What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

Gio met Emma at Bobbie’s, and she said she failed. Breaking into the lab wasn’t going to happen.

Chase visited Willow in Pentenville, and showed her a picture Amelia drew. Willow said her little girl was growing up and she was missing it. She missed her kids so much. Chase said they missed her too, and he was focused on getting her out of there. She said she couldn’t do it without him, and he took her hands.

Drew went to the Crimson office and asked what Jacinda was doing there. She said she’d let Nina know he was there, and he said he thought Nina paid her to leave town. He guessed Michael paid her more to stick around. Was it worth going to prison?

At Sonny’s, Sonny told Michael that the holidays were tough on kids without a mother, and Michael said it was about to get tougher. Willow could be convicted by Christmas. Sonny said, unless another suspect came to light, and Michael asked, like who?

Isaiah went to Portia’s office, and she said she was writing to the board about his upcoming transplant. It was a groundbreaking procedure, and they were thrilled it was happening at GH. So was she. He said he was too. He was grateful she and the hospital took a chance on him. Felicia knocked at the door and told Portia that Nurse Tate’s lawyer was documenting her movements on the night of the shooting. Did she happen to see Willow at the hospital that night?

Dante said he heard Brook was looking for him, and she said it was about a legal thing. He had to promise it stayed between them.

Emma said she couldn’t get the key fob, and Gio suggested she find Britt and try again, but Emma said Britt would know something was up. Gio suggested she stop the pity party. They weren’t giving up. Emma said there was one more opportunity, but it involved relying on someone she didn’t know if she could trust.

Drew told Jacinda that Michael shot him. Willow would be exonerated, and Michael was going to be charged and convicted. She was too smart to go down as a co-conspirator. She said it wasn’t the first time he’d threatened her. He was a lot of talk and very little action. His girlfriend was in prison for shooting him and he was scrambling to get her set free. It was a skewed perspective. He said he could talk to the cops and press charges against her for drugging him, when Nina came in. She suggested he be more original. Why was he here harassing her assistant?

Michael said if there was another suspect, he’d love to know who, but Sonny said it was best the stay clear of the case. Alexis was looking into it. Michael wondered if he was setting up an innocent person, but Sonny said he wasn’t setting anything up. They didn’t know for sure that Willow shot Drew. Michael said he wasn’t blind to what Willow was capable of, but Sonny said the more he focused on Willow, he looked vindictive and looked guilty. Michael said he wasn’t guilty, and Sonny said he knew that, but Michael was angry. He didn’t blame Michael, but the best thing for the case was for Willow to be acquitted.

Dante suggested Brook talk to her husband. If a crime had been committed, he didn’t want to be dragged into it. She said there was a crime – not by her, by Willow. She was worried Chase was getting too caught up in saving Willow and would be dragged down with her.

Alexis asked if she needed to remind Chase there was no physical contact with inmates. They didn’t want Willow to get penalized. Willow said it was her fault. She got emotional. She felt so trapped and couldn’t stand not knowing when she’d see her kids again. Alexis said she had potentially good news that might secure Willow’s release.

Felicia said, September 2^nd, the night Drew was shot, and Portia flashed back to being with Isaiah. Portia says she absolutely remembers she was on call, but she was working in her office and never saw Willow.

Gio said Rocco and Charlotte were on top of things, and Emma said Charlotte was smart and didn’t know Britt. Gio said he thought Charlotte and Rocco could work together and get the key fob. Failure was not an option. He knew it was important to Emma, so it was important to him too. Rocco and Charlotte knew that and hated what Dalton was doing. She said, okay. She and Gio had to be ready when they came through. He said the whole campus would be focused on the debate, and she said, that meant she should change into her hottest outfit. They kissed and she left.

Drew said he was under the impression Nina wasn’t keeping Jacinda as her assistant, but Nina said, it wasn’t her idea, but she needed and assistant, and Jacinda was going a great job. If he had something on his mind, say it directly to her and stop badgering her assistant. They went into Nina’s office, and he asked what the hell Nina was up to.

Dante said Chase was just doing his job and couldn’t discuss the case with Brook, and Brook said she knew that, but she was worried Chase would put himself in the middle of the war between Willow and Michael. He could end up hurting her family. Dante said Chase was in a tough spot, but he was a good cop. He could be sympathetic, but he knew the evidence pointed to Willow. She said the case may be more complicated than that. They both knew Michael and Drew, and both knew Michael could have done it.

Michael said if Willow got off, he was next in line, but Sonny said if Willow was acquitted, the case was over. The police and the ADA were going to fail and wouldn’t want to waste resources on another case that wasn’t ironclad. Michael asked if they just moved on like nothing happened and Willow would be back in the kids’ lives. He didn’t think so. Sonny said Michael had to think smart. He had to figure out Willow’s role in the kids’ lives later. Right now, they had to make this go away. Donna came in and asked if Michael wanted to help make turkeys for the soup kitchen, but he said he had to get going. Sonny told Donna to set up while he said goodbye to her brother, and he walked Michael outside. Michael said he got that what Sonny was saying made sense as a legal strategy, but it didn’t for the kids.

Willow said she thought she’d been denied bail, but Alexis said her circumstances had changed. Willow had been arraigned with Nina, and she petitioned for Willow’s release alone. It would be in the judge’s chambers and not public. Willow asked if that made it more likely that the judge would award bail, and Alexis said she made a strong written argument. Willow had no history of violence, had steady employment at GH, and she’d gotten several affidavits from co-workers testifying to her character. Chase was one of them. Chase said he hadn’t told her because he didn’t want to get her hopes up, and Alexis said the odds were better now than after Willow’s arrest. Chase said he’d also made some progress on the case.

Sonny made a construction paper turkey and made Donna laugh with it. There was a knock at the door, and Sonny opened it to Turner, who looked a mess. He asked, what happened? and she said it turned out she could throw an ax, but couldn’t change a tire. May she come in? Donna said, no offense, but she was a mess. Could they help her?  

Ned went into Bobbie’s and asked if Gio was off the clock. Gio said he was, but if Ned needed something, he could hook him up. Ned said, no need. He’d been eating BLTs there since before Gio was born. Gio said there was a lot of history there, like there was at the Quartermaine mansion, and Ned said, don’t let the new owner hear him compare the mansion to the local diner. Gio said he was glad they got the house back. Tracy must be thrilled. Ned said she was more thrilled to have the entire family back under one roof. He understood Gio was responsible. Gio said Tracy would have gotten around to apologizing to Ronnie eventually, but Ned said he wasn’t so sure. Tracy was frustrating and stubborn. Gio said maybe they had that in common.

Brook told Dante that when Willow was arrested, she saw how cold Michael was, like he got everything he wanted and everything was going according to plan. Dante said Michael knew how to cause maximum damage, and she asked if he thought Michael shot Drew. He said he didn’t know, but thought he was capable of framing Willow.

Alexis said, if there was a new development, why was she just hearing about it? and Chase said it wasn’t from the PCPD. He was investigating the case as a private citizen. He believed the department overlooked evidence against other suspects. Once Willow was charged, they focused on strengthening the case. He said he believed Willow was innocent, but was investigating it on his own time, without department resources. Alexis said she appreciated it and to let her know if he found anything helpful, and he said he was looking into Michael’s alibi – Jacinda Bracken.

Drew asked what Jacinda was doing there. He thought Nina paid her to skip town. Nina said Michael charmed her into staying, but he said Michael put zeroes on a check. He spoke to Alexis and Willow had another shot at bail. They had to get the focus back on Michael. His alibi had to go, so say goodbye to her new assistant. She said that was her first impulse, but then she realized she didn’t need to get rid of Jacinda. Michael would.

She said, Michael made a big mistake. Now that he claimed Jacinda was his alibi, he was forced to see it through. He had to convince the world Jacinda wasn’t a paid escort and that they had a meaningful relationship. Otherwise, it would look like his alibi was bought and paid for. Drew asked if she thought Michael could pull it off, and she said, if he didn’t, it had the potential to put his children in an unsavory situation. People talked, gossiped, recorded things on their phone, and other people commented. Being with a paid escort and his children was a terrible look. That’s why a public situation had to be orchestrated where Michael was with Jacinda and his children, and he’d be forced to distance himself from a known sex worker. Drew said, if he denied being with her, it would protect his good standing as a father. Nina said his flimsy alibi would blow away and he’d be back to being suspect number one. Willow would go free. Drew asked if she wasn’t worried about the impact on the kids, but she said she’d make sure the kids were okay. It would be worth it. Willow would be free and with her children and the blame would shift back to Michael where it belonged.

Gio asked how Tracy was taking her win, and Ned said she was taking a much-deserved trip to her favorite spa in France. In the meantime, he arranged to get the boxes of Quartermaine heirlooms she dumped at Lulu’s back to the estate. He was trying to lock down an ETA from the movers, but they were dodging him. He needed to handle it personally. The items were very precious to his mother, and he had to make sure they got home safely and in one piece.

Donna gave Turner a cloth to wipe her face and Sonny asked, what happened? Turner said she got a flat and figured she’d save time changing it herself. The jack wasn’t working properly, and in the process, she smashed her phone, so she couldn’t call for help. She decided to throw herself on his mercy and walked here. She showed him her run-down shoe and asked if she could use the phone. He said she didn’t have to call roadside assistance. He owned a fleet of tow trucks. She said, of course (🍷) he did.

Drew said he hoped Jacinda took his advice. She was caught up in things way above her head and was going to be the first casualty. Michael shot him and despite her drugging him, he didn’t think Michael should hide behind her to get away with it. He left, and Nina aske Jacinda to call Michael. Tell him they had something important to discuss and it had to be face to face.

Willow said, Jacinda drugged Drew. She found Jacinda in their bedroom. Now Michael was pursuing her? Alexis said that didn’t prove Michael shot Drew or discount his alibi. Chase said Jacinda could. Michael said they met by chance at the bar in the PC Grill. He said he had no idea who she was. He paid for her drink, then they went elsewhere. Michael said he was with her all night until Brook called about Wiley and he went back to the Quartermaines. Willow said that couldn’t be true if Michael was at Drew’s, and Chase said, if he was, Jacinda’s whereabouts were unknown. Possibly, she was with another client. If he can find them, Michael’s alibi disappears.

Ned said now that he was fortified, he had to deal with the boxes, and Gio said he hoped everything made it back to the house. Ned told him, don’t be a stranger. Their house was his house. Stop in whenever he wanted. His mother and Olivia would love it. So would Brook. Gio said he’d keep it in mind, and Ned left. Emma came back, and Gio asked if she’d heard from Charlotte, but she said she hadn’t. She was choosing to be cautiously optimistic. Distract her. He took her hands and said he and Ned were talking. Tracy was at a spa in France. She said Tracy deserved to be papered. She was glad he and Ned talked. Where did they leave things?

Outside Bobbie’s on the phone, Ned said the boxes should have been delivered to 66 Harborview Drive two hours ago… what did they mean, they could be lost? Those were valuable family heirlooms. Drew came by and said they were exactly where they should be.

Isaiah said he apologized for leaving Portia deal with Felicia. He didn’t want to tip her off. Portia told her that she was on call the night of Drew’s shooting, but they both knew she was with him. They should go to the police and Willow’s lawyer and clear things up.

Felicia looked at Portia’s schedule on the hospital computer, and it showed Portia leaving at 8 pm. Felicia said Portia wasn’t on call all night. Where was she?

Brook told Dante that Chase was convinced Willow was being railroaded. He wouldn’t consider that she was guilty. Dante said he and Chase talked about how his bias had seeped into his job. She needed to make sure it didn’t seep into their relationship. She said she didn’t see how the investigation became so personal. She knew Chase wanted to help, but she didn’t want it to cost him.

Chase asked if Willow would be okay, and she said now that she knew he was doing what he could to help. She didn’t know how to thank him. He said, stay strong and listen to Alexis. She’d make bail and they’d clear her name. He left.

