Tag Archives: Dogue

August 16, 2024 – Jason Confronts Clement, Backstage, Next, Vacation, She Was Served, Jersey Tawk, Yes Or No, Dead Spins, New Scare, Dogues, Precisely 10 Quotes & Glory

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody says, James went for a swim, eh? and James says he didn’t mean to. Cody says he knows. Everything is going to be okay. Mac asks if James is all right, and James says, Cody saved him. Mac says he can see that.

Laura’s office phone rings and she says, send her right in. And when her other guest arrives, send him right in too. Anna comes in, and Laura thanks her for taking the time to meet. Anna says, of course (🍷). It sounded important. Laura says, it is. They’re meeting with the new WSB station chief. Anna says, Jack Brennan. No grass grows under his feet.

At the hospital, Alexis says, Kristina’s room is all ready. She’s welcome to stay as long as she wants, and Alexis will try not to smother her, although she thinks a little smothering would be okay. They’ll call it pampering. Kristina says she’s sorry, and Alexis asks, what for? Kristina says she’s just not in a good mood. Alexis says, she’s allowed to be in whatever mood she wants to be in, and Kristina says she guesses she thought she’d be happy or at least relieved to leave the hospital. But she’s just realizing that when she walks out that door, that’s when her life starts over. Everything starts over again now, only without her baby.

In the hospital breakroom on the phone, Curtis says, talk to me before you make any moves… Okay. Sounds good. Stella pours some coffee, and he says, sorry, but she says, don’t apologize. He says, things are crazy at Aurora, especially with Drew on the campaign trail. Let’s just say, my plate is overflowing. She says she has every confidence he can handle it, and he thanks her for walking them through this administrative paperwork. Planning a funeral, any funeral, is already hard enough, but a baby’s… She says, seems unnatural, doesn’t it? and he says, completely. She says she’s happy to help TJ and Molly any way she can. He asks what they’re looking at, and she says she’s got a jump on most of it. It’s really just the birth certificate that needs their attention now. TJ comes in and says, Molly’s not here? Curtis says, no, not yet. He’s sure she’s on her way. TJ says he told her that they had a small window for this, but Stella says, it’s okay. Don’t worry. She’s not in a rush. TJ says, she can catch up. Let’s get started.

Scotty tells Clement, don’t worry. He’s on his side. Clement asks if he’s with the FBI too, but Scotty says, not exactly. The guy whose meds Clement messed with, Sonny Corinthos, is mad as a hornet. His strong suit is murder, so if Clement wants to get out alive… Clement says he does, and Scotty says, okay. Then hide. He’s Clement’s only hope, and he’ll help.

Ava says, John thinks the surveillance photos could actually help her case, and he says, absolutely. Sonny, and the corrupt cops in his pocket, are trying to spin one narrative, but those photos can tell any story they want, especially when the victim in them is a federal witness. (Will somebody call his boss already? Anna did it once before for a way lesser infraction.)

Sonny tells Jason, who knows how much further Jagger is going to go? They can’t take that risk. Jason says, if Sonny takes out Cates, he’s eliminating an FBI agent. There’s no coming back from that. Sonny says, if Jagger forces his hand, he won’t have a choice.

Maxie shows up at the boathouse with Sasha and Felicia and says she’s so glad James is okay. Come here. She hugs him and says, he cannot keep doing this. He says he’s never fallen into the lake before, but she says she’s not talking about that. She means running away. There are only so many heart attacks she can survive. She asks Felicia to text Spinelli and let him know James was found, and Felicia says, on it. James says he wasn’t trying to scare anyone, and Maxie says she knows he didn’t, but they were all really worried. They’ll talk about this at home. Cody says, let’s cool it on the escape attempts, and James says he wouldn’t have to escape if he was allowed to see Cody. Why can’t he take riding lessons with Cody? Maxie says, now is not the time to tell him this, but he can take riding lessons from Cody, but not because of any of this. No ice cream or video games for two weeks. James says he doesn’t care what she takes away, as long as he can be here. Why did she change her mind? She says, he knows how they talk about owning their mistakes and how it’s really important. Kind of like how he’s going to own this one? She made a huge mistake and agreed he couldn’t take riding lessons with Cody anymore. Mac says, it wasn’t his mom’s mistake. It was his.

Laura asks if Anna didn’t just arrest a Jack Brennan, and Anna says, uh-huh. Laura says, and now they’re going to work with him, and Anna says she was informed of his posting. He’s a fully accredited agent, but the previous activities that took place here in Port Charles were part of a classified operation. Laura asks if that’s all the explanation they’re going to get, and Anna says, apparently. There’s a knock at the door and Jack comes in. He says, Laura’s assistant said he could come in, and Laura says, welcome, Mr. Brennan. He tells her to call him Jack, and they shake hands.

Alexis says she almost forgot, and holds out a key to Kristina. Kristina says she already has a key, but Alexis says, it’s not for her. It’s for Blaze. She figured Blaze would be visiting and she wants Blaze to come and go as she pleases. Kristina says, that’s really very thoughtful of her, but it’s unnecessary because she and Allie broke up. Alexis says, when? and Kristina says, yesterday. Alexis asks, what happened? She thought they were okay. Kristina says, they were, but Allie got this really incredible touring opportunity, and she couldn’t turn it down. Alexis says, she couldn’t, or Kristina wouldn’t let her? Kristina says she couldn’t be the reason Allie stayed. She’s been working toward this her entire life. Alexis says, maybe it was her choice to make. Maybe she wanted to stay and support Kristina. Kristina says, it’s not just about Allie’s career. It’s about her too. She doesn’t even recognize herself right now. Without the baby, she can’t be anything to anyone. Alexis says, for the record, Kristina is something pretty big to her, when Dr. Navarro walks in. She asks if it’s a good time, and Alexis says, of course (🍷). The doctor says she has the results of Kristina’s discharge examination.

Stella says, as TJ can see, most of the information has been filled out, and he thanks her. She says, but there’s still the issue of the baby’s name, and Curtis asks if TJ and Molly ever talked about that. TJ says, they batted ideas around, but they never landed on one specific name, and Stella says, it’s okay. They’ll just use the last name, Lansing-Ashford. And once he and Molly have a chance to talk, they’ll update the certificate. Molly comes in and says, sorry she’s late. She had a meeting with DA Scorpio. TJ says, she couldn’t tell him that she had to leave? and she says, he’s her boss. She got here as fast as she could.

Scotty says he’s got to see a guy about a boat and get some supplies. What kind of snacks does Clement like? They’re going to Spoon Island and there may not be any power over there, so nothing perishable. Clement just looks at him, and Scotty says he’ll just get them some glazed donuts and coffee, so sit tight. He’ll be back. He leaves.

Ava tells John, only one party in those photos went crashing through a window. She thinks it might be a bit of a stretch to paint her as a victim. He says, not if she uses her imagination. She’s a federal witness agreeing to testify against Sonny Corinthos. She says, is she though? and he says, for the sake of this exercise and keeping her out of prison, yeah. Now the picture of her with her hand on Kristina’s arm, that was self-defense, to protect herself from Kristina attacking her. She says, yes, and he says, the look on Kristina’s face was pure rage. She was clearly out of control. So Ava is a federal witness participating in a RICO investigation against Sonny Corinthos. Sonny’s daughter comes to her hotel suite, violent and threatening, intending to shut her up permanently. That is criminal conspiracy and falls within the FBI’s jurisdiction. It also happens to be attempted murder.

Jason suggests they be smart about it and cover every base, and Sonny says, the consequences are too severe not to. Jason says, okay, but if they mess up, they’re talking about a federal agent, a federal crime, life in prison, or worse. Sonny says, Cates won’t stop coming at him. Jason knows that. Jason says he knows, but be clear on what he’s doing, and Sonny says he’s clear on one thing. Cates will not stop going through the people that he loves to get to him. He’s not just going to sit around and wait for Cates to make the next move.

Dr. Navarro says, as Kristina knows, there were concerns after her hemorrhaging about damage to the uterus or her ovaries or both. But she’s happy to report all looks good on those fronts. Alexis says, great. So Kristina will be able to conceive and carry a child in the future. The doctor says, they’ll have to monitor her going forward, but she sees nothing to suggest otherwise. Kristina should be able to make a complete recovery. Kristina thanks her, and Dr. Navarro says, any time. She should be ready for discharge shortly. Alexis thanks her and she leaves. Kristina says, full recovery, and Alexis says, that means her body will heal. Kristina says, what about the rest of her? and Alexis says, that may take a little more time and require a little more work. But Kristina’s heart will get better too. She promises.

