Tag Archives: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

July 31, 2026 – GH Weekdays, Drew Wants Justice, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Coming Soon, Latest In Dead, Crashing the Party, Animal Happenings, A Half Dozen Plus Two Quotes & First

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What I Watched Today

(Nada enchilada summer – condensed because life is short & summer should be fun)

General Hospital

Monday:

Nina pushed Drew’s wheelchair into the lake… with him in it.

Jack wanted to know how Valentin had the black box, and Valentin said, right place, right time. Jack flashed back to telling Nina that if Valentin found the box before they did, they were screwed. Jack asked what Valentin would want in return, and Valentin said, immediate access to all his accounts and his assets unfrozen.

When Britt saw Jason come into the hospital, she said he was home. He said he’d been let go, and she said she didn’t think she’d see him again. He asked if they could talk somewhere, and she cracked him across the face.

New Ethan met Ava at the pool for a drink, and she asked what he was after. He said the truth about her visit to Brook. Did she tell Brook anything about Phoebe’s father?

Gio sang to Phoebe, when Brook came into the solarium. He asked if things were good and she said everything was perfect.

Willow asked if she was under arrest, but Chase said the PCPD just wanted her to answer some questions. It was about her connection to Sidwell.

Nina freaked and grabbed her phone. She screamed Drew’s name and ran off.

Josslyn said Valentin had already been set free. Did he want to push it? He said he thought he was on a roll, and Jack said the box was stolen property and he didn’t have to negotiate. He just had to enforce the law. Valentin said, but then Jack and the WSB would have to explain how he’d gotten it. Could he imagine the fallout? A good time would not be had by all. Jack said he thought they could work something out.

Molly said she was subbing for Turner in questioning Willow, and Dante said he’d sent Chase to get her. He was trying to rebuild trust with Chase.

Willow said she barely knew Sidwell, and Chase said they were just being thorough and she’d had dealings with him as a congresswoman. She said she was in the middle of something important. Could he tell them that he couldn’t find her?

Brook thanked Gio for babysitting, and he said he loved it, and besides, Brook had set up a record contract for him. She said she’d just set up a meeting and Simon had agreed to a 90 day out in case he wanted to bail. He said that wouldn’t happen. He wasn’t changing his mind, but it meant a lot that she was looking out for him.

Britt brought Jason into an exam room, and he asked if there was a particular reason for the slap. She said, so she could treat him for an injury. He might have a concussion. He said, the slap wasn’t that hard, but she said it was the only way they could have privacy, since she was on probation at the hospital. She was in shock and sorry she’d slapped him. She’d been scared for him. He said it was nothing he couldn’t handle. The important thing was, he was home now for good. She hugged him.

Ava asked if Ethan was spying on her, but he said Tracy mentioned it when she’d invited him over for backgammon. The guy from the stables she normally played with wasn’t available. She’d said Ava dropped a gift by for Phoebe. Ava said she wasn’t entirely comfortable keeping Ethan’s secret and wanted to know more about Phoebe’s situation. He said it was for Phoebe’s protection. Her father was a really bad guy who couldn’t know she existed and the fewer people who knew, the better. She said she hadn’t said anything, but he said that didn’t mean she wouldn’t, right?

Gio told Brook that he wasn’t giving up the violin, but wanted to concentrate on playing guitar and singing. He had to pack since he was moving back in with Sonny tomorrow. She said he could stop by anytime, even to swim in the lake, and should grab one more swim before he left.

Valentin brought the box in, and Jack said he had to examine the contents, but in the meantime Josslyn would take him to start the process of unfreezing his accounts. Valentin left with Josslyn, and Jack opened the box.

Dante and Molly waited in the interrogation room, and Dante said he’d heard Molly was taking on Sidwell’s trials. Molly said Turner wanted her to focus on the Lucas Jones shooting first, and he said Boyle had been vague about the reason Sidwell and Willow were working together. She said if they could connect Sidwell’s illegal activities with a sitting congresswoman, it would strengthen her case. Turner believed Willow should be behind bars and maybe she was right.

Chase said he couldn’t lie for Willow, and she apologized. It wasn’t like she had anything to hide. He said she could say no, but it would raise suspicions, and she said they probably thought she was guilty. He said if he went back without her, they’d just send someone to her house later, and she left with him.

Jason told Britt that they’d pulled him out of his cell, cleaned him up, and put him on a plane back to Port Charles. He was only told the charges were dropped. She asked if he knew Cullum was dead, and he said Danny filled him in. He’d taken Danny on a road trip. She asked when he’d gotten back, and he said, about two weeks ago. She asked how long it took to send a text to her, but he said he wanted to do this in person. Was she mad? She said she’d let him know, and he asked how she was. She said it had been a nightmare, but some good came out of it. It turned out she wasn’t going to die. She didn’t have Huntington’s and never did. He hugged her.

Ethan asked why keeping his secret was hard for Ava, and she said because a baby was involved. She was afraid that Brook and Chase would lose Phoebe at some point. He said that wasn’t going to happen as long as Phoebe’s father stayed in the dark, and she said Brook was curious about the father and worried he’d come forward later and ask for money. Ethan said he was pretending to be the father, so that wouldn’t happen, but she said she didn’t think Brook was going to drop this. Brook asked if she knew who he was and she said she didn’t know, but she’d feel better if Ethan told her who the father was.

Dante thanked Chase for bringing Willow in, and Chase left. Molly said Boyle told them that Willow took multiple meetings with Sidwell and asked Willow to tell them about those.

Jack took out the folder about Drew, when his phone rang. He said, send her in, and Nina ran into his office. He told her that he just found the evidence against Drew, but she said it was too late. She’d just killed him.

Gio went to the boathouse, looked in the lake, and said, what the hell?

Jason asked if Britt had been misdiagnosed, but she said she’d just been manipulated for years. Cullum’s doctor told her and she believed it because of genetics. Then later, Cullum offered her a fake miracle drug to incentivize her working for him. Jason said she’d had a test when they were on the run, but she said Cullum had been keeping tabs on her, playing the long game, but she’d taken another test to be sure. She’d done a lot of terrible things to keep herself alive, and hurt a lot of people. Marco died trying to help her, then she found out it was all for nothing. What was she supposed to do with that?

Ethan said it was too dangerous to reveal the identity of Phoebe’s father, both for Phoebe and for Ava. Ava didn’t want to be on his radar. She wondered if he was really the father, but he said he and Delilah were just friends. She’d gotten involved with a scary guy and he helped her get away. She asked if the scary guy had known Delilah was pregnant, and Ethan said, yes, but once the adoption papers were signed, the adoption would be sealed and he’d never find her. It was what was best for Phoebe. Ava said she made up her mind.

Chase went home and told Brook that Anna was giving him a chance to make detective again. She wanted him and Dante to be partners as well, and they were both open to the idea. He also wanted Brook to know that Willow had been brought in for questioning, but it was unrelated to Jordan’s accident. He wanted to tell her because Dante gave him the opportunity to bring her in and he took it.

Molly said, according to Boyle, Willow and Sidwell met at each other’s homes, and Willow said they had busy schedules, so it was easier. Molly asked what the meetings were about, and Willow flashed back to telling Nina that Sidwell was providing the paralytic drug keeping Drew in check. She told Molly that it was mostly about how Sidwell’s company intersected with various public works in Port Charles. Molly asked if Sidwell ever tried to bribe her, but Willow said, of course (🍷) not. She hardly knew him. Had the councilman made a specific accusation against her? Molly said, no, and Willow told her that their time there was done.

Jack said, Nina pushed Drew’s wheelchair into the lake with him in it? and she said, of course (🍷) he was in it. Willow told her that Jack had given up on finding the black box and offered to get them out of the country. At the moment, she’d thought there was no hope and it was over and she snapped. They were on the dock and she’d released the chair brake. He spoke to her in that threateningly smug way he had, and she lost it. She regretted it as soon as it happened and was going to call 911, but he didn’t resurface. Jack said it wasn’t her fault, and she said he had to help her. Please.

Ava told Ethan it had been obvious Phoebe was where she belonged. In spite of her concerns, she’d stay silent. She believed he wanted the best for Phoebe. Their business was concluded and he’d never have to deal with her again. He told her, who said he wanted that?

Brook said she understood, but Chase said he realized he was involving himself in Willow’s life again and didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. Brook and Phoebe were his priority. She said she knew that and would never ask him not to be himself and help people, including Willow. He said, full disclosure. She should also know Willow had asked him to accompany her to DC for a conference on police reform, but he said he had to be there for her and Phoebe. Brook asked how Willow took it, and he said she understood and respected his decision.

Molly said they still had a few questions, and Willow said, then they’d have to schedule a meeting through her lawyer. She was there in good faith. It was too bad the same couldn’t be said for them. Turner had already falsely accused her of attempted murder and leaving the scene of an accident. Now they were trying to connect her to Sidwell, which was a huge reach. It was bordering on harassment. If they needed anything else, they could contact her through her lawyer. She left.

As they waited, Valentin said Jack must not know Josslyn’s part in his release, but Josslyn said he did. He hated Valentin, not her. He said her mother was worried about her, and she said she was worried about her mother. Being with him was a huge risk. He said he’d thought Josslyn was warming up to him and in part she’d had him released out of gratitude. After all, he had saved her life.

Jason said Britt had been lied to. None of what happened after that was her fault. She said she should have put the medication under a microscope. She would have seen it was only saline. He said she had no reason to believe the diagnosis wasn’t real, and she said he should hate her for dragging him into this mess. He was locked up in a hellhole and probably beaten up on the daily because of her. He said, because of Cullum, and she asked, why he didn’t tell her that he’d been protecting Rocco? He said, there wasn’t time and he’d had to keep it simple, and she thanked him for the sacrifice he’d made for Rocco. Rocco was pretty beaten up about it. He said he’d talked to Rocco and hoped his guilt had been eased a little, and she said Rocco came with her when she took off. He hadn’t wanted her to be alone. He said Rocco told him, and she said it was selfish of her to let him. She’d wanted to spend time with Rocco because she thought she was dying and wanted to protect him from Cullum. She guessed her motives were a little messy. He said she didn’t have to defend herself to him. She still wasn’t giving herself enough credit. She said he had a serious blind spot when it came to her, but he said he didn’t. He saw her for exactly who she was.

Ethan said he’d taken a bullet for Ava. The least she could do was have another drink with him. She said she’d waited on him hand and foot during his convalescence and had more than repaid her debt, and he said, then stay because he wanted her to and because she wanted to. She sat back down and said she supposed she could stay for one more drink.

Brook said Willow wasn’t the easiest subject, but Chase said, because Brook trusted him, it was. It was also necessary for their marriage. She said, and their family, and he said, both of which meant the world to him. She said her too, and they kissed.

Jason asked, what was the story with Britt’s brother? He heard her brother turned out to be Nathan’s twin. She said, he was Cassius… when a nurse came to the door and said a patient was waiting for delivery. Britt said it turned out Mr. Morgan didn’t need to be admitted and she’d be right there. The nurse left, and Britt told Jason, sorry. Babies had no respect for other people’s time. He asked her to text him when she was done, and she asked if he remembered what she said before the WSB whisked him away. He said she’d told him that she loved him, and she said she meant it. He said, that’s good. Because he loved her too. She smiled and left. (Collective sigh from the viewers.)

Josslyn said Valentin had saved her life. He’d managed to convince Z that Cullum was a double-agent. Z and his rescue team got to her just in time to get her to GH before she bled out on the loading dock. So yes, she was very grateful to him. But that didn’t mean her gratitude didn’t have limits, especially when it came to his relationship with her mother. Her phone chirped and she told him, congratulations. He was solvent again. His accounts were unfrozen and he was free to do whatever he was going to do next. She left.

Molly asked Dante for his take, and he said the fact that Willow stonewalled her raised more questions. Like, how often did they connect? When were they meeting? Molly said, and more importantly, what were they meeting about?

Jack and Nina ran down to the dock, and Jack said he’d get Drew’s body out of the water. He took off his jacket, and Nina pointed to where Drew went off, when Gio came running up. He asked if they were looking for Drew, and Nina said she’d gone to get some air and put him there, but when she came back, he was gone. Gio said he found Drew. He went for a swim and found Drew in the water. Nina said Drew couldn’t swim. He was paralyzed. Was Gio saying he was dead? Gio said, no, no, no. He was sorry. That wasn’t what he was saying at all. Drew was alive and he was okay.

Back home on the phone with Obrecht, Willow said she had to pick up the kids from camp and was going to do it herself, but she had an unexpected visit from the PCPD… Yes, again. If they questioned someone else, they might actually solve a crime… No. She hadn’t murdered anyone. Please tell Wiley and Amelia she’d be there soon. She thanked Obrecht and began to gather up her stuff, suddenly seeing a muddy footprint on the floor. She was about to examine it, when the door opened, and dripping wet Drew stood there.

Tuesday:

Drew said, hi, honey. I am home. (I’m so glad they didn’t miss the opportunity for him to say that.)

In his old kitchen, Sonny asked if Carly’s special friend was in the attic, but she said the moss bowl 🎍was right there she didn’t owe him an answer. Jason walked in, and Carly ran to hug him. Sonny told him, welcome home, and they hugged.

Isaiah held the baby, and Portia thanked him for being understanding at the hospital and giving Curtis his moment. Isaiah said he knew who Dez’s father was, and she said, Dez would know Isaiah and love him.

Josslyn saw Trina at the pool and suggested a cocktail, when Emma approached with drinks and asked if Josslyn wanted to join them.

Gio said Drew was struggling and he’d helped him get to shore. He was walking and talking. Jack asked where Drew was now.

Drew told Willow that this moment was all he’d been dreaming about for months.

Isaiah took photos of Portia with Desmond, and Portia left to change the baby. There was a knock at the door, and Isaiah assumed it was Curtis, but it was Marshall.

Carly asked why they’d let Jason go, but he said he had no idea. Nobody told him anything. Carly thought that was weird, but Sonny said he was just glad Jason was back. Jason said he was sorry he hadn’t checked in with them, but he’d needed to spend time with Danny. How’d Danny do while he was away? Carly said, he struggled. They all had. They had no information about him. Jason said he’d tried to answer Danny’s questions, but wasn’t sure how it went. Danny had a rough year because of the choices he’d made.

In the solarium, Charlotte welcomed Danny home, and he said he’d be living there with his dad now. Rocco came in and said he’d thought Danny and Scout left. Danny said they came back, and Scout said she’d be doing her swim training there and Danny would be living there again. Danny asked if Rocco was okay with that.

Josslyn told Emma that she had a job in an office. It was full-time, so no graduation for her. She was sorry she hadn’t been able to watch Trina do her thing, but Trina said it had been one more thing to stress about and she was glad it was done and over with. Emma asked where Josslyn was working, and Josslyn said, the WSB.

Gio told Jack that he’d wanted to call 911, but Drew kept saying he was fine. He offered to bring Drew to GH, but he said he had to see Willow, so he drove Drew to his house.

Willow asked how Drew got there… Where was her mother? What did he do to her? He said, nothing… yet. He wanted to come home and see his loving wife before he did anything else. Willow tried to talk, but he said he’d listened to her for so long and all he could do was sit there and blink like a desperate idiot. Now it was his turn, so blink all she wanted while she still could.

Jason said he thought he and Danny came to place of peace, but Danny was angry and had a right to be. Sonny said everyone knew what it cost Jason to be separated from his son, but Jason said Danny was a kid. He felt like his dad was always going to leave or put somebody else first. Sonny said, this time, the somebody was his grandson and he wouldn’t forget that. Carly said, you were protecting Rocco? and Jason said, Rocco shot Cullum.

Scout wondered what was going on, and Rocco explained that he and Danny had been fighting. Danny said he’d done something he shouldn’t have, especially to family, because he’d been freaked out about his dad. Rocco said he’d talked to Jason and it was over. He was good with Danny living there as long as Danny was cool with seeing him when he was there. Danny said he was cool, and Rocco asked, what about Charlotte? Charlotte said she just wanted them to stop being angry idiots and be friends again. She wasn’t mad at anybody. They should enjoy the rest of the summer. (Summer should be fun!)

Isaiah introduced himself, and Marshall said he was there to meet his grandson. He’d come straight from the airport. Portia came out and Marshall said she looked radiant and hugged her.

Willow took out her phone, and Drew told her to make sure she told 911 that she’d shot him in the back at close range twice. She asked if they could please talk, but he told her, put the phone down now. She set it on the table and said she had an explanation, but he said he’d listened to her try to justify her actions enough for a lifetime. He could understand why she’d snapped, but after he’d helped convince the jury she was innocent, she stabbed him in the neck, drugged him, and kept him a prisoner in his own body for months. Then today, her mother tried to drown him. She rolled his wheelchair off the dock after she got a phone call. Did she tell Nina to try and kill him? Willow’s phone rang, but he wouldn’t let her answer it. He saw it was Nina and said he’d like to tell her the good news that they were home alone together and he was so excited about what came next.

Jack asked, how long ago did Gio take Drew home? and Gio said, about an hour ago. Nina said Willow wasn’t picking up. They had to go. Jack told Gio, thanks, and he and Nina ran off.

Drew said, Nina didn’t even leave a message. Now where were they? Willow said, if he killed her, he’d be throwing the life away he just got back, and he said he knew, but he’d been imagining wrapping his hands around her neck and squeezing the life out of her for so long. But… no. He wasn’t going to kill her, but she was going to wish he did.

Drew said the hardest part for him had been not being able to tell Willow how stupid she sounded lying to herself and trying to justify her actions. (Now he knows how we all felt about him.) Did the woman he loved ever exist? She said he never loved her. He loved the person he was trying to mold her into. He said now he knew better. And the whole world would know what a conniving, heartless psychopath she was. He was going to tell Wiley and Amelia himself so they didn’t get confused. She said he didn’t need to hurt them to hurt her, but he said it would hurt so much more if he did. Could she imagine Michael’s reaction to her being in prison for life? He’d get full custody and make sure her kids didn’t remember they ever even had a mother.

Josslyn told Trina and Emma that she was no longer undercover and worked in the office. She thought she could do good as an agent, but sometimes the means to those ends were awful and she’d hated lying to them. She was on assignment when she’d stolen that internship from Emma. Emma said she didn’t care about that. Did Josslyn know what was happening with her grandmother? Josslyn said she was trying to find out what Director Cullum knew about Anna, and Emma asked if Josslyn was on Spoon Island when he died, but Josslyn told her that she wasn’t at liberty to say. Emma asked if her grandmother knew Josslyn was WSB.

Carly said she knew Jason was covering for someone, but would have never guessed it was Rocco. Jason said Rocco followed Britt to the pier and when he got there, Britt was on the ground unconscious and Cullum was about to kill her. He fought with Cullum and Cullum lost his gun. Cullum pulled out a steel baton and was about to crack his head open, when he heard the gunshot. Cullum fell to the ground and Rocco was there with Cullum’s gun in complete shock. There was no time, so he told Nathan, or Cassius, to get Rocco out of there now, and they got out. Not knowing how to handle a gun, Rocco had hurt himself, so he replicated the same injury on himself to cover up Rocco’s blood on the gun. Britt started to come to and Dante was almost there, so he told her to tell Dante that he was the one who shot Cullum. He thought him protecting Rocco was what hurt Danny the most.

Charlotte suggested going to see a DJ at Rice Plaza, and Rocco asked Scout about her swimming. Scout explained it was to raise money for breast cancer research, and Charlotte asked if that was why she’d swum to Egret Island. Scout said, it was, but she’d checked out the island another time. It didn’t seem like anyone went there and there was a lot of wildlife. Danny suggested taking the speedboat there and building a bonfire on the beach, but Rocco said it was a terrible idea.

Willow said she wasn’t losing her children again, but Drew said she’d done this to herself. He was going to give her everything and she tried to murder him. He swiped some things off the table, and Willow squealed. Drew said she didn’t stand a chance against him, but she said he’d had a lot of physical activity today. Was he sure he had the strength to fight her off? He said, let’s find out, Nina ran in with Jack, who had his gun drawn.

Marshall fussed over Desmond and said it took him back to when Curtis was a baby. He had that same frown. He’d missed a lot of Curtis’s life, but wasn’t going to do that with Desmond. He was going to watch him grow up into a fine man just like his dad.

Rocco said if they built a bonfire, someone would notice and call Harbor Patrol, but Charlotte said they could still go. Scout suggested they just hang out at the Qs tonight and go tomorrow, but Danny said he’d rather go now. Unless Rocco was going to tell on them. Rocco said telling on people was Danny’s thing, not his, and Charlotte and Danny left.

Jason told Carly and Sonny that he’d told Danny the truth. He couldn’t let the WSB take Rocco and he was glad he was the one in that cell. They’d done everything they could to keep him disoriented and off-balance, and he hadn’t even known where he was until he was released. He’d spent a lot of time in isolation. Carly hugged him and said they were just glad he was back where he belonged. They missed him. Sonny said, a lot happened, and Jason said he heard Sidwell was in jail. Charges gonna stick? Sonny said, definitely. He and Laura made sure of that.

Josslyn told Emma that Anna knew she was WSB, but couldn’t say anything because she was still undercover, and Emma said Josslyn was an idiot for joining the WSB. Her grandmother was the strongest person she’d ever met and the WSB almost broke her. She hadn’t been tethered to reality at all. The WSB took people, drained them of everything they had, and then dumped them. Why would Josslyn want that for herself? Josslyn said she got why Emma felt that way, and Emma asked if Trina would like to weigh in. Trina said she was worried about Josslyn, but loved and believed in her. It was her decision and her choice. Josslyn’s phone rang and she left to take the call. Emma said Trina couldn’t possibly be okay with this.

Willow ran to Nina, and Drew said Gio knew he didn’t drown, but Nina said no one would care how he died. They’d just be thrilled he was gone. She told Jack, shoot him, but Jack said it wasn’t necessary now that they had a way to control him. Drew said there was no way they were going to drug him again, but Jack said he had something better. Evidence that Drew misappropriated federal funds allocated to the McConkey Esplanade to fund his campaign, which was a federal offense. He also had proof Drew bribed a nurse at the German burn clinic to keep Willow from Michael. When her former in-laws found out, he bet they wouldn’t be pleased. And he had proof that Drew bribed the judge who later turned up dead. Drew said that wasn’t him, but Jack said he didn’t care and neither would anyone else once they heard all this. By the time Drew got out of prison, he’d be a pariah. Drew said turn him in. It would be worth it to take them all down with him.

Scout said it was a dumb idea to go to the island and Charlotte and Danny ganging up on Rocco was super annoying. She was about to show Rocco the route to the island, when he saw her list of sponsors and said Monica would be really proud of her. She said she was also doing it for her dad. He’d taught her how to swim. Being stuck in that chair had to be a nightmare for him. It was for her.

Jack said the evidence was airtight, but Drew said a white collar crime was nothing in comparison to what they’d be facing. He’d get a few years, while they’d be locked up for life. Jack said Drew should have read the congressional fine print a little more carefully. Each count could carry up to 20 years and there were several. Willow said Scout would grow up with Alexis and when she found out he was going to prison, the light in her eyes would just go out and her spirit would die. He’d probably see it when she visited him in prison until it and she faded away forever. Nina said, and this part was mostly a gift for her. Please let her see Tracy’s face when she found out he was going to prison. And Michael would have a field day. Willow said, but none of that had to happen. Scout didn’t need to lose her father. Wiley and Amelia could keep their mother and they didn’t have to destroy each other. They could decide right now to just walk away.

Sonny told Jason about how he’d saved Turner from Sidwell. The case against him was strong and Sidwell would go away for a long time. Jason said it seemed strange that Sidwell would grab Turner as a hostage, but Sonny said she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carly said maybe the DA’s office would stop assuming he was behind all crime in Port Charles, and Sonny said it would be kind of nice to have a friend in the DA’s office.

Trina told Emma that she didn’t love Josslyn lying about the WSB, but she got why. Maybe now things would be better. Gio came in and said they weren’t going to believe this. Drew was talking and walking.

Drew asked what was on the table, and Jack said it was Willow’s show. Willow said, what happened before is forgotten and never spoken about again. He could announce his recovery however he wanted and they’d get an immediate divorce. Drew asked what it was going to cost him, but she said, nothing. He could keep his house and his money. All she wanted was him out of her life. Nina said, one more thing. He was to leave Willow’s political career alone and not run for office to get his seat back. His days in congress were done. Jack said he’d release the evidence at a moment’s notice, so Drew would do well to remember what was at stake. Willow asked if they had a deal.

Marshall asked if Isaiah was living there, but Portia said he was staying there to help out. He had a place of his own. She just wanted to warn him that things were a little bit tough between her and Curtis right now, but they were putting the animosity to the side for the sake of Dez. Marhsall said he hoped so. Dez deserved the best they had. Isaiah came back and said Dez was out like a light, and Marshall said he should push on. He and Portia hugged and she thanked him for coming. Isaiah said it was nice to meet him and he hoped they got to know each other better in the future. He held out his hand, and Marshall said let him be straight. His loyalty would always lie with his son, but he was willing to take Isaiah on his own terms. They shook hands, and Marshall said Isaiah made Portia happy which was good for his grandson. There could never be too much love in a child’s life. Maybe after the trial, they could all move on. Portia said she thought that would depend on the outcome of the trial.

At the boathouse, Danny said he and Charlotte had gotten back. No cops. No trouble. Charlotte said he had to admit, not building a bonfire was a good call on Rocco’s part, and Danny said Rocco was just mad at him for telling Brennan that he’d shot Cullum. He didn’t want to cause trouble between her and Rocco. She said Rocco was doing that, not him. Their dads were free, Cullum was gone, and the WSB never wanted to talk about any of this again. It was finally over and if Rocco was still mad, that was a Rocco problem.

Emma said Drew was incredibly lucky that Gio found him. He would have drowned otherwise. Gio said he didn’t know how much longer Drew could have held onto the dock. He was too weak to pull himself out of the water. Trina said, so he was walking around and talking? and Gio said it was amazing. Emma toasted, to Gio, who doesn’t know the meaning of the words off duty. Around the corner on the phone, Josslyn said she needed to make a secure phone call to the Berlin office.

Carly told Jason that Josslyn refused to leave the WSB, but at least she wasn’t undercover, and Jason said, small victories, right? Sonny said he didn’t know if Jason had heard, but Valentin was a free man. He and Carly were in front of GH talking. He pulled up and she beelined toward Valentin and started kissing him. They were kissing. Carly asked if they couldn’t save this fight for another night. Jason was home, they’d all been through hell, it was over, and the three of them were together. Jason said he was good with that, and Sonny said him too. (Everyone was all happy, but you now it won’t be for long.)

Drew said they had a deal, and Willow said her lawyer would deliver the divorce papers. She expected them to be signed and returned without delay. Drew said, fine. He didn’t want to be married to her one more second than he needed to be. She laughed and said the feeling was mutual, and he said the only way she was getting away with this was because she had the WSB on her side. He knew them and she had a double cross in her future. It was only a matter of time. Now all of them get out of his house. Jack and Nina left, but Willow stopped at the door, turned, took her ring off, and mic dropped it on the floor. She said, ah, the sound of freedom, and left. Drew said, enjoy it while it lasts, you treacherous bitch, and the cheese stood alone.

