What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

At the MetroCourt, Chase told Brook that he thought it was time to get the ball rolling and adopt.

At the pool, Emma told Gio to give her back the master key, but he said he couldn’t let her break into the lab. He’d have to be the one to do it.

Obrecht was at the pier when Anna showed up. She said, good evening, Scarecrow. So we meet again.

Pascal followed Britt to her room and says he was speaking to a potential guest. He told her that he wasn’t giving her the keys to her car. She shoved her glass at him and said, then get her a decent drink. This is garbage. He said he was aware of her importance, but even his patience had limits, and she said, he wanted to keep her happy and she wasn’t happy.

Jack gave Josslyn a passport and she read, Kelsie Ann McDonald. He said she didn’t have time to change her name, and she said, Chris and Kelsie. Cute. He said, she and Vaughn would be leaving separately and meeting in New York, where they’d travel to The Five Poppies. It was a recon op, and they were not to engage or take down anybody. He wanted a complete report on the grounds, the security set-up, and the tracking of the staff’s movements. She said she was going to look for her mom and tell her about going to Australia, but his phone rang, and he said he just saved her a search.

Ric met Molly at the MetroCourt and said he was surprised she had no plans. Wasn’t Ava available? He said he had no idea what Ava was up to.

Ava thanked Alexis for seeing her, and Alexis said she always made time for her extortionists. Ava said she was going to do Alexis a huge favor, and Alexis asked if she and Ric were giving the money back. Ava said it should have stayed between her and Alexis, but unfortunately, there was a third party muddying the waters. She thought they had to do something about that.

Molly asked if Ric and Ava were going rough patch, and he said, kind of, but he’d rather talk to her about her new, exciting life. She said she’d gotten back to writing, and he asked if he could read anything. She said it was too early. She was just jotting down ideas. He asked what inspired her, and she said she didn’t know why she’d stopped. When Sam died, she needed an outlet and got an interesting story idea when she went on an unexpected horseback ride.

Kristina found Cody in a hospital examining room and asked if something was wrong. He said he had a mole that needed to be checked out and asked how bad it looked. He showed her his back, and she said, it looked like a freckle. He said she wasn’t a professional, when Elizabeth came in and told him that the dermatologist was on their way. She left, and Kristina said she hoped them being together didn’t come back to bite them, but Cody said he had bigger things to worry about.  

Carly told Jack that she was done with work and asked if he’d like to join her for a nightcap at the MetroCourt. He said he’d love to and would be right there. He told Josslyn that she knew where to find Carly now, and Josslyn left.

Brook told Chase that she was sorry, but she didn’t think she was ready to adopt. Her focus needed to be on repairing her relationship with Gio.  Chase said Gio hadn’t been receptive to her efforts, and she said she was giving him space, but she couldn’t give up. He said, maybe while she was waiting, they could start their own search for adoption. They knew it could be lengthy. She said, and all-consuming. She wanted to put her heart and soul into it, but couldn’t at the moment. He asked if she couldn’t until she’d worked things out with Gio, and she said, no, but she thought it was important to make progress with Gio before they adopted. He already thought she gave him up because she didn’t want him. If they adopted, Gio might think she was trying to replace him. He said, Gio had turned his back on her, but she said she didn’t want to drive him further away.

Emma said it was her idea, but Gio said Dalton would be expecting to see her front and center. That’s why he needed to be the one to break in. She said it could end up on his record, but he said it would only be his first offense. She had priors and her grandmother would be furious. She said her grandmother might see it as the final straw and kick her out or send her back home to her parents, and he said, that can’t happen. She said it was worth the risk to her, but he said that was another reason she had to let him do it. He had a lot less to lose.

Anna said Dante told her that Obrecht was in town, and Obrecht said she assumed Dante explained that Britt’s son contacted her. Anna said he was Dante and Lulu’s son, and Obrecht said, genetically, but he was the last living connection she had to Britt. Anna said Obrecht must miss her, and Obrecht said, every waking minute. When Britt wasn’t in her dreams, she woke up feeling cheated. Her rage, anguish, and torment must be like Anna’s was when she and Faison took Robin. Britt was coming back to her the night of the attack, so she thought she’d come back here to share Britt’s last steps before she suffered the injury that took her life and remember Britt’s final act of heroism.

Pascal told Britt that he’d have another drink sent up. Anything else? Britt said, tell their mutual friend that she’d like to speak to him as soon as possible, but Pascal said, he was busy. She said she assumed that’s why he hadn’t returned her phone calls. He needed to be told that Greta had to go back to Port Charles and make another exchange. The data was incomplete, and she couldn’t do anything more. Do what he needed to get what she needed. Pascal left.  

Josslyn found Carly at the bar, and said she wanted to go to Australia for a bit. Carly asked if she was going to see her dad, and Josslyn said, yeah, but mostly Mrs. Walker, her grandma’s friend. She’d received a message that Mrs. Walker fell and broke her hip. She had no family or friends there and needed help at the ranch, so she was flying out tomorrow. Carly asked, for how long? and Josslyn said, a few weeks until she could find a caregiver. Carly asked if her dad couldn’t take care of Mrs. Walker, but Josslyn said she didn’t trust him to check in on her in person. Carly said, what about her internship? but Josslyn said Mrs. Walker had meant so much to Lady Jane. In a way, she was doing this for her. Carly said it was kind of sudden. What was really going on?

Anna said she and Jason had been talking about Britt, and Obrecht asked if Jason told her that he thought he saw Britt at de Gaulle. Anna said, he did, and Obrecht said, even though it was his imagination, it was comforting. Anna said, Jason cared for Britt, and Obrecht said she believed that. It was no wonder he thought he saw her. She saw Britt often herself, in crowded rooms or on the street. Britt was with her all the time. Anna said, their children were always a part of them, and Obrecht said she wished she’d been a better mother. She was so hard on Britt and consumed by her father. All he did was demand more, and at what cost? Anna said Obrecht and Britt had a good relationship at the end, but Obrecht said it took too long for her to figure out how to love Britt. She’d wasted the time on Cesar that she should have spent with her daughter. No one knew him better than they did. Not seeing it sooner was her biggest regret, and she had many. Anna asked if she was referring to something specific, and Obrecht said, her daughter. As she neglected Britt to devote time to Cesar, Anna abandoned Robin for her devotion to the WSB.

Josslyn said, Mrs. Walker needed help, and Carly said there was no one for her to rely on in all of Australia, including Josslyn’s father. What was really going on? Josslyn said she’d been thinking about what Carly said about Vaughn, that maybe he wasn’t the best idea. She liked spending time with him, but he was older and more serious about things than she was. The job wasn’t anything close to what she’d thought it would be like, and as for Vaughn, maybe physical distance would help her figure out what she wanted. It had been a rough year. Carly said Josslyn sounded grown up and mature. Her decision to step back and reevaluate her choices was a good idea. She’d miss Josslyn, but of course (🍷) supported her and was proud of her. They hugged and Josslyn said she had to start packing. Jack arrived and asked where Josslyn was going.

Ric asked if the story was a romance or a courtroom thriller or a western. Molly flashed back to having a beer with Cody at the pool and then Cody finding her romance book. She said, it started out as a romance, but the heroine realized she didn’t need a man to be happy. Don’t tell anyone about it, especially Ava. He said he didn’t anticipate confiding in Ava anytime soon, and she said he could do so much better than Ava. Elizabeth came in and said she was supposed to meet a friend, but they bailed. She had a quick question for Ric. Molly said she had to check her voicemail and stepped away, and Ric asked what he could do for Elizabeth.

Cody told Kristina that, in medical terminology, he had an ephelis – a freckle. It was Molly’s fault. Kristina said Molly was just mad, and Cody said that wasn’t nice. He thought she said he was doing Molly a favor by seducing Ava away from her father. Maybe they should forget it. What was the point if he and Molly weren’t friends? Kristina said, gallantry, but he said he didn’t do gallantry. She said, how about an extra 10,000? and he said, done. She said, in exchange, he had to work faster.

Alexis said, Ric was the problem? and Ava said Alexis’s ex was driven by his personal animosity toward Alexis and making emotional decisions made her uneasy. He refused to see the risk to all of them, and if they kept going, it was going to blow up in their faces, unless she did something to change it. Just one final payment of 1.5 million. If they worked together, Ric would no longer have a say in any of this.  

Alexis said she took it that Ric wouldn’t see that money, and Ava said it would go to an account only she had access to. When that was done, it was all done, the blackmail, the embezzlement, and Ric. Alexis said, one more would be too big. They should close up shop now. Someone already noticed. Laura had been asking questions. Ava said if it was off by one decimal point, tell Laura that she made one final investment, and Alexis said, what guarantee did she have that Ava wouldn’t come back? Ava asked if this was a good answer, and showed her a key.

Elizabeth thanked Ric for helping Willow pro bono, and he said he felt for her. Elizabeth said, she ignored his advice and saw Michael. It did not go well. She wondered if it would count against Willow, but he said it depended. Was there security footage of another meltdown in her wedding dress? Elizabeth said, no, and he said, a visit, even a bad one, wouldn’t do more damage, but could she convince Willow to take his advice? She said she’d do her best, and he said Willow had to be more generous, kind, and loving. She needed to model Elizabeth’s behavior. To impress the judge, Willow had to be more like her.

Chase said he got Brook’s concern. He’d talk to Gio and make sure he knew he wasn’t being replaced. Brook said she didn’t think Gio would believe Chase, and he asked how long they had to put their plans on hold. Months? Years? She told him that it was hard to say. It all depended on Gio. It was all a matter of timing. It was a huge decision. He said he thought they’d already made that decision together. Did she not want to start a family with him anymore?

Gio said he was alienated from his family and told Emma not to risk her relationship to hers. She said, if they were upset, she’d find a way to survive. She’d get a job. He said, at the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, don’t turn her back on her family, and she said he did sound like a hypocrite, but he said his family lied to him. She had a good relationship with her family. She needed to promise to keep this between them, but he missed his family. Before he found out, he loved Lois and thought she was the coolest aunt ever. She asked if he missed the Q’s, and he said he missed conversations with Ned about music, and as mad as he was at Brook, he missed her too. Emma asked why he didn’t reach out, but he said he wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready at this point. Don’t be so quick to write off her family. Being apart from them hurt like hell.

Britt looked at a photo of Obrecht and Rocco on Obrecht’s social media, and said, Ben, look how big you are. She looked at a picture of her and baby Rocco, when her phone rang. She said, the big boss himself. Nice of him to finally call… Yes, she does, a huge problem.

Anna said Obrecht wasn’t wrong. She abandoned Robin to prioritize her job time and again, and she’d always regret it. Obrecht said she shortchanged her daughter for the greater good, at least in theory, and Anna said she’d like to think she did good. The older she got, the less she could justify the things she did as an agent, even if it was her duty. Obrecht said that’s how they did it. They lured idealistic young people saying they could save the world. It was about money and power, but the recruits couldn’t tell the difference between an optimist and an opportunist. Anna thought she was oversimplifying it, but Obrecht said it had the ring of truth. If Anna could go back and talk to her younger self, what would she say? Anna said, choose another job. This one is going to cost more than you can bear to lose.

Kristina told Cody that the momentum had shifted in their favor and he could push the advantage tonight. Her mom said Ava was at her office. If he hurried, he could get over there and bump into her. He asked why he’d be going to Alexis’s office, and she asked if he wasn’t always in trouble with the law. He said, no. Okay. He’d come up with a non-criminal legal question, something about an illegal-ish card game. Kristina said, then do his charm thing. Suggest they have a drink. He said he was on his way, but he didn’t now why he was bothering since Molly seemed mad at him. Kristina said Molly had been super sensitive since she’d broken up with TJ. She was sure it had nothing to do with him. He said, but it felt personal.  

Ava said, after the last payment, the key belonged to Alexis. It was the key to the storage space where she’d stashed Ric’s car. She’d get rid of the security footage, and there would be no more proof that Kristina had tried to kill her and no more blackmail or Ric either. Alexis said Ric could still cause problems for both of them, but Ava said Ric’s hands were dirty. He couldn’t go to the cops. Alexis said she thought Ava underestimated Ric’s imagination, but Ava said Alexis underestimated hers. Alexis said, if she did this, it would put an end to all of it? Okay. Ava had herself a deal. They shook hands.

