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November 21, 2024 – Michael Confides In Sasha, A Merciful End To OC’s Reunion, Salty Talk, Social Pets (!) & Affair

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

At the boxing gym, Dex introduces himself to Kai, and says, they know someone in common – Trina.  

At Bobbie’s, Josslyn tells Trina that they’re supposed to be sharing the fries, but she’s eating them herself. Trina says she’s thinking about Kai. She’s not sure she should be working with him. He should have been here by now. Josslyn says, it’s too late for him to drop the class, but Trina says, they’ll waive anything to accommodate him and he’s flaking out on her. Josslyn says, if Trina goes back on her word, she’ll be the flake. He’s not that late. Trina says she can do the work herself rather than wasting time waiting for Kai and explaining everything to him, and Josslyn says, it seems like Trina is looking for a reason not to work with him.

Jordan finds TJ at the hospital and says she could use someone to help her eat the take-out she got. He says, her timing is right and if she doesn’t mind eating in the breakroom, he’d be happy to help her put a dent in it. She says she didn’t come for the ambiance. She came for the company.

Sasha is rolling out dough in the nook when Michael walks in. He says he’s looking for a snack, and she says she can heat up some leftovers for him. What is he in the mood for? He says, surprise him, and she says she didn’t see him at dinner. He says, there’s been a lot going on. He can’t believe Sam is gone. She says she’s sorry she missed the funeral, but she had something she couldn’t get out of. He says he heard and asks if she’s okay, but she says she doesn’t want to talk about it. He tells her to forget it. He’s not really hungry. She asks why he’s really here? Is there something going on? He says he’s here because he can’t go home.

Kristina is having dinner with Sonny at Pozzulo’s, and she asks if she can help him. He tells her to sit back and be spoiled by her dad, and she says, that sounds really nice. (I suddenly wonder why there are never any customers in Pozzulo’s.) He asks why she’s restless, and she says she’s worried about Ava’s trial. What if she screws up? It will ruin the only chance she has to make Ava pay for Adela’s death. He says, she’s been in tough situations before. She’s going to hit it out of the park. She says, what if she doesn’t?

Chase sees Sam’s apartment door open, and quietly goes in. He hears something and draws his gun, but it’s Dante with a duffel bag. Dante asks what he’s doing, and Chase says, the door was open and there was no answer. Dante says he left it open. What brings Chase by? Chase says he wanted to see if Dante needed anything. Is he taking a trip? Dante says he and the kids are going to the Quartermaines, and Chase asks if he thinks they’re coming back to live here. Dante says, if it was up to him, he’d never leave. It was the last place the whole family was together.

Drew meets Alexis at her office, and says, she wanted to discuss something with him? She says she didn’t want to do it on the phone. But before they start, who did that to his face? Jason walks in, and everyone looks uncomfortable.

Trina says she doesn’t want to waste time dragging Kai through a class he doesn’t want to be in. People take Art History because it’s a requirement or they’re interested in art. It might be an art course, but it’s a hard class. Josslyn says she imagines Kai is used to hard work, and maybe he likes art. Trina says, yeah. He’s probably a regular Renaissance man. She decided to meet because he said he never gives up and can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. Josslyn says, give him a chance, and suggests Trina can be a control freak. Trina says she found life is easier when she’s in control.

Kai asks how Dex knows Trina, and Dex says his girlfriend is her roommate Josslyn. He thinks she and Kai met. Kai says he’s pretty sure she convinced Trina to talk to him. He’s Trina’s partner in art class and she thinks he’s not pulling his weight. Is Dex a student at PCU? Dex says he’s a cop, a rookie, and Kai asks if Trina sent Dex to arrest him for loitering or disturbing the peace. Dex says, Trina can be intense, but she’s a sweetheart, and one of the smartest people he knows. Kai is lucky to have her as a partner. Kai says, then maybe Dex can convince her not to dump him. He asks if Dex spars. He could go a couple of rounds. Dex asks if his coach wouldn’t freak out at the thought of Kai getting injured, but Kai says, not if he doesn’t know.

Sonny says, everything that’s going on is affecting Kristina’s confidence, and Kristina says she wants to make sure Ava pays and is punished. It’s all she can do for her daughter. If Ava goes free because of her… Sonny says he doesn’t care. If Ava is in prison or gets off scot-free, Kristina will survive. She says she doesn’t want to just survive. She wants justice. Losing Sam and Adela, she’s never faced so much pain and loss. He says she needs something to concentrate on, and she says, like what? He says, working for him.

Dante tells Chase that he was worried that the apartment wouldn’t feel like home, but Sam made him and Rocco feel welcome. It still feels like she’s here. He still expects to see her. There are a lot of memories here. Chase asks if there’s any reason he can’t stay, and Dante says, it’s home, but he has no claim to it. And even if he did, the family who lived here no longer exists.

Drew asks what Jason is doing here, and Jason says, Alexis asked him to be here. Alexis apologizes for the subterfuge, but she didn’t think they’d come if they knew the other was going to be here, and it’s important. Drew says, tell Jason and she can tell him later, but she says, it concerns Sam. Drew asks if she has to tell them at the same time, and she says, if they loved Sam, listen, both of them. Jason asks what it’s about, and she says, Sam’s will and what she wanted for Danny and Scout.

Kristina says she appreciates the offer, but she can’t, and Sonny says, why not? She says she doesn’t know what she’s doing with her life, and he says, she can figure it out while she’s learning his business. She says she’s not qualified to run any business, but he says, she’s good with numbers and has organizational skills. She’s good at working with people. She’s overqualified. Bounce around Corinthos Coffee and see how she feels. She says she’ll think about it, and he says, salute. They clink glasses. (I think he should train her to be Lady Mob Boss.)

Jordan asks how TJ is doing. She knows he liked Sam. He says, the service was simple, but meaningful. She’s going to be missed. Jordan asks, how’s Molly? but he says he’s not sure. She and her mom took off after the reception. Jordan says, the more emotional is gets, the busier they get, and he says he and Alexis have something in common he wishes they didn’t. They both forgot Molly’s birthday.

