What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
On the bullhorn, Jordan tells Holly that it’s her last chance and to give herself up. Inside the cabin, a woman grabs the briefcase, knocking the lantern over and starting a fire – we can’t see her face. Jordan says she doesn’t like this, and tells Mac to give the order to move, but Robert says, give her a chance to do the right thing. Jordan says, she’s had a chance, multiple ones. Time’s up. There’s an explosion inside the cabin, and debris blows everywhere. Robert says he has to get in there, but Mac holds him back.
Curtis and Portia struggle over a piece of pie, and Curtis says he promised N’neka, but Porta says, N’neka gets plenty of pies and other things from her Savoy suitors. This pie is for Terry. It’s praise-worthy pie. He says he knows; he baked it. She says, with her sweet potato pie recipe, and he says he’ll surrender that piece of pie in exchange for something just as sweet. They kiss, and Trina slips out the back door. On the patio, Marshall says, sneaking out?
Brook tells Chase that she’s starving, and Olivia will kill them if they hold things up. She starts to leave, but he says, look at him. Was she ever going to tell him about the CCRB letter she never wrote? She acts like she’s not sure what he’s talking about, and he says, the letter she told Dante that she’d write; the one that might give him a fighting chance to get his badge back.
Britt goes up to the bar at The Savoy, bumping Ava as she sits down. She orders a Cosmo, tells Ava, her bad, and asks how Ava’s Thanksgiving was. Ava says, it was great; she had Avery. Britt tells N’neka to put Ava’s drinks on her tab, and Ava says, not necessary, but very nice. She asks how Britt’s Thanksgiving was, and Britt says, amazing. It had highs, lows, my mother, cranberry from a can. It was very traditional. Now it’s time for her to get her groove on. Cody walks in, and Britt says, one more box to check. Ava says, which is? and Britt says, a little somethin’ somethin’, when Nikolas walks in, and catches Ava’s eye.
Also at The Savoy, Victor sits alone at a table, and Selina tells him, happy Thanksgiving. He says, and to her, and she asks if he enjoyed a family celebration earlier. He gestures for her to sit, and says, just with his nephew. Sadly, he couldn’t gather the other Cassadines for a celebration of turkey and conviviality. His phone dings, and Selina says she’s sorry, but he tells her not to shed any tears on his account. That’s all going to be changing going forward. He sees a text from Gavin (no doubt the guy I’ve been calling Johann): Have approx. location on Holly. En route. Victor texts back: Necklace top priority. Holly expendable. He tells Selina, he hopes soon to have the incentive he needs to bring his family together.
The woman in the cabin, now consumed by fire, runs out and flails around the yard before finally falling down. Robert screams, Holly! and breaks away from Mac, grabbing a blanket and throwing it over her. Mac runs over, and Robert looks under the blanket, and yells, no! I guess it must be her. Jordan tells an officer to cordon off the area. Canvas the cabin, and find out if anyone within a one-mile radius saw or heard anything. The paramedics tend to Holly, and Mac pulls Robert away. Robert says, she needs him, and one of the paramedics says, they need to move her, or she’s not going to make it.
Selina tells Victor, family can be so troublesome, and ungrateful. She’s been tempted to disavow herself of the whole lot. He laughs, and says, not so easily done. Biological imperative compels us to protect our clan, no matter how sorry a bunch they might be. She says, it seems they have much in common, and asks if she can call him Victor. He says, if he can call her Selina, and she says she’d like to continue their conversation. Perhaps they can compare notes. He raises his glass to her.
Ava tells Britt that she never associated Thanksgiving with trysts. Most people just want a nap. Britt says, when you’re in her position, you carpe diem and carpe dictum, and Ava asks, what position is that? Britt says, hard up. She’s been without since Jason, and before him, there was one forgettable wham-bam with Jax, then a fling thing with Ava’s brother. She hasn’t had relationship sex since… wow… 2014. Nikolas joins them, and Britt adds, with Ava’s husband.
Obrecht stomps over to Cody and says, you – with me, and he follows her out.
Curtis asks what Portia thinks about their first family Thanksgiving, and she says, definitely deserving of high marks. And the food was fantastic. She even overheard his father telling Stella that his son’s turkey was so good. It’s true; she’ll give him that. Curtis says, he’s just so grateful that he has a father to fuss with. Tommy never got that chance, and he intends to make the most of his, just in case this disease tries to take his father away again. What are the chances it rears back up? I’m guessing none, since I don’t think Marshall has schizophrenia.
