Please note: Fans will also want to double-check their DVR boxes for tomorrow because these kinds of interruptions play havoc with DVR scheduling. Many viewers find that following a preemption, their DVR won’t record the next episode.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey – The Reunion – Part 3
I’m off to a good start, calling Teresa an idiot during the review of last week. Bitch boy is on the way.😐 = incomprehensible.
The dudes join the fray, and Andy promises us the intense conclusion of the Reunion. They talk Botox until the countdown, and Andy welcomes our Jersey men. Paulie says he’s in awe of the Irish castle, and Andy congratulates Louie and Teresa on the wedding. He asks Louie’s first reaction to Teresa’s hair, and Louie says, wow. Andy says, same. Joe #2 says his heart is hammering, and Andy says, that’s ironic, because that’s what his sister said. He talks about the men’s calendar, saying they have it at the Watch What Happens Live studio, and it’s Frank’s month. Joe #2 says, Frank as the Easter Bunny made his life, and we flash back to the women asking Paulie’s mom if she thought the calendar was hot, and her saying, no. Jumping right in, Andy says, they’ll start with the PJs, and Louie says, that came out wrong. When Teresa was emptying the house, he took an old pair of sweats out of a bag of clothes, and wore them one night; in an endearing good way. It sounded creepy, but that’s not what happened.😐 He says he tried connecting with Joe #2 because he knew what Teresa wanted, and she didn’t want this. Joe says he wants to believe Louie, but whenever he gives Louie the benefit of the doubt, he gets screwed. All he wanted was a family, and after Teresa got back from prison, they were on the best terms. She was humble and they talked every day. Teresa says, because they were filming, and confuses everyone, including me. I saw Teresa and Juicy Joe Go To Prison, and that wasn’t part of it. Teresa and Joe #2 get argumentative. Teresa whines about them not taking her out, and Joe says, she was single and going out like crazy. Melissa concurs, and Teresa tells her, STFU. She’s talking to her brother. Andy looks so exhausted, I literally lol. Melissa says, five minutes ago, Teresa said she never wanted to see them again, and now Joe’s her brother. Teresa says, they dragged her through the mud for ten years, once again confusing everyone, since she was the one on Melissa from day one. Andy finally says, they’re not getting anywhere, and to stop. Teresa says she wants to speak to her brother, not Melissa, and Andy says, they’ve established that. Teresa tells Andy to shut up, and calls Melissa a gaslighting bitch. Alrighty then.
Andy suggests they talk about something else, and after some small talk about the toddler in Marge’s house and John being hazed, we take a look at the Real Househusbands of New Jersey. We go down Jersey Dude Memory Lane, proving once again that the guys are the ones who should have a show. Andy asks, who’s best at holding their booze? and Joe #2 says he is, but John begs to differ. A viewer says, Frank seems to be having a hard time letting Dolores go, and Frank stresses that there’s nothing beyond friendship and family. Dolores is one of his best friends, and their family dynamic isn’t orthodox. Andy says, speaking ofunorthodox, is Frank still living with David? Frank says, he and Brittany just got their own house, and he and Paulie are in a great place. Paulie agrees 100%. A viewer asks if Bill feels guilty about ignoring his family, but Bill says, he’s missed games, but because of work, not because he was in the pool house. Jennifer says, he’s not always there; that’s just how it feels. Andy says, Bill looked miserable, but Bill says he’s not. He works hard to make his wife happy, and certain things had been ignored, but not on purpose. Things have improved. Andy asks when Paulie is going to make an honest woman of Dolores, and Paulie says, Dolores wants to take her time. Andy suggests he get a divorce first, and Paulie says, it’s in the works. Andy asks how Paulie’s relationship with his ex is, and he says, Dolores is the first woman he brought around his kids, and he’s been separated 14 years. It was a gear shift like with Frank, and Dolores is also on the TV box, but his ex is understanding. A viewer asks, what happened when Frankie was working with Louie? and Dolores says, he got another job, but we flash back to Frank telling Joe #2, the business seems closed, and Louie’s not returning his calls. Dolores says, Louie gave her son a job, and she’s grateful for that. She doesn’t know what the rumor is, and doesn’t want to talk about Frankie. Joe #2 says he’s known Frankie his whole life, and Frankie told him things. Teresa says, he’s lying, and Dolores tells Joe #2, it ends right here. She doesn’t have a problem with him, and doesn’t want one. Andy asks why she’s upset, and she says she doesn’t want to talk about her son. He has a good job, and that’s all that happened. Andy says, that begs more questions, and I wonder if Dolores is afraid of Louie. John asks, how come Louie brought his kid’s mother into this? BoDietl’s friends were subcontracted to investigate him. Louis says, Bo is a good friend, but he didn’t have John investigated. John says, you can’t just contact someone in prison, and the number used was traced back to Bo’s people. Andy reminds Louie how he threw Bo Dietl’s name around in the finale, and said he had information on all of them. Louie says, he was misstating in anger.😐We flash back to that, and Rachel says, she and Melissa went out to lunch, and Bo was sitting at a table next to them. She wonders what the odds are of that, and I wonder if Bo could actually stink that much at being a P.I. John tells Louie to stop the bullsh*t. He sees through both of them. Teresa says she’s all about the proof, and Melissa asks if Louie is saying he didn’t hire Bo Dietl, who’s getting a lot of free publicity tonight. Louie says he did not; he was just angry. Andy says, production just called from downstairs, and asks Louie if a security person he hired is here. Louie says he didn’t hire him. Bo sent him. This guy… I don’t even know what to say. Do they watch this stuff back? He doesn’t just look like a liar; he looks like a liar confused by his own lies. He also looks batsh*t crazy sometimes. Like scary crazy.
Louie says, they’ve gotten death threats, and John applauds Louie’s acting skills. Louie says, Bo is working on a case; someone is harassing him. Since she hasn’t drug Marge into it for a minute, Teresa says, Marge has been talking to the person harassing them, and putting out false information. Louie tells Marge, let’s play, because he thinks he’s in some spy movie or maybe Batman, and Marge says she has no idea what they’re talking about. Louie is under criminal investigation. Louie says, she’s lying, and Marge says, Louie called her child, and they have the phone records. She shows Andy, who shows Louie, who admits it’s his cell number. Frank asks if Louie hired Bo to create a slander campaign against him and Joe #2, and Louie says, that’s nothing that would benefit him. Melissa says, bad tweets and bad publicity; that’s why they see so much hate. Louie says, be careful. Their day is coming. Once more reverting to his Bond villain persona. Joe #2 says, the people Louie hires tell them everything, and Andy says, a viewer writes that it sounded like Louie ghosted Joe #2 over the pizza business. Louie says, Joe approached him, and met with Louie’s nephew, who gave Joe money for the ovens. There’s an undercurrent of Teresa and Melissa trading insults, and Teresa says, Melissa is embarrassing. Melissa says, no, you, and Andy says, they’re both embarrassing. Louie says he called Joe and asked if he wanted to take 5 or 10%. Everything was for Teresa, and in her name. Then Joe got upset. Joe says he figured they’d put in half a million to start, and when he asked what was going on, Louie said he was busy. He stole Joe’s idea. Andy asks what John’s reaction is, and John says, if it was Joe’s idea, they should have drawn up a document. Teresa starts nattering on about how she told them to do that, and Andy finally screams at her to let them talk. She’s been doing this all day. She finally shuts up, and Andy asks about Louie and Dina’s husband having a falling out over business. We flash back to Joe #2 talking about Pizzagate, Part 2, and Louie says, Joe is lying and Dina’s husband called him out. Joe calls Louie a woman abuser, which sounds out of context, but to be honest, they’re all talking at once and over each other, so I’m not sure I didn’t miss something. Louie says, Joe is a bully, and he’s going to meet his match. Joe says, Louie will say something nice, then says, in due time… Louie says, Joe will regret this, and Joe says he regrets it every day. He’s done. Okay, I still don’t get Pizzagate Part 1 or 2, especially not 2.
Andy says he wants Joe #2’s reaction. Teresa said Jacqueline told her that he and Melissa were hanging out with Juicy Joe’s former partner who ratted them out. Teresa now believes Joe and Melissa are responsible for her going to jail. Frank asks if Joe waives attorney/client privilege, and Joe agrees. Frank says he was Joe’s attorney at the time, and they were contacted by the FBI. They were asked to come to Paterson to talk. Teresa says she knows Joe #2 would never try to hurt her… and Frank says, Joe #2 never showed up. Teresa says, it was Juicy Joe’s partner, and says something in Italian. Joe says, she broke his heart, and Teresa says, they were talking to Juicy Joe’s partner. Marge asks why Teresa believes every bad rumor, and Teresa says, Jacqueline has no reason to lie. Andy says, her standing up for Jacqueline is the joke of the century, since she’s been talking sh*t about Jacqueline for 10 years. Teresa insists she has not, we flash back, and yes, she has. Hoping to divert from the proof, Teresa says, she’s been through this for 10 years; it’s disgraceful. Louie says, it’s just a matter of time, twirling his moustache, and Joe #2 asks if Louie is threatening him. There’s something about a video, but again, it’s such a noisy mess, I miss it, and Teresa says, there’s stuff in Joe #2’s past. Andy suggests they do something old fashioned and pretend he’s the host. He asks is Joe regrets not going to the wedding, but Joe says, no, and somehow the pizza thing gets brought up again. Andy tells Teresa to stop talking, and Joe says, they were saying his wife was cheating on him. Louie says, they never believed it. He just told Joe so he could get ahead of it. Andy asks why they didn’t invite Melissa, and Louie says, he just called Joe; it’s his fault. He didn’t want what happened to him to happen to Joe. Joe says, Louie told him that it was with multiple men, but Louie says, no, he didn’t. Andy asks if Teresa said Joe could do better, but Joe says, that was Gia. She called him. Teresa says, she’ll call Gia right now at Coachella, and does. Andy takes the phone, and asks if she told her uncle that he can do better than Melissa, and Gia says, she called regarding the wedding. She asked him to do the right thing; mom wanted him to walk her down the aisle. She never said he could do better than her Aunt Melissa. It’s sad. Joe asks if she’s calling him a liar, and Andy tells her to have a blast. Be careful, and don’t take anything someone gives her. Be smart. Obviously he’s been there and done that. Melissa asks why Joe would make it up, and Teresa says, because he’s married to Melissa. Teresa says she was always good to him and put him first. He was her best friend. She starts crying, and says, this is disgraceful. She can’t. She gets up, and as she leaves, she says, mommy and daddy. He should be ashamed. She yells, and don’t come following me! but it’s unclear if she means Joe or the camera.
Melissa says, Teresa’s embarrassed, and we hear her ranting backstage, saying, he lies about her daughter. She doesn’t want to make up. She wants it over. Still onstage, Joe #2 says, she’ll never give up what’s in her brain. Gia calls Teresa and tells her not to cry. Louie has jetted back there too, because Teresa can’t utter a word without him butting in. Frank says, he’s never seen it this bad. It’s not like with Juicy Joe. Melissa says, they never suffered a P.I., and Jennifer insists Louie never hired one. John says, it’s not hearsay, and Melissa says she thinks there’s so much out there on Louie, he wants a folder on everyone else. And Teresa doesn’t want it to come out. Andy goes to see Teresa, and she says she didn’t know Gia called Joe to beg him to come to the wedding. Louie says, Gia might have told him that he could do better for her mom, and Teresa says, not to leave Melissa. Andy says, they can’t keep relitigating this. They have to go out and finish. Teresa says, there are a lot of accusations, and Louie says, they have to build their narrative. Andy apologizes for yelling at Teresa, although I don’t know why. I don’t know how he doesn’t smack her one, or knock her and Melissa’s heads together. Onstage, Dolores says, nobody put their two cents in. Let it be.
Returning to his seat, Andy says, obviously, they’re not resolving anything, but he wants to see if there’s anything else Teresa and Joe want to say before he sends the husbands away. Joe says, Teresa told him that she’s heartbroken, and she says it in Italian again. He says he’ll never say never. She’s his only sister, and he’s not happy with her. He’s upset with her, but he’ll always love her. If she was in an accident tomorrow, he’d run to be by her side. If she was sick, he’d pick her up… She says, no, and Joe says, this is why it will never be with her. She says, it’s like their parents said, honor me while I’m alive, not when I’m dead. Joe says, he and Louie have their differences, and he thinks the best thing to do is to forget about each other. Let Louie do his thing, and leave them alone. Since he’s recharging for his next spiral, Louie shakes hands with Joe. As they leave, Frank says, they’ve wasted way too much energy on this. They’re too old for this. Andy says, it’s a bittersweet time to say goodbye to the husbands, and tells us, we’ll be right back. Louie goes over to John and says, he’s sorry. John’s a good father. John says, then be a friend and admit to what he knows he did, but Louie says he can’t. John says, if he’s going to apologize, own it, when Joe comes over to them, and they all leave the stage area.
Andy says, their final moments are rather somber, and asks Dolores what she’s feeling. Dolores says, nothing got resolved, and she thinks it’s time to part ways. It’s toxic for both of them, and both of them are hurt. Time apart is good. Andy wonders if watching it back spoke to Danielle, since she’s seeing her brother tomorrow. Danielle says she doesn’t know how he’ll react, and she’s afraid. She doesn’t want any toxic fighting. Andy asks if Marge is putting her arsenal behind her, and Jennifer says she’s sick of hearing arsenal. Suddenly struck by the wand of the Wisdom Fairy, she says, at the end of the day, it’s about them being friends. She felt it in Ireland. They had a great time having fun. They’re going to make mistakes; sh*t happens. They need to find a way to put on their big girl panties.😐Dolores says, there’s only one way, and that’s to leave everything behind. Jennifer says, Marge is right, 😐causing me to nearly faint. Unless you forget, you can’t truly forgive. Andy asks if Jennifer and Marge are going to bury the hatchet, and Marge says she’s in a different place in life. She doesn’t want insanity; no negative energy. Danielle agrees, and Andy asks if Rachel has decided to forget the nonsense with her and Danielle, and if they can come together. Rachel says she’s happy to move forward. They have more in common than not, and she’d like to form a new friendship. Danielle says she would too, and Andy says, last, but not least, Melissa and Teresa were more open with their real feelings, yet managed to coexist in a weird way. Teresa says she was getting married, and wanted peace. She tried everything, but Melissa kept denying her. Andy asks where she is now, and she says she just wants peace and to close the door. Melissa says she feels the hate. She could never please Teresa. Whatever she did was wrong. She loves Teresa, no matter what Teresa thinks, and worries about her. She’s just going to go with the flow; whatever the family decides to do.
