What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🍕 Weekday Slices…                                                                          

Monday: 

Molly went for her follow-up and Cody waited for her, even though she said he didn’t have to.

Ethan went to Sonny’s and a surprised Kristina answered the door. She said Sonny would be there soon and she was there keeping an eye on Donna. She said she’d missed him.

Valentin came into Sonny’s old kitchen and Carly asked where he’d been. The moss bowl  listened in.

Ric went to Nina’s and she said she wanted to hire him.

Alexis went to Pozzulo’s to see Sonny and she asked why Ric was the one who told her about Danny wanting to join the mob.

Michael asked what Willow was doing, and she pointed at Jacinda and said, keep this person away from her children from now on.

Kristina said Eithan was her hero, standing up for her and standing by her when she’d blamed him for something he didn’t do. He said it was behind them, and she reminded him of her having a crush on him when she was young. He said he’d wished she were about five years older, and she said her type had changed. He said he’d seen it on social media and the tabloids, but she said now she was deeply single. He said, just his luck, but she said she was interested in being friends.

Sonny said it was better coming from Ric, since they butted heads anyway, but Alexis said they would have only fought if Sonny had taken Danny into his organization. Sonny said she knew he would never do that.

Valentin told Carly that he’d gone to see Nina.

Ric told Nina that Sonny had him on retainer, but if there was no conflict, it was fine. Reminding her of how she didn’t respond well to his disappearance during Willow’s trial, he said he felt bad, but there were extenuating circumstances he hadn’t anticipated. She said he was treacherous and devious and she wanted to hire him. He asked what trouble she was in, but she said it wasn’t her.

Jacinda said Willow didn’t like that she helped Wiley with his project, and Michael wondered what the big deal was. Willow said the concept of keeping harmful people away from their children should be familiar to him since he’d used it against her.

Molly told Cody that her publisher approved the galley changes and approved the manuscript. She went in to see Dr. Navarro.

The doctor said Molly’s follow-up tests were all good and now she’d do a pelvic exam.

Kristina told Ethan about buying Charlie’s and how happy it made her. They’d just reopened and his timing was amazing. She told him about the fire and said it had been a Molotov cocktail and she’d been trapped inside.

Alexis said Danny probably thought Sonny would bring him in like Jason, but he said he did things differently now and would never bring in any of the kids. She was worried that saying no wouldn’t be enough and Danny would find another avenue to avenge his dad. Sonny agreed.

Nina said it didn’t concern Sonny, and Ric told her to continue. She asked about a battered woman’s defense and he realized she was talking about Willow. She said she wanted him to examine the possibility that because of the trauma Willow suffered, she wasn’t legally responsible for her actions. She’d had a terrible time in Dawn of Day and it could factor into the battered woman’s defense. Ric said Alexis could have used that, but created reasonable doubt with Michael. Anyway, the point was moot now since Willow had been exonerated. Double jeopardy applied to the murder, but if she’d done anything to Drew since the trial, those charges could be used to show a pattern.

Willow reminded Michael of withholding the kids because of Drew. Jacinda was a sex worker and it was a double standard. He said he didn’t care. She was honest with him and he didn’t remember the last time Willow was honest. She’d lied under oath and made everyone think he’d shot Drew. She warned him to keep that away from her children or he’d regret it.

Dr. Navarro said Molly was healing well. Consider herself cleared. Molly asked if she could have sex, and the doctor said she was good to go.

Kristina told Ethan about Marco saving her. The original assessment said it had to be torn down, but she found a structural engineer who said it could be rebuilt, and with her father’s help, it was. She asked why he was in Port Charles, and he said flying solo got lonely. He could also use steady work and that’s why he wanted to see her dad. She said Jason was gone, and he said he knew. He’d read it in the paper. It sounded abrupt and messy.

Sonny understood where Danny was coming from. He was angry and looking for something to go up against. Alexis said he’d promised he wouldn’t get into any more trouble after the fight at school, but she was worried he’d do something so reckless, she couldn’t protect him. Sonny said he had an idea.

Carly said Valentin had asked why he risked seeing Nina, and he said he’d gotten tired of wandering the grounds while she was upstairs in bed with Jack. She said he knew why, but he said it didn’t make it easier. She needed to take action and Nina could help. She said he couldn’t trust Nina.

Michael apologized, but Jacinda said it was fine. Michael said it wasn’t, but Jacinda said she hadn’t helped the situation in the café or when Willow went off on her. She wished she’d handled it differently. He said he didn’t.

Nina told Ric that he should have multiple defenses, should Willow need one, but she was hoping that didn’t happen. Ric said if it was hypothetical, fine, but if she had reason to believe Willow would commit a violent act, she could be charged as an accessory. She said as far as she knew, Willow wasn’t harming anyone, and he said he wouldn’t defend her doing anything to Michael. He wouldn’t do that to his brother. She was surprised to hear him call Sonny his brother, and he said people could change. She told him not to worry. Willow and Michael made peace. Willow stormed in and told Ric to tell Michael that she was coming for him and his rent-by-the-hour hooker girlfriend.

Kristina told Ethan that Sonny had to be surrounded by people he trusted. He was most like Luke and fit the bill.

Sonny said Alexis had to convince Danny not to get arrested or go after the WSB. Otherwise, he’d never see his sister. Alexis said Danny didn’t want to lose Scout and knew she needed him. Next time, come to her directly and don’t send Ric. She wondered why Ric was working for Sonny when he had Diane, and Ric walked in.

Valentin said he’d left Carly’s name out of it, but she needed to accept they needed Nina. Jack thought he succeeded in making Nina his informant and she’d be feeding him information. She said information he wanted Jack to have or misinformation?

Molly told Cody that she had a clean bill of health and they left to celebrate the future.

Michael told Jacinda that he was glad Wiley knew her. Wiley adored her and he thought that was why Willow was angry. She had the right to stand up for herself. He wished he could say he hadn’t messed up tonight, but he had. He’d lost his cool with Willow and needed to play the long game.

Willow told Nina about Wiley and Jacinda. She would have put a stop to it had she known. She told Jacinda to stay away and Michael defended her. She had no idea what Jacinda was capable of and wouldn’t expose her kids to the kind of depravity she had to deal with at Dawn of Day.

Cody and Molly went out to dinner, and Molly said she’d prepared herself for the worst, but she felt like a brand new woman.

Alexis said Ric wouldn’t handle things as honestly as Diane, and Ric said he could handle himself. She said she was concerned about her daughter when he got caught as Sonny’s accomplice, but Sonny said their daughter’s reputation wouldn’t suffer, and Alexis left.

Valentin said he wasn’t going to kill Jack, but to implicate him in Sidwell and Cullum’s project. That’s where Nina came in. They needed Jack to believe Nina’s intel. She’d tell him that he and Charlotte had a regular meeting place. He’d make Jack think he almost caught him. Carly said it was a terrible plan. What if Jack caught him? What about their agreement that Cullum was the priority? He said they had a golden opportunity to take Jack down for good and couldn’t pass it up.

Jacinda said Michael couldn’t just stand there, but he said he had to give Willow a false sense of security until he got leverage against her. If they went back to court now, Willow would be a respected member of congress and he’d be the guy who shot Drew and got away with it. Jacinda said she may have something for Michael to use against Willow.

Nina believed Jacinda was fond of the kids. The situation was different. Jacinda would never do anything to hurt her children. Willow said she’d go back to family court and watch Michael defend his choice of girlfriend in front of a judge, but Nina said Willow couldn’t go back into court. She’d lose everything.

Cody and Molly toasted to the future. Cody suggested oysters and lobster and shrimp cocktail and desserts, but Molly said she had a counter offer. What if they finished the champagne and went back to his place where they’d celebrate?

Sonny came home, and Kristina said someone had shown up. Ethan came out and said it had been a minute.

Valentin said he bet he wouldn’t get caught, but Carly said, the last time, he did. He said he’d been distracted by Anna. He had to make this work. Carly said, in the meantime, he had to go back to the attic. It was too risky for him to be downstairs. She gave him a game or puzzle or something and he left for the attic.

Jacinda told Michael that Jack had been there twice and met with Nina behind closed doors. The last time, Nina had seemed upset and stormed out, then Jack came back to talk to her. He thought Charlotte knew where Valentin was and wanted her to get the information. He said if she gave him information on Valentin, he’d give her something that would be very useful to Michael in dealing with Willow.

Nina said someone had witnessed Willow shooting Drew. She was being pressured by Sidwell and Drew was paralyzed because she was drugging him. If any of that came out, she’d lose, and so would her children. Willow said she was right. She’d just have to find another way to deal with this.

Tuesday:

On the phone in the hospital courtyard, Curtis said, morning was fine.

Isaiah felt Portia’s bump, when Curtis came back in.

Felicia went over medical stuff with Jordan and gave her a pamphlet for a trauma support group.

Dante, Rocco, and Lulu went to the Bad Jen Café, and Dante said he was done pretending everything was normal. He asked what going on with Rocco and Danny.

At the hospital, Britt went to see Lucas and told him that she was grateful for his help, but she’d handle Cullum and Sidwell by herself.

Cody and Molly started to get busy, but Cody put on the breaks. Molly said it was cool and she was ready, but he said he wasn’t.

Sonny introduced Ethan to Ric and asked what brought Ethan to town. Ethan could be straight with him. What did he need? Ethan said, a job.

Portia asked how Curtis was doing, and he said his injuries had been minor, but he wished he could say the same for Jordan. Portia said she had good news, the baby was the picture of perfect health. She gave him a copy of her latest sono.

Cody said he was sorry he’d ruined the mood, and Molly said it felt like he didn’t want to have sex with her. He said he wanted nothing more, but didn’t want to hurt her. Just because she was cleared, didn’t mean she needed to take off right away. He could wait. She said she didn’t want to, and he asked if sex had ever been painful with him and she hadn’t said anything.

Lucas told Britt that he was doing it for Marco. Sidwell and Cullum were going to up their scrutiny, and like it or not, she needed his help. She said she didn’t. She’d rather succumb to Huntington’s than help those monsters build their weapon.

Rocco told Dante and Lulu that he wanted to help Danny, but couldn’t. Danny had lost his mom, then he couldn’t see Scout, and now his dad was gone. Dante thought Rocco felt guilty, and Rocco said he didn’t want to feel this way anymore.