Trina asks if Marshall pulled guard duty, and he says he’s just minding his own business, cleaning his clarinet. She wraps a blanket around herself, and asks if he isn’t cold. He says he’s wearing a sweater. Curtis busted his chops, and highly suggested he could keep Trina company. He figured boredom would drive her out here sooner or later. She says, here she thought she and Curtis were making progress, and Marshall says, he means well. She says she knows, but it’s not like she’s out here asking to be attacked by a freak with a hook. She just needs to breathe. She’s climbing the walls being shut up most of the time. He says he knows the feeling. Been there; done that.
Brook says, Dante told Chase about the letter? and he says, Dante assumed he knew; that Brook had looped him in. He figured she just hadn’t had the time to write it yet, what with making music and scamming Linc. She says, they’ve been crazy busy, right? Every day, all day, she’s hustling for every number Chase performs, setting up interviews and promos. She can barely breathe. He says, it’s a lot of work, and she’s thrown herself into it, and she says, letting all her responsibilities at Deception slide… He says, so maybe she wanted to and just didn’t find the time. Maybe she thought she did tell him, or maybe she drafted the letter, and didn’t want to spring it on him until it was perfect. He’d understand anything; just tell him. When was she going to let him know Dante asked her to write a letter to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, recommending he get his badge back? She doesn’t say anything, and he says, never? She says she meant to tell him once they got Linc, but he says, that’s not a sure thing. She says, neither is her letter, but he says, Dante told him that her account of his run-ins with Valentin and Linc would go a long way in getting him right with the Board. She says, what’s to stop Linc from having his say? That liar could deny everything. Chase’s best shot at getting his badge back is after they beat Linc, and expose him for the skeeze that he is. She takes Chase’s hands, and says, once they prove Linc has no credibility, is when he can march into the CCRB with her letter, and prove he never gave up on law and order, just because law and order gave up on him. He says, that timetable doesn’t work; which he could have told her if she’d let him in on what was happening. But she didn’t. He can’t think of a single reason why she wouldn’t just tell him. She says, there is only one good reason; the only reason she needed. Us.
Trina says she didn’t mean compare being shut up with family with what Marshall went through when he was hospitalized, and Marshall says, let’s see. You can’t leave when you want to. Your mother and Curtis watch your every move. You can’t see the man in your life, Officer Cabrera. They share enough similarities to make them understand one another. She says she doesn’t think she could ever really understand what he went through, and he says he hopes she never does. She says, he doesn’t talk much about it… you know… He says, having schizophrenia. Why dwell on yesterday, when today’s so rich, and tomorrow’s so bright.
Portia says she can’t tell Curtis if Marshall is going to have another schizophrenic episode. She’s not a psychiatrist; she’s not even up on the latest science. He tells her, Marshall said he never had an episode, not since the arrest that institutionalized in the first place. Maybe Marshall caught a break, like he did, dodging his father’s genetic markers.
Ava and Nikolas gaze into each other’s eyes, and Britt says, they’re so cute. Look at them; coupled up, wedded bliss. Ava says, aren’t they though? and Nikolas says he saw Britt’s mother over there. Britt tells him, her mother says marriage is for the bourgeois. Britt thinks it would be nice if her significant other knew what toppings she likes on her hot dog, or took the wine glass out of her hand when she fell asleep on the couch. Someone who would throw her a birthday party and serve her favorite cake… or just say happy birthday. Ava says, Britt never had a birthday party? and Britt says, no birthday party, no husband. Nikolas says, she still has time, and Britt says, ain’t it the truth? She asks N’neka to get her and her friends another round.
Selina says, Victor’s nephew appears to be occupied with his wife, and Victor says, soon to be ex-wife. Selina says she’s sorry to hear that, but he says, don’t be. It was an imprudent match to begin with; harmful to both of them. It was never meant to last. Selina says, love never is, but that alone never stopped anyone from fighting for it.
