Tag Archives: Chad Duell

April 4, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Ric Remembers an Important Detail, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Impending Watch, Wild Surprises, A Half-Dozen Solid Quotes & Money

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

A rescue team arrived at the scene of the accident, and Kristina stopped down the road. Molly looked for Kristina at Charlie’s and ran into Cody. Drew was glad Kai was keeping an open mind about the surgery, and Kai said Drew had given him a lot to think about. Alexis showed up, but Drew had to take a call. In the hallway, Drew asked if it was done, but Boyle told him they had a situation. Drew told Boyle, fix it. He didn’t care how. Trina continued to film at the crypt, and Anna cuffed and arrested Emma. She told Boyle that he was on his own when it came to Tracy, and took Emma to the station. The sheriff tried to arrest Tracy, but she said, don’t touch me. Sonny asked Soliski who hired him, but Soliski insisted he didn’t know. Sonny said then they didn’t need him, and Soliski said, wait. The jaws of life were used at the accident, and Ric was taken out of the car as Kristina watched.

Ric was strapped to a gurney, when Lucky showed up. Kristina said, it was supposed to be Ava. Cody told Molly that Mac wanted to meet up at Charlie’s and he was hoping to see Lucky to apologize. Molly wondered how Cody convinced Ric to make peace with Alexis, and couldn’t thank him enough. The guy who pulled off that miracle didn’t seem like the drunken idiot she met at the PCPD. She thought maybe he was a good guy after all and gave him her card. She said she owed him one, when Mac arrived. Drew introduced Alexis to Kai, and said he was the face of the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷). Kai left and Drew told Alexis that he had great news. Yuri stood with Tracy, but Boyle said there was no getting out of this. Soliski said he didn’t have a name, but Sonny said he was tired of Soliski’s games. Soliski told him to open a drawer where he’d find the info, but when Sonny put his gun down, Soliski got the better of Jason. Jason sprang back, they struggled, and Soliski fell, hitting his head. Kristina told Lucky that it was Ava’s car. She checked before she cut the brake line. Lucky told her to jet to Charlie’s and say she’d been doing inventory all day. Lucky stayed and saw Elizabeth being taken from the car. He freaked and ran toward her, but an officer grabbed him and told him to calm down.

Anna gave Emma a lecture, and Emma said she wasn’t a little kid anymore. She was a college student who had the freedom to push the boundaries, break the rules, and make mistakes. She knew she was somebody that hated inequality and fairness and wanted to do good in the world and fight for what she believed. Anna said the Quartermaine crypt wasn’t her fight, and Emma asked if Anna wasn’t dedicated to helping people. What changed? Tracy talked to the good people of Port Charles, telling them about the crypt and who was buried there and how they’d helped Port Charles grow and thrive. For years, their vision and generosity had kept the doors of GH open. The crypt had nothing to do with righting a wrong, but everything to do with a corrupt politician. Cutthroat Cain was using his position for a personal vendetta with the shameful assistance of Councilman Boyle. Trina said it was about to go viral, but Boyle said no one was going to help Tracy. Tracy was about to be arrested, and the deputies carried her off the steps. Drew said Willow, Amelia, and Wiley were moving in with him and Scout, but Alexis said she thought it was a mistake. Jason said Soliski was dead, and they had to jet. He’d grab everything of use. Sonny said, the trail might not be cold just yet. Cody told Mac about talking to Ric when he was at the PCPD. He’d told Ric that Molly needed both of her parents. Kristina came out and told Molly she’d been doing inventory. Molly said organization was her happy place, but Kristina said they’d just gotten a new system. Molly asked if she could hang and Kristina said, sure. Ric and Elizabeth were brought to the hospital, and Isaiah told Lucky that he had to leave, but Lucky begged to stay. Lucas worked on Ric who would need emergency surgery once he stabilized.

Mac asked Molly to join them. He wanted to say thanks for getting Cody’s car situation straightened out. Molly asked Kristina to sit with them too, and Mac praised Molly’s skills as an ADA. Kristina flashed back to the accident aftermath, and Molly asked if she was okay. Molly’s phone rang and a nurse from GH told her about her father being in the ER. Cody offered to drive and Kristina said she’d come too. Anna said nothing had changed, but she worked within the law, but Emma said breaking the law was sometimes the only way to get someone’s attention. Anna said she’d been like Emma, but growing up, you realized the world was complicated and every action had its own set of consequences. Emma said growing up didn’t mean you abandoned your principles. She wasn’t sitting by and watching a corrupt politician abuse his power just because he could. Anna said experience broadened perspective and you couldn’t save everyone. Emma was putting her future at risk. Emma said Anna was being condescending and trivializing her intentions. She was there because of her mom. Tracy wailed that they were hurting her, when Diane showed up and said Trina’s recording would come in handy in court later. She had an official cease and desist order from Monica. Unhand her client. Alexis told Drew that Scout had been through enough upheaval and was dealing with the loss of her family as she knew it. She missed her brothers. Drew said it wasn’t his choice to leave, but Alexis said it was his choice not to add more change to Scout’s life. Scout needed normalcy, consistency, and stability to heal. Drew said he’d only told her out of courtesy. He wasn’t asking for permission. Isaiah insisted Lucky leave and Lucky said he’d be right outside.

Molly saw Lucky at the hospital, and he told her that Ric had been driving and Elizabeth was his passenger. Alexis said she wanted what was best for Scout and Drew said he did too. That’s why he chose to stay in Port Charles. Alexis said she hoped it went smoothly, when her phone rang. Kristina told her about Ric and Alexis said she’d be right there. Anna asked what Robin had to do with Emma helping the Quartermaines, and Emma said Robin had always told her the story about how she’d been sick when Edward was sick with the same thing, but he’d insisted she take the only dose of serum available. He was one of the people Tracy was trying to protect, and she wasn’t going to watch a man who made that kind of sacrifice for her have his final resting place torn down like trash. Anna said she’d always be grateful and understood. Emma said it wasn’t just Edward. Alan had told her mom she was HIV positive, and Robin’s world crumbled. HIV had been new and terrifying, and all people knew was that they should be afraid. Alan wasn’t and stood by Robin’s side when she had no one to count on. Anna said it was one of her biggest regrets not being there, and Emma said Alan was a huge reason Robin chose a career in medicine. Edward and Alan saved their lives and made their lives possible, and she couldn’t watch their final resting place be destroyed. Jason thought Soliski would have been more useful alive, but Sonny said he was going to die regardless. He wasn’t going to stop until he succeeded in killing Sonny. It was kind of like self-defense. Also, a warning to whoever hired him. Jason said they’d hire someone else, and Sonny had to be ready for the next attack.

 Alexis asked Molly how Ric was, but Molly didn’t know. Ava showed up and asked if there was word on Ric’s condition. At the crypt, Boyle said the order was legitimate. How did Monica secure it? Diane said Monica had struck a deal with the Port Charles Land Trust. She’d admitted a mistake was made and negotiated a deal. The crypt would stay as long as the Quartermaines gave them a piece of land on the lakefront. Tracy suggested he take his bulldozer, cheap suit, and really ugly tie and get off her property. He said it wasn’t over, but Diane said it was. Diane said Monica told her to tell Tracy, the next time, why not just come to her first? Tracy said, a win is a win, and Diane said, enjoy it. Gio asked about Emma, and Tracy said Emma was a friend and ally and she’d respond in kind, starting with getting her released. She thanked Trina for recording everything. She was an excellent tenant. Tracy left with Gio, when Kai arrived and said he’d seen Trina’s livestream. Anna said she had no way of knowing Emma’s reasons and had misjudged her and the situation. She was sorry. The arrest still stood, but she thought Emma would just get a slap on the wrist. Mac came in and asked to speak with Anna and in the hallway, Anna said she understood Emma’s reason for the protest. She was trouble, but good trouble. Mac said he wasn’t sure she’d feel the same after seeing this, and handed her a folder. Molly said no one was telling her anything and Isaiah asked to speak to Lucky in private. He told Lucky that Elizabeth was lucky. She had a broken leg that would need surgery, but they wanted her to regain consciousness first. Ava said she and Ric cared about each other and Alexis said she was here for her daughters who got upset seeing Ava. Be a decent human being for once and worry about Ric someplace else. Lucas came out and had news about Ric’s prognosis.

On the plane, Sonny said Ric would go through Soliski’s devices until he found something. In the meantime, they couldn’t show any weaknesses. Jason said Sonny delaying the surgery any longer was dangerous. If he died, he’d do the enemy’s work for them. Sonny said he’d give Ric time to get a name and then schedule the surgery. Until then, it would be business as usual. He wasn’t letting anyone hurt his family again. Drew asked what Tracy’s face was like when she was arrested and the crypt was demolished, and Boyle told him that his dreams of being a Quartermaine were over. He was legally obligated to use the name Drew Cain. Drew wondered how Tracy managed it, and Boyle said, Tracy didn’t; Monica did. Anna said her respect for Emma was short-lived, when Tracy came in. She said Emma’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. They won and the crypt would stay where it was. They high-fived, and Tracy said she wanted to secure Emma’s release, pay all legal fees, and celebrate with dinner. Anna said Emma was going in a jail cell until she could see a judge in the morning. She would have gotten a slap on the wrist were it not for a number of prior offenses. Lucas said Ric had severe head trauma and internal bleeding. He was stabilized and going to the OR for surgery. Lucky sat by Elizabeth’s bedside and said she had to be okay. He’d been wanting to say something since he got back, but didn’t have the courage. She had to know that he loved her. He fell in love with her the first day they met and he was going to love her forever. She opened her eyes.

Tuesday:

Laura thanked Sonny for coming to the hospital and said he always showed up when it counted. Alexis thanked Curtis for encouraging her to go to a meeting. She liked the one at the hospital because it was safe and familiar. He said he was starting to feel the same way. Carly was there with Donna and Donna wanted to say hi to grandma’s photo. Felicia joined them and said the hospital had been born today. It was 62 years young. Lucy knocked at Windymere and Sidwell said she’d sounded mysterious on the phone. He was intrigued by her proposal, and she said she had four words that would blow his mind – General Hospital Nurses Ball. Laura said they were unveiling the new cardiac center and asked if Sonny wanted get coffee. Tracy arrived and said she had some unfortunate news.

Lucy told Sidwell about the first Nurses Ball in 1994. The whole town of Port Charles was there. Terry talked to Portia about the anniversary of GH, while Anna filled Robin in on the new cardiac center and told Mac that GH looked pretty good for her age. Tracy said Monica had a respiratory issue and couldn’t be around many people. Laura said she was the heart and soul of GH and had brought the hospital into the 21st century. Her mother and Monica had their moments, but her mother held Monica in high esteem professionally, and Laura had always been grateful for how Monica treated her when Lulu had her transplant.

Lucy said the Nurses Ball was a fundraiser, but there were other highlights, including, but not limited to, the clothes. We flashed back to the many gowns Lucy has worn for the Ball. Carly and Felicia took Donna to the memorial wall, and Donna told Bobbie that she missed her. Felicia said nursing was Bobbie’s calling and Carly said the hospital was a part of Bobbie. Felicia said Bobbie was her best friend and she thought of her every time she came to work. Carly said her mom would be proud. Maxie gave Deanna and Amy giftbags for the nurses, who she said were the heart and soul of the hospital, and asked for help handing them out. Tracy went to the memorial wall to see her parents and Alan. Stella joined her and said she spent a lot of time in places where she could honor her loved ones. Tracy said she liked the quiet and opposed to at home, her loved ones couldn’t talk back. She was concerned about Monica, who kept having setbacks. She didn’t think the hospital would be standing without her.

Terry and Portia checked out the new space, and Portia said Monica deserved it. Terry said Monica inspired her to be better and not just as a doctor. Lucy talked up the hospital staff to Sidwell and said everyone gave it their all for the most worthy of causes. Sidwell asked what the cause was, and she said she was glad he asked. Laura saw Curtis who stayed for the unveiling, and she said people would get care there they couldn’t get anywhere else. Curtis said Aurora Media was covering it. Laura said Doc was at a seminar, even though we all know he’s running a casino on the side. (Joke for Beyond the Gates watchers.) Curtis said he’d heard there was an anonymous donor, and Laura said if she had to guess, it was somebody that had a contentious relationship with Monica, but still respected her. She didn’t think it was a mystery for Monica, but it was a relief that their names wouldn’t be attached. Curtis said, being attached to the wrong people often hurts as much as it helps, but Laura said the hospital brought out the best in everyone. Alexis found Sonny at the memorial wall where he was counting his blessings. Blessings are always there, but sometimes you have to dig to find them. She said the atrium was stunning, and she knew he was the anonymous donor because she’d seen the paperwork. He said Monica hated him, but he’d always respected her.

Laura told Alexis that Monica wasn’t up to coming, but even Monica wouldn’t want them to postpone the unveiling. Laura asked, how you thank someone for giving your child their life back and fill the void of such a loss? She said she was sorry and cried. She didn’t know how to adequately convey her gratitude. Alexis said it wasn’t an exchange. One thing had nothing to do with the other. Sam had chosen to donate her organ, and it had been successful. What happened was beyond their control and they should focus on her bravery and her children and the gift to Lulu made her a hero on earth. All the love she gave to everyone was what mattered. They hugged and Laura said that’s how they’d honor Sam going forward. Amy gushed over how expensive the Deception products in the giftbags were, but Maxie said they weren’t worth as much as the nurses. She thanked them for taking care of her family and they said that was the idea. Curtis apologized to Laura for giving her a hard time about the donor, and she said she was nervous about giving her speech now that she knew Monica wasn’t going to be there. Curtis said he’d make sure Monica got a copy of the film, and Laura said it was also the 62nd anniversary of the hospital. Curtis said he’d still be in the wheelchair were it not for the doctors and nurses, but Laura said his strength and courage were a big part of his recovery. He said they’d made him feel like he mattered, and she said he did. Ned found Tracy and wondered if she was sharing an inside joke with her brother. They’d loved each other in their own distinctly unique way. Tracy asked if he meant the Quartermaine way. She said their father would pit them together, but didn’t count on Alan’s ultimate betrayal of becoming a doctor. She was jealous. Right or wrong Alan followed his dreams. She was wrong to give him grief for his choices in wives. So much of what existed at GH did so because of Alan and Monica’s legacy. Ned said they should tell Monica that, but Tracy said she was doing nothing of the kind. He told her, never change. Lucy told Sidwell about the conception of the Nurses Ball and how it was created to fight HIV/AIDS when it was the darkest days of the crisis, and they saw no hope of a cure. She told him about Stone’s death and Robin being diagnosed, but still being with them. Her co-chair John Hanley had also passed, but she couldn’t count how many people she’d lost. That was why she put her heart and soul into making the Ball a success.

Donna lit a candle in the chapel for Michael, when Sonny joined her and Carly. Sonny said Michael was getting better every day, and Donna went to say a prayer. He asked if Carly was okay, and she said she was thinking about how many times she’d been at the hospital. Sonny said he’d made a lot of bargains with God in the chapel, and she said she didn’t associate the hospital with pain. She sees her mom at the nurses’ station, she had her babies there, Sonny walked again, and they gave Michael a fighting chance. Sonny said it was because of Carly, but she said it was because of them. Sidwell said it was a beautiful, moving cause and Lucy asked if he’d like to contribute. She thought it would be good for him to be an underwriter. It would change people’s perception of him. He said he was in, but had one condition. She said, of course (🍷) he did, and he said he wanted to be the sole underwriter for the entire Nurses Ball. Those were his terms. Take them or leave them. Laura told Portia that Monica wasn’t coming.

Anna told Sonny that she’d spoken to Robin who wished she could be there. Sonny said they could remember Stone together. He’d changed Sonny’s life. So did Robin. Anna said the hospital had given Robin her career, her life, and her family, and Sonny said Robin had been beautiful and brave, stating she was the face of HIV/AIDS at the Nurses Ball. Anna said she wished she’d been there for her at that time, and he said Robin had been taken care of. Anna said, in large part by him. Despite their differences, she’d always be grateful. He said, with all his heart, it was his pleasure, and she said she was supposed to give him something from Robin. She kissed his cheek and thanked him.

Terry thanked everyone for being there for the official unveiling of the Dr. Monica Quartermaine Cardiac Care Center and Atrium. Portia said Monica couldn’t be there in person, but was there in spirit. She was the hospital. Terry said Monica was the ultimate example of what a Chief of Staff should be, and she and Portia often asked themselves, WWMD? What would Monica do? Portia said she was their guiding light. She was their constant reminder to move forward and not bet on the future not on the past. Terry said that’s what the new center was about. Helping future patients meet their medical needs and saving lives. Portia introduced Laura, who stepped up to the podium. Laura said she was honored to be there to open the enter and commemorate the hospital’s anniversary. She thought it was a place where people from all walks of life came together to receive care. It was also a place where they put their differences aside and focused on what was important supporting each other as family, friends, neighbors, and a community. With its amazing staff and volunteers, she believed it represented them at their best. It was a place where you could start of as a somewhat mediocre Candy Striper and wind up the mayor of the town. Everyone applauded and she said, for so many of them, General Hospital felt like home, the people in it their family. Embrace that. Cherish that. And with the opening of the new center, they would honor that. The covering was dropped and everyone applauded. Lucy dragged Sidwell out and said she had a great big announcement. Jenz Sidwell had agreed to be the sole underwriter for the 2025 Nurses Ball. There was applause, but not by everyone. She said volunteers knew where to find her, and happy 62nd anniversary General Hospital. The applause was more enthusiastic, and we saw Monica’s photo plaque.

Wednesday:

Jason went to the hospital to talk to Lucas about Carly and said, this thing with Brennan has to end. Carly woke up with Jack. Gio went to the courtroom and found Emma, and asked why she did it when she had a record. Anna talked to ADA Turner, hoping they could take the extenuating circumstances into account, but Turner said, Emma had been in defiance of the court order. Anna said she thought Turner was after her granddaughter because of her. The Deception team met at the Quartermaine solarium, and Lucy said they needed zincite and Sidwell was offering them a good deal, but Brook wondered what was in it for him. Plus, he’d kidnapped Sasha. Maxie said Sasha claimed she’d been overreacting and Tracy wondered why Sasha would say it if it wasn’t true. Sasha went to Windymere, and Sidwell thanked her for talking to Maxie. The Deception team was coming over to sign the contract. Sasha said she wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to screw them over. She would tell them who and what he was, and the deal would be off. He asked if she wouldn’t miss her payday, but she said there were limits to what she’d do for money. Sonny met Laura for lunch at the MetroCourt and Boyle came over to their table. He wanted to know how the public felt about Laura breaking bread with an alleged crime boss.

Sasha said if Sidwell was getting Deception into something questionable or illegal, the deal was off, but he said he was doing them a favor and she’d earned a tidy sum. She said the moment she suspected he was up to something shady, she knew someone who could keep him in line. Lucy said Sonny’s involvement with Deception had turned out fine and if Erica Kane got her product out first, they’d never catch up. Maxie said Lucy was right and Lucy asked for a yay or nay on a long-term contract. Jason said he never should have told Carly what to do. It only made her dig in deeper. Lucas said he’d done the same thing. Carly and Jack were obviously into each other. Jason said she wasn’t allowing herself to see Brennan for who he really was. Carly suggested she and Jack spend the day in bed, but his schedule wasn’t light. He said whenever the WSB allowed, he was all hers. Laura asked Boyle, what kind of a crime boss? and Boyle said, alleged. Sonny asked if he wanted to be rude, and Boyle asked if Laura had heard of the appearance of impropriety. The people wouldn’t like this. (Those invisible people again.) She said her approval rating was twice as high as his and this was a private lunch. Boyle said she could do more good if she wasn’t wasting time with Sonny, and left. Laura said Boyle was a jerk and Sonny said he agreed, but Boyle wasn’t wrong.

Marco went to Diane’s office for an interview, and she said his resumé was impressive, but why did he want to move? Marco said they had an excellent record in criminal defense, and he liked a place where winter was winter. His client, JS Associates, was also based there now. If it worked out, he’d bring them along, as well as a few others. He showed her a list and she said, very impressive. Sonny said they both knew Laura was putting her reputation on the line being seen with him, but she said she wasn’t going to hide her friendship with him. He said he didn’t think they should be seen together, but she said they had no business affiliation, and she never had and never would put pressure on the police not to look in his direction. He said if they did, he would get lonely, and she said she wasn’t hiding their friendship because she was mayor. Natalia abstained from voting, Brook was tentative, and Maxie and Lucy were a yes. Tracy also abstained so she wouldn’t be held responsible for the consequences. Emma told Gio that she didn’t want to talk about California, but the crypt was a cause worth fighting for. He said had he known about her priors, he would have done it, and she said he would have lost his spot in the music program. Everyone already thought she was trouble, so it had to be her. Anna said their differences had nothing to do with Emma, and Turner wondered if she’d looked into Emma’s prior arrests. Anna said, Emma had a party that got out of hand, and she got expelled, but Turner said Emma had been part of an activist group protesting a lab and everyone had been arrested. For what, she didn’t know. When she requested the report, she was sent to the university legal department. They must have struck deal because Emma was charged with breaking and entering and she was expelled, but the record was sealed. Anna said it was because it was serious enough that the university didn’t want the story to get out, and Turner said Anna had no idea who she was really dealing with. Neither did she.

At Windymere, Brook asked why Sidwell wanted to do business with them when he had offers from Enchanted and Melador. Sidwell said neither one was in Port Charles, and he didn’t want to be based in Pine Valley or Llanview. Port Charles had everything he needed and more – access, ease, and beauty. Brook’s family had done well, and all he wanted was to do the same. Diane said Marco seemed like a good fit, but before she made an offer, he’d have to meet with her partner. She’d be in be in touch. Marco asked who was in the photograph on Alexis’s desk, and Diane said it was Alexis’s late daughter Samantha and Sam’s brother Lucas. Lucas told Jason that Carly thought because she and Jack weren’t committed, it meant she was safe, but anyone could see they were invested in each other. Carly hadn’t come home last night, but there was nothing he could say that would change her mind. Jason said, she was almost killed, and Lucas said if that wasn’t enough to convince her, he didn’t know what was. Laura asked if Sonny had seen his brother, but Sonny said he avoided that whenever possible. She said Ric had been in a car accident and Elizabeth was with him. They were both in the hospital. He asked how Elizabeth was, and she said, awake. There was no damage to her spine, but she had a fractured leg that would need surgery. Ric hadn’t woken up yet. Sonny hoped for his daughter’s sake, Ric pulled through, when Carly and Jack walked in. Maxie had to leave because of an appointment at GH she couldn’t reschedule, and Sidwell said her health came first. She left, and Brook asked to talk to Lucy, and they stepped aside. Brook said, they didn’t know Sidwell, and Sidwell said he’d already expedited their first order at his cost. Anything to help Deception. Brook said he had himself a deal. The judge came in and said the charges against Emma were obstruction of governmental administration, and Emma pleaded not guilty. Turner said, given Emma’s priors and significant flight risk, the people requested she be held without bail.

Marco texted Lucas that he was in town and to join him at the MetroCourt. Tracy said Emma was charged with a class-A misdemeanor and they were treating her like she’d robbed a bank. Turner said, given her record, that could be next, and the judge told Turner to sit and asked Tracy to let Emma’s lawyer handle it. Tracy said there was nothing to be handled. The sheriff and councilman had been misinformed, and the entire matter had been previously settled. The judge asked if that was true, and Turner admitted an agreement had been reached between Monica and the Port Charles Land Trust. Tracy passed out copies of the agreement and said there was no reason for the sheriff and councilman to be anywhere near the crypt. There had been no crime, so there was no reason to punish Emma. The people had no case and were wasting the taxpayers’ money. She suggested they stop wasting the court’s time and dismiss the charges. Sidwell toasted to the beginning of a long and lucrative relationship, and they drank champagne. Natalia said she and Sidwell had to work out a few details, and Lucy left with Brook. Sidwell asked what the mysterious details were, and Natalia said they weren’t going to sign when they knew what she did. Jason went to see Diane who said she’d always make time for him even when no crime was involved. Was there a crime involved? He said he needed to meet with her before he saw Sasha to amend his will and provide for her baby. Michael and Sasha were in agreement that she’d raise the baby by herself before everyone assumed he was the father. Diane said she’d see that Sasha’s baby was well-provided for, but she needed to know the scope of Michael’s exposure. Who else knew? Sonny? Jason said Sonny was staying out of it. He considered telling Carly, but now that she was with Brennan, he wanted to hold off. Sonny wondered what Carly was doing with Brennan. She nearly died and now he had to pretend she wasn’t batting her eyes at the man who nearly got her killed. Jack’s phone dinged and he looked at Sonny. He told Carly that he’d be back and went over to Sonny’s table. He asked for a word with Sonny, and they left for a private area. Jack said, the WSB informed him that a contract killer by the name of Soliski had been found dead in his Toronto home. He did some digging and found out Soliski was inclined to use incendiary devices much like the one that nearly killed Michael.

Turner said the people agreed the sheriff was there in error. However, that didn’t change Emma’s refusal to obey law enforcement’s order. The charges stood. The judge said he was inclined to agree, but they weren’t going to trial. They were going to work it out here. Emma asked if she could speak, and the judge said, at this point, why not? Emma suggested she do community service and Turner agreed. Emma changed her plea to guilty and the judge said the hours would be determined later. Anna told her, just say thank you, and Emma did. Jason said, regardless of Brennan, there was no way Carly could keep her grandchild a secret even if she didn’t say anything. He couldn’t trust her with this. Diane told him that she’d never heard him say he didn’t trust Carly, and he said, when she was with Sonny, he could protect her. He knew Sonny’s world and understood the players. Jack was with the WSB, and he didn’t know their code and didn’t know Jack’s agenda. He didn’t know the players and couldn’t provide the same level of protection. Jack said Soliski had been based Africa, but also South America, the Balkans, and the Middle East. He asked if Sonny knew anything about Soliski’s death, but Sonny said, no. Jack said he had to ask and told Sonny to have a pleasant evening. Sonny went back to his table, and Jack took out his phone. Sonny told Laura that Jack was asking about a guy in Toronto he didn’t know. He was sorry, but had to cut their lunch short. She asked if he was sure nothing was wrong, but he said everything was fine and left. Sidwell asked what Natalia thought she knew, and she said she knew Deception was the perfect cover for him to smuggle in whatever he was smuggling now. He said it was sad that life had made her bitter and mistrustful. She said they’d been good to her and all she needed to do was warn them, but Sidwell said her position would be compromised. They didn’t know she was his ex. She said she’d tell them that too, but he said it was a little late. Why would they ever trust her again when she’d left out a pertinent piece of information? If she knew what was good for her, she’d keep her mouth shut.

Marco was about to leave when Lucas arrived. Anna said she hopes she and Turner could make peace, and Turner said Emma had dodged a bullet. She was in more trouble than she was letting on. Whatever crime she committed was serious and whatever she did in California would come back to haunt her. Emma thanked Tracy and Gio, and Tracy called her courageous for putting herself in the line of fire. Gio suggested they go to dinner, but Anna came in and said that would have to wait. Gio and Tracy left, and Anna said they had to talk about Emma’s priors. Emma had to tell her what she’d done. Emma said she couldn’t, and Anna said it was news to her parents too. Emma said she couldn’t tell anyone because she signed an NDA. It was that or go to jail. Sasha found Jason in the solarium, and he asked if everything was okay with the baby. Jack said, it was WSB business, and Carly said, with Sonny? The WSB had never been interested in Sonny before. Was he sure Sonny wasn’t warning him to stay away from her? He said, sorry to disappoint her, but the conversation had nothing to do with her. Sidwell asked why Natalia cared. When they divorced, she said she wanted nothing to do with him. She said, yet here he was, back in her life uninvited, and he said let him be clear. She would never be in a position to tell him what to do ever again. Not after the spectacular way she wrecked their family. There was a knock at the door and Sidwell opened it to Sonny.

Thursday:

Jason said he got Sasha’s voicemail and asked if there was a problem with the baby, but she said the baby was fine. The problem was with him. Kai went to see Curtis to ask for his advice about the offer from Drew. Drew barged into Portia’s office saying she didn’t hold up her end of the bargain. Curtis undermined him by calling him Congressman Cain. She’d better get him under control, or he’d blow her life out of the water. Trina met with ADA Turner at the ADA’s request. She needed Trina’s help. Lucas asked why Marco was in Port Charles, and Marco said it was fate. Josslyn went to a coffee bar and saw Vaughn talking to a woman. She asked if she was interrupting. Carly said she didn’t believe Sonny didn’t tell Jack to stay away from her, and thought he’d lied. Sidwell told Natalia that she’d never be in a position to tell him what to do again – ever. Not after spectacular way she’d wrecked their family. There was a knock at door and Sidwell opened it to Sonny. Sonny said it was time they met and walked in.

Kai explained about the operation to Curtis, and said Drew would make the arrangements on his behalf and offered to cover the cost. Curtis said Kai had to live with the outcome and what mattered was if he was okay with it. Kai said he thought it would give him a chance to play football again, but it was risky. He didn’t have time to decide because the percentage of success was higher closer to the injury. He asked what Curtis thought he should do. Portia told Drew that she had nothing to do with Monica and Tracy’s decision and had no idea what Curtis had planned. Drew told her to make it her job to find out Curtis’s plans if they affected him, but Portia worried Curtis would know. Drew said to make sure he didn’t, or Curtis would know stuff she wished he didn’t. He left and Brad came in. Marco told Lucas about his job interview and how he’d seen Lucas’s photo on Alexis’s desk. He still had to meet Alexis, but thought it went well. Lucas said he had a confession to make. Vaughn asked if Josslyn wanted to join him, and the woman asked if Vaughn could spare some sugar. He gave it to her, and she left. Josslyn said the woman had been hitting on him. Her class had been canceled, and she had the day off, so she was exploring the area. She’d seen the logo on his to-go cups and figured the coffee was good. He said she was observant and shaping up to be a halfway decent agent. Jack asked why Carly was sure Sonny had threatened him, and she said, it had happened before. Because they had kids together, Sonny felt like he had a say in her life. Jack said Sonny didn’t bring up her name once. It was WSB business. There were certain subjects he couldn’t discuss for her own safety. Was that something she could live with? Sonny and Sidwell went to the living room, but Natalia had disappeared. Sidwell said the ladies from Deception had been there since they were going into business together. Since Sonny was an investor, they were in business together as well. Sonny said he was there on other business. Somebody had firebombed his penthouse, and his son had been badly injured. It was around the time Sidwell showed up in Port Charles. Sidwell said he hoped Sonny didn’t think he was involved, and Sonny said he hadn’t, but news had come to light that forced him to reconsider the possibility.

Sasha said Felicia had been asking questions, and Jason might need to take a more active role in the baby’s life. Felicia asked if he was going to participate in birth plan, was he supplying his medical information, and if his name would be on the birth certificate. Jason said he was fine with all of it, and she said it was more complicated than she thought. It would have been easier if she’d left town, but Michael wanted her to stay. If Willow found out the baby was Michael’s, she’d use it to get full custody. Jason said that’s why they were pretending, but she wondered for how long. Turner said she had questions about Emma and what happened on the Quartermaine estate, and knew Trina told the truth. Trina said she’d livestreamed the whole thing. Why was Turner interested in Emma when the charges were dropped? Turner said, while processing the arrest, some troubling things came up, and asked if Trina knew why Emma had been expelled. Trina wondered why an ADA in Port Charles was so concerned about what Emma did in California. Lucas told Marco that what happened wasn’t him. He didn’t get drunk and pick up guys. Random hookups weren’t his thing. On the flipside, he wasn’t ready for commitment. Marco said, before Lucas embarrassed himself, he was surprised and pleased to find Lucas lived there. He found Lucas attractive, but wasn’t plotting to get him in bed or make Lucas his husband. He just wanted to get to know Lucas better, especially if he got the job. Lucas said he was embarrassed about what happened and Marco had been so kind. He wanted a chance to get to know Marco better. Marco said, now was his chance. Portia asked what Brad wanted, and Brad said, a promotion and a four-day work week. She told him to get out. The things she thought Brad had taken care of had wound up in Drew’s possession. How much money did he get from Drew? Brad said, nothing. It must have been his Aunt Selina. Portia said he kept evidence that he was supposed to destroy and gave it to his mobbed-up aunt. At least their arrangement was now null and void. She just had to iron out his severance pay. Curtis told Kai that Drew wasn’t a doctor, so before he got his hopes up, he should get the procedure medically vetted. Portia would give him an honest assessment, and if it was legit, he had a tough choice to make. Josslyn told Vaughn that the coffee was great, and she assumed the croissants were too, since the past four customers ordered them. Vaughn said she was off the clock, but she said, never. They discussed volleyball, and Vaughn said he’d been a setter for his college team, but had to stop because he was too competitive. She said she’d heard that before from Trina and Michael, and he said she must miss them. She said she did, but not enough to quit. Carly said she didn’t want Jack to use his career as an excuse to deceive her when it suited him, and he said he’d never manipulate her, use her, or intentionally hurt her. He promised not to take advantage of her trust. He was breaking a cardinal rule of the WSB – never form emotional attachments. She said they’d gotten themselves in a mess, and he asked what she wanted to do about it. Sidwell asked what information Sonny had discovered, and Sonny said the person who placed the device was a hired hitter and he had been informed they’d expired. His name was Soliski. Did it ring any bells? Sidwell said, not a one, and Sonny said Soliski had worked all over the world, including Africa where Sidwell based his operation. Sidwell said Africa was a big continent with a large population. The odds he’d done business with a specific person doing business there were low. Sonny said he didn’t like coincidences, and Sidwell said Sonny seemed to think he wanted to get rid of him, but it was exactly the opposite.

Turner said she was concerned Emma had a legal problem, and if her grandmother was using her influence as a shield, it merited investigation. Trina said it sounded like Turner had an issue with Anna, not Emma. She had no connection with Anna and couldn’t help. Turner thanked her and Trina left. Marco told Lucas that he’d worked for a big law firm in Manhattan, but the hours were long, and his tennis game and love life went to hell. Lucas asked if he was ever married, and Marco said, no. He asked how things were with Lucas and his ex. Brad said Portia couldn’t fire him, but she said she owed him no favors. He begged for another chance, when there was a knock at the door. Kai came in and Portia told Brad, bye. Don’t go far. They had a lot to discuss. Brad said he’d be in the lab doing work that saved lives and left. Kai told Portia that he’d been offered a chance to have experimental surgery that would possibly allow him to play football again. He wanted a second opinion and Curtis suggested he talk to her. She said she’d be happy to help. Sasha told Jason that she wanted to give the baby the best life possible. But how could she when she was starting off by lying? She loved her family. Jason said, one step at a time, especially while Michael wasn’t there. He was getting better, and they had to stay the course until he got back. If it got to be too much, he’d help. Sasha said he was the greatest uncle ever, and he said he promised Michael that he’d be there and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Michael. For the foreseeable future, they were in this together. Sidwell said, in his experience, if someone wanted to operate out of a port, they needed a stable ecosystem. A criminal element would always be there, but it was fine as long as it was contained and there was peace. He was told that Sonny was good at maintaining peace, so Sonny’s continued presence was crucial to his success. Sonny asked if he was expected to believe Sidwell was doing legitimate business, and Sidwell said he didn’t see Sonny as a rival, but someone to maintain the status quo, so his business would thrive. He understood Sonny’s reluctance to trust him, so as a gesture of good faith, he could aid Sonny in finding justice for his son. He also had a son, so he knew what Sonny was going through. He could use his resources to find the culprit. Sonny said he’d handle it himself, and Sidwell said, if there was anything Sonny needed, let him know. Sonny told Sidwell, good luck with his business dealings, as long as they didn’t interfere with his. Sonny left. Carly said she could live not knowing what Jack couldn’t tell her, and Jack said he’d risk his well-being for any chance of a future with her. She said he’d be doing the smart thing, and they kissed. He said as much as he’d like to continue in his room, he had to be somewhere, and he left. Vaughn went to the counter to get croissants and literally ran into the woman who needed sugar. He dropped a croissant and as she helped him, she passed him something while handing him the plate.

Vaughn told Josslyn that it was the last one and gave her the remaining croissant. She said he wasn’t usually a klutz, and he said they all had their moments. Drew went to Curtis’s office and asked, what was so urgent? Curtis said, leave Kai alone. He was vulnerable and didn’t need to get his hopes up for something that may not happen. Football had been ripped away from him and he was trying to put his life and sense of self back together. Now Drew was swooping in, giving him a chance that was impossible. Drew said the success rate was high, and Curtis said, what if it didn’t work out? There were no guarantees and if Kai ended up out of football for good, was the benevolent godfather act going to disappear? Portia told Kai that it wasn’t her area of expertise, but she’d look into it and do some research. Did he hear about it from his coach or physical therapist? Kai said, Congressman Quartermaine. He offered to pay, since Kai’s insurance wouldn’t cover it. Portia said he’d have to talk it over with his parents. They need to know. He said he wanted to wait until he knew it was legitimately possible, and she said she’d let him know what she found out. He thanked her and left. Lucas said he’d been avoiding Brad since he’d gotten back, and Marco said, they work together. Lucas said he knew they were going to run into each other eventually, but in the meantime, he had to clean up a big mess Brad made. He’d manipulated his way into the symposium and crossed the line. Lucas had to make things right with the person wronged. Marco asked why it was his responsibility, and Lucas said, guilt. Once he took care of it, he could put Brad behind him. He wanted to hear about Marco, but Marco said, another time. He had a meeting. He’d be in town for a few days and asked if Lucas would like to see him again. Lucas said he’d like it a lot and they shook hands. They laughed and Marco left. Vaughn told Josslyn that he had to get back to work and enjoy the rest of her day off.

Carly went over to Lucas and said, what was that? He was cute. Lucas said, forget about Marco. Someone didn’t come home last night. She said, Donna was with Sonny, and she thought Lucas was old enough to be okay at home without her. He said she could have given him some common courtesy and let him know she had plans. He was worried. She said it slipped her mind, but he said she didn’t want him to know she was with Jack. Carly said, everyone and their cat had lectured her about Jack, and he said he saw she’d decided not to listen. She said, after careful consideration, she’d decided to let things play out, and Lucas said Jason had said he was worried, and Jason didn’t panic easily. Please take his concern seriously. She said she was sick of everyone’s concern. She wasn’t changing her mind, so don’t fight her. He said he wouldn’t, but had a feeling Jason wasn’t going to back down so easily. Natalia wondered what game Sidwell was playing. Sonny was smart and dangerous. He didn’t want Sonny as an enemy. She hoped he meant it when he said he had no designs on Sonny’s territory and strongly encouraged him to reconsider. Sidwell asked if it was for his safety or hers, and she said she and Sonny were friends. He laughed and asked why she scurried off. Sonny must not know he’s her ex-husband any more than her cohorts at Deception did. She’d already betrayed everyone and now threatened to out him. She’d end up hurting herself. She said, it might be worth it. Sonny and the women didn’t know how dangerous he was. Sidwell said it wouldn’t be good for her health.  Sonny met Turner and she said she was surprised he’d accepted her invitation. He said he was looking for Lucy and she wasn’t in her office, so here he was. She said he must not have told Diane, and he said Turner worked hard to get Ava convicted. Turner said she was sorry she didn’t get justice. She did her due diligence and noticed something interesting. Despite him being the subject of multiple investigations, trials, and some convictions, he did well. He closely aligned himself with prominent leaders like the mayor and the Police Commissioner. Sonny said people liked him, and she said, even when he hurt their careers? He said, true friendship rises above rumors and innuendos. If she was fishing for something, she should cut bait. Josslyn went back to the WSB, surprising Vaughn. She said there was something she wanted to ask him, when Jack walked in. He asked for an update on Josslyn, and Vaught said he thought she was ready to graduate. And he was ready to go back to the field. He didn’t sign up to be a trainer. Jack said, ever since Romania, Vaughn was going to spend a long time not doing anything but training recruits.

Brad begged Portia not to send him back to his Aunt Selina, and she said she’d let him stay. She might need his help in the future. He said he loved helping, and she said he’d better come through, whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it. From now on, she owned his ass. Drew said he was just helping Kai, and Curtis said he was trying to protect Kai from being used. Drew said he wasn’t the problem. Curtis was. Kai went to see Trina and said, it was a long shot, but there may be a way for him to play football again. Turner told Sonny that she wasn’t fishing. She thought she’d get to know Sonny better. He said he didn’t think her boss would like it, but she said no one told her what to do. They had that in common. Sonny got up and said he hoped he’d satisfied her curiosity, but she said she still had questions. He said he was out of answers and left. Sasha felt the baby kick and said Jason had been there the first time the baby moved. Did he want in on the action. Jason backed away, but she put his hand on her bump. He said, that was a strong kick. Natalia asked if Sidwell was threatening her, when there was a knock at the door. It was Marco, who said he was sorry he was late. He saw Natalia and asked what his mom was doing there. Jack asked if he and Vaughn had an understanding, and Vaughn said they did. He asked Josslyn to give them some privacy to discuss the next steps, but Josslyn said, wait. There was something Jack should know. Earlier, she saw Vaughn receive a suspicious drop-off. She thought it was part of a mission sanctioned by the WSB, but now she wasn’t so sure. (I’m thinking it’s a test.)