Andy says, it’s been a tough season, from the highest high, Teresa’s hair; to the lowest low. He thanks them for allowing us into part of their life. They’re going to toast with Irish whiskey and pizza. Surprisingly, when the pizza is brought out (looks like NYC pizza, so I assume they filmed there), several of the ladies chow down.😐I guess it is a pretty long day. Andy asks Dolores to give the toast, and she says; Here’s to cheating, stealing, fighting and drinking. If you cheat, may you cheat death; If you steal, may you steal someone’s heart; If you fight, may you fight for a brother; If you drink, may you drink with me.
Hair is one of my favorite movie musicals, and despite its sad ending, it’s often chased my blues away. I also had the good fortune to see him play Buddy in my all-time favorite musical, Follies, on Broadway. He was an absolute joy to watch.
Hopefully, we’re back to soap tomorrow, along with some awful Secrets Revealed. Although I doubt there will be anything new. I hope not anyway. Until then, stay safe, stay looking both ways, even when in the crosswalk – as my father would say, you’ll be the only one with the right of way in the hospital – and stay keeping in mind, unless you forget, you can’t truly forgive.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nikolas meets Elizabeth in the park. He says he came as quickly as he could. Her message sounded urgent. She says his screwed up fake marriage is screwing up her real one.
At the gallery, Franco talks to Ava about the portrait. She thinks maybe they should cut their losses. Being mistress of Windymere isn’t as fun as she thought it would be. He says he has to ask. Is she unhappy with his work? She tells him, don’t be crazy. She loves his paintings. He says he has an idea for a new portrait. He could make it less ostentatious. Make it more casual, and less static, more real. He admits he has no idea how to capture her free spirit and energy. When he thinks of her, he sees her in motion. Ava wonders why he stopped talking; she was starting to get excited about another portrait. He says he didn’t think it through, and can’t do that to Elizabeth.
Chipping Campden, England. Robert thanks Olivia for waiting, and she tells him to take his time. He says something doesn’t feel right about having a memorial. Prayers and condolences, what’s that got to do with Holly? Her lust for life, her taste for adventure, and incredible sense of humor. There’s no body, so what is he doing at a memorial? Olivia says, a memorial is as much for the living as the dead. It’s a chance for people to gather and reflect on the person they love, and remember what that person meant to them. Robert sighs, and says, oh, sweetheart. How could I ever forget you?
In the park, Josslyn says, too bad Trina couldn’t hang out with them. It’s been forever since all four of them were together. Dev asks if that’s not what homecoming is for; the four of them going as friends. Cameron says, before they know it, they’ll all be going to college, and going their separate ways. Dev says, that’s not for a couple of months; they still have time. Josslyn can’t imagine not seeing Cameron – not seeing all three of them. Cameron says they have the best times when they’re together.
Nina and Jax walk up to an apartment in NYC, and Nina says, it’s all really fast. Jax says they found the jeweler who fashioned the clasp. Maybe he’s the one who separated the original piece. She says, he hasn’t returned her calls, and he’ll think she’s some kind of nut. Jax says they’ll find out soon enough. Nina’s phone dings, and she says, it’s a bulletin from The Invader. Have you seen this woman? She tells Jax that she gets an alert whenever Nelle’s name is mentioned. They should keep an eye open for her. She can’t vanish into thin air, and could be anywhere. Even there. Jax pretends to agree.
At Turning Woods, Carly looks at the same bulletin and remembers yelling to Nelle to take her hand. Ned comes in and startles her.
Sonny tells Mike, he’ll be right back. He tries to compose himself in the hallway, and Stella comes along. He says he’s so happy to see her, and she says that’s exactly why she’s there.
Carly tells Ned, he startled her, and he says, sorry. She says she was lost in thought, and he asks if it was because of Mike. She says Sonny is spending most of his time there, and she’s all about supporting him. She was about to text Olivia regarding some hotel business, and asks if she’s with Ned. He says he’s there to update Sonny. He needs to know where Olivia is and what she’s up to.
Robert tells Olivia, the thing about Holly is she thought you lived life to the fullest, or survived at the other end. It was one adventure after another. We flash back to Holly and Robert when we were all practically children. Holly tells him, everything about him is new and exciting. They have their whole lives ahead of them. They toast, to us. Robert tells Olivia, what else can he say about Holly? She truly was one of a kind.
Stella asks Sonny how Mike is doing; be straight with her. Sonny says she knows he always is. She doesn’t let him be any way else. He says, it’s hard not knowing how long Mike will hold on. The nurses say days or hours. Stella says, once they stop eating, it’s only a matter of time. Sonny says he knows that in his head, but yesterday, Mike woke up and knew who he was, and spoke to him. Stella says, that’s the way the disease works. There’s a run of bad days, and still have a good moment. Sonny says he was talking about horse racing, and Mike perked up. He got permission to take Mike to the track. Stella says, what?! and Sonny says he took Mike to the stables. There was a horse there, and Mike looked like a little boy. Stella says, sometimes, when a person is close to passing, they have one final burst of energy. She’s always thought it was God’s gift, so the person can say goodbye to their loved ones. Sonny says he’ll never forget Mike’s smile. He was so happy, enjoying himself. She says it sounds like Sonny benefited from the break in the situation. She asks if she can see Mike, and he says Mike would love that. She goes into Mike’s room, and says, hello. She sits next to the bed.
Nina tells Jax, no. They shouldn’t do this. He’s retired, and they shouldn’t bother him. Jax says it’s her nerves talking, but she says, actually, it’s reality. If she doesn’t talk to him, she still has hope. Jax says he could give her a clue to find her child, but she says if he doesn’t, it’s the end of their leads. They have nowhere else to look. Jax says, whatever they find, or not, he’s here with her. She says, okay, and knocks on the door.
Josslyn says she’s heading to Turning Woods to visit Mike. She wants to say hi, even though he won’t realize she’s there. Cameron says if she needs anyone to talk to, she can talk to him – always. She thanks him, and says he’s the best. She leaves, and Cameron tells Dev that he thinks Josslyn might like him as more than a friend.
Franco says the time he’s spent with Ava is an issue, and Ava asks, why? Artists have had patrons for centuries. That’s how the art world works. He says before the unveiling, Ava did publicity that focused on his past, in particular Francophenia. Elizabeth isn’t a fan. Ava thinks Elizabeth should get over herself. What kind of wife doesn’t support her husband’s passion?
Elizabeth says Nikolas and Ava are making each other miserable, and Ava is clearly using it as an excuse to run to Franco. She says, Nikolas told her not to trust him, and Nikolas asks if she feels that way. Nothing will happen unless Franco is a part of it. Is this really just about Ava, or does she doubt her husband?
Elizabeth tells Nikolas, she loves Franco and knows he loves her. He says, that doesn’t answer his question. Does she have any doubts? She says, all couples fight, and some of theirs have been about Ava and him. Nikolas asks what he did, and she says Franco has always been insecure about their the history they share; how long she’s known Nikolas, and how well she knows him. Franco also knows she’s forgiven him. Nikolas says, she forgave him? and Elizabeth says he let everyone think he was dead for so long, but now that he’s back, she realizes how much she missed him. He says, they’ve been to hell and back, and their bond is something that will never go away, even if Franco wishes it would. She says she loves Franco, but he doesn’t pick her friends. Nikolas thanks her for giving him another chance. He won’t let her down this time; he missed her so much.
Franco tells Ava, when he was a bad boy artist genius of sorts, he was single. He wasn’t married and didn’t have three boys to raise. Now he has to take into account any publicity he gets might have a negative impact on his family. She asks if it ever occurred to him that Elizabeth’s failed dream to become an artist might affect if she honestly wants him to be a success. Franco says she’s wrong about that. Elizabeth wants him to have a great life. She says, as an art therapist, not as a painter whose work is sought after. She doesn’t think it’s fair that he should have to downsize his dream to fit Elizabeth’s soccer mom ideal.
Nina knocks on the door again, and a man answers. He says, sorry; he was on the treadmill. Jax asks if he’s Abraham Dokken, and he says he is. He retired five years ago, but he’d be happy to refer them to another jeweler. Nina says they’re not looking for a repair, but they were hoping he could identify a necklace. She shows him the half-heart, and asks if he made it. He looks it over, and says it’s his clasp for sure. He couldn’t tell her if he made the piece. He made hundreds of heart pendants – they’re big sellers around Valentine’s Day – but they’re usually a whole heart. Nina says, it was a whole heart originally, but was split to make two necklaces. Does that sound familiar?
Stella says Sonny told her about taking Mike to the race track, and how he got to bet on a horse. It must have been quite a time. She tells Mike, his son loves him very much; lots of people love him. Mike looks at her, and she says, hello there. She’s so glad to have a chance to sit with him again. It’s like old times. All they need is a deck of cards. She tells him, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Everything is going to be all right.
Sonny asks Ned how Brook is, and Ned says, she’s still at GH. Sonny asks about her voice, and Ned says, she has to make more progress before they can get a complete overall diagnosis. Sonny says, Brook is strong and resilient, and won’t let anything or anybody keep her down. Ned couldn’t agree more. Ned asks about Mike, and Sonny says Stella is with his dad. Carly leaves to go see her, and Sonny says Ned never told him why he’s there. Ned says Sonny has a lot on his plate, and it can wait, but Sonny says he needs a distraction. Ned asks if Sonny has heard from Olivia lately, and Sonny says, no; is she okay? Ned hopes so. She’s in Geneva with Robert. Sonny says, because? and Ned says, Robert said he could get her in to see Dante.
Robert thanks Olivia for indulging in his nostalgia, and she says his life with Holly is the stuff spy novels are made of. She hopes it eased some of his grief a little. He says, who needs a memorial when he can sit with her, and she can listen to him ramble on? She thanks him, and he says, it means a lot. He says, there’s got to be a decent restaurant around. They need to find it, and buy the best, most expensive bottle of champagne on the menu and toast to Holly. Olivia likes the way he thinks, and happens to have a spectacular travel app. She walks off, looking at her phone, and Robert sighs again. He says he doesn’t know whether Holly is out there, but if she’s not, he’s sure going to miss her. His phone rings, and he sees the caller’s name and number are blocked. He answers, and there’s a lot of static, but he hears, help… need you. He says, Holly?
Nina asks if Abraham remembers dividing the necklace, and he says he does. It was an usual request. Most people buy two matching necklaces; it’s less expensive, but she insisted money was not an issue. Nina asks if he remembers the woman, and he says he’s good with faces. Customers like it if you remember them, and it keeps them coming back. She shows him Madeline’s picture, but he says, she doesn’t look familiar at all. Nina asks if he at least remembers the time frame. He says he’s been in business for forty years, and can’t answer that off the top of his head, but he’s kept receipts. Does she have a rough time frame? Nina says, it would have been in 1991, and he says he’ll take a look. She thanks him, and he goes to look at his records.
Elizabeth says she, Nikolas, Emily, and Lucky shared an important part of their lives. Even though Nikolas infuriates her sometimes, she doesn’t want to lose their connection. He says he hates that he’s the source of conflict in her marriage, but she says Franco has always had a jealous streak, and Nikolas is intimidating. He’s a prince; they’re few and far between. Nikolas says Franco would have liked it better if he never came back, and Elizabeth asks if he’s making an undeserving accusation about him?
Ava says if Franco’s wife feels inferior she probably shouldn’t have married him. Franco says he’ll give Ava this much. She’s been supportive, and always made him feel like he could succeed. She says, his success has made her money, but he says, if she wants to be the heartless ice queen of Port Charles everyone thinks she is, he still knows how passionate she is, and how she’d do anything support the people she loves.
Carly sees Stella, and they hug. Stella asks how Carly is doing, and Carly says, okay, but Sonny is having a hard time. Josslyn arrives, and Carly says she thought Josslyn was hanging out with her friends. Josslyn says she couldn’t relax and enjoy herself. She kept thinking about her grandpa, and wanted to be near him. She realizes he doesn’t know she’ll be there, but Stella says, don’t be so sure. Even if he’s not responsive, he knows. Carly says she’s glad Josslyn is there, and Mike will be too.
Sonny asks how Olivia managed to see Dante, and Ned says, Robert pulled some strings at the Bureau. He knows the interim director. Olivia would have asked Sonny to join her, but she knows he can’t leave Mike. Sonny says he hates missing a chance to see his son, but she’s right; he can’t leave his dad. Did she say how Dante is doing, or give any indication when he might come home? Ned doesn’t know. She hasn’t made too much contact other than telling him that she arrived safely. Sonny tells him to call when she finds out. Ned says, with Brook in the hospital, and the situation with Mike, it wasn’t a great time for her to run to Europe.
Robert says, tell him where she is. The call cuts off, and he says, dammit. He makes a call, and says he needs something quickly. He just took a call, and it was a bad line. He needs it to be traced. It’s a blocked number, and he needs it asap. It would be a real favor; he owes them. Olivia comes back, and Robert tells her that he took a phone call from a blocked number. There was a horrible connection, and here’s the part that’s a bit nuts. Holly was on the other end asking for help. She asks, how can that be? and he says it was pretty garbled, and he does have Holly on his mind. She says, it probably just sounded like Holly, but he says he’d know her voice anywhere. She doesn’t believe him, does she?
Elizabeth asks what exactly is Nikolas saying? He says, it doesn’t matter. She tells him, ever since Ava dredged up Franco’s past, the past he’s tried hard to overcome, there’s been distance between them. She’s never been so alone when in the same room with someone. Nikolas promises she’ll never be alone, no matter what happens with Franco.
Franco says when Ava lost Kiki, she lost faith in herself, but look at her now in this ridiculous sham of a marriage. She tells him, don’t worry; she went into it with her eyes wide open. Some people would say they both deserve what they got. Franco says she deserves way better, and she says he’s sweet to say that. He says he’s saying it because it’s true. He wants her to have a good life too. She deserves to be with someone who believes in her.
Olivia tells Robert, she never said that, but he might have heard Holly because he wanted to hear her. He says, it was definitely her voice. He doesn’t mean to say she’s alive; it could have been a recording, but who would do that to him? If it’s not Holly herself, it’s someone who wants him to believe it’s Holly. He has to find out where it came from. Olivia asks if he really thinks the call was from Holly, and he says he thinks Holly is alive.
