Tag Archives: Fear the Walking Dead

June 23, 2023 – Judge Kim Overrides Drew’s Sentence, Sketchy, Memorable, VanderFilming, Ranks On Deck, Next Fear, Back In, Other Gigs, Shark Boss, Super Rescue, Twice Three Quotes & Out

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Judge Kim sentences Drew to three years, and Carly jumps up, saying, no! You can’t do that.

Ned says, Deanna seems like a really nice person. Trust him. He doesn’t belong here. He feels fantastic. Ask the shrink. Deanna says she just needs to check his vitals, and she’ll be out of his hair, calling him Mr. Quartermaine. He says, Eddie. It’s Eddie Maine.

Doc goes over to the waiting area, and Olivia asks if she’s getting her husband back. Brook asks if her dad is going to be okay, and Doc says, those are all valid questions. He’s afraid he doesn’t know how to say this… Brook says, no. Her father really believes he’s Eddie Maine? Doc says, he doesn’t just believe it. He is Eddie Maine.

Tracy says, so Brook’s solution to rid her son of his delusions is to lean into them? and Alexis tells her, she’s simply saying, if Tracy would let Ned try to work this out on his own, in his own time without constant opposition from her – Gregory comes down the hall and ducks behind the corner, listening – it might help him get better a little faster. Tracy asks when Alexis got her therapist certification. Did they hand it out with her last sobriety chip? Alexis says, you’re impossible, and Tracy says, you’re an idiot. Alexis says, charming, and Tracy says, and by the way, you’d think Alexis’s twelve steps would teach her not to impose her neuroses on Tracy’s son. Gregory comes out, and tells Tracy, he was too much of a gentleman to say it last time, but back the hell off.

Lucy tells Sasha that she wants to apologize for bringing up all that Cody stuff earlier. She was bad, and promises to never do it again. Sasha thanks her, and Lucy says, except it would be great if… Sasha says, Lucy… and Lucy says, Cody could be just snapped up like that by somebody else. Sasha says, don’t be greedy; she has a guy. Lucy says she does, and she wouldn’t trade Marty for anything. At the beginning, it’s kind of delicious, when you’re wondering, not knowing… Sasha says she always found it torturous, but Lucy says, not her. Even as a little girl, she’d get a daisy and do that old petal pluck thing. He loves me, he loves me not… Martin shows up with a bouquet of daisies, and says, he definitely loves you, kissing her.

At The Savoy, Sonny says, nothing’s too good for the woman he’s going to marry, and he and Nina clink champagne glasses. She says, he’s making her blush; no easy task. He tells her, get used to it, when Dex walks in with Josslyn. They come over to Sonny’s table, and Dex says, it looks like they had the same idea. Josslyn asks if Sonny knows how it’s going for Drew and her mom.

Judge Kim says, one more outburst and he’ll have Carly removed, and Carly says she’s sorry, but there must be some kind of mistake. There was a deal on the table. They agreed six months in Spring Ridge, not three years. The judge says, there was a deal in place, however, sentencing is up to the court; not just duration, but location. Due to the gravity of the charges, the court has decided Andrew Cain will serve out those three years in Pentenville Penitentiary.

Tracy says, Gregory has a habit of sticking his nose in other people’s conversations, and Alexis thanks him, but says she doesn’t need defending from Tracy. She’s had years of practice. She sees Gregory has had some experience with her too. Gregory says, they just met the other day, when she was berating his son Chase, and Tracy asks if he means when she was reminding Chase of everything her granddaughter did to get him reinstated as a cop. And they’re back together, so you’re welcome. Feel free to apologize any time. He says he was hoping to clear the air when he saw her again, but after seeing how she treated his friend here, he thinks she’s entitled to something else from him. Tracy asks what that would be, and he says, a lesson in etiquette. He’d be happy to teach her free of charge. Alexis smiles.

Brook says, it’s only temporary, right? Her dad will be her dad again. Olivia says, of course (🍷) he will. He’ll be back to being impossible and lovable as ever… Right? Doc says he wishes he could tell them everything will be back to normal in no time, but he can’t. As she knows, Dr. Ashford ordered a battery of neurological tests, and the team has gone over the results. They’re dealing with a traumatic brain injury. But the neurological indicators and the behavior of the patient himself would indicate something else, something more than a simple case of memory loss. Olivia asks him to break it down, and Doc says, for everything they’ve learned about the human brain, it’s still a mystery. For some reason, Ned’s brain has superimposed over the thoughts and feelings of Ned Quartermaine, with the thoughts and feelings of…

Ned tells Deanna, Eddie Maine. M-A-I-N-E, like the state. He’s telling her, there’s nothing wrong with him – Deanna reaches into her pocket for a syringe – that some fresh air and a room of his own won’t cure. So please, get him out of here. She says, of course (🍷) she will, and injects him. He asks what she gave him, and immediately conks out.

Lucy asks how Martin knew she was thinking about daisies, and he says, it’s a lucky coincidence. He’s using her favorite flower to apologize for being so incredibly busy lately. After today, he promises his clients are going to be breathing a whole lot easier, and he can spend time on them. She says, he is a winner. He’s definitely the best lawyer in town. He says, it’s not his client’s case, but they definitely have a stake in the outcome, and Sasha asks who they are; anyone she knows? Martin flashes back to telling Nina that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure no one knows it was her who tipped off the SEC about Drew and Carly, and tells Sasha that he’s sorry. Attorney/client privilege, and he’s already said too much. What are they up to? Lucy says, Deception and more Deception, but specifically, The Deceptor. Sasha says, sales are through the roof. It seems their clients really appreciate a product that does what it promises to do. Lucy agrees, and says, she promises The Deceptor is going to change the lives of women, men, and human beings everywhere, especially the three humans sitting at this table. And to think she owes it all to him.

Sonny says he hasn’t heard anything from the courthouse, and Josslyn says she’s just glad her mom isn’t facing prison time, thanks to Drew. Nina says, it was very noble of Drew, and Josslyn says, some people know how to put aside their needs for the sake of others. Sonny asks if he can talk to Josslyn a second, and she says, sure. They step away, and Dex sits down. Nina says, they really haven’t had a chance to get to know each other. Now that she and Sonny are… Why don’t they start at the beginning. Please call her Nina. Despite what he might have heard about her, they want the same thing.

Carly asks why the judge would sentence Drew to Pentenville. He hasn’t committed a violent crime; he hasn’t committed a crime at all. This is one big mistake. Judge Kim tells Carly, sit down before I knock you down he holds her in contempt, and Drew asks her to sit. She does, and Zeke says, Miss Spencer may be out of order, but the point she made is valid. His client has admitted to insider trading. He’s taken responsibility for his actions, and the US Attorney has agreed to sentence him to a minimum-security facility; standard practice for a non-violent crime. Judge Kim says, standard practice is subject to circumstance and interpretation by the presiding judge. Zeke says, Mr. Cain is not a common criminal. He’s a respected member of the community. He’s a decorated Navy SEAL. Recently, he even worked with the government to save hostages taken by Victor Cassadine. Are all these things just going to be ignored and forgotten? The judge says, on the contrary. It’s actually because of all those things that he can’t look the other way. There aren’t two sets of laws in this community. One for the privileged – yes, that includes heroes – and one for the rest. No one is above the law. That’s why he’s having Mr. Cain taken from this courthouse and remanded to Pentenville immediately.

Zeke asks the judge to give Mr. Cain time to get his affairs in order. Mr. Cain has a family, including a young daughter, in addition to all the people at his business, Aurora Media, who depend on him. He’s not a flight risk. The SEC lawyer says, the government has no objection to counsel’s request, and Zeke says he agrees with the judge; no one is above the law. The days of privilege superseding accountability are rightly numbered. With that being said, he also believes justice without mercy is hollow and meaningless. Wouldn’t Judge Kim agree?

Martin says, Lucy is giving him way too much credit. The Deceptor is 100% her baby. The credit is 100% hers. Sasha says, Lucy just walked into the office that morning and started spinning this new idea. Could Martin have had something to do with it? Martin says he didn’t, but Lucy says, he did. Stop it. She loves the fact they did this together. Sasha says she wants details, and Lucy says, as she probably knows, every good story begins in bed. Isn’t that right, my magic man?

Tracy says, if anyone needs an etiquette class, it’s Gregory. Maybe he could get his other son to give him lessons, because Finn knows how to… Alexis says, all right. That’s enough. Take a breath. Everyone to their neutral corner. Tracy says she’ll leave Alexis to her friend, because she has real issues to deal with; her son and her family. Real issues that need real compassion. Something Gregory wouldn’t understand. Gregory says he understands a lot more than Tracy thinks. Do them both a favor and stay away from Chase. Tracy says, if he’s as smart as his son – and she means Finn, not the other one – he will stay the hell away from her. She walks off, and Gregory asks Alexis, friend of hers?

Brook says, her father’s brain wants him to be Eddie Maine? and Chase says he doesn’t understand. Ned has everything a man could want; a lobing family, a successful job, standing in the community. Why would he want to give up all that just to relive his glory days? Olivia says, this is all her fault, and Tracy joins them. Olivia says, if she’d just believed Ned about turning in Carly and Drew to the SEC. If she’d only believed him sooner… Tracy says, please. Leave it to Olivia to make this all about herself. Brook tells Olivia not to listen to her. She’s just as scared as the rest of them, but granny’s fear comes out as mean. Tracy says, scared? Her? What Ned needs is a cold splash of water and a good talking to. Olivia says, that is the last thing he needs right now, and Doc says he understands emotions are running high, but turning on each other won’t help anything. Brook says, no wonder dad wants to be Eddie Maine. Can they blame him for wanting a break from this family? She leaves, and Chase follows her.

Brook and Chase go into Ned’s room, and Brook asks if he’s okay. Deanna says she had to give him a sedative to calm him down. Deanna leaves, and Brook says, poor daddy. This whole thing started when they thought he blew the whistle on Carly and Drew. If someone else is to blame, why won’t they come forward?

Nina says she and Dex both care about Sonny. And don’t tell her it’s just a job when Dex took a bullet for him. Thank you for that, by the way. He says, boss dies, he loses his health plan, and Nina says, Dex likes him, she loves him. That makes them both Team Sonny. Now that she and Sonny are getting married, she hopes he keeps an open mind, despite what others say about her. He says, by others she means Josslyn? and she says, all she’s asking is that he reserve judgement until he realizes she wants to keep Sonny safe and happy even more than he does. He says, and she wants him to convince Joss to give her a chance.

Sonny says he’s surprised Josslyn and Dex are still together, and she asks, why? He says, she came to his office and wanted him to fire Dex. She didn’t like Dex working for him. She says, Sonny told her it was up to Dex to ask him that, and Sonny says, it was, but Dex wants to stay in the organization. He wants more than a paycheck; he wants to belong. Dex made peace with him. How about her?

Judge Kim says he’s granting Mr. Cain one week to get his affairs in order. However, he must surrender his passport and remain within the city limits of Port Charles until he turns himself in to the authorities for transport to Pentenville. Zeke thanks the judge, and Judge Kim says, should Zeke’s client not appear, he will be treated as a fugitive, and those three years in Pentenville will seem like a long weekend. This hearing is adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Zeke gives over Drew’s passport, and Carly hugs Drew.

Carly asks, what happened? It was supposed to be six months in Spring Ridge. Zeke says, this isn’t over. He knows with Drew’s skill set, it’s tempting to disappear, but Drew says, when he gives his word, he keeps it. Zeke leaves, and Drew says he’s going to be around here for a while, so why doesn’t Michael take his mother… Carly says she’s not leaving, but Drew says, it’s going to be a while. She says, they have seven days, and hugs him. Michael says, whatever Drew needs. If there are any resources he can provide, he’s here. Just like Drew has been for him and Willow. Michael leaves, and Carly and Drew hug some more.

Lucy says she remembers there was a half-moon shining through the window, and she was lying in Marty’s arms. It was almost like the moon was winking at her; like it knew something. She remembers thinking, this is so yummy, and maybe a little sad because they missed out on time together when they were apart. She wished they could just stop the clock. It was so interesting. All of a sudden, she guesses Martin heard her because he was awake. He said, what if there was a formula or product that could just stop time? Martin says, for heaven’s sake. He was just thinking out loud. She says, he’s being modest again. He was buzzing with so many ideas, and she fell asleep with all that going on in her head. Sasha says, and then? and Lucy says, and then, that’s the best part. Because when she woke up, she knew it wasn’t a dream. It was a product that could actually conquer time, or at least delay it. That was when The Deceptor was born, and Marty was her magic muse. Sasha says, wow, but Martin tells her, don’t dare believe what Lucy is telling her. He swears it was Lucy Coe who took a raw idea, a concept, and perfected it. She’s the one. She made it her own. She’s one sexy genius. He kisses Lucy, and she says, and he’s a handsome, sexy, gallant muse. Sasha says, all this story needs is a fairytale ending. How about it? When are they getting married? They both look at her and say, never.

Gregory says, Finn warned him that Tracy can be quite the dragon, but as Alexis can see, Tracy barely laid a claw on him. She asks if he’s okay. What Tracy said about him not dealing with any real issues was awful. She has a heart of stone, but even she wouldn’t have said that if she actually knew… He says, there’s no reason Tracy should know anything about him. But what he doesn’t understand is why Tracy came down so hard on Alexis. There’s obviously history there. What did Alexis do to her? (I literally lol.) Alexis says, it’s what Tracy did to her. Did he ever hear the expression, first hurt, then hate? That’s Tracy to a T. That’s her M.O. He says, go on. How did Tracy hurt her?

Tracy says she’s going to see her son, but Olivia says, no, she is not. Now sit down and shut up. Tracy says she’s his mother, and Olivia says she’s his wife. What he needs is love and understanding right now; the kind he can get from his daughter, not some horrendous, bitchy monologue from Tracy. Doc says he thinks they may have just gotten a window into why Ned might prefer to be Eddie Maine, and Olivia says, to get away from his mother? Tracy says, or his marriage? Doc says, let’s not look at it as an escape, but rather a journey to find his true self. Tracy rolls her eyes.

Brook says, he looks so peaceful, like all his problems are a things of the past, when Ned grabs her wrist. He says, she wants to solve his problems? Bust him out of here – now.

Drew says, seven days is like a lifetime. They just have to put it in perspective, and think about everything Willow and Michael have been through and how they live day by day. She kisses him, and says she wants more time. He says, they’ll just have to live every day, every minute like it’s their last, and create enough memories until he comes back. She says, what about Scout? and he says he’ll spend time with Scout. When he’s not with her, he’ll be with Carly. He kisses her, and she says she can’t believe this is happening. He says, let’s not think about it like three years. They’ll think about it like 36 car payments. She says she’s so sorry, but he says, it’s going to be okay. She hugs him.

Nina asks if a good relationship between her and Josslyn isn’t good for Sonny as well, and Dex says, no disrespect, but while he’s loyal to Sonny, he’s also loyal to Josslyn. and she gets to make up her own mind. Nina says, but they’re talking about peace, and that’s always a good thing. She wouldn’t even suggest for him to intervene if she didn’t think it would be helpful to everyone, including him. He says he’ll think about it, but just to be clear, he’d never let anyone hurt Mr. Corinthos or Josslyn. Nina says, or Sonny’s wife, I trust, and he says, that goes without saying. As long as she’s important to Mr. Corinthos, she’s important to him.

Josslyn tells Sonny, Dex had this job before she knew him. It’s his life and his decision. She was wrong to go behind his back to Sonny and ask Sonny to fire him. And Sonny was right to turn her down. So yeah, she has made peace with Dex working for Sonny. He says he’s glad to hear it, but that’s not the question he asked. Has she made her peace with him?

Sasha asks, what’s wrong with marriage? and Martin says, nothing, says half the population. It just so happens, he fell into the other half. Over and over again. Know what they say about baseball? Three strikes you’re out? He’s out. He asks if Lucy understands, and she says, I do. I have a history of saying I do when I wish I didn’t. What she and Marty have… He says, is perfect. Why spoil it with a prenup and a trip to Reno? He says he has a conference call, and has to leave. After that, he’s going to relax by the pool. In the meantime, Lucy should put the daisies in water. He leaves, and Sasha says she thought Lucy was the marrying kind. What changed? Lucy says, nothing. She was hoping when she said no, Marty would talk her into saying yes.

Alexis tells Gregory, then wouldn’t you know it? Chase was the arresting officer. He says he can’t believe what he’s hearing; that’s diabolical. Alexis says, Tracy thought she was saving Ned from her evil clutches. She and Ned almost got married a long time ago, and then a couple of years ago, he was married, and she was drunk, and they had a regrettable evening. Two lost souls. He says, say no more. He hopes Chase was smart enough to see through Tracy’s scheme and clear Alexis’s name. She says, it took a village, but in some way, Tracy did her a favor. She didn’t do any of the things Tracy was framing her for, but she was out of control. From that moment, she turned her life around. He says he admires her for rising from the ashes, but Tracy’s frame up could have had a very different ending. Alexis says, let it go; she’s not worth it. He says he agrees, but his son is.

Chase tells Ned that he’s a police officer, and he’s asking Ned to let go of Brook’s wrist. Brook says, he’s not hurting her, but Chase says, let her go. Ned releases her, and she says she promises, as soon as the doctors release him, she’ll take him home. He says, to Vegas? but she says he has a home in Port Charles too. He says he needs to get to Vegas, and she says she understands the need to perform; getting love back from the audience. He says, there’s nothing like it, is there? and she says she can think of some things. Like the love of the people who know you best. Your family.

Tracy says, the only journey she wants Ned taking is the one back to his senses, and Doc asks if she’s considered the possibility that in Ned’s mind, he’s being sensible. Olivia asks if he’s saying Ned being Eddie Maine is a good thing, but Tracy says, Eddie Maine isn’t real; it’s a stage name. Doc says, to her, but to Ned, Eddie Maine represents freedom, gratification, simplicity. And maybe just a touch of the fantasy he needs. Olivia says she needs Ned. She knows it might be selfish, but she just wants her husband back, warts and all, and Leo needs his father. Isn’t there any way they can coax him back? Tracy says, coax him? He needs another bump on the head.

Zeke comes back to the courtroom, and tells Drew that he’s requested a meeting with the judge. Carly asks if the judge is willing to listen to reason, and Zeke says, he is willing to listen, but only after Drew is remanded to Pentenville. Drew says, okay. As long as he’s being held accountable, and not above the law. Carly says, that could take months, or even a year, and the whole time he’ll be locked up in Pentenville. Drew says he’s been in Afghanistan. He’s a Navy SEAL. He’s not worried about Pentenville. Zeke says, the minute Drew goes to prison, he’ll be lobbying for that meeting, and Drew says, anything to expedite this, please. Zeke says, got it. He’d offer Drew a ride, but he has the feeling Drew has better things to do with his time. Drew thanks him, and Zeke says, this isn’t over. This is a significant setback. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and Drew tells Carly, enough about him. She’s about to face a very stiff financial penalty. She says, that’s her problem, but he says, it’s their problem, and he knows how they’re going to solve it.

Josslyn says she’s working toward acceptance. Sonny is who he is, and he did what he did, and she doesn’t have the power to change that. When she’s angry at him, she hurts some of the people she loves, who also happen to love him. So she doesn’t know if that counts as making peace, but that’s the best she can do right now. He says he hopes someday they can both do better, but for now, he’ll take that. Michael comes in, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? Michael says, Josslyn texted him and said she’d be here with Dex. He wants them all to know, he just came from Drew’s hearing, and the judge gave him three years in Pentenville. Sonny says, son of a bitch, and Nina says, it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Josslyn says, oh really? How was it supposed to be?

Sasha says, it’s her fault for bringing up marriage in the first place, but Lucy tells her, don’t feel bad. She can’t believe Marty said, never. She thought if she said, never, Marty would say, my little snookums, never say never, but he didn’t say that. Sasha says, with three marriages and divorces, you can’t blame the guy for being a little gun-shy. Lucy says, maybe. According to Marty, those wives made his life a living hell, but she wishes she could exorcise it out of his head, and he’d be open to the idea of marriage again. Sasha says, Martin loves her. He’s not going anywhere. Not every guy would stay up late encouraging their partner to follow their dream, then help make that dream a reality. Lucy says, she’s right. He hasn’t asked for any share of the profit; not one single penny. Sasha says, that’s true love for you.

A text says, An electronic deposit of $50, 000 was credited to your account, and sitting with his feet in the pool, drink in hand, Martin says, every month, like clockwork. Trust me, Lucy. Marriage would only spoil everything.

Ned tells Brook, no offense, but the more he hears about her father, the less he envies him. Family life is nice and all, and he can tell she really loves the guy, but corporate life and all the ulcers that go with it, not his style. He has the feeling it’s not hers either.

Doc tells Tracy that he’s not aware of any traumatic brain injury being cured by another traumatic brain injury, and Olivia says, if Tracy is even thinking of taking a hammer to her husband… Tracy tells them, calm down. She was kidding. Olivia says, there’s nothing funny about this situation, and Tracy says, money is no object; whatever it takes. Doc says he’s in unchartered territory as well, but he knows a few experts. He’ll consult with them, and draw on every resource and database he can find. In the meantime, he does think Ned should start therapy. Tracy says, Ned or Eddie, because they’re supposed to be calling him Eddie now, right? How long do they have to buy into this fantasy? Doc says, and there’s the disconnect. Not Ned’s, hers. She can call it a fantasy, but to Ned, it’s his life. Whatever they do, don’t deny his reality. Give him space. Brook and Chase join them, and Brook says, he wants more than space. Olivia asks what he wants. Tell her. Brook says, a one-way ticket to Vegas.

Nina says, there was supposed to be a deal in place, wasn’t there? and Michael says, there was, but the judge overrode it. Josslyn says, mom must be devastated, and Sonny says he’ll reach out to Drew and help in any way he can. Michael says he already did. The US Attorney was as shocked as the rest of them. This is completely on the judge. Nina’s phone rings, and she goes to the table to answer it. She says, Ava heard… She just did… She knows. It’s awful, isn’t it?

Drew says he’s just going to get his affairs in order, and he’s going to put Aurora Media up for sale. They’ll use the proceeds to pay for Carly’s financial… She says, absolutely not. Aurora is his creation. It’s his legacy for Scout. He says, Scout is too young to care about that. She’s going to be fine; she’s got ELQ shares. He’s made other investments… Carly says she’s not going to let him give Aurora away. He’ll need it when he comes back. Whatever the penalty is, she’ll figure it out. He says he doesn’t like that, but she says she doesn’t want to think about this right now. She wants to make the most of whatever time they have left. He kisses her.

Lucy tells Sasha, okay. She’s thinking, you know how Marty planted the idea for The Deceptor in her head? Why can’t she plant the idea of wedding bells in his? Sasha says, why not? and Lucy says, okay. To the future, and may all those ex-wives and the damage they’ve done, be a thing of the past. They clink glasses.

Martin’s phone dings, and he says a text from Ex #3: You’ve been avoiding me. That’s a serious mistake. He says, oh God. He swears, the only thing worse than number two at the swimming pool is number three. He rolls over a little too far, and into the pool with his phone.

Alexis tells Gregory, don’t faint, but she’s going to the gym. Maybe they could meet for dinner afterwards. She’s thinking Thai food. He asks if she’s worried he’s going to track Tracy down and put the fear of God in her, but she says, first of all, he’s assuming Tracy fears God. Second of all, he’s too civilized for this… right? He says, Chase can hold his own, but what after she and Finn have told him, it’s clear that woman fights dirty. Alexis tells him not to sink to Tracy’s level. He has more important things to worry about. He says, there’s nothing more important than his sons.

Tracy says, her son thinks he’s a Vegas lounge lizard. This has gone on long enough. Doc can keep his therapy. She’s going old school. She starts to walk, and Brook asks where she’s going. She says, to knock some sense into Brook’s father.

Carly asks how Drew can be so calm, and he says, after weeks of uncertainty, now he knows what he’s facing. He can prioritize. He can do what means most in the time he has left. She says, they have to be strong, and he says, they will be. Seven precious days before he turns himself in. Let’s not spend another second in this courtroom. He kisses her hand, and suggests they get out of here. She looks like she might cry, and nods.

