Tag Archives: James Patrick Stewart

March 28, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Emma Chains Herself To the Crypt, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Latest On Last, Outside the Norm, Only Five Quotes & Fool

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Note: I’ve been calling Josslyn’s WSB handler Bryce when it’s Vaughn. Why? Who knows, but it proves no one is paying attention.

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Lucas told Elizabeth that he needed her help with something that had to stay between them. Brad was blackmailing someone at the hospital. Portia told Ava that she got Drew off her back… at least for now. Ava asked what Portia wanted to do, and Portia picked up Drew’s medical folder. At Drew’s, Nina heard something, closed the safe, and headed for the door. Alexis asked what exactly Valentin thought she could do for him, and he said he wanted her to take care of his daughter. Charlotte went to the station to find out if she could see Valentin. Drew popped up behind Nina and asked if she relocked the safe. Carly told Jason that she was used to Sonny giving her orders, but never expected it from him, and Jason said, she almost died. Josslyn was hooked up to a lie detector, and Vaughn asked who she blamed for Michael’s injuries. She said, the person who set the bomb, and Vaughn asked what she’d do if she met them face to face. Jack watched through the window.

Drew said he knew Nina wasn’t looking for money, since she was a rich, spoiled brat. Maybe she was looking for something to use against him, but there was nothing in the safe that he had any reason to hide from her. Nina said she was protecting her daughter. If Willow and the kids moved in, Willow would lose her children. Drew said she was using the kids as a cover and wanted him all to herself. If she couldn’t have him, nobody else could, especially Willow. Lucas said, Brad did this in the hopes they’d get back together, and Elizabeth told him, start talking. Ava said if Portia used something in his medical records against Drew, it would be a serious HIPPA violation. While Ava would do a lot worse, it wasn’t something Portia should do. Don’t let fear and desperation make her do dumb things. Carly told Jason to respect her choices, but he said she was being willfully naïve and in over her head. The WSB was more than Jack and she didn’t know Jack as well as she thought she did. She said Jason upset because he didn’t know Jack’s world and couldn’t control it, but Jason said it wasn’t a game. She barely knew Jack and almost died. She had to get out now.

Josslyn said, if she came face to face with the person who hurt her brother, she’d do her best to subdue them and call the police. Jack came in and asked how Josslyn was doing, and Vaughn said, excellent. Vaughn and the lie detector guy left, and Josslyn asked what the hell the question about her brother was about. Jack said, conditioning. Adversaries wouldn’t ask comfortable questions and she’d be in a position to be tested and challenged for her life and the lives of others while she kept her composure and lied through her teeth. Did she think she could handle that? Alexis told Valentin that Charlotte had a mother who was more than happy to make up for lost time and Laura was a wonderful grandmother. If Charlotte needed a connection to the less diabolical side of the Cassadine lineage, she’d be there. He said that wasn’t what he was talking about. She was the trustee of the Cassadine estate, and he’d been behind the funds and Windymere being taken from Ava. The estate would be better served given to the Cassadine heirs. Alexis said, well played, and Valentin said he’d wanted to make sure she was trustee and needed her to support his daughter financially. Lulu saw Anna at the station and said Charlotte had snuck out. Anna said, Charlotte was upstairs. Valentin was headed to Steinmauer, possibly for the rest of his life. This could be the last time she saw him when it wasn’t through a pain of bulletproof glass. She asked Lulu to consider letting them say goodbye.

Josslyn told Jack that she could handle it. What was next? He said her mother was in the hospital, and she asked if that was a test, but he said, Carly was admitted last night for polonium poisoning. She was going to make a full recovery. Josslyn asked if she could see her mother, and he said, of course (🍷). It wasn’t a prison, but if she left, she wouldn’t be coming back. Carly said she was aware it wasn’t a game, but Jason said he thought she was being stubborn. She saw the red flags, but was ignoring them. Only professionals like the WSB had access to the kind of explosive device that blew up the penthouse. She said if he was going to tell her that Jack had something to do with it, he’d better have proof, and he said he wasn’t ruling it out. She said he was using Michael to get her to do what he wanted, but he said he wanted her to see what was at stake with Brennan in her life. She wondered how many times she’d heard that about Sonny and Sam had heard it about Jason. Alexis said, kudos to Valentin for wrestling the money away from Ava, but she couldn’t use the money from the estate to financially support anyone. She was keeping the estate intact for Ace. Valentin said he just wanted her to carve out a portion for Charlotte. Consider it his commission for making the estate whole. She said she couldn’t do that, but could make sure Charlotte had all the love and support she needed because he’d made the ultimate sacrifice as a father by bringing her home. He’d proven his love for his daughter by doing the right thing. Lulu asked if seeing Valentin was for Charlotte’s benefit or Valentin’s, and Anna said she thought both. Lulu thought Anna was more concerned about Valentin, and Anna said she had concern about Charlotte and thought she always would. Lulu said she get her daughter, when Alexis came out. Nina said Drew was delusional if he thought she was pining away for him. Michael and Willow were headed for divorce. They had two children, and Michael had been away for months having treatment for painful burns. He would come home to his wife and children living with the man – his uncle – who blew up his marriage. Did Drew think Michael wouldn’t move heaven and earth to get the kids away from him? How was Drew going to keep her daughter from losing her children? Willow walked in and asked what Nina was doing.

Lucas told Elizabeth that Brad was blackmailing Portia. That’s how he attended the symposium. She asked what Brad had on Portia, but he said he had no clue and didn’t want to know. She said, obviously it was bad if a hospital Chief was under a lab technician’s thumb, and he said he felt responsible because Brad did it to worm his way back into his life, and Elizabeth said, did he? Portia asked if Ava was telling her that she was screwed. She couldn’t just wait for Drew to blow her life apart. Ava said Portia could tell Curtis, but Portia said, secrets ruined Curtis’s marriage to Jordan, and she didn’t want secrets to destroy her marriage. It was too late to tell him. Ava said Portia had to find a way out or cope with living under Drew’s thumb, and Portia said she was going to lose everything. Drew would only keep a secret as long as it benefited him. Ava said, or he got bored, and Portia said she could go to prison. Ava told her not to get ahead of herself. She needed resources to fight Drew that weren’t easily tied back to her and needed an ally, someone just as interested in Drew’s downfall as she was. Willow said she thought Nina left, and Nina said she realized she’d forgotten something she needed to tell Drew. Willow asked what it was, and Nina said she had concerns. Willow said Nina wanted to convince Drew that she and the kids shouldn’t move in, didn’t she? Anna stepped away, and Alexis asked if Lulu was there to see Valentin. Lulu said she was here to get Charlotte who’d come to see him. Alexis said it was nice to see her and headed for the door, but Lulu asked her to wait. She owed Alexis two things – gratitude and an apology. Anna told Valentin that Lulu was there to pick up Charlotte, and he said he wanted to see Charlotte. She said it was up to Lulu. She was trying to get Lulu to allow it, since she didn’t want him to go to Steinmauer without see her one last time. Carly said, no one had the right to tell her or Sam that the risk was too high. It was her choice and her decision. If she decided she couldn’t handle Jack’s life, she’d make that choice herself. He didn’t get to choose what was best for her. He said it was best for her to be around for her kids and she knew he was right, and she said maybe he was, but if she was wrong, she was betting he’d still have her back. He’d never quit on her. Don’t start now. Jack showed Josslyn a live feed of Carly and Jason from GH, and said she had his word. She said she was going to stay there and asked how it happened. Was someone targeting him? He said they’d ordered room service and Valentin sent champagne to the room. It was compromised and Carly drank a glass while he was in the shower. She asked if he cared about her mother or was he using her, and he asked if it mattered.

Josslyn said, clearly, Jack and her mother were seeing each other. Yes. It mattered if he was using her. It mattered if he was in their family home on Christmas Eve. He said maybe she wanted to warn her mother about him, but if she told her mother anything, she’d never be a WSB agent. She’d become another unfulfilled soul desperately searching for a place in this world. This is the job. Josslyn said she wasn’t leaving, and he said he was glad to hear it. He was headed back to Port Charles. She said, if he was using her mother, Carly would find out. She wasn’t stupid. He agreed and left. Lulu said she was sorry she hadn’t come to see Alexis. She’d been afraid to face Alexis and what her being there meant for Alexis. She was also afraid seeing her would make Alexis… Alexis said, miss Sam? and Lulu said she was truly sorry she wasn’t brave enough to face Alexis and was sorry for her loss. She was grateful to Sam for her life. Alexis hugged Lulu, and she thanked Alexis. Valentin asked why Anna was helping him, and she said he was a good father and loved his daughter. He said, no, that wasn’t it, and she said, no, it wasn’t. He said it himself. She cared about him. He said Anna had changed him in so many ways, and with tears in her eyes, Anna asked why he hadn’t left well enough alone. He was free. Why didn’t he leave it all behind – the WSB, the lies, the deception, Pikeman. Why did he let them pull him back in? He said he was never free, but Anna said he was. He could have had it all. Why put himself in the position where he’d lose it all? He said, because of her, and she said, he had her. Wasn’t that enough? He shook his head.

Nina said she was trying to explain how Willow and the kids moving in would provoke Michael, but Willow said going behind her back wasn’t okay. It was manipulative and even if she hadn’t walked in, Drew would have told her. Drew said, of course (🍷) he would have, and Nina said, whether they liked it or not, Michael would have to be accommodated. The only way was to not move in. At least not right now. She was wrong and sorry for talking to Drew behind Willow’s back. She told them that they could figure it out on their own, and left. Lucas asked if Elizabeth thought he would let Brad back into his life, and she said she knew he had a soft spot for Brad. Not that she was judging. She constantly looked for the good in Ric. She told Lucas about Ric meeting with Portia and wondered why Portia would hire him. There had been tension between them because of Heather. Lucas wondered if the meeting had something to do with Brad. If they went digging and found out there was a legal issue professional in nature, they might uncover something. Elizabeth said, what if they got caught up in something they couldn’t turn away from?

Ava let Nina into the breakroom, and said she’d brought Nina and Portia together because the most serious problem in both their lives had a common source. They didn’t have to share their reasons, but they both needed leverage to take down Drew. If they combined their resources and intellects, they’d come up with something. It wasn’t her fight, but if they needed her, they knew where to find her. She left. Drew said he would have told Willow about his conversation with Nina because it was important they tell each other everything and be truthful. Willow said she was counting on it. Tell her the truth now. Was there a risk of losing her children if she moved in? Josslyn did some stretches before sparring with Vaughn. He asked if she was ready to go another round. She was putting herself thought unnecessary hassle. He saw her with Brennan. They were always watching. She said, then he saw her keep her cool, and he said, not when Brennan told her that he was going out with her mom. Knocking her to the floor, he said, watch that temper. Jason said, Carly would do what she wanted. She always did. She said he’d been against Jack from the beginning, and he said, for good reason. Stay or don’t. It was her choice. But keep in mind that in keeping Brennan in her life, whole she should worry about her kids and family, what she really needed to worry about was what this would do to Brennan. Charlotte told Lulu that they couldn’t leave without her seeing her papa, and Alexis said it was good to say goodbye since we didn’t always get the chance. Lulu said Charlotte could go see her papa and thanked Alexis. Anna said, let them in, and Charlotte and Valentin hugged, Valentin mouthing thank you to Alexis. Jack came in and told Valentin, your chariot awaits.

Drew told Willow that he was a US Congressman and his influence outreached Michael’s, but Willow said Michael had the Quartermaines’ support, plus Sonny and Carly. Drew said, Michael almost died at Sonny’s penthouse. Wiley and Amelia’s grandfather lived a dangerous life. Willow said the Quartermaines would argue against that, but Drew said it didn’t matter in court. He fell in love with her. It wasn’t a crime. She said her kids were everything to her, and he said, of course (🍷) because she was an incredible mother. It was intense now, but at his core, Michael was a good man and would think about the kids. There was plenty of room for compromise, but even if it turned ugly, they would fight. He promised he wouldn’t let her lose her kids. They hugged, but Willow looked unconvinced. Nina told Portia that it was awkward, but that didn’t mean it could be productive. She respected Portia and trusted Ava. Portia said they had an interest in getting leverage on Drew, and Nina said they didn’t need to know each other’s reason, but for insight, hers was solely for her daughter and her grandchildren. Because there was no stopping Drew. He would always want something. He would always take something. Portia agreed and said she was already in a slow-living nightmare that she couldn’t figure out how to stop. At least not by herself. Nina said she didn’t have to be in it all alone – as long as it stayed between them, and Portia said, the hold Drew had wouldn’t end unless they ended it. So she was in.

Lucas said he couldn’t have Brad blackmailing Portia because of him, and Elizabeth said if Portia was willing to put herself and the hospital at risk, it must be bad. He said they already knew something was wrong, and she said, as professionals, they were obligated to figure out what it is. Josslyn got up and asked if Vaughn was listening as well as watching her and Jack talk. He said he was, and Josslyn pulled him to the mat by his leg. She said, it was a private conversation, and he said, welcome to the WSB. They see and hear everything. They’re even tracking her body temperature using Infared monitors. They sparred, he punched her in the face, and she fell. He asked, what was stopping her from bailing? Jason said if Carly didn’t care about saving her own life, care about saving Brennan’s. He was making her a promise. Whatever happened to her, would happen to Brennan. If she got hurt because of Brennan, Brennan would get hurt. If she happened to die because of John Brennan, he’d kill him. He left. Jack signed off on Valentin, and Anna said she was releasing him into Jack’s custody. See that he arrived safely. She was holding him personally responsible if anything happened to him. Jack told Valentin, time to go, old friend, and Valentin asked to say goodbye to his daughter. He and Charlotte hugged, and he said, I love you, ma petite. Always. Charlotte said she loved him too, and Valentin told Lulu, take good care of our girl. Lulu promised she would, and Jack led Valentin away. As he was leaving, Valentin turned and said, until next time, and smiled.

Tuesday:

Vaughn asked Josslyn what was stopping her from bailing, and she said, sorry to disappoint him, but she wasn’t quitting, and kicked him to the floor. Carly was ready to leave the hospital, but Elizabeth said she hadn’t been cleared. She asked if she should call Lucas, but Carly said she didn’t need another lecture. Elizabeth said if they were warning her to stay away from Brennan, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. Lulu went to see Jack and asked if he was positive Valentin was in Steinmauer. Jack said he saw Valentin board the plane himself and gave his word. No one wanted Valentin locked up more than him. If it was up to the WSB, Valentin would be dead. Lulu didn’t want to worry about Valentin kidnapping Charlotte, but Jack said there was no chance. Valentin was going away for a very long time. Lulu asked if people who wanted Valentin dead would try to use Charlotte as leverage. How could she protect her daughter. At Deception, Brook complained that Lulu kept changing her password, and Maxie said she was going to book Lois for Home & Heart, but she’d taken off to Bensonhurst. Tracy said she prayed every night for Lois to leave, and when she finally did, it created a problem. How long was she going to be gone? Brook said, at least a few days, and Tracy wondered what had gotten into Brook’s mother. Gio and Emma found Ned and Gio said they were worried about protecting the crypt and Emma came up with a plan to save it. Ava went to the hospital to see Lucas and said his father must have left him an inheritance, but Lucas said he hadn’t. Ava said Julian had a fortune. Maybe he’d stashed it in an offshore account. Lucas said, even if he had, he couldn’t be paid to touch that money. Kristina went to Sonny’s and said she’d had a run-in with Ava. She’d learned valuable information that might solve his problems with her.

Kristina told Sonny that Ava had been having money trouble, but it was more dire than they thought. She’d come to Alexis begging for a loan from the Cassadine trust. Alexis said no. She wasn’t helping Ava after what she’d done to Adela. Ava showed her hand. She was desperate and overextended. Sonny had to fight to get custody Avery. Ava asked if Lucas wouldn’t touch Julian’s ill-gotten gains to help his favorite aunt, abut he said Aunt Tiffany needed money like a hole in the head. Ava said, the aunt who was right here, and he said he knew nothing about any accounts. Ava suggested they were under an alias. She needed to pay off her debts if she was going to support her daughter. He said he was sorry. He couldn’t help, but Sonny would make sure Avery was always taken care of. Elizabeth said Carly had almost been killed, and Carly said how she moved forward was up to her, no one else. She’d already heard from Lucas, Felicia, and Jason. If one more person told her how to live her life, she was going to scream. Jack told Lulu that Valentin was locked up and could likely have no visitors. The WSB could get to him anytime, so his daughter was no longer of value to the Bureau. She was safe. It was ironic because it was what Valentin wanted all along after he’d made the fatal mistake of having a child first place. Something he cared about more than himself. Lulu guessed that was something Jack wouldn’t have to worry about ever. Vaughn said it would have been more impressive if Josslyn hadn’t injured herself, and checked her ankle. Brook said her mom and grandma wanted to spend more time together and she was sorry it cost them the Home & Heart spot. Maxie said she had an appointment and left. Tracy said it wasn’t like Lois not to say goodbye. She and Brook must have had a fight. Lois made a Broadway production about going to the dentist, much less going home to her beloved Bensonhurst. What did they fight about?

Brook told Tracy that she and Lois had a disagreement and she didn’t want to talk about it. Tracy said she’d see Brook at home and left. Emma said Drew was trying to demolish the crypt to get the land, but Ned said it was Drew’s excuse, not his reason. His reason was to drive Ned’s mother crazy. Gio said he thought they had a solution, and Emma said, what if gave the same amount land in exchange for keeping the crypt where it was. The shoreline would be even better for environmental protection. Gio said it would also generate great publicity for the family, and Ned said it was a pretty solid plan. Gio said, but Ned wasn’t sold, and Ned said before they gave away real estate, he may have a different way to handle it. Ric met Elizabeth at the hospital, and she thanked him for getting there quickly. She was worried about Portia. Being Portia’s friend, she knew something was off. Ric asked, why come to him? and Elizabeth said he’d gone to see Portia the other day and she assumed it was as an attorney. Ric said Portia had hired him as an attorney, and Elizabeth asked if he didn’t think it was strange. Portia and Curtis hated him because he’d represented Heather Webber. Ric said Portia had seen him in action. She knew he was a fantastic lawyer. Elizabeth asked how much trouble Portia was in. Maxie saw Lucas and wanted him to tell her about the Miami trip. Lucas said he’d gotten some socializing in, a lot of it with Brad. It was great at first, until Brad admitted to using shady tactics to worm his way in to the symposium. A lot of drama ensued, but there was one bright spot. Maxie asked, how bright? Sonny told Kristina that he and Ava had settled their arrangement. It was better than putting them through a trial. Kristina said, but now they knew Ava’s financial situation and could prove she didn’t have the means to care for Avery properly. Sonny said he’d think about it. Right now, Donna was staying there while Carly was in the hospital. Kristina said she’d check on Donna and went into the back. Sonny opened the front door and Ava was there.

Tracy told Ned that Gio and Emma looked like somebody kicked their puppy. Was it him? Ned said he may have rained on their parade, and Tracy said they had something more important to discuss. Lois and Brook had a bad dust up. He asked what it was about, and Tracy said she didn’t know, but she’d sure as hell find out. Lulu showed up at Deception, and Brook asked her to stop changing her password. Lulu said, done. She quits. Ric said Portia was his client, and Elizabeth said she wasn’t prying, just worried. Ric said he knew he could trust her, but it had to stay between them. Portia was facing a potential legal matter and asked him for advice. Elizabeth asked if it had to do with Portia’s position at the hospital, and Ric said he’d had experience defending Elizabeth against the hospital board, which would be helpful to Portia if certain details came to light. Elizabeth said she knew what it was like to be falsely accused when you were innocent, but Ric told her, who said Portia was innocent? Vaughn said it looked like a heel injury, and Josslyn said she’d sprained it during her endurance test. He asked why she didn’t say anything, and she said he would have called her a whining baby. No thank you. He said, next time she was injured, ask for help, but she said she thought the point was to be self-sufficient. He said the idea was to use good judgment. Fighting battles on you own only got you killed. Carly went to Jack’s office and he said he knew she wanted to end things. She almost died and he didn’t blame her, but give him a second to tell her something. She suggested that instead, he let her tell him why she was here. Sonny asked if Avery was okay, and Ava said she was perfectly fine. The reason she was here was that she needed more child support. He asked how much more. As much as she needed to pay the IRS? He knew her financial situation was in the toilet. If she wanted to ask for herself, have the guts to ask instead of hiding behind their daughter. Ava said, fine. She needed the money. He asked, how much? and she said, two million. He said that was a big ask, and she said, for him, it was a drop in the bucket. She’d pay him back plus interest. If she didn’t pay her debt, she’d lose everything. He said, okay, on one condition.

Maxie said Marco sounded like a catch, and Lucas said he was sweet, funny, and easy to talk to. Maxie asked if Marco was into the kiss, and Lucas said, from what he remembered. Then he ruined it by throwing up on Marco. Marco probably wished he’d never met him. Maxie said he knew Marco respected him enough not to take advantage of him and made sure he got home okay. She thought Lucas should give him a call. Casually check in. See what happens. You never know where it could lead. Brook said, God forbid Lulu should give a two week notice, and Lulu said, why prolong the torture? She’d been thinking about it for a while, but the visit from Brook’s husband sealed the deal. He’d said what Brook wanted him to. Brook closed the door and said she had no idea Chase went to see Lulu. When? Lulu said, last night. He told her to stay away from Brook and keep her mouth shut about the baby. If she didn’t, he’d have her arrested for breaking into Martin’s hotel room. She didn’t believe Brook didn’t know, but Brook said she had no idea. Lulu said, Chase used his position as a cop to keep Brook’s secret. That’s love. Brook said Lulu wasn’t an innocent victim. She’d broken the law and inserted herself into a situation she had nothing to do with. Lulu said it directly affected her family. Dante deserved to know he had a child and Rocco deserved to know he had a half-brother. She was being forced to lie to both of them. Ned asked how Tracy knew Brook and Lois were fighting, and she said Brook tried to downplay it, but considering how quickly Lois left, it must have been big. Ned said, Lois was gone? and Tracy said she went back to Bensonhurst. Talk to his daughter and find out what Lois did. He asked how she knew it was Lois, and she said Brook was acting wounded, not guilty. Lois did something to upset her. Ned said Brook was a mature married woman. If she wanted to talk, she knew she could come to him. Until then, he’d respect her privacy. Tracy laughed and said, since when? Says who? Ned said, if it was important, Lois would have told him. Vaughn told Josslyn that being physically strong was important, but judgement was more important. To know when you could and should trust someone to help you. He wrapped her ankle and told her about his best mentor. An older woman whose mind was sharp and she was so good at reading people, she never had to call on her training. Josslyn said, from everything she’d learned, it was a last resort. Don’t attack unless a weapon is pulled or unless it’s absolutely necessary. The minute violence is introduced, the situation can get out of control fast. Vaughn said, then you have to live with the consequences. Carly said she came to warn Jack. Jason blamed him for the poisoning. Jack said so did he, and she said Jason decided from here on out, what happens to her would happen to him too. He asked if Jason was out shopping for polonium, and she said, probably not, but she wouldn’t rule it out. He doesn’t say things just to say them. He means it. Jack thanked her for the intel. He wasn’t scared of Jason. All he cared about was her and that what just happened was because of him. Being an agent wasn’t an easy life. It was lonely and isolating, which suited him just fine… until now… until her. He needed her. Ava asked, what kind of condition? and Sonny said, in exchange for the cash, they’d revisit the custody arrangement. Ava said it was working great, but Sonny said he realized it wasn’t satisfactory. He wasn’t comfortable with 50/50 and thought she should have Avery two weekends a month. Ava said, over her dead body.

Elizabeth asked if there was anything she could do, and Ric asked if she could access the administrative records that showed the tests Portia accessed. She said she thought she could figure it out, and he said it would help the case if he could get a hard copy. Nothing that broke HIPPA laws, just names, dates, and time of access. Go back about a year or so. Elizabeth asked, how bad is this situation? and Ric said, bad enough to ruin Portia’s life. Emma said she thought Ned would go for their idea, and Gio said Ned saw the world differently. He was an awesome guy, but he was still a Quartermaine, and for better or worse, it was family first, no matter what. He doesn’t think they’d give up the land unless a Quartermaine asked. She said maybe they shouldn’t have been the ones to pitch it. Maybe he’d be more receptive if someone else in the family backed them up. Tracy wondered what was with the hands-off parenting, and Ned said he had something to cheer her. He knew how to get Drew to leave the family crypt alone. Tracy said she was cheered adjacent. How? He suggested they drop the bombshell they’d been keeping about Willow, and she said, that he was sleeping with her mother? He said, exactly. One threat, and he would be forced to back off. Tracy said, what if called their bluff? and Ned said it would blow up his relationship with Willow.

Josslyn got up and told Vaughn that her ankle felt fine. How did he become an agent? Did Brennan recruit him? Vaughn asked if she wanted to know more about him or Brennan, and she said, both. He said he got that she was concerned about her mom, but she needed to compartmentalize, and she said, forget Brennan. How did he end up an agent? He said he could tell her a bunch of cover stories, and she asked if any of them was the truth. He said, the truth was… he couldn’t tell her. Jack said he knew he was being selfish, but wanted her know, and Carly said she wasn’t walking away because she wanted to know what this was. He saved her. She didn’t want to overthink, but wanted to dive in and explore every minute with him. He said it was her life and her decision, and she said she needed him too. She wanted them to be together. They kissed. Ava asked if Sonny thought she’d give up custody for a few measly bucks. He said, two million wasn’t a few, and she said she would never. What kind of mother did he think she was? He said, the kind that would use her child to cover asking for more money for herself. That’s why he feels Avery should spend more time with him. She asked if Avery would thrive under his care. Would she be looking forward to visiting Avery in a burn clinic in Germany? How was Michael? Or did he not know since Sonny hadn’t visited? Was the airfare too high or was he overwhelmed with guilt? Ric was right. They should have fought for sole custody to protect Avery from him. Sonny told her to look in the mirror. She would see Morgan and Connie. She was the reason they were dead. He hadn’t forgotten that and would never forgive. She said she wasn’t the only one who would come up short at the pearly gates, and he said he was trying to be civil. If it wasn’t for her being Avery’s mother, he wouldn’t… He clutched his chest, and Ava asked, what’s happening? Sonny dropped to his knees and leaned on the sofa.

Tracy asked if Ned would be satisfied with annihilating Drew’s relationship, and Ned said he thought Drew was too stubborn to be blackmailed. But once they blew the secret, it was blown for good. They would sit on it for now. He had the feeling the information would be better used against Nina. Her money and influence could come in handy down the line. Tracy said they’d just wait for the right moment. Gio said he thought Emma was right. The next time they made a pitch, they’d recruit someone from the family for support. He had the perfect candidate in mind. Lulu said, all those years ago, Brook came to town to break her and Dante up, and Brook said, let it go. The key words were all those years ago. Lulu said, at the time, she thought Brook was acting on an unrequited crush. Had she known they slept together… Brook said, that’s why Lulu was mad. It wasn’t because Brook was lying to Dante. It was because Dante lied to her. Ric said, if Elizabeth could doit under the radar, great, but if not… Elizabeth said she was sure she could figure it out, and Ric thanked her for the assist. She said it was the least she could do. Lucas asked Maxie, what was the point? Marco was in Miami. She said long distance booty calls were an actual thing and so were long distance relationships. Keep his options open. Lucas said Marco put his number in the phone and invited him to keep in touch, and Maxie said, text him or she would. Josslyn said she thought she was ready for another round, but Vaughn thought they should call it a day and left. Carly said Jack still had a dangerous job and her life was still in danger, but she wanted to make it clear that if something happened to her, Jason would follow through. Jack said, he could try, and Carly said that’s what scared her. Either Jason would try to kill him, or he’d try to kill Jason, and she wasn’t okay with either scenario. He said then he’d have to make sure nothing ever happened to her, and they kissed. Ava asked what was going on, and Sonny fell to the floor, his bottle of pills falling nearby. Ava leaned over to look at the pills, then stood up. She said, my, my. Lookee here. Do you need those?

(Seems like she’s going to pull a Tracy, but Kristina is in the next room with Donna, so…)

Wednesday:

Brook said Lulu wasn’t riled up over Dante’s rights. She was just resentful and threatened. She thought she and Dante told each other everything, but Dante had a secret he’d kept from her. Lulu said she had no idea Dante had lied to her and now she’d have to lie for Brook. At the PC Grill, Jordan told Laura that Congressman Boyle was at GH for Drew’s press conference for the pediatric sports initiative (🍷), and Laura said, if there was a camera, he’d find it. Jordan said he and Drew looked chummy, but Laura said it was a good cause and good for the city, although she didn’t think the Aurora coverage was good for him. Jordan said he almost forced Curtis to cover it, and Curtis wasn’t going to take it sitting down. At the Quartermaine’s, Curtis walked into the solarium, finding Tracy and Stella there. He thanked Tracy for the invite, and she said, his was the only media outlet to fact check in covering the pediatric sports initiative (🍷). Stella said Tracy and Curtis also had a common cause so they should get to know each other. Tracy’s phone rang and she said, let him in, and told Stella and Curtis, this might be entertaining. Drew walked in and said, of course (🍷) Curtis teamed up with Tracy. As Sonny groped for his pills, Ava asked if something was wrong. Should she call 911? Did he want his pills? Wasn’t it awful to be in need with no one to help and instead they stood by and enjoyed his pain? Kristina came in and asked what Ava was doing. She went over to Sonny and asked why Ava wasn’t helping him.

Brook said Lulu was upset because of how it affected her. If she’d stayed out of Brook’s business, she wouldn’t have to lie. Lulu said she didn’t go looking for information about Brook. She was looking for something on Valentin to help her track her daughter. Now every time Dante told her that he was happy she had Charlotte back, she choked on the knowledge Dante had a son. Brook said Lulu wanted to tell Dante because Lulu hated her and wanted him to hate her to. If it upended their son’s life, so what? Lulu said she’d already agreed not to tell before Brook’s husband threatened to arrest her, when Gio and Emma walked in. Emma said they could come back, but Brook said they were just having a little disagreement. Lulu said they’d been fighting because Brook was a self-serving manip… but one thing Brook was not was her boss, and she left. Ava said, Sonny just collapsed. She didn’t know what was happening, but of course (🍷) she was going to help. Then Kristina came in. Kristina told her, go, and Ava asked if she should call 911. Kristina said, just go, and Ava left. Kristina gave Sonny a pill and said she was calling an ambulance, but Sonny said, no. Dr. Gannon. Boyle (Ezra) asked if he could join Laura and Jordan, then sat down before getting an answer. Jordan asked what was on his mind, and he said the esplanade project. A snail that tree-huggers were worried about was causing a delay, but no snail was more important than jobs and revenue. Laura said they weren’t allowed to ignore the environmental impact, and Boyle said his constituents were upset. This wouldn’t be happening if they’d moved the esplanade to Pier 55. Jordan said it wasn’t a workable option, and Laura said she made the right decision. It made no sense to move the esplanade away from the city center and Sonny would have fought it. Boyle said given how close she was to Sonny, he suggested she reconsider and avoid the embarrassment of family ties to a notorious crime lord.

Gio asked if Brook was okay, and Brook said Lulu had to be the heroine in her own drama. She wouldn’t listen to anyone, but had a lot to say about how other people lived their lives. Her grandma insisted on hiring Lulu, but she knew it would never work. Emma asked if she was firing Lulu just now, but Brook said, Lulu quit. Gio said they had something that would give Tracy what she wanted most. Curtis said he hadn’t teamed up with anyone, and Drew said Aurora had referred to him as Drew Cain in their coverage. Tracy said that was his name. He had no legal right to call himself a Quartermaine. Drew said that was never going to stand up, and Curtis said the journalists were held to the same standards Drew had put in place when he was running Aurora. Drew said Curtis thought he’d detract from him doing something good, but Curtis said the pediatric sports initiative (🍷) was trending on social media. Wasn’t that what the conference was for? To help the kids, not Drew’s ego? Drew said if Curtis wanted it get ugly, it would, and he left. Stella said she was a bit entertained, and Tracy said, well done. Stella said, what they had was the start of a beautiful friendship, and they all clinked teacups. Boyle said Laura and Sonny shared a grandchild and people would say she was protecting Sonny’s interests, and Laura said, which people? Jordan said, protect how? and Laura said she had nothing to hide. Her relationship with Sonny was a matter of public record and she disclosed her financials every year, something he’d managed to avoid. She thought they were done. Jordan said she’d meet Laura back at the office, and Laura left. Boyle said he was lucky to have an opportunity to speak to Jordan alone, but Jordan said he might feel differently when he heard what she had to say. Kristina asked, what happened? and Sonny said he lost his temper and went after Ava. He got a pain, went to grab his pills, and fell. Kristina said, and Ava just stood there? Sonny nodded, when the doorbell rang. Kristina let in Isaiah, who asked if Sonny took his pill. Sonny said, eventually. He’d dropped them. Kristina said, Ava was just standing there, but Sonny said it was better that she didn’t know what they were. Let her think he was having a panic attack. Now that he took a pill, he was fine. Kristina said he wasn’t fine until Isaiah said he was. Cody heard a ruckus in the boathouse and found Lulu beating a stuffed frog with a bat. She said she came to see Rocco and needed to blow off steam, and he asked why she was worked up. She said maybe she was as horrible as Brook thought she was.  

Curtis left, and Stella said he loved him like one of her own. Tracy asked if she and her sister were close, and Stella said they loved each other dearly. Tracy said she wished she and Alan had been closer. They just drove each other crazy. Stella said, when you were siblings, that was love. Lulu told Cody that she knew she should let it go. It killed her that Dante never said a word about Brook. Cody said, Dante didn’t know she got pregnant, but Lulu said Dante knew they’d slept together, but told her they were just friends. Cody said it was years ago when they were teens and Dante thought nothing came of it, but Lulu said, something did come of it. Something major. Isaiah listened to Sonny’s heart and said the rhythm was normal. If he went to GH, they could do nothing but monitor him. Sonny said he was sorry he scared Kristina, and she said Ava obviously provoked him. Sonny asked for a minute with the doctor, and she said she’d call to check on him later. She left and Sonny said he appreciated Isaiah coming. Isaiah said he was making an appointment for the surgery today, but Sonny said he wasn’t. Jordan said any attempt to smear Laura would blow up in Boyle’s face, and he said, if she played her cards right, she could be the next mayor. As the former Police Commissioner, how did she justify Laura’s friendship with Sonny? She said Laura was an excellent mayor and an honest politician. Ava and Ric walked in, and Boyle said all it would take for a push was one defining moment, her boss kowtowing to organized crime. Ava told Ric that he wouldn’t believe what happened with Sonny, and he asked why she was there. She said she was asking for a loan because she was desperate. While she was there, Sonny collapsed. There was something wrong with Sonny.

Brook said, so Gio and Emma proposed the family trade lakefront property for the public land the crypt was on, and Emma said, nothing would change. Gio said, and it was good for nature. They’d gone to Ned… Brook said, that was a mistake. He looked at everything from a financial perspective. They shouldn’t pursue this. Jordan went to Curtis’s office and thanked him for the flattering coverage photo. It made it seem like she was running the program. He said who wouldn’t rather look at her and Portia instead of a crooked politician, and she told him that Drew said he’d regret calling him Congressman Cain. He said it was Drew’s legal name. It just denied his ego satisfactory PR. She said, well done. Stella said the look on Drew’s face when he saw Curtis having tea with them. She was locking the image away. Tracy said she thought he’d pop something. She didn’t know Stella had that in her. She was a helpful composed patient advocate at work, but didn’t let anybody mess with her family. Stella said, would she? and Tracy said, of course (🍷) not. Stella said they also didn’t suffer fools gladly. If someone came for their family… Tracy said, they’d fight back, and they high-fived. Drew sat with Boyle at the bar and said Tracy was way too happy to help Curtis screw him over. Curtis undermined him at every opportunity and he was sick of it. Boyle had a connection at public works and the Quartermaine crypt was partially on public land. Get a bulldozer over there as soon as possible. He wanted it torn down now. (Again, that’s not how any of this works.) Cody asked if Lulu never had feelings for anyone before Dante, and she said, of course (🍷), but Dante had a relationship with Brook that he’d kept secret between them. He lied about his feelings. She thought she always knew and that’s why she couldn’t let it go. Cody said Dante picked Lulu a long time ago, but Lulu said he lied to her. Cody said, by omission, and she said, it was still a lie. He lied that he’d never had feelings for Brook. She’d thought they were so in sync, they’d never lie to each other, but that was never true. Sonny said his cardiologist told him that he could wait if he took his medication and avoided stress, and Isaiah asked how that was going. Sonny said his health meant nothing if he lost his family. He had security issues, but if he resolved them before the scheduled surgery, maybe they could move up the procedure. He owed Isaiah. Isaiah asked if he didn’t owe it to himself to get the surgery as soon as he could. He opened the door, and Laura was there. Isaiah left, and Laura asked why he was there. Sonny said it wasn’t important, and he’d appreciate it if she didn’t tell anyone. He had a heart condition and was going to have surgery.