Sonny tells Ned, if his dad’s Alzheimer’s taught him anything, it’s that you can’t waste time where the people you love are concerned. If Olivia has the chance to see her son, she should 100% take it. He can’t go because of his dad. Ned says he’s afraid Olivia flew halfway across the world, when Dante might reject the idea. She’s setting herself up for heartbreak. Sonny says Ned knows enough to know no one can stop Olivia from doing what she wants. Ned says he absolutely knows that. He’s sorry to hear Sonny’s father isn’t dong well, and Sonny thanks him, and says he’s trying to make the most of the time they have left.
Josslyn goes into Mike’s room, and tells him that she loves him. She wonders what he’s thinking about, and asks if Mike is still there in his head. Stella says you can never be sure, but she’d like to believe he is. There are moments Mike focuses, and looks at them like he sees them, and she believes he has. Sonny comes back, and tells Mike that his family is there, including Stella. Mike stirs, and has a hard time breathing. Josslyn says she’ll get the nurse, and Sonny tells Mike that they’re getting him some help.
Abraham comes back with the receipt, and tells Nina, he found it. In September 1991, an alteration to a heart pendant to make two matching necklaces. Jax says Nina is a step closer.
Ava tells Franco, according to Nikolas, she’s a conniving wife; amoral, shallow, greedy, the list goes on. Does he really see good in her? He says he does. She’s her own worst enemy, but who doesn’t do that sometimes. He, for one, tries to live up to Elizabeth’s… everybody’s high expectations. Ava thinks he’s good the way he is.
Elizabeth asks if Nikolas means it; that he’ll always be there for her. Nikolas says he’s let her down, but she makes him want to be a better man. Ava doesn’t bring that side out of him. She says she can’t believe her marriage is on the rocks again. Nikolas says because of her generous heart, she gave Franco a chance. If he can’t live up to her expectations, it’s not her fault. She says she doesn’t understand how it fell apart so quickly, but he says, maybe it’s for the best. The way he sees it, she and the boys are better off without Franco in their lives. She says she feels like a failure.
Robert tells Olivia, his Bureau source should at least be able to tell him the location of the call. She says, then what? and he says, if there’s the slightest possibility Holly is alive, he’s got to know. If someone is using a recording of her voice, he’s got to know that too. She says she completely understands. She flew there because of the slimmest chance she could take to Dante. She had to try. Now Robert has to try to find out for himself. His phone rings, and he says it’s his source. He asks if they were able to trace the call.
The nurse comes out, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? She says his father has pneumonia. It’s common when a patient can’t swallow. They’re putting him on oxygen. Still by Mike’s bedside, Stella tells him that his family is waiting outside. She knows he’s tired, but hang on a little longer. They want to say goodbye.
Robert tells Olivia, they were able to trace the call to Monte Carlo, and she says, as in the Monte Carlo in Monaco? He says, that’s the one. She says he doesn’t seem happy, and he says he called in a favor. The WSB doesn’t waste resources looking for dead people. Monte Carlo’s not all that big. If Holly is there, there’s a good chance he can find her. He’ll get Olivia a ticket back to Port Charles. She says, no he’s not; she’s going with him. He says he’s grateful she was there for the memorial, but now it’s time for her to go home, and be with her family. He’ll be fine.
Nina says she can’t believe this is happening, and starts to cry. Abraham asks if she’s okay, and she says, more than okay. This is incredible news; these are happy tears. She takes the receipt, and Jax thanks Abraham. Abraham tells Nina, good luck with whatever she’s looking for. Now, if they don’t mind, his stories are coming on. (Think he watches GH?) They thank him again, and leave. In the hallway, Nina tells Jax, the customer is Phyllis Caulfield. He asks if she recognizes the name, and she says she does.
Olivia leaves a voicemail for Ned, telling him there have been developments in the situation. She can’t talk, but promises to tell him everything as soon as she can, in person. Robert asks if she made a reservation to go back to Port Charles, but she says, no. She’s coming to Monte Carlo with him. End of story.
Nikolas turns Elizabeth’s face to him, and moves in for a kiss. As he kisses her, someone takes a photo.
Franco kisses Ava, and someone takes a photo.
Stella comes out, and Carly says the nurse told them it’s pneumonia. She asks if the oxygen is helping, and Stella says, a little bit, but he’s having a hard time still. Sonny says, it’s the end, isn’t it? and Stella says, yes. It’s time for everyone to say goodbye to Mike.
Tomorrow, Dev tells Cameron to pick one and set the other free, Nikolas asks if Elizabeth is looking for a way out of her marriage, and Carly says Mike made his family’s life better just by being there.
The Real Housewives of New York City – The Reunion – Part One
Andy tells us, at long last it’s an in person reunion with The Real Housewives of New York City. He asks Tinsley how she feels, and she says she’s in a happy mood. Maybe she needs some resolutions, but she doesn’t care. Everyone fusses with their masks, and Andy says they only need them when they get up. Several of them have cool masks. Sonja’s has fringe, and LuAnn’s is a smile. LuAnn says, it’s a good start for today.
Andy says, season 12’s reunion is like a fever dream. They’re in a warehouse surrounded by relics of NYC reunions past. What makes it more monumental is, it’s the first time since March they’re having an in person reunion. He assures us it’s at a safe and socially distanced. He tells them that they look radiant, and asks if Leah is ready for her first reunion. Leah says she’s so ready. She’s wearing her sheer black number that she wore to Ramona’s party, and Andy asks if she wore it to piss Ramona off. He makes her stand up to show the dress off. Dorinda says she’s excited, and Andy tells Ramona it’s the best she’s ever looked. He asks how she’s feeling, and in true Ramona pretend-I-feel-nothing fashion, she says, it’s just another day. He asks how LuAnn is, and she says, Lu and improved, which is getting old. Andy says he loves Sonja’s new haircut, and something else is different. She tells him about her face lift, and says she was inspired by Ellen Barkin. Andy says, last, but not least, their princess from Chicago, Tinsley. Tinsley says it feels strange, but it’s a nice closing for her chapter in New York.
Andy says, before they unpack season 12, he wonders how quarantine affected the women, and asks if they were outside the city. Leah says, for the first five weeks, she was in Long Island, but since then, she’s been in the city. He says, Ramona garnered the most attention. She was in Florida hunkered down with her ex-husband and daughter Avery. Ramona says Avery suggested it, and it was a great experience; they became a family again. Andy asks if there were any moments she thought there would be another shot with Mario, but she says she loves him as a person; she’s not in love with him. Andy says Sonja was trapped at a spa in Palm Springs, and Sonja says she had to reel it in after the show; she was going off the rails. She did colonics for three weeks, and explains some things we didn’t need to know about that. Andy asks how LuAnn is keeping busy with no cabaret, and she says she’s still working on her shows, and working on a book. She’s been busy. He says the burning question is how everyone has been coping since the pandemic. Leah said she was disgusted with her castmates with their families, living it up in Florida. We see her Instagram story, and she says, they’re not taking this sh*t seriously, and laughing. It’s despicable and déclassé. She gives the finger; two of them actually. He asks who she’s referring to, like we don’t know, and Ramona says it’s her, but Leah has it wrong; she’s been cautious. Leah says Ramona has a total lack of awareness. People are dying who can’t say goodbye to their families, and she’s posting about her workouts, and doesn’t care if she’s not masked. She has a lack of empathy, when people are suffering in our country and the world. We see Ramona’s Instagram, where she and Avery are demonstrating Turtle Time. Ramona insists that she was up at 4 am, reading the day’s horrific news. It was scary, and they were living every day as best they could with what they had. And she donated to charity. We hear the sound of one hand clapping. Ramona says people told her that she was an inspiration. Was she supposed to cry all day? Leah says, it’s about acknowledging the situation. Ramona also lied about donating blood. Ramona insists she did. In February she had Lyme disease, but they weren’t testing for Covid yet. She went to Aspen and got better, then went to Florida. She’d been in quarantine for eight weeks, when the Boca Beach Club opened up for going to the beach and playing tennis. She was tested, and found out she had antibodies. The doctor said, when she had Lyme disease, she also had Covid. Sonja says she’s a walking petri dish, and Ramona says she was allowed to come back. Leah behaved low brow, giving her the finger. Andy says a lot of people got upset that she went to a party where Donald Trump, Jr. was, and then his girlfriend tested positive. Ramona insists she stayed six feet from everyone, and left after an hour. Dorinda says, it’s not very responsible, and Ramona says, she doesn’t have the virus. She keeps repeating it, like somebody wound her up. Leah says, God knows how many people Ramona gave it to, and Dorinda says, Ramona is un-virusable. Ramona says she had it in February, and Andy says, you can get it again. He’s scared of getting it again. Sonja says, you can also spread it, and Dorinda says, Ramona was at a speakeasy with no mask;Breakers with Harry Dubin. We can never get through an NYC reunion without Harry’s name being mentioned at least once. Leah says, people are dying, and Dorinda says, people are out of work. Leah says, Ramona doesn’t give a sh*t. It’s not about wearing a mask, you effing idiot. She was showing herself dancing. Everyone is talking over each other, and Andy yells, shut up! He asks if Tinsley isn’t glad she came. He says he has one comment, and Ramona says the discussion is over. He says she was putting it out there that she wasn’t compliant. We see a picture of Ramona and another woman, arms around each other, not wearing masks. Ramona says she was in Florida with a friend at a restaurant, and they took a picture. They were allowed to do that.
Andy says it’s been a crazy year so far, and they have so much to get into with the actual season. With an unapologetic sense and an aversion to tiki torches, new housewife Leah proved a force be reckoned with. We flash back to Leah throughout the season, and Andy says in the feedback they received, everyone thought Leah hit the ground running. When Sarah Paulson was asked to rate Leah’s freshman season from 1 to 10, she gave it a 25. John Oliver was asked if he thought her season was good, he said he wasn’t sure, but never laughed harder than during the episode when she trashed Ramona’s house. Leah says, it’s nice to hear, and a nice welcome. When it aired, the pandemic had started, and they were in lockdown. If thinks if she’d gotten negative feedback, it would have been debilitating. LuAnn says, Leah is a tough New Yorker. She came on as a younger mom and businesswoman. She was vulnerable, and LuAnn instinctually liked her. Sonja says when you have a conversation with Leah, she actually listens and doesn’t judge. Dorinda says Leah gave it a different angle, coming from Downtown. She was confident, and able to handle the initiation. LuAnn says, tiki torches will never look the same, and Ramona says she has them stored behind her garage now. Andy asks if anything has changed for Leah, and she says she stopped drinking, but not much else.
Andy asks Tinsley about her take, and Tinsley says she joined at a low point in her life. She was weaker, and not confident. She loved that Leah didn’t hold back and was super confident; they connected right away. She has a hard time with the others listening to her, and it was nice having someone who actually did. Andy says a viewer asks, what’s up with Leah’s age shaming, and saying she’s the only one with a period? Instead of making fun, she should be seeking wisdom from the women. Leah says she respects them, and doesn’t think she age shames. Dorinda says Leah does look to them for advice; she calls about Kiki all the time. Andy says Ramona, Sonja, and Dorinda shamed Leah and judged her for her tattoos; it wasn’t very welcoming. Leah says she wasn’t uncomfortable about it, and Ramona says she’s not used to tattoos. Leah says the only comment she felt icky about was Sonja saying she’d never have sex with her because of it. We see a clip of Sonja saying Leah’s tattoos are a deal breaker, and Leah says, for some reason, it made her extra offended. Sonja says it was joke because there was sexual tension between them. Betsy from North Carolina wants Leah to elaborate on her vagina wings, and asks if it really flies. Leah says, it’s a crazy story. When she was 17, she did some hallucinogenics, and went into another dimension of the universe. She had purple wings, and when she came to, she wanted them tattooed on her. Her back was too obvious, so she got them on her p*ssy. Dorinda asks, what happens when men see it? and Leah says, they love it. Dorinda marvels at that, and Andy asks about Leah’s family watching the show. She says her father has the biggest crush on Sonja, and Sonja says, he’s an amazing artist. Leah says her mother wasn’t thrilled that she was buck naked, and talking about peeing on a prince – obviously; she’s Leah’s mother. Leah says her daughter hasn’t seen the show, and Andy asks, what about Rob? Leah says she thinks he gets jealous, and turned into a Guido. Andy asks if her mom is really a shrink, and Leah says, don’t judge her mom by her; she’s good at her job. Andy says she wasn’t drinking before the show started, and asks if she was worried about starting again. Leah says, a little, since it was being filmed and she knew it could go wrong. She hadn’t had one sip of alcohol in a decade. LuAnn says they drove her to drink, and Leah says she’s happy she got to spend 9 months drinking with the funniest bitches ever. She has no regrets.
Andy says, on that note, there were a lot of layers in drinking this season, with no exception. We flash back to many drunken antics, and he says, Joe from Ohio says the season was tough to watch with the drinking. He asks if anyone wishes the sloppiness had been addressed more, and Andy wonders if seeing the show in quarantine altered their behavior. Dorinda says, of course. When the season ended, they all stopped drinking, but she’s not like Ramona, who goes out every night. Leah says being shamed in Newport bothered her. Everyone was out of control wasted except Tinsley. She was new to the group, and dealing with sh*t. She’d had a bad night, and Ramona made her feel terrible about herself. Dorinda says Ramona does everything to deflect from her own behavior, and Ramona calls her a liar. She says Dorinda is disgusting, and should go to church.
Okay, time to break out the cookies. Andy asks why Leah decided to stop drinking, and Leah says when the pandemic started, and they were in quarantine, she needed to be at the top of her game for her daughter. There was no way she could use alcohol in a happy, fun way. A viewer asks if LuAnn’s first sip of vodka on the show was really her first sip since getting off probation, and LuAnn says it was. She felt like she hit the reset button, and thought she’d try it, but she’s reeled it in and stopped drinking since the season ended. She doesn’t want to label herself though, or put pressure on herself, but she does have to watch herself, and she’s very aware. Briana from Nashville asks if LuAnn’s outburst (about Sonja) gave anyone pause, and LuAnn says she gave herself pause. She had to evaluate her use of alcohol. Andy tells them, viewers said no one else is as mean as Dorinda, and wonders why they defended her. Dorinda says Ramona said what she did as a zinger, and Ramona says she was petrified. Andy tells Ramona to let Dorinda finish, and asks why Dorinda gets defensive when her drinking is brought up. Dorinda says she’s sensitive about it. Ramona was accusatory, when Dorinda tries not to point out anyone else’s drinking or Ramona sleeping with people. LuAnn says Dorinda doesn’t like to be told about it, and she gets it, but she was just looking out for a friend. Dorinda says LuAnn does look out for her, but Ramona does it to be harmful. She says she’s for women, but she’s not. Andy says they’re talking about Dorinda, and Ramona says Dorinda is deflecting. I tell Ramona, STFU. Dorinda says it makes her uncomfortable that Ramona talks in front of the group, while LuAnn took her aside. She doesn’t know what else to say. It makes her uncomfortable. Andy says when she watched it back in quarantine, could she see it was about her relationship with alcohol, and not personal? Ramona won’t shut up, babbling about how Dorinda lies and won’t admit it. Dorinda says, it’s stress relief. She has no outlet to express herself, and uses alcohol, and it doesn’t turn out well. LuAnn says they’ve all had their days, but seen themselves, and realized they need to do something about it. Andy says they’ve all expressed concern with Sonja’s drinking, and Ramona says she knew it had to be an interaction with medicine. LuAnn says Sonja used to end the evening like that, but then it started happening at the beginning. Andy says, rosé and Coke? and Sonja says she was looking for any solution. Andy says, it sounds like a problem, and Sonja says she was shocked when she saw herself, showing up at LuAnn’s Halloween party. She’d been on a diarrhetic, and was also on it when she fell under the table after yelling at Bethenny. We flash back to that, and Sonja says she didn’t like the example she was setting for her young viewers. It slowed her motor skills, and it was the pills. Dorinda says she’s taken it for years, since menopause.