Molly asks what she needs to catch up on, and TJ says, everything. Stella says, they were just going over the birth certificate, and TJ says, they just have to give a name to their little girl. Curtis tells her, but like Aunt Stella said, it doesn’t have to be done today, and Stella says, Baby Lansing-Ashford is just fine for right now. TJ says, but they can’t put it off forever, and Stella says, no. The two of them are in a storm. There’s no getting around it. His Grandmother Irene had a knack for being the calm within the storm. She hopes she picked that up from her sister. TJ says, she did, and Curtis says, she’s always been their rock. He kisses her forehead, and she says, Irene was her rock. So she feels like she’s speaking for her when she says, the hardest thing to reconcile during times like this is that life goes on, even during the most horrific tragedy. You want it all to stop. Give you space to process and grieve, but there’s still stuff going on all around you, pulling you in different directions. That’s why it’s so important, especially for couples going through something this profound, that they hold onto each other, to be the anchor through this godawful, wretched storm. She tells Curtis that she’s going to stretch her legs for a bit. She thinks these two need a moment alone. Curtis says, that sounds good, and they leave.

Sonny says he has no intention of being reckless, but that’s what they’re counting on. Jason’s phone rings, and he says, Brick. Any update?… All right. Text him the address. Thanks. He tells Sonny, as soon as Scott Baldwin left the gallery, Brick’s guys tracked him to a part of town he has no business hanging out in. Sonny says, he got to the pharmacist, and Jason says, seems like it. Sonny says, seems like they’re desperate. They have to involve Scotty. Jason says, Cates and Ava both know the walls are closing in, and Sonny says, find Scotty and bring that pharmacist to him. Jason asks if he’s heading to GH, and Sonny says, Kristina’s being discharged today. Keep him posted. Jason says he will, and leaves.

Jack says, it’s quite an honor, and Laura invites him to sit down. She says, since the WSB has decided to open a field office right here in Port Charles and he’s the field chief, she thought it was important they all meet because they have several common interests. Anna says she already informed the mayor that his arrest in December and his incarceration in Pentenville was all part of this covert WSB op. He says, with this op successfully completed, he’s been returned to desk duty, which he much prefers over being in a prison cell. Laura says she’s sure. She takes it that Anna and Jack have worked together previously. Jack says, all the way back to their WSB training days, and Anna says, all the way back. Laura says, then they must have developed sort of a shorthand. Jack says, in a sense, and Laura says, it should help, right? Make communicating a little bit more effective. Jack says, one can only hope, and Laura asks if she may cut to the chase. Anna says, please, and Laura says she thinks they have a unique opportunity here with a WSB outpost here in Port Charles and their shared history and skillsets. Anna asks what kind of an opportunity she’s talking about exactly, and Jack says, it sounds like she has a task in mind. Laura says she wants them to find Valentin Cassadine.

Mac tells James that his feelings were hurt, and he took it out on Cody. Which he regrets, in and of itself, but that it ended up hurting James is the part he hates the most. He hopes James can forgive him. James says, Mac told him that family always forgives each other, and Mac says, that’s right. They do. James asks if he’s mad at Cody, and he says he was, but not anymore. James asks why he was mad at Cody in the first place, and Mac says, because Cody is his son.

James says, Mac is Cody’s dad? and Mac says, that’s right. James says, does that make Cody his uncle? and Cody says, it sure does, buddy. James says, this is so cool, and tells Maxie that Cody is her brother. Maxie says, he is, and James says he does have a question. Why does Cody being Mac’s son make him mad? Mac says, because he just found out and he was angry about all the time they didn’t get to spend together. But it reminded him of a lesson he hopes James can take to heart. Not only does family forgive each other, but they’re the ones who love, no matter what, even when they run away or get mad at us like he did with Cody. So they love each other how? James says, no matter what, and Mac says, no matter what, and hugs James.

TJ says, Aunt Stella’s right, and Molly says, she usually is. He says, they have to hold each other right now, and she says she knows, but if she stands still for even a moment, she’ll be swallowed whole. So she keeps burying herself in work. He asks if that helps, but she says, no. Nothing helps. Not even facing off against Ava. He says, she saw Ava? and she says she went to see Ava in her jail cell in the hopes that she’d confess. Yeah, right. He asks what she said, and Molly says, nothing. It was excuse after excuse. Not there’s anything Ava could actually say that would make this better. That’s the worst part. No matter who they want to blame, their baby is still gone.

Alexis looks at her phone and says she was still hoping Molly had called. They could have Molly and Sam over this week and have Davis Girls night. Kristina says she doesn’t think she or Molly will be in the mood for that, and Alexis asks if she’s spoken to Molly in the last few days. Kristina says, Molly came to see her. She told Molly about how she went to Ava’s and what happened. How she went to Ava’s asking her to lift the subpoena and she refused. And she told Molly how Ava started going in on her family and insulting Alexis and Sonny, and she told Ava that if Ava forced her to testify, she’d tell how Ava murdered Connie and helped kill Morgan. Alexis asks how Molly responded, and Kristina says, she was appalled, especially after she showed Molly the pictures. Molly is as furious as she is.

Anna says, the FBI is already handling this. They’re in pursuit of Valentin now. As far as she’s concerned, that case is beyond her scope as Commissioner. Jack says, the WSB tries not to entangle itself in FBI interests, when it’s at all possible, and Laura says, while she can appreciate both stances, she still thinks they have a unique situation here. And it’s personal for her. Valentin has her granddaughter. Anna says she doesn’t think Laura should be worried about her. With all his faults, Valentin is an excellent father. He would never let any harm come to Charlotte. Laura says, he may not be able to stop it, when her office phone rings. She apologizes and answers it. She says she forgot. She’ll be right out. She says she’s sorry. There’s something she forgot that she has to take care of. It will just take a moment. She hopes they don’t mind waiting. Jack says, not at all, and Anna says, they’ll be right here. Laura leaves, and Anna says, Jack knows damn well where Valentin is. He’s hiding him. Jack says, she has no proof of that. If she’d like to confess and let this anxious grandmother know that she helped orchestrate Valentin’s escape, don’t let him stop her. She says, that’s not going to happen. He’d really like that though, wouldn’t he? Laura comes back and says, sorry to keep them waiting. What did she miss? Jack and Anna look at each other.

Jason bangs on the door where Clement is, and around the corner with groceries, Scotty sees him and jets. Jason opens the door, and Clement backs away. We see the bag of groceries Scotty was carrying on the hallway floor.

Sonny goes to Kristina’s hospital room and hugs her. He asks how she’s feeling. Is she ready to get out of here? She says she guesses, and Alexis says, it will be nice for her to have a mattress she can sleep on and sheets with thread counts. Kristina asks if Alexis can grab her a seltzer, but Sonny says he’ll get it. Kristina says, he just got here. Mom can do it. Alexis says, fine. She got the hint. Does Kristina want plain or flavored? Kristina says, surprise her, and Alexis says she’ll check on Kristina’s discharge papers on the way out. She leaves, and Sonny says, Kristina didn’t answer his first question. How is she feeling? She says she’s feeling anxious for an update about Ava.

Jason closes the door, and Clement asks if he’s with the FBI. Jason says he works for Sonny Corinthos, and Clement says, whatever Jason needs him to do, he’ll do it. Please. He’s got a family. Jason says, so does Sonny, but that didn’t stop Clement from tampering with his medication. Clement says he didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t want trouble. Jason says, he’s got trouble now, and Clement says, please. He just wants to live. Jason says he doesn’t want to kill Clement. He just wants the truth. Who paid him to tamper with Sonny’s meds?

Jack says he and the Commish were just catching up. And some playful ribbing about jurisdiction and whatnot. Anna says, of which he has none in Port Charles. Jurisdiction, not whatnot. Jack laughs and says he must be going. It was a pleasure meeting Laura. Laura says, likewise, and he says, her reputation precedes her. He’s sure she has some fascinating stories to tell. He’d like to hear them sometime. She says, they’ll have to make that happen, and he says, excellent. He says goodbye to Anna and leaves. Laura says, he’s quite charming, isn’t he? (yes!) and Anna says, he can be. Laura says, that concerns her.

