Tag Archives: Drew Cheetwood

April 13, 2023 – Victor (Finally) Explains His Plan, His Kid, Déjà Ball, New Girl, Celebrations, First Time, VanderTalk, Chilling Addition & Lost

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Portia says she can’t reach her daughter, but Curtis says, she might have her phone off. Portia says, that would explain the voicemail, but not the texts. The texts should still be going through, but they’re not. He says, she might be out of range, when Jordan and Dante come along. Portia says, no, no, no. Not Trina. Jordan says, they hate to bother her at work, but they have some questions about an ongoing investigation, and Portia asks, what kind of questions? Curtis says, has something happened to Trina?

Spencer says, this can’t be the last of him and Trina; they’re just getting started. Trina says, they’re on the same page, and he tells her, be careful. She promises she will, and says, they’ve got this, but first, they’ve got to call for help. He says, without his escort discovering her, and she says, any ideas?

Sonny comes out of the hospital elevator looking like he has a headache, and Laura asks if he’s here to check on Anna. He asks how Anna is doing, and Laura says, she’s out of surgery. They just moved her to ICU. He says he’ll take any good news where he can get it, and she says she takes it he doesn’t have any leads on Spencer. He says, or Victor, but don’t worry. When he finds Victor, he’s going to pay more than he’s ever paid before.

Michael wonders why he has the feeling he’s about to get ganged up on, and Brook says, that’s a little extreme. Sasha says, Willow has something she wants to tell him, that’s all, and Willow says she just needs him to really listen. He says he always listens to her. What’s wrong? She says she wants to get married, and he says, good, so does he. She says, today.

Valentin raises his head, and sees Anna looking at him. He says, if that’s not the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Welcome back.

Michael says, Willow wants to get married today? and she says, tomorrow at the latest. Brook says, it makes sense, now that the transplant’s been postponed, and Sasha says, and who knows for how long, since Liesl is still missing. Willow says she doesn’t want to wait… She can’t wait. Time is running out. She wants to marry him as soon as possible, so they can have as long as possible together as husband and wife. Please consider it. He says, there’s nothing to consider. He’ll marry her whenever, wherever she wants.

While Victor eats breakfast, a guard brings Obrecht in. Victor says, there she is, and may he say, she looks divine. She says, no, he may not, and he says he does appreciate her joining him on such short notice. Breakfast? She says, it looks more like a funeral. All they need now is a body.

Valentin asks the doctor how Anna is, and she says, still at risk for post-op complications, but she was lucky. She’s on track to make a full recovery. Anna thanks her, and tearfully says she’s grateful. The doctor says she’ll be back to check on Anna, and leaves. Valentin says he doesn’t think luck had anything to do with it. God is an Anna Devane fan. He thought he’d lost her. She says she thinks he saved her life, but he says he’s the reason she got shot in the first place. She tells him, don’t do that, and he says, Victor wanted to hurt him, and was willing to take her away from all of them to do it. She says, he didn’t, and Valentin says, thank God he didn’t. She starts to cry, and says, right before she blacked out, she saw something. It was a wall of faces of all the people she loves. She saw Robin, and Emma, and Noah, and him. That’s what helped her fight because she’s not ready to leave any of them just yet. She thinks he’s stuck with her. He says he’ll hold her to that, and kisses her.

Portia says, Jordan needs to tell her what’s going on right now, and Jordan asks if they can go to her office. Curtis says, if this is about Trina, he needs to come too, and they head for Portia’s office. Dante asks Laura if there’s any word on Anna, and Laura says, she’s out of surgery; she’s going to make it. Dante says, that’s a relief. Unfortunately, it sounds like Victor’s list of victims is growing.

Trina says, there’s no reason for the guard to latch the door when Spencer’s not here, right? It’ll work. Spencer says, it better, and she says, they can do this. Know how she knows? Because they make a good team. She will be the definition of stealth, while he creates the perfect diversion. He says, listen to him. His uncle can’t catch her. She says, he won’t, and they hear footsteps. She says, no turning back now.

In her office, Portia asks Jordan to please tell her what’s going on before she loses her mind, and Curtis asks, what happened to Trina? Jordan says, they don’t know for sure, but they have reason to believe she’s with Spencer Cassadine and his Great Uncle Victor.

Ambrose opens Spencer’s stateroom door, and Spencer says, it’s about time; he’s starving. He blows past Ambrose, and asks if they’re going or what. Ambrose closes the door, and Trina comes out. She slips into the hallway, and jets.

Anna asks, what’s happening? but Valentin says he doesn’t think they should talk about that. She says she wants to talk about him, and he says, she should be resting. She says she is; she’s in a bed. Tell her. He asks, what’s the last thing she remembers? and she says, it’s a bit of a blur. She knows he gave the necklace to Victor, didn’t he? He says, Victor was going to hurt her, and she says she would have done the same thing. Did Lucy get out okay? He says, she did. In fact, he thinks she made a grand entrance at the Nurses Ball. Anna laughs and says, of course (🍷) she did. Where is his father? Do they know? He says he knows Victor escaped on the Haunted Star. So far, the location of the boat is a mystery. She asks how that’s possible, and he says he doesn’t know, but it is. She should know, the necklace isn’t the only thing he escaped with.