Wednesday:

Jason was back at the Quartermaines, and Olivia wanted to create a welcome home celebration. Ned told him that there had been significant damage to the hull in the speedboat, and Tracy said, here comes the prime suspect, when Danny walked in.

Ava woke up next to Ethan.

Nina went to see Jack and said she wasn’t sure if he’d see her after she’d almost made him an accessory to murder.

Trina met Kai at the pool, and he asked what was wrong. She said it was Drew. He was back on his feet again and she thought everything was about to change.

Alexis told Molly that they’d postpone her book launch party. Right now, she just wanted Molly to make an airtight case against Sidwell. Molly said she planned to, and Alexis said the system didn’t work unless people were held accountable and the guilty were brought to justice. She opened the door and Willow was there.

At the hospital, Felicia asked about Drew’s communication devices, and Elizabeth said she thought she’d finally convinced Willow that it would be good for Drew. Felicia said something told her that he wouldn’t need it anymore, and Drew walked in with Martin.

Ethan woke up, and Ava told him that he should get checked for sleep apnea… like now, today. He said he’d be more quiet this time.

Nina wondered what it said about her that she’d pushed a paralyzed man into a lake, and Jack told her that it said there really was nothing she wouldn’t do for her daughter.

Trina said Gio claimed Drew could walk and talk after he’d pulled Drew from the water, and Kai wondered how he got in the water in the first place. She said, he wouldn’t go to the hospital. He’d just wanted Gio to take him home so he could speak to his wife. Kai said, maybe because she was the one who tried to drown him.

Felicia was surprised Drew could walk, and Elizabeth asked how it was possible. Drew said he suddenly realized he could talk and he figured maybe he could stand. Elizabeth said it was miraculous, and Drew said he thought maybe a neurologist could give him some insights. Felicia said she’d take him and left with Drew. Elizabeth asked if Drew said anything else about what happened, but Martin said all he knew was he’d woken up to the sound of Drew’s voice on his phone. He ran over and found Drew in the doorway leaning on his cane. Elizabeth wondered where Willow was.

Alexis said Scout was at swim practice, but Willow said she needed a lawyer. She and Drew were getting a divorce. As of last night, Drew was no longer locked in.

Danny said he’d taken the boat out to Egret Island just for fun, and may have grazed a sandbar, but he didn’t think he’d done any damage. Tracy said the entire hull had to be repainted, and Jason said Danny would pay for it out of his wages. He was getting his job back at the pool, if it was okay with Olivia. Olivia said she’d garnish his wages herself, when Gio came in. He said it would liven things up having Danny back at the pool, but after the whole Drew thing, he’d had enough excitement. Michael asked, what happened with Drew? and Gio said he found Drew in the lake and had to pull him out of the water. Tracy asked if he was dead, but Gio said, no. He’d saved him. Tracy gave a disappointed, oh, but Ned said he’d done the right thing. Gio said, the craziest part was, Drew was walking and talking. It was like he was good as new.

Ethan ordered room service, when Ava took the phone from him. He said he was paying, but she said she didn’t have time for breakfast. He said he’d wanted to enjoy each other’s company a little longer, but he could see she couldn’t get away from him fast enough.

Michael took off, and Gio asked if they were upset that he’d saved Drew, but Olivia said, no. Jason asked how Drew ended up in the water, but Gio said he didn’t know. He wouldn’t say. He’d tried to get Drew to go to the hospital, but he just wanted to go home. Tracy said, at least Gio got Drew off the property. Now that he was mobile – and worse, audible – his lifetime ban from the property was back in effect.

Martin said he didn’t think Willow was at the house, and Elizabeth wondered if she knew what was going on. He said she definitely did. According to Drew, they had quite the reunion.

Nina said it wasn’t premeditated, and Jack said he believed her. She said Drew knew she was upset and chose that moment to reveal he could speak. She knew he was about to tear Willow’s life apart and she snapped. She was the only person between her daughter and Drew. She had to protect Willow, so she just pushed him off the dock. Jack said she was provoked, but she said Drew provoked everyone. She was just upset that she fell for it. He said if there was anyone to blame for this, it was him.

Molly wondered how Drew recovered so suddenly, and Willow said she didn’t think even Drew knew, but a small percentage of people did recover. They’d had their first real discussion in months and agreed they no longer wanted to be married. He could keep the house and she didn’t want alimony. She just wanted to make sure her interests were protected. Alexis said she couldn’t represent Willow. She’d represented her in the custody agreement under the proviso she’d have access to her granddaughter. Molly said, now Drew could speak for himself, and Alexis said they didn’t want to alienate him. Willow said she was sorry it couldn’t work out and left.

In the elevator, Felicia said she’d be in touch with Drew about occupational therapy, and he thanked her. She and the hospital staff had gone above and beyond. She said she was sure it was nothing compared to the help he got at home. Willow was the real hero. He said he was very aware of everything Willow had done. Now they just had to find the best way to thank her. They got out, and Drew told Martin that they had another stop to make. This time, Martin wouldn’t just be driving him. He’d explain on the way. They left, and Elizabeth said, Drew just made this miraculous recovery. Where was his wife?

Gio said he was still mad about what Drew did to Ned, but even so, he thought Tracy should consider giving Drew a second chance. Maybe being locked in had changed him. Olivia said, even Vegas wasn’t taking those odds, and Tracy said there was no force on earth that could change that man for the better. Jason said there used to be a good side to Drew, but after everything he’d done to the family, especially Michael… He wanted the kids to see each other, but Drew shouldn’t have unlimited access to the house. Keep him away, if only for the peace of the family. Tracy said Drew tried to steal this house, not just from her, but from all of them, mostly her. He’d tried to steal or destroy the very cornerstones of their lives and when it came to Michael’s marriage, he’d succeeded at both. Gio said he just felt bad for Scout, and Tracy said Scout was welcome there anytime. Gio said, but Drew was her dad. They were all about family and Drew was technically… They all said, no! in unison, and Ned said Gio was the kind of person they should all aspire to be. Tracy said, but they were who they were and Drew on this property wasn’t happening.

Elizabeth told Felicia that Willow definitely knew about Drew’s recovery. She was at her office calling divorce lawyers. Didn’t it seem a little sudden to Felicia? Felicia said, maybe, and Elizabeth said, they’d seemed so devoted to each other. Felicia said, maybe they were and now they weren’t, but Drew had come there as a patient. Maybe they should just let his personal life lie.

Trina told Kai that they didn’t know if Willow tried to drown Drew, but they did know she shot him. Kai said being around a body of water with no witnesses gave Willow the opportunity to finish what she’d started. But if she did push him in, why wouldn’t he go straight to the police? She said, when he could blackmail her? That was totally his M.O. If she did try to drown him, he’d hold it over her head forever. Kai wondered what Drew would want from her, but Trina said, who cares? Drew had recovered and they could finally put this whole twisted situation behind them.

Alexis said, for all they knew, Willow was planning on divorce, but waited until Drew recovered, and Molly said there would be less political blowback for her. A year ago, it would have seemed to mercenary for Willow, but she wasn’t shy about holding Scout over their heads. Alexis said if she had to deal with Drew or Willow, she’d pick Willow any day.

Michael walked into Willow’s office and said he’d heard Drew was mobile again. She said he was, and he said he was tearing apart their custody agreement and taking the kids full time. There was no way in hell he was letting his children near Drew. She said it wouldn’t be necessary. He’d been right about Drew. He had no business being near Wiley and Amelia. That was one of the many reasons they were ending their marriage. He said he was glad she’d finally come to her senses, and she said now that Drew was out of her life, she was sure he’d have no problem adjusting the terms of their custody agreement.

Ava said she didn’t know what she was getting with Ethan. On one hand, he’d taken a bullet for her and gone to extraordinary lengths to protect Phoebe. But at the same time, he was always looking for an angle he could take advantage of. He said, if it unsettled her, it was because she was the same, and she said that was why she was trying to figure out what he had to gain by sleeping with her.

Jack said he was the one who initially suggested Nina kill Drew. Perhaps she’d heard his voice in the back of her head. She said, as much as she’d like to blame someone else, this decision was hers. Even though Drew deserved it, she was grateful she hadn’t killed him. And she was grateful for Jack. He hadn’t shamed or interrogated her. His first instinct was to clean up her mess, no questions asked. He said the Bureau had protocols in place to dispose of an inconvenience, and she said, so it was just another day at the office. He said the job did have its perks, and she asked why he was helping her this much. He said he supposed he was helping her because of Willow.

Tracy said she made a decision for the people who lived on this property and Scout wasn’t one of them. She could still train there, just without Drew. She didn’t see why it was a problem. Gio said it could just be about supporting Scout, and Tracy asked what Danny had to say. She wanted to know what was bothering him. Danny said maybe it made him a bad Quartermaine, but he didn’t think she should ban Drew.

Alexis told Molly that it was lucky Jason came back and took Danny to live at the Quartermaines. Drew might be more amenable to Scout coming there. Molly said, maybe the experience had mellowed Drew out a little, when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to Drew and Martin, and Drew asked if Scout was there, but Alexis said she was at practice. Drew said he’d wait, and Alexis said he was more than welcome. They’d just been told about his recovery. It was miraculous. He asked who told them, and Molly said, Willow just stopped by. Drew said Martin was acting as his attorney in case they caused a fuss, and Alexis said, about what? He said, Scout obviously. He was taking her home today.

Felicia told Elizabeth that she was going to miss Maxie and the family, but she thought it was the right move after everything that happened with Nathan’s brother. Elizabeth said, for what it was worth (🍷), she knew what it was like to be a mom with a child traveling abroad, and Felicia asked how Jake was doing. Elizabeth said he was great, and Felicia asked if she had any advice. Elizabeth said, video calls are a godsend. Never underestimate the power of a good care package. And if distance becomes a problem, remember they wouldn’t have made this huge move unless they were certain it was going to make their lives better. Felicia thanked her and left.

Jack told Nina that Congresswoman Cain had helped secure millions in funding for the WSB. It would be in their best interest keep her happy. Nina said she never thought about it that way, and he said that was how he justified his actions to the higher ups. As for his personal motives, disclosing those wouldn’t be good for his career. She asked what those motives would be, and he said Nina had saved his life and he was a man who repaid his debts.

Trina told Kai that Drew was up and walking. He could do or say whatever he wanted, so now their obligation of protecting him from Willow was over and done with. Kai asked, what about what they knew? and she said the only person who knew what they knew was Alexis, and she couldn’t say anything. So write his letter of resignation, submit it to Willow’s office, and they could say peace out to this whole mess. He said he’d love to wash his hands of it, but there were two innocent kids stuck with those two terrible people. They had to be the ones to protect them.

Drew asked Martin to tell them, and Martin said when Willow allowed Scout to stay there, she did it against Drew’s explicit wishes and making it worse, was Danny being allowed to stay there. He was sorry, but it was in direct violation of the restraining order. Drew said every boundary that he’d set for Scout was broken by Alexis. As such, he was never letting her anywhere near Scout again. Alexis said the terms had been clear. If she got Willow acquitted, she and her daughters would have access to Scout, and she kept her end of the bargain. Drew said he and Willow were no longer together, so anything Alexis had done for his soon to be ex-wife no longer carried any weight with him. Alexis asked, what about what she’d done for his daughter?

Willow said she’d been thinking 50/50, but Michael said they’d agreed 60/40 and it wasn’t changing. Unless she wanted to take her chances in court. She said maybe she would. The judge would look at her and see a woman who stayed by her incapacitated husband… He said, and dropped him the second he could walk and talk again. It would probably raise a few questions. She said not about her fitness as a parent. And what had she done lately? He said, that depended. After she shot her husband or after she tried to drown him? She said she’d been ably representing her district and his in the House of Representatives. Then the judge would look at him. He said, a successful businessman that provided a stable home for his children, while their mother knowingly immersed herself an admittedly toxic marriage. She said, a spoiled guy born into money with a prior conviction for killing a defenseless woman. A criminally questionable father and a hooker for a girlfriend. She had to say, she really liked her chances.

Ava wondered if Ethan was making sure she’d keep her mouth shut about Phoebe, but he said if he didn’t trust her, last night wouldn’t have happened. She asked if Sonny didn’t have something to do with this, but he said Sonny didn’t know anything about this and he preferred it to stay that way. She said, then what was his angle? and he said he did have an ulterior motive, two actually. One, she was beautiful, and two, he liked her. She asked, why? She’d been consistently mean to him on purpose. He said he thought she was flirting. She could slap him or throw a drink in his face, and he’d survive, but not knowing would be tougher. Was she sure she wasn’t hungry? She said she guessed she was a little puckish. Eggs, soft scrambled, avocado toast, please. He said, coming right up.

Nina said, so Jack was willing to call in a clean up team to cover up the murder she’d just committed so they could be even, but he said, actually, the opposite. He wanted her to know that when he asked her to dinner, it wasn’t because he owed her. She wondered if he was asking her out on a date, and he said he was asking her to dinner. She said she didn’t know, and he asked if that was a no, but she told him that she hadn’t said that. He said if she wanted to accept his invitation, but didn’t want to admit it, he could always blackmail her into a yes, but she said she’d been blackmailed enough for one lifetime. This time, she’d rather be on equal footing. He pulled her to him, and they kissed.

Michael said Drew was obsessed with Willow. She’d left him at the altar and he still wouldn’t let her go. Now she was trying to tell him that the second Drew was out of that chair, he’d agreed to a divorce. She said, it was a mutual decision, and he said take him to court. He’d love to have Drew depose so he could explain exactly why he was so willing to walk away from their marriage. She said, 50/50 was the best he was going to get, and he said they’d see about that. He left, and she picked up a photo of the kids and said, you see that? Mommy won and there is not a thing your father can do about it.

Trina told Kai that she wanted to say Wiley and Amelia weren’t their concern, but Drew and Willow were so… Kai said, toxic, and she told him that she was going to say psychotic, but that worked too. He said it wouldn’t take much for those two to get into a tit for tat fight and he didn’t want the kids trapped between them, and she said, if Michael knew all the facts, maybe they could get the kids out of the situation. What if they told Michael for a fact that they knew Willow shot Drew?

Tracy said before Drew became indistinguishable from a piece of furniture, he went out of his way to keep Danny’s sister away from him and the rest of the family. She didn’t understand. Why was he taking Drew’s side? Danny said he wasn’t. He was taking Scout’s side. If he came between her and her dad, he was no better than Drew was. She said, he could burn down an orphanage and be better than Drew, and he said he just got his dad back. So did Scout. So for her sake, he thought they should at least try tolerating Drew. She said Danny wasn’t the one Drew framed on one of his little visits there, and he said maybe Drew would do something terrible again, but he wouldn’t let Scout come there without him. Jason said if it was up to him, he’d never see that guy again, and Tracy said he had that choice, but Jason said, not really. He couldn’t stop Drew from seeing Scout while she was there, then turn around and ask if Scout and Danny could see each other. She said, between Danny and Drew, there was a universe of difference, and Jason said he knew, but he had to make the first gesture as a father, not just a Quartermaine. Tracy said the problem with that gesture was that he was asking all of them to support it and it’s repercussions, and Jason said he knew. With difficulty, Tracy said, all right. What if Drew was welcome there only when he was with Scout and she kept him on a literal leash? (I’d pay to see that.) Ned said he didn’t know how Drew would feel about the leash part, but he liked it, and Danny said he thought it was great. He and Tracy hugged.

Alexis said, another man, a decent man, would be grateful to the people who loved and cared for his child when he couldn’t. But not Drew. He was as spiteful and arrogant as ever. Drew said she might want to watch her tone, but she told him to watch his damn tone. This was her house. He’d had all this time to think about what he could do with his life now and what kind of person he could be now. He said that was all he thought about, and she said, and this was the conclusion he came to? To use his own daughter as a weapon to hurt people who love and care about her. He hadn’t learned anything. Just like before, he was going to keep pushing and pushing until someone else took a shot at him. He asked if that was a threat, but she said it didn’t have to be her. It wouldn’t be her. She could just sit back and wait for somebody less patient to take a shot at him. And given his winning personality, it was just a matter of time. They’ll just keep trying until they finish the job, and they will. Scout walked in and ran to Drew, crying. They hugged, and she said, dad. Drew said he wanted her to know that they’d never be separated again.

Thursday:

Ava and Ethan lounged at the pool, when Chase and Brook came in. Ethan said, if it wasn’t for them, he and Ava wouldn’t be together. Chase asked if Brook didn’t want to meet Michael somewhere else, but she said they could discuss Deception business anywhere. Besides, she was following his lead in putting him and Phoebe first.

Stella had tea with Tracy at the mansion, and Tracy told her about Maxie moving to Australia. She’d sold her shares in Deception to Michael, who’d formed an alliance with Brook. She and Brook were supposed to be a team. She’d only gotten involved with Deception because of Brook. Torturing Lucy Coe was just a perk.

Felicia met Lucy at the MetroCourt Gardens and apologized for being late. She’d been on the phone with Maxie. Lucy said she was still upset with Maxie, but asked how she was, and Felicia said, good. It sounded like moving was the best decision they could make. Lucy said that was peachy keen lovely for Maxie. She was stuck there with a mess of Maxie’s making.

Isaiah told Tristan that he’d be gone for at least a week, but Stella would answer any questions he had. Tristan left, and Britt asked if Isaiah was going on vacation, but he said he was going to court to testify against Curtis Ashford.

Trina told Curtis that Portia was napping, and he said he wanted to spend as much time with his son and daughter as possible. She asked if he meant before the trial, and he said, in general, but yeah. The doorbell rang, and he said he was expecting his backup. Go see for herself. She answered to the door to Marshall and they hugged.

Peter asked how much evidence Anna needed. It was plain as day Cassius and Britt were responsible for what happened to her. She said she knew, but had to be certain, and he said she was. They were Faisons through and through. And like their father, they would never stop coming for her. There was a knock at the door and Anna opened it to Jason.

Felicia said she was sorry if Maxie put Lucy in a bind, but Lucy said she couldn’t stay mad at Maxie for very long. Besides, it must be hard on Felicia. Felicia said it was, but she and Mac were planning lots of visits. Lucy said that kind of made her feel worse about this. Felicia was missing her daughter, and something Lucy had dreamed about for so long was finally coming to fruition. Felicia asked what it was, and Lucy said she’d show Felicia instead of telling her. Ta-da! Serina came in and Lucy hugged her. Serina said she was glad to be home.

Stella said Tracy still held plenty of shares in Deception and Michael was family. It would be different if they’d sided against her with Lucy, but they didn’t. This way, the Quartermaines retained the upper hand. Tracy said she supposed so, but she didn’t invite Stella there to dump her problems on her. They were celebrating Stella’s promotion to hospital administrator and the birth of her beautiful grandnephew. She asked Stella what was wrong.

 Curtis held the baby, and Marshall said, hello, little man. (And he is little. I’m pretty sure he was born on set.) Marshall asked how Dez was doing, and Curtis said, excellent. Marshall said, eating? Sleeping? Curtis said, yes to the first. When he feels like it to the second. Which was why his mom was upstairs sleeping. Marshall asked if Trina had signed her deal yet, and Trina said she was officially a signed recording artist with Gio. Marshall congratulated her and said he was proud, and Curtis said so was he. Marshall said noise cancelling headphones were his number one tip for being on the road, but she said she wasn’t on tour yet. He said she would be. It was in their blood. It was their family gift. He played the clarinet; she had the voice. Curtis wondered what Dez’s gift would be.

Ava asked if Ethan wasn’t jumping the gun by saying they were together, and he said he wanted her to know last night wasn’t just a fling for him. He hated the word, but felt a real connection between them. He was willing to explore it if she was.

Michael met Brook and said he’d been with Willow, and Brook said, what now? He said Drew had recovered. He was walking, talking, and wasting no time. He and Willow were getting divorced.

Jason said it was good to see Anna, and she said him too. She invited him in and said she’d been lost in work. She was playing catch-up and imagined he was doing the same. He said, actually, he’d been focused on his family. He’d taken Danny away for a little while and hadn’t thought about much else. She said she was glad. He had a lot of time to make up, as did she. She’d just learned the WSB had him in custody and was sorry for what happened to him. He told her that he was about to say the same thing. It seemed like they’d both been through a lot.

Felicia hugged Serina, and Lucy said her beautiful baby was all grown up. Felicia said, last she heard, Serina was off changing the world with her environmental pursuits, and Serina said it never felt like enough. Felicia asked if saving the whales wasn’t her passion, and Serina said it was, but she’d learned it was more paperwork than actual saving. She was a little burnt out and needed a break, when her mom called and suggested a visit. So here she was. Lucy said she thought Port Charles was exactly what Serina needed.

Brook asked why Michael thought the divorce would take, and he said, trust him. They were done. That meant Willow was free to take a shot at Chase. Brook said her husband had free will. Willow didn’t call all the shots and would get her claws into Chase over her cold, dead body.

Ava told Ethan that she supposed a connection wouldn’t be so terrible, but she was surprised. The Ethan she’d met months ago didn’t seem very interested in a relationship. Ethan said he wasn’t, but that changed. She asked, what brought about this change? and he said she did.

Stella told Tracy that she loved her nephew, but Isaiah was her colleague. He was a brilliant surgeon and a compassionate physician. The man she knew bore no resemblance to the one Curtis was describing. Tracy said Curtis was resolute that Isaiah knew about his and Jordan’s accident and left the scene without helping. Did he have any evidence to back it up? Stella said he thought he did, but it was all flimsy to her and apparently to the PCPD and District Attorney as well. Portia was going to testify to Curtis assaulting Isaiah and her account could put Curtis in prison. It was a worry, and her instinct was for Curtis to cut his losses and take the plea deal, but he was determined to fight it out. Tracy said Stella would just have to support him, but Stella said she didn’t know if she could.

Isaiah told Britt that the last thing he and Portia should be looking at was a trial. They should be soaking up every newborn Desmond minute. Britt said she was surprised Curtis didn’t work out a plea, and Isaiah said, he was offered one. He turned it down. Now Portia had to suffer the witness stand – again. She asked how Isaiah was doing, and he said it was all starting to get to him. He was sick of walking on eggshells around that guy. That’s why it was his goal to nail Curtis to the wall in court. She said if he came off this aggressively in court, Curtis was going to walk.

Anna asked how bad it was, but Jason said nothing he couldn’t handle. He was in a cell. No communication, no way of knowing what time of day it was. She said, white torture, and he said at least he knew what was happening. He would focus on a clear line from one situation to the next. Britt, Sidwell, Cullum, the pier, Danny, the WSB taking him. He would do this with different times in his life and was able to not lose his sanity. He guessed that’s why he was able to hold onto it. Anna said she certainly didn’t.

Ava said Ethan made her sound powerful, inspiring change in him, and he said he could tell her the exact moment. When she’d decided to leave Phoebe with Brook and Chase. She could have used what she knew against him, but she didn’t. She only cared about the baby’s well-being. She said every child deserved a safe home and loving parents. She hadn’t always delivered on that, and he asked if she was saying she was flawed. She said there was flawed and there was her, and he said he loved that she was so honest about it. People who weren’t perfect, but did good when they were given a chance to were rare, and it spoke to him. She knew how he felt. Now it was her turn.

Brook went back to sit with Chase and Phoebe and said the company was fine, but Michael had some other news to impart. Apparently, Drew had recovered and he and Willow were getting a divorce. Chase said, I’m sorry. What? Brook said, it just happened and Drew was already up and walking around. Unfortunately, he was talking too. Chase said, he recovered just like that. It was unbelievable. He stood up like nothing happened and his first word in months was divorce? That couldn’t be right. Michael had to be wrong. She said Willow filled Michael in herself. She was shocked Willow hadn’t told Chase any of this first.

Stella told Tracy that her nephew was a good man, but he was a protector. That’s what got him into this mess. He was prideful and hugely stubborn, so he was never going to admit he’d made a mistake by assaulting Isaiah. She was afraid not taking the plea deal was another one. Tracy asked if she thought the trial would result in a worse outcome, and Stella said, far worse. She knew she should support Curtis, but had to be true to herself. She wanted to be a worthy role model for that beautiful baby and Trina. Tracy said she already was.

Marshall asked if Curtis was prepared to prove to a jury that Isaiah left him and Jordan on the road to die, but Curtis said his lawyer told him that all he had to prove was that his belief was reasonable. Marshall asked if he thought of reconsidering the plea deal, and Curtis asked if Marshall thought he couldn’t win. Marshall said he thought 8 months in prison would be hard, but years would be harder, and Curtis said he didn’t plan on going to prison at all. Marshall said, but that was the point. It wasn’t up to him. Curtis said he couldn’t just let Isaiah move in with Portia and raise his son, and Marshall said Isaiah was there yesterday when he came. Curtis said, of course (🍷) he was. The guy had no concept or respect for boundaries. He’d even told Curtis that he’d be a better father to his child than he could ever be. So there was no way he was going to let that happen.

Isaiah said he wasn’t talking to Britt the way he’d talk in court. He was talking to her as a friend. She said she guessed she had so few, she didn’t pick up on that. Her bad. Jack approached the desk, and Britt asked what he wanted from her. She was holding onto her job by a thread. The last thing she needed was attention from the WSB. Jack said it was a good thing he wasn’t there to see her then.

Anna told Jason that the doctors said anything she had experienced or thought she had wasn’t real. It was a delusion. Jason said he was sorry for not looking into her disappearance. He should have found her. She said she understood why he didn’t. She was an unreliable source to anyone. He said he wasn’t anyone. He would have known if she was telling the truth, but he was helping Britt escape from Cullum and Sidwell. She said, they were carrying out Faison’s project, and he said, yes. She said she was still trying to figure out how they made her believe Faison was still alive, and he asked if she’d actually seen him. She said, something like him. Maybe like a deep fake or something. Jason said, they could replicate the voice pretty easily, but she said the things he knew about her could only be recreated by someone who knew him. Like his offspring.

Felicia asked what Serina’s dad was up to, and Serina said he was living his best life in Key West. Felicia said, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and now Scott Baldwin, but Serina said he wasn’t writing as much as kayaking and hunting for the best key lime pie. Lucy said they had key lime pie there too, and Felicia said Serina’s mom wasn’t the only one who would be glad to have her home. Cody too. Serina said she was excited to meet her brother, when Lucy gave Felicia an exit sign. Felicia said Serina’s mom was giving her very subtle hint that she wanted alone time with her. They hugged and Felicia left.

Marshall said he got where Curtis was coming from, but actions had consequences, and Curtis said he knew that, but he also knew he was provoked. Marshall said it might be better to sacrifice the 8 months so he didn’t lose time down the road, and Curtis said, for the greater good. Marshall said, for the whole family, but Curtis said he didn’t see how taking the plea deal helped anyone. Marshall said he didn’t see how a trial would either. A not guilty verdict wouldn’t remove Isaiah from Desmond’s life. That boy might wind up being Desmond’s stepfather, but Curtis would always be his father. He’d stayed away from Curtis and Tommy and Irene because all he could see was the worst case scenario. Do what he couldn’t. Find a middle ground and compromise. Don’t see the extremes. They never let anyone win.