James hugs Cody and says, welcome to the family. Cody thanks him and says he’s happy to be a part of it. Maxie says, Cody knows how she feels, and Cody says he does. Maxie says she’s proud of Mac and hugs him. She says, it’s time to get James home. What does he have to say to Cody? James says, see you soon, and Cody says he’s looking forward to it. Maxie asks what else he has to say, and James says, thanks for saving him. Cody says, hopefully, it’s a first and last time, and Maxie says, agreed, and thanks him. She leaves with James, and Mac says, if Cody hadn’t found James when he did… Felicia says she can’t even think about it, and Mac says his gratitude knows no bounds. Cody says, he sounds like Spinelli, and Mac says, Spinelli must be rubbing off on him. Cody says, the son Mac never had, and Mac says, except he does have a son, and he’s looking right at him. Cody says, and he has a dad, and they hug.

Curtis says, Stella did good back there, and she says, how so? He says, TJ and Molly are clearly drifting apart, but she helped nudge them back together. She says she hopes it sticks. She sees this all the time in her work. We all process grief differently, and sometimes our way doesn’t align with our loved ones. He says, couples have certainly fallen apart over less, and she says she just prays TJ and Molly remember their why. Why they fell in love in the first place and why they stayed together all these years. He says he’s sure they will, and she says she hopes so. Because when they can learn to lean on each other and support each other, that’s when the real healing begins.

Alexis runs into Molly coming out of the elevator and hugs her. Alexis says, good timing. Kristina is just getting released. Molly says she actually came to see TJ and Stella. They’re processing the baby’s birth certificate. Alexis says she’s sorry, but Molly says, it’s okay. Alexis says, none of this is okay. It must have been so difficult for her. Molly says, what isn’t these days? She’s on her way back to the office. Alexis asks if she doesn’t want to say hi to Kristina before she goes, but Molly says she doesn’t think that’s such a good idea.

Ava says, John’s federal witness idea is certainly inspired, but isn’t he concerned it will escalate things when the goal is to calm them down? He says, the goal is to wipe Sonny off the map entirely, when his phone rings. He asks Scotty, what’s up?… What? When?… No. He’ll deal with it. Ava asks, what happened? and John says, Jason has Clement Moore, who you can bet is spilling his guts as we speak. She says, Clement is their only leverage, and he says, now he’s a liability. She says, this is not good. She’s going to be Sonny’s next stop. He knows that, right? He says, not if he has anything to say about it. Stay here. He leaves, and she calls out, where is he going?

Back at the stables, Sasha says, Cody is still soaked, and he says he’ll get some dry clothes on. She asks if he’s okay, but he says he doesn’t know how he feels. He just keeps thinking about, what if he hadn’t gotten to the boathouse in time? He doesn’t know what he would have done if something happened to James. She says, but he got there. He saved that little boy’s life. And even more. Something beautiful came out of it. He says he has a father, and she says, he has a whole family. They hug.

Ava finds TJ standing in the gallery and asks if she can help him. He says he thought it was time they spoke, and she says she prefers to handle any communication through her lawyer. She’s already been on the receiving end of one interrogation. He says, by Molly, and she says she’d like to avoid another. He says he’s not here as a prosecutor. He’s here as a grieving father. He needs to know what happened in that hotel suite, and not just the story Kristina tells. He needs to hear from Ava why his child died.

Alexis asks, what’s going on? She knows Molly and Kristina talked about what happened the day Kristina fell. Molly says she’s sure Kristina said everything’s just fine between them. Because why wouldn’t it be? And everything has to be fine because Kristina has to be coddled at all times no matter what anyone else is going through. Alexis says, her sister almost died, and Molly says, her baby did die. Because Kristina just had to confront Ava. Why? Why couldn’t she just stay away?

Clement says, FBI Agent Cates brought him here for his protection, and Jason asks if he was operating under John Cates’s orders. Clement says, no, and Jason says, Ava Jerome’s. Clement says he did have some interactions with her, and Jason asks, what kind of interactions? Clement says, when Miss Jerome approached him, she knew Mr. Corinthos wasn’t taking his full dose of medication. Jason says, so he was taking less, and Clement says, Mr. Corinthos was being given a quarter of both his lithium and his mood stabilizer. Jason asks how Ava knew this, but Clement says he doesn’t know. It’s the God’s honest truth. He thought she’d go to the authorities, but she didn’t. Instead, Miss Jerome came back and ordered him to reduce Mr. Corinthos’s prescription to zero. Jason says, that’s when he started giving Sonny placebos, and Clement says, yes. Jason says, because Ava Jerome told him to, and Clement says, yes.

Sonny says he can’t tell Kristina what she wants to hear, and Kristina says, so Ava’s still alive then? He says, yes, and Ava’s going to stay that way. She asks, why? and he says, her mom knows she wants Ava dead, so it’s not worth it. She says, it’s very worth it to her, and he asks if she thinks eliminating Ava is the right way to balance the scales. She says she does, and he says, there are other ways. She says, like what? and he says, she’s going to have to trust him. He doesn’t want Ava’s death on her heart or her conscience.

Molly says, Kristina was about to give birth. Was it really necessary to confront Ava like that? She just coached Kristina through the entire subpoena. They wouldn’t be here. Kristina would be fine and her baby would be alive if Kristina had just shown a little restraint. Alexis says she gets when tragedy happens – especially one as gut-wrenching as this – it’s just human nature. You want to blame something or someone. You want to know why. She takes Molly’s hand and says, sometimes there just aren’t answers. There aren’t answers as to why things happen, and you can’t logic your way out of it. You just have to feel the grief. Molly says, trust her. She’s feeling it. Alexis says she wishes there were answers. She wishes there was something Molly could hold onto that makes sense of this. She’s so sorry Molly lost her baby. She’s so sorry she’s gone. Molly says, it’s not fair, and Alexis says, no, it’s not fair. But don’t throw that grief at the person who’s feeling exactly the way she is. Molly says, Kristina, and Alexis says, Kristina.

Laura says, maybe Brennan already has intel about where Valentin is located, when her cellphone rings. She says, yes, it’s Laura Collins… When did that happen?… She understands, yes. She’ll be there right away. Thank you. Anna asks if everything is all right, and Laura says, it’s Lulu.

Jason asks if Clement is on Ava’s payroll, and Clement says, Ava never gave him any money. She just made threats. Jason says, and she approached him after Sonny’s medication had been lowered, and Clement says, to a quarter dosage, yes. Jason asks, who hired him originally? but Clement hesitates. Jason says, they can do this the easy way and Clement can answer him, or they can take another route. He guarantees Clement isn’t going to like the other route. So who hired him? Clement says, Valentin Cassadine.

Sasha asks how it feels to receive all of that love at once, and Cody says, it’s like nothing he’s felt before. She says, nothing? and he says, until now. They kiss.

Felicia puts her arms around Mac and says, he has a son. He says, looks like it, and she asks if he’s happy. He says he is. She was right. She says she’s always right, and he kisses her.

Ava says, first and foremost, what happened to TJ’s baby was a horrible, tragic accident. She’s so sorry for his loss. He asks, what did happen? and she says, it won’t bring him comfort, but he says, tell him anyway. She says, Kristina showed up at her hotel suite, enraged that she’d been subpoenaed to testify against her father. Kristina was ranting and raving and threatening her. Kristina said if she didn’t withdraw the subpoena, she’d be sorry. She tried not to engage, especially because of Kristina’s pregnancy, but Kristina just kept coming at her… Everything happened so fast. He says, so what she’s telling him is, Kristina falling was her own fault.

Alexis says, Kristina and Molly are suffering, the both of them, so much. If they could just maybe figure out a way to go through this together. Just be open to that. Sonny wheels Kristina out of the elevator, when John walks up with a guard. He says, Kristina Corinthos-Davis, you are under arrest.

Please. Somebody. Call John’s boss.

On Monday, Molly tells Jordan that Kristina falling might not have been Ava’s fault; Laura tells Dante that something’s not right with Lulu; and John says he’s got the FBI behind him. What’s Sonny got? (Sanity?)

🛟 Behind the Save…

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-behind-the-scenes-of-james-rescue-on-gh

📖 Turning the Page…

At first, I thought he was leaving the show. Blaze was such a shock, I don’t know what to expect.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-is-ready-for-his-next-chapter

🏰 Better Than Yours…

So Tony Geary basically had a staycation.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/cbs/stars-share-their-summer-vacation-photos

👑 Serving the Countess…

Minister Mason waiting on you is quite the coup.

🕺🏻 Meanwhile, Somewhere In Jersey…

This is a great idea. Chances are, there will be more butt cracks shown than angry leaps across the table.

Another point in his favor. He is a one of the Housewives.

This explains why I don’t remember her in the other room.

Frank is right. Even though Teresa is problematic on her own, Luis added fuel to the fire. He’s not doing her any favors.

🍑 Voting No…

Although once again, she is good TV.