Gio told Brook, it made sense. Tracy would get her way and their ancestors wouldn’t be disturbed. Brook said it was a good idea, but don’t get moored into the fight. It was classic Quartermaine infighting. They weren’t even hardcore Q’s and should walk away while they still could. Cody said he didn’t know why Dante didn’t come clean, but he knows Dante loved Lulu. Brook was never a threat. Lulu said she and Dante had been over for a long time, and Cody said he’d thought things were true that weren’t, and it messed him up to find out the Bells weren’t his birth parents. He got over it and moved on. Lulu wondered how Dante could care about someone like Brook. Now she had to live with Brook’s lie. Kristina went to Adela/Irene’s grave and told her about seeing Sonny. She thought he was going to die, and Ava was just standing there over the pill bottle. She could have helped him, but didn’t. By not helping him, she was killing him. Like she killed Adela. Ava asked if Ric found out anything, and he said he could confirm Sonny wasn’t admitted to GH. Ava said Kristina gave him a pill and he must have recovered, and Ric asked what happened before that. Ava said they were arguing and Sonny suddenly stopped, obviously in pain. He had a prescription pill bottle, but dropped it before he was able to take one. He fell at her feet. Ric said, and she just stood there? and she said, of course (🍷) she was going to help, but Kristina scared her. Obviously, Kristina knew what was going on and screamed at her to get out, so she left. Ric said Sonny had been on medication for years, and Ava said, mood stabilizers. Nothing for pain. He could barely breathe. Something was seriously wrong with his brother. Sonny told Laura that he was shot years ago and it damaged his heart. Only surgery could repair it. She wondered if it was safe to wait, and he said he had business to take care of before he was out commission for a couple weeks. He had Isaiah and his medication and had to avoid stress. She told him, easier said than done, and he said he was doing all right until today. Ava came by. He was trying to be cordial, but she wanted more money and thought she’d take advantage of him. They got into it and the pain hit. He couldn’t get to his pills and fell, and the pills were on the ground. Luckily, Kristina came in. Everything was fine, but he couldn’t control himself and it scared him. Gio said it was something where both sides would be happy, but Brook said, Drew wouldn’t be happy until he hurt her grandma enough and got his name back. She’d try to talk to her dad. The phone rang and she said they’d talk later. In the hallway, Gio said, the house belonged to Monica, right? Maybe she was the one they should be talking to.

Cody said Lulu could always talk to him. He’d listen and not judge. An argument didn’t make her a bad person. Lulu wasn’t sure she could trust his judgement since he picked up hitchhikers. Tracy asked if Stella wanted to check out an art exhibit, but Stella said she had a doctor’s appointment. Everything was fine, but it took two tests – urine and blood – to screen for kidney disease. Tracy asked if Stella was concerned, and Stella said she didn’t think so, but 90% of those with the disease didn’t know they had it and had no symptoms until irreversible kidney damage was done. There was high blood pressure and diabetes in ⅔ of the cases. It could also uncover cardiovascular risk. She had high blood pressure, so as they say, knowledge is power. They high-fived and laughed. Curtis said Jordan should have seen Drew’s face when Drew saw he was having tea with Tracy. He went from zero to a thousand in half a second. Jordan said Drew would assume Curtis was working against him. He was declaring war. Curtis said Drew’s pride took a direct hit and his ego was demanding retribution, and she asked if he was sure he was ready to wave a red flag in front of Drew. He said until Drew’s anger made him do something stupid where he exposed his true colors to all the world, and she said she got the logic, but it could hurt Curtis. Watch out for unintended consequences. Curtis said he’d played this game before, and Drew had better watch out for him.

Drew told Boyle that they were righting a wrong from when the Quartermaine patriarch helped himself to public land. Boyle said, we? It was Drew’s battle. <making a wah-wah sound). Drew said he thought Boyle was a champion of the people, but Boyle said it was Drew’s family. Drew said they’d been given notice that the crypt had to be moved and were using their money and privilege to stonewall. They weren’t above law. They had their chance and didn’t take it. Now he wanted the crypt razed to the ground tomorrow. Ava asked Ric, what was wrong with Sonny? How serious was it? Ric said she was enjoying this too much, and she said, Sonny told her, if not for Avery, he would have her killed, and it wasn’t the first time he’d said it. So excuse her for not getting misty over his passing. With Avery’s inheritance, she could pay all her debts and have enough left over to keep… Avery in the lifestyle she’s accustomed to. Ric said, pragmatic to a fault, and Ava wondered why Sonny was hiding his condition. Obviously, he didn’t want anyone to know so it must be serious. Laura said she hoped Sonny wasn’t carrying his burden all alone, and he said there were key people who knew. He didn’t want it made public and didn’t want his family to worry. He didn’t want his enemies to know he wasn’t 100%. He was also thinking about Port Charles. Laura said she appreciated that and would keep his secret. Kristina said no one saw how dangerous Ava was but her. Ava convinced a jury that she wasn’t guilty of killing Adela and used Avery against her dad every chance she got. They just throw their hands up and shake their heads. They tell her to walk away, but she can’t do that. That’s what makes Ava so dangerous. No one holds her accountable for what she’s done. She’s not a nuisance. Ava is a threat to everyone she loves. If she didn’t stop Ava, Ava would take away everyone she cared about… She cried, then suddenly looked up and said she had to stop her. Ava had to be stopped, and she had to stop her. She touched Adela’s gravestone.

Thursday:

Diane found Alexis on the floor in her office, but she was fine, just meditating. She needed to find peace because she was going to do something hard. She had to strike a truce with Ric or kill him trying. On the phone, Elizabeth talked to Lucas about Brad blackmailing Portia. She went to Charlie’s after hours, where lucky had prepared dinner. Stella went to the hospital for her kidney disease screen. Isaiah told Jordan that when he pictured a clandestine relationship, a five-mile hike didn’t occur to him, and she said she ran fast so she could get back and be alone with him. As Sasha’s patient advocate, Felicia asked if Sasha had given any thought to adding her baby daddy’s medical information to her file. Nina stopped by Ava’s to thank her for teaming her up with Portia. She thought they could deal with their mutual Drew problem. Ava was bringing Avery over to Sonny’s and Nina wondered why she was hurrying. Kristina left a message for Isaiah with a question about Sonny’s condition. She wanted to know the worst-case scenario if he didn’t have his meds on him. There was a knock at Sonny’s door, and Kristina opened it to Molly. Sonny told Jason that it would take more than Ava to kill him. He was going to be more careful in the future. Jason suggested Sonny get the surgery sooner, but Sonny said he wasn’t lying around while his family was in danger. Brick joined them and said he had a lead on the man who almost burned Michael to death.

Chase found Brook working at home and asked if Lulu was harassing her, but Brook said Lulu had quit because of Chase. Isaiah thought Jordan was distracting herself, and she told him about Boyle suggesting she distance herself from Laura because of Laura’s relationship with Sonny. Isaiah said, he may have a point, and Jordan said she agreed. Brick said Soliski was a contract killer, ex-intelligence. The only way to contact him was on the dark web. He was in Toronto right now. Jason said he could be there in an hour. Molly told Kristina that she wanted her sister back. Felicia said, since it came out that Jason was the father, she wondered if Sasha reconsidered, but Sasha said she didn’t want him involved. Elizabeth said it was the best chicken parm she’d ever had, and Lucky said he’d gotten it from Lorenzo’s in NYC. He reminisced about their past time together and asked if she wanted to go away for the weekend. Let him take her back to New York.

Lucas and Stella rehashed the information she gave us about kidney screening yesterday. Jordan told Isaiah that she respected Laura and it wouldn’t bother her except for the esplanade. A mayor not as close to Sonny might have made a stronger case for kicking a mob boss out of an area that needed revitalization. She was realizing Laura would never see Sonny as the danger he was. Alexis told Diane that her fighting with Ric upset Molly. She was going to reach a truce and asked Diane to stay as referee. Diane asked if there was time to make popcorn. Molly said people she loved, and thought would be here forever were gone, but Kristina wasn’t. She didn’t want to just see Kristina in a crisis and wanted it to be like it was. She was without Sam and didn’t want to be without Kristina. Nina asked, what changed? and Ava said Sonny was particular about times and dates, and it was good for Avery to see they were getting along. She was seeing Sonny with fresh eyes. Sonny asked if Soliski was tipped off, but Brick said there was no way to be sure. Jason said Soliski wouldn’t see him coming, and Brick said Soliski was paranoid and dangerous, but Sonny said coming after him was dangerous.

Elizabeth and Lucky rehashed when they went to NYC and missed the last bus home. We flashed back to when they were babies, and Elizabeth said she’d had the time of her life. Chase asked what he’d done to make Lulu quit, and Brook said he’d had a chat with Lulu. Chase said he was going to tell her. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t Lulu’s business; she just had to say it. Her way needed to change, and he’d dropped by to tell her. Brook said threatening Lulu and flashing his badge wasn’t who he was, but he said just because he didn’t show it often, it didn’t mean that side wasn’t there. He’d do what it took to keep her secret safe. Felicia said Sasha wouldn’t be raising her baby alone if the Scorpios had anything to say about it. Kristina wondered if things would ever be the same, but Molly said maybe they could find a new normal and suggested Little Buddha take-out and a movie at home. Kristina said she’d missed Molly even when she didn’t want to, and Molly said sometimes she just wanted to be home with Kristina and their mom. They hugged, and Ava came by with Avery. Jordan said Sonny’s generosity didn’t change his involvement in illegal activities. But then there were the supposed good guys like Drew and Boyle who she trusted less than Sonny. Sonny wanted to go with Jason, but Brick said it was a major operation, especially for someone having surgery soon. Brick left and Sonny said he was going with Jason.

A song began to play, and Elizabeth said it was the first song on the mix tape Lucky gave her that they listened to on their way to New York. They danced and he said he’d found the hotel they’d stayed at and slept on the floor. We flashed back to that, and he said he’d booked a room for them, when her phone alarm went off. She had to get to work, but he knew the answer before he’d asked. This time neither of them would sleep on the floor. Molly took Avery to the playroom and Kristina said Ava could go. Ava tried to get information on Sonny’s condition, but Kristina said it was none of her business. Ava said if Sonny wasn’t well enough to take care of their daughter full time, she would, and she was pretty sure a judge would agree. Ric told Alexis he owed her an apology, confusing her. He said he realized baiting her into arguments was unfair to her and their daughter, and he was truly sorry. They could be neutral parties with a common interest. She asked where this was coming from, and he said Cody had given him perspective. She said she accepted his apology, and he said he accepted hers, but she said she didn’t give him one. Diane suggested they quit while they were ahead and shake on it. Hesitantly, they did. Lucas said Stella was taking preventative steps and doing research and everyone be as concerned about their healthcare. She told him, knowledge is power, and he said she was pretty powerful. Felicia asked if Jason would be on the birth certificate and Sasha said they’d agreed he wouldn’t be involved, and it would only complicate things. Felicia advised her to get things settled before the baby was born so Jason didn’t insist later. Sasha said Jason would never do that, but Felicia said she didn’t know Jason wouldn’t change his mind. She didn’t want to leave anything open to interpretation. Jason said the last thing Sonny needed was going to Toronto to track down a professional killer, but Sonny said it couldn’t wait. Jason said he was going alone. It was too much risk. Sonny said he’d have his meds, but Jason said too many things could go wrong.

Lucas said he had diabetes, so he was at risk, and he’d also taken the tests. There was no reason not to be proactive. It could reduce potentially serious complications down road and also uncover cardiovascular risk. Chase said Lulu had taken things too far, but Brook said she didn’t think Lulu was upset with her. She was upset with Dante for not telling her that they had a past together. Chase said it didn’t affect Lulu, and Brook said Lulu was too self-centered and self-righteous. Chase said Lulu’s life hadn’t changed and she was just rubbing it in. Brook said she’d do anything to change it, but Chase said it wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t even a fault thing. Brook said she never expected to meet someone like him, and Chase said neither did he. She asked if he was glad they met. Molly went to Alexis’s office and asked what Ric was doing there. He said he’d let her mom fill her in. (Diane called him Richard, startling me. I don’t remember anyone ever calling him that.) Ric left and Diane said she was exhausted. It was more than she’d hoped for. She left, and Alexis told Molly that she’d invited Ric there. What she’d said at the PCPD hit home and she was going to call a truce, but he did before she had a chance. Molly asked if he was dying, but Alexis said she didn’t think so. He’d said Cody had gotten to him. It didn’t happen often, but her father was the bigger person for her sake. She was happy to accept the olive branch. Jordan told Isaiah that she didn’t want to steal Laura’s job, but if she had a choice, she’d stay as far away from Sonny as possible. Brick came by with flowers to see if Jordan was free for dinner. Jordan said she had plans, and he said he could see that. Sonny said he knew Jason was worried, but Soliski was the reason his son was in a burn clinic in Germany in unbelievable pain. He was going to be stressed if he didn’t go and make sure the job was done. Maybe it would be a stress reliever. Jason said Soliski was just the middleman. Someone hired him and they needed to know who. Sonny said he needed to know the name of his real enemy.

Brick asked if Jordan and Isaiah were a couple now, and Jordan said she needed a favor. Don’t tell anyone she knew they were dating. He asked if it was a request from her or her new boyfriend, and Isaiah said if it was up to him, the whole world would know, but Jordan had her reasons to keep it a secret and he’d promised to honor that for her sake. Brick said he’d do the same. He’d heard questionable things about Isaiah’s family and hoped Isaiah had no part of that. He left and Isaiah said he guessed Brick looked into him. Jordan didn’t ask him to, did she? She said if there was anything she wanted to know, she trusted he’d tell her himself, and they hugged. Chase said Brook was the best thing that had happened to him, and she said he was a remarkable man. No matter what anyone did, don’t compromise himself or his values. He thought they could handle it and they hugged. Molly said Alexis deserved credit for the truce with Ric and Alexis said it was easier because she was doing it for Molly. Molly said she’d gone to see Kristina and they talked for the first time in a long time. They were taking it slow, but she wanted to try and get back to how they used to be. They were having a Davis girls’ night and were hoping Alexis would come too. Alexis said she wouldn’t miss it for the world, and they hugged. (A lot of that going around today.) Ava went home and found Ric there and he said he had the most unbelievable conversation with Alexis. The last thing he expected happened. They made peace. There was knocking at the door and Kristina said, open the damn door. They were going to finish this once and for all. Sasha left Jason a message that she was finished with her check-up and everything was good, but there was something they needed to take care of. Jason saw there was a missed call from Sasha and asked if he couldn’t change Sonny’s mind. Since Soliski couldn’t kill him last time, the contract on him was still out. Sonny took out his gun, loaded it, and said he wasn’t going to let Soliski or anyone else come after his family again. They left and we saw a framed photo of Morgan and Michael.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

At the café, Sasha asks if Maxie has been waiting long, and Maxie says, long enough to get tea for her sore throat and a cookie. She’s been waiting a week. In reality, less than five minutes. Sasha says she’s glad they’re doing this. She wants to show something to Maxie, but she can’t tell anyone she saw it. Maxie says, okay. Is it bad? Sasha says, it’s actually pretty miraculous, and shows Maxie her sonogram. Maxie squees.

Tracy finds Elizabeth at the hospital and says she knows Stella was coming in for tests. She thought if Stella was done, she’d ask if Stella wanted to go to dinner. Elizabeth says, sorry, but Stella already finished and left. It was a sweet idea. Tracy says she knows, and Elizabeth asks how Monica is doing. Tracy says, today’s a good day, and Elizabeth says she’s glad to hear it. Tracy says her too. She’ll let Monica know that everyone is thinking about her. Elizabeth says, tell her they can’t wait for their former Chief of Staff to get back to her old self, and Tracy says, will do. Elizabeth says she hopes Monica is better soon, and Tracy says, her too, and she hopes Monica doesn’t find out Drew is threatening to dig up her late husband.

Trina approaches the crypt, and asks, what’s going on? Boyle says, she can’t be here, but she says she lives here. She’s trying to study. Boyle says, she lives here? and she says, in the apartment over the garage. He introduces himself as Ezra Boyle, Port Charles City Council, and says he’s here on important city business. Trina says she knows who he is. They met at the press conference. He says, right. She was with Kai Taylor. She asks if he has a right to be here, and he says he does. He has a signed demolition order. Emma and Gio join them, and Emma asks, what is all this? Ezra asks if they live here, and Gio says, at the main house. Ezra says, great, and hands him a paper, saying, you’ve been served.

In Drew’s office, he says Kai has a few more speaking engagements, and Kai asks if Drew is sure he’s the right guy. Now that he’s done with football, people might not want to listen to him much longer. Drew says Kai is the reason the speaking engagements have more than doubled. People want to hear what he has to say about the pediatric sports initiative (🍷). He saw how well Kai handled himself at the press conference and people want more. He’s got more going for him than just football. Kai says, good thing because he’s never going pro, and Drew asks if he’s sure about that

Lucky brings Lulu to Charlie’s, and she wonders if everything is free since the club isn’t open. He says he can spot her an appetizer and a beer, and thanks her for coming by. She says she never sees him at their mom’s place where they live together, and he says he’s been spending time at Elizabeth’s. She asks how it’s going, and he says, pretty good. In fact, they’re going away together.

Kristina pounds on Ava’s door, and Ava tells Ric to listen to the sound of Kristina Corinthos Davis acting even more unhinged than usual. He says he just made peace with Alexis. If Kristina sees him here, it will all be blown to hell. She says, don’t let Kristina see him, but stick around. She may need a witness. He grabs his drink and goes to another room, while the banging continues. Ava tells Kristina, come in and speak her piece, but stay away from the windows. They don’t want a repeat of what happened the last time Kristina barged in. (Wow. A new low.)

On a private jet, Jason says, the flight time is 40 minutes, and Sonny says, Brick said Soliski could be in two possible locations, his apartment or a warehouse. They’ll check each one to minimize the chance of missing him. Jason says he’ll take the warehouse. They don’t know when Soliski will leave town for his next job. Sonny says, whoever hired him is responsible for Michael’s pain and he wants to make them pay.

Maxie says she’s guessing Sasha’s OB appointment went well, and Sasha says she and the baby are fine. Her pregnancy is in the honeymoon phase, so she has all this energy. Maxie asks if she needs to get away from the Quartermaines, but Sasha says she’s thinking it calmed down slightly. Maxie says she thought Sasha wanted to move out to get away from all of them, but Sasha says she’s staying for now. Maxie says, if Sasha changes her mind, she’ll make space in her house for Sasha and the baby, and Sasha thanks her, but says she’s fine at the Quartermaines. She likes her job and it’s going good. Maxie says, if she needs help… but Sasha says, like she told Maxie, she can afford to have this baby. She promises it’s not a problem. She’s just sorry she said something that made it harder for Maxie to take care of her babies.

Tract tells Elizabeth that Drew went as far as to sic the Public Land Trust on her because her family’s crypt accidentally extends maybe 20 feet onto public land. Elizabeth says she doesn’t think Edward would make a mistake like that, and Tracy says, Drew doesn’t care. He’s using it as leverage to remain a Quartermaine. Elizabeth says she assumes Monica isn’t aware of what Drew’s done, and Tracy says she’s done everything she can to shield Monica. She’s furious with Drew already for multiple reasons. Elizabeth says she thought Monica had always accepted Drew, but Tracy says, not anymore. For once, she and Monica are in complete agreement. Elizabeth says she hopes hell hasn’t frozen over, and Tracy says, Drew is no longer a member of the Quartermaine family. He has no right to that name.

Gio tells Boyle that he’s not family, just a guest. Monica is the owner. Doesn’t he have to serve her? Boyle says, another Quartermaine stall tactic, and the sheriff says, it has to be served to the appropriate party before they start demolition. Boyle tells him, walk to the front door, knock, and serve it, and Emma says, the family is fighting the order. Trina says, in case he hasn’t noticed, the Quartermaine family doesn’t lose, but Boyle says he already has the order. It’s signed and there’s nothing anybody can do to stop it. Get the crew ready. That building is coming down.

Kai says, because of his injury, he can’t play without risking paralysis, and Drew says he’s sorry. Kai says, Trina helped him come to terms with it, and Drew says he’s glad Trina is part of Kai’s life. They make a good couple. Kai says, they’re spending more time together and things are good. He has to admit, he misses playing so much sometimes, he thinks it might be worth the risk. Drew says, if there was a way for him to play safely, would he take it? and Kai says, absolutely, but the doctor said it was a non-starter. Drew says, he may be right, but he’s a big believer in active problem solving. He knows a great specialist, a fantastic doctor who does amazing things. He may be able to help. Kai says, even if it’s true, he can’t pay for what his insurance would consider elective surgery. He doesn’t have those kinds of resources. Drew says, maybe not, but he does.

Ric listens, and Kristina asks if Ava just made a joke about her baby dying, but Ava says she’d never joke about what happened to Irene. Kristina says, Adela, and Ava says, that’s not what it says on her headstone. Kristina says, stay away from her daughter. Her daughter would be here if Ava hadn’t killed her. Ava says she has no interest in relitigating something a jury already deemed an accident, and Kristina says she was there. Ava pushed her. Ava says, keep telling herself that, but stop telling her, and Kristina says she’ll tell Ava every time she sees her. She’ll be a walking remembrance. Ava says, go away, and Kristina asks where the hell Ava gets off dragging her father back to court over Avery. Ava says, he’s in a no condition to take care of Avery, a fact she’ll be all too happy to share with a judge in open court.

Lucky tells Lulu that he and Elizabeth are making a return trip to Manhattan. He booked a room in the hotel where they stayed when they were kids. Does she remember? Lulu says, it was when they were planning on moving to NYC so Elizabeth could study art, and he says, it’s only a weekend. He was hoping Aiden could stay at their mom’s. Aiden is old enough to be by himself, but he’d feel better if they kept an eye on him. She says, of course (🍷). They’d love to. Is he sure he wants to do this?

Yuri calls Tracy and says, man with official paper bring bulldozer to crypt. She says she’ll be right there.

Trina wonders why a councilman would get involved, and Emma says she’ll tell Trina why. He’s Cutthroat Cain’s dirty little stooge. Boyle says, okay. Congressman Quartermaine brought a legitimate issue to his attention, and it was his duty to rectify it to show that rich people can’t flaunt the law. Emma says, only public officials have that privilege, and Boyle sighs and says, the building violates the laws twice over. It’s a public structure built on conservancy land. There’s no construction allowed. Gio says, what construction? It’s already been constructed. The sheriff says he gave the paperwork to some Russian guy, and Emma says, he’s from Belarus. Boyle says he doesn’t care and tells the workers, get moving. Emma tells Gio and Trina to stall until she gets back. The sheriff tells Boyle, sorry about the legality of serving an order of demolition to some domestic employee instead of the owner, especially one whose English is a little shaky. Gio says, hey, Yuri’s English is just fine, but Trina says, it’s terrible. They need to go back and make sure he understands, and the order is served to the owner. Boyle says he’s a member of the City Council. Tear that thing down. Gio says, what about the people in the building? and a demolition worker says, there are people in there? Boyle says, no people, just dead bodies, and Trina starts to film on her phone. She says, desecrating the remains of a family’s loved ones is not a good look for a public official, and Gio says, besides being immoral, isn’t unearthing human remains a public health issue? (I would think so. That’s not how any of this works.)

As Ric continues to listen in, Ava says she thinks Sonny would be wise not to return to court. Doesn’t Kristina? If his health issue becomes public, his enemies could take advantage of that. She thinks he’s vulnerable enough as it is. One of his enemies already try to kill him, and Michael got barbecued instead. She’s sure Sonny would agree he was the target, and it should have been him. Kristina says, it should have been Ava, and Ava says she’s glad Avery wasn’t there. It would be far better if Sonny quietly handed Avery over to her and increased child support to sufficiently provide the kind of care Avery is accustomed to. Kristina says, oh my God. Ava has no limit. She’s using Michael’s pain to her own advantage. Ava says, as a mother, she’d do absolutely anything to protect her child. Something Kristina obviously can’t understand since she’s not a mother. (An even newer low.)

Lucky tells Lulu that he already invited Elizabeth and she accepted. It would be rude to withdraw the invite now. Lulu says, he’s right. Forget she said that. He says, she thinks it’s a bad idea, and she says she’s not passing judgment. If he wants to go, he should go. He says, it was a pretty negative reaction to a weekend getaway. What is risky about taking Elizabeth back someplace that meant so much to both of them? She says, a lot can change, including him and Elizabeth. They spent so much more time apart than together and both of them have picked up emotional baggage. He says, life happens. What can you do? She says, nothing, but it’s tough for some people to get over. He says they’re not just some people, and she says, it would be one thing not to recreate the magic, but worse if they tarnish a memory that means so much to both of them.

Sonny asks if Michael told Jason that he’s getting another skin graft, and Jason says, he did. He sounded good. Sonny says, except for the pain. He could hear it in Michael’s voice. Jason says he knows how much Michael misses Wiley and Amelia too, and Sonny says, his love for the kids will get him through. Jason says, the same way Sonny’s love for Michael is pushing him to find Soliski instead of just sending him, and Sonny says he needs the client’s name. They can’t go in there guns blazing. Jason says, when Sonny finds Soliski… Sonny wonders if Jason is asking what he’s going to do when he’s face to face with the man who set his son on fire and nearly killed him. Honestly? He doesn’t know.

Kai wonders why Drew is offering to pay for his surgery when Drew doesn’t know him, and Drew says, not yet, but he was a Navy SEAL. He appreciates Kai’s passion, determination, and willingness to put himself on the line for everyone to see. Kai thanks him, but says he’s still not explaining why, and Drew says, he thinks Kai has a bright future. He wants to do what he can to help Kai realize it. Kai says, Drew has to want something, and Drew says, why… Oh. Because Kai is close to Trina, Kai heard he and Trina’s father had a falling out. That explains why Kai is hesitant to trust him. He totally gets it. It makes perfect sense. He and Curtis did have a disagreement, and Curtis definitely has an opinion about some of his actions, which he has a right to have. But before Kai makes up his mind, at least hear his side.  

The demolition worker says he doesn’t deal with dead bodies, and walks away, but Boyle says, he works for the city. The City Council is running this and they pay him to work, not think. Come back and do his damn job. Continuing to film, Trina says, he’s not a man of the people if he talks to his workers like that, and Boyle says, put that damn phone down. She asks if he’s denying her right to record a public official performing his duties in his elected office. Gio says he’s a registered voter and a Catholic. Boyle’s religious constituents will be horrified by his callous disregard for the Quartermaines’ dearly departed. Boyle says, enough nonsense and Quartermaine grandstanding. It’s a legal order and there’s no legitimate reason to delay. Emma chains herself to the crypt and says, they’ll tear it down over her dead body.  

Maxie says her babies are fine. The only time they’re not is when they’re James. Sasha says she made things harder at Deception, so she made things harder for Maxie, but Maxie says, Deception is doing fine. Sasha says she freaked out when Jenz Sidwell showed up. She said he was a monster. Maxie says, because he kidnapped her. They need zinc desperately, but they’ll find someplace else. Sasha says, but will they find it in time? and Maxie says, they’re not doing business with someone who threatened Sasha’s life. Sasha says, that’s the thing. She may have overreacted. Maxie asks, how? Sidwell kidnapped her and threatened to kill her. Sasha says she was scared, but none of that would have happened if her mother hadn’t stolen millions of dollars’ worth of Sidwell’s diamonds. Maxie asks if they’re blaming Holly, and Sasha says, Holly is the only reason Sidwell grabbed her. He didn’t mistreat her. He wasn’t cruel. Maxie says, he tried to blow her up, and Sasha says, Holly’s greed put her in danger and it wasn’t the first time. Don’t feel they shouldn’t do business with Sidwell because of her. She wouldn’t say it if she didn’t mean it. Maxie says she’s not sure she’s okay with doing business with Sidwell, and Sasha says she is. Maxie is just being a good friend and Sasha loves her for it, but business and family are more important.

Lulu tells Lucky not to listen to her. She’s just projecting her own situation. Lucky says, what situation? and Lulu says, her life. Take your pick. Let’s talk about anything else. He says, she makes a good point. It’s risky and it could be serious if they end up disappointed, but he doesn’t think that’s going to happen. She says she hopes he’s right, and he says, they can’t erase their baggage or the years they spent in the apartment. Going back to a place that’s so important and revisiting memories they made together isn’t about reclaiming the past. It’s considering the future. She asks if he’s hoping for a future with Elizabeth.

Kristina says, this isn’t about protecting Avery. It’s about blackmailing her father. Ric listens hard, and Ava says, how is it blackmail when it’s speaking the truth? Her father has a medical condition so severe that he collapsed at her feet. Kristina says, Ava withheld his medication, but Ava says she was in shock. What if Avery had found him? She should go straight to the court. The sooner they know what happened, the sooner Avery is safe. Kristina says, Ava is making a threat out of her father’s medical issue and making him a target, and Ava says, that’s the price he pays for the life he chose. Kristina says, Ava took her brother and her daughter. She won’t let Ava take her father too. It’s too late for Morgan and Adela, but it’s not too late for her father. She will stop Ava. She leaves and Ric comes out. Ava says she’s glad he was here for that. He just heard Kristina blatantly threaten her.

A man walks into an apartment carrying a gym bag and finds Sonny with a gun waiting for him. Sonny says, Mr. Soliski. Did you have a good workout? Soliski asks what he wants.

Gio and Trina join Emma on the crypt steps, and Boyle tells her, unchain yourself right now. Emma says, not while he and Killer Cain clearly circumvent proper channels to get a demolition order so fast. Boyle says, arrest her, and the sheriff says, give him the key. Emma says she swallowed it, and Gio asks where she got the lock. She says, from her car. She always travels with the necessary tools for a peaceful protest. Trina says she likes the way Emma thinks, when Tracy arrives. She says, a bulldozer hacked the lawn. The city is going to pay for it. Boyle says, the order was served, but Tracy says she doesn’t know about any order.  She thought Gio was missing and went looking. She found people milling around with nothing to do. The sheriff says, the young lady is not moving, and Boyle says, cut her loose. Emma tells Trina, be sure to record them groping her. It will make court easier. Tracy says she’ll need his badge number for when she calls in her friend Judge Lymon, and tells Gio to call Emma’s grandma. They need her here now.  

Drew tells Kai that he and Curtis were best friends for a long time. Based on their friendship, he brought Curtis in at Aurora. He put Curtis in charge of a new division, and he made it a success. Kai asks, why not pick him to replace Drew as CEO? but Drew says, it’s confidential. He can tell Kai that Curtis had expectations that he didn’t meet, but he never lied. Kai asks if it was worth the friendship, and Drew says he wishes it hadn’t cost what it did, but that’s between him and Curtis. He’d never ask Kai to choose between them. He just wants to help. He has a lot of money and to be completely honest, he thinks it will feel good spending it to invest in Kai’s future. Kai says, also sports is big business and high profile. If a mentee is drafted to the NFL, it’s good for the mentor. Drew says, true, but it goes both ways, and Kai says, what if Drew pays for his surgery, but he still can’t play? What happens then?

Soliski says, Sonny has the wrong apartment, but Sonny says, no, he doesn’t. Don’t waste his time. Put the bag down, slowly. Soliski drops his bag, and Sonny says, take two fingers and take the gun out of your pocket. Soliski does that, and Sonny says, put it on the table and slide it to me. Soliski slides the gun over and says, happy? Sonny says, getting there. He’s made himself comfortable in Soliski’s home like Soliski made himself comfortable in his. He planted an incendiary device and got sloppy. It didn’t get him. It got his son instead. Big mistake. Lucky for Soliski, his son lived. He’ll give Soliski a chance. All he has to do is tell Sonny who hired him.

Lucky tells Lulu that he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. All he’s planning is a weekend away someplace where they’re not constantly interrupted by loving, well-meaning family. Lulu says she hears that dodge, and he says it’s up to him, like a future with Elizabeth. Even though it’s going well, she might not want to take the chance. She says, maybe this time’s the charm, but he says he’s not making assumptions. He’s putting himself out there in the hope of a chance. She says, he’s braver than she is, and he says he thinks farther down the road and goes for what he wants. She says, exactly. He’s on the road while she’s stuck in neutral. He says he’s sure when she figures out what she wants, there will be no stopping her, and she says she does know that their mom will love having Aiden hang with them for the weekend. And if they’re having a great time in NYC and want to extend their stay, they’ve got it covered. He says, she’s great, and she says she really is, isn’t she.

Ric says, judging by Kristina’s overreaction, Sonny’s condition must be serious, and Ava says, serious enough to look weak, which he can’t afford. She’s more than willing to take full custody of Avery, plus a tidy sum to keep quiet. He says he’d advise caution. They both know Sonny is never more dangerous than when his back is against the wall. His phone rings, and Elizabeth says she has the information he wanted. She’ll drop it off at his office when she gets a Ride Share, since she doesn’t have her car. He says, she doesn’t have to, and Ava realizes he’s talking to Elizabeth. She says, that’s why he’s talking like that. Of course (🍷). It’s Elizabeth. Elizabeth says, nice to hear he’s with Ava and not toiling away at his desk, and he says, they were just working at her place. Elizabeth says she’ll drop it off there. The sooner she gives it to him, the sooner he can help Portia. The call ends and Ava says, if he’s done working, does he mind telling her what all that was about? He says, if she must know, Elizabeth is providing evidence to help protect Portia. Ava asks if Portia told Elizabeth that Drew was blackmailing her, and he says, not exactly. She knew Portia consulted with him. Ava says, because Portia trusted her with the problem, she referred Portia to Ric. Ric says, Elizabeth just wanted to help, and Ava asks if she got confidential patient files. Ric says, nothing HIPPA related. Elizabeth was much less suspect than Portia would be gathering the files. Ava says, no one would bat an eye at the saintly head nurse, and Ric says, Portia is her friend. She was just trying to help. Ava says, Elizabeth is playing him. She wants to help herself. Ric says, really? Elizabeth? Ava says, maybe she cares about Portia, but she cares about GH more. She’s snooping for the hospital and using him to do it. Because Portia went to him, Elizabeth knows she’s cornered. If he’s asking her to get specific file, she knows where to look for Portia’s problem. He’s given Elizabeth information. It goes against client/attorney privilege with Portia. He says, Elizabeth wouldn’t use that or him. She would not do that to him. Ava says, why not? Because she still loves him? She’s clinging to the hope they’ll get back together? Ric says, wrong. Elizabeth just wanted to help. He saved her from being a suspect at GH. Ava says, Lucky saved her. Ric just did the paperwork.

Kristina cries in the apartment parking garage. (Wow, another perk of Ava’s supposedly horrible apartment.) She looks at a license plate and then at the sign above it that says, #4 Jerome. She digs in a nearby took bag.  

The demolition worker says, nothing is getting bulldozed until the area is cleared, and Boyle tells the sheriff to arrest them for obstructing a lawful order. Tracy says, come near her and she’ll have his badge. She asks if Emma is all right, and Emma says she’s fine. She thinks she’ll bring more chains next time. She’ll bring them for everybody. Tracy says, not to worry, and chains herself to Emma. Trina asks what she’s doing, and Tracy says, protecting her family’s final resting place. This isn’t about the environment. It’s about Congressman Cain using city resources to wage a personal war against his former family. They will not be moved.

Elizabeth comes to Ava’s door, and Ric says he’s done more for Elizabeth than Ava knows. And she has no idea what Elizabeth thinks. Elizabeth knocks, and Ric says, that was fast. She didn’t need to come over. Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to interrupt, and he says he’ll give her a ride home. He has to talk to her. He tells Ava that he’ll be right back, and she says, take his time. There’s no reason to hurry back.

Kristina goes to Charlie’s and Lucky asks where she’s been. It’s almost time to open. She says she was at Ava’s. They had a huge fight. Ava threatened dad and she lost it, so… He asks what she did, and she says she made a mistake she’s going to fix. She can fix it. She runs out, and Lucky says, dammit, and leaves.

Soliski says he’s a professional and did a job he was hired to do, but Sonny says, no. Soliski is a problem for him and his family. Tell him who hired him, and he’ll let him go. Soliski says he never met the client. Details are always handled where they can’t be traced. Sonny asks how he got paid, and Soliski says, crypto currency, also untraceable. He’s sorry. He can’t help Sonny. Sonny says, no one in this line of work would take a job this dangerous without knowing who was involved, and Soliski says, times are tough. He had to loosen his standards. Sonny says, Soliski was sloppy, like he said. Soliski quickly opens a drawer, and Sonny says, looking for this? showing him a gun. Soliski tries to get out the door, but Jason is there with a gun and backs him up into the room. Sonny says, stop wasting his time and tell him who hired him.

Drew says, even if Kai got the surgery and didn’t go back into football, he still feels Kai is going places. He doesn’t know what Curtis told him… Kai says he respects Mr. Ashford, but he makes his own decisions, and Drew says he’s happy to hear it. He gives Kai some paperwork about the procedure and the doctor who performs it and says, if he finds anything else, he’ll send it out. Kai says, in the meantime, he’ll look on his own, and Drew says he highly encourages it and would appreciate it if Kai did. If he does want the surgery, he might want to make a move sooner rather than later. The closer it is to the original date of the injury, the more success it has. He can tell by the way Kai plays the game that he loves it. If there’s a medical procedure that gets him playing a game he loves safely, it makes sense to take the opportunity. Kai leaves.  

Maxie says she has to admit, she didn’t think Jenz Sidwell would play a big part in her night out, and Sasha says she’s sorry. With the benefit of time, she saw what happened differently and wanted to tell Maxie. Maxie says Sasha gave her a lot to think about, and Sasha raised her teacup and said, here’s to helping.

Anna thanks Gio for calling her, and Tracy says, at last. Please arrest the trespassers. Anna asks if Emma is all right, and Emma asks why she wouldn’t be. Anna says, she’s chained to a mausoleum, and Emma says she’s fighting for what’s right. Tracy says she’s fine too, and Boyle asks if there’s any chance Anna will do her job and arrest these women. Anna asks if there’s a demolition order, and the sheriff gives it to her. Tracy says she thinks Boyle’s powerplay is about to end, but Boyle says, it’s not over until the building is rubble. Tracy says, like his career, and Anna says, fetch the bolt cutter. Tracy says, she’s siding with him? and Anna says, the law’s the law.  