Tracy busts into Ned’s room, Brook, Chase, and Olivia following her. The bed is empty except for Ned’s pressure cuff and the links to the other medical equipment.

Josslyn says, her mom’s not responding to anything. Her phone must be off. Dex suggests they find her, and they leave. Sonny asks Michael how Carly is handling this, and Michael says, how does she think? She’s ready to go to war for Drew. Sonny says, war with who? Even if Ned’s responsible, he doesn’t even know who he is. Michael says, that’s convenient for Ned, and the worst possible outcome for Drew.

Having moved to the back of the club with the phone, Nina tells Ava that she didn’t plan for this. But now that it’s happened, there’s a tiny part of her that almost feels sorry for Carly. Ned comes into the club, and Nina says, what is Carly going to do without Drew for three long years?… She knows. She just feels awkward. Ned sees her, and comes toward her.

On Monday, Esme is afraid this is all going to fall apart; Felicia tells Robert, no matter what, don’t take no for an answer; Anna doesn’t believe her work is done; and Ned says, just the person he’s been looking for.

🚩 Flags Flying High…

Everything that makes Luis sketchy is… everything.

💎 Beverly Hills Memory Lane…

If you want to relive this sort of thing. Although the dinner party from hell is pretty entertaining. It did not benefit that psychic’s reputation.

🍸 Moving On…

You didn’t think I could let it go yet, did you? I’ve got the feeling Sandoval didn’t cancel shows because of filming. Not when he’s been giving twofers.

Who’s Your Boat Daddy…?

Captain Lee will always be my Stud of the Sea, but I have to admit, Captain Jason is quite easy on the eyes. Interesting how the Med lost viewers after the Hannah debacle.

💣 Fearsome Villain Afoot…

I wasn’t thrilled about how they made Victor so awful. Hopefully he doesn’t get eaten to even things out.

https://movieweb.com/fear-the-walking-deads-latest-trailer-reveals-the-return-of-an-old-villain/

⚰️ She’s On Again…

Carol is apparently back in the game.

🤹🏾‍♂️ Busy Guy…

And I swear he’s the voiceover on that Twizzlers ad where the guy on the beach ponders wearing white after Labor Day.

🦈 His Domain…

After zombies and the internet is evil, my third horror sub-genre favorite is giant sharks.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/shark-week-jason-momoa-trailer-2023-streaming-details-discovery/

🐶 Real Life Superhero…

From Batman to Dogfather.

https://people.com/batman-actor-burt-ward-went-from-robin-to-dog-rescue-7547542

🧘🏽‍♀️ Quotes of the Week

People who are trying don’t vocalize it; they just do it. – John, Extreme Sisters

Hope is the destination that we seek. Love is the road that leads to hope. Courage is the motor that drives us. We travel out of darkness into faith. – Dean Koontz

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. – William Arthur Ward

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.Henry David Thoreau

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts. – Joshua Reynolds

I got a lot more respect when I was dead. – Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), General Hospital

💃🏽 Blaming It On the Bossa Nova…

Since Fear the Walking Dead is on a break, so am I, although I’ll be watching Dead City. Judging from the first episode, it looks extremely promising. But I’ll be here on Monday really Tuesday, dishing out soap and a double dose of Deck. Why does Bravo insist on being a pita? One episode a week is quite enough. Until then, stay safe, stay treating what you borrow as if it were your own, and when given the choice, stay going with love and understanding, rather than a horrendous, bitchy monologue.

June 18, 2023 – Morgan Sees Red, Dead In the City & New World

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

There’s a mishmash of images in Morgan’s head; chaos, bloodshed, Grace and Mo. Madison snaps him out of it, and tells him that she heard about Grace and came to see if he was okay. When she got here, he was killing them. There are fallen dead all around him, and he says he doesn’t remember killing them. She says he attacked her too, but he doesn’t remember, and he tells her that Mo is at the shipyard. He’s got to stop her. He screams for his ax like Joan Crawford/Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest. He’s graffitied the train car, and says she needs to get away from him. In losing Grace like he lost Jenny, he’s afraid of losing Mo too. He thought he was past seeing red. When he does, all he does is kill; until he’s cleared. Walkers and people; it doesn’t make a difference. It’s a cycle and it’s starting again. He swung his ax at her, and doesn’t remember. Who knows what else he might do? She says she’s not leaving him. She’d lost herself when they met, and he helped her back. Whatever happens now, she’s with him. She’ll make sure he doesn’t lose himself. He says he has to come back and bury Grace right. He can’t lose Mo. He doesn’t think he’ll survive it. She says, then let’s not lose her. She leaves, and he looks at his bloody hands.

They go to the shipyard, and there are dead zombies all over the place. Some are still up and moving though, and Morgan does his clearing thing, seeing red. Madison calls to him, and says she tried to stop him; they helped. He sees Daniel is there, along with the rest of the army. He asks if he hurt her, but she says she managed to stay out of the way. Only the prefects were here, and they got out. As they trudge through the water, Daniel tells Morgan that June is monitoring PADRE from the repeater station. The dead overwhelmed the prefects and pushed them back to the water. Mo led them out. The island’s been evacuated. Morgan radios Mo, and says, a friend once told him, you can hide, but you can’t run. The only thing that will ease the hurt is the people she has left; the same thing she’s running from. He starts to see red again and tells Madison about the settlements PADRE wants to build. He’s afraid if Mo goes with them, he’ll never see her again. Madison says she’ll go after Mo. Mo ended up at PADRE because of her; let her make it right. June radios Daniel, and says, it sounds like the prefects are surrounded by walkers on a couple sides. They’re going to a houseboat. Morgan is worried about it sinking, but Madison tells him that they’ll get to it before it sinks. Morgan says, it’s overgrown. She’ll never find it. Daniel says, then he’ll have to be the tour guide. He gives her his ax.

Crane and Shrike land on shore. Crane tells Shrike that he got rid of any trace of their files, but he couldn’t find the coordinates. Shrike says, they must be somewhere they haven’t looked. Brilliant deduction, Sherlock.

Mo sees the houseboat, and a flare goes up. She radios PADRE One, and Shrike tells her to double back. They’re not on the houseboat. PADRE is moving ahead with the expansion, but they need the coordinates to launch it; that’s what it’s always been about. Mo wonders why they can’t decide on their own coordinates, but Shrike says, these were developed to provide the perfect conditions for community. The coordinates are hidden in a pair of binoculars on a Carrion named Krennick. Kill as many as they can until they find him. Morgan radios Mo, saying, don’t listen. Get to the houseboat. Keep herself safe until he gets there. Shrike will get her killed. Shrike says, no, Morgan will get her killed, but Morgan says he’s not going to lose his kid. Mo says, he already has. Don’t make it harder than it already is. Daniel says, they can do this, and Madison says, they’ll have to fight their way toward Mo. Morgan sees red, along with the images of death and angst in his head, and tries to get his ax. He sees himself fighting Madison, but the next thing he knows, he’s in quicksand along with his ax. Mo tells the prefects that they’re going to split up to cover more ground, and Morgan radios her. He says, what she saw at the house on the walls is happening again. He doesn’t know what he’s done or might do. Promise him to forget what he told her. If she sees him, run from him.

Dwight loads a gun, while Sherry nurses Finch. June comes in and asks where Dwight is going. He says, Shrike’s going to the swamp, and he’s making sure she doesn’t come out. He’s going to stop Shrike from doing to the kids what she did to his. June asks him to let her do it. She wasn’t there for her daughter and should have been. Finch needs him. So does Sherry. Let her do this. He gives her the gun and goes to Finch and Sherry.

Morgan is in the swamp, seeing red. Mo stabs him in the collarbone, and says, he thought she was Carrion. She’s sorry, but she had to stop him. Madison radios, and Morgan says, she needs to help Mo at the houseboat. Gasping for oxygen, Madison says she’ll try, but she doesn’t know if she can find it without him. Morgan tells Mo, turn around and walk away.

He wakes up in the sinking houseboat, one arm chained to a railing. Mo says, he passed out, and it was the only place she could bring him. It’s the safest one. Zombies are starting to get uncomfortably close, and he tells her, cut him loose, and he’ll kill the zombies. She needs to get as far away from him as she can. She says, why couldn’t he just let her go? Now they’re trapped like before, because of him. She was trying to run away. He asks why she didn’t, and she says she didn’t want to watch him die like Grace, but now there’s no way out. He tells her that they’re breaking the cycle, as zombies break through the hull of the boat. He sends up a flare with one hand, and Madison sees it. She radios that she’s on her way, but Shrike pops out of the woods, and says, no, she’s not. Madison says she needs to get to the houseboat, and Shrike says, so is she. She should have just killed Madison. Shrike is about to shoot Madison, but Daniel shoots a warning shot at her first. He says, the next one will be in her head. His army comes out, and he says, meet the parents of the children she stole. She says, rescued, but he assures her that they don’t see it that way. Dove says, they’re stuck trying to live a life that’s been dead a long time, and Daniel tells Madison to get in the boat. He’s going to try to get through to them. Madison takes off, and there’s a gun battle as Madison paddles away.

Zombies are closer to the boat, and Morgan asks for his ax, but it’s still a hard no. Mo stabs the zombies in the head, and says she’d rather fight them than him. He tries to get loose, and begins to see red as more zombies break through. He radios Madison, who says she’s coming as fast as she can, but she’s not sure it will be enough. He says, it has to be. Mo needs her. Madison says, and she needs oxygen. He wouldn’t let her save Mo before. He says, she still can. He gives Mo a scuba tank, and tells her that she’s going to swim right under. She refuses to leave him, but he says he’ll find a way out. He’s not going to make the same mistake he made 7 years ago. They were surrounded by walkers, and the boat was sinking. Mo was just a baby, and he thought it was all over. He saw red, and when he came to, his hands were covered in blood, and he was standing over her. He called PADRE to get her because he didn’t trust himself to care for her. Swim until she’s clear of this place. Mo takes the tank, and dives, and Morgan radios Madison. He says, Mo is going to be okay. She says, what about him? but he says, just find her. Make sure she doesn’t get on the ship. Shrike gets on the radio and says, if she finds the coordinates, he’ll never see Mo again, but he says he doesn’t think so. The walker they’re looking for with the binoculars is in front of him. He’s going to bury the coordinates at the bottom of the swamp, where they’ll never find them or him. He reaches for a rifle nearby, and sees red, along with images of Mo in distress. We jump to Madison fishing him out of the water. She tells him, the houseboat went under, and she had to pull him out. He asks, where’s Mo? He has to stop her. Madison says, he’s going to get himself killed, but he says he can’t lose her. Madison says, when PADRE first got its hooks in her, it was with her kids, and her kids were the only thing that kept her going. Even when Alicia thought she was dead, Alicia kept Madison with her. Shrike comes flying out, asking, where is he? She’s freaking out for the first time, and losing control, and Morgan says, he went down with the ship. Then, of all the zombies in all the towns, Shrike’s dad comes through the water. Shrike falls to her knees and cries, remembering him. He comes out of the water, clutching at her, and tears her neck out with his teeth. Madison kicks him off of Shrike, and brings down the ax. She tells Shrike that she’s sorry, and takes the binoculars, as we all would. She takes out the coordinates, and Shrike says, dad, I’m sorry. Madison says, he was always with her.

Crane has Daniel and the others on their knees, and tells the prefects, guns up. He shoves Daniel, saying, don’t look at him. Mo runs joins them, and asks, what’s going on? Dove says, the army is stopping them from finding Carrion, but didn’t have what it takes, and Crane says, you know what comes next. This is what they’re trained for – shoot them. That doesn’t happen, and Dove says, they’ve been given an order – fire. Daniel says, they won’t do it. Making a child kill for the first time is harder than you think. Dove says, he’s wrong. They heard Crane; pull the trigger. Daniel says, don’t listen to them. When he was young, he was in the same position. He wishes someone had stopped him. It will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Dove says, enough. This ends now. Guns up. Pull the trigger. Nope. Crane says, pull the trigger now, and he and Dove hassle Hawk, but he won’t shoot. Morgan runs up, and says, hold your fire. Mo asks why he’s here, and Dove tells her not to speak to him. He tried to kill her. Morgan says he’s not here to hurt anyone, and Madison says, they’ve got the coordinates, holding them up. Crane asks what they want for them, and she says, nothing. Morgan says, they’re going to give the coordinates to them, and Crane says, it’s a trick. Morgan says, it’s not a trick, and Daniel starts to protest, but Morgan says, if that’s what it takes to end all this, let them have it. He’s letting Mo go. If she thinks this is what she needs, he won’t stand in her way. Mo says, he told her that he didn’t want to lose her, and he says he doesn’t. Dove says, he’s just messing with their heads, and Morgan says, it started when he lost his wife and son; he lost himself. When Dove’s mom died, it started again, but he thinks he can break free of the cycle. Madison led him to it. She said, you never lose the people who matter. Crane says, enough, and Madison says, his sister couldn’t kill them. She saw their father, and remembered what he wanted PADRE to be; what he died for. Morgan says, part of him was still alive; Crane’s sister saw it. They’re a part of the people they love. Go to the ship and see where it leads them, but remember the people they’ve left behind who will remember them. They might not know today or tomorrow how important it is, but the day will come.

Mo puts her hand on Crane’s arm, and he lowers his gun. She tells Morgan that she wants to be with him, and they hug. Everyone is like, aww, except for Crane, who cowers like the big baby he is.

Shrike wakes up on an operating table, June watching as Shrike sees a snapping zombie head above her. Shrike cries out, but June says, no one is going to hear her. Morgan and Madison told her where Shrike was, and she brought Shrike here. Shrike says, there’s still time. Give her a dose of radiation. Please. June radios Dwight and Sherry, asking what to do, but Finch stops Dwight from answering for a moment. He says, don’t make her feel this, and Dwight tells June, make it quick and painless, and June tells Shrike, it’s less than she deserves. June stabs the head, when Crane walks in. She points her gun at him, but he says he just wants to see Shrike. June says, either he does it or she will. He blubbers and shows her that he’s unarmed. June tells him, bury her deep, and find another place to live. She leaves, and Crane and Shrike cry, but I have little sympathy.

At the shore, Morgan thanks Madison for helping him find his daughter and himself. But there is something else. Whatever comes next for her and the kids, they don’t need him to get it done. He’s been thinking about the people he ran away from when he arrived. He has to find them; see if they’re still there. Right his mistake, and make sure they’re okay. He wouldn’t do this if he didn’t believe the rest were safe with her. She says she thinks they only see her as a woman who took their kids away, but Morgan says, she’ll give them good reason not to. Mo says, Madison gave her a reason, and hands Madison her old jacket back. She thanks Madison, and hugs her. Morgan hugs Madison and says, they’ll always be with her. Mo and Morgan get in the boat, Mo leaving her prefect mask behind, and they row away.

Sherry and Dwight bury Finch, marking his grave with a wooden name plaque. Dwight asks if PADRE didn’t give him the name, but Sherry says, he made it his own and no one can take it away from him. She asks what they’re supposed to do now, and Dwight says he thinks it’s got to be the end of them. No matter where they go, or what they do, it stays the same. Sherry says, it never stops, and he says, it just seems to get worse. Maybe it’s not because of a-holes like Negan and Shrike. Maybe they’re not meant to be together. Sherry tears up and asks where he’s going. He says, back home. He thinks he can start over. She says she doesn’t want to hurt him, and he says he doesn’t want to hurt her either, but it seems to be what they do to each other. Sherry says, then let’s put an end to it, and he says he’s sorry. They hug. Pfft! Why is Dwight doing this?

Dove asks Madison if they’re getting on the ship, and Madison tells the group that there are files on the island that tell them where they came from and who their parents are. Some of them could still be out there. They’ll find them and bring them here. They’ll make PADRE what it was meant to be in the first place.

Morgan buries Grace in a large makeshift graveyard. Mo comes along in normal clothes, having ditched her uniform. He hugs her and gives her a not-pokey stick to practice with. She goes to wait for him, and Morgan goes to the grave of E. Eastman. He says, as much as his weapon has changed since Eastman gave it to him, he supposes he has too. Eastman made that all possible with everything he gave to Morgan and taught him. Morgan has realized all life is precious, but it’s not about killing or not killing. It’s about what you do with the time that you have and the people you have. Morgan needs him to look after Grace. Mo practices in the background, and Morgan tells her, every swing has a reason. Either strike or block. He asks her to show him, and she makes some moves. He says, they need to get going, and she asks, where? He says, remember the friend he mentioned; the one who told him not to run? He thought they’d look for him. Mo asks if he thinks they’ll find him, and Morgan says, it wouldn’t be the first time they found their way back to each other. He gets on the walkie, and says, this message is for Rick Grimes from Morgan Jones. He’s going to look for Rick, whether he’s at Alexandria or not. He’ll leave this message every day at dawn and leave the walkie on for a few minutes. Who knows? Maybe Rick will even be listening. He looks at Grace’s name plaque, kisses his palm, and places it on the ground where she’s buried, thinking of everyone he’s lost. He picks up his ax, and says, let’s go. They start to walk, and they both turn for a second, like they heard something, then keep walking.

A message comes over the radio. This is Madison Clark. If you can hear this message, you are in a territory PADRE has patrolled. PADRE has fallen. They are no longer a threat to you or your children. She gives some coordinates to come find any children, and someone listening writes them down. Madison says, if they can’t get there, send an SOS to this channel, and they’ll find them. They’ll do their best to reunite them with their children and make up for the damage PADRE did. The listener packs a bag with a bunch of weird weapons, including a mechanical hand.  

The final season returns this fall.

🗽 Dead Spoilers…

While the first episode was more of a set-up than anything else, I don’t think this show is going to disappoint. I’m thrilled that we’re finally getting out of Georgia, but even better, NYC is a phenomenal backdrop for zombies. Okay, maybe I’m a little biased, having spent a good portion of my life there, but it’s definitely fun new territory. I didn’t recap, since this week I dealt a laptop death, a dog stepping on a bee, and pulling a hamstring during a workout. I was like, isn’t Vanderpump Rules and that incessant ad with the woman singing about her A1C enough? Anyway, I just wanted to enjoy it, but I did jot down some highlights. If you haven’t watched it yet, don’t read them.

Maggie is looking for her son, and while she still holds a grudge against Negan, she needs his help to find Herschel. She hunts Negan down, then they follow a lead she has to NYC. They travel through New Babylon, a capital city where marshals keep order. One in particular, Perlie Armstrong, is out to get Negan. Zombies are called chompers in this one, and among the many new dangers the city holds, they get bombarded by zombies falling from rooftops. On the plus side, a little ice cream type truck tours the streets, playing crooner tunes, and luring zombies. Like gossip columnist Cindy Adams always says, only in New York, kids. Only in New York. Herschel, now a young man, is being held captive by The Croat who reminds me a little of Teddy. He wants information, but Herschel isn’t giving it, and it looks like he’s the type to show no mercy.  

🗯 Best quote, from The Croat, talking about the city after the zombie apocalypse: The irony is that in death, the city is so much more alive than it ever was. Because the struggle, it galvanizes you. Shows you the strength you had inside all along.

Oh yeah, and there’s cockroaches.

⚰️ Dead Tired…

Come on back on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s on Deck. It looks like another double episode, but I have no clue why this is a thing now. Until then, stay safe, stay having a Happy Father’s Day, even if you just father a plant, and stay remembering it’s about what you do with the time that you have and the people you have.

June 11, 2023 – Grace Gets the Radiation Treatment & Nightlife

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Grace asks where they are, and Mo says, on a boat. She asks, what happened? and Morgan says, she got bit. It’s going to be okay. June has a way of treating bites that stops the infection and the fever. They’re going to spend some time together; her, him, and Mo. Some guards in a boat behind then start shooting, and Dwight says he’s pushing the boat as fast as he can. Morgan gets June on the radio, and tells her that Grace has been bit, but they can’t amputate. He asks if her treatment might work, and she says, maybe. He says, they’ll take that, and she explains that the equipment they need is on a train car. He says, Grace is burning up, and asks, where the last place was June saw the train car? Shrike comes on the radio, and says, it’s not there. Why do they think she put it on wheels? To keep people like them from messing with it. She’ll tell them where the train car is, and even give them an escort. She’ll allow June to administer treatment. Morgan asks what she wants in return, and Shrike says she paid a little trip to King County. She saw how many walkers he killed single-handedly… except for the one that bit Grace. There’s a trainyard nearby with containers that have thousands of Carrion inside. She needs them all cleared. She doesn’t care if he gets help; she just wants it cleared. She was going to have the prefects do it, but why, when she has him? That’s how Grace gets a shot at living.

Grace wakes up on a moving truck, and asks where they’re going. Morgan says, they’re going to a shipyard, and then she’s being taken to meet June. Grace asks how he knows they’ll do what they say, but he says, they’re not clearing the shipyard until she’s with June. He radios Daniel, who says, they’re armed and ready, but need assurances they’re not walking into a trap. Shrike assures him the Carrion are real and she wants them dead. The contents of the containers are valuable to her. Morgan says, they’re going to clear. She just has to tell them where the train is. Shrike says, no guns; it has to be done by hand. There are supplies they need to rebuild the world in the containers; supplies and munitions. One stray bullet, and PADRE’s entire legacy goes up in smoke. He asks why she didn’t tell them that before, and she says she knew they had an army, but not an armory. Daniel says, Morgan already told her too much. It’s too dangerous now. He can’t ask his soldiers to do this. Morgan says, he can’t back out now, but Grace takes the walkie and tells Daniel, it’s okay. She doesn’t want anyone to die for her. Daniel says he’s sorry, and Morgan says, they can do it without them, but Grace says he has to be there for Mo; and Dwight and Sherry need to be there for Finch. Morgan says he had to watch Jenny die from a bite. He can’t do it again. She says, he can’t save her. It’s not like she had much time anyway. Mo asks what she’s talking about, and Grace says, before the bite, she was sick. It’s cancer. Mo asks if June can’t help, but she says, no. She’s been running away from it for a long time, and it’s finally catching up. She has months, maybe a year, left. Mo says, that’s a lot more than a day, and the truck stops. Morgan asks Shrike, what’s going on? and she says, if he’s not going to help, they have to make sure Grace doesn’t hurt Mo or Finch when she turns. Grace is dragged from the truck, and Morgan says he’ll do whatever Shrike wants. Grace says, don’t let Mo watch, but Mo surprises everyone by jumping one of the guards, pushing their gun out of the way. Dwight, Sherry, and Morgan knock out the rest of the guards, and Shrike asks if they copy. What’s their ETA? Mo says, Red Kite taught her well. She’s going to fight for every minute she can get with Grace. Shrike tells them, if it’s done, move on to Nightingale, Red Kite, and Starling, but Dwight says he’s afraid the guards won’t be able to comply with those orders. Shrike says, no one’s ever stolen a child from PADRE before, but Dwight says he thinks Finch and Mo are going to be the first of many. Morgan suggests they see if the map in the truck has the train location, but Grace says, they’ll never make it there in time. She hands him a paper and says she wants to spend the time she has left with him and Mo there. They look at the map, and Mo points out the train tracks, saying, it has to be further down the line. Morgan wants to know what the coordinates are that Grace gave him, and Dwight says, it’s a repeater station, like the one Grace serviced for PADRE, and Mo says, she’s sick; she doesn’t know what she’s saying. Mo just got them both back, and doesn’t want to lose them again. Morgan says, they’re going to get Grace to the train car, and tells Sherry to raise June. Tell her to do everything she can to meet them there. Shrike isn’t going to make this easy. Mo says, they’re fighting for someone they love, and they’re going to win.

Back on the boat, Grace hears Shrike on the radio, but Mo says, it’s not them being talked about. Morgan says, Dwight and Sherry are acting as decoys, and Grace says, the coordinates were inland. Where are they taking her? Mo says, to the train car, and Morgan says, June is going to try and meet them there. They’re going to try and give her more time. Grace says, trying is going to get both of them killed. He asks why she wanted to go to the repeater station, when they hear shots in the distance. Morgan asks Mo to get Dwight on the radio, and asks if Dwight is okay. Dwight, Sherry, and Finch run into an abandoned house, and Dwight says, they’re pinned. Sherry says, they can’t stay long; the guards can flank them. Dwight says, they know they’re following the wrong people, and tells Morgan that they may have company soon. Morgan says, if Shrike is listening, it’s him she wants. Let Dwight and Sherry take Finch and go. Sherry wonders if Shrike will listen, but Dwight says, not after what they’ve done. They sent prefects; she knows they won’t kill them. I wonder why, and Dwight says he’ll lay down suppressive fire. If they do what he taught them, they’ll fall back and regroup. Sherry takes off with Finch.

