What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Kristina goes to Sonny’s office and sees him concentrating at his desk. She says, that’s some serious reading he’s got going on there. She knows he wasn’t expecting her, so if it’s a bad time… He says he’s always happy to see her. It’s a never a bad time. He hugs her and says, her timing’s always perfect. He looks over to see the wedding photo of him and Nina, out of the frame and lying on the desk.

The reception nurse tells Nina that Cyrus is in room 1002. Dex watches has she goes into Cyrus’s room. Cyrus says, look who we have here. The Lord has blessed him with a beautiful visitor. She says, keep the Lord out of this. This is between her and him.

At the courthouse, Laura says she was hoping to run into Ava. Can they talk for a minute? Ava says, of course (🍷). What can she do for Laura? Laura says, drop the charges against Esme, and Ava asks, why would she do that?

Josslyn knocks at Adam’s door and says she really needs to talk to him. A guy answers the door and tells her that she can stop knocking. Adam’s not here. He left a few minutes ago. She says she really needs to see him. Did he say where he was going? The guy says he’s not Adam’s keeper. He stormed out of here with his guitar and my vodka. Josslyn thanks him and dashes off.

Ava tells Laura that she’s sorry, but she has no intention of dropping the charges. Esme deserves this. In fact, she deserves far worse after everything she did to hurt Trina. Laura says, that is a completely separate issue. Let her answer for those crimes when the time comes. Ava’s phone rings and she says she’s so sorry. She really has to take this. Laura goes into the courtroom and asks how Esme is holding up. Esme says she’d be a lot better if Spencer was here with Ace like he promised. Where is he?

Spencer says, father, and Nikolas says, hello, Spencer.

Cyrus says, Nina seems to be angry with him, and she says, you think? He says, but why? He helped her unburden her conscience. She says, he lied about being a priest, he listened to her confession, he ruined her marriage, he destroyed her relationship with her daughter. What did he expect, a thank you note? He says, it was all going to come out eventually. All he did was help her hasten the inevitable, and doesn’t she feel better without all the crushing weight of guilt hanging over her? She says, actually, she doesn’t. Did he feel better after he was sent to prison as punishment for his crimes? He says, she’s lashing out. He understands. The truth hurts, but just give it time. Now the healing process can occur.

Sonny asks, to what does he owe the honor of Kristina’s visit? but she says she doesn’t actually have a reason. She just wanted to say hi. He says, usually she’s so busy with everything going on, she can’t get away in the middle of the day. She says, everything is on track with the surrogacy. She just wanted to check on him. He says, so this isn’t just a drop-in. She’s checking up on him. She says, he’s had a lot going on. Everything with Nina, and getting arrested, Bobbie Spencer’s funeral… She just wanted to make sure he was okay. He says, that’s very thoughtful. He’s fine. She asks if he’s sure, and he says, yeah. He’s her dad, so she has to listen to what he says, and she says, the support thing works both ways. He’s always been there for her, and she can tell when something’s not okay. This is exactly where she needs to be right now.

On a park bench, Adam strums his guitar, when Josslyn comes along. She says she thought she’d find him here, and he says, why? Because she knows him so well? Or does she read his mind? He takes a sip from the bottle of vodka, and she sits down. She says she knows he’s mad, but if he would just let her explain herself… He says, it doesn’t matter. She doesn’t need to come up with some stupid excuse for narcing on him. It’s all right. What’s done is done. She says, it wasn’t narcing on him. She’s worried about him. She was just trying to get him some help. He says, if she was really his friend, she’d see that he wants to be alone. Go away. She says, no. That’s not how this works. It’s because she’s his friend that she’s staying.

Trina walks into the courthouse, and Ava says she didn’t know if Trina was going to be here or not. She takes it that Trina leaving the hospital is a good sign. Trina says, the best, and Ava says, Curtis is okay? Trina says, yeah. He’s already awake and talking to them. Ava says she’s so glad to hear it, and Trina says, they’re all so relieved. Now they’re just waiting to see if the surgery will help him walk again. Ava says, of course (🍷). Be sure to tell everyone in her family that she’s thinking of them. Trina says she will. Actually, she got to talk to her dad after his surgery, and he reminded her how important it is to focus on her future. So that’s exactly what she’s going to do.