Michael said he had an appointment with Nina and asked what Jacinda was doing for dinner. She said she may be free. It depended on the invitation. She told Nina that Michael was there, and Michael went into Nina’s office. He asked what was up. What were her concerns? She said her concerns were her grandchildren. She hadn’t seen them in a long time. Before he said, no, she was prepared to go to court and fight for grandparents’ rights. Michael said it was fine, and she said, he’d let her see them? He said they loved and missed her and he thought it was good for them to see her. She said, what’s the catch? and he said the problem wasn’t that she loved her grandkids. It was that she had a blind spot when it came to their mother. She said she wasn’t apologizing for loving her child, and he said she didn’t need to. But she did need to limit what she said to the kids about Willow. Did she agree?

Sonny said his guys would be on their way soon and Turner’s car would be ready. He’d drive her to it. She thanked him, and he asked if she’d like some water. Donna said he needed to offer her a treat as well. Did she like cookies? Turner said she didn’t think she could turn down a cookie, and Donna left to get a plate. Turner said she never would have come had she known Donna was there, and he asked to check her shoe. She asked if he was a cobbler too, and he said he knew a guy. She said he knew a lot of people, and he tenderly wiped her face, saying she had grease on her. She didn’t hate it.

Donna brought back cookies and milk, and Turner said they looked delicious, but there was no way she could eat them on her own. They had to help. Donna said she’d brought out extras, and Turner took a bite. She said, delicious. They were way too good to resist.

Willow told Alexis, for the first time in a long time, there was hope. First, she’d make bail, and Chase would disprove Michael’s alibi. Then she’d be free. Won’t she?

Dante said Chase was definitely invested in the outcome, and Brook asked what he knew that he wasn’t telling her. He said they monitored Willow’s visits as part of the investigation. Chase had been to see her three times since she was denied bail. She asked if that was typical, but he said, no. Chase came in and asked what was going on. Dante said he’d leave them to chat, and Chase asked if he interrupted something. Brook said he was right on time. He’d been working to free Willow.

Nina said, fine. She’d respect Michael’s limits. She thanked him for letting her see her grandchildren, and he said he didn’t want the kids to suffer. He wanted them to be happy. He left Nina’s office and asked if Jacinda thought about dinner. She said she liked the MetroCourt Gardens and they should go before the snow starts. He said, good idea, and kissed her. Nina cracked her office door and watched.  

Portia said they weren’t going to the police or Willow’s attorney. If she and Isaiah let them know where they were, it would open them up to scrutiny. He said she was right. Neither of them wanted their jobs jeopardized and neither of them saw Willow. They couldn’t help anyway. It would stay between them. She said that’s what he told her that he wanted in the beginning, and he said that wasn’t the only thing he said he wanted. He put his arms around her and said he couldn’t wait to get back to the cabin. She said her too. They had to make it happen.

Alexis told Willow that it wasn’t that simple. She had to convince a jury that the police rushed to judgment, focusing just on her, and missed the real killer. There were more viable suspects. Michael was one, but there may be more. Her phone rang, and she asked if Felicia had an update. Felicia said Portia’s alibi didn’t hold up. She wasn’t where she said she was at the time of the shooting.

Gio told Emma that Ned said he could go to the Quartermaines’ whenever he wanted. He was cool and didn’t push. Emma said he got major points for that, and Gio said, no pressure. He and Sonny always clicked. It took longer with Ned, but Ned was a good guy. Emma said, progress.  

Ned asked what Drew did, and Drew said he called the moving company and was having every box of the valuable family heirlooms shipped to his house. Ned said that was theft, but Drew said he was as much of a Quartermaine as the rest of them. Ned said he was sick of Drew’s games. He’d lost the house. Move on. Drew said he may not have the estate, but he got everything in it, at least the important things. Ned asked what Drew cared about them. He had no memories associated with them. He never saw Ned’s grandmother pick roses and put them in the Ming vase, or Alan’s joy at his stupid trains going around the Christmas tree. The only pleasure Drew got was keeping the things from them. Drew said maybe that was enough, and Ned said that proved he wasn’t a Quartermaine and never would be. He was going to take Drew to court and sue for every item. Drew said he couldn’t steal what was already his (how does he figure this when everything was left to Tracy?), and Ned began breathing heavily. He squatted down, leaning on a chair, and Drew said, faking a heart attack. That was right out of the Quartermaine playbook. He believed Edward was better at it. He left, and Ned fell to the ground.

Tuesday:

Nathan went to Anna’s office and said the Commissioner wanted to see him. Dante said that would be him.

Chase said he believed Willow was innocent, and Brook asked if he was actively working to get Willow exonerated. He said he was.

Jacinda met Michael at the MetroCourt Gardens and asked what he wanted to talk about. He said he wanted to get to know her better. Talk about herself. She said she was used to keeping her private life private, and he said he respected that, but if they wanted this to work, he was going to need to get to know better, and he was genuinely interested. Tell him one thing not many people knew.

Lucas told Elizabeth that he was moving in with Marco at Windymere.

Lulu found Olivia in the nook and said the moving company had picked up Tracy’s boxes. She assumed Tracy would be there barking orders. Olivia said Tracy was at the spa and the boxes weren’t there either. They were lost in transit. It was a huge mess, and she was letting Ned handle it. She was glad Lulu stopped by. She didn’t want to meddle, but thought Lulu should know that she heard Rocco and Danny talking about Britt.

Charlotte, Rocco, and Danny got in the elevator and Rocco said, mission? Danny said, whatever it was, he was in, and Charlotte said they had to get the key fob tonight.

Emma told Gio that Charlotte was going to grab the key fob and they were meeting at the campus. Gio said, after that, there was no turning back, and they left Bobbie’s. Outside, they saw Ned on the ground, gasping.

Dante told Nathan that Anna had been called away by the WSB and took a leave of absence. She wanted to get Mac, but… Nathan said, Maxie, and Dante said Laura asked him to fill in. Nathan said he was the right man for the job, but Dante said he was a cop, not an administrator. Everything was dicey and they’d just given their biggest case to the DA. They had the election, and everyone was worked up over Measure C. They needed all hands on deck and needed Nathan back on the force.

Chase said he’d visited Willow in Pentenville and was putting together evidence to help the case, and Brook said Dante had mentioned his visits to Pentenville. Why didn’t he tell her? He said he didn’t want to put her in a difficult position. She had every right to feel that Michael had been treated badly, but no amount of hurt justified trying to kill Drew and framing Willow.

Jacinda told Michael that she’d imagined she’d be a great world traveler and would thrive living out of a backpack under the stars. But her first night in the wilderness, she saw a spider the size of a football and booked with a glamping camp and never looked back. She gave up her dreams as an explorer and her savings. Glamping was expensive. Michael said his stepdad liked camping and brought him a couple of times. From experience, he preferred the glamping route. Jacinda said, to kindred spirits, and Michael said, to intrepid glampers, and they clinked glasses. He told her not to give up her dream. Maybe the Outback wasn’t the best place to start, especially when they had enough poisonous creatures in their backyard. He looked over at Nina walking in with Wiley.

Elizabeth reminded Lucas that Sidwell had held lucky captive and Lucky almost didn’t make it out alive. Ask Jason and Anna about him. Lucas said Marco couldn’t control his father, but she said that didn’t mean they should share an address, He said he’d probably never see Sidwell. It was a literal castle and they’d have their own living space. She said moving in was big enough, but he said it was a risk he was willing to take. She said it was more than a risk. Was he sure he wasn’t doing it to sabotage the relationship and give himself an excuse to bail?

Danny said it was their last chance. There would be tons of outsiders. Gio and Emma could get in the lab when no one was paying attention. Rocco said Danny couldn’t afford more trouble, but Danny said no matter what he did, Drew would still hate him. Rocco thought he should reconsider, but Danny said he was doing this. Charlotte said, good. There needed to be three of them if this was going to work.  

Olivia said she didn’t hear the details, and when Danny and Rocco saw her, they clammed up. Lulu said the whole Britt thing was an ongoing struggle. Rocco had been meeting up with Britt and lying to her about it. Olivia said Rocco was a good kid and she thought Lulu could trust him, but Lulu asked how she could when he was keeping secrets. Olivia said it was good he had Danny to talk to, but Lulu said Danny was Jason’s son, and Jason and Britt were friends. So Rocco wasn’t getting the full picture of her. She’d rather he hear it from her and not Danny. Olivia said, that ship sailed a long time ago, and Lulu said she had no one to blame but herself.

Gio told Ned that he was going to be okay, and called to Emma. He said, no pulse and he’s not breathing, when Britt ran out, telling him, stand back. Emma called 911, while Brit started CPR.

Lucas said in some ways he was still afraid to commit, and Elizabeth told him to give it the consideration it deserved. It would show he cared about their future and wanted it to last. He said that’s why Windymere was perfect. He wanted to live with Marco, but signing a lease was too much too soon. If they lived in a gothic castle filled with ghosts, they would know they could live together. It’s what he wanted more than anything. She said it was his life and he could ruin it how he saw fit, and he said he went over to Windymere and it was as incredible as he remembered. He’d been stuck in Ava’s tiny guest room and now he’d wake up with Marco every morning. She said she was happy and excited for him and Marco, but if he needed to get off the island fast, he knew who to call.

Dante said he went over Nathan’s psyche eval and he was cleared to be reinstated. When Dante came back, he’d been a mess and a danger to everyone, but he got help and did the work. Nathan said he was sorry Dante went through that, but Dante said he’d put it behind him. It looked like Nathan had readjusted. Nathan said it was different, but worth it. He was seeing a therapist, and it was helpful. He’d brought up coming back to the force to Anna, but she seemed to have doubts. Dante said Anna went to bat for Nathan, and would be disappointed that she wasn’t there, but he hadn’t heard from her since she left.

Chase said, that was the working theory and he was gathering evidence. Brook said he made it sound official, but there was already a case against Willow. He said he thought they were wrong, and Brook asked if Anna knew. He said she knew how he felt, but not that he was investigating, and she said, why not? He said he wasn’t investigating as a cop. He’d spoken to Alexis about how he was looking into it as a private citizen.

Jacinda said she should go, but Michael said, please stay. Wiley came over to the table and said Grandma Nina was getting him an ice cream sundae, and Michael introduced him to Jacinda, daddy’s friend. She was also Grandma Nina’s assistant. Nina suggested they go get Wiley’s sundae, and Michael said he thought Wiley should stay. Nina asked to speak to him, and they stepped away while Wiley and Jacinda talked sundae toppings.

Nina said Michael was going to let her grandchild hang with a call girl? and he said it looked like it. Sorry to ruin her plan.

Charlotte said Britt barely knew her, so she could steal the key fob while Rocco and Danny provided a distraction. When Britt came in for her shift, Rocco could ask her to join him for coffee. Rocco said she’d be working, and Charlotte said, get her to sit for a quick chat. That’s when she’d steal the key fob from Britt’s bag. Rocco said, what if Britt didn’t want to chat? and Charlotte said that’s where Danny came in. He could accidentally bump into Britt and say anything that would occupy her.

Emma said the ambulance was on the way, and Britt continued to work on Ned.

Dante said he was worried about Anna. The WSB didn’t care about the welfare of their people in the field. Nathan said, she must have thought it was important or she wouldn’t have gone. It couldn’t have been easy to appoint Sonny Corinthos’s son as Police Commissioner.

Michael said Nina deliberately brought Wiley to trap him, seeing him in public with a so-called call girl. Wiley was having a great time with her assistant. Nina wondered what a family court judge would say about the company he kept, and Michael said she was shaming Jacinda. Given some of the things in her past, he didn’t think she was the best advocate for a woman’s bodily autonomy. By the time the visitation hearing came around, Willow would be locked up for good.