Soliski says if he gives Sonny his client’s name, they’ll take him out, but Sonny says, this way, maybe he’ll have a chance disappear. If Soliski doesn’t tell him, he’s going to shoot Soliski right now. He’s out of options. Either tell Sonny who hired him or Soliski is going to be the one paying for his son’s suffering.

While she’s driving, Kristina calls Ava. She says, come on. Pick up.

Ava looks at her phone, but ignores the call.

Kristina gets voicemail.  

In the car with Ric, Elizabeth says she didn’t need a ride. She would have been happy to call a Ride Share. Ric says, not when she went to the trouble to bring him the records, and she says, she told him that she’d be happy help, since he’s done so much for her. Is there anything else she can do to help Portia? Ric says, that depends. Is she trying to help Portia or get insider information out of him? He knows when she’s most deceitful. She asks if he thinks she’s being deceitful now. She went out of her way to try and help. Why would she do that to him? She looks up and says, watch out for the car! (no doubt Kristina) but when he pumps the brakes, nothing happens. He says, something’s wrong, and they crash.

On Monday, Mac tells Anna that he’s not sure she’ll feel the same way once she takes a look at this; Drew tells someone to get it done and he doesn’t care how they do it; Molly asks if Cody is sure it’s a good idea for him to be here; and Sonny tells Jason, the trail may not be cold just yet.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit to Print…

This is really nice and all, but we’re still going to pretend she’s alive? Every time they say her name, it gets weirder.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/genie-francis-previews-ghs-special-anniversary-episode

Happy Anniversary!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-gh-anniversary-see-her-backstage-pics-and-videos

She’s as bad as I am.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-eden-mccoy-shows-off-whats-in-my-bag

I’d love to see Valentin back, but how he’ll get out of Steinmauer is a sticky one. Perhaps a not-so-evil twin?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/james-patrick-stuart-on-returning-to-general-hospital

Aww! I’m getting used to him, but still, he couldn’t work up an accent?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-chris-mckenna-sing-to-his-baby-boy

I was really sad to hear Wings Hauser passed away. He was the villain in my favorite film, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time. (Quit laughing.) I hadn’t known he gave Michael Easton his start.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-remembers-working-with-the-late-wings-hauser

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

You need one of those detective bulletin boards to keep track of who’s hooking up/wants to hook up with who.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

They were still in St. Lucia, and I still wanted to cry since, with a few exceptions, this is a group who likes to waste their time and money. There was a slideshow of the women picking on Sutton and a slideshow of Sutton saying out loud what had been on everyone’s mind at the time. When Sutton told Kathy, let’s pretend I don’t have an IQ of 140, it was obvious that the bottom line is Sutton’s insecurity, but who wouldn’t be insecure among this bunch of twits with superiority complexes? Anyway, once Sutton barely got past the boat trip, she mentioned to Garcelle and Jennifer that it seemed coordinated with Erika and Dorit both picking on her at the same time. As concerned actual friends, they tried to talk to Erika, who only ended up grilling Sutton about it and then bringing it up again at – all together – dinner. Their last dinner there. Yep, I’d spend that money a lot more wisely. There I am now as they argue. On the beach with an umbrella drink in hand and a pool boy fanning me with a palm frond…

She probably thought he said Lebanese.

Garcelle drops a hint.

https://extratv.com/2025/03/26/rhobh-s14-reunion-garcelle-storms-out-and-kyle-gets-grilled-about-sexuality/

Denise Richards & Her Wild Things

I read that even though fans love the series, the ratings aren’t great. I’m hoping that if it gets canceled, they’ll continue on streaming. This week, Denise acted in Patrick’s video and it was pretty impressive. Even more impressive was Aaron being so chill about Denise’s friendship with Patrick.

https://pagesix.com/2025/03/26/celebrity-news/denise-richards-claims-charlie-sheen-was-threatened-by-friendship-with-ex-patrick-muldoon/

I’m not sure which one is the plot twist.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1415223/denise-richards-daughter-sami-sheen-reveals-how-onlyfans-has-hurt-her-modeling-career

https://people.com/denise-richards-got-more-acting-offers-after-starting-onlyfans-page-husband-aaron-phypers-helps-run-11703394

Summer House

Kyle wasn’t happy with Craig having said it was just business, and Craig said, if Kyle couldn’t apologize for calling him a liar, they weren’t cool. Even though Jesse was clearly supposed to be exclusive with Lexi, who wasn’t at the house that weekend, he sure acted single with Ciara. There weren’t any passionate kisses, but they were hanging all over each other. While that for sure makes him a sh*thead, that goes double for Ciara. I used to like her, but not so much now. I wonder if that’s the way she would act if Lexi had been there. Seems like a pretty good rule. Don’t behave alone with someone’s SO in a way that you wouldn’t in front of them. The cherry on the idiot cake was Jesse walking into new guy Imrul’s threesome where… No, I can’t. Read the recap.

Southern Charm

Part 1 of the Reunion – someone forgot their cufflinks and Craig said he hated wearing underwear. Thanks for the mental picture, Craig – TMI. Madison was now pregnant, so there were lots of congratulatory hugs. It was Molly’s first Reunion, and Rodrigo and Tyler had gotten engaged. I thought they were married, so that was anticlimactic for me. Andy grilled Craig about the break-up immediately. We revisited Madison’s ups and downs, and she and JT apologized to each other, but it still seemed like Madison wasn’t satisfied. Shep claimed to have changed and said it was good to be humble, but my jury is still out. Apparently, Sienna was annoyed that Shep shared details of the relationship she claimed they hadn’t had on the show and said she hadn’t signed up for this. Didn’t she notice the cameras? We also relived Shep’s cringeworthy freckled lips text to her, and found out that he had Molly had hooked up, but I wish the rest of them would quit pushing it.  JT hit the hotseat with his Venita/secret girlfriend thing. There was a lot of hemming and hawing by him and awkward silences. It ended with Venita jetting to get her phone, which is of course in a pink case. Receipts! Timelines! More next week along with Patricia!

Random Reality Items

I was shocked that The Littlest Groom wasn’t on the list. Although blink and you missed it. Be glad.

https://ew.com/reality-shows-you-wont-believe-existed-11687123

When she was on the hook with Juicy Joe, I could believe she signed whatever papers he gave her without question, but strike two, it’s her.

And in this week’s biggest plot twist.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I Think We’re Alone Now. Amazon Prime. Tubi. The human race has been obliterated after an unspecified pandemic. Del (Peter Dinklage) is happy with his job clearing out the dead bodies until Grace (Elle Fanning) comes along and disrupts his peace. Beautifully acted, with a surprise ending that I still have questions about. I would have liked this a lot better if the sound on Amazon hadn’t seemed like the boom man checked out. Hopefully, you have better luck.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/i-think-were-alone-now-2018

Scamanda. Hulu. A four-episode series documenting the scam of con artist Amanda Riley. Similar to the scam in Apple Cider Vinegar, Amanda faked having cancer, but this time, there was no product to sell but herself. Still, she roped in her church, several celebrities, and whoever else was caught up in reading her blog, into donating lots and lots of money to fund her and her husband’s lives. Again, it seemed like too much work. She literally got herself checked into ERs so she could set up photos. Eventually, people started to put two and two together and came up with fraud, with which she was eventually charged. Her husband was not, but I don’t believe for a second he wasn’t complicit.

https://ew.com/scamanda-true-story-explained-where-is-amanda-riley-now-11685263

Heretic. MAX. Again, saved the best for last. The most intriguing thing about this film, besides a house that seems to have endless mazes and rooms underneath it, is the subject matter. What is the one true religion? After a request for more information on the Mormon church, two young female missionaries visit Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant, chewing the scenery to perfection), who poses the question to them. Eventually, they realize his wife is not in the house as he’s told them, and they have no way out. The game of cat and mouse is exciting, the acting is top-notch, and the ending is a twist I never saw coming. It was a film that was actually something different and that alone made it worth my time.

https://decider.com/2025/03/06/hugh-grant-heretic-streaming-movie-review

🌁 To Be Watched Soon…

We’re almost there. The second season of The Last of Us premieres April 13th on HBO/MAX.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-gives-abby-backstory-earlier-explained-11703014

https://www.thepopverse.com/tv-the-last-of-us-season-2-filming-painful-for-pedro-pascal-gap-between-ellie-joel

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/last-of-us-season-2-showrunners-craig-mazin-neil-druckmann-interview

🐾 Two Dogs and a Really Old Cat Walk Into a Bar…

🐶 I hear she’s auditioning for Survivor.

https://people.com/lost-dachshund-valerie-survives-rugged-island-still-missing-11704330

🐈 I had a cat who lived to be almost 21. I was pretty sure she was going to outlive me out of pure meanness. She didn’t like anyone except me and even I was questionable.

https://people.com/man-claims-to-have-worlds-oldest-cat-30-years-11703824

🐕 He went the long way around.

https://people.com/woman-reunites-dog-11-years-after-disappearance-thanks-to-microchip-11703300

🐓 Quotes of the Week

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. – Rosa Parks

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu

If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.Olin Miller

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. – T.S. Eliot

You drive like grandma when grandma smokes crack. – Alec Baldwin to Hilaria

🐙 Out Like an Axolotl…

Until next week, stay safe; stay respecting nature and following the Leave No Trace principles; and stay making sure you have enough chains for everybody when staging a peaceful protest.

December 27, 2024 – Lulu Meets Charlotte In Prague, He’s Back, In 2025, Bay Tribute, VanderBaby, What To Watch, Her Top Ten, 3 Suared Quotes & My Year

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason sits at the counter at Bobbie’s while Josslyn cleans up. She knocks over the salt and pepper and tells him that she’s clumsy. He says he thinks her mom would be okay if she took some time off, but she says she’s fine. It’s a good distraction. He says, if she needs anything, let him know, and she says she needs to find out who stabbed Dex.

Trina and Ava are at a table in the MetroCourt, and Ava says, there’s something she wants to talk to Trina about. Trina asks if she messed up something at work, but Ava says, everything she does at the gallery is impeccable. It’s about her annual bonus. She gives Trina a wrapped package and says, it’s not what she’s expecting or deserves.

Emma comes in, and Anna says, she was up early. Emma says she went to the gym, ran some errands, and got a smoothie. She got one for Anna too. She hopes Anna still likes pomegranate/mango. Anna says she’s impressed by all Emma has achieved and it’s not even lunch, and Emma says she’s not a fan of sleeping in. Anna says, that’s even more impressive, since she wasn’t home until 4 am.

Maxie and Sasha are at the beauty salon, and Maxie says, the holidays are fun. Sasha says, they’re a lot of work, and Maxie says she needs a vacation. Sasha says, hopefully, a mani/pedi will do the trick, and Maxie looks at her phone. She says, Deception’s tinted lip balm is a must have for 2025. It’s going to be a good year. She can feel it, especially with their extended family. She asks if Sasha is looking at houses, and Sasha says, yes, but not here. Maxie asks what she means, and Sasha says she’s decided to leave Port Charles.

Michael goes to see Diane, who asks what she can do for him. He says, represent him if his wife files for divorce.

Alexis goes to Laura’s office, and Laura says, Martin’s not here yet, but Alexis says she doesn’t mind. She wanted a moment alone with Laura to thank her for the donation to GH in Sam’s name. It was really generous. Laura says, it’s the least she can do. She’s grateful for the opportunity to honor Sam. Alexis says, the family appreciates it, and Laura says she’s glad. How is Alexis holding up? Alexis says, that depends what minute of the day it is. It’s unreal. Maybe it will always feel that way. The phone rings and she thinks it’s Sam and the feelings flood back. She’s sad, but also proud of Sam. Laura says, she should be. Sam’s legacy lives on, not just in her children, but in Lulu. Martin arrives, and says he appreciates them taking the time to meet with him. Alexis says, the question is, why?

Lulu waits at a table in a café and checks her phone. A man walks by, and she says, this is Café Serendipity, right? He nods, and Charlotte looks in the window. Lulu sees her and smiles.

Maxie asks if Sasha didn’t have a good time with the family, and Sasha says she did, but there’s too much history here. She’s moving back to the Hamptons and starting fresh with the baby. Maxie says, all of them are going to hate it, but it’s Sasha’s life and she should do what she wants. Can she at least tell the rest of the family about the baby? Sasha says she can’t. The more people who know, the harder it will be to leave.

Diane tells Michael that she’s sorry things have escalated. Of course (🍷) she’ll represent him. He thanks her, and she asks for the lay of the land. He says, Willow cheated on him with Drew, and she says, Drew… Drew Cain turned Quartermaine? His Uncle Drew? Michael says, that’s the guy, and she says, that’s just… Willow had an extramarital affair, which begs the question, why isn’t he the one filing?

Anna says she heard Emma come in, and Emma says she had trouble sleeping… jet lag. She was up a couple of times. She’s sorry she woke Anna. Anna says, Emma is lying to a Police Commissioner with decades of experience in surveillance. Try again. Emma says she went out, and Anna asks why she didn’t just say that. Emma says she didn’t want to worry Anna. She knows Anna is stressed from work and the search for Charlotte. Anna says, that’s considerate, but Emma doesn’t have to tiptoe around her. She suggests Emma call her mom to touch base, and Emma says she just got off the phone with her. She says hi. Anna says, interesting, since she just got off the phone with her as well, and she had no idea Emma transferred to PCU. Emma says she didn’t want to tell them until she figured things out. They’re proud of her going to Berkeley and would try to talk her out of transferring. Anna says, in order to transfer, you have to be a student, but Emma isn’t since she got expelled.

Josslyn says, the police still don’t know if Dex was targeted or it was random, and Jason asks what she thinks. She says, at first, she thought Sonny did it, and he says, because of what happened at Chase and Brook’s wedding? She says, yeah, but she talked to him, and she doesn’t think it was him. Jason says, it wasn’t, and she says, what if it was one of his guys trying to impress him? Jason says he doubts it, but he’ll look into it. She says she didn’t expect him to say that. She expected him to tell her to let it go and let the police do their job. He says, people need closure. If this is her way to get it, he’ll do anything to help. She thanks him, he says he’ll keep her posted, and leaves.

Charlotte comes into the café and says, hi, mom. They hug, and Lulu says, she’s so grown up.

Martin says, it so happens he’s been in contact with legal counsel in Greece… Alexis says, Cassadine alert. She’s got to go. Martin says he trusts she’ll want to hear the rest, and Laura asks, what is it? He says, a new heir has been named to the Cassadine fortune. It’s Laura’s grandson Ace. Laura says, no, and Alexis says, don’t look in her direction. Martin says, you, my lovely and lucky friend, get the role of trustee of the Cassadine estate, and she shakes her head.  

Trina unwraps a painting, and Ava says she knows Trina loves it and she wanted her to have it. It’s representative of her stellar performance. Normally, she should get a big check, but thanks to the Cassadines, her bonus looks different this year. Trina says, they can’t take all of Ava’s money, and Ava says, God willing, her fortunes will be reversed, but for now, she’ll wait and make do. Trina says, this would make a great sale. She’s not going to let Ava give it away.

Charlotte sits down, and Lulu says she can’t begin to tell Charlotte how wonderful it is to see her. Charlotte says she knows the feeling, and Lulu asks, how is she? Charlotte says, nervous. She can’t stay long. Lulu says she knows Charlotte’s father would be upset to know she snuck out to meet her. She’ll keep it brief. Is Charlotte safe and happy? Charlotte says she’s okay. What about Lulu? Lulu says she’s become skilled at getting her beauty rest, and Charlotte asks how she woke up. Lulu says she needed a liver transplant, and after the surgery, she woke up. Charlotte says, amazing. She’s been praying for Lulu to wake up. Lulu says she’s been looking for Charlotte from the moment she did, and Charlotte says she’s sorry she wasn’t there to welcome Lulu home. Papa needed her and she couldn’t let him down.

Emma asks how Anna found out, and Anna asks how she thinks. Emma says, it stinks having a superspy for a grandmother. She assumes Anna told her parents and they’re furious. Anna says, they are, and Emma says, it’s not her fault, she swears. Anna says she heard the university’s version of events. How about hers? Emma says she threw a little party in her room, and Anna says, how little? Emma says, maybe ten people. Then half the dorm showed up and it spilled out into the hallway and common rooms. Then somebody set off a sprinkler. Anna says, it caused major damage, and Emma says, it wasn’t her. She threw a party, people came over, and things got out of hand. They’re all guilty. Anna says, she displaced over 200 students, but Emma says, the sprinkler did. Anna says, and it happened on Halloween. That was two months ago. What has she been doing? How has she managed? She’s surprised the school didn’t reach out to her parents. Emma says, they did. She may have given them her number instead of her mom’s and pretended to be her. It’s fine. Anna asks how any of this is fine, and Emma says she’s registered at PCU and has a place to live. It’s fine. Her party throwing days are over. Anna says, they most certainly are over. Emma is staying here with her.

Sasha asks if Maxie is mad, and Maxie says, yes, because she’s going to miss Sasha. Sasha says, it’s easier this way, and Maxie says, not for them. And not for Sasha. Being a single mom is hard enough with help. Without help… What about the father? Sasha hasn’t told her anything about him. Why?

Michael says he doesn’t want a divorce. If he had his way, they’d work it out. Diane asks if he thinks Willow feels differently, and he says he didn’t at first. Then he got this paperwork. Diane looks at it and says, Martin Grey. Of course (🍷). How long has this been going on? When did he find out? He says, it was the 4th of July the first time anything physical happened. Willow and Drew kissed. She says, so six months, give or take, and he says, there was a second kiss, and then he found out they were sleeping together. She asks if Willow told him, but he says, he saw it on a video from a nannycam. She says, a nannycam? Where did Willow and Drew… He says, they were in the kids’ playroom at the Quartermaines’. She says, that’s just… icky. Did he confront her? He says he was quiet for a few weeks, and she asks, why? He says he wanted to process and figure out what he wanted to do. He was going to tell Willow everything after the holidays, then Tracy accidentally streamed the video on the TV during the Quartermaine Christmas party. Diane says, Tracy has never been good with technology. Reactions? Michael says, Willow was angry and accused him of holding onto the video for blackmail. Then his mom caught Nina and willow sneaking the kids out of the gatehouse to go to Nina’s. Eventually, he gave in for the kids’ sake. She says she would have strongly advised against it, and he says he heard it already from his mom. She asks how his mom took it, and he says, she’s very worried. He wants to reconcile or at least have an amicable divorce, but he feels like Willow is gearing up for battle.

Jack comes into Bobbie’s, and Josslyn asks what she can get him. He says, a cheeseburger, medium rare, and she asks if he wants fries with it. He asks if people ever order a burger without them, and she says, not sane people. He says he’ll have a club soda with it. He had a nice time with her family last night. She says her too. She’s glad he could join them. She was actually thinking about something they talked about. It’s about Dex. When she asked how he knew about it, he said all the agencies share information. He asks why that’s of interest to her, and she says she has a huge favor to ask.

Laura says she doesn’t want Ace to get any part of the Cassadine fortune. It wreaked havoc on Nikolas and didn’t help Spencer. Ace doesn’t need the money. He’s well taken care of. Alexis says she’s jumping on the bandwagon. If she never hears Cassadine estate again, she’d be happy. Since she’s the trustee, she suggests the funds go to charity, and tells Laura, pick one. Laura says, yes. She wants to give away every dark, twisted penny as soon as possible.

Ava tells Trina, take the painting, and Trina says, okay. But as soon as Ava needs it, it’s hers. Ava says, deal, and Trina thanks Ava. She sees Kai walk in, but he doesn’t even look at her as he walks past her table to the bar.  

Lulu asks if Charlotte has been in Prague the whole time or have they moved around, and Charlotte says, the live in a remote villa outside the city, but they travel a lot. Papa says he wants her to see the world, but she thinks it’s to throw off whoever’s following them. How’s Rocco and grandma? Lulu says, Rocco is great, and her mom is too, and Lucky is back. Charlotte says, in time for Christmas. She’s sorry Lulu missed spending time with the family. She knows how much Lulu loves having dinner and opening gifts. Lulu says she was given the only gift she wanted, seeing Charlotte, and Charlotte says she couldn’t believe when Rocco sent her Lulu’s picture. It gave her such happiness. Lulu says she felt the same way when she heard Charlotte’s voice. They all love her so much and they’re worried about her. Charlotte says she’s fine, and Lulu says, so is she. That’s why she wants and needs Charlotte to come home.

Trina walks over to Kai at the bar, and he asks if he walked past her. She says, he was focused on his destination, and he says he was avoiding eye contact. Not with her. She says, with rogue and adoring fans? and he says he would have left out adoring. She asks what he’s doing by himself, and he says he’s hiding.

Emma says she’s in college. She can’t live with her grandmother. Anna says, she can, and she will, but Emma says she has a place near campus. Anna says, what about the dorm? Or is that another lie? Emma says, it’s a fallback plan. She signed a lease. She can’t break it. Anna says, she can, and she will, and she’ll be living here. Her grades better be damn near perfect. No buts. It’s this or she puts Emma on a plane back to California. Emma says, fine. Can she get coffee, or is that off limits? Anna says, it doesn’t mean she’s Emma’s keeper, but Emma says, it feels like that, TBH. TBH means… Anna says she knows what it means. She’s not that out of touch. As Emma leaves, Jason comes in, and Emma says, good luck. She’s in a mood. Anna asks what he wants.

Jack says he’s intrigued. What kind of favor? Josslyn says, now that there’s a WSB office in Port Charles, they must have surveillance, and Jack says, they do, satellite. She asks if there’s any chance they captured Dex’s stabbing in Rice Plaza. She thinks it would help the police investigation to find out who did this. She hopes he understands why she had to ask. He says he does, and he admires her dedication to finding answers. Unfortunately, he can’t help. She says she figured, and he says, it’s not that the footage is classified or a spy thing or anything like that, but the satellite footage is only available for 48 hours. Then it’s deleted. Josslyn asks, why? and he says, even though they use the technology, they do live surveillance, so there’s no need to hold on to old footage. She says, that’s okay, and he says he’s sorry to disappoint her. She says she knew it was a long shot, but thanks him anyway.

Charlotte says she can’t go home with Lulu, but Lulu says she has to. Charlotte says, as much as she loves Lulu, she can’t leave papa here. He’d be devastated. Lulu says she understands that Charlotte doesn’t want to hurt her father. She swears she’s not saying this to guilt trip Charlotte, but being separated from Charlotte is killing her. When she woke up and found out Charlotte was gone, her heart broke. Charlotte says she hates that, but Lulu has so many people back home and papa has no one. He needs her. Lulu says, her father can take care of himself, but Charlotte says, he’ll be alone. Lulu says, he’s a fugitive. What kind of life is that for her?

Emma walks into Bobbie’s and says, Josslyn? Josslyn says she didn’t know Emma was in town, and they hug. Emma asks if Josslyn works here, and Josslyn says her family owns the place. Emma says, wow. Cool. She loves the new name. Josslyn says her too. Can she get Emma anything? Emma says, a medium cold brew, with a splash of oat milk, no sugar. To go… originally. But now that she sees Josslyn is here… She takes her coat off and sits down.

Diane asks if Michael has spoken to Willow since he received the papers, but he says, no. She says she’d love to know if this was Willow’s idea or Nina’s, and he says, it doesn’t seem like a Willow move. She says, it seems like a Nina move. For a long time now, Nina has wanted to nurture Willow and her grandchildren. Now they’re on her turf. He says, Nina has no incentive for them to get back together, and she says, unfortunately, Nina has the resources to drag this out. He asks what they’re looking at realistically, and she says, Willow is their mother and for the moment has custody, and they have two tough hurdles to clear. Michael says, the video, and she says, it’s a thorn in their side, but he says, it proves she cheated. She says, they could make a case that he withheld a private video, and showing it publicly, accident or not, shows willful vengeance. It can malign his character. She knows he’s a good man and a good father and a good husband. She’s so ready for this fight. He says, fight. He wonders how it got to this point. She says, that’s not the question. The question is, how far is he willing to go? He says he wants his family back, and if that’s not possible, he doesn’t want to take the kids from Willow. They need their mother. They also need their father, and he’ll do what it takes to stay in their lives. Diane says she’s glad to hear it.

Sasha tells Maxie that wanting to leave has nothing to do with the father. The decision wasn’t easy. Maxie says she knows, and Sasha says, Maxie made it a little easier. Maxie says, that’s not usually her M.O., making things easier, and Sasha says, she knows.

Martin says, it’s not that easy. If Ace chooses not to avail himself of the estate, so be it, when he’s of age. Until then, they can’t disburse it. Laura says, Ace is a little boy and should have absolutely nothing to do with it, and Martin says, if she doesn’t want to access the money on his behalf, that’s her prerogative, but the money will be waiting for him. Alexis says, when he’s old enough, and Laura says, at least they get to kick it down the road. She doesn’t want Ace to have the same experience that Spencer and Nikolas did. Alexis says she’ll do what she can to avoid that, and Laura says she’s grateful Alexis is the trustee. Alexis says she won’t begrudge Ace, and Laura says, it’s good to know Alexis is on Ace’s side.

Trina asks who Kai is hiding from, and he says his teammates, coach, donors, pretty much everyone. There’s a reception downstairs given by their booster club. She says, it’s not his scene, and he says, it’s his least favorite part. She says she thought he loved everything about football, and he says, the practice, playing, and the strategy. The events are more exhausting than the last ten minutes of the fourth quarter of the game. She says she’s surprised. When she sees him on campus, it seems like he loves to network and socialize. Kai says he loves it… A man says, so this is where he ran off to. He brought his son, and they were hoping for a picture. Kai tells Trina, this is Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Thomas takes a photo of Kai and his young son.  

Jason asks if Anna is okay, and she says she’s getting used to her new roommate. It’s challenging. He says he’s sorry. He got news he thought she’d like to know about Charlotte. She asks if Charlotte has been located, and he says, Lulu found her. She asks, how? and he says, Charlotte contacted Rocco on Christmas Eve. Lulu spoke to her, and she said she’d only give her location if Lulu came alone. Dante tracked her to Prague and he’s right behind her. Anna says, Lulu doesn’t realize what she’s done.

Charlotte tells Lulu that she has a great life. She’s keeping up with her studies and learning about the world. She and papa eat every meal together. She’s taken care of. The only thing that was hard was not knowing how Lulu was doing. That she’s awake and healthy is all that matters. Lulu says she’s grateful that Charlotte and her dad are having a wonderful time. It sounds like a great life. If Charlotte is happy, she’s happy. She suggests Charlotte go to the counter and get something they can share. When Charlotte leaves, Lulu takes out a tracking device and puts it in Charlotte’s bag.

Alexis signs the paperwork, and Martin says, two more and initial here. Alexis says, there’s a mistake. It says Windymere and its proceeds are part of the estate. He says, the Cassadines got it back, but she says, it belongs to Ava. He says, not anymore, and she says, he should have led with that. She finishes signing.

Mr. Thomas says, the people with the big checkbooks are in the ballroom to see Kai, but Trina says she needs to borrow Kai for a few minutes. They’re doing a project and it’s important. Mr. Thomas says, nothing is more important than football. He’ll see Kai down there. Kai says he’ll be right behind Mr. Thomas, and starts leaving, but Trina grabs his arm. She says, no, he won’t, and he asks what she’s doing. She says, saving him. Let’s go. Her best friend’s mom owns the place, and she knows where the service elevator is. He says he guesses not all heroes wear capes, and she says, sometimes they wear cute dresses they got on sale at Wyndham’s.

Michael signs a document, and Diane says she’ll call Martin and arrange an interim custody schedule. He says he appreciates her taking the case, and she says she wants full transparency. If he has anything else to say, say it now or risk her wrath down the line. He says he has to make a quick call, and steps away. Sasha’s phone rings, and Maxie asks if Sasha wants her to get it. Her nails are dry. Sasha sees that it’s Michael, and says, no thanks. She’s got it. She asks Michael, what’s up? and Michael asks if they can meet later. It’s important.

Emma says she saw that Cam came home for Christmas. Did Josslyn see him? Josslyn says, yeah. He was here. She saw him. Emma says, Stanford and Berkeley aren’t far apart. They see each other all the time. Josslyn says, awesome, and Emma says, it’s a comfort to see a piece of home when you’re away at school. Josslyn says, except California is Emma’s home, and Emma says, she meant for Cameron. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). He must have been grateful to have her. Emma asks if she met Gretchen, and Josslyn says she did. Emma says, how amazing is she? and Josslyn says, amazing. Emma says she introduced them. She knew they’d be perfect for each other. Does Josslyn remember when they were both into Cam and had a little rivalry? (I don’t. And isn’t Josslyn older?) Josslyn says, how could she forget, when Jack thanks her for the excellent burger and service. She introduces Emma to Jack, saying, she’s Anna’s granddaughter. He says, it’s nice to meet her, and Josslyn says, Jack and Anna used to work together. Jack says, many, many moons ago. Have a nice day, ladies. He goes outside. (Writing Mrs. Jack Brennan on my notepad…)

In the courtyard, Jack makes a call. He says, it’s him. Get back on the server and pull up Port Charles on Saturday, December 10th. Pull all the images of Rice Plaza. (Mrs. Jack Brennan… over and over.)

Anna says, Lulu has been subtle as a freight train since she came back. If she meets Charlotte, she’ll probably blow their cover and endanger everyone involved. Valentin’s enemies are following him. She wonders if Lulu even thought of this. She’ll lead them right to him. She’s not sure what’s worse. If Valentin finds out Lulu is on his trail, he could take Charlotte and disappear permanently. Either way, Charlotte will lose one of her parents for good.  

Charlotte tells Lulu that she comes here to read sometimes. She sees moms and daughters together sharing pasties and never thought she’d be able to do that too. Lulu says she’s sorry for all the time she’s missed and the years she wasn’t there to give Charlotte advice on friends, boys, and fashion. Although from the looks of it, Charlotte should be the one giving her advice. Charlotte says, it’s not Lulu’s fault she was in a coma, and Lulu says, Charlotte is at an important age when she needs her mother in her life. Charlotte says, Lulu is here now, and Lulu says she is. Charlotte looks out the window, and Lulu turns around to look. Valentin is looking in from outside and he doesn’t look happy.  

On Monday, Valentin asks if Charlotte is enjoying the visit with her mother; Kristina tells Lucas that something is unbelievably disrespectful to Sam’s memory; Sonny says, it’s going to be an all-out war; and Ava says she didn’t know who else to turn to, and she’s hoping Laura can help her.

💣 The Spy Who Loved Anna…

I’m hoping he stays, but I can’t figure out a logical storyline where that would happen. Of course, logic means nothing in the land of soap, so maybe.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/james-patrick-stuart-returns-to-general-hospital

🏥 Coming Next Year…

What’s happening in Port Charles circa 2025.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-2025-preview

🧼 Honoring One Of the Greats…

Sadly, one of the few channels I don’t get. It’s on Roku, Apple TV, and Vizio TV. This sounds like a great show too.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacklyn-zeman-honored-with-special-episode-of-the-bay

🍼 All In the VanderFamily…

Not exactly new news, but I’d feel remiss without including it. Another baby, sans fur, for Lisa to spoil.

https://people.com/lisa-vanderpump-daughter-expecting-her-second-child-exclusive-8746670

👀 Last Week’s Watch…

A few things I saw over the weekend and on Christmas. I don’t know if Afraid is genius, but it was kinda fun. Technology is evil is one of my favorite horror subgenres, after zombie apocalypse, zombies, and apocalypse. A family tries out a device that’s supposed to make their lives easier, but ends up causing chaos. Much like every computer I’ve ever had. I’ve also always suspected that Alexa was a bitch.

Spoilers ahead.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/afraid-film-review

Another M. Night Shama-lama-ding-dong film, full of twists and turns. A Trap is set for a serial killer who leads a double life. He’s a doting father and husband who keeps victims in a basement, their fate controlled on his phone. While the entire cast pulled their weight, Josh Hartnett was pretty impressive as the killer about to be trapped… or is he?

Spoilers abound.

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-finally-watched-trap-streaming-and-the-big-twist-wasnt-even-the-best-part

Fun cameo.

https://www.them.us/story/trap-m-night-shyamalan-kid-cudi-cameo-horror-film

I started watching The Garden: Commune or Cult? on TLC by accident. I thought one of the many 90 Day Fiancé spinoffs was on, and about five minutes in, I said, this isn’t 90 Day Fiancé. What is this? At first, I thought it was a bit boring, but as time went on and conflicts happened, it got more interesting. I don’t think it’s a commune or a cult. It’s more like a bunch of people – preppers, apocalypse theorists, hippies, and one guy who believes a zombie apocalypse could happen – who really aren’t sure what they want except to be off the grid. While that actually sounds good on some days, when people are involved, there are always issues. While they claim there’s no leader and everyone has an equal say, I didn’t find that to be the case at all.

🎇 Not So Wicked…

She might not entirely be a good witch, she’s got a good heart.

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/ariana-grande-has-10-yes-10-rescue-dogs/

📢 Quotes of the Week

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6, NLT

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. – Sholem Aleichem

Maintain composure in times of heightened emotion, reacting only when thoughts are calm and clear. Being sensible will open doors for solutions and creativity. – Jaren L. Davis

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. – Robert Brault

What I’ve experienced is that I can’t know the future. I can’t know if anything that I do will change what happens tomorrow. I can’t know with certainty, but what I do know is if I do nothing, nothing will change. – James Orbinski (Now if I can just figure out what the something is.)

If you hear a voice within you say, you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh

You shouldn’t burn bridges if your ass can’t swim. – Amanda Halterman, 1000-Lb. Sisters

Why is it when you open a bag of cotton balls there isn’t a giant pill on top? – Ezra (Birkett Turton), Earth Abides (I actually thought that was pretty funny.)

Sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly. – Jerry, The Zoo Story, Edward Albee

🌟 Following Yonder Star…

Enjoy the weekend, along with the knowledge that it’s now staying light out a little later each day, and join me on Monday for soap and shenanigans on Deck. Until then, stay safe; stay being hyper aware of amateur drinkers on the road on New Year’s Eve (or better yet, don’t drive at all); and stay never trying to lie to a Police Commissioner with decades of experience in surveillance.

December 5, 2024 – Carly Plants a Bug At the WSB, Soap Suds, Salty Talk, Resumed Charm, Just Bickering, VanderNews, Happy Ending & If

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dante is waiting for Sonny in his office. He says he didn’t know where else to go. He had no one else to talk to about Lulu waking up.

Isaiah looks into Jordan’s office and says he must be in the wrong place. She tells him, says who?

Kristina goes to Deception, and Natalia says, Maxie is gone for the day. Kristina says she’s not here to see Maxie. She’s here to see Natalia.

TJ thanks Curtis for coming over, and Curtis asks, what’s up? TJ says, see for himself, and Curtis comes in. He says, Molly moved out? and TJ says, she’s gone.

Molly tells Alexis that she has a car full of boxes to unload and wants to get it done, but Alexis says, Molly doesn’t want to think about her heartbreak. Molly says, some people don’t think she has a heart, and Alexis says, she has a beautiful heart that’s breaking. Molly says she doesn’t want to think, and Alexis says, she’s grieving and should take a break, but Molly says, if she stops moving, she’ll fall apart.

Jack discusses some WSB business with Colette, when Jason comes to his office. Jack says, the answer to their prayers just walked in.

Anna asks if Spinelli is nervous, and Spinelli says he’s bracing for impact. Does she think this is wise? She says, which part? and he says, the entire operation. They want the same thing, to find Charlotte. Anna says, Lulu has been separated from her daughter for too long, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly asks why she’s here. Why is Spinelli here? Anna says, they need to step up the search. They have to bring Charlotte back. Carly says she’s not sure how she can help, and Anna asks if she’s willing. Carly says, of course (🍷). She’d do anything to help. Anna says, including planting a bug on Jack Brennan?

Isaiah asks what floor he’s on, and Jordan says, five. He says he’s looking for the notary, and she says, it’s three doors down to the left. There’s no sign, just a sticker with a surfboard on it. He says, that screams notary, and she asks if he’s on GH business. He asks how she knows, and she says her son works there and she recognizes the header on the stationery. He says, it’s his employment agreement, and she says, so he’s decided to accept the offer. He says, it looks like he’ll be sticking around, but she says she can’t let him sign that contract.

Sonny says, Lulu was determined to get out, and Dante says, Cyrus was hanging around. Sonny says, she has good instincts, worthy of the Spencer name, and Dante says, Luke would be proud. Sonny asks how Dante is doing now that Lulu is awake, and Dante says he’s trying to figure out what life looks like now. He was already trying and now Lulu is back. Sonny is the king of blending families. He’s got kids from different relationships, and he kept them together. How did he balance it? Rocco is over the moon, and Danny and Scout are grief stricken.

Jack introduces Jason to his Deputy Chief, Colette. He hopes Jason is taking him up on his offer. They were just discussing how the WSB needs new blood. Jason says he’s not here about that, and Jack asks Colette to give him and Jason a moment. Colette leaves, and Jack says, Jason has his attention. Jason says he’s not sure if Jack heard, but Lulu Spencer woke up. Jack says, the family must be thrilled, and Jason says, Charlotte needs to come home and see her mother. Jack says he swears he doesn’t know where Valentin is, and Jason tells him, stop lying.