Sonny asked if Ethan was staying in town, and Ethan said he was considering it, especially if Sonny had a gig for him. Ric asked if he was a coffee importer, and Ethan said he was a poker player. Ric said they had little use for that, and Sonny said if someone was after Ethan, he could take care of it, but Eithan said he wasn’t in trouble. Sonny asked what he’d been up to, and Ethan said he’d visited Robert, Sasha, and Daisy in France. But Port Charles was more his speed and he’d heard Sonny had an opening. Jason’s absence must be a huge loss. Ric said he thought Ethan was angling to take Jason’s place.

Britt said maybe she was tired of fighting, but Lucas said she started a fight for fun and he knew she didn’t want to be dependent on anyone. She said she was already dependent on Cullum. She was being forced into protecting the man who killed Marco, almost killed her, and who’d stripped Jason of his freedom. Cullum was the only one who could provide her life, but what kind of life was it? She wouldn’t do it anymore

Dante suggested Rocco talk to Danny, and Lulu reminded him that he had to finish his community service. Rocco said he’d walk, and Lulu was hesitant, but outnumbered. Rocco left, and Dante asked what she wasn’t telling him.

Jordan told Felicia that she was more comfortable handling things herself. She had great insurance and a great back-up system. She was trained in law enforcement and knew how to deal with trauma. It had just been an accident and she’d be fine. Felicia left the pamphlet for her in case she changed her mind.

Portia told Curtis that the appointment had been last minute, and Isaiah made himself scarce. Portia said Isaiah went to the appointment with her. She’d thought Curtis would be with Jordan.

Molly said Cody had never hurt her. There had been uncomfortable sex in the past, just not with him. He said the day she’d passed out, she’d been in pain and not said anything. If she hadn’t passed out, would she have told him? She said, probably not, because it was what she’d trained herself to do. There was more to sex than the physical act and all of that made the potential discomfort worth it. He said that wasn’t good enough.

Ethan said he knew no one could take Jason’s place and also knew he’d have to prove himself. Sonny said he needed someone he could trust. A son of Luke’s would be loyal, quick thinking, and take care of himself. Ric objected and asked how Sonny knew Robert didn’t send Ethan to infiltrate Sonny’s organization. (Maybe because he’s dead, but we’ll let that pass.)

Lulu told Dante that she didn’t think forcing Rocco to spend time with Danny was the answer. They could make bad choices together. She had no solution, but thought Rocco and Danny should spend time apart. Danny could get used to living with Alexis and spend some time with Scout. Rocco couldn’t fix it for Danny, and she didn’t want him making it worse in a misguided attempt to try. Dante said she was being overprotective and sounded like him.

Portia said she wasn’t trying to exclude Curtis, but thought he’d want to be with Jordan. He said he would have liked to be in on the choice and wanted to be there for as many appointments as he could. She said everything was moving smoothly, but she wished the baby would stop growing so fast. They looked at the sono and agreed it was amazing. Curtis said the car accident was sudden and everything had changed in an instant. This was a reminder that there was so much to be hopeful for.

Isaiah asked if Jordan needed help, but she said she had to wait to fix the damage. He said Dr. Farrell was a legend, but she said Dr. Caldwell warned her that she could be scarred forever.

Lucas said Marco died helping Britt and if she stopped now, it would all be for nothing. She asked if he didn’t want to see Cullum pay for what he did, and he said yes, but if Sidwell murdered Cullum, her meds would be gone and Sidwell would walk. Sidwell had pulled Marco into that world and gotten him involved. He’d asked Marco to choose between him and his father, and in the end, the choice cost him his life. It couldn’t be in vain. They had the best chance to take Sidwell down, but needed time. Britt said she wanted to take them down, but didn’t know how much more she could take.

Eithan said Robert had zero interest in Sonny, but Ric wasn’t convinced. Ethan said he was no rat. A man’s word was his bond. His father taught him that. Sonny believed him, but said he still had to be interviewed and Ric would do the interviewing. Ethan said, no problem, and Sonny told Ric, ask away.

Rocco took a pillow from a nurse who was juggling too many things, and she told him to give it to the patient in the room ahead. When he opened the patient’s door, he discovered it was for Cullum.

Isaiah said Jordan’s case was promising. She wouldn’t need invasive surgeries. She said it could take years and it affected how people saw her. Right now she didn’t recognize herself. He said he didn’t mean to minimize her experience, and she told him to get the hell out of her room, when Curtis came in. (I gotta say, her reaction here is surprising me and it’s not like it’s her whole face – it’s one cheek. Children would not be running from her like she was Frankenstein.)

Molly told Cody that she wanted to find out and felt her best when she was with him. He said, same, but was worried about her being in pain. She said she didn’t want to force him, so they’d wait. He said they could compromise and asked her to promise they’d stop if she felt discomfort. She said she’d always be honest with him, and he wondered if they could recapture the mood. They began to kiss, then got busy, and there was a song part.

Rocco gave Cullum his pillow and asked if he was in pain. Cullum said it was better now. Did Rocco want some advice? Don’t get shot. Britt noticed Rocco in Cullum’s room.

Lulu told Dante that she couldn’t help it. All she did was worry about Danny, Rocco, and Jason, and don’t get her started on Charlotte. Now Ethan was in the mix. Dante asked how long Ethan was sticking around, but she wasn’t sure.

Cullum asked if it wasn’t late for community service, and Rocco said he was making up some hours. Britt came in and said Cullum needed to rest and Rocco was needed in pediatrics for Storytime. Rocco said he’d forgotten, and Britt took him outside and told him to come with her.

Ric asked if Ethan had any warrants out on him, but Ethan said, no. Ric asked about a current address, and Ethan said he used Lucky’s last known address in Ireland. Sonny wanted to move things along, and Ric asked why Ethan was qualified. Ethan said Jason had dealt with shipments from all over the world with no interference from the authorities or Sonny’s competition. He’d learned a lot from his parents and could stay cool in tense situations. He also had a concealed carry permit, was discreet, and familiar with the area. His father’s name still carried weight there and he could use that goodwill to Sonny’s advantage. Sonny said he’d heard enough, and Ric said Ethan was too big a risk.

Curtis said it was time for Isaiah to go, and Isaiah apologized and left. Curtis asked what Isaiah did, but Jordan said, nothing. He was trying to help and she bit his head off. It was all too much. Curtis said he got it. He remembered people trying to cheer him up and how he’d pretended to be fine to make them feel better. It wasn’t sustainable. She didn’t have to pretend with him. She said she felt suffocated and needed room to breathe, so he said he’d give her some space, but he wasn’t going anywhere. He loved her. She said she loved him too and he left.

Dante said he’d been going over the report on Cullum’s shooting, and Lulu asked if that wasn’t on the WSB. He said it didn’t make sense. It was chaotic and sloppy, the opposite of Jason’s M.O. He was missing something, but didn’t know what it was. She said he may never find out, but he said he thought she’d want to get to the bottom of it too. She said she wanted to focus on Rocco and Danny and make sure they moved on. Everything else was just noise.

Britt took Rocco to the chapel and told him, stay away from Cullum. He said he hadn’t known the pillow was for Cullum, and she said, don’t go near Cullum again. If he saw Cullum, walk the other way. He had no idea how evil Cullum was. Rocco said he knew Cullum was a killer.

Ric said Luke’s reputation made Ethan a target and what was to stop him from taking off in a month? Ethan said Sonny had his word, and Sonny said hiring him was a bad idea logically, but sometimes friendship trumped logic. He was going to take Ethan on. Ethan thanked him, but Sonny said he was doing it for Luke and not to abuse his trust. Ethan said he wouldn’t, and they shook hands.

Molly and Cody basked in the afterglow, and she said she felt so happy.

Curtis found Isaiah, who said he’d been trying to help, but did the opposite. Curtis asked why Isaiah was in Jordan’s room, and Isaiah said Jordan was a friend. Curtis said if Isaiah couldn’t see her pain, he didn’t know her. Stay away from her.

Jordan walked the hall with her IV and sat down in the atrium. Portia saw her and asked if she could get Jordan anything or get an orderly to assist her, but Jordan said she could get back on her own. Portia said she’d call Curtis, and Jordan said this is what it took for Portia to be civil to her. Portia hated that she and Curtis were together and now Portia was calling him for her. Was she that pathetic? She didn’t want Portia to be nice to her now just because she pitied her.

Ethan asked to crash at Lulu’s, and she said, of course (🍷). He said he had some stops to make first. He’d landed a job. Sonny had hired him. She wondered if it was the best idea, but he said he was exactly where he needed to be.

Ric said he thought Sonny was making a mistake, but Sonny said, don’t worry about it. Being Luke’s son got Ethan through the door, but he wasn’t taking Ethan at face value. Ethan was like his dad. They always had an angle they were working on. Ric was worried Ethan was working for Robert, but Sonny said there was no way Ethan would use Luke’s memory to betray him. He did feel like Ethan was hiding something, but the only way he’d find out what angle Ethan was working was to keep him close. He was doing this for Luke.

Dante went to see Cullum, and said he wanted to make sure his reports accurate. Was the baton they found Cullum’s? Cullum said, yes, and Dante asked when the gun came into play. Cullum said, when Jason resisted, and Dante asked how Jason got his hands on it. Cullum said Dante had the facts he needed, and Dante left.

Britt told Rocco that Cullum probably killed people since he was in the WSB. He was the reason Jason had been taken away. Rocco said he’d followed Britt to the pier that day, and she said Cullum couldn’t find out he was a witness. Rocco said he was more than a witness. Jason didn’t shoot Cullum. He did.

Wednesday:

Gio found Emma in the Bad Jen Café and told her, whatever she was doing tomorrow, cancel it. They were going to New York City.

At Bobbie’s, Josslyn flashed back to seeing Nathan at the hospital and dropped a tray. Lulu helped her pick everything up and said it seemed like Josslyn had a lot on her mind. Spill.

Nathan told Dante that he had a lead on the other vehicle in Jordan’s accident.

Jordan said she’d prefer if Portia be honest with her for once, and Portia said they didn’t like each other and would never be friends. Jordan said she was glad it was out there now, and Portia said, but her sympathy was real. Whether Jordan wanted to admit it or not, she’d need help now and for the foreseeable future. She needed someone. Let it be Curtis.

Isaiah said Curtis was looking for someone to blame, but picking a fight wasn’t helping, and Curtis said he needed Isaiah’s word that he’d leave Jordan the hell alone.

Rocco insisted he’d pulled the trigger, and Britt asked why he was on the pier. He said he’d followed her to make sure she was okay, and she said, he was there because of her?

Gio said he got a call from his friend Michael who was in Aladdin, and Emma asked if it was Michael James Scott. (We’ll refer to him as Michael JS to avoid confusion.) He said, it was, and she said she was obsessed with the show. How did Gio know him? He said he’d filled in for a violinist in the pit orchestra for two months and he and Michael had kept in touch ever since. He had two VIP tickets, along with a personal backstage tour. She asked when they were leaving.

