What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Diane knocks on Robert’s office door, and says, he asked to see her. She’s assuming it has something to do with a plea deal in the Randall case, but he says he’s recused himself. She’ll have to deal with ADA Ashford-Davis on that one. He called her about something else; something more sensitive.

Ned comes downstairs, but Olivia and Brook block his path to the door. Olivia says, going somewhere? and he says, the office? He’s got a lot of damage control to do. Brook asks if he’s sure he’s not meeting with the SEC, and following up on accusing Carly and Drew of insider trading.

Josslyn tells Dex that she can’t turn her mind off. She keeps wanting to hear from Trina again, or hear something about Drew and Liesl, or something about Willow’s bone marrow transplant. He says, she hopes to have something else to focus on, and she asks if he has any suggestions.

Deanna says she’s sure Dr. Randolph has gone over this with Michael, but she’s reminding him that Willow needs a strong round of chemo to destroy her diseased bone marrow, so it can be replaced by Dr. Obrecht’s healthy marrow. Willow says she also knows that during this process her immune system will be completely compromised, and Deanna says, she’ll have to be in isolation.

Sam tells Dante that she was just talking to Nina, and he asks how that went. She says she and Nina have a not so great history. He says, when Nina first came to Port Charles? and Sam says, Nina was kind of obsessed with her first husband, and he was a big support for Sam when Danny was sick. That’s ancient history, but she feels like she has to step carefully around Nina. But Sonny loves her, so for his sake, she’s willing to make the effort. He says he wishes Michael and Carly would do the same, and she says, that’s kind of ironic. She just told Nina that she should make an effort with Carly.

Nina asks Carly if she could have a minute, and Carly stops and turns around. Nina says she was wrong, and she’s sorry. Carly says, sorry for what? and Nina says, for all the blame she heaped on Carly; for trying to make it Carly’s fault that she’s estranged from Willow. She didn’t get along with Willow when she was Charlotte’s teacher. She didn’t get along with her when Willow became Wiley’s stepmother. At her best, she was critical, and at her worst, she was combative. She regrets her actions more than she can say. But she’s standing here desperately wanting a connection with her daughter. Please, will Carly help her? Drew and Obrecht come out of the elevator.

Deanna says, they’ll move Willow to an isolation room. Everything will be wiped clean daily, she’ll be given a low bacteria diet, and anyone that comes in contact with her will have to be gloved, gowned, and masked. Michael asks if she’ll be allowed visitors, and Deanna says, there will be a protective barrier between Willow and the door. You can’t go past it. It’s very important that friends and family keep their distance; no physical contact to avoid the transmission of bacteria. Willow says she remembers all of this from nursing school. She never thought it would apply to her. Michael asks if they can have a moment alone, and Deanna says, of course (🍷). She tells Willow that she’s going to do great, and leaves. Michael says, they knew this was coming. Isolation is pivotal for the transplant’s success. Willow says she knows, but it scares her thinking this could be the last time she holds his hand.

Josslyn says, Dex wants to cook for her? but he says, no. He wants them to cook together. She says, that sounds good, but there’s a problem; she doesn’t cook. He says, not at all? and she says she can scramble eggs and make a sandwich; sometimes bake some cookies. Other than that, that’s the limit of her repertoire. He says, that’s better than when he started. He was limited to grilled cheese sandwiches, and anything he could pop in the microwave. That’s why he wanted to learn how to cook; so he could actually enjoy what he’s eating. He started following online tutorials and reading recipes, and that’s when he could actually enjoy it, both the process and the result. He’s had a few disasters, but he’s learning as he goes. She says, it sounds like he’s enjoying himself, and he says, cooking takes him out of himself. Instead of worrying about what happens next, he’s just in the moment. She says, it sounds like just what she needs, and he sits down with his laptop. He tells her that they just need to figure out what they’re going to make.

Robert says he wants to apologize for using Diane during that whole Holly business, and she thanks him. He says, for him personally, it snowballed into something else, but she was unaware of that. She says, interesting, and he says he wants to thank her for stepping in the other night and helping him with that Bureau business. She says, her pleasure, and he says he knows. She gets that twinkle in her eye whenever she uses the law to mess with people. She laughs, and says, present company very much included. He says, that brings him to this little get-together now. He’s the DA and she’s the highly respected defense attorney. They’re dancing very close to ethical lines here between sparring and flirting. Unless of course (🍷), they agree to do it by mutual consent.