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Trina asks what Kai is talking about that he might play football again, and he says, it’s not a guarantee, just a chance, but wouldn’t it be amazing if he could get back on the field? She says, of course (🍷). She knows how much he loves the game, but also knows how his doctors say if he gets hit again, he may be paralyzed for the rest of his life. He says, they did, but it turns out that may not be true.  

Curtis asks in what universe is Drew living, and Drew says, in deference to their former friendship, he cut Curtis some slack. Now Curtis is using his grudge to potentially deny Kai a career he’s dreamed of his whole life. Curtis says he’s not, but he’s not buying Drew’s savior act. He’s making the young man promises he can’t keep. Drew says he’s not promising anything. All he’s doing is introducing Kai to a doctor who’s had great success with athletes who have suffered similar injuries. It’s wrong to stand in his way. If Curtis cared, he’d encourage Kai to grab the opportunity before it’s too late for it to be beneficial. Curtis says, Kai mentioned that time was a factor, and Drew says, it is. The less time between the injury and the procedure, the greater the chance of success. Curtis says, if Drew really cared, he’d have encouraged Kai to look into it and be careful to do his research. That’s what he did. Drew says, that’s what he did too. If Curtis wants to come at him, fine, but leave Kai out of it.

Josslyn tells Jack that earlier, she saw Vaughn receive a suspicious drop-off. At first, she figured he was on a mission sanctioned by the WSB, but now she’s not so sure. Jack asks what she’s talking about, but Vaughn says he has no idea. He did bump into Josslyn at a coffee shop, but she was following him, wasn’t she? Josslyn says, no, and he says, she just happened to be there. She says, yes. She saw Vaughn talking to a woman. Vaughn says, what woman? This is ridiculous. Jack says, these are serious charges she’s leveling against a senior agent, ones that could end his career. Which means if she’s wrong, it could end hers.

There’s a knock at the door in Sonny’s old kitchen and we see our old friend, the moss bowl (🎍)! Jason comes in with an envelope, and Carly asks, what’s that? He says, it’s from Diane. Documents from when he signed the MetroCourt back over to her. She thanks him and says she’s sure he’s in a hurry. He says he can’t stand this.

Lucy finds Jordan at the hospital and says she’s been looking all over for her. Jordan asks if Lucy tried her office, and Lucy says, thank God Jordan is helping this year with the Nurses Ball. There’s so much to do and it’s right around corner… She didn’t know? About the 10th time she called Laura’s office, Laura kindly volunteered Jordan as city liaison. Welcome aboard. She shakes Jordan’s hand.

Ava looks at Ric through his hospital room window.

Deanna walks into Elizabeth’s room with a pillow, and Elizabeth asks Deanna to tell her that she’s here to smother her with it. Deanna says, she’s not covered for that, but it is triple fudge brownie day in the cafeteria. Maybe that will help. Elizabeth makes a face, and Deanna asks how she’s feeling. Elizabeth says, not too bad for someone with three new pins in her leg. She’s fine. She appreciates Deanna, but don’t worry about her. Deanna says, it’s literally her job. If she slacks off, her boss might find out. Elizabeth says, she’s the worst. She’s worried about Ric and wonders if Deanna has an update. Deanna says, sorry, but there’s been no change. Lucky comes in with a duffel bag and says, these are the things Elizabeth asked for. Deanna says she’ll leave them to it, and leaves. Lucky asks, what’s the matter? Is she okay? Elizabeth says she realized recovery is going to be a lot more difficult than she thought, and Lucky asks if she’s in pain. She says, no. Just completely helpless.

Alone in the chapel, Kristina says she knows she did a bad thing. She did a dumb, bad thing. She knows she did and just… Please. She knows she asks a lot, but please, just don’t let Molly’s dad die. Alexis and Molly walk in.

Elizabeth tells Lucky that she hates asking people to do things for her. She can’t imagine sitting around like this for three months. Lucky asks if they didn’t say three to six months, and she says she’s a nurse, so she’s saying three months. He says, wow. He thought doctors made the worst patients. She says she’s an excellent patient, and he says, true. He’s never seen a better one. He takes out a sweater and asks if she wants it, but she asks him to fold it and put it on the chair. He says he knows she hates it when she can’t do things for herself, especially when the people trying to help don’t do it the way she would. He tries folding the sweater and looks like me trying to fold a fitted sheet. She says, he makes her sound like a control freak, which she’s not… Just don’t fold it like that. Give it to her. He does and she refolds it.

Kai says he was at Drew’s office, and Trina asks if he means Congressman Cain. He says, the congressman said to call him Drew, and she says, right. He says, they were talking about the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) and Drew asked what he wanted out of life. He told Drew that he was still trying to figure that out now that football wasn’t part of it. She asks what Drew said, and he says, Drew told him about a doctor who’s made huge strides in vertebrae repair. Drew said he could get him in to see the doctor. She says, so Drew happened to know somebody who can offer him what he wants, and he says, Drew is a congressman, so he probably knows a lot of people. Anyway, Drew thought he was a candidate for the procedure and is willing to pay for it. Isn’t that incredible? She says, it just seems hard to believe.

Curtis says he’s not standing in Kai’s way. Kai came to him for advice, and he gave it. Frankly, the idea of Kai in a wheelchair, paralyzed, was enough for him to advise caution. The possibility doesn’t seem as important to Drew. Drew says, Kai is aware of all the possibilities. He gave Kai all the information and he’s making his own decision. He’s just in a position to help Kai accomplish everything he’s worked so hard for. Just like he did for Curtis. Curtis says, excuse me? and Drew asks how Curtis thinks he ended up CEO of Aurora. He wouldn’t be in this office in the first place if Drew hadn’t put him here.

Jordan says, that’s quite the list, and Lucy says, that’s just Jordan’s half of the list. She wants as many people in the community to take part as humanly possible. All Jordan has to do is call each and every person and confirm they’re performing. Jordan asks what Curtis is going to do, and Lucy tells her, he hasn’t said yes yet. Jordan says, so when Lucy tells her to confirm, what she really means is… Lucy says, convince. That means everyone and do not take no for an answer.

Alexis says she didn’t know Kristina was at the hospital, and Kristina says she came to check on Molly’s dad and wanted to say a quick prayer first. Molly said she heard. She knows her dad was not always Kristina’s favorite guy, but she thanks her. She’s been an amazing sister through this. They hug.

Vaughn asks where this is coming from, and Josslyn says she’s just reporting what she saw. He says, she has no idea what she saw, and Jack says, walk him through what happened. Josslyn says she ran into Vaughn at the coffee shop. When she arrived, he was talking to a woman. We flash back as she talks, and she says, later, Vaughn stood up to go to the coffee counter and zipped up his hoodie, which could have been some sort of signal. On the way back, he bumped into the woman and dropped the plate. The woman crouched down to help and passed him a small package. It looked like a pack of gum. Then Vaughn came back, and the woman left right after. She didn’t think much about it at the time, but then she heard Jack say he’s not cleared for field work. Vaughn says, that’s not what happened. Does she honestly think trying to discredit him will impress the chief?

Carly says she hates fighting with Jason. She hates that her situation with Jack came between them, but she can’t live her life by his rules any more than he wants to live by hers. And he’s never policed her life and relationships the way she’s done with him. Jason says, she wouldn’t have listened if he’d tried, and she says, probably not. She understands how hurt he must have been with her back seat driving his relationships. She hates having an ultimatum between them because it’s awful. She doesn’t want to choose between him and Jack. He asks if Jack means that much to her, but she thinks it has nothing to do with Jack. They could be over in a month, but she doesn’t want to give anyone up just because someone tells her to. Even if the someone is him.

Kristina asks if there’s any news about Molly’s dad, and Molly says, Dr. Gannon is examining him now. Alexis says, he’s out of surgery and there’s no permanent damage, and Kristina says, thank God. It’s amazing. Anything she can do to support Molly through this, she’s here. She’s sorry she let her anger and grief get between them. She shouldn’t have done that. Molly says she’s sorry too. They’re sisters and that stuff is behind them now. The Davis girls have got to stick together. Alexis says, forever.

Ava asks Isaiah how Ric is, but he says he can’t discuss Ric’s medical condition unless it’s a family member on the list. Ava says, the list she’s on isn’t that one. His family hates her. He says he’s afraid he can’t, and she says she and Ric are seeing each other. They were together the day of the accident. She’s hoping the last conversation they had isn’t the last conversation they’ll ever have. He says he’s sorry and suggests she try talking to Molly. Ava says, no thank you… Nobody is in there now. Isaiah says, if his family catches her… She says, she’ll be most respectful and leave immediately. He nods and she thanks him. She goes to Ric’s room and sits by his bed. She says, please wake up. She doesn’t want their last words to have been spoken in anger.

Curtis says, Drew gave him the position and he repaid Drew by doing an outstanding job. Drew repaid him by stabbing him in the back. Drew says, Curtis is doing fine. Curtis outmaneuvered him, but the argument still stands. Curtis says, intentions matter. Drew likes to gloss over his betrayals by saying, everything worked out in the end. Willow cares about him. Never mind that he went after his nephew’s wife. The hell with Michael. Drew says he doesn’t think… Curtis says he thinks Drew got everything he wanted in the end. Michael was just collateral damage. He doesn’t want that to happen to Kai.

Kai tells Trina that the procedure is brand new, and the doctor is the only surgeon on the continent who does it. His insurance won’t cover it. Maybe that’s why nobody considered it an option. She says, maybe it’s too new, and he says he’s going to meet with the doctor. Drew got him a consultation. She asks if Drew is going to pay the six-figure tab, and Kai tells her, that’s what he said. She says, he barely knows Kai. Why would he do that?

Josslyn says she’s telling the truth. If Agent Vaughn can explain, great. If he can’t… Jack asks what Vaughn has to say for himself, and Vaughn says, yes. He spoke to a woman in the café. She asked if she could have his sugar, and he gave it to her. He did zip up his hoodie because he was cold. On his way back, he bumped into the woman, but he dropped a croissant. She offered to help, but didn’t lean down and pick anything up. The only thing on the floor was the croissant. Josslyn says, no. She passed him something and then left after her job was done. Vaughn says, or left because she was done with her coffee. Jack asks if Josslyn stands by her accusation, because he finds Vaughn’s version credible. As for her, maybe her mind is playing tricks. So does she stand by her version of the events?

Lucky asks if Elizabeth is in pain. Does she need something? She says she needs to go home, and he says, she just had surgery. She says she can lay around at home like she’s doing here, but he says, can she? She can’t do stairs or stand up to cook. She says, Aiden will help her, but he says, Aiden has school. He has homework and other important things to do. She asks if Lucky can help, and he says he’ll be here waiting until she comes to her senses. She says, they did mention a rehab facility, but she just wants to go home. He says he knows she hates this. He doesn’t blame her, but she needs to let herself heal, okay? Try to be grateful she’s not recovering from something worse. God knows he is. She says she knows she got off easy, and he tells her that he’s not saying it’s easy. Just better than it could have been. She says, Deanna told her that Ric still hasn’t woken up. She’s sorry to hear that. She keeps replaying the moment the car went off the road. It was terrifying. They could have been killed. He says, don’t remind him.

Drew says, all he wants to do is help Kai, and Curtis tells him not to set Kai up for a fall. He’s noticed that about Drew. He likes to pick people up and when they can’t help him anymore, he drops them. He hopes Kai realizes that before it’s too late. Jordan comes to the door and says she can come back later, or do they need a referee? Drew says he was just leaving, but she says, wait. This concerns them both.

Jason says he knows he has no right to tell Carly what to do, but he can’t change how he feels. Brennan is dangerous to be so close to. She says she was close to Sonny, but he says he understands Sonny’s world. He can anticipate things and recognize Sonny’s enemies in that world. But in Brennan’s world, he doesn’t know the enemies. He can’t see around those corners and can’t anticipate anything. He can’t protect her. After Sam’s death, he can’t take the risk of losing her. He figured the people he loves would outlive him. Now after losing Sam, he’s supposed to trust Brennan to protect Carly? He can’t, because her life isn’t as important to Brennan as it is to him. It could never be. He’d take a bullet for her and will always protect her. He can’t trust that Brennan will. He doesn’t trust a word that guy says. She says she knows he doesn’t, but she hasn’t felt this alive in a really long time. He can trust her judgement when she tells him that Jack is not a threat to her.

Vaughn says, Josslyn is making a mistake. She might be embarrassed, but it’s not too late to admit it. Jack asks if she’s saying Agent Vaughn is lying, and she says she saw him put the package in his right pocket – that pocket. Jack tells Vaughn to empty his pockets, and Vaughn says, he can’t be serious. Jack says, do it, and Vaughn takes out the packet and hands it to Jack. Jack undoes it and takes out a computer chip out of the gum pack. He says, well, what have we here?

Alexis says, seeing Molly and Kristina together after everything that’s happened gives her hope, and Kristina says she thinks everything will be all right. Does Molly? Molly says she doesn’t know. She’s scared about her dad, but she has to believe he’ll be okay. It’s easier to do when she’s with them. Alexis says, that’s the way it’s always going to be, and suggests they check on Molly’s dad.

Ava says she’ll make Ric a deal. Wake up now and she’ll let him bill her for a whole hour… He sits up. It was worth a shot. If he won’t wake up for her after the things she said, she wouldn’t blame him, but wake up for Molly. His daughter loves him. So many people need him. She needs him. Remember, he promised to take her to the winery when the weather was nicer, so he can’t leave her hanging on that. She thinks she should go. She doesn’t want to abuse her visitation privileges, but she’ll be back again. She gets up, and Ric mumbles, Elizabeth. Ava says, she’s fine. He’s the one everybody is worried about. He was in a car accident. He asks if someone hit them, but she says, he lost control of the car and went off the road. He was driving Elizabeth home. He says he remembers. They were arguing and he lost control of the car. And the brakes… they failed.  

Ava tells Isaiah that Ric is awake, and Isaiah runs into the room. Alexis, Molly, and Kristina come out of the elevator, and Ava says, Molly’s father is awake. The doctor is with him. Molly runs into Ric’s room, and he says, hey. She says she was scared, but he says, don’t worry. She’s never going to lose him. (Kind of a big promise.) In the hallway, Kristina says she needs some air and leaves. Alexis says she told Ava to stay away. Does she need to get a restraining order? Ava says she was worried about Ric, but Alexis says she’s worried about her girls. Molly needs her sister and the last thing Kristina needs is to see Ava. Ava says she left out of compassion, but GH is a public place. She’s not going to let Kristina’s questionable mental state keep her from seeing someone she cares about. Lucy comes by and says, how lucky she is to find them together. She needs both of them to confirm their performances for the Nurses Ball. Alexis says, never have, never will, and leaves. Ava says she’ll get back to Lucy. There’s something she needs to take care of. She leaves.

Trina says, paying Kai’s medical bills is extremely generous offer, especially for someone he just met. Kai says he thought the same thing, so he asked, and Drew said he thinks Kai has potential. Trina says, obviously he does. Even so… He says, it’s just a consultation, and she asks if he’s going to do it. He says, it depends on her mom. He gave her the information and she agreed to look into it. He trusts her judgement and she did help find a procedure that helped Trina’s dad walk again. She says, it just feels like it’s moving really fast, and she doesn’t want him to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. Even if it does, she’s afraid if he’s hit wrong, he’ll be paralyzed. He says, they’re on the same page and not just about the playing. He was part of a team. Even if he’s able to get back on, it will be tough. They’ve already replaced him at PCU and there are no guarantees he’ll be able to play college or pro ball. But at least he’ll have a chance. That’s because of her.

Carly says she’s driven everyone away her whole life except for the moss bowl (🎍), and Jason is the only person who never walked away. He says he never will, and she says she was thinking about the time they hit their first breaking point – when she slept with Sonny. He says, it was more complicated than that, and she says, their relationship changed, but it didn’t end. She doesn’t want it to end now. He says, neither does he. So he’s going to stay out of her relationship with Brennan. She asks if he means that, and he says, it’s not worth losing their friendship. If she’s right, he’ll be happy. She says, what if he’s right? and he says, they’ll survive whatever danger Brennan brings their way together.

Jack says, what they do now is quite simple. Congratulations, Agent Jax. You just passed your first phase of training. Josslyn says, wait. What? This was all a test? Vaughn says, and she passed. She can celebrate with the pack of gum. Josslyn asks what they were testing, if she noticed the hand-off? Jack says, partly, but it was mostly loyalty. She didn’t let her feelings for a colleague supersede her loyalty to the WSB. Vaughn says, she trusted her judgement even when he gave a plausible explanation, and Jack says, her training is on-going, but right now she’s needed in the field for an assignment she’s well-suited for. Unless of course (🍷) she doesn’t think she’s ready. Josslyn says, no. She’s ready. Where is she going?

Elizabeth says she’s rethinking staying, and Lucky says she would have gotten there eventually. He knows how independent she is, probably because she’s been left to handle everything on her own way too often. She says she’s always taken care of herself, and he says, true, but there’s something she needs to understand. A lot of people love her and want to take care of her. Please just let them help. She says he’ll have to bear with her, learning to ask for help, and he says he can do that. He can even get her one of those little bells. She says, don’t push it, and he says he hates that she’s going through this, but he’s going to see her through it. Deanna says, sorry to interrupt, but she thought Elizabeth would want to know that Ric is awake, and Elizabeth thanks her. She says she knows what Lucky is thinking, and he says, that he needs to hurry up and get her that bell? She says, he blames Ric for the crash. Please don’t. Sometimes accidents just happen.

Jordan says, thanks to Laura, she’s now working with Lucy as city liaison for the Nurses Ball. As such, she’s been given a list of potential acts and both Curtis and Drew are on it. Curtis says, the Nurses Ball is a worthy cause, and he’ll gladly make a donation, and Drew says, as will he. Jordan says, that’s great and all, but Jenz Sidwell is actually sponsoring the entire thing this year. Drew says, what? and Curtis says, his buddy didn’t tell him, did he? Drew says, Jordan is recruiting them to perform? and she says, yes, but he says, the performers are talented. He doesn’t know what he’d do. She says, not to worry. Lucy insisted – and she means insisted – that she will discover everyone’s hidden talents. Curtis says, okay, he’ll think about it, but Jordan says, May will be here before they know it. So what do they say, yes or no?

Molly says, the whole time she kept thinking she might not get another chance to tell Ric how much she loves him, and he says, she thinks he doesn’t know? She says she thinks she doesn’t say it enough, but he tells her that she says it all the time. He loves her. He kisses her hand and she says she loves him too. He says, she’s the most important thing in his life. He’s very proud of the woman she’s become. She says, even though she’s a prosecutor? and he says, they’ll work on that.

Trina says, Kai is giving her way too much credit, but he says, she made him look at possibilities instead of dwelling on the disappointments. She tells him that she could say the same about him. After Spencer died, she was in a dark place. Then he came along and jeopardized her class project and brought color back into her life. He says, that’s high praise from an art lover, and she says, the highest. He says he can’t wait to see where the future takes them, and she says, what a coincidence. Her too. They kiss.

Carly says, Jason’s always been her rock. He gave her the confidence to live life on her own terms, but she knew she could face the consequences, good or bad, because he was in her corner. That’s why the last few days were really difficult because she thought she’d finally driven him away and that terrifies her. He says he guesses he’s glad she didn’t listen this one time, and she says, why? He says, because if she hadn’t and given in and done what he asked, she would have resented him. She says she thinks that’s one reason she didn’t give in. He’s the most important person in her life, and if she gave in, she knew deep down it would destroy them.

Ava goes to a garage and says she’s here about her car. It was in a single vehicle crash on Route 32 by Oakview Road. Has anybody looked at it yet? The mechanic says, there’s not much to see. It was totaled and he sent it to compacting. She says, that’s what she was afraid of. She needs to file an insurance claim asap. She might want to sue the manufacturer. Does he think he could do her a favor and take a look at it? See if he can find a mechanical reason her car lost control?

Deanna tells Elizabeth, time for her meds, and Lucky asks if she brought enough for everybody. Elizabeth says, ignore him, but Deanna wonders if that’s possible. She also needs to take Elizabeth’s vitals. Lucky says he’ll get out of the way. He’s got something he needs to deal with. If she needs anything, call. Elizabeth promises she will, and Lucky leaves. In the hallway, he gets a text from Kristina: Need to see you. Now.

Trina and Kai are on the sofa kissing, when there’s a knock at the door. Lucy says, yoohoo! Anybody home? Kai says, if they’re quiet, maybe she’ll go away, but Trina says she knows that voice and it will never happen. She lets Lucy in, and Lucy says, oh my goodness! This is the cutest little place. She loves it. She sees Kai and says she knows him. He was at the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) press conference. He’s Kai Taylor. Kai says, that’s him, and she says, Lucy Coe, founder and CEO of Deception Cosmetics. Trina says, it’s not a good time, but Lucy says, it won’t take long. She’s also chairperson of the General Hospital Nurses Ball. Trina asks if they can’t discuss it later, but Lucy says, no need. She’ll put them both down to perform at the Ball.

Drew says he would be happy to be part of the Nurses Ball. He always has time for a worthy cause. Jordan thanks him and he leaves. She asks if Curtis is in, and Curtis says, of course (🍷). Hang on. Did she ask him and Drew at the same time because she knew he’d have to say yes in front of Drew since he wouldn’t be able do less than Drew? She says, welcome to politics.

Jason says, Carly will never lose him, and she says, even if he thinks she’s making the biggest mistake of her whole life? He says, even then, and they hug. Josslyn comes in and says she’s home.

Vaughn asks Jack if he thinks Josslyn is ready, and Jack says, she has to be. The assignment is time sensitive. Vaughn says, that’s not an ideal answer, and Jack says, far from it. That’s why Vaughn is going as Josslyn’s backup.

Molly asks if Ric has any idea what made him veer off the road, and he says he’s trying to piece it together, but it’s hard to concentrate. She says, he has a head injury, so just rest. Maybe it will come back. She tells him that Elizabeth is okay. It’s a miracle the ambulance got there as fast as it did. He flashes back to looking through the windshield after the accident and seeing Kristina.

Lucky meets Kristina and she asks, what’s going on? Does anyone know what caused… He says, not yet, and she says, he’s not telling anyone, is he? He says, first, she needs to tell him how she almost killed Elizabeth.

Ava asks what the mechanic thinks. Did he find anything? He says, yeah and it’s not good. She says her car crashed. So what is it? He says, the brake lines in the car were cut.  

On Monday, Elizabeth wonders why Ava is asking her all these questions; Josslyn finds out that Jason has been to Easter Island; Lucky says Kristina went too far this time and has to pay for it; and Ric remembers something about the accident.

🧼  All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Ezra is the new guy I love to hate. His reactions to things are too funny.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/celebrate-with-soap-hopper-daniel-cosgrove

When he’s ready to come back? Freudian slip or wishful thinking?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-been-on-a-real-journey-lately

Reeling in the GH years.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/gh-general-hospital-cast-through-years-photos-108305

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-stars-pick-their-most-memorable-moments-from-the-past-year

Welcome to the Nurses Ball.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-general-hospital-nurses-ball-returns-2

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m surprised the captain doesn’t live on digestives.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The dresses were just phenomenal. These women looked like they were going to the Met. The color scheme was gold and white, and everyone got the memo. Kyle had a bunch of crystals on the table between her and Andy, and my first thought was, all the crystals, lucky charms, four-leaf clovers – hell, even actual leprechauns – in the world won’t make a difference. I also forgot there was that whole thing over PK drinking. Maybe that’s why Dorit is so hellbent on calling Sutton an alcoholic. Dorit is apparently also a smoker (absolutely zero judgement) and Andy asked if PK sent Kyle a meme about it. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! A twin of Erika’s coffee table was on set, and I didn’t think it was odd that she said it was where her mind went. Mine would too, and I don’t care what we were talking about, I’d definitely bring it up. Dorit was nasty and clueless, so no surprise there. Her slow move to come to the truth that PK is done with her is like watching Shep realize Sienna’s not his soulmate. Boz lost her house in the Malibu fires, which is tragic. While I wasn’t happy to hear she was fighting with insurance companies, I was glad that at least rich people don’t have it easier there. Having been through a flood, I could sympathize with her. Cleaning up was easier than the two years of paperwork afterward.

About that exit.

Denise Richards & Her Wild Things

In this week’s episode, Denise and daughter Lola had lunch with Charlie. If he has one more facelift, his ass is going to be on his neck. Once again, I watched in wonder at how Denise holds no grudges. She’s the first to say he’s an a-hole, but she’s not mad at the hell he put her through. I need lessons from this woman.

Summer House

I actually think Carl’s idea of Soft Bar – a bar that doesn’t serve alcohol – is a good one. As he mentioned, it’s not just for alcoholics. Pregnant women and those wanting to make lifestyle changes would also enjoy the social atmosphere without the alcohol. Jesse’s idea that he will be monogamous wasn’t so good, and his claim that he wasn’t flirting with Ciara was ridiculous. Lexi said he’d left out the toe sucking in his narrative and that he lied about it made her feel icky. Never mind him lying about it, the actual act made me feel icky. It also made him seem extra stupid for not telling her right off the bat. Did he not know the other girls would?

Southern Charm

Venita brought out receipts! Proof! Timelines! F***ing everything!

I could go on about the JT/Venita thing, but the best all-encompassing thing I can say is, it’s just so messy. JT is wrong on so many levels, but WTF Venita? She should have backed away from this immediately. She said she was interested in staying friends, but not if his girlfriend was in the picture. In other words, when he’s free to date her, she’ll be there. Ugh. I’m always picking on the guys, but what annoys me about the girls is how they want to figure out everyone’s timelines all the time. There was discussion on Craig being a liar storyteller embellisher and Patricia made an appearance. We saw clips of several casting tapes (see below) from 12 years ago. Patricia said she thought it wouldn’t last. Who would be interested in watching this cast of reprobates and their misdeeds?  Who indeed?

 Sally smack talking Taylor’s Gaston was a topic, and it seemed that most of the group agreed that since Sally came into Taylor’s friend group, she should have kept her opinions to herself. Taylor hadn’t even had a chance to introduce him to the group yet, and Sally tried to influence their opinion. Andy circled back to Craig, this time to inspect his relationship with Paige. That hindsight is 20/20 says it all. Love is blind is also applicable. Apparently, Paige cut him completely off, but that doesn’t make her a bad person. Just because the Charm cast loves to stay in each other’s pockets lives doesn’t mean everyone feels that way about an ex. I’m not a fan of staying friends, although my high school boyfriend is a very close friend. And no, not with benefits.

Random Reality Items

Upcoming twists on the new season of RHOM.

Nothing much to see here, but because it is LVP.

Well, roll me up and call me curly. The first Deck baby.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Happy Face. Paramount+. In a series about the Happy Face Killer’s daughter, her remembrances from growing up are interspersed with what’s going on today. Supposedly she outed herself on Dr. Phil, but I don’t remember ever seeing that one. The acting is great, especially Dennis Quaid as the killer. It did make me wonder what it must be like to suddenly discover such a horrible thing about your father.

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/happy-face-true-story-keith-hunter-jesperson-daughter-melissa-moore-rcna197120

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a64254606/happy-face-show-true-story-accuracy

Holland. Amazon Prime. I’m not sure how I felt about this film. I love Nicole Kidman, despite her lapse of judgement in marrying Tom Cruise. Chalking that up to youthful stupidity. A favorite sub-genre of mine is the perfect town that’s not so perfect underneath, but I think this movie bypassed some good opportunities. It’s still a fun watch, but the end kinda sorta leaves you hanging.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/holland-movie-review-2025

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/holland/

Adolescence. Netflix. This 4 part series is focused on a 13 year old boy who’s arrested for the murder of a female classmate. I’m guessing perhaps the laws are somewhat different in the UK where it’s placed, because I spent a lot of the beginning wondering why this kid was so unprotected legally. The underlying topic though, is the influence of the internet – in particular those like Andrew Tate – on young boys. Some articles have taken offense at the supposition they could be influenced so easily, but they’re kids and they are. The part of the brain that understands actions result in consequences isn’t fully developed until age 25, and the internet can be a persuasive place. Be forewarned. This cautionary tale is pretty depressing.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/entertainment/adolescence-netflix-limited-series/index.html

https://ew.com/adolescence-creator-responds-to-claims-that-series-race-swapped-storyline-11706011

American Apocalypse aka Refuge. Amazon Prime. There wasn’t a lot on this rather unmemorable film. There’s a small plot blurb and some viewer reviews, but the best part of any review ever: If you need a reason to live, This movie is not it. I didn’t think it was that awful, but it wasn’t very unique or memorable either.

https://letterboxd.com/film/american-apocalypse/

Happiness. Netflix. This K-Drama is a slightly different take on the zombie genre. People have become zombies from taking a failed covid drug that’s on the black market, but they’re not zombie’s 24/7. They have sort of zombie seizures where they attack and eat people, who in turn become zombies if they don’t die from the attack. Protagonist Sae-bom is immune to the bites and is put on an investigative team to find out just what the hell is going on. She also marries a childhood friend in order to get an apartment, and there’s a lot of underlying elements of the haves and have nots, often prevalent in Korean entertainment.

https://en.prothomalo.com/entertainment/happiness-with-zombie-like-mad-person-disease

Outside. Netflix. I didn’t hate this, but I could have cut a good 40 minutes out of it. The exciting – i.e. zombie – parts were great, but there were long stretches of soap opera dialogue and I started to feel like I was actually in the middle of nowhere during an apocalypse in real time.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/outside-release-date-news

https://decider.com/2024/10/18/outside-movie-netflix-review-2024

🔮 Future Watching…

I bailed during the first season, but I’d really like to give it another go. So much to watch, so little time, but it does look good. Although I am a little bitter about the nixing of the Jon Snow spin-off. I wanted to see more of the forbidden places beyond the Wall and what creatures might dwell there.

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-ryan-condal-responds-george-r-r-martin-blog-season-3-new-casting-exclusive-11704545

Korean dramas worth your while. I’ve seen a lot of these and haven’t been disappointed yet.

https://collider.com/k-dramas-anime-fan-must-watch-ranked/

https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/top-10-k-dramas-to-watch-if-you-liked-gyeongseong-creature-season-2-sweet-home-happiness-and-more-1350717

🐦‍🔥 Wild In the Kingdom…

🐢 Makes you glad not to be a tortoise.

https://people.com/97-year-old-reptile-becomes-oldest-first-time-mom-of-species-11708613

🐧 Nature, always full of surprises.

https://people.com/rare-all-white-penguin-found-australia-first-we-have-seen-rescuers-11707610

🐋 I had a Golden who was literally afraid of his own shadow. He would have had a doggy heart attack.

https://people.com/barking-golden-retriever-meets-giant-humpback-whale-video-11707795

🐣 Quotes of the Week

Quitting can be a hard choice to make, but often it’s a brave one, as well.Susan David

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B. B. King (They can’t take integrity away from you either.)

Often any decision, even the wrong decision, is better than no decision. – Ben Horowitz

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well. – Horace Walpole

A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. – Mahatma Gandhi

If we hadn’t forced her to go to the wedding, she never would have touched that gun. – Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie), Beyond the Gates

💸 Rendering Unto Caesar…

Until next week, stay safe; stay getting your taxes in before 11:59 pm on April 15th; and stay looking at possibilities instead of dwelling on disappointments.

March 7, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Lulu Threatens To Out Brook, Soap Suds, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watch, Awards Corner, Streaming Excellence, In the Pink, Only Five Quotes & Turn Back

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Sonny met with Lucy at the MetroCourt, and Lulu met Spinelli at Bobbie’s. Spinelli said he was always at her service, and she asked for his help finding Charlotte, but he said he’d been looking and there was nothing. She said there was one place they hadn’t searched. Alexis told Tracy that she was all Tracy had, and Tracy said she was delusional. Alexis was insisting her parents were interred on public land. Brad sent a drink over to Lucas in a bar in Miami, and at the MetroCourt Curtis told Portia they were going to St. Georges. Drew approached their table and asked if Curtis thought he’d never find out.

Brad joined Lucas at the bar, and they talked old times. Brad said he’d just wanted to make Lucas happy. In the nook, Sasha told Jason that Carly had offered her a job and free housing until she could afford her own place. Jason said he’d give her what she needed, but she told him again that she wanted to be independent. He said he wanted her to be practical too, and she said, of all people, he should understand. Sonny told Lucy that he wanted to start over someplace new. It had to be comfortable for the kids, with high gates and state of the art security. She said she knew exactly the place. Lulu told Spinelli that she thought the police might have missed something in Valentin’s house, but she had to get past the security system. Dante and Gio came into Bobbie’s and Dante thought Spinelli looked nervous, but left them to it. Dante told Gio that Lulu and Spinelli were up to something because they were awake and together. Lulu was on a mission and could convince anyone to do anything. Lulu told Spinelli that helping a mother find her daughter was worth the risk. Drew said he was being iced out of the House Appropriation Committee, and he knew Henderson was friends with Stella. He said he knew Curtis got her to do his dirty work, but Curtis said Drew screwed himself over. Tracy told Alexis that it wasn’t about property lines; it was about the cease and desist. Martin had gotten his own survey, which she insisted was forged. It was an obvious attempt to extort her. Lois said Drew calling himself a Quartermaine wasn’t a big deal, but Tracy said she had a family to protect. Martin joined them.

Drew asked if Curtis spoke to Henderson, and Curtis said he’d told Henderson to do his own research about Drew and the esplanade. If Drew’s seat was blocked, it meant Henderson saw something he didn’t like. Drew said Curtis made a mistake. If Curtis took something from him, he’d take something from Curtis. Portia told Drew to stop it. Curtis would have stood by him, but Drew betrayed his friend. Drew said Curtis had betrayed him. Spinelli jammed the security signal and told Lulu, there was a 70% chance she’d be fine. Lulu liked the odds and went into Valentin’s old house, Spinelli following. Gio said he needed to talk away from the house and told Dante that he was still trying to figure out how to fit in, but Dante said everyone liked having him there. Gio said, not everyone. Alexis told Tracy that she was hoping to sort through the matter in a calm and rational way, and Lois hoped she had a Plan B. Tracy said she could bankrupt the city, but Alexis asked if she wanted her loved ones removed from their resting place. Tracy said, remove the cease and desist, but Martin said he was going to report her.

Lucas said he was worried Brad tried to change for him, and Brad said he’d wanted to be a better person and to be worthy of Lucas. Instead, he ended up hurting Lucas. Martin said the crypt was a hazard to public health, and Tracy said she’d have him disbarred and disemboweled. Alexis said he was just being vindictive, and he agreed to back off. Alexis wanted Martin to sign an NDA, but he refused. Tracy told him to report her. Gio told Dante that he was on Tracy’s bad side. He didn’t care about Drew, but he cared about Scout. She would either have to change her name or have a different one than her dad. Dante said he and his dad had different names – a lot of people did – but Gio said he couldn’t imagine how he’d feel if someone took his name away. Tracy shut him down for not being a Quartermaine. Dante said he thought Tracy respected Gio for his opposing opinion, when Dante got a call from Tracy. Lucy and Sonny arrived at the house while Lulu and Spinelli were inside, and they hid. Sasha asked why Jason didn’t take any money from the Quartermaines, and he said he didn’t want them running his life. Sasha said, if she took money from him and they found out, they’d want her to bring her baby into the fold. She never got the chance to give her first baby the best life. Jason said the baby had a father, but Sasha said she wasn’t having that conversation, especially not here. He left, and Sidwell slipped in the back door.

Lucy told Sonny about the house and that it came furnished. She wanted to give him a tour, but he said he trusted her. Kristina showed up and asked if he was seriously considering Valentin’s old house. Portia said Curtis believed he was going to be CEO, but Drew said he’d offered Curtis something else. Curtis said he would have been happy with that, but Drew chose to lie. Drew asked if Curtis was getting back at him, but Curtis said Drew didn’t care about the people of Port Charles needing the esplanade. The Committee could approve funding without him or his spite getting in the way. Drew left. Tracy wanted Martin arrested for trespassing, but Dante said no. He suggested Martin leave and Tracy leave it alone. Tracy said she couldn’t. Gio said, 555. When he was upset, his mother asked if he’d feel the same way in 5 minutes or 5 months. In 5 years, would he even remember what he was angry about? Tracy said her mom would say, will it really matter in the end? Lois walked Martin out and Tracy thanked Gio for giving her a lot to think about. Sasha said she’d scream, but Sidwell said he wasn’t there to hurt her or debate the past. He wanted to discuss a business opportunity that was very lucrative. Put down her weapon (a spatula) and let him tell her about it. If she persuaded Deception’s leadership that the warehouse incident was a huge misunderstanding, he’d pay her $250K.

Lucy said she was going to tell Sonny, but wanted him to come there with no misconceptions. The sale was being handled by Martin. Sonny wondered, what if Valentin wanted the place back? but she said Martin assured her, Valentin wasn’t returning. They had to be in some sort of contact. Lulu and Spinelli listened in. Kristina liked the house, and Lucy gave them a tour. Sasha said she cared about Deception and didn’t want to lie. He said her mother had stolen his diamonds and he couldn’t go the police. He knew if he incentivized it, she’d return his property. The one thing her mother understood was the power of money, and he assumed Sasha did too. Portia told Curtis that she thought Drew could end up being a problem. He was going to make new friends in DC, and he was going to come after Curtis. Curtis said Drew could dig all he wanted, but wouldn’t find anything on him. Drew went to see Selina and asked for something on Curtis. She said she had nothing. However, Portia was another matter. Lucas said seeing Brad hurt, so he’d cut him off. It was the good memories that hurt. He couldn’t shake the feelings, so he kept his distance, but found himself looking for Brad. He was there for Lucas when Sam died. Brad wondered if there would be another chance, and they kissed.

Brad and Lucas got busy, but Brad stopped him. He said he had to tell Lucas the truth. Drew told Selina that he was happy to do what he could for all his constituents, providing what she had was good. She showed him how Portia had tampered with a GH patient’s test results and said, if it got out, Portia could lose her license and more. Drew said it would do nicely. Curtis told Portia, Drew had no play here, and he wanted to plan their trip. Alexis asked what Tracy really needed, and Tracy said, file the cease and desist. She was taking Gio’s advice. The family name would matter 5 years, 5 decades, and 5 millennia from now, and Drew could never be associated with it. She was getting her own property survey done and it would say what she wanted it to. Dante said Gio did good, although Tracy wouldn’t take the advice. Gio’s mom was a cool lady. Outside, Lois told Martin about Gio being her grandson and Dante being his father. Martin said the information was covered by attorney/client privilege. No one would ever know. Kristina encouraged Sonny to take the house and said, Avery would love it. Sonny told Lucy that he was sold, and they left, Sonny saying, remember, Fort Knox. Lulu told Spinelli that she shouldn’t have doubted her instincts. One way or another, Martin was going to lead her to Valentin. Sasha was concerned about Sidwell drawing Deception into some criminal enterprise, but he said he wanted to give Deception the resources they needed and make a respectable profit. Jason looked in the window and saw them. He ran in and told Sidwell, get away from her!

Tuesday:

Jason pulled a gun on Sidwell, who said it was a misunderstanding, but Jason told him, let’s go now. Sasha said, please stop, but Jason escorted Sidwell out. Dante found Gio at the stables helping Cody. Willow met Nina and Carly at the MetroCourt and said she wanted to discuss something in person with both of them. Anna met with Emma and Maxie, who wondered why she was here. Anna wanted Maxie to give Emma an internship at Deception. Curtis met Portia, who was checking that everything in Miami was going according to plan. Lucas asked Brad, what truth? and Brad said he made Portia invite him on the trip. Lucas asked him to define made. On the phone Lulu told Spinelli they’d gotten an actual lead, and she knew Martin had information on Valentin. She walked into Laura’s and Laura was there with Martin.

