Tag Archives: Good King Wenceslas

Dec18

December 17, 2024 – Port Charles Gets an Unwelcome Visitor, Coming Home, Oscar, Dorit Is An Insufferable Twit, NYC Goes to San Juan, Boy Bye, Simply the Best & Good

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Sonny goes to All Saints and tells the pastor that he wants to make his Christmas donation in person. The pastor says, as always, Sonny’s generous donation is appreciated. God bless him and his family. Sonny says, one more thing. He wonders if he can ask a favor.

Martin meets Laura at the café and apologizes for being late. She’ll never guess what happened. She asks if he’s okay, but he says he’s not. Because her Police Commissioner has not only gone rogue, she’s out of control.

On the phone in her office, Anna says, someone saw something that should give them insight into Officer Heller’s stabbing. Keep her posted. Jason comes in and asks why she wanted to see him. She says, once again, she has to ask for his help.

Maxie goes to the stables and tells Cody that she has a gift delivery from his favorite nephew. It’s a holidaygram. Cody takes out a construction paper card decorated with candy canes, and says, it’s an invitation. She says, to his first Scorpio Christmas. and he says he appreciates it, but he can’t make it. She says, he’s ditching them because of Sasha.

In the nook, Sasha says, it’s her first Feast of the Seven Fishes, and Olivia says, if Sasha gets swamped, let her know. Tracy comes in and asks how one can get eggs wrong. These are scrambled and she specifically requested eggs benedict. It’s her stepdaughter’s favorite. Sasha says she’s sorry. It slipped her mind. Tracy says, that’s not acceptable, but Olivia says she’s sure Lulu doesn’t care. Tracy says she cares. She wanted Lulu’s favorite meal, and her request was completely ignored. Sasha says she didn’t ignore it, she forgot, but Tracy says, it’s her job to remember and serve what’s been requested. Sasha says, if Tracy wants eggs, go lay them herself, and walks out.

Brook is looking for Tracy and finds Lulu. Lulu says, no Tracy, just her, and Brook says, surprise.

Lucky brings coffee to Elizabeth’s house and says he remembered that she loves Perks holiday blend. He sees Ric is there, and Ric says he has coffee covered, but it’s good to see him.

Olivia says, Tracy Angelica Quartermaine. If she cost them a cook today of all days… Tracy says, Sasha was derelict in her duties, but Olivia says, it was a miscommunication. Tracy asks if she’s not allowed to give feedback, and Olivia says, she’s not allowed to give abuse. Tracy says, Sasha’s not the only cook. She’ll call the agency and get another one like she wanted to in the first place. Olivia says, during the holidays? It’s crazy hard enough. The kids don’t need more loss. The seven fishes in the other room can’t cook themselves, so make nice with Sasha or she’ll tell Monica, and Tracy and the fishes will be on the curb.

Brook says, Dante told her that Lulu was staying at her mom’s, and Lulu says she is. She was here going over old times with Tracy and Tracy insisted she stay. Brook says she’s glad they were able to catch up. She knows Rocco is happy. Dante too. Lulu says, it’s been great considering their history, and Brook says, it must be crazy to drop back in after all this time. Lulu says, nothing turned out how she expected. Sam and Dante… Brook says, Dante was adrift before they got together. They were a great couple. Lulu says she’s surprised it wasn’t Brook with Dante.

Martin says, Anna has a strange association with Jason, and Laura asks if he’s implying that they did a criminal act. He says he’s not implying. He has a first-hand account from an unimpeachable witness by the name of Martin Grey.

Anna says, as Jason knows, Dex Heller was stabbed and killed. She has to focus on finding out why he was targeted and track the killer. Jason says, she thinks Dex was targeted, and she says, apparently, and she owes the department and the citizens of Port Charles to find out who did it. He was isolated, so she doesn’t think it was a part of something bigger. He asks if she has any leads, but she says, that’s why she’s talking to him. She can’t give this her full attention if she’s chasing Valentin. She’d like him to take the lead in finding Charlotte.

Elizabeth says she told Ric about the situation at the hospital, and he insisted on helping, and Lucky says, of course (🍷). Ric says, it’s clear Elizabeth needs an attorney. She needs to be protected. The hospital’s investigation is going to get messy, and he has to make sure they don’t railroad Elizabeth. Elizabeth says, their legal team is ruthless, especially DeeDee Clark. Ric says, Portia and Terry will be supportive because they’re her colleagues and friends, but the hospital is going to look out for their best interests, and it’s his job to look out for hers. Lucky says, it started with Sam’s death, and Ric says, he doesn’t want the details to get muddled, so he’d like to complete his interview with Elizabeth alone. Lucky can come back later.

Sonny asks the pastor to choose families in need and he’ll cover their holiday meals, presents, trees, and decorations, the whole thing. The pastor thanks him, when Sasha comes in. The pastor asks if he can help her, but she says she just wants to light a candle. The pastor leaves, Sasha lights a candle and sits down. Sonny sits next to her and says he knows why she’s here. He knows what day it is.

Sonny says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s son’s death, and Sasha says she can’t believe he remembers. He says, Liam was family. Brando was family, as is she. He spoke to the father about saying a mass in Brando and Liam’s memory. She thanks him for remembering.

Cody says he doesn’t want to carol around the Christmas tree with Cousin Sasha, and Maxie says, instead, he’s going to run away, which just prolongs the weirdness. Get over it. He says, and embrace the weirdness? and she says, he and Sasha grew up without families. Now they have one that loves them. Please just consider coming. Tracy comes in and asks if anyone has seen Sasha. Maxie says, hello to her too, and Cody says, Sasha doesn’t come around here much anymore. Tracy says, the cousin thing. Something is off with Sasha. She became irrational because Tracy asked her to remake some eggs. Cody says, asked or demanded? and Tracy says she asked politely. Maxie says, it’s not the eggs, and Tracy asks if she was there. How does she know? Maxie says, today is the anniversary of Sasha’s baby’s death.

Lulu tells Brook not to look surprised. She’s been gone for four years. Did she and Dante never… Brook says, no. And she’s now happily married. Lulu says she heard. Congrats. Chase is sweet and so handsome. Brook says, Lulu’s time is out of whack. Maybe she’s confusing 2010 with 2024. It was years ago that she tried to come between Dante and Lulu… Lulu says, for money, and Brook says, it was not her finest hour, and it blew up in her face. Lulu says she kind of enjoyed that, and Brook says she’s been through a lot and grown a lot. She has a family and husband. She has a life and so does Lulu. Lulu got her life back and should be grateful instead of stuck in the past.

Laura asks, what kind of criminal act? and Martin says, one where Jason forcibly accosted and escorted him to the coffee warehouse. She says, at gunpoint? but Martin says, Jason doesn’t need one. She asks how Anna fits in, and he says, she showed up and he thought it was to rescue him, but it turns out she had Jason round him up. Laura says, if Anna wanted to question him, why not bring him to the police station? and Martin says, because she couldn’t zip tie and threaten him. She wanted to know if he had a lead on Valentin. She asks if he gave her one, but he says he doesn’t know where Valentin is. If he did, doesn’t Laura think he’d have told her? She says she does. He’s here and okay. They didn’t make good on their threat. He asks if her point is, no harm, no foul, and she says, what they did was wrong, but his argument isn’t with them. It’s with her.  

Jason tells Anna to focus on Dex and he’ll track Valentin. She asks, how’s Josslyn? and he says, confused. She wants answers. Anna says, when she first recruited Dex, Josslyn was against him joining the PCPD. She was afraid Sonny would kill him. Jason says, Anna doesn’t think… but she says, no. Josslyn told her that if Dex died in the line of duty, she didn’t want Anna handing her the flag at his funeral. She thinks Josslyn was aware of the worst case, but she’s become numb to all that. He says, she’s doing it again. She’s blaming herself. She says, at least she’s consistent, and he says he was with Josslyn and Josslyn didn’t blame her because she’s not to blame.

Elizabeth says she’d like Lucky to stay. She’d appreciate his help. Ric says, fine. He needs a statement leading up to Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she made a report to the hospital, but he says, if he doesn’t file it, they can’t go forward. Lucky says, he’s acting like Elizabeth has been charged. That won’t happen once he clears her. Ric says, he wants to make sure she doesn’t land in jail, and Lucky says, he wants to be Elizabeth’s hero. Ric says, it’s not cops and robbers. Two patients are dead. Can they focus on that?

Sasha says she thinks she quit her job, and Sonny asks, what happened? She says she was planning a meal when Tracy stormed in, railing over nothing, and she snapped. Sonny says, good for her. Tracy has a habit of going off and she doesn’t like it when someone stands up to her. Sasha says usually, she lets it slide, but today… She loves her job, and she’s used to the Quartermaine eccentricities. She loves to cook, but Tracy’s tantrum seemed pointless, especially today. It reminds her of how precious and fragile life is. She touches her belly and says, no matter how much you plan and are careful, nothing is promised. She wanted to give her baby the perfect life, but she couldn’t.

Maxie says, so Brando and Sasha made the unimaginable decision to take their baby off life support. Maybe Tracy could cut her some slack. She has more on her mind than breakfast. Tracy thanks her for the information and leaves, Maxie says, it makes her appreciate her family. Christmas Eve is for spending time with the people you love and who love you. Think about it. She leaves and Cody sighs.

Anna says she thought Dex was an exceptional cop. She could see his potential. Jason says he’s sure Dex appreciated the second chance post Sonny, and she says, he proved himself. He was at the top of his class, and he wanted it. Jason says, she made him an offer and he made the choice. She knows that and Josslyn does too. Don’t dishonor Dex’s choice by trying to make him a mistake. He’ll let her know if he finds out anything about Valentin and Charlotte. She thanks him and he leaves. She brushes her tears away and makes a call. She says she wants to know if there’s been any progress with the footage from Rice Plaza.