Ned says he’ll tell them as many times as they need to hear it. He was not the one who turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. Olivia says, he threatened to, and Brook says, more than once. He says he’s a Quartermaine, and Chairman of the Board. He makes threats all the time, but he doesn’t always carry them out. And he especially wouldn’t turn in Drew and Carly while Willow is fighting for her life. He’s not that heartless. Brook says, not heartless, but he is a world class rationalizer. She can see him telling himself, with a little pressure from the SEC, Drew wouldn’t be around much at ELQ, and that would ultimately be a good decision for the company. The tip wouldn’t generate more than a phone call or two. He never intended for it to go so far as Carly getting picked up at Michael and Willow’s wedding. He says, it was after the wedding, and he was just as shocked and upset as everyone else, and Brook says, especially the groom. Ned says, Michael was completely out of line, assuming he was responsible, and Olivia says, Michael was out of his mind with worry over Willow. He has no reason to trust Ned, and it kills her to say this, but Ned sold out Drew and Michael to Valentin Cassadine. What would stop him from selling out Carly and Drew to the SEC? He asks if a man can’t get peace and quiet in his own house without being hounded by his family, and goes into the living room, Olivia and Brook following. Tracy asks, where is the coffee and the croissants? Have the standards in this house fallen that far? Olivia says, her breakfast niceties are going to have to wait. They’re in the middle of something here. Tracy says, another crisis no one told her about, and Ned says, Olivia and Brook still think he’s responsible for turning in Drew and Carly, and Tracy says, well of course (🍷) he did, and good for him.

Nina hugs Obrecht, and asks if she’s okay. Look at her. Thank God. Obrecht says, God and her rescuers, especially Drew, and Nina asks, what happened? Obrecht says, when Victor’s demented plan started to unravel, he tried to escape with her as his hostage. It was Drew, with an assist from Holly Sutton, who stopped that from happening. Dante and Sam come along, and Obrecht says she uses the term sparingly, but Drew is a hero. Sam says, no surprise there. Scout can’t wait to see her hero dad. She hugs Drew, and he says he can’t wait to see his daughter. He appreciates the kudos, but obviously he was part of an amazing team. Obrecht says, without him, she wouldn’t be here, and Willow wouldn’t have a chance at life, and Nina pulls her aside to talk. Carly asks if Drew’s okay, and he says he’s fine. She tells him, there’s been a lot going on, and he asks if she’s all right. What’s going on? The SEC guys come out of the elevator, and SEC1 says, Drew Cain? They’re with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They were told they could find him here. Nina looks panicked, and Drew asks, what’s this regarding? SEC1 says, they have some questions for him about allegations of insider trading, and Obrecht says, that’s ridiculous. Doesn’t he have eyes? The man just returned from a dangerous rescue mission. Why doesn’t he take his bureaucratic drivel and be gone? SEC1 says, Drew has the option not to speak with them, but they can get a subpoena, and if necessary, a warrant. So if he wants to clear this up, he’ll come with them voluntarily. Sam says, if Drew wants to fight this, she’ll back him all the way, and he thanks her, but says, there’s nothing to fight. SEC1 says, they have a credible allegation that says otherwise, and Obrecht asks how he knows the allegation is credible. By definition, an allegation is something that hasn’t yet been proven. The agents are wasting their time with this legalese doublespeak. She tells Drew not to let them scare him, and he says he’s got this. She needs to focus on Willow. It’s fine. He tells the agents, let’s go, and Carly mouths, I’m sorry. Drew leaves with the agents.

Ned says, it wasn’t him. Carly and Drew did commit insider trading. The date of Carly’s stock purchase speaks for itself. All anyone had to do was realize they were in a personal relationship – not hard to pick up on – and anyone could have turned them in. Brook says, name one. Carly made the investment months ago. Why would the SEC only start caring now? Ned says, they’re bureaucrats. It took them a while to get around to it. Brook says, it took Ned pointing them in Carly and Drew’s direction, but Ned says, if Drew is investigated, it could spill over onto ELQ where he’s a major shareholder. They can accuse him of any nefarious thing, but do not accuse him of being a bad strategist. Olivia says, that’s his defense. Despicably turning over his cousin Drew and his other cousin Michael’s mother to the SEC is bad strategy? Ned says, technically, Michael is his second cousin, and Olivia says, that’s not the point. Tracy says she applauds Ned’s technique. Deny, deny, deny, and when that doesn’t work, obfuscate. Olivia says, the second thing she’s afraid of. He’s turning into Edward right before her eyes.

Diane asks if Robert regrets kissing her the other night when the car broke down, but he says, hell no. Just the opposite. He’d like to see where this could go, but not if she feels he’s using his position to pressure her. She says she appreciates his sensitivity, but she doesn’t feel pressured in the slightest. In fact, she’s intrigued by the prospect of spending more time with him. They’re two sophisticated adults who understand boundaries, and she’s sure they can keep their private and professional lives separate. He says he was hoping she’d say that. On that note – he goes to a cupboard, and takes out a bottle of champagne and two glasses – why don’t they celebrate their newly formed social status? She says, while she appreciates him waiting until they came to terms to bring out the champagne, she wants to point out, it’s noon. He says, that’s the great thing about champagne; you can drink it any time. He pops open the bottle and pours, handing her the first glass. He says, to us, and they almost clink glasses, but her phone rings. She takes it out of her purse, and says, it’s a client. She asks what she can do for them.