Chase asks what Dante thinks is going to happen to the place, and Dante says, it’s Sam’s, so he assumes she left it to Scout and Danny. Chase asks if she had a will, and Dante says, they talked about wills because he had a dangerous job. How’s that for irony? He decided he wanted her to have custody of Rocco, shared with his mom, so they could keep the kids together. He changed his will to make arrangements and now he’s got to find a place for the two of them to live. Chase says, it’s going to be hard leaving, and Dante says, Scout and Danny will be leaving. What choice does he have? He’s not their father.

Jason looks at the will, and Alexis says she made a copy for each of them to show to their lawyers. She has the original. Jason asks why he wasn’t told. He’s Danny’s father. She says, he wasn’t told because nobody expected this. Drew says, Sam asked him to be Danny’s guardian, and he agreed, but Jason says, look at the date. It was before Sam knew he was alive. He wonders if Sam intended to grant Drew custody no matter what, and Drew says, she wanted the kids to stay together. Alexis says, Sam told her the same thing, and Jason says, at that time. She says, the law is on Jason’s side, but even considering how Sam came around to Jason being part of Danny’s life, she doesn’t think Sam would want him to have full custody, especially now that they know she wanted the kids to stay together. So she has to ask, what is he going to do?

Sasha gives Michael some coffee and asks why he can’t go home. He says, the kids are asleep, and Willow went to bed early, and she asks if he thinks Willow is avoiding him. He says, it doesn’t matter. He can’t be in the same room, the same bed, or even under the same roof as Willow right now. She says, it’s still his home, but he says he doesn’t know what kind of home or marriage he has anymore.

Dex and Kai spar, and Dex says he boxed in the service. Kai says, a military man. Respect. He asks if Dex is a PC fan, but Dex says he likes the Llanview Bobcats. Kai says, he’s going to be disappointed when they dust his team. Trina mentioned that he and Josslyn like to go to games. He can give Dex comp tickets to the Llanview/PC game. He has to go. He doesn’t want to be late meeting Trina. Dex says, cool about the tickets. Off the field, Kai seems like a decent guy. Kai says he hopes he can convince his study partner of the same.

Josslyn says she understands where Trina is coming from. Depending on someone new is tough. Trina says, maybe, but she doesn’t want to depend on anyone, and Josslyn says, Trina can always depend on her. Trina says, likewise, and Josslyn says, there are some things in life you can’t control. Just give Kai a chance. Maybe he’ll pull through. Trina says she’s already given him a chance and it’s his only one.

Chase suggests Dante buy the place, but Dante says, it wouldn’t feel right. Chase says, they can stay at the Quartermaines, but Dante says he doesn’t want Rocco involved in whatever’s going on with Drew and Jason. Chase says, it’s too bad Danny and Scout are, and Dante says, it’s the last thing Sam would want. Chase says, that’s why he thinks it’s a major mistake for Dante to move out.

Jason says, the best thing for Danny isn’t what they want or what Sam wanted. What’s best is to ask Danny what he wants. He’s old enough to choose, and he told Danny that Danny can live with him if that’s what he wants. He’ll make it a home for Danny. Alexis asks if Drew is okay with that, and Drew says, he could live at the Quartermaines with Scout and Rocco so they won’t be split up, but Jason says he doesn’t want Danny to think he can’t live with his dad or is unwelcome. That’s not the case. Drew says he thinks Danny would like living at the Quartermaines a lot, but Jason says, don’t tell him about his son. Alexis says she thinks Danny has a lot of feelings and they should be taken into account. Clearly, there’s a level of animosity between them and she doesn’t want to be caught in the middle of their drama. Yet here she is. So she’s going to ask. How did they get the bruises on their faces? There’s silence, and she says, the fact that they’re not answering suggests a fistfight… and their silence confirms it. Here’s the thing, and she’s just going to say it once. If they ever truly loved her daughter and their children, cut the crap and start talking.

Josslyn says, Trina’s not leaving, but Trina says she’s done waiting. Josslyn says, he’s ten minutes late, and Trina says she texted him and he didn’t even give her the courtesy of a reply. She can do the work herself at the apartment. Kai walks in and Josslyn says she’s going to get take-out for Dex. She jets to the counter, and Kai tells Trina that he’s sorry. He knows he’s late. He didn’t realize about the traffic and had to go back to get his laptop. He’s sorry. (I’m liking Kai, but what happened with Gio? Is it going to be a battle for Trina’s heart?)

Josslyn sits at the counter, and Kristina says, does Josslyn mind if she sits down? Josslyn says, of course (🍷), and Kristina says she thought she’d grab a chai latte. Josslyn says she’s waiting for take-out and asks how Kristina is doing. She’s sorry about Sam. Kristina thanks her for coming to the funeral; Adela’s too. It meant a lot. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). She’s sorry for both of Kristina’s losses. Is she taking care of herself? Kristina says she’s trying. She’s glad she ran into Josslyn. There’s something she needs to say. She owes Josslyn an apology.

TJ tells Jordan that he had a gift, but he didn’t remember on the day. He heard Ric wish Molly a happy birthday. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remembered. Jordan asks what Molly said, and TJ tells her that Molly said it was fine. He wishes for once she’d say it wasn’t and lose it. Jordan says, then she wouldn’t be Molly. She’d be Kristina. He says he’s not that guy. He doesn’t forget his partner’s birthday. She says, it was the day before Sam’s funeral. No one was thinking about birthdays. He says, Kristina and Ric, the two most self-centered people he knows, remembered, and he forgot. It’s totally on brand for them as a couple, but he will make it up to Molly.

Chase says, Dante has been Danny and Scout’s father figure, and they depend on him. Dante says he was enjoying being a stepdad to them, but he’d never get in the way of their actual fathers. Sam figured those things out. The best thing is for him and Rocco to find their own place.  Chase asks, what’s the rush? Dante just lost someone who means the world to both him and Rocco. He and Brook were living in their own place when his dad died, and they moved into the Quartermaines because of Violet. He’s glad they stayed because it kept him from feeling lonely, even with the Quartermaines’ shenanigans. Just think, Dante’s mom is there, he’s there. There’s no need for a sudden move. It’s okay to let the family in, including himself. Dante says, Chase wormed his way into the family now, and Chase says, you’re not alone, partner. You’ve got me.