Morgan asks again why Grace wanted to go to the repeater station, and she says, it’s their future. Over the years, she’s been scavenging things for PADRE and collected other things too. Things to make a home. Things to make Mo feel safe. Morgan says he thought they agreed PADRE was the best thing for Mo, but Grace says, that doesn’t mean it’s what she wanted. She should have said something sooner. Maybe they would have changed their minds. She waited until it was too late, like always. She wanted a moment for Mo to see what it was like. Morgan says, they can still do that. June can stop the infection. A flare goes up, and Mo says, they know we’re here.

Dwight finds Sherry with Finch under a bridge, and Finch says he had to stop and catch his breath. Dwight asks if he got shot, but Sherry says, no. He’s burning up though. Finch says he can still keep going, but Dwight tells Sherry to call June. Sherry tells June that Finch is burning up, and June asks what the bite looks like. Dwight takes a look, and it’s not good. Finch asks if he’s going to be okay, and Sherry says, June will figure it out. June asks if the bite is red and inflamed, and Sherry says, it is. June asks about the skin around it; is it hot? Dwight says, yeah, and June says, the infection could be back, but she really needs to see them. She asks where they are, and Sherry says, Grace’s repeater station; it’s close by. Dwight says he’ll send the coordinates, and June asks if Morgan was listening. He says he was, and tells her to go to Finch. She says she’ll meet him at the train car, or walk him through it if she has to. Mo says, they can’t give up, but Grace says she can’t have them risking their lives for a treatment that doesn’t work. She wants to spend the time she has left with Mo and Morgan. Morgan asks if Mo remembers the place the walked through with Madison. If they block the entrances, they can stay there for as much time as they have. Mo says, they can’t give up, but Grace says, it’s not giving up; it’s accepting how things are. Another flare goes up, and Morgan says, Dwight was right. They’re getting close. He’ll lead them away and take the long way to the carnival. He’ll meet them both there. He gets out of the boat, and Grace thanks him for understanding. He promises he’ll see her soon, and kisses her hand. He tells Mo to look after her mother, and they row away.

Grace hears Morgan over the radio, saying, he’s where they said they’d meet, but they’re not here. He thinks he knows where they are, and he’ll find them. Mo tells Grace that he’ll understand when she’s better. Grace tells her to stop, but Mo says, they don’t have time. Every minute counts. We see Mo is pumping a handcar down the railroad tracks, and she says she doesn’t know why Grace and Morgan can’t see it, but she can. They’re going to save Grace’s life. Grace says, even if they get to the train car, it won’t work, but Mo says she’s going to show Grace that she’s wrong. Grace says, the prefects are going to take Mo back to PADRE, and Mo stops. She says, they found us, and Grace tells her to call her dad, but Mo says, he’ll make them go back. The tracks are blocked by a group of people, and Grace begs Mo to walkie Morgan.

Going into a little building, Sherry wonders why Grace wanted to come here, but Dwight says he doesn’t know. June is on her way. He carries Finch inside, and puts him on a bed. It looks like a somewhat normal house, and Sherry says, Grace must have been preparing for life after PADRE. She tells Finch to stay strong, and June arrives. June comes in with Daniel, and tells them that Madison is standing guard.

Dove tells Mo, stop right there, and Grace says, do what they say. Mo says, Dove wouldn’t hurt her, but Dove says, don’t be so sure. Mo asks if they know the truth about PADRE. There is no PADRE. He’s been dead a long time. And Shrike and Crane are full of sh*t. They’re doing all this all because they lost their dad. Dove says, PADRE isn’t a person. PADRE is an idea. The right one. Mo moves forward a bit, but Dove stops her and says, don’t make her do this. Grace tells Mo, no, and Mo says she knows how angry Dove was when she found out her mom was dead. She doesn’t think Dove wants her to feel that too. She moves forward, and Dove steps out of the way. Mo tells Grace that they’re going to save her.

Mo gets Grace to the train car, and flares explode in the distance. Mo says, they’re going to have more company; they’re drawing Carrion. She blocks the connecting door, and Grace asks how Mo knew the prefects wouldn’t hurt her, but Mo says she didn’t; she took a chance. She radios June to say they made it. She asks if June can help her, and June says she thinks so. Mo asks, what made Finch sick? and June says, it’s not the radiation; the infection’s back. She didn’t give him a high enough dose to kill it. She was afraid any more of the radiation would kill him, but thinks she has it now. And if Grace already has cancer… Mo says, they don’t have to worry about how much radiation she gets. June says, it might buy her the time she wants, and Mo asks how Finch is. June says, they’re working on it. Whatever Mo does, don’t let them destroy that equipment. Is she ready? Mo says, tell her exactly what to do.

June gives Mo instructions, and Mo gives Grace the radiation. treatment. She asks Grace if it worked, and Grace says she hopes so. Mo asks June how long it takes to work, and June says, it could take a while. If her temperature falls, that’s a good sign. If it goes up, they’ll deal with it. Dwight asks what that means for Finch, and June says, Grace had the infection longer than Finch did before she treated him. If this dose works for Grace, it might work for Finch too. Dwight asks what she means by might, and Mo asks for final instructions. June tells her to power down the machine and turn off the generator. She doesn’t want Mo exposed to more than she needs to be. Mo does as June told her, and zombies clamor outside. She says, they’re not going to be able to get out of here, and Grace says, her dad is on his way. Where are the prefects? Mo is sure there around somewhere. They’re going to try and stop dad from getting to them. Grace says, she was so brave back there when they tried to stop her, and Mo says, losing Grace seemed scarier. Grace says, when she was Mo’s age, she didn’t even have the courage to pick up the telephone, and Mo asks what a telephone is. Grace laughs weakly, saying, she forgets how different it is for kids like Mo now. That’s what she was trying to do at the repeater station. Show Mo how things were; how they could be. Mo says she can still do that, and Grace groans. Mo says, she’s getting hotter, and radios June. June asks her temperature, and Mo says, 106. What’s happening? June says she’s sorry. The radiation therapy didn’t get to her in time. Mo says she got there as fast as she could, but June says, it’s not her fault. Even if she’d gotten it immediately, it might not have worked; it hasn’t on anybody else. Mo says, tell her how much to give Grace, but June says, she won’t survive any more. Mo says, she won’t survive anyway. Tell her how much. Grace tells Mo that she did everything she could, and Mo says, how much? but June says she can’t help Mo any more. Enjoy the time she has. Morgan radios Mo as he runs, and says he’s on his way. Mo says she tried, and he says he heard it all. She says she’s sorry, but he says, she has nothing to be sorry about. She tells him, be careful. There are prefects in the woods. He says, if they’re smart, they’ll listen to him. he knows they can hear. Don’t you try to stop me. He yells it again, don’t you try and stop me! He asks to talk to Grace, and Grace says, it wasn’t mean to be. He says he should have listened to her before, but she says, it’s okay. She understands why he didn’t. He says he doesn’t think he’s going to make it before… She says she’s so sorry, and he says, if he can’t make it, Mo’s got to leave. Grace says, she can’t; there’s walkers outside. He says she knows what she has to do right? and she says she knows. She loves him. I love you so much, my darling. And nothing… nothing will ever change that. He says he loves her. He’s not ready to let her go. She says, neither is she, and he keeps moving. Grace says she doesn’t want to hurt Mo. She’s going to go before he comes. She asks Mo to pick up a scalpel, and says, if she can’t hold out, Mo has to promise she’ll do it before she comes back. Mo promises, and says, all Grace wanted to do was spend more time together, and she took that from her and dad, but Grace says, Mo gave them more time. Mo says, no. She wasted it. All the time they had left. Grace says she’s not talking about today. There was a time things were really bleak… We flash back, and she says, she and Mo’s father were thinking of ending things. They came so close to doing it. Does she know why they didn’t? We flash back to baby Mo interrupting their suicide attempt, and Grace says, they heard her crying. She gave them a reason to live. We see them with baby Mo, and Grace says she gave them more time than she knows. Mo cries, and Grace closes her eyes. She’s gone. Mo says, mom? and shakes her, but there’s no response. She stands there looking at the scalpel, and we hear the zombies outside. She says she’s sorry. She can’t do it. Grace opens her eyes and snarls. (Sad as it is, I can’t help thinking, cool.) She comes after Mo, who drops the scalpel. She gets Mo up against the wall, and tries to bite her. Mo pushes Grace into some equipment, and tries to move the cart from in front of the door, but Grace grabs her. She screams, and reaches for the scalpel, but it’s too far away. Morgan gets there just in time, and pokey sticks grace in the back of the head. He grabs Mo putting her face against him.

Morgan closes Grace’s eyes. Outside, Shrike says, they need to talk. Morgan tells Mo, it’s going to be all right, but she just stares straight ahead. He picks up his stick and says, it’s a promise. He goes outside, where Shrike stands with a group of prefects. She says, he’s a brave man. She thought they’d have to come in and get him. He wonders why no one killed him along the way, and she says, they know what Heron would have… He says, her name was Grace, and Shrike says, they dug this out of storage, showing him a battle ax. She asks if he remembers what he did with it seven years ago. It’s a shame he didn’t use the same skills today. He asks if she can’t leave them alone to bury Grace properly, but she says she’s sorry. She can’t. He can still make things right. He asks her again to leave them, and she says, he’s not going to hurt her prefects, but they don’t have the same hang up about him. He puts his pokey stick to her throat, and the prefects aim their pokey sticks. Shrike tells him to listen carefully. She could kill him right now. but she doesn’t want to. She knows the pain Wren is in. The whole reason for PADRE was to prevent anyone from feeling that kind of pain. She pushes his stick down, and says, she already lost one parent today. Don’t make her lose a second one. Mo comes out, and Morgan tells her to go back inside. She says, Shrike’s right. She doesn’t want to feel like this. He says, there’s nothing Shrike can do to make the feeling go away, and Mo asks why they need the containers in the shipyard. Shrike says, so they can build a new settlements all over the country, and make sure no one feels the way she’s feeling right now. Morgan says, you can’t run away from your feelings (and he ought to know), but Shrike says, she won’t be running from anything. She’ll be running toward a bright future. He says, what future? Shrike can’t even get to the containers. Mo says she can do it, if they help her. It’s what PADRE’s been training them to do for years. Morgan says, the walkers will kill her, but Mo says, not if they’re smart; not if they use their training. Who’s with her? Dove says, all right; let’s do it. Morgan says, don’t do this, as the guards hold him back. He says he can’t lose her, and Shrike says, there they have it. It’s not about what she wants; it’s about what you want. He says, she’s going to get his daughter killed, and she says she told him, she doesn’t want to kill him. He stops struggling, and she says, smart man. But not so fast. He uses his pokey stick for some swordplay, and knocks the guards down and out. He runs past Shrike, calling to Mo, but she trips him with the ax. She says she warned him, and the guards pop back up. Morgan says, she’s not going to kill him and she asks, why? He says, because he doesn’t die. Everybody else does, but he doesn’t. She says, maybe he’s right. Maybe he needs to think about why that keeps happening. The guards hustle him back to the train car, and she says, make sure he can’t get out. They put a chain on the door, and send up a flare. She  tosses down the ax, and they leave. We see Morgan through the window as zombies toddle toward the car.

Next time, Madison finds Morgan, who says, all he does is kill; Morgan goes to the shipyard; and Daniel and Shrike face off.

🤯 More Brains…

Join me tomorrow for soap and double the Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay unplugging once in a while, and stay knowing that accepting how things are is not necessarily giving up.

June 9, 2023 – No Soap For You, 2 Mollys, Jersey Mess, Vandermath, VanderNew, Sink It, Dead Dates, A Farewell, Star Releases, Sharks, Cuteness, Double 4 Quotes & Love

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Well there was this:

So I did this:

💼 Ups and Downs…

She’s doing a good job so far. She’s not straying too far from the already established character.

She’s lucky she didn’t kill someone.

👠 Jersey Devils…

They still don’t totally explain it. So like, what happened the next time Frankie and Louie spoke? Or haven’t they?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/frank-catania-shares-why-frankie-stopped-working-for-luis-ruelas

Where they are now.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhonj-season-13-finale-recap-cast-updates

This one doesn’t live in the real world with the rest of us. I don’t blame Andy for losing his sh*t. It was like, STFU already.

About that text.

And the rest.

🍸 Trying To Recover…

I don’t think there is a future for her on the show. At least, I hope not.

I guess, but I can’t imagine she didn’t want to smack Rachel’s bobblehead face. I thought she was restrained.

https://people.com/lala-kent-regrets-attacking-raquel-leviss-at-vanderpump-rules-reunion-7510310

Giving you more Lala.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/raquels-big-secret-on-vanderpump-rules-reunion-lala-reacts

She’ll be fine. She dodged a narcissistic bullet.

https://extratv.com/2023/06/08/ariana-madix-reveals-plans-for-the-future-and-thoughts-on-marriage-after-scandoval/

She was so funny on WWHL.

🎁 Just What We Need…

I still want more episodes of Overserved, but I’ll take what I can get. After I take a million showers to get the smell of the Reunion off.

⛵️ Aye, Aye, Captain…

She’s right. That boat needs to die. I’m sure Glenn and Colin are having a grand old time holding it together with duct tape and bubble gum, but it almost tanked the season.

⚰️ Moving Dead…

Updates on both Dead City’s premiere and Fear the Walking Dead’s mid-season finale.

https://screenrant.com/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-episode-6-airtime-change/

🥀 She’ll Be Missed…

I love this show, and was so sad to hear this.

https://people.com/bling-empire-anna-shay-dead-7508300

👽 When the Force Will Be With You…

Updates on Star Wars releases.

https://ew.com/movies/star-wars-movie-tv-show-release-dates/

🦈 Doo-Doo Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo…

Cue the music.

https://people.com/sharkfest-2023-how-to-watch-sharkfest-7509679

🦙 Take a Deep Breath…

Some relief from all the nasty, awful reality this week.

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/cute-animals

☄️ Quotes of the Week

Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy. – Dean Koontz

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.  — John Powell

The border to eternity is never ahead of us. It runs parallel to life and can be crossed over at any moment by old and young. – Reinhard Bonnke

A mathematical formula for happiness: Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations.Jodi Picoult (I vote for lowering expectations.)

Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves—to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him: wishing his good, not feeling fond of him nor saying he is nice when he is not. – C.S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity

I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.Edward Enninful

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. – Plato

That wasn’t karaoke. It was you, a jukebox, and a bar full of angry people. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🕺🏽 Curly Shuffling Away…

Tune in for a chance of Fear on Sunday, and on Monday really Tuesday for soap and double the Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay respecting your elders no matter how old you are, and stay making sure that when you’re singing karaoke, you’re really at karaoke.

June 4, 2023 – Morgan Hunts For Duane & Survive

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Morgan goes to King County, and sees zombies feeding on some skunks. He walks to his old house, and says he’s here, calling out for Duane. He hears zombies growling inside, and runs. He kills the feeding zombies, and says he can kill them, but he can’t kill Duane. He doesn’t know why, but he can’t.

Grace shows up, and Morgan wonders how she knew he was here. She says, he sent her an SOS using their code, but he says he didn’t. No one knows he’s here. She asks what the smell is, and he says he killed some walkers feeding on skunks. She suggests they get him cleaned up, and asks what he’s doing so far inland. He hears something in the truck bed, and Mo comes out from under a tarp. She says she’s the one who sent the message, and tells Morgan that Madison got away. He wonders how she knew where he was headed, and she says she knew the graffiti on the boat meant something, even though he told her it didn’t. He says, she’s smarter than she has any right to be, and she asks about Jenny and Duane; their names were on the wall too. He tells Grace to get Mo out of here, and Grace tells Mo, those were his wife and son. Morgan says he came to put his boy to rest, and asks how Mo knew their code, Dock of the Bay. She says she knew the song meant something to him and mom, and asks if it’s okay she calls Grace that. Grace says, of course, and Mo asks if this is what getting in trouble with your parents is like. Morgan says, they’re not the ones she needs to worry about, and asks how she got away from PADRE. She says, Madison’s friend Daniel helped her. He’s building an army to take PADRE down. They can help him. Morgan says he has to do what he came here to do first, and Grace asks where Duane is. Morgan says, they were looking for food, and he told Duane to stay in the kitchen while he went to the basement. Maybe the door was ajar, because when he came up, Duane’s mother was standing opposite him, but she wasn’t his mother anymore. Before he could get his gun up, Jenny was on top of him. He finally did what he should have done weeks before, and fired, but it was too late. Grace says she’s sorry, and he says, the blood and the teeth… He just ran. He didn’t know what else to do. He ran and left his boy to become one of them. Mo asks where he went, but he says he doesn’t know. It’s a blur. It comes back to him in pieces. He started killing anything that moved, whether it was alive or dead. He thinks he should go inside by himself, but Mo says, they want to help him, and he really needs some new clothes.

They see a flare go up, and Morgan asks if Grace was followed, but she says she was careful. He suggests they get out of here, and they run, but Sherry rides up. They start to run in the other direction, but see Dwight, and duck behind a truck. Dwight says, there’s nowhere to go, and Morgan tells Mo and Grace to stay where they are. Mo asks how he knows Red Kite, and Morgan says, he’s the reason Dwight is at PADRE. He comes out, and asks how they found him. Dwight says, they’re here to take Morgan back to PADRE, and Sherry says, they heard the message he sent Grace. Coordinates and Dock of the Bay. Did he really think they wouldn’t figure it out? She smells Morgan, and says, he’s going on the back of Dwight’s horse. Morgan says, PADRE’s got their son, doesn’t he? He’s using their son against them. Sherry says, damn right, but if they bring Morgan back, he’s giving them their son and the freedom to go where they want. Morgan says, they can’t believe that, but Dwight says, they’ll take their chances. If they don’t bring Morgan back, worse will happen to Finch than has already happened. Morgan sold them out seven years ago to rescue his own kid; they’re just returning the favor.  A zombie toddles toward where Mo and Grace are hiding, and Dwight gives it an ax to the head. He sees Mo and Grace, and they come out. Sherry asks if Morgan brought them, but Mo says, technically, they came without his permission. Shrike radios Dwight, and he tells Sherry that PADRE will hurt Mo if they bring her back, but she says, they won’t see their kid if they don’t. Shrike radios again, asking if they need assistance, and Dwight says, if Morgan runs with Mo and Grace now, they’ll find some walkers and mess up their faces like they did with Virginia. Morgan says, they got lucky that time, and Sherry agrees. Dwight asks if she wants Finch to know what they traded for his freedom, and tells Morgan that there are two guards babysitting them. They rode ahead to sweep the town, and he suggests Morgan make his decision before they catch up. A guard radios that they’re approaching, and asks their status. Morgan says, there’s something he has to do first, but Grace tells him, let it go. He says he’s sorry, but he can’t, and tells them to run, grabbing his pokey stick to hold Dwight and Sherry at bay. He takes off, and Dwight tells Sherry to cut them off at the entrance.

Zombies start to come out, and Morgan leads Grace and Mo to a house. They go inside, and he says, it’s clear, after banging on the wall. He tells Grace where there are supplies, and that there’s a rifle upstairs. They’re going to need it. The walkers will find them before Dwight and Sherry do. She asks how he knows where everything is, and he says he lived here with Duane before he died. She asks if this is a good idea, and he asks if she has a better one.

Morgan uses tomato soup to get rid of the smell, but he thinks it just masks it. Mo asks how he knew it would work, and he says Duane had a dog when he was little who got on the wrong side of a skunk. They bathed her in it, and then she smelled like a mix of wet dog and bad ketchup. There was still soup there because Duane refused to eat it. She asks if the way things used to be was nice, and he says, it wasn’t bad. She wonders if it will ever be like that again and he says he thinks if they do things right, it could be even better. People can get the second chances they wanted. He apologizes for telling Mo they weren’t her parents. They are in every way that matters, but Isaac and Rachel were her real parents. They sacrificed everything so that she would survive. They hear zombies outside, and he tells Mo to go upstairs. Grace says, the walkers are going to lead Dwight and Sherry to them, and he says he wants her to take Mo and go as far north as her truck will take her. He has to take care of Duane, then he’ll catch up with them and they can regroup with Madison and Daniel. Grace says, he needs to leave now, but he says he has to put his boy to rest. She says, when they met, she was sacrificing herself for people who were already dead. It’s Mo’s life. He says, Mo needs to know he won’t let her down, , and she says, they’re trapped in this house now because he brought them here. Dwight radios Morgan, and says, we’re here. He tells Morgan to look out the window, and Morgan peeks out, seeing zombies clawing at the house, as well as Dwight, Sherry, and the guards. Dwight tells him to be smart about this, and Grace says, whatever happened in this house with Duane doesn’t have to happen with them. He tells Dwight that he’s listening, and Dwight tells him not to make it any harder. Grace says, maybe they can still make that deal, and Dwight says, we’re waiting. Morgan tells him, they can keep waiting. The walkers are a bigger problem for him and Sherry than they are for them. Sherry says, maybe they can help Morgan do what he came here for. PADRE thinks he came for a reason; weapons, more soldiers, to plan an attack. But Morgan says, it’s not like that. His boy died in one of the houses close by. He came back to bury him. Sherry says, they have their son to worry about too, and a guard sends up a flare. Dwight says, every walker within ten miles will be here soon, and Mo calls to Grace and Morgan. They go upstairs into a bedroom covered in graffiti, and Grace asks if Morgan did this. He says he doesn’t remember coming here after Duane died, and picks up the rifle. He tells her, Jenny was always outside. She came there most nights, and he’d wait. He wanted to put her to rest, and didn’t want Duane to see his mother like that. A man named Rick Grimes gave him the rifle to put her to rest, but he couldn’t. He looks at the walls, and says he must have come back here after Duane died. He wasn’t right for a long time afterward. Mo asks what clear means, and he says, that was when he was killing anyone or anything that came near him. Mo picks up a photo album, flips through it, and says she likes it when he smiles. Grace says she does too, and wonders what they’ve been doing the last seven years. He says, they were doing what they thought they had to, and Mo asks if they ever saw each other. Morgan says, now and then. If PADRE knew what they meant to each other… Mo says, PADRE would have used it against them. Another flare is shot, and Dwight says, maybe this will hurry them up. Morgan looks out and sees Jenny, as well as a zombie whose arm is on fire. Dwight says, they’ll save him a bullet; this one’s a courtesy kill – a guard gives the burning zombie a whack in the head – but the next one, they’re letting go. Morgan says, they’re going to get Mo killed, but Dwight says, no. Morgan will. They’re giving him five minutes, and then sending a zombie onto the porch. Morgan says he should have taken the deal, but Mo says, he made the right choice. Grace says they have to get back to her truck, and Mo says, he just has to clear for them. He says, it’s not that simple, but she says, this is his second chance. Grace says, maybe this is what he needs to show himself that things can be different this time, but Morgan says, PADRE will hurt Sherry and Dwight’s son. Mo says, not if they can help Daniel take the island first, and Grace says, Rick gave him the gun for a reason. Use it.

Morgan says, he’ll cover them, but when he says, take a hard right, go for the truck, and don’t stop. Grace says she meant what she said; she’s sorry they wasted so much time. She kisses Morgan, and Mo makes that face you make when you’re a kid and see your parents kiss. She asks, what’s that for? and Morgan asks if she’s never seen anyone kissing before. She says, no, and she doesn’t need to again. Grace kisses Mo’s cheek, and Mo asks if they can just start killing Carrion please. Grace opens the door, and Morgan comes out shooting. He kills a bunch of zombies, but then sees Jenny and can’t shoot. Grace whacks some zombies in the head, but one breaks through the porch railing and they get close to Mo. Grace tells her to go back in the house, and Mo goes in, slamming the door shut. While Morgan is still being weird about Jenny, Grace tells him that one is on fire. He’s still faltering, when a guard shoots the blazing zombie. Dwight asks why Morgan is really here, and Morgan says he told Dwight; he’s here for his boy. Dwight says, the only way PADRE is going to believe Morgan is if he shows them.