Cody suggested bringing out some beers he managed to hide from Tracy, but Gio wanted to make sure the gates and fences were locked up and left. Cody said something was bugging Dante. Start talking. Dante said the closure he’d gotten with Sam’s death hadn’t helped. Laura asked if Lulu wanted to have dinner, but Lulu said she was meeting Maxie at the Surf Lodge. Martin apologized for failing to realize how sick Cyrus was, but Lulu said she didn’t blame him and left. Sasha called Jason and said, whatever he was about to do, please don’t. Tracy came in and told Sasha that Jason was unreliable, but the family wasn’t, and Sasha said, one minute Tracy treated her like staff and the next minute, it was all about the next generation of Quartermaines – the legacy. Tracy said the fact Sasha was having a Quartermaine baby changed everything. Willow said she knew Nina and Carly weren’t going to be happy, but she and the kids were moving in with Drew. Carly said she thought Willow would keep things stable for the kids while Michael focused on his recovery. This was pushing Michael too far and he wouldn’t stand for it. Emma said she declined the offer, and Maxie said she didn’t make one, but why wasn’t she interested? Emma said she was not not interested, but it wasn’t something she’d thought about. Anna asked if work in cosmetics wasn’t mostly chemistry, and Maxie said it was a huge part, but she wasn’t hiring Emma as a favor. It had to be something she wanted. Brad told Lucas that he did Portia a favor, and she was inclined to do one for him. Lucas asked if it was like the favors he did for Brit, but Brad said he’d found out something private and agreed to keep it to himself.

Martin told Laura that he was sorry, and she asked why. He said he’d chased Lulu out, but Laura said she had dinner plans, and it obviously had nothing to do with him. He said he thought it was his connection to Cyrus and didn’t blame her, but she said, give Lulu time. He said he was lucky to have her for a sister and she hugged him, saying. she was lucky too, but she wished she and Cyrus had never crossed paths. Her assistant phoned and said there was a call from the US Congress Appropriations Committee. Sasha asked why Tracy was focused on her. Tracy didn’t even like her. Tracy said, of course (🍷) she did, and Jason was proving more valuable. Sasha suggested she focus on Jason. All she wanted was to be left alone. Tracy said too many people were invested in her and the baby. If she disappeared, they’d track her down. Sasha asked if that was a threat, but Tracy said it was a reality check. Raising the baby on her own was a dream and she needed to wake up. Anna had to leave and told Emma and Maxie to think about it. Maxie told Emma not to go against the idea because it was Anna’s; it was a great opportunity. Laura called Curtis and asked him to stop by the apartment. There had been a big development. Brad said when he found out, he went immediately to Portia, and Lucas said he didn’t want to hear about the blackmail. Brad said he just asked her for the trip to Miami, and Lucas said using something as leverage was the very definition of blackmail. That Brad could see it showed him why this was a mistake. Sidwell said Jason was too smart to kill him, since he was a suspect in another murder. Jason said he wanted the truth and was giving Sidwell one chance. Did he blow up Sonny’s penthouse?

Sidwell told Jason that he did not blow up the penthouse. Another truth was, what happened in Africa was unique. Jason and Anna infiltrated his camp under false pretenses. Jason said, Sidwell was holding their friend captive, but Sidwell said Lucky also infiltrated his camp. The lines were blurred. Now he was in Port Charles to build a legitimate business and intended to obey the law. Why would he start a conflict with Jason and Sonny? Jason returned his diamonds, and he had no problem with him. Jason suggested he keep it that way and stay away from Sasha. Anna came by and said it was for an evening stroll. Tracy said Sasha was smarter than Willow. She would figure out what part of her life could coexist with them. Willow lived in a world of her own creation. Willow said she told Carly now because she didn’t want Carly to be blindsided. She wasn’t asking permission. Carly said she’d be blindsiding Michael, and Willow asked if Carly thought they’d be reconciling. They were way past that point. Carly said she was asking Willow to wait until Michael was home before shacking up with the uncle who betrayed him and destroyed his marriage. Willow asked what difference it made, and Nina said, Willow had a point. Carly said Willow would be starting a war. Brad said Lucas told him that he wanted honesty, and Lucas thanked Brad for being honest before he made a mistake. Brad said it wasn’t a mistake. They were getting closer, and he didn’t want that hanging over them. Lucas said, everything was hanging over them – their history, this. Brad hadn’t changed and was never going to. Drew went to Portia’s office, but she said she had nothing more to say to him. He said he’d do the talking. Dante told Cody that however Cyrus departed, it didn’t bring back Sam, but at least he didn’t have to see Cyrus. That was something, but it didn’t make things easier. There was a wall between him and Lulu. Sam did a beautiful thing. Lulu wasn’t part of it, but Sam’s death would always be there. Dressed in a housekeeper’s uniform (from 1950) and carrying a stack of towels, Lulu was about to let herself into a room, when Maxie came by and asked what she was doing.

Emma came by the stables and told Gio that she thought she’d meet some horses, but Gio said Cody was inside talking to Dante. She told Gio about Anna wanting her to intern at Deception and how she felt it was Anna’s attempt at supervising her. Dante told Cody that Lulu was reaching out, but he couldn’t grieve Sam with her. Cody said he couldn’t do it alone either and Dante had him, and Dante said it was easy to talk to Brook. Cody said they’d been friends a long time, and Dante said, Brook knew Sam and wasn’t wrapped up in everything, but it hurt Lulu. Cody said, Dante and Brook’s history was deeper than Lulu realized, and Dante said he regretted that he’d never told her about that summer. Cody said, the summer he was in love with Brook. Lulu said she had no time explain and told Maxie to forget she saw her. Maxie asked if she was meeting someone. Was she role playing. Lulu asked if Maxie thought this was her big fantasy, and Maxie said she didn’t judge. Lulu said it was her Uncle Martin’s, and Lulu asked why she was breaking in. Lulu said she wasn’t if she had a key, and Maxie said she was if she stole the key. Lulu said it was in her pocket and this was about Charlotte. Maxie asked how she could help, and Lulu told her to be the lookout.

Nina told Carly, in Michael’s absence, the children’s mother decided what was best and she thought they needed to trust Willow. Carly told Willow that she’d thought Willow would put the kids interests first, but she misjudged her. Willow was selfish to the core, and she and Drew belonged together. Willow said she was sorry Carly felt this way. She’d tried to do the right thing. She thanked Nina for the support and left. Carly asked how Nina thought it went, and Nina said, about as well as expected. Anna said she understood Sidwell had paid a visit to the Quartermaines, when the launch came and Sidwell told them to have a good evening. When he was gone, Anna asked Jason, what the hell was he thinking showing up at the Quartermaines? Jason said he wanted to make sure Sidwell didn’t mess with Sasha again. Anna said she understood why he was being protective of Sasha. Tracy said Sasha told her that men targeted her for her money. It took a long time to accept, but it was her reality, and when she accepted her reality, the love of her life came after her… for money, but they fell in love. Luke. When you accept your reality, you know who you are and what you want, and the whole world opens up in ways you never expected and can offer more than you ever realized. She was done and asked Sasha to make her some tea. Her throat was parched from all the yapping. Brad told Lucas that he’d given in to his worst impulse. He slipped. He thought if they could be alone, they could get back to them, and he had to take the chance. He still loved Lucas and knew Lucas felt it too. Lucas said, of course (🍷) he did, and he still loved Brad too, but love meant two different things to them. Portia said Drew came to her office uninvited and she was leaving. He blocked her way and said he still cared about Curtis, and she was the only person who could help him fix it. Curtis went to Laura’s, and she said the City of Port Charles had been given approval to move ahead with the McConkey esplanade, the original as pitched by Aurora. Curtis said it was huge for Aurora and Port Charles, and Laura said she had one question. How did he get around Drew?

Anna said Jason was the prime suspect in Cyrus’s murder. If he helped Sidwell off this mortal coil, he’d be taken in. She had Sidwell under surveillance and saw them. He said he had nothing to do with Cyrus, but she said it wouldn’t help his case if Sidwell’s body was found floating in the river. He said he wasn’t going to kill Sidwell. He wanted to ask Sidwell if he blew up Sonny’s penthouse. He said he didn’t do it, and Jason thought he was telling the truth. Maxie texted Lulu: Hurry up! and Lulu went through Martin’s stuff. Maxie knocked at the door and said, please hurry, causing Lulu to drop a bag, the contents going everywhere. Martin arrived and said he thought Maxie had the wrong room. Gio said Emma’s passion for chemistry was obvious, and Emma said, that’s how it was pitched to her earlier, the value she’d bring to the brand. Gio said they were right and there were benefits to working with family. She could rack up family credits. They came in handy when you pushed the boundaries. She was doubtful that he pushed boundaries, but he said she’d be surprised. Lucas said he didn’t expect perfection, but needed to trust that his partner’s failures and flaws weren’t ultimately destructive to him. To him, love meant trust. He knew honesty was scary, but in the end, you couldn’t let fear outweigh your love for that person, and Brad never did that for him. Brad said, Lucas never let him. He made a mistake and owned up to it, but Lucas still rejected him. All he wanted was to be with Lucas, and all Lucas did was use the truth against him. Lucas said he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t trust Brad, then punish him for being honest, and he couldn’t allow himself to accept another lie or half-truth. He opened the door. Curtis told Laura that the credit went to the greatest mastermind ever – Stella. She went way back with a high-ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. Laura said, well done, and asked if he was concerned about fallout from Drew if he found out. Curtis said, Drew already knew, but everything was above board, and he hoped they could move forward. Portia said she could see why Curtis wanted nothing to do with Drew. He didn’t respect boundaries and only cared about what he wanted and not who got hurt or inconvenienced. This was between him and Curtis. Drew said he was surprised at her judging him so harshly, considering how hard she tried inconvenience Heather Webber.

Brad said before he had a chance to tell another lie and break Lucas’s heart, he’d get out now. If they got too close, Lucas might fall harder. He might find someone he could trust, who practiced perfect honesty at all times with no shades of grey or dark edges, but he’d always love Lucas. Brad left and I felt tears in my eyes. Laura told Curtis, all politics were local, but she also thought they were personal. She understood the value of knowing who her true friends were and she was lucky he was one of them. He said, likewise. He was shown a side of Drew he didn’t know existed and he hoped Drew stayed in his lane. Drew asked Portia if Curtis knew she’d tampered with the test results. It seemed unlikely she’d stay on as Co-Chief of Staff if it came out. She’d also lose her license. She said she had no idea what he was talking about, and he produced the papers Selina gave him. He said, it showed her logged on to the GH database and she changed the results of the blood test. Was she trying to keep Heather in prison? That sounded unethical. It might even be criminal. Nina said, it might make it easier with Willow moving in with Drew, and Carly said Willow was moving in with their grandchildren and Nina put herself in the position of Willow’s chief support. Nina said they couldn’t push against Willow and Drew’s love. It would make Willow isolate with Drew more. Carly said Nina would have to keep approving of Willow’s awful decisions, and Nina said it didn’t feel good. Carly said Drew was the problem. No matter how it happened, he had to go.

Anna said she didn’t think Sidwell would admit it, but Jason said he didn’t think Sidwell did it. Anna said maybe that was true, but did they agree that his legitimate act was bull? He showed them who he was in Africa. Jason said they didn’t know why Sidwell was here, and he didn’t want to wait until he hurt someone else. He was dangerous. Anna said they had something more pressing to deal with. Sasha felt the baby move and talked to it. She picked up Sidwell’s card and called him, asking if the offer was still on the table. He said it was, and she said they had a deal. Cody asked if Dante ever thought about coming clean to Lulu about that summer, but Dante said it was a long time ago and over before it began. They were kids. It was a summer thing and nothing came of it. Cody asked, what if something did? and Gio came in with Emma. Martin suddenly came back to his room and saw Maxie in the hallway. She said she was hoping to find him. She had a bone to pick with MR. MARTIN GREY. Lulu heard her and frantically looked through some papers. Maxie said, since Martin dumped Lucy, things weren’t the same at Deception. They needed to reconnect or find closure. The future of the company depended on it. She suggested they discuss it in his office and started to steer him away, but he stopped and said, what exactly is going on? Lulu looked through Martin’s notes and saw that Dante was the father of Brook’s baby.

Wednesday:

At the MetroCourt, Felicia asked if Carly had time for a drink since Mac canceled on her, but Carly said she had plans. Jack walked in. Ava went to Portia’s office and Portia thanked her for coming. She made a huge mistake and if Ava didn’t help her fix it, her life was over. Jason said Sidwell got past Quartermaine security and needed to be handled, but Anna said he couldn’t do that from prison. She had him under surveillance. She needed Jason to work with her again and didn’t think they could wait any longer to look for Charlotte. The longer she was out there, the danger increased. Danny walked into the nook and asked what Rocco was looking at. Rocco said Charlotte texted him and she was in Buenos Aires. Danny asked if Rocco was going to tell his mom, but Rocco said he couldn’t. Cody asked if Dante ever thought about what happened that summer, but Dante said, it was a long time ago and over before it started, They were kids, it was summer, and nothing came of it. Cody asked, what if something did? when Gio and Emma came back. Gio said they needed to warm up and Emma wanted to see the horses. They went to the back, and Dante asked what Cody had been saying. Maxie said, since Martin had dumped Lucy, it wasn’t the same at Deception. They should reconnect or get closure. The future of the business depended on it. She wanted to discuss it in her office, but Martin asked what was really going on and where was Lulu? Lulu looked at Martin’s notes and said, Dante Falconari, father?… No birth certificate?

Jack said hello to Felicia, but she ignored him. She told Carly not to do anything she wouldn’t do and left. Jack said Felicia didn’t like him much, and Carly said Felicia was her mom’s best friend, but never fixed her plumbing. She wasn’t easily swayed and made up her own mind about people. Jack’s phone dinged and Carly said she was going to see how Josslyn was doing on Easter Island. Jack’s text showed Josslyn’s fitness and marksmanship results, and she had high test scores. Portia told Ava that Brad knew she’d altered Heather Webber’s test results and was blackmailing her. She’d been at his whim, and he was at a medical symposium in Miami because he knew. Ava said it had to be awful being under that little worm’s thumb, and Portia said, even worse, Brad told Drew, and he threatened to go to the police. Anna told Jason that there was a kill order on Valentin since he attacked Jack. Carly was there and saved his life. Jason wondered why he was hearing it for the first time, and Anna said, if a WSB assassin was looking for Valentin and Charlotte was with him, she could be collateral damage or watch her father get killed. Jason said he’d talk to Spinelli again and if something come up, he was ready to go. Anna said they just needed a lead. Rocco said Charlotte had called at Christmas and his mom almost got shot looking for her. It was all for nothing, since Charlotte went with Valentin anyway. She wouldn’t accept that her dad was bad news. Danny said, maybe not to her and wondered if Rocco was going to keep quiet. Cody told Dante, everything changed. Dante never came back to camp. Dante said he got a job and Brook disappeared without saying goodbye. Cody said they were just kids back then and if they had an idea, they went for it. Emma and Gio joined them, and Emma said the horses were great. Cody asked if she rode, and she said she’d taken lessons. Cody said, so did Dante when they were at camp, but he was hopeless. Dante said, camp was cool, aside from the horses. He, Cody, and Brook were counselors in training. Lois came in and he said, Brook ended up at their sister camp. Emma said she was sure they had all kinds of stories.

Maxie loudly wondered why Martin was asking about Lulu, and Martin said she told him that she was having dinner with Maxie at the Surf Lodge. Maxie said she forgot because of the Lucy stuff. See? It was costing dinner and probably a fight with her bestie. She’d like to discuss it in her office where no one would overhear. Lulu nearly hyperventilated as she read, Brook Lynn… mother… high school… baby boy… adopted. Martin told Maxie that he and Lucy were done, and he was getting a headache. He was about to go in his room, when Maxie said, wait. Lulu grabbed up all the papers, and Maxie said she need to talk to Martin. Not about Lucy, but she wanted to hire him to deal with nuisance lawsuits. He said with Tracy at Deception, that wasn’t going to happen. They had a love/hate relationship – they loved to hate each other. Maxie said she made the decisions and wanted to discuss billable hours. He said, why didn’t she say so? She could have led with that. Maxie said she wished she had, and Lulu listened as they left. She spread the papers out on the bed.

Ava asked what Drew wanted, and Portia said he was chasing a seat on the Appropriations Committee, but Curtis influenced a congressman to block the appointment. Ava said, so Drew wanted Curtis to go back and say he made a mistake. Drew was an awesome guy after all and should be on all the committees. She didn’t have anything to use on Drew. Portia said she only cared about Curtis. She told him that she’d altered the results, but didn’t tell him that Brad was blackmailing her. She was afraid because Curtis hated secrets. When he found out Trina was his daughter, it almost destroyed their marriage. Ava said Curtis forgave Portia, but Portia said he gave her a second chance. She didn’t know if he’d give her a third. She needed advice on what to do. Ava said she could keep quiet about Drew or tell Curtis the truth. Lois said she needed to get going, and Cody asked if she needed something. She said it was colder than she thought, and she just wanted to get warm. She left, and Emma said she’d wanted to compliment Lois on being the Face of Deception. Wasn’t Cody the guy…? Dante said, yes. He was the company’s male model. Cody said, brand ambassador. Emma asked if he thought interning would be fun, and he said Brook and Maxie were great. Lucy was high strung, but for the most part, they were great bosses. It just wasn’t him. He wasn’t like Gio. Gio said he loved making music, and Dante said Brook did too. Cody said, it must be a family trait. At the MetroCourt, Martin said, what about Deception’s legal team? and Maxie said she felt like they were kind of lacking. Martin said it was in his wheelhouse, but why the urgency? and Maxie said, because of Lulu. Jack asked how it was going with Josslyn, and Carly said the pictures were amazing. Josslyn was at Easter Island because someone cancelled. It was perfect timing, and she seemed to be having a blast. Jack said he was glad it was working out.

Lois knocked at Martin’s hotel room door as Lulu took pictures of the notes. Portia didn’t know how she’d live with herself if she was forced to manipulate Curtis on Drew’s behalf. Ava suggested she might feel better if she just told Curtis the truth, even if it cost everything, even her marriage. Maxie looked at the tons of texts she’d sent Lulu and told Martin that Spinelli said they were out of peanut butter, and she blew off Lulu. Tragedy abounds. Martin didn’t think Lulu would be comfortable with him working there. She didn’t like him. Maxie said he would get to spend more time with her. Whatever it took to convince Lulu that he was nothing like his brother. Martin said it was worth a shot, and she said, welcome to Deception. He said it had been a long day and got up, when Maxie spilled red wine on her white blouse. She asked him to hurry and get her some club soda. He left and she texted Lulu again. Lois knocked one more time, then left. Lulu gathered up the papers and put them back in the file case. She put the case back, picked up the towels, and left. Anna met Felicia at the MetroCourt bar, and Felicia said, what’s wrong with that? nodding toward Carly and Jack. Anna asked if that was why she brought her gun, and Felicia said she told Anna not to, but Anna said she thought it was code or something. Felicia said, Bobbie wouldn’t want Carly near Brennan and Anna had known him a long time. What did she think of him? Anna said he was a ruthless agent, concerned with getting the job done. He lived in a grey area, legally and morally, but he was brilliant and obviously charming. Felicia said she got the same vibe and wondered what to do about it, but Anna said, nothing. Carly was a grown woman and when had anyone succeeded in stopping her from doing something she wanted to? Like, never. Jack asked why Josslyn should have all the fun and suggested he and Carly take the private WSB jet and have dinner in Paris. They could stay over and maybe squeeze in. A woman came over to the table and said, Jack doesn’t call; he doesn’t write. What’s a woman to think? Gio said he watched Brook perform when he was a kid and Emma wondered why she didn’t sing anymore. Dante explained she was attacked, and her vocal cords were damaged. She still wrote though and she was great. Cody asked what Emma would do at Deception, and she said, chemistry. She’d work in the lab developing new products. Speaking of fun, she needed to go home. She and Gio left, and Cody asked what Dante thought about them. Dante said Gio was in over his head. He didn’t know what to do when Rocco fell in love. Let Lulu handle it. Rocco said he didn’t want to lose his mom again and wondered if he was being selfish, but Danny said he’d do anything to get his mom back. What if something happened to Rocco’s sister? Rocco said he didn’t know what he’d do, when Jason came in. He asked, what’s up? and Danny said, Charlotte messaged Rocco. They knew where she was.

Portia said she couldn’t imagine life without Curtis. The last time, she lost him and almost lost Trina. What if Trina felt like she had to pick sides? Ava said she was getting ahead of herself. Was she sure that she’d lose her license and be prosecuted if Drew talked to the police? She should talk to Ava’s lawyer. Portia said Ric was Heather Webber’s lawyer. It was a conflict of interest. Ava said if Portia’s scheme had worked, it would be a different story. Until she talked to somebody and had a plan, let Drew think he’d won, that she was doing more than she was. Her secret was safe, and she could minimize how much she manipulated Curtis. Jack said it was a pleasure to see the woman, and she said it had been far too long. Jack introduced her as Vivian to Carly, and said Carly was co-owner of the hotel. Vivian said she loved to see a woman in charge of a fabulous hotel and asked if Jack still had her number. Use it and call her. She left, and Jack said, what about Paris? but Carly said she couldn’t go. She was owner of the establishment and there were many things she had to do right now. He could stay. She was comping his meal. She walked away, leaving him confused.  comp meal walks. Anna told Felicia that she was worried about Charlotte. The longer she was out there with her father, the more dangerous the situation became. She wished she had played things differently where Valentin was concerned. Her phone rang, and Felicia said there was no one better to get the job done, so get it done. Take action. Lulu showed up at the stables, and Cody said she’d just missed Dante, but she said she came to see him. Things were simpler with him. He went to get her a beer, and she texted Maxie: All clear. Maxie told Martin that he should go relax. They could go over details tomorrow. Martin left, when Lois intercepted him and asked to talk. He said he was going to his room, and she said she’d come with him. Felicia sat with Maxie and asked if Maxie was going to tell her what that situation was about. Lulu and Cody clinked beer bottles, and Lulu asked what Dante was like in high school. He said he only knew Dante at camp, and she said she had a hard time picturing that. Did she hear right that Brook was there too? He said she was, and Lulu said it was hard to imagine two people less suited to woodland activities. He said it was only one summer, and she said, one was all it takes. Jason asked if anybody knew, and Danny said Rocco was worried his mom would get hurt if she went after Charlotte. Jason said Danny did the right thing. He’d go get Charlotte, but they couldn’t tell any more people. The more people who knew where Charlotte was, the more they were at risk of things going wrong. He would bring Rocco’s sister back. He promised. Danny told him, be safe, and Jason said he’d see Danny soon. He left, and Rocco yelled, how could Danny do that? He had no right to tell his dad. Outside, Jason called Anna and told her to stay at the MetroCourt. He had a lead a Charlotte.

Danny said, Jason was the perfect person to go, but Rocco said it wasn’t Danny’s secret to tell. He’d wanted advice, not having it blurbed out. Danny said, family helps family, when Dante came in and asked, what’s going on? Lois told Martin that she’d walked in on Dante telling Gio how it went at summer camp together. If it got out that Dante and Brook were Gio’s parents, it could ruin everything. She asked if she could have his notes back. It was too risky. He said they were safe in his hotel room. What was wrong? Cody said, that was a weird thing to say, and Lulu said she and Brook never got along. Brook was possessive about Dante and their Bensonhurst roots, and she felt left out. Now that she knows what happened, she understands where that came from. Brook told her about it and she can’t imagine going through that as a teenager, but it explains a lot. Cody said, it was intense. He never thought Brook would tell anyone, much less her. Lulu said, everything Brook and Chase were going through trying to get pregnant stirred it up. She happened to be there, and it came out. He said, it was a rough time. On the pier, Carly called herself stupid, when Jack joined her. She asked how he found her, and he said he was a spy. She said, of course (🍷). Please go. It was humiliating enough. Jack said he didn’t understand. Was this about Vivian? She said, no… yes. They were feeling two different things, which is fine. She had no expectations… Please go. He asked where this was coming from, and she said he should be with someone like Vivian, fun with no strings. She couldn’t do that. He said he thought something else was going on, and she said, there was.

Lois looked through the papers and said she was just making sure they were all there. He said, her secret was safe. Maybe she was overreacting. She said, probably. Did he have matches or a lighter? Lulu said, poor Brook, and Cody said he’d never seen Brook so scared. She came to him and begged him to take her to the bus station. She wanted to go home. Lulu asked if she never told Dante, and he said, no. Neither did he. Brook disappeared. She never wanted Dante to know she’d been pregnant, and he promised he’d never tell, and he never did. Rocco said he told Danny that he liked Renee and Danny told her. Danny said he didn’t. He was just trying to see if she was interested in him. He didn’t give Rocco up. Rocco said he didn’t ask if it was okay, and it wasn’t okay. Danny told his secret. Danny said Rocco was his brother and he cared about him. He’d always have Rocco’s back. Dante asked if they were cool, and Danny and Rocco shook hands. Dante said they were family and had to stick together. Portia said she couldn’t imagine pretending to be compliant and complicit with Drew. It made her sick to her stomach. Ava said there was no good solution, and Portia said, unless Drew was dead. Ava said, please talk to Ric. He might have an idea they haven’t thought of. He’s an unconventional thinker. Portia said she’d think about it, and Ava asked which was more awful, doing Drew’s bidding or losing Curtis? Jason told Anna that Charlotte reached out to Rocco and was in Buenos Aires. Anna asked if anyone else knew, and he said, no. They had to find Charlotte before Lulu found out. She said, if she could bring Charlotte back to Lulu… and he said, maybe she could forgive herself. They went to the elevator, and Jason said they’d get her back. Jack said, when Carly told him that she didn’t want a fling, that was his cue to leave, but he asked her out to dinner. Carly said he acted available when Vivian was hitting on him, and he said he knew how to work a woman – it was part of his job and instinctual – but he had no idea how to act with her. She said they wanted two different things, but he insisted they didn’t. He didn’t want to let her go. She asked what he wanted. She couldn’t do casual. His phone chimed and she told him, just get it. She stepped away and he saw a text from a private caller: Charlotte Cassadine located in Buenos Aires. Assets in route.

Thursday:

Felicia brought James to the hospital and said she didn’t know who Maxie was going to kill – him for doing it or her for letting it happen on her watch. She told Willow that they needed to see a doctor. James might have broken his arm. Willow got Isaiah and Felicia told James to spill it and tell the truth. Ric met Portia in her office, and she said she needed his help. She was desperate. He said she’d have to be if she was talking to him. Alexis went to see Sonny at Valentin’s old house and asked why he bought it. At the hospital, Drew said he knew Elizabeth would be able to help with the pediatric sports program, and she said she couldn’t wait to get started. Gio said he had something to tell Tracy that he didn’t think she’d like, and Tracy said if it was that Gloria was coming to visit, she knew already. He said, no. There was a guy at the gate. He thought the guy was surveying the property. Carly found Lulu in her office and said it was a nice surprise. Lulu said she might not think so now and handed her the room key she stole. She told Carly that she posed as housekeeping to break into Martin’s room. She thought she could figure out where Charlotte was. She didn’t, but she found out something else that was huge. Dante had a child he knew nothing about.

Drew told Elizabeth that he wanted to focus on long term pediatric patients. He wanted them to feel like they had hope in their lives. She said Oscar would be proud, and Drew said he was more than his illness. He wanted the kids to know they were too, that they had role models and the possibility of a brighter future. He was going to dedicate the program to Oscar. Trina saw Kai at the hospital, and he said his ex-coach thought it would be good for him to be part of the pediatric sports program, and she asked who he was there to meet. He said, a congressman, Drew Quartermain, and she pointed Drew out. Portia said her only problem with Ric was his defense of Heather, and he said, being a parent himself, he understood she was just trying to protect her daughter like any good mother. Heather was no longer in Port Charles, and he considered it water under the bridge. He was open to working with her. What exactly was going on? Isaiah asks how James hurt himself, and James said, sledding. Felicia said, off the roof, and James said it was fun until… Felicia asked what the diagnosis was, and Isaiah said they’d have to wait to see the x-rays, but he guessed it was broken. James asked if that meant a case. His mom would see it and his life would be over. Was Felicia going to rat him out? Felicia said they weren’t going to lie or keep things from his mom, and Isaiah said that wasn’t the kind of man James wanted to be. Besides, she’d find out anyway. She’s a mom and they had ways. Willow said his classmates would want to sign his cast. It would be cool. James said, if she ever let him out of his room again, and Isaiah suggested they go and get the x-rays taken. Natalia walked into the living room at Windymere, and Sidwell said it was a delight to see her. Was it business or pleasure? She said, neither. She wanted answers. She needed to know what Sidwell wanted from Deception. He said it was what Deception wanted from him, access to the rare mineral they needed. She said, zincite, and he said his relationship with Deception was based on supply and demand. She said she knew him, and he wasn’t there for a collaboration. He was there for a hostile takeover. Sonny told Alexis that Kristina and Jason thought the house had more security than the MetroCourt. It was temporary until he got back in the penthouse. Alexis gave him the paperwork he requested from Diane about Gio’s education trust. Tracy told Gio that the surveyor was there at her request. She didn’t trust Martin’s claim that the family crypt was on public land. Dante wondered what if her guy said the same thing, and she asked if he was suggesting Martin knew the property better than she did. Lois said Tracy could afford to move the crypt, but Tracy said she didn’t understand the sanctity of the Quartermaine legacy. She was going to use every resource to make sure her mother, father, and brother stayed where they were. Carly asked how Lulu found out, and Lulu said Valentin trusted Martin and Martin knew how to get in touch with him. She broke in to see if he had info on Charlotte and wasn’t going to apologize for doing what she had to in order to find her daughter. Carly said she would too, and Lulu said she found nothing on Charlotte, but found out about the baby. A paper had said, Dante Falconari, father, and it also said, Brook Lynn, mother.

Tracy asked Gio to stay for coffee. She appreciated his vigilance and thoughtfulness. He said he’d stay, and she said the morning was turning out to be quite lovely. Sonny walked in and she said she spoke too soon. Trina introduced Kai to Drew and said Drew had saved her life along with her dad. Drew said he was a big fan of Kai’s, and the kids would be thrilled. Kai said he knew other athletes who would be excited to be part of it. Any friend of Trina and her parents was a friend of his. Carly said she knew Dante and Brook had history, and Lulu said, Cody told her, when they were teenagers, he, Dante, and Brook were training to be camp counselors, and Dante got Brook pregnant. She had a boy and gave him up for adoption. She thought Lois was involved, but she wasn’t sure. Carly said she was shocked Brook would keep it from Dante, but Lulu said, typical Brook. She had to tell Dante, right? If she kept this huge, life changing secret, wasn’t she just as bad as Brook?

Sidwell told Natalia that he had no interest in dragging Deception into anything. He was a changed man. She said she could see that he had some new suits and cleaned up his act, but she saw through the façade. Sidwell said he wasn’t interested in anything in Port Charles, and Natalia said she got it. It made sense that he wasn’t after something, but someone. She guessed it was Sonny. Sidwell said he wasn’t pursuing Sonny. That was her. Alexis came in and Sidwell said, welcome. He was sorry to cut things short with Natalia, but he needed to speak to Alexis alone. Natalia said, of course (🍷), and left. Sidwell said he was happy Alexis accepted his invitation. It was nice to see her at Windymere. Alexis said the feeling far from mutual. Carly said she knew there was tension between Brook and Lulu, but Lulu couldn’t judge Brook when she’d made a similar decision. Lulu said it was the hardest thing she’d done, but she told Dylan about her decision. Brook never mentioned it to Dante. Carly said she didn’t know the circumstances then. Brook made a difficult decision, but that didn’t mean she was a bad person. Lulu said she thought Dante deserved to know he had a child, but Carly said this wasn’t just about Dante. The baby would be grown up now. What if they had a happy life and didn’t know they were adopted? It could destroy them and cause complications for Brook and her family or Dante and his. The fallout could destroy a lot of lives. Was she ready for that? Tracy told Sonny that if he was here about Deception, he should go to their offices. Sonny said he was here about Gio, and Tracy said, since Gio lived there, she was entitled to know his business. Sonny told Gio to get his coat, but Tracy said she wanted a lawyer to look things over. Sonny said Diane already did, and Gio said he’d look at it later. Tracy put her hand out, and Sonny gave her the envelope, saying, it was Gio’s educational trust. Tracy said, absolutely not.

Drew told Trina and Kai that Elizabeth was the hospital liaison, and he thought she’d love it. He started the program to honor his son Oscar who died of cancer as a teenager. Trina said she hadn’t told Kai about Oscar, but she and Josslyn talked about him all the time and missed him. She thought he’d love it. Drew said they’d lost some amazing people, and Trina said, too many. She asked if Drew was going to see her mom before he left, and he said he might. Ric said, Portia was being blackmailed? and she said, by two people actually. A lab tech found out she’d altered Heather’s test results, but he was just asking for little stuff. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t her biggest concern. Someone else found out – Drew Quartermaine. Ric said, the congressman? and Portia said, at one time, Drew and Curtis were best friends, but Drew changed. He turned into a horrible person and now he and Curtis were at war, especially about Aurora. Drew was holding this over her head and wanted her to broker a sit-down between him and Curtis and convince Curtis to end the war. Ric asked how much Curtis knew, and she said Curtis valued honesty, so she told him that she tampered with the test results, but he didn’t know about the blackmail. She wondered if she should betray Curtis on Drew’s behalf or tell Curtis she’d been keeping this secret. Ric said she was what the legal community called between a rock and a hard place, and she said she was scared of losing her job and medical license, but didn’t want to lose Curtis the most.

Carly wondered why Martin had this information, but Lulu wasn’t sure. She knew Brook and Chase were trying to have a baby and Chase found out he was sterile – which was not public knowledge. Maybe Brook was thinking of finding her baby. Dante thought Brook was a good person. Carly asked if this was about their rivalry, but Lulu said, not at all. She wasn’t that petty. Dante deserved to know he had a son. Carly said if Lulu told him, he might be inclined to shoot the messenger, and Lulu said she knew, but the child was Rocco’s brother and a Quartermaine. He was Tracy’s great grandson, and Lois, Ned, and Olivia were his grandparents. Carly said, and Sonny, and Lulu said if she kept it a secret, Carly had to keep it a secret too. Was she sure she could keep it from her kids and Sonny. Tracy told Gio, don’t sign it, but Brook said, stay out of it. Loise agreed and said, Sonny had been paying Gio’s tuition already. Gio said since he was 12, when his mom died, and Sonny said he wanted Gio to pursue his dreams. He deserved a trust if he needed money. Tracy said, that was before. Now Gio was here, and his education would be managed by them. Dante said, Sonny did the same thing for Rocco, and Tracy said, what Sonny provided for his grandchildren was his business, but she wasn’t allowing Gio to be the beneficiary ill-gotten gains. It was bad enough Brook got Sonny involved in Deception. Now he wanted to finance Gio? Absolutely not. She wouldn’t allow Gio to be hurt by Sonny. She’d born witness to the chaos he’d wrought, like in the lives of Stone, Karen, Jason… Sonny said, enough. It wasn’t about his past. It was about Gio. He gave Gio the envelope and said sign it when he could, but Gio said he’d sign it now. He signed the papers and Sonny left with Lois. Tracy approached Gio. James came out in a pink cast and said it was his mom’s favorite color, but she was still going to be mad. Isaiah said she’d mostly be happy that he was okay. It was a clean break, and he’d be back in no time. Felicia told James that it was time for them to face the music, and on their way out, Kai asked, what happened? James said he sledded off the roof and realized Kai was the football guy. He’d seen him on TV. He was a star.  Ric told Portia, if there was fallout later, he’d be there, but in the meantime, don’t tell Curtis. Not right now. Stall Drew. String him along and make him think she was giving in to his demands. She said Curtis knew how she felt about Drew. If she was suddenly sympathetic, he’d know something was up. Ric said, be subtle, but make Drew think she was pressing Curtis as hard as she could. She told him that Ava said the same thing, and he said, Ava is a smart woman. Convince Drew that she was playing by his rules. Sidwell said he got the feeling Alexis didn’t like him, and she said she didn’t know him, but didn’t like what she’d heard. Such as he held her grandson’s father captive in Africa. That wasn’t nice and she hated Windymere, so why was she here? Sidwell said he made a mistake in Africa, but in his defense, that’s how business was done there. Alexis said, interesting that he referred to kidnapping and human rights violations as a mistake, and he said business wasn’t conducted the same everywhere. She said she didn’t care. She had no plans to do business with him. He said it wasn’t what she could or couldn’t do for him, it was what he could do for her. He brought out a box and said, it was what he had to give her. Tracy told Gio that it was impressive. It took nerve to defy her, and he’d done it twice. There was more to him than met the eye. Her family could learn from his example. Gio thanked her and said he knew there was a reason she felt the way she did about Sonny, and so did he. Sonny made sure he was okay after his mom passed. Lois helped, but Sonny made sure he was always good. Tracy said Sonny was loyal to the people he cared about, and Gio said, Sonny was supportive of his love of music. It gave him a purpose and he didn’t know what he would have done without Sonny. She said, it didn’t matter how old you were, it was always painful to lose your mother. She was also loyal to the people she cared about. This had less to do with her obvious dislike of Sonny, and more to do with her concern about Gio.

Kai signed James’s cast, and James said the kids at school would be jealous. Felicia said they were big fans. She hoped his physical therapy was going well and he’d be back next season. Kai said he had new opportunities coming up that he was excited about, and Trina said the pediatric wing was one of them. Felicia said he’d be as big a success there as the football field. They’d be rooting for him. Elizabeth asked if Ric found who he was looking for, and Ric said he did. He’d been looking for Portia. Drew got a text from Portia that she’d given his offer a thought and he went to her office. He asked if she meant it, and she said, as long as he didn’t tell what he knew, she’d absolutely do what he asked. She’d convince Curtis to meet with him to bury the hatchet and mend their friendship. Drew said he was glad she came to her senses. Alexis said there was nothing Sidwell had that she wanted, and he said he had Windymere, Spoon Island. Wasn’t it her family’s estate? Alexis said he obviously didn’t know much about her family. Feel free to burn whatever he had. He said he’d never burn anything as beautiful and intriguing as this. He opened the box and revealed a dagger. Gio said he was glad they talked, and Tracy said her too. She misspoke in giving her opinions and she was sorry. Gio said he overstepped, and she said he’d been looking out for Scout, and she understood the reasons for his loyalty to Sonny. She hoped it didn’t cost him someday. Sonny left a message for Alexis to give him a call when she could. Gio signed the documents, and he wanted to send them over. The doorbell rang, and Sonny opened the door to Lois. She said she was there to apologize for everyone who wasn’t Tracy. Tracy had no right to stick her nose into his and Gio’s business. Sonny said he didn’t give a damn what Tracy thought. He wanted Gio to have the best possible life he could have, but thought Gio had to stay away from him. Carly told Lulu that in the past, she would have rushed out, gone to Sonny, and told him everything because family was everything to him. She wasn’t going to do that now because family was everything to her. In this situation, Brook is Bobbie. She knew how hard it was for her mom to give her up for adoption. It haunted her. She thought Brook had been through enough and she wasn’t going to add to it. Lulu said she didn’t think she and Brook were similar, but Carly said, not just that. She may not have given up her baby, but Lulu knew about making hard decisions to protect her children. That’s why she passed Michael off as Jason’s to protect him from AJ. Robin blew the secret up and wrecked lives. Lulu asked if that’s what Carly thought she was doing, and Carly said, was she? Lulu said she what was best for her kids, and Carly said, like her mom, like Brook, like Lulu when she broke into Martin’s room looking for information on Charlotte. They were moms doing what they could for their kids. Lulu said she couldn’t argue a single word. She wished she could. Carly took her hand and wondered if there was anything she could say that would help, but Lulu shrugged and said she wasn’t sure. She thought she’d get clarity when she looked into Dante’s eyes. One look, and she’d know whether to keep Brook’s secret or if she had to tell him everything. (Sounds like a poor barometer to me.)

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada:

At Valentin’s old house, now Sonny’s new one, Sonny tells Lois that he watched Gio grow up. Gio is a great kid, but maybe the best thing is for him to stay away from Gio. Lois says, Gio is old enough to make his own decisions. It’s up to him if he wants to take Sonny’s support or not, and clearly it looks like he’s made his choice. Sonny says, Lois didn’t answer his question. Does she trust him around Gio? She says, as much as she did that first day in Bensonhurst when she invited him over to meet Gio, and he thanks her. The doorbell rings, and Sonny opens the door to Carly. She says she’s glad he’s here, then she sees Lois.  

Lulu walks into the Quartermaine mansion and sees Brook and Dante in the foyer. Dante asks if everything is okay.

Alexis asks where Sidwell got the dagger, and he says he found it in a cabinet in the downstairs living room. The workmanship is exquisite. It’s also valuable. Alexis says, it’s impossible. The dagger should be at the bottom of the harbor.