Ava said she’d be open to seeing if there was anything there with Ethan. After all, he did spoil his derriere for her. It was the least she could do. He said he thought it bounced back pretty nicely, but she said she’d seen better. He said, liar, and was about to kiss her, when Trina walked in. She said it was official. Her timing was terrible. She was so sorry. Ethan said he was about to grab a drink anyway. Feel free to talk about him while he was gone.

Jason told Anna that he didn’t really know Cassius and couldn’t vouch for him, but he did the right thing in that moment. Anna said, and Britt? and he said, Cullum blackmailed her, made her believe that she had Huntington’s so she’d do what he wanted. She said she knew, but wasn’t convinced, and he said she knew what the WSB was capable of. Cullum was highly ranked and had the resources to study Faison to learn what he’d say and do. She said, all on his own, without any help from Faison’s children? and he said he didn’t know. Maybe Cassius was involved in what happened to her. He couldn’t say, but he knew Britt wasn’t.

Tristan opened an exam room door and saw Jack. He said he’d get another physician, but Jack said, no. Don’t worry. He wasn’t there for medical attention. He just wanted to see how Tristan was settling in. How was he liking Port Charles?

Tracy asked if there was a reason Michael ducked out of the family meeting, or was he just bored, and he said he went to see Willow. She asked why he’d do that voluntarily, and he said to tell her that he wouldn’t stand for Drew being around their kids. Turns out it was a wasted trip. Drew and Willow were getting a divorce. Tracy laughed and said Yuri owed her fifty bucks. They had a little bet about whether the marriage would last a year or not. He said, congratulations, and she thanked him. He said the problem was, he didn’t think it would play out as well for Brook as it had for her. Now that Willow was free, he guaranteed the first move she made was a beeline straight for Chase.

Chase said, at the end of the day, it was really none of their business, and Brook said she knew. She was just surprised Willow didn’t make it his business. He said, if it was true, he was happy for Willow. Now she could get on with the rest of her life and they could get on with theirs. She said she liked the sound of that, and he said he told her that his focus was on her and Phoebe. They meant the world to him. They kissed, when Ethan approached and asked how they were today. Brook said, as if he cared, and he said she was right. He only had eyes for Phoebe.

Lucy said she was thrilled Serina was there and doing so well, but Serina said, except she wasn’t doing that well. Lucy asked what was wrong, and Serina told her, let’s just say I’ve lost my trust fund. All of it. Lucy asked, what happened? and Serina said she’d made some bad choices, trusted people she shouldn’t have. She didn’t want to get into it right now, but thought Lucy should know. Lucy took her hand and said whenever Serina was ready and able to talk about it, she was there. Actually, it was excellent news. Serina said, yes. Her being destitute was just a joyous occasion. Lucy said, no. It just made what she was about to ask Serina exponentially easier. Serina said she knew Lucy summoned her there for a reason. What was she really doing in Port Charles?

Stella went to Portia’s house and hugged Marshall and Curtis. She went to Desmond’s bassinet and asked how he was doing, and Marshall said she was right. He had Irene’s eyes. He wished Irene was here to meet her grandson. Stella said, she was. She was in every one of them – she took their hands – especially him.

Isaiah said Britt’s interaction with Chief Brennan was kind of intense. Was she good? She said, just a little jumpy around the WSB after they made a total dumpster fire of her life. She was just aiming for simplicity these days. Keep her head down, do her probation time, get her life together. He said, a huge part of that life was being the equipment manager for the softball team, right? and she said an honor she’d never dreamed of. He said he couldn’t bat, obviously, but he’d be the best pinch runner GH had ever seen. Was she going to the game later? She asked if she had a choice, and he said it would be exactly what she needed. When she saw that ball coming at her, just picture Brennan’s face on it and swing for the fences.

Tristan said he was getting settled in and committed to building a career at GH. And FYI, visits from Jack weren’t helpful. He didn’t want Jack or anyone from the WSB showing up at the hospital. Jack said, and his reports? and Tristan said, would be reported when there was something to report. Until then, the Bureau left him alone. Jack said he’d certainly pass along that message, but he was afraid Tristan wasn’t the one who got to set those terms.

Jason said, Britt was a victim, just like Anna, but it was over now. Cullum and Cassius were dead. Sidwell wasn’t going to see the light of day again, so he guessed the only thing to do now was to move forward. Anna asked if that’s what he was doing, and he said he was trying to. She said she’d work to follow his lead then, and he told her that he just wanted to say he was there if she needed him. She thanked him, and he said he was glad she was back. She said she was glad they both were, and Jason left. Peter said, he was obviously lying about Britt. Not to mention everything else.

Stella said the trial had her nervous, and Marshall said she wasn’t alone there. She said she wanted Curtis to take a good, long look at what he had there. Three generations of Ashfords under one roof. Over the years, their family had endured a lot of loss. They may have bent under the weight, but they didn’t break. Marshall said, because they were strong, and Stella said she wanted Curtis to use that strength. Draw from it. Marshall said they were there for Curtis, and Curtis thanked them both. Stella took Marshall to the kitchen, and Curtis said Dez had his word. Nothing or no one would take him away from his son. Not ever.

Lucy said she called Serina because she loved her and missed her terribly, and Serina said her too. And? Lucy said, and she needed Serina’s help. There was a snake in the grass. Michael Corinthos filched a very significant chunk of Deception stock, stock that should have been hers. Before Maxie moved away, she sold the stock to Michael. Maxie should have sold it to her because it was her company. She founded it in the 90s. Serina said she knew and knew how important it was to Lucy, and Lucy said it was, but for far too long, she’d left it in the hands of the enemy. Serina said, the Quartermaines, and Lucy said they’d looked down on her so long and now they were more united than ever. Michael and Brook and Tracy. They fought like cats and dogs, but at the end of the day, they stuck together. Serina asked if Lucy thought they would force her out, and Lucy said she knew they would in a heartbeat. Except she wasn’t going to let that happen. Serina asked, what’s the move? and Lucy said she was going to take back her company and Serina was going to help her.

Tracy told Michael that there was a time she thought her granddaughter’s marriage was doomed, but she didn’t think that anymore. She thought Brook knew exactly what she was doing. Michael said Brook wasn’t the one he was worried about, and Tracy said she understood, but so far, Chase had followed through on his promise to prioritize Brook and the baby, and that baby was about to be theirs. Tomorrow, they were signing Phoebe’s adoption papers and would officially be a family. And Willow, whatever plan she was concocting, was too late. Michael said, doubtful. He knew her too well. She wouldn’t back off. She hated being alone. Tracy said, evidenced by her serial husband hopping, and he said Willow was the type who needed a man in her life and she’d do whatever she needed to secure one.

Chase said he’d believe it when they signed the paperwork tomorrow, and Ethan said the three of them just fit as a family. He told Phoebe that she was a lucky girl. She had Brook and Chase waiting for her. Good luck tomorrow. Chase said he had to take off and would see Brook at home, and he left.

Trina said there seemed to be a sizable spark between Ava and Ethan, and Ava said he’d like to pursue it. Trina asked what Ava would like, and Ava said she was a little apprehensive. With Ric and Jenz, it was all about opportunity, mutual interests. With Ethan, it was different. For the first time in a long time, she was simply enjoying the company of a man and it felt fantastic. Trina said anyone who could make Ava smile like that got her vote, and Ava said she was eager to see where it went. Trina said she’d give them some privacy and see Ava later, and she left. On his way back to Ava, Ethan saw a man telling an attendant that it was his first time at the MetroCourt, and Ethan didn’t look happy.

Tristan said he had a patient that he needed to consult with Britt on. He wouldn’t be there if there was another option, so he was hoping they could put their differences aside. She said they could have their differences anytime. Patients came first. He showed her the chart, when Jason came in and saw them together

Peter told Anna that Britt was his father’s daughter. Hell, she helped him flee the country, spent all that time with him, it was on the run. Of course (🍷) it was her and Cassius who held Anna prisoner. They broke her by torturing her, the same way Faison tortured her and Robin. For all they knew, Noah and Emma could be next. Anna said, no, no, no, no, and he said Cassius was dead, but the only way this cycle ended for sure was if Britt met the same fate. If she really wanted to protect her loved ones, she knew what needed to be done. Britt Westbourne must die.

🌞 Summer Friday…

At the park, Dante said he’d seen Fitzpatrick play for his old precinct. His scouting instincts said that Fitzpatrick was going to hit the cover off the ball, and that’s what they needed. Fitzpatrick said he’d try not to let them down.

Ric went to Sonny’s place dressed casually, and Sonny asked if he was going to the gym afterwards, but Ric said he was catching up with Elizabeth later on. She was playing softball for GH this afternoon.

Lucas hoped he didn’t embarrass himself too badly, but Elizabeth said it was just a softball game. Their team wasn’t usually a playoff contender anyway. He said, still, he should probably warm up and take a few practice swings. Did she have any idea where the bats were? She said that would be a question for Britt, but she didn’t see Britt anywhere. They certainly couldn’t practice without equipment.

At the hospital, Britt told Tristan that she’d like to meet with his patient before they discussed the next steps, and he said he’d let her know. He left, and Jason approached. She said her day just got a lot better, and Jason asked how much she knew about the doctor she was just talking to.

Carly met Valentin at the MetroCourt gardens, and seeing a table with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, she said it looked like he had a nice afternoon planned. She hoped she wasn’t interrupting. He said, not at all, but she was a little early. He wasn’t going to call her until the caviar showed up. She said her assistant manager told her that there were some significant charges made to his room, the one she was comping for him. He said he’d decided he was going to enjoy being a kept man.

At the pool, Ethan noticed a man telling an attendant that it was his first time using the pool, and Ethan looked concerned. (I assume this new guy is Hudson, but they haven’t confirmed yet.) Brook saw Drew walk in, as well as Danny coming in to work. Drew walked over to Ava, who said he looked a lot better than the last time she saw him. He said he felt a lot better too, and she said she guessed a miracle like this left a person refreshed. He said he didn’t know why his body did what it did, but the neurologists said everything checked out, so he was happy to call it a miracle. She said she was happy to see him like this, and he thanked her. He said he was guessing not many people were, so he appreciated it. Was she meeting Nina there by any chance? She said, no. She was with someone else. He was right over… She looked around and saw Ethan was gone.

Anna told Peter, shut up. She wasn’t going to kill Britt. She wasn’t a murderer. He said, yet she’d taken many, many lives as a WSB agent. They both knew no one in her family would be safe as long as a single Faison was left alive. Never.

Ava wondered where Ethan disappeared to, when Drew asked an attendant for an iced tea and flopped down on the chaise next to her. He asked if she minded. He was still getting his strength back. She said, okay, but he’d have to move when Ethan came back. Ethan Lovett? He was Lulu’s half-brother, the guy that Sidwell shot in her gallery. The stranger listened in, and she said Ethan was perfectly fine now. Drew said he guessed he missed out on a lot during his illness. He was very eager to get his life back. Ava said she was sure. Why was he looking for Nina? She wasn’t exactly his biggest fan. He said he was aware. She and Nina were very close. Was she in on it? Exactly how much did she know about what Nina and Willow did?

Elizabeth asked Lucas about various properties, but he had a reason for not liking any of them. She asked if what he was saying was that he’d like to spend the rest of his days living in Ava’s guest room, and he said he was used to having martinis with her every night. Besides, it was nice having someone else around. He couldn’t face going home to an empty place. She suggested a roommate, someone other than Ava Jerome, when they heard, heads up! and a ball came flying their way. Fitzpatrick said, sorry about that. Everyone okay?

Sonny asked what the story was with Sidwell’s legal situation, and Ric said he had two trials coming up and his assets had been frozen. The DA’s office had a strong case and Sidwell was going to see some time. The second he set foot on the bus to Pentenville, all of his assets would go up for auction. Sonny said, including Windymere and his piers.

Britt said she knew Tristan had just started there and could be completely annoying, and Jason said he also had ties to the WSB. Britt said that couldn’t be correct. He was a heart surgeon. Jason said, a heart surgeon he’d met while he was a prisoner in Jakarta. After they released him, the doctor was on a plane with him back to Port Charles. She said she knew she’d never be completely free of the WSB, but she didn’t think they’d go as far as planting someone on staff to spy on her, and he said they didn’t know that yet. He just wanted to tell her this guy was involved with the WSB. He had no idea what the doctor was doing in Port Charles. She said she did. He was there to keep eyes on her. It didn’t matter what she did. She was going to pay for being Faison’s daughter for the rest of her life.

Peter said Anna was still so fragile. His sister was dangerous. If she didn’t stop Britt, Britt would stop her. Anna said Britt wasn’t out to get her. Jason said Britt had nothing to do with her kidnapping and he didn’t lie. Peter said Jason would say anything to protect Britt. He was in love with her. She knew that. She said she needed to see Valentin, but he said, no. That would be a mistake. She couldn’t trust him. She said that wasn’t true. Valentin would help her. He understood her and would believe what she had to say. Emma came in and asked who Anna was talking to.

Valentin said he was glad Carly could join. He’d spared no expense. She said she could tell. He was going to treat her in her hotel where she paid the bill? He asked what she was implying. That he couldn’t pay? She said she knew he couldn’t pay, but he said she was going to have to keep up. Things changed pretty quickly in Port Charles. The WSB came through. His assets had been unfrozen. He wanted to give her what she deserved – he kissed her hand – because now he could.

Emma said she heard Anna talking. It kind of sounded like somebody was with her. Anna said she was just dictating case files. She was trying to get up to speed. Emma told her not to push herself too hard, but Anna said work was good. It focused her and gave her purpose. But she was grateful for Emma’s concern. She was grateful for Emma. Emma said she was glad Anna was home and that she got to see Maxie and her family before they left for Australia. Anna said she was going to miss them, but thought Maxie was right. It was probably good for James to have a fresh start after the whole Cassius debacle. Emma said she thought it was going to take them all a while to get over that, and Anna said he’d deceived a lot of people. Emma said it kind of seemed she’d been in the dark about a lot of things, like Josslyn being in the WSB, and Anna said, Josslyn told her? Emma said, mm-hmm. She kind of wished Anna had.

Carly told Valentin, congratulations. Jack had accepted his offer? Valentin said, without hesitation. Whatever was in the box, he wanted it very, very badly. She said he’d gotten his money back. So what happens now? He said, after he bought her something expensive? and she said, obscenely expensive. He said, after that, he keep a promise to Charlotte.

Elizabeth asked, who hit that? and Dante said he did. Sorry if he almost hit them. They remembered Joe, right? Lucas said, nice to see him again, and Fitzpatrick said, likewise. Elizabeth told Lucas, don’t talk to the enemy, and Fitzpatrick said he was new, but guessed what he’d heard was true. These games get pretty heated, huh? Elizabeth said, some of them took it more seriously than others, and Dante said he just didn’t want Corinthos Coffee to win again. This was law enforcement. She said she was glad she played for GH. Nobody cared that she was an outfielder that couldn’t catch… you know. Dante said, a fly ball? She just needed time on the field. Come on, lets’ go. She said he couldn’t help her. She was his enemy. He said, just don’t tell anyone, and they left. Fitzpatrick asked Lucas how long those two had been together.

Sonny told Ric that he was going to keep the Rochester Piers until he got Piers 55 and 56. Then he was going to expand his business. Rick said they should reacquire those piers discreetly. They didn’t need Boyle making it a political issue again. Sonny said he’d send a proxy over to the auction who could bid on his behalf, and Ric said, start with a high bid. A bidding war would only put more scrutiny on the winner. Sonny said he had a better way to keep the bidding to a minimum.

Jason said all he knew about Dr. Roberts was that he was the one who brought him back from Jakarta, and she asked if he thought the hospital board knew they’d hired someone with ties to the WSB. He said he had no idea, but he thought it best if she kept that information to herself. Just keep her eyes on him and see how he behaved. She said, on a brighter note, what brought him to GH? and he said, her. He thought maybe they could take the boat out and spend some time on the lake. Maybe get some dinner. She said she would have loved that, but she had to play softball, and he said, what? She said she was on probation and had to prove she wanted to work there, and he said, so she was going to do that by playing softball? She said, being the equipment manager will, and he said it sounded like a fun gig. Who didn’t love softball? She said, her, but he said she could change that if she learned how to play. He could give her some pointers. She asked if he wanted to come to the park with her and check on her form, when his phone rang. Sonny said he needed to see him, and Jason said he was on his way. He told Britt that he was sorry, but he had to go see Sonny. She said that was okay. Sonny spared her the humiliation of showing how uncoordinated she was. Could they get together later? He said he’d call her and left.

Danny brought Britt some ice water, and they both looked at Drew. She said it was going to take a minute to get used to Drew being up and around again. Scout must be thrilled. How was she doing? He said she was super happy, which was great, but she was back living with Drew and he didn’t think Drew was going to let them see each other anymore. She said she was sorry, and he said him too, but he was going to try hard to get along with Drew for Scout’s sake.

Ava told Drew that she knew Willow was determined to care for him at home and Nina did everything she could to help. Willow must be relieved to see him back on his feet. He said he thought she was going to faint the first time she saw him standing, and she said his condition was hard on everyone. Scout most of all. She was impressed with how Scout handled it. He should be proud of her. She knew Scout’s grandfather Julian would be. He said he was always proud of Scout and was thrilled to have her home with him. His only regret in divorcing Willow was yet another upheaval in Scout’s life. She said, he and Willow were getting divorced? Nina must be out celebrating. He said he wouldn’t miss Nina either, and Ava said this was so sudden. He was so devoted to Willow. Did he mind if she asked what happened? He said his long illness showed him that his marriage to Willow wasn’t exactly what he’d thought it was. She said, traumatic circumstances could expose the cracks in any relationship or make you think a good connection was there when it wasn’t.

Lulu came home to find Ethan coming down the stairs with his bag. She asked if Sonny was sending him on a last minute trip, but he said it wasn’t a trip. He was leaving – for good.

Lucas said Dante and Elizabeth had just been friends forever, and Fitzpatrick said, they seemed very friendly. Lucas said she was with someone else, but now that he thought about it, maybe Fitzpatrick had noticed something the rest of them had missed. Fitzpatrick said he was a cop. He was trained to observe and size people up, and Lucas said he hoped Fitzpatrick was right because Dante was a much better guy than the one she was seeing.

Elizabeth said, okay, go, and Dante threw the ball, but she held up her glove and it bounced off. She said, no, wait. She wasn’t ready. Sorry. He asked if she was open to a few pointers, but she said, GH always lost anyway. He asked if that’s what she taught her kids, and she said, actually, she taught her kids to always try their best, but she also taught them to have fun, which they did. She’d had fun at Cameron’s soccer games and watching Jake play T-ball. He said he used to love watching Rocco’s Little League games. Rocco would get so hyped up when they won. So would he. He guessed Rocco got it from him. She said, if winning was so important, why was he helping her? They were opposing teams. He said he always kept forgetting that.

Anna said she really regretted she was able to tell Emma anything about Josslyn, but Emma said it was okay. Josslyn told her that she was undercover at the time and Anna had to keep her secret. Anna said she did, but if Emma had ever been in any danger, she would have told her about Josslyn, no matter what the WSB wanted. Family came first and she was sorry if she’d ever given Emma the impression otherwise. Emma said Anna never had. She’d always known Anna loved her. Always. Anna said that would never change.

Tristan went into an exam room and found Britt there. She closed the door, and he said he was called for a consult. She said, that was a lie, just like his presence at GH. She knew the WSB sent him there to trick her into working with them again. So he could go back and ask his superiors to reassign him, because that was never going to happen. He said everyone had their limits, and she said he was giving her no choice but to turn him into the board and they’d fire him. He said Jason Morgan must have told her that they’d met, and she asked if he really thought Jason was going to keep his little secret. They were very close. He said, good for her. To start, he wasn’t a WSB agent. So telling the board wasn’t going to get him fired. They knew he’d worked at a WSB medical facility, and that wasn’t a secret. Lastly, get her facts straight before she opened her big mouth.

Ava said she’d noticed Brook talking to Ethan earlier. Did he mention where he was going? Brook said he’d just popped by to congratulate her and Chase for signing the paperwork to adopt Phoebe, and Ava said that was wonderful. She was so happy for them. Brook thanked her for helping Alexis make it possible, and Ava said, of course (🍷). Take care. She left, when Danny walked by with Drew’s iced tea, stumbled, and spilled it on him. He said he was so sorry. He was just trying to deliver Drew’s iced tea. Drew said Danny shouldn’t even be serving drinks. He was a pool boy. He jumped up and said, this right here was why he couldn’t trust Danny with Scout. He wasn’t even aware of his own surroundings. Brook said, that’s enough. Don’t you dare talk to Danny that way.

Lulu asked if Ethan was in trouble. Was one of Sonny’s enemies after him? He said, nothing like that, and she asked why he was leaving then. He said because an incredible opportunity just fell into his lap. It could put him on Easy Street for the rest of his life, but he had to leave right now. He couldn’t risk missing this flight. She said he couldn’t leave. He worked for Sonny now. People just don’t up and quit on Sonny Corinthos.

Jason arrived at Sonny’s, and Sonny thanked him for getting their so quick. Ric said, glad to have him back, and Sonny said he wanted to talk to Jason about buying his piers back from Sidwell. Ric said he was going to head to the park, but Sonny said, hold on. They had to have a discussion. It was obvious there was no love lost between Jason and Ric and they had their reasons why they didn’t like each other, but it had to end. They had to leave the past in the past. Ric was his brother and had proved himself. They were working together now. He told Ric that Jason was also his brother. They’d been working together and Jason was his righthand man. That wasn’t going to change, but he didn’t need them at each other’s throats. Jason said, that won’t be a problem.

Brook told Drew, calm down. He was causing a scene and disturbing other guests. Drew said he didn’t care. Either Danny was incredibly clumsy or did that on purpose. He knew which one he was betting on. Danny swore it was an accident, and Brook told him to go back to work. She’d handle this. She told Drew that he needed to relax. She’d hoped his illness would have given him some perspective, but he was still the same petty tyrant he’d always been. He said his recovery must have ruined the family’s day, but she said, it didn’t. What he went through must have been hell. He said she had no idea. Was she happy? She said, no. Because unlike him, she didn’t revel in other people’s misfortune. He said, Tracy did, and Brook said he’d be happy to hear that despite her grandmother’s feelings about him, everybody decided to tolerate his presence for Scout’s sake because she was part of the family. He said his family, and she said, but he wasn’t part of the Quartermaine family and he never would be.

On the phone, Ava said, where are you? She hoped Ethan had a good excuse for leaving without saying anything. If he wasn’t back in ten minutes, don’t bother coming back at all.

Lulu said Ethan used their father’s name to get Sonny to give him a chance. If he left now, Sonny wouldn’t give him a second one. He said it was a risk he’d have to take, but she said, no, he didn’t. Sonny was counting on him. Because of their dad, Sonny wouldn’t track him down like he would someone else who crossed him. Was he sure this opportunity was worth the risk? He said this was more than a job. He was keeping a promise.

Emma said she used to think it was cool that Anna was a WSB agent, but now she saw that the WSB wasn’t just this force for good that she always thought it was. The secrets Anna was forced to keep were like some barrier between them getting in the way. She hoped Anna was done with them. Anna promised she was going to do everything she could to put that all behind her.

Carly told Valentin that going after Windymere was going to be a legal nightmare. With Sidwell in jail, his assets had been seized. Was he sure it was worth it? He said whatever made his daughter happy was worth it. Charlotte loved Windymere. It was a beautiful place. She asked if he knew how many people had been murdered in that beautiful place, or kept prisoner in that beautiful place’s subterranean rooms, and he said, no house is perfect. She said, fine. You do you. But she meant what she’d said before. That place creeped her out. She wasn’t staying over at Windymere. He had to come to her. He said she knew he could work with that.

Britt said it wasn’t some random coincidence that Tristan landed on staff at the same hospital she worked at, and he said, with hundreds of other doctors. Was she always this hysterical? She asked if he was always this sexist. (Thank you.) She was done with the WSB playing God with her life. How could he work for people who made her believe she had Huntington’s, a terrifying disease, when she didn’t? He asked why they told her that, and she said, to get her to do what they wanted. He said that was unconscionable. It sounded like she’d been through a lot, and for that, he was very sorry, but his presence there had nothing to do with her. He was hired as a cardiologist, so he was going to get back to treating real patients. Had she ever considered therapy? It can work wonders… So can decaf. He left.

Dante said he really wasn’t like one of those winning means everything kind of guys, and Elizabeth said he did seem a little intense. He said, sorry. Maybe he was channeling his worry for Rocco. Rocco was still struggling a little bit, but he was doing good. She asked what was going on, and he said Rocco and Danny were having some problems. Danny was pissed off that his dad went to prison for Rocco, and now that Jason was back, he thought everything would be cool, but they were still having problems. She said she was sorry to hear that. How were things for him and Rocco? He said, good actually. He didn’t want to screw it up. He had the impulse to jump in and fix things with Rocco and Danny, but he wasn’t going to do that. He was probably taking the summer league thing a little too seriously when he was putting more pressure on his team than himself. She said she couldn’t speak about the way he handled his team, but his strategy for Rocco seemed solid. She thought it was wise to give Rocco some space, but if Dante ever needed someone to coach, she was all in.

Ric said he had no problem working with Jason. They were different, but valued many of the same things and the same people, like Sonny’s son. He held out his hand and said he was happy to put the past behind them. Jason shook Ric’s hand, Ric said he was going to the park, and left. Sonny said he knew it wasn’t easy and appreciated Jason making peace, but Jason said there would never be peace between him and Ric.

Ethan said he had to go, but please tell him that she understood, and Lulu said he’d always had her back. When she needed to leave town with her son, he’d come through, no questions asked. It was her turn to have his back. Did he need her to cover for him? He said, no. Just tell everyone he left town. She told him to be careful and keep in touch. He said, sure thing, and they hugged.

Anna told Emma that everything that had happened since October had been such a revelation. Before then, she would have said nothing could shock her, but she would have been wrong. Emma said she was sorry Anna had gone through so much, but Anna said it didn’t matter. She was back with her family now and was going to do everything she could to make sure they were never parted again. Emma asked if she really thought the WSB would leave her alone now, and Anna said she was going to talk to someone who was going to help her make sure of that.

Carly and Valentin clinked glasses, and she said, to you and getting the best of Jack. He said he just hoped he didn’t sell himself short, but she said he got what he wanted, right? His assets were unfrozen. He said, it was all too easy. Jack didn’t put up much of a fight. Whatever was in the box was obviously very valuable to him. Maybe somebody else. Maybe he should have talked to somebody else. Maybe he should have found another buyer. She asked if it wouldn’t have been treason if he’d sold the WSB secrets to the highest bidder, and he said, if it was a foreign government. He was talking about Nina. Remember when he and Charlotte went to Windymere? Nina and Jack were there. Carly said she thought Nina went with Jack because she felt guilty for sticking him with that paralytic drug, but Valentin said he thought it was more than that. He thought it was personal and that Nina would have paid for what was inside that box. She said he got his money back. Take the money. He said she was right and he was taking it, but he was just curious. What was inside that box that both Jack and Nina wanted? What did the two of them have in common?