Brook said she hadn’t changed her mind. She wanted to raise a child with Chase, eventually. When they did, she hoped their child would have two loving parents and an adoring big brother, but right now, they weren’t in the right place. She knew she was asking a lot. Was he okay with waiting? He said he could wait, and she thanked him. He looked at his phone and said it was the station. He had to take it. They exchanged I love yous and he left.  

Emma said Gio made his point. The optimal outcome was to stop Dalton without wrecking her relationship with her family. Gio told her to go to the lecture. He’d break in. Josslyn came by and asked to talk to Emma, and Gio left. Josslyn said something unexpected came up and she had to go to Australia. She emailed Dalton and resigned as his assistant. Emma said, of course (🍷) she did. The job never meant anything to her. Josslyn said Dalton would reach out and offer Emma the position and she was telling her, do not take it.

Anna asked what Obrecht would say to her younger self, and Obrecht said she’d tell herself not to fall in love megalomaniac Danish terrorists. Anna said she’d tell Obrecht that nothing mattered more than their children. They had to be held on to and loved above all others. Give them her heart as long as she possible could. Obrecht said, okay, and left.  

Carly told Jack that Josslyn was taking off with good reason. She was going to put distance between her and the guy she’d been seeing. Jack said he thought Carly was happy about her dating, and Carly said she was until Anna said not so great things about Vaughn. Vaughn also dated Anna’s granddaughter Emma and was pitting Josslyn against Emma. Jack agreed it was good to be rid of him, when Carly’s phone rang. Anna asked if they could meet in person. She had to tell Carly something about Josslyn. She had new information. Carly said she was at the MetroCourt, and Anna said she’d meet her there. Carly told Jack that Anna was on her way over. She had something to tell her about Josslyn.

Elizabeth said she had to go, but Molly asked her to stay. They had a chocolate soufflé on the way. Elizabeth said she didn’t want to intrude, but Ric said she wouldn’t, and she couldn’t say no to a chocolate soufflé.

Alexis said she couldn’t wait for it to be over, and Ava said she felt the same way. Cody walked in and said he hoped it was okay… Fancy seeing Ava here.

On the phone, Britt said she’d done all she could until she had more data… Then she needed more freedom. They wouldn’t let her take her car and it wasn’t good for her to be cooped up… No. She felt fine. It would just help if he returned her phone calls now and then… Okay. Great. Thanks. Goodnight. She took out a syringe and prepared a shot.

On the phone, Chase asked if they needed extra help… He was coming in anyway. He saw Gio and asked how it was going. Gio said, good. Him? Chase said, great, and Gio kept walking.

Emma said Josslyn was bailing on the job she stole from her and was telling her not to take it, and Josslyn said she still hadn’t found proof. If Emma wanted to try, fine, but don’t work for Dalton. He was a total sleaze. He’d made moves on her and no doubt would do the same with Emma. That was partly why she was quitting, to get space from him. Do herself a favor and stay away from Dalton.

Jack said he was sorry, but he had to get back to work, and Carly said Anna was stopping by. She thanked him for listening about Josslyn, and he said, headstrong wasn’t a bad thing. She said, it got you into trouble and she hoped to stop Josslyn from making the mistakes she had. He said, Josslyn had a remarkable, amazing woman as a mother, and kissed her.

At the pier on the phone, Anna said she’d look it over when she came to the station. When she ended the call, someone threw a hood over her and dragged her away.

Tuesday:

The hood was taken off of Anna’s head and she was in Jack’s office. She said, oh good, it was just him. In the future, he should know a phone call works as well as an abduction. What did he want? He said he wanted to save her from a life spent in Steinmaur.

Coming in from a run, Dante asked Michael what was going on, and Michael said he couldn’t stop thinking about Daisy. He missed her. (Me too!) At least now he knew why she was targeted.

Chase saw Willow back at work, and she said work kept her busy. He asked how she was, and she said, better, now that he was there.

Curtis met Portia at the MetroCourt, and she asked if it was a celebration or the last supper.

Tracy sat at nearby table with Sidwell and Marco. She said Sidwell was entitled to full transparency, and it had been brought to the company’s attention that a portion of Sonny’s investment in Deception was laundered money. The good news was, they’d severed all ties with Sonny and returned his initial investment. As good corporate citizens, they were obliged to take it to the police. Sidwell said they’d do nothing of the sort.

Carly found Lucas in the breakroom and gave him his mail. He said he hated ignoring her, and she said she missed him. Please move back.

At the pool, Sonny told Jason, if not for Rocco, they’d be licking their wounds instead of having a beer. He’d never seen Jason miss a fly ball though. What happened? Jason said his head wasn’t in it, and Sonny asked where it was. Jason said, with Britt.

Tracy said she wasn’t asking Sidwell’s permission, just showing courtesy. He’d left her to shoulder the burden of Measure C. Turner approached the table and asked if she could borrow Marco, privately. It was urgent. Marco said he was sorry, but they were talking, and Turner said she knew his statement was a fabrication to cover for Sonny having him kidnapped.

Lucas said he’d been thinking about their mom, and Carly said she would have hated that they were fighting. Lucas said, especially about Sonny. Since he couldn’t talk to their mom, he talked to the next best thing. They both said, Felicia, and he said he asked how their mom handled being around Sonny. Carly said, she bit her tongue until it bled, and he said, it wasn’t worth losing Carly over. Their mom didn’t walk away, and he wouldn’t either. Carly had said condescending and dismissive things about his relationships with Brad and Marco, but he realized it was easier for her to lash out than admit she was wrong about Sonny.

Sonny said Jason and Britt were close and she’d passed away, but the connection didn’t go away. Jason said, it was more than that. He saw Britt at the airport while he was waiting for a flight. Sonny said, grief played tricks. He saw Morgan in a crowd… Jason said that wasn’t it. He heard her voice on the phone tonight. Britt was alive.

Dante asked if Michael was going to the PCPD, but Michael said he had no evidence, just suspicions and a theory. If he was right, Sasha and Daisy needed to stay where they were because the person wasn’t going anywhere. Dante asked who he thought did it, and Michael said, Willow.

Willow said she was taking a break and asked if Chase had time to talk. He said he was there to get a statement from a patient, but had time, and she said she could use a friend. He was one of the few she had left. She had no idea how Wiley and Amelia were doing. It was hard enough not to see them, but no one gave her updates. She was wondering if there was anything Chase could tell her. He said they were both doing great. Wiley had seconds of his oatmeal and Amelia’s favorite juice was now grapefruit. She said she was glad they were doing well. She could never get Wiley to eat his oatmeal, and Amelia would drink nothing but apple juice. She started to cry and said the kids were changing, but she wasn’t there. She needed to see them. Chase said he knew she missed them, and the visitation hearing wasn’t scheduled until October, and she said she had a lot of work to do on herself. Step one was owning the part she played in all of this.

Curtis said he’d like to call this dinner a celebration, and Portia asked what they were celebrating. He said he’d talked to Drew and Drew wanted a truce. No more extortion. Drew still believed Nina told Willow about the affair, and Nina wasn’t saying any different. Drew would never know he blew the whistle. Portia asked if Drew handed over the evidence of her tampering with Heather’s test results, but Curtis said Drew had it for temporary insurance. As long as he steered clear from Drew, Drew had no reason to go after him. She said, eyes open, ears to the ground, and suggested they enjoy tonight, but she had one question. He’d said he wouldn’t fight for their marriage, not while Drew was coming after them. Did that mean he was willing to fight for their marriage now?

Anna asked why she was there, and Jack said she’d come dangerously close to compromising a Level 5 op. He had to employ a new tactic – transparency. He was going to tell her everything.

Jack said Dalton was researching cold fusion, and Anna said they didn’t want the technology to get in the wrong hands or where it could be weaponized. How did Josslyn fit in? Jack said she was in a unique position to help, and Anna said she’d save him the trouble of lying. Dalton’s work at PCU was a cover for his research and they needed a student to infiltrate his lab. Jack said, as an agent, Josslyn had all the hallmarks of capable operative. She was intelligent, quick on her feet, observant, and convincing. Anna asked if Vaughn was her partner or handler, and he said, a little of both. She asked how Josslyn was performing, and he said she’d gotten what they needed. She confirmed that Dalton was sharing data by courier. Anna asked if it was the courier with the backpack Josslyn had tagged, and he said, she resurfaced in the Adriatic, which was where Josslyn and Vaughn were going. Anna said, bastard.

Willow told Chase that she thought Carly would show compassion. She tried to explain, and Carly wouldn’t listen. She didn’t blame her. She was upset and scared Wiley. Everything she’d done in this past year was a mistake. Chase said he was glad she found out about the affair before it was too late, and she said she hated to admit it, but Carly and Michael were right. She shouldn’t have gone to see the kids and had to figure out how to undo the damage.

Michael told Dante that it seemed like the whole reason Daisy was moved around was to mess with them, not to send a message. It felt more like payback. Dante said, the motive was there. Was she on the security footage? Michael said that’s what made him more suspicious. Willow knew where they were and how to avoid them. Dante asked if he was going to confront her, but Michael said he didn’t know. He wasn’t 100% certain and was still hoping he was wrong. If it was true, it changed everything.

Turner asked why Marco was protecting Sonny, and Marco said she had his statement and that’s what he was going with. She thanked him for his time and apologized for the intrusion. She left and Tracy said she got it. Sonny made Sidwell pull out of Measure C. Sidwell said he could still be useful behind scenes, and Tracy said she was still going to the police with the evidence Natalia shared with them.  She hoped once the ball was rolling, Sonny would be gone before election day. Marco said, the police wouldn’t take kindly to Deception hanging onto the evidence for months. It implied guilt. Tracy said they were holding onto it until Sonny was devested from the company to protect Deception, and Sidwell said, if they’d handed it over when Natalia gave it to them, but now, they wouldn’t have a company left to protect.

Jason told Sonny that he was at the airport. He saw Britt with a bag from the same resort where her flight was headed. When he called the resort and spoke to the manager, he heard Britt’s voice. She was demanding and bold. This was Britt. Sonny said he knew Jason was talking seriously, but how did she survive? and Jason said he wasn’t sure. He checked the funeral home where the cremation was, but there was no record of it. Sonny said, if she survived, she was sick and probably didn’t want to see anyone, and Jason said that’s what he was thinking. Sonny asked what he was going to do about it.

Jason said he wasn’t going to do anything. If Britt chose to vanish, he intended to honor her choice. Sonny said he should tell her that he’s alive. Last she heard, he was under a pile of rocks in Greece. Jason said he couldn’t assume anything, and Sonny said, giving Britt her freedom had to be horrible for him, but Jason said he had no choice.

Curtis told Portia that tonight was about them finding their way back after the havoc Drew had wreaked on their marriage. It didn’t mean he excused her actions. It meant he understood, and he was sorry he’d made it hard to confide in him. He owned that and would work on it. She said he wasn’t the only one to blame. Her fear of losing him, Trina, and everything she’d worked for led to her decisions. He made her feel like they could work through and come through stronger. Did he?

Carly said she knew how Lucas felt about Sonny, but she couldn’t cut Sonny out of her life. She didn’t want to and would like to think he understood. He said he did, and she said she knew how important Brad was to him. They’d loved and lost a child. They were married. And she shouldn’t have said a word about his relationship with Marco. For what it was worth (🍷), she didn’t think Marco was a rebound. She knew he was careful, and if he thought he was falling in love with Marco, Marco was worth it. Lucas said he was, and she said she was worried it was happening fast, but she used worry as a weapon, and she was sorry. He said, apology accepted. He loved her. She said she felt the same and suggested he invite Marco over for dinner, but he said he wasn’t moving back in.

Anna said Jack had tasked an inexperienced recruit with a mission on foreign soil, but Jack said it was a recon mission. Stand down and stay out of the way. She said her granddaughter was involved too. He was wasting his time if he thought she’d stand down.

