(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH Nurse’s Ball flashback moved ahead to May 17th, 2018. The nurses opened with Everyday People, a happy coincidence, since it’s what everyone needs to hear today. Olay got the plugs, and Carly was in jail for pushing Nelle down the stairs. Chase did one of my favorite Ball numbers ever with Feel It Still, channeling Dick Tracy. Even better, he’d been fooled into thinking it was a group number, and found himself to be a solo act. Curtis did a magic act, with Nina as his assistant. Old Jordan was his audience volunteer, and he turned a silver dollar into an engagement ring, proposing on stage, and asking her to believe in their magic. She said yes.
Maxie was still pregnant, and was concerned about the baby’s activity, but Kim said he or she probably just wanted to party. Valentin told Peter to calm down about Anna, and Anna got a message to come to Pier 55 at midnight, and come alone. Sam got caught sneaking around Peter’s office, but told the janitor (or whoever he was) that she was there doing work. Maxie told Peter the loss of Nathan was hitting her hard after the proposal, and Sonny thanked Robin for recognizing what was going on with Mike. Dante was still normal and there with Lulu, and said the joke was on him for telling Chase it was a group act. Lulu said it was karmic justice that Chase was super talented, but Dante didn’t want to go that far. Much to everyone’s relief, Mac and Mr. Marbles were stranded out of town, and Lucy moved up the presentation of the first annual Port Charles Pioneer Award. Molly took the mic, and said the first recipient was her hero, role model, and mom, but Alexis was too busy listening in on Finn and Anna backstage to realize it was her cue. Because he mistakenly thought Anna was dying, Finn told her that he still cared for her, and didn’t want anything to happen to her without knowing that. Valentin tried to get Nina out of town for the vacation of a lifetime, really an escape, and Sam found Faison’s lighter on Peter’s desk. I’m hoping they show the episode where Mike and Sonny sing Summer Wind. I could use a good cry.
🌌 Getting Into the Wayback Machine…
A look at the performances in the 2014 Nurse’s Ball, which had some of my favorites.
Kate is also leaving, definitely not fired, and will appear in an episode of Ghosted. I watched a couple episodes of it, but thought it was anticlimactic.
Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes. – Roy T. Bennett
There’s a great power in words, if you don’t hitch too many of them together. – Josh Billings
I never argue. I explain. – The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), Downton Abbey
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. – Albert Einstein
The past has no power over the present moment. – Eckhart Tolle
Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers
When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time. – Laurie Halse Anderson
May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. – George Carlin
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense, our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. – Martin Luther King
I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear. – Martin Luther King
🌳 Moving Toward Green…
Here we are, at that point in the week which became muddled for many over the past few months. Along with summer bringing green to our lives again, here’s hoping your county/town/wherever-you-live is beginning to give a green light to more normalcy – i.e. being able to get a haircut. Let this time of weirdness and reflection have made you a better person. Don’t be an idiot. Stay safe, stay informed, and stay being a rebel just for kicks.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GH was a continuation of the 2014 Nurse’s Ball (specifically, May 9, 2014). Spencer was still practically an infant, Starr was still Kiki, Eddie Maine sang Meatloaf’s You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, and fake Luke sang I Am What I Am from La Cage aux Folles (one of my favorite songs ever). Fake Luke also asked Tracy to marry him right then and there, and Lucy was happy to officiate. Elizabeth caught the bouquet. They wrapped it up with Magic Milo and his Magic Wands dancing to AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long, ending the song with Nurse’s Ball spelled out on their backsides.
🍸 Tonight’s Vanderpump Rules was a Secrets Revealed special. Hint: there were no secrets. It was basically extended scenes from this season’s episodes, given a boost with interjected videos of the cast in quarantine. Poor Lisa. She’s thinking of bringing the ponies inside. Next week: the Reunion, Part One.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Natalie listens at Kelly’s bedroom door, and hears muffled noises. She bursts in, saying, you MF’ers! and is surprised to see Tyrell and Pat in the bed. Natalie scrambles back out, as Lushion and Kelly are coming in the back door. Lushion asks, what’s wrong? Why is she stuttering? She says she’s been calling him, and he says they’ll talk. He wonders what the noise is, but goes to the living room with Natalie. Kelly investigates, and asks, what the hell is going on? Tyrell, who’s putting on his clothes at this point, says he was… and Kelly says, just leaving. It’s too much. He asks if she’s putting him out, and she says, hell yeah. She asks who Pat is, and Tyrell says, a friend; sorry. She tells them to get their asses out.
Kelly goes into the living room, and says, damn. Lushion asks, what’s going on? and Kelly asks where Natalie is. He says, she’s at the house, and Kelly asks if they can keep Justice a while longer so she can handle this. He says, handle what? and she says, this. Tyrell and Pat come out, and Lushion says, ohh. Pat leaves, and Lushion isn’t far behind. Tyrell says, hey, and Kelly asks why Pat was in the house. He says he and Kelly aren’t together; what’s her problem? She says, seriously? No part of his brain gets it? He just got out of jail, came to her house, and brings a trick to her bed. She asks who it was, and he says, a friend from back in the day. She asks, how far back? Is it Leslie? This totally confuses me, since I swear it was Nurse Pat. Tyrell says, it was nine years ago, and Kelly says, she’s clearly let herself go. He says he’s glad Kelly is out, and Kelly says she is too. He asks how it worked out, and she tells him, the DA dropped the charges. He says he doesn’t have anywhere to go, and can he please stay there. She says, it’s a lot, but let her talk to Justice first. He wants to see Justice, and she tells him, go for a walk. Give her a couple of hours, and let her talk to him. And wash her damn sheets. She wants no trace of that bitch in her house; not a thread of her damn weave. She’s going to take a shower, and he needs to do the same. He asks if she’s saying she wants to… and she says, please. He says he was just asking. It’s good to see her. She says she’ll figure out how good it is to see him when she calms down. He tells her that Natalie attacked them when she came in, and Kelly says, that’s not good. He asks, why not?
Alone in the bathroom, Kelly gets out her phone.
Natalie tells Lushion, he got a text, and hands him his phone. He asks how Natalie is, and she says, good. He tells her something smells good, and she says, it’s the pork chops. He asks if she wants to tell him why she was calling, and she says, Eddie. He was in the house. He just walked in. Lushion says, bastard, and she says, is he? He says Eddie showed her the video, and she says he did. Lushion says Kelly kissed him. She said she was just excited, and he made it clear there was nothing on his end. Natalie asks if there was something on Kelly’s end, but he says she was just happy. Natalie says, and she just happened to kiss him? Why did she text? Lushion says Kelly thought Natalie believed Tyrell and the girl were them. Natalie asks to see it, and Lushion says, no; he’s not going to do that. They’ve been through this about her questioning his love and commitment. Eddie happened to be there, trying to make something of it. She asks if she’s not allowed to have questions, and he says, not when comes to trusting him. She asks if he thinks that’s fair, and he says, yes. Because he knows what kind of man he is, and so does she. She wonders if she can ask one question, but he says, not when it comes to that. She says she’ll just ask Kelly, and he says, go ahead. Lushion types, and she asks if he’s texting Kelly. He says, maybe; maybe not. Let him know when dinner ready. He starts out the door, and she mumbles, a-hole. He says he heard that.
On the porch, Lushion calls Eddie. He asks if Eddie thinks he did something to bring Lushion’s ass down, and Eddie asks how Natalie is. Lushion says, fine. Keep pushing. Bennett drives up, and asks how Lushion is. Lushion says he’s good, and asks how Tanya is. Bennett says, as well as can be expected, and Lushion says he’s sorry. Randal keeps pestering everyone in the neighborhood, so just be aware. He asks why Lushion keeps dropping by Randal’s house, and Lushion says, it’s in his nature; it’s his job. if Bennett sees anything, let him know. Bennett says he has to be careful, or Tanya will think he’s checking on her. Lushion gets it, but he’ll let Randal know that Bennett might do a random stop-by. Bennett says he tried to file a police report on Randal, but he ran into Eddie. Lushion says Eddie is a bit crazy, and asks how it went. Bennett says he didn’t end up doing it, and Lushion says he can help. He tells Bennett to come by tomorrow, and thanks him for being one of the good guys. Bennett says Lushion is too, and drives off.
Ian approaches Lushion, and Lushion says Ian did a great job for Kelly. He wasn’t sure he could trust him. Ian says he told Lushion he could. He tells Lushion that Larry called Carl into his office and offered him a job. Lushion asks what Carl did, and Ian says, the kid held his own. He told Larry, no. Then Larry tricked Ian, and got his phone at the same time Carl was calling, and Ian got fired. Lushion says he’s sorry, but Ian says, it was worth it. He needs to start his own practice anyway… right after he sues Larry. Larry will settle because Ian knows where the bodies are buried. He asks if Lushion has seen Alex, and Lushion says, no; why? Ian says he needs to talk to her. It might be a long shot, but he slept with her around the same time she got pregnant. Lushion says, and he wants to know if the baby is his. Ian says, they met on a dating app, but she slept with a lot of guys. Who knows? Lushion says, just when you think you know someone. It’s crazy as hell. Ian says he’ll talk to Alex later, and Lushion says, sorry about his job. Ian says, it’s all good, and walks back home.
Randal looks on his laptop at a video of Bennett trashing Randal’s house. He says Bennett thinks he’s playing, but he’s got him. He takes the laptop, and heads over to Bennett’s house, where Tanya is painting. He comes up to the window next to her, and she asks what the hell he’s doing. He says he wants to show her something, and she tells him, get away. He shows her the video, and says, that’s her husband. In his house. Tearing it apart. She says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and closes the window. Randal yells, open the door, but she won’t, so Randal just walks in. Since no one ever locks their doors in Maxine. He says he’s calling the cops, and she says, please don’t. She needs Bennett. Randal asks, why? and she says Bennett is sorry; he’s just trying to protect her. She told him Randal was looking at her. She says, it’s too stressful, and he says, what’s stressful? He keeps asking, and she says Randal can’t send Bennett to jail. He asks if Bennett is a good guy, and she nods. He says he is going to send Bennett to jail, and she says she can’t breathe. She starts to scream, and Randal smiles. He says, there’s my girl, and she says it’s all her fault. He takes her medication off the coffee table, and switches it with something he brought with him. He tells her, relax; this will make her feel better. He promises it will help. She takes one, and he says he won’t send Bennett to jail. He wants her to rest. She grabs him, and he says, let him go. She keeps asking him to promise, and he gives her another pill, saying, trust him. Randal tells her that if she tells Bennett about this, he will send Bennett to jail. The pills should be kicking in any moment. He tells Tanya, she should probably have one more, and if she’s more anxious, take another one. He leaves, saying, sleep well.
Marcie watches from Brad’s house, and says, what the hell are you up to?
Steven rigs up the bathroom door, and puts a caution wet floor sign outside. He wraps his hand using toilet paper (now more precious than gold), and Eddie comes out of stall. Eddie chatters on about nothing, and Steven stays silent. Eddie tries to open the bathroom door, and gets shocked. He asks what Steven did to the door; it turns him on. Steven suggests Eddie grab it again, and he does. Although it’s obviously painful, Eddie says it just gets him going. Does Steven want to play this game? Steven says Eddie told his daughter lies about him and Esperanza. Eddie asks what the hell Steven wants to do about it, and Steven says, beat his ass. Eddie asks if Steven thinks so, and Steven says he knows so. Eddie takes out his gun, and asks if Steven’s got one, but Steven says he doesn’t need one. Eddie asks if Steven knows who the hell he’s talking to, and Steven asks how Eddie is going to explain this one. Eddie says he doesn’t need an explanation to put a bullet in Steven’s punk ass. Steven tells Eddie to get on the phone, call his daughter, and tell her that everything he’s said about her mother is a lie. Tell her that her mother is a wonderful person. Eddie says, that’s not going to happen, and Steven says he hoping Eddie would say that. An officer walks in, and asks, what’s going on? Steven says, nothing, and Eddie confirms, yeah, nothing. Steven says Eddie was just leaving, and Eddie says, yes, he was.
Larry is waiting for Eddie out in the hallway. Eddie asks what the hell Larry wants, and Larry says he wants the money Eddie owes him. Eddie says he blew it on cocaine. Larry says he’s beginning to get the impression Eddie doesn’t want to give it back. Eddie says he doesn’t, and Larry says, okay. He makes a call, and says, do it now. Eddie asks if that’s supposed to scare him, and Larry says, maybe a little. Eddie says, it doesn’t, and Larry asks if there’s anything Eddie cares about; anything he loves. Eddie says he loves him some Eddie. He’s beautiful. Larry says, yes, he is, and Eddie says Larry saw him naked; he’s a beast. Larry says, he is too. The type of beast who eats their own young. Eddie says Larry is a big pussy cat, and Larry asks if Eddie is sure there’s nothing he cares about. Eddie asks how many times Larry is going to ask. Larry walks away, and Eddie says, that guy is an a-hole.
Johnny rouses Alex, who asks if it’s closing time. He says they reopen at 9, and asks if she’s ready to go home. She stretches, and says, let’s go, but he says he means her home. She says she’s not going back there; she’s staying with him. He says, no. People come there, trying to run away from their lives. She tells him, don’t try to save her soul, but he says he’s trying to tell her the truth. He’s seen it all. You can try to drink your life away, and run away from it all, but when you wake up, the problems will still be there. Go home. She says her home is with him. He kisses her hand, and says she’s sweet, but he’s only known her for a couple of hours. She asks if he doesn’t think she’s sexy; she’s had three kids. He says she’s incredible, and Alex says, so don’t throw her away. Johnny says she just met him. Give herself a chance to sober up, and then come back. She says she’s perfectly sober. She touches her nose, and says, come on, but he shakes his head, and says, go home. She says, please. She needs something. Give her a little something. She just wants a little escape. She can’t go back to that life. He asks if she really wants to escape, and takes a packet of white powder out of his pocket. He says, something to help her escape. She says she doesn’t know if she can do that. Does he do it? He says, from time to time; it’s no big deal. She says, okay, and rolls up her sleeve. She says, if she does it, can she stay with him? He says, forever, and she says she wants it. He says, she’s about to get it.
Marcie cleans up after dinner. Brad says, it was good, and she says he sounds surprised. He says, know what else? It was good how good the kids were. She says, they didn’t seem bothered, and he says he still has to watch them closely. She says he did a good job raising them, but he says, Alex did most of the work. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s fine. He has to be. She says, he has her; he doesn’t have to do this alone. He says she hasn’t accepted his proposal, and she says, with all he’s going through, does he really want to talk about that? He says she means that much to him, but she thinks they should take it slow. She kisses him, and says she’s checking on the baby. She goes upstairs, and there’s a knock at the door. It’s Ian.