Watkins brings some orange juice, since he wears many hats, and Victor says he’d hoped they could play nice, but Obrecht is greeting him with threats. If she’s thinking of causing any trouble, she should know he has guards all over this ship, ready to descend at a moment’s notice. Ambrose brings Spencer in, and Victor says, welcome, my boy. Obrecht says, and then there were three, and Spencer asks, what is this? Victor says he thinks Spencer’s already met Dr. Liesl Obrecht, and Spencer asks where his brother is. Victor said he’d be here. Obrecht says, make that four, and Victor says, he’ll see his brother after breakfast. Please, both of them, come sit. They sit down, and Victor says, isn’t this nice? Before we begin, let’s raise a glass to new beginnings. He raises his glass of juice, and Spencer asks how long Victor thinks he can string them along. Victor promised him answers, and he intends to collect.

Sonny says, so Trina is also one of Victor’s hostages? and Dante says, it’s looking like that. Laura wonders, how much damage can one man do in one night? and Dante says, they’re probably as tired of hearing it as he is of saying it, but they’re doing everything they can to find them. Laura says she knows and appreciates that, but this was exactly what she was afraid of when Victor came back to Port Charles. She tried to warn Spencer, more than once. She tried to protect him. Sonny says, she still protected him. They’re going to find him and bring him home. Dante says, that’s the plan, when Laura’s phone rings. She steps away to take the call, and Sonny asks, how’s Michael and Willow? Dante says he hasn’t talked to them. He hasn’t sat down since this whole thing started. (IKR? Of all the guys to ask.) Sonny says, there’s got to be a way to find Victor and bring Liesl home, and Dante says, they still have the guy who tried to kill Lucy in custody, but he’s not talking to anyone. Sonny says, not to the cops, but maybe the guy will talk to him.

Brook says, they can totally do today, but if Michael and Willow are willing to wait until tomorrow, things might be less frantic. Willow says, they’ll do tomorrow, and Brook says, awesome. Everything is going to come together, she just knows it. Sasha says, it will be the best wedding this town has ever seen, and Brook says, well, duh. We’re the Quartermaines. Amelia cries, and Michael asks if Brook and Sasha can put her down for a nap. They take Amelia upstairs, and Willow says, be honest. Is this really what he wants? He says he want’s to be her husband. Of course (🍷) this is what he wants. Did she really think he was going to fight her on this? She says she thought he’d think she was giving up, and he says, is she? With Liesl MIA right now, he knows things are scary. He wouldn’t blame her if she felt frustrated and hopeless. She says, frustrated, yes, and angry, and afraid. But she hasn’t given up hope. She’s praying with every fiber of her being that Liesl is found, and soon. He says, they have every reason to believe she will be, right? She hasn’t even been missing a full day. Willow says, it feels like the days count more than they used to, and Michael agrees. She says, so they need to be realistic. Dr. Randolph told them that she doesn’t have much time left, and she doesn’t want to gamble with what could be her final days. She hates the words as much as he does, but ignoring them doesn’t do them any good. If this is the end, she wants it to be filled with as much joy and love as possible. And so, just like she insisted on pushing up the wedding until after the transplant, now she wants to get married right away. She asks if she’s driving him crazy, and he says, the good kind of crazy. Let’s do it. They don’t know what the future holds, and their time may be limited, but their wedding is an act of faith that they’ll have many more years together, with a family their love created. She says she likes the sound of that, and he says, so does he, and they kiss.

Dante says he can’t let Sonny talk to the perp. Besides, Sonny already took a crack at him. Sonny says he doesn’t know what Dante’s implying, and Dante asks if Sonny thinks he doesn’t know the reason the guy has Diane for an attorney. That’s the only person he’s spoken to. The only lead they have is because of Sonny. Sonny says, the Haunted Star’s untraceable; they have to find a different angle. Dante says, they will. He has people working on it; Sonny’s got feelers out there too. They’re not going to quit, and he doesn’t think Sonny should either. Sonny says he doesn’t want to be put in this position again, where someone that he loves is dying, and he can’t do a damn thing about it.

Portia says, no. This can’t be happening. She cries, and Jordan asks, when was the last time she saw or spoke to Trina? Portia says, it was at the Nurses Ball, and Portia went to her dorm afterward, but she never showed up. Jordan says, what about Curtis? and he says, same. What is going on? Jordan says, they have evidence that Victor Cassadine abducted Liesl Obrecht, along with Esme Prince’s baby. They also have reason to believe Spencer Cassadine is with them as well. Given Trina was last seen with Spencer, who they believe was taken by his great uncle… Curtis says, her theory is that somehow Trina got caught up in it. Jordan says, yeah, and he asks what her department is doing about it. Jordan says, they have a lead, but unfortunately, following it won’t be easy.

Anna says, Valentin’s father has hostages? Who? Valentin says, nothing is certain, but the police suspect he has Spencer and Baby Ace, as well as Liesl Obrecht. Anna wonders what he wants with Liesl, but Valentin says he doesn’t know. Maybe they have value has hostages, maybe they’re part of his master plan whatever that is. Maybe it’s both.

Spencer says, Victor keeps talking about new beginnings, but he still hasn’t told them where he’s going, or why. And from the way she’s glaring at Victor, he’s betting Dr. Obrecht isn’t exactly here because she wants to be. Victor says he knows this whole situation must be very disconcerting to both of them, but Spencer has always shown willingness to protect their family at any cost. He’s counting on Spencer and his brother to ensure the future prosperity of the Cassadines. Obrecht says, as disturbing as that explanation was, she supposes she can understand him kidnapping his own kin, but she certainly doesn’t care about the Cassadine legacy. He chuckles and says, this goes much further than the family legacy. When his plan comes to fruition, they’ll be ushering in a new era of humanity.

