Tag Archives: Cameron Mathison

February 20, 2026 – GH Weekdays, A Tribute To Luke, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Animal Accomplishments, An Eight-Spot Of Quotes & 2017

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What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday: 

Brook met Chase at the Brown Dog Bar.

At the bar, Carly griped to Jason about Michael’s custody agreement and Ric handling it.

Ric brought a dressed-up Elizabeth to the hatchet range.

Jacinda brought Michael to the hatchet range, and he said he’d been thinking candlelight dinner, elegant, maybe a tablecloth. She said this place screamed elegance and threw her hatchet. It hit close to the bullseye. She told him, imagine the target is Drew’s melonhead.

Sidwell, Lucy, and Ava dined at the MetroCourt, and Ava said she hadn’t realized it was Valentine’s Day. Lucy said, in Ava’s life, it must be just another day, and Ava said Lucy must have been hoping for a romantic evening and instead, they were droning on about a Botero.

At a nearby table, Alexis said she was surprised Molly invited them and not Cody, and Kristina said Molly had something to tell Alexis. Molly said she wrote a new book.

In her office, Britt told Nathan that either Anna had a nervous breakdown or… There was no actual proof Faison was alive, right? Obrecht ran in and said she had joyous news. Maxie was awake.

Maxie told Felicia to call the doctor, since she was sure Felicia just said Nathan was alive. Felicia said he was and had been living in Port Charles for the last six months.

Marco asked how much Lucas heard, and Lucas said enough to know he had Marco all wrong.

Obrecht said she hadn’t spoken to Maxie herself, but hearing from Nathan would rejuvenate her. Britt said Obrecht had no idea what she was asking.

Maxie said it made so sense. She’d buried Nathan. Felicia said she felt the same way, but Anna proved it.

Carly told Jason that Sonny insisted Ric had no agenda, but she didn’t buy it, and Michael wouldn’t have signed it without Sonny’s influence. Jason’s phone rang and he said Spinelli needed to see him.

Michael threw his ax and it bounced off the target and onto the floor.

Ric said he wanted to take Elizabeth somewhere offbeat. Molly said the hatchet range was fun, but maybe he miscalculated. She asked if he was implying she didn’t know how to have fun, but he said, no, never, but he had to admit she had a cautious streak. She said she’d grab some drinks and he could grab some axes.

Lucas followed Marco inside, and Marco admitted he was talking about Sonny. Lucas said it didn’t sound good. What was the project and why did they need Britt under control? That didn’t sound like legal advice. It sounded like he was threatening to kill Britt if she didn’t do what they wanted. If he was wrong, tell him.  

Lucy told Sidwell a story and he laughed. Ava didn’t, and he asked if it was the story or her martini? Ava said maybe this wasn’t the atmosphere to discuss the Botero and they should go to the gallery, but Sidwell said he’d hoped they could all be friends. Lucy said, in the spirit of friendship, she’d been unfair to Ava. Who was she to judge? Weren’t they all allowed to reinvent themselves once in a while?

Alexis said she didn’t know Molly was writing a book, but Molly said it wasn’t a big deal. Kristina said Molly’s agent was crazy excited and had an editor on board already, and Alexis said she was proud of Molly, but Molly said she’d decided not to publish.

Lucas got loud and said Britt wasn’t there as a concierge doctor and Marco had threatened to end her life. The lies ended there. Marco said, it was his father, and Lucas said, but he knew. Marco said, yes, and Lucas said it made Marco just as guilty and made him a fool for believing in him. He’d defended Marco to everyone including his sister. Marco looked pained, and Lucas said he’d believed every lie, but no more. He started to leave, but Marco grabbed him and said he wasn’t going anywhere.

Brook told Chase that she had no details, but Maxie should be coming home soon. Tonight was about them. They reminisced about past Valentine’s Days, and Chase wondered if the Brown Dog was romantic enough. She said it wasn’t the place; it was them together. He said, forever, and they kissed.

Spinelli joined Carly and Jason and apologized for the intrusion. He had news that couldn’t wait. Earlier today, Maxie awoke. She was up and talking like nothing happened. He was thrilled and grateful and surprised, and couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Carly had to leave for the MetroCourt, and Jason said it was great news. Spinelli said, indeed. He knew all he should feel was relief that his lady love came back to him, but the green-eyed monster… Jason said Spinelli was worried about Nathan, and Spinelli said, what happened when Maxie found out he was still alive?

Felicia explained how they confirmed it was Nathan, but Maxie said she’d buried him. Felicia said Anna had Nathan exhumed because they had to be sure, and there was no body. She hadn’t believed it either, but when she talked him, she knew it was Nathan.

Britt said they didn’t know if Maxie knew Nathan was alive, and Nathan agreed that it couldn’t be rushed. Not just for Maxie’s sake, but for James. Obrecht said, of course (🍷) Nathan was putting others’ needs before his own. She’d follow his instincts and they’d go slowly and carefully, because he and Maxie were meant to be together. Nothing would get in the way of that.

Jacinda said Michael was remarkably bad at ax throwing, but he said it was on purpose. She said, really? and he said, no. She said, a lot of guys couldn’t handle a woman beating them, but he didn’t care, and he said he was glad she didn’t care that he was flawed. They were about to toast, but she stopped, and he asked if she was anti-toasting. She said, there was one born every minute.

Elizabeth hit close to the bullseye, and Ric said they’d call it one, but she said she didn’t need his pity points. Besides, it was cheating. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a night out. He said she was a head nurse and a mom. It was understandable that fun wasn’t a priority. She said, maybe it should be.

Alexis asked why Molly submitted the book to her agent, but Molly said she didn’t submit anything. Kristina said she’d asked to read it, loved it, and sent it. Molly’s agent also loved it and thought it would be a massive hit. Alexis said, only if Molly wanted it to be, and Kristina asked Molly to tell Alexis why she didn’t want it published. Molly said because it would hurt Cody’s feelings.

Carly stopped by Sidwell’s table and thanked him for opening his home for her to make up with her brother, and he said it was his pleasure. His son’s happiness was paramount and Lucas made Marco happy.

Lucas told Marco to get his hands off him and backed away. Marco said he never lied about his feelings. He loved Lucas and wanted to build a life with him. Lucas said they could have done that on the mainland. Marco had been manipulating him the whole time. He didn’t move to this godforsaken island because it was the next step. It was so Marco had easy access to his dad to carry out… what? What was he extorting Britt to do? Marco said he’d brought Lucas there because he wanted them to be together day in and day out. He’d risked everything for him.

Jason said he was sure Maxie would be happy that Nathan was alive, but it didn’t mean she’d stop loving Spinelli. Spinelli said he agreed, but it was the kind of love she had that was the problem. She loved him as a companion, Georgie’s father, and the friend who eventually won her over. Her relationship with Nathan was different. When she saw how wonderful he was with James, why wouldn’t she go back to him? Jason wondered why Spinelli could see Nathan clearly, but not himself.

Felicia told Maxie that Nathan showed up with no phone, no ID, and remembered nothing from the past seven years. He remembered being shot and everything before. He remembered her, Georgie, and that there was a baby on the way. Maxie wondered what he’d been doing, and Felicia said the working theory was that it had something to do with Faison, and Maxie said, don’t tell her that Faison was back from the dead. Felicia said Faison was still dead, but Britt was also alive. She’d shown up before Nathan. Maxie said Britt and Nathan being back at the same time was not a coincidence.

Nathan said he knew Obrecht was coming from a good place, but please let them figure it out for themselves, and Obrecht promised not to interfere. Britt suggested he get it in writing, and Nathan thanked Obrecht for telling him about Maxie. He left to take a walk and clear his head, and Obrecht said he was guarding his heart, afraid to hope in their reunion. Britt said she knew that’s what Obrecht wanted, but she had no idea what Maxie and Nathan wanted. Maxie was with Spinelli now. They had a daughter and were raising a family. Obrecht said Maxie had a child with Nathan too, but Britt said people moved on and she needed to respect that. Obrecht said time was precious and could be stolen at any moment. Who knew how much time they had with the people they loved?

As she brushed Maxie’s hair, Felicia said Britt’s situation was different. She remembered everything and had orchestrated the whole thing herself. She’d made herself disappear and hadn’t known Nathan was alive or what happened to him. Maxie asked if she believed that, and Felicia said she didn’t know what to believe where Britt was concerned, but she thought Nathan was telling the truth. He seemed as confused and mystified as the rest of them. Maxie asked how he was doing, and Felicia said, wonderful. He was the same old Nathan, concerned about everybody but himself. Maxie was the first person he’d asked about and the second was the baby. Maxie said, who wasn’t such a baby anymore. Did he meet James? What did James think of his father?

Jason told Spinelli, give Maxie some credit. She didn’t settle; she chose him. Spinelli said, at the time, Nathan wasn’t a choice. Now he was the large, chiseled one. Jason said Maxie had to tell Spinelli how she felt. She might surprise him. Jason’s phone dinged, and he saw a text of a boat, snowflake, and heart emoji.

Molly said Cody didn’t understand she’d been writing the book before she knew him and was able to see who he was – amazing. That’s what happened in the book. Kristina said, which he would have known had he bothered to read past the second chapter. Molly said, Cody had every right to be upset. The main character was inspired by him and wasn’t portrayed in the best light. Kristina said, then he became the hero and the heroine fell in love with him, and Alexis said it was like Pride and Prejudice. Kristina said it was so good, but Molly said, not good enough to ruin a relationship. She’d written it as a hobby, but it wasn’t more important than Cody. Kristina asked if Molly should stifle her talent for Cody’s sake. It was a bad example for her niece. Molly said their niece had nothing to do with it and she wouldn’t be in this position if Kristina hadn’t stolen her book. Alexis said she thought what was best for Scout was that they be nice to each other and make room for each other’s differences. She had to check in with the sitter and told them to try to be nice to each other while she was gone.  

Lucy said she thought it was wonderful that Lucas forgave Carly and lovely that she’d chosen accept Marco and his amazing father. Carly said, lovely is the word, and hoped they had a great evening. Alexis ran into Ava and said it was interesting company that she was keeping. She had a quick question. Was Jenz Sidwell worth the wrath of Lucy Coe? Ava said, after the fiasco with Ric, she was interested in men of a different caliber. Sidwell was that man and she wouldn’t let Lucy Coe or anybody else run him off.

Marco told Lucas that his father had been trying to bring him into his business since he was 18, but said he’d represent him in his legal affairs. That was it. Lucas said, clearly, things had changed, and Marco said Sonny was the reason his mother was dead. He started to cry and said, no one was holding Sonny accountable except his father, who’d promised him justice. Lucas asked if that’s why Marco was working for him, and Marco said, yes. Lucas asked why he should believe Marco, and Marco said because Lucas knew better than anyone what it meant to lose a mother.

Lucas said, don’t drag his mother into this, and Marco asked how Lucas felt when he heard she was gone and realized he’d never hear her voice again or tell her the things… he thought there would be time to say. Imagine if she hadn’t passed away peacefully in her sleep. His mother took her life, and he knew who was to blame. Lucas said he wanted justice, and Marco said it was all he wanted, but Lucas said, no. He heard Marco, the tone in his voice. He didn’t want justice. He wanted revenge. Did the conversation end with Sonny in a hospital bed or the morgue? He couldn’t be a part of this. Marco said that’s why he lied. He didn’t want to put Lucas in that position. Lucas said, yet here I am, and Marco said he thought he wanted vengeance more than anything, but it turned out that he wanted Lucas just as much. Lucas said he couldn’t have it both ways, and crying, Marco said, I’ll stop. Please stay with me.

Jacinda said she couldn’t believe Michael was drinking a Black Mallard, and he said it’s what he liked. She said, so would she if it was the real deal, and he asked if she thought they were pouring well liquor into the bottle. She said she could almost guarantee it, and he took a sip. He said it was Black Mallard. He wasn’t handy with an ax, but knew his scotch and could prove it by taking a blind taste test.

Ric got a bullseye, and told Elizabeth, ha! And that’s how it’s done. He did a dance, slipped, and fell. She said, exactly like that? Was he okay? He said he was, and they laughed.

Alexis came back and Kristina said it was Molly’s book and Molly’s decision. She was sorry she’d intervened. How about if they buried the hatchet – literally. Alexis said she wished she could, but she had to relieve the sitter. Have fun. Molly and Kristina left.  

Felicia told Maxie that it took time for James to adjust, but Nathan was patient and eventually, James warmed up to him. Now they were two peas in a pod. James adored his father. Maxie said she couldn’t believe this was actually happening, and Felicia said she knew it was a lot. How was she doing? Maxie said she thought it was a miracle that James’s father was back, but she’d watched Nathan die and there was no explanation for this. Felicia said, take all the time she needed to absorb it. She should probably get some rest. Maxie said she was exhausted, but terrified to closed her eyes. What if she didn’t wake up again?

Brook said, poor Spinelli. He must be over the moon that Maxie is awake… Chase said, then Nathan throws a wrench in his world. What would Brook do in her place?

At the Brown Dog, Obrecht ordered schnapps, and saw Spinelli. She said she was thrilled to run into him. She was grateful for the love and guidance he’d shown when Maxie was in a jam. He’d held Maxie’s family together remarkably well. He said he’d do anything for Maxie, and she said, clearly his efforts were no longer necessary. Maxie was awake and coming home to reunite with her beloved Nathan.

In the old harbormaster’s cabin, Britt wondered if the wood could be any wetter, when Jason came in and said, let him. She said he’d cracked her code, and he said, a boat, a snowflake, and a heart. It had to mean this place. It had to mean her.

Chase said, say Brook thought he died and she fell in love and then he came back, and she said, first off, he was never leaving her. She’d feel sorry for the future guy. She would forever and always choose him. They kissed.

Kristina and Molly walked into the hatchet range, and Kristina said, this was a good idea. Seeing Michael with Jacinda and Elizabeth with Ric, she added, but apparently not original.

Elizabeth thanked Ric for a fun night, and he said they should do it more often. She said she thought they just might, and they kissed.  

Her hands over Michael’s eyes, Jacinda said, what if Michael got it right? He said, the winner received a favor to be named later, and she said those were broad parameters and she had a vivid imagination. He said he’d take his chances, and drank. He admitted not knowing which was which. What was the favor? She said she’d think of something.

Ava told Sidwell that she’d just heard from the seller. Maybe they should head to the gallery to sign off on the purchase. Lucy was welcome to join them, but she wasn’t sure Lucy would find it interesting. Lucy said she was going to sit with her delicious souffle. Please go and enjoy his expensive art. Sidwell said it had been a memorable evening. He hoped the three of them would do it again soon. Lucy said he could count on it, and he left with Ava.

Carly said Michael told her about the custody arrangement and that Alexis had a hand in the negotiations, and Alexis said she doubted Carly was happy. Carly said, not at all, but she got that Alexis was doing all she could to make sure Scout stayed with her. She didn’t have to like it to respect it.  

Maxie said she was terrified to go to sleep. She was afraid of lapsing into a coma again. Felicia said that wasn’t going to happen. Did Maxie remember when she had nightmares as a little girl? Maxie said Felicia would hold her hand until she fell back asleep, and Felicia took her hand. She said, close your eyes. I’m not going anywhere.

Obrecht said one thing she’d learned was that true love always found its way, and Spinelli said he couldn’t agree more. They clinked glasses.

Maxie slept, when Felicia’s phone rang. She went into the hallway and said she was wondering when she’d hear from them. Nathan said he just found out, and she said she was with Maxie now. She’d fallen asleep, but they were coming back tomorrow. Maxie couldn’t wait to see him.

Marco said once his father’s project was finished, he was done with all of it, and Lucas said, what about Britt? Marco said she would be done too. He’d make sure of it. He needed to stay until the project was finished. Please. He needed Lucas to believe in him. He held out his hand and after hesitating a moment, Lucas took it. They hugged, but Lucas looked scared.

Jason said Britt took a risk, and she asked why he came. He said because she’d texted. Why do it? She said, because time could be stolen from them at any moment. They shouldn’t waste a second they had together. They kissed.

Tuesday:

Lucas showed up at the MetroCourt and Carly said she’d like to bring their family and Marco’s family together.

Tracy went to Windymere and told Sidwell that they needed to get a few things straight.

At the MetroCourt, Ric told Sonny that he could pick up some of Diane’s slack. Since he was moving operations to Rochester, he needed someone who knew contracts. Turner came in, and Sonny asked her to join them. She said she had update on Rocco.

Laura asked Alexis to come to her office. It had to do with Congressman Cain.

At the hospital, Willow told Elizabeth that she was tendering her resignation.

Chase was at the station, when Molly told Nathan that she was recusing herself from the case. Nathan said they had no new leads against Michael and maybe the case had run its course.

Michael saw Dante in the nook and wondered if they were no longer speaking.

Laura said Drew’s office had been cagey about his condition, and Alexis said his stroke had been serious. He was locked inside himself and couldn’t communicate. He wouldn’t be able to complete his term.

Willow said, right now her family had to be her priority, and Elizabeth said she could extend her leave of absence, but Willow said Drew needed to be properly taken care of. Elizabeth said there were professionals for that, but Willow said, for now, Drew stayed with her.

Molly told Chase that she’d recused herself, and he said he hadn’t meant to imply she was acting improperly. She said she had to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, and could cross a line without realizing. She was moving on and he should do the same.

Dante said, as Michael’s brother, he wanted to talk, but he was acting Police Commissioner. He wasn’t overseeing the case, but it was still his responsibility. Until it was over, it would benefit them both to keep their distance. Michael said it was also an excuse. Wasn’t Dante angry that he lied? Dante said, of course (🍷). He knew Michael’s alibi was shaky, but gave him the benefit of the doubt and it came back to bite him. Michael said he was sorry he’d made the wrong call.

Carly wanted to have Marco and Sidwell over for dinner, but Lucas said it was a terrible idea. She said she wasn’t cooking, and he said that was a given. She was right and he owed her a huge apology.

Tracy said Maxie had recovered and was eager to get to work, but Sidwell doubted she came all this way to tell him in person. She said his days of free reign over Deception were done. Flattering Lucy had gotten him control. Sidwell said when Maxie collapsed publicly, so did Deception’s stock. He took over their transport needs as a favor. She said she wanted a full audit, a detailed documentation of every single shipment.

Ric asked if Rocco was a problem, but Turner said, the opposite. He was doing a great job and logging tons of hours. He’d probably fulfill his sentence ahead of schedule. Sonny said he was grateful for the suspended sentence, and Ric thanked her for signing off on the plea deal. She said she had her reasons.

Michael said he hadn’t wanted to put Dante in the position of having to report it. He didn’t do it, but was the most likely suspect. He needed Dante to find the shooter. Dante asked if Michael was out for justice, and Michael said he was out to save his own ass. He hoped everyone, including Dante, would see he was innocent, and Dante said him too.

Chase said he assumed Nathan was still working on the case, but Nathan said he couldn’t discuss it. Chase said he thought they’d overlooked how Michael could get in Drew’s house.

Willow told Elizabeth that if it became too much, she’d find long-term care for Drew, but didn’t think it was right to start with that. When the time was right, she’d come back to nursing. She was rebuilding her life and unfortunately, leaving GH was the first step.

Sidwell thought an audit was excessive and didn’t want to burden Maxie with it, but Tracy said Maxie wouldn’t be performing the audit. He said he’d give her information on any shipment she wanted, but she said she wanted every single number on every single shipment. He said he was confused. Deception was back in the black, largely thanks to him. She said he’d mistaken Deception for a subsidy of SRE Worldwide. She wanted to go back to the original agreement where he just supplied the zincite.

Lucas said he was so sorry. Carly said Marco was involved in Sidwell’s business. He’d believed Marco, but overheard Marco and his dad and they were working on something illegal. He had no clue what, and got out of there fast.

Laura asked if Scout had seen her father, and Alexis said Willow thought Scout should get settled first. Laura said there was an empty seat in congress and Governor Mendez had called her. Port Charles was the largest city in Drew’s district, and he’d asked for a recommendation. Alexis said if Laura wasn’t the mayor, she’d suggest her, and Laura said, actually, she had the perfect person in mind – Alexis.

Sidwell asked why Tracy cared. Deception was a blip on the Quartermaine financial radar and there was no love lost between her and Lucy. Tracy said she wanted all her investments to be profitable, but her granddaughter was a partner, as was Maxie. For those reasons and more, she wanted the company to be successful and out from under him. He said he preferred his arrangement stay the way it was, but she said, not an option. He suggested she find another hobby. He wasn’t going anywhere. He asked Pascal to show Tracy out. They were done.

Lucas said he couldn’t go into details, and Carly asked if he was going to the police or the WSB. He said he didn’t want Marco arrested. Sidwell took advantage of him when he was emotionally vulnerable. He knew they loved each other. Carly asked what if Marco told Sidwell, but Lucas said, he wouldn’t. She said he didn’t know that, but Lucas said he knew Marco. He couldn’t walk away. At least not yet. Carly said, of course (🍷) he could, but he wouldn’t. Still, he couldn’t stay at Windymere one more day.

Ric said most ADA’s would have thrown the book at Rocco to make a name for themselves, and Turner said Rocco’s accuser was unreliable. Forensics supported none of his claims and he must have realized, since he disappeared. The charge was trespassing and a plea deal was the best choice. Ric said it spoke well of her that she didn’t punish Rocco for Sonny’s reputation, and she said she didn’t fight proxy battles. Sonny said Turner was always up for a fair fight.

Chase said Drew’s house had no sign of forced entry and they must have entered in the back using a key, and Nathan said a lot of people had keys. Chase asked how he could be 100% sure Michael didn’t have a copy.

Dante wondered how he could be sure he didn’t subconsciously push the investigation away from evidence or not want Michael to be guilty, and Michael said he was a great cop with great instincts. Dante said Michael should have told him the truth and let him do his job, and Michael said he trusted Dante, but not the legal system and Dante knew why. Dante said, for what it was worth (🍷), he had faith that Nathan would find out the truth, and Michael said that was all he wanted. Dante left.

Dante went to the station, and told Nathan that he heard Maxie woke up. Nathan said he was all over the place. He was invited to Maxie’s welcome home party, but wanted to wait for Maxie to reach out first. He had something he thought they should have jumped on sooner or possibly overlooked, and Dante asked, what? Nathan said, what if Michael had a key to Drew’s house?  

Pascal told Sidwell that Lucas had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Marco. He didn’t know what Lucas heard, but he had his ear to the living room doors. Sidwell asked what Lucas said when Pascal confronted him, but Pascal said he decided it was best that Lucas not know he was caught. Sidwell wondered why Marco didn’t say anything to him. Perhaps he chose not to pursue it. Pascal said, perhaps he did and was keeping the conversation from Sidwell. Lucas had Marco wrapped around his little finger. If Lucas confronted Marco, could he trust that Marco would come to him?

Lucas said it was his life and his relationship and he could handle Marco, but Carly said Marco wasn’t who he’d thought. How could he trust Marco? He asked how many times Sonny lied to her, but she said she knew who Sonny was at the beginning. Marco was hiding a big piece of his life. If he’d known from the beginning, would he still have gotten involved?  

Sonny said Turner’s talent in the courtroom was better than her talent on the ballfield, and she said if she had a chance to put him on trial, she’d bring her A-game. She left, and Ric asked what was going on between Sonny and the ADA. Who was playing who? Sonny said Turner was ambitious, sharp, and always lobbying for high profile cases. She also never met a press conference she didn’t like, and wouldn’t hesitate to put him behind bars. Ric said, as the former DA who ruined his career by trying to take Sonny down, why was Turner having pleasant conversation with him instead of doing everything she possibly could to put him away?

Chase saw Michael in the nook and walked past him. Michael asked if they could find a way to co-exist. The tension was hard on everyone. Chase said it would make it easier if Michael would turn himself in. He was sure Diane could get him a generous plea deal. Michael said he didn’t frame Willow. The gun was found in her belongings because she shot Drew. Chase said, Willow would never shoot anyone. Michael, on the other hand… Tracy stormed in and said Chase was still blaming Michael for Drew’s shooting, and Chase said, wasn’t it enough that Willow was unjustly accused? Tracy said, Willow was unjustly acquitted.

Willow said she’d put herself on this path and would see it through to the end, and Elizabeth said it wasn’t like they wouldn’t see each other, but the place wouldn’t be the same without Willow. They hugged and Willow thanked her for everything.  

Alexis said she was flattered, but had never considered running for public office, and Laura said that was good news. Port Charles didn’t need a career politician. She had integrity and would fight for their best interest. Alexis said she’d gone to prison, and Laura said she’d paid her debt to society. Alexis said she was disbarred, and Laura said she’d been reinstated. She thought that demonstrated Alexis’s ability to navigate bureaucracy in pursuit of justice. Alexis thought that was a stretch, but Laura didn’t. She said, the most important thing was that Alexis was someone she could work with, in a way she never could with Drew. Alexis said the bar had been set low. Just don’t use the seat to enact petty vendettas. Laura said Alexis wouldn’t be using the higher office as a steppingstone. She’d want the best for Port Charles, and they’d make a good team.

Lucas said Marco represented his father’s corporate interests, but got in deeper after his mom died, and Carly said she thought Marco and Natalia were estranged. He said, that made it worse. They had no chance to reconcile. Marco thought Sidwell would help him get closure, so he got involved in Sidwell’s business. Carly said, business was the word Sonny always used, and he said Marco promised once this was over, he’d keep his distance, so he agreed to stay for now.

Sidwell said he valued Pascal, but never question is son’s loyalty. Pascal said, before Lucas, he had no reason to think so. Sidwell said he didn’t want unnecessary friction with Marco unless absolutely necessary (😐), but he did hear Pascal. Keep an eye on Lucas and make sure he had no more chances to eavesdrop. Pascal asked, what if Lucas demanded Marco choose between him and Sidwell? He understood that Marco remained here to monitor Britt. Sidwell said, if Lucas persuaded Marco to leave, he’d be there to console his son at Lucas’s funeral.

Alexis said she wasn’t sure, but Laura thought she was a natural. they needed someone who understood local issues and could represent them well on a federal level, so they got the support they needed. They could disagree and still work together. Alexis said she didn’t think compromise was a weakness, and Laura said she saw Alexis as someone who wouldn’t put special interests ahead of the people she represented. She wouldn’t let Sidwell use the town for his personal gain. Alexis said Laura would like her to help fight Sidwell?

Molly saw Elizabeth at the hospital and asked if she had a nice Valentine’s Day. She saw Elizabeth and Ric at the hatchet range. She was there with Kristina, but they didn’t stay. They got the sense she and Ric didn’t want to be interrupted.

Nathan said he asked if Michael had the key and he’d said no, and Turner asked if he could take Michael’s word for it. He said, if Michael did have a copy, there was no way to tell when he came into possession of it, and she said they’d start by getting a search warrant.

Willow went to Windymere, and said, Sidwell wanted to see her? and he asked her to call him Jenz.

Molly said she was happy to see Elizabeth and Ric having fun, and Elizabeth said it was fun. And a reminder of how unpredictable Ric could be. Molly said Elizabeth was important to Ric. She’d made a big difference in his life. Elizabeth said she enjoyed spending time with him, and lately, it had been easy and fun.

Sonny said Turner wasn’t out to ruin him, and Ric asked if Sonny liked her. Sonny said, what’s not to like? She was attractive and fair. She’d come after him if she had the chance, but wouldn’t abuse her power to do it. Ric said, so they were friends, and Sonny said they knew where they stood with each other. Ric asked if Sonny was interested in Turner. Not as a respected opponent, but as a woman.

Turner told Dante that she was turning over the case to another prosecutor. She was biased, still believing Willow was guilty. She also didn’t want to wreck her career by publicly admitting they had the wrong person. She didn’t want to be near that, and he should steer clear too.

Chase said, Willow didn’t shoot Drew. Michael did. Michael said he didn’t, and Tracy said Chase was a wonderful man and made her granddaughter happy. But if he couldn’t let this go, he was in the wrong family. Nathan came in and apologized for the intrusion. He was there to serve Michael a search warrant for the keys to Drew’s house. Tracy said they had to call Diane first, but Michael said it was fine. He wouldn’t oppose it – he handed Nathan his keyring – starting with these.  

Carly said, if Marco loved Lucas, Marco wouldn’t let him near his father. Sidwell was dangerous. Lucas said he knew. That was why he was taking Marco with him when he got away from Sidwell.

Laura said she knew it was a lot, but believed she and Alexis could do an awful lot of good for Port Charles. Alexis said she’d consider it, and Laura said, tomorrow. Every day that the seat was empty, the city paid. Alexis said she’d think it over and let Laura know as soon as she could. Laura said, I hope it’s not too long, Congressman Davis.

Sidwell said he’d heard Willow was caring for her husband alone at home, and Willow said she was trying to do the right thing for Drew. Sidwell said, of course (🍷). She was a very appealing public figure, sympathetic and brave. She’d been publicly exonerated, was a cancer survivor, and a nurse. She was a devoted mother who’d repeatedly stood up to the corrupt Quartermaine and Corinthos families. Willow thanked him, but still wasn’t sure why she was there. He said, when a member of congress was incapacitated, it wasn’t unheard of for the spouse to take over and finish the term. He thought she was uniquely qualified to take Drew’s place in Washington.

Wednesday:

Nathan told Dante that he’d gotten a search warrant, but Michael gave him his keys.

Willow met Nina in her office, and Nina said she thought they should have a party for the kids with a bouncy house. Willow thought it sounded great. They’d been through a lot and there was more to come.

In her office, Alexis told Suzanne and Molly that Laura wanted to give her Drew’s job.

Kristina overheard Cody talking on the phone about his book club and said she had a real page turner for him.

Lulu interrupted Laura at work, and Laura said, it was about Maxie, wasn’t it?

Brook went to Maxie’s house and found Spinelli ruminating. She asked why he seemed so down since Maxie was coming home today, and he said it struck him that he’d been happy living there.

Cody said he was reading Pride and Prejudice, and Kristina gave him a copy of Molly’s manuscript. He said he wasn’t touching it. There was a steep price to pay for violating Molly’s privacy.

Alexis said the governor had only asked Laura for a recommendation, and Suzanne was ready to roll, but Alexis said, not yet.

Willow told Nina that Michael gave her joint custody to avoid the visitation hearing. If he was charged, she had something more important to consider. She’d been contacted by Drew’s political associates, and they wanted her to serve the remainder of his term.

Lulu said she was happy for Maxie and her family, and Laura said, that included Nathan now. Lulu said Maxie was coming back to the love of her life.

Nathan told Dante that forensics was on it, and Dante suggested he go home, but he didn’t want to mess things up.

Spinelli said Maxie was coming home, and Brook asked why he was so upset. He said reality had settled in and he realized how he handled what happened today would change his life. If he didn’t rise to the occasion, he could lose Maxie and his family.

Kristina told Cody that she’d violated Molly’s privacy by sending her manuscript to the publisher. Molly never intended for it to be published. It was only a creative exercise. Cody said Molly saw him as a complete doofus, and Kristina suggested he be less self-involved. Casey was loosely based on him and was a doofus at the beginning, but had a true hero’s journey. He was compelling, cool, and deep. Just read the damn book. He said he’d read it when it was published, but she said it wasn’t going to be published.

Alexis said, Laura just made a recommendation, but Molly said, she wouldn’t have asked if she didn’t think the position would be offered. Alexis was perfect for the job. Suzanne agreed, but Alexis said the more she thought about it, the less she thought she’d do it.

Nina said it was a fantastic idea and a wonderful opportunity, but Willow said she didn’t know anything about politics on the federal level. Nina said she was a quick study. She’d been a teacher and a nurse and a amazing spokesperson for New Tomorrow. And Willow had a secret weapon – Nina.

Lulu told Laura that she’d only developed feelings for Nathan because Maxie wasn’t there. She had the right to reclaim her life. Laura said the feelings Lulu had were real and legitimate, and Lulu said even if they were right for her, they were wrong for everyone else.

Dante said he thought Nathan would want to see Maxie, and Nathan said he did, but it wasn’t about him. The last thing he wanted was to confuse James. Maxie had moved on and had a kid with Spinelli before she even met him. He didn’t want to become an obligation.

Spinelli told Brook that Maxie’s husband was alive and in Port Charles after he’d been dead for seven years, and Brook said he was assuming he’d lose without giving Maxie a say. Didn’t he think she’d want one?

Kristina told Cody that Molly never intended on publishing the book and was turning it down. She’d sent it behind Molly’s back, so Molly never got the opportunity to polish it and make the characters the way she wanted them to be. Her editor thought it was perfect and wouldn’t let her change it now. That’s how much Molly cared about him and his feelings. Cody asked if Molly said that.

Molly said Alexis was a fierce and fearless advocate. Who better to speak truth to power? Suzanne said she could make a real difference, and Molly said they needed more truth tellers. Alexis told her that voters said that, but did they believe it? She didn’t know if she could compromise her values. Molly suggested she look at compromise as for the greater good. Look at how she handled Willow and Drew in service of Scout.

Nina told Willow that Drew won the seat because of her. She was the one who had the network and had even introduced him to McConkey, who wouldn’t have given him a second look. She’d made a mistake, but Willow was a different story. Because of her heart, she was more equipped to do good than Drew ever was.

Spinelli said Jason argued that it wasn’t a foregone conclusion, and Brook said Jason was right. He shouldn’t throw in the towel. He said Maxie was the great love of his life, but Brook hadn’t seen Maxie with Nathan. He had, and Maxie was thoroughly in love with him. Nathan was tall, handsome, heroic… She asked how shallow he thought Maxie was.

Nathan said Maxie’s life had changed and he imagined her feelings had too, and Dante asked if he was talking himself into letting her go. Nathan said she had a life with Spinelli that was good and happy, and Dante said, so she shouldn’t have to honor the promises she made before everything changed? Nathan said, for him and Lulu, time stopped, but people moved on. Maxie made a life with someone else, like Dante did with Sam.

Laura said Lulu’s feelings were okay, but Lulu said, then why did she feel guilty? Laura said she was a good person and a good friend, but Lulu said, a good friend visited every week and gave you an impeccable manicure when you couldn’t do it for yourself. She was the type of friend who kissed her best friend’s husband, then tried to make excuses for it being okay to pursue a romantic relationship. Laura said, stop. It was a very complicated situation. Maxie hadn’t even known Nathan was alive and moved on. Lulu said, had she really? She was there and saw up close what Nathan’s death did to Maxie. Now that he was back, why wouldn’t it change everything for her?

Lulu said she suddenly realized her feelings for Nathan were deeper than she thought, and Laura hugged her. She said Lulu had talked about how she felt. Had she talked to Nathan? How did he feel?

Nathan said, if Dante had known Lulu would wake up, would he have given up his life with Sam to be with her? and Dante said he and Lulu weren’t together when she got hurt and Sam died before Lulu woke up. The timing was different and timing mattered. He loved Sam and was committed to her. He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and the kids. Nathan said, of course (🍷). What if Maxie was committed to Spinelli and the life she made with him?

Brook said she wasn’t in Port Charles when Maxie and Nathan were together, but she’d witnessed Maxie and Spinelli become real life partners and build a life. She watched Maxie find her way back to him. When Maxie talked about him, her eyes lit up. She loved telling stories about how smart, funny, and loyal he was, what a wonderful father he was, and how they fit together. Why was he assuming her relationship with Nathan meant more than what they’d created together?

Molly said Alexis managed to get Willow acquitted and navigate the tension and conflict with people she cared about for Scout’s sake. She’d compromised so Scout would be better off. Suzanne said that’s what politics was. The end game was doing the best for her constituents and making compromise worthwhile. Alexis said they had good points, but would she be doing it for the greater good or for her own ego?  

Nina said Drew used his power as a weapon for his personal vendettas, but Willow would use her power to help her constituents. The same ones Drew promised to care for, but ignored. Willow said she didn’t know policy, and Nina said that’s why she’d succeed. People would want to work with her. Drew had almost a year left. It was nothing. If she didn’t like it, she could walk away afterward. If she liked it, it could change the trajectory of her life and empower her in ways she never dreamed.

After reading a little, Cody said Casey was still a doofus, and Kristina said he had the attention span of a four-year-old. She’d cut to the chase. Molly bottled her emotions and writing had been an outlet since she was a kid. She poured her heart out on the page and suddenly wrote a book. It was magical and annoyingly productive, but she’d rather keep it hidden than hurt him. That should tell him how much she cared.

Molly asked how this could be about Alexis’s ego, and Alexis said Drew was a decorated Navy SEAL and wanted to serve his country. He was also a vacuous pit of need that no amount validation could fill, but he wasn’t always like that. Maybe politics corrupted him and turned him into the psycho he was today. Molly said Alexis wasn’t Drew. She had principles and purpose, and a moral compass. Suzanne said she had more faith in Alexis than she had in Drew, and Molly said Alexis didn’t owe anybody anything, but she’d love to see Alexis represent her. Suzanne said her too, but Alexis said it wasn’t just about her. If she took the position, there would be consequences for Scout.

Lulu told Laura that she hadn’t talked to Nathan, but was sure he was thrilled about the reunion. He’d never stopped loving Maxie. Laura said she was sure he’d be thrilled Maxie was awake, but Lulu couldn’t assume to know his feelings. Lulu said she didn’t want to complicate the situation more. She wanted her feelings to go away. She felt most that Maxie deserved her happy ending and so did Nathan. The person she felt bad about was Spinelli.

Spinelli told Brook that he’d choose Maxie 1000 times over, but if circumstances hadn’t ripped Nathan out of her life, what were the odds she’d choose him? Brook said he’d find out, but Maxie got to make the choice. Maybe it was scary for her too. He said if she chose to be with Nathan, he’d be devastated, but he’d support and respect her decision, and Brook said, another reason Maxie loved him. She didn’t settle, she chose him. Let her choose again.

Dante told Nathan that assumption was never a smart thing. Let Maxie set the pace. The kids had their mom back and James would have both parents for the first time. He’ll love that. Nathan said he hoped so. If Maxie wanted to try again, he’d do that. Dante said, because it’s what James wanted? It had to be what Nathan wanted too. Did he?

Cody asked why this was so important, and Kristina said she loved her sister and didn’t think she should pass up the opportunity. Books mattered and she thought Molly’s book could mean something to people. It was a special, lovely story about people taking the time to know someone past the first impression. The world could use more of that and she thought her sister deserved to see her work published. It was just a hobby, but Molly was good, and his opinion mattered. She wanted him to read it, keep an open mind, then decide. He said what if he didn’t love Casey’s hero’s journey? And she said, then her sister was wrong about him. Molly thought he was a hero and this was his chance to prove her right. She left and Cody sat down to read.

Alexis said if she took the position, she’d be a public official. She’d been to prison, been disbarred, and was a recovering alcoholic. It would be brought up in debate, and if it was just her, she’d handle it, but it was all of them. She didn’t think it was fair to impose it on them. Molly said she’d be a model for Scout. She’d be showing her granddaughter how to face challenges head-on, overcome them, and learn how to triumph over adversity. Sometimes people didn’t know who to be or what to do until they were shown. Alexis wondered how Molly got so smart and inspired, and Molly said she learned from the best. What did Alexis want to do? Alexis said she wanted to serve in congress.

Willow said Nina made it sound easy, and Nina said it wouldn’t be, but it would be worth it. And she’d be with Willow every step of the way. They’d do it together. Willow wondered how she’d have time with having the kids part-time, and Nina said, Michael would have them 60% of the time. He’d have to work around her schedule since she’d be serving her country in Washington DC. Willow said, what about Drew? and Nina said she thought it was time to consider long-term care. She’d be doing a wonderful thing, and she was the only person he’d want to serve in his place.

Laura said Lulu thought Maxie would choose Nathan? and Lulu said, Spinelli knew how much Maxie had loved Nathan and thought he’d bow out even though it would shatter him. Laura said, poor Spinelli. He had a beautiful heart. Lulu said she guessed it was good that she and Nathan barely got started. It just didn’t feel that way. They hugged.

Spinelli wondered what happened when Maxie saw Nathan for the first time and was dazzled by his ocean blue eyes, and Brook said, dazzled was a temporary state. She knew in her heart that Spinelli was the one. Spinelli swept Maxie off her feet every day. Spinelli said he did and he would. He would sweep Maxie off her feet, but would need an assist from Brook.  

Dante said Nathan could only speak for himself. What did he want to do? Dante’s phone rang, and he said, thanks for letting him know. He told Nathan that they found a match on one of Michael’s keys. His brother lied. He had the key to Drew’s house.

Thursday:

Dante said Michael told them that he didn’t have the key and he wasn’t stupid, and Nathan said Michael didn’t exactly tell the truth all the time and had been caught in another lie. Dante said he was sorry to say they had to talk to Michael immediately and Nathan was the only one who could do it.

Willow adjusted Drew’s bed and told him Wiley and Amelia were coming over to stay with her. Despite all the obstacles, it was actually happening and both knew he was an obstacle. She hated that it had to be this way, but he hadn’t left her any other choice. She had to do the best for her children. The doorbell rang and she said it must be Alexis who was supervising the drop-off. She’d check on him later.

Ric asked if Michael was okay with the custody arrangement, and Michael said, it could be worse. Wiley wondered when they were leaving, when Michael’s phone rang. Nathan said they needed Michael to come down and answer some questions. It was best if he came now.

Willow said she’d waited so long, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Alexis’s help. She hugged Alexis, who didn’t hug back.

Mac told Georgie and James that they’d done a good job with the sign. No fighting, arguing, name calling, and James wasn’t climbing or breaking speed records. Maxie walked in with Felicia as he said he wanted them safe and sound, and she said, mission accomplished. They hugged.

Dante told Turner that Michael was on his way, and she said it was a smart move to check his keys, but Nathan said Chase had suggested it. Turner said it would determine whether Michael would be charged with attempted murder.

Michael said he had to go to the station and asked Ric to take the kids. Ric wondered what they wanted to question Michael about, and Michael said they’d had a warrant for his keys. They thought he had one for Drew’s house, but he never did. Ric asked, then why were they bringing him in? and Michael said, great question.

Alexis told Willow that she and Ric loathed each other for years and it was hard on Molly. The best thing was for her to put aside er acrimony with Michael. The kids would fare better if they coexisted peacefully. Willow said she’d do her best, and Alexis wondered if she could check on Drew before she brought Scout to see him.

Spinelli came out and said, no. He missed Maxie’s grand entrance. Maxie hugged the kids and said she’d missed them so much. James said she was back and so was his dad. He couldn’t wait for her to see him.

Maxie thanked Brook and Chase for taking care of the kids, and Brook said she was so worried. She’d missed Maxie so much. Maxie said she was back now and never leaving again, and they hugged.

Willow said Drew had a visitor, and Alexis said she hoped he was up for company. He blinked once, and Willow said he blinked once for yes and twice for no. Unfortunately, it was the only way he could communicate. Whatever Alexis thought best for Scout was what they’d do. Elizabeth called, and Willow left. Alexis said she and Drew certainly had issues, but she never wished anything like this would happen to him. (Ha-ha – sure.) It must be horrific. He blinked once.

Ric asked if the kids were ready to go, and Wiley asked if Michael was in trouble, but Ric said, not at all. They just wanted to give him his keys back. Wiley said, the keys Uncle Chase took? (D’oh! Mouths of babes.)

Spinelli thanked Brook for her help picking out his trés chic ensemble, and she said he looked handsome. He said he pulled out all the stops to fight for Maxie, and she said he had this in the bag. Cody came out with James, who wanted to tell Maxie the big news. Cody said, while she was gone, James learned how to jump with Comet. He was always there and James always followed instructions. James said, no negotiating, no begging, no helmet, no riding, and Maxie said she was proud of him. James left to find a video and Cody said he made sure James was safe. Maxie said her son was an adrenaline junkie and it was scary. Her mom said Cody had been there, and not just for riding lessons, but for James’s nightmares too. He said they were family, and she said he’d proven that.

In the interrogation room, Michael said he needed to reschedule since Diane was stuck in court, and Nathan said he could be detained until she was available. Michael asked if he was going to be arrested, when his phone rang. Nathan gave him some privacy, and Michael said, perfect timing. He needed a lawyer. Ric said he’d be there after dropping off the kids, but wanted to give Michael a heads up. He’d tell Michael when he got there, but in the meantime… Michael told him, don’t say anything without a lawyer present. He had the feeling he was walking into a trap, and Ric said he most definitely was, but if they played it right, the PCPD would suffer the consequences, not him.

Spinelli told Maxie that the kids were planning a surprise in the den. Relax while they set it up. He left, and Lulu arrived. Maxie said, you are late, and Lulu said, what else is new? They hugged, and Lulu asked how Maxie was doing. Maxie said it was a little overwhelming, and Lulu said she understood. It was disorienting to find out time didn’t stop for everyone else. Maxie said it would take time to adjust to being normal, and Lulu said Maxie was there for her when she came back and she planned on returning the favor. Maxie said Lulu was such a good friend, when Brook came in.

Michael said, Maxie was coming home and it was too bad Nathan was missing it. Nathan said if Michael wanted to help, answer his questions now, and Michael said he loved Maxie and would do anything for her, except implicate himself.

Turner didn’t get how Michael could be foolish enough to incriminate himself, and Dante agreed Michael wasn’t that sloppy. Turner said, maybe he finally got tripped up by his own arrogance.

Elizabeth brought some cupcakes Aiden made and asked how Willow was holding up. Willow said she was all over the place. She was excited, but scared she’d seem like a stranger. Elizabeth said it might be awkward at first, but they’d re-bond in no time, and Willow said Elizabeth had been a good friend and she’d never forget it. A car pulled in and Willow opened the door. Wiley and Amelia ran to her and she cried, hugging them. She said she’d missed them both so much, and Wiley said they’d missed her too. Ric brought the kids’ bags, and Elizabeth came out. They smiled at each other, and Willow said, it was so hard being away from them. She loved them both. Wiley said they loved her too.

Alexis said Scout missed Drew, but she was taking good care of her. Scout was doing well in school and having a great time with Kristina and Molly. She’d like to bring Scout, but thought she should prepare Scout first since he wouldn’t be able to communicate with her very well. Drew blinked over and over, and Alexis asked if he was trying to tell her something. He blinked once.

The kids were ready in the den, and Maxie left. Lulu said she felt Brook judging her and saw her disapproval. Brook said she didn’t think Lulu should tell Maxie that she and Nathan had feelings for each other unless they’d acted on them, and Lulu said they’d kissed once. Almost twice, but they didn’t. Brook said she was hoping they’d paused at the having feelings floor, but as long as it ended now, she didn’t think Lulu should tell Maxie. It would only hurt her. Lulu was surprised Brook wasn’t going to tell her, but Brook said Maxie needed the support of all her friends, even Lulu.  

Elizabeth said she thought Willow had this, but Willow asked her to stay so it would seem more like a party. Plus, she could use the moral support. Wiley asked if they could save a cupcake for his daddy, and Willow said she thought Michael was coming with them. Wiley said he was, but had to go to the police station. They had his keys. Willow flashed back to putting Drew’s key on Michael’s keychain, and Elizabeth wondered what it could be about, but Willow said she had no idea.

Ric arrived at the station and told Michael that the kids were happily reunited with their mom. Nathan suggested they get started and said, on February 2nd, they’d asked if Michael had the key to Congressman Cain’s house and he’d said no. Did he stand by his statement? Ric said, don’t answer, and told Nathan, cut to the chase. Nathan said they had a warrant for Michael’s keys to see if he had access to Drew’s house and he had a ky that did, but Michael said that was impossible. It must be a mistake.

Maxie said she loved the slide show, and Georgie said they wanted to catch her up on what she’d missed. James wondered when his dad was getting there, but Felicia said Nathan was stuck at work.

Mac said he was glad Cody was able to make it, but thought he’d bring Molly, and Cody said he would have, but things hadn’t been great between them. Mac asked, what happened? and Cody said it wasn’t important. He didn’t want to drag the mood down. Mac said if Cody wanted to talk, he was there.

Chase said they had to go, and Maxie thanked them. Bailey Lou loved spending time with them. Chase said the feeling was mutual, and Maxie said Bailey Lou was lucky to have them in her life.  

Alexis said she was sorry. She knew Drew was trying to tell her something, but she didn’t understand. He was blinking three times, and she didn’t know what he meant. She thought she was agitating him and wanted to get Willow, but he blinked twice. She said she was going to leave. She’d tell Scout that he loved her and was thinking about her, and she’d bring Scout to see him soon.

Back at the Quartermaines’, Chase said, that was a good time, and Brook said she loved Maxie and all the kids were happy. He said he guessed they wouldn’t be babysitting much anymore, and she said he’d miss having a little one around, huh? He said he wasn’t trying to pressure her, since he knew she wasn’t ready to adopt, and she said she loved that he was supportive, but she’d been giving it a lot of thought. They should do it. Let’s start our family. They kissed.

Michael said he’d never had a key to Drew’s, and Ric asked for a private moment with his client. Nathan said it would be better if Michael told the truth, and Ric said, Michael had no key, but Nathan said, it was in his possession. Ric said he wasn’t getting into a legal debate with Nathan. He motioned to Turner through the window and said that was her cue. Turner told Nathan that she’d take it from here, and Nathan left. He told Dante, sorry, but Dante said he did fine. Go see Maxie and tell her that he said hi and was happy that she was home.

In the den alone, Lulu looked at the kids’ Valentine cards to Maxie and flashed back to almost kissing Nathan.

Spinelli told Maxie about his new trick for getting Bailey Lou down, and Maxie said it was impressive. She thanked him for keeping the family together while she was gone, and he said he’d had a lot of help. She said, at the end of the day, he was the glue. When she left, she’d had three kids, and when she woke up she had three kids. That she still had James was most impressive. He said, they made it work, but nothing was the same without her. Things may not go back to the way they were, but she shouldn’t rush to figure things out. He knew it was complicated, but the most important thing was that she was back. Was there anything he could do for her? She said today had been a lot and she probably needed alone time. Let everyone enjoy themselves. She was going to take a walk, clear her head, and get some fresh air. Tell everyone she loved them. She left.

Turner said she strongly suggested Michael cooperate. They had enough to charge him. Ric laughed and said they had nothing, and she said it was the third lie they’d caught Michael telling – his alibi, being on Congressman Cain’s street the night of the shooting, and now he lied about not having a key to Drew’s house. Ric said they had no proof. They could prove the key was on Michael’s keyring, but that didn’t prove Michael put it there. Much less that he used it to get into Drew’s house. They had no chain of evidence. It was pure speculation. He was asking for them to allow his client to leave immediately.

Willow gave the kids Christmas presents that she’d saved, when Alexis came back and Willow stepped aside with her. Alexis asked how the drop-off was, and Willow said, Michael wasn’t there. How was Drew? Alexis said she told him about Scout, but he seemed agitated. It was like he wanted to communicate something, but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

Elizabeth said the kids were so happy with Willow, and Willow said it confirmed he knew in his heart. Everything she’d done to reach this point was worth it. Elizabeth said she wanted Willow to have more moments like this, and Willow asked her to keep an eye on the kids while she checked on Drew.

Turner said, if Michael didn’t put the key on the keyring, then who did? and Ric said there were currently many more people living under the same roof as Michael. Turner asked if he was implying someone from Michael’s own family was trying to frame him, but Ric said he wasn’t implying anything. He was talking about one person in particular. An eyewitness recently saw someone handle Mihcael’s keys who had no reason to. Michael said, Willow? but Ric said, one of the PCPD’s finest – Officer Harrison Chase.

In the nook, Brook thanked Alexis for coming on such short notice, and Chase said they’d come to her last year about the adoption process. Alexis said they’d put it on hold, and Brook said, if she was still willing to represent them, they’d like to look into adopting a child. Alexis said it was a big step. Congratulations. She may have a big commitment coming up, but she’d be delighted to help. How soon did they want to start? Brook said, immediately.

Will allow said Alexis told her that Drew was trying to communicate with her. She knew he was trying to tell Alexis what she’s been up to. Sorry. She couldn’t let him do that. She put a syringe full of the drug into his IV tube.

Georgie said, the party was a huge success. It was great having their mom back home. Spinelli said he wholeheartedly concurred, and James asked if he thought their mom liked the party, and Spinelli said, of course (🍷). James said, then why did she leave? and Georgie said, maybe it was too much. Spinelli said, she loved it, but sometimes when you were full of joy, you needed alone time to process. All she needed from them right now was the promise that when she came back, they’d all be waiting.

At the cemetery, Nathan brushed the snow from his own grave. Maxie came in the gate and said, Nathan? He stood up and said, Maxie? They soap looked at each other.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Lulu is rushing out when she finds a photo of Luke. She says, hi, dad.

In her office, Laura tells Elizabeth that it’s nice to see her. She had no idea Elizabeth was stopping by. Elizabeth says she knows Laura is really busy, but she wants to share some good news. Aiden finally passed his driver’s test. Laura says, thank God. Good for him and good for Elizabeth. Her days being a chauffeur are over. Elizabeth says, that’s true. Now Aiden is in full savings mode and begging her to take him car shopping because he’s obsessed with finding the right one. Laura says she didn’t realize he was that into cars, and Elizabeth says, it’s all he talks about these days. Laura says, that’s really interesting, and Elizabeth says she knows, right? She has no idea who he gets that from. Laura says she does. His grandfather, Luke.

Sonny goes to his old kitchen to visit the moss bowl🎍and finds Carly, who asks if everything is all right with Donna. He says he just dropped Donna off at school. He knocked at the front door, and he guesses she didn’t hear. She asks if everything is okay, and he says Donna told him that she left lunchbox foyer while she was putting on her coat. He said he’d get it and bring it to her. Carly says, Donna’s lunch isn’t for a couple of hours. Does he want to have a cup of coffee with her? He says, Corinthos coffee? and she says, if she had anything else, her whole system would shut down. He says he guesses he’ll take a cup. He sees a poker chip and asks where it came from, and she says, from Donna. She found it. She hopes he isn’t teaching Donna to gamble. He says, Donna isn’t old enough to count cards, but when she is, he will, and Carly says, that’s not funny. He says he found it in a box when he was moving to the new house and gave it to Donna, and she says, take it home with him. Donna will either cover it in glitter or learn to play Texas Hold ‘Em and she doesn’t need either headache. He says he’s got to tell her… It reminds him of… She says, Luke, and he says, Luke.

Lulu goes to the nook where Tracy is having tea, and Tracy asks if she can make… Lulu runs to her and hugs her, and Tracy asks, what’s wrong? She’ll take care of it. She’ll fix it. She’ll hire someone to fix it. Consider it fixed. Lulu says, nothing is wrong. Can’t a stepdaughter need a hug from her stepmonster? Tracy says, of course (🍷), but this is not an ordinary occurrence, and Lulu says she came across a picture of her dad. She shows Tracy, who says, can she? Tracy takes the photo and says, Lulu never had a chance to grieve her father, did she? Lulu shakes her head, and Tracy says, well, it’s important to do. So they’re going to honor her dad. Lulu hugs her again.

Laura tells her assistant to cancel her 4 pm. She has a couple of errands she needs to take care of out of the office. And one more thing. Please remind her to get a birthday gift early. Her grandson is saving up for a car. Her assistant says, knowing teenage boys, he probably wants a convertible, and Laura says, probably.

At All Saints, Lulu lights s candle and sits with Tracy, who holds her hand. Lulu says, it’s so quiet, and Tracy says, it sure is. Lulu says, her dad always told her that he was surprised he didn’t burst into flames when he walked in, and Tracy says, however, a watering hole on the other hand… Lulu says, welcomed him with open arms. This isn’t working. You were right. Tracy says, about what? and Lulu says, this isn’t her dad. Let’s go. Lulu leaves, and on her way out, Tracy blows out the candle. She looks up and says, I know. I know.

Sonny flashes back to seeing Luke on a patio and Luke saying he’s out of there. Sonny asks what he thinks he’s doing, and Luke says, this is where his family lives. His sister, his wife, and son. Sonny says, calm down. Don’t go crazy on him. Does he want to give the neighbors a show? Luke says, that’s fair. As he understands, they’ve got business to do, but they do not do business here – ever. You do not come to my house. You do not speak to my friends. And under no circumstances do you ever go near my family. Understand? Carly asks if Sonny is taking a trip down Memory Lane, and Sonny says, it’s hard not to. Luke spent a lot of time on the Haunted Star. When he first met Luke, he would never have guessed they’d end up where they did. Luke was more than a friend. He was Sonny’s brother. Carly says, he was so good to her mother, and Sonny says, when he wasn’t driving Bobbie crazy. She says, Luke thought she hung the moon, while she… He says, not so much, and she says, not so much. She flashes back to telling Luke that she doesn’t care about ELQ, and he says he does. So turn everything over to him and he’ll take care of everything, and she can wipe her hands of the whole deal. She asks why she’d do that, and he says, because they’re family, calling her Caroline. She says, since when? and he says, since she was born. How about a little Spencer solidarity?

Lulu tells Tracy that church was the last place her dad would ever be. He didn’t even get married in one. Tracy asks what she suggests. They go to Atlantic City? Vegas? What? Lulu says, find some random casino, since it was where Tracy and her dad got hitched… the first time. Tracy says, hitched is a nice way of putting it, and Lulu says her dad tricked Tracy into marrying him when she was drunk beyond belief, so she thinks hitched is pretty generous. Tracy says, there they have the beginning of a complicated, tumultuous… beautiful and oh so real… She flashes back to Luke saying, good morning, beautiful. How do you like your coffee? She says, no, and he says, welcome to our honeymoon, you wildcat. She says, no amount of alcohol in the world could ever make her marry him, and he says, consider the evidence. He shows her his wedding ring and the certificate, and she says, ugh. He says, we have to stay married until death do us part. Tracy remembers smashing a raw egg on Luke’s head, and him saying, oh, Spunky. She tells Lulu, forget the casino. She has a better idea. She takes Lulu’s hand and pulls her along.

Carly says she’s got to get to Bobbie’s, and Sonny says he’ll bring Donna her lunchbox. She thanks him for taking care of Donna, and he says, yeah. She thanks him for talking to her about Luke. It was nice. He says, yeah, it was, and she leaves. He picks up the poker chip, puts it in his coat pocket, and leaves.  

At the Brown Dog, no one is around, and Lulu says she told Tracy that it was too early, but Tracy says, nonsense. The door was open, so somebody has to be here. A janitor comes out, and Tracy says, told you. He says, they’re closed, and Lulu says, see? Tracy says, actually, they’re here to celebrate somebody dear to them, somebody they loved and lost. The man says he’s sorry to hear that, and Tracy says, thanks. He says, but they can’t stay. Come back at 5 when they open.

Tracy counts out $500 into the janitor’s hand, and he says, it’s a steep price for a remembrance, but Tracy says, it’s worth every penny. He tells them to promise not to let anybody else in and don’t do damage. Tracy asks if they look like the types to trash a bar, and he says, her (meaning Lulu), no, but you, definitely. Tracy laughs and Lulu says she’ll make sure Tracy behaves. The janitor leaves, and Lulu says, now what? Tracy says, now we toast, and Lulu wonders what they should drink. Tracy says, the better question is, what was his drink? and Lulu goes behind the bar and gets out two bottles.

Sitting in All Saints, Laura says, what a life we led. Us together and apart. She flashes back to holding a baby and Luke asking what she thinks of Lulu. Laura says, Lulu? That’s her alter ego, her secret identity. He says, Lulu and Lucy Johnson are his favorite identities. That way she can be named after her mother and grandmother. She says, Leslie Lulu, and a young Lucky says, how about just Lu? Leslie Lu. Larua says she loves it, and Luke says him too. In the present, Laura says, no one could ever accuse them of being boring. They burned too brightly for that. As she speaks, we flash back through their life together. She says, even when they built their family, it never stopped being an adventure. It’s because of you, my love. Because you were a force of nature. You didn’t just walk on this earth, you changed it. You changed me. I see you in the kids of course (🍷), in their fire and in their stubbornness and in their refusal to live life small. But there’s more than that. She actually sees glimpses of him every day of her life, in every brave choice she makes, whenever she stands her ground, when she really feels like she wants to turn and run. She thinks that’s why it’s so hard to accept that he’s gone. It just feels wrong. Even saying it sounds like a lie. She knows he’s not here on earth with them anymore, but he never left her. Never once. She feels his presence when life gets too heavy and she feels like she can’t go one more step. It’s his voice she hears, calling her angel, reminding her of who she is. And then somehow, she finds the strength and does go on because what they had was never really over for her. It just transformed because their hearts are bonded together beyond time, beyond loss, beyond this lifetime. Nothing can change that. Nothing. Thank you for the dance. Thank you for the adventure and thank you for the love of a lifetime.

Tracy says she heard Lulu’s father’s drink of choice was scotch, but Lulu says she thought it was rum. Tracy says, actually she thinks his favorite drink was whatever you’ve got, and Lulu says, well, rum and scotch are both available. Tracy says, so how about a little bit each – in separate glasses please. Lulu says, thank God, and Tracy says, her father was the textbook definition of a renegade. Lulu says, no one was going to tell him who to be or what to do, and Tracy says, Lord knows she tried. She flashes back to Luke being in the hospital, and he says, she’s pretty damn mad at somebody. She says, at him for treating life with such callous disregard. She’s furious at him that he refuses to put her, his children, or anybody else ahead of his infantile insistence on living life on his terms. Why for God’s sake? He says, she’s supposed to know him better than anybody. So he had a couple heart attacks… All right, three. So what is he supposed to do, roll up in a ball and not be him? Tracy and Lulu clink glasses, and Lulu says, wow, that is… wow. Switch drinks. They take a sip and Lulu says she’s not sure which is worse. Tracy laughs and says she’s not sure this is the best way to honor Lulu’s father if he had a drinking problem, and Lulu says, don’t tell him that. Tracy says, too late. Her father chased his demons and even caught up with a few. Just not the one who liked to drink with him. Lulu says, but the spark in his eye came back, and Tracy says, her father would not, could not be kept down.

Laura goes to Bobbie’s, and Carly asks if she can give her some coffee. Laura says, oh, please. Great. Carly says, already been day, huh? and Laura says, and then some. It’s nice to see her. Carly says, it’s nice to see Laura. Is everything okay? Laura says, for some reason, she’s been thinking an awful lot about Luke today and doesn’t know why, and Carly says, that’s funny. She and Sonny were just talking about him earlier. Laura says, really? Maybe there’s something in the air. Carly wonders if there’s an anniversary or birthday they missed, but Laura says she doesn’t think so. Then again, they didn’t need an occasion to miss someone. Carly says, no, they certainly don’t.  

Sonny comes into the Brown Dog, and Lulu asks what he’s doing here. He says he was going to ask them the same thing. He saw the car out front and the bar is closed. He thought they might be having car trouble. Lulu says, no car trouble, but he’s right. The bar is closed. Tracy says, Lulu felt that she’d never really grieved Luke, so they’re doing it here today by celebrating, and Sonny says, that’s nice. He doesn’t want to interrupt. He’ll let them go. Lulu says, wait. He loved her dad too. He says he still does, and she suggests he join them. He sits down.  

Laura tells Carly, it’s delicious. So fresh. She thanks Carly for keeping the place going, and Carly says she does it for her mom. This place was so important to her. Laura says, and Luke. She leaves and outside, she flashes back to being with Luke in the kitchen at Bobbie’s. She says she loves him and wants to be his wife. She’s still happy. Please face her. He turns and she says, he still loves her. She can see it in his eyes. Laura’s phone chimes and it’s a text from Lulu: Where R U?  

Elizabeth looks at her phone and smiles. She asks Nurse Emma if everything is okay around here, and Emma says, it’s shockingly quiet around here. Elizabeth says, excellent. She’s going to take off a few minutes early. There’s someplace she needs to be. As she waits for the elevator, she looks at her phone.

Sonny says, Lulu’s dad gave Tracy a run for her money – literally – and Tracy says he doesn’t have to look so amused by it. He says, it definitely worked out in the end, and she says, yeah, but in the beginning… Lulu says, okay, yes. It got off to a rocky start, but her dad ended up falling in love. Tracy says, hopelessly, and Sonny says, a couple so wrong, it turned out so right. Lulu asks if they can talk about how much Luke got away with, and Sonny says, the list is so long. He blew up the Haunted Star. Tracy says, that man never answered for a single con, a single disguise, because he was so damn charming. Sounds like somebody else they know. Sonny asks if she just called him charming, and she says, no. They laugh, and Lulu says, hearing their stories, she misses him less. Sonny says he’s got a million of them, when Laura comes in. She says, maybe, but nobody has more than her. This was a wonderful choice. She thinks Lulu’s dad would feel right at home here. She sits down.

Carly leaves Bobbie’s and outside, she looks at the sign. She flashes back to asking if Luke is calling her a liar. He says, no. He’s calling her a Spencer, through and through. She came out of the womb ready to rumble. She doesn’t suffer fakes or fools and he appreciates that. She says he thinks he knows her so well, and Luke says, she knows him and knows if some arrogant cop and his lovestruck girlfriend got one of his kids thrown in the slammer, he’d wait years if he had to roll over broken glass and hot tar to get revenge. Does that sound familiar? In the present, she looks at the sign and digs around in her bag for something. She takes out the poker chip.

Lulu says her father told her nothing ventured, nothing gained when it came to two things – cards and love, and Tracy says, leave it to him to link cards and love. Laura says she doesn’t know about that. She thinks there’s a lot of luck involved with both. Lulu says, to love, and they clink glasses. Laura flashes back to her and Luke’s first wedding, and Luke says, I, Lucas Lorenza Spencer, take thee Laura Webber Baldwin, to be my wedded wife. To have and hold from this day forward. For better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health. TO love and to cherish till death do us part. Carly comes in and says, of all the random places to meet. This is an interesting group. What’s going on? Lulu says she never got a chance to mourn her father, so she’s doing it tonight. She thought Carly would want to be a part of it. Laura says she’s sure this is why they were all thinking about Luke today, and Carly says she thinks Laura is right. She asks why Sonny gave back the poker chip, and he says he didn’t. She says, he must have. She found it in her purse when she was leaving Bobbie’s. He says, whoever put it there, it wasn’t him, when Elizabeth comes in and says, hi, everybody. Lulu says, she made it, and Elizabeth says, Lulu told her they were celebrating Luke and she wants in. Tracy says, pull up a chair. Scotch or rum? Elizabeth asks if those are the only options, but Lulu says, no, and she sits down.

Sonny says, in some cultures people believe you die twice. Once when you take your last breath and then when your name is mentioned for the last time. Tracy asks if it matters if your actual name is used or would jackass suffice? Then you could live on forever. Laura says she guesses they all mourn in their own ways. Everyone’s rituals are different. Carly says, they all have them in their own way, and Sonny says he’s seen people celebrate with lanterns they put out to sea in remembrance. Lulu says she loves that. It sounds beautiful.

The group stands at the pier with their lanterns, and Laura says sometimes we act like we say one final goodbye and that’s it. And sometimes, in some situations, it is, but with Lulu’s dad, it’s a little but more like, see you later. Sometimes just hearing a certain tone in someone’s voice or hearing a song by one of his favorite artists or sometimes she catches a scent, and it smells like one of his shirts, like he’s right there, standing in the room with her. Sonny says, may Luke be joined with his beloved Haunted Star and may he always roll sevens. He puts his lantern in the water, and Tracy passes out to-go cups and says, Luke’s favorite. Laura says, to Luke, and they all toast, to Luke. Laura says, this just feels right, and Lulu thanks Tracy and tells her that she loves her. Tracy says she loves Lulu too, and Lulu sees a light. She watches as Luke leaves for the last time, turning to look at her and smiling. She says, see you later, dad, and we see the lanterns in the water.

Alone, Sonny flashes back to Luke giving him a gun. Sonny says, it’s a thing of beauty, and Luke says he wants Sonny to have it, but Sonny says, Luke can’t give it to him. It’s his gun. Luke says he just did, and Sonny says, but he can’t let Luke go wherever he’s going. He’s unarmed. Luke says he’s not exactly defenseless, and Sonny says, fast talking can only get him so far. Luke says, that gun belongs in the life they both chose. He’s walking away from that life. He has to find something else, something different, while there’s still time. Sonny raises his cup.

Back home, Elizabeth finds a muffin that Aiden has left for her and flashes back to telling Luke that she baked him some brownies. He says, her specialty, and she says, he remembered. She bets she can make him laugh, and he says, that would be quite a feat. Go for it. She opens her coat and says, ta-da! revealing a silly outfit. He says he likes the socks. He knows she wouldn’t join a cult… She’s working the GH Christmas bash. She asks if he wants to be her date, and he says, that’s about the sweetest offer he’s had this millennium. In the present, she picks up the car magazine underneath the muffin plate and reads.

Laura’s assistant asks how everything went, and Laura says, it was an interesting day. Her assistant says, productive? and Laura says, yes, very, and special. Her assistant says, all was quiet here, so she ran out and got Laura’s grandson a card. It’s on her desk. Laura thanks her and she leaves. Laura sits at her desk and looks at the card. It has a car on the front and says, Happy Birthday – Hope it’s a great ride! She flashes back to being in Luke’s car in disguise, and hearing sirens. Luke pulls over and tells her to focus now. Keep relaxed and breathe. Breathe. She cries and remembers dancing with him. He says he wants her to know that when he looks at her now, he doesn’t see the 18-year-old girl anymore. He sees a woman and she’s magnificent. He’ll always be proud she’s his wife. She says she’ll always be proud he’s her husband. And if she’s as magnificent as he says, it’s because she spent the first half of her life with him. He kisses her hand.

Carly stacks menus, and flashes back to telling Luke that if he thinks relationship advice is going to give him another month of free rent, he’s crazy. Luke says they agreed that his stay there would be open-ended and fully comped and she knows it. Get her head out of her shapely butt, because she knows bullets and love don’t mix. She says she’s going to take her chances. She’s going to Sonny’s party. He says, no Johnny? No escort? She says, Michael wants her there and she cares enough about her family to make an appearance. No more room service and she’s cutting off his spa. He says he doesn’t care about the spa. They’re family and whether she believes it or not, he doesn’t want to see her hurt.  

Tracy sips tea and looks at a framed photograph of Lila. She flashes back to Luke saying they know he’s nobody’s idea of a great catch, but he’s better with her, so much better. They’re a perfect match. They work, damn it, so here he is before her, deeply flawed, offering his broken body, battered heart, and this. He shows her a ring and says, please wear it again. In the present, she cries and says she’d do it all again.

Lulu puts the picture she found in a frame on the mantel, and flashes back to Luke saying he’s confident that whatever life throws at her, she’s smart and strong enough to handle it on her own. Come on. She’s a Spencer and she always be his one and only baby girl. He loves her. She takes the poker chip out of her pocket and thanks him for giving her his luck and his love. She kisses her fingertips, puts the chip by the photo, and touches his face.  

On Monday, Spinelli tells Lulu that it’s not a fight he’s willing to undertake; Wiley tells Willow that he doesn’t like it there; Ric tells Alexis that he has news about Drew’s attempted murder case; and Michael punches Chase in the face. As we’d all like to.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Tribute to a true icon.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-preview-special-tribute-episode-for-luke-spencer-and-anthony-geary/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-alexa-havins-on-lulu-mourning-luke-in-bittersweet-anthony-geary-tribute-episode-excl/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-maurice-benard-remembers-anthony-geary-sonny-previews-luke-tribute-show-excl/

Another kudo to Baby Glinda!

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-actress-joins-pixars-toy-story-franchise-in-starring-role/

When will people learn to differentiate between a character and the actor? Throwing apples? Really?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-cameron-mathison-says-drew-is-not-a-good-human-defends-willows-revenge/

I had no idea Turner and Sidwell were married IRL. They look amazing, and I have to admit, if I saw them on the street, I’d turn to look, and I don’t say that often.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/general-hospital-stars-and-their-real-life-partners-a-valentines-day-spotlight/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

The crew was finally able to shed the Salt Lake City women, but not before more shrieking and arguing. At least they left a sizable tip – $35K – which was more than deserved just for having to listen to all the screaming and yelling.  Sous chef Alesia broke up and made up with Ben, but ultimately decided she was not cut out for the galley and returned to being a stew. Luckily, when the new stew arrived, she was copacetic to being the new sous chef. And oh yeah, it was Ellie from Below Deck Mediterranean.

Summer House

Kyle had a hissy fit and ran off, and Carl was sent to put him back together. Ho-hum. Another summer at the beach. While there was background relationship finagling, the main focus was on watching the deterioration of Kyle and Amanda’s marriage. Amanda was tired of Kyle behaving like a single twenty-year-old, while Kyle thought she was stifling his money-making skills. She had to explain to him like he was a toddler how it wasn’t the DJ’ing that was the problem. It was the excessive drinking and the DMs she was getting from women saying he was cheating. He gave her a non-apology apology, and by the end, nothing was any further along than it was when they started.

Vanderpump Rules

I didn’t pay attention to a lot of this because it was the usual who’s zooming who. What I did catch was Audrey’s stand-up act where she roasted her co-worker/castmates. When she got to Angelica, she was nothing but a mean girl squared, causing Angelica to leave in tears. I’m no fan of Angelica’s, but I felt sorry for her. Natalie might have thought Audrey killed it, but all she killed for me was any respect.

Southern Charm

Ugh. Salley. I don’t even know what to say about this woman. She is so insecure and obvious and must have all the attention from all the boys men in the group. I’m surprised she hasn’t spontaneously combusted over her jealousy. Two minutes ago, she was catching feelings for Craig and now she hates him. For whatever reason, Charley remains friends with her and is trying to keep the details of her relationship with Craig to herself. Salley isn’t having it, but she will have a helping of Austen, who loves the attention. Austen, however, has made it clear he’s not loving Salley that way out of respect for Audrey. The group went to Mexico courtesy of Shep, and during dinner, he suggested they make New Year’s resolutions for the person sitting next to them. Venita said Austen should stand up for himself more, which Whitner interpreted to be smack talking Craig. Craig told Venita that she didn’t exist in his world and to f*** off. By the way, Shep put the trip together in hopes of them finding inner peace. Fat chance.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

This week, Denise made an appearance, and admitted what a d-bag Aaron is. He’d assaulted her several times. Disappointment all around. We also found out Erika got shoved around during a post-Tom relationship. More disappointment, but she got out fast, so good. Erika asked Amanda about the cult she’d been in, but we’d all might as well just read the article. The only enlightening thing was that Amanda said it was a religious thing, but she gave very few details. Amanda felt confused since she’d been told to be forthcoming about her opinions, yet got slammed for them. Um… Maybe she should consider her condescending delivery. On the upside, Rachel said she’d danced more in the Hamptons than she had in years. Hot Girl Summer in progress.

The Valley: Persian Style

Golnessa started a new jewelry business, Valley Girl Diamonds, just to bug Sky. Since Mercedeh was working, Tommy was supposed to pick up Shams at school and was a half hour late, even though he only had one job. He dropped off ice for the open house, and she tried to get him to stay and maybe talk to Reza, but nothing doing. At that point, she was reaching the end of the road with this nightmare from New York. Mauricio white gloved Mercedeh’s open house and said her staging had no warmth, but she had still done a good job.

Random Reality Items

This was my first guess. Hint: Do not put foreign objects in your body.

Coming in April. I’ll wait and see. They’re always good to start before it degenerates into drunken brawls at a dinner parties.

Now on Netflix and my short list.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Never Blink. Amazon Prime. First off, this movie makes you want to blink as soon as they start talking about it. A group of scientists has discovered another dimension that happens, well, in the blink of an eye. Gruesome AF, it’s an interesting premise, kind of like Nightmare on Elm Street combined with Strangeland. The action was good, the monsters were creepy enough, and I didn’t hate it. However, for a bunch of ahead-of-their-time scientists, their computers download like they’re on dial-up.

The Long Walk. HBO/MAX. In a totalitarian, impoverished, post-apocalyptic world similar to our own, a lottery is held and 50 males are chosen to make the walk. The rules are simple. Keep walking at 3 MPH or die until one contestant is left standing. Hey, at least you get three warnings before meeting your doom. The winner gets an insane amount of money and one wish. Unlike The Running Man (Stephen King is having a banner year), it’s less the excitement of the journey itself, and more about character development and emotion. Contestants become close, only to watch each other die. Mark Hamill shines as the draconian Mayor, who encourages the walkers along, but doesn’t hesitate to eliminate them. I would have chosen quite a different wish from the winner, but it was still a satisfying ending and well worth watching.

https://dailytarheel.com/article/lifestyle-the-long-walk-review-20251003

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. HBO/Max. Dunk is a wannabe knight who teams up with a boy named Egg when he can’t seem to get rid of him. Kind of like a Game of Thrones buddy movie, the series is about Dunk’s journey and the obstacles he and Egg meet along the way. While I only just started watching, and would have rather seen beyond The Wall with Jon Snow, it’s a nice treat in the meantime.

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-spinoff-hbo-tv-review-2026

I’m also reading Maurice Benard’s book, Nothing General About It, and loving it. He’s open and honest about his upbringing, struggles with mental illness, and his love for the woman who has stood by him. I appreciate a celebrity biography, and this book gives me an extra layer of enjoyment since there’s so much about him working on General Hospital, which it turns out is the workplace anyone would be blessed to have.

🐾 Astonishing Achievements In Animaling…

🐕 Hopefully, he wasn’t working for the government.

https://people.com/meet-nazgul-dog-who-crashed-2026-winter-olympics-race-11910145

🐺 Once extinct, they’re now all growed up.

https://people.com/deextinct-dire-wolves-hunting-together-as-a-pack-11908890

🐩 A surprising friendship.

https://people.com/dog-forms-2-month-friendship-with-wild-seal-in-viral-tiktok-exclusive-11906273

🌊🐶 To retirement and beyond.

https://people.com/romeo-manatee-is-officially-the-oldest-manatee-ever-recorded-11908666

https://people.com/25-year-old-dog-spends-golden-years-helping-seniors-11905995

🦜 Quotes of the Week

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.Henry David Thoreau

What I did or said should never be more important than why I did it or said it. Andrea Kelly

The only impossible journey is the one you never begin. – Tony Robbins

If exhausted from severe and long-continued thought, he had to touch the earth again to renew his strength. When this weariness set in he would stop thought, and get down with a little dog or kitten to recover. – William Herndon, Abraham Lincoln‘s business partner

If you fight for your limitations, you may just get to keep them. –  Les Brown

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

No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday. – Alexander Pope

It’s literally petty in the best way. – Reza Farahan, The Valley: Persian Style

☃️ Up To Snow Good…

Until next time, stay safe; stay not bare beating or dry begging; and stay remembering that assumption is never a good thing.

February 13, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Maxie Wakes Up, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Bringing the Bowl, Snubbed, Winning Wags, Four Quotes Doubled & Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday: 

Valentin and Carly discussed Jack showing up during the snowstorm. Valentin said he was going to Windymere.

Lucy brought Sidwell a surprise picnic lunch and found Ava with him.

Mac and Laura told Dante than Anna wasn’t coming back as Police Commissioner.

Cullum told Jack that Anna was in a mental hospital in France.

Gio asked Emma where Anna was, and she said they had to leave her in France. It was worse than any of them thought it could be and she’d lost the grandmother she knew.

Felicia went to see Jason and told him that Anna wasn’t doing well, but had given her a message for him.

Carly said their plan to frame Jack wouldn’t work if Valentin was caught or Sidwell killed him. He asked why she cared.

Ava hoped Lucy brought enough food, but Lucy said she did no such thing. Sidwell said they were in the middle of an auction and Ava was helping him. He went to get supplements for the food so there would be enough, and Lucy asked how much art Ava needed to thrust on a man. Ava said Sidwell loved her taste and Windymere’s interior should be equal to its fabulous exterior. Lucy said she knew what Ava was selling and it wasn’t art. She thought Ava was trying to get back into Windymere, but Ava said Lucy knew nothing about her relationship with Nikolas and less about her relationship with Sidwell. He had the heart of a collector. All Lucy collected was husbands.

Emma told Gio that they thought Anna was having a PTSD episode, but they weren’t sure. She tried her best to get them to see Anna the way she did – fun, funny, and so strong. She’d survived so much. Emma had thought nothing could bring Anna down, but seeing how broken Anna was, she didn’t know if Anna was still in there.

Felicia told Jason that Anna was still in France. She’d been admitted to a private clinic and couldn’t leave because of open criminal charges. Anna said her suspicions were right and Cesar Faison was alive. She’d claimed he’d been holding her captive. Jason said he’d shot Faison himself, and Felicia said that’s why Anna said he was the one who had to stop him.  

Laura said, unfortunately, Anna wouldn’t be well enough to hold a coherent conversation for some time, and Dante said Anna was the best agent he knew. He asked if something went wrong on her assignment, but Mac said, according to Anna, there was no WSB assignment.

Cullum told Jack that Anna had a breakdown in the field. She went rogue and refused WSB protection. She’d deserted her post, initiated an unauthorized operation, and now she was paying the price. Jack found that impossible to believe.

Carly said, what if something happened to Valentin? She couldn’t pull off the plan without him, and what about Charlotte? She refused to tell his daughter that he was dead. He asked if she was playing the daughter card, and she said, yes. He said she knew all the right buttons to push, and she said it was one of her gifts.

Jack said Cullum’s intel was wrong, but Cullum said his source was good. Jack said he knew Anna very well and she didn’t crack. Something else was going on. Cullum said the facts were the facts and Anna was no longer a WSB problem. He highly suggested Jack concentrate on the disaster he’d made with Valentin’s transfer. Valentin had escaped on his watch. Cullum said he wanted Valentin found and left.

Lucy said she’d rather collect husbands than arrests, and Ava said she’d paid her debt to society. Lucy said she counted herself lucky that she wasn’t standing in front of an open window. She was sure Ava wanted to shove her out of one like she did Kristina. Ava said she and Kristina had made peace, and Lucy said she wasn’t going to stand by and let Sidwell fall prey to Ava. All Ava was interested in was his bank account and fat commission checks. Ava said Lucy was no different from her, except she’d been circling Sidwell for a year – flirting, posturing, and wasting his time. Sidwell came back and asked what he’d missed.

Felicia said Anna wasn’t in a coherent state and was having a post-traumatic breakdown, and Jason wondered if there was a chance it wasn’t a breakdown and Anna was telling truth about Faison.

Emma told Gio that Anna was frantic, not focused, and paranoid. She’d been rambling that Faison was after her and after Emma too. Emma tried to say she was fine and it would be okay, but nothing registered and she felt hopeless. There was a knock at the door, and Emma opened it to Josslyn, who asked if Emma was okay.

Ava told Sidwell she’d take a raincheck on lunch. She was going to focus on the auction and keep an eye on his bids and secure the pieces he wanted. She left, and Sidwell said he’d noticed a bit of tension. Lucy said she couldn’t bite her tongue any longer and she’d be happy to enlighten him on Ava’s history. He said he did his homework on all of his associates and was aware of Ava’s past, as he was Lucy’s. Lucy had gotten a second chance, so why couldn’t Ava?

Emma said her grandma was in trouble and in a mental health facility in France, and Josslyn said she was sorry. Could she help? Emma said, not unless she could bring Anna back to reality, and Josslyn asked if there was any idea what caused it. Emma said Anna left on a WSB mission on Halloween. Something bad must have happened, but no one knew what it was, and Anna claimed she’d been kidnapped by Cesar Faison.

Mac told Dante that Anna was staying for treatment and recouperation. Until her legal situation was sorted out, there were no assurances she’d be well enough to resume her duties. Laura said Dante and Mac had both led the department, and Mac said a big part of his life was now in Boston with Maxie, but Dante had done a great job filling in and he supported Dante staying. Dante said he had other commitments. He wasn’t ungrateful, but he had a lot to process. Laura said Anna was irreplaceable and asked Dante to take a few days before deciding. Dante left, and Laura asked how Mac was holding up.

Felicia said, Anna claimed Faison kidnapped her on Halloween, and Jason said he’d talked to her that day. She said she suspected Faison was still alive. He’d thought he got her to see that someone might be using Faison as a distraction, but he didn’t follow up. Felicia said Anna told them she’d been chloroformed in her car and held captive in France. She’d insisted Obrecht and Peter August visited her in her room and Faison had talked to her over an intercom. Jason asked if she’d actually laid eyes on him, and Felicia said, once, for a brief moment. Then she lost it and said Faison was watching Emma and that Faison would never stop. They were bound together forever. The doctor came in and sedated her, when Anna screamed that she had a message for him.

Cullum went to Carly’s and introduced himself. He said he had a few questions for her.

Mac told Laura that it had been one thing after another. First Maxie, and now Anna. He was trying to be strong. Emma seeing Anna like that was eating him alive. Laura said the problem with being the one who took care of everyone else was that you had no opportunity to fall apart yourself. If he needed help, she was there. He said he wished he was as confident as she was. When he’d met Anna, she’d dazzled him and he could tell why his brother fell in love with her. Laura said Anna was one of a kind, and Mac said she’d always bounced back, but maybe she’d realized how much she’d been carrying alone all these years.

In his office on the phone, Jack tried to get Anna’s status, but had no luck. Dante showed up and said he wanted answers about Anna now.  

Carly asked if she needed a lawyer, but Cullum said it wasn’t that serious. She’d been seeing Agent Jack Brennan. She asked if there was a WSB rule against having a personal life, and he said, not officially, but he was concerned the relationship was compromising Jack’s focus. Jack’s most critical case was at a dead end – the pursuit of Valentin Cassadine.

Josslyn wondered if Britt and Nathan both being alive and in Port Charles had been a trigger for Anna, and Emma said that was the word for now. Gio told Josslyn that Emma had just come in from a long flight and asked if it could wait, and Josslyn said, of course (🍷). She was sorry to bother Emma, but was there if Emma needed help. Emma thanked her and said she needed to decompress, and Josslyn left, looking at the cover of Faison’s book in the hallway. Gio said he was sorry Josslyn upset Emma, but Emma said her heart was in the right place. She’d wanted to talk to him alone anyway. She had to leave Port Charles.

Carly said she didn’t understand what capturing Valentin had to do with her, and Cullum said it should be Jack’s number one priority. She said it was, but he said, not from where he was standing. She said, historically, Valentin was a hard man to catch, but Cullum said he thought Jack was coming up empty because he’d been busy elsewhere. She asked if he thought she’d been a distraction, and he said, one of many. Jack had also gotten distressing news about his colleague Anna, who’d had a mental breakdown while on assignment in France. Carly said that didn’t sound like Anna, and he said, anyone could crack under the right conditions. A reminder they all needed from time to time. He left.

Lucy said she’d made mistakes and started over, but unlike Ava, she hadn’t required a re-do because she’d killed someone. Sidwell said there were extenuating circumstances, and Lucy said she felt like they’d gotten close and she enjoyed spending time with him, but she couldn’t bear to watch him become next in the long line of Ava’s victims. He said he was capable of taking care of himself, but she said she couldn’t sit by and watch him fall into Ava’s trap. If they were going to continue being close, he had to make a choice – Ava or her?

Emma told Gio that they’d filled in Grandpa Robert, and he decided she should tell her mom, but she wanted to do it in person. She was sure her mom would want to go and see her grandma together. Gio said she was doing what was right for her family, and Emma said her mom loved her grandma so much. She was going to be devastated. Gio said he was there if she needed anything, and she said she didn’t know how long she’d be gone or when she’d be back. He said, when she got back, he’d be there waiting, and they hugged.

Jack said he’d been on the phone, trying to get information, but was being stonewalled, and Dante asked if Anna was really on a mission. Jack said, of course (🍷), and Dante said, she swore there was no assignment.

Jason asked if Robin knew, but Felicia said, not yet. He asked about Emma, and she said, Robert decided Emma should break the news. She had a favor to ask. He said, name it, and she asked if he could reach out to Jack and fill him in on the conversation with Anna. Tell him about her suspicions that Faison was alive, and his suspicions that Faison was a distraction. He said, absolutely not.

Carly offered Valentin a drink, and he said, cocktail hour. I like it. She said she wanted him to sit down, and he said he liked it a little bit less. She told him that the man at the door was a WSB agent, Ross Cullum. Did he know him? He said he knew of Cullum, and she said he told her that Anna had a mental breakdown. He said Cullum was lying.

Sidwell said he feared Lucy was misguided. He found her charming and delightful, and he enjoyed spending time with her, but he didn’t take ultimatums from anyone, even someone he cared about as much as her. She said then she guessed she’d be going. He could keep the basket. He’d get hungry, since Ava always left people wanting. She left, and outside, she said, you’re going to regret this, Jenz Sidwell. You have no idea how much.

Mac told Laura that he felt helpless. He owed Anna so much. She brought Robin into his life. It had been a joy and privilege to raise her when Anna and Robert couldn’t. Anna changed his life for the better in so many ways and he hoped she knew. Laura said she was sure Anna did. She believed the Anna they all knew and loved would come back, and when she did, he could tell her himself. He said he hoped she found her way back, but he didn’t know when or if that would happen.

Emma brought out her suitcase, and Gio said he’d come with her. After the Nurses Ball, he’d been reeling and her grandma took him in. He wanted to repay her and be there for Emma. Emma said this was something she needed to do on her own. That’s how her grandma would handle it, and her mom. He said he got it and would drive her to the airport, and they hugged. She said she was really scared, and he said him too. Whatever happened, they’d face it together.

Jason told Felicia that they weren’t telling the WSB anything. They caused this. They knew Faison was Anna’s weakness and used it until she broke. It was lucky the French authorities got to her first, so the WSB couldn’t cover its tracks. Felicia said she trusted him because Anna did. Anna knew he’d know what to do.

Valentin spoke to the clinic in France on a burner phone, then broke the phone. He told Carly that Anna’s doctor said she’d had a psychotic break, claiming Cesar Faison was alive and had held her captive. Carly asked if he thought it was a cover story the WSB was using for protection, and he said he didn’t think they set it up, but they were responsible for what happened. And for that, they’d be held into account.

Jack told Dante that it was imperative everything they said stayed between them. He trusted Dante more than anyone here and his gut told him that something was off. Dante said him too. What Jack told him would stay there. The worst-case scenario, he wouldn’t reveal his source. Jack said the photos Anna had sent were doctored. The WSB’s official story was that Anna doctored them herself and went rogue to find Faison. There’s no way that’s true, which means Anna is in real trouble.

Tuesday:

Lucy was getting a mani/pedi to left her spirits, when Ava walked in.

Cody read Pride and Prejudice and flashed back to arguing with Molly about what she’d written. Tracy came in and was shocked that he was reading a book.

Molly joined Kristina for a manicure, and Molly said she knew Kristina had submitted her book to her agent behind her back.

Alexis met with Danny at the Quartermaines, and he said he needed to know all about the Cassadine family.

Lucas came home to find Pascal standing in the foyer. Pascal told him that Marco was unavailable. He had important business to attend to. Lucas asked what Pascal’s problem was with him. Or was he jealous?

Elizabeth brought Portia a take-out lunch, a salad with extra olives. Portia said Isaiah must have ordered it.

Jason told Sonny that it was worse than they thought.

Valentin wanted to go to Windymere, but Carly said she’d go.

Tracy said she’d never seen Cody read a book, and he said, because he was dumb, right? She asked what had gotten into him, took the book from him, then laughed. She said she would expect Hemmingway, but not a regency romance. He said there was more going on with him than what people thought. He wasn’t a bumbling idiot. She said, no one thought that except him, but he said one person in particular did.

Kristina said the book was ready for submission, but Molly said she was never going to submit it. She’d just wanted an honest opinion. Kristina said Molly would have tinkered with it forever. Admit it. Her agent loved her book.

Ava said she thought Lucy and Sidwell were having a picnic, and Lucy said she left it at Windymere along with the relationship. It dawned on her that she deserved more than being another mare in Sidwell’s stable. Something Ava couldn’t understand.

Portia told Elizabeth that Isaiah knew about her latest craving for olives. He was helpful, patient, and easy-going. They fit together, but that could change when they found out who the father of her baby was.

Alexis told Danny that she’d never been invited to a potluck, but she knew the players. She gave Danny some paperwork and said her father had been with Helena, but they weren’t married and she was illegitimate. Danny wondered where Charlotte fell.