Brook asked if it was even legal, and Chase said it was a grey area. He was being careful and if necessary, he could defend his actions to internal affairs. She asked if he heard himself, and he said he couldn’t let an innocent person be railroaded. She said he didn’t know that Willow was innocent. He didn’t have to do anything and had already lost his badge when he punched Valentin. She saw how hard it was on him and now he was willing to jeopardize his career again for Willow.  

Lulu said when Rocco told her that he found out about Britt, she didn’t handle it well. Now he wasn’t comfortable talking about her. She should have figured out a way for her and Dante to break it to him themselves, then he wouldn’t be lying to them. Olivia said she thought it was good that Lulu stood her ground, and Lulu said she knew Britt was part of bringing Rocco into the world. Olivia asked if Lulu could find it in her heart to forgive Britt, but Lulu said she couldn’t. Britt stole her embryo and tried to raise Rocco as her own. How could she trust Britt around her family? Olivia said she wouldn’t, and Lulu asked how to explain things to a teenager who thought they’d been lied to their whole life. Olivia said Lulu did what she thought was best, and Lulu said, now Rocco was fascinated with Britt. He thought she was mysterious. Olivia said Britt was a horror show and sooner or later, Rocco would find out for himself.

As Ned was brought in on a gurney, Britt ran into the hospital and told Lucas what had happened. She tried to follow them, but Lucas said, medical staff only. Elizabeth said, nothing personal, but Britt wasn’t a doctor right now, and closed the door.

Nathan said, that didn’t come out right, but Dante said he’d been thinking about it too. Not only was he Sonny’s son, but his brother’s ex was accused of shooting a sitting congressman. Nathan said he wasn’t related to Willow or Drew, and Dante said, not technically. He asked Laura if she thought he was the right choice, and she said let her worry about the optics and let him worry about the job. Nathan said it was clear she had faith in Dante’s integrity, and Dante said he wanted Nathan back on the force and out in the community. He was assigning Nathan a partner. He was a good guy, but had a couple of blind spots. Dante needed Nathan to keep an eye on him.

Chase asked if Brook remembered why he hit Valentin, and she said, of course (🍷). Valentin goaded him into defending her. He was very chivalrous, but it was unnecessary. Taking matters into his own fists might have cost him his badge permanently. He said he had no legal right, but under the same circumstances, he would do it again because it was the right thing to do. She said that made him her hero, but his job was to enforce the law, and he said, the same law was being used to railroad Willow. He had to help. She said Willow had help. Alexis was defending her, and Drew was on her side, and he was the victim. Did he need to risk his career? She doubted Willow asked him to do that. He asked if she was worried about his career or that he might prove that Michael did it.

Nina said she was going to document Michael’s family outing and the judge would hear all about who he trusted to be around his son. Michael said, go right ahead. Then she needed to leave the hotel. His mother owned the MetroCourt and one word from him, and security would drag her out. She said he couldn’t do that, and he said, couldn’t he? Good luck getting back in her office. He’d inform her assistant that she could help Nina work remotely and she’d have the office to herself. As her boss… He wouldn’t get into that just yet. Do what she needed to do. He went back to the table and said, Grandma Nina wanted to take a quick picture of them. He posed between Wiley and Jacinda, and Nina took a photo.

At the hospital, Rocco asked, what happened? and Danny asked if Ned was going to be okay. Gio said he thought Ned had a heart attack, and Charlotte said she was going to get the key fob, then meet them, when Britt joined them. She said they were able to restore Ned’s heart rhythm, but he wasn’t out of the woods. He was in better shape than when they’d found him though. They’d get an update soon from the medical team. Emma asked if that wasn’t her, and Gio thanked her for stepping in and saving his grandfather. Britt said they did a great job jumping into action and asked if they’d seen her bag. Gio said, no, and she said maybe she left it in the ambulance, which she was sure was gone. She ran out, and Emma asked if Gio was okay. Gio said there was something he needed to do, and left.

Olivia said she didn’t care what good things Britt had done. Thank God she’d saved Josslyn, but she was a liar and a thief. She would just lie to Rocco too and when she did, he’d remember Lulu was his mother. She had his back, and he could trust her, not that snake. Lulu said that was strangely comforting, and Olivia said no parent wanted their kid to learn the hard way, but experience was the greatest teacher. Don’t worry. Britt would show Rocco who she truly was. Olivia’s phone rang, and she asked Gio what was going on. Gio said, it’s Ned.  

Dante said Nathan’s partner would be Harrison Chase. He was smart and a solid cop. Nathan said, with blind spots, and Dante said, not normally, but he did when it came to the shooting of Congressman Cain. How well did he remember Drew? Nathan said, Drew shot him, but he didn’t know. He seemed decent enough after he got away from Helena Cassadine. Dante said Drew was a piece of work. He’d turned all of his friends into enemies. All of the evidence pointed to Michael’s ex, Willow, but despite the evidence, Chase insisted she was innocent. He’d been to visit her in Pentenville. Nathan asked if that wasn’t a conflict of interest, and Dante said, a massive one, but Chase was a great guy. Chase always had his back and he wanted Nathan to look out for him and keep him on the straight and narrow.

Chase said Brook didn’t want to believe Michael shot Drew and framed Willow, but she had to admit it was a possibility. Brook said she thought Drew could rile the Dali Lama into a homicidal rage, but she did think Michael was capable of violence. He said Claudia Zacchara would agree, but she said, context matters. Claudia kidnapped Josslyn just after Carly gave birth and Michael lost it. So technically, Michael could have shot Drew in a rage. He said, but not cold-blooded premeditated murder with a family heirloom, and she said she didn’t want to think that was true or that Michael framed Willow. Before Willow and Drew’s affair, she would have bet Michael was innocent, but the way he’d been talking lately, she didn’t know. He asked if she thought Michael could have done it, and she said, he could have, but it seemed like the only truth Chase wanted to prove was the one that exonerated Willow. That’s why she wanted him to stay far away from Drew and the Quartermaines. Michael and Willow’s divorce and custody hearing were a toxic stain that kept spreading and hurting everyone it touched. Let Drew be Willow’s hero. Chase said, if he stood by and did nothing and Willow was wrongfully convicted, he’d blame himself.

Rocco asked if Ned would be okay, and Britt said the doctors were taking great care of him. Danny said he wished there was something they could do, but Britt said they were there. They were doing it. She asked if Rocco, Danny, and Charlotte would go to Bobbie’s and see if she left her bag, and they said they were on it. She asked Gio if there was any word, but he said, not yet. He said he needed to run an errand, and left.

Elizabeth said the meds weren’t working, and Lucas said they’d have4 to do a coronary bypass.

Olivia arrived at the hospital and hugged Gio. She asked, what happened? and he said they found Ned outside Bobbie’s struggling to breathe. He was pretty sure it was a heart attack. Olivia said someone had to call Brook, and Gio said he’d been trying, but he’d call again. Emma said they were working on Ned, and Olivia said, thank God they were there, but Gio said, Britt saved Ned’s life.

Emma called Charlotte and said there was a change in plans, but Charlotte said she got the key fob. They were good to go. Emma said Gio needed to be at the hospital. They weren’t sure if Ned was going to make it.

Lucas came out and said Ned was critical, but stable, and Olivia said, he was alive. That was something. Lucas said Ned had a severe heart attack and the blockage wasn’t responding to medication. They needed to do an emergency bypass.

Charlotte told Danny and Rocco that it was a no-go. Gio was worried about his grandfather and Emma didn’t want to leave him. Danny said they had to do it tonight. They wouldn’t get another chance. Rocco said, then they’d do it themselves.

Dante gave Nathan his badge and said, welcome back to the PCPD, Detective West. Nathan said, thank you, Acting Commissioner Falconari, and they hugged.

Brook said, if there was blame to throw, it was on the person who shot Drew, and Chase said she didn’t need to agree Willow was innocent or Michael was guilty, but he had to stand by his beliefs. Could she accept that? She said he was a good guy, and he said, that wasn’t a yes. She said she might not like what he was doing, but his reasons for doing it made her love him more, and they hugged.

Wiley and Jacinda talked about the giant spiders, and Wiley asked Michael if they could go to Australia. Willow walked in and saw them.

Wednesday:

When Brook got to the hospital, Olivia told her that Ned might need a bypass. Portia joined them and said Ned was critical, but stable. They were giving him oxygen and medication to improve his blood flow, but needed to do more tests. Britt asked if his major artery wasn’t blocked, and Portia said, according to the initial test, that was correct. Britt said that Ned had a windowmaker and needed an operation immediately.

Boyle harassed Laura before the debate, saying her Police Commissioner was MIA and she’d replaced Anna with the son of the local crime boss. Laura said she thought they’d be focusing on the issues, but he said her relationship with Sonny Corinthos was an issue and would cause her downfall. He left and Martin told Laura, don’t worry. That old gasbag is all talk. Martin knew she was angry, but he was there to offer support if she wanted it.

Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco arrived at the lab. Rocco said Emma didn’t want them to break in on their own, but it was their best chance. Charlotte said Emma wouldn’t care when they brought her proof, and Rocco tried the key fob with no luck. Danny was also unsuccessful, but Charlotte opened it on the first try.

At Alexis’s office, Drew commended her for managing to get Willow out on bail. He was looking for her, but Alexis said all she knew was Willow had something important to do.

Willow saw Jacinda, and flashed back to seeing her in the bedroom with a passed out drew. Wiley saw Willow and ran to her.

Martin asked if Laura wanted him to leave, but she said, of course (🍷) not. She was disappointed in him, but he was her brother. He said he knew he’d messed up badly, but wanted to make amends. That’s why he was there tonight. He couldn’t stay for the debate, but could offer pointers on handling old Ezra. She asked if he wouldn’t get in trouble with Drew, and he said Drew paid his bills, but there wasn’t enough money in the world for him to turn his back on his baby sister. His loyalty to her came first.

Charlotte closed the lab door, and they turned on the light. Rocco wondered, where’s the animals?

Brook asked if Ned should be in surgery, but Portia said it was a complicated operation. They had to make sure it was absolutely necessary. They might be able to insert a stent. Britt said they were being overly cautious, and it could prove fatal, and Portia asked for a word. They stepped away, and Portia said Britt was way out of line. She needed to stop scaring the family. Britt said she was telling the truth, but Portia said Britt was a disgraced OB/GYN who’d been busted down to a ward clerk. Britt said, if not for her, Ned wouldn’t have made it there, and Portia said now she had to step back and let them handle it. Britt said, their inaction could get Ned killed.

Wiley said he missed Willow so much, while at the table, Jacinda said she thought Willow was in prison. Michael said he guessed she made bail, when Wiley pulled Willow over to the table. Michael said it was a surprise, and Willow said, for both of them. She had no idea she’d find them here with Michael’s… friend. Wiley said her name was Jacinda, and Willow said they’d met once before, but she almost didn’t recognize Jacinda with so many clothes on.

Portia asked if Britt was trying to get fired, and Jason suggested he and Britt go out for some fresh air. Portia said she thought that was a good idea, and Britt said, fine. She’d meet Jason outside.

Emma said she totally freaked, but not Gio, and Gio said he knew he had to do something. But if Emma hadn’t grabbed Britt, Ned could have taken a turn for the worse.

Danny asked if it was the right lab, and Rocco said, maybe Dalton moved the animals. Danny said, maybe Emma got it wrong, and Charlotte suggested they dig around. Rocco said Danny should go, and Charlotte said, if Danny got caught, he had more to lose. Rocco told him not to give Drew another reason for him not to see Scout, but Danny said they were in this together. It was faster with the three of them. Charlotte suggested they get started, and they looked around.

Drew said he wanted to discuss Willow’s defense strategy, but Alexis said Willow was her client, not him. He said he was footing the bills and her access to Scout depended on his goodwill. He could choose to enforce the restraining order at any time. She said he’d made it clear that their dynamic was extortion based, but if he was looking to dictate her strategy, there was the door. He said he wanted to make sure they were on the same page, and she said she’d do everything in her power to get Willow exonerated. He said she’d do it by implicating Michael, and she said she’d bring Michael up as an alternate suspect, along with everyone else who possibly shot him.