Michael promises Willow that it’s not the last time they’re going to hold hands. She’ll be in isolation until her body accepts the new transplant and starts producing healthy cells. She says, listen to him. Overnight medical expert. He says, she’s the nurse. She’s the expert here; he’s just parroting back what the nurses said. She says, he knows how weak she is. There’s a chance she won’t live through this.  He says, she’s beaten the odds already; she’s going to beat them again. She says, his love is what’s gotten her this far. She doesn’t need to hold his hand. She can feel it in her heart, and wants him to feel it too. He says he does. Her love is the most precious thing they have, and she says, now would be a good time to kiss her, so she can take that with her. They kiss, when Deanna comes in and says, it’s time.

Dex looks at the screen, and says, butter lettuce, and Josslyn says, lettuce, typing it in her phone. He says, make sure it’s butter lettuce. That’s what the recipe calls for. She says, okay, and raspberries and avocados… He says, don’t forget the radishes, and she says, there’s a lot of fresh ingredients in here. He says, normally, he gets his produce at the farmer’s market, and she says, there’s a farmer’s market here? He says, right next to Rice Plaza. They can go together. She says, he’s right. Now that Sonny knows about them, they don’t have to hide anymore. He says, tell the truth. How freaked out was she when Sonny busted them after the Nurses Ball? She says she thinks paralyzed by fear would be accurate. She didn’t know what to say. Thank God he did. He says, there was no use denying it. Sonny had them dead to rights. She says, that’s a poor choice of words, and he says, that’s the part of Sonny that’s so tough. They lied to him for months about being together, and he knew all along, but he didn’t retaliate. He gave Dex credit for covering him during the warehouse ambush. Then he just let it go. He said it was up to Josslyn’s mom, and he didn’t want to be the romance police. She says, then they can take him at his word. They don’t have to hide anymore. He says, unless she doesn’t want people to know they’re seeing each other, which he’d totally understand. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s Michael. She answers and asks what she can do for him.

Obrecht tells Nina, this is outrageous. How can government lackeys show up at the hospital and drag Drew off? For what? Insider trading? Why were they not investigating Victor? Using those resources, instead of letting him come within a hairsbreadth of taking out half the world? Questioning a man who saved lives; who risked his own life so that Willow could live. Nina sits down and puts her head in her hands. Obrecht says, but no. The SEC only cares about going after a good man who made this world a better place. Nina says, Aunt Liesl, stop! then covers her own mouth. She says she’s sorry. It’s like Drew said; let’s just focus on Willow. She’s the priority. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), and Nina suggests they go see her, and tell her that Obrecht is back. They hurry off.

Carly tells Dante and Sam that Drew is coming into this blind. He had no idea the SEC was investigating him. Sam says, Drew is going to keep a cool head. He’s not going to give the SEC a reason to use anything against him. Carly asks if Dante would mind going to the PCPD and see what’s going on with Drew, and he says he was planning on it anyway. He leaves, and Carly says, it’s ironic. Drew asked her over to tell her not to buy any of Aurora stock. She didn’t listen.

Nina and Obrecht are giddy as they approach Willow’s room. They go inside to find the room empty, and Michael sitting in a chair, looking dejected. Nina says, oh my God. What happened to Willow?

Tracy says, her father was a wonderful man, and Olivia says, he was also a liar and a cheat, and a serial philanderer. Brook says she loved Grandpa Edward to pieces, but he kinda was. That’s why they’re all related to Austin. Jimmy Lee Holt, remember? Tracy says, ugh. Don’t mention that name. The too tight pants and the unfortunate hairstyle still makes her shudder. Olivia says, they’re getting off topic. The subject is Ned, and the unconscionable, underhanded way he behaved toward Drew and Carly. Brook says, really not cool, dad. And after all of those lectures about family loyalty. He says he swears, it wasn’t him. Call the SEC; they’ll tell them. Brook says, it was an anonymous tip, and anonymous means they won’t reveal your name. He knows that, and was counting on it. The more he tries to get them to believe he’s innocent, the guiltier he looks. Olivia says, when is he going to learn, it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up? He says, it’s not a crime to tell the SEC about insider trading, and Olivia says, ah-ha! pointing her finger at him. He says, which he did not do. But if he had, it wouldn’t be a crime. Tracy says, oh good Lord, what are they doing here? Josslyn and Dex stand in the doorway.

SEC1 tells Drew that their inquiry concerns the failed Aurora/ELQ merger, and the inflation of the ELQ stock immediately prior to the merger falling apart. Drew is a majority shareholder in Aurora, and has a large block of voting stock in ELQ, enough to be a majority shareholder. Drew says, his point? and SEC1 says, Carly Spencer, formerly Carly Corinthos, never owned stock in Aurora prior to the failed merger. Is that correct? Diane walks in, and says, well hello, agents. How unfortunate they have to do this all again. Her client has nothing further to say.

Robert looks at the two filled champagne glasses on his desk, and says, waste of good champagne. He gets up, picks up the glasses, and pours them into the plant on his desk. And it turns into the moss bowl🎍! Just kidding. He sets the empty glasses on his desk, picks up the bottle, and opens the door. Holly is standing there, and she says, looks like she’s just in time to celebrate.