They go into Morgan’s old house, and he says, after they find his boy, they can take him back to PADRE, but they need to get Mo out of that house. Sherry says, they’ll make sure she’s okay, and they hear a zombie growling behind a door. Morgan asks to be the one to do it, and promises not to try anything. Dwight gives him a cross peen hammer, and opens the door. Morgan kills the zombie, but says, it’s not him. Morgan calls out for Duane, insisting he has to be here. He freaks out, and Sherry says, Duane must have gotten out. Morgan says he waited too long, and Grace says, it’s okay. He says, it’s not, sinking to the floor. He should have put his boy to rest then, and he can’t now. He put her and Mo in danger for nothing. The guard tells him, on his feet, and radios Shrike that he’s lying; his kid’s not here. Shrike says, if Morgan won’t tell him why he’s there, kill him, and the guard cocks her gun. Grace says, he needs to tell them about Duane, and the guard says, last chance. Grace says, he needs to tell them what happened here, but Morgan says, it’s already over. If they’re going to do it – he grabs the gun barrel and puts it against his forehead – then do it. Grace says, no, and Morgan pushes the gun barrel away. Dwight and Sherry knock the guards out, while Grace shields Morgan. Morgan says, they shouldn’t have done that, but Dwight says he’s not going to watch Morgan get killed in cold blood. Sherry says, he’s not the only one trying to escape his past, and Dwight says, what PADRE is making them do is like living at the Sanctuary all over again. Morgan says, their boy is going to end up just like his. He can’t have that on him. Shrike radios, and Morgan says, they’re going to kill Finch, but Dwight says, not if they have something to do with it. He answers the call, and Shrike says she wants to talk to Oriole. Dwight says, she can talk to Oriole after he talks to his son. He wants to know Finch is okay. Shrike tells Finch to go ahead, and Dwight asks how he’s feeling. Finch says he thinks the treatment worked. What’s going on? Dwight asks if Finch remembers that thing he taught him in class before he got sick; the Chimney Sweep. Do it now. Finch swipes a chair across Shrike’s legs, and she hits her head on the table going down. Finch says, she’s out. Now what? They’re going to find her. Dwight tells him that there’s a supply boat leaving in 20 minutes, and to hide on it. They’ll meet him on the dock where the boat lands. Finch says, okay, and Sherry says they have to get going. Dwight tells Morgan, whatever happened here, he has a chance to make things different with Mo. Don’t forget that. They leave.

Grace radios Mo and says, they’re coming to drive the walkers away. Mo tells her to hurry, and Morgan tells Grace that she’s Mo’s best shot. She saw what happened to him outside that house. She tells him that he has to put it behind him, but he says he can’t. She says, neither can she. She didn’t want him to hear what she was listening to in the truck. The book was on double speed. The radiation’s caught up with her, and she’s sick. He has to get Mo out of that house. He asks how long she’s known, and she says, a few months. She found a hospital and did a scan. She’s paying the price for chasing the dead, and he can’t do the same. He says he’ll get Mo out, and the three of them will spend time together. He radios Mo, and she says, one of the flares hit the house, and the fire is spreading. He tells her to get to the attic; he’s coming to get her.

The house is on fire, and zombies surround it. Morgan starts shooting them, and Mo hears something in the attic. Morgan sees Jenny, and once again can’t shoot. Mo sees a zombie chained to the wall, and says, Duane? like he might answer. Morgan says, you’re not her; none of you are her. He shoots several zombies, Jenny among them. A beam falls on Mo, and she gets trapped. Morgan gets in the house, and Mo yells that she’s stuck. Help her. He realizes he brought Duane there, but hesitates to shoot him. Mo says she knows he can do it, and he remembers Duane as a child. Recognizing that Duane is no longer that child, Morgan shoots him. He asks if Mo is okay, and she says, he did it. It’s going to be okay.

Morgan buries Duane and Jenny, and says, there are a few things he has to do, but he’ll be back. And it won’t take ten years; he promises. The three of them hug. Grace says, it’s over. He didn’t let it happen again and that’s what matters. He says, they’ll help Madison and Daniel with PADRE. They’ll reunite every child with a their parents who are still out there, then they’ll do what they said and spend time together. Grace says, he once told her that they can handle anything that comes, and that’s what they’re going to do. When do they tell Mo? He says, they were just reunited, and he doesn’t want to take that away from Mo just yet. Mo holds up the photo album, saying, look what she found. She sits to look through it, when a zombie pops out of the rubble and grabs her. Morgan and Grace run over to her, pulling the zombie off and killing it. Morgan asks if she got bit, and Mo says she didn’t, but she thinks the zombie was skunked. He says, forget the photos. They need to look for cans of tomato soup for her. Grace shows Morgan that she got bit during the struggle.

Sherry and Dwight wait at the dock in a shelter, and Sherry worries that Finch hasn’t gotten off the boat yet. Finch comes up behind them. They nearly shoot him, and he runs to them. Dwight suggests he never sneak up on them, when a truck pulls up. Sherry wonders if they’ve been seen, but Morgan gets out, shooting the boat guards. He tells them that he needs their help with Grace, and asks if Finch’s treatment worked. Sherry says, it looks that way, and he says, then they’ve got to get Grace to June. It’s her only chance.

Dwight drives the boat, and Morgan tells Grace to hang on. June can fix this. She says, he doesn’t know that, but he says, no matter what’s coming, they have to live. Grace says she promises they will.

Next time, the boat is attacked; Morgan tells Grace that June has a way to treat bites Shrike asks, why do they think she put the train car on wheels; and Morgan says, they can’t stop him.

🐞 Snug As a Bug In a Rug…

Stop by tomorrow for soap, sailing, and awful Summer people. Until then, stay safe, stay sensible, and stay not sneaking up on anyone during a zombie apocalypse.

May 28, 2023 – The Truth About PADRE & Dreaming

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Madison opens her eyes to a zombie head wrapped in a burlap sack and cinched in a vise above her. She struggles to get up, but realizes she’s tied up and strapped down. A guard comes in and tells her, sorry about the sedative, but it was easier that way. Madison asks if they haven’t taken enough blood, but the guard says, they’ve moved beyond studying her blood. It will be easier if Blue Jay explains. June comes in, and Madison says, Naomi, but June says, that was a long time ago. So long, I forgot she was ever called that. The guard says, PADRE wants her back on the island, and to get Madison ready. Madison asks if June is one of them, but June says, not by choice. Madison wonders if June has been the one drawing her blood, but June says she didn’t even know Madison was alive. She’s done everything she can to put Shrike off. Madison asks, from what? What is Shrike going to do to her? June says, Shrike has ideas on how to cure Carrion bites based on Alicia surviving as long as she did. It’s probably why Shrike was collecting Madison’s blood. It might be something besides radiation, something hereditary. Madison asks if Shrike is right, but June thinks it’s too soon to tell. There’s a boy who’s been responding to the radiation, but it hasn’t even been a week. Madison looks at the head moving around in the bag, and wonders if she can ask June a favor. June says, anything, and Madison says, there’s a file with the names of the children she took; their real names, not the names PADRE gave them. She promised Mo that she’d track down the kids’ parents, but June says, everything she’s tried to do since being at PADRE has blown up in her face. Shrike radios, asking if Madison is ready, and June nods. The guard tells Shrike that she is, and June reminds Madison of how she saved them all when she was left at the stadium. She won’t leave Madison now. She’ll be with her until the end. Madison looks again at the zombie head.

12 years ago. A teenage girl (obviously Shrike when she was younger) and boy walk into a room, and the girl says, they shouldn’t be here. They check out a two-way mirror, when a voice on the loudspeaker asks what they’re doing in here. They’re about to run, when a man in uniform comes in. It’s their dad, and he says, they should have seen their faces. The boy says, the mirror is creepy, and the soldier says, it helps him with meetings. The girl says, he needs to get the mic fixed too, but the soldier says, Sergeant Brenner says it’s probably just a faulty wire. The girl asks if he really has to go today, and the soldier says he wants to show them something.

The girl looks through binoculars and the soldier tells her, it’s a middle-spotted woodpecker. When their mom gave him the binoculars, she said, it was so he’d always see what’s coming. When he saw that bird this morning, he felt like she was trying to tell him that they’d be okay here. These birds live in families, and cooperate to raise their young. If the birds can do it, so can they. A soldier asks if they should load up, calling the man General Kreddick. The general asks for a minute, and his daughter says she hates when he leaves the island, but he says, that’s the way they’re going to help people rebuild; the same way they did this place. Each shipping container is filled with supplies to rebuild. The boy says, it’s dangerous out there. LA and Atlanta were bombed. Kreddick says, they need to seed new communities, calling the boy Ben. The young woman asks how they even know there’s still people out there, and Kreddick asks if they remember Elias and Senator Vasquez. They made contact with Vasquez yesterday. He and his staff are beneath the Franklin Hotel in Galveston. They’re safe. Ben asks why Kreddick can’t stay on the island until it’s safer, but Kreddick says, they’ll never survive here cut off from the world. What will happen when their supplies run out if they don’t have trading partners; other communities to rely on? He promises they’ll be safe here, and tells them to use the code names he gave them if they communicate by radio; it’s for their safety. The boy says he’s Crane, right? and the girl asks why she has to be Shrike. Kreddick says, the shrike may be small, but it’s brutal when it needs to be. Doesn’t hesitate to take care of its family. He tells her to take care of her brother while he’s gone, and she salutes him. He hugs them, says he’ll see them soon, and leaves.

Shrike removes the burlap, revealing the zombie head, which is pretty disgusting, and says, after everything PADRE gave Madison, she betrayed him. This is how she’s going to make it up to him. And she won’t be alone. Nightingale is going to next to her, as soon as they can find him. Madison asks why PADRE is doing this, and Shrike says, for the same reason he does everything. To ensure what he’s built endures.

Running along some railroad tracks, Mo whacks a zombie, and Dove asks if she realizes how far they are from the rest of the group. Mo says she has to do this. They need to see what’s in the railroad car.

Shrike tells Madison, years from now, when people talk about how PADRE was able to stop infections from Carrion bites killing, they’ll remember today. Madison will be a hero.

Mo thinks Finch might be inside. He never came back from his surgery. Dove says, he’s recovering from his surgery, but Mo says, after Finch’s boat got attacked, PADRE sent guards after him. She checked the logs, and it said they went to an old railroad museum, but nothing is there. She thinks someone moved the train car here. Maybe PADRE isn’t telling them the truth. What if something bad happened in there? What if it’s still happening?

June asks to sedate Madison, but Shrike says, she brought PADRE plenty of pain. It’s time she felt a little herself. The head moves closer.

Mo bangs on the tracks with a sledgehammer, and tells Dove that they have to know what’s going on in there. A guard asks what they’re doing, and comes toward them, but they run off.

Madison yells as the head comes closer, when Mo pulls the plug. Shrike tells the guards to get her out of here. Now. As the guards come for Mo, June grabs Shrike’s gun and knocks her out with the butt. Mo yells for June to help, and June stabs the head, then cuts Madison’s bonds, saying, she owes Madison one. June shoots one of the guards, and Madison gets herself free, grabbing Mo, and ducking down with her behind a cabinet. She asks what Mo is doing here, and Mo says they have to get out of here so they can do what they said, but Madison tells her that she’ll never be able to get near the island after this. Mo says her dad can help, but Madison says, until he’s back, they’re on their own. June has a gun battle with the remaining guard, and finally shoots him in the head. Mo tells Madison that they just have to find the prefects, and get through to them the way Madison got through to her. If they do that, the other kids will follow. June gives Madison some oxygen, and Hawk radios Shrike, saying,  they’re done for the day. Shrike reaches for the radio, but Madison kicks it away. Dove comes in, aiming her gun, and tells them not to move. Shrike tells her to call the prefects and tell them to get more guards, but Mo says, don’t. She was going to kill Lark. Dove says, Lark deserves it, and Mo asks if Finch did. Shrike tells Dove not to listen to Mo, and Mo says, Shrike killed him, didn’t she? Shrike says she saved him, but June says, that is a lie. Mo asks where he is, and Shrike says, somewhere his parents can’t do him anymore harm. June says, Shrike is the reason Finch got bit, and Dove asks, what the hell is going on here? Shrike says, she’s ensuring what PADRE built, and ensuring they have a future. Madison asks if that’s what this looks like to Dove, when Hawk radios Dove, asking her location. Shrike tells her to let them know and tell them to get over here, but Madison says, don’t do it. PADRE lied to her about this. Think of what else he’s lied about. Her parents could still be out there and she can help find them. Dove says, they abandoned her because they couldn’t take care of her, but Madison says, that’s not true. Dove asks how she knows, and Madison says she’s the one who took Dove away from her parents. Dove asks their names and where Madison took her from, but Madison says she doesn’t know, but knows Dove’s face. The only one tricking her is PADRE. June says, that’s why PADRE kept this a secret, but they can change that. Madison says she just needs to get to the island. There’s a file there with the names of all the kids she took, and where she took them from. That’s how she can help Dove. That’s how she can help all the kids. Hawk radios again for Dove’s location, but she turns the radio off. She says she’ll help Madison get back to the island. She doesn’t care what’s in the file, but she cares about the truth, and wants to hear it from PADRE. Shrike asks how she’ll do that, and Dove says she can if Shrike helps her. Shrike asks why she would, and Dove holds her gun to Shrike’s head. Shrike says, if Dove kills her, he’ll do worse than she planned to do to Lark today. Dove asks, why is that? and Shrike says, because she’s PADRE’s daughter. They hear something outside.

Kreddick tells the other soldiers, let’s move out, and Shrike peaks out from her hiding place, telling Ben the coast is clear. She says, he shouldn’t be here, but he says he just wants to make sure she’s safe. He sees that their dad forgot his binoculars, and wants to take them to him; he won’t be able to see what’s coming without them. Shrike says, it’s just a superstition. He’ll be fine. Ben says, that’s what they said about mom, and tells her to get out of his way, but she says, no. He shoves her out of the way, and locks her in, using a tool to brace the door shut. He runs after their father.

As they leave the train car, Shrike says, Dove is making a big mistake. Whatever answer she’s looking for, it’s not that. A group comes out of the woods with guns, and a man tells them, hands up. A woman (Diane) says, tell them what they want and no one gets hurt, and Madison says, she knows them. They’re all parents, aren’t they? Diane looks at Dove, who asks what she’s looking at. Diane asks where their kids are. Where’s Adrian? Madison says she doesn’t know any Adrian, but June says, he was here, he’s dead. Diane says, he just wanted to find his daughter, and June says, he did, but she’s dead too. She died a long time ago. Shrike says, because of June, but June says, because of what Shrike made her do. Mo says, if they want to find their kids, Madison can help, but Diane says, she’s with PADRE. Mo says, not anymore. She’s changed. Dove says, PADRE lied to all of them. Shrike is his daughter. Maybe they can find out what else he’s lied about – together. Diane says they’ll wait for the Commander, and Dove asks who that is, when a man tells them, turn around. Madison says, Daniel? and he says, Madison… and June. June says, he’s alive. Diane says, he knows these people? and he says, give them back their weapons. It seems they all have nine lives. Madison says, they’re going to need them.

Walking through the woods, Madison takes more oxygen, Daniel says he often considered the possibility of Madison being alive, but not like this. Madison says she’s not proud of what she did. She just wants a chance to make it right. He says, you and me both. Maybe they can help each other. He’s been looking for that damn island for years. If what she’s telling them is correct, she may be the best and only shot for these folks to get their children back from PADRE. She asks how he wound up with them, and he says, seven years ago, Morgan told PADRE they were out here, and PADRE found them. They brought everyone to a ship to assess them before deciding where they were going to be sent according to their skills and usefulness. Some went to the mainland, some went to the island; others, he doesn’t know where they went. PADRE thought he was too old to be of any use, so they dumped him in the swamp. Madison says she’s sorry, and Daniel says, PADRE was right about one thing, he is old. But PADRE was wrong about everything else. Being old doesn’t mean to be useless. He could take care of himself. So could everyone in the group, except for Charlie. She asks, what happened to Charlie? and he says, Morgan didn’t tell her? She says, Morgan didn’t get to tell her much before PADRE figured out what they were up to and separated them. He says, Charlie became very sick. She was like a daughter to him by then, and he promised he’d stay with her to the end, so she didn’t have to die alone. Like Ofelia. He broke his promise. He wasn’t there for her. He wasn’t there for Luciana either. She says she’s sorry, and knows Morgan would be too, and he says he had no purpose. Then he found these folks; this angry, desperate group of people in search of their kidnapped children. It gave him a purpose. He organized and trained them, and made them into an army. They’re strong and getting stronger, because there’s more of them out there. He lost his family, but he’s going to fight to help them get back theirs. She says, maybe he hasn’t lost all of his family. The files. There’s not just the kids in there. Luciana, Charlie, maybe he can find out what happened to them.

Dove says, maybe they can use the transport boat to get back to the island, and Shrike asks if she’s sure she wants to go down this road. Daniel suggests Shrike stop asking questions and start answering some, and Madison says, like who else knows she’s PADRE’s daughter? Shrike says, not many, and Daniel asks why her father separates children from their parents, but doesn’t do the same to himself. Shrike says, they don’t get it, but Madison says, they do. He’s an a-hole, like every other a-hole who runs places like this. Shrike says, he’s not. PADRE believes in the way the place is run and how they do things; he has for a very long time. Madison says, that makes no sense, and June says, she’s right. Why are they killing people for an experiment that will never pay off? Shrike says, it will pay off. Look at Finch. Madison asks, what happened to Shrike’s father? Why’d he build a place like this? Dove says, they’ve got to go, and Diane asks where Dove came from before PADRE, but Dove doesn’t know. Why does she care? Diane asks if Dove knows her, but Dove says she’s never seen the woman before. A bunch of guys from PADRE come out with guns, and one says, move away from the boat now. Madison says, they don’t understand. Shrike is PADRE’s daughter. They’ve been lied to. Daniel says, PADRE has been ripping families apart, yet kept his daughter by his side all this time. Mo says, it’s true, calling the guy Hawk. PADRE’s been lying to them all this time. Shrike suggests they focus more on getting her out of there, and Hawk says, Mo and Dove don’t have to go along with this anymore. Dove says, they’re going to the island, and Mo says, they’re going to get some answers from PADRE. Hawk asks who they are to question PADRE, and Dove says, it’s not just her. She’s seen some sh*t today. On the train. PADRE has a lot to explain. He says, she’s not thinking straight, and Daniel tells Hawk, the same could be said for him. All these people have lost children to PADRE. Maybe they could find Hawk’s parents. Hawk says, their parents abandoned them, but Diane says, we didn’t. We’ve been fighting this whole time. Daniel suggests Hawk’s group join them; fight alongside them. Hawk tells Dove to just hand her over, but Dove says, no. He says, maybe she’ll listen to PADRE, and takes out his radio, but Madison goes behind Shrike (who I keep wanting to call Shrek) and grabs her, holding a knife to her throat. She says, they can’t wait any longer. If PADRE knows they’re coming, they’ll destroy the files. Hawk asks, what files? and Madison says, the ones that say where Dove came from; who her parents are. Who all their parents are. Hawk says, they’ll make sure she never gets it. They’re not getting on that boat. Daniel says, they’re going to have to go through them, but Hawk asks if Daniel doesn’t think he’d shoot an old man. Mo stands in front of Daniel, and says, he might, but would he shoot her? Daniel says, they’ll hold them off, and tells Madison to go, but she says she’s not leaving Mo. Mo tells her, get that file. If Madison can show Dove the truth, the rest of the kids will follow. Go. June, Dove, Shrike, and Madison get on the boat, and Madison drives it away.

Ben runs through a container yard, yelling for his dad, while Sam/Shrike frees herself from the boat. She runs after him, calling his name, but it’s like a container maze, and she hits a dead end. She sees a container with DEAD HERE spray painted on it, reminiscent of the DEAD INSIDE sign Rick saw in the first Walking Dead episode. She hears Ben yelling for help, and zombies growling. A couple of them have cornered Ben, and more come and surround him. Shrike calls his name.

Finch sits in an interrogation room, and over the intercom, PADRE says he thinks it’s time Finch told them where he’s been. Finch asks what he means, and PADRE says, he was bit, but he’s still here. Healthy. Thriving. Finch asks where Red Kite is, and Starling, and PADRE says, they’ve been reassigned. Somewhere they can’t cause him any more harm. Finch says, they saved him, but PADRE says, they saved him. Over the radio, a man says, they have a situation, and the guard asks, what kind of situation? Madison says, they have his daughter. How about telling their guards to stand aside so they can have a chat? Shrike tells Madison not to do this, but Madison says, time to stop hiding behind the mirror and tell the truth. Shrike says, he doesn’t have to answer for anything, but Madison says, yes, he does. Every kid wants to know why they were ripped away from their parents, but he wouldn’t do the same with his own daughter. Over the radio, Daniel tells Madison that they got away and asks if Dove is still with her. One of their people thinks she might be Dove’s mother. He hands the radio to Diane, who says she didn’t think it was possible, but a mother knows. Shrike says, don’t fall for this crap, and Diane says, Dove’s name is Alex, and she was taken outside Baton Rouge years ago. She thinks it was that woman, Lark. She searched for so long. She sang You Are My Sunshine as they took Alex away. She never stopped looking. Shrike says, this woman is just trying to get into Dove’s head, but Madison says, stop lying to her. Shrike says she’s not lying, and Madison says, there’s one way to find out. Dove’s file. They want it. Shrike says she’s making a mistake, but Madison says, do it, or she tells everyone here who Shrike really is. PADRE says, give her what she wants, and Madison tells Dove that she’s about to get the answers she came here for.

Inside, a guard plops a box on the table, and Shrike says, there’s something Dove needs to understand before she sees that file. Madison asks, what’s that? They already know this place is built on a lie. Shrike says, it’s not what they think. It’s the only way to protect them from what happened here before. Madison asks PADRE, what happened before? but he says he doesn’t answer to her. She tells him, he always says he never lost a kid, but she doesn’t know if that’s true. Who did they lose?

Ben is totally hemmed in, whimpering, as Sam watches. There’s gunshots, and the zombies drop. Kreddick asks what they’re doing here, and Ben throws his arms around his father. Ben gives him the binoculars, saying, he forgot these, and Kreddick says, he has to get them out of here. The shipyard’s a pool of the dead. More zombies show up, and Kreddick shoots, but runs out of ammunition. The three of them take off.

Madison asks again, what happened here?

Kreddick says, they have to get back to the boat, but zombies are coming out of everywhere, and they’re completely trapped.

Shrike says, Madison is never going to get her father to admit to anything. Madison says, why is that? and picks up a sledgehammer she conveniently found on the way in.

Kreddick shoves the closest zombie away, and gives Shrike a boost to the top of a container. He shoves more zombies, and boosts Ben up.

Madison asks why he won’t answer them.

Ben reaches down, and Kreddick takes his hand, but they slip apart. The zombies start to feed on Kreddick, and he tells Ben, don’t let this die. It’s too important.

Madison smashes the two-way mirror with the sledgehammer.

Kreddick – who, to his credit, is taking this like a champ – says he loves them both. Ben and Shrike watch as the zombies envelop him, and a single tear rolls down Shrike’s cheek.

Madison sees Ben behind the mirror.

Kreddick goes down in a sea of zombies, as Ben cries.

Shrike says, her father can’t answer Madison because her father is dead. She and her brother lost him a long time ago. Dove wanted to ask PADRE for the truth. Go ahead. Ask them. They are PADRE.

Shrike watches the zombies mill around, her father now one of them.

Madison asks how this went from what their father was doing to what they’re doing now. Shrike says, they didn’t know how to go on.

Still on top of a container, Ben brings out a gun and says he found it inside. Shrike takes it, and in a voiceover, she says, what did they even have to go on for? In the past, a guy over the radio Shrike is holding asks if PADRE 1 copies.