Turner went to the pool and told Sonny, congratulations on his win. It was a shame he had to break the rules, but that was his specialty.

Sidwell told Tracy that the fallout would immediate, and Marco said Deception’s assets would be frozen and accountants would descend like vultures. Everything would be scrutinized, and it would be a matter of public record. Sidwell said it would reek of scandal. Their demographic was merciless, not forgiving or loyal. (True dat.) Tracy said they’d held onto the evidence for too long and their only recourse was to hold onto it forever. Marco said he knew she wanted Sonny brought to his knees, but it might cost the company, and Sidwell said, the same company whose money went to the granddaughter Tracy held dear. Tracy said forgive her if she didn’t take advice from someone who lived in a faux middle age fortress and associated with Lucy Coe, and Sidwell said it was a friend-to-friend counsel. She said she wasn’t his friend.

Dante told Michael that they didn’t know for sure it was Willow. It could have been one of Sonny’s enemies. Michael said that what he was thinking, but Daisy was swapped with another baby at the hospital. Willow was working that day and knew the hospital inside and out. She was in the perfect place to swap Daisy with another baby.

Chase said Willow was a good person, kind, and a dedicated mother. The judge would see that. Willow thanked him for being there no matter what, and he said he’d be happy testify on her behalf. She hugged him, and she asked if he’d keep trying with Michael, but he said Michael needed time to cool off. When he did, he’d see the good in her and she’d be reunited with her kids.

Carly asked why Lucas wouldn’t move back, and he said he couldn’t make space in his life for Sonny. She said Sonny was barely ever there, and he said he loved Donna. If he got why she’d made peace with Sonny, try and understand why he couldn’t smile and play nice anymore. He didn’t want Donna around that tension, and it was time he got his own place. She said, what about holidays? and he said he’d be there. She was still his sister, and Donna was still his niece. He was resigning as a houseguest, but not a brother. They hugged.

Jack said he’d let Anna in on the operative to try and stop her from committing treason, something she knew about. How many people had she betrayed? She said, not as many as he had, and he said, if she tried to interfere, she could wake up in Steinmaur, if she woke up at all. She said she couldn’t do anything to stop him. He’d put her in a box. She smiled and he asked what was funny. She said he was in a box too. He’d recruited Josslyn when Dex’s death was fresh and there was going to be hell to pay when Carly found out what he’d done to her daughter.

Curtis said Trina was clear about her stance on Kai, and when he tried to convince her to give Kai a second chance, it hit him. He should do the same with Portia. Drew’s blackmailing her almost tore them apart, but in the middle of the chaos, Drew made him realize that he was still in love with her.

Marco said Tracy pointed out that Sidwell withdrawing from Measure C let Sonny off the hook, and Sidwell said, they both did. Why did he? Marco said, trying to pin the abduction on Sonny would be uphill battle. He covered his tracks. Sidwell said, of course (🍷). It wasn’t his first kidnapping. Marco said, here’s hoping it was Sonny’s last – and his – and they clinked glasses. Sidwell said, not to worry. He had something special lined up. And when he launched his weapon, this one wouldn’t miss.

Carly gave Lucas a key and said, for any time he wanted to stop by and visit his family.

Sonny asked how he rigged the game, but Turner said she didn’t know. Until tonight, the PCPD (PCSD?) had been undefeated. He said, they still would be if not for his grandson, and she said the PCPD was playing Corinthos Coffee tomorrow. She couldn’t wait to play and would be ready for every trick he had. He said he didn’t need tricks. He was going to beat them fair and square. She laughed and said it would be a first. She left, and Jason said she knew how to make an exit. Sonny said that’s what he was counting on.

Carly saw Chase and Willow at the hospital and kept walking, but Willow said, wait. Did she have one minute?

Jack said he never manipulated Josslyn, and Anna asked if she’d knocked on the door and he filed her application with HR before he went back to romancing her mother. He said, screw you, and she said she and Jack knew each other. They were always in the same room, and she’d seen him with a lot of women. She’d never seen him the way he was with Carly. She thought he’d fallen for her. She guessed there was a first time for everything, and left.

Curtis told Portia, the first few months were rough. They were either fighting or not saying anything. There was so much tension. It was hard to remember where it started. Then Drew tried to pressure her into altering Michael’s test results and he saw her bravery. She stood her ground and refused to be bullied. It was a beautiful reminder of the woman he loved, as strong in her principles as she always was. It helped him realize that he was wrong to judge her. Even if he wasn’t, he’d, made it impossible for her to come to him. He realized what she was up against and how she shouldn’t have had to face it alone for so long. She said she liked the people they were right now, and he said he did too. He thought those people were their future. She said she’d drink to that, and they clinked glasses.

Marco asked what Sidwell had on Sonny, and Sidwell said, the judge who oversaw Michael’s custody case… Marco said, Judge Haran. What about her? Sidwell said, the day she awarded Michael sole custody, a large sum was wired into her account in her name. If a large untraceable amount came to light… Marco said, it would look like Sonny bought off the judge. The ruling would be thrown out and Willow would have the upper hand in the appeal. Sidwell said, Michael would conclude that Sonny bribed the judge and was foolish enough to get caught. Sonny would lose him. Marco said, why wait? and after drumming on the table for a moment, Sidwell said, timing is everything.

Michael said, changing a onesie, turning a baby around, and hiding in the house just to put the baby in an empty room for them to find. Could Dante imagine Selina ordering her henchmen to do that? Dante said he didn’t think her henchmen would know the first thing about a onesie or a baby, and Michael said, now that he was saying it out loud, it had to be Willow. Dante asked if Michael wanted him to open an inquiry, but Michael said, not yet. Daisy is safe. It was time he figured this out. He knew the lengths Willow would go to and couldn’t let her near his kids anymore.

Carly asked what Willow wanted to apologize for, and Willow said, making a scene. She shouldn’t have gone to Carly’s. She was upset about everything. It wasn’t an excuse. Carly told her a thousand times. She said the day would come when Willow would regret it all. That day was here. She was sorry she didn’t listen. Sorry for everything. Carly said she’d heard it before from Willow’s sister. Nelle apologized for so many things. She bought it, but she wasn’t buying this. Not for one second. Even if she did, she’s not the person Willow should be apologizing to. She walked away.

Jason asked if Sonny was sure he wanted people to see him and Turner going at it, and Sonny said she was smart. She was building a case against him, but he was building something else. When he ran into Turner in public, when she called him into the PCPD to question him without his lawyer, it showed bias. Jason said, if she filed a case, she’d have to recuse herself because she wouldn’t be objective, and Sonny said, exactly. She thought she was in control, but he was sitting tight and calling all the shots.

Jack told Anna that his feelings for Carly were immaterial. The stakes were higher than personal relationships. Anna said he’d sent his lover’s daughter on a high-risk mission. How would he face her if something went wrong? He said it was a recon mission, and she said, and he’s never known a mission to go sideways. He said, Josslyn was good. Vaughn was too. All they’re doing is relaying the layout, the access points, and security rotation, the standard. They’ll come back without a scratch. He went into his office and slammed the door. Anna flashed back to Jason telling her that he saw Britt at the airport with a Dalmatia tote bag.  

Wednesday:

At the pool, Chase told Michael that the PCPD softball team got beat by his dad. He ran into Willow… Michael stopped him and said he wasn’t having this conversation.

Lulu met Carly at the MetroCourt and said a certain someone had been cheering on her son, and Carly asked if she meant Obrecht. Lulu said she was already on thin ice with Rocco and wanted Carly to help her find a way to drive that whack job out of town.

Obrecht found Danny, Rocco, and Jason in the park and said she’d been cheering them on. She showed them her foam finger.

Dante went to Laura’s office, and she said she wanted to discuss a case off the record. She wanted to know whether or not his father had kidnapped Marco Rios.

Sonny helped a limping Turner into the hospital, and she thanked him for the ride. She said she’d take from there, but he said she’d hurt her ankle. Maybe he should help her to the couch.

Maxie and Lucy met Brook at the Quartermaine’s, and Brook said she wished there was a different solution. Maxie said no one wanted to get Sonny in trouble, but they had to tell the police. Brook said Sonny had no idea about the laundered money, but Maxie said it was the only way to protect Deception. Tracy came in and said there had been a change in plans.

Carly said she’d love to help Lulu, but it was a conflict of interest. When Willow had leukemia, Obrecht donated bone marrow and saved Willow’s life. Lulu said Carly hated Willow, but Carly said Willow was the mother of her grandchildren, which made Obrecht their great-aunt. It was too messy. Lulu said it wasn’t about Obrecht saving a woman with a distant family connection. Carly didn’t want to get her hands dirty when it came to Jason.

Rocco said he didn’t know Obrecht was into softball, and Obrecht said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see him play. Rocco introduced her to Danny, and she asked if he was Jason’s son. Jason nodded, and she said it was a pleasure to meet him. Now that they were all friends, perhaps she could take them out to celebrate their victory. How did ice cream sound?

Dante told Laura, officially, Marco wasn’t kidnapped. He gave an incoherent, confusing account of being injured. She said it sounded like a classic cover-up, and he said Marco wasn’t accusing Sonny of anything and no charges were filed. It was an open and shut case. She said, there was no evidence? and he said, none. She said they were in the same position, not being able to look the other way, and he said if she wanted him to investigate further, he’d have to get the green light from Anna. Is that what she wanted?

Turner said Sonny didn’t have to keep her company, but he said he had tagged her out at third base. She said it was the ump’s call, and she was safe, when Willow came over and asked why she was there. Sonny asked if they could have a different nurse, and Willow said, of course (🍷). She gave Turner paperwork to fill out and left. Turner asked if she wasn’t Sonny’s ex-daughter-in-law, and he said it was best to steer clear given the situation. She asked, what was the situation?

Tracy said they hadn’t thoroughly considered all aspects of the Sonny problem. Going to the PCPD was a mistake. If they wanted to protect the company, they needed to keep quiet about all of it.

Lulu told Carly that when Jason was involved with Britt, he developed a soft spot for her mother, and Carly admitted that she’d rather not have a conflict with Jason. She’d rather not have a conflict with Lulu either, but she knew Lulu had gotten into it with Jason. Lulu said, when he told her son what a wonderful person Britt was. She knew he and Carly were close, but mother to mother, was keeping the peace more important than Rocco’s emotional well-being? Carly said, of course (🍷) not, and Lulu said, then help her. Carly said she’d consider it on one condition. Convince her that Obrecht was an actual threat to Rocco.

Obrecht said it was her treat, and Jason suggested the boys pack up the equipment first. Rocco and Danny left, and Obrecht said he thought she should stay away from Rocco. Jason said, no, but she was putting him in a tough position with his parents. Clearly, he’d either be going against his parents or he’d have to turn her down. She could save Rocco the stress by not putting him in the middle. Could she do that?

Chase asked Michael to hear him out. Michael owed him that much after busting up his marriage. Michael told him to say what he needed to, and Chase said Willow knew she made a mistake and was acutely aware that Drew wasn’t the man she thought he was. Michael said, for a year, everyone tried to convince her, but Chase said she was convinced Drew was her savior. He was asking Michael to give her a break. Hadn’t they all made bad decisions? Michael said, not like hers, and Chase asked if it should cost her children.

Willow told Isaiah that Sonny asked for a different nurse and said she agreed it was for the best. He said he’d have another nurse follow up. Was she all right? She said it was ironic. Sonny had a reputation for being dangerous, but out of everyone in Michael’s family, he’d been the most decent to her.

Sonny said things had been tense since Michael and Willow’s marriage fell apart, and Turner said, because of Willow’s affair with Congressman Cain. He said that was the gist of it. Willow got taken in by that lying sleaze and he basically destroyed her life. Turner said she heard Willow left him at the altar. Did he really sleep with her mother? Never mind. It was none of her business. He said he was happy Willow came to her senses, but wished she would have done it before she lost custody. It would have been easier to work out on their own. Turner said family court judges did what they could, but didn’t have the time or resources needed to make a fully informed decision, and Sonny said he was surprised Michael got sole custody. She asked if he thought the judge made a mistake.