Andy says, Tinsley finally found her fairytale ending with Scott, trading hotel life and Housewives for her happily ever after. We flash back down Tinsley Memory Lane, and Andy says, to clarify, they’re still together? Tinsley says, they’re still together, thank God, and they’re getting married. Everything’s good. She shows off her ring, which is quite a sparkler. She says it’s weird sitting there, and Ramona corrects Tinsley about her own feelings, and says, it’s surreal. Tinsley says she got everything she wanted, and she’s going to Chicago to see Scott tomorrow, and be a family again. Andy asks if the one thing that was holding them back as a couple was her being in New York, and him in Chicago. She says, it was a big issue, and Ramona says she persevered; she gives Tinsley credit. Tinsley thinks her being with Bruce was trying to make a jab at Scott, showing him that she was in Chicago with someone else. Ramona says, it worked, and LuAnn says, the pandemic made Tinsley a solid housewife. Tinsley says she wanted to show Scott that she was this person too. He’d never seen her in a normal situation at home. When they’d get back together, they were always traveling. She adds that she’s never going to complain about traveling again, and Andy says he doesn’t think anyone will. A viewer says, it’s ironic that Tinsley had to leave the Housewives to be the only real housewife. Tinsley says she wants to do a lot of things. She’s been working with PETA and Paws Chicago, a no-kill shelter. Andy asks how she feels watching it back, seeing what everyone was saying, and who was supportive. She says, few people were supportive. Leah was, and later, Ramona and LuAnn, who’d been falling under Dorinda’s spell. Leah says she never heard anyone asking about Tinsley’s relationship, and LuAnn says they were doubtful, since Tinsley and Scott had broken up so many times. Tinsley says she felt embarrassed and humiliated, crying so many times about it. Sonja says they were happy for her, but became protective, and Tinsley says she couldn’t talk about wanting babies, or they’d be like, this again? Sonja says she brought it up all the time on the show, but Tinsley says it’s not a show, it’s her life. Andy asks if Scott made her choose between him and the show, but she says he never did. The show was still an issue, and she knew when they got back together, she had a decision to make. Dorinda says the show was how she met him, and Tinsley should say thank you. They talk at the same time, and Tinsley says, of course he let her finish the season, but she chose him over them. She didn’t want him to be in the mix, knowing it could be toxic for their relationship. Andy asks Ramona, if she dated a guy who didn’t want her to be on the show, would she quit? Ramona says, if he put a ring on it, and LuAnn says, her too. Tinsley says she proved how much she loved him, while Sonja puts hand sanitizer on her legs. Andy is like, what are you doing? and she says she needs some shine. Tinsley says, if she had to show how much she loved him by leaving, she was going to do it.
After a commercial break, Andy welcomes us back, even though we’re not the ones who went anywhere. He says, Tinsley wasn’t comfortable sharing all of her details, but Dorinda had no qualms about sharing her distain for Tinsley. We flash back to Dorinda being nasty to Tinsley, ending with her turkey baster comment. Tinsley looks pretty upset, and Dorinda pastes a smile on her face. Andy says he’s assuming they haven’t spoken since then, and Dorinda says Tinsley has only spoken to Leah. Tinsley says she and Dorinda were friends at one point. Her turkey baster comment was vile, especially when there are women who can’t get pregnant. Dorinda says she’s sorry she shamed Tinsley, and Tinsley says she was shamed for wanting a child and not having one. Dorinda is surprised she’s not already pregnant. She repeats that she’s sorry, and says, it was a bad joke. Tinsley says, it’s not a joke, and Andy says viewers thought it was mean. Tinsley says it will never go away, and a viewer asks what Dorinda’s issue is with Tinsley. Dorinda says she believes only half of what she hears, and all she sees, which is a variation on an old Navy saying – believe only half of what you see, and nothing you hear. She says a lot of stuff went on that no one saw, and Tinsley says after she and Scott broke up, she and Dorinda got in a horrific fight that wasn’t on camera.
Separating this paragraph because it’s such a good reveal, and explains a lot. Tinsley says she told Dorinda that Scott had given John money she didn’t know about. Dorinda took it as a betrayal, and took her anger at John out on Tinsley. The producers didn’t want her to stay in the house; they were worried for her safety. Dorinda says she never got involved in John’s finances, because once again, a Housewife has forgotten the cameras see all. In some unseen footage, we see Dorinda on the phone with John, screaming at him not to use her friends to ask for money, and telling him not to talk to Scott. Scott is not his friend. When she says not to do something, he’d better listen. LuAnn says she remembers that call. Tinsley says she hasn’t done anything to Dorinda, and Dorinda says she hates Tinsley’s life. Tinsley says, Dorinda is obsessed with her life.
Wowee, wow, wow.
Next time – The Reunion – Part Two – Dorinda is asked if she’s seeing someone, Leah makes fun of Ramona, Ramona’s comment about Leah being bi-polar is discussed, and Leah says she doesn’t think Dorinda hits below the belt. Is Leah sure she quit drinking?
🤸🏽 Hair Reborn…
Finally, my head has felt the freedom that is a color and cut. And with that, I bid you adieu until my next post, where I will pour you some tea, and we can laugh about how rich folks have to be just like us. For the most part. Okay, they still have it better, but we can laugh anyway. Until then, stay safe, stay amused, and stay not giving John any money.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
⚠GH was preempted in the US today. SPOILER ALERT – here it is anyway. I’m guessing this will be shown tomorrow, but it looked like a last minute decision today, so who knows?
General Hospital
Mike tells Sonny, nice place, as they walk into a bar. Sitting at the bar, Jason sees a guy with a gun, and yells for everybody to get down. There’s a bunch of shooting, all at the same time in various locations with various characters ducking and running for cover. Question mark over my head.
Sonny walks into a bar with Mike and Jason, which is not the beginning of a joke. Mike says his back hurts, and asks what the place is. Sonny says he heard there was great pastrami there, and thought they’d have lunch. Mike flirts with the waitress, who goes to get him coffee. He says, she’s a firecracker. Sonny shows Jason a table, and says Mike used to sit there. Jason asks if it was his betting office, and Sonny says, pretty much. He thought bringing Mike there might spark something, but it’s different now. The chances of having an incident there are high. This has to work.
Michael sees Josslyn on the docks, and thanks her for meeting him there. He knows it’s random, but he’s meeting the mayor there. She asks what’s so important he had to meet in person. He says he’s moving Nelle into the Quartermaines. Josslyn says, oh hell no.
At the MetroCourt, Nelle tells Carly, it’s a bond that can’t be broken; once you conceive a child with someone. Michael wasted no time asking her to move in. Carly says she heard about Nelle’s little stunt at the hospital. Nelle asks if she’s referring to her how she survived a brutal attack by Ryan, but Carly says she meant Nelle’s run-in with Wiley. They both know she’s not the maternal type. Nelle says she’s just being cruel. It’s been over a year, and she still aches for her son. Carly tells her, mention Jonah one more time, and see what happens.
Sasha and Willow sit at one of the tables, and Sasha says, so that’s Nelle. Willow says, lovely, isn’t she? Sasha says she’s glad Nelle won’t be anywhere close to Wiley, but Willow says she’s freaking out. Brad is completely off the rails, and now he’s solely responsible for Wiley’s well-being. What is she going to do?
Lulu asks if Charlotte had fun at Crimson, and Charlotte says, the best. Nina says they made her work, and Lulu suggests Charlotte clean up and they can head out. Jax says, she’s an art director in the making. Lulu thinks Valentin’s arraignment is happening as they speak, and asks how Nina is. Nina says she’s fine, and Lulu says she thinks Robert’s goal was to get the judge to deny bail. Hopefully, Nina won’t have to worry about him showing up, and Lulu won’t have to worry about him sniffing around Charlotte. It won’t be a problem once she gets full custody. Nina ask if Lulu thinks keeping Charlotte away from Valentin is a good idea. It seems extreme, and they can all agree that Valentin and Charlotte love each other. Lulu says, of course (🍷), but Valentin has a funny way of showing it. Nina thinks it might do more harm than good, but Lulu says they’ll cross that bridge when they come to it. Right now, all she cares about is keeping her daughter safe, and that can’t happen if she’s with Valentin.
On a private plane, Ava tells Nikolas she can practically hear him brooding. He says he’s sorry he’s not over his son cutting him out of his life a couple of hours ago. She says, Spencer is furious; maybe even hates Nikolas. He asks if that’s supposed to make him feel better, and she says she’s been there. Suck it up. Spencer is alive, which means he still has a chance to repair the relationship. He says he’s not giving up on his son. Everything he’s done has been for Spencer. She says, it seems to her, everything was done to get revenge on Valentin. He says, to reclaim the estate. He had to protect the Cassadine heir. She says, it’s pretty clear Spencer would prefer he protect his son. He asks if that isn’t the same thing, and she says, an heir is the legacy of a powerful family; a son is a child who needs his father.
At the courthouse, Martin tells Valentin, the judge is running late, but Valentin is just glad to be out of the cell. Martin is hoping the judge grants him bail. Laura appears, and says as someone who’s up for attempted murder, and has the means to disappear, she doesn’t think so. Valentin asks if she’s there to exert undue influence on the court, but she says she doesn’t need to. He’s the one who tried to kill Ava, kidnapped Charlotte, and committed fraud. He says, none of that is true; he was taking Charlotte to a hotel. She says, what about evading arrest? and Valentin says he wasn’t. He had no reason to believe he’d be arrested. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Robert comes out with a paper, and asks Martin, what’s this? Martin says, a motion to dismiss. The attempt on Ava’s life never happened.
Sonny tells Jason, it’s Mike’s last shot. Jason says Sonny has done everything he can do. Now it’s up to Mike and the treatment. Sonny says he knows Alzheimer’s doesn’t take any orders, and if Mike is too far gone, he’s too far gone. But he’s worried about Mike spending the night in the clinic. Jason says at least it gave them an opportunity to call a meeting. Sonny showing up in Brooklyn wouldn’t have looked good if he didn’t check in with the five families. I laugh because that sounds so stupid – like five cheese pizza or something. Sonny says, not that he’s crossing any borders, but him being in Brooklyn could be misinterpreted. I laugh again, since that’s stupid too. Sonny is from Brooklyn. Who wrote this? Mike comes back and says Maggie told him that his coffee is on the house. He’s still got it. Sonny says he does.
Nelle says, just because Carly is angry that Michael still has feelings for her… Carly tells her, give it up, and Nelle says, no. Carly says, having Nelle out in the world again is unsettling and painful, but what she’s not getting is, the crap she pulled last time isn’t going to work. They all know her act. That’s what’s going to drive her straight back to Pentenville.
Willow tells Sasha, technically, she has no legal rights to Wiley. She signed the adoption papers, and Wiley is Brad and Lucas’s son, but when she was considering them as parents, Lucas was always the winner in the dad department. He was the responsible one, the dependable one. Brad is nice, but he almost let fresh-out-of-prison Nelle move in with him. What does that say about his mental state? Sasha says Willow is afraid of what happens if Lucas never wakes up, and Willow say she’s terrified. How can she be okay with Brad raising her son on his own?
Josslyn asks if Michael is insane. Whatever strategy he thinks he’s working, this is Nelle they’re talking about. He says he’s aware… and she says, that Nelle is a complete psycho? And a liar, and a killer? The last time he tried to work a strategy on her, his car ended up on the side of the road, and he almost died. Nelle is evil, and will kill him if she gets the chance, because he’ll never love her, and Nelle will never accept that. She’s sorry, but he can’t die.
Nikolas says, growing up with his mother and uncle, he was always taught to put the Cassadines first. His worth was based on being the prince. Ava asks if he liked that, and he says he hated it. He didn’t realize he was treating Spencer the same way. She says she never managed to learn not to put herself before her own child. She let her own desires come between them again and again. She thinks if she’d put Kiki first, her daughter might still be alive.
Laura tells Martin, that’s absurd. Everyone at Windymere saw Nikolas carry Ava in, soaking wet, and they both say Valentin pushed her off the parapet. Martin says, they also saw Ava drink her body weight in vodka. As for Nikolas, the court is supposed to take the word of a man who pretended to be deceased for three years, so he could get revenge on the man he’s accusing of this crime? Valentin thinks the term he’s looking for is, unreliable witness. Martin says, once the murder charge is dismissed, there’s no reason for no bail. Laura says, he’ll run, but Martin says Valentin will voluntarily give up his passport. Robert says he’s got a closetful of them. Valentin says he’s not going anywhere. Not without his daughter.
Lulu helps Charlotte on with her coat, and sees the chopped up picture of Sasha. She asks, what happened there? and Charlotte says, Nina did it. She goes to say goodbye to Nina, and tells Nina that her papa had Butterscotch moved to mainland. She asks if Nina wants to come with her to the stables; they can ride like they used to. Nina wishes she could, but she has to work, and says maybe another time. Charlotte hugs Nina, saying she loves and misses her. Nina says she feels the same, and Charlotte leaves with Lulu. Nina tells Jax that Charlotte is sad and lonely because of the choices she made. He looks at his phone, and wonders what’s taking so long.
Mike chats with Maggie about the Mets, and Jason says he’s in a better mood than when they got there. Sonny hopes there’s a good looking nurse at the clinic. His dad is golden when he turns on the charm.