Jacinda said it was good to see Willow. A lot had changed since they’d run into each other. Willow said it appeared Jacinda was in the same line of work, but Jacinda said she had a new position as assistant to Willow’s mom at Crimson. Willow said she guessed Michael had something to do with that, and Michael said it was getting late. They should wrap things up. Wiley said his mommy just got there, but Michael said it was almost bedtime. Wiley said he was happy to see Willow. He’d been worried. Willow said he didn’t have to worry anymore. She was back and not going away ever again.

At Bobbie’s, Britt complained about Portia being disrespectful, but Jason said it seemed like she was acting in the best interest of the hospital, shielding GH and Britt from a major lawsuit. Britt said she might not be reinstated, but she was a damn good doctor. She hated her stupid job, she hated her room above the diner, and she hated him for making her come back. He said that wasn’t how he remembered it, and she said he gave her no other option. She had a good thing going until he showed up to ruin everything. He asked if she wished she was still working with Pascal, and she said she wished she was anywhere but Port Charles. He said he was grateful she was there and bet Ned was too.

Portia said the result of Ned’s coronary angiogram showed a full blockage of the biggest artery, which cut off 50% of the blood flow to his heart. Brook said, so he needed a bypass, and Portia said, unfortunately. She asked if Olivia could fill out some paperwork, and Brook asked if her dad was going to make it. Portia said she promised to do everything she could to make sure he pulled through, and she left with Olivia. Chase hugged Brook.  

Willow told Wiley to give his sister a big hug and kiss, and Michael said it was time to go. Wiley asked if Jacinda could come. He wanted to show her his stuffed spider, Fred. Michael said, if it was okay with her, and Jacinda said, of course (🍷). She’d love to meet Fred. Willow said she’d see Wiley soon, and grabbed Michael’s arm as they were leaving. She said Wiley was a little boy. How could she expose him to a sex worker? He said, as opposed to a would-be murderer? She said she knew he’d framed her and put the gun in her room. She and Alexis would prove it, and he would be the one left out in the cold.

Drew said he didn’t want Alexis introducing any other suspects. When Willow was exonerated, he wanted the police waiting to arrest Michael. Alexis asked what his priority was – exonerating Willow or convicting Michael – and he asked if it couldn’t be both. She said her priority was convincing the court of Willow’s innocence. Anything else was a distraction and could cost Willow her freedom. Drew said he asked Martin to be her co-counsel, but she said she didn’t need a co-counsel. Drew said she could focus on proving Willow’s innocence, and Martin could convince the court that Michael shot him. She said he had the rest of his life to go after Michael. She had one shot to prove Willow’s innocence and if he pushed his agenda, there was a good chance Willow could end up in prison.

Laura told Martin that it would be an uphill battle. Boyle had major ammunition. Anna was on a special assignment with the WSB, and she had to appoint an acting Police Commissioner. She wanted Mac of course (🍷), but he had to commute to Boston to see his daughter and declined. So she appointed the next most qualified person – Dante Falconari. Martin said, Sonny’s son, and she said it was political suicide. He said the optics weren’t great, but he knew she’d based her decision on what was right. She said Boyle would claim it was another sign that she was in Sonny’s pocket, and he said she’d have to defend her decision based on facts. Why did she select Dante? She said he had years of dedicated service, more commendations than she could count, sterling reviews, and was highly thought of among his peers. He said those were solid reasons and the people of Port Charles would see it the same way. She said her other concern was that Dante was her grandson’s father and Rocco was also Sonny’s grandson. She was concerned Rocco would get caught in the crossfire.

Rocco said nothing there indicated Dalton was experimenting on animals, and Danny said all he found were equations he didn’t understand. Rocco said they were upside down, and Danny turned them, but said it didn’t help. They heard someone coming in and hid. Dalton came into the lab.

Drew met Willow at the MetroCourt and said he’d gotten her message. She said she had a run-in with Michael. She’d called the Quartermaines’ to check on the children and Yuri picked up. He told her Nina had picked up Wiley and brought him there, so she thought it was the perfect chance for her to see him. She walked in and found Wiley eating ice cream with Michael and the hooker Nina paid to drug Drew like they were a pseudo family, and there was nothing she could do about it.

In the nook, Jacinda asked if Michael got Wiley to go to sleep, and he said, it took some wrangling, since he was hopped up on sugar. She said the classic toppings had a lot of sugar, and he said Wiley thought she had excellent taste in toppings. He was also excited and happy for her to meet Fred. She said Wiley was a sweet kid, and he said Wiley was impressed by her. So was he. She handled Nina and Willow perfectly. She said, perfect or not, they’d use what happened against him in family court, but he said there wasn’t a chance after Willow was convicted.

Jason said Britt saved Ned’s life, but Britt said he wasn’t out of the woods. He said she gave him a fighting chance. He hoped he got a chance to thank Ned for everything he’d done for the family. Years ago, he’d walked away from his parents and grandparents, and Ned must have wanted to do the same over the years, but didn’t. He stuck around. She said she imagined the money and power that came with being a Quartermaine made a difference, and he said, maybe, but Ned cared about the family and kept them together through very difficult times. He wanted to tell Ned that he appreciated it, like he appreciated what she did for Ned today. She said he gave her too much credit. Gio did CPR. He said she made sure Ned didn’t die while Gio was trying to save him. It would have devastated Gio, but it didn’t happen because of her. She said she hated when he talked like she was a good person. He was wrong. He said he wasn’t wrong and she knew it.

At the hospital, Lulu told Chase and Brook that Dante was on a case and asked her to keep an eye on his mom. Was it okay for her to wait with them? Brook said it was a public space, and Lulu said she knew Brook hated her and didn’t want to make things harder. Brook said she was half right. Sit down.

Gio told Emma that he and Ned had a good conversation earlier and he thought it was the first step to a relationship with Ned as his grandfather. What if that was all he got? He’d wasted time keeping Ned at arm’s length when Ned hadn’t done anything wrong. Emma said Gio was going through a lot. Ned knew that and was giving him space. Gio said Ned could have pressured him, but waited. He’d waited so long to seek Ned out, he may not get the chance. She told him not to count Ned out yet. He’d worked hard to keep Ned alive, and Ned was fighting just as hard to come back to him and the family.

Martin said he admired Laura. She always chose to do the right thing, even when it made her life more difficult. People called it… integrity. It was a foreign concept to him. Laura said it wasn’t an easy path to walk, but he said she made it look easy. He thought integrity was what made her popular with her constituents. They believed in her, trusted her, and looked to her for guidance, and they should. She said she hoped they still felt that way after the debate. She knew Boyle fought dirty. Martin said, let him. All he’d do was make their choice easier. Boyle was a little man who bullied people to get what he wanted. She said, and she was a friend to the mob and a nepo grandma. He said she was an amazing, lovable, accomplished woman with morals, class, and intelligence. She’d loved the city for decades and the people who lived in it counted on her to do the right thing for them no matter what. It was a lock. She said she was glad he was still in her life, and he said not as happy as he was. He had to meet Alexis, but he’d be rooting for her. He left.

Dalton sat at his computer and complained about things being moved around. He heard something and got up, asking, who’s there? Rocco stepped forward, and Dalton asked what the hell he was doing there.  

Martin went to Alexis’s office, and she said she’d been hoping to get through to his client. She didn’t need or want co-counsel. She tried to explain that she worked for Willow, and he worked for Drew. It was clear her intentions didn’t align with his. Drew was obsessed with laying the blame on Michael, which would hurt her client. The best way to get Willow acquitted was to present as many suspects as possible. Then she’d put the PCPD on trial, saying they rushed to judgement, focusing only on Willow and excluded all other suspects. Martin said it was a solid point of attack, and she said, then tell his boss to leave her alone.

Willow told Drew that it took all her willpower not to pull Wiley away from that disgusting farce. When she saw them, she had to stop herself from crying. Wiley spotted her, so she kept herself together. Michael had done so many things she didn’t think he was capable of, but she didn’t think he’d expose her son to a sex worker. Drew said there was something wrong with Michael. He’d claimed the kids weren’t safe with her and he deserved to lose custody.

Jacinda said, even if Willow was convicted, would Michael still think it was wise to let people think he had a relationship with a sex worker? He said she was a sex worker. She’d moved on. She said he was a high-profile figure and it could hurt his image, but he said he didn’t care what people thought. He had no problem with her being around his kids and had planned to introduce them to her anyway. She said she guessed Nina’s plan backfired, and he said Nina and Willow had a nasty habit of putting his kids in terrible positions, especially Willow. She didn’t think things through… This was what his dad warned him about. Willow and her selfish behavior were an easy trigger for him and Willow’s lawyer would try to use it against him in court. She said it would make it seem like he framed Willow, and he said, exactly. He had to keep his composure in court no matter what. It was equally important that when she was called to the stand that she provided an airtight alibi. Did she foresee any issues?

Lulu left to get tea, and Chase asked how Brook was holding up. Brook said she wasn’t. She was terrified. She couldn’t imagine a world without her dad. He said Ned was a rock for all of them, and she said when he’d found out she’d given birth to Gio, he was so amazing. He had a right to be angry, but he wasn’t. He loved and supported her like always. She couldn’t lose him. Chase said that wasn’t going to happen. The Quartermaines were a ridiculously stubborn bunch, and Ned wasn’t going anywhere without a fight. They hugged.

Dalton asked how Rocco got in, and Rocco said he snuck in. Dalton said, obviously. Why? Rocco said Dalton was doing illegal testing on animals, and he was going to prove it, and Dalton asked if he saw any animals. Rocco said he’d moved them, and Dalton said he was the kid who worked at the MetroCourt pool. Rocco said he was the guy who didn’t know how to tip, and Dalton said his grandmother was the mayor. Rocco said when she found out what Dalton was doing, he’d be arrested, but Dalton said Rocco broke the law. He pushed Rocco out the door, and Danny and Charlotte came out. Charlotte said Rocco sacrificed himself for them. If he hadn’t distracted Dalton with noise, Dalton would have found them. Danny said Rocco saved him, and Charlotte said Rocco was going to be in a world of trouble. They had to do something. Danny said he knew who could help.

Lulu asked how Olivia was, and Olivia said she was hanging in – barely. She was grateful for the family. They were the only thing keeping her together. Lulu brought back the tea, and Brook said she needed to thank Britt. Lulu said, even Britt admitted that she couldn’t take all the credit. She said if… when Ned made it, it was because of Gio’s immediate action. He performed CPR until she got there. He was the one who made all the difference. Brook looked at Gio and mouthed, thank you, and he smiled.

Martin said Alexis was a damn good lawyer. He’d do what he could to convince Drew to back off, but she needed to remember Drew’s ruthlessness. If Drew let her do it her way, and she failed to exonerate Willow, there would be hell to pay.

Willow said it wasn’t fair that she couldn’t spend time with her own child, but Jacinda could, and Drew said it wasn’t fair, but the upside was they could make sure Michael’s bad judgement was front and center in the courtroom. A jury wouldn’t like it any more than they did. She said Michael wasn’t the one on trial, but Drew said he would be. He was going to instruct Alexis to make a case that Michael shot him. When it was over, Michael would be the one in prison and the kids would never see him again.

Michael asked if there was anyone who could say they weren’t together when Drew was shot, Jacinda needed to tell him now. She said, after they parted ways, she went straight to her hotel room where she spent the rest of the evening completely alone. He said, so the only people who knew she was covering for him were in this room, and she said that was how it was going to stay. He said he appreciated everything she was doing for him, and took her hand. He said he couldn’t thank her enough, and kissed it.

Laura wondered if she and Boyle could possibly get on the same page before the debate. She’d love to debate him on the issues and avoid attacks on their personal lives. Boyle said of course (🍷) she would. She’d be publicly scrutinized for having Sonny Corinthos in her private life. His private life was beyond reproach. She said she found that hard to believe.