Laura says she’s sure Ace and Spencer are on their way over, but she needs Esme to focus on herself right now. She knows she’s the one who convinced Esme to confess, and she completely understands that Esme would blame her for the trouble she’s in right now. Esme says, it’s fine. It’s not on Laura. It’s her own fault she’s in trouble. She’s the one who’s messed up, yet again. She guesses now all that’s left to do is pray for a miracle. Martin walks in, and Laura says, maybe one can be arranged.

Nikolas walks into the apartment and tells Spencer that he looks good. Spencer thanks him and says he is. Nikolas says he’s glad. Is Ace here? Spencer says, he’s asleep in his room, and Nikolas says he understands Spencer stepped up to take great care of his brother since he’s been gone. Thank you. Spencer says, Nikolas doesn’t need to thank him for loving his little brother, and Nikolas says, he just meant that Spencer could have let himself get caught up in who his mother is and how he came to be, and just handed him off to his grandmother. Instead, Spencer has taken great care of him. Spencer says, Nikolas has been keeping tabs on them? and Nikolas says he guesses he deserves Spencer’s surprise on that. He had to leave. They would have put him in prison. And although it seems like he never looked back, just because he wasn’t here doesn’t mean he stopped caring about Spencer and Ace. Spencer says he wasn’t sure how Nikolas felt about him, given the way they left things. After all, he did try to blackmail Nikolas into handing over custody of Ace. Nikolas says, that was very Cassadine of him, and they laugh. Spencer says he did what he thought was best for his little brother, and he’s thought so much about what he’d say to Nikolas if he ever saw him again. Nikolas says, if? and Spencer says, given the way they left things, he wasn’t so sure. He played out so many different scenarios in his head; where they’d be and how it would go. This time, seeing Nikolas standing here in front of him… Nikolas says, Spencer realizes how much he hates him. He doesn’t blame Spencer. He knows he failed Spencer and Ace. He left them both, and he deserves everything Spencer has coming for him, and he’s ready to take it. Spencer tells him, there’s only one thing left to say. He’s sorry.

Martin says, ADA Lansing-Davis, and Molly says hello to him and Laura. She asks how she can help them, and Martin says he was hoping they could discuss a deal for his client. He meant her and him; no impropriety intended. Laura says she’s just here as a grandmother. Her position as mayor should have no bearing on the conversation. Molly says, understood. With regard to the case, his client confessed to breaking and entering. It’s open and shut. Laura says, but Esme took responsibility for her crimes. She turned herself in. Nobody was hurt. There should be some leniency in a situation where a young woman has memory loss… Martin asks if she minds if he takes it from here, and Laura says, sorry. She leaves, and Molly says, the law is clear. Ava Jerome has decided to press charges and her office has the responsibility to pursue a conviction. He says, in that case, she should know he intends to advise his client to plead not guilty, which means there’s going to be a trial, and eventually she’s going to take that stand and get to tell her whole sordid story, complete with waterworks, he’s sure. Now correct him if he’s wrong, but juries tend to be sympathetic to young women who’ve been held captive against their will. Is she sure she’s going to get that conviction under those circumstances?

Ava tells Trina, that’s amazing news. Paris, and with Spencer? It’s so romantic, right? Long walks together along the Sienne. Visiting the Louvre together. Candlelit dinners with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Trina says, Ava is making her even more excited. She can’t believe this is really happening. Ava says, Trina deserves every second of it. That’s exactly why she decided to press charges against Esme. So Trina could see her brought to justice and finally close that chapter of her life.

Nikolas says he doesn’t understand. Spencer is sorry? For what? Spencer says he assumes Nikolas knows by now that Esme’s biological parents are Ryan Chamberlain and Heather Webber. Nikolas says he’s aware, yes. It’s both shocking, and given her behavior, not surprising at all. Spencer says, Esme conspired with her psychotic father to tear their family apart, and he fell right into her hands. And he’s sorry. Nikolas says, it wasn’t Spencer’s fault. Esme manipulated him, something they’re both very good at. Spencer says, little things that didn’t make sense. He was so blinded by his need to get back at Nikolas, he just didn’t see that. He made it very easy and he regrets that. Nikolas says he appreciates Spencer’s apology, but it’s not necessary. He bears responsibility for their failed relationship. He should have tried harder to make things better between them. Sure, Ryan and Esme might have been trying to destroy their relationship, but he gave them an opening. He let Esme get in his head about his marriage. And he slept with her. And he kept Esme prisoner at Windymere. Those were his choices, even if Ryan and Esme were pulling the strings. Spencer says, Nikolas hurt him, no doubt, but now he can see Nikolas hurt himself just as much. Nikolas says, maybe more. Now all he can do is take responsibility for his actions. Spencer says, like abandoning his newborn son so he could avoid going to prison?