Isaiah knocks at Jordan’s door, and she says, just a minute. She opens the door wearing a facial mask, and he says he likes the look. She says, sorry, but he says, it’s nice to know she’s a mere mortal and not a goddess 24/7. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he thought they could get lunch. She says she’s got lunch coming, but he says, not anymore.

On the phone, Jack asks Colette what this is about. He was just going to grab lunch… Fine. How is she doing?… Good. He wants hourly updates on her progress. He flashes back to telling Josslyn that she’s special. She has the qualities the WSB is looking for – ingenuity, initiative, mental and physical fortitude. She’s willing and able to what’s necessary. She says, necessary for what? and he says, the WSB. He wants her to become one of them.  

Josslyn sits on the floor and flashes back to sitting by dead Dex’s bedside. She says she’d do anything for him to wake up. Or someone to wake her up and tell her this is a nightmare, but that’s not going to happen. He’s gone… He’s really gone. Her handler Vaughn comes in and says, break’s over. She looks tired. Is she sure she wants to stick around? Josslyn says, absolutely, and he shoves a protective vest at her and says, for the next phase.

Sonny asks what brings Carly by, and she says she wanted to check out him new place. She hopes she’s not interrupting something important. Lois says, it’s just family stuff, and Sonny says, they were talking about Gio.

Dante asks again if everything is okay, and Brook says she’s glad Lulu is here. Lulu says, that’s a first, and Brook says, granny is on a tear. Lulu is one of the few people she lets get away with murder. Maybe Lulu can calm her down. Lulu says she’s not doing Brook any favors. Not after what she’s done. Brook says, what? and Lulu says she thinks Brook heard her. Dante asks if Lulu is okay, and Lulu flashes back to seeing, Dante Falconari, father. Not on the birth certificate. She remembers telling Carly that Dante deserves to know he has a child, and Carly saying, in a perfect world, she’d agree, but it’s not just about Dante anymore. Lulu tells Dante that she’s just saying she doesn’t want to get involved. Whatever issue Brook has with Tracy, she’ll have to solve it herself. Brook says, far be it for anyone to ask Lulu for help. She tells Dante that she hopes things are okay with his dad. Next time, maybe Lulu could call before she drops by. She leaves, and Dante says, what was that? They talked about this, and he thought she was going to cut Brook some slack. She says she’s done with that. They can coddle Brook all they want. Dante says he thinks he’s done. He doesn’t want to referee anymore. Did she come to talk about Rocco or Charlotte? She says, no… and he says, then he’s not interested. Something happened with his dad and Gio, and believe it or not, Tracy. If she’s not into helping, he’s going to deal with that if she doesn’t mind. She says, absolutely. Go handle it. Dante leaves.

Carly asks if everything is okay with Gio, and Lois says, Sonny generously made an educational trust for Gio to go to grad school after PCU. Carly says, that’s great. What’s the problem? Sonny says, Tracy told Gio not to take his money, and Carly says, of course (🍷) she did. Lois says, Tracy is biased against Sonny, but she’s barking at the moon. They’ll always be family and the entire Cerullo clan will always be grateful what he’s done for Gio. Sonny says, family is family, and he’s happy to do it for Gio, but the real reason is that he can’t say no to Lois.

Jordan says, let her get this straight. Isaiah ran into her food delivery guy. Isaiah says, literally. There was Pad Thai all over the pavement. But don’t worry. He helped the guy clean up and tipped him. She says, that’s great, except now she has no lunch, and he says, no problem. He’ll fix her something. She asks if he cooks, and he says he cooks. She says, good luck. She doesn’t think there’s anything in her fridge except baking soda and a packet of soy sauce. He says he’ll see what he can do with what she’s got. He’s been known to work a miracle or two. He goes to the kitchen.

Vaughn asks Josslyn if she’s feeling tired. She’s been up for 48 hours. She says she’s good, and they get ready to spar. He asks if she’s had any training, and she says, a little kickboxing. He throws a punch, she feints, and they continue to spar. He says, nice. She has good instincts. It’s not industry standard, but a decent starting point. It’s not bad for not having slept and being in the middle of nowhere. Why is she doing this? She says, kicking his ass?

Sidwell tells Alexis, the dagger has some significance. He expects it’s providence. She says she’s only aware of two owners, her stepmother and the person she bequeathed it to – her. He guesses it was an unwelcome gift, and she says, it’s not a gift; it’s a curse. Helena Cassadine was her stepmother and used the dagger to slit her mother’s throat.

In her bedroom, Brook leaves a message for Gio, saying, she’s so sorry things got intense this morning. She hopes her grandmother didn’t offend him more than usual. She means well even when she’s doing wrong. There’s a knock at the door, and Brook says she’ll see him at home or give her a call back if he wants to talk. She opens the door and Lulu is there. Brook says she thought they were done, but Lulu says, they’re far from done. Brook says, they have no real connection other than Lulu being a terrible assistant and leeching off her grandmother. Lulu goes past Brook and into the room, and Brook says, so they’re doing this. Lulu says, Brook is going to want to close the door. She doubts Brook wants everyone hearing their private conversation. Brook asks what it’s about, and Lulu says, it’s about how Brook has been lying to Dante for years.

Sonny asks if he and Lois have anything else to discuss. He wants to let Gio know that he’s not pressuring him to take the money. Lois says she doubts he feels that way. He knows Sonny is generous. They all do. She’ll be in touch. She leaves, and Carly says, an educational trust fund for Gio. That’s an investment. Sonny says, education is very important. He’s certain that Gio’s family won’t be able to afford it. He’s funded Gio’s music education in the past and he’s happy to do it. Carly says, that doesn’t surprise her. Sonny takes care of the people he loves. He says, Tracy reminded him that the same people are hurt by him, and Carly asks if he’s sure she wasn’t talking about herself. Tracy doesn’t get to remind him of anything. He says, maybe she has a point, but Carly says, she doesn’t. Gio is an adult and he and Sonny have known each other most of Gio’s life. Gio gets to decide – not Tracy – if he wants help. Sonny says, Michael didn’t decide to be his son and look at where he is, and Carly says, Michael is the other reason she stopped by. She actually talked to him on the phone. He called her. He said he’s doing better. It’s slow, but he’s doing therapy and moving in the right direction. Sonny asks her to do him a favor. The next time she talks to Michael, tell him that he loves him. She says she will, but she knows Michael is going to call him and he can tell Michael himself. She knows Michael loves him too.

As they eat, Jordan says she still can’t believe Isaiah made this terrific pasta out of whatever he had to work with, and he says she had three ingredients in this place. She says, that’s why she orders in, and he says he sees why now, but he’s glad she’s enjoying the meal. She asks why he stopped by. To assault her delivery driver or impress her with his culinary skills? He says, the cooking is a bonus, but he’s glad to see her. She says, is that so? and he says, it is. He thought the idea of her going after Sidwell was for them to pursue whatever this is in private.

Vaughn says he read Josslyn’s file, and she asks, what’s in it? He says, Josslyn John Jax, PCU pre-med, switched to an environmental science major. A volleyball player. She says, former, and he says, former. A rich girl who could do anything or be anywhere other than here, and in five minutes, she’ll wish she wasn’t. Why isn’t she on a beach in Cancun having a fancy drink? She says, maybe because she’s not some rich girl who enjoys suntans and dysentery, and he says, why the WSB? She says she’s seen people die. She’s seen people take advantage with their power and wants to use hers to balance the scales and get a little justice. He says, if she means that, there’s the door.

Brook tells Lulu, understand something. She respects her grandmother and Dante, so she’s allowed Lulu to push her boundaries, but that ends now. She’s happy for Lulu’s children and family that she’s awake, but Lulu’s gone way too far with her. She has zero grace left to give Lulu. If Lulu has something to say to her, dare to say it. Lulu says, okay. How about this? Brook had Dante’s baby and never told him.

Alexis says she’s surprised Lucy didn’t fill Sidwell in on the sordid history of the property and its former owners, and he says, Lucy told him some history, but clearly omitted a few important details. To be clear, the dagger was used to murder Alexis’s mother? She says, yes, and he says, in light of that, at least let him offer her a drink, but she says, no thanks. She’s sober. He says, in light of that, he’ll make himself one, and she looks at the dagger. He says, forgive him, but did she witness her mother’s murder?

Isaiah says he doesn’t want to put pressure on Jordan or put her on the spot, but if now isn’t the right time or she’s not interested, he gets it. They’re cool. But he doesn’t want there to be any misunderstanding. He’s very interested in seeing what this can be, even if it’s here in her apartment – just her and him.

Dante goes to Sonny’s and asks how he’s liking the place. Sonny says, it’s not bad. As Dante can see, it’s bigger than the penthouse, and Dante says, it’s great. Did he deCassadine the place? Get a priest to exorcise it? Sonny laughs and says he had concerns, but it’s all good. He just needs it to be comfortable for his daughters. Dante says, Donna and Avery will love it, and Sonny says, that’s the plan. Does Dante want a drink? Dante says he’s good. He came to see Sonny to apologize for all the crap with Tracy. He should have said something sooner. Sonny says, Dante doesn’t have to defend him. He can handle himself. Dante says he knows, but what Sonny is doing for Gio is generous. He should have spoken up. Sonny says, he doesn’t have to apologize if he agrees with Tracy.

On the phone, Ned says, so the new edition of the [Photo Ark] book is out tomorrow?… Fantastic. His son Leo loves it. Thank you. Lois comes in and says, where is she? Ned’s mother. Ned says, hello to her too. His mother is out for a ride. Why? Lois says she’ll give Tracy a ride off a dock, and Ned asks what she’s done this time. Lois says, this time she’s gone too far. Does he want to know what she did? He says, it doesn’t matter. She’ll tell him anyway. She says she absolutely will. Sonny was very gracious and created a trust for Gio’s music future, now or whenever he needs it. Ned says, that was generous, and she says, it was. When he came over with the paperwork for Gio to sign, Tracy stuck her face into their private business. She told Gio not to sign it. Ned says he sees the problem, and she says, of course (🍷). Can he imagine the gall? But he says, this time, his mother is right.  

Lulu says, this is new. A speechless Brook. Brook says, whatever Lulu thinks she knows… and Lulu says she knows the truth. Don’t bother denying it. Brook says she didn’t deny it or confirm it, and Lulu says she doesn’t need Brook to do that. She saw the paperwork. Brook says, what paperwork? and Lulu says, from her lawyer. She saw Martin Grey’s files. Brook had a son and Dante was the father. She gave him up for adoption. Dante never knew the child existed, but Brook did. She kept Dante’s child from him. Brook says, I had a son?

Josslyn asks if Vaughn has the power to throw her out, and he says, no, but she has the power to walk away. She asks why she would do that, and he says, what she described was idealism. Take it to the Peace Corps. She says she’s not going anywhere, and he says, idealists who are in this line of work end up dead or worse. She says, what’s worse? and he says, she needs to understand this. The world and the WSB changes people. Ideals are shattered and people get corrupted, and there’s no one more corrupt in this world than a person who used to have ideals. He walks out.

Carly walks into Bobbie’s and sees Jack at a table. She flashes back to telling him that he should be with someone like Vivian, with no strings attached. She couldn’t do that. She goes to his table and says she didn’t expect to see him here again.  

Lulu says, if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she might buy Brook’s act. It’s not bad. But it was clear by Martin’s notes that she was trying to track her son or find out something about him, since she went to Martin. Brook says she never went to Martin. She never talked to a lawyer. She never talked to anyone. Lulu says, give it up. She saw Martin’s notes. She shows Brook the pictures on her phone and says, Brook had a baby when she was a teen. Dante’s baby. At least admit that much. Brook looks at the phone and hands it back. On the verge of tears, she leans on the desk and says she had a baby. She gave birth in San Francisco. She didn’t know if she had a girl or a boy. She couldn’t know. She never even held him. She’s never looked for him. She’s never talked to a lawyer. Lulu says, well, her mother did because she showed up at Martin’s hotel room.

Lois tells Ned, forget it. He never liked Sonny. She should have known better. She starts to leave, but Ned says, wait. He knows she and Sonny go back to the old neighborhood and the Cerullos and Sonny are rock solid. Their relationship goes back before Columbus. Lois says, that’s right and that’s never going to change, and he says, honestly, he doesn’t love it, but it’s none of his business. She says she wishes his mom understood that, and he says, what she doesn’t get, his mom did. Why encourage Gio to tie himself to Sonny? Sonny is a known criminal, and especially knowing where the money is coming from? She says, please. It has nothing to do with Sonny’s businesses. He says, yet in letting Sonny create a trust, Gio will feel indebted to him. It’s that simple. What if Gio decides to follow in his beneficiary’s footsteps? Or what if Sonny asks Gio to do him a favor and he gets caught in the line of fire? How will her loyalty help Gio then?

Dante tells Sonny that he didn’t agree with Tracy. He thought Sonny did a good thing when he came over. Sonny says he’s got to admit, it’s good to hear, and Dante says he can’t think of one time he agreed with Tracy about anything. Sonny should know that. And if he doesn’t, ask Jason or Stone and they’d tell him the same thing. They’re happy to have him in their lives, as is he. Sonny asks if he thinks his brother feels the same way, and Dante says, Michael got hurt at the penthouse, but Sonny is his dad and he loves him, The thing Sonny is doing for Gio should be appreciated, not picked apart by Tracy or anyone else. He appreciates the hell out of Sonny.

Jordan says, when she suggested she and Isaiah spend time together clandestinely, she thought it would be sexier, and he says, excuse me? He thought he was bringing the sexy. She says, he is, but she’s in sweats and wearing pedicure pads, and he says he’s seen grown men stop mid-sentence when she enters a room. Now he sees a side other people don’t get to. If she wants him to even the playing field, he’ll run home, get on the treadmill, run a few miles, and get super sweaty. She says, he could, but she can think of a better way to get sweaty. She kisses him.

Jack says he came in hoping to see Carly. Then again, he’s always hoping to see her. Carly sits down, and he asks, what happened? They seemed to be heading in a nice direction. What changed? She says, remember what happened on their date? and he says he explained about Vivian. She says, he was clear above board, and he asks, what’s the problem? She says, this is the problem. He was upfront about Vivian and his lifestyle, but she was just fooling herself into thinking their lifestyles were compatible. They’re just not.

Josslyn says, so Vaughn doesn’t care about anything and has no ideals, and he says, sometimes you have to do bad things to prevent worse things from happening. She says, that’s cynical, but he says, it’s pragmatic. He has no illusion about lighting the way for truth and justice. They’re not the same. She says she can do this, and he asks if she’s sure about that. He flips her and she falls to the ground. He says, rule number one, never fight fair. She gets up and they spar some more. He says, rule number two, see rule number one. He flips her down again and asks if she still thinks she’s got what it takes.

Sidwell apologizes for asking Alexis such a difficult question. Sometimes his curiosity comes across as a lack of common courtesy. Alexis says, it’s a tragic story with all too common a theme. Her father was Mikos Cassadine, and he fell in love with her mother Kristen, an opera singer and also his mistress. When Helena found out, she came to their home and murdered her mother in front of her. So yes, she watched it. Sidwell shakes his head and says he’s so sorry. It’s a horrible thing to witness and odd for someone to share openly, with a stranger no less. She picks up the dagger and says, sometimes it’s easier to talk about something with a stranger, especially something this barbaric. Now the dagger keeps reappearing, like it’s haunting her. She knows the weight and it’s not a replica. He says he wouldn’t know, and she says she threw it in the harbor. Sidwell says, maybe she misremembered. Such trauma wreaks havoc with memories. She says, maybe. In any event, looking at it and holding it is horrific. She tosses it onto the table.

Jordan says, this is the last thing she expected when she ordered Pad Thai, and Isaiah says, normally, he’d never stand between a woman and her take-out. He hopes she’s not too disappointed. She says she does love Pad Thai, but it’s okay. He asks if the way things turned out was a pleasant surprise, and she says, yeah, definitely. They kiss again.

Dante asks why Sonny thinks the Gio thing bothers him so much, and Sonny says he thinks Tracy’s words hit home. Gio might feel obligated to take the trust because of his loyalty. Dante says, and maybe it has nothing to do with that, but Sonny says, he doesn’t want Gio to feel forced to take the money. Dante suggests Sonny talk to Gio. Tell him that he can take it or leave it, and it won’t be at the cost of their relationship. Sonny says, forget the trust money right now. How is he doing? Dante says he doesn’t know. He thought if he knew what happened to Sam, he’d get closure, but he hasn’t. Sonny says, he misses Sam. That’s not going to change, but it will get more manageable. Dante says he thinks the reason he’s having a hard time is managing Lulu.

Brook says, her mother was in Martin’s hotel room and Lulu saw it? but Lulu says, not exactly. Brook wonders what Lulu was doing in there. She’s pretty sure Martin didn’t just hand her his notes. Lulu says, no, he didn’t, and Brook asks how she got the pictures. Lulu says, what matters is the truth, and Brook says, the truth is, Lulu broke in and got the information illegally. If Carly gave her the passkey… Lulu says, Carly had nothing to do with it, and Brook says, Lulu has nothing to do with her child. Lulu says, the child Brook gave birth to is her son’s half-brother and Dante has another child out in this world. Dante cares about Brook and believes she cares about him. How could she give birth and never tell Dante that his son existed?

Sidwell asks what Alexis would like to do. The dagger is hers to take with her, but he totally understands why she may not want to. She says, it came with the house. It’s his property now. She heads for the door, and he says he’ll walk her out, but she says she knows the way. She leaves and he takes a napkin, picking up the dagger by the blade with it. As he sips his drink, he looks at the handle.

Jordan guesses they could see where this goes, and Isaiah says, absolutely. She says, they need to be careful. Sidwell can’t know. He asks if she’s sure she wants to cozy up to Sidwell, and she asks if that’s what this about? Does he want to change her mind? He says, no. He just doesn’t understand why she has to be the one to expose him. The WSB and the PCPD already have eyes on him. She’s not in law enforcement anymore, so why involve herself rather than… She says, date him rather than bust Sidwell? He says, the simple solution would be to opt out.  

Jack says, to be clear, Carly doesn’t want to see him anymore because of his lifestyle. What type of lifestyle does she think he’s leading? She says, one where he diffuses bombs and sparks revolutions and sleeps with women without commitment or consequences. He says, what if he wants commitment and consequences? and she says, don’t do that. It’s not fair. She doesn’t want to have to be honest with herself. He says, all right. Take care of herself. He leaves and she frowns.

Vaughn says he had Josslyn on the floor because she didn’t pull out all the stops. Rule number three, do what you have to, to survive. Claw, scratch, bite… She kicks him in the groin, and he falls. She says, something like that? and in obvious pain, he says, yeah, something like that.

Dante tells Sonny, Lulu is trying to help, but the person who’s been the biggest help grieving Sam has been Brook. Sonny says, she stepped up? and Dante says, she’s been great, but it hurts Lulu. Sonny says he doesn’t get it. Dante and Brook have known each other their whole lives. They have history and trust, like him and Brook’s mother. There’s a kinship there.

Lois says, Ned is being unfair, but he says, not this time. He’s confused with her take on this. She was always loyal to Sonny in the past, but her loyalty had guardrails. She went out of her way to extricate a business relationship with Sonny from L&B Records. She even encouraged Brenda to wear a wire and record Sonny. Eventually she saw the financial conflict. Lois says, every penny Sonny put in was legit, including the money he put into Deception. He says, now the trust is fine because Sonny said so? What changed? Where did her due diligence go? What’s the is the difference with Gio?  

Brook says, Lulu is calling her a hypocrite when she got pregnant in high school. Remember? She certainly does. Lulu made a choice that was right for her and had people to support her, as she should have. Brook made a different choice. She gave birth and gave her baby up for adoption so they could have a better life. She wasn’t ready to be a mother. If she’d told Dante the truth, that choice would have been taken away from her. So get off her high horse. They both made a choice. Does she regret hers? Lulu says she made the choice that was right for her at the time, and Brook says she’s glad Lulu feels that way. She’s not judging Lulu’s choice, so don’t dare judge hers. Lulu says she’s not judging Brook’s choice. She’s judging Brook for her lies. Dante has a son out in the world, and because Brook lied, he doesn’t know. No matter the circumstances then, he deserves to know now. And if Brook doesn’t tell him, she will.

On Monday, Jordan tells Isaiah, that gives her an advantage that law enforcement doesn’t have; Dante needs Maxie’s help with something; Ned asks why Lois would go to Sonny rather than come to him; and Anna tells Jason, it’s too easy. Something is wrong.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I have the feeling he’ll be handling more than just Josslyn’s WSB  training.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/meet-bryce-durfee-general-hospitals-newest-cast-member

A glimpse at the woman behind GH’s head nurse.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-rebecca-herbst-shares-a-rare-family-update

I would hate to see her leave GH, but it sounds heavenly.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/rena-sofer-opens-up-about-wanting-to-semi-retire

He’s officially Beyond the Gates.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/beyond-the-gates/jon-lindstroms-beyond-the-gates-debut-date-revealed

Who knows? Maybe I’ll see him in NYC. Along with Lois. We can all hang out.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-books-an-exciting-new-role

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

Thank God Harry’s thumb is safe.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The glamor was coming back to Erika. And apparently the cash, since Martyn the designer/decorator was pretty pricey. She had a bigger moss bowl than the one in Sonny’s old kitchen and they cost a small fortune. Yes, I checked them out once and did end up getting a moss wreath for my front door which was a slightly smaller fortune on sale. She gave her mom a tour. Meanwhile, Kathy and Kyle got mammograms. Kyle thought Mauricio was freaking out from everyone seeing the pic of him and the new girlfriend, but I’m thinking he probably just smoked a fatty. In Garcelle’s interview, she said she didn’t think things would ever be resolved between Sutton and Dorit. However, she and Dorit were making a fresh start of their friendship. She related to Dorit separating with small children, and thought the other women lacked compassion because they forgot.

Sutton had a fashion show and just before it started, Kathy decided to ask Sutton if Dorit could narrate. Sutton was pretty startled, but explained that there was no narration. Kathy took her sweet time getting back to her seat, greeting people as she went, and ended up nearly walking the runway with the first model. Sometimes I wonder if Kathy is smoking Mauricio’s leftovers. In Boz’s interview, she said she’d never seen crashing the catwalk in her experience. Garcelle’s son Jaid walked his first modeling gig in the show and Jennifer walked also, wearing the last outfit of a red sweater dress. The clothes were cute, casual, and sporty. I love Sutton. I don’t care if she’s mean sometimes. It’s always to those who have pushed her to that point and deserve it IMO. Sutton’s mom tried to make it, but after spending a million hours at the airport, could not catch a flight. She still made sure Sutton knew she was proud of her. It was an oasis of a sweet moment.

Denise Richards and Her Wild Things

I loved this, but I knew I would. I love Denise’s sense of humor and how down to earth she is. I’d thought she and Aaron separated, but they agreed they’d stay together even if they grew to hate one another because it was still better than getting a divorce. (See below.) There were two episodes, and the main takeaway point was: Now she knows how her parents felt. Yep. She’s friends with Tori Spelling, so we got to go to dinner with them, where Tori got the information that Patrick Muldoon had once dropped Denise for her. She said she’d always wanted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but was fine with that. Camille Grammer also made an appearance, but the morally corrupt Faye Resnick was not in attendance.

What’s up with Aaron and his BDE.

Summer House

Lindsay had a gender reveal where the housemates had to find clues that eventually led to a box of pink balloons. Big baby Kyle got into it with Paige, leading to an unhappy Amanda. Bowling for Soup said it best: high school never ends. Amanda told Kyle that everybody didn’t need to know where he was coming from all the time, and he whined about his feelings being hurt. <sigh> On Watch What Happens Live, Kyle said certain companies don’t allow you to be on Summer House if you want to work for them. Why am I not surprised? I’ve been saying for years that I’d never hire someone who was on this show.

Southern Charm

Shep gave Sienna a megalodon necklace, but it still wasn’t enough to get her to like him. To make it worse, Taylor said it was like the necklace Shep gave her, although he insisted that was a Great White. After he was kinda sorta officially dumped, Shep bemoaned his situation to everyone, even telling his story to the bartenders. Austen and Craig kissed bro hugged and made up, and Craig rented some flamingoes to wander around during lunch. However, they freaked Madison out as they didn’t understand personal space.

Villain? Are they kidding? It was the highlight of my week, telling Shep the TV repeatedly, she doesn’t like you, and watching karma get him good.

Southern Hospitality

The Republic staff had their prom and… Man bun alert! No, Oisin. Just no. I’ll say it again. The only two men who are allowed to wear a man bun are Roger Howarth and Sensei Guillermo Gomez. Emmy might cry a lot, but I’d be crying too, if my so-called friend group kept following me around at parties – as a group – demanding answers about my love life. Needless to say, Maddi and Joe were prom queen and king, respectively.

No Will. Apparently, he was there somewhere in the periphery to support Emmy, but not on stage. I’m curious about Grace’s Burning Man inspired clothing line. Like is it all raffia and batik prints along with leather moto jackets? I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to this because it’s just a rehash of the same old. The big reveal was something about someone’s sister’s cousin’s boyfriend starting a rumor. Or something.

Random Reality Items

A surprise to no one that Jax has a cocaine issue.

Also probably a surprise to no one, but apparently this was about some old grudge involving GG’s ex-husband, who took up with Paulina. I wonder if GG kicked his ass too. But seriously, how old are we now?

https://people.com/shahs-of-sunset-paulina-ben-cohen-restraining-order-golnesa-gg-gharachedaghi-alleged-attack-11690931

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

I’m still slogging through Lost and imagine my surprise to hear Nina’s (Cynthis Watros) voice. I’d been multitasking and nearly got whiplash looking back at the screen. Is everyone eventually going to show up on that island?

Venom: The Last Dance. Netflix. What can I say about this film? It was funny, the special effects were great, and there were lots of heads bitten off and such. A good time from start to finish. What more could I want?

https://collider.com/venom-the-last-dance-review/

Everything you’d ever want to know about the film.

https://screenrant.com/venom-the-last-dance-netflix-global-top-10-chart/

https://www.koimoi.com/television/venom-the-last-dance-ott-verdict-makes-a-thunderous-debut-on-netflix-at-1-with-an-impressive-number-of-views/

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke. Hulu. I’m a big fan of documentaries and people like this boggle my mind. It’s definitely an argument for being suspicious of people who present themselves as perfect. An influencer who racked up viewers on YouTube with videos of her happy Mormon (again?) family, abused them all behind the scenes. After a so-called family therapist came into their lives, things got even worse.

https://people.com/ruby-franke-docuseries-devil-in-the-family-hulu-11678978

🏆 And the Award Goes To…

Post Oscar talk.

https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025

100+ photos!

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37556/vanity-fair-oscars-2025-party-red-carpet-fashion

Timothée Chalamet looks like he’s getting ready for prom.

https://pagesix.com/2025/03/03/style/melissa-rivers-on-the-best-and-worst-oscars-2025-looks/

The best and the worst moments. Probably up for debate.

https://ew.com/oscars-2025-best-and-worst-moments-11688617

https://people.com/best-and-worst-moments-of-the-oscars-2025-11689298

And a crossover!

👠 Best and Brightest…

How to watch this year’s Essence Black Women In Hollywood Awards.

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/where-to-stream-2025-black-women-in-hollywood/

It’s not an awards show without the fashion.

https://www.essence.com/gallery/celebrity-looks-essence-black-women-in-hollywood-awards-2025/

🐩 Barbie Would Be Proud…

I’ll bet they keep her that color from now on.

https://people.com/runaway-pink-haired-poodle-rescued-after-jumping-into-freezing-river-waters-11692243

🐡 Quotes of the Week

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Focus on the journey, not on arriving at a certain destination. – Chris Hadfield

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner. – Lao Tzu

Austen: You are an embellisher.🔹Craig: I’m a lawyer and a storyteller. – Austen Kroll and Craig Conover, Southern Charm

You can observe a lot by just watching. – Yogi Berra

🐍 Coming In Like an Anaconda…

Until next week, stay safe; stay remembering to SPRING AHEAD THIS WEEKEND (Sunday 2 am); and stay accepting your reality. When you do, you know who you are and what you want, and the whole world opens up in ways you never expected.

January 24, 2025 – Sidwell Meets Laura, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Nom-Noms, Animal Endeavors, 10 Concise Quotes & Freeze-Out

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

No soap, inauguration.

Tuesday:

Kristina waited at the launch with Alexis who was going to Spoon Island to meet with Sidwell about Windymere. Drew wanted to charge Tracy with kidnapping because she wouldn’t tell them where the children were even though Martin had a court order. Anna looked like she had a headache when Tracy feigned innocence, and Tracy asked if she looked like a nanny, but Anna said, only one in a Grimm’s fairytale. Tracy told her that Yuri had taken the children and nanny out for the day. Maxie met with Natalia about a new testing facility for Deception. She wanted the closing pushed back to give Sonny time to be with Michael and told Natalia that it wasn’t safe to be in Sonny’s orbit.

Michael was brought to consciousness and told Carly that he wanted to go to Germany. He also wanted to see Sasha. Drew horned in on Anna talking to Tracy, and Jack showed up at the station with info about the incendiary device. Ava was also going to Spoon Island to see Sidwell and badgered Alexis about the settlement money.

Jason went to track Sasha down and Carly told the others that Michael wanted to go to Germany, but Willow wanted to speak to him to confirm and apologize. Tracy claimed they were taking the kids from Monica, but Drew said it killed Tracy that Alan gave the house to Monica, and it was just a power play. Jack told Anna that the WSB was familiar with the device, and it had probably been developed for black ops. She asked if he ever used it and if he was the one who planted it.

Willow went in to see Michael and confirmed he wanted to go to Germany. She apologized for everything, and said the kids missed and loved him and he had to get better for them. She said she’d always love him, and he suddenly clutched in pain.

Ava said her daughter wasn’t safe with a man whose enemies tried to incinerate him and wanted Kristina to testify at the custody hearing. Alexis told Ava to stay away from her daughter or Ava would answer to her. Jack told Anna that he’d be more discreet than setting a luxury high rise on fire. She said the attack was sophisticated and not a usual mob hit.

Carly freaked out about Michael, when Jason arrived with Sasha, but Portia had to sedate Michael again to ease the stress on his system. Carly blamed Willow, but Jason told her not to take out her anger on Willow and focus on Michael. Carly said she’d be going to Germany with him, and Anna called Jason, telling him to get to the station.

Alexis said that Ava didn’t ask, but taunted and badgered. She wondered if Ava would want anyone treat Avery the way she treated Kristina, and Ava left since the truth is hard for her to hear. At the station, Anna told Jason that it was his family, so deal with them. Sasha told Maxie that she’d had a prenatal checkup and thought of Liam. Drew horned in at the hospital and told Willow that he thought Carly had finessed the situation. Sonny advised him to leave, but Willow wanted to talk to him.

Sidwell met Alexis at the dock, and she said she didn’t need to see Windymere again. The Cassadines weren’t known to be sentimental. Maxie offered to go to appointments with Sasha, who said she wasn’t ready to tell the world, but she was glad Maxie and Felicia were there for her to talk to. Maxie asked if Sasha was allowing herself to be happy.

Drew told Willow that he’d had Tracy arrested, but they didn’t know where the kids were, and they didn’t have Michael to use as leverage this time. Willow didn’t like the thought of using Michael as leverage, but was worried she’d messed up in cooperating with Sonny and Carly.

Tracy didn’t want Drew near the kids, but Jason said it was Willow’s call. Tracy said, Willow no longer had a mind of her own and was Drew’s puppet, but Jason said, Michael would want them with their mother. Tracy told him that she wouldn’t go to jail because she had too much money. Ava went to see Sonny and said if Avery had been where Michael was standing, she would have been killed.

Anna said she didn’t have time for the Quartermaines’ petty feuds and had real crimes to deal with. Alexis gave Sidwell the title to Spoon Island and told him that if isolation and excess were what he was looking for, he found his perfect dungeon. He said valued his privacy. Carly thanked Jack for getting Michael into the clinic and arranging for a medical jet. He told her to focus on her son and he’d take care of everything else. Anna told an officer to take Tracy to booking and told Tracy that sometimes the best way to win was to bend.

Drew convinced Willow that Sonny and Carly had been manipulating her. As he chatted her up in the chapel, Jason walked in. Sonny said he wouldn’t let Ava poison his daughter against him, and she said she was going to show the judge the charred remains of the penthouse and photos of Michael’s burns and she was going to get her daughter back permanently. She left and Sonny tried to take his heart meds, but keeled over.

Wednesday:

Charlie’s was reopening and Kristina and Lucky toasted to their dads who were great partners back in the day. Natalia found Sonny, got some medication in him, and called 911. Jason thought there was a compromise if Willow stayed in the gatehouse with the kids and Monica could have access. Lulu wanted to speak to Tracy, but Dante said, no. Lulu said she was fluent in Tracy Quartermaine and asked to have a crack at her.

Spinelli said they might have lost a gastropub, but gained the essence of cool in the new Charlie’s. Willow said if Jason could get Tracy to agree, she’d move back to the gatehouse, even though Drew told her not to negotiate. She had all the power she needed. Felicia told Sasha that the q’s thrived on toxic shenanigans and not to get caught up in it. Lucky told Elizabeth that he may have found a lead in their case.

Brick hit on Jordan going into Charlie’s, but she was meeting Isaiah. Kristina told Brick that him being there officially made it the coolest place in town. Sonny came to while Natalia was on the phone with 911, but he insisted no help. Jason asked to speak to Tracy who asked what the catch was. Drew said Tracy was using Monica to bully Willow. She said her kids were traumatized enough and she wanted to bring the kids back to their home. Jason said it was Tracy’s only chance to make a deal that would keep the kids close to Monica, and Lulu agreed he was right. Would Tracy rather be right or free? It was her turn to be strategic and play the long game. Be smart and take the win.

Sonny asked Natalia to call Isaiah and ruined his date with Jordan, but Brick took his place. Lucky told Elizabeth to follow his lead. Sasha told Felicia that she didn’t even recognize Willow anymore and she’d used Michael as leverage. Felicia suggested they show her some grace. Cody acted like an ass at Charlie’s and told Spinelli that if he wanted to stay out of prison because of Society Set-Ups (which none of us even remember anymore), he’d pony up some $75K. Brick asked if he should be jealous. Isaiah went to Sonny’s, and Sonny explained what had happened with Ava. Isaiah said the pills were just a stop gap measure and Sonny needed to see a cardiologist. Drew tried to talk Willow out of living at the gatehouse, no doubt for his own selfish gains, but Willow wasn’t having it. He said if the Quartermaines saw a way to get her children, they’d do it. Tracy agreed to take the deal.

Lucky talked to Martin about Cyrus, who said it was their mother who inspired Cyrus’s vocation. Isaiah said Sonny couldn’t be there for those he cared about if he didn’t take care of himself. Natalia said she’d stay with Sonny. Jason let Willow know that the kids were waiting at the gatehouse. Martin’s mother said if it had been up to Cyrus, she would be gone, but Cyrus just hadn’t wanted her to suffer. Lucky said they were still missing something because neither Dex nor Sam were terminal. Spinelli said Cody was the same sketchy grifter he’d always been. Lucky told him to take a walk, and Cody told Lucky to take a nap and punched him. Brick intervened, and Maxie thought she’d have to save Cody from himself.

Drew told Martin that Willow needed to be freed from the Quartermaines and Martin asked if Drew meant free to be with him. Drew said he’d do anything to protect Willow. Cody was brought into the station as Tracy was being released. Kristina said bar brawls weren’t the vibe she was going for. Willow came home and all was right with the world. For now.

Thursday:

Both Cody and Lucky were arrested, and Elizabeth tended to Lucky’s wounds in the interrogation room. Mac wondered what the hell was going on with Cody. The more he tried to get through, the more Cody pushed him away. Molly went to see Cody, who thought Lucky should have to pay for damages too, since he’d also been arrested. Molly said he was the only one throwing punches. Ava went to see Laura and Brick went to see Sonny. Kristina told Alexis about the fight, and Jordan said Brick had to step in to stop the fight, but the police thought Lucky was involved. Laura told Ava that a lot had changed and she couldn’t be Ava’s character witness. It was better if she wasn’t involved.

Josslyn told Lucas that she knew Cyrus had stabbed Dex and how she’d messed up at the station. Lucy brought Sidwell to Charlie’s and the thought it was distinctive and inviting. Lucy paved the way for a meeting with Laura.

Molly said no charges would be filed if Cody paid for the damages, but he said he had no money. Mac asked what the hell was wrong with him. Mac asked if Cody’s drunken fights were part of a bigger problem. Ric showed Ava an apartment since she had to establish a permanent residence, but she thought the square footage was lacking. Natalia told Brick what was going on with Sonny’s health, and Sonny filled him in on the rest. Brick said they had to make sure a close call like this never happened again.

Sidwell had to jet. Kristina said he seemed nice, and Alexis said nice and peculiar, since he thought Windymere was charming. Jordan went to see Laura and told her about Sidwell being in town. Cody promised he was done with booze and bar crawling. Mac said Cody was in a spiral that was getting worse, and he wanted to know why. Molly told Felicia that Cody was being a five-star ass. Lucky wanted to talk to Felicia about Cyrus, and Lucky discussed Cyrus with Josslyn. He said all they had were theories and suppositions and they needed evidence.

Lucky and Elizabeth talked to Felicia who said she thought it was the right choice to ban Cyrus from the hospital. Cody told Mac it wasn’t about Sasha. He trashed things when they were good. Mac said he had a family to rely on now and couldn’t push them away. Natalia went to Charlie’s and told Kristina that Sonny and Brick were discussing business. Brick arranged for Sonny to see the best cardiologist in the country in Los Angeles, to keep the diagnosis from the Five Families (marinara sauce). Ric said Ava didn’t have the means for a long-haul custody battle.

Kristina said she was worried about Sonny as she’d gotten a new date for the custody case. Anna said there were no outstanding warrants on Sidwell and even Interpol’s tag had been dropped. Laura got notice of the meeting and said it might be time to give Sidwell what he wants. Ava told Ric that Laura backed out of being a character witness and he told her to never doubt he was on her side, then they kissed. Josslyn said she was going to find the tie between Cyrus and the murders.

Mac left Cody in jail to think. Ava agreed to take the apartment. Laura called Sidwell and made a date to meet. Molly said, as long as people like Cody were saved from the consequences of their actions, there would always be a next time. Lucky wanted to talk to the Turning Woods staff and check their records, but Elizabeth said he’d stepped on a lot of toes there, so he agreed to let her do the talking. Lucas asked Josslyn to promise she’d stay away from Cyrus.

Friday’s Enchilada:

Baden-Baden, Germany. Carly goes into her hotel suite breathing heavy. She almost throws a bottle, but decides against it. Instead, she sits down and cries.

Willow leaves a message for Drew telling him that she’s back at the gatehouse and just wanted to hear his voice. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina says she brought breakfast. She asks how it is being back, and Willow says she’s afraid she made a huge mistake.

Drew asks if Curtis has a second to talk, but Curtis says he doesn’t know what Drew could say that he’d want to hear.

Trina sees Josslyn at the hospital and asks what she’s doing here. Josslyn says she’s trying to stop a murder.

Stella visits Kai, who’s watching a game tape. She says she came to check on him and see if there are any more flowers or gifts that he wants her to distribute. He says, the volunteers took care of it, and she asks if he’s sure he doesn’t want to keep some of it. He says he won’t be here long enough to enjoy it. He’s getting out soon.

Lulu goes to Maxie’s office, but Maxie’s not there. The phone rings, and she answers it. Maxie comes in and mouths, who is it? and Lulu mouths back, Blair Cramer. Maxie says, no, and Lulu asks if she can have Maxie return the call. Maxie says, Lulu has improved since she worked at Crimson, but she’s overqualified for the Deception job and wouldn’t be happy. Lulu says, happiness is overrated, but Maxie says, Lulu isn’t into beauty or cosmetics and needs to be challenged to keep her interested. Lulu says she just wants to earn her own money on her own terms and not rely on what Tracy and her mom decide, but Maxie says, she’d be miserable if she took the job. Lulu asks, what’s going on? Is Maxie trying to get her to withdraw her application, so she doesn’t have to turn her down? Brook walks in and asks what Lulu is doing here. Didn’t Maxie tell Lulu that they’re not hiring her?

Sidwell knocks on Laura’s office door and tells her that he’s looking forward to their meeting. Laura invites him in, and says she thinks he knows Anna. Anna certainly knows him. Anna says she and Sidwell met when he tried to have her killed while she was in Africa. He also tried to have Laura’s son killed.  

There’s a knock at Carly’s door, and she opens it to Jack.