Brook said she knew it was useless to appeal to Drew’s sense of decency since he had none, but she did hope for Scout’s sake that he kept his visits to their house few and far between. He said, don’t worry. He had no plans to spend time with anybody in that house, but he couldn’t say the same for Willow. He couldn’t talk and he couldn’t move, but he could sure listen. Willow wanted Chase back and from personal experience, she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Brook said it was ironic that it was her son who saved him from drowning, while he walked away from that same son’s father while he was having a heart attack. Her father could have died. He said, faking a heart attack came right out of the Quartermaine playbook. How was he supposed to know Ned really needed help? She said he was lucky Gio was a better man than him, but he said, no. He was lucky Gio wasn’t raised a Quartermaine and was nothing like the rest of them.

Lucas asked if Fitzpatrick ever played in a league, and Fitzpatrick asked if a movie fantasy league counted. They were surprisingly competitive. What about Lucas? Did he ever play softball? Lucas said, not in a while. So he was just hoping for a blowout either way because the last thing he wanted was to be up at the plate with the game on the line. Fitzpatrick’s phone chimed and he said he couldn’t believe it. He’d just made arrangements with a realtor to look at apartments today and forgot. He’d been blowing it off. Lucas said he knew what Fitzpatrick meant, and Fitzpatrick asked if he was looking for a place too. Lucas said, as Fitzpatrick knew, his living arrangements recently changed, but Elizabeth was determined to help him find the perfect place. She’d lived there practically her whole life and had a ton of ideas. If Fitzpatrick wanted, he could airdrop him the information she’d sent. (I smell either a budding romance or bromance here, and I like it.)

Elizabeth said she could never see the ball when it was in the air, and Dante said she had to use her glove in a way that blocked the sun, but not the ball. She said, then it would hit her in the head, but he said not if she did it right. He went around behind her to show her, lifting up her arm, when Ric saw them.

Fitzpatrick was about to leave and told Lucas that when he was up at the plate, choke up on the bat a little. It would add more control to his swing. At least that’s what Dante told him.

Ava told Danny that if Ethan showed up, throw a drink on him and tell him he blew it. The stranger made a call, and said he was calling from Express Shipping. He had a package for Mr. Ethan Lovett, but the address label appeared to be damaged. Is his address 247 Maple Street or 241 Maple Street? Lulu said, it was 247 Maple Street, but don’t bother delivering the package. Nathan Lovett doesn’t live here anymore. He asked if there was a forwarding address, but she said there wasn’t. He left the country. So it could be returned to the sender. The stranger looked annoyed.

Brook said Drew had been given a second chance, but he was just going to let petty grievances run his life. He said what had been taken from him was far from petty and he demanded justice. She said it sounded like revenge to her. Stay away from her family. He said, by the time he was done, the Quartermaines would be the ones who would lose everything, and she walked out.

Dante continued to coach Elizabeth while Ric watched from a distance. Britt arrived, struggling to carry all the equipment, and said, oh, help, as all the softballs tumbled from the bag. Elizabeth said Britt was late, but Britt said she was only one person. Elizabeth said they couldn’t play without the bases. Seriously, Britt needed to be on time so no one was waiting. It was rude to them and the other team. Dante said it was nice to see Britt was finally taking this seriously, while Ric continued to watch them.

Sonny said he got that Jason hated Ric, but he thought Jason understood that he needed them to work together. He thought that wouldn’t be a problem. Jason said it wouldn’t be… because he couldn’t work for Sonny anymore.

Valentin said he didn’t know what Nina and Jack were up to, and Carly said it was bad enough when they had to talk about Jack. She had absolutely no interest in anything Nina did. He said she and Nina had history, but she wasn’t jealous of Nina, and she said she would never be jealous of Nina. He said he wished he was as evolved as she was. He hated thinking that Sonny could talk her into dumping him for the sake of their daughter. She said no one told her who to be with. She took a huge chance at being with him and so far it had worked out. He said, so far. He took a huge chance too. She said it was a good thing they were right, and he said they had good instincts. They kissed, when Anna walked in.

On Monday, Dante tells Elizabeth that he used the power of office for personal gain; Josslyn tells Jack that he’s making himself vulnerable to a huge liability; Anna tells Valentin that he just got his freedom back and now was throwing it all away; and Jason tells Sonny that he’s going to prison if he’s lucky.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

What Scotty’s been up to and how Serina feels.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-finally-reveals-what-happened-to-scott-baldwin

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-kelly-kruger-playing-serena-baldwin-feels-right-to-me

This startled me and I’m wondering why Soap Opera Digest didn’t have an article on it. Like, what happened? I liked that Ethan.

https://parade.com/news/general-hospital-ethan-role-recast-fans-reactions

Nope. Bring Vaughn back. It’s not like they haven’t worked around rules before.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/meet-general-hospitals-hudson-troy-lennon-appel-is-he-josslyns-new-love-interest

Geez. Give it a minute. I’m sure she’ll get what’s coming to her eventually. How about Drew? How long must we wait for his comeuppance?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-fans-outraged-as-willow-escapes-consequences-for-drugging-drew

The ultimate soap hop.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/13-general-hospital-stars-who-were-on-the-young-and-the-restless-first

I don’t remember him being with Kristen Alderson, but regardless, there’s some kind of irony or something here.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/chad-duells-exes-courtney-hope-and-kristen-alderson-collab-on-the-netflix-doc-trend

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

Luke made the decision to leave the boat and Gen claimed she was going to be Zen Gen next charter. Joy was disappointed that Luke chose to leave, as she’d been hoping they could fix things throughout the rest of the season. He told her that they’d meet again, but she seemed pretty doubtful. In Luke’s final interview, he said, I hope I get to come on Captain Sandy’s boat again… You know what I mean. (BA-DUM-CHH!) Maybe he can get an interim gig as a stand-up comic. Suzanne found a match in Will, and apparently was pretty happy, since the crew got a $25K tip ($1900 each). In Cooper’s interview, he said part of him wanted to have fun being single, and when Eyebrows Joe asked how it was going with Kat, he said he wanted to take it slow. The crew night out was uneventful, except for Kat, who cornered Cooper in the rain on the restaurant terrace and dry begged for him to act like she was special. It seemed like he’d rather spend more time with random people than her, and she thought they’d been having fun. He must have said the right thing, since they cuddled on the boat later, but then again, it seems like these girls ultimately don’t care how the guys actually feel. They are on the same page, dammit! Being sleep deprived, Gael was having it rough and texted Nathan to get back to the Air BnB asap, and he left the group early. After a bad storm with very close lightning, in the morning, Nathan was late, not showing up until 10:30, but no one seemed to actually worry – like, maybe something happened to him in a foreign country or Gael murdered him – except for Captain Sandy. In the captain’s interview, she said, it’s very disrespectful, it’s unacceptable, and frankly, it’s out of character. She hoped everything was okay, but if he might have some explaining to do. Eyebrows Joe had a lot to say about Nathan in his interview – like it was bad behavior for a bosun and what kind of example was he setting – but sh*t sometimes happens and he’s the last dude who should judge anybody for anything. Starting to get nervous, since they were already a man down, Captain Sandy texted Nathan, who said he was on his way back. When Nathan arrived, he made a beeline to change and talk to the captain. My guess was that things did not go too well with Gael, the baby, or both, but to be continued…

In the City – Reunion Part 2

Andy asked if Danielle resented Lindsay for dating Carl after her, and Danielle said she’d rather have someone hate her to her face than behind her back, but she felt like Lindsay wasn’t done punishing her. I don’t remember Danielle dating Carl, but I have to admit I don’t always pay attention. Lindsay said she’d protected Danielle, but now that she had a kid, she had no time for this. Danielle had just popped up on the show. Danielle was like, there it is, and the topic of her dress for the wedding was brought up, the whole white/pink fiasco. Yvonne said Danielle had texted her a picture of the dress and she’d said it was fine, but Danielle had put her in an awkward position. This made no sense, since Danielle clearly asked if it was okay, giving Yvonne the option to say, no. And everyone knows the wedding is really for the bride and she gets whatever she wants. I had a friend who got married in Manhattan and the reception was at an upscale hotel. Black has also been considered a no when it comes to a wedding, but I’d wanted to wear a black cocktail dress. I asked first, she knew the dress, and said it was fine with her. I’m quite sure if it hadn’t been, she would have said so. No surprise, the topic of Amanda and West came up, and Danielle said Amanda had made a mistake. She never should have had a relationship with West when there was more sh*t to sort out with Kyle. Agreed, but I also think a good rule of thumb is to not date inside the friend group. This seems to cause nothing but problems. Amanda apologized for how she’d handled things and tried to justify shutting down at the Summer House Reunion. Eoin said no one asked about his divorce after the cameras were off, which is interesting since he was grilled about it at every opportunity during the season. We revisited Amanda moving out and rehashed that whole thing. The best thing – and perhaps worth watching for – was Kyle’s drinking being brought up and Andy saying he thought it was a problem. Thank you. I’ve been saying that since dinosaurs ruled the earth. Kyle tried to justify it, but Andy was not having it tonight. They ended with Kyle saying, summer should be fun.

The Valley

Brittany’s Victorian Vampire Masquerade Halloween party happened and the costumes were fabulous. So was the décor. Zack was called out for talking sh*t about Janet, and in Janet’s interview, she suggested Zack try being less full of sh*t and it won’t pop out unexpectedly. She thought he secretly liked her, but was struggling with it because Kristen and Nia didn’t want him to. Jesse was pissed that Janet introduced Isabella to a guy, but Janet said she’d brought Isabella to a real estate listing. When Lake called one of these interchangeable women, probably Michelle, a bitch, she said she was from New Jersey and they called everyone a bitch. I wasn’t born here, but I beg to differ. Maybe on the Jersey Shore show, which has a cast of people like I have never seen at the Shore. Nia said Zack was flip-floppy when it came to Janet, and Jason and Janet remarked on Danny’s drinking. Danny asked if Jason had never blacked out, and Janet said he’d never grabbed a woman’s ass while drunk. It escalated until Janet threw a cup at Danny, and Lala said she was just overshadowing his horrendous behavior. Brittany brought out a birthday cake for Janet, and Danny wondered why they were so obsessed with her. In Danny’s interview, he said he was a man of character and integrity. He didn’t want to be around people who brought out the worst in him. He was done. After I choked on my coffee, I thought, if you have to say you have character, you probably don’t. Here’s hoping Andy calls this one out too, come Reunion time.

Next Gen NYC

In Rowan’s interview, she said Charlie had a chokehold over the group. She could count on one hand the times they’d talked, but he was always talking about Emira. Shai tried to get Ava to model for his clothing line, but in Ava’s interview, she said she didn’t know if she had the capacity to put herself out there. Ariana said Shai told her that Rowan and Ava agreed he should tell Hudson about Liam, when – roll the video – they clearly hadn’t. In Brooks’s interview, he said he was seeing a side of Shai he hadn’t known existed. There was a spa day at Emira’s, and Ava said she and her boyfriend had broken up after she’d found out some info on him. She cried and the friends gathered around her. What did she expect from a guy named Hook. She was concerned since she’d never been financially responsible for herself. Alrighty then. Gio moved out, bringing her dog Bella with her. In Gia’s interview, she said she thought Bella had schizophrenia for dogs. She also talked about missing her dad. Ariana was meeting Liam’s parents, bringing along her roommate Austin and Brooks. It was also Liam’s birthday, but she felt it was too soon to bring a gift, so she brought a bottle of wine. Georgia went shopping with her brother Chuck, and in Georgia’s interview, she said he was a year and half older. They were Irish twins. Rowan met with her dad and showed him her script. He seems like a cool guy. Emira asked if Charlie said what Georgia said he did, that Kevin was a gay man, and Charlie said he didn’t remember, but might have. It depended on the context. What? Emira forgave him because she’s stupid. Seriously, all of them need to stop hanging around with this leach who is in the wrong age group anyway. He does nothing but cause trouble and spend other people’s money.

https://pagesix.com/video/next-gen-nyc-recap-arianas-hook-up-with-charlie-confirmed-gia-addresses-trump-backlash-more-vrt-unpacks-episode-6

Real Housewives Of London

This show makes me miss Ladies of London: The New Reign. It’s not the worst, but not high on the list either. I do like seeing all their fancy sh*t and the clothes… the clothes… Nessie was excited about the London Book Fair as she’d written a dinosaur cookbook for children. Juliet dressed up in dinosaur hoodie and surprised her. Panthea said she’d always wanted to be a fashion designer and was launching a line, and UK Juliet met Caroline Stanbury for some shopping. They mostly discussed their children going off to uni. Nessie met with Panthea for lunch, choosing a public space because, what’s the worst that could happen? Panthea said she saw through UK Juliet, but Nessie said everyone had been shocked by Panthea’s toxic behavior. Karen had a dinner party in a private room at upscale restaurant Isabel. Panthea wasted no time, questioning Amanda about her children and citing rumors. In Nessie’s interview, she said she thought Panthea got off on it, but at the end, Juliet and Panthea kinda sorta hugged it out.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

In Gina’s interview, she said you should follow your passion and she was passionate about making her and best friend look stupid on the internet. She and Emily were doing TikToks. Emily came over and Gina gave her birthday gifts of a double hoodie (for the two of them) and a candle called Smells Like My 40s Are Over. Emily told the Dior clutch tale, and Shannon and Fancy Pants Heather joined them. Fancy Pants said she’d needed to do an intervention with Shannon about her social media, and Gina suggested she do more TikToks. The group joined Tamra for her friend Fernanda’s class, the BBL workout. Afterward, Jenn talked about son’s delayed reaction to her divorce, and Fancy Pants said every situation and every kid was different. Vicki bemoaned her empty nest, with Michael in Spain and Breanna in Oklahoma. In new girl Carmella’s interview, she said, hustle was an understatement in the real estate game. It was a grind. The group went whale watching, sans Carmella, and Vicki told Fancy Pants to stop with her perfect self.  Shannon went early to Tamra’s taco party to help set up, and Fancy Pants told Emily that she thought Jenn was obsessed with Tamra. Again with this? Tamra had everyone decorate a box and anonymously put in each person’s box how they felt about them. This went out the window when they read the papers and everyone said which one was theirs. Although it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. Not even close. Actually, surprisingly not insulting.

Random Reality Items

The most ironic restaurant name ever.

Stassi’s in the house.

https://www.justjared.com/2026/07/29/stassi-schroeder-addresses-issues-with-scheana-shay-on-vanderpump-rules-whether-shed-appear-on-new-show-house-of-stassi

https://www.glamour.com/story/stassi-schroeder-is-making-reality-tv-fun-again

All I need is $1,199,999 to go. Anyone want to kick in?

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Sheep Detectives. Amazon Prime. Cutest. Movie. Ever. Hugh Jackman is a shepherd named George who loves his sheep, even the winter lamb no one wants. He reads them mysteries as bedtime stories and when he turns up murdered, they decide to solve the crime, relying on what they’ve learned from the books. Using the hybrid live-action and CGI animation technique, the animals seem real, which alone makes this film fascinating. The story is clever and surprisingly lighthearted for a crime drama, although there are some poignant scenes, like when a sheep in his last moments sees George. The cast is perfection, and humor is sprinkled throughout. When the sheep have to cross the road – preceded by a chicken – it’s difficult since some of their feet have always touched grass. There are times when it’s even somewhat deep, like when they discover God is a shepherd and also a sheep. It’s a sweet film without being saccharine and I just loved it.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fantasy-movies-july-2026-amazon-prime-video-the-sheep-detectives

https://omnivorous.substack.com/p/film-review-the-sheep-detectives

Willy’s Wonderland. Hulu. For this film, you need a lot of suspension of disbelief, but that doesn’t make it bad. Nicolas Cage has often chosen interesting vehicles (no Ghost Rider pun intended) and this is no exception. A drifter whose car has driven over a traffic spike strip, supposedly a teenage prank, gets his car fixed in a small town close by in exchange for clean-up duty at Willy’s Wonderland, an abandoned amusement center much like Chuck E. Cheese. A place with a bad reputation and the scene of several murders, a group of teenagers is bound and determined to burn it down. In trying to get the drifter out first, they become trapped along with the him, and have to fight their way past the mechanical animals – and a fairy! – to get out. Not quite an hour and a half, it’s a quick and fun, albeit gory, free-for-all. I’ve always found both abandoned places and mechanical animals creepy, and this combines them nicely. And I now have the answer to my eternal question: Who’s gonna clean up this mess?

https://scholastic.nd.edu/issues/review-willys-wonderland

https://www.southernthing.com/where-was-willys-wonderland-filmed-2652634923.html

My Grandfather Charles Manson. Hulu. In this documentary, Sophia Maddox is on a quest to find out more about her bloodline as her father is Charles Manson’s son. There probably aren’t many facts we don’t know already, but there are plenty of interviews from people who were there back in the day to hold the viewer’s interest. I was always somewhat fascinated with The Family and Manson’s hold over many impressionable girls, and thought I’d heard everything there was to hear, but I was wrong. It also tugs at the heartstrings, as this poor girl is so sweet, yet so concerned she might be like her grandfather in some way. I don’t need to have a psyche degree to be able to tell her that she’ll be just fine.

https://stephensilver.substack.com/p/my-grandfather-charles-manson-is

https://www.tvinsider.com/1276613/my-grandfather-charles-manson-hulu-documentary-explained

https://people.com/la-woman-shocking-discovery-grandfather-charles-manson-exclusive-12020641

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

This sounds totally bizarre. I’m in.

https://ew.com/alexander-skarsgard-nipples-wicker-trailer-exclusive-12030562

⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…

Some trickles of tea from The Walking Dead franchise.

https://ew.com/jeffrey-dean-morgan-lauren-cohan-respond-walking-dead-romance-rumors-12026816

https://ew.com/the-walking-dead-dead-city-massive-change-season-3-exclusive-11966287

https://ew.com/emily-kinney-walking-dead-return-as-beth-first-photos-footage-exclusive-12024893

🦹‍♂️ And Your Deadpool

Or in this case, Jeanpool.

https://ew.com/ryan-reynolds-crashes-avengers-doomsday-comic-con-panel-jean-pool-12027056

https://ew.com/ryan-reynolds-went-undercover-as-deadpool-to-walk-comic-con-floor-with-fans-12027702

🐶 Three Interesting Tales…

🐾 What better place to find your soulmate?

https://people.com/stars-who-adopted-animals-they-met-at-work-11948956

🦈 He was happy about Shark Week.

https://people.com/great-white-shark-leaps-behind-boogie-boarder-off-california-beach-12030476

🦔 And who doesn’t love a hedgehog?

https://people.com/firefighters-break-through-concrete-to-free-a-hedgehog-stuck-in-a-drain-12027752

🦚 Quotes of the Week

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

My past has not defined me, destroyed me, deterred me, or defeated me; it has only strengthened me. – Steve Maraboli

Chase down your passion like it’s the last bus of the night. – Terri Guillemets

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past.Richard Bach (I’m not too sure about that past thing… Maybe a different viewpoint of the past.)

I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. – Vincent van Gogh

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Vail

No eating the crime scene. – Lilly (Julia Louis Dreyfuss), The Sheep Detectives

🧗 Hanging At the Top Of Summer…

Until next time, stay safe; stay never leaving a pet in a car when it’s hot (or just never period); and stay finding a middle ground and compromise. Don’t see the extremes. They never let anyone win.

Video > The First Day In August

April 25, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Keeps Willow From Michael, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Shenanigans In the Wild, A Revolutionary Number Of Quotes & Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Josslyn heard Emma’s voice coming from a dumpster. She asked if Emma was okay, and Emma said she was fine. Josslyn could go. Josslyn asked if she was sure about that.

Maxie asked if Anna was going to arrest Sidwell, and Brook said, if she did, his assets would be frozen, and they wouldn’t be able to fulfill pending orders. Maxie said Anna had to tell them – how bad is this guy?

Jason asked why Sasha sold out to Sidwell, and she asked what he was talking about. He said she claimed to have a stash of money. Yes or no, did the money come from Sidwell? She said, yes.

Sidwell asked when Sonny was getting heart surgery, but Natalia said she didn’t know, but soon. She happened to walk in when Sonny was having an episode and got him his medication. Sidwell asked if she was saying it was fatal and the surgery would be lifesaving, but she said she didn’t know. She told him everything she knew. Now she had to do damage control after what he’d told Lucy.

Lucas met with Marco, who said he wasn’t sure Lucas was going to show since he didn’t answer Marco’s text. He knew Lucas was thrown by finding out Sidwell was his father. Lucas said he wanted to give Marco a chance to explain before judging him.

Isaiah said, now that Jordan had decided to infiltrate Sidwell, they were done? and she said, yes. He said he didn’t want them to be over (me neither). He’d been having a good time. Wasn’t she?

On the phone, Alexis asked what Sidwell wanted, and he said he understood there’d been an impending job offer for his son, but it had hit a snag when they’d found out he was Marco’s father. She said they thought it was pertinent information that should have come out in the interview, and she had no time for this. She hung up, startling Sidwell.

Sonny said, Carly was coming to LA? and Carly said he’d need someone there and that someone was going to be her. He said she couldn’t do that, and she gave him a look.

Jordan said she’d enjoyed their time together, and Isaiah asked why they couldn’t keep doing what they were doing. She said she couldn’t take the risk. She had to focus on her new job and Sidwell would probably have eyes on her. He asked if she was DEA, but she said, no. He said, so she was just on her own? She was going to disrupt her life and put herself in danger for the possibility of bringing Sidwell down? She said it wasn’t about ego, but she was in a unique position to stop him, and he said Sidwell had been operating under the radar for decades. Anywhere he went, he committed crimes, but his rap sheet was clean. Her chances of incriminating him were slim to none.

Lucas said Marco’s father hurt a lot of his friends and family, and all of them thought he was a criminal. Marco said he didn’t grow up with his father. His parents had divorced when he was young and his mom wouldn’t let him see Sidwell. When he was in high school, he and his mom had a falling out. She didn’t want a gay son and definitely not one who was openly gay. Lucas said he was sorry Marco went through that, and Marco said that’s why he reached out to Sidwell. His father didn’t care who he was or that he was coming out. His father was there for him. Lucas said he didn’t know his father until he was older, and Marco asked if they were close now. Lucas said, Julian died four years ago, and they were estranged at the time. Were Marco and his father close? Marco said they were. When his father was moving to Port Charles, he suggested Marco move there too, and he said yes. Lucas asked if Marco knew who he was and that he lived in Port Charles when he offered to buy Lucas a drink in Miami.

Emma said she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t sound like it. Emma said she was just trying to get her foot unstuck, and Josslyn told her to hold out her hand. Emma insisted she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t look it. Come on. Emma took her hand, and she pulled Emma out of the dumpster.  

Carly told Sonny that she’d say she was scouting hotels because she wanted to expand the MetroCourt. It was believable that he’d give her a ride to LA. Wishing he could bring the moss bowl 🎍 instead, he said they couldn’t stay in the same room, and Carly suggested they say they’re interviewing doctors for Michael’s follow-up treatment. Sonny said he didn’t want to use Michael as a cover, but she said, Michael would approve, and it would explain their presence at the hospital. She thought it was perfect and that it would work.

Anna told Maxie that she had no reason to investigate Sidwell. Since he’d distanced himself from Africa, he’d broken no laws. Maxie asked if they should distance themselves from him, and Anna asked if that wouldn’t destroy their business. Sidwell had every incentive to keep his dealings with them above board. He was looking to establish himself in Port Charles as a legitimate businessman. Ultimately, it was their decision and their company, but if it was her, she’d stay the course. She thought that was the safest thing, but whatever they did, don’t trust him. She left and Lucy came in. Lucy said they were never going to believe what she heard. Natalia is Jenz Sidwell’s ex-wife. In unison, Maxie and Brook said, Jason told us.

Jason asked why Sasha would take anything from Sidwell. He kidnapped her and held her at gunpoint. They barely got her out alive. Why take money from him and lie to Maxie and Brook? He thought they were her friends. Sasha said they were, and she didn’t exactly lie. She told them that it had been Sidwell’s response to her mother conning him and stealing diamonds from him worth hundreds of millions. She wasn’t saying he wasn’t dangerous, but he was provoked. Deception needed Sidwell’s zincite and Maxie said Deception wouldn’t use him because of what he’d done. They could have lost everything. She downplayed it because she wanted Deception and her friends to succeed. She didn’t think he was a danger, and they could make up their own minds. Jason said she didn’t have to take Sidwell’s money, but Sasha said she did.  

Sasha said she wanted to know that she could support herself and her child. She grew up with a mother driven by money, who transformed herself into whatever her mark wanted her to be. She didn’t want her child to think it was a valid way to live. He said, but her mother was acting alone. She had family and friends. Sasha said she didn’t want charity. This was compensation for what Sidwell had put her through. She took it and they’re done. Jason asked if she’d be okay if Maxie and Brook knew she took it, and she said, he wasn’t going to tell them, was he? He said, no, but the fact she didn’t want to, told him that she wasn’t okay with it.

Jordan said there was no evidence that Sidwell was doing anything illegal, and Isaiah said Sidwell was dangerous and ruthless, and too smart to leave a paper trail. She said, all the more reason to get close, and he said he was afraid for her. If Sidwell found out, she’d just be gone. She said she assumed as much, and he asked why she was hellbent on risking her life with no back-up. She said that was why she was saying goodbye now. If they’d been in a relationship she would have had to make him understand. The cold, hard truth was that it was her choice own and no one was talking her out of doing what she needed to do. He took her hand and said, please be careful. He left and Anna came along. She asked Jordan, what’s wrong?  

Sidwell walked into Alexis’s office and thanked her for seeing him, but she said she already told him that she had no time for him. What did he want? He said, they were on the verge of hiring Marco, and the presumed the stumbling block was him. She said, the fact he was Marco’s father was a factor, but Marco wasn’t the only candidate they were considering. He said none were as well qualified, and Alexis said Sidwell was one of Marco’s clients. Did he possibly know that Sonny and Jason were their clients and brought Marco in to infiltrate them? He said it wasn’t even a remote possibility, and she said, did he ask Marco to relocate? He said, yes. He was moving stateside and looking forward to being close to his son, but it was Marco who wanted to work at the firm. What could he do to alleviate their concerns? She’d be a fool not to hire him.

While downing gummi bears, Lucy told Maxie and Brook that they’d be fine. Brook said they could invoke the morals clause and sever ties with him, but Maxie said he’d never been implicated. Brook said, that would imply they knew something was illegal, and Lucy said if they cut their losses, it would take them months to build up a new supply chain. They’d have to postpone their global launch and would lose all momentum. If they stayed with Sidwell, they could keep an eye on him. They didn’t have to like him to do business with him. Maxie said, which brought them to their CFO. What were they going to do about Natalia?

Sonny said he didn’t want Carly to disrupt her life because of him, but she said left to his own devices, he’d push himself and his recovery would suffer. He said she wasn’t going to tell him what to do, and she said she had a better shot at it than anyone else. Sonny trusted her judgement enough to listen to her, and she was worried that Natalia knew as much as she did. Sonny said he he’d known Natalia was Sidwell’s ex, he would have acted differently, but he didn’t think she’d wish harm on him. His phone rang and Brook asked if he could come to Deception right away. They had to talk about Natalia.