Adam gets up and is about to take a swig from the vodka bottle, but Josslyn stops him. He tells her not to touch him. He doesn’t want her help. She says, this is exactly why she went to the RA. He’s not okay and she didn’t know what else to do. He says, she’s just like his parents. They don’t care about him. They just want to make him someone else’s problem. He takes a drink, and she snatches the bottle away from him, saying, that’s not why she did it. She’s worried about him. He needs to get some help. He says, nothing matters. He’s miserable… all the time. She can’t change that.

Nina says, healing. That’s what Cyrus thinks is about to happen here? This was all about him getting back at Sonny. He found an opportunity to use her to get back at Sonny and he took it. He says, she’s wrong. He has no quarrel with Sonny or his family. He simply saw two children of God hurt by lies and he wanted to ease their pain. She says, by listening to her confession under false pretenses, and he says, it was the best way for her to begin her journey to a life of authenticity. He has no ill will toward her, and if her marriage is floundering, he’s sorry. She tells him to spare her these empty words. If he’s truly sorry, prove it.

Sonny says he appreciates that Kristina is willing to spend time with her dad. She has one of the biggest hearts he knows, and he’s proud to be her father. But he’s fine. She says, as long as he says so, but if and when he needs her, know that she’s there. He says, she doesn’t have to worry about him. He’s been through a lot, and it takes a lot to keep him down. She says, it sure does. He’s one of the strongest people she’s ever met. He’s always been her rock and to think of him going to prison for assaulting Cyrus? Sonny flashes back to Dex saying, killing Cyrus gets rid of the man, but not necessarily the charges against him. The DA may even up the charges to manslaughter, saying Cyrus died as a result of his injuries. Sonny tells Dex that he wants to send a message; nobody crosses Sonny Corinthos. Dex tells him, there’s DNA. His knuckles are proof. Sonny asks if Kristina trusts him, and she says, always. He says he’s not going to prison, because he has a family who needs him. And he’s going to do everything he can to make sure he takes care of all of them.

At the hospital, now wearing scrubs, Dex’s phone dings, and he sends a text: On my way. The reception nurse says, he looks lost. Can she help him find out where he’s supposed to be? He says, no. He’s all good. She says, he’s supposed to be wearing a badge. Who is he? Dex says, he’s a temp orderly. It’s his first day. He must have left his badge in the locker room. He’s sorry. The nurse says she guesses it’s okay just this one time, but he’s not supposed to be on his phone while he’s working. He puts his phone in his pocket and says he appreciates her help.

Nina says, Cyrus thought that she needed to come clean to the people she hurt in her life in order to move on. He also told her that it wasn’t enough to feel sorry for lying to them, that she had to back it up with action. Isn’t that right? He tells her that he did say that, and she says, it’s time to practice what he preaches. If he’s truly sorry, he needs to make amends. He says he admits his apology might ring hollow to her without an accompanying act of contrition, and she says, there is something he can do. Drop the charges against Sonny.

Sonny tells Kristina that he’s been through a lot worse, and he always survives. She knows that, doesn’t she? She says, yeah, she knows. She believes in him, but she’s worried about him, even if for just selfish reasons. He says, what’s going on? and she says she’s afraid he’s not going to be here for her when she needs him. She can’t imagine going through this whole surrogacy thing with Molly and TJ without him here. He says, that’s not going to happen. He’s going to be here by her side the whole time. But she has to know she’s strong enough to do it on her own. She wipes tears away and says she knows. She thanks him and says, there was a time when she never would have had the courage to think of herself for Molly and TJ’s surrogacy. She would have just thought there was someone else, someone better. She never would have thought she could do it, but Sonny helped her see that she was capable of doing big, important, life changing things. He’s helped her find confidence in herself. That’s because of him. She takes his hand.