Josslyn said she was just tired, and Lulu wondered if there were still any brownies left. Josslyn said she’d check. She was also sore from trying to impress Nathan at the gym. He’d been kind enough to fill in for her partner, but she’d made it awkward by bringing up Cesar Faison.

Nathan told Dante that he’d seen fresh scrapes on the guardrail and the position of the paint lined up with Curtis’s statement. He’d already requested a sample. Dante said Turner wanted the other driver found and prosecuted.

Jordan said she was fine, and Portia they were kind of stuck together. They were both part of the baby’s life and she’d prefer it if they tried to get along for Curtis, the baby, and their families. And maybe each other’s sanity. It had nothing to do with pity.

Isaiah asked if Jordan needed Curtis to cause a scene, and Curtis said Jordan had no privacy. Isaiah said it wasn’t fair and he was deeply sorry for upsetting her, but this wasn’t about her. It was about Curtis. Curtis didn’t get to choose who she leaned on. Curtis said he could keep Isaiah from bothering her if she didn’t want to see him. Why didn’t Isaiah do the right thing and respect Jordan’s wishes?

Rocco said he’d been worried about Britt. He’d seen her face when she’d read the texts and she looked scared. He’d figured she was in trouble and he was right. Britt said she hadn’t seen him, and he said he was hiding. She asked him to tell her exactly what he’d seen, and he said he saw her meet Lucas, which was weird. She asked if he’d heard what they were talking about, but he said he’d been too far away. When Lucas left, she’d seemed better and he was going to head out, but then Agent Cullum showed up. That’s when everything went wrong.

Curtis found Jordan in the atrium and said he knew she wanted to be alone. He didn’t want to hover, but he wanted her to know she was special to him and wanted to make sure there wasn’t something she needed. She said she did need something. She needed him. Please stay.

Nathan said he’d looked into Marco’s clients, but there was nothing to indicate any of them wanted him dead. Dante asked about the cellphone, and Nathan said Marco’s phone records showed that he didn’t make or receive any calls. Dante said, what about texts? and Nathan said they were encrypted. Dante said, whoever killed Marco took his phone because they were worried a text might identify them, and Nathan said the killer could have texted and arranged a meeting at the office. Dante said, another indication that Marco knew who his killer was.

Lulu wondered how Faison came up, and Josslyn told her about finding The Crystalline Conspiracy and how the cover looked like Anna. She’d been thinking about Anna and how she was convinced Faison was still alive. Lulu said, the world was better off with him dead, especially Nathan and probably Britt. She’d been raised by Faison and Obrecht and was a chip off the old block, desperate for daddy’s approval. Josslyn wondered if seeing Nathan was awkward because of Britt, but Lulu said she and Britt hated each other, but the problem wasn’t Britt and Nathan. The problem was Britt and Rocco.

Britt asked if Cullum saw Rocco, but Rocco said Cullum would have told the police. Cullum pointed his gun at her and she gave him something. He didn’t see what it was, but Cullum smashed it, and then she tried to get his gun. They fought for it and she went down. He didn’t know what to do and he froze. Cullum was going to shoot her, when Jason showed up. He and Cullum started fighting and Cullum knocked Jason down. He pulled out a baton, and that’s when he knew Cullum was going to kill Jason and then her. He saw the gun on the ground not far from him and grabbed it. He’d never held a gun before. It was so heavy. Britt asked if he was sure Cullum didn’t see him pick up the gun, but he said Cullum’s back was to him the whole time. Cullum was about to smash Jason with the baton, when he shot him. That’s how he hurt his hand, holding the gun wrong. She said, that’s why Jason told her to say he shot Cullum. He was protecting Rocco.

Gio and Emma planned transportation to the city, and Gio said they could spend the day exploring, then see the show in the evening. He had a friend who could put them up. Emma wondered where they were going to go, but he said it was a surprise. She said she wanted to see the city through his eyes, the eyes of a native New Yorker, and he said he couldn’t wait to show her the real New York. She asked if that included seeing his family.

Isaiah asked Portia if Curtis said something about him going to the appointment, but she said Curtis wasn’t making it a thing. He said he was glad Curtis was fine with her. He didn’t know how long the peace would last, since he’d had a run-in with Curtis. She said, how bad was it?

Dante asked what the forensic timeline was, and Nathan said he’d get it sometime tonight. He could stay since he had no plans with… Dante said Nathan could say Lulu’s name, but Nathan said he’d realized how much of a betrayal it was that he was seeing Dante’s ex-wife.

Lulu said Rocco wouldn’t stay away from Britt, and Josslyn assumed Britt was pushing for a relationship with Rocco. Lulu flashed back to Rocco saying he’d been following Britt, and said, actually, no. It was Rocco. He wanted a relationship with Britt and it scared her. Anyone who got close to Britt inevitably got hurt. Jason was living proof.

Rocco told Britt that his ears were ringing from the gun blast. Everything happened so fast. Britt said, take a breath. She was sorry he had to do that. It must have been terrifying. Rocco said he’d never been so scared. After Cullum went down, he was paralyzed and just stood there. She said he was in shock. It must be terrible to carry that secret alone. He said he wasn’t alone, and she asked who else knew. He said his mom and Nathan.

Isaiah said it had been a mistake to drop in on Jordan, but Portia told him, don’t take it personally. Jordan wasn’t in a place to hear about their support. She ran into Jordan in the atrium and offered to help. She offered to call Curtis and Jordan went off. She tried not to escalate the situation. She could understand why Jordan was angry and mad at the entire world. Isaiah said he felt for Curtis too. It wasn’t easy to watch a loved one struggle, especially when you knew it wouldn’t end soon.

Curtis said Jordan was at the beginning of a long recovery and staring it down, unflinching. She wasn’t going to give up. Over time, the scars could improve or fade. Jordan said, when? Months? Years? How many surgeries would she need and how successful would they be? She hated being a patient and waiting passively for other people to fix her. She’d come to terms about living with her kidney transplant and now she was looking at countless consultations ahead. All people would talk about was her face and there were no guarantees she’d ever look like herself again.

Dante said they were all adults and Nathan didn’t owe him an explanation or need his permission. Nathan said that’s what he wanted to believe, but Lulu and Dante had Rocco and would always be connected. Dante said, so would Nathan and Maxie with James, and Nathan said, what if it wasn’t that easy? Dante was his partner and was still his friend. Dante said Lulu had been his ex for a lot of years and it didn’t matter how he felt, but Nathan said it mattered to him. Dante said he was fine, and Nathan said he wanted to believe that, but he remembered how Dante talked about him and Lulu being a couple. That didn’t disappear. Dante said it didn’t. He’d always be connected to the girl he fell in love with at the jukebox, but none of that mattered.

Josslyn asked if Lulu blamed Britt for Jason getting shot by the WSB agent, and Lulu said Britt was there. She was sure Jason had been protecting her. He took the fall while Britt walked away. She was sure Carly felt the same. Josslyn said her mom was grateful Britt saved her life, but wasn’t a fan, and Lulu said Britt was nothing but trouble. Jason was a grown man and could make his own decisions, but Rocco… Josslyn said he was a teenager, and Lulu said, the kind that saw the best in people. He refused to see anything but the best in Britt and nothing she said made a difference.

Rocco told Britt that Nathan took him away and brought him home, and told him, never say anything, but he had to tell his mom. Britt asked what she said, and he said she agreed with Nathan and told him to never say anything to anyone. Britt said he couldn’t, and Rocco said Cullum would have killed Jason. Why don’t they turn him in? She said Cullum didn’t care about the law. It didn’t affect him. Rocco said, no one was above the law, but she said, Cullum was. If he found out Rocco shot him, they were dead.

Gio told Emma that he’d thought about seeing his family. It was a kneejerk reaction until he realized he still wasn’t ready. The Cerullos were all or nothing and they’d never make the show on time. She couldn’t post about it on social media – ever. If they ever found out he was in the city and didn’t tell them, they’d hunt him down. Emma promised to be discreet. Nothing was going to stop her from seeing Aladdin.

Portia told Isaiah that they were making progress and coming together as a family. She hoped this didn’t set them back. Isaiah said there was no way Aunt Stella would stand for it. Sooner or later, it would be good. She said she wanted to respect what Curtis and Jordan were going though. If that meant keeping her distance from Jordan, she’d do that. He said Portia needed to change the focus to herself. Come back to the cabin with him and he’d show her how.

Jordan told Curtis that she knew she should be grateful to be alive, and she was, but to be scarred like this… How you looked affected how people treated you. She knew how to make a good impression and project confidence. Now she felt self-conscious and damaged, less than, and she couldn’t stand that. Curtis took her hand and said he loved her and promised to be with her every step of the way, and she said she knew he meant that. But if things didn’t get better, her scars didn’t go away or got worse… If his feelings changed… He said nothing was going to change how he felt. There was nothing worse than her being trapped in the car and thinking he might not get her out before… She said, but he did, and he said that proved they could do anything. She asked if he could hold her, and he did.

Dante told Nathan that he and Lulu would always be connected through Rocco and their past. It didn’t go away, but he’d moved on after they split up. The last thing he wanted was for them to deny their feelings because of him. He was a big boy and could handle it. Nathan said he never meant to come between Dante and Lulu, and Dante said he knew that. Nathan was a good guy. He wanted Lulu to be happy and wished them nothing but the best. There was no need to talk about it anymore.

Lulu told Josslyn that when she tied to warn Rocco that Britt was dangerous, he dismissed it and chalked it up to her still being angry with Britt. Britt’s whole life was a series of toxic situations. She knew it wasn’t entirely Britt’s fault. She’d been raised by Faison and Obrecht. It wasn’t a good start, but Faison was dead, yet Britt kept chasing trouble. Rocco would eventually discover that Britt didn’t look out for anyone but herself.

Rocco asked if Britt was saying Cullum would kill him, but she said that wasn’t going to happen. Cullum would never find out. She didn’t mean to scare him, but he needed to understand it was important to stay quiet. He said, what about her? Was she still in danger? How did they stop Cullum? Britt said she was handling it. Cullum needed her and wouldn’t hurt her as long as she did what he wanted. Rocco asked what she had to do for him, but she said he didn’t need to know. He was too involved already. Please promise he won’t tell anyone else. It would kill her if anything happened to him because of her. He said he promised, and they hugged. She said it was going to be okay. She’d protect him. She was going to fix this.