Alexis asks if Jason punched Drew, and Jason says, yes. She says, they had a fight after the kids lost their mother? Did they see the bruises? Drew says, they did, and she asks what story he gave them. He says he walked into a door, and she says, and they bought that? He says he thinks Scout did, but he doesn’t think the boys did. She asks what Jason said to Danny, and Jason says he told Danny the truth, the facts. Danny asked if he punched Drew, and he said, yes. Alexis asks, what provoked the fight? and Jason says he’s going to tell her what he told Danny. The matter is between him and Drew. Drew agrees, and she says, great, they agree. Jason says, and he agrees that Danny has the right to choose what he wants. He walks out.  

Michael says he can’t keep track of all the lies he and Willow have told each other, and Sasha says, the whole thing is a mess. Willow was upset that she confided in Cody about her kissing Drew. She tried to tell Willow that she was sorry Cody blurted it out at the Brown Dog Bar. Michael says, that’s low on the list of things to feel sorry about. There’s more to Willow and Drew than she knows. She asks if something else happened, and Michael says, they slept together. She asks if he’s sure, and he says he is. She asks how he found out, but he says, she doesn’t want to know. He’s positive Willow doesn’t know how he found out. She asks if he’s going to confront her, but he says, if he tells her what he knows, he’ll have to tell her about them.

Michael says, if he does tell her, he’ll keep Sasha’s name out of it, and she says she appreciates that. She needs her job. He says, it’s hard to know what to do next, and she asks what he wants. He says he wanted to fight for his marriage, then he found out Willow slept with Drew. He confided in Jason, which was probably a mistake. She says she wondered what prompted the fight, and he says he never wanted that to happen, but he needed to confide in somebody. Then he was watching his wife tenderly patch up her lover. The way Willow was looking at Drew is how she used to look at him. Sasha says she’s so sorry, and he says he wonders if Willow loves him. She says, Willow told her that she did, and he asks if Sasha believes her. He needs somebody he can trust and he trusts her. She says she believes Willow when Willow says she loves him and the kids, but for her to put all that on the line… He says, she wouldn’t risk everything unless she felt something more for Drew.

Alexis tells Drew that Sam wouldn’t approve of him barring Jason from Danny’s life, and he says, Sam also didn’t want to split the kids up. She says, regardless of Sam’s intentions, this is the official will. Rocco isn’t their decision; Dante is his father. And Danny’s father is Jason. Drew says his bruises are an indication of what kind of father Jason will be, and Alexis says she doesn’t know what caused the fight. Drew says, they both know Jason. Does she think it’s really okay to let Danny live with him? Alexis says, no. That’s why she came up with an alternative. What if Scout and Danny live with her?

Sonny tells Jason that the will was made years ago. Diane will have it thrown out. Jason says he has to figure out his next move, and Sonny says, custody issues are messy. This whole thing with Ava is a pain in his ass. Jason says he’s trying to avoid that. Danny is hurting. He just lost his mother, and he doesn’t want to abandon his sister. He’s taking care to respect that, but he sure as hell doesn’t want Drew raising his kid. Sonny says, they were never close, but what changed? and Jason tells Sonny that he’ll just say, Drew took the name Quartermaine and he’s living up to it. He doesn’t trust a word Drew says. He wants the best for his son. Why would he want Drew to be Danny’s guardian? Drew thinks he doesn’t care, but nothing can be further from the truth. Sonny says, everybody knows that, including Danny. Everybody knows Jason loves his son.

Trina goes over the schedule with Kai, who makes fun of her for using a planner. His grandma was using it when he was a kid. She says, it still works, and she likes to use one. It’s helpful for project management. They need to make a list of books for their research. He tells her to check her email. He found a list books. He finished it at 3:45 in the morning. It can be hard to sleep. He has a lot on his mind.

Kristina says she didn’t get a chance to thank Josslyn for saving her life. She remembers being in the ambulance, and doesn’t remember what Josslyn was saying, but seeing Josslyn’s face and hearing her voice was comforting. Josslyn says she was so nervous she was doing something wrong, but Kristina says she’s alive because of Josslyn. Josslyn says she was just doing her job, and Kristina tells her to take the compliment. Josslyn says, she’s welcome, and Kristina says she’ll never forget how Josslyn stepped up despite their past. Josslyn says she’s sorry for everything Kristina has been through. She doesn’t deserve any of it. How is she managing with the trial? Kristina asks if Josslyn is testifying, and Josslyn says, she’s so sick of seeing Ava get away with everything. It’s time her luck ran out and they get justice once and for all. Kristina says, for her daughter and Morgan.

Kristina says she’s going to get some rest, and Josslyn says she’s getting take-out for Dex. Kristina says she’s glad they’re back together. Dex is a good guy. Josslyn says she thinks so too. She sees Trina and Kai leaving and adds, and besides, they can all use a little bit of love in their lives. Outside Bobbie’s, Kai tells Trina if she’s up and needs to chat, he’ll be up reading the books he bought. She asks why he doesn’t just use the library, and he says he thinks his grandma went… She tells him, shut up, and he says, goodnight.  

TJ says, Jordan hasn’t seen Drew, has she? He was at the service wearing makeup. She says she never took Drew to be a smoky eye type guy, but he could pull it off. TJ says, he was covering a black eye. He wonders if she knows where he got it, but she says she has no idea. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Jason has a bruise too. He thinks she needs new friends. She says she may have a new friend he’d approve of, and he asks, who? She says she’ll tell him when she knows more.  

Michael says he’ll do everything to keep Sasha’s name out of it, and she says she appreciates it. If he ever needs to talk… He says, same, and she asks if he knows what his next move be. He says, not entirely, but no matter what’s going on, he’s going to protect his family.