Sidwell says he feels terrible about the situation with Lucky in Africa, and Laura asks if by situation he means holding Lucky captive and forcing him to play poker in order to stay alive. Anna says, he tried to execute her and Jason, but he says, the incident differs vastly from his perspective. His business was threatened. Anna and Jason lied about who they were, as did Laura’s son, and Holly stole from him. Laura asks if that justified holding them captive and torturing them, and he says, when his livelihood was threatened, he took any steps the law of the land allowed to protect it. He was in a country that had no law and nothing he did was illegal. Anna says, they have a fairly strong law here. He abducted Sasha, held her for ransom, and blew up a building – a trifecta of illegality. Sidwell asks if someone accused him. Is there a witness or evidence? He has no idea what she’s talking about. Anna says, they have nothing at this time, and he asks them to allow him to explain why he asked for a meeting. He’s an exporter based in Europe, but wants to expand to the North American market. Laura asks, why Port Charles? Llanview, Pine Valley, or even New York City would be a better choice. To be clear, they don’t want him in Port Charles.

Lulu says, this isn’t about the job, and Brook says she’ll handle it. She’s an officer of the company and has an interest in its success. The job at Deception is to be her assistant. Lulu says, they already established that, and Brook says, given a choice, she wouldn’t choose to work with Lulu. She’s uncomfortable to have around and it makes for a difficult work environment. Lulu says she gets that Brook doesn’t like her, but doesn’t understand why. She’s not the one who came between Brook and her boyfriend. Brook was the one who did that to her.

Willow tells Nina that she didn’t think moving back to the gatehouse would be that big a deal. She’s lived here for years, and it was great, but that was before this ugliness. Tracy walks in, looks at Nina, and asks why she’s not surprised. Nina says, nice to see her too, and Tracy says she saw Wiley getting on the bus to school and Amelia is out for a walk with the nanny. She thought it was the perfect time to go over new ground rules.  

Drew says he didn’t like the way he and Curtis left off. They’ve been friends for a long time, and he didn’t intend to double-cross Curtis. He thought he was doing right by him and Michael, but he failed. He should have handled it differently. Curtis says, ya think? and Drew says, things are different now. Michael is out of the picture, and they can use the opportunity to pivot from his mistake and do something that will work for them both. Curtis says, given what Drew’s done, whatever he’s thinking isn’t going to work, and Drew says he had that coming. He understands why Curtis is angry, but he never meant for it to come to this point. They’ve known each other a long time and go way back. They’ve been through so much together. He’s just asking Curtis to hear him out.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s trying to see if anybody has any information on Dex, but she’s not getting anywhere. Trina says she gets that Josslyn wants answers and doesn’t blame her for being frustrated, and Josslyn says she had to do something to honor Dex’s memory. She asks if Trina is here to see her mother, but Trina says she’s here to see Kai.

Kai tells Stella that he’s had an MRI and every scan possible. He wishes they’d hurry with the results. The sooner they do, the sooner he’s back on his feet. She says she knows patients who would enjoy a break from enormous men chasing and tackling them, but Kai says he loves football and wants to get back as soon as possible. She says, he still has a lot of work ahead, but first he needs the paperwork. He thanks her for taking care of everything, and him, and she says she’s happy to, but he doesn’t want to push too much too soon, or he’ll set his recovery back. Listen to his doctor. He says he’s not going to do anything to jeopardize his full recovery. He wants to be back for next season.

Carly asks what Jack is doing here, and he says he had a meeting in London. He swung by to see how she’s doing. She says, normally, she’d ask him to wait downstairs so she can pull herself together, and he says he’ll wait wherever she wants. Or if she’s not up to a visit, he can leave. She tells him, come in, and asks if they can order room service. He says, yeah.

Nina says, Tracy can’t barge into her daughter’s house, but Tracy says, it’s Monica’s house because Alan gave it to her and Monica wants her great-grandchildren close by. It’s for her sake Tracy agreed to Willow living here. Willow says she agreed to the compromise because of the kids and Monica, not Tracy. Tracy doesn’t even like her kids. She kidnapped them and kept them from their mother, convincing herself that it was in their best interest, but it wasn’t. Willow withdrew the charge because it hurt too many people, but she could easily change her mind and have the charge reinstated.  

Curtis says, because of the friendship he and Drew used to have, he’ll hear Drew out, and Drew thanks him. He sits down and says he doesn’t like that he’s not in control of a company he started, and he wants it back. He suggests they set up a stock sale so he can get that back. He’s not going to throw his weight around. All he wants is ownership of his own company back. Curtis says, Michael is out because he’s recovering from third degree burns, but Drew tells him that he’s not saying that. Curtis says, it sure as hell sounded like it, and Drew says, Michael has wealth beyond belief. Curtis has a contract to be CEO for five years and he’ll honor that. Curtis says, he’s suggesting the orchestrate a stock sale, Drew gets controlling interest, then steps back and lets him run it without interference. Drew says, Michael did what he did to get back at him for Willow. It had nothing to do with the business. He’s seen the incredible things Curtis is doing and knows he cares about Aurora. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does, and Drew says, as a courtesy, he wants it acknowledged that he founded the company and it’s running successfully. It makes sense since he’d be the majority shareholder. Curtis says, Drew makes good points, but he’d rather resign than take the deal.

Trina says, she wants Kai to know, if there’s anything she can do, he can count on her, and Josslyn says, it must be rough for him. She thinks it’s good for him to see Trina. Kai’s identity and everything in his life revolves around football. She’s not in that world and brings a different perspective to the conversation. She’s a good friend. She asks, what’s in the bag? and Trina says she went to the wellness center and got power bars and electrolyte water. (I drink that!) It’s good to stay hydrated while in the hospital. It was no big deal. Josslyn says, Trina could have done it later, but Trina says, sometimes later is taken away. They both know that. Josslyn says, that’s why they’re best friends. They get each other. Trina says, they really do, and Josslyn says she’s heading out. They hug, and Josslyn says, let her know how it goes with Kai.

Stella tells Kai to take time to heal. He has his whole life ahead of him and needs more than an arm and shoulder to throw a football. He says, ironically, he’d been debating whether to enlist in the draft or play his senior year. The decision’s been made and he’s glad he has another season at PCU. Stella says, that’s a good way to look at it. And she has one more season to watch him. He asks if she likes football, and she says she loves it. This season was the first time she followed PCU. Their quarterback is a phenomenon. He says, if she wants tickets, just say the word, and that goes for when he’s in the NFL. She says she’s always wanted to go to the Superbowl, and he says he likes the way she thinks. They laugh, when the doctor comes in. He asks if now is a good time to talk, and Kai says, perfect. Stella leaves, and Kai says, so what’s the good news?  

Brook says she feels like Lulu is just waiting for her to mess up and it’s stressful. Nothing kills creativity more than criticism. Lulu says she doesn’t sound critical all the time, but Maxie says, they both do it. Lulu says she doesn’t intend to be critical, and Maxie says, maybe it’s a habit, but it’s not fun to be around and she doesn’t like it. She loves them, but she’s just being honest. Deception has had a lot of ups and downs. Hiring her to work as Brook’s assistant when it’s obvious they don’t like each other seems like there would be complications.

Jack asks how things are with Michael, and Carly says, the doctors at the clinic say he’s doing fine, but they won’t let her see him. She understands that it’s cutting edge and intense. He needs to be isolated because he’s injured and in a lot of pain. But they’re in a foreign country and she has no control. He says, she can leave and go to Johns Hopkins where she’d be allowed to visit, but she says, Michael needs to be here. She’s hoping he comes out like Ava and won’t need surgery or skin grafts. She gets it. He needs to be here. Jack says, even if it means following their rules? and she says, it’s what Michael needs and what she wants. It’s the first offer of hope, and she wants that for Michael. More important, Michael wants that for himself.  

Curtis tells Drew that he wouldn’t betray Michael if he was completely healthy and down the hall in his office. He’s not going to do it while Michael is recovering. Drew says, he had no problem seizing the company Drew co-founded, but Curtis tells him not to rewrite history. Michael gave him the score about Drew double-crossing him. Drew asks why Curtis doesn’t see it from his perspective, and Curtis laughs. He says he’s not going to try and explain it to the man used to know. This Drew in front of him, he doesn’t recognize him. What the hell happened to him?  

Tracy asks if Willow was so dazzled by Drew’s faux hero persona that she had to have him at any cost or was she more conniving than Tracy gave her credit for. Was she trading up from Michael to Drew when he went to congress? Willow says, that’s not what she was doing, but Tracy says, either way, she’s proved untrustworthy. She thinks Willow is little more like Nelle than she realized.

Jack says he respects Carly’s decision to leave Michael where he is, and she says, it’s the right call. She’s been emotional since she got here. He says, if there was ever a time, this would be it, and she says she feels like it’s her fault. He says, she’s Michael’s mother and it’s normal to feel responsible, but she says, it’s more than that. Michael was burned because he was at Sonny’s, and it was her decision to bring Sonny into Michael’s life.

Stella sees Trina and says, what an unexpected treat, and Trina says she came to see Kai. How is he doing? Stella says, he’s in good spirits and getting ready for next season, and Trina says, he’s staying at PCU and she’s not sad about it. Stella says she doesn’t think Kai is sad either. He’s missing out on the draft, and she’s impressed with his attitude. It will get him through tough times. Trina says, Kai surprised her. She prides herself on not making snap judgements and she did with him. He wasn’t what she thought. Stella asks what she thought, and Trina says she thought he was a shallow arrogant jerk who only cared about football. Stella says she’s glad to know that. She’s really liked him ever since his terrible downward dog in yoga class. Trina being in his corner will do him a world of good.

Lulu says, the last thing she wants is to cause complications at Deception. She’s sorry she imposed on her and Maxie’s friendship. It won’t happen again. Brook says she knows they’ve all been through hell. Being in a coma for four years and having liver failure must be a complete nightmare. Maxie says, they wanted to do anything if it would help Lulu get better. They were all tested for compatibility, even Chase and Brook. Lulu says she didn’t know, and Brook says, there are a lot of things she doesn’t know. While all of that was happening, Maxie was running Deception and managing Lucy, which is a full-time job, and dealing with the lawsuit that almost took them down. Lulu asks who sued them, and Brook says, her grandmother. Lulu says, Tracy? and Brook says, the details don’t matter. Her point is, Deception survived in large part because of Maxie’s creativity and hard work. Lulu has no idea how much Deception means to Maxie.

Sidwell says he didn’t choose Port Charles randomly. He’s invested in property. Laura says, he’s an intelligent guy. He must know she’s going to keep a close eye on the man who hurt her son. Anna says she’d think he’d cut his losses and leave, but he says he prefers to prove that he’s a law-abiding citizen, and Laura and Anna laugh. He says he’s sure Anna and the PCPD will be checking up on him on a regular basis, and Anna says, he can count on it. And they’re not the only agency who will be keeping tabs on him. He says he welcomes all the attention and knows in time they’ll decide he’s an asset to this fair city this. He thanks Laura for the meeting, and she says, he may find it difficult to do business in a town where he’s not welcome. He says he looks forward to proving them wrong, and leaves.  

Drew tells Curtis that when he was given the opportunity to go to congress, he thought he’d have a chance to achieve something he didn’t believe possible. The more he was around politics, the more he wanted it. At the time, he and Willow’s relationship changed. Curtis says, Willow is his nephew’s wife, and Drew says he knows. It just happened. They weren’t trying to hurt Michael. Willow saw what he was trying to achieve, and they developed a connection. One she doesn’t have with Michael. Curtis says, whatever he has to tell himself to feel better, and Drew says he’s not the first person to be in this position. Not all marriages last forever. His didn’t and neither did Curtis’s.

Nina tells Tracy, enough. It’s not right for her to use Nelle’s name. Tracy says, Nelle cut a wide swath of damage and that one is the same. If she sees the opportunity, she’ll step in on the children’s behalf. Willow asks what she means, and Tracy says, act responsibly or she’ll lose them. Nina says, they belong with their mother, and Willow says she’s made a genuine effort to compromise. If that doesn’t work, she’ll take the kids back to her mother’s apartment and Tracy can explain to Monica and the rest of the family why they’re gone. Tracy says, fine. However, there’s one condition and it’s non-negotiable. Willow’s boyfriend may not visit on the property. If she’s compelled to look into Drew’s lying eyes, she’ll have to do someplace else. Drew is banned from the property permanently. She leaves.

Carly tells Jack that she and Michael’s biological father didn’t get along… except once. He laughs, and she says, his family, the Quartermaines, didn’t like her very much. She had feelings for Sonny at the time, and he helped her get custody of Michael. She got what she wanted and ignored the very real danger of making Michael a part of Sonny’s life. Their kids have been paying ever since. Jack says, she’s being too hard on herself. Michael is strong and capable and an excellent businessman. Carly says, he wouldn’t have been at Sonny’s except for her choices, and he says she can’t let herself think that way. Hindsight is always 20/20. There’s no point in dwelling on past mistakes. That way, madness lies.

Lulu says she would never do anything to hurt Maxie. Maxie is one of the most important people in her life and she loves her. Maxie says she knows and loves Lulu too, and Brook says she knows how much Lulu cares about Maxie, but she needs to realize what Maxie has been through and how far she’s come. Lulu says she knows things have changed and she’s got a lot to catch up on. She’s trying as fast as she can. She’s been focused on getting a job, so she can gain independence and search for Charlotte on her own terms, but she’s only been seeing things from her perspective. She didn’t take a second to look at it from Maxie’s. It’s not fair and she’s sorry.

Jack tells Carly that early in his career a mission went wrong and an agent, a friend, was killed. One colleague left the WSB and wallowed in guilt. It destroyed his marriage. Jack didn’t outwardly react, so people assumed he didn’t care. Carly says she’s sorry for what he went through, and he says he lost a good friend that day. He tears up and says, there’s nothing he could do to change that. The only way forward was to learn from what went wrong. You can’t life according to what if. You never know what a different decision would have brought. She says, you can’t change the past. She’s been down that road when she lost her son Morgan, and it leads nowhere good. He says, it never does.

Drew tells Curtis, what happened with Michael’s marriage and his injuries are two very different things. He didn’t cause Michael’s burns, and he didn’t help push Willow away. Curtis says, right, and only the doctors can help Michael’s physical injuries. Drew says he made a mistake in placating Michael because he felt guilty. He knows what’s best for Aurora, and if he’d stuck by Curtis, they’d be in a different place. Curtis says, Drew had to do what was best for himself. So does he. When Michael recovers – and he will – he’ll actually respect Michael’s business sense, maybe better than Drew’s. Drew says, wow, and Curtis says, if Drew’s ultimate success is in stealing Willow from his nephew, he’ll have got what he wanted and will find a way of life for himself.

Nina says she’s proud of Willow. Few people can say they stood up to Tracy Quartermaine. Willow says she couldn’t have done it without her mom by her side, and Nina says, it’s where she belongs. Willow says, Drew is right. The Quartermaines treated Michael terribly. She saw how they hate Drew. She should probably do what Drew said and move back in with Nina. (What is wrong with this woman?)

Lulu says she knows Maxie and Brook got close over the past four years and she guesses she felt threatened. She saw the opportunity to have Maxie on her side. Maxie says she doesn’t want side either one of them. They’re both her friends. She can’t force them to like each other, but she does reserve the right to love them both. Brook says she’s worked hard not to be the person she was. Part of her issue is that Lulu reminds her of her past regrets. Lulu says she’s not alone. They all have regrets. Tracy walks in saying, she’s had a bad day, so don’t… Lulu! What is she doing here?

Anna tells Laura, according to her search, Sidwell has no outstanding warrants, and the property transaction was legal. Laura says, what if Anna, Lucky, and Jason submitted an international complaint to the court? but Anna says, that’s no good. Sidwell was doing business in an area that’s completely lawless with zero authority to back them up. Laura says, what about Sasha’s kidnapping? Maybe she can tell them something they can use against Sidwell. Anna says, unfortunately, for various reasons, it wasn’t reported. There’s nothing on the books and nothing tying Sidwell to the property that blew up. Laura says, a man like Sidwell doesn’t change overnight, and Anna agrees. Laura asks what Anna is thinking, and Anna says, Sidwell’s arrival coincided with the fire in Sonny’s apartment. Laura asks if Anna thinks Sidwell was behind the fire, but Anna says she doesn’t know. It’s too soon to say. She’ll have the CID check the warehouse that blew up after Sasha’s abduction. If there’s a match, they might be able to pin it on Sidwell.

Drew tells Curtis that a freshman in congress is a good friend to have, but he has no reason to help the company succeed. Curtis says, he’d rather sink his own company that see it succeed without him, and Drew says, Curtis has one final chance to reconsider his offer. Curtis says his answer stands and opens the door. Now get the hell out. Drew leaves and Curtis slams the door.

Nina says she saw Willow stand up for herself in a way she hasn’t seen before. She compromised with Carly and Sonny because it was the right thing to do. She could tell Willow was more at ease. She has to continue to trust herself and her instincts. The Quartermaines and Monica appreciate the effort she’s put into the kids and Michael will appreciate it when he gets back. Willow says she hopes so. She doesn’t want to hurt Michael more than she already has. Nina says, the effort she’s making is a huge step toward an amicable resolution for them both in the future. Willow wonders if she should stay here. She’s going to miss Nina. Nina says, not a chance. She’ll be here all the time. Willow says, good, and they hug.

Maxie says, Lulu was thinking about applying for the assistant position, and Tracy says, she’s hired. Lulu says, they were just talking and she’s not sure she’s a good fit, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) she is. Lucy says the company is run on beauty and creativity, and Lulu has a boatload of both. Lulu says she thinks she’ll go see if Carly will hire her at the MetroCourt, but Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s the majority shareholder and the final decision is hers. She wants Lulu here. Lulu says, that’s nice of her and thanks, but she’s good. Tracy says she’ll pay Lulu double what the last assistant made, and both Maxie and Brook say, what?! Tracy says, Lulu is worth twice what Gladys Corbin was, and Brook says, Wade was her last assistant. Tracy says, Lulu is worth double what Wade was making. What does she say. Lulu says, it’s a great environment and it would give her a chance to work with people she respects and loves. She guesses she has to accept it. Tracy says, woohoo! Welcome to Deception. The phone rings and Tracy asks what Lulu is waiting for. Lulu answers the phone. Maxie Jones’ office…  

Trina goes into Kai’s room and says her Aunt Stella told her that he was impatient for rehabilitation. She brought him some power bars and electrolyte water. He thanks her, but his tone is flat, and she says she knows it’s silly. He probably has tons. He says, it’s not that, and she asks if something is wrong. He says he saw the orthopedist and he’s never going to play football again.  

At Turning Woods, Josslyn tells the reception nurse that she has a light load this semester and was looking to do something more meaningful with her time. She was hoping there were extra slots for volunteers. The nurse checks and says, there’s one slot not covered. It’s all hers if she wants it. Josslyn says, absolutely. Sign her up.

Jack asks if Carly wants him to find out why she’s being denied access to Michael, but she says she can handle it herself. He says he’s disappointed that she doesn’t need him, but not surprised, and she says she’ll get in to see her son whether they like it or not. He says he doesn’t doubt it for a second, and she says, but she would like a ride. He says, done. Consider him her chauffeur.

(Mrs. Jack Brennan… 💘)

On Monday, Laura says, Lulu might be headed for trouble; Drew tells Martin that they have another thing coming if they think he’s not seeing Willow; Kristina asks if Sonny thinks it’s really the best time for him to be traveling right now; and Jason needs Anna to do something more for someone now.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Good news! And a reminder that mental illness and addiction don’t discriminate.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/vinessa-antoine-shares-her-brothers-been-found

She must get tired of fielding this question.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/is-carly-leaving-general-hospital-laura-wright-speaks-out

So did he take the subway? Nothing says NYC like that smell.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burtons-weekend-to-remember-in-nyc

Too bad they didn’t get much of a final scene.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-katelyn-macmullen-says-goodbye-to-chad-duell

This is a better tour than you get from the adults.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-backstage-at-general-hospital-with-gary-james-fuller

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Gary acted like someone held a gun to his head to drink so much, when Captain Glenn was being nice. The punishment was forfeiting 500 euros of the tip, which was $23K, so they still got $2055. Gary apologized, and he and the captain hugged it out. The charter was 8 women, all with a different food restrictions, which made Cloyce’s head explode. Next time, the finale.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Boz told Dorit that she thought there were more than memes between PK and Kyle, but Erika told her that it was nothing. When cornered into sharing her text with PK with the group, Kyle read it and then stormed out saying, I’m done! Memegate lives on.

Yeah, I never thought for a moment LVP was coming back to RHOBH. She’s a busy woman what with all her restaurants, a hotel, and single-handedly ridding the world of the dog meat trade.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ubah is a real disappointment, suggesting Brynn slept her way into the Housewives. That in itself is an insult. If I was going to sleep my way into something, it would not be this show. This is where the big kerfuffle happened. The women were all upset, since Ubah saying such a thing was beyond insensitive given Brynn’s history. Then Ubah got super upset and claimed she never knew Brynn’s history, or she never would have said it. The fourth wall was broken all over the place – although I did question whether or not that was some kind of ratings Hail Mary pass – and Brynn suddenly wasn’t sure if Ubah actually knew her history. It literally took me the rest of the show to follow this, so don’t feel bad if you’re lost. Apparently, this was some kind of friendship breaking point, but TBH, I didn’t think it was all as big of a deal as they were making it, especially since the only two people involved should have been Ubah and Brynn.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was the Reunion and literally ten minutes in, everybody was talking over each other and Andy was yelling. However, kudos to the women for their gorgeous outfits – the ladies in shades of red. Whitney said Bronwyn didn’t claim her publicly as a friend, which I thought was really weird. Do we need to confirm friendships on Instagram now? A viewer suggested Heather had become a mean girl when she lost weight, but I don’t think that’s quite it. Heather was always a mean girl (to which she concurred), but IMO, she lost her authenticity along with the weight and becoming a Housewives clone, like Jen in RHONJ. It ended with Todd and John looking like they might get into a battle royale.

Southern Charm

Whitney said the coffeemaker was so complicated, you needed a Ph.D. in astrophysics to run it. Highly doubtful. You probably just need to not have a hangover. It was much of the same, the usual if you’re friends with them, you can’t be friends with me. Austen was sour grapes over Craig wanting to move on from their friendship and podcast, but hey, sometimes it just isn’t forever. I have plenty of friends I’m no longer friends with for various reasons, but that just means we went in different directions. It’s not an insult. I think if Paige had really wanted to make it work with Craig, she could have been bi-state or however you put it. But again, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Shep wanted to be Jimmy Buffet without the guitar, living in the Bahamas with Sienna, and in his interview, he said, you don’t have those fantasies if you’re not serious about it. I dunno about that. Molly is the MVP so far, playing the euphonium – i.e. tuba – in the Charleston Concert Band, coincidentally directed by her high school band teacher. Imagine. An actual interesting person with an interesting focus. Or even any real focus. She said, music changes you, as all art should. She also thought tantric sex was too much work. Same. JT tried to tell Taylor some truths about Gaston, but she wasn’t having it. I get covering her ears and going, la-la-la, but I’d want to know. JT wasn’t understanding that there’s a time and place and that wasn’t it.

Southern Hospitality

Emmy had another breakdown and I’m over it. Although she did bring Tammy Faye raccoon eyes, which I applaud.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Peacock. This is an interesting foray into what goes on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show that’s been on since the beginning of time. Or at least the mid-70s. A four-part miniseries, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s interesting to see how a show with that kind of longevity works. Personally, I think I’ll enjoy Saturday Night – which I’m hoping to catch this weekend – more, but this still held my interest. I’m there for a documentary, and the third episode focusing only on the More Cowbell sketch is well worth it.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-secrets-cast-writers-cowbell-1236110501/

https://www.thewrap.com/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-ep-morgan-neville-interview-peacock/

Wicked at the movies. Yes, I actually ventured out in the world to see it, since I’d won a ticket in some instant win internet contest. There was no way I was battling children for a seat, so I skipped the first weekends after it opened. Then I got whatever was going around as a Christmas gift, but I managed to squeak in before it was gone entirely. I’m glad I did, since this really should be seen on a big screen. As I’m sure you already know, it’s magnificent. I’d never seen the Broadway play and the score isn’t my favorite, but the story is bittersweet, the casting is perfection, and it’s beyond lavish with the special effects. One of my favorite parts was the reunion of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, and I wondered how it felt after all those years. My only question was, in a world where there are bears who are nannies, a goat who’s a professor, Munchkins, peacocks who wear hats, flying monkeys, and a place literally called Emerald City, why is a green woman considered strange?

https://collider.com/wicked-oscar-nominations-best-original-score-john-powell/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/cynthia-erivo-best-actress-wicked-oscar-nomination-interview-1236266022/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/ariana-grande-best-supporting-actress-oscars-interview-1236265006/

🏆 Awards Corner…

It’s that time again. The Academy Awards will be airing March 2nd.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/2025-oscar-nominations-see-full-130201914.html

🦁 Four-Legged News…

🦛 Yet another pygmy hippo influencer.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-pygmy-hippo-poppy-livestream-8773741

🐩 I never thought about this. It’s kind of weird.

https://www.cuteness.com/1737908/dog-breeds-dont-exist-why/

🐶 Best Bowl in town.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-2025-record-breaking-142-puppies-8772392

🐕 I love a special needs pup.

https://people.com/11-puppies-with-special-needs-puppy-bowl-2025-8772912

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. – Jimmy Carter

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

When someone tells me no, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them. – Karen E. Quinones Miller

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison

He has all the integrity of a coat rack. – Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), General Hospital

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. – Michael John Bobak

It is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness. – William L. Watkinson

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. – Thomas Berger

Don’t be a Gino. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort

🐻 Hibernation Mode…

Until next week, stay safe; stay driving extra carefully in weather you’re unfamiliar with; and stay not waiting for later, since sometimes later is taken away.

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.

January 3, 2025 – Sonny Makes a Request Of Jason, Soap Suds, Southern Talk, NJ Tirade, Hard To Do, Finished Watch, Coming Up, Holiday Hangover, Star Celebrations, Times Square, Piffle Clone, Ha-Ha, A Half-Dozen Quotes & Feeling

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

On Thursday:

Isaiah told Sonny that he has to see a cardiologist.

In Prague, the sniper shot through the café window, missing Valentin. Valentin grabbed Charlotte and took off, but when Lulu and Dante followed, all they found was Charlotte’s air tag in a nearby planter.

Michael told Sasha that he thought he and Willow were headed for divorce, and Sasha told Michael that she was pregnant, but she didn’t want him involved. Michael reluctantly agreed.

Drew talked Willow into coming to DC with him for his swearing in ceremony.

Alexis told Ava that the Cassadine money had really belonged to Spencer and now belonged to Ace.

Anna went to Jack’s hotel room, and he still insisted he had no information on Valentin. He got a call from Collette about Valentin escaping, and when he hung up, Anna tased him because she wanted his full attention. She told him that she knew he’d met Emma, and that Emma was off limits.

Moving on to Friday…

Prague, Czech Republic. Dante brings Lulu to her hotel room, and she tells him that he doesn’t have to stay. He escorted her back and she’s fine. He can go to his room. He says, so she can hit the streets as soon as he takes off? and she says she could promise that, but she’s not going to lie to him. He asks if she’s going to go to the town square and yell Charlotte’s name when she and Valentin are long gone. She says, thanks to him.

In a car parked somewhere, Charlotte asks if Valentin is sure he’s okay. He says he’s fine. How is she? She says she’s sorry. It’s all her fault.

Sasha comes into Michael’s office and says, she can go if he has something more important going on, but he says, nothing is more important, and asks her to have a seat. She sits, and he says he respects her decision to raise the baby alone, but he has to ask her to do something for him. Stay in Port Charles.

Nina goes to Curtis’s office and says she assumes he hasn’t spoken to Drew. He says, no and he doesn’t expect to. Nina says, he’s in Washington DC with her daughter.

At the penthouse, Isaiah advises Sonny to see Dr. Pasternak. His reputation as a cardiologist is excellent. Isaiah is still new to GH, but his referral should get Sonny in. Dr. Pasternak is usually booked up. Sonny says he’ll get checked out. Just so Isaiah knows, whoever he talks to needs to be discreet. Isaiah says, Sonny’s number one priority should be getting his heart looked at as soon as possible, when Jason comes in and says, good to see Isaish again.  

Lulu tells Dante that she promised to come alone. She kept her promise, but now she’s worried Charlotte thinks she’s a liar. Valentin certainly does. God only knows what he’s telling her. Charlotte hasn’t seen her in four years, and she’s been under the sole influence of her father. It was her one opportunity to regain Charlotte’s trust and Dante blew it to hell. Dante says he was trying to look out for her, and she says, did she ask him to? How did he find her anyway? He says he knows people, and she says, great. Just great. What gives him the right? She’s not lying helpless in a hospital bed. She doesn’t need a minder and he’s not her husband, but Charlotte is her daughter, and she’ll find Charlotte any way she damn well pleases.

Valentin says, none of this is Charlotte’s fault, but Charlotte says, he told her not to contact anyone back home. She texted Rocco and talked to her mom. She told her mom where they were. She did everything Valentin told her not to. Valentin says, her mother is awake after four years and Charlotte wanted to see her. It’s nobody’s fault. Charlotte says she was being stupid. When they were in the Christmas market, she saw families and thought it would be okay to text Merry Christmas to Rocco. Valentin says, she’s a fugitive because of the choices he made. She has to follow the rules to be safe on the run. She says she broke the rules, and he almost got killed. He says, she broke the rules because they’re not fair to her. What he’s asking her to do isn’t fair.  

Sasha tells Michael that part of her wants to stay. Even before she got pregnant, when she was pretending to be Nina’s daughter, she loved the fantasy of having a family. Now she has a family of her own and she’s starting to know them. She’d like the baby to know them too. He asks, what’s the problem? and she says, secrets have a way of coming out, so it’s best if she leaves Port Charles. She gets up, and he asks if it isn’t most important that the baby have a safe, stable life. It would be helpful to have family nearby, including himself. What about a medical crisis? Isn’t it better to have a support system in place? He won’t fight her on her decision. He’s just asking and he’s hoping she decides to stay.

Curtis says, Drew took Willow to his congressional swearing in? and Nina says, what could be more appropriate than Drew putting his hand on a Bible as Willow stares at him with stars in her eyes? Did she forget to mention that Willow brought Wiley? Drew couldn’t be more clear about his intentions. Curtis says, damn. What does Michael think? She says she doubts he knows yet, and Curtis says, she’s probably right. It’s a bold move to take Michael’s wife and son to his swearing in. He knows good and well that it’s a high-profile event and there will be press coverage. She says, what does he care if he blows up Willow’s life even more? She knows Curtis is the new CEO and understands he has more important things to worry about than Drew’s bad behavior. He says, Nina is still his friend. It’s not rocket science to know why she’s upset. Nina says, Drew will destroy Willow’s life. Willow doesn’t see what’s happening and Drew doesn’t care about the consequences. He’s not doing anything to protect Willow or her family. Curtis says, she’s not wrong. Drew will do what’s best for Drew. But they both know that’s not the only reason Nina is so upset.

Isaiah says he’s leaving, and Sonny thanks him for stopping by. He walks Isaiah to the door, and Isaiah leaves. Sonny says, Jason isn’t asking what’s wrong, and Jason says he figures Sonny will tell him if he wants him to know. Sonny says, something is wrong with his heart. He had an incident where his heart was racing and it didn’t slow down, but it passed. He had a twinge when he was with Kristina, but it passed, so he went to the gym and worked out. It felt like his chest was tightening like he never felt before and fell to his knees. He was trying to get his phone, when Dr. Gannon showed up. Jason says, good thing he was there. Sonny hasn’t gone to the hospital yet? Sonny says, no, and Jason says he can arrange for Sonny to go to a private out of state hospital, but Sonny says he thinks they’re overreacting. Isaiah gave him a prescription. Jason says, he can’t mess around with his heart. Isaiah isn’t a cardiologist. He needs to see a specialist. Sonny says he’ll see one eventually. This was a wake-up call, and he has to change how he runs the business.

Curtis says, Nina played a key role in Drew getting elected. Is any part of her pissed that it’s not her standing there? Nina says she wants no part of DC. Drew thinks he can do whatever he wants with whomever wants. She thought there was more to him than that. Curtis says, as did he. He considered Drew a good friend for a long time. He risked his life for Drew and now he’s had to reframe his perspective. Nina wonders what happened. Is Drew so slick he fooled them both or did he change? Curtis says, he definitely changed. He doesn’t know if it was prison or Drew becoming a politician. They can analyze it all night, but Drew is who he is now. The same man who’s willing to sleep with his nephew’s wife and throw him under the bus at Aurora. Nina says she’s sorry. Drew let them all down. Curtis says, he certainly did. Drew isn’t the man they thought he was and he’s going to deal with Drew the way he is now. He strongly suggests she do the same.

Sasha asks if Michael has thought about what happens with him and Willow if she stays. What if they decide to save their marriage? Michael tells her not to let him impact her decision. Let him worry about that. She says, and the Quartermaines. She’s already dreading telling them. They’ll all assume Cody is the father, and when she convinces them that he’s not, they’re going to wonder who is. What does she do? Lie and say it was some random guy she met in a bar? Tracy will love that. He says, it’s no one’s business. They’ll have to respect her privacy. She asks when the Quartermaines have respected privacy. She doesn’t know if she can keep working there and she can’t keep living there. He says, no problem. He can take care of that.

Valentin says, Charlotte admitted she contacted her mother. She trusted him with the truth. She says, because she loves him. She doesn’t want them to keep secrets from each other. He says, when she told him, he should have moved them to a new place, taken them underground. She asks why he didn’t, and he says he wanted this for her. They’ve been praying for this for years and he wanted her to see her mother. It’s his mistake believing Lulu would come alone. She asks if he thinks Lulu is responsible for this nightmare.

Dante asks if Lulu is hearing herself. She came to Prague to meet Charlotte and convince her to go home. Did she think Charlotte was going be ready with her passport? She says she doesn’t think Valentin would let Charlotte go around without proof of identification. She’s sure Charlotte had it with her. He asks if she was sure Valentin wasn’t watching them, but she says, it doesn’t matter. She was this close to Valentin letting Charlotte go with her. He asks what she’s basing that on, and she says, Valentin knew Charlotte was going to see her. Charlotte told him and he gave her permission. Dante says, because he wanted to look like the good guy, and Lulu would look like the bad guy trying to tear Charlotte away. He was manipulating them. Lulu says she was getting through to Valentin. He could see that her taking Charlotte home instead of her having a life on the run was the right thing to do. Dante says, Valentin was playing her.

Michael says, if Sasha doesn’t have the finances, he does, but she says, that’s a firm no. She intends to raise the baby on her own and she’s not asking him for a check. He says, she’s not asking; he’s offering. Before she says, no… She says she did, and he asks if she’ll reconsider. If she has money, it will mean a better life for the baby. She says she can and will raise the baby independently. She promises the baby will have a happy, healthy home and she’ll provide everything he or she needs. They’ll want for nothing, especially love. He says he believes her and in her, but if she finds herself needing anything, promise she’ll reach out. She thanks him and says she knows he means it. She’ll stay in Port Charles. He thanks her, and she says he makes some excellent points. He says, she’s a good negotiator, and she says she had inside information that she already knew the baby’s father is a great guy. He thanks her and she says if she had to get accidently pregnant, she’s glad it’s with him. He says, him too, and thanks her for staying.  

Nina says she sees who Drew is, but Willow doesn’t. She’s spellbound and doesn’t realize he’s responsible for blowing up her life. She’s falling for his act, his noble façade and longing looks, pretending he’s pining away for her. Please. If she only knew everything. He says, Nina could clear things up for Willow. There’s crucial information missing, but he’s sure Nina could provide something to make her see Drew more clearly.

Sonny says, there’s nothing like lying on the floor, helpless, thinking, what happens to his children if he dies? He thought it could be Nixon Falls all over again. Jason says, everyone thought Sonny was dead. He and Carly had to step up and take care of the business. Sonny says, Carly almost went to prison, and Jason says, it’s over. They managed. Right now, business should take a backseat, and Sonny should focus on his treatment. Sonny says he knows Jason can run the business short term, but he’s talking long term. They have to think about what’s coming.

Lulu says she doesn’t need to trust Valentin, and Dante asks if she thought Valentin would let her take off with Charlotte. The same guy who’s been fighting to keep Charlotte to himself for her whole life. She says, Valentin has changed, but Dante says, he hasn’t. She says, Dante didn’t hear him and didn’t see his face. He was a heartbeat away from letting her leave with Charlotte. He says, it’s lucky Charlotte didn’t watch her father die, and she says, the sniper followed Dante. Dante says, she doesn’t really believe that, does she? She was the one tearing through Europe, telling anyone who would listen that she was going after Valentin Cassadine. And she doesn’t think she was on anybody’s radar? The sniper hit five minutes after he got there. Does she think that was enough time for them to trail him, get in position, and take a shot? He’s sorry, but the sniper was following her.

Valentin says he doesn’t think Charlotte’s mother tried to kill him, and Charlotte asks if he’s sure. He says he thinks she’d enlist Dante’s help to get Charlotte back, but doesn’t think she’s responsible for the attempt on his life. He thinks she was followed. Charlotte asks how he knows, and he says, because it would hurt Charlotte, and that’s something Lulu would never do. But there are people who want to see her harmed. That’s why they have to keep running, to stay alive, but she doesn’t have to stay with him.

Sasha goes to the hospital and asks for an appointment with Dr. Navarro. The nurse at the reception desk asks if she’s been a patient, and Sasha says she was. Sasha Corbin. The nurse brings up her chart and says she can make an appointment, but needs to advise Sasha that there have been changes in the prenatal program since she was last here. The patient advocate can update her. Felicia comes by, and the nurse calls to her. Felicia asks if she can help Sasha, and Sasha says, yeah. She thinks Felicia can.

Nina asks how Curtis knows she and Drew were sleeping together. Did Drew tell him? He says, no. She just did. She told him that there could be more between her and Drew, and they’ve been spending more time together. It’s not a far jump. She says, they’re consenting adults and she has nothing to be ashamed of, but he tells her that he’s not saying she did. He’s saying the situation is layered. Drew bridged the gap between her and Willow. She asks if he’s saying she should be grateful that Drew brought them together and ignore that Drew blew up Willow’s married life. Does he think she’s an opportunist? Curtis says he’s not judging, but wants her to be realistic about herself and her daughter. She says, Willow wouldn’t be living with her if Drew hadn’t put it in motion. She thinks Willow is better off without Michael, but should absolutely not be with Drew. But she can’t make Willow see that. Curtis says he knows one way. Tell Willow the truth.

Lulu says, if Dante is convinced the sniper followed her, that means Valentin is being hunted with guns. Charlotte is in danger, and she has to save her. She heads for the door, but Dante stops her. She asks, what should she do, give up? Let Charlotte stay and hope they keep ahead of whoever wants Valentin dead? He says, no. He’s not telling her to give up. He’s saying, let the professionals handle it. She just got her life back and has a son who loves and misses her. She should be grateful for that right now. She says she is grateful. She loves Rocco, but she’s also Charlotte’s mother. Rocco is safe in Port Charles. She can’t stop until Charlotte is home and safe with him.  

Sonny tells Jason that he was five minutes away from going to prison. Jagger was threatening Kristina, and he was ready to confess to the whole shebang. Jason says, he didn’t, and Cates is no longer a problem. Sonny says, there are other problems. Who brought the gun to the PCPD that cleared Alexis of Cates’s murder? Who found his gun and turned it in and why? Jason says, it was too convenient, and Sonny says he just wants to know his children are taken care of. He gave Charlie’s to Kristina. Jason says he heard, and Sonny says, Alexis is worried that it will put Kristina in the spotlight, and it will be audited. Jason says, that’s going to happen. The coffee business gets audited all the time and they pass. And there’s no way Sonny would use his kids. Sonny says, the Feds don’t know that. He’s tired of being a burden to his kids. Jason says he doesn’t think Sonny’s kids think that. They love him and need him. Sonny says he knows. He thinks it’s time to take a step back and hand the business to Jason.  

Jason says, Sonny wants to hand the business to him? and Sonny says, there’s nobody else he trusts to maintain it. Jason has always been in his corner, and he could count on him. He appreciates that. Jason says he’ll always be loyal to Sonny and can be Sonny’s second. He can step up anytime and run the business on a short-term basis, but he’s sorry. He can’t take over the organization.