Emma noticed Josslyn was limping and asked if she was okay. Josslyn said she was fine. She’d twisted her ankle during a hike on Easter Island. She’d been fine until she put weight on it hauling Emma’s ass out of the dumpster. Emma said Josslyn did not just call her fat, and Josslyn asked why Emma was always so angry with her. Emma said she was so sick of Josslyn getting everything she wanted, Easter Island, Dalton’s class, even though it already started. Everything always worked out for her. Josslyn said, when they were kids, she was jealous of Emma. She was perfect and could do no wrong. She was never in trouble. Emma said, because she was being who everyone wanted her to be, and Josslyn said, look where that got her. She had a criminal rap sheet. Emma said, public enemy number one, and they laughed.

Anna said that Jordan seemed tense, and Jordan said she’d just broken up with Isaiah. Anna said she didn’t realize they had something going on, and Jordan said, not anymore. She liked him too. Anna asked, what happened? and Jordan said, Jenz Sidwell came to town just when things were getting interesting. Anna said, so given his and Isaiah’s history, she cut Isaiah loose. She didn’t want Sidwell to be suspicious while she was cultivating him. Jordan said, exactly, and Anna said she’s cultivated targets in her lifetime. Jordan said she and Isaiah tried to see each other on the downlow… Anna asked, what changed?

Jason arrived at Sonny’s old kitchen and said he’d gotten Carly’s text. She said she found out Sonny was having open heart surgery, and he asked if Sonny told her. She said, just now, and asked how long he knew. He said he’s known for a while, before the penthouse. Sonny didn’t want anyone to know. Isaiah knew because he was monitoring Sonny’s condition, and Brick knew because he got the specialist in LA. Carly asked what Natalia brought to the party, and Jason said, she found out when she walked in while Sonny was having an episode. She got his pills, and he confided in her. Jason didn’t like it. She said, now it came out that Natalia is connected to Sidwell. Why didn’t he tell her what was going on? He said, Sonny didn’t want her to know, and she said, that never stopped him before. Why didn’t he trust her now? Was it because of Jack?

Marco said he dropped his card because he knew Lucas would find it. Once he did, he knew Lucas would get so drunk, he’d have to carry him back… Lucas said, stop. He didn’t know why he constantly embarrassed himself. Sorry. Marco said he didn’t know who Lucas was. He was just relieved to get his card back and intrigued by the cute boy who found it. Lucas caught him off guard and the next morning he had no reason to think he’d see Lucas again. Surprised again. Lucas asked if Sidwell being Marco’s father was a good surprise. Did Marco work for him? Marco said Sidwell was one of his clients, and Lucas asked if Sidwell was a criminal. Marco said he had no knowledge of his father doing anything illegal, and Lucas said, interesting phrasing. Was that because his father is legit or is Marco being willfully ignorant because he doesn’t want to know?

Brook said Natalia had been in Port Charles over a year, and Lucy asked if she believed Natalia said anything that could hurt them. Natalia walked in and said she wouldn’t have even if there had been something to tell. They had a right to be upset, but she asked that they hear her out. Maxie said, go ahead, and Natalia said her ex had been out of her life for decades. They broke up when their son was a baby. The last she heard, he was in East Africa. She had no reason to think he’d be in Port Charles. Brook said, but he was, and Maxie asked why she didn’t say something, but Natalia said it had nothing to do with their business decisions.

Emma said she’d been envious of Josslyn when they were kids. Josslyn was the super cool girl who lived part-time in Australia, surfed, and never cared what people thought. She pushed boundaries to go after what she wanted. Josslyn said they remembered things differently, and Emma said she was bugged that Josslyn was so fearless, while she was stuck being good. Josslyn said she was jealous of Emma. She had everything figured out and didn’t need to break rules or push boundaries to get what she wanted. Emma said now she just wanted to fight for what was right, and she was covered in paint and gum a tiny child put there. How did Josslyn get into Dalton’s class when there were at least 10 people on the waitlist?

Marco told Lucas that his father was powerful and ambitious. He knew there were parts of his father’s business that his father kept from him, and he preferred it that way. Lucas said he understood too well. He ignored everything his father did until he couldn’t. That’s why they were estranged when he died. Marco said, that’s new. He would tell Lucas his life story on date three. Lucas asked if this was a date.  

Jordan told Anna that after she resigned, Sidwell offered her a job as his personal lobbyist. It wasn’t official and she’d appreciate it if Anna didn’t say anything, especially to Curtis, and Anna said, of course (🍷). Was Laura in on this? Jordan said they’d come up with the plan together. She knew Boyle couldn’t resist grandstanding and putting her on the spot and he didn’t disappoint. And any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth. She’d never been comfortable with Laura’s closeness to Sonny.

Carly said she’d never tell Jack that Sonny needed help, and Jason said he knew she’d never divulge Sonny’s secrets to Brennan. She had a right to have a life, separate and apart from Sonny. In the past, she’d try to distance herself, and he’d pull her back. She said, those were her own choices, and he said, Sonny cost her a lot. She changed after Sonny and Nina. He saw how painful it was, and it wasn’t fair to ask her to come through for Sonny again.

Alexis asked why Sidwell was working so hard to get his son hired, and he said maybe he was overcompensating. He and Marco’s mother divorced when Marco was young. As a father, he was mostly absent. Marco’s mother had him – Natalia Ramirez. Alexis asked if he was Allie’s father, but he said, no. Natalia remarried and their divorce was so acrimonious, he missed out on Marco’s childhood. She asked when they reconnected, and he said, Marco reached out when he was in high school. He was happy to pay for Marco’s college and law school. He was grateful for the chance to bond with his son and was looking forward to living in the same city. Alexis said she could see he loved his son. Unfortunately, his feelings had no bearing on the firm’s hiring decision. She’d have her assistant see him out.

Natalia said she should have told them the second she walked in. She was sorry, but when she saw Sidwell, she froze. She didn’t know he was in North America, let alone Port Charles. Maxie said she was sure it was a shock, and Brook said, it was two months ago, and Natalia continued to keep quiet. Natalia said, Lulu was so passionate with her objection, she didn’t think they’d be able to move forward, and too much time had passed… Sonny walked in and said he didn’t know Natalia would be here. Natalia said, of course (🍷). She owed the women an explanation and an apology. Maxie said, Natalia explained why she kept her ex a secret, and Sonny asked what they decided. Lucy asked if they were still all in agreement, and Maxie said, yeah. Let’s not drag it out. Effective immediately, they were terminating Natalia’s contract.

Anna asked what happened when Jordan got Sidwell, and Jordan said they both knew he was up to something. He hired her to be his public facing, but once she was inside, she’d been in the perfect position to keep an eye on him. Anna asked if she thought she could get evidence against him, and Jordan said, maybe. She was hoping her presence in his organization would make it harder to pull something. Anna said it sounded too good be true, she and Laura having a man on the inside.  And she couldn’t think of a better man for the job.

Sonny said he’d made the decision, and Brook said that’s why she’d asked him to come. Maxie said, except they had a CFO they couldn’t trust, but in the light of things, it was a necessary evil. Lucy said they couldn’t have Sidwell’s ex-wife near their financials, and Natalia told Sonny that he knew she could be trusted. Don’t let it happen. He said he was sorry, but she needed to understand and accept the decision. She said, after all she’d done. Where was his loyalty? He said, business is business, and Natalia left.  

Lucas said he had no idea Marco’s standards were so low, and. Marco said it wasn’t the worst date he’d been on. Lucas said him either (me neither), when Marco’s phone rang, and he said his mom didn’t usually call him. Lucas said he was looking forward to date three, and left.

Carly thanked Jason for taking her life into consideration as she gazed at the moss bowl🎍. It seemed like it had been forever since Sonny’s name had come up in their conversations. She’d always love him. They had kids together. But she loved Jason for thinking about her and supporting her choices even when he didn’t agree. It was her choice to go to LA. She wanted to be there for Sonny. They’d been through a lot, and he was always there for her, just like she was going to be there for him. Jason said he was glad Sonny told her. Sonny was going to need a lot more help than he thought.

Josslyn told Emma that she didn’t know how she got in the class, but she did know she didn’t ask for a special favor. Emma said the school would do what it took to keep her dad happy. They could pay for a new sports center. Josslyn said she knew it was unfair that she got into class when there was a long wait, but now that she was in it, she was going to work her ass off. Emma thanked her and left.

Anna said she supported Jordan’s reasoning, but thought the bottom line was that Jordan missed the action. She was good undercover, but what was worse was that she loved it. Anna was worried that if Jordan focused on Sidwell, it would cost her, and Jordan said it already had. Anna said Sidwell wasn’t an easy target. He was dangerous, and for someone in town for a short time, he had powerful connections.

Alexis came into her office to find her assistant telling Sidwell that he needed to leave. Alexis said she’d take it from here and asked Sidwell if she needed to call security. He said, no, but he wanted to tell her one more thing. Marco had never done anything remotely illegal. He was proud of his son and loved him. Did she think he’d condone any form of criminality? Alexis said she had no idea, but she’d take it under advisement. Sidwell said she was a hard woman to impress, but Marco could rise to the challenge, as could he, and he left.

Jason said Carly had her work cut out for her. Keeping Sonny still while he was recuperating wouldn’t be easy. She said she’d gotten him through the original injury 25 years ago, and they’d get through this too. She was more worried about what Sonny had shared with Natalia. Did he think Natalia had told Sidwell Sonny’s secrets? He said Carly was Sonny’s ex. How much did she tell Sonny? She said, everything, and he said there was her answer. They’d have to assume Natalia told Sidwell everything.

Marco met with Natalia, and she said she didn’t know who she was angrier at – his dad or Sonny. His dad just blew her life to hell and after all she’d done for Sonny, he just fired her like she was nothing.  

Lucy said she was going to look for a new brand scout, and Brook said she was sorry. Natalia was furious. Sonny said she was, but they couldn’t ignore her connection to Sidwell. Since he brought her to Deception, he felt it was right for him to be involved in letting her go. Maxie said, but what happens now? and he said, they just deal with it.

Tuesday:

Ava visited Rick wearing a (faux) fur coat and said, Ava Jerome is back.

Alexis apologized to Diane for being late, and Diane said she couldn’t keep living like this. They needed to revisit the idea of having Kristina committed to a psychiatric hospital. Alexis said she couldn’t do it, and Diane asked if prison for Kristina was okay.

Lucky opened the door to Kristina who wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay. Lucky said he told her that Elizabeth was fine, but Kristina said the guilt was eating her alive. She couldn’t last like this.

Trina met Curtis at the café, and said she had a feeling her mom told him about the conversation they’d had about Kai. He said he thought she might want someone else to talk with. He knew she was nervous about Kai having surgery. She said Kai was excited, but there was a good chance of it not working out. It would break his heart if that happened or worse. Something could go horribly wrong, and he wouldn’t be able to walk.

Kai went to Drew’s place and Drew said he was sorry about the other day, but Kai had all his attention now. Kai said he thought over Drew’s offer and wanted to have the surgery.

Nina walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and told Carly that she’d gotten a call from a friend in DC. Drew had been asking for the name of a realtor there. Hoping for a calming effect from the moss bowl 🎍, Carly said they couldn’t let that happen, but Nina said, first things first. What was Carly thinking with that ridiculous outburst? They were supposed to break up Willow and Drew, and Carly pushed them closer together. Carly said she was beginning think that’s what Nina wanted.

Willow went to see Jason, and he asked why she wanted to see him. She said she needed his help, and he sighed. He said he didn’t think it was a good idea, but she said he was her last chance. He’d gotten through to Tracy and Tracy compromised. No one knew Michael and Carly better than he did and he was the only person Carly would listen to. She begged him to tell Carly not to take her kids away.

Nina asked where the hell Carly got that idea, and Carly said she thought their alliance was about breaking up Drew and Willow. Now Drew was shopping for a real estate agent, and Nina just stood there after she laid into Willow. She could have used some back-up. Nina said Carly barely took a breath, and Carly asked if it was Nina’s plan all along to be there to comfort her daughter. Nina asked if Carly was done.

Curtis said he was surprised Kai wanted the surgery after Portia told him that she didn’t recommend it, and Trina said Kai ignored Portia’s professional opinion even though he’d asked for it. She thought he’d made up his mind the second he heard about it. It was Kai’s call and she knew she needed to be there to support him even if she didn’t agree. She didn’t want to be dishonest or lie, but she thought he was making a huge mistake.

Drew said he was hoping Kai would go through with it, and Kai said his fear got in the way of him saying yes. Drew said it was normal to be afraid to get his hopes up, but the doctor said he was an excellent candidate. He could call the doctor now if Kai wanted. Kai said he was amazed how generous Drew was, and Drew said, what was the point in having money if you didn’t use it to help people? Just give him a shout out when Kai won the Heisman. Kai said Drew was changing his life and had given him the best gift he could ask for – hope.

Alexis told Diane that Kristina and Molly were closer than ever. It was almost like it used to be. The only thing missing was Sam. Molly was now able to move forward, and Kristina was over the hump. If the truth came out, they were done, and she couldn’t let that happen. Diane said if she had Kristina committed, they would have secured an insanity defense as back-up, and she could keep Molly in the dark about the accident. Alexis said Molly was too smart and would keep digging until she found out and nobody would recover. The best option was to leave it alone and pray the truth stayed buried. So far, it had. Diane said that was all well and good except for one thing – Ric.

On the phone, Ava said she’d take the Maserati… Rose gold of course (🍷)… Fabulous. She couldn’t wait. Ric asked what she was doing, and she said she had plenty of the money left and more was coming, but he said she couldn’t be blowing it on lavish gifts for herself. She said she didn’t forget him, and gave him a giftbag, a thank you gift for standing by her. It was a limited-edition watch. She’d seen his was damaged in the accident. He said, no. It all had to go back. She couldn’t keep anything.  

Nina said Carly could trust her and she didn’t want Willow and Drew together. She wanted the relationship over permanently, but she was in a delicate position. If she was too obvious, she risked alienating Willow and didn’t want to blow it for the likes of drew. If Willow pulled away, she had no influence. Now she was in Willow’s ear. Barely, but it was better than nothing. Carly said Nina had to do more, and Nina said she was trying. Carly was a better mouthpiece anyway and most of what she said was spot on, until she brought up Nelle. Nina refused to let Nelle be weaponized, and moving forward, Carly needed to respect that. Carly said that was fair, but the slow approach wasn’t working. Willow had moved in with Drew and they were running out of time. Nina said she wanted Willow out of Drew’s house as much as Carly did, and Carly said she was done waiting. She was going to get Wiley and Amelia out of Drew’s house with or without Nina’s help.

Jason told Willow that Carly was angry, but meant what she said. Wiley and Amelia meant everything to Michael, and Michael meant everything to Carly. Michael couldn’t fight for himself, and Carly wasn’t going to back down. Willow said she knew no one approved of what happened, but it wasn’t fair for her to put her life on hold. He said that was her choice, but she was wrong about him being her least chance. Her last chance was herself.

Lucky asked if something happened, but Kristina said, nothing new. She kept replaying the accident in her mind and could barely sleep. She had nightmares and when she woke, she realized it was her life. She almost killed two people. Lucky said it was fine. Everyone was healing and would eventually move on. Kristina said she couldn’t move on from this. The only way to free herself was to confess

Ava said Ric couldn’t tell her how to spend her money, and Ric said he got it. He was happy for her and glad her luck was turning, but if she showed her wealth, people would notice and he expected her to be smart. Instead of Alexis transferring the money directly to her account, they needed to set up an offshore account and needed to put the money in Ava’s account slowly, make it look like the galleries were getting stabilized and doing well. She had to fly under the radar if she wasn’t going to get caught. She said, all right. She’d cancel the car and send everything back, but she was keeping the coat. She closed the blinds and said she found it kind of sexy when Ric gave her financial advice. Money was her aphrodisiac. She got in bed with him, and he said, blackmail was his. She said, it would be foolish to waste this serendipitous event, and they kissed.

Alexis said Ric didn’t remember the accident, and Diane said, yet. He’d remember the failing brakes or Elizabeth would, and Kristina would be in for a world of hurt. Did Alexis want to take that chance? Alexis was her best friend and Diane loved her. This was as close as she’d ever come to begging. Please take her advice. Alexis said she could handle Ric, and she loved Diane too. She thanked Diane, but told her to shred the papers. Alexis left and Diane put the papers in a folder.

A nurse gave Portia some paperwork to sign, and Portia noticed they were hosting a guest surgeon, Dr. Mohinder… and the patient was Kai Taylor. The nurse said, yes, the football star.

Drew said the hospital should be receiving the surgeon’s request shortly. If all went well, the doctor was optimistic that Kai would fully recover before the first game in the fall season. Kai said he didn’t know how he’d repay Drew, but Drew said it was the best use of his money… There was something Kai could do for him though. Kai said, anything, and Drew said he came across a documentary producer who did thought provoking work. He thought Kai could do a documentary story – from surgery to recovery to return to the field, a hero’s journey. It was a story that would inspire people. Defying the odds was something people wanted to see. Kai said he’d do it. He owed Drew and if Drew thought it was a good idea, he was in.

Curtis told Trina that deceit didn’t sit well with him, but sometimes in life, circumstances forced your hand. She said she’d been thinking of all the things that could go wrong and how much pain it would cause because Drew thought it was a piece of cake and a sure thing. Curtis said Trina had one choice, to stand by Kai’s side and support him, no matter the outcome.

Lucky said he was sorry it was hard, but he couldn’t tell Kristina to confess. It wasn’t his decision. Kristina said she knew that, but thought if she did, she’d feel lighter and be able to sleep. He said, but at what cost? and she said Molly would never get over the fact she almost killed her father, and she’d lose the only sister she had left. Her whole family would implode. It would destroy all of them. He said, the question was, what was more selfish? Her keeping the secret and protecting herself or confessing and hurting everyone she cared about?

Nina said she was completely committed to breaking up Willow and Drew, but she and Carly had to change their approach. Fighting only reinforced their romantic delusion of them against the world. Carly asked, what if Willow never sees the light or the real Drew? They couldn’t just hope she came to her senses. Nina asked what the alternative was, and Carly said, going to court to fight for custody of her grandchildren, but Nina said, no judge would give a grandparent more rights than the mother. If Carly did that, she and Michael would lose the kids for good.

Willow said nothing she’d done seemed to work and they were in this endless cycle of fighting, but Jason said that was because she surrounded herself with people who shoved their opinions at her. None of that mattered. They were her and Michael’s kids and the rest was noise. She had to shut it out and stop listening. He thought she should go to Germany and see Michael. They needed to meet face to face and end this war once and for all.

Lucky told Kristina to remember one thing. She’d been incredibly lucky. Everyone survived. She’d made a terrible mistake. She couldn’t change that, but she could learn from it. Make almonds amends in any way she could and let her family have peace. Stop letting her emotions rule her. Kristina said she’d been reckless and completely running on emotion, and he said, and more than anything, let go of her vendetta against Ava.

Alexis went to see Ric and said she thought she’d check in. He said she seemed nervous and asked if she was okay.

Portia went to see Drew and said she couldn’t believe Kai was going through what Drew was willing to do to him, and Drew said, nice to see her too. She said she saw the schedule and wasn’t going to sit by while he toyed with this kid’s life. The surgery was dangerous and not going to happen. He said it was, and Kai was the ideal candidate. She said, Kai was young and his whole life had been upended. He wasn’t thinking about the repercussions or how his life could be worse after the surgery. Drew said Kai was just there and was feeling excited, and she said that would end quick if Kai was left in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. How would Drew feel if he did that to Kai? (My guess is, Drew would say, oopsy, and move on.)

Carly told Nina that nothing was going to change until Michael came home. Then everything would change. Nina said that’s what she was hoping. The more room they gave Willow and Drew, the more they’d get complacent and comfortable. When Drew screwed up – and he would – she would be in Willow’s ear and tell her all about it. She’d agree to 50/50 custody and everyone would win, especially Wiley and Amelia. Were they in agreement on the plan moving forward? Carly said they were, and Nina said she’d keep Carly in the loop, but she had to stay away from Willow. She’d be in touch. Giving a last look at the moss bowl 🎍, Nina left, and Carly made a call. She asked if they were busy. She needed to talk to them.

Ric asked if Alexis was sure she was okay. He knew her and she was never this stressed unless it had something to do with Kristina. Alexis said she was fine, and Ric said she could talk to him. Their truce extended to him listening. She said she appreciated that and asked how he was. He said, better every day. He’d actually started to remember things about the accident. She said, like what? and he said she was too smart to be this dumb. She wouldn’t be there if she didn’t think he knew her lunatic daughter tried to kill Ava and almost killed him and Elizabeth instead.

Diane walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and asked, what fresh hell was she here to prevent or cause? Carly said, Michael and Willow’s custody case.

Willow said it seemed drastic to go to Germany, and Jason said he did it. He needed to hear something directly from Michael, so he flew over, talked to him, and got a clear answer. She said she and Michael hadn’t spoken since he left. Kristina set up the video chats with the kids. Michael probably hated her. Jason said he saw Michael before the explosion, and Willow said that was the day she was served in DC. He said he saw Michael’s face and it wasn’t something he wanted. He believed Michael loved her and the kids and wanted the best for them. She said she never doubted it, but Michael came out swinging and asked for sole custody. Jason said they were in this situation because they stopped communication. She had to see Michael face to face, and they had to be on the same page once and for all. It was the only way.

Alexis said, Ava and Ric were in this blackmail scheme together. Of course (🍷) they were. He said she was damn right. If she wanted to thank him for not turning Kristina in, he was all ears. She said he’d never change, and he asked if that meant their truce was over. Kristina belonged in prison. She could call if she preferred. She could end this. Alexis said it would kill Molly, but he said Molly deserved to know the truth. The horrible way Kristina behaved during Irene’s death was the person her sister was. It would break her heart, but at least she’d be free of Kristina. Alexis said, what about the money? and Ric said the money was nice, but for Molly to see who Kristina really was and that Alexis would always protect Kristina over Molly was the best gift he could give his daughter.

Trina sat next to Kai in the park as he watched some guys practicing football. He said everything was set for next week. He talked to his parents. They were out of the country, but supported his decision. He knew Trina wasn’t sure about it, but he appreciated her caring about him and looking out for him. She said she did care about him, and he said if he had the surgery, it would give him a shot at playing football again. It was a long shot, but that was all he needed.  

Drew said he would feel terrible if something happened to Kai, but the doctor was an incredible surgeon and wasn’t going to let anything happen. Portia said, every surgery was a risk, but this was a massively high stakes procedure. She was a doctor and the Chief of Staff. Maybe he shouldn’t argue with her. Drew said, maybe she shouldn’t throw her medical license and credentials around, since she knew she shouldn’t have them. She only did because of him. She said, now the threats, and he said it was a reminder, but he didn’t know why he was keeping her secret. She hadn’t helped him with Curtis at all. It was clear she had no sway with her husband. Maybe it was time Curtis, and the world found out the truth. There was a knock at the door, and it was Curtis. He asked what Portia was doing there, and Drew said they’d just talking about him.

Curtis asked what they were saying about him, and Portia said she’d come to tell Drew that she didn’t support Kai’s surgery. Curtis said he’d come about the same thing, but Drew said they were both wasting their time. He wasn’t going to yank the chance away from Kai. He promised them, the surgery was happening. Curtis said they’d just have to pray the surgeon could pull off a miracle. Not for Drew’s sake, but for Kai’s. Drew asked if they were done, and Portia said, absolutely. She and Curtis left, and outside, Portia said they’d have to pray the surgeon pulled it off and Kai became one of the rare success stories. Curtis said he hoped so for Trina’s sake as well, and Portia said, if it went well, it would prove Drew’s intentions were good and they could put it behind them and move on. Curtis said that wasn’t likely.

Trina said, the last time she saw Kai smile like that, he was in a football uniform, and he said football always made him happy. She said she remembered when she snuck in the tunnel and saw him smiling, and he said it killed him that he couldn’t play now, but the chance for the fall was keeping him going. She said she’d be on the stands supporting him, no matter what, and he put his arm around her.

Kristina thanked Lucky for listening, and he said he hoped it helped to clear her head. She said, it did. She wasn’t going to confess. It wouldn’t accomplish anything, and she didn’t want her family to suffer more than they already had. If anyone should suffer, it had to be her. She learned from it and was going to let go of her vendetta against Ava. She just wanted Elizabeth and Ric to get better. She wanted the people she’d to be okay and the people she loved to never get hurt.  

Alexis said she and Ric had a long, horrible history, but one thing she was sure of was that she thought he loved Molly. When he left, it was her who took care of Molly, raised her, and wrapped a loving family around her, including Kristina and Sam. Could he acknowledge that? He said, sure, why not? and she asked why he would purposely do something to hurt her by taking away her family. She gave in to Ava’s demands and funneled money from the Cassadine estate. Please don’t expose Kristina. He said, since she begged so nicely. He always enjoyed watching her smug moral superiority crumble when it came to Kristina. The blackmail wasn’t the best part. The fact that she had to embezzle from a child to do it was the gift that kept on giving. (Like Ace would even miss it. He could probably live off the interest alone.)

Willow said she didn’t know how it all spiraled or if Michael would want to hear from her, but Jason said he thought Michael would. They owed it to each other and the kids to talk. Somebody had to make the first move, and it had to be her.

Carly asked what the status of the custody case was, and Diane said it was at a standstill until Michael was back in town. Carly said Willow was served in DC. Could they move forward on Michael’s behalf? Diane said, not at the moment. It was hard to have a custody battle when the plaintiff was halfway around the world. Carly said she could handle getting Michael there as long as they were ready to go. Diane said they would be, and Carly said, good. Drew could decide to move at any time, and she wanted to get a court date on the books for the hearing. Diane said she didn’t keep the court’s calendar and there was a good chance they wouldn’t get one until later. Carly said that was okay. She wanted to keep it quiet until a date was found. She wanted Drew, Willow, and Nina to think the hearing was far off in the future. She wanted reality to blindside them.

Wednesday:

Laura goes to visit Lulu and see her new house and thought it would be a wonderful home. She couldn’t stay, but she could come back to help. Lulu said she thought she was good, and Dante came out. He said he thought he heard Laura’s voice.

Boyle stopped by Tracy’s table at the MetroCourt, and said he hoped they could let bygones be bygones and put their unfortunate property dispute behind them. She asked if he meant when he tried to bulldoze her deceased relatives. Did he want something? He said if she ever needed a friend in city hall… and she told him to sit. She said despite his unfortunate relationship with Congressman Cain, she did find herself liking some of his positions. Actually, just one position. The one where he put Sonny Corinthos out of business.

At another table, Nina thanked Portia for meeting with her. Drew was out of control, and they had to do something to stop him before he cost Nina’s daughter her children.

Carly was chopping vegetables in Sonny’s old kitchen, when Jason came in. She said they had something to talk about before she went to LA. She finally figured out how to get Michael’s kids away from Willow for good. Jason said he needed her to put the knife down.