Carly says, Anna is out of her mind. Why does Anna think she can get near Jack? Anna says, she’s one of the few he trusts, and Carly asks Spinelli to tell Anna that she’s crazy, but Spinelli says, she has a point. The man has taken a shine to her. Carly asks why they think Jack knows where Valentin is, and Anna says, Spinelli has been looking for him. Spinelli says, it’s like Valentin vanished into thin air, and Anna says, no one disappears that smoothly unless they’re getting help from a powerful man like Brennan. Carly asks if she’s saying Jack helped Valentin escape, and Anna says, Valentin and the WSB have ties to Pikeman and it’s motivation to keep Valentin gone. Carly wonders if she’s asked Jack, and Anna says, Jack claims he doesn’t know where Valentin is. Carly says, Jack is a friend and he’s done more than one favor for her. He saved all of them. Anna says, he can be charming and useful when he decides to be, but make no mistake, favors and information are his currency. Spinelli says, if Georgie was forced to go on the run, he would do what it takes to find her. He’s sure Carly would do the same if it was Josslyn or Donna. Carly says, of course (🍷). Fine. She’ll do it. Give her the bug. But just so they’re clear, she’s doing it to prove Anna wrong. Anna says, understood.

Kristina says she wants to thank Natalia for her help in the courtroom. She knows that she swerved into Natalia’s lane. If a jury heard what really happened, it would have helped the defense. She knows Natalia committed perjury. Natalia says she told the truth as she remembered it, and Kristina says, let her be grateful. Thanks. Natalia says she’s so, so welcome. (I absolutely love Kristina’s coat and can’t take my eyes off of it. I often get distracted by the wardrobe choices.)

TJ tells Curtis that he came home, and Molly was packing. She said she was staying at her mom’s now. She cleared out in the neatest, most orderly, efficient way. He wishes he was surprised. Molly’s not grieving at all. It’s like when Irene died. She mourned at the funeral and moved on. She calmly packed up and left. Curtis says he’s sorry, but TJ says he’s not being fair. Curtis says, maybe not, but it’s how he feels.

Alexis says she gets it. Molly is doing whatever and keeps doing it, so she feels like her life isn’t spinning out of control. Molly says, if she stays in motion, she can gradually pick up the pieces. Alexis says she does the same thing. She’s Molly’s mom and will support her no matter what. She loves Molly, but Molly also needs to hear none of this is her fault. Molly says she hears it, but she doesn’t know if she believes it.

Jason tells Jack that Charlotte’s family will do whatever it takes to bring her home. Lulu is awake and desperate to see her daughter. The Spencers will weaponize everything at their disposal to locate Valentin. Jack said, if Anna found him, it would not go well for her. He wants Jack to get in touch with Valentin. He’ll meet Valentin wherever he wants, Valentin gives him Charlotte, and he’ll bring her home. It’s not a trick. He won’t even touch Valentin. He’ll bring Charlotte to her mother and Valentin can go free. He’s offering Jack an out. Take it. There’s a knock at the door, and Colette reminds Jack that they have a meeting. Jack tells Jason, always a pleasure, and Jason says, think about what he said. He leaves, and Jack says, Colette’s timing is impeccable. She asks if Jack got anything useful out of Jason, and Jack says he did. Now he has to figure out how to play it.

Jordan says she can’t let Isaiah accept the offer until she looks it over. She knows contracts and knows GH. She has access to other information. He asks if she’s using her position to help a civilian, and she says, unofficially, she can tell him that the hospital is due a windfall of federal money when the development plan gets the go ahead. She looks through the papers and says she also knows GH can afford to pay up, but they can’t afford to lose a surgeon like him. He asks why she’s doing this, and she says, maybe she likes the idea of him sticking around. He says, maybe? and she says, maybe she feels like she owes him one.

Sonny asks what it’s like, all three of them together, and Dante says, it’s like the pieces of a puzzle fitting back together. It’s an old one, but everything is different. Things have changed. Danny and Scout are a big part of Rocco’s life. Sonny asks if he thinks they resent Rocco, and Dante says, Rocco is worried they do. Sonny says, it’s tough to balance happiness and grief, and Dante says, Lulu will be spending time at the Quartermaines and he doesn’t know how to broach it when she’ll want Rocco to spend nights with her. Sonny says, he can’t solve everything at once. He’ll lose his mind. Dante says he feels like that’s already happened.

When Carly arrives at Jack’s office, Colette is sitting in his chair. She introduces herself as his second in command, and they shake hands. Carly asks, where’s Jack? and Colette says, he’s finishing a meeting in the war room. Is she here to cause problems or help solve them? Carly says she’s here as a friend. Jack comes back and tells Colette that he’d like a moment with Carly. She tells him not to allow himself to get distracted for too long, and leaves. Jack asks, to what does he owe the pleasure? and she says she came to talk about Lulu. He says, it’s wonderful that she’s awake. Jason stopped by to inform him. She says, then Jason probably asked him the same thing she’s about ask, and he says, the answer is the same. He doesn’t know where Valentin Cassadine is.

Jason goes to Anna’s place and tells her that he went to see Jack. He told Jack that all he wants is Charlotte. Whatever Valentin does after that is none of his business. Spinelli comes out from another room and says, the equipment is a go. Jason asks, what equipment? and Spinelli says he was setting up a server. Jason says, she called Spinelli for that? and Anna admits he’s helping to set up a bug in Brennan’s office. Jason says, Brennan is probably the hardest person to bug, and Anna says, that’s why she asked Carly. Jack likes and trusts her. Jason asks why she put Carly in a dangerous situation, and Anna says, she was married to Sonny and Carly is a grown woman with a mind of her own. Spinelli says, they’re on the same side, in pursuit of the same thing – bringing Charlotte home to her mom.  

Curtis says, they always wind up mad at the people they care about. The way TJ feels is normal. Don’t judge himself and don’t get trapped in it. Eventually, he’ll remember who Molly is. TJ says he doesn’t want to feel indifferent to Molly. She’s been his world for so long. Is he not supposed to care anymore? Curtis says, not at all. He and TJ’s mother reached a place where he thinks they’re friends who can talk to and lean on one another. TJ says, they’re family. They have to get along. Curtis says, there are plenty of families who can’t be in the same room. They made a conscious decision to be friends. Maybe he and Molly will too. Or if they decide it’s temporary and belong together… TJ says he doesn’t think that’s happening, and Curtis says, don’t let his anger put him in a box he can’t get out of.

Molly tells Alexis that she shouldn’t have told Kristina not to see Ava. Kristina always does the opposite of what she tells her. Alexis says, Kristina is responsible for her own actions, and Molly says she’s holding herself responsible for hers. The last time she saw Sam, she was fighting with Kristina instead of telling Sam how much she loved her and how proud she was that Sam was Lulu’s donor. It’s her fault she and TJ are breaking up. She couldn’t grieve the baby the way he needed her to. She was too focused on controlling her emotions and throwing herself into work. She couldn’t be there for the boy she’s loved since she was 16, the man she was going to spend her entire life with. It’s her fault.

Kristina tells Natalia that she knows what they both said and asks if they agree on what happened the night of the accident. Are they on the same page? Natalia asks why it matters, and Kristina says she needs to know that what she remembers is accurate. If it’s not, then she’s not remembering what happened at Ava’s hotel suite. She got on the stand and swore Ava caused her to fall out the window. She needs to know what happened and needs to know Ava is lying. Natalia says, they just want justice for Kristina’s child, and she admires Kristina for telling her story. Ric was just waiting for her to take the stand and testify. It was a beautiful act of maternal courage. There’s no way she would let Ric undercut Kristina’s testimony. A, who hasn’t cried while they’re driving? and B, the whole nightmare started with her horrible recording. Kristina says, exactly. Ava recorded her. Natalia says, it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t said those words. She’d do anything to take it back. The things she said were horrible about anyone, let alone her own daughter and the woman she loves. She’ll literally regret it until the day she dies.

Jack says he would help Carly if he could, and she asks if she could have some water. He says, of course (🍷), and while he’s getting it, she looks around and puts the bug under his desk. He gives her the glass and says he has to be careful bending the rules. She says she’s the one he’s bent them for the most. It’s been a day. She doesn’t know how to face Lulu. Waking up after all those years, it’s like a long nightmare, and now she’s slammed with another one. He says, she has family support, and Carly says, when the explosion happened, she and Lulu hadn’t been close in a long time. She’s hoping to change that. He asks if that’s why she’s desperate to fix things, to make up for lost time, and she asks if he’s a therapist now. He says, reading people is a requirement of his job, and she says she’s sorry for asking so much. He always makes the impossible possible and she wants him to know that she appreciates him. He’s a good man. She thanks him and leaves. Jack says, if only he was as good a man as she believes. (Mrs. Jack Brennan… Mrs. J. Brennan… Mrs. Brennan… Theresa Brennan… 💘)

Anna says, it’s not like she held a gun to Carly’s head. Spinelli was here. Spinelli says, Anna was straightforward, and Carly was willing to tackle the assignment. Jason says, she thinks Jack is telling the truth. That’s why they should have left her out of it. She believes Jack is someone she can trust and they all know he’s not. Anna says, she’s not in danger, and Jason says, not yet, but what happens when Jack finds out she planted the bug?  

Jordan says, the woman whose life Isaiah saved is the ex-wife of a detective she used to work with. He says he met Dante when the PCPD was trying to find out who tried to kill him, and she says, Lulu’s absence was tough on the family. They were scared they were going to lose her, and because of him, they didn’t. He asks if this is her way of saying thanks, and she says, it’s the least he’s owed. He says, she saved his life, and she says, it’s her job to serve the community. He says his job is to serve patients his, and she says she guesses they’re both good at what they do.

Alexis tells Molly that no one could have stopped Kristina from confronting Ava, and they had no control over how Ava would react. They may never know what really happened, but whatever it was, they couldn’t have stopped it, so let it go. Molly says, it’s hard, and Alexis says, it’s especially hard because she grew up watching her mother try to control the world. Look how that turned out, at the bottom of a bottle. Molly says, Alexis climbed her way out, and Alexis says, so will she. She understands Molly’s last words to Sam weren’t what she wanted, and she’s sorry Molly has to carry that. Know that Kristina holds a lot of blame for the rift between them. She tried to do what she could to help them both, but when she asks Molly to make peace, she’s not saying Kristina is right. Does Molly understand? Molly says she does.

TJ says he’s upset, but Curtis is right, and Curtis says, later on, he’ll see even more clearly and figure out what he really wants. In the meantime, he thinks they should hook this place up. TJ asks if he means move things around, and Curtis says, they could start with a chair. They can go shopping. It will be great. TJ has seen his place. Does he think it was all Portia? Curtis picks one of Molly’s journals up off the floor and asks if it’s TJ’s. TJ says, it’s Molly’s old journal, and Curtis says he’s got matches… He’s just messing with TJ. They can drop it off at Alexis’s house and leave. Whatever TJ Is comfortable with.

Dante says, it feels wrong to be the slightest bit happy, and Sonny says he gets it. Dante says, Rocco is on cloud nine, and Sonny says, they’ve been given a miracle. Dante wonders how he can help Rocco navigate when he has no idea how to deal with it himself, and Sonny says, two things can be true at once, joy and grief. Dante and the kids need to allow themselves to feel it, but also know it can change on any given day. He remembers family dinners… Dante says, where Sonny did the cooking, and he pretended to help. He’d hide so he didn’t have to chop onions. Sonny says, Dante should have his own version with Rocco, Danny, and Scout. Not just dinner, but being together. Dante asks if he thinks there’s a world where Lulu fits into that, and Sonny says he does. Just because he’s welcoming Lulu back into their lives doesn’t mean he won’t miss Sam. Dante says, sometimes Sonny gives not terrible advice, and Sonny says, he has his moments, and they hug.  

Carly comes back and says, mission accomplished… What’s wrong? Anna says, Jason isn’t happy about the bugging, and Spinelli says, bugging. It sounds like a horror movie… I’m not helping. Jason tells Carly, stay away from Jack, especially if he finds out about the bug. Carly says, he’s not going to find the bug, but Jason says, it’s the WSB. They sweep for them all the time. Anna says, it’s standard procedure, and Carly says, it can’t be traced back to them, can it? Spinelli says, it’s a very low probability, and Carly says, Jack isn’t the monster they think he is. She knows him. Jason says, nobody does. Spinelli searched for him and what did he come up with? Spinelli says, the man is a ghost, and Jason says, that’s how lethal Jack is, to cover his tracks to that extent. The last thing any of them need is for him to know they had anything to do with planting the bug.

Isaiah tells Jordan that medicine is his passion. Helping people is what he loves doing. It feels wrong negotiating for more money to provide a basic human right. She says, that’s why writers and athletes have agents. So they’re paid to do something they’d do for free. He’s helping, but it’s a job he does well and should be compensated for. He says, now that he’s stateside, he’s back to life’s amenities, and she says, her job is to size up clients. In this case, she’s doing it for a friend. He says he heard friends go out to dinner from time to time. Maybe they should try it. She says, maybe they should.

Alexis says, Molly and TJ had a lot of years invested in their relationship. She thinks it’s too soon to know for sure if it’s ended, but if it has, Molly needs to take the time to grieve it and remember there was so much good about it. It’s not her fault it didn’t work. It takes two. Molly says she wants TJ to be happy and have a place he’s not afraid to come home to and live a life he loves. Alexis says, it’s okay for her to want that for herself too, and Molly says she does. She doesn’t know what that looks like, but she believes it’s out there. Alexis says she knows it is, when there’s a knock at the door. Molly answers it, and invites TJ in. He gives her the journal and says, she dropped this. He figured she’d want it. She thanks him and says she could have picked it up. He says he didn’t read it, and she says she knows. That’s not who he is. He says he’s glad she feels that she still knows him, and she says she thinks she’ll always know who he is and she will always love him. He says he’ll always love her too. Take care of herself. She says, him too, and he leaves. She watches through the window, then cries. Alexis puts her arm around Molly.

Natalia says she’d do anything to take back her words, but all she can do is learn from it. She’s not that person anymore. She grew to be better. Kristina says she certainly knows what that’s like to wish you could go back. She wishes every day that she didn’t go to Ava’s room or that Ava didn’t answer the door or that a fire alarm went off or anything. She was starting to think the baby was hers. Not just hers, but hers and Allie’s. They were envisioning a whole future life with their baby girl. Natalia says, that would have made the baby her granddaughter, and she laughs. She says, believe it or not, she would have loved that. Kristina says she believes her, when Kristina’s phone rings. She answers and says, thanks for letting her know. She tells Natalia, the jury is back.

Colette says, so that’s Carly, and Jack says, she’s a spitfire. Colette says, she’s a distraction. His duty is to the Bureau, not to the citizens of Port Charles. He says he’s aware, and she says, the drone strike and the explosion suggest otherwise. Not to mention what’s happening with Sidwell. Are there any updates? He says, it’s above her clearance level, and she says, he’s a brilliant agent and she’s lucky to be working with him… He says, but? and she says, be careful. Using his power for personal matters is the quickest way to get burned. He asks if that’s all, and she leaves. He makes a call and says, it’s me.

Spinelli says, Brennan is making a call, and they hear Jack say, Lulu’s awake. He has an offer to bring the child back. What do they want him to do?

Tomorrow, Brook tells Maxie that she has to bring out the big guns; Kai asks how he can make it up to Trina; Lucas thinks something might be a bad idea; Stella says, Portia just made a big mistake; and the verdict is in.

🫧 Blowing Soap Bubbles…

Will they or won’t they get back together?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kristen-vaganos-opens-up-about-molly-and-tjs-future-on-gh

Nepo baby birthday. I’ll bet he’s a great dad.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/maurice-benards-birthday-message-to-his-son-joshua

I’ll take anybody’s fitness secrets. At this point, my only solution is to not eat from now to Christmas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kirsten-storms-shares-her-fitness-secrets

This is too funny!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-james-patrick-stuart-cant-escape-memories-of-anna

🧂 Adding More Salt…

In case you want even more of Angie getting the boot. I’d liked her, too, but Lisa was right, she skips over her instigation.

Yeah, yeah. What I just said. That woman was winding up.

Moving on.

👒 Charming Once More…

The usual suspects are back, but I guess no one told the digital TV guide people that Kathryn Dennis is no longer on the show. A lot of it centered around a big party for a horse race called the Carolina Cup. In Venita’s interview, she said, the Carolina Cup was technically a horserace, but it was really a Lilly Pulitzer fashion show. She said she had no memories of it because she’d been too lit. Alrighty then.

The best part of tonight’s episode was Shep trying to make conversation with Taylor at the party and Taylor being polite, but not having it. Or setting boundaries as she put it. He was hella uncomfortable. She has a new boyfriend now and I’m glad she’s moved on. Shep treated her horribly. There was a lot of whining on Shep’s part because he’d been to some kind of psychedelic therapy retreat, and the other guys had hurt his feelings. Whitney was nowhere to be found in this episode, but Patricia made an appearance, and it made me sad to think about Michael. Hopefully, he’s now the one being served martinis. Angelic martinis of course.

As of this posting, there were no recaps, but there was this. It seems all the guys had been working on themselves over Charm’s hiatus. Except for JT, which is probably why he quit mid-season.

Newcomer Molly was definitely a breath of fresh air. In her interview, she talked about how a thyroid condition caused her weight to fluctuate. When she gained 45 pounds, she lost her modeling career, and it had been a mind f***.  She looked absolutely perfect, so I guess she must be in a good space right now.

👠 Straight From the Marge’s Mouth…

Apparently, it was just bickering amongst Housewives.

🍸 The Latest On the Rules…

Unless you live in a bank vault, you probably knew this. It’s going to be a whole new day on VPR.

You can’t fire her. She quits.

Andy approves.

She’d better not exit and it would not be a good thing. What LVP needs is a new brood to take under her wing, and I’m thinking this might be that. I wasn’t that thrilled with Vanderpump Villa – too much of a distasteful cast and not enough Lisa – but I might give it another go since Stassi has signed on.

Pretty much everyone saw this coming. Except for Sandoval, who was probably looking in the mirror practicing real tears. You’d think in the wake of this, they might have gotten on their game, but it looks like they just gave up. I am no good with a slow bartender. The slower you are, the lower your tip gets.

🪃 Karma Happens…

Sometimes we actually get to see the reaping what we sow principle in action.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/05/us-news/florida-dog-trooper-tied-to-fence-during-hurricane-milton-finds-his-forever-home-while-cruel-ex-owner-awaits-court-date/

❄️ Let It Snow…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and Friday’s free-for-all. Until then, stay safe; stay considering volunteering during the holiday season; and stay knowing two things can be true joy and grief and allowing yourself to feel it.

July 16, 2024 – Anna Gives Jason the Evidence, Soap Bubbles, No Cringe Here, Jersey Shakedown, Charm To Come, Agatha, Feline Fatty & Heat

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dex comes to the pool in his uniform and tells Josslyn that he’s here on his lunch break. She says she likes his blues, but he says, his unform is nothing compared to hers (i.e. her swimsuit).

John goes to Ava’s hotel room, and she says she’s been looking forward to their meeting all day. She’s sleep deprived though, between hearing the elevator and the people at the pool and being without her daughter and knowing if she’s safe, she’s awake most of the night. He thanks her for being willing to help, and she says she’s at her wit’s end trying to get Avery away from Sonny. He says, the best way to protect Avery and herself is to build a case against Sonny.

Willow goes to the penthouse and asks Sonny if she’s interrupting. He says, she and the kids are welcome any time. What’s wrong? She says, maybe she’s being presumptuous, but she decided to come after she had a conversation with her mother. Sonny asks, since when are she and Nina talking? and she says, since she decided let go of her anger.

Nina slaps Drew and says, you son of a bitch. You kissed my daughter. He says he deserved that, but calm down. (Apparently, Drew doesn’t know that he should never say that to a woman.) He knows there’s no excuse and knows it was wrong. She says, he doesn’t look remorseful, and he says he got lost in the moment – the applause, the congratulations, and the fireworks. He was there with a beautiful woman who was happy for him, and it just happened. Nina wonders how Willow missed his rampant narcissism. Willow is an idealist and can’t see the real Drew Cain… She means, the real Drew Quartermaine. It’s time she broke through that and told Willow that her hero is sleeping with her mother.  

Anna asks Jason to hear her out, but he says he has been hearing her. It’s been nearly three years, and he needs the phone. She says, it’s too soon, but he says, it’s the only way to get Carly out from under the FBI. She says she can’t let Cates take Valentin away.

John says, Ava was living with Sonny and has a past with him and the Jerome family. She must have insight into his organization. She says, it all happened so fast, and offers him some wine, but he says, not while he’s on duty. She pours a glass for herself and says she’s feeling unsettled. She’s used to a juggling act with the gallery and scheduling all of Avery’s activities. Without it, she’s felt so out of sync and alone. He says, that’s why she needs to build a case against Sonny to get her daughter back. He puts his phone on record, but she turns it off and says, his help means so much, but to be honest, she’s afraid of Sonny. If she lets him record her, it could make its way back to Sonny, and he’s harsh when it comes to betrayal. It’s the ultimate sin. He says, they have ways to protect her, but she says she’s not going into hiding while Avery is still with Sonny. He’s erratic and dangerous. He’s pushed his family away, except for his daughter Kristina. He actually blames her for outing Kristina’s girlfriend. As if she cares; it’s not her business. John says, his job is to put Sonny away, and if she helps him, it’s to both their advantages. She says, it’s not that simple. Many have tried and failed to put Sonny away, and who among them is still breathing? He gives her his word that he doesn’t give up his sources, and she says she’ll think about it. Knowing she has his support makes her feel more at ease. He leaves and she closes the door.

Willow tells Sonny that seeing Drew give up his grudge against Nina when he had the right to hold onto it forever, made her realize that hanging onto her pain and resentment was only hurting her. She gained nothing by depriving her kids of someone who truly wants to love them. Sonny says, all Nina wants is to love them and be a part of their lives, and Willow says, they’re taking it slow, but she realizes there’s room in her life for her mom. All she wants is for all of them to be happy. He asks if she’s lobbying for him and Nina to get back together, and she says, no, but they’d genuinely seemed happy, and she knows Nina loves him. He says, he wants Nina to be happy, and with Willow and the children in her life, she will be.

Drew says, if Nina was going to tell Willow about them, she should have done it when Willow told her about the kiss, but Nina says she thought it was more important that Willow confide in her than exposing his feet of clay. What was he thinking? Willow is married to his nephew, and they have small children. He should have better control of himself. He says, something happened in that moment, but it was a mistake and won’t happen again. He respects Willow and cares about her happiness and family. It was an isolated moment, like Nina and Sonny in Nixon Falls. He’s not throwing it in her face, but he understands it was a bad impulse and Nina got carried away. Nina says she knows Drew thinks it was just a moment, but Willow is drowning in guilt. She’s agonizing about telling Michael, but she told Willow to make the choice to move on. She hopes Drew allows it. He says, of course (🍷) he will. Whatever she thinks, he has not and will not pursue Willow.  

Jason asks if Anna wants Valentin to go free. Did she tip him off? She says, it’s about Charlotte. She’s back from school and home with her father. Think about Danny and Jake. If Valentin goes down, he’ll be gone a lot longer than three years. What happens to his daughter then? He says he can’t believe they’ve been working together, and he finally got what he needed… She says, he will get it. She almost took Charlotte’s life. He says, she keeps punishing herself for that, and now she’s going to punish him. She says, Valentin is all Charlotte has. Her mother is in a coma and Laura is already raising one grandchild. She refuses to separate Charlotte and Valentin. Charlotte forgave her. Her voice breaks and she says she can’t repay that by damaging Charlotte more and leaving her fatherless and alone. She won’t do it.

Josslyn asks if Gio will make sure no one drowns in the pool, and he says, no one is in the pool. She says, even better. She needs to have a word with Dex. They step away and kiss in the hallway. She asks if he remembers how upset she was when he first joined the PCPD, and he says, of course (🍷). She says, because she was so focused on the downside, she forgot the upside – his uniform. He asks if anyone could be wearing it, but she says, the uniform is great, but it’s him in it, confident and sure of himself. It makes him so hot. They kiss again.

Lois comes to the pool and says she has exciting news for Gio. A friend of hers who works in the city lost a violinist for a string quartet used on Broadway soundtracks. The violinist broke his arm, and she talked Gio up. Her friend is going to hold a spot for him. What does he say? Does he hear that? It’s opportunity knocking. Is he ready for the bright lights?

Drew says, what he did was awful, but he’s not so awful that he’d take advantage of Willow, and Nina says she needed to hear him say it. He says he’s seen Nina work to reconcile with Willow and he admires the fact she didn’t give up. He knows it’s good for both her and Willow that Willow confided in her. Nina says, it felt nice, but the details weren’t, and Drew tells her not to worry about the details. It won’t happen again. She says she’s choosing to believe him. Don’t make her regret it. She believes in him and will make sure he has The Invader’s endorsement. He thanks her, but says, it’s not a quid pro quo. She says, her main concern is Willow’s peace of mind, and he says, maybe it’s time they came to a new understanding.

John asks what Ava can tell him about Sonny’s organization, and she says, not much. Julian kept her out of all that. Julian and Sonny’s world is brutal. He says, she must have heard things, and she says she and her brother were close. She was exposed to things, but didn’t want to involve herself. She preferred to focus on beauty, art, and her gallery. And of course (🍷) her daughter Kiki. She was raising Kiki alone, but she’s no longer with them. He says he’s sorry for her loss, and she says, Julian made more than his share of mistakes, but she loved him anyway. He asks why she turned up with Sonny at Selina Wu’s warehouse the night of the sniper attack, and she says, Sonny insisted she go. Maybe as a human shield, maybe to intimidate Selina. The Jerome family name still holds weight. She was in no position to refuse. He says, she seemed defensive and protective of Sonny, and she says she supposes she was. They were getting along better then, and she was trying to appease him for her and Avery’s sakes. On one hand, Sonny was offering protection, but on the other, he was often a target himself.

Jason says he feels for Charlotte. She’s just a kid and doesn’t deserve this, but that’s on Valentin. He made his choices. Charlotte won’t be alone; she’s got family. Anna says, it’s not the same thing, and Jason says he understands. He’s heard the pain in his sons’ voices asking where he’s been, why he didn’t reach out, and wondering if he cares for them. He won’t let them down again. She says, that happened with her and Robin. She won’t ask him to sacrifice his relationship with his sons. She’s just asking him to trust her for two hours more.

Gio tells Lois that he appreciates the opportunity, but he already promised Ava and Trina that he’d play at a gallery opening and he’s committed to PCU’s summer concert series. Lois says she’s sure someone can cover for him at PCU, and she knows Trina and Ava won’t mind. This is professional work. It’s Broadway, baby. Think of the exposure. And once you’re in, you’re in. He says he supposes they could find a replacement, but his scholarship at PCU is contingent on the concert series. She says, they can talk to the head of the department and explain the situation. College is supposed to prepare you for the real world, and this is a real-world professional opportunity he’s being offered on the road to stardom. No one deserves it more.

Willow says she has a confession. She didn’t come here to talk about Nina. It’s about Michael. Sonny protests, but she says, just hear her out. Michael is her everything. They have a beautiful life and he takes good care of her and their children. She knows Michael is in pain over their estrangement. Michael loves Sonny; he still does. Sonny says, some things just can’t be forgiven, and Willow says, they both know what it feels like to be lied to in order to be protected. The insult and betrayal are hard to get past. Michael did both to her in the name of love, but she got over it. Look at her and Nina now. The healing feels so much better. Sonny’s phone rings, and he picks it up. He says, Diane… Where is she? He’s been trying to call all morning… He doesn’t give a damn. She’s on retainer. Tell her to call him back immediately. He hangs up, and tells Willow, sorry. She says, upsetting news? and he says, Diane is annoying. He pays her a lot of money. She can call him herself, not have an associate do it. Ava is trying to take his daughter away and he’s going to fight tooth and nail to make sure Avery stays with him.

John asks about Sonny’s connection to Anna, and Ava says she’s wondered about that herself. They go way back and are thick as thieves. She suspects that’s why Sonny has remained a free man. They bonded over Robin, and John says, Ava was a captive audience when he and Sonny faced off, dredging up that history. Sorry. She says, it explained a lot about both of them. John is still grieving his brother and his wife. He says, that’s all for now. He’ll let her think on things, and he’ll come back when she’s ready to talk. Give some thought to making a statement. He thinks that’s the best way to go. She says she’ll think about it. May she call him John? He says, of course (🍷), and she says, it’s comforting having him around. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and in the hallway, his phone rings. He says, no. It wasn’t for him. The champagne was for a source he’s grooming… Yemen? This is the first he’s hearing about a shipment… It does seem Pikeman is still in play. He’s narrowing down a person of interest, but needs time …. He understands. He expects information soon…

Anna says she’ll go to Valentin and warn him that he’s done. The FBI is coming for him. He’ll take Charlotte and run. Jason says, the FBI wants the head of Pikeman, but she says, they just needed him identified to let Jason go. They’ll cast global nets, but she bets they won’t find him. But it won’t matter. Jason will have fulfilled his end of the deal. Jason says, she’s asking that he trust Cates will honor his end of the deal without having Valentin in custody, but she says she’s asking him to trust her. It would have taken a lot longer without her help. He has the evidence because of her and all she’s asking is that he wait two hours before turning it over. Please. She’s running out of time. he says, she’d better be right, and she says she’ll do everything in her power make sure he doesn’t regret it. She promises. She gives him the phone and says she’s trusting him now. He sighs and says, okay. He has what he needs. Do what she wants with Valentin. She dashes out the door.

Willow says she’s sorry that Sonny is going through this, and he says, they’ve been down this road several times. Willow says she’s happy to help, and he says he appreciates the effort, but doesn’t want Michael involved. Michael had someone spy on him. It’s not easy to swallow. She says, Michael knows he made a mistake. At least consider forgiveness. He says, she’s sweet and tenacious. He always liked that about her. He’ll think about it. She thanks him, and says she needs to follow her own advice. She’s in no position to judge anyone. They all make mistakes, and she needs to focus on making amends for what she’s done. He says he’s sure she’ll fix it, and she says she hopes so. For him and Michael too. She thanks him and leaves.

Josslyn says she and Dex can’t do this here. She has to work. He says his lunch break isn’t the way he pictured it. It’s way better. She says, it’s his fault for showing up looking handsome, and he asks if he should steer clear from now on. She says, don’t you dare, and they kiss.

On the phone, Ava says, they’ll talk tomorrow at the gallery, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Natalia and asks what Natalia wants. Natalia says, clarity. She regrets her remarks, but she can’t figure out Ava’s endgame in recording her secretly and releasing what she said.

Nina says she thought she and Drew already had an understanding, and he says, instead of mutual loathing, they’ve moved to mutual cooperation. She says she hasn’t been completely mercenary. She admires Larry McConkey and values his friendship with her father. She wouldn’t have introduced him to Drew if she didn’t think Drew had something worthwhile. Drew says, and he never would have facilitated a reconciliation with Willow if he thought Nina would hurt her. His faith in her has been justified. She says she never thought he’d apply those words to her, and Drew says, same. She says, they’ve come a long way, and he says, it’s time to put the contempt behind them. Which begs the question, what – if anything – is left? Nina’s phone rings, and Madison says, Sonny is here to see her.

Sonny goes to Nina’s office and says he doesn’t mean to interrupt, but Nina says she and Drew have reached a stopping point. He tells Drew, congrats on his candidacy, and Drew says, that means lot, but his vote means more. Drew leaves, and Nina asks if Sonny wants something to drink, but he says he doesn’t have too much time. He doesn’t know what Ava told her, but he’s moved her out and he’s filing for sole custody. Avery belongs with her father. Nina says, good, and he asks if she’s seen through Ava. If not, Nina can’t trust her. Nina says her eyes have been opened regarding Ava, and Sonny says, he imagines Nina’s wake-up call was no more pleasant than his.  

Ava says, believe it or not, she didn’t intend to record Natalia. She was in the middle of something for work and didn’t realize until after Natalia left. When she listened to the conversation, she thought the world deserved to know what Natalia’s poor daughter had to endure, her judgement about the right to love who she chooses. It was appalling. Natalia says, Blaze’s reputation and career were shattered. She was dropped by her label. Ava says, Blaze is talented and will win out in the end. Natalia has shown herself to be an awful person and a worse mother. Not even Sonny is going to have anything to do with her. Natalia says, Sonny is furious about the recording, but not with her.

Gio tells Lois that he appreciates the offer to play on the album, but doesn’t see how he can take it. She says she just doesn’t want him to miss out on this incredible opportunity, but if it’s not the right gig, no pressure. He says, it would be fantastic if he was still in the city, but he doesn’t like going back on commitments. She says, no Cerullo does, and he says, more important, he likes living here. He likes PCU and the music department, and he likes his job. He likes the people he’s met. Lois says, even the Quartermaines? and he says, especially the Quartermaines. She says, even Tracy? and he says, he doesn’t know Tracy well, but she can be… Lois says, intimidating? but he tells her that he was going to say standoffish. She’s letting him stay at the house. Lois says, it’s not up to her. The house belongs to Monica. Gio says, somebody gave it to her, and Lois says, Alan, God rest his soul, was a wonderful man. He’d love Gio staying there, just like Monica. If… When Tracy decides to bully him, be polite, but don’t let her push him around.

There’s a frantic knock at Valentin’s door, and he lets Anna in. She asks where Charlotte is, and he says, she’s with friends. Anna says, call her and tell her to come home immediately and that he’ll explain when she gets here. She’s still packed, right? Does he have a have go bag? He asks, what happened? What has she done? She says she turned him into the FBI as head of Pikeman. He has to leave the country immediately.

Nina says she was naïve to think Ava was capable of having a female friend. She’s never known Ava to have one. She doesn’t know why she thought that would change, especially given their unique history. They were doomed to fail. Sonny says he’s sorry, and Nina says, it was nice to have someone to rely on, until they became a lying backstabber. Ava played her. Never again. Why did Sonny come to her? He says, Ava filed a custody suit and means to say he’s mentally unstable. He knows he and Nina have been through tough times, but wants to know, when they ask her to take the stand, what will she say? She says she doesn’t think Ava is foolish enough to subpoena her, but she’ll tell the truth. Sonny is an exemplary father and Avery adores him. He says, it didn’t end well with them. He could have done things differently and he’s owning up to that, not just saying it. She thanks him and says she loves Avery and wants the best for her. He says, life goes on. They’re trying. She asks what he’s trying to say, and he says, she buried the hatchet with Drew. Can she do the same with him?

Valentin dumps the books off the shelf where the phone was and asks if Anna did this. She turned him in? She says, they don’t have time to talk about their feelings right now. He has to be ready to go. Listen to her. He asks if any of it was real. Them finding each other, their nights together. Anna cries and says, he knows it was. She’s risking everything to warn him. He’s got to get away. He asks if she wants him to thank her, but she says, it’s not about him. It’s about Charlotte. She needs him in her life, and he needs her in his. He takes out his phone, and calls Charlotte. He asks if she’s on her way home… Good. He’ll see her when she gets here. Anna says, take Charlotte and go and… don’t contact her again. He says, there’s another plan. Come with him.

John knocks on Jason’s door, but there’s no answer. He tries the doorknob, but it’s locked. He yells, open up! Inside, Jason sits looking at the laptop, and John yells that he wants full disclosure. Everything Jason knows or he loses the deal and so does Carly. Jason looks at the clock.

Tomorrow, Gio tells Josslyn that he may have overstayed his welcome; Anna asks Valentin why he risked it all for Pikeman; and Jason tells John that he should think twice before listening to anything that woman has to say.

🧼  All the Soap News Fit To Print…

What they did on their summer vacation.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/dex-and-the-city-evan-hofer-shares-his-big-apple-adventure

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/inside-jonathan-jacksons-intimate-concert

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/adam-harrington-shares-his-epic-surfing-vacation

It’s not inconceivable. Some characters have died several times.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kelly-thiebaud-reveals-she-tried-to-come-back-to-gh

More sad stuff.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-alum-james-b-sikking-dead-at-90

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-james-patrick-stuart-mourns-the-loss-of-his-mother-in-law

Scheduled for the fall.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacklyn-zeman-honored-with-special-episode-of-the-bay

Happy Anniversary!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/one-life-to-live-anniversary-171600

🐪 Camel Me This…

As of this posting, there was no RHODubai recap available, but there was this. Apparently, she spoke too soon, since it was pretty cringeworthy tonight, Taleen in particular.

🪄 Putting the New In Jersey…

IMO, the whole state could use a rebrand.

But alas, neither Kathy nor the sprinkle cookies will be making a comeback.

🍹 Meanwhile, Down South…

The latest on the latest Charm.

Either that selfie is Photoshopped, or her arms are strangely big for her body.

🧙🏻‍♀️ It Was Her…

Hopefully, this is as good as WandaVision. Premieres September 18th.

https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-debuts-trailer-for-marvel-televisions-new-series-agatha-all-along/

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-trailer-kathryn-hahn-joe-locke-aubrey-plaza-8674666

🐱 Biggest Kitty Loser…

Next on his bucket list, to be a catnip influencer.

https://people.com/canadian-cat-becomes-tiktok-star-weight-loss-journey-documented-8673846

☕️ Pouring a Cup Of Ambition…

Join me tomorrow for soap, tea, LA and (hopefully) Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay not wearing out your welcome as a guest, and stay not going back on commitments, especially if you like it where you are.