Felicia says, anything Sasha wants to discuss is protected by HIPPA, and Sasha says she appreciates that. She wants Felicia to know what’s going on. She’s pregnant. She adds quickly, Cody’s not the father, and Felicia says, good to know. How does she feel? Sasha says, nervous… excited. She’s moving forward with the pregnancy. Felicia asks if Sasha minds if she takes a few notes. She assumes Sasha is here because she wants to register for prenatal care. Will the father be involved? Sasha says she’s doing it all on her own, and Felicia says, okay. That’s perfectly fine. They usually access the father’s medical records, but that’s not always possible. The priority is to make sure Sasha feels cared for and she and her baby are supported.

Nina tells Curtis that she can’t just say she forgot to mention she and Drew are sleeping together, but Curtis says he’s sure she’ll find a tactful way. She says, no amount of tact will help her tell Willow that she and Drew are sleeping together while Willow follows him with stars in her eyes. What kills her is that she was so grateful to Drew for bringing her and Willow together, she didn’t see that Drew did it to make himself look good. Now he’s brazenly pursuing Willow and parading her around town, and there’s nothing she can do to stop it. Michael walks in and says, stop what? Nina says she’s not sure if Michael heard, but Willow brought Wiley to Drew’s swearing in ceremony. Willow thought it would be nice for Wiley to see the monuments and see how the political system works. Amelia is with the nanny and Nina is going home soon. Michael says, that’s fine. He wants to talk to Curtis about the projections and the Tokyo project when he has a minute. (I want to know what the Tokyo project is. They’ve talked about it enough.) Curtis says, sure, and Michael leaves. Nina says, that’s strange. He didn’t react at all to the news about Drew and Willow. Curtis says, that should concern her.

Lulu says, Dante is making this about her choosing between her children, but he says, not really. Charlotte chose Valentin, while for the last four years, Rocco has been by Lulu’s bedside willing her to wake up. When she did, she traveled halfway around the world to another continent. She says, to find Rocco’s sister and bring her home. Is he telling her that he wouldn’t do the exact same thing? He says he would, but not like this. Valentin is flying under the radar, but if she keeps chasing him, she’s going to bring attention to him, and it could cause Charlotte to get shot. She says, Charlotte was already shot, and it was kept from her. Valentin told her about Anna shooting Charlotte. Dante says, it was a horrible accident. Right now, it’s her choice to protect Charlotte and not bring her harm. She asks if he thinks she’d knowingly bring harm to Charlotte, and he says he doesn’t. He feels like she’s not hearing him. She traveled here with a sniper trailing her. She could have died. That’s what life is like in Valentin’s world. She says, all the more reason to get her daughter away, and he asks if she’s willing to risk her life. Her son lost her once. He’s not going to let Rocco lose her again.  

Valentin says he watched Charlotte with her mother. They both looked so happy. Charlotte says, it was weird at first, forced. It’s been so long since she’s seen Lulu awake. After they got going, it was great. They talked about Rocco, grandma, and the rest of the family. That’s what she thinks she misses the most, talking and spending time together. He says, she deserves moments like that. She doesn’t have to stay with him. She can go home to her mother.

Felicia says she’ll make sure Sasha gets an appointment with Dr. Navarro as soon as possible, and Sasha thanks her. Felicia says, no pressure, but Sasha should consider telling her parents. Robert is an excellent grandfather. Sasha says she’s not sure how her mother feels about being a grandmother, and Felicia says, Holly might surprise her. Sasha says she’ll think about it. They’ve got a lot on their plate. Maxie knows. She was the first person Sasha told. Felicia says she’s glad Sasha had someone to talk to. She knows Sasha said she wants to do this on her own,  but she has a family who loves her and they’re more than happy to support her. Speaking of which, she needs an emergency contact. Who should she put down? Sasha wonders if Maxie would do it, and Felicia says she’s sure Maxie would, but can’t speak for her. She’ll put herself down for now. Sasha says she likes that.  

Curtis tells Nina that his Aunt Stella says, still waters run deep. That’s Michael. Drew made a big mistake in making Michael the enemy. Nina says, Willow could be collateral damage if she stays close to Drew, and Curtis says, exactly. He knows Nina loves her daughter and she’s worried if she tells Willow the truth about her and Drew that she’ll lose her, but his advice is to come clean now. Secrets are ticking time bombs. The longer she lets it play out, the bigger the explosion will be.  

In his office, Michael looks at his phone. He sees a photo of Willow and Drew in The Invader. He calls Diane and says, Willow went to Washington DC with Drew and took Wiley without his permission. Can they use that?

Jason says, Sam’s death changed everything. Danny had a stable home with her and Dante. That’s not the case anymore. Sonny says, Jason is his only parent, and Jason says, Danny lost his mom and he’s putting Danny first. He deserves that and more, but on a practical level, that leaves Sonny without anyone to handle the organization. Sonny says, there’s nobody responsible enough for him to do that.

Valentin says he’ll put Charlotte on a flight back to Port Charles, but she can’t contact him. She says, if she’s with her mom, she’ll never see him, but if she’s with him, she’ll never see mom? He says, that appears to be the choice. He’s sorry. They both love her, but they have different situations. She says, her mom has Rocco, Dante, grandma, and so many others who love her. They only have each other. That’s how it’s been from the start. She wants to stay with him. He asks if she’s sure, and she says she is. He hugs her, and she says she can’t leave him. He says, okay then, and starts the car.

Lulu says she’s not going to agree to head back and let them handle it, and Dante says, that’s it? Nothing he said made a damn bit of difference. She says, it’s her life, and he says he gets that. It doesn’t matter who sacrificed theirs so she could have it. Sam died so she could have her life. She says, that’s not fair, and he says, she wants to talk fair? Sam is dead, his fiancé and the mother of two kids, the woman who helped him raise Rocco when Lulu couldn’t. She’s dead and Lulu is about to risk everything Sam saved. Her son is with her and she’s going to throw that away. She doesn’t care about any of it. Lulu says she’s grateful Sam died for her and she’s sorry about what he’s going through, but this is still her life. She makes her choices and she’s going to fight for her children. He says, anything she does will put Charlotte at risk or she can come home to the son who doesn’t matter so much to her anymore. He leaves, and Lulu throws a vase at the door and screams, dammit!

On Monday, Carly wonders if Willow has lost her mind; Willow is worried about Michael taking the kids from her; Portia tells Cyrus that he’s no longer welcome at the hospital; and Jack tells Collette that if Charlotte led them to Valentin once, she’ll do it again.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

He’s got some selfcare to do.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-reveals-why-he-left-general-hospital

This is a tease all right. He got headshots. So he has an audition?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-teases-his-new-project

Farewell to the first Carmine.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-alum-john-capodice-dead-at-83

How they celebrated.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-your-favorite-soap-stars-celebrated-new-years

🧵 Sew Charming…

This week’s recap. Patricia looks amazing for 108. Her age words, not mine. She also looks amazing for 83, her real age.

Here’s hoping Craig doesn’t regress. He’s kind of been the voice of reason since Paige came along.

👠 A Celebrity In Her Own Mind…

This woman is the worst.

😢 Sniff…

I’m sorry to hear this. They seemed like a great couple.

https://people.com/trixie-mattel-david-silver-break-up-after-8-years-dating-8679753

👀 Last Night’s Watch…

I finished this last night and now I’ve started on the book. It started slow, but once it picked up speed, I was all in, and it didn’t disappoint. I love an apocalypse.

https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/mgms-earth-abides-is-a-quietly-compelling-take-on-rebuilding-humanity-from-scratch.php

💻 What’s To Come…

What’s new for 2025.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/2025-new-tv-shows

🎅 Christmas Leftovers…

Amazing winter photos.

https://www.discovery.com/nature/get-in-the-holiday-spirit-in-this-winter-waterland-pictures

Christmas traditions all over the world.

https://www.discovery.com/exploration/6-global-christmas-traditions-pictures

Visit Santa’s hometown.

https://www.discovery.com/exploration/visit-santa-s-hometown-in-finnish-lapland

🎉 How They Rang It In…

How the stars celebrated New Year’s Eve.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20250102_b4a16a250c4a49fd99dc3fbe49873fb6/

https://people.com/best-photos-stars-celebrating-new-year-2025-8767787

🗽 Having a Ball…

Waiting for the drop.

What happens in Times Square stays in The Post.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/31/world-news/new-years-2025-live-updates-photos-from-nyc-around-the-world/

🐶 Piffles All Over Again…

While it might not exactly be the same dog, it’s still amazing.

https://ew.com/queer-eye-dog-mr-piffles-cloned-by-magician-owner-piff-the-magic-dragon-8767593

My Cuddle Clone of Ralph

🃏 A Joke…

What does a polar bear eat after the dentist fixes his tooth?

The dentist.

🔊 Quotes of the Week

A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure. – Bernard Iddings Bell

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

Those aren’t glasses. They’re aquariums with stems. – Molly (Melissa McCarthy), Mike & Molly

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. – Richard Bach

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around. – Unknown

Understudies are the substitute teachers of the theatre world. – Kramer (Michael Richards), Seinfeld

📆 Turning the Page…

Join me next Friday for soap and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay leaving the problems of 2024 behind; and stay remembering that secrets are ticking time bombs. The longer you let them play out, the bigger the explosion will be.

November 26, 2024 – Lulu Comes Home, Exit Response, Two Coasts Of Housewives, Naughty Or Nice, Dogs Of Thanksgiving & Restaurant

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

First, my bad. Robert is the DA – duh – so the prosecutor here is the ADA.

Ric asks if Kristina needs a moment, but she says she’s fine. He asks why she’s lying. He can see she’s upset and he’s sorry for her loss. He has no further questions, but reserves the right to call her back to the stand. The judge asks Kristina to step down, and Ava asks Ric, what the hell is he doing? Dante walks in.

Elizabeth meets Lucky at Bobbie’s, and she asks if he’s not leaving town. He says, that depends on her. Lucas said she was in trouble, and he wants to help. She says, there’s nothing he can do, but he says, try him. She says, the results of Sam’s autopsy confirm there was no surgical error, and he says, that’s good news for Lucas. He’d never forgive himself. She says she’s happy for Lucas, but now that he’s in the clear, the inquiry is focused on her.

A car stops and Lulu says she could use a ride. A man says, hop on in, and she gets in the car. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she’s good and thanks him for stopping. We see it’s Cody, and I’m glad to see that Lulu puts on her seatbelt.

Sasha goes to see Maxie and says she needs to share something that’s a big deal. Maxie promises she doesn’t shock easily, and Sasha says she thinks she might be pregnant. Maxie says, she wasn’t expecting that, but tell her that Cody’s not the father. Sasha says, they never got that far, and Maxie asks her, who’s the dad?

Ric tells Ava, trust him, and Kristina sits down. Everyone tells Kristina what a great job she did, and Sonny says he doesn’t trust Ric. Alexis says, he shouldn’t, and Sonny wonders what the hell Ric is up to.

Maxie asks how this came about, and Sasha says, after she told Cody that they had to stop seeing each other and why, he didn’t take it well. He walked out and she was devastated. She wound up at the Brown Dog Bar drinking too much and sitting next to someone else who was having a bad night. It just happened. Maxie asks if it’s someone she has an interest in, but Sasha says, absolutely not. They were two people who were hurting and found comfort in each other. That’s it. Maxie says, unless she’s pregnant. Did she take a test? Sasha says she bought one, and Maxie asks if she feels pregnant. Sasha says she definitely feels off, but life has been stressful lately. This never crossed her mind. Maxie asks how it would make her feel if she was pregnant, and Sasha says, scared.

Lucky asks if they’re trying to pin Sam’s death on Elizabeth, and she says, of course (🍷) not, but they’re reviewing all the staff who interacted with or cared for Sam. She’s the head nurse, so she’s at the top of the list. Lucky asks if they said how Sam died, and she says, it was a massive dose of digitalis. It’s prescribed to heart patients and stabilizes the heart rate and blood flow. He asks if Sam needed it, but she says, no, and there was no mention of it on her chart. The current theory is that someone grabbed the wrong drug by accident, since morphine and digitalis are kept in the same locker. He wonders if it’s possible someone made that mistake, and she says, her nurses are among the best in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re human and make mistakes. He says he’s the last person to argue that.

Cody asks where Lulu is headed, and she asks where he’s going. He says he just picked up some horse feed in Beecher’s Corners and he’s heading home. She asks, where’s home? and he says, Port Charles. She says she lives in Port Charles, and he says, then it worked out good. Whereabouts does she live? She says, a few blocks south of Rice Plaza, and he asks if she’s hurt. Does she want to go to the hospital? She says, no. She’s just cold. He says, she has no coat, and she says she and her now ex-boyfriend got in a fight. He kicked her out of the car and she left her coat. He says, he left her by the side of the road? Jerk. She says, he always has been, and he asks if she’s sure she’s okay. She says she will be once she’s home, and he says, home makes everything better. Most of the time. Does she have a phone? She says, it’s with her coat, and he says she can use his, but she says, the only number she knows by heart is her own. She finds a lollipop wrapper and he says he forgot to tidy up. She asks if he has kids, but he says he likes them and keeps a stash in the car. If she wants one, help herself. She takes one and asks, what flavor is this? He says, watermelon. She got a good one. She says, hardly. Does he have any real flavors like cherry, grape, or orange? He says, boring, and she says, classic. He says he’ll take it if she doesn’t want it, and she puts it in her mouth. She says, it’s starting to grow on her.  

On the stand, Dante says, his partner received a report that there was an accident at the MetroCourt pool and there was an injured party. ADA Turner asks if he knew who it was, but he says, not at the time, but at the scene, he found out it was Kristina. She asks what their relationship is, and he says, Kristina is his half-sister; they share a father. She asks what he did then, and he says, questioned witnesses. One had seen someone at the window, so he investigated, knocking on the door. Ava answered, which didn’t surprise him since Trina had said she saw Ava standing in the window. The ADA asks if he and Ava were acquainted, and he says, she’s the mother of his half-sister Avery. She asks if he noticed anything unusual, and he says, she was acting suspiciously. Ric objects, saying, it’s speculation, but ADA Turner says, Dante is qualified to do so. The objection is sustained, but the judge tells the ADA to lay a foundation. ADA Turner asks for an example of how Ava was acting suspiciously, and Dante says, she changed her story. When he asked if she’d closed the curtain, she said she hadn’t. Then when he told her that a witness said she did, she admitted it.

Ric asks why Dante questioned Ava. Why not his partner? Dante says, his partner was busy questioning witnesses, and Ric asks if Dante’s father isn’t in a heated custody dispute with Ava. Is he supposed to believe it was a coincidence that Dante was the only one who could do it and that it might not be a conflict? The ADA objects, saying, it’s argumentative, and the judge says, sustained. Ric withdraws the question and asks why Dante took Ava to the PCPD. Dante says, to question her further, and Ric asks if he believes Ava is a good mother to his sister. ADA Turner asks how Dante would know, and Ric says he’s asking Dante’s opinion. The judge allows it, and Ric asks again. Dante says, no, and Ric says, if Ava is found guilty, won’t Dante’s father be granted full custody? The ADA objects, and it’s sustained. Ric says he has no further questions, and the judge instructs the jury to disregard the last question.

Elizabeth says, they all make mistakes – that’s life – but Lucky says, not all mistakes are created equal. She says, the hospital is examining every second Sam was there. If a mistake was made, they’ll find it. He asks if she’s worried, and she says, not for herself, but someone did give Sam digitalis. If it’s one of her nurses, they’ll lose their license. Lucky says he’ll ask around and see what he can turn up. Sam was his friend and saved Lulu’s life. It led to her death and now Elizabeth is involved. The sooner they have answers, the better. He’s solved a mystery or two. She says, he was a good detective back in the day, and he says, challenge accepted. He’s going to figure out what happened to Sam. There has to be a record of the drugs given to her. Elizabeth says, it’s logged into the patient’s chart, along with the initials of the person who administered them, and he asks, who was the last person? She says, it was her.

The ADA asks if there were any other misstatements, and Dante says, Ava told him that there was a pair of shoes on the floor causing Kristina to trip and fall. Later, she changed that to luggage. ADA Turner asks if there was a reason, and he says, she was trying to not disclose the identity of a male visitor. The ADA asks if that was more important than the truth, and Ric objects. Turner withdraws the question and brings out photos of Ava’s suite after Kristina’s fall. She says, the curtains were closed when Dante arrived. Why would Ava close them after the fall? Ric objects, and it’s sustained.

Lulu asks what day it is, and Cody says, Tuesday. She says she meant the date, and he says, the 26th of November. Is it her lucky day? She says her brother’s birthday is on the 27th and she was worried she missed it. He asks if she’s hoping her brother will keep her ex from hassling her, but she says, he would, but she doesn’t need him to. She can take care of herself. She’s tougher than she looks.

ADA Turner says, the people rest, and the judge gives a 10-minute recess.

Lucky asks if the chart showed morphine was administered, and Elizabeth says, yes. He says, so it wasn’t swapped out, and she says, that’s a point in her favor. She gave the correct medication at the correct time, and it was proven by Sam’s bloodwork. Lucky wonders if the wrong drug was given to the wrong patient, when his phone rings. It’s Mr. Furner from Turning Woods, who says, Lucky is listed as a contact for Lulu. He tried to reach out to Laura, but her assistant said she was dealing with city emergencies. Lucky asks if something happened to his sister, and Furner says, she’s missing.

Cody notices Lulu’s hospital bracelet, but says nothing as she pulls her sleeve down. She says, he told her that he picked up horse feed. Does he drive a carriage in the park? Cody asks what makes her think he doesn’t own horses, and she says, when he owns this car? He says, he uses it to pick up the feed, so he doesn’t get his Ferrari dirty. His imaginary Ferrari. He asks if she rides, and she says she used to. He asks, what kind? Western or English? She says, English, much to the dismay of her father and brother who road Wester. He says, the family rebel, and she says, something like that.

Sasha tells Maxie that when she lost Liam, she wasn’t sure she was going to get through it. Maxie says, give herself credit. She survived. Sasha says she had Brando. Now she’s all alone. Maxie asks if she’s talking to herself. She’s here for whatever Sasha needs. She also has Nina, Felicia, and Willow. They’re all big baby lovers. Her friends and family will be there to help. She knows it’s not the same. Sasha says she could be a single mother if it came to that, but what if what happened to Liam happens again?

In the hallway, TJ asks how Molly is holding up, and she says, okay. She’s glad he’s here. He says him too, and they hug.

Alexis tells Kristina to just keep doing what she’s doing. Don’t let Ric get to her. Kristina wonders why Ric didn’t ask her any questions, and Alexis says, he’s performing so it looks like waiting was an act of kindness. Next time, he’s not going to look like Saint Ric. Be ready for anything.

Ava asks if Ric is planning on defending her at any point or is he hoping the jury falls in love with his Mr. Rogers act. He says, the jury needs to think he’s compassionate in finding the truth. It was the prosecution’s show. Now it’s his turn. And when he’s done, the jury will believe that if anybody is to blame for the baby’s death, it’s Kristina.  

Ric recalls Kristina to the stand, and the judge reminds her that she’s under oath. Ric says, Kristina was surrogate for her half-sister Molly and TJ, and ADA Turner says, they’ve already established that, but Ric says, the line of questioning is to establish state of mind. The judge says she’ll allow it, but get where he’s going. Ric says, Kristina became pregnant so she could have a child for Molly and TJ, per their agreement. Kristina says, yes, and Ric says, then she decided to raise the baby on her own. Kristina says, it was her baby, and he says, also TJ’s baby. She says, yes, but the baby was part of her and she couldn’t give her up. Ric says, she was going around saying what a great thing she was doing and decided not to do it after all. Her word must not mean much.

Cody asks if Lulu is close to her family, and Lulu says, sometimes they lose track of each other, but they can count on each other for anything. He says, she’s lucky, and she says, what about him? He says his family is a recent acquisition, but they’re close. He finally has people he can depend on. She says, family is everything, and he says he’s learning that. She says she can’t wait to see her kids, and he asks if she’s been away. She says, kind of, but it hasn’t been that long, and he asks how many kids she has. She says, two, a boy and a girl. She loves them more than anything. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like forever. (The explosion happened earlier in November 2020, so apparently, she thinks it’s been a few days.)

Sasha says she can’t lose another child, and Maxie says, she’s getting ahead of herself. Life happens. They have to deal with it. James calls out, mom! and Maxie says, if you don’t, it just comes looking for you. James comes in and says he fell. She says, he was in bed, so she knows he was trying to get to the door without touching the floor. The floor is not lava. He says, it is and it’s super-hot. She says, he’ll never make it. His legs are not long enough. He says he was close, and she examines his arm and says, he needs a band-aid.

ADA Turner objects, and the judge says, sustained. She tells Ric that the ice beneath him is already thin. TJ asks Molly, what is Ric doing? and she says, his job. Ric says, when Kristina went to the hotel, how far along was she? and Kristina says, 38 weeks. Ric says, yet she initiated a confrontation, and the ADA objects, saying, it’s argumentative. The objection is sustained, and Ric asks if Kristina was invited to the hotel room. Kristina says, no, and he says, then she had a choice. Kristina says she wanted to talk to Ava about the subpoena. She warned Ava that if she was forced to testify, she would tell the court the horrible things Ava had done. Ric asks what Ava has done, and Kristina says, she killed Connie Falconari and tampered with her brother Morgan’s medication. She’s the reason Morgan is dead.

Maxie puts the band-aid on James, and he runs off. Sasha says, Maxie is telling her not to hide from reality. Let’s find out the truth then.

Ric asks that the record reflect Ava was not convicted. Despite Kristina still blaming Ava for her brother’s death, why is she accusing Ava of the baby’s death? Kristina says, Ava is guilty. Ava pushed her out the window. Ric asks if she hates Ava, and Kristina says, yes. He asks if that’s why she threatened Ava, and the ADA objects. Kristina says she didn’t threaten Ava, and Ric reads Kristina’s statement where she uses the words or else. She says she doesn’t remember saying that, and he says, so she has a faulty memory. She says she remembers Ava pushed her out the window, and he tells her that she said she didn’t remember. She says she was lying in a hospital bed. She almost died. Her baby did die.

Mr. Furner introduces himself as the Administrator of Turning Woods, and Lucky says he wants to see his sister’s room. Tell him how they managed to lose her. His sister is in a coma. She didn’t leave on her own initiative. Somebody moved her. Furner says, the staff is searching for her. After the fire alarm, things were hectic… It was a false alarm. Lucky asks which alarm it was, and Furner says, the one by the nurses’ station. Elizabeth says she’s not following. The fire alarm was false, and that’s when they realized Lulu was missing? Furner says, they do an inspection to make sure all the patients are accounted for, and Lulu wasn’t. Lucky says, walk him through everything that happened.

Cody says he can drive Lulu home, but she says she’s not giving her address to a stranger even though she’ll take a ride with one, even one as nice him. He says, hi. I’m Cody. Now they’re not strangers. This is the part where she tells him her name and says, nice to meet him. She says, thanks for the ride, and he says, before she goes… He takes some cash out of his wallet, but she says she doesn’t need money. He says, she doesn’t have a purse or wallet, and she asks how she’d pay him back. He writes down his address and says, or if she gets in a jam, give him a call, like if her ex shows up. He hands her a grape lollipop for the road, and she thanks him.

Ric says, Kristina is emotional, and Kristina says, sorry. She’s talking about the death of her child. Because Ava pushed her through a window and it killed her daughter, it makes her emotional. Ric asks if she lets her emotions get the better of her, and ADA Turner objects. The judge says, sustained, and Ric says, on October 17th, when Kristina accosted Ava and himself at the PC Grille, did she let her emotions get the better of her? The ADA objects, and it’s sustained. Ric asks if Kristina has a temper, and again, the ADA objects and it’s sustained. Ric says, on October 17th, when Kristina accosted Ava and himself at the PC Grill, does she remember threatening Ava? Kristina says she doesn’t remember what she said, and Ric says he’ll refresh her memory. He reads, you’re going to prison and I’m going to make sure of it. That’s when he’d told Kristina that it wasn’t up to her if Ava was exonerated. She said – and again he quotes – then I will find another way to make you pay. He has three sworn affidavits from diners and staff who overheard Kristina threaten Ava. Kristina says she never touched Ava, and Ric asks if she didn’t smash a glass. Kristina asks if he’s implying her baby’s death was her fault, and he says, by her own admission, she sought out Ava and demanded she withdraw the subpoena. She made threats and her actions led to the fall that caused her baby’s death. That makes her responsible. ADA Turner objects.

Lucky asks a nurse, when was the last time she saw Lulu? The nurse says, it was around seven when they asked Lulu’s visitor to leave so they could do a routine check. He asks who was visiting, and she says, Cyrus Renault. Elizabeth and Lucky look at each other.

Ric asks if Kristina’s anger got the better of her the same way it did when she accosted him and Ava at the PC Grill. How can she claim such deep maternal instincts and risk confronting someone she says is so dangerous? Let him rephrase that. Was she thinking about the baby she pretended to love when she accosted (WOTD) Ava? Kristina says she did love her baby. She still does. She would have never gone if she thought… He says, she didn’t think. She let her emotions get the better of her and accosted Ava. Kristina almost cries and says, no. The ADA says, objection. Badgering the witness. Ric says, that’s why she went through the window. That’s why her baby is dead. It’s not because of Ava. It’s because of her. ADA Turner says, this is outrageous, and the judge says, enough. Kristina says she didn’t kill her daughter.  

Maxie asks if Sasha has heard from her parents, and Sasha says, Maxie makes it sound normal. She hasn’t. Maxie asks if she’s worried, but Sasha says, of course (🍷) not. Her mom is in trouble, which is the standard, and Robert has experience in international intrigue. She thinks he enjoys saving her mother and her mother enjoys being saved. An alarm beeps, and Sasha looks at the pregnancy test. She says she’s pregnant.  

Lulu goes to her old house and tries the door. It’s locked and she looks underneath a rock, finding the spare key. She unlocks the door.

Tomorrow, Spinelli tells James that he has a way to solve this mystery; Molly tells TJ, if Kristina’s testimony gets Ava acquitted, she’ll never forgive herself; Sasha says she doesn’t know if she can do this; and Lucky says he’s calling the cops.

🫧 Vaya Con Dios…

Like what are they going to say? You stink? Glad you’re leaving?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-stars-respond-to-chad-duells-exit

🦃 No Turkey For You…

GH will be showing a rerun from last summer on Thanksgiving. Why they couldn’t come up with an old Thanksgiving episode is beyond me. They will also be given the day off on Friday when there’s football.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/find-out-if-your-favorite-soaps-are-airing-on-thanksgiving-2024

👠 Twice the Housewives In Half the Time…

💎 What happened in Beverly Hills. It looks like PK wants out of the marriage and Kyle needs to forget about Mauricio. Apparently, he replaced a picture of the two of them with one of him and his Dancing with the Stars partner in the home he and Kyle share(d). He’s that guy. He’s not the worst, but he’s never going to try to be the best. Forget him, Kyle.

🗽 What happened in New York City. A lot of this episode revolved around Erin having had an abortion when she was 18. She decided to talk about it in an interview with Glamour magazine and also told her father, before he could hear it from someone else. Much to her surprise, he was amazingly supportive. Having been raised by my father, I can vouch for the fact that dads can be very caring and compassionate.

🎅 You’d Better Watch Out…

Despite all the crappy reviews, I knew I’d love Red One and I did. From Santa’s fabulous leather coat to the talking polar bear to the magnificence of Krampus. The intricacies of the North Pole were fascinating, as was the revelation of how Santa gets it done every year. And who knew the sleigh pulling reindeer were female? When Santa called them ladies, at first, I thought he was being a hard-on, like a drill sergeant saying, you’re slouchin’, lady, to a recruit. Nope. It’s girl power pulling that sleigh. Not to mention, I love me some Duane Johnson and Chris Evans.

One of the reviews said the film had no substance. Seriously? If you want substance, watch The Whale. And it does have some life lessons, as well as a short trip to the cornfield with Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) and his son. The special effects are well-worth seeing on the big screen and the casting is spot-on. If I could roll this movie in a ball and carry it in my pocket, I’d take it out whenever I was feeling down. Plus, it was funny. Not a knee-slapper like Deadpool & Wolverine, but filled with chuckles throughout. There’s plenty of action, and Lucy Liu kicks ass just as well as she did back in her Kill Bill days. The cherry on this Christmas Yule Log is that the story is original and clever. And while the critics might have panned it, it doesn’t look like the audience cares. All of the showings were sold out and at the one I went to, the audience applauded at the end. So don’t let the Scrooges prevent you from this holiday gift.

The basics.

An actual good review.

The villains. I learned about Krampus when I was in school, but GH fans might remember Dr. Obrecht telling the story one holiday season years ago.

https://ew.com/red-one-villain-gryla-krampus-explained-8749285

A salute to the most non-Christmas Christmas movie ever.

https://screenrant.com/red-one-die-hard-vent-scene-tribute/

🐶 Going To the Dogs…

My dogs are just lucky that I’m too lazy busy to put much effort into this holiday.

🏡 No Place Like Home…

Set a spell tomorrow for some soap and a Thanksgiving sendoff. Until then, stay safe, stay giving thanks always, and stay never accosting a lawyer in a public place.

November 25, 2024 – Michael Records Drew’s Double-Cross, Bye-Bye-Bye, More Capable Deckhand Needed On Deck, Traveling & Song

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Michael is in the living room when Drew comes in. His phone rings, and Michael asks if he’s going to answer it. Drew says, it’s Curtis. He’ll call back. Michael asks if they’ve talked today, but Drew says, not yet, and thanks Michael for agreeing to meet with him. They have urgent matters to discuss.

At the boxing gym, Curtis leaves a message for Drew to give him a call as soon as he can. It’s important. He flashes back to Michael saying that Drew is going to double-cross him after Drew is squared away in DC.

As soon as the attending nurse is gone, Lulu sits up and rubs her legs. She puts her feet on the floor and leans on the bed while working her feet.

Sonny, Alexis, and Kristina stand outside the courtroom, and Alexis asks if Kristina is nervous. Sonny says, she’ll be great, and Kristina says she just wants it over so Ava can pay for the baby’s death. Alexis tells her to keep her composure, stay calm, and don’t let Ric rattle her. Molly and TJ arrive, and Molly says, Kristina’s got this.

Josslyn and Trina enter the courtroom, and Ava smiles at Trina. Trina sits down, and Gio comes in and sits with Josslyn on the opposite side. Everyone comes in from the hallway, and the bailiff says, all rise. Court is now in session. The judge tells them to be seated and announces that it’s The People of the State of New York versus Ava Jerome. Sonny stares at Ric.

Jordan walks into the gym and Curtis says he’s working out his frustrations. She asks if he wants to talk, and he says he could use a sounding board. She says, sound away, and he says he has reason to believe someone he trusts is keeping a secret from him. It involves someone important to her. She asks, who? and he says, Drew.

Drew says, Jason didn’t explain the reason behind attacking him, but it’s no surprise. He was wondering if Michael could shed light on the situation. Did Michael tell Jason that he and Willow kissed? Michael says he did, but he didn’t know Jason would come after Drew. Drew says he believes it. Violence is more Jason’s speed, Michael says, Jason is protective of him, and Drew says he hopes he and Michael are able to work it out, and not drag others into it. Michael says, usually he’d confide in Willow, but this time, he couldn’t, and Drew says, it’s his fault (agreed) and he’s sorry (debatable). He knows it’s hard, but if Michael wants to talk, he will. If they’re going to get past it – and he hopes they can – they need to have a truthful conversation, one that neither one of them are looking forward to. Michael says, about what? and Drew says. Willow.

Lulu exercises her feet and gingerly walks across the room. She catches herself on the sofa and sits. She hears Cyrus at the desk saying, Turning Woods was a good choice for Lulu’s short-term care, but he was able to find a better long-term care facility in South Carolina. Lulu’s mother is in sync with his plans. The doctor says he’ll need written permission from Lulu’s mother, and Cyrus says, of course (🍷). When Lulu is ready to be moved, he’ll have his sister sign off on it. The doctor lets Cyrus into Lulu’s room, where she’s back in bed, still pretending to be in a coma. Cyrus tells Lulu, he’s here now. Don’t worry. He’ll take care of her.

DA Turner says, here they have a tragedy so devastating, it’s hard to talk about. An innocent baby is dead, leaving the world before she had a chance to take her first breath. The loss was compounded because it didn’t need to happen. The baby’s death was not natural. She was murdered. When the jury is presented with the evidence, it will show how the defendant Ava Jerome violently attacked and shoved an 8 months pregnant Kristina Corinthos-Davis through a window with such force, it shattered the window, Kristina plunging three stories down into the pool, where she sustained severe injuries, losing the baby. We flash back to Kristina’s fall, and the DA says, imagine the depravity, taking into account this woman’s history of dangerous behavior and the callous disregard for others. Ava’s ties to violence and organized crime are well documented. The prosecution will provide evidence and by the time they rest, there will be no doubt about Ava Jerome’s guilt. They’re here to make sure justice is served, justice for Kristina and the one person who can’t be here, innocent little Baby Irene Davis-Ashford, who is precious and deeply missed.

Ric says, before the trial is over, he’ll prove that Ava Jerome is innocent of the crime she’s been wrongly accused of. He wants them to focus on the word the DA used – tragedy. It’s beyond dispute that a tragedy occurred. A baby died and everyone involved is deeply and profoundly affected by this tragedy. But no matter how terrible, a tragedy is not necessarily a crime. The prosecution talked about his client’s past, years ago. His client has made mistakes. She’s done things she deeply regrets. But this trial is not about a long time ago. It’s about what happened on the day in question, and if at the end, they believe Ava, with intent, pushed Kristina out a window. If they do, find her guilty, but he doesn’t believe they will, because he intends to prove Kristina Corinthos-Davis went to Ava’s hotel room in anger with ill intentions, and in the resulting argument, she is the one responsible for the horrible accident. He knows how hard it is to hear. It’s sad and uncomfortable, but it is also the truth Baby Irene Davis-Ashford would be alive were it not for the actions of her surrogate mother. And by the time the trial is over, they’ll know that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Drew tells Michael that he’s sorry for what happened between him and Willow. He was completely in the wrong, no excuses. Michael says he’s glad to hear Drew say that, and Drew says he hopes somehow, someday, Michael can forgive him, and they can move past it. Michael asks why he’d want to do that, and Drew says, as bad as it was, it was one time, one kiss. It happened in the moment and with a few too many drinks. No excuses. And it’s never going to be repeated. Michael asks if he’s sure, and Drew says, absolutely. Michael’s got a terrific marriage and beautiful children. Willow is committed to Michael. Don’t let a few minutes of bad judgement on his part jeopardize that. He’ll do everything in his power to make up for the damage. Let him try.

DA Turner asks what Natalia remembers, and Natalia says she was having coffee with her daughter when they heard a loud crash. They looked up and saw a woman falling, screaming. We flash back to Kristina crashing through the window, and Natalia says, it was horrible. She violently crashed through the window, and there was broken glass and pieces of the pane falling. People were screaming and the woman was face down in the pool, not moving. The lifeguard, Josslyn Jax, immediately entered the pool and gave first aid.

Gio says, Josslyn told him to grab a backboard, so he ran to get it.

Josslyn says she slowly turned the woman over and that’s when they all realized it was Kristina. She was unconscious, and her face was cut and bleeding. Josslyn learned in first aid class that if you suspect a head or neck injury, be careful moving the person. She was especially concerned because she knew Kristina was pregnant.

Natalia says, her daughter was dating Kristina, and she was hysterical. The DA asks how Kristina appeared, and Natalia says, she was cut up and bleeding. She wasn’t moving. They weren’t even sure she was breathing. They were scared she was dead until Josslyn said there was a pulse. So all they could do was watch…

Josslyn says she didn’t want Kristina to be alone, so she rode in the ambulance. At one point, Kristina regained consciousness. She told Kristina that she’d stay with her, and she was going to be okay. DA Turner asks if Kristina said anything, and Josslyn says, she asked about the baby.

Trina says, it happened so fast, and the DA asks what she did. Trina says she grabbed some towels for Josslyn to use. She looked up and saw the broken window… DA Turner asks if there’s a problem, and Trina says, no. The DA says, let her help. Trina told the officer that she looked up and saw Ava Jerome standing in the window Kristina had fallen from. Trina looks at Ava, who sort of nods, and the DA asks what Ava was doing. Trina says, looking at the pool. Then she closed the curtains. The DA asks what she thought about her boss and friend in that moment, but Ric objects. It calls for speculation. The objection is sustained, and the DA says she has no further questions. Ric asks Trina, what was the distance between her and the room? She heard the glass breaking and the scream and looked up. Correct? Trina says, yes, and Ric says, she witnessed the fall, but not who or what caused it? Trina says, yes, and he has no further questions. (Why didn’t the DA focus more on Ava closing the curtains? It seems like an odd thing to do unless you don’t want people to see something.)

Cyrus tells Lulu that he’s working on getting her transferred as soon as possible, when two nurses come in. One of them says, they need a moment alone with the patient, and he asks if it can wait. She says, unfortunately, no, but they won’t be long. Cyrus tells Lulu that he’ll be back, and leaves. The nurses talk about three new patients coming in as they tend to Lulu. They leave, and Lulu undoes all the equipment attached to her. She listens at the door, looks around, and steps out. She closes the door and goes down the hall.

DA Turner asks Dr. Navarro if she was Miss Corinthos-Davis’s OB/GYN, and the doctor says, yes. The DA asks her to tell them about Kristina’s pregnancy, and Dr. Navarro says, Kristina and the baby were healthy, and the baby was developing normally. She projected a safe, healthy delivery…

Another doctor (whose name I can’t remember) says, Kristina fell multiple stories and landed on her abdomen. The strong impact caused blunt force trauma, which led to a placental abruption, a separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, causing massive hemorrhaging. The mother and baby were in a serious condition. DA Turner asks, what happened afterward? and the doctor says, they did an emergency C-section, but unfortunately, were unable to save the baby. The DA says, in his professional opinion, what was the cause of death? He says, blunt force trauma from the fall, and the DA has no further questions. Ric says, when the doctor examined Kristina, he found her wounds to be consistent with a crash out a window. Did his observation imply any defense wounds? The doctor says, he’s not certain, and Ric says, so he can’t be sure if Kristina was pushed or attacked, and the doctor says, her wounds were consistent with the broken window. Ric says, so no bruising came from shoving, just the fall itself? but the doctor tells him, it’s impossible to say. Ric has no further questions, and the judge calls for a recess. Ava asks when Ric is going to start acting like a lawyer and save her, and he says, when the next witness is called. She says, Kristina.  

Jordan asks what makes Curtis think that Drew is keeping something from him, and Curtis says that he believes Drew is starting to be evasive. She says, that’s not like Drew, and he says, if he told her who brought it to him, she might believe it, but it has to stay between them. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, Michael told him that Drew is planning on making him CEO of Aurora and he’s going back to Wellness. Jordan says she doubts Drew would do something like that.

Michael asks how Drew is planning on making up for kissing his wife, and Drew says he’s planning on rebuilding Michael’s trust. One way is to make him permanent CEO of Aurora. Has he thought about Drew’s offer? Michael says he’d like to take Drew up on it, but before they finalize it, is Drew offering it to him solely to get back in his good graces? Drew says, it’s partially to earn Michael’s forgiveness, but they both know Michael is the perfect person for the job. Michael says, because? and Drew says, he has C-suite experience and knows the company. Michael ran the company when he was away. Michael says, what about Curtis? and Drew says, Curtis is a great friend and an amazing employee. For an interim CEO, he was perfect, but when it comes to leading the company, Michael is the company’s future, not Curtis.

Lulu peeks out a door and goes through another hallway. She opens another door slightly and hears the doctor telling the receptionist, Lulu Spencer has been cleared for transport. As soon as they get the paperwork from Cyrus, she can be moved. She could be moved as soon as tomorrow. The receptionist says, Cyrus is dedicated to his niece, and the doctor says, the mayor is lucky to have a brother who cares so much. Lulu looks pretty worried, as we all would.

Sonny says, Kristina is doing great, and Alexis says she knows how hard it is to hear. Kristina says she’s got to keep it together. It’s the only way to get Ava convicted. The judge comes back, and DA Turner calls Kristina Corinthos-Davis to the stand.

Curtis says, Drew repeatedly told him that he was happy and proud of his performance, and Jordan says, they’re probably just playing phone tag. He says, Drew did just get elected. He’s busy. He’s sure when they connect, Drew will explain.

Michael asks when Drew is going to make the announcement, and Drew says he thinks the best thing is to let Curtis know he’s a valued employee and did a great job in the interim, but lacks the experience to do it long-term. He’ll secure board approval and put his assets in a blind trust. Then Curtis will go back to Wellness with a bump in pay and Michael will take over as CEO. Michael asks how Drew thinks Curtis will handle him breaking his promise, but Drew says he implied Curtis might get the job. It was not a promise. The bottom line is, it’s his company and he can run it as he sees fit. Curtis is capable at the helm, but Michael is family, and family comes first. Michael says he’s glad to hear Drew say that, and we see that he’s recording the conversation on his phone. Drew says he would never choose Curtis.