⚰️ Walk This Way…

Hush. We’re not supposed to think about these things.

https://screenrant.com/daryl-dixon-spinoff-timeline-walking-dead-ending-pointless/

Another one we have to wait until 2025 for.

https://www.cbr.com/twd-dead-city-season-2-everything-we-know/

🎬 The Latest In Murphy…

This is the show Nicholas Chavez is in, but Travis Kelce? What?

https://ew.com/grotesquerie-first-look-teaser-niecy-nash-betts-travis-kelce-ryan-murphy-horror-drama-8695829

🐕 Here a Dogue, There a Dogue…

This is from 2021, but he’s also a Dogue cover star.

https://people.com/pets/billie-eilish-celebrates-dog-shark-1st-birthday/

The whole Dogue, and nothing but the Dogue.

https://www.vogue.com/tag/misc/dogue

🎋 Quotes of the Week

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. – Mark Twain

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.Voltaire

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.Walter Anderson

Ideas do not reach perfection in a day, no matter how much study is put upon them.Alexander Graham Bell

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. – Bob Marley

Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego. – Unknown

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil McGraw

That very hurt. – kid after falling off his bike, Neighborhood Wars

A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Suess, Horton Hears a Who!

🌚 Ain’t No Cure…

Grab what the weekend holds for you by the tail, then swing back again on Monday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe; stay loving people and using things, not the other way around; and stay remembering that sometimes there just aren’t answers as to why things happen, and you can’t logic your way out of it. You just have to feel the grief.

August 15, 2024 – Felicia Calls Out Mac, Nepo Walk-Ons, Marathoning, Finally, Oh Say Can OC, VPs Vs NYCs, Tag Who You, He’s a Hot One, A Win Either Way, Good Cover Boy & Spill

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

James looks for Cody at the boathouse. He picks up a frisbee and flings it, but it goes into the water. He reaches for it, but hears Willow coming toward the boathouse on the phone and runs inside.

Mac calls the station to have them help look for James, and Felicia says she thinks he’s on his way to the Quartermaines.

At the stables, Maxie says, there’s no sign of James, and Cody says he and Sasha will search the stables. If they can’t find him, they’ll search the rest of the property. Sasha suggests they go in separate directions, then meet at the stables later. They’ll find him. Maxie says, the only one in more trouble than James is his grandfather.  

Tracy says she won’t allow Sonny to invest in Deception, and Brook says she can see the potential challenges. Tracy says, it will be exposing them to criminal liability and damage the brand, when Lucy comes in. She says she’s glad to see them all so hard at work. If Natalia hadn’t called her, she might have missed it. What’s the agenda? Brook says, they’re deciding on a multimillion dollar offer from Sonny, and Lucy says she loves Sonny. Tell her more.

Lois says she knows Sonny has the best intentions, but she won’t expose her daughter to RICO charges because he wants to impress a woman. Sonny says she sounds like she did when she was 12 years old, and she says, he can’t change the subject. He says he wouldn’t dream of it, when there’s a knock at the door. Sonny lets Jason in and says, if Lois can’t trust one of her oldest friends, does she think she can trust Jason?

John goes to the gallery and tells Ava that he thinks he’s got Sonny. He’s using Clement as bait. Sonny will come for him, and John will nail him in the act. It’s that simple. Ava says, Sonny is rarely simple, and he says, after all this time he’s finally got Sonny where he wants him and it’s all thanks to her. He hugs her.

Nina finds Willow at the boathouse, and says, the gardener told her that Willow was headed here. Willow says, she and the family are going to the beach, and she forgot her hat, and Nina says, it sounds like fun. Willow says, between chasing the kids and covering them in sunscreen, it will be, and Nina says she’s been thinking about Willow since seeing her outside the MetroCourt elevator. Willow says she’s so sorry she ran off. She must have looked ridiculous. Nina says, no. She imagines being stuck in an elevator is high on the list of things people want to avoid. Willow says, it wasn’t the most fun, but they both know not why she rushed out. She’s resigning from the New Tomorrow Institute and going back to GH. Nina says she’ll miss working with Willow, but Willow needs to do what she thinks is best for herself, and Willow says she has to get out of there. She starts to cry and says she’s feeling guilty for kissing Drew. James hears them from inside the boathouse, and Willow says she can’t risk that happening again.

Tracy says she won’t allow Sonny to invest, but Lucy says, an investor with deep pockets. How foolish is that? Tracy says, there’s no world where Sonny would be a silent partner. Otherwise, why bring in a stage mother who said horrible things about her daughter as his mouthpiece? Natalia says, so many insults in one sentence, and Tracy says she heard what Natalia said about her daughter and the LGBTQ community. Natalia tells her that she said things she regrets to someone she never should have confided in. It’s a lesson she won’t forget, but it has nothing to do with her navigating her daughter’s career. Tracy asks if outing Blaze was part of her master plan, and Natalia says she regrets outing Blaze, but that has zero to do with Blaze’s portfolio. Brook admits Tracy has a point. The things Natalia said are the antithesis of what Deception stands for. Natalia says she’s happy to do a public mea culpa campaign, but being CFO has nothing to do with their image. She’ll have no media presence. Lucy says she needs to go with her first reaction. She thinks it’s a great idea. Tracy says, of course (🍷). Because she’s opposed to it. Lucy says, in this case, she feels Tracy isn’t thinking it through. It’s about what’s best for Deception.

Sonny says, Natalia’s daughter left town, and she has no friends, but Lois says, she has one at least. Sonny says, it’s good for Natalia and will help Deception grow, and if it grows, it helps Brook. Lois says she appreciates that Sonny wants to do good, but donate money to an animal rescue or adopt a dog. He and Natalia would look cute with a puppy. Don’t use Deception money to park mob money. Sonny says, the money earmarked for Deception is absolutely legit and accounted for. If she wants to know where it’s coming from, Jason will tell her. Just ask him.

Ava says, John’s plan is great, and she loves it, but out of curiosity, what is his Plan B? He says he doesn’t need one this time. Someone made Clement mess with Sonny’s medication, and Sonny is going to want to know who that is, so he’ll look for Clement. John will be waiting when he does. She asks, what if Sonny kills Clement? but John says, he won’t. She says, if that happens, she’ll lose any leverage she has to protect herself, and he says, she has him.  Scotty walks in and says he wanted to talk to Ava about the case, and Ava says, Scotty is a brilliant strategist. John should tell Scotty his plan. He’s not friend of Sonny’s. Scotty says, that’s a polite way to put it, and Ava says, Scotty will give John an honest objective opinion. John can trust him.

Cody and Sasha come back, and Maxie says she thinks James is on the property. Felicia and Mac join them, and Mac asks if there’s been any sign, but Maxie says, not yet. Sasha says, they should split up, and Felicia says, they’ll stay here in case James comes back. They leave, and Mac says, she can stay. He’ll go look. She says, the others have that covered. She wants to have a chat. This nonsense with Cody ends now.

Cody tells Sasha that he feels like garbage. James ran away because of him. Sasha says, James is a little kid. Running away is how they solve their problems. Cody isn’t the problem. Cody says he created the problem, but Sasha asks if he saw how frosty Maxie was with Mac. It doesn’t matter. They’ll find James together. He says, she has a nose like a bloodhound, and he has a voice that carries for miles. Together, they’ve got this. If she was a tiny cowboy, where would she go?

Willow tells Nina that after their kiss on the 4th of July, she doesn’t trust herself to be around Drew. She never thought something like this would happen. She loves her family. They’re her everything. Nina says, Willow never thought part of her could have feelings for anyone else, but she did, and Willow says she hates the feeling and it’s not going away. Nina says she’s in no position to be giving relationship advice, but she thinks the feeling will pass with time. Willow says, that’s what she thought, but this doesn’t feel like a crush, and Nina suggests they talk it through. What about Drew gets to her? Willow tells her that she wishes she could say one thing. She could get over one thing. But she’s attracted to all of him. Nina asks for an example, and Willow says she knows it sounds cliché, but part of her is attracted to him because he’s not her husband. She doesn’t have to ask him to do things around the house. She feels horrible saying it, and in the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing. Nina says, the feeling is normal, but Willow says, Drew doesn’t seem like every day normal. He risked life to save hers. His kind of courage and strength are pretty rare. Nina says she’ll be forever grateful, and Willow says, her too. Drew fought to put himself back together after Pentenville, and all he wants to do is give back and be a good dad. Sometimes she feels like there’s a part of Michael’s life that he keeps from her. It’s not like that with Drew. He gives his whole self to things… She just made a list about the man she’s attracted to who’s not her husband. Nina says, Willow can talk to her. She knows Willow loves Michael, and Michael loves her. Willow says, Michael has withheld things from her, but Nina says, the things he was withholding aren’t necessarily bad. Willow says she knows when Michael keeps things from her, he’s trying to protect her, but Drew treats her like she’s strong enough to know the truth. She knows he’d never lie to her.