Brook said it was Tracy’s idea, but Tracy said she believed her desire to see Sonny behind bars narrowed her focus. She didn’t think it through. By voluntarily exposing Sonny’s indiscretion, they’d open a can of worms they wanted nothing to do with. If the police investigated, their assets would be frozen and forensic accountants would go over the books, search their homes and offices, and God knew for how long. Lucy said it would be a disaster and all their hard work would go poof. Erica Kane would love that. Tracy said it was possible they wouldn’t be seen as innocent by throwing Sonny under the bus to protect themselves, but Maxie said she was sure they could convince the police. Tracy said it was too big a risk. Natalia was gone and Sonny had been devested. It was the right move and what they were going to do.

Laura asked if Dante thought it was worthwhile pursuing a case, but Dane said the gap between what they knew probably happened and what they could prove was insurmountable. Also, the victim wouldn’t admit to being abducted. Laura said she didn’t want to see her friend arrested, but she was also worried about what it would do to Rocco.

Obrecht told Jason that she didn’t want to cause distress, but Rocco was clear that he wanted to know more about Britt, and she loved telling him stories. He said he understood she missed Britt and Rocco was a direct link, and she said, Britt loved Rocco so much. Jason said, they were never related. Britt had stolen the embryo and passed it off as her own. He got how she felt, but don’t try and come between Rocco and his parents.  

Lulu said Carly knew how dangerous Obrecht was, but Carly said, to Rocco? Lulu said, yes. She was filling his head with lies, convincing him that her daughter wasn’t a terrible person. The only reason Britt had Rocco was to hang onto a man who didn’t want her. She was sure Obrecht left that out. She and Dante lost out on precious time with their son.. It was robbed from them. Carly said she was sorry for what Britt did. It was horrific. Lulu said, Obrecht spun it into something it wasn’t, but Carly said, Britt did evolve, and Jason was a huge part of that.

Michael said seeing Willow wasn’t in the best interest of Wiley and Amelia, but Chase said she loved them. Michael said all the credit went to Drew. Willow forgot how the kids were affected. Chase said, she wasn’t trying to hut the kids, and Michael said, but she did. She put them in an unstable environment and ignored their emotional needs. Chase said she’d been under Drew’s influence, and he wasn’t a factor now, and Michael said Willow had shown her own bad behavior.

Sonny told Turner that he believed the kids should be with Michael. The judge made the right call, although he thought she’d include visitation under the provision Drew not be present. She said it was unusual to strip the mother of all rights, and he said, Willow made bad decisions because of Drew. Now it was costing her, and them, but he’d be blind to say it wasn’t a complex situation. They should check and see if a doctor was ready. Did she want him to pull some strings? She said, don’t you dare.

Lucy said, so Tracy was advocating they cover up a major crime and keep their fingers crossed that they didn’t get caught. Maxie said, if they stayed quiet, and the truth came out, they were screwed, but Brook said she agreed with her grandmother. Sonny was the only family member Gio was speaking to. If she sent his grandfather to prison, he would hate her more than he already did. Maxie said she understood that Brook loved Sonny, but it was a smart strategy and the right thing to do. Tracy told them to ask themselves if sticking to their principles was worth losing everything, including their freedom.

Carly said Lulu wasn’t around to see that Britt had really changed. She died savin Josslyn. Lulu said that didn’t erase what Britt had done, and Carly asked if Lulu shouldn’t at least acknowledge Britt had layers and multiple sides, good and bad, not just one thing. Lulu said, seeing it as a mother, it was unacceptable, and Carly said Rocco had to know they weren’t related biologically, but Lulu said, Britt carried him for nine months and gave birth to him. She took care of him and for all Lulu knew, Britt nursed him. She stole that connection from her and Lulu was terrified she could steal so much more.

Laura said Dante was entitled to his negative feelings about Britt, but what Rocco was told was accurate and truthful. Can Dante blame him for not wanting to believe the woman who carried him and brought him into the world was a horrible person? Dante said Rocco didn’t want it to change who he was, and that was kid thinking, but she said, Rocco was still a kid. He said, Britt had no bearing on Rocco’s identity. They weren’t related. She said, the fact remained that Rocco was affected by the new information. She couldn’t see how it would hurt to allow him to explore that. Dante said he felt livid in the beginning, but she was right. Maybe Rocco needed to hear both sides. What harm would it do? The woman was dead.

Rocco asked what Danny thought about Obrecht, and Danny said she was weird, but not as scary as he’d thought. Did Rocco want to know her? Rocco said he did, and Britt, and Danny asked how his parents felt. Rocco said, not great. They thought Britt was the devil. He hated that they were fighting. Maybe he should drop it.

Turner said she didn’t want to cross the line and maybe Sonny should go. He asked if that was her M.O., pushing people away when she needed them. She told her co-workers that she was fine. She didn’t want them to see her vulnerable, since she had a reputation of being a hard ass. It was pride. He got it and understood. Speaking of pride, was it eating her up that his team beat theirs? She said it hurt more than her ankle and she couldn’t accuse him of cheating this time. He said he didn’t. For someone who never played, she did great. She said she was convinced they would have won except for the bad call. She was safe. A nurse came over with a wheelchair and said they were ready for her. Turner said Sonny was officially off the hook. She’d call a Ride Share to get home.

Isaiah thanked Willow for her help in keeping a child calm. She was an awesome mom and the court would see that. She’d have her kids back in no time. She said she thought she had a better shot now that she and Drew weren’t together. He said he was sorry about what happened, and she said he should be glad he couldn’t make it. Now she knew the truth and was free of the lies and manipulations. He said, it must hurt, and she said it was karma. She wouldn’t listen to anyone. Even the Co-Chief of Staff said Drew was blackmailing her. Isaiah said, what? and Willow said please keep it between them. She had no business sharing it. He told her not to worry.

Michael told Chase that Willow had her own issues. Until she dealt with them, he couldn’t allow her to be around the kids. Chase asked if he was saying she was a danger to them, but Michael said Chase didn’t know all the facts. The best thing was to wait until the hearing in October. Chase said he didn’t think Willow could wait. Couldn’t he let her spend time with them? Michael said that wasn’t happening, and Chase asked why he was punishing Willow. Michael asked if Chase thought he didn’t want his kids to have their mother. It killed him. Chase said the kids needed their mother. He knew he didn’t have all the details, but couldn’t Michael show the tiniest bit of compassion.

Laura said it was comforting for Rocco to hear that Britt wasn’t all bad, and Dante said he didn’t love it, but she was right. Maybe he and Lulu needed to back off. She said it was a wise decision to give Rocco space to make up his own mind. It would tell Rocco that they trusted him. Dante said Obrecht was pro-Britt, and he wished Rocco had someone else to talk to, but Laura said his son was hungry for stories about Britt and Obrecht had them. For Rocco to express his own point of view, he had to hear both sides. Dante said he was willing to let Rocco do that, and she told him, good luck getting Lulu on board. He said she took the words right out of his mouth.

Carly told Lulu that Britt was no longer part of the picture and couldn’t hurt her relationship with Rocco, but Lulu said, Obrecht could. When she and Dante saw her at the pool, smiling and taking selfies, they lost it. When they explained to Rocco, he saw them as the bad guys. She felt her son slipping away. She just got him back and wasn’t losing him again. Carly said, she wasn’t fighting Obrecht and Britt, and Lulu said she was fighting Rocco. Carly said if she wasn’t careful, she’d push him away for good.

Danny said it was Rocco’s life and he had the right to want to learn more about it. If he wanted to hang out with Britt’s mom, he should.  

Obrecht told Jason that she didn’t want to cause problems. Rocco had reached out to her. Jason asked if Rocco knew the idea of stealing the embryo was hers, and she said she didn’t think she mentioned it. Jason said if she wanted a relationship with him, she had to tell him the whole truth, even the unflattering parts. Britt didn’t care what anyone thought and wouldn’t want her to whitewash it, especially to Rocco. If she told the truth, it would make him trust her. She said Jason might be onto something, and thanked him.

Tracy said even if the police believed they didn’t actively help Sonny, they could still be in trouble. Deception’s finances would be audited and who knew what Natalia was up to. What if they found irregularities? Lucy said, good point, and Tracy said, nailing Sonny at their own expense was counterproductive. Maxie said, Sonny’s accountant made the mistake. It was his issue to clean up. It would show they had nothing to hide. Tracy said, everyone who wants to leave well enough alone, raise their hand, and Lucy raised hers. Tracy said Brook had stock in the company, and Brook raised her hand. Tracy said, fine. It was settled. They weren’t going to the police.

Willow said she’d felt alone lately and friends like Isaiah, Elizabeth, and Chase made life bearable. Isaiah said he didn’t know she and Chase were close, and she said they were married. She didn’t talk about it a lot. She cheated on him with Michael, so he had a right to gloat, but he hadn’t. Isaiah said he sounded like a good guy, and she said he was one of the best. He was kind, reasonable, and understanding. Everything she was wrong in assuming Michael would be.

Michael told Chase that compassion was a luxury he couldn’t afford. Wiley and Amelia came first. Chase said the children wanted to see their mom. What Michael was doing was worse than punishing Willow. He was punishing his own kids. Chase walked out.

Turner came out on crutches, and Sonny came back pushing a wheelchair. He asked if she needed a lift, but she said she told him to go. He said he didn’t like being told what to do. Sit or not sit. She sat.

Lucy said they had another Home & Heart segment coming up, but Tracy said they’d discussed enough business. Lucy said, ta! and left. Maxie followed her out, and Tracy said, Maxie was quiet. Brook said, she was disappointed, and Tracy said they did the right thing. She hoped Maxie abided by their vote. Her father was the Chief of Detectives and she wouldn’t be surprised if Maxie confided in him. Brook wondered how she could be casual about it. If Maxie went to the cops, they were all going down.

Laura said she understood Dante and Lulu were struggling, but the more they pushed Obrecht away, the more they’d push Rocco away. Dante said he was counting the days until Obrecht left town, but it might make Rocco want more. He didn’t know if there was a solution to any of this. Laura promised they’d find one.  

Carly said if Lulu didn’t stop going on the attack, she’d make martyrs of Obrecht and Britt. How much longer could Obrecht stay? Lulu said that didn’t mean she and Rocco wouldn’t be in touch, and Carly said, banning him from talking to Obrecht would make him want to talk more. She had to loosen her grip. Think long and hard before she pulled the trigger and went up against Obrecht or she could make things worse.

The boys came back, and Obrecht said she spoke too soon. She’d forgotten to take her lactose pills. Her bad. Another time? Rocco said that would be cool, and she congratulated them on their big win. She left, and Danny said she was something else. He wondered if Britt was like her, but Jason said Britt was her own person. Rocco said he wished he could have known her, and Jason said him too.

Thursday:

Kristina met Alexis at the MetroCourt, and Alexis said Molly was late because she was stuck at work. She told Kristina that her plan was working. Ric and Ava were turning on each other.

Elizabeth gave Ric Willow’s work records and a list of character witnesses, and Ric said he needed as much ammunition as possible to prove Willow was stable and reliable. Elizabeth was a good friend. Elizabeth said he was doing the case pro bono, which was more than generous, and he said her good opinion was his reward. Ava watched them.

At the pool, Felicia invited Cody to Mac’s barbecue. He was inviting family, friends, and everyone at the station and DA’s office. Cody asked if that would include Molly, and Felicia said she was on the guest list. He said, then take him off.

Emma told Gio, on second thought, she wanted to do the break-in alone. She wanted the responsibility to fall on her if something went wrong. He said if they were going to have a chance at success, she had to keep Dalton busy while he proved Dalton was animal testing. It was a two-person job. She was stuck with him. Anna came in with Outback, and said, this whole thing with Outback ended right now.

At the hospital, Martin told Stella that his back felt great. He was going to miss his physical therapist. He’d said Martin could use more sessions, but Martin’s insurance disagreed. (Been there.)

Sonny went to the Quartermaine’s to see Brook, and Brook said she told Tracy that Sonny was coming by so she could talk to him about Deception, which was true, but it was also an excuse to see him. She’d messed up.