Tracy asks Ned if Monica has instituted an open door policy, and can anyone just walk right in? Olivia tells Josslyn that she apologizes for her mother-in-law’s rudeness. She’s always welcome. Tracy says, since when? and Brook says, since she’s Michael’s sister and part of their extended family. Ned says, Josslyn was at the wedding, and Tracy says, her hair was different. And who’s he? Olivia says, this is Dex. He works for Sonny. Tracy says, oh well, that’s better. Now they can all be relieved that he’s gainfully employed, carrying brass knuckles and a gun for Sonny. Olivia says, who happens to be the father of her first born son, and Tracy says, Olivia was a teenager. Otherwise she would have hopefully had better judgement, and even better taste. Brook says she thinks Olivia showed great taste. Uncle Sonny’s the best. Tracy says, the best at what? Racketeering? Extortion? And when did we start welcoming his employees in this house? Josslyn says, don’t worry. They’re not staying. Tracy says, because they’re not invited, and Josslyn says, they’re here to pick up Wiley and Amelia. Michael wants to see them at the hospital.

Michael tells Nina and Obrecht that Willow’s been moved to isolation on the third floor. She’s starting chemo to cure her diseased bone marrow and get her ready for the transplant. Nina says she knew that had to happen. She’s so sorry she panicked. Michael says, it’s okay, and Obrecht says, Willow is doing her part, and it’s time she did hers. She’ll consult with Dr. Randolph, and get prepped for her donation procedure. Nina says she’ll walk with Obrecht, and Michael says, what Obrecht is doing, giving Willow a chance at life, it means everything to him and his children. Obrecht says, it’s her privilege. Willow is family. They leave.

Carly tells Sam that she just can’t believe how something that happened with the best of intentions turned out so badly. All she wanted to do was support Michael and Drew, and suddenly, Ned turned it into insider trading. Sam says she thinks it’s incredibly harsh, considering everything that’s going on with Willow, but she guesses when it comes to Ned, nothing else matters but ELQ.

Dante asks the desk sergeant if the SEC is still in there, and he says, they are. They shouldn’t be too long. The guy they’re questioning is being represented by Diane Miller. Dante says, Diane will have them out of there in ten, fifteen minutes. He doesn’t think they’ll get anything out of him.

Diane says, should the SEC choose to move forward with this matter, they’ll have to calendar an interview, and submit all of their questions to her in writing. SEC1 says, they already have enough to issue a subpoena, and Diane laughs and says, by saying that, she gathers they don’t already have a subpoena for her client in this matter. SEC1 says, no, looking sheepish, and she says, then this interview is over. She puts her hand on Drew’s shoulder.

Holly tells Robert, not that she ever had a problem with it before, but when did he go back to drinking in the middle of the day? He says, she’s back, and she says, in the 80s, they were married. Does he recall? They would drink champagne at all hours. He says, it was her favorite, and she says, it still is, so he won’t mind if she helps herself? He hands her the bottle, and says, have a glass – have the bottle – but tell him what happened in Greenland. She says, it was quite an adventure.

Sam goes to the station, and Dante says, Diane is representing Drew. The agents left a little while ago. By the looks on their faces, they got nothin’. She says, in the short term, that would be great. In the long term, Drew could be in a lot of trouble.

Drew says, Diane’s timing was impeccable, and she says, he can thank his ex-wife. It was Sam who called and alerted her. He says he’ll do that. He’s grateful she’s representing him. She says, this was a one-off. They’ll have to discuss further representation down the line. He says, first he has to figure out what the hell is going on, and she says, what’s going on is, he and Carly are alleged to have a personal relationship, and Carly took advantage of said relationship to make a stock purchase in anticipation of the Aurora/ELQ merger. He asks, who brought these allegations to the SEC’s attention? but she says, they don’t know. It was an anonymous tip.

Holly tells Robert that she was on the first flight with Drew and Obrecht. When they left, the Bureau was organizing to get the rest home. He says he doesn’t want to hear about travel arrangements. He wants to hear about Victor and how she stopped him. She says, he was running away with Obrecht as his hostage, but she was waiting for him. Robert says, she shot him, but she says she couldn’t. He was using Obrecht as a shield. However, she distracted him with the unwelcome news that he could no longer father children. He might ask how she knows that, but the last time she was here, she arranged for Victor to drink a special cocktail, as punishment for kidnapping her and Ethan, and forcing her to frame Anna. Robert says, payback really is a bitch, and she says, obviously, it was a sensitive subject, because Victor lost it, and tried to take a shot at her. That gave Drew an opportunity to jump him and take him down, but during the struggle, Obrecht fell. But whilst she and Drew were focused on her, Victor ran away. He asks if Obrecht is all right, and Holly says, she bumped her head, but when she came around, Obrecht was able to tell her how to save Valentin and Anna. He says, save Anna?