Nelle tells Carly, she’s never going back to Pentenville, and Carly says, sure she is. Nelle asks, why? Because Carly says so? Carly says, no, because crazy rolls off Nelle in waves, and she can’t resist doing something evil and stupid that will come back to bite her. She’s going to do it to herself, so go ahead, plant herself at the Quartermaines. It’s just going to be entertaining. Nelle in the same house as Monica, after trying to kill her beloved grandson? They’re going to treat Nelle like the trash she is, and Carly can’t wait to watch.
Sasha tells Willow to just find the action she needs to take. They’re all there to support her.
Michael tells Josslyn, he’s a grown man who can take care of himself. Wiley is a baby, whose whole world is spiraling out of control. She says, no one knows what’s going to happen with Lucas, and Michael says, the one father Wiley can depend on is absent, and he’s left with Brad, who wasn’t steady to begin with, and now he’s unraveling. He was going to let Nelle move in with him and Wiley. Josslyn says, never, and he says now she understands why he had to move Nelle in with the Quartermaines. It’s the only way to keep her away from Wiley. She says, wrong. She has a better solution. Take Wiley away from Brad.
The guard tells Robert, Judge Vasquez will be ready in twenty minutes. Laura says she has an important meeting to go to, and Valentin says she’ll be missed. She says if he wants Charlotte to come through this whole, he should start cooperating with her. She’s the voice of sanity. He suggests she act like it, and call Lulu off. He doesn’t want his daughter to be a casualty in the never-ending war with the Cassadines. He knows they agree in wanting Charlotte to be happy, so no matter how much he and Lulu despise each other, they’re going to have to find some common ground. Charlotte is more important than that. Laura tells Robert to let her know how it goes, and leaves.
Nina asks Jax what he means by it’s taking too long, and he says, if he told her, it wouldn’t be a surprise. She says she’s had enough surprises in her life. He says, too late, and a server brings in a room service table. She says he’s come full-circle with the champagne, and he says he had the cheese flown in from Switzerland. She says, of course (🍷) he did. He says he’s not making light of her situation or feelings, but believes there’s a lot to celebrate. He opens the champagne.
Nikolas says he’s sorry for Ava’s loss. She says, and for exploiting it when he haunted her? He says, yes. It was a terrible thing to do. Being away from Spencer was torture, but he could hold on to his fantasy of their triumphant reunion, but she’s right. He still has a chance to be with his son. The thought of him being gone for good… She says, it’s a pain no parent should have to bear. He’s sorry she has to carry that, and she says she knows the perfect way he can make it up to her. Sign the post-nup.
Nelle tells Carly that she remembers that day at the police station vividly. The hatred in Carly’s eyes, and the vitriol Carly spewed at her. But what she remembers the most is how smug Carly was. Who’s laughing now? She has 5% of the ELQ shares and her own room at the Quartermaines. The best part is, she didn’t have to be rescued. She did it on her own. Carly tells her not to exaggerate. She had help; Shiloh and Ryan. Nelle says Carly doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about. Carly doesn’t know what she can do, what she’s done, or how she can blow Carly’s entire world apart. Carly says she’s not listening to Nelle’s delusional babble. She has errands to run. Nelle ponders the word errands.
Josslyn tells Michael, if Lucas doesn’t wake up, and everyone agrees Brad is a crappy father, Wiley’s real mother is right there. Have Willow revoke the adoption and take Wiley back. Wiley will be safe, and Nelle won’t have to live with the Quartermaines. Problem solved. Michael says, that’s not the way it works. Adoptions are legally binding. You can’t just change your mind. Willow chose Brad and Lucas as birth parents, and Brad is Wiley’s father. They have no choice but to help and support him. Josslyn says, that is such bull. Lucas chose Michael to be Wiley’s godfather so he could protect Wiley when Lucas couldn’t. Ask himself what Lucas would want him to do. Laura arrives, and Josslyn says she has to run, and tells Michael think about it. Laura asks if he’s ready to talk waterfront renovations.
Jason tells Sonny, the biggest regret of his life is how hard he was on Alan. He wouldn’t let Alan in, even though he tried and tried. And then he died. Sonny says, it’s not like Alan didn’t make mistakes, and Jason agrees he did, but for a lot of years, Sonny was way more mad at Mike than Jason was at Alan, and he was able to overcome it. He was able to reach out to his dad and take care of him. He wishes more than anything he would have been able to give Alan one tenth of what Sonny has given his father. He can never make that right again, and wants Sonny to know what he’s doing. Mike might not understand, but Sonny is a good son, and he’s giving Mike everything he has.
Ava tells Nikolas, she won’t hand over the original codicil until he makes their relationship official. He thought that’s what marriage did. She laughs, and says they’re not exactly a conventional couple. Their relationship will be fluid, a partnership. He says she forced him into this position, and now expects him to work with her. She doesn’t see why not. She helped him with Spencer, didn’t she? She doesn’t want to tear him down; she wants to see him on top, and wants to be right beside him. They’re both smart, some would say ruthless, and she thinks they’d make an incredible team. All he has to do is sign. She hands him a pen, and he says he’ll do it. On one condition.
Nina asks what they’re toasting, and Jax says he told her when people get their hearts broken, they can either wallow in it or choose the fun side of the island. It was easy for him to say, but it occurred to him that she might need a tutorial on the good side of life. She says, this is it? He’s the most arrogant man she’s ever met. Good thing he’s cute. He says he’s had his share of setbacks and broken dreams, but he realized there’s a choice. You can let it hold you back, or you can move forward. The only thing they’re in control of is their attitude. They toast to moving forward. He says, so she thinks he’s cute?
Lulu runs into the courthouse, and asks Robert if she missed it. He says, the judge saw fit to grant Valentin bail. He dropped the attempted murder charge for lack of evidence. She says, what about the other charges? and he says, all non-violent. Valentin comes out, and Robert tells him, congratulations. He saved his own butt again. Valentin asks Lulu how Charlotte is, and she says none of his business. He says she’s his daughter, and they still have joint custody. That means he can see her whenever he wants to. She says not after she files a restraining order against him.
Mike talks to Maggie about the old days, and taking his son for a root beer float for breakfast. It was their secret. She says his son was a lucky kid, and Mike says he was a lucky dad. Sonny asks if Mike is bothering her, but she says is he kidding? She spends her days waiting on rude, bored, pissed off people, and he’s a real charmer.
Laura tells Michael that she’s envisioning a public and private sector initiative. They’re going to make the run down area inviting, welcoming, and most of all, safe for the citizens of Port Charles. That means it has to be more than parks and gardens. She wants restaurants and shops. She wants it to be beautiful and useful. He says it’s an ambitious plan, but is she sure she wants to go all the way to Pier 55? Maybe they could just look at the first fifteen piers or so. She says she respects his wanting to leave part of the waterfront… untouched. She thought of that herself, but her concern about that is, the part that hasn’t been renovated wouldn’t be safe unless they do the whole thing. It’s a worthwhile project, and she hopes ELQ will get behind it.
Carly tells Gladys that she has to get some paperwork, and they can head over to the warehouse.
Nelle catches Willow on her way to the elevator, and asks if she’s going to Brad’s. She commends Willow, spending time with the child she gave away. She wonders if every time Willow leaves, she feels like she’s giving him up all over again. Willow gets in the elevator, and says she’s heartbroken that Michael had to lose his child, but she’s increasingly grateful that Nelle isn’t a mom. The elevator doors close, and Nelle says, bitch.
Nikolas tells Ava, an open marriage won’t work. He doesn’t want people to think she’s cheating on him. She has to appear like a doting wife. She says she’s not having sex with him. If that’s a condition, she’ll burn the codicil the first chance she gets. He says he’s not interested in sleeping with her either. He just wants her to be faithful. She asks if it’s the middle ages. He says he doesn’t trust her not to trash his reputation. A man whose wife is cheating on him is seen as weak. She says, an infidelity clause. She assumes it doesn’t just apply to her. He says, so they’re agreed. If she cheats on him, she gets nothing. She says, and if he cheats on her, she gets 90% of his assets; 10% for the little guy. She says, deal? and they shake hands. She guesses they’re stuck with each other, and toasts to a long and chaste partnership.
Valentin tells Lulu, all this time, she’s accused him of being evil incarnate for killing Nikolas, but he didn’t kill Nikolas, did he? Her brother is alive and kicking. She says, no thanks to him, and he says, now she has to come up with a new excuse to take away his daughter. He’s not going to allow Charlotte to be poisoned by her particular brand of lunacy. Do her worst. Bring it, because he can handle her. Lulu stomps off, and Martin says, that looked tense. Valentin says, Lulu wants to issue a restraining order, and Martin says, they’ll crush it this afternoon. Valentin says, why not now? and Martin says he has an important probate hearing about Shiloh’s will. Nelle is anxious to submit her claim for the ELQ shares. Valentin says, she’s been a useful distraction. The Quartermaine and Corinthos families are in a spin. Martin says if Valentin hadn’t insisted, he wouldn’t have taken her case. Valentin asks if Nelle has any idea Martin isn’t working for her, but for him, and Martin says, not a clue.
Nina tells Jax about going to a party in the Hamptons and meeting a boy by a cheese plate. They danced under the stars, and it was breathtaking. He suggests they dance there, and holds out his hand. She takes it, and he spins her around. They dance, and she asks if there’s anything he can’t do. He says fly a spaceship, but he wants to learn. She’s liking this fun side of the island, and he tells her stick around; it gets better. He kisses her.
Sonny tells Mike, they have stuff to do, but they can come back. Maggie says it was great meeting him.
While Laura takes a call from Robert, Sasha shows up, and asks if Michael is still at his meeting. He says they’re taking a break. He sees she made a decision, and she says she accepts his invitation to move in. He says he thought she wasn’t sure, but she says that was before the whole Nelle thing. She wants to help. Michael shouldn’t have to deal with Nelle alone.
Gladys looks around the warehouse, while Carly checks some paperwork. Tony comes out, and Carly tells him that Sonny signed some things and asked her to drop them off. Gladys has wandered into another area, and Tony asks her to step away from there.
Mike tells Sonny, it’s a nice place. Sonny thinks so too. Jason sees a guy at the bar with a gun, and yells, everyone get down! The guy starts to shoot.
Josslyn says she lost her journal, and looks around. A guy pops out from behind a wall, and she yells for Michael to watch out. The guy starts shooting.
Another guy starts shooting at the warehouse. Tony pushes Gladys out of the way, and Carly dives behind the bags of coffee.
At the pier, Laura runs toward Josslyn, and gets hit.
No previews on the video I saw.
The Haves and The Have Nots
Kathryn says she can’t believe she’s getting arrested, and George tells her, he can’t say he’s sorry. This is for Jennifer. Kathryn says she has nothing to do with it, and George asks why Jim had his assistant try to steal evidence. She tells him to ask Jim. Arrest Jim, if he’s still alive. He asks if she wants to answer questions there or at the station. She says she was just shot at, and he’s doing this now? Hanna tells her, calm down, but she says she won’t. Hanna tells her, it’s okay, and Kathryn asks if George realizes the power she has in this town. George says, it doesn’t matter. She says she’s a wreck. Her son just tried to kill them, and he’s arresting her. The officer tells her, don’t resist, and Hanna says, just go with them. Kathryn says she’ll resist all she wants to. She’s Kathryn Cryer, and she’ll have all their jobs. Hanna follows as she’s led away.
Outside, the reporters clamor for a story. Wyatt tells Kathryn, he let her live tonight; remember that. She tells him, remember he’ll live to regret it. He asks why they’re arresting her, and George says for Jennifer’s murder. Wyatt says, finally, and Kathryn says he’ll be sorry. He needs to pay for what he did. He says she’s paying for what she did to Jennifer, and she says he’ll be paying for the rest of his life. He says he’s been paying for it since birth, bitch. Kathryn is put in a police car, and I’m surprised the reporters aren’t tripping over each other to get photos.
The car pulls away. Wyatt calls Hanna over, and asks her to pray for him. She says she will, and he suggests she pray to him. He was God tonight. She says, no, he’s not, and he says he killed that bastard and let Kathryn live. If that’s not God, he doesn’t know what is. Hanna says he needs help, and he says she should be happy he killed that bastard. Both her and Benny should be happy. She says she’s not, and he says he let Benny live. She asks what he’s talking about, and Wyatt says he heard Jim was going to have Benny kidnapped until he got the money back. Hanna asks who Jim would call to do that, but Wyatt doesn’t know. He says he’s sorry; God is tired and doesn’t have time. She says, Lord help him, but he says he’ll help himself. He asks if she wants to know how he did it, and she shakes her head. He says she should have seen Kathryn fall into the tub. The look of fear of death was magnificent. Hanna tells him, goodnight, and walks away. She goes inside and leaves Benny a message to call her. She tells George that Jim was planning on kidnapping her son because his sister has money that belongs to him. George says, Candace? Why would she have his money? Hanna doesn’t know, and says she was planning on giving it back. She asks if her son is in danger, but George doesn’t know. She leaves another message for Benny.
Candace gets a call from Hanna, who asks where her brother is. Candace says, out with Mitch. Hanna asks if they said where they’re going, but Candace says, they weren’t specific. Hanna tells her that Jim was going to have Benny kidnapped until she gave him the money. She wants Candace to find her brother, and Candace says she’ll call Benny and Mitch. She tells Hanna not to worry, and Hanna says, that man is crazy. Candace asks how Jim is, and Hanna says, he was shot. They took him to the hospital. Candace tells her that Benny is with Mitch; no fool would bother them. Mitch is a Malone, and that name sends people shaking. She’ll find Benny.
Charles looks at Candace’s phone number, and moves on to Gretchen. She asks how he is, and he says, not so good. She asks where is he? and he says, in Detroit. She says she’s on her way. He’s been on her mind. He says he’ll let the Secret Service know she’s coming.
Outside the Cryer house, David goes through the blockade with Jeffrey. He asks George, what happened? and George says, Wyatt shot Jim, and attempted to shoot Kathryn. David asks how Jim is, but George doesn’t know. He asks where Kathryn is, and George says she was just taken to jail for Jennifer’s murder. David asks who can tell him about Jim, and George says there’s an investigator inside, Donnelly. Jeffrey asks Wyatt what he did, and Wyatt says, he did it. He told Jeffrey he was going to, but Jeffrey didn’t believe him. Jeffrey tells Wyatt not to say anything, and Wyatt says, it’s the truth. Jeffrey says they’re going to take him to jail, and Wyatt says, good. He’s sick of this life. Jeffrey says, at some point, Wyatt is going to realize what he’s doing. Wyatt yells, he shot Jim Cryer.