Emma said she couldn’t believe Gio never told her about playing for a Broadway show. She was not going to happy if he was keeping something bigger from her. He said she’d have to wait and see, and she said he wasn’t as nice as he looked. She thought she liked it. They needed to pack. They had an early flight to catch. Gio said, Princess, I am about to show you a whole new world, and spun her around.

Josslyn wondered if Nathan could help with Britt and make her see that Rocco would be better off if she kept her distance, but Lulu doubted it would do any good. Britt and Nathan were just getting to know each other when Faison shot Nathan, and neither one of them seemed interested in hanging out. Josslyn said they were very different. Lulu said, Nathan was warm and good natured, and Britt… Josslyn said, isn’t. It was amazing how well-adjusted Nathan was after a seven year gap. Lulu said, four was bad enough, and Josslyn said she was sorry, but Lulu said it was okay. It wasn’t like she didn’t remember anything. She was in a hospital bed. Nathan had a mystery to solve. Josslyn asked if he remembered anything, but Lulu said, nothing yet. He was focused on moving forward and didn’t want to waste time looking back. She could count on Nathan. Josslyn said she was happy for Lulu. It really was a miracle for Nathan to pick up his past life so soon.

Nathan told Dante to go home, when his phone rang. He said, speak of the devil. He answered and said, yeah… Yeah. He’d let the Commissioner know. He told Dante that forensics got something from the paint on the guardrail.  

Britt asked if Rocco had a ride home, and he said he’d call his mom. How about her? She said she had her car. He said, no. He meant, was she going to be okay? If Cullum was that dangerous, maybe she should stay away from him too. She said she’d dealt with a lot of men like Cullum. She could handle herself. He didn’t need to worry. He said, but he did, and she said she appreciated that. Have a good night. Rocco left, and Britt made a call. She said she needed the launch waiting. She was going to Windymere… Yes, tonight. She had work to do.

Portia said the cabin sounded so good, but what about Isaiah’s private patient? Was there any chance he’d have to make a house call again? Isaiah said his patient was well on the mend.

Jordan said at least that hadn’t changed. The one place she felt safe was in Curtis’s arms. His phone rang, and Curtis said he was going to ignore it, but Jordan said, it’s fine. Curtis asked Dante what was going on, and Dante said they had a possible lead on the vehicle that fled the scene. A sample of the paint matched a black, German made car. Curtis said he thought Isaiah Gannon drove a black SUV.

Thursday:

Emma and Gio arrived at his friend’s place, but their flight was delayed and Gio was disappointed not to make it the perfect day. Emma said it still was because they were together and they still had time. He said he’d give her a day she’d never forget, and they kissed.

Michael and Jacinda got a room at the MetroCourt and got busy.

Kristina and Sonny met at the MetroCourt Gardens, and Kristina asked what happened with Ethan after she left.

Ric stopped by Alexis’s office and asked what she knew about Ethan.

Tracy was supposed to meet Lulu at the MetroCourt, but Ethan showed up instead. He asked for a hug, but she said, not with all these valuables on, and they laughed.

Nina was miffed that Willow left her alone with Drew. He was unsettling. He kept blinking and she said she knew what he was trying to tell her. She knew everything. Willow shot him and put him in that chair. She wasn’t going to save him. Nobody was.

Willow told Kai that he was invaluable in the office and with Wiley and Scout. The kids adored him. It was nice having them with her. Jack knocked at her office door.

Tracy said she hadn’t received any ransom requests lately, and Ethan said she was always reimbursed. She asked what he was doing for money, and he said, this and that. Right now, he was doing a little work for Sonny.

Sonny said he’d had Ric interview Ethan, and Kristina asked if Sonny hired him. He said, on a trial basis, and she said he needed someone loyal around him with Jason gone. He said he had Ric. He knew she didn’t like him, but he was Molly’s father and his brother. She said he couldn’t trust Ric after what he’d done to her and her mom.

Ric told Alexis that Ethan was looking for a job with Sonny and Kristina had advocated for it. Alexis said they had a history, and Ric said Sonny wanted him to vet Ethan and Alexis was never short on opinions. She said she liked Ethan and he was more trustworthy than Ric.

Emma wanted the full Gio experience of the city.

Nina said Drew did this to himself. She wished they could let him go, but he’d use what Willow had done to his advantage. They all knew him. Making Willow pay would be his first move. They had to wait until he couldn’t retaliate against them. Then they’d let him go. No one would be more thrilled than her to have him out of their lives forever, aside from Willow. Elizabeth came to check on Drew.

Willow asked Kai to help look after Drew since his caregiver had the day off and Nina needed to get to a meeting. He said he would and left. Jack wondered why he was there, and Willow said they were in a position to help one another – or they could cause each other irreparable harm.

Michael said Jacinda was incredible. She’d been through a lot with him and was still there. She asked where else she would be, and they kissed. She said she should probably get dressed and go to work.

Outside the theatre, Gio and Emma had problems taking a selfie that included the marquee, and a passerby took it for them. (Geez, I don’t know if I’d hand a stranger my phone in the city.)

Alexis told Ric about Kristina being in an abusive relationship with Kiefer Bower and how he’d beat her up. Ethan found her and brought her to the hospital, but she was worried about Kiefer retaliating and said Ethan had done it. He was arrested, then the truth came out, but Ethan didn’t hate Kristina. He was like Luke, fiercely loyal and the kind of guy you’d want on your side. Later, Kiefer’s father went on a shooting spree and shot Ethan, who almost died. After all of this, he still forgave Kristina. He was the kind of guy who could be counted on.

Sonny asked what Ric had done to Kristina and Alexis, and Kristina said it was stuff from the past. She saw the pain and stress Ric caused Alexis during their divorce, plus he’d been Ava’s lawyer in the trial against her and got Ava off. She’d never forgive him. Sonny said he understood, but it was just Ric being a good lawyer. He knew she wanted him to hire Ethan, but being Luke’s son was what got him in the door and he’d have to prove he was reliable. He had to earn it.

Tracy said Ethan was his father’s son. Luke was one of a kind and lived every moment to the fullest. Ethan said they should too.

Sidwell and Ava walked in and Ava wondered who Ethan was. Sidwell said he believed he recognized him.

Elizabeth said she’d brought over some medical supplies and was more than happy to give Nina a break, and Nina said she had a call she needed to be on. She’d be in the other room. She left, and Elizabeth said she heard Scout had an amazing swim meet. Drew must be proud of both her and Willow. He blinked like crazy, and she asked if he was trying to tell her something.

Willow said she knew Jack had the traffic cam footage and was blackmailing Nina to do his bidding or he’d release it, but Nina told her that she’d disarmed him. Jack said Nina gave him a compelling reason not to let it go, but Willow said she didn’t share Nina’s confidence that he would just forget about it. Even if the footage was released, she couldn’t be tried again. He said that was true, but she’d lose her seat in congress and her children. She said he should care about her losing the office. Having her in the seat served his interests.

Doorman Jerry greeted Gio and Gio introduced Jerry to Emma. He said Michael JS was waiting for them, and Gio said, welcome to a whole new world, as they went inside.

Sidwell told Ava that Ethan was the son of his former associate, Holly Sutton, and Luke Spencer. Holly had swindled him. Ava said it sounded like there was unfinished business, and he said when someone crossed him, there was no going back. They became his enemy to the grave and beyond. She said she had no intention of crossing him. Like him, loyalty meant everything to her. He suggested they send over a drink, and she agreed.

Ric told Alexis that Ethan was also Holly’s son and she was an infamous conwoman. She’d trained Ethan and ran cons with him. Alexis said Ethan’s talents could be used to Sonny’s advantage, but he said Ethan was a wild card. What if he was there on behalf of one of Sonny’s enemies?

Jacinda told Michael that she’d been thinking about Jack’s offer. If she came through for Jack, he’d come through for her. Michael didn’t think it was a good idea, but she said she could make up for what she’d said on the stand that made him look guilty. He said all that mattered was having her by his side. The best revenge against Willow was living his life and living it well. With her and his kids, he was doing it.

Elizabeth didn’t know what Drew meant with his blinks and asked if he was trying to tell her something specific. He blinked once, and she wondered what it could be. He blinked an SOS, and she wondered if he was asking for help. He blinked once, and she asked, what kind of help? What was wrong?

Willow told Jack that she sat on the International Law Enforcement Appropriations Committee, which oversaw funding for the WSB. She could expedite or expand it, or make sure they received nothing. She’d tell his superiors it was because of him and his harassment. He could be relocated away from Carly or they could kick him to the curb. Or she could sing his praises. He asked if all he had to do was make sure the footage never saw the light of day, and she said, that, and one more thing. She needed evidence against Drew.

Gio showed Emma the backstage area. He said the theatre was the oldest working theatre in NYC and a landmark. She was dazzled, and he said it was also supposed to be haunted.

Alexis told Ric that she found the simplest explanation was usually the one that made the most sense. Sonny and Luke had been partners and friends, and that’s why Ethan was there. Ric didn’t buy it. He thought Ethan was running an angle. Alexis said she didn’t think it was about Ethan or Sonny. It was about Ric.

Michael and Jacinda ran into Kristina and Sonny in the restaurant, and Kristina said she’d been talking to Sonny about her old friend Ethan. He was back in town and was going to be working for Sonny.

The waitress served the drinks, and Sidwell waved at Tracy and Ethan. Tracy said Sidwell was a pestilence, and Ethan said he knew who Sidwell was. He’d nearly killed Ethan’s mother, Sasha, and Lucky. He was going over to talk to him. Tracy offered to help.

Gio and Emma walked around among the costumes and sets. Gio looked around for Michael JS, who suddenly appeared, twirling up through an opening in the floor. They hugged, and Gio introduced him to Emma. Michael JS told them, come this way.

Elizabeth told Drew that there were other tools he could use besides blinking. She thought he was ready for them. She’d talk to Willow. Nina came back and asked what she needed to talk to Willow about.

Jack asked what kind of evidence Willow was looking for, but she said she wasn’t picky. Whatever he could find. If she knew Drew, he was probably mixed up in all sorts of illegal things. She needed everything he could find. At the very least, she needed to know if he had any connection to Judge Haran’s death. He said, it wasn’t enough that she shot him?

Michael JS gave Gio and Emma some sparkle, when he was given a 15 minute call, and had to go get his genie makeup on.  

Kristina asked Jacinda to sing at the next open mic night, and Jacinda said maybe she would. It was a lot of fun.

Sitting with Sonny, Michael said Kristina was convinced Ethan could fill in for Jason, but something told him Sonny wasn’t. Sonny said he needed someone he could trust until Jason came back. Ethan’s track record was erratic and he’d have to prove himself reliable.