May 22, 2024 – Neil’s Brother Opposes Alexis’s Reinstatement, Goodbye Gregory, Fergus, Sonny’s Crisis, This Week In Chefs, New Stars, Just Sad, Nixed Awards, A Better Gala & Party

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn picks up Gregory’s cane and remembers the argument they had where Gregory told Finn, by all means lecture him on proper wedding etiquette. Violet comes in, and Finn asks what she’s doing home so early. She says, they had a half day, and Finn hugs her. A woman knocks at the door and says she was making sure Violet got in okay. Gretchen’s in the car so she’s got to run. She’ll see them tomorrow. She leaves, and Violet picks up the bouquet. She says, maybe they can take her bouquet out for a walk. Flowers love fresh air. And they can tell grandpa to come too, if they don’t go too far. (The knife dives deeper into my heart.) He says, they can go for a walk, but he needs to talk to her about something. She asks if she shouldn’t tell grandpa to get ready, but Finn says, grandpa isn’t here. She asks if he’s at the doctor, but Finn says, no. Grandpa isn’t with us anymore. Grandpa passed away last night.

Dex says he hasn’t turned Sonny in, and Michael says, because he doesn’t intend to, or because he hasn’t had time? Dex says he hasn’t decided yet. Why? Michael says, because he and Kristina don’t want Dex to report it.

Sonny asks, what the hell is going on with Dante? He doesn’t have a history here. Michael and Dex conspired to take him down. He didn’t take the proper steps to contain it. He let it go. Dante asks if he wants a medal for not killing someone, and Sonny says, that’s not what he’s saying. He left Dex alone and look what happened. Even more betrayal. He’s hiding behind a badge in the office with Anna, talking about Sonny’s business or whatever he’s talking about. Dex is still trying to take him down, and Dante refuses to see it. Dante says, the only thing he can see really clearly right now is Sonny, and Sonny asks what that means. Dante says, this isn’t some isolated incident. Sonny has a pattern, a history with violence. He’s not talking about Cyrus. This goes back – they both know – for a long time. Sonny asks what Dante is accusing him of.

Alexis says, Diane is right. Whether the robes buy this or not, she wants to stand in front of them and make her argument. Diane raises her hand and says, testify, and Alexis gives her a high-five. Welcome back. Alexis says, there’s a reason Diane wins all her cases. She’s not just pretty; she’s very persuasive. Diane tells her not to forget either of those things. Let’s go win this. Alexis says she has to grab something first, and picks up Gregory’s medal. Diane asks, what’s this hoodoo? and Alexis says, something from Gregory to bring her luck. Let’s hope it works.

Lois tells Ned, good news. She spoke to Monica, and she is all for it. Ned says he’s not surprised. They have plenty of room. Has Lois warned him about his mother? She says, about her irrational bias against those of us who were blessed to grow up in Bensonhurst? No, not yet. Ned says, Lois knows his mother loves her, right? and Lois says she does. She also knows Tracy loves to complain about her and Olivia, and she’s sure Tracy is going to complain about him too. But she and Olivia are adults and he’s just a kid. Ned says, she told him that he was 21, and she says, 21 is still just a kid to her. He says, maybe he’ll win Tracy over. She loves music, as long as it’s not Eddie Maine who’s playing it.

Brook asks if she can get Chase anything. Does he want some water? He says he’s not thirsty, and they hear, this is the final boarding call for flight #384 to Rome, on the loudspeaker. He says, dad was so happy yesterday. He was so full of life. He thought they would have so much more time. She says she did too, (me too), and Chase says, there were so many things he wanted to say to him, and now he’s just never going to know. Brook says she promises he knew, and the loudspeaker announces, boarding for flight 384 to Rome is now closed. Chase cries and Brook comforts him.

Dante says, this isn’t just about Sonny. It’s about him. He’s looked the other way so many times for so long. It’s embarrassing really. Not admitting who Sonny is and who he’s always been. He’s not going to do that anymore. Too many people are getting hurt. And if Sonny doesn’t do something to fix that, it’s just going to get worse.

Dex asks if Josslyn thinks he should turn Sonny in, but she says she thinks it’s up to him. He was attacked. It’s his decision. He says, and she has no opinion on it. That’s a first. She says she’s tired of telling people what they should or shouldn’t do and giving them ultimatums. It hasn’t exactly worked out for her in the past. Michael says he knows he has no right to ask anything else of Dex, and Dex says, but Michael is asking him. But it’s not like when he worked for Sonny. He’s a police cadet now. He has direct knowledge of a crime. What if somebody else gets hurt and him turning in Sonny could have stopped it? Michael says he knows. He’s not asking Dex to do this to protect Sonny, believe him. Sonny deserves to pay for what he did to Dex. He’s asking Dex for Kristina’s sake. If he accuses Sonny, she’ll have to be a witness. She’ll have to testify against her own father. She’s already an emotional wreck from all of this. And she’s pregnant. He’s just worried it’s too much for her. Dex says, when is it too much for him?

Blaze says she’s not denying that what Kristina’s dad did last night scares her, and Kristina says she knows. It scares her too. Blaze says, but she’s not as afraid of Sonny than she is about what all this is doing to Kristina. She’s the one Blaze cares about here. She hates seeing Kristina in so much pain. Besides, she’s the last one who should be throwing stones at anyone’s parents. Her mother gave Kristina every reason to run from their relationship, but she didn’t, so Blaze won’t either. She takes Kristina’s hands and says, Kristina’s not her father. No more than she’s her mother. Kristina says she doesn’t even know who he is anymore. She saw him attacking Dex, and after hearing him scream those threats, it’s like he’s a completely different person.

Finn tells Violet, grandpa wasn’t in any pain. He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up. She says, that can happen? and he says, not to him and her. Grandpa was real sick. She says, it was the ALS? and he says, yeah, that’s probably what it was. They said his heart just stopped beating. She says, but his heart was fine yesterday, and Finn says he knows. Sometimes when people are sick inside, they just don’t know. But he wants her to think about how amazing grandpa was yesterday, how much fun he had. Think about how lucky they are to have spent all this time with him. Violet starts to cry and says, no. She wants grandpa to still be here. She runs out of the room, calling, grandpa!

Finn goes into Gregory’s bedroom to find Violet looking at the bed. She asks, where is he? and Finn takes her hands. He says, the paramedics took grandpa away, and she says she didn’t get to say goodbye. Finn says he knows. If grandpa had known it was going to be the last time he’d see her, he would have hugged her so tight. He hugs her and she cries. She flashes back to being with Gregory at Bobbie’s, and Gregory telling her that she takes after her dad. When he was a boy, he always had his nose in some book. She says, he’s funny. Everyone knows you can’t draw with your nose. Gregory says, she’s so much smarter than he is. The wisdom of youth. She asks, what’s youth? and he says, it’s everything she is, and everything old guys like him long to be. She and Finn cry, and Finn says, life is so beautiful, but sometimes it’s cruel and it’s not fair. Life is so beautiful, it hurts sometimes. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. They hug and cry some more.

Chase and Brook walk into the Quartermaine mansion, and Brook asks if he’s okay. He says, not really. He just wishes he could have gone straight from the airport to Finn’s place. She says, her too, but Finn wanted some time to tell Violet about Gregory, just the two of them. He says he doesn’t blame Finn… She says she knows and hugs him. She says, they’re going to have to tell them everything at some point, so they might as well get it over with. Ready for this? He says he’s not sure he’ll ever be ready, but waiting isn’t going to make it easier.

Lois says, poor Ned. She bets Tracy would support his musical side had Brook not followed in their mutual footsteps. He says, if Brook had toed the line and lived her life the way his mother wanted, his mother would never respect her. She says, and Brook would be miserable, and he says, that too. His mother would never admit it, but she loves the way Brook stands up to her. Lois says she loves it too, and Brook and Chase walk in. Lois asks what they’re doing here. Aren’t they supposed to be on a plane, sipping champagne, watching another little plane on the screen in front of them getting closer and closer to Rome? Ned asks, what’s the matter? Was their flight canceled? Brook looks at Chase.

In the courtroom, Alexis flips the medal around, making a clanking sound. Diane puts her hand over it and says, now that Alexis has rubbed Gregory’s good luck charm to shreds, does she feel its good luck coursing through her veins? Alexis says, not unless luck and anxiety feel the same way, and Diane says, then put it away. Take a deep breath, because she doesn’t need luck. She has a brilliant attorney pleading her case. Perhaps she knows her name. Alexis Davis? A man walks in and sits at the other table, and Diane says, who does Alexis think is their esteemed colleague? Alexis says she has no idea. Something about him looks familiar. The bailiff says, all rise, and three judges take their places. Alexis quietly flips the good luck charm.

Finn carries Violet out to the living room and looks at the bottle of bourbon. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, is he? He says he’s very sad. He puts her on the sofa and says he knows it had to be hard for her to go to grandpa’s room just now. It was for him. She says, he was supposed to be in there, and Finn says he knows. She says, but if grandpa isn’t here with them, where is he? What happens to grandpa now?

Dante tells Sonny not to go anywhere near Dex, because if something happens to him, everyone is going to know it was Sonny. Sonny says, that’s how Dante is helping him? By telling him to hide from someone? Keep his mouth shut like some little coward? Dante says, it’s not about being a coward. It’s about being smart. Sonny better hope this kid doesn’t press charges, because if he does, Sonny can’t make amends to his family from behind bars. His freedom now rests on the shoulders, the decision, that a guy’s going to make that Sonny threatened to kill. Sonny says his own son is forsaking him, and Dante says, if he was forsaking Sonny, he’d be taking him down to jail in cuffs. He’s trying to save Sonny. Sonny says, yeah, and Dante says he is. He thinks the problem Sonny is having is that he’s reached his limit with him. He’s done protecting Sonny. He committed a crime and now he has to face the consequences of that crime. Okay? Sonny walks out without saying anything, closing the door behind him. In the hallway, Sonny holds his head for a moment, then keeps walking.

Kristina says she asked Michael to fix things with Dex. That was so unfair of her. Blaze says, it’s pretty clear Kristina’s brother loves her and will do whatever he can to help her, and Kristina says she knows. She loves Michael too, but you’d never be able to tell by the position she just put him in. Blaze says she’s being too hard on herself, and Kristina says she wishes. She hates it, but there’s really only one way for Michael to fix things and that’s by convincing Dex not to press charges against her dad.

Dex says he came to Port Charles because Michael asked him to take Sonny down. What happened last night is further proof that his first instinct was right. Sonny’s not just a danger to his enemies. He’s a danger to his loved ones too. And they’re never going to get a better chance to stop him than right now. Michael says, maybe, but like he told Dex… Josslyn says, there’s no maybe. Michael is right. Sonny absolutely deserves to be punished for what he’s done. The question is, does Kristina, and does her baby? Dex says he guesses she’s not afraid to share her opinion after all, and she says she’s thinking about him too. Because if he presses charges, and Kristina’s a witness, and they interview her, is the stress going to be too much for her and the baby? She knows Dex, and he’s going to feel terrible if it is. She’s not interested in telling him what to do. She can only ask, please don’t file charges against Sonny.

Sonny walks into the penthouse, and Ava says, there you are. She was worried. He barely said two words last night, and he was gone by the time Avery left for school. She missed her dad this morning. He starts to head for the back, and she says, please. Don’t shut her out. She’s here. He says, Kristina saw something, got the wrong idea. She’s one of the last people who believed in him, and now he lost her.

At the café, Michael asks Josslyn if she saw Sonny at the wedding, and she says, yes. She did her best to ignore him. He says, Sonny iced him out at the church. Not that he was expecting anything different. He was watching Sonny at the reception with Brook’s family, and they were all over him. They adored him. He was charming; he was flashing his dimples. He was smiling and flirting with the ladies and making jokes with the guys. He was watching Sonny and he was thinking, there he is. I know that guy. That’s my father. Josslyn says she remembers feeling that way about him. Thinking that he was so kind and empathetic. Thinking how lucky she was to have him as a stepfather. He says, it’s not like he’s lying. All that charm, the dimples, all that stuff, it’s real. So was the ugliness, the brutality, the rage. He used to be better at hiding it, controlling it… That’s why he and mom wanted Dex to stay around him, to keep an eye on him, to protect him from himself. She says, well, now Dex needs protection from Sonny, and he says, speaking of Dex. He saw them. They were dancing at the reception. He knows she waited for Dex afterwards, and actually, the whole night didn’t go as planned, but are they back together?

Finn takes Violet’s hand and says, in a few days, there will be something called a funeral. That’s where all of grandpa’s family and friends will get together to say goodbye to him. She says, but how do they say goodbye if he’s not here? and he tells her, they say it in their thoughts and they say it in their prayers. Or if she wants, she can say it out loud. It’s different for everyone. It’s whatever feels best for her. She says, but when they say goodbye, does grandpa go to heaven? Is he with the angels? Finn says, yeah. Grandpa’s with the angels. There’s a knock at the door, and Violet answers. Elizabeth is there and she hugs Violet. She tells Finn that Chase called her. She’s so sorry. Violet says, her dad’s sad too. She thinks he needs a hug. Elizabeth says she’s sure, and hugs Finn. Violet closes the door, and Elizabeth sees the glass with bourbon in it. She looks at Finn, looks at the bottle, then back at Finn again.

Diane says, on behalf of her client, Alexis Davis, and herself, she would like to thank the court for hearing their petition today. They come before the court to appeal Miss Davis’s disbarment and ask that she be allowed to return to the Bar and practice law in New York State again. And should they accept her appeal, the state and the people in it will only be the better for it. She thanks them and sits down. The man at the adjacent table stands up and says, with all due respect to his esteemed colleague, Miss Miller, the State of New York and its citizenry will be better off without Miss Davis, a proven liar, abusing their trust again. One of the judges asks, and what is the name of the party opposing Miss Davis’s appeal? and the man says, Fergus Byrne. He’s opposing her appeal. His brother Neil was a casualty of Miss Davis’s utter and complete disregard for the law. (Is this allowed? It’s not a parole hearing.)

Sonny tells Ava, the church, the music, everything was just beautiful. People were there from the old neighborhood who he grew up with, like the Cerullos and the Falconaris mostly. The church was packed. He looks over and he sees Dex. Ava says, what? and Sonny says, he had no right to be there. He knew it. Dex looks over at him with his little smirk like he knew he was getting away with it. Ava says, why would he do that? and Sonny says, because he’s a punk kid, with no respect for anyone or anything. She asks what Sonny did, and he says he punched Dex a few times, more than a few times, but he deserved it. Then Jason stopped him from doing something really bad that he was really going to regret. She says she’s sure Dex got the message, but he says, guys like Dex never get the message.

Blaze says, if Michael is willing to ask Dex to drop the charges, maybe it’s a good thing, and Kristina asks if Blaze is on her dad’s side. She’d have lost that bet. Blaze says she’s on Kristina’s side, first and always, but if she’s honest, she’s worried about what the effects of Sonny’s possible arrest and prosecution would have on Kristina. She’s very pregnant and already under a lot of pressure. Kristina says she knows. Seeing her dad attack Dex that way didn’t make it any better. Blaze says, it would be worse if Kristina had to go up in court and testify against him, and Kristina says she didn’t even think about that part of it. She was so focused on what would happen to her dad, she didn’t even… That’s why Michael agreed to talk to Dex. It wasn’t for her dad’s sake; it was for her. Blaze says, Michael already knows she has a lot to think about with the baby. On top of the already complicated history she has with her dad. She’s guessing Michael is putting himself out there because he wants to spare Kristina. That’s really a pretty amazing brother thing to do. Kristina says she knows. She just feels so bad. Michael’s going out on a limb, and she loves her dad. Blaze says, no one’s asking her to stop loving Sonny. It’s not like she’s turning off a faucet. Kristina says she knows, but he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with attacking people and threatening to kill them just because she loves her dad. Blaze says she doesn’t think he should either, and Kristina picks up her phone. Blaze asks what she’s doing, and Kristina says, what she has to do. She makes a call and says, hey, it’s Kristina. I’m at the MetroCourt. How soon can you be here?

Josslyn says, no, she and Dex aren’t back together, and Michael says, sorry he asked. She says, why wouldn’t he ask? She’s been asking herself the same question. She’s the one who broke up with Dex, even though she was still in love with him. He just did something she couldn’t accept, and she thought that was the end of it. He says, but it’s not? and she says she just hates couples that keep breaking up and getting back together. It’s like they’re terminally indecisive or they’re just addicted to the drama of it all. It just reminds her of mom and Sonny’s relationship. Every time she got rid of him, she’d go running back. She’s not saying Dex and Sonny are the same. They could not be more different. Her point is, it’s just not the kind of relationship that she wanted. When she broke up with Dex, she really meant it. Then he radically changed his life. He’s going to become a cop. At first, she thought it was to make amends with her. She knows she sounds like an egomaniac. He asks if she’s saying that Dex didn’t apply to the police academy to impress her. Because that seems like the obvious explanation.

Elizabeth wonders if she can ask Violet for a favor, and Violet says, sure. Elizabeth says, Aiden has been begging her for a friendship bracelet. Can she make him one? Violet says, definitely, and Elizabeth thanks her. Violet goes to her room, and Elizabeth makes sure that she can’t hear. She tells Finn that she can’t imagine how he’s feeling, but it’s obvious he’s been drinking. So she’s going to take Violet home with her, and he can get himself to a meeting, okay? He says, no, not okay. Violet’s staying with him. And he doesn’t need to get himself to a meeting. She says, this isn’t just about him, and he says his father is dead. She says, he must be in so much pain, and he says he stood right over there and watched two strangers wheel out his dead dad. She says, please, let her help him, but he laughs and says, nothing can help the way he’s feeling. Nothing.

Sonny tells Ava that Dex is taunting him. Dex isn’t even saying anything, but is still taunting him. Jason grabbed him and then Kristina showed up. He doesn’t know what she heard, and then she took off without… He wasn’t able to explain anything to her. Ava says she’s so sorry, and he says, Kristina was the only one who really, really believed in him. Every time she would look up at him, she would smile. By the time he finally caught up with her, his little girl was afraid of him. Ava looks like she might cry.

Blaze opens the door and tells Dex, come on in. It looks bad. He says he’s had worse. Never at a wedding though. Kristina says she doesn’t know what to say. She’s sorry doesn’t even begin to cut it. She thanks him for even agreeing to come here. Blaze asks if she can get him anything. Aspirin? Ice? He says, no thank you. Josslyn stayed with him at the ER while he got stitched up. Kristina says, Josslyn was right about her dad. She can say I told you so for… well, the rest of my life now. Dex says, it’s the last thing she wants to do. There’s no victory lap when it comes to being right about Sonny. Kristina says, he’s right. She’s sorry. She didn’t mean to be flippant about it. She had blinders on when it came to her dad. Everyone saw that but her. She wanted to think of him as the man she knew him to be, not who he was, not in his entirety. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), when he worked for Sonny, he also saw what he wanted to see, and he was just as wrong. She says she knows her brother asked him not to press charges. Michael did that because of her, because she asked him to, but she shouldn’t have. He asks, why not? and she says, because Dex is entitled to justice, and if he chooses to pursue it, she wants him to know that she’ll testify on his behalf against her father.

Josslyn tells Michael, Dex really believes in what he’s doing. He wants to be a cop. He wants to wear that uniform, to protect and serve. And she thinks he’s going to make a really good cop, like Dante. He’s going to help people. And she thinks that he would really like it if they got back together, but if for some reason they don’t, Dex is going to be fine. He respects himself… and some other girl would get him, and she’d be kicking herself. Michael says, there’s an easy solution to this. She can just tell Dex that she wants to try again. She says she doesn’t know if she’s ready for that yet. What she does know is that she’s done changing her mind. Dex deserves better. Michael says he’s going to guess though, that Dex would tell her that there is nobody better than her. She says, he’s her big brother. He has to say nice things to her. He says, that doesn’t make them any less true, and hugs her.

Diane says, Mr. Byrne just admitted to being the brother of the late Dr. Neil Byrne, who was a factor in her client’s disbarment. Fergus gets up and says, his brother was much more than a factor in her case. Although he shouldn’t be surprised that she reduced him to such. His brother, Neil Byrne, would be alive today if it weren’t for Alexis Davis. Diane starts to protest that it’s a conflict of interest, when Alexis gets up. She says she has no problem with Mr. Byrne’s role here today. In fact, she welcomes it. She’s never pleaded her own case in court before, but she intends to do so today, so it seems fitting, maybe even necessary, that Mr. Byrne have a front row seat to it.

Lois says she’s so sorry and hugs Chase. His father was a wonderful man, and he was a wonderful father. Chase is proof of that. Every moment she spent in Gregory’s company was pure joy. Chase thanks her, and she asks if Brook is okay, and hugs her. Ned tells Chase that he’s so sorry, and Brook asks, where’s her grandmother? Ned says, she went down to the stables. She was going out for a ride. Chase says he’ll go down there and see if she’s left yet, and Ned says he’ll walk Chase down. They leave, and Lois says she can’t believe he’s gone. She knew it was going to happen someday, but… Brook says she knows. Someday wasn’t supposed to be now. Lois leads Brook to the sofa and says, sometimes God has a plan for us. She guesses it would just be nice sometimes to get a little heads up. Because of Brook and Chase and that beautiful wedding, Gregory died the happiest, right? Brook says, he was also the bravest, and holding back tears, Lois says, yeah, he was. And the way he officiated their wedding, it was with so much courage and determination. Brook says, he had so much strength, and he used so much of it to get through that ceremony. It’s like he just didn’t have any left. She starts to cry, and Lois sits next to her, putting her arm around Brook. Brook says, Chase just wanted a little more time with his dad, and Lois says, but Brook is here to hold Chase now and let him know he’s not alone. Brook puts her head on Lois’s shoulder, and they cry.

Finn says, does Elizabeth want to know what eased the pain for a few minutes? One drink. He thinks he has the right to do whatever it takes to get him through this day. She says, if that’s how he chooses to treat his pain, she can’t stop him, but she will not let him get drunk in front of that little girl in this apartment.

Tomorrow, Finn says, those are the two choices, you decide; Alexis demands to know the name of her accuser; Kristina tells Blaze that in her own way, she’s just as guilty; and Carly asks what Sonny is going to do when he runs out of traitors.

👨🏻‍💻 A Professor To Remember…

I’m so sorry to see him go. I saw Gregory Harrison years ago on Broadway in a revival of my favorite musical, Follies. He was actually substituting for the original actor, and I was skeptical at first, but he was absolutely amazing. It’s a shame they couldn’t have made it a misdiagnosis or at least let him play it out. Although kudos for such a beautiful ending.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gregory-harrison-ends-his-run-on-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-stars-say-goodbye-to-gregory-harrison

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/why-james-patrick-stuart-was-happy-gregory-harrison-joined-gh

⚖️ Enter Fergus…

Apparently, he and Alexis (or at least her portrayer) are no strangers.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/lane-davies-opens-up-about-his-general-hospital-return

💊 The Real Deal…

It’s unbelievable people were telling him that Sonny’s reaction to the low dosage of his meds is unrealistic or that it’s just for the next Emmy. He ought to know about being bipolar and he deserves another Emmy for this one.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-maurice-benard-on-sonnys-mental-health-crisis

🔪 The Latest On Top…

My takeaways from this week. Tom said to put your own spin on a classic, you have to understand the dish first. Even though the microwave is my best friend in the kitchen, I get this. The teacher I studied musical comedy with said, learn how the song is sung first, then make it your own. Same thing. The judges were also on Watch What Happens Live afterward, and Kristen said she finds foam to be useless 99% of the time. So my suspicions about foam were right.

🍲 In Other Chefs…

Serving up the next Food Stars.

https://thedirect.com/article/gordon-ramsays-food-stars-2024-cast-season-2-contestants-hosts-photos

🪞 Don’t Try This At Home…

I’m including this because it’s just so sad. And they’re not the only women in the industry who think they’re huge at a size 0. I have a theory that the people in media and advertising want women to disappear, since they just keep encouraging us to be smaller.

https://people.com/christina-applegate-anorexia-married-with-children-messy-podcast-8647913

🍿 No Awards For You…

They don’t quite say what the problem was. I actually thought it was the only awards show worth watching.

https://ew.com/mtv-movie-and-tv-awards-wont-happen-this-year-will-return-in-2025-8647917

🐕 The Warm and Fuzzy Side Of the Met…

I swear, next year I’m going to this.

https://people.com/dogs-dress-in-canine-copies-of-2024-met-gala-looks-for-pet-gala-8651847

🪣 There’s a Hole In My Bucket List…

Join me tomorrow for soap and throwing stones at Summer Houses. Until then, stay safe, stay sending postcards when you travel, and stay saying goodbye however feels best for you. It’s different for everyone.

April 12, 2024 – Jason Has a Generous Impulse, Outside the Soap, Cancelled Talk, Knots Again, Just Awful, VanderSituation, Details, BravoCon Man, Three Tails, Nonet Quotes & Wild

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt, Alexis says she’s missed Gregory, and The Invader isn’t the same without him. He says he misses it too. He truly enjoyed the work, but in the words of a famous American poet, you’ve got to know when to fold ‘em. His best days aren’t ahead of him. She says she hopes he doesn’t mind if she still calls him every day with her problems, especially if they’re ethically sticky. He says he’d be hurt if she didn’t. Anything in particular? She says, let’s just eat before I lose my appetite. The Invader gives me heartburn. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and they look at their menus. She says, there was something else she wanted to say to him. She’s so sorry, but she can’t be his extra one for the wedding. He says, why not? and she says, because there’s a slight chance she may be getting her law license back.

At the coffee warehouse, Diane says she takes it Jason got her message about some of his bank accounts being unfrozen. He says he did. Fast work. She says she’s Diane Miller, and he asks if he has enough money to buy back Carly’s half of the MetroCourt. (I swear, I thought that’s what he was going to say before he said it.)

Michael says he doesn’t know what his mom was doing with Agent Cates… and because she never learns, Nina says, it’s all too clear what they were doing. Carly was bringing up room service for two and Agent Cates was wearing nothing but a towel. Curtis says, Nina knows things aren’t always as they appear. He’s sure Carly wouldn’t cheat on Drew. Drew says, it wouldn’t be cheating. He and Carly broke up. Curtis says he’s sorry; he didn’t know. Michael says, his mother’s personal life is her business, not Nina’s, and Nina says she just thinks it’s a shame Carly would hook up with a guy who’s a federal agent after she and Drew broke up.

As she brushes him, Sasha asks not-Comet not to tell his buddies, but she thinks his coat is the shiniest. He must get a lot of vitamin A, D, and E. Cody comes in and says, you again. Any luck with the job search? She says, not really. She’s applied for everything; receptionist positions, corporate communications, positions in insurance and public affairs, most of them in New York and Connecticut. He says he’d hate to see her move, but at least she’s getting nibbles, right? and she says, but nothing that interests her. She’s tired of being considered because these jobs are public facing, and she fits the company’s image. He says, receptionist jobs are out. She’s way too qualified for that. But any company would be lucky to have her. She says, not if they only care about her looks. Been there, done that.

At the Home & Heart studio, Lucy tells Maxie that they need gels because the light is just not flattering… to the product. She asks a woman on the stage if they could please get some lighting gels, and Maxie says, they’d really appreciate it. The woman says she’d have to get the producer’s permission, and Haven says, that’s okay. Just do it. She asks if Maxie and Lucy are ready for another blockbuster segment, and Lucy says, absolutely. Maxie says, all set, and Haven says, no Sasha she hears. Maxie says, unfortunately not, and Haven says she doesn’t know this Blaze, but her granddaughters are very excited. She’s been ordered to get an autograph. So is she here yet? Maxie says, they’ve decided to streamline the duties of the Face, so Blaze will not be the spokesmodel today. Haven asks, then who is doing the selling today? and Lucy says, who else? Moi. (I’ll have what Morgan Fairchild is having. She’s 74 and looks amazing.)

On the phone, Brook says, it’s fully electric, not a hybrid?… Tracy walks in and Brook says, that is so awesome. Send her all the specs and financials. Send her everything. She’s so excited that they have the pickup in stock. She’ll be waiting. Tracy says, don’t tell her that she and Chase has eschewed the traditional limo ride to church for a 4×4.

Michael says, before they believe what Nina’s telling them, just consider the source, and Nina says she imagines Michael is used to this. Carly is not known for her discretion. Drew says, Carly has a right to privacy just like everybody else. He doubts any of them would like everybody to know what they do behind closed doors. Nina says, that’s the thing. Cates’s door wasn’t closed. They were perfectly visible from the hall. Maybe Carly just needed a good… night out. Curtis says, they don’t know what did or didn’t happen. What they do know is, Carly and Agent Cates are consenting adults, so whatever happened is none of their damn business. Drew says, Curtis is right. He’s done discussing it. Nina says, yeah. It must be painful knowing Carly got over their relationship so quickly.

Haven says, so Lucy is the spokesperson, and Lucy says, yes siree bob. Because who better than the founder? Maxie says, and nobody knows the product better than Lucy, and Lucy says, yes, indeed. She’s been in on every single step of developing their new face cream. Haven says she’s going to have to check with her producer about this, and leaves. Lucy says, that certainly could have gone a lot better, and sees Maxie looking at her tablet. She asks, what is with Maxie’s tepid attitude? She just stood there like she swallowed a fish. Why didn’t Maxie have her back more? Maxie says, maybe because she doesn’t agree with Lucy’s decision to do this. Why is she insisting on taking this all on herself? Lucy says, why is Maxie so against… Wait a minute. Maxie wants to get up there herself. She wants the spotlight. Is that correct? Maxie says, Lucy has to be kidding her. She wants Sasha in the spotlight. The public knows her, and they love her. Lucy says, okay, fine, but Maxie has to get over that because Sasha – she lowers her voice – quit. Maxie says, thanks to Lucy, and walks off.

Carly goes the MetroCourt bar and says she got Michael’s text. How did he know she was in the hotel? He says, Nina told him. He guesses she spent the night in Agent Cates’s room. She says, that woman. Nina called to tell him that? Is she going to put it on the cover of The Invader? He says he was in Drew’s office downstairs, and she showed up and filled them in, and Carly says, she told Drew? He says, and him and Curtis Ashford. They were in the middle of a meeting. She says, Nina once told Sonny that she was having an affair with Brick and she was wrong. Does that woman ever learn? Just to be clear, she stayed over with Agent Cates. She did not sleep with him. Michael says he knows, and she asks, how is Drew?

Diane says she doubts Jason has developed a sudden interest in the hospitality industry, so she can only assume… He says he’s going to give the MetroCourt back to Carly, and Diane says, that’s a very generous impulse, but it’s going to take some finessing. First of all, Nina has no incentive to sell. He says, give her one. She can name her price. Diane says, no she can’t. Absolutely not. She has far too much pride in her skills as a negotiator to hand anyone a blank check, much less that real estate heiress. She can make a little profit, but Diane isn’t going to let him overpay. He tells her, handle it however she thinks is best. Just make it happen. She says, his real obstacle is going to be Carly, and he asks, why? She says, because he’s not the first person to offer to help her reclaim the MetroCourt. Initially, Olivia offered to loan her the money. Then Nina, in a craven attempt to suck up to Sonny, offered to sell it back to her. Then Sonny and Michael. And Carly has said no to all of them. She wants to do it herself. He says, don’t worry about Carly. He’ll work it out with her.

Sasha says, Cody’s not trying to get rid of her, is he? and he says, never. But as great as it’s been, she can’t stay with him and the horses forever. She says she knows. She’s going to run out of savings at some point. Sooner than she’d hoped actually. But she loves being here with the horses. They don’t care how she looks. He says, the horses appreciate her for her, and she says, exactly. He says he gets what she’s saying about being underestimated, and she says, people underestimate him too, don’t they? He says, occasionally, but she’s on a whole other level. She has brains, business savvy, personality, not to mention a strong work ethic. She says she’s proud to say she helped develop Deception’s initial business plan, and he says he bets Lucy and Maxie are kicking themselves right now for letting her walk away. Sasha wonders if she should be kicking herself. Was she crazy to leave Deception? He asks, why? Is she thinking about going back?

Maxie says, if Lucy hadn’t undermined Sasha by telling her that she needed to be edgier, they wouldn’t be in this mess, and Lucy says, what mess? They’re not in a mess. There’s no mess. Deception is not in a mess and she’s perfectly capable of being a pitchwoman. Maxie says, not as capable as Sasha. Their customers admire her. Not just for her beauty, but for her courage and the challenges she faced. She justified their faith. She’s not just beautiful, she’s inspirational, and you can’t buy that kind of narrative. Lucy asks, what is Maxie all of a sudden, the voice of reason? It seems like right now Maxie is a little bit power hungry. Maxie says she has just as much of a right to an opinion as Lucy does. They’re equal partners. Lucy says, they are. Maxie is absolutely right. And as such, they should work together against their common enemy, Tracy Quartermaine. But it feels like Maxie’s friendship with Brook has clouded her judgement lately, and maybe Tracy could then bring down Deception. Maxie says, Tracy didn’t want to get rid of Sasha. She actually lobbied to keep her. Lucy says, until she didn’t. Because Sasha quit and she was not fired. Maxie says, all right. Fine. Maybe if Sasha had felt heard and included, she would have stuck around, but Lucy is only interested in her own opinion. Face it. Her love affair with herself is the real problem.

Brook says she and Chase are going to Florence on their honeymoon, and Tracy says, congratulations. Florence is beautiful. It’s one of her most favorite spots on earth. Brook says she can’t wait to stroll through the Tivoli Gardens hand in hand with Chase. It’s going to be so romantic. Tracy asks what this has to do with a truck, and Brook says, since Tracy is so generously paying for the wedding, Chase insisted on paying for the honeymoon. And Florence is a dream come true, but it is more expensive than a stateside destination, so he sold his truck so he could pay for the trip. Tracy says, wow. She has to hand it to him, that is a sweet gesture. Brook says, he loved that truck. That’s why she’s going to be surprising him with a truck as a wedding gift. And guess what? It is fully electric, top of the line. Tracy says, don’t do it, and Brook says, come again? Tracy says, disrespecting your husband is no way to start a marriage, but Brook says, she’s not disrespecting him. She loves him. But there’s no reason he has to choose between their honeymoon and a truck. They can afford both. Tracy says, Brook can afford both.

Curtis says, Nina is way out of line, and she says she’s sorry. She takes his hands and says, but maybe he doesn’t know Drew as well as he thinks. She tells Curtis that she loves him, and he says he loves her too. She leaves, and Curtis tells Drew, that was uncalled for, and Drew says, it’s been worse. Now where were they? Curtis says, in a minute. He wasn’t aware Drew and Carly had broken up. Drew didn’t tell him. Drew says, because Curtis had a few things to focus on, and Curtis says he remembers when Drew came to the gym and told him that things were rocky between him and Carly. He thought they’d work it out, but he guesses they didn’t. They seemed so happy. Drew says, that was before Jason came back.

Carly tells Michael that Agent Cates didn’t want to go to the hospital, so she brought him back here. She stayed with him so she could wake him up every couple of hours. Basically, she was on concussion watch. Michael asks where she found him, and she says, a couple blocks from the coffee warehouse. At first, she thought he was trailing Jason, but then she realized he must have been following Diane. He asks, why? and she says, because Jason’s too hard to follow. He says, it didn’t bother her that the guy she sat up with all night taking care of wants to bust Jason? but she says, it doesn’t bother her because he’s not going to find any evidence against Jason. There’s nothing in that warehouse but coffee. And Sonny is so furious with Jason right now, there’s no way he’s going to bring Jason back to the business. So basically, Sonny is doing Jason a favor.

Alexis says, so basically, instead of sitting and enjoying a wedding with Gregory and the happy couple, she’ll be pacing up and down a hotel room, preparing for her appearance in front of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Gregory says, this is momentous. Although he has to admit he’s a little irked that she kept it from him until now. She says she really doesn’t think it could actually happen. It’s the longest of long shots. He says he doesn’t know. Her and Diane teaming up to argue her case. He’d take that bet. He raises his glass and says, to her then, but she says she doesn’t want to jinx anything. Sorry. She’s alternating between pretending this isn’t happening and having paralyzing anxiety because she really, really wants this so much.

Brook tells Tracy that she and Chase share everything. What’s hers is his and vice versa. Tracy says, sounds great. Very unrealistic. Brook says, don’t go there. They already had the prenup conversation, and that’s not happening. Tracy says she totally respects Brook’s misguided decision to forego the prenup. However, she’s learned from previous experience that having more personal wealth than your husband puts undue stress on the marriage. Brook says, no offense, but Chase is nothing like Tracy’s ex-husbands, and Tracy says, Brook means her ex-fortune hunters? She’s absolutely right. But – she pats the spot next to her on the sofa, and Brook sits down – she knows Chase’s father. And she’s assuming in addition to being a stand-up guy, Chase was taught to be the breadwinner in the family. Brook says, please. That is so old school. Tracy asks if Brook hasn’t noticed her husband-to-be is very traditional. It’s part of his charm. Brook says she almost blew it, didn’t she? but Tracy says, she did it out of love. Like he sold his truck out of love. But her going off and buying another one totally negates the sacrifice he made. She’d be devaluing his loving gesture. Brook says, wow. Tracy saw that. She didn’t. Tracy says she’s had many years to make mistakes and learn from them. But buck up, girlie. She’s got herself a thoughtful, generous, devoted husband-to-be. Brook says, the best. She’s just sad he has to give anything up for her.

Gregory asks if Alexis knows what happens when well-meaning people find out you have a terminal illness. You start getting suggestions; mindfulness, positive visualization, prayer, alternative medicines, healthy diets, yoga, acupuncture, you name it. She says, that’s got to be really overwhelming, and he says, yes, but you get used to it. He knows it comes from a good place. She asks if she’s done that, but he says, no, not at all. She asks, what’s his point? and he says, despite what other people may suggest, he thinks what it all comes down to is what you choose to believe. Alexis believes that she could still be a good lawyer. She says she does. She still has as much passion for it than she’s ever had and there’s nothing more satisfying than helping someone get the justice they deserve in court, no matter what the obstacle. He says he bets she was a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. He hopes he gets a chance to see her back in action. She says she hopes he does too. He should know that most of these appeals are denied, which is why she’s so quiet about it. He says he has faith for both of them, and puts his hand on hers. She says she wishes everyone felt that way.