Robert goes with Holly to the ambulance, saying, he loves her; hang in there. Mac stops a paramedic, and asks about Holly’s condition, and the paramedic tells him, on observation, it looks like she has burns over 75% of her body. GH is good, but she needs better, so they’re taking her to a burn unit. They’ve radioed for a medivac. Robert says he’s going with her, but Mac says, he’ll just get in the way of the paramedics. He’ll drive Robert to the airfield. Robert tells Mac to get out of his way before he belts him one, when Jordan interrupts, saying, this is a crime scene. She needs her Chief of Detectives. She tells Robert to move, and he leaves.
Portia says, Curtis and his father are lucky, no matter what the reason is. She hopes some of that luck rubs off on Trina. She can’t wait for Esme to be brought to justice. Speaking of Trina, where is she? They look outside, and see her on the patio with Marshall.
Trina says, Marshall has a way of putting things into perspective, and he says, everybody has their burdens. But no one carries it with grace such as hers. Curtis comes out, carrying the piece of pie, Portia behind him. He tells Marshall, the game is on, and Marshall gets up. He says he guesses Portia is going to watch the game with him, and she says she’ll definitely be watching. Enjoy the pie. Marshall asks if that’s the last piece of pie; he doesn’t believe this. He and Portia go inside, and Curtis puts down the pie near Trina, and sits down. She pushes it away, and he says, okay, her loss. He thought it would take the edge off after being caught in his net.
Chase says, Brook took away his best chance at getting his badge back for them? She says she’s never had this before. She’s been with other guys – she’s not exactly Snow White – but true intimacy? Not once. She was starting to think she wasn’t capable of a true connection, but then he came along. She realized, not only was intimacy possible, but it’s here, between them. Since they started working together, it’s only gotten deeper and stronger. If she never gets Linc, if she never gets her songs back, if she never exposes Linc for the creep that he is, she’d be okay. She’s be frustrated and disappointed, but she’d still be okay. Because the true gift is, every minute, she gets closer to him. She thought he felt the same way. He says he does, and she says, that’s why she didn’t tell him about the letter. She thought everything they were doing together was better than anything they’ve done alone. She thought, given enough time, he’d forget about the badge, and what he really wanted would be here with her. Just tell her she’s right.
Outside The Savoy, Cody says he thought he and Obrecht were getting along better. Is he still in the hole for punching Scotty? She says she was moved by his apology, as well as Britt’s endorsement of him. Her feelings are immaterial; only Britta’s matter. She’s a fundamentally lonely person, yearning for what she’s never had; someone to rely on. Now is no time to look for a substitute. Britt can’t do with a romantic distraction; she needs her mother. They both know Britt is headstrong, and behaves contrary to wisdom, and Cody is persistent. So… If it’s money he wants, then it’s money he shall have.
Britt asks Nikolas to be her wingman, and help scope out the sponge-worthy. She stumbles a little, and he asks if she’s okay. Ava suggests she sit down, when Selina comes over with Victor, and asks if there’s a problem. Britt says she just slipped, and Selina asks if she’s been overserved. Britt says she just had one drink, and Selina says, come with her. She tries to take Britt’s arm, but Britt throws Selina’s hand off, and almost falls again. Victor comes on the other side of her, putting her drink on the bar, and he and Selina head for a table with her.
The ambulance stops in the middle of nowhere, and the paramedics get out. Dressed as one of them, Felicia opens the back, and says, all clear. Holly sits up, and takes her head covering off. Robert asks if she’s all right, and she says, right as rain. She’s all fired up. Wow. I really thought it must be someone else, since we couldn’t see who she was. Well done.
Chase tells Brook, singing’s been a pleasant surprise. He had more fun than he thought he would. And it’s not just the performing or celebrity; it’s her. He would have never tried to be Chase the singer with anyone but her. She says, he’s got her, so there’s no problem, but he says, the problem is, he’s not Chase the singer. That’s just some face he was wearing that’s not his. She says, but it could be. She’s seen him when he gets up on stage; he comes alive. He’s so in the moment when he sings. He says, and right when he’s done, he’s checking his newsfeed. He has this fantasy that he’s the one who finds Brando’s killer; that he could still do some good at the PCPD. She says, he can. She never expected him to give up the cop forever; just put him on mute for a while. He says, until he forgets the sound of his voice altogether? Maybe she’s right. He can forget he’s a cop, and focus all his energy on singing, given enough time. But it has to be his choice. Does she get that? And she took that away from him.