Trina says, Ava pressed charges against Esme for her? and Ava says she did, but Trina doesn’t seem very happy about it. Trina says she’s not sure how she feels about it. There’s a child involved. If Esme goes to prison, that little boy will be separated from his mother because of her. Ava says, Esme may be Ace’s mother, but she’s still the same conniving manipulator she’s always been. All she wants is for Trina to get fraction of the justice she’s due after everything Esme has put her through. then she can move on with her life without the burden of Esme Prince.

The bailiff says, all rise, and Ava and Trina go into the courtroom. The bailiff tells everyone, be seated, and the judge says, in the matter of the State of New York versus Esme Prince, how does the defendant plead?

Nikolas says, Spencer is right. He did abandon Ace, but Ace wasn’t the only son he walked out on. Spencer says he’s used to Nikolas disappearing by now, and Nikolas says he wants Spencer to know he regrets it. All of it. He hasn’t been a very good father to Spencer, and he doesn’t expect Spencer to forgive him for any of it. While he was away, he thought a lot about Spencer, about them. When he found out Spencer was his son and not Jax’s, he swore he was going to be the best dad anyone ever had, that Spencer would have the most normal childhood Nikolas could give him, and that Spencer would always know how much he loved him, but he failed at all that. But you can’t change the past, no matter how much you want to. It wasn’t all bad though, right? They had their moments. Some of his favorite memories are of him and Spencer when Spencer was very young. Spencer cries and says, Nikolas was his whole world. He loved Nikolas so much. Nikolas cries and says he loved Spencer too, fiercely. And no matter what else has happened between them, he wants Spencer to know that will never change. Ace cries from the other room, and Nikolas says, sounds like Ace is awake. Can he meet him?

Adam says, Josslyn doesn’t know what it’s like to be him, so stop pretending she does. She says, it’s true. She doesn’t have the same problems as he does. So maybe she’s not the best person to give him advice. But someone out there does understand if he’d just talk to them. Just come back to the dorms and get some sleep. They can figure out his next step together. He starts to nod off and falls into her lap. She sees some empty pill packets and shakes him, saying his name. She says, he’s got to wake up. Please.

Josslyn calls 9-1-1 and tells them that Adam has passed out. He’s been drinking vodka, and she thinks he took a bunch of pills. They’re in Rice Park, in an opening behind the Great Lawn. She’s going to put the phone down, but she’s staying on the line. She lightly smacks Adam’s face and tells him that he’s got to talk to her. Can he hear her? She gets no response.

Cyrus says he wishes he could help Nina, but he has no power over law enforcement. She says she doesn’t believe that, not for a second. He got Sonny into trouble; he can get Sonny out of trouble. Isn’t one of the tenets of his religion to forgive others just as God forgives you? He says, it is, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s Sonny’s victim. Sonny assaulted him. Why shouldn’t he seek justice? She says, because she can offer him something he wants more.

Sonny says, as much as he’d like to take all the credit for Kristina becoming such an amazing woman, they have to give her mom a little bit of credit. She says she knows mom supports her, of course (🍷), but what she gets from him is different. He says, she and her mom have a complicated relationship. He doesn’t want to get in the middle of it, but never doubt how much her mom believes in her. She asks if he and her mom have been talking about her, and he says, of course (🍷). Alexis always had misgivings about the situation. She didn’t know how complicated it was going to be, but it always came from love with Kristina and Molly. She never doubted who Kristina was or how much she was helping her sister. Kristina says she knows that now, but when Alexis first came at her with all these questions, whether or not she knew what she was doing or getting herself into, it took her back to all those times before when Alexis would underestimate her. It was like she would wait on the sidelines for Kristina to screw it up. Sonny asks if she’s ever talked to Alexis about it, but Kristina says, there’s no point now. It’s different. It’s different now because she’s different. She knows who she is and she knows she’s capable of meeting big challenges in her life. It’s kind of like how Sonny is so much better than the reputation that precludes him. People who don’t know him just assume he’s who they read about in the paper or what they see on the news. They have no idea how generous and kind he is, and how he’d do absolutely anything for the people he loves. And he’s always had this code of ethics, this unspoken code, that he lives by, and she feels like it almost got stronger from his time in Nixon Falls. Of course (🍷) she attributed that to Nina, but she guesses she was wrong there.