Brad asks what he can do for Ian, and Ian asks if Alex is there. He’d like to talk to her. Brad asks, what about? and Ian says, the divorce. Brad says, it’s done, but Ian says she still has papers to sign. Marcie comes back, and Brad says Ian is there to see Alex. Marcie says Alex isn’t there; she left Brad with the kids. Ian asks if they know where she went, and Brad says, probably with one of the many guys she’s been dating. Ian asks if she took the baby, and Marcie says she left all the kids with Brad. Brad asks, why? and Ian says he’s just asking. Marcie asks, what’s going on? and Ian says, nothing; he’ll come back. Brad says he thought Ian looked familiar. He shows him the laptop, with a page from Alex’s dating site on the screem. Brad reads, meet me at the Maxine hotel for lunch. How big is he? Marcie is like, Brad… and Ian says, just tell her that he wants to talk to her. Brad says the date is around the same time Alex got pregnant, and he’s pretty good at math. Is that why Ian is there? Does he think the baby is his? If he does, Brad wants a DNA result. Ian says, just tell her that he wants to talk to her, and Brad suggests he call her. Ian says, he’ll do that, and leaves. Brad says, do you believe that? and Marcie says she’s starting to believe anything about Alex. Ian does kind of look like the baby. Brad says, unbelievable. He’s going to help the kids finish their homework. He wants her to sleep upstairs, but Marcie says she’s not going into her room. She asks if Brad remembers the window that looks out to the other house, and Brad asks if she wants to have sex like wild animals. Does she think he’ll see? She says, he will.
Tyrell tells Kelly that she looks beautiful. She says she just got out of jail, and he says, so did he. She says she just wanted to clean up for Justice. She suggests Tyrell go on that walk, and he tells her again that she’s beautiful. She asks if he thought they were going to pick up where they left off. He says that’s not what he was thinking. He needs to get on his feet, and get out of there. She says, good plan; let’s work on that. In the meantime, go for a walk. Tanya walks into the house, and sits in between Kelly and Tyrell on the couch. Kelly says, what the hell? Who is she? Tyrell says he doesn’t know, and Kelly asks if it’s another ho. He says he doesn’t know her, and Tanya says, don’t talk to her or touch her. Kelly asks who she is, and Tanya asks who Kelly is. Kelly says Tanya is in her house. Tanya says she doesn’t like her colors; her colors are angry. Kelly says she needs to leave, and Tanya says it’s pretty there. Tyrell says, she’s off, and Kelly asks her name. She says, Tanya, and Kelly asks if she lives around there. Tanya says, across the valley in the blue canyon. Tyrell says, there’s a blue house across the street, and Kelly tells Tanya that she can’t stay there. Walk back home. Tanya says, Kelly is so rude, and gets up and leaves. Kelly and Tyrell follow her outside, and see her meandering down the street, and swinging around a mailbox. Bennett runs up, and says he was looking for her. She says she doesn’t want to go inside, and he suggests they sit there. She plops herself of the curb, and he sits next to her. She tells him, shut up, but he says he’s not talking. He asks her to come in the house, and she asks what planet he’s from. Randal wanders over. Ugh.
Steven calls Esperanza, and asks if Mica is doing better. Esperanza says, no; she’s been locked in her room all day. He says he’s sorry, and asks if she’s talked to Eddie, but she says, not since she said what she had to say. He’s been quiet, which is really strange, but they don’t need him making things worse. She asks if Steven is okay, and he says he’s fine; why? She says the way Mica spoke to him… and he says she should hear what the kids say on the street. It’s nothing. She says he’s not dating their moms, and he says he’s fine. Go take care of her daughter. They’ll talk later. She notices a pause, and says he was going to say I love you. He tells her, get off his phone. She says she thinks he was, and he says, bye.
Esperanza goes to Mica’s room, and tells her, come on. She opens the door, but Mica isn’t in her room. Esperanza looks through the house, but still no Mica. She hears a scream, and runs outside, as a van carrying her daughter speeds past. She looks frantic.
Next time – three episodes left – Natalie tells Kelly that she doesn’t want to deal with this sh*t, Brad confronts Ian about Alex, Tyrell wants things to be the way they used to be with Kelly, Bennett punches Randal, and Eddie goes crazy.
🏆 Where’s Max…?
While I’m glad to see Jon Lindstrom has been nominated, WTF is Max Gail?
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Michonne walks through the woods with two chained, armless, mouthless zombie buddies. She whacks a non-buddy and picks up some bullets from the ground. She sees Andrea running through the woods, with some zombies following her. Andrea hits one in the head with a rock, and stabs another, but she falls. She tries to scramble away from a third, as Michonne watches and does nothing, then turns away.
Michonne unlocks the chains binding Virgil to the boat. He says she could have done that five hours ago, but she asks why would she? They walk through the trees to a field, and she says she needs to get back. Virgil picks some flower blossoms, and says he can’t show up empty handed. His wife wouldn’t like it. He explains that he’s picking herbs. They’re good for everything; pain, nerves, and sleep. Michonne asks where the munition depot is, and he says, the old lab has structural damage. It’s best to stay away. They walk to a building where a sign says restricted area. Virgil tells her that his little boy seems to think a sailor left buried treasure in one of the grain silos. It’s hard to keep him from going inside. He’s just like his mom; when he decides to do something, there’s nothing you can do to stop him. Michonne whips around with her katana, and tells him, stop the bullsh*t. Where the hell is his family? He says he told her that he was coming home to his family, and he meant it.
Virgil stops in front of three open graves. He says he promised his wife when they got married, he’d bring her flowers every day. Michonne says he waited until now to tell her? and he says, the words don’t come easy, and neither does trust. He promised to help her, and he will. The island isn’t clear. It was until the others came and brought violence. The sickness came with it, and killed his family. He never got good at doing what she does. She’s good with a sword. She wonders what he’s asking, and he says his family is still in there; his wife and his babies. That’s why he asked her to come. He needed her to come.
They approach a building, where a zombie waits just inside the door. Michonne busts in, kills the zombie, and walks forward. Virgil closes the door behind them. A zombie is stuck inside a hallway that’s been partially blocked by a refrigerator. Michonne pierces it’s head, and kills it. Virgil drags it out of the way, as Michonne opens the next door. On his way back, Virgil knocks over some stacked furniture, and blocks the passage. He says, sorry, which hardly seems adequate. A small crowd of zombies is gathered in a room further on. The door is locked, and Michonne tells Virgil, stay close, and thunders in, rushing the zombies, holding a cot in front of her. There are about ten to fifteen of them, and she gives Virgil the cot, telling him to get behind it. She stabs and slashes, slicing off the tops of two zombies’ heads. Virgil is pushed back, and blocks himself in. Wow. Michonne is fast. The zombies all down, Virgil thanks her.
She opens the door to yet one more room. Zombies hang from ceiling, still moving. Virgil looks around, and sees a woman’s shoe. He picks it up, and gently puts it back on a zombie’s foot. This is depressing, and I wonder where Negan is when I need him.
As they walk past some chairs and stacks of books, Virgil says he wanted give them something his daughter loved to take with them, and she loved that book. Michonne says she knows how hard it is, but she’s sorry. She’s got to get back. He says he had a hard time, and his wife talked him through it. Without her, he doesn’t know who he is. She says, it’s not too late to find out. He thanks her again, and she tells him to show her what she came for, so she can go. He says, it’s late. The tide is low, and he’s not sure the boat will go through the channel. He suggests she stay night, and not risk it. They’ll need to hole up. She says she kept her end of the bargain; he needs to keep his. He says, it’s getting dark. Some of the buildings aren’t safe. They can do it in the morning. She says, first thing.
Michonne tries her radio, but gets nothing. She walks to another building, and shines her flashlight around. She sees wooden crates, and looks inside them, but none of them have guns. She sees a group of cages with dead rats in them, some just skeletons. She quietly walks through into another room, and hears a voice say, everyone be quiet. Virgil shuts her inside, and tells her, wait until morning; it’s not safe. He trusted her, and now she ruined it. She tells him, open the damn door, but he walks away.
Michonne bangs on the door to no avail. She sits, sword at the ready. A faucet drips, and she says, sh*t. She sees a food tray, and bangs on the door again. She hears someone say, calm down. They’ve been trying to talk to her. She asks how long she’s been in there, and a man’s voice says, a day maybe. We see two men and a woman in the next room. She asks why they didn’t answer when she was calling out, and the man says, Virgil blows up. He gets in a mood. The woman says, when he’s angry, it’s best to be quiet. The man says, don’t bother to try to escape; it’s boobytrapped. Virgil comes there as little as possible; he doesn’t like to see them. They were researchers together. They wrote papers, and had a life there. Michonne says, they knew each other? and he says, they were friends. She asks, what went wrong? and the woman says, stragglers came by boat, and they took them all in. One night, the food supply ran low, and a fight broke out over rations when Virgil was late. A stranger pulled a knife, and was killed. When Virgil came back, he panicked, and locked all the doors. But he didn’t know… Michonne says, what? and the woman says, his wife and kids were inside. He snapped. The man says, he was never the same, and the woman says they’ve been there ever since. The man asks if Michonne is okay, and she says she will be. She’s not staying there long. The man says she can’t kill if she doesn’t have the strength, and suggests she eat. He asks her name. Michonne bites into an apple, and says, Michonne. Virgil looks in, and says he’s glad she ate. She tells him, open the damn door, but he says he can’t do that. She says, why the hell not? and he says she’ll kill him. She says, we reap what we sow, a-hole, and he says he doesn’t want to fight. Michonne feels weird, and starts to hallucinate. Virgil says, Violet has a gift. It can help Michonne the way it helped him. She sees a woman, but then the woman disappears. She asks what Virgil did.
The room spins, and she asks, what did he do? He says, it makes a nice tea. He wants her to see. She’s in pain, like he is. She needs peace, like he does. She realizes he’s drugged her, and Michonne says she doesn’t drug people and toss them in a cell. He needs to hear her. Think about his daughter and son. He tells her that he said that too; no one listened. Everything he did was to protect his family. She laughs, and says she’s sure they’re proud of him now. He says, she’s no angel. She falls onto her side, and he says, picture the sun. She sees Siddiq, and he says she was supposed to protect them. She says she did her best, and he says she let him die. This is how it feels to be her family. She touches him, and sees blood on her hands. When she looks at him again, he’s a zombie. She yells, make it stop! The faucet continues to drip, and she gets up. Virgil tells her, stop fighting it. Suddenly, there are chains around her wrists, and she’s pulled forward.
In the woods, Michonne relives seeing Andrea crawling away from the zombie, and turns away. She goes back to Andrea’s body, and takes Andrea’s knife, wiping the blood off it. She also takes Andrea’s canteen. She goes to the road, where a car is going past. She tries to flag it down, but they keep going. The car slows, and stops. Daryl gets out, gets something from the trunk. Although Michonne yells for help, Daryl ignores her, and says, come on; let’s go. The car takes off, and Michonne runs after it. She goes back into the woods, and kills a zombie. Negan comes toward her, along with a few other people, and says, look what we have here. She takes a swing at him with her sword, but misses, and he knocks her down with Lucille. He says, this chick has cajones. She says she doesn’t want trouble, and he says she shouldn’t take a swing at him then. He picks up her sword, and says he’s not much on saving people on the road, especially those who try to take his head off, but he likes her and her massive lady nuts. Besides, it would be a waste for her to have a nice sword without the strength to use it. A woman tosses her an apple, and he says, the name’s Negan.
Glenn comes into the room where Michonne is, and suddenly, she’s back at the Sanctuary with Rick and the Alexandrians (good name for a group!), who are shooting the place up. She shoots Glenn and Heath. Negan whistles, and we’re back to when Negan had them all on their knees in the woods, and he’s choosing who he’s going to kill. He points Lucille at each one, saying, eenie, meenie, miney, mo. He stops in front of Daryl, then says, just kidding, a-hole. He was going to do the next part himself, but his right hand gal Michonne is on a wicked-ass tear these days. Who the hell is he to stand in her way? He takes her sword, and holds it in one hand and the Lucille in the other. She chooses Lucille. She says, the Alexandrians didn’t know who they were or where they were from. They didn’t know sh*t about them, but they came in the dead of night and slaughtered them anyway. She faces Rick, and says, like a coward. Remember. They did this. What happens next – she points the bat – is their fault. Welcome to the new world. She swings. Well, I hate to say it, but point well made.
Michonne is running through the woods, and is shot with an arrow. She drops to her knees, and Daryl walks over and kicks her down. She grabs for her sword, but he steps on her hand. Rick cocks his gun, and shoots.
Michonne throws up into a bucket. Virgil asks if she feels better. He says she will, and gives her some water. She stabs him with a fork. They struggle, but he takes off, and she follows. The woman in the next room calls to Michonne not to leave them. Michonne runs out of the building, and the people run out behind her. They run to the shore, but the boat is on fire. Well, that sucks.
They run through woods, and Michonne knocks Virgil down. Virgil says he wanted help. He wanted to let them go, but he wanted her to be there, so they wouldn’t kill him. Then he knew she’d kill him too. He’s sorry. One of the men says, sorry doesn’t cut it. Virgil says his wife always did the right thing. When she was gone, he didn’t know what to do. The guy tells Michonne that she has as much reason to kill the a-hole as they do. She says, she does, and he says, do it, or move. She says, look at him. He owes them more than can ever make right. In taking his life, they loose more of themselves. Their mercy gives them something; they get something. The woman asks, what? and she says, peace. They mull this over, and one of the guys slugs Virgil.
Now Virgil is in a locked a room. He sits up, and Michonne says, there’s nothing there. She checked every building, even the ones he said had structural damage. There’s not a goddam thing. He says he never lied about the weapons. He never saw them, but told her that he could show her the spots. She says he’s got to do better, but he says, sorry; he can’t. Sometimes he finds a stray shell; nothing more. She says she’s not going back empty handed. He tells her to take what she wants, and clear his debt with Oceanside. She took the risk. She says she had no choice. She had to find out. There’s no tea, so don’t even ask. She asks what he sees when he’s tripping anyway. He says, Violet with her damn camera pointed at everyone. His babies, and daughter sitting by the fire with that damn book, asking questions about a world she’d never know. Him and his son looking at stars; at heaven. He wanted, hoped, that she would see that too. She says he took her family from her, and she saw hell. He says he’s sorry. The only world he ever wanted, was the one they were in. He doesn’t know how to do without them. She says, he tries, like the rest of them. Now how about if he tries to find her stuff?