Lucy says, Deception’s leadership is heavily weighted with Creatives, which isn’t a bad thing, but they’ve never had a CFO, and they need one. Tracy says she agrees. She’ll contact some people and get suggestions and set up interviews. Lucy says she needs to remember to let the candidates know they need to be ready, willing, and able to invest a large amount of cash. The last report she saw had a lot of sad arrows pointing down and she doesn’t want to see that again. Natalia says, that’s what she’d be solely focused on. It would be totally about the numbers. Brook says, it will free them up to explore the expansion initiatives they’ve been talking about, and Lucy says, they could use a large infusion of cash. Tracy says, once they accept Sonny’s offer, why stay legitimate? and Lucy asks if any of them know anything about smuggling, being a bookie, or counterfeiting. She understands that Tracy isn’t comfortable working with Sonny, so she needs to pick up the phone and call people who can come up with millions to match Sonny’s offer.

Jason says, the money set aside comes from Corinthos Coffee, and Sonny says, it’s a legitimate business, in good standing with the IRS. Jason says, the Feds audit them all the time, but they’ve always passed, and Lois says she appreciates Jason being honest. He’s also selective with what he says, and it’s nice to talk to someone who doesn’t just like to hear the sound of their own voice. She’ll tell Brook about what they discussed. Sonny says he looks forward to doing business with her, and she says, we’ll see. She leaves, and Sonny asks what Jason found out about the pharmacist.

John says, as long as he’s got the pharmacist, he can get to Sonny. Sonny has gotten away too long without paying. It’s their chance to get justice. Scotty asks if John thinks he can pull this off, and John says he does. Scotty asks how he can help.

Jason says, Ava admitted she knew about the tampering, but wouldn’t say who was behind it, and Sonny says, assuming it’s not Ava. His judgement became cloudy after she moved in. Her story is convenient. Jason says, she wants them to think she has something of value to trade, but the only way to know is to question the pharmacist.

Scotty says, Sonny is a two-bit criminal and he’ll shed no tears, but John says, he’s more than that. He’s involved in money laundering and extortion, and he’s got to be honest. There’s something personal to this piece – Karen. Scotty says he’s glad John said it. Karen deserves justice for what Sonny did to her and it’s about time she gets it. Ava clears her throat to get their attention and says, she thought they wanted Sonny to pay, but it seems to be more than that. It’s a little risky. Scotty says, they’re throwing in with the Feds. Is John going to give him a gun? John says, no, and Ava says, if this works, Clement is eventually going to disclose to the Feds that she knew he was tampering with Sonny’s medication. John says he can’t see why that would come up, and Scotty says, they’ll make a deal in exchange for giving them Sonny. John says, they need to get Clement in a secure location first. That part will be tricky. Scotty says he can handle that.

Nina says she supports any decision Willow makes. She just wants Willow to do what’s best for herself. But do her a favor and not be so hard on herself. No one is perfect and she’s trying to do what’s best for her family. Willow says, if she was trying to do that, she wouldn’t have kissed Drew, but Nina says, one tiny kiss doesn’t have to change anything. James continues to listen, and Willow thanks Nina and takes her hands. She says she doesn’t know how Nina knew the exact words she wanted to hear, and Nina says, because Willow is her daughter. Willow says, they should go back to the house, and Nina grabs Willow’s hat and says, she has a beach to get to. They leave, and James comes out. He says, huh.

Mac asks why Felicia is looking at him like he’s responsible, and she says, James adores Cody. He ran away because Mac wouldn’t let him see Cody. Mac says he just told Maxie that James could go back, but she says, Maxie should have been allowed to make her own decision about James’s association with Cody. By the time Mac issued his decree, it was too late. James is just a child. He doesn’t understand what happened in the first place. He says, it’s not something you discuss with a child, and she says, and apparently an adult. It seems like he’s deliberately punishing Cody. Mac knew Cody adored James. His ego was bruised, and he decided to get between them. It’s true and he knows it and look where got him.

James reaches for the frisbee, then thinks for a moment. He balances himself on the wall, but when he reaches out, he falls in the water. He yells for help and calls to Cody.

Maxie calls to James and says, he’s making her nervous. He’s not in trouble. Come out. Her phone rings, and she says she hopes it’s someone with their hands on James. She looks at the phone and says, sorry, Tracy. For once, you’ll have to handle the decision on your own. Spinelli joins her and she asks why he’s not talking. He says he overextended his larynx while yelling for James, and she says she should have known what would happen. She knows how James’s mind works. He says, no one could have predicted this, but she says, James was sad because he and Cody were being kept apart. Like his dad Nathan, James is loyal to the core. Mac is upset that Cody worked his way into James’s heart, but Cody’s not going anywhere.

Mac asks if he’s the only one who thinks James shouldn’t be spending time with some grifter, and Felicia says, Mac isn’t the patron saint of honesty. He came to Port Charles with his own agenda and was always working an angle. Sound like someone else? Has he conveniently forgotten the missteps he took with Robert? Robert rescued him from the water only to push him back in. He says, that was a long time ago, and she says, Mac changed. He grew up and matured, and he’s the most trustworthy person she knows. A lot of people gave him a second chance. She’s disappointed that he won’t he extend the same grace to his own son. She walks out.

Natalia is talking finance, when Lois comes in. She asks if she missed anything good, and Brook says she doesn’t know if it’s good, but Natalia is holding her own. Tracy says, the offer looks good, but it’s supposed to. It seduces you into thinking there’s a brighter future ahead. Lucy says, it’s business, not one of Tracy’s many marriage proposals she accepted from fortune hunters. Tracy says, Lucy knows all about fortune hunting. Maxie isn’t here, so it falls on her to be the voice of reason. They need to think about the company and its employees. Lois says, from in the cheap seats, she thinks Tracy is making an excellent point, and Tracy says, finally someone besides her is willing to engage in rational thinking.

Jason says, Clement worked a shift the other day at GH and hasn’t been seen since. He’s not at home, and Brick is going through GH’s security tapes to see what time he was last seen. Sonny says, he has no other talents or identities? and Jason says, no. Sonny says, he’s going to want protection, and Jason says, or a ticket out of town. Sonny says, he’ll lead them to whoever he’s working for, when Jason’s phone rings. Jason asks if Brick has something… Is it a positive ID?… Okay. Call when he finds him. He tells Sonny that Brick looked at the hospital footage, and Clement was last seen being escorted out of GH by John Cates.

Jason wonders why the FBI would take the pharmacist into custody. Why get involved? Sonny says, Ava’s been spending time with Jagger, and Jason says, maybe Cates ordered Clement to switch Sonny’s medication. Sonny says, Jagger is capable of doing a lot of things he didn’t think he was. Jason looks at his phone and says, Cates is with Ava at the gallery. Scotty is there too. Sonny says he wants eyes on all of them.

John says, Scotty thinks he can scoop up Clement and take him to a secure site? and Scotty says he knows he can. John asks, where? and Scotty says, Windymere. Ava doesn’t live there anymore, and nobody has moved in. John says, it’s perfect. It can only be accessed by boat and there are no nosy neighbors to give them up to Sonny. Okay. They’ll meet there once Scotty gets his hands on Clement. Scotty says, he’ll see them soon with the package, and leaves. Ava asks if the FBI isn’t supposed to protect the public, and John says, Clement will be fine. She says she’s not worried about the pharmacist. She’s worried about herself.

Tracy suggests they table the conversation until they calm down and Maxie is available, and Brook asks if she’s saying they’re the ones who are too emotional. Tracy tells her that she’s saying, upon further reflection, letting Sonny in is like inviting in a vampire. He’s a duplicitous crook who would sell his mother to make a deal. Lois says, whatever faults Sonny has – and he has many – Sonny is a man of his word. Lucy says, it’s his bond, and Lois says, if he claims the money is clean, she believes him. Brook says, Sonny would never invest tainted money in Deception, and Natalia says, she’ll do the forensic accounting, and if it doesn’t seem legit, she’ll kill the deal herself. Lucy says, it looks like they have themselves a brand-new CFO.

Nina and Willow find Michael back at the house, and Nina tells Michael that she was hoping to talk to Willow about the PSAs, but Willow told her that she’s going back to nursing. She thinks it’s wonderful, and Elizabeth will be so happy to have her back. She knows that GH and every patient of Willow’s will be thrilled.