Drew told Willow that he’d talked to his lawyer about the kids. If something happened to her and Michael, they could stay with him. She didn’t have to worry they would end up with Carly. His lawyer would make sure they wouldn’t. Willow asked if he could stop them.

Boyle said the locale of the esplanade should be left up to the people, but Tracy said she didn’t want to talk about the esplanade. No one gave a damn about the esplanade, and if she never heard the word esplanade again it would be too soon. Boyle said that’s what the referendum was about, and she said not to talk to her like she got her news from social media. The referendum had absolutely nothing to do with a sidewalk. He asked what she thought it was about, and she said she thought it was about getting rid of and extremely dangerous criminal in Port Charles. Sonny had wormed his way into the graces of important people. Her only regret is that it took this long to find the perfect way to shut him down. Boyle said he couldn’t agree more and asked if she was willing to put her money where her mouth was.

Dante said the garbage disposal was now working, but not some of the outlets, and asked where the panel was. Lulu said she didn’t even know her zip code, and he said he’d find it. He left, and Laura said Lulu really didn’t need her help. Lulu said Dante’s handyman skills had been a lifesaver, and Laura said she was sure they had. Lulu said, fine. She was enjoying his company, but she’d always need her mother. Laura said, nice save, and she was only a phone call away. She’d miss having Lulu and the kids there, but was thrilled Lulu had found a home for her family. Just don’t forget that her home was also Lulu’s home – always. They hugged and Laura left. Lulu found a giftbag among the boxes and took out a vase. Dante came back and said the outlets were working, and she said, don’t tell her that he picked out the vase. He said, Tracy did. He was just the messenger. She took out the card and read, Love, Your Stepmonster. Dante said, new house, new vase, and old, but functioning, garbage disposal. It looked like Lulu was back on her feet. Lulu said, not quite, but soon.

Brook told Lois that she and Chase would like to start a family, so they decided to explore adoption. Chase said Brook thought it would be a nice way to pay it forward, and Lois said she thought it was an amazing idea. She’d do what she could to help. Brook said, one thing they knew for sure was that they wanted to use the same agency where Lois placed her baby.

Carly told Jason that she wasn’t going after Willow with a knife. Michael served Willow with divorce papers when she was shacking up with Drew in DC, but there was no follow through because of his injuries. While he was in Germany, Willow was living out her romantic delusional fantasy with no consequences, like losing her children. She told Diane to prepare for Michael’s custody battle. Jason asked if they were going to inform Willow, and Carly said when they got a court date, but Diane thought it was far off. Jason said, what if Michael wasn’t ready? and Carly said they’d postpone it, but if and when he was ready and back in Port Charles, they’d have tons of evidence that Willow was an unfit mother. Jason said, but they didn’t know what Michael wanted.

Willow said she didn’t think extreme action was best, but Drew said it wasn’t extreme. Willow still had Michael’s medical proxy. She said she wasn’t using that as leverage again, and Drew said Willow had to consider her position. No one was filling her in on Michael’s medical condition. She said, Carly updated her when she asked and Michael was doing better, but Drew said, all they had was Carly’s word. What if he was getting worse? What if something happens to her? She said she didn’t want to talk about that, but he said, consider the possible outcome. That if Michael succumbed to his injuries and she became incapacitated? She needed to make it super clear in the eyes of the law that the kids wouldn’t end up with Carly. She said before they went any further, there was one more person she needed to face – her husband.

Brook said either she never knew the name of the agency or didn’t remember, but she was sure Lois and Gloria vetted them within an inch of their life. Chase said Lois told them she was grateful to the nuns, and Brook said, that’s why they thought it would be a great place to adopt a child of their own. What was the name? Ned came in and asked what he just heard about a child.

Portia said she was confounded by Willow’s faith in Drew, but it seemed to be a pattern. People fell under Drew’s spell. Nina said it was because he was a master manipulator, and Portia said Drew used half-truths and subtle pressure to convince people to do what he wanted, then made them think it was their idea. Nina said he had Willow convinced it was the two of them against the world and Willow never questioned it despite other people’s warnings. Portia said he tried to manipulate Curtis into giving him controlling interest in Aurora again, but when Curtis saw who Drew really was, it changed his perception for good. Nina said Drew would never show Willow any side of himself except the hero. If only she knew what he was capable of. Portia said, if Nina knew what Drew was hiding, the simplest way was to tell Willow.

Carly said her son wanted his children back, and Jason asked if she’d talked to Michael. She said, early in his treatment, she’d talked to him on the phone, but he was tired and in pain and she didn’t want to push it. Did he talk to Michael? He said they’d had two conversations that lasted about three minutes. He just wanted his kids to be okay. The only two who could fix this were Michael and Willow. She said, Willow was too enthralled with Drew. She didn’t even remember she had a husband. Jason said, she remembered. Willow was going to Germany to see Michael.

Drew said, Willow was going to visit Michael? and she said, that was the plan. He didn’t approve? He said it wasn’t that. He was surprised. She said she should have gone a long time ago, but didn’t know for sure what his condition was. She needed to see it for herself, so she was going to Baden-Baden. If Carly was lying about his progress, they’d know what legal action to take. The sooner she knew his current condition, the better, and if he was improving, they could have a productive conversation. Drew said, Michael filed for sole custody. Did she think he wanted to talk? She said, when she was served, it was petty and cruel, but Michael wasn’t. He’d had no chance to explain, and they only had Carly’s take on it. She needed to hear it from him. Drew said she might not like what he had to say, and she said, maybe not. There was a reason their marriage didn’t work, but they had cared for each other and the one thing they could always agree on was the kids. He said, the kids Michael was trying to take away from her, and she said, which was also not like him. Even when the video was shown, he stood up to Carly and let her take the kids because he knew they belonged with her. Drew asked, what changed? and Willow said she spoke to the one person who knew Michael better than anyone. She talked to Jason.

Boyle looked at a check and said he couldn’t thank Tracy enough. She said she didn’t want thanks, just results, and he said he was confident the referendum was going to go their way, but it wasn’t a slam dunk. Sonny had powerful friends who were fine with the status quo. Tracy said she wasn’t and she wasn’t the only one. Boyle said, if she aligned herself with them, she would be going up against Sonny’s powerful friends – Laura approached the table – such as their illustrious mayor.

Laura asked if Boyle was making amends to those whose family he tried to have disinterred, and Tracy said he promised to make every effort to make it up. Boyle said Laura should know he got the internal polling on the referendum. Sonny Corinthos’s days on the piers were numbered. Laura said, then they were. Excuse them. Boyle said given the way the wind was howling, Laura should jump on board with their position, but she said, unlike him, she didn’t choose her position based on polls. She did what was best for Port Charles. Tracy said Boyle had his money. Go put it to good use, preferably as far away as he could get. Boyle left and Laura sat down. She said, Tracy gave him money? She couldn’t trust him. Tracy said he was loathsome, but she thought they needed to listen to him.

Lulu told Dante that she was looking for a new job to go with her new place, and she’d found something perfect. He asked what she was going to do, and she said she reached out to her old contacts at The Invader. She was pitching herself as a long form journalist. She was starting as a freelancer and had a great call with the managing editor at the Llanview Banner. She felt good about this one. She got to make her own hours, so she’d have plenty time for the kids. Dante said, they’d love that, especially Rocco. He felt Rocco could use his mom.

Carly said, Jason told Willow to see Michael in Germany? and Jason said he did. She asked why he was talking to Willow, and he said Willow had tracked him down and wanted him to stop her from taking the kids like he’d stopped Tracy. He told her that only she and Michael could figure out their marriage and needed to have a face-to-face conversation. Carly said it was a bad idea. Michael was in no condition to figure things out. He was still in love with Willow.

Willow told Drew that she took the kids to see Monica and ran into Jason. They talked and he asked why she hadn’t reached out to Michael. The truth was, she was afraid of what Michael would say and do, but Jason said he’d be willing to hear her out. Drew said she couldn’t trust anything to do with Michael, but she said she couldn’t make decisions based on fear. She had to face him and try to find common ground for the kids’ sake. Was there something she wasn’t seeing? He told her that he couldn’t believe he was saying this, but he thought Jason might have a point. He was in favor of anything that brought the family peace.

Nina told Portia that she could expose Drew, but had no tangible proof. If she openly challenged Drew, it would just push them closer. Portia said that Drew wasn’t just a manipulator. He was impossible to call out. You could try, but it could backfire. Nina wondered if she was talking about Curtis, but Portia said Curtis could hold his own. She was worried about Trina’s friend Kai Taylor. Nina asked if he wasn’t the spokesperson for Drew’s Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷). Didn’t he play football? Portia said, he was football until he got hurt. Drew convinced him that he could play again if he underwent an incredibly risky surgery. Nina said, if it was a success, Drew would be the hero for saving a young man’s future, but if it didn’t work… Portia said, Kai could end up paralyzed. Trina was terrified and they’d both tried to talk to Kai. Nina said, but he bought Drew’s act, and Portia said, if it didn’t work out, Drew would say he never promised anything, like making Curtis CEO. Nina said Drew could weasel himself into anything, and Portia said he lured them in until they were trapped, then convinced them they did it to themselves. Nina said then they’d just have to set a trap of their own.

Tracy said, a broken clock was right twice a day, and Laura said Boyle pandered to donors and polls. He was eager to get back and Sonny. Tracy said it was worth working with him to get rid of the blight on her family. Sonny stole Michael from AJ, then murdered AJ. There was no love lost between her and AJ, but he was Alan and Monica’s son, and it was a murder. She could understand Laura’s conflict and it wasn’t her intention to put her at odds with Sonny. That’s why she wanted to meet. She wanted to give Laura a heads up before she made her position public. She apologized for the timing. Laura said she didn’t care about that, but Tracy aligning herself with Boyle was a mistake, and Tracy said if Boyle was willing to go head-to-head with Sonny Corinthos, she had no choice but to support him.

A beautiful woman went to the bar and asked Boyle if the seat next to him was taken. Portia wondered how she and Nina would pull it off. Councilman Boyle was here. He was Drew’s lackey and did his dirty work. They looked over to Boyle and the woman laughing and clinking glasses, and Nina said maybe they could use that. Portia wondered what that woman was doing with that troll, and Nina said she’d seen that woman here before several times.

Lulu asked if Dante was concerned about separating Danny and Rocco, and he said, a little. He was more worried about Danny being without Rocco’s influence. Danny also let Rocco loosen up, but she shouldn’t worry. Rocco wouldn’t get in as much trouble as he did at Rocco’s age. Lulu dropped something and Dante suggested they take a break.

Ned hugged Brook and said adoption was wonderful. He adopted Leo and considered it a great joy, the gift of life. Chase said he hoped they were half as lucky, and Ned said the child they adopted would be happy and lucky. He’d do everything he could to help. Lois said, absolutely, when her phone rang. She said it was a lighting director she was trying to nail down for the Nurses Ball and left. Chase thanked Ned in advance and said they didn’t know if they wanted to adopt an infant or an older child. Ned said, the proper mindset was an open mind. You never knew who your child would be until the day you met them.

On the phone, Lois told Gloria, Bingo can wait. Brook was asking what agency they used to place the baby. What was she supposed to tell her? Clearly, there was no agency.

Lulu said they were using the glasses they’d got when they took Rocco to Disneyworld, and Dante said they were the first glasses he’d found. She said she remembered how excited Rocco was to meet Goofy, and Dante said he did too. That’s why he made sure they were still around. When she got sick and he packed up her house, he made sure he got what he thought she’d find important. He was hoping they’d get use one day. Lulu’s phone rang and she said it was the Llanview Banner.

Lois came back and Ned said he had to get to a meeting. They’d talk more tonight. He couldn’t wait to meet his grandchild.

Laura said she felt there was nothing she could say to change Tracy’s mind, and Tracy said there wasn’t. She was sorry it was going to create friction between them and understood it put Laura in a bad position. She hoped Laura understood the wisdom of ridding Port Charles of a mafia boss. Laura said Tracy thought driving Sonny out of town was going to rid them of organized crime, but it wasn’t. Somebody else would slip in behind him and she thought she knew who – Jenz Sidwell. She asked what Tracy knew about him, and Tracy said she wasn’t a fan. Unfortunately, Deception needed him and his rare mineral. Laura said he wasn’t just that Sidwell was a dangerous criminal, she believed he wanted to take Sonny’s place in Port Charles. By driving Sonny out, they were inviting someone worse in.

Carly said, if Willow saw Michael, she’d try everything to get what she wanted, but Jason said it was Michael’s decision. Carly said he was in no condition to decide and couldn’t have a full conversation. Willow wasn’t the woman he remembered and would put her person put selfish desire ahead of the kids. The Willow that Michael loved was gone. Jason said, if that was true, Michael needed to see it for himself, but she said he wouldn’t see it. Willow would cry and do what she could to get what she wanted. He told her to try to have faith and trust that Michael would see through that and figure it out, and she said he would if he was 100%, but he’s not. Jason said he was still Michael.

Drew said he only wanted what was best, and Willow said she was going to book her ticket now. Drew said he’d do it. They’d fly first class, and he’d find an incredible place for them to stay. He could take a couple of days off. Willow said as amazing as it sounded, she needed to go on her own, and he said she didn’t want him to go? She said, if it was a holiday or a long weekend, but she was seeing her husband who was in a burn clinic. On top of it, if Michael found out Drew came, he could take it the wrong way, and he wouldn’t exactly be wrong. She needed to focus doing what was best for the kids. He said if that was what she needed to do, he was behind her 100%, and they hugged.

Nina went over to the woman and said she didn’t mean to interrupt, but she was Nina Reeves, editor of Crimson. Boyle said he was off the clock, but she said she was talking to his friend. The woman introduced herself as Jacinda, and Nina said Jacinta must already be represented by an agency. She assumed Jacinta was a model. Jacinda said she was a freelancer, and Nina handed her a card. Boyle said they had to get going and asked for the check. Nina said, of course (🍷). Call her. She gave Jacinta a wink and went back to the table. Portia thought it was no time to scout models for Crimson, but Nina said, that woman was no model.

Laura said Sonny kept certain elements away from Port Charles, and Tracy said, like drugs. She understood he was the evil they knew, but she was willing to roll the dice on a brand-new devil. Laura said if she couldn’t sway Tracy, could she talk her out of aligning herself with Boyle. Boyle asked her to resign… Is that what Tracy wanted, for her to step down? Tracy said, of course (🍷) not, but why didn’t she distance herself from Sonny. Don’t let that man take her down with him.

Lulu told Dante that the Llanview Banner accepted her 2000-word article, and he said, which one? She said she pitched three and they went with the adoption story.

Brook said she felt terrible that Lois never met her own grandchild, but Chase said their child would still be a new member of the family. Lois said she’d welcome them with open arms – the whole family. Chase said, Tracy might complain, and Brook said, at the beginning, but then she’d be happy there was another Quartermaine, or adjacent. What was the name of the agency? Lois said, Saint Ignatius, and Brook said she’d give them a call. Lois said, unfortunately, they closed down 15 years ago.

Jason told Carly that they weren’t married to Michael. Willow was. Carly said, not for much longer, but he said, until that happened, Michael would say how and when the marriage ended. Carly said she wasn’t calling off Diane. They’d lay the groundwork for Michael to get his kids back and there was nothing Willow could do about it.  

Drew said he was proud of Willow for facing Michael alone, but she said he seemed to have his doubts. He said, never about her. He was going to miss her a lot. They hugged and she said she wasn’t gone yet. They kissed and moved to the bedroom where they got busy.

Boyle left with Jacinta and Portia asked how Nina knew she wasn’t a model. Nina said she recognized Jacinda from the hotel security footage. When she was co-owner, she had to have Jacinda removed from the premises several times for plying her trade. Portia said, she’s an escort? and Nina said, she was, and they had a job for her.

Thursday:

Brook brought Cody to the hospital and he told Felicia that Hades had kicked him. He’d made a rookie mistake, and it wasn’t the horse’s fault. Felicia said she’d find a doctor.

Lucas went to Lulu’s place and thanked him for meeting her. She wanted to interview him for the Llanview Banner. He asked if she needed a medical expert, but she said it was more personal. How did he feel about being adopted?

At the batting cages, Jason told Danny that Rocco was going to be late. Danny said Jason didn’t have to stay, but Jason said he hadn’t planned on leaving. He suggested Danny take some swings.

Alexis thanked Marco for coming back to the office, and Diane said she wanted to cut to the chase. They’d extended him an offer and wanted him to work there, but before they could consider moving forward, there was one thing she had to make abundantly clear.  

Molly walked Ric down the hall at the hospital, and he said he wasn’t the most popular guy. His only regular visitor besides her, was Ava. She said that’s what she was afraid of.

Dante came by Sonny’s old kitchen to see the moss bowl 🎍 Kristina. She said she’d made pancakes with Donna, but was crawling out of her skin a little bit. Dante said he was worried about their dad too.

Brick asked if Sonny was ready to do this thing, and gave Carly a hug. Sonny smiled.

Dante told Kristina that their dad appreciated her staying with Donna. Carly and Sonny were lucky. Kristina said since Carly was going with Sonny to LA, she was grateful she could help out, and he said Donna was here and safe with her. He was grateful too, that she got Sonny to tell him about his health issues. They were family and their dad needed them, especially now.

Brick asked how Sonny was doing, and Sonny said, better now that Brick was here. Brick said he already seemed to be in good hands. He was glad Carly came with Sonny. Sonny said Brick had connected him to the cardiologist, set up the appointment in LA, and kept it discreet, and Brick said, you know I got you.

Jason said Rocco had a great swing, and Rocco said his mom taught him. It was more Rocco’s sport, but he liked it. Jason asked how he felt with Rocco living at Lulu’s half the time, and Danny said, Rocco had missed his mom, and he was happy for him, but it was already weird enough with Scout gone. They were supposed to stick together. Jason said, like mom wanted, and Danny said, now that she was gone, he guessed it didn’t matter.

Molly said Ric was doing great. He’d come a long way. She’d been terrified when she got the call. He said he was tougher than people thought, but Molly said she thought people knew he was tough. She would have lost it if not for mom, Kristina, and Cody. Ric said, Cody the horse guy? and she said, actually, he’d shown up for her a couple of times and turned out to be a good friend. He said, good friends were hard to come by, and Molly said she was grateful Cody got him and Alexis to make a truce. She was concerned about his support system and worried that Ava was the only person showing up for him.

Diane said she didn’t like slip-ups. She introduced Marco to a valuable client, when she wasn’t aware of his controversial parentage. While he hadn’t been obligated to tell them, it was absolutely pertinent. Alexis said it wasn’t a disqualifier. Marco was an excellent attorney, and considering her background, she made it a point to not hold anyone’s lineage against them. While they appreciated the billable hours and Marco bringing in his client list, they needed assurances. Marco said, that his father’s business wasn’t a conflict in working with Jason and Sonny.

Felicia came back and told Brook and Cody that she’d thought Lucas was there, but there’d been a schedule. As soon as a doctor was free, she’d let them know. Brook got an ice pack and said Cody had to get the swelling down. She opened his shirt and said, let’s go, big baby, and put on the ice pack.

Lucas said his parents handled things the right way. They never hid that he was adopted, and he knew he’d been chosen and loved. He didn’t feel they love was any different than their love for BJ, his dad’s biological child. His mom loved both of them. Lulu asked if it made him more receptive to being an adoptive parent, and he said he didn’t know, but he had no hesitation. She asked if the aftermath changed how he felt, and he said, not at all. Adoption was the greatest gift to give or receive. Lulu said that might be the title of her article. He’d been an adoptive parent and been adopted. What was it like when his biological father came into his life as an adult?

Jason said he knew Danny missed his mom and felt he had no one to talk to except Scout, but Scout was young, and he wasn’t seeing her as much as he’d like to. Danny said he was happy about Rocco getting his mom and sister Charlotte back, and Jason said it made sense that Rocco would be feeling mixed up with losing his mom. Rocco could talk to him about how he felt missing her. He missed her too. They were similar and stayed in their heads too much and didn’t talk. He and Danny’s mom did. Nobody got him to talk like she did, and it helped, so he was there. Anything and everything Danny wanted to say, whenever he needed.

Lucas said Tony Jones would always be his dad, but Julian was part of the reason he existed. Despite not being raised by Julian and his many flaws, he found he had room in his heart for his father. He asked if that was awkward or terrible, but Lulu said, neither. She appreciated his honest answers. Julian was a flawed man, but if Lucas could choose, would he still have Julian re-enter his life or would he have been better off never knowing him. Lucas said their relationship was a rocky road filled with highs and lows, and Julian fighting demons until the day he died. He knew Julian loved him and he was grateful for that and Julian, so yes. He was glad Julian came back into his life.

Cody said he thought Brook was annoyed at him for running his mouth to Lulu. Now she was staying in the lounge with him. Brook said she’d told him that she wasn’t mad, and she meant it. She was mad and annoyed at Lulu for manipulating him and digging into something that was none of her business. He said he was sorry, but she said, don’t be. He was there when it counted. She was scared and didn’t know what she would have done without him that summer. He said he was glad to help, and she said she was there for him now and glad to help.

Brick said Dr. Abbott was the best cardiologist in the country, and Sonny said, whoever tried to kill him and hurt Michael was still out there. Brick said he’d find out who it was. He gave the order and got a security team together in case Sonny was under surveillance. He was going to check in now. Carly was in charge, so behave himself. Try to do what the lady says.

Dante told Kristina that he thought Sonny would be around forever. It made him realize he was taking the people he loved for granted and needed to tell those people how much they meant. Kristina said she needed to get better at it. Their dad was her anchor when she bottomed out and didn’t judge her. He just loved her. Dante said Sonny did the same for him after he lost Sam. Kristina told him, both Sam and their dad said they weren’t their mistakes. They did bad things, but were still worthy of love. Dante said, true, and Kristina was super loveable. Donna ran in and asked if Dante wanted to go to the park, but he said he had to pick up Rocco. Her big sister was there though, and she was a blast. Donna said, Kristina was the best, and he said she certainly was.

Marco said he could keep his work for his father siloed and had no problem representing Sonny or Jason, but Diane said, him representing them was highly unlikely. Marco said if a situation was a conflict of interest, he would recuse himself, and Alexis welcomed him aboard. She had to leave for a meeting with Kristina, and Diane would take it from here. Alexis left and Diane handed Marco a folder, saying the cases were still in the preliminary stages. He pulled some papers out and asked if she was sure she wanted him to work on this. He handed her the involuntary commitment papers for Kristina.  

Ric said Ava was his client and friend, but Molly said he wasn’t talking to a ten-year-old. She knew Ava was more than a friend. He said he and Ava had an understanding, and she said that scared her. Ava appealed to the worst parts of him. He said that wasn’t fair, but she said, Ava was never fair. Or she’d never seen it. While Ava wasn’t directly responsible for Irene’s death, she was responsible for a lot of bad. She wanted better for him and wanted him to be batter. He asked if having Ava in his life meant she wouldn’t be, but she said she wasn’t giving him an ultimatum. She just wanted him to think long and hard about being involved with Ava before she wrapped him up in something he’d regret.

Diane told Marco that the paperwork had obviously been misplaced. It was a private matter that she assumed he’d regard with discretion. He said he understood and was going to his office to work on the prelims. He left and Diane wrote Davis on a manila envelope and put the papers in it.

Donna and Kristina did some coloring, when Donna asked for a glass of water. When Kristina went to get it, Donna picked up Kristina’s phone and called Sonny. Sonny answered and when he saw it was Donna, he asked where her sister was. Kristina popped in and said she was there, but Donna shouldn’t take other people’s phones without asking. Donna said she wanted to call her daddy. Where was he and what was he wearing. Sonny said he was at the hospital for a check-up. Mommy was here with him. Carly said hi, and Kristina said they should let their father focus on his check-up. She had things under control despite what it seemed like. Sonny said he loved them. When the call was over, Sonny asked if Carly thought Donna was scared, but she said she thought Donna was more afraid he was getting a shot. Sonny said Kristina looked terrified even though she was trying to act like she wasn’t. Dr. Abbott came in and Sonny introduced Carly as his friend, and she said, friend and ex-wife. Sonny told the doctor that whatever he had to say, he could say in front of Carly. Let’s hear it.

Felicia brought Lucas to Cody and said he’d been kicked by a horse. Lucas asked if Cody could walk, and Cody said he could and left with him.

Rocco asked how Lulu’s interview went, and she said, fantastic. Lucas opened up about how it felt to be adopted. Rocco said that’s how he felt, like Danny, him, and Scout adopted each other when they moved in with Sam. She asked what it was like blending families and having new siblings, and he said, weird at first, but they figured it out. It was mostly bathroom schedules and what they liked to eat, but it didn’t take long. Lulu said when she and Dante agreed he’d live with her part-time, she thought it was important that they spend time together. They’d missed out on so much. She knew he had a real family who loved him – his dad, Danny, and Scout. She knew he had that with Sam too… Rocco said he’d spent years praying for this, to see and talk to her. He loved his family, all of them – dad, Danny, Scout, and Charlotte – but when he was here with her, it’s exactly where he wanted to be. They hugged.

Dr. Abbott said he was going to repair Sonny’s heart damage from the shrapnel. It sounded scary, but he’d survived a great deal, and the doctor expected him to heal well. Carly said he was a fighter and incredibly stubborn, and the doctor said that would help too.  

Donna asked if Kristina was mad at her, and Kristina said, of course (🍷) not. She could never be mad at Donna, but she shouldn’t take anyone’s phone without asking. Donna asked if their daddy was going to be okay, and Kristina said he’d be just fine and back before they knew it. She suggested they made Sonny a get-well card, but Donna said she couldn’t find her glitter. Kristina (who probably hid the glitter, as anyone whose made crafts with kids would) said she had the feeling it would be just perfect without glitter, and Donna said she was glad Kristina was here with her. Kristina said she was too.

Diane went to Ric’s hospital room, and he asked what brought her by. She said she was filing a request in family court. Sonny wanted to take Avery on a trip to the island this summer. She thought he should have a hard copy so there were no inconvenient delays. She dropped the folders she was carrying, knocking down Molly’s folders with them. She said she was sorry. She guessed it was one of those days. She and Molly picked everything up, and Molly said they all had those days. Ric earned some rest, so she was going to leave him to it. She left, and Ric said, about that trip out of the country with his client’s daughter…

Dante picked up Rocco, and said he was sorry he was running late, but Lulu said it gave her more time to work on her adoption piece. There was a chance it might reach a lot of people and hopefully change some lives.

Lucas came back and Brook asked how Cody was. Lucas said Cody was in radiology. He wanted to take some x-rays to be on the safe side. He should be fine, but he’d be sore for a bit. She said she was glad to see him, since they were told there was a change in schedule, and he said he had to step out for a quick interview. Brook said, tell her more. Was he being asked what it was like to be a sexy, single doctor? He said, sadly, no one asked that. Lulu was writing a piece for the Llanview Banner, her first piece for her freelance gig. Brook asked what it was about, and he said, adoption. She pitched the subject to the editor, and they gave her the green light. She was excited about it and it seemed like she was doing a really deep dive.

