Hilton is going to sleepaway camp, and most of them offer archery. She needs to look supercool for Hilton. She’s not athletic, but she’s good at Pilates. Court tells Hilton to stay as far away from mom as possible. Hilton does really well on her first shot. Court isn’t sure if Kameron holding a bow is attractive or terrifying. In Kameron’s interview, she says Hilton bonds with Court over football and soccer. She wants to bond over sports too. Kameron’s shot is way off. She doesn’t even hit the target circle. Court says, Hilton is crushing it. Kameron asks what the trick is, and he says, aim. He suggests she mentally put someone’s face on the target, but Kameron says she doesn’t do that. In her interview, she says she’s not shooting Stephanie. She’s annoyed about Stephanie bailing on the shower at the last minute, so she’s not going to Travis’s birthday party. She could probably make it happen, but surface friends don’t go to husband’s 50th birthdays. A target with balloons on it is brought out, and Kameron is good at that one. Hilton says, impressive. In Kameron’s interview, she says she nailed it. Maybe Hilton will see her in a new light. Bullseye.

Kary has a photoshoot to launch her website. When she started her company, it was a hobby. Now her hobby is turning into a reality. She’s excited. It’s important that her kids see her as financially independent. Eduardo has nothing to do with the business. She’s paying for the shoot with her own money. She and Olivia strike some poses. Stephanie joins them, and Kary says she wants to include Stephanie. In Stephanie’s interview, she says Kary has a strong personality. She’s surprised Kary agreed to a prenup where she gets nothing. She thinks Kary feels screwed, and this will empower her. She doesn’t need a man. She can do it on her own. Stephanie is proud of her. Kary asks if Stephanie has ever done ozone therapy. She went with Kameron this morning, and Kameron said Kameron said she’s not going to Travis’s birthday. She feels Stephanie isn’t making an effort in the relationship. We see a clip of Kameron and Stephanie talking, and Kameron says she’ll go above and beyond for a close friend, but Stephanie doesn’t want to put in the effort. Stephanie tells Kary, she’s trying to figure out how to have a friendship with Kameron without setting her off. She feels like it’s not easy for Kameron either, but she doesn’t want to beg Kameron to love her. In Stephanie’s interview, She says it bothers her that she’s not proving herself worthy of Kameron’s friendship. It’s so stupid. She tears up, and says she doesn’t know why this is making her cry. Kary says, it’s a sensitive issue. They all have sensitive triggers. It has a lot to do with chemistry. Some relationships and friendships are easier, and some take time. Stephanie says she was hurt in the past, and she’s not comfortable sharing. She doesn’t let people in unless she feels they won’t hurt or judge her.

Susan’s mom has come for the party. Stephanie says the party is going to be the death of her. In her interview, Stephanie says she loves having her mother there. She can tell Susan anything; she’s like a therapist. She is a therapist. She tells Susan about going to Thailand. She says Travis is going for work, and to see his dad, who’s not feeling well. He’s going to be working a lot, so she invited the ladies. She feels like she’s in a good place with all the girls, but she’s nervous. She and Kameron seem to be having a power struggle. When she does something wrong, or states her mind, Kameron gets upset. Kameron isn’t coming to the party because of her kid’s dance recital. She says it’s all about family, but told Kary that maybe she’d go if Stephanie called and made her feel wanted. Susan says Kameron is trying to manipulate the situation by making Stephanie bend to her standards in order to be her friend. That’s not what a friend is. She says Kameron doesn’t deserve this much energy. Stephanie says she seeks peace over resolution, and got it from Susan. In her interview, Stephanie says, when she was growing up, some people treated her mother like crap. They didn’t think her mom was good enough for her father because she was poor. Her whole life, she was taken advantage of. She would hold her tongue and be nice, and then cry in private. Susan says she taught Stephanie to be a good person to others, but not to herself. She says she wants to cry. She feels Stephanie’s pain; she’s been there. If she seems sensitive, just ignore her. In Stephanie’s interview, she says she and her sister were treated equally bad because of their mother. A group of women always made her feel like she wasn’t good enough, and it changed her. Stephanie tells Susan that Kameron brings her insecurity out. Susan says Kameron’s opinion doesn’t matter. Stephanie’s opinion of herself is the only one that matters. She’s sorry Stephanie is feeling this way. Susan hugs Stephanie, and tells her that she’s okay. In her interview, Stephanie says Kameron triggers her, reminding her of the worthless felling she felt as a child. She says she feels like she taught Kameron it was okay to treat her that way, and doesn’t want do that anymore. Susan says, a friend shouldn’t make her feel this way. She’s proud of Stephanie. It’s taken her sixty years to know she’ll be okay without certain people in her life. She’s not casting her pearls before swine. Kameron doesn’t deserve her friendship, don’t cater to her. Stephanie knows what makes her feel good, and asks if she’s Susan’s favorite daughter. Susan says she has two favorite daughters.