Brook tells Olivia and Ned, Michael confirmed Dr. Obrecht is back. Willow is being prepped for her bone marrow transplant. Olivia asks why Brook looks like she just lost her best friend, and Brook says, the chemo Willow is on is really strong. These next few days are going to be tough. Olivia says, once the treatment’s over, she’ll be in remission, right? and Tracy says, fingers crossed, but she’s thinking what Brook is thinking. Willow is very week, and might not recover. Olivia makes some pshht! sounds, and says she’s banning all dark thoughts from this house. The right attitude can make all the difference, and Willow has so much to live for, she’s going to beat this. Ned says, she’s held on longer than anyone could have predicted. She’s going to come through. Olivia says, thank God Drew rescued Dr. Obrecht, and brought her home, and Brook says, it would have been a real bummer had the SEC picked Drew up before he left for Greenland.

Michael tells Carly that Willow has been admitted to isolation, and Dr. Obrecht is being prepped to donate her bone marrow. Carly says, they prayed for a miracle, and it’s happening, and hugs Michael. He says, it’s going to work; she’s going to live. Having chemo and being in isolation is part of the treatment, but he wishes he could hold her and comfort her. Carly says, Willow knew it was going to be hard, but she also knew it was going to be worth it. Michael says he thinks he found a way to show her, when Josslyn and Dex come out of the elevator with Wiley and Amelia. Wiley runs to Michael, who picks him up, and says he sees Wiley has a new friend. Wiley says, he’s Aunt Josslyn’s friend. His name’s Dex and he was a soldier. Isn’t that cool? Michael says, that’s very cool. He didn’t realize Aunt Josslyn was bringing Dex along. Josslyn says she just wanted a little extra help with Wiley and Amelia, and Wiley asks if he can see mommy. Nina comes down the hall, but stops short, and Michael says, that’s why he had Aunt Josslyn bring them here. So they could see mommy, and mommy can see them.

Holly tells Robert that Obrecht had hidden the antidote nearby, and she was able to find it and get it to Anna and Valentin. He says, thank God for Holly, but what was Anna thinking? She says, Anna loves Valentin very much; enough to put her life on the line. He says, tell him something he doesn’t know, and she asks if he’s upset. He says, only that Anna’s so reckless with her life, and she says, he’s not jealous? He says he wishes her well, and Valentin is her mistake to make. She says, there were a few moments in Greenland when she was pretty sure she was going to die, and there was only one thing she wanted to do. She walks up to him, and says, this, kissing him. Diane comes to the door and sees them.

Dex says he met some of Josslyn’s family, and she says, extended family; one branch of it anyway. He asks how they’re connected, and she says, remember she told him about Tracy, Michael’s great aunt? Michael’s biological dad AJ and Ned are first cousins, so she guesses that makes Michael and Ned second cousins. He asks if there will be an exam later, and she says she knows it’s a lot. He says, and it’s only one branch. What are the others? She says, the Spencers, the Corinthos… She might not like Sonny so much right now, but there’s this big, blended sibling group, and various assorted nieces, nephews, and cousins. He asks if she’s okay with all those people knowing they’re together, and she says she wants them to know, taking his hand. He asks if that’s why she brought him along today; she wanted them to know? She says, no. Wiley’s a lot on his own, then they had to get Amelia into the car seat, and the car seat into the car. He says, if she can stitch up a bullet wound in her brother’s living room, he’s pretty sure she can handle two kids and a car seat. She asks if she put him on the spot, but he says, no. He loved it. Meeting Wiley, getting to hold Amelia while she wrestled with the car seat. She says she told him it’s complicated, and he says he just wondered if she brought him along because she wanted help or if she wanted to make a statement.

Sam says, Carly is convinced Ned is the one who turned her and Drew in, and Dante says, Ned reports Drew to the SEC with Carly as collateral damage? That sounds extreme. She says, who even knew Carly and Drew were together? And of all the people who knew… He says, who stands to gain the most from exposing them?

Tracy says, heroism is one thing; business is quite another. Since Drew was foolish enough to confide the merger plans to Carly, and Carly was greedy enough to cash in, they brought the SEC on themselves. Olivia says, no they did not. Ned brought the SEC on them when he turned them in. Ned says, for the thousandth time, he did not turn them in, and Tracy says, it was a smart business tactic. Olivia says, it was a gross betrayal, and Ned says he didn’t do it. Brook says, Ned double-crossed Michael and Drew with Valentin when he tanked the merger with Aurora by becoming Chairman of the Board at ELQ. Why does he expect them to believe him now? He says he admits he threw in his luck with Valentin, but that is standard Quartermaine family politics. It’s a far cry from turning Drew and Carly into the SEC. Drew is family. The Q’s stay loyal to each other. Drew walks in, and asks if they’re talking about him behind his back. He strides toward Ned, who says, they heard he brought Dr. Obrecht back… Drew punches him in the face, knocking him down.

Josslyn says, Dex has her. She wanted Michael to see them together, out in the open. It’s a bonus her mom was there. She’s known about them for months, but she thinks her mom was hoping she’d change her mind. He asks, why? and she says, when her mom was her age, she had someone like him, and she said he was the best thing to ever happen to her. Losing him almost killed her. Her mom doesn’t want that for her. He asks what she thinks, and she says, she thinks history doesn’t always repeat itself. And what happened to him doesn’t have to happen to Dex. She’d rather be happy now than give this up because she’s scared of what might happen in the future. He says, so she’s happy now? and she says she could be happier. He asks, how? and she kisses him.