Laura asked if there was no new information on Sidwell, and Jordan said she was getting nowhere.

Sidwell sat at an outside table, when Drew came by. Drew said he needed whatever Sidwell had against Sonny Corinthos.

Brook asked how much Sonny knew about Rocco finding out Britt gave birth to him, and Sonny said Rocco was confused about what that meant. Brook said Sonny must know she was the reason Rocco found out. Go ahead. Let her have it.

Stella said she was going to fight for Martin and get his physical therapy approved, and he said she was an angel. He wouldn’t have improved if not for her, and it was all Tracy’s fault. She said Tracy was her good friend, and he said that was more proof of her Olympian generosity of spirit.

Jordan said Sidwell paid her a lot of money, and the work was challenging. She enjoyed it. Laura said Sidwell was probably more likely to trust her if she was invested, and Jordan said she couldn’t tie him to the fire at Charlie’s. Laura asked about any smuggling ops, but Jordan said there was nothing. Laura said he was dirty as they came and the fact he was good at hiding it proved it. She wondered if he had someone helping him, and Jordan said she thought he was running the illegal side of things through his son. 😯

Sidwell said he was declining Drew’s request and thought it had less to do with Sonny than Michael. He was using the father to get to the son. Drew said Willow’s children were stolen from her, but Sidwell said, sorry. He couldn’t help. Drew said, give him something he could use against Sonny, or he promised to make Sidwell’s life very difficult, and Sidwell said Drew was not threatening him, was he?

Alexis told Kristina that once Ava got the final payment, she’d give Alexis the location of the car and destroy the footage from the garage camera. Then hopefully, the nightmare would be over. Kristina said, if Ava kept her word, but until she saw the car and footage destroyed, she didn’t believe they were in the clear. Alexis said neither did she, and Kristina said she knew how Alexis felt about the law and was sorry she’d put her in this position. Alexis said she knew Kristina understood how serious this was, and she was glad Kristina was back in therapy. She’d been skeptical of Kristina’s plan, but it was working. Kristina said she wished she’d kept Molly out of it.

Felicia said she thought Cody and Molly were friends, and Cody said Molly was furious with him. She asked what he did, and he said, nothing. She just went off on him. It was a mystery. Felicia said mysteries were meant to be solved and it would mean so much to Mac, and Cody said he’d be there.

Anna told Emma that she heard barking from the lobby. The apartment didn’t allow dogs and it only took one person to complain to the HOA and they’d be out. Emma said they’d make a schedule, so Outback wasn’t left alone, and Anna said, until then… She held out the leash, but Emma said she had to go to a lecture. Gio said he had to lifeguard and was also going to the lecture, and Anna said she had to go to work. Emma said she was the Police Commissioner. Who was going tell her that she couldn’t bring Outback to work? Anna said, okay… today. She left, and Emma asked why Gio said he was coming with her.

Felicia said Anna looked tense. Outback? Anna said, no, Emma. She thought her granddaughter was going to make a move against Dalton tonight.

Brook said she was so focused on getting back at Lulu, she hurt Rocco, but Sonny told her to stop beating herself up. Rocco was okay. He just saw him play softball and he was laughing. He was tougher than people gave him credit for. She said Rocco told her that he was glad he knew the truth, but she thought he was saying what she wanted to hear. He said Rocco found it by accident. Had she wanted him to find it? she said, that was exactly what she’d wanted.

Alexis said Kristina successfully warned Molly away from Cody, but Kristina said, not the whole truth. Cody really liked Molly. Part of the reason he agreed to seduce Ava was for Molly’s sake and the night of the fire, he was there for her. She thought he really cared. Alexis asked if she regretted coming between them.

Anna told Felicia that Josslyn left her position with Dalton and Emma stepped in. She was convinced Dalton was a bad actor and Emma was trying to prove it.

Emma told Gio that Anna didn’t like her working with Dalton, but someone had to expose him as soon as possible. Gio said they had to make sure it was known he was doing animal testing.

On the phone with the fire department, Anna asked if the fire chief happened to know the last time the lecture hall at PCU was inspected.

Ava said she had a garage door opener to drop off for Lucas, and Elizabeth said she’d make sure he got it. Elizabeth left, and Ava asked if Rix missed her. She was headed over to the MetroCourt pool. Did he want to join her? He said he was busy preparing for Willow’s visitation appeal, and was about to kiss Ava, when Elizabeth called over that Deanna said she’d be a character witness. Ric asked if she could think of anyone else, and Ava left.

Ava texted Cody and watched Ric walk off with Elizabeth.

Lucy arrived to meet Sidwell and told Drew that maybe Willow would forgive… no, probably not. Drew said he was happy nothing came out on social media and knew it was her doing, and she said she respected privacy and the sanctity of the church. Drew told Sidwell not to forget what he asked, and left.  

Laura asked if Jordan had proof Marco was involved, but Jordan said it was just a theory. Marco and his father were close and spent a lot of time behind closed doors. She wasn’t privy to what they discussed. Laura asked if she thought Sidwell was suspicious, but Jordan said she didn’t think so. Laura wondered how long before Sidwell brought Jordan into the fold, but Jordan said she didn’t know if he would, not if she didn’t prove trustworthy.

Trina saw Ava at the pool and asked if Ric was coming. Ava said he was too busy hanging on every word out of Elizabeth’s mouth. Trina was right. She deserved better. Cody came in and Trina went to talk to Emma. Ava said she was going to invite Cody, and was surprised when he said he was already there. She invited Ric, but he had work. Cody said Ric was an idiot, and Ava agreed. It was too hot to work. Cody said, for giving up a chance to spend the day with her.

Ric said, thanks to Elizabeth, he had an impressive list of character witnesses, and Elizabeth showed him a photo from Aiden on her phone. She said she wanted to paint every picture he sent, and Ric said maybe she could take a sabbatical. Maybe she’d find a benefactor or patron. She said that would never happen, but he told her, never say never.

Jordan said Sidwell needed to know she’d do what it took to be successful and hearing about illegal acts wouldn’t make her run to the police, and Laura reminded her that she didn’t have a badge to fall back on. Jordan said it would be tricky, but she was willing to take the risk to protect the city, but Laura said she may not be able to protect Jordan and wasn’t comfortable with asking her to take the risk.

Lucy said she was sad for Willow and Drew, but hoped it wouldn’t ruin her lunch with Sidwell. They had something to celebrate about Deception. Sidwell wondered if they shouldn’t wait for Jordan, and Lucy said she had no idea Jordan was joining them. She was hoping their lunch would be more intimate. He said nothing would delight him more, but he never presumed to make the first move. She said, presume away.

Molly joined Alexis and Kristina, and Alexis said she had a plan for Scout that she wanted to run by them. She needed help.

Martin met Drew at the MetroCourt and apologized for being late. He’d run into Stella and a missing signature caused his insurance to deny him rehab… Sorry. Drew said they needed to figure out how to get Willow custody of her kids.

Brook told Sonny that Gio wanted nothing to do with her. She thought she didn’t want him as a teenager and didn’t care about him now. It broke her heart that he believed that about her. Sonny said Brook gave Gio the chance at a better life. That was love. He believed one day Gio would understand. She said Lulu had dug into her past to hurt her. Lulu was driven to expose her and didn’t care who she hurt. She wanted to hurt Lulu back, but once she got the chance, she couldn’t go through with it. Lulu didn’t believe her, but she hoped he did. She didn’t leave the file out for Rocco to find.

Molly said Scout would love it. Did Alexis think Drew would go for it? Alexis said she had no idea, but they were Sam’s family, and they should be entitled to spend more time with Scout. She didn’t know if he’d understand that. Molly said she thought he would listen, and Kristina said they could all speak up for Sam.

Martin told Drew that if he was Willow’s attorney, he’d be happy to advise her, but she was represented by Ric and Nina was picking up the tab. Drew said Willow wanted nothing to do with Nina and needed their help, and Martin said, there was no easy answer. Willow lost and had a meltdown in court. She wasn’t going to see her kids for a long time, no matter what.

Sonny told Brook that he believed Rocco was going to find out eventually from Dante and Lulu. He could have found out from Obrecht. It looked like he was out of Deception now. How was the company doing? Brook said she had good news.

Sidwell asked how it went with the City Council, and Jordan said the mayor’s office was thrilled with his donation to the Park Beautification Project. Sidwell said it was all due to Lucy, and Lucy said she was thinking that she should run the city. Sidwell said, one reason they were here was, Lucy had an update on Deception, and Lucy said she’d like to share, but needed to know if Jordan was duty bound to disclose anything. Jordan said she worked in the private sector now and it fell under her NDA, and Lucy said, in that case…

Trina told Emma that Josslyn texted her from Australia with a message for Emma. Emma said, let her guess. Don’t work with Dalton. Trina said, yeah. Josslyn was worried about her. Josslyn was her best friend, and she loved Josslyn. She wasn’t perfect or always right, but she trusted Josslyn. If Josslyn felt Dalton was a problem, Emma should think twice about taking the job.

Anna brought Outback to Laura’s office and said she was sorry. She had no other option. Laura said she loved dogs. Where was the PCPD on the fire at Charlie’s and the disappearance of Marco Rios? Anna said what they could prove and what they believed were two different things. They believed Sidwell used Selina Wu’s people to torch Charlie’s. Laura said, to ram home that Sonny was a magnet for violence, and Anna said they recovered the bodies of the ops in the water. Laura said, but they can’t prove it. What about Marco? Anna said, Marco claimed he had a flat tire. Lucas filed a complaint against Sonny, but without a victim, they don’t have a crime. A woman stormed in and said Laura was having a meeting with the perpetrator of the crime she wanted to report, but she’d wait.  

Laura said they were in the middle of a meeting and the woman should make an appointment, but the woman said it couldn’t wait. She spent a lot of money to maintain her apartment. Anna introduced the woman as Mabel, the president of the HOA, and Mabel said they didn’t allow dogs, and Anna was in direct violation. Anna said she didn’t have any pets, and Laura asked if Mabel had proof. Mabel said she listened to it morning, noon, and night, and barking came from her phone. Anna said, that could be any dog, when Outback barked at herself.

On the phone, Emma said thanks for getting back to her. She was wondering when she could pick up the key to the lecture hall… What did they mean, it was canceled?

Martin said Willow had to prove she was stable and no more erratic behavior in public. The court was interested in reuniting children with their mothers, but it would take time. Drew suggested they focus on Michael, but Martin said, no. Unless he had a video of Michael robbing a bank, Michael looked like saint. He’d been badly injured when his wife left him for his uncle. He knew Drew thought if he got Willow’s kids back, she’d be grateful and throw herself at him, but that wasn’t the way to do it. Drew said he wanted to remind Willow how much he loved her and how far he’d go for her.

Kristina suggested Alexis ask Drew now, but Alexis said it involved groveling and she’d rather not have witnesses. Molly said, why didn’t they go to the pool, if it was okay with Kristina, and Kristina said it got easier every time. She’d go over ahead and get a table. Alexis asked if she looked calm, accepting, and reasonable, and Molly told her to remember she was doing it for Sam. Alexis said that’s what she needed to hear, and got up.

Drew said if they couldn’t find anything incriminating, they could dig something up on Sonny, but Martin said it was risky. Alexis said she was sorry to interrupt, but would Martin mind if she had a word alone with Drew. Martin said he had a matter to attend to, and Drew told him, just get it done. Martin left, and Drew asked what he could do for Alexis. Alexis said it wasn’t for her. It was for Scout.

Stella asked Elizabeth to sign a document about a patient’s hypertension so she could get her medication paid for by insurance. Elizabeth said the patient had been on the medication forever and she couldn’t believe they still had to sign a document. Stella said it was satisfying when insurance companies were forced to do the right thing and pay for treatment, and Elizabeth said they made her want to pull her hair out – and theirs. What would they do without Stella?

Martin met Ric at the MetroCourt bar, and Ric said he wanted to retain Martin as his personal legal counsel. Martin said his rates just went up.