Madison hands Nina a stack of messages and tells her that the proofs from the shoot are on her desk. No one can locate Pedro; he still hasn’t delivered the dress for the cover. Nina asks her to call the agent and tell them if Pedro doesn’t deliver in 24 hours, he’s off the cover and her roster. She’s not doing this with him again. She looks through the messages and says, these can wait… Really? Olivia? Madison says, she keeps calling, and Nina says she can’t believe Olivia is still harping on the color refresh she gave the fourth-floor bathrooms. And forget about calling the agent. She wants that pleasure herself. Oh, and if Drew Cain calls, she’s not available.

Drew says, Curtis knows he loves Carly. He still loves Carly, but he’s moving on. He’s getting over it. He’s accepted the fact that she’ll always put Jason first and that is exactly why he had to end it. Curtis says, he ended things? Is he sure Carly is okay with that, after everything they’ve been through? Drew put his life on the line for her. Drew says, believe him. They both know it’s for the best. He did them both a favor. Curtis says, that sucks, and Drew says, it does, but he also knows it’s the right decision. The next time he’s in a relationship, he’s going for the brass ring. He wants what Curtis and Portia have. He wants it to be tested, survivable, solid… Curtis says, it’s true. That’s what they have. They’ve definitely been through the fire, and they’re still standing. Drew says he couldn’t be happier for Curtis.

Lucy tells Maxie that she’s just so passionate about her company. Right now, Deception is the most important thing in her life. Maxie says she knows Lucy loves Deception, but so does she, and Lucy says she knows. She has nothing but love and respect for Maxie. That’s why she lured Maxie away from Crimson to join Deception, but this friendship she has with Tracy’s granddaughter sets her teeth on edge. Because she can’t let that harpy ruin everything that she… they worked so hard to build. Maxie says, they built Deception together, and unless they get on the same page and start trusting each other again, Tracy’s not going to have to lift a finger to destroy Deception. They’re going to do it for her. Haven comes back and says, her producer agrees with her. Lucy is not a suitable replacement for Sasha, so their segment is cancelled.

Diane asks if Jason wants her to put him in touch with a real estate agent, and he asks, why? She says, to find him a place to live? but he says he has a place to live. She says, a rented room above Bobbie’s? and he says, yeah. He likes it there. She says, if he changes his mind, and if she can convince Nina to sell, he’ll have a whole hotel of rooms to choose from. He says he likes where he is, and she asks if he signed the papers her assistant dropped off last night. He says he didn’t get any papers, and she asks what he’s talking about. Her assistant was supposed to bring them to him last night. Carly walks in holding the envelope, and Diane says, this looks familiar, taking it from her. Carly says, Diane’s assistant came by Bobbie’s, and she said she would bring them over, but she got sidetracked. Diane puts them on Jason’s desk and tells him, start signing. He doesn’t need a notary. She’ll pick them up from him the next time she sees him… which she thinks will be soon. She’s off. She leaves and Carly asks if Jason is okay. Jason says he’s good and thanks her for bringing the papers by. She says, that was just an excuse. She wanted to see him. He asks if something happened, and she says she did something he’s not going to like.

Sasha says, if she was thinking about going back to Deception, and just hearing him say that made her stomach drop… He says he guesses that’s a clear answer, and she says she doesn’t want to do something she dreads. Besides, Deception has already moved on. They have a new Face, and booked a new segment on Home & Heart. Today, actually. He says, no regrets? and she says, not one. She may not know what she wants to do, but she knows what she doesn’t want to. He says, that’s progress. When she does figure out what she wants, let him know.

Alexis says, Molly is worried if her appeal is denied, she’ll start drinking again, and Gregory asks if she thinks that could happen. She says she’s an alcoholic. A lapse is always possible. Maybe that’s why she downplayed it so much, because she’s worried the disappointment might… He says, might destroy her? and she says, it’s destroyed her before, and Molly had a front row seat. The life she’s rebuilt doesn’t get her pulse racing, but it’s steady. And she worried if she gets her hopes up, it might be too big of a gamble, and she’s worked too hard for her sobriety. So is this a risk she can afford?

Tracy says, it may be old school, but no spouse or partner worth their salt is going to want to live on their other half’s money, and Brook says, Tracy has dealt with this her entire life, hasn’t she? Tracy says, the family money has given her a lot of advantages, but it’s also caused her a lot of pain. Brook says, those men are idiots. How could anyone look at Tracy and only see dollar signs? She’s an amazing woman, filled with wit and depth and beauty and surprising sensitivity. If those guys couldn’t see that, it’s their loss. Tracy says, yep, she’s a catch. So is Brook. Brook says, not that the Quartermaines are poster children for happy marriages. Look at Edward and Lila. Yeah, they were in love, but how many times did he cheat on her? Tracy says, too many, and Brook says, and Alan and Monica. Tracy says, both serial cheaters and they argued about it the whole time. Brook says, her father was a bigamist. He was married to her mother and Katherine Bell at the same time. Tracy asks, what’s her point? and Brook says, what if she and Chase follow the same pattern? What if their marriage is doomed already?

On the phone, Nina says, they are in charge of the kitchen. Is that correct?… She may have authorized the slightly cutting back of the service staff, but she did not intend for the room service orders to arrive cold. Outside her office, Madison tells Diane that Nina can’t be disturbed. If she likes, Madison can make her an appointment. Diane says she wouldn’t, and barges into Nina’s office, Madison following her. Nina says she expects the room service to maintain the same high standards as the rest of the hotel. She thanks them and Madison says she’s sorry. She told Diane… Nina says, that’s all right. She understands Miss Miller does not like to take no for an answer. Madison leaves, and Nina says, if Diane is here for the divorce papers, she’s wasted her time. Diane says she’s actually here to make an offer on the hotel. She has a client who is interested in purchasing Nina’s half of the MetroCourt, and willing to do it at 3% over market value. Nina asks, who’s the client? and Diane says, Jason Morgan.

Carly says, he was just lying there, and Jason says, and she got out of the car. That’s too big of a risk to take. She says she couldn’t just leave him there. Besides, the muggers took off after she blasted her horn. Anyway, she grabbed John and took him back to his room at the MetroCourt. She spent the night there, waking him up every two hours to make sure he was okay. Jason says, he was jumped a block away from here, and she says, yes, but they didn’t steal anything. They just beat him up. He asks what she’s thinking, and she says she’s thinking it wasn’t a mugging. Maybe it was Sonny.

Lucy says, Haven can’t just cancel their segment, but Haven says, this is live TV. She can’t go on air with an amateur. Lucy laughs and says she hosted the General Hospital Nurses Ball for years and years. And it was on a stage and on camera and she raised millions of dollars for GH. Haven says, congratulations, but she won’t be selling face cream on Home & Heart today. Maxie says, if Haven cancels their segment, what is she going to put in its place? And why would she turn her back on a sure thing? Haven says, they have lots of pre-taped segments. This isn’t the first time this has ever happened. And with Sasha, it was a sure thing. With Lucy, a whole other story. Maxie says, Deception is her highest earner. Haven said so herself. All of their segments have sold out. So will this one.

Gregory tells Alexis, risk is a funny thing. You don’t want to do it unnecessarily, but then again, you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t do it at all. Trust him when he tells her, the things you regret at the end of your life are not the things you tried to do and failed at. It’s the chances you didn’t take. Say she gets reinstated and she’s back doing the thing she loves. Let’s say she doesn’t. She’ll still know she gave it her best effort. And that’s its own reward. Her taking this chance is like skydiving was for him. She says, terrifying? but he says, life affirming.

Carly tells Jason that Cates stopped by Bobbie’s a couple of times, and she just assumed he was working her for information about Sonny, but he never asked her anything significant. But when she told Sonny, he was furious. The way he was toward Jason the other night after his arraignment. Jason says, she thinks Sonny had Cates beat up, and she says she definitely thinks it’s possible. Sonny hates him. And not because he’s an FBI agent, but because of the history they have. She knows the basics about what happened with Karen Wexler, but Sonny regrets it. And Jason knows, when Sonny regrets something, he’s volatile. And on top of that, John was Stone’s older brother and Sonny feels like John abandoned Stone. So she thinks it’s possible Sonny would be targeting Cates. Jason says, John Cates is an FBI agent (in case we didn’t know), and assaulting an FBI agent is a federal crime and Sonny knows that. She says, Sonny knows it. He doesn’t care.

Nina asks, since when has Jason Morgan been interested in the hotel business? and Diane says she’s just here to make the offer. Nina says she would imagine this is for Carly. Does he know whose bed Carly was in last night? He might change his mind. Diane says, interested or not interested? when there’s a knock at the door. Nina says, come in, and Madison says she’s so sorry to interrupt, but accounting needs Nina to sign off on the ad rates. Nina finds the folder and Madison leaves. Diane says she imagines it must be so difficult to run both Crimson and the MetroCourt, and Nina says she loves them both. Diane says she hadn’t realized Nina was interested in the mundane. Cranky guests, plumbing issues, all that tableware and linen to keep track of… Well, she’ll leave Nina to it. She starts to leave, and Nina says, 15% over market. Diane says, four.

Tracy says she doesn’t believe Brook’s marriage is doomed. Just be aware of it. What she thinks is reasonable, Chase may think is extravagant. Like public school versus private school. Brook says she hears Tracy, and Tracy says, as long as she understands that they have very different frames of reference about money, they’ll be okay… on that front. Chase really loves her. Brook says she loves him too. She’s sorry Tracy wasn’t treated with more respect. Tracy says, it’s true. She kissed a lot of frogs. She even exchanged vows with some of them. But in the end, she got her prince. Her marriage to Luke started with blackmail, but it ended with a true partnership. They were equals. Luke accepted her for her. He loved her and she did the same for him. Brook says, it sounds like she was very lucky. Tracy says, she was, and so is Brook. They hug.

Brook says she thinks she and Chase will make it, and Tracy says she certainly hopes so. And whatever happens, she’s always on Brook’s side. Brook says, back atcha, and Tracy says, now she has to get down to the stables because she’s riding again. Brook says, have fun, and Tracy thanks her. Brook says, good talk, and Tracy says, anytime.

Sasha says, very funny, and seeing all the pieces of hay in her hair, Cody asks, what happened to her? She says, Ranger, and he laughs and says, she got a whole bag of tricks. Not a mean bone in his body though. She says, he’s a sweetheart, except messy, and he asks if she’s sure she doesn’t want to reconsider Deception, as he picks the hay out of her hair. She says, can he imagine if Haven de Havilland saw her now?

Haven says she’s here today with Lucy Coe, founder of Deception. Welcome, Lucy. So tell us what fabulous product you have for us today. Lucy thanks Haven and says, in fact, she’s so happy to bring them their brand-new face cream for the woman on the go. It is super moisturizing and goes on like a dream. It’s lightweight and you put this on just one time, and you’re good for the whole day. Haven says, sounds like her kind of moisturizer. She’s so busy and definitely on the go. Lucy says, tell her about it. No one is busier than she is. Besides running Deception of course (🍷), she has a thriving real estate business, and she was also, for many years, on the advisory board of ELQ. On the side, Maxie starts looking miffed, and Lucy says, and her vote kind of contributed to major decisions… Just recently though, that’s changed, but that’s a long story. She can tell them all about it later, but she thinks the viewers probably recognize her the most for being the mistress of ceremonies at the General Hospital Nurses Ball for many years… well, actually until last year. She wasn’t, because… Maxie looks like she has a headache and a half.

Alexis tells Gregory, that parachute jump was euphoric. And she almost backed out. When she forced herself to do it, she realized, until then, she’d been living in fear, and she doesn’t want to do that anymore, so she has to try. He says he thinks they call that resilience, which is also life affirming. And as far as he’s concerned, whether she ever practices law again or not, she already won.

Drew thanks Curtis for coming by. He really wants to discuss this fitness/wellness idea further. Curtis says, definitely. He still can’t believe Nina came at Drew like that. Drew says, it’s all good. She knew what she was doing. Curtis says, maybe. He thinks she’s still hurting over Sonny. Go easy on her. Drew says he and Nina have reached an understanding. They’ve made accommodations with each other. (Is that what the kids are calling it now?)

Nina says, nine. Take it or leave it. Diane says she will take it back to Jason, and Nina says, this might be a little premature. She knows they’re talking about price, but she hasn’t made up her mind to sell, so she needs to think about it. Diane says, the offer won’t be on the table indefinitely, and Nina says, if Jason wants the hotel so badly, he can wait.

Jason asks if that’s why Carly took care of Cates, to make up for what she thinks Sonny did? She says, no. She was just trying to help. It wasn’t until after when she thought about it, and she realized it could have been Sonny. He says, there’s nothing she can do about it. So here’s the thing. Cates is either going to figure it out or he’s not. The best thing she can do is just stay out of this. She says, yeah… That could be a problem. He says, why? and she says she told him, Last night she spent the night in John’s room, in a chair. But this morning, she ordered room service, and when she opened the door to get the tray, John came out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel, and Nina was standing right there, and she saw him. She left a vapor trail straight to Michael and Drew. It’s only going to be a matter of time before Nina tells the entire world that she spent the night with John Cates, including Sonny.

On Monday (unless there’s another eclipse), Brook tells Maxie not to give up yet, she’s got one more Hail Mary; Tracy says, if there’s a problem with it, Cody is out on his hind end; Ava tells Nina that she’s sure it’s progress; and Jason tells Carly that he doesn’t think Sonny would see it that way.

🎭 Old Gig, New Gig…

I’ve never seen this show, but I remember seeing the title in the guide listings.

This looks promising.

💫 What Goes Around…

It would only be fitting, since the replaced a soap. Now can we say goodbye to The View?

👄 Knotty Girls…

And Donna Mills is another one. She’s 83. Is it her vitamins? Something in the water? What? She has no right to look that good. I’m just kidding though. Good on her and Morgan Fairchild.

💃🏿 Back With the Wind…

It might be a season worth watching with Phaedra and Kenya returning.

🏊‍♀️ Another Awful Summer…

Warning: sarcasm ahead. I just can’t understand how things fell apart when Lindsay was in love enough with Carl to make him a sandwich. If you follow this awful nonsense, you might remember many seasons ago when Lindsay’s boyfriend, whose name has been blessedly wiped from my mind, wanted her to make him a sandwich and she went out of her mind. I’m embarrassed to even know that. Then we have Kyle and Amanda who are married, but living on different planets. Run, Amanda, run! Paige and Craig seem to be the only sane ones right now, but we’ll see what happens the next time he brings up marriage.

If you must have more.

🪀 Rebounding From the Rebound…

Ugh. I hate guys like Schwartz. He thinks it’s friends with benefits, while she thinks it’s something more, but he doesn’t dare say anything because he doesn’t want to lose her. Usually, those types don’t say I love you, for which I give them credit, but not good old Schwartzy. He’ll say anything to keep things status quo, which makes him even worse. No surprise he bounced quickly to an actual girlfriend. No doubt he doesn’t like being alone with himself. The good news? He ditched the blond look.

🍸 Giving Them Reunion…

I’m not sure how Lala didn’t fare well. She had zip to be embarrassed about this season. I don’t think I could forgive Sandoval, but I understand why she is. I also understand why she’s getting annoyed with Ariana. Not that I blame Ariana for still being pissed off. I would be too. But to act all middle school and say, if you hang out with him, you’re dead to me, is ridiculous since they’re all in the unique situation of having to deal with each other for the show. What she really wants is for Sandoval to be off the show, but that doesn’t look likely. Instead, she should just rub his nose in the best revenge of living well, instead of snarking at him every chance she gets and acting like she’s a queen banishing a subject. It’s not a good look and could backfire on her eventually.

🎰 Speaking Of Reunions…

Viva Las Vegas. What’s the matter? NYC not good enough for him anymore? And 2024?

🍻 Two Dogs and a Cat Walk Into a Bar…

As Reggie said in Strays, poop for your freedom!

https://people.com/united-airlines-flight-forced-to-divert-after-dog-pooped-in-first-class-aisle-8629565

Get rid of the dude. Keep the dog.

https://people.com/woman-refuses-to-give-away-dog-even-though-boyfriend-allergic-8630181

Do you know this kitteh?

https://people.com/authorities-search-for-owner-of-lost-cat-in-strawberry-dress-8629238

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. – Dalai Lama

You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.Marie Curie

A little progress each day adds up to big results. – Satya Nani

Clichés are tropes because they’re true. – Wesley Fists (Austin Crute), Daybreak

Make the choice to embrace this day. Do not let your TODAY be stolen by the ghost of yesterday or the “To-Do” list of tomorrow! It’s inspiring to see all the wonderfully amazing things that can happen in a day in which you participate. – Steve Maraboli

People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. – Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you. – Lao Tzu

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.Gilbert K. Chesterton

I don’t care to eat a chicken foot. – Karen Everett, The Family Chantel

✈️ Absence Makes Someone Not Here…

Take a cuppla days off, then visit again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and not Jill on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not fixing it if it ain’t broke, and stay remembering that the things you regret at the end of your life are not the things you tried to do and failed at. It’s the chances you didn’t take.

December 1, 2023 – Ava Spills To Nina, Posing, Side Gig, Shade On, VanderUpdate, Parade Pics, Windows, Finale Of Fear, More Turkey, Holiday Pets (!), Just Over 8 Quotes & Philly

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook walks into the nook where Lois is chopping vegetables. Lois says, there’s her girl, and Brook says, okay, but Lios says she can do better than that. Where’s her main squeeze? Brook asks if she means Chase, and Lois says, no, her other main squeeze. Yes, Chase. Brook says, he’s probably halfway to Canada by now after grandma’s tirade on marriage.

Kristina shows Molly into her apartment and tells her to stay there while she secures the necessary provisions. She leaves and comes back with two glasses and a bottle of wine. Molly is still standing by the door, and Kristina says she didn’t expect her to still be in the same position. She leads Molly to the sofa and says, talk to her. What happened? Molly says she realized she’s never been here before.

Elizabeth and Finn are having dinner at the PC Grill (the restaurant of the moment), and Elizabeth wonders if they’re celebrating a special occasion. He says, that depends, and she says, on? He says, whether you deem the calm before the storm special.

A tall, impeccably groomed, well-dressed man walks up to the counter at Kelly’s and Carly welcomes him. She asks if she can get him something, and speaking with a British accent, he says he certainly hopes so.

Sonny and Dex walk into Pozzulo’s, and Dex says, Hume would have been waiting for Sonny if they’d have let him. Sonny asks if he was alone, and Dex says, just him and his briefcase, which he can only assume was full of cash like last time. Sonny says, okay, let’s hear what Pikeman has to say, and takes out his phone.

At Windymere, va opens the door to Nina, who says she’s completely freaked out. Ava sounded frantic. What’s going on? Ava says, this arrived in the mail today, handing her the note with the picture of dead Austin.

Elizabeth says she takes it that it didn’t go well with the hospital lawyer. What’s her name again? Finn says, Dede Clark. It went fine on the surface. She talked a lot about cooperation and implied they’re all in this together on the malpractice suit, and that he could do his part just by answering some questions. She says, but underneath? and he says, the more questions she asked, the more clear it became that GH’s plan is to sacrifice him and save themselves.

Kristina says, that can’t be true, but Molly says, it is. Think about it. Whenever they hang out, Kristina comes to her place, or they meet up at mom’s or Sam’s or a restaurant somewhere. Never here. Kristina says, Molly’s never been to her apartment (neither have we), and Molly says, no. Kristina says, that is weird. Well, welcome. Molly thanks her, and Kristina says, for the record, it’s not like she’s throwing parties or entertaining. Her kitchen is essentially a barren desert. It’s easier to go out. She pours the wine, and Molly says, Kristina doesn’t have to defend herself, but Kristina says, doesn’t she? Molly is her sister and hasn’t even seen her apartment. She hopes Molly knows it’s not intentional. She now has an open invitation, any time she wants to come here, day or night. Molly says, be careful. She just might take her up on that. Kristina says, she better, and they clink glasses.

Lois tells Brook, tirade is a bit of a stretch, and Canada is not that far away. Doesn’t she think she’s being a little overdramatic? Brook says, no. After some of the things grandma said to Chase, she can’t even go there. It was mortifying. Lois says, it’s a good thing to know, nobody ever died from embarrassment, and it didn’t seem to bother Chase all that much. Brook says, he was being polite, but Brook says, or maybe he was seeing Gloria for who she is, a meddling Italian grandmother whose views on modern relationships are stuck in the 1800s. Lois says, exactly, and Brook says, she and Chase have never even discussed marriage. They just moved in together. Lois says, indicating that marriage is probably the next step, but Brook says, they’re nowhere near that step and that’s okay by her. Lois says, good to know, and Brook says, it is good. Lois tells Brook that she just said that, and Brook says, she and Chase are perfectly happy the way things are. Chase walks in with a bottle of wine, and Lois says, he made it.  

The man tells Carly that he’s in Port Charles on business, and he has a craving for a burger. The concierge at his hotel recommended this place. Carly says, he must be staying at the MetroCourt, and he says, she knows it. She says she knows it well, and he says, if he were staying somewhere else, would they also recommend Kelly’s? She says, absolutely. Kelly’s is a Port Charles institution, and they have the best burgers in town, if she does say so herself. He says, wild guess. She works here. She says she owns the place, third generation. So how does he like his burger?

Nina looks at the photo and says, is this real? Ava says, as real as it gets. Austin is dead. Nina asks, how? and Ava says, he was shot to death in Pautuck. Look. She shows Nina the envelope and says, a Port Charles postmark. It could have been sent by anyone. Nina asks if it was just the picture, but Ava says, no. It came with this sweet little note. She gives Nina the paper that says, you’re welcome, and Nina says she doesn’t understand. Ava says, join the club, and Nina says, clearly, the killer wrote this. Oh my God. Would they just assume Ava would be grateful Austin’s dead? Ava says, that’s her guess, and Nina says, she has to take this to the police. Ava snatches them back and says, no. That’s the last thing she’s going to do.

Sonny says, before Hume gets here, how long did Dex tail Austin? Dex says, only when that nanny was working for Sonny. Betty? Sonny asks if anyone called Dex on it, and Dex says, a couple of times at the hospital, he was asked what he was doing there, but he always had a cover. Sonny asks if he roughed Austin up, and Dex says, when Ava disappeared, he questioned Austin. He stonewalled, Dex put him in a headlock and told him if Ava wasn’t back, he’d be back for him. Sonny says, that could be a problem. Austin was murdered and if anyone saw Dex threaten him, they could assume he did it.

Ava says, Dante has already been out here to question her, and Nina asks, why? Because of Austin? Ava pours drinks and says, there’s so much Nina doesn’t know. Nina says, then fill her in, and Ava asks if Nina remembers walking in on her and Sonny having an intense conversation a few months ago, and Nina says, yeah. She asked what was going on, and neither of them would tell her. Ava says she was being blackmailed, and Nina asks, for what? Ava says, when Nikolas went missing, she had every reason to believe he was dead, and Nina asks her to define every reason. Ava says she thought she’d killed him, and Nina says, oh my God. Ava says, he came here, and he was in a rage. He was threatening to disappear and take Avery with him. She had to do what she had to do to stop him, and she grabbed a statue and she hit him. She just wanted to stop him, that’s all, but he fell. He stopped moving and she panicked. She thought he was dead. Nina says, thank God she was wrong, and Ava says she was trying to hide his body when Austin found her. He told her that he’d help her cover it up. Then the body disappeared, and Austin’s cousin Mason claimed he had it. He said he would bring it to the police if she didn’t do everything he told her to do. Nina says, so Austin’s cousin Mason was blackmailing Ava because she killed Nikolas, but he wasn’t actually dead? and Ava says, but Mason wasn’t acting alone. It turned out, Austin was working with him.

Dex says, after questioning Austin about Ava, he never went near him again, and Sonny says, if the cops decide Dex is a suspect – and that’s a big if – tell them that he’s not talking to anybody without his attorney present, and that includes his son Dante. Dex says, understood, and Sonny says he takes care of his people. If Dex gets picked up, he has the best representation. Dex says he appreciates that, and Sonny says, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. The less attention the cops pay to Dex, the more valuable Dex is to him.

Carly presents the man with his burger and says, tell her what he thinks. Don’t spare her feelings. He takes a bite, and she says she wants to know the real deal. He makes happy food noises and says, talk about the real deal. She says, really? and he says, it’s delicious. It’s full of flavor, perfectly cooked. She tells him to enjoy his dinner. She looks at the door and says, not again, and they turn to see a homeless man hanging around the doorway. She goes outside.

Carly tells the man that he can’t be out here, and he asks her not to call the cops, but she says, that’s not what she means. It’s too cold. He needs to come inside.

Kristina asks if Molly wants to tell her what happened, and Molly says, shoot. She had a folder at the park. It’s filled with really personal information… Kristina says she’s got it. She picked it up from the ground when they were leaving. Molly thanks her and says, she’s a life saver. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and takes the folder out of her bag, giving it to Molly. What’s in it? She doesn’t have to share that. It’s 100% her right. Molly says, no, it’s fine. Open it. Kristina looks inside and says, surrogacy candidates. She doesn’t understand. Is there something wrong with them? Molly says, there’s something wrong with her, and Kristina says, watch it. That’s my sister you’re talking about. Molly says she has this whole folder of potential new surrogates and TJ has no clue she’s even looking at them.

Lois brings out glasses and thanks Chase for the wine. She says, it’s very thoughtful of him, and he asks if she wants him to open it. She says, is the Pope Catholic? and tells him to pour while she works. She goes back to the cutting board, and Chase asks if they have a corkscrew. Brook gets it for him, and he asks what they were talking about. Lois says, you, and Brook says, you and Blaze. And how you used to sing together and now she sings alone. Speaking of which, what does he think of her new song?… Hello? Chase says he’s sorry. He got distracted. It’s amazing how Lois can do all that with those nails. Lois says, there’s nothing she can’t do with these nails.

Elizabeth says, Finn has to separate the hospital from the hospital’s lawyers. Sure, it may be a good legal strategy to use him as a scapegoat, but Portia and Terry would never, and she’s sure the Board would follow suit. He says he doesn’t know anymore. If the Muldoons can prove that the hospital somehow knew he was negligent and turned a blind eye, it’s possible they’d be liable for damages. Martin thinks GH’s best plan is to say that he was negligent, but he acted without the knowledge of the hospital. She says, but he wasn’t negligent and he’s going to explain that to a jury when he testifies. They’ll have to be sympathetic to him. He says, really? Has she met him?

Finn says, his testimony alone could tank the case, and Elizabeth tells him, says who? He tells her, says his lawyer; he said it a bunch of times. She says, that’s ridiculous, and he says, really? She says, if Martin Grey doesn’t believe in Finn, fire him, and Finn says, Martin does believe in him, but he’s also a lawyer. Good lawyers point out the landmines. This case at the core is about a grieving family who are looking for answers, and really, can you blame them? She says, of course (🍷) not, and he says, then it’s possible a jury might feel that way too. She says, and it’s possible to have empathy for the family, and realize their loss wasn’t his fault. He says he doesn’t know. He just feels that when he gets on the stand, the jury’s sympathies are going to be with the Muldoons, and the only way he can win them over is to get them to… like him. She says, he did it with her and she’s a way tougher sell. A bunch of strangers? Cakewalk. He says he doesn’t know whether to take that as a pep talk, but all he heard was, she likes him. She says, very much so.

Chase asks if Lois is sure she doesn’t need any help, but she tells him, just sit back and relax and enjoy the wine, which is very good by the way. Brook says, it’s delicious, and Chase says he’s got a guy. Lois says, he’s got a wine guy? and Brook says, it’s true. His recommendations are always on point. Lois says, good to know, and she’s very glad the two of them can join her for dinner. Chase thanks her for the invite, and she says, it gives her a chance to get to know him better. And to apologize for all things Gloria. He says, get out of here, and she says, not really apologize, because God knows she loves her mother, but she does know she could be a bit much. Brook says, a bit? and Lois says, but she means well. Her mother is a romantic. She’s in love with love, and for a woman from her generation, if you’re in love, you put a ring on it. Brook chokes on her wine.

Molly tells Kristina that she was contacted by the matching professional about looking for a new surrogate, and she was excited about getting things going again. Kristina asks if TJ felt differently, and Molly says, when she told him, he said it was too soon. Kristina says, too soon for whom? and Molly says, for him. For them, she guesses. He’s not ready to get back on that roller coaster again. Kristina asks how Molly feels about that, and Molly says, deflated… frustrated. This whole thing is bad enough, but to not be on the same page as your partner. Anyway, she ran into Dr. Navarro when she was leaving the hospital, and she says so kind and steady, and she really put things in perspective. Kristina asks what the doctor said, and Molly tells her, basically, the risk of miscarriage is the chance that you take, no matter who’s carrying the child. But when you weigh that against the chance of actually having a baby, so many people have had success through surrogacy. She wants to be one of those people. Kristina takes her hand, and Molly says, she took the meeting alone. Kristina asks if it was productive, and Molly says, it was, until mom showed up.

The homeless man tells Carly that he’d rather stay outside. He doesn’t like being around too many people. She says, at least let her bring him something to eat, and he says, really? Carly says, of course (🍷), and he says, that’d be great. Thanks. She says she’ll be right back, and if he changes his mind, the door’s open. She runs inside and goes directly to the kitchen, as the man at the counter watches.

Nina says, she didn’t know Austin well, obviously, but he seemed to really care about Ava. Ava says she thought so too. She thought Austin was someone she could trust. When he tried to convince her that he was being coerced, that he didn’t want to help his cousin, that he was trying to get her out from under the blackmail, she believed him. But Nikolas wasn’t dead, and she’s convinced Austin knew all along. Nina says she just doesn’t get it. What was his endgame? Ava says, per usual, in this underworld at least, all roads lead back to Sonny.

Dex shows Hume into Sonny’s office, and Sonny says, well? Hume says, Pikeman needs him to facilitate another shipment, and Sonny says he thought he made himself clear. He doesn’t do anything for Pikeman unless they tell him who the shooter was at the MetroCourt. Hume says, they’re not the police or the WSB. Pikeman is a manufacturer. Sonny says, that exports merchandise through his channels, and Hume says, and they’re willing – he puts his briefcase on the table and opens it – to pay double this time. We see the briefcase is crammed with stacks of bills.

Kristina asks if Alexis is trying to discourage Kristina from trying again, but Molly says, no. It was just typical mom. She wants what Molly wants. But when Molly told her about taking the meeting without tell TJ… Kristina says, technically, she did consult TJ, but Molly says, Kristina knows what she means. Mom said whatever she and TJ choose to do, they have to make the decision together, but she just has this sinking feeling that TJ might never be ready. So she went to the park to clear her head and ran into Willow and Amelia. It was nice. Willow was really sweet, and she got to hold the baby. Kristina asks if it wasn’t hard for her, and Molly says, at first, but it was so amazing to hold this tiny little human in her arms. Once she left them, she couldn’t stop thinking about how she might never have the child of her own. She wants to be a mom so badly. She starts to cry, and Kristina says she knows Molly does.

Chase asks if Brook is okay, and Brook says she will be once her mom changes the subject. Lois says, in a sec. The biggest thing Chase can take away from all of this is that Gloria obviously likes him. That’s not an easy feat because that’s not a woman you can win over very easily. And for what it’s worth (🍷), Lois likes and approves of him too. Chase says, it’s worth more than she knows, and Lois says, he makes her daughter happy. She can see it in her face. She can hear it in her voice and in the way she moves. As a mother, that’s all she could ask for. Chase says, for the record, her daughter makes him very happy too, when Lois’s phone rings. She says she has to take this and asks Brook to finish up for her. She leaves and Brook asks if Chase brought his shovel for the hole he’s going to dig, where she’s going to hide for the remainder of her days. He asks if she doesn’t think she’s being a little dramatic, and she asks why everyone keeps saying that to her… Do not answer that. She’s so, so sorry. He says, why? He’s not.

Finn says, it’s too bad they can’t clone her and have a whole jury box full of Elizabeths. She says, that’s a terrifying thought, and I laugh at the mental picture. He says, not to him, and she says, truth? He says, sure, and she says, sometimes he can be a little… He says, abrasive… guarded… socially awkward, and she tells him that she was going to say standoffish. But once people get to know him, they see what she sees. He says, and what’s that? and she says, a man of the utmost integrity; a brilliant researcher; a dedicated physician; a loving, sometimes neurotic, father. He says, sometimes? and she says, a person who really cares and a doctor who never quits on his patients… and someone who needs a little work on their maple tapping skills. He says, a lot of work, and she says, he’s saved hundreds of lives, and he has the potential to save so many more. He says, not if he loses this malpractice suit.

Carly takes a to-go bag out the homeless man and says she hopes he likes goat cheese. There are fries in there, she threw in a piece of pie, and here’s a coffee. She hands him a cup, and he thanks her. He asks if it’s okay if he sits out here and eats, and she tells him, of course (🍷), and stay as long as he likes.

She goes back inside to the counter and asks the not-homeless man if he’d like anything else. He says he thought she was going to run that guy off. Instead, she fed him. How come?

Nina asks what Sonny has to do with any of this, and Ava says, Austin and Mason were working for Cyrus Renault. Nina asks if Sonny knows, and Ava says, he’s the one who told her. Nina wonders why he didn’t say something, and Ava says, he doesn’t want Nina involved. God knows she wishes she wasn’t involved. Nina says, so Cyrus is the one who had her kidnapped? and Ava says, yes. He wanted Austin to testify for him at that hearing in Pentenville. Nina says, his hardship release. So he had Mason take Ava hostage to guarantee Austin’s testimony. Ava says, helluva guy, huh? and Nina says, Austin did what Cyrus wanted and testified to save Ava. That means Ava did mean something to him. Ava says, something maybe, but not enough.

Sonny closes the briefcase and tells Hume to take it back to his superiors along with this message – he’s out. He’s not moving anything else for Pikeman for any price. Find another harbor. Hume says he’ll relay the message, and Sonny says, you do that. Hume leaves and Dex closes the office door. Sonny says, Dex is going to have an opinion on what he just did. So what does he think? Dex says he thinks Sonny made a mistake.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he thinks the biggest question is going to be why he didn’t screen Muldoon for more tests that would have indicated the presence of cancer. She says, Finn told her that he wanted to, and Muldoon didn’t want to have any more tests. Finn says, he knows, but they might say something like he didn’t explain it to him fully, or maybe he was open to the tests and Finn just didn’t bother. She says, and what? Finn told him he was fine and pushed him out of his office? Finn tells her that they might say he got busy with his research or other patients. She says, he would never do that, and he says he knows that, and she knows that, but what if the jury doesn’t know that?

Brook says, all this marriage talk has got to be wigging Chase out, and he says he’s not wigged out. And he’s pretty certain no one says that anymore. She says her family just really loves weddings, in an unhealthy co-dependent kind of way, and he asks if she’s been to a lot of them. She says, weddings? Oh yeah. Between the Cerullos and the Falconaris, there are too many to count. He asks what they’re like, and she says, big, loud, enough food to feed an army… and the people there fighting. And the dancing. Nobody dances the tarantella like her grandma. He says he’d love to see that someday, and she says, he will. Not at their wedding… She didn’t mean that. She meant at a wedding, probably one of her gajillion family members. Is it hot in here? She fans herself and he says, she needs to relax, but she says she feels terrible. Everyone’s all up in his grill. He says, nobody’s up in his anything, and she says her grandma has probably already reserved a church for them, but they can’t blame her. It’s all she knows. The moment you turn 18, every nona keeps asking when it’s going to be your turn. So she understands it from her grandma. Or at least she’s trying to. But from her mother? That’s a completely different story.

Counter man says, not to sound callous, but he can’t imagine it’s good for business to have a homeless man hanging around outside, and Carly says, probably not. She did tell him to come inside, but he didn’t want to, so she just brought him some food. He says, that was kind of her, and she says, they wrap up all the unused food and send it to the homeless shelters, so she would have been feeding him anyway. At least this time he’s getting a hot meal. The man says he’ll pay the check when she gets a chance, and can she give this to her friend outside. He hands her some cash, and she says, thanks.

Ava tells Nina that Austin came to see her at the gallery the night he died. When she found out he’d known she was held hostage… He could have gone to Sonny. He could have gone to the cops, but he did nothing. He was silent. She was furious. They fought about it. She told him to leave and he left. Nina says, and that was the last time she saw him? and Ava says, yeah. She just doesn’t have any way to prove it. Nina asks if there aren’t cameras at the gallery. Can’t they prove Ava was there at the time Austin was shot? Ava says, the cameras in the back aren’t working, and that’s where she was most of the night, and Nina says, well, that is going to be an issue. Ava says, even if the cameras were working, she doesn’t think it would help her. That’s why she can’t bring the note and picture to the cops. They’re just going to think she hired somebody to get rid of Austin. Even dead, that man is still making trouble for her.

Sonny says, Dex thinks he should have taken the deal? and Dex says he thinks it’s better to play along than make himself an obstacle that needs to be removed. When he was in Afghanistan, there were a lot of these private security groups there. Sonny says, including Pikeman, and Dex says, these are powerful people. They have connections to all the major security ops, the CIA, the WSB. If they come at Sonny, it may be at a level he hasn’t seen before. Sonny says he appreciates Dex’s insight. He’s already considered all that, and he realizes his best move right now is to get out. He doesn’t want Pikeman investing any more in him. He’s betting that they think he’s more trouble than he’s worth and move on.