Willow looks up, and sees Carly and Michael with the kids in the window. Michael says, mommy’s awake, and Wiley says, hi, mommy! We love you! Nina comes by, but keeps walking past them. Wiley waves, and Willow waves back, blowing him a kiss.

Tomorrow, Spencer tells Trina that he’ll be his brother’s guardian; Curtis asks if Laura is speaking for Spencer and Trina, or for herself; Maxie says her company is at stake; and Drew says, Ned wants a war? He’s got one.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Marge tells housekeeper Marlene that people are coming over. Marge Sr. arrives, and Marge says, Marlene is the only woman she knows who dresses up to clean. Jen arrives with her mother and her mother’s twin sister. Mazzie and Cazzie. Don’t ask me to tell them apart. In Jen’s interview, she says, her mom has an identical twin, and they love being twins. They’re 80, and still dressing alike. They were born Brooklyn, and were best friends with Barbara Streisand. Her grandmother would play the piano and Barbara would sing. In Marge’s interview, she says she’s never seen two whirling dervishes like this in her life. Now she knows where Jen gets it from. She asks if they know anyone for Marge Sr., but Marge Sr. says, at this point, she couldn’t stand being with someone 24 hours a day. Marge says she’s married to a Stage 5 clinger. In her interview, Jen says, her parents divorced when she was 3. Her parents couldn’t have been more different. Her mother is a kookie extrovert, and her dad is serious. They both remarried and there were more divorces. It was a roller coaster. Her mother was loving, but had a lot to deal with, and they moved around. Her aunts and cousins were still on Long Island, and it was hard on the family, but no matter what happened, her aunt was always a constant. The twins ask if everyone got along in Ireland, and Marge says, there was an immature a-hole. Jen asks if she means Danielle, and Marge says, Danielle can be nice, but she’s going through something with her brother. Everything with Teresa and Melissa reminds her of her brother, and brings the drama back to her. In her interview, Marge says, Danielle is used to being the center of attention. It’s very much look at me, but everything isn’t about her. Marge says she tried to coddle Danielle, but Danielle attacks her. Jen says, the shower was weird. Teresa and Melissa don’t get along, and Teresa says, all she wants is for the family to be together. Marge says, but she doesn’t include Melissa. The twins asks if Melissa is going to the wedding, and Jen says she hopes so.

Dolores gets the family dinner she wanted, and she and Paulie get to the restaurant first. Dolores tells him that Italians never sit with their back to the door. In Frank’s interview, he says he wanted to have dinner to celebrate Frankie getting his dream job, but wanted just the four of them. Dolores says, Paulie is part of their family dynamic now, and this is how she wants it to be. In Dolores’s interview, she says, Frank likes to bust balls and sometimes gets carried away, but no one bust balls more than an Irishman. Brittany, Gabby, and Frankie arrive, and Dolores says she’s proud of the extended family. Gabby says, it was a rough start, and we flash back to Frank calling Paulie Buzz Lightyear. Frank asks how old Paulie was when he came to the US, and Paulie says, 23. He worked as a receptionist to try and help his family out. Frank says he’s impressed, and in his interview, he says he wasn’t Paulie’s biggest fan when they first met. He thought Paulie was stuck up, but he realizes Paulie is like him. He wants to break barriers, and that’s all Frank is looking for. Brittany asks if Paulie knew English when he came, and Paulie explains that they speak English over there. He wants to have a prohibition party, where they dress up in clothes of the era, and thinks it’s a good idea if they invite everyone. Dolores says she’s excited for them to see where she lives now, and Frank says, so she’s not coming home? He asks if Paulie knows what kind of ring Dolores wants, and Paulie says he already has it. Frank says, STFU, but in a nice way.

In Dolores’s interview, a producer asks if she thinks Paulie really has a ring, and she says she doesn’t know. It’s nice to think about these things, but when Frank bought a house and put it in her name before they were married, her father said, they were putting the cart before the horse. This seems like apples and oranges to me, but Dolores has her own way of thinking. Frank says, whatever Brittany wants, she gets, and Dolores says she couldn’t ask for someone nicer for Frank. Frank says he can’t imagine either of them remarrying, but he’d like his son to be his best man. He gets emotional, and in his interview, he says he’s been so worried about losing the family dynamic, but he sees that he hasn’t lost it; the family is getting bigger. Frankie says, everyone is set, and Frank says, life is good; they’re blessed. They toast to everybody’s future.