Sonny tells Dante that when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s there was a damn thing he could do about it. There was no lead he could take. It was this awful disease that was happening to them. Dante says, same thing with Stone, and Sonny says, all he could do was just stand by there and watch him slip away. And no matter how ugly it is with him and Michael, he doesn’t wish that on anyone. Dante says, the way he heard it, Sonny didn’t just stand by there and do nothing. He cared for Mike. He loved him. He made sure Mike’s last days, weeks, and months on this earth were good ones. He did the same thing with Stone. Sonny couldn’t save him – no one could – but Sonny did them a world of good. Sonny thanks him for saying that, and Dante says, it’s the truth. He can do the same thing for Michael and Willow. Sonny says he’d love to, but Michael won’t let him. Dante says he wouldn’t be so sure about that.

Michael asks if everything is good with Amelia because man, that kid needed a nap, and Brook says, clearly they have the magic touch. Now what do they have to do to get this wedding off the ground? Willow says, almost everything is planned already, but they do need to contact the vendors, and tell them that they’re moving up the date. Sasha says, on it. Send her the list. Willow says she will, thanks Sasha, and hugs her. Michael says he’ll walk her out, and they leave. Brook says, what else? And Willow asks if she’d mind… Brook says, checking on Michael? and Willow says she knows this is hard on him, so if Brook can…

Jordan says, they believe Victor left Port Charles on the Haunted Star, and Curtis asks if that ship doesn’t have a GPS tracker. Jordan says, it did, but they found it tied to a buoy in the harbor, and Portia says, so they could be anywhere. Jordan says, the coastguard is working to locate them via satellite, but so far, no luck, and Portia says, this is a living nightmare. Jordan says, they’re utilizing all resources, she promises. The goal is to bring Trina, Spencer, and whoever else is on that boat home safely. Curtis thanks her, and Jordan says, obviously, she’ll be in touch. She leaves, and Portia says, her baby girl. She must be so scared right now. Curtis says, it’s okay; he’s got her. It’ll be okay. He holds her as she cries.

Anna says she doesn’t think Valentin’s father is motivated by money, so it’s not a ransom, and he says, no. Victor could be using Liesl, Spencer, and the baby as human shields. She says she imagines Victor sees Spencer as the only family he has left, but Liesl… Does he need something from her? Remember, they don’t know what the code on the Ice Princess means; they don’t know if it leads somewhere. Valentin says, Victor has everything he needs to put his plan in motion, and he could strike at any minute. She says, oh God. How do they, or anybody… How do they stop him?

Obrecht says, once again Victor has fallen prey to his bloated sense of self-importance, but Victor says he’s merely stating a fact. Someone has to do what needs to be done. She says, and that is? and Spencer says, issuing in a new era; what does that mean? Victor says he was horrified by the damage we were doing to our planet, and Spencer says, we? Victor says, we, us, people, humanity. Their greed and short-sightedness. Carelessly consuming the resources we need to survive. Left unchecked, there will be nothing left for future generations. Once upon a time, his brother Mikkos shared these views, and they developed a technology to reverse mankind’s mistakes. Obrecht says, a device used to control the climate. Do remind them how that turned out. Victor admits allying with Mikkos was a mistake. He soon showed himself to be a mere opportunist, using their innovation for extortion. His greed was not only disgusting, it was their undoing. Obrecht says, his greed, along with Luke and Laura, and Victor says he won’t make the same mistake twice. There are other ways of accomplishing what he set out to do years ago. Spencer asks, how? and Victor says, he and Mikkos developed another set of tools to save the world; tools they could fall back on if their first plan was a failure. Obrecht says, now there’s an understatement, and Victor says, for security reasons, they placed these tools in bunkers, the location of which only Mikkos knew. He engraved a code on the Ice Princess, which when deciphered would give the coordinates of those locations. Spencer says, the Ice Princess as in the diamond, and Victor says, that is correct. Spencer says he assumes they’re headed for one of those bunkers, and Obrecht asks if that’s why he killed Luke Spencer; so he could get his hands on that diamond? Victor says, sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, and there’s plenty of people out there who agree with him. While he was working on his plan, he gathered a great number of true believers willing to give their life for the cause. Obrecht says, before this is over, how many unwilling people are going to perish? and Victor says, humanity has all but ensured its own annihilation. The only way to reverse the damage is to take extreme measures, and take them now. Spencer says, define extreme, and Victor says, for forty years after Mikkos’s folly, do they realize the population of the planet has almost doubled? Eight billion people. Think of the strain on their resources and space. There’s no way it can be sustained, but it can be fixed. Obrecht asks, how? and he says, a pathogen stored in one of his brother’s bunkers. Once released, it will reduce the population to manageable levels. Obrecht says, his plan is to release an unknown pathogen into the world? and he says, unknown? He and Mikkos cultivated it to very specific specifications (ha-ha! say that five times real fast). She says, four decades ago. Who knows how that pathogen has morphed in that time. Victor says, the survivors will usher in a new age of man, and Spencer says, to hell with all the innocent people who will die, as long as Victor’s family remains intact. Who appointed him judge, jury, and executioner? Victor says he knows it seems heartless, but to bring about true change involves sacrifice, and Spencer says, sacrifice from everybody else. Victor says, someone has to have the courage to make the hard choices, and Spencer says, there’s no way he’s going to let Victor get away with this. Victor says he’s been working toward this his whole life. Nobody is going to stop him now. Not even Spencer.

Trina Stealth Robinson sneaks around the boat, evading the guards who go into the office.