David asks Donnelly how Jim is, but Donnelly isn’t sure. David asks if Jim is in the hospital or morgue, and Donnelly says, he went to the hospital. David wonders where Wyatt got a gun, and Donnelly says it was an old model shotgun. Jim’s only saving grace were that the bullets were for quail hunting. It’s still a shotgun blast though. Hanna comes out, and David asks if she knows what happened. She says all she knows is that Wyatt shot Jim, and shot at Kathryn, but didn’t shoot her. When she got there, they were taking Jim out on a stretcher. David asks if he was breathing, and she says they took him to the hospital. David says he’s got to get over there, but Hanna tells him, wait. He and Jim are thick as thieves. Did David know Jim was planning on having Benny kidnapped? Who would he call to do that? David says he doesn’t know what Hanna is talking about, but she says she knows he knows who to call. (Veronica actually might be at the top of that list.) She tells him, leave her son alone, and he insists he doesn’t know what she means. Jim might not be alive, do they need to have this conversation now? She says, damn right. Benny is her son. She knows how David is about his son, and Benny is hers.
Outside, David tells Wyatt, don’t admit anything, and Jeffrey says he told Wyatt to stay quiet, but he doesn’t care. David says he’s going to the hospital to check on Jim. Jeffrey says, what about Wyatt? but David says there’s nothing he can do. Wyatt says there’s nothing he can do for Jim either.
Veronica calls Derrick, who looks like he’s less than thrilled to hear from her. He asks if she knows what time it is, and she says she needs to talk to him – not on the phone. He says he’s not coming to her house, but she says, yes, he is. She’ll be waiting. He tells her, suit herself, and she says she’ll see him in thirty minutes. She hangs up, and he says, bitch.
Gretchen tells Charles that she really missed him. He says, it hasn’t been that long, but she says, eleven months. How is he really? He says he’s okay, and she says she saw the news about that girl. How did that happen? He says, long story, and she says she has all night. She wondered how he got involved with someone like that, and he says he didn’t call to talk about that. He should probably just go to sleep, and she says, let her stay. She can take his mind off her; like old times. He asks if she isn’t dating a guy, and she says they broke up. Charles asks, when? and she says when he called. He hopes she didn’t come because she thought they were getting back together, and she says she came to tell him how much she missed him and wanted him. She knows she can take his mind off whatever it is. She opens her coat, and she’s wearing lingerie underneath it. She walks upstairs, and he follows.
On the phone in his hotel room, Landon asks Adeline if she’ll do this for him. She really is a good girl. He says, come on. He took care of her daughter, and had the story killed. He’s not threatening her, he’s just asking for a favor. Can she fix this? Please? He says he loves her. Drinks on him – forever. He makes a kissy noise into the phone. There’s a knock at the door, and Landon pulls himself together. He opens the door to find Scott. He was surprised Landon called in the middle of the night; the President Elect’s most trusted advisor. Landon thanks Scott for seeing him. He asks how Scott’s wife is, and Scott says, good. He asks how the baby is, and Scott says, beautiful, but Landon didn’t call to talk about that. Landon says, no, and tells Scott, have a seat. Would he like a drink? Scott says, no, and asks, what’s going on? Landon says Scott needs to come clean with him. Scott says, about…? and Landon says, the Attorney General.It’s completely off the record. Scott tells Landon, he has nothing to say about the AG, and Landon says, what about Candace? Scott says he knows nothing, but Landon says Scott knows what happened in Savannah. Scott went there secretly, and knows something is going on. He asks again how Scott’s wife is, and Scott says he already asked. Landon says, is his marriage good? and Scott says, so Landon is playing this card. Landon says, no cards; just honest conversation. Scott says Landon wants leverage, but Landon says he has it already, and Scott says, what does he want to know? Landon asks why the AG is so hot after Candace, and Scott says, she robbed him. She had no idea who he was. Landon says, how much? and Scott says, not even $2000. Landon says, he saw a way to get back at her, and bury Charles. Scott says Landon didn’t hear it from him. Landon thanks him, and says he’s been very helpful. Scott says, that’s it? He’ll take that drink, but Landon says, no. He’s running with this. They’ll talk later. Scott repeats, Landon didn’t hear it from him. Scott says he’ll be calling Landon for a favor very soon, and Landon says he’ll count on it.
Oliver walks into Landon’s room, and Landon says, he just walks in now? Oliver asks if Landon has a new boyfriend, and Landon asks what he wants. Oliver says Charles just called, and wants to see him. (BTW, when anyone talks about Charles, they never use his name, they just say he or him.) Landon says he was counting on that. Oliver says Landon might not want to tell Charles his idea about the girl, but Landon says, watch a master at work. He knows Charles like the back of his hand. Oliver says, so does he, but Landon says he knows him. He calls Oliver a little weasel, and tells him, go to bed. And cut his hair. He looks like a rooster. Oliver says he just got a trim, and Landon says, ridiculous… little bitch.
Benny and Mitch make it rain at the club. Benny wonders where his phone is, and Mitch says he left it in the car. Benny’s worried about his mom, but Mitch would rather look at the girls. Benny says Mitch has his phone, and Mitch shuts it off. He and Benny clink glasses. Mitch says Benny forgot his phone, but he better not have forgotten his wallet. Drinks are on him. They toss some more bills in the air.
A stripper talks to a couple of guys leaning against the wall, and then approaches Benny. She asks if he wants a dance. He says she’s pretty, but he’s good. She says, this one’s free, and Mitch says she’s speaking Benny’s language. She leads Benny to the back, and the two guys watch . Mitch notices them, and watches them watching.
There’s a knock on Broderick’s apartment door. It’s Rocky, who says he brought Broderick’s tally, and hands him an envelope. Broderick says Rocky is still running girls? Rocky tells him, don’t get excited. Business is pretty slow, but he figured Broderick must be out of money by now. Broderick says, quite the opposite. Rocky says Broderick is really going to stay there. What’s he going to do? Broderick says, live it up. He found the deed for the place, and it’s paid for. Rocky doesn’t want to burst Broderick’s bubble (say that three times real fast), but he thinks it could backfire. Broderick says, he’s got this, and asks how things are at the hotel. Rocky says, not bad, but what choice does he have? Broderick asks if the FBI guy has been around, but Rocky hasn’t seen him. There’s been no sign of anyone, so Broderick can come back to work. The two of them running the show would be awesome. Broderick looks in the envelope, and asks if Rocky has heard from RK? Rocky says he told Broderick, RK is long gone. He’s smart. He says he already told Broderick once, be careful. Broderick says, and he already told Rocky once, he’s got this. Rocky says he’s crazy, and leaves.
Charles and Gretchen bask in the afterglow. She says she missed him, and he says he missed her too. She asks why he was with Candace. What was that about? Gretchen suggests Charles call her, and he asks why she’s bringing it up. She says he called her by Candace’s name – twice. Then he tried to cover it. Don’t lie. She knows him. He says he’s sorry, and she says, don’t be. He can’t help where his heart is. The sex was also angry. He was digging into the mattress so hard, he broke two nails. He says, it’s been a long time, and she tells him, just admit it. Why did he call when he wanted to be with her? Doesn’t he want to find out what this is? He asks if she saw the news; she’s a mess. Gretchen says, so is he. He says he managed his mess, but she says Candace doesn’t have the means or resources to manage hers. He says, it’s out now, but she says, he can fix it. Have his guys do what they do. He says Candace won’t see him or talk to him. He was really mean to her. Gretchen says he knows how to turn on the snake charm; she’s there. He says, it doesn’t take much, and she says she’ll remember that. She gets out of bed, and he asks her to stay the night. She says, no; she has to get back to her guy. Charles thought they broke up, and she says, they did. He’s in her bed. She left him to come to Charles. Charles says, cold blooded, and she says, just as he is. He says, daddy spoiled her, and she tells him, don’t blame her because she’s an heiress. He thanks her, and she tells him not to thank her like a whore. Save that for Candace. She puts her coat back on, and tells him, goodbye.
Benny is mesmerized by the booty in his face. The girl asks what he’s drinking, and he says, tequila, straight up. She takes a sip, and straddles him, putting her arms around his neck. Behind his back, she slips something into his drink. He asks why she’s doing this, and she says she’s paying her way through school. He asks why it’s free, and she asks if he’s seen the other dudes out there. She’s doing this for her, not him. He takes his drink back, and she tells him to touch her. He drinks more, and touches more. She throws him back on the bed, and gets on top of him.
Celine sees Jim being wheeled into the hospital, and asks Madison if it’s Jim Cryer. Madison says he can’t tell her, but she looks at the chart in his hand. She says she knows Jim. Madison asks, how? and she says he’s the father of her two sons. He says, sorry, and she asks, what happened? Madison says, he got shot. She asks if he’ll make it, but Madison doesn’t know. She asks, who shot him? but Madison just shakes his head.
Hanna calls Candace, who’s looking around the club, and asks if she found Benny. Candace says, no. Hanna asks where she is, and Candace says ,where they usually go. She called Mitch, but he’s not answering either. Hanna hopes Benny is all right, and Candace says she’s sure he’s fine. Hanna tells Candace to call her back, and Candace asks where she is. She says she’s still at the Cryer’s. Candace asks if everything is okay, and Hanna says, no. Candace asks how Jim is, and Hanna tells her, go find her brother. Candace says she’s going to try one more place.
There’s a knock at Landon’s door. It’s Oliver again, and Landon asks why he’s back. Oliver says, sorry, and Landon says he thought it was someone else. Oliver says he needs to tell Landon about the drama in Savannah. Landon says, Candace, and Oliver says, it’s the Cryers and Harringtons. There was a shooting; a drive-by or something. What has Landon gotten the President Elect involved in? He’s just saying. Landon tells him to say it on the other side of the wall and down the hall. Oliver leaves, and I realize how much Landon looks like Andy Cohen. He calls Jeffrey, who’s sitting in his car. He says he heard about the drama, and Jeffrey says he’s fine. He and his dad just got out of the hospital. Landon says Jeffrey doesn’t sound good, and Jeffrey says he has a lot going on. Landon says he’s in Detroit with the President Elect, who’s getting ready to move. Landon wishes he was there, and Jeffrey asks if he’s still on that. Landon says, always, and Jeffrey says he’s flattered, but he’s not into Landon. Landon says he knows, and he gets it. Jeffrey says, sorry. He’s got to go. Landon says he just wanted Jeffrey to know he’s thinking about him. Jeffrey thanks him, and Landon drains his glass.
Veronica’s doorbell rings. It’s Derrick, who asks what she needed to talk to him about. She says Derrick’s boy Real gave her up. He said she was the one who had him plant the bomb. Derrick says, why call him? and she says she blames him. Does he want to go back to jail? He says he doesn’t give a damn. He didn’t do anything. She asks if he knows how many people are in jail who didn’t do anything. He asks what she wants, and she says she wants Real’s information. Everyone he loves; his girlfriend, his mama, everything. He says he’s out of that life; do it herself. She asks if he’s forgotten how it goes, and who she is. He’ll do this. He says he knows she’s the whore who sleeps with her clients; the whore who thinks she’s above the law; the whore who hates the gutter so much, she can’t wait to lay in it. She asks if that’s an invitation. Get her the information she needs, or she’ll go after everyone he loves.
Mitch looks around, and one of the strippers asks what he’s looking at. He says he’s checking on his boy. She asks if he wants to go in the back, and he asks if it’s free. She says, no, and he asks why Benny’s dance was free. She says they don’t do anything for free there. She realizes she’s said too much, and Mitch runs into the back. He looks through the rooms, but doesn’t find Benny.
Next time, Jim needs a jumpstart, Veronica visits Kathryn in jail, Candace beats the crap out of the stripper, and Kathryn tells Wyatt he’s going to pay for what he did to his father.
Vanderpump Rules
Stassi and Beau make dinner for Stassi’s mom Dayna, and brother Nikolai, who has really grown. Beau refuses to share his secret recipe. Stassi is glad her family is there, since a year ago, it wouldn’t have happened. In her interview, Stassi says, last year, she and her mom had a falling out. Her mom said mean things. We flash back to that, and Stassi says her mother was over-emotional and irrational, and it was too much for her. Nikolai says they could have talked in private. In Stassi’s interview, she says her brother has always been incredibly mature, and we flash back to several examples. She asks if Nikolai has read her book. He says, some of it, and she asks if he read the part where she lost her virginity. Beau suggests skipping that chapter. Dayna asks what their plans are, and Stassi says Beau is going out for boys night, and she’s doing a walkthrough at TomTom for her book signing. In Stassi’s interview, she says, ending the book tour with friends is so special. She doesn’t know if she could have written the book without them. They’ve given her a sh*t ton of material.
At SUR, server Dayna asks Charli what she’s had from the menu. Charli says she’s never had pasta in her life. She has a theory that pasta is what makes everyone gain weight. Dayna says, yeah, it’s a thing; carbs. Danica joins them, and says she’s heard nice things about Charli from Scheana. In Dayna’s interview, she says, of course Scheana likes Charli. She’s a mini-me. Take selfies, wear dino-stompers, just don’t make me eat pasta. Danica tells them that her ex-boyfriend, Brett was disrespectful, so she pushed him. We see a clip of her telling Lisa that Brett suggested a threesome, so she shoved him. Lisa is sympathetic, but says Danica put her hands on Brett, so they have to suspend her. Danica says she’s picking up shifts, since she’s broke. She’ll be serving tonight. Scheana says she has to pick up her new SUR dress, talk to Max – Dayna rolls her eyes – and then she’s going out. Danica goes to see if her dress is in, and the others laugh about her not wearing a bra. Because we’re fourteen. I don’t even know if a fourteen-year-old would care about that.
Lisa comes into SUR, orders her usual rosé, and tells Brett no soliciting a ménage a trois in her restaurant. Scheana tells Lisa that she needs to have her SUR dress hemmed, and needs to have a little chat with Max. He made a comment to Brett – the new Brett, not this Brett – that she’s boy crazy. Lisa says, no, but I’m not sure if she’s being sarcastic. In Scheana’s interview, she says Max pursued her, and sent her pages of texts. Now he acts like it’s too much too quick. He did this, not her. Lisa asks if Scheana is concerned about Brett hearing it, and Scheana admits there’s a crush, but she doesn’t want to date him. It upsets her, because she thinks Max should have more respect for her. Lisa tells her, relax. Let it come to her. Scheana says she’s in a weird place in her life right now.