Britt told Jason that the kids found her purse and gave it to a waitress, when Charlotte and Danny ran in. Danny said they needed Jason’s help. They broke into the lab… Charlotte said they got away, but Rocco got caught.

Laura said Boyle could launch an attack, but she’d speak to the issues. It’s what the voters wanted to hear. Dalton came in dragging Rocco with him and yelled for the head of security. Laura told him to get his hands off her grandson, and Dalton said Rocco broke into the lab and he wanted Rocco arrested immediately.

Thursday:

Dalton dragged Rocco over to the auditorium, and Laura told him, hands off her grandson. He said he caught Rocco breaking into the lab and wanted him arrested, but she said he had no right to put his hands on Rocco.

Dante arrived at the hospital, and Lulu said Ned was in surgery. His mom was in the waiting room by the OR with Brook, and Chase went to the station. Dante said he understood Gio found Ned and helped, and Emma said she called 911 and Gio did CPR. He saved Ned’s life.

At the station, Nathan got his new badge and he and Chase introduced themselves. Nathan said it looked like he was Chase’s new partner.

Molly told Alexis that she had great news. Alexis wouldn’t have to go up against her in court.

Ric went to Sonny’s and said he wanted to be Sonny’s lawyer.

At Bobbie’s, Jason asked if Rocco was hurt, and Danny said, the guy grabbed him and said he wanted Rocco arrested. Jason said, what guy? and Charlotte said, Professor Dalton. Charlotte wanted to leave to find her mom, but Britt said Charlotte wasn’t going anywhere.

Laura told Dalton, let him go, and took Rocco aside. She asked if he was all right, and he said he was fine. Sorry… She said, not another word, and Boyle said breaking and entering was a serious crime. He was going to grab the police. Laura said nobody was going to arrest her grandson.

Molly told Alexis that she was no longer on Willow’s case. She thought Turner wanted all the glory and insisted on handling all of it herself. After the year they’d had, she and Kristina were getting along, and she was getting along with Alexis. She was okay just enjoying the peace. Even Alexis and her dad were getting along. She was sorry about what he’d gone through, but they’d never been closer. Her dad and Ava had broken up, and they were spending more time together. His priorities seemed to have shifted. Alexis said she hoped it stayed that way, and Molly said, it would be crazy if the horrible thing that happened to him turned out to be a good thing.

Sonny told Ric that he had a lawyer. He’d been with Diane for years and she was brilliant. Even if he didn’t have the best lawyer, he’d trust the Grim Reaper before trusting Ric. Ric said that was fair, but Sonny had to be concerned that Sidwell was the main backer of Measure C. Diane was fabulous, but had a compromised partner. Alexis wanted nothing to do with Sonny’s businesses and her ethics might get in the way of Sonny’s goals. Sidwell’s son also worked for them and no doubt was reporting back to his father. Sonny said none of them had betrayed him the way Ric had – over and over, but Ric said the reason they should work together superseded the reasons they hated each other.

Britt asked if Charlotte couldn’t just call, but Charlotte said she had to tell her mom in person. Britt suggested she drive Charlotte to the hospital, and they left. Jason asked Danny, what happened? and Danny said he, Charlotte, and Rocco stole a key fob to Dalton’s lab. They were searching it when Dalton showed up. He and Charlotte got away, but Rocco got caught. He was sorry and knew it was stupid. Jason asked whose idea it was. Did Danny get Rocco into this?

Gio said he did CPR until Britt took over, and Dante thanked him and said, some people would panic. Emma said she did. All she could think was to grab Britt. Dante said, that was smart too. He was proud of them. Emma asked if Gio wanted to grab something to drink and they left.

Outside, Emma said she’d told Charlotte that the break-in was off, and Gio said it had to be tonight. She said they’d figure something out. His grandfather was more important.

Boyle asked if Laura was suggesting her grandson was above the law. Her constituents would be shocked at her abuse of power. Laura asked who Dalton was, and he said he taught at PCU. He’d caught Rocco inside his high security lab. Boyle said he’d notify the police, and Dalton said he’d brought Rocco there because he knew the police were here. Rocco said he could explain… Laura interrupted and asked if there were signs of forced entry, and Dalton said no, but it was restricted access. A key fob was needed to get in and there was a sign that said authorized personnel only. An officer asked if there was a problem, and Laura said the professor was having a massive overreaction that led to the assault of a minor. Dalton said Rocco had been in his lab, and Laura said, he shouldn’t have been, but there was no sign of malicious intent. Was anything broken or damaged? Dalton said nothing, and she said she’d be willing to look the other way at his inappropriate use of physical force, if he was willing to drop the charges. Boyle said if they found a key fob on Rocco, they’d know he knew what he was doing.   

Chase asked if Nathan was getting the lay of the land, and Nathan said not much had changed. He was grateful to be back, and if the price he paid was having Dante boss him around, so be it. It’s not every day Chase had to work with someone who couldn’t remember the last seven years, but he passed the psyche exam. Chase said he wasn’t worried. He trusted Anna and Dante’s judgment. He wanted to catch Nathan up with a high-profile case, Judge Harin’s murder. They were both looking at a potential conflict of interest. Harin was the judge who denied Willow custody of her kids. Nathan said his niece, and Chase said his ex-wife.

Molly said it was lucky how Cody found her dad, and Alexis said, his timing was impeccable, but don’t discount Outback’s part. She was happy for Molly. She and her dad loved each other, and she was glad they were spending time together. Molly said she saw the effort Alexis was making with him and it meant a lot, and Alexis said she didn’t want Molly to be disappointed. It seemed too good to be true. Molly said that’s what she thought, but she swore he was in a good place, and Alexis said she hoped it lasted.

Ric said his and Sonny’s daughters were sisters. Molly and Kristina loved each other and them, and he didn’t want them to be a stain on their relationship. They almost lost each other when they lost the baby, but were in a good place now. Sonny said it sounded reasonable, but he’d tried to make peace and Ric double-crossed him. Ric said he’d recently had a life altering experience and had a new perspective. He realized what was truly important. He didn’t expect Sonny to take him on faith, so he was prepared to prove how valuable he was. There was a way for Sonny to keep his piers no matter what happened with Measure C.

The officer asked Rocco to turn out his pockets, and Rocco handed over the key fob. Boyle asked if Dalton’s research was dangerous, and Dalton said that’s why only authorized personnel were allowed in the lab. Boyle said Rocco put himself and the entire campus at risk. Arrest him. The officer gave Rocco his rights, and Laura told Rocco, don’t say a word. She told Boyle that Rocco was a minor and she was leaving for a family emergency. She was going with her grandson.

At the hospital, Charlotte told Lulu and Dante that Rocco was physically fine, but needed them. They broke into a lab at PCU and Rocco got caught. She thought he might be arrested. Gio and Emma heard them talking, while on the phone, Britt told someone, come to GH right now… I really need to see you.  

Jason took Danny to Alexis and told her that Danny was involved with a break-in. He got away and wasn’t caught, but Rocco wasn’t as lucky.

Emma told Gio, this so bad. She told Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco to grab the key fob, but she specifically told them not to break in themselves. He said, they must have decided to do it on their own. It was his fault. He should have never gotten Rocco involved. She said she was the one who asked them for help. She was so wrapped up in proving that Dalton abused animals. He said it would be okay. He knew what to do. He took her hand and they left.

Sonny asked why Diane didn’t mention it, and Ric said he was better at property law. It wasn’t a slam dunk, but he believed he could make a case against eminent domain that would allow Sonny to keep the piers. If he was successful, maybe he could handle Sonny’s other legal needs. Sonny said, there it is, and Ric said, even if it was a one and done, it would prove he wanted peace between them. It’s what their mom would have wanted. They’d hated each other for a long time, but he wanted to be done with it. He told Sonny, think about it, and left.

In an examining room, Britt checked her bag and flashed back to asking the kids to see if it was at Bobbie’s. Sidwell came in and said he didn’t take kindly to being summoned. Britt said she asked him to come because that idiot Dalton wanted her son arrested. He said she had no son, and she said Dante and Lulu were his parents now, but she carried Rocco and gave birth to him. He asked what Dalton did, and she said he caught Rocco in the lab and threatened to have him arrested. Sidwell needed to call him off.

Nathan told Chase that he’d only just met Willow, but knew Nina loved her. Was she suspected in the judge’s murder? Chase said, no. He just wanted everything out in the open. He was happily married, but Willow was important to him. Unfortunately, they were at a dead end with the case. They had no viable suspects, and the physical evidence was lost when the body was in the water. Dante joined them and asked if Rocco had been brought in. Chase asked if Rocco had been arrested, when the officers brought him in with Laura following.

Gio took Emma to Sonny’s and said Rocco was in trouble because of them. Sonny asked what they needed.

Dante told Nathan to take Rocco to the interrogation room, and Lulu asked if she could go with him since he was a minor. Dante said, yeah, and thanked Laura for bringing him. Laura said she wasn’t letting him come alone, and Dante told the officer to write a report so he could review it. It wasn’t the first day he imagined. He asked Charlotte to hang out with Chase while he talked to Laura, and asked Laura, what the hell happened?

Charlotte asked Chase for some water, and when he left, she looked in the interrogation room window. Nathan uncuffed Rocco and said it was his first day and Rocco’s first arrest. He was giving them both a break. Lulu asked if she could speak to Rocco alone, and Nathan said, sure. They’d figure this out. He left, and Lulu asked, what happened? Rocco said he was so sorry. He was trying to do the right thing.

Danny told Alexis that Dalton showed up. He and Charlotte hid on one side and Rocco hid on the other side. Dalton was going to find them, so Rocco made a noise and Dalton found him instead. Alexis said, Rocco did it on purpose? and Danny said Rocco knew it would be worse for him. Alexis asked if he was sure Dalton didn’t see them, and Danny said, positive. He dragged Rocco out and wanted him arrested. They got out and went to his dad. Alexis asked, where’s Charlotte? and Jason said, Britt drove her to GH to find Lulu. Alexis asked how Britt was involved.

Sidwell asked how a child gained access to the lab, but Britt said they’d worry about that later. Rocco was the priority. He said it was still unclear what she expected him to do, and she said Dalton worked for him. Ask him not to press charges. He asked why he should do that, and she said because it would be better for all of them if Dalton was more reigned in. She and Sidwell were on the same team and he’d proven to be someone that valued loyalty. She was asking him to slap the man whose only loyalty was to himself and make it go away.

Ric found Molly on her laptop at Bobbie’s and sat with her. He asked if she was working on a brief, but she said, her book actually. He asked how it was going, and she said she couldn’t get a handle on the story, but Cody rescuing him changed that. Her main problem was that her hero was two-dimensional – handsome, dark, brooding. Then it hit her. A flawed guy should step up. So she made a sidekick, and it clicked. He said he was proud of her, and she said it took her a minute to figure out the chemistry between the heroine and hero.

Emma told Sonny that the reason she suspected Dalton was testing on animals was because he was at her old school. She got in his lab and proved it, but the college covered it up. Gio said, she’d heard Dalton transferred… and Sonny said, so she followed him to Port Charles. She said she knew it in her gut, so she got a job as his research assistant and planned to break in. Gio said it was their plan. They were in it together.  

Lulu said Charlotte told her that she and Danny were also in Dalton’s lab, so don’t cover, and Rocco said they thought he was doing illegal testing on animals and they were going to prove it. So they broke into the lab, but there were no animals that they could see. They were about to leave, when Dalton showed up and he got caught. Danny and Charlotte got away. Dalton took him to the debate because he knew the police would be there. His grandma tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen. Lulu said, when he got out, expect a long conversation about how wrong it is to sneak into a place, especially a place as dangerous as a lab. They didn’t break anything? He said all they did was look through some papers, and she said, this is bad. He said he was sorry. He hated that Laura missed the debate because of him. She said he could see that actions had unexpected consequences. She couldn’t stress how important it was to think things through, especially in his position. His dad was Acting Police Commissioner, and his grandmother was the mayor. What he did reflected back on them. He asked if his dad was really mad, and she said, yes, but right now, they were both more concerned about just keeping him out of jail.