Portia tells Curtis, Victor has Trina on some ship for God knows what reason. They have no idea where they are. What if Trina is hurt? Curtis says, they’ll find them, but Portia asks, how? Her daughter needs protecting, and she’s not there to protect her. What is she supposed to do? He says he’s seen how Trina handles herself in threatening situations. She’s tough; she’s level-headed. If she’s with Victor and Spencer, she’s finding a way out of it. Portia asks if he really thinks so, and he says he knows so.

Laura sees Jordan, and says, Dante just told her that Trina might be one of Victor’s hostages? and Jordan says, it’s a theory for now, but it’s seeming more and more likely. She just broke the news to Portia and Curtis. Laura says, she must be going out of her mind, and Jordan says, not the most fun conversation she’s ever had. Laura says, they’ve got to find those kids and bring them back home. Her office is at Jordan’s disposal. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything. Jordan thanks her, and says, actually, there is something Laura can do.

Sonny says, last time he checked, Michael didn’t want anything to do with him, unless Dante knows something different. Dante says he thinks in hard times, people’s perspectives change; you reevaluate what’s important. He just thinks Michael’s feelings will change as the situation evolves. Sonny says, when Willow got leukemia, there was a moment when he thought he and Michael were going to fix things, but last time they talked, it got heated. He knows Michael doesn’t want to see him at all. Dante says, maybe not today or tomorrow, maybe not next week, but who knows? What if one day he wakes up needing his father? Sonny isn’t going to turn him away, right? Sonny says, no matter how angry he is with Michael, if Michael reached out, he’d be there, and Dante says, so do that. It will give him something to do. He tells Sonny that he’s got to go, they hug, and Sonny thanks him for the talk.

Brook goes outside, and Michael wipes his eyes. He says, she caught him having a moment, and she tells him to have as many as he needs. He says, they seem to be happening a lot more lately, and she says, but not in front of Willow. He says, she has enough on her plate. He doesn’t want to add to it. She asks if she can say something. If he thinks she’s overstepping… He says he’ll tell her, and she says, maybe it’s time he and Willow shared a plate; shared their feelings about what’s really going on. The truth is, this is happening to both of them. She loves him, and she’s here for whatever he needs. He thanks her and says he loves her too, when his phone rings. Brook says, let her go. She misses the days of rocking Bailey to sleep. She goes inside, and he looks at his phone. We see it’s a call from Sonny. He says, now is not a good time, and Sonny says, it’ll be quick. Michael doesn’t even have to respond. Just let him say his piece. Michael says he doesn’t know. He’s got to go. Sonny says, okay, and Michael says, but… I hear you.

Valentin tells Anna, one thing is certain. We won’t be doing anything. We will stay in bed and we will recover. Anna says, okay, but just because she’s in this bed, it doesn’t render her useless. He says, of course (🍷) she’s not useless. He needs her. If he’s going to bring Victor down, he needs her desperately. But he’s not going to jeopardize her health to do it. Not much scares him… He starts to cry, and says, but when he watched her… She strokes his face, and he says, when he held her in his arms, straight away, that terrified him. He doesn’t want to be without her. She cries too, and says, he won’t be. He says, so she promises him that she won’t do anything to put herself at risk? and she says, okay. She promises. He kisses her hand, and then she kisses his.

Jordan says she knows Laura’s been working to take down Victor ever since he returned to Port Charles. She’s made allusions in the past, and Robert and Felicia confirmed it yesterday. Laura says she has a long history with the Cassadines. They’ve terrorized her and her family countless times, countless ways. No more. Jordan says she’s not blaming Laura, but Laura’s kept her out of the loop for way too long. She wants in. Their best chance of taking down Victor is working together; all of them.

Portia says her mind keeps going to all the scariest places, but Curtis says, she has to try not to let it. She says, they both know the Cassadines, how vindictive and evil and lethal they are, and he says, Jordan has the entire PCPD on their tail. She says, what if they’re not on time? but he says, Trina is coming home, even if he has to bring her home himself.

Trina peeks into the office, but the guards are still hanging around. She says, come on, Spencer. Where’s the diversion?

Victor says, come on, Spencer, think about it. This is the only way he and his brother will have a world to grow up in. Spencer says, assuming they don’t fall victim to the pathogen’s effects, and he says, that is where the lovely Dr. Obrecht comes in. Her expertise will assure his heirs are properly inoculated. He puts his hands on Obrecht’s shoulders, and she says, thus ensuring his precious legacy. If he thinks she’s going to help him, he’s truly lost his verstand (mind). He says he does love it when she talks German, but if she doesn’t comply with his wishes, he guarantees the consequences will be dire. Spencer jumps up, gets Obrecht in a headlock, pulling her from her chair, and holds a knife to her throat.

So… Victor is a secret unhinged environmentalist?

Tomorrow, Brook tells someone that she has a critical mission for them, and they have to accept it; Sam asks why Alexis can’t just let this go; Curtis tells Jordan that they won’t see him coming; Portia says, help is on the way; and Spencer tells Victor, no Obrecht, no plan.

🩰 That Explains It…

Eagle-eyed viewers? The only way to miss her would have been if you were in the bathroom or making a sandwich in the kitchen. In other words, not in the room.

💃🏾 In Case You Missed It…

Welcome to the Nurses Ball… again.

👧🏼 Revolving Charlottes…

All about this week’s Charlotte. IMO she was kind of bland.

🐇 In Their Easter Bonnets…

I’m glad some of them remembered what the holiday is about.

🔎 He’s Been the Good, He’s Been the Bad…

Here’s one for eagle-eyed viewers. I don’t know if I would have recognized him.

🍸 The Smell of Victory…

Ariana gets to dance, and Raquel has to pack her model walk and go. It’s a good week in VanderLand.