Molly says, it’s like she’s lost all self-control, but Kristina says she thinks that’s a good thing. Molly says, that she’s a human walking waterworks? and Kristina says, yes actually. For the first time, Molly’s allowing herself to feel what she feels, without trying to edit it or control it. Being a mom is hugely important to her. Molly says, it’s like she won’t be her if she doesn’t, and Kristina says, that’s really beautiful. Molly says, not if TJ won’t consider these surrogates. And she won’t have a child without him. She won’t do that to him. Kristina takes her hands, and they sit down. She says, TJ will come around. She knows he will, and when he does, let Kristina help her. Let her carry a baby for them.

Chase says he doesn’t want Brook to be mad at her on his account. He thinks she’s awesome. She says, he does? and he says, Brook obviously comes by her beauty and her spark naturally. Brook thanks him for the compliment and for just being overall amazing. How’d she get so lucky? He says he asks himself that every day… about how he got lucky, not her. (Ha-ha!) She suggests they agree they’re both lucky, and he asks what she say were the three most important moments of her life. She says, when she scored Jonas Brothers tickets in 2010, and he says he’s being serious. Humor him. She says, all right. The last time she ever saw her great-grandfather Edward; that’s a big one. The first time she ever wrote a song, and when she gained a little brother in Leo. He says he wants this moment right now to be on that list, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, Brook Lynn Quartermaine – he gets down on one knee, taking her hands – will you marry me?

Finn pulls his chair closer to Elizabeth and says, she called him caring. She says, because he is, and he says he thinks he knows that somewhere deep down. He also doesn’t like being questioned or doubted, and when he gets defensive, he gets awkward. These jurors aren’t medical professionals, and this medical jargon thing will go right over their heads, and the only thing that’s going to resonate with them is that this man is dead, and his family is grieving. And there’s this doctor on the stand saying he did everything right. She tries to interrupt, but he says, no. What if he would have pushed harder for Muldoon to get those tests? Made him. Demanded he get that colonoscopy. Would Muldoon still be alive? She says, no one can answer that question. But what she can tell him is, all they can do as medical professionals is their best, and he did that. She knows that. So they need to teach him how to project that inward kindness outward, so the jury will believe him and maybe even like him. He asks if that’s even possible and she says she thinks… Yeah. They’ve got their work cut out for him. They kiss.

Kristina takes Molly’s hand and says she knows Molly was originally against it when she offered to be their surrogate. And admittedly, she hadn’t really thought it through, not fully. Maybe there was a part of her that wanted to swoop in and be the hero. Molly tells her, when she said that before, that was her pain talking. She was disappointed and bitter that Kristina could carry a child and she couldn’t. But that was unfair and she’s sorry. Kristina says she’s sorry Molly is going through this at all, and she’s sorry Molly lost her first baby. Molly says, it’s not Kristina’s job to fix it for them, and Kristina says she doesn’t think it is. Not at all. That’s not the way she sees it. Bringing Molly’s child into this world is something she can and truly wants to give her. Not just for Molly, but for this baby who’s going to be in this family with the most incredible parents. Molly says, she’s absolutely positive? and Kristina says, 100%, no backsies. Molly says, now she knows Kristina means business, and Kristina says she does. Molly says she has to talk to TJ about it; they have to be together on this. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and Molly says, no matter what they decide it means everything that Kristina has offered. Molly thanks her, and Kristina says she loves Molly. They hug, and Molly says she loves Kristina too.

Ava looks at the photo of dead Austin, then picks up the note and puts them both in the fireplace. She watches them burn.

Dex says, so Sonny will end his association with Pikeman and hope they cut their losses, when there’s a knock at the door. Nina comes in and says, Frank told her that she could come in. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and Nina says she just came from Ava’s. She knows about Austin and Ava said he was working with Cyrus. More importantly, she said Cyrus still may be after Sonny. Sonny says, damn. Ava has no business telling her that. Nina says, no, she doesn’t really. The person she should hear it from is him.

Carly thanks the man for coming by, calling him Mr. Brennan (I guess he used a credit card). She hopes they see him again at Kelly’s soon, and he says he can practically guarantee it. He gathers up his things and heads for the door, when Hume comes in. He tells Brennan, we have a problem. Corinthos refuses to move any more of our shipments.

On Monday, Brook says, let’s take the topic off the table and forget it ever came up; Ned says, if he doesn’t figure out how to stop him, Michael will push him out; Molly wants TJ to hear her out first; Blaze asks if Kristina wants to celebrate; and Nina tells Sonny that she’ll do whatever she can to make sure someone comes home.

📸 Meant For More…

I never knew this. That photo doesn’t even look like him.

💣 Happier Villainy…

I still haven’t seen this, but it looks like a fun show.

💎 Shades Of Mess…

While I don’t normally side with Erika, I thought this was weird too. Denise seemed drunk. Maybe she was. Maybe there’s something we don’t know. First world problems.

🍸 Take Two…

If anyone still cares.

🍂 Goodbye Autumn…

In case you didn’t see the parade.

🎁 Switching Gears…

Another thing better seen online. You would not believe how crowded this stuff gets. The tree lighting looked insane.

⚰️ Rehashing the Dead…

All about the Fear finale. The best part – if you haven’t seen it, major spoiler – Skidmark made it! Even better, when he showed up, secretly thanks to Alicia, Daniel just asked, where have you been? No, how the hell did you appear out of thin air after disappearing for years? Or even, what are the odds? It was a great moment. It was a great finale. Nothing left unsaid.

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-series-finale-kim-dickens-interview-8402455

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-colman-domingo-reacts-to-victor-strand-finale-ending-8403734

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-showrunners-explain-alycia-debnam-carey-finale-return-8404001

🦃 Twice the Thanks…

I saw Thanksgiving for my birthday. They were giving out swag and I got a poster.

While it was a good time, and Eli Roth is a great director, this news surprised me.

https://people.com/thanksgiving-slasher-film-getting-sequel-2025-director-eli-roth-8409658

🫏 Practice Run…

Warming up for pets dressed as Santa, Santa’s elves, the Grinch, and whatever other humiliating holiday costume their pet parent can find.

I have no clue who these people are, but their celebrities somewhere and they have cute pets.

https://push.abs-cbn.com/2022/12/24/celebrities-flex-their-pets-on-christmas-day-1413

🐳 Quotes of the Week

My songs will pass and be forgotten. What counts, however, is that I sang them. – Father Andrew Greeley

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.Lou Holtz

Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment.Arthur Jersild

No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has. – Henry Ward Beecher

No matter who you are, we’re creatures of habit. The better your habits are, the better they will be in pressure situations. – Wayne Gretzky

The world needs a-holes. Otherwise, where would the sh*t go out? – Dusan Mirkovic (Christoph Waltz), Downsizing

If you’re going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now. – Marie Osmond (Who knew she was such a philosopher?)

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.Ann Landers

Tomorrow I’m going to feel the pounds. – Andrei Castravet, 90 Day Fiancé, The Other Way: Pillow Talk

🐹 On the Holiday Hamster Wheel…

Take some time to stop and smell the pine needles this weekend, and join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and that mess in the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping realistic expectations of yourself and others, and stay allowing yourself to feel what you feel, without trying to edit it or control it.

May 4, 2023 – More Rescue Comes To Greenland, Replacement, It’s a Wrap, Striking, VanderBits, All About That Met, Runway Roach, That Cat & Cantina

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny meets Nina at Kelly’s, and asks if she’s thinking about Willow. She asks if it’s that obvious, and he says, Willow is Nina’s daughter; they’re all thinking about her. She says she doesn’t suppose he has news, and he says, on Liesl and everybody else? No, unfortunately. But he’s been doing some digging on who tipped off the SEC about Carly and Drew’s insider trading. (D’oh!) She asks what he found.

Carly tells TJ, it was exhaustion, right? First, there was all the excitement from the wedding, then the SEC showing up. The whole day sapped Willow of her energy. That’s why she passed out, right? TJ says, it could be exhausting for sure, especially for someone in her condition, and Michael says, but? TJ says he’s afraid it’s more than that.

Dex and Josslyn spoon on her bed, while looking at her laptop. She closes it, and says she’s sorry. She knows they put this on for distraction. Between Trina and Willow, now her mom and Drew… He says he gets it. It’s too much. She says, what if Drew and Liesl don’t make it back? and he says, one thing he learned in the military is, you have to hold onto hope, even in the worst of circumstances. You never know when the tide can shift. She says, could it shift now, please? Hope. He says, it’s powerful, and she says, then she’ll hold onto it, and pray Drew gets everybody home safely. He has to. Willow’s life depends on it.

Somewhere in Greenland. Spencer says, his grandmother is on the island with Drew, and Curtis says he’ll find them, come hell or high water. Trina says she knows Spencer’s grandmother is supposed to be a badass, but she faked out Victor Cassadine? Curtis says, it almost makes you feel sorry for the guy. Almost.

Victor tells his goons to stand down, and Drew says, very wise. Victor says, if Laura drops it, she dies, and Laura says, but so does he. She’s thinking it just might be worth it.

Helena says, there’s no way out, at least not earthly, and Valentin says, death. She says, what is death but another country? Come my son, let me take you away from everything, and everyone.

Victor says, Laura has no idea the power she has in her hands right now, and she holds up the vial, saying, she thinks she does. He tells her, then think of Willow. If Liesl dies, so does her innocent niece. Laura says, better to lose one innocent life than a whole world of them. She lifts the vial higher and away from herself, and he asks what she’s doing. She says, saving humanity.

Carly asks, what made Willow collapse tonight? but TJ says, Dr. Randolph is the specialist. He doesn’t want to say too much before they speak with her. Michael says he trusts TJ, and more important, Willow trusts him. Just tell them what’s going on. TJ says, Willow has some bleeding that’s not clotting, and Michael says, because of her low blood cell count. TJ says, they’ll be giving her something to get it under control, but all of this is an indication that her body’s breaking down, and she can’t produce enough cells to fight it. Michael says, they all get that they’re running out of time. Most important, he needs to know, what are they going to do about it?

Josslyn tells Dex that she keeps thinking about Willow’s wedding. For a while, nothing else mattered. Just the way they looked at each other, and the promises they made. What if Drew and Liesl don’t make it back in time? I think about how much I like Josslyn’s sweater, and Dex says, Drew Cain is an ex-Navy SEAL, remember? Those guys more than anyone know how to finish the job. She says she believes Drew’s going to get everybody home safe, but when he does, he and her mom have the SEC breathing down their necks. He says, Sonny’s working on that, and she says, that’s great. Sonny’s got the SEC following a false trail, and bought some more time – for now. But even if everything works out, and everything goes according to plan, Sonny’s going to end up in prison. Is Dex having second thoughts about that?

Sonny tells Nina, so far he’s come up empty, but whoever tipped off the SEC about Carly and Drew is going to be uncovered. He has his contacts at the SEC, and they’re trying to figure out what kind of case they have against Drew. That’s if he comes back. She tells him not to say that. Drew has to bring everybody back. He has to bring Aunt Liesl back, or else Willow… He says he’s praying for that. She knows he prays. But the SEC isn’t going to wait for Carly. She asks if they might charge Carly even without Drew here, and he says he doesn’t know about the rest of them, but he’s going to make sure Carly isn’t left holding the bag. She says, what if that’s not possible?

Hersley says, come on, Scorpio, as he takes Robert to the elevator, Felicia trailing them. Robert says, let him talk to the director, but Hersley says, if he’s referring to Frisco Jones, he’s been replaced. If Robert means the new director, he’s not taking Robert’s calls. Robert tells Hersley to call him. Tell him to abort the mission before the Bureau bombs that island. Hersley asks if he needs to remind Robert that he’s under arrest, and Robert asks if he needs to remind Hersley there are lives at stake. Felicia says, innocent lives, but Hersley says, there’s nothing he can do about that. Come on. Jordan and Diane come out of the elevator, and Diane says, sorry. She’s afraid DA Scorpio isn’t going anywhere. He tells her, says who? and Jordan tells him, says me.

Spencer says, his grandmother is more than a match for Uncle Victor, but it’s not going to be a fair fight. This place is crawling with guards. Curtis says, let him worry about Laura. The three of them, get to safety. Spencer says he’s not leaving his grandmother behind, but Curtis says, that’s exactly what he’s going to do. There’s a seaplane waiting offshore on the east side of the island. Just get there, and get the hell out of here. Trina says, what about him? but he says he’ll be fine. She says, he doesn’t know that. She can’t lose him now. Not before they even know if she’s his… She hugs him.

Victor says, Laura may be willing to die, but he doubts these two are. Drew says, Victor couldn’t be more wrong, and Obrecht says, Laura needs to know something… Victor says, silence her, and the goon holding her puts his hand over her mouth. Laura asks if Victor really thinks she’d hold her own life more precious than the lives of her children and grandchildren, and he says, very well. If she’s determined to play the role of a martyr, go ahead. Do it. Die for her cause before he kills her for it. She drops the vial, and it smashes on the floor.

Nothing happens, and Victor says he’s sorry. Did he forget to mention the pathogen has to be activated by UV light. Good old fashioned sunshine. Otherwise, it’s quite harmless. Isn’t that right Liesl? (Um… so how is Valentin infected? It’s been dark since they got there. Just saying.) Obrecht says she tried to warn Laura, and Victor says, sorry. Her martyrdom is just going to have to wait for another day. He tells the goon holding Obrecht that they need to keep the good doctor breathing long enough to test the antidote on their guinea pig.

Valentin says he’s not going anywhere with Helena, but she says, he’s dying. It’s time to accept reality. He was never good enough. Not for Anna, not for anyone. He says, that’s not true, and she says, they’ll all be better off without him. He doubles over in pain, and she says, there, there. It won’t be long now.

Curtis says, Trina’s not going to lose him, but they need to get out of here right now. Trina says, there’s a satellite phone behind the bar. She can call Jordan on the way, and tell her to send help. She runs behind the bar, and Curtis says, he doesn’t have to tell Spencer how hugely important that young lady is to him. He’s counting on Spencer to get her out of here to safety. The pilot has orders to take off as soon as they’re on board. Do not wait for him, no matter how much Trina begs him. Understood? He needs to know he can trust Spencer. Spencer nods, and Trina says she’s got it. Curtis says, it’s time to move. Be smart, and be safe. Trina says, that goes double for him, and he kisses the top of her head. He starts to leave, and Trina says, she knows everything is uncertain right now, but she… He says he knows. Him too. He jets.

Carly asks TJ if there’s anything they can do for Willow. Just name it and it’s done. TJ says he defers to whatever Dr. Randolph thinks is best, and raising his voice, Michael says, Dr. Randolph isn’t here… Sorry. TJ tells him not to apologize, and Michael says, just tell him what to do so he can bring Willow home. TJ says, that’s just it; he doesn’t think Willow should go home. Not if they want to buy her more time. Michael says, of course (🍷) that’s the goal, and Carly asks if hospice is an option. TJ says, it’s always an option. They will definitely keep Willow comfortable as she transitions. Michael says, transitions? To death? TJ says he hates this too, and Carly says, what if she stays here? TJ says, then they can treat her symptoms as they develop. She has a chance of surviving until Drew gets here, but he’s not going to lie. Willow will be in a great deal of pain. Her enlarged lymph nodes are putting pressure on her organs. Michael says he brings his wife home to die comfortably or she stays in the hospital, suffering to survive, or maybe not, and TJ says, it’s a horrible choice. Carly says, but one he has to make.

Dex asks, what makes Josslyn think he’s having second thoughts? and she says, because he sees something in Sonny that she and Michael don’t. And she gets it. She used to see it too. It’s not as easy to turn Sonny in as he thought, is it? He says, Michael hired him to do a job, and he intends to finish it. The job, if he hadn’t taken, would have never brought him to her. She says, so no regrets, and he says, it’s not a regret to admit two things can be true. (GH’s favorite phrase.) She says, such as? and he says, Sonny’s breaking Federal law, violating the NSA, and deserves to be in prison. He also saved Dex’s life when he didn’t have to. So when the Feds come for Sonny, he’s going to feel bad, but his part in this is over. He got the footage and gave it to Michael. It’s in her brother’s hands now.

Sonny says he could kill Ned for putting Carly and Drew in this position, and Nina says, Ned? He says, that’s what the Quartermaines do. Michael’s distracted, Valentin and Drew are off the grid, so Ned is going to make his move. She says, it’s a good thing the SEC didn’t hold Carly overnight, and Sonny says he bought Drew some time also. She says, it’s really wonderful of him. She’s sure Michael and Carly were very grateful. He says he’s not looking for a pat on the back, and she says, of course (🍷) he’s not. That doesn’t mean she can’t give him one. He says, here’s the thing. He’s going to do everything he can for his family. He doesn’t care what’s going on between them. If somebody messes with one of us, they mess with all of us. He’s telling her right now, if Ned had anything to do with it, he’d better brace himself. Nina says she’s been thinking about what he said about flying down to the islands, and he says, she told him that she didn’t want to go. She says she reconsidered. How soon can they leave? He says he thought she didn’t want to go with everything happening with Willow, and she says she’s a little uneasy about it, but he made a point when he said they could get back to Port Charles in a few hours. She thinks they need a little time alone to recharge and regroup. When they get back home, they’ll be more ready to help whoever needs them. She knows he’s dealing with a big business thing. Is that going to stop him from getting away? He says he took care of it, and she asks if that’s a yes. He tells her to let him make a call. If I were Nina, I’d head to Nixon Falls right about now, and never look back.

Josslyn tells Dex that she doubts Michael is going to call the Feds on Sonny any time soon. He’s so focused on Willow. Dex says, totally understandable, and she says, but it’s not great for him. He says, until Michael puts Sonny away, he’s always going to be looking over his shoulder, wondering if it’s the end, if Sonny’s onto him. Who wants to live like that? She says, not her, and he says, him either. She says, still, for this last little bit of time, before all hell breaks loose, and her whole family is divided between Team Sonny and Team Michael, she’s just going to enjoy the peace. And she’s so glad she gets to enjoy it with him. She kisses him, and his phone rings. He looks at it, and she says, what’s wrong? He shows her it’s Sonny calling, and he says, boss. Sonny says, Brick is using his jet, and he needs Dex to call a private airstrip and have them charter a plane as soon as possible. He’ll send Dex the contact information. Dex says, destination? and Sonny says, paradise. Josslyn asks what he wanted, and Dex says, a plane out of town… tonight. She says, he doesn’t think Sonny knows what he and Michael are planning, but he says, no. If Sonny was onto him, he’d be the one leaving town, and Sonny would make sure he never came back.

TJ says, Michael and Willow are married now, so while she’s unconscious, what happens next is up to him. Michael says, Willow wouldn’t want to die in the hospital. The lights, the sounds, she hates it all so much. Carly says she knows Michael wants to respect that, but what if keeping her here means she doesn’t die? Michael says, there are so many variables, none of which he has any control over. He doesn’t know. He has to think. He walks off, and Carly thanks TJ for being so steady around Michael. She knows it’s torture for him too. He says he just wishes he could do more, for both of them. She says, they all do. She wants to be strong for Michael, but most of the time, she just wants to curl in a ball. He says, but she doesn’t. That’s what matters. She’s here by Michael’s side, offering any support he needs. He’s lucky to have her. She says, he’s lucky to have TJ too. They all are.

Sitting by Willow’s bedside, Michael says he hates the thought of Willow being in more pain. It’s the second to the last thing he wants. He takes her hand and wonders how they got here. He flashes back to Willow saying, they’re getting married. She’s going to be his wife. She knows they have this scary thing looming over them, but she doesn’t want it to overshadow the fact they’re marrying each other, and they love each other. Whether they get 60 hours or 60 years, he’s her guy. He remembers telling Willow that it’s the last time he’s going to see her before she becomes his wife, and he wants to remember this moment. She says she’ll never forget it. He flashes back to their wedding, and telling her that he’s grateful for her friendship and her courage, her love and compassion. And most important, how she’s been such an amazing mother to Wiley, and now Amelia. The fact that he gets to call her his wife… Willow says, Michael?

Josslyn tells Dex that he needs to be really careful. Nothing gets past Sonny, and if he’s starting to suspect… He says he’ll be careful, when her phone rings. She says, mom? and Carly says, it’s Willow. Josslyn asks, what happened?… She’s on her way. She tells Dex that Willow’s been taken to the hospital, and he says he’ll drive her, but she says, he has to stay here and deal with Sonny, and she has to be with her family. He says he’ll walk her out, and she says, that she’ll take him up on.

Hersley says, this is a matter of national… no, international security. Jordan has no jurisdiction here. Diane says, that’s actually for a judge to decide, a precedent set by Chandler versus the United States. Robert says he just loves when she talks precedents, and Hersley says, this is Felicia’s doing, isn’t it? Felicia says she has faith in Mayor Collins and her friends. Just give them a chance to come through. Hersley says, faith is nice, but those bombs are a sure thing, and Diane says, the only sure thing in his future is a discussion about DA Scorpio’s civil rights. She would take those handcuffs off him, unless Hersley wants them to be part of that discussion. By all means, contact his superiors. She of course (🍷) will be contacting the Federal District Court. Hersley takes the cuffs off Robert, and leaves with Diane. Jordan tells Robert, she hates to say it, but Hersley may be right. If Laura and the rest of them fail… Felicia says, they won’t, and Robert says, it won’t matter unless he can talk that new director into calling off the drone strike.

Trina thinks the baby is going to need another blanket, but Spencer tells her to wait. He doesn’t like the idea of her going off on her own right now. She says, two minutes; he can time her. She leaves, and Spencer bounces Ace, saying, it’s just us, buddy. Just him, and Ace… He hears something, and says, that was fast. He turns to see the creepy nanny, and says, she’s not Trina. She says she most certainly isn’t, and he says he doesn’t think he ever got her name. She says, no, but she knows his, young Mr. Cassadine, and he and that baby aren’t going anywhere.

Victor says, Drew is now useless to him, and Goon143 shoves Drew to his knees. An alarm goes off, and Victor wonders, what’s that? Laura asks if Drew brought a plus one, and Drew says he thought she did. Victor says he knew there were more of them, and tells the Goon Squad to kill them. Something blows up in the hallway, and there’s smoke everywhere. Everyone ducks down, and Anna comes in with a gun.

There’s some shooting back and forth, and Victor says, go get her. Goon231 runs out.

Creepy nanny says, there’s plenty of security on this ship. Nice big fellows who can stop Spencer from leaving. (Ha-ha! Ace looks worried – baby acting!) But they don’t want the baby involved in the struggle, so why doesn’t he just hand Ace over? Spencer says he has a better idea. Why doesn’t she go back to the stateroom, and forget she ever saw them. She says, the senior Mr. Cassadine hired her to take care of the baby. She won’t disappoint him. She puts on the radio, and says, anyone on this channel, there’s been a breach… Trina whacks her over the head from behind, and she goes down. Trina says, less than two minutes? and he says, her timing’s perfect.

Carly tells TJ that Josslyn should be here any moment, and he asks how she’s handling everything. Carly says, like mother, like daughter, when Josslyn comes out of the elevator. She puts on a brave face, but like everyone else, she’s terrified. Josslyn asks who Carly is calling terrified, and they hug. Josslyn says, Carly’s right; she’s terrified. Carly says, her too.

Michael asks how Willow is feeling, and she says she’s okay, she thinks. What happened? He says, she passed out, and he took her to the hospital. She says, they were talking about Sonny, and he says, they’re done with that conversation, he promises. But first… She says, they need to focus on her health, and he says, she needs that transplant. She says she really wants to be home with him and the kids, and he says he wants that too; all of them do. But her best chance, her only chance, is to stay here in the hospital.

Sonny says, they’re going to go by Nina’s place, pick up her clothes, put them in a bag, and go to the airstrip. She says, sounds perfect, and he says, she doesn’t have to bring a lot of clothes, right? She says, is that so? and he says, it is so. They kiss, when Dex walks in, and says, everything’s been arranged, but there’s been a development. Sonny says, with the plane? but Dex says, with Willow.

Helena tells Valentin, don’t fight it. The pain will soon be over. He says he’ll take complete agony over eternity with her, and she says, such a waste. She could have made a legend out of him. Instead, he’s just one more corpse.

Anna and Drew fight with Victor’s goons, and Laura reaches for the cannister on the lab table, but Victor puts a gun to her head, and says, don’t.

Nina asks Dex, what about Willow? Did she have another episode? Dex says he doesn’t have any details, and she says, whatever he knows. Please. He says, Carly called Josslyn, and said Willow collapsed and was rushed to GH. Joss went to meet her mom; he came straight here. Sonny says, call the airstrip and cancel the flight, and tells Nina, let’s go.

Josslyn asks if Willow is going to be okay, but Carly says she doesn’t know. Her only chance is a transplant. Josslyn says, and they can’t have that without Liesl, and Carly wonders where they are. Josslyn says, she still hasn’t heard from Drew? and Carly says, they have to be okay, and they have to come home now. Josslyn asks how much time they have, and Carly says, not enough.

Willow asks what Dr. Randolph says, and Michael says he hasn’t talked to her. It’s TJ’s opinion that if she wants to hold on until Drew and Liesl get home, she’s got to stay in the hospital for treatment. She says she can come in every day, but he says, they want her constantly monitored so they can treat any symptoms that may arise in real time. She says, assuming Drew and Liesl come back in time… but he says, they can’t think that way. They’re going to come back. And there’s a whole team of specialists here who are in her corner, who want to keep her alive, but it starts with her. She has to do her part. Willow says, and her part is spending what could be her last days away from her family, but Michael tells her that he’ll bring Wiley and Amelia here whenever he can. He knows this goes against everything she wanted, but they’re down to the wire. This is their last shot. Please tell him that she’ll take it.

Spencer tells Trina, the nanny from hell is locked in the stateroom. She’s going to have a nasty headache when she wakes up, but she’ll be okay. They hear shooting, and Trina asks what they do. He tells her, they do what Curtis said. They have to get his brother to safety. The seaplane isn’t going to wait for them forever. She tells Spencer that she has to call Jordan, and hands him the baby.

There’s more fighting with Anna and Drew, and Victor tells Laura, step away. Anna gets hit hard.

Josslyn asks how Carly is holding up. She’s the one who got drug out of a wedding by the SEC. Carly says she cares about the charges, but she cares more about Willow and Michael, and what they’re going through. Willow was weak before, let’s hope this SEC situation doesn’t push her past her breaking point. (Um… I don’t think that’s what did it. Throwing mental guilt darts at Michael.) Josslyn says, that’s on Ned, and Carly says, what he did was vindictive and cruel, and she honestly didn’t expect it from him. Josslyn asks if she thought there were lines he wouldn’t cross, and Carly says she guesses she did. She knows the Quartermaines play dirty; they blackmail each other over their morning coffee. But the way everyone rallied around Michael and Willow for the wedding, she thought it was sincere. Now, when Willow’s waiting for a transplant, it’s thoughtless and reckless. She really didn’t think this was Ned, but maybe it is. What is she talking about? She’s the one who gave him the opening. It’s all on her. Josslyn protests, but Carly says, it is. Drew and Michael separately and together begged her not to get involved. They didn’t want her to buy any Aurora stock, but she did because she had to help. So much for helping. Josslyn says, so buying that stock wasn’t great, and Carly says, it was terrible. Josslyn says she understands, but Carly was just trying to help someone she loved. Intentions matter. Carly says, they sure do; the road to hell’s paved with them. Josslyn says, what Carly set out to do was good. What Ned set out to do was harmful. Carly was just trying to help someone she loved, and Ned wanted to inflict damage. Carly says, Ned called in the SEC because her and Drew’s actions made them vulnerable. Josslyn says, that’s awful, but she’s having a hard time believing Ned wanted them to show up at the wedding. Carly says can’t believe anyone would want to do that to Michael and Willow; ruin their special day. Josslyn says, their special day wasn’t ruined. Carly saw the looks on their faces when they exchanged their vows. They were so happy and they were so in love, and she genuinely believes that’s what’s going to get Willow to hold on. Carly says she wants to believe that too, when Josslyn’s phone rings. She says, it’s Dex, and steps away. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, everything’s fine. He just saw Sonny and Nina, and thought she’d want to know. Sonny and Nina walk in, and she says, they’re coming to the hospital. He says he takes it they’re already there, and she says, they just got here. He says, sorry there wasn’t more of a heads up. Sonny and Nina walk over to Carly, and they give each other soap looks.

Willow tells Michael, if Drew is putting his life on the line to bring Liesl back to them, then she needs to do whatever she can to make the risk worth it. He says, so she’ll stay and fight? and she says, with everything in her.

Anna rallies, and totally kicks the ass of the goon who punched her. Victor tells Obrecht that they’re leaving. Laura says, Victor, and he says, goodbye, Laura, shooting her. She falls, and he hustles Obrecht out the door. Goon47 points his gun at Anna, but a shot from somewhere downs him. Anna sees Curtis, and says, good shot. He says, thanks. Is she okay. She says she is, and he goes to Laura, who’s already up. She says she’s okay; it’s just a graze. Drew asks where Victor is, and Laura says, he took Obrecht, and the pathogen, and ran out. Curtis goes after them.

Trina asks if Jordan can hear her, and Jordan says she can. Where is she? Trina says, on the Haunted Star with Spencer and Ace, and Jordan says, listen to her. She has to get off that boat now. Trina says, they know, but… Jordan says, there are drones on their way to drop bombs on the entire island, and they have no way to stop them. Take the baby and get to the seaplane before it’s too late.

Outside, Victor tells Obrecht, come on. Keep moving. They’re going to leave just the way they came; get moving. He pushes her along, and I think, why do they always have to give their captive a push? A voice says, going somewhere? and Victor turns to see Holly with a gun pointed at him. Obrecht smiles.

Anna comes back with Drew, who says, they have the guards tied up in the hall; they’re not going anywhere. Anna tells Drew that he has to go after Victor. He can’t escape with the pathogen. Drew jets, and Anna asks Laura, where’s Valentin? Laura says, he’s in the isolation room. Victor used him as a test subject for the pathogen. Anna says, oh my God, and runs out. Laura says, let’s find Trina and Spencer now, and as she and Curtis pass a computer screen, Laura looks at it. It’s got some staticky lines going in and out, and it’s making noises like dial-up used to. Curtis says, what’s that? and Laura says she knows that sound. She looks pretty worried.

Helena tells Valentin, let go. Doesn’t he trust his mother? He says, there’s only one person he trusts with his life. He cries, and says, there’s only one. He looks up, and sees Anna looking through the window. He smiles.

Curtis says, they have to get out of here and catch up with the others before that seaplane takes off without them, but Laura says, they can’t go right now. He says, why not? and she says, this computer. It’s like the one that controlled Mikkos’s weather machine. The one from forty years ago.

So it is dial-up.

Tomorrow, Willow wants to see someone; Anna won’t let Valentin die; Trina says she’s not leaving Spencer; Holly tells Victor that he failed again; and Victor says, he could have fixed the world if it hadn’t been for those meddling kids. Okay, not really on that last one, but I want it so much.

🔃 Wait, What…?

Apparently, we’re getting a new Kristina.

🦸🏽 It Was the Pathogen…

It would be awesome if the pathogen turned Valentin into a superhero. In his off-time, he’s halfway there.

📝 Strike That…

I suppose it comes down to how long the strike goes on.

But in a pinch, you can watch this.

🍸 A Little Bit Of Scandoval In Your Life…

Small favors.

Sandoval’s picture is next to cliché in the dictionary.

💃🏾 To the Met and Beyond…

The fashion.

https://okmagazine.com/p/new-york-socialite-kamie-lightburn-dishes-best-met-gala-looks/

https://www.instyle.com/met-gala-2023-red-carpet-7480093

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g43757161/best-worst-dressed-met-gala-2023/

https://www.eonline.com/photos/36008/met-gala-2023-red-carpet-fashion

In case you need explanation.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-was-karl-lagerfeld-2023-met-gala-theme-explained/

After the ball is over.

https://people.com/style/met-gala-2023-afterparty-outfits/

🪳 Uninvited Guest…

But who was he wearing?

https://www.etonline.com/cockroach-goes-viral-after-crashing-the-2023-met-gala-red-carpet-203807

🐱 Best Thing Ever…

And of course, the cat.

https://people.com/pets/choupette-cat-responds-met-gala-outfits-jared-leto-doja-cat/

🧺 Bringing Out the Sheaves…

Set a spell tomorrow for some soap, freshly brewed tea, words of importance (or not), and music for May. Until then, stay safe, stay respecting other people’s time and not being late, and stay holding onto hope, even in the worst circumstances. You never know when the tide can shift.  

February 23, 2023 – Dex Leaves Sonny’s Fate Up To Josslyn, Evil Twin, Vanna, Red Carpet Reunion, New Location, Have a Nice Trip, Life’s Not a Cabaret, Villains & Border

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam and Dante arrive back home. She complains about the airplane air wreaking havoc on her skin, but he says she’s as beautiful as ever, and they kiss.

Cody counts out one hundred dollars to the desk sergeant, and says he thought if the parking meter was broken, it was free to park there. He looks at Heather as she’s steered through the room, and she says, got a problem? The desk sergeant tells him that Heather is a raving lunatic. He can’t wait until she’s transferred to Pentenville to await trial. Sasha walks in, and says she’s here to see Heather Webber.

Josslyn wakes up, and finds Dex looking at her. She asks what he’s thinking, and he says, how much he likes waking up next to her.

Brook says, Sonny has a new granddaughter. The whole family is raving about Baby Amelia. He says he’s only seen her through the window in the NICU and in pictures. That’s why he’s here. He’s wondering if she can help him.

Nina comes out of the hospital elevator, and hears Drew telling the reception nurse that he’s extended family. He was asked to fill out the paperwork now that Willow is gone. Nina asks what he means by Willow is gone.

Wiley welcomes Willow home, and Michael says, Wiley’s been a champ, helping get everything ready for his baby sister. Wiley says he can help Willow too, and opens the door for her. Carly is inside with the baby, and says, welcome home. Willow says, home, exactly where she wants to be.

Sonny says he and Michael are still fighting, and Brook says she’s sorry. He says, it doesn’t get any easier. There was a moment, before and after Amelia was born, when he thought he was getting through to Michael, but nothing’s changed. She says, it must be so awful for him, and he says he appreciates that, but he might have a lot of years to get through to Michael. Nina and Willow might only have a few weeks. So he needs to find a way to convince Willow to see her mother.

Wiley says, Amelia is really small, but Michael says, before he knows it, she’ll be sitting up, then crawling. Willow says, Amelia will need Wiley’s help, and he asks if he should show her how to crawl. Willow says, he could show her how it’s done, so she’ll have someone to copy. She didn’t have an older brother growing up. Amelia is lucky to have him. Michael thanks Carly for taking care of the kids, and she says, of course (🍷). Anything they need, she’s here for them. He says, what he needs is a miracle, but it doesn’t seem to be coming. Carly hugs him.

Drew says, Willow is gone, as in home to the Quartermaines, and Nina says she feared the worst. He says, she checked out this morning, and Michael took her home. He’s just there to finish up the paperwork. Nina asks if she won’t get better care and more aggressive treatment at GH, but he says, there’s nothing more the doctors can do without a bone marrow donor. She wanted to be home with Michael and the kids; enjoy them for as long as she can. She asks if Willow is giving up.

Josslyn thanks Dex for saying it first. Her feelings for him aren’t casual either; she’s never felt like this before. She says she doesn’t want it to stop, and they kiss.

Dante asks if Sam thinks it’s too early for champagne. Doesn’t she think they deserve it? They took the longest of longshots, and found out Ryan Chamberlain is Esme’s dad. She says, was. Thank God that freak is finally dead. He says, the Invader article made it sound like all hell broke loose on Spoon Island last night, and she says she thinks the best thing that came out of there is that Heather Webber is in police custody, and on her way back to where she belongs – D’Archam. Dante says he’s kicking himself a little for not picking up on things. They knew The Hook was a woman. Heather’s escaped from tons of facilities, and every time he’s talked to her, she was gloating like she knew something he didn’t. Sam says, don’t do that. That’s Heather’s M.O. She likes to torment people she thinks have wronged her. He says, no wonder they both ended up on Heather’s hit list, but Sam says she’s too tired for irony. She wants to shower off the past 48 hours. He asks if she wants company, and she says, now that he mentions it, there’s a spot on her back she can’t reach. He says he can, and they run upstairs.

The desk sergeant asks if Sasha is Heather’s lawyer, and she says, yes. She needs to confer with her client. He says he’ll have Heather brought up from the cells, and leaves. Cody asks if Sasha knows what she’s doing, and she says, absolutely. That murderer killed her husband, and Sasha is going to see Heather is brought to justice.

Carly says, Baby Amelia’s been fed, changed, and she’s fast asleep, and Wiley says, she sleeps a lot. Michael says, sleep is good for babies. It’s good for all kids, Wiley included; it helps you grow. Wiley asks if Willow is growing too, because she sleeps a lot, and Willow says she was very tired when Baby Amelia was in her tummy. Wiley says, Baby Amelia is born now, and asks if Willow will be able to play with him again.

Sonny says, Carly didn’t tell Nina that she and Willow were mother and daughter; they wasted months when they could have worked toward a reconciliation. Brook says, it must be tearing him up, watching Nina go through this, and he says, all Nina wants is to be a mother. Nina’s not perfect. Nobody’s perfect, but Nina wants the best for Willow. She even decided to donate her bone marrow for transplant. Brook says, that’s so generous and loving, but Sonny says, Willow doesn’t want to see her mother. Nina’s never even held her granddaughter, and he wants to fix that.