Cody looks for James at the boathouse, and says he needs James to come out. He needs help with the horses. James yells, help me, and Cody takes off his shoes. He says he’s coming, and dives in.

Maxie tells Spinelli, the first thing she’s going to tell James is that he can take all the riding lessons he wants. Then she’s going to strangle him. Spinelli says, she should walk him through the consequences of his actions, and she says she wants him to learn from this and feel bad. He says, that’s reasonable. He’s a lucky kid to have so many people worried about him. She says, there could be a thousand people out looking for him, but nobody will find him unless he wants them to.

Cody grabs James and brings him back to shore. He asks if James is okay, and James says, Cody saved him. They hug, and Mac sees.

Nina says she’ll miss working with Willow, but she’s proud that Willow is choosing what makes her happy. Willow thanks her for everything. And on that note, she’s putting her hat in her bag along with all the sunblock she can find, and she’ll join them on the beach. She leaves, and Michael thanks Nina for keeping their conversation between them. Nina says, Willow didn’t need to know about it the way things are going. She hopes he has a great time at the beach with his family. He deserves it. She starts to leave, and he asks if she’s busy on Friday the 30th. The Quartermaines are having a dinner for extended family. Willow and the kids would love to see her. Drew will there too, of course (🍷). Nina says she’d love that, and she’ll be there.

Tracy says, they’ve thrown rational thinking out the window over misplaced loyalty to Sonny. What about those of them who didn’t grow up with him? Lois says she trusts Sonny and he wouldn’t put Deception in jeopardy, and Brook says she knows Tracy is nervous. Tracy says, everybody should be nervous. If they let Sonny in, it will be the end of Deception, and they’ll be lucky not to be escorted out in handcuffs.

Clement paces in a basement, when Scotty comes in. Clement asks, who’s he? and he says, Scott Baldwin. He’s here to rescue him.

Ava says, John is placing everybody at risk except himself. He’s using Clement and it’s dangerous. Now John wants to hide him at Windymere, putting her in more danger. John says, it’s ideal, and she says, if it doesn’t go the way he wants, it’s also an ideal place to dump her body. Even if she survives, she’s being charged with attempted murder. There are photos of the incident with Kristina, one of the many things that keep her up at night. He says he’s seen them. Hold on… It’s possible they don’t prove what everybody thinks. If you look at the photos another way, they could tell a different story about what happened in the hotel room. (Ugh. He’s such a jerk.)

Jason wonders how much the FBI knows about what Cates is doing. His assignment was about Pikeman. How would he explain what he’s been doing all along? Sonny says he doesn’t care. It’s personal. Jagger hates him and crossed lines to get to him. Sooner or later, Sonny is going to cross lines too.

Tomorrow, Laura tells Jack that she thinks they have a unique opportunity; Mac admits to James that it’s his fault; Ava tells John that it’s a stretch to make her the victim; and Sonny tells Jason that if Jagger forces his hand, he won’t have a choice.

👯‍♂️ New Faces of Rice Park…

It’s cute when the actors bring their family members into the fold.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bradford-andersons-daughters-make-their-gh-debut

🏃🏻‍♀️ Run, Kelly, Run…

She’s a better woman than I am. I ran for two years and I hated it. I could always tell how well it was going by how quickly I started thinking about the cup of coffee I was going to have when the run was over.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-thiebaud-tackles-a-new-challenge

⚖️ Justice For Johnny…

It’s good news we never should have needed in the first place. They’re practically children, but I hope they rot.

https://ew.com/johnny-wactor-killing-arrests-8696211

🍊 A Split Of Oranges…

I must be a masochist on some level. Otherwise, why would I keep watching these Housewives? Nearly everyone is equally awful, but in different ways. I still kinda like Emily. I don’t believe she’s become meaner since she’s become friends with Tamra, as Gina said, but I have to admit, the friendship puzzles me. Why anyone would be friends with Tamra puzzles me. The women split into two groups to take girls’ trips. Tamra, Jen, Katie, and Alexis – who could only talk about Johnny J. and it’s getting seriously old – went to Tamra’s house in Big Bear; while Gina, Emily, Shannon, and Heather went to La Quinta to stay in a house that Gina was going to be showing. It’s beyond me why Gina would have a party in a house she doesn’t own and is the broker for. No surprise, every time someone committed a housekeeping sin, she nearly had a heart attack. Shannon told Emily about Gina’s mean girl comment, which didn’t sit well with Emily, but when she tried discussing it with Gina, Heather quickly made it about herself, and we were in the middle of the paparazzi thing again. There was some discrepancy about the time frame between Katie telling Gina what she allegedly knew and Gina telling Katie to keep her mouth shut, and Gina asked if she’d ever lied to Heather before. Heather said she didn’t know, which should probably always be the answer to that question, since if they’re a good liar, no one would. Heather decided to give Gina the benefit of the doubt, but this will only last until she doesn’t. You know it will come up again. Heather is never letting this paparazzi stuff go even if she’s the one who has to bring it up. It’s now joined the ranks of Munchausen, Pantygate, and Lucy, Lucy Apple Juicy. While I was a little jealous of them riding saucers down a snowy hill in Big Bear, I can’t even talk about Jen putting her foot in an apple pie and then… No. I can’t. Let it suffice to say she’ll be making money on OnlyFans.

I wouldn’t use the word traitor, but IMO, you can speak hard truths without being an a-hole.

🗽 Hard Choices…

Oh no. What will we do?

🪪 Wearing Humility Well…

I love how down to earth she is. This is a great idea too. I wish everyone would wear nametags all the time. I can remember what somebody said 20 years ago and memorized the entire score of Hamilton in a few weeks, but I’m terrible with names, zip codes, and phone numbers.

https://ew.com/jamie-lee-curtis-asks-crew-wear-name-tags-on-set-8692789

🔥 Avoiding the Heat…

Sean Evans was on Watch What Happens Live last night and told this story.

https://ew.com/ryan-reynolds-joked-about-avoiding-hot-ones-for-years-says-host-sean-evans-8695795

🎬 Battling For Bucks…

So do you think things are frosty at home? Or are they too busy counting their money?

https://ew.com/blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-battle-for-box-office-supremacy-8693731

🐕 You Dogue You…

Another precious nugget gracing the cover. I totally get his desperate need for Brisket. I saw my rescue chihuahua El Wray’s picture and had to have him.

https://people.com/glen-powell-reveals-how-desperate-he-was-to-adopt-his-pup-brisket-8695639

🌇 On Manhattan Island Time…

Start your downtime here tomorrow with soap, a spot of tea, a few wise (or not) words, and a little music. Until then, stay safe, stay being thoughtful about how your actions affect those around you, and stay being selective about what you say. Don’t talk just because you like to hear the sound of your own voice.

August 14, 2024 – James Disappears From the Park, Oh No, Two For Tea, This Week In LA, NYC Comeback, Next Squid, Witchy, No Cameo, Cover Girl & Goes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mac and Spinelli play frisbee in the park. James wanders off, and Mac wonders what he did.

At the stables, Cody flashes back to Sasha kissing him. Tracy comes by, and he asks if she wants him to prep Hades, but she says she’s planning on taking him for a ride. So buckle up.

Sasha flashes back to Cody saying he loves James, when Willow comes in and tells her that Cody left his hat. She suggests Sasha take it back to him, but Sasha says she has to be on a call with the caterers. Willow says, Olivia isn’t here. She must have forgotten. Sasha says, it’s not with Olivia. It’s with Drew and he’s MIA.

Drew wakes up next to Nina and asks, what time is it? She says, too early to get up, but he says he’s got a call he can’t miss with Sasha and the caterers. It’s for the campaign. Nina tells him to skip it, but he says, it’s too late to bail. She says, Sasha can handle it, but he says, she can’t make decisions without him. Nina kisses him.

Brook, Lois, and Gio eat on the patio, and Lois asks if Blaze got off okay. Brook says, she got on the plane, and Gio says he has to get going. Lois says, pretty soon, he’ll be focusing on concerts, but he says, there might not be as many as he thought. He was counting on the gallery concert for exposure, but who’s going to go to a gallery owned by a murderer?  

On the phone, Sonny says he needs to find Clement. He opens the door and Natalia is there. She says she came to say goodbye. She’s going home to Puerto Rico.

Tracy says she plans on testing Cody’s mind, not his body, and Cody says, fair warning. He has a finite set of skills. She says she’ll go easy on him, and he says, it doesn’t sound like fun. She asks if he can count and differentiate between black and white, and he says he can. She says, then he can play backgammon.