Ava took ice cubes out of her water and rubbed them on herself. She told Cody that he should try it, but he said he didn’t think he was as tough as she was. She said she thought he was plenty tough and would prove it to him. She rubbed the ice on him, and said, refreshing. He said it was definitely something, when Kristina walked in.

Brook told Sonny that they were planning on going to the police, but the vote was no, and he said he’d never knowingly expose her or the company to anything illegal. She said she knew it was a mistake, and he said he was glad they talked. The most important thing was to never lose the connection they had. She said that wasn’t possible, and they hugged.

Lucy told Sidwell that Sonny was devested of the company. They thought they’d go to the police, but then voted against it at their meeting. It was better to let things lie. Sidwell asked who was for and against it, and Lucy said, irony of ironies, she, Tracy, and Brook voted against it. Maxie wanted to go to the police, but her stepfather was Chief of Detectives. She did think Maxie was a team player… at least she hoped.  

Emma told Gio that the lecture was cancelled because the lecture hall didn’t pass the fire code. She bet her grandmother was behind it. She thought Anna would do what it took to block her from getting close to Dalton. Gio asked what they do now, and she said she wasn’t waiting for the perfect opportunity. She was going to make it happen.

Mabel said Anna thought she was above the law, but had to follow the rules. She didn’t know if Laura could afford to associate herself with another flagrant lawbreaker. She left, and Anna said, sorry. She’d do what she could to make Outback quieter. Laura said she didn’t think it would be enough for Mabel. She’d had other issues with Mabel in the past. She made her voice heard, loudly, and didn’t let things drop. She’d be a headache for Anna and her. She was sorry, but Anna was going to have to find another home for Outback.

Stella told Elizabeth that Ric’s office got in touch with her about being a character witness for Willow. He was going above and beyond. Elizabeth said Ric made mistakes, but there was good in him. That’s why she was never able to turn her back on him completely. Stella said Willow was lucky to have Elizabeth in her life, but Elizabeth said she was just being a friend. Ric was doing the heavy lifting. Stella said it seemed Ric would do just about anything for her.

Martin said he was officially Ric’s lawyer and attorney/client privilege applied. It must be important. Ric said, and very lucrative. He’d entered a partnership with Ava and needed to extricate himself and sever ties. It had to be legal and airtight, and Ava couldn’t know until the last possible moment.

Cody said Ava was a gorgeous woman. The last time they were this close, she slapped him. She said maybe it was risk he ought to be willing to take, and they kissed.  

Kristina told Molly that some obnoxious teenagers were at the pool. Maybe they should go to the lake.

Alexis told Drew that Scout loved her dance class and she, Kristina, and Molly wanted to take her to the ballet in New York. She believed Scout had the second Friday in September free from school and they’d like to take her with his permission. He said it would have been nice, but he was taking Scout to DC to visit schools for when they moved.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Jason finds Alexis waiting in the Quartermaine foyer and she says she’s waiting for Yuri. She wanted to see Monica and he was letting her know. Jason says he saw Yuri upstairs and Yuri asked him to tell her that Monica isn’t seeing any visitors today. Alexis says she’s sorry to hear that, and he says he guesses she was hoping for a different answer. She says she didn’t want to intrude, especially if Monica isn’t feeling well. 😐 It’s just that this is really important to him and she might be the only one who can help.

Drew finds Elizabeth in the breakroom and says, there she is. She says, this is a staff only space. What is he doing in here? He says, sorry to bother her in here and he doesn’t need any details, but he was just hoping she could tell him something, anything about how Willow is doing. She says, it’s not her place, but he says, please. He’s begging her. He’s going crazy over here. She says, Willow is doing her best to put her life back together, and he says, right. The life she thinks he destroyed.

Portia tells Isaiah that she hears applause is in order. He’s fresh off a successful 10-hour surgery. Isaiah says, the surgery was successful, but trust him when he tells her that there’s nothing fresh going on over here. He’s excited at the prospect of a shower. She says, congratulations then, and he thanks her. He’s glad to see she’s still here. She says she’s glad to be here and can happily report she has no plans to leave.

At the park, Jordan jogs past Curtis, then stops. He says, this is silly, and she says, that’s one word for it. They can’t keep doing it.

Lulu finds Dante in Laura’s office, and she says her mom’s assistant told her to come in. She didn’t realize he’d be here. He says he didn’t realize she’d be here. He guesses her mom is finishing a meeting down the hall. Lulu says, why they’re here is a mystery. What did her mom want to see them for? He says he doesn’t know. Her guess is as good as his. He’s assuming it has something to do with Rocco.

Carly tells Jack that she’s been thinking. Donna is going to be with Sonny this weekend. Maybe they could get away. Jack says, getting away. Are two busy highly in demand people allowed to do such a thing? She says she thinks so, and he says, okay. Good. Is she thinking somewhere tropical? She says she was thinking somewhere more local like the Finger Lakes. Has he ever been? He says, no, but he hears they have lovely vineyards, and she says, it will be like a lost weekend away with wine tasting, just the two of them. Can he take off? He says, if it’s for her, anything, when Anna comes by. She says, sorry to interrupt, but she and Carly have some unfinished business.

Britt lounges by the resort pool, and Pascal says, if he may ask, what exactly is she doing? She says, writing the next great America novel. What does it look like she’s doing? He says she should be in the lab. He’s expecting results. She says, it’s so disappointing when your expectations aren’t met, isn’t it? Tell him that she’s on strike.

Jason tells Alexis that Monica is fighting a virus and it’s really tough. Some days are just better than others. Alexis says, and today’s not a better day. She’s sorry she put him on the spot. He says he knows she was hoping to see Monica, but is there anything he can do? She says she’s afraid he wouldn’t be able to help at all, and he asks, why? She says, it’s about his brother moving to DC and taking Scout with him.

Drew tells Elizabeth that he gets why Willow wants to distance herself from him right now, but the idea she’s got about what happened between him and Nina is wrong. He wants her to know the truth. He loves her so much. Elizabeth says she feels horrible about what happened, and he says he has to do something to fix it, but she says, some things can’t be fixed, at least not right now. Some things need time and space to heal. He says, but Willow’s lost everything. He’s not leaving her to fend for herself when the entire world is against her. She says, hold on. Willow has an entire community of people here at GH who respect her, support her, and want the best for her, including herself. She’s not alone and despite what Drew thinks, she hasn’t lost everything. He says she knows how he operates. She knows he needs to fix it. She says, he can’t. Willow needs to fix it herself.

Jordan asks how Curtis is doing in the aftermath of the earthquake at the altar. She sees Drew going one of two ways. Either he’s completely distracted by the fallout or blaming everyone else and lashing out as usual. He says, believe it or not, Drew came to him wanting a truce, and she asks if he saw it as a believable possibility. He says, let’s say he’s not being quick to let his guard down, but he’s going to take it, and she says, makes sense. He knew Drew when he was an honest man. Maybe that man is still in there somewhere. He says, yeah. Speaking of honest, he and Portia talked everything out and decided they were going to put in the work to fix their marriage. She says, fantastic, and he says, it is. They want to give themselves a second chance. He has no delusions that it’s going to happen overnight, but it wouldn’t have happened at all if not for her.

Portia tells Isaiah that she’s at the point where she can’t say her professional situation is completely resolved, but things look favorable. She has reason to assume she’s sticking around. Isaiah says, that’s good news for the hospital and him, and she says she’s grateful for his support. He made her feel less alone through the whole thing. She has one other thing to tell him. He’s been very tactful on the subject of her marriage, but she’s sure he’s aware that she and Curtis… things have been strained. He says he may have picked up on that, yes, and she says she’s happy to report that the strain is gone.  

Carly says it’s nice of Anna to fit her into her busy schedule, but right now she’s in a little conversation with Jack. Anna had plenty of opportunity to talk to her the other night when she called and asked to meet, but Anna never showed up. Call her lawyer and they’ll talk. Anna says, they don’t need to involve Diane. In her defense, she’s the Police Commissioner and sometimes she does get held hostage to events. Carly asks, what is it? What’s so important Anna has to tell her this second? Anna says, unfortunately, what she has to discuss involves a close member of Carly’s family.

Dante tells Lulu that it’s probably his fault. Her mom called and had him there to talk about police business and they ended up talking about Rocco. Lulu says, that does happen around her mom. She’s a good person to talk to. He says, yeah, she is. They got close while Lulu was gone. He, Laura, and Rocco are tight. She says she knows and she’s glad they had each other when she couldn’t be here, when Laura comes in. She says she’s sorry to keep them waiting, but it was for a good cause. She was putting Ezra Boyle in his place in a City Council meeting. Now she can give them her full, undivided attention. Lulu asks, what’s going on? and Laura says, there’s something they have to do. How they do it depends largely on them, but she thinks they’re up to the task because it’s for Rocco. Dante asks, what is it? What does she want them to do? Laura says she wants them to make peace with Leisl Obrecht.

Anna asks if Carly is aware that her brother came to the PCPD and made a claim that Marco Rios was abducted by Sonny, and Carly asks, what’s there to discuss? It has nothing to do with her and as far as she knows, Marco is fine and has no allegations against Sonny. Anna says, the fact remains that her brother made a complaint, and she has to follow up on it. Does Carly have any information relevant to Marco’s alleged abduction? Carly says she doesn’t and she’s not doing this. She’s got to go talk to the chef, who has an issue with the soufflé. Don’t wait. Soufflés tend to take a minute. She leaves and Jack scowls at Anna.

Lulu says Laura can’t be suggesting they meet with Obrecht. What good would it do? Laura says, it would give Rocco something he desperately needs, but Lulu says, Rocco needs protection. She doesn’t want him anywhere near that woman. Laura says she understands that – really, she does – and she knows why they feel the way they do about Leisl and Britt. But for better or worse, Rocco feels differently. Dante says, he wants to know about Britt, but there’s got to be someone other than Obrecht that he can talk to. Laura says she wishes there was, but in some ways, maybe Obrecht is the best. Lulu says, who knows what lies Obrecht is telling him? She could be saying anything. Laura says, okay. All Rocco needs is some sort of confirmation that the woman who carried him and gave birth to him wasn’t a horrible person. Lulu says, but she was, and Laura says, maybe she was, but she was more than that. She’s not asking them to forgive Britt or making excuses for her, but Britt isn’t the important person here; Rocco is the important person. She’s sure they can all agree. Dante says, absolutely, and Lulu says, of course (🍷). Laura says, if they keep treating Obrecht like a monster, and forbid Rocco to see or even speak to her, they’re going to force Rocco to go around them. And she knows they don’t want him sneaking around behind their backs. Dante says, definitely not, and Laura says, so if they want Rocco to trust them, she thinks they have to give him the room he needs to learn more about himself. Either way, it will be out in the open and safe for Rocco. Dante tells Lulu that her mom is right. He doesn’t like Obrecht and doesn’t trust her, but it’s not about him. It’s what their son needs. Lulu says she knows, but she definitely doesn’t want Rocco to seek Obrecht out on his own under circumstances they can’t control. Laura says, so maybe what they can do is come up with a safe way for Rocco to engage with Obrecht and get the information he needs, and Dante says, then they can move past this and be done with this whole thing – for Rocco. Lulu asks if her mom – or should she say, Mayor Collins – would arrange a meeting for all of them with Leisl Obrecht.  

Jordan says she’s happy Curtis and Portia decided to work things through. Hopefully, they’ll come out on the other side even stronger, but why is he thanking her? Curtis says, because she was honest with him about what was happening between them. For a moment there, it would have been incredibly easy to fall back on the nostalgia of what they once shared, but she put a stop to that and he’s grateful. She says she didn’t do it alone. It was a mutual decision. They both agreed that giving each other distance was the right thing to do. He says, they did, and she says, the question is, where does that leave them now?

Isaiah says, sounds like good news all around, professionally and personally, and Portia says, it is. What about him? Clearly, he’s excelling professionally, but what about personally. Is he getting out there? He says, the only thing getting his attention outside work, is a cabin he’s renovating. She says, he has a cabin? and he says, more like a money pit in the woods. It was a gift from a friend. He’s making it more livable, but it’s taken more resources than he anticipated. She says, everyone needs an escape. She’s sure it will be worth it in the end. He says, it will. Most worthwhile things require effort. Maybe he’ll take a detour through the park. He could use the fresh air before he goes home to crash. She says, he’s headed home after a 10-hour surgery, so she doesn’t want him driving to wherever the cabin is without some rest. He promises to head home first, and she says, get home safe. He says he will, and leaves. Stella approaches Portia at the nurse’s station.