They look around, Michonne carrying the flashlight. She sees a pair of boots. She looks them over, and cries. She grabs Virgil, and asks where the hell did he get these?
There’s a large ship right off the shore. Inside, Michonne pushes Virgil into the captain’s quarters, and he says the boots washed up. He doesn’t know where they came from. She looks through the captain’s log, and whatever papers are there. She sees a dead cell phone, and realizes there’s a picture of herself and Judith etched into the glass, along with Rick and some figures. Virgil says, holy sh*t; it’s her and the kid? She says he knew. He came to find them at Oceanside. He asks why he’d do that, and she says, because of this. He says he’s never seen it, and she asks what it’s doing there. He says how would he know? and she says he knew the boat was there. He says, the world ended, boats wash up. She grabs him, and says he knew there were no munitions. He was setting a trap, and laid a trap for him. What did Virgil do to him? Virgil asks who she’s talking about, and she presses her sword lengthwise against his throat. She slowly releases him, and looks at the phone. He says he doesn’t know what she thinks he has, or who she’s looking for, but maybe it wasn’t an accident that they met. If the others help, he thinks he can get the engine working again. If the person was on this boat, maybe she can find him again.
Next to the road, Michonne caresses Rick’s boots. Virgil pulls a wagon, and the three people take their stuff from it. She says, it’s going to take some time, and Virgil says they’re out of time. She says they’re willing to let him come. There’s only one boat left. Either he leaves now, or doesn’t leave. He says, after everything, he can’t believe they’d want him to come, and she says, sometimes the most injured are the most forgiving. They’re good people. They’re giving him a chance; a way off the island. He says he promised her flowers every day.
The boat moves off. Michonne looks at Virgil, standing on shore.
Michonne cries as she looks at the phone. She takes out her radio, and says, Jojo, are you there? It’s Danto. Anyone? There’s dead air for a moment, and then crackling. Judith says she’s there. She’s been trying to get Michonne. Michonne says she’s sorry; she’s here now. Judith asks if she’s still with Virgil, and Michonne says, no, but she found three people she’s bringing back. She missed Judith and her brother so much. RJ says, mama? and she says, hey baby, and tells him to talk in code for safety. She asks how he is, and says she loves her little brave man. She asks Judith how she’s doing, and Judith guesses okay; better now. Michonne asks, how’s home? Anything with the Whisperers? Judith says they got them. Alpha can’t hurt them anymore. Michonne cries, and says she found something. It’s something really important to all of them. Judith asks, what does she mean? and Michonne says she found something that belonged to the brave man. It points to where he might have been recently. She doesn’t know what it means, or if means anything at all. Judith asks if he’s alive, but Michonne doesn’t know. Judith says if Michonne thinks he’s alive, she’s got to find him. Michonne says, not now. Judith and her brother need her with everything that’s going on in Alexandria. Judith says Michonne has to go. She has to. They’re okay. What if he needs her more? What if he’s trying come home and no one will help? Michonne says, if she goes, and Judith interrupts, saying, when she goes. Michonne says when she goes and finds the brave man… One of the men says, they’re at the coast, and Michonne says she has to go. Judith says, she knows. Listen to Uncle Daryl. Michonne says she’s going to try. She’s heading north. She’ll call every morning for as long as she can. Judith says she’ll take the walkie with her everywhere. Michonne says she loves Judith and her brother so much. Judith says they love her too. Go get him. Over and out. Michonne heaves a huge sigh.
Michonne cuts the arms and mouths off two zombies, and ties them to her. She walks through the woods, and sees a man and woman, stumbling through an overgrown field. They ask if she can help; they’ll leave without them. She asks, who? and looks out over the cliff, seeing a crowd of people forming a square. The woman says, please. They won’t wait.
Michonne remembers how Rick let her into the prison. The man asks who she is, and she swipes her sword across the necks of her zombie buddies, slicing their heads off. The couple is afraid as she comes toward them, but she holds out her hand, saying, come on, and helps them up.
The camera pans out to show several blocks of people in formation in the distance.
Next time, Alpha’s head on a pike, Negan tells Carol to hold up her end of the bargain, carol says she’s not coming back, Eugene is willing to be the fool, and Beta gathers the Whisperers.
⭐️ Best quote of the night: Sometimes the most injured are the most forgiving.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sam tends to the guard. Jason shows up, and asks, what happened? Sam tells him, Cassandra escaped.
Cassandra asks if Nikolas is sure he’s not driving in circles. He tells her the trees only look similar; they’ll get where they’re going soon. She suggests perhaps he take a more direct route to the private airport, but he says they could get caught. He tells her, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. She says she doesn’t have much choice, and he says, that’s the spirit. Don’t worry. He’s taken care of everything.
There’s a knock on Ava’s door, and she says, go away. Jax comes in, saying the doctor cleared him for a visit. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says he thought he’d check on her. How is she? She says, okay. She’s tired because they gave her a sedative. Her mind is playing tricks on her. He says what happened to her is his fault.
Lulu, Charlotte, and Maxie walk into Kelly’s Charlotte asks if when she finishes her homework, she can check on her pony at Windymere. Lulu is sure Butterscotch is fine, but Charlotte is insistent, and Lulu says she’ll think about it. Charlotte asks if she can sit at the counter so she can concentrate, and Lulu says, of course (🍷). Maxie says she’ll have to remember saying she’ll think about it after the homework, when James is old enough. Lulu says Charlotte loves riding, and she’s glad Charlotte can share that with Nina and Valentin. Although she thinks Valentin bought the pony so Charlotte would spend more time there, and asks if she sounds paranoid. Maxie says, not in the least.
Willow sees Brad sitting at the counter, and asks if he’s okay. He says, it’s been a tough day, but Willow is sure when he gets home, and cuddles with Lucas and Wiley, his bad day will disappear. Brad flashes back to telling Lucas about Julian, and says Julian is falling apart. They can’t let Julian drag them down with them.
Julian goes to the hospital, and tells Bobbie that he’s looking for Lucas, and asks if Lucas is on duty. She suggests he try calling before bothering her. He says Lucas isn’t answering, and he needs to speak to Lucas; it’s very important. She checks the computer.
Lucas is at Tony’s grave. He says he misplaced his trust in Julian, and his husband is lying to him – again. Right now, the one thing he knows for sure is that he could really use Tony’s advice. He says, I miss you dad. I’d give anything to talk to you again. He turns, as someone walks into the cemetery. It’s Tony, who says, hello son. It’s been a while.
Jason tells 911, the guard is semi-conscious, and the paramedics are on the way. She tells him, there was another guard. Chase and another officer show up, and Chase tells Jason and Sam to freeze. Sam says, the guard was hit in the head; she’s in and out. Chase tells the officer to check the guard. He does, and says, her pulse is good, but she’s out of it. Chase says he got a call from 911, and Jason says it was him. Chase says, and there was an escaped prisoner. Sam tells Chase, it was Cassandra Pierce. She hit the guard in the head with a shovel, and took off.
Nikolas tells Cassandra, it will be a few minutes; he thinks they should talk. She says, about what? and he says they had a mutual understanding, until she chose to blackmail him. Cassandra asks what he wanted her to do. Continue rotting in that local penitentiary? He knows how dangerous the environment is to a person with her constitution. The mildew alone is deadly. He says perhaps she should have stayed away from Port Charles altogether. She says, lucky for both of them, she’s on her way out. Just get her to the airport. She’d be happy to continue their partnership with mutually agreed upon terms from a safe distance. He says, that’s the problem. Her actions have dissolved their partnership.
Lucas hugs Tony, and says it’s good see him. Tony says since Lucas conjured him up, it must be important. He sees Lucas is a doctor now, and Lucas says just like his old man. And Tony has a grandson, Wiley. Tony says he’s proud of Lucas, and asks what’s on his mind.
Willow says she didn’t see Brad at the hospital today, and Brad says he switched his schedule around; he had errands to run. She says, in case she wasn’t clear, she doesn’t just think of him as just Wiley’s dad. She thinks of him as a really good friend. He says it’s kind of her to say, and she says, because of him, she has a place in her little boy’s life. He guesses he did do that, and she says he did, so if something is troubling him… He tells her like he said, it’s been a day.
Lulu suggests she and Maxie talk about something more gratifying. Maxie says, as in hot Dustin? but Lulu says, as in Peter. The way Maxie has been smiling, he must have done something wonderful. Maxie says there might soon be a change in their living arrangements. Lulu says, he got the place? but Maxie says, that didn’t work out. He’s moving in with her. Lulu thinks that’s even better, and Maxie says it’s been her home forever; more important, James’s home. Lulu says, it’s about damn time. Maxie says she was afraid, then he was afraid, then they took turns being afraid. They’ve finally accepted that they can be happy together, and the world won’t go up flames.
Ava asks Jax how her vacation from sanity is his fault. He says they should have kept an eye on the message boards after they did… She says, that hatchet job? and he says they were her words. He knew the reaction would be strong, but didn’t expect the rudeness. Ava says, rudeness? It was hatred; a complete lack of humanity and compassion. He says he doesn’t want to provide a platform for trolls. It was brutal, and he should have put a stop to it. Ava says she’s going to be more merciful to him than he was to her. The reason she’s there isn’t his fault. He asks, then why? She says she’s being haunted by restless souls. The line between the living and the dead has become very blurry. She just wanted to reach out to Kiki now… Tell her something. Does he believe they can awaken the dead?
Jax knows Ava has taken some questioning paths to contact Kiki, and Ava says, Kiki wants no part of her. Eternity isn’t even long enough for her to stay away from Ava. She’s being haunted by another lost soul. He was there at the gallery. She had him at gunpoint, and told him to take off his mask – it was Halloween and he had a mask on. When he removed it, there he was; so real, she could have reached out and touched him. Jax asks, who? and she says, Nikolas Cassadine.
Chase tells Sam and Jason, the prisoners are heading back to Pentenville. There will be a second transport for Sam as soon as he gets her statement. Sam asks about the guard, and he tells her, the guard is stable, and she’ll regain consciousness. He asks her to take him through it, and Sam says she was on work detail with Cassandra, and they were assigned to plant a tree. Cassandra had a shovel, and faked a sprained ankle. She hit the guard with the shovel and took off. There was a van parked across the road, and as soon as she saw it, she took the first opportunity. She tried to get the guard’s gun, but Sam stopped her from getting a weapon. Chase says, well done, and asks her to describe the driver. She says, it was pretty far, but the driver was male, and the van was white and not too old. She’s sorry, but that’s all she’s got.
Julian tells Bobbie, he can see the animosity. He’s proved himself to Lucas, and was accepted back into Lucas’s life and Wiley’s. He’s not walking away now, or ever. Bobbie reminds him that, whatever ground he’s gained with Lucas, there’s only one man who will truly be Lucas’s father.
Lucas tells Tony about Wiley running around nakey after his bath, and Tony says Lucas was the same way. He and Bobbie called him the streak. Lucas says it’s brought back so much of his childhood. Things he hadn’t thought about. Tony would be exhausted, coming home from a 36 hour shift, and still sit with Lucas to do homework, or put Lucas on his lap to teach him guitar. He always had time for Lucas. Tony says he never wanted Lucas to think being a parent was a chore or a favor. He wanted Lucas to feel safe and loved. He never wanted Lucas to doubt that he was the most important thing in his life . Lucas says he succeeded, and Tony says, good to know. Lucas wants the same thing for Wiley; to feel as safe and loved as he did when he was a kid. But he thinks he just burned it to the ground.
Cassandra tells Nikolas not to let a couple of tiny misunderstandings and setbacks dismantle an otherwise profitable arrangement. He says she put the entire operation in jeopardy. She admits her time in the claustrophobic confines of Pentenville may have compromised her judgment, and compelled her to misstep. Now they’re back on even ground, and no harm done. Nikolas tells her that she said she could deliver information that could destroy Valentin, and so far she’s come empty-handed. That makes her a liability. She says he’s not taking her to an airport, is he?
Nikolas stops the van. He says she wouldn’t appreciate it if he broke his promise to her. How is he supposed to respond when she breaks her promise to him? She says, it’s just been delayed, and he tells her, good. He hopes she considers this drive as an incentive to honor her obligation. She says as far as incentives go, she doesn’t see them any close to an airport. He says her actions have forced him to make alternate arrangements. She jumps out of the van, and runs.
Maxie asks Lulu if the dance was romantic or nostalgic, but Lulu says, it was a nightmare. On one hand, she was surrounded by teenage angst and ricocheting hormones; it was exhausting. Maxie says, on the other? Lulu says, Dustin was… Maxie says, hot? Sexy? Gorgeous? Lulu says, he was adorable and funny, and surprising. He had the biggest collection of dad jokes. They were so lame, she couldn’t stop laughing. Maxie says it was less romantic than she was hoping for, but Lulu says, it was romantic. Let’s just say, the kids weren’t the only ones hoping to score that night. Maxie is happy to see Lulu caught up with someone again.
Willow tells Brad, she doesn’t mean to pry, but Julian mentioned he was worried about him. She knows it was her idea to keep Julian away from Wiley during the adoption process, but she thinks Julian only wants what’s best for Wiley.
Tony tells Lucas, every parent worth their salt worries that they’re going to ruin their child’s life. But he can’t believe that, even accidently, Lucas would compromise Wiley’s happiness. Lucas says he let his guard down, and Tony says he should with the people he loves. Lucas says the problem is, the person he loves, he doesn’t entirely trust as much as he wants to. He loves Brad so much. Tony says he knows, but tell him about the horrible mistake Lucas made that torpedoed Wiley’s life. Lucas says, long story long, from day one Brad was an anxious parent. It’s been over a year, and he’s only gotten worse. They found out the birth father is a psychopath, but even though Shiloh is dead, Brad didn’t get any better. It was the opposite. Tony asks how Wiley is handling it, and Lucas says, he smiles. One thing they’re good at is hiding their stress from him. They’re experts. They can’t share it with each other either. Tony asks, how can he help? Lucas says he just keeps asking himself, what would his dad do? It made him desperate enough to let Julian back into his life; he wanted a father to lean on so badly. Tony says he was never Julian’s biggest fan, and Lucas says, him neither. Not at first. But he wanted to believe in him so badly, he let Julian get close to his son.