Britt looked into the interrogation room window, and Nathan said she needed to leave.

Laura said she told Rocco not to say anything, and Dante asked what they were doing breaking into a lab at PCU. She said she had absolutely no idea and couldn’t imagine how they got their hands on a key fob.  He said, Danny and Charlotte were involved too, and Laura told him, Rocco didn’t say that. Dante said he wasn’t surprised. He couldn’t help but think this could be bad for her. She said if charges were filed, there would probably be blowback. She was this close to getting Dalton to drop them, then Boyle got involved.

Jason said Britt was just there and wanted to help, and Danny said, if he turned himself in, would it help Rocco? Alexis said, no. In fact, it would make it worse. Even if he said he was involved, Rocco would still be in trouble and so would he. Drew would have everything he needed to keep Danny away from Scout forever. He’d have everything he needed to put Danny in prison.

Dante said it would just be a misdemeanor at most. He had no reason to hold Rocco and asked Chase to get him.

Britt said she was just making sure Rocco was okay, but Nathan said it wasn’t the best idea. Rocco had his parents for that.  

Dante said he’d release Rocco, but court was at 8 am. They’d talk later. Lulu thanked him and promised they’d be on time for court. Dante left, and Lulu told Rocco that his dad had to be Commissioner right now and couldn’t be his father. Rocco said he really messed up, and she said, yes, he did, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t recover. They hugged. Charlotte told Rocco that he didn’t have to do that, but Rocco said he did. Lulu thanked Laura, who said she was glad she was there. Rocco said him too. He was sorry she missed the debate. He hoped it didn’t affect the election. Laura said all that mattered was that he was all right, and they hugged. She said they were going to get through this – all of them.

Gio wondered if it would help if they said it was their idea, and Sonny said, with all due respect to Emma’s grandmother, giving information to the police was rarely a smart move. Unlike Rocco, they were adults. The consequences would be a lot worse and it wouldn’t do Rocco any good. Gio said he felt terrible. The kids wouldn’t have been there if not for them. Sonny said they should have thought about that before involving them, and Emma said she was the one who did. Gio said he was with her, and Sonny told them, sit tight. Right now, Rocco’s fate was in the hands of the lawyers.

Ric told Molly that he was lucky Cody turned out to be a good guy, for him and her book. His phone rang and Sonny said if he was looking for a way to prove himself, he had one.

Alexis said if Danny came forward, Drew would insinuate himself into the investigation and push for a felony, but Danny said he couldn’t let his brother take the fall. Jason said, Rocco made a noise on purpose. Danny should respect Rocco’s decision to protect him. He knew it was hard, but it was Rocco’s choice. Danny said, so all he could do was sit around, but Jason said, no. There was one more thing he could do. Where did he get the key fob to get into the lab?

Lulu asked what Britt was doing there, and Britt said she wanted to make sure Rocco was okay. Lulu said it was none of her business, but yes. Everything would be fine. Britt said she knew it would.  

Nathan said, some first day, and Chase asked if Dante was sure he wouldn’t get in trouble for letting Rocco go. Dante said Rocco was a minor and he’d do the same for anybody, and Nathan said, it was good there was no damage. It would just be a misdemeanor.

Sidwell said, thanks to Dalton’s neglect of the project, they could have been exposed, and Dalton said, everything was secure. He was going to make sure the kid was punished, but Sidwell told him, let it go away. Dalton said, no, but Sidwell repeated, let it go away. Otherwise, attention would be drawn to the lab by the police, which was something they didn’t need. Dalton said, after the mayor humiliated him, he was going to make sure her grandson paid the price. He left and Sidwell did not look happy.  

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Lucas meets Carly at Bobbie’s and apologizes for being late, but she says, that’s okay. It gave her a chance to catch up with Josslyn and try figure out why he wanted to talk to them. Was he getting a promotion? Lucas says, you start. Tell him about her trip. Carly says, it was productive. The city was beautiful, but she didn’t think the hotel was right to be part of the MetroCourt if she expanded the brand. Now stop stalling. She and Josslyn have been patient enough. Tell them what’s new. He says he and Marco are moving in together.

At Bobbie’s, Stella says, excellent weather we’re having, and Curtis says, it’s freezing. And he knows she didn’t bring him here to discuss the weather. She says, he’s right. He has a secret.

Ava asks Trina how many prints they ordered of the Meyer portrait series, and Trina says, sorry. What does she need? Ava says, nothing that can’t wait. Does she want to talk about what’s obviously bothering her? Trina says, it’s kind of personal. It’s not like she doesn’t trust Ava, but it’s not exactly about herself. Ava says she understands Trina not wanting to talk about something she’s not comfortable with, but she knows she can tell her anything. Trina says she does. Her parents are getting a divorce.

Ric goes to see Turner and says it’s good to see her again. Congrats. He sees she’s settling into her new position quite nicely. She thanks him and says she thinks it suits her. She’s hoping to make the promotion permanent. She understands he’s representing Rocco Falconari. She was surprised to hear it, given the fraught relationship he has with his brother. He says his brother asked him to take the case, which proves how determined he is to win.

Nathan asks what Britt is doing at the station, and she says she’s here to talk to the Commissioner about Rocco. He should be glad it’s her. Rocco’s mom is fired up. He says, the PCPD thanks her, but Dante is serving as Acting Commissioner, not Anna, and she says, Rocco shouldn’t even have to go to court. He says, Commissioner Falconari left. He needed to protect his son. She says she could shut the whole thing down right here and now.

Lulu asks if Sonny is sure Ric is the best lawyer for Rocco, and Sonny says he has a lot of problems with Ric personally, but not professionally. When it comes to motive, there’s no one better, and Ric has a motive to prove himself to him, but he’s still going to keep an eye on Ric. She says, good thing it was Rocco and not Charlotte and Danny. It’s not as serious as it could be.

Outside, Gio tells Rocco that he’d do anything to make this go away. Sonny told him that he should keep his distance from the case, that him coming forward won’t change anything for Rocco in court. Rocco says, it’s okay. His dad went over everything and told him what to expect today. There’s no reason for anyone else to put themselves on the line for him. He can do this. Gio says he knows Rocco can. How hard did his father come down on him? Rocco says, not as hard as he was expecting. Right now, his dad is just mad at him and the last thing he needs is for him to be angry at Gio too.

At the courthouse, Dante says he was hoping to find Laura here, and she asks how Rocco is doing. He says, as good as can be expected. He, Lulu, and his dad prepared him for the arraignment. She says, good. His dad will be a calming influence for both of them. He says, hopefully. How is she, now that the election is finally here? She says she’s had a hard time focusing on that, but she will vote of course (🍷) after the arraignment. He says he appreciates her being here, but she should be leaving the courthouse and not coming back.  

Sonny says, Boyle is obviously blowing this entire thing out of proportion, and Lulu says, it’s for his own gain, but the case could give Rocco a criminal record before he even gets out of high school. Sonny says, Ezra Boyle is a clown. He doesn’t care that Rocco is a kid. All he cares about is winning the mayoral race. She says, obviously, she wants her mom to win, but all she can think about right now is getting Rocco to the other side. He says, she will, and she says she doesn’t know how it even happened. One day, Rocco, Danny, and Charlotte were hanging out and came to the conclusion that Professor Dalton is doing illegal testing on animals and decided to break into his lab? Where did that idea even come from?

Rocco says, if Gio comes forward right now, it’s not just him who will be affected. It’s Emma too, and they’re adults. The charges will be way more serious for them, especially if the cops think they brought the rest of them into it. Emma called it off and they made the choice to break into Dalton’s lab. Drew is already looking for reasons to come down on Danny, so Danny can’t get in a lot of trouble. He’s just looking at community service anyway. It’s not the end of the world, okay? Don’t worry. It’s going to be okay.

Laura says, if Dante thinks her presence will negatively impact the case, then of course (🍷) she’ll go, but Dante says he thinks the case will negatively impact her. She says, how so? and he says, she was a no-show at the debate with everything going on with Rocco. Ezra Boyle has been flapping his gums all around town to every media outlet he can find, saying Laura is going to use her position to fix things grandson. She says she sees. He’s too afraid the voting public see her supporting her grandson. She doesn’t care. She loves her job and doesn’t want to lose it, but for her, family comes first.

Nathan says, the last thing Rocco needs is people thinking Dante is giving preferential treatment to his son, but Britt says, he shouldn’t need preferential treatment. Rocco is a minor. No one was hurt, nothing was damaged. He shouldn’t get more than a slap on the wrist. Nathan says, he probably won’t, and she says, good. Anyone with a brain can see he’s being used as a scapegoat because of his grandmother’s political position. Nathan says, they might look the other way if Rocco hadn’t been found in the lab with the key fob in his pocket. Exhale. When the dust settles, he’s probably only looking at community service. She says, okay. The whole thing has her thinking about their mom. He says, why? and she says, because her brush with the legal system made their mom out to be Public Enemy Number One and she doesn’t want Rocco coming out as Public Enemy Number Two.

Ric says, Rocco is a good kid with no priors, and Turner says, he went to the hospital for underage drinking in May of this year. Ric says, yeah, but he wasn’t charged with anything connected to it and it has no bearing on the case. She tells him, some might say consequences for actions would go a long way in teaching Mr. Falconari a lesson, and he says, one could also argue that she’s trying to make example out of his client. Although he’s not quite sure who she’s doing it for, the general public or for Rocco’s grandfather Sonny. She says she’s prepared to offer a year of community service, and he says, two months. She says, he could have been charged with breaking and entering. The arresting officer’s statement confirmed Rocco had the key fob to the lab found on his person. Ric says he could shoot all kinds of holes in that before he’s had his morning coffee. There had been no official investigation of the lab itself. Turner says, six months community service. Take it or leave it.

Trina tells she knows she’s being ridiculous about this. She didn’t grow up with both parents and didn’t even know Curtis was her biological father until she was an adult. Ava says, they’re her parents. Of course (🍷) she wants them together. Trina says, it’s not just that she wants them together. She’s seen how much they love each other. When her dad was shot and paralyzed, her mom was there for him every step of the way. She would watch them and just think, that is what true love is. Ava says, sometimes couples grow apart, and Trina says she knows, but she doesn’t feel her parents grew apart on their own. There was definitely interference. Sidwell, Jordan, and Marco walk in, and Sidwell says he hopes their timing is all right. Ava says, perfect, and tells Marco that it’s always nice to see him. Marco says, Lucas always told him what a wonderful eye Ava has, and Jordan says, that’s true.

Curtis says, who told her? and Stella says, no one. She figured it out for herself. She works at the hospital and sees Portia every day. Curtis says he loves her, but he’d really rather not discuss it, and she says, too bad.  She knows he and Portia are having a baby.

Carly says, Lucas and Marco are moving in together? and Lucas says he knows it’s a big step, but he’s ready. She asks if he’s sure. She knows he wants to get out of Ava’s guest room, but it’s fast. Josslyn says she thinks Lucas knows what’s best for him, and Carly says, of course (🍷). The rental market is really tight, but she can help them find a place. Lucas says, thanks, but he and Marco know exactly where they’re going to live – Windymere. Carly says, absolutely not. That’s not happening.

Ava tells Marco that she hears congratulations are in order. Of course (🍷) she’ll miss having Lucas at her place, but she knows how excited he is to be moving into Windymere. Sidwell says, she should congratulate him. Two wonderful gentlemen living under his roof, one a doctor no less. Ava says, he’s lucky indeed, and Marco says he wants to thank her for her support of their relationship. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by either of them. It’s so appreciated. He hopes she’ll join them for dinner soon on Spoon Island. Ava says, name the day, she’ll bring the wine, and Trina asks Jordan, what brings her by? Jordan says she’s finally ready to get some art for her new place. Would Trina mind showing her around?  