Stephanie gets dressed up to look like Peg Bundy from Married with Children. She says when she thinks midlife crisis, she thinks of Peg. She’s a hot mess, and the epitome of midlife crisis. The party is set up, and Travis thinks it’s awesome. Stephanie says, everyone is wearing costumes, and they’re having fireworks, a full bar, and lots of food. It cost more than her wedding. She thinks a midlife crisis costume would be wearing something not age appropriate. Travis’s outfit is absurd. It’s Gucci, and obnoxiously expensive. She thinks around $5K. He’s wearing a T-Shirt, pants, and baseball cap with the Gucci logo. I have no words.

In her interview, Kary says, even though she and Eduardo had a stressful dinner, she’s learned to move on. Life is short, and he’s a good husband. They have to figure out the financial situation, but that’s for another day. I dunno. I don’t think a good husband gives you nothing when they’re loaded like Eduardo is.

Brandi arrives as a Playboy bunny. In her interview, she says, who doesn’t like a bunny? Anyone in their 40s willing to wear the costume, obviously wants attention. Stephanie’s father shows up dressed as a pimp, sporting heavy gold jewelry.

Stephanie and Brandi sit on a swing in the yard. Stephanie tells Brandi that Kameron can’t come because of the children, but she told Kary that if Stephanie had expressed more effort, she would have come. She can’t live her life for pleasing other people. It’s all she’s done her whole life, and it’s exhausting. She’d like Kameron to be there, but wants her to want to be there. She asks if Brandi has heard anything about the baby. Brandi says they should have some news before they leave for Thailand. She’s been waiting and praying. In Brandi’s interview, she says they’re in a waiting pattern with the test to see if the baby is Bruin’s full sibling. She’s struggling with three children, and if the baby is only a half sibling, she’ll be more hesitant to adopt. Stephanie says they can sleep for twenty hours on the plane.

Kary and Eduardo come looking like Jersey Shore cast members. In Brandi’s interview, she says Kary is supposed to be Snooki, but that’s not midlife. She has it all wrong. LeeAnne is wearing a Hear Me Roar T-shirt and midi skirt. She says she couldn’t think of anything. The wedding stole all her creative moments. She tells the others that she couldn’t find a blowup doll that looked seventeen. In Stephanie’s interview, she says she looked like a hooker for LeeAnne, and LeeAnne couldn’t dress up for her. LeeAnne tells Stephanie that Rich is sick, and can’t be there. D’Andra walks in as Mama Dee, and LeeAnne says she has  the attitude down.

D’Andra announces that she’s Mama Dee Simon Jr. In Kary’s interview, she says D’Andra looks like Mama Dee gone prostitute. Stephanie suggests D’Andra go to the bank and get what she wants out of the trust. They’ll never know. She tells D’Andra that her hair looks like Mama Dee’s, and D’Andra says that’s because it is. She merged her own midlife crisis with Mama Dee’s crisis. She tells Kary that LeeAnne coming along makes her feel better, since Jeremy can’t be there, and most of the husbands are there. Kary hopes now that LeeAnne is married, she’ll move on to the next phase.

Tiffany and husband Tyler make an entrance as middle-aged Barbie and Ken, complete in their boxes. I love it. LeeAnne asks if D’Andra got permission from Mama Dee to wear her wig, and D’Andra says she did. Stephanie gets up on stage, and everyone chants Travis. She introduces their kids, and says everybody they love is in this space. It means the world to them. Travis is the most amazing, wonderful, incredible father, and she loves him so much. The cake comes out, and everyone sings Happy Birthday. There’s applause, giant sparklers, and a band plays.

D’Andra has some shots, and gets in the Barbie box. Fireworks happen. LeeAnne says she’s not enjoying watching D’Andra get drunk over, and over, and over, and making an ass of herself. D’Andra takes off her jacket, and in Stephanie’s interview, she says, not just Mama Dee, but Mama Dee’s nips came out to play. In LeeAnne’s interview, she says, anyone who doesn’t know D’Andra would think she’s just being the drunk, funny class clown; but people who know her know it’s a slippery slope from getting drunk in private to getting drunk off her ass in public. Oddly enough, it’s Brandi who ends up falling over.