Shrike says, but then the universe answered, and Ben says, it was one of the kids from the island. He wanted to know what happened to his parents. They all did. Shrike says, they knew what it would do to the kids if they knew their parents died; how it would break them. Madison says, so they lied, and Shrike says, they told them that their parents abandoned them. Their parents knew they couldn’t take care of them, so they fled. Madison says, and they believed it? and Ben says, their parents left and never came back. What else were they supposed to think? Shrike says, they told the kids that they’d face this new world together without their parents; that they’d be better for it. Madison says, and the shipyard? Those containers? Shrike says, their father died protecting what was inside. They made sure it stayed that way. Madison asks, how? but Ben says, it doesn’t concern her. June asks how they recruited adults. They were just a bunch of kids. Ben says, it was easy. They made them believe he was still here, and they kept on believing it. Dove asks why they lied, and Shrike says, to protect them. Dove asks, from what? and Shrike says, open it. It’s what she wanted. Madison looks through the files until she finds the one for Dove. Shrike says, go on. Tell Dove who she is. Madison sees that her name was Odessa and her mother was Ava Sanderson. She flashes back to Ava saying, she cried when Madison pulled Odessa away from her on the beach. Madison says, no, and Dove asks, what’s wrong? Shrike says, go on. She deserves the truth. Madison says, her name is Odessa, and Dove says, her parents? Madison says she knew Dove’s mother. Her name was Ava. Shrike asks, what happened to Ava? and Madison flashes back to killing zombie Ava. Madison says, she died, and Shrike asks, how? Madison says, she was trying to take Dove back from PADRE, and Shrike asks, who made her believe that was possible? Madison flashes back to telling Ava that they can help her and her baby, and Dove says, her mother is dead because of Madison? She slams Madison up against the wall, and June tells her, no. Dove says, Madison made her believe in something more, and puts her gun to Madison’s head. Shrike says, let her go, but Dove says, she needs to pay for this. Shrike says, she will, but not this way, and Ben radios the guards, telling Dove to stand down. The guards come in, and Madison asks what Shrike is going to do now. Shrike says, they’re going to continue what they started on the train, and June says, like hell they are, but Ben says she doesn’t have a choice. She says, he’s a monster, but Shrike says, she and her brother are protecting these kids from the worst pain of all; the pain of losing a parent. Madison asks what that has to do with the train. The experiments? Ben says, as long as the world is the way it is, children will continue to experience unimaginable loss, but if there’s a cure, that would change everything. Seriously? No one has thought of that before this? Shrike says, they can go back to family, to connection. But in the meantime, they’re going to protect these kids the way they always have. She holds out the microphone to Madison and asks if she wants to tell the kids she rescued the truth. Go ahead. Let the whole island hear… That’s what she thought. The guard takes Madison and June, and Dove leaves with Shrike.

June, Madison, and Dove are on a boat with two guards, Shrike driving. Madison asks what Nick and Alicia were like, and June says she doesn’t think Madison would have recognized them. The boat stops, and Dove says, let’s go. They start to walk through the woods, when Daniel, Mo, and company come out. Daniel says, they’ve got to stop meeting like this. The guards draw their guns, but Daniel says, let their people go, and they’ll walk away. No one has to get hurt. They’ve got another 12 soldiers deep in the woods, and they’ve got their prefects. Shrike says, they wouldn’t, but Daniel asks if she wants to take that chance. Shrike signals the guards, who lower their weapons, and some of Daniel’s group disarm everyone. Diane says, Alex? but Dove says, that’s not her name, and Diane isn’t her mother. Her mother’s dead. Because of Madison. June says, Dove can still have a family, even if it’s not who she thought. She said Madison made her believe in something more. That’s still there. Come with them. Dove doesn’t say anything, and Shrike says, looks like she made her choice. And every other kid on that island is going to make the same one. Remember that. Mo says, no, they won’t, and Madison tells Daniel that she’s sorry. Diane says, this was a mistake; she can’t help them. Daniel says, yes, she can, but Madison says, she’s right. Those kids are never going to follow her; not after everything she’s done. Diane says, not just them, and Madison says she’s not the leader they need. But she thinks she knows who might be. Mo asks, who’s that? and Madison says, your father. They walk off, leaving Shrike and Dove on the path.

Zombies growl behind a metal fence, as Shrike watches them. She asks if Crane copies. He says he does, and she says, he was supposed to meet her. Ben says, after what happened, being out in the open doesn’t seem like a good idea, but she says, they’ve got a bigger problem. The parents know where the island is, which means it’s only a matter of time until they get here. Ben looks at an old photo of him, Shrike, and their father, and says, they’ll destroy everything they’ve built. She says, not if they’re not here. It doesn’t matter if they know who they are. What matters is that what they’ve built survives. He asks how they’re going to do that, and she says, by expanding. They’re going to do what dad said. Ben says, there are thousands of Carrion in that shipyard. Carrion they put there to protect what’s inside. She says, they taught the kids to fight for a reason. It’s time the kids showed them what they’ve learned.

We see tons of zombies in the shipyard.

Next time, Dwight tells Morgan that there’s nowhere to go; Morgan says, they’re trying to burn them out; Mo calls to her dad for help; and Grace says, they’ll kill him if he doesn’t tell them what happened.

🧟‍♀️ Don’t Be a Stranger…

Stop by tomorrow for what’s on Deck, and smack talk about awful people reuniting and talking smack about each other. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering those we’ve lost in service to our country on Memorial Day, and stay knowing that if you ask for the truth, it might not be what you think it is, or what you want to hear.

May 26, 2023 – Willow’s Transplant Begins, B&B Reunion, OC Coming Up, VanderNatter, Begging, Revelations, Who Is It, Fashion Cat, Half a Dozen Quotes Plus One & We Gotta

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly tells Sonny that Donna wants pancakes tomorrow, and he says, there’s plenty in the freezer. Carly tells him that Donna also wants to save some for Willow, and he says, it’s a great kid they’ve got. Carly’s phone rings, and she steps out to take it, leaving Sonny alone with the moss bowl🎍. Drew asks if there’s any word from the hospital, but Carly says, no, but they’re about to head over there because she wants to be there when Willow has her procedure. He says, of course (🍷). He’s sending good thoughts. She says, he’s not coming? and he says he thought he should stick around to see if he can dig up any dirt on Tracy to leverage Ned to use his influence on the SEC. She says, they’re going ahead with Plan A, huh? and he says, absolutely. There’s one way out of this, and they’re going to find it. She goes back in the kitchen, and Sonny tosses her a towel, and hands her a bowl to dry.

On the phone, Nina says, the patient’s name is Willow Corinthos… She is family. Nina Reeves. She’s Willow’s mother… Her daughter was scheduled to do a bone marrow transplant, and she just wants to see how she’s doing… She knows they can’t… There’s a knock at the door, and she says she’ll call them back. She tells them, thanks – she hangs up the phone – for nothing. She lets Diane in and says, Diane’s a lawyer. Diane agrees that she is, and Nina asks if there’s any way she can sue the hospital to get information on her daughter. Diane says she never – almost never – gives out free advice, but in this instance she will for the good of everyone involved. If Nina would like to find out about her daughter, ask her. Now will Nina tell Sonny that she’s here; he’s expecting her. Nina says, he’s not here. He had to share some news with Carly. Diane says, that’s right. May I? She says she heard congratulations are in order, and looks at Nina’s ring, adding, for the jeweler.

Anna meets Robert at the MetroCourt, and thanks him for making time in his busy schedule. He says, she made it sound important. Is it a business proposal? She says, personal. Holly. She’s trying to reach Holly, but she’s gone radio silent. Given their last conversation, she’s a little bit concerned something’s happened. Robert says, something has happened, and it’s all his fault.

Tracy says, that’s gratitude for you. After all she went through to get Brook and Chase back together. Olivia says, that explains the serenade on the terrace, and hugs Brook. She says she’s happy for Brook, and Ned says he’s glad Chase finally let Brook out of the doghouse. If only they could all be that lucky. Olivia says, it’s neither the time nor the place, and Brook says, Olivia still can’t think Ned is the one who blew the whistle on Carly and Drew, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) he did, and he deserves a medal. Ned says, no he doesn’t because he didn’t. Brook believes him. Why can’t his own wife? Drew comes in, and Olivia says she’d like to believe Ned. Drew says he’d like to believe Ned too. Just give him one good reason.

Sonny asks how the SEC situation with Carly and Drew is going (didn’t they just have this conversation?), and she says, they’re not going down without a fight. Sonny says his offer still stands. If she wants to turn him in to the Feds, she can. Just let him know what she’s going to do beforehand. She thanks him, but says, it’s too big of a risk, and he says, let him be the judge of that. She says, if the situations were reversed, would he turn her in? He asks what she thinks, when Josslyn walks in and asks, what’s he doing here?

TJ tells Willow that it’s not going to hurt. The donating was the hard part. The transplant itself isn’t that different from a blood transfusion. So all Willow needs to do is sit back and relax. Wiley knocks at the window, and says, hi mommy. Michael calls, and Willow asks, who is this, and how did you get my number? He says, her fan club misses her, but she says, not as much as she misses them. Wiley says he loves her, and she says, her too.

Ned asks how he could do this to Drew and Carly when Willow is so sick. The answer is simple; he couldn’t, and he didn’t. Drew says he would believe Ned, if he hadn’t threatened to do just that, and Olivia says, he’s right. Ned said he was going to do this. Ned tells her, he said he might consider it, which was an empty threat, but even if he had considered it, he never followed through with it. Brook says, that’s enough. Get back to their corners. Shame on Ned. And shame on Drew for focusing on the SEC and that whole mess. None of that matters compared to what Willow is facing today. Tracy says, exactly, and thanks Brook for reminding this family of what’s really important. Why can’t they come together instead of pulling each other apart? Olivia can’t believe this is what it’s come to, and Tracy says, when Brook is the voice of reason, no one is more surprised than she is. Olivia says, and Tracy being the voice of family unity, but Tracy says she’s always advocated for family unity. Drew asks if she didn’t withhold medication from Edward when he was having a heart attack (ha-ha!), and Brook says, she sure did. Ned says, famously, and Tracy says, if there was one person who could attest to her devotion to the well-being and the happiness and the harmony of this family, it would be her granddaughter. Olivia laughs, and says she gets it. Tracy got Brook and Chase back together, and now she wants Brook to feel like she owes her something. Tracy says, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice. Ned asks if Tracy is feeling well, but Olivia says, trust her. Tracy is feeling just fine. How exactly is doing right by her granddaughter’s heart a sacrifice? What exactly did she give up? Or by some chance did she stand to gain something. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s grateful for her grandmother helping get her and Chase back together – Tracy says, Brook is more than welcome – but like her dad said, kindness in this house usually comes at a price. Ned says, whatever the price was, he hopes she can afford it, and Brook says, let’s just say she’s glad she’s back at work. Olivia asks, what work? and Brook says she’s back at Deception. Ned asks, what about her music? and she says, he knows she can’t sing anymore. He says he thought she was putting together a list of artists to manage. Things were going well, right? Why give that up?

Diane says, maybe she should just wait in the lobby until Sonny gets back, but Nina says, now that she and Sonny are engaged, she was hoping his friends can be her friends. Diane says she might just have to settle for cordial, and Nina says, in the spirit of cordiality, maybe they can get past their differences and try to get along. Diane says, their differences? Like the time she shredded Nina on the stand, and got a judge to deny her visitation to see her grandson? Nina says, Diane was doing her job; it wasn’t personal. Diane says, no, it wasn’t, and Nina says, the least she can do is admire Diane’s skill. Diane says, and she admires Nina’s, and Nina says she doesn’t think Diane is as cynical as she wants the world to believe. Diane says, Nina’s got her. She’s absolutely right. In fact, what Nina sees standing before her is the warm and fuzzy Diane. Nina says, let her just throw something out there. As one woman speaking to another… Diane says she’s going to be charging Sonny for this conversation, but Nina says, this isn’t legal advice. This is just a get to know ya thing. Diane says, now she’s charging him double, and I can totally see her in a Noel Coward play. Nina says she loves her job at Crimson, but it wasn’t until she was in Nixon Falls that she realized the magazine shouldn’t be her whole life. Diane asks if she’s considered a puppy, and Nina says she has a family, a small one; a daughter and two grandchildren who are in her thoughts. Is there someone in Diane’s? Is there anyone special in her life? If not, why? I’ve never thought of it before, but other than Max being a boyfriend for a time, we’ve never seen Diane’s family.

Carly says, Sonny stopped by to talk to Donna, and Donna insisted her daddy make her pancakes. I get distracted by the way they’re standing around the moss bowl🎍, and Josslyn asks if he told Carly that she stopped by his office. Carly says, he did; he did not tell her why. Sonny says, that’s because it was a private matter between Josslyn and him, and Josslyn says, she asked him for a favor, and he said no. Sonny says he told her to have her friend come to him, but they don’t need to rehash this. He’s got to go. He asks Carly to tell Michael and Willow that he’s praying for them, and she says she will. He leaves, and Josslyn says she thought there was a schedule for visitations. Carly says, there is, but some things need to be said face-to-face, and Josslyn says, like what? Carly says, like Sonny and Nina are engaged.

Wiley asks if Willow is coming home, and Willow says she’s going to do her best. TJ scraps his sterile jumpsuit, and Michael asks if there’s anything he can do to make things easier for Willow. TJ says, it looks like he’s already doing it. Seeing all of them is the best medicine she can get. Sasha joins them, and says, looks like a party. She takes the phone, and says, how’s the guest of honor? Willow says, just happy to see everybody, and Sasha suggests she keep the kids entertained so Michael can have some time with Willow. Michael asks if Wiley wants some playtime with Aunt Sasha, and Wiley says he’ll ask Amelia. He whispers to Amelia, then listens, and tells them, she says, yes. Sasha says, let’s do it, and TJ asks if he can join. Sasha says, the more, the merrier, and they leave. Willow thanks Michael for bringing them, and he says he didn’t have much of a choice; Wiley insisted. She says she’s so scared, and he says, him too. One thing he does know is, they didn’t make it this far, they didn’t go to hell and back just to lose each other now. She says she wishes she could kiss him one last time, and he says, she will, but it’s not going to be the last time. This is just the beginning.

Carly tells Josslyn that they need to get to the hospital. Willow’s procedure is starting soon, and she wants to be there for Michael. Josslyn says she doesn’t know if Michael wants to see her right now, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says, they had a fight. And now Sonny wants to officially make Nina a member of the family that she set out to destroy? Carly says, first of all, this family is just fine, and Sonny and Nina being engaged is kind of a relief. Josslyn asks how Carly can say that, and Carly says, Sonny’s committed to Nina, and she’s committed to Drew. Josslyn says, so no harm, no foul? but Carly says, there was a lot of harm and a lot of foul, but it’s just like a clean break. Josslyn wonders why Sonny didn’t tell her when she was alone with him in his office, and Carly asks, why would he? He knows how she feels about Nina. Josslyn says she hasn’t made that a secret, and Carly says, the secret here is why Josslyn went to see Sonny in the first place. Josslyn says, she told Carly; she was asking him for a favor. Carly says, Dex, and Josslyn says, yes. She went to see him about Dex. Carly asks, why? Did she want Sonny to give Dex a raise? Josslyn says, no. She wanted Sonny to fire him.

Anna says, so Holly just left town without so much as a farewell, and Robert says, at least she didn’t have to fake an escape from the towering inferno, third degree burns, and hospitalization. This time it was just goodbye. Anna says, it never is just goodbye with the two of them though, is it? and Robert says, they decided you can’t recapture the past, no matter how much you might want to. And this time when they said their farewells, they really meant them. Anna takes his hand, and says, sorry. Did Holly tell him about Ethan? Robert says, yeah, and all the trouble he’s in, and she asks if Holly told him that she was willing to go back to the Bureau to pay off his debts. He says, apparently, she decided on a shortcut. A deal with the devil… Selina Wu. He told her there were alternatives; that he wanted to help. She doesn’t want him involved. Anna says, Holly’s protecting him, which proves she still does really care about him. He says, caring was never the issue, and she asks, what is the issue? Is her name Diane?

Diane tells Nina that she’s sorry. There seems to be some kind of confusion that she wants to dispel Nina of. They’re not friends, and as such, questions into her personal life and relationships are unwelcome. She knows Nina is going through a tough time, wanting to see Willow and not being able to do so. She feels for Nina. Nina say she gets it. She’s never been able to make friends very easily. Just so Diane knows, she’d be with Willow right now. She’d be in the hospital room if she didn’t owe Sonny so much. She didn’t want to run into Carly or Michael, and have another clash. She doesn’t want to make Sonny’s life more complicated than she already has. Diane says she admires that restraint, and just so Nina knows, she hopes Nina really does make him happy. Nina says she does, when Sonny walks in and asks if everything is okay. Diane says, yeah. Congratulations. Sonny says, thanks, and Nina asks how it went with Carly and Donna. He says he and Donna made pancakes, and Diane suggests they talk in private, but Sonny says he was going to tell Nina anyway. Diane says, there’s talk going around town, but Sonny already knows that, and Sonny says, it looks like the DOJ may have made Carly an offer. Nina asks if they’re pressuring Carly to turn on Drew, but Sonny says, no. They’re pressuring Carly to turn on him.

Drew says, it’s no secret how Brook feels about music. She must have had a compelling reason to go back to Deception. Brook says, after all the craziness with Linc, she was craving stability and a little less drama, and Ned says, but she really enjoyed being a manager, and she was damn good at it. Brook says she realized she wants to write music, not manage it, and working back at Deception allows her the freedom to do that. Drew says, she’s got romance, she’s got freedom, she’s got creativity. It’s almost like she has her own fairy godmother. He looks at Tracy, and Brook says, you could say that. Drew asks if Tracy doesn’t wish she had one. She could wish herself straight back to Amsterdam. Tracy says she could also buy a plane ticket, and everyone says, don’t let us stop you, in unison. Tracy says, wow. If she didn’t know better, she’d say her loving family couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Drew says, come on. They don’t feel that way… Do you? Everyone gives soap looks.

Tracy says, as much as she hates disappointing her loved ones, she has no plans on leaving any time soon. Don’t all cheer at once. Brook says she’s glad Tracy is here, and not just because Tracy helped get her and Chase back together. Tracy tells her that she’d say she did a little more than help, and Olivia says, and she has. Ned says, repeatedly, and Brook says, Tracy is always there when she needs her, even if it’s just to tell her no. Tracy asks when she’s ever denied Brook anything, and Ned says, this is all too much. Olivia says, on that happy note, she has to go. Big meeting at the MetroCourt. Tracy says, no words of reassurance for her mother-in-law? and Olivia says she has plenty of words for Tracy.

Ned follows Olivia out, and tells her that he’s not the one who turned them in. How can he convince her? Olivia says, as it happens, she ran into Carly at the MetroCourt last night. It was pretty tense. Carly was demanding to know why she didn’t kick him to the curb. He says, maybe because he’s her husband, and she says, and Carly’s her best friend. That’s not nothing. And asks much as she wants to believe him, the thing she can’t get out of her mind, he flat out accused Carly and Drew of insider trading, and the next thing anybody knows, somebody blows the whistle. He says, somebody, but not him.

Nina says, to think she felt sorry for Carly that she has to worry about Michael and Willow during all this, and now she’s going to throw Sonny under the bus to save herself? Sonny says, she won’t, but Nina asks how he can know that. Diane says she really thinks she and Sonny… but Sonny says, no. He wants Nina to hear it. It’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone who’s close to him. Nina says she knows Carly told him that she wouldn’t do it, but what else is she going to say? He’s making pancakes for the daughter he shares with her. She had to have been tempted. He says he told her that she should do it. The Feds come after him, he’s prepared. She made it clear she won’t do it. Nina says, what if the Feds come to Carly and make her choose between her children and him?

Michael tells Sasha that Willow’s asking for her, and she leaves. TJ says he should go check on the preparations. He’ll see Michael in a minute, and Michael sees Wiley coloring. He says he’s going to let Wiley in on a little secret. Color outside the lines. That hardly seems Michael type advice.

Carly asks if Dex wants out or does Josslyn want Dex out. Josslyn says, Dex wants out, and Carly says, then Dex can tell Sonny himself. Josslyn tells her, that’s what Sonny said, and Carly says, sounds like Sonny. What did Dex say? Josslyn says, he wasn’t happy about it at first, but… Carly says, he knew her heart was in the right place. Is this what’s going on with her and Michael? Josslyn says, Michael just doesn’t approve of her and Dex, and Carly says, overprotective big brother. Josslyn says, something like that, but if he needs them, that’s all that matters, and Carly says, he needs them. So let’s go.

Willow picks up the phone, and Sasha says, she rang? Willow says she did. She thought if anyone could understand, it was Sasha. She remembers when Sasha was in isolation. Sasha says she hated it, but she made it through, and so will Willow. Willow says, ever since she’s been in here, she’s felt like a soldier in a foxhole, and Sasha says, that just means Willow is a fighter, which they already knew. Willow says, it got her thinking. You hear about soldiers that with their last dying breath, call out for their mothers. If worse comes to worse, who does she call out for? The mother who raised her and turned out to be a fraud and a murderer, or the mother who gave birth to her and couldn’t stand her until she found out they were related? Sasha doesn’t need to answer that; she’s just being silly. Sasha says, it’s not silly. It’s just something she won’t know until it happens, and it’s not going to. Willow says, they don’t know that, but Sasha says, they know they’re in the homestretch. So don’t think about dying; think about living. Think about Michael and Wiley and Amelia. Think about all the people who love her so much, and need her. Today is just like any other day in her life, except she’s been given a great gift. Willow knows how precious life is, and how quickly it can disappear, so she can be the soldier who fights for every breath, for every second, and win. Willow says, no wonder Sasha was such a hit on TV. She can sell anything. Even hope.

Carly and Josslyn find Michael, and Carly asks if they missed the kids. Michael says, the nanny just took them home, but Wiley left him a crayon so he wouldn’t miss mommy. Carly says she loves Wiley, and she loves Michael so much. He says he loves her too, and they hug. He says, hi to Josslyn, and Carly says, everything is okay, right? Josslyn says, everything is fine. All that matters is that Willow gets better, right? Michael says, right.

Sonny says, Carly isn’t giving him up, and Nina says she’s sure he knows best. She has to go to the MetroCourt. She loves him. Just let her know how he is; let her know how Willow is. He says he’ll keep her posted. Willow is in good hands; so is he. Nina leaves, and Sonny tells Diane, go ahead. Tell him what she knows that he doesn’t.

Robert says, Holly’s a friend, and Anna says, he comes barging into her house, when she’s jetlagged and exhausted, demanding they talk. He bites Valentin’s head off, all because, she thinks, he’s love torn. He says he had a moment of weakness, but she says, no, he was flummoxed about how two bright, beautiful women could be interested in him. He says he wasn’t flummoxed or love torn, and she says, conflicted, confused, whatever. She thinks maybe Holly did him a favor by bowing out. Because while it might be disappointing not to have two women vying for his affections, on the bright side, he still does have one.

Olivia says she’s doing her best to stand by Ned. She knows how much ELQ means to him, and she knows how hurt he was when he felt pushed aside. He says he sided with Valentin because it was the right thing to do for ELQ. Yes, he lashed out when he thought the company – their family legacy – was being threatened by a hostile takeover, but he’s not a snitch and he’s going to prove it to her. She asks what he’s going to do, and he says, show her once and for all that he’s the man she married; a man deserving of her love and her trust. He kisses her, and she asks him to promise her that he’s not going to do anything stupid. She leaves, and Tracy says, that’s touching, but if he asks her, he’s wasting his time.

Drew says he gets the impression Brook is less than thrilled having her grandmother back, and she says she loves her grandmother, and owes her big time. He says, for helping her and Chase get back together, and she asks where he heard about that. He says, the tenth or eleventh time it was said, he picked up on it, and Brook says, she can be very generous, and he says, but? She says, but her grandmother’s generosity usually comes with a price.

Olivia asks if she’s late or Nina is early, and Nina tells her, let’s just say, we’re both here at exactly the right moment. Olivia says she’ll take it. She sees Nina’s ring, and says, that’s quite a rock. She sees why Nina and Sonny were in such a good mood last night. Nina says, they’re engaged, and Olivia says, congratulations. She wishes them every happiness, and Nina thanks her. She says, in case Olivia was wondering, Sonny already told the news to Carly and Donna, and they all made pancakes together. Olivia says, so Carly’s taking it in stride, and Nina says, apparently. She’s sure Carly will tell Olivia how she really feels, given how close they are. Olivia says, not anymore. Carly can’t understand why she hasn’t kicked Ned to the curb for what he did to her and Drew. Nina asks, what did Ned say? and Olivia says, Ned swears up and down he didn’t turn them in to the SEC, and Nina asks if Olivia believes him. Olivia says she’d really like to, but she keeps asking herself; if Ned didn’t do it, who did?