Curtis says, she knows Portia is pregnant? and Stella says she does. It may not be obvious to everybody else, but it’s certainly obvious to her. Portia is glowing and she’s avoiding caffeine, and they know how much Portia loves her coffee. He says, Portia doesn’t want anyone to know until she’s safely through her first trimester, and Stella says she understands, but she’s not just anyone. She’s family. Why keep good news to themselves? A baby is such a blessing. He says, it is. It’s just more complicated than she realizes. He and Portia are getting a divorce. She says, no, they’re not.

Carly says she knows it’s not what Lucas wants to hear, but it’s wrong on so many levels, and Josslyn says, just take a breath, okay? She thinks this is exactly why Lucas was worried about telling her. Carly says, moving in together is one thing, but deciding to live at Windymere with Marco’s father is insanity. Lucas says, it’s an interim step. They have their own private wing, so they can get used to living together without the stress of finding a place, signing a long lease, and picking out new furniture. Carly asks if not working to find a new couch is worth his life.

Dante says, Laura’s got to win the election. The city needs her to win. She can’t let the bad optics of her grandson getting arrested and sitting next to Sonny Corinthos in the courtroom be what leads to Boyle beating her. She says she doesn’t want that to happen either, but her grandson is being dragged before a judge, and he says, maybe Ric bargained and got this thing down to a misdemeanor or even less. She says, that’s good to know. She appreciates him being concerned about her, but the thing is, how would Rocco feel if he walked into the courtroom and she wasn’t there?

Lulu tells Sonny, as furious as she is, she’s proud of Rocco for protecting his brother and sister. Not every kid would do that. They really do love each other. Sonny says, they do. Rocco is a great kid with a big heart and a lot of guts. He got that from his parents. She asks if Rocco is ready to go to court. They can’t be late, okay? Rocco comes inside with Gio, and Gio says, it’ll be fine, and they hug. Lulu says, come on, and Sonny says he’ll let Gio know how it goes.

Nathan says he knows Britt has a connection to Rocco, but even she has to see the only thing Rocco and their mother have in common is the ability to find a lab. Britt says, he’s right. She knows everything is going to be okay, but will he keep an eye on Rocco anyway? He says, of course (🍷), and she says she should probably get over there. He says he arranged for a ride.  

Dalton says he’s here to see Acting DA Turner, and Britt sees him as she leaves and grunts. Turner says she’s on her way to court and doesn’t have long, and he says his was the lab broken into in the case being tried today. It’s important she hear what he has to say.

Ric tells Sonny and Lulu that he cut a deal with the ADA. Everything should be fine. Lulu thanks him, and Sonny asks if Rocco has met his brother Ric. Rocco says, thanks again for doing this, and Ric says, he’s very welcome. It might seem intimidating, but just follow his lead and everything will go smoothly. Shall they go inside? He thinks there’s something they need to see.

Britt, Nathan, Laura, and Dante are seated in the courtroom, and Britt tells Rocco, don’t worry. She’s got his back. Everything will work out. She knows it. He nods, and Dante asks how he’s doing. He says he knows what he has to do. Rocco tells Laura that he’s glad she’s here. He was hoping she’d come, but he knows it’s a super important day. She says she wouldn’t be anywhere else, and they hug. She says, it’s gonna be okay, and he says he knows.

Gio opens the door to Emma, and she says she was about to call when she got his text. Between Ned being in the hospital and Rocco being arrested, she knows he has a lot going on, but she wanted to check in and make sure he was okay. He says he feels like he’s climbing out of his skin. All he wants to do is help, but there’s nothing he can do for either of them. She says, Ned is getting the best possible care at GH and is surrounded by his family, and Gio says he guesses so. As for Rocco, what Sonny told him made a lot of sense. Coming forward wouldn’t help the case and they’d just get in trouble. But if his little brother goes down without him taking his share of the blame, he doesn’t know if he could live with that.

Carly says, Lucas knows Sidwell is dangerous. He blew up Charlie’s Pub. Lucas says, there’s no proof of that, and she says, really? Who else did it? What about Anna, Jason, and Lucky in Africa? Are they lying? Stop living in denial. Sidwell is a homicidal maniac. He says, unlike the man she was married to, but she says he can’t compare Sidwell to Sonny.  He says, why not? Sonny kidnapped Marco and had him beat up. The only reason he’s not in jail is because Marco didn’t press charges. She says, the only reason he’s being this defensive is because he knows she’s right. He wants to prove something to Marco. That’s why he’s rushing into living with him. More important, he wants to prove something to himself. He wants the world to see he’s finally over Brad and finally ready for a real, meaningful relationship. Josslyn says, stop, but Lucas suggests letting her get it out. Carly says, at best, Marco is as delusional as Lucas is and thinks they’re going to move under Sidwell’s roof and have a fantasy love story. But at worst, Marco is using Lucas because Lucas’s connection to Sonny benefits his father if they’re involved. Lucas says, that was ugly, but it’s what she really thinks. He’s some tool for Sidwell and Marco has no real feelings for him.

Curtis says the divorce isn’t as sudden as Stella might believe, and she says she and Portia talk and she’d said they were working on their marriage. He says, they were, but they couldn’t get to the place of mutual trust and respect needed to sustain a marriage. She says, go to counseling or see the pastor. If she’s doing the math right, they have six or seven months to work on their marriage before the baby comes. He says, they discussed it at length and agreed on divorce before they knew Portia was pregnant. Honestly, the baby doesn’t change anything. She says, what’s wrong with him? This baby changes everything.

Trina shows Jordan a painting and says she’s seen Jordan’s apartment and it’s gorgeous. This is from a talented new artist whose work might be for Jordan and she personally loves. See what she thinks. Jordan and Trina leave, and Ava asks if Marco would like to see a painting as well, but Sidwell says, unfortunately, his son has an appointment to get to. Marco says he just wanted to stop in and say hi. He’s glad he did. He thanks her and says they’ll talk soon. Marco leaves, and Sidwell says, with her nephew and his son moving in together, that practically makes them family. Ava says, does it?

Sonny tells Laura that he tells her all the time, but does she really want to sit next to him? She says, it’s okay. She doesn’t intend on hiding her support for her grandson or her friendship with him. Turner looks at Sonny, and Lulu says, they’ve got this, when the bailiff says, all rise. The honorable Judge Brooks presiding. The judge comes in and says, court is now in session. Please be seated. Will the defendant, Rocco Falconari, please stand. Rocco stands and they judge says, Mr. Falconari, you’ve been charged with two misdemeanors, trespassing and malicious mischief. Ric says, after conferring with the ADA, they’ve reached a satisfying compromise, but Turner says, the state is revising the charges. The plea deal is off the table.  

Emma says, Gio isn’t to blame. He didn’t encourage Rocco to break in. Gio says he got Rocco involved. Rocco wouldn’t be facing charges if not for him. She says he can’t blame himself. She’s the one who started the whole crusade against Dalton, and guess what? She was wrong.

Jordan looks at a painting and says she really likes this one. She’s looking for a statement piece and thinks Trina has a good eye. Trina says, no one can hear them. Jordan can drop the act. Jordan says, excuse me? and Trina says, did Jordan think showing up there and cozying up over art would make her forget what Jordan did to her parents’ marriage? Jordan says she’s not sure what Trina is getting at. She thinks Trina is misinformed. Trina says she’s not. She confided in Jordan about their struggles and specifically asked her not to get involved. Jordan says she didn’t, but Trina says, they’re getting a divorce – because of her.

Stella says, Curtis is a wonderful father and he didn’t get the opportunity to raise Trina from birth. Curtis says, she doesn’t have to remind him. He regrets missing time with Trina every day of his life. She says she knows he does. So why throw away a second chance? He’ll get to be in this baby’s life every day and that’s an incredible gift – to him and his child. He says he intends to do just that, but it doesn’t mean he and Portia have to stay together.

Lucas asks if Carly doesn’t think Marco actually values him as a person or could be in love with him, and she tells him that she didn’t say that. She thinks he deserves all the love in the world, but doesn’t want him hurt. She wants to save him from being hurt. He can be mad at her all he wants, but please, don’t move into Windymere. She asks Josslyn to help her out here, and Josslyn says she knows Carly is just looking out for him, but this is his life, and he has to live it however he chooses. She thinks what he needs from them right now is support and he needs to do what feels right for him. Lucas thanks her and says, at least she and Ava think he knows what to do with his life. Carly says, of course (🍷) Ava supports this, and he says, no. Ava supports him. Don’t worry. He gets up and says, she doesn’t need to visit. He doesn’t need her approval to be happy. He tells Josslyn, bye, and leaves.

Marco sits down next to Britt and she asks what he’s doing here. He says, Diane Miller represents Sonny Corinthos and wanted a full report on his grandson’s proceedings. The judge asks Turner to please tell the court why she’s withdrawn the plea deal agreement, and she says, the crime that occurred was far more serious than they were initially led to believe. Based on recently received photographic documentation, the defendant is now being accused of the destruction of proprietary information. There were also hazardous materials present in the lab that could have caused grievous injury and loss of life to those on the campus present for last night’s mayoral debate. Ric asks if he can approach, and the judge agrees. Lulu tells Dante, it makes no sense. Rocco told her that he went inside the lab, but he didn’t destroy anything. Ric says he’d like to request a postponement. The ADA can’t ambush him with new evidence he hasn’t even seen. Turner says, the victim, Professor Dalton, just produced photographs of the extensive damage to his lab. The PCPD hadn’t done a formal investigation of the lab, and her office was proceeding on an incomplete arrest report. Ric says, it’s a clear breach of his client’s plea agreement. She can’t punish his client for her office’s mistake.

Stella says Curtis knows she loves and respects him, but she’s not going to pretend this sits well with her. He’s abdicating his responsibility to his marriage and child. She knows it sounds harsh, but she’s only saying what she knows his mother would say if she was here. God rest her soul. The child deserves to have both parents living together. Portia is a good woman and a good mother. Whatever is going on, there’s still love there and they can work it out. They will work it out and be what the child deserves. Curtis says he loves and respects her as well, but it’s not her decision to make. It’s his and Portia’s, and they agreed not to stay together. She says she can’t fathom why. Something else is going on. Tell her what has come between them. What’s worth giving up everything he stands to lose?

Jordan says, whatever is going on in Trina’s parents’ marriage is between the two of them. She doesn’t want to be a part of it. Trina says, it’s a little late for that. Jordan has been after her dad since day one. Have the decency to own it. Jordan says, obviously, Trina’s mother came to Trina with conversations about her. It’s not fair to drag her into it. Trina tells Jordan, watch how she speaks about her mother. Her mother has never said a word to her about Jordan. Not one. She doesn’t have to. She has eyes and Jordan is as transparent as glass.

Sidwell tells Ava, speaking of family ties, now that Marco and Lucas have taken up residence at Windymere, maybe it will build a happiness bridge to goodwill with Lucas’s sister. Maybe even one day with Sonny. Ava says she’s afraid it might be a bridge to nowhere when it comes to Carly. She’s not known for being particularly peaceful. As for Sonny, she thinks his temperature will rise or fall with the outcome of the election. If he loses the piers, it will be very hot.

Josslyn asks if Carly thinks Marco is using Lucas, but she says she doesn’t know. She’s scared for Lucas. He lashed out when she went too far. She could see on his face that he was hurt. Josslyn says, let her smooth things over, but Carly says she doesn’t want to smooth things over, and to be honest, she’s never been more disappointed in Josslyn in her life.