👹 Now That’s Scary…

I guess there’s been weirder casting. Maybe.

https://people.com/tv/kim-kardashian-joins-new-season-of-american-horror-story-with-emma-roberts/

🏀 Following the Bouncing Ball…

Punch in again tomorrow for soap, random leaves of tea, words that speak to you, and music befitting the occasion. Until then, stay safe, stay not waiting until the last minute to do your taxes… next year, and stay reevaluating what’s important before hard times force you to change your perspective.

February 16, 2023 – Ryan’s Road Trip Officially Starts, Tough Homecoming, I Know Him, Returning Quintet, Worse Than Teresa, Salty Ink, Raquel & Lean

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Maggie tells Dante the pub is closed, and she’s on her way home, but he asks to speak to her a minute. She says, they already talked, and she doesn’t know what more he needs from her. He says he’s looking to get some answers about Esme Prince.

Seeing the guard with the knife sticking out of his back, Esme screams, and Heather puts her hand over Esme’s mouth. Heather says, it’s going to be all right. Trust her.

Ava comes in the door to Windymere, and gets a text from Austin: Ready when you are. She flashes back to locking Nikolas’s body in the tack closet, and turning around to see Austin. She texts back: It’s time.

Sonny tells Nina that the reception seemed a little tense at the end. Portia seemed nervous about Trina. Nina says, any complication Portia and Trina have can’t hold a candle to her and Willow’s. Willow doesn’t want her at the hospital. Sonny gets a call from Brick, and Nina says, business?

Terry says she was impressed that Elizabeth stepped in for Trina, and Drew says, at least Trina made it back for the bouquet, so it all worked out.

Elizabeth asks if everything is okay with Trina, and Portia says she’s sure Trina is just tired. She thanks Elizabeth and Finn for coming, and Elizabeth for her beautiful speech. Honestly, I either missed something big there or they’re wowed easily. Portia tells Curtis that she’s going to check on Trina.

Portia tells Trina that she has the bouquet, but don’t get any ideas, and Trina just looks at her. Portia asks if she’s okay.

Maggie says she told Dante before, she doesn’t know any Esme Prince. He says, Esme needs her help. She’s in prison, and she’s pregnant. Maggie says she can’t help him. Please leave. He says he traveled a long way. He can’t leave until he gets some answers. She tells him, have a seat then, and they go inside. She says she’s grabbing a pint, and asks if he’d like stout or ale. He tells her, stout, and sits down. She picks up a cricket bat from under the bar. She comes up behind Dante, raising the bat, but he jumps up and stops her, taking it. She tries to run out, but Sam is at the door, and says, Maggie Fitzgerald. They need to talk.

Sonny steps away to take the call, when Josslyn comes back in. She tells Drew that she was looking for Trina and Spencer, but doesn’t see them. She’s here by herself. He says he’s flying solo too, and she says, they both know he shouldn’t be.

At the MetroCourt restaurant, Mac tells Felicia that he has to cut their date night short. Things are busy at work. She tells him not to apologize; she doesn’t need grand romantic gestures. He says he loves her very much, and she says she loves him too, and they kiss. He says, she’s been pretty busy herself. He’s not too preoccupied to notice she’s been slipping out for hours at night on secret missions. Something to do with Anna? She says, if her missions are so secret, he knows she can’t give him the details, and he says, understood. Just be careful. She says, always, and asks, what about The Hook investigation? but he says, so far only dead ends. They’d hoped Heather would make good on her promise to get Ryan to open up. It was a long shot, but Heather was stalling. Her time’s up. She’s going back to D’Archam.

Ryan says, first, they have to dispose of this body, so he needs another hand (BA-DUM-CHH!). Heather struggles to keep Esme quiet, and tells him, they’ll need his clothes. Go ahead and strip.

Ava let’s Austin in, and says, shall we? but he says, nope, not yet. She says, he’s the one who insisted on moving Nikolas at night; it’s dark and rainy. No more putting this off. It’s time she rids herself of her husband for good, and bury the past.

Curtis asks if everything is all right, and Portia says, they’re fine. He tells Trina that her mother was concerned when she missed the toast. Where’d she go? Was Spencer with her? Trina says, she and Spencer were together, but this has nothing to do with him. It has everything to do with Portia. Portia says she doesn’t know what’s happening here, but Trina missed everything, and Trina says, Portia’s been hiding something important from her. Curtis suggests they take this down a notch. He’s sure it’s just a misunderstanding. Portia thinks they should take it elsewhere, but Trina says, Portia knows it doesn’t just have to do with her. Taggert tells Trina, this is no way to talk to her mother, but Trina says, he doesn’t know what’s going on. Portia tells Taggert that she’s fine, and asks Trina to come figure this out. She reaches out, but Trina steps back, and says, fine. Let’s go. Curtis says he’ll come with them, but Portia says, this might be a mother/daughter situation. She’ll talk to Trina alone. He says, she’s got this, and she follows Trina out.

Austin says he wants to make sure they have their heads on straight, since there’s no margin for error, and Ava says she knows that. They have to move Nikolas before Elizabeth’s guilty conscience brings the cops here. He says, Ava seems a little overwhelmed, and she says, maybe that’s because she’s just been to a wedding when her husband’s dead body is lying in the stables because of her. She had to face his mother, his son, and this whole town, and pretend to be fine. She’s not fine. She didn’t want her marriage to end in vengeance and death. She loved her husband. Austin says he’s sure she did; this is a horrible situation. Ava says, it is what it is. There’s only one thing to do now. He says, maybe not tonight when she’s all worked up, but she says she’s Ava Jerome. She knows how to handle herself in situations like this. The only reason she needs his help is because burying a body in Pine Barrens is a two-man job. She asks if he’s backing out, but he says he’s all in. He’s asking an honest question for two reasons. He doesn’t want larger emotions to kick in when they’re in the thick of things; he doesn’t want to get caught. The second reason is, he’s concerned and curious. Is she actually all right? She says, no, she’s not, and she doesn’t know if she ever will be again.