Jason told Sonny about Anna and that she was saying Faison had held her captive. She also said Peter August had paid her a visit. Sonny asked if he believed Faison was still alive, and Jason said he believed Faison was still a threat. According to Felicia, Anna was suffering from delusions and paranoia and believed he had to stop Faison.

Valentin asked what point of entry Carly was going to use, and she said a top-secret, little-known opening – the front door. Sidwell had extended an invitation to her because he wanted her to make peace with Lucas for Marco’s sake. Josslyn was using her brother for her own agenda, and she hated that she was about to do the same thing.

Lucas said whenever he showed Marco affection, Pascal popped out and interrupted, but Pascal said he was just doing his job. Lucas said he didn’t think so. He hadn’t realized how bad it was until Pascal was away. Pascal wanted what he had and resented him. Pascal said Lucas was consumed with his paltry romance and blind to what was really going on there, when Marco showed up.

Portia told Elizabeth that she and Isaiah trusted one another. The person she was worried most about was Trina. It would be difficult if Isaiah was the father. Trina was already struggling with her parents splitting up. If Curtis was the father, it would be easier for Trina, but not her. The test was only thing holding up the divorce, but if Curtis was the father, there would be issues about custody and parental rights.

Alexis told Danny that Charlotte’s branch went back to Mikkos’s father, Ivan Stanislovich Cassadine, who’d had three sons. Danny asked if Valentin wasn’t Charlotte’s dad, and she said, herein lies the difficulty in constructing the family tree. The Cassadines had a propensity to lie – it was in their genes. Valentin thought Mikkos was his father, but Victor was. The only ancestor Danny and Charlotte shared was Ivan. Danny said, his great-great-grandfather, and Alexis said, Charlotte’s great-grandfather.

Carly said she knew Lucas moving in with Marco put him in danger, but Josslyn encouraged it, and Valentin said, it was probably a WSB order. Carly said it made her sick that she was about to do the same thing, and he said, being hesitant would get her hurt, but she said she was going. The goal was to get Josslyn out of the WSB and Lucas off the island. She had no choice but to go.

Marco asked if there was a problem, but Pascal said, it was a simple misunderstanding. H’de explained Marco was occupied and Lucas didn’t take it well. Marco said they’d appreciate some privacy and went into the living room with Lucas. Lucas said Pascal was a liar and a loose cannon. Marco had no idea what he was really like. Marco kissed him, and in the foyer, Sidwell said perhaps Pascal should have stayed in France.

Jason told Sonny that felicia thought Anna was suffering from PTSD. He didn’t believe Faison was still alive, but before Anna left, she told him that she was afraid he was. He thought he got her to consider that someone was using Faison against her. What if she’d been on the edge and he’d missed it? He knew the signs and could have helped. Sonny said Jason knew the signs when it came to him, but didn’t know what to look for with Anna, and Jason said he felt he could have done more and chose not to.

Molly told Kristina, the phrase multi-book deal might have been uttered, and Kristina said she was sorry to have rushed Molly’s timeline. Molly said she’d had no timeline. Writing the book had been her way to decompress, a creative outlet for her. Kristina said Molly wrote it for publication and just needed a push. She was welcome. Molly thanked Kristina for tanking her relationship with Cody.

Cody said Molly wrote a romance novel and based the main character on him, and Tracy said it was flattering. He said the character was rude, untrustworthy, and dumb, and Tracy said, maybe not. Had he talked to Molly? He said she never intended for him to read it, and that made it worse. What was even worse than that was that now he knew what she thought of him. She asked how Jane Austen was involved, and he said Molly told him that Casey was like Mr. Darcy. It was confusing, since Darcy was a rich, arrogant guy, and definitely not him. She asked how much he’d read of Molly’s book, and he said, a few chapters. She asked how much he’d read of Pride and Prejudice, and he said, not much. She said he had a lot of reading to do.  

Lucy said maybe Sidwell could divide his attention, but she didn’t need to accept that treatment. Ava had financial incentive. Ava said Sidwell was a client, and Lucy said, a generous one. Ava reminded Lucy how much she made on the sale of Windymere, but Lucy said it was worth every penny. Ava was taking Sidwell for a ride. Ava said that wasn’t fair. Sidwell appreciate sophisticated pieces. He wanted an upgrade and he got it.

Sidwell said he overheard the altercation and asked if Pascal couldn’t keep it together without arousing suspicion. Pascal wondered why Sidwell was trusting Lucas when he was too close. One misstep, and he’d discover something he shouldn’t. Sidwell said they’d been over this, and it annoyed him to go over it again. If Lucas was important to Marco, then… Pascal said, then Lucas was important to Sidwell, and Sidwell asked how it went in France. Pascal said, like clockwork. Anna believed she had made her great escape.

Jason said Britt needed him and he’d abandoned Anna in the process, but Sonny said he couldn’t save everybody. He got Britt’s trust and found out Cullum started the fire. He had a choice and took one. There was no guarantee he could help in France. Anna had family and was getting help. Jason said he couldn’t shake the feeling something wasn’t right. Anna sent Felicia to him for a reason, even if it didn’t make sense. Sonny said he’d never tell Jason to ignore his instincts, but Anna could just be sick and in need of medical care. Jason said, maybe, when his phone chimed. He sighed and said it was Alexis. Something was up with Danny.

Valentin asked Carly to look for an entrance in the wine cellar. He needed to know if it was still open. Carly told him that she’d say she wanted to expand the MetroCourt’s wine list or got lost finding the bathroom, but he said it wasn’t a game. Don’t give Sidwell a reason to be suspicious. If she got caught, it would be a bad day for Lucas and worse for her. More important, it would be bad for him. Play it smart. She said she’d get out safely with an invitation to come back.

Lucy said what she and Sidwell had was real, but Ava Lucy was convenient. Sidwell used her to get a good deal and found her and Lucyness quite tedious. It was obvious to everyone but Lucy. She’d worn out her welcome and didn’t know it. Lucy told the pedicurist that she’d have to reschedule, since she realized this wasn’t stress-free. On her way out, she told Ava, keep in mind that Sidwell’s love of old things extended to Greek sculpture, not his vendors.

Molly told Kristina that Cody found a copy of her book and was curious. Then he realized Casey had been inspired by him. Kristina said he should be flattered by the love scenes, but Molly said, he didn’t read that far. She didn’t think he’d be reading anything else of hers now. Not after how he was depicted.

Lucas said he wasn’t complaining, but that was weird, and Marco asked what was going on. Lucas said Pascal was outwardly hostile and he’d asked what Pascal’s problem was. He didn’t love that Lucas suggested he had feelings for Marco. Marco said, he had it coming. Maybe he could be moved to another property. Lucas said he didn’t want to trash Pascal’s life – not yet – and he wasn’t going anywhere. They kissed.

Elizabeth told Portia that she got both sides. She understood why Portia was putting off the paternity test, but she also seemed stressed not knowing.

Alexis told Jason that Danny asked her to decipher the Cassadine family tree, and Sonny asked why. She said, for school credit, but he only seemed interested in if he was related to Charlotte.

Tracy said when Molly referred to Mr. Darcy, she didn’t mean Cody was like him. She meant her hero was functioning like Mr. Darcy. In the beginning, the leading lady finds Casey deeply unlikeable. Then, over time, they fall in love. It’s a tale as old as time. Like Beauty and the Beast. Cody said, now he was a beast? but she said, Casey was repellant and became irresistible, but not before misunderstandings and arguments that ramped up the sexual tension. He should be flattered. Molly had been thinking about him for months and fashioned her hero after him. He said now he got what she was saying. What happened if Casey wasn’t what he seemed, but with him, what you saw was what you got. What if he was just a heel?

Kristina said it was fiction and Cody would get over it, but Molly said she didn’t think so. He was taking it personally and she hated that she hurt his feelings. Kristina said, he wasn’t supposed to read it, and Molly said Kristina wasn’t supposed to send it, yet here they were. If she’d intended to publish it, she would have made changes and made Casey less obviously based on Cody. Kristina said Molly had no chance to make changes, and Molly said, thanks to her

Sonny told Alexis that what she and Ric put together for Michael’s kids was the best, and she asked if Carly was in agreement. He said, not like him, but Wiley and Amelia needed their mother. Alexis said she wanted an arrangement that everyone could live with, and he said he didn’t want to use the kids as a bargaining chip, like Scout. How was Scout doing? Alexis said she was worried about her father, but starting to relax. She was settling in. Her next step was to get Willow to allow Scout to see Danny. Sonny said she might not want to do that.

Pascal told Sidwell that Anna had been sedated and put on a ship to France. There had been an altercation with a gendarme, and she was arrested and admitted to a mental institution. Sidwell asked if they still had access to her, and Pascal wasn’t certain, but said he could try. Sidwell said, don’t. Let Anna cook until they needed her. There was a knock at the door, and Sidwell opened it to Carly.

Tracy asked if a true heel would go to the trouble of reading Jane Austin to understand his girlfriend’s intentions instead of watching an adaption, and Cody asked if there was a movie. She said, several. Would he like to return the book? He said, no, and she said Molly knew there was more to him than met the eye. What happened to Molly’s character was up to Molly, but what happened in real life was up to him.

Molly told Kristina that her agent didn’t want her to change anything and thought Casey was a major selling point. The readers would fall in love with him. Kristina said Cody should thank Molly for making him look good. Give him a chance to finish the book. He’ll get it. And when he saw it on the shelf, he’d be so proud, like she was. Molly was going to sell the book, right?

Portia said, fine. She’d stay focused on work and Isaia. When her mind drifted… Elizabeth said, she pictured one awful scenario after another. Not knowing gave her more stress. Now was the perfect time to take the leap before she was further along. Then she could focus on the good stuff. Portia said she’d rather do that than spend time with her divorce lawyer. She needed to know the truth so she could move forward.

Valentin looked at pictures of Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco on his phone.

Jason told Danny that Alexis said he’d needed help with a school project, making a family tree of the Cassadine side. He was spotty about the Quartermaine family tree, but Tracy could fill in any blanks. If Danny needed help with anything, he hoped Danny knew he could ask him anytime. Danny said there was no project, and Jason said, Alexis had suspicions. Danny said he wanted to know more about the Cassadine family, and Jason said he appreciated the truth, but why lie? Was he that interested in family history? Danny said, not just his. Charlotte’s too.  

Sonny said Scout needed stability and routine and wouldn’t get it from Danny. He was focused on Charlotte. Charlotte and Danny were a good match in the thrill-seeking department. Alexis said that’s why she wanted Jason to talk to him. God knew what trouble those two could get in together.

Carly said Sidwell told her to stop by, and he said he was glad she took him up on the invitation. He assumed she was there to see her brother. She said, that was the plan, and he said Lucas was in the living room. She went in and Lucas asked what she was doing there. She said she came to apologize, and Sidwell looked all happy.

Lucy went to Sonny’s and said, sorry to barge in, but she needed to talk to him in private. Alexis said she had an appointment and left, and Sonny asked what he could do for Lucy. She said he could clean Sidwell’s clock.

Wednesday:

Curtis went to see Jordan and said he had a surprise for her.

Portia told Britt that she wanted to take the paternity test.

Josslyn looked at Faison’s book bio and the tin of cigarillos. She flashed back to finding them at Windymere, when Trina came in and asked what Josslyn was smoking.

Jason asked why Danny made up a story about a school project, and Danny said his grandma didn’t like talking about the Cassadine side of the family, but he should have been honest. Jason said his grandma would have been cool with the truth. Did he get all the information he wanted? Danny said, yeah.

Charlotte went to see Valentin and they hugged.

Carly said she’d like to speak to Lucas privately, but understood if he wanted Marco there. Marco said it was a private sibling conversation, and he and Sidwell left. Carly said she hadn’t been fair to Lucas and Marco and she was wrong, and Lucas asked, why the sudden change of heart?

Sonny said he thought Lucy and Sidwell were an item, and Lucy said it had definitely blossomed into something deep and meaningful. He asked if Sidwell felt the same, and she said, of course (🍷), but he’d messed with the wrong woman and now he had to pay.

Danny told Jason about being with Charlotte alone at the gatehouse during the storm. They’d had a moment, so he kissed her.

Charlotte said her police escort was outside the Quartermaines’ and had no idea she was gone, and Valentin said he was glad she was okay. She said, thanks to Danny, and he asked if Danny knew he was there.

Lucas said Carly had been hating on Marco and suddenly saw the error of her ways? What did she really want? She flashed back to Valentin telling her to look for the entrance to the catacombs, and she said she understood why Lucas was skeptical, but he was her brother and she missed him. She was sorry she hadn’t been supportive of his relationship. She loved him and didn’t want to fight. He said he appreciated her effort, but an apology wasn’t enough.

Lucy told Sonny that she’d thought she and Sidwell were progressing at a nice pace, when Ava came sniffing around, throwing herself shamelessly at him right in front of her face. She voiced her concerns to Sidwell and told him that he had to choose between her and Ava. He was a complete cad and said he didn’t do ultimatums. She should have listened to Sonny and not gotten involved. Sonny said he was sorry it didn’t work out, and Lucy said, then help her take Sidwell down, but Sonny said the answer was no.

Josslyn said they weren’t hers, and Trina said, let her guess. Josslyn was holding them for a friend. (Ha-ha!) Josslyn said the cigars belonged to her study partner, who accidentally left them there and asked if Trina had changed her sheets. Trina said her mom had stayed the night of the blizzard, and Josslyn asked how it went. Trina said, not great, but it could have been worse.

Britt told Portia that she put a rush on it and once they got Dr. Gannon’s swab, they’d have the results in an hour. For what it was worth (), she admired Portia for standing up for herself. She’d had a right to stand her ground when she’d been pressured for answers. Isaiah came by and said he got Portia’s text, and Portia said she’d decided she was ready to take the test. As soon as Britt got a cheek swab from him, they’d know whether he was the father of the baby.

Curtis made a fire and he and Jordan kissed.

Jason asked if it was the first time Danny and Charlotte kissed, and Danny said, yeah. He hadn’t known he wanted to kiss her until it happened. He liked hanging out with her. They really got each other. Like when Rocco was in trouble and they were on the same page. He knew she was smart, pretty, and stuff, but he’d seen her as a friend. After they kissed, it felt different, in a good way. Jason asked if Charlotte was okay with the kiss, but Danny said he didn’t actually know.

Charlotte said Danny knew everything, and Valentin said she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but she said the person they couldn’t trust was Nina. She’d overheard Nina talking to Agent Brennan. They had a deal where Brennan would help Nina with her daughter in return for information from Charlotte about him and she’d had to warn him not to reach out to Nina. He said he wasn’t going to, but thanks, and she said the problem was, she sort of confided to Nina that she’d been in touch with him. He said that’s why she never should have told Danny. Brennan would be looking at her and interviewing those close to her, and he was an expert at getting most people to spill. She said Danny wasn’t most people. He knew it was important to keep quiet and understood lives were on the line. She trusted him completely.

Carly asked if Lucas was saying he’d never forgive her, but he told her that he was saying he needed more. She needed to accept that Marco was a part of his life. She said, done, and he said she had to do more than tolerate Marco. She had to make an effort to know him because he saw a future with Marco. She said they’d gotten serious, and he said living together had strengthened their relationship. When he told Marco that he wanted their own place, Marco said he liked being near his dad, but prioritized Lucas’s feelings and agreed to do it in a couple of months. She said she was happy Marco put Lucas first, and Lucas said he wanted to do the same. That meant he was only letting her back in his life if she was willing to get along with Marco.

Curtis and Jordan snuggled on the sofa, when she sat up and looked at her laptop. He asked if he was keeping her from work, but she said it wasn’t urgent. Sidwell wanted her to see why Windymere had lost power. He’d said he was worried about something, but what that something was, she didn’t know, and she was no closer to taking him down than when she started. Curtis said she’d get him. He knew if she put her beautiful mind to something, nothing and no one could stop her. She said they had that in common, but he said, in his case, maybe it wasn’t always a good thing. She asked what he did, and he said he wanted Portia to take a paternity test, but she was pushing back. In his frustration, he might have made a tactical error that may come back to bite him.

Isaiah asked if Portia was only doing this because Curtis pressured her, and she said he’d threatened to get a court order, but she told him to go ahead. She’d do it when she was good and ready. She’d talked to Elizabeth and realized it was time to learn the truth and face the consequences. He said he wanted the baby to be his (me too), but knew how much it would complicate her life, especially with Trina. She said things were looking better and she and Trina were making progress. She felt it was time to settle this, so she could start planning for the baby’s future. He said, no matter the outcome, he’d still be by her side.

Lucy wondered how Sonny could say no. She thought he’d jump at the chance. Sonny said it was tempting, but what if they made up next week? She said it wasn’t going to happen, and he asked what revenge looked like to her. She said Sidwell had wormed his way into Deception and was shipping cargo under Deception’s auspices with no oversight. He asked if she thought it was illegal goods, and she said, if they were legal, why do it in secret? She was going to find out. He said maybe she was onto something, but making a move like that would be a huge mistake.

Sidwell returned with Marco and said Pascal told him that she’d wanted to see them. Carly told them that there was something she needed to say that she should have said a long time ago, and Lucas asked Pascal for privacy. Pascal left, but kept the door ajar to listen, and Carly said she’d apologized to Lucas and would like to apologize to Marco. She’d judged him unfairly because of his father. Sidwell said they did set off on a shaky foot, and she said, true, but she should have realized Marco was his own man. Clearly, he made Lucas very happy, and if they gave her a second chance, she promised to support their relationship. Marco thanked her and said he knew it wasn’t easy. Carly said she hated apologizing and admitting she was wrong, but this time she was and she was very sorry. Marco said, apology accepted. He wanted her to know that her brother meant the world to him, and he’d never do anything to hurt him. She said he’d better not. She believed they should spend more time together because she wanted to get to know him better. Marco said he liked that idea, and Lucas said they had no idea how much it meant to him. He thanked Carly and they hugged. Sidwell applauded and said he was glad it worked out.

Sidwell said he wasn’t sure Carly would take him up on his offer, especially after their rocky start. He hoped it would be the first of many visits. She was welcome any time. She thanked him and said she thought she’d take him up on it, and he suggested they start now. Join them for cocktail hour. Lucas said he had to head to the hospital, and Carly said, another time then. Sidwell said he looked forward to it, and Lucas said they could take the ferry together and catch up. He kissed Marco, and outside the door, Pascal peeked in, then made a face.

Curtis said, despite Alexis’s advice, he told Portia that he’d get a court order and make her take the test, and Jordan said she was no fan of Portia’s, but wow. Curtis said Portia told him that he was welcome to use a court order, but she was on her own timetable, and Jordan asked if he was going to. He said no. He thought it was incredibly unfair, but once he cooled off, he realized he couldn’t force her. She said he’d respected Portia’s agency as a woman and a person, and he said if he was the father, they’d have to co-parent and he didn’t want acrimony. She suggested he and Portia talk again and find a way to dial it back, when his phone rang and he said he might have chance now. He told Portia that he was glad she called. About the paternity test… Portia said he got his wish. She took it and was at the hospital waiting for the results. She’d keep him posted. He told Jordan that Portia took the test. He was about to find out if he was going to be a father again.

Josslyn said she could see why it was hard for Trina to trust Portia, and Trina said it was impossible. What if her mother hurt her, or worse, hurt her baby brother or sister? Josslyn said they should make up so Trina could be there for her new younger sibling, and Trina said, whoever the father was, she wanted a relationship with the child, which meant she was going to have to let go of her anger toward her mom. Her phone rang, and she said, speak of the devil. Portia said she wanted to let Trina know that she’d decided to take the test. The lab was rushing it, so she should have the results soon.

Valentin said he was glad Charlotte felt she could count on Danny. He was sure Danny was a devoted friend. Charlotte said they’d had each other’s backs more than once, and he told her not to rely on Danny too much. It was a dangerous situation, and they didn’t want to drag him into it. She said Danny could handle himself. He was a good friend. She really should go, since she didn’t want Officer Jeffers to get suspicious. They hugged, and he told her to be careful. She said, him too.

Danny told Jason that he was pretty sure Charlotte kissed back, but it was a blur since Rocco showed up and they had to act normal. Jason asked if they’d talked about it after, but Danny said, not yet, and Jason said he thought Danny should reach out and make sure it was something they both wanted. He didn’t want to make assumptions. His phone rang, and Danny asked if it was important, but Jason said, not more important than him. Danny said they were good, and Jason said let him know what happened. Danny thanked him for listening, and Jason said, anytime.

Trina went to the hospital and she and Portia hugged. Portia said Trina didn’t have to come, but she was glad Trina did. Trina said Portia was right the other night. She couldn’t allow their issues to affect her relationship with the baby. Portia said Trina was going to be the best big sister and asked Trina to sit with her while she was waiting for the results. Isaiah said the lab was analyzing them now, and he started to leave, but Portia asked him to stay. They’d get the results soon and he had as much riding on this as anyone. He said, if it was okay with Trina, and Trina said, whatever was happening, was happening. If he wanted to stay, it was fine by her.

Josslyn thanked Jason for coming, and showed him the book and tin of cigarillos. She asked if these meant anything to him, and he said P.K. Sinclair was Faison’s penname and it was his favorite brand of cigar. Why did she have them? She said another agent was carrying them and a copy of the book with an inscription from C to his muse. He asked who the agent was, and she said, Ross Cullum. Jason flashed back to Britt telling him that Cullum wouldn’t think twice about killing him, and told Josslyn, start at the beginning.

Sonny said Deception was Lucy’s company and she could dig where she wanted, and Lucy said Sidwell would cover his tracks before she found anything. She had to take him by surprise. Now to figure out how… She’d get back together with him. Sonny said Sidwell was a low life, but she said she knew reconciliation was the true path to revenge. He wouldn’t know what hit him. She’d say, please forgive her, and pretend everything was the same. When he dropped his guard, she’d go in for the kill.

Sidwell asked if Marco bought Carly’s apology, and Marco said he did. If she’d been super sincere, he’d be more suspicious, but he could tell it was hard to say and that seemed right. However, it may be a problem for them. Sidwell asked, how so? when Lucas came into the foyer. He heard them talking and stopped outside the door. Marco said it was nice of Sidwell to help broker peace, but as a result, Carly could end up spending more time there and he wasn’t sure they wanted her snooping around.

Josslyn told Jason that the night of the storm, she cut the power to Windymere, which forced everyone to go to the mainland, so she could search. He asked why she didn’t tell him, and she said she’d had no time to fill him in. She ran into Cullum and recognized him from the WSB. He asked if Cullum recognized her, but she said, no. Jack had done everything in his power keep her off Cullum’s radar. She pretended she was looking for Lucas and Cullum pretended to be the caretaker. She thought he bought it and when he left the room, she went through his coat pockets, where she found the cigars and the book. He asked if Cullum saw her, and she said, unfortunately, but she told him that she was using his coat as a blanket and the book fell out. Her curiosity got the better of her and she noticed the woman on the cover looked like Anna. He asked if she reported this to Brennan, but she said, no. Jason was the only person she’d told. He said, keep it that way, and she said, of course (🍷). Brennan reported to Cullum. She wondered if Cullum was some Faison superfan or had a personal connection to him, and Jason said, if he did, it was that he was working on Faison’s final project. Cullum and Sidwell were partners.

Danny texted Charlotte, asking her to meet up, and she replied, sure. When and where?

Valentin asked what happened at Windymere, and Carly said she made amends with Lucas and apologized to Marco. He asked about the catacombs, and she said Lucas had to go to work, but forgot his phone and went back before he got on the ferry. Valentin said, that’s fine, and she said she thought he’d be weird and judgy. He said he was judgy, but she opened the door to more visits. They needed to figure out what Sidwell was up to. Setting Brennan up to take the fall was the only way to protect her brother and daughter. She said, and his daughter. Next time, she was going to find out exactly what was going on at Windymere.

Sidwell asked if Marco was concerned that having Carly around would cause trouble for them, and Marco said she couldn’t keep her nose out of other’s affairs. What if she caught Britt going in and out of the catacombs? Sidwell said he’d advised Britt to be discreet, and Marco said, good luck with that. Britt was a giant pain in the ass with the subtlety of a wrecking ball. Sidwell laughed and said, not anymore. He found a way to keep her under control. He was keeping her medication at Windymere. If she wanted to stay alive and functioning, she had no choice but to complete their project. Marco said it was about damn time, and in the foyer, Lucas looked shocked and Pascal stood quietly behind him.

Sonny asked if Lucy was getting back at Sidwell by spying on him, and she said she knew she could do it. He said it was risky, and she said, no risk, no reward. If she’d use any information to find out what the shipments were. Sonny said it was easier from the inside, and she said, exactly. She’d get so close to Sidwell, she could literally stab him in the back. That would be wrong, but she wanted to make sure she lowered herself to share him with that man-eating… floozie, Ava. Sonny said, those two had no idea what they started with her, and they laughed.

Jordan flashed back to Portia saying that she’d want Curtis to be part of the baby’s life, but not Jordan, and Jordan saying that would be between her and Curtis. Portia said that Jordan took Curtis from her, but would never take her child. When it came down to Jordan or the baby, Jordan knew who Curtis would choose. Jordan paced, then sat on the hearth.

Curtis showed up at the hospital and asked if there was any word, but Portia said, not yet. She told him that she’d keep him posted. They’d get the results soon. Curtis said he was glad they were putting the matter to rest, and sat with Trina. Britt came out and said she had the results. She gave an envelope to Portia, who opened it. She thanked Britt, and Britt left. Trina asked what it said. Who was the baby’s father? There were soap looks all around.

Thursday:

Felicia, Georgie, and James visited Maxie. James gave Maxie a Valentine from him and one from Bailey Lou.

Nathan went to Lulu’s house and said he needed her help.

Chase had a tea party with Bailey Lou as Brook watched from the doorway.

Dante called Jordan to his office and said it was about Anna.

Trina asked who the baby’s father was, and Portia said she and the baby had the same father. Curtis was the dad. Trina and Curtis hugged.

James insisted that Maxie could see them and hear them when they talked, and Felicia said their mom knew they were there and that they loved her. She could see them with her heart.

Chase told Brook that he’d miss Bailey Lou when Maxie came back. He loved the little person she was becoming. When she was a baby, she was completely dependent on them, and they’d had to protect her with Peter August on the loose. It brought them closer together. It was when they first started falling in love. Even then, he saw Brook would be an amazing mother and he couldn’t wait for them to have a child of their own.

Jordan said she didn’t think it was possible for Anna to have a psychotic break, and Dante said Anna was the rock of the family. He didn’t know when she’d recover. He’d been offered the job permanently. She said it was different from being a detective, and he said, that was the problem.

Nathan had to bring the class Valentine treats and all he could think of was candy hearts, and Lulu said, no one liked them. He said he didn’t want to be the lame parent who embarrassed his son, and she said they’d figure it out together. He’d be the coolest dad in the school.

Isaiah told Curtis, congratulations, and left. Trina said she was so happy. The baby would have the best dad ever. Curtis said he was relieved to get answers. Now they had to figure out the best way to move forward. Portia thought they should talk, and Trina left. Curtis thanked her for taking the test, and she said, it was time. So where did they go from there?

Felicia said James did a wonderful job decorating and told Georgie that her mom’s nails looked beautiful. It was James’s turn for alone time with Maxie, and Felicia and Georgie left. James told Maxie that he’d only been to the ER once and it wasn’t that bad. A girl in his class had asked him to be her Valentine, but he said no. He loved Maxie best.

Dante said he’d thought he understood job, but it was so much more, and Jordan said it was a big shift going from detective to administrator. The Commissioner was the face of the department and caught all the blame. When she’d been Commissioner, she’d missed being a detective. She’d thought she was making a difference. He said he didn’t think it was the best use of his skills and he had the added pressure of filling Anna’s shoes. She said no one could take Anna’s place. He needed to find a way to make the job his own. He was a natural leader.

Chase said he didn’t mean to put Brook on the spot. He didn’t want her to think he was pressuring her about adoption. She said, right now, she and Gio were getting to know each other, and she didn’t want to jeopardize their closeness. It was too new. He said he wouldn’t make a move until they were both ready. Now he needed to prove he was good enough for the job he had to begin with. He left for work.

Ava met Trina at the bistro, and asked what was going on. Trina said her mom took the paternity test and her dad was the father. So why did she still feel awful?

Curtis said they had to figure out a way to parent their child, and Portia said she didn’t want to fight with him. He said him neither, and she said that’s why she took the test, so he wouldn’t get a court order. He said he appreciated it. That’s why he proposed they finalize their divorce and establish custody. He suggested a 50/50 split, and she said it wasn’t ideal. He said, under the circumstances, it made sense. With the custody decided, they could focus on being parents and not fighting.

Brook told Bailey Lou that she wouldn’t mind having a little girl like her, when Gio came in. He said he and Bailey Lou hung out all the time and were basically BFFs, and Brook asked if Donna agreed. He said they’d agreed to share him and asked if it was okay if he hung out with them.

Ava asked if Trina wasn’t happy, and Trina said she was. Her dad wanted to be a father again. Ava said, complicated, huh? and Trina said, when they were waiting, it hit her that things didn’t have to be this way. It should be a happy time and if her mom hadn’t cheated, it would have been. She didn’t know who the father was and everything was ugly and public. Ava said it was awful when Portia was on the stand, and Trina said she loved her mother, but wanted to get past not trusting her and didn’t know how.

Portia agreed, and Curtis said he’d have his lawyer draw up a custody agreement. She said he could handle Aunt Stella, and he said, and his dad. It made him happy that they were working together, for the baby’s sake and hers too.

Jordan said the cops at the PCPD looked up to Dante. Considering who his dad was, that was something. They respected him and his integrity, and it spoke volumes about his leadership abilities. He’d be a help to Port Charles and Laura. He said her support meant a lot and guessed that meant she didn’t want her old job back. She said, no thanks. It wasn’t where her life was headed. Her phone chimed and she saw a text from Curtis: Headed back to your place. She told Dante that she had to get going.

Lulu said Nathan didn’t want to show up other parents and make enemies in the PTA. The moms would love him, and some of the dads. She asked how many kids were in James’s class, and he said, twenty-two. She said they’d better get to it.

Georgie told Felicia that she didn’t mean to upset James, but he was talking like their mom would answer. She wanted their mom to open her eyes. She missed her so much. Felicia said so did she, but Maxie was fighting as hard as she could to come back.

James said he’d started playing hockey. Didn’t Maxie want see him play?

Chase went to Dante’s office, and Dante said he wanted to check in with Chase on his first day back in uniform. Chase said, look at them now. Dante was Police Commissioner and he was a patrolman. How things have changed. Dante said what hadn’t changed was that Chase was a damn good cop. The only thing that worried him was Chase’s ability to take orders… from him.  

Gio said Emma was going to San Francisco to tell her mom about Anna’s condition, and Brook asked when she’d be back. He said he wasn’t sure. She and her mom might go to France after. Brook said she knew Gio would miss Emma, and he said it wasn’t the same on the phone or with texts. She said his support meant everything to Emma… unless there was more he wasn’t telling her, and he said he got that Emma needed to be there for her family. Family meant everything to Emma. What if she decided to move back to San Francisco?

Ava said she couldn’t tell Trina that Portia wouldn’t lie again, but with any relationship you were taking a chance that the other person might hurt you or might let you down. Portia was taking a chance on her too. Before taking a chance, she took a step back and thought, what’s the alternative? Walking away? Trina said that wasn’t something she wanted to do, and Ava said, whatever Trina decided, she supported her. She did have empathy for Portia. Ava was a deeply flawed person, and Trina took a chance on her. Trina’s mother was flawed as well, but would walk through fire for her because her mother loved her. Was there a world where Trina would give her a chance to learn from her mistakes and realize she had to be more honest from now on?

Isaiah took a shower in the locker room and came out in a towel to find Portia there. She said she was worried about him and wanted to see how he was doing. But if he didn’t want to see her, she’d leave. He said he didn’t want her to go. There was so much he wanted to say. But not in a towel.

Jordan said, well? And Curtis said he was going to be a father again. They hugged and she said she was happy for him. He said he was thrilled and couldn’t wait to experience the things he missed out on with Trina, and Jordan said he’d be an amazing father. He said, especially if she’d be around. He couldn’t wait to share everything with her too. They hugged again.

Nathan and Lulu assembled goodie bags, and Nathan said she’d saved him serious embarrassment, but she said she was sure he’d have figured it out on his own. He said he was glad he didn’t have to. He loved James so much, but there wasn’t a lot he could do for him. She said he was willing to put James’s happiness above his own. That made him a good father and James was lucky to have him. He said he hoped James thought so too, and she said she was sure he did.

James hugged Maxie and said he missed her so much. Please come back to us.

James said he told Maxie about hockey and the school Valentine’s party, and Felicia asked about treats for the class. James said they wanted to meet his real dad. Not that Spinelli wasn’t his dad too… Georgie came out and said it was Felicia’s turn. James promised to stick around, and Georgie said she’d watch him. Felicia went in, took Maxie’s hand, and held back tears.

Jordan asked if Trina knew, and Curtis said she was there. Now he had to tell Aunt Stella. She said Stella would be thrilled. She was sure Trina was. He said Trina was still struggling to come to terms with it, but imagine how awesome she’d be as a big sis. Jordan said it was a relief that the paternity was finally settled. How did Portia take the news? He said, better than he’d hoped.

Now fully dressed, Isaiah said he had to rise the day off, and Portia said she completely understood. What she didn’t understand was how much she wanted the baby to be his. He said him too. He wasn’t going to lie and say he wasn’t sad about the baby not being his – he took her hands – but he could still love the child because it was hers. If the last months had taught him anything, it was that life was a hell of a lot better with her in it. He’d love to stick around if she’d give him a chance. She kissed him.

Trina said, what if Portia couldn’t be honest and lied to her again, and Ava said she may have to walk away, but she needed to be absolutely certain it was the right thing to do. When Kiki and Griffin got together, she walked away. She turned her back on her daughter. She’d felt betrayed and so hurt that she couldn’t see past her own pride and work through the anger. Then, it didn’t matter. It was too late. Now she knew of course (🍷) that she’d rather have KiKi as she was than spend the rest of her life without her.

Dante said he hoped it wasn’t forever, but he needed to know Chase would respect his leadership, take orders from him, and accept his limits being a patrolman. No more side investigations or building a case against Michael. It wasn’t his job. It would be Mac’s job to get evidence if there was any. Chase flashed back to putting Michael’s key ring on the nook floor, and Dante asked him to give his word that he wouldn’t interfere with an investigation. He could count on Dante to do the same.

Brook asked if Emma told Gio there was a possibility she might not come back, and he said, no, but he’d never seen her so shaken. Anna was the center of the family, and now she was gone. If her family needed her, he was worried Emma would decide to stay. Brook said she thought it was too soon to worry and asked if Emma felt the same about him. They seemed to have a genuine connection. Gio said, before, he knew Emma was smart, beautiful, and compassionate, and Brook said, Emma was a catch. So was he. If it came down to it, he could head to San Francisco and sweep Emma off her feet. What she liked most about Emma was that Emma made him happy.

Felicia told Maxie that Georgie and James were doing well. So was Bailey Lou. She stayed with Brook and Chase when they were there. She’d taken so many pictures, she couldn’t wait to show them to Maxie when she woke up. She made sure they had fun and had plenty of things to look forward to. She and Spinelli kept them on schedule, but there was still a giant hole in the family where she was supposed to be. They were waiting for her to come back to them. They loved her so much and she loved her so much. As a mom, she’d seen Maxie do impossible things her entire life, so she knew Maxie could do this too. She kissed Maxie’s forehead.

Nathan said if it turned out great, he’d share the credit, and Lulu said, James’s classmates and their parents would be impressed. He said his relationship with James wasn’t the only placed he was still finding his way. He was still figuring out where things stood with them. He’d talked to Nina about it. Lulu said she’d talked to her mom, and he asked what Laura said. She said, surprisingly, Laura wasn’t against the idea of them dating, but advised her to take it slow. What about Nina? He said, the same. Dante and Maxie made it complicated, but she thought he should follow his heart.

Trina told Ava that she couldn’t imagine life without her mom. She had no idea what it would look like with her family completely different. Ava said it wasn’t necessarily bad different. Remember, she still had the power to decide how to move forward with her mom.

Isaiah said he needed Portia to be honest. Did she think Curtis would be a problem? She said she didn’t think so. They’d decided on joint custody. They’d raise the baby together, but live completely separate lives. Isaiah asked if she was okay with Jordan being involved in the child’s life, and she said it wouldn’t be long. It would never last because no one could live up to Curtis’s impossible expectations. Their relationship would implode like last time.

Jordan said joint custody would be best for everyone, and Curtis said that’s why they needed to settle it now before a problem came up. They needed to amend the paperwork, file it, and be divorced. She said she felt it was wrong to say, congratulations, and he said he could finally put fighting with Portia behind him and focus on a future with her. She said they could finally live their lives together with nothing hanging over them and holding them back.

Dante said he meant it when he told Chase that he was a good cop. He’d be a plus to have on the force. Did he promise to stay out of the investigation into Drew’s shooting? Could he trust Chase to do the job? Chase could do the same with him. Chase said, yeah, and they shook hands. Dante told him to have a good shift, and Chase left.

Gio gave Bailey Lou some cheese and crackers, and wondered who could say no to her. Brook said he was just as cute when he was little. He’d look at her with those big eyes and big smile when she’d babysit him once in a while. Now she understood why Camilla only called her when someone canceled at the last minute. He said he got excited when she’d come. She had all the fun stories. She said she was glad they had the memories, and he said he was so angry when he first found out the truth. Now he thought he was so lucky, growing up with a cool cousin like her, who turned out to be his mom.

Nathan said he knew he wanted to be with Lulu, but he didn’t want to put her in a tough position, and she said she was worried about that too. She kept hearing her dad’s voice in her head. He’d say, well, cupcake, what would you do if you weren’t afraid? Nathan said, what would she do if she wasn’t afraid? and she said, follow her heart. He took her hands and they put their foreheads together.

James wanted to go ice skating, but Georgie said she thought they were going to the bookstore. Felicia said they could hit the rink next time, and James asked why he couldn’t go skating. From the doorway, Maxie said, James Malcolm West, you are not going skating without a helmet.   

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Nina comes into the Crimson reception area to find Jacinda with a shirtless Michael. She asks if they have to christen every surface in her office.

Elizabeth puts on makeup, when Lucas comes into the locker room. He says, wow. She looks beautiful. She thanks him and says she’s going out with Ric tonight. He says, great, and she says, no snarky comment or offer to hook her up with someone else? Not even a, you could do better than him? He says, trust him. He’s the last person who should be giving her advice on men.

Marco walks into the Windymere lab and says, nice to see Britt finally at work, and she says, it’s not like she had much choice. They both know why she’s cooperating. He says they do, and he has the reward for services rendered right here.

Lucy approaches Windymere and says, Jenz Sidwell, you messed with the wrong woman. Now you have to pay… You’ve got this. Sidwell opens the door and says, she couldn’t stay away.

Nathan and Lulu almost kiss, but she says she’s sorry. She can’t.

The kids and Felicia hug Maxie, who asks if she’s in a hospital, and Felicia says, she is. Maxie says, this place doesn’t look like GH, and James says, it’s not. They’re in Boston. Felicia says they had her transferred for treatment, and Maxie says, for what? Felicia says she had a heart attack, when Spinelli returns. He runs to her and they hug.

Michael tells Nina, come on. What’s the big deal? It’s practically after hours and she already banned them from having sex in her office, so where are they supposed to? Jacinda says, he’s teasing. He spilled coffee on his shirt, so she grabbed him a clean one from wardrobe. Trust her. None of the office furniture was defiled… not today. Nina says she has a magazine to run, so she doesn’t have time to worry about her CEO and the assistant he foisted on her soiling every corner of the building. Michael says, she can relax because he’s not here for Jacinda. He’s here for her.

Elizabeth asks, what’s going on with Marco? but Lucas says, she’s going out. He doesn’t want to ruin her night by throwing all of his problems at her. She asks what he’s talking about. He skipped the Nurses Ball to stay home and watch it with her after her accident. He says he remembers. He had a good time. She says her too. Now she wants to be here for him. She won’t have a good time tonight knowing something is wrong with him. He says, all right. He just found out that Marco isn’t being honest with him. She says, about what? and he says, a few things, like who he really is and what he really does and pretty much everything.

Britt gives herself her shot, and asks if Marco really has to watch her like that. He says, as a matter of fact, he does, and holds his hand out for the used syringe. She says, that wasn’t the same top of the line syringe she’s gotten used to, and he says, so sorry to hear their medical devices are not to her liking. She says her too. It makes her worry about how they’re handling her medication in general. She’d feel better if she could see herself that it’s properly stored. He says, unfortunately, he can’t make that call, but he’ll make sure to pass along her request, and she says, how generous of him. He says he really wishes it didn’t have to be this way, but she says, if that were true, he would do something about it, and he never has and never will. He says, as he told her, he’ll talk to his dad. He wants to allay her concerns. She says, maybe he does, but what happens after dear old dad says no, right? Her health goes to hell, but at least he tried. Does pretending he cares make him feel better about his role in this? Will it be enough to convince him that he’s the good guy Lucas sees when he looks at him? Marco says he is a good guy, and she says, in what world? Good guys do not lie to their boyfriend’s face every day. She’s been there, and take if from an expert, the truth will come out. It always does. Then that will be it, and when it ends, it won’t end well for him.

Georgie says she still can’t believe mom’s awake and talking to them, and James says he told her that mom could hear them. They probably woke her up. They laugh.

Spinelli asks, what happened? but Felicia says she’s not exactly sure. One minute, Maxie was unconscious, and the next, she was standing in the doorway and talking. He says, it sounds miraculous… Does she disagree? She says she wants to talk to the doctor and find out if Maxie is in the clear before they start talking about miracles, and Spinelli says she’s right. The doctor comes out of Maxie’s room and says, Miss Jones is ready for visitors. The kids run in, Spinelli and Felicia following, and Maxie asks where Bailey Lou is. Spinelli says, at home, safe and sound. Chase and Brook have been watching her. Maxie says, okay. The doctor said it’s been about six months. The last thing she remembers is shopping for school supplies. Now it’s Valentine’s Day. She wants to hear about everything. Spinelli says that’s what they’re here for, and Georgie says, there was a blizzard in Port Charles. Maxie says, what? and James says, yeah, the snow was up to the roof. Georgie says, no, it wasn’t, and James says, almost to the roof. Maxie says, that is a lot of snow.

Felicia asks the doctor, how was the exam? Maxie is no longer in danger, is she?

Nathan tells Lulu, sorry. He’s not exactly helping her. She says he really isn’t. Being close to him, she can’t… What if Rocco or Charlotte walked in? He says, that’s a good reason, but is it the only reason? and she asks what he means. He says, once upon time, they chatted about being friends. Maybe there’s still a part of her that thinks that’s all they should be. She says she was thinking about that, but maybe after everything is said and done, they’ll both decide that they’re better off just as friends, and he says, unlikely for him at least. She says, until that time comes, if it ever does, she’d like to live in this time and space to see what these feelings are and see if maybe they’re meant to be more than just… He says, pals? and she says, yeah. He says him too. So if right now in the living room isn’t the right and time place for a kiss, he guesses they’ll have to take a look at their calendars and pick a new location and try again. He’ll wait.

Lucas tells Elizabeth that he’s always known Sidwell had shady business dealings, but Marco swore to him that he was never involved in it. He said he had nothing to do with his father’s business, and like an idiot, he believed Marco. She says, now he doesn’t? and he says, he overheard Marco and his father having a conversation at Windymere. It seems like Marco knows all about whatever’s going on, and whatever is going on, it is not good. She says, maybe he didn’t hear enough, but he says he did, and it went from not good to so much worse. Not only is Marco involved, it sounds like he’s his father’s righthand man. Elizabeth says, Marco is a lawyer. Maybe he was just giving his dad legal advice. Lucas says, what he heard was not legal advice. Marco has been lying to him, maybe since the day they met. She says, sometimes when people talk business, it comes off as aggressive and it just sounds harsher than it really is, and he says, Marco and his father were talking about coercing someone to do something to get what they wanted. He swears it sounded like he was listening to a total stranger. The Marco talking to Sidwell was not the man he fell in love with.

Lucy says she hopes Sidwell doesn’t mind her dropping by like this, and he asks why he should mind. She’s always welcome here at Windymere. Always. She says, good to hear. She wasn’t quite sure what to expect after their last encounter. She doesn’t know exactly how to say this… He says, one of the many things he enjoys in their time together is how open she is. Her honesty is refreshing. So let’s not mince words. Just say what she came to say. She says she should have never asked him to choose between her and Ava.  

Walking into Crimson, Ava says, it’s her, and Jacinda says, it is. Did she expect someone else? Ava says she doesn’t know what she was expecting. Given how unhappy Nina was the day Michael imposed Jacinda on her, she didn’t know if Jacinda would still be around. Jacinda says, well, she is. Unfortunately, Miss Reeves is busy at the moment.

Nina says she presumes the issue is the way she runs Crimson, but Michael says, not at all. Whatever their differences may be, he thinks she does an incredible job as Editor-in-Chief. She thanks him and says she’s grateful they haven’t allowed their personal issues to affect their working relationship. He says he is too, and she says she also really wanted to thank him for deciding to grant Willow partial custody. He says he thought it was time for the kids to have their mother back. Which actually leads him to the reason for his visit. He’d appreciate a little consideration in return. She asks, what kind of consideration? and she says he wants her to take it easy on Jacinda.

Marco tells Britt that Lucas is his personal life. This is business, temporary business. Once it’s over, he and Lucas can finally have a life together. She says, he thinks so? They’re not making pizzas here. They’re developing a potential weapon. What they’re doing is dangerous, and for the record, no one finds Lucas’s moral superiority more annoying than she does, but if he really loved his boyfriend, he wouldn’t lie to him. Not about something like this.

The doctor tells Felicia and Spinelli, Maxie appears to show no signs of cardiac distress and the anti-rejection meds are working like they’re supposed too. Spinelli says he’s all too aware that Maxie adheres to no other timetable but her own, but why did she now regain consciousness? The doctor says, her blood pressure and cardiac ejection fraction have improved over the course of several weeks. Over the same time period, the enzyme levels in her blood stream have decreased. In fact, the last blood test only showed a trace amount of the enzymes presence in Maxie’s system. At this rate of degradation, he thinks the next round of bloodwork will show no trace of the enzymes in her system at all. Felicia says, he’s going to confirm that though? and he says, absolutely. Spinelli asks if he foresees any long-term complication from the coma, and the doctor says, her reflexes are sharp and her vitals are strong. Her motor and cognitive skills remain intact. She’s a little weak, but that’s to be expected. Felicia says, she’s really going to be okay? and he says, they’ve been praying for a miracle. He’d say they got one. Spinelli and Felicia hug.

As he’s taking the goodie bags with him, Nathan drops some and Lulu helps him pick them up. He thanks her and says he couldn’t have done any of this without her. He’ll give these to James to pass out. She’s supposed to kiss him, but hold onto this until the right time and place. They look up to see Brook in the doorway.

 Felicia says she feels like she can breathe for the first time, and Spinelli says, she’s really going to be okay, but she’s already taken in so much. Felicia says, if he doesn’t mind, she’d like to give Maxie the news about Nathan, and he says he thinks that would probably be best.  

Maxie looks at Georgie’s phone and says, oh my God. She did such a great job and looks beautiful. Felicia and Spinelli come in, and Maxie says, Georgie was just showing her her solo in the Christmas pageant this year. And James told her that Santa brought him his very own saddle, which means he must have been on his best behavior for the past few months. James says, and Santa counts it when you try, and Maxie says she’s glad he does. She just wishes she’d been there to help out. They were all alone. Spinelli says, she’s here now and that’s all that really matters, and Maxie says she guesses they’re a family again. And nothing or nobody is ever going to change that.

Brook tells Lulu and Nathan that she didn’t expect Bailey Lou to conk out so fast. She did sing the whole way over here. She guesses Bailey Lou tired herself out. Lulu says, that’s sweet, and Brook says, it is, but she wishes Bailey Lou knew another song, because now she knows way too much about buses and wheels. She’s so sorry she showed up unannounced. Lulu says, it’s no problem. She and Nathan were finishing up the Valentine goodie bags for James’s class. Nathan says, and he was dropping stuff on the way out. He thanks Lulu again for her help and she says, anytime. He leaves, and Lulu asks how Bailey Lou was today, but Brook says, save it. Lulu says, sorry? and Brook asks, what’s going on with her and Nathan?

James says, Maxie should see him ride. He’s been on Comet and Hades let him pet him. Maxie says, okay, so if she asks Cody to tell her how his lessons are going, Cody will say, well, and James is listening to everything he says. James says, ask all she wants. He’s gotten so good, even dad wants to try it. She says, is that so? and Spinelli exchanges looks with Felicia. Felicia says, Spinelli has barely had a chance to get a word in edgewise. Why don’t they give him and Maxie some private time? Georgie tells James, come on. They can try some of the stuff that dad brought back from the bakery. James says he just hopes dad got those cookies, and Spinelli says, as promised. They leave, and Spinelli sits next to the bed. Maxie asks if he’s going to say anything, but he says he doesn’t think he has the words. She says, that has to be a first, and he says he’s imagined this moment every second of every day and night. And now that it’s here, it’s too much for him to grasp. She says she had a lot of surprises today herself, but his being by her side wasn’t one of them, and he takes her hand.

Nina tells Michael, Jacinda isn’t the worst assistant in the world. If they can manage to keep their relationship out of the office… and reception area… and the elevator, she’s sure the two of them can find a way to coexist. Michael says, good, and gets up. They shake hands, he thanks Nina, and he leaves.

Jacinda tells Ava that she can go in, and Ava thanks her. She goes into the office, and says she sees Michael’s hooker is still on the payroll. How is that going for her? Nina says, actually, not too bad, but she’s sure Ava didn’t visit her to discuss her assistant. Ava says, can’t she just visit her very best gal pal in her place of business? and Nina says, she can, but she’s not, and please don’t use the phrase gal pal ever again. Ava says, okay. Fair enough. The truth is, she needs someone to talk to about Jenz Sidwell.

Sidwell gives Lucy a drink and says he’s surprised she’s come to regret her ultimatum. Why the sudden change of heart? Lucy says, there’s not one reason. She thinks they have the best time together and since she’s met him, she’s been so impressed, since the first day. He says, as he has with her, and she says she loves working with him at Deception. He helped the company and helped her a great deal, especially in Maxie’s absence. Not to mention the fact that she shudders to think what would have happened to the company if not for his – she clinks her glass against his – zincite. He says he was happy to provide her some relief in her time of need, and she knows he’d do anything for the women of Deception. She says she knows that because he’s just that kind of man, decent and so charming. That’s why she didn’t want to throw the relationship away. She loves spending time with him, even if it means sharing his time with Ava. So what does he say? Does he think he could give her another chance?

Marco says, Britt is in this deeper than he is. She’s the last person who should be judging him. She says she’s not judging him. She’s trying to get through to him because she’s been in that position. She worked with her own father, but she was a fugitive and he was the only person she could turn to. He has options she never had, so why would he choose to be shackled to his dad? What could he possibly be getting out of this? Marco says they all have their reasons, and she says, from where she’s standing, if he wants a happily ever after with Lucas, he’s doing the one thing that will guarantee he never has it.

Lucas tells Elizabeth that it took him so long to be open to finding love after Brad. Then he met Marco and thought he could be the one. He thought what they had was real. Elizabeth says she’s seen the two of them together, the way Marco looks at him, and the way Lucas lights up around him. That is real. Just because Marco’s not being 100% honest, doesn’t mean Marco’s feelings for him are a lie. His feelings may be the reason he’s not truthful. Lucas says, that runs counter to everything he believes a relationship should be, and she says she would agree, unless Marco is into something dangerous or illegal, which it kind of sounds like he is. Maybe Marco is lying to him because he thinks he’s protecting him. And as hard as it is to accept he may not be the same person Lucas thought, that doesn’t erase everything they’ve shared. What the two of them have is love, and that love does vanish just because of some lies.

Jacinda and Michael kiss, and she asks how things went with Nina. He says, pretty well, if she could believe it. Nina practically gave them her blessing. She says, it’s a relief. Nina is her boss after all, and she doesn’t want it to complicate his custody arrangement with Willow, especially when it’s so new. When exactly was he planning on telling her about that?

Nina says, Jenz Sidwell? She’s heard nothing but bad things about the man. Ava says she’s heard those whispers as well, but it has not been her experience with him, and Nina says, as his art dealer. Ava says, Jenz the client is extremely wealthy and Jenz the man is more that. Nina asks, how? and Ava says, he’s much more loving as a father. She’s seen him with his son and he’s been nothing but supportive of Marco’s relationship with her nephew. The four of them have been spending a great deal of time together. It’s allowed her to connect with Lucas on a whole new level. Nina says, the way she’s talking, it sounds like she’s connecting to Sidwell. Does she have feelings for him? Ava says, it’s too soon to tell, but there’s definitely a little spark… something. She thinks Jenz senses it too. Unfortunately, somebody else has noticed it – Lucy Coe.

Sidwell says, of course (🍷) he’ll give Lucy another chance. She’s truly one of a kind and his position here is owed in large part to her generous guidance and extensive knowledge of this wonderful city. It’s never a dull moment with her around. She says she certainly hopes not, and he says, the idea of not seeing her any more truly bothered him. She says she’s heard that before, but it’s definitely nice to hear again, and he says he thinks they’ve evolved enough to enjoy each other’s company without any expectation of exclusivity. She says she definitely agrees, and he says they have a lot of catching up to do. How does dinner at the MetroCourt sound? She says, absolutely fabulous, and he says, fantastic. He just has one stop to make first.

Looking at Spinelli’s phone, Maxie says, hold on. Is that Brook and Lulu in the same room together? His phone must be on mute. She doesn’t hear them yelling at each other or threatening to smack each other. He says, their interactions have actually been in acceptable decibel levels and there have been no assaults, physically or otherwise. They’ve buried the hatchet to take care of the kids. She says, maybe she should have fallen into a coma earlier, and Spinelli says, ugh. She says, too soon? and he says he’s not sure if there will ever be the right time for that jest. She agrees and says, to be honest, Brook and Lulu getting along is the best news she could have woken up to.

Brook tells Lulu to look her in the eye and tell her that there’s nothing going on between her and Nathan. Then she’ll drop it. Lulu says, things have been so good between them. She doesn’t want to do this. Brook says, exactly, because they’ve been helping Spinelli and Felicia together. But if something is going on between her and James’s dad… He’s Maxie’s husband and that changes things for everyone involved. Lulu says, Maxie is her best friend, and Nathan has been out of her life for seven years. She moved on with Spinelli. Brook says, Lulu is rationalizing, which means she’s right, isn’t she? and Lulu says, yes. She and Nathan have feelings for each other.

Felicia says she just got off the phone with Mac, and he can’t wait to see Maxie, and Maxie says she can’t wait to see him too. Felicia says, the kids have a flight to catch, so say goodbye to mom, but Georgie says she doesn’t want to leave Maxie alone. Spinelli says, she won’t be alone. He’s going to fly back with them, and grandma is going to stay with her. James says he doesn’t want to leave without her, but Maxie says she’ll be okay and she doesn’t want them missing any more school. Besides, she really needs them to help her take care of Bailey Lou. Got it? James says, got it, and she says, give her a hug. She and the kids say, I love you, and Spinelli says they have their orders. They need vending machines, no doubt, and bathrooms, and anything else before they go. He looks at Maxie and says, Maximista… She says her too, and he says, come on, kids. They leave, and Maxie says she’s okay. Felicia doesn’t have to keep crying. Felicia says she knows Maxie is okay. She’s crying because she loves her so much. They hug, and Maxie says she loves Felicia too.

Lulu tells Brook that she realizes the whole situation is complicated and knows it could end up devastating Maxie and confusing James. She’s trying to navigate this. Brook says, good luck with that, and Lulu says, chances are nothing could even come of this, but how are they supposed to know one way or another if she and Nathan don’t have the time and space to explore whatever these feelings are? Brook says, so she’s supposed to give them time and space. Funny. She remembers someone else asking… Oh, right. That was her asking Lulu for the time and space to deal with the repercussions of her teenage pregnancy, but no. Lulu couldn’t give her that courtesy and went ahead and blew up her entire life. Lulu says she never told Gio that Brook was his mom. She wanted Lois to tell them both the truth. She inserted herself into Brook’s personal life and learned from that mistake. Brook says, how convenient. Lulu finally learned a lesson in discretion just in time to need it from someone else. Lulu says that’s not what she’s doing. She just knows people will get hurt if whatever the feelings are with Nathan are real. She’s just trying to be careful about everything. Brook asks if Dante knows she has feelings for his best friend, and Lulu says, no. That’s the whole point of exploring this in private, so no one needlessly gets hurt. Brook says, no. The point is that she and Nathan should never explore this at all. Dante is Nathan’s best friend and Maxie is Lulu’s. Lulu has always had faults, but her friendship with Maxie and her loyalty to her was never one of them. If she and Nathan pursue this, she’ll lose Maxie forever, and sorry, but she deserves to.

Nina says, spark or not, Ava has a far bigger problem than Lucy Coe, and Ava says, what’s that? Nina says, Avery’s father. Or has she forgotten that Sonny and Sidwell absolutely despise each other? Ava says she doesn’t take orders or relationship advice from Sonny. She thinks Lucy will hang herself as far as Jenz is concerned and he’ll focus all his attention on her. The question is, does she let him? Is Nina going on the record in saying she’s against it? Nina says she’s completely absolutely against it, but she will admit that it’s nice to see her friend with a little glow. Ava says, does she have a glow? and Nina says, it’s there, but maybe there’s enough reason to let it sit.

Jacinda asks if Michael compromised with Willow because of her, because he thought their relationship and her past would cost him more if fought her? Michael says, that was a factor in his thinking, but it wasn’t the decisive one. He couldn’t risk being charged with Drew’s shooting, then also having Willow petition for full custody. So he decided to get ahead of the situation. How did she find out? She says, Kristina thought she already knew, and he says he was going to tell her on their date tonight. That is, if she’s not too upset to still go out with him.

Marco says what he’s getting out of this is none of Britt’s business, okay? This project will be over soon and when it is, he and Lucas can finally move forward and build their lives together. Britt says, keep telling himself that, and he says, they can agree that the sooner the project is done, the better it will be for the both of them. Get it online. Give his father and Cullum what they want and then they can all be free to live their lives. He leaves.

Lucas tells Elizabeth, what hurt the most was how he defended Marco to his sister. He chose Marco over Carly, and she was right the whole time. Even after how he acted, she came to Windymere and tried to make things right between them. She accepted his boyfriend for who he is – and get this – she even apologized. Elizabeth says, she loves him, and he says he pushed away his sister for someone whose never been honest. Elizabeth says, she’ll forgive him, and he thanks her for being such a good friend. She says, hold onto that feeling. She’s about to give him some tough love. She believes he and Marco have real feelings for each other, but living in that house is not safe. Sidwell was a dangerous man when he was holding Lucky hostage and he’s just as dangerous now. So Lucas needs to go back, pack his bags, and move out of Windymere tonight.

Michael says he’d rather focus on the good things that are and one of those things is Jacinda, and she says, okay already. She’ll go out with him. She laughs and says, where to? He says, it’s a surprise, and she says, why not let her surprise him for a change? She’ll pick the place. He says, deal, and they kiss.

Ava thanks Nina for the advice. She can always count on Nina and what she says. Jenz sees her value and respects her opinion. It’s been a while since that happened and goes a long way with her. There’s a knock at the door and Jacinda says, you have a visitor. Nina says, there’s no one else on her calendar, but Jacinda says, it’s not for her. It’s for Miss Jerome. Sidwell comes in and Ava asks what he’s doing here. Sidwell greets Nina, and says he went to the gallery and Miss Robinson told him that he might find her here. He has a proposition, a dinner proposition, for her. Ava says she accepts, and he says he’s so pleased. Shall we? He holds out his arm and Ava takes it. As they leave the office, he says, just so she knows, they’re having company, and Lucy says, great news. The MetroCourt has a table for three. Sidwell laughs and says, it’s great, so great.

Marco calls Cullum and says, Britt Westbourne’s medication has been administered for the day. The next time they meet, he’d like to revisit their conversation about Sonny Corinthos. Lucas hears him.  

Britt went into her office to find Nathan, and says, he scared her. He says, sorry. He didn’t mean to. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he’s got some bad news. She says, how bad? and he says, Anna Devane is convinced their father is alive.  

Brook says, believe it or not, she’s trying to do Lulu a favor. If nothing happened between her and Nathan, she should keep it that way. Because no unanswered question about feelings is worth risking her friendship with Maxie’s. Lulu’s phone rings, and Spinelli says he has the most wonderful news. Maxie woke up. Lulu says, oh my God, and Brook says, what is it? Lulu tells Spinelli, okay, bye, and Brook asks if everything is okay. Lulu says, Maxie is awake.

Maxie says, thanks to Georgie and Spinelli’s videos and James’s very vivid and detailed storytelling, she feels like she’s caught up on everything she missed. She thinks it’s sweet that James is calling Spinelli dad now. Felicia says, James and Spinelli have only grown closer since Maxie’s been in here, but when James said his dad was learning to ride horseback, he wasn’t referring to Spinelli. Maxie asks what she means, and Felicia says, James was talking about Nathan. Nathan is alive.

On Monday, Carly tells Jason that Sonny insists Ric doesn’t have an agenda, but she doesn’t buy it; Molly has something to tell Alexis; and Marco says Lucas isn’t going anywhere. And not in a good way.

🧼 The Only Soap News Fit To Print…

Maximista is back.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/maxie-returns-on-general-hospital-heres-how-kirsten-storms-came-back-to-the-show/

https://ew.com/general-hospital-actress-kirsten-storms-returns-after-brain-aneurysm-11906052

Glad for Cameron, but wishing Drew would drop dead.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-cameron-mathison-shares-a-cancer-update-after-his-recent-checkup/

He’ll be missed, but it’s a sweet reason.

https://ew.com/why-steve-burton-is-taking-a-short-break-from-general-hospital-11903840

Because, Roger Howarth.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-young-and-the-restless-comings-goings-roger-howarth-back-on-set-as-matt-clark/

💉 A Dose Of Reality

Below Deck Down Under

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City were still on Deck, and these women argued so loudly and intensely at dinner, they ignored dessert service and Chef Ben coming up to ask about the food. Captain Jason had plans to join them for dessert, but wisely thought better of it. Sous chef Alesia thought Ben was moody, so obviously she’s never seen the show or any competition show where chefs are involved. I thought he was very accommodating and possibly mellowing as he gets older. I wondered if the Salt Lake women would be friends if not for the show and maybe that’s what the real problem is. Angie seems to be an accident waiting to happen, as she ended up with a pretty bad hand injury after dressing up like a lobster or something and getting a door closed on it. All I have to say is, they better have left one hell of a tip, especially after seeing the mess they left behind.

Summer House

We watched more Kyle and Amada’s relationship disintegrating further. It’s not a huge shock since Kyle bitched to everyone except Amanda and talked all kinds of smack about her – she smoked weed every night (his point?), they didn’t have sex (has he met himself?), and their place was like something from Hoarders (bordering; it was sloppy, but not quite a Hoarders situation). His excuse this season for being an a-hole was that Loverboy was not doing well, even though he’d sunk $500K into it and was taking no salary. I was actually surprised, since I’ve tasted Loverboy’s product and thought it was very good. He’d been supplementing his income by DJ’ing, which in and of itself, wasn’t an issue for Amanda, but he was also partying hardy, going so far as sleeping it off at a fan’s house. I’m with Amanda in saying that’s just a no. Maybe Kyle should try to get on a Housewives show since he fits right in with his drinking and screeching.  

Vanderpump Rules

We learned that there was more to Venus than just his long, pretty hair, when he talked about his struggle coming out and the struggles being out afterward. LVP gave him the task of being the host of SUR’s Gay Pride event and his confidence was bolstered. Other than that, it was the usual making up and breaking up, or vice versa. When the group went to a bar after a game of volleyball, Natalie put on lip gloss in anticipation of making out (ew, messy!) and in her interview, told us, I don’t know what says about me but there’s just something so chic about having a couple of drinks and making out with people. And that pretty much sums up the whole season so far.

Southern Charm

The best thing about the past couple episodes is the name of Whitner’s family farm – Itchy Grass Farm. The worst thing has been Craig. He keeps insisting he never said he was worried Charley would fall in love with him, yet we’ve clearly seen it on video. It must be true that they forget about the cameras. Shep insisted on talking to Austen even though Austen said he didn’t want to, and stumbled through a halfway poetic plea for Austen to let Audrey go. In Shep’s interview, he said Austen hadn’t gotten the memo, but it was Shep who hadn’t gotten the memo, since Austen had already broken up with her. He just hadn’t mentioned it to Shep or Craig. A funeral service for Chauncey was held at Patricia’s Whitney’s house, and Austen gave the perfect eulogy: [Chauncey was] a true legend. A noble companion. A four-legged, tongue-dangling potato with the spirit of a lion, and the mental fortitude of a toddler. [He was] a confidant, a snack stealer, a friend. What he lacked for in brain power, he more than made up for in spirit. All dog tributes should be so eloquent. At the end, Madison was about to have her baby.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Rachel, Kyle, and Dorit took off for the Hamptons, while the rest went to Amanda’s Manifestation Moment party. <sigh> I’m not a fan of the manifestation movement or moment or whatever. If it worked, we’d all be millionaires by now. When the women tried to get Amanda to take accountability for causing the rift between Kyle and Dorit to widen, Sutton called Amanda a wimp, which totally offended her. In Erika’s interview, she said, if Amanda couldn’t handle wimp, perhaps she was I the wrong group, and we got a montage of see-you-next-Tuesday tidings from past episodes. Dorit met with Mauricio and tried to get him to see things from her side, but to no one’s surprise except hers, Mauricio stuck by his boy. On Watch What Happens Live, Reza (The Valley: Persian Style) told Rachel that she was killing the game during her freshman season, and I concur. Loving her.

The Valley: Persian Style

RJ set up a lunch date with Tanin and Sky, where neither knew the other was coming. Then he took their purses and booked, in the hopes that they’d kiss and make up. When Tanin said, Sky made it sound like others were beneath her, Sky said, they were, reenforcing her reputation as bougie princess. She doesn’t just avoid accountability, she honestly thinks she has none. Mercedeh was frustrated at Tommy not wanting to mend fences with Reza, and even though he’d brought it all on himself, he continued to whine about the repercussions of his rampage. Reza decided to make the first move and sent Tommy a beautiful text. While still being an a-hole who refuses to take accountability (WOTD) at the beginning of the episode, Tommy wrote back suggesting they get together after filming. I’m hoping that’s because he wants it to be a genuine moment off-camera and not because he’ll want to change history once the cameras are rolling again. TBD.

Random Reality Items

Oh, the irony. Apparently, Jill doesn’t know 1) Puerto Rico is part of the United States, 2) they speak Spanish there, and 3) there were other performers. I’m thrilled that Dorinda will be replacing her. I’m not a fan of cancelation, but like Ramona before her, she got what she deserved.

https://ew.com/jill-zarin-fired-from-real-housewives-reunion-series-after-racist-rant-about-bad-bunny-super-bowl-show-11904130

Now we’re talking.

Her art is brilliant. I would definitely buy a piece. I’ll be waiting for that website to be up.

https://screenrant.com/1000-lb-sisters-amy-slaton-leaning-into-artistic-era-see-more-artwork/

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Ash. Hulu. More psychological thriller than horror, protagonist Riya wakes up on a foreign planet, the rest of her spaceship’s crew dead, and she can’t remember a thing. When a man claims to have observed the carnage from a distance, he tries help her piece together what happened. Supposedly, the crew was infected by a virus that causes violence, and Riya begins to remember bits and pieces, unsure of the part she may have played in the crew’s demise. It wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t hate it.

The Blackening. Netflix. This film had been on my not-so short list for a while, and when I saw it was leaving soon, I figured I’d better get to it. It turned out, it was just what I needed – a good laugh. Starting with a group going to a cabin in the woods for some fun and relaxation, the movie turns every horror trope on its ear and laughs at it. It’s a good time partnered with a hint of a message about Blackness. And even though a Black character is technically the first to die, they’re also the last left standing. Lots of laughs, some gore, and a unique perspective.

The Great Flood. Netflix. An asteroid has hit the earth, causing a more than great flood. It’s a catastrophe. It starts with a single mother in a flooded apartment, trying to get to safety. Then the twist comes. It was hard to even find a review without spoilers, but I’m not going to give it away. I started watching because I have a fascination with big waves, and stayed for the wild ride.

No spoilers here.

All the spoilers.

The ‘Burbs. Peacock. I never saw the film, but now I’ll have to. I love Keke Palmer, I love what I’ve seen of this series so far, and even though I’m not done with Season 1, I’m hoping for a Season 2. Samira, Rob, and their newborn move back to Rob’s childhood home in suburbia. While still on maternity leave, Samira becomes fixated on the old, dilapidated Victorian house across the street. At first it’s empty, but when the new owner moves in, Samira is sure he’s up to no good. There’s a rational explanation for everything, but she’s convinced there’s a mystery to uncover.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/the-burbs-creator-finale-cameo-season-2-ideas-1236716853/

Fallout finale. Amazon Prime. A scene with cockroaches that would make any New Yorker cringe and Max’s fight against the Deathclaws were amazing. There were some laughs – like when Steph’s offense of being Canadian is worse than the actual deception and killing she’s waged – and the magnificent setting of New Vegas. But still, like the reviewer below, I was left feeling a little ripped off. Like when I hoped for a pterodactyl in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and there was barely a glimpse of one holding up a sign that said, Look for me in the third installment of the franchise! I get I should want to watch the next season, but give me a grand gesture at the end of the last one. I still enjoyed it, but something was missing.

https://www.avclub.com/fallout-season-2-finale-recap

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

I think she’s done enough.

https://ew.com/americas-next-top-model-returning-cycle-25-tyra-banks-11905345

🏈 All About That Bowl…

You didn’t think I meant the sports stuff, did you?

The surprises.

https://ew.com/lady-gaga-ricky-martin-make-surprise-appearance-at-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-11902389

https://ew.com/bad-bunny-super-bowl-2026-halftime-show-featured-real-wedding-11902395

The commercials.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2026-commercials-best-and-worst-celebrity-ads-11900001

https://ew.com/dunkin-super-bowl-2026-ad-tv-sitcom-stars-good-will-hunting-spoof-11900455

The movie trailers.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2026-movie-trailers-11899496

The I-Can’t-Wait.

https://ew.com/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-super-bowl-2026-trailer-brad-pitt-adventures-of-cliff-booth-11902369

🪄 No Second Helping For You…

What Michelle Yeoh said.

https://ew.com/michelle-yeoh-reacts-to-wicked-for-good-being-snubbed-at-the-oscars-11905756

🐶 It’s a Dog’s World…

🐾 It’s the Puppy Bowl for the win.

https://www.usatoday.com/live-story/sports/2026/02/08/puppy-bowl-2026-highlights-winner-super-bowl/88568327007/

https://www.tvinsider.com/1244314/puppy-bowl-2026-winning-team/

🥇 At least he went out a winner.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-fans-mourn-contestant-teigan-who-died-before-puppy-bowl-2026-aired-11903144

🧙 Brother from another mother… and world.

https://people.com/women-take-in-foster-dog-that-looks-like-dobby-from-harry-potter-exclusive-11903934

🦮 A different Bowl, yet the same.

https://people.com/super-bowl-2026-beth-stern-shares-super-bowl-tradition-great-american-rescue-bowl-11902067

🐕 I can just imagine the fluffy chaos.

https://people.com/goldens-in-golden-2026-largest-unofficial-golden-retriever-gathering-11903043

👰🏻‍♀️ And Golden makes three.

https://people.com/bride-and-groom-include-beloved-pet-golden-retriever-in-wedding-dance-exclusive-11902802

Happy Valentine’s Day!

🦪 Quotes of the Week

Tomorrow becomes never. No matter how small the task, take the first step now. – Tim Ferriss

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

Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized. – Leo Buscaglia

When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.Henry J. Kaiser

Life is problems. Living is solving problems. – Raymond E. Feist

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goals: my strength lies solely in my tenacity. – Louis Pasteur

I can handle failing, but I can’t handle not knowing what could have been. – Evan Carmichael

I feel like I just got an emotional wedgie. – Rob (Jack Whitehall), The ‘Burbs

❄️ Fire Of the Frost…

Until next time, stay safe; stay being wary of black ice on the roads; and stay remembering, no risk, no reward.

January 23, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Anna Has a New Tormentor, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Nom List & a Sweater, Tails Of Love, Three Quotes Of Three & Fifteen Feet

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Nibbles…                                                                      

Monday: 

The verdict was read and Willow was found not guilty. Willow hugged Alexis, who didn’t look very happy and didn’t hug back. Trina told Kai that she couldn’t believe Willow got away with it.

Sonny went to Alexis’s office to see Diane and maybe get some carrot cake, but Suzanne was behind in her baking and Diane was in court. Alexis was also in court, and Suzanne said the jury had reached a verdict. They thought it could go either way. Sonny said he hoped Willow got acquitted.

Willow was free to go, court was adjourned, and Willow hugged Nina. Dante told Turner that he was sorry, and she wanted to know who was responsible for the missing traffic cam footage. She wanted their head.

Chase congratulated Willow, and she said he’d played a huge part in it. Drew said he knew she’d be exonerated like he’d promised.

Anna asked who was speaking, and Faison asked if she’d forgotten the voice of who loved her the most. She insisted it wasn’t him. It was impossible. He was dead. He said she should know by now, not even death could part them.

Kai said they should have gone to the police, but Trina said it was too late now, and they left.

Willow thanked everyone for their support, but there was one person she owed a debt of gratitude to – Alexis. Drew agreed and thanked Alexis. She told him to keep his end of the deal. She’d come through for him and expected the same.

Suzanne was surprised that Sonny wanted Willow to go free, since the DA’s office could go against Michael. Alexis had laid out a pretty convincing case against him. Sonny said Alexis had done her job to the best of her ability and he couldn’t fault her. He could understand why she went after Michael. Drew had given Alexis an ultimatum – free Willow or she’d never see Scout again. She had to do something drastic. Suzanne got a text and told him that Willow was just acquitted.

Nina said, now Willow could concentrate on getting her kids back, and Drew said, tonight, they had to celebrate. Nina suggested she pick up champagne and that Chase come too. They could all celebrate together.

Dante said they’d find the person who messed with the footage, when Drew came by and said, no hard feelings. She was just doing her job. She said, how magnanimous of him. and he said he’d be in touch about pressing charges against Michael.

Michael flashed back to his meeting with Willow when she asked what would happen with her seeing the kids if she didn’t go to prison.

Nina thanked Chase, and he said he wasn’t letting an innocent woman go to prison. She promised him that it wouldn’t be forgotten and left. Turner said Chase must be pleased with himself. Willow might have walked out free, but thanks to his interference, he might be the one ending up in prison.

Anna asked if Faison had kidnapped her, and he said this place was better than where she’d kept him on Spoon Island. She asked if it was payback, but he said they always found their way back to each other. She said he had a warped view of their history, and he said what kept him going was knowing they’d be reunited. They’d never be part again.

Back in her office, Alexis threw her papers around and Suzanne asked if she was okay. Alexis said she was fine, but Suzanne said she was acting like she’d lost. Right. Willow was guilty, wasn’t she?

Drew brought Willow home, and she said the only thing that would make it better was having Wiley and Amelia there. He said he’d make good on his promise, and she said she didn’t know what she’d do without him. Drew told Scout that Willow won her case, and Willow said, now she could stay with Scout and her dad, and hugged Scout.

Chase said he didn’t nothing wrong, but Turner said he’d undermined her case with his testimony and betrayed his entire department. He said all he did was tell the truth and the jury agreed with him that she was prosecuting the wrong person, but Turner said, only because they didn’t see a crucial piece of evidence. Dante said they’d find the person, and Chase said they’d find it wasn’t him. He’d never tamper with evidence. Turner said Internal Affairs would look into it, and Chase said they wouldn’t find anything on him. If she’d put the right person on trial, he wouldn’t have had to do her job. He left, and Turner told Dante to build her a case against his brother.

At the Quartermaines’, Sonny told Michael that he’d heard about the verdict, and Michael said, now he was the prime suspect. He’d bolted when they read the verdict, but it was only a matter of time. Sonny said he didn’t know if Michael shot Drew or not and didn’t care, but he’d make sure Michael didn’t go down for this.

Anna said, this wasn’t real. It was a trick. Somebody wanted her to believe Faison was alive. Faison said his children were also thought dead. Hadn’t she considered the possibility? She said no, she was finally rid of him, but he said she could never be rid of him. What they had was eternal.

At the Bad Jen Café, Kai told Trina that they should have done more. Double jeopardy meant they couldn’t go after Willow again. (I think they can if there’s new evidence though.) Trina wondered if Willow going free was so terrible. Drew was a monster and he’d put a lot on himself. Kai said a lot of people despised him, but only Willow committed a crime, and she said they’d also committed a crime and covered it up. Who were they to judge? What Willow did was wrong, but she told the court how much she’d loved Drew and now she was stuck with him, or it would arouse suspicion. Maybe it was punishment enough.

Michael said if he went to prison, his kids would be left with an unstable mother and a terrible stepfather, but Sonny said he wouldn’t let that happen. Michael said, even if he was kept out of prison, it would have a huge impact on visitation. The jury had believed her and the new judge could too. What if she got full custody? Sonny said it would never happen, but Michael said it could, and he couldn’t let them live with Drew. Sonny said it wouldn’t do Michael any good to go down that scenario, but Michael said he had to be prepared for any outcome. He had to protect his children. Sonny promised it would be okay.

As she picked up the papers, Suzanne said she shouldn’t have asked, and Alexis asked how long she’d known. Suzanne asked if Alexis remembered when they’d rehearsed Willow, and Alexis said Suzanne told them she’d find Willow guilty. Suzanne said Willow was defensive and justified too much. It felt like overkill. She hadn’t known for sure, especially after Willow did a beautiful job on the stand, but then during Alexis’s summation, she slipped. She almost indicated that Willow was the one who shot Drew. Her explanation was quick and made perfect sense. Everyone believed her, but she knew Alexis didn’t make mistakes like that. She could read Alexis… a little, and wondered if maybe Alexis did it on purpose to try and throw the case. Alexis said, but she couldn’t do that, could she? It made her physically sick knowing that Willow was guilty, and she had to be quiet. Now Willow was free.

Willow said her freedom was thanks to Scout’s grandma. Now that her case was over, her grandma would have more time to spend with Scout. Scout asked if she could go see Alexis, when there was a knock at the door. Nina asked who was ready to celebrate, and Drew asked to speak with Nina privately. Willow took Scout to the kitchen, and Drew told Nina to leave her coat on. She wasn’t staying and she wouldn’t be seeing Willow anytime soon.

Kai said it was tempting to see it from Trina’s point of view, and Trina said it would be nice not to think about Drew and Willow for once. Kai said he was looking forward to resigning. It wasn’t worth it and he couldn’t pretend any more. Maybe it was time to just move on. She said it would make their lives easier, and he said, Michael could end up getting arrested. They couldn’t stay silent, but if Michael was indicted, he’d come forward on his own.

Dante said he knew Michael was number one, but they should consider Curtis, and Turner said, maybe. She knew Michael was his brother, but because of Alexis’s convincing argument, they had no choice but to focus on him. If they didn’t follow up, they’d be slammed from every angle. Dante said he was working hard at staying objective, and she told him to do his job thoroughly and investigate Michael.

Suzanne asked when Alexis figured it out, and Alexis said, after she rested her case… This had to be confidential. Suzanne said, anything and everything case related always was, and Alexis said, someone came to her with damning evidence against Willow and it checked out. Suzanne asked why they didn’t go to the police, and Alexis said it wasn’t in their best interest, and she told them that they’d implicate themselves for various other crimes. Drew would go after them and make it worse. And she had to look after her client. Suzanne said it was her obligation to defend Willow, and Alexis said it wasn’t her first client who was guilty, but it was just the way she’d defended Willow. She’d nearly destroyed Portia’s life and implicated Michael when he didn’t do it. Suzanne said giving her client the best defense was the ethical thing, but Alexis said, legally, yes. Morally, it didn’t feel like it.

Drew said he’d had a change of heart on telling Willow about his and Nina’s previous conversation. She deserved to know her mother wanted to see her convicted so she could jump in and take control. Nina told him, that’s not what she said, and Drew said she wanted to be the hero and drive a wedge between him and Willow. She said he was nuts. Willow was smart and would see where she was coming from. Drew said Willow would see Nina wanted to undermine their relationship again and she’d be livid. Nina said, would she? They’d see about that. Drew said she needed to leave, and Nina said she didn’t want to ruin her daughter’s celebration, so she’d leave, but trust her, she’d be back.

Faison asked if Anna was feeling any better, and she said her head was clearer and she was even more convinced he wasn’t Cesar Faison. Cesar Faison was dead. His brain was in a jar. Faison said someone’s brain was in a jar, but not his. He was right there with her. She said, show himself, but he said, patience. All in due time. He was sorry to keep her waiting, but his recovery was slow and he couldn’t bear for her to see him in his current state. When he was fully healed, she’d see for herself that he was the one and only Cesar Faison.

Kai said there was no reason for Trina to risk prosecution, but she said it was her idea to break in. If anybody should turn themselves in, it should be her. Kai said there was nothing linking her to the crime scene, but she said he wasn’t facing it by himself. He said if he was charged, he’d feel better knowing she was safe and in the clear. He loved her too much to let her throw her life away. The one good thing that came out of this crazy mess was that it brought them back together. She kissed him.

Sonny said the number one priority was keeping Michael out of prison, and Michael said he didn’t do it. Sonny said, the DA may say there’s not enough evidence to press charges, but Michael said Alexis gave the prosecution a roadmap and Turner would come at him harder to save face. Sonny promised him that it wouldn’t be Turner doing it.

Suzanne asked what else Alexis could have done, and Alexis said, withdraw and the judge would have declared a mistrial. Suzanne said Drew would have made sure she never saw Scout again. Could she live with that? Alexis said, no, and Suzanne said, focus on that, and Alexis said she’d let Willow get away with it, but she couldn’t stand Drew either. Suzanne wondered if anyone could, and Alexis said, no. She couldn’t blame Willow and wished she’d argued that in court. Suzanne asked what she was going to do, and Alexis said, nothing. She couldn’t tell Drew. He wouldn’t believe her because of his huge ego, and he’d take Scout away permanently, then go after the witness. Suzanne said, that settled it. All she could do was move on with her life, which include Scout. As for Willow, she was Drew’s problem now.  

Chase showed up at Drew’s with a bouquet of flowers, and Drew said he’d make sure Willow got them. Chase said he was hoping to give them to Willow himself, but Drew said, unfortunately, the celebration plans fell through… Willow came out and thanked Chase for coming. She asked if the flowers were for her and said he was so sweet. She hugged him, and Drew said he was telling Chase that Nina’s plans fell through. She had to leave, so it was better they celebrate another time. Willow said she was glad Chase stopped by and thanked him again for believing in her. She hoped it wouldn’t cost him his badge. He said if it did, he had no regrets. He stood up for what was right. She said that’s what made him so wonderful, and Chase said, congratulations again. Drew opened the door, and Chase left. Drew said he was sorry Willow’s mother had to leave, but Willow said they had plenty of time to celebrate. She was relieved to have peace and quiet, just them. She asked him to hold her and he did.

Anna said, until Faison felt healed and ready to face her, she was stuck in this room? and he said, be patient. Their reunion would happen soon enough. He’d already made arrangements. Before long, she’d leave there and they’d spend the rest of their lives together in their new home.

Trina said Kai was the kindest, most decent man she knew. Him sacrificing himself wasn’t going to happen. If they came clean, they’d do it together, as a team. He said he agreed.

Sonny went back to the courthouse and told Turner that he’d heard she had a rough day. She asked if he was there to gloat, but he said, not at all. He was there to do her a favor.

Chase found Michael and said, now that Willow was exonerated, could they put it behind them and coexist for the sake of the family? Michael asked how they could when Chase was convinced he’d shot Drew. Even worse, he’d helped Alexis build a case against him. He’d condemned Michael’s kids to a life with Willow and Drew. If Chase thought they were shaking hands and letting bygones be bygones, he was sadly mistaken.

There was a knock at Alexis’s office door, but Alexis said she needed to be alone. Suzanne said someone was asking to see her, and Alexis said, ask them to reschedule. Suzanne said they were pretty insistent, and Alexis opened the door. Scout flew to her, and Suzanne said she figured Alexis would make an exception. Alexis said she was happy to see Scout and hugged her.

Willow said she hoped Drew didn’t mind her letting Chelsea take Scout to visit Alexis. She wanted to spend time alone with them. She gave him a glass of champagne and asked what they should toast to. He said, their future, and she said, to our future. They clinked glasses, and he said he was thinking they should go on vacation. Maybe rent a cabin in the woods. She put her arms around him from behind, and as he was blabbing away, she stabbed him in the neck with a syringe. He fell to the floor, said, Willow… What… She said, everything is going to work out, Drew. You’ll see.

Tuesday:

No soap, because news, but you’re welcome, Canada.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-preempted-nationally-today-get-the-details-on-the-new-schedule/

But wait…

Thank you, Canada.

At the hospital, Lucas said he hoped justice was served, and Elizabeth said, with any luck, they could all put this nightmare behind them and everyone could move on with their lives.

Ava met Nina at the Bad Jen Café, and asked why they were celebrating with espresso at a café instead of martinis in New York. Nina said Willow still had a major problem with Drew.

At a nearby table, Kai kissed Trina, when Curtis came in. He said he was sorry to interrupt, but he’d like a moment with his daughter.

Stella saw Portia at the hospital and said she was on the wrong floor for the obstetrician, but Portia said that wasn’t why she was there.

Tracy and Laura met in an office at the hospital, and Tracy said they both knew Drew was blackmailing Portia and they were on her side, and Laura said if it was only about Drew, she’d be tempted to reinstate Portia, but by her own admission Portia had tampered with a patient’s test results, and she didn’t think the board would ignore that. Tracy said Monica would want them to do what was best for the hospital, and Laura asked if GH could afford to keep a doctor employed who knowingly and intentionally falsified patient test results.

Jason arrived at the hospital and asked Britt why he was there. She said she had something she wanted to show him. Cullum lurked around in the background.

Sonny asked if Turner wanted some advice. She took a hit when Willow was found not guilty. It wasn’t a huge leap to assume his son would be targeted next. He wanted to remind her that would be a big mistake.

Chase said Michael lied to the police about his alibi, and Michael said he never went inside Drew’s house. Chase asked why he should believe him. Willow was acquitted. The jury knew she was innocent. If Michael went down for this, he had no one to blame but himself.

Kai left to get refills, and Curtis asked if Trina had heard from her mom. Trina said her mom texted, but she needed space. Curtis said she shouldn’t have no contact, and she asked if he was assuming the baby was his. He said he’d cross that bridge when he came to it, but her mother was having a meeting with some board members. There was no question she was an excellent doctor, and they knew why she did it. Trina said, to protect her, and he said Portia needed their support on this. She said she didn’t want her mother to lose her career and asked if there was anything she could do, and he said, no, but he thought he could, and left.

Portia said Stella knew she was there to speak to board members. She was hoping they’d lift her suspension and reinstate her. Stella said they may decide to dismiss her, but Portia said she was prepared for the possibility. Stella asked if it was worth risking her career and losing her family, and Portia said she’d tried to protect her daughter and always would. If there were consequences for that, so be it. She walked away and Stella saw Isaiah.

Britt asked what Jason thought, and he said, it’s nice. She said her office was the first step to getting her life back. Speaking of…  She handed him $500 and said it was her first payback installment on her Café Cherie bill. He said he didn’t want her money, but she said she wanted them to be on equal footing. No more taking advantage of him. It was the only way they could move forward. He said, they were moving forward? and she said they were. And with that in mind, she’d like to take him out. Before he got all macho… He said, yes, she could take him out, and she said he hadn’t heard what she had in mind. She needed him in his blue suit… He said, no, but she told him that he’d already said yes. He said, fine, and they kissed. She said she’d pick him up, and he said if she told him where they were going, he could make sure there were no donkeys on the road , but she said she’d see him tonight… in his blue suit, and he left.

Turner said it sounded like a threat, and Sonny said he was reminding her that she’d been compromised. She’d heard Drew extort him and threaten Michael. She said he was right. If Michael was charged, she’d have to recuse herself. Truth be told, she was fine with that.

Michael said, Chase thought he shot Drew and framed Willow, and Chase said he didn’t like thinking it, but it was clear Michael would do anything to get what he wanted. Michael said he didn’t want any of this. He didn’t want the breakup, or Willow putting his kids in danger by bringing Drew into their lives. Chase said, right now, the danger was coming from him. When Drew manipulated Willow, he didn’t offer forgiveness, but went straight to revenge. Michael said Chase was leaving out a key piece, and Chase said, Willow cheated, but Michael betrayed her and their children. It should be him who was locked up.

Lucas said he’d do his best to keep it professional, and Elizabeth said, good. Willow was a great nurse, and she was going to love having her back. Lucas said, if Drew lets her come back. Drew wanted to control her and Lucas felt that she let him. Now they were married. Elizabeth said Willow had been acquitted and they’d see how much independence she had going forward. The phone rang, and Elizabeth said they’d be ready. She told Lucas that medics were on the way with a critical patient.

Ava told Nina to get over it, but Nina said, Willow married Drew to get out of the charges and get her children back. Willow told her that she didn’t love Drew. She didn’t need Drew to get her kids back. Ava said, if Willow decided to end her marriage, it was her choice, and Nina said, Drew destroyed Willow’s entire life because he wanted her to think he cared that she was truly happy. Ava said, Willow got herself a gilded cage situation, and Nina said, exactly. He’d never let her go. Nina’s phone rang, and she asked Willow what was wrong. Willow said, something happened to Drew.

Portia thanked Laura and Tracy for meeting with her, and Laura said, of course (🍷). They’d been tasked to make a recommendation regarding her position. Either she’d be reinstated on a probationary basis or let go. Tracy said they’d read everything they’d been given, but before they made a recommendation, they wanted to give her the opportunity to defend herself.

Isaiah asked if he could talk to Stella, and she said they could talk about patients, but anything else, like the situation between her and Portia, was a no. It was a family matter and he wasn’t family. He said he was involved, and she said he certainly was. He said his relationship with Portia didn’t happen in a vacuum. Her marriage was falling apart before he was in the picture, but Portia wasn’t the only one to blame.

Cullum knocked at Britt’s door and said she looked surprised. Did she think leaving the Five Poppies behind meant leaving him behind?

Portia said she took full responsibility for what she did, and Tracy asked how she characterized that. Portia said she’d used her position as Co-Chief to gain access to a patient’s test results and altered them, but the circumstances were unique and extreme. She didn’t do it to advance her career. She did it as a mother trying to protect her child from a murderer who’d been convicted of five murders and had been targeting her daughter. To be clear, she wasn’t asking if they would have done the same, but maybe they could keep in mind the context… She’d been cleared by the AMA, and although there was a mark on her medical license, she was grateful that she could still practice. She hoped it would be at GH. She was an excellent doctor, and with the exception of this atypical situation, she had a sterling reputation. She hoped they’d recommend her reinstatement and welcomed any questions.

Elizabeth told Willow that they were getting Drew stable. What happened? Willow said they went home to celebrate. Drew had a horrible headache, but they opened a bottle of champagne anyway. They both took a sip, but when it came to the toast, Drew looked confused and was slurring his words. Then it was like one side of his face was melting and he just collapsed. She turned his head to the side and put a couch pillow underneath, then called 911. Elizabeth hugged her, and Willow said, please tell her that she got him there in time.

Michael said Chase couldn’t see how pathetic he was. He was desperate to play the hero and throw away his career. Chase said he did what was right, and Michael said Chase was a damn fool to think he believed him. Just like Drew, he fell for Willow’s innocent victim act and couldn’t see what was in front of his face. Be honest about the real reason he wanted to help. How long before he was back in Willow’s bed? Chase punched Michael in the face.

Michael punched Chase back and they fought. Jason came in and pulled them apart, and Chase said he’d make sure Michael paid for what he did. He left, and Jason asked if Michael was all right, but Michael said, no. The cops were going to come after him next.

Sonny asked if Turner didn’t want a second shot at a high-profile case. Convicting someone who shot a congressman would be good for her career. Turner said she had no interest in convicting an innocent person. She’d had the right person on trial. She knew Willow was guilty, but just couldn’t prove it.

At the hospital, Nina asked Willow, what happened? but Willow said she didn’t know. The doctors hadn’t told her anything. What if she didn’t get him here fast enough? Kai asked if there was anything he could do, and Nina said it was nice of him to drive her. He needed to call Drew’s office and have his assistant cancel his appointments and calls. Kai left, and Willow said she was so scared. She cried, and Kai flashed back to Trina saying, Willow knew what she was doing. She intended to kill Drew and knew what she was doing when she lied on the stand.

Ava asked if there was any word from Kai, but Trina said, no. She hoped it wasn’t serious. Ava said, heaven wouldn’t take Drew and hell was full. Don’t worry. She saw Trina and Kai’s and she was happy things were going well for them. Trina said Kai really surprised her. In the last few months, he’d come through for her in ways she couldn’t imagine.

Stella said, Portia might be carrying Isaiah’s child. She was married and he had no right putting himself in the middle. He said if she wanted to blame him for Portia’s marriage falling apart, go ahead, but don’t put it on Portia when Portia had come through for her. Stella asked what he was talking about, and he said, when she was investigated by the federal government, no one fought harder for her. Stella was known for being fair and kind and accepting everyone who came in, meeting them where they were with no judgement. He was asking that she extend the same grace to Portia.

Tracy asked what Portia would say to a potential patient concerned with trusting her, and Portia said, actions spoke louder than words. Congressman Cain had been blackmailing her for months and tormenting her family, but on September 2nd, he came in with two bullets in his back. She had her tormentor’s life in her hands, or at least his mobility, but as a doctor, she took an oath that had become the bedrock of who she was. She’d given him the best possible care. Dr. Jones could confirm that she’d saved Drew’s life and his recovery spoke for itself. Laura thanked her for her time.

Britt asked if Cullum missed her so much, he had to come to Port Charles, and he said she was stalling. She said, not true, but he said, it ended now. Sidwell set up a lab at Windymere, and she was to bring the project online in three months. She said, impossible, but he said there was an easy solution to that. She could disappear.

Curtis told Laura that nobody knew that if Drew had his way, the blackmail wouldn’t have ended with Heather Webber. He tried to force Portia to chance Michael Corinthos’s test results to make it look like he was addicted to opioids, so he could secure custody of Michael’s children for Willow. That didn’t happen, and the reason was, Portia refused. She risked her career and going to prison to stand up for what was right. That’s who she was, and he thought GH should keep her on staff.

Isaiah asked how it went, and Portia said Laura and Tracy were both fair women, but also professional and gave nothing away. What she didn’t say was that she’d do it all over again. He said, that was best kept out. The board would see she was fantastic. She loved people and gave them the best care whether they deserved it or not. She said, everyone deserved care, and he said he’d walk her out, but Stella returned and said, wait.

Britt told Cullum that she just got her medical license back. She had patients and there was no way her family and friends would buy her walking out of her life again. He said they’d had enough undesirable attention with Dalton. Now the timely completion of the project was their driving consideration. To that end, they’d absorb any and all risks. She said, okay, give her a day, but he said they’d already given her too much leeway. They could call another scientist to take her place. Did she have someone she could call for her medicine? Without it, her nervous system would start to deteriorate and there would be no going back.

Michael said Alexis did a fantastic job of making him look guilty, but he hadn’t done it, and Jason said he believed him. If the cops picked Michael up, he knew what to do. Michael said, call Diane and don’t say anything until she showed up, and Jason said, as bad as it was, it was nothing compared to what Michael had been through already. He fought back after life-threatening burns to get home to his kids. He knew Michael could get through this.

Willow asked Lucas, what happened? and he said the initial diagnosis was a massive stroke. They had Drew on stroke protocol and were monitoring him closely. Tracy asked if he’d recover, but he said it was too early to tell. Severe strokes could cause a number of impairments – aphasia, limited mobility, and in extreme cases, full Locked-In Syndrome – but they wouldn’t know for some time.

Laura said she knew Curtis was going through a rough time and appreciated him coming in. He said the whole world found out along with him that his soon to be ex may be carrying another man’s child, but it had nothing to do with her work. He didn’t think her career would end by the likes of Heather Webber or Drew Cain. Laura said she’d take it all into consideration, and he thanked her for listening. She said, of course (🍷). Even in the midst of incredible turmoil, he and Portia were coming together to fight for a common goal. If the baby was his, she hoped they remembered they were capable of that. He said he hoped so. He wasn’t part of raising Trina and felt like it was his second chance. He wanted to be the best father possible. She said he would be, and he left.  

Stella asked how it went with the board, and Portia said she had to wait and see. Isaiah said he’d give them a minute to talk, but Stella said, stay please. She wanted to apologize. Portia had enough dealing with professional matters, and she didn’t need to add more pressure. Portia thanked her and said she was sorry too. She knew how much family meant to Stella and was sorry for any pain she’d caused Stella or anybody else. Stella said it was a difficult situation, and Portia said she still loved all of them. She left with Isaiah.

Trina told Ava that Mr. Sidwell was a smart buyer. Tell him that he was responsible for the first Restrepo in the northern hemisphere and he’d be fine. It would also go up in value. Ava said Trina was absolutely right. She had business dealings all over the world, and after this, she might be able to set up being Restrepo’s primary dealer. Trina said she had no doubt Ava could make that happen, but be careful. She’d heard Mr. Sidwell might be dangerous. Ava said she was sure there was some truth to that, but she knew how to deal with men like him. They understood each other and her nephew had been living under Sidwell’s roof and was having a great time. She’d look out for her nephew and make a small fortune. She’d be spending a lot more time at Windymere.

Britt said she’d go to Windymere tonight, and Cullum said, glad to hear it. Jason Morgan had been a problem at the Five Poppies. Get Jason out of her life or he would.  

Michael said, with being under investigation, it interfered with his chances of getting custody, and Jason said he was worried about Drew being in the picture. Micheal said he couldn’t send the kids back to Drew’s house. That man was poisonous. He saw how Drew treated his own daughter. Jason said Michael’s kids weren’t going back. Drew would never be in their lives. He gave Michael his word.

Sonny said he knew Turner hated to lose, so he’d let her in on a little secret. With or without Alexis’s legal strategy, the next person prosecuted for shooting Drew was going to get off. She asked if he was going to see to it, but he said, no. No jury would convict someone of shooting a snake like Drew. He didn’t deserve justice. She said, everybody deserved justice, and he said, the cops would do what they do, but the way the case should end was with it getting marked unsolved and put away in a file because Drew got what he deserved. He left.

Kai said he had to speak to the DC aids, and Willow said she was going to the ladies’ room to splash water on her face and be alone for a moment. She left, and Nina told Tracy that she thought it was important for them to stay optimistic for Willow. There was still a chance for Drew to make a full recovery. Tracy said, or he could be a vegetable trapped in a body for the rest of his life. Drew wouldn’t get tears from her. As her late husband Luke used to say, karma is a bitch. She guessed it finally came for Drew.  

In the hallway, Willow took the syringe out of her purse, dumped it in a trashcan, and kept walking.

My guess is, Kai is watching her.

Wednesday:

See Tuesday.

Thursday:

Elizabeth went to Laura’s office and said she was worried about her.

Jack knocked at Josslyn’s door and she said, it must be important. He said it was.

Britt came downstairs into Bobbie’s and saw Cullum sitting at a table. She flashed back to him telling her to get Jason out of her life or he would. Lulu and Rocco came in, and Carly asked Britt what was so important that she had to say it in person. Britt said she was moving out of this dump.

Dante asked how the evidence review was, and Nathan said, ongoing. He had nothing significant to share. Dante wondered if there was proof of Chase’s bias judgement.

At the mansion, Tracy said she’d extend Jason the same courtesy she’d offered Michael. She’d be his alibi for whatever he did to Drew.

Nina asked Lucas about Drew, but he said he could only speak to family. She said Drew was her son-in-law, and Willow had stepped away, and he said he was meeting with a neurologist about Drew’s prognosis, but would only discuss the test results with Willow.

Suzanne told Alexis that Willow was there, and Alexis said she’d gotten Willow acquitted knowing she was guilty. What more did she want? Suzanne suggested it was about lifting the restraining order, and Alexis said, that would be nice. Send her in. Suzanne got Willow, and Alexis asked if there was something wrong. Willow said, Drew had a stroke yesterday.

Dante told Chase that Internal Affairs completed their investigation.

Jack said one of the top brass at the WSB was there – Ross Cullum from the European division – and he believed Cullum was a threat to Josslyn. She’d made an impression with the Five Poppies mission. Cullum didn’t know her identity, but if he found out, he’d realize her potential and connections and put her in dangerous situations. To them, she’d be expendable. Josslyn asked if all agents weren’t expendable, but Jack said he’d kept her off the radar and her dossier was in a sealed black box. Josslyn said it sounded like Jack didn’t trust Cullum, and Jack said Cullum wouldn’t protect her like he did. Josslyn said Cullum wasn’t in love with her mother.

Carly said, tell Jason, but Britt said she thought Carly would want to know why she was moving. The place was small and above a dumpster. The walls were paper thin, and the smell of bacon grease caused her cholesterol to go up whenever she inhaled. Carly asked if she’d like help moving out, and Britt said Bobbie would roll over in her grave. Carly’s mother wouldn’t want to be associated with this slum. Carly said Britt’s mother didn’t want to associate with her.

Cullum said he was honored to meet members of the Spencer clan. They had a reputation at the Bureau. Lulu said she was surprised Cullum didn’t seek out her mother, but he said her mother wasn’t arrested for breaking into Dalton’s lab. Lulu said, the matter had been rested, but he said, not the professor’s disappearance.

Elizabeth said she’d been thinking about Laura since Doc and Ace had left, and Laura said she was fine. Elizabeth told her that she’d said the same things when her boys left, then found herself in an empty home. Fine could mean pushing through to keep the world from seeing the cracks. Laura said, fortunately, she cared about her work and had a lot to keep her busy, and Elizabeth said there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to be sad. If Laura ever needed someone to be sad with or confide in, she was always there.

Tracy said Scout was with Alexis, and Jason said Scout had been through so much. She’d lost her mother and her dad was keeping her brother from her. Tracy wondered if that was why Jason decided to take Drew out of the equation, and he asked why she thought he did it. She said, the litany of Drew’s crimes and his expertise in dealing with problematic people. At first, she thought it was karmic justice, but karma and life rarely lined up. You nearly always had to give karma a push. She didn’t want to see him behind bars, so if they asked, he could say he was with her after the trial. He said he didn’t need an alibi. He wasn’t sorry about Drew, but he had nothing to do with it.

Lucas said he’d have the test results soon, and Kai came by looking for Willow. Nina said Willow wasn’t there, but was there something she could do? He said the story wasn’t out in the press yet and the hospital had kept it quiet, and he’d like Willow to approve a statement. Nina said she could look at it. She was surprised he was still working for Drew after hearing about him blackmailing Portia. He said he was thinking about resigning, but it was hard to separate the good Drew had done from the bad. He flashed back to Trina saying, Willow shot him, and told Nina that he didn’t know how Willow did it. Nina said neither did she.

Willow said she thought the stroke was the result of the shooting and the stress of the trial, and Alexis asked if they had a prognosis. Willow said, not yet. For now, it was uncertain, but Scout needed to know about her dad. She wasn’t sure who should tell her. Alexis said she thought it was best if she explained it to Scout, and Willow thanked her. Alexis thanked Willow for being considerate and careful when it came to Scout. Willow said, of course (🍷). She knew how much Scout loved Alexis, Kristina and Molly. Alexis said she thought it was best if Scout moved in with her.

Dante told Chase that Internal Affairs found him in violation of department policy by launching an unsanctioned investigation based on privileged information. He’d used PCPD resources for personal motive and put the prosecution’s case at risk. They’d concluded he’d run counter to policy, but there was no sign of corruption or laws broken. Chase said, so he wasn’t fired? and Dante said, not fired, but he was being demoted.

Jason said he didn’t know if Danny heard the news, so he’d text him, and Tracy said, maybe Danny could spend time with Scout, but he said, when Drew woke up and found out, he’d use it against them both. She said, if he woke up.

Kai told Nina that he’d met Drew when they were forming the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) to honor Drew’s son who died. He’d thought Drew was someone to admire, but in hindsight, he was being naïve. Nina said she knew how he felt. She’d helped on the campaign trail and Drew gave a speech to some veterans that was so genuine and sympathetic, she forgot the things she knew about him for a moment. For every one good thing Drew did for the voters, he did ten horrible things to Willow or somebody else who didn’t deserve it. Kai said, like his own daughter.

Willow said, yes. She loved Scout and thought it would be better if she was around Alexis and the girls. Drew’s recovery would be difficult and hard for her to watch. Alexis said, what about Danny?

Jack said, yes. He was in love with Josslyn’s mother and didn’t want her to lose a daughter. He also didn’t want to lose one of his agents with potential. She was to cease all Bureau activity immediately. She’d been deactivated. Josslyn said she was supposed to gather intel from Lucas on Sidwell and Marco. She’d encouraged Lucas to move in and now she was supposed to walk away? Jack said they had a new asset on Spoon Island, and she asked, who? He said, Britt Westbourne.

Carly said Britt wouldn’t be missed, and Britt said it drove Carly crazy to see Jason being nice to her and wanting to spend time with her. Carly couldn’t stand seeing him with someone else because she was obsessed with him. Carly was threatened by her because she was the only one who pointed it out. Carly said Britt was threatened because she’d never have what they did, and Britt said she didn’t want it. Their relationship wasn’t admirable. It was pathetic.

Chase said he’d been demoted? and Dante said he could be on patrol. He could take the detective exam again when the department was satisfied. Chase said it was insulting and ridiculous, and Dante said he’d gone against policy. There had to be consequences. Chase wondered if it was that or because someone questioned Dante’s authority.

Nina said she wished she’d cut ties with Drew, but Kai said it was hard to do with her daughter married to him. He had no idea what he was going to do. She said maybe he could focus on being able to do a lot of good work. Don’t make any big decisions right now. Sometimes when people came back from a health crisis, they changed. Kai said, Drew survived an attempted murder and didn’t, and she said, maybe the potential for the good he could do outweighed the bad Drew did. Even the best of them had to make compromises.

Willow said Scout told her that she saw Danny. She never told Drew and didn’t plan to, but she was hesitant to let Scout see him. She was concerned about Drew’s reaction when he found out. Alexis said she understood. Maybe they could have the conversation another time after the prognosis was clear. Willow said, of course (🍷). She needed to get to the hospital, but she’d be in touch. Alexis thanked her and she left. Suzanne asked, what happened? and Alexis said, that woman who she’d lost more sleep over just gave her the best present she could ever imagine – her granddaughter. Suzanne said she was happy for her, and Alexis said when she was with Scout, somehow it was like Sam was still here. It was all she had left of Sam and made Scout more precious than Suzanne could imagine.

In the solarium, Danny told Jason that Drew was still Scout’s dad. He should text her. Jason said he couldn’t because they didn’t know what was happening yet and he had to respect the restraining order. Tracy said Drew could come after them eventually, and Danny said she was right. What would happen to Scout? Jason said Willow had temporary custody after Drew had been shot, so he was assuming she did again. Danny wondered if they could ask Willow, and Jason said he couldn’t be the one to ask, but he knew someone who could.

Laura said she admitted the empty apartment was harder than she’d expected, and Elizabeth said it was the same way when her boys left. Laura asked how she managed, and Elizabeth said, other than videochatting, her friends stepped in to take her out to dinner every night. She’d love to offer the same support. Laura said, company sounded nice. She’d give Elizabeth a call later and they’d make plans. Elizabeth left.

Rocco told Cullum that he broke into the lab because he thought Dalton was testing on animals. He learned that he should have handled things differently. Cullum asked if they had any idea where Dalton might be, and Rocco said, no. Lulu said it had been a relief, since he fabricated a story that Rocco vandalized the lab. Rocco was attacked in juvenile detention, and they thought Dalton might have taken off to avoid facing charges. Cullum said it made sense, and gave them his card. He asked them to reach out if anything came to mind.  

Cullum put money on the counter and left. Carly told Britt that she guessed they were done. Britt said she was sick of Carly’s moral authority act, when she’d lied and schemed her way through life like the rest of them. Carly said she knew what it was like to do what you needed to do and survive, destroying everything you touched. And she knew when someone was baiting her. Is that why Britt called? Just to start a fight?

Josslyn asked how Britt was the new asset. Could Jack trust her? Jack said he could. Sidwell built a lab at Windymere, so Britt could do her research there. She was now classified as a sleeper. Josslyn was to avoid the WSB office and Windymere. If she could distance herself from her uncle, do so. Live her normal life until she heard otherwise. She asked if she had a choice, and he said, no. He appreciated the work she’d done. He needed her to stay sharp and stay invisible. He left.  

Outside Bobbie’s, Lulu said she loved how Rocco handled himself, and Rocco said he didn’t know anything. He was glad it was over. She asked if he didn’t have to get to GH for his community service, and he said he’d like to walk. They hugged, and he left.

Dante said Chase had to take accountability or it would breed resentment. He had to decide if he was willing to do what it took to get back where he was. Chase said, he could end his career or crawl back to the department and accept punishment for being right, and Dante said he didn’t think Chase was right, but that was beside the point. Think about it and let him know. Chase snatched the papers out of Dante’s hand and stormed through the squad room. Nathan asked if everything was okay, and Chase said, no. He should probably start looking for a new partner.  

Alexis said she couldn’t believe Scout was moving in for the foreseeable future, and Suzanne said Alexis earned it. She kept her eyes on the prize and when no one thought she’d win, she did. She knew fighting for Willow was fighting for her granddaughter and she succeeded. Alexis said she couldn’t have done it without Suzanne. She’d proven to be more than an assistant. She was smart, credible, and insightful, but also a good friend, and those were hard to come by.

Willow came back to the hospital and asked if there was an update. Nina said they’d have the results soon. In the meantime, Kai had a statement from Drew’s office for her to review. Kai gave her the paper, and Nina said it was kind of Willow to make arrangements for Scout to stay with Alexis. Willow signed the statement, and Kai thanked her. Lucas came out and said he had a prognosis. He was afraid it wasn’t what they’d hoped.

Lulu went to Laura’s office to check in on her, and told her that she’d just come from meeting with someone from the WSB. Laura assumed Jack was pressuring her, but Lulu said it was an agent she’d never met – Ross Cullum. He seemed okayish. Laura asked if he wanted information on Valentin, but Lulu said, no. He was asking about Henry Dalton.

Chase kicked the backgammon board off the table in the solarium and the pieces flew everywhere.

Britt said she wasn’t trying to start a fight, and Carly told her to find someone else to spar with. Britt said it killed Carly to see Jason so happy and having so much fun at the hatchet range with her. When was the last time he had fun with Carly? In the 90s? (Ha-ha!) His loyalty to the past was why he chose Carly over her, but he was tired of the drama. If he could get out from under his overdeveloped sense of obligation, he’d leave her behind without a second thought and they both knew it.

Danny went to Alexis’s office and said his dad told him that she was probably the only person who could help him. She asked, what’s up? and he asked if she heard about Drew. She said, yes, and he asked if she thought she could ask Willow if he could see Scout.

Lucas said Drew suffered a major stroke that affected both his motor and language skills, and Willow said his stroke was severe. When he regained consciousness, he’d need speech, occupational and physical therapy. A full recovery wasn’t impossible, but unlikely. Lucas said he was sorry. If she had any questions, he was there. Willow thanked him and Elizabeth said she was sorry. Sobbing, Willow threw herself into Elizabeth’s arms and cried. Kai left and Nina was like, hmm…

Carly said she and Jason had been through so much, it tied them together for life, when Jason walked in. He asked if everything was okay, and Britt said it was great. Carly was just reminding her of the reason she wanted nothing to do with him.

Josslyn found Lucas at the hospital and said she was there to broker peace between him and her mother. Her mother missed him. He said he missed her too, but he wasn’t okay with her attitude about Marco. He had enough disapproval from Pascal the butler. Pascal went back to France and now they were blissfully butler free. His phone chimed and he said he had to do rounds, but after he was done, did she want to come and hang out at Windymere. She asked if a glass of wine was involved, and he said, that was a given. She said she was in.

Elizabeth signed Rocco’s volunteer waiver and gave him scrubs to put on in the locker room. It was a dirty job.

Laura wondered why Cullum was asking Lulu questions about Henry Dalton, but Lulu said, not her, Rocco. Laura asked if he said why, and Lulu said, it wasn’t really clear. The WSB was looking into his disappearance. They sounded keen on finding him.

Nathan asked if Dante had a conversation with Chase, and Dante said Chase lost his detective badge, but could be a beat cop. Based on his reaction, that’s a big if. Nathan said he hoped Chase stayed. He was a good cop. Dante said he hoped so too and believed that as well. That didn’t change the fact they were down one detective. Nathan said he’d step up. No more mistakes. Dante said he’d be leaning on Nathan more than ever, and left.  

Chase started picking up the game pieces, when Tracy came in. She asked, what happened? and he said he was sorry. He’d gotten the ruling from Internal Affairs and took it out on the backgammon set. She asked if he was fired, and he said, no, but he was only allowed back as a patrol officer. It was a demotion. She said he knew how she felt about his campaign to save Willow. However, believe her when she said it was the department’s loss. He said he never thought he’d be in this situation. He couldn’t believe it came to this, and he had no idea what to do next. She said he had a lot to discuss with her granddaughter.

Alexis told Danny that before she said this, she wanted to make sure he understood that she thought he was an incredible young man. She thought Scout’s mom would be proud. Danny said he hoped so. He wanted to see Scout to make sure she was okay. She said, that’s why she asked Willow if he could see her, but Willow thought it was best if they kept the restraining order in place until they knew more about Drew’s condition. Willow knew he loved Scout and didn’t feel the same way Drew did. She thought there was a good chance he and Scout would be spending time together very soon, the way their mom wanted it.

Nina sat down next to Willow and said Willow seemed really upset. Willow said she was Drew’s wife. What reaction should she have? Nina said, remember, she didn’t actually love Drew. She only married him to help prove her innocence and get her children back. Willow said, that was before he collapsed in front of her, and Nina said, please don’t turn sympathy into forgiveness, or worse, real love. Willow said she just wanted to make sure her husband got the treatment he deserved. Again, Nina was like, hmm…

🫔 Friday’s Barely Touched Enchilada…

Jason asks Britt, what’s going on? and she says, sadly, nothing new. He says, she wanted him to come here and now she wants nothing to do with him, and she said, his BFF Carly just reminded her again that he’d never put her first. Why doesn’t he tell everyone once and for all who comes first, her or Carly?

Brook finds Chase in the solarium and says her grandmother told her that he was looking for her. Did Internal Affairs make their decision?

Emma and Gio go to the station, and Emma says she’s looking for Chief Scorpio. The desk sergeant says, he’s out on a call, and Emma asks if she has any idea when he’ll be back. Gio says, it’s kind of important, when Nathan comes out and says, maybe he can help.

Lucas tells Josslyn, welcome to my home. He still finds it weird to say that. Josslyn says, not as weird as it is to hear it. She thanks him for the invitation, and he says he’s thrilled she’s able to join him for cocktail hour. He’s slowly getting used to the idea of hosting his own visitors. Josslyn promises to be a no pressure, no drama visitor, and he says, maybe save the tantrums and throwing things for the second visit. She says she makes no promises. She’s excited to see where he and Marco cohabitate. He says, she makes it sound so romantic, and she says, sorry. She’s excited to see where he and his beloved lord over Port Charles on their windswept isle, paired with manor and butler. He says, there you go. She’s got it. This will be a butler free visit. Remember Pascal took his creep self out of town and has to judge them from afar. Wine or a martini? Ava taught him a recipe that won’t disappoint. They go into the living room and Ava says, it better not. She spent years perfecting this recipe and it’s lovely. Shall she make two more?

Anna wakes to find Peter August standing near the bed, and says, Peter? He says, Peter, Heinrich, either will do. Have you missed me, Auntie Anna? (I actually had a Great Auntie Anna as a kid, but she was nothing like this Anna. I wish. She was, however, a champ at Skeeball.)

Brook asks if Chase is going to keep her hanging or tell her what Internal Affairs decided, and he asks if she wants the good news or bad news first. She says, so it’s both kinds. Rip the band-aid off. What’s the bad news? He says he was demoted to patrol officer, and she says, what? How could they do that? He’s the best detective on the force. He says, they don’t seem to feel that way, and she says, what’s the good news? He says, if he accepts the demotion, he can stay on the force. His hours will be more defined, and he won’t have to bring work home with him. She says, more free time is a good thing. They can finally go to Italy for a honeymoon redo. He says, or they can use the free time to focus on building their family. He thinks it’s time they focused on adopting.

Emma thanks Nathan and says, it’s stupid. She should probably text her Uncle Mac. She doesn’t want to involve the police. Gio says, it’s more of a family thing, and Nathan says he doesn’t want push it, but if they squint just the right way, he sort of is family. Obviously with Maxie and James. Emma says she doesn’t want to bother him at work. Forget she said anything. Let’s go. Gio says, they need help and Nathan may give them some. They’re not leaving.

Lucas says he didn’t realize Ava would be here, and she says she’s celebrating. She nailed down the Restrepo for Jenz, so she came by to take measurements for the installation. Lucas congratulates her and says, that’s a huge get. Does she need any help? She says, he has a guest, and since Jenz wasn’t here, Marco kindly assisted her. Marco asks if he heard his name, and she says she was telling her handsome nephew how he welcomed her and measuring tape into his home. Has he met Lucas’s niece Josslyn Jax? Marco says he has. Nice to see her again when one of them isn’t coming or going. Ava says she and Marco took a vote and decided they’d done enough work for the day, right? Cocktails are in order. Lucas says, great minds and perfect timing, and Marco says he hopes that means Josslyn is joining them, and Ava says, please do join us.

Peter says, Anna seems to be under the weather. Should he call for help or leave her here to die like she left him? She says she didn’t, but he says, she did. Did she grieve when he died? She says, this is not happening. He’s not here. He’s dead. He says, that’s what everyone thought. That’s what she thinks. Things change. Death doesn’t mean what it used to. Things aren’t the same as they were before. She asks what he means, and he says, she thought Nathan was dead. She thought Britt was dead. She thinks his father is dead. She says, Faison is dead, but he says, the thing about his family is, they don’t stay dead. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, all of the people she thinks are dead and buried are right here waiting for her.

Carly says, time out. Leave her out of this mess. Whatever the hell is going on between Britt and Jason has nothing to do with her. Does Jason know what’s going on here? Britt asks if Carly thinks she’s so attached to Jason because her life is so boring. She thought Carly’s super spy boyfriend would be enough to keep her occupied, but she guesses not. Carly says her relationship is none of Britt’s business. This chronic insecurity of Britt’s has nothing to do with her. Britt says, she’s right, and tells Jason, solve the problem. Who comes first, her or Carly? He says he’s not going to answer that, and Britt says, that right there. That is his choice.

Brook says, it’s been a while since they talked about adopting a child, and Chase says he knows. They tabled things because she asked for time to sort things out with Gio. It made sense, but it seems like they’re in a good place and building their relationship. She says, true, but it’s still fragile, and he says, not that fragile. His demotion was a wake-up call. He didn’t realize how much of his identity was wrapped up in his work. She says, because he loves his job, and he says, he did. He does. But he also has a life. He can’t prioritize work over family. She’s the most important thing to him. Building a family with her is his priority and the circumstances are right to get the ball rolling and make it happen… unless it’s not something she still wants.

As they go into the interrogation room, Emma says she didn’t want make it into a big thing, but Nathan says, she’s not. Even if she were, it’s fine. Her grandma gave him a shot at the PCPD and Anna has been a good friend and mentor. He owes her a lot. Gio says, Emma too, and Emma says, that’s why they’re here. That’s why she wants to talk to her Uncle Mac. She’s starting to think that her grandma is in trouble.

Josslyn says he has to check on her mom. She offered to watch Donna and doesn’t need her mom and Donna mad at her. Ava says, no one wants that, but she thinks Josslyn got her dates mixed up. Donna and Avery are with Sonny. When she spoke to Avery, Avery said something about a homemade pizza party. You know Sonny will take any excuse to make a red sauce. So relax. Have a drink. Josslyn says, Ava is right. She must have gotten her dates confused. So she can stay. She’ll take a glass of wine. Martinis aren’t her thing. Ava says, they’re everyone’s thing, even hers. She just doesn’t know it yet. Marco asks which Josslyn prefers, red or white, and Josslyn says, red, pinot noir. Marco says they have a few great ones down in the cellar. He’ll grab one and be back. Josslyn says, if it’s not too much trouble, and Marco says, no problem. Ava says she’d love a peek at his father’s wine cellar. She can imagine the vintages he’s got squirreled away down there. Marco says she’s welcome to join him if she likes, and she follows him out. Lucas says, Josslyn almost made a clean getaway, huh? He’s sorry about the ambush and thanks her for staying. He knows Ava isn’t her favorite persona. Josslyn says, it’s fine. They can coexist. She’s used to pushing her own feelings for Ava aside for those she cares about. He says, like him, and she says, yes. Like him and Avery and Trina. He thanks her and says, that’s why he wants her to get to know Marco better. They’re both very important to him. She says, they’re both important, huh? and he says, of course (🍷). He can’t tell her how grateful he is for her support of his relationship, unlike her mother.

Jason asks if they can go somewhere and talk privately, but Britt says she’s not going anywhere with him – ever. Brad was right. She was fooling herself, letting herself think this could be anything, but it can’t be. Because he’ll never cut the cord with this woman. He asks where this is coming from. Carly isn’t between them. Britt says, Jason married Carly. He ditched her and threw her away like trash and ran to Carly. She thought she could forgive all of it, but she can’t. She’s done. Stay away from her. She leaves, and Carly says, wow. What the hell was that all about? Jason asks what Carly said to her. (Ha-ha-ha!)

Brook says, of course (🍷) she wants to build a family with Chase and adopting a child is absolutely still in the cards for them. All of this is just really sudden. Chase asks what she’s talking about. They had so many discussions about adoption. They even talked to Alexis about it. She says, that’s not what she means. He just found out that he was demoted and lost his detective shield. He says he knows that, and she says, and she knows how much he loves being a detective. He’s so proud of it. They sit on the sofa, and she says, he just lost something really important to him. She doesn’t want him to brush past that. He asks if that’s what she thinks he’s doing, deflecting. He’s trying to focus on them having a child. She says she doesn’t know. Is he?

Nathan says he probably doesn’t know any more than Emma, but the department was told her grandmother was pulled for some top secret WSB assignment. That was the last official update they got. Didn’t she read a text message and get a picture from her grandmother at Maxie’s house on Christmas? Emma says, yeah, a photo and a voicemail, but she hasn’t actually spoken to her grandmother since she left. Gio says, it’s been months, which makes it even weirder, and Nathan says, that doesn’t sound like Anna. Emma says, it doesn’t. She knows on a classified mission contact is limited, but she doesn’t think her grandmother would go this long without speaking to her directly. Gio says he doesn’t either. Anna used to text them every day for a regular status update – while they were living with her. Emma says, yeah, and she’s not the only one her grandmother’s not talking to. Her mom and aunt haven’t heard from her. Gio says, at least Emma got something, a voicemail and text. They haven’t gotten anything. They’ve had no communication from Anna at all.

Anna says, this is not happening. It’s not real. Someone is doing something. They’re using her past against her. Peter says, maybe it’s just her guilt finally having its say. She’s ignored it and the things she’s done. She’s lied to herself about all the lives she’s destroyed. Did she really think she could silence her conscience forever? She says, that’s not true. None of this is. He says, it’s all true and she kept her conscience prisoner for all of it, hoping it was there, with her foot on its neck, listening, growing angrier, while she denied, rationalized, and justified. All the while guilt eating at her soul. She says, shut up! Get away from me! She gets up and walks to the other side of the room, and he says, things have a way of making themselves known. She says, you’re not real, but he says, she’s making this far too complicated. His father will be so disappointed in her, going to such great lengths to deny what’s exactly in front of her face. She says she watched him die. She held his hand and she watched him die. He says, did she, or was it just another one of his father tricks? He had so many, and he’s fooled her before.

Lucas says he’s hungry. How about Josslyn? She says she could eat, and he says, the downside of Pascal being gone is they’ve go to get their own snacks. He’s going to get chips or something. He’ll be back. She says, great. She’ll be here. He leaves, and she gets up and starts looking around. She opens a cupboard next to the fireplace, and Ava says, looking for anything in particular?

Carly asks if Jason thinks she’s responsible for that. Is he blaming her for what just happened? Jason says he’s not blaming her. He’s asking what happened. Britt was happy and they were good. He’s asking what changed. She says she doesn’t know. She has no idea what’s going on with Britt. Britt was trying to push her buttons, and she almost went at her, but she didn’t. Whatever is going on, she had nothing to do with it. He says, one conversation with her, and Britt is back to insecurities and running out the door, and Carly says, when isn’t she? That’s on Britt. It’s not her fault. He asks why it’s so hard for Carly to believe he can love her and still have room for somebody else. Britt’s wrong. There doesn’t have to be a choice. She says she didn’t ask him to choose. She didn’t ask for any of this.

As Rocco rolls up some of the kids’ artwork, Cullum looks in on Rocco. He goes into the room and says, Mr. Falconari, good to see you again. He assumes it’s part of the community service Rocco mentioned earlier. Rocco says, yeah, it’s keeping him pretty busy here, and Cullum says, he most certainly is. In the hallway, Britt comes out of the elevator. Rocco says, the kids love it and it keeps their mind off whatever they’re here for, for a little while anyway, and Cullum says, good thing he’s here then. He doesn’t want to keep Rocco. He was hoping Rocco could point him in the direction of Dr. Britt Westbourne’s office. Britt walks by and sees Cullum with Rocco, as Rocco says, after he finishes cleaning up, he’ll take Cullum right to her.

Britt walks in and says, good afternoon, gentlemen. One of the nurses mentioned that someone very official was looking for her. Cullum says, that would be him… unless Rocco… Rocco says, no. He’s been too busy. Britt introduces herself to Cullum, who says, Ross Cullum, and they shake hands. He says he’s director of the WSB and Mr. Falconari was just about to direct him to her office, and she says she’s got it. She thanks Rocco and says she’ll take it from here. Rocco says, see her around then. You know, 500 hours of community service. Britt says, it’ll fly by. She tells Cullum, let her show him to her office, and he follows her out.  

Carly says she gets that Jason is upset by Britt’s about face, but can she have some credit? She admits there was a time she needed him to show her that she came first, but after everything that happened with the FBI, she knows what it cost him. That’s not who they are anymore. It’s not where they are. She knows a lot of life happened to them and there are things they can’t share, but she doesn’t ever question where she stands with him and hopes he doesn’t with her either. She loves him and she knows he loves her, and he never has to prove anything to her. Jason says he believes her, and she says, good. Now, would she pick Britt for him – he says, here we go – absolutely not. He knows how she feels about that, but it’s his to pick, not hers. Just like he respects the choices she’s made even when they’re wrong, she’s choosing to respect his.

Ava says, Marco and Lucas left Josslyn alone and she seems to have interrupted something. Josslyn says, yes. Her being nosy. Windymere is such a wild place. It’s hard to picture her uncle living here. It doesn’t quite suit him. Ava says, Windymere is an acquired taste, but it can grow on you. Lucas is adaptable. Besides, he did live here with his mother for a short time as child. So for him, it’s probably a homecoming of a sort. Josslyn says she guesses. Although she thinks if she’d asked a year ago what home was for him, it was wherever his family was. So… Ava says, that’s the thing about family. You can make your own. She and Lucas are related by blood, so they’ll always have that unbreakable bond, but being blood relatives needn’t be the sole criteria for determining who is considered family and who isn’t. Of course (🍷) she’s not telling Josslyn anything she doesn’t already know. Look at her and Trina. She loves Trina like she’s her own. They have so many important people in common that they love, it’s really quite special, isn’t it?

Nathan asks if Emma’s mom expressed alarm about Anna, but Emma says, no. She said Emma’s grandma has been known to go off the grid when she’s on assignment and Emma didn’t want to worry her. She has confidence in her grandma’s ability, with good reason, but she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Gio says, they spoke to Agent Brennan about it too, and Emma says, they did, yeah. Nathan asks what he had to say, and Emma says, just that one hand of the WSB is not always in communication with the other, but he did say he’d look into things for her. Nathan says, sit tight. He’s going to check the records. Maybe they have an update that he’s not aware of. Emma says, that would be great, and Gio thanks him. Nathan leaves, and Gio asks if she’s okay. He knows he kind of pushed her into this. She says, no. She’s glad he did. She was sitting around and it was driving her crazy. At least now she might get some answers.

Chase says he didn’t just start thinking about having a kid today, and Brook says she knows that. He says, good, because he thinks about it all the time. It’s like the thing he wants most for them in this world. He can’t say she’s too wrong about him not being a detective. He can’t wrap his head around it. When Dante gave him the news, it was like the wind got knocked out of him. She says, of course (🍷). It must have been especially hard hearing it from Dante. He says, Dante is his best friend and was his partner. Dante made it clear that the department didn’t trust him anymore, even though he was right all along. (I’m growing weary of Chase’s self-righteousness.)

Brook says, the PCPD has to know that Chase not being there is their big loss, but Chase says he doesn’t know what they know about anything anymore. She says, when Anna comes back, she can’t imagine Anna will be happy about any of this, and he says he doesn’t know. She was worried about his sympathy for Willow at the beginning. Even if she doesn’t like it, she’ll understand why things went down with him the way they did. She says, there has to be a way for him to get his detective shield back… if that’s something he wants, and he says, it is. He can sit for the detective exam again, if the department’s satisfaction is met and the standards they want him to live up to. He told Dante that he’d think about it and get back to him. She says, that makes sense… But she wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d told the PCPD to shove it.

Josslyn says, Ava can drop the act. She’s not capable of loving anybody but herself. She can pretend, smile, and say all the right things, but any affection of hers has its limits. When it comes down to it, the only person she cares about is herself. Ava says, there it is. That self-righteous judgmental attitude that comes so easily to Josslyn’s mother. It must be so tiring, seeing everybody so clearly and knowing that none of them measure up to her lofty standards. Josslyn says she’s not above anybody and doesn’t pretend to be. She just sees Ava for who she is, and Ava can’t stand her for it. Ava says, maybe, but everybody plays a bit of pretend at one time or another. She suspects even Josslyn does. Lucas and Marco come back, and Lucas says, they couldn’t decide, so they’re going with both. California or France? Which should they try first?  

Jason says, just walk him through what happened with Britt, but Carly says she doesn’t know. Britt called and told her to meet. She showed up and waited. Then Britt told her that she wanted to move and she said, fine. That was it for her, but not for Britt. She started insulting the restaurant, saying this place was a dump. She said Carly’s mother would be rolling in her grave if she saw the place now. He asks if she said nothing back, and she says she pushed back after Britt brought up her mom, but she didn’t say anything like Britt said. She’s telling him, Britt tried to provoke her. Britt wanted to fight with her right here.

In Britt’s office, she says, that’s the second time she’s seen Cullum with Rocco Falconari. What is he doing with that kid? Cullum says, proving a point.  

Emma tells Gio that there’s this default assumption that her grandma is like a superwoman and she gets it. In a lot of ways, she is. She’s looked up to her forever. Gio says he sees why. He thinks they’re a lot alike. She thanks him and says she hopes so. Just because her grandma is super smart and capable doesn’t mean she handle everything. At the end of the day, she’s just a person. An amazing person, but just a person. She’s not indestructible. He says he knows, and Emma says, what if she’s in over her head right now? He says, if she is, Emma took the first step in getting her help, and Emma says, somebody has to do something. She doesn’t need to know global secrets. She just needs to hear her grandma’s voice. She can’t keep sitting around hoping she’s okay. He says, she’s not. She’s here. Trust her gut. She was right about Dalton when everyone was telling her that she was wrong. If Anna is in trouble, Emma is coming through for her right now when she needs Emma the most. He hugs Emma and she cries.

Anna says, Peter hated Faison. He killed him. Peter says, so he thought. Faison played him like he played her, like he played everyone. Cesar Faison always wins and deep down, she knows it’s true. She says, it isn’t real. It isn’t real. It isn’t real. He says, stop. There’s no point in fighting. He should know. His father is so devoted to her, it makes sense that he should be the one with her. She says, stop, stop, stop, and puts her hands over her ears. Peter says, he’s finally ready to show himself to her. He’s waited so long, but he was always ready to have her. She says, oh God, and he says, the time is almost here. She says, oh my God.

Brook says, Chase doesn’t have to decide anything right now. Whether he accepts the demotion and works his way back up to being detective or decides to be a personal chef or a singer or to busk outside of Bobbie’s… He says, she’d let him walk around dressed as a BLT sandwich and hand out flyers? and she says, her undying support is with him, no matter what he decides. He says, that means the world, but he’s known what he wanted to do since he was 10. He wanted to be a police officer. He wanted to be a detective. He rebuilt his career once. He can again. She says, damn straight, and he says he wants to build a family with her. She says she wants that too, and they kiss.

Carly tells Jason that she could tell Britt wasn’t going to stop until Britt got her going and she came pretty close when Britt brought up her mother. He says he can understand that, and she says, it’s a good thing he showed up when he did. He says, yeah, it was. He gets it. Britt wanted to fight for some reason. He’s going find out why. He leaves.

Cullum says he can access Rocco Falconari any time, and Britt says, and do what? Make him disappear too? Rocco is very well connected. He has a mob boss for a grandfather, his grandmother is the mayor, and his father is the current Police Commissioner, and his mother is a journalist. His family will never stop looking for him. Even Cullum couldn’t hide him. Cullum tells her, who said anything about hiding him? Rocco is involved in a high-profile break-in. If it’s determined the lab contained classified information… She says, Cullum will put him in WSB custody? He’s a kid. Cullum says, trust him. He wouldn’t be the first minor in Steinmauer. She says, Rocco is innocent. He hasn’t done anything. Okay. He doesn’t have to hurt Rocco. He doesn’t have to prove anything to her. She’s doing what he wanted. She ended things with Jason. He’s never coming near her again. He told her to get to the lab. She’ll go to Windymere tonight. Damn it. She’s cooperating. He says, actions speak louder than words. There are consequences for actions and there will no longer be possibilities. Those are certainties she can count on. She says she understands, and he says, good. From now on, she will comply for Rocco’s sake and her own. He leaves.

Ava sips her martini, and Marco asks Josslyn what she thinks of the California. Josslyn says she’s no expert, but she likes it, and Lucas says, that’s the most important part. Now they try the French. Is Ava sure she doesn’t want a tiny sip? Ava says, no, thank you. This is perfect and she is an expert. Lucas says, hey, they should check out the catacombs and see what’s down there, but Marco says, it’s probably wet and freezing. Ava says she and her Cardullos are quite happy right here, and Lucas says, come on. He hasn’t been there since he was a kid. Now he’s an adult and Marco is here to protect them, mainly him, from any ghosts. Not that there are any. Come on. Come on. Come on. Let’s go exploring. Marco says, absolutely not.  

Nathan comes back, and Emma asks if he found out anything. He says, not from the latest records, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be found. Emma asks if he thinks there’s something off with her grandma’s situation, and he says, not necessarily, but he thinks the situation warrants him looking into it more. She thanks him, and he says he knows Anna well. If Emma is anything like her, he trusts her instincts. He’s not promising anything, but he’ll put his resources into finding Anna. One way or another, they’ll get answers and he knows exactly where to start looking.

Anna says, if Faison wants her, tell him to stop playing games. Come here to her now. Peter laughs and asks if she still thinks she’s in control of anything. She’s not. His father will come to her when he’s ready. She says she just wants this to stop. Faison, I just want this to end. Please… please… Just stop this. She knows he can hear her and she wants to see him. Show her his face. Just come here. Peter is gone and she’s alone.   

On Monday, Britt says, if Jason ever cared about her at all, leave her alone; Josslyn asks if Jack wants to hear what she found out or not; and Marco wants to take Sonny out of the equation for good.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Pay no attention to those rumors.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-cameron-mathison-leaving-general-hospital-as-drew-forget-the-rumors-here-are-the-facts/

I can just imagine that visit to Amsterdam.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-finola-hughes-on-annas-reunion-with-faison-it-was-nuts-exclusive/

Returning February 12th.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-and-goings-kirsten-storms-is-back-as-maxie/

I can’t fault her for having a good time.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-willow-stabs-drew-katelyn-macmullen-talks-exhilarating-dark-turn-exclusive/

Why shouldn’t they? Short of a cataclysmic event, I think we can all wait a minute for the news, which literally follows GH.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-fans-fuming-over-trump-preempting-after-cliffhanger-11889288

Betting on him for the win.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/all-my-children-alum-michael-b-jordan-scores-first-oscar-nomination/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

While there was still way too much going on in the boatmance department – Max getting all emo, wanting Cathy to give him definitive answers on what happens after the season, and Eyebrows Joe acting the fool with Kizzy – the final charter included Karen Gravano from Mob Wives. Josh slaved all day over a hot stove and still not everyone was pleased. It was, however, a delight to see Captain Sandy video chat with wife Leah. One guest whined because she wanted crab after they’d already eaten it. In Josh’s interview, he said he wasn’t a chef with a magic arse. He couldn’t just pull a crab leg out. This same cretin bitched about them having no truffles when truffles were out of season and there were no truffles to be had. The captain had the best idea when several of the whiners grumbled about not leaving the dock. She had some deckhands take them out in the tender for a bumpy ride, after which they admitted, Captain Sandy is always right.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

A lot of Part 2 was undecipherable due to everyone talking over everyone. My Reunion pet peeve. Even with the closed captions on, it doesn’t matter. They can’t get it all. There was a big whoop-de-do about Angie having evidence that Lisa’s number was attached to some account. Andy had to start yelling, then he just looked defeated, and walked off. They were like, sorry, sorry, sorry, Daddy Andy, and he came back. Mary’s son had been incarcerated for breaking an ex’s restraining order. There was also the whole thing about Mary’s church being a cult, but having been to churches like hers, I say that’s a no. Lisa claimed she’d supported Mary, but Mary said Lisa came against her. She was very dark and needed help. Of course, the airplane ride where Meredith lost her sh*t was brought up, and even Andy wondered, why no footage? I don’t know why he didn’t answer his own question, but I assume it’s too cumbersome for an entire camera crew to be on a plane, not to mention dangerous. He asked why no one had filmed it with their phones, and Heather said, what POS person would do that? For one, I would. We flashed back to the time Britani recorded an argument on a bus, so again, I made the assumption that there’s a rule against cast members doing their own filming. Maybe a Housewives’ code or something. Still, I would have done it even if for my own personal entertainment. There was a lot of back and forth on this – Meredith against the rest of the cast, sans Lisa – but Meredith stood her ground that she’d only complained about Britani a couple of times and never touched her high body count hair.

Why he walked.

I think Meredith needs to look up the definition of victim.

Vanderpump Rules

It was SUR’s 20th anniversary, and LVP said, let’s have a bloody good party. Technically, SUR was 26 years old, but it was the anniversary of Lisa and Guillermo’s partnership in owning it. Natalie and Kimberly got into it and Lisa had to tell Natalie to STFU several times. That’s one more complaint of mine. This staff doesn’t listen to my girl at all. They’re lucky she’s so lenient. If I’d talked to any of my bosses the way this crew speaks to her, I would have been gone. Lisa’s other concern was Jason’s knowledge of his job, and in her interview, she said, Jason knows more about penis pumps than the menu. She might be right. HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE GOAT CHEESE BALLS FOR GOD’S SAKE. In a rare moment, Venus and I agreed that people who don’t even work there know about the goat cheese balls. I knew about the goat cheese balls in Season 1. Guillermo unveiled a photo framed like a painting of the new cast. They looked beautiful, but… yeah. Angelica checked out Jason and Chris’s OnlyFans videos, and apparently they were greasing each other up on film, along with some other guys, and along with doing some other things. I couldn’t fault her for looking, but then she shared it with Kim and Demy, and the three of them squealed like children. Do they realize what an embarrassment they are to their generation when they see themselves? Yeah. Probably not.

Southern Charm

Venita’s mom chastised her for telling Salley not to bug her when things went sideways with Craig. She said Venita was mean and not a good friend. I applauded this, since Venita has a tendency to act superior. Rodrigo and Tyler had an engagement party, and the best moment of the show was Whitney asking if Madison was going to have a gender reveal – after one had been hosted for her at his house. She reminded him that it was a girl, and he told her, congratulations. Austen’s girlfriend Audrey came for a visit, and everyone waited with bated breath for him to break up with her, but it didn’t happen.   

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Jennifer told Kyle that Garcelle didn’t want to be friends with Sutton because it was always about her and she was a troublemaker. Like the good gossip girl she is, Kyle told Sutton. Jennifer and Sutton ended up hugging it out, but no doubt it put a crimp in their friendship. As much as I dislike Amanda, it was the anniversary of her twin baby’s death, and I was sad with her. I can’t even imagine. Rachel was having a dinner party, and wore an ah-ma-zing, bananas outfit, complete with a sunburst tiara – and Amanda, wanting to be around people (obviously not there long enough to know it shouldn’t be these people) attended. Dorit had found out from Sutton that Amanda thought she should tone down her talking about PK being an alcoholic and decided the dinner would be a good time to confront her. When Amanda explained why it was a sad day for her, clueless twit Dorit kept going, only apologizing when Kathy pretty much insisted. There was also a medium at the party and she had nothing for Amanda, which seemed odd, but she was spot-on with messages from loved ones for some of the others. On a humorous note, Dorit announced she’d be writing a book, and called her ghost writer a co-author, proving why she needs a ghost writer. In Erika’s interview, she said Dorit couldn’t write a book herself, or it would never get finished. Best quote from Dorit: For somebody who’s supposed to be an author, she sure doesn’t know how to read the room.

The Valley: Persian Style

The group went to Palm Springs for Adam’s birthday, and Reza was surprising him with a celebration at the same restaurant where they were married. Because she was pissed about the inferior accommodations, Sky decided to confront Golnesa about the weed smoking at her trunk show. It was anticlimactic though, as Golnesa appreciated Sky’s honesty and apologized. When they went back inside and someone asked how it went, Golnesa said Sky smacked her, which was pretty funny, especially seeing Reza’s face. A medium came to the house (must be the thing right now) and was pretty accurate with the messages from loved ones in the Great Beyond. A drag queen presented Adam with a beautiful rainbow cake, complete with a sparkler, and the group half-sang a seriously sad rendition of Happy Birthday. Apparently, Golnesa had invited Dennis, which didn’t sit well with anyone and ended with him and Golnesa arguing. Mercedeh also tried to get Tommy to make peace with Reza, but he said, fuggedaboudit.

Random Reality Items

Coming March 4th, the poor man’s Vanderpump Rules.

This sounds excellent. My favorite show of his was The F Word, which was like a culinary variety show where you saw more of him as a human being, with no screeching at amateurs.

It was only a matter of time. Kyle is way too immature for her. I’ll give him this though. I had a can of Lover Boy and it was pretty tasty.

We’ll see. I miss the original with Caroline Stanbury.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Black Phone 2. Peacock. While I liked the first one better, I didn’t hate this sequel. Protagonist Finn has grown up and The Grabber won’t stay dead. And dead children are calling a phone booth in the middle of nowhere. This time, however, the villain can only attack in dreams a la Freddy Krueger, and he cant be fought on human terms. I have to admit, Ethan Hawke surprised me with how good he is as The Grabber. The other cast members are nothing to sneeze at, the effects are good, and the snowy scenery magnificent. Just for fun, I googled it, and Hawke did some of his own stunts.

The Running Man (2025). Paramount+. I wish I’d seen this on the big screen because the action scenes deserve it. And there were a lot of them. If I had to sum up the movie in one word, it would be exciting. I found myself making noises – always the sign of a good film – and at one point, literally ducked when something fell from a rooftop. In a dystopian future, a man needs cash for his daughter’s medicine, so he signs up for a game show that offers a big cash prize, but also certain death. Along the way, he also uncovers corruption behind the scenes. It has an excellent cast including Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin, the special effects were incredible, and the fast-paced action was one good time.

https://www.polygon.com/the-running-man-streaming-paramount-stephen-king-movie/

https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_running_man

https://alisechaffins.substack.com/p/the-running-man-review-2025

11.22.63. Netflix. A man goes back in time to try and stop John F. Kennedy’s assassination. His mentor in time travel tells him, if you f*** with history, history will f*** with you, and it does. An amazing story with tons of twists and turns. And James Franco doing another stellar job as time traveler Jack Epping. I’d read the source material by Stephen King a while ago and loved it. I haven’t finished watching this 8-part series, but I like what I’ve seen so far. Great cast, great acting, great story, and I especially love the time period stuff.

https://www.slashfilm.com/2068646/jj-abrams-stephen-king-miniseries-11-22-63-streaming-netflix/

https://www.bgr.com/2073972/james-franco-stephen-king-time-travel-miniseries-11-22-63-streaming-netflix/

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

All the TV premiere dates.

https://ew.com/2026-tv-premiere-dates-11854588

🏆 The Award Might Go To…

Hear me out. While I’m ecstatic about Sinners, it seems unfair that Wicked: For Good was totally shut out. Yep, it probably shouldn’t have been split into two parts (although who wants to sit through a four hour film?) and I get that it got a turn last year, but this film actually had the more interesting part of the story and the CGI animals deserve their own special Oscar. As does the sweater Elphaba wears during As Long As You’re Mine.

https://ew.com/2026-oscar-nominations-announced-full-list-11889037

I would pay good money for that sweater.

https://people.com/wicked-costumer-says-elphabas-cardigan-going-viral-is-compliment-exclusive-11871960

🐾 Love Is Where You Find It…

🐶 Finding love on the red carpet.

https://people.com/sharon-stone-adopts-rescue-puppy-from-astra-awards-11884878

🗽 I saw him on the news – amazing idea!

https://people.com/pet-influencer-helps-rescue-dogs-find-homes-with-back-rides-in-nyc-exclusive-11869427

👰🏻‍♀️ Can’t say I blame her. Chances are, he won’t cheat.

https://people.com/rilo-kiley-singer-jenny-lewis-marries-her-dog-for-50th-birthday-11883843

🐕 I can identify. Sometimes my house looks like it’s boobytrapped.

https://people.com/chloe-fineman-shares-hilariously-relatable-puppy-proofing-tips-after-family-welcomes-new-dog-11878215

📢 Quotes of the Week

If I see it, I’m going to eat it.Madison LaCroy, Southern Charm

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. – Marcus Aurelius

If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. – Mark Twain (Don’t let Madison see it.)

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults. – Benjamin Franklin

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

Ending an eight-paragraph rant about his family’s dirty laundry with ‘all we want is privacy’ is all I need to know. – Alana Hadid, in reference to Brooklyn Beckham’s Instagram post about his family

Taking risks doesn’t mean shirking responsibility, but embracing possibilities. – Vick Hope

This guy always has tabouli on him like it’s Werther’s Original. – Reza Farahan, The Valley: Persian Style

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King Jr.

❄️ Like Stars Filling the Dark Trees…

Until next time, stay safe; stay not buying every roll of toilet paper because it’s going to snow; and stay taking any excuse to make a red sauce.

September 12, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Britt Resurfaces In Port Charles, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, VMAs Plus One, All the Awards, It Takes All Kinds, Just Below 10 Quotes & Changes

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

At the hospital, Willow approached Alexis and said she got a call from the camp. Scout’s friend told her about Drew, and she took off. Alexis said, they knew she wasn’t taken, but where did she go?

NuCharlotte (see below) went to the hospital and told Lulu that she did something, but Lulu needed not to freak out.

Kristina asked if Molly couldn’t find a loophole to get the restraining order lifted, but Molly said her dad was the genius with family law. She wished he’d return her calls. Her phone rang, and she said, it’s Cody again. Cody asked if she didn’t get his text, and she checked it. It said, 911, and she asked what was going on.

Anna said Mac was spearheading the investigation on Judge Haran’s murder and she was handling Drew’s shooting. Chase asked if there was a connection, but Anna said she wasn’t sure. They were in a unique position to have insight on key persons of interest. At the top of the list was Willow and then also Dante’s brother Michael.

On the phone, Jack said his agents could be dead. Get on it right now… No. He didn’t have to be there. Colette was going to evade and stall. Keep the pressure on her.  

Dubrovnik, Croatia. Pascal told Vaughn and Josslyn that he’d prefer to dump their bodies in the sea and be done with them. But his superiors didn’t want to waste two healthy test subjects. Josslyn asked, what kind of tests? and he said he thought she was a spy. Dalton had made great strides in cold fusion, but there had been a radiation leak. They had a brand-new casing, and with their help, they could see if it would keep radiation at acceptable levels.

Jason found Britt in the lab and asked if she was ready to go. She said she’d love to, but she got a gift from Pascal. She showed him an ankle monitor and said, if she left, it would explode and make a big old mess.

Lulu told Alexis that Scout was safe, and Charlotte said she was a counselor in training. When Scout got the news about her father, she wanted to be with family, but didn’t want to get Danny in trouble, so she drove Scout. Alexis asked, where?  

Molly went to the stables, and Cody said, ta-da! Scout ran to Molly.

Anna started a timeline of Drew’s whereabouts leading up to the shooting, and Chase said he was at GH at 9:15. Dante said he was on the phone with his DC office from 9:46 to 9:47, then Tracy called 911 at 10:30. Anna said that gave them a 40-minute window. What was found at the scene? Dante said, there was no sign of forced entry. There was mud and water going out the back door indicating that someone came and left that way, but there were no useable shoe prints. Anna asked what time the rain stopped, and Chase said, according to weather service, 10:20. She said, Tracy said the front door was ajar, and Dante said they found an umbrella, wet, with Drew’s prints, indicating he entered by the front door. There were no other prints. Anna asked about the baseball bat, and Dante said there was no sign of a struggle and no blood on the bat. They were running the prints, but so far, there were none that mattered. She said, what about the persons of interest? and Chase said Michael Corinthos was at the Quartermaines, but left before he got there. Brook said she’d left him a message at 10:20 after the shooting. Anna asked if Chase had spoken to him, but Chase said, not yet. He hadn’t been able to pin Michael down. Anna said, that meant Michael was avoiding him.

On the phone, Jack said he wanted to be put on a video conference… Quit wasting his time and put the warden on… Yes they could. Tell him that Jack Brennan was calling and needed to speak to the prisoner today.  

Pascal said, fortunately for them, Dalton was still deep in animal testing and the preliminary test results showed a promising chance they’d be fine. Vaughn said it was a violation of the Geneva Convention (like Pascal would care), and Pascal asked, who was going to report him? One of Pascal’s goons came to the door and asked Pascal for a word. In the hallway, he said they found Hector’s body, but no sign of John Moore, and Pascal told both goons to watch the prisoners and left.

Jason wanted to check out the ankle monitor, but Britt said Pascal told her tampering with it would also set it off. Maybe they should call Spinelli?… Damn. She forgot the lab was shielded. Had Jason diffused a bomb before? He said, a few times, and she asked if it was one like this. He said, most explosive devices worked on the same principle, but she said she didn’t want to get hurt. She wanted to get out of there.

Molly asked how Scout got there, and Scout said Amber told her that her dad had been hurt, so she asked Charlotte to drive her. Is her dad okay? Molly said he was in the hospital, but everybody was worried about her. She had to make calls to let them know Scout was okay, and Cody suggested he and Scout feed Comet. Scout went with him, and Molly called Alexis. She said Scout was at the Quartermaines. She was there now, and Scout was fine. Alexis said Lulu already told her and she’d called the main house, but Molly said no one knew Scout was there. She was at the stables. Alexis said she’d be right there, and told Willow. Willow said she’d go pick Scout up, and Alexis said she was going with Willow, restraining order be damned. Lulu told Alexis that she was so sorry, and Alexis left with Willow. Charlotte told Lulu not to apologize for her. She wasn’t sorry.

Ava showed up at Alexis’s house and asked Kristina if they were alone. Kristina said, yes, but it wasn’t a good time, and Ava said they had to deal with Ric’s phone. He had 48 missed calls and 97 texts. They couldn’t leave it for too much longer or people would get suspicious.

Anna said, Willow was on duty at GH and left mid-shift at 9:20. Elizabeth saw her return, and said she’d gotten wet in the rain. Chase said when he questioned Willow, she said the news about the judge upset her, so she took a walk. Nina said they were together. Anna said she’d have someone check the security footage to see if the alleged walk took place. Until then… She put Nina’s picture next to Michael and Willow on the bulletin board.  

Molly asked why Scout was dropped off at the stables instead of the main house, and Scout said Danny liked Cody. She figured Cody would call him and he’d meet her there, and she knew she wasn’t supposed to be at the house. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t come there. Was Danny mad at her? Cody said Danny loved her lots, and Scout said, then why? Molly said the truth was, her dad loved her a lot too and wanted to keep her safe. He thought the best way was to do a legal thing called a restraining order. It was filed by a judge and said certain people weren’t allowed to see her, including Danny. Scout said Danny would never hurt her. Why did her dad do that?

Goon #2 said he’d be right back and left. Vaughn wondered what was going on. First Pascal ran off, now goon #1’s partner did. Did he look nervous? Josslyn said, so nervous. He couldn’t get out fast enough. She wondered what would happen when the WSB raided the place. What charges were they looking at? Vaughn said, international conspiracy would get them a long stretch in a super max – if they survived. The WSB would shoot first and ask questions never. Josslyn asked goon #1 if his job was worth his life. Hers wasn’t. Just let them out and they’d let him disappear, but he had to help them.

Molly said Scout’s dad only wanted what was best for her, but Scout said that wasn’t true. Not anymore. If he did, he’d let her see them. Why didn’t he understand? Cody said, because sometimes grown-ups made mistakes, and her dad made one. Maybe he’d realize he was wrong. Willow and Alexis arrived, and Scout ran to Alexis.

Lulu said, when Scout’s family heard she was missing, they were terrified, and Charlotte said she was sorry about that. Lulu said it was a start, and Charlotte said, to be honest, she wasn’t thinking about them. She knew Scout was scared and away from her family and knew what that felt like. The only parent she had left wasn’t safe or okay, and Charlotte got how Scout felt. Taking her somewhere she felt safe was more important than following the rules, and she didn’t regret doing it.

Ava said they were fighting a battle on two fronts – Ric’s personal life and professional life – and Kristina said her mom could handle the professional side. She’d send Ric’s assistant an email to push Ric’s court appearances back. Ava told her to tell Ric’s assistant to take a paid vacation too. His personal emails would be trickier. Kristina said the only people who would wonder about him were Molly and Elizabeth, and Ava wondered how Elizabeth was feeling without Ric fawning over her. Kristina told her to stay focused. They had to unlock Ric’s phone. Ava said, easy-peasy. Time for another dose of sleeping pills.

Britt asked if Jason thought he could handle it, and he said, if he couldn’t, they’d both find out in a minute. She said she knew he’d find her note. He was so right about everything here. She was in way over her head. She was here for research, not murder. Pascal was supposed to answer to her, not the other way around. He was on a power trip, and he’d lost it. She found Josslyn and some guy tied up and tried to help. He asked what she was talking about, and she said, Josslyn was there, and she was in serious trouble.

Jack saw Valentin on his screen and Valentin said Jack was lucky to have caught him at home. It was good to see him.

Alexis said Scout was just like her mom, never staying put when she wanted to be out someplace, but Scout scared her. Don’t do it again. Scout said she was sorry, but she couldn’t stay at camp. Willow said she was glad to see Scout, and Scout said her daddy got hurt. Alexis said she knew that and wished she’d told Scout instead of her finding out from a friend at camp, and Scout asked if she could see him. Alexis said, not quite yet, and Scout asked when he was coming home. Alexis said, not for a bit, but her grandma had it covered, and Willow said they were going to have a sleepover at Elizabeth’s house, but Scout said she wanted to stay with her grandma. Alexis said she wanted that too, but Scout was going to have a great time, and they were going to video chat every day. Scout said she hoped she didn’t hurt Willow’s feelings, but she wanted to be with her grandmother and brother. Willow said what they all had in common was that they all loved her and wanted what was best for her.

Dante said he spoke to Alexis, but she wasn’t answering questions without an attorney, and Anna asked if he thought she was being evasive or acting like a lawyer. Dante said, acting like a lawyer, but he also got the feeling she was hiding something, and Anna asked what they thought about Sonny as a possible person of interest. Chase said Drew had been publicly linked to trying to take Sonny’s piers, but Dante said, it didn’t feel like a professional hit. Anna agreed, and Dante said Jason was out of the country. Chase said, what about Curtis? They had animosity over Aurora and Drew targeted Stella Henry. Dante said, and the person they found at the scene – Tracy Quartermaine.

Lulu said she was proud of Charlotte and would have done the same at her age. The problem was, she needed to learn to think things through and consider the consequences. Case in point, Anna. Victor played a big part, but Charlotte could have been killed because she relied on her own perception of the situation, like today. Charlotte said that was totally different. She could admit she was wrong, but Scout didn’t know what was happening with her dad and was still a kid. Lulu said Charlotte was a kid, but Charlotte said she was also a former fugitive. She was growing up and Lulu didn’t seem to realize

Ava said, that went well, and Kristina said they didn’t have to torture Ric to get his fingerprint. She touched his phone and said, password changed. 666-666. They had Ric’s entire digital life. Ava suggested they explain his absence by saying he went on a digital detox, one of those expensive retreats where there are no cellphones or internet.

Jack said Valentin looked good. Steinmaur agreed with him. Valentin said he ran the place. Jack not only survived the fall of Pikeman, he was in a position of power. Jack said he was just a humble station chief, and Valentin said he’d been Jack’s scapegoat. Jack said, considering how much Valentin knew, he was lucky to be alive, and Valentin said, now that the pleasantries were aside, how could be of assistance? Jack asked what Valentin knew about a double agent, Colette Moreau, but Valentin said he never heard of her. What was in it for him?  Jack said, time outside, in shackles with a guard, and Valentin said, of course (🍷). Jack said Colette was the one who took an independent shot at Valentin, trying to kill him in front of his daughter, and Valentin said he may have had dealings with her back in 2016. Jack asked if she was a double agent back then, and Valentin said, she was working for Cesar Faison.

Josslyn said if goon #1 helped them, they’d help him, and Vaughn asked what it was going to be. Goon #2 came back, and reprimanded goon #1 for talking to the prisoners. Goon #1 said they should go or they were dead, but goon #2 said Pascal had it under control.

Jason said, Josslyn was there? and Britt said she was pretending to be a newlywed, but Pascal found out that she and her fake hubby were WSB. They said there was a mole… He asked where they were now, and she said maybe still locked up there or Pascal could have moved them after she found them. She acted like she didn’t know Josslyn, but she barely time to call him before Pascal grabbed her. Jason asked if the code was the same, but she said, there was no code, just the keycard. He snatched it from her hand, and said, Josslyn was in trouble. Britt said she was in trouble, and he said he’d be right back.

Molly thanked Cody for not giving up on calling her, and he said he got why she didn’t want to hear from him. She said he was good with Scout and thought they could all say Scout’s father was a selfish monster. He saved the day. He asked if that meant she’d pick up when he called.

Alexis came back and told Kristina that Scout was safe. She was upset that her father was injured, and upset and mad that she wasn’t with the family. She was trying to convince herself it was for the best since they have Ric held hostage. Now Molly was waiting to hear from Ric. Kristina explained about the digital detox and started reading her email from Ric to Molly.

Lulu said she realized that she’d been out of Charlotte’s life a long time. They were still trying to figure out the mother/daughter thing, but Charlotte needed boundaries. Charlotte said her father treated her as an equal, but Lulu said she had to know how to survive if they were caught. She’d been forced to have too much responsibility. Charlotte said her father trusted her judgment, and Lulu said she was proud of Charlotte, but now she had other people to rely on. She didn’t need to make big decisions on her own anymore.

Dante asked what they thought about Tracy’s explanation that she was appealing to Drew for Monica’s sake, and Chase said, as much as they fought, Tracy would do anything for Monica, and she called 911. Why not leave Drew to die? Dante said, remorse? and Chase said, or to cover her own tracks. But what did she do with the gun? Dante said they didn’t find it, and Anna said she didn’t think Tracy did this, but had no problem with seeing her covering for whoever did.

Jack said Faison had been dead for a while, and Valentin said, if you say so. Jack said, his brain was in a jar, and Valentin said, maybe, but his organization lives on. Jack asked, who’s running the op? and Valentin said he had no current information to share, but maybe he could use his connections and influence. In return, he wanted to be transferred to a stateside super max prison. Jack wouldn’t have come to him if he had any other option. Jack insisted he didn’t have the power he once had since he’d been demoted. Valentin could walk away, but he wouldn’t walk far. He could walk or they could help each other. Which was it going to be?  

The door started to open, and Britt said, finally, but it was Pascal. He asked if she missed him, and she said, desperately. Now get this off. She promised to be a good girl and do her work. He said the site had been compromised, so they were moving. Was her work backed up? She said it was. She just had to pack. He said she misunderstood. The operation was relocating, but she wasn’t coming with it.

Jason broke down the door, knocked out goon #1, and struggled with goon #2. Josslyn and Vaughn tried to get the knife from goon #1’s pocket.

Charlotte said she’d drive back to Lila’s Kids and tell Miss Carson what she did, but Lulu said she no longer had a car. She held out her hand for the keys, and Charlotte gave them to her. Lulu said she was also grounded for a month, and Charlotte said if that was the price to help Scout, it was worth it. Lulu said, there was the Spencer part. She was proud of Charlotte’s heart, but hoped she’d learned to look before she leapt. She could land badly and get hurt. Charlotte asked if it wasn’t her life and her mistakes, and Lulu said, not quite yet. That’s why she had a mom. They hugged.

Molly said it was better if Cody didn’t call. He was so good with Scout, but at the same time, thought it was okay to take money to seduce Ava. She believed he thought he was helping her, but that was the worst part. But if there was an emergency, call and she’d help. Otherwise, she thought they should go their separate ways. She left.

Kristina finished reading the email to Molly, and Ava said Ric wasn’t capable of that emotion, but Alexis said Molly brought out the best in him. They needed to worry about Willow. She was going to hound Ric about her hearing until she found him. Ava said, Elizabeth and Willow… and Alexis said she saw the lightbulb going off over Ava’s horns. Ava said she had an idea where they could kill two birds with one stone.

Anna said Chase’s priority was Michael and she wanted to speak with Alexis. They needed to find out where they were so they could upgrade them to suspect or clear them. Her phone rang, and Elizabeth said she had news. Drew was waking up.

Valentin asked what Jack was offering, and Jack asked what he wanted besides a stateside transfer. Valentin said, to see his daughter, and Jack said, done. He’d get her on the call. Valentin said, no. In person. If Jack could do that, he’d give Jack what he wanted to know.

Goon #2 punched Jason in the hallway, as Vaughn tried to get goon #1’s knife. Goon #2 got Jason in a headlock and Jason tried to slam him against the wall.

Britt asked where she was going, and Pascal said, thanks to her disruptive behavior, he’d convinced him that she was more trouble than she was worth. He’d set the ankle monitor to blow her into tiny pieces in an hour. She said, no way he would okay this. She wanted to talk to him. Pascal said that wasn’t going to happen, and she said he was a dead man. He said he didn’t think so. Regardless, she wouldn’t be around to find out in 59 minutes. If she wanted it to be sooner, just walk out the door.

Tuesday:

Drew woke up and saw Elizabeth. He asked for Willow.

Anna told Dante and Chase to check things out at the hospital. She’d follow up with Alexis. Alexis arrived at Anna’s office.

Michael met Curtis at the PC Grill.

Lulu took Charlotte for a latte at Bobbie’s, and Charlotte said Rocco was meeting her there. Lulu said she’d have to take care of Outback and give her a bath once a week, clean the porches, mulch the flowerbeds, and write a letter of apology to the camp director.

Rocco was outside Bobbie’s with Outback when Jack came by and introduced himself. He asked if Rocco’s mother was there. He needed a quick word with her.

Dubrovnik, Croatia. Britt told Pascal that she was the only one who understood the research. They needed her, but more importantly, he needed her.

Jason struggled with goon #2, when Josslyn whacked the goon guard over the head. Jason and Josslyn stared at each other.

Elizabeth said Willow was with Drew’s daughter and asked if he knew what happened, but he insisted he needed to see Willow. Portia came in and asked about Drew’s vitals, but Drew said he wanted a new doctor. Portia said, in the meantime, he was in her care.

Dante and Chase left, and Anna said she had questions regarding Alexis’s movements the night Drew was shot. Alexis said she was happy to answer as soon as her lawyer arrived.

Michael said he was the obvious suspect, and Curtis said he wouldn’t be surprised. He asked if Michael had an alibi, and Michael said he did, but needed to figure out who she was and where he could find her. That’s where Curtis came in. It was the woman Drew was with the night of the Savoy. Curtis said, body shot (🍷) night? and Michael said he was with her the night Drew got shot. Curtis said he knew where to find her.

Charlotte said she learned her lesson and the punishment felt like a bit much, but Lulu said Charlotte hadn’t gotten in trouble for putting a snake in Ava’s purse. Charlotte asked if there wasn’t a statute of limitations, but Lulu said, not with her mother. It set a pattern of Charlotte not facing consequences and next time she’d think twice before doing something she knew she shouldn’t. Jack came in, and Lulu told Charlotte to start her punishment and go give Outback a bath. Charlotte said Jack was considered a hero while her dad was a villain, but she didn’t buy it.

Jason told Josslyn and Vaughn it would be tough to get out. He was going back for Britt.

Pascal said there were plenty who could take Britt’s place, but Britt said he’d invested a lot of time in her. Pascal said that’s why he was able to convince him that she was more trouble than she was worth, and Britt said he wouldn’t have her killed, but Pascal would. He didn’t sign off on this. Was Pascal going to blow the place up and blame her? He said, either way, she was dead, and left.

Dante asked Elizabeth if he could talk to Drew, when Portia came out. Dante said he was here to question Drew about the shooting, and Portia said Drew was alert and his vitals were stable, but he was recovering from major surgery, so keep it brief. Dante went in and asked Drew if he remembered anything from last night, and Drew said being shot in the back was a hard thing to forget.

Diane said it wasn’t a fishing expedition, and they were only talking about Alexis’s movement pertaining to the night in question. Anna said she wouldn’t waste any of their time, and Alexis said she was at court all day dealing with Stella Henry’s arraignment. If the congressman was mad at you, he targeted a person you loved. That’s why they all voted for him. After court, she drove herself home. Anna said she wanted to back up to when the congressman served Alexis with the restraining order.

Curtis said, when Aurora was investigating Drew, he’d wanted to get the escort’s side of the story. He was hoping she’d confirm Drew brought the drugs, but she’d left town and disappeared. Michael said she was back in Port Charles. He’d been there talking to her last night. Curtis said her name was Jacinda Bracken, when his phone rang. Portia told him that Drew was awake, and Curtis relayed the information to Michael and told him that Drew was talking to the cops.

Outside Bobbie’s, Charlotte told Rocco that Jack was the reason her dad was in prison, but Rocco asked if he didn’t break the law. She said it wasn’t like there, where it was easy to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. In their world, people switched sides all the time. The only difference between Jack and her father was, when Jack broke the rules, he got to hide behind a badge.

Lulu said Charlotte’s attitude was a work in progress, and Jack said the technical term was teening out. She said Charlotte was extremely loyal to her dad, but she was grateful to Jack for saving Charlotte. Jack said that’s why he was here, because of Charlotte’s father. He needed her help with Valentin.  

Vaughn said they didn’t know which side Britt was on, but Jason said Britt was the reason they were alive. He told Josslyn that they had a lot to talk about later, and left. Vaughn asked if he always acted like that, and Josslyn said, pretty much, but his timing was always spot on. Vaughn said nothing was more important than calling this in. They didn’t know what was between them and daylight, so if he went down, don’t come back. She said, same for her, and he said, no matter what, don’t turn back.

Dante asked what Drew remembered, and Drew said he came home from the hospital about 9:30. Dante asked if he was alone, and Drew said Scout was at a camp sleepover. He made himself a drink and went to his safe to get out Willow’s engagement ring. He put the ring on the mantel and stood in front of the fireplace. Then it felt like he got slammed in the back with a sledgehammer. He fell to his knees and started to fall forward and that was the last thing he remembered.

Diane asked what that had to do with Alexis’s movement, and Anna said it pertained to her relationship with the victim. He’d filed orders against Alexis and she was officially served at the Port Charles Grill. Diane said she thought they were here to make a statement, but it felt like a cross examination, and Chase said Alexis wasn’t allowed near Drew’s home. Anna asked, what was her response was to the restraining order? and Alexis said she was obviously upset. She’d been denied access to her own granddaughter. She was pursuing legal recourse, but her petition was denied and thanks to Drew, Scout was now in Willow’s custody.

Curtis told Michael that he had to get to the hospital, but he found out Jacinda worked for Exclusive Models, which was a front for an escort service. Michael helped him when he needed it and he was happy to return the favor. He had Michael’s back. Michael said, likewise.

Portia found Jacinda sitting at her desk, and Jacinda said, Co-Chief, that’s big time. Portia said she needed to leave Port Charles, and Jacinda said she did. Drew offered her $100,000 to stay away, but it turned out she wasn’t good with money. All she needed was a tiny cash infusion to be out of the red and she thought Drew would help her out, but then he got himself shot. So she figured Portia and Nina were the next best thing. They’d hired her to give Drew the night of his life, and she’d come to collect.

Britt worked on her ankle monitor and said, please don’t explode. Jason came back and she said a few things had happened since he’d been gone. Pascal put the explosive device on a timer, and she was going to officially blow up in 21 minutes. Jason said she wasn’t blowing up, and she said it was impossible. He needed to go. They both knew she was living on borrowed time and his kids needed him. Don’t risk his life to save hers.

Charlotte told Rocco that Jack wasn’t to be trusted. He’d double-crossed her dad, and he ended up in prison. She knew Lulu loved her and was trying hard to make her fit in, but she felt like her life was too different. Maybe she knew too much. Sometimes she wished she’d never been found.

Lulu said she wasn’t sure how she could help, and Jack said he’d like Charlotte to visit Valentin. He’d handle the security and clearance, and Lulu could accompany her. Lulu said, that was a no, but Jack said it would be completely safe. She said she wouldn’t allow Charlotte to be used as a pawn in whatever game he was playing, and he asked, what made her think it was a game? His phone rang and he stepped away. He said, talk to me… Were they sure?… Okay. How far out were they?… It was positive they were in the clear?… Good. Let him know when it was done. He came back to the table and Lulu asked, who was in the clear?

Britt said Jason needed to go for Jake and Danny, but he said either they’d both get out or neither of them would. He fiddled with the ankle monitor and she closed her eyes. He got the monitor off and said they had to go. They ran out.

Portia said Jacinda wouldn’t tell anyone that she drugged the congressman. If she did, she’d be admitting assault and look worse than her and Nina. She thought it was best if Jacinda found her fortune somewhere else besides Port Charles, but if she insisted on staying, forget her and Nina. Jacinda said, so much for women helping women, and Portia said, if anyone asked, she was to say Drew hired her to be his escort and brought his own drugs. He would be the one committing a crime and it would keep her out of jail. She had to get back to work. Jacinda left, and in the hallway, her phone rang. She said she’d take the job and keep ‘em coming.

Diane suggested the return to the night in question, and Alexis said she went home after court and was in her driveway by 9 pm. She was wrapping up a phone call with her assistant. They could check her phone records. She went into the house and no one was there, but Curtis came by came by to check how his aunt’s case went. After Curtis left, Kristina came by with Ava.

Dante asked if Drew entered in the front or back, and Drew said, the front. Dante asked if he noticed anyone out on the street, but Drew said not that he recalled. He was focused on getting out of the rain. Dante asked if he closed his safe, and Drew said, no. Was he robbed? Did they take Willow’s ring? Dante said, no. The ring was on the mantel. What else did he keep in the safe? Drew said, files mostly, and Dante said he’d have to be more specific for them to determine theft. Drew flashed back to showing Portia the evidence he had to incriminate her and said it was classified material. The PCPD didn’t have his consent to go through his safe. Dante said he’d relay that to the Commissioner, and Drew said he was getting tired. Dante said, one last thing. Who would he say had motive to harm him? Drew said, Michael Corinthos.

Pascal blocked Jason and Britt’s way and said this was unexpected. He told his goons to kill them both, and Vaughn shot one in the back. Jason struggled with the other, while Pascal took off. (I’m with Britt. Don’t leave this guy in charge of anything.)

Jack said the call was classified, and Lulu suggested he not yap in the middle of Bobbie’s then. He said he understood how she felt, but thought she needed to accept who Charlotte was. She asked what that was supposed to mean. Charlotte was her daughter. He said, with Valentin. Valentin was the heart of intelligence communication, which meant Charlotte was valuable and not just to him. She asked if that was a threat, but he said it was a warning. Someday she might need his help.

Rocco asked if Charlotte was saying she’d rather be on the run than there, but she said, no. She loved being with him and their mom, and there were amazing things about living in Port Charles, but there were aspects of her old life that she missed. She had a lot of independence, and she liked it. He asked if she was mad because Lulu grounded her, but she said their mom was doing her mom job. She could live without most of the things she lost, except her dad.

Curtis arrived at the hospital as Dante came out of Drew’s room. Dante said he needed to get ahold of Michael, and Curtis said he was just with Michael at the Port Charles Grill. Michael was still there when he left. Dante thanked him and left. Curtis asked how Drew was, but Elizabeth said she couldn’t give him medical information. He asked if Drew could have visitors, and she said there was nothing that said he couldn’t. Feel free.

Jacinda went into the PC Grill, saw Michael, and said, it was him. Michael said they didn’t get a chance to introduce themselves, and she said she was Jacinda. He said he was Michael Corinthos, and her eyes lit up.

Diane said who Alexis invited in was her business and she was under no obligation to explain, but Alexis said she was willing to. Her daughter had been at war with Ava for some time and it was a conflict that served no one. She was trying to broker peace. There was no love lost, but they did agree to be civil for Avery’s sake, so she took it. Anna asked how long they were there, and Alexis said, about two hours. Detective Falconari could testify to that. When she was taking out the garbage, he came back to question Kristina and Ava. Anna said he did mention it, but didn’t say it was a group therapy session. Alexis said things had been difficult since Kristina lost the baby and she didn’t want to advertise it, and Diane said it had nothing to do with the investigation. Alexis had been more than cooperative, so the interview was over. She stopped the recorder.

Josslyn said, Pascal got away, but Jason said it didn’t matter. The place was going to blow. Vaughn asked how much time they had, but Britt said she didn’t know, and they all dashed off.

Lulu said, if she didn’t do what Jack wanted, what? He’d refuse to protect Charlotte? He said, no. His protection would continue, but he encouraged her to accept the fact that the parameters of Charlotte’s life were different than that of her brothers, Lulu, and pretty much anyone. He hoped she’d reconsider. He left.

Outside, Jack said, nice to see Rocco and Charlotte again, but Charlotte said there was nothing nice about it.

Anna thanked Alexis for coming in and said she might have a few more questions. Diane told her, check the recording. Further questions were unnecessary. They left.  

Drew saw Curtis and asked what the hell he wanted.

Anna said assuming Alexis’s alibi held up, she was no longer on the list of their main suspects. Chase asked what she thought about it, and she said, the sit-down with Ava and Kristina was implausible, but it was so impossible, it might be true. She took down Alexis’s picture and said she thought somebody else needed to go higher up on the suspect list. She replaced Alexis with Curtis.

Curtis said he heard someone shot Drew, and Drew said he had every reason to think it was Curtis, but don’t worry. He was putting the blame on Michael.

Jacinda asked how Michael knew how to find her, and he said, it wasn’t easy. She asked if he was just interested in getting to know her better, or was it business? He said it wasn’t a job, and she said, it was social then. He said, unfortunately, it wasn’t that either. He didn’t know if she was aware, but someone shot Drew last night. She said she heard, and he said he may need her to say they were together when it happened. She asked if he was looking for an alibi, and Dante appeared. He said Michael was a tough guy to get ahold of. He needed Michael to answer some questions.

Vaughn and Josslyn coughed through the smoke, as he helped her up. She asked if he was all right, and he said he thought so. Better than a few hours ago. She asked if he’d say her first op was a success, and he laughed.

Jason lay on top of Britt in the smoke, and she said, all right. Very brave. Could he get off her now? Jason stood up and helped Britt up. She said there was something she’d been meaning to tell him, and he said, what? She said she really didn’t like his tattoos.

Wednesday:

At the hospital, Chase asked if Willow had seen Drew, but she said, no. To be honest, she was trying to avoid the situation. He asked if she was still planning on getting back together with Drew.

Lucas said Drew was awake and the police were back, and Elizabeth said she was trying to avoid them. Lucas asked, why? Did she know something?

Carly visited Lulu and asked if she was still dealing with the Rocco/Obrecht situation. Lulu said, always on some level, but that wasn’t why she wanted to talk. Carly’s super spy boyfriend was way out of line.

Nina met Jack at the PC Grill and asked if his girlfriend knew he was having dinner with her sworn enemy.

At the station, Michael told Dante that his lawyer wasn’t there, but he left Diane a message. Marco arrived and said Diane had sent him in her place. He would be representing Michael.

Isiah went to Portia’s office and said he heard Drew was awake. She and Lucas should be proud of the work they did to save his life.

At Bad Jen Café, Kai told Trina that Drew was awake, and she said it was good he didn’t die, but what if he could put them in the house when he was shot?

Curtis said he wasn’t surprised that Drew was trying to accuse Michael. Did he have proof? Drew said he had no proof and didn’t see who it was, but he did remember Curtis threatening to kill him. For all he knew, it was Curtis.

Lucas asked if Elizabeth had something to implicate Willow, and she said, maybe Carly. The night of the shooting, she went to Carly’s office to give her a heads up that Willow and Drew were getting back together, but Drew was already there. Things were hot and she heard Carly threaten to kill Drew. Lucas said Carly threatened to kill a lot of people. The only people she hadn’t threatened were her grandchildren and Elizabeth. Elizabeth said if she had to talk to the police, she’d have no choice but to tell them.

Lulu told Carly that Jack wanted Charlotte to visit Valentin in Steinmaur. Like she’d let that happen. He implied she’d be making a mistake because Charlote may need protection in the future from the WSB. Carly asked if he told her why he wanted the visit, and Lulu said she was guessing Jack needed something from Valentin, but that was his problem. She didn’t want Charlotte anywhere near her father.

Jack told Nina that Carly had no reason to believe he was disloyal. This was strictly business. Nina wondered what business they had, and he said he wanted to arrange a meeting between Valentin and Charlotte, but Charlotte’s mother was adamantly opposed. Nina asked why he cared if Charlotte visited her father, and he said he needed something, but Valentin would only cooperate on that condition. Nina said it made sense he’d use Charlotte as a bargaining chip, but how did she fit in? She wasn’t close to Lulu. Carly was Lulu’s cousin. He said he understood Nina and Charlotte had a good relationship, and Nina said they were still close, but she wasn’t luring Charlotte onto a plane bound for Switzerland, especially against her mother’s wishes.

Kai told Trina that Drew had been unconscious. There was no way. She said he could have heard them talking, and he said he’d find out for sure by visiting Drew. If he didn’t check on Drew, it would make Drew more suspicious. As long as Drew thought Kai was on his side, he could use that to protect them.

Curtis said, first, Drew accused Michael, and now him, and Drew said Curtis blamed him for Stella’s arrest. Curtis said he was once where Drew was. When he was recovering, he was groggy and weak. He advised Drew to make sure his head was clear before saying something he’d regret, but Drew said he thought he was seeing clearly. Curtis said Drew needed to understand how vulnerable he was. Who was to say whoever shot him wouldn’t come back to finish the job? Lucas came in with an update, and Curtis said he was just leaving. He told Drew not to rush his recovery. He didn’t want to invite a setback. He left.

Willow told Chase that she didn’t know what to do. Drew cost her her children, but he was also her best shot regaining custody. Chase said, if Judge Haran hadn’t died, he was positive she would have allowed Willow visitation. Maybe the next judge would feel the same way. She had options, but one wasn’t getting back together with Drew.   

Michael said he was expecting Diane and went outside with Marco. He asked, what happened? and Marco said Diane was already representing Alexis and couldn’t represent him too. He knew their fathers didn’t get along and Michael might feel more comfortable with another attorney, but for the moment, he advised Michael not to talk without one. Michael said he’d learned that the hard way, but since he had a lawyer with him, he might as well get it over with. He trusted Diane’s judgement. They went back in, and Anna said she had questions about the night Drew was shot.  

Nina said Jack didn’t want to risk upsetting Carly, and Jack agreed. Nina asked how she figured into all this, and he said he needed her to work on Lulu and help get her on board.

Lulu said Charlotte didn’t know and she wasn’t about to tell her, and Carly said, because she’d want to see Valentin. However Lulu felt, Charlotte and Valentin were close. She was sure Charlotte missed her father. Lulu said, of course (🍷). It was just two of them. After Valentin was gone, at first, Charlotte stayed in her room, but now she was starting to adjust. Carly said it wasn’t a permanent move, just a visit, and Lulu said she thought she was afraid if Lulu saw her dad, she’d end up back in her room, depressed. Carly said, teenagers were tricky, and Charlotte had been through a lot. Maybe it would bring her peace to see that he was okay. Lulu asked if Carly was suggesting she allow it, and Carly said she thought it was worth considering.

Emma saw Trina at the café and asked what was going on. Trina said she had a lot on her mind, and Emma asked if there was anything she could do to help, but Trina said she was good. Emma went to the counter to put in her order.

Portia told Isaiah that she was glad it went well. It felt good saving Drew, even in the light of the horrible things he’d done to people she cared about. He said that’s what made her remarkable. She stepped into a difficult situation and operated on a man she disliked. All he heard was what a miraculous job she did. She said, Lucas too, but he said Drew was lucky she was in the operating room. She said it was another reason she wished she’d stayed in bed with him, but as wonderful as it was, it could never happen again.

Anna asked Michael to take her through the evening of September 3rd, and he said he was at work wrapping things up. Kristina stopped by and he got a phone call from his dad telling him that Judge Haran had died. Selfishly, he was worried that it would affect the visitation hearing next month. Afterward, he went to the Port Charles Grill to decompress. Anna asked if anyone could verify it, and he said he had a conversation with a woman at the bar. Anna asked what her name was, and he said, Jacinda Bracken. She asked if he was aware that she was the escort in the photo with Congressman Cain, and he said, not at the time. She was just a person he was speaking to. Anna said when Dante tracked him down, he was in her company, and Marco said they were only talking about the one night. Anna said she’d observed Michael was with Jacinda two nights in a row, and Michael told her, what can he say? He enjoyed her company.

Lucas told Drew that the first bullet came out neat, but the other was tricker. It was lodged against his vertebrae compressing against his spinal cord. There could be long term effects. He could end up paralyzed.

Lulu said she needed to put a wall between Charlotte’s old life and the life she was building now, but Carly said one visit wasn’t going to change anything. Lulu said she felt like there was a tug-o-war with Obrecht over Rocco, now she was competing with Valentin. She missed so much of Charlotte’s life and now had to figure out how to be her mother. She didn’t want it to stop for any reason, especially not because Jack needed a favor from Valentin.

Nina said she couldn’t imagine Lulu being receptive, and Jack said they had Charlotte in common. She could use it as an entry point. Nina said, ask Carly, but he said it was better of if he separated his personal and professional life. Nina said she had serious reservations about using Charlotte as a pawn. She didn’t know if it was good for Charlotte and would just be a reminder to Valentin’s enemies of the best way to get to him. Jack said it would show Valentin still had powerful connections and a wide reach, and she said she didn’t want to risk anything happening to Charlotte. She didn’t get to raise Willow or Nelle. Charlotte was her first experience at being a mother. She was protective of her. Her daughter told her that she destroyed her life. The last thing she wanted was to destroy Charlotte’s as well.

Elizabeth said she had bad news, and Willow said, Drew? Elizabeth said, no. She got an email that Ric left town for a digital detox retreat, and it was unclear when he’d be back. Willow said, what? He was her lawyer and supposed to help her get her kids back. What was she supposed to do now?

Chase saw Curtis at the hospital and said he’d like to ask him some questions pertaining to Drew’s shooting. Where was he that night?

Lucas did some tests on Drew and said there was no sign of paralysis. Drew said, thank God, and Lucas said, thank Portia. She pulled a miracle. Drew said it was a miracle he didn’t let die. He and Curtis had a falling out… Lucas said Portia was a gifted and dedicated surgeon, who had taken on the duty to provide the best possible care of her patients, no matter who they were. Drew said he sensed Lucas wasn’t a fan, and Lucas said Carly and Michael were family, and he wasn’t obligated to chat. His work was done. Get some rest.

Anna asked how long Michael was at the PC Grill, and he said he got there at 8:35 and left at 10:30. He’d left his phone in the car and saw he missed some calls, then he went home. Anna asked if he stopped on the way, and Michael flashed back to sitting in the car in the rain. He said, no stops, and Anna asked if Jacinda could account for the time at the PC Grill. He said, yes. He was with her the whole time.

Emma brought Trina some tea and said she thought Trina could use the tea and a friend. Consider her Josslyn’s back-up. Trina said she could use a friend. She was in a messed-up situation she was trying to deal with. Her parents’ marriage was in trouble. Her mom altered test results to keep someone in prison.

Portia said her life was complicated, and Isaiah said being his boss complicated it more. She said it did. She was going through a tough time and when she was vulnerable, she turned to him, but she wasn’t sorry. He said him neither. He’d honor her wishes and keep it between them, but if she changed her mind, he was interested.

Kai asked how Drew was feeling, and Drew said, given the circumstances, not bad. He was glad Kai was there. He needed Kai to do a big favor for him.

Dante said, when they asked who Drew thought may have shot him, the only name was Michael’s, and Michael said it was no secret he despised Drew, but he didn’t shoot him. Anna said Drew alleged that Michael physically assaulted him at the MetroCourt on August 15th, and Marco said he wanted to see the complaint, but Anna had nothing. Marco said that was because no one corroborated in that case. His client had nothing to say about the alleged incident or anything else. Anna said Michael was free to go – for now.

Curtis said he was sorry, but he couldn’t help Chase. He used to be a cop and knew he was within his rights to refuse. Chase said he was only putting off the inevitable, and Curtis said he’d come in and answer questions willingly, with his lawyer. He walked to the elevator.

Willow wondered how Ric could leave and not have the decency to tell her, and Elizabeth said it didn’t seem like him. Willow said, what now? She had to find a lawyer. Elizabeth said Martin was back, and Willow said she guessed she had a little time. Elizabeth said, in the meantime, keep proving she’s a reliable and stable mom, but Willow said that wasn’t enough. As much as she hated Drew, she needed him by her side.

Portia said she couldn’t thank Isaiah enough for being there, and he said he was glad to be there. She said, if it only affected them, it would be wonderful, but she couldn’t do that to her daughter.

Emma said, what Portia did wasn’t okay, but she did it to protect Trina, and Trina said it was unethical and illegal. Emma said, Heather killed people. If she thought her child was in danger, she’d do the same. Trina said her mom knew better than to lie to her dad, and when Drew started blackmailing her, it was too late for them to get past it. None of it would be happening if not for her. Emma said this started because of her mom’s choice to keep her safe, and Trina said she was worried she’d make the situation worse. Emma said Trina couldn’t make her parents happy and the only one that could make her happy was her. Trina said, for back-up, Emma wasn’t bad.

Kai asked what favor Drew needed, and Drew asked him to go to his house, open his safe, just grab everything, and bring it to him. Kai said he was sorry, but he couldn’t do that. Drew’s house was a crime scene. No one was allowed in, and he couldn’t remove things. Drew said, just use his key and sneak in, but Kai said he wasn’t comfortable doing that. Drew said he understood, and Kai asked if there was anything else he could do, and Drew said, yes, one thing.

Lulu said it felt like she’d be opening a door better left closed, and Carly said Valentin was in prison for the rest of his life. She wouldn’t be able to cut him out of Charlotte’s heart and to ask her to keep her love for him a secret would be a mistake. She needed to let Charlotte make the choice. If Charlotte found out Lulu stopped it from happening, she was going to resent Lulu big time.

Jack told Nina that Charlotte wouldn’t be in danger. It would just be a meeting between a father and daughter. They may never get to see each other again. Nina said his sincerity act might do better if he didn’t need something from it, but he said they’d all benefit, even her. She and her daughter might be in serious trouble.

Willow told Elizabeth that she knew Drew was using the kids to get her back, but getting her kids back was important. Kai approached and told Willow that Drew said he needed her.

Isaiah said he’d respect Portia’s wishes and keep his distance, but he wouldn’t stop hoping for things to change. Friends? She said, friends, they shook hands, and he left.

Chase said, as a former cop, Curtis knew lawyering up implied hiding something and would make him a top suspect, but Curtis told him that he had nothing else to say without a lawyer present, and got in the elevator. Chase called the station and asked for the exact time Curtis left the station with Stella… 8:40 pm. He guessed he needed to talk to Stella.

Dante said there was one thing bothering him, and Anna said, Jacinda. He said if you could pay for company, why not pay for an alibi? and Anna said she’d have to bring Jacinda in for questioning. They couldn’t rule out Michale as a suspect.

Walking into the PC Grill, Michael told Marco that he had experience with being questioned by the police, and Marco said the next step was to speak with Jacinda. Michael said he’d touch base with her himself, thanked Marco, and went in.

Lucas told Elizabeth, despite what she’d said earlier, he was sure Carly didn’t shoot Drew, but she said they both knew how far Carly would go to protect the people she loved.

Lulu said she was grateful Carly wasn’t just telling her what she wanted to hear, but at the end of the day, she was Charlotte’s mom. She thought it was best to leave the past in the past and for Charlotte to focus on her life there now. She didn’t see any good coming from the visit and no one could convince her otherwise.

Jack said Drew Cain was in the hospital with two holes in his back. It was only a matter of time before the PCPD knocked at Nina’s door and Willow’s. Nina said she explained they were together taking a walk at the time of the shooting, and Jack said, a convenient alibi, but it wouldn’t hold up if the investigation continued. She asked what he proposed, and he said, a mutually beneficial friendship. Convince Charlotte now and the WSB would return the favor when Nina and her daughter were in need. He thought the day was coming soon. Don’t answer right now. Just think it over and tell him what she decided. He left.

Willow went into Drew’s room, drew the blinds, and watched as he slept. He groggily opened his eyes.

Thursday:

Britt slept on Jason’s shoulder on the flight back, but she said she was just resting her eyes. He said, for the last four hours? and she said they couldn’t all sit and stare at a tray table for nine hours. She wasn’t even sure he was human. Maybe he needed a reboot. He asked her to explain what was really going on in Croatia.

Trina went to Portia’s office and said she hated that things were so hard between her parents. She couldn’t stop thinking about Drew blackmailing Portia. She was glad Portia told her, but wanted to know if Drew was the only one who had proof. Portia asked why she needed to know.

Curtis went to Anna’s office with Martin, who asked that her questions be brief and direct. Anna thought Curtis should rethink his defensive position. It implied he was hiding something. Curtis said he’d been a cop and was aware of how messy things could get quickly and had every intention of protecting his rights.

Carly asked Elizabeth what Drew’s room number. She had to talk to him. Lucas wondered how many people knew she’d threatened to kill Drew.

Drew said he was happy to see Willow, and she asked how he felt. He said, better now that she was there, and she said she was relieved he was okay. Did he remember what happened? Did he know who shot him?

Dante knocked at Jacinda’s hotel room and introduced himself. He wondered if he could ask her a few questions. Did she mind if he came in? She let him in, and Michael came out with no shirt on.

Curtis said he and Drew had ended their friendship. Drew’s had deep feelings for Aurora, and he had deep feelings about being lied to, and the lines blurred. Anna said Curtis had accused Drew of abusing his office to target Stella in an insurance fraud investigation. Was Curtis angry enough to kill?

Drew told Willow that he didn’t see who shot him. He’d gone to the safe and taken out her ring. He’d been thinking about how she said she’d come back to him and wanted to give her the ring as a sign of new beginnings. That’s when he got shot in the back twice. She said it was a miracle he’d survived. He had Tracy to thank. She was the one who found him and called 911. He wondered what Tracy was doing there, but Willow didn’t know. He said he wasn’t alive because of Tracy. He survived because he had too much to live for. He had to pull through to be with her and the kids.

Lucas said Carly had Elizabeth to thank for not telling the police about her threat, and Carly told him that she did say she’d kill Drew if he went after Michael, but she didn’t do it. He said he believed her, but she might give the cops the wrong idea visiting Drew. She said she was there to intervene on someone’s behalf.

Lulu asked what she could do for Nina, but Nina said she wanted to do something for Lulu. Agent Brennan told her about Valentin’s request for a visit with Charlotte in person and tried to recruit her to help make it happen.

At the Bad Jen Café, Obrecht saw Outback and made a fuss over her. She said it had been a while, then saw Rocco with Charlotte. She said, and for him too.

Britt said she was working on a research project, and Jason asked, what kind? She said, cold fusion. It wasn’t a big deal. He said it was big enough for the WSB to pay attention, but she said she was just doing a job. He said, a job that almost got her killed, and she said she’d always thought Pascal was annoying, but didn’t know he was an annoying psycho. Jason said she was desperate to get out before the WSB back-up got there and she didn’t want to answer questions, and she said she didn’t want to be left holding the bag for Pascal. He’d done all kinds of illegal stuff, including kidnapping Josslyn and her agent partner-slash-fake husband-slash-maybe boyfriend. He said she still wasn’t telling him everything, like who she was working for.

Trina said she was worried about Portia and trying to figure out how to help, but Portia said Trina needed to stay out of it. Trina said if the evidence came to light, Portia could lose her job and medical license and be arrested. That wouldn’t be happening if she hadn’t wanted to protect Trina. Portia said she would do it again, but she would tell Trina’s father from the beginning. Keeping secrets was a pattern she kept falling into with Trina’s father. Trina said all the secrets were because of her, but Portia said, no. They weren’t Trina’s fault. They were hers and Drew’s.

Willow said Scout would be staying with her and Elizabeth, and Drew wondered why she didn’t take Scout to his place. She said she couldn’t. It was a crime scene. Carly walked in and said, wow. She guessed the rumors were true and Willow was back together with this jerk. Willow said, Drew nearly died, and Carly said, but he didn’t. Drew told her to get to the point, and she said Danny called and Scout left Lila’s Kids again and went to the Quartermaines. She wondered if Scout could stay with them while Drew recovered, since it was clear she’d rather be there. Drew said, not a chance. Danny put Scout’s life in danger. Carly said, what about Alexis? but he said it was better if Scout stayed with Willow. That’s why he made her their legal guardian. Carly suggested he think about his daughter first, but he said she needed to stop worrying about his kid and worry about her own, because if Michael hadn’t been arrested for shooting him yet, he would be, and soon.

Michael said he didn’t expect to see Dante so soon, and Jacinda asked how they knew each other. Michael said Dante was his brother, and Dante said Michael had cited Jacinda as his alibi, and she said she’d be happy to answer any questions. Dante wasn’t surprised.

Lulu said she’d made it clear she wouldn’t let Charlotte see Valentin and asked if Brennan wanted Nina to end run her and talk to Charlotte. Nina said, no, and she wouldn’t. She loved Charlotte and only wanted the best for her, and a huge portion of that was a good relationship with her mom. She would never undermine that or Lulu. As far as she was concerned, their animosity was in the past. Lulu agreed, and Nina said, let her offer Lulu some advice from one woman who loved Charlotte to another. In no way did she condone Jack’s underhanded tactics, but she thought Lulu should consider letting Charlotte visit her dad.

Rocco introduced Charlotte, and Obrecht said they spent time together when Valentin was married to Nina. Now she was a lovely young woman. Charlotte thanked her and said it was nice to see her. It was surprising to find out she was her sort of brother’s grandmother. Obrecht said, technically, that wasn’t accurate, but in her heart, she’ll always think of him as family. She went to place her order, and Rocco said, don’t tell their mom they saw Dr. Obrecht. She was Britt’s mom, and it made their mom uncomfortable that he wanted to know more about Britt.

Britt said she reported to Pascal and had no idea who he was working for, but Jason said he didn’t believe that. The WSB wouldn’t be interested. She couldn’t run from questions forever. Jack Brennan ran the office in Port Charles, and he was relentless. He was smart, strategic, and ruthless. He recruited Josslyn while he was having a relationship with Carly, who had no idea. Britt said she knew they’d circle back to Carly, and Jason said Brennan would use whoever it took to get what he wanted and wouldn’t think twice about screwing her over. If she had a problem with Brennan, call him. Britt said, other than that, she wanted nothing to do with him.

Lulu asked if Nina was here on Brennan’s behalf, but Nina promised she wasn’t. And she wasn’t in it for Valentin. She wasn’t suggesting Lulu do this for Valentin’s benefit, but do it for her own. Brennan needed something from Valentin and if he had to, he’d find a way to contact Charlotte directly. If Charlotte found out that Valentin wanted to see her and Lulu become an obstacle, keeping her from her dad… Lulu said, Charlotte would end up resenting her, and Nina said her advice was to take control of the situation and use it to her advantage.

Charlotte said she thought their mom had calmed down about Obrecht, and Rocco said she was trying, but still didn’t like it. He felt bad, but couldn’t help it if he wanted to know more about Britt. Charlotte said she got it and don’t worry. He said he didn’t want to hurt their mom’s feelings, and Charlotte said that’s why she didn’t bring up her father. It made their mom uneasy. She loved them both, but it was better to keep their worlds separate. Obrecht brought over a dessert for them to share, but she wanted Rocco to eat. He was too skinny. Outback dashed out the door, and Rocco and Charlotte chased after her.

Jason said he was hoping saving Britt’s life and getting her a ticket back would make her cut him some slack, but she said business class wasn’t what it used to be. He owed her for running out to save Josslyn. He said he came back, but she said his priorities were the same. Carly always came first. Anything else was a distant second… which was fine. It wasn’t like they were together. He asked why she was angry, and she said he was acting like she could count on him. Why would she, when she’d just get the rug yanked out from under her. She was better off relying on herself like she always had. He said he was trying to be her friend, and she said he was lousy at it.

Lucas apologized to Elizabeth for Carly being harsh, and Elizabeth said she understood. He thanked her for not talking to the police, and she said, not yet. Drew knew she’d overheard, and she was sure he’d report the incident. Lucas said, of course (🍷). Anything to torment his sister or Michael. She said she couldn’t deny it happened, and he told her that Carly said she didn’t shoot Drew, and he believed her. He hoped nobody got arrested. Drew had pushed a lot of people way too far. It was terrible to say, but he thought Drew brought it on himself.

Carly said Michael didn’t shoot Drew, and Drew said, like Michael didn’t assault him at her restaurant and she covered it up. She said everyone would see that he was doing it to get Michael out of the way so Wiley and Amelia would go to Willow. If he had any proof, Michael would have been arrested. Drew said Michael threatened him and had a history of manslaughter, but Carly said there was a long list of people who wanted him dead. He said, including her. Maybe that’s why she was sure her son was innocent. She said if she’d wanted him dead, he’d be dead. She came to ask him to reconsider Scout’s living situation, so maybe he’d remember her mother’s wishes and do the right thing, but he was beyond hope. And so was Willow. She left.

Curtis said Drew thought he could go through his aunt to get to him, and Anna said he was convinced Drew weaponized his position to open the investigation. He said that was his theory, and she said, then the next question could only be, could he account for his whereabouts the night Drew was shot?

Jacinda said Michael offered to pay for her drink and they ended up talking for a while, and Dante asked what time Michael left. She said, they left the PC Grill around 9:15 and came back there, and Dante said Michael didn’t mention that. Michael said he was trying to be discreet, and Dante asked what time Michael left her room. Jacinda said, around 10:30, and Dante thanked her and asked for a word with his brother in private. She said, of course (🍷). She’d go shower. She left, and Michael said he knew he should have told Dante that he slept with her, but Dante said he didn’t believe that. But he did believe Michael paid her to be his alibi.

Jason asked where Britt was staying, and she said she didn’t know and she didn’t want his help. He said she might need it. From his experience, it wasn’t easy to jump back into life after being dead. There were legal obstacles. She said she needed to have a prescription filled, and he said, she needed to face the people who thought she was dead. She said she doubted she was missed, but he said her mom never stopped grieving. He missed her. She said, on second thought, he could help her. Did he have $20 for a cab? Make that $40. She always tipped. Actually, how much money did he have? He handed her all his cash, and she thanked him and said it was just a loan. She’d pay him back and for the plane ticket. He said there was no need, when their final descent was announced. She said she thought the flight would never end, and he said, whatever she was hiding, she didn’t have to hide it from him.

Rocco came back and Obrecht said he was bleeding. She sat him down, and he said he was chasing Outback and ran into a tree branch. She asked if he caught Outback, but he said, no. Charlotte was still out there, but insisted he get bandaged up. Could she do it? Obrecht said it was a nasty cut and would need stitches.

Nina said if Lulu offered Charlotte a chance to see her father, she’d come out the hero, not the villain. And she’d be part of the process. She could set limits and possibly be at the meeting. Lulu said she didn’t love the idea of Charlotte and Valentin reconnecting, especially now that Charlotte was settling in, and Nina said almost all of their conversations were about how much Charlotte missed her dad. Lulu said she had no idea. Charlotte rarely mentioned him. Nina said she was neutral, and Charlotte knew how she felt about Valentin. She hadn’t forgotten him or left him in the past. If Lulu facilitated a reunion, she’d score major points. Lulu’s phone rang, and she asked Rocco, what’s up? He said, don’t freak out, and she said, too late. He said Outback was off leash and he cut his forehead chasing her. Dr. Obrecht was taking him to get stitches. She happened to be there. Lulu said she’d meet him at the hospital, and asked Nina if she’d come as a buffer between her and Nina’s aunt.

Dante said he knew Michael beelined there to shore up his story. He wasn’t buying it. Michael said he was with Jacinda when Dante brought him in for questioning, and Dante said he didn’t want Michael to be guilty, but it was too convenient. Jacinda was already connected to Drew. Michael said he knew that, and Dante said just tell him the truth. Was Michael really with her the night Drew was shot? Dante’s phone rang, and he stepped away to talk to Lulu.

Trina said Portia saved Drew’s life. Did she think he’d stop the blackmail? Portia said he didn’t seem grateful, and Trina asked if Portia was still worried he’d try to expose her. Portia said, actually, no. She made peace with it and one good thing she learned was that there were some lines she wouldn’t cross, no matter how much Drew pushed. It was surprisingly freeing. She wasn’t living in fear and living on her own terms. If it came to light, she’d face it and deal with the consequences. Trina said she was glad to hear Portia say that and they hugged.

Anna said, when Chase spoke to Stella, she said Curtis dropped her home and left around 8:45. Dante said he didn’t return home until after midnight. Could he clarify where he was for three hours? Curtis said he was with Alexis, discussing his aunt’s case. He got there about 9 and stayed until 10:15. Then he went to The Savoy. Anna asked if anyone could verify that, but Curtis said, no. He came in the back and went to his office. He wanted alone time to decompress. She asked if he went anywhere else, and he said he met Jordan for a drink at the Brown Dog Bar. He arrived around 10:50, stayed until midnight, then went home. Anna said, unfortunately, he was alone at The Savoy at the time of the shooting, and Martin said it wasn’t a crime to be alone. It didn’t make him guilty. Anna said Curtis had training in law enforcement, which enabled him to cover things up. It didn’t make him guilty, but it did put him at the top of the suspect list.

Lulu and Dante arrived at the hospital and Rocco said he was fine, but Charlotte hadn’t found Outback yet. Obrecht asked why Nina was there, and she said she was with Lulu when Rocco called. Why didn’t they let the parents take over and go for a nightcap? Obrecht said she wasn’t thirsty, and Lucas said they were ready to give Rocco stitched. Rocco asked Lulu not to be mad at Dr. Obrecht. If not for her, he wouldn’t have gone to the hospital. Dante thanked Obrecht for looking after their son.

Jacinda asked where Michael’s brother went, and Michael said he had a family emergency. She asked if he bought their story, and he said, no, but it didn’t matter. He still had to report it. She said they barely had enough time to stage their assignation, and he thanked her for helping him. She said it helped them both to have an alibi. If anyone found out she was there to blackmail Drew, they’d try to pin it on her. Michael said, since neither of them could account for their whereabouts, they might as well help each other out.

Curtis went to see Portia and said he was definitely a prime suspect. The good news was, she wasn’t on the PCPD’s radar. Her name didn’t come up. Drew couldn’t talk about their conflict without incriminating himself. Portia said no matter how bad things got, they shared a daughter. After dragging him into this mess, the last thing they’d want is for Trina to get caught in the fallout. Curtis said there was something she could do to help.

Carly went to Anna’s office and said she had a confession. She threatened to kill Drew the night he was shot. Anna asked if Carly needed her lawyer, but Carly said she didn’t shoot him. She knew Anna would hear about it, so for the record, she was with Jack Brennan the whole night. Anna said Jack told her, but Carly’s boyfriend was a skillful liar.

Willow asked if Drew thought Carly could shoot him, and he said, it wouldn’t be the first time she shot someone. Willow said if she threatened him, he should tell the police, but he said that wouldn’t accomplish what he wanted. As far as he was concerned, Michael shot him. Even if it didn’t play to his advantage, he’d have Michael take the fall. Willow asked if Drew was going to frame Michael. He already told the police that he didn’t see anything. Drew said the thing about traumatic memories was that they came flooding back any moment.

Curtis said if it became public knowledge that Drew screwed up their marriage, it would lead to more scrutiny which would lead to Drew’s blackmail. They needed to behave as though their marriage was still strong. Was she willing to do that?

Jacinda said Michael’s brother was already suspicious. What if he found out they were lying? Michael said they just needed to be consistent and commit to their story, and she asked if there were any scars or tattoos she should know about.

Willow said if Drew was going to say Michael was responsible when he wasn’t, the person was still out there to try again. Drew said he was willing to risk it. When Michael was convicted, her kids would come back, and their family would be whole. He knew she didn’t approve… She said it was fine. She’d do anything to get her kids back.

Carly said if Anna was accusing her and Jack of lying, be sure she had proof, and Anna said lying came easily to Jack. It was something Carly needed to know. Carly said she knew Jack lied about work, but when it came to their relationship, they had an understanding. Anna asked if she believed Jack would never lie to her, when they saw Jason at the door.

Britt walked into the hospital, hesitated, then walked through those loud sliding doors. Elizabeth saw her and said, Oh… my… God. Britt? Britt turned and saw Obrecht and Nina, and Lulu said they thought she was… Britt said, dead? Believe it or not, she was back. There were soap faces all around, and Obrecht fainted.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Brick shows up at Sonny’s office and Sonny says, easy trip? Brick says, no complaints, and Sonny asks if Brick did that thing he asked him to do. Brick says, it’s handled, and Sonny says, so the cops investigating Judge Haran’s murder will find the million-dollar deposit in her bank account. Brick says, it was supposed to look like it came from Sonny, and Sonny says, but it’s going to look like came from Drew Cain. Brick says, that would be true.

At the Bad Jen Café, Emma said, it’s so close, she can taste it, and Gio asks how victory tastes. She says, sweet. Every day, Dalton is trusting her more and more, confiding in her, and adding more responsibilities. He says, awesome, and she says, it’s everything working for since she was back in California. He says, she’s almost there. She just has to get answers and proof. She says, and that piece of garbage will finally get nailed. They’re going to make that happen. He says, yes, they are, together, and they clink coffee cups.

Josslyn and Vaughn come up on a deck from the beach and lean their surfboards against the railing. They go inside to a bedroom, and Vaughn says he couldn’t wait to get back here. She says, really? and they get busy.

Carly says she didn’t know Jason was back in town. How was his trip? He says, eventful, and she says she can’t wait to hear about it, but he says he needs to speak to Anna alone.

Elizabeth tells Obrecht, keep breathing… There she is. Nina asks if she’s okay, and Elizabeth tells her not to stand. She might still be dizzy. Obrecht says she still doesn’t know what happened. Her mind must be playing tricks. Britt says, this isn’t a trick, mutter, and comes into view. Elizabeth says, take it easy, and Nina helps Obrecht up. Obrecht says, this can’t be happening, but Britt says, it is. She swears. Obrecht touches her and says, you’re here. Britt says, yes, and they hug.

Obrecht cries and says she’d been dreaming of this moment. Every night, Britt is standing before her. Right now, how is it possible? Where was she?

Brick tells Sonny, the wire transfer is complete, with account numbers linking Drew with Judge Haran. It was nice and snug in his safe when Brick left. Sonny says, it won’t be hard to believe, given Drew’s public obsession with getting Willow’s kids back to her, and Brick says, exactly.  If the cops haven’t found it already, they will soon. Sonny says, and after that, Drew’s political career is going to tank, and Brick says, unless whoever tried to kill him comes back to finish job first.

Jason asks Carly to give him a minute – please, and she says she knows what he has to say to Anna is probably important, but there’s a lot of things that happened while he was gone. Can’t it wait? He says, no. He’ll find her when he’s done, but he really needs to talk to Anna. Carly says, okay, and Anna thanks her for coming in. She appreciates it. Carly leaves, and Anna says she guesses Jason is going to have to pay for that. Jason says he knows how to handle Carly. He needs to know what to tell her about her daughter. How long has Anna known that Josslyn was in the WSB?  

Josslyn wondered why it was so intense between her and Vaughn, and he says, they almost died last night. Now it’s like everything is in high definition. She says, more vivid, and he says, every touch, every sound, every sensation. Their bodies know how close they came to never feeling any of that again. They start getting busy, round two.

Britt says they have plenty of time to get into all that. Right now, she wants to enjoy the moment; doesn’t Obrecht? Obrecht says she does, but she has so many questions, and Dante says, it’s probably not the best idea to be here right now. Britt asks if that’s code for, how the hell are you? Welcome back. I’m so glad you’re alive. Dante says they can skip the pleasantries, and Britt says she sees he hasn’t lost his holier-than-thou-ness. He says she hasn’t lost her ability to cause a scene, and Nina says, let’s all just take a breath. She looks at Britt and says, oh, hello. How the hell are you? Welcome back. I’m so glad you’re alive. They hug, and Britt tells Dante, see how easy that is? Nina says she’s just happy to see Britt. She’s trying to wrap her mind around it. It’s unbelievable. They missed her so much. Britt says she missed both of them so much, and at the desk, Lulu asks if Elizabeth can do her a favor. Could she please keep Rocco in the exam room while they deal with this? Elizabeth says, yes, of course (🍷), and Lulu thanks her. Britt says, hang on. Ben is here at the hospital?  

Emma looks at the door, and Gio asks if she’s waiting for someone. She says, actually, yes, and he says, ouch. Is his company that bad? She says, Dalton stops by here every night after work, which means he should… Yep. Bingo. He says, that was almost great, and she says, wish her luck. He says, good luck, creepy, and she gets up taking her uneaten dessert. He says, that’s what the cheesecake was for.

Emma sees Dalton at the counter and says, what a nice surprise. He asks if she’s following him, but she says she’s pretty sure she was here first. She knows he loves the pistachio cheesecake. She offers him her slice, and he says, she pays attention to everything, doesn’t she? She says she tries, when Charlotte comes in and asks Gio if he’s heard from Rocco, but he says, no. What happened? She says, Outback ran away, and he asks what she’s talking about. She says they took her off leash to untangle it and this car backfired. She freaked when she heard it and ran away. He asks if Rocco is out looking, and she says, he was, but he cut his head trying to find her and went to GH to get stitches. Gio says, yikes, and she says, it’s not the best night. She promised to find Outback, but so far, no luck. How is she supposed to tell Rocco that she’s worried Outback is gone for good? Rocco loves that dog so much.

Rocco said he wasn’t looking where he was going and ran right into a branch, and Lucas says, it got him pretty good too. He’s lucky it didn’t get him in the eye. Rocco says, Dr. Obrecht made him get checked out, and Lucas says, she was right. He definitely needed stitches. Sorry about his dog. He hopes Rocco finds her soon. Rocco says, him too. His sister is still out looking. Elizabeth comes in and asks how it’s going, and Lucas says he’s just about done. She asks if he remembered to administer the new protocol, the second disinfectant wash on all superficial wounds. She tells Rocco, sorry, buddy. They’re just going to have to keep him a little longer. It’s the new rule. She gives Lucas a look, and he says, right. He thanks her for the reminder and says, new protocol coming up. Sorry about this. It will just take a minute.

Lulu tells Britt that her son’s name is Rocco. She knows that. Britt says, but he’s at GH. Is he all right? Dante says, their son is not her business, and Nina says, it’s a beautiful moment. Try not to tarnish it, please. She suggests Britt and Obrecht come home with her so they can catch up, and Obrecht says she didn’t ask why Britt was here. Is she okay? She can get someone to see Britt right away. Britt says she’s she fine. She just needs to reup some meds. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), and suggests the get them right now, but Lulu says, wait. She’d like to explain the situation to Rocco before… Britt says, before what? Before she kidnaps the kid and runs away with him? Lulu says, before he sees her. This is going to be a shock for him, and she’d like him to hear it from them. Britt says, God forbid the baby she brought into the world gets a glimpse of her. Fine. One night without her meds won’t kill her… she hopes… Come on. That was funny. Obrecht says they’ll take Nina up on her offer, and Nina says, great. They leave, and Lulu asks if Dante heard that. He says, of course (🍷), and she says, the baby she brought into this world. What the hell are they going to do?

Sonny says, Brick was in Drew’s house the night he got shot, and Brick asks if Sonny is telling him, or was there a question in there? Sonny asks if he saw anything, but Brick says he was gone long before the shooting. Sonny knows how he likes to move… Like a ghost. They laugh, and Sonny says, you know, it’s too bad Brick wasn’t there. Then he’d know who tried to off that bastard.

Anna asks if Jason found Josslyn. Is she all right? He says, she’s safe, for now, and Anna says, good. She’s so relieved. He asks how long she’s known, and she says, for a few months. He says, what? How did she find out? She says she was suspicious of Dalton, and Jason says, the PCU professor? She says, yeah. So her granddaughter Emma had this odd obsession with him. She was trying to inch her way into his inner circle, and it suddenly occurred to her, did Emma follow him out here from California? There must be something there. So she started investigating, and in tracking him, she came across Josslyn. He says, because Josslyn was his assistant, but she says, no. She had Dante trailing a courier going between Dalton and a third party, and in tracking the courier, she realized Josslyn was doing the exact same thing. He says, and Dante was sure about exactly what Josslyn was doing? and she says, yes. He saw her put a tracker in the courier’s backpack. That’s when it all fell into place, when she realized Josslyn was on a mission investigating Dalton. Jason says, she should have told him, and she says, of course (🍷) she wanted to tell him. Does he think she didn’t? She couldn’t. Jack stopped her. He realized she was suspicious and getting close to the truth, so he brought her in and told her everything. Every last word was classified. He says, so if she told him, that would be treason, and she says she could be sent to prison and wanted to avoid that. So she motivated him into Josslyn’s orbit. He says, she didn’t motivate him. She manipulated him.

Lulu tells Dante that she only indulged Rocco’s curiosity because she assumed it was harmless and couldn’t lead to anything. Now Britt is back. Dante says they’ve got to learn from their mistake, and Lulu says, what mistake? She’s kidding. He says they’ve got to be up front with Rocco, and she says she knew he was going to say that. He says he doesn’t like it any more than she does, but if they don’t tell Rocco, he’s just going to find out anyway. Lulu says, he will. Brook may just want to spring it on him. He’s right of course (🍷). She just can’t believe this is happening.

Elizabeth looks through the blinds, and Lucas says, all right, Mr. Falconari. The good news is, the stitches dissolve and the sterile strips fall off in about a week. So he doesn’t need to come back, unless there’s an issue, obviously. Rocco says, awesome. Is it cool if he looks for Outback? Is it safe or whatever? Lucas says, yeah, since there’s no concussion. But nothing too strenuous. And watch out for branches. Rocco says he will, and Elizabeth tells him to take care of himself. Good luck with his search. Rocco leaves, and Lucas says, what was that about? Elizabeth says, is he ready for this? and he says he’s not sure. She says, the Britch is back.

Rocco says he got stitches that apparently dissolve on their own, and Lulu says, let her see. Does it hurt? He says, no. Any word from Charlotte? Dante says, not yet, and Rocco says, where’s Dr. Obrecht? Lulu says, she went with Nina, and Dante says, maybe they should get going too. They’ve got something to chat about. They leave.

Nina tells Britt and Obrecht, come on in. Make yourself at home. Britt can stay as long as she wants. She’ll make sure the guest room has everything she needs, and she’ll get Britt a spare key. Britt thanks her… What? Is there something on her face? Obrecht says her face is perfect just as it always has been. She can’t believe Britt is here. Britt says, in the flesh, and Obrecht says, Britt appeared to her in her dreams all the time. She relied on those dreams so much. Britt takes Obrecht’s hands and says, hey, this isn’t a dream. She’s here. She’s home and with her. Nina says they can finally talk about that since it’s just them. Where has she been all this time? What has she been doing?

Carly and Brick hug, and she says she didn’t know he’d be in town. She would have done her makeup. Brick says she doesn’t need makeup, and Sonny says, that’s exactly why he didn’t tell her. She says she loves when Brick is in town. It makes her feel like nothing bad can go wrong. Brick says she knows he loves taking care of his favorite powerhouse. That’s automatic. She asks if he’s still cold plunging, and he says, yes, opening his jacket. Look at him. Does she see him? She says, it’s working, and Sonny asks if this can wait until they’re finished. Brick says, it’s jealousy, and Sonny says he thought Carly had something important to tell him. She says she does. Jason is back. Did he know? Sonny says, yeah, and she says, he’s with Anna. Sonny asks how she knows, and she says she was in Anna’s office when he showed up. And the first thing asked was for her to leave so he could have a private conversation with Anna. Sonny wondered what kind of business Jason had with the Commissioner.

Anna says, Jack tied her hands, but Jason says he doesn’t care. She still should have told him. Instead, she sent him to Croatia blind. She says she couldn’t risk it. Jack would have shipped her off to Steinmaur the first chance he got. Jason says, what about Josslyn? She could have been killed. She says, that’s why she pointed him in her direction, and he says, the WSB in Croatia. She says she doesn’t know why Josslyn would want to go down this path. She wouldn’t wish this on anyone. She was practically begging Jack to pull her out, but he refused. When Jason came to her, he’d said something about seeing Britt at the airport carrying a bag from a resort in Dalmatia. She had to protect Josslyn, so she sent him in.

Basking in the afterglow, Josslyn wonders what happens when they go back to the real world, but Vaughn says, don’t think about that. She asks, why? and he says, Brennan. Is she going to be able to cover? She says, yes, but… and he says, but nothing. Brennan can’t know about this. They start to kiss, but hear something outside the door. They draw their guns and Jack comes in. They slowly lower their guns.

Emma tells Dalton that the report came out today and she went ahead and printed it out. She organized it all and the report is on his desk. He says, incredible, and thanks her. She says he’s welcome. So what’s next? He says, next… well, he supposes he has to let her in on a little secret.

Carly tells Sonny and Brick that she knew it was only a matter of time before Anna heard she’d threatened Drew, so she decided to get ahead of it. She told Anna, yes. She looked in Drew’s face and told him that she’d kill him herself, but she didn’t shoot him. Brick says, smart, but volunteering anything to the police is risky, and Sonny says, unless someone is trying to draw attention to themselves to get it away from somebody else. Brick says, is the someone else her son Michael? Does she think her son shot Drew?

Jason says, Anna shouldn’t have been focused on pulling Josslyn out of the op. She should have been focused on pulling her out of the WSB. Anna asks what makes him think she has any influence over Josslyn whatsoever, and he says, because she knows that life. She knows it cost her everything. It cost her family, her relationships, who she is. You become the lie the WSB makes you live. She says, Josslyn didn’t exactly call and ask for advice before she signed up. She had no idea Josslyn was even considering this. She knows Jason loves Josslyn very much and knows how important she is and her entire family is to him, but Josslyn isn’t a child anymore. She’s a grown woman who makes her own decisions and she’s chosen this life. Anna thinks it was of her own free will. He says he hates it, and she says she does too, but she doesn’t think Josslyn was forced. He says, maybe not forced, but definitely manipulated, and she says, she probably was. They know a lot about that. They trusted and respected people who came into their lives at the exact right moment and started them on a path that they probably shouldn’t have gone down. Who knows what type of people they’d been if they’d been left alone. Jason says, Sonny was there for him. He always has been. Sonny gave him a sense of purpose. The first time they met the guy put cash in his hand. Anna says, the Bureau put cash in her hand too. Because the Bureau, because Sonny, they saw something in them that they recognized. That they would do whatever it takes to belong, to have a purpose. He asks if she’s saying the WSB saw something similar in Josslyn, and she says she thinks Brennan saw something. Something so important, he was willing to risk his relationship to Carly… Oh God. Carly. She can’t even imagine how Jack betrayed her. Jason says, it sounds a lot like what Anna did to him.

Lucas tells Elizabeth, Britt Westbourne is dead. There was a funeral and everything. She says she’s telling him that Britt is here. She saw Britt with her own eyes. Lucas says, it’s not like how it was with Jason. There was a body. Heather Webber killed her. Elizabeth asks him to consider who her parents are, consider who she is. She comes from a long line of really awful… She doesn’t know how to describe them. The point is, she or they or someone pulled it off. He says, so she faked her own death, and Elizabeth says she doesn’t really know what Britt did, but it sure looks like that. He says, now that she’s back, he has to call Brad. He was absolutely devastated when she died. Elizabeth says, that’s the last thing he needs.

Jack says, excuse me, Mr., and Mrs. Nash. He’ll give them a minute. He leaves and they get dressed. Vaughn opens the door and says they know it’s against the rules but… Josslyn says, it won’t interfere with their job. He’ll see. Jack asks what the hell they were thinking, and Vaughn says, they came to Australia… and Josslyn says, to establish her cover story. Jack says, they need to tell him everything that happened at the Five Poppies resort, starting with Britt Westbourne.

Britt says she knows they both have a lot of questions, but it’s really a long story. She promises to get to it, but right now she’s exhausted. It was a brutal flight. Nina says, Britt has been through so much, she’s probably only thinking about a bed and a shower. They can catch up tomorrow. Obrecht says, no. She refuses to wait another moment. She’s waited long enough. It’s been two years, and she mourned every single day. Now Britt is here and she needs answers. She deserves to know what happened to her daughter.

As they go into the house, Rocco says, they were weird the whole ride home. What’s going on? Did they hear something about Outback? Lulu says she’s sorry. They didn’t hear anything, but they have to believe they’ll find her. Inside, Rocco says he thinks he’ll put Outback on Investigate before he goes to bed, and Lulu says, good idea. Dante says, wait. Hold up. There’s some stuff they’ve got to talk to him about. Charlotte comes downstairs and asks if they found Outback.

Elizabeth says, things are going so well for Lucas and Marco. Does he really want to be dragged back into Brad’s drama? Who’s to say he doesn’t already know? She wouldn’t put past Brad to involved with Britt’s cover-up. Does he really want to get tangled up in that mess? Lucas says he really doesn’t think Brad could fake grief like that, but she says she doesn’t know what Brad is capable of. But she does know he lied about Wiley to him, Michael, and Willow every single day for like, two years. He says, Brad did it for him, and she says, maybe. Maybe he lied for Britt. He did love her too. She thinks it’s fair to say Brad could justify pretty much anything. He says, Brad could and has and will again, and she says she’s sorry. She knows it’s not what he wants to hear. He says, it’s not, but it’s what he needed to hear. Who knows how deeply Brad is involved in this? Anything is possible when it comes to Brad and Britt Westbourne and none of it is good.  

Britt says, okay. Before Josslyn was attacked on the pier, she was approached about an intriguing research project out of the country. Obrecht says, and she told them, yes, but Britt says, no. Not at first. But she kept thinking of the heartbreak of Obrecht watching her die of Huntington’s. She didn’t want that for either of them, so when Heather Webber attacked Josslyn, then she… Nina asks if it was all staged, but Britt says, no. The attack was real, but her dying wasn’t. Obrecht asks if she’s saying she’s responsible for this. She’s responsible for making them think she was dead.

Lulu tells Charlotte that they haven’t found Outback yet, but she’s sure they will tomorrow. She’ll help put up fliers and look. Charlotte says, so will she, and Lulu says, right now, she has something she need to tell both of them. It’s about Britt Westbourne. Dante says, they saw her tonight at GH, and Rocco asks how that’s possible. Charlotte says, wasn’t she murdered by Heather Webber? and Lulu says, apparently not. She’s very much alive. She doesn’t know all the details or what happened. Lucas asks if Dr. Obrecht knew she was alive, but Dante says, no. She definitely didn’t. They all saw her for the first time tonight. Rocco asks if Britt was there while he was getting stitches, and Dante says, she was. Rocco asks why he didn’t get to see her. Were they keeping him from her?

Anna says she knows Jason thinks she betrayed him, but she’d hoped in time he’d see that she didn’t. She didn’t have any other choices. Jason says, she had a choice. She picked the easy one. She says she didn’t see any other way. If he thinks it was easy for her to keep him in the dark, he really doesn’t know her at all. He says he thought he did, and she says she’s really sorry. She can’t change what she did. He says, yeah. Whatever. He’s got to focus on Carly. She says, he may not believe it, but she’s been thinking about Carly too, and now that he knows everything, what is he going to do? Is he going to tell Carly the truth?

Carly says, their son is not a violent person, Sonny says, their son would not shoot someone in the back. She says, but Drew is going to do whatever he can to make sure Michael goes down for it, because Drew is obsessed with Willow. And getting her kids back will guarantee she stays with him. What better way to do that? Brick says, if Michael is in prison for attempted murder, and she says, exactly. Sonny says that’s why he wanted Michael to compromise with Willow in the first place. That way, he could have ended this and still had the upper hand. Carly says, it’s too late for that because Drew will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Hell, he’s going to use his own brush with death to do it and he will destroy their son in the process.

Josslyn says she and Vaughn discovered Britt Westbourne was alive and thought it could not have been a coincidence that a doctor with a research background was at the Five Poppies. Vaughn says, a doctor who faked her own death, and Josslyn says, she had to have been involved with whatever was going on and they had an in. She knows Britt. Britt saved her life. Jack says, okay. Did they get anything out of her? Josslyn says, they tried, and Vaughn says, all of a sudden, their cover was blown. Jack says, Colette Moreau, and Josslyn says, hold on. His next in command Colette? That explains the black box. She’s who they were communicating with. They asked about the code to the black box. They knew about it. Jack says he’s confused as to why they’re still alive. Why didn’t they just kill them and be done with it? Vaughn says, they were being kept as test subjects, human guinea pigs for their radiation experiments, and Jack asks how they escaped. Josslyn says, Jason saved them, and Jack says, Jason Morgan?

Carly says she knows Michael didn’t do it, and Brick says, all right. He’ll see what he can do. Sonny says, good. They’ve got to get ahead of Drew’s accusations. Carly says, they need to protect Michael from the fallout that will come when Drew makes it, because he will. She knows this is wrong to say, but Michael, Wiley, and Amelia would be better off if Drew was dead. Sonny says, it’s not wrong, cuz it’s the truth, and Brick says, there’s still time for that. Sonny tells them, Drew can say whatever he wants about Michael, but sooner or later, his word is going to mean jack with the cops.

Looking like he has a headache, Jack says, how the hell did Jason Morgan get there? and Josslyn says she doesn’t actually know. But if she had to guess, she assumes it had something to do with Britt. Jack says, Jason’s not working with her, and Josslyn says, no, but they used to be involved. Jack says, so what she’s telling him is, Jason Morgan found out where Britt was and in doing so… Josslyn says, he found them and saved their lives. Jack says, this was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission and what they’re telling him is that they risked their lives, defied his orders, and have nothing to show for it.

On the phone, Dalton says, they’re coming tonight… No. He’ll be there to accept it. Emma asks if he needs her help, but he says, absolutely not. He can handle it. He’ll see her tomorrow. She says, count on it, and he says, good. Tomorrow, everything is going be revealed. She says, before he goes, he has to tell her what the secret is, and he says, they use sheep’s milk in the lattes. That’s why they taste so good. He leaves, and Gio asks, how’d it go? She says, Dalton just confirmed everything. He’s expecting a new shipment of test subjects and he’s a sick, sick bastard. But she’s finally got him… What’s wrong? Gio says he hates to rain on her parade, and she tells him, just say it. He says, Outback is missing.

Jason says he can’t tell Carly the truth because he made a promise to Josslyn, and Anna says she guesses he was forced to. He says, if she’d been honest with him before he found out, he could have told Carly before he promised Josslyn, and Anna says, okay. It is what it is at this point. She doesn’t know what to say. She thinks they’ve both been in situations before that were far from ideal. She told him everything she knows and answered all of his questions. What went down over there? What happened? Jack said it was a reconnaissance mission. What did Josslyn find and how is Britt even involved in any of this? He says, she wants answers? Go ask her friend Jack Brennan. He walks out.

Rocco says, please be honest and tell him what happened, and Lulu says, when he was with the doctor, everyone was overwhelmed, including Britt. She left with Dr. Obrecht and Nina to work things out as a family. Dante said they wanted to do the same with him, and Rocco asks if they talked to her. Lulu says they did, and Dante says, yeah, briefly. Rocco says, is she okay? What did she say happened? Dante says, she didn’t. This is a lot for everyone. Lulu says they need to take things slow, and Rocco says, yeah, sure.

Britt says, yes, she was in on it. She was protecting Obrecht from the agony of watching her deteriorate. Obrecht says, yes, watching Britt die in her arms was mujch better. Obrecht gets up, and Britt says she couldn’t bear for Obrecht to see her waste away. Obrecht says, so she played God with their hearts and their lives. Britt says she wonders where she gets that, and goes over to Obrecht. She says, please. She’s home and she loves her. She did all of this for her. Obrecht says, please. She was thinking of no one but herself and she tortured the people who loved her in the process. She slaps Britt, and Nina is like, whoa.

On Monday, Anna tells chase that Drew is turner’s problem now: Brennan says Vaughn and Josslyn’s little stunt is going to cost them both: Drew tells Martin to make sure the police never see the evidence; and Britt says she’s the monster Obrecht raised her to be.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Were they literally waiting for someone else to pass away before they let Monica rest in peace?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/how-general-hospital-plans-to-honor-the-late-tristan-rogers-and-leslie-charleson/

The latest in Charlottes.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-is-general-hospitals-new-charlotte-meet-actress-bluesy-burke-who-takes-over-from-scarlett-fernandez/

Hmm… Sounds like she invested her life in a dude and it didn’t work out. Join the club.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-kelly-thiebaud-shares-i-went-through-a-bit-of-a-midlife-crisis/

Well, we were hoping.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-cameron-mathison-one-thousand-percent-feared-drew-would-be-killed-off-excl/

It’s more than just turning on your TV. Streaming on October 17th.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/how-to-watch-the-2025-daytime-emmy-awards/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

More boatmance nonsense. I’m not sure what’s so great about lazy AF Solène or for that matter, any of the deck crew. Maybe it just doesn’t come across on screen. What is up with spiraling chefs that need to always be coddled, no pun intended. We ended with Chef Anthony saying he didn’t want to do a damn thing, but he did give a great quote: I’m not a f***in’ octopus and not Mary Poppins. Alrighty then. Next time, the finale.

The Real Housewives Of Orange County

Tamra invited Shannon, Gina, and Jenn on an overnight trip and Shannon packed like she was going for weeks. I understand. Fancy Pants Heather interviewed Dylan Mulvaney on her podcast and talked about her mission to foster acceptance, especially since she had a kaleidoscope of kids. Jenn’s fat photo was rehashed again and Tamra continued on her endless apology sorry-not-sorry tour. It was life as usual in the OC.

The Real Housewives Of Miami

As usual, the women didn’t appreciate being on a fabulous trip, this time on a huge yacht. The spa! An 80s aerobics class! In their interviews, everyone talked about what they did in the 80s. The best one was Stephanie, who said she’d been in diapers while her husband was in college. Even though Adriana was shunning birthdays, not wanting to be reminded of her age, a birthday party was thrown anyway. She was a pretty good sport, considering the cake said 32 x 2 – 5 on it. In her interview, she did say she hated the cake.

Random Reality Items

First of all, what’s up with Andy Cohen’s hair these days?

Of course they’re a set-up. I have never once had an overly aggressive fight with someone at a dinner – or any fight for that matter.

On the other hand, there are some real moments. Mary was just so raw last season.

Hey, hookers have to eat too. And what’s white trash about a turkey sandwich? Baloney maybe.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Love Con Revenge. Netflix. Along with a detective sidekick, Cecilie Fjellhoy of Tinder Swindler fame chases down horrible people preying on those looking for love. It makes me sick to hear how much money people can be rooked out of by these bad actors. It was somewhat satisfying to watch a few of them get their comeuppance.

https://people.com/where-is-cecilie-fjellhoy-tinder-swindler-victim-now-11805990

https://ew.com/love-con-revenge-scammers-where-are-they-now-11805593

The Endless. Amazon. That’s kind of how I felt about this film, that it was endless. Maybe I’m jaded or maybe I just should have watched something with zombies in it. I was expecting more of a Nope, but not in the way I got it. Apparently, a lot more people enjoyed it than I did, but come on, Lovecraft Country it wasn’t.

https://collider.com/the-endless-movie-lovecraft/

Upload. Amazon. A four-season series with a definitive ending (thank you – Amazon has burned me more than once), I’m only just finishing Season 1, but I’m really enjoying it. Main character Nathan has a rich girlfriend who buys him an upscale afterlife when he dies prematurely in a car accident. How great your afterlife is, depends on how much money you can pump into it. I love the attention to detail, and the show is funny AF. I do tend to agree with the reviewer who thinks there should have been more story about the difference in classes, but you can’t have everything. What’s really weird is, I just read a book called The Uploaded by Ferrett Steinmetz with a similar premise, but more dystopian with wars going on among the living, some of whom want to destroy the system. Even weirder, while I was checking to see if there was any tie between the two, I saw that there is yet another book called Upload by Mark McClelland, but it also has no connection.

https://slate.com/culture/2020/04/upload-amazon-series-review-greg-daniels-good-place.html

https://www.cbr.com/prime-video-upload-season-4-rotten-tomatoes-score/

Daryl Dixon, Season 2 premiere. AMC/AMC+. I nearly forgot about this show, but remembered by Sunday and it didn’t disappoint. Daryl and Carol went from France to London to Spain, encountering zombies and the last man in England. Who says you can’t still be a world traveler during a zombie apocalypse? This is a recap, so all the spoilers.

https://collider.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-premiere-recap/

🎃 They’re Creepy and They’re Cooking…

Halloween Baking Championship returns on September 15th and Halloween Wars returns on September 21st. I love these shows. Those who can’t do, watch it on TV.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/articles/halloween-baking-championship-and-halloween-wars-new-season

📸 Celebs In the Wild…

My girl, Lady Gaga, and Apt. (another favorite) were big winners.

https://ew.com/mtv-vmas-2025-winners-list-11802732

I’m pretty sure there’s no designer name on FKA twigs because she made it herself.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37874/mtv-vmas-2025-red-carpet-celebrity-looks

You’re welcome, Canada.

https://ew.com/toronto-international-film-festival-2025-exclusive-celebrity-photos-11804051

🏆 Upcoming Trophies…

The Emmys air on September 14th.

https://parade.com/tv/emmys-2025

And the rest.

https://deadline.com/feature/awards-season-calendar-oscars-emmys-golden-globes-list-1234814076/

🐾 The Famous and the Odd…

🐩 More fans than all of us put together. And rightly so.

https://www.revolt.tv/article/10-celebrity-pets-with-their-own-fan-bases

🐶 Any list with Pilaf on it is okay by me.

https://people.com/cutest-celebrity-dogs-almost-as-famous-as-their-parents-11697141

🐊 Hey, some people carry little dogs in tote bags, others bring sweater donned alligators to Walmart.

https://people.com/mans-emotional-support-alligator-denied-entry-walmart-11808776

🐐 Their vocals are a little disturbing.

https://people.com/maine-officials-respond-to-concerned-call-about-screaming-woman-find-yelling-goat-11805555

📬 Quotes of the Week

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.Potter Stewart

I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you can’t yet do great things, do small things in a great way. – Napoleon Hill

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson

Knowledge is different from all other resources. It makes itself constantly obsolete, so that today’s advanced knowledge is tomorrow’s ignorance.Peter Drucker

Beware the fury of a patient man. – John Dryden

It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish. – J.R.R. Tolkien

I can’t tell you how bad I don’t want to be here. – Isaac Plath, Welcome to Plathville

If you fall, make it part of the dance. – Luann de Lesseps

⌛️ Golden Days Fading…

Until next week, stay safe; stay getting yourself some fun school supplies, whether you’re going back to school or not; and stay never taking your dog off leash outside of your (hopefully fenced in) yard.

September 5, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Jason Returns To the Five Poppies, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, New Dance, Uncommon Sightings, Ten Of Quotes & Wake Me

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

GH did not air a new episode because, Labor Day.

Tuesday:

Curtis went to see Alexis to thank her for getting Stella released. They agreed Stella was being railroaded, and Alexis said it wasn’t over. Drew wasn’t going to let this go.

Trina said Kai might be in a position to keep Drew from causing more damage. He needed to save her mother.

Portia met Nina at the Brown Dog Bar and apologized for not stepping up when she should have. She could have stopped Drew from running roughshod over all their lives.

Carly said, if Drew messed with her family, she’d kill him herself, when Elizabeth walked in. Drew said now Elizabeth knew how low Carly’s family had sunk.

At the hospital, Chase told Willow what Judge Haran had said at Bobbie’s, but she said she’d already come up with a way to get her kids back.

Kristina went to see Michael and asked what was going on. He said there was a problem with the judge who’d given him custody.

Danny called Sonny, who went to the pier. Danny and Rocco told him they’d found a body in the water, and Sonny said he’d check it out.

Dante showed up with Anna, and Sonny explained that Jason told Danny to always make him his first call. Danny and Rocco told Anna what happened, and she said, maybe in the future, call her first. She asked if they’d seen anything out of the ordinary or a person or boat, but they hadn’t. She said she might have questions later and asked an officer to make sure the boys got home safely.

Nina told Portia that Curtis had been promoted to appease Michael after Drew kissed Willow, and her choice to keep quiet about sleeping with Drew was what impacted everything. Portia said they all had agency. Nina had been trying to protect her daughter, and it was selfish, but she’d made the same kind of choices and made herself vulnerable to Drew’s blackmail. It all started because she’d wanted to protect her family, but she’d managed to destroy them. Trina would never look at her the same.

Kai told Trina that he’d done the right thing for the wrong person and repeated her parents’ conversation to Drew. He was sorrier than he could say. Trina said Drew was blackmailing her mom and Kai asked what Drew had against her. Trina said her mom could lose her medical license or go to prison. If she told him this, he had to swear not to tell anyone and mean it this time.

Curtis said Drew put a target on Stella’s back to get to him, and Alexis said if the investigators were incentivized, they’d dig until they found something. Stella could be proven to have committed fraud and could go to prison if Drew kept hammering. Curtis said, the investigation wasn’t going away unless Drew did.

Drew said Carly was mad because he was getting back together with Willow, but Carly was surprised to hear it. Drew said it was only a matter of time before Wiley and Amelia came home with them and there was nothing Carly could do about it. He left.

Willow told Chase that she’d decided to get back together with Drew. She couldn’t win on her own and needed Drew’s power and influence, so they came to an agreement. If he guaranteed she’d get her kids back, she agreed to go back to him. Chase said she didn’t need Drew and could get them back on her own.

Michael told Kristina that Judge Haran had received a one-million-dollar payment before the custody hearing. Their dad didn’t do it, but everyone would make that assumption. Kristina asked if he’d seen any proof, and he said no, but even he was surprised at the judge’s ruling. She said if it came out that the judge was bribed, then what? and he said, it meant going back to family court and it could be a real problem.

Anna said, judging by the marks on the judge’s neck, she was strangled, and they were dealing with murder. Dante said it was Judge Haran, the judge in Michael’s custody trial.

Curtis told Alexis that Drew wasn’t always like this. At one time, he’d considered Drew his best friend. Alexi said she’d thought he was a loving husband and father. Now he was a monster who would use and abuse his power of office and manipulate the legal system to settle his personal vendettas. Curtis said Stella was suffering for it, and Alexis said so was her granddaughter. Curtis said Drew would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. But if Drew thought he was going to let that happen, he was dead wrong. (Let’s just hang up a neon sign that says, Drew is going to get killed or at least someone will attempt it.)

Nina said Portia’s daughter loved and respected her, but Portia said she wasn’t sure about that. Trina hated Drew for the pressure he’d put on her and Curtis. Nina said she thought they’d work things out, but Portia said they couldn’t. She lied to Curtis, and the more she lied, the angrier he got when he found out. It all came to a head this afternoon in her office, and he walked out on her. Their marriage was over. Nina said she was sorry, but Portia said, as painful as it was, it was liberating.

Kai said he’d do everything he could to regain Trina’s trust. Whatever she said would stay between them. Trina said she went to her mom’s office and made her mom tell her everything – the feud with Drew and why she and Trina’s dad were having trouble. Drew was blackmailing her mom and trying to destroy her family and her parent’s marriage, and he was succeeding. Kai asked what Drew had on her mom, and she said her mom altered a patient’s blood test results. Drew found out and had been holding it over her head for months.

Carly asked Elizabeth to tell her that Willow wasn’t stupid enough to go back to that jackass, but Elizabeth said that was why she came to see Carly. Carly and Michael were forcing her to do it. Carly said no one was forcing Willow to do anything. That was why she was so messed up. Everyone was coddling Willow, and no one was forcing her to take responsibility. Elizabeth said Willow was desperate to see her kids, so she was going to be susceptible. She knew Michael could get the judge to change her mind, so they were pushing Willow back into Drew’s arms. Carly said, if Willow believed a word coming out of Drew’s mouth, that was on her. (Why, Elizabeth? Why?)

Chase told Willow that the court’s priority was the welfare of the children, and a relationship with both their mother and father was in their best interest, and she said, then why did Michael get full custody? Chase said, that could change. All she had to do was meet the minimum standard requirements and she was doing more than that. Willow asked if the judge promised she’d grant visitation, and he said, she couldn’t. They were talking in hypotheticals, but Willow had done all she needed to do. She was enough. She didn’t need Drew. Drew appeared and said none of this was Chase’s business.

Michael told Kristina that he needed to talk to the judge and find out who paid her to make sure he got custody, when his phone rang. Sonny said he had news about Judge Haran, and it wasn’t good. They pulled her body out of the water near Pier 55. Michael told Kristina that the judge wouldn’t be able to help because she was dead.

Elizabeth said Willow was desperate and the only way to get around Drew was to give her a different path to her children, but Carly said she didn’t think Willow should be around the children, especially if Drew was in the picture. Elizabeth said don’t tell her Carly wouldn’t make a deal with the devil if it was the only way for her to see her children, and Carly asked if that was what Willow was doing. Elizabeth said Willow didn’t love him, but she was desperate. Drew made her believe he was the only way to get her kids back in her life.

Drew said what Willow did or didn’t do was none of Chase’s business. She didn’t need Chase’s advice, especially if it pertained to him. Chase said he was just informing Willow that she had rights. All the things she was doing proved she was a fit mother. Drew asked if he had that in writing, and Chase said, no, but he had faith in Willow and thought the court would see it too. Drew said how Willow got her kids back was up to them, but Chase said Willow didn’t need help to secure something that she already had the legal right to. Drew wondered if Brook would be happy that he was putting his energy into his ex’s problem, and Chase said, she would. They could call her. She’d love to know he wasn’t letting a sleaze like Drew take advantage of Willow or anyone. Drew was doing this to make Willow dependent on him. He manipulated people and situations, and he was playing on Willow’s worst fears. Chase hoped Willow could see that. Drew said she didn’t believe that, did she?

Michael said the judge’s body was found in the water near Pier 55, and Kristina said now he can’t find out who paid her off, so everyone would jump to the wrong conclusion, that he bribed her. He said it could be enough for Drew to get an emergency custody order for Willow, but Kristina said Willow wouldn’t accept help from Drew. She got smart and turned her back on him. She knows she can’t trust him. Michael’s phone rang and he said it was his mom.

Alexis told Curtis about the restraining orders and said Drew wanted to isolate Scout, so no one was around to paint him in a negative light. Curtis asked if there were grounds, and she said it was a grey area. And she was fighting a judge who was a political appointee. Drew was clearly pulling the strings with Stella and Scout. He was using the system built to protect them to protect himself and punish his enemies.

Portia told Nina that the past few months had been horrible. She’d been living in constant fear wondering what would happen when Curtis found out the truth. Now she could stop being afraid of hurting, losing, or disappointing Curtis. Now he knew everything and so did her daughter. Nina asked how Trina took it, and Portia said it was a lot to process all at once. Trina was protective of her dad and knew she’d been lying to him. She told Trina about Drew’s blackmail and how it started. It seemed like all she did was make Trina feel worse about everyone. Nina said, maybe she should.

Kai said Trina’s mom altered the test results to keep her safe. Heather Webber was evil, killed five people, and Trina was her target. As far as he was concerned, her mom did nothing wrong. She did what she had to, and Drew was using that to hurt her parents. Trina said, and control them, and he wondered how he couldn’t see the slightest bit who Drew was. She said Drew was good at hiding it, and he said he’d do what he could to help. She said, according to her mom, Drew had the only evidence, a hard copy of the results with her login. If that went away, so did Drew’s leverage. He asked if she was there to look for it, but she said she came there to plead for Drew’s mercy on her parents. He said Drew didn’t have any to give, and she said she thought she’d try. Drew trusted Kai. If anybody could figure out where Drew was keeping the evidence, it was him. Did he have any idea where it could be? He said he did, but it wasn’t there.

Anna said she was betting the judge was dead before she hit the water, and asked Dante to call in the details. Anna said, who knew Sonny would be first on the scene? and Sonny said he was here because Danny called him. Also, Rocco was his grandson. She said Rocco’s father was also a detective, and he said he’d never involve the boys in anything like this. He told Danny to call the cops. She asked if he had any dealings with the judge other than the custody case, but he said he’d never even talked to the judge and didn’t go to the proceedings. She said she had to accompany the body to the morgue, but was sure she’d have questions later, and he said he was definitely bringing his lawyer. She said she expected nothing less, and left.

Carly told Michael that Willow was back with Drew and Drew was calling the shots. He asked who told her, and she said, Drew. Elizabeth confirmed it. She knew Drew was threatening Michael, saying he had proof the judge was bribed. Don’t give in to him. Michael agreed and said Drew was making assumptions about what he could control and had no idea how quickly circumstances could change for him. They’d talk later. He told Kristina that Willow was back with Drew, and Kristina said, why? Michael said Willow made lot of bad choices. Now she had to live with the consequences.

Chase told Drew that he was just being a good friend, when his phone rang and he stepped away. Drew said he wasn’t telling Willow who to be friends with, but obviously, Chase had it out for him. (Paranoid much?) He didn’t know if it was a great idea for Willow to spend time with him. Willow said, don’t worry about Chase. She trusted Drew completely and that’s all that mattered. He asked, why not come home with him? but she said she couldn’t leave in the middle of a shift. He told her not to let Chase get to her, and she said Drew was the only person she’d listen to about her kids. (I wonder if she’s playing him.)

Curtis told Alexis that he knew a truce was impossible. Drew was too laser focused on destroying him and his family, but he’d do whatever it took to protect them. Alexis said, so would she. She couldn’t protect her daughter when she was murdered, but she could and would protect Sam’s daughter. Drew had crossed every line and couldn’t be allowed to do that again.

At Drew’s house in the dark, Trina asked how much time they had, but Kai said he didn’t know. Drew was mad after the fight he had with her dad and was headed to see Carly, but he didn’t know where Drew was going after that. She said good thing he had a key, and he said he still had to break into Drew’s safe.

Willow said she was sorry… and Chase said, stop. He should be sorry. She asked, why? and he said Judge Haran was dead. Dante said the judge’s body was found floating off Pier 55. She was murdered. He didn’t know much else yet. Willow said, so everything he’d told her about getting her kids back… She left crying and Chase made a call. He said he needed them to get to GH as soon as possible. He had potential evidence in a murder investigation.

Kai told Trina that he was trying all the codes he could think of, but none of them were working. In the living room, Trina saw a car pulling in and told Kai that she thought Drew was home. They had to go. He said, this way.

Portia told Nina that she had two failed marriages. What kind of example was she setting? Nina said, of a mother who loves her child unconditionally and would do anything to protect them. Trina knew that. Portia was also a brilliant, caring doctor who’d helped save countless lives. She had so much to be proud of. Portia said it didn’t feel like that, and Nina told her, don’t do that. Portia admitted they were beating themselves up about their mistakes, while Drew was out there tormenting someone else, and Nina said they couldn’t afford to let Drew hurt anyone else. He’d systematically removed everyone in Willow’s life who supported her. He wanted her completely dependent on him. As long as Drew was breathing, her daughter would never be free. Portia said, none of them would.

Drew went into his house.

Sonny told Dante that he’d never involve the boys in anything illegal. He hated that they had to see this. Dante said he didn’t like it either, but he believed Sonny would never involve his son in a murder or a cover-up. Sonny said he had nothing to do with Judge Haran’s death, but found it interesting that her body was found on this pier across from Spoon Island where Sidwell lived.  

Anna asked Chase if he had a suspect, and Chase said he had a pretty good idea.

Kristina went into Alexis’s house and called for her, but no one was there.

The waiter picked up his tip, and we saw that Nina and Portia were gone.

Drew had a drink, while Kai and Trina held their collective breaths in the bedroom. Drew opened the safe and took out a box. He looked at a photo of him and Willow and took a ring out of the box. He flashed back to Willow saying the ring had belonged to Lila, and him telling her that he had as much right to it as Michael did. He said, it’s all going to work out, Willow, and as he finished his drink, he was shot in the back. He fell and someone shot him again. (It’s about time.)

Wednesday:

Josslyn was shocked that Britt didn’t help them, but Vaughn wasn’t. Josslyn said Britt wasn’t heartless. Britt saved her life. Vaughn said, then she faked death her own death, when Pascal came in with water. He said they could have it once they told him who else knew they were here. Josslyn said they were the lowest level agents, reconnaissance only, and Vaughn said he’d just needed Josslyn for a cover. Pascal said, that made her expendable.

On the phone, Jason said he was on his way home and would text with an ETA. He flashed back to Britt saying when she looked at him, she saw home, and he had no idea how hard it was for her. Forget he’d seen her.

Jack relaxed at his desk, when Colette came in and said, still no word? He said, not yet, and she said it had been 48 hours. Anyone else would acknowledge the op was dead. He said he wasn’t anyone else and it seemed she wanted the op to be over and see him fail.

Lucas couldn’t find Willow, and Elizabeth said she was afraid Willow walked out on her shift.

Chase told Anna that he thought Drew murdered Judge Haran.

Drew opened his safe while Kai and Trina hid in the bedroom. He took out Lila’s ring, looked at a photo of him and Willow, and said, it’s all going to work out, Willow. You’ll see. Suddenly, he was shot in the back, he fell, then was shot again at closer range. Trina wanted to see if anyone needed help, but Kai told her to stay there.

They heard the door and Kai said he’d check, but Trina should stay outside. She waited a hot minute, then said that wasn’t happening.

Chase told Anna that the hearing coming up to determine whether Willow should see her kids and Drew was trying to convince her that she couldn’t get her kids back without him. The judge had indicated she could get visitation if she proved she was responsible and stable. What if she told Drew that she didn’t need him anymore? He bet Drew would do anything to keep her. Anna said, including murder?

Kai went in with a baseball bat and Trina followed. She ran to Drew and said he had pulse, but Kai said they couldn’t be here.

Britt approached the door and heard Pascal inside. Pascal’s goon had a knife at Josslyn’s throat, and Pascal said if the combination she’d given him didn’t work, he’d know they were as useless as they claimed, and he’d get rid of them. He tossed the water bottles at them and left.

Outside, Pascal told his goon that fewer people were around now, so it would be easier to erase their presence once he tied up loose ends.

Jack said, sometimes agents didn’t make contact rather than blow a cover, but Colette said there was something wrong, He couldn’t admit Josslyn wasn’t ready, but he sent her anyway because she was his protégé. Let her go. Brief her in what they’re looking for and she’d clean up their mess. His desk phone rang, and he said, send her in. He told Colette that they were done here, and she said, let her guess. Carly. Colette left and Carly came in. She said she needed Jack’s help. She’d made a mistake.

Kai told Trina that they weren’t supposed to be there, when he saw a car coming. They could help Drew. Go out the back. He opened the front door a little and followed.

Michael came home to find Brook and Wiley in the nook. Brook said Wiley had a bad dream, and Michael said he was there now.

Jack said anything Carly needed was hers, and she said, including his honesty? He said he’d try, and she said she’d had a big blow up with Drew. He was determined to get Willow’s kids back even if he destroyed Michael. She was with Drew for over a year, and it turned out, he wasn’t the man she thought he was. Jack said, now she was afraid she was wrong about him, and she said, was she?

Josslyn said now they would think they could use her to break Vaughn, and he said they weren’t wrong, but he didn’t tell them anything they didn’t know. They knew about the black box which meant there was a mole at the Bureau. Britt came in.

At the airport, Jason flashed back to Britt talking about how he’d helped her in the past, then left to marry Carly. Then when Sonny reappeared, he’d crawled back to her.

Anna said it was a big allegation, but Chase said, look at Drew’s track record. He bothered Willow after she’d asked him not to. He’d upset Wiley and goaded Michael into punching him. He was desperate to have Willow and told her if she came back, he’d help her get her kids back. Being her hero was how he kept Willow. Anna asked if he thought his past with Willow wasn’t affecting his viewpoint, and he said she was more objective, but Drew Cain was capable of murder.

Willow came back to the hospital soaking wet, and Elizabeth asked where she’d been.

Tracy approached Drew’s house and when there was no answer, she walked in. She called to him, then saw him on the floor and ran to him.  She told him, don’t dare die on her, and tried to stop the bleeding. She called 911 and said, Drew Cain’s been shot. Get here quickly.

Portia cuddled in bed with Isaiah. (Alrighty then.)

Wiley said Michael was all wet, and Michael said it was raining. (RHPS fans will appreciate that.) Wiley said he called, but Michael didn’t answer, and Michael said he forgot his phone. Bad dreams felt scary and real, but they weren’t. He was home now and would be with Wiley and his sister always. Wiley told him, that’s what mommy said. Now they never saw her.

Elizabeth told Lucas that Willow was back. Apparently, she’d gotten bad news and went for a walk to clear her head, but it started raining. Lucas said Willow left without permission and didn’t tell Elizabeth where she was going. Elizabeth said when she’d been in trouble, people helped her, and she wanted to pay it forward, but he said she was also the head nurse. Someone else would notice Willow’s lack of focus on the job, and he didn’t want Willow taking Elizabeth down with her.

Chase came out of the elevator and saw Willow. He said, Anna got a call about Drew that he’d been shot. He was alive, but it was bad. Willow collapsed in his arms.

Trina was upset about leaving Drew and not calling 911, but Kai said there would be a record and they already looked guilty. How could they explain why they were hiding in the bedroom? They had no reason to be there. She said there was no excuse for them leaving Drew there to die.

Drew was wheeled out on a gurney, and Anna told Tracy that she had some questions.

Jack asked if he’d given Carly any reason to distrust him, but she said, neither did Drew. He’d presented himself one way and turned out to be completely different. Jack had been nothing but good to her and transparent about the dangers and limitations of his job. She was sorry and didn’t want him to feel like she was punishing him for Drew’s sins, but she just wanted to believe in him, in them, and she couldn’t be wrong again.

Josslyn said Britt had to help them, but Britt said she couldn’t just snap her fingers and get them out. What were they doing here? Were they married because Josslyn said yes to the wrong guy? Josslyn said they were WSB agents and asked Britt to check Vaughn for injuries. She asked if Britt faked her death to come here, but Britt said there was no time. No one could know she was alive. Josslyn asked her to help get them out, but Britt said she didn’t know how difficult it was to get out. Josslyn said help them and come with them, but Britt said there was only so much she could do. They had to help themselves. She left and Pascal was standing outside.

Jason flashed back to Britt talking to him about Greta.

Pascal asked what Britt was doing in there, and Britt asked, what the hell is going on? They were supposed to keep a low profile, and he kidnapped honeymooners? Pascal said he was handling it, but she said, don’t do anything else until he came back. Pascal was terrible at taking initiative.

Vaughn said Britt was everything he’d expect Cesar Faison’s daughter to be. What were the odds she’d actually help them? Josslyn said, better than he thought, and he asked what was in her hand. She said, manicure scissors, and he said it wasn’t great. She said, no, but it was something.

Wiley asked, what if the judge said Michael couldn’t see them either? but Brook said, that would never happen, and no matter what, he’d never be alone. There would always be someone here who loved him. Michael said she was right. He had Grandma Carly and Grandpa Sonny, Aunt Josslyn, and Great-Grandma Monica, and… was he forgetting someone? Brook said, hello, and Wiley said, Aunt Brook Lynn. Brook said, and Uncle Chase and Aunt Olivia, and Michael asked if Wiley felt better. Wiley nodded, and Michael took him back upstairs.

Portia and Isaiah were kissing, when her phone rang. She answered and said, of course (🍷). She was on her way. She told Isaiah that she wasn’t sure what it was about, but Deanna said a VIP was incoming and they needed the Co-Chief. She was sorry. She left.

Dante told Anna that he got ahold of Scout’s nanny, and she was at the Lila’s Kids sleepover. She was fine. Anna asked Tracy to take it from the beginning, and Tracy said she knocked, and the door swung open. She came in, called to Drew, and asked if he was home. Then she saw him lying on the floor. She tried to staunch the bleeding, then dialed 911 and waited for the paramedics. Anna asked if she saw or heard anybody. Was anybody leaving when she drove up? Tracy said, it was dark, and Anna asked what she was doing there.

Willow said she needed to find out what was going on, and Chase said she’d had a shock. Drew was brought in by ambulance and he believed Lucas was working on him now. Did she know if Scout was home? She said Scout was at the end of summer sleepover at Lila’s Kids, and he said he’d let Dante know. Willow asked if Drew was going to make it.

Elizabeth and Lucas worked on Drew, and Lucas said he needed to get the bullets out without damaging the spine. Elizabeth told Drew, stay with us.

Michael thanked Brook for helping with Wiley. She’d put Wiley’s needs first, unlike Willow. Brook said she was in no position to judge or give advice, but as his friend, did he think it was best for Wiley and Amelia not see their mom at all? Michael said, if she was the person as when they first got together, it would be different, but all Willow cared about was what she wanted. She’d upset Wiley more than once and didn’t care. Brook said Willow had gone downhill since she’d been with Drew, but now it was over. Michael said it wasn’t over. Willow went back to Drew.

Lucas told Elizabeth to call another doctor to assist, and as Elizabeth ran off, she saw Portia. She told Portia that Drew had been shot, two bullets in the back. He was critical and needed surgery.

Tracy told Anna that she heard Drew orchestrated Stella Henry’s arrest. He was completely out of control. He’d gotten restraining orders on every member of Scout’s family, including Rocco. She wasn’t allowed to be seen by anybody who loved her. Dante and Rocco lived with them, so she couldn’t visit Monica. It was upsetting, seeing that the children were the only thing in that lifted Monica’s spirits. She came to reason with Drew, to get him to show compassion, especially for her sister-in-law. Drew was a loathsome human being, but she didn’t know how she’d tell Monica if he died. Dante interrupted, telling Anna that someone went out the back door. Whoever it was, didn’t break in. Anna said, maybe it was unlocked or Drew let them in, and he said, the safe was open, but not empty. If it was a robbery, they did a crappy job, since there was a sapphire ring on the mantel. There was a glass on the floor and no sign of a struggle. The only thing out of place was a softball bat.

Kai said there were no alerts yet, and Trina wondered how that was possible. She didn’t think they should have left, but Kai said he saw someone coming up the driveway. He cracked the door to make sure they could get in and find Drew. He had a reason to be there, but how could he have explained her being there? Then they’d find out Drew was blackmailing her parents, and they’d be suspects. Trina said, what if they find the evidence on her mom? but he said, they won’t. Because he found it first. He gave her the paperwork.

Jack said he couldn’t tell Carly that he’d never hurt her. Nobody knew the future. But just the thought of causing her pain tore him apart. He couldn’t tell her how badly he wanted this, wanted them. They kissed and she thanked him for listening to her and being up front with her. He said she could always come to him, when his desk phone rang. Anna told him that they had a security situation. Drew Cain had been shot.

In her room, Britt called Jason on the burner phone.

Jason’s flight started boarding, and Britt said it wasn’t go through. She moved to the window as Jason was about to board.

Jack told Carly about Drew, and she asked if he was going to make it, but he said it was too soon to tell. She asked if they knew who did it. Were there any witnesses? He said there were no witnesses, and Drew appeared to be home alone. Good thing she was there with him the whole time.

Brook said, Willow was going back to Drew? and Michael said he found out tonight. That’s why he couldn’t trust her with the kids anymore and he’d do whatever it took to keep Willow away from Wiley and Amelia.

Anna asked if it was raining when Tracy got there, and Tracy said, no. She left her umbrella in the car, so it must have stopped. Anna asked if she noticed anything out place, like the baseball bat.

Kai said he saw the safe was open and saw the evidence with some other papers, and Trina said, that was so dangerous. He could have gotten caught. He said he didn’t want this awful night to be for nothing. At least he found the evidence Drew was holding over her parents. She said no one could know they were there. She couldn’t even tell her parents that they were in the clear. (So wait a minute, then say you got it some other way later. Who are they gonna tell anyway?)

Elizabeth told Portia that a transfusion got Drew’s blood volume back up. He was in the OR and Lucas was preparing for surgery. Willow asked Lucas if Drew was alive, and Lucas said he got Drew stable. She asked if he was going to be okay, and he said he’d do everything he could for Drew. He told Portia that the bullets were dangerously close to the spine. The sooner he got in, the better his chance to save Drew’s mobility. They were waiting for another doctor to assist. Portia said she’d fill in for the doctor.

Tracy said she’d had to step over the bat when she came in, and Dante wondered if the paramedics knocked it over. He’d look at the crime scene photos. Anna said Tracy could give her statement at the station and asked if she was okay to drive. Tracy said she was, and Anna asked an officer to escort her to her car. She asked Dante for a rough estimate of how many people wanted Drew Cain dead, and he said that was a long list. She asked who was at the top.

Pascal’s goon came in and Vaughn grabbed him.

Jason was almost at the door, when the burner phone rang. Britt said he had to come back now. He asked what was going on, and she said he had to come back. Pascal appeared and grabbed her by the arm. He said he thought things had gone too far and didn’t care what he thought.

Thursday:

Lulu met Martin at the PC Grille, and he said he was about to change her life.

Ava went to Alexis’s house and gave Kristina medication to keep Ric docile. There was a knock at the door and Ava stepped aside while Kristina opened it to Dante. She asked what brought him by, and he said, an attempted murder.

Jordan met Curtis at the Brown Dog Bar and Curtis told her that his marriage was over.

Kai said he and Trina got lucky. Drew left the safe open and he was fast on his feet. Trina was shocked about Portia changing the test results, and Kai said it was pretty extreme. She wondered if Portia had done something even more extreme tonight.

Anna talked to Chase about the media complicating things and said they had to get out ahead of it.

Nina found Willow at the hospital and asked if there was an update on Drew. Willow said he was in surgery and asked how Nina knew he’d been shot.

Brook wondered how Drew lived with himself, but Michael said the only thing that mattered was keeping Drew away from his kids. Tracy came in and told them that Drew had been shot.

Portia scrubbed up for surgery.

Lucas said medical stuff and told the team that he had to find the bullets and stop the bleeding, and there wasn’t a lot of time to do it. Portia joined them.

Jordan said she was sorry and asked if Curtis wanted to talk. He said it was the first time he and Portia had been open and honest with each other, but afterward, it was painfully clear there was no way forward for them. He’d tried everything, but the bottom line was, he didn’t trust Portia anymore and life was too short to be with someone he couldn’t trust.

Kai said Drew had enemies way more dangerous than Trina’s mom and asked what she wanted to do with the evidence. Trina said it gave her mom motive to shoot Drew and could send her to prison, but he said if the evidence was destroyed… She said no one could connect them to Drew’s shooting.

Martin said he had a story, the story, that was going establish Lulu as the foremost investigative journalist in Port Charles, and Lulu assumed he didn’t want his name connected to it. He said he wanted complete anonymity because he was going to break attorney/client privilege, and he’d get disbarred. She said, it must be big, but no outlet would run a story without attributes. She couldn’t take it on. He said, what if he told her that it involved Congressman Cutthroat?

Michael asked why Tracy was at Drew’s, and she said she went to talk to him about Stella Henry and to see if he’d reconsider the restraining orders on Scout’s family. The door was open, so she stepped inside and saw Drew had been shot in the back. She called 911 right away. Despite their differences, he was still her brother’s son, and it was going to be a shock to Monica. She didn’t want to be the one to tell her.

Ava came out and Dante asked why she was there. She said she had business with Kristina, which was none of his. Kristina said she was fine and asked, who was almost murdered? Dante said he needed to speak to Alexis, when Alexis came in from the back. She asked if everything was okay, and he said it depended. Could she account for her whereabouts last night? It was in connection to the shooting of her former son-in-law Drew Cain.

Willow asked how Nina knew about Drew, and Nina said she heard the nurses talking. Willow asked why she was there, and Nina said she was hoping to see her. Was there a suspect? Willow said she didn’t know anything, and she was terrified.

Anna suggested they make a preliminary list of suspects, and Chase said it would be a long list. Anna said, Alexis was recently served a restraining order to stay away from her own granddaughter. Carly and Michael both recently had public blowouts with Drew. Chase said, Sonny, since Drew was supporting Measure C, among other things. Drew and Curtis had a falling out over Aurora Media. Anna said Drew’s love life was in shambles, so they could add Willow and Nina to the list.

Martin told Lulu that Drew was in league with Sidwell, Ezra Boyle, and Tracy about Measure C, and she asked if he had something else. He said Drew had taken corruption and abuse of his office to another level, and she said, now he was talking.

Kai said, if it protected Trina’s parents, he was okay with destroying the evidence, and she said she was too. She set the paperwork on fire, when there was a knock at the door. She threw the paper in the sink.

Anna said. Willow might be a suspect and she and Chase were married at one point. Could she still count on him to be objective? He said he never thought Willow was capable of murder, but he could follow the facts wherever they led. One fact was that Drew and Willow had recently reconciled. Anna asked, how recently? and Chase said, hours ago. She said, it could still be fragile, and Drew could have already broken it.  

Lucas said more medical stuff and worked on Drew. He extracted a bullet and said, bullet number one. The easy part was done. Now he had to go fishing for the second bullet. It was deeper and up against an artery. If it wasn’t handled perfectly, it could kill Drew.

Tracy said she’d always see Drew as a part of Alan. Michael being injured almost destroyed Monica. Now she was frail. Brook said, it might be too much, and Tracy said she didn’t want to take the chance. Brook and Yuri had to make sure Monica stayed off of her devices and not watch TV. Someone had to be with her at all times. Brook said she was on it, and left. Michael said he was sorry that Tracy had to find Drew, and she said, be grateful. She wouldn’t tell anyone he was there too.

Curtis said he knew Portia was insecure about Jordan, but her issues went way beyond that. She assumed that he liked to hide things like she did, and that mindset led to more lies and suspicions. When Stella had been hauled off in handcuffs, Portia lost it when he called Jordan for help. Jordan said they were just concerned about Stella, but he said Portia didn’t get that. He was starting to notice there were a lot more similarities between him and Jordan than he and Portia ever had.

Stella called to Trina, and Trina said she’d be right there. She opened the door and said she and Kai were working on something. Stella said she was sorry to come over with no notice (totally missing the opportunity to joke about what they must be working on). She was looking for Curtis. She dropped him off at his place and hadn’t seen him since. And he wasn’t answering her calls or texts. Trina said she hadn’t heard anything, and Stella asked if something was burning.

Dante said things had been contentious between Alexis and Drew, and Drew wound up with two bullet holes in him. Could anyone verify her whereabouts? Alexis said she wasn’t going to answer without counsel. Unless had a warrant or was going to arrest her, she was asking him to leave.

Michael said he wasn’t sure what Tracy saw… and she said, don’t bother. He parked up the street and she saw him pull away. When she went into the house, she saw Drew bleeding out. Don’t say a word. If he doesn’t say anything, there’s nothing she can repeat on a witness stand. He said if she saw someone, it was someone else, but she said if anything happened to him, it would be the end of Monica. Get an alibi for his children and Monica’s sake. He thanked her, and she said, make sure Monica never hears about this, and he left.

Anna wondered if she could ask Willow some questions, and Willow said, of course (🍷). Nina asked if Anna thought she was going to leave Willow alone with no lawyer or anyone to advise her, but Willow told Nina, stop, and told Anna, go ahead. Anna asked where she was tonight, and Willow said, working. Anna said, the entire night? and Willow said she got some upsetting news and went for a walk. Anna asked, what kind of news? and Willow said she found out the judge in her custody case had been killed. Chase thought the judge might be open to granting visitation, and now she was gone, so it was a setback. She went out to clear her head. Anna said, in the rain? and Willow said it wasn’t raining when she went out. Anna asked if Willow was alone, but Nina said, no. She was with Willow.

Lulu told Martin, so Drew used his position to investigate Stella because of his personal vendetta against Curtis. Was there any recorded evidence, like a meeting, or any proof beyond Drew telling him? Martin said she was the journalist. Start digging and she’d find out Drew is deliberately trying to destroy a good woman, who has the values Drew campaigned on and that got him into office. She won’t just take down Drew if she exposes his corruption. She’ll tank Ezra Boyle’s campaign and save Stella. Lulu asked if Stella didn’t bend the rules. Maybe she could expose Drew for being corrupt, but she couldn’t save Stella.

Dante said it didn’t look good if Alexis didn’t tell him where she was, but someone would contact her, and they’d schedule an interview with her lawyer present. He’d see her at the station. He left, and Ava asked if Alexis had any bubbly. Kristina said Alexis was sober, and Ava said, if there was ever any time to raise a glass, it was now. Drew got what he deserved, and obviously, all the credit went to Alexis.

Brook came back and told Tracy that Monica hadn’t heard about Drew and she and Yuri would keep it that way. Tracy said Michael had something to take care of, and Brook asked if she wanted to talk. Tracy said, it was awful seeing Drew lying lifeless. She forgot the man he’d become and felt compassion. However, once they took him away, she was furious and worried for Monica. Furious because Drew finally pushed someone so far that they shot him.

Anna asked if Nina and Willow’s walk happened around the time of the shooting, and Nina said, it would seem so. Anna said, then she was going to have to question them separately, and Nina said she wasn’t leaving her daughter to answer questions without a lawyer. Anna asked how they ended up walking together, and Nina said she was going into the hospital, saw Willow, and caught up with her. Anna said she was under the impression they were estranged, and Nina said, any good mother would step in if they saw their child in pain. Anna asked if they encountered anyone, and Nina said, so much happened today, she couldn’t recall. Chase asked why she wasn’t wet when she came back, and Nina said she dropped Willow off at the entrance, went home, changed, and came back. That’s when Willow told her about Drew. Anna said that’s all she needed right now.

Chase asked what Anna thought, and she said, they were both lying. Nina’s improvisation was bad, but they couldn’t deal with it now. They had to concentrate on Michael’s timeline and whereabouts. Chase said, got it, and left.

Willow said, what the hell? Nina lied to the Police Commissioner. Nina said she gave Willow an alibi, but Willow said, no. Nina gave herself one.

Trina said she’d accidentally set a magazine on fire, and Stella told her to  be more careful. (When I was around Trina’s age, that would have been a cover story for smoking weed, along with the hope your Aunt Stella didn’t know what that smelled like.) Kai’s phone rang, and Anna told him that she had bad news. Drew Cain had been shot. Kai acted shocked and asked if he was going to be okay, and Anna said they weren’t sure yet. She had to stay at GH and asked if he could come there so she could ask him a few questions. He said, of course (🍷), and Stella asked, what happened? Kai said Drew was in the hospital. He’d been shot and the Commissioner wanted to talk to him. Trina said it made sense since he was Drew’s intern. Did he want her to go with him? He said he’d text her when he knew something, and left. Stella said she wasn’t sure, but she thought she knew who might have shot Drew.

Lucas asked if Portia was ready to do this, and Portia flashed back to arguing with Drew about altering Michael’s bloodwork. Portia said, okay, and Lucas said he was going to extract the bullet now. He began, when an alarm went off. Portia said, the dam broke. The bullet must have lodged in the artery and there was a major hemorrhage. Lucas said more medical stuff and then said Drew was crashing. Portia said, let’s go.

Lulu said she knew Martin wanted her to undo the damage, but there was nothing she could write that would prove Stella innocent if she wasn’t innocent to begin with. Martin said, maybe not, but if she could prove Drew was behind it, it might be enough shade to halt the investigation. She said she’d look into it, but he had to manage his expectations. He said, of course (🍷), when his phone rang. He said, what?… No. Thank you. He told Lulu that it was the hospital. Apparently, he was still on Drew’s emergency contact list. He was shot tonight.

Tracy said Drew wanted what Michael had and was dismantling Michael’s life to get it, and Brook said if Drew thought he could replace Michael, he was downright delusional. Tracy said there was nothing more dangerous than a man with delusions or power and Drew had both, when Chase came in. He asked how Tracy was doing, and she said she was fine. Any word? He said Drew was still in surgery. Now he had to figure out what happened and needed both of them to do it.

Michael told the bartender at the PC Grille that he’d been talking to a woman, blonde, attractive, around his age. By any chance, was she still there? It was extremely important that he find her.

Jordan said maybe Curtis and Portia should take some time. Some breathing room might help them remember the good. Curtis said it wouldn’t make a difference. Portia never thought they stood a chance. Jordan asked, why? and he said, Portia told him the only reason he’d wound up with her was because he was rebounding from Jordan.

Ava said Alexis might as well tell them already, and Alexis said she was downstairs with their houseguest. Ava said she couldn’t use their houseguest as her alibi, and Alexis said he wasn’t. Ava and Kristina were.

Kai arrived at the hospital and Anna thanked him and asked if he kept the congressman’s schedule. He said he did, and she asked if he’d noticed an altercation or a meeting that didn’t go so well. He said, none that he knew of, and she said they had reason to believe whoever shot Drew had a key to the house. She was guessing he had one.

Nina said she was helping Willow and Willow should be thanking her, and Willow said now she was involved in one of Nina’s lies. Nina said Willow was the prime suspect, and Willow asked why she’d kill Drew. They just got back together, and he was her only chance to get her kids back. If anyone had a reason to shoot him, it was Nina.