Jason said, either he was getting slower, or the pitch machine was faster, and Danny said he remembered when Jason first came back, his mom didn’t want him hanging out with Jason. He thought she was more worried that Jason wasn’t sticking around. She changed her mind when she figured out Jason could take care of him. Jason said he would, always, and Danny said it was cool to have people who cared. He was glad he had Jason and hoped his knew Jason had always been there and he hasn’t felt so alone. Jason said he bet she did and hugged Danny as he looked up.

Molly saw Cody and asked what he was doing at the hospital. He said he was kicked by a horse, and she said, the same one he rescued her on? Cody said it wasn’t the horse’s fault, but she said she knew it. She could see kicker in his eyes. Cody said it was a natural reaction to being startled. He was a good horse. He was waiting for his x-ray results. Brook was here, but she disappeared. Why was Molly here? Molly said she was visiting her dad and guessed she had work she could do here. He shouldn’t have to wait alone. She asked him to button his shirt, and they flirted a little. (I’m not really feeling these two.)

Diane said Ric was obviously bored and enjoyed squabbling, but she didn’t. If he wanted to contest the response, he could do it in family court. Until then, happy healing. Ric said he thought she was a proponent in calling a truce, and she said she was, but any interaction that had to do with Ava was inordinately exhausting. He said she was being overly dramatic, and she said, he might enjoy helping his financially strapped clients by doing pro bono, but she didn’t. On the day Avery turned 18 and was finally an adult (which, in soap years, should be about five years from now) there would be no one more excited to handle their client’s interests, through the proper channels. Truce or not, he needed to give Alexis a break. Ric asked, why?

Alexis asked why they were meeting in Sonny’s old Carly’s kitchen, and  Donna said they were making a get well card. She was going to get her markers that smelled like fruit. Kristina said that was exactly what the card needed, and Donna went upstairs. Kristina told Alexis that she was staying while Sonny was seeing a doctor in LA. Carly went with him so she was helping out. Alexis said all she wanted to know is if Kristina was okay, and Kristina said she’d been scared out of her mind. Donna was so sweet, she was glad she was there. It made her realize that she was glad Alexis was here too. Kristina had been so close to not being there.

Carly said she was thinking about the gunshot that almost killed Sonny. It was 25 years ago, but she remembered it like it was just yesterday. Sonny said, things like that got seared in your memory, and she said, he flatlined. They’d lost him. He said she wouldn’t let him go, and she said they made him keep fighting and he knew he was fighting. Do not give up. Not for anything. She didn’t care if St. Peter was waving him in at the Pearly Gates. Turn around and come back. He was going to make it through this. Sonny said he promised he would, and the nurse came to prep him for the OR. She said Carly would need to go outside, and Carly told Sonny that she meant what she said. He said he never doubted it and promised he would. She left.

In the waiting area, Carly told Brick that Sonny was gone, but he said he came back to see if she’d mind some company. She said she’d like some company, and he took her hand.  

The anesthesiologist asked Sonny if he was ready for a great nap. Think of good, positive things. Count back from ten. Sonny said, ten… nine… eight… seven… six… … five… He thought of making pancakes with Donna and Kristina saying he was the only one she could turn to. He remembered Dante saying he was going to keep his oath, and Sonny saying, even if Dante had to arrest him, he’d always love him, and them hugging. He thought of Donna asking him to show her his father’s picture and them looking at a picture of Mike. Donna asked if he missed Mike, and he said, every single day. The anesthesiologist said, he’s ready.

Marco found Lucas at the hospital and said he’d been officially hired by Miller and Davis. Lucas said, congratulations. He owed Marco dinner. Marco said he’d be happy to collect.

Danny asked Rocco how his new house was, and Rocco said cool. The boys went to do some batting, and Jason said he knew Rocco meant a lot to Danny. Dante said the same with Rocco. They were brothers. They had to make sure the boys didn’t lose their connection. Jason said, Sam would love seeing this, as the boys used their bats like light sabers.  

Lulu looked on her computer at a list of facts and questions about Brook’s pregnancy and the baby’s adoption. There was a knock at the door, and Lulu opened it to Brook who asked what the hell she was trying to pull.  

Ric asked for a reason he should take it easy on Alexis, and Diane said, aside from common decency? No. Their truce or lack thereof was none of her business. She was going to file the petition. Do as he will. She left and in the hallway, she banged herself in the head with her hand. In his room, Ric said, nice try. Alexis told you the truth.

Kristina told Alexis that she’d been a mess since the baby died. Losing Sam was hell and she’d been putting Alexis through hell since she was ten or so. She was so grateful, but more than that, she was grateful for her life and to see how much good she had waiting. Alexis said she’d wanted Kristina to let the past go. In knowing the good that was waiting, she was putting herself in a position to receive it. They hugged.

Molly looked through some papers and Cody suggested she get out more. She said paperwork was comforting. Sometimes she went to a restaurant, ordered a glass of wine, and worked for hours. It’s a world she understood and where she was in control unlike him and his devil horse. She took out the paperwork for the involuntary admission and said, oh my God.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

At the MetroCourt, Sidwell thanks Jordan for sitting in on his meeting with Congressman Cain. He knows she’s not his biggest fan. Jordan says, true, but as Sidwell pointed out, he’s a powerful ally. He hired her to make the right connections, so she’s going to grin and bear it. Sidwell says he appreciates that. He’s determined to make this fair city his home, especially since his son put down roots here too.

At the office, Alexis says she’s glad she caught Marco. She wanted to talk over some concerns she had about work he’d be doing for his dad. Marco says, as he promised when they hired him, all his services to his father’s company are completely above board. He wouldn’t involve the firm in anything illegal. She says she certainly hopes not, but this is about something entirely different. It’s about a deal he’s already made.

Molly looks at the commitment papers and says she can’t believe this, and Cody asks, what’s wrong? She says, according to these documents, their mom wants to have Kristina committed.

Kristina tells Donna, it’s the best get well card ever. Dad is going to love it. Donna says she thinks it needs more dino stickers, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) it does. Everything needs more dino stickers. Donna asks if daddy is really going to be okay, and Kristina says, yeah. He’s going to be just fine. He’ll be home before they know it.

Carly brings Brick some coffee and says she thought he could use the caffeine. She owes him big time for taking care of Sonny and getting him in to see Dr. Abbott. Brick says, Sonny is in great hands. Dr. Abbott is one of the best cardiologists in the country. She says, and he’s in LA, far away the people who want to take advantage of Sonny’s vulnerability. Brick says, even so, they can’t take their guard down. The person who firebombed Sonny’s apartment is still out there.

Lulu asks what Brook wants now, and Brook walks past her. Lulu says, please, by all means, come in. Would she like a tour or is Brook just going to start ripping into her? Brook says she’s so angry, and Lulu says, about what? Brook says she wants Lulu to stop using her baby to torture her, but Lulu says she hasn’t said a word to anyone about Brook’s baby. Brook says, stop playing dumb. She knows Lulu is writing an article on adoption. Lulu says, so? and Brook says, obviously, Lulu chose that particular topic because she had a child with Dante when she was a teenager and gave him up. It was her not so subtle way of letting Brook know that she could tell him about it anytime she wants. Lulu says she pitched three ideas to the editor, and they decided she should write about adoption, and Brook asks why she suggested it in the first place. Lulu says, it’s an important topic that a lot of people are interested in. Brook isn’t the only person whose given up a baby for adoption. Brook says she’s sick and tired of Lulu’s twisted little games. Fine. Tell Dante the truth if it means so much to her, but be ready for the consequences.

On the phone, Willow says she just got to the clinic. She’s a lot more nervous than she thought she’d be. Nina says, when she sees Michael, she’ll relax and they’ll both feel the old connection they had. Willow says, maybe… until she tells Michael that she and the kids are moving in with Drew, and Nina says, it will be hard for him to hear. They both know he may be angry at first, but stay calm and focus on the kids, and she’s sure they can work something out. Willow says she hopes Nina is right. She’ll call later and let her know how it went. Nina says, please do. Good luck. She’ll be thinking about her. Nina tells Portia, sorry. Where were they? Portia says, Nina was telling her about how they can hire a prostitute to solve their Drew problem.

Drew arrives at the MetroCourt, and tells Sidwell that he didn’t realize Jordan would be joining them. Sidwell says, Drew probably knows that Jordan recently resigned as Deputy Mayor, and Drew says he was lucky enough to have a front row seat for the fireworks. Sidwell says, the city’s loss is his gain. Jordan has agreed to join him as his COO. Drew says, wow. Congratulations. Jordan thanks him and says she’s excited for a fresh start. If she’s being honest, she was hoping they’d have one too.

Marco asks which deal Alexis is referring to, and she says, Sidwell’s contract with Deception. Marco asks, what’s the problem? and Alexis says, Lucy Coe. She’s known Lucy a long time and she’s a lovely woman, but just a little flighty. She may change her mind 15 times. Marco says, thanks for the warning, but the contract was already executed, and Alexis says, somehow, she doesn’t think that’s the end of it. Keep that in mind. Also, Tracy Quartermaine is shrewd and could pull a fast one. He needs to stay ten steps ahead of her. He says he’ll keep a close eye on Tracy, and Alexis says he’s got his work cut out for him. He says he got a sense of Tracy from his mother too. She went on an epic rant after Tracy fired her. Alexis says, Natalia was fired? and he says he didn’t realize she knew Natalia was his mother. She says his father told her in passing, and he says, after the way his mother treated Kristina, was sure Alexis wasn’t shedding any tears about it.

Cody asks if Molly is sure she’s reading it correctly, and she says she knows how to read the papers and they clearly state her mother’s intention to have her sister committed to a mental facility, even if it’s against Kristina’s will. He says, that’s extreme, and wonders where it came from, but Molly says she doesn’t even… Her and Diane’s files got mixed up and she must have picked it up by mistake. He says, Kristina has no idea? and Molly says she doesn’t know how she would. Just the other night, they all hung out and had a great time. They watched a movie and ordered food. Her mom wasn’t acting like somebody committing their daughter and Kristina wasn’t acting like somebody who needed to be committed. Cody says he feels bad for Kristina. He knows what it’s like to be held against your will in a mental facility and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. She say she wants to hear that story another time, but she needs to do something right now, and Cody gets up. She says, he shouldn’t do that, but he says, it’s just his ribs. Don’t worry. He’s been kicked before and bruised. What can he do?

Carly says, having Brick here makes it easier, and he says, it’s the least he can do. Sonny wants him to find the person responsible for hurting Michael. He promised he would, but so far, no luck with the electronics found in the man’s apartment. It’s driving him crazy. She says, if there’s anything to find, he will, and he says he appreciates that. What’s going on with Michael? How’s his progress going at the clinic? She says, as far as Michael and his doctors tell her, he’s doing great, but she can’t help worrying that he’s going to have some kind of setback. He says, she’s a mama and worry comes with the territory. Unless something else is in play to cause it. She says, there is. Apparently, his cheating wife is on her way to Germany to visit him right now.

Willow asks the reception nurse at the clinic if she speaks English, and the woman asks how she can help Willow. Willow says she’s Willow Corinthos and she’s here to see her husband Michael.  

Nina tells Portia, Willow is enthralled with all things Drew. She won’t be able to get Willow away from him until she sees him for the sleazy master manipulator he is. Portis says, so they’re going to hire a sex worker to seduce him, and Nina says she hates giving Drew the tiniest bit of credit, but she doesn’t think he’d cheat on Willow. Not this soon anyway. They have to frame him. Portia asks how that would work, and Nina says, that’s where Portia comes in. She’s counting on Portia to concoct something, just enough to knock Drew out. Portia says, a mickey, and Nina says, call it what she will, but when Drew is out, their friendly escort will climb into bed with him just in time for Willow to come home to her knight in shining armor with another woman. Portia says she can’t believe she’s saying this, but it’s not a bad plan. She only has one issue. She can see how it benefits Nina, but what about her?

Lulu asks if Brook is threatening her, but Brook says, not at all. She’s just pointing out that if Lulu reveals the truth, it won’t just hurt her. Lulu will be hurting everyone involved, first and foremost, Brook’s son. When he was born, her mom gave him to the nuns at St. Ignatius who found him a loving family. He may not know he’s adopted. Lulu says, Brook is worried that if Dante tracks him down, it will uproot his life. They’ve been over that. Brook says she thought about what would happen if he rejects Dante, or worse, hates Dante for telling him that the only parents he’s ever known have been lying to him his entire life. Dante just lost Sam and he’s still grieving. If she tells him, that could make it worse. Lulu says, Brook doesn’t know how it will play out. Maybe her son has known his entire life. Brook says, Lulu is taking a huge gamble with her own son. How will Rocco feel about finding out he has a new older brother? Lulu says, maybe he’ll love it, but Brook says, maybe he won’t. That’s her point. Lulu is just guessing at everything. Go ahead. Tell Dante the truth. She’ll take the fall for her gut-wrenching decision she made when she was a teenager, but she’s an adult now. Lulu will have to tell everybody why she so cavalierly blew up everyone’s lives. Lulu says she’s not being cavalier. If she was, she would have told Dante the day she found out. Brook said, it must be so fun to have something to hang over her head, but Lulu says, not enough to make up for her having to keep lying to those it directly effects – Dante and Rocco. Every time she sees them, she hates this thing. Brook asks, then why can’t she let it go? and Lulu says, because Brook decided it’s best it stay buried forever? She doesn’t necessarily agree. Dante walks in and asks, what’s going on in here?

Alexis says she has no ill will against Marco’s mother. She made amends to Kristina. That’s all that matters. Marco says, then maybe that means there’s still hope for his own relationship with her, and Alexis says she’s sorry. They’re not close? He says, not really. They had a falling out when he was in high school. They had different ideas of what his life should look like. She says, given Natalia’s relationship with Allie, she has an idea of what that means, and Marco says he’s sure. He’s sorry about all the problems she caused Kristina and her sister. Alexis says, no need to apologize. None of it was his fault. It wasn’t even entirely his mother’s fault. Kristina was going through some difficult things and got through it. She had a tough go of it. He says he’s glad she’s better now, when there’s a knock at the door. Ava asks if Alexis has a minute, and Alexis asks what she wants.

Kristina tells Donna, this is amazing. It’s the best get well card ever. Dad will love it. Donna thanks her for helping and says she’s the best sister ever, but Kristina says, that’s impossible since Donna is the best sister ever. There’s a knock at the door, and Kristina asks if Donna ordered ice cream again. Donna says, no, and Kristina asks if she’s sure. She opens the door to Molly and Cody, and Molly sees that Donna is there. Kristina asks, what’s going on? and Molly says she ran into Cody at the hospital, and he was telling her how he was teaching James… Cody says, how to tie knots, and Molly says she thought it sounded like so much fun, Donna might like to learn too. Cody asks what Donna thinks. Does it sound cool? Donna says, not really, and Cody laughs and says, okay. One of these – he shows her a lollipop – for every type of knot she learns to tie. Donna says, I’m in, and he says, let’s do it. They need to find some rope or cord… or shoelaces. Donna says she has those, and he says, all right. Let’s go. Donna leads him away as he grips his side with his other hand. Kristina says, okay, tell her what’s really going on, and Molly says there’s something she needs to see. She shows Kristina the papers and Kristina says, what the hell is this?

Kristina says, this can’t be real. Their mom is acting to have her committed? Did she ask Molly to file this? Molly says, no, and she wouldn’t have if their mom did. She doesn’t even know Molly has seen them. Kristina asks where Molly got them, and Molly says, Diane’s envelopes got mixed up with hers, and she came as soon as she saw them. She swears she didn’t even know their mom was thinking about this. Kristina says she’s an adult. Can their mom have her committed without her consent? Molly says, she can have Kristina held for observation, and Kristina says she doesn’t get why their mom would do this to her.

Alexis says she doesn’t believe Marco has met Ava, and he holds out his hand, saying, Marco Rios. Alexis says, he’s new to the firm, and Ava says, he’s a lucky man. Alexis is one hell of a lawyer. Every time she’s had the pleasure of working with Alexis, she always delivers. Alexis asks Marco, do you mind…? and Marco says, of course (🍷). Nice to meet Ava. He leaves, and Alexis asks why Ava is here. Ava says she needs to make a change in their payment schedule.

Nina tells Portia, when Willow kicks Drew to the curb, there will be nothing left to keep him in Port Charles. She guesses he’ll take Scout and move to DC permanently. Portia says, as nice as it would be not to run into him, it doesn’t solve her problem. He’ll still have leverage over her. Nina says, true, but what good is Portia to him in Washington DC? He’ll be so busy with his new life as congressman, he won’t even remember her. He’ll move on to terrorizing someone else. Portia says, what if he doesn’t? and Nina says, then they’ll arrange to have salacious pictures taken of Drew’s indiscretion. Portia says, now you’re talking.

Jordan says she regrets letting herself get dragged into the disagreement between Drew and Curtis. It was never any of her business. She’s just hoping they can put it behind them and get back to what they used to be. She’s missed their friendship. Drew says he appreciates her saying that and he’s certainly open to it, and she says she fought hard for him during his campaign because she believed in him. And no matter what’s happened between them, she still does. He thanks her and says, that means a lot. Sidwell says, isn’t that delightful? (I absolutely love him at this moment. He’s just such a happy guy.) Speaking of delightful things, can they all agree the McConkey esplanade should be moved to the piers currently owned by Sonny Corinthos? Jordan sort of nods, and Drew says, True. Yes. Sidwell says, in that case, Drew should double down on his opposition to Sonny. He was a very persuasive and powerful man and could sway the majority voters over to their side. Drew says, can do, but Jordan says, before he says yes, there’s something to consider.

Brick tells Carly, maybe seeing Michael face to face is a good thing. Maybe Willow will come to her senses, and they can agree on a reasonable compromise they can live with. Carly says, there’s nothing reasonable with Willow lately, and he says, it’s a lot easier to deal with a person when you don’t have to be face to face. Maybe when she sees Michael, he can convince her to do what’s in the best interest of the children. Carly says she’d like to believe that, but she’s lost all faith in Willow’s ability to do the right thing. She’s worried this trip to Germany is going to be one big disaster.

The reception nurse apologizes for taking so long, and Willow asks if Michael is having a good day. Can he have visitors? The nurse says, yes, and Willow asks if she can have his room number. The nurse says she doesn’t quite know how to say it, but Willow’s husband doesn’t want to see her.

Lulu wonders why Rocco isn’t with Dante, and he says, after the batting cages, Rocco and Danny went to see a movie. He could have gone, but didn’t know he was going to walk into World War III. Something is going on. What are they arguing about? Lulu asks if Brook wants to tell him, and Brook says she heard Lulu was writing an article on adoption and it’s a problem for her. Because the truth is, it hits way too close to home.

Alexis asks what change Ava needs, and Ava says, another transfer as soon as possible. Alexis says, how much? and Ava says, 150 thousand. Alexis says, she’s kidding. What does she need the money for? Ava says she has her reasons, just like Alexis has her reasons for giving Ava’s money to her. Alexis says she can’t just blatantly skim from the Cassadine trust and not get caught. And if she gets caught, they both go down. Ava says she’s sure Alexis can come up with a way to do it, and Alexis says, she’s being completely unreasonable. Ava says, that’s one of the downsides of being blackmailed, isn’t it? and Alexis says, just take more time between transfers or settle for an amount that’s smaller. Ava says, if it’s not something Alexis feels she can do, Kristina will be the one to pay the price.  

Molly says, maybe their mom wasn’t planning on filing, but had it drawn up just in case, and Kristina says, what case? In case she had some sort of mental breakdown? Molly says, Kristina had been going through a lot. Maybe their mom had them drawn up after the baby died. She did have post-partum, and they were all worried about her. Kristina says, no. She had them drawn up a couple days ago. The date is the same day they had their Davis girls night. She did this then and hung out with them like everything was completely fine. She asks if Molly remembers Alexis being nervous. She was planning on having Kristina committed. Molly says she’s so sorry. She can’t imagine how betrayed Kristina feels. Kristina says she feels betrayed, confused, and devastated, but grateful. She thanks Molly for bringing her the papers, and Molly says she wasn’t going to let her sister get ambushed. Kristina says she’s surprised, and Molly asks, why? Kristina says, usually her and their mom have the same perspective and it’s her against the two of them. Molly says she’s not a psychiatrist, but if a person came to her and said they’d decided they wanted take to take a break from life and work on themselves, she would support it 100%. But she doesn’t support going behind their back and taking the decision out of their hands, even if she agreed. She doesn’t want Kristina to feel ganged up on ever again. Kristina thanks her and says she’s grateful to hear Molly say that, and they hug.  

Jordan says, it’s fine if Drew comes out against Sonny, but she cautions him against attacking Mayor Collins, if that’s his plan. Drew says, Jordan quit her job, so why does she care if he went after her? and Jordan says she’s concerned about what Laura might do. She still has a high approval rating and people love what she’s done for Port Charles. The only thing badmouthing the mayor will do, is make him look bad. Drew says, for the record, despite their disagreement, he loves what Laura has done as mayor. Very much so. He also doesn’t feel she needs to defend Sonny. Sidwell says, that’s a wise stance at the moment, and Drew says, if anyone is going to attack Laura, it’s Councilman Boyle. Sidwell says, that’s perfect to keep the blowback far away from himself. He doesn’t know about them, but it’s clear to him that the three of them make a great team. With the congressman’s pull and resources, they can be assured Sonny loses control of the piers. Drew says, that’s good news for everyone.  

Willow tells the nurse, please. She has to let her speak with Michael. She flew here from New York. The nurse says she’s so sorry, but she has to respect the patient’s wishes. Willow says she understands, but it’s important. It’s about their kids. Just tell him that. Please. The nurse says, honestly, she doesn’t think it would make a difference. He made his feelings clear that he wants nothing to do with her. (Um… Doesn’t she still have his medical proxy?)

Brick tells Carly that he’s heard great things about the burn clinic in Baden-Baden. From what he understands, it’s pretty close to impossible to get into. How did she get Michael in? She says, John Brennan from the WSB pulled a few strings, and he asks if they’re friends. She says she’s seeing Jack Brennan, and he says, damn. Another one slips through his fingers. Jack is a lucky man. She asks if Brick knows him, and he says, a little, mostly by reputation. She says, what reputation? And he says, he’s very smart, a heavy hitter in intelligence communications, and apparently has great taste in women. Carly laughs, when the doctor comes out. Carly says she didn’t expect Sonny’s surgery to be over so soon… Is Sonny okay?  (Before a commercial, the doctor always looks grim no matter the outcome.)

Dante asks what the article has to do with Brook, and she says she and Chase are exploring the idea of adopting a child. Dante says he didn’t know. He thinks it’s great. Brook says, Chase hasn’t told anyone. They’re just at the beginning stage and feeling it out. She heard Lulu was going around interviewing people about adoption and the whole thing felt too coincidental. Lulu says she had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption, and Brook says, now she does. Can she think about another subject? Lulu says, why? If anything, maybe Brook will learn something. Brook says, or Lulu could use it to stick her nose in other people’s business under the guise that it’s work related. Dante says he doesn’t think Lulu would do that, and Lulu says she wouldn’t. Truly, she wishes Brook and Chase the best, but she’s also trying to get going as a journalist again. If the Llanview Banner wants her to write about adoption, that’s what she’s going to do. Brook says, great. Knock herself out. Brook leaves, and Dante says, that could have gone better, but he guesses they’ve had worse. It’s just them. Is there any truth to what Brook said?

Jacinda arrives at Nina’s office and Nina says, lovely to meet her. Have a seat. She thanks Jacinda for coming, and Jacinda says, arriving is the easy part. Let’s cut to the chase. As much as she’d like to believe she was going to be the next Crimson cover model, something tells her not to write home about it just yet. Nina say, she is a stunning woman, but she’s right. They have a slightly different job in mind that she guesses is more in line with Jacinda’s current profession. Jacinda says, Nina doesn’t need to beat around the bush. They’re all adults. She’s a sex worker and she’s proud of that. Portia says, in that case, she won’t be offended at their offer. Jacinda says she’s been doing this a long time. It’s not the first time two women have brought a proposition to her. Portia and Nina trip over themselves saying no, and Portia says, the job doesn’t involve sex at all. Nina says, but it does require pictures.  

Jordan says she’s going to make some calls to get the ball rolling on their agenda, and Sidwell says, that’s what he likes to hear. Drew says he’s glad they had a chance to talk, and Jordan says, her too, and leaves. Drew says, Jordan is very smart and motivated. Hiring her was a great move. Sidwell says, the key to making Port Charles his new home is having the right friends. Jordan has become one and he’s hoping Drew will become another. Drew says he believes they have a mutually beneficial relationship, considering Sonny is a thorn in both their sides, and Sidwell agrees. He says he looks forward to the day Mr. Corinthos is no longer a problem to anyone.

Carly asks if Sonny is okay, and Dr. Abbott says, he’s fine. (What I said.) They repaired his heart with no complications. Brick asks if that means he’ll have a full recovery, and the doctor says, he needs to avoid strenuous activity for several weeks, so his body can heal completely. Carly says she’ll make sure he follows the doctor’s instructions, whether he likes it or not. Can she see him? Dr. Abbott says, he’s still settling into his room. He’ll let them know when he’s done. Carly thanks him, and he says, of course (🍷), and leaves. Carly says, Sonny’s okay, and Brick says he never doubted it for a second. They hug.

Alexis tells Ava that they both knew she’s not going to expose Kristina, since she and Ric are milking this tragedy for millions of dollars. Ava says, Ric? and Alexis says she knows he’s part of her blackmail scheme. He couldn’t help throwing it in her face that he was getting a cut. Ava says, Kristina did almost kill him. It’s the least Alexis can do. Alexis says she’ll give in to this installment, but Ava is to stay the hell away from her office and her daughter. Ava says, Kristina is the one who has to stay away from her. As far as coming by, she’ll pop in when she sees fit. Alexis isn’t the one calling the shots. She is. Don’t forget that. She leaves.

Kristina tells Molly that she’s done things that she deeply regrets in her life, but she’s seeing a therapist. She’s getting help and their mom would do this after she’s getting help, and didn’t talk to her. It’s just wrong. Molly says, their mom would never intentionally hurt Kristina. As bad as it sounds, she thinks it was coming from a place of love. Their mom had never been able to find the balance between loving Kristina and controlling her. She watched it for years. Kristina says she thought their mom was finally out of that pattern and trusting her to make her own decisions. She guesses not. Molly asks what she’s going to do, and Kristina says, what choice does she have? She’s going to confront their mom – now. Molly says she’s going with Kristina. Cody can watch Donna. Kristina says she doesn’t need to. It’s not her fight. Molly says she wants to be there to support Kristina… unless Kristina doesn’t want her to, and Kristina says she does. It means a lot to her.

Dante says he thought Lulu agreed to go easy on Brook, and Lulu says she has been. She had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption. And Dante knows the editor chose the topic, not her. He says he knows. Obviously, she should tread carefully as adoption is a touchy subject with Brook. Lulu says, clearly.  