Ava says Jax doesn’t believe her, but he says he does. She says he believes that she believes it; that’s what Laura said. But Nikolas was as real as he is. Jax asks if anybody else saw Nikolas, like Laura or Lulu, but she doesn’t think so. He wonders why Nikolas would come to her first, and she says they formed a special bond in the days before Nikolas was killed. Would it be enough for Nikolas to show his face to her before anyone else? Probably not. Jax says, she seems to be arguing that Nikolas wasn’t really there, and she says, he was definitely there. He wanted to punish her. She was there when he was murdered, and she was going to speak out and tell the court what Valentin did. She’d promised Spencer, but Valentin made her an offer she couldn’t resist. (Thank you for not saying couldn’t refuse.) She’d been terribly scarred in a fire, and he said he could have her face restored in exchange for her silence. In the end, she betrayed Spencer and his father’s memory. Jax says he thinks she made the right call. Valentin would have slipped out of the charges anyway, and she would have been left scarred for life. Ava says they’ll never know, will they? Jax says she doesn’t believe Nikolas came back to haunt her because she chose to live life. She says she doesn’t know what to believe. She doesn’t know what’s real. That’s why she’s there. He asks why she thinks this happened to her now. Did something happen? Did she see someone or something that reminds her of the Cassadines?
On the phone, Chase says they have personnel in civilian clothes watching the airports, bus stations, and train stations, and they have roadblocks and traffic stops at the main roads out of town. He tells Sam, good news; the guard is awake and alert. Sam says, that’s great, and Chase tells her to make sure her lawyer knows. He’ll back her up, and it’s got to help. Jason asks, what’s happening with Cassandra? and Chase says they’re combing the city for the van and Cassandra. But he’d like to know what Jason was doing at the park. And before he says he’s not answering questions about his attorney, they could say Sam was an accessory to Cassandra’s escape. Sam says she tried to stop Cassandra, and Chase says, the more Jason cooperates, the better it looks for Sam. Jason says Sam told him when he visited, she’d be on work detail there, and Chase asks if Jason thought he’d pop over to say hello. She says she wanted to make sure her kids didn’t come there, and Jason says when he got there, the guard was on the ground, and Sam was doing what she could to help. Chase asks if it occurred to her to run, but she says, no. She was helping the guard. Why would she take off, and look guilty when she’s not?
Nikolas slams the van door shut, and says, dammit.
Bobbie sees Julian looking at the wall of staff photos. Bobbie asks what he’s doing, and he says he never thanked Tony. Bobbie says, when Julian was hiding, pretending to be Derek Wells, or is he referring to a more cosmic gesture of gratitude? Julian says Bobbie doesn’t think he’s capable of gratitude, does she? She says, no, and he says he knows he’s done terrible things. His efforts to go legit – and he’s succeeded – are probably too late. She says, there’s no probably about it, and he says he’s still a person; a father and a grandfather, and their son is a good man. She says, no thanks to him. He says he understands she and Tony loved and raised Lucas, and he’ll be grateful for the rest of his life. She says they didn’t do it for him, but he tells her, take the win and the thank you. He’s not trying to fill Tony’s shoes, but wants to carve out a space of his own with his son. He leaves, and Bobbie looks at Tony’s picture, saying, fill his shoes. As if.
Tony tells Lucas, the great thing about being dead is, everyone forgets your faults, or at least forgives them. He wasn’t a perfect parent. Lucas disagrees, and Tony says that’s sweet, but Lucas is proving his point. Lucas says if he wasn’t perfect, he was within the margin of error, and Tony says, so is he. Lucas says it doesn’t feel like it right now, and Tony says that’s because he’s going through a bad patch. Everything is gloom and doom right now. Did he forget the first time saw his baby smile, and realized he could take it personally? You forget the feel of your child’s hand inside yours when you’re going to the post office. He thinks when things get rough – and they did between him and Lucas’s mother – these happy memories, these little gifts, these miracles, are his arsenal of weapons against doubt, uncertainty, and fear. Those same memories will build a foundation for Wiley to lead a happy life. Okay, I’m about to lose it.
Lucas says, say he’s adjusted his outlook. Now what? He still can’t decide what’s worse; that Julian framed Brad for having an affair, or that he believed Julian. That’s the state of his family. Tony thinks Lucas knows who the most important person is in all this. Lucas says, it’sWiley. Now he has to decide who to trust and keep in his life and Wiley’s life. Lucas asks if Tony can’t just tell him what to do, but Tony can’t remember it ever being all that effective. Lucas guesses he’s right, and Tony says when Lucas’s sister died, he didn’t have the strength or motivation to get dressed. He’d pick up his shoes, and just stare. Lucas asks what he did, and Tony says, not a damn thing. It was what Lucas did; does he remember? Lucas says, no, and Tony says, he came into kitchen and Lucas had put out breakfast. He wasn’t old enough to use the stove, so he put all his favorite cereals into a big mixing bowl. Lucas says, it’s starting to ring a bell. Tony says, next to it, Lucas had packed his lunch. It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple, and a cookie. He’d had no intention of going in that day, but Lucas was having none of it. Lucas asks what he did, and Tony said he crawled next to him on the chair and said, dad, you have to go back to the hospital… Lucas says with him, all those sick people miss you. Lucas finishes, and they need you to make them feel better. Tony says, he remembers. He has a brave heart. All Wiley needs is for him trust it. He takes Lucas’s hand. Lucas’s phone rings. He answers, and I say, don’t go, Tony. It’s Bobbie. She asks if he’s okay, and Lucas says he’s fine. What’s up? Bobbie says Julian is combing the halls in the hospital, hellbent on finding him. He won’t leave. What should she tell him? Lucas says, tell Julian if he wants to see him, he’s with his father. He turns back, and Tony is gone.
Nikolas calls Jax, and tells Jax to call him back. Their situation has been compromised.
Ava thanks Jax. He reminded her of something she hadn’t realized she’d forgotten. He asks, what’s that? and she says she heard Laura call him after she’d seen Nikolas at the gallery. She overheard Laura tell him that he and Hayden shouldn’t ask her about the painting of Helena. Now it makes sense why he’s there extending his sympathy. Jax insists it’s 100% genuine, and Ava says, right. He’s overflowing with sympathy for her; the woman he accused of killing Connie. The only thing he wants to unburden her of is the painting of Helena. Jax says he was going to ask her about it when she… She says, when she what? She sees him; him and his friend the mayor. So kind, thoughtful, and compassionate. Did they think they could take advantage of her? He says that’s not what’s going on, but she says, they’ll take nothing from her. Not now, not ever. She made the mistake of trusting him once, and she won’t make that mistake ever again. He’ll going to take advantage of her.
Maxie tells Lulu, so they spent Halloween with a mob of teenagers. What’s next? Lulu doesn’t know, and Maxie says, please tell her that she said she had a great time with him, and can’t wait to see him again. Lulu thinks she generally conveyed that message, and Maxie asks if she conveyed it with a kiss. Lulu can’t believe Maxie is asking her that, and Maxie says she’ll take that as yes. She looks at Lulu, and Lulu says, what? Maxie says them, having tea and gossiping about themselves and others. Lulu says, are they becoming normal? Maxie wouldn’t go that far, but they can allow themselves one normal night. They toast, tobesties; no drama.
Willow tells Brad that he has an open invitation if he wants to talk about anything. Brad says he’ll remember that. She’s sure he’ll sort it out, and tells him to give Wiley a hug for her. She leaves, and Brad smiles. As she goes out the door, Willow smacks into Cassandra. She asks if Cassandra is okay, and Cassandra says she’s fine. She just needs her evening sugar fix. Willow says, insider tip; they have chocolate chip, and chocolate chip with bacon. Either way, she’s a winner. Cassandra says she’s a lifesaver. Cassandra looks inside, and sees Charlotte at the counter.
Brad leaves a message for Lucas that he’s at Kelly’s, and to let him know if he can bring Lucas anything.
Julian shows up at Tony’s grave. He tells Lucas that his mom said he could find Lucas there. Lucas asks what he wants.
Bobbie looks at Tony’s photo on the wall, and touches it. She wishes he could be there, and see their son becoming a father. He’d be so proud of their boy. She feels Tony behind her, touching her hand. He leans his head on hers, and fades away. She touches her cheek, and smiles.
Jax says he’s sorry Ava misunderstood. He’ll come back when she’s more herself. Ava says, no, he won’t. She won’t let him get his hands on the painting, but have fun searching. She’s stashed that monstrosity in a place no one will ever find it. He tells her, take care, and feel better. Ava says she may be crazy, but she’s not crazy. (If this was a Tarantino movie, that line would be slightly different. There would be another word before the second crazy.)
A guard tells Chase that he’s there to take Sam back to Pentenville. Chase asks him to give Jason and Sam a minute. Jason and Sam hug, and he says he’ll see her soon. Be safe. They exchange I love yous, and the guard takes her. Chase’s phone rings, and he says, put him through. He tells Jason, Cassandra has been spotted.
In the van, Nikolas says he saw the woman they’re looking for. She’s on Telegraph near Parkland. Chase asks him to describe her, and he does. He adds that he can’t be positive, but he’s pretty sure she has a gun. Chase thanks him, and he says he’s just trying to do his civic duty.
Cassandra walks into Kelly’s. Maxie gripes to Lulu about closet space, and Cassandra goes up to Charlotte, sitting next to her. She says, remember her? Charlotte opens her mouth, and Cassandra says, don’t scream or Nina will be in a lot of trouble. Charlotte asks what she means, and Cassandra says, shhh… Charlotte can save her, but she has to do everything Cassandra tells her.
On Monday, Julian asks Lucas not to do this, Obrecht asks Brad what he’s done to cover his tracks, and Cassandra tells Charlotte that no one is going to find them.
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding. – Marshall McLuhan
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward
I don’t know how I know it. – dude on Cash Cab when surprising himself with his own correct answer
How do you fold egg? It’s impossible. It’s witchcraft. – Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), King of Queens
Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone. – Dorothy Parker
How are you late for work on a yacht? You have no commute. You roll out of bed, and you’re there. – Kate Chastain, Below Deck
What’s great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. – Andy Warhol
You can’t ride two horses with one ass. – Dr. Phil
Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else. – George Bernard Shaw
Don’t compare yourself to others as you never know what others had to or are overcoming. – Emily Liou
The question is not how much time you spend, but how much value you create. – Author Tony Schwartz, talking about energy management over time management.
🍂 Favorite Season, Favorite Place…
See you on the deadside. And don’t forget to thank a veteran.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
😵 Here’s the story. I’ve had a sick dog that I have to give meds to twice a day, and I might as well be giving them to a cat. The struggle is real. Plus a few other monkey wrenches thrown in, so I’m crunched for time. I’m hoping it doesn’t reflect (too badly) in the editing, and will give a mini-cap on Game of Thronestomorrow. Some viewers will be dying happy. Others, not so much. So take this post in the spirit it’s given – the show must go on, even if it’s half-assed.
General Hospital
On the phone outside Kelly’s, Laura tells Doc it appears she has a secret admirer. A beautiful bouquet of tulips came, but the card wasn’t signed. Does he have any idea who it was? She thinks she’s talking to him. He says, guilty, and she says, thoughtful. He wants her to know he loves her, even if they’re not together right now. Doc is at the MetroCourt, and Ava arrives. He says he needs to go. It looks like it’s showtime. She tells him that she loves him, and break a leg. Robert sees Laura, and they hug.
Lucy tells Scotty that she needs help with the program. Maxie thought it was too glitzy. He suggests maybe it’s not glitzy enough. She thinks Maxie’s designer sense might be causing her criticize. Scotty says maybe she’s too picky, but Lucy says you can never be too picky about the Nurses’ Ball. It’s supposed to inspire confidence and romance. She’s suddenly distracted, and Scotty senses some sort of disturbance in the force. Lucy says, you could say that. She sees Doc pull out Ava’s chair for her.
Anna goes to see Jordan at the hospital. Curtis sits at her bedside. Anna is ready to read Jordan the riot act. She criticized Anna about going rogue. When was she planning on telling Anna that she was in the hospital? Did it slip her mind? Jordan apologizes for the secrecy. She’ll make it up to Anna. Anna says, when? and Curtis says, as soon as the antibiotics start working. Jordan thanks her for coming, and Anna tells her not to go rogue again. Curtis sighs, and Jordan asks, what is it? He says they need to talk. He understands why she kept her situation from Anna, but why keep it from him?
Anna sees Finn at the reception area, and asks how Jordan is doing. She says, good. Jordan has put things in perspective for her. Finn asks, how so? and she says she can’t keep dwelling on the past. She needs to focus on the life she has now.
Maxie and Lulu meet to get manicures. Maxie says she’s been going crazy without Lulu. Lulu says she hasn’t been gone that long, and Maxie says it was for her. She would never take off for Paris. Lulu says it’s different for Maxie. She and Peter are just getting started. Maxie says, about that…
Michael tells Kristina that he brought someone for her to talk to. Kristina remembers Willow, and asks why she’s there. Michael starts to say, she knows something… but Willow says she can speak for herself. That’s why she’s there. She says Shiloh preaches honesty above all else, but she’s there to tell Kristina the truth about Shiloh and what he does to young women like them. She was member for over five years. Kristina asks if she quit, and Willow says she escaped, just barely. She hopes Kristina can too – before it’s too late.
Willow says it’s still painful to talk about her time with DOD. She wants to help Kristina make an informed choice about her future. Neil thinks that’s an excellent idea, provided Kristina is willing to listen. Kristina says she’s heard more than her share of anti DOD propaganda. Michael asks if she trusts him. She says she does, and he asks her to believe that Willow doesn’t have an agenda. She wants to tell Kristina what happened, and let her make up her own mind. That’s all. Can she do that? Kristina says, why not?
Laura ask how Robert has been. He says he’s still above ground, and she ask how Holly is. He says they’re not together at the moment, and Laura says she’s sorry. Robert says he’s sorry it didn’t work out between her and Doc, but he doesn’t blame her for calling it quits. Laura says, it’s a complicatedsituation. Robert says she seems to have moved on to a new suiter. He caught the end of her conversation, saying she can’t wait to see someone again. She laughs and says, it was just Lulu. He says he’s going to be in Port Charles for a while, and asks, how about going to the Nurses’ Ball together?
Lucy asks if Scotty knows about whatever’s going on between Doc and Ava. He says, not a clue, and she says she’ll get him one. He tells her, hold on, but she’s already on her way. Doc asks if Ava feels the eyes on them, and Ava says, any attention is good if it gets Ryan out of hiding. He sees Lucy approach, and says, maybe not all. Lucy says, funny running into them there, and Ava says, hilarious. Lucy asks if they came in together or ran into each other in the elevator. Ava says they arranged to meet there; like Lucy and Scotty. Lucy says she and Scotty are working on the Nurses’ Ball. They were just discussing Ava’s amazing performance last year, and here she is. Lucy has tickets available, and Ava says she’ll take care of that later. She says, it’s funny though, how close Lucy and Scotty have become. Scotty joins them, and says, like liver and onions. Lucy tells him to speak for himself, and Ava says you can’t manufacture that chemistry. Maybe Lucy and Scotty should go the Nurses’ Ball together. She and Doc are.
Neil suggests Willow start at the beginning. How did she get involved with DOD? Willow says, her mother was always a seeker, looking for something spiritual, some cause or movement to answer her questions and give her a purpose. They spent Willow’s childhood moving from place to place. Her mother tried it all. Before Willow turned eighteen, she met Shiloh, and their lies were never the same.
Anna tells Finn that she has all the proof she needs that Robin is her daughter. She wants to focus on their future now. Finn flashes back to his proposal to the skeleton, and says he couldn’t agree more.
Jordan tells Curtis that she didn’t know she was sick before he left, but he says she knew more than she was letting on. She says she didn’t want to worry him, but he says she’s his wife. If he can’t worry about her, who can? She has to let him in, no matter how bad the situation gets. Finn walks in, and says he has the lab test results. Curtis takes Jordan’s hand, and she says, let’s hear it.
Laura says, go to the Nurses’ Ball with Robert? He asks if it’s really so crazy, and she says she’s just surprised, since she’s never seen him there. He says he’s usually not in Port Charles. She’s incredibly flattered, and he says, she’s not ready move on, is she? She says, something like that, and he tells her, the offer stays open. A lot can happen in week or three.
Ava tells Lucy that when Doc asked, she couldn’t resist. Lucy says, how wonderful. She hadn’t realized they’d grown so close. Ava says Doc has been a great source of comfort, and Doc says it was only natural. They understand each other’s feelings; what they’re going through. Survivor trauma from Ryan Chamberlain. Ava asks for two tickets, and hopes she gets a great table. Lucy says she will, and since Ava will be performing again, she’s thinking Ava should have Doc come up on stage with her. Ava thinks that’s a great idea, and asks Doc if he’d be interested in that. He says, anything for her, and Scotty says, Ava? A word? Ava says she needs a refill anyway, and tells Doc, try not to miss her.
Scotty orders two dirty rotten martinis. Ava asks what he wants to talk about. He says first they’ll enjoy their martinis, then she’s going to tell him what she’s up to with Doc.
Willow tells Kristina that she and her mother lived in Berk Lake, where Shiloh had his epiphany, then came up with the philosophy for DOD. Neil asks how her mother heard about DOD, and Willow says she heard rumors about it. Some of her friends left to see what was happening, and she wanted to see for herself. They attended a seminar, and Shiloh saw potential in her mother. She had outreach experience, and knows how to network. It wasn’t long before her mother was Shiloh’s right hand, spreading his teachings in Berk Lake. She seemed to have finally found a home. They took pride in the outreach and service. They felt alive, being out there, volunteering, trying to make a difference. Her mother was one of the first to join the Trust. After about a year. Shiloh wanted her.
Lulu asks Maxie, what happened last night? Maxie says she and Peter rescheduled, like they’ve been doing for weeks now. Fate is playing tricks. The closer they get, she feels like Peter is pulling away. On second thought, she thinks maybe they shouldn’t date in general.
Anna sees Peter, and asks how his date went. He says it hasn’t gone at all. They’ve been stalling, making creative excuses as to the reason why – at least he has. Anna wonders why. They established they like each other. He says he’s never invested significantly in a relationship emotionally. He’s never been part of a couple. The closer they get, the more he fears hurting her. Anna asks why he thinks that, and he says because of who he is. Who he always will be. Faison’s son.
Finn says the antibiotics were unsuccessful. Jordan says they knew it was a possibility. Finn says her remaining kidney is failing, and she needs a transplant as soon as possible. She’s at the top of the donor list now, so it’s a waiting game.
Willow says Shiloh told her that she was being considered for the Trust, honoring her for all her hard work, commitment, and the progress she’d made. It sounded like the next step. It’s Shiloh’s M.O. He gets you at your most vulnerable, when you’re figuring out who you are, and what you want to grasp. The choices you’re living with have consequences, and Shiloh takes away the burden of choice, and makes you his puppet. You’re sure he’s giving you the answer. Her mother said it was an honor to join the Trust, and that’s how it seemed. A chance to part of Shiloh’s inner circle. Shiloh had such a hold on her, she didn’t bat an eye when he asked for her Pledge. Neil ask what kind of pledge? Willow says, a secret; something personal, and so shameful he could hold it over your head if you try to leave. He tells you it’s a symbol, so the group can trust you as you trust them. So she made recording of her Pledge, and Shiloh wrote it up. She signed it, then it was time for initiation. Kristina asks, what happened? and Willow says, he put his mark on her. She shows Kristina the tattoo. Michael looks pissed, and Alexis turns away. I don’t know what Kristina is thinking, hopefully, she is thinking.
Peter tells Anna that his father raised him to be cruel and calculating. To use people and discard them. Deny his feelings unless they served him. His father led by example, and he’s hard wired. He has his father’s DNA. Anna says he has hers too. She asks if he thinks she’d be pushing the relationship if she thought he’d hurt Maxie? Peter says she doesn’t know what he’s capable of. She says, everyone iscapable of cruelty. That’s just human. He doesn’t want Maxie to see that side of him. Anna says he’s not giving Maxie enough credit. She’s a strong young woman who knows what she wants. She might run, but he should see what’s really inside that makes her want to stay.
Lucy says Doc is lucky he has both hands, or she’d have mistaken him for Ryan. He hopes more than a hand distinguishes them. She says she saw Ava around him after the memorial; now they’re going to the Nurses’ Ball? It’s like announcing to the entire world that they’re involved.
Ava asks if Scotty remembers the conversation they had a few days ago. He says when she summoned him, and wanted to use him as bait, posing as her boyfriend? She says, yes, and he says she had that cockamamie plan to lure Ryan out by making him jealous? She says she was traumatized. She had waking nightmares of Ryan choking her, but with Doc’s help, she’s accepted he’s dead. Scotty says, so she’s gone from vengeance to acceptance? She hates that he died before she got closure, or he could face justice for what he did to her daughter, but all the hate in the world can’t change it. Doc helped her to see that not every story gets a proper ending. He says Doc is responsible for letting his demented brother get loose. Now she’s cozying up to him? He wants to relieve his guilt, but she can’t do it for him. She asks if they’re done. He says they are, and she leaves.
Ava sees Lucy made herself comfortable. Lucy wouldn’t go that far. Ava thanks her for keeping Doc company. Doc’s phone dings, and he needs to cut this short. He asks if Ava wants to meet for dinner, and she says, of course (🍷). He says he’ll see her then, and leaves. Ava tells Lucy that she’d say it’s nice see her, but… Lucy tells Ava, sit down. She wants some questions answered.
Finn tells Jordan it’s not as simple as a blood type match. She has specific genetic markers. Curtis says there are options like a private donor. Finn says, it’s possible, but they tested a lot of people. He’s optimistic there’s a match. She’s at the top of list, and if he gets something promising, he’ll call. When he leaves, Jordan says she could use a distraction. Does he have news on tracking down a supposedly dead serial killer. He says that’s a cheerful new topic, and Laura comes in. Jordan says she was just asking about the trip to Canada. Curtis might have found a lead on Ryan.
Scotty goes to the table, and asks, what’s going on? and gets between Lucy and Ava. Ava says Lucy is lucky she believes in the cause. There’s a big fat check that can easily be canceled.
Curtis says the woman gave the thief a list of meds used to treat a severed hand. Jordan asks if there was a description, but Curtis says, not in detail. He tells them about the car with the bumper sticker that said, North Madison High School, Class of ’94. He found a MyFace page for the class. Working on her laptop, Jordan says, there are 240 graduates. Curtis says it was definitely a white woman, and Laura says they can remove any women of color. Curtis says two students have passed away, but he still can’t knock on 113 doors without the police getting involved. Laura says they can search the marital status; she’s probably living by herself. Curtis says that brings the number down to twenty-three. Laura says it’s a manageable amount.
Alexis says, Shiloh branded her as part of the ceremony? Kristina says, it’s just a tattoo. A lot of people get them as a testament to their faith. Willow says, if it was just a tattoo, that would be one thing. She can live with Shiloh’s physical scars; sometimes, she forgets it’s there, but it’s the emotional toll that hurt so much. Kristina asks what she means, and Willow says, Shiloh’s not there when you’re being tattooed. That part is for the other Trust members. At the time, it was just her mom and two other women. They gave her something to drink to relax her. She thinks they drugged her; she felt floaty, and out of it. Then they tattooed her, and welcomed her into the sisterhood. They left, and Shiloh came in and had sex with her. She cries, and says she doesn’t know if it counts as rape didn’t try stop him but even though it was supposed to be an honor, she knew it was wrong. It was disgusting to her, and still is. Kristina is so lucky she has family who came to rescue her before Shiloh used her for sex.
Kristina says, Shiloh wouldn’t do that, but Willow says, yes, he would. He did her, and other Trust members, including her mom. He didn’t force her, but she was drugged. Kristina says, Shiloh is a good man. Willow says she’s sorry. She knows how hard it is to this, but Kristina deserves to know the truth. Neil thanks her for sharing her story, and I’m a little surprised it was so short. I didn’t expect her to say anything about the baby, but she might have mentioned that she changed her name and he’s still following her. Alexis and Sonny appreciate it and are grateful. Neil give Willow his card in case she wants to talk. Michael asks if Willow is ready to go. Willow tells Kristina, take care; she’s going to get through this. Michael hugs Kristina, and goes. Alexis hugs Kristina, and Sonny says, son of a bitch.
Maxie tells Lulu that she and Peter are just delaying the inevitable. Lulu says to trust her, but Maxie says it’s not easy putting herself out there after Nathan died. What if Peter never lets her in? She says he’s texting her right now. He wants to meet at the MetroCourt, but it’s a bad time. She’s getting her nails done.
Anna tells Robert about her conversation with Peter. She thinks it’s nice that she and Robert are parting on good terms, and he asks, who says they’re parting? He’s going to stick around. He doesn’t like unfinished business any more than she does. He says she talk until she’s blue in the face, but he knows she’s not going to rest until she finds out what Alex and Cabot did to her.
Jordan has the feeling there’s something there. Curtis doesn’t want to leave her, but she says Finn said she was stable. He says, what if her kidney deteriorates, and she says, it’s the perfect window ofopportunity. He says, for what? To chase a dead end? She says all she’s got is a hunch, but she’s asking him to do this for her. He guesses he’s heading out in the morning. She says he’s the best, and he says she’s just saying that because she got her way. She says she’s saying it because it’s truth. They kiss.
Laura sees Curtis at the elevator, and asks when he’s leaving for Canada. He says, first thing in the morning. She says she’s going with him.
Sonny says they’re done here. Alexis asks if they can calmly and rationally agree not to take the law into their own hands. Neil says they need to both take a breath. No matter how upsetting, this is intended to help Kristina evaluate. She’s at a DOD crossroads in the treatment. How she wants to proceed is up to her.
Jordan looks up the city in Canada. Doc comes to her room, and says Finn texted him to meet there. Finn joins them, and says he talked to the lab. Doc is not only a match for her blood type, but for her genetic markers. He can be her kidney donor.
Lucy tells Scotty they need to change their tactic. Stop reacting and trying to make things happen. They need to do what they do best. Scotty says, no, no, and Lucy says, yes, yes. They have to keep Doc and Ava apart for their own good.
Curtis asks if Laura is sure she’s aware of the danger that could be waiting. Ryan could be behind one of twenty-three doors. She says it’s not her first rodeo. She has a score settle. He says, her, and a lot of others. She says, perfect. They agree. She’ll see him tomorrow morning when they leave for Canada, partner. He says, bright and early, partner.
Anna tells Robert that Alex will never tell her. Robert says he has a good idea, and thinks she does too. In fact he’s surprised she hasn’t brought it up. Has she accepted the possibility that she might never know if Peter is Alex’s son and not hers?
Maxie tells Peter that Lulu insisted she meet him. He says he owes her one, and she says, it’s about damn time. He asks if she’s ready, and holds his hand out. She says, so ready.
Outside Kelly’s, Willow tells Michael that she’s not ready to go home. Michael says it’s the least he can do. She did so much for Kristina. Willow hopes so. He says she was so strong. He knows it wasn’t easy to relive again. She says, it wasn’t, but Kristina needed to hear it.
Neil tells Kristina what happens next is up to her. She has the information she needs to make an informed decision about her future with DOD. He opens the door, and she asks what he’s doing. He says, the door is open for her to go back – to Shiloh or her family.
Tomorrow, Willow asks if Nina is accusing her of hitting on Michael, Peter brings Maxie somewhere on a plane, Sam gives Shiloh her Pledge, and Chase finds Kristina.
Vanderpump Rules – Reunion Part One
Giggy! Before we start, Lisa asks if Giggy has any issues he wants to bring up. Scheana tells Lala, chill is boring. Brittany is in a good mood, but from the look of the previews, that will be over with soon. Scheana says, let’s do this. They wait on Tom’s hair, and I’m certain James will eclipse Jax for worst human being on earth.
Andy tells us it’s the eve of the opening of the Vanderpump Cocktail Garden in Vegas. He asks if Tom feels like a man, and Tom says he always has. Andy asks if Ariana has been riding sidecar, and she says once you realize you’re not dying, it’s okay. That’s how I felt the first time I rode in a pedicab. Brittany says they have three months to go until the wedding, and Andy informs us that Lala and Rand are engage. Lala shows off her ring, which is round, sparkly, and gorgeous. He asks if they’ve set a date, and Lala says Ran wants it tomorrow, but she’s happy being a fiancé. They’re shooting for 2020. Andy asks if Katie is ready, and she says ready as she can be. Schwartz says he’s coming in fresh, but later there will be half-shots. Andy asks if Stassi’s extra chair will be for Beau or the dark passenger. She says it’s been six months since anyone has seen the dark passenger. Andy asks if Kristen is single, and she says she is. Everyone seems surprised, since no one knew.
Andy wonders why Jax bought James underwear, and Jax says he thought it would be a nice gesture. We see a clip of James posing in said underwear in front of a mirror. Andy says last season, James was closer with Jax and the group, but that ended with his rap about Jax and Faith, Andy asks if he thought it would have such huge consequences. James says he wasn’t thinking much at the time, but it was definitely wrong. Frankly, I don’t think James doesn’t think much, period. Brittany says they were there supporting him, and it was embarrassing. Lisa asks if it was preplanned, but James says, it was freestyle. He was upset about what he’d done, but doesn’t want to say anymore, because Kristen is making faces. Stassi says he’s only sorry because he got excluded. Kristen claims he said he wanted to embarrass them. We find out he’s still friends with Tom, Ariana, and Scheana, and he’s always gotten along with Schwartz. Jax asks how many mistakes is James going to make. James thinks Jax is a fine one to talk, but Jax says he’s trying to be a better person. Lisa says Jax is older; what was he doing at James’s age? Andy asks what he was doing four years ago? and we see clips of Jax being an a-hole, my favorite being him telling Tom that he’s the number one guy in the group. Tom says Jax was never excluded. Jax says he’s known them for twenty years, and Kristen says James has never been a part of their friend group. James says she’s the one who put him in it. I hate to say it, but he has a point there. He asks, what about Lala? Stassi says, Lala has made an effort; James hasn’t. Lala says James ruined their friendship. She stepped back and made a stand that he couldn’t attack Rand. She asks James to look at her, since he has difficulty looking people straight in the eye when he knows they’re right. I’m saying that last part, not Lala. She says it was one of the funnest [sic] friendships she’s ever had. She adored their friendship, but watched him burn every bridge. James says she’s the last bridge. Lala says he doesn’t care, and he admits he doesn’t. Lisa asks if he regrets losing a good friend, but he says no. Lala says it was hurtful. She put her heart and soul into the friendship. James says she gave him fake bullsh*t the last time they talked. We flash back to her telling him to come to her if he’s spiraling, and him telling her that he’ll talk to a therapist. He says it was a pity meeting, and if that was a true handout, consider it rejected. He doesn’t need her friendship. Kristen tells him not to talk to Lala like that, and he tells her, stop talking. Because we’re five. Lisa asks why he’s so angry.
Andy points out that last season, Scheana was Rob obsessed. This season, she was hanging out with her best friend, Adam. Then she was getting Bachelorette sloppy seconds, referring to her dating Robby Hayes. Stassi says they told her that he was a douche, and wonders what is it that Scheana’s friends see something different than she does. Scheana says she was just having gun, and hanging out. With the next relationship she has, hopefully, it will be her forever, but she doesn’t feel that she’s in that place. She’s just enjoying being single. Lisa feels like Scheana wanted a relationship with Adam. Even though she was trying to pretend she was coping with it and being casual, Lisa thought, inside, Scheana’s heart was breaking. She wanted something more. Andy asks what their status is, and Scheana says she and Adam aren’t dating, but… and Stassi says, they’re in the exact same spot. Moving on to Jax.
Andy says, Jax and Brittany dated for nine months, broke up, and then he popped the question. We flash back to Jax’s proposal. Brittany says the clam place was where they had their first date. Andy asks Stassi how hard it was to keep the secret. Stassi says she’s terrible at keeping secrets. Everything was wet, andnot in a good way. Andy asks if Jax and Brittany are getting a prenup, but Jax says, no. Brittany is going to be with him forever. Brittany says he’s her baby. Well, I’d say he’s a baby. Lisa says she and Ken didn’t have one, but they probably hadn’t been invented yet. Lala says she and Rand are getting one. He’s worked a long time, and no matter what happens, she wants him to know she’s not coming for him. Andy asks how Rand proposed, and she says they had dinner on the beach. There was a screen that showed a montage of their life, including her dad, and Rand got down on one knee, and asked her to be his wife. He said she had thirty seconds to answer, and she said yes. Then fireworks went off, like something out of a movie. We see photos of Lala and Rand watching the fireworks. Andy says Rand has been on Flipping Out and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but he’s not on Vanderpump Rules. Lala says she doesn’t want him on it; it’s real and nitty gritty. Andy says everyone else is putting their relationships out there, and asks if it’s fair to the others. Lala thinks she shows quite a bit. Tom says there’s a part of her life that she keeps locked away. Scheana says everyone else gives 100%. She’s an amazing addition to the case, but it’s not fair. Lala says if they had something huge they wanted to protect, they wouldn’t want it on the show. Stassi thinks that’s rude. Her boyfriend is just as important. Lala says a lot of men don’t want to be on the show, and Stassi says she’s been there. Lala says she still contributes other things, but Lisa says it’s the most important thing in her life. Doesn’t Rand interact with the group? They all say that Rand hangs out with them, except for James. Lisa says they should show it. Ariana says it’s scary for everyone. Lala says Scheana has brought on sketchy dudes who just want camera time. Scheana says they knew her job was dependent on showing everything, but Rob (Rob, Rob, Rob, Rob) didn’t want to be on the show. Lala says Rob had a dinner party on the show. We flash back to that, and Scheana claims she forced him. Lala says she can’t do that.
Andy wants to talk about building TomTom. He asks what Lisa expected the Toms roles to be at the bar, and she says originally, she wanted them to get creative with the cocktails, but it came to be more than that. Andy asks if they felt Lisa wanted them to be there, and Tom says, no. Schwartz says they wanted to be there as much as possible. Lisa says at the end, they were needed, but there was a lot of work to get done, and they were behind schedule. Andy says it seemed like Pandora was in charge of cocktails, then Sly came in. He asks if the Toms felt neutered. Tom says they didn’t just work on the cocktails a few times; they spent months on them. Ariana says their dining room was a lab. Schwartz says some of them aren’t true to the recipe, but it’s not an ego thing. Tom says they spent eight months, and Sly was there for two days. No matter how good you are, it can’t match. Ariana says it hurt her because it hurt Tom. Lisa says she doesn’t remember any negativity about it. Ariana thought they were doing things she’d love, and Lisa says she did. Ariana asks where the frozen shot machine is. Lisa says they asked for it when the bar was being planned out, but they didn’t have it. Tom says he was there for three months, and Lisa says he should have been there when they were planning it out. Andy asks if Lisa gives them enough respect. Ariana thinks she does more off-camera. On camera, it’s like a schtick. Lisa says she plays with them, but they give her a lot to play with. Ariana thinks Lisa makes them look foolish, and Lisa says she wishes her name was on the restaurant. Tom says no matter what he does, he always gives 110%. No matter who’s getting the cocktail, they’re all made the same. Lisa says she had hundreds of people working for her, but she wanted them for their joie de vivre and relationship, not they’re business acumen. They don’t make themselves look sensible a lot of the time. Jax is curious to know if they’re getting paid. Schwartz says there’s been no compensation yet, and Andy says, as someone who’s been involved in the business, he knows it takes a while. Lisa says she’s gotten nothing yet either, but they spent $2.5 million. Her expertise is also valued. Andy asks Tom what he feels about the partnership, and he says he loves Ken and Lisa. He likes the situation, but feels his questions don’t get answered. Lisa suggests they sit down at the end of the year, and split the difference. (That would be 10/90.) She says she embraced them, and when she asked them to be partners, she put their names up there. It was supposed to be a positive experience. Tom says, it is, but if he has questions or concerns, he gets a negative reaction. Lisa asks if he wants her to give them their money back and they can keep the partnership. Tom says, it’s not about that, and Schwartz says they’ve had issues, but this is the dream. Andy asks why Schwartz didn’t check to make sure there was money in the account, and Schwartz says it was a clerical error. We flash back to his James Bond moment. Lisa says that’s why she loves them being involved.
Andy welcomes one of the few people in the group who didn’t want to strangle James. Raquel comes in wearing a dress that has gigantic ruffles on the sleeves, making her look like Icarus, and even though it’s above the knee, the sash goes all the way to the floor. Stupidest. Dress. Ever. If it belongs anywhere on Bravo, it’s possibly an Atlanta Housewives reunion. She tells Andy that she pulled out the ruffles for him. He says he heard she had an exciting job interview, and she says she may or may not be working at SUR. Lisa has to decide, and Lisa says she’ll be working there. Andy says the drama with James started on Gay Pride, and asks why Kristen decided to take James down for good. Raquel asks why she isn’t over it, and Kristen says because he’s not changing. Andy asks how well James knows Hope, and James says he was friends with Hope and Logan a long time, but that time is over. We flash back to James’s flirtation with Logan. Andy says, Hope looked Raquel in the eye – James tries to interrupt, but Andy won’t have it – and gave specific details about sleeping with James. Raquel says Hope was never at the house they live in now. Andy wonders what would be in it for Hope to put herself out there, and James snarks that she’s a Hollywood star. Kristen says it’s the same thing Raquel gets from dating James. Raquel understands how the might feel she wants the limelight, since she was a beauty queen. She starts talking about being in pageants because of her anxiety, but gets interrupted, and everyone talks at once like I hate. Raquel can see why they’d think she wants to be on the show. Ariana tells Jax, shut up. She wants to hear what Raquel is saying. Brittany tells her to tell James to shut up. Tom says Raquel is trying to tell a story. Brittany says he’s supposed to be their best friend, and it’s getting effed up. Raquel says she’s not going to define her relationship, and says it’s situations like this, where she’s more vulnerable that help her be a better person. Andy asks what would make her believe Lala. She says Lala wasn’t there, and Lala says he was messing around right in front of her in Canada, and that was while he was dating Raquel. Stassi can’t imagine being in a relationship where so many women come forward and said it to her face, and without looking into it, she believes her boyfriend. James says they just want to take him down. Stassi says some of her friends do. Ariana says when James and Raquel moved in together, they considered it a fresh start; a new beginning. Raquel wasn’t living in LA before that. If it didn’t happen after they moved in together, it’s a moot point and doesn’t count. Andy asks if Raquel believes he was faithful before she moved in? She admits she doesn’t think he was completely faithful (whatever that means – is it like a little bit pregnant?) before she moved in. Andy says it’s kind of like Brittany and Jax. Brittany says if Raquel wants to forget about it, it’s on her. Schwartz says, they’re different people. Andy says Tom is always defending James. Does he find all of James’s behavior acceptable? Tom says, hell no. Katie says he excuses as much as he can, and James deserves more than being fired from SUR.
Andy mentions that Raquel is the only one with a college degree, yet her intelligence keeps coming into question, and it’s a trigger. Raquel says she’s getting her masters in helping special needs kids. Andy asks if Stassi thinks Raquel is smart. Stassi says she doesn’t know Raquel. Raquel says she’d love to know Stassi, and wishes com to the puppy party. I find Raquel sad, because she always sounds so desperate. You’d think, even if she’s not smart to leave James – and that’s a different smart than book-learning smart – she’d try to find some other friends. Andy says James was angry when Raquel wanted to go to Girls’ Night. James says he got over it, and she went. Raquel says she didn’t go because he didn’t want her to. It would be sweet if she got up and left, never looking back, right now. But that doesn’t happen. Andy says Lala professes to be a feminist, but isn’t supportive of Raquel. Lala says just because Raquel has a vagina, doesn’t mean she’s going to be supportive. I hear that. She says Raquel’s boyfriend has attacked every part of her life. When they were at dinner in Vegas, he called her the c-word at the table in front of everyone, including her dad, who left. She’s not supporting someone who’s involved with him, and when she needed female support, failed to step up. Raquel says she’s sorry she didn’t step up, but the way Lala has treated her is unacceptable. She can’t wrap her brain around Lala’s behavior. Lala says she can’t wrap her brain around Raquel’s behavior.
Stassi thinks it’s hard to connect to Raquel, because she’s okay with what James does, and how he treats them. Raquel asks if it would make them happy if she publicly embarrassed James. That’s a hard yes from everyone. Lisa thinks it would make them very happy; Andy says Lala apologized at the roller party, but Raquel doesn’t know if Lala is capable of giving a sincere apology. Lala says it’s hard to care about what she’s saying when she doesn’t care about the person. Raquel tells her to learn basic manners. Let people finish what they’re saying. Jax says she should talk to the guy next to her about manners. James says Jax goes to the bathroom with the door open. I’m not kidding. This is his reply. Raquel says she’s trying to have a conversation with Lala. Andy says Raquel talked to Lala’s friend Alexis, saying Lala was dad blaming. Raquel says Lala was avoiding a conversation she didn’t want to have by bringing up her loss. It’s her way of controlling the situation; it gave her an excuse. Lala says, so now her dad is an excuse? She says when Raquel loses a parent – which they all will – she prays whoever she’s around, tiptoes around her, lets her scream, and never cheapens the death, saying it was an excuse, like Raquel just did. Raquel says Lala isn’t taking responsibilities for her actions. Lala was telling all of them that she knew she wasn’t in her right mind, except the one person she was actually affecting. Lisa says, it’s no reason to lash out. Lala says Raquel spoke about her dad. Tom says she didn’t, but Lala says Raquel said it in an interview. Enough is enough.Move on. Tom says he gets what she’s going through, but she says he doesn’t. He hasn’t been through sh*t. He says something about his dad being in a coma for three days, and not sleeping for three days, but I’m confused as to whether this led to his dad dying or if he recovered, which would make a huge difference. He says he didn’t react like that, and Lala says, good for him. He says he didn’t yell at people he doesn’t like, and Jax says, if that’s what you have to do. Lisa doesn’t think it’s an excuse to lash out. Andy asks Raquel how the relationship is today, and Raquel says they’re happy. Lisa asks if James is supportive, and if she holds him accountable, or does she just acknowledge what he does. Raquel thinks she’s putting James on a better path. She approaches him a different way. Instead of acting like he’s a bad kid, she hears him out. She wants to understand why he does what he does. Jax says her work in child therapy should help. It’s time for her to go, and when she gets up, I cringe at the dress again. Maybe she wanted to look like an angel? Whatever it was, it didn’t work.
It’s been a year since Lisa’s brother passed away, and Andy asks how she’s coping. She started the season right after it happened. Lisa needs a tissue, and Andy says, it’s still raw, like the dolt he is. She says she held it together while they were filming. She didn’t want to bring everyone down, so she struggled through. She thought the best way to get through her grief would be help from a grief counselor. She was also on anti-depressants when two Tylenol are a lot for her. She’s British, and always kept a stiff upper lip, but she guesses she has feelings too. She didn’t do too well this year. Scheana says they all support her. She doesn’t have to stay strong, but Lisa says she does. She needs a moment, and walks offstage.
Andy says Lala suffered emotional upheaval. Lala says her father had a stroke while he was driving, and the car caught fire. When he got home, he was lethargic, and was supposed to see a cardiologist on Monday, but never woke up on Saturday. Andy says last year, at the reunion, Jax had just lost his father. Jax says it hasn’t been any easier. It destroyed his family. He has no relationship with his mom. She’d taken his father’s cell phone, and when he called, said his father was taking a nap. Next thing he knew, his father was in the ICU. The issue is her not telling him anything, and he has no idea if those were his dad’s wishes. His sister isn’t speaking to their mother either. She’s in the same boat.
Lala brings up a Tweet that James sent out, saying she and Jax need to make peace with the fact their daddies are dead and move on. Jax asks why he felt the need to say it. James says Jax made a fake Twitter account in Raquel’s name, and said James had been sleeping with men. Ariana says Jax’s phone number was connected with the account. Jax says, so James wants to talk about his dad? and gets up. James gets up, and Andy gets between them. Jax sits down. Jax says James’s girlfriend is useless, and James says, look at his. She looks like a disco ball; I guess referring to all the sequins Brittany is wearing. Brittany thinks she looks good. I second that. James tells them to go back to Kentucky and make babies. Jax belongs in Kentucky with the hillbillies. Brittany asks if he’s saying her family are hillbillies, and he makes fun of her accent. Because we’re four. Ariana says this has nothing to do with Brittany. (And it’s not about the pasta either.) James calls Jax old man, like he’s done a million times. Jax is like, that’s all you’ve got? and points out that James is also calling Andy old. James says he’ll call anybody anything he wants to, but you can tell this caught him off guard. Tom says every time James says something, they jump on him. Kristen asks why he keeps defending James. James says Jax is obsessed with him, and calls Brittany a dumb bitch. Jax says he could have a field day with James’s mom. James says he bets Jax could, and I’m guessing he didn’t realize he just insulted his own mom. Jax says James is so unwanted, it’s ridiculous. Brittany says he’s a horrible person, and James says he doesn’t give a flying about her. He calls her a bitch again. She says, there it is; the real James. Tom says they were talking sh*t about James’s girlfriend. Brittany says James was talking about her family, and Tom is supposed to be their best friend. Andy keeps trying to interrupt, but everyone ignores him. He finally tells them, STFU, and Lisa says, yay.
Next time – Part Two – Kristen asks why Tom doesn’t hold James accountable, Lisa says everyone has hooked up with a girl except her, Lala and Ariana’s hook up is discussed, Billie joins the group, and Andy gets his own helmet.
🏃 This Couldn’t Wait…
There is justice in the world. Max Gail for the win.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the door of the Quartermaine mansion, Carly says she can do this. Monica answers, saying it’s an unexpected pleasure. It’s an unexpected Monica too, since she’s temporarily being played by Patty McCormack of Bad Seed fame. Monica asks if she and Carly had a breakfast appointment, but Carly say she’s accepting Monica’s information to co-host the baby shower. Nelle joins them, and Carly says she feels strongly about giving her a fitting tribute.
Ava tells Griff how Avery didn’t shed a tear when she dropped her off at school. He says Avery sounds like an independent lady already. Ava can’t believe Avery is with her, and tomorrow she’ll get to do it again. She assumes he’s still thinking she went too far to make this miracle happen. Griff says he’s happy Avery is with her, no matter how she accomplished it. The timing works out too. Ava asks for what, and he says, for him to move out.
Franco is procrastinating before he goes to meet Steve. He tells Elizabeth that he’s decades late, so avoiding him for another fifteen minutes won’t matter. He says it’s also Jake’s birthday, but Elizabeth tells him that the best present he can give Jake is himself, cleared of his demons. The sooner he leaves, the sooner he’s home. They have lots to celebrate.
Kim goes to Charlie’s. She wants to talk about Kelly’s with Julian. He asks if she means when she blew him off to have lunch with Drew. She says he deliberately brought up Sam with Drew. Julian apologizes, saying he was in a mood. Seeing her with Drew brought out worst in him. She says she didn’t love it, and hopes it won’t happen again. Alexis walks in, and asks, why was she summoned before her second cup of coffee?
Jason brings a birthday gift to Elizabeth’s house. She calls Jake downstairs, telling Jason that he’s home with a stomach ache. Jake says, hi, and Jason says, hey. I see the apple didn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to conversation.
Franco meets Steve at Kelly’s. Steve says he almost didn’t show, and Franco says it’s something else they have in common. They introduce themselves, and shake hands.
Curtis asks if Alexis is on board, and Jordan says they’re walking a fine line. Alexis is clueless, and Molly tells her the reconstruction of Charles Street is taking forever. Kim says the people can’t begin to cover their medical expenses either. Curtis says they have to put the pressure on. Alexis asks why she’s there. Stella says she’s a lawyer, and they’re going to sue their britches off.
Ned tells Olivia-Q that he promised a new day for Port Charles, but instead, got a nightmare. The repairs have barely started, and as mayor, he should do more. Olivia says he can’t coerce the insurance companies to pay up or rebuild it himself. He says the devastation Jim created remains, funds are barely trickling in, and people are hurting. She has something that might boost his outlook.
Ava says Griff doesn’t have to leave because of Avery, and his apartment isn’t ready yet. He tells her that he can get a room. It seems like a logical solution. It was supposed to be a temporary situation, and she needs to get Avery settled. Ava says he’s such a big advocate for honesty; why not be honest? It’s not about Avery or a temporary arrangement. He can’t forgive her for using Mike as leverage. He tells her there’s no sense in rehashing it. She says she apologized for being less than forthcoming, but she’s not sorry. She’s a mother, and did what she had to. Griff say she did what she had to in order to expedite the change in custody. He can’t change it, but doesn’t have to like it. She says he’d told her he accepted her for who she is, and wouldn’t presume to judge her. When did that change?
Monica says she has everything sewn up, but Carly insists on helping. She asks what about desserts? They have a new pastry chef that makes incredible macaroons. Monica says it’s not necessary, but Nelle thinks it would be wonderful. Monica agrees Carly can provide macaroons and will inform Cook 2 to add them to the menu. Nelle says it’s a lovely gesture, and appreciates it, since Carly has every right to hate her. Not just for the past, but for what she did recently as well. She can’t go on treating Carly this way, and has a confession to make.
Elizabeth tells Jake that Jason stopped by to wish him a happy birthday. Jason asks how he’s feeling, and Jake wonders why. Elizabeth says he’s referring to Jake’s reason for being home, and Jake says he’s starting to feel better. Jason asks if there’s a party planned, and Jake says, just family – his mom, brother, Drew, and Franco. Jason gives him a card. Jake says thanks, but doesn’t open it, saying he’ll open it when Drew comes, so he can open everything at the same time. Jason hopes he gets everything he wants and more. Elizabeth asks Jason to stay for a bit, but Jake doesn’t look too sure.
Steve says he knew Jim after Franco did; he was probably his last victim. He doesn’t like using that word, but it’s what they are. Franco says they’re members of a club no one wants to be in. He tells Steve that nobody shed a tear to find out Jim was dead, and Steve says everyone at the office was stunned. He says he was relieved, and explains he works at Niagara Equities; he’s the VP of finance. Franco can’t believe Steve worked for Jim after what he did. He’s not judging, but doesn’t get it. Steve says that’s fair. He’s asked himself the same thing. When he met Jim, he was a kid on the street; no family, no nothing. Jim was good to him – until he wasn’t. He stayed because he didn’t have anything else. It was next to impossible to cut the cord. He couldn’t let go. Franco says he understands what it means more than Steve knows.
Alexis asks who they’re suing, and Stella says Niagara Equities, and the fat cats taking their sweet time repairing the area. Molly suggests staging a protest if they have to. Lucy asks if she can intercept the conversation for a moment. She discourages them from a massive protest, as it will make the property values go down more than they are already. Julian tells her to hold on, and she says it’s funny coming from the one person who had no damage. Kim says Charlie has been generous, confusing Lucy. Alexis explains it’s a nickname, and tells them that they can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.
Ava tells Griff that they both have flaws and weaknesses, but they have strengths too, and should use them to get through the rough patches. They can’t turn tail and run whenever one of them disappoints the other. He says he’s not running. He was disappointed in how she used Mike. He hates seeing her revert – he stops. She finishes, to how she used to be before he saved her. That’s really why he’s leaving. He’s all out of miracles.
Nelle tells Carly that she thought asking her and Sonny to be guardians was a gesture of good will, but as usual, she just managed to upset Carly. Carly says her showing up is a gesture too. Nelle says, like yesterday, how she took Josslyn shopping for the shower gift. Her best intentions only cause more pain. She’d thought naming the baby Morgan would be a good thing; someone Carly loved and could remember. Carly thinks it’s nice that Nelle helped Josslyn to buy her a present. Monica says the present is for the baby, but Carly says it’s for the mama too. Of course she appreciates Nelle making them guardians, but it caused a huge debate, and Michael ripped up the papers. If she chooses to have them redrawn, they’ll step up if something happens to her – God forbid.
Jason asks if Jake is excited about school being almost over. Jake says he is, but he likes school. Jason asks what he’s studying, and Jake says the usual stuff. Elizabeth interjects that his favorite subjects are art and math. Jake says Drew helps him with math, and Franco helps with his art. Elizabeth says he’s a good student. The phone rings, and Elizabeth tells Jake it’s an international call. It’s Spencer, and Jake goes upstairs to talk. Elizabeth asks if Jason is okay. He says, it will take time for them to know each other, and Elizabeth says they will.
Alexis says the rule of thumb in civil court is that if you can’t collect, don’t sue. They’ll have their day in court, and might beat Niagara, but it’s not a slam dunk. Niagara is bankrupt. Curtis says they still have capital, but Alexis says it will take years and cost a fortune. (Or as I would say, get in line behind the rest of the creditors.) Stella asks where people are supposed to live in the meantime – their cars? Molly still likes the idea of a protest. Lucy tells them to keep their options open, and leaves. Julian asks if there’s really nothing they can do, and Alexis says there might be one thing.
Olivia gives Ned her tablet, and says it’s a teaser trailer. If there’s any interest, they can do more. It’s a taste of what the city has to offer. Olivia stands in front of the hospital, and says, welcome to Port Charles, New York, and the many people and places that make it a unique and vibrant community. Inside the hospital she asks Griff about the hospital. Griff looks a little petrified to be on camera, and says the hospital is state of the art, and has an award-winning staff who cares about the people of the city. Olivia goes to Kelly’s, and says sooner or later everyone ends up there. She asks Jordan what she would like the people to know about the city. Jordan says, it’s a place for everyone, culturally and economically diverse, which makes the city richer. Olivia shows off the MetroCourt next, and says Port Charles is a great place to visit, and an even better place to live. She asks Ned what he thinks. He grabs her and says he thinks she’s amazing.
Nelle tells Carly that her help with the shower means so much. They might never be friends, but she hopes for the baby’s sake, they’ll never be enemies. Carly says she wants to make it a memorable occasion. Nelle has to check in with work. She says Ava is working from home, since she’s getting Avery settled. She apologizes, saying she did it again. Carly says she works for Ava, so her name is going to come up. She tells Nelle to give Avery a hug for her and her daddy. Nelle leaves, and Monica asks, what’s the catch? Carly has no idea what she means, and Monica says she shows up brimming with ideas, like she’s Nelle’s BFF. What is she up to?
Griff tells Ava to stop accusing him of saving her soul, and cut the priest references. She says he caught her off guard; what is she supposed to think? They barely said good morning, when he springs this on her. He doesn’t want to leave like this, and she tells him to stay and work it out. Lucy knocks at the door, and Ava tells her to go away. Lucy says it’s in her best interest to open the door, and starts banging on it. Ava says it better be good, and Lucy says it’s about the Nurses’ Ball, and there’s nothing more important. Ava says she gave her contribution already. Lucy remembers, and says she was disappointed. She shows Ava a check with nothing filled in.
Jason complements a picture Jake did, and Elizabeth says Franco helped him. He recognized Jake’s talent early on. She feels that if Jason knew Franco’s whole story… but it’s not her place to give the details. She had faith in him, even when he had none in himself.
Franco tells Steve that he was afraid, and his fear bought his silence. Jim wanted him to keep his mouth shut. He blocked it to the point where he forgot altogether. If he hadn’t done that or stopped Jim, he could have spared Steve and the others. Steve tells Franco that he’s full of crap.
Ava says she wrote it out. The lightbulb comes on over my head when I remember her using Nelle’s pen. Griff leaves, and Lucy hopes she wasn’t interrupting anything. Ava asks if it would make a difference, and she says, heck no. Lucy asks how long they’ve been living together; what’s the deal? Ava says she has a long day, and she’s sure Lucy does too, so Ava doesn’t want to keep her. She gives Lucy another check, and Lucy says she’s going right to the bank. She obviously needs to deposit it right away. She leaves, and Ava looks at the check copies in her checkbook. She says, something’s not right. She takes out the pen. I wonder if she swiped Nelle’s pen, and then wonder if there is such a thing as disappearing ink.
Carly drops her pill bottle, and Monica asks if she’s anxious. Carly asks if Monica is shaming her, and says it’s unbecoming for a doctor. Monica says now the real Carly shows up. Carly says the real Monica too. She knows Monica won’t forgive her about AJ, but he was self-destructive. Monica remembers Carly taking advantage of that, and Carly asks why she’s turning a blind to Nelle. Is she punishing Carly for making her grandchild a Corinthos, by making Carly’s a Quartermaine, even if it means sucking up to a scheming snake? Well, wouldn’t the child be a Quartermaine regardless? It’s not like Monica got Nelle pregnant. Monica says she’s having a shower to celebrate Nelle and the baby. If Carly can’t manage to be civil, she can keep her flowers and macaroons, and stay home. Carly says, wild horses couldn’t keep her away.
Elizabeth asks Jake how Spencer is, and Jake says, great. He told him that Jason was there, and then felt badly because Spencer has no dad, and he has three. Jason tells him to enjoy his birthday, and starts to leave. Jake says he changed his mind. He wants to open Jason’s gift now; he doesn’t want to wait.
Steve thinks Franco wants him to be mad at him. He says he just started therapy, and either he’s a fast learner or Franco is behind. He’s still covering up for Jim, and buying into his lies by making it his fault. He bets that’s what Jim said; Franco is bad and it’s his fault. It was his go-to move, and he probably said it to all of them until Franco and his friend stopped him. Steve did what he needed to survive, and Franco did too. None of it is his fault. Jim is dead. Let what he did die with him. Franco wishes he could, but doesn’t think it’s possible.
Molly says she’ll fill TJ in, and tells Jordan congratulations. Curtis stands behind Jordan, shaking his head. Jordan asks what she’s being congratulated for, and Molly says if her mom’s plan works, they won’t be bothering Jordan. Jordan’s phone rings, and she steps away. Molly tells Curtis that she’s sorry. He tells her no deal has been done yet.
Alexis finds Ned, and he says her timing is perfect. Olivia came up with a plan to revitalize the city. For once they’re on the same page. Alexis doubts it.
Carly asks Griff if he’s alone for breakfast. He says he’s planning on an extended stay. She asks if he finally came to his senses and left Ava.
At Ava’s, Nelle says she’s working on a blanket; something for the shower. Ava says people are supposed to bring gifts to her. Nelle says it’s special. Ava says she has something else that’s special; Nelle’s pen. She shouldn’t leave it around. She asks if it’s part of the plan to bring Carly down, and tells Nelle she used it to write a check, and can’t have it around. Whatever Nelle is up to, Ava is out entirely. Nelle says things have escalated, and she thinks Ava should take a more active role.
Jason has given Jake tickets to a minor league game on Memorial Day. He tells Jake that he can take anyone he wants. Jake thanks him, and asks if he can come. Jason says he wouldn’t miss it.
Franco colors the placemat. He tells Steve that Jim has other victims. Steve says the company lost everything because of the illegal drilling. He tells Franco not to give up. He might be able to help.
Alexis tells Ned and Olivia the video sounds wonderful. She hopes it boosts the city’s economy. Ned will need it to defray legal costs. She assumes he’ll want a jury trial. Ned is perplexed, and she says the people hit the hardest, the residents of Charles Street, are suing the city of Port Charles.
Griff tells Carly that he and Ava are still together, but Avery is living there. Carly says, part time. She says he’s Mike’s doctor. He knew Mike was innocent, and did nothing while Ava charged him with kidnapping. Um… Griff provided the medical records and tried to talk her out of it. That’s not something? Carly says now Sonny has to share Avery to keep Mike out of prison. Avery is spending half her time with the woman who destroyed her brother. Morgan would still be alive if Ava hadn’t tampered with his lithium. The only reason she’s not throwing him out, is that he’d go back to Ava. It makes her smile to know Ava is alone, without the boy toy she got to replace Carly’s son.
Ava tells Nelle she can’t do anything to risk losing Avery. Whatever she’s planned, she’s on her own. Nelle says she might want to rethink that. How would Griff feel to know she took a photo of privileged information. She shows Ava the picture of the DNA test on her phone. Ava calls her an ingrate, reminding Nelle of how she gave her a job when no one else would. She asks how much, and Nelle says she doesn’t want money. She just needs Ava to come to the shower, and bring a present.
Tomorrow, Ned accuses Alexis of wanting to keep herself in the public eye, Lulu talks to Anna about Henrik, and Jason doesn’t want to share his memory or anything else with Drew. Now who’s the baby?
🏆 Congrats to Daytime Emmy winners Chloe Lanier (Nelle) and Vernee Watson (Stella), who received the award for Outstanding Younger Actress and Outstanding Guest Performer, respectively. Once again ToddRoger Howarth was robbed. Not even a nomination. Pfft! Michael Easton (Finn) was nominated, but didn’t win. So double Pfft!
Vanderpump Rules – The Reunion Part One
Giggy! Lisa says she can’t do it without him. Jax hopes there are no casualties. He’s expecting the worst and hoping for the best. I hope Jax is the only casualty, and he already is the worst. Scheana doesn’t know what anyone could possibly come at her for. Tom lets Kristen know her boob is hanging out. At least they’ve graduated from the cheap reunion and aren’t in the Clubhouse anymore.
Andy jumps right to the elephant in the room – Jax and Brittany are together again. Now my stomach is a casualty, since I want to throw up. Scheana is no longer with Rob, and Stassi has a new boyfriend. Lala is still with her man, and Kristen with Carter. Andy asks if James is still with Logan, and he says he’s still with Raquel. Lala is wearing the biggest hoops ever, and Andy says, the bigger the hoop, the better the relationship. I want them. They’re bigger than the ones I was wearing when my boss suggested shooting a basketball through them.
The season began with the revelation that Jax cheated on Brittany with Faith. Jax tells Brittany he loves her before things get nasty. Brittany says they were just talking about having kids, and she’d thought things were going well; everyone had said how much she had helped him to change. He says he put her through the ringer, but didn’t see it. Tom says he was a straight up d*ck, and affected everyone. He and Ariana had their worst argument ever. Andy asks about them having sex while a 95-year-old woman was in the room. (In case you’re out of the loop, Faith was supposed to be looking after an old lady when she was having sex with Jax.) Jax says it looked like an old woman’s house, but he didn’t know an old woman was in it. Andy asks why he did it. Because he’s Jax, you twit, and the most awful person in the universe. Jax says they’d been arguing a lot, and his way of getting out of a relationship is cheating. Instead of being an adult and getting help, he takes the cowardly way out. He says it could have been anyone; whoever was paying attention to him. Brittany says that’s effed up, since she was paying attention to him. Andy asks Schwartz why he has such blind loyalty to Jax. He says Jax was instrumental in his transition to LA. Jax says he never felt bad and had no conscience. Andy asks about Brittany’s trip to Vegas, and why she came back to Jax. Brittany says it was an emotional thing.
We move on to Lala. Andy asks why she wanted to come back. Lala says she felt thrown into a group who’d been together for a long time. Scheana reached out, and she felt it was a safe place for the first time. Ariana says people can see who she is now. Scheana says she keeps getting sh*t by Lala, and the tone-deaf thing was rude. Maybe, but true. Lala says she didn’t make her sing. Tom says she made fun of his trumpet playing too. We see a clip of her saying it’s like baby dolphins trying to communicate for the first time. Then we see a clip of Tom playing the trumpet, and she’s right. Scheana says Lala has a different tone in interviews. Lala tells Scheana that she only knows how to talk about herself.
Andy says Logan is the third person to say he’s been with James, that James denies. He asks if James has ever hooked up with Logan, but James says he’s never dipped in the man pool. If people want to think that, fine. Kristen thinks where there’s smoke, there’s fire. James mentions having sex with Kristen on the hood of his Beamer and how she denied it, and gets accused of deflection. James says he knows where he’s dipped his willy.
Stassi says it was horrifying to watch her and Patrick. Ariana tells her that she looked amazing, and he looked disgusting. Tom thought it was crazy that Patrick had a no contact rule when he went to Amsterdam with no contact, and how he got pissed when she didn’t text him in Mexico. Schwartz says it was toxic, and it broke his heart to see her neutralized. Lisa says Stassi has been unhappy the entire time, and she didn’t think it was the right relationship. When watching the show, Stassi saw Patrick saying he’d be okay if she banged other guys; she just couldn’t date them. She says she wished she’d known; she would have had some fun. They talk about Patrick’s use of big words. Andy asks if Jax ever had the curiosity to look up anything, but he’s good. Andy lists names viewers have called Patrick, and Jax knows those words. Stassi says she didn’t recognize herself; she was submissive. Ariana says her ex went for the jugular more, but Stassi lived with the manipulation. She’s glad they’re both out of that. Stassi is sorry she wasted time, but Ariana says it was a learning experience. Stassi says she’s learned she wants to live her life honestly and be with someone who accepts her.
Andy asks Ariana what caused the dry spell. She says she was uncomfortable with herself, and they weren’t building intimacy. Then we get totally TMI about their sex life, and I go ♫ La-la-la! ♫ Andy asks Lisa what it’s like seeing someone as beautiful as Ariana be so self-conscious. Ariana gets all weird about being called beautiful. She says things are better now, and they’re working toward getting to the best in an honest way. I have no clue what that means. Andy asks if she regrets talking about it. She says sometimes, but not when people contact her who’ve been in the same boat.
Jax’s dad passed away from cancer last December. Jax says they spoke every day. He’d just talked to him, and got the call from is mom after Christmas. They were on their way to dinner, and he was in the car when he got the call. He pulled over, and Brittany took over. Ever since then, he can’t imagine himself without her. I have marginal feels for Jax with this, since I was close to my father, who passed away suddenly just before I got married. He says the guys came to Florida. Stassi, Kristen, and Rachel also went. Stassi says she couldn’t not go. Scheana say she would have. Andy says the girls have two things in common; they hate him, but they showed up anyway. He asks what’s biggest thing Jax learned about Brittany. He says she literally took charge, after everything he’d put her through. Brittany says she loves him and his family. He says it’s the worst thing that’s happened to him, but their relationship is the best it’s been. It’s his first funeral. He never knew someone who died. I’m glad their moving on, since I don’t want to feel badly for Jax, and this is sad.
Andy says TomTom is the fourth restaurant/bar in the Vanderpump empire, and asks Lisa why the Toms? She says she adores them, and they add great energy to the equation. Andy asks if Tom is at the grown-up table yet, and he says he’s getting there. Schwartz says they’re not having idea sex yet, but there’s been foreplay. Tom tells Lisa that sometimes décor should be second to functionality. Ken is talking about buying a wine fridge, and Tom doesn’t believe it will bring in revenue. Schwartz says they’re investors, ambassadors, and promoters. Lisa supports that, but needs them to do what they’re good at. At five percent, they’re very junior partners. Tom says the restaurant didn’t need to cost so much, and Lisa says it was her choice. She thinks she knows what she’s doing. She says she hasn’t cashed the checks yet, and Andy asks if it’s fair to hold it over them. Lisa says she isn’t. She wants their involvement, but not if they’re unhappy. She says a partnership is like a marriage. Andy asks if there’s a formal contract, and Lisa says just a handshake. She never had one with Guillermo either. Tom says they’ll figure everything out in the next few weeks. Jax asks if this shouldn’t have bene talked about before the handshake. Lisa says she’s giving them the opportunity to invest. Tom says their names do have value, or she wouldn’t have named the restaurant after them. Lisa says, of course. Andy asks if they’re worried they won’t like her choices. Lisa says she has the reputation for creating beautiful restaurants, andif they don’t like it, they can suck it. That she says this with a British accent, actually makes it pleasant sounding. And of course, Lisa can do no wrong, being the patron saint of dogs. Andy asks Jax if he was jealous about the venture, and he says not after hearing all this. Andy asks Tom if Lisa should take him seriously after he drank fireball before a meeting. Tom says he can handle himself in those situations, but probably not.
Andy says the Vegas trip was interesting. He commends Brittany on her pregnancy scare prank. He asks if they use contraception, because why not? Jax looks at Brittany like he doesn’t know the answer. Katie says she’ll explain how babies are made. What they’re doing makes babies. Jax says after his father’s death, he’s ready to have kids. Andy asks Stassi if she thinks he’d be a good dad. Stassi says she’s noticed he’s changed; not a 180, but different. She thinks he’d step up. Jax says if could take something good out of it, it’s to be the dad his father was, and the person he was. Dammit! There are tears in my eyes, and I hate Jax even more for doing this to me.
Scheana is doing her Sex Tips… play in Vegas, and Andy asks how it is to be single there.. Scheana says it’s a good place to be single, but doesn’t elaborate. Andy asks Lala why she and Scheana aren’t tight anymore, and Lala feels the support wasn’t reciprocal. Scheana goes on a tear about how many burdens she’s been carrying, and that Lala didn’t invite her on the private jet because she’s too much drama. There’s some back and forth with them that’s totally unimportant.
They joke about Scheana not saying much about Rob this season, and show five thousand clips of her talking about him. She says they dated before she met Shay, and she’d had a what if? question in her head over the years. She says she met him after she graduated college, and I’m stunned to find out she graduated college. It must be easier these days. Scheana goes down Rob Memory Lane until everyone is like, wrap it up. Andy asks why she wouldn’t entertain the notion of Rob kissing someone else. Was she in denial? Scheana says that’s the moment he pulled away. She says Shay always had her back, even when she treated him poorly. Rob shut off two weeks after they wrapped. She wondered if it was a calculated move, so she wouldn’t have the storyline of another breakup. Kristen says it’s manipulation at its finest. Scheana is surprised to find out Rob has been texting Jax.
Scheana gets all emotional, saying that she was head over heels for Rob, and loved him for twelve years. She could justify her divorce, but this left her brokenhearted. Lisa says he came into her life and on her show, knowing when it aired and that she’d be humiliated. It’s not fair. Kristen says he claimed to not want to do the show, but managed to be at every red-carpet event. Lala says she knows they have issues, but Scheana put her heart, soul, and effort into everything she did. Lala says the only time Rob was around was when Scheana wasn’t. It wasn’t just the behavior of someone who treats her wrong, but someone who doesn’t want to be with someone else. Andy says Rob saying he didn’t throw around Ilove you lightly, made it seem like he hadn’t said it. Scheana insists he had. I don’t believe it. I can just see her trying to be the cool girl, all the while lying to herself. Jax says he just repeated what Rob had said. Scheana says Jax told every Rob had said he didn’t think he was in love with her. This degenerates into Jax getting pissed all over again about Scheana trying to set Brittany up. Jax says that the guy Scheana supposed loved, wasn’t saying it back. Scheana swears he did. Andy tells Jax that Scheana claims he was threatened by Rob being taller, more successful, and better looking. Jax asks how that’s working for her, and she says eff you. He says she didn’t even call him when his father died. She says she texted him. He says she invited him to her Vegas show though.
Scheana says she’s never done this, and gets up, saying she needs a minute. Jax wails that two exes who hated him came, bringing back the Jax who I know and hate. Tom tells Jax to calm down. Ariana takes off her heels, and runs after Scheana. Jax is loud, but just keeps repeating himself. Ariana tells Scheana that he’s upset about his dad, and projecting. Scheana sniffles that she sent him a message about how sorry she was, as the makeup crew works on her. Jax continues to rage, and Kristen tries to get him to calm down. Scheana says she just saw him two weeks ago in Vegas, and he said he was having fun. He wanted to go to a hockey game instead of her show, and she was fine with it. He screeches about her getting angry with him for not showing up at a red-carpet event. Ariana tells Scheana that he’s still yelling. Jax says she can’t keep a boyfriend for more than ten minutes. Ariana tells Scheana to come back when she’s ready. Scheana wonders who he’s yelling at, since she’s not even there. Jax yells about sending flowers. Andy asks if Scheana is coming back, and Ariana explains that her lashes came off. Jax says he got more from people who didn’t know him. Ariana repeats what Scheana said about him being in Vegas, and he says she bugged him about the red-carpet thing, but said nothing about his dad. Tom reacts the way we all would, and drinks from a flask. Jax won’t shut up, and Scheana asks why is this like, harder than her divorce?
Next time, Stassi and Scheana get into it, Billie Lee joins the group, James and Lala argue, and the topic of Jax and Faith returns.
⬆ I was looking at the fashions from the Met gala, and wondered what the hell was on Nicki Minaj’s head. It was my cursor.
🐴 Thoughts on Sunday’s Westworld. Hey, there are no tigers in the Old West; yes, that was Simon, and he’s quite a shot now; and, those Native Americans are going to be bad news for the woman who washed up on the beach, unless the tiger washed up with her and they worship her as queen.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 