Drew tells Elizabeth that he understands people think he got what he deserved for keeping his brief affair with Nina a secret. The reason he didn’t tell Willow about that is because it didn’t matter. Nina doesn’t matter. Elizabeth says she’s sure that came out more harshly than he intended, and he tells her that what he’s trying to say is, when he and Willow connected and started to fall in love, that was it for him. She was it for him. He wanted to take her and the kids away and go to DC and get away from it all. There had been so much hostility and betrayal, he wanted a fresh start. Then Curtis and his misguided self-righteousness blew the whole thing apart. She says she’s sure he thought he was doing the right thing for Willow, and he says, be honest. Does she really think Willow will be better off now?

Alexis tells Jason, Drew is Scout’s only living parent. Believe her, anytime he’s even looking in her direction, she treads carefully because she’s just Scout’s grandma. She can’t afford to alienate him. Jason says, she’s worried he’ll cut her off from Scout, and she says, of course (🍷) she’s worried. Who knows what Drew will do? His behavior has been astonishingly unpredictable and horrible. He slept with his nephew’s wife, ruined their marriage, and slept with her mother. Who does that? Then he decided to force Scout to live with Willow and her children with Scout’s mother only gone 6 months. He says he knows. He’s sorry. It’s not what Sam would have wanted. She says, Sam wanted the kids to stay together, and he says, exactly. That’s why he and Danny moved in here. She says, believe her, she tried every which way to make Drew understand that Scout doesn’t need less stability and less family. She needs more. Every time she thinks she got through, there’s some ketamine fiasco or aborted wedding or he decides to move to DC, ripping away everyone and everything Scout loves. Jason says he’s sorry. It’s not fair to Scout. She says, no, it’s not, and it’s not fair to Sam. She just wanted the kids to be happy. He says, Sam worked hard to make that happen when she was here too, and Alexis says, apparently, Drew doesn’t care. He just cares about Drew, what he wants and needs. Meanwhile, there’s a little girl still in mourning for her mother. Isn’t it supposed to be about what Scout needs?

Stella tells Portia that she doesn’t want to make it more awkward than it already is, so she’ll rip the band-aid off. How close is she to Dr. Gannon? Portia says, he’s her colleague and friend, and Stella says she understands that, but Portia is Co-Chief of Staff, so he also reports directly to her. Portia says she’s aware of that, and Stella says she’s just asking because she’s concerned. Portia doesn’t want to run the risk of the friendship being perceived as professional impropriety.

Curtis says he values Jordan’s friendship. After everything they’ve shared over the years, he just doesn’t think throwing it all away is right, but it’s her call. She says, neither does she. Now that he and Portia recommitted to their marriage, the lines and boundaries are clear again. Which means they can safely continue their friendship. He says, great. Okay. With that in mind, how is her situation with Sidwell treating her? She says, he may not believe it, but honestly, in some ways, she’s never been better.

Jack asks Anna, what the hell was that? What was she referring to? She clearly had no intention of telling Carly about Josslyn, so why the whole song and dance with Carly’s brother? Was she having fun at his expense? Anna says, not entirely, but it was definitely a perk. She wanted to see how it would be potentially, telling Carly that he recruited her daughter to the WSB and then after some expedited training, he shipped her off into the field on assignment that she clearly doesn’t have the necessary training or experience for. God knows what can go wrong. He says, but she didn’t tell Carly, and she won’t, because that would be treason.

Pascal tells Britt that he’s spoken to security about the lab and they’re overseeing the repair of the air filtration system right now. He regrets the inconvenience. She says, it’s not an inconvenience. It’s the air filtration system. There’s no circulation and the lab is sweltering. She knows he doesn’t care what it does to her, but he should be concerned about the computers and servers. If the temperature overheats them, where would they be? He says, the repair team is working and there’s been a partial restoration of the system, so she should be quite comfortable to continue her work. She says she doesn’t do quite comfortable. Delicate work requires perfect conditions, and similarly, she requires perfect conditions. So until the system is completely repaired to her specifications, she’s not working. He wouldn’t want her to make a mistake, would he? Especially on his watch.

Jason says, Alexis is right. He’s the last person Drew is going to listen to, especially about Scout. Alexis says, that’s why she wanted to talk to Monica. Drew is desperate for her to accept him. Her opinion might be the only thing that matters to him at this point. He says, except Willow, and she says she doesn’t think Willow would be much help at this juncture. She really doesn’t want to intrude on Monica, but she doesn’t want to lose Scout and doesn’t want Scout to lose everybody. He says, she hasn’t seen Danny or Rocco much either, and she says, if Drew moves to DC, they’ll only see her two or three times a year. That’s not enough. He says, no, it isn’t. Scout needs more and Sam would demand more of them. She asks if he’d please talk to Monica. Ask if it’s possible for her to dissuade Drew from moving. Would he do it for Scout? He says, and for Sam.

Elizabeth tells Drew that she doesn’t know if Willow is better off than before, but she knows Willow is making her own decisions based on truth. She promises she’s not judging. She’s been caught up in situations where she didn’t want to hurt someone, but her lies ended up hurting everyone. He says he just wants to give Willow everything she needs, and she says, Willow is going to get it, but the best thing for him to do right now is to respect her and give her the time and space she’s asking for, so she can figure things out. Who knows? Maybe they’ll find an honest way back to each other. He says, you know what? As much as he hates every minute of what’s happening right now, he’d hate it even more if Willow didn’t have Elizabeth. He says he’ll see her soon, and leaves.

Anna tells Jack that her hands are tied. She won’t tell Carly, not yet at least. She can’t do anything to extricate Josslyn. He says, good. She seems to have a grasp of the basics. She says, what she wants him to know is, treason or not, national security or not, if anything happens to that girl, she will tell Carly that while they were making plans for a romantic weekend, her daughter was risking her life on his orders. Anna leaves.

Laura thanks Obrecht for joining them on such short notice, and Obrecht says, when she mentioned it pertained to Rocco, she moved some things around. Family is paramount. Laura says, please, sit down, and all of them take a seat. Laura says she knows Lulu and Dante were anxious to talk to Dr. Obrecht directly, and Obrecht says she’s pleased to have the opportunity to speak to them both. She knows that their only interest is Rocco’s welfare, and her hope is that they can speak civilly. Lulu says, so do they, and Laura coughs. Lulu says she’d also like to apologize for overreacting at the MetroCourt. She was shocked to see Obrecht with Rocco, but realized she was a guest of the hotel and Rocco works at the pool, so she was out of line. Obrecht says she accepts Lulu’s apology. It’s important for her to impress upon them both that she didn’t seek out Rocco. He reached out to her. He had questions. Dante says, and she just hopped on a plane and came to town to answer them, but Obrecht says she does have family here, so there are multiple reasons why she chose to visit Port Charles. In the spirit of full transparency, she welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with Rocco. Her hope had always been that he’d reach out someday and want to know her. Laura says, that’s understandable, and Obrecht says she’d always want any place in Rocco’s life, but it would be his choice, not hers. Dante says, Rocco is 15 years old. He doesn’t get to make those decisions yet. Until he’s an adult, when it comes to seeing her, that is a decision that they as parents will make.

Portia says she’s set clear boundaries with everyone who reports to her, and Stella says, of course (🍷). She’s just trying to help. Portia says, she already has, and Stella asks, how? Portia says, Stella picked up on the tension between her and Curtis, but she didn’t pry. She let them work it out all on their own. Stella says she wants the best for Portia and Curtis. She loves them both. Portia says she knows that, and they love her too. She wants Stella to know that the things she and Curtis are working on in their relationship have nothing to do with Dr. Gannon.

Curtis says, what about being on Sidwell’s payroll is working out so well? and Jordan says, the work is interesting. She’s challenged by something every day. She’s missed that. He says he would have thought being Deputy Mayor had its fair share of challenges, but she says, more like annoyances. It was challenging too, but she’s making more money. He says, at what cost? She’s working for a morally bankrupt and potentially dangerous man. She says, don’t get her wrong. She doesn’t trust Sidwell. She’s as committed as ever to taking him down. But in the meantime, she’s thankful to have people like him and Laura in her corner, so she doesn’t run the risk of losing sight of the goal. In fact, she made a move to fortify her cover. She’s put down an offer on an apartment befitting the COO of a multinational corporation and it was accepted.

Laura says she’s sure Obrecht understands Dante and Lulu’s need to create some boundaries to protect their son, but Obrecht says, at what cost? He’s rapidly becoming a young man and deserves a measure of autonomy where he can develop and trust his own instincts. Don’t they agree? Lulu says they’re not here to explain or defend how they parent their son. Rocco is interested in how he came to be. Obrecht says, of course (🍷) he is. He wants to know about her Britta. She gave him life after all. Laura says, what Obrecht is saying is that Rocco sees her as a source of information. Dante and Lulu would like to create an environment where Rocco can receive that information. Lulu says, they were thinking Obrecht could come to her house one evening. Rocco could ask her questions, and she could give him answers. They’d be there of course (🍷). Obrecht says, just so she’s clear, they’re offering a supervised meeting between her and Rocco, and Dante says, that’s right. Obrecht says, will they regulate their questions and answers? Perhaps they’d like to approve beforehand what they say. Would they like a transcript? Lulu says, there need to be safety measures in place, and Obrecht asks, would those safety measures apply to her mother? Laura says she’s sorry, but she thinks their circumstances are vastly different, but Obrecht says, the only difference is, Laura has had the opportunity to develop a loving relationship with her grandson. She’d like the same. Lulu says, Rocco has two grandmothers and she’s not one of them, and Obrecht says, whatever else they call her, her Britta carried Rocco and gave birth to him. It’s her blood in his veins. So some might say, she’s not only his grandmother, but Britt is as much Rocco’s mother as Lulu is.

Pascal tells Britt, the problem with the air filtration system has been resolved and the lab is at 68* F, per her specifications. It is operating at peak efficiency. Britt says, congratulations on doing his job. Unfortunately, it’s too late. She’s had a few too many cocktails and she’s heading in to take a nap. She’ll let him know when she decides what she’d like for dinner. She starts to leave, but Pascal grabs her arm. He says, there are ways to sober her up and ensure she stays that way. Should he show her?

Jason says, Monica will talk to Drew as soon as possible, and Alexis says, thank Monica for her. She thanks him too, and says she doesn’t know what she would have done if he hadn’t helped. He says, Monica is glad to help and so is he, and she says she hopes it works.

Portia tells Stella that she and Curtis have been struggling, and the struggle is far from over, but they did talk, and they both decided they want to fight for their marriage. Stella says, thank goodness for that. Otherwise, she’d have to talk some serious sense into the two of them. Portia says, they would have loved it because they love her, and Stella says, what they love is her minding her own business. Portia tells her, she said it, and they hug. Watching them, Drew takes out his phone and makes a call. He says, this is Congressman Cain. Put me through to Financial Services. I’d like to open an insurance fraud investigation. (Just when we thought Drew couldn’t get any worse. I had the feeling this was coming, but I was hoping I was wrong.)

Jordan tells Curtis that she was assigned an inspector today. They’re doing a walk-through next week. Curtis says he’s been on more walk-throughs than he can count, so why doesn’t he go with her? She says she can’t ask him to do that, but he says, she’s not asking; he’s offering. In fact, he insists. She says, if he insists, and he asks where her apartment is. She says, see the Harper View Towers? and he says, yeah. She says, two rooftops to the right, three floors down. That’s her. He says, all that’s her? and she says, the whole thing. He says, look at that. She’s going to have a full view of the harbor, just she like did in Baltimore. She says, yeah. She really feels like things have come full circle, but in a new way. Isaiah sees them and frowns.