Diane says, it’s just a rumor, but Sonny said himself, it’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone close to him, and who’s closer to him than Carly? Sonny asks if the rumors say who gave up Carly and Drew, and Diane says, no. The insider trading tip was anonymous, but there’s a strong suspicion that it was Ned Quartermaine. He tells her, that’s what Carly says, but why would Ned do that to Carly and Drew a year after the fact? Now that the Feds are involved, he thinks Carly and Drew are just a means to an end. Diane says, so he thinks the Feds have been monitoring him, and saw Drew and Carly mess up, and pointed the SEC in her direction in order to pressure her to flip on him? That would mean there was no insider tip, and this whole thing was just an excuse to get this investigation rolling. That means the SEC is doing the Justice Department a favor. Sonny says, maybe, but he’s not letting Ned off the hook just yet, because he’s more than capable of stabbing Drew and Carly in the back. Do him a favor. Find out how and why the Feds got involved. Anything she can come up with. She says she’s pretty much exhausted all her resources, and he says, what about the DA? She says, Robert Scorpio? Why would the District Attorney of Port Charles have any information as to the government’s investigation? He says, it’s no secret that Robert has strong ties to DC through the Bureau, and she asks, what makes him think Robert would tell her? He says, because she’s the best. She has a way of being persuasive. She says she has to go, and he says, to see Carly? She says, confidential. She can’t possibly tell him. And as for Robert Scorpio, she’ll think about it. Before she goes, he tells her, don’t think too long. She leaves, and Sonny tells the guard, bring the car around now.

Carly and Josslyn come to the window, and Michael says, more of Willow’s fan club. Carly takes the phone, and says, they just want to tell her how much they love her. Josslyn says, she’s the best sister-in-law ever. Willow says, back at her, and TJ says he’s sorry, but he means it this time. Everyone leaves except Michael, and he says he had a speech planned, all these things he was going to say, but right now all that matters is she knows how much he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he leaves. She hangs up the phone, and tells TJ that she’s ready.

Robert tells Anna that as far as he knows, Diane isn’t interested anymore, beyond them sparring in court. Diane comes in, and Anna says, why doesn’t he ask her? She’s going to take her cue. She leaves, and Diane and Robert look at each other.

Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s sorry Olivia has cause to doubt Ned, and Olivia says, her too. Nina tells her, she can’t believe she’s saying this, but poor Carly and Drew to be put in this position, and Olivia says, what position? Nina says, it’s just rumors; she shouldn’t have said anything. Olivia says, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and knowledge is power. Why doesn’t Nina tell her the rumors, and she’ll decide for herself if she wants to believe them. Nina tells her, like she said, it’s just talk, but it seems like the government is using Carly and Drew’s legal problems to get to Sonny.

In the foyer, Ned asks if Tracy is home to stay, and she asks if that would be a problem. He says, of course (🍷) not, but you know what they say about idle hands. She says, don’t worry. She knows how to stay busy. He says, that’s what he’s afraid of.

Brook says, what makes Drew think he owes Tracy anything? and he says, maybe because she was trying so hard to sell everybody on the joys of being back at Deception. She says she loves her job; it’s steady and plays to her strengths. He says he knows what music means to her, writing it and managing artists, so if anything or anyone is making her choose… Tracy comes in and says she needs to borrow her granddaughter, and Drew leaves, turning to look at Brook before going out the door.

Sasha says, Willow may look fragile, but she’s tough as nails, and Michael thanks her for coming. She asks him to call her when Willow’s awake, and leaves. Josslyn says, Sasha’s right. Willow is unstoppable. Carly tells Michael that he and Willow love each other like crazy. Now there’s Wiley and Amelia, and their love is stronger than ever. Don’t forget that. She hugs him, and Sonny walks in.

TJ asks if Willow is ready, and she says she can’t wait. He tells her, like he said before, all she needs to do is sit back and relax. Let the bone marrow do its thing. If all goes well, she’ll have nothing but healthy cells in her body, and a whole new lease on life. The transplant begins, and Willow flashes back to bringing Amelia home, and telling Wiley that Amelia will need his help.

On (presumably) Tuesday, Curtis says he has two choices, give up or give in; Portia says she has other options; Spencer says, it’s funny how your life can change in an instant; and Drew says, the less someone knows, the better.

🕺🏻 Still Duke To Me…

He’s allowed in the clubhouse since he was once on GH.

🍊 What Happens In the OC…

Frankly, I was glad to see Tamra go. Now we have to watch her very lit throughout the season. Cringing at the thought.

🍸 Welcome To the Cheap Seats…

He’s not just the most awful human being on earth, a title once only held by Jax, he’s also an idiot.

Another genius and more tidbits.

About that open relationship thing.

Brittany deserves to be heard. Apparently she tamed the previously reigning king of awful people. Maybe. We’ll see.

🍑 Will Work For Hair Extensions…

I could definitely see her at the casino. It kind of bummed me out when the news of their divorce broke. Surprisingly, I liked their Don’t Be Tardy show with its kookie family vibe. Oh well.

👨🏻‍💼 Likes and Dislikes…

Andy reveals all. Well, some anyway.

⚰️ Guessing Game…

Something to ponder.

🐈‍⬛ Karl’s Furry Muse…

It’s not always about the dog… although it should be. (Just kidding. Kind of.)

🐡 Quotes of the Week

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don’t really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren’t really an ending; some things are never-ending. – C. JoyBell C.

When you’re through changing, you’re through. – Martha Stewart

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.René Descartes

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. – Edmund Burke

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.Albert Einstein

Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot

🪦 By hero, we tend to mean a heightened man who, more than other men, possesses qualities of courage, loyalty, resourcefulness, charisma, above all, selflessness. He is an example of right behavior; the sort of man who risks his life to protect his society’s values, sacrificing his personal needs for those of the community. Paul Zweig

🙃 And In Confusion…

Enjoy your long weekend if weekends are on your agenda in this new world. If not, enjoy whatever you want to call it. Join me on Monday really Tuesday for what’s on Deck and a reunion of awful Summer people – GH will be a rerun. Until then, stay safe, stay not chewing with your mouth open, and stay remembering, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice.

May 25, 2023 – Curtis Picks a Lane, Backstory, Are They On, The Usual, VanderTalk, Future Fear, Shark Host, Pets (!) Celebrate & Dream

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Donna runs into Sonny’s old kitchen – the moss bowl🎍 displayed prominently – and hugs him. She asks if he’s going to have breakfast with her and mommy, but he says, that depends on what’s on the menu. Carly says, what else? Something from a box. Sonny tells Donna to get dressed and they’ll figure something else out. Donna runs out, and Sonny says he should have asked Carly if it was all right first, but she says, it’s fine. He says he has news, and she says, let her guess; he’s getting married. He says, she heard, but she says she saw. She was at the MetroCourt last night. She guesses congratulations are in order.

Nina tells Ava that she has no choice. She has one option. It’s time for the gloves to come off. She can’t continue to let Carly come between her and her family. Ava says, which is why Nina stupidly and compulsively sicced the SEC on her when it could definitely backfire, and tank not only her relationship with Sonny, but any potential relationship with her daughter. Nina says she knows. She has to make sure the charges against Carly stick, and that she goes away for a good, long time.

TJ leaves another message for Molly, and says he won’t keep blowing up her phone. He just didn’t remember if he said he was sorry in that last message, but he is, and he loves her. Just call him back, or even better, come home. There’s a knock at the door, and he opens it to Stella. He says, this is a surprise, and she says, and by the look on his face, not a welcome one. He says, just the opposite. She’s exactly who he needs. They hug.

TempMolly into Alexis’s house, and hugs her, crying. Sam asks, what’s wrong? and Molly says, everything’s falling apart.

TJ says he’s always happy to see Stella, and she says, something’s weighing on him. She can tell. What is it?

Jordan says, Portia is giving her way too much credit, but Portia says she’s actually not giving Jordan enough. Jordan tells her, stop. She’s not the person Portia thinks she is. Portia says, that’s dramatic, and Jordan says she just means she doesn’t deserve all this praise, especially considering what she’s done. Portia asks, why? What has she done? Curtis comes out of the elevator.

Sam says she thought Alexis said everything was fine. Alexis says, it’s not life-threatening. Everything is going to be fine. Molly hugs her again, when Kristina comes out, and asks, what’s wrong? Molly says she’s been diagnosed with endometriosis, and Alexis says, so the biopsy confirmed it. Kristina asks, how bad is it? and Molly says, it’s not good. It’s not going to kill her or anything, but it’s when the tissue from the uterus grows outside the uterus. Sam says she’s heard of it. It’s really painful, isn’t it? Molly says, it can be. It comes and goes. Sam says she’s so sorry, and Kristina says, me too. Alexis says, me three, and Sam asks what they can do for her. Molly says, that’s just it; there’s nothing to do. Kristina says, the doctors can give her something for the pain, right? and Molly says, the pain is manageable. It’s the rest. She and TJ may never be able to have a baby.

TJ says, he and Molly have been trying to get pregnant, and Stella says, that’s wonderful… but she’s guessing they’re having a hard time. He says, they just found out because of medical challenges, it might not happen for them, and she says she’s so sorry. She can see he’s heartbroken, and she imagines Molly is too. He says, and he didn’t know.

Portia tells Curtis that she was just thanking Jordan for all she did for Trina, but of course (🍷) she’s too humble to accept it. Curtis says he does appreciate Jordan running interference while they were on the island, and Jordan says, and while she was safe in Port Charles, he was the one in harm’s way. Portia says she thanks them both. Because of their team work, Trina’s home. A nurse approaches them, and says she has a question for Portia about a patient. Portia says, of course (🍷), and leaves with her. Curtis asks what he walked in on. It looked like Jordan was about to say something to Portia. Jordan says, about their kiss? She considered it. He asks her to promise him she won’t do that, and she says, why? Because he’s still not sure what it meant? Or because he decided it didn’t matter? Anna joins them, and after saying hello to her, Curtis says he should get going. He leaves, and Anna says, the air’s a bit charged in here.

Curtis walks over to Portia, and she asks if he needs her. He says, that’s exactly what he’s been trying to figure out.

Nina tells Ava that she’s been assured by Martin that no one will find out she was behind the anonymous tip; she’d be protected. Ava says, from the government finding out maybe, but there are people in Port Charles can put two and two together. Nina says she gets that. That’s why she needs Carly gone. Without Carly looming over everything, she has a clear path to be with Sonny, and try to forge a relationship with her daughter. Ava says, she’s dreaming big, and Nina says, why not? Doesn’t she get to be happy? To be with the man she loves and try to get to know her daughter? Why does Carly get the storybook ending while the rest of us are left with nothing?

Sonny says he knows Nina’s not Carly’s first choice, and Carly says, it’s not her choice. It’s Sonny’s life and he’s got to live it. He says, that’s the plan, and she asks why he came by, to fill her in? He says he wanted to tell Donna and the moss bowl🎍, but he didn’t know if Carly wanted him to do it alone or if they should do it together. She asks, what’s the rush? Did he and Nina set a date? He says, nothing like that. It’s just that Avery saw Nina’s engagement ring. She says, they all know how Avery likes to spread the good news, and he says he’s going to tell all his kids, obviously, but he didn’t want to tell Donna without talking to her first. She says she’ll follow his lead, and he says, she’s refolding towels she already folded. She tells him that she’s really distracted right now, and he asks if she wants to tell him why.

Carly says, Sonny just missed Diane. Diane was here discussing the SEC’s case against her. He says he asked Josslyn about that, and she asks where he saw Josslyn. He asks if Diane has a good defense teed up, and she says, unfortunately, the case against her is very strong, so even a lawyer as skilled as Diane has an uphill battle ahead. He says, there’s a chance the SEC was pointed at her to get to him.

TJ tells Stella, they were both blindsided. They went from this vague idea of wanting to start family in the future, to realizing they want a child now, to finding out they can’t – at least not the conventional way. She says, it’s a delicate subject matter for sure, even for partners like him and Molly who have been together forever. He says he keeps sticking his foot in his mouth, and she says, here’s the thing. Yes, this is happening to both of them, but right now, Molly can’t see that. This is agony for her. The sensible woman he’s used to is still there, but this could take her a while to find her way. He says, so what does he do? and she says, nothing but pray.

Molly says, as to the severity of her condition, the chances of conceiving are incredibly low, but Kristina says, not impossible though, right? Molly tells them, it wasn’t actually said, but strongly implied, and Sam says she’s sorry. Alexis asks what they can do, but Kristina says, nothing, right Molly? Molly is the one who always has everything figured out. Molly says, not this time, and Kristina says she’s sure the doctor gave Molly and TJ other options, like adoption and IVF… Alexis makes a cutting motion, and says, not at this time, but Kristina says, it’s Molly they’re talking about. She identifies the problem, then boom… Molly tells Kristina, just stop, and walks out. Kristina wonders what she said.

Anna asks if Jordan wants to talk about it, but Jordan says she doesn’t want to keep Anna from whatever she came here to do. Anna says she’s finished with her phlebotomy, and has a little time before her next debrief with the WSB, and Jordan asks how she’s feeling. Anna was still recuperating in the hospital when she charged off to Greenland. Anna says she feels like a million bucks, but Jordan doesn’t look so good after whatever that thing was with Curtis. Jordan says she’s tried to move on; to get over Curtis and put the whole marriage in the rearview. Anna asks how that’s working for her, and Jordan says she guesses what they say is accurate; objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear.

Portia asks why everyone is talking in riddles today, and Curtis asks what she means. She says, Jordan alluded to doing something wrong, and when she asked what it was, Jordan wouldn’t say. He says, she knows how by-the-book Jordan tries to be. She had to bend a lot of professional rules to help Trina. Portia says, maybe. Is he going to leave her hanging too? He says, no. He wants to talk about him and her.

Alexis goes outside, and Kristina asks Sam to tell her what she did wrong, since she’s become so skilled at it. Sam says she’s sorry. Kristina is really excited about her project, and she… Kristina says, completely rained on her parade, and Sam says, yes. Kristina says, Sam made some decent points, and Sam says she knows, but it was the wrong time and place. She actually learned something from mom, that sometimes encouragement is better than a fix. Kristina says, which is exactly the mistake she just made with Molly.

Alexis tells Molly, she meant well. Her execution left a little to be desired, that’s all. Molly says she knows. Krissy isn’t the problem. She’s just feeling a little overwhelmed right now in the most unfamiliar way. She hates it. Alexis says, because she feels not in control, but Molly says, because she feels like a failure.

Stella brings TJ coffee, and says, it’s one of those situations where it’s all you can do. No actions to take; certainly no one to blame. He says, but Molly’s blaming herself, and Stella says, right now she is. Right now, she’s up, she’s down, she’s all over the place. She’s mourning a dream. He is too, and she’s not trying to minimize that, but as a woman… He says, it’s different, and she says, yes. The best advice she can give him is to know that. Molly is going through something really difficult that he can’t fully understand, but he can love her. Keep reminding her of that. Just be there. He says, that, he can do.

Jordan wonders if Anna remembers when she asked for advice last summer, and Anna says, Jordan asked if she’d ever come clean to an ex about something that would impact his relationship. She’s assuming by whatever’s going on with Curtis and Portia, that information came out. Jordan says, Anna suggested she question her motivation for revealing the truth, and yes, she wanted to protect Curtis, but that wasn’t the only reason. So ultimately, she didn’t tell him. Anna says, but someone did. Is that why things are tense between the two of them? He’s angry with her because she stayed silent? Jordan says, Curtis is far from angry, and now there’s a new secret weighing on her conscience.

Curtis asks if Portia has time to talk, and she says, he’s her husband. If she doesn’t have time, she’ll make time. He says his experience in Greenland got him to thinking, and she says she was afraid she was never going to see him again. He says, same here. He doesn’t want to leave anything between them unsaid.

Ava tells Nina, Carly may be on her way to prison for insider trading. She hardly calls that a storybook ending. Nina says, Carly needs to do some serious time. Let’s not forget, she’s going to prison for something she actually did. Ava says, and she’ll be conveniently out of Nina’s way, and Nina says, finally Carly won’t be swooping in every time she tries to have a conversation with Willow. Ava says, she doesn’t have an issue with Carly going away; her issue is with Nina blowing up her own life to make that happen.

Sonny tells Carly that he has business dealings with a group of people who have very powerful enemies. In government, he thinks, and they’ve targeted him at least once that he knows of. Now he thinks they’re coming after Carly to get to him. Carly asks how that would work, and Sonny says, the SEC only started coming after her after he started dealing with these people. Carly says, that explains the timing. Why months after the failed merger, the SEC started asking her questions. He says, somebody’s playing the long game. They’re threatening her so she’ll flip on him. Once he’s out of the picture, it compromises the people he’s working with. She says she gets it, except for Ned. Sometimes the simplest solution is the truth. Ned threatened to turn her and Drew in to the SEC, and he did it. Sonny says, at some point, the justice system is going to figure out that by her being in trouble is the easiest way to get to him. She tells him, Diane says that’s already happening, and he says, based on what? She says, on confirmed intel here in the DA’s office, and Sonny says, they’re talking on a federal level, right? Carly tells him that the US Attorney may cut a deal if she turns state’s evidence against him, and he says, do it. He can get through this. He’ll be in court, he’ll fight the charges. She says, he doesn’t know that. He can’t control the narrative. He says he has Diane. She’s fantastic. She’ll get him through it. Carly says, no. She appreciates his nobility, but no. He says, this has nothing to do with being noble, but she says, yes, it’s noble. She appreciates him stepping up for her, especially given their recent history, but no. It’s a hard no.

Sonny says, Carly’s not thinking this through, and she says, it’s all she’s been thinking about. He says, it’s too late to roll the dice, but she says she’s not. He asks what he’s supposed to do. Just let the mother of his children go to prison? She says, it’s not like she’s going to Pentenville. Even if she goes down for insider trading, it’ll be a minimum security situation for a couple of years. It won’t be fun. She’ll hate it. She’ll hate being away from her kids, but hell, she’s been through worse. He says, so it’s either/or. Unless Diane pulls a rabbit out of her hat, Carly is either going to have to turn him into the Feds or do time. She says, there’s another option. Turn on Drew.

Ava asks if Nina is really willing to risk the possible consequences just to get revenge, and Nina says, it’s not about revenge… Okay, maybe when it all first started, it was about revenge, but it’s not anymore. It’s such a mess, and she’s just trying to hold on to her relationship and trying to build a foundation with her daughter. Unless Ava doesn’t want that for her. Ava says, stop it. Of course (🍷) she does. She’s on Nina’s side. She’s made some hasty and regrettable decisions; decisions that have had real ramifications. She just wants to make sure Nina is considering what hers might be. Nina says, she knows. If the end result is for her daughter to not turn to Carly, and God willing, turn to her, any ramifications are worth it.

Kristina says she feels terrible, but Sam says, don’t. Kristina was just trying to encourage Molly. She gets it, and she’s sure Molly will too. Kristina says she’s never seen Molly like that, and Sam says, she knows, but fertility issues are a whole different beast. It’s like being dropped down into the most barren and inhospitable place, and you’re thinking it’s your fault you’re there. Kristina says she forgets sometimes that Sam struggled to get pregnant, and Sam says, that’s something she’ll never forget, but I still can’t remember it. Kristina says, this is crazy. She can’t possibly think it’s her fault. Sam says, she does. Kristina’s right, she shouldn’t, but she does. Her body is betraying her. it’s the worst, most isolating feeling ever. So their rational, level-headed Molly isn’t going to be so rational about this. It’s not possible.

Alexis says, it’s not her fault, and Molly says she knows that intellectually. Alexis says, feeling it’s another thing, and Molly says, what if she’d gone to the doctor sooner? What if she’d taken charge of her health the way she’s taken charge of everything else in her life? Maybe this wouldn’t be happening. Alexis says, maybes aren’t going to help anything right now, because the truth is, she’ll never know. So the important thing is to just stay in the here and now. Molly says she despises the here and now, and Alexis asks how TJ is handling it. Molly says, just another area where she screwed up, and Alexis says, there’s no sure way to navigate this. Molly says, TJ is worried about her. He’s surprised she suffered in silence for so long, which is when she got super defensive, and then came here. Alexis says, this is raw. It’s going to take some time, and Molly has to give it some time. She knows Molly and TJ will figure it out. Molly says, you know something strange? A few months ago, it wasn’t even something she was sure she wanted. Alexis says, to be pregnant? and Molly says, they’d talked about having kids, but it was way down the list. So why is she so devastated?

Stella asks what she can do for TJ, and he says, she can distract him. What brought her back to town? She says, family of course (🍷). How’s Curtis? TJ says, she hasn’t been to see him yet? and she says, this was her first stop. He says, getting the lay of the land, and she asks if she’s that obvious. He says, only to him, and she says she felt badly about the conversation she had with Trina the night of the wedding. the whole reason she skipped the ceremony was so she wouldn’t complicate things, and she ended up complicating them anyway. He says, it’s not her fault; the truth was bound to come out. She says she’s sorry she ran off, and at the worst possible time. First, all the upheaval with the family, then the craziness with Trina getting kidnapped? He says, inadvertently, but yeah, and she says, when she read about what happened on that ship, she had to come back. He says, thank God everyone’s in one piece, except for Victor Cassadine. She says, good riddance. So did the ordeal bring everyone closer together? He says, Trina’s back at home. Things seem to be fine between her and Portia. Stella says, what about Curtis and Portia? and he says, that’s another story.

Anna says, you guys kissed? and Jordan says, it would have gone even further if she hadn’t stopped it. Anna says, wow. What does she think this means? Jordan says, that’s the problem; she doesn’t know. What’s worse is, she doesn’t think Curtis knows either.

Curtis and Portia go to her office, and Curtis says, he and Portia have been in limbo for a while now, and he doesn’t want it to go on any longer. She asks what that means. That he’s decided to forgive her, or is he saying he’s officially ending things?

Ava says, it sounds like Nina’s mind is made up, and Nina says, it is. Ava asks, what’s the plan? How is she going to make things worse for Carly than she’s already made them? Nina says she’s still figuring things out. Ava is going to think she’s callous, but from what she understands, Diane is only Carly’s attorney. Ava says, so Drew has separate representation, and Nina says, right. So it’s going to be tough to present a united front when you’re being advised by different attorneys. She thinks that’s fertile ground for miscommunication and mistrust to grow. Ava says, Nina wants to break up Drew and Carly, but Nina says, it’s bigger than that. She wants Drew to believe Carly will turn on him, so he turns on her first.

Carly says, Sonny is definitely the biggest get, but the CEO of a big company and a Quartermaine; Drew has a target on his back too. Sonny says, too bad she won’t consider it either, but she says, no, not for a second. She’s guilty. He says, that’s never mattered before, and she says she did it. She got insider information, and she acted on it. Despite Michael and Drew telling her not to. He says, probably because they told her not to, and she says she’s not going to let someone else pay for her mistakes. He asks where that leaves her. When it comes to prison, it doesn’t matter the level of security, it’s not an option.

Kristina hates that she made Molly feel worse, but Sam says, she didn’t mean to. Kristina says, maybe not consciously, but if she’s being honest, she’s still licking her wounds from their previous conversation. Molly would never do something like this. She would never try to execute a half-baked plan like this, and she’s envious of that. Sam says, they’re all envious of how big Kristina dreams. She and Molly wish their imaginations stretched as far. Kristina says, they’re envious of how strong Sam is. She’s the most resilient Davis… Sam says she doesn’t know about that, and Kristina says, at least Sam and Molly aren’t the ones keeping mom up at night. Sam says she can assure Kristina, as a mother, you worry about all your kids all the time. It’s part of the job. Kristina says, what if Molly never gets to do that job? and Sam says, then they’re going to have her back, like they always do. She puts her arm around Kristina.

Alexis says, if she could take the pain away from Molly, she would, but she can’t. She’s Molly’s mother, but she was a lawyer. Molly says, that’s relevant how? and Alexis says, as Molly’s mother, she can console her, but as a coach, she can help Molly game this out. So tell her, who does  she need more right now? Molly falls into Alexis’s arms, and cries. Alexis says, mommy it is.