Laura says she’s been pressuring Anna to find Valentin. This goes back to before Lulu woke up. She thought Charlotte should be there when they were going to operate. Then Lulu did wake up and all she wanted was to see her daughter. So she went back and insisted Anna find Valentin. She thinks Anna is feeling the pressure from her. He says, so she kidnapped him. He guesses he should be grateful that Jason didn’t gag him and put him in the trunk of his car. She says, they went too far. She’ll definitely talk with Anna. She’s sorry. She disagrees with how they handled it. She wishes they understood how badly she wants to find her granddaughter. He says, what if someone else could help? and she says, who? He says, their brother.  

Elizabeth says, Lucky was with her when they heard the alarms. Sam died from a lethal dose of digitalis. Lucky says, it likely happened with Dex, and Ric asks why they think that. Elizabeth says, Dex was perfectly healthy. He’d just had a physical for the PCPD. It was a stab wound and a routine surgery. He was in full recovery and there was no reason for him to go into cardiac arrest. Ric asks if anybody else ordered or administered medication to Dex, but Elizabeth says, she’s head nurse, and they have to go through her. She oversees the drug dispensary. Ric tells her that his expert legal advice is to steer clear of General Hospital.

Lulu says, her child is missing and that’s her focus now, and Brook says, Lulu has her sympathy. So go find her. Lulu says, Brook hasn’t changed. She’s self-absorbed and insensitive. Brook says, time stood still for Lulu, but they’ve all moved on. Ask Maxie. Dante comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Brook says, peachy. Lulu says, Brook was catching her up on how much things have changed around here. She needs to take a walk. Tell Tracy that she lost her appetite. She leaves, and Dante asks what that was about. Brook says she tried. She’s glad Lulu is awake and healthy, but she never liked Lulu and Lulu doesn’t like her. Lulu may be the heroine in his story, but she’s still the snarky, self-righteous Spencer she’s always been in hers.

Sonny says, Sasha was Liam’s mother and loved him. She did the best she could for him and in the end, made the best decision for him. Sasha says, Sonny helped her to see that, but he says, she would have gotten there because she loved Liam. She says she still does, and Sonny says, Liam is at peace, and she did that for him with Brando. He’s proud of her. She tears up and thanks him, and he says he hopes she gets the chance again to be a mother. Whoever gets her will be the luckiest kid in the world. He takes her hand.

Brook tells Dante that she showed restraint, and he says, she’s a good person. They’re two good people who don’t necessarily like each other. Brook says, they never will. Lulu can’t forgive her for trying to break them up. God knows how she’d act if she found out about that summer… He says, it’s ancient history. Lulu is having a hard time with reentry after a four-year absence and her daughter is missing. Maybe they should give her grace. Brook says she has sympathy for Lulu and asks if Dante really thinks she’s a good person. He says he does, and she says she’s really happy for him and Rocco.

Lulu goes to the stables and Cody says, hello. She says, oh my God. It’s you. He says, Lulu Spencer, as I live and breathe. Cody Bell at your service. She asks how he knows her name, and he says he’s an old friend of Dante’s. He didn’t recognize her, but it might have been the hoodie. She thanks him for the ride, and he asks what she was thinking getting in a car with a strange man. She says she wasn’t worried. She knew she could take him.

Elizabeth says, there’s no way she’s staying away from the hospital, but Lucky says, this is no time to be stubborn. She says, her staff needs her, and she can still keep an eye on her patients, and Ric says, if the autopsy comes back and they found digitalis in Dex’s system, that’s two improper dosages. It’s not a mistake; it’s a pattern of active harm. If it continues and another patient dies, the open culpability is on her. Does she understand? Elizabeth says, yes, and Ric says he hopes she considers what he said. He’s going to go ahead with this before things go any further. He leaves, and Lucky says, wow. He feels like he needs a shower.

Maxie tells Brook to steer clear of the kitchen. Tracy is in a tizzy. Brook says, that’s going around. Lulu was here one night, and she’s overstayed her welcome. She’s still a lot. Maxie says, so is Brook. So is she. They should start a club. Lulu knew her on the bad side of the Georgie situation. Georgie and Bailey Lou were a surprise. James was planned, but his delivery was dramatic… Did she say something wrong? Brook sits down.

Sonny says, Sasha knows where to find him, and tells Tracy, play nice. He leaves, and Tracy asks if she may join Sasha. Sasha says, if she must, and Tracy sits down. She says she owes Sasha an apology. She’s sorry about the way she spoke. It was rude and insensitive, and she wants Sasha to know she has Tracy’s deepest sympathy. Sasha thanks her and says she accepts the apology. But it doesn’t excuse Tracy’s behavior. They’ve been here before and she gets that she’s not Tracy’s favorite person. Tracy isn’t hers either, but she won’t be Tracy’s punching bag. Tracy needs to understand that if they’re going to move forward.

Lulu says, Cody and Dante are old friends? and Cody says he’s hurt Dante never mentioned him. She says, Dante has a big family and lots of friends. Maybe he’s not memorable. He says, they went to summer camp together, and she says, he went to Camp Cooper? He’s the one who taught Dante to ride a horse. He says, that’s generous. Dante still can’t stay on one. Dante walks in.

Spinelli gets into Jason’s car and Jason thanks Spinelli for meeting him. He’s taking the lead on finding Valentin. Is there any news? Spinelli says, unfortunately, no. Valentin was in Zurich, but after that, he’s evaded Spinelli’s track. Jason asks about the withdrawal from Valentin’s account, and Spinelli says, the account was closed shortly afterward. Jason says, he’s gone dark, and Spinelli says his fear is, now that Lulu’s awake, Valentin has been warned, and he’s gone deeper into hiding. Jason says, then they’ll have to step up finding him.

Martin says he’s reached out to Cyrus, but he’s gone radio silent. He wants to take Cyrus to task about surreptitiously trying to be Lulu’s medical decision maker. Laura wonders, why the secrecy? Did Martin know Cyrus had plans to transfer Lulu to a different facility in South Carolina? Lulu told her. Their brother has a lot to answer for. Martin wonders if there was a way for Cyrus to help out and make up for his past behavior, would he go for it? Like it or not, he’s a powerful man with powerful friends, which tends to come with an extensive reach. Maybe a former contact could lead them to where to find Valentin. He knows Laura wants little to do with Cyrus, so he doesn’t blame her if she doesn’t want his help, but if he can help track down Valentin, it’s worth a shot.  

Sonny shows up at Anna’s office and says he’s saving her a trip. He assumes she wants to talk to him about Dex’s death.

Lulu says, it’s a good thing Dante showed up or she would have to call a Ride Share. They still have those, right? Cody says, they do and that reminds him, she owes him $20. She asks Dante to give Cody $20, and Cody says he could collect it at their next poker game. Dante says he can’t believe Cody was the one who found Lulu, and Cody says, it was one of those rare occasions he was in the right place at the right time.  

Brook tells Maxie that she’s sorry. She’s been trying to get pregnant. She’s monitoring her cycles and doing everything possible, but nothing works. Maxie says, it takes time. She can’t stress about it. Brook says, it’s been months. For the last month, they’ve been very dedicated and she’s starting to worry something is wrong.

Lucky says, there are plenty of lawyers, but Elizabeth says, no one is more invested in taking care of her legally than Ric. She hopes there’s not a court battle. He says he can ensure her that he’ll find out who’s responsible, and she says, someone is accountable. He says, but not her. She didn’t do it. Something is going on at GH and they’re going to figure out what.

Anna asks if Sonny is going to risk not having an attorney present, but he says he doesn’t need Diane. He figures she thought he’d go after Dex. She says, he did threaten to, and he says, that’s up for interpretation. She says, when Dex joined the force, she didn’t think Sonny would kill a cop, and he asks if she still feels that way. She says, a knife in the back in the middle of Rice Plaza isn’t Sonny’s style, and he says he’s glad they’re on the same page. She says, he’s only free because Dex refused to press charges for assault. She’d say Sonny owes him a debt. Sonny says he wants whoever is responsible for Dex’s death found. Let him know if he can help. He leaves.

Laura tells Martin, it’s just a bridge too far. She thinks their best shot is through Anna. She trusts Anna’s motives a lot more than she does their brother’s.

Spinelli says, Lulu was his first friend in Port Charles and introduced him to Jason and Sam. All the years people have counted on him as The Jackal, the assassin of cyber space. This is when it matters. When he finds Charlotte, what is Jason going to do? Jason says he’ll get her and bring her home and make sure Valentin isn’t a problem for anyone again.

Tracy says, Sasha has come out the other side stronger and she respects her. Sasha says, Tracy respects her? Tracy is her employer, and she can accept constructive criticism and direction, but she won’t tolerate disrespect. Does Tracy understand? Are they good? Tracy says, they’re good. Be well. She leaves and a man comes in wearing a cap similar to the one Mike wore. He sits in the back, and from the front pew, Sasha says, thank You for getting me though this day. Please continue to bless Liam and Brando with Your love. Please ask them to watch over this baby. I appreciate all the people You’ve brought into my life, even if I’ve had to let them go. I trust You have a plan. Please keep me and my baby safe. The man looks up and we see that it’s Sidwell.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, it’s his one condition, take it or leave it; Ava says, Nina has to tell Willow before it’s too late; Josslyn tells Trina that she’s the reason Dex became a cop and she’s the reason he’s dead; and Carly says, Jason has had his shot at Drew. Let her have hers.