The judge asks how Esme pleads, and she says, guilty. He says, let the record reflect the defendant has entered a guilty plea. He understands a deal was struck just before this hearing began. Molly gets up and says, correct, your honor. In exchange for the defendant’s guilty plea, the DA’s office is seeking six months probation with no jail time. Ava jumps up and says, what? but the judge bangs his gavel and says, order. This court doesn’t tolerate outbursts. He asks counsel to approach the bench, and Martin and Molly go up front. Ava stomps over to Laura and asks, what the hell happened? Laura says she advocated for justice and the rest is up to the judge.

Spencer brings Ace out and says, this is your dad. Nikolas says, it’s so wonderful to finally meet him, and Spencer hands Ace to him. Nikolas says, he’s so big, and Spencer says, he’s a year old now. Nikolas says, he looks like Spencer. He has their ears, and Spencer’s grandmother’s nose. He cries as he rocks Ace and says, look at you.

Sonny tells Kristina, there are things that happened in Nixon Falls that continue to influence him. Nina wasn’t the only one. She says she liked Nina. She even forgave her for keeping him from them for so long. They were all so happy at the wedding, it felt like it was a fresh start. He says he thought it was, and she says, she was so vindictive with what she did to Carly and Drew, but she wasn’t after Drew; she was just trying to hurt Carly. And in the end, Nina didn’t get anything she wanted, and it cost her everything. Sonny flashes back to punching out Cyrus, then telling Dex to take care of him. He tells Kristina, sometimes we’re blinded by our own pain, and she says she’s the queen of reactionary behavior and lashing out. That’s why she admires Sonny so much. Nina couldn’t see the right path, but Sonny always has his eyes peeled.

Nina says, Cyrus has something she wants and she’s willing to give him anything he asks for in return. As far as she remembers, bargaining is still allowed in his religion. Is she right? He says, man does not live by bread alone, and she laughs, saying, certainly not him. He says, there may be some circumstances where a tithing is considered appropriate, and she asks if this is one of them.

The judge says, the court has heard from both attorneys and looked at the facts in the case. He’s satisfied that the deal was made in good faith and in accordance with the law. Esme Prince, I sentence you to the recommended six months probation. Esme breathes a sigh of relief, and he says, court’s adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Ava asks Molly, what the hell was that? and Molly says she understands Ava is upset. Ava says, Molly’s damn right she’s upset. She was the victim of a crime. Her house was broken into. Her safety was put at risk, and now Esme Prince gets to ride off into the sunset with probation? This is a travesty of justice. Molly says, Esme admitted to her crimes and showed remorse for her actions. No one was hurt in the crime, and it’s against the city’s best interest to try a case for such a relatively minor charge. Ava might not like it, but justice was served today. Molly leaves, and Ava tells Trina, this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.  

Esme tells Martin, a few hours ago, everything was helpless. Now he was able to keep her out of prison. She can’t thank him enough. He says, she should thank Laura. She’s the one who convinced him to approach Ms. Lansing-Davis with the deal. But make no mistake. Esme is on probation now. She needs to be on her best behavior for the next six months or she will be looking at jail time. She says, understood, and he says, there’s no wiggle room here. She doesn’t so much as put a toe over the line.

Nikolas says, he’s such a peaceful little guy, and Spencer says he’s surprised. He doesn’t usually take to strangers this quickly. He thinks Ace really likes Nikolas. Nikolas says, then he’s a very lucky man. He’s made so many bad decisions, so many wrong turns. But no matter what he’s done wrong, he needs Ace to know he’s a part of him, the very best part, and always will be. Spencer says, father… stay.

Adam is put on a stretcher, and Josslyn hands the empty packets to a paramedic, saying, she thinks he took these. She doesn’t know how many, but he washed them down with vodka. The EMT says he’ll pass this on to the doctor, and she asks if Adam is going to be okay, but they’re already moving.

Dex sees Nina leave Cyrus’s room.

Sonny calls Dex and gets voicemail. Sonny says he needs Dex to call it off. Don’t do it.