It just dawns on me that Teresa’s dog’s name is Rosie. Is she named after Cousin Rosie? On the patio, Teresa shows Louie seating charts that Jessica sent her, and they confer. In Teresa’s interview, she says, a lot of logistic things need to be done, but the planning isn’t stressful. She tells Louie that she wants to do a lounge, and voices her concern about Joe #2 and Melissa saying negative things. She suggests Louie ask if his mom wants a special dance, and he calls her. She says, whatever he want to do, and Teresa says, her dad isn’t here to dance with her (I feel momentarily sympathetic), so it’s up to the two of them. In her interview, Teresa says she can’t compare the difference between their families. Louie’s family is all, whatever they need. They’re so amazing, but with her family, nothing. Louie asks how the shower was, and Teresa says, everyone got along, but Melissa’s actions don’t go with what’s happening. She hasn’t RSVP’d to the rehearsal dinner, and she knows there’s a rehearsal dinner before the wedding. Yeah. It’s usually for those in the wedding party, so I’m really confused. Louie texts Joe #2, who tells him that they can’t attend, and will only be around on the wedding day. He says, it literally makes him sick, and Teresa says, it’s the result of Melissa being in Joe’s ear. Louie says, it’s always Teresa’s fault, and in Louie’s interview, she says, Gia told her father what was happening, and Juicy Joe called him. He told Louie not to let Joe #2 interfere in his life. He would because he’s intimidated and insecure. Teresa says, when she was married to Joe #1, they only ever fought because of her brother😐, and Louie says, it’s hard to be calm around an animal like that. He’s not lowering himself for that trash. In Teresa’s interview, she says, she feels horrible and embarrassed. He sees how it is with Louie and his sisters, and she grabbed for her brother. She took the punches, but she’s tired of getting hurt. Louie says, after they’re married, he won’t allow anyone to do anything like that anymore. Honestly, is there a piece we’re not seeing? From my perspective, Teresa is the one doing the hurting, and Louie just looks insane at this point. Even his facial expressions seem crazy and he’s red in the face all the time when he talks about them. Although maybe it’s the spray tan gone wrong.

Danielle goes through her inventory, with her mom Angel cheering her on. They agree the merchandise is cuter in person than online, and Angel says, Danielle needs a brick and mortar store. In Danielle’s interview, she says, the journey was awesome; starting small and getting bigger. But right now she’s a hub for other vendors, and her goal is to have something of her own. Angel says, when Danielle and her brother were kids, growing up, they would kill for each other, but now they want to kill each other. Danielle says she would have never thought, as adults, he wouldn’t have her back, and Angel says, it breaks her heart that she and Danielle are both in pain. In her interview, Danielle says, you hear that Italian boys love their moms, but her brother iced out her mom for taking her side. Angel says she was talking with their dad about him, and he said, try to fix it, but her brother doesn’t want to. It makes her sad, especially now that a baby is involved. She wishes he’d realize what his daughter is missing. In Danielle’s interview, she says she’s not okay with not knowing her niece, and she tells Angel, all they can do is work on themselves, healing, and figuring out a world where he doesn’t exist in their life. In her interview, she says, it consumes her. She wishes they could have a relationship like they once knew. She doesn’t know what she did. Angel says, they have to hope and pray the day comes that they can all be a family again. Maybe he’ll see the light. Danielle says, maybe he’s lost somewhere, but if showed up… She cries, and Angel says, all they can do is wait and hope things change.

In Jennifer’s interview, she says, during covid, her brother went to Turkey because his wife Melda’s visa wasn’t approved. It’s been approved now, she they’ve moved to America. She wants to help them get settled, and found a gorgeous 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. A friend owns the building, so she got a great rate. Her brother has been coming to the states sporadically to sell jewelry, but had no idea how inflated the prices are here. It’s like they’re starting from scratch. She knows what it’s like to be on a budget, since when Bill was a resident, they struggled. Her in-laws supported them, and helping her brother is a blessing. She meets them at the apartment, which is fully furnished, even with artwork, and blindfolds them before the go in. They take the blindfolds off when they’re inside, and they’re thrilled. As we all would be – it’s very nice. In her interview, Jennifer says, this is what it’s all about. She feels as good as they do to be able to do this. She’s excited for them starting their journey. She tells Michael that there are shops close by, and Melda won’t feel so dependent on him. She had him to herself, but now his business will take time. She doesn’t want him to be like Bill, who comes home and goes straight to the pool house. Michael says, he’s probably tired from work, but you’d think he’d say hello first. She says, it’s hard not to take it personally. She’s been given the task to raise the kids. Michael says, in the family background, the husband supported the family financially, and the mom did everything else, but Jennifer says she’s sick of it. Help her out. Maybe she’s struggling. Bill doesn’t want to go to therapy, but thinks she should go. She doesn’t want to brush things under the rug anymore. She wants to talk. In her interview, she says she doesn’t want to push him to face things; it gets her nowhere. But she feels it would be helpful if he’d go to therapy. He needs to work on himself; it’s a two-way street. She tells Michael that she loves her husband and her life. She doesn’t want to get to a place where it’s the point of no return. A relationship where one person is doing the work for two will not sustain itself.