It’s guys congregate at Shelby’s, in an outdoor area. Jax asks about new employee Brett, and how training with Scheana is going. He thought they were dating the way Scheana was hanging on to him. Brett says she wants to see Aladdin with him. Max says, speaking of the devil, and looks at his phone. He says he’d texted something about them going to Shelby’s, and Jax says, why? Max says when they went out, she talked about how she’s freezing eggs, and was off birth control. It got to be too much. In Jax’s interview, he says he hasn’t dated in a while, but if he was on a date, and a girl talked about her effing eggs, he’s pretty sure he’d run. Max says, she’s like a stage-five… and Brett says, clinger. They have a discussion on spooning, and preferring to be the little spoon. In Jax’s interview, he says he likes being the big spoon because he’s a man. He doesn’t know how those emo dudes get any action. Tom says he hopes Stassi and Schwartz figure it out for the book signing, and Jax says he thinks they’re doing a walk-through today. In Tom’s interview, he says what bothers him most is the lack of consideration for him on Stassi’s part. She didn’t ask him; she asked Schwartz.
Stassi and Schwartz check out the outdoor seating area. In Schwartz’s interview, he says the book signing is two days from now. Max has bartenders lined up, and Tom is excited to host. He definitely wants everyone to know he’s the owner. Stassi suggests they do everything outside, and people can get drinks inside. She suggests a table for signing, and Schwartz says they’re collaborating. He tells her, no charge because she’s family.
The guys clink glasses, and Jax says, to many more… Brett says, talks about Scheana. They laugh, and Jax says he wishes they could come to Miami, but his 40th is next. Scheana walks out, and I die laughing at their faces. It’s like someone threw cold water on them. She sits next to Max, and asks if she can borrow him. Why don’t they go do tequila shots? Tom says, okay; let’s do shots, and they all go into the bar. Beau says he feels like he’s in high school right now. I dunno. I thought when you say you’re going to borrow someone, you and the someone are the ones who step away.
Scheana asks Max how it’s going as far as Brett hanging out with the guys. Max says, it’s awesome. Scheana jumps right in, and says, she likes attention, but wouldn’t say she’s boy crazy. And what he’s saying about them hanging out. She really liked him; it was more than a fling, and he owed her respect. She knows he hasn’t been an angel. Last week she found out about several of the girls he slept with. Which is fine; he’s single. You do you.
Inside at the bar, Beau says, poor Max. Brett wonders what they’re talking about
Scheana whips out her phone, and says she’ll read Max a few things he sent to her. Since I can’t possibly type as fast as she can talk, the highlights I get are, he’s obsessed, she’s beautiful, she’s a smoke show, he feels lucky, she’s a good cuddler, he hit the jackpot, and he wants to kiss her more. She says he’s not the person she hung out with at Thanksgiving. She’s not crazy; they had a thing. She doesn’t buy an Apple watch for someone who’s a one-time thing. In Scheana’s interview, she says they went to football games and dinners, and he acts like she doesn’t know him. Dayna might have seen his d*ck, but she’s seen his heart. He can’t say what a girl wants to hear just to get laid. She tells him that he’s become a f***boy, and he agrees. He says he may not have been good to other women, but he never led them on, and he’s sorry he did that with her. Scheana tells him, as a friend, a word of advice – don’t sleep with staff. He says he knows he hooked up with Dayna, but she was in the midst of going from TomTom to SUR, but they’re not dating.
At Villa Rosa, the day of the book event, Lisa reads to Ken from Stassi’s book. Giggy! Lisa reads about Stassi losing her virginity, and how she’d known nothing of grooming her lady parts. In Lisa’s interview, she says she wanted to be there, but has a prior engagement. We see a clip of her getting Puffy’s suitcase, which is teeny tiny. She says, reading about Stassi’s fluffy nether-regions is a hair too much. We see another clip where Brittany calls Versailles, Ver-sails, and Lisa says, wtf is that about? She asks if Ken can believe Jax is actually getting married. Ken says, Jax isn’t the marrying type, and Lisa tells him, they said that about him, but she took him down. He says he’s a lucky man, and she says he is. Giggy acts all roly-poly, like dogs will sometimes do. Lisa says she’s got to pick up Pandora and Jason, and she’s still thinking about Stassi’s fluffy who-ha.
Stassi tells Beau that she woke up to a text from Tom that he sent at 2 am, and reads it to Beau. Tom says he found out about the book party today, with no word from her. They have no bartenders, and he and Schwartz aren’t bartending, so he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Don’t put this on him or them, or he’ll literally kick her TF out of TomTom, and all her wristbands. In Stassi’s interview, she says if they had to staff at the last minute, it has nothing to do with her. He’s effing out of his mind. He’s also a liar since we just saw a flashback of him discussing it with Schwartz.
She asks Beau if she responds, and he says, no. She says, what could she possibly say? Why is he so angry? Beau tells her to take a screenshot and send it to Schwartz; see what he says. She says she keeps going over it in her head. She asked Lisa, and did a walk-through with Schwartz. Beau says, there’s got to be an explanation. In his Instagram stories, he posted about being out with James. James doesn’t like Stassi, so maybe… Stassi says ever since she and Tom met, he’s acted like a psycho ex. If he causes a scene, she’s going to lose it.
Scheana enlists friend Janet’s help in altering her dress. She wants it borderline her ass hanging out. Danica and Charli join them, and Danica tells them that Brett gave her the money she would have made while she was suspended, saying it was all his fault. Then they had sex. They try the dresses on, and modify them. Danica says she never wears underwear at SUR, since she likes the feeling the breeze. Scheana tells them about calling Max a f***boy. She says, they had a thing, but she doesn’t think he prioritized it. Charli says, it was temporary, and Scheana says she bought him a watch. She’s notorious for buying boys presents. She has a penguin. We flash back to her adopting a penguin for Adam. (Later, on Watch What Happens Live, she said the penguin remains in her name.)
Lisa’s business partner Nathalie gives Dayna and Brett employee handbooks, explaining that the books answer questions about who to go to if there are issues. Dayna points out that the books are pink, and asks if that’s Lisa, and Nathalie says, they have to be pink. She leaves, and Dayna asks how Brett’s training is going. He says, Scheana has been super nice, and asks why Dayna is making a face. She says that hasn’t been her experience, and Brett says he doesn’t know how Scheana treats other girls, but she’s the only one he can talk to casually. They’ve hung out, but he told her that he values her as a friend, and doesn’t want to give the wrong impression. Dayna says, he friendzoned Scheana? Did he say, it’s not you, it’s me. Tell her that he did. He says he didn’t, but had to say something. She crashed boys night at Shelby’s, and asked if she could borrow Max. Dayne wonders why. In her interview, she says she’s new to LA, and Scheana is putting her Scheana spin out there, trying to make people not like Dayna. It’s nice to have someone as a friend. She tells Brett, Scheana seems unstable.
Schwartz thanks his three bartenders for pinch hitting at the last second. JoJo says he’s never been a bartender before, but thinks he can do it. In Schwartz’s interview, he says the bartenders Max had lined up, fell out, and Tom rage texted Stassi like it was her fault. It was a bit of a scramble, but he handled it. These things happen in their industry. Stassi arrives, and there’s already a long line. In her interview, Stassi says she has the best fans. She realizes she said fans, and calls herself a douche. She thanks Schwartz and the bartenders for being there, and tells Schwartz that she’s shook. She has no idea where Tom is coming from. Schwartz says he got bit by a spider, and he’s in the ER – he’s not kidding. In Stassi’s interview, she says, who gets bit by a spider? Was he hanging out in a comic book? We see a comic where Tom gets bit by a spider while out with James, getting turnt. He ends up with the superpower of narcissism, and a mediocre power to rage text. He becomes Sandyman, the world’s most annoying superhero ever.
They set up the book table. Jax says he’s nervous about the bachelor party. In Brittany’s interview, she says it’s two days until Miami, and she wants Jax to have the best time. In Jax’s interview, he says, it’s the greatest thing that Brittany doesn’t have him on a leash. Brittany continues, saying, after they’re married, he’s never going to a strip club again. Jax says he doesn’t think it will be the last time.
Schwartz asks if everybody is good. Stassi comes in, and the crowd cheers and chants her name. She thanks them, and tells them TomTom is the best, and they should eat there. She says when she started writing, she was told to write about what she knew, and she knew about being a basic bitch. She reads from her Witches of WeHo chapter, ending with, friends work through sh*t. Which is why she can be best friends with someone who slept with her ex-boyfriend. She says, sorry, to Brittany, who says she’s used to it. Stassi thanks everyone for coming, and tells them, get wasted. Nikolai says he’s proud, and hugs Stassi, and her mom also hugs her. In his interview, Schwartz says, it was a rocky morning, but it turned out great. The drinks are flowing, and everything is going swimmingly. Stassi is happy, and he’s happy. Uh-oh. Here comes trouble – Tom and Ariana.
In Tom’s interview, he says of course he sent Stassi a text message. He was trying to figure out how to make TomTom not look like sh*t. Schwartz asks, what happened? and Tom says at 2 am, he was wondering how he was going to staff the event. Schwartz tells Tom that he said he’d take care of it. Tom says JoJo has never bartended, and David is going to work a 12-hour shift. In his interview, Tom says the bar is never open this early. They can’t have bartenders working 12-hour shifts. Schwartz and Stassi don’t understand, but it could have been avoided if Stassi had come to him. Katie says Tom saying he’d kick her TF out was too aggressive, and Schwartz says, it was childish. Ariana says, what’s childish is to not have proper staff lined up the night before the event. Schwartz says, it’s an echo chamber of negativity.
Katie says, Tom is ruining something great because he can’t stand that someone else is getting the attention. In Tom’s interview, he says they’ve all known him enough years to know his biggest fear in life is coming across jealous. He says only Katie would say something like that. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. It’s not Katie Maloney’s Bar & Grill. Katie tells him not to talk to her like that. Schwartz says, let him talk. Tom created something in his head with limited information. The way to deal with it isn’t rage texting while sh*tfaced. By now, Stassi has come over there, and asks, what’s not okay about a bunch of customers buying drinks? Was she supposed to kiss his ring? She talked Lisa, who owns 90% of the restaurant, and did a walkthrough while he was out at boys night. How dare he? He’s a selfish, egotistical POS. How dare he text her those things? He’s mad because this isn’t about him. It’s not good enough that his name is in lights on the front of the restaurant. She did nothing wrong. Tom says she never does, but she’s already walking away. Tom says that was extremely out of line. Katie and Beau follow Stassi. In the bathroom, she says, it’s bullsh*t. She wanted this to be an intimate thing for the end of the tour. At the bar, Tom tells Schwartz, he thought it was supposed to be 15 people, but Schwartz says, they said 50 or 60 when they discussed it. We see a clip to back that up. Tom tells Schwartz, he can make drinks, but doesn’t know how to staff. Schwartz tells Tom not to belittle him. He handled it, and Tom overreacted. Tom says he’ll come back when it’s over. In his interview, Tom says Stassi has no respect for him as the owner. They’re doing this as a favor, for free. As far as Schwartz goes, they have a lot to talk about. I guess, as owner, he feels that allows him to take irrational anger out on someone who has nothing to do with the situation. Stassi tells Schwartz, she’s sorry she yelled, but Schwartz says she had to get it out. She says Tom has lost his mind, and Schwartz says he’s pissed too. Stassi says she’ll write about it in her next book.
Dayna asks to talk to Scheana, saying she wants a moment to touch base, since this is her last training session. She gets that Scheana and Max are friends, but wants to make sure there’s nothing there. Scheana says they flirt, but that’s just their personalities. She points out that Dayna and Max aren’t dating, and Dayna says, it’s new, and in that awkward stage. Scheana asks if Dayna is going to be pulling over every girl Max talks to, or is it just her. Dayna says it seemed like Scheana was questioning Max’s intentions. In Scheana’s interview, she says it doesn’t feel great watching Max bang all the girls. They used to worry about getting Jaxxed. Now they have to worry about getting Maxxed. Dayna says the only reason she was asking about it is, she wanted to know if it was still going on, which she wants no part of. In her interview, Dayna says she’s excited about Max, but thinks Scheana butting in might have screwed it up. Scheana wants her to feel like just another notch in Max’s belt, which Scheana clearly was. Scheana thinks Dayna is making more of it than there is. She and Max were really a thing, and woman to woman, she thinks Dayna should be careful and guard her heart.
Schwartz and Katie sort of pack for Miami. Schwartz says there are a ton of things that have to be done at the last second. He and Tom have to hash this sh*t out. It’s like a rainy cloud over a huge success. Katie says, everyone was happy, until Tom showed up and started screaming. She tells Schwartz, do what he has to so they can deal with Miami. No one is happy with Tom. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he should be thinking about where to drink Miami Vice style, and what boobies to shove in Jax’s face, but now he’s focused on this sh*t. Katie says, Tom is entirely wrong, and Schwartz says, 100%.
On the phone, Ken says Tom was doing her a favor, and she was screaming at him. He’d have her removed. He says he’ll talk to Lisa. He tells Lisa, Tom is spitting blood. Stassi was screaming at him, and shouting in front of customers. Lisa says, at her own event? That’s not okay. Giggy! In Lisa’s interview, she says she didn’t envisage this problem at a book signing. It’s not New Year’s Eve or Halloween or Pride; it’s a book signing. Ken tells her to speak to the manager. She needs to know the real story. Lisa says, welcome home.
Schwartz brings his own chair to Tom’s house. In Tom’s interview, he says they could have kept the furniture that came with the house, like Schwartz and Katie did, but he wanted to pick out his own furniture. It’s a BYOC situation. Schwartz asks how the bite is, and it looks pretty nasty. Schwartz suggests the venom made Tom go off the rails. Where was his head at. Tom says he found out at noon they didn’t have actual bartenders, and it isn’t okay. Schwartz tells him to chill. It was a low key event, low maintenance. They could have done it in their sleep. In his interview, Schwartz says, in the worst case scenario, he would have hopped behind the bar. Deep in Tom’s subconscious, serving Stassi is so painful, he’d rather kick her out. He says the bigger issue is Tom going apeshit at a friend and client. Tom says she didn’t pay. She also humiliated and made a fool out of him in front of the restaurant. In his interview, Tom says when Stassi screamed at him, it was throwback princess brat Stassi. We see side by side flashbacks. Schwartz says, she was fighting fire with fire, but Tom says, she was fighting fire with an atomic bomb. She said he was jealous, and everyone heard. It made him look bad. Schwartz says, it will never happen again, and Tom says, she’s literally banned. Stassi is to be thrown out immediately if she comes in the restaurant.
Next time, Miami baby, Carter texts Kristen, Dayna tells Lisa some people don’t want her at SUR, Lisa calls Tom to find out what went down at TomTom, and Beau confronts Tom.