Drew says, Willow is terminal, and made a decision about how she wants to spend the time she’s got left, and Nina says she understands. But Willow has two small children who need her, and Willow grew up without her mother. So if there’s a chance to prolong her life at the hospital until they find another donor, Willow should take that chance. He says, she was aware that she had the option to stay at the hospital, and chose to go home, but by leaving, she’s not going against any medical advice. Nina asks if Willow and Michael got a second opinion, or a third opinion. What exactly did the specialist recommend? Drew says, there’s nothing else they can do, and Michael and Willow have accepted that together. She says, with Carly’s input no doubt.

There’s a knock at the door, and Sam runs down to answer. It’s Cody, who asks if Dante is there. He called, but Dante isn’t picking up. Dante comes down, and asks, what’s going on? Cody says, Sasha Corbin’s in trouble. He can’t help her, and he’s hoping Dante can.

Sasha waits in the interrogation room, fingering her wedding ring, when Bennett brings Heather in. Sasha says she’d like to confer with her client in private, and he asks if she’s sure. She says, the prisoner is in shackles, but she’ll yell if she needs his help. He pushes Heather into a chair, and says, good luck, but be sure to keep a taser handy. He leaves, and Heather says, Sasha’s her lawyer? She’s sorry, but she doesn’t remember hiring her. Was she court appointed? She could have easily forgotten. That happens sometimes. She finds herself in a prison cell with absolutely no idea how she got there. It’s really unsettling. She can forget days at a time.

Willow tells Wiley that she still has to take it easy for a while, and Michael says, they have to be extra careful of mom. Wiley says he’ll play quietly, so he can help her get well, but Michael says, he doesn’t have to be quiet all the time. He’ll take Wiley over to the house, because Olivia and Leo are making pizza, and Olivia loves when he helps roll out the dough. Wiley asks if Willow wants him to save some pizza for her, and she says, of course (🍷). She tells him that she loves him, and he says he loves her too, hugs her, and leaves with Michael. Willow starts to cry, saying, she didn’t know it would be this hard, and Carly puts her arm around Willow.

Nina tells Drew that Carly must love having Willow home on the Quartermaine estate, where Nina can’t have access to her own child. She can’t have a conversation with her, or even look at her. He says, Carly isn’t loving one aspect of this; nobody in the family is. She says, nobody else in his family went out of their way to keep her and Willow apart. Carly chose to lie and manipulate, and hide the fact she was Willow’s biological mother. Carly not only lied to her and Willow, she lied to Drew for months. She can’t believe he’d be okay with that.

Dex’s phone rings, and he says he has an update on the Pikeman shipment. The boss is doing family stuff, so he asked Dex to handle the prep. When the merchandise arrives at Pier 55, they need trucks ready to deliver it to the warehouse, store it for 48 hours, then deliver it to Pikeman’s buyers. This is heavy ordinance, so they’re going to need six trucks. Make sure they’re checked in advance. If anything breaks down, they’re all doing federal time. Josslyn comes into the room, and asks, what’s Pikeman, and how can it land him in federal prison?

Cody tells Dante that Sasha gained access by claiming to be her lawyer. He didn’t want to  bust her, and get her in any more trouble than she’s already been in. She’s a nice lady. She’s been through hell, and she’s just putting her life back together. From what he read about Heather, she’s going to run through Sasha like a buzzsaw running through tissue paper. Sam says, Heather Webber lives to play mind games. When she finds out Sasha is Brando’s widow, it could be brutal. Cody asks if there’s any way Dante could go to the station and run interference without exposing Sasha’s lie, and Dante says, yeah. He won’t be long. Sam tells him to take as long as he needs, and Dante leaves. Sam asks why Cody cares so much about Sasha, and he says he just doesn’t want her to be Heather Webber’s next casualty.

Sonny says he understands if Brook doesn’t want to be put in the middle, but she says she’s lost count of how much she owes him. She’d be happy to help any way she can. He says, she doesn’t owe him anything. He just knows Michael will listen to her, and if she could just tell Michael that he needs to talk to him… Michael walks in, and says, there’s no need. He’s already here. What did Sonny want to talk to him about?

Dex says, the less Josslyn knows about Pikeman, the better, but she says, it’s a little late for that. She already knows there’s a shipment at Pier 55 with heavy ordinance and six trucks. He says he should have been more careful, but she says she doesn’t want him to be careful around her. That’s how it was with her mom and Sonny. He went about his business, and she pretended not to know anything, when in reality, she knew quite a lot. He says, it must have been hard for her, and Josslyn says, it was; she did a lot of pretending. Josslyn doesn’t want to pretend with him. He said he’d be done working for Sonny in six months, but what’s the point if he’s arrested on federal charges? He says he won’t be. Sonny’s the one who’s going to be arrested on federal charges.

Willow tells Carly, when she was at the hospital, all she could  think about was getting home, and it’s so good to be here, but is it good for her kids, when she’s so weak and only getting weaker? Carly thinks the answer is written all over Wiley’s face; he’s thrilled to have her home. Willow says, but he thinks she’s going to get better. She and Michael are letting him think that, and it’s a lie. How much longer can they keep lying to their child?

Drew tells Nina that he’s not okay with what Carly did. He made that very clear to her, but they’re members of the same extended family; they’re both related to Michael and Willow. She says, they seem very close these days, and he says, the whole family is rallying around Willow right now. Nina says she’d like to rally around Willow too, but thanks to Carly, she can’t even be near Willow, or have any chance of a relationship with her child. Drew says he’s sorry Willow doesn’t want to see her right now. He can’t imagine how painful that is, but Nina has no one to blame but herself.

Sam tells Cody that the coffee is probably strong; she’s fighting off jet-lag. He thanks her for the warning and the coffee, and says he’s surprised she didn’t show him the door after Dante left. She says, a couple of months ago, she may have done that. After making an entrance by parachuting into the pool at the MetroCourt hotel, he was sort of running one con after another, never saying why he was in Port Charles in the first place. Then he blackmailed Spinelli to set him up with Britt through Society Set-Ups, and he does have sealed juvenile arrest record. But ever since Britt died, he’s shown that he obviously cared about Britt a lot, and she appreciates him showing concern for Sasha. What she’s trying to say is, maybe she misjudged him.

Heather tells Sasha that she has the vaguest memory of Ryan Chamberlain dragging her and her daughter away from Spring Ridge. Ryan is terrifying. Every time she was with him, she would lose time for hours afterwards. Sometimes she thinks he was trying to hypnotize her.

Dante asks Bennett if Heather is with her lawyer, and Bennett tells Dante that they’re in the interrogation room. The lawyer wanted privacy. If it’s any consolation, the prisoner is still in shackles. Dante says, that’s not going to stop her from getting in the lawyer’s head, and goes into the room. He asks how it’s going, and Sasha says, the prisoner just gave her a demonstration of how she plans to fake insanity for The Hook killings.

Willow tells Carly that she and Michael had the perfect opening just now. When Wiley brought up how much she sleeps, they could have told him that she was sick, and that she won’t get well; that she’s going to die soon. Carly says, it’s a really difficult conversation to have with anyone, especially a child; her child. She thinks Wiley is too young to understand the concept of death. It’s okay if Willow didn’t want to tell him on her first morning home. Willow says she’s been reading all the literature about it, and knows they have to explain this to him, but when she thinks of actually saying the words, her mind goes blank. How does she tell her little boy that she’s going to leave him forever, and it didn’t have to be that way?

Dex says he’s working on the Pikeman shipment in order to get evidence on Sonny, and Josslyn asks if he’s a cop, or an undercover Fed. He says, nothing like that. He’s not law enforcement, and doesn’t work for any official authority. She asks if anything he’s told her about himself is true, and he says, everything. He’s ex-military. He did a tour of Afghanistan; he joined right after high school. What he didn’t tell her is, after the military, he went to work for a private security contractor. That’s who set him up with his current employer.

Sasha gets up, and says, Heather is a kidnapper, a murderer, a vicious maniac. She should have never been given life without parole. Truthfully, she should have been given the death penalty 30 years ago, but she repeatedly exploits her mental illness. She gets herself committed rather than going to prison, then somehow gains her release, either by escape or by manipulating the legal system. Dante says, there are plenty of loopholes in the system, and Heather’s a master at working her way through them. Sasha says, this time will be different. This time, she’ll be a witness for the prosecution, and she’s going to take Heather down for good.

Willow says she had the option to get treatment as soon as she was diagnosed, and Carly asks if it was a real option. Willow says, not for her. She would have had to terminate the pregnancy because of the damage the chemo would do to the fetus. It was unthinkable. She convinced herself that she could wait; that she could have a healthy baby and still recover from leukemia. She was half right; Amelia is healthy. Now she’s going to die and leave Wiley, which means she put Amelia ahead of her little boy. Carly says, Willow made a choice that was right for her as a mother. She gave her daughter the best chance at life, and put her own life at risk to do that. She may be leaving Wiley, but she’s also leaving behind the gift of a baby sister. She did the best she could for both her children. She’s got to stop blaming herself. Willow says she’s afraid. She loves Michael and her children so much. She doesn’t want to leave them. She cries in Carly’s arms.

Drew says, Nina and Willow are estranged, not because of anything Carly did, but because of what Nina did. Nina alienated her for years. She sued Willow and Michael for visitation rights to Wiley. Nina asks if it’s a crime for her to want to see her grandson, and he says, it’s the way she went about it that hurt Willow. And if Willow doesn’t want to spend time with her, that’s her right. She says, that all changed when she found out Willow was her daughter, but Drew says, Nina changed; Willow didn’t change. Nina says, yes, but if they had known when they were supposed to know the truth, Willow would have come to her for a bone marrow donation a lot sooner, and they would have had all this time to work out their differences and reconcile. He says, yes. Carly should have told Willow that Nina was her mother, and left the decision up to Willow whether or not to tell her. Nina says, but instead, Carly chose to lie to both of them, and Drew says, it’s not the same thing. Carly owed Willow the truth; she didn’t owe Nina anything. She says, wow. Drew is as self-righteous and unfeeling as Carly. She sees it now. And when payback comes, he’ll be just as deserving. She walks away.

Sonny says, Nina went to the hospital to try and visit Willow, and Michael says he brought Willow home this morning. Sonny says, there’s no hope for treatment? and Michael says, they’re still waiting for a donor, but they’re running out of time. Sonny says, then it’s important for Nina and Willow to connect. Is there any way Michael can persuade Willow to see her mother? Michael says, he can’t do that, and Sonny says, or he won’t because Michael’s still holding a grudge against him and Nina? Michael says, this isn’t about Sonny or Nina; this is about Willow. She’s dying. She gets to spend her last days the way she wants, not trying to make Nina feel better. Sonny says he’s done everything to reach Michael; he’s done. If Michael can’t have any compassion for Nina, even when her child is dying, then what happens next is on his head. Sonny walks out.

Josslyn asks who Dex is working for, and she doesn’t mean the private contractor. Dex flashes back to Michael saying he wanted to take Sonny down, but not at the expense of his mom or sister. He’d rather blow this whole operation up than put his sister at risk, and Dex needs to find a way to keep Josslyn at a distance. Dex tells Josslyn that he’s sorry, but that’s the one thing he can’t tell her; not until it’s over. She asks when that will be. He was beaten and tortured. Isn’t that incriminating enough to finish the job? He says, the Pikeman shipment is on a whole other level; he’s talking federal charges, potential violations of the National Security Act. When he gets the proof, and turns it over to his employer, and his employer turns it over to the Feds, Sonny’s going away forever… Isn’t that what she wants? Hating Sonny and punishing him for the rest of his life are two different things. If she wants, he’ll tell his employer that he’s out, before the Pikeman shipment ever lands. She says, and Sonny will be in the clear? and he says, it’s up to her. Whatever she wants.

Sam asks if Cody has heard of the Ice Princess, and he says, only in reference to the necklace, but no specifics. Why? She says, at one time, it was the world’s largest uncut diamond, and it belonged to her grandfather Mikkos Cassadine. He says he heard she was related to the Cassadines somehow, and she says she’s never been a particularly suspicious person, but when she found out that the diamonds in Britt’s necklace were part of the Ice Princess, she saw all these flashing lights and there were chills up her spine. Nothing but misery has ever come out of that diamond. He says he wishes he could blame all his failures on some cursed diamond, but he only has himself to blame for his mistakes with Britt. He let his greed get the better of him. She says, that’s very big of him, and he says, shocker, but greed gets the best of him over and over. She says, greed caused her to make a lot of bad decisions, but she just stopped, and he asks, how? She says she guesses she just realized there were more valuable things to chase. If she could figure that out, he could too. He says, here’s hoping, and thanks her for the coffee. She says, of course (🍷), and he leaves. In the hallway, Cody looks at Mac’s number in his phone.

Heather wails that she hasn’t done anything. All she wants is to see her daughter. Her daughter was having a baby, and they ripped her away. Ryan Chamberlain was threatening her… Sasha says she’ll give it to Heather; that’s a compelling act. But she can be compelling too. She was with Brando at Charlie’s in his last moments, before he followed Josslyn into that alley, and Heather callously, brutally murdered him. Heather says she doesn’t even know anyone named Brando, but Sasha says, the jury will know him. She’ll tell them. She was eating pie when he left. Their last kiss tasted like cherries. She’ll testify to Brando’s frame of mind, his courage, his kindness. She’ll make the jury feel the terrible injustice of her husband’s murder. Heather’s poor pitiful lunatic act won’t stand a chance against her grieving widow. And she won’t stop in the courtroom. She’ll try Heather in the court of public opinion. She’ll go on podcasts, talk shows, anyone who will give her a platform, and she will crusade about the loopholes in the legal system that allowed a psychopath like Heather to rampage through Port Charles, when she should have been stopped decades ago. She’ll do whatever it takes to see Heather is guilty on all counts of multiple murders, with consecutive life sentences. Heather will spend the rest of her days in solitary in Pentenville where she belongs. Dante says, while he looks forward to Sasha’s testimony, this interview is over. Sasha leaves through the side door, and Heather says, just the two of us, huh? He says, yeah, and she says, good. She wants to confess.

Tomorrow, Scotty says he’s about to make Robert’s life a whole lot easier; Sonny tells Spencer that he can’t fix Esme; and Heather visits Esme in the hospital.

⚰️ Dead Again…

In case you didn’t know Ryan. He has a tendency to bounce back. I fully expect him to reappear down the road, and say the dead guy was his and Doc’s triplet.

💞 Conscious Coupling…

Everyone seems to be on board with these two. I’ve been hoping for this pairing since Anna was with Finn and they had zero chemistry.

👩‍👧 Mother and Daughter Reunion…

Life outside of Port Charles.

🦚 DOOL Move…

You’ll have to pay Peacock to see Days of Our Lives, but the plans are pretty cheap.

🤸‍♀️ Tumbling Marks…

I’m not quite sure what happened here, but it’s definitely amusing.

🗽 No Jovani For You…

Nobody likes a mean drunk. The poor Countess though. Not her week.

⚔️ Conflicted…

As much as Jax is the most awful human being on earth and I despise him, I might have to watch this.

🌷 Calling Doctor Spring…

Come dig into tomorrow’s cornucopia of soap, tea, citations, and February appropriate music. Until then, stay safe, stay cultivating common sense, and stay not being self-righteous and unfeeling, or when payback comes, you’ll be deserving.

October 18, 2022 – Lucy Refuses To Listen To Anna, Villain Renewed, Coming To PC, an Event To Remember, All the BravoCon News I Could Stomach To Print & Hop

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Britt says, Cody is being generous, offering to help her sort through her brother’s things. Most people don’t want anything to do with Peter August, alive or dead. He says, it’s the least he can do after she convinced him to get a DNA test, and find out if the Chief of Detectives is his dad. She says, if Mac is his father, he has something to celebrate. Mac is a great guy. This could be the start something of something wonderful for Cody. No matter what they find in Peter’s possessions, her family’s legacy will haunt her to her grave. He says, it might make her feel better if she unloads the secret she’s been carrying.

Walking into the MetroCourt restaurant, Lucy thanks Victor for being so understanding. With Martin back in town, perhaps it’s more appropriate that they meet in public. He tells her, don’t look, but they’re already being watched. Scotty looks at them and shakes his head, and Lucy says, Scotty does not approve of her choice in dining companions. Victor says, next time he dumps Scotty out of a plane, he won’t include a parachute… He’s kidding. She says, of course (🍷) he is.

Anna tells Valentin that Lucy refuses to end her involvement with Victor. They’re going to have to intervene. He says he won’t be able to help her, and she asks if Victor is watching him too closely. He says, Victor is getting rid of him.

Victor says, Scotty is under the delusion that he’s interested in Obrecht, and Lucy says, is he? He says, currently? He only has eyes for her. He flashes back to listening in on Lucy talking to Anna, and says he hopes Martin understands. She says, like he really cares, and he says he doesn’t, but he knows she does.

Ava sees Scotty at the bar, and asks where Obrecht is. He says, she’s babysitting the grandkids. She looks over at Victor and Lucy, and says, he does know Victor is no threat. He says, not to him, and she says she’s pretty sure Lucy can take care herself, but he says he was thinking about Ava. Speaking as her friend and lawyer, she’s got to cut ties with the Cassadines, starting with that no account husband of hers.

Nikolas tells a worker that the repairs on the south tower have been completed in time for the first blast of winter. Excellent work. The man thanks him, and says, he hopes Mrs. Cassadine will approve. Nikolas says he’s thinking about Mrs. Cassadine. That’s why there will be no repairs on the north tower. The man says, if they don’t complete them… but Nikolas says, it’s not open for debate. Further repairs will have to wait until spring at the earliest. Until he says otherwise, the north tower is off limits.

Esme looks out the window, and says, there’s no way, unless she grows wings or risks falling in the lake again. She tells the baby that she guesses she’s not the only one who’s trapped in here. She knows the baby didn’t ask for this; join the club. They’re in this together, and she’s going to find a way out.

Cody says he’s a good listener. Whatever is bothering Britt, he’s here. She says she did open up to someone, and he was very understanding. Not long afterward, he died in a tragic accident. He asks if she thinks the two things are connected, and she says, no, but the benefit she got for opening up like that was so short-lived, it’s hard to take the risk again. Besides, he’s a horse whisperer, not a priest. He says he has other layers too, like her. She listened to him talk about living up to Mac Scorpio’s standards. Does she think he’s going to be scared off by Cesar Faison being her dad, and Peter August being her brother? Remember, if Mac isn’t his biological dad, Leopold Taub is. He knows what it’s like to be finding out you’re related to bad guys. She says, except he seems intrigued by her family relations. Why is that? He says he just offered to help her look through her brother’s belongings, and she says, given her brother’s history, most people run the other way when Peter’s name is brought up, so why does he want to help her?

Anna asks what Valentin means. Should she be worried? He says, Victor says he’s going to let him see Charlotte, and she says, not out of the goodness of his heart, obviously. He says, people are starting to ask questions about visitation, so it’s in Victor’s best interest to let him see her, but Anna says, Victor is luring him into a trap.

Lucy says, of course (🍷) she cares about Martin; he’s a dear. Victor says, so is Bambi, but he doesn’t see her living on berries and leaves for the rest of her life. He sees her enjoying much greater luxuries. She says, Martin is an attorney; it’s not like he’s living on Poverty Row. He’s a kind man, and the last thing she wants to do is hurt him. She tells Victor that she loves the gorgeous necklace, and the equally gorgeous matching bracelet, and he says, it’s one of a kind, just like the lovely lady who’s wearing it. He asks what Martin had to say about it, and she says she just made it clear that what she and Victor have is strictly platonic, with a dash of business thrown in. He asks what does she say they continue their business that was prematurely cut short when Johann fell overboard.

Ava says, Scotty is late to the party. She’s no longer living at Windymere; she’s staying at Nina’s in her old penthouse. Nikolas is all alone in that pretentious pile of rubble. He says, she can run circles around him in the art world, but legal matters and marriages, he’s been there. Marriages don’t just die like that. They’re like vampires, and you’ve got to put a stake through their heart to end it. His hands are tied because she ripped up the prenup and the post-nup, but he thinks things can change. Ava’s biggest blunder was leaving the house. The spouse who stays has a leg up, but if they act quickly, he thinks they can fix that. They’ve got to undo Nikolas before Nikolas tries to undo her. She needs to file for divorce first.

Nikolas brings a tray to Esme, and she says, so he decided to feed her and their unborn child. He says he couldn’t care less if she lives or dies, but he does care about that child she’s carrying. So when he comes back, he expects her to be a member of the clean plate club. She says, she hates milk, but he says he doesn’t care; the baby needs calcium. She says, speaking of babies, does he remember how they made this one?

Cody says he actually thinks he and Britt are similar, and she says, she’ll bite; how? He says, a big part of him wants to pretend he has no past. He can shape his life the way he wants; no strings, responsibilities, or expectations. She says, you can’t run away from your past, no matter how hard you try, and he says, it’s not too late to forget about her brother’s stuff, dump it in the trash, and move on. She asks if he doesn’t think she considered that, but her brother wanted her to have these things for whatever reason. If there’s nothing of value, which there probably isn’t, at least she’ll know. On the other hand, maybe there’s something she missed, something that might never come around again. He says, it’s her call, and she says, let’s get out of here. He asks where they’re going.

Valentin says, Victor is perfectly capable of using his daughter as bait, and Anna says, what if Victor’s decided Valentin is more trouble than he’s worth? Victor knows Valentin is calculating, potentially lethal, and if he’s honest, smarter than he is. Valentin says, if he’s honest? and she says, he’s telling Valentin what he wants to hear to get Valentin out of town, and cut his losses. Valentin thinks the odds are good that Victor is laying a trap, and Anna asks why Valentin is giving him the opportunity. Valentin says, because he misses his daughter.

Victor says he thinks he and Lucy should continue mixing business with pleasure, on a sunset cruse around the harbor. Since their last attempt at a cruse was rudely scuttled, he thinks it’s only fair they try again. The city lights are so very conducive. She asks, conducive to what? and he says, work of course (🍷). She says, before she accepts, she doesn’t know anything about his business. For example, she doesn’t think he has an office or even a mailing address. He says, it’s really no different from hers, but she says, she sells beauty. What is he selling? He says, join him, and she’ll find out.

Ava asks if Scotty isn’t the same friend who once said she and Nikolas had something special, and not to throw it away? He says, that’s before she told him in confidence that Nikolas was running around on her, and she says, in confidence means that it’s covered by attorney/client privilege. He says, he could get her a bigger settlement, but she says, nobody can know Nikolas cheated on her. If Scotty breathes one word of it, she’ll turn him in, and won’t stop until he’s disbarred. He says he won’t mention the unmentionable, and she says, that means not in written form either; no texting, no email, nothing. He says, it makes him mad as a hornet that she’s protecting Nikolas, but she says she’s not. He says, she gave it her best shot and it didn’t work out. She needs to find somebody who deserves her.

Nikolas says he hasn’t forgotten, and Esme says, neither has she. She takes his hands, and asks why they’re treating each other like enemies when it could be so much more enjoyable? He says he hasn’t forgotten every lowdown dirty trick she pulled to get Ava out of his life, and how she framed Trina for the sick video she made. And he hasn’t forgotten how she turned his own son against him. She says, so they’re back to the same old song again. Why doesn’t he talk about his wife’s attempt to kill her? He says, thank God that baby is half his. He shudders to think what it will inherit on her side. She says, he has no idea, and he tells her to enjoy her food, and drink every drop of the milk. As he turns to open the door, she picks up a candlestick, and tries to hit him with it, but he deflects the blow with the tray in his hands. He pushes her back, calling her a little psycho. He says he might have done the world a favor, and she asks if he thinks keeping her prisoner is good for his precious little heir. He says, she was dead, and no one shed a tear. For the most part people were relieved. The only people who want her are the PCPD and that’s because they want to throw her in prison. There’s evidence and testimony that she framed Trina, and drugged Oz Haggerty. So she’s better off here than in lockup. She says, what about after she has the baby? and he says, the baby will be given round the clock care from the best nannies in the world. He or she will live in the lap of luxury, and go to the finest schools in the world. She says, and her? and he says, her? She’s expendable.

Scotty writes on a little piece of paper, and Ava asks what he’s doing. He says he’s being specific. Judges don’t like when you just throw a random number at them. Since he can’t mention the unmentionable, what they’ve got going is, her stepson stalked her, his girlfriend set her car fire, and the mental abuse Ava suffered at being married to Nikolas Cassadine. She says, Scotty is holding out for true love, but when it comes to her marriage, he wants her to run to the nearest divorce court, even though Nikolas has made it clear that he wants to work things out. He says, that’s what Nikolas wants; what does she want? She says she doesn’t know, but she knows she doesn’t want him dictating what she’s doing, and rips up the paper.

Lucy says, the cruise sounds refreshing, but she needs to change out of this old thing. He says he has something to attend to anyway, so why don’t they just meet at Pier 55. He’ll send a calendar invitation. He sees her face, and says, oh dear, she already has something on the books, but she says, no. That bartender was stabbed on Pier 55. He says, of course (🍷). He’ll have one of his associates meet her at the pier, and keep her safe until it’s time to board. Do they have a date?… He means a deal. She says, deal, and they shake hands, but she has trouble getting her hand out of his grip. As she walks out, Scotty intercepts her, and asks what she’s doing with Victor. She says, none of his beeswax. Help Ava. Ava needs it; she doesn’t. She breezes past him, and at the table on the phone, Victor tells someone, the lady said yes, as he knew she would. Now it’s their turn. They know what to do.

Valentin tells Anna, he hasn’t seen his daughter in months; he’s got to go. She says she’ll come with him. If he sees Charlotte, he’ll be focused on her, and need someone to watch his back. If it’s an ambush, he’ll need someone to watch his back. He says, no. He doesn’t know if his father will eliminate him, but he’ll definitely eliminate her. She’s staying here; he’s going to see Charlotte. She says, on Victor’s terms? and he says, what if it they were talking about Robin? and she says, all right. He says he hates leaving her. He was hoping for another chance to wake up in her bed. It’s an amazing bed; so soft. She says, it was expensive, and he kisses her. He says he loves her, and she says, if he doesn’t come back, she’ll never forgive him, and he says, if he doesn’t come back, he’ll never forgive himself either. He leaves, and Anna makes a call. She says, it’s her. A lot of stuff has been happening. She’ll fill them in, but Valentin is in trouble and needs their help.

At Britt’s hotel room, she quickly tries to pick everything up, telling Cody that housekeeping must have skipped her room. He says, living full-time at a hotel. Remind him to go to med school next time. She says she’s friends with the new co-owner, and got a special rate, but he has it pretty cushy too. The Quartermaine stables are posher than some hotels. He says, a guy can dream, and she asks, what’s his dream? He says, freedom. Free to do what he wants, when he wants, where he wants, and with what person he wants. She says, freedom might be the most expensive thing there is, and he says he hasn’t even saved up enough for a deposit. She asks if he shouldn’t be giving riding lessons to some rich divorcée, or sucking up to the Quartermaines, instead of helping her go through her brother’s stuff, and he says, you never know what you’ll find when you least expect it. He moves closer to her, and she says, they’d better get down to business before she has to go back to GH, and he has to get back to whispering horses. She brings out a box, and says, it’s everything Peter left her. He asks if she isn’t going to open it, but she says, maybe Maxie was right, and she should throw it in the garbage shoot. He asks her to think about what she was telling him earlier. If she doesn’t open it, she’ll never get rid of the what ifs, and never fully be able to move on past her brother. They sit on the bed, and she says, here goes, and opens the box.

Lucy checks herself out in the mirror, and tries on a few pairs of shoes. Her phone rings, and Anna leaves a message, saying, listen to her. She’s giving Lucy fair warning. Either reconsider her options, and do as she says, or there will be serious consequences. Lucy smiles, ignoring the phone, and looks at herself in the mirror, saying. Lucy Coe, you’ve still got it. Now let’s put it to work.

Scotty asks bartender Jesse for a reload, and Ava wonders if Scotty had better luck with Lucy than her. He says he doesn’t get it. Smart, sensible women, what do they see in the Cassadines? He doesn’t see their appeal. Victor saunters over, and suggests he ask Obrecht, but Scotty says, Obrecht’s already gotten rid of Victor, and Lucy will too. If Ava is smart, she’ll cut her losses with Nikolas. Victor says, for once he agrees with Scotty on something, and tells Ava that he’s sorry she and Nikolas couldn’t work things out. He hopes the process moves as swiftly and painlessly as possible. He’ll even make it worth her while. She says, what process? and he says, divorce of course (divorcée).

Nikolas says, there’s a second added benefit of keeping Esme in that room. Maybe not for her, but the people of Port Charles. If there’s another attack, they’ll know she’s not the killer. She says, how many times does she have to tell him? She’s not. He says, tell that to Oz Haggerty, who could clear Trina’s name, but was inconveniently drugged before he could testify. Oh, wait. She can’t because he was stabbed to death with a hook. She says, not by her, and he says, time will tell. She asks, what happens after the baby is born, and he realizes she’s not the woman stabbing people? Is he going to put their baby up for adoption, or try to convince Ava to help him raise it? She’s not sure even the Cassadines could pull a rabbit out of that hat. He tells her, just do as he says, and take care of that new life inside her. She says, he can’t get rid of her that easily, and he says, want to bet? No one is going to miss her. She says, that’s where he’s wrong. Her father knows she’s alive not only does someone know she’s alive, he loves and adores her. Nikolas’s narrative of poor Esme being all alone in the world isn’t true. He says, she’s never once mentioned she has a father, and she says, that doesn’t mean it’s not true. And he wouldn’t be happy with the way Nikolas is treating her. Nikolas says, she told everyone that her parents were both dead. She was adopted as an infant, her adoptive parents died, and she was raised be a nanny, then sent to boarding school, where she met Spencer. She says, feel free to check with the boarding school. Her teachers always said she had a vivid imagination. Does she play fast and loose with the facts when it benefits her? Of course (🍷) she does. And the truth is, yes, both her adoptive parents are dead – may they rest in peace – but her biological father is very much alive. Nikolas says, where is he? Who is he? Why should he believe her, when she just admitted she bends the truth to serve her needs? All this time she was involved with his son, she never once talked about her father. Clearly, she’s bluffing. She says, her father is a very powerful man. If Nikolas doesn’t let her out of here, he’ll find out, and he won’t like how the story ends for him. He says, she’s told so many lies, even if she was telling the truth right now, it’s impossible for him to believe her. She says, when that day comes, his fate won’t be pretty, and he tells her, she’ll do as he says, and do what’s best for the baby. Once she’s done the one and only decent thing that she’s ever done in her entire miserable life, giving birth, her future will be up to one person – him. And he’ll decide whether to toss her off the parapet again or throw her to the wolves. They’ll see if her imaginary father comes to her rescue or not. He leaves, and she bangs on the door, yelling, let me go! She’s the mother of his child. She deserves to be treated with respect. It’s so unfair. She’s a prisoner surrounded by Ava’s tacky taste in art. There are so many holes in Esme’s story, it’s like a piece of baby Swiss, and wouldn’t her boasting about her father make Nikolas more likely to kill her?

On the phone, Anna says, it’s imperative she gets a message to Lucy Coe… Can they check her appointments and see where she’s gone?… A sunset cruise? Does it say who she’s gone with?… A business dinner… with Victor Cassadine… Does it say where?… Pier 47. Are they certain? She thanks them, saying, they’ve been very helpful, and jets.

Ava says, once again, Victor is jumping to conclusions. Yes, she’s having drinks with Scotty, and he’s her lawyer, but he’s also her friend. They’re not discussing any possible divorce. He says, she really doesn’t know? and she tells him, stop talking in riddles. He says he assumed Nikolas told her about his decision; irreconcilable differences. She says, this whole town knows they’ve had a tempestuous relationship. They’ve always been like that, and even discussed divorce, but neither one of them wanted to pull the trigger. Unless Nikolas has told Victor something he hasn’t told her. He says, forgive him. Everyone knows his nephew changes his mind on a daily basis. He just assumed a strong, independent woman like herself wouldn’t sit back and wait for him to make the first move. Maybe he’s mistaken. Ava dashes out, and Victor says, oops. Was it something he said?

Johann sneaks around Anna’s house, looking all over the place for something in the dark. He says, where are you? He walks over to the staircase, and says, you must be upstairs.

Britt tells Cody, this all seems so random. An old ATM receipt. What is it supposed to mean to her? He says, if there’s money in the account, wouldn’t it go to her? and she says she supposes so. A money clip with cash; she knows what that is. Why would he keep what looks like a stub from a parking garage? Cody says, maybe he has a car parked somewhere? and she says, even if she tracked it down, Peter’s been gone since winter. It’s probably long gone. Peter did bad things on a big scale, but the contents of this box are so run of the mill. He shows her some keys, and says, what about these? She says she remembers seeing them with Maxie. They probably open doors Peter was never supposed to enter; another thing she has to get rid of. He says he doesn’t know what these other keys unlock, but the little one opens a safe deposit box. She says, more of Peter’s unfortunate worthless business, or it could be stocks and bonds, or cash. Or it could be filled with rubies and diamonds for all she knows. Cody tells her, no one says she has to track down the safety deposit box. Some things are better left unopened. She says, really? Just walk away? That doesn’t sound like him. He tells her, she said it herself; her brother did bad things in a big way. Why mess with what he left behind? She says, don’t be so serious. They’ll probably do a lot of work to find it, only to open it and a rubber snake pops out. Her brother was warped like that. He says, why push her luck? and she says, because there’s only one way to find out. They have to find the safe deposit box and open it.

Esme takes a hanging wire from off the back of a painting, and says, this should do just fine. She fiddles with the lock using the wire. Downstairs, Nikolas opens the door to find Ava, and asks what she’s doing here. She says, she thought he was done keeping secrets from her.

On the plane, Valentin picks up a glass of champagne left for him, then puts it down. He leaves a message for Anna, saying, he’s on his father’s plane. He misses her. Wherever she is, whatever she’s doing, know that he’s with her in spirit, always.

Lucy arrives at Pier 55, and says, she’s here. Now let’s get this cruise started.

Scotty says he doesn’t know what kind of game Victor is playing, but he’s going to protect Ava’s interests. So why doesn’t Victor go hold his nephew’s hand until this is over. Does Victor follow him? Victor sees Johann in the doorway, and tells Scotty, to be continued. Now if Scotty will excuse him… He goes over to Johann, and asks if they’re good. Johann says he took care of everything in the house, and Anna’s on her way to Pier 47. Victor says, excellent far from where Lucy is, and exactly where he wants her.

On the phone, Lucy tells someone, the calendar invite says Pier 47, not 55? Are they sure? She starts walking, and sees someone. She says, what are you doing here? We see a gun, and she backs up, saying, no, no, no. Then someone shoots her, twice, and she falls to the ground.

Tomorrow, Nikolas says, nothing could be further from the truth; Cyrus says he sees Spencer as an opportunity to make amends; and Sonny tells Dex that he needs a lieutenant he can trust.

💣 Double Duty…

I guess Valentin is going to be away for a while again.

🏥 New Hospital Admission…

Funny. He doesn’t look like Richard Dean Anderson.

🧼 Goin’ To Memphis…

This sounds like an amazing event.

🎤 Onto the Bravo…

In 2019, I wanted to go to BravoCon so badly. In 2022, they couldn’t pay me. Unless it included bail money. There’s a lot more news (yes, let’s call it that) out there, but this was all I could bring myself to gather.

🗽 New York, New York…

The newbies.

https://people.com/tv/bravocon-2022-real-housewives-of-new-york-city-season-14-cast-announced/

The reboot.

The spin-off.

🤼‍♂️ What Happens In Jersey…

They just can’t help themselves. The fight.

Caroline’s two cents on it all.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/10/18/bravocon-housewives-interviews-drama-beverly-hills-atlanta-salt-lake-city/10527173002/

💎 Not So Bright Like a Diamond…

Biggest reveals.

Who picks up the tab.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills/bravocon-2022/kyle-richards-reveals-who-pays-for-private-jets

Response to the shade.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills/bravocon-2022/sutton-stracke-responds-to-reza-farahan-shade

The chaos. I wouldn’t throw people down for them either. Although I might throw something at them.

https://people.com/tv/bravocon-2022-rhobh-panel-nearly-canceled-after-stampede-screaming-chaos/

🍸 Random Crossover…

Not earthshattering, but a little odd.

📸 Seeing Bravo…

Lots of photos.

https://people.com/tv/bravocon-2022-all-the-housewives-and-bravo-stars-photos/

https://www.eonline.com/photos/35184/bravocon-2022-see-every-star

🎁 Not On the Schedule…

The surprise appearances.

https://screenrant.com/bravocon-2022-surprise-bravolebrity-appearances-andy-cohen-kathy-hilton/

🌱 In the Beginning…

This review is pretty funny.

https://jezebel.com/bravocon-day-1-real-housewives-1849664516

🌎 The Whole Shebang…

From the Bravo’s mouth.

https://www.bravotv.com/bravocon/bravocon-2022-live-blog

🦢 Because I Have To…

How could I not end with pets?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1175083/the-real-housewives-most-adorable-pets

🛹 Slipping Out the Side Door…

When you’ve recovered from all that, come back tomorrow for soap and more Beverly Hills Reunion. I’d thought it was over for some reason, but I guess it was just wishful thinking. Until then, stay safe, stay not jumping the line, and stay keeping in mind, you never know what you’ll find when you least expect it.