Lulu sees a fire alarm and pulls it. The doctor says, it’s not a drill. He has to find out what’s going on. He and the receptionist leave, and Lulu goes behind the desk, taking clothing and a duffel bag out of a drawer. She goes into another room.

The DA asks how Kristina’s pregnancy came about, and Kristina says, her sister Molly and Molly’s partner TJ were trying have baby. They were struggling, so she offered to help. DA Turner says, and they agreed, and Kristina says, yes. She was happy because she knew she was giving them the thing they wanted most in the world- a baby. She knew Molly would have been and someday will be an incredible mother. She got pregnant right away. The DA asks Kristina to tell her more about navigating a healthy pregnancy, and Ric objects due to relevance. The DA says, it’s of the utmost relevance regarding Kristina’s state of mind, and the judge overrules. Kristina says, everything went well. She felt good throughout the pregnancy. She sang to the baby, ate the baby’s favorite foods, and played music. The baby was feisty. She moved a lot, especially when Kristina ate chocolate. The baby loved chocolate. She felt like she was accomplishing something special and was the happiest she’s ever been. Ric says, they know she was happy. It’s not relevant to the charges, which the prosecution is well aware. The DA asks how Kristina knew the defendant, and Kristina says, Ava and her father had a relationship and share a child together, her half-sister Avery. DA Turner says, this is going to be painful, but they need to talk about the day Kristina was injured. Kristina says she’s ready to talk what Ava did to her.

Cyrus asks if he can go back in to see Lulu, but the receptionist tells him, because of the fire alarm, they have to do a bed check on every patient. She tells him that it was a malfunction, and it happens from time to time. He says he just doesn’t like leaving Lulu alone.

Outside, Lulu changes behind a rock and finds a ponytail band in the pocket of the hoodie she’s wearing. She says, girl, thank you.

DA Turner asks Kristina, what happened on the night in question? Why was she in Ava’s hotel room? Kristina says, Ava and her father were in a custody dispute over her half-sister Avery. Ava had subpoenaed her to testify against her father, and she went to Ava’s hotel room to ask her to recall the subpoena. She told Ava that she didn’t want to testify, and she was worried about Avery watching her mother tear her family apart. Ric objects, but it’s sustained, and Kristina says she pleaded with Ava, but she refused. Ava got furious and said she’d enjoy watching Kristina testify against her father. When Kristina said she wouldn’t, she yelled and grabbed Kristina’s arm and pushed her through the window. (I guess this is the Reader’s Digest version with… let’s call them embellishments.)

Michael says, it sounds good. He and Drew have a deal. They shake hands and Drew says he’s happy. He knows it will take time, but he’s grateful for Michael meeting him halfway. Michael says he wants to set things right and he’s optimistic about Aurora’s future. Drew says, the sky’s the limit. He’s got go check in with his DC office. They’ll talk soon. He leaves and Michael retrieves his phone from the bar. He listens to it with his earbuds and says, it’s good. He calls Curtis.

Michael says he heard Curtis reached out to Drew, and Curtis says he didn’t like the position they were in after they talked. He and Drew need to have an open and honest conversation. Michael says, how’s this for open and honest? and plays the recording.

Lulu walks down the road and yells for help.

Curtis listens as Drew says, family comes first. Michael says, Drew would have never chosen Curtis over him. Does Curtis believe him now? Curtis says, yeah, and Michael says, they can change this. Will Curtis have a word with him?

DA Turner asks what Kristina remembers after the fall, and Kristina says, the next thing she remembers is the feel of the glass breaking. She knew she was falling and remembers screaming, then everything went black. The DA asks, what’s the next thing remembers? and Kristina says, coming to in the ambulance. Josslyn was there and told her that she was going to be okay. She must have passed out, because the next thing she knows, she woke up in the hospital. She was in a lot of pain and confused. She didn’t know what happened, and the doctor told her that her baby didn’t make it. She didn’t need be told. She just knew. Mother’s intuition. She could feel the baby was not inside of her anymore. That’s when she really understood why the baby wasn’t on the inside of her. She knew because Ava had pushed her through the window and killed her daughter. DA Turner says, no further questions.

Ric says he’ll be brief. Why is Kristina lying?

Tomorrow, Lucky tells Elizabeth that the sooner they have answers, the better; Sonny says he doesn’t trust Ric, and Alexis says, he shouldn’t; Ava asks if Ric is planning on defending her at any point in this trial; and Lulu tells a driver that she could use a ride.

🧼 Another One Bites the Dust…

I have to admit, I was shocked, but I understand it. Not everybody wants to play the same character for a million years.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Captain Glenn jumps out of bed, and Gary tells someone to get Emma. He also grabs Davide, and keeps yelling, hello! The captain teleports to the deck and wonders how the other boat got so close. Gary says he thinks they’re dragging. Guest Brandon comes out to investigate, and pretty soon all the guests are up and watching the action. Keith takes some of them out in the tender. Gary says, they’re going to crash into the rocks, and Captain Glenn says, they’re dragging toward them. Emma gets Daisy and Danni up, and Gary yells, get fenders! to anyone who will listen. The captain asks where Emma is, and Gary says he told her to change. Gary tells Keith to knock on the hull. Give it a hard knock. Keith bangs on the boat and Captain Glenn tells him to try the forward cabin. Finally, a dude emerges, and Keith tells him, wake up. You’re drifting. Brandon says, smells like pot, and Keith says, he’s way to calm. They’re stoned as hell. In Keith’s interview, he says, banging into a superyacht is not a bill you want to pick up. Gary says, it’s been more than enough excitement for one night. Everyone rubs their eyes, and now that they’re all wide awake, they go back to bed. Danni and Keith dry dishes, and Danni talks about tensions between her and Diana. She says, Daisy thinks things are her fault. She’s over the bad vibes. Keith says, in a team environment, it’s easy to point fingers, and in Danni’s interview, she says she thought it would be a more enjoyable experience. It’s been a dark and stressful and dry time on the boat. She just wants to act her age and have fun. Keith says, they’re all struggling.

Last day of charter. Daisy says she’s glad the charter is over, and Emma says she’s actually ecstatic. Daisy tells her not to let her insecurity push her out. Jump up to help and do something. Emma has a hard time putting the covers on the deck furniture cushions, while Captain Glenn explains what happened last night to the guests. Co-primary Sherry says she thought they were being boarded by pirates. Emma tries to hang a flag, and Gary has to show her how to do it again. He tells her to make sure it’s at the top and not half-mast. No one’s dead. Captain Glenn tells Gary, there have been a lot of close calls. It’s a struggle to properly manage people. You can’t teach motivation. Emma bitches to Danni, and Gary tells the captain that Emma can’t drive a tender. She doesn’t get it. Captain Glenn says he’ll see what he can do. Emma tells Danni that she thinks they want to get rid of her, and in her interview, she says feels Gary’s patience wearing thin and she’s stuck in No Man’s Land. Danni says, at the end of the day, if that’s what she thinks is happening, it’s Captain Glenn’s decision. Captain Glenn texts to find out the availability of deckhands. 

The food porn that is eggs benedict is paraded out, and in Cloyce’s interview, he says he’s hitting his stride. He’s excited to continue to grow and push his own boundaries and culinary capabilities. Gary asks if the guests would like the rope swing, and Emma deals with a splinter in the crew mess while Diana gags while watching her. Gary calls Emma to help with the rope and does a demonstration on how to use it for the guests. Using a pokey pole, Emma is supposed to catch it to bring it back, but she can’t seem to do it. It just keeps bouncing off and she almost falls in the water. In Gary’s interview, he says, it’s quite sad, but come on. It’s not hard. The guests swing on the rope, and it looks like mega fun. Sherry says she can’t go in the water, or her hair will be a snarly mess. Danni tells Keith that she doesn’t like him when he’s in uniform. He’s mean. He says he’ll get out of it, but she says she doesn’t know if she’d trust him. When he has his belt on, he’s the rudest person she’s ever met. He’s a d*ck. In Keith’s interview, he says, Danni can dish it out, but she can’t take it. It’s got to be on her terms and he’s over it.

Anchor is home, and Keith tells Danni that he’s sorry. He didn’t think he was mean. In Danni’s interview, she says, since they’ve broken up from doing absolutely nothing, he’s been a d*ck. She’s not even trying and she’s still getting rejected. They’d be better off with staying the f*** away from each other for the rest of their lives. Emma huffs and puffs, but can’t detach the stern line from the tender. Captain Glenn asks Gary to give Emma a hand, and in Gary’s interview, he says, this shouldn’t require two people. This is taking his time, and he can’t be there for the guests or Captain Glenn if he’s showing a deckhand how to do everything little thing on the boat.

The boat heads for Igy Marina, and the guests pack. Sherry says, the crew has been magical with their fairy wands, dust, and glitter that they spread every day. Emma tells Gary that she doesn’t know what to do because he and Keith always do it. Gary instructs her, and she realizes that he did show her before. She says she’s sorry. She hasn’t done day docking in a long time. Gary tells Captain Glenn that he can kick to port, and then has to show Emma how to tie a knot that she finds confusing. He says, it’s the most basic knot, and in Emma’s interview, she says she’s frustrated with herself. It’s something she knows she can do, something she’s done before, but for some bizarre reason, she’s overthinking everything and making stupid mistakes. She cries in wheelhouse, and Davide asks, what’s wrong? She says she keeps f***ing up, and in Davide’s interview, he says, Emma is her own worst enemy. She’s so scared of messing up, it’s preventing her from doing nearly everything. She tells him that she doesn’t want to make a thing out of this and asks him not to mention it to Gary. The captain calls the crew to be on dock to give the guests a good sendoff. After all the hugs and goodbyes, co-primary Phillip says, they delivered on everything. They were treated like family and the crew will always be family. They appreciate it. He gives Captain Glenn the tip envelope, and they leave. The captain says he loves this part and blows the horn. He tells the crew, back to work.

Daisy asks what Danni and Diana thought of charter five. Any feedback or what they could improve. Danni and Diana just look at each other, and Diana says she doesn’t know. Daisy says, it was her favorite charter. They can always improve, and they could try to be quicker with the décor. Some things are taking too long and it’s annoying. She’d rather they be done quicker so they have time to chill. It’s less stressful. There’s basically no reaction, and she thanks them. In Daisy’s interview, she says, there’s a lot being said without a lot of words. In Danni’s interview, she says she doesn’t understand why she’s number one on Daisy’s target list. Daisy tells Emma that Danni and Diana are slowly starting to hate her, and Danni tells Diana that they never chill. Daisy will just ask them to do something else. In Diana’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be involved in this situation. She needs them both. In Danni’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be chief stew. If Daisy feels threatened, it’s not her fault. If Daisy has issues that she doesn’t want to resolve, fine. She’ll just get back to work.

The boat gets straightened up and Captain Glenn calls for the tip meeting. He says, now is when the midseason blues can kick in. Keep rising above. Cloyce knocked it out of the park for the Sweet 16 party. Always be striving. In Cloyce’s interview, he says, they should never underestimate his power. The captain says he’s not sure the deck team is firing on all cylinders, but thanks them for last night. It’s important to stay vigilant. The tip is $18K or 1722 euros each, which I might normally think is cheap, but it was a quick, no muss, no fuss charter. He thanks everyone for their efforts and champagne is poured. He says he wants to point out that the boat was in good shape after last night. He’d like to find it that way every time. Let their hair down, but clean up afterward. Sounding like Scrooge talking to Bob Cratchit, he says, they have the whole day off tomorrow. They’re going to explore local caves and he’ll be joining them. He loves caves. Then he’s leaving and they can enjoy the rest of the day at O Beach Club. In Danni’s interview, she says she’s stoked. She hopes she bumps into Anthony. His text banter is as good as his real-life banter. She reads a text that says, they have unfinished business, and he’ll see her on her next day off.

In the master suite, Gary says, Captain Glenn knows he has a problem with Emma and her lack of initiative and willingness to work. The captain says he was trying to show her things, but she was struggling with basic knots. She’s not a capable deckhand. There’s only one choice. Gary says he didn’t want it to come down to that, but he has to agree, and the captain says he’s already looking for somebody new. The dreaded conversation has to happen. In Captain Glenn’s interview, he says, Emma has had ample opportunities to prove her value, but she hasn’t taken them. Gary says he’s going to cry, and after chickening out a few times, he knocks at Emma’s cabin. He asks if they can have a chat and asks her to go to the master. Emma tells Diana that she’s getting fired.

In the master, Gary tells Emma to have a seat. Captain Glenn says he doesn’t know how to put this, but right now she’s not delivering what they need. She’s not showing the initiative and experience that’s needed to do the job. They’re having to pick up the slack and need somebody that has more skills than she’s showing. They have to let her go. Gary says, it’s not easy for him. Maybe he’s not explaining things right. Emma says she’s not going to embarrass herself more. They’ve obviously made up their minds. The captain says he likes her potential, but she says she doesn’t want to continue the conversation. She jets out of her seat and to the door, and Captain Glenn tells her to come back. She can’t run away. Emma says she really doesn’t want to right now, and leaves.

Emma tells Daisy that she’s been fired. She’s not where she needs to be. She couldn’t finish the conversation. It’s literally the most embarrassed she’s ever been. Daisy says, no. Emma is thinking the worst thing now, but sometimes they need a stronger person in a situation. Emma says she can’t have that conversation, but Daisy says, sometimes you have to hear these things. In Emma’s interview, she says, no wonder Gary couldn’t look her in the eyes. He’s a coward. She tells Daisy that she’s the scapegoat, but Daisy says she doesn’t know that unless she talks to Captain Glenn. In Daisy’s interview, she says, Emma doesn’t see her own shortcomings. Emma tells Diana and Danni what happened, and they hug her. Emma says she’s going to have a cigarette, calm down, and talk again. She asks Captain Glenn if she can have 10 minutes, and he says, absolutely. She goes out on deck.

Daisy, Danni, and Diana follow Emma, and Daisy says, she’s going to be okay. Talk to Captain Glenn. She knows Emma doesn’t want to. Emma says she’s thinking about how she’s embarrassed her parents, but Daisy says, she hasn’t done anything to embarrass herself. Danni says, she’s a legend. She’s got this. Emma goes back in and tells the captain that she’s sorry. She’s ready to carry on. On deck, Diana asks, what the f*** just happened? Captain Glenn says he feels bad, but it’s not a rash decision. She needs to get more experience. She has some good experience already, but not enough. She needs to get more. That’s it. She thanks him, and on deck, Gary calls his mom. He says he’s terrible. He had to let a chick go and she didn’t take it well. She’s lazy and lacks initiative, but maybe he needed to show or teach her better. His mom tells him to stop trying to please everyone and don’t get too drunk because he’s feeling bad. Gary tells Cloyce and Davide about Emma not being able to do her job and needing more experience. Emma says, this is not how she wanted the season to end, and in her interview, she says she feels a bit at a loss. She needs a few days to absorb it. She knows her anxiety flairs up and she needs to be better at accepting something and learning from it. She’s met amazing people, and it would have been a lot harder without the people who made her smile. She’s forever grateful. She leaves, and Gary says, what the f***? She didn’t even say goodbye.

Danni wonders who’s coming, and Diana says she doesn’t want to change cabins, but Danni says she’s hoping for a new boy. The captain calls a crew meeting, and says he wants to explain exactly what’s going on. Emma is gone. He made a choice and let her go. He liked Emma, but she wasn’t able to do her job the way they needed her to do it. In Keith’s interview, he says he has mixed emotions, shock and guilt. Emma didn’t say goodbye. Captain Glenn says he’ll find a replacement before the next charter. The crew leaves for a night out, and Davide says, when Gary is in a bad mood, everybody has to be. They go to a restaurant and Keith orders a round of espresso martinis for the table, as a team. On the boat, the captain finds out he can get a deckhand in two days. Gary leaves the table, and Daisy says, it’s a sad day and a hard day, but that doesn’t take away from their accomplishments. Gary drinks some tequila at the bar inside, comes back to the table, and guzzles his martini. He says he’s going to get f***ed up and be the life of the party. Daisy asks him to go for a smoke and asks how he is. He says he’s a bit down. He feels like he could have been a better teacher and leader, but she says, they can only manage someone who wants to be managed. She doesn’t think it was the wrong decision, and thinks he knows that deep down. Don’t be hard on himself. What’s important is trying to learn and grow. She tells him to say he’s okay, and he says he guesses so. He says he’s feeling better. He’s a bit drunk. Daisy says, the day started low, but she’s happy they ended on a high. They go back to the boat.

Danni asks if Keith filled the hot tub and says she doesn’t know how Daisy does it. There’s a lot of loud reactive personalities. Daisy tells Keith that she doesn’t resonate with the girls, and he says he thinks they’re immature, especially Danni. She said he was an a-hole when he’s in uniform. Daisy says she hopes he doesn’t take it to heart. She’s had a positive experience with him. He says he can speak to her. She’s the one person he can be himself with. Gary and Davide make shots, and Cloyce eats cake in the galley. Gary starts throwing lollipops at Davide and hits him in the eye. They’re so drunk, they think it’s hysterically funny that Davide is bleeding all over the white sofa. Danni walks in and says, Gary, what did you do?

To be continued…

🐕 Pet Friendly Travel…

I can’t imagine traveling with my dogs, but if you have well-behaved furbuddies, here are some tips.

https://people.com/holiday-tips-for-pet-owners-evan-antin-8747736

🪑 Sitting At the Kids’ Table…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and my take on Red One, last weekend’s big screen watch. Until then, stay safe; stay always putting a used utensil on your plate, not the table; and stay not being so scared of messing up, it prevents you from doing nearly everything.

July 2, 2024 – Natalia Causes a Backlash Tsunami, Lots About Soap, Just Caroline, Stirring the Jersey Pot, New New York, Deck Doings, Keep Them Safe & Party

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

I missed the very beginning, but that’s usually just a rehash anyway. So…

Diane tells Sonny that it’s her job to plead his case and provide counsel. It’s steep hill he’s going to have to climb. Avery isn’t a baby anymore, and if she sees him trying to take her from her mother, it could permanently alter her relationship with him. He says he’d rather she hate her father than become her mother, and Diane says, it’s his call. She records some notes for herself on her phone, and her phone beeps. He asks, what’s the problem? and she says, it’s a big one. Does he mind if she makes a phone call?

Alexis says, Kristina is in the homestretch of her pregnancy. The last part is challenging, physically and emotionally, and she wants Kristina to know she’s here for her no matter what. Kristina says she knows, but it never hurts to hear. Alexis’s phone rings, and Diane says she saw The Invader alert. What is Alexis doing? Alexis says she’s with Kristina celebrating quitting her job. She’s left the tabloid life behind. She doesn’t know what’s in The Invader, unless they’re running a picture of her face on a dartboard. Diane says, it’s not about her, but it’s bad. Go to the website now. Alexis asks what she’s looking for, and Diane says, she’ll know when she sees it. And turn up the audio. Alexis and Kristina listen to the file from The Face of Deception’s Daughter, and Diane says tell Kristina that she’s sorry.

Sonny asks if everything is okay, and Diane plays the audio file for him.

Everyone in Maxie’s office listens to the audio file, which includes Natalia talking about her fear that someone will take a picture of Blaze and Kristina holding hands. She’s scared it will be sold to the tabloids and there will be a scandal. Blaze glares at Natalia and says, don’t hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Alexis and Kristina listen, and Kristina says, turn it off. She gets the gist. Alexis asks if she’s okay. Her blood is boiling, so she can’t imagine how Kristina feels. Kristina says she’s not the one who was just outed. Blaze was discriminated against by her own mother in public. She’s angry, but she’ll be fine. Alexis wonders if Kristina has heard from Blaze, and Kristina says, they usually text constantly, but no. Alexis says, maybe she hasn’t seen it, but Kristina says she doubts it. Deception is probably coming up with PR strategy for a response. She’ll call when she can. Alexis says she doesn’t understand how a mother could talk about her own daughter that way, and Kristina says, that’s why she’s grateful. She can forget about maternal leave from the center. After this, they won’t let her in the front door.

Ava says, her phone is blowing up, and Adrian asks if she wants to celebrate with him. She calls him a little worm and tells him to forget he knows her. Her name isn’t to cross his lips, not anytime to anyone, especially not Nina. Adrian says, sounds like a story. Does she care to dish? She says, she’ll see to it that he’s typing with his toes. Men have killed for her for a lot less. They’ve never met. They’ve never spoken. Take down the recording. There’s no reason for it to be online anymore. He says he can’t do that. It will just draw more attention to it and people will ask questions, to which every answer would be Ava Jerome. Besides, wire service has already picked it up. It’s everywhere and there’s no going back now.

Natalia says she doesn’t know what that was, and Lucy asks if Natalia is denying that’s her voice, but Natalia says, it’s obviously her. Scotty asks if Deception doesn’t have a PR master, but Lucy says she let them go when they had to save money. Lois says, that wasn’t a good idea, but Lucy says she had no idea this would happen. Scotty says he knows a guy… but Maxie says, stop. She tells Lucy to talk to the regular PR people. She’ll coordinate with Brook and have her lock down the social media. No comments. And she wants Scotty to guard the door from Tracy, who will be there soon, because the stock is going to take a nosedive. She asks Natalia where this took place, but Natalia says she never spoke to a reporter and doesn’t remember who she said it to. Blaze wonders if it’s because she says things like that so often.  

Sonny says he knew Natalia was uncomfortable with her daughter being gay, but didn’t think she’d spew that kind of garbage. He asks Diane if it could be fake, and she says, possibly, but she doubts The Invader would run it without authentication. They’d be opening themselves up to a huge lawsuit. Sonny says, it makes no sense, but she says, he’d be surprised how easily some people hide their ugliness in polite company. He says he thought she’d be smart enough not to talk to somebody who was recording it, and Diane says, sometimes hated gets the better of people. He wonders why Alexis would run such a thing, but Diane says, Alexis didn’t. She quit this morning. Sonny says, whoever did this hurt his daughter, and that means there’s a target on their back

Diane tells Sonny to take this lesson seriously. Even things said in privacy behind closed doors run the risk of exposure. Sonny says he knows the danger, and she tells him, things said in anger can work against him in a custody fight. The court needs to see him as a reliable and stand-up parent who they can trust. He asks how he can be a good parent if he doesn’t do anything about the garbage being said about his daughter? Diane says, activists on social media are calling for Kristina to resign from the center she founded. They don’t think she should be running an outreach if she’s dating someone who’s in the closet. They’re saying she has too much internalized homophobia to be trusted. People get worked up about things they know nothing about. Sonny throws his phone against the door.

Alexis tells Kristina not to jump to the worst case, and Kristina says, people are already saying ugly things. Alexis says, Natalia robbed Blaze of coming out on her own terms. She’s not going to interfere between Blaze and her mother, but she is going after the person who made this public. Alexis leaves.  

Ava says she didn’t set out to hurt Kristina, Blaze, or herself. Adrian will keep his mouth shut and she’ll have plausible deniability. If anybody asks him to identify where he got the audio file… He says, it came via the anonymous tip line. Ava tells him, get out, and he heads for the door. She asks if he’s learned nothing, and she checks the hallway. She says, okay. Go.  

Natalia says she keeps going over it in her mind, but has no memory of saying that to anyone. Maybe her phone was tapped. Lois says, it doesn’t sound like a bad connection. It sounds like it was in person, but she doesn’t think that’s the real issue. Lucy says, it’s not about the how and why. It’s about, what the hell do we do now? Blaze says she’ll need to respond. Not so much because she’s the Face of Deception, but there’s so much more. It’s going to impact her music career. Natalia says, they’ll put together a joint statement and give it to a friendly outlet, but Blaze asks why she’d publicly associate with Natalia when the whole world heard what Natalia thinks of her. Natalia says, it wasn’t specifically about her. It was more a generalization. Blaze says, Natalia mentioned both her and Kristina, but would it matter if she’d left their names out? Which gays are disturbing and offensive to her fragile sensibilities? Do drag queens on a Pride float make her angry? Do her and Kristina holding hands make Natalia sick to her stomach? Or is the problem that any two women in love disgust her? She’s quiet now. She has nothing to say now that they’re in private. Why? The whole world has heard her words by now. She should have known something like this would happen. She talks about gay people dismissively or with pity, reducing them to how they look and talk, and who they love. They’re not real people, herself included. Lucy says, it’s ironic that the same person who locked Blaze in the closet is the same person who just outed her, and Maxie tells her that she’s not helping. Natalia says she’s the victim. She was used to damage her daughter’s career. Blaze says, Natalia hasn’t heard what she said. She let Natalia convince her to portray a straight person, and now Natalia’s words are going to destroy any hope for her future life in music. Blaze walks out.

Natalia says she’s sorry. Her daughter is emotional. Lois says, she has a right to be. Does Natalia want to go after her? Natalia says she doesn’t think it would do any good, not when Blaze is in this frame of mind. She knows her daughter. Maxie says, does she? and Scotty says he has nothing more to contribute. He’s going to leave. Maxie tells him to stay. They might need legal advice. Lucy says she thinks a lawyer should be here to finalize the last addendum to Blaze’s contract, and she rips it up. Natalia says, she can’t do that. Blaze is known everywhere as the Face of Deception. If they try to get rid of her, they risk backlash in the press and in court. Maxie says she thinks they’re within their rights to change their relationship with Blaze.

Blaze knocks at Kristina’s door, and when there’s no answer, she lets herself in. Kristina is on the sofa, looking at her phone, and Blaze asks if Kristina didn’t hear her knocking. Kristina says, sorry. She was zoned out on her phone. Blaze says she’s guessing Kristina read The Invader article. She was hoping Kristina hadn’t seen it, but then she’d be the one giving the bad news. Kristina says she’s definitely seen it. The comments are awful. Instagram is particularly brutal. It looks like she’s canceled. Blaze says she thinks they both are.

Adrian goes to the pool and asks for a margarita pitcher and the guac trio, extra salty chips. And put it on Nina Reeves’s tab. He lies on a chaise lounge and closes his eyes. Someone approaches his chair, and he says, they’re in his sun. Alexis says, it’s better than being all up in his business. Which she will be if he doesn’t agree to play ball. She had to harass his assistant until he cracked to find out where Adrian was. Adrian says, note to self, fire assistant, and tells her, whatever it is will have to wait until tomorrow. She’s intruding on his hard-earned afternoon off. She says, good, since he published that loathsome recording in The Invader, and intruded on her daughter and her girlfriend. He asks if that’s what’s snapping her brassiere (really? have we been transported to the 1950s?), and she says, it will be fun to sue him and him and The Invader into oblivion.

Natalia asks if they’re saying her daughter is no longer good enough to be the Face of Deception since she’s been outed. She can’t sell their products because she’s gay? Maxie tells her that she’s saying the exact opposite. What they can’t afford to have is someone ashamed to be gay. They have a diverse clientele that they’re proud of, a lot of whom are gay and have a large social media presence. What they can’t do is align themselves with someone who’s ashamed. They’re proud to be a gay friendly company, so they need Natalia and Blaze to either get with the program or kick rocks. Lois says, they’re all parents and love their kids. A difficult situation is evolving, but it’s less about a contract than about a mother and daughter finding their way back to each other. They should be a little careful with hurtful words. Maxie says she’s telling the truth, and Lucy says, they love Blaze, but they can’t sacrifice their reputation for her. Lois agrees, but thinks they should put the negative aside for now and work on their PR response. Give Natalia a chance to try and make peace with her daughter. Natalia says, her relationship with her daughter is none of their business, but when it comes to Blaze’s contract, if they do anything to hurt Blaze, they’ll deal with her. Natalia leaves.

Blaze says she’s so sorry. People are saying horrible things and it’s her fault. Kristina says, it’s not. It’s her mother’s fault. Blaze says, they wouldn’t be having this conversation if she’d been truthful, but Kristina says, Blaze did what she thought best. Blaze says she did what was easiest. She didn’t want to rock the boat and tried to have it both ways. Now it might cost her everything, including Kristina. She knows how much the center means to her, and if Kristina can’t forgive the damage that she and her mom caused, she understands. They can go their separate ways and no hard feelings. Kristina doesn’t have to decide now. She’ll leave and let her figure it out. Kristina says, don’t you dare. She’s not going anywhere. She’s hadn’t caused any damage in Kristina’s life. She was already planning on handing over the reins of the center. The only thing she lost was the title of undercover girlfriend. She was already out and had nothing to hide. Blaze says, there might be nothing left to salvage. What if she loses everything? She hid, and people hate liars. Kristina says, Blaze is breaking her heart. She’s beating herself up when it’s not her fault. It’s going to be okay. They’re going to be okay. They’ll get through this. She has faith in them. Does Blaze still feel the same way? Blaze says she’s sorry, but she doesn’t.

Adrian tells Alexis to do her worst and laughs. If her legal skill is on par with her ability to publish a newspaper, he’ll be just fine. He has the Bill of Rights on his side. Alexis says, even the Bill of Rights has its limits. She remembers warning him to be cautious about how deploys secret recordings. He says, if Natalia didn’t know she was being recorded that’s too bad. New York is a one-party consent state. Perhaps Alexis should consult her law books before returning to court. She says, perhaps he should seek legal counsel. Nina is going to cut the tightrope he’s walking on when she finds out. There’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Adrian says, Blaze is the Face of Deception and a famous singer. Public figures don’t get to claim privacy. She says, Blaze’s mother isn’t, and he monetized and commercialized a private citizen without consent. He left a big softball hanging left for her hit out of the park. He says he wants to consult a lawyer, and Alexis says, he has one right here. She’ll even waive the retainer. She’ll make it go away in exchange for one small thing. She wants him to name the person who supplied him with the recording.

Natalia gets in her car, crying, and breathing heavily. She listens to the recording on her phone, and wonders who she was talking to. Why the hell did they record it and send it to the media? Suddenly, the lightbulb comes on.

Maxie wonders, what’s next? and Lois thinks she should cool her appearances, but Lucy says, they need her. She’s the only Face they have left. They need to show they have nothing to hide or be embarrassed about. Scotty says, Lucy is right. They have to deal with it head on. Lucy says, this might not be a popular opinion, but they can’t afford another stumble. They can’t put out that they’re not going to associate with Blaze. Maxie says she didn’t mean that part. She just said it to prompt Natalia to sacrifice herself. She underestimated Natalia’s self-absorption. Lois suggests they take a day to think, but Lucy says, they have no time. They need to make sure the public knows that’s not how they feel, or they could be inundated with candlelight vigils and marches and be canceled on social media. Scotty asks if he should draw up a statement. Is Blaze in or out?

Blaze tells Kristina that she’s not saying they should break up, but she doesn’t see a way to move forward. Kristina says she does. She’ll guide both of them. Blaze says, it’s a huge responsibility, but Kristina says she doesn’t care. Blaze is worth it, and she loves her. She refuses to accept that Blaze’s enormous talent can’t override the ugly things being said. She’s not saying that out of love, but out of love she’ll continue to say it until Blaze believes it.

Sonny tells Diane that they’ll talk again after she comes up with a strategy, when Natalia walks in. Sonny turns his back to her, and Diane says she’ll be in touch. She leaves and Natalia says she can tell Sonny heard the recording. He says he has, and she says she knows he’s pretty upset and doesn’t have a high opinion of her. He says, obviously, and she says she’s not going to force her presence on him. She’ll go, but first, she wanted him to know where the recording came from. He says, she insulted his daughter, and she says, unfortunately, those are her words, but they were said to someone close to him who secretly recorded her. He says, who? and she says, it actually took a while for her to remember who she had that regrettable conversation with. She realized the person who edited out their part is the same person who supplied the recording to The InvaderAva Jerome.

On the phone, Ava wonders where her room service is. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, there it is now. She opens the door, and Alexis is there. Alexis says, they need to have a conversion. One that won’t be recorded.

And I laaaugh because Adrian folded like a cheap suit.

Tomorrow, Sasha wants Blaze and Kristina to benefit from her hard-won experience; Lois has a suggestion; Sonny says, there are no limits to how far Ava will go; and Carly tells Josslyn there’s a good chance she could go to prison.

🧼 All  the Soap News Fit To Print…

Blaze and Kristina’s storyline today brought tears to my eyes. It almost softened the blow of Finn’s departure. Almost.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-jacqueline-grace-lopez-shares-why-representation-matters

Life imitating art.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kin-shriner-is-recovering-from-surgery

He’s got a better perspective on his being let go than I do.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-puts-his-gh-exit-into-perspective

I’ll have what he’s having.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-chad-duell-shares-an-important-message-with-fans

So cool how they stay in touch. Soap stars are a different breed of actor.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kimberly-mccullough-and-brooklyn-rae-silzer-reunite

GH won’t be on July 4th. You get the whole day off.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/soap-opera-soaps-holiday-schedule

🐪 No Camel For You…

Sorry. As of this posting, there was no recap for Real Housewives of Dubai. Stay tuned for it tomorrow, and in the meantime, there’s this. Discuss amongst yourselves.

https://www.realitytea.com/2024/07/02/caroline-stanbury-sergio-carrallo-might-not-make-it-rhodubai/

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

What happened.

What’s going to happen.

And what the Marge hopes will happen.

🗽 If They Can’t Make It There…

RHONY used to be my favorite of the franchise because, NYC, but I found the new cast to be mind-numbing, city or no city. Maybe the latest additions will make a difference. Or not.

🛟 Random Topics On Deck…

The perfect guest.

The feud.

And the fans.

🐕 Knowing the Drill…

It’s that time again. Actually, that time started here on Sunday night when I was wearing my chihuahua on my head after he heard the first firecracker.

https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/10-easy-tips-happy-safe-pets-july-4th

⛲️ Summer Mood: On…

Join me tomorrow for soap, tea, and entertainment news. Until then, stay safe, stay wearing sunscreen whether you think you need to or not, and stay never reducing anyone to how they look and talk, and who they love.

September 26, 2023 – Dead But Not Forgotten In Port Charles, Not Michael, Girl Power, Strike Deal, Salty Talk, New York Hour, Daryl This Week, Bowl Announcement & Crazy

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Elizabeth calls for an update on Drew and tells Carly, the doctor is here. He’s the best, and they’re going to start operating right away. Finn asks Jake if he’s okay and suggests Jake come with him.

Charlotte says she loves their new place, and Valentin says he’s glad. She says she could tell Nina knew about it already, and he says he told Nina this morning, so she could keep Charlotte distracted while he made it perfect. Charlotte says, she didn’t know until this morning? She thought Nina helped him decorate, but he says, no, it was somebody else. She says she knows it wasn’t Anna and laughs.

Dante looks on a tablet at the message left for Anna on the mirror, and Chase asks if he thinks it’s the same person who burned down Anna’s house. Dante says he doesn’t know. They broke into the suite, left a message on the mirror, and put ink on Anna’s clothes. It doesn’t seem like the same thing. Chase says, but the missing footage at the MetroCourt implies a sophisticated perp, when Cody walks into the station, saying, here he is. He surrenders.

Sam finds Sasha outside the cabin and asks if she’s getting some fresh air. Sasha says, the leaves are starting to turn; it’s beautiful. Sam agrees, and Sasha says she’s always loved being outdoors. Cody does too. Sam says, it’s pretty hard to ride horses inside, and Sasha asks, what if this doesn’t work? Cody might never be free again.

Sonny walks into the chapel and sees Anna. She says, they run into each other in the strangest places, and he says, that’s true. She says, maybe they both need to be here right now, and he asks if she remembers asking him if he thought it was worth it, the life he chose. She says, yeah, and he says he’s beginning to wonder. She says, he’s having doubts, huh? When she asked him before, he said he didn’t have any regrets. He says, before he came in here, he was leaving the hospital and he saw Curtis. Curtis is in a wheelchair because of him. Anna tears up and says she’s struggling with that too, but she doesn’t think Sonny can blame himself. He says, she even told him that she thought the bullet was meant for him, and now an innocent man is in a wheelchair and Drew is upstairs fighting for his life because of him.

Carly tells Elizabeth that the doctor explained to her what the surgery was about, but she still didn’t get it. Can Elizabeth go over it with her more? Elizabeth says, the piece of Drew’s rib that broke is lodged near a main artery and needs to come out as soon as possible. Carly says, or it will kill him, right? She wonders where the hell Austin is, when Ava comes out of the elevator. Ava asks Nina if she knows why Carly wanted her here, and Nina says, Drew was beaten up in Pentenville and he’s having emergency surgery to save his life. Did Ava tell Carly that she’s the one who put him there?

Sam tells Sasha to keep the faith. Dante’s not going to let anything happen to Cody. Sasha says, but it’s not entirely up to Dante, is it? and Sam says, not entirely, but… Sasha says, Cody is an escaped mental patient. He’s wanted for kidnapping her and assaulting Dr. Montague; even though Montague was drugging her and trying to kill her. Sam says, they’re going to prove that, and Sasha asks, how? Sam says, they have the evidence of the drugs from Montague’s own pocket, and they’ll prove he was conspiring with someone else. Sasha says, her own mother-in-law, and Sam says she’s so sorry, but Gladys will pay. The first step is establishing a legal record. Sasha says, and that’s why Cody had to turn himself in, and Sam says, exactly.

Chase asks, where the hell is Sasha? and Cody says he’s here to turn himself in. Chase says he asked where she is, dammit. He swears, if Cody hurt her… Cody asks if Chase really thinks he would, and Chase says, then tell him where she is. Cody says, all he’s telling Chase right now is that he’s here to give himself up, and Dante says, Chase heard what Mr. Bell said. Chase asks if somebody wants to tell him what’s going on, and Dante says he thinks Chase should book the suspect. Chase says he will. They’re going to do this completely legal, then Cody is going to go back to answering questions. Cody says, and he’ll get the same answer. He’s here to turn himself in. Chase cuffs Cody, and says, he has the right to remain silent. Cody says he loves that part, and Chase finishes giving him his rights. He asks if Cody understands them, and Cody says, sure do. He exchanges a look with Dante.

Valentin wonders why Charlotte would say she knows Anna didn’t help decorate, and Charlotte says, it’s not her style. It’s beautiful. Did he do it himself? He says, no. His decorator Jen helped him. Charlotte says, she did an amazing job. It’s more comfortable than Windymere ever was. He says he’s glad she likes it so much, and she says, when her friends came to Windymere, she could tell they thought it was creepy. He says, they can come here now. She can bring her friend Jake. She says, Jake? and he says, she told him that she was with Jake last night before she came to the MetroCourt. She says she was. She showed him all the pictures of them together. He says, it looked like she was having a good time. Is he a nice kid? She wonders if she can see her new room, and he asks if she wants him to go with her, but she says, no. She wants to see it for the first time by herself if that’s okay. He says, it’s down the hall, second door to the left, and she runs off. He flashes back to telling Nina that he doesn’t want Charlotte near Anna. He doesn’t want her out of his sight.

Anna says, Drew was beaten that badly? and Sonny says, Carly told him that Drew hasn’t regained consciousness since the fight. She says, that’s not good (like he doesn’t know that). It’s Pentenville. Prisoners are going to start fights for a myriad of reasons. He says he asked Drew to get him information, and she says, he agreed? Sonny says, he never should have asked him. He thought Drew was going to be discreet and he’d be safe. She says, he can’t be sure of that, but he says, yes, he can, because he ordered it. He let it be known Drew was under his protection in Pentenville. She says, someone defied his order.

Finn brings Jake to his office and asks if he’s okay. Jakes says he needs to know what’s happening with Drew, and Finn says, okay. Does he want to take a seat? Jake shakes his head, and Finn says, these things take time, so he’ll make some calls and find out what’s going on with Jake’s uncle. Jake leans against the credenza, and Finn picks up the phone.

Carly walks over to Ava, and Ava says she’s so sorry to hear about Drew. Carly says, is she? and Ava says, of course (🍷). She doesn’t know exactly what happened… Carly says she can tell Ava exactly what happened. Drew was set up, beaten, almost to death, and now he’s in surgery and he might not make it. Ava says, oh no, and Carly says, Ava’s not really surprised, is she? Ava says, what? and Carly says, cut the act. She knows exactly what Ava did.

Chase brings Cody into the squad room and tells Dante that he has Cody booked. What does Dante want him to do? Dante says, Chase could question him. Does Cody want a lawyer? Cody says, no. It wouldn’t do any good. Dante says, that’s not a positive outlook to have, and gets up. He suggests they all go into the interrogation room. Chase asks if Dante wants him to sit in, but Dante says he’s got this. Chase says he has no doubt, and closes the door as Dante uncuffs Cody.