Laura asks how Esme is feeling, and she says, much better than she expected. She really thought she’d be in jail tonight. Laura says, she and Ace both are very happy she’s not, and Esme thanks her. She doesn’t know what magic Laura was able to pull, but Laura saved her. Laura says, it did get a little dicey there for a while, but she’s just glad it all worked out in the end. Tell her something. Is Esme happy she did the right thing? Esme says she’s glad she listened to Laura, and Laura says, good. Then listen to her on this other thing too. Now that she knows she’s been given probation, leave her past behind her and focus on her future. Esme says she will, and Laura’s phone dings. She says, duty calls. She has to run. She’s just so glad Esme gets to go home tonight. Esme says, her too, and Laura leaves. Esme turns around and sees Trina standing there.

Spencer says, Nikolas is in a lot of legal trouble now because of keeping Esme prisoner. Elizabeth was able to cut a deal. Maybe he can too. Nikolas says, there were extenuating circumstances for Elizabeth. He was the mastermind of the whole thing. He doubts the justice system will treat the two of them the same way. Spencer says, maybe not, but he does have the resources to retain Diane Miller, and she’s been keeping his Uncle Sonny out of prison for years. He thinks it’s at least worth a conversation. Maybe she can argue that he did what he had to in order to protect Ace… What? Nikolas doesn’t say anything, and Spencer says, he has no intention of staying in Port Charles, does he? Nikolas says he can’t, and Spencer says he should have known Nikolas was just passing through. Nikolas says, this time, it’s different, and Spencer asks, how so? Nikolas says, because this time he’s taking his sons with him.

Tomorrow, Trina says, Esme deserves to be punished for her crimes; Spencer says, it’s Nikolas’s only option, but not his; Nina says she’ll do anything for the man she loves; and Dex puts a syringe in Cyrus’s IV tube.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy texts Haleigh, asking how she’s feeling, and Haleigh texts back that it’s been a rough couple of days. She calls and says she’s feeling better, and on her way back. Captain Sandy asks if she’s 100%, and Haleigh says she’s 101%. The captain says, they need able seamen, and radios Lara to stay in her cabin until she gets a doctor. The captain radios Luka, Tumi, and Jack for the final preference sheet meeting. Primary Victor is a neurosurgeon in Columbus, Ohio. He and his friends want a luxury vacation. Jack reads that they want a tasting menu and wine pairing, and Tumi says, the want to go to a local beach club and enjoy a foam party. Then in the evening, have a Hollywood glam red-carpet party. Captain Sandy says she wants to end on a high note. They can do this. In Tumi’s interview, she says, it’s the last charter and the last impression the captain will have of her. She’s hoping for one smooth charter. She hopes for a lot.

Provisions come in, and Max apologizes to the lobster. In Tumi’s interview, she says she likes Lily. She has an amazing personality, and their beautiful black sheep has energy that she doesn’t. Haleigh comes back, and in her interview, she says, the last three days were from hell. Dealing with the shenanigans that happen on the ship is crazy, but she’ll take it ten times over barfing in a hotel room. She saw Jesus for two days, but she’s good now. Lara says, Captain Sandy wants her off the boat, and a car comes for her. In Lara’s interview, she says, it’s been a great season. She’s made so much progress personally and becoming lead deckhand. She would hate leaving at the end of the season because she’s sick and missing the last charter. I’ll be back, bitches. Max makes fun of Lily wanting to cuddle, and says he forgives her. She was drunk. The captain calls Luka to the bridge and shows him a warning on the screen. She says, there are large waves, 3 meters. In her interview, she says, the wind blowing kicks up the sea. She can see all the boats are docked. It’s the final charter, and they’ve had one problem after another, but if she left, she’d be a bad captain, and everyone would be seasick. She radios the crew to meet in the main salon for a pre-charter arrival meeting, and tells the crew, it’s the last one. She’s looked at the weather and it’s not even close. They’re not leaving. The news won’t land easily, so they need to think of things to do with the guests. They can still kill it. In Kyle’s interview, he says, the season has been challenging. They had a bosun with unethical papers, he and Natalya fought, they got a new person, Natalya left, he and Jack fought, the crew dropped like flies, Lara left, and now they can’t leave the dock. He laughs and says he didn’t realize how much happened. He’s tired.

The guests arrive, and the captain says, they’re going to get creative. She welcomes them and says, they’re happy to have them. It’s their final charter and they want to make it incredible. Tumi will show them around, then she’ll come see them and talk to them about what’s next. Tumi serves champagne and gives the tour. Bringing on the luggage, Haleigh asks if they’re moving onto the boat, and Jessika says she doesn’t think the guests are going to take the news well. Captain Sandy sees the guests are gathered at the bar and explains that they won’t be leaving the dock. Guest Laurah asks if there’s a chance they’ll be able to, but the captain says, there are gale force winds. She’s sorry, but there’s nothing she can do to control it.