Stella asks if TJ thinks Portia and Curtis are over, but he says he doesn’t know. All he knows is, Curtis still hasn’t moved back home. She says she was afraid of that. Curtis has always placed a premium on transparency. TJ says, that’s basically why Curtis and his mom got divorced, and she says, speaking of Jordan. Was Curtis upset to find out she knew about Trina? He says, Curtis was hurt, but he also understood it wasn’t his mom’s story to tell, and she says, it sounds like Curtis is on better terms with his ex-wife than his current wife.

Jordan tells Anna, Curtis was so insistent that he not tell Portia about their kiss. It’s like she’s gone from being his ex-wife to being his dirty little secret. Anna says she sees how that would sting, but her instinct is telling her that this whole situation is confusing for everyone involved, and that Curtis is trying to navigate it without hurting anyone. Jordan says, it’s impossible. Whether he decides to give their relationship another chance, or chooses to go back with Portia, one of them is going to get hurt. Deeply.

Portia tells Curtis that she knows she made a monumental mistake, but she won’t accept the end of their marriage. Marcus told her that she should fight for what she wants, and what she wants is him. She wants to fight for him, for them, for what they’ve built together. Please don’t throw it away. He says he doesn’t intend to. There’s a lot to sort through. He can’t guarantee there’s a way forward for them, but they’ll never know unless they try. She asks what that looks like. Dating? Therapy? He says, let’s start with me moving back home.

Molly comes back inside with Alexis, and Kristina says she’s sorry. What she should have said is, she loves Molly and she’s here for anything Molly needs. Sam says, they all are, and Alexis says, always. Molly thanks them, and says she’s sorry for being so on edge. Sam tells her not to apologize. What she’s going through is real and heavy, and she gets to feel all the feelings. Molly says, some more pleasant than others, and Sam says, they’re in her corner, putting her arm around Molly. Kristina says, Davis girls unite, and they put their hands together. Alexis joins them, and Molly says she prays she and TJ have a family, but even if it never happens, she’s so grateful for the family she already has.

TJ hugs Stella, and says he’s so happy she’s back. She says, here’s hoping his uncle feels the same way, and TJ says, of course (🍷) he will. She says she’s not so sure, but she does know this. Whether it’s TJ and Molly, Curtis and Portia, or this family that needs mending, love is always worth fighting for. She kisses him on the cheek, and leaves.

Portia says, Curtis is coming back home? and he says, unless she has any objections. She says, objections? No. She’s been hoping and praying for this. He says, then he’ll move his things in right away. He’ll be staying in the guest room. She says, if that’s what he thinks is best, and he says he does, but if that’s not enough for her… She says, it’s plenty. She just wants him back home, and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. It’s not about pride for her. He says, it’s not going to happen overnight, and she says she can be patient. Because she knows it’s just the first step to them becoming a family again.

Jordan thanks Anna for listening, and Anna says, of course (🍷). Anytime. Jordan says she didn’t mean to make Anna late for her meeting, and Anna says, Jordan makes it sound so civil. And mutual, as if she has a choice in the matter. Jordan asks if she’s worried, and Anna says she’s skated this line with the WSB before. She’s thinking an association that’s gone on this long isn’t easily broken. Jordan says, so she’s realizing, and Anna asks what she’s going to do. Jordan says she has two choices. She can either bow out, or she can go after what she wants, but does she even have the right to do that if it means destroying the life of another woman?

Ava says, Nina has her work cut out for her. Does she really see a stand-up guy like Drew Cain flipping on his girlfriend? Sending her to prison, no matter how much she deserves it; no matter how guilty she is? Nina says she can, under the right circumstances, and Ava says, which are? Nina says, first, they need Drew to know he didn’t do anything wrong. They don’t even know if he was the one who gave Carly the information about the merger; it could have been Michael. Nina bets Drew didn’t even want her to invest in Aurora, but Carly probably did what she always does. She barged in, she went after what she wants. She doesn’t think about anyone else’s feelings… Ava says, stop. She’s getting off track here now. She’s not trying to rain on Nina’s parade, she’s just wondering how realistic it is to expect Drew to give up Carly. Nina says, it’s not unrealistic to expect Carly to give him up, and Ava says, if it was Sonny or Jason, she’d say absolutely not, but with Drew, there is room for doubt. The relationship is relatively new. Maybe threatened with serious prison time, Carly would give him up, but it’s not certain. Nina says, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if Carly would turn Drew in. The only thing that matters is that Drew believes that she would. They need Drew to get this information from somebody he trusts; that Carly is planning on turning state’s evidence against him. Ava says, neither of them fits that description, and Nina says, no, but she can think of someone who does.

Carly says, Drew has a plan, and Sonny asks if it’s a good one. Carly says, it’s a long shot, and she still may lose everything. Donna runs in, and Carly says she loves Donna’s outfit. Sonny says, she looks sharp, and Donna asks if they can make pancakes. Sonny says, if she’s serious, because he’ll need her help, and Carly says, those chocolate chips aren’t going to make it there on their own. Donna says, they can count on her, and Carly says she knows they can, because she’s such a big girl. And because of that, she and Donna’s daddy need to talk to her about some changes coming up. Donna says, fun changes? and Sonny says, everything’s going to work out. Carly tells her, what daddy said, but she looks pretty worried.

Tomorrow, Tracy asks when she’s ever denied Brook anything; Robert tells Anna, something has happened, and it’s all his fault; Drew says, there’s a way out of it, and they’ll find it; and Sonny wants to know what someone knows and he doesn’t.

🕶 Before He Was Brick…

Very cool story.

🧼 Memorial Day Soap…

ABC will be airing a GH will rerun with both Rory and Epiphany.

🥱 No Surprises Here…

Teresa storms off.

Bo Dietl isn’t having Louie’s lies.

🍸 If Yesterday Wasn’t Enough…

Ariana has more revelations.

Ariana claps back and more.

Charli might be questionable as far as truth goes, but she has surprising insight on the former prom beauty queen.

A replay of the action.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1375356/vanderpump-rules-reunion-part-one-every-bombshell-from-the-explosive-scandoval-showdown

⚰️ Fear Coming Up…

Theories on PADRE.

https://screenrant.com/fear-walking-dead-season-8-troy-return-theory-padre/?newsletter_popup=1

Another reunion.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-episode-3-odessa-clip-reunites-madison-clark-june-dorie/

🦈 Doo-Doo, Doo-Doo, Doo, Doo…

Aquaman knows what he’s talking about.

https://ew.com/tv/jason-momoa-shark-week/

🐕 Pups At Parties…

Don’t give me any ideas.

https://people.com/pets/new-york-dog-wedding-by-high-low-hostess-amanada-orso/

At one time, I had 8 little dogs, and I don’t think I have one picture of all of them together. Major kudos.

https://people.com/photo-30-posed-dogs-birthday-party-wins-nextdoor-contest-7503586

🚶🏽‍♀️ Walking On the Tame Side…

Take a break tomorrow for soap, tea for all, interesting things people have said, and music befitting the month. Until then, stay safe, stay listening like you mean it, and stay recognizing when encouragement is better than a fix.

May 21, 2023 – A Train Full Of Zombie Experiments & Space

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

June tacks up signs on the trees that say: Turn Back. PADRE will take your children; PADRE is a lie – turn back. She stabs a zombie in the head, and keeps walking. She sees someone wrote, They took my daughter. Please help, on one of the signs. She hears someone contact Warbler on the radio, saying they have a lead on an egg; it might be a mess. Using binoculars, she sees a boat come through the canal or whatever it is. She shoots the two people in the boat with tranquilizing darts. Using surgical tools and skills, she cuts their index fingers off and sets the boat free. Back at her cabin, she puts the fingers in a jar, and hears Warbler say, they’ve been hit. That a-hole got us. When he finds that son of a bitch., he’s going to cut off both his hands. I love how he assumes it’s a man.

Walking in the woods, June sees another message written on one of her signs: Who are you? Where can I find you? She looks at an old billboard that says Coastal Railroad Museum, and on the radio, a woman says, PADRE 3; rescue complete. A man responds, en route to you now.

June deposits more fingers in the jar, when a man comes to the cabin. He says he just wants to talk, but June draws her gun. She asks how he found this place, and he says he followed her. He’s the one whose been writing on the signs. His name is Adrian, and he needs her help. The Collectors took his daughter Hannah from him a few years ago. June says she doesn’t know Hannah, and he says, but June knows PADRE, and he knows she can help him. He tells her to ask whatever she wants, but she says she doesn’t want to get to know him; she doesn’t want to know anybody. He asks what they did to her. Did they take her kid? Did she take kids for them? She tells him, get out and don’t come back, but he shows her Hannah’s picture, and says, it was taken when she was 7; she’d be 12 now. He shows her a friendship bracelet he’s wearing, and says, Hannah made one for each of them. She says she can’t help him, but he says he’ll be back every day. There are a lot of like-minded people who could help with what she’s doing. They’re forming an army to take PADRE. She tells him that if she sees him here again, she’ll kill him, but he says he thinks she’s just trying to scare him. She says, if PADRE’s had his daughter this long, he’s not getting her back. They use the people you care about the most against you. He says he’s not going to stop looking. She can either kill him or help him, but he’s not giving up. She backs him out the door, and shuts it, but he says, they know who she is now, and he’s not giving up.

June looks at the photo of Hannah that Adrian left, and packs a bag, including the jar of fingers. She leaves the photo behind.

June tranquilizes three more people in another boat, and is about to collect more fingers, but she unmasks one of them, and it’s Dwight. She unmasks another, and sees it’s Sherry. She says, sh*t. She hears a gun cock, and a boy tells her not to move. June says she didn’t know there were kids on board, and the boy says he hid under the tarp. He tells her that he’s going to call PADRE, and picks up a radio. He says, PADRE 2; we got attacked. A man addresses the boy as Finch, and asks, where’s Whistler? Finch says, dead; she killed him. He asks about Red Kite and Starling, and Finch says, she knocked them out. He asks the location, when Dwight and Sherry start to come around. June grabs the radio, and Finch accidently shoots the boat, which deflates. Dwight asks if that’s June, and Finch says, she shot them. She was trying to steal their boat. Sherry says, June’s the one who’s been cutting people’s fingers off, and Dwight snatches her tool roll from her. Finch wonders why June is calling Red Kite Dwight, and asks if she used to be at PADRE. Dwight tells her that they think Finch has appendicitis, and needs surgery. She asks why he doesn’t take Finch to the clinic, and he asks where she thinks they were headed. The man comes on the radio again, and Finch tells Dwight to tell them where they are, but he says, no. June is a nurse, and is going to help him. Sherry says, his appendix could burst by the time they get him to the clinic on foot, but June says she doesn’t have the equipment. Dwight says, she’ll have to figure it out, and June asks, why is that? He says, if she doesn’t, he’s telling PADRE who’s been cutting off his Collector’s fingers. June says she just wanted to leave, and Sherry asks, why? June says, it wasn’t safe for her anymore, and Dwight asks Finch to step away for a bit, giving the boy an oar in case he sees Carrion, and reminding him to aim for the eyes. Sherry wonders what happened to June, and says, if she does the surgery, they’ll get her a boat, and she can go wherever the hell she wants. PADRE will never know it was her. June says, Finch is their kid, isn’t he? The one Sherry was pregnant with when they were found on the rafts. Sherry says, PADRE doesn’t know Dwight is his father. Dwight teaches all the kids combat, and she’s in the nursery. Finch doesn’t know he’s their kid. Dwight says, they’ve been following PADRE’s rules, and Sherry says, once the surgery’s done, they’ll take Finch back, and no one will be the wiser. June says she knows where they can do the surgery, but they can’t ask any questions. She’ll take them there and do the surgery, then they have to keep up their end of the bargain and get her the boat. Sherry promises they will.

They go into a railroad car that looks less than sterile, and see a zombie head in a clamp. Dwight asks if June is sure it’s safe, and she stabs the zombie head, saying, it is now. She turns on some machines, and preps Finch for surgery. Finch asks if it will hurt, but Sherry says, he won’t feel a thing, and when he wakes up, he’ll feel better. Sherry finds a binder that contains studies on people who have turned, and asks June, what is this; who are these people? June says, the deal was no questions, but Sherry says, the deal’s changed. Dwight says, she’s got to give them something, when they hear the cock of a gun. It’s Adrian, and he asks who the kid is. June says she’s trying to help him, and Adrian says, two Collectors from PADRE? June says, it’s not what he thinks, and he says, PADRE has his daughter Hannah. Sherry says, maybe they can help him, and Dwight says, this doesn’t have to end in a fight. He’s sure she’s fine. PADRE hasn’t lost a kid yet. If Adrian can tell him what she looks like, maybe they can figure out something. A man asks Adrian’s location on the radio, and while he’s distracted, Dwight reaches for the gun. It goes off, hitting a wall. Outside, zombies gather. Dwight holds a gun on Adrian, and crushes the radio under his foot. Adrian says, there’s lots of more of them, and they can’t be stopped. They won’t let them hurt any more kids. Dwight says, they brought him here to save his life, and June says, they have a problem. The bullet hit the control panel, and she can’t do surgery without power. Finch cries out in pain, and June says, there’s an emergency override in the back of the train. They can have power if it’s turned on. Dwight says he’ll go, and gives Sherry the gun. June says, he can’t walk through the train; it’s full of the dead. She used to work here. It was off the books. PADRE didn’t want anyone to know about the experiments they were doing. Sherry asks if they’re the ones in the binder, and June says, the woman in the photos is Shrike. PADRE wanted her to find a way to stop the effect of walker bites. She had an idea; a treatment. Radiation. It was slow and painful. It was worse than dying from the bites. PADRE tried to force June to administer the treatments. She couldn’t do it, so she ran. Sherry says, they have to get to the back of the train. Dwight looks up, seeing a trapdoor, and says he doesn’t think they have to.

Adrian tells June that he’s sorry, and she says she told him to stay away. He says, if he had, he wouldn’t have seen this place. It shows she knows more about PADRE than she let on. She says she can’t help him, and he says, can’t, or won’t? Her attacks aren’t stopping them. She’s barely slowing them down. If she wants to do something, help him find Hannah, or help the boy and get him out before those Collectors bring him back to PADRE. She says she can’t, and he says, she told him PADRE uses the people you care about against you. He’s sorry for what happened to her, but if she never gets close to anyone again, what’s she living for? The electricity comes back on, and Dwight radios, asking how Finch is. June says, he’s still sleeping, but the medication won’t last much longer. Dwight and Sherry climb to the top of the train, and Dwight asks Sherry, what’s wrong? She says, seeing Finch and hearing him call her honey. She can’t snap back to the way things used to be. They made a choice when they were picked up on the rafts. They’d play by PADRE’s rules because they thought it was the safest place for their son. After what she’s seen today, she can’t bring Finch back here. It doesn’t feel safe. June knows all of PADRE’s collecting grounds and all the places he would look. They’ll find a place, and once they’re settled, they’ll find a way to let everyone know the truth about PADRE. He asks if they can really be a family, and she says, they can. She saw it earlier. They can do this. He kisses her, and they fall through the roof of the train into a car. June radios, asking, what happened? The car is full of zombies, and Dwight shoots some of them, then he and Sherry climb up onto a luggage rack. He tells June that they fell into a car of walkers like he’s never seen. She tells them to stay where they are. She’s on her way, but he says, it’s too risky. He doesn’t have nearly enough ammo. June says she’ll figure it out, but he says, no. Finch needs her for the operation. If they don’t make it back, promise him that she’ll take care of Finch. She tells him, stay put; she’s coming. Adrian asks what she’s doing, and she says, they have to survive for Finch. He asks if she’s doing this because it’s what’s best for Finch, or because she’s afraid she’ll have to take care of him, and she draws her gun, telling him, don’t follow her.

June walks through a car where there are shelves containing jars of zombie heads, and chained up zombies who snap at her as she goes by. She says she’s so sorry, and keeps walking. The door to the next car is padlocked, and the zombies start to break free since the pipes they’re chained to are pretty beat. She starts to shoot them, falls, and the gun goes flying. She fends them off as best she can, but luckily, Adrian didn’t listen to her, and comes in, stabbing them in the head. She says she told him not to follow her, and picks up her gun. He says, good thing he didn’t listen, but she says, he should have. He says, they’re a lot alike. The only difference is, he still has someone to live for. She has to find hers. Like he told her, there are more people like them. Together, they can take down PADRE. She says she can’t help him, but he says he’s not doing it for himself; he’s doing it for Hannah. He’s going to find her whether June helps him or not. And when he does, he wants her to see that her father isn’t who PADRE says he is. They should keep moving. Finch appears with his oar, and says he’s coming with them. June says, it’s too dangerous, but Finch says he can handle the Carrion; Red Kite taught him how.

The zombies start reaching through the rungs on the luggage rack, when June comes in shooting. Finch gets one with an oar, and asks, how was that? Dwight says, that was good, kid, and Adrian and June stab the last of the zombies. Sherry asks what Finch is doing here, and he says he’s going to tell PADRE how he fought the Carrion, but Sherry says, they’re not going back to PADRE. Dwight says, they want what’s best for Finch, and it’s not there. Sherry nods, and Dwight says, they’re his parents. Finch says, they’re not, no, and Sherry tells him that she knows it’s a lot to take in right now, but she promises they’ll figure it out as a family. Finch doubles over in pain, and June says, they should get him back to the operating room. They start to move forward, and Adrian turns around, seeing a child zombie through the door window. He says, no. Hannah. He grabs June, and says, that’s why she wouldn’t help him; she knew. June killed her. June says she tried to save her. She treated Hannah for asthma when she first came to PADRE. She was just a scared kid. She missed her dad. She reminded June of her own daughter, and June wanted to take care of her and make her feel safe. Adrian says, she’s a liar, and June says, then she went out on a scout. She went off-island and got bit. It was on her back, and June couldn’t amputate, but she had to do something. He asks if Shrike put Hannah through treatment, but June says, it wasn’t Shrike’s treatment; it was hers. She saw someone survive a bite longer than anyone she’d ever seen. She’d been exposed to radiation, so June thought, if it worked for her, it might work for Hannah. She gave Hannah radiotherapy using equipment salvaged from the hospital. It stopped the infection, but the amount of radiation it took made things worse for her, and June wanted to end her suffering. Adrian asks why she didn’t, and June says, Shrike wouldn’t let her. Shrike wanted to let Hannah turn so she could study her. See how long it took. Adrian says, and June let her? but June says she didn’t have a choice. Shrike held a gun on her, and said, as long as her finger was on the trigger, June had to keep the experiments going or other people would pay the price. That’s how this whole place happened, because she tried to save someone she cared about. Other people suffered as a result, so she made sure Shrike couldn’t do to anyone else what she did to her, and she took Shrike’s trigger finger. June knew they couldn’t do the experiments without her, and knew as long as she stayed away from here, away from people, no one else she cared about could get hurt. Adrian lets June go, and looks at zombie Hannah, saying, she was all he had left. He understands now why June wants to be alone. He walks up to the window and puts his hand on the pane. He opens the door and goes in, and June says, no! He holds Hannah, telling her that he’s got her, and the zombies close in on him. The others look away.

June stitches up Finch, and says, he’s stable. He should be awake soon. Dwight thanks her, and she says she held up her end of the deal. They should arrange for that boat. He says, they will, but when it comes, they want to all get in it together. June says, that wasn’t the deal, but Sherry says, things changed. June says, for who? and Sherry says, when Finch wakes up, they want to take him away from this place. Dwight says, they want to try and be a family, and she asks what it has to do with her. He says, she’s family, and Sherry says, they understand why June chose to be on her own, but they can’t let her end up like Adrian. Dwight says, someone who doesn’t have anybody to live for. He told her before, he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her and John. He has a family because of that, and wants her to be a part of it. That is, if she wants to. She says, okay. Adrian saved her so she could find someone to live for, but she needs to put Adrian and Hannah to rest first. They’ve suffered enough. As she’s about to walk into the next car, a couple of PADRE people come in with guns, and steampunk woman says, hello, Blue Jay. June is knocked out.

Steampunk woman says, oh good; June is coming around. June asks how she found her, and steampunk woman says, they figured it was her as soon as the Collectors started showing up without to the island without fingers. She holds up her hand, missing an index finger, and even though she doesn’t say it, we know she’s Shrike. Shrike says, no one else could be so precise. When they heard the boat that was missing had a kid who needed surgery on board, she knew June would come here. Dwight asks, what’s going on? and Shrike says she assumes Blue Jay told them what this place was; how much promise it had. Sherry asks if that’s what she calls murdering people, but Shrike says, they were about saving lives. Dwight says, she’s full of sh*t, but she says, he’s the one who lied to PADRE about what they were doing today. He says he brought Finch here to keep him safe from a-holes like her, but she says, no one wants the children safe more than PADRE. They created this place so the children would be safe from Carrion. But Blue Jay ran off before she could perfect the cure. June says, everyone she tried it on died, and Shrike says, that was then. She has faith June will get it right this time. PADRE’s got something big and expansive planned. He wants these children to be as safe as they can be. June needs to pick up where she left off. June says she won’t do it, but Shrike says, she just needs a little motivation. One of the men grabs June, pulling her to the side, and another brings in Adrian’s snapping head, putting it in the vise, and pushing it closer to a sleeping Finch. Dwight and Sherry get up, saying, hey, stop it! Sherry yells for Finch to wake up, and Shrike presses a button. The head moves closer to Finch, and June launches herself toward it, but Shrike pulls her back. Dwight and Sherry continue to yell, and the head bites Finch’s shoulder. Sherry cries, and Shrike makes the vise reverse. Dwight says he’s going to kill her, and she asks why he would do that. She’s the only one who can save his life… Well, they are. She tells the men to get them out of here, and they take Dwight and Sherry out; Sherry wailing, and Dwight threatening to kill Shrike. Shrike tells June that she’d better get to work. She’s got a lot to catch up on. They’ve got new patients on their way at this very moment. There’s just one thing they have to do first. They have to make sure that Blue Jay can never hurt them. She cuts off June’s finger, and June screams.

Morgan rides in the back of a truck with Madison, and she asks if he knows where they’re being taken. He says, her guess is as good as his, and she asks why he doesn’t think he can be the person Mo needs him to be. What the hell happened? What’s holding him back? They may not be alive long enough for her to pass judgement on him. He says he keeps thinking about a thing he did – actually, a thing he didn’t do – a long time ago. She asks, what? and he says, it doesn’t matter. She asks if he can fix it, but he says, not the worst of it, no. She says, some of it? and he says, maybe. She asks what the hell he’s doing here. Mo needs him. He needs to do whatever it takes so he can move forward. He says he’s not exactly in a position where he can call the shots, and Madison starts to cough. She falls off the bench, onto the floor, and Morgan yells for the driver to pull over. She can’t breathe. A man comes back, and pulls Madison back on the bench. Another man says, get her a tank, and as he’s reaching to get one, Madison rushes both of them, and shoves them out the back door, tumbling out with them. She yells for Morgan to go, as one of the men grabs her. Morgan takes off into the woods, and she yells, do what you need to do!

Next time, Madison gets the zombie head in her face; a fight on the train; Daniel returns; and Madison says, it’s time to tell the truth.

🐷 That’s All Folks…

See you tomorrow for the usual. Stay safe, sane, and as serene as you can.

May 19, 2023 – Josslyn Asks Sonny To Fire Dex, See You, Returning, New Gig, Ramona’s a Jerk, She Knows, VanderDirt, Upcoming Dead, Cute Pets (!), Precisely 10 Quotes & Places

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jordan says she’s sorry Curtis is hurting, but if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that Curtis Ashford can weather whatever comes his way. And he won’t have to go through it alone. She takes his hand, and says, he has so many people who love him, and they’ll be right by his side, no matter what. He kisses her. Then he kisses her again.