Ethan returned the drinks to Sidwell and said he couldn’t accept them from someone who’d repeatedly tried to harm his family. Sidwell said it was water under the bridge. Besides, Holly and Sasha were in France. Ethan said peace was better than the alternative, and Ava said there was no need for threats. Tracy said she saw that Sidwell was Ava’s latest mark, but Sidwell said their arrangement was mutually beneficial. Tracy said the conversation was making her miss Lucy Coe – words she never thought she’d say. She and Ethan went back to their lunch.

Emma was impressed by Michael JS, and Gio said, he’s like a supernova in human form. He’d never seen the whole show before because he was in the orchestra pit. Emma asked if they could go there before the show. She wanted to see what it was like to be a Broadway musician. He said, your wish is my command, princess.   

Willow said she saw no point in rehashing the past and called Jack Chief Brennan. She said, but it might be Director Brennan depending on how he played this.

Elizabeth told Nina about Drew blinking an SOS, and Nina said he’d never done that. Maybe it was a reflexive movement. Kai arrived and said Willow had sent him to relieve Nina, but Nina said she was canceling her meeting. Elizabeth told Kai that Drew was trying to tell them something, but they didn’t know what.

Gio showed Emma the orchestra pit and where he used to sit. She said it made her volunteering at the animal shelter look less than, but he said that wasn’t true. She’d made the world a better place for the animals in the shelter for a while. He told her about his family coming and filling up the orchestra section, and she asked if he got nervous, but he said he got this huge rush of adrenaline. Then it was off to the races and didn’t stop for two hours. She asked if he missed it, but he said nothing beat seeing the show with her. It was time for them to get to their seats.

 Ava told Sidwell not to give Ethan another thought. He was grieving a tremendous loss right now. He said she was right. He had too much going on to be distracted by Holly’s spawn.

Tracy told Ethan that she detested Sidwell. On top of everything else, he’d wormed his way into Deception. Ethan suggested buying it back, but she said it was more complicated than that. He offered to get rid of Sidwell, but she said Sidwell was out of his league. He told her not to be so sure. He’d learned a thing or two in his time away. She said she loved his father very much and one of the hardest things she had to do was grieve him. Don’t make her grieve him too. He said he made no promises, and she said his father never did either, and they hugged.

Alexis said Ric had sabotaged every relationship he ever had, because deep down, he didn’t think he was good enough. He would try to control everything, but couldn’t, and he couldn’t control Sonny, so just stop. Let something be enough. Ric said she really did know him.

Jacinda said Kristina seemed excited about Ethan being back, and Michael said Ethan had come through for her and she’d been sad when he left town. Jacinda said maybe things were turning around for the both of them, and he said things were already pretty great. Jacinda agreed and said she’d give Jack what he wanted, then he’d give her what he had on Willow, but Michael said Willow was his problem. It was on him to deal with her.

Sonny asked Kristina about Michael and Jacinda, and she said she and Molly were skeptical at first, but she’d gotten to know Jacinda. She was smart, funny, and really cared about Michael. What you see is what you get, unlike Willow.

Jack said he’d see what he could find on Drew, but wondered why Willow wanted leverage on a man who couldn’t move or speak and probably wouldn’t again. Willow said that was her business.

Elizabeth told Nina that Drew trying to communicate with them was a good thing. She thought it was time to explore alternative methods of communication. Kai said, like what? and Elizabeth said there were eye tracking devices and letterboards. Given the right tools, Drew would be communicating with them sooner than they thought. Nina said Willow would be so excited to hear about that, and Kai looked at Drew.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Emma tells Michael JS, it was amazing. The singing and the choreography and the special effects… and he was amazing. Michael JS says, stop. He’s glad they enjoyed it. Emma says she loved it. She loved every single thing about it. And before she forgets, she also loved the wardrobe and the sets and… Oh my God. He tells her that they have the best designers and crew in the business. The last set is up for a few more minutes if she wants to take a closer look. Emma says, could she? and he says, of course (🍷). Don’t touch anything or they’ll put you in Broadway jail. She says, noted. She’ll be right back. She leaves, and Michael JS says, she’s a keeper. Gio says he knows. He got lucky. Michael JS says he’s happy that Port Charles has been so good to Gio. But wait, how’s the music scene there? Gio says, it’s very happening. His friend Trina’s dad owns a club, The Savoy. They bring in really great shows. He knows they’d love to have Michael JS perform there. Michael JS says he’s heard of The Savoy and he loves to perform, and Gio says, obviously. He’ll set up a gig with Trina’s father. He’ll contact Michael JS’s people. Port Charles isn’t going to know what hit it. Michael JS says, come on. That’s good. Gio says, that’s what he’s talking about. They’re going to love him.

At the MetroCourt, Lulu tells Laura that she’s delighted their schedules aligned and they were able to meet for dinner. Laura says her too, but just for the sake of clarity, they are both too young to make the early bird special a regular date, right? Lulu says, today’s meal time is purely a function of timing, and Laura says, thank you so much. She sees Boyle at the bar and says there’s something she has to take care of. She’ll be right back. She goes to the bar and Boyle says, a pleasure as always. Is she here to save him from himself yet again? She says, well, that depends. Does he need saving?

Josslyn goes to Carly’s attic and says she needs to ask Valentin some questions. He says, oh, in that case definitely come by anytime she wants to unannounced, and she says she already does, but it’s sweet to hear him say it out loud. He asks if her mother knows she’s here, and she says, the quid pro quo of her mother risking everything to protect him is, she gets to show up here and get all the information from him that she wants. He says, so she’s a glass half full person, and she says, which is why she’s so sure he’s going to tell her everything she wants to know about Anna Devane and Cesar Faison.

At the bistro, Felicia asks Obrecht, how was her trip? and Obrecht says, it was fine, but she barely had a chance to unpack before Felicia texted and insisted she meet her there immediately. Felicia says she really appreciates Obrecht coming, and Obrecht says, so let’s get to it. She has a small window before jetlag takes her. What’s the trouble? Is it James? Felicia says, oh no, no. James is great. He’s taken up karate and he’s mildly obsessed with it. Obrecht says, God help the sensei. If not James, then… Felicia says, it’s Anna, and Obrecht says she’s assuming Anna’s progress has been minimal. Felicia says she heard from Robin and not only is Anna not making progress, she’s getting worse.

Britt sips a glass of wine in her room, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and says, finally. What took him so long? Nathan says, you know. His job, working on a case, her texting him every hour on the hour. She says, it’s important, and he says he’s sure it is. With her it usually is. She realizes he doesn’t answer to her, right? So he doesn’t care if Sidwell hurt her feelings or Pascal didn’t make her tea the way she likes it or she doesn’t feel like working on the prototype. She can’t keep crying to him. She says she knows Rocco shot Cullum.

Boyle says, nothing to see here, he promises, and the bartender asks if he’d like another Shirley Temple. Boyle says, with extra cherries. Please take it easy on the grenadine this time. Thank you. He laughs and tells Laura, surprise. As she can see, he’s still young at heart, so perfectly capable of changing his less than desirable ways. At least some of them. She says she’s really glad to hear that, but remember what they talked about though. He can call her if the pressure becomes too great for him and his Shirley Temple to handle. He says, if he has to, he will. Promise. She says, good. Enjoy his drink.

Laura goes back to the table, and Lulu says, what was that all about? And why is Ezra drinking something that looks like Hello Kitty made it? Laura says, because he’s drinking a Shirley Temple. She knows. It’s just that he had a few too many the other day at the Brown Dog, and almost got himself thrown out as a matter of fact. Lulu says, were there complaints filed? Were the police involved? Laura says she assures Lulu, this is not a story, and Lulu says, no? A city councilman is publicly intoxicated. Sounds like a story to her, a potentially important one. Laura says, or perhaps it’s just a man who made one bad choice after another. No one was hurt, except of course (🍷) for him, and she thinks that maybe the hangover was punishment enough. Lulu says she doesn’t get it. That man has been nothing but a huge thorn in Laura’s side. Why is she suddenly protecting him?

Felicia says, the doctors at the clinic were confident that rest and distance from her regular life would free Anna of her delusions. But unfortunately, that course of treatment seems to be having the opposite effect. Obrecht says, meaning she’s still convinced Cesar is alive and holding her captive? and Felicia says, yes. Her paranoia has gotten worse. She now thinks that her doctors are working for Faison and doing his bidding. She keeps trying to escape and she’s almost succeeded more than once. Obrecht says, they’d be well-advised to double the guard. Anna will try again, and given her training and experience, someone may end up getting hurt. Felicia says that’s why she wanted Obrecht to come meet her here. She was hoping Obrecht could help her prevent that from happening. Obrecht says she’s sorry for Anna’s troubles, but what can she possibly do? She’s already told Felicia everything she knows about Cesar. Felicia says, one of Anna’s delusions is that Obrecht is part of Faison’s scheme. She believes he brought Obrecht in to give her a phlebotomy treatment and she’s still loyal to him. So she was hoping that she and Obrecht could go to France and Obrecht could explain to Anna, face to face, that she’s not Faison’s co-conspirator and that it’s all in her mind. Obrecht says, that she cannot do.

Valentin says, any word on Anna? and Josslyn says, as far as she knows, Anna is still in the hospital in France. No change in her condition, and there’s still charges pending from her assault on that officer. He asks what she wants to know about Anna and Faison, and she shows him the book. He says, a little light reading, and she says, just something she picked up after discovering Cullum carrying it around the night of the storm at Windymere. And inside it there was an inscription that said, for my muse, C. He was also carrying around a box of cigarillos. Valentin says, cigarillos. Faison used to smoke those. She says, so any idea why Cullum would be carrying around two items so closely associated with Faison?

Nathan asks what Britt is talking about. Rocco didn’t shoot Cullum. Jason shot Cullum. She’s the one who told Dante that. She says, as good as he is at lying, it’s too late. Rocco told her everything. He says, that was a mistake. He wasn’t supposed to tell anybody. She says, he needed to tell someone. He’s drowning in guilt. Nathan says, well, if he doesn’t keep his mouth shut, then feeling guilty is going to be the least of his problems, and she says, he’s a kid and he shot someone. Yes, he did it to save Jason’s life and probably hers, but now Jason is paying the price and it’s a lot for him to handle. Nathan says, stop it. She’s not his therapist. Let him worry about Rocco. She asks what that means, and he says he’ll protect Rocco. He’s already doing everything he can to make sure nobody finds out what happened on the pier. She says, yeah, for now. But what happens when he needs to score points with Cullum? How does she know he isn’t going to just hand Rocco over on a silver platter? He says, she really thinks that’s something he would do to a 15-year-old, to Lulu’s 15-year-old? She says, well, it’s exactly what their father would do.