The captain tells the guests that she’s sorry. She loves leaving the dock too. It’s like landing and takeoff for a pilot. No one is leaving. The marina looks normal, but offshore it’s dangerous, and there’s nothing she can do to control it. Thank God the sun is out. Laurah asks if they can jet ski, but that’s a no, and Captain Sandy says she’s challenged the crew to entertain them. In her interview, the captain says, the pressure is on the crew. They need to distract the guests. If the guests say they’re bored, it’s too late; they failed. Laurah still isn’t getting it, and says, the weather is insane, but Kyle says, they can’t even leave for another port. Tumi and Luka look online for things to do in Genoa and check out tourist stuff. In Tumi’s interview, she says, it’s easier dealing with the demands on the preference sheets, but that’s out the window. They have to come up with a new plan, but she’s not a magician. She’s got a provisioner and google, and she’s winging it. Guest Jeff wanders into the galley and wonders if he can learn to cook. Max also googles things to do, and the guests sit down for lunch. In Jack’s interview, he says, stuck on the dock, the guests are food dependent and that’s on him. Whatever he can do to make them happy, he’ll do it. He’ll give a show. He’s a ballerina and will dance on the water. Jeff’s wife Stephanie says, the kids are calling, and Jeff says he’s going to throw the phone overboard. They snipe at each other, and in her interview, Tumi says, awkward. The captain checks on the guests, and Laurah whines about the weather being nice out, so it has to be explained yet again. She asks if they can get a refund. In the laundry, Lily laughs at a dude’s tiny underwear. Captain Sandy calls Luka and Tumi to the bridge and tells them that the crew has to be with the guests at all times. It’s on them. Maybe they can take a little boat ride. Laurah gripes that there’s not even a breeze, when she should be grateful it’s not pouring rain. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, the crew needs to keep their foot on the gas. She has a first-time chief stew and bosun, and the guests have expectations. She’s seeing a baseline energy, but this charter requires more than that.

Captain Sandy starts googling, and Kyle suggests going to the nearest bar and letting them loose. Jack texts Natalya that they’re stuck at the dock, and Luka suggests using the tender they have in the water to cruise around the port. The captain tells Tumi and Kyle to go with the guests, and in her interview, she says, the guests need to feel like they’re being taken care of. They’ll have two department heads on the boat and need to feel attention from them. In Luka’s interview, he says, they’re going to use the backup tender they keep on the dock. At least it’s something to offer. Natalya texts Jack, asking if it’s the last charter, and Jack texts back, yes. In Jack’s interview, he says he feels like he, Natalya, and Tumi would have been the dream team. They all have an amazing work ethic. It would be a perfect world without egos. Jeff asks if they’re the only ones who have ever had to stay on dock, and in Luka’s interview, he says, they’re going to cruise around the port and show them a whole lot of nothing. It’s the world’s sh*ttiest booze cruise. In Kyle’s interview, he says, it’s so embarrassing. Wow. Shipping containers. Look at that crane. Back on the yacht, Lily does a cartwheel. In her interview, she says, Max is funny. He’s crazier than most of the guys she goes for. She doesn’t see it going anywhere off the boat, but her parents got married in 21 days. Jeff asks if they’re doing anything else, and Tumi continues to google. In her interview, she says she feels like she’s a step behind the guests. She’s going to get a car to take them to Portofino and get them off the boat for a long time. Luka tells Jessika, this is the longest day in the world, and in his interview, he says he definitely dodged a bullet with the Katie thing. We flash back to Katie texting that she’s in Portofino, and the captain teasing him about his girlfriend. Luka says he didn’t do anything wrong, but he’s glad it’s blown over. Tumi calls the provisioner about Italian dancers, and he says he booked two modern dancers for her. Jeff complains to Captain Sandy, who says she’s doing everything she can. In the captain’s interview, she says, the guests are reminding her that they’re stuck every chance they get. She doesn’t want to fail the client, but so far, the team has failed.