Emma says, it’s not Gio’s fault. She was the one who set everything in motion. Charlotte, Danny, and Rocco broke into Dalton’s lab and didn’t even find any animals. She followed Dalton all the way from California to take him down and Rocco was the only person who got arrested. If anyone’s responsible for Rocco getting caught, it’s her. Gio says, she couldn’t have known what was going to happen. She may have been wrong about him testing on animals, but she’s not wrong about Dalton. He’s a bad guy and she’s right to try and take him down. He never should have looped Rocco, Danny, and Charlotte into any of this. That’s on him. She says, no. She was right there with him. He says, Dante and Lulu deserve to know what happened. He’s telling them the truth, but he’s keeping her name out of it.

The judge says, it’s an arraignment, not a trial. Ric will vet all the evidence in the interim between now and the trial date. Dante says, trial date? and Nathan says, something’s wrong. Britt asks, what’s wrong? and he says, the Rocco being in trouble kind of wrong. Laura tells Sonny, the new evidence is a lie. If Rocco had trashed the lab, the professor would have said so when she asked about it. Sonny says, something is going on here, and Laura agrees. Ric says he’s got to be honest. This isn’t going as expected. Rocco asks, why? What’s going to happen? Ric says he’s sorry. He doesn’t know.

Lucas walks into the gallery and Sidwell says, his ears must have been burning. They were just raving about him. Ava says, singing his praises, and Lucas says, that’s always nice to hear. Sidwell says he assumes Lucas wants to speak to Ava, so he’ll look around and see if something catches his eye while he waits for a phone call. He leaves, and Ava says, Lucas looks upset. Did something happen? Lucas tells her that he wants to say thank you, and she says, for what? He says, for believing he can run his own life and trust his own heart. She says she takes it he gave the good news to Carly, and he says, it was horrible. Carly couldn’t bring herself to be happy for him, but Ava is, with no judgement and no second guessing. He thanks her so much for that, and they hug.

Josslyn says she’s sorry Carly is disappointed at her for supporting her uncle, and Carly says, if she supported him, she would have told him to run screaming in the opposite direction. She’d tell him that even if Marco loved him, it’s not worth the risk. Josslyn says, what risk? The risk of moving in with his boyfriend? Carly says, don’t do that. Not now. She knows better than anyone how dangerous Sidwell is.

Stella says Curtis can talk until he’s blue in the face about how the child will still be supported and loved if they split up, but he’s being unrealistic. Curtis says he doesn’t think so. Divorced couples raise children all the time. She says she knows they do, but they’re not him and Portia. She gets that they’re having a rough time, but they’re bringing a new life into this world. This, right now, is when they need to dig deep and show each other what they’re made of what their marriage is made of. He asks if she doesn’t think they tried that already, and she says, not since they found out Portia was pregnant. This child deserves for them to try again. If he wants to be a good father, be a good father and fix his marriage. Stay with his wife and raise their child. Otherwise, she promises he’ll regret it.  

Jordan says she knows Trina is hurting right now. She’s sure it’s tempting to blame a third party rather than accept the fact her parents may not be suited as a couple anymore. Trina says, but Jordan and her dad are, right? That’s where Jordan thinks this whole thing is headed. Jordan says she doesn’t want to fight, but Trina says she’s not fighting. She’s not even debating. Her dad loves her and listens to her because he loves her. She’s going to make sure he never goes back to Jordan.

Emma says if Gio thinks she’d let him take the fall all on his own. He knows her way better than that. He’s been telling her for months that they’re in this together. And they are. So if he’s going to come clean to Dante and Lulu, so is she. He takes her hand and says, let’s go do it together.

The judge says he’s reached his decision. Given the severity of the reported offenses, criminal trespassing and vandalism, destruction of digital records and data, as well as reckless endangerment, the defendant, Rocco Falonari, will be bound up for trial and taken into custody until the bail hearing. Ric says, the defendant is a minor and he requests bail right now, but the judge says, the bail hearing has been set for two days from now. The defendant will be remanded. Britt tells Marco, this is wrong. This was not supposed to happen. Visibly upset, Rocco says, no. All he did was go inside, barely. The judge tells Ric to remind his client that he’s in court. Ric apologizes and tells Rocco, calm down. Rocco looks at Dante, who says they’ll figure this out.

On the phone in the hallway, Marco calls Sidwell, who asks, what happened? Marco says, it’s over and it’s worse than they feared.

Rocco is handcuffed, and Ric says, stick with him. He’ll get Rocco through this. Sonny and Turner look at each other, and Laura tells Sonny that their grandson’s been framed. Nathan says he’ll be right there with Rocco. He’s going with him, okay? As Rocco is taken out, he tells Dante and Lulu that he didn’t do it. Believe him.

On Monday, Britt says she and Emma need to get a few things straight; Portia asks if Curtis is about to suggest they stay together for the baby’s sake; Gio tells Brook that he’s the reason the kids broke into the lab; and Laura accuses someone of being a liar.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I can actually see him as Patrick.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/daniel-goddard-reveals-the-shocking-role-he-almost-played-on-general-hospital-exclusive/

Glad to hear she’s back home with her animals. Hopefully, she’s back in Port Charles soon too.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-carolyn-hennesy-shares-health-update-following-second-surgery/

I hadn’t even considered this. It’s not like she hasn’t been off the canvas temporarily before.

https://parade.com/tv/is-anna-leaving-general-hospital

I don’t know if this is still a concern, but if it is, here you go.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-remains-blacked-out-on-youtube-tv-how-to-watch-during-abc-dispute/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In her interview, new stew Cathy said it was extra or nothing at all. She seems very competitive and basically said she wanted to eclipse Kizzy and be front and center. Maybe go back to show biz? The charter was like a mini version of The Bachelor – one dude, Joe (no relation to Eyebrows) and six women, along with matchmaker Amy. Captain Sandy was thrilled that Nathan finally got a deck team that could function. Now he could finally do his job. Nathan watched the guests interacting like it was what it is – a reality show. And from the looks of the preview, Nathan still doesn’t have a handle on them. There were 2 gluten free guests and one lactose intolerant, and Chef Josh hoped they were off the boat first.  

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The women ended the charter in relative, if temporary, peace, except for the unicorn getting thrown overboard. Luckily, it was rescued by Daisy. We didn’t see any footage of the flight home, which Bronwyn wisely was not on, but apparently, it was quite the ride. In Mary’s interview, she said Meredith spiraled about Britani mentioning the TikTok that said Seth had a mistress. Mary said it was pure chaos from the time they left until they landed. In Britani’s interview, she said Meredith and Lisa were so loud, she could hear them through her headphones. Whitney told Justin that Meredith went in on Britani. She was unhinged, vulgar, and had lost her mind. Lisa had poured fuel on the fire and screamed at Britani to give them the phone. In telling John, Lisa downplayed it, saying Meredith had been loud and she’d never seen her that upset. The whole thing was crazy. She also had lunch with Heather, where she claimed she tried to diffuse Meredith and must have forgotten Heather was right there, giving a totally different version of what happened. At one point, Lisa said she didn’t know what she was, and I suggested five years old. I wondered why there was no footage of any of the plane ride, but it might be because there were other people on the plane who didn’t want to be filmed. What a shame.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoslc-what-is-the-truth-about-real-housewife-meredith-marks-plane-meltdown/

https://toofab.com/2025/11/11/captain-jason-chambers-rhoslc-heather-gay-claim-hooked-up/

Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay

I read Leah Remini’s book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, which was a real eye opener. The first episode of this series made me want to read Heather’s book, Bad Mormon, which I expect will be the same. Once again, we’re confronted with a so-called religion that only seems out to make a buck and control their members to the point of harm. It’s airing weekly on Bravo on Tuesdays, but you can watch all three episodes streaming on Peacock.

https://people.com/heather-gay-confronts-past-lds-surviving-mormonism-exclusive-11847555

Wife Swap: Real Housewives Edition

I missed the first half of the show because, for some only Bravo-known reason, it was on at 7 pm rather than 8. This week, Wendy (RHOP) traded places with Althea. Whereas Wendy ran a household with strict rules, a tight schedule, and education at the forefront, Althea promoted fun, independence, and absolutely no rules. Apparently, there was more to the story than was aired.

Real Housewives Of Orange County – Reunion Part 2

There was a lot on Tamra’s dishonesty and how the others were afraid to tell her personal things because she used them later. I hate that kind of middle school stuff and have zero patience for this woman at this point. Fancy Pants talked about how the women picked on her career, and she wasn’t wrong. Except Fancy Pants shouldn’t be so sensitive as she’s banking all those bucks. More naked wasted nonsense, and Katie and Matt joined the group.

Random Reality Items

Premieres November 19^th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/when-is-southern-charm-season-11-premiere-cast-details

Sad, but he was more than a little rough around the edges.

I’ll bet their stuff isn’t like my stuff.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Vicious. Paramount+. Good title for this film because it certainly was. An old woman comes to the door late at night, tells the protagonist that she’s going to die. The woman gives her an hourglass and a box where she’s to place something she hates, something she needs, and something she loves. After that, the viciousness begins. The acting was great and I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t one of my favorites either. Let me put it this way, it wasn’t The Box.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vicious-movie-review-2025

All the spoilers.

https://blavity.com/entertainment/vicious-movie-ending-explained

Apartment 7A. Paramount+. A prequel to the 1968 film Rosemary’s Baby, this movie takes a minor character from the original film and builds a story around her. No surprise, I was frequently distracted by the fabulous old apartment building, but that also makes it a cautionary tale. If someone offers you an amazing abode for cheap or free, run. It’s either haunted (by an outsider or you) or you’ll be living with and/or around some really strange and/or evil characters. I found the tale intriguing and the acting top-notch. It was also amusing to see the familiar characters from a film I’ve seen a million times rebooted by new actors. I’m also a big fan of the time period, especially the fashion. It was definitely worth my time.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/apartment-7a-movie-review

https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/apartment-7a-review-rosemarys-baby-prequel-1236152081/

Swiped. Hulu. A dramatization of the journey of Whitney Wolfe, the woman who created Tinder and Bumble, and what it’s like to be the only girl in the boys’ club. I really enjoyed this film, although watching her build sandcastles only to be stepped on by the old boys’ network was a bit infuriating. Still, when the women began to support each other, there was no stopping them. It also made me want to check out Bumble.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/swiped-hulu-lily-james-film-review-2025

Apparently, it was too weird for Whitney though. I can understand it.

https://deadline.com/2025/09/bumble-founder-tried-shut-down-swiped-1236551583/

🐾 Paws Up and a Hoof Or Two…

🐶 Brisket strikes again with his cuteness!

https://ew.com/glen-powell-dog-brisket-cameo-the-running-man-11848377

https://people.com/glen-powell-says-dog-brisket-had-best-life-on-running-man-set-exclusive-11847323

🐱 It’s all downhill from here.

https://people.com/dave-franco-says-he-peaked-with-sexiest-cat-dad-title-11847335

🐈 Those who came before.

https://people.com/sexiest-cat-dads-past-photos-celebrity-men-pets-11836082

🐴 Equines need love too.

https://people.com/martha-stewart-adopts-two-rescue-horses-11816665

🙊 Quotes of the Week

On a scale of one to ten, my holiday spirit is negative 45. – baker on Holiday Baking Championship

Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it. – Salvador Dali

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor. – Charles Dickens

Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. – W. Clement Stone

Words are the clothing of our thoughts. – Jonathan Swift

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. – Albert Einstein

Infinitely more important than sharing one’s material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves—our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all, our love. – William E. Simon

The really magical things are the ones that happen right in front of you. A lot of the time you keep looking for beauty, but it is already there. And if you look with a bit more intention, you see it. – Vik Muniz

In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy. – Albert Clarke

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

She got so mad, she turned Italian. – Kalani Faagata, Pillow Talk, 90 Day Fiancé Happily Ever After: Tell All

🌇 Sunset Of the Year…

Until next week, stay safe; stay embracing seasonal produce (Trader Joe’s has a nice selection of microwavable choices for those like me, who live by the microwave); and stay thinking things through. Actions have unexpected consequences.