Lois tells Gio that she’s sure the show will go on in spite of Ava, and Brook says, it might bring more people out of curiosity. Lois says, artists would jump at the chance to attach themselves to Ava’s notoriety. He’s too good and has too many positive things in his life to play background music for the upper-class bourgeoisie. He says he doesn’t care what people think about him, but there are a few people whose opinions matter. Like Uncle Sonny.

Natalia tells Sonny about Blaze’s tour, and says, she and Kristina broke up. Sonny says, Kristina didn’t tell him, and Natalia says, it was difficult for both of them. Maybe Kristina is still processing. She saw Blaze off, but they didn’t part on good terms. Sonny says he’s been there. It’s not easy, but they love each other and he’s sure it will work out. Natalia says, hopefully, but their potential reconciliation won’t take place here. Sonny says, so it’s a permanent move, and she says, that’s the plan. Alison doesn’t want her on tour, and she came here be with her, so she has no reason to stick around. He says, what if he gave her one.

Drew says, it’s a great way to start the day, and Nina says, it was a great way to spend the night. He says he thinks they set a new record. It’s been 10 hours, and they haven’t said anything nasty to each other. Now his would-be constituents await. She says, duty calls.

Michael asks if Willow has seen Drew, and she flashes back to her and Drew being in the elevator. She says, not since last night, and he asks if she’d mind calling him. He’s sure Drew will pick up for his star fundraiser. She says she doesn’t know where he is and doesn’t want to call. They hardly cross paths, and from now on, they won’t see each other at the foundation at all. Michael asks what that means.

Spinelli finds James sitting under a tree and asks if James wants to play frisbee, but James says, no, and asks how long they’re going to stay. Spinelli says, they just got here, but James says he’s bored. Spinelli asks what he wants to do. It will just be between them. James says he wants to ride horses with Cody, but Grandpa Mac said no.

Mac tells Felicia and Maxie, Two Trees is amazing, but Maxie says, there’s no Cody. She knows Mac has his own issues with Cody, but forbidding James to see him wasn’t Mac’s call. Felicia says, they discussed this at home, and Mac says, summer is almost over. James will be back in school before he knows it and he’ll forget about Cody. Maxie says she doubts it and asks if he doesn’t think he’s punished Cody long enough. She leaves, and Felicia says, Mac messed up big. She hopes he plans on fixing it, since she’s not doing it for him.

Maxie meets Nina as she walks into the park, and Nina thanks her for texting. It’s a lovely day. Maxie says, Nina is in a good mood. Did she have her teeth whitened? Nina says, no, and Maxie asks if she did her hair. Something is definitely different. Lucy would say her aura is glowing. Lucy would say, when Scott… Did she sleep with Drew again?

Drew comes in and tells Sasha that they’ll have to reschedule. His campaign strategy session went late and he overslept. She tells him, no problem, and Drew apologizes for barging in. Michael tells him that he and Willow were talking about her work at the Institute, and Willow says she’s come to a decision. She’s decided to go back to nursing. She’s resigning.

Tracy says, Cody gets the first roll, and Cody says, she must have been playing for a long time; she’s so knowledgeable. She says she played with her boys when they were young, then picked it back up when she was in the hospital for a while. He asks what she was in the hospital for, and she says, that’s a little forward. He says, she brought up, and she says she was infected with parasitic brain worms on a tropical vacation from a treat fed to her by Ned’s con artist father, Larry Ashton. Cody says, sounds scary, and she says, it was. He says, there are worse ways to spend time in the hospital than playing backgammon, and she says she remembers it fondly. He says, because she got to be the center of attention, but she says, because she made a friend. (I went through a backgammon phase years ago, so I get why Tracy loves it. It can be addicting.)

Brook says she thinks Sonny would respect Gio for sticking to his word, and Lois says, he has to do what’s best for him. Sonny isn’t his keeper. He’s his own man. Gio says he doesn’t want to let Sonny down, and what’s best for him right now is to get to work. He leaves, and Brook says, Lois is usually Sonny’s biggest defender, but she’s telling Gio not to care what Sonny thinks. What’s going on?

Sonny asks if Natalia wants to stay in Port Charles, and she says, it has its charms, but in her current situation, she lacks the income to sustain a bicoastal life. He says, this is where he can help, but she says, the only thing she knows about coffee is that she’s useless in the morning without it. (Same.) He says, she knows numbers, and he calls Brook. He says he was wondering if she could come over. He’s got a proposition for her. Brook asks, what kind of proposition?

Willow tells Drew and Michael that she agonized about it for weeks. She missed nursing. It fulfilled her and she feels she has a purpose as a nurse more than doing PSAs. Michael says he would have understood, and she says she wanted to be sure. She didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Nina has been helpful, and they won’t be working together anymore. Neither will she and Drew, and he’s been so supportive. Drew says he’ll always believe in her. She’s got his faith and support whether she works at the Institute or GH. He and Michael feel the same way. She should do what makes her happy. Willow says she appreciates him making it easy. She has to get the beach stuff together. She’ll meet Michael back here. She and Drew leave in opposite directions, and Sasha says, Michael rolled with Willow’s decision, but he says, what choice did he have?

Nina says she thought Drew would ditch his plans. They had an amazing time. Maxie says she knows. They had great sex. There were fireworks. Drew spending the night was unexpected. Nina says, it’s not like they’re in love. They’re two consenting adults enjoying each other. The more Drew sees it as enjoyable, the less he’ll intrude on her daughter’s marriage.

Spinelli tells James that he knows it seems unfair, but disagreements happen sometimes. Like how he has fights with his friends. James says, they usually make up, and Spinelli says he’s sure Mac and Cody will too, but it will take time.  

Mac says he’s not apologizing to make it easier on Cody. He’s a liar and a sneak. He doesn’t need or want Cody in his life. Felicia says she’s not convinced Cody shouldn’t get a second chance, but it’s Mac’s decision and she’s good with whatever he decides. He says, thanks, and she says, but don’t drag their grandson into it. The longer he keeps James and Cody apart with no explanation, the worse his and James’s relationship will be. Is that a price he’s willing to pay?

Tracy tells Cody that she was not a model patient. Her doctor weathered her ill humor with grace and got to know her. He was gentle and kind, but he was tough. And don’t get her started on how prickly he could be. Cody says, he sounds like an interesting fellow, and she says she clicks with few people the way she did with him. He says he’s glad the doctor was there for her, and she says, her too. Finn is one of a kind. He says, she misses him, and she says, very much.

James sneaks around and watches the others from behind a tree. Spinelli asks if Nina and Maxie want to play frisbee.  

As they sit on a bench, Mac tells Felicia that he’s trying to shield James from disappointment, but sooner or later, he’ll realize Cody is not the hero he pretends to be. She says, what if he’s wrong? What if Cody lives up to James’s expectations? Sometimes people can be better if they know someone believes in them.

James slips behind another tree and watches Mac and Felicia.

Lois and Brook go to the penthouse, and Sonny says he didn’t know Lois was going to show up. Lois says she was with Brook when he called and it piqued her curiosity, so she thought she’d come along. She and Brook greet Natalia, and Lois asks, what’s the idea he’s got them so eager to hear? Sonny says he was investing in a new record label, and Brook says, don’t get her wrong. She’s happy that Blaze is living her dream on tour, but she’s disappointed their idea got shelved. Sonny says, the money he set aside is still there, and he thought of a better use for it than it sitting in a bank collecting interest. Brook asks what he has in mind, and he says he’d like to invest in Deception.

Drew goes to the boathouse where Willow is getting the beach stuff together and asks if Willow needs some help. She says, thanks, but no thanks, then slips moving a box and falls on her behind. He holds out his hand, but she says she’s got it. She gathers what she needs and says she doesn’t want to keep Michael waiting. Drew says he doesn’t want her to make a big mistake.

Sasha says she knows Michael was excited about Willow’s job at the Institute, but he says, only because Willow was. If he’s learned anything from her, it’s that time is precious, and he doesn’t want her wasting it being unhappy. He doesn’t have to tell Sasha how precious time is with the person you love. He’s sorry. He wasn’t thinking. She says she’s made as much peace as she’s going to with Brando’s death. Now she smiles most of the time, rather than cries, when she thinks about him. She doesn’t think she could survive another heartbreak. He says she’s stronger than she thinks. Life doesn’t come with guarantees. You can wonder if you missed out on something great or risk being hurt.