☃️ Winter Break In Port Charles…

Christina isn’t the only one coming home for Christmas this year.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/william-lipton-returns-to-general-hospital-again

🩺 Catching Up On History…

In case you didn’t know who Oscar was or want to refresh your memory.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-oscar-garren-stitt-136301

💎 Bright Like a Diamond…

I only half paid attention to this, but I saw enough to know Dorit has become a nasty piece of work. Maybe Sutton raises her voice (or yells as Dorit interprets it), but she’s right. Dorit is unhappy with her life and blaming the easiest target. At Kyle’s Denim & Diamonds party, Dorit through the c-word around like it was monopoly money. First at Sutton and then revisiting the time she called Camille Grammer a stupid c-word. Not a f***ing c-word, as Camille had claimed. Since Camille was actually at the party, it seemed to fuel Dorit’s c-word meter even more. Kyle said it felt odd not to have Mauricio as a party co-host, but I’m not sure why. He was always floating around high anyway. The best part was Sutton saying she was trying to get Dorit to listen, and Erika telling her that Dorit hadn’t listened in all these years, so why would it happen now? Truth!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 14, Episode 5 Recap: Dorit Kemsley Clashes With Camille Grammer

🗽 Top Of the Heap…

I didn’t see much of this (and there were no recaps yet), but the women took a trip to San Juan where Racquel saw her mother after six years. And there was also this.

https://people.com/rhony-erin-lichy-sparks-debate-after-sharing-husband-extraordinary-penis-photo-exclusive-8763047

Andy’s take on the upcoming Reunion.

Andy Cohen Teases RHONY Season 15 Reunion: ‘Someone Keeps Changing the Game’

🍸 No Surprise Here…

Ally has officially packed her bags and is letting James sit in his own sh*t.

Report: Ally Lewber Moves Out of Home With James Kennedy

🐕 Their Best Lives…

Pets with more followers than you.

https://www.revolt.tv/article/10-celebrity-pets-with-their-own-fan-bases

Golden Retrievers on a better vacation than you.

https://people.com/golden-retrievers-meet-cute-moment-airbnb-scottish-countryside-vacation-exclusive-8761437

❄️ Freeze the Day…

Join me tomorrow for soap, a little reality, and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay knowing when to leave the party (if the host is cleaning up, that’s a definite signal); and stay never being abusive under the guise of giving constructive criticism.

Dec15

December 14, 2023 – The Hospital Makes a Decision About Finn, Dress Them Up But Don’t Take Them Out & Good King

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Gregory meets Alexis at the PC Grill and apologizes for being late. He couldn’t get a Ride Share, and skateboarding was out of the question. She sees him struggling, and he says, don’t worry. He’ll last through the holidays.

TJ finds Stella in the breakroom, and he asks if that’s what he thinks it is. Chicken and dumplings? She says, it is. Has he had his dinner yet? He says he did, but does she mind if he joins her anyway? She tells him, sit down. Is something on his mind?

Kristina meets Sonny and Donna at the MetroCourt, and Donna asks, what took her so long? Kristina says, parking, and tells Donna that she looks very cute. She kisses Sonny on the cheek, and he says he’s glad she made it. She says she’s glad she got invited. Are they celebrating something special? Donna says, yes. Me. Sonny says, she got a great report card. The teacher in the last quarter said she was talking too much to the other kids… Kristina says, motormouth syndrome. She remembers it well. She used to get all these remarks on her report card. How did Donna turn it around and manage to score a fancy dinner? Donna says she talked less.

At her penthouse, Ava tells Carly that Avery is all settled in and sleeping. She appreciates Carly picking her up from dance class. She’s been so busy with this move. Carly says she had to drop Donna off at Sonny’s for dinner, so it wasn’t a problem to grab Avery. She’s glad they stopped by Kelly’s; she was really hungry, and tired. Ava thanks her for the to-go burger, and says she’s glad Avery was able to get something to eat so Avery could just pass out when she got home… here. She anticipated Avery would have some adjustments to make, but so far, Avery’s been a real trooper. Carly says, she’s moved around a lot. What about Ava? Ava says, moving is so stressful, even under the best of circumstances, and Carly says, but she’s worried about something, and it has nothing to do with moving.

Amy puts out the bin for the hospital toy drive and tells Elizabeth that it really feels like Christmas when they put out the bin. Elizabeth says, that’s the thing about Christmas, people are extra generous and kind.

Portia tells Finn that his recommended treatment plan is spot on, and he thanks her. She says, he knows this is just a formality for the lawyers. He’s a brilliant physician. He doesn’t need any supervision. He thanks her for the vote of confidence, and she says, before he gets all mushy on her, Monica wants to see him in her office.

On the phone, Monica says she can’t tell them how good it is to be home. She’s spending the holidays with her family. And speaking of holidays, she’s wishing them and theirs a wonderful one. She’ll be seeing them. Bye. Tracy comes in and asks if she’s ready for this, but Monica says she’s not sure.

Diane tells Trish that she’s meeting Robert Scorpio, and Trish says, he’s waiting for her. She leads Diane to the table, and Robert tells Diane that she looks great. She says, he cleans up well himself, and he says he’s happy they’re doing this. She says, that makes two of them. She’s especially looking forward to dessert.

Kristina asks, where’s Nina? and Sonny says he promised Donna some one-on-one time. She asked if Kristina could come, so how could he resist? Kristina says, way to go. Thanks to Donna, she scores a free meal at the MetroCourt. They high-five, and Kristina says, not that she needs any excuse. She always loves hanging out with her little sister. Donna says she knows, and Sonny asks why Donna has that look. She says she’s tired of being the little sister. When are he and Nina going to have a baby?

Ava tells Carly, there’s so much going on. Moving out of Windymere, moving into this place, getting organized again. She has a major gallery opening after the first of the year, and of course (🍷) the artist hasn’t delivered all the pieces yet. Carly says, the life of a busy single mom, and Ava says, Carly knows all about that. Carly says she does. She also knows Ava will find a way and make it through. Ava says, she’s right, and Carly says, Ava’s just been rambling on about all the things she’s handling, but she never once mentioned that her boyfriend was murdered.

Alexis looks at Gregory’s phone and says she can’t believe that’s the same sad little tree Violet picked out at Rice Plaza. He says, she took their words to heart, and she says, his words; perfection is the enemy of good. He says, but Alexis clarified it that Violet should look for something special and unique, so she picked out the saddest looking tree on the lot. They took it home and gave it some love, and it’s beautiful. She says, it’s transformed. Everybody looks so happy, even the tree. He says, the whole family pitched in, and she says, even Finn? She finds it hard to believe he’d be the beacon of Christmas cheer. Gregory says, he is when he’s around Violet. He wasn’t exactly ho-ho-ho, but he was radiating joy, and then Violet sang a song she wrote, and Chase accompanied her on the guitar. She says, that sounds incredible, and he says, there’s even more. He’s got big news. Chase and Brook are getting married. She says, he buried the lead. Congratulations. He says he was so worried that Chase would never forgive him about not telling him about his diagnosis, or that Chase would be so devastated, he couldn’t be around him, but look at them now, the literal picture of family unity. She says she’s really happy for him, and he says he loves them all so much. Finn has Violet, and he and Elizabeth are finding their way back to each other. Chase has his true love Brook by his side. he couldn’t wish for more.

TJ says he just came from the OR and grabbed something before he went in, and Stella asks if he’s sure he’s not hungry. He says, she didn’t have to, and she says she can take it back home, but he says, no, taking the dish from her. She says she knows this used to be his favorite. He says, it still is. Don’t tell Molly. He’s fine with veganism, but this is his definition of comfort food. Nobody makes chicken and dumplings like her. She says, actually, Irene made them better than she does. It was their grandma’s recipe and they promised to guard it with their lives. Irene was always a better cook. He asks if she ever regretted moving in with her sister to support her.

Finn asks if they need anything, but Elizabeth says, they’re almost done, and Amy thanks him. Amy goes over to Portia and asks if there have been any updates in Dr. Finn’s malpractice suit. Is there any chance they’d settle and not go to trial? Portia says, this is something the lawyers should be figuring out. They shouldn’t even be discussing this. And it certainly shouldn’t be the topic of any hospital gossip. Just exercise a little discretion. Understood? Amy nods, and Portia thanks her and leaves.

Finn says, Monica wants to see him, and Elizabeth says, maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe she’s lifting the requirement that he needs his treatment plans signed off on. He says, maybe the hospital’s decided to revoke his privileges altogether. Wish him luck. He gets in the elevator.

Finn goes to Monica’s office and says, her assistant said she was expecting him. She tells him, have a seat, and he says he wasn’t expecting to see Tracy here. Tracy says she’s here representing the hospital board. They want a recommendation regarding the lawsuit. Whether to go through a trial, hoping to disprove the Muldoon’s claim of negligence, or whether they should make a separate settlement. Monica says, which would make Finn the sole defendant.

Stella tells TJ, what a question. What brought that on? He says he’d like to hear the answer to the question first, and she says, all right, but it’s not the first time this question has been brought up, and the answer is still, never. She never regretted moving in with her sister and the boys. Don’t get her wrong, she dabbled in the fantasies of what if, but they were just fantasies and can’t compare the life she’s lived, and the life she’s proud of. She and his grandmother Irene shared a deep bond. There was no question she’d step in and help out. She’s proud to have helped raised Thomas and Curtis. They’re her nephews, but she loves them like her own. Just like she’ll always love him and always be his biggest fan. She’ll do whatever she can for him, including sneaking him some chicken and dumplings. He thanks her, and they laugh. She says, that’s the privilege of being an auntie, one of many, and he wonders if Kristina will feel that way.

Robert says, they can swing by Rice Plaza and try and get the tree Diane has been trying to get for so long, and she laughs. She says, touché. No need. She’s already got her tree up. He says he’s impressed, and she says, don’t be. Full disclosure. She actually ordered one from a florist. Did he know they’ll decorate your tree for you? He asks what they’ll think of next. However, he gives her full points for selecting her own. She thanks him and says she does appreciate him coming with her. It’s a shame they had to abort the mission because of Gregory Chase’s attitude. He asks how the malpractice suit is going.

Kristina asks if Sonny and Nina are thinking of having a baby, barely containing her laughter, and he says, that’s not in the cards for a lot of reasons. He’s very satisfied with the kids he has. So is Nina. So Donna is his forever young child, but she’s not a baby. Being a young child means she’s special. Kristina was the youngest for a while. Kristina says, the youngest, the middle, and being the youngest was definitely the best. She asks how things are with Nina, and Sonny says, they’re settling in, and Nina and Willow are doing good. Kristina asks, what about him and Michael? and he says, they’re doing better, but Nina and Michael are not that great. Kristina says, sorry. He’ll probably warm up. Any issues that are going on is probably protectiveness and loyalty. Sonny shrugs, and Kristina tells Donna that she can’t decide. Donna is going to have to pick for her. She trusts Donna. Donna says, sure, and Kristina hands Donna the menu. Hope she likes hot fudge sundaes for dinner.

Ava tells Carly, of course (🍷) she’s affected by Austin’s death. He was murdered, and so violently. She prays the killer is soon caught and behind bars. She guesses she doesn’t talk about it because it’s so upsetting, and it’s complicated. Yes, they were seeing each other, but it was sort of transitional. She doesn’t mean to sound callous, but she really doesn’t know what to make about how she feels now or how she feels about Austin. Carly asks if the police questioned her, and Ava asks, why would they? She didn’t kill him. Carly says, Ava and Austin were involved. Ava was kidnapped by Austin’s cousin. She knows how the police think. It would make sense that they’d ask her about his involvement with his cousin, right? They’d ask her about Austin’s mental state, if he had any enemies, if he was receiving any threats. Ava knows this is standard police procedure. Ava says she doesn’t want to get into that with Carly, and Carly asks, why? Does she have something to hide?

Donna asks if she can see how they make their desserts. Kristina said they use a flame torch. Sonny tells Trish that his daughter got a great report card, and he promised her a great dinner, but she just wants to talk about dessert. Can Trish take her in the kitchen and show her how to make crème brûlée? Trish says she’d love to, and tells Donna, congratulations. Does she want to sample something sweet before dinner? Donna says, yes, please, and goes with Trish. Kristina says, he knows Donna just ruined her appetite, right? but Sonny says, she’ll be okay. How is Kristina doing? Kristina says, good. Busy. She’s assembled the board of directors and the by-laws for the center are done. The construction is set and knock on wood – she knocks on the table – everything’s set. She’s working hard on hiring new staff for the holiday rush at Charlie’s. He asks if she still plans on managing Charlie’s and she says, yeah. Of course (🍷). She loves working there. He says he knows, but he doesn’t want her doing so much that she doesn’t have time for herself. She says she has it handled, and he says, she seems to be talking an awful lot about work and not her personal life. How’s that going?

Gregory says, Alexis wasn’t in the office much today. He finished the article on building rezoning and wanted her feedback. He left her a message. She says she’s sorry. The afternoon got derailed. She has some big news too. He says, a late breaking story he doesn’t know about? and she says, nope. This is personal. She’s going to be a grandmother again.

Portia says she wants Elizabeth’s input on the final candidates for the Epiphany Johnson Scholarship. Maybe before the next meeting. Elizabeth says, Portia’s got it. She thinks it was really great of Sonny to establish that fund in Epiphany’s name. Portia says, and he just underwrote all the Christmas activities for the hospital. The gifts, food, decorations, everything. That man can really surprise you. Elizabeth says, he’s always been really generous with the hospital, and Portia says, now on a not so happy note, can Elizabeth let her know if she hears any gossip around the hospital regarding Finn’s malpractice lawsuit? Amy Driscoll just approached her about news of his suit. Elizabeth says she’ll definitely have a chat with Amy herself. Would Portia mind if she asks why Monica wants to see him? Portia says she honestly doesn’t know, but what she can say is, from her experience Monica is one of the fairest, most impartial administrators she’s ever worked with. And they know Finn is one of the most gifted doctors there is. She thinks they can really hope for the best on this one. She leaves, and Amy approaches Elizabeth. Elizabeth asks why she talked to Dr. Robinson about Dr. Finn, and Amy says she could really use Elizabeth’s advice about that. She was one of the nurses who assisted with Mr. Muldoon’s treatment. She’s supposed to give a deposition, but she doesn’t know what to say or do. Elizabeth says, she has to tell the truth.

Finn says, all he can tell them is that he wasn’t negligent. He’s gone over his notes and examined Mr. Muldoon’s case from every possible angle. He knows he did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, when Mr. Muldoon came to see him, he already had late-stage cancer. It had developed over many years, silently, without any noticeable symptoms. His cancer was also being masked by the presence of a tapeworm, which Finn found and treated with praziquantel. He asked Mr. Muldoon several times to come in and see him for a follow-up, but he was very busy, and it was almost two months before he came back. At which time he ran further blood tests, and more importantly, a colonoscopy, which revealed Mr. Muldoon’s colon cancer. Monica should do what she needs to do. He understands, but he stands by his treatment, whether or not GH stands by him.

Sonny says, Kristina is working at the bar and getting the youth center up and running; that’s two full-time jobs. He wants her to have time to have some fun. She flashes back to kissing Blaze, and says she intends to, but right now she has to focus on other priorities. Fun will come later. He asks, how much later? What doesn’t he know? She says she’s going to be Molly and TJ’s surrogate.

Robert asks if Diane really believes Finn was negligent, and she says, he’s also an attorney, so he knows full well it doesn’t matter what she believes. It matters what she can prove, and she fully intends to prove that if Hamilton Finn had more carefully screened Muldoon, more thoroughly tested him, that Mr. Muldoon’s cancer would have been detected. Hamilton didn’t, it wasn’t, and Mr. Muldoon died as a result… Agree? Disagree? Hello? Robert says, sorry. He wasn’t listening. In fact, he wasn’t thinking about the case at all. He was thinking about her.

Ava says, she and Carly have managed to co-exist and maintain a level of civility for Avery’s sake and she’s grateful for that. But that doesn’t mean she answers to Carly, or that she owes Carly explanations for anything. Carly says, what happens to Ava affects Avery, and she loves that little girl. She’s helped raise her and stepped in for Ava when her life has gotten too dangerous or took her elsewhere. Ava says, Carly doesn’t have to remind her, and Carly says she’s not trying to judge Ava. She’s just thinking about Avery. If Avery were separated from Ava for any reason, it would kill her because she loves Ava. So if Ava had anything to do with Austin’s death, Ava doesn’t have to tell her, but she needs to tell Sonny.

Elizabeth asks Finn, how’d it go? and he says, they won’t be lifting the restrictions on his treatment plans any time soon. Other than that, he has no idea.

TJ says, as Stella knows, their surrogate miscarried their embryo. She’s opted not to try again, and it hit Molly pretty hard. Stella says she’s sorry to have heard that, but there’s still hope, and he says, yes, there is. Because Molly’s sister Kristina offered to be their surrogate. Stella says, what a profound gift Kristina has given Molly, and him, and he says, they’re both very grateful. She says, good… but something’s worrying him. What is it? He says, as a doctor, he’s aware of all the possible risks and health challenges, but what worries him isn’t medical. It’s having to count on Kristina.

Gregory tells Alexis, congratulations. Are Sam and Dante… She says, no. Actually, there isn’t a grandchild yet. He knows Molly and TJ are trying to have a baby via surrogate, right? He says, she mentioned it to him and that the surrogate miscarried, and she says, so Kristina has offered to be the surrogate and Molly has accepted. He says, that’s amazing. Why does she look less than thrilled? She says, because she has mixed feelings about it. She’s of course (🍷) saying this to him in confidence, right? and he says, of course (🍷). She says, because she really has to be able to talk to somebody outside the family. She told him that Molly and Kristina have been bumping up against each other for a while, right? That’s because Kristina wanted to be Molly’s surrogate in the past, but Molly was reluctant about that, and it caused a rift. Just as they were beginning to repair the relationship, the surrogate had a miscarriage. He says, so now Kristina is suddenly option number one, and she says, don’t get her wrong. She’s proud of Kristina for wanting to do something so selfless and loving for her sister, but she can’t help wondering if the two of them are going into this with their eyes wide open or they’re just riding the waves of emotion, not being able to foresee that those waves eventually come crashing down.

Finn tells Elizabeth, the hospital is considering making a separate settlement with the Muldoons. If they decide to do that now, he’ll be going to trial on his own. The fact that the hospital settled would imply they thought there was negligence. Elizabeth says, they can’t do that to him, when Tracy comes out of the elevator. She asks if she and Finn can speak privately, and he walks down the hall with her. Tracy sees Elizabeth glaring at her, and says, oof. Finn says, she’s just voicing her concern and disappointment. He shares both. Tracy says, he knows she considers him a dear friend, but she’s not here as his friend; she’s here as a member of the hospital board.

Monica thanks attorney Clark for coming in on such short notice, and Clark says she assumes this is regarding the proposed separate settlement with the Muldoons. Monica says, the hospital needs to clarify its position on the Hamilton Finn malpractice case.

TJ tells Stella that Kristina has her own way of looking at life and that’s fine, but she’s been impulsive as long as he’s known her. She starts off with the best of intentions, but she doesn’t always follow through. Stella says, so he’s worried she’ll flake out on them with something as sensitive and important as this? She can’t really see that happening. Can he? He says, not intentionally, but his fear is, once Kristina confronts the reality of what surrogacy entails – the hormone treatments, the constant monitoring, the doctor’s appointments – it may be more than what she bargained for. Sometimes it takes two or three tries before an embryo takes. Miscarriage is a significant reality. What if it’s too much? If she changes her mind, he can see her backing out, and that would break Molly’s heart. And his too. Stella takes his hand.

Sonny says he thought Molly and Kristina had some issues recently, and Kristina says, they worked them out. He asks what Alexis thinks about that, and Kristina says, Alexis is her mom. She’s cautiously optimistic, but in the end, everything is going to be fine. And Alexis is going to get another grandchild to love, so she’s going to be over the moon about it. He says, so that’s it? She’s going to put her social life on hold for the next nine months? What does her singer friend think about that? Kristina says, Blaze? and he tells her that he’s just saying. In Puerto Rico, it felt like there was something between them. She says, they’re just getting to know each other. Why? What does he think he noticed? He says he just noticed Kristina lit up when she saw Blaze, and he hasn’t seen her light up like that since Parker. She says, maybe she was just really well lit, and he says he doesn’t want to pry, but if the situation changes, he just wants her to know that he would be happy for her. She thanks him and takes his hand.

Robert signs for the check and tells Diane that he has no doubt she’ll make a strong case. She’s a terror in the courtroom. When he’s not facing off against her, he can’t think of better company. She says, he really knows how to turn a girl’s head. Let her return the compliment. He’s an almost baffling combination of infuriating and irresistible. He says, you sweet talker, you. Did she get a Ride Share? She says, no, she drove, and he says, too bad. He can’t drive her home. She says, no need. He can meet her there… and spend the night.

Alexis says, there’s no need to call a Ride Share. She’s happy to take Gregory home. He asks her not to go to any trouble, but she says, it’s no trouble at all. Besides, he just listened to her vent about her daughters, which she really appreciates, since it’s certainly not something she can share with them. A, she doesn’t want to diminish their optimism, and B, it’s none of her business. They’re committed to this and don’t need their mother mucking it up. He says, she raised capable young women. The risk is theirs to take, and whatever consequences may arise, she’ll be there for them. Let’s just hope the benefits far outweigh the risks. She thanks him for his sage perspective, and he says he’s sagier than ever these days. It’s all about family and connection for him now. That’s what’s keeping him going despite his prognosis. Finn, Chase, Violet, seeing them happy, knowing they’re okay, that’s all that matters. That’s all she wants for her daughters, to know they’ll be okay, and the families will stay connected. She says she wants so much for Molly to have this baby that she wants so much, and she really is grateful that hopefully, Kristina can make that happen.

Stella tells TJ, from what she observed with Kristina and Molly, they have a bond much like she and Irene did. Of course (🍷) they squabble a bit more than she and Irene did, but that’s because of their closeness; they know what buttons to push. He says, the difference is, Molly is like her. The strong one, the rational one. She can tough things out. Stella says, there’s all kinds of strengths. It takes guts to throw caution to the wind and lead with your heart. It’s true Irene leaned on her, but she leaned on Irene too, for advice, support, humor, and consolation. She and his grandmother were sisters. They were a team, and they knew each other better than anybody else. They knew what their successes and happy times meant to each other, just like they knew the heartbreak of their fears and tragedies. Why does he think Kristina offered to be the surrogate, and why does he think Molly agreed? Trust the bond and trust Kristina to see it through. She clears the dishes and says, looks like he was hungry after all. He thanks her for dinner, and she says, absolutely. He says, but the thing he appreciates most is having her as his auntie. He loves her. They hug, and she says she loves him too. It’s going to be all right.

Ava comes out of the bedroom and tells Carly, sorry. Avery wanted a glass of water. Carly tells Ava that she’s said everything she needs to say. She’s going to go. Have a good night. Ava says, if she has a problem that she thinks Sonny can help her with, she’ll tell him, but that’s got to be her decision, not Carly’s. Carly says she has her own life and her own challenges, and she’s all about Ava doing Ava. But she’s not blind or doesn’t care. Ava asks what that’s supposed to mean, and Carly says she hasn’t seen Ava this defensive, or this tightly wound in a long time. She’s obviously in over her head, and if she needs someone to pull her out, Sonny’s the one to do it. And for Avery’s sake, she’d ask him sooner than later. She leaves, and Ava takes a locked box out of the credenza. She puts in a combination and opens it. She looks at the note and the gun, and wonders if Nikolas is back.

Trish brings Donna back and says, she was a very good girl. Donna thanks her, and Trish tells them to have a good evening. Kristina says, speaking of good girls, Santa’s coming soon. Has Donna been a good girl? Donna asks Sonny if she’s been good, and he says, let him think about that… She’s been the absolute best.

Diane unlocks her front door, and she and Robert kiss on the porch. She pushes open the door, and they continue kissing as they go inside. The door closes.

Tracy tells Finn that her recommendation to the board will be that General Hospital backs him. She and Monica agree there was no negligence and there will be no separate settlement. He thanks her and asks her to thank Monica. He’ll never forget this, but what was that whole thing at the meeting where she said she wasn’t his friend? That really scared him. She says she’s not here as his friend. She’s here in a strictly professional capacity. Her decision was based on the fact that he’s an excellent doctor, he’s an asset to this hospital, and they’re very lucky to have him.

Monica tells Clark that they’ve reviewed Dr. Finn’s actions and they’ve found he’s done nothing wrong. Clark says, they’re walking away from a separate settlement, and Monica says, that’s correct. Clark suggests they mount a defense that Dr. Finn was negligent, but acted without the hospital’s knowledge or approval, but Monica says, they concluded Dr. Finn did nothing wrong. So until Clark comes up with another step they can take, Monica thanks her for coming in. Clark gets up and says, as their legal counsel, she feels compelled to offer them some advice. Rethink your decision carefully. The Muldoons have deep pockets and they’re willing to fight. So ask herself, which is more important, backing Dr. Finn or securing the future of General Hospital? She walks out.

Tomorrow, Donna worries about her wish not coming true; Alexis says she and Jordan don’t get a vote on this; Brook says she won’t stop until Deception belongs to Maxie; and Laura asks Sonny if her brother is a murderer.

Southern Creeps Charm

When we left, Shep had alluded to Paige cheating on Craig, and said Craig’s relationship was bullsh*t. Craig gets a free pass because his relationship is long distance, while he’s been torn to pieces with Taylor.

Olivia tells Taylor that she doesn’t enjoy the headlines and stuff. If Taylor had been honest from the start, none of this would be happening. Taylor says she made a mistake and lied about in, and in Taylor’s interview, she says, people have wronged her and she’s forgiven them. Shep cheated on her and she forgave him. She wants a forgiving friend in her life, and if Olivia can’t be that, what are they doing? Olivia says, the level of betrayal is bizarre, and Taylor’s inability to recognize that is baffling. Then she used Austen to make Shep jealous. Taylor says she did a dig, and she’s owning up to it, and Olivia says she doesn’t know where Taylor’s head is at. Craig comes back, and at the bar, Austen says, the dinner turned to mayhem. Olivia says, if there had been headlines about her and Shep, she would have gone to Taylor. She hates that their friendship is broken more than she hates the relationship with Austen being broken. She doesn’t know how to be friends with Taylor anymore, and hates her for that. She hopes he was worth it. She walks out and into the bus. The rest get ready to go, and Shep says he’s sorry, and thank you everybody, like he’s accepting an award. Shep pops onto the bus where Olivia is with Venita and Madison, and says, all she has to do is say she’s sorry. Venita wonders what Olivia has to be sorry about, and Madison tells him to let her deal with it at her own pace. Shep says he told Taylor to apologize. Is Venita out of her mind? Venita assures him that she isn’t, and tells him not to talk to her like that. He says he’s trying to get Olivia and Taylor out of the muck and mire, and Venita says, get out. He wisely follows her direction and sees Craig. They hug, and in Craig’s interview, he says he forgives Shep. He knows Shep’s not mad at him. Shep just doesn’t know how to deal with anger. The islands are not a place for fighting. Olivia says she looks like the crazy girl who can’t drop it, and Madison says, look! The guys are hugging. Craig gets on the bus and asks Olivia how her talk with Taylor went. Olivia says, they just don’t see things the same way. In the other bus, Taylor says she’s not having that conversation again. She apologizes and Olivia says she hates her. She doesn’t want to be verbally abused. In Austen’s interview, he says he thought he as in a good spot with Olivia. We flash back to them talking in the park, and he says, so they have a blow-up and Olivia is upset. It’s disappointing. Taylor says, Olivia doesn’t even want to look at her, but Austen is off the hook. In Rod’s interview, he says, Olivia had a trauma in losing her brother, and he thinks Austen leveraged the situation. Shep says, a post mortem isn’t going to help anybody. On the Taylor bus, Madison imitates JT, while in the Olivia bus, Craig imitates Shep. He says, they made a mistake. We’re all good?

In the morning, JT has a beer in the bathtub, which makes my stomach turn. It’s less about having a beer in the morning, than JT having one in the tub. Austen calls Whitney and says he wants to download Whitney on last night. Whitney suggests they meet on the beach. Madison brings Venita coffee, and Venita says she was ready to fight Shep last night. Madison says, that was her favorite part. She thinks Austen’s therapy is working, and Venita says, he didn’t walk away, so that’s something. We flash back to Austen getting raked over the coals, and they text Olivia about going to the beach. Craig video chats with Paige and says he doesn’t know how Austen and Olivia aren’t exhausted. He tells her about Shep suggesting she cheated, and Paige says, and she went to his lame pheasant dinner. They yell about her when she’s not even around. In Craig’s interview, he says he knows it’s not true, but it’s easier for Shep to yell at him than deal with his own sh*t. He tells Paige that they’re going on a booze cruise later. At the beach, Whitney tells Austen to put on SPF 1000. Austen asks what he’s been doing, and Whitney says, working. Austen tells Whitney about Rod having a problem with him, and Whitney says, it’s a cheap gambit. Rod is trying to get Olivia’s attention. Austen says, JT thinks he’s on a holy crusade to defend Taylor’s honor. The bottom line is, he and Shep landed the girls.

JT and Taylor walk to the pool, and JT tells her that she didn’t say much. She was probably emotionally traumatized. Taylor says, she was being verbally abused, and JT says he felt terrible. He cares about her and he’ll keep defending her. In Taylor’s interview, she says, part of her wishes she had feelings for JT, but girls want bad boys. Boys want girls who aren’t into them, and girls want boys who treat them like sh*t. (Just for the record, not this girl.) Austen tells Whitney that Olivia called him a POS, and in Austen’s interview, he says, even though he’s not pursuing a romantic relationship with Olivia, he cares about her. And her calling him a POS makes him sad. Olivia, Madison, and Venita come across a swing that’s a favorite on Instagram, and Venita takes photos. Austen tells Whitney that Olivia is up and down, then she puts on a show, calling him a POS. In Whitney’s interview, he says, Austen and Olivia are exhausting, but you reap what you sow. Olivia tells Madison that Taylor said things that were inconsistent. It’s the first time they talked since Taylor’s text to Shep. In Olivia’s interview, she says, nothing is consistent with Taylor. Forget the friendship. She’s talking about Taylor’s character at this point. Madison says, Olivia will probably never trust Taylor again.

It’s time for the booze cruise, and the group heads for a yacht club. On the bus, Madison pops champagne, and Craig wonders why Taylor and Shep are sitting next to each other. Austen says, when Shep finally brings someone else around, Taylor is going to get mad. Rod says, if it’s the other way around, Shep will blow up. Imagine if it was JT. Madison asks if Austen is going to come clean. He probably needs to say he’s sorry. In Madison’s interview, she says, they get solid points for having survived a toxic relationship. They now support each other from afar, and Austen came to her for advice. And he needs it. She tells him, quit making it so weird. They go to a marina and onto a yacht, where they’re welcome to the Aristocrat Tour with Captain Sardine. The captain says, the boat is all theirs while they’re here. In Craig’s interview, he says, your worries go away on a boat. If you see someone having a bad time on a boat, they probably suck. Taylor apologizes for snapping at Venita, and says, she thought he said the opposite of what he said. They make a snorkel stop, and I cry because I should be doing this. Not this bunch of losers. Craig says he’ll stay on the boat and drink, since they have no spears to spear fish with. Madison joins him, and Venita and Olivia also sit it out. The others get in the water. Madison asks if Craig misses Paige, and Craig says, he’ll get a tan, go home, and f*** her. Alrighty then. He asks if Madison has a girl crush on Paige, and she says, for sure. He says, Paige has one on her too, and Madison says, get her to move to Charleston. Craig says, the original plan was for him to move to New York for a few years, but his company is getting big, and it’s tied to Charleston. Madison asks what he’ll do if Paige doesn’t want to move to Charleston, and he says, probably break up.  

Craig tells Madison, first he would fight for it, and do what it takes to figure it out. A DJ does his thing, and everyone dances on deck. Mostly badly. Some of the crew do a sort of funky line dance, and in Craig’s interview, he says he loves to dance. He used to watch YouTube videos to learn. NSYNC and Justin Bieber. They head back at dusk, and Shep says he’s going to miss Captain Sardine. He just talked to Whitney, who has upgraded to the presidential suite. Craig asks what Shep would say to the next girl who goes out with JT, and Shep says, don’t wear heels. (In case you didn’t know, JT is short.) Craig asks what Taylor would say to the next girl Shep dates, and she says, don’t expect to finish. Yikes! In Austen’s interview, he says he wants everyone involved to have fun, if it’s one or three. Shep says, as long as he gets off, he doesn’t care. He’s not going through a big production. In Taylor’s interview, she says she can count on three fingers how many times, and I’m just stunned. Whitney has a fully stocked bar delivered to his suite and tells the waiter, it’s not for him; it’s for the hoi polloi. The others approach the door, and Madison says, it’s fancy AF. For whatever reason, Shep decides to try to break in, hitting the door with his shoulder, and only hurts himself. Whitney lets them in and gives Shep the tour. Shep says, it’s Shangri La, and Austen says, it’s where it doesn’t happen. Whitney asks, what happened on the boat? and Shep sits away from everyone. Madison says, they have to change for dinner, and Shep pouts, saying, he’s not showering. He wishes Austen changed. Austen says he does change, but Shep can’t, and that’s the problem. Shep says, a problem for whom? and Austen says, everyone Shep ever met in his life. Ouch.

Shep says he has a lot of good friends and doesn’t need Austen. Austen says he cares about people and would never say that. Shep told Taylor that he liked cheating on her. He’s been an absolute f***. Shep asks what Austen has been, and Austen says, honest. In Craig’s interview, he says, Shep has been in denial so long, he’s finally realizing his best friend hooked up with his girlfriend. Austen says, Shep holds a soft spot for Taylor, and Taylor grabbed him. She came on to him, not the other way around. Shep says, she’s never been honest, but Austen says, she was honest. With him too. Whitney wants Austen to act it out and plays Taylor in the scenario. Shep tells them, f*** off, and Austen says, Shep can’t face the fact that he and Taylor f***… ing made out and she’s moved on. Madison says, he almost said f***ed, and in Madison’s interview, she says, Austen just admitted it. Austen tells Madison that she’s a bored housewife, and Madison tells Whitney that she’ll see him at dinner and leaves.

Taylor is the first to arrive at dinner, and no surprise, Olivia shows up next. Craig says, Austen hooking up with Taylor f***ed up his position, and Shep’s anger at Austen continues to surface. Austen says, Taylor is taking Shep’s lead. He keeps saying it’s all good, but sometimes he gets angry. Shep says, it’s been nice. Austen doesn’t give a f*** about anyone but himself. He used to be 34 and a scoundrel. Austen says, a total scoundrel, and in Shep’s interview, he says, it’s an accumulation of things with Austen. They spent time together in Australia and he didn’t say a word. He has no concept of friendship or loyalty. Austen says, if that’s how Shep feels, he doesn’t know what to say, and Shep says he’s going to change his clothes. Whitney says, thanks for coming. It was a really, really nice time. Shep drove off Madison. How do you do that? Shep says, someone had to. At the table outside, crickets chirp.

Venita sits down and asks for a glass of bubbles, since she’s five, and Madison joins them soon after. In Madison’s interview, she says, talk about awkward. That the hell is she doing here? A family style dinner is served, and everyone else trickles to the table. Craig has his shirt unbuttoned almost entirely, and Madison calls him Rico Suave, buttoning up one more. Austen says, they’re all hammered. He and Whitney made out. Craig says, Austen and Shep finally fought it out, and Taylor says, then made out. JT says, it’s the biggest plot twist on a vacation he’s heard of in his life. Whitney says he and Austen took a jacuzzi, and Madison asks Austen, which kiss was better, Whitney or Taylor? Austen says she’s a f***ing bored housewife, and Madison says, if that’s his dig, lights out. Whatever that means. Austen says, don’t talk to him, and Shep says, they had fun today. Madison says, it was a moment, and everyone toasts to Craig. Shep says, cheers to Captain Sardine, and they toast again. Taylor gets up and clinks her fork on her glass. She says she knows she was quiet last night, but the conversation has been happening for two and a half months. For her of herself and her own well-being, she wants to put this to rest.

To be continued…

🌰 Looking For Pre-Roasted Chestnuts…

Slide in tomorrow for the free-for-all that is Friday, from soap to sage words. Until then, stay safe, stay not over committing, and stay not being the person having a bad time on a boat. Because if you are, you probably suck.

Dec23

December 22, 2022 – Ryan the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a Gallery of Pets (!) & King

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook turns and sees Chase come into Rice Plaza wearing his leather jacket. She runs up on stage, goes to the mic, and says, good evening everyone. She knows they’re anxious for the main event to begin, and the concert will start in just a few minutes, but first they’ll announce the results of their ugly Christmas sweater contest. Their first runner up is Detective Dante Falconari. The crowd applauds, and it’s a lot louder than the amount of people there. Sam asks if Dante entered the contest, and he says he didn’t. He doesn’t know what she’s talking about. This is his favorite sweater. FYI, it’s hardly an ugly sweater, so I’m not getting this. Brook goes over to Chase, and says she didn’t know he’d come. He says, neither did he. Dante told him that the CCRB may be reviewing his case in a few months, thanks to her letter and whatever else she did. Which was what exactly?

Sasha and Nina cross the plaza, dressed an elf and Mrs. Claus respectively. Sasha says, looks like Brook pulled it off, and Nina says, just in the St. Nick of time. Sasha says, Nina’s holiday humor is on point, and Sonny joins them with Donna, saying, look who it is; Mrs. Claus. Nina says, with her trusted assistant elf, and Sonny tells Donna, like they practiced. Donna hands Nina a gift bag, and tells her, merry Christmas.

On the phone, Carly says she just got home, and she’s getting everything ready. Kristina comes home for Christmas, and they’ll be all set when she gets here. So text when she leaves Trina’s. Love you. The doorbell rings, and Carly opens the door to Ava and Avery, who says, merry Christmas, Mama Carly, and hugs her.

Spencer tells Trina, merry Christmas, and she says, he told her that he was leaving town. He says he thought there was nothing here for him anymore, but he was wrong. But if she wants him to go, just say the words and he’ll leave.

Esme sings, ♫ jingle hell, jingle hell, jingle all the way. So much pain Nik will feel when daddy comes to slay – hey! ♫ What does Ace think? A solid plan? She knows it’s risky, but she promised to do all she can to get out of here. Because she’s starting the new year off with a real family. Nikolas comes in and, who that would be? knocking back some of his drink.

Heather puts a Santa hat and beard on Ryan, and says, perfect fit, as the guard watches. She tells Ryan, buck up, Santa. Bad attitudes get bupkis under the tree. She glances at the guard, and lowers her voice, saying, and this year, their Christmas lists have one thing in common. Justice for their little girl, and pain for everyone who hurt her.

By the side of the road somewhere, Josslyn checks one of the tires on her car. She looks at her phone, and says, still no bars. Just great. She sees headlights coming down the street toward her. She thanks them for stopping, and says, actually, she figured it out. So she doesn’t need any help, and she’s sure they have somewhere they need to be. We see a pair of black boots walking toward her, and Dex says, here’s good.

Spencer tells Trina, he gets it. This is the definition of should have called first. He’s sorry for the intrusion. He starts to leave, but she says, shoes off, and he follows her inside.

Esme asks if Nikolas is drunk, and he says, she never talks about her family. She says, he never asks. Unless it’s about the baby or her supposed crime spree, he’s not interested. He locks the door, and says, no adoptive family to pine for; they’re gone. She says, thanks for the reminder, and he says, her biological family is a mystery, so what’s left? Chosen family? Close friends that are searching for her; would move heaven and earth to find her? She asks if that’s so impossible to believe, and he says, in a word, yes. As far as he can tell, the only person who gives a damn about her is him. How sad is that? The man whose life she dismantled is the closest thing she has to family. She says, so he gives a damn about her. How would Ava react to him talking like that? He says, wouldn’t she like to know? and she says she thinks she does. He should be with his wife right now, or at least attempting to woo her back. Instead, he’s here, half-drunk and lording his power over her. Tell her. Did Ava finally wise up and cut him loose for good?

Carly says she’s so happy to see Avery. Is Santa outside? Avery asks, why? and Carly says, because she’s the best present he could have brought her. Avery says, Santa’s busy tonight, and Carly says, he sure is. Ava says, they were just on their way to the Gingerbread Jam, and thought they’d stop by for a visit. Carly asks if Avery has time for some hot cocoa, and Avery asks Ava if they do. Ava says she thinks they can squeeze it in, and Carly tells Donna, run to the kitchen; it’s all set up. Avery runs off, and Carly thanks Ava. Ava says she was just accommodating Avery’s wishes. Take her time. She’ll wait in the car. Carly says, why doesn’t Ava join them?… Or don’t. She knows Carly’s not going to say please.

Mac and Felicia see Sam and Dante, who has a winner ribbon on his sweater, and Mac, wearing a true ugly Christmas sweater, says, they missed the judging? Felicia asks how that’s an ugly sweater, and Dante tells her, that’s what he was saying. Mac says he put a lot of time and effort into this sweater, and I wonder if he’s taken up knitting. Mac’s phone dings, and he says, duty calls. He steps away, and Sam says, that is one of the ugliest sweaters she’s ever seen. Felicia says, isn’t it?

Brook says she didn’t know the Review Board was revisiting Chase’s case, but he says, considering revisiting. She says, this is amazing, and he says, it could be, but he has the feeling her letter alone isn’t enough to seal the deal. She says she didn’t even know they read the letter. What’s with the third degree? Isn’t this what he wanted? He says, of course (🍷) it’s what he wanted. He’s just trying to figure… Linc (the real Linc) says, they were supposed to be on stage ten minutes ago. Is this happening or not? Because if it isn’t, Brook can kiss their partnership, and all her precious songs, goodbye.

Nina looks at an ornament, and tells Donna, this is absolutely beautiful. Did she do it herself? Donna says, daddy helped, and Nina says, let her guess what part he helped with; the glitter. Sonny asks how she knew, and she says, because he’s still wearing some of it, brushing his coat. She says she knows the perfect spot for it on her tree; she wants it front and center. Sasha gives Donna a candy cane, and says, she can put this on the tree too. Donna says, or eat it, and Sasha says, she’d better ask her dad first. Sonny says, it’s Christmas Eve. Donna can have a candy cane. He asks Sasha to take Donna to see the reindeer, and Sasha says, she’d be delighted, taking Donna’s hand. They leave, and Nina sighs.

Brook takes the mic again, and says, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve been waiting for. She introduces Blaze and Chase, who take the stage. Blaze says, their new song drops tonight, but guess who gets to hear it first? The crowd cheers, and Blaze and Chase sing I’ll Find a Way to You.

Dex asks if she’s okay, and Josslyn says she’s fine. What is he doing here? He says, tailing her, and she says, wow. He’s not even going to try to come up with another excuse. He says, why bother? and feels her neck, asking if it hurts. She says, a little, and he asks if she’s sure she’s okay. She says, she’s fine, something he’s not going be when Sonny finds out about this. He says he’ll heal, and she says, and if there’s a meat hook involved? He says, better him on a hook than a hook in her.

Spencer asks where everyone is, and Trina says, watching a movie. He says, they went all out with the Christmas decorations, and she tells him that her mom, Marshall, and Curtis went all out. This isn’t the norm for a Robinson Christmas. He says, makes sense though. First Christmas in a new house; gotta go big. She says, they’re trying to make things better for her, and he says, after Rory? She says she appreciates the effort, but… He says, it didn’t work, and she tells him, don’t say anything. She played along, and pretended to be in the spirit, but honestly, her only wish for this Christmas, is to wake up and have the last few days be a bad dream. He says, the past few years for him. He would change everything. She says, everything? and he says, except for coming back to Port Charles. Because then he wouldn’t have met her.

Blaze and Chase finish the song, and the crowd goes wild. Mac tells Felicia that he knows it’s Christmas Eve, but he has to cut out early. Dante walks over, and asks, what’s going on? Did he get a break with Cabrera? Mac tells him, enjoy the night off, but Dante says, what is it? Is it the earring? Felicia says she’ll see Mac later, hopefully under the mistletoe, but he says, actually, she’s coming with him. She says, she is?  But if this is police business… He says, partly, but it’s also personal. They do have a lead on Rory’s murder, and it goes back to her and Ryan Chamberlain.

Heather has Ryan dressed like a red-nosed reindeer, and adjusts his antlers (I’m dying here). She takes out a small giftbox, puts it in his lap, and smiles.

Mac says, forensics ID’d the DNA on the earring as belonging to Gloria Wilson, and Dante asks if that’s someone they know. Felicia says, it’s Ryan’s ex-wife, and Dante asks if Mac is saying she’s working with Esme now. Is she a suspect? Mac says, she can’t be, and Felicia says, she’s dead. Felicia witnessed her murder; Ryan killed her 30 years ago. Dante asks how an earring from the victim of a serial killer shows up connected to another victim of a serial killer three decades later? and Mac says, good question. Felicia says, there’s only way to get answers, but Mac says he may have changed his mind. Felicia tells him, too late. Like he said, this is personal

Brook says, Blaze and Chase were incredible. Can they feel the energy out here? Linc says, Blaze was real pitchy, and they need to talk wardrobe. He said, Santa’s mistress, not Santa’s mother-in-law. He leads her away, and Brook says, she can’t wait for that sleaze to be canceled. Chase says he hears that, and she asks if that means what she thinks it means. Is he willing to give them another shot?

Dante tells Sam, they got a lead on The Hook, and she asks what he’s still doing here. Go. He kisses her, and leaves.

Dex messes with Josslyn’s tire, and he asks if she got service. She says she saw an autobody shop about 50 yards down; the tow’s on its way. He doesn’t have to wait with her. The tow truck’s going to get here, and it’s freezing. He takes off his coat, and she asks what he’s doing. He tells her that she said she was cold, but she says she meant she didn’t want him to be cold. He puts his coat around her, and she says, if she wants him to take his clothes off, he’ll know. He asks, how so? and she says she’s very direct that way. He says he likes that about her. She says what’s on her mind; what she’s feeling, except for when she’s not sure. She says, excuse me. She’s fully in touch with all her feelings. He tells her, if she says so, and she says she does. He says, care to test that?

Avery takes the tissue paper out of a giftbag, and says, walkie talkies? Carly says, she’s too young for a phone – Ava says, much too young – and anyway, these are much more fun, because only people who know her secret frequency can talk to her. Ava  tells Avery to give it a try, and Avery runs upstairs with one. Carly says, it’s supposed to snow tonight, and Ava says, mm-hmm. Carly asks if Sonny has Avery tomorrow, and Ava says, he does. Carly says, that’s all she’s got, and Ava says, she told Carly that she’d wait in the car. Carly says, so Ava can call Nina and they can talk about her? but Ava says, no. They avoid the subject of Carly like the plague. Carly says, Nikolas then, and Ava almost chokes on her coffee. Carly says, is there trouble in paradise? Wow. And after Ava reveled in Carly’s divorce. Ava says, she knows. Karma is indeed a bitch.

Esme says she didn’t think she’d live to see the day, and Nikolas says, drop it. She asks if it’s hit the society pages yet, and flashes back to Ryan telling her, time is running out for destroying Ava and Nikolas. She says, daddy would be so pleased, and Nikolas asks what she said. She tells him, she asked who gets the house, and he asks, what part of drop it is confusing? She says, don’t worry, Ace. Your father’s not mad at you. He’s mad at himself. He has a bad habit of miscalculating, like when he locked your mother up in here because he thought she was the boogeyman. She tells Nikolas, he knows she’s not. He’ll figure that out when someone else dies, and he has only himself to blame.

Spencer says he’s so sorry about Rory, and Trina says, her too. He says he’s heard from pretty much everyone what a good guy he was. Obviously, Rory meant a lot to her. She says, it’s still so weird to hear people talk about him in the past tense, and Spencer says he’s sorry. She says, don’t be. Spencer’s right. He was here, and now he’s gone, because of her. Spencer says, no, but she says, if Rory had never met her, he’d still be alive. Spencer says he’s to blame. It’s his fault. He  brought Esme to Port Charles, and put Trina in her path, and she says she knows he’s trying to help, and she’s grateful, but Esme being caught is the only thing that will make it right. Not better, but right. He says he agrees. Esme needs to be brought to justice. And if the police won’t do it, he will.

Heather tells Ryan, merry Christmas. It’s the least she could do after he took such good care of their daughter. Don’t worry that he didn’t get her anything. Those bedroom eyes are gift enough. Besides, she didn’t spend a dime on it. Well, isn’t he going to open it? She laughs, and says, just kidding. He’s going to jump for joy when he sees what’s inside… Oops. He can’t, can he? Besides, they don’t want the loons around here getting jealous. Mac says, PCPD. They’re here to see one of their guests. Felicia says, that’s a generous description, and Heather shoves the gift under Ryan’s blanket. Mac tells her, step away from Ryan, and Dante asks what Heather was doing with him.

Chase says he’s willing to give this another try. Because no matter what happens, Linc needs to be stopped. She says, he has no idea how happy this makes her, and moves closer, but he backs up. He says he wants to be clear. When he says, give this another try, he means their business partnership, nothing more.

Nina says, her goal is to not be a downer tonight,  but Sonny says, that’s impossible. Nina says, with what happened to Rory, it makes her think about Jay (Nathan), and he says, that makes sense. She says, and it’s not lost on her that it’s difficult for him to think about his son putting his life on the line every day. He says, maybe he deserves it, considering what he put people through over the years. He suggests they go to Saints on the way home, and light a candle for her brother, and she says, and for Dante. He says, done, and they hug.

Heather asks if that’s Mac Scorpio under all that scruff. Meow. Felicia says, he’s taken, and Heather says, the Aztec princess herself. It is such an honor to be in the presence of royalty. She bows, and Mac asks if she knows who that is. She says, of course (🍷). Ryan Chamberlain is practically the mayor in these parts. She’s just a volunteer fill-in while his orderly’s off the clock. Dante says, that’s good; she can translate.  Mac shows Ryan the evidence bag with the earring in it, and says, lose something?

Spencer says, the whole reason Esme came after Trina is because she knows hurting Trina means hurting him. And now she’s coming after the people closest to Trina; the people who stood in her corner and defended her. All due credit to Ava and Diane. She says, but Spencer was her biggest defender, and he says, Esme hates him for it. He’s her biggest target. Well, if Esme wants him, she can have him.

Josslyn asks if this is some sort of communication exercise, and Dex says, tell him how she feels, give it a moment, and he’ll do the same. She says, challenge accepted. Right now, she feels annoyed. He says, and he feels victorious, and she says, impatient. He says, challenged, and she says, amused. He says, pleased, and she says, curious. He says, engaged, and she says, uncomfortable. He says, concerned, and she says, embarrassed. He says, skeptical, and moves closer. She says, honest, and he says, doubly skeptical. She says, guilty, he moves even closer, and says, gripped. She says, breathless, and he says, warm. She says, warmer, and he says, hot, and kisses her. They see the lights of the tow  truck, and he says, sorry. She says, don’t be, but he says he shouldn’t have complicated things. She says, would he stop? She doesn’t need him making excuses for her choices. He says, that’s not what he meant, but she hands him back his coat, and heads for the tow truck, thanking them for coming.

Sasha asks Donna what she asked Santa for, and Donna asks if he’ll still bring it if she tells. Sasha says, Donna is thinking of birthday wishes; those are supposed to be kept secret. Christmas is different, but Donna doesn’t have to tell her if she doesn’t want to. Donna says she asked Santa to bring Sasha a happy new year, and Sasha says, Donna’s Christmas wish was for her? That is the kindest, most generous thing. Sasha thanks her, and Donna says she hopes Santa comes through. Sasha says, so does she, and asks if Donna wants to get some cocoa. Donna says, with extra marshmallows, and they walk off.

Brook says she’s confused. She thought… Chase says, they had an agreement. He promised to help get her songs back from Linc and he’s keeping that promise, but that’s it; that’s as far as this goes. She says, but the letter; his second chance with the CCRB. Doesn’t that give them a second chance too? He says he appreciates what she did for him, and that is why he’s here tonight, but that doesn’t change the fact she played God with his future. She says, that’s a little bit of an overstatement, but he says he disagrees. She took away his agency. She made choices without consulting him about his own life. She says she’s so sorry, and he says he knows she is. She asks if they can’t get past this. Go back to the way things were. She takes his hand, and he says, no, they can’t, and walks away.

Ava says, don’t let her hold Carly back from celebrating, and Carly says she can’t believe Nikolas cheated on Ava. Ava says, multiple times with multiple women, and Carly says, wow. She thought he was smarter than that. She’s really sorry. Ava says, so is she, when Avery’s voice comes over the walkie talkie, saying, mommy? Ava says, hi, sweetheart, and Avery says, does it work? Ava says, yes, it’s working, and tells her to come back. It’s time for them to go to the Gingerbread Jam. And what does she say to Carly? Donna says, thank you, Mama Carly, and Carly says, she’s welcome. Ava tells Carly, that’s a thoughtful gift, and thanks her. They wish each other a merry Christmas, and Carly wishes Ava a happy New Year if she doesn’t see her. Ava says, God knows she can’t wait for this one to be over, and Carly says, let’s hope for a fresh start for all of us.

Heather says, didn’t Jordan tell you, no Ava, no info, and asks Mac what that means. Dante says, a cop is dead, you son of a bitch. Talk now. Mac tells Dante to take a break, and Dante asks if Mac can’t see Ryan is messing with them, but Mac says, that’s an order. Dante walks out, and Mac says, Ryan knows damn well this is his ex-wife’s. It was found on the person of Rory Cabrera. Felicia says, one of Port Charles’ finest, and Mac says, right after he succumbed to wounds inflicted by a serial killer they believe to be Esme Prince. Felicia says, he remembers Esme, right? One of his former confidants in here. Mac says, Ryan’s room is being tossed as they speak, and Heather says, they can just waltz in here and do that? Felicia says, inmate’s rights are limited at best, but she’s sure Heather knows that already. She tells Ryan, if there’s evidence connecting him and Esme’s murders, they’ll find it, and Mac says, even if there isn’t, he’s putting all this before a judge. Ryan is up to his ears in this case. Felicia says, when Mac is through, Ryan is going to D’Archam for the rest of his sorry life.

Spencer tells Trina, he’ll create a situation so tempting, Esme won’t be able to resist. She’ll come for him, but he’ll be ready. Trina asks if he’s insane. He’s not baiting that maniac. He says, it’s not her call, and she says, it’s Jordan’s. He says, she’d rat him out? and she says, it beats burying him. He says, this will work. All he’s got to do is lure Esme out of hiding. Trina starts to argue, but he says, she’s not going to have the element of surprise anymore. She says, lure Esme out how? and he says he doesn’t know; he hasn’t gotten that far yet, but he will, and it will be inspired. Tell him that she thinks this is a good idea. She says, it has potential, but it’s missing one key factor – her.

Nikolas says, how nice of Esme to find pleasure in his misfortune, and she says, no one is keeping him here, unlike her. If he doesn’t like her attitude, he can leave. He says, excuse him for checking in, and she says, he has Demetrius for that, but he says, she’s not carrying Demetrius’s child. He needed to see for himself that she’s all right. She asks if she looks all right. It’s freezing in here, she sleeps on moth eaten linens, she has no one to talk to except the baby. He asks what she talks to the baby about, and she says, since when does he care? He says, she’s bored, and wants real conversation; he’s here. She says, he’s only here because he has nowhere else to go, and no one else to talk to. And he calls her sad. He walks out, locking the door in the hallway, and she says, think about it. The closest thing he has to companionship is his prisoner. She laughs.

Josslyn comes home, and Carly says she was so worried about her. She says hi to Dex, and Josslyn says, Dex took over for Steve, and she was having car trouble, so he gave her a ride home. Carly thanks him, and he says, no problem. Josslyn says, Carly didn’t start the movie without her, but Carly says she’d never start the movie without her. She’ll go get the popcorn. She tells Dex, merry Christmas, and he says, back at her. She leaves, and Josslyn says, thanks again. He says, any time, looks up at the mistletoe, and tells her, hopefully, sooner than later.

Trina says, Spencer alone isn’t enough bait, but them together, pretending to turn to each other after Rory’s death, Esme won’t be able to help herself. He says, absolutely not. It’s dangerous. She says, he can take risks, but not her. He has to admit it’s a good idea. He says, it has potential, but he still doesn’t like it. She asks, what’s the alternative? Do nothing, and let someone else suffer as a result? He knows they’re stronger together. He says, this is so not what he had in mind when he came over, and she says she thought he came be her friend and try to make her feel better. He says, of course (🍷) he did, and she says, then mission accomplished. Is he in or what? She holds out her hand and they shake.

Mac says, Ryan’s window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Give up Esme before they nail her, and she gives him up. Mac walks out, and Felicia tells Heather, don’t be fooled. Ryan is dangerous even shut in here. Tread carefully. She walks to the door, and Heather says, Feliz Navidad, your highness… Or is it your majesty?… No, your highness.

Nikolas brings Esme new linens, and says, he also turned up the heat. Don’t say he’s never done anything for her. As for lonely, she doesn’t know the meaning of the word, but she’ll discover it on Cassadine Island. Merry Christmas. He leaves, and she half-smiles.

Heather retrieves the giftbox, and Ryan grabs her wrist. He says, that earring was on the chain she pilfered from him years ago. She jerks away, and says, just for that, she’s not giving him his present. He says, she still has that chain, doesn’t she? and she puts her finger to her lips. She sings, ♫ silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. ♫ The guard watches, and she continues singing as she leaves.

Heather’s singing turns into Chase and Blaze continuing Silent Night. As they sing…

Dante returns, and it begins to snow.

Esme adjusts the angel on the top of the tree. An idea blooms as she puts the toilet paper garland near one of the lights.

Spencer and Trina go outside, she wipes snow from his face, and he leaves.

Carly and Josslyn eat popcorn while they watch the movie, and Josslyn smiles.

Dex walks in the snow, and flashes back to kissing Josslyn.

Sonny and Nina kiss, and Sam and Dante kiss.

Tomorrow, Brook tells someone that she’ll see what she can do; Britt says, this isn’t how she wanted to spend her last Christmas in Port Charles; Sonny tells Sasha, they can do this by dinnertime; and Cody tells Olivia, they have a situation.

🦙 Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop…

More celebrity pets. Also a good photo gallery to get pet names from if you get stuck.

https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/nydn-famous-celebrity-pets-20190212-photogallery.html

✉️ Hustling and Bustling…

There was a time when I had cards out the weekend after Thanksgiving. Now I’m lucky if they’re out by New Year’s. This year, they will be postmarked by Christmas Eve, dammit. That’s my excuse for cutting it short, and I’m sticking to it. Drop in tomorrow for soap, a spot of tea, and whatever holiday cheer I can drum up. Until then, stay safe, stay not feeling pressured into holly jolliness, and stay having a good attitude, because bad attitudes get bupkis under the tree.