Chase says he’ll see Dante at home, and Dante says he sees what Chase did. Don’t get ahead of himself. Chase says, think about what he said, and Dante says he will. Chase leaves, and Dante picks up his bag and keys. He looks around the apartment.  

Alexis says, if Scout and Danny stay with her, they’ll be together and not in the middle of the animosity. Drew says he doesn’t doubt Alexis’s love and concern, and she says she’s worried about Danny. He wants to be with Scout and Sam wanted them to be together. Drew says he appreciates that and doesn’t want to hurt the kids, but Scout needs to be with her father and there’s no way she’s going to be anywhere else but with him.

Jason tells Sonny that they’ve been through this a few times, but never when the kid’s mother died. Sam told him that he’d let Danny down in the past. He wants to do what’s best for Danny. What would Sonny do in this situation? Sonny says, the reality is, Sam is gone, and Jason is still here. His son is still here. He has to do what’s best for his son. If he were Jason, he sure as hell wouldn’t let Drew anywhere near Danny. If this is a fight, he has Jason’s back.

Tomorrow, Mac has something for Sasha from her dad; TJ tells Stella that Ava’s trial is the last place he should be; Ric guarantees he and Ava are going to win; Michael tells Curtis that he won’t be Aurora’s CEO for much longer; and Jason tells Dante that there’s no way he’s handing Danny over to Drew.

🍊 Making Oranges Out Of Lemons…

Ugh. I hate these Reunions, and this one was no exception. There is almost always that point where everybody is screaming talking at once and you can’t understand a damn thing. This is a good argument for having the closed captions on, but even they have to pick and choose. This was part 3 and the end of what even Fancy Pants Heather had to agree was an endless season. We were plopped back into the much ado about Alexis.

Emily said Alexis was the dumbest broad [she’d] ever f***ing met. I appreciated her use of the word broad. The origins of it are murky, but it always reminds me of Frank Sinatra and the old Rat Pack movies. Alexis responded with asking if Emily wanted to hit her, then claimed she had a degree. Gina said she knew a lot of dumb people with college degrees (same), but I’m guessing it’s probably a degree from clown school or something. Andy kept trying to put a pin in the loan discussion, but that hamster wheel kept turning. There was a weird John/Alexis interview, where Johnny J. said he never intended on releasing the videos, but if Shannon wanted to see what a monster she was, he’d be glad to show them to her personally. Alexis told the group that she hadn’t wanted to bring up the videos – but you did, Blanche, you did! – and she didn’t know it was on camera. This was when I looked at the camera like Jim from The Office. I doubt any of the women – okay, maybe Jenn – believed that for a second, especially since it wasn’t a one-off or a blurting out when drunk. Alexis brought it up on several occasions and it was definitely meant as a threat.

When blessed relief came in Alexis leaving, Emily summed it up by saying, every trashcan needs a lid, and she thought Johnny J. had found his. Tamra apologized to Shannon and said she was starting therapy. They hugged it out and Andy produced espresso martinis and mocktails for those not imbibing. Fancy Pants gave the worst toast ever, saying something like, since it was the 100th season of the franchise, to love and success for all of them. Really? All the pontificating and advising, wanted or not, all season, and that was it for the 100th season? Pfft! Then came the plot twist.

36 hours later. We saw the core group – Fancy Pants, Gina, Emily, Tamra, and Shannon met at (I think) Gina’s house. We found out that the beans had been spilled about the videos during a dinner after the Reunion. Apparently, Johnny J. had heard the crash and wanted to go out, but his daughter stopped him. She went out and saw Shannon peel out. So then, not almost running her over as we’d heard from Katie in an earlier episode. He said there had been an altercation earlier between him and Shannon, and Shannon had hit him. Shannon said she heard tell that she’d punched Johnny J., but I wondered what kind of punch she could actually pack. I mean seriously, Johnny J. couldn’t fend her off or walk away? Oh that’s right, he was busy filming.

The scary part though, was that Shannon remembered none of it. She should be grateful for the rest of her life that she didn’t kill herself or kill someone else. Gina said alcohol equaled bad decision making, and Shannon had changed her relationship with alcohol. This didn’t make her a terrible person. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Shannon over the years, but I have to say, I think all this makes her a brave person. Not many of us would want to show our worst moments to the world, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish, and I hope she finishes as strong as she was in that moment. No surprise, there was a group hug.

On a side note, we found out that Alexis had also bought Johnny J. an $800 pair of shoes. Can’t that guy buy his own shoes?

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-orange-county-recap-cameras-pick-back-up-shannon-beador-dui-reveal-reunion-8749901

Interesting how Alexis constantly claimed not to be involved with the lawsuit, but always used the word we when referencing it.

https://people.com/shannon-beador-officially-settles-ongoing-lawsuit-with-ex-john-janssen-8748123

🧂 A Pinch Of Salt…

A full recap from yesterday. As for Todd scolding Bronwyn, he wasn’t wrong.

🐩 Will Work For Likes… and a Biscuit…

My favorite – Peggy!

https://spotpet.com/blog/lifestyle/most-influential-pets-2024

https://wagwalking.com/daily/top-12-celebrity-pet-instagram-accounts-to-follow

🦃 Turkey Trotting…

Come on by tomorrow for a full bar of soap and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe, stay not only talking to people you know at a party, and stay changing your relationship with alcohol if you’re making bad decisions.

August 15, 2023 – Sonny Set His Plan In Motion, New Old Face, Surprise, Best Life, Reunion Shocks, Their Talk, Every Throne, Last Word, InstaPets (!) & Never  

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Gregory sees Alexis at the pool area and says he missed her this morning at the editorial board meeting. She says, sorry about that, but she had a very good reason. She got an on the record quote from Judge Wright for his op-ed piece. He thanks her and asks why she’s at the pool; a little lunchtime swim? She says, God forbid. She has a lunch date. He says, him too.

Molly makes TJ move a vase of flowers around and tells him, make sure there are nice napkins on the table too. He asks, how nice? and she says, come on. This is important. They want to make a good first impression. He wonders if nicer napkins will make a difference, and she says she knows she’s getting carried away. She just wants everything to be perfect, because today could be the day they meet the woman who will be carrying their child.