Emma walks out onto the stage and marvels at the set. She starts to dance, and Gio applauds. He joins her and asks if she has a secret career as a Broadway dancer, and she says, yeah. Only in her dreams. This trip, it’s been a dream. Only, he made it real. He says, she knows he’d do anything for her, and they sit down. She says, he knows she’s been so worried about her grandma that she really hasn’t had time for anything else, and he took her mind off that for a while. She doesn’t know how she’s ever going to thank him for such a magical night. He says he’ll think of something, and they kiss.

Gio says, there’s like a million people waiting out there for Michael JS, and Emma thanks him again for the tickets and the backstage tour. Michael JS says he loved meeting her, and Gio says he’s going to get Curtis to book Michael JS at The Savoy. Emma says, no way. That’s so fun. They’ll see him in Port Charles then. Michael JS says he can’t wait.

Felicia says she knows Obrecht and Anna have a complicated history, but Anna deserves every chance to come out of this with her sanity intact. Obrecht says, she misunderstands. It’s not that she doesn’t want to help Anna. It’s that she’s not capable of it. If she goes to France with Felicia, her presence would only reenforce Anna’s delusions and cause her harm. Felicia says, Obrecht would be with her, but Obrecht says, Anna would believe Felicia had been co-opted by Cesar’s network. Felicia says, what? and Obrecht says, Felicia told her that Anna claims she’s working with her captors and gave her medical attention. In her mind, the only reason she’d do that is because she’s still married to Cesar. Felicia says, but she could find a way to prove to Anna that she’s not, couldn’t she? and Obrecht says, from what Felicia described, Anna believes she’s still working for a man who so disgusted her, who she refuted years ago. How can she convince Anna of anything when Anna won’t believe a word she says? Felicia says, isn’t it at least worth a try? and Obrecht says she realizes she’s the latest straw Felicia is grasping in an attempt to save her friend, and she commends Felicia for her effort. But if she was thinking more rationally, she’d realize that Anna would interpret a visit from her as another one of Cesar’s manipulative tactics. She’s sorry, but she cannot save Anna.

Josslyn asks why Cullum would be carrying a copy of this book with a pack of cigarillos, and Valentin says, Cullum is the WSB Faison expert. Maybe he’s using them as an opportunity to get back in the man’s head. She says, okay, but what’s the end game? and he says, it’s no secret that Anna was haunted by Faison’s obsession with her. Cullum would have known that she was emotionally vulnerable when it came to him. She says, okay. So what? He thinks Cullum was using these items as props to help set Anna up? He says, yes, but the timeline does not work because Cullum was in town when Anna was picked up in France. There is a connection, but he’s not seeing it. What the hell is it? He throws the book and it hits a lamp, then falls to the floor.

Britt says, their father wouldn’t see Rocco as a person. He’d see him as leverage. He wouldn’t hesitate to use Rocco if it helped him achieve his desired outcome. Nathan says he’s not their father. Everything he’s done since he showed up on that pier has been to shield Rocco. He’s the one that took Rocco out of the crime scene and brought him back to Lulu. He’s the one who made sure both of them knew, in no uncertain terms, that no one was to know that Rocco picked up the gun and pulled the trigger. She asks if that isn’t exactly what he’d do if he wanted to use Rocco for leverage himself. Get Rocco to trust him. Act like he’s helping Rocco keep a secret. Until the time comes when he can use that information to his own advantage. He says, look, he gets that he doesn’t hold a candle to Saint Nathan, all right? But does she really believe he wants Cullum to know Rocco shot him? Because then Cullum knows Rocco knows that he’s a double agent and he will kill Rocco just like he killed Marco. He doesn’t need her gratitude for what happened on the pier or for saving her life, but she needs to get something in her head. He will protect Rocco. Nothing bad will happen to him. That is a promise.

Josslyn tells Valentin, please. What if someone was downstairs and heard him? He says, if Cullum has driven Anna insane by playing on her worst fear, he will not stop until he’s destroyed him. He will put Cullum in a padded room, screaming to an audience of no one. She says, hey… hey. Can they press pause on his revenge plan really quick? Because it doesn’t matter why he wants to bring Cullum down. All she cares about is that he gets it done. And in order for him to do that, he needs to get a grip, okay? So can they start by remembering nobody can know he’s here? He asks what else she wants from him, and she says she wants information, and not just on Cullum. On everybody he’s working with. He says, so Sidwell too, and Marco before he was killed? and she says, what about Nathan West? Is there any possibility he’s involved in this?

Britt tells Nathan, okay. Let’s say I believe you’re going to protect Rocco. My next question is, how are we going to make sure he stays safe? He says, we aren’t going to do anything. I will handle this. She says, he’s not keeping her out of this, but he says, she’s going to keep herself out of this. Because the best thing she can do for the kid is make sure Sidwell and Cullum are happy. She says she’s already doing that. She’s working every chance she gets. She just spent the whole night in the lab at Windymere. And as far as Rocco goes, he’s going to need her help. He asks what he’s going to need her for, and she says, because she found Rocco in Cullum’s hospital room. He says, what? What was he doing in Cullum’s hospital room? She says, his community service. He didn’t realize it was Cullum’s room when he was sent in there. By the time she went in, they were already talking. He says, about what? and she says, nothing. She got Rocco out before Cullum could suspect anything. But if she hadn’t shown up, who knows what would have come up? He says, so she finds Rocco in Cullum’s hospital room and just yanks him out of there. Doesn’t she think Cullum is going to find that the least bit strange? She says she’s not going to leave Rocco fend for himself, and he says, Rocco knows he’s not supposed to tell anybody what he did. She says, so why did he tell her? and Nathan says he doesn’t know. She says, well, she does. Because Rocco is scared and traumatized and feels guilty. He told her because he needs her help. Nathan says, Rocco doesn’t need her help. He needs his mother and that ain’t her.

Lulu says, maybe a better place to start is, how did Laura even know about Ezra’s bender at the Brown Dog? and Laura says, Dante. He stopped by her office to let her know Boyle was at the Brown Dog on his way to making a spectacle of himself. Lulu says, Dante did? Why? Laura says, because Dante knows how many times Ezra has exploited her. He thought maybe she would want to use Ezra’s bad night out to her own advantage somehow. Lulu says, but instead of giving as good as she got, Laura went to the Brown Dog to help the city’s most obnoxious councilman, and Laura says, okay. Well, she’s not the type of politician to tear down her political opponents. Besides, this time, much to her surprise, she found herself feeling kind of badly for him. (I thank the writers for using the adverb badly correctly, instead of using the grammatically incorrect bad.) Lulu says, that has got to stop. Laura’s compassion has been a constant her entire life, and she’s been its beneficiary in a million different ways, but Ezra Boyle is a public servant and she could argue that the people of Port Charles deserve to know that a member of their town council is going off the rails. Laura says she knows Lulu can, and Lulu says, Laura doesn’t even have to get involved. She could follow up with the bartender and get the story out that way. Laura says she knows Lulu can, but really hopes she won’t, when Boyle approaches the table. He says, pardon the interruption, but if they’d allow him, he would love to pick up their tab as a small token of his thanks. Lulu says, as thanks for what, councilman? and he says, her mother did him a kindness. Lulu says, that’s one way of putting it, she guesses. Keeping him off the hook for public intoxication is another. She was thinking about writing the story herself, to highlight her mother’s good deed of course (🍷), but her mother convinced her that there wasn’t a story there. So she’s going to let it go. Just another reason he should be grateful to Laura. He says he sees, and sits down. He tells Laura that he does his best to lead by example, but when will she learn? She has him right where she wants him. She has the advantage. Why is she not using it? She tells him, who says she’s not?

Gio and Emma come out to the lobby with Michael JS, and he says, so his publicist, also Michael (!), got them reservations at his favorite after theatre spot. Other Michael will meet them in the front and he’ll see them at The Savoy. Gio thanks him again and says he’s the best. They forearm bump, and Emma says, seriously. This is a special night she’s never going to forget. Michael JS says, she’d better not, and leaves. Gio holds out his hand and says, dinner awaits, and they kiss.

Boyle says, so Laura does have something up her sleeve. Care to share? She says, just following his example. And he’s the one who told her that politics is all about trading favors. He says he’s surprised she’d be willing to take a page from the old Ezra Boyle playbook, and she says she’s happy to learn from anyone. Lulu says, even him, and he asks how he’ll be repaying Laura for this favor. Laura says, he’s going to give her 100% of his support when she announces her next initiative – universal pre-K for Port Charles – and he says, and if he doesn’t support her? Lulu says she may suddenly feel the urge to do a deep dive into his patronage at the Brown Dog Bar and his habit of spending time with escorts, but he says, no need. Just tell him when and where and he’ll be there, nodding and smiling. He can even match his tie to whatever outfit she plans on wearing that day. Laura says, no, don’t do that, and Lulu says, ever. He says, it’s not really a favor because her initiatives are always so sensible and popular with the voters. He supports her and he comes out smelling like a rose. Win-win. He tells them to have a fun evening and leaves, and Lulu says, well played, mom. Laura says, right back at you, daughter, and they high-five.

Valentin says, Nathan’s an Eagle Scout who has all his badges, and Josslyn says, Nathan’s an Eagle Scout who’s been missing for seven years. And then all of a sudden he turns up out of the blue unable to remember anything that happened to him, yet somehow manages to pick up his life right where he left off. He asks if she thinks Cullum made that happen, and she says, it’s not an impossible leap, right? Look at Britt. They know what happened to her and that Faison’s people were behind it. Why shouldn’t Faison be behind Nathan’s disappearance? He says, more likely than not, and she says, so he agrees Nathan’s hiding something. He says, not necessarily. It could be that he has no memory of what happened to him. There are ways to manipulate the human mind, and he would imagine Faison’s disciples know some, if not all of them. She says, so either an innocent man has been returned to live his life, which would make Nathan the one exception to the all-Faisons-are-criminals rule… He says, or Nathan is just as dangerous as the rest of them, and she should leave him alone.

Obrecht tells Felicia, it’s tragic what’s happened to Anna. Such a strong, vital woman incapacitated because of a delusion. But she understands how it could have taken hold. If anyone could return from the dead, it would be Cesar. Felicia asks if she knows something, and Obrecht says she knows her children have come back to her, and it gives her pause that Anna, the object of Cesar’s obsession, is the one insisting she has seen him. Felicia asks if there’s any chance Anna’s assertions are grounded in fact and that he’s somehow alive, and Obrecht says she could see how Felicia would want that to be true, because it would mean that her friend is sane. However, for the sake of her children, she’s praying Anna is wrong and that Cesar is long dead.