Trina says she thought she and Curtis had an understanding after their discussion on boundaries, and he says he thought he’d given her a wide berth. She says, it doesn’t feel that way, and he says, they agreed he wouldn’t go behind her back and butt into her life. He did that. He even refrained from butting in from the front. He’s up for a Nobel Peace Prize. She says, which he’ll lose after assigning his father to guard her, but he says, all he did was set up a watch to keep eyes out for Esme Prince. A man is allowed to protect his castle, and all who reside in it.
Marshall tells Portia, Trina’s not going anywhere. She’s just feeling hemmed in. She thanks him for talking to Trina, and helping her get some of that out, and asks if he’d mind possibly playing for them tonight. He says, sure, and she asks if his illness ever gets in the way of him playing. She’s sorry… He says, no, that’s okay. No one’s ever asked. The only way schizophrenia got between him and his music was when he had to go underground to protect his family from the stigma. She says, so it never inhibited his performance? and he says, just his ambitions. Why all the questions?
Mac asks Jordan if there’s any idea what caused the explosion, and she says, the theory is a faulty stove. She has to get her people inside. Hopefully there’s some evidence to explain Holly’s strange behavior. He hands her an evidence bag, and says, maybe this will help. The firefighters pulled it out. She asks what it is, and he says, the remains of Robert’s briefcase; the one he put the necklace in. She says, so where’s the necklace?
Holly thanks Felicia for the clothes, and Felicia says she’s happy she got the sizes right. She has Holly’s new passport and her international driver’s license. Does she feel better? Holly says, just a little singed around the edges. Robert joins them, and says, that was something. Holly says she’s just sorry he and Mac had to see it; she can’t imagine what it looked like. Felicia says, the danger was minimal. She and Holly worked it out to a tee. Holly tells her, thank you for that… We see Felicia meeting Holly, and Holly says, Felicia was waiting for me when I arrived at the cabin last night. They go inside, and Felicia gives Holly some things out of a duffel bag. Holly says, with fireproof garments, and fire retardant gel to make the ruse look real. Felicia tells her to put it on her face, and Holly says, we went over the instructions on how to rig the stove at the appointed time. Back at the ambulance, Felicia says, Holly flambé. She can’t believe Holly was able to work it out in time. Robert says, they had no choice, and Holly says, they were operating on Victor’s timetable. She couldn’t just hand over the necklace. Robert says, she couldn’t defy Victor either, and Holly says, or Ethan would have paid the price. She and Robert faked Robert’s drugging, so she’d have the opportunity to steal the necklace, and lay a trail to the cabin for the PCPD to find. Robert says, it only works if they have a credible witness to Holly’s injuries, and Holly says, because Ethan’s only chance of survival is if Victor believes she’s of no more use to him.
Cody says, Obrecht’s willing to pay him to stay away from Britt? and she says she’s prepared to give him six figures. He says he doesn’t want her money. He just wants what, by rights, should belong to him. She says, Dominique’s inheritance, and he says, yeah, and he wanted something else; not something, someone. She says, her daughter, and he says he thought he could have both. Boy, did he misjudge that situation. Now it looks like he can’t have either, but maybe all he wanted was Britt. Obrecht will be happy to know, he blew it big time. Her daughter wants nothing to do with him. She says, perhaps Britta’s learned some wisdom after all, and he says, she can tell Britt that he can take no for an answer, and he can take living hand to mouth. So Obrecht can keep her money, and not worry about him dogging Britt. He doesn’t want to go where he’s not wanted. Obrecht says she’ll make sure Britt knows, and he says he’s sure she will. One more thing. What’s wrong with Britt? Why is Obrecht willing to go broke just to keep him away from her? Obrecht says, sorry. Answers were never on offer.
Britt shakes off Victor and Selina as they get to the table, and Victor says he’s going to get her mother. Britt says, leave her mother out of this, and leave her alone. Selina says she’s getting Britt a cab, but Britt says, this is ridiculous. She had one drink. Victor says, not counting the drinks she had on the way over, and Britt says she can handle her liquor. Selina says, but she can’t even stand up straight unaided, and Victor says, wait. This isn’t alcohol, is it? Britt’s sick.