Portia peeks in on Curtis’s physical therapy. Therapist Roy suggests a break, but Curtis says he doesn’t need one. Roy says he does. He’s not used a client starting at this pace. Most of them start slower. Curtis says he’s not most people, and Roy says he knows; Curtis is wearing him out. Curtis sees Portia in the doorway.

Brook walks into the pool area, and Nina gets up from her table. She says she’s glad she ran into Brook, and Brook asks, what’s up? Nina says she called Ferncliff to check on Sasha and they wouldn’t tell her anything, but they did tell her that Sasha can no longer have visitors. She’s a little concerned. Brook says, Nina has reason to be. When she saw Sasha the other day, Sasha was in bad shape. Brook is actually really worried about her.

Sonny goes into his office, and Ava is there. She says she needs an update about their daughter, who’s currently being cared for by the nanny from hell. Sonny says, good morning, and she says, please. She’s worried. She can’t stand the thought of Avery in the hands of that criminal. He says, she needs to relax. He has it all under control.

Gabe is standing at the door when Betty brings Avery to Sonny’s penthouse. He asks how Avery’s first day of camp was, and Avery says she loved it. He asks what she did, and Betty says she’s sure Avery could tell him all about it for hours, but they know he’s working, so they’ll leave him to his job. He lets them in, and Dex comes out from around the corner. He and Gabe nod to each other.

Dex phones Sonny and says he followed Betty and Avery back to his penthouse from day camp. Sonny says he doesn’t want Dex to let Avery out of his sight for one second. Let Betty go into the penthouse, do what she needs to do, and go about his business. They need to let Betty think she’s working hard and she’s outsmarting them. Dex says, copy that.

Betty tells Avery, that was a big first day at camp. Why doesn’t she go take a nap? Avery says, naps are for babies. She’s going to watch TV. She picks up the remote and puts the TV on.

Portia says, it looks like Curtis is working really hard, and he says he’s doing what he can, focusing on his upper body, the part that still functions. She tells him that Trina said they spoke and had a really good conversation. As a matter of fact, she called it a breakthrough. Curtis says he wouldn’t go that far. Did she say breakthrough? Portia says, she did. She thinks Trina is finally getting used to the fact she has two dads. He asks if she actually said that, and Portia says, no, but that was her interpretation. But Trina was really happy about the conversation they had and it inspired her. She was hoping they could have a similar conversation. He says, he and Trina don’t have the same issues they do, and she says she knows. He says, so how would they do that? and she says, by starting over.

TJ says, she’s coming, and Kristina stands in front of him so he can see what she’s wearing. He says he liked the other shirt better, and she turns around to change, but he says he’s kidding. She looks perfect. She thanks him, and there’s a knock at the door. He asks if she’s ready, and she says, here we go. They’re going to meet candidate number one. He opens the door, and a woman introduces herself as Andrea. Thomas? He says, yeah, but she can call him TJ, and he shakes her hand. She comes in, and Molly introduces herself. Andrea asks, what happened to her foot? and Molly says, just a stupid fall down the stairs in some ridiculous high heels, but the boot will be long gone by the time the baby arrives. TJ asks if she’d like something to drink, but Andrea says she’s fine. They sit down, and Kristina says she’s sorry if they seem nervous. Andrea is the first candidate they’re interviewing. Andrea says she understands it’s an awkward situation. They’re letting complete strangers into their home, and they’re going to ask some very personal questions. TJ says, before they get to the personal questions, let him tell her a little bit about them. He’s a doctor at GH, Molly is an attorney, working in the DA’s office, so their child will be taken care of financially. When it comes to family, they both have lots of loved ones in town who will love and help them raise their baby. Andrea says, that’s terrific. She hands Molly her résumé, and says she’s married to a great guy, Ben, and they have one child, Andy. She recently lost her job due to cutbacks, and they’re trying to supplement their incomes.

Time passes. TJ asks if there are any health issues in Andrea’s family history, and she says, not much. Her maternal grandfather died of lung cancer, but he was a heavy smoker. He died her senior year of high school, and watching him suffer like that, she’s never had a single cigarette in her life.

More time passes. Molly says, if it turns out Andrea is their surrogate, how would she feel about them attending doctor’s appointments to watch the baby’s progress? Andrea says, it never occurred to her that they wouldn’t be at every single doctor’s appointment. TJ and Molly smile at each other.

Alexis tells Gregory that she has no idea why she said it was a lunch date. It’s really not a date; it’s work related. Esme comes in, and Alexis says, there she is now. Esme says it’s great to see Gregory again, and asks if he’s joining them for lunch. He looks over at Brook, and says, no. He’s having lunch with his family. Enjoy their meal. He leaves, and Alexis and Esme go to their table.

Nina tells Brook that she can’t believe this is happening to Sasha. If she’s in such bad shape, Nina doesn’t get this no visitor’s policy. Wouldn’t it help Sasha to know people are there to support her? Brook says, you would think, but when she saw Sasha the other day, she was really upset and incoherent. It was really painful to watch. It was like she was having a complete break with reality. Nina says she doesn’t get it. Sasha was doing so great. This doesn’t make any sense. Brook says, let’s just hope she’s getting the help she deserves, and looks over at Gregory checking out his phone. She says, if Nina will excuse her, her lunch companion is here, and goes over to Gregory.

Gregory tells Brook, it’s nice to see her. He thought Chase would be coming with her for their lunch. She says, he just texted her that he’s going to be late, so for now, it looks like it’s just the two of them.

Ava says she doesn’t know how Sonny can be so calm, knowing their daughter is with that dangerous woman, but he says, Avery is never going to be alone with Betty. Dex has been tailing her all day. Gabe is outside the door. They’re going to let her go in the penthouse and look for things. Then Dex is going to make his presence known. Ava says she’ll feel so much better when this is over, and he says he will too. But in the meantime, Gabe and Dex are going to make sure Avery is safe. They’re just going to wait for Betty to find what he planted for her.

Brook tells Gregory that she’s so sorry Chase is going to be late. He knows how super dedicated Chase is. He says, no need to apologize. It’s nice seeing Chase so happy being a detective again. He’s proud of the work Chase does. Brook says, her too, and he says, besides, this gives them a chance to get to know each other better. He knows her passion’s in the music business, but she runs social media for Deception. So tell him, what did she study in college?

Esme asks, what’s the purpose of the lunch? What is Alexis trying to figure out about her this time? Alexis says she understands that because of Esme’s experiences with other Cassadines, Esme finds it hard to trust her. What she can tell Esme is that she’s been very upfront about the reasons she hired her. Other than that, she has no agenda. Esme says, Alexis can understand why she’s a little suspicious, and Alexis says she can, but it’s a beautiful day and she didn’t want to have another salad at her desk. Esme says, so Alexis just invited her here because she wanted to get out of the office? and Alexis says, that, and she believes an employer needs to let an employee know when they’re doing a good job. And Esme, as of late, has been doing a good job. She thanks Esme for digging in and trying harder. Esme asks if she really means that.

Andrea says, if TJ and Molly don’t have any other questions, she just wants to assure them that she’s thought about this a lot, and if she was ever going to be a surrogate, it feels like the perfect time. Her child’s just a baby, so he won’t remember it or thinking he’s having a little brother or sister. TJ says, that’s very sensitive of her, and she thanks him. He says, it was nice to meet her. They’ll be in touch. He’ll walk her out. Which in Port Charles means, he’ll walk her to the door. Molly says, it was nice to meet her, and Andrea says, her too. TJ thanks her again, and she leaves. He tells Molly that he liked her… a lot, and Molly says, her too. He says, ready for number two? and she says, number one is going to be hard to beat.

Curtis tells Portia, it’s too much; he can’t do it. She says, what’s too much? and he says, you and me. He’s trying to adapt to life in a wheelchair. He and Trina are starting to figure things out, and he can’t deal with a relationship on top of all that. She says she understands where he’s coming from, but he doesn’t have to learn to live life in a wheelchair all by himself. He has people to lean on. She’s here. She’s right here for him and so is Trina. Roy comes back, and asks if Curtis is ready for round two. Curtis gets his wheelchair in position.

Alexis tells Esme, in her experience, we’re the sum of our parts, and Esme says, which means what? Alexis says, it means people may forgive you, but they’re not going to forget what you’ve done. Esme has had a very high profile, very negative past. She understands Esme may not remember that version of herself, but others will, and may be slow to trust her. Esme says, thanks for the pep talk, and Alexis says, pep talks have chapters. That chapter was about her past. The next chapter is about an opportunity that awaits her. In business, people have to prove themselves, day after day, and every day is an opportunity for her to change the image of what she was before to somebody that can be trusted. Does Esme see what she’s saying? Esme nods, and Alexis says, she got off to a spectacularly bad beginning, but she now seems to have turned a corner and is able to handle this job. Esme thanks her and says she thinks she can. The inner workings of The Invader really interest her; all the moving parts, and how when a story drops, it can change on a dime. It’s really exciting. Can she ask Alexis a question? Alexis says, that depends on what the question is, and Esme says, it’s about her job as editor. Spencer told her that this is a second career for Alexis; that she used to be a bigshot lawyer. Does she ever miss her old life?

Brook repeats Gregory’s question, and says, what did she study in college? She did go to PCU for a year, but it didn’t really work out. He says, that’s too bad. He’s sure his being a professor all those years has made him bias. Has she ever thought about going back and getting her degree? Brook says, college was never really her thing. Let’s just say she had a pretty unconventional childhood. Her parents split when she was pretty young, and she went back and forth a lot, between Brooklyn and upstate New York. He says he’d imagine living with a single mom versus life in a posh family mansion could be challenging for a little girl, and she says, especially with two extremely different extended families. The Cerullos and the Quartermaines. The Cerullos are loving and loud and artsy, and the Quartermaines are intense and loud and business centric. He says he knows. He met her grandmother. She says, right. Her grandmother really gets under his skin, doesn’t she? She has to say, she’s never seen anyone get under her grandmother’s skin like he has. He really pushes her grandmother’s buttons.

TJ welcomes the next candidate, whose name is Chelsea. She says she’s divorced, and she and her ex do a pretty good job co-parenting their two kids. She hands them her résumé and says, she’s in good health. She’ll be honest. She’s doing this to get ahead financially. Although she loves being pregnant, and her kids bring her so much joy. Molly asks how her second pregnancy was different from her first one, and Chelsea says she was so anxious and nervous during her first pregnancy. Every rumble, every bump, she was afraid it wasn’t normal because she’d never been pregnant before, but with baby number two, it was so easy. She was like, she knows what that feeling means now. TJ asks if she’d be open to reading to their baby while she’s pregnant or listening to certain music, and Chelsea says, that’s a total yes. During both pregnancies she read to the babies and she played music for them, everything from classical to classic rock. She’s a big Aerosmith fan. She loves baseball, and both of her pregnancies were during the summer, so they watched a lot of baseball.

Molly asks if Chelsea follows any kind of special dietary plan when she’s pregnant, and Chelsea says she doesn’t normally eat read meat, fish and chicken mostly, but she went with what the baby was craving. Baby number one was really into chicken, but baby number two wasn’t really into meat. She got most of her protein from tofu. Full disclosure, she doesn’t think she’ll ever eat tofu again. They all laugh.

Portia introduces herself to Roy, and vice versa. She says she was wondering if it was okay if she stayed and watched the rest of the session. She wants to see how she can help Curtis. A woman walks in with towels, and Roy asks her to take Curtis over to the bands and get him started with his stretching exercises. She wheels Curtis away, and Portia says, it looks like he’s doing really well. What can she do to help? Roy says he’s been working with people with spine injuries for a lot of years. It’s an emotional experience as well as a physical one, so he has to ask. What exactly does she think she can do for Curtis?