Anna asked if anyone else had a key, and Kai said, Scout, Scout’s nanny Chelsea, Wanda the cleaning lady, Willow, Alexis maybe. They were the only people he knew of, but there could be more. Anna thanked him and said he’d given her a place to start.

Nina said Willow couldn’t believe she’d shot Drew, but Willow said, why not? Nina had slept with Drew and kept it from her for a year. Drew told her that Nina made him keep it from her. Maybe Nina blamed him for ruining their relationship. Nina also had a history of violence. Nina said they’d both done things they regretted. She lied because she loved Willow. Willow left and Nina followed. Lucas and Portia were there, and Willow asked if Drew was going to be okay. Was he going to live? They looked grim, but that means nothing on this show.

Lucas said, there were two bullets near Drew’s spine. The first came out clean, but the second was lodged in an artery and basically acting a plug. When it was extracted, Drew had a massive hemorrhage. Portia said he coded, and they lost him for a minute, but when it was repaired, they got him back. Lucas said, Portia saved his life, and Portia said he was still critical, but they were optimistic he’d be stable soon. Willow said she couldn’t thank them enough.

Ava asked why Alexis didn’t tell Dante. It would obviously look like a cover-up. Alexis said, Dante would never believe Kristina would lie, and no one would believe Ava would lie on her behalf. She must be telling the truth. Ava said, okay. Put the coffee on and they’ll make their alibi airtight.

Trina asked what Stella meant by, she knew who killed Drew, and Stella said she didn’t know. It was a theory. Drew had been stirring up a lot of trouble and her parents would do anything to protect the family. She was afraid Trina’s father shot Drew.

Jordan asked if Curtis thought Portia was right and his relationship with her was just on the rebound, and he said if Portia hadn’t been so eager to start something, would he have given them another shot? He didn’t know. Jordan’s phone buzzed and she said it was a text from a colleague at the PCPD she rarely spoke to. Oh my God. Someone tried to murder Drew Cain tonight.

Chase went to the Quartermaines and Brook said he just missed Michael. He asked if Michael had been here all night, and she said he’d been out earlier, but Wiley needed his dad, so she called him, and he came home. Chase asked where he was, but she said she didn’t know. He asked her to check her phone so he could see the times. This was serious and he needed to know where Michael was.

Michael continued to talk to the bartender, and Lulu said Michael seemed upset. Martin said he’s sure Michael is at the top of the suspect list. The bartender told Michael that he was sorry, but he was new there. He didn’t know the woman, and since Michael picked up the check, he couldn’t pull her name. Lulu asked if Martin heard about Drew, and he said, Tracy found him. She asked if Tracy was okay, and Martin said, shaken, but holding steady.

Anna said Drew Cain was out of surgery, and Chase said he was still in critical condition. They were almost dealing with a murder investigation. Between the congressman’s abuse of political power and the salaciousness of his personal entanglements, there are multiple suspects with ample motive. He wronged a lot of people. (We see them all as Chase talks.) Chase said he didn’t know if the crime was born of revenge or righteous indignation. If it was someone driven to protect their family or someone driven by passion. What he did know was that it was someone well-connected in Port Charles, and most importantly, dangerously close to Drew. Anna said, this time, they had to remain vigilant. Whoever did this was walking amongst them, and they couldn’t rest until the found out who pulled the trigger.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

At the Café Cherie, Diane says it’s about time Sonny took her out for coffee, and he says he’s going to work on that, but don’t get too excited. This is work. She says she expected as much. Let’s cut to the chase. Drew Cain’s been shot. So who should she prepare to defend –Carly, Michael, or him?

Michael tells Elizabeth that he’s at the hospital to get his blood drawn, but thought he’d check in to see how Drew is doing first. She says she guesses, technically, Michael is family. He’s in critical, but stable condition. Willow comes downstairs, and Michael asks how Willow is doing. Has she been here all night?

Lulu asks if Willow has a few minutes to talk, but Willow says she’s sorry, but no. She heard Lulu questioning the staff about Drew’s shooting and she has no comment. Lulu says she gets it. It must be a really hard time for Willow. It seems like she and Drew have a pretty complicated relationship. But if Willow is up to it, she’d like to hear what Willow has to say. Off the record.

On the phone, Portia asks if there’s an update on Drew… If anything changes, she wants to be the first person they notify. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina comes in. She asks how Drew is, and Portia says she just called to get an update. It looks like he’ll live. (Disappointment all around.)

On the phone, Molly thanks someone for looking into it. She appreciates their help. Alexis says, so? and Molly says, there have been no updates on their filings to lift Drew’s restraining orders. Kristina asks how this is even possible. Scout’s only parent has been shot and he’s unconscious. This is an emergency. Molly says, the good news is, Drew’s grounds for filing these orders to begin with were flimsy. So once they get in front of a judge, she’s hopes it’s obvious that it’s in Scout’s best interest that she be there with family in this house.

Jack says, Colette has forgotten that he’s her superior one too many times, so she and her insubordination are going to be relocated in the field office in Algiers, effective immediately. She says, banishing her won’t erase his negligence, and he says, no, but it will lower his blood pressure. He opens the door, and Anna is in the hallway. Colette says he’s pushing her out? and he asks if she’d prefer him to throw her out.

Josslyn and Vaughn sit on the floor, tied up back-to-back. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she’s fine. She just fell asleep for a second. He tells her, don’t fight it. She’s got to save her strength. If she can sleep, she should. She says, they can come back any second, and he says, grab some sleep while she can. She’ll need all the strength she’s got if they’re going to get out of this thing alive.

Pascal says he took the liberty of giving Jason (aka Mr. Moore) the same room he stayed in previously, if that’s all right. If it’s not… Jason says, no. It’s fine. Thank you. Pascal says he’s pleased Jason is back so soon, and Jason says, turns out he just couldn’t stay away.

Molly says she’s going to head to the family court administrative office to see if she can get in front of a judge this morning. Sometimes an in person visit from the ADA can move things along. Alexis says, good. She guesses they can’t keep Scout in limbo. At some point, a friend of hers is going to tell her that her father was shot and they can’t let her find out that way. Kristina asks if Alexis saw the piece by Lulu, and Alexis says, in the Port Charles Press? Yeah. Aside from the clickbait headline, it was somewhat respectful. Kristina reads, The Colorful Life – And Death? – of Drew Cain. Colorful? Molly says, yeah, sure. Go with that. She’s going to head out. Alexis says she knows Molly is doing all she can, and Molly says she hopes it helps. She leaves, and Kristina says, what the hell is Alexis doing? Bringing Scout here would be worst thing.

Lulu says she doesn’t need a quote from Willow, but Willow is very close with Drew. She may have a unique perspective on who would have reason to hurt him. Willow says, Drew made a lot of enemies. Any one of them could have been pushed to the point of lashing out. She looks over at Michael and says, Michael and his father are both dangerous men to cross.

Elizabeth tells Michael that she and Willow did night shift. She seems to be getting through this as well as can be expected. They’re all just hoping Drew pulls through. Michael says, yeah. He should get going. It’s kind of Elizabeth to look out for Willow. Elizabeth says, no problem, and Michael thanks her again and leaves.  

Nina says she keeps thinking about the irony that she and Portia were at the Brown Dog Bar last night together, taking stock of the devastation Drew had caused in both their lives. Within an hour of their conversation, or maybe less, someone tried to kill Drew. Portia said it seemed like very soon after their conversation, someone did.

Jason tells Pascal that he had work obligations in Istanbul, but it turned out they were canceled. So he figured he’d stay here for a few days longer before heading back to the states. Pascal says, wonderful. He’s glad they made such a good impression, and gives Jason the keycard. Jason says, by the way, is Greta Larson still a guest? and Pascal says, she is. Would Jason like him to give her a message?

Jack tells Colette, get out. Pack up her things and expect to see security shortly. They’ll want her devices and keycard. Colette says, shipping her off won’t change the fact that he lost control of his operation and lost two agents. She’ll be submitting a detailed report to his superior. He says, you do that, and she passes Anna on her way out. Anna says, would one of the missing agents be Josslyn Jax?

Vaughn says he wishes Josslyn had run while she had the chance, and she says she knows. It was an amateur move. He jumped the guy and she should have taken the time to get out and warn the WSB. They failed the op. She gets it. He says, it’s not about the op. It’s about her. He cares that she might die.

Sonny says, whatever happened to Drew doesn’t concern him, and Diane says, given the enmity between Drew and nearly every member of his family, it should. The PCPD will be looking at all of them very carefully. It would be wise for each of them to secure an alibi as soon as possible, and she would take it as a personal favor if not one of them included Tracy Quartermaine’s bedroom. He says, all right. He’ll talk to all of them. In the meantime, she needs information on the judge who ruled in Michael’s custody case, Judge Haran. She says, So they’re not actually going to talk about the attempted murder of a sitting congressman. They’re here to discuss the actual murder of a judge.

Kristina tells Alexis, it’s hard enough to keep Ric locked up in the basement while Molly is staying here. Does she want Scout to go exploring and find Molly’s father being held captive down there… with a ball gag in his mouth? Alexis says they don’t have a lot of options. Scout definitely needs her family right now. She doesn’t have anybody. Kristina says, what if Scout stays at her place? and Alexis says, that’s something to explore, but right now, she’s the grandmother and in the best position to secure emergency custody, if she can get that damn restraining order lifted. And if she can, then Scout has to be at this house.

Lulu thanks Willow for speaking so honestly about Drew, and again, it’s all off the record. Willow says she hopes so, and Lulu says, Willow has her word. All she wants to do is report the news. She doesn’t want to sensationalize anything. And she never gives up a source. If the day comes when Willow wants to tell her story on record, she hopes she’s the one Willow tells it to. She leaves.

Nina tells Portia, the police already started their investigation. They questioned Willow last night about her whereabouts during the time Drew was shot. Portia says, that must have been easy to verify. She was scheduled to work. Nina says she’s surprised Portia knows that detail, and Portia says she’s the Co-Chief of Staff. It’s her job to know everything that’s going on. Nina says she’s correct that Willow was working, but she also took a walk, and Portia says, the staff go out for walks. They take a break from the hospital all the time. She knows she does. Nina says she and Willow were actually together taking a walk last night. They got soaked in the rain. Portia says, that’s quite a turnaround. When they were at the Brown Dog, Nina told her that Willow didn’t want anything to do with her, and then less than an hour later, they’re taking a walk in the rain. How implausible, yet so fortunate.

Michael tells the desk nurse who he is and says he has an appointment for a blood draw. She thanks him for checking in and says she’ll let him know when they’re ready for him. He thanks her and sits on a nearby bench. He looks at the headline about Drew on his phone, and says, wonderful. He sees the photo of Drew doing body shots off of Jacinda, and flashes back to being at the PC Grille bar. Jacinda is at a seat nearby and says, great. They raised the prices since she was last there… Sorry. She didn’t want anybody else to hear that. She just ordered a champagne cocktail which costs about half her rent. Fingers crossed her card’s not declined. Michael tells the bartender to put her drink on his tab, please.

Jack says he has every intention of getting Josslyn home safe, and Anna asks, how many dead agents did he have the same intention for? He says, the op had a glitch. He’s handling it as they speak. She says, is he? and he says he can assure her he’s extremely motivated to get Josslyn home safely. She says she’s sure he is, because now how much is it going to cost him if he doesn’t? He says he expects the mission to have a successful conclusion. She has her hands full at the PCPD. Can she say the same?

Josslyn asks what Vaughn means, he cares that she might die. An agent is never above the mission. He and the WSB drilled that into her brain since day one. He says, yes, the mission has to come first. If she’d taken off when she had the chance like she was supposed to, this might all be over by now. He should have forced her to leave when he realized how dangerous the mission actually was. She says, he can’t force her to do anything. She knew the risk and chose to stay with the op until they got what they came for to begin with. He says she shouldn’t have been in on the op to begin with. He gets that Brennan thought this was just going to be reconnaissance and surveillance, but she’s a new recruit and neither of them should have put her at risk. She wonders if she can ask him something, and he says he can’t exactly stop her. She asks if he really would have sacrificed his life for hers.

Jason goes into his room, when a guy with a gun pops out. Jason ducks behind the bed, takes out his gun, and shoots. They struggle on the floor until there’s another shot. The guy rolls over and we see he’s been shot with his own gun. Jason looks through his pockets and finds a keycard to his own room.

Alexis says she didn’t expect Molly back so soon. How’d it go? Molly says she’s sorry. It’s not good. Alexis asks if it’s Drew, and Molly says, no, but the court should be calling any minute. Alexis’s petition to have Drew’s restraining order suspended was denied. It remains in effect indefinitely. Alexis says, she’s kidding. It makes no sense. Scout doesn’t have a parent capable of taking care of her and has no legal guardian. What’s the alternative? Child Protective Services? Kristina says, that can never happen.

Elizabeth says she saw Willow talking to Lulu. She knows Lulu can be a little aggressive when she chases a story. Is she okay? Willow says she’s fine. Just… everything feels like it’s in limbo right now. Drew is fighting for his life, the judge assigned to her case is dead, and she is still no closer to seeing her children. Elizabeth says she knows the world is unsettled right now. Willow just needs to hang on to the knowledge that as much as she misses her kids, they are loved and being well cared for. Felicia joins them and says she’s sorry to interrupt. She just spoke to Martin Grey. He’s Drew’s attorney of record. Willow asks what he said, and Felicia says, as Drew’s patient advocate, she reached out to him and he filled her in on some things, like Scout’s whereabouts and Drew’s legal directive in the event of his incapacitation. Willow has been appointed Scout’s custodial guardian.

Nina says, Portia is also very fortunate. Her hatred for Drew is so public, everyone knows about it, but Portia’s is private, known only to her, Curtis, and their daughter. Portia says, and to Nina, and Nina says, true. There’s a knock at the door, and Portia says, come in. Lulu says she was wondering if they… Sorry. She didn’t realize someone was here. Portia says, as Lulu can see, she’s in the middle of an appointment. Maybe she can come back.

Michael flashes back to Jacinda thanking him and saying that he doesn’t have to. He says, not a problem. Enjoy. She says, if buying her a drink is his good Samaritan act of the day, she’ll happily accept. He says, good. He hopes she doesn’t mind him asking, but she’d said they raised the prices since she was here last. It sounds like she hasn’t been here in a while. She says she’s been away traveling. She went on her dream vacation, but it didn’t end the way she’d hoped.

Jack says, Anna is currently dealing with two very important cases – the murder of a judge and the attempted murder of a sitting congressman. Which case is taking priority? Anna says she can multitask. She has an excellent department. She’s got it covered. He says he’s sure she does. He can’t say he’s losing sleep over Drew Cain. When he and Carly got word Drew was shot, his first thought was that he hoped the bullet didn’t miss the mark. She says, so Carly was with him when he found out. She doesn’t know why he summoned her here. It certainly wasn’t to discuss her case load or to give her an update on Josslyn. So why is she here?

Jason looks around and sees some pieces of broken pottery. He picks them up and sticks them in a cup on the shelf and leaves.

Willow tells Felicia that she and Drew were appointed guardians of each other’s kids, and Felicia says, with Drew in his current condition, his legal directive will go into effect. Willow is of course (🍷) free to refuse. Willow says, no. She doesn’t want to refuse. Scout could lose her father. Of course (🍷) Scout can stay with her… Oh my God. Scout could lose both parents. That can’t happen. Elizabeth says, just take one step at a time, and Felicia says, yeah. She’ll call Martin and the camp director and let them know the plans to pick Scout up. Willow says, if she needs to sign anything, she’ll be here, and Felicia says she’ll let the necessary parties know. Willow thanks her and Felicia leaves. Willow tells Elizabeth that she just realized something. She said she’d take Scout, and of course (🍷) she will, but where is she going to take her?

Alexis says, this is unbelievable. The court is giving her granddaughter to Willow Tate? Molly says, Drew signed the legal directive giving Willow custody of Scout in the event that he became incapacitated, and Alexis says she’s Scout’s legal next of kin. Willow doesn’t even have custody of her own kids. Molly says, that’s a legal argument Alexis can make in court, but right now, Scout’s only options are Willow or Child Protective Services. She thinks they just need to rally their support behind someone who is a known quantity, not just to them, but to Scout. Alexis says, she’s right. They just need to make it okay for Scout right now. She’ll pack a bag for Scout to take. Kristina says she’ll help, but Alexis says, no. She doesn’t need help. Apparently, this is the only thing the court will allow her to do, so she’s going to damn well do it. She goes upstairs.

Diane tells Sonny that she wants to make sure she understands correctly. Drew Cain alleged that a recent deposit of one million dollars in Judge Haran’s bank account is proof she was bribed to award Michael full custody of his children. Sonny says, who knows? He may be right. She says, right or wrong, it’s going to get the entire ruling thrown into question. Drew is in critical condition, and the judge, the only person who can confirm or refute said allegation, is conveniently dead.

Michael says Jacinda was backpacking in the Australian Outback? and she says, that makes it sound like she was roughing it. She wasn’t, believe her, but the scenery was stunning. She asks the bartender for another one, and says, the trip was a dream come true, but she ran through her nest egg way faster than she thought she would. Basically, her finances said it was time to come home. He says, it sounds like her trip was worth it, even if it brought her back sooner than she’d like, and she says she knows why she’s in the bar tonight. Why doesn’t he tell her why he is? He says he just needed to decompress, and she says, did he? He says he did and thanks her for helping with that. He needs to get going, but it was lovely meeting her. He hopes everything works out for her. She thanks him and says she hopes it works out for him too, and he leaves. In the present, the nurse tells Michael that they’re ready for him.

Lulu tells Portia that she can come back. No problem. She was just following up on Stella Henry’s arrest and seeing what, if anything, the hospital is doing to defend her. There’s a rumor going around that she was possibly targeted by Drew Cain. If Portia would like to offer a comment, she’s love to get it on record. Portia says, Stella is a first rate employee and she is an exceptional patient advocate. Beyond that, she has no comment and that goes for her staff as well. If Lulu has any other questions, feel free to direct them to the communications department of the hospital. Lulu says, okay. If she doesn’t want to comment on Stella, does she want go on record regarding the conflict between Drew and her husband? Portia says, no, she wouldn’t. As she said, she has an appointment with Nina, so… Lulu says, of course (🍷). She’ll let them get back to it. She should probably just ask Curtis anyway. She thanks Portia and leaves.

Anna asks what Jack is up to, and he says, well, there was something, but he changed his mind. He’s already put her in the uncomfortable position of having information she can’t disclose. He doesn’t want to add to her burden. He’ll walk her out. Anna laughs and say she knows him well enough to know when he’s pulling something and she doesn’t like being used. He owes her and she will collect. She leaves and he sighs. (Poor Jack. He’s having a rough day.)

Jason goes to Britt’s room with his gun drawn. He calls to her, but she’s not there. He looks around.

Josslyn tells Vaughn that when she joined the WSB, she was fully aware there would be life and death choices to make, and she’s not dying here today. He says, they need to figure out a way to get out of here and tell Brennan there is a mole in the WSB.

Walking into Jack’s office on the phone, Colette says, he just left… She doesn’t have time. He’s putting her on a plane to Algiers. She looks around the office and tries a combination on the black box. She says, the code didn’t work. She’ll try again. She puts it in and says, damn it. She’s telling him that code is not the right one. She can’t get what he needs. He’s been lied to.

Diane says she doesn’t know lot about Judge Haran. She has had a reputation for being scrupulously fair. So much so, frankly, she was shocked the judge awarded full custody to Michael and Willow wasn’t even awarded visitation. Sonny asks if she thinks Haran was bought, and she says, given what she just learned, she suspects so. Any idea who? He says he thinks it’s interesting that Haran’s body washed up at Pier 55, right across the way from Spoon Island. Does she think it’s a coincidence? She asks if he thinks Jenz Sidwell is responsible.

Molly says she hopes their mom can get through to Willow, and Kristina says, even Willow looks like a good option when the alternative is Child Protective Services. She just doesn’t know how much ground their mom will gain with Willow. Molly says, why? Willow’s not behind the restraining order; Drew is. Kristina says she knows, but Willow might have reason to hold a grudge against another person in their family, and Molly asks what she did. Kristina says she may have told Willow that she doesn’t deserve to see or even be in her children’s lives.

Willow tells Elizabeth that she can’t take Scout to the house where Drew was shot. Besides it being an active crime scene, it would terrify her. Elizabeth says, bring Scout to her house. There’s plenty of room and she’d love for them both to be there. Willow says, she’d do that? and Elizabeth says, of course (🍷). No problem. Willow says, that would be great. Thanks. Alexis joins them and says she’s sure Willow has heard by now the news about Scout, and Willow says, Felicia told her about Drew’s legal directive. Alexis says, what she probably doesn’t know is, before Drew was shot, he filed restraining orders against her and Scout’s entire family. Willow says she didn’t know that, and Alexis says, legally, she’s not allowed within 500 feet of her own granddaughter and Scout needs her family right now. She’s trying to get that rescinded, but until she can do that, she’s really counting on Willow to take the best care of Scout as possible. Can she do that?

Nina tells Portia, unfortunately, the entire world knows how much Curtis hates Drew. Does she think he’ll be blamed for the shooting? Portia says, Curtis used to be in law enforcement. He can handle himself. And the fact is, the list of people Drew hurt was getting longer and longer by the day. He could have pushed any one of them too far. Nina says, but not her or Portia, and Portia says, right. Someone knocks at the door (geez, it’s like Grand Central), and Portia says, if it’s Lulu again, she swears… She opens the door and it’s Jacinda.

Pascal says Vaughn and Josslyn seem to have found themselves in an unfortunate situation. The code they gave him to unlock the black box did not work. He’d say they wasted his time, but it gave him the opportunity to work out the best way to get rid of them. Poor Mr. and Mrs. Nash. Their bodies swept away in a tragic boating accident on their honeymoon. Lost forever to the Adriatic Sea. Tragic, but very romantic. N’est pas? Bon voyage. He leaves with his goon.

Colette says, it’s not opening. She needs to get out of here… He wouldn’t keep anything in desk… She looks through the papers on Jack’s desk.

Jason looks around Britt’s room and finds a hidden note: J – Find me. Take cliff path, turn left, pink tiled entrance. Right corridor. Code 7572.

Sonny says he’s been Diane’s client a long time and he’d like her to get some information on Sidwell and Judge Haran. She says, yeah, okay. Does he want her as counsel or a co-defendant? Jenz Sidwell is also a client of her firm. Ergo, for that legal reason, she can’t give him that information. He’ll have to get that for himself, and she advises him to do so quickly. He says, how quickly? and she says, yesterday. The day before if possible. With or without Drew Cain, Judge Haran is dead. The investigators will be looking into her bank accounts and will find that one million deposit. The only thing worse than the authorities and family court suspecting that it came from him, is them believing that it came from Michael.

Michael sees Lulu at the hospital and says he just read her article. She says, send his complaints to her editor, and he says he doesn’t have any complaints, but this woman here… He shows her his phone, and she says, the sex worker Drew was doing body shots off of? (I love how they love saying body shots at every opportunity) and Michael says, uh-huh. He needs to find her.

Nina says, look, it’s Jacinda, and Portia asks what she’s doing here. Jacinda says she’s back in town and thought she’d reconnect with old friends. She walks into the office and says, them being together is sheer luck. It saved her a trip. Nina says, she wanted to see them? and Jacinda says, don’t sound so surprised. They’re friends, right? Nina says, of course (🍷), and Jacinda says, good, because friend to friend, she needs money. She thought they could help her out with that.

Willow tells Alexis that she loves Scout. Whether or not she’s with Drew, Scout is like family. She promises to take good care of her. Elizabeth says, Willow and Scout are going to be staying with her. She’ll make sure Willow’s got everything she needs. Alexis thanks her, and Felicia approaches. She says she’s glad Alexis is here too. Lila’s Kids called. Scout was there at breakfast this morning, but no one has seen her since. She’s so sorry, but Scout is missing.

Kristina says she had no way of knowing they’d be in this position with Scout, and Molly says, because, as always, and she knows Kristina hates to hear this, Kristina does not think things through. Look at what she did to Ava and Cody. Kristina says she was just trying to help, and Molly says, what she did was cause trouble. Cody has enough problems on his own without her adding to them. Her phone rings, and Kristina asks if it’s her friend from family court, but Molly says, no. It’s Cody. She doesn’t have time for this right now. She needs to stay focused on doing what she can to help Scout.

Pascal tells Josslyn and Vaughn, it was really such an elegant solution, don’t they think? The current washing away their bodies in the Adriatic. It was poetry is what it was. Too bad it’s not going to happen. It’s been decided they’re still of use.

Colette says, there are no references to Dalton here. Everything must be in that damn black box… No. She doesn’t have time. She needs to get out of here. They need to find someone else to get what they need. As she’s about to leave, Jack walks in with a gun. He says he has good news and bad news. The good news is, she’s not going to Algiers after all. The bad news is, she is going to a black site and she knows what that entails. Unless she tells him who she’s really working for right now.

Jason skulks around outside a door, his gun drawn. He puts in the code and walks into the lab.

On Monday, Ava tells Kristina that she needs to handle this now; Josslyn asks if the job is worth someone’s life; and Jason says he’s not going to hurt Britt. He’s going to get her out of here.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It is a pretty long list. I love a soap whodunnit.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1212737/general-hospital-cameron-mathison-who-shot-drew/

I was thinking, Drew dies and the news kills Monica, proving Drew is an evil man even after death.

https://parade.com/news/what-happened-to-monica-on-general-hospital

A peek into the future. I can’t wait for Erika Slezak to make her debut.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-fall-preview-2025-nathan-and-valentin-return-erika-slezak-debuts-and-more/

Oh yeah. I remember him.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/young-and-restless-casting-shocker-general-hospital-alum-matt-cohen-heads-to-genoa-city/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

They did a particularly difficult docking, since apparently St. Barth’s wants to cram as many ships in as tightly as possible. The guests kibbitzing didn’t help, but Captain Kerry aced it. The biggest chunk of the episode was about the exterior crew being told not to distract Solène from her work by engaging her in chit-chat. She threw a pity party for herself, but no one way buying it and we got a flashback montage of her laziness. The tip was $21K or $1650 each. While it wasn’t that much more than the stingy group last time, these guests were the least problematic of any I’ve seen, so a win-win.

The Real Housewives Of Orange County

I’m not sure why, but RHOC and RHOM are both on the same night now. I assume it’s to make room for Love Island, but I can’t sit through that one.

Gretchen got sick after the naked wasted night. Zzzzz… it looked like they were ready to cut Katie loose, but come on. If they were going to bring Gretchen back, the past was going to come up, and it’s not like it was anything anybody didn’t already know. And while we’re on the subject, is Jo on the show now? How did that happen? Jenn was cautiously optimistic about moving forward with a friendship with Tamra. No. Don’t be friends with her. Support her bettering herself from a distance, then move closer if and when it sticks. It was all sweetness and light at the end… probably until next week.

The Real Housewives Of Miami

Marysol took the women on a cruise, although even she wondered why after their behavior in Spain. Me too. Stephanie’s delivery was discussed, of course at dinner on the cruise. Adriana had serious problems with her birthday, thinking it shouldn’t be celebrated after 40. I found this really sad. While I agree that the world can be ageist, the way she was talking, you’d think she was a crone with a cane banished to a mountaintop. It’s hard to feel sympathy for her when she’s gorgeous, has a ton of money, and is going on vacation every other day. It also might cause some sensitive regular folk to get overly hard on themselves. Okay. Off the soapbox now. Marysol did give the best quote: I’d rather starve than exercise. Although my perspective is just the opposite. I’d rather put in more time working out than pass up Arby’s once in a while. Oddly, IMO, they make the best burgers, and those Jalapeño Bites are literal and figurative fire.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhom-recap-is-marysol-miamis-puppet-master/

Random Reality Items

She’s right about second chances. Many of them have had endless chances.

Wishing them all good things! They seem like the nicest couple ever.

What’s up with those photos?

I dunno. It’s kind of nostalgic at this point.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

This week is a little short on the streaming since I went to a Labor Day party and participated in, of all things, a cornhole tournament. These people were not fooling around either. We had T-shirts and everything. I’d never played before, and I think it’s safe to say I stink. Thank God they also had karaoke. And food. I’m good at those two things.

Downton Abbey: A New Era. Netflix. While this has been streaming for a while, when I saw the ads for the new film, I realized I hadn’t gotten around to this one. No surprise, this is for fans of the series and/or lovers of the post-Edwardian era. A visit from the queen elicits a variety of emotions and hijinks from the staff. I loved it. A few years ago, practically the whole house went on an exhibition tour, and I went to see it with a friend. It did not disappoint. We spent the good part of a day looking at costumes, props, holograms, and entirely recreated rooms. I’m surprised they didn’t have to kick us out.

https://www.filmreviewdaily.com/all-reviews/downton-abbey-a-new-era

The last chapter coming up.

https://deadline.com/2025/09/downton-abbey-the-grand-finale-review-1236505277/

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. Netflix. A high school couple starts to get vicious texts from an unknown number. It’s obvious they’re coming from someone who’s watching them, but when they mystery is finally solved, it’s a real shocker. There is nothing on this where there isn’t a spoiler, so don’t read further if that’s a deal breaker, since it’s worth a watch.

https://people.com/unknown-number-the-high-school-catfish-true-story-11797200

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37865/the-true-story-behind-netflixs-unknown-number-the-high-school-catfish

Also finished Twisted Metal and Hollywood Demons. Peacock and Hulu, et al., respectively. While Hollywood Demons was enjoyable, and episode 4 was Housewives Gone Bad, there’s no shortage of documentaries like this. On the other hand, Twisted Metal now has me wandering around aimlessly, hoping and praying for a season 3.

💃🏽 Dance Like Everyone Is Watching…

The new cast of DWTS.

https://ew.com/dancing-with-the-stars-reveals-full-season-34-cast-11802314

🦄 Out Of the Ordinary…

🦇 Candid snaps in the wild.

https://people.com/wildlife-photographer-of-year-contest-shares-photos-11802157

🐬 A rare sighting.

https://people.com/rare-albino-dolphin-spotted-swimming-near-virginia-video-11793349

🐅 For the most part, do not try this at home.

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/lists/unconventional-pets-owned-by-celebrities/

🐕 But it wasn’t in the job description.

https://people.com/pet-sitter-delivers-14-puppies-while-watching-pregnant-labrador-retriever-dog-11801991

🐦‍🔥 Quotes of the Week

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. – John Lubbock

Just because things hadn’t gone the way I had planned didn’t necessarily mean they had gone wrong. – Ann Patchett

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison

Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. – Dale Carnegie

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. – Albert Einstein (The first guy to figure out Survivor.)

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook. – William James

We were very unsuccessful swingers. – Veronica Rodriguez, 90 Day: Hunt For Love Tell All, Part 1

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. – Haruki Murakami

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.Carl Jung

We’re married now. My hell is her hell. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🌼 Summer’s Last Stand…

Until next week, stay safe; stay shopping your wardrobe and upcycle rather than waste your money on what you already have; and stay never letting an awful night be for nothing.

April 18, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Natalia Gets Blindsided, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, In My World & One

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

(new and improved for easier reading)

Monday:

Jack asked Carly how it went, and she said she’d planned to have a strong stance on Michael’s behalf, but Willow was so smug and condescending, she lost it. She may have just handed Michael’s children over to Willow and Drew.

Willow said it was supposed to be a joyous time, but Carly ruined it, and Drew said he wasn’t going to let Willow lose her kids. She said she knew Carly could be mean and vindictive, but this time she was on the receiving end. Carly had just been giving Michael what he wanted, and never really gave a damn about her.

Portia told Trina that the procedure was brand new, and Trina said, even if Kai could play again, one bad hit and he could end up paralyzed, but he’d already made up his mind without Portia’s opinion. Portia said she finished her research and Trina asked what she found out.

Ava visited Ric, who asked how things went with Alexis. She said she told Alexis everything and if Alexis didn’t meet their demands, she’d talk to Molly and cops about the attempted murder. Alexis had until 9 am tomorrow.

In front of her house on the phone with Diane, Alexis said she hadn’t signed the commitment papers yet, but she’d do it tonight. She went inside and Kristina was there. Kristina said she looked spooked. Sonny went to Laura’s office to talk about the political hurricane she’d mentioned, and she said it was still a possibility the city could seize control of his waterfront property.

Sonny said he’d thought the esplanade location had been settled, and Laura said so did she. Sidwell and Drew tried to force her to move the esplanade from the original location to Sonny’s piers using eminent domain. She’d thought she shut it down, but they wouldn’t let it die. She’d decided to allow the people of Port Charles to decide where the esplanade should be located in a city-wide referendum.

Carly told Jack that she’d thought it was Drew’s influence, but it was 100% Willow. They welcomed her into the family, stood beside her, rallied behind her, and this was how she was repaying their love and kindness. Carly blew up, they went at it, and it got bad. Jack said they’d come up with a plan and mitigate the damage together.

Drew said Carly was a user. He went to prison for her and when the relationship was over, it was as if nothing they’d shared mattered. Willow said Carly had told her that she’d always care about Drew, and Drew said they both know Carly was a liar. The battle Carly was waging said more about Carly than Willow. She’d done everything she could to meet Michael halfway and none of it was her fault. Willow said she didn’t think so either. Moving in was what she wanted and good for the kids. Nina came back, and Willow said, this was supposed to be a day of celebration. Drew said he would make sure Carly never set foot in this house again and wondered if he should get a restraining order. Nina thought that would be rash, but Drew said, Carly literally almost hit Willow. Nina said Carly was clearly in the wrong, but they weren’t going to gain or fix anything by being as extreme as Carly. They needed to stay calm and focused, and compromise. It was the only way they were going to have peace. They were the reasonable ones and being cool and rational would work in their favor with the judge later. The doorbell rang, and Drew opened the door to Kai, who asked if it was a bad time.

Portia said Kai had asked her medical opinion, so she couldn’t disclose it to Trina. Kai had a tough decision, but it was his decision. Trina said he could live a good life the way he was. He’d already accepted that he wouldn’t be playing football and was working hard to find peace and move on. Portia asked this wasn’t really about Spencer.

Ric said it may not be the done deal Ava thought. Alexis might love her high-minded principles more than her daughter. Ava said Alexis wasn’t letting Kristina go to prison and the mere accusation would tear her girls apart, probably for good. Ric said he’d never underestimated Alexis, and while Ava thought she’d given Alexis 24 hours to make a decision, she also gave Alexis 24 hours to come up with a strategy to save Kristina.

Alexis said it had been a long day and asked why Kristina was there. Molly came out and said she told Kristina that Alexis would forget, and Kristina said, welcome to their Davis girls night – Noodle Buddha and a movie. She asked for Alexis’s phone, and Molly said they were unplugging, shutting out the rest of the world, relaxing, and having fun. Alexis said it was exactly what she needed.

Trina said it had nothing to do with Spencer, but Portia said she’d had a horrific, traumatic loss and Kai was the first young man she’d had feelings for since then. Maybe she was worried she’d lose him too. Trina said she didn’t want to watch something terrible happen to someone she cared about. She’d watch him play and get hit, praying he didn’t get hurt, but knowing at any given moment he could get seriously injured. She didn’t know if she could go through it again.

Drew said he was in the middle of a family crisis, and Kai said, no problem. Drew said they’d talk soon, and Kai left. Drew left to handle something, and Willow wondered how Nina could ask her to compromise. Carly compared her to Nelle, and even though they were twins, they were nothing alike. Nina said Carly was just trying to push her buttons, and Willow said she felt horrible about hurting Michael, but Carly implied she’d never loved him, was more manipulative than Nelle, and that she was trying to take Wiley from him like Nelle did. Nina said it was a gross exaggeration, but Willow said maybe deep down she was scared there was some truth to it.

Carly told Jack that she’d laid down the law and she and Willow both lost their tempers. She’d said Willow was taking advantage of Michael’s absence, and when Willow told her that Michael had no say because he wasn’t there, she lost it. Jack asked if Carly thought it was Drew’s influence, and Carly said she used to think so, but Willow had changed. She was glued to the idea of being a victim who loved her children and had just fallen in love. Everybody else didn’t know what they were talking about. When Willow said things about Michael, she lost it and almost hit Willow, but Nina had texted Jason, who showed up and stopped her. Jack said, as he saw it, she did exactly what needed to be done.

Sonny asked if somebody was pressuring Laura to come after him, and she said it was no secret that Congressman Cain and Councilman Boyle were making an issue out of their friendship. They were going to make it public that they believed the mayor was protecting the local crime boss. Sonny said that wasn’t true and they were just bullying her. Don’t let them. She said she didn’t, but she had intervened so Sonny could hold on to the piers. Not because of him, but because she believed it was the right thing for Port Charles. She’d recently come to realize the location shouldn’t just be up to her or him or Drew or Boyle. The esplanade was for the people of Port Charles, and they should decide where it went. Sonny disagreed and said he ran a legitimate business at the piers. If they tried to take it from him, he wasn’t going to let them. She said she needed him to trust her. She had another reason, but couldn’t go into it. Rocco showed up and asked if everything was okay.

Ava told Ric that Alexis couldn’t strategize away evidence. She had video footage and had the car. When she found out the wires had been cut, she had the car moved to a storage facility she used for the gallery. It was her most treasured piece of art. Ric asked how she managed it, and she said she bribed the mechanic of course (🍷). If anybody else asked, he’d say it went through the crusher. He said, what if she needed to prove Kristina’s guilt? and she said she’d have it towed back and call the PCPD. They’d establish the brakes were tampered with before the crash, but it wouldn’t come to that. Alexis was going to meet their demands.

Kristina said eating Noodle Buddha was odd without Sam, and Molly said Sam would be happy they supported the restaurant since it meant so much to her. Alexis said, she and Jason were married there, and Molly said, Sam would be happy the Davis women were back together. She’d really missed Kristina. It was like a part of her had been missing. Kristina said she was sorry she’d made it impossible.

Trina told Portia that she’d developed strong feelings for Kai. He was a kind, generous, and funny guy. Portia said, and he wasn’t bad looking. She understood Trina was afraid to lose him, but she couldn’t force him to live in a bubble. Trina said it wasn’t about her feelings. She was genuinely scared. Kai was putting his trust in Drew and this miracle surgery. What happened if it failed?

Willow told Nina that she was unnerved about being Nelle’s fraternal twin, and even though their DNA wasn’t identical, she’d wondered if she was capable of the same cruelty. Nina said there was nothing cruel about standing up to Carly and refusing to be verbally beaten up, and Willow wondered why so many people had turned against her when she didn’t do anything wrong. (Okay. The jury is back and has confirmed Willow is a moron.) She could see why Nelle felt misunderstood and angry at the world. Nina said Willow wasn’t her sister. Nelle was mentally unwell; Willow wasn’t. Look at everything she accomplished and had to overcome to become who she was. Wiley and Amelia belonged with her because she was a wonderful mother. Willow took Nina’s hand and thanked her, and Nina said she still thought Willow needed to compromise with Michael and his family… Drew came back and asked if they could table this for now. He thought they all needed time to decompress. Nina told Willow to try and relax and have a good evening. They hugged and Nina left.

Carly said she knew she’d made it a thousand times worse, but Jack said, on the contrary. She put on the necessary pressure, and they were going to go on the attack. Trust him. She may have just helped Michael win custody of his kids.

Sonny said he and Laura were just talking business, and Rocco asked if Laura could listen to his debate speech. Sonny said Rocco’s grandmother was the consummate public speaker, and Laura asked if it was okay if Sonny stayed to hear Rocco’s speech. Rocco said, if he had the time, and Sonny said he was never too busy for Rocco. Dazzle him.

Ava said if Alexis didn’t want her family blown up, she’d have to pay, and Ric asked if she didn’t think her desire for revenge was a mistake. Ava said, nope, and Ric said Kristina had graduated from being reckless and out of control. She had a screw loose and if she wasn’t brought to justice, she’d be free to come after Ava again. Ava said she’d constantly have to watch her back. The money was no good to her if she was dead. Ric asked if she thought her plan was really a good idea.

Kristina told Molly that she’d missed this. She couldn’t stop thinking about the terrible things she did and said and wished she could take them back. Molly said her too, but all was forgiven, so it was time to move past it. That may be the one good thing to come from her dad’s accident. She wanted her sister back and this brought them together. Kristina asked how her dad was doing, and Molly said he was upbeat, but still had a long road ahead. He and Elizabeth were lucky to be alive. Alexis said they were going to make a full recovery, and Molly said after that, they’d never have to think about this nightmare again.

Kai called Portia and she asked Trina to step outside. He asked if Portia was able to do the research, and she said she’d like him to stop by her office.

Willow said Drew was telling her that there was no way she was going to lose her kids, Michael listened to Carly, and she was going to push. She was ruthless and lethal when she needed to be. That’s why Willow was afraid to tell Michael that she was moving the kids into Drew’s, but now she thought she made it worse. If Michael came at her, guns blazing, how was she going to stop him?

Carly said she failed to see how she’d helped, but Jack said they knew she’d fought for her children before and was relentless. She’d made a declaration of war today and history predicted the future. Willow was going to panic and be the damsel in distress, prompting Drew to be her knight in shining armor. Drew was so arrogant, he would do something big to save the day. He’d overreach and make a mistake that Carly would be able to use against him.

Ava said she could live with uncertainty, especially if she was being well-compensated. She could hire security. She asked if Ric was getting cold feet, and he said he guessed he could console himself with a fat payday. She said, even if Kristina didn’t pay? and he said Molly couldn’t lose another sister. Despite how he felt about his daughter, she couldn’t handle another tragedy. On a less noble note, Alexis was a woman of integrity, and if she had to swallow her self-righteous principles and commit embezzlement, that sounded like justice to him. Ava said Alexis didn’t know about his involvement and she thought she’d keep it that way. As long as Alexis didn’t know about his part, it would be smooth sailing for him and Molly. He said that was very generous, as long as Ava didn’t keep his share of the cut.

Molly said, rom-com or legal thriller? and Kristina said, rom-com. She’d already had too much drama. Alexis asked if she was letting go of her anger and resentment, and Kristina said she thought she was. Not just in her relationship with Molly, but about the baby. Her toxic need for revenge had swallowed her up and she’d lost sight of what was important. That wasn’t her. Molly asked if she’d come to that conclusion all on her own or was she in therapy, and Kristina said, both. Alexis said she was glad Kristina was doing better.

Laura said Rocco’s speech was brilliant, and Sonny said he was as good a public speaker as his grandmother. Laura suggested he make more eye contact, and Sonny told him, when he believed in himself, other people would believe in him. Rocco left, and Sonny said maybe he could get Rocco to make a case for the esplanade. Laura said that was one reason she wanted to put the location to a public vote. She didn’t want it coming between them.

Willow said maybe she needed to compromise, but Drew said she had all the power. She said, what if Carly tried to take the kids? but he said that wasn’t going to happen. Willow was their only functioning parent and had custody, but God forbid if something happened to her. They had to make sure Carly and Tracy never got their hands on the kids. Willow said he couldn’t guarantee that, but he said he actually could. He took some papers out of his briefcase and said he had the answer right here.

Portia told Kai that she’d looked into the procedure and the surgery was cutting edge. She was surprised Drew heard of it. Did he mention how? Kai said, no, but he was glad Drew was looking out for him. He was going to tell Drew tonight that he was ready to meet the doctor, and he didn’t get the chance, but he really did want to hear her opinion. She said she’d researched it thoroughly and her honest opinion was that she couldn’t in good conscience recommend the surgery. There were dozens of cases, and it was confirmed that three patients ended up paralyzed as a direct result of the procedure. He said, some of the surgeries were successful, and she said, two. He said he was going to be the third.

Drew said Willow shouldn’t put off protecting her family and kids. If something happened to her, if she was hurt or incapacitated, the papers made him the kids’ legal guardian. She would also be legal guardian of Scout if something happened to him. Willow said it was a huge step, and he said it was a necessary one. Did she agree it was a good idea? After a moment’s hesitation, she said, yes. Carly wouldn’t stop until she got her hands on Willow’s children. She had to protect them and trusted him more than anyone in the world to look after her kids. It was exactly what she wanted. He took a convenient pen out of his back pocket, and she signed the papers.

Jack said Carly was going to use Drew to win custody, but she said Jason told her that she’d made the battle harder. He thought she should suck it up and play nice. Jack said, the only reason to play nice was to convince the opposition to compromise. With Drew, she had to trick her opponent into making a mistake, which he was certain would happen. She’d laid the trap beautifully. She needed to sit back and wait while he took the bait.

Sonny said he respected that Laura was stuck between their friendship and her position as mayor, and she said, for what it was worth (🍷), she wanted the vote to go his way. He said if it didn’t, his lawyer would put up a helluva fight – not with her. Rocco reminded him they’re family and family always comes first. Laura said, always.

Ava said she’d never cut Ric out of the deal. She may have been the intended target, but he almost died. He deserved a payday as much as she did. He said people got shifty when it came to a jackpot like this, and she said, if Alexis decided to protect her lunatic daughter, she’d have to pay double.

Alexis took the papers out of her bag and looked at her girls. Kristina told her to hurry up and she put the papers back in her bag.  

Tuesday:

Gio was playing a tango on his violin outside when Brook came along. She said she was hoping to get him to help her. Lucy got her in a bind.

Chase found Lois in the solarium, and said he was glad he was back. She said she thought he’d never be happy to see her again.

On the phone at the gallery, Ava told Ric there was no sign of Alexis. She was cutting it close. Dante went into Ric’s room and Ric hung up on Ava. As Ava wondered what happened, Trina walked into the gallery.

Lucky brought Elizabeth home, and Lulu, Laura, and Aiden were there to welcome her. Josslyn did classwork at the Surf Lodge, when Emma came in.

Kristina went with Molly to visit Ric, and Dante asked to talk to Kristina.

On the phone in the office, Diane talked to someone about petitioning the court for an involuntary commitment. Alexis walked in, and Diane said everything was set. All she needed was the papers. Alexis said she couldn’t, but Diane said it was the only way to save her daughter.

Josslyn told Emma that catching up was a little overwhelming. She had no regret about going to Easter Island, but she saw some all-nighters in her future. Emma said when she transferred, everyone had a support system already. It was hard at first, but she found her footing and thought Josslyn would too. Emma had to get to class and left, when Josslyn suddenly remembered that she, too, had a class, and left.

Lucky put Elizabeth on the sofa, and Lulu told her that Aiden and Lucky had been working to make sure everything was perfect. They’d set up a bedroom on the first floor and Aiden had been cooking up a storm. Amy arrived and said, reporting for duty.

Trina told Ava that Drew suggested a cutting-edge surgery to Kai so he could play football again, but she doubted it was out of the kindness of his heart. It was risky, but there was no changing Kai’s mind. If it went wrong, Drew would lose nothing, but Kai was risking his health and maybe his life.

Chase said Lois wasn’t an easy person to stay mad at, and she said she knew he was in a difficult position. All those years ago, she’d told Brook not to tell Dante about the baby, and when it came out, she told Brook not to tell Chase. Chase said he resented it for a while, since he’d put himself in Dante’s shoes and he’d want to know.

Kristina asked if she was under arrest, but Dante said, not yet. He asked how their dad was doing, and she said, good. She thought it was a huge relief that he was able to tell Dante and asked what a detective was doing investigating a car crash.

Diane told Alexis that Kristina had severely injured two people in an attempt to kill a third. There was no choice. If there was an investigation, they’d have an insanity defense ready. Alexis said she didn’t sign the papers and didn’t intend to, but Diane said it was the only way to protect her daughter. Alexis asked what good it did to protect her if she destroyed her in the process.

Chase told Lois that he’d wrestled with telling Dante, who was both his best friend and his partner. But it was Brook’s secret, not his. He couldn’t be angry for a decision made a lifetime ago. He had to honor her choices and not say anything.

Brook said she was co-producing the Nurses Ball and Gio was the first person who came to mind. How did he feel about a solo act? He said he didn’t think he was the best fit. Classical music for the wrong audience would put them to sleep. Brook insisted that wouldn’t happen.

Amy threw out a lot of instructions for Elizabeth, and said any food that caused inflammation should be tossed out. She gave Lucky a list and Lulu suggested they look at Elizabeth’s new bedroom. We heard Amy say they needed a humidifier, refilled every l2 hours and cleaned at the end of the day. Aiden said she was already too much.

Molly brought Ric a double espresso and he said she was an angel. She told him that it was Kristina’s idea.

Dante told Kristina that he came to see how his uncle was doing. His mom would want him to do the Bensonhurst thing, stop and check on a relative, regardless how he felt about them. It was nice that Molly and Kristina were talking again. Kristina said, the accident changed everything. Her sister needed her, and she needed her sister. Diane asked, what changed Alexis’s mind? and Alexis said, Kristina and Molly came over. They were loving each other and laughing, and she knew Kristina needed the support and love of her family. If she sent Kristina away, it would shatter Kristina’s trust in her. Diane said Kristina would understand Alexis putting her well-being first, but Alexis said she knew Kristina would never forgive her and she’d be the one destroying Kristina’s relationship with her sister for good.

Trina told Ava that her mother talked to Kai and advised against the surgery, but she didn’t think it mattered. She was sure he was going ahead with it. Ava asked if there wasn’t a chance success, and Trina said she’d love to believe that, but still thought it was the wrong decision. Ava asked what Kai said about her concerns, and Trina said he wanted her to support his decision, but how could she do that if it was the wrong one? Ava said it would be hard, but ultimately, she had respect Kai’s right to make the choice for himself.

In the kitchen, Lulu asked Aiden to help Amy move Elizabeth’s bed, and when he left, she asked Lucky how it was going. He said, fabulous. He had no idea what he was doing. She said, with the fridge or Elizabeth? Laura said she was happy Elizabeth was back in Lucky’s life, and Elizabeth said it would be worse if he wasn’t there. She was happy to have both him and Laura here. With Cameron and Jake away, it would be a lot for her and Aiden. She was glad to have family she could rely on. Laura said she always would. Elizabeth was a very important part of the family.

Kristina asked what Dante and Ric talked about and he said, sports. He was hoping Ric could let go of some grudges. Kristina wondered if it was possible to move on after so much had happened that was bad.

Molly asked what Dante wanted, and Ric said, to check up on him. They didn’t have much to say. Dante probably had the same opinion of him as Sonny did. He’d thought Dante was investigating the accident. She wondered what there was to investigate about an accident, and he said, the mystery of black ice in spring. She said, it would be nice if something good came out of it, and he said, him and his nephew or her and her sister?

Alexis told Diane that Molly would want to know why and when she found out Kristina tried to kill her father, and she’d be done. Alexis would lose what was left of her family. Diane said if there was an investigation, Molly would find out anyway, and it was better if she heard it from Alexis, but Alexis said, if there was no investigation, she’ll have destroyed her family for nothing. Diane asked if Molly wouldn’t be relieved that Kristina was getting help, but Alexis said she’d know it was a legal strategy. Diane said she might, but she couldn’t think of another way to keep Kristina out of prison. Their options, legally speaking, were limited. Alexis said committing Kristina couldn’t be the only way to handle the situation. She was going to keep quiet and cover it up. Her phone dinged with a text from Ava: Don’t be late.

Kai brought Trina to the Surf Lodge and said he had something important to tell her. Her mom was against the surgery and thought it was a longshot, but he’d beaten the odds before. Football meant too much to him and if there was even a chance, he needed to take it. He was going to have the surgery.

Lois told Chase that after Brook gave birth, she didn’t even want to hold the baby. She knew if she did, she’d never let it go. She put her child’s needs above her own on day one and loved her child with her whole heart. Chase said it wasn’t easy for Lois either. She had a grandkid she’d never met. Lois said she had faith in the nuns to find the right adoptive parents. She was choosing to believe her grandchild was healthy and loved.

Brook said she’d seen Gio play, and he said, okay. He’d do it. It’s the Nurses Ball for cryin’ out loud. (Aww. I miss Scotty.) He was glad she was producing him and not Lucy. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Brook said there was plenty wrong. Stick with her. He’d knock their socks off.

Lulu said, Lucky and Elizabeth were spending more time together since the accident, and Lucky said he wanted to take care of her as long as she’d have him. Laura came in to get tea for Elizabeth and Lulu took it to her. Laura asked how Lucky was, and he said, good, but she said she knew when he was holding something back. She guessed it had something to do with Elizabeth. Aiden told Elizabeth that Amy made him move the bed four times and Elizabeth couldn’t use her comforter because of dust mites. She was going to be there eight hours a day every day. Was Elizabeth sure about this? Elizabeth said it was just a few weeks before she’d be back on her feet. Until then, they could go through anything. Lulu said, famous last words.

Emma said she couldn’t believe they’d let Josslyn into Professor Dalton’s class. She had to beg to be admitted after being on the waitlist. Josslyn said she was grateful, and Emma was Dalton’s star student. Emma said she was just lucky, but Josslyn said she’d certainly impressed Dalton.

Diane said she was Alexis’s lawyer but was her friend first. She knew Alexis was a wonderful mother, but what Alexis was suggesting scared her. Kristina committed a serious crime and wanting to cover it up could have serious consequences for Kristina and Alexis. Alexis said she’d cross that bridge when she came to it, and Diane said, fine. If Kristina was arrested, she’d do everything in her power to protect them both. But she’d be charging Alexis double for not taking her advice. Alexis said she knew what she was doing seemed unreasonable, but she had to do it. She thanked Diane for helping, but she was going to take it from here. She left.

Josslyn said, the professor commended Emma’s performance in class. It was refreshing. Emma was obviously listening. Not everybody did. Professor Dalton appeared and said, maybe it was because Emma was easy to listen to. Josslyn jumped up and introduced herself and said it was the first lecture of his she’d attended. She’d been away on a grad trip, but she was back and would be there for the rest of the semester. Dalton asked if she wasn’t starting late, and Josslyn said she’d been determined to get in. She found the subject fascinating. Dalton said he was accepting applications for an undergrad research assistant and thought she should apply. He went to another table, and Emma told Josslyn that she knew what she was doing this summer. (D’oh!)

Lucky said Laura’s advice wouldn’t be the worst thing, and Laura said he and Elizabeth had always had a powerful connection. Just be brave and say it. Be honest. He said he appreciated her advice. He missed her while she was away, but he could hear her in his head. He didn’t always follow her advice, but he heard it. She said it was because she was his mom. She’d always be with him. Aiden set up a Scrabble board, when Amy came in and said it was time for Elizabeth’s nap. Laura said, maybe it was for the best. She had to get to a press event, but they’d play next time. Aiden took Lulu to the side and said, whatever she does, don’t leave them alone with that woman.

Trina told Kai that she had concerns. She felt he was being rushed into a risky procedure and didn’t like that Drew was the one making it happen. Kai said he understood, but the surgeon was legit, and he was aware of the risk. He was going into this with his eyes open. He had a good feeling about it and had to go for it. It would mean a lot if she was by his side.

Ric asked if Kristina apologized for saying Irene was not Molly’s daughter, and Molly said, Kristina acknowledged all of her mistakes. After the accident, Kristina was her rock. She didn’t know what she would have done without her. Ric said, what about when the crisis was over? and Molly said Kristina was a flawed person and she didn’t think Kristina would be perfect for the rest of their lives, but she thought this time it was different. He said, how so? and she said, because now they knew what they stood to lose.

Dante said it was possible to move on, and Kristina asked, how? Dante said he did it. After his assignment with the WSB, he was in bad shape. He had setbacks, but eventually moved on and put it behind him. She said it seemed like a part of life she didn’t think she could forget, and it didn’t seem possible to move on, but he said he saw her putting in the work. He was proud of her.

Alexis went to the gallery, and Ava said she thought Alexis wasn’t coming. She was about to go to the DA’s office to have a chat with Molly. Alexis said Ava was getting what she wanted. She had the funds from the Cassadine estate transferred to a Swiss bank account where they’ll be transferred to Ava’s account in installments. The first one should arrive as they speak and by July, every dime of her divorce settlement would be back. Their business was concluded. Alexis started to leave, and Ava said, about that. The price has gone up. Her divorce settlement was a great start, but that wasn’t all she wanted.

Trina said she’d have Kai’s back – no pun intended. He kissed her and said he’d be back on the field in no time, and all this would be worth it.

Lucky went to get Elizabeth’s book from the car, and Lulu told Aiden, don’t worry. Everything would work out fine. Aiden said, famous last words. Lulu followed Lucky outside, and he said she could make a break for it. She said, Amy may not work out. She’s a bad fit. Lucky said there was no other option, but she said there was – him.

Gio was playing his violin outside, when Lois came by and wondered if she’d heard him playing something from this century. He asked if it was okay, and she said, it was amazing. He said he was trying out pieces for the Nurses Ball, and she said Brook would make sure he was great. He said she was producing him, and Lois said she loved that they were teaming up. Gio said him too. His mom said practicing on his own was the only way to grow as an artist, but working with other artists and the right collaborator was the key to being great. Lois said his mom was always looking out for him, and he said she still was, in a way.

Brook found Chase in the solarium and said Lucy wanted to know what song he was performing, but he said he didn’t know if was up for that. Brook said he had to. It wouldn’t be the same without him. He said he needed incentive. If he did it, he’d need a very hands-on producer. She asked, how hands on? and he said he’d need help with the music, and getting in his wardrobe, and getting out of his wardrobe. She said, in that case, sign her up, and they kissed.

Alexis said the point of blackmailing her was for Ava to get her divorce settlement back. What changed? Ava said the divorce settlement was already hers. Alexis was giving her back what was stolen in the first place. Alexis asked what she felt entitled to now, and Ava said, compensation pay for Kristina’s attempt on her life. And compensation for Ric’s pain and suffering. Alexis asked how Ava was going to compensate Ric, and Ava said what she did with her money was her business. Alexis’s business was to keep the payments coming. Ava’s phone dinged and she said the first payment had been deposited. Alexis said she was going, and Ava said, one more thing. Keep a leash on her daughter or the price might skyrocket.

Kristina said she’d made a bad choice and was trapped in rage and hate, and Dante said but she saw it and stopped it now. Or she was trying to. She said she had to not let the things that went wrong in her life hold her back.

Ric said he knew what it was like to be estranged from a sibling, and Molly asked if he wished things had been different. He said, no. Things were different, briefly, once upon a time. Molly told him that their mom said they’d need each other someday, especially now that Sam was gone. They both put up a helluva a fight, but their mom wouldn’t let it go. She was right and now Molly had her sister back. Ric’s phone buzzed and there was a text from Ava: $$$$$. He said he was glad Alexis was able to give that to her, and Molly said her too.

Josslyn said, the professor only invited Emma to apply. She was still competing with other applicants, right? Emma said, of course (🍷). Everyone would want to assist Dalton. Josslyn said he did single Emma out. That was good news. Emma said now she needed to spend the rest of the semester showing him that she was the best person for the job. She couldn’t wait to work with him. She left and we saw Dalton sitting at another table.

Wednesday:

Amy tried to get Elizabeth to rest, but Elizabeth said she was all napped out and Lucky said he could handle Elizabeth.

At her press conference, Laura said she believed the McConkey esplanade was a valuable addition to Port Charles. It would be a financial boon, an avenue for tourism and public transportation, but most important, it would foster community for the citizens who gathered there. The matter at hand was the location on which she and Congressman Cain strongly disagreed.

Sidwell went to see Tracy in the solarium and Tracy told him that Yuri would be staying for their entire interaction. It would be brief. Sidwell said he hoped not. He’d found they had so much in common.

Diane went to see Sonny along with Marco, and Jason answered the door. She introduced, Marco Rios, the newest member of Miller and Davis, and Sonny asked why he didn’t have his father’s last name. Jenz Sidwell was his father, right?

Elizabeth said she wasn’t big on being handled, and Lucky amended it to helping make her comfortable. It was great having Amy, but a nurse with her experience and impressive bedside manner must be needed at the hospital. Amy said Elizabeth was her most important patient and she was going to stay right there until she was fully recovered. Elizabeth sent a text to someone: 911!!! Help!!!

Laura said she supported the site originally proposed by Congressman Cain, and Boyle interrupted, asking if the esplanade wasn’t Congressman Quartermaine’s idea. Laura said the funding was based on the original site, and Boyle asked if Drew hadn’t secured the funding. Laura said he had, but then had a change of opinion on the location. As a result, the federal funds were now frozen. The new site Congressman Cain had proposed would require the use of eminent domain to forcibly seize Piers 55 and 56, private property owned by a citizen of Port Charles. The design had been modified to address environmental concerns and since she thought it would benefit all of them, she was announcing a referendum to let the citizens of Port Charles to decide the location. Boyle asked if she didn’t think the public had a right to know who owned the piers. Did she forget to mention they were owned by the resident mob boss Sonny Corinthos?

Diane said she didn’t know that Marco was Sidwell’s son, and Sonny said he had a conversation with Natalia. She’d told him that she had a son by her ex-husband Jenz Sidwell. Diane said, color her surprised, and Marco said he and his father didn’t share a last name. Now that he was aware it was an issue, he’d include it on his resume. Diane said they’d talk about it later, and Sonny said he wanted a private conversation with his lawyer. Marco left, and Diane said she was sorry. She had no idea Marco had any connection to Sidwell. Naturally, she’d terminate him immediately. Sonny said he had a better idea.

Tracy said Sidwell being a supplier to Deception was the only reason she was entertaining a conversation. Her only interest in the company was to keep it profitable for her granddaughter. Sidwell said that was something they had in common. They both cared deeply about their families. They also shared a common thorn in their sides. Tracy said the only thorn she had was him and she’d like to be rid of him, and he said he felt she’d like to be rid of Sonny even more.

Lucas went over to Elizabeth and asked Lucky how the patient was. Lucky said, as well as could be expected under the circumstances, and Lucas said, what circumstances? Amy yelled for Lucky, and Lucky said, that was the circumstance. Lucas said he’d gotten Elizabeth’s text. Where was the fire? Elizabeth said, Amy was the fire. Aiden’s nerves were already frayed, and she wasn’t sure if he was even coming home. She couldn’t take another nap, and she didn’t need a nurse. She’d figure it out. Just do this for her. Amy came in and asked what Lucas was doing there, and he said Portia and Terry got their wires crossed. She was needed back at GH. They couldn’t spare her. Lucky got her bag, and Amy said, if she left, who would take her place? Lucky said he’d do it.

Tracy told Yuri that he could go, but stay close. Yuri left, and Sidwell said he was happy to supply the rare mineral Deception needed and enjoyed spending time with the ladies on the team, but he had grave misgivings about their not-so-silent partner’s involvement. He’d feel more secure if Sonny was gone. Tracy asked why he was bringing it to her, and he said, as the majority shareholder, she was in a unique position to get rid of him.

Diane said they’d vetted Marco carefully, but didn’t ask about his parents, and Sonny said there was no way she could know. But Sidwell knew she was his attorney and put Marco up to it. It wasn’t a coincidence. Jason agreed, and Sonny suggested Jason have a friendly chat with Marco. Jason left and Sonny told Diane, you know what they say, knowledge is power.

Laura said it was no secret that Sonny owned Piers 55 and 56. It was a matter of public record. But the forcible seizure of any citizen’s private property wasn’t a subject she took lightly. That’s why she was proposing a referendum vote – to let the people have their say. Boyle said they already had their say when they elected her to look out for their best interests. Sonny’s piers had been a blight on the city for years and were the site of countless violent crimes. Seizing them and giving them back to the city of Port Charles solved two problems – a home for the esplanade and eradicating a hotbed of crime. She could make happen. Why put the people of Port Charles through unnecessary time and expense with a voter referendum? Laura said she didn’t believe it should be a unilateral decision since it impacted every citizen, and Boyle asked if she was worried it would impact the people or Sonny. She had a personal relationship with Sonny and dined with him publicly. Maybe the people wanted to make sure her MetroCourt meals weren’t paid for by the city’s dime. Laura said she and Mr. Corinthos shared a grandchild and she made no apology for that. However, she took offense at the suggestion she’d shown Sonny any partiality. In fact, she’d chosen to put the decision in the hands of the voters so there would be no question of bias. Boyle asked if she wasn’t really just abdicating her responsibility of allegiance to the people, and she said her allegiance was to the citizens of Port Charles and the US Constitution. Boyle asked, how about the Deputy Mayor? How could she support her boss’s obvious refusal to stand up to organized crime and support dumping her decision in the people’s lap just to avoid standing up to Sonny’s criminal empire that had taken over their beautiful city?

Jordan said she wouldn’t allow Boyle to drag her into his public debate with the mayor, and he said, what about the good people of Port Charles? She said she wouldn’t be manipulated, and he asked if refusing to stand up to organized crime wasn’t extreme. She took no position, and neither was she willing to do the job she was elected to do. Jordan said she’d asked Laura privately to reconsider. She couldn’t in good conscience endorse the referendum, so out of respect for the mayor and the position of Deputy Mayor, she was choosing to resign effective immediately.

Lucky said he’d stay around the clock, but Amy said they needed a medical professional. Elizabeth said she was a medical professional, and Lucky said he knew where to find Amy and wouldn’t hesitate to find her and wouldn’t hesitate to reach out for help. Elizabeth poked Lucas, and Lucas said he’d be checking in like he lived there. Amy said she’d be available day or night, and Elizabeth needed to text her every day. Elizabeth promised, and Amy said all the nurses loved their head nurse, especially her, and left.

Tracy said she never wanted Sonny involved with Deception, but her partners felt it was necessary, and Sidwell said he believed they needed zincite more than they needed Sonny. Tracy said that was their agreement despite her misgivings, and Sidwell said, between the two of them, they had the leverage to convince the others to part ways with Mr. Corinthos. Tracy asked why she should choose him over Sonny. They both brought more risk than reward. Sidwell said, right now, their agreement was for him to supply an amount of zinc, but that amount was finite. She said, so he could cut it off or demand an exorbitant renegotiation fee, and he said she could use that as leverage to convince the team it was worth parting ways with Sonny. She said then they’d get to negotiate a price in perpetuity. They’d get the zinc they needed and get rid of Sonny, but there was one problem. She didn’t trust him any more than she did Sonny.

Diane asked what Sonny wanted her to do, and he said, for now, keep an eye on Marco, but that’s not why he asked her to come. Laura gave him a heads up on a big vote coming up. Diane’s phone dinged and she said, apparently, the vote was about him.

Jordan said, no questions. She had no comment until after she formally submitted her resignation. She left and the press bombarded Laura with questions. In the hallway, Anna asked what Jordan was doing, and Jordan said she never intended to call out Laura in public, but she had her own concerns about Laura’s relationship with Sonny. Anna said, Laura’s integrity was beyond reproach, but Jordan said Laura was still too close. She and Sonny shared a family and socialized, and Laura wasn’t willing to distance herself. It was reflecting badly on Jordan as well. Anna said she strongly disagreed, and Jordan said she loathed Boyle, but he wasn’t wrong. Laura was too cozy with Sonny and Sonny was a criminal. She couldn’t continue to defend Laura. Anna asked if they couldn’t just agree to disagree, and Jordan said she tried to look the other way, but it wasn’t working for her. Laura said, questions would have to wait until later and got down from the podium. Curtis told her that he was sorry. When he asked her to put it up for a referendum vote, he didn’t expect it to blow up. She said it wasn’t his fault. Boyle was determined to turn this into a circus. Curtis asked if she had any idea Jordan was resigning, but she said, it came out of the blue. He hadn’t put pressure on her to do this. It was her decision, and she stood by it. Drew appeared and said he couldn’t agree more. He was happy she’d come around to his way of thinking.

Lucas left, and Lucky said it was a good thing he’d shown up. Elizabeth said she may have texted him. Only a doctor who Amy liked and respected could convince her to go. She apologized for putting him on the spot. He definitely didn’t need to stay. He said he wanted to. Everything that happened had been part of his master plan. She said, for taking care of her around the clock? and he said he’d almost lost her and he couldn’t let her out of his sight. She wasn’t getting rid of him now.

Diane told Sonny that Laura was putting the McConkey esplanade site to a referendum ballot. The people would decide whether to build it on the original site proposal or issue an eminent domain order and seize his piers to build it on. Sonny said, that can’t happen. The piers were crucial to his business. Diane asked what he wanted her to do, and he said, put together a defense team. Get the best real estate and constitutional law lawyers and fight the city. She said she could hire a thousand lawyers, but it would be a waste of time and money. It was a clear-cut case of you can’t fight city hall.

Drew told Laura, well played and smart. The decision was now out of her hands. Sonny couldn’t blame her when the people voted to take away the piers and she could pretend the will of the people was responsible. Curtis told him not to be so sure yet. Sonny had the respect of the town. Drew said the people weren’t stupid or gullible, and Curtis said that remained to be seen, but he’d get no help from Aurora in his war against Sonny. Drew said he expected Curtis to think better of the citizens, but he guessed not, and Laura said, how dare he? When they first undertook the project, he was clear about the location he chose. This whole thing was his idea and now it was tainted. He allowed his antagonistic relationships with his brother and Sonny to be more important than the people he was elected to serve. She walked away.

Marco went into Diane’s office to find Jason at her desk. He said he thought Diane had asked to see him, and Jason said Diane was his lawyer too. He had a question for Marco.

Sidwell thanked Tracy for meeting with him. He suspected Deception’s partnership with him would benefit them more than their entanglement with Sonny. Tracy said Yuri would show him out, but he said he could manage by himself. He told her, enchantée, and left.

Sonny said he’d owned the piers for decades and they could just take them? and Diane said that’s exactly what eminent domain was – when the city determined the needs of the people outweighed the needs of a private property owner. Sonny said he was being targeted by Drew’s power. Drew wanted to come after him and Jason because he got his little feelings hurt. Diane said she didn’t disagree. The violence and alleged criminal activity at the piers had never proven welcome. She’d research precedents and case law, using the angle that his needs outweighed the city’s needs. But if the people of Port Charles voted to seize the piers, ultimately, she didn’t think there was a legal way around it. Sonny said that was unacceptable. His business required ownership of the piers. She said he may have to find a new way of doing business.

Anna said she guessed Aurora would be giving a press conference and Curtis said he’d be covering the fallout for a while. But something wasn’t right. Jordan going against Laura and resigning. There was no way she’d let an obvious sleaze like Boyle force her hand. Jordan’s moral compass was firmly in place and Boyle questioned it repeatedly. Anna said she felt Jordan was at her breaking point. They both knew that Laura had never been able to come to terms with Sonny’s activities. Curtis said, even when TJ was little and Sonny took him in and paid for his education, and she said, Sonny definitely helped occasionally, but she thought Jordan reached her limit. He said he knew from experience when Jordan was done, she was done, and Anna said it was ideal for someone running a criminal enterprise to have close ties to a city official. Jordan wasn’t wrong.

Boyle went to Drew’s office and Drew said, great job with the press conference. Boyle said it was fun, but he didn’t have Jordan resigning in his purview. He thought she and Laura would stick together. Drew said Jordan was an independent thinker. Laura’s career was tanking, and the rats were starting to jump ship.

Jordan brought Laura her letter of resignation, and Laura said she hadn’t seen it coming. Jordan said she needed Laura to be genuinely surprised, and they wished each other good luck. Jordan left and Laura said, good luck to all of them.

Marco said he’d try to answer Jason’s questions, and Jason asked why he picked Miller and Davis when there were other law firms. Marco said he’d interviewed at four and gotten three offers. This firm practiced the kind of law he liked and had a good compensation package. Jason said his father placed him there, but Marco said his father didn’t place him anywhere. It had been his choice to leave Miami. Jason said, so it was a coincidence, and Marco said they did happen. Jason said, not like this. Just after Marco’s father moved his operation there, there was an explosion in Sonny’s penthouse and Sonny’s son – his nephew – was severely burned. He almost died. Marco said he was sorry, and Jason said, was he? Him showing up made two coincidences. He’d be focused on Marco’s actions. Right now, it was peaceful, but if that changed, he’d stop Marco and stop his father. Marco asked if Jason was threatening him, and Jason said Marco was a smart man. He was sure Marco knew what a threat was. Lucas came in and asked what was going on. Did he interrupt something?

Elizabeth told Lucky that he could still bail, but he said he wanted to help if she let him. She said if he thought he had to make up for something, he didn’t, but he said that wasn’t true, and they set up the Scrabble game.

Lucas said Diane told him to come in. He’d seen Marco and Jason had met. What was happening? Jason said he was trying to get a straight answer out of Lucas’s friend (I nearly die laughing at the – I think – unintentional joke), but obviously he wasn’t capable of it. Maybe Lucas would have better luck. Jason left.

Drew told Boyle that Laura was an impediment, but she was giving them an opportunity with the referendum ballot. She wasn’t coming out strongly about taking away the piers and kneecapping Sonny’s criminal operation. It looked like she was on Sonny’s side. It was Boyle’s opportunity to run against her in the next election. He could be the law-and-order candidate. He wanted to stop crime while Laura was in bed with the mob. She was vulnerable and they could take her out. Do everything Drew said, and he’d be in the mayor’s office, where he’d continue to do everything Drew said.  

Diane said, the more she read about the referendum, the less she liked it, and Sonny said he wished Laura hadn’t gone through with it. It opened the door to all his enemies coming after him. Diane said Drew had already come for him, directly supporting his take down. She didn’t think it was something Sonny could win in a courtroom. He had to convince people that he was the one they wanted to get behind. He’d been a generous benefactor for many years, most of it anonymous. That had to stop right now, and he had to paint himself as the generous benefactor he was. Sonny said if he stepped out of the shadow, he put himself in the position of a lot more scrutiny, and she said, the more notoriety, the greater the risk. It wasn’t a referendum on the pier, but a referendum on him.

Curtis told Anna that he understood Jordan not wanting a connection to Sonny, but didn’t understand her public resignation blindsiding Laura. Anna said it wasn’t Jordan’s style, but what other explanation was there?

Jordan flashed back to her resignation, when Sidwell called. He said he hoped she didn’t mind him calling, but her resignation was all over social media. He was impressed with her standing up for her ideals. Perhaps they should talk. She said, about? and he said, about her future of course (🍷).

Thursday:

Curtis went to see Jordan, who was packing up her office. He said, so it was true, she did resign, and she said she and Laura privately disagreed about Laura’s relationship with Sonny. Boyle put her on the spot and she gave her honest opinion. She had to either quit or Laura would have fired her for insubordination. Curtis said he understood that was the story she was telling, but he’d like to hear the truth.

A sign over Sonny’s mantel said, Happy Birthday, Dante, and Olivia said his new place was great. Sonny said he wanted to have more family gatherings there, when Lulu and Donna came out. Lulu asked, where’s the birthday boy? and Sonny said he was outside with Rocco.

In Sonny’s old kitchen, Felicia asked how Michael was, and Carly said, as well as could be expected. His doctors were happy with is progress, but she hadn’t had the heart to tell him that Willow was moving into Drew’s. She thought Willow would change her mind, but she didn’t know Willow at all. Felicia said she had an ulterior motive for inviting herself over. Mac needed Carly’s help.

Lucas told Marco that Jason didn’t seem happy, and he wasn’t the guy to have a problem with, and Marco said he knew Jason was Sonny Corinthos’s righthand man. Lucas said Jason and his sister were tight, but he’d come to congratulate Marco on his new job. Alexis came in and said, that might be premature. The minute Diane found out, Diane told her. Lucas said, told her what? and Marco said Jenz Sidwell was his father.

Brook told Chase they were going to be late, but he said he wasn’t sure he was in the right headspace for a party. He had a lot on his mind. (The 60s called and wants their headspace back.)

On the side of a road, Molly was on the phone saying she just needed someone to change a tire… No! Don’t put her on hold again… Cody came by on Hades and said, howdy, ma’am. Was there anything he could do?

Chase told Brook that he’d been talking to Lois about what Dante’s reaction would be to having a child he didn’t know about. It made him realize how bad he wanted to be a dad.

Felicia said Mac was worried that the referendum made Laura look like she was passing the buck to the voters instead of standing up to Sonny herself. He’d like Sonny to accept what the voters decided and not fight it. Carly said if they decided to take Sonny’s property, he wasn’t going to say okay, and Felicia said that’s why she needed to talk to him and convince him to do what was best for Laura.

Jordan said she was telling the truth, but Curtis said he knew her. There had to be more to the story. She said Sonny thought he was above the law and Laura knew, but still considered him a friend. That was a problem for her. She resented that Sonny was a factor in major decisions Laura made. Boyle opened the door and put her on the spot, and she couldn’t stop herself from walking through. Curtis said the only time he’d seen her out of character like this was when she was working undercover, and she said she was going to stop him there.

Cody said he was heading home and came across a damsel in distress, and Molly said she wasn’t a damsel, but she’d been on hold with the garage for 46 minutes and no progress. She put her phone back to her ear and said, great. When are they coming… no… She told Cody that somebody was coming, and he said he heard hours. Did she have a spare in the trunk? He wasn’t leaving her by the side of the road, and he could change a tire.

Lucas said he wasn’t expecting that, and Alexis said Marco neglected to mention it. Lucas tried to leave, but Marco said he didn’t conceal it and didn’t lie. They’d never asked. Did they ask other candidates about their family tree? Lucas said this had nothing to do with him and left. Alexis said, technically, it wasn’t a lie, but there were lies of omission, and Marco asked if she was rescinding the offer.

Lois, Gio, and Danny arrived at the party, and Lulu flashed back to Lois knocking on Martin’s door when she was rifling through his papers. Sonny said he’d get Dante and Rocco. On the patio, Rocco told Dante about the negative comments on social media about Laura. #MobsterMayor was trending, and his phone was blowing up. Dante told him not to worry about his grandmother. It was all politics. Rocco said he was the link between Sonny and Laura and the debate would make it worse. He didn’t want to go if that was going to happen, but Dante said he’d worked hard and couldn’t bail on his partner. Sonny came out as Rocco said he didn’t know what to do unless his grandfather didn’t go to the debate.

Cody changed the tire and Molly wondered who named a horse Hades. Cody said, Tracy. It probably reminded her of home. He warned Molly that Hades could sense her fear, then informed her that her spare tire was punctured. She said she’d forgotten to get it fixed, and he said it was time for Plan B.

Marco said he was still qualified for the job and bringing the same clients. His father had no criminal record and had never been charged with a crime. The same couldn’t be said for their biggest clients, Sonny and Jason. Their client list was more problematic than his.

Carly and Felicia gravitated to the moss bowl 🎍, and Carly said she and Sonny were in a good place. She had no intention of butting back into his business. Felicia asked if she didn’t think getting rid of the piers would make Port Charles safer and more peaceful. If Sonny didn’t own the piers anymore, could it turn out to be a good thing for Carly’s family?

Kristina told Danny about their perfect Davis girls night, and he said he was glad she and Molly were fine. He knew his mom would be too. Outside, Dante said it wasn’t what it sounded like, and Sonny asked if Rocco didn’t want him to go. Rocco apologized and told Sonny that he shouldn’t have said it. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Sonny to come, but after the press conference, he was worried it would be bad if Sonny and Laura were seen together. Dante wondered if they could sit separately, but Sonny said it was best for him to stay home and asked if Dante was going to record it. Dante said, of course (🍷), and Sonny said he was proud of Rocco for looking out for his grandmother. Rocco went inside, and Sonny said he was proud Rocco told the truth. He’d see the video and it was all good.

Carly asked if Felicia thought Sonny could be a legitimate businessman, and Felicia said it was possible. Carly said people generally didn’t walk away from that business, but Felicia said if it could happen, eminent domain could be a blessing in disguise. (Ugh. Eminent domain is a pet peeve of mine, so my blood boils whenever they mention it. It’s nobody’s blessing except those whose pockets are lined from it.)

Lucas came into Sonny’s old kitchen and said Carly wasn’t going to believe… Sorry for interrupting. (He does that a lot.) Felicia said she needed to get going and asked Carly to think about what she’d said. Lucas asked Carly if Jason was gunning for Marco Rios.

Alexis said there was a difference in doing something illegal and getting caught, and Marco said the difference was a good lawyer. He admired how the firm kept Sonny from being brought up on RICO charges. Alexis said she’d met his father, and her first impression was that he was charming, intelligent, and completely ruthless. Marco didn’t disclose it on purpose. He said she was right, but he’d thought she of all people would understand. She was a Cassadine, but didn’t use the name and had distanced herself from her problematic family. They had a dark international reputation, and she wanted to be judged on her own merit. That’s what he wanted too.

Jordan said if Curtis still cared about her, he’d drop the subject or leave. Curtis asked if she was in trouble. Was she being blackmailed? She said, no. She’d promised herself that she’d never lie to him again. She’d thought she was protecting him, but he needed honesty and deserved it. She’d lost him because of it and they’d worked at being friends. She didn’t want to jeopardize that, so he had to let it go.

Chase said it had been hard to accept he couldn’t get Brook pregnant. He felt he’d failed her. Brook said he was so wrong. She wanted to be worthy of him, but didn’t think she’d ever deserve him. All she wanted to do was think about a future with him. He said he wanted to move forward with the child they could have and wanted to raise a kid with her. Did she feel the same way?

Cody suggested they get moving with Plan B, but Molly said she’d wait for a tow. He asked if she thought he was leaving her there when it was about to get dark, but she said she’d be fine. Cody said they had an obvious solution.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Dante, who said he couldn’t think of a better way to spend his birthday than with family. He felt lucky to have them in his life. Even Michael had called. Sonny said family showed up, no matter what that entailed, and Dante thanked them and said he loved them.

Brook said she wanted to start a family with Chase, and he said they had to decide which option was right. She said she wanted to rule out IVF with a sperm donor because of Molly’s experience. She couldn’t go through that. Chase agreed, and she said they were back to adoption. He said he thought it was the best fit, but didn’t know how she felt.

Carly said, Miami Marco? and Lucas said Marco had gotten a job with Alexis and Diane’s firm, although he wasn’t sure it was going to work out. She asked what Jason had to do with it, and he said Marco texted him with the good news, so he stopped by to congratulate him. When he got there, there was a lot of tension between Jason and Marco, and it sounded like Jason had threatened Marco. Marco’s father is Jenz Sidwell, who he knows is a bad guy. Carly said, Sidwell kidnapped Sasha and held her at gunpoint. Officially, it didn’t happen because Jack took care of it. Lucas said he and Marco had only been a possibility, but now even that was gone.

Gio thanked Sonny for inviting him, and Sonny said Gio was family and the neighborhood stuck together. Did he have plans for the summer? Gio said the Port Charles Symphony apprentice program accepted him. Lulu asked if Lois was okay, and Lois said she’d been thinking about all the years she and Sonny had been friends. He never missed a chance to help her family out and had made Gio’s education a priority. Lulu said Sonny had always been generous.

Jordan asked Curtis to accept what she said for what it was and leave it at that. He said he’d lost the right to have her explain herself and respected her right not to tell him. She said she didn’t want to lie to him again. It had already cost her too much. He said it had cost them both, and she thanked him for checking in and understanding. He said, just know his understanding came with a price.

Brook told Chase that giving up her child made her respect the adoptive process more. Her son went to people who wanted him and would give him all their love. She’d always prayed for a chance to pay it forward and give a child a loving home. He asked how she felt about an older child, and she said, Monica and Alan adopted Emily when she was 12. Even though she remembered her biological parents, she was accepted as a Quartermaine. He said they could start looking into it. He knew there was a kid meant for them, and it didn’t matter how old they were.

Carly said it seemed like a good reason to walk away, but Lucas said nothing he’d seen made Marco look like his father. Marco didn’t lie. It had never come up. But after Brad, the last thing he needed was another man he couldn’t trust.

Alexis said she understood coming from a problematic family and Marco keeping his own life separate from his father, but Sidwell wasn’t just his father. He was also a client. Marco said, one of many, and Alexis said, true, but they preferred not to hire someone whose client wanted to kill their clients. It wasn’t good for business. Marco said the optics weren’t good, but his reputation was. JS and Associates was his father’s firm, but his father had never been involved in a criminal enterprise. He wasn’t going to distance himself from his father even if it meant losing the job. He loved his father, but hoped he’d be judged on his own merit.

Cody said Hades could easily carry both of them and it was totally safe. Safer than Molly waiting by the road for a tow that was never coming. Molly said it sounded like a horror movie, and he said a lot of them started that way. He’d bring her back to the stables and drop her off on the way to Dante’s party, or she could call a Ride Share if she didn’t want to wait. She said, okay, and brought her briefcase out of the car. He suggested she leave it, but she said she couldn’t leave legal documents there.

Sonny said he couldn’t make Rocco’s debate. Some business came up. They’d talked through it, Rocco understood, and Dante was going to record it. Olivia asked to talk to Sonny outside and they left. She said it was the first time his grandson was putting himself out there. Sonny was his grandfather and Rocco adored him. Not going wasn’t an option. Dante came out, and Olivia said she never thought she’d see the day Sonny would put work in front of family. Dante said Sonny would be there if he could, and Olivia went back inside. Dante asked if Sonny was okay, and Sonny said he was taking his pills and he was fine. Dante said he was going to tell Olivia for Rocco’s sake, but Sonny said, no. She would be mad at Rocco. Let her be mad at him. He was a big boy and could take it.

Molly sat in front of Cody on the horse and said, don’t let it gallop or jump over anything. He told her to trust him, and she said she trusted he was good with horses.

Curtis asked Jordan to promise to call him if she was up against something. He wouldn’t ask questions, but he’d be there. She promised and thanked him for understanding. He said she could count on his discretion should she need it, and she said it meant the world to her, and left.

Carly asked what Lucas was going to do, and he said he didn’t know. Think some more. She said that was progress. In the past, he’d use it as an excuse to walk away. He asked where the lecture was on his horrible taste in men who would break his heart, and she said, that would be annoying. He said she was doing unto him and Marco what she wished he’d do unto her and Jack.

Alexis said she knew how awful it felt to pay for the sins of a family you didn’t choose. Her family did horrible things she had no part of, yet she was still associated with them. They had family backgrounds in common, but walking the fine line between legality and family was trickier than he thought. At some point, he was going to have to choose between the life he’d made for himself and working for his father. Marco said, the question was, should that day come, would he be working for the firm? and she said she had to talk it over with Diane, but he should know there would be an extensive background check. He said, knock yourselves out, and left.

Chase said, they were doing this? and Brook said, they were doing this. He said he was nervous at first, but now he was excited, and she said he was going to be an amazing father. He said any kid would be lucky to have her as a mother, and they kissed. (I’m thinking they’re going to adopt Gio.)

Danny, Gio, and Rocco sat on the patio looking at their phones, and Danny said he couldn’t believe what they were saying about Sonny. Gio said they were idiots. He got into it with one of them, but they didn’t want to hear it. Danny said, be careful. They were crazy. Gio went inside to grab a soda before he wrote something he shouldn’t, and left. Danny said Rocco dodged a bullet. If both of his grandparents were here, people would be posting that it was proof Laura favored Sonny. Rocco said that was garbage, and Danny said he knew that, but it was probably best that Sonny wasn’t coming to the debate.

Dante said he was sorry this was happening before Sonny’s surgery. People were probably saying nasty stuff. Sonny said it was nothing he hadn’t heard, and Dante asked if he was planning on fighting back. Sonny said he was ready for it, but didn’t want anybody getting caught in the crossfire.

Lulu asked if Gio missed home, and Gio said, sometimes. He knew one day he’d leave to pursue his music career. His mom did. Lulu asked if she was away a lot, and Lois said, before she had Gio. Once she had him, she cut back on travel. She hated to be away from Gio. Olivia said, but she worked until the second Gio was born, and Gio said, she was in California playing a concert when she went into labor. That’s why he was born in LA.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Sonny brings Donna to his old kitchen, and Carly says, there’s my girl. Did she have fun with daddy? Donna says, they went to Dante’s birthday party and it was great. They had to the hide cake from the boys. Carly says, sounds like a good idea. She’s glad Donna had fun. Donna says, guess what? Rocco is doing a debate. Carly asks if she knows what a debate is, and Donna says, nope, but she knows everybody is going to be there except daddy. He’s staying at home with her.

In an examining room, Isaiah tells Josslyn, no ligaments or tendons are damaged, but it’s swollen. From the scans, he can see she suffered bad sprain and aggravated it a few days later. What on earth was she doing?

At the hospital, Anna asks how Emma is doing, and Emma says, for someone about to start their first day in court mandated community service, not too bad, invigorated even. Where’s Aunt Felicia? Felicia appears and says, right here and ready to keep her busy and on task, and Emma says, Felicia is babysitting her. Felicia says, call it what Emma wants, and she will too. Ready to start? Emma says, bring it on. She practically grew up in this place and she’s very excited to start giving back, even if it’s judge ordered. Felicia says she likes this can-do attitude and knows right where to start her. Right this way. As they leave, Anna says, have fun.

On her phone in Maxie’s office, Lucy says, yes… okay. She definitely sees… okay. Thank you. She’ll be in touch. Maxie says, spit it out, and Brook says, just tell them already. Lucy says, the boutique in Los Angeles says their Deception patented overnight wrinkle cream is flying off the shelves. Brook says she’s not seeing the numbers… wait… Lucy asks if the numbers are good, and Brook says, spectacular. They’re only two weeks into Q2 and these put them in the black for the rest of the year. Lucy says, and to think they’d be scrambling for zincite if it wasn’t for their white knight at Windymere.

At Windymere, Jordan says, the pay is substantial, and Sidwell says, wait until she sees the health plan. She says, it’s a great offer, but the job description is vague. What exactly does he expect her to do for him?

Sasha looks at the sonogram screen and smiles. She puts her hand on Jason’s arm and he says, it’s amazing.

Sasha and Jason look at the sonogram, and Sasha says, ears… eyes… see that? Jason says he does. Almost fully developed. Does she feel okay? She says, better than okay, and he says, good. It might be none of his business… She says, if it is, she’ll tell him to butt out, and he says he knows her due date is a few weeks away. Does she have a birth plan in place? She says she does, but look who’s in the know? and he says he’s had some experience. Some of his closest friends are women. Sasha says she hopes she’s one of them, and he says, the chances are pretty good. They are having a baby together. Would she mind if he sent the sonogram picture to Michael so he can see the baby’s progress? She asks why he’d want to do that.

Josslyn tells Isaiah that she rolled her ankle hiking in Easter Island. Then a week later, they had a research trip that included a 10 mile walk on the beach. Isaiah says, and she powered through, and she says, yeah. She didn’t want to wuss out in front of people. He says, that sounds right. He’s never been to Easter Island and bets it’s amazing. Josslyn says, it was. Sometimes she can hardly believe she was really there. He says, now that she’s back – he hands her a prescription paper – call this guy. Six weeks of PT and please stay off her ankle. Josslyn thanks him and says she’ll do her best.

Anna says she’s got to get back to the precinct, but Felicia asks if she has a second. It’s about Mac. Anna asks if everything is okay, and Felicia says, Mac is deeply concerned about the referendum. He thinks it’s going to tank Laura’s mayorship. Anna says, he’s not wrong. If only the city realized they’re better with having Laura as a mayor. Felicia says, what about Anna? Police Commissioner is a mayoral appointee. Given the optics, isn’t she worried about her position being secure if Laura is still in office? Anna says, 100%, especially with Justine Turner breathing down her neck, and Felicia says she doesn’t get it. Why is ADA Turner so determined to tear Anna down?

Emma comes out looking bedraggled with gum in her hair, and Josslyn says, wow. She loves the new look.

Brook says, sales have skyrocketed, and Enchantment hasn’t even gotten their skin cream to market, and Lucy says, eat your heart out. Erica Kane. Maxie says she’s got to hand it to Lucy. She had reservations about Sidwell at first, but he came through just in time. Lucy thanks her and says she’s right. It was one of her more inspired ideas, bringing Jenz into their fold. She’ll see them later. Brook says, they still have work, and Lucy says, as does she. Ta! She leaves.

Sidwell says as far as he’s concerned, Jordan’s title can be whatever she likes – CEO, CMO, CFO – he doesn’t care. Jordan says, those are each very different things and very different responsibilities, and he says, what he needs her to do is represent his interest to Port Charlies. She’s in a position that’s unique and ideally suited to do so. She says, because? and he says, personally and professionally she has relationships with the most important people in town. She’s good friends with the Police Commissioner and the mayor and Congressman Drew Cain. Jordan says, the extent of her relationship with Drew is largely negative, but he says he’s sure it can be repaired and renewed. She says, outside of the job, she and Laura aren’t particularly close, but that could work to their advantage. He says he likes that. Is there any chance she could renew her friendship with Drew? She says, he can’t pay her enough.

Carly asks, who’s going to Rocco’s debate? and Donna says, Dante, Kristina, Danny, Aunt Olivia, and Rocco’s grandma. Carly says, that’s a lot of people, and Donna asks if she can go too. Carly says she knows Donna wants to, but she’ll have way more fun with her dad, and Sonny says, her big brother Dante is going to take a video. They should get together one night and watch it. Donna nods, and Carly says, that sounds like a great idea. Say goodbye to daddy. Pilar is upstairs waiting to take her to school. Donna hugs Sonny and says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. Donna leaves, and Carly says, so he’s going to miss Rocco’s big night. He says he’s got his reasons, and she asks if they have anything to do with Laura.

Jason says he’s not sure he understands. Sasha asked him to send Michael a sono a month ago. She says she’s worried if she sends every one of them, it might send the wrong message, but he says he doesn’t think it will. Michael understands she wants to raise the baby on her own and he agreed. She says, if she includes him in every step, he might want to be involved more, but she thinks what she needs is the opposite. He says he understands, but thinks it would help Michael. He’ll be glad to see she and the baby are happy and healthy. She says she doesn’t know, but she’ll think on it, and he says, of course (🍷). He’s got things to do. Can he drop her at her house? She says she drove here. He doesn’t have to… She’s really glad he came today. He says him too, and leaves.

Sidwell says he’s sure Jordan’s distaste for Drew is more than justified. But Drew is more than a powerful man and they should have him on their side. Plus, her new position will give her the perfect view to keep an eye on him. She says she doesn’t know if she wants to watch Drew, but she’ll check in now and again. He says he’s sure she’s done far worse for far less. So do they have a deal? She says she’ll have her lawyer look it over, and he says, good. She says, it’s a generous offer, one might say excessively so, and he says, it’s charming that she thinks such a thing exists. He warns her, in exchange for her excessive salary, the job is going to be demanding on her intelligence, energy, and time. There will be precious little room left for her personal life. She says, what personal life? when Lucy strolls in. She says, the butler let her in… She tells Jordan, hi. What are you doing here?

Sonny and Carly admire the moss bowl 🎍, and Sonny says, at the party, he overheard Rocco tell Dante that he didn’t want him at the debate for Laura’s sake. Carly says she’s sorry, but he says he can’t blame Rocco. He’s protecting his grandmother. She says, still, it had to hurt, and he says, yeah, but Rocco’s not wrong. Plus, that idiot Boyle is gunning for Laura. She says, the last thing Laura needs is her picture with him splashed on the cover of The Invader, and he says he values his friendship with Laura and loves that they share this family, but their connection is a liability for her. So he’s going to steer clear. She says she hates that he has to miss Rocco’s debate, but he says he saw Rocco practice. It’s important. The last thing Rocco needs is to be overshadowed by politics. She says, aren’t all debates political? and he says she knows what he means. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she thinks he’s doing the right thing, and he says he’d do anything for Rocco. And if Laura needs help, he’ll be there. She asks if he means that, and he says, what does she mean? She says, if he really wants to help Laura, he needs to get out of her way.

Emma says she was helping in art therapy, and Josslyn says, it looks like things got a little messy. Emma says, a little bit. A couple of children, very small children, not almost ready to drive children, did this to her. Apparently, kids in the hospital expect a lot today. She was the canvas. Josslyn says she’s impressed that Emma found time to volunteer, between school and her animal rights group. Emma thanks her, but says, full disclosure. This is not volunteering per se. It’s community service. Josslyn says, for the incident at the Quartermaine crypt? Emma was awesome by the way. Emma says, a huge thank you to Trina for live streaming. She’s a rock star. Josslyn says, she always is. But doesn’t it seem a little blown out of proportion for protecting a family’s crypt? Especially since they ended up in the right. Emma says, the judge wasn’t happy with her priors, and Josslyn says, she has priors? Who would have thought she had a shady past? Emma says, not everybody has a millionaire daddy to buy them out of trouble, and Josslyn says she touched a nerve. Emma says, actually, she has no bandwidth for this right now. She has to get some gum out of her hair. She leaves, and Josslyn sees Professor Dalton go by with a briefcase.

Sonny tells Carly, don’t talk to him about the referendum. He’s heard about it so many times, it’s ridiculous. She says, sorry, but she’s going to pile on it again. Don’t fight this. He says, is she asking what he thinks she’s asking? She says she is, and don’t try to convince people to vote no or challenge it in court if he doesn’t win. He says he can’t just let the city take what belongs to him, and she says, if he fights, he’ll ruin his relationship with Laura. He says he didn’t know Carly was a fan, and she says, Laura is a good businesswoman and a great mayor. It won’t destroy him if he gives up the piers. He can afford to let them win. He says, that’s beside the point. It’s not going to happen. If he doesn’t lift a finger to stop it, his enemies will think he’s weak, and she knows how dangerous that can be.

Lucy says she was sorry to hear what happened between Jordan and the mayor. Laura couldn’t ask for a better Deputy Mayor. Jordan thanks her and says she still has the greatest respect for Laura, and Lucy says, who doesn’t? Jordan says, but it was time to part company, and Lucy asks if that’s what she’s doing here, looking for new company. Sidwell laughs and says, Jordan is going to work for him. Port Charles’ loss is his gain. Jordan tells him that she hasn’t said yes yet, and he says, no, but she will. Lucy says, so good. Greener pastures await. She can speak from experience. Jordan says, good to hear, and tells Sidwell, they’ll speak soon. She leaves and Sidwell asks why Lucy is here. Lucy says, their innovative product sold out, and he says he heard. She says she thinks he means… this, and holds up a jar of the cream. He says, isn’t that elegant? and she says, it’s what customers have come to expect. This is from the first batch, made from his zincite. She thinks he should have it. She hands it to him and says she’s not saying he needs it. He has perfect dermis. Their whole project was a huge success. They’re up to their eyeballs in people waiting to order more. He wonders if they should open some champagne, and she says, on an occasion like this, doesn’t he think it’s always bubbly time? He says he’ll call for a bottle, and she says, do, but they have business to discuss first, about when they can roll out the next shipment. He says, they’ll want more zincite, and she says, that’s why she invited their CFO to over the details. He says, having Natalia there will make things simple. She always a great head for business. Lucy says, sorry. Always? He says, yes. Natalia is his ex-wife.  

In the solarium, Sasha asks if Olivia has any requests for lunch, and Olivia says, the cook’s choice is fine. They’ve got to talk about when Sasha is planning her maternity leave. Sasha says she hasn’t thought about it much. How would maternity leave work? Olivia says, you have a baby, skip work, and take care of your baby. In her case, she’ll also have to fight off the lunatics trying to hold her baby. Sasha asks if it won’t be awkward, living here for a few months and not being the cook, but Olivia says, not at all. She’s family. She hired Sasha because she knew Sasha could handle the lunatics in this asylum. She never guessed Sasha would fit in as perfectly as she has. Sasha asks if Olivia is calling her crazy, and Olivia says, in the nicest possible way. Sasha is so great with the kids, and she’s got the adults trained perfectly. She can dish it out to Tracy faster than Tracy can serve it. It’s truly a thing of beauty. Sasha says, scorn is Tracy’s love language, and Olivia says, she gets them. To her, that means Sasha is well on her way to becoming a true Quartermaine.

Emma says, task one done and Anna is still here, and Anna asks, how did it go? Emma says, they got more paint on the paper than her. She takes that as a win. Felicia says, victory. Her next class will be easier. Emma says, great. More painting? Felicia says, paper mâché, and Emma says, cold, smelly, stick, and wet. Kids love that… So does she. Felicia says, have fun, and Emma says, try and stop her. She leaves, and Felicia says she thinks doing community serviced is doing Emma a world of good… Anna says, but? and Felicia says, Mac hinted that some shady circumstances led to it. Anna says, Turner practically admitted she used Emma to come at her, and Felicia asks why the ADA is coming at her. Anna says, Turner thinks Jason is behind Cyrus’s disappearance and she’s covering for him, and Felicia says, that’s ridiculous. Anna would never cover for Jason. Anna says she wouldn’t, but Turner believes she’s giving Jason special treatment… What? Felicia says, Anna wouldn’t cover for Jason, but she does give him special treatment.

Maxie says her email is blowing up. Orders from boutiques, department store chains… Brook says, now they just have to keep up with the demand. There’s a knock at the door, and Jason comes in. Brook asks if everything is okay at home, and Jason says, everything’s fine. Sonny asked him to come by. An employee has been lying to them for months and may have compromised their entire company. Maxie says, oh my God. Who? Jason says, Natalia Ramirez, but Brook says, Natalia’s been great. Maxie asks what Natalia lied about, and Jason says, her ex-husband is Jenz Sidwell.

Anna tells Felicia that there are instances when she’s lied for Jason, but they were special circumstances. She’s made it clear to Jason and others that if he’s implicated in a crime, she will not look the other way. Felicia says she knows Anna wouldn’t let it slide, and Anna says, Turner doesn’t. And to get her own way, she’s holding Emma’s freedom over her head. Felicia says, she wouldn’t dare do that if Robert was still here, and Anna says, who knows where he is? He’s looking after Holly and her latest catastrophe. Felicia says, Robert’s absence is all the more reason for Laura to stay in office. The more people Anna has in her corner, the better. Felicia’s phone dings, and she says, sorry. There’s something she needs to take care of upstairs. Do what she needs to do. Anna tells Felicia to do the same and leaves.  

Lucy asks if she heard correctly. Sidwell and Natalia were married? He says, it was a long time ago. In fact, they have a grown son. When they first met at the Deception meeting and he saw his former wife, it was all he could do to hide his shock. She says she’s not trying to hide hers, and he says he’d assumed Natalia told them, so he thought he’d do the same. Lucy asks if he didn’t find it odd, and he says, of course (🍷) he did, but he assumed Natalia would tell them the moment he left. Lucy says, one would think that, and he says, now that they’re collaborating, going forward, she can be sure of full transparency. Natalia walks in and says she heard they sold out… What’s going on? Lucy says, nothing. She was going over some details with Natalia’s ex-husband. Why didn’t she say anything? Natalia says she didn’t think it was relevant, and Lucy says, not relevant? Natalia says, when the deal was finished, she was going to tell them when they were all together, but Lucy says, after all this time. Really? Sidwell says, please, calm down. He for one is comfortable having Natalia there. Lucy says she’s sure he is, but he’s the only one. He says, nothing has changed except for the fact they now know a personal detail that happened a long time ago, a very long time ago. He hopes they can move forward from this.

Brook says, so they’re all on the same page, their CFO used be married to one of their primary suppliers and they’re just finding this out now. Jason says, yes, and Maxie says, it was going so well. Brook says, Sonny insisted on bringing her on. Did he know about this? Jason says, he just found out, and Brook says, Natalia played Sonny. That takes skill and guts. Maxie says she knew she couldn’t trust Sidwell, and Brook says, but he had the zincite and had it at the right price. Maxie says, maybe, but Sidwell was throwing out red flags and this is the last one. She’s not working with him again. She doesn’t care what Sasha says. Jason asks what Sasha said, and Maxie says, Sasha told them the whole kidnapping thing was really Holly’s fault, so it was okay if Deception worked with him. She thanks Jason for coming by to tell them, and he says, they’re welcome. He leaves and Brook says she’ll tell Tracy later. She’ll probably want to end their association with Sidwell. Maxie says she couldn’t agree more, but Brook says she doesn’t know how iron clad their deal is. Maxie says, nothing is iron clad.

Sasha tells Olivia, don’t take this the wrong way, but do they consider her family because her baby is a Quartermaine? Olivia says she knows the last thing Sasha wants is to be dragged into the family’s crazy drama. That’s the way she and Ned first got together. As much as she loved Ned, she always felt like someone was looking down on her, especially Tracy. Sasha says she can’t imagine why, and Olivia says, to top it off, Tracy didn’t come to the wedding. She was sure Tracy was boycotting it, then she got this note – she gets a paper – welcoming her and Leo to the family. Sasha reads it and says, wow. She had no idea Tracy could be so warm. Olivia says, compassionate and kind, and Sasha says, all of the above. Olivia’s been carrying this around how many years? Olivia says, eight. Every time the family puts her to her wit’s end, she takes it out, looks at it, and remembers that the Quartermaines can be picky, snobby, and downright cruel, but if they choose you, it’s not because of who your mother is or that they fell in love with your baby. It’s because you earned it. We might be dysfunctional, but we take care of our own. Whether she likes it or not, Sasha is one of their own now.

Josslyn follows Dalton as he goes into a lab. She listens at the door.

Carly says she’s all too familiar with the risk of looking weak, and Sonny says he knows she is. She says, it will look worse if he fights the referendum and loses, but he says, it’s a risk he doesn’t plan on losing. She says he can’t guarantee he’ll win. He needs to find another way to show he’s strong. He says, they’ll think he doesn’t want to go up against Laura. His family’s safety is first. She says, he can’t give that as an excuse, but he says, it’s not an excuse. If it was, their son wouldn’t be in a burn clinic across the world, and he wouldn’t have to book a doctor’s appointment across the country. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says he has a problem with his heart.

Dalton comes out, leaving the briefcase inside. He closes the door and walks down the hall, and Josslyn follows.

Maxie tells Anna that the conducted numerous background checks, and Sidwell’s name never came up, even though Natalia is his ex. Brook says, they needed her, but it never came up. Anna says, for whatever reason, it was scrubbed or destroyed, and Maxie says, for whatever reason, they need to tear up their contract with Sidwell. Brook says, Anna’s not a lawyer, and Maxie says she knows that. Maybe Anna can help them find some hard evidence to prove he violated the contract. Maybe from the events that happened in Africa. Maybe she can dig up some dirt to kick Sidwell to the curb. Anna says, that’s the worst idea ever, and Maxie says, give her one reason why. Anna says, Lucy Coe.

Lucy says, they stood up for Natalia and this is how she repays them? and Natalia says she swears she never meant… Lucy says, do not speak. Don’t bother. Her days are numbered. Lucy leaves, and Natalia says, what the hell? Sidwell asks why she’s angry with him. If she’d disclosed this in the first place, none of this would have happened. She says, he knew they didn’t know, and he says, it’s a tempest in a teapot. Once they’re over the initial shock, her colleagues will understand. They haven’t had anything to do with each other for years. She says, it won’t alter them or Sonny. He says, she told Sonny? and she says, yes, and he’s out for blood.  

Carly asks when the episodes started, and Sonny says, around the first of the year. She says she’s just hearing about it now? and he says he wanted to keep a tight circle of the people who knew. She asks, who knows? and he says, Dr. Gannon is treating him. Jason, Brick, Laura, Kristina found out and told Dante. She says, yeah, it’s a tight circle he’s got there, and he says, and Natalia. She found him when he was having an attack. Carly asks if he trusts Natalia, and he says, not anymore

Jordan taps Isaiah on the shoulder, and he says, this is a surprise. She says, there’s more where that came from, and he says she has to make an appointment. These days, he’s operating out of a cozy, discrete-type place across town, and he happens to have appointment available at 7:30. She says she can’t. She’ll be too busy. He says she’s never been busier than when she was unemployed, and she says she decided to take a new job. He says, great. What’s the gig? She says, Chief Officer of Operations for Sidwell, and he says, she can’t be serious.

Dalton leaves the hospital, and Josslyn follows. She takes out her phone and sends a text: Spotted r friend from school. Fill u in later. (We don’t see who she’s texting, but I assume it’s Vaughn.)

Anna tells Maxie, say she gives them damning evidence against Sidwell. If and when Lucy finds out… Brook says, Anna thinks she’ll tip off Sidwell, and Anna says she thinks Lucy will tell him out of a misguided feeling of loyalty or attraction. Brook says, Lucy is definitely into Jenz Sidwell. And she’s a terrible liar. Maxie says, she can’t not lie, and Anna says, she’ll place herself and them is Sidwell’s crosshairs. Brook asks what they can do. They can’t stay in business with Sidwell. Anna says, they just have to sit tight and carry on like nothing is wrong, and Maxie tells her, easier said than done. Anna says, they can try. She promises to take care of this.

Felicia says, rough first day? and Emma says, a little bit, yeah. She’s carrying a big, black garbage bag, and Felicia asks if she needs help. Emma says she’s got it. She needs to throw it in the dumpster before it inevitably springs a leak and paint goes everywhere.

Isaiah says he knows Jordan needs to get close and he wants Sidwell brought down as much as anyone. But dinner was dangerous enough. Working for Sidwell is on a new level. Jordan says, that’s how undercover ops work. You have to put yourself inside to find evidence. He asks if she’s considered the possibility that Sidwell is already onto her. Maybe she’s not playing Sidwell. Maybe he’s playing her. She says, he’ll like her better when Sidwell is prosecuted, but she has to find evidence to take Sidwell down. He says, what about them and what they have? and she says, what they have has to end. (Aww! I like them as a couple.)  

Sasha tells Jason that she’s been thinking about what he said, showing Michael the latest sonogram. If he thinks it’s a good idea, she’s okay with it… What is it? He says, how could she sell out to Sidwell?

Sidwell asks how Sonny reacted when Natalia told him, and she says, he severed their relationship. He asks, what exactly was their relationship? and she says, it was professional. Sonny is a majority investor in Deception and made her CFO, but she doesn’t see that lasting much longer. He says, forgive him for asking, but is their professional relationship the reason they went to LA on a bus trip to a cardiologist?  Natalia says, he had them followed, and he says, enlighten him. Don’t tell him that she’s protecting Sonny’s secrets after he cut her loose. At this point, he’s the only one who can protect her, and Sonny will make damn sure she’s out at Deception.

The moss bowl 🎍 between them, Carly wonders why Natalia didn’t tell Sonny, and he says, it doesn’t matter. She kept it from him, and he can’t trust her. Carly asks what he’s going to do about his heart, and he says, Brick found a cardiologist in LA. He’s one of the best, and the surgery is scheduled for next Friday. She says, what? and he says, just in and out. She says, okay, and he says, when he gets back, they can go over the referendum stuff or whatever together. She says she’ll make sure of it, and he asks what she means. She says she’s going with him to LA and she’s going to be with him for the whole surgery.

Sidwell says, on the remote chance Natalia is staying at Deception, she’ll need his backing. All he needs is a morsal of information. He found out her reunion with Marco was as bad as it could get. She says she’s not discussing Marco with him, and he says, she should. He doesn’t want her son estranged from his mother. Natalia asks if he thinks she does, and he says he and Marco have a wonderful relationship. He could speak on her behalf and perhaps Marco would be more open to having his mother back in his life. He knows how pain she feels being estranged. Almost as much as being estranged from her daughter. He and Marco have grown close. If she could just help him a little bit, he’ll see what he can do. Natalia says, Sonny went to a cardiologist because he needs open heart surgery.

On Monday, Josslyn asks why Emma is always so angry with her; Jordan tells Isaiah that Sidwell needs to be stopped and she’s in a position to do that; Sidwell says Alexis would be a fool not to hire Marco; and Lucas asks if Marco knew who he was and that he lived in Port Charles.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The professor is in.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daniel-goddard-cast-on-general-hospital-as-professor-dalton

One person’s villain can be another person’s hero. I like it!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adrian-anchondo-on-marcos-relationship-with-sidwell

Even Drew hates Drew right now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-on-being-hated-by-soap-fans

He’s in it for the long haul.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/maurice-benards-special-anniversary-message-to-fans

Extra gigs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kate-mansi-shares-a-peek-at-her-upcoming-movie

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-kimberly-mccullough-lands-a-new-movie

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-story-behind-will-trents-gh-crossover

Here’s hoping the show sticks around. I love how oddly old-fashioned it is, yet they can stick an alarming number of trendy words and phrases into an episode. And the fashion. It’s no surprise there was an article on it. I only wish they’d included where the clothes are purchased.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1183786/beyond-the-gates-ratings-2025/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

More boatmance! More terminations!

I might have to start actually watching this.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Dorit baited Sutton, then the mean girls jumped on Sutton. No surprise. Ho-hum. The visit to Reba was probably my favorite thing this season, and we strolled down Stell Magnolia Memory Lane. Garcelle gave the most profound comment about Sutton’s search for validity via her mother – once they’re gone, you don’t get answers. It was the usual rehash of old fights and getting mad all over again, especially since they’d now seen the show. At the end, Andy asked what surprised them this season, and to no one’s surprise, Kathy said, what was the question again? Garcelle walked out when they were about to take a cast photo and in her dressing room, she said they were all f***ing a-holes. She’s not wrong. Although she forgot she was having dinner – or rather, supper – with Sutton, who wandered around looking for her. I fully expected her to ask if that meant they weren’t having dessert.

Not much here, but it is LVP.

The Valley

This show is hard to watch for obvious reasons – Jax and Jax. While it’s nice to see Britany finally stand up for herself, I’ve wondered from the beginning why she felt the need to be with this neanderthal. Even though she seems to enjoy being on the D-list, she doesn’t strike me as someone who’s in it for the TV exposure. I still don’t have all the other couples straight or the beefs between them. Kristen was vindicated, having been right about who was zooming who, but she doesn’t get that it’s the delivery.

Summer House

It was Lindsay’s birthday and she was 24 28 30 38. We also continued to watch the demise of Paige and Craig’s relationship. Although I keep telling Lexi, no, just no, when it comes to Jesse, she keeps insisting on gaslighting herself into believing he can keep in the parameters of a commitment. Schwartz also showed up, which makes me wonder if Sandoval is going to try and sneak in the back door.

Random Reality Items

So how many tweets (X’s?) do you think Adrienne got with #HumanStain on them?

It’s kind of a shame, but Schwartz could have put on his big boy pants and stepped up.

I’m with Lisa. She was essentially a kid in an age group where we all make asses of ourselves in one way or another.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Deep House. Netflix. Coolest haunted house ever. A man-made lake has covered an evacuated town, but one house’s inhabitants still aren’t gone. Two divers unwisely decide to investigate and end up in a maze of ghostly happenings. The two actors playing the divers carry most of the film and their work is top-notch. The setting is unbelievable, from the underwater house to the fish making occasional appearances. There are both jump scares and slow burns, and while there are cliché moments, this film is unique overall and well worth watching. I wasn’t happy with the ending, but I’m a little picky and you can’t have everything.  

https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/tv/netflix-fans-advise-dont-watch-630856

The atmosphere was everything.

https://www.slashfilm.com/645916/the-deep-house-review-the-directors-of-inside-revitalize-the-haunted-house-movie-by-sinking-it-underwater/

Bad Influence. Netflix. I’d never heard of these kids, but I find it disturbing nonetheless since children can so easily be influenced by the internet. There’s also the flipside where parents are exploiting their children for a buck, which is the focus of this three-episode documentary. Even worse is a momager who abuses the children in her daughter’s posse in disgusting ways. A cautionary tale.

https://people.com/netflix-docuseries-bad-influence-trailer-exclusive-11694701

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/bad-influence-where-are-tiffany-smith-piper-rockelle-now

The OA. Netflix. A two-season series of 8 episodes each, I’ve only just started watching this, but it’s intriguing. A blind girl disappears and returns as a woman with her sight intact. The twist is that she has a second sight that seems to look into other dimensions. Like I said, I’ve only started watching it, but I’ve seen enough to keep me coming back. Unfortunately, I’ve read that the viewer is left hanging at the end as the cancelation was unexpected. It’s one of the things I hate about getting invested in a series. I’ve been disappointed a few times when a third season is in the works, and then the streaming service decides it’s not.

https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/tv/shows-like-severance-oa-netflix-934695

https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/17/13903980/the-oa-review-netflix

Black Mirror: Season 7. Netflix. Because, so much to stream, so little time, I’ve only seen the first three episodes, so I’m waiting until I’m done to do a blow-by-blow assessment. I will say, Hotel Reverie made me cry.

https://www.cbr.com/black-mirror-season-7-viewership-numbers-score/

https://www.cbr.com/black-mirror-season-7-best-episodes/

🐾  As It Should Be…

🦕 I would definitely love to see this. I love capybaras, and I doubt they’d eat someone’s dog, especially since they’re herbivores. Like that dinosaur in Jurassic Park.

https://people.com/capybaras-taking-over-a-gated-community-11718000

🪿 I wonder if I could get my husband to bring back an axolotl the next time he goes to Arby’s.

https://people.com/man-leaves-to-get-his-wife-lunch-then-comes-back-with-a-duckling-exclusive-11715589

🐶 How badly do you think that dog with the Easter Bunny wants to escape? That reminds me, the bunny ears are upstairs…

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/happy-easter/

Ralph, no longer with us, but the ears live on

🐳 Quotes of the Week

Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway. – Mary Kay Ash

Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong. – Peter McIntyre

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. – Daniel Patrick Moynihan

This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top. – David Lynch

Wrong turns are as important as right turns. More important, sometimes. – Richard Bach

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

Believe you can and you’re halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt

Go interview him about the history of the history of the history of leaves falling off trees. – Hilaria Baldwin to the producers about Alec, The Baldwins

🐇 Hippity Hopping Into the Weekend…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not eating that whole big chocolate rabbit (you will be sorry); and stay believing in yourself. Then other people will believe in you.

April 11, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Josslyn Gets Her First Mission, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Future Watching, Awarding, Fluffy Tales, Novenary Quotes & Believe

Standard

What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Jack went to Anna’s office and she asked if something happened. He said she was trapped. Lucy asked if Trina wanted to perform at the Nurses Ball with Kai or do another duet with Josslyn. Carly hugged Josslyn, saying she didn’t know Josslyn was coming home, and Jason told her, welcome home. Carly wanted to hear about Easter Island, but first, Josslyn wanted to talk how Carly almost died. Elizabeth thanked Lucas for checking on her and he said the guy he met in Miami was in town and they’d gone for a drink. Ava came by wanting to talk to Elizabeth about the accident. Molly said it was a miracle the ambulance got there as quick as it did, and Ric had a hazy recollection of seeing Kristina there. He told Molly that he just remembered something about the accident. Kristina said she didn’t mean to hurt Elizabeth, but Lucky said, she almost died. Kristina said Ava kept pushing her (bad choice of words), but he said she needed to take responsibility. She hadn’t even apologized for almost killing two people. She said she was glad they were both okay and she was sorry. He said she’d gone too far and needed to pay for it. Elizabeth and Ric had to know what she did.

Kai said he’d have to pass, and Trina said she didn’t know if she could perform, but Lucy said she was always a huge hit. Trina said a lot had changed since the last Nurses Ball. Carly told Josslyn about the poisoned champagne, and Josslyn asked if Carly and Jack were sleeping together. Jack told Anna that ADA Turner had asked for every file the WSB had on her. He sent them, but between what was confidential and redacted, what he’d sent was her birth date and shoe size. He’d come to warn her. It was disturbing that the ADA was asking about her at all. Molly asked what Ric remembered, but he said it didn’t make sense. He lost control of the car and swerved all over. Molly suggested it might have been black ice, when her phone rang. Ric said, the law never sleeps, and to take it. Molly left, and Alexis said they’d finally made a truce and Ric got in an accident. He’d rather die than be on good terms with her. Elizabeth said it was still fuzzy, and Ava said Ric had been at her apartment – they’d gotten close – and Elizabeth dropped by to bring him some paperwork. Elizabeth said her kid had her car and Ric offered to drive her home, but all she remembered was the car swerving and that no one else was involved. Why was Ava asking? Kristina begged Lucky not to tell anyone. She wasn’t thinking straight and tried to stop it when she came to her senses. Lucky said she wasn’t fast enough, and Kristina said he was the one who told her not to leave the scene and not to tell anyone. He said that was before he knew she’d almost killed the mother of his child and the love of his life. He couldn’t look the other way. Kristina needed to turn herself in or he would.

Anna said she thought she could handle an ADA, but Jack said if she wanted to oust Anna as Commissioner, it wouldn’t be hard considering the company she kept. She asked why he cared, and he said he didn’t want to deal with another Commissioner. She was a pain in the ass, but a pain he was familiar with. Carly said it was none of Josslyn’s business, and Josslyn took that as a yes. Carly had been down that road with Sonny, and she wanted to know when Carly was involved with a dangerous man. Carly said she and Jack had gotten closer, and Jason wanted to leave, but Josslyn said Carly wouldn’t lie if he was there. Carly wanted to talk about Easter Island, and Josslyn said she’d drop the Jack thing for now. The trip was amazing. She showed Carly the pictures on her phone, and Carly wondered why she wasn’t in any of them. Josslyn said the trip was for school, not the Gram. Jason asked if she’d hiked the crater and looked at her pictures. Ava told Elizabeth that she hadn’t been able to talk to Ric and she was confounded since he was a good driver. Elizabeth said the only unusual thing was that they’d taken Route 42 to miss the traffic. Maybe it was icier since it was less traveled. Ava said she was glad they were both okay, thanked Elizabeth, and left. Lucas wondered what that was about, and Elizabeth asked if it wasn’t obvious. Kristina asked Lucky to just hear her out. Ava found out personal information about her dad that no one could know. Ava threatened to blackmail her dad and use it to get full custody by going public. Lucky said it would jeopardize Sonny’s whole family, and she said Ava was going to let her dad die and threw Morgan and Adela in her face. She lost it and snapped. She saw Ava’s car in her parking spot and found some wire cutters. Before she knew it, she was cutting the wires to what she thought was Ava’s car. She guessed Ric was in Ava’s spot. He said it was attempted murder, and she said she wasn’t in her right mind, but when she realized, she raced to Ava’s apartment. Just because someone survived an accident didn’t mean it couldn’t destroy their lives and she wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even Ava. Did he believe her?

Kai said Lucy’s excitement got him excited, so he’d do it, and Lucy said the sports fan niche was a tough nut to crack, but now they had their very own Josh Allen. If Trina changed her mind, she always had a spot. She’d be in touch. She left and Trina said she didn’t take Kai as the type of guy who Lucy terrified. Why did he agree? He said because of her. Josslyn asked when Jason went to Easter Island, and he said during his time away from Port Charles. Jack arrived, and Josslyn said, this guy. He almost got Carly killed and she was still seeing him. Turner went to Anna’s office and said she assumed it was about Emma, but Anna said, no, it was about herself. Why did Turner ask the WSB for her files? If Turner had a problem with her, she preferred to be dealt with directly. Turner said she was gathering evidence against Anna. She was tired of Anna letting her friends like Jason get away with murder. Lucky said, had it been him, he would probably have gone crazy, but it didn’t excuse Kristina. She couldn’t walk away from this… Maybe there was a way for her to be held accountable without any legal consequences. If she talked to her mom, maybe Alexis could cut her a plea deal. Kristina said she couldn’t take that chance. Alexis would tell Molly and Molly could never know about this. Elizabeth told Lucas that it was Ava’s not so subtle way of staking a claim on Ric. Lucas asked if she cared, and she said, if Ric fully embraced his good side, maybe there might be a world where she’d change her mind about him. Lucas said Ric and Ava were both comfortable in that grey area, and Elizabeth said she was no different. She used Ric to find out more about what was going on with Portia and Brad. They were putting it together when they crashed. Ava told Ric that Elizabeth was no help. She went to see his car at the impound lot, and the mechanic told her that someone had cut the brake line. It was no accident. Somebody tried to kill him.

Anna asked what Jason had to do with it, and Turner said nothing came of his arrest for Cyrus’s murder. Anna said there was no body and no other evidence of a crime being committed. They had to let him go. Turner said, there was also Sonny Corinthos, Duke Lavery, and Valentin Cassadine. Anna had a habit of keeping questionable company. Anna said it had no bearing on her professional life, but Turner said she believed it did. Anna was misusing her power to protect them. Now that DA Scorpio was on leave, she was investigating it. She knew how close Anna and Robert were and would never put him in an awkward position. Anna said she’d dedicated her entire career to law enforcement, but Turner said that didn’t make less true. She was sure Anna would do the same for her granddaughter. Anna said she’d brought Emma in herself. She also brought in Valentin, Sonny, and Jason several times. She did everything by the book. Turner said she hoped so. Unlike Anna, she never looked the other way. She left. Josslyn said Jack had a lot of nerve showing up after almost killing her mother, and Jack said she had a reason to be upset. He wanted to discuss it further, but he needed to talk to Jason about something alone first. They went to another room and Jack told Jason to contact Anna, but be discreet. Jason left, and Jack told Josslyn to let him have it. Alexis told Molly that Ric would be back to his old self in no time – God help them – and Molly said she couldn’t have gotten through this without Alexis. The last few times she needed Alexis, Kristina did too. It was nice to have Alexis to herself and nice to have Kristina to lean on too. Kristina told Lucky that she and Molly were finally in a good place. Molly couldn’t know she was the reason Molly’s father was in an accident. Molly would never forgive her. Her mom already lost Sam and if she lost another daughter to prison, she couldn’t survive that. Lucky said his family would always be grateful to Sam for saving Lulu, and Kristina said losing Sam almost broke them. If they lost her on top of it, it would break them. He said, thank God Ric and Elizabeth were okay, and he didn’t see how Kristina going prison would help anything. Her family had been through enough tragedy and Kristina had to live with the guilt of almost killing two innocent people. If she was anything like him, that was punishment enough. She thanked him, they hugged, and he left. She texted Alexis: In the chapel. Can you and Molly meet me? Ava wondered who wanted Ric dead and he asked how much time she had. It couldn’t be Alexis. Sonny would be at the top of the list if it had been her car. She said, the day of the accident, he parked in her spot. The spot has her name on it and their cars look almost identical… Oh my God. His car wasn’t the target; hers was.

Kai said if he hadn’t volunteered, that lady would still be there talking. They way she talked, Trina’s past performances must have left an impression. Trina said she loved performing and guessed she was like Marshall. On stage, you connect with the music and the audience goes with you. There was nothing like it. He said that was how he felt on the field and hoped he got a chance to see her in her element. Don’t give up her chance to be in the spotlight. Maybe he couldn’t do the thing he loved because of his injury, but she could and should. Trina agreed and said she’d perform with him. Lucy went to Elizabeth’s room to discuss the Nurses Ball and Lucas tried to jet, but Lucy said she needed his help. When he did Magic Milo, he was a huge hit. He said it was his final bow. He’d bared it all and literally had nothing more give or show, but he’d cheer in the audience. Lucy said she’d circle back to him, but Elizabeth was the heart and soul of the nursing staff. She had to perform. Elizabeth said she’d be in a cast for six to eight weeks, but Lucy said that fit in her schedule. She would put both of them down for a duet.

Josslyn asked how she was supposed trust Jack. What if someone hurt her or Donna? Carly said it had been a terrible mistake and not Jack’s fault, but Jack said Josslyn had a reason to be angry. It was important to him to protect them both. Josslyn said she couldn’t control who her mother chose to date, but Jack needed to promise to take Carly’s safety very seriously. He said she had his word, and Carly suggested Josslyn stay the night, but she said she was dying to see Trina and wanted to sleep in her own bed. Carly said Donna had gotten Josslyn a gift and left to get it. Jack said Josslyn gave an impressive performance. He almost believed she wanted him to have nothing to do with her mother. She said, who told him that she was performing? Carly came back with a giftbag, and Josslyn left. Jack said it was unanimous. Carly’s entire family hated him. Jason met Anna in the park, and she said she was in ADA Turner’s crosshairs. Turner had questioned her about releasing him after his hair had been found at Cyrus’s cabin. She thought Emma’s arrest had brought her front and center. Jason said Robert was also gone, and Anna said she wasn’t worried, but Turner would use any excuse and might find something hidden in her career. Jason said their friendship meant a lot and he didn’t want her to get into trouble for protecting him. If she had a reason to bring him in and build a case against him, do it. Alexis asked if Kristina had been in the chapel the whole time, and Kristina said she’d been going over it and wanted to apologize to Molly. They hugged and she told Molly that she was so sorry for everything. Ric said he didn’t believe Sonny would try to kill the mother of his child, and Ava agreed. Sonny would never risk Avery being in the car and she doubted Sonny would go that route. Too many variables and he wasn’t sloppy. She did know someone who was that sloppy though. Ric said, Kristina, and Ava said before he left with Elizabeth, Kristina had been in her apartment. He heard what she’d said. She was furious. We flashed back to Kristina saying Ava had taken her brother and daughter and wasn’t going to take her father. Ava said Kristina blamed her for what happened to Sonny and Morgan and got feral when she suggested Michael’s injuries were Sonny’s fault. It was like the fight at the MetroCourt all over again, but this time it didn’t end with Kristina falling out a window. We flashed back to Kristina saying she would stop Ava, and Ava said, Kristina threatened her. Kristina must have cut the brakes thinking it was her car and tried to kill her. Ric said, and Kristina almost killed him.

Elizabeth told Lucy that even when she got the cast off, she’d have to take it easy. She was sorry, but she couldn’t perform. Lucas said she couldn’t have the whole staff in the audience. He’d help out. Lucy said he wouldn’t regret it. She was good at finding hidden talents for a good cause. He said he had none. He’d help, but not perform. She said he didn’t have to perform, she promised, and crossed her fingers behind her back. Carly said, not everyone in her family hated Jack, and he said, name one. She said Donna loved him, but the only approval that mattered was hers. They’d agreed to keep their relationship separate from the WSB and the further the WSB was away from her life, the better. Kai and Trina were kissing when Josslyn came in. She said Trina was probably sorry to see her, but Trina said, never, and they hugged. Anna said everything would be fine. She and Jason could continue to work together, but he needed to keep his head down. He said he’d do his best not to put her in a position where she needed to look the other way. She said they had to be strategic and couldn’t be seen in public for the foreseeable future, and he said they could meet in his room above Bobbie’s. Anna said she wanted to make it clear that their friendship would stay the same, and he said, they just had to keep it private.

Lucky went to the impound lot and asked if there was any way he could check the crashed car for his girlfriend’s wallet. The mechanic said they were lucky to be alive; the car had been totaled. He made a call and told Lucky that the car had no location at the impound, so it had gone to the crusher. Lucky said, so it was already destroyed, and the mechanic said he was sorry. Molly asked why Kristina was apologizing again, and Kristina said she’d been thinking about how much Molly had lost. Losing Sam… losing their daughter… She couldn’t stop thinking about how selfish she’d been. Consumed with her own grief, she didn’t think how Molly had lost her daughter too and lost her sister too. She didn’t even see that; she was so selfish. She said she was so sorry, and Molly thanked her. Kristina said she’d caused everyone pain and she was really sorry. Alexis said she’d been hoping to get to this place, and now that they had, look at them, all taking care of each other. Sam would be happy. They had a three-way hug. Ava said the garage camera showed Kristina looking at her car and reaching for some wire cutters, and Ric said he remembered Kristina being at the crash site. It didn’t make sense, but now it did. Ava said, she was checking to see if the deed was done, and Ric said it would destroy the relationship Molly had with Kristina. Truce or no truce, Alexis needed to see Kristina for who she really was as the cops dragged her away for attempted murder. He was calling the police now and was going to nail Kristina’s ass to the wall. Ava said, no, Uncle Ric. Don’t be so hasty.

Tuesday:

Chase and Brook thought things were quieting down, and Chase asked if Lois leaving was a good call. Brook said they’d needed space, when Olivia came in and said she had a surprise – Lois was back. Lulu went to the stables to apologize to Cody. She lied to him when she said she’d known about Dante and Brook. Dante came in and asked for an explanation. Alexis went to the office, and Diane said she was perky and early. Alexis said she’d gone to the gym and worked out, and Diane wondered who she was. Did Ric die? Alexis said, as far as she knew, he was still alive, but she’d gotten her girls back. Kristina brought flowers to Elizabeth, and said she was sorry this happened, but Elizabeth said she and Ric were both okay. Kristina said Elizabeth had been there for her and she wanted to do the same, when Lucky came by. Ava told Ric that it was a rare opportunity. Kristina was certifiable. Ric thought they should go to the police, but Ava wanted to aim higher and use the information to their advantage. Ric said blackmailing Sonny would get them nowhere, but Ava said she had something far better in mind.

Lois said, Olivia wanted it to be a surprise, and Brook said, mission accomplished. Brook said she needed to leave for a Deception call and Chase said he’d help her with the technology. Olivia wondered why Lois and Brook couldn’t be in the same room together. What the hell was going on? Lulu told Dante that she’d tricked Cody into telling her. She had a hunch Dante hadn’t been open about his and Brook’s history. Cody said he’d thought she already knew, and apology not accepted. He left to feed the horses, and Dante asked, why dig up old dirt? Lulu asked, why lie for years? Alexis told Diane that Kristina was able to put aside her animosity toward Molly and they’d connected. Lucky was sneaking in contraband to Elizabeth, baked goods from Aiden. He told Kristina that he had to speak with her about a Charlie’s thing, and they left. Ava said Alexis would be the one to pay, but Ric said Kristina would go free. He almost died and Elizabeth could have been paralyzed. Ava said Elizabeth could handle herself, but Ric thought she should have her day in court. Ava asked how Molly would feel if her remaining sister was sent to prison. Chase found Brook outside and she said she’d gone into fight or flight mode. Seeing her mom got her fired up again. Chase wondered if she was a reminder of the secret Brook had kept from Dante. Dante said he and Brook were teenagers and it was nothing, and Lulu wondered, why lie? She rehashed Brook trying to break them up, and Dante wondered why she was laser focused on Brook. Lulu said she’d always thought there was something more and had been made to feel like she was crazy. She didn’t know if she could trust him. Alexis told Diane that Kristina and Molly had different grieving processes, but now Kristina realized she couldn’t heal without her sister. Diane said Alexis had weathered the storm and there were fairer days ahead. Ava said if Kristina had been made to pay for her mistakes, she might not be such a trainwreck, but Ric said by covering for Kristina and blackmailing Alexis, Ava allowed Kristina to escape culpability. It wouldn’t take much for her to try and kill Ava again. Lucky asked why Kristina was visiting Elizabeth, and Kristina said she wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay. Lucky asked if she’d thought about confessing, and Kristina said, maybe. Elizabeth almost died and she almost killed her sister’s father. She didn’t know if she could live with that.

Lois told Lois that she’d made decisions where Brook was concerned, thinking they were in her best interest, but Brook had every right not to agree. She couldn’t handle the distance. Brook told Chase that she didn’t need Lois to remind her that she had a son out there. It hit her how many people would have loved her child. It was easier when she was younger. Adulting stunk. Chase said if it was a secret she wanted to keep, he’d go to his grave with it, but she had to do a better job of hiding the truth. Dante said he omitted a detail he didn’t think mattered, but he should have told her even though it amounted to nothing. For one summer, he and Brook were training to be camp counselors and hooked up. It was over before it started, and they made lives with other people. Nothing that summer mattered. She said, what if it did? Lucky said guilt meant Kristina wasn’t a sociopath, but she couldn’t put the guilt on Elizabeth. It would end up getting her caught. Was that what she wanted? Kristina said she didn’t want to put Elizabeth in any more harm, and Lucky said she could go to her mom and work on a confession to get a plea deal that didn’t send her to prison for the rest of her life. Elizabeth called Deanna and asked for help getting into a wheelchair. Ric said Kristina could make another attempt to kill Ava, but Ava said she was on her guard and did her best to steer clear. She wanted them both to have a peaceful path forward, but it was the last grace she was extending. Ric said, how generous, especially when she was extorting Alexis. Ava said, that was business. She was willing to work with Alexis on a beneficial transaction… or multiple transactions, steady, like an IV drip. Marco arrived at the office and Diane introduced him to Alexis. Diane had been called to the judge’s chambers, and it would give them a chance to get to know each other better. She told Marco that Alexis was the good cop, and left. Alexis said, on most days.

Olivia said she could be objective and help sort things out, but Lois said, it might make things worse. She thought it was something they needed figure out for themselves. Olivia said if Lois needed help with anything, she would always be there for her. Chase said someone else would have noticed the tension, and Brook wondered if she should avoid Lois, but he said they needed to fix it. She loved her mom. Brook said her mom was her ride or die. That was why it hurt so much. Chase said he’d give anything for one more day, hour, or even minute with his dad, and the last thing he’d want to do is spend it fighting. If Brook wanted to keep the secret, she had to get over the hurt and forgive Lois. Dante thought Lulu was grabbing onto Brook because of the changes in her own life, and Lulu said she had Doc if she wanted psychoanalysis. Dante said it wasn’t rooted in anything real, and she was making Brook out to be more than she was. They were two kids with a crush. Lulu asked if there were lingering feelings when Brook came back to Port Charles, but Dante said the only woman who truly had his heart was Lulu. Alexis told Marco that their goal was to strike a healthy balance between being rainmakers and justice seekers. She leaned toward pro bono work, while Diane leaned into billable hours. Most of their income came from criminal law retainers, which was his specialty. Marco said, at one point, but now he was focused on entrepreneurial clients. She asked how he’d feel about a client involved in an alleged illegal enterprise, and he said it depended. Lucky told Kristina that he was putting himself on the line lying to the woman he loved, which he hated, but would do because he believed she was a good person who made a mistake. He’d made a few and he’d help her cover it, but it would only work if she got help. Elizabeth went to see Ric, and he said he was relieved to find out she was all right. He’d been driving and if anything happened and he’d lost her… He would have never forgiven himself.

Olivia said Lois would work it out with Brook, and Lois said she didn’t know what she’d do without Olivia. What they had was special. Olivia said what they had was ancient, since before they were in pre-K. they weren’t just friends; they were family. When Lois was ready to open up, she was a vault. Olivia left to check on Monica. Brook told Chase that her grandma had lied to her for decades and it hurt. Her mom let her think they told each other everything, which made it the ultimate betrayal. It also made her the biggest hypocrite on the planet, since she did same thing to Dante and about a million other people. Chase said it wasn’t the same thing, and she said she was glad she could be honest with him. He said if the secret ever got too big, too heavy, or too anything, he’d be by her side when she came clean. Dante said he should have told Lulu so it wouldn’t have blown up like this, and Lulu said her gut had been right again. He said it had also given her a reason to distrust Brook. He wanted them to be able to trust each other. It was important for Rocco. No more secrets between them. Lulu said they were good, and he left. Cody asked what Lulu was trying to pull. Elizabeth told Ric that her surgery went well, and she’d be walking the halls in no time. She’d been worried about him and asked if he remembered what happened. Alexis told Marco that said client masked their alleged illegal activity behind a thin veil of hypotheticals, and he said, so they’d have legal deniability. As long as it didn’t put them in legal jeopardy, the client was entitled to a defense. But if the client crossed the line of a deeply held belief, he had no problem recusing himself. All money was not good money, and sometimes it’s best just to say no. Alexis thanked him and said she’d confer with her partner, but it was safe to say a job offer was forthcoming. He said he’d look forward to it and thanked her for the meeting. He left, and Ava knocked at the door. She told Alexis that they had business to attend to.

Lulu told Cody that she said she was sorry, and he told her that he said he refused to accept it. She implied that Brook had told her already. She spun a lot of stores to a lot of people and he knew a con when he saw one. What was really going on? Dante went to the nook and saw that Lois was back. Brook came in and said she needed to talk to Lois. Ric asked what Elizabeth remembered, and she said, not much. She remembered getting in the car and buckling her seatbelt. They were talking about helping Portia when the car swerved. Ric said he remembered wanting to avoid traffic, so he took Route 42. They were going along fine when he lost control of the car. They must have hit black ice or something. Kristina told Lucky that she couldn’t confess. Her parents were going through too much. Her father had health issues and her mom had gone through enough. She couldn’t add Kristina goes to prison to the list. But what would she do if someone found out? Lucky said there was no police investigation and they were treating it like an accident. He went to the impound lot and the car went to the compactor already. As long as they both kept their mouths shut, it was over. Alexis asked if it wasn’t exhausting showing up in places where she wasn’t wanted, but Ava said she didn’t give it much thought. She thought Alexis would change her tune once Alexis heard what she had to say. She was sure Alexis could make time to discuss Kristina, couldn’t she?

Wednesday:

Brook said there was something she needed to tell Dante, but Lois interrupted with news about the old neighborhood. Dante felt that wasn’t what Brook wanted to tell him. Cody asked Lulu what was really going on. Clearly, it was eating her alive. Spill. Isaiah cooked a three-course meal for lunch at Jordan’s apartment, and she said she’d make herself available anytime he wanted to cook. He asked how much longer they needed to keep hiding. Marco was waiting for someone at the MetroCourt, when he saw Sidwell. Curtis met with Laura and said he had bad news, but Sidwell interrupted saying that Laura was just the person he wanted to see. She wondered if he was part of the bad news. Sonny and Kristina lunched on the MetroCourt terrace, and Kristina said she had a confession Sonny wasn’t going to like. Alexis told Ava to go away, but Ava thought she could make time to discuss Kristina’s future. Alexis told her to get out and that Kristina’s future was none of her business. Ava said she could make it the business of the police.

Sidwell said he’d been trying to set up a meeting, but Laura’s office wasn’t calling back. She said then it was safe to assume she didn’t want to meet with him, and Curtis said they’d been having a private conversation. Sidwell said if she changed her mind, call him, and left. Laura asked Curtis to distract her with the bad news, and he said Ezra Boyle had it out for her and he didn’t know how much longer he could protect her. Kristina said she’d invited Dante to lunch because he needed to know about Sonny’s heart issue. Sidwell saw Natalia and told her that Marco was waiting. If possible, show some tact when she talked to him. Jordan said Isaiah knew Sidwell couldn’t know they were together. That hadn’t changed. He said all he was asking for was a timeline. Was it weeks? Months? She told him that she couldn’t say, but was he asking because they couldn’t go public, or he was concerned for her safety? He asked if it couldn’t be bother. Her phone dinged and she said, guess who was asking if they could see her? Lucas looked at the text he’d sent Marco: Had a great time. Maybe I can show you around town sometime soon. LMK. He saw the usual three dots, then they disappeared. Marco put down his phone, and Natalia said she was sorry she was late. They made small talk, and Marco told her that he’d had a great interview at Miller and Davis. He was expecting an offer and if the terms were satisfactory, he’d be staying in Port Charles. She said, practicing law was a tragic waste of his talent. Alexis asked what Ava was alleging, but Ava said she wasn’t alleging anything. Kristina had tried to kill her, and she could prove it.

Cody said he was invoking the code of the lollipop, and Lulu said, whoa. He told her it was just them and if he told her in confidence, he’d honor that. What couldn’t Dante know? She said that she was still in love with him. Dante left to meet Kristina and Sonny, and Lois said she couldn’t imagine Brook was going to tell him about the baby. Natalia said Marco could be on tour, selling out venues, but he said he wasn’t having that conversation again. He’d been a lawyer for ten years and any other mother would be proud. She said, proud that he threw away everything he’d worked so hard for because he was angry? He trashed his career to spite her. He said he told her that he was gay, and she tried to shove him back in the closet, and she said she wished she’d handled it differently. He said it wasn’t about who he loved or what he wanted to do with his life. She didn’t accept who he was. She said she just didn’t want him to waste his potential, and he said she couldn’t accept Allie either. He guessed she wasn’t answering Natalia’s calls. She said Allie was busy on tour and she respected that, and he said she didn’t respect him, but she said it was his choices. He was a talented musician and could have been a star. Instead, his father manipulated him into going to law school so he could mold Marco into one of his flunkies. She blamed him, but she also blamed herself because she didn’t fight hard enough for him. At Jordan’s place, Sidwell thanked her for meeting him. He wondered if a civil servant’s salary met her needs. He needed someone he could count on and would like her to work for him.

Lulu told Cody that the last thing she wanted was to divorce Dante, but he went completely off the rails and dropped out of his own life. She couldn’t stay married to him and moved on. She met a great guy who asked her to marry him, but then she realized she hadn’t moved on. She couldn’t because she still loved Dante. She realized the night after the explosion, then she woke up and four years had passed for Dante, but for her, nothing had changed. She was glad Dante met Sam, and they built a life together. He and Rocco were happy, but now Sam was gone, and Dante was still grieving. Cody asked if she thought Dante still had feelings for her, and she said she thought Dante loved her, but wasn’t in love with her. Did Cody think she should tell him how she felt?  Brook said she was going tell Dante that they’d patched things up and she was glad Loise was home. She and Chase discussed how people would talk, and those same people were good at finding answers. Lois said, Tracy and Ned, and Brook said Tracy was already asking questions. Tracy would nudge her dad until he helped find out what was going on. Lois said Olivia had been grilling her, and Brook said trouble had already stated and eventually they’d find out about the baby. Lois said they’d want to know who the father was, and Brook said she didn’t think she could lie, especially to Dante. She loved these people, and didn’t want them to be hurt because she’d been keeping a secret. Lois said it sounded like Brook was leaning toward coming clean, but Brook said she also didn’t want to hurt Lois.

Marco said Natalia wanted him to be a musician, but he wanted something different. She wanted him to be straight, but he wanted to stay true to himself. She said she wanted him to be happy, but he said, on her terms, not his. He’d been away a long time, and this was a reminder why. She trashed her relationship with her daughter because of her bigoted opinions that she shared with the world. She hadn’t learned. She said she’d learned so much and if he gave her a chance, he’d see how much she’d changed. He asked how she could say that when they were still having the same conversation. Charge whatever she wanted to the room. He was done. He left and she ordered a vodka gimlet – a double. Curtis said Boyle published an editorial about Laura’s friendship with Sonny. He was trying to draw a line between her refusing to move the esplanade to Sonny’s piers and the firebombing in the penthouse. Laura wondered how they were connected, and Curtis said, Boyle made a point in saying, if someone could attack the penthouse, what was stopping them from blowing up the docks next? Laura asked if he made an argument that the threat would be eliminated by moving the piers, and Curtis said, exactly. She said it was absolutely maddening, since Sidwell was the first to propose moving the esplanade for his own selfish reasons. Curtis said, unfortunately, the appearance of impropriety was just as damaging as actual impropriety. Even though she backed the original plan, Boyle would say she was pulling strings to protect Sonny.

Dante joined Sonny and Kristina, and asked Kristina how Molly was doing. Kristina said she was doing better now that her dad was going to be okay. Sonny said he was happy for Kristina’s sister. She loved her father. Dante said the family had suffered enough loss, and Sonny said, Ric should be more careful on the road. Alexis asked what Ava was talking about, and Ava said Kristina came to her apartment and Ric was there. She barged in, hysterical over a minor custody dispute Ava had with her father. Kristina was out control and accused Ava of taking her daughter and brother away. She said she wasn’t going to let Ava take her father too. She and Ric drove cars that were almost identical, and on the night in question, Ric parked in her spot. Elizabeth came by with papers for Ric and he offered her a ride home. They know what happened next. Ric’s brakes failed, and Kristina had the perfect opportunity to tamper with them. Alexis asked what proof she had that the brakes failed or that Kristina had something to do with it, and Ava took out her phone. She showed Alexis the footage from the garage and asked if she should do her civic duty and give it to the police or could they come to an understanding.

Curtis said he’d do what he could to make sure Laura’s voice was heard, but prepare herself. It might be hard to justify. Sidwell told Jordan that he was solidifying his position in Port Charles and the United States and needed an ambassador. Someone to do PR or public service, a righthand man… or woman. Someone to smooth the way. Jordan said he wanted her to be his lobbyist, and he said she was well-liked, well-connected, and respected by all the players – Mayor Collins, Curtis Ashford, and Congressman Cain, to name a few. She said she and the congressman weren’t seeing eye to eye these days, and he said he could add honesty. He was sure she’d repair her relationship with the congressman. It was no secret she’d proved herself indispensable to the mayor, but she must have her own aspirations. Let him help her achieve them. Jordan said it was a generous offer… He said she didn’t know how generous, but she said she wasn’t interested. Isaiah asked if Lucas could take his shift in the ER tomorrow, and Lucas said he thought he’d be showing a guy he met around town, but the guy hadn’t gotten back to him… Could he give Isaiah an answer in a couple of hours? Isaiah said, no rush, and Marco walked in. Cody said he advised against it, for now, but Lulu had to shift her attitude. Not telling Dante was selfless and she was showing restraint by giving him space to heal. It showed how much she cared, but as with everything else, it was temporary. Just give Dante time. Sonny said he had something he needed to tell Dante, and Dante asked how worried he should be. Sonny said he had health issues, heart stuff. He’d been shot years ago, and it damaged his heart and it got worse. He was taking medication, but it wasn’t a permanent fix. Kristina said Sonny needed surgery, and Dante asked why Sonny hadn’t told him. Sonny said he didn’t want his enemies thinking he was vulnerable, so he left them out of it. Dante could thank his sister for Sonny telling him. Dante said he did. He was happy to be looped in, but why now? Sonny said, Ava knows. Alexis said, how much? It was obviously an attempt at blackmail, so she was trying to get an idea of how much. Ava said, a great deal, possibly millions, and Alexis said she didn’t have close to that. Ava said, good thing she was administrator of the Cassadine estate, and Alexis asked if Ava thought she could embezzle funds from it. Ava said, yes, but Alexis said she couldn’t. She asked for proof, but all Ava has is circumstantial evidence. She had nothing to show Kristina tampered with the car. Ava asked what she thought the wire cutters were for. A manicure? Alexis asked what proof she had that the brakes were cut, and Ava said she had the car. It was moved from impound and was in a safe alternate location. Alexis said, congratulations on breaking the chain of evidence. Maybe Ava cut the wires and was framing Kristina. Why not go to the police? Didn’t she think they’d buy her theory? Ava said, Ric knows the brakes were cut and he was a witness to Kristina threatening her, but Alexis said, neither one was proof. Ava said all she had to do was point the police in the right direction, and they’d prove the brakes were tampered with. While they built a case, she’d let the DA’s office know about the investigation. How did Alexis think Molly would react when she learned Kristina nearly killed her father?

Marco said he got Lucas’s text, but he’d been in the middle of something. He wasn’t avoiding Lucas. Lucas said he’d been busy and hadn’t realized Marco didn’t reply, and Marco asked if the offer still stood. Lucas asked how much time he had, and Marco said, quite a bit. A job offer is imminent and he’s moving to Port Charles. Sidwell said they hadn’t discussed compensation or what Jordan’s role could be, but Jordan said she didn’t want to waste either of their time. She was happy being Deputy Mayor. He said he understood, but if she changed her mind, the offer was still on the table. He left. Lois said she was relieved, but was the real reason Brook wanted to patch things up because people would talk? Brook said she didn’t like that Lois told her grandma, and Lois said she was so sorry. Brook said, but she understood that Lois needed someone to confide in, like she’d needed to confide in Chase. Lois said Brook had every right to tell him. It was her truth. Brook said she doesn’t know what she would have done without him, but it dawned on her that when she told Lois that she was pregnant, she’d expected Lois to have all the answers. It turned out that Lois needed her ma like she needed Lois. Lois said she did try to steer Brook in the right direction, but she wasn’t a teenager anymore. Did she want to tell the family about the baby? Brook said, what was done was done, and she didn’t want to hurt her relationship with Lois, but Lois said it was about Brook. If she thought it was important to tell the family about the baby, Brook had her full support. Brook said she’d given it a lot of thought to telling Dante what happened, but then what? They can’t change anything and all that’s left is disappointment and a huge gaping hole. Letting the past stay in the past and focusing on the future was what was best. Lulu told Cody that she was conflicted. She was alive because of Sam. Cody said she wasn’t taking anything away by her feelings, and she said she would love Dante even though she couldn’t be with him. Cody said, right now, and she said she recognized that he was still grieving, and it was all he could deal with. Cody said, right now, and gave her a lollipop. She asked if that meant she was in the clear and not running a con, and he said he thought she was just a woman in love. She said she didn’t think there would ever be a day she wasn’t in love with Dante Falconari, and left. Sonny said he was with Ava when he had an extreme panic attack. Dante asked if they were arguing, and Sonny said he was doing what he could to avoid stress, but they started going at it about their custody agreement. We flashed back as he spoke, and he said he couldn’t breathe. He tried to take his pills, but couldn’t reach them. Luckily, Kristina was in with Donna and came out at the exact right time. Kristina said, their dad was struggling. She gave him a pill and he was okay. Sonny said now Ava knew information she shouldn’t. She could go public, and he had to be one step ahead of that. He was having surgery a month from now in California. Laura came out to let them know she’d be able to be there for Rocco’s debate tournament, then went back to her table. Dante said all that mattered was that Sonny took care of himself and that he was around a long time for Avery, Donna, and Rocco. Kristina said, and Wiley and Amelia, and Dante said, all of them. Curtis said he guessed Laura wasn’t distancing herself from Sonny, and Laura said they shared a grandchild and had decades of history together. She’s never tried to hide that they’re friends. Boyle was just using that fact as a way to amass power. Curtis said he was doing a good job, but she said she didn’t care. She cared about the people of Port Charles. If they decided they didn’t want her to serve, they were free to vote her out. She wasn’t going to suddenly hide her and Sonny’s friendship and start lying. She wasn’t doing that for one bad opinion poll. Curtis said, then remove herself from the equation. Put the esplanade location up for a vote. Let the people decide.

Brook said she was grateful for Lois. She didn’t scream at her or shame her, but helped her. Lois said she loved Brook, always and forever, no matter. Brook said she was sorry they fought, and Lois said her too. Brook said she was glad Lois was home, and Lois said she was Brook’s ma. She’d always come home. On the phone, Isaiah asked what Sidwell wanted, and Jordan said he offered her a job as a lobbyist for his company. Isaiah said, and she turned him down, but she said she started tomorrow… She was just kidding. He said he hoped she was done and got the dirt on Sidwell, but she said she had Sidwell just where she wanted him. Marco said it was a great city and he and Lucas would have a chance to get to know each other better. Lucas said if Marco didn’t think they would jinx it, they should celebrate, and Marco said he could use a celebration. Alexis said the way she saw it, what Ava had were baseless allegations. She had a video out of context and a witness with a head injury. If she went to the police, that was on her, but be careful. She might end up in the hot seat for tampering with evidence and wasting law enforcement’s time. Ava said maybe Alexis was right. Maybe she should head straight to Molly. She knew it was a lot to process, so she was giving Alexis until 9 am tomorrow to decide what she was willing to do to protect her daughter’s future. If she didn’t hear from Alexis by 9 am, then she’d go right to Molly. She walked out, leaving the door open. Laura said, Curtis wanted her to hold a public referendum on the location, and he said, let them decide if they wanted to use eminent domain to seize the pier. Laura said they wouldn’t just vote on the location, but it would end up being a vote on Sonny. While waiting for the elevator, Sonny noticed Natalia at the bar and told Kristina and Dante to go ahead. Sonny went to the bar, and Dante told Kristina that they’d get through this. She said they had to. Ava had done enough damage. Natalia asked Sonny, how was the lunch with his kids? and he asked what she was doing with Jenz Sidwell.

Thursday:

Josslyn met Gio and Emma at the Surf Lodge and told them she had to say thank you to Emma. At the MetroCourt, Carly told Jack that she’d missed Josslyn so much, and he said Josslyn was a remarkable young woman. He was sorry he ruined her homecoming. Carly said she’d come around about them being together. She and Jason also had a heart to heart and although he didn’t approve, they weren’t going to let it affect their friendship. In the nook, Tracy said she needed a word with Sasha’s baby daddy, but Sasha said she had no idea where he was. Tracy said Sasha needed to keep better tabs on him, when Jason walked in. Sasha said Tracy needed a word with him and she needed to put a tracker in his jacket. Tracy said Jason was conspicuously absent when the family crypt was threatened by his odious brother. Jason said he knew she could handle it, but she said his presence would have been appreciated. Now that he lived there, he needed to step up and help protect the family. A man knocked at the door and said he was from PC Moving & Storage. They were picking up boxes from the gatehouse and delivering them to 419 Crestview Lane. Tracy said that was Drew’s new place. At Drew’s, Willow said Drew had made Wiley so happy and she’d never been happier, and they kissed. Laura went to Jordan’s apartment, and Jordan said she needed Laura to do her a favor, but it needed to stay between them. She needed Laura to fire her. Sidwell met with Maxie and Lucy at the MetroCourt and asked if Tracy would be joining them. Maxie said she would. They needed to make sure they were on the same page. Sidwell asked, what page is that? Sonny and Natalia went to Pozzulo’s where Sonny said Sidwell couldn’t monitor them. He said he’d seen Natalia talking to Sidwell at the MetroCourt. It was obvious they knew each other outside of Deception. What was her connection to Sidwell? She said Jenz Sidwell was her ex-husband.

Laura asked why she should fire Jordan, and Jordan said she had a unique opportunity to find out what Sidwell was up to, but she couldn’t in her current position. Sidwell had shown up and offered her a job as his lobbyist. She didn’t want to seem eager, so she turned it down, but he left the offer on the table. Now she needed a reason to accept it. Laura said it would be hard to justify her termination, and Jordan said there was one thing she and Laura didn’t see eye to eye on – Sonny Corinthos. Sonny said Brick did a background check on Natalia and wondered how her and Sidwell’s marriage was missed. She said, probably because they’d eloped decades ago before there were digital records. The marriage was a disaster and didn’t last long. The only good thing to come out of it was their son. Sonny asked if that’s who she’d been talking to at the MetroCourt, and she said Marco had come to town last week. Their relationship was worse than hers and Allison’s. Sonny said he could see why she didn’t tell him about her son, but why didn’t she tell him about her ex? Lucy told Maxie that they’d agreed on the terms, and they’d been incorporated into the contract. There was nothing to discuss. Maxie said she was grateful that Sidwell was willing to sell the zincite to them, but Deception was a legitimate business, and they needed to make sure their imports were screened. Sidwell said he had nothing to hide and welcomed their protocols and safeguards. Lucy said she agreed, but Maxie asked if they shouldn’t wait for Tracy. Lucy said they could still get the ball rolling. Tracy told the moving guy that if he moved a single item, she’d have him arrested for trespassing and theft, and he said he was going to go now. He left, and Tracy said she couldn’t believe Willow was moving Michael’s kids to Drew’s house. Jason said he’d handle it, and she told him, good luck with that. She left, and Jason said he was going to tell Willow that she couldn’t move in with Drew, but Sasha said that was a bad idea. Drew opened the door to Nina, who handed him a package for Congressman Cain. Willow said she hated that he was forced to give up his name, and Nina said, cutting ties with Monica was a huge mistake. Josslyn thanked Emma for stopping the crypt from being bulldozed and getting arrested, especially since Michael didn’t need any more heartache from his disgusting uncle. Emma said she couldn’t have done it without Gio, and he said he was happy to be there. The Quartermaines had been good to him. He asked Josslyn how Easter Island was and if she saw the big heads. She said it was amazing and showed him the pictures, when Vaughn walked in. He and Josslyn exchanged a glance. Jack said his schedule was clear and Carly could have him to herself if she was interested. She said she was definitely interested, and he asked if she’d like to do dinner and a movie. She said she had something else in mind, and he said he was very interested in that, as he felt her leg under the table. From the terrace, Sidwell showed Maxie and Lucy that his ship had docked. They just needed Tracy’s signature to conclude their business. He took out a vial and showed them a sample of the core component of their miracle cream in crystal form. Lucy said it was so stunning; it was a shame they had to crush it up into a powder. Sidwell said anyone who appreciated how beautiful it was deserved a piece of it for their own, and Lucy said, if he insisted, taking the vial. She wished she could see the look on Erica Kane’s face when she found out they’d snagged her supply. Sidwell said they hadn’t quite closed the deal. Drew said, Monica had cut ties with him when she took away his leverage over Tracy and saved the crypt, and Nina said threatening her wasn’t the way to go. Even so, Wiley and Amelia adored their great-grandmother, and they were the ones being punished by cutting Monica out. Willow said she had a point and they’d been asking about Monica. She knew they missed her. Nina said it would behoove them to play nice with at least one family member, and that person may become an ally. Willow said, true, and the Quartermaines listened to Monica. Wiley came out and hugged Nina. He told her about his new room and asked Willow for help with the sheets. Willow left with Wiley, and Drew said he didn’t need Nina coming there with helpful advice. Nina asked if he was throwing her out, and he said, not yet, but watch herself. This was his house, and she didn’t want to wear out her welcome. Tracy found Carly and said she thought Carly should know that while she was doing… this, Willow was moving her grandchildren into Drew’s house.

A server brough Vaughn a take-out bag and he left. Josslyn looked at her phone and said she’d forgotten she needed to meet her lab partner so they could show her what she’d missed. She left, and Emma said she gave credit to Josslyn for thanking her for something other than her leaving town. Gio asked what was up with the frenemy vibe, and Emma said it started when they were kids. She had a crush on a guy named Cameron when she was around 10 and they hung out for a while, but he and Josslyn got together in high school. Gio said, a playground love triangle, and she said when Cameron found out Josslyn had cheated, it broke his heart. He was past it, so she supposed she should be too, but Josslyn was an entitled girl who created chaos, then threw money at it to make it go away. She never faced the consequences of her actions. he said Emma could create chaos, but paid the price, like getting expelled. She said she knew he’d understand, and he said he’d understand more if he knew why. Jordan said she and Laura differed in their opinion about Sonny, but she’d chosen to steer clear of Laura’s relationship with him. Laura asked if she was saying that now was the time to voice her concerns, and Jordan said they could find a way to publicly disagree about Laura’s ties to a notorious mob boss. Laura said she thought she knew how they could do that. Natalia said she was sorry she didn’t tell Sonny. She’d hoped Sidwell would go away for good. Sonny asked how likely that was, especially since he was involved with Deception, and she said she thought it was too late and didn’t want to ruin the trust he had in her. It meant everything. He told her that she should have said something. How did he know she wasn’t feeding Sidwell information about him? She said, no, and swore they barely talked. They parted after Marco was born and had barely spoken since Marco was grown. They hated each other. She hadn’t told anyone about his heart condition and would die before she told Sidwell. He said he still needed discretion. He’d told Kristina and Dante what was going on and was going to tell the rest of the family. She said she was glad he let his family, and he would be able to lean on them, and he said he appreciated her support and wouldn’t forget it, but it was time their association came to an end. Sasha said if Jason gave Willow an order, it would make things worse. No matter how civil and sweet he was, she’d see what he said as an attack. She saw herself as a victim in this star-crossed lover story and it worked perfectly for Drew because he could play the hero. Jason would only be moving them closer together. He asked what he should do then, and she said, nothing. He didn’t have the legal authority. She got that it was hard for him as a man of action, but he had to stand down and let this go. Nina said she thought the house was Drew’s and Willow’s, and Drew said it was. She said she was just trying to keep the peace and do what was best for the children. He said she’d helped them sneak off in the middle of the night, but she said it was to establish physical custody. Now that Willow had that, she’d have to play her cards carefully. The move didn’t help, and she couldn’t antagonize the Quartermaines further or they’d fight back with a vengeance and Michael would do the same. Drew said he wasn’t afraid of them. He had the power and connections to make sure Willow got custody. He would protect her himself. She said what he wanted was a showdown with the Quartermaines so he could ride in and rescue Willow and be her savior, so she’d be forever in his debt. He said all he wanted was for Willow to be happy and Nina couldn’t stand that Willow was happier with him than with her. Carly told Tracy that she thought the situation had been handled and Willow was moving out on her own, and Tracy said, it had to be stopped. Jason said he’d take care of it, but she had her doubts about trusting him to take the right steps to rectify it. Jack asked if Carly thought Michael should know, but Carly said she didn’t want to upset him. Tracy said, for Michael and Monica’s sake, this cannot happen. Tracy joined the Deception team and apologized for being late. Maxie said they’d signed the contract and just needed her signature, but Tracy said the deal was not going to happen.

Emma said she couldn’t talk about why she was expelled. She couldn’t even tell her grandmother. Gio asked why the school wanted to silence her, but she just looked at him, and he said, got it. Before they ordered, he thought she had the wrong idea about Josslyn. She’d been though stuff since them. She’d dealt with boyfriends dying and Trina told him that she’d been the target of revenge porn. She’d been knocked hard, but got back up, and she’d been nothing but kind and helpful since he got there. Emma said he was a fan, but he said he was a friend. Didn’t Josslyn donate to Emma’s charity? Emma said, so she didn’t have to volunteer and actually do something. She didn’t see Josslyn believing in anything enough to risk putting herself or her future on the line. Josslyn found Vaughn in the park and said she’d followed the scent of onion rings. She asked what he was doing in Port Charles, and he said Brennan had put him on as her handler. Was that a problem? She said, not at all, and he suggested they go over the assignment.

 Laura told Jordan that Boyle published an editorial about her and how she allegedly favored and protected Sonny. Curtis killed the story, although she was sure Boyle would go to another outlet. Curtis also gave her great advice, suggesting she have a public referendum and let the public vote on the location of the esplanade and if they wanted it move. Jordan said, Sonny and the public wouldn’t have a reason to be mad at her. Smart move. Laura said when she made the announcement about the referendum, Jordan could take that moment to publicly criticize her and say she was too buddy-buddy with Sonny. She could say she didn’t support Laura’s decision to hold a referendum. Jordan said, then Laura would have grounds to fire her for insubordination. She loved it. Let’s do it. Sonny told Natalia that he had a lot going on. He had to be able to trust his inner circle completely. Natalia said she understood, and he said, for what it was worth (🍷), he misspoke. He said they had an association, but they had a friendship. He’d miss it. Through her tears, Natalia said she would too. She told him to take care of himself and left. Maxie said they already took a vote. Remember? Tracy said, and she abstained. Remember? She spoke to Lulu and Lulu told her that Sidwell kept Lucky locked up on his compound. Maxie said Lulu told them and Tracy said, and they still wanted to do business with him? Sidwell said he didn’t like friction. He could take his business elsewhere. Lucy said everything was fine. Lucky was a Spencer and used to being kidnapped. Maybe it was his fault. And this wasn’t about Lucky. It was about Tracy wanting to destroy and sabotage her company. Tracy said, that she owned 51% of, and Lucy said, to Tracy, Deception was a whim. If everything tanked, Tracy had a lot to fall back on. She didn’t. Deception was her baby, her livelihood, and she wasn’t letting Tracy destroy it. Tracy said she wasn’t. She was trying to protect them from doing business with an international criminal. Carly said, obviously, Willow didn’t reveal her plans, and Jack said he gathered she wasn’t going to tell Michael. She said she wanted Michael to focus on getting better and coming home. The doctors didn’t want to give a timetable. She should have kept an eye on her grandkids. They’re going to be confused, and Michael was counting on her to look out for his kids. Willow needed to be told there was no way in hell she was moving them in with Drew. Jack suggested she do it.

Sidwell told Tracy, the tales were told about his work in East Africa. His business in Port Charles is completely legitimate. Maxie said they’d vetted Sidwell as best they could and made it clear they were going to monitor his business activity closely. There was a morals clause, which they all signed. They just need Tracy’s signature. Tracy asked if they were going to ignore his criminal past, and Lucy said, they ignored Tracy’s. Tracy said, Lucy was one to talk, and Maxie said they’d all broken the law at one time or another. This was Sidwell’s chance to prove he was legit, and the future of Deception depended on it. Laura said before she and Jordan put their plan in action, she needed to know something. Did Jordan really want to do this? She’d talked to Lucky about his encounters with Sidwell. Sidwell was ruthless and really dangerous. Jordan said she was sure, but was Laura? Their falling out would be a fabrication, but the political consequences would be real for Laura. She was worried it would backfire and Laura’s close relationship with Sonny would her constituents’ focus. It could cause problems in the future. Laura thanked her and said Boyle was going to cause her problems, whether they did this or not, but Jordan said, this could make it worse. It could cost Laura her career. Laura said, if this would keep Port Charles safe from Jenz Sidwell, they had to do it. Sasha told Jason that he had to be strategic. Let Willow move in and settle in, and let Drew think he won. From a custody standpoint, Michael held all the cards. Jason said, Michael cheated too, and Sasha said, that’s why he was pretending to be the father of the baby. If Willow found out Michael was really the father, it would be all the ammunition she needed. Jason said he wished he could talk sense to Willow, but Sasha said it was like Willow had fallen for another cult. Not Dawn of Day, but Dawn of Drew. Willow said Nina was right. Wiley missed Monica and the dogs and the staff. Now that they were settled, they’d make sure to visit Monica. Drew asked if she was sure it was a good idea, and she said the kids deserved a relationship with their great-grandmother. Drew said, of course (🍷), but it would be better if Monica came there. The kids might be confused if they go back to their old home. Carly wondered if she should confront Willow and Jack said, as an experienced agent, appeasement never worked. You had to go in and show force. Let the opposition know you were willing to fight to the death. She said, what if she made it worse? and he asked if it was worth the risk. Willow needed to know that just because Michael was laid up, it didn’t give her carte blanche. Carly had Sonny and the Quartermaines on her side, and she could let Willow know that she had the WSB office at her disposal. Carly said he sounded sexy when he talked like that, and he said, Willow needed to know that she was in for the fight of her life. This was the moment she needed to find out you don’t mess with Carly Spencer.

Emma told Gio that there was a class she didn’t want to miss. Environmental Physics with Professor Dalton. Josslyn told Vaughn that she had to go back to PCU and pick up her classes, and he said she had another class she was taking, but she said, the semester already started. He said her enrollment was taken care of. All she had to do was show up. She said, what class? and he said, Environmental Physics with Professor Dalton. (Like we didn’t see where that was going.) Tracy signed the contract and said she hoped they were satisfied. Sidwell thanked them and said it was the beginning of a very profitable association. Lucy said she’d be in touch about the Nurses Ball, and he left. Lucy thanked Maxie for getting Tracy to see reason, and Tracy said this had the potential to go very, very wrong. Lucy said, or very, very right. By the elevators, Jack told Sidwell, a word to the wise. The sole suspect in the penthouse bombing was found with his neck broken in Toronto. Sidwell said he’d heard. It had nothing to do with him. Jack said, people who cross Sonny have a way of coming to a bad end, and Sidwell said he didn’t know the WSB cared. Jack said they didn’t. The WSB was continuing their investigation of him. Sidwell asked if Jack was going to call a drone strike. They weren’t in Africa, and in the US, Jack didn’t have as much authority. Jack said, try him, and find out. (More sexy talk!) Laura called Sonny and said she needed to give him a heads up. He was about to be at the center of a political hurricane. Jason told Sasha that he appreciated the advice, and she said, enough to take it? He said he’d stand down for now, but in the meantime, they’d have to ride this out together. Sasha said, the together part was tough. She’d been putting it off, but she was still planning on moving out. Willow said she didn’t want to confuse the kids about home, but Monica had been so ill and the kids did miss being there. She thought it was better to go to the Quartermaines. Nina said that was smart. With Monica being ill, it was more pragmatic. Willow thanked Nina for suggesting an olive branch. She’d let Monica and Michael know she wanted peace, not harm. The doorbell rang and Wiley ran to answer it. It was Carly, and he asked if she came to see their new house. She said she sure did. When she heard about it, she couldn’t wait to visit him and his mommy.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Portia finds Curtis in her office and asks if he’s okay. He says, yeah, and she says, liar. Let her guess. It has something to do with Drew. He asks how she knows, and she says, because most things do these days. What did the congressman do now?

Willow says, Nina is distracting Wiley and Amelia, but who knows how long it will last? and Drew tells Carly to say what she has to say, then leave. Carly wonders if Willow is sure moving in with the kids is what’s best for them, but Willow insists it is. Carly says, Willow can move in with her or with her mom. She could stay at the MetroCourt or find her own place. Willow says, Carly has no right to dictate their lives, but Carly says, Michael does. She’s here because he can’t be here. They’re Michael’s kids too, and if he can’t be here to fight for them, she’s going to do it for him.

Kai meets Trina at the Surf Lodge and says, sorry he’s late. She says, there must be a good reason, and he says, it’s all thanks to her. He’s going to play football again.

Sasha tells Jason that she’s been thinking a lot and decided moving out of the Quartermaines is what’s best for her and her baby. He asks why, and she says she has to walk the walk. She’s been saying she wants to be independent and make a life for them on her own, but it can’t happen while she’s living there. Is he mad? He says, no. She gets to raise her baby however and wherever she wants. He guesses he was hoping the wherever would be here.

Emma comes in and says, hi, grandma, and Anna says, they need to have a little chat about her prior arrest in California. She won’t be violating the NDA and has the WSB to thank for that. The particulars don’t matter. What matters is, she got ahold of Emma’s sealed arrest records and knows everything.

Josslyn says, the WSB wants her to get enrolled in Environmental Physics? That’s her mission? Vaughn says, that’s right. They want her to get close to her instructor, Professor Dalton. She wonders why they want her to cozy up to him, and he says, she’s on a need-to-know basis. She says, then tell her what she needs to know.

Alexis walks into the office and Diane says, the Longeron deposition was a complete scene. There she is, grilling the louse of a husband about his alleged infidelity, when Mrs. Longeron goes rogue, leaps across the table, and tries strangling him with her bare hands. She loves her job… Guess you had to be there… What’s wrong? Alexis says, it’s bad, really bad, and Diane asks, what is it? She tells Diane to close the door before she tells her. First, she needs to hire Diane as her lawyer.

Anna says, everything Emma told her since she arrived has been a lie, but Emma says, not everything. Anna says, so she wasn’t thrown out of her previous school because a party got out of hand? and Emma says, no. The party happened. Anna says, as a distraction for the actual crime she got kicked out for. She has it here – breaking and entering, trespass, assault… Has she missed anything?

Vaught tells Josslyn that he can say the WSB arranged for her enrollment. Her mission… She says, should she choose to accept it… Sorry. He says, her mission is to secure a spot as Professor Dalton’s research assistant. She says, how? She’s starting the semester late. He’s got to have other students lined up for the position. He says he suggests she make her way to the front of the line, and she asks if he has any suggestions. He says, they recruited her for a reason. She’s received instruction and the tools. It’s her school and she’s resourceful. It’s up to her to do the rest. She can handle that, can’t she?

Curtis tells Portia that he and Laura agree the original location for the esplanade is what’s best for Port Charles, but Ezra Boyle – who’s obviously in bed with Drew and Sidwell – wants to move it to Sonny’s piers. Portia says, Boyle wants to make it look like Laura is doing Sonny’s bidding and hiding behind her position to do it, and he says, if Laura wants to be seen as not abusing her power by protecting Sonny, she’s going to have to do what Boyle wants. She says, that’s what Drew wants, and Curtis says, exactly. She says she knows Sonny and Laura have history, but she’d never put her friendship with Sonny over her duty as mayor, and Curtis says, they know that, but perception is reality. Boyle will get the story out and it could likely end Laura’s career. She says, but it’s Drew doing this. Boyle is just his puppet. Curtis says, pretty much, and she wonders if there’s anyone’s life Drew’s not trying to ruin. He says, that’s why he’s trying to keep Drew away from Kai, and she says, what does any of this have to do with Kai?

Kai says, the hope and goal is for him to play football after his surgery, and Trina says she thought he was waiting to decide until her mom did some research. Then he’d figure out if he wanted to go through with it. Did he consult with the surgeon? He says, not yet, but he realized his hesitation, his asking for advice, was fear talking. What if it doesn’t work out or what if he’s not as good as he was before the surgery? He can’t let what ifs hold him back. Trina says, fear can be healthy and is evolution’s way of keeping us safe in some situations, like this one. If there’s the smallest chance of getting his dream back, he should take it, but football is the reason he got there in the first place. He agrees there are risks, but says, it’s what makes his life worth living. It’s been that way since he was a kid. She says she doesn’t know. She thinks it’s a big decision and feels like he’s making it really fast. He wonders if he can ask her something, and she says, of course (🍷). He says, is she worried about the actual surgery or that it’s a gift from Drew?

Willow tells Carly, her children, her decision. She doesn’t need permission to do anything. Carly says, child. Wiley isn’t technically hers. Drew says, wow, and Willow says, that might be the worst thing Carly has ever said to her. Carly says, it’s true. Michael made her Wiley’s mother. He didn’t have to, but he gave her that gift because he thought she was a good person, one who would put the kids’ needs before her own. Willow says, that’s exactly what she’s doing, but Carly says, she’s not. She’s repaying Michael’s extraordinary kindness by shacking up with his uncle and uprooting and confusing the kids in the process. Willow says she is a good person. (I trust no one who says that about themselves.) At the bare minimum she’s safe. Carly chose Sonny to be Michael’s father and look how that turned out. Carly tells Willow, say her romantic story works out. What will she tell Wiley and Amelia when they get older? What is she going to say? Sorry she blew up their lives and abandoned their father, but she couldn’t keep her hands off their great-uncle? Willow says she didn’t abandon… The children love Drew. Carly says, of course (🍷) they do. He’s family. Drew says, Carly wouldn’t know about getting involved with multiple family members. He could start listing them, but he doesn’t think they have the time. Carly says, the Willow that Michael married wouldn’t do this to him, and Willow says she’s sorry for hurting Michael. She truly means that, but it didn’t happen in a vacuum. Carly says, as she recalls, it happened in the Quartermaine nursery, and Willow says she and Michael were having problems before she got together with Drew. She’s not apologizing for wanting to be with Drew and certainly won’t apologize for falling in love with him.

Sasha asks why Jason wants her to stay so badly, and he says he thinks it’s good for her to be here and he knows it would be good for the baby. He knows the Quartermaines drive each other crazy, but underneath, they love and take care of each other. She asks if he really believes that, and he says he does. She says, then why has he spent most of his life avoiding them.

Curtis tells Portia that no one knows better than he does how cutting-edge surgery can change your life, but he hates that the offer came from Drew. He doesn’t like it. Portia asks what he thinks Drew wants from Kai, and he says he doesn’t know yet, but he doesn’t want to stand in the young man’s way. She says, Drew has proved nothing but untrue and questionable motives, and he says he knows that and knows they’re biased. Why did Kai want to talk to her? She says, he asked about the surgery, and she looked into it like she said she would. She has to say, it’s a great option. He says he knew she’d give her honest assessment as an objective third party, and she doesn’t owe Drew anything.

Trina says, if the surgery is a success she’s afraid Kai might get hurt if he plays again. And if it isn’t successful, she knows his hopes and dreams will be gone and he’ll be devastated. Kai says he has a lot of the same concerns. What about the Drew part? She says, he wasn’t concerned, but she is. She’s worried about the Drew of it all. He says, Drew has only been decent to him. His dream was over, and Drew gave him hope that it might not be. He knows the risk. She says he had to make the decision quickly, and he says, it increases the success of the surgery. If he gets over his fears – the surgery and recovery – then it was all worth it, as long as he has her cheering him on. He takes her hand, and she says she knows football is his dream. If there’s a chance it can happen again, he has to pursue every option. He thanks her and says he couldn’t do it without her. She says, he could, but he doesn’t have to. She needs to take care of something for Ava. She’ll text him later. She leaves, Kai looks at his phone, and she peers at him from around the corner.  

Diane says, engagement signed, and asks why Alexis needs a lawyer. Alexis says she doesn’t, and Diane says, Kristina. With everything she’s been through, what’s happened to her now? Alexis says, nothing happened to her. Something happened because of her. Diane tells her that she has to come out and say it, and Alexis says, Kristina caused Ric’s car crash. She’s the reason Ric and Elizabeth were almost killed. Diane says, that can’t be true, but Alexis says, Kristina cut the brake lines on Ric’s car. Diane asks, why? She knows there’s no love lost between Ric and Kristina… Alexis says, Kristina wasn’t trying to kill Ric. She was trying to kill Ava.

Nina says, the kids are okay. She got them settled down with a movie. She turned the volume up, but it would be great if things would settle down in here. Carly says, Nina missed the big announcement. Willow is in love with Drew. Does she realize she doesn’t know him? Drew asks what she means, and Carly says, he has many different personas. No one knows what they’re getting at any given time. Willow says she knows who Drew is and how he makes her feel, and Carly says, and she’s not apologizing for any of it. She’d think at least using Michael’s burnt body as a bargaining chip might merit an, I’m sorry, my bad, but no. Willow says, everything she’s done is in the best interest of her children. She’s a mother like Carly. Carly says she would never keep her kids away from their father, but Drew says he thinks AJ would have something to say about that. Carly says, if he thinks Michael is anything like AJ, he’s too stupid to be standing in this room (HA-HA-HA!), and Drew says, what he’s seeing is mind blowing. Carly says, what Willow can’t see that everyone else sees is that he’s a liar. It’s repulsive. Willow says, for the millionth time, Carly doesn’t get a say, and Carly says, but Michael does. And she’s going to make sure there’s no doubt of his position. Drew says, if Michael has something to say, he needs to stop using his mommy as a mouthpiece. He has to heal, get back here, and say it for himself.

Anna suggests Emma start with the party, and Emma says she thought Anna knew everything, but Anna says she wants to hear it from her. Amma says, fine. They invited everyone they knew because they needed the crowd to be big. Anna says, because they wanted to distract campus security so they could break into the lab? and Emma says, because they suspected the lab was doing animal testing. Once they were inside office, they could see everything was totally true. The animals were banging around in their cages. It was heartbreaking. Their plan was to get the animals out, but building security caught them before they could start. Anna asks, what happened then? and Emma says, when security got there, it was total chaos. The animals were trapped in their cages and people were tearing off in all directions and she was one of them. Anna asks, what happened next? and Emma says, she tried to get out, but a guard grabbed her and swung her around. The crowbar she used to break in hit him, but she didn’t mean for it to. It was an accident. Obviously, she was arrested. Anna says, and charged with multiple counts, and Emma says, the school didn’t want the testing exposed, so they offered her the NDA to drop it in exchange for her expulsion. It’s ironic. She thought the party was the perfect cover for her, but it turned out to be the perfect cover for the school. She’s telling the truth. Anna says, her account is consistent with her arrest record, but she doesn’t think Emma is grasping the severity of the situation. She believes Emma when she says hitting the security guard was an accident, but he could have been severely hurt. What if he’d died? Emma says she knows. Things spiraled so out of control. Anna says, because of her choices and the way she handled them, and Emma says, what Anna is doing is why she didn’t want Anna to find out.

Josslyn asks if she was hired because of her resourcefulness, and Vaughn says, that’s one of the reasons. She says she’ll find a way to get in with Professor Dalton. She’ll have him begging her to be his assistant. He says, that’s the spirit. See how smooth things go when you nod and say, yes, sir? She says she didn’t do any of that and doesn’t think she will in the future, and he says he hopes the professor likes spunk. They have no other agent for this mission. She asks if the reason they recruited her is because she attends PCU, and he says, Brennan is the best of the best. He saw something special in her. That’s why she’s here. She says, okay. She guesses she should be relieved that her first mission is doing something she knows how to do – be a college student. He says, she’s not a student anymore. She’s an agent posing as a student.  She says, on to a new life and new beginnings.

Jason tells Sasha, it’s true he’s been estranged from the Quartermaines for most of his life. But since he’s been back, he thinks he finally understands what it means to suck things up for the family’s sake. She says, he does his share, and he says, there is value in living here, especially for Danny. He’s around his relatives and he loves that it’s a big, crazy family, emphasis on crazy. Even when they’re annoyed at each other, Jason can still tell they love each other. He thinks they’d love the baby too. Sasha says she always wanted a big family, but never had one. She’d hoped to give her kids one. He couldn’t give Danny that on his own, but she can. He says he doesn’t mean to guilt trip her… She says, he’s about to bring up Monica, and he says, yeah. She may not know who the real father of the baby is, but the baby is still her family. He thinks it would be nice for the baby be close to Monica, especially since Michael’s other kids can’t be. Danny comes in and says he wanted to make cake pops for Scout. They’re her favorite and she misses having them. He promised to make them using Sasha’s recipe, but it’s not go too well. (They look like UPS drop kicked them there.) He’s not a baking person and it’s harder than he thought. Jason’s phone dings, and Sasha says she’d be happy make a new batch, but Danny says he told Scout that he’d make them, so they have to be from him. Sasha says, how about if she oversees things? Jason looks at a text from Nina: Come to Drew’s. It’s Carly. 911. Danny says, that would work great, and Sasha says, excellent. Jason says, good. He’s got to go. Good luck with those. Danny thanks him, and Jason leaves. Sasha says, let’s get started. It will be fun.

Carly asks if Drew is faulting Michael for not being here when he’s recovering from nearly dying, and Drew says, as much as his heart breaks for Michael, despite what she thinks, Michael can’t be a father from Germany. Carly says, he’s fighting to get back. They both know that. Willow says she wanted Michael to stay close. She advocated for Maryland. Remember? Carly says, she’d have Michael get subpar care because his cheating wife thinks that’s what’s best? and Willow says, it didn’t matter what she thought. Michael chose to go to Germany. Carly pushed it and Michael did what she wanted. Now she’s whining about the fallout. Carly says she can’t believe Willow is the woman she walked down the aisle. If she had it to do again, she’d drag Willow as far away as possible. She can’t believe she didn’t see it. Willow has been like her all along. Willow says, like who? and Carly says, Nelle.

Alexis tells Diane that Kristina tried to kill Ava. Apparently, things got heated between them and Kristina went into a rage. She cut the brake lines of Ava’s car – or at least what she thought was Ava’s car, because it was Ric’s car, who happened to be in her space at the time. Apparently, their cars are similar. Diane asks if Molly knows, but Alexis says, just herself, now Diane. She guesses it’s a blessing. Diane says she’s so sorry. She knows how thrilled Alexis was to have her girls close again. Alexis says, maybe Kristina was doing it because she felt guilty. This cannot get out. Diane says, if it does, her girls may not recover, and Alexis says she can’t think straight. She needs Diane to come up with some legal options. Diane says, Kristina is facing three counts of attempted murder, the failed attempt on Ava and the two nearly successful attempts on Ric and Elizabeth. Alexis says, there’s no way out. She can’t think of a way to begin, a way to defend Kristina. Diane says, she can. Alexis needs to have Kristina committed.

Brad goes to Portia’s office, and she tells him, close the door. He says, saying please wouldn’t kill her, but she says, it actually might. Sit down. He says, it was a lot more fun when he was blackmailing her, but she says, those days are over now. He’s going to do what she says or get fired. He asks what she wants, and she says, every file, test, and screening related to Drew. Brad needs to go back all the way to when Drew arrived in Port Charles. Don’t forget the John Doe files. Brad says, that’s going back ten years. It’s not even his job. She says, it is now. The only alternative is finding employment elsewhere, somewhere far, far, far away from his precious Lucas. He says, Lucas wants nothing to do with him, and she says, that could change, but it probably won’t if he’s not here. He says, fine. He’ll do it. What is she looking for? Drugs? She says she’ll know it when she sees it. Don’t forget… He says he knows. Shut the door behind him. He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

Kai sees Curtis at the Surf Lodge and says, he just missed Trina. Is he here for lunch? Curtis says, no. His auntie dropped hints about how wonderful the fish tacos are, so he thought he’d surprise with some takeout. Kai says, the food is great, and Curtis says, Portia told him that Kai had asked for her advice. Kai says he did, but he made his decision. He’s going to do it. He thinks it’s the right choice. Curtis says, if Drew has taken an interest in Kai, he’s got to believe there’s an ulterior motive. Kai says he knows Curtis and Drew have a history and he respects that, but all Drew is doing is connecting him to the doctor, and Curtis says, be careful. Kai saw what Drew did to his nephew and he threatened to bulldoze the Quartermaine family crypt. If he can betray his family like that, what does Kai think Drew could do to him?

Alexis says, Diane wants her to commit her own daughter? but Diane says, of course (🍷) not, but this is the best way, the only way out. Alexis knows this. Alexis says she doesn’t know anything. She can’t do it. Diane says, even if she gets the charges reduced to attempted murder, second degree, that’s three stacked charges. In the state of New York, she’d be looking at 15 years in prison. That’s the best-case scenario. Alexis says, maybe it won’t come to that. Nobody knows. There’s no investigation, no charges, and the police don’t know anything. Diane says, they both know whatever is done in darkness always comes to light. The question is when. Does Alexis want to live like that, jumping out of her skin every time there’s a knock at the door or the phone rings? Is it the cops, or isn’t it? This is Kristina’s best chance. Take it.

Nina says, Carly went too far and needs to leave right now, but Carly says, no. Willow’s good, right? Using her own voice, making her own choices. She’s fine, right? Willow says she and Nelle are nothing alike, and Carly says, she’s right. As sick as Nelle was, she actually loved Michael. She can’t say same about Willow. Willow says she did love Michael and part of her always will, and Carly says, she has an interesting way of showing it. At least with Nelle, she knew who she was dealing with, but with Willow, she had no idea who Willow was. Willow asks if she hears herself. Nelle told Michael that his baby was dead and gave it to another couple. Carly says, she’s right. Nelle stole Michael’s child, but Willow stole two. She guesses that means Willow is the winner. Willow says, how dare she? and Carly says, how dare she? Drew tells Carly, get out or he’ll have the cops take her out, and Willow says, Carly has a lot of nerve coming into their home and speaking to her like that. The days of Carly telling her what to do are over. She can say she’s here for Michael, but she’s here for herself. She’ll do what she wants with her kids, so shut up already. Everybody here knows Carly’s altruistic mother act is about as fake as she is. Carly pulls her hand back to smack Willow, but Jason grabs it.

Alexis tells Diane that she can’t do it. Kristina would never go along with it. Diane says, after everything Kristina’s been through lately – the fall, losing the baby, Sam, Michael’s accident – she wouldn’t need to get permission. Alexis says, what? and Diane says, Kristina is in therapy. Alexis can have her committed involuntarily. Alexis says she can’t. No. Kristina would never forgive her. Diane says she thinks Kristina would, and Alexis says, on what planet? Diane says, on the planet where she understands it’s a far cry between a few months in Ferncliff and 15 to 25 years in Pentenville. Alexis says, Sonny would never go along with it, but Diane says, Sonny has shared his mental health struggles and was the one who suggested Kristina seek a therapist to begin with. Alexis says, a therapist is a far cry from a mental institution, and Diane says, Sonny also understands the law better than most, and sometimes you have to think outside the box to protect yourself and those you love. Alexis says she can’t do this to her family, but Diane says, she’s not doing it to them, she’s doing it for them. Besides, it sets up Kristina in the perfect position for a great defense when the truth comes out, and it sets up Molly to forgive her sister when everything is exposed. Even without those reasons, Kristina needs help. Alexis went on trial for a murder she didn’t commit because she disposed of Kristina’s gun. There’s a pattern here. Kristina gets herself in trouble and Alexis comes in and cleans it all up. It’s not helping. It’s having the opposite effect and it’s time to take drastic action.

Emma asks if Anna wants to know what she was thinking about when she was in that jail cell. You. Anna says, me? and Emma says she wasn’t thinking about her mom and dad or her record or her regret. She was thinking about Anna and how disappointed she’d be in her. She was thinking about how Anna is looking at her now. Anna asks how she’s looking, and Emma says, like sad. Like she can’t believe Emma turned into this thing or something. Anna knows she loves her mom and dad so much, but she was raised to believe if she did everything right and followed the rules, life would fall into place. It’s not true. Playing by the rules doesn’t stop injustice. She wants to spend every day of her life fighting for what’s right. Anna says, she’s not giving her parents enough credit. That’s exactly what they do, help people. Emma says she knows. Trust her when she says what they do and who they are is absolutely amazing. Anna says, they agree on one thing at least, and Emma says she’s more like Anna. She does what’s right and fights for people who can’t fight for themselves. Sometimes that means stepping over the line and breaking the rules. That’s why she thought of Anna when she was in her cell. They do what they think is right, don’t they?  

Carly says, Drew must be happy. Everyone thought he was the master manipulator in this situation, but it’s been Willow all along. She made her choices. Willow says, she doesn’t need anyone to make choices for her, and Carly says, she wants everyone to believe she’s the victim and heroine in this fairytale, but she’s nothing but a selfish little bitch. They deserve each other, but they don’t deserve those kids. Willow says, Carly crossed the line and almost slapped her grandchildren’s mother, and Carly says, for now. Willow asks what she means, and Carly says she’s going to help Michael get his kids back and Willow is never going to see them again ever. She and Jason leave.

Anna says, whatever she thinks Emma is, she has a lot of admiration for her. She helps people and animals in need, but she wonders if Emma is remorseful for her actions. She got lucky. Nobody was hurt – this time. Emma says she knows. She’s not saying it’s a bad thing to hurt animals and an okay thing to hurt people. If something had actually happened to the security guard… Believe her when she says she doesn’t always sleep well at night. Anna says she’s been there and has to live with the consequences of that. She thinks they are alike in many ways, except there’s one profound difference. She always has a fine-tuned plan and significant resources and training to back her up. For her, it’s been the PCPD and the WSB. Emma says she sees what Anna is saying. She knows they had a rocky start, but she’s determined to do better. She still wants to change the world, but going to do it Anna’s way. It’s safer. Anna says, and smarter, and Emma says she’s already enjoying her class with Professor Dalton. She thinks he’s touched on some pretty cool ideas. Anna says, thank goodness. She found a class she can stand. That’s a good start. Emma says she’s sorry being here has stressed Anna out, but Anna says, her being here is a gift. She loves Emma profoundly, without any hesitation, and no conditions. So never forget that. She just wants Emma to be safe and smarter. Emma says, safer and smarter, and they hug.

Josslyn asks, what happens after she secures her position? and Vaughn says, keep gaining Professor Dalton’s trust and wait for further instructions. Josslyn says, okay, got it, and he says, just remember what he said. It might feel the same going to class, going out with her friends, and getting assignments in, but this isn’t school anymore. There are no makeup exams or extra credit. If she fails her mission, there will be serious consequences for all of them.

Trina is waiting in Portia’s office, and Portia says, a visit from Trina’s father and now Trina. What did she do to get so lucky? Trina says she wishes the reason was good, and Portia asks, what’s wrong? Trina says, Kai isn’t waiting for Portia’s opinion about the surgery. He’s made up his mind. He’s going through with it.

Kai says he appreciates the warning and appreciates Curtis’s family looking out for him, and Curtis asks him to promise to be careful. Drew is shrewd and manipulative and there’s always something in it for him. Kai says he doesn’t see what Drew could possibly get from him. He’s in college and the guy is a congressman. Curtis says he wishes he could tell Kai what Drew is after, but he hasn’t figured it out. Just know that the favor Drew is doing will come at a cost, maybe higher than Kai could ever imagine.

Willow says she can’t believe that just happened, and Drew says, she did great. Nina says, holding your own against Carly is no small feat, and Willow asks if she can really take Wiley and Amelia. Drew says, Carly has her resources, but so does he. He promises with everything in him that he won’t let her lose her kids.

Carly says, Jason doesn’t need to drive her home, but he says, she’s too upset right now. Carly says, did he text you and tell you to come and get me? and he asks what she was thinking. She says, is that a real question? and he says, attacking Willow is going to push her and the kids further away and make Drew look like a savior. She says she doesn’t care. She gave Willow space to make the right decision, and it didn’t work out. Now it’s time to fight and she can fight a hell of a lot harder than they can.

Diane says she knows it’s a lot to take in. Alexis doesn’t have to decide this second, but don’t take too long. Diane is about to leave, when Alexis says, do it. Draw up the papers and have Kristina committed.

On Monday, Willow tells Nina that she’s scared there’s some truth to it; Ric tells Ava it may not be the done deal she thinks it is; Sonny asks if someone is pressuring Laura to come after him; and Carly tells Jack that she may have just handed Michael’s children over to Willow.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It’s about time.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-van-hansis-dishes-lucas-new-romance-with-marco

Amusing, but not life changing.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-line-you-didnt-get-to-hear-on-yesterdays-gh

I love this storyline too.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/why-ghs-eden-mccoy-loves-josslyns-new-spy-storyline

Ric gets roughed up.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/behind-the-scenes-of-rics-accident-on-general-hospital

The professor is in.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daniel-goddard-cast-on-general-hospital-as-professor-dalton

So cool how they found certain items. That happened to me after the flood, and it was really weird how certain things that ended up under water emerged unscathed.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-cameron-mathison-shares-an-inspirational-post-fire-update

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

This boat just sounds so messy.

Captain Jason attempts to clean up.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Memes and jokes were revisited, no doubt to be forever remembered like Erika’s panties and Crystal’s ugly leather pants. Lots of blah-blah-blah about Kyle and Morgan, and no surprise, Jennifer was the highlight of the entire Reunion. Snacking while watching the ping-pong match that is part of every rehash, she didn’t disappoint. She talked about a necklace considered the most important piece of American jewelry that she’d worn for a photo shoot and explained that it had once belonged to Cole Porter. She’d fallen in love with it before she could afford it, and when she could, chased it around until she scored it. The best part of the story? I could tell Erika and Dorit were just boiling with jealousy. Another highlight was Kathy managing to find her seat without getting lost. She did bring her pocketbook with her as we all would.

Aww. This is what I like to hear.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/how-denise-richards-jennifer-tilly-sutton-stracke-supported-garcelle-beauvais-career-move

Because inquiring minds want to know.

Denise Richards & Her Wild Things

In this week’s finale, Sami thought her car had been stolen when it had really been repossessed. Even though she makes a ton of money on OnlyFans, she literally forgot to make the payments. And this is the second car this has happened with. Good to see she learns from her mistakes. On the upside, Denise brought her feuding daughters together with a photo shoot. I hope this show gets another season. It’s funny enough, relatively harmless, and rather charming.

https://people.com/denise-richards-daughter-sami-sheen-car-repossessed-season-finale-11711617

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/where-denise-richards-family-daughters-are-today-april-2025

Summer House

Jesse invited the group to Shabbat, and he was very impressive with his singing. This is the kind of reality thing I enjoy, observing a culture other than my own. Since Lindsay will never, ever really let go of Carl, she continued to harangue him about speaking to some girl before they’d broken up. Carl had receipts, but Shabbat prohibited him from using his phone. However, Jesse spoke to God, who said it was okay. Problem solved and Carl exonerated.

This was possibly one of the most surprising things I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot

Random Reality Items

This has possibilities as long as their mother’s footsteps aren’t followed in and no Solo cups, tableware, or actual tables are thrown.

https://ew.com/bravo-next-gen-nyc-real-housewives-gia-giudice-brooks-marks-nyc-chaos-exclusive-11707585

I still feel badly about Kenya. She twirled her way into my heart.

https://www.essence.com/op-ed/kenya-moore-brit-eady/

So what’s up with those Top Chefs now? And wasn’t Brooke Aaron Phyper’s hall pass?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1415807/bobby-flay-brooke-williamsons-basketball-date-night

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Deadpool & Wolverine. Disney+. Yes, I watched this again even though I saw it in the movies. Not only is it one of those films you can watch a hundred times and still see something new, it was all I had the bandwidth for that day. I love this movie and already posted ad nauseum about it, so here’s something new.

https://collider.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-hugh-jackman-breathing-video/

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me. Netflix. Probably nothing you haven’t heard before, but she was an icon, and her story is just so sad.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/anna-nicole-smith-you-dont-know-me-release-date-trailer-news

Upgrade. Netflix. This wasn’t at all what I thought from the preview, but it was interesting nonetheless. In the future, a quadriplegic plays amateur detective investigating his wife’s murder. Somewhat humorous with a relatively satisfying ending, and kudos for actually being something different.

https://movieweb.com/upgrade-netflix-sci-fi-thriller-top-10/

Talk To Me. Hulu – also on Netflix and Paramount+. An interesting take on possession with a good cast of newcomers. An embalmed medium’s hand becomes a tool to open an entrance to the dark side. My jury is still out about the ending.

https://movieweb.com/terrifying-debut-talk-to-me-streaming-success/

https://www.slashfilm.com/1434605/talk-to-me-haunted-hand-true-story-inspiration/

🔮 The Future Is (Almost) Now…

It’s finally here. Season 2 of The Last of Us begins April 13th. Oddly enough, it hasn’t even started yet, and it’s been renewed for a 3rd season.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-gabriel-luna-rutina-wesley-tease-season-2-infected-attack-11709833

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-3-official-renewed-11711769

Season 7 of Black Mirror began on April 10th. I’m hoping to catch a few episodes this weekend. I can’t wait to see what’s happening on the USS Callister.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/black-mirror-season-7-review-netflix-sci-fi

🏆 All the Awards All the Time…

All the awards dates you need to know.

https://deadline.com/feature/awards-season-calendar-oscars-emmys-golden-globes-list-1234814076/

This year’s Emmy nominations and predictions.

https://ew.com/2025-emmy-nominations-predictions-main-acting-categories-11706398

🐾 Game Of Bones, Thrones, and…

🐈‍⬛ It’s Choupette!

https://people.com/karl-lagerfeld-s-former-housekeeper-reveals-how-his-cat-choupette-lives-as-a-multi-million-dollar-heiress-11712255

🐕 Be still my heart.

https://people.com/glen-powell-dog-brisket-meets-demi-moore-tiny-pup-pilar-exclusive-11707737

🐺 Yes, you heard right.

https://people.com/joe-manganiello-seen-the-future-after-dire-wolves-brought-back-de-extinction-exclusive-11711202

📲 Quotes of the Week

Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time.George Bernard Shaw

In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. – Thomas Jefferson

To know how much there is to know is the beginning of learning to live. Dorothy West

Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.Theodore Roosevelt

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.Vernon Sanders Law

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.Dwight D. Eisenhower

Happiness is not a goal… it’s a by-product of a life well lived.Eleanor Roosevelt

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.Margaret Mead

I understand. I just don’t care. – Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), General Hospital

👒 Donning My Easter Bonnet…

Until next week, stay safe; stay respecting others’ beliefs, even those who have none; and stay remembering, whatever is done in darkness, always comes to light.

March 14, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Charlotte Comes Home, Soap Suds, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watch, Wild In the Wild, 4+4 Quotes & Cheap Seats

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites:

Monday:

Isaiah said he’d leave if Jordan wanted, and she said she didn’t want, but he had a problem with her investigating Sidwell. He said he’d prefer she stay away, but she said Sidwell liked her, giving her an advantage law enforcement didn’t have. If their being together hinged on the investigation, she guessed that was it. Dante asked Maxie about James, and she said it was a clean break, and they were good until James did something else stupid. Dante said he needed her help with Lulu. He was worried she was going to get in a situation she couldn’t get out of. Brook said Lulu was willing to step on lives regardless of consequences. Telling Dante would blow up lives. At the Quartermaine family crypt, Tracy promised her parents to protect the Quartermaine legacy, but Drew was outside with a county surveyor and a demolition guy. (FYI: That’s not how any of this works.) Drew told the guy to blow it up, and Martin said they’d best make sure they could back up their claims. Drew wished he could see Tracy’s face when she found out, when Tracy came out of the crypt and asked what was going on. Ned asked why Lois was okay with Gio becoming Sonny’s charity case, but she said Gio was family. In Buenos Aires, Anna and Jason did surveillance on Valentin, but there was no sign of Charlotte. Anna said, if they were in there, they were alone. Inside with the curtain’s drawn, Charlotte said she didn’t like it there, but Valentin said they weren’t staying long. It was time they said goodbye. Jason said they had a fifteen-minute window to get Charlotte and get out when the guards changed, but Anna thought it was too easy.

Ned said taking money from Sonny came with a risk, but Lois said it was minimal and Gio wasn’t alone. It took Sonny’s financial support to make sure Gio’s talent was cultivated. Ned asked why Lois hadn’t come to him instead of Sonny. Martin said the building had been seized and should be vacated, Drew adding that they had a court order. Tracy ripped it up and said she was calling the police, but Drew said the law was on their side. Dante said Maxie knew something, but Maxie said Lulu wasn’t returning her phone calls and Martin had no clue Lulu had broken into his hotel room. Dante said he didn’t want to know. Lulu was out of control. Brook told Lulu that her son was an adult by now and might not know he was adopted. It was the child’s choice if they wanted to know their birth parents, not hers, Dante’s, or Lulu’s. If Dante knew, he would want to find his child. Lulu said, give him that standing. Drew said it was public land, and Tracy called her surveyor. Drew said, as congressman, he’d gotten someone to protect the public interest. Edward had to steal public land, even though he already had plenty. The area was protected, and Tracy wasn’t getting her way. Emma and Gio showed up, and Emma said, leave the old lady alone. Valentin told Charlotte that this was his fault. They were a good team, but it was dangerous for her to stay with him. He’d texted Rocco pretending to be her, and Lulu was probably on her way already. Charlotte admitted missing Lulu, but didn’t want to leave him. Anna said Valentin had to know the WSB was looking for him after attacking Jack, and Jason said he was expecting them. She said he was expecting someone, when a car pulled in. Anna said that meant the WSB was there, and they had to move. Isaiah said he accepted Jordan’s terms and asked if she’d walk away the second they disagreed. She joked that it depended on the disagreement, but no. He said they’d need to do grocery shopping then.

Drew said the Quartermaines had appropriated public land, and Tracy was interfering with county business. The mausoleum was on protected land. Tracy said she was being denied access to her parents’ final resting place. Emma said Edward had saved her life, and Drew said he was Congressman Drew Quartermaine. Tracy said, Cain. He would never be a Quartermaine. Emma said none of them had jurisdiction and were trespassing, and Tracy called Chase. Lois said Ned was generous, but Sonny didn’t have family or support growing up. He had a good heart, and it was up to Gio who supported him. Gio ran in and told Lois and Ned what was going on at the crypt. Drew said Lulu kept tearing into Brook and he had to defend Brook, but it hurt Lulu. He’d asked Lulu to have patience, but she’d said he was taking Brook’s side. The problem was, they couldn’t talk anymore. Maxie said, because of Sam, and Dante said he was trying to keep the family together. Something was going on with Rocco too. He thought it was the tension between him and Lulu. Brook said she’d do anything to protect her son’s happiness, but Lulu said Brook just didn’t want Dante to hate her. Brook said she’d choose her child’s happiness over all. Lulu had always been threatened by her relationship with Dante, and she should ask herself if exposing Brook to Dante was worth hurting him. How could he miss a son he didn’t know he had? It was agony for her and if Lulu told Dante, Lulu would subject him to the same agony she’d lived with for 21 years. Dante would try to find their son, like Lulu did with Charlotte. Where did that leave Rocco? He knew his dad was there for him, but he’d be abandoned both parents. Charlotte asked if Valentin was letting them find him, and Valentin said she deserved a better life. Anna ran in with Jason and said the kill squad was behind them. Take Charlotte and go.

Tracy told Chase to arrest the trespassers, but Drew said the county surveyor’s preliminary findings shows a portion of the property extended beyond the property line. Tracy said her surveyor found differently, and Emma asked if they had to tear down the crypt. Drew said they could move it, but Tracy thought that was obscene. Gio asked, what was the difference? and Martin said the land was protected and it was illegal to build. Tracy said Drew hated the family, and Emma said he was abusing his power. She started to film and told Drew that he should be helping his constituents instead of traumatizing them. Lulu told Brook not to throw her son in her face, and Brook said she lived with him. When Lulu was in Prague, he was afraid she’d get hurt. He’d just gotten his mom back and she left him again. Lulu said Brook was using her kid to justify lying about her own son. It was lucky she’d given him up and a good thing she was nobody’s mother. Brook took a swing at her, but Lulu grabbed her hand. Dante said Rocco had been struggling since Lulu woke up, and ever since she went to Prague, he was terrified that he was going to lose her. He couldn’t talk to Lulu, but he could talk to Brook, which didn’t make Lulu less mad. For fifteen years, their feud had been going on. Maxie said it wasn’t because of that. Lulu was still in love with him. Anna said, let her handle the WSB, and told Jason not to fire his weapon. Valentin made himself scarce, when two guys arrived. Anna told them that she was the Police Commissioner of Port Charles, New York. Don’t shoot. They asked where Valentin was, and she said he’d just left. One guy told the other to search, but Anna told them to call Jack. The guy said Jack wasn’t running the op.

Anna said, the mission had changed, and they needed to talk to Brennan. Since they obviously weren’t buying it, Jason grabbed one guy, knocking him out, and Anna took care of the other. She thought Valentin was long gone, but he came out with Charlotte and said, not this time. Drew said Tracy wasn’t a downtrodden member of his constituency, but an entitled bully used to getting what she wanted. Tracy said he was using his public office to retaliate against the family that threw him out. Still filming, Emma said, congress was in session now, yet Drew was still here. Your votes in action, Port Charles. Lois and Ned arrived, and Lois said she thought Drew’s constituents had bigger problems. Drew was there when Alexis and Martin tried to work this out, and Tracy had been willing to bend. Drew said he was following the law, and Tracy said his surveyor’s findings were preliminary, yet he got an order without confirmation to seize the building. Emma continued to film. Isaiah showed Jordan how buy groceries online since they had to stay in, and he promised to make cooking with him worth her while. Her phone rang and it was Ned. Dante said Lulu was going to marry Dustin, but Maxie said, the night of the explosion, Lulu broke things off because she was still in love with Dante. Lulu told her and was about to tell him, when she collapsed. She wasn’t telling Dante now and instead, pushing him away and trying hard not to love him. Classic Lulu. Dante said, Lulu had been gone so long, he fell for Sam, and Maxie said Lulu didn’t want him to know. She thought Dante needed to be patient with her. Lulu was doing the best she could. Brook cried as she told Lulu that she was a mother. She went through 12 hours of labor and gave her baby to a stranger from an adoption agency. She couldn’t even let herself hold him. She didn’t know if she’d had a boy or a girl until Lulu told her. Lulu said she was sorry. She assumed Brook knew. Brook said, and Lulu assumed it was easy for her, but it wasn’t. She loved her baby with all her heart and still did. She had to believe she gave him a better life. Lulu asked if Brook didn’t want to know for sure, and Brook said, more than anything, but not at the expense of her child’s happiness or Dante’s. If he wanted to find his birth parents, he would. Brook begged Lulu to leave it alone.

Maxie said Rocco needed both of his parents, and Dante said he knew Lulu was a great mom and she loved their son. Maxie said Lulu knew he was a great dad. They needed to come together. Rocco needed extra assurance. Lulu said she didn’t agree with any of this, but didn’t want to be the one to blow up Dante’s life or her child’s. She wasn’t going to tell Dante. She thought he should know, but thought Brook should be the one to tell him. Brook said she needed the past to stay in the past, and Lulu said Brook should know, she never would have found out if Brook’s mother hadn’t talked to her Uncle Martin. The secret wasn’t in the past. It was now. Brook said she knew, and Lulu left. Brook texted her mom that she needed to see her asap. Ned said he’d called Jordan to help him keep the peace, but Drew said there was nothing to negotiate. The law was the law. Tracy wondered why Martin said Drew was willing to drop it if she allowed him to retain the name, and Emma said, busted. Tracy said she was referring to the meeting where Lois was a witness, and Jordan said she felt Drew was provoking the family and using public funds to fight his personal battle. That wasn’t who he was. Drew asked who he was. Cain or Quartermaine? Valentin thanked Anna and said he was expecting Lulu. Anna asked if he knew about the text, and he said he sent the text. He needed charlotte to be safe. They were going to send another kill squad when the first one didn’t check in. Charlotte asked where her mom was, and Anna said she’d explain it on the way. Charlotte said she didn’t want to go with them, but Jason said he promised Rocco that he’d bring her home and that’s what was going to happen. Valentin said, je t’aime, mon petite, and Charlotte said, je t’aime, papa. He held her for a moment, and then she went out with Jason. Valentin told Anna that he felt like this was the last time he’d see her, but she said it didn’t have to be that way. Come with them and let her bring him in.

Lulu knocked at Maxie’s door, saying she needed to talk to her, but Dante answered. Charlotte asked Jason if Anna was going to kill her father, but he said she wouldn’t do that. They came to bring her home. She probably wanted to try and save Valentin too. Valentin said Anna always came through for him. He was glad he got to say goodbye. She said it didn’t have to be goodbye. Come back. They could make a plea deal. Valentin said he knew too much, and he’d tried to kill Jack. They both knew the WSB wasn’t going to let him live. For Charlotte’s sake, he was free to do what he had to do. Anna told him not to throw his life away, and he said there was a time he thought she loved him, and they were the best months of his life. She said she didn’t think she loved him, and took his hand, saying, part of her always would. He thanked her for that and told her, take care. Charlotte left with Anna and Jason. Tracy said Drew could call himself Smith for all she cared, but he’d never be a Quartermaine. Emma said Drew made his decision based on Tracy’s and had abused his position for his own petty revenge, then searched for, how to recall a congressman. Tracy said he liked that she had grit, and Gio said he did too. The surveyor tried to mark the ground, but Tracy knocked his wheelie thing out of his hand. Drew said that was assault, and Chase asked if the surveyor wanted to press charges. Because he was obviously being paid off, he looked at Martin, who nodded. Chase said he’d forego the handcuffs, told her the Miranda rights, and led her away. Back at the Quartermaines’, Brook walked into the living room and Lois followed. She said she’d gotten Brook’s text. Brook closed the door, and Lois said she looked upset. What could she do to help? Brook asked how much she hadn’t been told about the baby.

Tuesday:

Buenos Aires. Anna brought Charlotte to a room, and Charlotte said her papa was running for his life and it was all Anna’s fault. Sasha went to Carly’s office and Carly asked if she was coming to work at the MetroCourt. Sasha said she was tempted, but decided to stay at the Quartermaines, and Carly said it was Sasha’s life, and she could do what she wanted. Sasha said that was a refreshing take, and Carly asked what had changed Sasha’s mind. Portia went to Curtis’s office and said Drew was probably missing the place, but Curtis said Drew had nobody to blame but himself. At the station, Drew said he hoped there was a free cell in case nothing could be done until morning. Tracy said she didn’t touch the surveyor. It was despicable. Alan was taken way too soon, but the silver lining was, he never had to meet Drew. Laura met Martin, who said Drew was rapidly spinning out control. At the crypt, Emma said she doubted they were going to bulldoze it at night, but Gio said he was staying. Emma said she had the best idea and would be right back. Lulu said she was looking for Maxie and didn’t expect Dante to be there. Dante said James broke his arm and got a cast, so Spinelli and Maxie took him and Georgie out for ice cream as a consolation prize. He was babysitting Bailey Lou. Lulu said she wasn’t surprised, since he was an amazing father. Brook asked what Lois hadn’t told her about her child. Martin had an entire file on her baby and knew Dante was the father. Why? Gloria came in and asked, what in the Bensonhurst is going on here?

Dante told Lulu she was a great mom. It was incredible seeing her and Rocco connect again. Lulu said the last few days had been weird, like Rocco couldn’t be in the same room with her. She’d been preoccupied with finding Charlotte and wondered if Rocco felt like she was choosing his sister over him. Charlotte said she’d never forgive Anna for using her papa and driving him away, and Anna said Charlotte didn’t understand… but Charlotte said Anna had ruined their lives and she hated Anna. Jason came in and asked Anna to give them a minute. Anna left, and Jason said Anna was the reason Charlotte and her father were still alive. Portia told Curtis that she had been grateful to Drew for saving Trina, but she was astonished at how he was treating his family and friends. She didn’t think it was possible for someone to change that much, but Curtis did what needed to be done and won. Curtis said, here’s hoping, and Portia asked if he really wanted Drew as an enemy. He got what he wanted. Maybe now was the perfect time for a truce. Curtis said he wasn’t the one continuing the fight. She needed to talk to Drew. Laura asked how Drew found out about the property line, and Martin said he may or may not have mentioned it. It was his job and his duty to represent his client. Chase came out and told Laura that he’d been ordered by the congressman to lock up his wife’s grandmother in a cell. Laura asked what she could do to help. Drew said he was sick of the hypocrisy, and Tracy said she was sick of the sound of his voice, yet here they were. Drew said, after all the horrible things the Quartermaines had done, all he did was fall in love. Tracy said, falling in love was one thing, and acting on it was another. She loved the way he always left the detail out that it was his nephew’s wife. He said she held him to different standards and she said she did. He blew up Willow’s marriage, betrayed Michael’s trust, and severely hurt the woman who welcomed him with opened arms in to her home – Monica. Brook told Gloria that it was a personal legal matter, but Gloria said it was her Brook was talking to. Brook had been talking to her mother about her baby.

Emma brought chairs, blankets, and a lantern to make Gio’s stakeout more comfortable. She said Drew was a jerk, laying into poor, old Tracy, and Gio suggested she not let Tracy hear any part of that. Tracy could handle herself. Don’t jump into the Quartermaine mess. Emma said it was her thing. Her mom said she was a born crusader. Gio said at least he knew where his mom was and could visit. If someone threatened to move her, he’d be in a cell next to Tracy. Brook said, Lois had told her grandma? and Lois said she’d needed to confide in someone. She didn’t know how to navigate the situation and wanted to make sure Brook and her baby were protected. Gloria said she’d left Brook’s past in the past, and Brook asked, then why talk to a lawyer? Lois flashed back to talking to Martin and asking if it was possible for Brook to find her child. Brook said Lois had told her, everything was fine, but she wondered if that was true. It must not be, or why else would she talk to Martin? Gloria said she’d told Lois to talk to him. Martin told Laura that he was sorry. He’d wanted to use the property as a bargaining chip, so Tracy would drop the cease and desist. Laura said, now the crypt would have to be moved and asked if Chase thought the charges would stick. Chase said, they could, and Martin said she should have just given in. Laura asked if he’d met Tracy, and he asked, what was so special about the Quartermaine name? Laura said Tracy was protecting the family in the only way she knew how.

Tracy said Drew had repaid Monica’s generosity by destroying her grandson’s marriage and happiness in favor of his own. He didn’t deserve Monica’s generosity and should leave Port Charles. Drew said Tracy had been kicked out of Port Charles by the family more than once. What made her think it wouldn’t happen again. Sasha said, the truth was… and Carly said Sasha liked working for the Quartermaines. Sasha said she thought they needed her, and Carly said, of course (🍷) they did, but don’t put herself on the back burner. Sasha said she was in a better financial position. She’d negotiated her way to the beginning of a nest egg. Carly said it was an achievement, but the one thing that made her situation different from the other single mom’s – the baby’s father. Jason said Anna saved Charlotte and Valentin’s lives, but Charlotte said they didn’t need her help. Jason said Anna was the first one to warn her dad. He wanted to turn Valentin in, but Anna convinced him to give him a head start. She’s the reason he had a chance to run and she tracked Charlotte to keep her safe. Charlotte said that Anna felt guilty for shooting her, and he said that was part of it, but Charlotte was her dad’s whole world. Anna was protecting her for him. She cared about them both. Charlotte could feel however she wanted, but Anna at least deserved her respect. Charlotte asked if the WSB would have really killed them.

Jason told Anna that Charlotte was sleeping, and Anna said she needed a favor. Take Charlotte back to Port Charles in one piece. She was going to get a room and make her own way back. It was too hard for Charlotte to be around her, and it felt cruel to force it. Jason said he thought Anna was making a mistake. Portia told Curtis that she remembered the old Drew, the good guy, the hero. That’s why he ran for congress in the first place. Curtis said, Drew’s motives changed, and she agreed 100%. But maybe Curtis could afford to let him keep some of his dignity and back off. Curtis said, Drew’s reputation had been tarnished, and it wasn’t on him to fix. She said, but he didn’t need to rub it in Drew’s face. if he could accommodate Drew a tiny bit, it might work out in his favor. Curtis said he was furious with Drew, but not interested in payback. Aurora was a non-starter, but if there was a path to peace, he was here for it. As long as the terms were reasonable. She said that was all she was asking for, when Jordan came in and said she needed to speak with Curtis. The situation with Drew had gone from bad to worse. Drew was officially out of control.

Drew told Tracy that things were going to change. He was the black sheep now, but not for long. He was a Quartermaine and would get his way. Then she would be on the outside, wondering how she got there. The answer is him. Chase told Drew that the mayor would like a word. Drew went into the squad room and said he was sorry Tracy dragged Laura down there, but Martin said, that was him. Laura urged Drew to do the right thing. Stand down and drop the charges against Tracy. He asked, why? and she said, to be blunt, if he didn’t, it wouldn’t bode well for him, politically or otherwise. Dante told Lulu that he didn’t think Rocco was jealous of Charlotte. Rocco was perceptive, like Lulu, and he could see that she was worried about Charlotte and was trying to give her space. Lulu said it was strange. She was Rocco’s mother, but she’d missed a pivotal stage and was out of the loop. She knew nothing about parenting a teenage boy. Dante said parents never felt like they were doing the right thing. She and Rocco both had to make up for lost time, and she was doing it with grace, love, and patience. He wouldn’t handle be close to handling it as well. Emma said she’d bring a file if Gio and Tracy were locked up and Gio said he liked Tracy. She gave it to you straight, even if you didn’t want to hear it. And she could take as good as she gave. She actually listened to him. Emma said she thought Tracy was smart. She wished she could stay with Gio, and Gio said the lab animals couldn’t free themselves. Emma said she wanted to take him real camping, but in the meantime, stay warm. Gloria told Brook that she’d advised Lois to consult a lawyer to make sure Brook and her baby protected were protected. They’d decided on a closed adoption. Brook said, so her baby could have a happy and stable life, and Gloria said, Brook too. They wanted her to have time to grow up, fall in love, and have a family of her own. Brook said she wasn’t 16 anymore. It made sense then, but made less sense now. She needed to know who adopted her son and where he was.

Sasha said her experience with Jason was different, and Carly said Jason would never tell Sasha how to be a mother, but if she needed anything, he’d be there in a heartbeat. He was the most loyal person she knew. Don’t do him a disservice by cutting him out of the baby’s life. Sasha said the father respected her wishes and said he’d support her in any way he could. It was the second greatest gift he could give her. Curtis said he never thought he’d be sympathetic to the Quartermaines, but Portia said it was family drama. Stay out of it. Jordan said it wasn’t about the Quartermaines. It was about how Drew was abusing his power. First, he blocked the esplanade, then wanted to move it for his personal gain. Now he was focused on settling the score with his family when he needed to be doing his job – enacting laws, securing school funds, and fulfilling his campaign promises. Curtis said, public outcry was the only thing that would stop him, and Jordan said, good thing she knew the head of a media company. Curtis said he made no promises, but he’d see what he could do. Drew told Laura that he wasn’t making this up. They broke the law. The land was public, and they took it. He owed his constituents not to turn a blind eye just because they were family. Laura asked if he thought putting Tracy in jail overnight was the pathway to justice, and Martin said it seemed like more trouble than it was worth. Drew said, fine. Tracy could go home. He’d talk to the surveyor and get the charges dropped, but this was far from over. Gloria said Lois didn’t know the details, and Brook said, but Gloria did. Gloria said she hadn’t been contact since the papers were signed for the closed adoption. Brook said, what if she wanted to find him? They knew she and Chase were trying to start a family. What if she gave away the only child she was going to have? Gloria said, Brook was his birth mother. Act like it. Let the young man be. Don’t put her pain on her son. She made the right decision. Abide by it. Brook said Gloria might be right, but it didn’t feel that way now, and she left. Lois told Gloria that Brook couldn’t know Gio was her son.

Jason told Anna that the only person to blame for Valentin’s situation was Valentin. He may not get out of this one. Anna said, if Charlotte needed someone to blame, it might as well be her, but Jason said Charlotte needed an example. She saw Anna’s mistakes and saw what she did after her mistakes. She saw Anna was accountable and keeping her word. She didn’t need Anna to disappear. Anna said she wasn’t sure she could do that, and Jason said he’d never seen her run. Don’t start now. Gloria said they couldn’t tell Brook. It wasn’t fair to her or Gio. Gio knew who he was and worshiped his mother. They couldn’t take that away. Lois said, Camilla was dead. His birth mother was right here. Don’t they need each other? Brook saw Gio outside the crypt and asked what he was doing. He said his grandma got in a fight with a surveyor and Chase arrested her, and Brook said, it must have been interesting. Gio said he was standing guard, and Brook asked if she could join him. He said he’d love some company. He was keeping his word to Tracy. Why was she here? Brook said, to clear her head. Her other grandmother was here. Gio said, that’s great… unless it wasn’t, and Brook said she knew her grandmother would do anything for her. Gio said Gloria was solid and could be trusted, and Brook said she could trust her grandmother and her mom, but what they were asking her to accept was hard to live with. Lulu said she owed Dante an apology. She was short with him at the Quartermaine’s. He said he was sorry too, and she said they were acting like grown-ups. He said he didn’t think he’d made it better by defending Brook. He didn’t think he’d said enough about how it was a miracle having her back after all this time. He didn’t want to take her being here for granted. She said she needed to tell him something, when Bailey Lou started crying. He said duty called. Hold that thought.

Anna asked if Jason was calling her a coward, and he asked if she was going to run. She said she was going to see it through and keep an eye on Charlotte. Charlotte was smart, resourceful, and believed she was invincible. It was a dangerous combination and Anna thought they’d come after Valentin. He was a target and she was saving Charlotte from herself. It would be a challenge. Jason said he’d take the first watch, and Anna lied down on the couch. Sasha told Carly that she was aware she had it better than most single moms. She asked the father to step back and he didn’t fight her. Carly said that might change when the baby was born, and Sasha said she promised if she needed help from the father, she wouldn’t hesitate to ask. Portia told Curtis, let Drew implode on his own. Let Tracy handle the Quartermaines. Curtis said Drew was failing to represent the people who elected him, and that included them. He wasn’t going to stand by and watch. He got on the phone and said, Brian, rally the troops. There was going to be a big Aurora Media push to expose Drew Quartermaine’s abuse of his office. Martin said Drew was a US Congressman, and didn’t need an enemy like Tracy, but Drew said, everyone else might be afraid of Tracy, but not him. He was going to break her.

Laura asked if Tracy would like the good news or the bad news first, and Tracy said, good. Laura said Tracy could go home tonight, but she didn’t think Drew would back down. Tracy was going to have a battle on her hands. Tracy said, give her the bad news, and Laura said she felt Tracy’s parents would say, choose her battles wisely. Tracy said she was. She wouldn’t allow some grifter to steal the family name and force her to move her parents’ final resting place. If Drew wanted a battle, bring it on. Bailey Lou played with some toys and Dante said, extra play time made it even for the ice cream. He asked what Lulu wanted to say, but Lulu said she couldn’t remember. It must not have been that important. Gloria told Lois that if they told Brook that Gio was her son, it would ruin three lives – Brook’s, Dante’s, and Gio’s. Think of why they made that decision. Lois said, to protect Brook and her child, and Gloria said, nothing has changed. They needed to protect them now. Lois started to cry. Brook apologized for being cryptic, and Gio said they were at a crypt. (BA-DUM-CHH!) Brook said she trusted someone, and they didn’t tell her something they should have. She couldn’t tell him anything else. He said she didn’t have to. They could just sit, look at the stars, and dream of heat. For what it was worth (🍷), Lois and Gloria loved her. Brook said she knew, but they were a lot. He must miss his mom so much. He said, so much every day, and Brook said he had people looking out for him. He had a whole crazy family, like it or not.

Wednesday:

In the steam room, Chase told Dante that he could tell something had changed, and Dante said he and Lulu talked. The Golden Bachelorette guy was in Nina’s office, and she said she’d been a fan of his (Jeffrey Beckett) for a long time. She never read anything like his work as a wildlife journalist. Crimson’s nature and travel series was lucky to have someone of his caliber involved. Plus, he cleaned up nicely for man of the wild. Elizabeth helped Lucky into the house. His condition needed to be watched for the next 24 hours and since Doc and Laura were working, he was stuck with her. He said he guessed it was okay, and she said, just okay? They moved closer on the sofa and the doorbell rang. It was Carly with a food basket, asking, how’s the hero? At the café, Kristina asked if Alexis read the smack piece on Congressman Cutthroat, Drew’s new nickname. He’d used his political influence to get exhumation of esteemed members of the Quartermaine fam and in his quest for revenge, had Tracy arrested. Alexis wondered, what the hell he was thinking and how did they protect Scout? In Curtis’s office, Laura asked if he was behind the article and Curtis said he was. She told him, way to go, and they high-fived. Drew brought flowers to Willow at the hospital, and she suggested they go to the breakroom. He asked if the article got to her and was she embarrassed seen with him. Portia asked Ric to tell her that he found a way out without her losing her career or marriage, but he said it was much worse than she thought.

Carly thanked Lucky and Elizabeth for figuring it out and bringing Cyrus to justice. She asked what Lucky was going to do now that he was home, but he said he had no plans. Carly said she was leaving so they could get into the basket (is that what we’re calling it now?), and she left. Lucky asked Elizabeth, where were we? Nina said although Jeffrey was there for a fitting and photoshoot, she was glad they had time to meet, and he said he didn’t get many calls from magazines. She said they were branching out to satisfy their readers interest in travel and nature, and they talked about his next trip to Turkey. (BTW, dude is no actor.) Nina asked how his wife felt about him being gone all the time, and he said he wasn’t married, but had the feeling he was going to meet someone special soon and had learned to trust his instincts. Nina was straightening his tie, when Ava came in. Alexis looked at the photo of a mean faced Drew on her tablet, and told Kristina, of course (🍷) DeWitt wrote it. That seedy little worm would write anything for clicks. Kristina said she remembered too well when he wrote about her and Blaze, but Drew deserved it. Alexis said, Scout didn’t. There had to be something she could do to protect Scout. Willow told Drew that The Invader was nothing but lies, but she felt like all eyes were on them and wanted to keep a low profile. It had nothing to do with her feelings for him. She asked if he knew who was behind the article, and he said, no, but he had his suspicions. Ric told Portia that if she’d just altered the results, she might lose her job, but the results were tied to a criminal trial, and she faced the possibility of jail time. She could be charged with obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, fraud, and criminal negligence. If he hadn’t gotten independent tests done, Heather could have wrongfully ended up in prison. Keep playing by Drew’s rules and make sure he never tells anyone. Portia said it was too late. Drew was going to expose her today.

Dante told Chase that he and Lulu ended up babysitting Baily Lou together and both let their guards down. It was their first real talk since she’d woken up. The first time he felt they’d been in sync and had an honest conversation. They talked about Rocco, Charlotte, and Brook. He’d been defending Brook, and it made Lulu feel like he was picking her side. He had to stop doing it. Chase said he never would have thought the animosity would still be there, and Dante said, him too. It had been four years, but he had to be okay with it and let Lulu be Lulu. He didn’t want to be in the middle, but wanted to focus on Lulu being back in their lives and being happy again. Ava said she and Jeffrey had met when she had a Joel Sartore exhibit, and Jeffrey said he remembered. Nina said he was doing a new series for Crimson, and he asked how they knew each other. Ava said they were good friends, and he said good friends were hard to come by. Ava said they certainly were. Kristina said she had a favor to ask Willow. She’d had a video chat with Michael and he missed the kids. Willow said, the kids missed him too, and Kristina asked it would be okay for her to take videos of the kids sending messages to their dad and send them to Michael. He needed all the support he could get. Willow said the kids would love it and she appreciated the update. She had one condition – please focus on them and Michael and say nothing negative about Drew. Kristina told her that she’d never say anything bad in front of the kids. It wasn’t easy for them. Willow said she wished everyone was a bit more like Kristina. Portia told Ric about the article in the Invader. Drew would assume Curtis was behind it and if she couldn’t influence Curtis, Drew had no reason to keep her secret. But wasn’t what Drew was doing illegal? Ric said she couldn’t expose Drew without exposing herself, and she said it was going to be impossible to hide. He said she had two choices. Convince Drew that Curtis had nothing to do with the article or tell Curtis everything now. She might lose her job, but it was a chance to save her marriage. She said maybe she could save both. Lucky suggested he and Elizabeth have a date later, but thought they could get a head start. They kissed, when the door opened and Aiden walked in.

On the phone, Portia asked Curtis to stop by her office. It was important. Laura told Curtis that her opinion of Drew had changed. She hadn’t seen him do one thing he said he’d do during the campaign. (Welcome to politics!) All she’d seen him do was pose for the camera and abuse his power. She applauded anyone willing to expose him. Curtis said Drew’s biggest weakness was his need to be seen as a hero, and she wondered if they could use that to get him act like a hero. Alexis interrupted, but Laura said she was late again and left. Curtis said it was always a pleasure, and Alexis said she hoped he felt like that after what she was going to ask. Jeffrey left, and Ava said she could see Nina had moved on from Drew. Nina said she definitely had, but she wouldn’t be with a rugged wilderness man any time soon. She asked Ava, what’s up? and Ava said she’d had difficulty regarding her finances lately. Nina wondered if Ava was there to ask for a loan. At the hospital, Kristina was about to get in the elevator, when she saw Ric and turned around, but Ric followed her. He told her that her trip to the ballet with Avery wasn’t happening. Carly approached Willow and said she didn’t want to fight. She wouldn’t be there if she didn’t still genuinely care for Willow. She was worried how the negative press would affect her grandchildren. Wiley was old enough to hear things in school. Willow said she’d explain it was untrue, but Carly said it wasn’t. Drew was really doing these things. He’d sunk to a new low. Drew came out of nowhere, since he doesn’t do his actual job, and said, leave Willow alone. Did Carly ever mind her own business? Carly said if it affected her grandchildren and it was her business, but she’d be happy to talk to Congressman Cutthroat.

Dante told Chase that Lulu thought Rocco was acting strange because she was focused on finding Charlotte, but he didn’t think so. Chase said he was kind of the fun uncle and could talk to Rocco. Dante told him to go for it, and Chase said when they were Rocco’s age and distracted, it was about girls. Dante said he’d walked in on Danny and Rocco having an argument over girl. He never talked to his mom about that kind of thing. Chase asked if Dante thought his mom would have liked the girls he was with, and Dante said, one in particular. Elizabeth told Aiden that his dad was staying the night, and Aiden said he was sorry he’d miss it since he was staying at a friend’s house. Ava said she hated asking Nina for a favor. When she married Nikolas, she spent quite bit and thought she’d always have money. She had a generous settlement until the Cassadine curse kicked in. Nina said, of course (🍷) she was willing to give Ava a loan. She’d been waiting for Ava to ask. What took her so long? Drew told Carly that he didn’t care what names he was called. He wasn’t in the wrong. The Quartermaine crypt was on public land. She wondered how he could be the same man who held her at Virginia’s grave (irony!), and he said that was wrong, but this was wrong too. Carly said, it destroyed her and he was doing the same thing. Did family mean nothing to him? He said he was doing it to keep his place in the family that Tracy was stripping him from, and she said that wasn’t the way to do it. If he continued to justify his actions, she saw a recall in his future. Willow said Tracy was no saint. Drew was only fighting fire with fire. It was the only language Tracy understood, and Carly knew that better than anyone. Carly said she came to have a calm conversation with Willow, but there was no point, so she’d leave them to it. Kristina asked Ric, why not? and Ric said it wasn’t her dad’s day. She said it was a special one night only performance and it was impossible to get tickets. She’d talk to her dad and they could switch days. He said it would just confuse Avery, but Kristina said he was going to upset Avery just to get back at her. He said maybe she shouldn’t promise what she couldn’t deliver. Next time check a calendar.

Nina said, it wasn’t a loan, it was a gift, but Ava said she couldn’t. Not even from Nina. She’d have Ric draw up paperwork and a repayment schedule. Money could change things, people, and friendships, and she wouldn’t let it change theirs. Nina said it wouldn’t, but Ava said she’d lost their friendship once and didn’t want to risk it again. Nina said she felt the same way, when Carly came in and said she needed to talk to Nina. Ava said she and Nina would talk later and left. Nina asked, what’s the emergency? and Carly said it was about Drew and Willow. They had to put their plan in motion now. Sasha was waiting in an examining room when Willow came in. She said, Sasha was her next patient, and Sasha said if Willow had a problem with her, say it. Willow asked how Sasha could be such a hypocrite. Sasha turned on her the second she saw Willow kissing Michael’s uncle on 4th of July. Sasha said she didn’t, and Willow said Sasha did way worse. She dated Michael and now she was pregnant by his other uncle. (Wow. That’s a stretch to say that’s worse.) Drew went to Portia’s office and said he was disappointed in her. He thought she’d get Curtis to see reason and move on. Instead, he’s the one behind the article. Portia said she didn’t think so. The Quartermaines were a huge family. It could have been anybody. Curtis had Aurora Media, so why would he use a rag like The Invader when he had reputable sources at his fingertips. Drew said she had a good point, but it could be a great point if she could convince Curtis to do a series of articles focusing on him being a family man, a hard-working congressman (ha-ha-ha! he’s never at work), and an ex-Navy SEAL. Portia said if she defended him any more than she was, it would tip off Curtis, and he said that was unfortunate for her. She said it was one thing to go after Curtis directly, but it was a whole other thing to go after him through his wife. If he found out Drew was blackmailing her, he’d go to a whole other level. Was Drew sure he was ready to take that on? Alexis told Curtis that it was about the article in The Invader. Drew came across as a villain and Tracy a hapless innocent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Curtis asked, which part? and Alexis said, DeWitt wasn’t going to publish a retraction, but she was hoping Curtis might write an article present Drew as more balanced to protect his image. She was worried about the public turning on him and how her granddaughter would feel. Curtis had the resources to help. He said he was sympathetic about Scout, but Drew made himself look bad, not the article. He valued her friendship, but couldn’t help. Did she ever think that by shielding Drew from the consequences of his actions and not holding him accountable, that she was enabling him? Aiden told Elizabeth and Lucky that he was meeting his friends at the movies. It was nice having them together. Aiden left, Lucky said, alone at last, and they started kissing again. Ava came back to her apartment to find Kristina waiting outside her door.

Elizabeth and Lucky began to get busy, when the doorbell rang. Laura said she was sorry she didn’t call, but wanted to thank Elizabeth for bringing Lucky home. She hugged Lucky and suggested they all have dinner tonight. Lucky said, that would be perfect, and he and Elizabeth forced smiles. Ava asked what brought Kristina by, and Kristina said she ran into Ric, and he said she couldn’t take Avery to the ballet. Ava said it was her day and Avery’s schedule had to stay consistent. Kristina said it wasn’t about Avery. It was about getting back at her. Ava was going to deprive Avery of a magical night that would be a core memory lasting a lifetime. Ava said Avery was still going, but with her. The theater owner was a friend, and she got front row center. Kristina said, bitch, and Ric popped out, telling her to watch her temper. Remember the last time she lost it. She said there was a special place in hell for both of them. Chase told Dante that Rocco would grow out of it. They did. He was glad Dante talked to Lulu. Dante said he was relieved. He asked how things were going with Brook, and Chase said, the same. They didn’t know how they were going to become parents. Dante said, take their time. Whatever happened, Chase was going to be a great dad. He was a natural. Chase said it meant a lot coming from him, and Dante said Chase could come to him with everything. Chase said with his dad gone and Finn in Seattle, there weren’t a lot of guys to talk to. His friendship with Dante was important to him. Dante said it was to him too. Sasha said her and Willow’s situations weren’t remotely similar. She and Michael were long over. Willow said she thought there were more similarities than Sasha was willing to admit. The one big difference was, her mom was never a con artist. (Um…) Sasha said Willow didn’t know her mother, and Willow said when Sasha’s plan didn’t work out with Michael’s money, she went after Jason. Sasha said Willow was so, so wrong, and suggested they talk about Willow landing her husband’s very wealthy very uncle. Coincidence? Speaking of coincidence, she thought the article about Drew was what was bothering Willow. It made her realize she’d thrown her life away. She blew up her life and family over a sleaze and couldn’t admit she was wrong.

Portia told Drew that there had to be another way she could help that wasn’t about Curtis writing a puff piece. Drew said they could do a press conference. He could discuss his pediatric sports initiative (🍷– new drinking game! you’ll see) and she could represent GH. Portia said she didn’t see how it would help, but Drew aid, her being there would force Curtis to cover the story and paint him in the best possible light. Curtis walked in and asked what the hell Drew was doing there. Carly told Nina to stall Willow. Keep Willow at her place or find her a place of her own. Whatever it took to keep her and the kids from moving in with Drew. Drew was pushing it and they had to believe somehow Willow knew it was a bad idea. The longer they could keep Willow from moving in with Drew, the better. Meanwhile, they’d work on exposing Drew. Nina asked how she suggested they do it, and Carly said they needed to get in his house and find something so undeniable that Willow would never look at him the same way. Nina asked, what if there was nothing to find? and Carly said they’d make sure there was.

Thursday:

Jason and Anna were flying back to Port Charles with Charlotte. Charlotte wanted to call her mom, but Anna said, hold on. Maxie, Lulu, and Carly were at a table at the MetroCourt, when Jack came in with Jordan. Jordan told Jack that she was the liaison for the WSB, and he said he didn’t think the mayor was his biggest fan. Jordan said, if they eased the tension, it would be better for sharing information. The WSB possessed information that was helpful. Jack asked what she’d like to know, and she said, not what, but who. What did he know about Jenz Sidwell?  Portia wondered if there was another way for her to help Drew that didn’t involve Curtis writing a puff piece, and Drew said he was having a press conference to discuss his pediatric sports initiative (🍷) and she could represent GH. It would force Curtis to print a story painting him in a positive light. Curtis came in and asked what the hell Drew was doing there, and Drew said he was presenting a business proposal to Curtis’s wife. Curtis asked Portia to tell him what was going on. Sasha said, when the article dropped, Willow realized she blew up her life and family over a sleaze and couldn’t admit she was wrong. Willow said she was absolutely wrong to cheat on Michael, but who was Sasha to judge her? No one knew what led up to it except her, Drew, and Michael. Sasha asked if she was sure about that. Lucas was about to leave the bar in Miami when he found a credit card on the floor. As he looked at it, a man approached and said he believed it was his.  Elizabeth asked if Lucky was expecting anyone else to pop in, and he said, no. Her? She said, nope. It was just them for the rest of the night. He said he liked the sound of that and she said she did too, and they kissed.

Anna said she wanted to wait until they were in Port Charles before letting Lulu know Charlotte was back, and Charlotte asked if Anna thought those men would find her papa. Jason said Valentin made the right call by letting her come with them. He could move faster alone. Anna said there was no one better at disappearing and the men didn’t stand a chance, but she knew that didn’t make it hurt less. Jack told Jordan that Sidwell’s dealings in rare earth and minerals weren’t just gold and diamonds. The minerals he spoke of were strictly regulated by those in weapons manufacturing. Jordan asked if he thought that’s why Sidwell was in Port Charles. Did he want to use their port to smuggle his goods? He said there was no evidence of it, but it was in both their interests to keep an eye on Sidwell. Was there something she wanted to share with the class? She said she had one interesting tidbit. Carly was making a valiant effort not to notice him, but failing miserably. Lulu asked, what’s so fascinating? but Carly said, nothing. Lulu asked why she was staring at Jack, but Carly said she was just making sure her patrons were happy. Why would she care who Jack spent time with? While Portia was busy on the phone, Drew told Curtis that he was spearheading a pediatric sports initiative (🍷). He was surprised Trina hadn’t mentioned it since her friend Kai was involved, lending them his local celebrity status. Curtis said, and Drew was in his wife’s office because… Drew said she was Co-Chief of Staff and the initiative involved GH. Portia had already agreed to be at the press conference. Portia said she wished Drew wouldn’t put words in her mouth.

Elizabeth’s doorbell rang and she said it was like Grand Central Station. She opened the door to Ric and told him it wasn’t the best time, but he said it was important and would just take a minute. Lucky said he thought this night couldn’t get better, and Ric said he wanted to start by thanking Lucky. In Miami, the man said that Lucas found his card and offered to show Lucas his ID, but Lucas said it wasn’t necessary. The man introduced himself as Marco and offered to buy Lucas a drink as thanks. Sasha said everyone saw Willow mooning over Drew. She found excuses to be with or around him and even Michael noticed. Willow said her and Michael’s issues started before Sasha moved in and they all made mistakes – her, Drew, and Michael. Sasha said she thought the only mistake Michael made was trusting Willow. Willow told Michael that it was just a harmless crush, that her heart was still with him and the kids. He believed her and when he found out she acted on her feelings, he was devastated. So yes, Sasha would judge her and not feel bad about it. Willow said Sasha got pregnant at the beginning of November, around the time Jason was mourning Sam, and Sasha said, Jason and Sam hadn’t been together in years. Willow said, but their love story was epic and an obstacle to anyone who wanted Jason. (Is she confusing Sam with Carly?) Sasha saw an opening and took it. (This is possibly the most difficult suspension of disbelief for me, since Sasha could so get Willow fired.)

Jason asked why Anna didn’t want Charlotte to call Lulu, and Anna said she didn’t think the WSB would go after Charlotte, but if Brennan didn’t send the men, someone else had a vested interest in shutting Valentin up permanently. Jason said, it might be easier to use Charlotte to lure Valentin than find him, and Anna said, Charlotte’s phone could be tapped. She needed to contact someone else first. Marco said he was in Miami for a client meeting, and Lucas said he was there for a medical symposium. His ex was also on the trip, and it didn’t end well. Portia said she hadn’t given Drew an answer yet, and Drew said, it was just wishful thinking. Portia said the program was his baby and he should take all the credit, but Drew said it was a partnership. What happened to one of them would happen to the other, and the intention was to benefit the kids. Portia said then she’d do it, and Drew said it was a worthy cause. It would also generate a ton if positive publicity for GH, creating an influx of donors, which would help all of the patients. He knew how quickly things would change, and bringing money in would help her keep her position. Curtis said it would also help people forget Congressman Cutthroat, and Drew said he’d like to offer Curtis and Aurora the opportunity to cover the kick off. Willow said, while she was acting on her sincere feelings, Sasha acted out of greed. Jason was wealthy and adding the Quartermaine connection, her having his baby was the best con she ever pulled. Sasha wondered, what about Willow telling Michael that she would love, honor, and cherish him until death they did part? Think what she wanted about Sasha’s choices, but she didn’t break any vows or hearts. Willow said, give it time, and left. Anna called Jack and told him that she had Charlotte Cassadine. He said he didn’t suppose she had Valentin as well, and she said, negative. They were on a jet and would be at the Sussex airfield in an hour. She needed him to bring Lulu there without alerting anyone. Was it something he could do? He said, not a problem, and Anna told Jason that Jack was going to meet them on the tarmac. Jason asked if she was sure about trusting Jack. How did she know the men weren’t lying, were there under Jack’s orders, and they were delivering him the means to eliminate Valentin?

 Anna said, Jack may be on the hunt, but he knew if anything happened to Charlotte on his watch, Carly would never forgive him. Jason said Jack didn’t care about Carly, but Anna said he did. When it came to Carly, he didn’t have an ulterior motive. She thought he was smitten. She wasn’t saying he was a good guy, but he wanted to see Charlotte reunited with her mother as much as they did. Ric thanked Lucky for saving Elizabeth and gave Elizabeth a manila envelope. He said it was a hard copy of the Medical Review Board’s final decision. She was officially exonerated from responsibility in the deaths of Sylvia Mullen, Dex Heller, and Sam McCall. He also got her back pay for the days of work she was forced to miss. She thanked him, and he said his only regret was that Terry had to call him to represent her. It was good to have such a good friend, but Elizabeth should have called him in the first place. She said she didn’t know Terry had called and didn’t know how serious it was until she was in the middle of it. He said if she ever needed a lawyer or wondered if she might, he should be her first call. He couldn’t bust down doors or duke it out with lunatics, but if she called, he’d always pick up. Lucky rolled his eyes. Marco said Lucas’s ex being there couldn’t be easy, and Lucas said, ex-husband. Marco asked how long they were married, and Lucas said, three years and they had a son. He apologized and said, Marco offered to buy him a drink, not listen to his sob story, and Marco ordered two more. He said he loved long stories, the sobbier, the better. Tell him about his son.

Curtis said Aurora wasn’t the only game in town and Drew could find another media outlet, but Drew said, Curtis’s wife was on board. It would look bad if Curtis didn’t cover it. It was a win-win for all of them. Curtis said he needed time to think about it, and Drew said, fair enough. He left, and Curtis said, what the hell was that? Maxie, Lulu, and Carly discussed the Quartermaine crypt incident, and Jack told Jordan that he hated to cut the evening short. Jordan’s phone rang, and she said she’d be there as soon as she could. Jack went to Lulu and said he was sorry to interrupt, but she had to come with him. It was urgent. Lulu asked if it was about the search for Valentin, but he said he couldn’t give her any details. She’d have to trust him. Carly said she could trust Jack, and Lulu left with him. Maxie asked Carly, what was going on with her and Agent Brennan? Anna thanked Jason for coming and having her back. He didn’t need to get involved. He said he did, but Anna said she let Valentin escape. Jason said he went along with it, and she said, because she asked him to. He said he chose to. It was on him too. They both let Valentin take Charlotte. Anna said, and now they were bringing her back. Lucas told Marco that he gave Wiley back to his father, he and Brad got divorced, and Brad spent six months in prison. Marco said Lucas’s ex must have loved him. He did a terrible thing, but believed it was to spare Lucas pain. He risked his freedom. He risked everything. Lucas said Marco was the first person to hear the story and have that reaction, and Marco asked if Lucas disagreed. Lucas said, no. That was the part that killed him. He knew Brad did it because Brad loved him. He’d always wanted a family of their own, and Brad thought it would break his heart not to have a child, so Brad gave him one. Marco said, and broke his heart anyway, and Lucas said, it hurt a lot of other people, and no amount of love or good intentions can change that. Marco said, it couldn’t erase Lucas’s time with Wiley or Brad either. Wiley may not be his son, but was still a part of him. He was a child of Lucas’s heart and always would be. Lucas said he had a year and a half of being a dad. The memory was his forever, and no one could take it away. Ric told Elizabeth to put the papers in her records asap, and she went upstairs. Lucky suggested Ric send a messenger next time, and Ric asked if he detected hostility. Lucky said, just impatience, and Ric said he meant it when he said Lucky was a hero. And it got him a nice comfy spot to recover. Lucky said it was harder when random people kept dropping by with unnecessary things, and Ric asked if he could drop Lucky off at his mother’s so she could tuck him in. Lucky said thanks for the offer, but he was solid, and Ric said, that was the first word that came to mind when someone thought about Lucky – solid and reliable. Elizabeth could do so much better. Lucky said, like with Ric? Portia told Curtis that she agreed with Drew about the initiative. It would be good for the kids and for the entire hospital. As a doctor and as a mother, she had to support it, no matter what she thought or felt about Drew.

Curtis said if it was just Drew, there was no way he’d get involved, but did Portia want him to cover it? She said she did, for the reasons she said, but also for Trina. Kai was involved and Curtis’s support would mean so much. Don’t let Drew’s awfulness keep him from contributing to a good cause. Don’t let Drew have that kind of power. Jordan went to Drew’s office and said she didn’t have much time. Make it quick. He told her that he was having a press conference to announce his pediatric sports initiative (🍷). Portia agreed to be part of it and he was hoping Aurora would provide coverage. He’d love for her to be there as a representative of the mayor’s office. Jordan said, give her a break. Drew was trying to get himself a nice bouquet to cover the stench of The Invader article. Drew asked if she was going to help organize the support of the community or walk away just to spite him. Jordan said she’d take it under consideration, and left. Lulu asked why they were watching a jet landing and Jack said her daughter was on it. He didn’t have any details, but Anna told him to bring her. He assumed it was to secure her safety. Lulu started to cry and said she couldn’t believe it. Her daughter…

Marco asked if Lucas was doing better, and Lucas said he wasn’t in Boston drowning himself in work. He’d gone to Boston, didn’t date at all, and barely had contact with his friends and family. Marco asked, what changed? and Lucas said his mom died. Marco said he was sorry to hear that, and Lucas said, it was a wake-up call. Our time here was so limited, and they had to do as much with it as they could. Love people while they were still here. Marco said, so he went home, and Lucas said he still worked a lot. There was no action on the dating front, but he wasn’t hiding from life, so there was that. Marco said it was a lot. It took courage to face the things that scared you. How was it? Lucas said his family and friends were great. Shockingly, it hadn’t been so horrible seeing Brad. Marco said, it stirred up old emotions, and Lucas said, sort of. He remembered why they fell in love and how happy they were once upon a time. Brad helped him through a terrible time and made him less lonely. Marco said someone who did that would always have a place in your heart. Not the place they used to, but a place. Lucas said, when he found out Brad was at the symposium, he thought it was a sign. Brad was the kind, supportive person he fell for, and he started to feel something he hadn’t felt in a very long time. They were just at the brink of putting it back together, but then Brad decided to tell him how he got to go on the trip, and he’s still the same lying manipulative person he was. Still driven by love for him, but maybe that was the problem. Marco said, love? and Lucas said it couldn’t be the only answer to loneliness. Marco said, companionship came in all shapes and sizes, and Lucas said maybe it was as simple as finding a gorgeous man and taking it from there. He added, more accurately, from here, and kissed Marco. Jordan went to see Portia and said she spoke to Drew about his new pediatric sports initiative (🍷), and Portia said he asked her to be at the press conference. Jordan said she heard Portia was on board. Drew also said Aurora might get involved. Is that the truth?

Carly told Maxie that she and Jack’s lives were incompatible, and Maxie asked how he took it. Carly said, quietly. He walked away and she hasn’t seen him until now. Maxie said it sounded like the rejection hurt his feelings, but Carly said Jack had a woman in every city. She was just the one in Port Charles. She couldn’t go down that road when Jack would never commit. Maxie asked, to what? What kind of commitment was Carly looking for? Sasha got her ultrasound, and the nurse (not Willow) asked if she’d like to know the sex. Coming out of the elevator, Drew saw Willow and asked if she was okay. She seemed down. Willow said she was coming from a difficult patient, and Drew said he wouldn’t blame her if she’d let the Congressman Cutthroat nonsense get to her, but she said she already told him that she didn’t read that garbage and didn’t listen to anyone who told her about it. He said it seemed like there was more than just a difficult patient that got to her. Anna and Jason brought Charlotte to Lulu.

Ric said he’d get out of Elizabeth’s hair, and she thanked him for everything. He told her that he meant what he said, and she asked if he wasn’t trying to annoy Lucky. He said it was an added bonus, but he wanted her to be happy. He left and Elizabeth said, finally, they were alone, but Lucky had fallen asleep. Maxie asked what Carly was looking for. Did she want to settle down and get married? Carly said she would be happy never to be married again, and Maxie wondered if she could possibly be overthinking things. If she died tomorrow, would she regret not sleeping with Jack? Curtis said he was going to cover the press conference, and Jordan said, if they were on board, she’d be there. She left, and Portia thanked Curtis. Curtis thanked her for helping see the right thing to do and they hugged. Willow told Drew that she could handle it and so could he, but Scout and Wiley were a different story. Drew said he was working on reminding everyone of the good work he was doing on behalf of the citizens. The old headlines would be gone and forgotten. It was going to work out. Willow told him that when he said it, she believed it, and they kissed. Sasha came out and looked at her sonogram, then saw Drew and Willow. Lucas asked Marco, what now? and Marco said he thought Lucas should give him his room key. Lucas slid the key to Marco. Charlotte and Lulu hugged, and Lulu said, Charlotte was finally home.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada:

We see bingo cards and tchotchkes being set out. Yuri says, O-65, retire and thrive… Correct? Gloria says, perfect, and Gio says he never heard that before. Got it! Lois says she’s got nothing, and Gloria says she taught Yuri all the bingo lingo. That man is a natural. Gio says he can’t believe she brought her bingo kit from Bensonhurst, and Gloria says she never leaves home without it. Yuri says, call your doctor. Time for a shot of B-12. Gio says, bingo! and shows his card. Gloria says, a four-corner win, and Lois says she’s impressed. It’s hard to beat ma. Gloria says, they all know Gio is a star and can do pretty much anything, when Brook walks in. She says, of course (🍷) Gloria brought her bingo set with her, and Gloria says she can’t risk getting rusty. Gio says, Brook can take his spot. He’s got to meet Emma. Gloria says, Brook is lucky. That seat is hot. Yuri says he’ll bring the car around for Gio, and Gio tells them, see you later, and leaves. Gloria says, Emma? and Brook says, Emma Scorpio Drake. She’s the Police Commissioner’s granddaughter. Gloria asks, what’s going on with them? and Brook wonders if they’re all going to pretend they just found out, when all along they knew the baby was Dante’s.

On the phone, Laura says she doesn’t want to be interrupted… Yes, it’s that important.

Lulu brings Charlotte home to Laura’s apartment and looks at her. Charlotte says, it’s okay. She’s really here. Lulu says she can’t believe it. She’s been dreaming about this for so long. She smooths Charlotte’s hair and says, there’s so much she wants to tell her, but she wanted to wait until they were alone. They hug, and Lulu says, thank God she’s here and safe. Charlotte says, don’t thank God. Thank papa.

Sonny thanks Isaiah for making a house call, since doctors don’t do that anymore, but Isaiah says, some do for some patients. Sonny says he appreciates it. He doesn’t want his children knowing about his condition. Isaiah says, he’s welcome. His blood pressure is a lot better. Sonny actually seems to be listening to his advice. Sonny says he’s been taking his medication and reducing stress. He even called a truce with his daughter’s mother. It seemed to help. Kristina walks in with Rocco and asks, what’s going on? Rocco asks if Sonny is okay.

At Trina’s apartment, Kai asks if their third date is living up to their first, and Trina says, when he asked her to the museum, he didn’t say it was a date. On Valentine’s Day, she didn’t know it was a date, so it doesn’t count. And since they’re staying in tonight, this doesn’t either. He says, Valentine’s Day was definitely a date and so was painting. They were good dates too. What can he do to make tonight feel more datelike? Would a kiss help? She says, it might, and they kiss. She says, yeah. It definitely feels like a date now, and they kiss again.

On the phone in his hotel room, Jack asks, what’s the update on Josslyn Jax… Is that right? Good to hear. Keep pushing her. There’s a knock at the door and he says, they’ll talk tomorrow. He opens the door to Carly and says, if he remembers correctly, the last time they spoke, she wanted nothing to do with him. So what is she doing here now? She says, fixing a huge mistake, and kisses him.

Trina’s phone rings, but she says she’ll ignore it. Kai says, what if it’s an emergency? and she answers. She asks Ava, what’s going on? and Ava says, thank God. She locked herself out of the gallery and can’t find her key. It’s freezing and her phone is dying. Can Trina come quickly please? Trina tells Kai that Ava locked herself out of the gallery and needs to be let in before she freezes. He says he gets it. Ava is her boss and friend. He was about to head out anyway. Trina thanks him for being cool about it. She’ll see him tomorrow. He says, for sure, and leaves.  

Gloria says, no one is pretending anything. Brook’s been avoiding her all day and she thought that meant Brook didn’t want to talk about it. Brook tells Gloria that she didn’t know what to say. Finding out Gloria knew all along knocked the wind out of her. Gloria says she’s sorry to hear that, and Brook says she told her ma alone. She had no idea Lois ran off and told Gloria. It makes her wonder who else knows.

Lulu says she’s glad Charlotte’s father kept her safe, but she wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place if he hadn’t taken her on the run. Charlotte asks why it matters. She’s here now only because of her papa. Lulu says she didn’t even know Charlotte was coming until before the plane landed. How did Anna and Jason know where she was? Charlotte says, papa texted Rocco and told him where they were. He thought Rocco would tell Lulu and Lulu would come and get her, but Jason found out. Lulu says, Valentin wanted Charlotte back in Port Charles because he was worried about her safety after someone took a shot at him in the Prague café. Charlotte says, he was trying to do what was best for her, even if it means he doesn’t see her every day anymore, and Lulu says, Rocco didn’t tell her that he’d gotten the text. She would have been on the first plane. Charlotte says, papa thought so too, and Lulu says, Rocco’s been avoiding her and she couldn’t figure out why. It makes sense now. She never once gave up hope that Charlotte would come home. Charlotte says she knows, and Lulu says she wishes it had been her that came to get Charlotte, not Anna and Jason. Charlotte says, actually, she was glad Lulu wasn’t there.

Jack says he thought Carly didn’t want to do this, but Carly says she overthought it. It’s what she does and it’s not great. She shouldn’t have thought the worst about him. He says, she changed her mind and he’s supposed to forget and be at her beck and call? How does he know she won’t change her mind again tomorrow? She says, he doesn’t, but she won’t, and he says, he knew she had doubts, but he thought it was about the WSB and how dangerous his job is. She’d be putting herself at risk. But she questioned his character and his feelings for her. That’s a very different thing. She says she knows, and he says he was very clear and very consistent about the way he feels. If she still doubts his intentions, she was right to end whatever it is they had. She says she was completely wrong. That’s why she’s here. He asks, what changed her mind? They haven’t not spoken, so it’s not him. Why the change of heart?

Sonny tells Kristina, everything is fine. He’s just under the weather and called Lucky to get ahold of Dr. Gannon to check him out. They know each other? Kristina says, they met at Charlie’s. Nice to see him. Isaiah says, her too, and she says she brought Rocco by to see the new place. Rocco says, it’s not new. He’s been here, but not since Charlotte lived here. Sonny says he made some changes, especially in the backyard. Does Rocco want to check it out? Rocco says, cool, and he and Sonny leave. Isaiah says he’s going to go, but Kristina says, if her dad had a cold, he would have had Isaiah call in a prescription, not have him come to his home and examine him. What’s really going on with her dad?

Trina lets herself into the dark gallery and says she got here as fast as she could. She turns on the light and her family and friends yell, surprise! She says she can’t believe they did this, and Curtis says, she didn’t think they’d forget her birthday. Trina says she knows her parents are successful and driven and figured they’d be running the hospital and Aurora, but Portia says, they’re never too busy to celebrate their birthday girl. Stella asks if she can get in on that birthday love, and hugs Trina. Trina thanks her for coming, and Stella says she wouldn’t miss wishing Trina a happy birthday. She knows Trina is going to have an incredible year, and it will only get better. Trina says she likes the sound of that, and Stella says she was supposed to be a distraction, but she thought of someone better for the job. Trina sees Kai, who smiles at her, and Stella says, was she right or was she right? Trina says, she was right, as always.

Charlotte says she’s glad Lulu wasn’t there. It was so dangerous. After papa sent the text, Jason and Anna showed up and told them to run. Lulu says, it must have been terrifying, and Charlotte says, it was. She and papa hid, but they could hear everything. The WSB came in and Jason and Anna had to fight them off. She doesn’t think Lulu could take them on like that. Lulu says she’s scrappier than she looks and would do what it takes to keep Charlotte and her brother. Charlotte says she knows. She’s happy to be home, but it feels kinda weird. Lulu says, good weird or bad weird? and Charlotte says, good weird. Lulu says she knows the feeling. It will feel normal soon, she promises. Charlotte wonders how, without her papa.

Outside, Sonny asks what Rocco thinks, and Rocco says, looks good. Sonny asks if it’s missing anything, and Rocco says, Charlotte. It feels weird being here without her. Sonny asks if they’re close. Does he miss her a lot? Rocco says he does. Can he tell Sonny something? Sonny says, anything, and Rocco says he got a text from Charlotte, but didn’t tell either of his parents. He remembered how dangerous it was last time. He told Danny, who told his dad, and Jason promised to bring Charlotte home. Sonny says, he did the right thing. He was looking out for his family and in a tough spot, but he handled it like a champ. Rocco says, but he hasn’t heard from Jason. What if he can’t find Charlotte? Sonny says, Jason is good at finding people, but if Rocco doesn’t hear from him soon, he’ll step in. Rocco thanks him, and Sonny says, you’ve got it.

Isaiah says, whatever questions Kristina has, the answer is the same. Talk to her dad. Kristina says, since he’s here, there must be something to ask about that he’s not telling her, and he says, ask her dad. Kristina says she thinks he’d tell her if it was bad, but he doesn’t have to. Obviously, it’s bad if he’s here. If Sonny was fine, he wouldn’t be trying to cover it up. Isaiah says he’s not covering up anything. He’s respecting the oath he took and doctor/patient confidentiality, which is the law. She says she’s Sonny’s daughter. He’d tell her if Sonny was in the hospital. Be honest. It’s kind of the same thing. Isaiah says, it’s not, when Sonny and Rocco come back. Sonny asks, what’s going on? and Kristina says, Dr. Gannon confirmed something serious is going on. What is it? Sonny looks at Isaiah, who shakes his head.

Jack asks, what changed? and Carly says she realized that life is short. If something happened to either one of them, she’d regret not exploring whatever this is. She’s sorry. She was wrong. And she doesn’t usually admit to either. He says, sorry for what? and she says, not trusting him. She saw him with Vivian and Vivian was flirting. He was so nonchalant, it threw her, and she dismissed all the good things he’d done. But she realized ending things had nothing to do with him. He says, what about Vivian? and she says, that was just an excuse. She got so scared because of how much she was starting to feel for him. She tried to push him away and that’s not her. She’s not the kind of person to run from her feelings. He says, or much of anything else. Exactly what kind of person is she? She says, stick around and find out, and they kiss.

Lulu says, Charlotte knows she wishes Valentin could be here, for Charlotte’s sake. She’d love if it was different, but Charlotte is safer here and has stability. She can’t live life on the run. Charlotte says, it wasn’t that bad. She and papa saw a lot of different places and he made sure she had everything she needed. Lulu says, now that she has Charlotte here, there’s so much she wants to ask. She has so much to tell her and not just about Charlotte’s time away. Her time too. She missed so much in the last four years. Charlotte says she can’t wait to tell Lulu everything. She’s happy to be back home. It might not seem like it, but it is. Lulu says she knows Charlotte had a crazy day. Who is she kidding? Charlotte had a crazy year. Charlotte says she knows things were weird, but her papa always kept her safe and brought up Lulu whenever he could. Lulu says she knows how much Charlotte loves her papa, and she’s so grateful he kept her safe. She’s more grateful that he sent the text, so Charlotte would be brought home. She knows how hard it was for him. Charlotte says she couldn’t believe it when he told her, and Lulu says she’s sure it was lonely being out there with just her dad, and Charlotte says, it was. Lulu says, they need to make up for that. She’s going to make a quick call.

Gloria says she swears on the family bible. No one else knows about the baby. Brook asks how she can be sure, and Gloria says she’d never betray a trust that way. Lois says, listen to her grandma. Gloria knows all the family secrets and never let any of them slip. Gloria says she sensed something was eating away at Lois, and Lois says, Gloria had to pull it out of her. Brook asks why Gloria wouldn’t tell, and Gloria says she was respecting Brook’s privacy and the privacy of Brook’s mother. She never talked about it. Brook says, never? Not even at confession? Gloria says, not a word. She put it in the vault, and it stayed there where it belongs, and she suggests they do the same.  

Laura tells Trina, happy birthday, and hands her a giftbag. She says, these are from Ace. He made the card himself. Trina says, it’s ridiculously cute, and thanks Laura for letting him make it for her. She thanks Laura for being here, and Laura says, there’s no place else she’d rather be. Besides, she thinks it’s what Spencer would want, for her to be here. She knows last year was tough and she’s very glad to see Trina in a better place and willing to celebrate her birthday. Trina says, that doesn’t mean she forgot Spencer or doesn’t miss him every day, and Laura says she’d never think that about her. Neither of them will ever forget Spencer. He was one of a kind. Trina says, yeah, and Laura says, he loved her so much. He would be so happy to see how happy Trina is. She missed seeing the light in Trina’s eyes and she’s glad it’s back. Spencer would be very glad it’s back. Her phone rings, and she says, sorry. It’s her daughter. Trina moves on and Lulu asks if Laura can come home. She has a surprise for her.

Jack leads Carly to the bedroom. They get busy and there’s a song part.

Kai says he’s in a group of athletes who are working at the hospital, visiting sick kids in the pediatrics wing. He tries to spend as much time there as he can. It’s fun in the middle of the hard stuff. Trina says, it’s sweet of him to get involved, and he says he met the guy who came up with the program. He’s a congressman. Emma says, the guy who slept with his nephew’s wife? and Kai says, he seemed okay. He doesn’t know about the guy’s personal life and doesn’t care. The program is changing lives. Emma says, that part is great. Is he sure that he’s not taking on too much? If he wants to back out of her animal fundraiser, she understands. He says, since he’s not playing football, he has plenty of time, when Curtis comes out. He says, it’s time for cake, and the cake is brought out. Trina says, it’s gorgeous (agreed), and Portia says, sing Happy Birthday! They sing and Trina smiles. Kai says, make a wish, and Stella says, make it good. Trina blows out the candles and everyone applauds.  

As they bask in the afterglow, Jack says, this isn’t at all what he expected when he opened the door and saw Carly standing there. She says, he showed up at her hotel room and gave her one hell of a kiss in Germany. She thought she’d return the favor. He says he’s glad she did. He’s been thinking about this for a long time. She says, her too.

Laura comes into the apartment and is immediately absorbed in taking off her coat. She says, sorry she’s late. She got stuck at the party saying goodbye to so many people…  She sees Charlotte, quietly freaks out, and they hug.  

Gio gives Trina a giftbag and says, it’s from Josslyn. She’s sorry she couldn’t be here, but she’s still in Easter Island. She made sure she had it sent to the Quartermaines’ in trust of him delivering it. Trina takes out a sleep-aid set and says, Josslyn is amazing. Josslyn knows she has a hard time sleeping. She loves Josslyn so much. Stella says, here’s the last one, and Emma says, it’s from her. The guy in the bookstore said it’s a must have. Trina opens the present and it’s the same art book Spencer got her shortly after they met. She thanks Emma and says, it’s amazing. She thanks everybody for all the thoughtful, amazing gifts and says, go have another slice of cake and more to drink and just party. Portia tells Trina, happy birthday, and kisses her cheek. Trina looks sadly at the book.

Isaiah says he didn’t tell Kristina anything, and Sonny asks if Rocco doesn’t have homework. Kristina says, since Isaiah is on his way out, could he drop Rocco home at the Quartermaines’? Isaiah says he’d be happy to, and Rocco thanks Sonny for the tour. Sonny says, anytime, and Rocco leaves with Isaiah. Kristina says, Sonny knows she’s going to find out. What’s going on? She can always tell when he’s lying, so tell her. Whatever it is, it’s worse in her head. What she’s imagining isn’t good. What’s going on? Sonny says he doesn’t want her to worry. What he’s got is treatable. He’s fine. She says, treatable? Just tell her what’s going on. He says, there’s something wrong with his heart.

Lulu asks if Charlotte is sure she’s all right, and Charlotte says she’s fine. Just tired. She’s going to go shower. Laura suggests she lie down and get some rest, and Charlotte says, that’s probably a good idea. Laura says, they can catch up tomorrow. She wants to hear about everything Charlotte was doing. Charlotte says, most of it was boring, and Lulu says, don’t get too comfortable. She’s got the idea there might be more visitors. Laura says she’s really happy Charlotte is home, and Charlotte goes to shower. Laura asks if they found Valentin, but Lulu says, no. He’s still out there somewhere, but he’s the reason Charlotte is here. Charlotte said he took good care of her and made sure Charlotte didn’t forget her. Laura says, that doesn’t surprise her. She knows how much Valentin loves Charlotte, but she’s still better off away from him. Lulu agrees and says she hopes he stays away for Charlotte’s sake.

Brook says, all these years, she thought she was keeping the secret from Gloria, but Gloria was keeping the same secret from her. Gloria says, if the devil himself was mad at her for not telling, so be it. She would do anything for Brook. She would suffer anything. As long as her girls and their future was protected. She loves them both so much. Lois says, they love her too… even though sometimes she makes it hard, and Brook says, yeah, but this brought up so many things she wasn’t letting herself think about for so many years. It’s going to take time to wrap her head around it. (Hello 1960s!) Lois tells her, take all the time she needs. They’ll be here when she’s ready. Brook leaves.

Jack tells Carly that he needs to refresh and is taking a quick shower. He gets out of bed and heads for the shower and says, that was an invitation to join him. She says she knows, but someone has to answer the door for room service, and she’s a little bit thirsty. He says, suit herself, and she stays in the bed, looking all happy. She hears him singing in the shower and gets up.

Gio says, Emma’s been great lately, and she asks what he means. He says, she put an activist group together and moved forward. She kept him company at the crypt and gave Kai a good pep talk. She asks why he’s surprised, and he says, the first times they met, she didn’t come across as someone who would do that. She seems different. She says, this is who she is now, and he says, it makes him wonder who the real Emma is. She says she’d like to know her too.

Stella asks Curtis about meeting with Congressman Henderson, and Curtis says, he helped with some obstacles. Drew is now focused on his pediatric sports initiative (🍷) and he’s planning a press conference. Portia is going to talk, and Aurora Media is covering it. He hates that he’s helping rehab Drew’s image. Stella suggests he pick his battle. He can elevate Portia, but if he gets in the way, he could hinder her success. She deserves to shine. Drew be damned.

Portia thanks Ava for referring Ric and being there, and Ava says, of course (🍷). She thanks Portia for confiding in her. If the truth came out, it could hurt Trina. Portia says, it could have been devastating.

Trina slips out of the party.

Ava tells Portia, Drew has a lot of powerful enemies – Nina, Carly, Curtis, Jason, Michael. All the Quartermaines hate him and it’s only a matter of time before his house of cards collapses and one of his many other enemies takes care of him for her. Portia says, someone needs to do something and do it soon.

Curtis can’t find Trina and hopes she’s okay, but Stella says she was here quite a while. It was almost like having the old Trina back, but she might have gotten overwhelmed. A party like this might have had her thinking about Spencer. Curtis says he hates to think it put a black mark on Trina’s special night, but Stella says, it didn’t. Grief doesn’t have a timeline and it’s often felt in our happiest moments.

Kai looks around the party, then sends a text.

Sitting on the window seat in her dark apartment, Trina takes out the art book Spencer gave her. She looks at the inscription and holds the book to her chest.

Lois checks to make sure Brook is gone, and Gloria says, if Brook is this upset about finding out she knew about the baby, imagine how angry she’ll be that they know who the baby is. Lois says she knows, and Gloria says, Brook can never know, and what they did tonight proved why.

Rocco comes home and Lulu asks, how was grandpa’s house? Rocco says, he changed stuff, and it was weird without Charlotte. Charlotte comes out and says, it doesn’t have to be weird anymore, and they hug.

Carly joins Jack in the shower, and he says he had a feeling she’d change her mind. She tells him, make room, but before she can take her robe off, there’s a knock at the door. She says she’ll be right back, and he gives her a kiss and says, hurry.

Kristina says, Sonny has a heart condition? How long has this been going on? He says he’s okay. He’s fine. She says, then why didn’t he want to tell her? and he says, she’d worry for no reason. She says, of course (🍷) she’d worry. What did Dr. Gannon say? He says, it’s from an injury that happened a long time ago and Isaiah put him on the right path. He’ll have to do a procedure, but everything will be fine. He just has to reduce stress. She says, that’s why he agreed to joint custody. he didn’t want the stress of a trial. He says, that’s part of the reason. He didn’t want to watch Ric put her and Avery on the stand. He didn’t want to put either of his daughters through that.  

Carly finds a serving cart in the hallway with a bucket of champagne and two glasses on it. She makes a happy sound, brings them into the room, and closes the door. Valentin comes out from around the corner, and boy, does he look pissed.

On Monday, Anna says, the marshal is here to serve an arrest warrant; Brook says, Drew picked a fight with the wrong broad: and Jack tells Carly, don’t! and knocks the glass out of her hand.  