Cody asks if Tracy has heard much from Finn, and she says she thinks he’s been concentrating on his recovery. He says it sounds like they have a special relationship, and he’s sure they’ll be happy to see each other when Finn comes home. She says she doesn’t know how happy Finn will be to see her, and he asks, why not? She says she may have been too hard on him. He hugged her when he left, but she hasn’t heard from him. He says he’s had friends go through rehab, and when Finn is thinking clearly, he’ll understand. She says she hopes so. Her only goal was to help him. He says, it sounds like underneath that tough shell, she’s pretty warm, fuzzy, and compassionate. Did he just win? She says, what? How? He says, beginner’s luck.

Sonny says, Deception has been struggling since last summer. He thinks the cash will take them over the hump and they’ll expand their audience. He’ll structure the deal, but be a silent partner. Brook says, this could be a game changer, and he says, on one condition. They hire Natalia.

Maxie brings Nina over to the group, and Nina says she wanted to come by to see them and James. Mac says, if James is still hellbent on taking riding lessons with Cody, he won’t stand in his way, and Maxie says, finally. She calls to James, but there’s no answer. She wonders where he is and yells, answer me right now!

Sonny says he wants to invest a lot of cash in Deception without taking an active role, but he wants a representative to handle his interests. Natalia is great with finances and negotiating. Brook says, Natalia’s haggling over Blaze’s contract kept Lucy awake at night, but Lois says, the music business is different than a cosmetics company. Brook says, she and Lucy lean more toward the creative side rather than financial, and Sonny says, Natalia knows numbers and will work in his best interest. Lois says, what about when his best interests don’t align with Deception’s? and Natalia says, that’s a fair question. Deception’s best interests are identical to Sonny’s. If he succeeds, then they do. Brook says she needs to discuss it with her partners. She’ll start with Tracy.  She suggests Natalia come along, since she thinks Natalia is her own best advocate, and Natalia says she’d love to. Brook thanks Sonny and says she’ll be in touch, and Natalia tells him, what she said. They leave, and Sonny asks Lois to stick around. He has a few words to say to her. She says she has a dictionary she’d like to break over his head, and he tells her that he just wants to say he’s sorry.

Spinelli suggests they split up to search for James, and Nina says, he’s a smart kid. Maxie says, too smart for his own good, and Spinelli says, it’s the first time he’s taken off like that. Maxie says she thinks she knows where to find him, and leaves, when Nina gets a call from Michael. She asks if everything is all right, and he says, everything’s fine, but he needs to talk to her about Willow.

At the boathouse, Willow tells Drew that her role isn’t what she expected. She’s not feeling fulfilled. He says, then they’ll make her feel fulfilled, but she says, they can’t. Being there at all is the problem. He says he had no indication, and she says she didn’t realize until she visited Kristina. When she was helping Kristina, she remembered why she fell in love with nursing and realized she missed the work. He says, she’s so good. He’s seen the numbers and she’s driving up donor registration. She says she’ll keep doing it until the Institute finds a replacement, but she can’t commit to anything else. She’s going back to GH. He says he’s happy for her, but wants to make sure her motivation is honest. Does her resignation have anything to do with him?

Tracy says, Cody cheated, but he says, how could he? She was watching him the whole time. She says, he’s not a beginner, and he says he never told her that he was. She assumed. It’s only hustling if you’re playing for money. She says she could have won if she hadn’t been distracted by his questions about Finn, and he says he wanted to know more about her. If he happened to win in the meantime, good. She says, next time, she won’t be so benevolent, and he says he expects nothing less. Sasha comes in and says she doesn’t want to interrupt, but Tracy says she arrived just in time. She was about to beat Cody senseless. Rematch? He says he looks forward to it, when Tracy’s phone rings. She walks out while talking to Brook, and Cody tells Sasha, backgammon is a bloodsport around here. She says she found this, and hands him his hat. He puts it on, and she says she found something else – her senses. He asks what she means, and she says she’s tired of being scared and playing it safe. Life is short. She thinks they should do this. He says, do what? and she kisses him.

Mac says he saw James and Spinelli with their heads together. What were they talking about? Spinelli says, James is distressed about Mac’s antipathy toward Cody, and Felicia says, this isn’t the way she wanted to be proved right.

Sasha asks if Cody can take a break, and he says he can take the whole day. He has to shower too. She says, he doesn’t smell bad. They can get dirtier together. They start to get busy, when Maxie walks in. She says she’s sorry. She doesn’t need to see this. Congratulations. She’ll let them both get back to it, but she has a question. Have they seen James anywhere?  

Nina asks Michael, what’s wrong? and Michael tells her that she and Willow won’t be collaborating on the New Tomorrow Institute anymore. Willow is resigning and returning to GH. He’ll let Willow be the one to tell her why. Nina says she can probably guess.  

Drew says, Willow’s work at the Institute is important to them and she’s changing lives. Don’t give up because he made it complicated. She says, it’s the only way to make it better. She loves Michael, and she’s committed to him and her family. But she can’t stop thinking about Drew. It’s wrong, and she wants as much distance put between them as possible before she does anything else she regrets. She takes the beach stuff and leaves.

Sonny says he found out that his meds had been off for a while, and Lois says, that’s a big deal. Is he okay? Did they fix the dosage? He says he’s back on track. He wants her to know she means the world to him. She always has and always will. Lois says, he means the world to her too, and thanks him for telling her. She saw he was off. Now she knows why. He asks if they’re friends again. Are they square? She says, they’re always friends. Square, not so much. He asks what she means, and she says, the infusion of money to Deception. Where is it coming from? (Didn’t they have this conversation? It’s the same money.) He says, every dime is legit. She can call his accountant. She says she believes him, but even the appearance of impropriety will be more damaging than maleficence. He asks what’s worrying her, and she says she loves him, and his personal life is his own, but she doesn’t want the business under federal scrutiny because he’s trying to impress a woman.

Brook tells Tracy, it’s a large infusion of capital that could fund Research and Development for five years. They can finally break ground on that. Tracy asks what Natalia thinks her title should be, and Natalia says she thinks CFO is appropriate. Tracy says she’s surprised the financial institution didn’t contact her, and Brook says, it’s a small bank, but the money is vetted and secured. Tracy asks, what’s the name of the bank? and Brook says, the Bank of Sonny. Tracy says, over my dead body

Tomorrow, Lucy says she thinks it’s a great idea; John tells Ava that he’s got Sonny where he wants him; Maxie says, nobody is going to find James unless he wants them to; and Cody dives into the water, presumably looking for James.

🍽 Eating My Words…

I have no words. Actually, I do, but this blog is rated PG-13.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital-2

🫖 Striving For Elegance…

Love these two together.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-jophielle-love-on-violet-and-tracys-tea-party

💰 Hard Times In Listings…

Not only does the market still stink, buyers are also pulling out of deals; JoshA saying the fallout was around 25%. He came close to getting a new house for JoshF, going so far as to forego his commission, but JoshF wasn’t willing to come up even another $200K. I always figure, when you’re talking millions, what’s another couple hundred thousand? Tracy, playing the role of JoshF’s broker, had already agreed to no commission since JoshF had done the same for her. Since they were at an impasse, Tracy suggested they finish the tequila and call it a night. JoshF then began to lean toward rebuilding his gutted dreamhouse. In an interesting panty twist, Tracy found a pair of satin undies amongst the rubble and threw them over the fence. Nice. She’s going to be exiled to Summer House if she’s not careful.

🗽 Returning To New York…

That pigeon décor is pretty impressive.

https://extratv.com/2024/08/13/watch-erin-lichy-confront-husband-abe-about-lying-in-rhony-season-15-trailer/

🐙 Your Post Christmas Present…

A new Game is coming December 26th.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/squid-game-season-2-new-players-trailer/

🧹 Channeling Those Before…

Instead of WandaVision’s sitcom approach, Agatha will be using the witches of yore to tell her story.  

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-trailer-kathryn-hahn-joe-locke-d23-8693175

🦸 Not Done Yet…

The ones who didn’t make it.

https://ew.com/halle-berry-says-ryan-reynolds-never-asked-me-to-cameo-in-deadpool-and-wolverine-8695666

https://people.com/robert-downey-iron-man-cameo-deadpool-wolverine-8693208

🐶 What a Dogue…

Pilaf deserves her own magazine cover. She’s an unbelievably cute little nugget of pup.

https://people.com/demi-moore-tiny-dog-pilaf-gets-her-own-vogue-cover-8695515

🍫 Love You S’more…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the OC in LaQuinta. Until then, stay safe, stay understanding that integrity and character are what really matter, and stay not wasting time being unhappy. Time is precious.