Gladys runs into the station and tells the desk sergeant that she’s Gladys Corbin. She’s Sasha Gilmore’s guardian. She got a call saying they have her kidnapper in custody. Where’s her daughter-in-law? Chase watches her from across the room.

Sasha says she doesn’t understand why Cody is risking so much just to protect her, and Sam says, maybe he thinks she’s worth it. Sasha says, based on what? They’ve had a few nice conversations. She thinks he’s a nice guy. They were becoming friends, then she started so strange. Then she stabbed him at the MetroCourt pool. Sam says she saw Cody that night at the hospital, and they both agreed Sasha had no idea what was going on. Sasha says, those pills Dr. Montague gave her… Sam says, they made her delusional, and Sasha says she was so sure she saw Cyrus Renault when she stabbed Cody. Sam says, our minds can play terrible tricks on us when someone screws around with them. Cody knows that’s what happened with her. Sasha says, still, he’s putting everything on the line for her. What kind of person does that?

Finn says he appreciates the update, and tells Jake that Drew is still in surgery. But he knows the surgeon doing the operation and he’s excellent. Jake’s uncle couldn’t be in better hands. Jake says, what happened out there when Finn first came in… Finn says, what? He’s worried about his uncle, right? Jake says, yeah, but he shouldn’t have cried, and Finn says he doesn’t know about that. Not so long ago, he got some news about someone he really cares about, someone he loves, and does Jake know what happened? Jake says, what? and Finn says he cried. Man, he cried. He doesn’t think there’s any shame in that. Jake really loves his uncle, right? Jake says, yeah. He just needs him to be okay.

Sonny says, this would not have happened five years ago, and Anna asks what he means. He says, no one would have defied his orders back then. She says, something like that is happening to her too. She thinks things are impacting her more than they used to. He says, things like someone burning down her house? and she says she still can’t believe that happened. He says he feels like things are just out of control, and he used to feel like he could keep things under control. If she knows what he means. She says she does, and asks what he’s going to do. What do they do? Throw in the towel? He says, never, and she says she didn’t think so.

Ava says she doesn’t know what Carly’s talking about, and Carly says she’s a liar. Nina says, this isn’t the time or the place, and Carly tells her, you back off. This does not concern her. She can’t believe she was stupid enough to trust Ava. Ava says, trust her with what? What did she do? Carly says she told Ava that Drew was going to ask around Pentenville to find out who Ava’s boyfriend Austin was visiting when he was there. Did she call him right away? Ava says, no, and Carly says, did she meet up with him? Did they plan the hit on Drew together? Ava says, no. She had nothing to do with this. Carly says she doesn’t believe her, because she’s the only other person who knew about this. And how convenient that Austin isn’t working today. Drew could have been killed. Dammit. He shouldn’t even be in Pentenville. Ava says she’s not the one who put him there, and Carly asks what the hell that’s supposed to mean.

Finding Valentin on the patio, Charlotte says she loves her room, and Valentin says he knew she’d like it. She asks how the decorator knew everything she’d like, and he says, they looked at a lot of photographs and she asked a lot of questions. She says, it’s like she picked everything out herself. There are even new riding clothes in her closet. He says he wanted her first ride on Butterscotch to be perfect. If she looks down there, the bridle path comes along up here. She can ride right up to the door. She says, he’s thought of everything, and he says, she told him before that she doesn’t think this is Anna’s style, and she says, it’s not like her house. He says, she doesn’t think Anna is going to like it? and she asks, why? Is Anna going to move in here too? He says he doesn’t know. Maybe. She needs a place to live since her house burned down.

Sonny says he’ll find out who did this to Drew, and Anna says she’s sure he will. He says, it’s funny how life works. He didn’t know she was in here. She says, nor I, you, and he says, if she hadn’t been… She says she had the feeling he’d have come to the same conclusion. He’s not ready to turn the page. He helped her realize she’s not either. He says he guesses they keep fighting, and she says, they keep fighting. He needs to go see Carly. She’s so scared for the man she loves. She needs his support. He says he’ll go check on Drew and hopefully, she’s there. If she’s not… Anna says she’ll light a candle for Drew, he thanks her, and leaves.

Finn asks how Jake found out what happened to his uncle, and Jake says he was already here at the hospital talking to his mom. He saw Carly and wanted to ask her about visiting his Uncle Drew. Finn says, in Pentenville, and Jakes says, his mom told him that he could go, but then Drew got put in solitary before he could. Elizabeth is about to walk in, but waits, and Jake says, and now… Finn says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Jake can always talk to him, and Jake says, it feels like everyone he likes leaves. His dad died, Franco died, Cam went away to college, Finn left, and now… He sighs, and Finn says he knows it hurts. He’s still here and he’s not going anywhere.

Sam tells Sasha that she’s been trying to figure out who Cody is ever since he came to Port Charles last year. Sasha says, Cody and Dante are good friends, and Sam says, yes, but they haven’t really seen or spoken to each other since they were teenagers. And it turns out Cody has a questionable past, so she wasn’t really sure if she could trust him or not. Sasha says, but now she does? and Sam says she does. But who is she to judge anyway? She has a pretty colorful past herself. Sasha says, so does she.

Chase says, Gladys’s daughter-in-law isn’t here, and Gladys says she knows that. Where did they take her? GH or back to Ferncliff? He says, they apprehended Cody Bell, and she says, and he kidnapped her. If he doesn’t have her, where is she? Dante cracks open the door and gestures to Cody. Chase says, they’re trying to figure that out, and Gladys says, let her see him. She wants to see Cody right now.

Nina says she doesn’t know why Carly is blaming Ava for this, and Carly says, because she’s the only one who could have made this happen. Drew’s too smart to be sloppy and someone targeted him. And now Ava is trying to tell her that this is all her fault? Ava says, what? No. Carly says, Ava just said she’s not the one who put Drew in Pentenville. And Ava’s right; she is. Fine. She gets it, but how could Ava do this? Sonny comes out of the elevator and calls to Carly. Carly asks what Austin has on Ava, and Sonny asks what Carly is doing.

Sasha says she knows Cody isn’t the only one taking a risk for her, and Sam says, Dante’s not someone to sit on the sidelines when he knows someone’s in trouble. Sasha says, Sam’s taking a risk too, but Sam says she doesn’t see it that way. She thinks they’re all just trying to do the right thing. Sasha asks if that’s why Sam fell in love with Dante; he does the right thing. Sam says, it’s one of the reasons, and Sasha says she thinks they’re a good match. Sam agrees and thanks her. Sam’s phone dings, and she looks at Sasha.

Chase says, Cody’s being interrogated at the moment, and Gladys says, by his friend Detective Falconari? He says, that’s none of her concern, but she says, don’t think she doesn’t know what’s going on here. They’re protecting a dangerous man like Cody Bell, when who knows what trouble her poor daughter-in-law is in. He says, they’re doing everything they can to find her, and she says, apparently, it’s not enough. Sasha is in a very fragile state. He says, they know that, and she says she wants to talk to the Commissioner right now, but Chase says, the Commissioner isn’t in. She says, then she’ll wait. Cody kidnapped Sasha. he put her life in grave danger. He has to pay.

Dante closes the door, and Cody asks if he heard that lunatic. He put Sasha’s life in danger? Dante says, stay calm, but Cody says, it’s a little hard to stay calm with that performance Gladys is putting on out there. Dante says, that was a pretty good performance. He almost believes that she’s worried about Sasha. Cody says, the only thing Gladys is worried about right now is the truth coming out.

Chase asks if he can get Gladys coffee, but she says, no. Her phone rings, and it says, unknown. She answers, and a woman asks if this is Gladys Corbin. Gladys says, yes, and we see it’s Sam putting on a fake voice. She says, this is Mrs. Margis from Port Charles Savings & Loan. She’s calling about the accounts of Sasha Gilmore.

Elizabeth goes into Finn’s office and asks if Jake is all right. Jake says he is, and asks if Drew is out of surgery, but she says, not yet. She’ll be notified the minute it’s finished. Jake says, so they just sit around and do nothing? but Elizabeth says, not necessarily.

Carly tells Sonny, Ava did it. She was stupid enough to tell Ava what Drew was doing. She told Austin or his cousin Mason, and that’s why Drew was attacked. And that’s why he might not make it. Sonny tells Carly that she’s wrong, and Ava says she swears she didn’t say anything to anybody. Sonny says, she didn’t, and he knows for a fact she didn’t. Carly says she doesn’t know what to think anymore and heads for the waiting area. Following her, Sonny says, she has to focus on Drew. That’s all that matters. He’s strong; he’s going to get through this. She says she doesn’t know.

Anna lights a candle in the chapel, and she flashes back to telling Dante about the papers Valentin had from Pikeman, and Dante asking if she thinks Valentin could be working for Pikeman again. She wonders what else she doesn’t know about Valentin.

Valentin asks if Charlotte knows why he asked her to stay with Sam, Dante, and her brother Rocco, and she says, because he’s afraid she won’t be safe at Anna’s. He says, she’s right. He would have never forgiven himself if she’d been there the night of the fire. She says she was at camp, and he says he knows. Just so she knows, he’s made special precautions to make sure they’re safe here. His phone rings, and he says, it’s her Uncle Marty. He goes to the other room to take the call, and she flashes back to reading the letter that came with the tarot cards. She reads: Anna Devane is not who she says. Do not trust her. Valentin comes back in and says, Charlotte?

Cody says he can’t wait to get on the witness stand and testify against Gladys. She is going to prison for what she did to Sasha. Dante tells him, hold the phone. Right now, Cody is the one in custody and being charged with kidnapping and assault. Gladys isn’t in custody, and she isn’t facing charges right now. Cody says, but she will be as soon as Dante explains to the judge… Dante says he’s not explaining anything unless and until they have proof that Gladys and Montague were working together to hurt Sasha. If they don’t get that… Cody says he could be the one in prison.

Gladys says she’s sorry. She doesn’t understand why they’re calling her. Sam (as Mrs. Margis) says, she is Miss Gilmore’s guardian, is she not? and Gladys says, yes, but Sasha’s been kidnapped and she’s a nervous wreck about it. Sam says she’s sorry to hear that, but this is official business, and Gladys is listed as the responsible party for all of the accounts of Miss Gilmore. Gladys says, as her guardian, she only paid Sasha’s bills and provided money when Sasha needed or asked for it. And the medical bills. Sam says, none of that is of their concern. She’s just calling to advise Gladys, they’ve received a subpoena from the DA’s office. Gladys asks, for what? and Sam says, the banking records for all Miss Gilmore’s accounts. Gladys asks if those accounts aren’t private and confidential, and Sam says, under normal circumstances, yes, but if the DA has cause and a subpoena is issued, they have no choice but to turn over those records, and those records will be turned over today. Thank you. And goodbye, Miss Corbin. Sam crosses her fingers on both hands.

Charlotte says she hopes Uncle Martin comes to visit them, and Valentin says, it’s certainly possible. He’s been here before. Martin helped him find the place. She says, maybe someday mom will wake up and visit them too, and he says, she misses her mom a lot doesn’t she? Charlotte says, everyone acts like she’s gone, but she’s not. Charlotte likes talking to her. She feels like her mom can hear her. He says, maybe she can. What kind of things do they talk about? She says, everything. She’d love their house. He asks how she’d feel if Anna moved in with them, and she says, whatever would make him happy. But she needs to know. He says, she needs to know? and she says, if Anna moving in would make him happy. She needs to know for the reading. He says, what reading? and she takes the tarot cards out of her backpack. She says, the cards, and shows him the box. He flashes back to being with Charlotte in the Bistro, and her saying, the only thing that stays the same is things changing. He remembers showing Anna that MURDERER is painted on her door, and the fire. He flashes back to him and Anna discovering the trashed suite; then watching the security footage with Nina and finding out Charlotte was the one who broke in.

Anna leaves the chapel as Finn, Elizabeth, and Jake come by. Finn asks Jake and Elizabeth to go ahead; he’ll catch up with them. Jake and Elizabeth go into the chapel, and Finn asks if Anna is okay. She says, yeah. She heard about Drew. How is he? He says he hasn’t heard anything yet. Elizabeth thought Jake might find some comfort in being here. She says, poor kid. He’s been through so much and he’s so young. Finn asks, what about her? What brings her by? She says she had a phlebotomy treatment and there’s a lot of stuff going on in her head. He asks if it’s a good place for her to clear her head, and she says, always is. He says, she’s been through a lot. He called her a few times and left a message after the fire. She thanks him and says, that was very thoughtful. He says he thought maybe she’d give him a call and let him know she was okay, and she says she should have. There’s been a lot going on. She’s sorry. He says, it’s okay. He knows. She has a lot of people who are there for her, but don’t ever forget he’s her friend too.

In the chapel, Jake says he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do, but Elizabeth says, he doesn’t have to do anything. If he wants, he can light a candle for Drew. He lights one, and she sits down. He joins her and asks if they pray now. She says, they can, and they should think their most positive thoughts to bring Drew through this to recovery.

Sonny asks if he can get Carly anything, and she says, Ava’s right. Drew’s in that prison because of her. He tells her, stop it, but she says, it’s true. He never committed insider trading; she did. He pled guilty so she wouldn’t be tried. He tells her, listen to him, but she asks if she can’t just be alone, please, and he goes over to Nina and Ava. Nina says she’s glad he showed up when he did, and Ava says, her too. Carly was on quite a rampage. He says, that’s the way Carly gets when she lashes out. Something happens. Nina says, Carly needs to know that sometimes there are no answers.

 A doctor comes out and tells Carly that the surgeon wanted him to speak to her. Ava, Nina, and Sonny watch as he talks to her. He leaves, and Carly sits down again, her head in her hands. Sonny walks over, and Nina says, oh my God.

Nina and Ava join Sonny and Carly, and Sonny says, Drew made it through surgery. He’s going to be okay. Nina says, thank God, and Carly says, the surgery was a success. They expect him to make a full recovery. Ava says, that’s such a relief. She’s so happy for Carly and she’s sorry Carly had to go through this. Carly says she’s sorry she attacked Ava. She shouldn’t have done that. Ava says, it’s okay. If she were in Carly’s shoes, she would have felt the same thing. But the truth is, she thinks Drew’s a good man. He helped save Trina’s life in Greenland, and what he did for Willow… They all owe him. Carly says, they do, and asks to talk to Sonny alone.

Elizabeth’s phone dings, and she tells Jake, Drew’s okay. He’s going to make a full recovery. They hug.

Looking at his phone, Finn says, Drew’s surgery was a success, and Anna says, thank goodness. He should get in there. He tells her, remember what he said, and she thanks him. She leaves, and he goes into the chapel. Jake says, this is the best news, and Elizabeth smiles at Finn.

Carly says she wanted to thank Sonny for being here, and he says, she’s welcome.

Nina says, Carly really went after Ava, and Ava says, that was nothing compared to what she’ll do to Nina if she ever finds out who put Drew in prison.

Valentin asks where Charlotte got the tarot cards, and she says, a girl at camp gave them to her and showed her how to use them. She flashes back to reading the letter, and we hear Victor’s voice say, to guide you, I’m giving you these very special tarot cards. They are very powerful tools. You’ll find them helpful. She takes them out and looks through them. Back in the present, she lays out the cards on the coffee table as Valentin watches, looking worried.

Chase asks if Dante’s had any progress, and Dante says, it shouldn’t be too much longer. Chase says, right, and leaves. Dante looks at Cody.

Gladys frantically throws clothes into suitcase. She can’t get it zipped, so she grabs a few things, tossing them on the floor, and tries again. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, almost ready. She thought they were going to text. The knocking continues so she goes to the door and opens it. It’s Sasha, who looks mighty pissed off.

Tomorrow, Curtis says he’s glad to be back in the mix; Esme says, Spencer can’t go; and Cody says, what happens next is up to Sasha.

🏥 Bait and Switch Up…

Since Kristina ended up being his sister and a lesbian, it really wouldn’t have worked out.

🎉 Celebrating Their Girls…

Score one for the daughters.

🪜 Getting There…

They kinda sorta reached a temporary agreement.

🧂 Salting the Lake…

Usually, I just have this on in the background, but some of them were acting so stupid, I actually stopped doing what I was doing and watched. Who could waste time being awful while staying at the Trixie Motel? Once again, the wrong people have the money and amazing vacations. However, Trixie gave us one of the best quotes ever: There is no crying in makeup. PS – Monica needs to run.

🗽 Shining the Apple…

Not sure what to think about an adult who keeps a log of slights, so she can bring them up at a later date. Bring back the Countess telling us not to be all uncool. And then drunkenly falling into the shrubbery. Good times…

⚰️ The Best Of Daryl…

This show just gets better and better.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-episode-3-recap-paris-sera-toujours-paris/

🏉 Half the Story…

And I thought we were rushing the 2023 holiday season.

https://people.com/usher-announces-2024-super-bowl-halftime-show-gig-kim-kardashian-7973971

🛴 Not Bringing It On Home…

Join me tomorrow for soap and an RHOC episode aptly titled, Welcome to the Freak Show. Until then, stay safe, stay not giving advice unless someone asks or pays for it, and stay not throwing in the towel if you’re not ready to turn the page. Keep fighting.

January 17, 2023 – Nina Finds Out If She’s a Match, Talking Turkey, Returning, New Direction, Final Bow, Anniversary For One, About Those Critics & Warm

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Paris, France. As they walk into a hotel suite, Anna tells Valentin, it’s so frustrating. Four days, and nothing. He says, it’s not nothing. They now know the building in question is Victor’s stronghold. She says, but they have no way in, and they don’t know if that’s exactly where Lucy is being held. The whole thing is just a damn waste of time. He tells her to look on the bright side. They’re in Paris, and they’re together. He kisses her.

Michael kisses Willow’s forehead, and says, that’s from Wiley. And also – he kisses her bump – that’s for his little sister. She asks how their little smoocher is doing, and he says, fine. He’s just worried about his mama. She says she hates that she collapsed in front of him. He must be so scared. Michael says, Wiley will feel better once he meets his little sister, and she asks if he told Wiley that the baby is coming early. He says, not yet, but he does think they should fill Wiley in. Make him part of bringing the baby home so he doesn’t feel left out. She says she agrees. They’ll do all of that once the baby comes. He says, which has to happen before she can receive the bone marrow transplant. So if Nina does turn out to be a match, she can be induced as soon as tomorrow. She says she could, except she’s not willing to do that, and he asks what she’s saying. She tells him that she doesn’t want to deliver early. She wants the baby to come when she’s ready. He says, even if it costs her life?

Heather slips into Ryan’s room, saying, good morning, Ritchie. She waves her hand in front of his face, and says, don’t worry. It’s just her. She promises they won’t be disturbed. She locks the door, and he comes up behind her, startling her. He says, alone at last.

Esme comes out of the bathroom, fully dressed, and sees the guard with handcuffs. She asks if she has to. She’s been handcuffed so long, her wrists are sore. He says, sorry, his instructions, and she asks if he can’t wait until her lawyer gets here. He can put them on her when the two of them escort her to her hearing. There’s a knock at the door, and the guard opens it to Victor. Victor tells Esme that she looks lovely, and it’s so nice to see her up and about. She asks if she knows him, and he says, right. She can call him Uncle Victor.

Chase says he can’t believe Willow’s been battling leukemia all this time, and didn’t tell anyone, but Sasha says she gets it. Illness is a deeply private thing. He says he gets it, but now they know, so they can be here for Willow and Michael, and she says, right.

Sonny comes into the penthouse, and sees Nina pacing on the phone. She says she needs to confirm she’s a bone marrow donor match with Willow Tate… She has no idea why it’s taking so long. It was a cheek swab for a preliminary screening… Can they put her on a priority list? She’s trying to save… If they could just call her when they get the results, she’d appreciate it. She thanks them, and Sonny hugs her. He asks what time she got to bed, and she says, 4:30-ish; she’s not sure. Her mind is just racing. She has a daughter… Willow is her daughter; Nelle had a twin. She has another chance at being a mother. He says, it’s great. He’s happy for her. She says, and her bone marrow is going to save Willow.

Valentin hands Anna a glass of wine, and says, he thinks this will help. She thanks him, and he asks what she’s hoping to learn by looking at the map again. She says she’s just looking for something they might have missed, and he suggests they go over it one more time. She says, the building is under constant surveillance, and he says, naturally. She says, and the shifts are staggered, which means no two posts change guards at the same time. He says, there’s always someone at watch, and she says, which means they can’t attach themselves to an arriving group and just slip inside. He pats his leg, and she puts her feet in his lap. He says, they haven’t exhausted all their options. There’s always a variable; a fatal flaw. So they’ll find the weaknesses in Victor’s defenses, and exploit them. She says, then they’ll look for Lucy, and he says, she’ll most likely be unharmed. Anna sits up, and says, that’s supposed to make her feel better, but it doesn’t, because she got Lucy involved in this. And if anything happens to her…

The guard tells Victor that he can’t be here, but Victor assures him that he has no ill intent. The guard says he’s going to have to ask Victor to leave, and Esme says she knows it’s against procedure or whatever, but as he knows, she has no memory of who she is or what she’s done, and this man may have some answers that could help her. So if he could just give them a few minutes, please. The guard says, two minutes, and the door stays open. She thanks him, and he goes out to the hallway. Victor says, well played, but Esme says she wasn’t playing him. She just told him what she wanted. He’s her uncle? No one told her that she had family. He says he guesses his introduction was a bit misleading. His name is Victor Cassadine, and she’s carrying the next Cassadine heir. She says, so he’s here for the baby, not her, and he says, right now, the two of them are more than a bit inseparable. She guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. Apparently, she’s not a very good person. He says, apparently. So her memory is still a blank.

Nina looks at her phone, and Sonny says, that’s not going to make it ring any faster. She says she can’t help it. She feels like this amazing gift has been dropped in her lap, and it can all go away just as quickly. She has a daughter. One she didn’t know about. She’s in the hospital, fighting for her life, a life she doesn’t want Nina to be a part of, but Nina’s bone marrow is going to save her. He says, Willow’s as stunned by the news as Nina is. Everyone is just trying to wrap their head around her being Willow’s mother. She says, except for Carly. She knew for months; almost a year. She didn’t tell them. She just sat and watched Nina and Willow tear into each other about Wiley, and didn’t say a word. She’ll never forget that.

Michael says, Dr. Randolph has been very clear that Willow has to deliver the baby before she receives the transplant, and she has to receive the transplant to live. Willow agrees that Terry has been clear, and he says, she’s eight months along. Having the baby now will pose minimal risk. She says, premature babies can have health problems that affect their entire lives. She’s stable right now. If they wait another week or two, it could make all the difference in the quality of their daughter’s life. He says, the longer she waits, the more the leukemia will progress, and the less likely the transplant will work. He doesn’t want to risk her life more than they already have. She says, more than she already has, but he says, it’s always we. He doesn’t want their children to grow up without a mother. He doesn’t even want to imagine life without her.

Heather says, someone’s feeling frisky this morning, and Ryan says, their daughter is still in police custody. She says she told him that she’d take care of that. What is he so nervous about? As soon as someone else gets hooked, while Esme’s still in custody, the cops will have to let her go. He says, yet no one has died since she’s been arrested. What’s the hold up? She says she may have had a little snag; just a teeny weeny bump in the road. Her favorite security guard Dietrich got fired for stealing. He says, she has to be kidding, and she says she knows. Good help is hard to find these days. The point is, she no longer has easy access in and out of Spring Ridge right now. Bummer. He says, yeah.

Esme tells Victor, the only reason she knows her own name is because someone told it to her, and now she can go to prison for something she doesn’t know if she did or not. He asks what her attorney has to say about her potential incarceration, and she tells him, Mr. Grey says if she can find out where she’s been the past few months, he might be able to prove she’s not the killer. But given everything everyone says she did, she’s starting to think it might be better if she never remembers who she used to be. Revenge porn? He says he’s not one to judge, but she says, that seems pretty judge-worthy. He says, as soon as she stops caring what other people think, the freer she and her conscience will be, and she says, right. She thinks their two minutes are up, so if there’s anything specific he wants to ask her… He says he’s only here because he’s worried about her, and she says, he means the baby. He says, her, the baby, the future. What are her plans after she leaves the hospital? She says, her immediate plans are going to court, and then, who knows? She’s just hoping she won’t end up in prison. Martin walks in, and says, Victor is here. He’ll have a talk with his sister, the mayor, about that. He asks if Victor is bothering Esme, but she says, not at all. Are they headed to the courthouse now? Martin says, not yet. They need to strategize before her arraignment. Victor wonders how much strategy is required to get a pregnant woman with amnesia off on bail, and Esme says, the police think she killed three people. Victor says, indeed they do, but they have no physical evidence tying her to those crimes. Martin asks to have a word in the hall alone with Victor, and tells Esme that he’ll be right back. Victor says he’ll be in touch, and they leave.

In the hallway, Martin asks what Victor wants, but Victor says he’s merely looking out for his family. Esme is the mother of his great niece or nephew, and he wants to do anything he can to help her. Martin says, if that’s the case, why doesn’t he stay away? The last thing his client needs right now is to be seen in the company of an unrepentant sociopath. Victor says, Martin is forgetting himself, and Martin says, Victor will have to forgive him. He might remember his manners better if he wasn’t worried sick about his poor Lucy. He’s concerned he might not be doing the best for his clients because he hasn’t been able to think straight since Lucy disappeared. Victor says, he means, since Anna Devane shot Lucy, but Martin says, that’s the thing. They never did find Lucy’s body. Just like Victor’s nephew – twice. Imagine that. And while hope remains alive, the uncertainty that he might never see Lucy again doesn’t do anyone any good, least of all his client. Victor suggests Martin speak plainly. How dos he think the fate of that unfortunate girl has anything to do with Esme Prince? Martin says he’s afraid if he can’t focus on the case, she’s going to end up having her baby behind bars… in Pentenville.  

Nina tells Sonny that she knew Carly hated her, but even at her worst, she didn’t think Carly was capable of doing this to her again. That Carly could keep her from – not once, but twice – her children. First Nelle, then Willow. He says he’s mad as hell at Carly right now. He doesn’t care how Carly felt about Nina. She had no right to hide the fact that Nina is Willow’s mother. Nina says she’s beyond mad. She didn’t think anything would hurt as much as finding out Nelle was her daughter until after she was dead, but this… Knowingly keeping her from her living daughter. Nina cries, and says, Carly sat by and watched her and Willow turn their relationship into this toxic thing, and didn’t say anything. Then Nina heard Willow say, this doesn’t change anything between them. It just rips her heart out of her body. He tells her, sit down, and Nina tells him that Willow said she thinks so little of Nina, she wanted to know what Nina wanted in return for her bone marrow. She’d give Willow her life. Sonny says, Willow now has to figure out what going on, and Nina says, but things would been different if they’d known they were mother and daughter. If Carly had told her, she would have never acted that way. She wouldn’t have pushed so hard to get Wiley. What if by her trying so desperately to hold on to her grandson… What if that’s what makes her lose Wiley… and Willow… and the baby. He says, she’s going get through this, and holds her as she sobs.

The reception nurse asks how she can help Michael, and he asks if he can talk to Terry. The nurse says, she’s in a consultation right now, but she’ll tell Terry when she’s available. Chase and Sasha come in, and Chase asks how Michael is doing. Is he hanging in there? Michael says he’s trying, and Sasha asks if something happened to Willow. She’s worse? Michael says, no, she’s stable. The biggest danger Willow is facing right now is herself. He knows he shouldn’t be arguing with Willow right now. She needs to save her strength to fight this thing, but she’s not listening to reason. Chase suggests they take a walk and get some fresh air, and Sasha says she’ll sit with Willow, but Michael says he doesn’t want to leave. Chase says, then maybe just a lap around the floor, and Michael says he can do that. He asks Sasha to call him if anything happens, and she promises she will.

Willow tells the baby that her dad is worried about both of them, but she promises she’s going to protect the baby as long as she possibly can. And she’ll always put the baby first.

Martin tells Victor, sooner or later, everybody’s luck runs out. When he finds Lucy, he’ll know what happened. Victor says he’s sure Martin will… if he finds her. Martin says, here’s hoping, and asks Victor to excuse him. He must be getting to court. One thing he and Victor can agree on, it behooves them all to do what they can to see justice served.

Anna says she’s sorry Valentin wasn’t with Charlotte for Christmas, and he says, that hurt. They were able to get a message to Laura on Christmas Day, so Charlotte knows he’s all right. He’s grateful for that. Anna says she thinks Laura is changing her opinion about him, but he says he wouldn’t say that. He thinks she’s tolerating him for Charlotte’s sake. He considers that a victory, but Anna says she thinks it’s more than that. Laura’s giving him credit for good intentions. He says, let’s not go crazy, when there’s a knock at the door. She asks if he’s expecting someone, but he says he doesn’t know, and asks, who’s there? in French. A child’s voice, also in French, says, it’s me, Antoine, and Valentin opens the door, inviting a little boy in. He asks if Antoine was followed, but he says, no, sir. He was careful like Valentin told him to be. Valentin asks what intel Antoine has for him, and Antoine says, when his father came home today, he was complaining again about an American woman who never stops talking. When he’s finally able to get away from her, she always says, ciao and ta. Today he says, she tried brain him with a serving tray. Valentin and Anna look at each other, and say, Lucy.

Sasha asks if she can come in, and Willow says, yes. Sasha hugs her, and she asks if Sasha has seen Michael. Sasha says, he’s with Chase, and Willow says she’s glad he has someone to talk to. She assumes Sasha knows, and Sasha says she knows about the leukemia, and that Willow delayed treatment because of her pregnancy. She thinks it was a brave choice. She would have done anything to save Liam. Willow says she knew Sasha would understand, and Sasha says, but Michael doesn’t?

Michael says, Chase knows how Willow is always putting everyone else’s needs before her own. Now they have a potential donor. Chase says, that’s great, and Michael says, if it doesn’t fall through like the last one, and if Willow doesn’t delay treatment for too long.

Willow tells Sasha, you know how relatives are supposed to make the best donors? She’s been searching for her birth mother… Sasha says, oh my God. Willow found her? Willow says, they did. Here in Port Charles. Sasha asks how that’s not good news, and Willow says, according to a DNA test, her birth mother is Nina.

Sonny says he just wants Nina to know, it’s not as bad as it seems, and she says, optimism looks good on him. He says, the lab is going to call her and tell her that she’s a viable donor for Willow. The transplant’s going to save her life, and when she’s healthy, she’ll realize she deserves Nina for a mother. She says, he can’t promise that, but he says he can. She says, how? and he says he talked to Michael last night, and he opened up a little bit. Not like it used to be, but more than they’ve talked in a year. She says, that’s wonderful, and he says he saw the son he thought he’d lost forever. There’s something he realized. As long as there’s life, there’s always hope.

Willow tells Sasha, the most selfish, vindictive person she knows, the one she fought to keep from Wiley, that’s her mom. Sasha says she knows Willow and Nina don’t get along… and Willow says, that woman hated her from the moment they met. In fact, Nina hated her before she walked into Willow’s classroom. She was Charlotte’s teacher, and Nina was convinced she had it in for Charlotte because she woudn’t accept that Charlotte was acting out. Sasha says, Nina is very protective of the people she loves, but Willow says, Nina is toxic. It’s literally horrifying to think they’re related. She was better off with Harmony. Sasha asks if Willow is thinking of refusing the transplant if Nina is the donor.

Ryan says, Esme going to prison wasn’t part of his plan, and Heather says, good. That would be a terrible plan. He says he needs her free. His daughter – Heather says, their daughter – their daughter can’t move without surveillance? Then how is she supposed to help him reunite with Ava? Heather says, Ava? She doesn’t give a damn about Ava. She’s not doing this for Ava. She’s doing this for herself and her baby girl. Steven Lars was ripped out of her arms when he was a child. Franco had to grow up without her. Esme is her last chance. He says, then don’t blow it. Stab someone. Anyone. As long as Esme’s alibi is unshakable. And don’t forget to include details only the police would know. They don’t want the police to think it’s a copycat. She says, don’t tell her how to do her job. She’s waited her whole life to have a relationship with her daughter; with her Esme. He says, no she hasn’t, and she says, now she’s within touching distance of her, does he think she’s going to let the cops lock her away somewhere she won’t get a chance to see her. And what about her baby? Prison is no place for a child. That’s their grandchild. He says, it’s better to leave the baby on the doorstep of some convent, and she says she did the best she could. It’s not fair. He’s already gotten a chance to see her, and spend time with her. She’s never even had a chance to speak with her. Esme probably doesn’t even know her name. He says, she doesn’t, but Heather says, she will, and she will be a part of Esme’s life. He says, dream big or go home, and she says she’s lived this long without her daughter, wondering where she is, just waiting for a glimpse of her baby girl. He says, now they’re back in fantasyland, and she says, mark her words. She’s going to set her daughter free if it’s the last thing she does. He says, great. How? She says, the only way she can. By busting out of here.

Nina looks at a photo of Madeline, and tells Sonny that she hated her mother. She was convinced her mother was cruel and self-absorbed. He says, two for two, and she says she was just an extension of Madeline, and she has to ask herself, what if Willow describes her that way; cruel and self-absorbed. He says, she’d be wrong, and Nina says, maybe not. He says he didn’t know Nina’s mother, but obviously, she didn’t understand love and family. Nina says, she had a firm grasp of inheritance law, and he says, when her mother took her children away from her, it broke her, just like Deke broke him. They have a hole inside of them. Their souls were ripped out by people they thought they could trust. Nina’s hurt people, and he’s hurt people. That’s because they feel too much. They love too much, and fight too hard because they react quickly. They drive away the people they love. They’re too much. She says, he’s not too much for her, and he says, she’s not too much for him either.

Valentin thanks Antoine, and says he’s been a great help. He gives Antoine some cash, and Antoine says, his pleasure, especially for this much money. Valentin asks him to promise not to tell anyone he was asking questions, and Antoine says he’s never seen Valentin before in his life. Valentin thanks Antoine, and Antoine leaves. Valentin tells Anna that was the son of one of Victor’s bodyguards, and she says, could espionage be more adorable? Now they know Lucy is in the building. He says, she’s still fighting, and Anna says, as long as there’s breath in Lucy’s body, there’s two things she’ll never do; shut up or give up. He says, they’re certainly not giving up on Lucy. What do they do? She says, they can’t go in the front way because there’s too much foot traffic, and he says, and they can’t go in the back way because there are too many cameras and motions sensors. She says, so they… and he says, they parkour across the rooftops and rappel from above? She says, no, and he says, maybe they perform a reverse Shawshank, and pop up from the sewers. She says, not the sewers; the catacombs.

Willow says, Nina claims there are no strings attached, and Sasha says, Willow doesn’t believe her? Willow asks how she can. Let’s say it all works out, and Nina’s bone marrow saves her life. Sasha doesn’t think she’d try to leverage that into time with Wiley or her daughter? Sasha says, so even after all this, the kids will still be off limits to Nina? and Willow says, Nina’s still the same person she was when she dragged her and Michael into court for visitation with Wiley. The same person who badgered and manipulated, and tried to convince Michael that she was having an affair with TJ. Sasha says, she could also be Willow’s best chance at survival, and Willow says she won’t refuse the transplant because it’s Nina. She just wants to wait as long as possible to give her daughter the best chance at a healthy life. Sasha says she would expect nothing less.

Ryan says, Heather’s guard-slash-doorman got himself canned for stealing. How does she expect to get out without his help? She says, getting out is easy. It’s getting back in that’s the tricky part. He asks if she means she can leave here any time she wants, and she says, absolutely. He asks, how? and she says, this, showing him a file-like tool. He says, nice craftmanship, and she tells him, sometimes he says the sweetest things. She’s going to take a hostage and break out, and she’s going to hook that smug little Josslyn Jax once and for all, and Esme’s exonerated. And she, Esme and the baby can go on the run together. He says, what about him? and she says, he can come if he wants, but she’s leaving now. He says, today? and she says, why not? He says, they need a real plan, not just stab and run, and she says, unclench, will he? Loosen up. Improvise. Live in the moment. He says he doesn’t think she’s thought this through, and she says, fine. She’ll do the hard work; she’s used to it. Don’t worry. They’ll send him a postcard. She runs out.

Chase says, Nina is Willow’s mom? and Michael says, yeah. Chase says he sees how that could be a lot to deal with, and Michael says, Nina’s been a wrecking ball for Willow from the get-go. Chase says, but now that Nina’s lost her case about Wiley, things have calmed down, right? Michael says, Nina accused Willow of cheating on him with TJ, because in her eyes, comforting a friend who has cancer and cheating are too impossible to tell apart. Chase tells Michael that he doesn’t know what to say to that, and Michael says, Willow is the most generous, open-hearted person in the world, and she despises Nina. How bad do you have to be for Willow to hate you? Nina wants things, but she doesn’t want to earn them, so she has no idea what’s best for Wiley. Chase asks if Michael thinks Willow is willing to risk her own life for her daughter’s sake to prove she’s not like Nina, but Michael says he doesn’t think that’s it. Willow always puts everyone’s needs before her own. She was wiling to go to jail to protect Wiley from Shiloh. Her loyalty is one of the reasons he loves her, and that’s why her family needs her.

Anna tells Valentin, there’s another brilliant idea shot to hell. Because Victor’s stronghold isn’t accessible by the catacombs. He says, hold on. That might be the official data, but there are plenty of catacombs that are unmapped. There might be one or two that lead directly to where they want to go. She asks what they’re supposed to do. Find an underground passage that may or may not be structurally sound, and explore it blindly, hoping it ends up under Victor’s fancy Parisian fortress? He says, no. They don’t have to do it themselves. There are plenty of people that have already done so. She says, illegally, and he says, unofficially. As it happens, he just might know somebody. She asks why she’s not surprised, and he says, but she is impressed. Otherwise, why is he doing this? She says she is impressed; he’s amazing. She kisses him, and says, now let’s go get Lucy out of there.

At the hospital on the phone, Victor asks Gavin, how’s their guest? Any sign of trouble?… Good. Stay alert, and double security. He hasn’t been able to locate Anna or Valentin, and they just might be headed Gavin’s way.

Heather sneaks around Spring Ridge, and hears footsteps. She ducks around the corner, and a guard brings Esme past her.  

Sasha says, when she came to town, she was pretending to be Nina’s daughter, which makes her Willow’s fake sister. They laugh, and Willow says, finally, good news. Michael comes in, and asks what they’re up to, and Sasha says she’ll let Willow fill him in. She tells Willow, any time Willow wants to talk, and Willow says, back at her. Sasha says, that goes for Michael too, and leaves. Willow asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s sorry for arguing with her, and she says she’s sorry too, for letting him think she’d abandon her family. She promises, she doesn’t want to die. He says he knows, but it’s ultimately up to her to decide to delay the birth. She thanks him for saying that, and says she thought about it, and if Dr. Randolph thinks it’s too risky to delay the transplant, they can bring their daughter into the world a little early. He says, thank God. He  loves her. She says she loves him too. Of course (🍷) none of this matters if Nina’s not a match.

Nina says she’s a potential donor match, and Sonny says he told her that there was still hope. She throws her arms around him, and says, he couldn’t resist saying, I told you so. He says he likes to be right, and she tells him that she has to go to GH and get a blood test. She’s one step closer to saving her daughter’s life. Sonny asks if she wants him to go with her, and she says she wouldn’t have it any other way. She kisses him, and asks what she’d do without him. He says, she’s not going to have to find out, and kisses her.

Tomorrow, Spencer tells Ava that he can’t go up against his father alone; Michael says, call it what it is, it was revenge; and Nina says she has no intention of forgetting.

🦃 About Mr. Wattle…

It’s all fun and games until you have to clean up turkey poop.

👦🏻 Bonjour, Antoine…

He was actually quite good.

✈️ Expanding…

Sounds like a plan.

🥀 Another Finale…

This sounds awful to say, but at least he was 90. He did a lot of impressive stage work.

🏵 Celebrating Life…

I loved this show. I got to visit the set once, and both cast and crew were incredibly gracious. Bo winked at me.

🏆 Critically Choosing…

The Critics Choice winners.

The best moments, probably debatable.

https://www.etonline.com/2023-critics-choice-awards-best-moments-and-most-memorable-speeches-197439

The buzziest moments.

https://www.avclub.com/critics-choice-awards-best-moments-2022-1848648562

And of course, the fashion.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/red-carpet-dresses/g42513537/every-look-red-carpet-critics-choice-awards-2023/

https://people.com/style/critics-choice-awards-2022-best-dressed-stars/

You can’t have the best without the worst.

🤸 Dancing On the Ceiling…

Take a return trip tomorrow for the usual soap and tea until there’s something better on. Until then, stay safe, stay engaged in a conversation and not staring at your phone, and stay dreaming big or going home.