Gregory says, Brook’s grandmother definitely pushes his buttons, and Brook says, her grandmother has never shied away from conflict. If anything, she runs toward it. She knows it can be a lot, but Tracy can be very loving, just not in your typical grandmother way. She’s not the type of grandmother who would knit or bake you cookies. But if she could say one thing about Tracy Quartermaine, it would be that when she loves you, she will always have your back. He says, okay, but what does that mean in actuality? Why does Brook need Tracy to have her back? Chase arrives and apologizes for being late; work held him up. Brook says, it’s all good. They know how important his job is to him, especially with all those months away from it. Gregory says, anything he can talk about? and Chase sits down, saying, he can’t go into details, but he is actually working on several different cases. Did they find something to talk about? Gregory says, they did. They were discussing the importance of an education. Brook says she 100% agrees with that.

Sonny tells Ava, whoever Betty is working for is very determined to find out about his deal with Pikeman. So he put out some false information that Betty is going to find and take that false information right back to her boss. And then they’re going to figure out who she’s working for. It’s what you call cutting the snake off at the head. Ava says, that sounds great, but what she really needs is Nikolas’s body back.

Betty says she thinks if Avery wasn’t so tired, she wouldn’t be fighting her on this. She really needs to rest and take a nap. Avery says, no. She wants to watch cartoons. Betty says, all right then. If she won’t nap, will she watch them on her tablet using headphones? Betty holds the tablet and headphones out, and Avery takes them.

Gabe asks when Dex is going inside, and Dex says he’ll give it a few more minutes. Give Betty time to start looking around. Nina walks up and asks if everything is okay. Dex says, everything’s fine, and Nina says she left a few things… Dex blocks the door and says he’s sorry. He can’t let her inside.

Alexis tells Esme, yes, she misses being a lawyer very much. She misses standing up in front of a judge and jury, and advocating for her client’s rights. Having said that, she thinks she’s done a reasonably good job turning The Invader into something more positive. Esme asks if there are any similarities, and Alexis says, that’s a very good question. Actually, yes. In all legal cases, facts are important; so is the presentation equally important. She needs to make sure the judge and the jury think the facts she’s presenting are interesting and important. So it’s the same when writing stories for a newspaper. Headlines have to be authentic, but they also have to grab the attention of the reader. Esme asks if that’s how she turned the paper around. Spencer told her the paper used to be trash, but now it’s a well-regarded news source. Alexis says, that’s very nice to hear. And speaking of her favorite nephew, how is it cohabitating with him now that Laura and Doc aren’t there to referee?

Chase thanks Brook for ordering for him, and says, she always knows what he wants. She says, he seems to like everything, so it’s easy, and Gregory says he has a question. Chase says, go for it, and Gregory asks if they’ve discussed their future together. Chase says, dad! and Gregory says he didn’t pester Brook while they were waiting for him. He waited until they were both here. Brook excuses herself to go to the ladies room, and Chase tells Gregory, thank you for that. Gregory asks what he said that was so wrong. Life is short. You need to have a plan. Chase says, they haven’t been a couple for very long, and Gregory asks if they’ve talked about the future. How do they know they want the same things? Have they discussed having kids? Where they want to live? Whether they want to get married? Chase says, no, no, and definitely no, and Gregory says, no, they don’t want to get married, or no they haven’t talked about it? Chase says, they haven’t talked about it because they’re not there yet. He doesn’t understand. Why is Gregory in such a rush?

TJ says, candidate number three, Pamela Reed. She’s a single mom. There’s a knock at the door, he lets Pamela in, and they all introduce themselves. As Pamela loads a plate with snacks, Molly says, they read her file, but they’d like to hear in her own words why she wants to be a surrogate. Pamela says she’s a single mom. Her son is school age, so the pregnancy will be manageable. She works from home as a translator, so it’s not physically demanding, but to be perfectly honest, her son’s father’s not in the picture, so the extra money will be a big help for them. Molly asks what her diet is like, and Pamela says, honestly, it’s based on what she can afford, but if they want her to eat healthier foods, she’d totally be down for that, as long as they picked up the tab. She shovels some crackers into her mouth.

TJ says he’s a doctor, so it’s important they know her medical history. Are there any serious medical conditions that run in Pamela’s family? She says, her grandpa died of prostate cancer, but his doctor told them, if they live long enough, every man will eventually get it. He would be 87. She continues to eat, and Molly asks, who is her current OB/GYN, and does she know which hospital they’re affiliated with? Pamela says she just goes to the free clinic to save money, but they’re picking up her hospital bills, so she’ll have any fancy General Hospital doctor they want. Also, for how many months after she delivers will they continue picking up her doctor’s bills? Until her body goes back to normal?

Sonny tells Ava, like he said before, Avery is never going to be alone with Betty. He knows she’s nervous and he gets that, but she has to trust that he’s handling it. She says, nothing can happen to her, and he says, nothing’s going to happen. He said that already. She says, okay. What about Nikolas’s body? His body’s still out there. Who knows? Maybe their plan ends with her in prison. He says, focus. Austin and Mason are working for some mysterious boss. They’re probably the ones who have the body. So she wants to get the body back? They have to figure out who they’re dealing with.

Nina says, what does Dex mean, he can’t let her in? She practically lives here. Dex says he totally understands that, and under normal circumstances, he’d let her right in, but he can’t do that. Gabe says, boss’s orders, and she asks if he’s saying Sonny instructed them not to let her in. Dex says, not her specifically; they can’t let anyone in. She says she’s not just anyone; she’s his fiancé. Dex says he’s sorry, and Nina says, this is unbelievable. She stomps off, and Gabe tells Dex, it’s showtime.

Betty looks at the pile of mail on the mantel, when Dex walks in. He asks what she thinks she’s doing. Avery says hi to Dex, and Betty says she was just looking for some art supplies for Avery. (Wow. Looking for art supplies in a pile of mail? I thought she was good at her job.) But on second thought, maybe she’d be better off with a nap. Avery says, Betty told her that she didn’t have to take a nap, and Betty says, as Dex can see, she has her hands full. Maybe it would be better if they didn’t have any more interruptions. Dex says he’s so sorry. He didn’t mean to bother anyone. He tells Avery bye, and Avery puts her headphones back on. In the hallway, Dex tells Gabe, Betty doesn’t want to be disturbed.