Ava says, Victor won’t be very pleased, seeing Nikolas consorting with the enemy, and Nikolas says he has no intention of divorcing her. She says she had no intention of becoming bait for the PCPD, but sometimes, one never knows what the day may bring. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, Mac Scorpio thinks Ryan Chamberlain can lead them to Esme if she convinces him to.
Victor says, Faison’s legacy, and Britt says, shut up about that, when Obrecht flies in between them. She slaps Victor, and says, touch her daughter, and she’ll kill him. Selina says, everyone, calm down, and Cody hustles Victor off, suggesting they take a walk. Britt says, he’s going to tell people, but Obrecht says, he wouldn’t dare. There’s a special place in hell for men like that. Selina says, the Ninth Circle… I’ve heard it said.
Robert gives Holly some keys, and says, the car’s untraceable. Drive it over the border to Canada, and with her new ID, she can disappear. She says, Victor will follow up, but he says, witnesses will recall there was a woman placed in a medivac. Felicia says, yours truly. She’ll be dropped off outside Port Charles, and flight plans will indicate Holly Sutton was transferred to a plane transporting her to a burn clinic halfway across the world. Robert says, very private, very secure, and Felicia says, reports will have her comatose with a long, difficult recovery. Robert says, and Victor will probably lose interest, leaving her free to rescue her son. Holly says she won’t squander their efforts, and Felicia says she knows that. Holly thanks them for everything they’ve done on her behalf and her son’s. She just wishes they didn’t have to leave Mac in the dark, but Felicia says, this way, Mac can’t lie to Jordan about Holly. Besides, he’d be the first to agree she’s worth it. Holly wonders how she can ever repay them, and Felicia hugs her, saying, get her son back, and get Victor. Holly says she’s working on it. She remembers…
Selina holds up a diamond, and says, interesting. Holly says, satisfied? and Selina says, she’d prefer the entire necklace, but Holly says, that’s all that’s available, and only in exchange for the guarantee that Victor Cassadine ingests this. She holds up a vial, and asks if it can be done. Selina says she sees Victor at The Savoy on occasion, but she can’t have the club associated with a death. Holly says, if she wanted Victor dead, he’d be dead. He’ll only feel the effects of this drug if the circumstances arise… or don’t. Selina asks, what did Victor do to earn Holly’s animosity? and Holly says, Victor fancies himself a family man, whilst he’s holding her son hostage. She’ll never get Ethan back if Victor is dead. In the meantime, a dose of this will pay him back in kind. Selina says, there’s a special place in hell for such men, and Holly says, the Ninth Circle. Will she do it? Selina says, Holly has her word, and takes the vial.
N’neka brings Victor another drink, and he raises his glass to Selina, who looks at the vial in her hand. She says, and my word is my bond.
Curtis says, Trina’s not a prisoner. He just wants to make sure she’s safe and sound while she’s here. If she doesn’t like his rules, they’re only temporary. But he does need her to respect them, just as he respects her boundaries. And while he hopes this doesn’t compromise the friendship they decided to try out, he’ll understand if it does. She says, two steps forward, one step back is still progress. Fork? He gives her the fork, and she snatches the pie away, telling him, don’t squander that progress. He says he made that pie, and she says, from her mom’s recipe. He throws up his hands in surrender.
Portia says she guesses she’s just curious that none of Marshall’s doctors ever suggested genetic counseling or screening like Curtis had. He says, things like that weren’t around back when he was in the hospital, but she says, those things are commonplace nowadays. Has he ever considered it? and he says, what’s the point? He already has a diagnosis. What would genetic counseling tell him that he doesn’t already know? Um… what I said before.
Chase tells Brook, the only way he’d want to become a singer is if he decides himself, but she never gave him that option. She says she thought he wanted it as much as she did, and he says, to take down Linc? Sure, but she knew how bad he wanted to return to the PCPD. So when Dante asked her to write the letter, she didn’t tell him because she knew he’d be all for it. She says she never thought of it like that, and he says he’s been where she is, making decisions for others, and personal experience showed him just how wrong it was. He did it with Willow. She says, so that’s it? He’s hanging up the mic? She gets it. He says, she doesn’t. It’s not just the mic; it’s us. His singing career is over, and so are they.