Finn says, Terry and Yuri were really tearing it up out there, and Yuri says he was a dancer in Belarus. Terry asks why Elizabeth wasn’t out there, and Elizabeth says she wasn’t up for it. Finn says, she kept him company on the sidelines, and Terry tells Yuri that she’d love a glass of water. Elizabeth says, the same actually, and Finn and Yuri go to the bar. Terry says, Finn and Elizabeth seem on better terms, and Elizabeth says, it was awkward after the break-up, but they’re committed to being friends for Violet’s sake. Terry says she’s seen the looks they’ve been giving. Maybe their feelings for each other aren’t completely gone.

On the phone, Sonny tells Brick, all he knows is how big the shipment is, and when it’s going to be delivered. He just needs Brick to work his contacts for security. He needs to know who’s buying what Pikeman is selling, especially without official record… Whatever he can find out. The sooner the better. He thanks Brick.

Mac tells Felicia that he should be heading to Spring Ridge, and make sure the transport is ready for Heather in the morning. She says she’s not thrilled about him being involved with another prison transport, but he says he has to make sure it goes off without a hitch. Most of them do, but since she got free on the last one, he can’t be too careful. He may be late; don’t wait up. She says, since things weren’t successful, where does that leave things with Ryan? and Mac says, he’s not giving up. He knows in his gut Ryan is involved in this. How the hell does his victim’s earring end up on Rory Cabrera; that’s not a coincidence. Felicia agrees, and says she thinks she has a way to get Ryan to give them some answers. Let her talk to him.

Heather continues to struggle with Esme, telling her to calm down; it’s bad for the baby. Esme almost slips Heather’s grip, but Heather grabs her back. She says she knows Esme is scared, but she has to do what Ryan says. He’s a dangerous lunatic, but Heather is going to take care of her, she promises. Just do what Ryan says, and they’ll be okay. Ryan comes back, and says, they don’t have much time before the guards realize they aren’t in their rooms. They’ve got to move. He looks at Esme, and says he wishes she could remember who she really is. Not some pathetic, trembling creature. You’re tough, you’re tenacious, you’re a genius. And you’re my daughter. Esme screams, nooo! and he says, they’ve got to go. Heather says, road trip’s started, and Ryan says, ladies first. Heather leads Esme away. He looks through the window into his cell, where the guard’s body sits in his chair, and follows.

Maggie says, don’t hurt her, but Sam says, they don’t want to hurt her. They just want to talk. She tells Dante, according to the woman at the B&B, this is Maggie. Dante asks why she lied to them, and Sam asks what she’s afraid of. Dante says, or is it who? Sam introduces herself, and says she’s a private investigator; and Dante introduces himself, showing Maggie his PCPD badge. Maggie says, forgive her. No one’s talked to her about Esme since she’s been here. Now they come up with that cockamamie story about her being pregnant and in prison. Dante says, it’s not a story; she’s pregnant and in prison. Maggie asks, what happened? Did her father lead her into trouble? Dante says, that’s complicated, but she’s been accused of some pretty serious crimes, that she didn’t commit, and unfortunately some that she did. Sam says, she had a pretty horrible accident, and lost her memory, andDante asks if Maggie and Esme have a close relationship. Maggie says, they did, and he says, she might be the only person who could exonerate Esme. Will she help them?

Mac says, absolutely not. He’s not subjecting Felicia to Ryan Chamberlain. She says, he asked Ava, but he says, Ava’s different. She says, because she’s not your wife? and he says, maybe. When he and Doc approached Ava, they wanted information on Esme; they didn’t suspect Chamberlain’s involvement. This is too dangerous. He may not be physically attacking his victims, but signs point to his involvement. He doesn’t want her in Ryan’s crosshairs. He couldn’t live with himself if something happened to her. They’ll get Ryan another way. She says she understands. She hopes he’s not too late coming back from Spring Ridge. It’s still Valentine’s Day after all. He says, all the more reason to get a move on, kisses her, and leaves. She makes a call, and leaves a messages for Anna, saying, she might be late getting to the house. There’s a stop she has to make.

Marshall says, whatever is going on, Trina and Portia will sort it out, and Taggert says, when Trina got back, something was definitely off. He knows his daughter. Curtis says he’s going to get answers, and heads in Spencer’s direction. Spencer sends Trina a text, asking if she’s okay, and looks up to see Curtis, Marshall, and Taggert. Curtis asks where he was with Trina, and what it has to do with her being mad at her mom.

In Portia’s room, she asks what all this is about, and Trina says, she went to see Stella. She was going to convince Stella to come to the wedding if she felt up to it. But it turns out, Stella wasn’t sick; she just didn’t want to be there. Judging by the look on Portia’s face, she knew that already. Portia says she suspected, and Trina says, she didn’t understand. Stella was so excited about the wedding, she flew back from England early. Then she missed the wedding. When Trina asked her, she said she couldn’t come in good conscience; that there’s something Portia is keeping from her and Curtis. When she pushed Stella, she said Trina had to ask Portia. So she’s asking the mom she’s looked up to her entire life, what is Portia keeping from her?