Walking into Portia’s office, Taggert says, Portia can’t go off half-cocked gunning for Spencer. It’s going to backfire on her. Portia says she’s tried to look the other way, especially since it might alienate Trina, but all the while, Spencer keeps becoming more and more a part of her life, and alienating Trina from her. He says, but she’s seeing progress. Why blow it now? She asks why he’s not with her on this. She doesn’t get it. He says, when Trina was rescued from the Haunted Star, he told her to back off, but she’s doing the exact opposite; she’s doubling down. Portia says, maybe that’s because Trina came back closer to Spencer than ever before, and he says, which they anticipated, given what they went through. Are there valid concerns about Spencer being in Trina’s life? Hell yes. But he’s starting to wonder if she’s laser focused on Spencer because she doesn’t want to focus on herself, her husband, and the state of her marriage.

Outside Kelly’s, Cody tells Scotty that he’s not asking for a team to salvage the Haunted Star like it was the Titanic. The necklace was on the boat when it went down. So why can’t they just cut through the red tape… Scotty says, because the WSB is all about the red tape. They’ve been down this road before. Scotty told him, it’s because they have to establish that the necklace belongs to Cody, which means he has to sign an affidavit that says he’s Leopold Taub’s son. Cody says, more red tape. Is that absolutely necessary? Scotty says he knows it’s like saying Genghis Khan is Cody’s father, but the WSB isn’t going to give Cody money just because he says so. They go inside, and Scotty says, Cody has to suck it up for 35 million dollars, and say he was the Taub he was born to be. Sitting at a table, Obrecht and James watch them.

Nina looks at a glossy color photo of Sasha that says, Beauty isn’t magic, it’s Deception, and another photo of Sasha with The Deceptor. Sasha asks if those are the new ads, and Nina shows her. Sasha says, it is amazing what good lighting can do, but Nina says, the woman in these ads doesn’t need any lighting to look beautiful. And she also looked beautiful on the Home & Heart shopping channel. Sasha says, Nina saw that? She’s not going to lie; it was white-knuckle time in front of those cameras, especially when she heard the sound of a baby crying in her earpiece. Nina says she couldn’t believe it when Lucy told her that someone deliberately tried to sabotage Sasha, and Sasha tells her not to underestimate how low some people will sink to get what they want. Nina says she never has, and she never will.

On the phone at the hospital, Michael tells Carly not to worry. He’s honoring Willow’s wishes. Nina won’t get anywhere near her. Dante comes out of the elevator, and says he couldn’t help overhearing, and Michael can tell him to mind his own business. Is that what Willow wants, or is that what Michael wants for her?

There’s a knock at Sonny’s office door, and Frank says, he has a visitor. Josslyn comes in, and Sonny says, this is a surprise. Is everything good with her mom and Donna? She says, everyone’s fine. This is about her. He tells her, go on, and Josslyn tells him that he always says he’d do anything for her. He says, no matter how she treats him, that always stands, and she says, good, because she’s about to take him up on that offer. He asks if she’s in some kind of trouble, but she says, it’s not about her. He says, then what’s it about? and she says, Dex. She wants Sonny to fire him.

Gladys walks into Pozzulo’s as Dex is saying hello to Frank. Dex says he needs to speak with Sonny, but Gladys says, take a number. Family first.

Michael says, Dante is right. It’s none of his business. Dante says, that’s not the first time he’s heard that today. He was interviewing a perp in the ER who said the same thing. He was in the building and thought he’d check in on them, but he’ll take his nosy butt out of here. Michael tells him, wait. He doesn’t tell Willow what to do. If she wants to make room for Nina, he won’t stand in her way, but she’s going through a lot right now, and he won’t stand for Nina intruding. Dante says he hopes for Michael’s sake and his kids’ sake, that changes. He had Sonny at his wedding. Anything can happen.

Sasha tells Nina that she’s gathering something else is brewing besides Deception’s ad campaign. Would it have to do with Carly or Willow? Nina says, no psychic channeling please. Sasha isn’t here to give her a reading or to listen to her sob stories. Sasha’s here so they can talk about the Crimson spread for her new product, The Deceptor; which she tried and it’s great. Isn’t Maxie joining them? Sasha says, of course (🍷). Maxie knows Deception has a lot riding on this campaign.

Scotty tells Cody, as Taub’s heir, they have to stake a legal claim. He knows Cody doesn’t like his father, but 35 million dollars will buy him a lot of sports cars, and a lot of therapy. Is Cody listening to him? Cody says, give him a minute, and walks over to Obrecht’s table. Scotty says, these kids have no priorities, and Obrecht introduces Cody to her grandson James. James shakes Cody’s hand and says, nice to meet him. Cody says, they have an ice cream sundae here, so is it a celebration? Obrecht says, yes. They just came from James’s moving up ceremony. Cody says, congrats; that’s awesome. Does James have any plans for the summer? Obrecht says, James is going to a great summer camp. She tells James to guess where Cody works, and James says, where? Cody says he works at the stables. Does James like horses? James looks away, and Obrecht says, James is a little afraid of horses, which might be a problem at his camp. Cody says, maybe they can do something about that.

Portia says, worrying to death about Trina going missing is the only thing that’s keeping her from replaying every wrong move she made with Curtis. She can’t stop thinking about hearing the hurt that was in his voice, and seeing the distrust and betrayal in his eyes when he looked at her. Taggert doesn’t know how hard she prayed for forgiveness, and wished she could go back in time and tell him and Curtis the truth from the start. Taggert asks if she’s told Curtis that, and she says she’s tried, but he won’t stick around long enough to listen, much less have a conversation with her. And Jordan, of all people, warned her more than once that lies are what drove a wedge between them. So how can she even blame Curtis for being mad about being deceived all over again? Taggert says, Curtis loves Portia and will forgive her, but she has to forgive herself. She has to stop feeling guilty and stop tiptoeing around Curtis. Tell Curtis she loves him, before it’s too late.

Jordan pushes away from Curtis, and he says, come on. Let’s get out of here. She says she’s tempted; he doesn’t know how much. But this isn’t the first time they felt that old spark. He says, maybe they should do something about it, but she says, before this goes any further – if this goes any further – they need to know why.

Cody says, James is friends with Leo, right? So is he. Something else they have in common is, Cody went to camp too. Is James looking forward to going? James says he doesn’t know. He hates mosquitos. Cody says, that’s something else they have in common. Take it from him, camp is worth a couple bug bites. James asks, why? and Cody says, when he was James’s age, his summers were really lonely. Until he went to camp, and met his best friend ever, Dante Falconari. They had a blast. James says, Cody knows Dante; he’s James’s godfather. Cody says, Dante is his oldest friend, meaning he’s known Dante the longest; not that he’s old. Funny. I always feel the need to clarify that too. He taught Dante how to ride horses, and Dante taught him how to paddle a canoe. James says, at camp? and Cody says, that’s where they first became friends. He bets when James goes to camp, he’s going to meet a kid he’ll become friends with forever too. And he might be able to paddle a canoe. James asks if Cody likes sundaes, and Cody says, who doesn’t? Of course (🍷). James hands him a spoon, and says he’s kind of scared of canoes too… and bats. Cody says, bats are awesome; they eat mosquitos. He takes a bite of James’s sundae, and James smiles.

Sasha says she thinks the text in the headline would pop more in white, but other than that, everything looks great. What does Nina think? Nina says, sorry. Sasha was talking to her. Sasha said, color, white… Yes, she can see that. Sasha says, Maxie’s not here, but it seems neither is Nina. They can reschedule. Nina apologizes, and says she can’t get her mind off of Willow. She’s alone in the isolation room; she doesn’t have the ability to hold her own children. Sasha says, or be held by her own mother, and Nina says, stop getting into her head. Sasha says she understands in her own way. Nina can talk to her. Nina says, it’s just that, if Michael and Carly have it their way, she’s never going to get close to Willow. She’s trying not to dwell on that. She just wants this transplant to give Willow her life back, whether she’s in it or not. Sasha says she’s going to talk to Carly and Michael on Nina’s behalf, and Nina says she appreciates the offer, but she wouldn’t put Sasha in that position. She has enough to handle lately. Sasha says, actually, she’s feeling very confident lately. Despite that attempt to get her to melt down on television, she held it together and came away stronger than ever. Nina says, yes, she did, and Sasha says she’s made up her mind. She’s going to petition the court to end Gladys’s guardianship. She’s taking charge of her life again.

Gladys says, tell Sonny that his Cousin Gladys is waiting, but Frank says, he’s in a meeting; door’s closed. Even the President and the Pope would have to wait. Gladys steps away, and Frank gives Dex and envelope, and says, the boss gave him this to give to Dex. He said Dex earned it. Gladys sees that there’s a ton of cash in it.

On the phone, Sonny says, let him know what they come up with. He apologizes to Josslyn, and asks why she wants him to kick Dex to the curb. She says, because she wants him to be free to make his own choices and live his own life, and Sonny says, if that’s what Dex wants, Dex should respect him enough to ask him to his face and not send her. Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t even know she’s here; she’s the one asking. Sonny says, she knew Dex was on his payroll when she met him. So why is she coming now. What’s changed?

Scotty comes over to Obrecht’s table with a bakery box, and says, the waitress said these cupcakes are for her, and James asks if he can have a cupcake, but she says, these are for later. James asks if Cody can come home with them and have one, but Scotty says, he and Cody have to take care of some legal business. Cody has to sign an affidavit. Cody says, he’s right. Sorry, pal. Obrecht says, an affidavit? and Scotty says, it’s no big deal. Cody tells her that he needs a legal document to establish his family background. It is nothing, but Scotty’s right; they have to get back to work. James asks if Cody can’t stay, and Cody says, for a few minutes. Does James like brownies? James says he loves them, Cody says, cupcakes later, brownies now, and they go to the counter.

Nina says, that’s great news that Sasha is taking charge of her finances and her life again. She’s so proud of Sasha. Sasha says she’s honored Nina is proud of her. She’s still a very important person in Sasha’s life. Nina says, it’s ironic, isn’t it? She once thought Sasha was the daughter she’d always wanted, and that turned out to not be the case, but now she’s closer to Sasha than her own biological child. Sasha says, Willow doesn’t know what she’s missing. For Willow’s sake, she hopes that changes soon. Nina says, Sasha’s a little biased, and Sasha says she is. Nina could have turned her back on Sasha when she found out Sasha misled her. Nina says, she kinda did, but Sasha says, after a while, Nina forgave her. If she’s the daughter Nina always wanted, Nina is the mother that she always wished she had. They hug.

Dante says he’s glad Willow could at least wave at them before she went to sleep, and Michael says, him too. Glimpses of her awake and alert are rare occurrences these days. Dante asks if Michael is okay, and Michael says he just has to keep telling himself that this will be over soon, and Willow will have a full recovery. Home stretch. Dante says he believes that, and tells Michael not to feel he can’t reach out for support if he needs to. He knows they don’t agree on some things, but Michael knows Dante’s got him, right? Michael says he does; thanks. About Sonny, they’re actually in a better place. As long as Sonny doesn’t lobby for Nina. Dante says, he’s going to do that; he loves her. Michael flashes back to Sonny agreeing to let Nina and Willow figure out their relationship on their own. Can Michael do the same? Michael tells Dante, at the end of the day, he’s counting on Sonny to choose his family over Nina, but Dante says he doesn’t know about that. It’s a long shot. Michael says, maybe; maybe not.

Josslyn tells Sonny, nothing’s changed. She fell for Dex, despite the fact he works for Sonny, and she owns that. I laugh, since I can’t imagine telling my father that I fell for someone. Sonny says, she’s her mother’s daughter; direct, and honest to a fault. She says she thought he valued honesty, and he says he’s come to an understanding with her brother Michael. Does she think they can’t also? She says she’s game. He can start by letting Dex go. He says, if Dex wants that, he knows where to find Sonny.

Dex puts the envelope in his pocket, and Gladys says, nice work if you can get it, huh? What did he do? Place a bet for Sonny? Ponies? Something else. Dex says he only bets on sure things; Sonny’s one of them. Josslyn comes out, and Gladys jets into Sonny’s office. She closes the door, and says, Cousin Sonny, this is your lucky day. Outside, Dex asks Josslyn what she’s doing here.

Portia says, it might be too late for her and Curtis, and asks if Taggert knows something. He says he doesn’t know anything. He just knows from experience that things can get out of hand. They can go too far, and you can’t go back. She asks if he’s saying she and Curtis have reached some sort of turning point, and he says, the guy dropped everything and risked everything to bring Trina back home. A lot of it was because of Trina, but a lot of it was because of her. Now it’s her turn. She has to decide what she wants, and then she needs to fight for it. He’s talking about the focus and tenacity she has when she fights for her patients. She says, what about fighting for their daughter? Is she supposed to just let Trina fend for herself against Spencer Cassadine? They both know how that ends. He says, she can’t send Trina to her room any more than she can make Trina forgive and forget what she’s done to her by turning her life upside down. Trina’s not her little girl any more. Portia says, she might be his though, and he says, she’s always going to be his, no matter what the tests say. Nobody can tell Trina how to run her life. He knows how stubborn Portia is, and no matter how hard it is to let this go, Portia has got to let Trina live her life. Then maybe Portia can concentrate on living hers.

Curtis says, he and Jordan have always had strong feelings, which is why they got together in the first place. Those feelings… He’s always had them. Maybe he always will. Jordan says he had other feelings about her too. Remember? Ones he couldn’t get past, involving mistrust and betrayal. She lets go of his hand, and says, that’s why they split up, and he moved on to Portia. The two of them rekindled their relationship and fell in love. He says, but that was before… and she says, let her finish. He and Portia were happy. She saw that. They bought a house together, and made it a home for Trina and his father. They exchanged heartfelt vows and got married in front of their friends and family. They had the fairytale ending. He says, but they didn’t, and she knows why. And here we are. She says, yes, here we are, but is this the last grasp for something that’s ended? Something they should let be over? Or will these feelings always be here, just waiting for them to rekindle them?

Josslyn says she’s not here, and leaves with Dex. Sonny asks what Gladys wants, and she says she has a proposal that’s in their mutual interest. As he knows, she’s in charge of Sasha’s day to day decision making, including investments. He says, for the time being. He heard during Sasha’s last TV appearance, she was doing okay and holding her own. Gladys says, thankfully, Sasha didn’t fall to pieces like the last time, but Sasha isn’t ready to handle her finances. He says, so Sasha should keep trusting her, and laughs. She says she knew he’d understand, and sits down. As it turns out, she has a knack for finances, which is why she’s letting him in on the ground floor of an amazing opportunity. Take it from her, it can’t miss.

At the Bistro, Maxie thanks Sasha for meeting her, and Sasha asks, what’s so important that Maxie had her run out of Nina’s office where they were supposed to have a meeting about Deception? Maxie says, that can wait. She has something to tell Sasha, and thinks she’ll want to know.

At Kelly’s counter, Cody shows James how to tie knots, and Scotty tells Obrecht that he thinks that kid is going to have a hell of a stomachache. She says, Nathan never got the chance to spend time with his son, and Scotty says he’s sorry about that. Nathan would have made a hell of a father. James has got a lot of people who care about him; even Cody. He’s not family, but maybe they’ll have more of these outings. She asks where this new and unexpected fondness for Cody came from. What’s his legal action all about? Scotty says he thought they weren’t speaking any more, and she says, they’re speaking now. He says, then hear this. He doesn’t want to ruin the surprise.

Portia says, if living her own life means ignoring all the big flashing warning signs when she sees Trina and Spencer together, Taggert can forget that. She won’t let this go. He says he’s not asking her to let this go. He’s just asking her to be smart about how she approaches their daughter. Trina has them, Curtis, Marshall, Jordan; all these people who care about her. Portia asks what he means by Jordan, and he asks if Portia thinks it’s a coincidence that Jordan was stuck in the elevator long enough for Portia to talk to that bartender and convince him to testify on Trina’s behalf. Portia asks if he’s telling her that Jordan did that deliberately. Did she tell him that? He says, she didn’t have to. They’ve been partners long enough; he knows her. The point is, Jordan also cares about Trina. Which means Portia can stop using Trina as an excuse, and start putting her energy into working on her marriage.

Jordan tells Curtis, it never ended for her. Even when things were at their worst, she was still ready to fight for them. He walked away from her… right into Portia’s arms. She’s not blaming him, or Portia. She’s come to terms with her part in things, and trying to be more mindful going forward, but did she ever stop caring, stop feeling, loving him? Never. She truly wanted him and Portia to be happy. She told Portia that she needed to tell him the truth, so Portia wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did. He tells her that he always said she was a class act, but Jordan says she wouldn’t give herself much credit. Does he know why she didn’t come to his wedding? In part, she was sitting it out because she knew what Portia was keeping from him. But mainly, it was because she couldn’t bear to hear him pledge his love to someone else. She still loved him that much. So before they go any further, she needs to know where he is, what he feels, what he wants. Is he on the rebound or are he and Portia really over? And if so, do they get a second chance?

Outside somewhere, Dex says, it’s just him and Josslyn now. What went down in Sonny’s office? She says she told Sonny that she wanted him to cut Dex loose, and Dex says, she told Sonny to fire him? She says, it was the only way she knew how to get him out of Sonny’s world, and he says, unbelievable. What did he say?… Don’t bother. Sonny said, if he wanted out, it was up to him to ask for himself. She says, he knows Sonny well, and he asks why she got involved in this. She says, maybe because Sonny will kill Dex if he finds out Dex has been working against him, and he says he knew the risk when he took the job. He doesn’t need her constantly trying to rescue him. She asks if he’s sure. So far, her track record’s awesome. He says he appreciates that. He appreciates her. They’re supposed to be in this together. She says, exactly. So no more risking his neck without telling her. He says, that’s unrealistic. He can’t run it by her every time Sonny asks him to do something, and he can’t have her going to Sonny on his behalf and asking Sonny to fire him when he doesn’t even know about it. She says she wants him free and clear of Sonny. She’s sorry. She thought that’s what he wanted too. He says, she knows he does, and kisses her.

Sonny tells Gladys, they have to wrap this up. He has somewhere he needs to be and something he needs to do. She says she’ll make it quick. It’s about Deception – the company. The thing Sasha was hyping on the Home & Heart shopping channel was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole new line in the works; maybe a whole new division. New products need new investing. He says he’s sure Lucy and Maxie have all the financing taken care of, but Gladys says, there’s always room for more. This is a golden opportunity. He gets in now, he makes bank when this line hits the market. He asks, what’s in it for her? and she says she was thinking a finder’s fee. He laughs and asks, how big? She says she hadn’t thought of a percentage. She was just circling around, doing some calculating. He says, it sounds like a winner, but it’s a no from him, because his portfolio is fine. And she knows about the trouble Carly got in with the insider trading thing. It pretty much falls under the same umbrella. And she doesn’t want to open herself up to that, does she? She can thank him later, because he does everything he can to protect his family. He hustles her out the door, and asks Frank to get his cousin a big box of biscotti. He leaves, and Gladys wonders what just happened.

Dante looks at his phone, and tells Michael, apparently his perp just remembered he had a partner. He has to go back to the ER. Michael says he’s glad Dante stopped by, and Dante says, he is too. Michael sounded cryptic before. Is everything cool with him and Sonny? Michael tells him, let’s just say they found one point of understanding, and Dante asks, with Willow or Nina? Michael suggests Dante save his skills for he perp downstairs, and Dante asks him to tell Willow that they’re thinking about her; him, Sam, and the kids love her. Michael says, will do, and Dante says, don’t make Sonny choose between him and Nina. Michael tells him, say hi to Sam, and Dante says he gave it his best shot. He goes to the elevator.

Sasha says, Cody was in the studio the day of The Deceptor pitch? and Maxie says, according to Lucy, Cody found out they were messing with Sasha, and threatened to streak in front of the camera. And she believes it. He did it at the Nurses Ball. Sasha wonders if he’s still at Kelly’s, and Maxie says, when she spoke to Liesl, he was still there, checking up on James. Sasha says, excuse her. There’s something she needs to take care of.

Curtis tells Jordan that he’d love to say he has all the answers. But the truth is, his life’s up in the air. Jordan says, because of the DNA test? and he says, that’s a big part of it. He’d be lying if he said he knows how he’ll react if he finds out he’s Trina’s biological father. Or if he’s not. She says, that’s understandable. What about the other parts? He says he guesses after what he experienced in Greenland – that Victor Cassadine madness – coming out of an intense experience like that, shook things up for him. What is he doing with his life? He’s made this place a success, and he’s proud of that, but then he wonders, is this all there is? Because he’s feeling like it’s not enough. She says, sounds like he’s restless again. Is he wondering where his heart lies? He says he doesn’t know. He cares about Jordan way to much to make promises he’s not sure he can deliver. She says, why couldn’t she have been a little more honest with him, and him, a little less honest with her? He says, we are who we are, and asks if she can give him some time until he can figure out the rest.

Dex and Josslyn kiss, and she says she’s got it; they’re in this together. He says, they have to trust each other, and she says, she’ll trust him when he has to act alone sometimes, and he has to trust her. Does he? He says, of course (🍷), and she quickly kisses him, saying she’ll see him later. He asks where she’s going, but she says, trust me, and leaves.

Jordan tells Curtis to take the time he needs. Once he unravels the knots in his marriage, and deals with the results of the DNA test, he knows where to find her. He kisses her cheek, tells her, take care, and she leaves.

Portia and Taggert walk down the hall, and she says she’s glad he stopped by. He says he feels like he did all the talking. Did any of it stick? She says she heard what he had to say, and appreciates it, but she can’t be the only one to make their marriage work. Curtis has to want it too. Curtis knows how desperately she wants things to work out. So in the meantime, she’s not going to take her eyes off the other love of her life. She’s not going to let Trina become another casualty of the Cassadines. She’s going to make sure Trina sees Spencer Cassadine for who he really is.

Frank gives Gladys the biscotti, and she says she saw him hand Dex that big fat envelope earlier. What was that about? Some big deal he and Sonny pulled off? Frank says, she knows better than to ask that, being family and all. Gladys takes out her phone, and goes outside. She calls Selina, and says, she knows what she owes Selina, but she may have something that’s more valuable than money.

Josslyn asks if she and Michael can talk somewhere private, and he asks what she wants to talk about. She says, him… and Dex.

Scotty says, he and Cody have to get that thing signed ASAP, and Cody tells James that he’ll talk to James’s grandma or mom, and they’ll figure out a time James can come to the stables with him and Leo. Scotty walks them out, and says he has his car. Can he give them a lift? Obrecht asks where he parked, and he says, in the lot. She walks toward the parking lot, and Scotty says, things are looking up.

Cody eats the cherry from James’s sundae, when Sasha walks into Kelly’s, obviously looking for him.

On Monday, Carly asks how she and Drew beat this without turning on each other; Tracy tells Chase, forgive her and skip off into the sunset, or cut her loose; and Sonny tells Nina, peace comes with a condition.

🪀 Hello I Must Be Going…

The door is always open though.

🏥 Coming Back…

Hopefully, he stays put a while.

🕺🏽 It’s Carrrlos…

And he was the guru at the end of Mad Men.

🗽 She Also Forgets Her Age…

Typical Ramona. I met Kristen once at a cocktail party and she was lovely.

🐀 Not the Rat…

But she was there? What does that mean?

🍸 Just a Little…

If you can’t get enough, a blow-by-blow of the VanderMess.

https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-season-10-finale-sandoval-and-ariana-address-raquel-affair-fallout/

Not for one second did I think it was staged.

https://www.insider.com/vanderpump-rules-ariana-madix-scandoval-not-staged-2023-5

⚰️ Spawn Of the Dead…

What’s happening soon in the Deadverse.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-midseason-finale-dead-city-premiere-amc-plus-specials/

🦔 Boop That Nose…

Cute animal videos. No need to say more.

https://digg.com/animals/link/tiktok-cute-animal-videos-5cHGPcMnYu

🐚 Quotes of the Week

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.Jesse Jackson

Faith is daring to put your dream to the test. It is better to try to do something and fail than to try to do nothing and succeed. – Robert H. Schuller

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. – Maya Angelou

It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it. – Rick Hanson

Listen to what you know instead of what you fear. – Richard Bach

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. – Khalil Gibran

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. – attributed to Edmund Burke

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Clichés are tropes because they’re true. – Wesley Fists (Austin Crute), Daybreak

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain

🌪 Never Was In Kansas…

There will perhaps be some Dead here on Sunday, but for sure there will be soap, Sailing, and awful Summer people on Monday really Tuesday. Until then, stay safe, stay letting other people finish their sentences, and stay not making promises you’re not sure you can deliver.