Nikolas tells Ava that she can’t be in Ryan’s presence; it’s too dangerous. She says, Ryan is a turnip, and any danger would be worth it to protect Trina. Esme is out there killing people, and she has to do what she can to stop her, even if it means she pays the price for Esme going over the parapet… or he does.
Marshall asks, what would be the benefit after all these years, to get confirmation of what he already knows? when Trina and Curtis come back in. Portia says, somebody enjoyed the pie, and Curtis says, the pie that he barely got to taste. Is Marshall ready for some football? Marshall says, let’s do this, and puts on the TV.
Brook tells Chase to think about what he’s saying, and he says, she’s the most exciting person he’s ever met. She made him feel like the luckiest guy alive. She says, he made her feel the same way, and he says, but then they went in on this plan to expose Linc, and it muddied things up for the both of them. They should have set boundaries; either working together as singer and manager, or two people who can’t get enough of each other. But not both, because now they don’t work as anything. She tells him, don’t say that. That’s not true. They can work this out. He says, she lied to him. She kept him from the thing that makes him who he is. There’s nothing to work out. It’s over. He leaves, and she cries.
Britt tells Obrecht, everything was fine. She could swallow her drink, then suddenly, her feet fell out from under her. Obrecht says she’s so sorry. Let’s go home. Britt asks why Obrecht’s never thrown her a birthday party, and Obrecht says she must have some time, but Britt says, she didn’t. She’s going to throw herself a birthday party to end all parties. If she’s going down, she’s going down dancing, even if she’s dancing on her own. Obrecht helps Britt out of the club, as Cody watches.
Holly tells Robert, so this is goodbye. She’s sorry for everything. Most of all, she’s sorry for coming back to him only to leave again. If there was any other way… He says, there isn’t, and she says, this isn’t their moment. He says, it never is, but she says she recalls a certain… Goodbye, Robert. He asks if she isn’t forgetting something, and she kisses him, but he says he actually meant something else. She says, oh? and he says, the necklace.
Mac says, the firefighters didn’t see a necklace, and Jordan says, call CSU. They need to conduct their own search. They need to make sure nobody walked out with it. He says, it’s possible Holly ditched the necklace, or handed it off to Victor before holing up, and Jordan says, or she had it on her when she left with the paramedics. He says he’ll check with Robert. It’s possible it got destroyed in the fire. She says, a diamond necklace? and he says, a hot enough fire can turn diamond to ash. It might be gone for good. She says, the WSB is going to be pissed
Victor swirls his drink, and drains his glass. His phone dings, and a text from Gavin says: Holly disabled. Necklace missing. Victor shatters his glass on the table.
Holly tells Robert, oh, the necklace. She almost forgot. They laugh, and she takes it out of her pocket, giving it to him. She asks why Victor wanted it so badly. What’s so special about it? He says, it came from the Ice Princess itself. He thinks it has something to do with the diamonds. She says, the Ice Princess has a bad habit of destroying those who covet it. Be careful. He says he’s always careful, and she says, except with his heart, touching his chest. He says, be seeing you, and she slowly walks away. She turns, blows him a kiss, and walks into the mist.
Tomorrow, Sasha tells Chase, in her heart, Brook was doing it for them both; Nina says she hopes Willow can help out a friend; Carly asks Josslyn if Dex is a factor in her decision; and Sonny says, if something is too good to be true, it usually is.
🔥 Like a DVD Extra…
It was pretty impressive.
🚑 Entering the Hospital…
The final (TBD) Carly recalls her beginnings on GH.
🥱 More Old News…
Blah-blah-blah, Ramona, blah-blah-blah, Andy.
🚂 She Thinks They Can…
Why is Teddi weighing in on this? Is she a relationship coach now? Apparently, this site likes her, but still not a fan.
🎄 Light It Already…
Yeah, yeah. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are cute, but it was like, come on and flip the switch. Not as bad as waiting for the Best Picture Oscar though.
https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/
🤸♀️ Holly Jollying…
Tomorrow, soap and another episode of that horrifying House. And I’m not talking about The Watcher. Come suffer with me. Until then, stay safe, stay serene in a stormy world, and stay not dwelling on yesterday, when today’s so rich, and tomorrow’s so bright.
⚠️ Warning: Some words not for sensitive ears: