Tag Archives: Grotesquerie

October 29, 2024 – Michael Gets a Double Whammy, Temping, It’s Time, A New York Minute, My Watch, Slammed, Knight Guide, Two Holidays In One, Transformed, Costumed, Keep Them Safe & Cat

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Dressed as Sherlock Holmes, Wiley tells Temp Michael (see below), the game is a-foot.

Laura hugs Aiden, who asks if there’s any word on Lulu, but Laura says she’s still in surgery. Elizabeth joins them and says, it’s going well. Aiden asks if he can get Laura anything, but she says, seeing him is enough.

Sam wakes up, and Dante says, welcome back. Lucas said she was a five-star patient. She did great. She asks, how’s Lulu? and he says, she’s going to save Lulu’s life.

Holly says she’s the only mother Sasha’s got. Sasha needs her more than she thinks.

On the phone, Tracy says, no comment. She tells Ned to block the last five callers, and he asks if it was a reporter. She says, they want to know about Drew’s campaign, and Lulu is in surgery. Every time the phone rings, her heart lurches. Ned says, it won’t be a problem much longer.

Cody tells Drew that they need to talk, and Drew tells the other Navy SEAL that he’s sorry. He’ll just be a second. He suggests he and Cody move to another spot, but Cody says he’s fine where he is. Drew says, Cody seems a little drunk, but Cody says, nope. Drew says, he looks like he needs some air, and Cody asks who Drew is to tell him what he needs. He calls Drew a smug bastard and punches him in the face. He says, Drew’s been making out with his nephew’s wife while he’s banging her mother. Drew punches Cody, and Nina tells the SEAL to call the police. At the bar, Elaine films what’s going on.

Lucky asks Laura if there’s any news, and she says, Sam is out of surgery. It went well. Lulu’s surgery is still in progress. Lucky says, she’s in good hands, and Elizabeth says she and Aiden are going home. Laura says she’ll call if she hears anything, and they leave. Laura says, a lot of people have come to see her, but she’s happy to spend time with Lucky. He wonders if she’s not going to ask where he’s been, and she says, if he wants her to know, he’ll tell her. He says he spent the day at the federal building jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get an emergency passport. She asks if he’s planning on using it.

Michael asks, what made Wiley think of Sherlock Holmes? and Willow says, says, he’s been reading books about kid detectives. She told him about the OG, Sherlock, and they watched some old movies. He was hooked. Wiley gives Michael a Watson hat, and Michael asks what gives Wiley the impression he’d sign on as his sidekick. Wiley says, elementary, my dear Watson.

Sasha says, that time is long gone, and she’s not talking about her childhood. She thought Holly would show up when her baby died or when her husband was murdered. Holly says she found out long after it happened. She was devastated for Sasha. Sasha says, her sympathy card must have gotten lost in the mail, but Holly says she was respecting Sasha’s wishes and stayed away. Sasha says, since when has Holly cared about what she wanted? She stayed away because she couldn’t be bothered. Her mother-in-law stole all her money and put her in an asylum where she nearly lost her mind. She would have welcomed help, even from Holly, but she was nowhere to be found. So this is way too little way too late.

Drew says, Cody is drunk, and Cody says, Drew’s a cheating bastard. Drew says he doesn’t know where Cody is getting this, and Cody asks how Nina is okay with Drew messing with her daughter to placate his massive ego. Dex comes in with another officer and says, someone complained about an assault. The bartender says, this guy tried to attack Mr. Quartermaine, and Dex asks Cody to come with him to the station. Don’t make it worse. Cody says, fine, but this isn’t over. He leaves with the other officer, and Drew tells Dex that Cody had too much to drink. He’s not going to press charges. Dex leaves and Nina says, that’s not what she meant when she said, get down and dirty. Drew thanks her for her suggestion. It’s time for damage control. He tells the bartender, a round for the house on him, and everyone cheers. Elaine quietly leaves.

Tracy asks why Ned thinks Drew’s campaign is going to tank, and he says he has a hunch that things are not as they seem. His phone dings, and Ned says, a video. They can watch together. He shows her the bar fight, and she says, tell her this is real. He says he hired a P.I. after learning some incriminating evidence. She asks, from whom? and he says, an unusual credible source. He had Drew followed to get confirmation. She says, he’s a genius. They have the ammunition and now they need to figure out how best to use it.

Lucky looks at the blank passport and says, it’s like the last decade never happened. Laura says, there’s so much she doesn’t know about his life. What’s he been up to all this time? How did he meet Dr. Gannon? He says, they were in the same refugee camp. He was security and Isaiah was with an international medical team. He could tell Isaiah was a good doctor and couldn’t turn down a seat at a poker table. Isaiah even beat him a couple of times. She asks if Lucky let him, but Lucky says, Isaiah is pretty good at everything he does. Eventually, the camp staff was full, so they decided to move on to where the need was greater, and it became a pattern looking for the next challenge, while at the same time living in the moment. She asks if that’s his way of telling her that he and Isaiah got through dangerous situations together, and he says, maybe. She says, they’re both very brave, and he says he could say that about Isaiah, but for him, he thinks he’s just been running.

Sasha says, when she got committed, Cody rescued her, and Holly says, thank God. Sasha says, when she got out, she was still broken, and Holly says she’s sorry. Sasha says, Cody believed in her and put her back together. He’s the reason she started believing in herself again and trusting again and opening her heart again. Holly says, she’s grateful and truly wishes they could stay together, and Sasha says, but they can’t.  

Dex brings Cody to the interrogation room and says he’ll get Cody some coffee, but Cody says, just throw him in a cell. Dex says, Drew’s not pressing charges, and Cody says, if Dex knew the whole story, he’d think Drew deserved it. Dex says he thinks the bar owner would disagree, and Cody says, it will probably be brushed under the rug like the fat cats do. Just put him in the drunk tank and let him sleep it off. He doesn’t need to talk to anybody else. Mac walks in and says, not even his dad? He heard Cody had quite a night.

The bartender tells Drew, that guy was drunk and out of line. He’s glad Drew put him in his place. He’s a class act and Drew’s got his vote. He goes back to the bar, and Nina says, it’s just a matter of time before Michael finds out. Even if he dismisses it as gossip, it’s bad. It could ruin his relationship with Willow. Drew says, Cody will be contained until he sobers up. When he sees Drew didn’t press charges, maybe he’ll be more cooperative. He’ll settle Cody’s tab and with any luck, that will be the end of it.

Tracy says, remind her to give Cody a raise, and Ned says he hates bringing negative attention to the family. Tracy says, Drew did that, and Ned says he thought Tracy approved of Drew being a Quartermaine. She says she thought Alan should have one child to carry on his name, but Drew’s not worthy. He deserves what he gets. Ned says, when he shows this to Drew, he’ll sign over his shares to yours truly, and Tracy asks, why not rid them of Drew once and for all? He asks, how? and she says, tell Michael everything.

Dante tells Sam that Lulu is still in surgery, but they’ll let him know when she’s in recovery. Sam asks if he’s seen Lucas, and he says, Lucas told him that her prognosis is excellent. She can come home next week. She says, he has to make sure the kids are organized and don’t forget to pick up the cupcakes for Scout’s fall bake sale. Dante says, she left notes all over. He’s got it. There is one thing he’d like to ask her… She says, Scout likes the cupcakes from Eckerd’s, but he says, it’s not that. He takes out a ring and asks if she’ll marry him.

Mac says he’ll take it from here, and Dex leaves. Cody says he had one too many, and Mac says, one? Cody says he lost count and he’s as drunk as a skunk, but Drew had it coming. Mac says he doesn’t want to know why Cody did what he did, but he wants to talk about why Cody was tossing them back in the first place. Cody says, he knows, and Mac says, he does. Let’s talk about Sasha.

Holly says, Sasha deserved a better mother. She didn’t do the hard things. Sasha says, she didn’t do anything, but Holly says she always loved Sasha. She wasn’t cut out to be a mother. Sasha says, it was easier to leave her with Nona. Nona loved her, and for a long time, she was the only person who did. When Nona was gone, she tried to make a life for herself and got close more than once, but every time, it fell apart. This time it fell apart because of Holly. Holly says, it’s not her fault Cody is Sasha’s cousin, but Sasha says, it’s Holly’s fault she didn’t know until now. And now, she’s alone again. Holly says, she has her father and her father’s family, and Sasha says, that Cody’s a part of. Holly says, she knows it cost Sasha a lot, but it cost a lot for her too. She’s lost the love of her life forever. (Wow. Way to be self-centered.)

At the gatehouse, Nina says she hopes it’s okay that she came by, and Willow says, she can check out Wiley’s Halloween costume. Wiley hugs Nina, and Nina says, it’s the perfect choice. It’s chic. Tweed is in this season. Michael says, they’re going to the main house to show Monica and pick up Amelia, and Wiley asks if Nina wants to come, but Nina says she wants to talk to Wiley’s mom. Wiley and Michael leave, and Willow asks what brings Nina by. Nina says she gave Willow some bad advice about Drew. She needs to tell Michael the truth as soon as she can.

Tracy says she detects more than flicker of daddy’s ruthlessness in Michael, and Ned says, that baby face belies the heart of a shark. She says, now Drew’s been sniffing around Michael’s wife. They can engineer it so he drops out of the race and out of their lives forever. He says, or they can look at it another way. If Drew wins, he can use the video as leverage. He’ll have a congressman under his thumb. Her too. He’s willing to share. Drew comes in, and Tracy says, someone’s had a rough night.

Sam says, Dante is asking now? She’s on painkillers. He says he’d hoped that would work to his advantage. He wanted to ask her when she woke up. Sam says, in this romantic setting. There’s just one thing she wants him to know. It’s okay if he still loves Lulu.

Laura says she’s sure Lucky has his own perspective on the situation, and she wants to hear it. He says, of course (🍷), and she says, he didn’t grow up in a normal stay-put family. She and Luke were fugitives for the first half of his life, until he was 11 years old. That’s why his idea of home is different than just about everyone else’s, including his sister. By the time Lulu came, they were settled in Port Charles. The need he has to… when the going gets rough, to run out and get an emergency passport, that instinct is in him because of how he was raised. Please don’t beat himself up about that. He says he tries to tell himself that even if he can’t stay in one place, at least he can do some good while he’s there, and she says, he does. He has. He also protected Isaiah, and because he did, Isaiah is able to be here to help save his sister. He says he’s so grateful for that, but in the process, he left Elizabeth and his son behind.

Sasha says, Holly is making this about herself, but Holly says she wants Sasha to know that coming clean was for her sake. Despite her failings, she wants to provide for Sasha. Sasha says, she can provide for herself just fine, and Holly tells her, as they say, tout ce qui te rend heureux, whatever makes you happy. Sasha wonders how Holly knows she couldn’t be a mother when she never tried, and Holly says she could have tried grinding out an existence, but she would have been an unhappy mother. Sasha says, at least she would have been there, and Holly says she’s here now. She just pulled off the biggest job of her career and she did it for Sasha. She’s in a position to make sure Sasha is set for life.

Cody says he’s sure Mac has better things to do, but Mac says, it’s a tough break and one they didn’t see coming. Cody says he’d been keeping honest, working at being worthy of Sasha, being a better guy. Mac says, he still is, and Cody laughs. He says he’s in jail, and Mac says, he’ll get past it, but it will take time. Cody says, it won’t change the fact that he and Sasha are cousins. He has to leave Port Charles.

Nina says, Willow should have followed her instincts and told Michael. She needs to be honest. Willow says, Nina told her that she’d just be easing her guilt at his expense. She’s committed to Michael and their family. She had a harmless crush on Drew, and barely anything happened. Nina says, they kissed, and she needs to tell Michael before someone else does. Willow says, only a couple of people know, and she trusts them both, but Nina says, her circle of trust isn’t as tight as she thinks.

Drew asks, what’s going on? and Tracy says, it’s not as exciting as his evening. He says he broke up a fight in a bar, and Ned says he was hoping to discuss the future, but Drew says, it’s not a good time. Ned says, no time like the present. He thinks Drew should be more supportive of the family, so from now on, Drew will do exactly as he says. Drew says, why? and Ned shows him the video. Drew rubs his forehead like he has a headache, and Tracy says, so he wasn’t breaking up a fight. He was an active participant. Drew asks if Ned thinks it’s enough for blackmail, and Ned says, Drew kissed his nephew’s wife while he was sleeping with her mother and he’s running for congress. He’s got to hand it to Drew – time management. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!) Drew says, and Cody wouldn’t lie, but Tracy says she’d take Cody’s word over his any day. (Me too.) Drew says he’ll handle Cody, but Ned asks how he plans to handle James West? Does he plan to tarnish James’s reputation or punch him out like Cody?

Laura tells Lucky that most teenagers who meet and fell in love rarely end up being the people they share their lives with. People grow up and change. Lucky says, especially when one of you goes down a dark hole, and Laura says, the important thing is, he climbed back out of it. Everyone is so happy he’s here. He says he needed to hear that, and they hug. He says, no matter where he goes, home is where she is, and she says she needed to hear that. She loves having him here and she’s not the only one. Elizabeth comes back and says she’s going to wait with them. Isaiah comes out and Laura asks, how’s Lulu? He looks grim, but you know how they do.

Cody flashes back to dancing with Sasha, and then Sasha telling him that they’re first cousins. Mac says, no judgement, but he’d hate for Cody to go. They just started to figure things out. Cody says, it’s too hard to be near Sasha without being able to be with her, but Mac says, it won’t make a difference. It’s not easier somewhere else. He speaks from personal experience. Sasha didn’t make him a better man. She may be the reason, but he did the work. It would be a shame to give up now.

Holly says she took the biggest risk of her life, and it paid off. She’ll never have to work again. Sasha says she’s happy for Holly, and Holly says, she’s going to liquidate her share of the proceeds, then Sasha can do and be whatever she wants. Let her do that for her. Sasha says, no thanks. Holly is telling her that this is her last job, but Sasha knows it won’t be. There will be another score and another after that, because she loves the high of living on the edge. Telling lies, using people, and getting away with it. That’s just who she is. Sasha walks out.

Nina says, Cody was drunk, but convincing, and Willow wonders how he knew. Sasha was the only one who saw them, and the other time, they were alone. She must have told Cody. (Seriously. She’s a teacher and can’t do the math?)  Nina says, that’s why Willow needs to tell Michael. He needs to hear it from her before he hears it from someone else. Willow says she could lose everything, but Nina tells her, be strong. They’ll go together, but they need to go now. They’re running out of time.

Ned says, it’s simple. Unless Drew wants Michael to know about his involvement with Michael’s wife, Drew will side with him on every vote. Tracy says, starting with confirming Ned as CEO, and Drew asks if they think he’d go along with that. Ned says, if he wants to be congressman, and Tracy says, and Willow will stay the dutiful wife, and Michael will be none the wiser. Ned says, deal? when Michael comes in with Wiley. He asks, what’s wrong?

Isaiah says, the surgery went well, and Lulu is in recovery. They have to wait and see if her body accepts the transplant, but he’s more optimistic about her prognosis than he was earlier. Lucas hugs him, and Laura says, Lulu has a second chance because of Isaiah and Lucky. Lucky says, they got through together.

Sam says, Dante doesn’t have to propose to thank her for being Lulu’s donor or prove that he loves her too, but Dante says he’d like to marry her because he wants to grow old together. Because he loves their life and loves their family and loves her. She says she loves him too, and he says, good, because they’ve been dancing around this for a while and he’s tired of dancing. But if she’s not ready, he’ll keep dancing. She says she’s ready and tells him to put a ring on it. He does and they kiss. (They’re going to kill her off, aren’t they?)

Mac says, Cody’s family is here – him, Felicia, Maxie and her kids. Cody says, and Robert and Sasha, and Mac says, running isn’t going to make them less related. James will be heartbroken. Cody says, he’s playing dirty, and Mac says he’s not above stooping low. Stick around a while. Cody says he can do that, and Mac says he’ll find Cody a bed. He doesn’t want to go back to the Q’s tonight. Cody says he’s not grounded? and Mac says, they’ll talk in the morning. They walk out together.

Sasha goes to the Brown Dog Bar and the bartender asks if anyone is joining her. She says, not tonight, and orders, vodka, rocks. (Whoa. That sounds like she’s been here before with someone, and the bartender remembers her.) She flashes back to Cody saying he knows it’s true because he spent his life reaching for things he couldn’t have. So of course (🍷) when he finds the best thing, it turns out he can never have it.

Michael says, Drew’s been in a fight? and Drew says, a misunderstanding with a constituent. Michale says, it feels like he walked in on something, and Ned says, they were discussing how the importance of endorsements, the right ones, can make or break a candidate. Drew says, there’s something he needs to tell Michael, and Ned says, think carefully… Willow and Nina walk in, and Willow says she needs to speak to Michael, but Michael says he wants to hear what Drew has to say first. Drew says he’s sorry, and Michael says, for what? Drew says, last 4th of July, he kissed Michael’s wife. They didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. Michael asks Willow to tell him that Drew is lying, and Willow says, it didn’t mean anything. She starts to cry and says, please believe she loves him. Michael walks out, and Nina holds Willow, looking at Drew behind her back.

Tomorrow, Maxie says, it looks like Cody is going as someone who made a big mistake last night; Sasha says, neither one of them planned on this happening; and Willow asks why someone would come here.

🧴 But You Already Knew This…

It was just for today anyway.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-temporarily-recasts-michael-again

🏥 Time Of Death…

Either it’s Sam and not Lulu or they threw us a helluva red herring.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-spoilers-week-october-28-2024-time-of-death-548

🗽 Not Taking the A Train…

Jessel said her friend group was a Monet – fabulous from afar, but close up, they were a total mess. Welcome to the Clueless version of RHONY, and also the theme of Jessel’s 41st birthday party. I’m actually on board with this, since I’m a fan of Clueless and all its fashion statements. Sai went plant shopping for her new garden, since she thought the prices at Whole Foods were getting out of hand. Her husband asked if the plants were for food or to take pretty pictures of, which is kind of sad. She said, both, but still. Live your life instead of taking pictures of it. Sai also decided that her mom’s ashes had been in her closet long enough and was going to plant them along with a tree. It was sad when she talked about how this person she’d known and loved her whole life had been reduced to a bag of ashes. This got me on a train of thought about the body really just being a container for love and not the love itself. It reminded me of when my father passed away. I felt that way about the house I grew up in. Once the love (i.e. my father) was gone, it was only an empty container. Hey, I have my moments of depth. Although not usually during a Housewives episode.

Ubah and Racquel discussed the dust-up Ubah had last week with Brynn. Ubah said, Brynn was telling her on the side to watch her behavior, so she wasn’t painted like an angry Black woman. In Racquel’s interview, she said, it was confusing, since Brynn was triggering Ubah into being painted like an angry Black woman. She apologized later on Watch What Happens Live for this remark, but I didn’t understand why. I thought she was spot on. They also talked about how appreciative they were of the freedoms they enjoyed in the USA, which made me appreciate where these women came from and the journey they took to get where they are. Jenna got a job as Editor-and-Chief at large with online fashion magazine Coveteur. During her first roundtable discussion with the staff, one topic was women going to Turkey for eyebrow transplants. Seriously? This is where we’re at?

To prove her ever-growing maturity, Brynn talked smack about Ubah behind her back, saying grown women living in NYC don’t act like that. She also called Sai a miserable troll that lives under the Brooklyn bridge. End of story. Ubah told Raquel that whatever Brynn had against her, she was having it alone, but Racquel suggested she let it out. If she kept it to herself, she’d be stewing and brewing. Erin was deep in the stew and brew, staying annoyed at Jenna for basically not paying enough attention to her. But of course, telling everyone but Jenna. Breaking out the violins.

Here’s the whole deal:

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

In keeping with my tradition of being late to the party, I’ve also started watching Stranger Things. Everybody and their mother tried to get me to watch it forever ago, but I was busy watching other things. I finally caved when I just had to know what those flower-headed things were all about.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for just about everything.

My favorite first. I can’t count the ways I love this show. The acting is amazing, the special effects are creepy AF, and the story is unique. One of my favorite horror/sci-fi sub genres is the isolated town people can’t leave where something creepy is going on.

I was caught up, but now have to watch last Sunday’s episode. Another show with superb acting and Colin Ferrell is remarkable. I’d honestly expected it to be more comic bookish, but it’s more film noir.

https://www.inverse.com/the-penguin-episode-6-release-date-start-time-trailer-plot

Same deal. Caught up and now behind again. The deaths of both Isabelle and Genet in episode 4 surprised me. Genet milked her death for all it was worth, but Isabelle’s was a bit of a trip to the cornfield. No judgement, but when horror turns to corny, it makes me break out in eyerolls.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season2-episode5-recap-spoilers/

https://winteriscoming.net/review-daryl-dixon-fights-for-laurent-s-future-in-the-penultimate-episode-of-his-walking-dead-show-01jb12561ext

https://screenrant.com/the-walking-dead-genet-villain-death-disappointing/

This show is absolutely crazy. In a good way. Without giving it away here, let’s just say they did an entire 180 last week. I was going, wait… what? through the entire two episodes. They’ve kept the viewers guessing from the jump, but this was insane. I’m thinking, Emmys all around. I’ll bet Nicholas Chavez is glad he left GH. And we all know how much I love GH, but whoever is guiding his career path makes good moves. I did have to wonder though. Why would detectives wear white to investigate a grisly murder scene?

https://screenrant.com/grotesquerie-episodes-8-9-recap-most-shocking-reveals/

💣 Not a Very, Very Fine House…

I’ve been watching this a little bit and I don’t hate it.

https://ew.com/richard-hatch-slams-messy-house-of-villains-costars-after-episode-4-elimination-8730199

🐉 Thrones For Dummies…

I always think, if it needs to be explained, should I be watching it? TBH, I don’t think there will ever be another Game of Thrones. Although I wish we could go back and redo the ending. <sigh>

https://ew.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-beginners-guide-game-of-thrones-spinoff-8695634

🎄 When Halloween Is Christmas…

This is a great article on another perspective of the holiday.

https://www.them.us/story/halloween-gay-christmas-lgbtq-history

🦛 When Is a Hippo Not a Hippo…

She’s channeling her inner Moo Deng.

https://people.com/woman-transforms-viral-baby-pygmy-hippo-moo-deng-halloween-costume-photos-8734607

🎃 More Couples’ Costumes…

The corn dog. I love it.

https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/g4897/costumes-with-dog/

🐕 Safety First…

While it’s fun to get them involved, above all, keep them safe.

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/halloween-pet-safety

👻 All the Spirits Stirring…

Join me tomorrow for soap and something Salty. Until then, stay safe, stay rethinking your pet’s Halloween costume if it causes them anxiety, and stay not running from your problems. It’s not easier somewhere else.

October 21, 2024 – Lucky Makes Lulu’s Odds Better, One More Casualty, New Guy In Town, Disappearing Chef On Deck, Weekend Watch, Fatal Beauty, Back In the Day & Double

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Terry says, the transplant team found a potential complication, and Laura says, please tell her that they’re still planning on doing the surgery. Elizabeth and Lucky join them, and Laura tells them that there’s a been a complication. Terry suggests they go to her office since it’s more private.

Dante goes to the stables, and says he was going to come see Cody earlier, but then he got Cody’s message. Cody hands him a beer and asks if it’s about Lulu, but Dante says, it’s about Sam.

In the solarium, Sam says, she wanted to talk to Drew, but she’s expecting someone else. He asks, who? when Jason walks in.

Holly tells Robert that she has a sensitive matter to talk to him about. It could change things completely. She’s not sure how to put it in words, and he says, how about, Robert you have daughter? She asks who told him and he says, Sasha just left. She filled him in on the more colorful aspect of her history. They did a DNA test and it’s in the Bureau lab for verification. Does she want to tell him how all of this happened? (I suspect the usual way.)

In the nook, Maxie says, Sasha can tell her anything, and Sasha says, her mother told Maxie. Maxie says, Holly paid a visit to her and her mother, and Sasha says she can’t believe her mother dragged them into her ridiculous lie. Maxie says, what if she’s not lying?

Tracy sees Violet’s suitcase in the foyer and hears Violet in the living room with Brook and Chase. She goes in, and Brook says, they were having a snack before Violet and Chase head to the airport. Violet says, they were really waiting for Tracy. She doesn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

Laura asks, what complication? and Terry says, Lulu has a condition called portal vein thrombosis. It makes the chances of success exponentially more difficult.

Isaiah tells Elizabeth that he just came from PT and he’s getting stronger. Lucas joins them and says, just the two people he’s looking for.

Chase says, the flight’s been delayed, and Tracy suggests they have a final tea party. She asks Brook and Chase to go tell Yuri to make arrangements, and they leave. Tracy says, Violet’s dad is thrilled with his new job and their new house sounds lovely. Violet says she’ll be glad to see her daddy and the new house, but sad to leave this one and them. She’ll miss them so much. Tracy touches Violet’s face.

Holly says she didn’t set out to deceive Robert. She thought he’d been killed in a boat explosion. Robert says, the explosion Faison set to eliminate him and Anna, and Holly says, the only thing that got her out of bed in the morning was their baby. She couldn’t risk one of his enemies finding out, so she went into hiding. She gave birth and nobody in Port Charles knew. Robert says, she told people Sasha’s father was dead, and she says, as far as she knew, it was the truth. She wanted to give Sasha the best shot at life, so she left Sasha with her mother and made a living so she could send money back. He says, by running cons, and she says, that’s what she does best.

Sasha says, there’s no way her mother is telling the truth that Robert is her father, and Maxie asks if she’s sure. Sasha says, her mother wants her to cut ties with her relationships in Port Charles, so she’s free to join her on her cons with nothing to hold her back. Maxie asks, why would she lie to accomplish that? and Sasha says, one lie and her life falls apart. Holly is selfish, self-absorbed, and her feelings are all that matters. Maxie says, no child should feel that way about their mother, but she doesn’t understand. Why lie about something like this?

Cody says, Lulu has a donor and it’s Sam? and Dante says, Sam’s amazing. It’s one of the reasons why he loves her so much. She’s fearless and does anything for the people she cares about, but he feels guilty spending every waking hour at the hospital with Lulu. Sam has her own things going on with her family, and he hasn’t been there for her. He knows she understands about him being AWOL, but he’s asking the woman he loves to make a huge sacrifice for… Cody says, the other woman he loves.

Jason asks if Sam is okay, and she says she’s fine, but Lulu’s liver is failing. Jason says he was hoping Lucky could be her donor, and Sam says, they all were. Good news though. A donor has been found – it’s me.

Laura says she thought Lulu had been cleared, and Terry says, she was, but the pre-surgery test discovered the portal vein thrombosis. It’s a blood clot in the vein that delivers blood to the liver. The surgeon doing the transplant will have to remove the clot. Laura says, one more step, and Terry says, the odds of success have dropped drastically. Lucky says, just when they have hope, it’s yanked away, and Laura says, if they cancel the surgery, Lulu has zero chance of survival. If they do the surgery, she has a slim chance of survival. She only sees one option. Lucky agrees and says, they have to try. Terry says she wants to make sure she’s being clear. At this point, they believe the surgery will be in vain and in all likelihood, not save Lulu.

Holly says she spent years grieving Robert, then found out he was alive. Robert says, she thought he was dead when she learned she was pregnant. He can’t fault her for that, but what about Ethan? She says, Ribert was devastated when she told him that Ethan was Luke’s, and he says, why not tell him that they had a daughter then? She says she was so close so many times. She couldn’t hurt him more. She loved him too much. He says, she loved him, but didn’t have enough faith in him to trust him with the truth.

Tracy says she’ll miss Violet too, and Violet says, it’s weird to be happy and sad at the same time. Tracy says, a lot of life is like that. Think about the fun they’ll have the next time they see each other.

Lucas says, there’s something about the malfunction that he doesn’t understand, and Isaiah says, he noticed it was too quiet, and he realized the ventilator had powered down, but there was no initial alarm. Elizabeth says she can confirm that. When the second alarm kicked in, she ran to Lulu’s room, and Isaiah was manually resuscitating Lulu. Lucas says, if Isaiah hadn’t gone to see that it wasn’t working, by the time Elizabeth heard the second alarm, it might have been too late.

Lucas asks if Terry is saying they won’t perform the surgery, and Terry says, the donor will have to be informed of the new complication. If they decide they’d still like to do it, they’ll proceed and move forward as scheduled. She wants everyone to have the facts. She’s also talked to the surgeons and none of them has performed surgery under these circumstances, so that’s another factor that decreases their odds. Lucky says, what if he can make the odds better?

Violet says, this is the best tea party ever, and Brook suggests it because they’re using granny’s fancy china. She wasn’t even allowed to touch it when she was young. Tracy says, Brook didn’t appreciate what Violet does. She was talking to Violet’s grandfather Gregory before he passed away, and he said, what a special young lady she is, and they agreed she only deserved special things. That gives her an idea. She calls Yuri in, and says, Violet is leaving them to live with her father in Seattle. Yuri says he’s going to miss Violet very much, and Violet thanks him for helping her and playing hide and seek. He says, her ability to fit in tight spaces is impressive, and Violet says, so is his ability to find her. They hug, and he says he’s going to miss her too. Tracy says, when they’re done, she’d like Yuri to pack up the tea set and send it to Violet’s new address. It will get more use there and Tracy’s mother would want it to be enjoyed. Violet thanks her and says she loves it so much. There’s only one problem. If she has all the teacups, how can they have a tea party on a video call? Tracy has to keep one for herself. Tracy says, Violet is absolutely right, and she loves it.

Lucas says, a dual malfunction, and Elizabeth says, it’s been bothering her. Lucky approaches them and says he needs to talk to Isaiah. Isaiah says, of course (🍷), and they step away. Elizabeth tells Lucas that it looked like Lucky got bad news, and they look at Lulu’s chart on the computer. Elizabeth says, oh, God.  

Dante tells Cody that he loves Lulu, but not in the way Cody means. She’s Rocco’s mother and he’ll always love her, but Sam is the woman he wants to be with. Cody asks if Dante is trying to convince him or himself. He doesn’t know Lulu, but he knows Dante and Rocco, so he has a good sense of who she was. She sounds incredible. Dante says, she’s amazing, but she’s his past. Sam is his here and now, his present and future. She’s the woman he’s in love with and one of the reasons is this amazing thing she’s doing for Lulu.

Sam says, the surgery is tomorrow, and she’ll be in the hospital for about a week. She’s hoping Scout and Danny can stay with Drew at the Quartermaines. Drew says, of course (🍷). Monica loves them and Tracy will be annoyed. Everybody wins. Sam says she knows Drew is dealing with the campaign, but she’s hoping he can spend as much time as possible with Scout. Drew says, happily, and Jason says, she has nothing to worry about. Sam tells Drew not to fall for those puppy dog eyes. They’re his kryptonite. And Jason, no bikes. Stay strong. Jason says he will, and Drew says him too. Jason says, they’ll do what she’s asking, and she thanks them.

In the stairwell, Lucky tells Isaiah that Dr. Randolph thinks Lulu’s odds are much smaller, and Isaiah agrees. Lucky says, her odds might improve if she has a surgeon who’s had experience with portal vein thrombosis. Does he know anyone? Isaiah says, a few, but there’s not enough time to reach out, have them come to Port Charles, and do the surgery. Lucky asks if Isaiah has ever done a transplant on someone with that condition.

Maxie says she’s heard stories about the adventures of Holly, Anna, and Luke, and Holly has a good side. Sasha says, all Maxie knows is what she knows from Holly, and Maxie says, Holly did save Anna, Jason, and Lucky from a dangerous situation in Africa, but Sasha says she’s sure there was something in it for her. Her mother never helps someone out of the goodness of her heart. Maxie wonders if she can’t be both a con artist and also sincere, but Sasha says, her mother lied to her for her entire life, saying her father was dead. She’s lying now. Maxie wonders why she would lie about something that can so easily be proven.  

Holly says, the longer it went on, the thicker the lie became. She knew he’d be angry because of how angry he was at Anna hiding Robin from him. She was too cowardly to tell him. He asks what she was afraid of, and she says, that he’d hate her. He says, she had to know the day would come. Secrets don’t last forever. Holly says, it could have, were it not for Cody. She and Sasha had their ups and downs, mostly downs, but she loves their daughter too much to sit back and watch her fall in love with her cousin. Even she has her limits. Robert says, had she not found out Cody and Sasha were dating, she wouldn’t have told him? and she says, had her hand not been forced, she probably would have kept the secret forever. And the way he’s looking at her is precisely why.

Robert says he hasn’t approved of a lot of things Holly has done, but he’s never known her to be heartless. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s so sorry, and he says, when the DNA results come back and Sasha finds out the truth… Holly says, Sasha is going to hate her more for losing the man she loves. Robert will be the only person she has to lean on. So look after their daughter. She leaves.

Maxie tells Sasha, family stuff can be complicated, especially with parents. We all make mistakes. She has. Sasha says, so has she. Starting with how she conned Nina into thinking she was her daughter. Maxie says she doesn’t want to make Sasha feel worse, but she wishes she’d heard that Holly was Sasha’s mom from Sasha. She kept a huge secret. Sasha says she’s sorry. She didn’t deliberately hide it from Maxie or anyone. She spent most of her life ignoring the fact she has a mom, and when you spend so much time hiding part of yourself, it’s hard to open up. Maxie says she gets that, and Sasha says, Cody, Brando, and of course (🍷) Liam all showed her that she could be a good person in spite of Holly. Holly made sure she didn’t have a normal childhood or stable parents and she’s not going to let Holly take Cody away from her.

Doc finds Laura in the chapel, and she says, today has been awful. He says, she’s had to be strong for Lulu, Lucky, and everyone. Now it’s her turn to talk, cry, scream, throw things… Whatever she needs, he’s here. Laura says, there will not be any of that. She believes Lulu is fighting to get back, so she’s going to be strong too. He asks if Sam is going to go through with it, but she says she doesn’t know yet. She guesses she’ll understand if Sam doesn’t want to go through with it, but everything in her is praying she will.

Isaiah says, don’t go there, but Lucky says, just answer the question. Isaiah says, yes, and Lucky asks if the patient survived. Isaiah says, they did, and Lucky says, then what’s the problem? Isaiah says he never told Lucky how he ended up in Africa. It was another surgery, a different one. There were complications and he’d promised the family it would be okay, but it wasn’t. He’ll never forget the devastated looks as he broke the news. It was the worst day of his life. That’s why he went to Africa, to do basic medicine. To help people who could be helped and not make promises that can’t be kept. He’s sorry. He can’t save Lucky’s sister. Lucky says he’s not asking Isaiah to save her, but just to give it a try.

Chase says, they’re all packed along with a long list of instructions from Tracy. Violet asks if they can stop somewhere first. She wants to visit her grandpa’s bench one last time. Chase says he thinks that’s a great idea, and Violet tells Chase that Gregory said he was always with her. She’s lucky. Chase is the best uncle ever. They hug, and he says he loves her. She says she loves him too, and Brook says, Chase told her that Violet wants to leave Bella with them. Violet says, it’s for her new baby cousin. She’s so lucky because she’ll have Brook and Chase as her mom and dad. Brook says, she? and Violet says she wants them to have a girl, since they’re good at taking care of her. Brook says, she’s got to visit when the baby comes, since Violet taught her how to be a mom. Violet asks if she can tell Brook a secret. She’s going to miss the scarecrow Brook the most. They hug.  

Drew says, it’s remarkable what Sam is doing for Lulu, and Sam says, her surgery is the easy part. Drew says, Lulu would have no chance without Sam, and Jason thanks her for doing it. Sam says she’s glad to be able to help and asks if Jason would mind spending some quality time with Danny at the Quartermaines. Jason says he absolutely will, and she says she has to say goodbye to the kids and find Dante. She thanks them and leaves.

Dante thanks Cody for keeping him honest. Sam is bringing the kids to the Quartermaine house, and he asks if Cody can take them on a trail ride and keep an eye on them. Cody says, of course (🍷). Everything will be okay. Dante says he knows, and leaves.  

Elizabeth says she loves what she does, but wishes she didn’t understand how Lulu got worse, and Lucas says him too. The numbers don’t lie. Elizabeth says, when it’s somebody you love, you literally trick yourself into believing they’ll defy the odds. Lucas says, if Lulu survives, she’ll still be in a coma. The transplant will let her avoid liver failure, but her quality of life won’t change. He thinks they need to be honest with Laura and Lucky. Elizabeth says she knows he means well, but does he want to be the one to tell them to give up on Lulu?  

Laura says, whatever Sam decides, she’ll be at Lulu’s side until the end, God forbid. So will Lucky. Doc says, Lulu is resilient, and Laura has done everything to give her a fighting chance. Getting Nikolas tested, flying across the world to find Lucky, and she never stopped looking for a donor. She says she’d do again tomorrow, and he says, she’s never given up hope that Lulu will survive. She says, don’t make her a hero. She’s just Lulu’s mom.

Lucky says he’s not asking Isaiah to make any promises. If he gives Lulu a fighting chance, he’ll take care of the rest. Isaiah says, it will take a miracle, and Lucky asks if Isaiah thinks it’s hopeless, just say it. If he’s just scared, please, they need him.

Brook tells Violet to call when she gets to the airport, on the plane before they take off, and when they land, so she knows Violet got there safely. Chase says, they’ll be fine. This is it. We’re all crying, and Brook tells Violet to be good for her Uncle Chase. She loves Violet all the way to the moon… Violet says, and back. They hug, and Tracy says, Violet is a very special young lady, and she’s blessed to have gotten to know her so well. They hug, and Violet says she knows this is Monica’s house because Alan gave it to her, but Tracy has made it feel like home. Tracy asks, who told her to say that? and Violet says, nobody. They hug, and Tracy says, Violet needs to get going. She loves her. Chase says, see them in a few days, and he and Violet go to the door. Violet looks back and Tracy waves. They leave, and Brook says, she’s going to miss Violet so much. Tracy says her too, and they hug. Outside, Chase says, ready? and Violet says, ready.

Holly looks at a diamond and puts it back in the bag. She makes a call and says, this is Holly Sutton. I believe we have some business to discuss, Mr. Corinthos.

Robert flashes back to when he and Holly were babies, and Holly says, they can get a divorce right away, but Robert says, the rules say, she has to stay in America for two years or until a child is born. Immigration is watching them.  

Maxie says she’s got get home, and Sasha says she’s sorry for venting. Maxie says she’s Sasha’s friend and Sasha can come to her about anything. Sasha says, there’s no chance that Holly is telling the truth about Robert being her father.

Elizabeth says, Lucas can act like a doctor and speak in medical terms or be there for Lucky as someone who loves Lulu and is holding on and hoping with them. Lucas says he has no idea what to do, but she says, the answer is obvious. He asks, what is it? and she says, a Spencer never gives up. He says, stubborn comes to mind, and she says, it’s not a bad trait right about now. He says, she’s right about everything. He’s not going to stop fighting. It’s what Lulu would want and what she’d do for him if the situations were reversed.

Doc says he wishes he could bear the weight for Laura, and she says, he’s done so much. He’s her rock and keeps her going. He says he always will, and she says she doesn’t want to be away too long. Isaiah and Lucky come into the chapel, and Lucky says he found a surgeon. One that can hopefully save Lulu.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, it’s time for Marshall to show the world what he can do; Nina says, Ava is interested in Ric; and Jordan hopes Isaiah has one more miracle left in him.

💐 More Collateral Writing Damage…

What a shame. Her scenes with Tracy were perfection and they’re losing the best child actor they’ve ever had.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jophielle-love-exits-general-hospital

🏥 That’s Jens, Not Jenz…

One of life’s little ironies.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-casts-jens-austin-astrup-as-kai

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Daisy tells Gary that he’s not in her corner. If he was, she’d always be there for his department, but he’s not. He says he never intended to fight, but she says, that’s not reality. She tells him that looking after her girls is her main priority, and in her interview, she says, this is what Gary does. He’s remorseful and has guilt, then gives a half-assed apology. She forgives him and they move on. It’s a vicious cycle and they never move forward. That’s why they pay for therapy. To break cycles. Daisy tells everyone that last season, they took turns paying, and it worked out well. Everyone is cool with that except Cloyce who says he’s not buying everybody five drinks. Daisy says, they made $1400 today, and that’s how they do things. In Gary’s interview, he says, the chef is the highest paid, and Cloyce continues to whine. He wants to invest his drinking money, not make everyone happy. Daisy toasts to a great summer.

They go back to the boat, where Captain Glenn snoozes through a video about Greece, and in Danni’s interview, she says, the vibe deteriorating rapidly. Where is the party? In Cloyce’s interview, he says, the situation sucks. The best way for him to wind down is to cook, so he goes to the galley. In his interview, he says, it reminds him of school. He got straight As and had a few friends, but a kid he never met said he was an a-hole. From what I’ve seen, they might not have been wrong. He says he has no problem speaking up for himself, but at the same time he’s sensitive and feels like an outsider. Danni talks about Anthony, and Gary goes hunting for oysters in the galley. He and Cloyce open a bottle of wine and finish it. They go outside for a smoke, and Keith joins them. In his interview, Cloyce says, he didn’t sign up to make friends, but there are some cool people he’s getting to know better. Oysters and wine, baby.

5 hours to charter. Captain Glenn calls for the preference sheet meeting and says, charter two is lovely ladies. Amy is a realtor from Texas, coming with her two daughters and some close friends for her 60th birthday. Cloyce reads that guest Stephanie is gluten free, and Daisy reads that they want a boho island dinner with paella. Gary says, they want a floating lounge oasis, and Daisy says, an under the sea night with surf and turf, along with a professional DJ afterward. The captain says, they’re going near Es Vedra, and mermaids on the island go out to the boats. Gary is impressed that Captain Glenn knows mermaids, and the captain says they can hire some. In his interview, the captain says, there are weird legends that mermaids lured seamen to their peril. Aliens were involved. A producer asks if he believes in that, and he says, it’s just an island to him but he thinks it’s cool. Daisy calls the provider about the mermaids, while the stews clean the cabins. Danni says she was scared Diane was going be a bitch, and Diana says she’s glad none of them are bitches. Daisy asks who’s done dinner service, and both Danni and Diana have. She asks who’d like to and Diana says she would. In Danni’s interview, she says, going downstairs to do cabins is literal punishment and incredibly annoying. In Diana’s interview, she says, Danni is like, oh poor me. Get over it. Chill. In Daisy’s interview, she says, they’ll always have to do cabins, and tells the girls, it doesn’t matter. They’re going to get it equally.

1 hour to charter. Gary teaches Emma and Keith how to drive the tender. In his interview, he says he’s the only person who can drive the tender, and unfortunately, the only person who can crash it. He thinks it’s important for everyone that they learn. Emma says, it’s starting to piss her off that she can’t do it properly, and in her interview, she says, it pisses her off when she can’t learn things right away. She’s had a lot of jobs and she’s just hoping she wins the lottery. That would be ideal.

The guests are picked up in the tender and met with champagne and cool towels. Captain Glenn says, they’re excited to celebrate Amy’s 60th and welcomes them. He says, they have great things planned. Daisy shows them around, the guests change, and the sails go up. Things slide and several liquor bottles fly out of the cupboard and smash on the stairs.  

Diana insists the cabinet was closed, while primary Amy almost slides off the boat in her chair, but Gary blocks her. In Daisy’s interview, she says her aim for the season was being super zen about sailing. Now here we are – it’s a complete sh*tshow. The guests can’t see. Amy wonders if there are whales here, and one of her daughters says, no. Just a bunch of alcoholics on the coast. In Cloyce’s interview, he says he wants to prove he’s all about being a team player and contribute to hopefully a big tip at the end. Danni flirts with Keith, and in Keith’s interview, he says, obviously, he’s into Danni, but she likes to fish and has no shame whatsoever. Shame hurts. Shame is real. Danni is nervous that the boho tablescape is going to be tacky, and Daisy says, the tackier the better. In Danni’s interview, she says she loves anything artsy. She took art in school and her dad was like, what the f*** are you going to do with art when you get older? She takes pride in her tables. She looks for bohemian sh*t on the boat.

Davide takes photos of the guests, and the tender begins to bang against the side of the boat. Gary says, the tender slipped away, and asks how Emma tied the line. Guest Lily says, they’re losing the boat, and Gary says, they don’t need it anymore. Ha-ha! In Gary’s interview, he says, they can’t leave the tender banging the boat. It makes noise, and worst of all, it looks like sh*t. He shows Emma how to tie the knot. Danni tells Daisy that she’s nervous about her name being on tacky. She’s passionate about this and Daisy told her to do something that she’d never do. She starts to cry, and in Daisy’s interview, she says she’s confused. What the f***? She tells Danni that she doesn’t have to stress.

Daisy says, it’s too early in the season to freak out, and Danni says, Daisy told her it was tacky and it’s frustrating when she’s passionate about it. Daisy tells Danni to pretend she didn’t say it. She meant over the top. In Daisy’s interview, she says she meant it was visually popping. She can tell Danni cares, plus she’s also hypersensitive. She’ll have to watch her words. She tells Danni not to overthink what she says. The guests come out for dinner, Amy and her daughters wearing flower crowns. They think the table is cute and beautiful. Diana asks Cloyce if everyone is getting the same, and he says, yes. She says, which is? and he says, with cheese? This reminds me of the time my husband stopped by the grocery store after work. He was still dressed for work and a woman asked, you work here? He thought she said, you were here? and he told her, yes, I was here, and they circled that drain for a while.

Lunch is served and it’s a glorious parade of seafood porn starring paella. Guest Teresa complains about her boobs getting bigger, which every female has said never. Cloyce says, so far, he’s doing pretty good, and Daisy tells Emma to have Cloyce plate the dessert. Emma says, it needs to be in the oven for 8 minutes, and tells Cloyce to put the pudding in the oven. Daisy checks on where the dessert is at, and there’s some confusion between her and Cloyce as to what the word clear means. In Cloyce’s interview, he says, deckhands should be removed from the scenario, and Daisy says she thinks they’re going to fight. In her interview, she asks where he thought the big plates came from. It also goes both ways. He has a radio. Ask her. Emma tells Daisy that she told him, and dessert is served. Amy says, it’s Southern comfort food and the best bread pudding she’s ever had. Daisy tells Captain Glenn what happened, and he tells her to let him know if there’s another incident. He doesn’t want to damage Cloyce’s confidence. Daisy talks to Gary and says, Cloyce shouldn’t throw her under the bus. She’s on his side. We flash back to Daisy telling Cloyce that a guest’s steak was too well done and Cloyce saying, that’s because it sat. In her interview, Daisy says, back the f*** off. F***ing own it. She doesn’t think she’ll be taking this sh*t. She tells Gary, everyone has to take responsibility for their own sh*t.

The guests go to bed, and Cloyce says, that’s it for him. In Danni’s interview, she says she keeps pursuing Keith. When they have a good moment, it’s exciting. He doesn’t spill all his secrets, so it’s hot. Gary says, it’s a great start to the season, and Cloyce says, there’s something about Daisy. In Gary’s interview, he says he never met anyone like Cloyce. He’s 22 and wears cufflinks. Daisy would walk all over him. He asks if Cloyce is playing hard to get, and Cloyce says he is hard to get. While breakfast begins, Gary tells Captain Glenn that he’s going to scout where to set up the Floatopia. He tells the deckhands to inflate everything inflatable and tie them all together. Davide tries to sit on one, but Emma says, it’s part of a game. He finds out he’s sitting on a cornhole target which somehow seems fitting.  Cloyce says he’d like to go to the Floatopia, and Daisy is like, what about lunch? He tells her that the salad is prepped and he’s putting chicken and salmon in the fridge for a light lunch. On deck, Amy thinks the red and yellow flag the Perceval flies is a pirate flag because of the colors. I don’t know about you, but I usually associate pirates with a black flag that has a skull and crossbones on it. They google it and find out it’s Spanish. In Gary’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Emma is taking this seriously enough, and fixes her inferior inflatables. Say that three times real fast.

Emma says she thought she was doing the right thing and doesn’t think Gary is being fair snapping at her. Cloyce says he’s stoked to offer assistance to the deck team and getting some Spanish sunshine is quite lovely. The guests are taken to whatever this floatie thing is🧐, and they lounge, snorkel, and use the wave runners. In Gary’s interview, he says, Cloyce is the chef, but he’s meant to be prepping. What is he making? French fries and chicken nuggets? In Diana’s interview, she says she’s trying to do her job, and Cloyce is trying to steal her job. His job is to be in the galley.

Wandering around the boat, Captain Glenn says he doesn’t see much prep in the galley. He looks for Cloyce, but can’t find him. Gary radios the boat for sun cream and the captain says he’ll meet Gary at the swim platform. He wonders where the chef is, and Gary says, he’s with them. Captain Glenn says, he’s got to come back in time to prep. Bring him back now. In the captain’s interview, he says, the chef is here for a purpose. He’s not a guest. He likes strong people around him who he can trust, and he’s starting to worry. What is he thinking? We see Cloyce wave running with the guests, and Captain Glenn tells Gary, get him back here now.  

Next time, Captain Glenn says, the island is haunted by mermaids; Daisy says, alarm bells are going off in her head; and Diana thinks Danni is stupid. She could very well be right.

👀 One Thing Watched…

I usually watch this first since I can’t wait and From isn’t on until Sunday. Mind officially blown from the plot twist.

https://ew.com/grotesquerie-episode-7-reveal-niecy-nash-betts-ryan-murphy-8729002

🧟 It’s a Murphy World…

It seems like everything he touches turns to horror gold, and this looks no different. Whoever started the idea of getting stories from graphic novels, comics, and video games was a genius too. There’s a wealth of unexplored material out there.

https://www.them.us/story/ryan-murphy-the-beauty-graphic-novel-jeremy-pope-anthony-ramos-ashton-kutcher-evan-peters

https://www.cbr.com/ryan-murphy-evan-peters-horror-the-beauty/

https://ew.com/ryan-murphy-the-beauty-culmination-of-nip-tuck-ahs-exclusive-8729903

🐩 Old Hollywood Royalty…

Not Halloween themed, but close enough. I love old timey photos of pets.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g32375671/old-hollywood-pets/

🫧 Let the Cauldron Bubble…

Join me tomorrow for soap and snark in the City. Until then, stay safe, stay waiting a day before reacting to a rude email or text, and stay keeping in mind that secrets don’t last forever.

October 15, 2024 – A Donor Match Is Found For Lulu, Soap Suds, A New York Minute, Weekend Watching, Fresh From, WWDD, They’re Here & Moon

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

In the solarium, Drew talks to someone on the phone about contributions, when Willow walks in. She says she thought Michael would be here, and Drew says, he should be here any minute. She puts some keys on the table and starts to leave. He asks if they can’t even be in the same room, but she says she has a busy day. He says, they should talk, when Ned walks in. He asks if he’s interrupting something.

Sasha finds Cody in the nook and asks what he’s hiding. Is it a present? Is it something naughty? He says, Serenity is on the market, and she says, call a realtor. They do virtual tours now. He says, it’s on the market at $6 million.  

On the phone, Tracy tells someone at the school that she wants a roster of who witnessed Violet’s emotional distress, when Brook takes the phone out of her hand. She says, disregard that. No one is suing anyone. She hangs up and tells Tracy that they just put out a fire at Violet’s school, and now she wants to start another one? Going after a little boy isn’t going to help. Tracy says she’s going after his parents, and Olivia comes in. She asks, what’s the racket?  

Laura tells Lulu that she knows how hard it is, but try to hang on a little bit longer. She knows Lulu can do it.

Dante meets Sam at the batting cages, and she tells him that he needs to focus on practicing. The softball playoffs are coming up. Dante says he’s not in the mood, and she asks if he’s going to let those sons of bitches at The Invader take the pennant. He takes the bat from her.

On the phone, Elizabeth tells someone to send her the final report. She’ll be ready as soon as she gets it. Isaiah comes by, and she asks, how’s the knee? He says, better. He just came from PT and thought he’d check on Lucky. Is he getting prepped? She says she thought he’d heard. Lucky can’t be Lulu’s donor. They were all disappointed, especially Lucky. He says he’s sure Lucky took it hard, and Elizabeth says, it looks like she may still have a chance.

Martin asks Laura how Lulu is doing, and she says, they’ve both had better days, but she’s not giving up. Is that him? He says, don’t start. He’s taking his new look for a test drive. Does she want to stretch her legs and gab a bit? She says, sounds good.

Willow says, if they’d make sure Michael gets his keys, she’d appreciate it, and she leaves. Ned tells Drew that the lawyers successfully argued that Valentin’s shares be returned to the company, but it will be a couple of months before they’re returned. He and Michael can take care of the details if Drew trusts them to do it. They all want the same thing. Drew says, to keep the company in the family and secure its future, and Ned says, they’ll keep him apprised. Drew says he’d like to discuss it with Michael, but Ned asks if he doesn’t have better things to do. Drew says, like what?

Sasha says, it might seem like a big place, but that doesn’t mean Cody shouldn’t go after it. He says, it won’t just be for him, and she says she doesn’t know if she’s ready… but he says, not that yet. He wants to fix the place up and create a rescue, an animal sanctuary. He can invite the Scorpios to visit and teach James to ride on his own horse. As soon as he found out, he’s been dreaming about it every day. He always felt a connection to it. Nothing ever measures up to the possibility of going home. She says, then go for it. Whatever it takes. He’ll find a way to make it happen. He says, there’s no time. This might be his only chance. She asks how he would feel if he let it pass, and Cody says he has one idea. Does she think Tracy might lend him the money for a down payment?

Brook says she and Chase handled it, and Tracy says she’s afraid the school doesn’t have Violet’s best interests at heart. Their primary objective is to protect themselves. Violet’s well-being is secondary. She has to do what’s necessary since Finn isn’t here. They hear Ace cry on the monitor, and Tracy says she’ll take it. Olivia says she never asked Tracy to take care of Ace, and Brook says, she’s threatening to sue the parents of a 9-year-old. Olivia says, it’s kind of badass, but Brook says, don’t encourage her. She doesn’t understand that she’s just making everything worse.

Dante practices batting and Sam brings over some hot dogs. He thanks her for being so good to him, and she says, he takes care of everybody and deserves an afternoon off… But not a dry dog. She forgot the mustard.

Laura tells Martin that Lulu hasn’t worsened, but unfortunately, Lucky can’t be a donor. He says he’s sorry. He got tested, but he’s not a match. Is there anything else he can do? She says, explain the sudden transformation.

Elizabeth says she found out there’s another possible donor, but she’s waiting to get all the information before she tells the family. Isaiah says, that’s wise, and she says, after finding out lucky didn’t pass the second screening… He says he’s sorry her family is going through this, and she says, they tend to take donations for granted. He says, transplants aren’t possible without the extraordinary gift so someone can continue living, and she says, not everyone is willing to make that sacrifice, especially if they’re not related.

Sasha says she’s not sure Tracy will go for it, and Cody says, she’s right. It’s a lot of money to lend the guy who keeps her horses. It was a bad idea. She tells him that she said she’s not sure. Clearly, Tracy likes him. Tracy comes in and says, Ace woke up hangry. And the chocolate pudding cup he was given only insured his emotional pain. She asks if it can be switched with vanilla, and Sasha says she just bought some. She’ll get it. She leaves, and Tracy asks Cody, what’s the smirk for?

Olivia tells Brook that Violet needs all of them in her life. Tracy will never stop fighting for the people she cares about, and if Brook tells Tracy that she said that, she’ll deny it. Brook says, her secret is safe, but she wishes Tracy didn’t feel the need to take on this particular fight. Olivia says she thinks Tracy wants to do what she can for Violet because there’s nothing she can do for Lulu.

Dante says he needed this. It’s hard taking a leave of absence. Sam asks if he regrets it, but he says, not at all. The timing is perfect. He’s glad that her mom’s trial is over. She says, that makes two of us, and he says he ran into Dex at the station. Dex told him that they found the gun her mom threw in the river. Sonny was going to a meeting to confess in order to get her mom out, and after all these years of walking the tightrope between son and cop, there he was nearly putting his career on the line to stop him.

Elizabeth asks if Isaiah has heard from Lucky, but he says, Lucky hasn’t reached out. He assumes Lucky left town. Elizabeth says she hopes not, and he says, Lucky might need distance. She asks if that’s what he’d do, and he says he and Lucky understand each other. He admits he’s dipped when it got too real, and she says, sometimes it feels like the only solution is walking away. He says, there was a surgery that didn’t go as planned. They learn in med school that sometimes people die, but that doesn’t change the fact that he walked away. He ran away as far as he could. She says, refugee camps aren’t the easy way out, and he says, that didn’t change what happened or that he ran away, but he thinks Lucky is wrong this time. He thinks they need him to stay.

Martin says he needed a confidence boost after Lucy, and Laura says, when Lucy sees the new him, he might be in for a few more go arounds. He says, she already tried, but he’s been able to withstand her charms. He thought a new haircut and suit would go with the new him, as well as a new sound. He was tired of people asking him about fried chicken and has his talented vocal coach Miss Finch to thank. Laura says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she loved the old him too, and he says he’s sorry he wasn’t here when she was going through all this, but she says, he’s here now. All they can do is pray they find a donor before they’re out of time. He asks if she minds if he kisses his niece before he takes off, and she says, of course (🍷) not. They go back to Lulu’s room and find Cyrus there. He says, the poor girl was here all alone.

Sasha tells Tracy that Cody was telling her about an interesting idea, and Cody says he’s thinking of switching from oats to alfalfa. Tracy says she supports that decision, takes the pudding cup, and leaves. Cody says he clutched, but Sasha says, his instincts were right. He needs to show that he’s thought this through. Make a business plan and try again. He says, or scrap it. Tracy might think he was pretending to be her friend hoping for a payday. There was a time he would have, but not anymore. He has so much to lose now.

Ned tells Drew to let them take care of the details, when Michael walks in. He says, sorry he’s late. He asks if it’s about Valentin’s shares, and Ned says he was giving Drew a proposal regarding equally dividing the shares between the next generation of Quartermaines, including Leo and any children Brook might have. It puts ELQ back in the family’s hands and secures the future. Drew says, the kids are too young to vote. They’ll need proxies. Ned says he can represent them until they’re of age and ELQ belongs to the future Quartermaines, and Drew says, there’s no rush, but Ned says, the shares will need to be put in a blind trust. Drew asks, who would be the trustee? Him? Ned says, it stands to reason, but Drew says he’s not ready. Ned says he thinks with Drew’s record with the SEC, he’d like to get it done, and Drew says he’ll have to get back to Ned. Michael says, they’ll table it for now, and Ned says he thought the only way for them to get through this was together. So much for family unity. He leaves.

Brook tells Olivia that she’s trying to be understanding. Tracy is second guessing her decisions and she’s already doing that herself. Olivia says, Brook and Chase were thrown into the deep end of parenting. Don’t take no or we’ll see for an answer and don’t be ashamed to ask for help. They can’t do it alone. Ned comes in and says he should have known they’d betray him. Drew and Michale are trying to freeze him out again. Olivia suggests they continue outside, and they go into the foyer. Ned says he can’t believe he believed Michael’s crap about family unity, and she says, he’s her husband and she loves him, but she can’t do this right now.

Dante tells Sam that Anna was going to let Sonny confess, but Sonny didn’t have to because Martin came in with the news. Sonny clammed up, but he was on the verge of deciding between being a cop and a son. Sam says, it’s hard to think straight when one parent is in trouble, but he has so many people. With Lulu’s condition, it’s no wonder everything is blurry now. He says, the person he thinks it’s taken the most toll on… She says, Rocco, and he says, the only thing that matters is that he’s a good father. She says, he’s a great dad, and he says, is he? He made Rocco a promise he doesn’t think he can keep.

Laura says she thought Cyrus was going to notify her when he wanted to see Lulu, but Cyrus says he was visiting other patients. He expected to see her, but Lulu was alone. She thanks him for keeping Lulu company, and he says, they need to pray together that Lulu will soon be delivered from this terrible ordeal.

Elizabeth tells Isaiah that she doesn’t know if Lucky ran, but she thinks he’s disappointed that he couldn’t save his sister. She hopes he and Isaiah can connect. Lucky could use a friend like him. The desk computer chimes, and Elizabeth says, it’s a match. She knows who can save Lulu’s life.

Sasha says, Cody will have to ask someone else. Tracy isn’t the only person who could invest. He has to see it as an investment, not a handout. He says he’s not a guy people invest in. He knows how to turn on the charm, but that’s not him anymore. As much as he wants to, he’s not going back to his old ways. He promised James, no more lies. She says she’s not asking him to do what he doesn’t want to, but don’t give up on his dream.

Olivia says she’s doing everything to keep the family together, and Ned says, she doesn’t need his grousing and foolishness. He apologizes for adding to her list of worries. He’s in awe that she’s still standing. He’ll handle the problem on his own. He heads for the door, and she asks where he’s going. He says he thought she didn’t want to know, and leaves.

Michael asks what he walked in on, and Drew says, since he’s bowing out, Ned taking the opportunity to take control of ELQ by using the kids. Now it’s going to be a battle. Michael says, Ned will cool off eventually, but Drew says he doesn’t know about the leadership of ELQ. Michael is vital at Aurora, but he’s needed at ELQ. Michael says he’s focused on keeping the family unified, and Drew asks if Michael thinks Ned would promote unity or himself. He’s got an idea, but he needs Michael to make it work. He needs Michael to agree that when he wins the election, Michael will take over ELQ.

Willow finds Brook, who says she’s hiding out. Willow’s a teacher. Can she give Brook some advice? Willow says she’ll try, and Brook says, her grandmother believes that the school doesn’t have Violet’s best interests at heart, that the administration and teachers are just going to protect themselves. She wonders if Tracy is on to something. Willow says, that’s a cynical way of looking at it, but from the school’s perspective, she’s probably right.

Dante says, Rocco was upset that Lucky couldn’t be a donor, so he said he thought there would be another donor. He gave Rocco false hope. He made Rocco believe Lulu could fight through this. Sam says, that doesn’t mean she can’t or won’t, but Dante says, they both know the chances aren’t good. It feels like he lied when he needed to be honest. He couldn’t give Rocco the truth.  

Martin tells Cyrus that he’s got news about their mother, and they step outside. Cyrus asks, what’s wrong with their mother? but Martin says, nothing. She’s as healthy as a horse, but he doesn’t think Laura needs Cyrus hanging around. Cyrus says, he’s been there while Martin was off getting a makeover, and Martin says he didn’t know Cyrus was the only person allowed to change his image. He seems to remember a ponytail and expensive Italian suits. Cyrus says he’s given his life to God and is making almonds amends, and he’s not bothering Laura. Just the opposite. He’s giving her a greater gift than Martin could know.

Elizabeth goes into Lulu’s room and says, there’s something she needs to tell Laura. They may have found a match for Lulu.

Willow suggests a collaboration. Make a plan with the teachers, the school psychologist, and the principal or vice principal. Brook asks if it won’t be on Violet’s permanent record, but Willow says, elementary school permanent records are more myth than reality. It’s important to get support. She bets the school will want to work with them, but if they resist, be pushy. Brook asks if Willow’s met her, and Willow says she knows it’s hard, and Brook says, this is just temporary, but it makes her wonder if she’s ready for the real thing.

Michael says he and Drew don’t have the votes. Tracy will vote no, Ned will vote no, and Brook will fall in line. He doesn’t want to cause a rift. Drew says, they’ll divide the control three ways, and Michael says, the shares will have to be put in a blind trust. Drew asks if Michael will be the trustee, and Michael says, if that’s what it takes to remove Ned as CEO, it’s on.

Ned meets Elaine and Mavis in a parking lot and says he appreciates her meeting him. She comes highly recommended. She asks the reason for their meeting, and he says he believes a family member is having an affair with another family member’s wife, but he needs actual proof. The name is Quartermaine. She asks if it’s the good looking one running for congress, and he says, the woman is Willow, the wife of his nephew Michael. She asks why he believes they’re having an affair, and Ned flashes back to James telling him that Willow feels guilty for kissing Drew. He says he heard it from a reliable source.

Dante tells Sam, it feels like a lie. He told Rocco what he wanted to believe. Sam says, he told Rocco to not give up, and he says, maybe he’s lying to Rocco and himself. She says she doesn’t think hope is lying. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s GH. She answers and Terry introduces herself. She says she was hoping Sam could come in as soon as possible. It’s important. Sam asks, what’s wrong? and Terry says she’ll fill Sam in when she gets here. Sam says she’ll be right there, and tells Dante that it’s Dr. Randolph from GH. The doctor wants to see her, but didn’t say why. It sounded important. Dante says he’ll take her to the hospital and visit Lulu.

Tracy says, Ace has the table manners of a goat, and Olivia says, he’s one year old, and Tracy can cut the tough guy act. She knows Tracy likes Ace. Tracy asks if Olivia was waiting to tell her live her authentic life, and Olivia says she’s telling Tracy to lighten up on Brook. Her second-guessing everything Brook does isn’t helping. She needs to butt out. Tracy says, Olivia is right. If she wants authenticity, here it is. She hates feeling powerless and she does. She can’t help Finn. He needs to help himself. And Lulu, the daughter of the love of her life, the bright comet she raised from adolescence is dying. Nobody wants to say it out loud, and all she can do is threaten a primary school and hand out pudding cups to toddlers. Olivia hugs her and Tracy says, that’s all she can do.

Cody tells Sasha that he dreamt of owning Serenity and retiring there with his own family, but it’s not realistic. His life is great as it is. They kiss, and he says, what more could he want? He leaves.

Michael says, Drew’s plan comes with a risk, and Drew says, more than Ned having control? They’ll have the majority share, and Ned won’t have enough to fight that.  

Elaine says she’ll be in touch if she finds proof, and Ned says, what if she doesn’t? She says, unlikely. He seems to think there’s something, but her fee is the same either way. Ned puts an envelope on her car and walks away. (Kind of clandestine when they’re meeting out in the open.) She takes the envelope and looks inside. She tells Mavis that mommy is going to buy her a new doggie bed.

Willow tells Brook that parenting is hard. It’s often thankless and exhausting, but the joy and love you experience is unlike anything you’ve felt before. It’s the best thing she’s done. Brook says she’s happy for Willow, when Brook’s phone dings. She says, oh my God. It’s Chase. Finn is out of rehab. Willow says, Violet will be so happy to be with her dad, and Brook says, she will.

Laura goes to Doc’s office, and says, thank God he’s not in session. He says, she looks happy, and she says she’s trying to remain realistically optimistic. They found a donor. He says, that’s wonderful news, and she says, they won’t tell her their identity because they have to tell the person first. She prays they say yes, and after that comes the secondary level of screening like with Lucky. He says, no wonder she’s being cautious, and she says, it could be the answer to her prayers. She’s kind of afraid to be hopeful, but 15 minutes ago, there was no hope. Now she’s back to walking that fine line. They have to pass the secondary level, but the worst case is them deciding they don’t want to have the surgery. Doc hugs her.

Dante asks how Lulu is doing, and Elizabeth says, she’s hanging in. Isaiah is with her now. There’s a beep from Lulu’s room and they both run there. Isaiah says, code blue. Lulu is crashing. Elizabeth says, start compression, and Isaiah calls for a crash cart.  

Terry thanks Sam for coming, and Sam says she doesn’t know why she’s here. Is it about her sister? Terry says she’s sorry she was so cryptic, and asks Sam to have a seat. It doesn’t have to do with her sister. They have a possible liver donor for Lulu. Sam says, that’s great. Dante is visiting Lulu. Terry should tell him, not her. She gets up, but Terry says, wait. There’s a reason why she’s telling Sam and not Dante. The person is her.

Tomorrow, Mac says he and Robert have unfinished business; Sam says she can’t tell Dante; and Jack asks if Anna or Jason brought back a souvenir from their travels.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I love when they say they’re returning and I didn’t even realize they were gone.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/asher-antonyzyn-teases-his-return-to-gh

Wednesday – The Locher Room – YouTube – 3 pm ET.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chat-live-with-atwt-and-gh-star-van-hansis

Be sure to check out his Instagram NYC montage. Pedicabs are the best!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burton-had-the-best-nyc-trip-with-his-girlfriend

Another totally underused character. So glad he’s got a new gig on Beyond the Gates.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/real-andrews-says-goodbye-to-gh-and-hello-to-an-exciting-new-role

🗽 Pigeons Roost In the Hamptons…

The group took a trip to Erin’s Sag Harbor house. After Ubah made sure Brynn and Sai were alone to mend fences, and said no one would come in, the entire group trickled in. Their original issue came from Brynn supposedly saying that Sai hated Jenna, and Sai hearing it from Jenna. It took me ten minutes to get that sentence to make sense. That shows how stupidly complicated it is. Brynn called in Jenna to verify, but Jenna claimed she hadn’t specifically said it was Brynn. However, in the gift receipt that is a flashback, we saw she did. The whole thing seemed like it was more trouble and took more time than it was worth, but after hugging it out, all was well in the end. For now, as Erin pointed out. I just don’t like Brynn and would avoid her at all costs in a friend group. She admittedly likes to stir the pot and then claims she doesn’t want to hurt whoever this week’s target is. The look of distain mixed with amusement that’s always on her face is infuriating on its own. Since she’s not in middle school, I assume she’s just emotionally immature. And once again proves all the wrong people have the money.

Erin gave fabulous gift bags, specifically geared to the recipient. I have never been to one weekend where I got a gift bag. Unless you count tiny shampoos, conditioners, and lotions in a hotel. Racquel showed off her engagement ring, which is the size of Sag Harbor, and in her interview, she said she had an art piece on her hand. Agreed. Not many would be able to pull it off, but it suits her. Still, I think it must be tough to wear all the time.

Later, Ubah tried to get Brynn to understand how Sai was feeling, and it degenerated into Brynn yelling, dah-dah-dah, no-no-no, over Ubah trying to talk. Remember when Sheree and Marlo (RHOA) had that nonsense talk argument where they were going yabba-dabba-ga-ga-ga-zibby-do-pfft at each other? It was kind of like that, but one sided. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s geographic, financial, generational or what, but I have never once had an argument with friends like they do on any Housewives show. I guess if they weren’t ridiculous, there wouldn’t be a show, but I think you can be entertaining without the drama. I kind of like Ubah, who seems like she’s just trying to be fair. I felt badly for her when she said she was hesitant to open up because of all the potential shade. In Brynn’s interview, she said, Ubah resorted to name calling, which was lowbrow fighting. She was raised to use better words, but no name calling. I dunno. I could agree, but one, English is not Ubah’s first language, and she’s still wading through that; and two, better she gives a hardy f*** you, and you know where she’s at, than smiling in your face and playing Brynn’s game behind the scenes.

Ubah said they were all pigeons with no right address.

At the time of this post, there were no recaps, but there was this.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Over the weekend, I watched the latest Grotesquerie episode – which made a blink-and-you-missed-it reference to Port Charles. I was like, wait. What? Did I just hear that? I also caught up with The Penguin, which I’m appreciating for its sense of humor. I’ve yet to be caught up with Agatha, but these weekly drops make me cranky. I’ve been spoiled by the opportunity to watch a series in its entirety.

Since I don’t have enough series going on, I’ve added Teacup to my roster. While Inverse was disappointed, I was not. Except for the aforementioned weekly doling out of episodes like methadone.

No spoilers.

https://screenrant.com/teacup-2024-show-rotten-tomatoes-score/

Pretty much a blow-by-blow of the first two episodes.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/teacup-review-new-horror-series-will-shock-you-with-gruesome-twists

The film disappointment I set myself up for was The Platform 2. Some of it makes slightly more sense, at least from the perspective of the prisoners trying to find a way for everyone to survive. There seemed to be some kind of Christian parallels with someone called The Master aka Dagin Babbi, who eventually turns into more of a Pharisee when he creates more rules than the ones the prisoners were originally stuck with. This causes things to get so out of hand, his opposition decides to kill to build a future where no one kills anymore. in other words, kill for peace.

I’m not sure if there’s something philosophical that I’m missing or maybe this is just horror for horror’s sake, but I still don’t get it. Is there an end game? Who is actually in charge and why? Since it’s a combination of forced containment and volunteers, why are the volunteers surprised at what they’ve gotten themselves into? And most important, why isn’t anyone thinner by the end of the movie?

The prisoners are allowed to choose the one dish they’ll eat daily, unless they exchange with someone else, and I was surprised to note that many didn’t choose very carefully. Like, only eating dessert is not a good choice for sustenance. There was a time when I used to say I could live on Wendy’s hamburgers. Until I had to. After Hurricane Sandy hit, the only thing open was Wendy’s and by day three, eating those burgers got old. It was also just before Halloween, and I never even want to look at a Reese’s cup again.

The one blatant message was, we’re all prisoners of ourselves and from that there’s no possible escape. If that’s the moral to this story, I think there are better and less cryptic ways to tell it. Be forewarned, this movie is extremely brutal.

And try saying, double dereliction of duties three times real fast.

I often think, if you have to explain it to me, maybe I shouldn’t be watching it, but here you go.

https://www.cbr.com/the-platform-2-plot-explained/

https://www.cbr.com/platform-2-ending-explained/

I also watched the documentary, The Menendez Brothers, and it was riveting. It looks like they’re moving toward releasing them from prison and I have to admit I agree with that. Either they’re the best actors in the world, or they told the truth. There was also corroborating testimony. I’m actually surprised they got such a harsh sentence, but I think their spending spree post murders did them no service.

https://collider.com/menendez-brothers-docuseries-netflix/

And in related news.

https://ew.com/cooper-koch-nude-scene-monsters-8728083

🏡 If a Tree Falls In the Road…

This stupid show has made me cry twice already this season. So will we be getting a Season 4? There will be spoilers.

⚰️ This Week In Daryl…

Walking Dead might be one of the best post-apocalyptic TV shows ever, but it was also the most stagnant. One of the best things about Z Nation (yep, still bitter about that cancelation) was that they didn’t stay in one place for long and we got to see how a lot more of the world, at least the USA, was dealing with the apocalypse. It was more realistic in the sense that not everyone would be on the same page, whether it was growing weed from zombies (Z-weed) or electing a board of directors and working together as a business. As for Daryl, kudos to breaking him out of TWD mold.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-fans-wrong-about-daryl-dixon/

This week’s recap – spoilers ahead.

https://www.avclub.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-recap-season-2-episode-3

I love a variant zombie.

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-variant-zombies-explained/

🐼 They’ve Arrived…

And there will be a Panda Cam.

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/giant-pandas-arrive-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute-china

🎨 Painting the Countryside…

Join me tomorrow for soap and shady Salt. Until then, stay safe, stay steering clear of culturally offensive or controversial costumes, and stay never being ashamed to ask for help.

October 9, 2024 – Elaine Tails Carly To Jack’s Room, Back Again, Another Casualty, Final Bow, Salted Milwaukee, More Villains, Surreal Darkness, WWDD, Touchdown, Saluting Service & Watching

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Anna asks Jason, are we going to talk about that kiss or what? and he asks if she wants to talk about it. She says, no, but she thinks they should.

Josslyn walks into Bobbie’s and asks if Lucky is hurt. Were they robbed? He says, no, and she says, who did this… He did this? Why? He says he got some bad news, and she says, so he trashed her mom’s business? The family business? He says, Joss… and she says she’s glad he recognized her, because she sure as hell doesn’t recognize him.

Kristina tells Alexis that she had to pull some strings to see her after hours, and Alexis asks if she’s okay. Kristina says she’s good. She moved back home. Dante helped and Diane came by. She wanted to make sure Alexis was okay. Alexis says she had a lot of visitors today. She and the guard bonded, and she has an entertaining cellmate, Heather Webber. Kristina says, she’s a psycho, but Alexis says, Heather gives her cred with the other inmates. Is Kristina really okay? Is she seeing her postpartum counselor? Kristina says she filled out the paperwork, but she’s having trouble focusing because of Alexis being here.

At Pozzulo’s, Natalia says, the roll out projections are doable and within budget, but Sonny says, not now. Sit down and relax. Natalia says she doesn’t have much time, and he asks if she’s got a date. What’s going on? She seems stiff. She says she’s being professional. She thought they agreed to leave it that way. He said his personal life was complicated and she thinks it’s best if they stick with business. He says, the last thing he wants is for her to be uncomfortable, and she says, that’s the problem. When she’s around him, she’s too comfortable.

Carly checks herself in her compact mirror and knocks on Jack’s door. He says, the lady is prompt, and she asks if this is her raincheck. He says, indeed it is, and invites her in. Elaine approaches, taking a photo with her phone and says, gotcha.

Josslyn asks, what’s going on? Is Lucky drunk or something? He says, not yet, and she says, her mom could have him arrested. He says he doesn’t care, and she asks if he sees the sign. It says, Bobbie’s. They renamed it after her grandmother and his aunt. He says he knows who she is, and she says, this place was renamed to honor her, and this is what he does. He says, add it to his family’s tab, and she says, if this is how he treats his family, she wants nothing to do with him. Jason risked his life to bring him back. Why isn’t he helping Lulu instead of throwing a tantrum? Lucky says, it was a wasted trip, and leaves. She says, nice. Leave her here to clean up the mess.

Anna tells Jason that the kiss stays in Africa. It was an isolated incident and will never happen again. Jason says, understood. Anything else? She says, yes. Brennan had so many questions about him. Brennan was surprised she trusted him as much as she did. He asks if it scored him points, and she says, unfortunately, yes. Brennan was impressed and wants to recruit Jason. He does not want to get involved with the WSB. He says, it’s not going to happen, and she says, he should probably get some rest. He says, like her? and she says, yeah, like her. She goes to the door, and he tells her to take care of herself. She says she will. She’ll see him around. She leaves.

Carly thanks Jack and says, he went above and beyond for her family, and he suggests they keep it on the DL. She says she won’t forget everything he did – the intel, the plane, the drone strike.  Jason and Lucky are alive because of him and she owes him big time. He says, her gratitude is all the thanks he needs, and she says, comping the dinner is the least she can do, but he says, that’s unacceptable.

Natalia tells Sonny, forget she said that, and he says that he likes that she’s comfortable around him. What’s the problem? She says she works for him, and it blurs the lines, and he says he respects any boundaries she sets. She says, there’s that old world charm. His personal code, honor and respect. He says he respects her, and she says, he’s a decent guy. She knew that from the beginning. Any other time under different circumstances… He says, if she waits for the perfect time and circumstances, she’ll be waiting forever, and she says, he might be right. He says he’s always right. What would her perfect circumstances be? She says, probably spending more time with him and getting to know him better, and he says he would like that.

Alexis asks if Kristina is sure nothing happened. She’s here late. Kristina says, nothing happened. She’s just been walking around, going through the motions, and thinking it isn’t fair. She has to do something. Alexis says she has a good attorney and together they’ve come up with a strategy she thinks will get her out. Kristina asks what it is, but Alexis says she can’t tell her and needs her to not be concerned. Kristina says, that’s difficult. Alexis is in here with a serial killer roommate and she’s getting advice from Diane that she needs to get her own lawyer. Alexis asks what Diane said, but Kristina says, nothing. She doesn’t want to upset Alexis. She just wants Alexis to focus on herself and not protecting her. Alexis says she’s a mother and protects her girls, but Kristina says she created this situation and needs to be the one to take responsibility for it.

Josslyn hears someone come in, and she says, sorry. They’re closed. Dex walks in with Officer Matthews, and Matthews says, they got a call that a crazy guy busted up the diner. What can she tell them about that?

Lucky goes to the coffee warehouse and Jason asks, what’s going on? Lucky says he needs Jason’s help getting back to Africa, and Jason says, when? Lucky says, as soon as he can arrange a flight. He needs a passport. Sidwell took his. Jason says, Lucky can’t be donor? And Lucky says, he’s a perfect match, but the choices he made caused him to not be viable to save his sister.

Carly says, Jack is refusing to let her comp the meal? and he says, she heard correctly. Her phone rings and she sees that it’s Felicia. She ignores the call and says she didn’t mean to offend him. She just wanted to say thank you. He says he accepts her thanks, but doesn’t accept that she owes him anything. She says, he saved Lucky and Jason at her request and he doesn’t want anything in return, and he says, he doesn’t want them to be a transactional relationship. He has plenty of those. She doesn’t owe him anything. He pours the champagne and hands her a glass. She says, he did an extraordinary thing for her family, and all he wants is her gratitude? He says, gratitude is overrated. There’s so much more to her that he’d rather have. (I swoon.)

Alexis tells Kristina, don’t do anything to interfere. It will just complicate things. Kristina says, doing nothing doesn’t work for her, and Alexis says, do it anyway. Kristina says, fine. She’ll do it Alexis’s way.

Sonny asks what Natalia’s perfect scenario of them spending time together involves. Reading spreadsheets or something more personal? She says she’s fine with both. They’re both adults and capable of communicating what they need personally and professionally. He asks, what’s wrong then? and she says, he’s a man with specific business connections and affiliations. He says, she’s not referring to coffee or cosmetics, and she says, no judgement, but his complicated connections come with a lot of trouble. He says, and she doesn’t want trouble, and she says she should know better, but she guesses she doesn’t.

Josslyn says, her mom owns Bobbie’s, and Matthews says, the guy did a number on the place. Is she okay? She says, it was just a misunderstanding, and Matthews says, destruction of property is against the law. She says she’s embarrassed to admit it, but it’s a family thing, and he asks if she wants to file a report, but she says, no. They’re not pressing charges. Dex says, if they don’t, they can’t file an insurance claim, and Matthews says, the rookie needs the practice. Josslyn says she’s sure he’ll catch on. There’s not much damage. Dex asks if she’s sure, and she nods. Matthews says, if she changes her mind, stop by the station. He tells Dex, let’s roll, and Josslyn thanks them.

Lucky says, a parasite, some microscopic organism he didn’t know about, is keeping him from saving his sister. Now she’s going to die because of him. Jason says he’s sorry, and Lucky says, he and Anna nearly died getting him back and it’s all for nothing. Jason says, he’s not doing anybody any good by jetting. Doesn’t he want to see Laura? Lucky says he doesn’t want to see the look of disappointment in her eyes. He was never good at goodbyes. Jason says he understands, but the people in Lucky’s life need them – Aiden, Elizabeth… He can get Lucky the cash and passport, but take it from someone who just got back, both times he left his family, there was no chance to say goodbye and it devastated them. Lucky says, now they’re good, but Jason says, anything can happen. Lucky says, he’ll only cause pain, but Jason says, he’ll hurt them more not saying goodbye. Elizabeth, Aiden, and Laura are strong. They’ll survive. The question is, can he?

Molly goes to Anna’s office, and Anna asks what case she wants to discuss. Molly says, John Cates, but Anna says, Molly knows she can’t discuss it. Molly is an ADA, and her mother is the defendant. Molly says she’s not asking Anna to share details. She needs Anna to reopen the investigation and arrest the real killer – Sonny Corinthos.

Sonny says, it’s Natalia’s call. He’s not going to push her to do what she doesn’t want to. Where they go from here is up to her. His phone rings, and he says he’s got to get this. It’s his lawyer. He’ll be right back. He goes into his office.

Carly and Jack clink glasses when her phone rings again. She says she has to get this. Her friend Felicia keeps calling. The doorknob rattles, and outside Elaine pretends to be trying to open the door with her keycard. Felicia peeks at her from around the corner, and Jack tells Carly that he needs her to move right now. She goes to the suite hallway, and Jack opens the door. He asks if he can help Elaine.

Kristina walks into Pozzulo’s and asks if her dad is here. Natalia says he’s in his office on the phone. How is she doing? She looks well. Kristina says, looks can be deceiving. She’s hanging in. Natalia says she supposes that’s all they can do. She and Kristina’s dad can finish tomorrow. She needs to get going. Please let him know she left him the paperwork. She thought Kristina would want to know that Allison is doing great on tour. She’s spoken mostly with her tour manager and Brook, but the audience attendance is fantastic, and she’s hit her stride. Kristina says she’s not surprised, and Natalia says she’s seen clips from the tour, and Allison has blossomed. She’s a star. Kristina says, she always has been, and Natalia says she thought Kristina might want to know. Kristina thanks her and says she wants Allie to be happy. Natalia says, Allison wants the same for Kristina. Good to see her. Take care of herself. She leaves and Sonny comes out. He and Kristina hug, and she tells him that Natalia said she’d talk to him tomorrow. She left these. She hands him the paperwork, and he asks if she ran Natalia off. She says, actually, they had kind of a nice moment, and he asks what brings her by. She says she saw her mom in Pentenville and they’ve got to get her out.

Anna says, Molly knows this is inappropriate, but Molly says, not more than arresting her mother for a crime she didn’t commit. Where’s the justice in letting her take the fall for Sonny? Anna says she has no evidence and the evidence they have points to Molly’s mother, who did herself no favors by not being forthcoming. Molly says, that doesn’t mean she’s guilty, but Anna says, the FBI is prosecuting the case. She doesn’t think she could stop it even if she wanted to. Molly asks if she’s saying they won’t look at Sonny if there’s concrete evidence, and Anna says she doesn’t have any and Sonny has an alibi. Molly says, when Sonny was charged with Claudia Zacara’s murder, Carly perjured herself. Doesn’t Anna think she’d do it again? Sonny assaulted Dex and when Cates provoked Sonny’s hated by attacking Kristina, he signed his own death sentence. Sonny was at the Quartermaines when Cates was murdered and has the motive, means, and opportunity. There’s got to evidence. They can’t rely on the FBI, and she needs Anna to find it.

Carly says she can’t talk, and Felicia says, she’s being tailed. That elegant older woman with the pint-sized pooch is a P.I.

Jack tells Elaine that she’s got the wrong room, and slams the door. He tells Carly, that Park Avenue doyenne is a P.I., and she asks how he can tell. He says he can always tell, but is she here for him or for Carly? Carly says her. That’s the reason she can’t be seen with him right now. He says, the WSB is at her service.

Lucky says, before he left, he was destroying his life. He was shredding Elizabeth, and he could see he was destroying her. Jason says, so he stepped back, and Lucky says he stepped off. He remembers Luke used to disappear sometimes. He said it was his time to reflect and get in tune with himself. He didn’t understand when he was a kid, but now he realizes Luke wanted to keep his own demons away from them. It worked, so he followed suit. He tried to convince himself that by doing good in the world, he could maybe make up for the wreckage he left here. Jason asks if it worked, and Lucky says he thought so until Jason and Anna showed up. They told him about Lulu, and then that’s all that mattered. He was hoping maybe it would be the redemption he was searching for, but he already made his choices, and now Lulu is going to die because of him. Jason says, he doesn’t know that for sure, and Lucky says he let everyone down and it impacted the family. He saw Rocco’s eyes and he’s not wrong. He doesn’t deserve to be here. Jason asks if he thinks his family deserves a hasty exit, and he takes an envelope out of a desk drawer. He puts it on the desk and says, there’s 10 grand. It should do for now. Lucky is the only one who can make the decision. If he thinks it’s really the best thing, then go. Lucky asks what Jason thinks he should do. Should he stay?

Anna says, Molly just wants Sonny to be guilty because she’s angry with him, but Molly says she wants justice. Anna says, for Cates or her baby? Molly is human and can’t not hold Sonny responsible for some part in the baby’s death. Molly says, because Kristina went to Ava because she didn’t want to testify against her father. She probably wouldn’t have gone if she hadn’t seen him attack Dex. Maybe Anna can file charges for Sonny’s assaults on Dex and Cyrus. Anna says, Molly was reluctant to follow through on that, and Molly says, she’s right. She’s just as complicit, but they can use that now to establish a pattern of Sonny’s violent behavior. Anna says, the FBI took the case, and Molly says, to hell with the FBI. Take back the case and investigate Sonny. Or is all of Anna’s talk about justice and the law just talk? She walks out.

Kristina tells Sonny that Alexis tried to convince her that she’s fine in Pentenville. Heather is her roommate, and she considers the guards her friends. She’s getting too comfortable. Sonny says he understands that she’s worried, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) she is. She’s going to come forward to the police. Sonny says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea, and Kristina says she won’t involve him, but he asks if she’s going to tell them where she found the gun. She says she can’t be helpless like this, but he says he and her mom agree on it. She says, the only time they agree is about her and cleaning up her mess. Not this time. She’s going to take accountability. He says, Diane called. Her mom’s trial is in three weeks. She says, that’s not enough time to prepare, but he says, a lot can happen in three weeks. She asks, how, if she doesn’t do anything, and he says, her mom appreciates her loyalty, but Kristina can’t fix this, or they’ll have to clean up that mess. They’re going to fix this, but it’s going to need time to fix. Kristina says, this is because of her. It’s her fault. Sonny says, it’s not. Jagger did this to himself. She didn’t do it. Kristina says, okay. He’s right. Cates and Ava did this.

Jack asks if he can have a raincheck, and Carly says, if he can get her out without being spotted, she’ll give him all the rainchecks he wants and her undying gratitude. Jack says, deal. Give him a two-minute head start. He leaves and sees Elaine. He asks if she still can’t find her room and says he’ll escort her to the lobby, and they’ll take care of it. He steers her down the hall, saying, he had a dog when he was a child. A border collie named Perceval… Felicia calls Carly and says she’s in the clear, and Carly says, meet her at Bobbie’s and she’ll tell Felicia what’s going on. Felicia says, see her soon, and Carly leaves.  

Dex comes back to Bobbie’s and asks if Josslyn needs a hand, and she says, aren’t you supposed to be working, rookie? He says he told Officer Matthews that it would be a contribution to society if he helped her clean up, and she asks if it worked. He says, no. Matthews knows they’re together. Off the record, who did this? She says, her cousin Lucky. He just got back from Africa, and she was so pissed, she didn’t realize that Anna and Jason brought him back to help save Lulu. She needs a liver transplant, and he was her best bet as a donor. Dex asks if she thinks it had to do with that, and she says, based on his reaction, she doesn’t think going happen anymore. She was horrible to Lucky, and she didn’t have to be.

Jason says he can’t tell Lucky whether to stay or go. It’s not his call. His circumstances were different. Lucky says, he has insight, but Jason says he can’t give Lucky the answer he’s looking for. Lucky says, understood, and takes the envelope. He thanks Jason for the loan and says he’ll pay him back someday. He leaves.

Dex says, Josslyn must be some kind of saint not to be upset, family or not, and she says, it was a shock. But she realized as she was cleaning, she was right about Lulu. Lucky was devastated and needed a release. This was the only safe place for him to do that. Any place else, he’d be arrested. Dex says, there’s still time, and she says, thanks. Molly comes in and says she didn’t realize they were closed. Josslyn says, they had a little accident, but it’s fine. Come in. She can’t cook anything, but she can get Molly a drink or a sandwich. Molly says she’d kill for an iced tea, and Josslyn says, she’s got it. Molly sits down and Dex says, long day? She asks if there’s any other kind. Don’t worry. It’s not a crying on his shoulder day. He says he’s got two. Everyone needs a friend sometimes. She asks why they’re closed, and he says, long story. Josslyn comes back with three iced teas and says, on the house. To better days. Molly says, cheers to that.

Carly meets Felicia and thanks her for the save. How did she know that woman was a P.I.? Felicia says, they go way back. Elaine is old school, but she’s good, and that dog will outlive us all. Carly says, thank God Felicia spotted her, and Felicia says, Elaine asked about Carly, and she realized Elaine was tailing her. Carly says she owes Felicia big time, and Felicia says, for the record, Jack Brennan’s not worth it. (Oh yes, he is.) Carly says, he’s a high-profile guest of the hotel and needed assistance, and Felicia says, don’t say she didn’t warn her. Carly says, thanks, but it’s not necessary, and Felicia says, Carly has a bigger problem. They need to figure out why someone is having her tailed in the first place.

Jason goes to Sonny’s office and says, Sonny wanted to see him? Sonny says, Alexis’s trial is in a couple of weeks. If she goes to trial, Kristina won’t be able to handle it and he’s afraid she’ll do something to protect her mother and hurt herself, unless they find the gun Alexis got rid of. Jason says, it doesn’t look good, and Sonny says, then he’ll have to take the fall. Jason says, okay. Somehow, the cops have to come into possession of the gun Alexis tossed. (Yeah. I never thought of this before, but why don’t they just throw another gun in the river?)

Anna looks through the file on John Cates’s murder, when there’s a knock at the door. Kristina come in and Anna asks if she can help her. Kristina says she wants to help Anna. She has information about the night John Cates was killed.

Lucky kneels in the chapel and says, it’s been a while since he’s talked to God like this. He doesn’t know why. He guesses he doesn’t like to call on Him for the small stuff, but this isn’t small. It’s his sister. I’m begging You, please Lord, just save my sister. And if You can’t for some reason I don’t understand… I’m going to need help to live with it. He’s made so many mistakes and hurt so many people. He just wants it to stop. He doesn’t want to cause any more pain. So if You’re listening, I could use some guidance right now. And I’m pretty desperate, so I’ll take whatever You’ve got. Laura walks in and says, Lucky?

Tomorrow, Kristina wonders why she’s getting the feeling Anna doesn’t want her to talk; Martin says he has the key to Alexis’s salvation; Carly tells Sonny that she’ll go down with him; and Jason says he should have killed Cates when he had the chance.

🤹‍♂️ Here Comes Another One…

They’re loading up the returning characters wagon this fall.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/scott-reeves-returns-to-general-hospital

🎼 On the Road Again…

This is a real shame. I’ve loved the scenes with Marshall and Curtis. It’s always like watching a play. And when he had the scenes with fantasy Irene, it was magic. I’m just going to say it, as much as I love GH, they do a disservice to both the Black and gay communities. Their roles always start off strong and then are minimalized, and there’s rarely a follow through in the romance department. Actually, as far as gay characters go, there’s never been a follow through. I’m still bitter about Kristina and Blaze. And I’m straight. I can’t imagine how gay fans feel.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/robert-gossett-out-as-marshall-on-general-hospital

🥀 Farewell To Joel’s Father…

I don’t remember him from the soaps, but I can still hear him saying, there’s a preponderance of base, to Tom Cruise in Risky Business.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/port-charles-alum-nicholas-pryor-dead-at-89

🧂 Salty Not Sweet…

My takeaway points, followed by the link to a full recap below – including a photo of Bronwyn as a hot dog! Heather and Whitney were in some kind of Laverne and Shirley world being in Milwaukee. Meili, Britani, and Lisa went ice curling, while the others went to the beer caves, which looked like a lot less work. Mary never had beer before and discovered she liked it, calling Miller High Life regal. Frankly, I prefer Molson or Corona, but TBH, I don’t think I’ve ever had Miller. Britani said she was done with Jared after she found out he’d been texting her brow girl. I continually forget that Jared is an Osmond. Not that it makes a difference to me, but it’s like dating Prince William in MormonWorld.

Laverne and Shirley stayed at the caves to crack open some Blue Moon, while the others went to the Milwaukee Inn to hear about Milwaukee hauntings. Mary talked about her dad’s association with Dahmer again, and in Bronwyn’s interview, she said, nothing could top Mary’s stories. In Mary’s interview, she said she hoped her dad wasn’t making it up. Heather told Whitney that people were saying she was white labeling jewelry from China, and in Whitney’s interview, she said there was a social media account saying she got her jewelry from Alibaba. It was f***ed up that Meredith had gone back to her old tricks, digging up dirt, and instead of calling her, Meredith was going to everyone else. We flashed back to Meredith spreading gossip about Angie being in the Greek mafia, and Heather suggested Whitney talk to Meredeth at a better time, like, maybe not at dinner, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

They took a party bus to the Harley Davidson Museum, and Whitney decided the bus was the better time. After a dust up on the way there, they had dinner at the museum, which had been opened just for them. IMO, this seemed like a really stupid idea. I wouldn’t want to eat sushi while gazing at the dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum. Seeing the first motorcycles from over 100 years ago was pretty cool though. In Bronwyn’s interview, she said, it took the Harley Davidson Museum to bring out the classy side in these ho’s. No surprise, it didn’t last long, since Whitney brought it up again at dinner. Lisa insisted on getting involved under the guise of helping out, no matter how many times Whitney told her to stay out of it.

After that, it was on to Trixie Mattel’s bar, This Is It! The women dressed for the occasion, but Bronwyn outdid herself in a Moschino hot dog that Mary said was not fashion, but a costume. Mary might be right there, but it wasn’t out of line for a drag queen bar. The place looked super crowded, like, literally wall to wall people. As much as I’d love to go there, my idea of fun doesn’t include standing in a long line to stand in a crowd. And how the hell do you get to the bar? Hopefully, it was just like that because the Housewives were in town, although I don’t think I’m going to find myself in Milwaukee anytime soon. The group got onstage and had a dance off, but I didn’t see much dancing. In Heather’s interview, she said, they made all of their Milwaukee dreams come true and did it their way. Laverne and Shirley would be proud. I’m not so sure about that.

💣 Outlaws In the House…

I’d started watching the first season of House of Villains and was surprised at how much I liked it, but I drifted away before the end. I decided to give it another go, mostly because there was nothing else going on in that time slot, and I do love host Joel McHale. Teresa Giudice leads the pack, and while I’m not a fan of her on RHONJ, she’s going to make a great villain. Although, according to her, she’s not a villain. She’s just a loud Italian and passionate. In her interview, she said she’d done a lot of competition shows and listed all of two – The Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars. There were two beds in the rooms, and I’ll be damned if I’d share a room as a grown-ass woman. One of the greatest villains of all time, Richard Hatch, is also a cast member, and I wondered why I thought he was dead. Even more shocking was Larissa Lima from 90 Day Fiancé, who looks nothing like herself anymore with a totally new face and gigantic – and I mean gigantic – boobs. New York is in the house as well, and I’m definitely a Tiffany Pollard fan. The best quote of the night came from Safaree (Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta, which I’ve never seen). Upon hearing there would be ten people in the house, he said, if there’s ten people and four of us, eight more are coming. I hope his day job isn’t in finance.  

https://ew.com/house-of-villains-season-2-cast-contestants-revealed-exclusive-8620820

📺 Speaking Of Villains…

The Dark Side of Reality TV strikes again.

https://ew.com/the-surreal-life-alum-janice-dickinson-talks-feud-with-omarosa-8718631

https://www.lyndsanity.com/media/lyndsey-parker-on-vices-dark-side-of-reality-tv-the-surreal-life/

⚰️ This Week In Daryl…

If you haven’t seen episode 3, there will be spoilers. I was pretty surprised at the ending.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-norman-reedus-kissing-scene-exclusive-8720896

Could he be the next Murphy?

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-laurent-immune-daryl-dixon-ritual/

The recap.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season1-episode3-recap-spoilers/

🎭 He Actually Can Quit His Day Job…

When he decides to hang up his jersey, he definitely has a career in acting. He’s surprisingly good. I’m really enjoying this show.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1408144/travis-kelces-role-in-horror-series-grotesquerie-revealed

And no surprise, Swifties are looking for hidden clues.

https://www.purewow.com/news/travis-kelce-tribute-taylor-swift-grotesquerie

🐕 New To the Festival…

I think it’s more the owners hoping for a win, but who knows what’s in a dog’s fuzzy head?

https://people.com/ny-dog-film-festival-service-dog-salute-finalists-8725632

🧙‍♀️ Resting Witch Face…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what’s shading in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay having a little something to eat before a party, and stay not waiting for the perfect time and circumstances, or you’ll be waiting forever.

September 30, 2024 – On the Ground In Port Charles, Soap Suds, Big Apples, Salty Talk, The Real Hills, Two To Watch, Final Bow, Funny Finalists & September

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Carly sits with Lulu, and Jack knocks at the door. He tells her, all passengers are safe, sound, and on the ground in Port Charles.

Lucky and Jason walk into the hospital, and Lucky introduces himself to Portia. She says, they’ve been expecting him. She’s been treating his sister. Terry introduces herself, and Porta says she’ll run some tests on Lucky. Jason tells Lucky that he’ll be here, and Lucky leaves with Portia. He asks how Lulu’s condition is, and Portia says, it’s deteriorating. They’re running out of time.

Anna gets home and flops onto the sofa. She flashes back to Jason kissing her, and says, Devane, what are you doing?

Nina goes to Curtis’s office and tells him that Crimson was delayed because of a hailstorm. She stares at him for a moment, and says, his new position looks good on him.

Elizabeth says she needs to talk to Aiden. His dad called and he’s on his way back to Port Charles. Aiden asks when he’s getting here, and she says, today.

On the phone, Robert says, they’re overdue for a catch up… Now? Perfect.

James opens the door, and Holly is there. She says, he may or may not remember her… He says, she’s Holly, and she says, and he’s James, like the king. He says he was named after his dad, and she says, either way, it suits him. She asks if there are any boring grown-ups around, and he yells for Mac. Mac comes out and asks what he’s yelling for… Holly… She says, hello, Mac.

Mac asks when Holly got in, and she says, just now. He says, a red eye? Her? She says, a private jet. While she’s pleased to see him, she was hoping to find Robert. She tried his house and his office, but had no luck. She thought he might be here. Mac asks if Robert knows she’s in town, but she says she wanted to surprise him. He says he has to take James to school, and asks if she can wait here. She asks if there’s coffee, and he tells her to help herself, and he leaves with James.

Felicia asks if Anna is all right, and Anna says, it was an exhaustive trip. Felicia says, Anna never gets tired. So what’s up? Anna says she thinks the mission was more than she expected, and Felicia says she needs to know everything that happened from start to finish.

Luck asks, what now? and Portia says she has to make sure he’s a match. He asks if the odds aren’t pretty good, and she says, with the same parents, the chance is good, but she still needs to confirm it. After the results come back, she’ll send him for more tests to make sure his liver is heathy. He asks if they can’t run them now, and she says, he’ll be undergoing major surgery, so she can’t risk skipping anything. She’s moving as fast as she can. He says he appreciates everything even if it seems like he doesn’t, and she says she needs to figure out if he’s in good enough physical shape to be a donor. Then all they have to do is wait for the results. He says he’s not great at waiting.

Elizabeth asks how Aiden feels, but he says he’s not sure. She says she knows they’ve been emailing and video chatting. She also knows it’s difficult when someone is in front of you, especially when it’s your dad. He says, it’s been a long time since he heard from Lucky. He’s always been the first one to reach out. One time, he waited five months, but nothing. He’s not sad or mad. He’s like, okay, whatever. She says she’s sorry, and he says he doesn’t hate Lucky. He’s glad Lucky is coming back, but it’s not like Lucky is coming back for him. His dad is here to save Aunt Lulu. How can he be mad?

Carly says she knows Jack risked his job, but he says, it’s all good. It turns out haranguing an international law enforcement agency on her friend’s behalf paid off. She thanks him and he says, they make a good team.

Curtis tells Nina, Crimson’s numbers are up, but he thinks they can make them go higher. He found a distributor in Australia. Nina says she’ll give them a call, but he says he already called. It’s a go. Nina says, it’s exciting and embarrassing for her. She should have seen the opportunity. He says, she’s been busy with Crimson and saving the nation, and she says she likes hyperbole in a man. He says, if working on Drew’s campaign distracted her, it’s the price they pay to make sure Drew gets in office. She says, he is distracting… She means, with the campaign and politicking. It’s all very distracting.

Anna tells Felicia that she planned to steal Sidwell’s phone and put it back before he realized. Jason was going to engage Sidwell in a card game, and he did very well. He occupied Sidwell and challenged him. She was about to copy the phone’s chip, and Felicia will never believe who stepped out of the woodwork to stop her. Sidwell’s girlfriend – Holly.  

On the phone and sipping champagne, Holly says, hear that? It’s the sound of ice. Which is exactly what she’s calling them about.

Portia says she’ll let Lucky know when he can see Lulu, and Jason asks how he’s doing. Lucky says he’s doing okay. They ran a lot of tests. All this time, and now he’s here. Jason says he knows, and Lucky says, it’s been a long time, but coming back is harder than leaving. Carly joins them and hugs Lucky. she says she can’t believe he’s here, and he says he can’t either. She says she’s trying to get in touch with his mom and Doc, and he asks where they’re at. She says, at the refugee camp where he was last staying, but the weather is bad, and the service has been spotty. He says he can’t believe they went to Africa, and she says, it’s Laura. What does he expect? He says he expected her to be at Lulu’s bedside, and she says, when they found out Nikolas wasn’t a match… He says, she took off. He got Carly’s email and meant to write back. He was sorry to hear about Bobbie. She says, Bobbie was a hero to the end, and he says he’s sorry he wasn’t here. She says, her mom loved him, wherever he was, when Portia comes back and says, Lucky has been cleared to see Lulu. She’ll let him know if he’s a match as soon as she hears. Lucky says he’s going to see his sister, and Carly says, she’s on 10.  

Elizabeth says, Lulu is the main reason Lucky is back, but not the only reason, and Aiden says, they both know that’s not true. Elizabeth says, Lucky loves him, even though he has a terrible way of showing it. She didn’t want him to be caught off guard. He says, Lucky might help Lulu, then take off again. There are days he doesn’t think of Lucky, and he kind of feels bad about it. Elizabeth tells him, don’t. He has a big heart and so does his does dad. She can’t imagine anything changing that. He says, it’s going to be weird, but he wouldn’t say no to hanging out with Lucky before he leaves again. She asks if he wants her to let Lucky know, but he says, Lucky knows how to reach him. Does she think he’s like his dad? She says, they’re both very handsome, and he tells her that people say he’s like her and he hopes that’s true. He knows that means they must think a lot of him. They might call him a mama’s boy, but he doesn’t care. He’s good with being his mom’s son. He kisses her on the cheek and leaves.

Jack comes to Robert’s office, and Robert says he’d like the like latest on the foray of the Bureau into the field. Jack says, he’s not with the Bureau anymore, and Robert says, tell him anyway. Jack asks, why? and Robert says, Anna is the mother of his child and almost died on Jack’s watch. Jack says, works for him, and sits down. He says, the WSB satellites pinpointed Jenz Sidwell’s location. Considering his strip-mining efforts, it wasn’t difficult. Robert asks if Sidwell converted what he stole? and Jack says, of course (🍷). Robert says, Sidwell leaves the countries he strips more destitute than ever. So Jack used the Bureau’s resources to curtail Sidwell’s operation. Is he still alive? Jack says, unknown. Nobody in the mission is safe if he is.  

Mac comes back, and Holly says, breakfast? indicating the champagne. He says, it’s a little early, but she says she’s on Africa time, calling him grandpa. He says he wears the title proudly, and she says, he should. It suits him. He says he’s getting a lot of practice, and she says, his family tree is growing. He tells her that he has a son by Dominique, and she asks if he’s met him. Mac says, he lives in town. He works for the Quartermaines. She asks if he was raised by Leopold Taub, and Mac nods. He says she’s sorry he didn’t get to know his son sooner, and she says, Dominique lived a complicated life. He probably won’t believe it, but she’ll always regret how Dominique’s jealousy of their friendship helped split them up. He says he doesn’t believe it, and she says she’ll always be grateful for their friendship. He says, back at her. He asks about Ethan, and she says, Ethan is currently out of trouble and doing splendidly. He asks what brings her back, and she says, her last visit was bittersweet. So when chance tossed her toward their shores, she took it. She asks, what’s going on with Robert? and he says, Robert has built a life post-WSB, and it makes him happy. He’s worried her visit will ruin it.  

Anna says, Holly confirmed Lucky was at the compound, and persuaded Sidwell to invite them back. Felicia says, she put her life on the line, and Anna says, they all did. They all went back, and Holly knew where Lucky was, but it was tricky to get him out. Then they found out their covers had been blown. Sidwell insisted that Jason and Lucky play a final card game. Felicia says she has the feeling it wasn’t for money, and Anna says, no. If Lucky won, Holly kept her life, and if Jason won, she kept hers. If Sidwell won, they were all going to die.

Carly asks how Jason is, and he says, fine. She says, really, and he says he’s fine. She asks, what about Lucky, and don’t say fine, and he says, Lucky is physically okay. She says, otherwise? and he says, coming back this way is tough. She says, their situations are different, but after the transplant, they can help Lucky figure things out. He says, if Lucky stays long enough, and she asks if he’s leaving. Jason says he doesn’t know, and he has no idea what Holly is doing. She says, that’s a name she didn’t expect to hear. What was she doing there? She wasn’t a part of the mission. He says, she was on her own mission, which she started before them. She helped them, and he’s got to give that to her. If Holly didn’t love Luke so much, they’d probably be dead.

Terry shows up at Elizabeth’s house, and tells Elizabeth that she can’t stay long, but she wanted to tell her that Lucky is at the hospital. Elizabeth asks if he’s going through tests, and Terry says, Portia is running them now. Given Lulu’s numbers this morning, he’s just in time. Elizabeth says, that’s Lucky, heroically skidding through the door just in time, and Terry says, he came straight from the airport. He was exhausted and anxious, and she didn’t get the hero vibe. He seemed like he’d been through some stuff, but he still looked good.

Lucky goes to Lulu’s room. He sits next to the bed and takes her hand. He says he’s here and kisses it. He flashes back to talking to Baby Lulu.

Curtis says he’s impressed. It wasn’t that long ago, Nina got Drew sent to prison. Nina says, for something he totally did, and Curtis says, and look at them now. Working together and helping each other. She says, being Drew’s campaign wife is incredible, and he says he didn’t realize that was her title. She says, people draw their own conclusions, and he asks where she finds time for herself. She says, 12 hours a day devoted to Crimson, 12 to the campaign, and 12 to her. He says, a 36-hour workday. That’s a lot of time to invest in someone who’s just a friend. She says she never thought it would happen. She thinks her and Drew’s relationship has evolved into something more, something real.

Mac says, Holly will disrupt what’s going on and say she needs help getting out of her latest jam. She wouldn’t ask if there were anyone else, and on and on until the last shoe she threw up in the air falls on the ground. Then she’ll be gone and leave Robert to pick up the pieces of the ruins she’s left behind. She thanks him for his honesty and says she’ll send over a bottle of champagne to replace the bottle she opened. He says, not necessary, but she says she doesn’t want to ruin anything more than she already has, and leaves.

Carly asks how Jason and Anna aren’t dead, and Jason says, Sidwell ordered his men to kill him and Anna, and they would have if it hadn’t been for the drone strike. She says, that was her. She knows a guy. He says, Jack Brennan? and she says, yes. She asked him for help, and he was amazing. She watched the drone strike in real time. They watched it together.

Robert says, he takes it all protocols were put in place to protect the Bureau’s exposure, and Jack says, he followed them to the letter. Robert says, they require no civilian witnesses. Were there any? Jack says, other than the intended targets, no, but he’s not worried about three of the four rescued being a risk. Jason isn’t going to talk, Anna is Anna, and Lucky won’t bite the hand that saved his sister. Robert asks, who’s the fourth? and Jack says he’s not familiar with them. That’s why he came right over when Robert called. He’s hoping Robert can tell him how worried he needs to be about Holly Sutton.  

Terry asks if there’s anything about Lucky coming home that’s a good thing, and Elizabeth says she’s happy for Lulu and the family, but she and Lucky are practically strangers. He called the hospital, and she happened to answer. Terry asks what it was like to hear his voice, and Elziabeth says, there were a lot of feelings for the person he was, the man she used to love and had a child with. Feelings for the voice she used to hear every day, but hasn’t heard in years. Terry asks if she’s okay with it, and Elizabeth says she’s not surprised Lucky would come back to help his sister. Terry says, that can’t be the only reason (like it isn’t enough), and Elizabeth says she told Aiden that, but she gets why he’s doubtful. Lucky isn’t coming to rebuild a relationship with his son and build a life here. Terry says, Elizabeth doesn’t have to answer, but part of her wonders if Elizabeth is going overboard in managing her expectations. What does she expect?  

Lucky says, the first time he met Lulu, she was so small. She made all these noises, but now she’s so… quiet. Lulu Spencer isn’t supposed to be quiet. He promised to take care of her, and he wasn’t there when she needed him the most. He was too busy hiding out in Ireland or Africa or anywhere but here. He told himself that he was doing good in the world, but they both know he was just running and hiding, and if he’d stayed in Port Charles and fought for his family, maybe he could have stopped all this from happening in the first place.

Lucky tells Lulu that their mom is looking for him too. That’s how much she loves Lulu. He loves her too, and prays she can forgive him for not being the brother she deserved or needed. But he’s here now and who knows? Maybe he can still save her and when she’s in the clear, awake and talking again as loud as ever, they can figure out then if he deserves her forgiveness… or anyone’s.

Felicia asks how they got away, and Anna says, Sidwell’s guards threw Jason in a cell with her and were ordered to kill them. There was no bomb to diffuse and no bullet to dodge. Felicia says, there was no way out, and Anna says, they had a kind of understanding that they could lose their lives. Felicia says, at least Jason was there. He must have been a comfort in that moment like he was with Robin all those years ago, when she was staring death in the face.

Jack says he was hoping he could impose on Robert, since he’s the expert. He did debrief Holly. Robert says he’s no longer part of the Bureau, but Jack says, workarounds are his thing. Off the record, does Robert think Holly is a security risk? Robert says, absolutely, but not in the way Jack thinks. After he’s spoken to her, he’ll get back to Jack. Jack thanks him and says, always a pleasure. Robert says, he’s such a liar, and Jack leaves.

Curtis asks how Drew feels about their relationship, and Nina says, the vibe between them is nice. He says, when he hears about their relationship evolving from pretend to real, it’s not that much different from what happened in Nixon Falls. She says, it’s completely different (agreed – Drew never thought he was someone else), and he says he doesn’t want to see her hurt. She asks why he thinks she’ll be hurt, and he says, when she cares about someone, she’s vulnerable. In the circles she and Drew are traveling in, she can’t afford to be vulnerable. His phone rings, and he answers. He listens a moment, and says, thanks for reaching out. He tells Nina, that was the music promotor congratulating him. His father is going to be touring with Wynton Marsalis. She says, that’s a good thing, right? and he says, yeah, but why was his father hiding this?

Elizabeth says, Lucky saved her and her sanity during a difficult time. After she was raped, he helped her realize that she’s a lot stronger than she thought and everything she didn’t think was possible, was. She’ll forever be grateful for that. Terry says, he sounds like a helluva guy, and Elizabeth says, he was. He probably still is, but 15 years can change a lot. Terry says she wishes she could stay, but she has to get back to the hospital. She’s going to leave Elizabeth with one infuriating thought. Everything she said makes perfect sense, but sometimes things that should make sense, don’t anymore. She leaves.

Anna says she doesn’t think she and Jason were a comfort to one another when they were so close to dying, and Felicia asks how they got away. Anna says, the drone strike occurred. She thinks it was a group effort. Felicia says, so the drones took out their would-be killers and left her and Jason unscathed, and Anna says, pretty much. They managed to get Lucky away from Sidwell and get away. Holly stole a jeep and drove them to the airstrip where the WSB had a jet waiting. And here she is. Felicia says, wow. All she can says is, she thinks Anna should do that more often.

Jason says he doesn’t like Carly working with Brennan, but she says she’s not. She just worked with him so that Jason could be safe, and now he and Lulu are safe. He says, she can’t trust Brennan. She seems to think he’s helping her because he likes her. She says she actually does think that, and he pulls her aside. He says, it’s what they call an investment, and Brennan is going to want a return on his investment. She says, owing Brennan it’s a small price to keep them alive, and he says he hopes she doesn’t regret it when Brennan wants to collect. She says, he already has, and he asks what Brennan wanted. She says, a burger from Bobbie’s. She’s got this. What else happened on the mission? Jason says, nothing, and walks to the elevator. She says she knows him. What else happened? He says, nothing, and the elevator doors close.

Robert looks through some paperwork, and outside, Holly is about to knock on his office door. She decides not to and walks away.

Portia looks at the computer, and Terry asks about the test results. Portia says, they just came in. (Her face looks grim, but you know they like to mess with us.) Terry asks if she can see, and Portia turns the screen toward her. She says, it looks like they found their donor just in time.

Lucky goes to Bobbie’s and looks through the window. He sees Elizabeth and goes inside. She turns and sees him.

On Thursday (we hope), Ava says she likes the sound of that; Lucky says he can’t give Elizabeth promises he can’t keep; and Heather refuses to go down without a fight.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

GH is preempted for baseball on Tuesday and Wednesday. And depending on how those games go, possibly Thursday.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-is-preempted-multiple-times-this-week

I just don’t get this. It sounds like she didn’t either.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-monaco-has-taped-her-last-scenes-at-gh

I can’t keep these kids straight anymore. Lucky won’t be able to recognize him, and not because it’s been a long time.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/colin-cassidy-is-the-new-aiden-on-general-hospital

Farewell to yet another soap legend.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/days-of-our-lives/days-co-stars-remembers-drake-hogestyn

🗽 From the Wide-Awake City…

I find it hard to believe they’re going through the same sh*t everyone else is going through.

Shout out to the Bronx!

https://www.thewrap.com/who-is-racquel-chevremont-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/

🧂 Shakers Of Salt…

Well, if she doesn’t know, how are we supposed to know?

https://people.com/meredith-marks-mary-cosby-fight-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-season-5-explained-8720027

She can’t win because she’s not doing it for the right reasons. There, I said it.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1407421/why-rhoslcs-heather-gay-feels-like-she-cant-win-after-losing-weight-on-ozempic

💎 Giving the Real Real…

So was it not real before?

I can’t imagine this show being good for anyone’s spirit or career.

👀 This Weekend’s Watch…

The critics are right. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable and amazing as Oswald Oz Cobb aka The Penguin. The show is like Batman meets Boardwalk Empire, weirdly set in today’s world, but with a 1930s feel. Admittedly, a lot of it feels cliché, like Oz’s accent – he commits a moider – but it woiks. Of course, Gotham is a city in its own world, so it can be what it wants. All of the visuals were captivating, and I was fascinated with the view of the Times Square like center of the town. TBH, I haven’t paid much attention to the Batman films. I loved the comics as a kid, but I leaned more toward the female villains like Cat Woman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. A friend once showed up at a karaoke Halloween party dressed as Poison Ivy, and said I was the only one who recognized who she was, but I digress. Filled with murder, mayhem, and style, I thought The Penguin was a worthwhile watch, and since it’s only 8 episodes, I’m in it for the not-so-long haul.

https://www.cbr.com/the-penguin-big-splash-hbo-premiere/

Forget that other guy.

https://www.cbr.com/the-penguin-differences-from-the-batman/

How he became Oz.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0jtmqbj/colin-farrell-describes-how-he-transformed-into-the-penguin

The other series on my short list was Grotesquerie. The story was compelling and sucked me in right away. Niecy Nash-Betts is world weary, alcoholic detective Lois Tryon, who has to solve a series of murders committed by an entity only known as Grotesquerie. Helping her track down the killer is a crime writer and amateur detective, who also happens to be a nun. Lois’s husband is in a coma, but returns in flashbacks, suggesting her drinking is turning from a pastime into a profession, and her job has become more of an obsession than a profession. The characters are captivating, the acting is award worthy, and it’s directed beautifully. Fresh off playing Lyle Menendez in Monsters, Nicholas Chavez is amazing as a young priest with some odd proclivities, who is also the nun’s best friend. IMO, if he continues with the trajectory he’s on, he’ll be up there with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, et al. My only complaint, a SWAT team sneaking around a building after loudly busting down a gate with their vehicle to get on the property. I think whoever was inside would hear that.

Only slight revelations here.

https://www.thewrap.com/grotesquerie-review-niecy-nash-betts-fx/

He had a good time.

https://www.thewrap.com/monsters-grotesquerie-nicholas-chavez-interview/

Warning: spoilers.

https://deadline.com/2024/09/grotesquerie-niecy-nash-betts-talks-premiere-episodes-fx-ryan-murphy-1236101830/

👒 Never Complain, Never Explain…

Downton Abbey will never be the same.

https://ew.com/downton-abbey-creator-and-cast-pay-tribute-to-maggie-smith-8719727

Some of her best.

https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1108201/dowager-countess-quotes/

🦧 Same To You, Monkey…

The amusing side of wildlife.

https://people.com/2024-comedy-wildlife-awards-finalists-photos-8719560

🧶 A Sweater Is Like Life…

Join me tomorrow for a glance at NYC and who knows what else? Until then, stay safe, stay always leaving them wanting more, and stay occasionally reevaluating, because sometimes things that should make sense, don’t anymore.

September 13, 2024 – Mac Makes an Arrest, No Return (Yet), Explanation, Salty Talk, A Share, Along Soon, Grotesque Premiere, New Lot, First Treats, A Joke, Newsworthy Faunae, VIII Quotes & Early

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Mac and Felicia kiss outside the boathouse, and Felicia looks at Mac. He asks if there’s something on his face, and she says, on his face and all around him. He’s glowing. Everything about him radiates happiness. He asks if that’s what this feeling is, and she says, yes, and he’d better get used to it because it’s all smooth sailing from here. He says he’s not sure about that, and she asks if that’s pessimism she hears. He says, it’s hard not to feel that way with everything that just happened, and she asks what he’s talking about. He asks if she didn’t catch the stink lines radiating from Tracy Quartermaine a few minutes ago.

Brook brings Lois some water and asks if she’s all right. Lois asks if she’s serious. She and Chase are going to make her a Nona? Tracy walks in and says, this house is going completely downhill. Entitled cooks, babies that cry all night, interloping hoi polio that move in and never leave, and now we can add liar to the list. Brook says, someone lied to her? and Lois says, let her guess. Michael… Drew… Ned. Tracy says, no. Of course (🍷) it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them were lying, but this time the person is Violet.

On the phone, Carly asks what Jack has got for her, and he says he loves a woman who skips the small talk and gets right down to business. She says, Lulu’s life is on the line, so there’s no time to waste, and he hangs up the phone. Carly tells Jason, he hung up on her.

Anna walks into Jack’s office, and he says he’s going to need a new assistant if this one keeps letting her in here. She says, if he thinks any assistant is going to stop her, then he’s woefully underqualified for this job. Who chooses her town, or is he just passing through?

Kristina goes to Michael’s office, and he asks how she’s doing. She says her mom is being targeted for murder, so not great, and he says he knows it’s not easy, but it’s important she let the investigation run its course. She says, if he’s asking her to trust that the police are going to clear her mom as a suspect, she can’t do that, and he says, if she’s thinking of going to the cops… She says she has to. She’s the one who got her mom into this mess. He says, if she tells the police the truth about the night Cates was murdered, it’s just going to put her in their crosshairs, and she says, if it gets her mother out of their crosshairs, it’s worth it. He says, it could make things worse. Chase could think she and her mother were both involved in this. She says, but that’s not true, and he says, if they think it is, she could get charged with murder and her mother as an accessory. She asks what she’s supposed to do, and he says, there’s a way to keep her out of trouble and her mom from getting in any more of it.

Alexis lets Sonny in and he says he would have come sooner, but it’s been a busy couple of days. She says she’s been busy herself, trying to keep their daughter out of jail, while being treated like a criminal herself. He says he’s sorry she’s in that position, and she says she can handle herself. Right now, they have a much bigger problem. He says, Kristina, and she says, how are they going to keep their daughter from being charged with a murder they both know she didn’t commit?

Kristina asks what Michael is thinking, and he says, her mother has an uphill battle. Kristina says, because of her criminal history? and he says, and all the evidence against her. And she threatened Cates in a room full of cops. She was in possession of a weapon which she got caught disposing of and she doesn’t have an alibi. Kristina says she already knows how bad it is, and he says, more important, Cates is a federal agent, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure to make an arrest and convict the killer. She says, it really doesn’t sound like he has a plan, and he says, they may not be able to detract from the case with Alexis, but they may be able to deliver them a stronger one against someone else. She asks if he has someone in mind.

Sonny says he gets why Alexis is worked up, and she says she has every reason to be worked up. He may be used to being interrogated… He says, and she’s not? and she says, he’s the career criminal. He says, and she’s only an incidental one? and she says, them swiping at each other isn’t going to do them any good. He says, do him one favor. Hold her judgement for their daughter’s sake until he’s gone. She says, okay. Maybe he could do her a favor than and own up to his role in all of this. He asks if she doesn’t think he knows this is all because of him, Jagger holding a grudge for over 30 years, using their daughter to try and get his revenge. She says she was referring to more recent events at the Quartermaines, and he says, Jagger is dead. So is Jagger’s vendetta against him and his family. He wants to put all of this behind them. Does Alexis know what she was doing that night? Alexis says, Kristina was here with her until she left to steal a gun from him.

Brook tells Tracy that she’s never known Violet to lie. But if she’s telling a fib here and there, it’s completely understandable. Especially after everything she’s been through. Tracy says, if they let her get away with this, who knows what’s next? Brook says she hardly thinks Violet telling a fib here and there is going to set her on a path to a life of crime, and Lois says, no, but maybe they want to think about getting her a therapist. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s happy to get Violet whatever she needs, but first, she’d like to hear the whole story. What did Violet lie about that’s got Tracy so upset? Tracy says, she’s going around telling everybody that Brook and Chase are having a baby, and Brook looks at Lois. Tracy says, oh my God. Tell her that it’s a lie. Or at least a misunderstanding. Brook says she and Chase aren’t having a baby, but she is thinking about it.

Felicia says, Tracy was in a bad mood today, and Mac says, Tracy’s been condescending to her employees for decades now, but today was ridiculous. Sasha’s not allowed to have friends here? She lives here. Felicia says, so does Cody, but she didn’t go after him, and Mac says, it’s only a matter of time. She says, Tracy generally applies the same amount of spite to everyone. Cody just seems to get off easy. Maybe there’s a reason Tracy doesn’t go after Cody. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is interested in Cody.

On the phone, Carly says she doesn’t care. She needs to talk to him… Okay. Please tell him to call her. She tells Jason that his assistant keeps telling her that Jack can’t come to the phone right now, and he says, Brennan will call her when he has something to tell her. They walk out of the elevator, and she says, why should they wait for him when they can tap into the resource they have right here? She leads Jason into Isaiah’s room and says, Isaiah Gannon, this is Jason Morgan. She believes they already met on the shoulder of Route 41.

Jack says he thought Port Charles would be big enough for both of them, and Anna says, it can be. On her terms. He says, which are? and she says, when she requires something from him, he delivers. He laughs and says he doesn’t work for her, and she says, he does know the WSB rents this building from the City of Port Charles. If he makes things difficult for her, maybe these premises just won’t be up to code. He says he sees they’ve moved on to the threats portion of this conversation. Just curious. How does it feel to be a big fish in a little pond? She says she likes it. How is it going to feel for him when he has to inform his boss that he’s been run out of town? He asks what she wants, and she says she wants Lucky’s location, and he’s had plenty of time since last night to find it. He asks what makes her think he even kept looking, much less found anything? and she says, because she’s learned that if she does actually require something from him, her best chance is to request it from Carly Spencer, because he seems to be very eager to do whatever it takes to make her happy. He tells her, Sidwell was headed northeast, the Puntland, and holds up a paper. He has a secondary operation there. She reaches for the paper, but he snatches it away and says, does she know he could report her for going rogue?

Isaiah says he hears he should be grateful to Jason for helping him. Is he a cop or something? Jason says, just a coffee importer, and Isaiah says, interesting career choice. Jason says, and a friend to Lucky, and Isaiah says, they have that in common. He just wishes he could have helped his buddy. If he hadn’t gotten hit by that car, someone could have gotten to him sooner. Carly says, they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to find Lucky’s location. Jason says, once they have that, he’s going there to bring Lucky home. Isaiah says, by himself? Jason nods, and Isaiah says, Sidwell’s surrounded by guards. It’ll take more than just some coffee importer to get him out. He’s coming with Jason.

Anna asks if Jack is threatening her. She actually might like that. He says, not threatening, warning. She’s no longer a WSB agent. She says, this isn’t a Bureau operation. This is off the books. She’s acting independently of any agency. He says, which also means she doesn’t have any support or backup, and she says she can handle this herself. He says, Jenz Sidwell is more dangerous than she realizes. He doesn’t care who he hurts or kills in the process of getting what he wants. She asks if he’s pretending that he cares about her, and he says he mostly cares about the potential of her little quest to blow back on him. She’s going into danger with Bureau intelligence, alone. She says, then give her a team that she can take with her, but he says, she knows he can’t do that. She says, then give her the one thing he can, which is give her Lucky’s location, and he says, only if she tells him why this Lucky character is worth risking her neck. Even worse, she owes him a favor.

Felicia says she wasn’t implying Tracy is interested in Cody romantically, and Mac says, good. He didn’t gain a son only to watch Cruella de Quartermaine turn him in to a saddle. She says, Tracy considers Cody a friend, one that she cares about very deeply. Tracy has lost so many people over the years. Her parents, Luke, and now recently Gregory. Tracy must be very lonely. He says, she lives in a house full of people, and she says, but Cody’s different. He’s nice to her. He’s sweet and he’s uncomplicated. He says, she makes him sound like a Golden Retriever, and she says, put himself in Tracy’s shoes. She comes to the stables to talk to Cody, a man who may be her only real friend, only to find his attention is completely taken up by his new family and a beautiful young woman who is just as smitten with him as he is with her. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is jealous, and she says, absolutely. Don’t let Tracy get to him. He says he won’t. Because he’s going to find Cody a new job and a new place to live far away from Tracy. (I’m thinking he might want to consult with Cody first.)

Alexis tells Sonny that she was absolutely frantic when she came out and saw Kristina had left with her car. And when she came back, Kristina was all wet. Sonny says, where did she say she’d been? and Alexis tells him, she said she’d been to his house and then to the baby’s grave. He says, she told him about the gun. She didn’t say anything about the grave. Alexis says, he knows their daughter is suffering right now from severe postpartum trauma, along with everything else that has happened. He says, she needs help. Does Alexis think they should admit her to a facility? She says she doesn’t know what she thinks or what’s best for Kristina right now. All she could think of were the implications of Kristina being in possession of a loaded weapon. He says, she was right to worry, and she says, it’s a violation of bail, and if it weren’t enough that she was afraid Kristina might shoot somebody, she was worried Kristina might hurt herself. He says, Kristina assured him she wouldn’t do that, and she says, given Kristina’s state of mind, she had no choice but to get rid of the gun, did she? He says, Kristina told him. Diane told him. Unfortunately, there’s witnesses. She says she knows. Ric and Elizabeth just happened to be strolling by just in time to watch her toss the gun off the bridge into the river. What she didn’t know at the time was John Cates had just been murdered and the police were off looking for the 9 millimeter gun that killed him, which is the same kind of gun they witnessed her getting rid of.

Michael says he did some digging into Cates’s past, and he made a lot of enemies when he was a Fed. Criminals who might be willing to place themselves at the scene of the crime for the right incentive. Kristina says, he wants to pay someone to take the fall for this? and he says he wants to ensure that she doesn’t take responsibility for a crime she didn’t commit. She says she’s surprised he’s telling her all this, and he says, she should know. It’s her life and her decision, but more importantly, she should know that this plan is pointless if she speaks up in Alexis’s defense. She says, oddly comforting how well he knows her, and he says, she’s his sister. Her phone rings, and it’s Chase. He asks if it would be possible for her to meet him at the station. She asks if this is about the federal charges, and he says he has a few questions he needs to ask her. She says she’s in the middle of something right now and isn’t able to get down there, but he says, this isn’t a request.

Sonny wonders why Alexis wouldn’t want Kristina admitted to a facility, and she says, because she asked Kristina, and she seemed shocked. So she genuinely thinks it didn’t occur to her. He says he feels the same way, but that means she wanted to use the gun on someone else. She says, what a comforting thought, and he says, the good thing is, now they don’t have to think she’s going to harm herself. She says, so now what do they have? Kristina took the gun from his place, she got rid of it, and now the police have come looking for her. He asks what she told them, and she says, why? What is he worried about? Is he worried she’s going to incriminate Kristina or him?

Kristina and Michael go into the interrogation room, and Chase tells Kristina to have a seat. He’s not sure why Michael is here. Michael says, they couldn’t get in touch with Diane. He’s sure his presence here won’t be a problem. Right, friend? Chase says he’s just doing his job, and Michael says he’s just a brother looking out for his sibling. He’s sure Chase can relate. Chase says, they need to discuss Kristina’s whereabouts the night Agent Cates was murdered. Michael asks if she’s a suspect, and Chase says he’s letting Michael stay while he questions Kristina. In return, he expects Michael’s silence. Kristina says, it’s fine. She was at her mom’s house that night. Chase says, the whole night? and she says, from the time her mom and Sam picked her up from the station until the next morning. He says, she never left at all? and she says she did leave for about half an hour. He asks where she went, and she says, to her daughter’s grave. He asks if she was alone, and she says, yes. He asks if there was anyone there who can corroborate that, and Michael says, in the cemetery in the middle of the night? Chase says, let Kristina answer, and Michael says, Kristina’s done talking. He tells Kristina, come on, and tells Chase, if he has to ask Kristina anything else, call her lawyer. Chase says he will, and they leave.

Felicia says she knows this is hard for Mac, but sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things. His phone rings and he says, it’s the station. He answers, then says, yeah, okay. Thanks for letting him know. He’ll take care of it himself. Felicia asks if something is wrong, and he says, some new evidence came in about John Cates murder. Enough to make an arrest.

Brook says she knows what’s going on here. Violet brought up the subject of having kids to her and Chase, and they told her that they definitely want them. Tracy says, great. They’re going to be perfect parents in ten years. Lois says, Tracy… and Tracy says, well, definitely not now. Their marriage is only months old, and Chase isn’t going to give up his dangerous and grossly underpaid line of work, and they have Violet to take care of. Their hands are full. Brook says, true, but they’re not waiting ten years, and Tracy asks if she’s crazy. She’s too young to have children. Brook says she’s not that young and the longer they wait, the harder it could be. Tracy says, she has access to the best fertility treatments there are, so she can definitely put breeding on hold for a while. Lois says, breeding? and Tracy says, Deception can’t take Brook’s absence. They have a snake for a CFO, a mobster for an investor, and a fool for a founder. The company needs her. She needs her. Lois says, news flash. Not everything is about her, especially Brook’s family planning.

Anna asks why her interest in Lucky even matters to Jack, and he says, because she’s asking for his help. And she’s as determined as he’s ever seen her to get. If she doesn’t want to share, there’s the door. She says, he knows who Lucky’s father was, and he says, Luke Spencer. She says, then he must know how much Luke did for the WSB over the years, and he asks if she’s rescuing Lucky to pay off some imaginary debt the WSB owes his father. She says, no. She’s doing this for Luke. They were friends for many years. He says, special friends, and she says, if Robin had ever been in any kind of trouble, there’s nothing Luke wouldn’t have done to bring her home safely. He looked out for her. So she doesn’t know about Jack, but she pays her debts. (Is she a Lannister?) He says he’ll remember that when it comes time for him to collect, she takes the paper out of his hand, and leaves.

Isaiah tries to get up and groans. Jason says, he’s not going anywhere, and Isaiah says, neither should Jason. Jenz Sidwell is a dangerous man. Carly says, Jason can take care of himself, but Isaiah says, it’s Lucky he’s worried about. Sidwell is smart. He’s always got guards around him. Jason says he figured, but thanks Isaiah for the heads up. Isaiah says, it’s going to take more than a lone wolf. It’s going to take a government agency. Carly says, the WSB seems to be dragging their heels. They’re not sure if the WSB is even going to get involved in this. Jason says, either way, he’s going, and Isaiah is in no condition to join him. Does he have any insights he can share? Are there any weaknesses in Sidwell’s security? Isaiah says, none that he knows of, and Jason says, all he needs is a single vulnerability, something that will give him a tactical advantage. Isaiah says, there’s only one. Sidwell’s girlfriend.

Back at Michael’s office, Kristina says she guesses it’s official. She’s a suspect in John Cates’s murder. Michael says, she’s a person of interest, and she says, Chase wanted her exact timeline (receipts, proof, and screenshots!) for the entire night. He says, it’s a good thing she told him the truth, so it can’t come back to hurt her. She can’t afford to be caught in any lies right now. She says she doesn’t understand how he knew she left the house, and he asks if she’s sure no one saw her at the cemetery. She says, it was dark and deserted. She thinks if someone were there, she would have seen them. He says, there must have been some other way. Who knew she went out that night? She says, just her mom and Sam, but they never would have told Chase, and he says, maybe someone overheard them talking about her going out, but she says, no. That’s impossible. They never even left the house. When she walked in, they were still calling around. He says, they called him and presumably dad. Who else did they call? She says, Molly. They called Molly.

Sonny tells Alexis, you know what? She can say anything she wants about him. She can tell anybody who will listen her theory on what happened to Jagger that night. Bring it on. She says, then step forward and tell the truth that he killed Cates, and he says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She says, he hated Cates. He was at the Quartermaines at the time Cates was killed. He had motive and opportunity. He says he was there, but he wasn’t alone, and she says, he means to tell her that Lois is covering for him? He dragged her into it? Or even worse, he dragged Michael into his mess. He says, Carly was with him, and she says, really. Carly is his alibi? He says, they were at the Quartermaines. They all saw him and Carly together, in particular, Tracy Quartermaine. She says, just weeks ago, Carly nearly went to prison for him, yet she’ll cover for him murdering an FBI agent. Talk about symbiotic. He says, they’ve always had a special bond and they’ve always been close. Then they got together… She says, stop. It’s horrible enough that Carly would be an alibi for him, but the fact that they would do it again after everything Sonny’s done to her… He says his time was accounted for. Why is that so hard for her to accept? She says, because if he’s telling the truth and he’s innocent, he wouldn’t need Diane and Diane would be free to defend her, which she isn’t because she’s busy defending him.

Anna lets Felicia into her apartment and thanks her for coming so quickly. Felicia says, it sounded like it was urgent, and Anna says, it is. She’ll fill Felicia in on all that in a minute. She wanted to find out how Mac is doing. Felicia says, he and Cody are getting along really well. He and Tracy Quartermaine, that’s a different story. She’ll fill Anna in later on that, but here’s her anti-malaria tablets that she requested. She hands Anna a bottle, and Anna thanks her. She says she didn’t have time to put in for a prescription, and takes one. Felicia says she can thank Frisco. If he hadn’t asked Mac for help last year, then she and Mac would have gone to Africa, and she would have taken the pills herself. She just hopes they’re still affective. Anna says she’s sure they’re fine. They have a very long shelf life. Felicia says, and Anna is hoping to get this through TSA? and picks up a machete. Anna says, no. She’ll check that. Felicia asks why she’d need that for a safari, and Anna says, it’s not really a safari. It’s more of a hunt. Felicia says she loves animals too much to help Anna… Anna says, not that kind of a hunt. She’s looking for someone. Felicia says, someone she knows? and Anna says, Lucky Spencer. Lulu’s in so much trouble and Lucky’s in trouble too. She’s hoping that she’s going to track him down and bring him home. Felicia says, not alone she’s not. She’s coming with Anna.

Isaiah says, Sidwell’s girlfriend is the one person he trusts, so she’s Jason’s best bet in trying to get to him. Jason asks what he knows about her, and Isaiah says, she’s beautiful, classy, and she’s got Sidwell wrapped around her little finger. She’s the one person he trusts. Jason says, so she’s his way into the camp, and Isaiah says, assuming she’ll help him. Sidwell provides her with a great life. She looks the other way from his crimes. Carly says, what’s her name? Maybe they can do a little research. Isaiah says, Sidwell calls her English, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly sees Jack through the window, and Jason thanks Isaiah and says, he’s been very helpful. Isaiah says, tell Lucky, he cheats at cards, and Carly says, he can tell Lucky himself when Jason brings him home. They leave and Isaiah smiles.

Tracy tells Lois, careful. Her Bensonhurst is showing. Her accent back, Lois says she doesn’t care. If Brook and Chase want to have a baby, they can have as many as they want, whenever they want. It’s not up to Tracy. It’s none of her business. Tracy asks Brook if this is about Deception. She knows things have been strained since they brought Sonny in, but she and Brook have been working really well together. Brook says, no. She loves her job, and she loves working with Tracy. But she can work and have a family. Back to her new accent, Lois says, of course (🍷) she can. Because it’s 2024 and women can do anything. Tracy tells Brook, that’s easy to say now, but things change when you have a child to take care of. Lois says, that’s for Brook to decide. Come on. Despite all her griping, Tracy is excited. She’s going to go bananas over her own great grandbaby. Chase walks in and says, what? Is Brook pregnant? Lois tells Tracy, let’s let the newlyweds talk, and leads her out of the room. Brook says she’s sorry Chase walked in on that. She didn’t want to start this conversation like that. He says he’s fine. Just tell him. Is she pregnant? She says, no, but maybe she’d like to be.

Sonny says, Alexis hasn’t been arrested or charged with anything. If that day comes, he’ll get her the best possible defense team. She says awesome. Because now she doesn’t have anything to worry about. He says, it’s the only thing they can do right now, and she says she wants to know what he’s going to do for Kristina because she doesn’t want to believe Kristina killed Cates. She wants to believe they raised their daughter better than either of them. He says, they have, and she says she guesses it doesn’t matter much what they think. What matters is what the police think. And if they find out she was gone that night and had a gun, Kristina will be as much of a suspect as she is. He says, that’s not going to happen because Kristina didn’t kill Jagger, and Alexis says, neither did she. He asks if she honestly thinks Anna isn’t going to have an airtight case. They’re talking about the death of an FBI agent. She doesn’t want to screw that up. Alexis says, they both know there are miscarriages of justice all the time. Kristina could very well be arrested for this, and if that happens, how far is he willing to go to save their daughter? He says he will not let Kristina take the fall for Jagger’s death, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, they’re not done with this discussion, and opens the door to Mac.

Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this, but Michael says, they don’t know Molly is to blame. She says, Molly is the only one who would have told Chase that she was out, and he says, she really thinks Molly would go this far. She tells him that he said it himself. She’s an ADA. She’s the best at her job. Molly hates her right now and blames her for Adela’s death. Molly is trying to get revenge on her for turning her in for something she didn’t even do. (Um… then she’s not the best at her job, is she?) He says, whether or not Molly talked to the police, it doesn’t matter. Because if that’s the only evidence she or anyone else has, it’s not much… Unless there’s something else she’s not telling him.  

Brook says she knows she and Chase have talked about having kids and that they both want them, and he says, absolutely. She’d be a great mom. Their future kids are so lucky. She says, and he’s going to be a great dad, but one thing they haven’t talked about is when they want to start trying. He says he just assumed she wanted to wait with Deception taking up so much of her time, and she says she assumed he wanted to wait because they’re taking care of Violet. He says, if she’s factoring in Violet, he’s pretty sure she’s all in about them having a baby. She can’t wait to be an older cousin. It sounds like Tracy’s the only one who’s going to be having a problem with this. She says, don’t worry about her grandmother. She can handle her, but she’s worried they won’t be able to handle a growing family while they’re taking care of Violet. He says he doesn’t think that will be a factor. Finn gets out of rehab in one month and the first thing he’s going to want to do is to take Violet home with him. The important question is will there be a recast, is she ready to start a family? She says she was going to ask him the same thing, and he says he loves her. He adores Violet and spending all this time with her, but he wants a child of their own. He was just waiting on her.

Jack tells Carly, Sidwell is running another wildcat mine. He’s probably holed up there, and it’s likely he’s holding Lucky there too. He’s sent Carly the coordinates. Carly says she’ll forward everything to Jason, and Jason says he’ll leave right away. She says, please be careful. If something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. He says he’ll be fine. The important thing is to bring Lucky back to save Lulu. She thanks him and asks Jack if there’s anything else he can do to help Jason. He says, the political situation in Somali prevents the WSB from intervening in any way, but Jason says, it’s fine. He’ll do it on his own. Jack says, not necessarily.

Felicia says she doesn’t like the idea of Anna taking off on her own on some risky mission without any backup, and Anna says, the urgency of the matter demands immediate attention. If she has any hope in finding Lucky, she has to cut some corners. Felicia says, she doesn’t. She can come with Anna. Anna doesn’t know how good she is with a machete. Anna says she’s sure and thanks her for the offer. At any other time, she’d jump at the chance, but she’s hoping to hook up with Laura and Doc. She thinks more people are just going to attract attention, and Felicia knows as well as she does, that if she comes, Mac isn’t going to be far behind. Felicia says she wants to help Anna. Luke was her friend too. Anna says, that’s why she wants Felicia and Mac waiting for her in the wings just in case something goes wrong… which it won’t. She has everything under control. Anna picks up her gun, and Felicia looks alarmed. Anna says, Felicia knows what a cautious woman she is.

Lois and Tracy walk to the boathouse, and Lois says she can’t wait to be a grandmother. She was going to claim the title of Nona, but if it makes Tracy feel any better being a great grandmother, then it’s all hers. Tracy says, nothing is going to make her feel better about Brook having a baby so rapidly… Come on. Brook and Chase having a baby might be a done deal, but Lois doesn’t have to have that smug smile on her face. Lois says she’s not smiling because of a potential baby. She’s smiling because she spent years worrying about Tracy’s relationship with Brook. She really believed Tracy would treat her daughter like dirt, resent Brook because she’s hers. They all know how Tracy feels about her, but she was wrong. She can see how much Tracy adores Brook and how much Brook looks up to her. The two of them have a very special relationship. Tracy says, they disagree about everything, and Lois says, that’s because they care about each other, because they want the other person to be better. She knows Tracy has had a rough couple of years and she’s really grown to depend on Brook. She thinks Tracy is afraid if Brook starts a family, she’s going to lose that. But she won’t lose Lois’s daughter if she has a baby. It will only bring the two of them closer together. She promises. Tracy says she doesn’t do diapers, but Lois says she does.

Chase says he’s really glad he overheard Tracy throwing a fit. Otherwise, he doesn’t know how long it would have taken them to have this conversation. She says, at least they’re on the same page. When does he have to be back at the station? He says, about forty-five minutes, and she says, that’s plenty of time. They start kissing. (Hopefully, they move to their own room or Tracy will have another fit.)

On the phone, Carly leaves a message for Laura. She says she knows phone service is spotty, but when Laura gets this, please call her. They may have found a location on Lucky. Jason is on his way to find him. Please call her, day or night. Jack joins her and says, it’s an awful feeling, isn’t it? She says, what? and he says, sending someone off to risk their life while you stay behind. Don’t get him wrong. Watching and waiting from afar is safer physically, but it’s a special kind of hell. She says she wouldn’t have guessed he felt that way. Nothing seems to bother him. He says, now she knows better.

Anna is on the plane, and hears, the cabin doors are now closed. Their flight time to Nairobi will be eighteen hours and fifty-two minutes. She takes off her jacket and buckles her seatbelt. She closes her eyes, and Jason says, excuse me. She looks at him, and he says, she’s in his seat. She smiles.

Kristina says she’s not hiding anything, and Michael says, she blinked a lot. Whenever she’s lying, she blinks more than usual. She says she did make one other stop the night of John Cates’s murder, but she doesn’t even know how that’s relevant. It really can’t hurt her or her mom, because she’s positive nobody saw her. She just pulled into the end of the driveway, thought about it for like a second, and then she left. He says, pulled into whose driveway and what was she thinking about doing? and she says, the Quartermaines. She knew John Cates was there. She went to kill him.

Alexis says, nice to see Mac. What brings him by? He says he’s sorry, but he’s here to make an arrest, and Sonny asks how Mac knew where to find him. Mac says he’s not here for Sonny, and Alexis says, Kristina’s not here. Mac says he’s not here for Kristina either. He came himself because he wanted to make this as painless as possible. Alexis is under arrest for the murder of John Cates. He puts the handcuffs on her and recites her rights. Sonny says, come on, but Mac walks Alexis out the door.

On Monday, Tracy says, Sasha is going to want more out of life than trying to make Cody happy; Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this; and Ava asks if she can trust Ric.

🧴 Before You Get Excited…

This is a bit of a clickbait headline. You’d think she’s coming back, but she talks about when she came back last time. Although there’s still hope for both her and Finn to return. And I’m just going to say it. Why is it the non-heterosexual couples never pan out? These two were the worst blow, since they had more chemistry than any of the other couples on the show. Yes, I’m bitter about it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-opens-up-about-returning-to-gh

🍊 Johnny J. Just Says No…

I thought he was the one who wanted a non-disparagement clause. I’m confused.

🧂 Needs More Salt…

Premieres September 18th, 9 pm. As inappropriate as she is, Mary is a lot of fun to watch.

🍼 Giving You Sosa…

She does know Beyoncé’s birthday isn’t a national holiday, right?

https://people.com/lala-kent-reveals-name-of-her-second-daughter-and-shares-first-photo-8709130

🧹 Flying In Soon…

Agatha arrives September 18th on Disney+.

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-vision-quest-expanding-wandavision-corner-of-marvel-universe-8705558

🪓 Murphy’s Murder Mystery…

Premieres September 25th on FX or you can Hulu it the next day.

https://ew.com/travis-kelce-ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-niecy-nash-set-videos-8645637

https://deadline.com/2024/09/ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-premiere-date-fx-trailer-1236039050/

⚰️ Because We Needed Another One…

I wonder how many times they can film the same King book? How about doing one that hasn’t been done? I’d love to see The Regulators on film, but it’s doubtful that will ever happen, since it’s so weird. Possible, but not probable. The Talisman (written with Peter Straub) is another one that would be great.

https://ew.com/salems-lot-lewis-pullman-makenzie-leigh-book-changes-pressures-adapting-stephen-king-exclusive-8706884

🎃 Never Too Early…

Why can’t it be both? Or maybe it’s a dog movie. I love Zero.

https://ew.com/movies/nightmare-before-christmas-halloween-or-holiday-movie-debate/

And what’s Halloween without drag queens?

🦙 They’re All a Bunch Of Animals…

It’s all fun and games until they spit on you.

https://people.com/portland-airport-offers-emotional-support-llamas-photos-8707772

🐠 I would have liked to see a little more of the aquarium. How this turned into another Taylor/Travis article, I don’t know, but it did.

https://people.com/brittany-mahomes-welcomes-new-addition-home-aquarium-8710807

🦛 Do not harass the hippo. Although this raises the question, do people just walk around with shellfish in their hands in Thailand?

https://people.com/baby-hippo-doubles-zoo-visitors-and-prompts-safety-warnings-8712177

🐕 You didn’t think there wouldn’t be something about a dog, did you?

https://people.com/my-golden-retriever-dog-model-for-cone-of-shame-book-exclusive-8710225

😄 A Joke:  Q: What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do? A: Stays up all night wondering if there’s a dog.

💈 Quotes of the Week

The Apocalypse means never having to say you’re sorry. – Murphy (Keith Allan), Z Nation

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost. – Robert H. Schuller

There are no regrets in life. Just lessons. – Jennifer Aniston

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (before he started talking to empty chairs)

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. – Bruce Lee

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. – Potter Stewart

If you fall, make it part of the dance. – LuAnn de Lessops

🍁 Every Leaf Is a Flower…

Enjoy the last of summer, the first of fall, or both, and come back on Monday to enjoy some soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay stopping to admire the changing landscape, and stay remembering that sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things.

September 4, 2024 – Lucky Sees a Familiar Face, Lois’s Coach, Branching Out, This Week’s Listings, Showing For Andy, Real Bluestone, NJ’s Own, Fake At the Shore, New Dance, Introduction & Pale

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Curtis sits in Drew’s office, and Drew tells him that Larry McConkey died. Curtis says he saw it on the news. He’s sorry. He knows they were getting close. Drew says, that’s not all that happened today.

Michael and Willow go into the bedroom, and he asks if she’s okay. She says she’s a little shaky, and he says, it’s been a helluva day. Name it, and he’s at her service. She says, what she needs is sleep, but she appreciates him looking out for her. He says he’s her husband. It comes with the territory.

Brick meets Jordan at the Surf Lodge, and she thanks him for coming. He says he knew she’d call eventually, and she asks if he’s that irresistible. He says, her words, not his, and she says she definitely owes him a date. He says, this isn’t it? and she says, this is her asking for a favor.

Lucky is brought to Sidwell, and says he thought Sidwell turned in. Sidwell says he has a touch of insomnia, and he tells the guard to take Lucky’s handcuffs off. He takes it that Lucky is a gambling man, and Lucky says, it runs in the family. Sidwell says, perfect. Deal.

Mac tells Robert, merry Christmas, and Robert says, it’s September. Mac tosses a file on his desk and says he’s early. There was a murder at the Quartermaine mansion. Robert asks if the perp is in the file, and Mac says, there are plenty of suspects, half of Port Charles. But there’s one at the head of the pack. Robert smiles.

At the station, Diane asks Anna if her client is inside, and Anna asks if she doesn’t mean clients. Diane goes into the interrogation room and sees Jason and Ava. She says she’d like a word with her client and his plus one, and Anna leaves. She says she takes it Ava has her own counsel, but Jason says he needs her to help them both tonight.

Sonny tells Carly to make herself at home in the penthouse, but she says she’s not staying. He says, the cops will be here this morning. They have to get their story straight. She says she knows where she was when John Cates was murdered. Where was he?

Sidwell says, they have to agree on the stakes, and Lucky says, if he wins, he goes free. Sidwell says, how about if he wins, he stays alive? If he loses, he dies. He was going to kill Lucky anyway. Lucky says, shall we? and deals.

Brick looks at a photo on his phone and asks Jordan, who is this? She says she was hoping he could help find out. He’s a John Doe who was the victim of a hit and run. He’s at GH, unconscious, and no ID. The police are running his prints, but there’s nothing yet. He says, she thinks he can make the guy’s ID, and she says she’s sure of it, but he says, fingerprints and a photo aren’t a lot to go on. She says she knows she’s asking a lot and he’s busy, but he says, that’s not it. By the time he tracks the ID down, the guy could wake up and tell them who he is. She says, that’s why she appreciates him getting started on the search, and he says, anything for her, but there’s a price.

Sonny says, all that matters is that Jagger is dead. Jagger can’t come after Kristina or anybody he cares about anymore. Carly says, so when someone was killing Cates, he was supposed to be with her, and he says he appreciated her having his back. She says she doesn’t appreciate him implying they were having a tryst. They’re divorced, separated. Now he’s dragged her into the middle of a murder. Why? He says, after everything they’ve been through, he still trusts her with his life.

Ava tells Diane that she was unable to reach her lawyer. He’s been incommunicado for some time. Frankly, she’s worried. Diane says, about him or her? and Ava says, both. She was hoping not to involve lawyers, but Jason wouldn’t say a word without her. Diane says, that’s why he’s her favorite client. Why did Ava think they don’t need an attorney when they’re at the police station? Ava says, they did nothing wrong. Boyle was going to kill her, and Jason stopped her. Diane says she’s on retainer with Jason, but Jason says he’d appreciate her helping Ava too. Diane asks, why? and he says, they can both prove everything they’re saying is true.  

Robert says, so Cates is dead, and Sonny is the number one suspect, and Mac says, Robin is going to take it hard. He’ll call her and be the bad cop on this one. Robert asks if that makes him the good cop, but Mac says, it makes him the father. Robert says, Cates basically lost his way, and Mac says, that’s a nice way to put it. He’s been torturing Kristina and there was nothing they could do about it. (Calling the FBI might have been an option. <heaving Jason sigh>). Robert says, so Sonny has motive, and Mac says, and plenty of opportunity.

Kristina comes downstairs and calls for Alexis, but there’s no answer. She checks her bag, and the gun isn’t there. She rifles through her stuff.

Willow says, there’s something she wants to tell Michael. When Drew first got the news about McConkey’s death, he was very upset, and it dredged up feelings about Alan and him never having had a father figure. It brought out a side of Drew she’s never seen before. Michael’s phone rings, and he says, if it’s important, they’ll call back. Willow says, Drew was so upset, she wanted to comfort him, when… Michael’s phone rings again, and he looks at it. He says, it’s Kristina again, and she says, he should answer it. Kristina tells Michael that he needs to come here right now, but he says he can’t. She says, it’s bad, and he asks, how bad? She says she’s missing a gun.

Carly says, if Sonny trusts her, why did he blindside her with this? Why did he mess up the bed and make everyone believe they had sex? She can account for her whereabouts. Why should she believe him? He tells her that if he admits it, they don’t have spousal privilege. He can’t tell her the details unless she’s willing to marry him again.  

Michael goes to see Kristina, and she tells him that she had a gun and now it’s gone. He says, whose gun and what was she doing with it? She says she had it in her bag, and now it’s gone, and he asks if it’s possible her mom found it. She says she hopes so.

Alexis is on the footbridge with her phone and tells Diane to pick up. She wonders where Diane is and leaves a message for Diane to call her back. Her client may or may not have violated bail. She’ll give Diane five minutes. If she doesn’t call, Alexis will have to make the decision herself. She cries and says, please call back.

Ava says, Cates insisted she amend her statement and say Kristina tried to kill her, and Anna says, she appeared to be speaking of her free will, but Ava says she was coerced. Cates wanted leverage against Sonny. He knew she had reservations, and he was afraid she’d recant. He put her in a hotel room with Agent Boyle and made her believe she was in protective custody. She found a wad of cash in Boyle’s bag and knew she wasn’t an agent. Anna asks why she thinks Cates would mislead her about Boyle, and Ava says she became a liability. Boyle put her in a car and headed for the Pine Barrens. She fought Boyle for the wheel, the car swerved, and Boyle hit someone, but she didn’t stop. They reached the Pine Barrens, and she thinks Jason can take it from there. Jason says he called 911 about the guy that was hit and found Ava and Boyle not far from the car. He disarmed Boyle and called the cops. Anna says, that’s it? and he says, that’s all there is.

Drew tells Curtis that when he got the news about McConkey, it shook him up. He started thinking about his father and how he never knew him and never had a father figure. Emotions came up. Willow was there and she was there for him. Curtis asks, when Drew says she was there for him… Drew says, they kissed.

Alexis paces the bridge, crying and hyperventilating. She holds the gun.  

Carly says she wants to be clear. She’s not marrying Sonny again. He says, that’s settled, but she says, it’s not. They’re still dealing with a federal murder investigation. He says, they’re coming after him and not using his daughter. He’ll be in the crosshairs, no one else. She says, except his alibi is her, and he says, sorry. He has to admit, working together seemed like old times.

Mac tells Robert that he took statements from the Quartermaine family and others present, including the staff. Sonny might be hard to nail down. Cody was in the stable within earshot and didn’t hear anything. Robert says, a silencer used on a stormy night would be hard to hear, and Mac asks what he thinks. Robert says, it took Cody a year to come to Mac and tell him that he was Cody’s father. That hardly makes him a reliable witness.

Jordan asks, what’s the cost? and Brick says, just answer a question. Why is it important? Jordan says, if the guy has a family, they need to know, and Brick says, that’s part of it, but not all of it. She says, the way he was injured got to her. He ran out in front of a car on a road with almost no traffic. He asks if she thinks he was being chased, and she says, yeah. He says, she misses being an investigator, and she says, sometimes. He asks if she ever thinks of going back to police work, and she says, sometimes. Does he think of going back to what he did before? He asks how she knows what he did, and she says she doesn’t. He never told her.

Lucky asks what’s keeping Sidwell up, and Sidwell asks if Lucky cares about his well-being. Lucky says, no. It’s a distraction tactic. Sidwell says, there’s only one reason that costs him sleep – women. In this case, an exceptional one. They met at the tables in Monte Carlo. She has beauty, charm, and elegance. The kind of woman you never forget. Lucky flashes back to dancing with Elizabeth, and says he’s been there. Sidwell asks if he’s thinking about his own lady, and Lucky says, he doubts she’d fit in at Monte Carly, but she is a beauty. What he’d call a winner. Sidwell says, like this? and lays down his hand. Lucky says, more like this, and lays down his.

Diane says, Jason has put her in quite a pickle, having to defend Ava this time, and Jason says, Ava is innocent – this time, and Ava thanks him and Diane. Anna comes in and Ava asks, what happens after she leaves here tonight? Cates isn’t going to stop until she’s dead. Anna says she doesn’t think Ava has to worry about that anymore.

Drew says he feels awful. Michael is his nephew, and Willow is his wife and the mother of his kids. He doesn’t know how to fix the position he’s put her in. Curtis says, all they did was kiss? and Drew says, yes. Curtis says, chalk it up to an emotional moment that got out of hand, but Drew says, it’s more than that. He and Willow have been getting closer and there’s an attraction that’s only getting stronger.

Willow picks up her and Michael’s wedding picture, looks at it, and cries.

Michael tells Kristina to start at the beginning. Where did she get the gun? She says, it was dad’s. She let herself into the penthouse and took it. Then she went to her daughter’s grave. She doesn’t know. Maybe it fell out of her bag, but she has no idea where it is. Michael says, she needs to tell him why she needed it, and she says, to get justice.

Alexis stands on the bridge and takes out her phone again. She sees Diane hasn’t called, and says, time’s up. She puts her phone back in her bag and hears footsteps. She throws the gun in the water, and Ric and Elizabeth walk onto the bridge eating ice cream.

Michael asks if Kristina used the gun to shoot somebody, and she says, no, but she wanted to. Two people, Ava and Cates. She knew Cates was at the Quartermaines. She heard him telling Anna when he arrested her again. He was charging her with killing her baby. It was so cruel. Michael says, Agent Cates is dead.  

Alexis says, they startled her. She didn’t expect to see them here. Look at Ric. He has two of three of his ex-wives with him on the bridge. Ric says, small world. What brings Alexis out here? Alexis says, she was feeling stressed and wanted some fresh air and a walk. Ric says, they witnessed her littering, and Alexis says, they caught her. Her phone wasn’t working. She got frustrated and tossed it. She wishes she hadn’t. Elizabeth says, here’s hoping a new phone is better, and Alexis says, she’d better go get one and their ice cream is melting. Enjoy their walk. She leaves, and they both look in the water. Rick asks if it looked like a phone, and Elizabeth says, no. It was definitely a gun.

Mac tells Robert that Cody lied, and it was wrong. It wasn’t the best way to start off, but life is too short to hold a grudge against family. Cody saved James’s life too, so there’s that. Robert says, it’s a good thing he gave Cody a second chance, and Mac says, how about Robert? Robert asks why he should care, and Mac says, Robert was never one to cast stones. One of his two great loves had a very colorful past.

Anna tells Ava and Jason that Cates is dead. He was shot at the Quartermaine boathouse. Ava says, good riddance. He was going to have that woman kill her. Anna says, a team checked into Boyle. It’s not her real name, and she’s not affiliated with the FBI or any law enforcement. She has a checkered past, but they’ve corroborated everything Ava and Jason said. They’re both free to go. Ava thanks everybody, and leaves, but Anna says she’d like a word with Jason. Diane asks if she should stay, but Jason says, it’s fine. Diane says she was afraid he’d say that and leaves. Anna says she’s proud of Jason, and he asks, what for? She says, he called the police, and he says, it made more sense than the alternative. She says, while he’s here, what can he tell her about the murder of Special Agent Cates?

Jason says, Anna knew Cates was dead all along, and she asks if she needs to bring Diane back, but he says it’s not necessary. He doesn’t know anything about Cates. She says, what they both know is Cates went bad. There’s nothing worse than an officer of the law using the power of his badge to settle personal scores. A lot of people in this town wanted him dead. He and Sonny are at the top of the list. Jason says he couldn’t have done it, and she says, as a suspect, Jason is in the clear. Sonny is not.  

Carly says, they’re going to be grilled about their alibi at some point, and Sonny says, they need to get their one-night stand story down. She asks how he seduced her this time, and he says he thinks they should say they were at the mansion. No one was there. They saw each other and things started to heat up. She laughs and says, please. That’s a terrible story and totally unbelievable. He asks if she wants rose petals and soft music. Does she think she can do better? Be his guest. She says, they saw each other here in the morning when she dropped off the girls. It felt better being around each other than it had in a long time. They ran into each other at the Quartermaines. Sonny likes the incorporating timeline, and she says she walked him outside. They were talking and got caught in the rain. She brought him upstairs to dry off and they kissed. It was sweet and nostalgic, and they made love. Something like that. He says, yeah. He’s got to admit he likes her version better.

Curtis says, everyone makes mistakes. Drew and Willow are one of them. Drew says he feels like he’s taking advantage of Willow’s gratitude, and Curtis says, he saved Willow’s life and put his own life in danger bringing her donor back. He legitimately earned it. Drew says, he likes the way it makes him feel… and Curtis says, being someone’s hero? and Drew says, it sounds cringeworthy when Curtis says it. The truth is, he admires Willow as much as she admires him. Curtis says, now that they’ve both got the admiration out of their systems, they need to put a stop to this before it goes way too far. Drew says, before today, he might have agreed, but the kiss wasn’t just two people caught up in a moment of feelings. There are real feelings. He can’t deny it anymore.

Elizabeth wonders what Alexis was doing out here alone at night getting rid of a gun, and Rick says, it probably has something to do with one of her daughters. He’s hoping it’s not his. She says she doesn’t know, and he says, clearly, they saw something they shouldn’t. She asks what he suggests they do about it.

Kristina tells Michael that she didn’t do it. She wanted to, but she didn’t. She went to the grave instead. He says he believes her, and she asks if he’s sure Cates is dead. He says, yes, and she says, then it’s over.

Brick says he’s always worked in security, and Jordan says, thanks for filling her in. He sighs and says, the military first, then he was at a three-letter agency. He became disillusioned. Too much power in the wrong hands can be a dangerous thing. So he decided to freelance, choose who he wanted to work with and what methods he employed. He can always walk away if he doesn’t like it. She says, so he breaks the law but has a code, and he says, she’s half right. He has a code. He also has work to do if she wants her guy ID’d. Regrettably, he has to cut the evening short. Jordan says she’ll make it up to him, and he says, with a real date? She says, if that’s what he wants, and he asks if that’s what she wants. She says, yes. She really does. He says, then he’ll make it happen, kisses her on the cheek, and leaves.  

Lucky wins another hand, and Sidwell says, if he’s cheating, he can’t see it and he always sees it. Lucky says he has a little more to lose than Sidwell. Any chance they can change the stakes and play for his freedom? Sidwell says, the stakes say the same. They play until he wins and Lucky dies. Lucky says he would never have agreed to play, but Sidwell says, then Lucky would be dead, and he’d be awake and bored. This is more fun. Lucky says he hates to admit it, but sooner or later, he’s going to lose. It’s the odds. Sidwell says, then he’d better find a way to beat the odds.

Curtis says, feelings aren’t actions or betrayal, and they don’t make Drew a bad person, but Drew says he doesn’t feel like a good person. Willow is in pain because of him. Curtis says he’s sure Willow will forgive him, and Drew says, maybe she shouldn’t. She won’t forgive herself. Curtis says, maybe they should both forgive themselves and each other. Beating themselves up will only make it worse. Forget it every happened. Let it go. Drew says, one thing he can make sure of is acting on his feelings can’t happen again and it won’t happen again, ever.

Willow lies in bed, and Michael touches her face. He kisses her and they get busy. She imagines it’s Drew. She suddenly sits up, and sees that Michael’s side of the bed is empty.

Robert leaves a message for Holly and says he’s thinking of her. He hopes she’s staying out of trouble. Call him. Alexis comes in and says, they need to talk about Cates. He says he takes it she’s heard, and she says, Cates has been abusing her daughter. He’s prosecuting her and using her as a weapon in his obsession to take Sonny down. He says, Cates won’t be her problem anymore. He was shot dead tonight.

Kristina asks what Michael did when he found Cates, and Michael says he called Chase and waited for the police. Then Willow and Drew showed up. Willow was upset and shaking, so she and Drew went to the main house while he waited. Kristina says, so Cates was dead when Michael found him? and Michael says, yes. She says, he didn’t see who shot Cates? and he says, no. He had a lot of enemies. It could have been anyone.

Anna says, Sonny better have a good alibi, and Jason says, what about her? She’s not too broken up. She says she’s thankful Jason survived John Cates. Once upon a time, he was a good man, a good friend to Robin. She doesn’t know what happened, but whatever was worth saving was gone a long time ago. Nevertheless, he was an FBI agent and when they find the killer, they’ll go to prison for the rest of their life.

Sonny asks if Carly’s got everything straight, and she says, yes. She needs to get home. He says, if she stays, it will make the alibi stronger, and she says she hates that it makes sense. Okay, fine. She’ll stay in the guest room. Which one did Ava use? He says, the big one, and she says, the small one it is. She goes in the back, and he unlocks his gun box. He sees a gun missing and says, son of a bitch.

Sidwell asks what Lucky has, when the door opens. Sidwell says, if it isn’t the reason for his insomnia. A woman says, hello, darling. Is this poker? She loves poker. It’s how they met. Lucky tries to hide his expression upon seeing her, and she says, he must deal her in. We see it’s Holly, and Sidwell says, new hand. She sees at Lucky and also hides her reaction. She and Lucky look at one another.  

Tomorrow, Jordan tells Dante that she’s going to pursue every avenue of this investigation that she can think of; Ava asks if this is someone’s idea of a joke; Carly tells Sonny that she’s not taking this any further than she absolutely has to; and Kristina says, one down and one to go.

🧴 The Rain In Spain Stays Mainly On the Plane…

I’m hoping Lois comes to realize that her accent is part of her charm.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/snls-sarah-sherman-is-playing-robin-finch-on-general-hospital

🎭 His Other Endeavors…

Both of these look really good.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/a-sneak-peak-at-nicholas-chavez-in-his-two-new-shows

💰 This Week In LA…

JoshF, being a member of the Cultural Heritage Commission, said he appreciated a house with history, and checked out a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was beyond amazing. It had a hidden elevator that led to a tiki bar, theatre, and museum. We learned that hallways were wide in the old days because of the women’s dresses. He said the house was everything he stood for and represented.  

Tracy checked out a penthouse in a building where she’d sold most of the units, but the developers had decided to keep the penthouse as an investment property. Now they were looking to re-rent or sell it. In going through the apartment – which at 6000+ square feet, is bigger than my house – she found dog pee and poopy on the drapes. Seriously? Again, this just reenforces my theory that all the wrong people have the money.

JoshA showed friend Dr. Ben what he said was the quintessential Beverly Hills estate, with seven bedrooms and 11 baths and a world record for the biggest front door. I have a hard time finding wreaths for my slightly large door, so I can’t imagine. He said, they might as well put a bathroom at the property entrance, since people will sh*t themselves when they see it.

JoshF’s bestie Denise Richards did a cameo in his video for selling the abovementioned house. In his interview, he said, if he was straight, he’d be with Denise. The threesome in Wild Things had him confused. His dog George also made an appearance. No surprise, Denise was in love, and he said, George was dumb as rocks, but Denise told him, those are the nice dogs. Yep, like my Golden Retriever, the misnamed Einstein. He was the sweetest dog you’d ever meet, but literally afraid of his own shadow and as stupid as they come. When Josh’s video editor said Josh’s deadpan performance was not as spot-on as Josh thought, Josh said he was Bill Murray good, but… um… no.

After telling her mother that she was too tired to date – it was exhausting – Tracy went on a blind double-date with the Altmans and Dr. Ben, who she deemed an amalgam of all men in the LA dating pool. She told him that he’d either end up either alone or with shallow bitches until he was 50, and then still be alone. He said he had eight years, and she told him that he was the quintessential LA dude. And that’s not a compliment.

And after all that, I still don’t know what a splooge is.

Next time, the season finale.

🗽 And In Other Real Estate News…

Quick, let me give Ryan a call. I’m only $13,999,999 short.

🏰 Not Quite a Listing…

So she didn’t sell it after all. This is actually a great idea. Bluestone Manor is an amazing property and the Bravoverse misses Dorinda.

👠 The Real Jersey Devils…

The money comes, the money goes.

https://okmagazine.com/p/teresa-giudices-net-worth-real-housewife-new-jersey-made-lost-millions/

This dude helped her not at all. When awful joins up with more awful.

Yeah, I don’t remember her either.

https://okmagazine.com/p/penny-drossos-karagiorgis-rhonj-entire-cast-fired/

🤽‍♀️ Down the Shore…

It’s hardly shocking that the producers would be involved, but I’m surprised there were actual charges filed. I’m not a fan of this show, especially since I live in a Jersey shore town. The only person I’ve ever met who was even remotely like one of the Jersey Shore cast members, was also a raging alcoholic with several disorders. I tried watching this a few times. I’d stop watching, then watch again, remember why I stopped watching, and stop watching again. Yeah, yeah. I know the definition of crazy.

https://okmagazine.com/p/jersey-shore-nicole-snooki-polizzi-wheres-the-beach-scene-fakery-exposed/

🩰 Dance the Night Away…

I haven’t watched this since Mel B was a contestant, but it looks like an interesting mix.

https://ew.com/dancing-with-the-stars-season-33-cast-reveal-8706007

🐕 A New Burtka-Harris…

So very sad how one of their dogs passed away, but it’s wonderful that they were able to open their hearts to a new furbaby.

https://people.com/neil-patrick-harris-introduces-new-dog-bianca-8706480

🍂 Fall Has Unofficially Begun…

Join me tomorrow for soap and nine lemon tea in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering that first impressions do count, and stay not holding a grudge against family. Life is too short.

August 16, 2024 – Jason Confronts Clement, Backstage, Next, Vacation, She Was Served, Jersey Tawk, Yes Or No, Dead Spins, New Scare, Dogues, Precisely 10 Quotes & Glory

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Cody says, James went for a swim, eh? and James says he didn’t mean to. Cody says he knows. Everything is going to be okay. Mac asks if James is all right, and James says, Cody saved him. Mac says he can see that.

Laura’s office phone rings and she says, send her right in. And when her other guest arrives, send him right in too. Anna comes in, and Laura thanks her for taking the time to meet. Anna says, of course (🍷). It sounded important. Laura says, it is. They’re meeting with the new WSB station chief. Anna says, Jack Brennan. No grass grows under his feet.

At the hospital, Alexis says, Kristina’s room is all ready. She’s welcome to stay as long as she wants, and Alexis will try not to smother her, although she thinks a little smothering would be okay. They’ll call it pampering. Kristina says she’s sorry, and Alexis asks, what for? Kristina says she’s just not in a good mood. Alexis says, she’s allowed to be in whatever mood she wants to be in, and Kristina says she guesses she thought she’d be happy or at least relieved to leave the hospital. But she’s just realizing that when she walks out that door, that’s when her life starts over. Everything starts over again now, only without her baby.