🌟 This Is About My Speed…
Not the good morning part, but the nonsense lyrics.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sam asks Curtis what he’s looking for in Peter’s office.
Elizabeth sees Drew at the hospital, and asks why he’s there. He’s looking for Franco; he has something to tell him. Elizabeth nosily asks what, but Drew asks if she’d mind if he didn’t tell her. He asks how she’s doing, and she’s concerned about Franco. He’s doing whatever he can to keep distracted. Anything and everything, except what he needs to do.
Franco works with a little girl in art therapy, as Doc watches. When she leaves, Doc says Franco is a natural. Franco says kids and dogs tolerate him. Doc found a support group, and thinks spending time with others who understand will further Franco’s recovery. Franco balks at the idea, and Doc asks if that isn’t what he wants. What he wants is to never look back. Doc asks how that’s different from running away. Franco says he’s spent more days than he can count not being able to look himself in the eye, how can he look at anyone else?
Sonny says it’s good that Dante is stepping up for his grandfather; it means a lot. Dante says keeping Mike calm only goes so far. Sonny will have some tough decisions to make about Mike’s care going forward. Diane says he’s charming one minute, and obnoxious the next. Given his erratic behavior and the abduction charge, the judge might consider him a flight risk, and Sonny has the resources to spirit him out of the country. Diane is working on it, but Sonny needs to prepare himself for the fact that Mike might not be coming home tonight.
Ava tells Nelle she’s not liking how Griff is acting. She wishes she could fast-forward to when she has full custody of Avery. Nelle says she needs to be strategic and cautious. Ava says Sonny might get payback, so what?
Anna tells Finn that she hopes Robert wasn’t too overbearing; he comes on strong at first. Finn admits he did attempt to confiscate Robert’s cronut, and there was a misunderstanding. Anna wants to talk to him about something.
On the phone, Valentin tells someone to all him, and says they have more to worry about than they realize. Robert strolls into the living room, and Valentin asks how the hell he got into the house. Robert says he knows his way around the place, and loves what he’s done with it. Valentin says it’s Robert Scorpio in the flesh – and in his house. It’s odd they’ve never met, although he’s heard a lot about him from his ex-wife. Robert says it feels like they’re old friends.
Curtis tells Sam that she busted him. He’ll know what he’s looking for when he finds it. Sam asks who hired him? If he wasn’t Drew’s friend, she’d be calling the cops. Is it corporate espionage, or is there something they don’t know about Peter?
Elizabeth tells Drew that Franco wants to skip the hard parts, but it’s not realistic. Drew says he and Franco talked in the car before he confronted Jim. Franco felt horrible for lying to her. She’d said she didn’t think he was born bad, and he keeps wondering how he could be worthy of her trust. She says Franco is already worthy. He’s carrying residual pain and self-doubt, and who knows when he’ll find his way though it. Drew says Franco has a lot behind him and in front of him. He can’t believe he’s saying this, but with her by his side, Franco will see his way through.
Franco says the last thing he wants to do is sit in a basement reliving the worst moments of his life with other people doing the same thing. Doc says they’re survivors. He didn’t cause or invite the abuse; there’s nothing to be ashamed of. No one thinks any less of him for being abused. Franco says they might think less of him for not stopping Jim from targeting anyone else.
Diane says they’ll get a statement from Mike’s doctor. Sonny says his doctor is Ava’s boyfriend; no way he won’t be bias. Dante says Griff was a priest, but Sonny says he left the priesthood for Ava. They don’t know what he’ll say.
Nelle tells Ava to consider her options. Ava says she’s in a perfect position to strike, and Nelle wants her to back off? Nelle says she wants Ava to get everything she wants. She can go in, guns blazing, and win, but she could also lose. Ava says no way she’ll lose, but Nelle says she could lose Griff. Ava knows him better than she does, but will he be okay with her using an old guy who’s his patient as a hostage? Ava says he’d never forgive her. Nelle tells her again to consider her options.
Anna never wanted to put Finn in danger, but it she used it as a convenience to put distance between them. He asks what she wants him to do.
Valentin says Robert and Anna have a similar annoying habit of showing up in his house uninvited. He can come back with a warrant or get to the point. Robert shows him a picture of the conundrum box, and asks him, what about this? Valentin says it appears to be a box. Robert asks if that’s not the Cassadine crest, and Valentin says it’s a matter of public record. He doesn’t see what it has to do with his family or him. Robert says it was found in Faison’s belongings.
Curtis says he’ll tell Sam everything, except who his client is. Drew is his homeboy; no way would he be involved in corporate espionage. He’s investigating Peter. Sam asks why, and he says something is missing from dude’s background. She asks what, and Curtis says, his background. Aside from the impressive resume and diploma, there are no records. He’s either a fake or a ghost.
Lucy sees Drew and Elizabeth. She says she hopes she’s not interrupting, but doesn’t really care if she is. She asks if they know what time of year it is. Drew says it’s time for sponsorship, and to give his office a call. He makes his escape, and Lucy says she loves when everyone rallies around the Ball. She asks if Elizabeth is going to grace the stage this year.
Franco tells Doc that he made a list of Jim’s victims, and has been carrying it around ever since, thinking what if he’s stopped Jim? What if he’d told the truth to Betsy? They wouldn’t have gone through it. Doc says he was a child; no way he could have taken on Jim. Neither could anyone else. Franco asks what if one of them is in the therapy group, and realizes what happened? That it didn’t have to happen. He could have stopped it, and Jim got a pass because he was too scared to do anything.
Diane says, assuming Griff gives an accurate description of Mike’s condition, it would go a long way. That’s the upside. The downside is that certain defendants, who are in organized crime, have used mental illness – dementia, in particular – along with doctors who are cooperative. Every time they talk about this, I get a mental picture of Vincent Gigante in a bathrobe. Diane says, given Mike’s connections, they might ignore the diagnosis. Sonny asks what if that happens, and Diane says they have to show his incompetence on the stand. Sonny asks if she wants him to humiliate his father in open court. Dante says another option is to give Ava full custody.
Anna tells Finn that Robert barged into her hotel room; she’d been working with Jason and Emma. Finn calls them, eclectic companions. She explains that it was a research mission. Jason was posing as their bodyguard, but he’s also looking for Henrik. They agreed work together. Finn asks why, and she says the WSB wants to question Henrik. Finn says, that’s not what he meant; why is she working with Jason? She’s more than capable herself, and there was no danger, or she wouldn’t have brought Emma. He asks if she’s back in the blackmailing business. She says she has to work with Jason. She can’t let him get ahead. He’s discerning for a hitman, but hard to stop. He regards Henrik as a threat. He has his reasons, but she can’t allow him to move in on the target. Finn says if Henrik is Faison’s accomplice – Anna corrects him, saying alleged – he’s culpable, so why is she responsible? She says this is what she wanted to tell him. He tells her to just say it, and she says she isn’t the person everyone believes she is.
Robert tells Valentin that it’s a conundrum box. Valentin says he’s heard of it; a puzzle that can only be opened by the intended recipient or it self-destructs. Robert says they don’t know if there’s something valuable inside or if Faison was baiting someone to get killed. Valentin says he doesn’t know and doesn’t care; he never met Faison. If it was him investigating it, he’d be looking at Helena, since they worked closely. Robert says, good guess, but wrong. Valentin asks how he’s so sure?
Elizabeth tells Lucy that she’s sorry, but she can’t this year. Lucy begs, and Elizabeth says she’ll fully support the Ball and attend, but she feels emotionally exhausted. Parts of her life are fragile, and she has to focus on those. Lucy says she can only assume it’s about Franco. She was once in love with a man in torment, and knows what it’s like to hang on by your fingertips. Her advice is to hold on tight, because love is worth it.
Franco tells Doc that he wishes he’d never forced Jim to make the list. Elizabeth wants him to call them, but it’s the last thing he wants to do. He could have protected them and didn’t. He told her that he didn’t know how to find them, but did some research because he was curious. He found three of them, but doesn’t know what to say. Doc asks what if one of them called him? What would he want to hear? Franco never thought about it. Doc says there was at least one before him; he wasn’t the first victim. Franco says he could have been the last. Doc says he was four years old, and to look at it through the lens of a small child, where adults have the power. The adults failed him. He went out of his way to protect Drew. His actions made sure Jim never got to Drew. Doc calls him a master of deflection, but he won’t truly begin to heal until he believes he’s not responsible. Then he can have the life he wants and deserves. Drew pops in, and says he can come back, but Doc needs to be somewhere. He tells Drew that his timing is perfect.
Robert tells Valentin, according to the lab, the box was made in the last six months. Valentin suggests maybe it was Faison’s final break with reality. He has nothing to do with the box or Faison; he never met him. Robert finds that hard to believe when they were obsessed with the same woman. Valentin stutters that Anna has nothing to do with it.
Sam tells Curtis that Drew needs to know about any potential threat. Curtis knows the company is all Drew has left, and he’s not trying to pull it out from under him. Not until he knows for sure. Sam says, like it or not, she’s in on it, and she’s not keeping secrets from him.
Drew tells Franco that he has news. He’s not being charged for shooting Jim. Life has odd complications, but now there are fewer for both of them with Jim gone. He was worried Elizabeth couldn’t accept him, but she’s worried about him not taking the time to process. It takes time to heal. It took guts facing Jim down; it took character. He hopes Franco can deal with it, and that the life he wants with Elizabeth works out. Franco thanks him, and he leaves.
Sonny says, no way; that’s off the table. Diane says, according to Scotty, Ava feels differently. Sonny says, who cares? Avery has been shuffled around enough already. The last thing he’s going to do is send her to the woman responsible for Morgan’s death. Dante says as the arresting officer, he can testify that Mike thought Avery was his daughter. Diane says Dante is Sonny’s son, and Mike is his grandfather; they might not take his testimony. The only way to prove to the judge that there was no intention of a crime is to put Mike on the stand. Sonny says he doesn’t want to parade Mike’s illness for the world to see. Diane doesn’t want it, but is afraid that’s how it has to be.
At Kelly’s, Nelle asks if Ava wants to eat her feelings. Ava says she’s anxious; there’s been no message from Griff. She says he’s probably busy at work. Maybe he’s avoiding her, but too bad. She may never have leverage over Sonny again. Nelle asks if the whole point isn’t to get both. Will forcing Sonny into an all or nothing compromise get her what she wants?
Finn understands that Anna has to make hard choices, but she’s not talking about work; it’s her personal life. The truth is, she’s come to care about how he sees her. She doesn’t want that to change. She’s afraid for him to discover what she’s done. She couldn’t bear for him to look at her with the same disdain she sees when she looks at herself.
Robert says, that’s right; Valentin stutters. Valentin says he guesses they both talk funny. Apparently, Robert has read his file cover to cover, and memorized the important parts. It makes sense that he’d want to protect Anna, whether or not she welcomes the interference. Robert says that twenty years ago, Valentin was in Bern. Valentin says he’s been lots of places. By then, he was already in the private sector, and international contracts took him all over. Robert tells him to hang on to the picture; he’ll let himself out. Valentin asks if that’s before or after he bugs the house. Robert says he knows Valentin is more than capable of having the place swept. It was a pleasure to meet him. Valentin wishes he could say the same. Outside, Robert says, gotcha!
Sam tells Curtis she was planning on telling Drew she was stepping down, but she’s not leaving when Aurora and Drew are vulnerable. She’ll stay on while he finishes the investigation. She’ll watch Peter from the corner of her eye, while he digs into Peter’s past. Can he consider her a partner?
Elizabeth goes to the art therapy room. She asks how Franco is, and he says he’s getting there. Doc got him to thinking. He asked if one of the boys had the opportunity to reach out to him, what would he want them to say? She asks what his answer was, and he says he wouldn’t want to know. If it was over, he wouldn’t want to know. She hugs him.
Finn takes Anna’s hand, and asks if she’s okay. Lucy breezes in, and says she heard rumors, and guesses they’re true. She just had the best idea in the history of ideas. She asks if Finn dances. He says, not really, and she says, perfect. They should do a romantic duet for the Nurses’ Ball. Robert overhears.
Sonny says Mike is dealing with not being home, losing his girlfriend, and his illness. If he’s put on the stand, he’ll ramble and look weak. Answering questions from a stranger will make him look bad. It will confuse and shatter him. Dante says they’ll be with him, but Sonny says they’ll have no control when he’s in the chair. Even if he survives the questioning, Ava is relentless. She wants Sonny to choose between his father and daughter.
Franco makes a call. He says they haven’t met, but have something in common. There’s something he should know about a man named Jim Harvey.
Curtis tells Sam, okay, and they do a complicated handshake. He says he has the lead on this case though, and will run it how he sees fit; can she dig it? Ha-ha! I love the way Curtis talks. Sam wants to get to bottom of it as much as he does. He asks if he can go back to ransacking Peter’s office, and Sam says she was never there. She sees Drew in the hallway. He says, she’s back. Like he didn’t know.
Ava goes to the station, and says, good; Sonny brought his lawyer.
Lucy says it’s the perfect opportunity to put the spotlight on themselves, and Anna can’t get out the door fast enough. Lucy sits with Finn, and says she knows how exes are. The ones who’ve been over each other a long time, and don’t annoy each other. She asked Robert to dance, but he flat-out refused. Why doesn’t Finn let Anna teach him to dance? Finn says he won’t perform, but will do everything to support the Ball. He leaves, and Lucy looks dejected.
Anna and Robert sit outside Kelly’s. Finn sees them, and keeps walking. Robert says Valentin’s behavior confirmed what he thought. Valentin delivered her son to Faison.
On Monday, Valentin tells Nina they won’t find what they’re looking for, Curtis says jackpot! and Ava tells Sonny she gets full custody, or his father goes to prison.
🙌 Quotes of the Week
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace. – Milan Kundera
You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left. – Itzhak Perlman, when talking about how he continued to play after breaking a string.
I don’t need a boost; I need a Valium. – daughter of a hoarder on Hoarding: Buried Alive, when asked if she needed help up mom’s trash heap.
👀 You’d Better Watch Out…
I got this by generating a random quote. It will either scare you, or you can pat yourself on the back.
Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure. – Joseph Sugarman
🏆 In Honor of Miloš Forman – RIP
When Hair came out, movies were also only a few bucks and stayed in the theaters for months. It was during my early NYC days, and whenever I was sad, I’d walk to Times Square where it was playing, and see it again. I know that sounds weird, since the end is a little depressing, but there’s this. (I also did the same thing with Animal House.)
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 