🧼  All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It looks like there will be a new lawyer in town and maybe a love interest for Lucas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adrian-anchondo-cast-as-marco-on-general-hospital

Gloria returns!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ellen-travolta-returns-to-general-hospital-2

Maybe he had a good time, but it was painful to watch. This guy is no actor. He sounded like he was reading it and didn’t even read it well.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-golden-bachelorettes-guy-gansert-guests-on-gh

Two requests of the fans.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-cameron-mathison-makes-a-special-request

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/eva-larues-warning-to-her-fans

Side gigs. I haven’t read Jon Lindstrom’s book yet, but I want to. Although now I can just wait and see the movie. Well done!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jon-lindstroms-book-to-become-a-movie

I don’t know how exciting this is, but if she’s happy, I’m happy.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-monaco-announces-an-exciting-new-project

This was weird/sad, but it sounded like he was getting treatment.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/rick-springfield-learns-he-has-brain-damage

Victor has moved on from the building.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/days-of-our-lives/charles-shaughnessy-returns-to-days-of-our-lives

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I didn’t see this, but it seems to fluctuate between dangerous accidents and nookie.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Boz was hosting a trip to St. Lucia and informed us that it’s the only country named after a woman. We watched as the women packed, and I’m not sure why Erika called my shorts ho shorts, but I was offended. Aren’t shorts supposed to be short? When getting a less than enthusiastic response about an outfit from son Phoenix, Dorit told him, it’s Poca Rabone, like that meant something to him. Boz said getting them all together to travel was like herding cats, so they were meeting in Miami. In her interview, Boz said, beautiful views, delicious cocktails, a steel drum band. Who would complain? Really? Has she met them? In Jennifer’s interview, she talked about not fitting in when she was young, and Sutton cried over her long road with the women and how Garcelle had been the only one to support her. Kyle would say, you two, but never point the finger at Dorit alone. Mauricio visited Kyle and talked about going on  It was the usual, just in a different vacation setting. PK met with Dorit, where the D-word was used, yet Dorit is still in the denial phase. Kyle, however, was sliding into acceptance after Mauricio visited and told her about his quest for weed spiritual healing.

Some non-news. Maybe she’s a girlfriend; maybe she’s not.

Denise Richards and Her Wild Things

I love this show so much. A lot of episode 3 revolved around a Cuban iguana named Godzilla who had passed away at age 30. He’d belonged to Charlie’s ex, Brooke, and was dropped off at Denise’s house when Brooke went to rehab. He liked Fig Newtons and had an entire suite to himself. They had him for nine months, and a memorial was planned. There were a lot of flowers, as well as some heartfelt speeches. Denise also met with Erika (RHOBH) and they clinked glasses and made up. Another thing I love about Denise is her love of animals. She even got a little picnic table for the squirrels outside, one of whom she called Fat Fred, but she insisted she wasn’t fat shaming him. Sami was getting a nose job and said she’d been bullied in school about looking like her dad. Recently, someone had made a comment that she’d never be as pretty as her mom. WTF? Ugh. It’s one of the things I hate about the internet. Anonymity has created mean AF a-holes.

Summer House

Kyle discussed his misdirected rage texting with Paige and said he was super upset. Aww. Poor baby. He’s always super upset about something. I’m pretty sure he lives off of super upset energy. One thing I really hate about this group is their tendency to play telephone. Really, their tendency to just make sh*t up to suit themselves. Lexi had asked Jesse not to be so flirtatious in his comments on the other girls’ social media and somehow this got changed to her demanding he not comment at all. And that literally came from horse Jesse’s mouth. She needs to dump this dude asap. One minute he’s all in love like never before, and the next, he’s making it up as he goes along. The tail end of the show was in NYC with Paige and Craig. When Paige said she never wanted to live a slow life, that said everything. While no judgement about relationships that are ephemeral, if you’re not on the same page regarding commitment, it’s for certain someone is going to get their heart broken.

Southern Charm

Craig told Paige about making up with Austen and how he thought his admission that he couldn’t drink was like holding up a mirror to Austen. He might not be wrong. Paige complimented Craig on his self-awareness. Austen later came by for a visit, and I forgot which show I was watching for a moment. The big topic once again involved JT. Venita wanted him to be her plus one at a summer soiree Madison was giving. JT was hesitant, but said he’d think about it. He talked to Leva about it and said he didn’t know if it was appropriate while he had a girlfriend, and also admitted he’d probably encouraged Venita by flirting. But the best was yet to come when Leva told him that Ryan used the same barber, who apparently told him that JT said some Black girl was trying to bust up his relationship. Once again, although I’m no fan of JT, I couldn’t see him saying something like that. Neither could Leva or Venita, but in Venita’s interview, she said, Ryan’s husband was Black, so why would he lie? Why indeed. JT was livid, since it made him sound racist. On top of it, racist about someone he cared for. Leva said he should call the barber immediately and get it cleared up for Venita’s sake. Translation: So we can get it on the show. He did and the barber seemed surprised, saying, the only thing he remembered JT telling him was that there was a cute Black girl named Venita on the show. When JT called Venita to tell her, I’m pretty sure all she heard though was that he loved her.

On the upside, Brett got the cancer all-clear on his last test and Molly and Taylor took their dogs out for ice cream.

What’s JT up to? Not much. No surprise. I can’t blame him for jetting though. The Reunion should be interesting.

Random Reality Items

VPR 2.0 is on the way.

This is the weirdest thing ever and I can’t believe it’s still going on.

Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.

What a shame. Hopefully, those left in the cast invested in real estate.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Extinction: The G.M.O. Chronicles. Amazon Prime. I am a die-hard zombie fan and I did enjoy this. There was precious little info out there and this review is less than stellar. There is the trailer though.

Okay. This guy liked it more, but there are a few small spoilers.

The Night Eats the World. Amazon Prime. This film won awards, and I didn’t hate it, but there were long stretches of not much going on and the main character chatting with – or rather, to – a zombie he had corralled in a stalled elevator. Be forewarned, the ending is not a happy one.

https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/night-eats-the-world-review-zombies-tribeca-1201954987/

Beyond the Gates. CBS/Paramount+. I finally got serious about watching this and I’m hooked on watching it with my dinner now. It’s oddly old-fashioned and trendy at the same time. Beautiful people, an inclusive cast, fabulous wardrobes, and a gun drawn at a wedding. You can’t really ask for more.

https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/03/cbs-beyond-the-gates-promo-tv-critics

🙀 Things You Don’t See Every Day…

🦒 I’m not letting my dogs read this. It might give them ideas.

https://people.com/athletic-giraffe-escapes-arizona-zoo-to-get-snacks-11695093

🐻‍❄️ Pretty as a picture. Oh wait, it is.

https://people.com/photo-sleeping-polar-bear-wins-nature-photography-contest-11690907

🐾 It’s a ferret! It’s a ferret’s ghost! It’s a stoat!

https://people.com/rarely-seen-animal-caught-on-camera-in-pennsylvania-11693659

👄 Quotes of the Week

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. – Charlotte Whitton

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in. – Dr. Seuss

You are not your resumé; you are your work. – Seth Godin

Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises. – Samuel Butler

You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking. – Lyndon B. Johnson

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent van Gogh

Remember: Always walk in the light. And if you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the light. – Roberta Flack

The mosquitos are d*ckheads out here. – Channelle (Aisha Dee), Apple Cider Vinegar

🍀 Top O’ the Month To Ya…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not using St. Patrick’s Day to be a green beer drunken mess (also don’t be another kind of Karen and drive drunk); and stay loving people while they’re still here.

February 21, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Meets His End, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Last Release, Those Who Merit, Turning It Around, Pithy Quotes Of 8 & Christmas

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

🛁 The Weekdays…

General Hospital

Sonny told Carly about the shared custody. She asked if he was going to tell her what was really going on. Kai texted Trina asking if she was free tonight. Laura was meeting with Drew about eminent domain and asked Curtis to sit in. Laura felt Drew was using the esplanade plan to retaliate against Jason through Sonny. Anna told Mac that while Jason was at the station, he couldn’t kill Cyrus. Elizabeth snuck into the interrogation room to see Jason and told him that she and Lucky found evidence against Cyrus.

Curtis gave a bunch of reasons Drew’s idea was a bad one, including a lawsuit from Sonny. Laura said Drew wanted to bring in Sidwell. Mac said with Cyrus gone, he couldn’t hurt anyone, but Anna said she’d rather bring Cyrus to justice. She felt they were getting closer. Elizabeth told Jason that they didn’t know Cyrus’s motives and she wasn’t sure the PCPD was up to the job. Cyrus consulted the Bible.  

Trina said it was Josslyn’s first Valentine’s Day without Dex, and she missed Spencer, but Josslyn told her to go with Kai. It was time for her to get back out there. Carly thought there was a reason behind Sonny’s reason for the compromise and he said he had to find where the threat was coming from and wanted to help Michael when he came home. She asked if Jason had mentioned Sasha. Sasha went to see Jason at the station. Martin told Willow that Elaine was out of commission, and he still needed dirt on Michael. Willow didn’t want to blame Michael or hurt him. Laura said Jordan would be at the meeting and Curtis said he’d seen her with Sidwell. When Jordan arrived, she said Sidwell could be legit, but they needed more information. She was going to get it. Drew showed up and said he could tell it was going to be a tough room. Elizabeth told Anna how she and Lucky collected evidence against Cyrus.

Carly said Drew accused Jason of fathering Sasha’s baby, but she didn’t know if it was true. Willow said maybe there was a way to make peace, when Nurse Mindy called her. Her car had been impounded. Laura said Drew gave her a lot to think about and he said there would be matching federal funding. He said if Sonny using piers for criminal activity was the priority rather than the esplanade, let it ride. Elizabeth told Anna about everything that happened at Turning Woods and GH with Cyrus, and said Anna had the authority to exhume the bodies. Sasha went to see Jason, and he said Anna was just trying to keep him away from Cyrus. She said she thought Willow suspected Michael was the father of her baby. Kai told Trina to meet him at The Savoy dressed to impress.

Willow told Mac that Tracy had her car towed after she’d put it in the street. She was starting to see how much she’d lost in becoming a part of Michael’s family and was done letting the Quartermaines run her life. Sasha told Jason about Elaine and said she didn’t want her child raised in the Quartermaine environment. Letting people draw their own conclusions wasn’t enough. She wanted Jason to come out and say the baby was his. Jordan said it could cost jobs, and the project could get tangled up for years, and Curtis said the city shouldn’t get entangled in Drew’s personal vendetta. Drew asked if the potential benefits were worth the risk. Elizabeth brought Anna a bag of stuff and said they’d gone through Cyrus’s trash in the dumpster. Anna saw an order of syringes from Paul Damascus, and Elizabeth said it was a biblical reference. It made sense for Cyrus to use it as an aka. Elizabeth thought digitalis had been in another box, but they couldn’t find an invoice. Meanwhile, Cyrus readied a syringe.

Carly said, if it was true, she needed to support Jason, but Sonny suggested they stay out of it. Anna said Elizabeth was good as an amateur detective, but they couldn’t link Cyrus to anything. Laura said it would be easier if she didn’t have to consider Sonny. Sonny said Jason would tell them if they needed to know, and Carly agreed to wait until Jason said something. Trina left to meet Kai and Josslyn brought out a box with a gun in it. Cyrus put the syringe in his pocket and called GH. He asked to talk to Elizabeth, but she was gone for the day. He said he was sure he’d run into her later. Drew brought roses to the hospital, but Willow wasn’t there. Willow saw Jason and Sasha talking, and Sasha said go with her on this and kissed him. Anna told Mac that they might have a new lead. He saw Sasha and Jason kissing and said, no, no, no!

Tuesday:

Valentine’s Day was happening at The Savoy and Curtis said they had a special surprise performer, when Trina walked in with Kai. On the phone, Spinelli told Maxie that he’d play cupid for Lucas since she was under the weather. He told Lucas that he was pinch hitting for Maxie, and she’d found him the perfect guy. Carly was cleaning up the cookie baking mess in Sonny’s old kitchen, saying, it’s the memories, not the mess. Jack came in bearing roses. Lulu was leaving Eckerd’s Valentine’s Day cupcakes for Rocco in the nook, when Dante came down. TempLucky went to Elizabeth’s, and she said Anna listened to her and was going to arrest Cyrus. She thought they should celebrate, and they discovered Aiden had made a cake. Mac had a migraine, and Anna was working on one. She told Jason that she had to release him, but wanted to convince him not to kill Cyrus the minute he left.

Portia said Trina seeing someone was a big deal, and Curtis said it was one they’d have to watch from afar. Trina asked if Kai had to pull strings to come, and he said, a few. Spinelli introduced Lucas and Gunther the model, and Brad saw them sit together. Carly’s faucet went nuts, spraying water everywhere. Dante told Lulu that Rocco was ice skating and crashing at a friend’s, but he’d barely touched the cupcakes Dante brought home years ago because they reminded him of Lulu. Aiden introduced Tobias to Elizabeth, and she asked if they wanted to join her and Lucky. Aiden said they were going to the Valentine’s Day skate and asked to talk to Elizabeth in private. Mac didn’t buy that Jason was the baby’s father, but then he saw Sasha kiss him. He thought Jason took advantage of her hurt over Cody, but Felicia said, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Anna asked for a BOLO on Cyrus and told Jason. She had enough evidence to connect him to multiple murders, including Sam’s, and hoped the judge would sign off on it right away. She could get justice, but only if Jason let her do her job. She asked him to stay away from Cyrus for her sake. Jack turned the water off and said luckily for Carly, her knight in sopping wet armor had arrived. Spinelli told Maxie that the chemistry between Lucas and Gunther was palpable, and Trina told Kai that she had a confession to make. The owner of The Savoy was her dad. Elizabeth told Aiden that she liked spending time with his dad and to go enjoy himself. Lulu said she didn’t know their son, but Dante said she did and told her to ask questions. She asked about Rocco’s first crush, if he was hard to wake up, how was he doing in school, and did he have friends. He knew about Rocco, and she didn’t. He said she’d catch up, but she said she’d neglected the child she had and was failing as a mother. he said that wasn’t true. Aiden left with Tobias, and Elizabeth said he’d offered to be their chaperone. Anna said she and Jason were friends and people noticed. If Cyrus disappeared, it would perpetuate the idea that there were people above the law who got away with it because of their friendship with her. Jason said he understood, but it didn’t matter when she was talking about the sick bastard who murdered Sam.

Kai complimented Curtis on the club and Curtis said they had to stick around for the surprise musical act. Anna asked Jason to trust her that they’d get justice. She’d taken chances on him, and she was asking him to take one on her and have faith. He wouldn’t regret it. Felicia said she and Mac had their ups and downs over the years. Mac had even left once, but he was her happily ever after. It wasn’t for them to decide who Sasha’s was. They’d make sure the only way Scorpios could. Lucky wondered if Aiden was worried that he and Elizabeth were getting too close, but she said Aiden just wanted to make sure she was treated well. She’d make it clear that she didn’t need protection from him. Dante said Lulu was a good mom. He shouldn’t have made it seem like she was choosing between Charlotte and Rocco. She said she didn’t know what Rocco needed, and Dante said, his mom. She’d made his pain and sadness disappear.

Lucas said the only reason he was on the date was because of Maxie, and Gunther said he understood Lucas wasn’t ready. Get his number from Maxie and tell him when he was. Gunther left and Brook and Chase showed up. Jack fixed Carly’s sink, which surprised her, and he said his father was a plumber. She said she’d envisioned him descending from a long line of super spies, but he told her that his dad always said, even if the world ends, you’re always going to need a plumber. She asked if anyone else knew. She liked knowing something about him that no one else did. He said, knowledge is power. Anna said the trust she and Jason had was unexpected, but real, and also obvious. No one would believe she hadn’t looked the other way, or worse they’d think she helped him cover it up.

Lucas asked if Brad wanted company. Spinelli told Brook that Gunther ditched Lucas, then saw Brad with Lucas. Chase left to check on Brook’s surprise. Curtis told Portia that he loved The Savoy, but Aurora presented a challenge, and he felt like he was growing there. N’neka said it was time, and Curtis introduced Chase. Dante promised to guard the cupcakes with his life, but thought he should take a couple off of Rocco’s hands. Lulu said, don’t you dare. Jack said he’d learned to expect the unexpected with Carly. Lucky said Elizabeth was as beautiful as the day he met her, and they kissed. Anna found out the warrant couldn’t be signed until the morning, and Jason said whatever happened to Cyrus, her office would respect her for the same reasons he did – her strength, courage, and willingness to put herself on the line. He knew she understood why he wanted to kill Cyrus, but didn’t think anyone else did. She said it was because they were alike, and he agreed. She asked him, as her friend, please don’t kill Cyrus, and he said she was a good friend, and he appreciated her friendship. She said that wasn’t an answer.

Chase told the audience that his singing career had been brief, but he’d met his wife through it and was grateful. He said the song was for her and sang one she’d written (Won’t You Stay with Me). As he sang, Lucky left Elizabeth’s, Jack and Carly had champagne, Felicia fed Mac Valentine cookies, and Lulu smushed a cupcake on Dante’s face, then helped wipe it off. Jason left the station. Elizabeth noticed that Lucky left the piece of cake he was taking home. There was a knock at the door, and she assumed it was him, but it was Cyrus.

Wednesday:

Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had an urgent matter that couldn’t wait and walked in. She’d been asking around about him and now had the opportunity to ask questions to his face. Emma asked Josslyn to be part of the benefit. Lulu was rude to a client on the phone in Helsinki and said he’d specifically asked for Brook or Maxie. It was Maxie and Spinelli’s first Valentine’s Day together and she didn’t want to ruin it. Brook said Lulu had no problem ruining it for her and Chase. Drew showed up at The Savoy with Willow, and Portia said, that’s a choice, but Curtis said it was beyond disrespect. It was a throwdown. Portia wondered how Willow couldn’t see through Drew (me too), but thought they should let it go. Willow wondered why Lucas was with Brad. Seeing Willow with Drew, Brad told Lucas that he was in no position to judge, but… and Lucas said it wasn’t their call. Cyrus asked what Elizabeth was trying to find out, and she said, fine. She’d start at the beginning. Why did he try to kill Lulu?

Donna called for Carly, interrupting a kiss with Jack. Emma wanted Josslyn to be an underwriter, but Josslyn said she had no time. She was going through a lot, but she’d be more than happy to donate. Emma argued with her, but Josslyn was unrelenting. Chase told Dante that he couldn’t give Brook the family she wanted to have. Curtis told N’neka that Drew was no longer welcome. Willow said she’d never forgive Brad (wow), and Curtis told Drew that he didn’t want him there. Cyrus said there was no sign of Lulu having an improvement. Just because someone could be kept alive didn’t mean they should be. Elizabeth said she’d watched families make that decision and it was awful, but in the end, it’s a gift. He said she understood, and she asked, what about the others? He said they were all God’s children, and she said, so from one family. He said he’d seen people trapped in their own hell and God gave him a mission to free imprisoned souls. He wept as he asked if Lulu wasn’t entitled to that, and she said, that’s why he turned off the ventilator, but he said, no, that was much later.

Brook said, the client threatened to cancel the shipment of the key ingredient in their cream. Lulu couldn’t talk to people that way. Lucas said he wasn’t sorry for Willow, but they all made mistakes. Curtis told Drew that Michael’s wife was more than welcome to stay, but he reserved the right to refuse service. They were playing the same game. Brad said, once the denial goes away, Willow will be miserable. One thing he’d learned was, lonely is lonely, whether deserved or not. Drew told Willow that he had a surprise for her, and they left. Donna asked why Jack was out so late and suggested he go to bed. She wondered why we have bad dreams, and Jack explained dreams to her. He said when we had bad dreams, something was bothering us. Cyrus told Elizabeth, in his first attempt to free Lulu, he used the wrong medication and drew unwanted attention. She said, that’s why Lulu’s liver failed. He freed Lulu, just not in the way he intended. She understood that, but why kill Sam? He said, Sam got in the way of him carrying out the Lord’s. Her donation would keep Lulu going, but not free her from her prison. Elizabeth asked if it was punishment, but he said it was a consequence of obstructing the Lord’s will. He also discovered that digitalis was the best way to free everyone else. She said it was fast, effective, and relatively painless. But what about Dex? He’d been young and healthy.

Cyrus said, Dex had been in the vicinity of Sam’s room and seen him, and Elizabeth said, it sounded less like God’s will and more like something the old Cyrus would do. He said Dex almost killed him on Sonny’s orders, but he had no malice in his heart. Cyrus flashed back to taking Dex’s hospital wristband when Dex was in the morgue. He said he had to remove Dex, and Elizabeth said, because of his mission. What would happen to the souls that needed to be freed? He said she understood, and she said he was able to help try to free Michael. He said he wanted to liberate Michael from his physical suffering, and she asked if there wasn’t another reason. He’d spoken about how his mother was suffering. He said, that’s what awakened him to his purpose. Martin had her living what barely qualified as a life. If he could set her free, he would. She said, it was a different type of healing, and he thanked her for understanding the importance of his mission.

Emma thanked Josslyn for her donation, but pressure her again for her presence. A worker came in to relieve Josslyn and she left. Gio told Emma that her approach needed work, and Emma said, friends speak the truth. He said she was a great salesperson, and he appreciated her passion. Chase told Dante that it wasn’t Brook, it was him, but Dante said there was more than one way to have a family. Chase said Brook deserved to be a mom and he’d do anything to be a dad.

Elizabeth said Cyrus’s purpose was not unlike hers, to help and heal, and he said nothing was going to jeopardize his mission. She should understand why he had to do this. He brought out the syringe and came toward her, when Lucky burst in. He told Cyrus, get away from her!

Lucas left and Brad sighed. Curtis told Portia about asking Drew to leave. There were no threats, but he wanted to make it clear whose club it was. He didn’t need Drew to ruin his evening. Drew showed Willow his new house and she said she loved it. Brook said it was part of Lulu’s job to answer the phone and be warm and courteous, especially to those who had a rare ingredient that was impossible to get. Lulu said she was at first, and Brook asked if she ever thought of anyone besides herself. Lulu said Brook got everything she wanted. She had the perfect life, job, and husband, and would have the perfect children. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante walked in and asked, what’s going on?

Cyrus told Lucky not to get in the way, and Elizabeth broke free. Cyrus tried to stab Lucky with the syringe, and they struggled.

Dante told Brook where Chase was, and she left. He asked what Lulu said, and Lulu told him that she’d said Brook’s life was perfect. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante suggested she back off, and Lulu said, all Brook did was complain about her perfect life. She woke up after four years in a coma to a life she didn’t recognize. By comparison, Brook’s life was heaven. Dante told her to cut Brook some slack. She found out she and Chase couldn’t have children. Emma thanked Gio for his patience, honesty, and commitment to the cause, and he said he enjoyed her company too. Portia asked if Brad had a nice Valentine’s Day and he said, better than expected. She said she was glad to hear it and would see him at work. She told Curtis that she wanted to put the bad stuff behind her and was focusing on what was right in front of her. Willow said she was sure Drew wanted to find a home for Scout, and he said, also for you and our kids, and asked her to move in with him.  While Carly put Donna back in bed, Jack’s phone rang. By the time Carly returned, Jack had his coat on. She asked if something was wrong and he said, unfortunately, something came up at work. They agreed to another time and kissed.

Lucky got the better of Cyrus, but Cyrus stabbed Lucky in the leg with the syringe. Elizabeth called 911 as she came down the stairs and saw the syringe sticking out of Lucky’s leg.

Thursday:

 Brook came home to find Chase, rose petals, and champagne. Dante told Lulu that there was a fertility issue with Chase.

Lucky slugged Cyrus and got a syringe in the leg for his trouble. Cyrus jumped up, tried to strangle lucky, and fled, while Elizabeth called 911. Jordan met with Laura, who wanted to make the esplanade happen, but still protect the city. Anna joined them and Laura said, in a potential battle between Sonny, Drew, and Sidwell, who was the biggest threat? (It’s like, Superman vs. the dinosaurs.) Drew asked Willow to move in with the kids. Jason went to Sam’s grave and said he needed to make a choice between what he wanted and what he thought she wanted. Josslyn snuck around Cyrus’s apartment and looked through his stuff.

Stella came to The Savoy to have a nightcap with Curtis, who had a special Valentine’s Day cocktail for her. Portia left and Stella asked if there was something else going on. He said there may be a favor only she could provide. Lucky was unconscious and Elizabeth did chest compression. Brook and Chase kissed, but she pulled away and said she couldn’t believe she was so lucky. He said, but he couldn’t give her a baby. Lulu felt terrible for Brook and Chase, and Dante said Brook had been nothing but supportive. He said being a father was one of the greatest joys of his life and Lulu said, the same for her with being a mother. Laura asked if Anna would bring Sonny down if she found evidence to do it, and Anna said, Drew was encouraging it. Jordan said that worried her because Drew wanted to align himself with Sidwell. Anna and Laura agreed and said he wanted the port to move his illegal merchandise. Jordan said Drew had a lot of influence, but she’d rather deal with the devil she knew than Sidwell. Willow thought the kids had been bounced around enough and Drew said he wanted all the kids to have stability. He tried his best to talk her into moving in.

Jason told Sam that he could kill Cyrus and get away with it, and he wanted to kill him. One thing held him back. He knew Sam wanted him to put their son before his need for vengeance. Josslyn continued to toss Cyrus’s place. Lulu said Brook knew things about Dante that she didn’t and it was hard, but he said, it shouldn’t be. Carly used their history to break them up, but Brook knew it was wrong and still felt terrible. It was a long time ago and time to let it go. They were friends and that was it. Brook said she meant their vows from the bottom of her heart, but Chase said she couldn’t have expected this. She said it was hard, but sometimes plans changed. It didn’t mean they still couldn’t be parents. Willow told Drew that nothing about their situation was perfect. For one, she was still married. Drew said Michael had filed for divorce and was out of the country, and Willow said he was fighting for his life. Drew said she was alone with the kids, and she said Wiley adored his father. She hadn’t told Wiley that they were splitting up, so moving in felt wrong. Jason promised to always put Danny first.

Josslyn almost left, but kept looking until she found an envelope with hospital wristbands in it, particularly Dex and Sam’s. Laura said they couldn’t have Port Charles in a territory battle and Jordan said Drew was different and not in a good way. Anna said Drew’s willingness to align himself with Sidwell was worrisome, and Laura asked if they could no longer trust him. Anna left to take a call about Cyrus, and Laura got a call from Elizabeth, who told her to get to the hospital right away. Lucky was in trouble.

Curtis said he understood Stella was friends with Congressman Douglas Henderson and she said they went way back. They agreed he was a good man and influential in Washington. Curtis said he needed Stella to introduce him, and he needed to develop a relationship before Drew destroyed everything he was building. Willow said she cared about Drew so much and he said he didn’t want to pressure her. They had the rest of their lives. He thought when she was ready, they should tell the kids about their relationship together, but she said she didn’t want to talk to them while Michael was recovering. Lulu said part of her was threatened by Brook. Not because of Dante, but she lost four years, and it was like Brook stepped into the important parts of her life. Dante suggested she felt like Brook took her place in all their lives and she said, maybe. She was starting to wonder if she had a place there at all. Chase said Brook was a natural at being a mom and she said, however they brought a child into their lives, it would be together, and it would be a part of both of them. Anna arrived at Elizabeth’s where an officer filled her in on what happened and said Cyrus fled the scene. They had an APB out on him and Lucky was in the hospital. Elizabeth told Isaiah that Lucky had been given digitalis and Laura showed up at the hospital. Josslyn said, Dex didn’t deserve this, and took photos. Cyrus walked in.

Lulu said she sounded selfish, but Dante said she wasn’t. She said it was hard to realize the family you wanted wasn’t going to happen and wanted to apologize, but he said Chase told him in confidence. Her phone rang and she told Dante that it was Lucky and ran out. Anna said they’d waited too long to arrest Cyrus and now Lucky could die. On his way in, Aiden overheard. Elizabeth told Laura about Cyrus attacking Lucky because she and Lucky suspected him of killing people, including Sam. He’d said it was a divine calling, saving them from their suffering, and he was the reason Lulu’s liver failed. Cyrus got an ax and said Josslyn shouldn’t have come. Josslyn said he’d killed Sam and Dex and wasn’t getting away with it. He said they’d gotten in the way of his mission, and she had too. He came after her and she shot him.

Cyrus said now Josslyn was the murderer and died (I think). Anna brought Aiden to the hospital and talked to Elizabeth. Chase said if they adopted it wouldn’t be fair to Brook, but she said she didn’t look at it that way. Families were created all different ways, and none was better than the other. He said he was robbing her of the experience. Curtis said Drew was gunning for him and wouldn’t hesitate to stop projects from going through at the federal level, even if they helped his constituents. He’d changed and become vindictive. Stella said he’d backstabbed Curtis and Curtis said Drew would bring the same dark energy to Washington. Would she help him?

Drew came home and Jason was there. Lulu and Dante arrived at the hospital, and Lulu went to see Lucky. Dante wanted in on finding Cyrus and Anna said okay. Josslyn moved the ax, then checked Cyrus’s pulse. She looked at Jason and Jack’s numbers, then made a call. She said, I need your help.

Stella said Drew was gunning for Curtis and she needed to let Doug know what a snake Drew was. There were few people she held in as high a regard. Curtis could count her in, but a word of advice. Drew didn’t like a mirror held up to him. She asked why he was coming after Curtis. Drew said he wasn’t in the mood for another battle, but Jason said he was here to make peace. Drew asked why the hell he would want to, and Jason said, for Sam. Chase said it was because of him that Brook wouldn’t experience a miracle growing inside her and she cried for him to stop. She’d had a baby. She’d been pregnant before. Isaiah came out and Laura asked if her son was alive. Anna found out Cyrus was heading southeast in his car. Josslyn paced the apartment when someone came in. It was Jack. 

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada:

Chase says, what does Brook mean, she had a baby? Is she talking about Bailey Lou, when she pretended to be pregnant? She says she wasn’t pretending. She got pregnant in high school and had a baby. She gave the baby up and never told anyone except her ma, not even the father. Chase asks if Ned knows, but she says, no. She knows it’s a lot to take in. He says, she got pregnant when she was a teenager and has been carrying the secret ever since.

Tracy wants to go over the menu for the library board dinner with Sasha and asks for some tea. Sasha asks if she wants her special blend, and Tracy says, yes. Sasha says, but first, she thought Tracy should know a P.I. has been snooping around. She’s pretty sure it’s to get dirt on Michael. Tracy asks, what makes her say that? and Sasha says she had an encounter with a woman named Elaine and her dog outside Bobbie’s and then in the park. Eventually, Elaine told Sasha herself that someone was looking into her. Tracy asks what Sasha told Elaine before she knew.

Drew says, Jason, of all people, walks into his house demanding peace, and Jason says he wants to respect Sam’s wishes that Danny and Scout stay together, but it’s never going to happen when they’re at each other’s throats. So he’s here about a truce for the kids. Drew says, now he wants to honor Sam’s wishes? He’s just asking because Jason clearly didn’t care when Jason ambushed him the night before the funeral and he’s trying to figure this out. What changed?

Isaiah tells Laura and Lulu that they were able to stabilize Lucky, but he’s in guarded condition. Aiden asks what that means, and Isaiah says he gave Aiden’s dad medication to counteract the digitalis. Since they don’t know how much digitalis is in Lucky’s system, it’s too soon for a definite prognosis. Aiden asks if that’s bad, but Elizabeth says, they can’t say yet. Aiden says, dad might not make it, and she hugs him.  

Portia tells Lucky, hang in there. He made it all the way home from Africa in one piece. Now he has to make it through this.

Anna tells Dante that they tracked Cyrus’s car to Route 41, and Dante wonders why he’s headed in that direction. There’s nothing out there. Does she think Lucky will be okay? She says she doesn’t know. She hopes so. She’s just grateful Elizabeth wasn’t hurt. Dante wonders, why go after Elizabeth, of all people? and Anna says, Cyrus found out that she and Lucky were asking questions at GH and Turning Woods. He didn’t want them to connect him to the murders. He says, did they? and she says, they found evidence that proves it, and he admitted to Elizabeth that he killed Dex and Sam, among others. She asks if Dante is all right, and he says, yeah, because they got him. Anna says, they did, and Cyrus knows that. If he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison, he’s going to disappear. Dante says, he can run, but there’s no way that bastard can hide.

Jack walks into the cabin and tells Josslyn to hand him the weapon. Josslyn gives the gun to him, and he checks it over. He checks Cyrus’s pulse, and Josslyn says she already did that. He’s dead. Jack says, yes, he is, and she says, Cyrus tried to attack her. He was going to kill her. Jack says he knows. He was outside when it happened. Did she call anyone else? She says, no, just him, and he says, good. They still have a small window in which to clean up. She asks if they shouldn’t call the police, and he says, they could. Or they could take care of it themselves.

Brook says she’s so sorry she never told Chase. It was a strange time. When she realized she was pregnant, she was terrified. She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t ready to be a mom. Chase says, of course (🍷) not. She was just a kid. He can’t imagine how scared and alone she felt. She says, at least she had her mom, and he asks if Lois stepped up. Brook says, big time. She was incredible. She wasn’t thrilled Brook got pregnant in the first place, but once the shock wore off, Lois was in her corner 100%. He says he’s glad, but not surprised. Was it hard to decide? She says, terminating the pregnancy didn’t feel like an option at the time. She knew she’d be having the baby and the decision not to keep it came to her pretty quickly. There was just no way she could be a mom. He says he gets it, and she says, when it came down to it, she knew the rest of the family could never find out. She was already so overwhelmed, the last thing she needed were the judgements and opinions of the family. So she went on tour with her mom for five months, had the baby, and went back to her life. Her mom made all the arrangements. He says he assumes it was a closed adoption, and she says she never even saw the baby. She was afraid if she did, she couldn’t give it up. He says, so she doesn’t know if she had a boy or a girl? and she says, no. He says, it must have been insanely hard, especially at that age, and she says, he isn’t angry with her?

Isaiah says he wishes he could promise Aiden’s dad was going to be okay, but they just don’t know. He’s in ICU and being closely monitored. Elizabeth says, they’re doing everything they can, and Isaiah says, they know how strong Lucky is. Lulu says, the absolute strongest, and Aiden says he’s sorry for freaking out. Isaiah says he gets it. Lucky is the best friend he’s ever had. Laura asks if it’s possible for someone to sit with Lucky now, and Isaiah says, absolutely. Laura tells Elizabeth and Aiden to go first and tell Lucky that his mother and sister love him. Aiden and Elizabeth leave to go to Lucky’s room, and Lulu says, Lucky is going to be okay. Laura says she knows. He’ll survive Cyrus like Lulu just did. They hug.

Jason says, Scout and her siblings just lost their mom, and Drew says he’s aware. Jason says, they need to be together, so he and Drew need to work together. Drew says, Jason doesn’t play well with others, and Jason says, Drew doesn’t like how he lives. He doesn’t like how Drew lives. But it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it’s okay for the kids because they’re family. Drew says, and Jason knows all about family.

Sasha says she told Elaine her approximate due date. That’s it. She’s not sure what Elaine was looking for, but she assumes Willow’s lawyer hired her. Tracy says, good guess, and Sasha says she just thought Tracy would like to know that somebody is being investigated. Tracy thanks her for the intel, and Sasha says she’s welcome… Tracy is holding something back. She can tell. Tracy says she’s been known for that, and Sasha tells her, say it. Tracy says she promised not to ask invasive questions, and Sasha asks if she has one. Tracy asks, if Jason is the father, are they planning on getting married? and Sasha says she gets it. Tracy wants to know what she’s looking to make off the Quartermaine name.

On the phone, Anna says, let her know if they turn up anything, and Dante says, it was smart of her to contact Pentenville. Cyrus was in there a long time. He must have made connections. Anna says she was thinking a former associate could tell them where Cyrus might go. The longer they’re without a lead, the less likely they are to track Cyrus. He asks if Elizabeth said why Cyrus killed the patients, and Anna says she thinks it was some kind of divine mission to release them from their suffering. From what he told Elizabeth, he’s been doing it since he got out of prison. Dante says, it doesn’t make sense. Dex and Sam were healthy. Why target them? She says, they got in his way.

In Lucky’s room, Elizabeth asks how he’s doing, and Portia says, he’s holding his own. Elizabeth says, that’s good news, and Portia says she’ll let them have time alone with him. Portia leaves and they go over to the bed. Elizabeth says she’s here. So is Aiden. He needs to hang on and come back to them. She’s going to say it again when he opens his eyes, but she thanks him for saving her life tonight. Aiden says, mom’s safe now and he has to wake up.

Jack says, they don’t have to call the police, and asks where Josslyn got the gun. She says, it’s Dex’s. Everybody knows how much she hates Cyrus and that she thinks he killed Dex. Now she killed him with Dex’s gun. Who will believe it was in self-defense? Jack says, coming in the cabin with a gun does imply intent, and she says, he knows what happened. He says he wasn’t in the room. Technically, people could say he didn’t see what happened. She says, he doesn’t believe her, and he says he does, but it won’t hold up in a court of law. He can take care of it, but once the WSB is involved, no one can know what happened, not even her mother. Can she do that? If not, they’ll call the police right now. She looks at Cyrus’s body and nods. She says she can do it. Stay quiet. Jack says, they’re leaving… and she says, but her fingerprints… He says, now. If anyone asks her, she was never at the cabin. Does she understand? She nods and they leave.

Drew says, ever since he found out he and Jason were twins, his whole life hinged on one moment. What if Susan Moore had brought him back to Port Charles instead of Jason? He would have grown up with Monica and Alan and would have lived the life of luxury as a Quartermaine. Instead, he got Betsy Frank, a group home, and he was on his own at 18. Jason says he had no control over that, and Drew says, they loved Jason, despite his never having appreciated it and hurting their parents, breaking their hearts over and over. He had no need of anything Quartermaine. Jason says, they’re done, but Drew says, it’s his house. He’ll tell Jason when they’re done. Jason wants to come back home? Now that Drew has made a place for himself and took the Quartermaine name. Now he wants to come back? That’s perfect. He and the Quartermaines can have each other. He’ll be over here with his daughter. Jason says, he’s okay with Scout losing Sam, Danny, and Rocco all at once? and Drew says, what Scout is going through breaks his heart, but as her father, he’ll do what’s best for her – always.

Jordan asks if Anna had any luck, and Anna says she had them run the name Paul Damascus and Cyrus never used it before, but when they were running the DEA list of Cyrus’s associates, a name jumped out – Gatlin. Jordan says, Cyrus has a connection to a Gatlin family based in Pautuck, and Anna says, a deep connection? Jordan says, decades, and Anna says, a doctor at GH was shot dead in 2023 who was from Pautuck. Dante says, the murder was never solved, and Jordan says, the doctor had several properties in Pautuck. Anna makes a call, and says she’ll need a list of properties southeast of Port Charles rented or owned by a Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.

Josslyn walks into Jack’s office, and he asks if anybody saw her come in. She says, no, and he tells her to go to the bathroom and shower. Wash away all the evidence. Leave her clothes, jewelry, and phone, anything she brought to the cabin, in the bathroom. There’s a change of clothes for her in there. Can she handle that? She says, yeah, and when she leaves, Jack takes out the gun, wipes it, and puts it on his desk. Colette comes in and says she got his message. Jack says, Cyrus Renault is dead, and she asks, what the hell happened?

In the bathroom, Josslyn flashes back to Cyrus coming at her and her shooting him. She throws up.

Jack tells Colette that Josslyn had a gun he wasn’t aware of, but it’s fine. She only called him. She says, still, the clean-up might not be as easy as he thinks. Renault attacked Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Baldwin tonight. Lucky is in the hospital and there’s an APB out on Renault. Who knows how long it will take Anna to find the cabin?

Laura says, does Lulu remember her saying how Cyrus visited her? and Lulu says, it was too creepy to forget. Laura says, Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had plans to free her from her coma, and Lulu says, aka kill her. Laura says, something went wrong, and it only affected her liver, and Lulu says, Cyrus caused her liver failure? Laura says, yes. She’s very sorry. Lulu says, why? and Laura says, because Cyrus is her brother. Lulu says, it’s not exactly her fault, and Larua says she knows that, but in retrospect, she can see that strange fascination he had in her. Lulu says, no one could predict he would do this, and Laura says, he’s a very sick man, but if Lulu hadn’t woken up when she did… Oh my God. Laura hugs her, cries, and says, they would have lost her.

Aiden says, it’s been cool having Lucky home. It made him realize how much he missed him. Thanks for showing up and being on his side. And grandma and Aunt Lulu want him to know they love him. Elizabeth says, they all think he’s had enough beauty rest now. Come out of this. Aiden says, he has to wake up. He just has to. Suddenly, an alarm goes off.

Jason asks if Drew is really going to keep Scout from her brothers, and Drew says, Scout’s got him. And they’ll have Willow and her kids. It’s all the family they need and she’s going nowhere near the Quartermaines. Jason says, because Drew got his feelings hurt? but Drew says, because the Quartermaines are terrible people. He did all he could to fit in. He did everything he could to keep the family going. The second he does something for himself, they can’t turn their backs fast enough. Because he fell in love with the wrong woman. Compared to what they’ve done? To a murderer hitman, it’s always home. Jason says, Drew is making a huge mistake, but Drew says he doesn’t think so. The Quartermaine name, he’s got it. The Quartermaine money, it’s in the bank. He doesn’t need the people and headache that go along with it. We’re done. He opens the door and says, get out of my house. Jason walks out.

Sasha says she is not discussing her personal life, and Tracy says, good. Just listen. She didn’t get knocked up by some random guy at a bar, a one-night stand with a Quartermaine. Sasha says, allegedly, and Tracy says, allegedly a Quartermaine, but not just any Quartermaine, a family favorite. Sasha says, not hers, and Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s wanted nothing to do with him for years, but her mother adored him, as did Monica. He could do no wrong in their eyes. Sasha asks how many times she has to say it. She doesn’t want or expect anything from the family. Tracy says, what does the family expect from her? and she asks, what happened to her right to make decisions for her own baby? Tracy says, she does, but she can’t keep going ahead like the baby is exclusively hers. Not if it’s a Quartermaine.

Chase tells Brook that he’s not angry with her. Just the opposite. He hates that she had to keep the secret for so long. She says she hated keeping it from him, when she let herself think about it. She trained herself not to. He says, she compartmentalized, and she says she put it in a box and rarely took it out. He says, it makes sense. How is she supposed to move on? She says, the baby was with her for 9 months technically. She loved him or her so much. She wanted to give them the best life possible. He says, she has no idea where they went? and she says, no. She trusted her mom, who worked with the agency to find a good home. She’s so sorry for lying. He says, show him the lie. All she did was keep part of her past private. Just because they’re married, she doesn’t have to share every little thing. She says, it’s not little, and he says, maybe not, but she gets to choose who she shares it with and who she doesn’t want asking questions. He does want to know one thing.

Josslyn wipes the steam from the bathroom mirror. She flashes back to looking at dead Cyrus and leans on the sink.

Jack says, Anna’s not aware of the cabin, and Colette says, not yet, but it’s just a matter of time. He asks if they’re monitoring the PCPD radio, and she says, Renault was spotted on Route 41. The police know his direction and it’s not a densely populated area. He says, the cabin is one of the few options, and she asks if he honestly thinks Josslyn can keep quiet. She’s just a kid. She’ll want to tell someone. He says, let him worry about Josslyn. It’s her job to get a team to the cabin before Anna finds it. She says, a total clean-up? and he says, with one exception.

Isaiah runs into Lucky’s room and Elizabeth hustles Aiden out. Isaiah uses the defibrillator on Lucky.

Lulu tells Laura that Dr. Gannon said her body’s reaction to the liver transplant could be why she woke up after four years. If Cyrus hadn’t tried to kill her, she probably wouldn’t have woken up. Laura says she guesses Lulu is right, and Lulu says, if she hadn’t needed a liver transplant, Sam would be here. Laura says, they’ve been through this. She can’t let herself think like that. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. That’s on Cyrus. She doesn’t care about his crazy savior story. He’s been killing people. If she needs to point a finger, put the blame where it belongs, on Cyrus. And the people he paid off or blackmailed to get out of prison. He never should have been let out.

Elizabeth and Aiden come out and Elizabeth says, Lucky’s heart stopped. He’s in defibrillation. Aiden says, his dad is dying.

They continue to use the paddles on Lucky, and Isaiah says, come on. Don’t do this to me. He begins chest compression.

Jack puts the gun in a bag, then in a bin. Josslyn comes back and he tells her to have a seat. She asks, what happens now? and he asks if she told anyone where she went. She says, no, and he asks if she told anyone the address. She says, no, she didn’t tell anyone. Why did Colette give her the address? He says, she set everything in motion when she asked to see the footage from Rice Plaza, and she says, when she was finding out who killed Dex? He says, it was strategic thinking on her part, and she says, it got her nowhere. The footage was gone. He says, no, it wasn’t, and shows her a still shot of Cyrus. He says, it shows her instincts were spot on, and she says she doesn’t understand. He knew the whole time and didn’t go to the police? He says he wanted to see what she’d do.

Brook says, ask anything, and Chase asks if she’s okay. She says, that’s his one question? and he says he can’t imagine going through something so huge. In high school, his biggest stressor was if he’d make varsity or not. She had to choose a future, not just for her, but her child. She’s amazing. He was already thinking she’s so strong and he didn’t know the half of it.

Isaiah says, Lucky never quit on him before. Don’t quit now.

Anna suggests Dante go see Lulu and find out how Lucky is doing. He says, she put him back on the case, and she says she told him that he could work on the case, not personally apprehend Cyrus. He asks if she thinks he’d go rogue and kill Cyrus. He’s thought about it and death is too easy an out. He’ll follow protocol. Anna’s phone rings and she asks, what’s the address?… Send units. She’ll be right there. Dante says, that’s off Route 41, and Anna says, let’s go now. Dante asks Jordan to keep them posted on Lucky, and she says, will do. Good luck.

Portia says, they got him back. Lucky is stable. Aiden says, he’s going to be okay? and Portia nods. Lulu says, his dad is strong and hugs him. Elizabeth hugs Aiden and Laura hugs Lulu.

Sasha says, privacy is starting to be impossible in this house, and Tracy says, starting? Too funny. Sasha can keep playing the who’s-the-daddy game all she wants, but she’s inclined to believe Cody. Sasha says, fine. Jason is the father. Happy? Tracy shrugs, when Jason walks in. Sasha says she is so done with this day and walks past him and out. Tracy says she guesses congratulations are in order.

Josslyn says, Jack knew Cyrus killed Dex and did nothing? but he says, on the contrary. He fed her clues and followed her. She asks if he’s playing some game because he’s into her mom, but he says, it’s got nothing to do with Carly. It’s clear Josslyn is special. She’s got all the qualities necessary to make a great agent – ingenuity, initiative, willing and able to do what’s necessary. She asks, necessary for what? and he says, for the WSB. He wants her to become one of them.

Brook says, truly, Chase isn’t upset? If he were, she would understand. He says, stop and think. Would she be? She says, so many of their past problems were because of her lying, and this is another one of those times, but he says he doesn’t consider this a lie. He’s curious. Why tell him now? She says, he was beating himself up about her not getting pregnant naturally. She couldn’t stand it. He says, once it had a bearing on their relationship, she told him. She can tell him anything. She says she kept it buried so long, and he thanks her for sharing such an intimate part of herself. She says she loves him and trusts him with her life, and he says, right back at her. They kiss.

Laura says she can’t thank them enough, and Portia says, Lucky is still being monitored closely, but the danger has passed as of now. Aiden thanks her for saving Lucky’s life, and she says she had a lot of help. Isaiah says, Lucky refused to give up, and Aiden says he wants to thank Isaiah too.

Isaiah goes into Lucky’s room and says, it’s not cool making him sweat like that. He guesses it wouldn’t be Lucky if he wasn’t a colossal pain in the ass. He thanks Lucky and says he doesn’t know what he would have done if he’d lost him.

Tracy says, Jason isn’t planning on moving out. This is Danny’s home, and he needs stability. Jason agrees he does, and he’ll do whatever it takes to give that to Danny. Tracy says she knows the living situation is not his first choice – or second or third – but she’s glad his priority is Danny. It shows his loyalty is to the family, because they are family. Despite the past, he’s one of them. Jason says, just not one she wants around. Drew is coming for him.

Josslyn says, Jack set her up to kill Cyrus so he could hold it over her head to join the WSB, but he says he didn’t know she had access to a gun. Did anyone else know? She says, no, and he asks why she brought it. She says, to protect herself – obviously – which does not make her a spy. He says, it does. She shields herself not by hiding, but by acting. What happened in the cabin? Tell him. Josslyn says she found the patients’ ID bracelets and saw how many Cyrus killed. There was one for Dex. Cyrus was going to attack her with a hatchet and she shot him in self-defense. He says, if Cyrus hadn’t attacked her, would she have not pulled the trigger, and Josslyn cries and says she doesn’t know. He says, good thing they didn’t call police then.

Anna’s team approaches the cabin. Anna nods and Dante kicks in the door.

Brook says, it was stupid not to tell him sooner, but Chase says, she told him when she was ready. He wonders if she’s judging herself for her decision, and she says, a decision that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. What if she gave up the baby and it didn’t give them a better life? He asks if she wants to try and find her child, but she says she doesn’t know. He asks if she ever tried, and she says, no. He asks if she thought about it, and she says, of course (🍷), but wouldn’t it be unfair to crash into the child’s life after letting them go? He says, having Brook in their life could only make It better. Trust him. It’s 100% her decision, but if she decides to try to find them, he’ll help in any way he can.

Tracy says, Drew is coming after all of them. She assumes he’s the one who convinced Willow to hire a P.I. to find something that she can use against Michael in the divorce. Jason says, Drew blames the whole family for turning against him, and she says, they’ve made Drew the enemy. She can’t believe she’s saying this, but she’s so glad he’s here. They need him. Welcome home. She pats his shoulder and leaves.

Aiden says, they’re all here. Laura and his mom are here. Lulu says, hey, big brother, and Aiden says, they love him and can’t wait for him to wake up. Lulu tells Lucky, hurry up. Patience is not her strong suit.

Jordan says she heard Isaiah saved another life. Congratulations. Isaiah says, it was a close one and he’s not responsible. It was difficult and he thought he’d lose Lucky. Jordan says she speaks for all Lucky’s loved ones. She’s grateful he fought so hard for his friend. Isaiah says, he’s grateful to Lucky. He’s too stubborn to die.

Inside the cabin, an officer tells Anna, the surrounding area is clear, and Anna says, expand the radios. She tells Dante, aside from everything being completely dust free, no one has inhabited this cabin lately. Dante says, there’s no sign of anything, and Anna tells the officer, get forensics here asap. He leaves, and Anna says, if Cyrus was in the cabin, he left something behind. They have to find what it is.

Josslyn says, what about the evidence in the cabin? and Jack says, it’s been taken care of. Josslyn says, even if she doesn’t accept the offer? and he says, even if. But he strongly urges her to consider it. She’d make one hell of an agent. As far as tonight goes, she needs a story. He hands her some cash and says, buy herself a new phone. Say she lost hers. Her car was driven here. Can she drive home? She says, yes, and he says, be in touch. She leaves, and Colette comes in. Colette says, she gets to walk out, just like that? and Jack says, yes. When she comes back, it’s better if she thinks it’s her idea.

On Monday, Anna needs someone at the station right now; Kai says Trina is the only reason he’s not losing his mind right now; Kristina tells Molly that she’s never going to believe in the system again; and Brook tells Lois that she told Chase everything.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I was kind of surprised they didn’t go the whodunit route, but it was still a great end. Loved him pouring his heart out to Elizabeth. We’ll miss you, Jeff Kober!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/behind-the-scenes-of-cyrus-death-with-eden-mccoy

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jeff-kober-says-goodbye-to-gh-with-the-best-death

Maybe Lucky will be waking up a different man.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-temporarily-recasts-lucky-with-guy-wilson

Finally, we meet Tobias.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/charlie-besso-cast-as-tobias-on-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/colin-cassidy-thought-he-blew-his-audition-for-aiden-on-gh

It does really sound like a goodbye.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/tajh-bellow-shares-a-special-message-for-his-gh-fans

Picking up the pieces.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-shows-off-his-new-house

She left behind a body of work to be proud of.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-and-oltl-alum-alice-hirson-dead-at-95

Beyond the usual soap.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jon-lindstrom-and-cady-mcclain-join-the-cast-of-beyond-the-gates

How they celebrated with their sweeties.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-the-stars-and-their-sweethearts-spent-valentines-day

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

While I didn’t watch this, I did read about Harry’s accident. Yikes!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The trip to see Sutton’s mom ended, and Sutton finally heard I love you from Reba. In Sutton’s interview, she said she hadn’t felt like this with her mother since her sophomore year in college on Mother’s weekend. Dorit was having a 4th of July barbecue, per tradition with her kids, but adding the women. In Dorit’s interview, she said it felt like there was definitely something missing because PK wasn’t there, and she wanted to have fun with her friends and kids. Good luck with that first one. Sutton got there first, and there were zero people to greet her, a huge party faux pas, no matter who you are. You don’t just leave people to wander around on their own. Kyle came next, Dorit still nowhere to be found, and they noticed a table of framed photos that they dubbed a shrine to PK. It was 40 minutes before Dorit made her appearance. Although she still couldn’t be bothered to greet Sutton. When she finally did, she snatched Sutton’s bag and insisted Sutton give it to her, literally not giving it back. In her interview, she said it was about Sutton interrupting her talking about Jagger – we flashed back, and Sutton had good reason – but giving her the bag would equal forgiveness. It was a hard no.

The spread was amazing, and things were good for like, five minutes, until Dorit made a jab at Sutton about drinking alcohol. What is wrong with that woman? Sutton said she was a bitch, which caused Dorit to spiral because Sutton had called her a bitch in her own home. Here’s a hint. If you don’t want to be called a bitch, don’t be one. In her interview, Sutton said Dorit had never apologized for insinuating she had a drinking problem, and we flashed back to Dorit’s various comments about it. Sutton decided she was going to jet, and in the bitch’s Dorit’s interview, she intimated that there must be something to it if Sutton was making such a big deal. No. She’s just sick of you calling her an alcoholic. In Kyle’s interview, she tried to compare her tirade and walking out of Boz’s spa day, even though it was not at all the same thing. Boz thought Sutton leaving was rude, and Garcelle told Boz to quit being Dorit’s spokesperson. Kyle was also irritated with Dorit agreeing with everything Boz said, but they ended up hugging it out. For now.

Where are they now?

Let’s talk about the husband.

Summer House

They toasted to how mature they were. Here’s where I would look at the camera if there was one. Ciara brought up West’s New York Times article at dinner, which is where sensitive, anger inducing topics are always broached. Lindsay broke the tension by needing to run to the bathroom. West kinda sorta apologized to Ciara, Paige avoided getting together with Craig, and it was the same old except for Lindsay being pregnant.

This picture is so weird. It’s like they were suddenly plopped in from different climates.

Southern Charm

Molly, Taylor, and Rodrigo did flamingo yoga, which is like goat yoga but with flamingoes. Biggest reveal? Craig watches a lot of 90 Day Fiancé. Me too! The biggest non-surprise? Sienna is so not interested in a relationship with Shep. I would say it was painful to watch, but seeing him get a taste of his own medicine was too delicious.

Southern Hospitality

It was back from Vegas and back to reality after Maddi and Joe’s fake wedding by Elvis impersonator. She seemed to be wearying of Joe’s attention. The best quote: I’m the bitch that runs the bitches who think they run the bitch.Michols Peña

Random Reality Items

Now there will be no let up about him proposing. Not from Dolores, but everyone else.

Do we really need another branch of the franchise? They’re always intriguing in the beginning. Then they degenerate into a screaming match.

In a surprise twist, Lady Gaga has time to watch TV.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Cassandra. Netflix. My favorite horror genres are in this order: Zombie apocalypse, any zombies, any apocalypse, technology is evil, large monsters like Godzilla and/or dinosaurs, and sharks. This imported miniseries from Germany falls under technology being evil, but with a twist. Cassandra is the face behind a smart house and she’s out of control. The surprise is, she has a backstory, that’s told parallel to the nightmare of the family who moves in.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. Amazon Prime. And in my favorite genre, reveled clearly in the title, this was one exciting zombie romp. A Spanish thriller based on a book, the story revolves around a man and his cat who are trying to make it to a safe place. The action and the special effects were impressive. It wasn’t 2 hours of my life I wanted back and it gave me the zombie fix I so desperately needed. No spoilers here:

Lots of spoilers here. Turn back if you do not want to be spoiled.

https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/i-watched-amazons-new-zombie-movie-holy-cow-i-have-things-to-say

👍One To Watch…

While the words love story aren’t usually in my viewing queue, these two make it look like it will be a fun time. This show also looks like an enriching learning experience about those who are different. One of the things reality TV should foster more.

🌁 Upcoming Watch…

It’s been decreed. The second season of The Last of Us will premiere on April 13th.

https://winteriscoming.net/the-last-of-us-season-2-release-date-revealed-and-we-called-it

🏆 Awards Corner…

BAFTA winners.

https://deadline.com/2025/02/bafta-film-awards-winners-list-conclave-emilia-perez-2025-1236291491/

Warming up for the Academy Awards on March 2nd.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/oscars-2025-red-carpet-events-parties-pictures-1236141330/

https://people.com/oprah-selena-gomez-and-ben-stiller-and-more-announced-as-2025-oscars-presenters-11682130

A new addition to the Daytime Emmys. Actually, it’s more of a pivot.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/the-daytime-emmy-awards-adds-a-new-category

It’s definitely her year. You’ll have to wait until June to see her Tony hosting skills though.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1413663/cynthia-erivo-set-to-host-2025-tony-awards

🐶 It’s Not How You Start…

Dog makes better than good.

https://people.com/abandoned-puppy-left-to-die-makes-finals-most-prestigious-dog-show-uk-crufts-11681282

🍯 Quotes Of the Week

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. – Laozi

I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. – Mozart

Freedom from desire leads to inner peace. – Lao Tzu

You’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind. – Timothy Leary

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Niccolò Machiavelli

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions. – Catherine Cook

You know what they say, candy is dandy, but yay weed. – Victoria Flynn (Katy Mixon), Mike & Molly

🧊 Colder Than a Well-Digger’s…

Until next week, stay safe; stay dressing for the weather, not the runway; and stay remembering, friends speak the truth.

January 17, 2025 – Michael Gets the Final Say, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Plus One, Getting There, Gate in the City, Exit Interview, Good Guy, Awards, The Players, Hebodomad Quotes & Things

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Willow said she was in charge of Michael’s medical care, and Michael went into cardiac arrest. Portia said Willow had the right to make decisions about Michael’s medical care, and Drew told Carly and Sonny, hand over the kids and they’d have access, like the trashbag he is. Carly said, Drew was pushing things to point of no return, so Willow would have no one to turn to but him. Nina finally talked Sonny into giving the kids back, and Willow thanked Drew because she’s an idiot in love with a trashbag.

Cody wanted to invest in crypto, but Tracy said it would be better to set his money on fire. Alrighty then. But later, Cody told Brad to call his Aunt Selina because he had a sure thing bet on football after he’d talked to Kai for 3 minutes. Later, Portia said she wanted to use Brad’s talent for bending the rules to find out what patients had gotten digitalis without it being prescribed. Brad was a busy guy this week.

Lulu told Laura about what happened in Prague and asked when Laura was going to tell her that Anna had shot Charlotte. She said she thought Dante was right in that she’d led the shooter to Valentin. Laura promised to help Lulu find Charlotte again.

Isaiah told Lucas that they could choose to do something, and risk Michael dying, or do nothing, and Michael would definitely die. He chose to do something and gave Michael a medication that counteracted the digitalis. Isaiah told Portia what happened with Michael, and they came to the genius conclusion that, someone in this hospital is killing people with digitalis.

Tracy and Stella talked about Monica, which was like a knife to the heart knowing that Leslie Charleson had passed away.

Tuesday:

Lucky talked to a woman from the Port Charles Redemption Mission and found out Cyrus’s focus was on patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Lucas told Elizabeth about Michael and how Isaiah had given him digoxin immune FAB to counteract the digitalis. Lucky said they had to figure out what connected all the digitalis victims and why Cyrus would want them dead. Jason told Sonny that whoever planted the bomb in the penthouse would try again.

Willow told the kids that Michael was in the hospital. Dante told Sonny what happened in Prague. Josslyn conferred with Lucky about Cyrus.

Drew showed up at Nina’s and after she slammed the door in his face, she let him in.  She said he’d moved Willow away from what she loved and valued with the sick hold he had over her and gave him the business. She said Drew wouldn’t know love if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

Tracy said she’d help Lulu if she had a solid lead, but Lulu needed to be more strategic and less emotional. Jason suggested the clinic in St. Petersburg where he’d been held hostage for Michael’s treatment, since Ava had her burns treated there. Sasha helped trick Willow into letting the kids go to the main house, and Tracy said, they weren’t leaving. Martin argued with Tracy about letting the kids go with Willow. Felicia said Jason and Carly had to leave the ICU, and Nina told Sonny that he had to go to the Quartermaines and get the kids from Tracy.

Wednesday:

Lucky and Elizabeth went to Beradino’s where Cyrus works. Josslyn went to Anna about Cyrus stabbing Dex. Alexis spoke to Drew about Sam’s wishes for Scout. Drew decided to commute to DC rather than live there. Carly wanted to call a press conference and out Drew, but Felicia told her not to make it worse than it already was.

Sonny talked to Tracy, who told him that Drew was the enemy and to handle him accordingly. Trina and Gio watched the game at The Brown Dog, and Emma showed up. (Since she was nuEmma, I didn’t realize she was also the pickpocket in Rice Plaza.) Cody was also at the bar. Alexis said Scout needed consistency and stability, and Drew said, maybe Willow was what she needed. Alexis wondered if it was less what Scout needed, and more what Drew needed. Tracy reminded Sonny that Michael was AJ’s son.

Felicia needed a drink, and Sasha was her designated driver. Elizabeth chatted Cyrus up while Lucky was in the bathroom, then suggested to Lucky that she volunteer at the mission. Carly asked Jack about the Boronsky clinic, and he said it no longer existed, but the burn expert was now in Germany. Carly badgered him about getting Michael into the German clinic. Jason showed up at the Quartermaines and asked Tracy to please give the children back. Tracy said it was the first time he’d ever said please, but then pulled the Monica card. Alexis suggested Scout move in with her, but Drew wasn’t having it. Anna questioned Cyrus, but Josslyn blew everything and alerted him to the investigation. Tracy said, for once in Jason’s life, don’t choose Sonny, choose his family, and he did.

Thursday:

Chase got checked out and Brook went to see Dr. Navarro. She told the doctor about her teenage pregnancy, and Dr. Navarro told her that it should have no impact on her trying to get pregnant now. Nina suggested Willow compromise, but Willow was all about what Drew said. She thought Nina was asking her to bow down to Carly and Sonny, but Nina said Willow needed empathy. Lay down her weapons and maybe they’d lay down theirs. Tracy said using the kids as bargaining chips wasn’t going to fly. They were where Monica wanted them and that’s where they were staying. (Keep twisting those knives.)

Kai ended up in the hospital and Cody had to pay off his bet. Carly told Tracy about transferring Michael to the burn expert, and asked how far Tracy would go if it was Ned. Tracy said, as far as she had to. Nina told Ava what was going on and that Willow’s life was in shambles because of Drew. Dante talked to Cody about Lulu, and Cody said, Dante could keep doing what he was doing and get shut out, or do things Lulu’s way.

Trina visited Kai in the hospital. Tracy sympathized with what Carly was going through as a mother, but it was about what Carly had put the family through for years. Tracy suggested Carly and Sonny find another way. Nina discussed the Willow/Drew situation with Ava. Selina tried to get Cody back in the game, and Dante wondered what was up, but Cody told Dante that he was okay. Alexis talked to Curtis about Drew. Nina wanted to get Willow thinking for herself again, and Ava said, tell Willow who he really is. When they were falling in love, he was having sex with her mother. Chase told Tracy that she couldn’t keep Wiley and Amelia from Willow and this had to stop. Willow asked to see Carly.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In her office, Brook leaves a voicemail for Chase that she’s done with her appointment and Dr. Navarro was super positive. She should get her test results soon, but maybe they should do something to relax, like spend a weekend in New York City. Have dinner and see a show, just them, and they can have baby making time. They’ll figure it out tonight. She loves him. Lulu comes in and asks if she’s interrupting.

Chase says, Tracy can’t keep the kids from their mom, and Tracy says, not him too. He has no idea how many times she’s had this conversation today. She was hoping for a break. He says, they’ve been through a lot, and he’d like to think they could be honest with each other. She says she’s going to stop him. He makes her granddaughter so happy, and she holds his entire family in the highest regard, so she’s going to put this as nicely as she can – butt out.

At the gallery, Lucas shows Ava a video on this phone, and she says, look how well Avery is dancing. Her costume is perfect. Lucas says, Avery was so proud. She wanted to make sure he recorded the rehearsal for Ava. She thanks him for bringing it, and he says he wanted to return the favor for her talking him down on Christmas Eve. She says, of course (🍷). She can’t stop thinking about the fire at Sonny’s. She’s so grateful Avery wasn’t there. She asks if they know the cause yet, but he says, all he knows is that the police are looking into it.

At Beradino’s, Cody looks at a cashier’s check and says he was so close to making his dreams come true. He sees Drew and walks over to him. He says he’d tell Drew that it’s nice to see him, but he’s far too sober to lie.  

Jordan starts a conversation with Martin near the bar, but then sees Drew and Cody and says she’s needed over there. Drew asks if Cody is disappointed that there’s’ nothing left to blackmail him with, and Cody says, you smug… Jordan tells him, don’t even think about it.

Outside Michael’s room, Willow says she’s glad Carly is here. She was hoping to talk with her and Sonny. Sonny joins them, and Willow thanks them for getting here so fast. Sonny says, it sounded important, and Willow says she knows they’re upset, and she understands why. She’s hoping they can find a way forward that works for them both. Carly asks if that means she’s going to let them see their son.

Chase tells Tracy that he’s had a front row seat for everything that happened with Michael and Willow because he’s friends with them both. He’s begging her not to make it more difficult. She says, it’s not difficult; it’s simple. The children are going nowhere. He tells her that everyone says she’s acting out of spite, but he doesn’t believe that. He saw how she helped his dad and Finn. Through all the snarky and sarcastic comments, he knows nothing means more to her than family. He knows she thinks she’s helping protect the kids, but he promises she’s only causing more drama.

Brook asks if Lulu needs help, and Lulu says she was looking for Maxie, but she can hang out in the waiting area. Brook says, she’s better off texting. Maxie is meeting with a vendor, and her afternoon is booked solid with interviews. Lulu says, that’s why she’s here. She was hoping to be one of them. Brook asks if she’s applying for a job at Deception.

Ava tells Lucas that she knows firsthand what Michael is going through. It’s a horrible, painful ordeal. Have they arrested anybody for setting the fire? Lucas says she doesn’t think so. Anna and Chase were at the hospital to question Michael, but he was in no shape to talk. Ava says, he was injured because of Sonny, and Lucas says she knows what she’s thinking, but Avery is completely safe. He sees her all the time. If he had doubts about Avery’s safety, he’d tell her. She says, of course (🍷) she worries about her little girl. She’s glad Lucas gets to see Avery so much and came to show her the video. Will he do one little favor for her? He says, it depends, and she says, give Avery a hug and tell her how much her mama loves her. He says he’ll do it tonight after work. He’s headed there now. She asks him to send her the video and he says he will. He leaves, and Ava makes a call. She says, I need to see you right away.

Cody tells Jordan that he has no beef with the congressman, but it seems the congressman might have one with him. Drew says he does, but Jordan says, neither of them need to get into anything in a public place. Cody should go. Cody says, gladly. He’ll see Drew around. Have a terrible day. He hopes Jordan’s day is a pleasant one. He leaves and Drew says, nice to see Jordan’s got his back, and she says, it looked like he was the one escalating things. What was it about and what did he do?

Willow says, the situation between her and Michael is being made more difficult with everyone getting involved. Michael wouldn’t want her separated from their kids. Carly says she had the kids and sent them to the Quartermaines, and Sonny says, she did what she thought was right at the time. Carly says she had no idea Tracy would hold them hostage, and Willow says, the kids are worried sick about Michael. Carly says, Wiley called her. He’s wondering what happened. Willow says, he called her too and asked when daddy was coming home. Carly says, Sonny made a good faith effort, and Sonny says, but Tracy refuses to let them go. Carly says, Tracy has no right to keep them and can’t legally. They’ll figure out a way to get them back. Willow says she hopes Carly is right. She needs to trust her own judgement about what’s best for her children and Michael and she’s come to a decision.

Ric walks into the gallery and asks, what’s so important? Ava says, Avery’s life is in danger. He needs to petition the court for an emergency custody order for her to have Avery full-time. Ric says he thought Carly had Avery, and Ava says she assumes he heard about the fire. It was no accident. Ric says, of course (🍷). Any time there’s a catastrophe in Sonny or Jason’s vicinity, it’s some attacker seeking retribution. She says, what if Avery had been there? She could have been burned like Michael. It’s terrifying. He says he’s sorry. As a father, he understands, but the court won’t see it as a reason for an emergency change in custody. Avery was nowhere near there at the time of the fire. She was with Carly and Donna where she has a bedroom and where she’s lived most of her life. Ava says, if he won’t file it, maybe she should find herself a lawyer who will. He says, that’s her right, but they’ll tell her the same thing. Wait until the right moment to make her move. She tells him, says the absentee father, and he says, it’s no reason to get personal. She says, sorry, but she could never understand how he could stay away from Molly for so long. It kills her not seeing Avery every day. He says, one of his biggest regrets is not being able to be a presence in Molly’s life, and she says, what if he was in her place and Molly was in danger? What would he do? He says he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe, and she asks why he’s telling her the opposite. He says he wants her to fight, but be smart. Her current custody battle with Sonny is going to be very long and very expensive. She says she may be overextended at the moment, but it’s not like she’s living in the street, and he says, then why hasn’t she paid him?

Lulu says she’s here to apply for the job, and Brook says, it’s an assistant position. Wasn’t Lulu’s last job as a reporter at The Invader? Lulu says, that was four years ago. Deception needs an assistant, and she needs a job. They don’t all have trust funds. Brook says she doesn’t care what Lulu thinks, but every job she’s had, outside the music industry and in, she’s stood on her own and earned her own paycheck, Lulu says, like when Brook was paid to seduce Dante? (very mature) and Brook says she did that and it was a lapse in judgement. She and Dante have moved past that. Lulu says she didn’t get the memo, and Brook says she lives in her family’s home with her husband. Dante and Rocco live there too, and they all get along great. They let go of something that was a lifetime ago and they’ve moved on. Lulu says, Brook is being condescending, when Maxie comes in. She says she sees they’re getting along as great as ever, and Brook’s phone dings. After reading a text, she says she needs to go home and talk to her husband. She leaves Lulu in Maxie’s capable hands. She trusts Maxie will make the right decision. She leaves and Maxie asks Lulu what they were arguing about this time.

Tracy says she didn’t realize Chase had a psychiatric degree to go with the police badge, but he says he doesn’t need a degree to read her. She says, since he’s an expert in her behavior, what is she going to say next? and he says, she’s going to argue that Willow can’t be trusted because she cheated on Michael with Drew. Drew will never be a real Quartermaine, and even though she doesn’t like Michael, he’s a real Quartermaine. Family’s got to stick together. How did he do? She says she’s delighted they’re on the same page. Now drop the entire thing. He says, there’s one more thing. She left out something important. Wiley and Amelia are Michael’s kids, but they’re also Willow’s kids, and they need their mom.

Willow says, Michael would want both Carly and Sonny to be with him during this and she won’t stand in their way. Carly thanks her and looks through Michael’s room window. Sonny thanks Willow and says he knows how difficult the decision is. She says she’s not sure how it got so messy, and he says, they’re both grateful she’s letting them see Michael. She says, Michael has done so much for her. He gave her the gift of family and supported her dreams even when they changed. All she wants is for him to get better and be with the kids again. Portia joins them and says she needs to discuss the next step in Michael’s recovery with Willow. Willow looks at Carly.

Tracy says, Chase is disposed to favor Willow, seeing her as a well-meaning angel led astray, but Chase says, that’s not true. She says she watched the congressman’s hubris in taking Willow and Wiley to the inauguration. She saw the pictures. Willow, Wiley, and Scout, the perfect readymade family. He had no concern whether Michael or Monica would see the photos. Chase says, Michael and Monica are adults. This is about two kids who need their mom. Tracy says, their mother does not put them first. She does.

Lulu says, a miracle recovery doesn’t pay the bills. She needs a job. Maxie says, at Deception? and Lulu says she saw the ad, but she didn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, so she tried other places. The Invader is under new management, and nothing else panned out. Maxie says, she’s overqualified, but Lulu says she just needs to make money. Maxie asks if she’s interested in cosmetics, and Lulu says, not really, but she wasn’t into fashion and she was still good at her job at Crimson. Maxie says, what about the Brook factor? and Lulu says she promises to be on her best behavior working with Brook. Maxie says, she’d be working under Brook, and Lulu asks if she’d be Brook’s assistant. Maxie says, since they hate each other, she doesn’t see it going well, but Lulu tells her that she wouldn’t say hate. It’ll be fine, but it’s weird that Brook and Maxie are BFFs now. When did that happen?

At the hospital, Cody says, just the man he didn’t want to see, and Brad pulls him aside. He says he told Cody that he’d text. Coming to where he works is not cool. Cody hands him the check, and says, it’s most of the money he owes Selina. Brad says, most of it? He placed a bet with his aunt for Cody and not he can’t pay up? Lucas sees them.

Ava says she’s working to secure funds. She’ll get the money. Ric says, she could work harder, and she says she’s good at what she does. She’s in communication with some long-term clients who are experienced collectors. She just wants her daughter with her. He says, she needs to dig in for the long haul. They both know how Sonny is with his kids. He’s territorial and had his share of custody battles and won. At least Avery is close by and safe. Watch and wait. Patience is the key. Sidwell walks in and asks if someone can assist him. Ava says, of course (🍷), and introduces herself as the owner of the gallery. She asks what she can do for him, and he says he’s brand new to Port Charles and stumbled on her lovely gallery. He’s Jenz Sidwell. She says, it’s nice to meet him, and Ric introduces himself, shaking hands with Sidwell. Sidwell says, since Ava owns this fine establishment, perhaps she can guide him to which painting is worthy of his attention.

Jordan asks what Drew was trying to accomplish starting a fight, but Drew says, Cody approached him. She tells him, stop looking innocent, and he says he just doesn’t trust Cody. She asks who he does trust. Look around. Is there anyone currently talking to him who isn’t on his payroll? He says he’s guessing Curtis filled her in on what happened at Aurora, and she says she’s aware of the issue. He says he hopes she’s aware that he was giving Curtis a promotion, a huge raise, and complete control of the wellness division. She says, that’s his problem. It’s not about the money. It’s about how he treats his friends who were always loyal. Curtis values honesty and Drew lied. Drew says he never lied, and she says she stands corrected. He misled Curtis. He let Curtis think he was going to be CEO. It’s less betrayal in his books, but in hers, it’s semantics.

Portia says she’d like to speak with Willow in private, but Willow says, Carly and Sonny can hear too, so they can all discuss options. Portia says, good. They got Michael a bed in the Johns Hopkins burn unit. It’s the best hospital in the country and vacancies are rare. Willow says, he’ll be close enough to visit, but Carly says she might have a better option.

Chase says, Tracy can get herself in trouble if she doesn’t turn over the children, but she says she’s not afraid of litigation. He says he’s talking about criminal charges, and she laughs. She says, the carrot didn’t work, so now he’s bringing out the stick and threatening her. Good luck with that. She’s faced down worse. Brook walks in and asks why Tracy is picking a fight with her husband.

Maxie says she’ll have to fill Lulu in on her relationship with Peter August another time over a bottle of wine. And when she says, bottle of wine, she means several shots of tequila. Lulu asks what that has to do with Brook, and Maxie says, Brook was there for her in a big way. Lulu tells her, if you say so, and Maxie says, Lulu may not want to hear it, but Brook is a good person. She’s flawed and made questionable choices, but who hasn’t? Brook has been a good friend. Lulu says she’s glad Brook was there when Maxie needed someone, but something about Brook always rubs her the wrong way. She plays at being Bensonhurst, but has the Quartermaine name and fortune to fall back on. Maxie says she’s not buying that. Lulu is obviously upset, but she doesn’t think it’s about Brook. What’s really going on? Lulu says, Charlotte.

Ava says she’ll show Sidwell around. Ric was just leaving. Ric says he’d like to stick around and watch her work, and she says, art is subjective. What speaks to someone depends. She asks Sidwell to tell her something about himself so she can steer him in the right direction. He says he’s an importer looking for a North American base, so he moved to Port Charles. Ric asks, where’s his house? and Sidwell says, it’s an old, gothic residence on Spoon Island. Ava says, he bought Windymere? And he asks if she’s familiar with it. She says she used to live there, and Sidwell laughs.

Cody says he thought he had luck, but it was not his lady, and Brad says he’s $5000 short. Cody says he’s good for it, and Brad says he’ll tell his aunt. Maybe they can work out something. Cody says he’s never going to use the term sure thing again. He jinxed himself. Brad says he’s sorry, and Cody says he’s got to go. Brad walks over to Lucas and says, it’s not what it looks like. What he saw isn’t what he thinks.

Jordan tells Drew that she’s the last one to cast stones. TJ’s father was her husband’s best friend. The issue isn’t how he chooses his relationships. It’s how he treats the people in his life. Drew asks if she realizes that Curtis was just as deceptive in stealing Aurora, but she says, he led Curtis to believe he’d be permanent CEO, then went behind Curtis’s back and promised the job to Michael. Drew says he was trying to make peace, but it was a futile effort, and she says, stop. She doesn’t want to hear his explanations. He dug a hole for himself and if he doesn’t start making amends, he’s going to be alone and isolated. She believes he’s a better man than his recent actions indicate, so she’s going to give him some advice. Start mending fences. She leaves, and Martin joins Drew. He says he guesses it’s safe to assume the appropriate amount of rain has gone down on him from his constituents.   

Carly explains there was a groundbreaking procedure to remove scar tissue in a burn unit used by the Boronsky Clinic in St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s now closed, but the doctor is working in Germany. Willow asks if she wants to send Michael to Germany and asks if Portia has heard of the procedure. Portia says, no, never, but Carly says, the results are incredible, and Jack Brennan was able to secure a space in the clinic. Sonny asks if they can talk privately, and they step away. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she wanted to make sure it was possible. Michael can make a full recovery with no scars. He says he’s not sure, it’s so far away, but she says, you can’t even tell Ava was burned. She wants that result for Michael and Sonny has to trust her that this is the best thing. She’ll be there every minute of every day. She gets that he doesn’t trust Jack, but doesn’t he trust her?  

Carly tells Willow that the clinic has had incredible results, but Willow says she doesn’t think it’s best for Michael. He needs to be nearby so they can visit. Portia says she has no information, so she has to advise against it, and Willow says she’s not comfortable with Michael so far away and the doctors not having vetted the procedure. Carly says, he’ll make a full recovery, but Portia says, his burns are quite severe. Carly says, they’ve already seen the results. No one is able to tell that Ava had third degree burns. Willow says, Michael won’t have his family, and she knows Johns Hopkins is a great hospital. It’s her preference. Sonny says he thinks Michael should make the decision, and Willow says, that means waking him up. Portia says, it will cause immense pain, but Sonny says, it’s Michael’s life and he should make the call. Carly says she knows Michael wouldn’t want them to make the decision for him, and Willow says, she’s right. Michael has to decide for himself. Wake him up and let him choose. Portia says, okay, but only one of them can go in and talk to him, and Sonny says, that would be Carly. Willow says she agrees.

Sidwell says, it’s nice he and Ava have Windymere in common. How was her time there? Ava says, it was eventful, and he asks, what made her leave such a magnificent home, if she doesn’t mind him asking. She says she was living there with her husband and they split up, and he says he’s sorry to hear that. She says, he’s being kind, but she’s moved on, and he says he’s glad to hear that. He’s a firm believer in second chances and kismet. How else could you explain him wandering into her gallery? He sees she has the taste and expertise he needs to help him choose the right art to make his new home his own. Ava says she happens to have the perfect painting in mind and steers him to a large modern art canvas. She says, this painting is by talented Greek artist from Crete. He’s a marvelous painter and a talented sculptor. Sidwell says, the light in the study will make this a vibrant addition to his collection, and she says she loves the artist and would love to show him more of their work. They walk to the next room and Ric follows.

Tracy tells Brook that she and Chase disagree. He believes she should give Wiley and Amelia back to Willow and she refuses. Brook says, because of Monica, and Tracy says, the children are Monica’s only saving grace. They put a smile on her face and they’re going to take that away? Brook says, they all love Monica, and Tracy says she’s glad they agree. The last thing Monica needs is more stress. Brook wonders, if Monica asks, is Tracy going to tell her that she needs to be their mother, especially if their father can’t be there for them?

Maxie says she’s happy that Dante brought Lulu home safe, but she’s sorry Valentin ran off with Charlotte. If it was one of her kids, she’d be going crazy. Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte and it’s going to take a lot of money. Maxie says, good thing her stepmom is an heiress who loves her, and Lulu says her mother and stepmother agreed to help her, but they want to wait and see what Valentin’s next step is. She needs Charlotte home now. Maxie says, Lulu never liked waiting, and Lulu says, Maxie knows her well. Maxie says, she can’t galivant across the world when she doesn’t even know the country, and Lulu says she doesn’t know where her daughter is. Charlotte lost four years of life living without her mother. She needs something she can control and the only thing she came up with was getting a job. Maxie says she gets that, and Lulu says, it’s not just the money. She wants to get a place where she and Rocco can live, and Charlotte when she finds her. Maxie says, it makes sense. Lulu was always Miss Independence, eager to get on with life. Lulu says, life has moved on and she’s racing to catch up instead falling farther back.

Drew says he’s not discussing his personal life with Martin, but Martin says, as a survivor of three divorces, does Drew mind if he offers some unsolicited advice? The heart wants what it wants, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. Drew says, exactly. He’s not going to apologize for how he feels about Willow. Martin says, as long as he stays true to his feelings, and does the best he can for himself and for the woman he’s involved with. Drew thanks him and says, that’s actually what he wanted to talk about. They sit down, and Drew says, Willow is in the hospital with Michael, as it should be, but the situation with the children is up in the air. They need to get Wiley and Amelia away from the Quartermaines and back with Willow where they belong. Martin tells him, easier said. Tracy is holding them, and he wonders if there’s a more amiable opponent he could be set up with. Like Stalin or Vlad the Impaler. Genghis Kahn comes to mind. Drew says, Tracy has no legal rights, and Martin says, she’s well-connected with deep pockets and knows how to work the system to her benefit. It’s one hell of a combination to go up against. Drew says, she thinks she’s safe behind the walls of privilege and money, but she’s wrong. He’ll do anything to reunite the children with Willow.

Wearing a sanitary jumpsuit, Carly goes into Michael’s room and says his name. He looks at her, obviously in pain.

Sidwell gives Ava a check and says he’s thrilled with his new painting. He enjoyed their talk on art. Perhaps she can come over and help him with the placement. He’d also love any suggestions on future purchases. She says, it’s her pleasure, and he says, it’s lovely to meet them both. He’ll see them soon he hopes. He kisses Ava’s hand and leaves. Ric says, it was enlightening to watch her work, and she says she barely lifted a finger, but she knows how to close a deal. Ric says, yes, you do, and takes the check from her. She says she just earned it, and he says he appreciates her first payment for his services.

Brad tells Lucas that Cody wanted him to place a bet on the PCU game with his aunt. He didn’t want to, but Cody was persistent, so he called his Aunt Selina. Cody lost and this is his payment to her. Lucas says he sees, and Brad says, once he delivers it to her, he’s not going to see her again, he swears. Lucas says, thanks for telling him, but Brad doesn’t owe him any explanations. Brad says he knows he doesn’t, but Lucas taught him that telling the truth is important, so he wanted Lucas to know. Lucas says he appreciates that.  

Maxie says she knows what Lulu is going through. She’s been there. Lulu says, now Maxie has it all – an amazing career, her children together under one roof, and a wonderful relationship with Spinelli. Maxie says she went through a lot of trial and error. No one trusted her to make her own decisions since she was shown to be flaky. She thinks Lulu is already taking the right steps to ensure the life she wants, and Maxie believes she’ll make it happen. Lulu says she needs to have a job if she really wants to make it happen. Maxie says she needs to know that Lulu can put her history with Brook aside and get along working together. Does she think she can do that?  

Chase says he gets that Tracy has the best intentions, but at the end of the day, it’s not her call. Tracy says, Brook’s husband is brave standing up to her, but she doesn’t understand why he’s defending Willow. Brook says, he’s trying to keep the peace, and Tracy should listen to him. Martin and Drew walk in along with an officer, and Tracy says, back so soon? Holding out a paper, Martin says, it’s an official order signed by a judge. They’re allowed to take Willow Corinthos’s children back to her. Drew tells Martin to ask the nanny to get the kids ready, but Tracy says, it’s a waste of time. She can’t comply. They’re not here. Drew asks where they are, and she says she hasn’t the foggiest. He says, the officer knows what to do, and the officer takes out handcuffs. Chase tells him to put those away, but he says he’s sorry. The congressman wants her arrested. Tracy pulls away and says, don’t touch her, and Drew says, resisting arrest. The officer says, she did touch him, and Tracy says, he’s so going to regret this.

Sonny says he’s glad they were able to come together to do what’s best for Michael, and Willow says, Michael is going through something terrible. He’s lucky that he has Sonny and Carly to fight for him. Not everyone has that kind of unconditional love in their life. Sonny says, they’re the lucky ones to have Michael as their son.

Michael says, mom? and Carly says she’s here. And his dad is out there. They’re here to do everything they can to help him get better, but they need his help. Tell them how to make the choice he needs.

On Tuesday (see below), Willow asks Drew if she ruined her chance of getting Wiley and Amelia back; Anna asks if someone is the one who planted the device in the penthouse; and Ava asks Sonny to do what’s best for their daughter before it’s too late.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-soaps-preempted-on-monday-january-20-2025

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The most important story.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-vinessa-antoine-asks-for-help-finding-her-brother

She will be greatly missed. After all, Alan gave her the house. It’s so weird how they must have filmed in advance, yet they’re talking up a storm about her on the show.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-leslie-charleson-dead-at-79

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-stars-remembers-leslie-charleson

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/wally-kurths-heartfelt-tribute-to-leslie-charleson

You never know. On All My Children, Bobby Martin came back after 40+ years of polishing his skis upstairs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-about-his-gh-exit-and-return-plans

Don’t do it. It’s not him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-warns-do-not-donate-to-a-gofundme-in-his-name

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Once again Gary proves himself to be an idiot. The guests wanted some of the crew to join on a night out, and Captain Glenn, being the decent soul he is, told Daisy, Gary, Keith, and Chase, two drink maximum. And if they came back drunk, they’d forfeit their share of the tip. Gary had 10 drinks. 10. Then got pissed off when the captain called him on it. Classic Gary.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The episode focused a lot on PK and Kyle’s friendship, and Dorit’s reaction. Of course, Kyle is never wrong and while I often think Dorit is wrong – and her reactions are over the top – I can’t disagree with her on this one. If one of my close friends was texting with my estranged husband, they would no longer be my close friend. Kyle whined that Dorit made it sound like she was being inappropriate. Doubtful anyone thinks she’s got it going on with PK, but it is inappropriate for her to be buddy-buddy with her friend’s almost ex. Let’s just call it what it is now – Memegate. Garcelle, Kyle, and Sutton took Erika to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday. A good time was had by all. It actually looked a lot more fun than any of their formal parties.

Real Housewives of New York City

If I was on a trip to Puerto Rico, I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to argue about a dead pigeon. I’d be too busy swimming in the possibly-less-than-blue water and eating local cuisine. The women did synchronized swimming at Jenna’s instruction. Apparently, she’s quite a fan of it, and it was pretty amusing until Raquel got whacked in the forehead by Jenna’s elbow. That Jenna, always full of surprises. Ubah was out of control, and Erin can’t win. If she fights back, she loses. If she walks away, she loses. As usual, Jenna and Raquel were the voices of reason. Next time, the finale.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake CIty

Heather suggested a fun dinner party game where the women pulled out the worst thing they had said about one of the others on their phone and shared it with the group. As you might have guessed, this didn’t go over all that well, and resulted in tears and Lisa running from the table after someone read something about John. Oh, horrors.

Bonus scene.

Southern Charm

Once again, two men acted like middle school girls – that would be Austen and Craig – while Whitney pretended to be the voice of reason. In her interview, Madison said she and Brett thought that Austen and Craig would be the couple least likely to break up, but it looks like they did. Craig dared to meet with JT, and Austen wasn’t having it, but it was just the opening Craig needed to scrape Austen from his shoe. As little as I like JT, I don’t get why some of them keep harping on him calling Patricia a bitch, when the footage shows clearly that he didn’t, and most of them don’t believe it anyway. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and sometimes an a-hole is right too.

Southern Hospitality

I just couldn’t even this week, but here you go.

Random Events

BTW, Bill was not happy.

https://people.com/rhonj-star-jennifer-aydin-uninvited-from-housewives-cruise-after-viral-outburst-jersey-mikes-8771411

Amazing timing.

https://people.com/karen-huger-enters-rehab-skips-real-housewives-of-potomac-season-9-reunion-after-dui-8772200

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderlands. It was hard to find something that was at least partially positive. There are plenty of worse films, although I actually enjoyed this. Perhaps because I’m unfamiliar with the games. I’m definitely in agreement with the writer that Night Swim was a total waste of time.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/borderlands-isnt-the-worst-movie-of-the-year-despite-what-the-internet-wants-you-to-think

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action. A fascinating look at a man who began as someone I admired, but chose to serve money and ratings rather than the greater good. I’d known about the coaching, but not about the murder connected to the show. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and this was just sad.

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-fights-camera-action-tv-review/

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-documentary-netflix-shocking-reveals-list/

The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin. I’m there for a cult story, but missed this somehow. While this documentary has been around a while, they’ve been showing it recently on TLC, so I caught it. I have some vague memory of her in the news, but had no idea how messy this got. And the hair… What’s with the hair?

https://people.com/human-interest/what-to-know-about-gwen-shamblin-lara-hbo-max-the-way-down/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-way-down-hbo-max-review

🔍 One To Watch…

IMO, Baylen Out Loud is what reality TV should be about. I’m rooting for this girl, and with a supportive family like she has, I think she’ll make it after all.

https://people.com/baylen-dupree-struggles-with-boyfriend-upcoming-air-force-relocation-in-new-tlc-series-8773525

https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/baylen-out-loud-season-1-trailer-tiktok-star-takes-on-adulthood-while-tackling

🤹‍♀️ Upcoming Awaited Seasons…

The latest on The Last of Us.

https://deadline.com/feature/the-last-of-us-season-2-cast-release-date-everything-to-know-1235940502/

While you wait.

https://collider.com/grounded-last-of-us-part-2-documentary-youtube/

An understandable pause for Fallout.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-production-pause-la-fires

An Squid Game accident? Really? Highly doubtful.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-release-date-2025-netflix

👠 They’re Not Wrong…

Sex and get away from my front door in the City.

https://ew.com/carrie-sex-and-the-city-apartment-iron-gate-tourists-8774330

☕️ His Final Thoughts…

I never did understand Eraserhead, but he did some fine work.

https://people.com/david-lynch-expressed-hope-over-divided-country-in-one-of-last-interviews-exclusive-8776098

🥇 A Mighty Fine Man…

It’s such a shame about his health issues, but he’s blessed to have such a wonderful family to support him.

https://people.com/bruce-willis-seen-in-public-dementia-diagnosis-la-police-officers-8775698

🏆 Awards Corner…

No surprise, GH is in the running.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/2025-writers-guild-awards-daytime-drama-nominees-announced

The BAFTA noms.

https://ew.com/2025-bafta-awards-nominations-full-list-8774808

🐕 No Gutter Balls Here…

I want them all.

https://ew.com/puppy-bowl-2025-meet-adoptable-dog-players-8773005

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/puppy-bowl-players-2025-super-bowl

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Just because my heart is beating doesn’t mean I’m alive. – Ish Williams (Alexander Ludwig), Earth Abides

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man (and woman) which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. – Blaise Pascal

You don’t break habits, you replace them. – Coach Mike Bayer

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. – Hilary ‘Zig’ Ziglar

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson

She took every bit of power I had and left me with household appliances. – Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Agatha All Along

🌉 Taking a Sentimental Journey…

Until next week, stay safe, stay warm, and stay valuing honesty.