Nathan says, Cullum knows Britt cares about Rocco, which means he can use that against her. So maybe she could try not making things worse for the kid. Britt says, Rocco opened up to her. It’s obvious he needs someone to talk to, someone he can trust, and she promised him that she’d fix this. He says, Rocco doesn’t need her to do that. He has Lulu. Rocco has him. Together, they’ll get him through this. Britt says, oh my God. How dense is he? There is no him and Lulu. There can’t be.

Back at the apartment, Gio and Emma flop on the couch, and Gio says he may have eaten too much. Emma says she definitely did and she blames Michael James Scott, and he says, why? She says, he’s the one who made that reservation, and he says, but everything on the menu was incredible. It’s not like they could stop eating. They’re not robots. She says, merely humans, and he says, as soon as he gets up the energy, he’s going to call Michael JS and he’s going to thank him. That was incredible. He sits up and opens a paper bag, and she says she thought he said he was stuffed. He says, it’s their dessert, and she says she wasn’t judging him. He says, good, and she says, so is he going to share? He says, for sure, and hands her a covered cup and a spoon. He says, if they’re not planning to annihilate themselves at every meal, maybe the next time they’re in the city, they should eat at the bus station, and she says, first of all, blech. Second of all, there’s going to be a next time? He says, yeah. He hopes so. He doesn’t know if he can top this adventure, but… She says, he doesn’t have to top anything. He’s the adventure. He says he doesn’t know about that, but she says she does. When she’s with him, she sees the world with new eyes. Well, new ears, but… He asks what she means, and she says, he sees the world through new ears. Music and sound. That’s a part of his soul. Walking down the street, when he hears the garbage trucks and the subway, she can see him taking that in. Trust her. It’s not the way that she does. He says, well, yeah. The subway, it’s like a tiny orchestra. She says, right, and he says, it really is. The subway rumble, it’s like the bass, and the subway horn, it’s like a French horn, obviously. She says, naturally, and he says, and the subway breaks, it’s like a piccolo, or maybe like a clarinet. She says, what about the people? and he says, yeah, the throng. It’s like muted violin strings and maybe a bassoon. It’s a cymbal roll for sure. She says, like at Bobbie’s, and he says, oh man. It’s like the whole percussion section, including the triangle. Ding-ding. She says, and him opening the dessert bag, and he says, angels singing from up above. She puts her arms around him and says, it doesn’t matter where they go or what they do, he is her whole world. They kiss.

Laura asks, how is Rocco’s hand? and Lulu says, it’s healing. Not as fast as he or anyone would like, but it’s getting there. Laura says she guesses you can’t really call yourself a cook unless you’ve got a scar or two to show for your time spent in the kitchen, right? and Lulu says, Rocco’s more of a microwaver and occasional vegetable slicer. Retired now. Laura says, oh, he’ll be back, and Lulu says she hopes so. Laura asks why she thinks he won’t be, and Lulu says, it’s not just his hand. Rocco’s been distant lately. She knows he’s upset about Danny’s situation and what happened to Jason. Laura says, he’s not the only one. And Rocco feels things so deeply, especially about people who he really cares about, like Danny. Lulu says, and it’s a really wonderful quality, but in this case, it’s just taking it’s toll, and Laura says, it’s an awful situation. At least both boys can lean on family. Lulu says she’s trying to be patient and just give him some time. And she’s trying her best not to hover. Laura says, trying, and Lulu says, it turns out that hovering is her default setting. Laura says, one of the hardest things to do as a mother is to know when to take a step back, and then to actually do it, and Lulu says she knows. And she doesn’t think she could do it at all if it weren’t for Nathan.

Britt tells Nathan that he knows it isn’t right. Lulu thinks she’s sleeping with courageous, honest, loyal Nathan West, and not… He says he knows, he knows. Not treacherous, lying Cassius. She says, well, yeah. Most of the time, she’s not in a position to judge… He says, it’s a first, he’s sure, and she says, but she’s not in a relationship pretending to be someone else. He needs to put distance between him and Lulu. He says, what about James? Is he supposed to distance himself from James because he’s not his real dad? She says, in a perfect world, yes, but it’s too late with James. He’s already in his life as James’s father. He made that little boy love him. If he were to pull away from him now, it would break his heart. But Lulu is an adult… most of the time. He can still back away. Say he decided he couldn’t betray Maxie or mess up his friendship with Dante, who is also his boss. Take his pick. Lulu will survive. But he needs to do it now before she really falls for him. Do it for Rocco’s sake.

Josslyn says, Valentin’s concern is touching, but she doesn’t answer to him, and he asks if she’s answering to anyone right now. She takes the book from him, and he says he recognizes her professional competence. He’s not arguing with her right now as a colleague. He’s arguing as a friend of her mother’s. He’s seen it firsthand. She’s agonizing over Josslyn every minute of every day. She says, doesn’t every parent feel that way? and he says he supposes that’s true, but this is an extreme circumstance. She’s in a lot of trouble. He doesn’t think she should go looking for more. Her phone rings, and she answers. She says, that’s right… Great. Thank you. She tells Valentin that she’s got to go, and he says, please tell him that she heard him. She says she heard him, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to listen, and she leaves.

Josslyn sees Obrecht about to leave the restaurant and calls out, wait. She’s so happy to see her. Does she have a minute to chat? Obrecht says she’s afraid she was just leaving. She recently returned to Port Charles after a very long journey, and she’s ready to go home. Josslyn says, this will only take a minute, and Obrecht says, perhaps they can catch up some other time. Josslyn says, the last time they spoke, she thought it was possible that someone was impersonating her ex-husband. Does she still believe that? Obrecht wonders why she asks, and Josslyn says, because she thinks Obrecht is right. Does she think that someone could be her son?

Talking on the phone in French, Valentin says he’s Dr. Kevin Collins… He’s doing well, thank you… He needs some information concerning a patient, please. Anna Devane.

Laura says, sounds like things are going well with Lulu and Nathan, and Lulu says, they are. As tough as things have been with Rocco, Nathan’s been a consistent bright spot. Laura says, good. So she feels supported by him. Lulu says, completely, and Laura says, good. Lulu says, it’s really easy to lean on him, and Laura says, well, that’s a relief, because she had misgivings about Lulu getting involved with him initially. Lulu says she did. She thinks part of the reason she was able to get over them is because she knows exactly who Nathan is and he’s always honest with her. She thinks he might be the best thing that’s happened to her in a really long time. Laura says, oh, sweetheart.

Britt tells Nathan that when Lulu finds out who he really is, it’s going to break her. Maybe she will put herself back together again. Maybe not. But either way, Rocco is going to suffer. He says he hears her, but that’s not going to happen because he’s in love with Lulu, and she says, that was fast. He says, yeah, and he’s going to keep being Nathan for as long as it takes to hold onto her. She says, and then what? What’s his long term plan?… That’s what she thought. One way or another, the truth will come out. It always does. So if he really loves Lulu, he needs to end it now.

Gio and Emma start to get busy, but he stops and says, probably not the best idea. She says, yeah. His friend is already doing them a big favor y letting them stay there. He says, yeah. They should probably leave this couch alone. She says, yeah. And you know what they say, friends don’t canoodle on other friend’s couches. Gio did buy him some really nice olive oil though. Gio says, yeah. It’s the least he could do for him letting them stay there. She says, and he bought Olivia some because… He says, because he loves her and he wants to make her happy. Cooking makes her happy and he thought she could use it when she cooks. Emma says, and maybe if she cooks something with it, she might let him try it? and he says he was planning on cutting Emma in on whatever Olivia made. She says, well then it’s the perfect gift. Tell her the truth. No regrets about not seeing his family on this trip? He says, no. They’ll see them next time and that will be an adventure. She says she’ll start preparing now. And it was great meeting Michael JS. Gio says, Michael JS is a great friend and he missed him a lot, and she says, and Gio didn’t really miss out on glamor and excitement of the theatre when he saw him? He says he’s got all the excitement he can handle right here, and he stares at her. She says, what is it? and he says she has glitter on her from hugging Michael JS earlier. She says she does? and he moves closer. He says, no. His bad. He thought she did, but it’s just her. She just sparkles.

On Monday, Sonny asks if Ethan would eliminate Sidwell for the right price; Sidwell says, James learned that lethal move from his father; and Valentin tells Carly that he thinks Cullum played a direct role in Anna’s breakdown

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Too bad there aren’t more photos. It was pretty impressive.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-behind-the-scenes-of-gio-and-emmas-really-special-trip-to-nyc/

Everybody’s got an opinion on their storyline.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exclusive-dominic-zamprogna-on-dante-lulu-and-the-looming-fake-nathan-reveal/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exclusive-finn-carr-breaks-down-roccos-shocking-confession-to-britt/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-exclusive-cynthia-watros-on-how-far-nina-will-go-to-protect-willow/

Glad she’s on the coming back side.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-comings-goings-kathleen-gati-returns-as-liesl-obrecht-excl/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

Before leaving, primary Tyler offered $1000 to whoever would jump in the water naked, and Mike was there for it. The guests left a $22K tip ($1600 each, plus the grand Mike put in the kitty). They also left Captain Jason a gift of fake boobs, which he immediately tried on, then took a photo of himself wearing them along with the disco helmet. I couldn’t find this online, but no doubt it will haunt him at an inopportune moment. At the tip meeting, Ellie ended up with the helmet for putting soap in the guests’ eggs, and in her interview, she agreed that no one was more deserving. Mike told Ellie that João wanted nothing to do with her, which wasn’t what he said, although what he said wasn’t what Ellie originally thought he’d said either. The crew had a day off where they got to relax at a villa and take a trip on a catamaran, courtesy of the yacht owner. Daisy was done with the animosity between Alysia and Mike, and there was a big to-do on the beach, along with João once again trying to explain himself to Ellie. The birthday cake was back on! Eddy asked Jenna on a date, and she gave it a go, but she was more into Ben. I wondered since when did Ben give out romance advice until I realized he was into Jenna and he was steering her away from Eddy. (Anyone remember Ben and Emily from the original Below Deck? Yeah, a disaster then, and a disaster in the making now.) Best quote: Alcohol is not your friend, especially vodka – Betul Yazici.