Gregory says, Chase is right. No rush. As long as he’s happy. Chase says he’s happier than he’s been his entire life, and Gregory says he can’t tell Chase how pleased he is to hear that. Brook returns to the table and says, hear what? Gregory says, Chase was just telling him how happy he is, and Brook says, Chase is always happy. Has he always been that way? Nothing ever seems to get him down.

Esme tells Alexis that she’s right. She was worried when Laura said she and Doc were going to look for Nikolas. They’ve been such a good buffer between her and Spencer, but things are actually turning out better than she expected with him. Alexis says, that’s good, and Esme says, they’re really finding their rhythm together. He loves Ace. He sings to him and never complains about changing a diaper. And he always finds a way to make Ace laugh. He makes her laugh… but of course (🍷) she can’t wait for Laura and Doc to get back. But it is kind of funny how things work out. Alexis only offered her the job as a favor to Laura so she would stay in town with Ace, but it turns out, she’s really enjoying this job. Alexis says, all right then. Just keep doing a good job and it will be a win for everyone. She looks over and sees Gregory having difficulty signing for the check.

TJ says, they’ll let Pamela know as soon as they decide, and she says, nice meeting them. She leaves, taking a water with her, and TJ asks Molly what she thinks.

Portia says she guesses Curtis didn’t tell Roy, she’s not just his wife; she’s also a doctor. She just wants to help her husband as much as she can. He says, of course (🍷) she does, but she has to remember, Curtis’s life has taken a very unexpected turn, one he didn’t see coming. He has to figure this out for himself. She says she knows that. She just wants to be there for her husband every step of the way. She knows it’s going to take some time. He says, Curtis is at the point in his recovery where accepting any help, including from his doctor, is going to be difficult for him, a real struggle. Inserting herself into his recovery could do more harm than good. She’s going to have to be very patient with Curtis while he figures this out. She has to work on Curtis’s timetable, not hers.

Betty snoops around Sonny’s home office and gets on his laptop. She puts Pikeman in the search and a bunch of files come up.

Nina walks into Sonny’s office at Pozzulo’s, and he asks how she’s doing. She says, the better question is, why wasn’t she allowed into their home? What is going on at the penthouse?

Chase and Brook leave, and Alexis asks if she can join Gregory. He says, please, have a seat, and she thanks him. She asks, how was lunch? and he says, fantastic. Brook is very special. She makes his son very happy, and he thinks they’re starting to get serious. She says, that’s nice to hear. What else is going on? He says, oh. She saw him struggling with the check. She says she did, and he says, fortunately for him, they were so wrapped up in each other, they didn’t seem to notice. She says she’s sorry, and he says, it’s getting worse. He thinks he’s running out of time.

TJ tells Molly that he thinks it’s safe to say they both like Pamela, and Molly sarcastically says, yeah, tossing the folder on the table. She says, Pamela seemed so focused on the money, she has the feeling that no matter what contract they offered her, she’d manage to ask for more. TJ says, agreed. They both like Andrea and Chelsea. Molly says, let’s go with Andrea. She has a really good feeling about her, and they’ll know they have a back-up in Chelsea. This is really happening. He says, it’s an important first step, and they hug.

Roy tells Curtis, so much of his strength is going to come from his arms. So do a few reps using his arms to move his body straight up. Curtis says he can do that, and Roy says, he’s got this. That’s it. Push. Curtis lifts himself up, and Roy says, that’s good. Do another one. Portia lingers in the doorway like mold, and Curtis does another rep.

Sonny tells Nina, everything’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about. He promises. Nina asks what Ava is doing here, and Ava says she’s here to talk to Sonny about Avery, that’s all. But she’ll go. She’ll let them talk. Ava jets, and Nina asks why Sonny’s guards wouldn’t let her into the penthouse. And why is Ava acting so squirrely? (I love that word!) He says, it’s best she doesn’t know, and she says, they had a talk about this. He says, yes, he’s an open book, but there are some things she should not know for her own safety. He’s protecting his family. That’s all he can tell her, and he hopes that’s enough. She says she guesses she doesn’t have a choice, does she? But she’s going to tell him this before she goes. This just makes her feel like another one of his employees. She leaves, glancing back at him before going out the door.

Dex slips into the penthouse, and Avery takes her headphones off. He gestures for her to keep quiet, and she puts them back on.

In the office, Betty chooses a file, and takes a flashdrive out of her pocket. She copies the file onto it, takes the flashdrive out, closes the laptop, and looks all proud of herself.

Tomorrow, Nina asks Ava what they’re celebrating; Selina says she’d like to take The Savoy off Curtis’s hands; Michael asks Dex why his father has Dex following the doctor; and Cody tells Brook, it’s time for them to do something drastic.

🏥 Return Trip…

How cool that he won a contest to get on the show.

🕶 Extended Run…

Another amazing start. Seems like he’s been around forever.

⛲️ No Greek Tragedy Here…

I would love to swim in that blue, blue water.

👠 Seismic Wives…

Another matter of opinion. What about Teresa bouncing Andy back into his chair? Or when the bird got in and scared the crap out of Andy?

📺 Seduced By Reality…

My favorite part was Kate explaining some of the shows to Captain Lee. There were times when it was reminiscent of Jake explaining SpongeBob SquarePants to Evelyn on Two and a Half Men.

🐉 Spinning the Game…

While we all wait for George R. R. Martin to finish the damn book.

https://ew.com/tv/game-of-thrones-every-spinoff-in-development/

🌁 Getting There…

I don’t imagine the writers’ strike did them any favors.

🐩 It’s Okay To Like Them Better…

I’ll bet their posts are better too.

https://people.com/celebrity-pets-with-their-own-instagram-accounts-7567698

🥣 Rounding Out the Meal…

For whatever reason, it looks like no making fun of the OC tomorrow, but stop by for soap and whatever else makes its way here. Until then, stay safe, stay not jumping the line, and stay being aware of when inserting yourself will do more harm than good.