Ava tells Austin, the one thing that scares her to her core is the thought of losing her child. She can’t live through that again. She doesn’t know how she did the first time. So when Nikolas threatened to take Avery, she panicked. She couldn’t let him leave, and wanted to stop him. She didn’t want to kill him. She has a job to do before Elizabeth goes to the cops, because she will not be separated from her child. He says, let’s go do what we have to do, when the doorbell rings. Ava says she’ll get rid of whoever it is, and meet him in the stables. He leaves, and she opens the door to find Felicia on the porch.

Mac is driving, and sees something up ahead. He says, what the…?

Felicia apologizes for just stopping by and asks Ava if she can come in. Ava says, it’s not a good time, but Felicia says, it’s about Ryan Chamberlain.

Mac stops the car and gets out. Heather is walking with Esme in the road, and he asks if they need help. They turn around, and Mac is like, whaat?

Sonny comes back to the table, and Nina says she saw his face when Brick called. It was enough to make her concerned. He says he can handle himself, but she says, promise her that he’ll be extra careful. He says he promises.

Elizabeth tells Terry that Finn’s always been there for her, and she’s grateful that hasn’t changed. A part of her will always love him. Terry says, they’ve been through enough to test anyone, but the fact they can still remain friends… Maybe they’ll find their way back to each other? Elizabeth doesn’t think that’s in the cards, but wishes things could be different.

Yuri asks Finn why he and Elizabeth are no longer, and Finn says, things just got complicated. Yuri says, life is complicated. Love is not… with the right person. Finn says, if only that were true, and looks at Elizabeth.

Spencer says, Curtis will have to talk to Trina, but Taggert says, Trina’s not here; Spencer is. Spencer says, it’s really not his place, and Marshall says, there’s a time and a place for chivalry; this ain’t it. Curtis says, start talking, and Spencer says, he and Trina went to see Stella. Curtis asks, why?

Trina says, after she found out about Portia’s affair, they promised to be open. She’d thought it was a turning point. Portia says, it was. She felt awful that Trina didn’t trust her, and thought they worked through that. Trina asks, then why won’t Portia tell her what Stella’s talking about? Is it really bad? They sit on the bed, and Portia says, she told Trina that her dad’s work put a strain on their marriage, and how lonely and depressed she was, always feeling like she came in second to his job. That’s when Curtis came into her life. Trina says, Stella implied that Portia and Curtis’s relationship had something to do with what Portia’s keeping from her. Did something else happen? Portia says, Curtis found out she was married, and ended things. She was heartbroken, but went back to Trina’s father. She was determined to make things work. Trina asks if Portia stopped loving Taggert, and Portia says she just wanted to be a priority to him. She thinks he sensed she was struggling, because he started to put more of an effort into their marriage, and she felt like everything was going to work out. Weeks later, she found out she was pregnant. Trina gets up and says, oh my God, and Portia says, Trina doesn’t understand, but Trina says she does understand. Portia had an affair, and got pregnant. Is Portia saying Curtis is her father?

Maggie says she stopped being Esme’s nanny, but never stopped caring about her, and Sam wonders why Maggie thought they were setting a trap for her. Maggie says she hasn’t heard from Esme in some time, and when they turned up asking questions, she assumed the worst. She was afraid Esme’s father had taken her, and sent them to make sure she never said a word about him. Ever since Esme tracked him down, she’s been living in fear of him finding her. Sam says, she knows who Esme’s father is? and Dante says, they’d like to talk to him. He could be the key to proving Esme didn’t commit these crimes. Maggie asks what Esme is being accused of, and Sam says, there’s a serial killer terrorizing Port Charles, but Maggie says, it can’t be Esme. Dante says, that’s what they’re trying to prove, so if she could just tell them his name…

Heather says, thank God Mac found them, and Mac draws his gun, saying, on your knees, hands in the air. Esme begs him to help her, and he says, hands in the air where he can see them. Heather says, Mac doesn’t understand. He made them do this. Mac is about to make a call, when Ryan hits him with a crowbar, and he falls to the ground. Esme says, no, and Ryan says, now that felt good. Hello, Mac. What a delight to find you here. Esme cries.

Ava says, Felicia has her attention, and Felicia says, Ava was working with the PCPD to get information on Ryan about Esme. Is she interested in doing that again? Ava says, no, but Felicia says, the PCPD has reason to believe Ryan is involved with The Hook murders. An earring from one of Ryan’s victims was found on Rory Cabrera’s person, like a calling card. Ava asks how it would be possible for Ryan to attack her; he’s a vegetable. Felicia says, chances are, Ryan is the mastermind and using someone else to do the footwork. She and Ava know where his weak spots are, and can get him to give them something that might point to his accomplice. If they work together, they can get to him.

Heather pushes Esme into the backseat of Mac’s car, and Esme begs, please. She wants to go home. Heather says, it will be all right, and Esme asks, what’s happening? Heather gets in the driver’s seat, and blows the horn. Ryan stands over Mac with the crowbar, and says he has to make sure Mac can’t follow him, but Heather says, they’re stealing his car. She thinks they’re okay. Ryan says, it’s like kismet, him coming along, when an alarm goes off. Heather says, Spring Ridge knows they’re not in their rooms. Any minute, they’re going to find the guard, and find them. Move it. He says, all right, throws down the crowbar, and says, it’s no fun if you can’t see the life leave their eyes anyway. The alarm continues, and Heather says, let’s get this road trip started. Ryan says, after one more stop, and gets in.