Below Deck Down Under Season 4 Episode 12 Recap: ‘Heads Are Gonna Roll’

Summer House

A medium paid a visit to the house and hoping to hear from their mom, Mia invited her brother over. The medium told Mia that her mother and grandmother were there and was spot-on with their messages. West apologized to Ciara and it was painful to watch. In West’s interview, he said his main objective was to not step on Ciara’s feelings. WTF? over and over. Ciara blamed the cameras and fans, thinking things would be simpler for her and West without them, and West said the noise was the problem. Now that we know they hooked up, there were lots of clues pointing to West and Amanda’s budding romance. It also made West look even worse for leading Ciara on. Even after Kyle and Amanda agreed to go to couples’ counseling, Amanda skipped out on a weekend, and in her interview, she said she couldn’t power through anymore. She needed alone time.

Summer House Season 10 Episode 12 Recap: Ciara and West Made Amends

The Valley

Danny purchased a – wait for it – Mr. Milker male breastfeeding device. He strapped it on, put a headshot of Nia over his face, and fed the baby. I thought the baby was weirded out, as we all would be and were. Schwartz and the other singles made a plan to go out, while the not single guys had a guys’ night. Not getting the memo that summer should be fun, Danny and Jason got into it. Luke whined about his needs, while Kristen felt like a weird new Kristen in somebody else’s body. Jasmine said Brittany’s new man had several baby mamas, but the Kentucky Muffin insisted he was a good guy. Even though he claimed to have no game, Schwartz got the attention of both Michelle’s friend Natalie and random nail salon girl Summer, who he’d invited to the bar when getting a mani/pedi with Jesse, much to Lala’s dismay. But sorry ladies, he’s now taken by his crush Kiana. Can you imagine if he did have game? Kristen and Luke had a date night where Luke grumbled that it wasn’t allowed to be difficult for him. Wah-wah-wah.  

The Valley Season 3 Episode 4 Recap: Single and Ready To Mingle

Southern Hospitality

Michols was moving forward in his modeling career, and Maddi spoke to Joe again about his issues with alcohol. Joe said in his position. he was expected to be social and it helped him to be perceived that way. Sober living Maddi said she’d help him through it. For Joe’s 30^th birthday, he threw an Emo Night, where everyone dressed like their favorite emo celeb. Julia lambasted Emmy about saying Brad was unsafe, and I guess we’ll be discussing this for as long as the series is aired. Like Pantygate on RHOBH. Brad seemed to think Emmy was being influenced by… someone. Even though Joe had invited Leva in order to impress her, Leva wondered why Joe didn’t put the same effort into Republic. Next week looks like it has possibilities, since Salley and Charley from Southern Charm make an appearance, and Justin shows an interest in Charley.

Southern Hospitality Season 4 Episode 8 Recap: Emo Birthday, Emo Life!

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills – Reunion Part 1

The outfits were fire and I couldn’t fault anyone. Rachel was my favorite, all black and silver sparkle. Boz asked Erika to DJ her Beverly Hills wedding, and Erika told her, consider it done. Kyle said she was still standing after all these years, so kudos. Andy hoped to end in a positive spot. Good luck with that. Erika’s abusive dating situation was discussed, as well as Tom’s mistreatment of her. On the flipside, she’s happy in her new relationship and her son approves. Dorit was her usual insufferable self. I was never a fan to begin with, but now her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. She speaks like she’s the authority over a room full of six-year-olds, talking down to everyone sternly. And she wants all to know that she knows what she’s doing. It’s hard not to hope PK leaves her high and dry, but there are the kids to consider. Newbie Amanda was given the once-over, but it wasn’t all that interesting. Nothing to see there that we haven’t seen before.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15 Reunion Part 1 Recap: Erika Drops a Tom Girardi Bombshell

Ladies Of London: The New Reign

After Mark Francis ran away from what he perceived as Margo confronting him when she dared ask for a chat, and Kimi followed him out while hurling insults at Margo, Margo didn’t give up. She tried to get him to talk to her, but he continued to hide behind his pseudo humor. She said he was being weird and creepy, which he later translated into her calling him a freak. More on that in a minute. He ditched her by going into a garden maze and ended up getting stuck, which was highly amusing. Hopefully, he got the humor. Part of the Longleat estate included Cheddar, where they made – no surprise – cheese. Half the group went to see cheesemaking and the other to investigate the caves where the cheese was originally housed in the 1100s since there was no refrigeration. There was also a giraffe preserve, but no indication as to whether or not giraffes like cheese. On the way there, Mark Francis played both the gay card and the friend-of-Emma card, getting more emo than everyone put together at Emo Night, and saying he refused to be called a freak. Let me say first that I’m not discounting his struggles. I’ve been an ally since came out of the womb, but he didn’t need to put words in Margo’s mouth to get the sympathy he claims not to want. In the other car, Missè harangued Margo until Margo had a panic attack. Maybe. On Watch What Happens Live, Mark Francis hinted at it being called an Oscar worthy performance in a subsequent text from Margo. Margo decided to go back to London, which probably wasn’t a bad decision, but even the least couth of us would think it impolite that she left without informing the hostess. Back in London, Myka convinced Margo to text Mark Francis about meeting to bury the hatchet, but from the clip we saw, it didn’t look like there was a good result. Meanwhile, Martha had a video chat with Kimi while Hecate perched on her head like it was normal, which it probably was for her. I love Martha.

Ladies of London Season 4 Episode 9 Recap: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Cheese

Real Housewives Of Rhode Island

Okay, I admit I forgot to watch this. Sunday nights are tough between streaming and 90 Day Fiancé.

Real Housewives of Rhode Island Episode 4 Recap: Off the Rails

Random Reality Items

Aww. I’m glad. They’re cute together.

Next Gen NYC Star Ariana Biermann Hints Hudson McLeroy Romance Is Back On

Apparently, she’s hopeful the series will come back.

‘Puerto Rican Princess’ Joseline Hernandez Pitches Herself for Real Housewives of Miami

Get those Oscar speeches ready, girls.

Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo’s Devil Wears Prada 2 Cameos Confirmed

Wow. This is not how I pictured Big Poppa at all. Not even close.

RHOA Off-Screen Personality ‘Big Poppa,’ Lee Najjar, Dead at 68

https://ew.com/rhoa-kim-zolciak-ex-big-poppa-lee-najjar-dead-11956394

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Beef. Netflix. – Some reviews of this 8-part series said it wasn’t as good as the first one, but I think it was just different. Maybe they’d expected more road rage, but this was a beef of a different kind. An uber rich couple manages a country club and are revered for having the perfect marriage, but behind closed doors, it’s a different story. When an uber broke couple witnesses and films a knockdown drag-out fight between them, the beef and the blackmail is on. In a good story, the main characters change/learn something by the end and this fits the mold.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/beef-season-2-review-oscar-isaac-carey-mulligan-netflix-1236565867/

https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/beef-season-2-review-netflix-series-1235188904/

Dust Bunny. HBO/MAX. – A little girl named Aurora is convinced a monster lives in the floor under her bed and has killed not only her parents, but her adoptive parents. She finds a man she believes to be a monster killer, and even though he tells her that he’s a killer of monsters who are men, she hires him, but all is not what it seems. He tells her that your brain shows you what you want to see, yet takes on the task, and he and Aurora develop a sort of father/daughter relationship. The special effects are spot-on, the monster somewhat cartoonish, but still menacing, and a good translation of what a child might make up. I thought it was a clever concept, although we’re left to determine what it was really about. Imagination? Childhood fears? Children’s dreams? A cautionary tale about not cleaning under the bed? Who knows? It’s fun, gory, has a sense of humor, is intense in its own way, and the cast is top-notch. Even just Sigourney Weaver as a boss lady with stilettos that shoot bullets makes it worth watching.  

‘Dust Bunny’ Review – Bryan Fuller’s R-Rated Heartwarming Family Romp Is Delightful [Fright-A-Thon]

https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/dust-bunny-review-bryan-fuller-mads-mikkelsen-1235150136/

Upgrade. Netflix. – In yet another dreary future, a computer chip named Stem is inserted into quadriplegic Grey’s body and he’s not only functional again, but super functional. Grey is on a mission to find out who caused the accident that crippled him and killed his wife, but Stem has a mind of his own. I couldn’t help but compare him to HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, although he’s a little more helpful in the long run and has a better personality. As Stem and Grey develop their own, albeit odd, relationship, I could see them in a buddy series, something like, Stem & Me. The fight scenes were epic, the acting excellent, the story original, and the ending bittersweet.

Upgrade review: an exhilarating if flawed sci-fi

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/upgrade-2018

From. MGM+. Season 4 has begun and my only complaint is them doling out episodes once a week like methadone. I don’t want to give anything away, so let it suffice to say that it did not disappoint. There are new characters, new reveals, and no one is safe, even in the daytime. And don’t forget to check out YouTube’s weekly review/ discussion from Emmanuel E-Man Noisette. He’s the best.

From Season 4 Review: Terrifying & Unpredictable

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/mgm-from-season-4-tv-review-2026

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

I have to admit, I dipped out of Interview with the Vampire. That’s the downside of streaming. When you know you can watch what you want when you want, sometimes you don’t.

https://nerdist.com/article/everything-we-know-about-interview-with-the-vampire-season-3-vampire-lestat/

🐣 Surprises In Fur and Feathers…

🦆 Sometimes our feathered friends need a hand.

https://people.com/ohio-deputy-shows-compassion-helping-ducklings-cross-bridge-11958205

https://people.com/family-of-week-old-ducklings-rescued-from-storm-drain-11956888

🐼 Someone alert Craig (Southern Charm) – pandas are real! I actually saw them when they were at the Bronx Zoo and they were adorable. I highly recommend going if you’re able.

https://people.com/china-to-send-two-new-giant-pandas-to-us-zoo-11958068

🪱 Yikes!

https://people.com/invasive-pest-alert-issued-jumping-worms-11956920

🐕 Okay, this is no surprise, but because, Pilaf!

https://people.com/celebrity-women-and-their-pets-2026-photos-11957357

🐄 Quotes of the Week

If my answers frighten you, Vincent, then you should cease asking scary questions. – Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. – Richard David Bach

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. – Heraclitus

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. – Albert Einstein

The most effective way to do it, is to do it. – Amelia Earhart

She took his eye out with a screwdriver… She had her reasons. – Donna (Elizabeth Saunders), From

🌾 An Ever-Renewing Cycle…

Until next time, stay safe; stay practicing good sportsmanship when playing games, whether indoors or out; and stay never canoodling on a friend’s couch. Unless it’s with the friend.

Video > April Sun in Cuba (Remastered 2006)