In her interview, Stephanie says she thinks D’Andra is trying to reach LeeAnne, but doesn’t know how to be around LeeAnne while she’s sober. D’Andra wanders around, looking for her jacket, and LeeAnne finds it. Kary says she thinks LeeAnne needs to babysit D’Andra. In Kary’s interview, she says LeeAnne loves to pretend D’Andra is like her child. We flash back to Mexico, and LeeAnne telling D’Andra that they’ll have conversation when she’s sober. LeeAnne tells Eduardo that his wife can do the babysitting. He asks, for who? and LeeAnne says, is he kidding? He can’t figure out who needs sitting? D’Andra takes a selfie, and Travis does shots with the girls. D’Andra yells that it will be fun in Thailand, and there’s lots of screeching.

Everyone packs for the trip. LeeAnne tells Rich that she heard women pop turtles out of their vaginas, but he thinks that’s an old wives tale. She says, the ping pong thing is true, and he says he knows nothing about that. She asks if he’s seen it, but he tells her that he’s not dignifying that question. I take that as a yes.

D’Andra has an absolutely massive closet. Bigger than Kyle and LVP’s put together. Mama Dee asks what’s going to happen with the company while D’Andra is gone. D’Andra says it would be better if she was there, but she needs to go on this trip. It will be nice to have a few days off from the stress. The Mexico trip was good, but it was really her 50th birthday celebration.

Travis’s sister tells Stephanie that it’s a humid, sticky, and horrible time to go to Thailand. Great endorsement. And it’s monsoon season. Stephanie says that makes her feel better.

While packing a million things she’ll never wear, Kameron tells her assistant that a lady never leaves down until she has to sit on her bag. She wonders if she’ll have a roommate. She hates not knowing, and hates surprises, unless it’s fabulous jewelry.

Bruin tries get into Brandi’s suitcase. Brandi asks if Brooklyn is going to miss her, and Brooklyn says, no, but Brandi will miss them.

At the airport, Court tells Kameron not to say anything bad about the king, or she’ll go to jail. Kameron says she’d never do that. In her interview, Kameron explains that Thailand time is the complete opposite of Dallas time. They’re traveling to the future. D’Andra is the last to arrive. In their interviews, the producers ask the women what they know about Thailand, which is basically nothing. Kameron says it’s far away.

On the plane, D’Andra thanks Stephanie for planning the trip. The drinking commences. In LeeAnne’s interview, she says it’s her first time going to Thailand, and she’s excited. She’d like to have a good time. Trips with the group haven’t always worked out. She says maybe they should do some flashbacks to see, and we flash back to several trips, ending with Mexico. LeeAnne says, no Bueno.

The plane ascends.

Next time, the Thailand trip; Kameron looks up the rules, and reads, do not start a quarrel easily and make a scene, and Stephanie thinks they’ll have issues; D’Andra tries LeeAnne’s Infinity dress; and LeeAnne and Kary are at odds.

🍕 I glanced at RHONJ, but there was nothing earth shattering. Marge and Danielle still hate each other. Teresa is still friends with Danielle. Juicy Joe is on ICE. Danielle said something snarky about Marge’s Joe#3, and I got very confused, forgetting there are three of them. The women ran an obstacle course to make Teresa happy, and everyone did fine until afterwards. Dolores had them over to her place, and it didn’t take long for Marge and Danielle to go at it. I’m not fully paying attention until RHOD’s season is done, but it doesn’t seem like much is going on except the same old. It doesn’t help that we all know how things shook out with Joe#1.

🚨 I Guess We’re Stuck With NuNikolas…

This is just sad.

https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/13/general-hospital-tyler-christopher-arrested-public-intoxication/?fbclid=IwAR3v5WTOlMCLfXdfi5lXieTy9_a7K7s9e_xa-z9AergnD_hxFjQ8nPmPxIs

😢 While I would have loved to go to Bravocon, sadly, the tickets sold out in an hour – didn’t see that coming – and my attempt at entering their #1 Fan contest apparently failed. No doubt my meager essay on why it should be me was eclipsed by some kind of media extravaganza that I have no time to write, direct, and star in. In a subsequent stupid move, I missed out on entering to meet Lisa Vanderpump (all expenses paid!) because I misunderstood the cut off time, mistaking 12:00:00 for 12:00. But even through my rejection haze, I tip my hat to Andy Cohen, who loved pop culture so much, he became a part of it. I suppose I did too, in a way, with Rocky Horror, but he’s certainly living the pop dream big time.

💧 Everyone Else Got Snow…

And all we got was a bag of rain. Which sums up November by the Shore so far.