Spencer says, Trina felt Stella should be at the wedding, and Curtis says, his Aunt Stella is sick. Spencer says, Trina thought she could convince Stella if she felt up to it, but they found out Stella was never sick. She just said that to get out of coming to the wedding. Curtis asks why she’d do that, but Spencer says he doesn’t know. Curtis says, Spencer is starting to work his nerves, but Spencer says, Curtis has to talk to Trina. This concerns very personal family information, to which he is not privy, so if they’ll excuse him… He leaves, and Curtis calls Stella, but she doesn’t pick up. Marshall says, Stella is avoiding Curtis’s calls? None of this makes any sense. Why would Stella lie to avoid Curtis’s wedding? Taggert thinks Portia and Trina have been gone long enough.

Trina tells Portia to be honest with her. Is Curtis her father? Portia says she’s sorry. She doesn’t know. Trina says, but he could be… He might be. Portia says, yes, and Trina starts to cry. Portia says, Trina’s dad had come home from work, and she’d just taken a pregnancy test. He was so happy and excited, and she was thrilled. Instantly, Trina was their whole world, and it was like a new beginning for them; a new family, and that’s all she ever really wanted. And Curtis was out of her life by his choice. She was back with her husband, and things were so much better. In their hearts, Trina was their child, and at the time, she didn’t see the point in finding out who was her biological father. Trina says, she’s a doctor. She didn’t see the point? Portia let her live her whole life as a lie. Portia says, no. Taggert is her father in every way; DNA doesn’t change that. Trina asks if her dad knows, but Portia says she never told him or Curtis. Trina says, Portia kept this to herself when this huge secret effects all of their lives. This is her identity, and Portia had no right to keep it from her. Portia says she didn’t want to upset Trina or her life. Maybe she was fooling herself, thinking this day would never come, but there’s still every chance Taggert is her father. True, she wanted to spare Trina the pain… Trina says, no. Portia wanted to spare herself. Portia says she’s sorry she kept this from Trina. She’s sorry about it all. She knows this is turning Trina’s life upside down, but she and Trina’s father love her so much. And every choice she’s made from the second she knew she was pregnant with Trina has been for Trina. Trina asks, how she can believe anything Portia says? How can Portia say she loves her, when Portia’s kept this from her for her entire life?

Nina meets Sonny at the elevator, and he asks if she changed her mind about going to GH. She says she doesn’t think her heart can take it, and asks if they can just go home. He says he’d do anything for her, and she says, that’s what gets her through all of this.

Terry and Yuri leave, and Finn guesses it’s time to call it a night. Elizabeth probably wants to get home to the boys. She says, all that’s waiting for her is an empty home; Jake and Aiden are with friends, and Cameron’s at his dorm. Finn suggests they go for a cup of coffee, and Elizabeth says, that sounds really nice.

Josslyn asks Spencer, what happened with him and Trina? She saw them leave, and when they came back, Trina seemed upset. Did he do something? He says, this time, he can guarantee he had nothing to do with it. She asks if Trina’s okay, but he says he has absolutely no idea.

Portia says she knows Trina can’t comprehend this right now, but at the time, she thought she was doing the best thing for all of them. Trina says, Portia was doing what was best for herself. Not for her, or her dad, or even Curtis. She thought it was bad enough Portia cheated on her dad – the man who will always be her dad, but may not be her father. It kills her that Portia hurt him again. She can’t do this. She has to get out of here. Portia tries to stop her, but Trina says she can’t even look at Portia right now. She doesn’t know who she is right now, and sure as hell doesn’t know who Portia is. She opens the door, and Curtis and Taggert are there. Soap looks all around.

Maggie tells Dante and Sam, her father is the devil incarnate. She tried to warn Esme. She told Esme that she’d be far better off without him, but she was always desperate to know her parents. Dante asks, who is he? They need a name. Sam says, please. They might be able to save her. Maggie says, his name is Chamberlain. Ryan Chamberlain.

Ava tells Felicia that she’s in, and Felicia says, she won’t regret it. Ava says, if Ryan is behind her attack, it will be her pleasure to take him down, but she can’t do it tonight. She has other priorities. Felicia says, so does she, and Ava walks her to the door. Ava says, they’ll talk about the details tomorrow, and Felicia tells her, have a good evening. Ava opens the door, and Ryan is there.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, Portia is actually justifying her lie; Anna says, they wait to hear from Valentin’s contact, then make their next move; and Ryan says, two for the price of one.

🏥 Sad Return…

Magic Milo comes back for Sonja Eddy’s tribute episode.

🤔 Big Duh To Me…

I thought I knew him from somewhere. He was Jeffrey on The Haves and The Have Nots. I guess I didn’t recognize him without all the angst.

🔙 Five Reappearing…

Throwing a bone to the Y&R fans.

🍹 Check Your Sources…

Highly doubtful Caroline A) drank four shots of tequila, and B) kissed back. The common denominator seems to be that Brandi thinks everyone wants her, and I demand a recount about Denise. Anyone who would slap LVP is capable of anything.

🧂 Prison Prep…

As one does before arriving at one’s cellblock.

That’s a big-ass tattoo.

👠 Celebrating Her Life…

What’s funny is, even though she’s been around my whole life, I haven’t seen many of her movies. I’ve always been a fan of Kansas City Bomber, but I might be the only one.

https://people.com/movies/raquel-welch-dead-life-in-photos/

⛺️ Singing Around the Campfire…

If you come back tomorrow, I promise you soap, a spot of tea, a blob of wisdom, and a splash of music to send you off to whatever the next few days hold for you. Until then, stay safe, stay paying attention to those otherwise invisible, and stay not taking any road trips with the devil incarnate.