The captain radios Tumi to meet in the galley. She tells Tumi that the guests are not happy. She wants a game night with the crew against the guests. Lily is their gamester. We flash back to Lily playing a game with the guests, and in Lily’s interview, she says, games are her bread and butter. Seeing people happy makes her happy. The guests get in the hot tub, and in the crew mess, Lily puts a bunch of stuff together for the games. While opening a green marker, somehow, the ink flies out and everywhere, mostly on her. In Haleigh’s interview, she says, it’s like a green murder scene. In Tumi’s interview, she says she can’t be mad. It’s so her. How? Captain Sandy tells Luka that the whole crew is participating in the games, and Luka tells Jack that it feels wrong without Lara. Tumi lets Captain Sandy know she ordered dancers, and the captain calls her The Tuminator. Jeff groans that he’s going to bed, but Stephanie is waiting for him. They bicker weirdly, and he says he’s counting the hours until they fly back. Jack works on the tasting menu, and in his interview, he says he’s out of his comfort zone, but he’s been a stripper, he’s made pizza, dealt with the women from Florida, and done Dine in the Dark. Now he’ll finally get to do whatever the hell he wants. Jessika tells Lily about going to Cannes with Luka, and in her interview, she says, she’s being a sucker. Of course, she has feelings for him, but she’s being present in the moment and enjoying the time they have together. Meanwhile, in his bunk, Luka asks Natalya to send nudes. Ugh.

The dancers arrive and Tumi gets them set up. Jeff thinks Jack should get a raise. In Tumi’s interview, she says she danced until she was around 16. She liked ballet; it was calming. She won’t be calm now until she sees the guests happy. The dancers perform, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, it’s sensual and seductive. Woof. He’s been on this boat too long. In her interview, Tumi says, she doesn’t know if it was the dancers, the food, or the cocktails, but she feels like the guests’ coldness is starting to thaw. In Haleigh’s interview, she says she thinks Jack creates an excessive amount of dishes, but she’ll wash them. Tumi tells the guests that she’s thinking after breakfast, they could go to Portofino. Kyle says, it’s beautiful and only a 30-mile drive. Tumi leads the guests to the main salon where Lily says, they’re going to have a best dressed contest. They each have 30 seconds to pick what they want from her dress-up bin. This looks like a fun drinking game. Not so much Lily’s pick up the cereal box with your teeth game, which involves doing the splits to get close enough. Laurah seems to have forgotten she’s wearing no underwear, and her dress has a slit up the back. Even with the blur, I will never be able to unsee this, nor will the other guests or the crew.😧Jack texts Natalya, asking if she’s in Genoa, and she says she’s just passing through. He says, they’ll talk tomorrow. Kyle tells Tumi that the captain said she missed Natalya, and he feels pissed. She only knows one side of the story, Natalya’s side. In Kyle’s interview, he says he doesn’t think now is the time to tell the captain how he feels. He’ll has to face his own demons, but he’s had no time, and this is still triggering him. Natalya texts Luka that she’s coming to Genoa.

The guests go to bed, leaving a trail of feathers in their wake. In the morning, Kyle tells Captain Sandy that Lily was living her best life, and the guests were smiling. Luka is thrilled that the guests will be gone for the whole day, and Jack wonders what to wear to a foam party. Tumi tells him, anything his heart desires. My favorite food porn of the day, breakfast, is served. The captain asks the guests how game night was, and they tell her that Lily was fun and very flexible. Natalya texts Jack, asking to chat, and he goes out on deck. He’s wondering why she’s still there and suggests she come see them for a drink. He asks if anyone else knows, and she says, Luka. He asks if she wants him to tell everyone, but she says, don’t tell them. Kyle talks to Jessika about Natalya, and Jessika says, people who manipulate like her are scary and dangerous. In Jack’s interview, he says he’s pretty sure Kyle will be shook up. Jessika is a different ballgame, but it’s going to be explosive.

Next – the Season Finale – the guests go to the beach club; Lara returns and says, they’re going to f***ing tear up the city; Natalya joins the party; and Jessika kisses Max.

🫶🏾 He Had a Dream…

Drop in tomorrow for soap and what’s interesting and/or tea-worthy. Until then, stay safe; stay being mindful of others’ feelings, beliefs, and expectations; and stay not being so blinded by your own pain that it ends up costing you everything.