Dante says, they’re not letting their son anywhere near Obrecht. His grandmother? Really? She’s deranged. Britt is not Rocco’s mother. Lulu is. What her daughter did was absolutely horrific. She was their doctor, and they trusted her. She betrayed that trust when he and Lulu were at their most vulnerable moment. They both did. Obrecht didn’t just steal a sample; she stole their embryo. Obrecht says, had Britta not carried that child, they would not have a son. They’d just have a frozen embryo, which at this point probably wouldn’t be viable. Laura looks like she has a headache, and Dante asks what the hell Obrecht is talking about. They would have found their own surrogate, someone they chose and trusted, to bring Rocco into the world. Obrecht asks if they know how many embryos don’t take. Don’t deceive themselves into believing that there was any other way for them to get a son. Laura says, they’re going to stop now. They’re not here to relitigate the past. They’re here to meet Rocco’s needs. Obrecht wonders if providing Rocco’s needs requires the vilification of her daughter and her contribution, and Lulu says, contribution? Obrecht says, her daughter gave them a miracle. She herself was a miracle. Dante says, actually, her daughter was a criminal and so is she. Actually, he knows she’s something way worse and he knows that firsthand. Obrecht says, how dare he, and he says, she’s forgetting he knows who she is and what she is. She tried to mess with his head and make him her personal assistant. Does she remember that part, because he sure as hell does. Obrecht says, ancient history, detective, and he says, detective. That’s where she’s right. He’s going to hunt down every warrant with her name on it and use them to throw her in a jail cell. Unless of course (🍷) she decides to skip town before he has the chance. She says, so how is Dante going to tell his son that he put his grandmother, the only person who has the answers he seeks, in a jail cell?  

In a private area at the MetroCourt, Carly brings two glasses and a bottle of wine over to Jack and says, a preview for the weekend. He says, perfect, and she says she sees that Anna listened and left. He says, she just wanted to spar again. Old habits die hard. She says, her brother did open the door by going to the cops, but she doesn’t want to think about her brother or Sonny, and definitely doesn’t want to think about Anna. Hell, she doesn’t even want to be mad at Anna. Jack asks if she wants him to mad for her, but she says, no. She’s really grateful to Anna. Anna called and told her that she thought Josslyn was in over her head with that Vaughn guy. She appreciated that, and Josslyn is now in Australia away from him, taking time for herself. It’s great. He says, Josslyn has a good head on her shoulders. He’s sure she’ll be fine. Carly says she agrees. So they’ll drink to a fabulous weekend away. No MetroCourt, no WSB, and definitely no Anna Devane. They clink glasses, and Jack says he has to tell her something. He hasn’t been completely honest with her.

Pascal says it seems he’s reached a breaking point with regard to her petulance, and Britt says, let go of her, for his own sake. He wouldn’t like Pascal treating her this way. Pascal says, what he doesn’t like are delays and she’s been causing more than her fair share lately. Josslyn and Vaughn come by, and Vaughn says, excuse me. Where do we check in? Britt stays with her back to them.

Anna goes to the Quartermaines, and Jason says, they’re alone. She says, okay. She’s been thinking about their conversation about Britt maybe being out there alive. She was wrong. He says, about what? and she says, him leaving Britt alone. She no longer thinks that. He needs to find her as soon as he can.

On Monday, Laura says, if Obrecht wants to be a part of Rocco’s life, she has to earn it; Ava tells Nina that she can handle Cody Bell; Alexis asks if Molly is in favor of Drew and Scout going to DC; and Jason asks Anna to tell him what she knows and how she knows it.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

She’s going and staying.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-rena-sofer-moves-to-new-york-im-getting-emotional/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/rena-sofer-is-staying-on-general-hospital-as-lois-despite-recent-move/

Britt: The donkey lived. Pascal: But he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Honestly, one of the best exchanges ever. Kudos so far.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-head-writers-on-britts-return-and-reunion-with-jason-he-cant-stay-away-excl/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

Captain Kerry said he’d never seen someone as out of control as guest Kelly. She’d gone from zero to a thousand in a second. Kelly called them p*ssies as the water police drove her to shore. primary Helen accompanying her. Fraser was hoping to save their tip, and it was time for cowboy night. I don’t think bouillabaisse is cowboy food though. Shouldn’t that be barbecue or campfire food? And honestly, I can’t keep this boatmance stuff straight at this point. Babara, Solène, Jess… Is it three women? Two women and a man? Two men and a woman? Something in between or is it all of them? I have no idea.

The Valley

It’s amazing how Jax says all the right things. He totally understands how f***ed up he is and what he needs to do in order to change. Yet, his actions bely him. Nothing ever changes. Andy said he saw Jax take more accountability than he ever had, but I dunno. Been here before… and before that… and before that… Andy asked if he was still in love with Brittany, but I question whether he ever really was. Narcissists only seem to really love themselves. Zack went humana-humana when Andy asked why he’d said he wanted Janet to miscarry. Like Jax, Jesse admitted what a horrible human being he’d been and how he wanted to change. This will last exactly until next season. When Danny’s drinking came up, it was another thing Jax was really, really sorry, sorry for. Barnacle Zack felt the need to contribute, but I don’t think anyone paid attention to him at that point.

Real Housewives Of Miami

Julia suggested getting Alexis out of Miami or she would go back to Todd. In Marysol’s interview, she said she couldn’t keep up with the roller coaster of Alexia’s emotions. Guerdy bonded with Dr. Jackie (Married to Medicine), who breast cancer survivor twice. Julia thought it would be good for all of them to reunite and suggested Stephanie talk with Alexia. She wanted everyone to come back hunky-dory. Where was Kathy Hilton when you needed her? Kiki told Marysol that Guerdy claimed she and Alexia were like a cult, and Marysol said it made them sound sinister. They decided on Alexia’s favorite place, Spain, and Marysol asked if Guerdy felt comfortable since she thought they were a cult. Alexia asked if Guerdy wanted to be part of the friend group, but Guerdy said she was just trying to vibe. Guerdy whined to Julia about feeling hurt at the Grecian party. She hadn’t known how to express her hurt, so she did it by putting Julia’s texts on blast at her Celebration of Life party. They hugged it out and I can safely say, Julia is a bigger person than I’d be. After toasting to the trip to Spain – courtesy of Steph Air – Stephanie and Alexia talked privately. No surprise, the others tried to peek through the window. There was major discussion about Stephanie calling Alexia a chihuahua and Alexia saying, no, she was a Rottweiler, then Stephanie milking the joke for too long. Honestly, I can think of worse things to call people and more important things to argue about.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

There was a lot about Tamra showing the fat photo (their word, not mine) of Jenn to Fancy Pants Heather. Fancy Pants told Jenn that Tamra had claimed Jenn wanted to be her. As usual, Fancy Pants was stirring the pot, but not committing, telling Jenn to look at it from one’s perspective. Um… the only one who thinks that is Tamra. And from her POV, all those of us who have lost weight and/or gone blonder want to be her, which probably makes up a good percentage of the female population in the US. Gina planned a trip to New Orleans, a wonderful choice for a group of women who have a hard time drinking and acting sane. Tamra is so mean. In her interview, she ragged on Gretchen’s outfit, saying she plugged rich girl detective into Shein’s website and got it for $15. Like, why even say something like that? I can only come to the conclusions that she’s mega insecure. Several cast members brought up the fact that Tamra claimed to be working on changing and was going through a lot of therapy, but it wasn’t translating. Server Joe spilled an espresso martini down Fancy Pants’ back, which was rather satisfying.

Yeah, for a NOLA minute.

Random Reality Items

Switzerland meets Rhode Island.

I like Denise. She can be messy, but I like her. I think she’s funny and she loves animals. So I’m all for her being anywhere on Bravo.

Apparently, not everyone feels like me.

I can’t wait to see what Mary brings to the table this time.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51. Netflix. Like a backwards War of the Worlds, this was ultimately a joke gone sideways. Thinking he’d give his 40 followers a laugh, Matty Roberts posted about a fake storming of Area 51. The post went viral, the military got involved, the neighboring town got burned (figuratively, not like that party gone wrong), and the outcome was a photo op outside the air force base and a concert in Las Vegas. And Matty went back to his job at the video store vape kiosk. It was amusing and there were actually some tense moments where the military had to make some hard decisions. As for me, I don’t believe there are aliens there, but I do believe something very classified is. Sometimes it’s better not to know.

https://people.com/what-was-storm-area-51-true-story-11780039

The Assessment. Hulu. In a futuristic society, potential parents are put through a rigorous assessment to determine if they’re fit to have a child. The article author found this deeper and more meaningful than I did. While I thought the acting was superb, I found it a little tedious and the character of Virginia (the assessor and pseudo child) more annoying than captivating. I wondered if she was doing her job or she was just a whack job. But then again, my only children are furkids, so maybe I missed something. On the other hand, Nightbitch was also primarily about parenting and I totally got it and identified.

https://collider.com/elizabeth-olsen-the-assessment/

Final Destination Bloodlines. HBO/MAX. You already know the gist of it – you can’t cheat death. When it’s your time, you’re going, no matter how you try to avoid it. I’m pretty sure I only saw the first one in its entirety, although I’ve caught bits and pieces on cable over the years. My guess would be this was the best one yet. I loved the Rube Goldberg/Mouse Trap game aspect leading up to the deaths, and the special effects were phenomenal. I kind of wished I’d seen it on the big screen just for that tower collapsing. (No spoiler. Come on. It was in the TV ads.) It had a solid sense of humor too. Even the credits gave me a laugh. Although it was sort of bad timing to see a guy sucked into an MRI machine, since that actually happened IRL recently.   

https://collider.com/final-destination-bloodlines-streaming-hit/

One spoiler.

Coherence. Peacock, Tubi, et al. It’s a party. Ketamine or cheese? A comet falls, alternate realities happen, interpersonal relationships interfere. Apparently, a lot of this was improved, which was actually a thought that crossed my mind while watching it. The reviewer got it right in saying, We have here a variation on the basic Night of the Living Dead situation: a crisis that is, ultimately, very survivable turns into a huge problem because he characters are idiots, and they get to petty infighting the second things go wrong. Mild spoilers.

Twisted Metal. Peacock. Season 2 just began, but I’m late to this series party, so I just started Season 1. So far, I’m loving this post-apocalyptic romp. And wondering why video games translate so well to film.

https://twistedmetal.fandom.com/wiki/Twisted_Metal_TV_Series

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

Once again, this is pushed back, and George R.R. Martin is still not writing fast enough. Will we ever get Game of Thrones closure?

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-delay-2026-release

The good news is, they’re going to film both Seasons 2 and 3 back to back. However, who knows if they’ll pull a Squid Game and string it out for the next ten years?

https://winteriscoming.net/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-season-2-and-3-will-reportedly-be-filmed-back-to-back

🎸 Awarding Their Excellence…

I’m rooting for Lady Gaga, but she’s got some stiff competition.

https://ew.com/2025-mtv-video-music-awards-nominations-see-the-full-list-11784783

🐾 Universal Connection…

🌍 Pets across the globe.

https://zeenews.india.com/photos/entertainment/national-pet-day-2025-8-celebrity-pet-moments-that-won-the-internet-and-fans-hearts-2884657/national-pet-day-2884668

💻 Pets on the internet.

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

🦘 Pets that surprise.

🐱🐎 Pets doing their jobs.

https://people.com/pet-cat-joins-owners-wedding-day-festivities-exclusive-11787456

https://people.com/miniature-therapy-horses-trained-to-play-keyboard-in-hospitals-exclusive-11777592

🪇 Quotes of the Week

Focus on being productive instead of busy. – Tim Ferriss

Comparison is the death of true self-contentment. – John Powell

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Vail

One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. – Jack Penn

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson

I would rather die of passion than of boredom. – Emile Zola

The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. – Henri-Frédéric Amiel

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it. – Estée Lauder

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. – Babe Ruth

Do one thing every day that scares you. – Mary Schmich

I did everything but yell, SOS, bitch. – Kristen Doute, The Valley

🤹‍♀️ Celebrate Good Times…

Until next week, stay safe; stay putting down your devices and enjoying the final weeks of summer; and stay making the lines and boundaries clear.