In the hospital breakroom on the phone, Curtis says, talk to me before you make any moves… Okay. Sounds good. Stella pours some coffee, and he says, sorry, but she says, don’t apologize. He says, things are crazy at Aurora, especially with Drew on the campaign trail. Let’s just say, my plate is overflowing. She says she has every confidence he can handle it, and he thanks her for walking them through this administrative paperwork. Planning a funeral, any funeral, is already hard enough, but a baby’s… She says, seems unnatural, doesn’t it? and he says, completely. She says she’s happy to help TJ and Molly any way she can. He asks what they’re looking at, and she says she’s got a jump on most of it. It’s really just the birth certificate that needs their attention now. TJ comes in and says, Molly’s not here? Curtis says, no, not yet. He’s sure she’s on her way. TJ says he told her that they had a small window for this, but Stella says, it’s okay. Don’t worry. She’s not in a rush. TJ says, she can catch up. Let’s get started.

Scotty tells Clement, don’t worry. He’s on his side. Clement asks if he’s with the FBI too, but Scotty says, not exactly. The guy whose meds Clement messed with, Sonny Corinthos, is mad as a hornet. His strong suit is murder, so if Clement wants to get out alive… Clement says he does, and Scotty says, okay. Then hide. He’s Clement’s only hope, and he’ll help.

Ava says, John thinks the surveillance photos could actually help her case, and he says, absolutely. Sonny, and the corrupt cops in his pocket, are trying to spin one narrative, but those photos can tell any story they want, especially when the victim in them is a federal witness. (Will somebody call his boss already? Anna did it once before for a way lesser infraction.)

Sonny tells Jason, who knows how much further Jagger is going to go? They can’t take that risk. Jason says, if Sonny takes out Cates, he’s eliminating an FBI agent. There’s no coming back from that. Sonny says, if Jagger forces his hand, he won’t have a choice.

Maxie shows up at the boathouse with Sasha and Felicia and says she’s so glad James is okay. Come here. She hugs him and says, he cannot keep doing this. He says he’s never fallen into the lake before, but she says she’s not talking about that. She means running away. There are only so many heart attacks she can survive. She asks Felicia to text Spinelli and let him know James was found, and Felicia says, on it. James says he wasn’t trying to scare anyone, and Maxie says she knows he didn’t, but they were all really worried. They’ll talk about this at home. Cody says, let’s cool it on the escape attempts, and James says he wouldn’t have to escape if he was allowed to see Cody. Why can’t he take riding lessons with Cody? Maxie says, now is not the time to tell him this, but he can take riding lessons from Cody, but not because of any of this. No ice cream or video games for two weeks. James says he doesn’t care what she takes away, as long as he can be here. Why did she change her mind? She says, he knows how they talk about owning their mistakes and how it’s really important. Kind of like how he’s going to own this one? She made a huge mistake and agreed he couldn’t take riding lessons with Cody anymore. Mac says, it wasn’t his mom’s mistake. It was his.

Laura asks if Anna didn’t just arrest a Jack Brennan, and Anna says, uh-huh. Laura says, and now they’re going to work with him, and Anna says she was informed of his posting. He’s a fully accredited agent, but the previous activities that took place here in Port Charles were part of a classified operation. Laura asks if that’s all the explanation they’re going to get, and Anna says, apparently. There’s a knock at the door and Jack comes in. He says, Laura’s assistant said he could come in, and Laura says, welcome, Mr. Brennan. He tells her to call him Jack, and they shake hands.

Alexis says she almost forgot, and holds out a key to Kristina. Kristina says she already has a key, but Alexis says, it’s not for her. It’s for Blaze. She figured Blaze would be visiting and she wants Blaze to come and go as she pleases. Kristina says, that’s really very thoughtful of her, but it’s unnecessary because she and Allie broke up. Alexis says, when? and Kristina says, yesterday. Alexis asks, what happened? She thought they were okay. Kristina says, they were, but Allie got this really incredible touring opportunity, and she couldn’t turn it down. Alexis says, she couldn’t, or Kristina wouldn’t let her? Kristina says she couldn’t be the reason Allie stayed. She’s been working toward this her entire life. Alexis says, maybe it was her choice to make. Maybe she wanted to stay and support Kristina. Kristina says, it’s not just about Allie’s career. It’s about her too. She doesn’t even recognize herself right now. Without the baby, she can’t be anything to anyone. Alexis says, for the record, Kristina is something pretty big to her, when Dr. Navarro walks in. She asks if it’s a good time, and Alexis says, of course (🍷). The doctor says she has the results of Kristina’s discharge examination.

Stella says, as TJ can see, most of the information has been filled out, and he thanks her. She says, but there’s still the issue of the baby’s name, and Curtis asks if TJ and Molly ever talked about that. TJ says, they batted ideas around, but they never landed on one specific name, and Stella says, it’s okay. They’ll just use the last name, Lansing-Ashford. And once he and Molly have a chance to talk, they’ll update the certificate. Molly comes in and says, sorry she’s late. She had a meeting with DA Scorpio. TJ says, she couldn’t tell him that she had to leave? and she says, he’s her boss. She got here as fast as she could.

Scotty says he’s got to see a guy about a boat and get some supplies. What kind of snacks does Clement like? They’re going to Spoon Island and there may not be any power over there, so nothing perishable. Clement just looks at him, and Scotty says he’ll just get them some glazed donuts and coffee, so sit tight. He’ll be back. He leaves.

Ava tells John, only one party in those photos went crashing through a window. She thinks it might be a bit of a stretch to paint her as a victim. He says, not if she uses her imagination. She’s a federal witness agreeing to testify against Sonny Corinthos. She says, is she though? and he says, for the sake of this exercise and keeping her out of prison, yeah. Now the picture of her with her hand on Kristina’s arm, that was self-defense, to protect herself from Kristina attacking her. She says, yes, and he says, the look on Kristina’s face was pure rage. She was clearly out of control. So Ava is a federal witness participating in a RICO investigation against Sonny Corinthos. Sonny’s daughter comes to her hotel suite, violent and threatening, intending to shut her up permanently. That is criminal conspiracy and falls within the FBI’s jurisdiction. It also happens to be attempted murder.

Jason suggests they be smart about it and cover every base, and Sonny says, the consequences are too severe not to. Jason says, okay, but if they mess up, they’re talking about a federal agent, a federal crime, life in prison, or worse. Sonny says, Cates won’t stop coming at him. Jason knows that. Jason says he knows, but be clear on what he’s doing, and Sonny says he’s clear on one thing. Cates will not stop going through the people that he loves to get to him. He’s not just going to sit around and wait for Cates to make the next move.

Dr. Navarro says, as Kristina knows, there were concerns after her hemorrhaging about damage to the uterus or her ovaries or both. But she’s happy to report all looks good on those fronts. Alexis says, great. So Kristina will be able to conceive and carry a child in the future. The doctor says, they’ll have to monitor her going forward, but she sees nothing to suggest otherwise. Kristina should be able to make a complete recovery. Kristina thanks her, and Dr. Navarro says, any time. She should be ready for discharge shortly. Alexis thanks her and she leaves. Kristina says, full recovery, and Alexis says, that means her body will heal. Kristina says, what about the rest of her? and Alexis says, that may take a little more time and require a little more work. But Kristina’s heart will get better too. She promises.

Molly asks what she needs to catch up on, and TJ says, everything. Stella says, they were just going over the birth certificate, and TJ says, they just have to give a name to their little girl. Curtis tells her, but like Aunt Stella said, it doesn’t have to be done today, and Stella says, Baby Lansing-Ashford is just fine for right now. TJ says, but they can’t put it off forever, and Stella says, no. The two of them are in a storm. There’s no getting around it. His Grandmother Irene had a knack for being the calm within the storm. She hopes she picked that up from her sister. TJ says, she did, and Curtis says, she’s always been their rock. He kisses her forehead, and she says, Irene was her rock. So she feels like she’s speaking for her when she says, the hardest thing to reconcile during times like this is that life goes on, even during the most horrific tragedy. You want it all to stop. Give you space to process and grieve, but there’s still stuff going on all around you, pulling you in different directions. That’s why it’s so important, especially for couples going through something this profound, that they hold onto each other, to be the anchor through this godawful, wretched storm. She tells Curtis that she’s going to stretch her legs for a bit. She thinks these two need a moment alone. Curtis says, that sounds good, and they leave.

Sonny says he has no intention of being reckless, but that’s what they’re counting on. Jason’s phone rings, and he says, Brick. Any update?… All right. Text him the address. Thanks. He tells Sonny, as soon as Scott Baldwin left the gallery, Brick’s guys tracked him to a part of town he has no business hanging out in. Sonny says, he got to the pharmacist, and Jason says, seems like it. Sonny says, seems like they’re desperate. They have to involve Scotty. Jason says, Cates and Ava both know the walls are closing in, and Sonny says, find Scotty and bring that pharmacist to him. Jason asks if he’s heading to GH, and Sonny says, Kristina’s being discharged today. Keep him posted. Jason says he will, and leaves.

Jack says, it’s quite an honor, and Laura invites him to sit down. She says, since the WSB has decided to open a field office right here in Port Charles and he’s the field chief, she thought it was important they all meet because they have several common interests. Anna says she already informed the mayor that his arrest in December and his incarceration in Pentenville was all part of this covert WSB op. He says, with this op successfully completed, he’s been returned to desk duty, which he much prefers over being in a prison cell. Laura says she’s sure. She takes it that Anna and Jack have worked together previously. Jack says, all the way back to their WSB training days, and Anna says, all the way back. Laura says, then they must have developed sort of a shorthand. Jack says, in a sense, and Laura says, it should help, right? Make communicating a little bit more effective. Jack says, one can only hope, and Laura asks if she may cut to the chase. Anna says, please, and Laura says she thinks they have a unique opportunity here with a WSB outpost here in Port Charles and their shared history and skillsets. Anna asks what kind of an opportunity she’s talking about exactly, and Jack says, it sounds like she has a task in mind. Laura says she wants them to find Valentin Cassadine.

Mac tells James that his feelings were hurt, and he took it out on Cody. Which he regrets, in and of itself, but that it ended up hurting James is the part he hates the most. He hopes James can forgive him. James says, Mac told him that family always forgives each other, and Mac says, that’s right. They do. James asks if he’s mad at Cody, and he says he was, but not anymore. James asks why he was mad at Cody in the first place, and Mac says, because Cody is his son.

James says, Mac is Cody’s dad? and Mac says, that’s right. James says, does that make Cody his uncle? and Cody says, it sure does, buddy. James says, this is so cool, and tells Maxie that Cody is her brother. Maxie says, he is, and James says he does have a question. Why does Cody being Mac’s son make him mad? Mac says, because he just found out and he was angry about all the time they didn’t get to spend together. But it reminded him of a lesson he hopes James can take to heart. Not only does family forgive each other, but they’re the ones who love, no matter what, even when they run away or get mad at us like he did with Cody. So they love each other how? James says, no matter what, and Mac says, no matter what, and hugs James.

TJ says, Aunt Stella’s right, and Molly says, she usually is. He says, they have to hold each other right now, and she says she knows, but if she stands still for even a moment, she’ll be swallowed whole. So she keeps burying herself in work. He asks if that helps, but she says, no. Nothing helps. Not even facing off against Ava. He says, she saw Ava? and she says she went to see Ava in her jail cell in the hopes that she’d confess. Yeah, right. He asks what she said, and Molly says, nothing. It was excuse after excuse. Not there’s anything Ava could actually say that would make this better. That’s the worst part. No matter who they want to blame, their baby is still gone.

Alexis looks at her phone and says she was still hoping Molly had called. They could have Molly and Sam over this week and have Davis Girls night. Kristina says she doesn’t think she or Molly will be in the mood for that, and Alexis asks if she’s spoken to Molly in the last few days. Kristina says, Molly came to see her. She told Molly about how she went to Ava’s and what happened. How she went to Ava’s asking her to lift the subpoena and she refused. And she told Molly how Ava started going in on her family and insulting Alexis and Sonny, and she told Ava that if Ava forced her to testify, she’d tell how Ava murdered Connie and helped kill Morgan. Alexis asks how Molly responded, and Kristina says, she was appalled, especially after she showed Molly the pictures. Molly is as furious as she is.

Anna says, the FBI is already handling this. They’re in pursuit of Valentin now. As far as she’s concerned, that case is beyond her scope as Commissioner. Jack says, the WSB tries not to entangle itself in FBI interests, when it’s at all possible, and Laura says, while she can appreciate both stances, she still thinks they have a unique situation here. And it’s personal for her. Valentin has her granddaughter. Anna says she doesn’t think Laura should be worried about her. With all his faults, Valentin is an excellent father. He would never let any harm come to Charlotte. Laura says, he may not be able to stop it, when her office phone rings. She apologizes and answers it. She says she forgot. She’ll be right out. She says she’s sorry. There’s something she forgot that she has to take care of. It will just take a moment. She hopes they don’t mind waiting. Jack says, not at all, and Anna says, they’ll be right here. Laura leaves, and Anna says, Jack knows damn well where Valentin is. He’s hiding him. Jack says, she has no proof of that. If she’d like to confess and let this anxious grandmother know that she helped orchestrate Valentin’s escape, don’t let him stop her. She says, that’s not going to happen. He’d really like that though, wouldn’t he? Laura comes back and says, sorry to keep them waiting. What did she miss? Jack and Anna look at each other.

Jason bangs on the door where Clement is, and around the corner with groceries, Scotty sees him and jets. Jason opens the door, and Clement backs away. We see the bag of groceries Scotty was carrying on the hallway floor.

Sonny goes to Kristina’s hospital room and hugs her. He asks how she’s feeling. Is she ready to get out of here? She says she guesses, and Alexis says, it will be nice for her to have a mattress she can sleep on and sheets with thread counts. Kristina asks if Alexis can grab her a seltzer, but Sonny says he’ll get it. Kristina says, he just got here. Mom can do it. Alexis says, fine. She got the hint. Does Kristina want plain or flavored? Kristina says, surprise her, and Alexis says she’ll check on Kristina’s discharge papers on the way out. She leaves, and Sonny says, Kristina didn’t answer his first question. How is she feeling? She says she’s feeling anxious for an update about Ava.

Jason closes the door, and Clement asks if he’s with the FBI. Jason says he works for Sonny Corinthos, and Clement says, whatever Jason needs him to do, he’ll do it. Please. He’s got a family. Jason says, so does Sonny, but that didn’t stop Clement from tampering with his medication. Clement says he didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t want trouble. Jason says, he’s got trouble now, and Clement says, please. He just wants to live. Jason says he doesn’t want to kill Clement. He just wants the truth. Who paid him to tamper with Sonny’s meds?

Jack says he and the Commish were just catching up. And some playful ribbing about jurisdiction and whatnot. Anna says, of which he has none in Port Charles. Jurisdiction, not whatnot. Jack laughs and says he must be going. It was a pleasure meeting Laura. Laura says, likewise, and he says, her reputation precedes her. He’s sure she has some fascinating stories to tell. He’d like to hear them sometime. She says, they’ll have to make that happen, and he says, excellent. He says goodbye to Anna and leaves. Laura says, he’s quite charming, isn’t he? (yes!) and Anna says, he can be. Laura says, that concerns her.

James hugs Cody and says, welcome to the family. Cody thanks him and says he’s happy to be a part of it. Maxie says, Cody knows how she feels, and Cody says he does. Maxie says she’s proud of Mac and hugs him. She says, it’s time to get James home. What does he have to say to Cody? James says, see you soon, and Cody says he’s looking forward to it. Maxie asks what else he has to say, and James says, thanks for saving him. Cody says, hopefully, it’s a first and last time, and Maxie says, agreed, and thanks him. She leaves with James, and Mac says, if Cody hadn’t found James when he did… Felicia says she can’t even think about it, and Mac says his gratitude knows no bounds. Cody says, he sounds like Spinelli, and Mac says, Spinelli must be rubbing off on him. Cody says, the son Mac never had, and Mac says, except he does have a son, and he’s looking right at him. Cody says, and he has a dad, and they hug.

Curtis says, Stella did good back there, and she says, how so? He says, TJ and Molly are clearly drifting apart, but she helped nudge them back together. She says she hopes it sticks. She sees this all the time in her work. We all process grief differently, and sometimes our way doesn’t align with our loved ones. He says, couples have certainly fallen apart over less, and she says she just prays TJ and Molly remember their why. Why they fell in love in the first place and why they stayed together all these years. He says he’s sure they will, and she says she hopes so. Because when they can learn to lean on each other and support each other, that’s when the real healing begins.

Alexis runs into Molly coming out of the elevator and hugs her. Alexis says, good timing. Kristina is just getting released. Molly says she actually came to see TJ and Stella. They’re processing the baby’s birth certificate. Alexis says she’s sorry, but Molly says, it’s okay. Alexis says, none of this is okay. It must have been so difficult for her. Molly says, what isn’t these days? She’s on her way back to the office. Alexis asks if she doesn’t want to say hi to Kristina before she goes, but Molly says she doesn’t think that’s such a good idea.

Ava says, John’s federal witness idea is certainly inspired, but isn’t he concerned it will escalate things when the goal is to calm them down? He says, the goal is to wipe Sonny off the map entirely, when his phone rings. He asks Scotty, what’s up?… What? When?… No. He’ll deal with it. Ava asks, what happened? and John says, Jason has Clement Moore, who you can bet is spilling his guts as we speak. She says, Clement is their only leverage, and he says, now he’s a liability. She says, this is not good. She’s going to be Sonny’s next stop. He knows that, right? He says, not if he has anything to say about it. Stay here. He leaves, and she calls out, where is he going?

Back at the stables, Sasha says, Cody is still soaked, and he says he’ll get some dry clothes on. She asks if he’s okay, but he says he doesn’t know how he feels. He just keeps thinking about, what if he hadn’t gotten to the boathouse in time? He doesn’t know what he would have done if something happened to James. She says, but he got there. He saved that little boy’s life. And even more. Something beautiful came out of it. He says he has a father, and she says, he has a whole family. They hug.

Ava finds TJ standing in the gallery and asks if she can help him. He says he thought it was time they spoke, and she says she prefers to handle any communication through her lawyer. She’s already been on the receiving end of one interrogation. He says, by Molly, and she says she’d like to avoid another. He says he’s not here as a prosecutor. He’s here as a grieving father. He needs to know what happened in that hotel suite, and not just the story Kristina tells. He needs to hear from Ava why his child died.

Alexis asks, what’s going on? She knows Molly and Kristina talked about what happened the day Kristina fell. Molly says she’s sure Kristina said everything’s just fine between them. Because why wouldn’t it be? And everything has to be fine because Kristina has to be coddled at all times no matter what anyone else is going through. Alexis says, her sister almost died, and Molly says, her baby did die. Because Kristina just had to confront Ava. Why? Why couldn’t she just stay away?

Clement says, FBI Agent Cates brought him here for his protection, and Jason asks if he was operating under John Cates’s orders. Clement says, no, and Jason says, Ava Jerome’s. Clement says he did have some interactions with her, and Jason asks, what kind of interactions? Clement says, when Miss Jerome approached him, she knew Mr. Corinthos wasn’t taking his full dose of medication. Jason says, so he was taking less, and Clement says, Mr. Corinthos was being given a quarter of both his lithium and his mood stabilizer. Jason asks how Ava knew this, but Clement says he doesn’t know. It’s the God’s honest truth. He thought she’d go to the authorities, but she didn’t. Instead, Miss Jerome came back and ordered him to reduce Mr. Corinthos’s prescription to zero. Jason says, that’s when he started giving Sonny placebos, and Clement says, yes. Jason says, because Ava Jerome told him to, and Clement says, yes.

Sonny says he can’t tell Kristina what she wants to hear, and Kristina says, so Ava’s still alive then? He says, yes, and Ava’s going to stay that way. She asks, why? and he says, her mom knows she wants Ava dead, so it’s not worth it. She says, it’s very worth it to her, and he asks if she thinks eliminating Ava is the right way to balance the scales. She says she does, and he says, there are other ways. She says, like what? and he says, she’s going to have to trust him. He doesn’t want Ava’s death on her heart or her conscience.

Molly says, Kristina was about to give birth. Was it really necessary to confront Ava like that? She just coached Kristina through the entire subpoena. They wouldn’t be here. Kristina would be fine and her baby would be alive if Kristina had just shown a little restraint. Alexis says she gets when tragedy happens – especially one as gut-wrenching as this – it’s just human nature. You want to blame something or someone. You want to know why. She takes Molly’s hand and says, sometimes there just aren’t answers. There aren’t answers as to why things happen, and you can’t logic your way out of it. You just have to feel the grief. Molly says, trust her. She’s feeling it. Alexis says she wishes there were answers. She wishes there was something Molly could hold onto that makes sense of this. She’s so sorry Molly lost her baby. She’s so sorry she’s gone. Molly says, it’s not fair, and Alexis says, no, it’s not fair. But don’t throw that grief at the person who’s feeling exactly the way she is. Molly says, Kristina, and Alexis says, Kristina.

Laura says, maybe Brennan already has intel about where Valentin is located, when her cellphone rings. She says, yes, it’s Laura Collins… When did that happen?… She understands, yes. She’ll be there right away. Thank you. Anna asks if everything is all right, and Laura says, it’s Lulu.

Jason asks if Clement is on Ava’s payroll, and Clement says, Ava never gave him any money. She just made threats. Jason says, and she approached him after Sonny’s medication had been lowered, and Clement says, to a quarter dosage, yes. Jason asks, who hired him originally? but Clement hesitates. Jason says, they can do this the easy way and Clement can answer him, or they can take another route. He guarantees Clement isn’t going to like the other route. So who hired him? Clement says, Valentin Cassadine.

Sasha asks how it feels to receive all of that love at once, and Cody says, it’s like nothing he’s felt before. She says, nothing? and he says, until now. They kiss.

Felicia puts her arms around Mac and says, he has a son. He says, looks like it, and she asks if he’s happy. He says he is. She was right. She says she’s always right, and he kisses her.

Ava says, first and foremost, what happened to TJ’s baby was a horrible, tragic accident. She’s so sorry for his loss. He asks, what did happen? and she says, it won’t bring him comfort, but he says, tell him anyway. She says, Kristina showed up at her hotel suite, enraged that she’d been subpoenaed to testify against her father. Kristina was ranting and raving and threatening her. Kristina said if she didn’t withdraw the subpoena, she’d be sorry. She tried not to engage, especially because of Kristina’s pregnancy, but Kristina just kept coming at her… Everything happened so fast. He says, so what she’s telling him is, Kristina falling was her own fault.

Alexis says, Kristina and Molly are suffering, the both of them, so much. If they could just maybe figure out a way to go through this together. Just be open to that. Sonny wheels Kristina out of the elevator, when John walks up with a guard. He says, Kristina Corinthos-Davis, you are under arrest.

Please. Somebody. Call John’s boss.

On Monday, Molly tells Jordan that Kristina falling might not have been Ava’s fault; Laura tells Dante that something’s not right with Lulu; and John says he’s got the FBI behind him. What’s Sonny got? (Sanity?)

🛟 Behind the Save…

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-behind-the-scenes-of-james-rescue-on-gh

📖 Turning the Page…

At first, I thought he was leaving the show. Blaze was such a shock, I don’t know what to expect.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-is-ready-for-his-next-chapter

🏰 Better Than Yours…

So Tony Geary basically had a staycation.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/cbs/stars-share-their-summer-vacation-photos

👑 Serving the Countess…

Minister Mason waiting on you is quite the coup.

🕺🏻 Meanwhile, Somewhere In Jersey…

This is a great idea. Chances are, there will be more butt cracks shown than angry leaps across the table.

Another point in his favor. He is a one of the Housewives.

This explains why I don’t remember her in the other room.

Frank is right. Even though Teresa is problematic on her own, Luis added fuel to the fire. He’s not doing her any favors.

🍑 Voting No…

Although once again, she is good TV.

⚰️ Walk This Way…

Hush. We’re not supposed to think about these things.

https://screenrant.com/daryl-dixon-spinoff-timeline-walking-dead-ending-pointless/

Another one we have to wait until 2025 for.

https://www.cbr.com/twd-dead-city-season-2-everything-we-know/

🎬 The Latest In Murphy…

This is the show Nicholas Chavez is in, but Travis Kelce? What?

https://ew.com/grotesquerie-first-look-teaser-niecy-nash-betts-travis-kelce-ryan-murphy-horror-drama-8695829

🐕 Here a Dogue, There a Dogue…

This is from 2021, but he’s also a Dogue cover star.

https://people.com/pets/billie-eilish-celebrates-dog-shark-1st-birthday/

The whole Dogue, and nothing but the Dogue.

https://www.vogue.com/tag/misc/dogue

🎋 Quotes of the Week

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. – Mark Twain

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.Voltaire

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.Walter Anderson

Ideas do not reach perfection in a day, no matter how much study is put upon them.Alexander Graham Bell

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. – Bob Marley

Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego. – Unknown

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil McGraw

That very hurt. – kid after falling off his bike, Neighborhood Wars

A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Suess, Horton Hears a Who!

🌚 Ain’t No Cure…

Grab what the weekend holds for you by the tail, then swing back again on Monday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe; stay loving people and using things, not the other way around; and stay remembering that sometimes there just aren’t answers as to why things happen, and you can’t logic your way out of it. You just have to feel the grief.