John tells Rachel, now that they’ve started the adoption process, Jaiden’s biological mother will be contacted. Rachel asks, how soon will they hear about it, and he says, if there’s no contact, they’ll move forward to the next step. Rachel wonders if it’s a good time to tell Jaiden, and in her interview, she says, it stresses her out to think Jaiden’s birth mother is the wild card. Rachel hopes she won’t throw a wrench in the works. She knows Jaiden’s mother can be spiteful and it’s scary. She wants him to be prepared. She tells John that if it goes south, she wants everything to stay as normal as possible, and Jaiden joins the conversation. Rachel tells him that she and his dad met with an attorney to begin the steps to her adopting him. They’ll do a Federal background check on her and contact his birth mom. On paper, she’s still legally his mother, and could sign her parental rights off or fight it. Jaiden asks if she object even though she lost full custody, and John says she can. Rachel says, legally, they have to give her the opportunity, and John says, if she reaches out to Jaiden, let them know before he responds. Rachel says she doesn’t want this to stress him out. Just live his normal life, and if he changes his mind about moving forward, be honest and tell them. They can stop the process. Jaiden says he’s not changing his mind; he wants this to happen. In her interview, Rachel says, to hear that Jaiden wants her to adopt him makes her happy. He made her a mom. She tells Jaiden that she’s loved him since they met, and Jaiden says, he was thinking about the first time they met. In her interview, she says, she was 23. They’ve been through lot as a family. She had a miscarriage, and they tried for a long time to have a baby. Jaiden was her saving grace. Even if she couldn’t have her own kids, he gave meaning to her life. Watching him grow up was one of the greatest lessons of her life. She tells him that she’ll always be his mom. If it doesn’t go the way they want, he’s still her son and she loves him dearly.

As everyone gets ready for the party, Melissa says, Joe #2 hasn’t been to Paulie’s house yet. It’s a manly, masculine man pad. She’s assuming Frank’s coming, but Joe calls him, and Frank says he’ll be there. He recently had dinner with Dolores, Paulie, Brittany, and their kids. Melissa asks how it went, and he says, as Dolores. Paulie said he’d already gotten her a ring. Frank hangs up, and Melissa asks Joe if he thinks there will be an engagement tonight. They wonder how Frank might react.

Dolores tells Paulie that the Gorgas and Giudices aren’t getting along so great, and Paulie says, maybe they need to talk. They need to make up or break up. Marge tells Joe #3, at the shower, Melissa and Teresa were cordial, but Melissa was like just another guest. Danielle tells Nate that Marge started with her, bringing up Laura again, and we flash back to that. She says, Marge is always trying confront her. She’s a little bit of a douche. John tells Rachel that he asked Nate what was up with his wife calling her a rat, and Nate said, Danielle thought she was speaking in confidence, but John said, Rachel just had a friend’s back.

In Jennifer’s interview, she says, some text messages were leaked that Marge sent a friend group, saying, there was a snake in the group. There’s a snake because of Laura repeating what Marge said, and Marge is nervous because she has no idea how much was divulged. Teresa wanted to know why Melissa didn’t go after Marge, and said Marge must have something on her. Laura does. Danielle says, if someone was saying something about her, she’d want to know, but hopes Melissa doesn’t shoot the messenger.

In Teresa’s interview, she says she loves Louie’s style; it’s sexy. She bought all of her ex’s clothes, but she doesn’t have to tell Louie how to dress. She tells Louie that she hopes Joe #2 is calm. He’s not returning any of her calls, and he’s never not taken one of her calls. She wishes this wasn’t happening now, and Louie says, it’s happening on purpose because they’re getting married. Don’t apologize for her brother’s actions because it’s not her fault. He told Teresa that she was miserable, but he sees her happiness and that she’s living her best life. He’s saying she’s miserable because he doesn’t like seeing her happy. He’s projecting his own bullsh*t on her; he’s the one that’s miserable. He’s calculated in everything he does. She says she just wants peace, and Louie says, people think they can keep pushing, but he’s ready to react. She asks if he plans on talking to her brother, and he says he wants to talk to Joe #2 as much as he wants to talk to a rat in the street. In Teresa’s interview, she says she’s never heard Louie talk like this, but she doesn’t blame him. Louie says he said Joe was the family patriarch, not him, but maybe he’s threatened. The problem lies between Joe’s ears, and no one else’s. He’s seen Teresa be loving and forgiving to her brother, while Joe is gaslighting and manipulating her. He doesn’t even want them coming to the wedding. He doesn’t want the bad energy there, and doesn’t want his mother and sisters around that pig of energy. He doesn’t want anyone to waste a flash on taking Joe and Melissa’s picture. He asks Teresa, if she saw him in a snake pit, would she pull him out? She says, of course, and he says he’s pulling her out of the snake pit. Leave the rest of them it. Eventually they’ll all get bit.

So he doesn’t want them there, they end up not coming, and they’re the bad guys? Seriously, what is it I’m not grasping?

Next time – the finale – the prohibition party happens; Danielle says she’s navigating he best way to tell Melissa about the rumor; Marge and Danielle get into it at the party; Dolores says, this is bad; and Louie evokes the spirit of Charlie Sheen by saying, I’m a winner. I’m winning.

🌊 The Tide Is High…

U-turn it back tomorrow for soap, and if you haven’t had enough awful people this week, the reality that birthed Scandoval. Bring your sleuthing skills. Until then, stay safe, stay giving your public transport seat to the old and infirm, and stay out of the snake pit in the first place.