Jacinda asks if their telling her that her mark is a US congressman, and Portia says, trust her. He’s not a good guy. Jacinda says, that’s the problem. She’s seen that movie before and people like her who do things like this tend to end up dead. Nina says she’s not stealing state secrets or bomb codes, and Portia says, they promise she won’t be harmed. Jacinda says, they expect her to take their word. That’s a big ask. It’s going to cost more than her usual rate. Nina says, how much more? and Jacinda says, six thousand. They laugh and Nina asks if she didn’t hear them say they don’t want her to have sex. Nina’s phone rings, and she says she has to take it; it’s Willow.

Nina asks how it went, and Willow says, Michael wouldn’t even see her. Nina says, maybe he’s just not prepared and needs time to pull himself together before he sees her again, but Willow says, no. They have nothing left to say to each other. Obviously, he’s cutting her out of his life. That’s fine by her. She’s going to fly home tomorrow morning. Nina tells Willow to hold on a second and puts the call on hold. She tells Jacinda that they have a deal, then goes back to the call. She tells Willow that she’s so sorry, and Willow says she never should have come here, and she can’t wait to get home. Drew would never treat her this way. They communicate when there’s a problem. Michael shuts down on her. She’ll call Nina when she lands. Willow leaves and the nurse makes a call. Drew asks, is it done? and she says she did exactly as he asked. He says, she lied to Mrs. Corinthos, and she says she told Mrs. Corinthos that her husband refused to see her. He says, excellent. Her payment is on the way.  

Donna gives Cody a cup and tells him that her mom says it helps the medicine go down. He says, her mom is a smart lady. He takes his pill and says, she’s right. It did help. She says, Kristina was upset. Does he think her daddy is okay? He says, of course (🍷). Kristina just had to run an errand with Molly. They’re lucky. They get to stay here and tie knots. Show him her square knot. She asks if he has lollipops.

Alexis makes the transfer to Ava when Kristina and Molly walk in. Alexis says, a nice surprise. What’s going on? Kristina says, you tell me, mommy dearest.  

Brick says he’s sorry to hug and run, but he has to race to the airport. There’s a security issue in Dubai… Unless she needs him to stay. Carly says, no. Go. He’s done so much already. Brick tells her to keep him updated and they hug. She says, thank you so much. Safe travels. He leaves and she calls Jason. She says, Sonny is out of surgery. The doctor said it was a success. He’s going to be fine… She hasn’t seen him yet, but she’s so happy. There were no complications, and the doctor said he’d make a full recovery. There’s a nurse skulking around, listening, and Carly says she’s sure Sonny is going to be fine. The shifty nurse goes into Sonny’s room and turns off the monitor. She takes out a syringe, and Sonny opens his eyes.

On Monday, Brad tells Portia. this new arrangement sucks; Tracy tells Gio to think twice before supporting Sonny; Vaughn asks if this is Josslyn’s way of saying she can’t do it; and Carly goes into Sonny’s room and says, oh my God.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Here’s hoping she’s good at her assignment.

I want one too!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-finola-hughes-is-a-real-doll

I want to start watching Will Trent. This gives me one more reason.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-jophielle-love-reveals-her-new-gig

I don’t watch this, but kudos to them. His untimely death was so sad.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/how-suits-la-honored-billy-millers-character

If his last two projects are any indication, I can’t wait.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicolas-alexander-chavez-lands-a-prestigious-new-project

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m not sure why these crews are always at odds. They’re busy AF and when they’re not working, they get to have fun in magnificent places, and spend big, fat tips.

The Valley

Jax finally recognized his coke problem that the rest of us have been talking about for years. Or has he?

Summer House

One of the most annoying things this group does is discuss another couple’s relationship on the side while watching the couple talk, analyzing every word and giving commentary. I did, however, learn that yellow flags are a thing. Unfortunately, so is Toegate. A lot of this episode was the Jesse/Lexi flirting-or-not thing. I’m already over it, but glad Lexi is starting to get a clue that this might not be her true love. There was another theme party, Snoozefest. No comment. Oh, and there was Schwartz.

He’s been at this rodeo before.

Random Reality Items

I haven’t kept up with this, but I might start now.

Maybe she’s desperate to meet Boy George.

A pleasant surprise. Their whole parting of the ways was just messy.

I’ll watch anything with this guy in it, especially when he’s being himself.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

2073. MAX. Well… This was an odd film and not exactly what I’d expected. It takes place in a grim future, but interspersed with what-got-us-here footage. Some of it real, some of it taken from other films about a grim future. I got the point about two seconds in, and let me say it this way, I could have read the plot and it would have been good enough.

Companion. HBO/MAX. I found this one endlessly amusing. I don’t want to give much away, since there are some fabulous twists and turns, but a non-spoiler is that Iris is a robot. She’s also a good time and Sophie Thatcher is wonderful in the role. I appreciated all of the unexpected moves in the plot and a few little tugs at the heartstrings didn’t hurt.

https://wrif.com/2025/02/05/companion-non-spoiler-movie-review/

https://www.cbr.com/jack-quaid-companion-hit-max/

Discuss among yourselves.

One of Them Days. Netflix. This was great. Pure escapism and fun, with a message about friendship wrapped in slapstick, capers, and characters you know are based on somebody’s auntie/uncle/cousin/the guy on the corner. A female buddy movie, two roommates and best friends have to make the rent in a few hours or be evicted, and hijinks ensue. The cast is excellent, and it will make you forget about your troubles. I loved the female friendship aspect.

https://www.purewow.com/news/netflix-one-of-them-days-movie

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/one-of-them-days-review

I also finished Black Mirror: Season 7, but it’s been one of them weeks, so coming soon.

🐾  Animal Hooligans…

🐶  Valerie has been captured! She is now living her almost best life in captivity again.

https://people.com/missing-wiener-dog-valerie-rescued-from-rugged-island-after-529-days-11722228

🐦 I know a cardinal who could give this woodpecker a run for its money. He peck at my gazing ball when he sees his reflection. I haven’t figured out if he’s trying to fight with the other bird or he’s gay and trying to spark a romance.

https://people.com/massachusetts-woodpecker-vandal-destroyed-25-car-mirrors-exclusive-11721462

🙉  Can you blame them? Sometimes you need a break from throwing poop at each other.

https://people.com/wild-chimps-filmed-bonding-over-alcoholic-fruit-11720149

🐘 Quotes of the Week

Don’t be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed. – Lily Tomlin

If you are not where you want to be, do not quit. Instead reinvent yourself and change your habits.Eric Thomas

Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. – W. Clement Stone

The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there. – Ursula K. Le Guin

I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be. – Ken Venturi

The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow. – William James

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi

Slow down just a kiss. I can’t understand you.Alec Baldwin, The Baldwins

If you’re covering up cracks, you missed a big one. – Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi) seeing Mike bent over while doing basement reconstruction, Mike & Molly

🤸‍♀️  A Little Madness In the Spring…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not planting before Mother’s Day (trust me); and stay keeping in mind that any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth.

September 20, 2024 – Sidwell Extends an Invite, First Day, OC Tea, Iconically Salty, Big Apples, Expanding His Territory, Oh No They Didn’t, An Octuplet Of Quotes & Fair

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Curtis says he’s glad they did this tonight, and Portia says, her too. She really needed it. N’neka brings their drinks and says, this is what she likes to see. Two beautiful people in love, and her favorite boss back where he belongs. Curtis say he appreciates it, but don’t get used to it, and N’neka says she’d hoped seeing him was a sign he’d be around more. He says, unfortunately, no. He does miss this place and he misses them all, but Aurora’s keeping him crazy busy. Portia says, maybe, but it is a Quartermaine business. They could be at each other’s throats any minute now. Drew walks in with Nina, and Portia says, unless Nina gets to Drew first.

In the nook, Michael says, let him deal with it, and Ned says, he told Michael, let him handle it. Willow says, maybe they should table the ELQ business for now, and Lois says, and discuss matters closer to home, like the fact the boathouse is still a crime scene. Michael says he’s concerned about that too, but right now, they need to get this situation squared away. Ned says he has it covered, and Michael says, nobody’s seen ELQ’s majority shareholder and it’s been weeks since he disappeared. Ned says he has their best people working on tracking him down, and Michael says, and yet, the FBI says his trail has gone cold and Ned is saying he can find him. Ned says he can, and Michael says, they can’t count on Valentin being caught. They need to lock ELQ down so Valentin can’t offload his shares to fund his new life. Ned says he doesn’t need Michael’s constant reminders about not locking down ELQ, and Michael says, maybe if Ned had sided with him and Drew instead of collaborating with Valentin, they wouldn’t be in this mess. Ned says, yes, and maybe if Michael hadn’t invited Sonny over to the house, John Cates might still be alive.

Looking very broken and beaten up, Lucky is thrown into a cell by two guards. One says, maybe that will teach him to keep his mouth shut. At least they’ll have peace and quiet until he wakes up. The other guard says, if he wakes up.

Holly says, Anna seems to have her hands on a phone that doesn’t belong to her, and Anna says, stay out of this, but Holly says she’s afraid she can’t do that. Anna is a thief, and she’s caught her red-handed. What choice does she have but to sound the alarm?

At the table, Sidwell throws down his cards and says, a straight flush. So what has Jason got? Don’t keep him in suspense. Jason folds, and Sidwell says, you fold, you lose. He’s going to collect his winnings and his woman and call it a night. Jason says, not yet. Their night isn’t over.

Portia says she loves Nina’s dress, and Nina thanks her and says she loves Portia’s dress too. 🥱 Drew says, Curtis looks okay, and Curtis says, just okay? He did his hair and everything. Portia says, they both look amazing, and Curtis says, before he forgets, he has a call for Monday. Their negotiators are closing the Tokyo deal, and he wants to run some things by Drew. Drew says he’ll make sure to be there. They’re going to get a table. Curtis tells them to enjoy their evening, and Nina and Drew go to sit down. Portia says, those two seem awfully close. She wonders what’s going on between them. Curtis says, who knows? and she says she guesses she’ll find out eventually. That stuff with the Tokyo deal sounds pretty positive. He says, she’s not disappointed, is she? and she says she wants him to succeed. She doesn’t begrudge him his success. He says, but she might wish he found it someplace else, and she says, it’s not that. It’s just that she has heard some stories at the hospital. Individually, the Quartermaines are lovely people, but as a group… He says, their family battles are legendary, but he’s noticed it’s usually confined to ELQ business. Drew and Michael get along great at Aurora. She says, still. Please have his exit plan in place. Just in case. He laughs and says, there’s no reason to leave Aurora. He has some plans for their family and it’s going to pay for it all. So stop worrying. Things are only going up from here.

Nina says, someone is in a good mood, and Drew says, why wouldn’t he be? The election’s coming up and he’s ahead in the polls. She says, don’t get cocky. He’s up by 7% with a 4% margin of error. This election is by no means a done deal. He needs to direct his full attention to the final push for votes. He says he will, but he really doesn’t want to talk about politics tonight, and she says, great. Then they’ll talk about business instead. He says, there are a lot of other things to talk about, and she says, it’s impossible for him to take that Monday call and do his debate prep at the same time. He can’t do everything. She thinks it’s time for him to turn over the reins at Aurora.

Lois says, everyone, time out. Take a few deep breaths. Willow says she thinks that’s a good idea, but Michael says, no. He thinks if Ned has evidence that his father wasn’t where he said he was when Cates got shot, he should turn that over to the police. Lois says, and if not, zip it, and Michael says, they need to focus on ELQ. They’re in a position to remove Valentin from the company and from their lives entirely. Ned says he’s instructed their ELQ lawyers to get in touch with the SEC and they’re moving to stop Valentin from making any ELQ stock transactions. Does that suffice? Michael says, all he wants is to keep ELQ growing long enough to provide for their families, and Lois says she thinks everyone can get behind that. Ned says, great. Then stay out of his way and let him do what he does best. Michael asks if that’s betraying their family, and Willow says she knows they planned to stay in tonight, but she could really use a night out. What does he say? Michael says, yeah. He’d love to take his beautiful wife out on the town. She says, great. Let’s go get ready. He says he’s right behind her, and she leaves. Michael follows, and Lois gives Ned a thumbs up and says, way to clear a room.

Sidwell says he’s had enough gambling for one night, and Jason asks if it really counts as gambling if he cheats. Sidwell says he doesn’t cheat, and Jason says he doesn’t lie. He grabs the wrist of the woman next to him, and she says, let go of me. He pulls an ace out of her sleeve, holds it up, and says, it’s a lot easier to win if you have help. Sidwell signals the guards to take the woman away, and says he doesn’t know that woman, much less be in cahoots with her. Jason says he’d like to believe that and he’s sure everyone else in the club would too. How can they be sure? Sidwell sits back down and says, deal. Jason says, he’ll take another 50,000, and a fresh deck.

Anna says, Holly doesn’t know what she’s doing, and Holly says she’s interrupting a crime. Anna say she thinks she’s doing exactly the same thing. Is Sidwell aware of Holly’s… what should they call it? Her colorful history? Maybe he would really appreciate an old friend’s perspective on her. Holly says, let’s not be hasty. Sidwell has more than enough to go around and she’s more than willing to share. She asks for Anna’s discretion, and Anna says, Holly can keep his money. She just needs help replacing his phone before he realizes she’s taken it. Holly says she wants no part in whatever WSB shenanigans Anna and Jason are cooking up right now, but Anna says, this isn’t for the WSB. This is for Luke.

Lucky groans and tries to get up, but he can’t. A woman smooths his hair back, and we see it’s Elizabeth.

Anna tells Holly, Lulu’s in trouble. She needs a transplant in order to survive and she doesn’t qualify for the national registry. Sidwell’s guard listens from outside the door, and Anna says, their best hope is to get a donation, and Lucky is their best chance. So she and Jason have come here to find him and bring him home. That’s assuming he’s still in one piece. Holly says, he was yesterday, and Anna says, she saw him? She saw him and didn’t do anything to help him? Holly says she didn’t have the opportunity, and Anna says, of course (🍷). She’s still lining up her latest score. Holly says, Sidwell surrounds himself with a small army, and he has redundancies in place of security apparatus. Anna says she’s trying to circumvent his security by getting the information off his phone, but Holly says, it won’t do her any good. He changes the passcode every day. It doesn’t matter how good she and Jason are. The chances of them getting in and out undetected are nil. Anna says, it’s going to have to be an inside job then.

Sidwell places a bet and Jason says, call, putting in more chips. Sidwell turns over his cards, then Jason turns over his. Sidwell sighs and says, damn it. Jason looks over at the bar and sees Holly.

Drew asks if he can borrow Curtis for a minute, and Portia says, go. Just don’t be too long. He says he’ll be back before Portia finishes her drink, and leaves with Drew. Nina says, Portia is a good sport. Talking business isn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her night either. Portia says she didn’t expect Nina to spend her night here with Drew, and Nina says she thinks it’s good for Drew to be seen out and about before the election, and she’s happy to help his campaign. Portia says she just doesn’t remember Nina being interested in politics before, and Nina says, she wasn’t… until Drew.

Drew thanks Curtis for getting Aurora Wellness up and running. He’s doing an amazing job. Curtis says he can’t take all the credit. He has a terrific team and great leadership from the top. Drew says, that’s what he wants to talk to Curtis about, and Curtis asks if he should be worried. Drew says, no. He’s just saying his campaign requires his full attention. So does Aurora, and neither can reach their full potential if his focus is split. Curtis says he knows Drew isn’t stepping away from the campaign trail, and Drew says he’s stepping away from Aurora effective immediately and leaving Curtis as acting CEO.

Ned tells Lois, Michael has the worst qualities of all of his parents. AJ’s self-importance, Carly’s bad faith, and Sonny’s hypocrisy. Lois says she wishes there was a way for Ned to get along with Michael. She wishes he was able to put his problems with Sonny behind him. He says, that’s not going to happen, and she says she’d be happy to sit down with him and Sonny and hash it out. He asks why she’d want to put herself in the middle of all this, and she says, the last thing she has time for is to be a peacemaker, but if it would help… He says, it won’t, and no one’s asking her to. She says, being part of a family is not waiting for an invitation. He and Michael and Sonny are a family. He says, that’s a bit of a stretch, and she says, Sonny is Michael’s father. They’re always going to be a part of Ned’s life. Why does he want to hold onto this hatred for Sonny? How does he benefit? He says he’s never going to change how he feels about Sonny Corinthos, and she says, he spent all last summer thinking he was Eddie Maine. He pushed everyone away except for one person – Sonny. He says, that was Eddie. Obviously, he was delusional. She says, it didn’t matter to Sonny. Sonny still looked out for him. Isn’t that something that family does for each other? Gio stands at the door, and Ned asks why it’s so important to Lois that he get along with Sonny. How does she benefit?

Portia says, so the man Nina sent to prison for insider trading enticed her to work on his campaign, and that kickstarted her interest in politics. Nina says, she and Drew both had to make amends for their past, but she thinks her opinion of him started to change when she saw how much Congressman McConkey respected him. It was the congressman who suggested Drew run for office. Portia says she was sorry to hear about Mr. McConkey. He was a good man. Nina says, a very rare, good man, and when she saw how much he liked Drew, she started to wonder if her combative relationship with Drew blinded her about all the good he could do. He saved the life of someone she loves more than anyone else in the world. Her daughter.

Michael and Willow come into the club, and N’neka says, it’s nice to see them both. She has a great table for them, unless they’d rather sit with their family. Willow looks over to see Drew talking to Curtis.

Drew says he knows it’s a lot to ask, and Curtis says he’s shocked. Being acting CEO wasn’t even on his radar. Drew says, Curtis is his righthand man and he knows he’s been clear about how happy he is with the work Curtis has been doing. So is he in? Curtis says, hell yeah, he’s in. He thanks Drew for believing in him and says he won’t let Drew down. Drew says, it never crossed his mind, and Curtis says, one question. How come he didn’t ask Michael to be acting CEO? He’s run Aurora. Drew says, Michael will be available if Curtis needs his help, but the better part of Michael’s attention is required elsewhere.

Lucky says he must be worse off than he thought, and Elizabeth says, contusions, bruising, and lacerations. They all need stitches. Probably internal injuries and a concussion. He says he thinks the concussion’s pretty obvious since he’s talking to someone who’s not here, and she says, let’s get you upright. He moans as she helps him sit up, and she asks, what happened? He says, she’s going to have to be a lot more specific, and she says, helping people is all well and good, but he’s right. This is as far as he can go. He’s run right up to the edge of his very own grave. Now what?

Jason says, luck must be on his side tonight, and Sidwell bangs his hands on the table. He gets up and goes to the bar, and Holly says, don’t worry. He’ll win it back. Anna goes to the table, slipping Sidwell’s phone back into his jacket pocket. Jason says, it took her long enough, and she says she knew he could handle it. He says he’d like to cash out please, but she says, so soon? Quietly, she tells him, change of plans. Keep winning. She has it on good authority that Sidwell really enjoys the competition, so if he plays his cards correctly, they’re going to get an invite to his camp. He says he can’t guarantee he’s going to keep winning, and she asks if he learned anything from his card shark ex. If he runs into a problem, just think, what would Sam do?

Gio says he’ll just grab this and get out of here, but Lois says, he doesn’t have to go, and tells Ned, if a truce between him and Sonny brings nothing more than a little peace and quiet, it would be worth it. Ned says he might actually believe that if he could trust a word she says, and she says she’s the most trustworthy person in this house. Gio says, she’s not wrong, and Ned says, she was, then she ditched her accent. She threw away something that made her unique like it was nothing. She says, words, consonants, vowels, and in her Brooklyn accent, she says, who cares? Ned says he does, because it’s her. He’s known her for years, and he loves her accent. This other person she sounds like, he doesn’t even know who she is. So does she blame him for wondering if he can trust a word that this new her says? Gio says, a little harsh, and Ned says, the truth often is, and leaves.

Sidwell tells Holly that he’s lost enough already, and he wants to be alone with her. She says she’s never known him to walk away from a table with so little to show for it, and he says he prefers to leave with something rather than leave with nothing. She says, that’s not very sporting of him. Does he really want to leave empty handed? Go back to their guest and tell him that he encountered another player as good as him and turned tail and ran?

Jason says, it’s risky, and Anna says she knows, but she thinks it’s better than breaking into Sidwell’s camp uninvited. Sidwell comes back and says, Jason has had quite a run lately. Congratulations. He puts on his jacket and says, it’s getting late. He’s done. Anna says, perhaps he can point them in the direction of the high rollers table then, and Holly says, this is the high rollers table. Anna says, oh, this is, and Sidwell sits down again. He says, maybe he has one more hand in him, and Anna and Holly exchange glances. The dealer gives out the cards and says, place your bets. Jason puts a bunch of chips into the pot, and Holly whispers to Sidwell that maybe he could draw on his credit… unless he’s reached his limit. Does he have any cash? He says he can do better than that, and takes a jewelry box out of his pocket. He opens it, displaying a diamond bracelet, and puts it on the table. Anna says, that’s beautiful, and asks Jason if he can win it for her. Jason says, done.

Portia says, Nina was just telling her about her political awakening. She said Willow had a lot to do with that. Willow says she doubts she had anything to do with it, but Michael says, she’s being too modest. Not only did she encourage Nina to get involved in the campaign, she’s Drew’s biggest cheerleader and she got the entire family together to support him. And they know how rare unity is for the Quartermaines. Portia says, here’s to hoping for unity… and victory, and Nina says, from her lips. Portia says she’s going to find her husband. Enjoy their night. Portia leaves, and Willow says, so Nina and Drew are here together. Nina says, Drew asked her to accompany him in public in the final stretch of his campaign, and Willow says, and she doesn’t mind? Nina says, no. It’s a small favor she can do for him, especially if it means helping him get to DC. Willow says, right, and looks over at Curtis and Drew. She says she needs to freshen up and asks them to excuse her.

In the hallway, Willow asks N’neka to do her a favor. She’s not feeling so well. N’neka asks if she can get Willow something, and Willow thanks her, but says she thinks she’s just going to get a car and go home. Would N’neka let her husband know she left? N’neka says, of course (🍷), and creeper Drew says, N’neka doesn’t have to worry about that. He can tell him. (Because even though he’s only about 50 feet away, Willow can’t do it. Didn’t N’Neka think this was in the least bit weird? Like, her ride is right there.)

Lucky says he needs Elizabeth to know… and she says, save his strength, but he says he needs her to know, being away from her was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. She says, that’s interesting, because he never looked back. He struggles to speak and says he thinks about her every day, and their family all the time. She says, Aiden is great by the way, and he thanks her for taking such good care of their son. She says, he misses Lucky, and Lucky says, really? He misses Aiden too… constantly. He winces in pain and says he couldn’t be the father Aiden deserves. That’s why he had to leave. She asks if he would do it again, and he says he doesn’t know, but he did do it. He has to live with that, and helping people here was the only way he knew to atone for everything. She says, great story, but she’s not buying it. She thinks the truth is, he’s too much of a coward to face his family as anything but a hero. Easier to dodge bullets in the desert than own up to being flawed. He says he messed up, but he’s flawed, and she says, he could have come to her. She would have helped him. He says, she wouldn’t if she’d known who he really was, but she says she would have helped him anyway. He says, of course (🍷) she would have, because she’s so much better than he is. He was torn. To see the disappointment in her eyes, he couldn’t live with that. He couldn’t take it. Not from her. She says, so he just decided for all of them. No one else gets a say. He says he’s sorry, and she says, if he’s so sorry, then come home. Not as a hero, but as a man who messed up and has the guts to admit it. He asks if she thinks he can, and she caresses his face. She says, you tell me. Are you brave enough to come back to your family?

Standing to the side, Holly says, so Anna and Jason, huh? Alan would be rolling in his grave. Anna shushes her, and Holly says, does Robert know? Robin? Anna says, oh, shut up. She looks at the table and says, that’s going to look good on her wrist.

Anna goes over to Jason, and Sidwell leaves the table. Anna says, remind her to send a thank you note to Sam, and Jason says, making Sidwell angry isn’t getting them any closer to Lucky. She says, just wait for it.

Holly says, Sidwell promised her those diamonds, and he says, there will be plenty of others. She says, not like those. Get her bracelet back. He says he has nothing more to play with, and she says, he has plenty of diamonds back at the compound. If he wants to get back in her good graces, invite them to the camp and win her bracelet back. She walks away, and the guard comes up to Sidwell. He says, a word? and Sidwell says, get lost. The guard says, Sidwell will want to hear what he has to say. It’s about his competitor’s girlfriend and a conversation she had with his. (Rut-roh.)

Nina asks how Michael and the kids are adjusting to Willow being back at the hospital, and he says, it’s taking a little time. Her schedule is kind of up in the air right now. She says she’s sure it will calm down once it becomes routine. Although that might change if Drew wins the election. He asks, why? and she says, because he’s going to have to hand Aurora off permanently. He asks what that has to do with him and Willow, and she says she already told Drew that he’s going to have to step aside and name an acting CEO until the election is over and he seems like the natural choice.

Willow says, Nina told her that Drew asked her to accompany him for the final push on the campaign trail, and he says he did. She says she’s glad Nina could help, and he asks if she’s okay. He saw her notice him and kind of bolt out. She says she convinced Michael to go out tonight to get away from their… troubles. She doesn’t want to cause any trouble so she’s going to leave. He says, wait. They can’t take turns leaving every time they run into each other. People are going to start to notice and it’s going to draw attention to a problem that doesn’t exist. She asks how he can say that, and he says, because nothing is going on between them and nothing ever will. Nothing at all.

Gio asks if Lois is okay, and Lois says she stopped letting Ned get to her a long time ago. He says, as far as he’s concerned, no matter what anyone says about her accent, she’ll always be the same person who took him to his first punk show. She laughs, and he says, but he kind of misses her sounding like the Aunt Lois he grew up with. She says, he’s got her. Always have, always will. He says, she doesn’t mind? and she says, is he kidding? It’s a relief. And she’s so glad that he remembered the first show she took him to. He says he loved it, and she says, everybody remembers their first down and dirty punk rock show. Sonny took her to hers. (Somehow, I can’t quite envision that. I see Sonny as listening to Italian opera or classic rock from the 50s.) He says, that doesn’t surprise him. They both have great taste in music. Somehow (he stole my word), he can’t see Ned going to see a punk rock show. She says, Ned is a good guy. He’s just stressed. He says, that does not make it okay the way he talked to her, and she says, he’s right. No one should take their issues out on anyone. Remember that. He says, what’s his problem with Uncle Sonny anyway? and she says, there is a lot of bad history there. It’s too much to get into. He says, it seems like everyone has bad history when it comes to Sonny. Sonny has always been so nice to him, it’s hard to believe. She says, believe it.

Michael asks if Drew has seen Willow, and he says he just bumped into her a few minutes ago. Sorry to leave him stranded with Nina. Michael says, no. They had a pretty interesting conversation. She said that Drew was stepping back from Aurora. Drew says he is. Michael was next on his list to tell. Michael says, that’s okay. He’s ready to step up if Drew needs him. Drew says he appreciates that, but he just talked to Curtis and he’s going to step up as acting CEO.

Curtis and Portia clink glasses, and she says she’s so proud of him. He says he’s pretty surprised, and she says she was worried that he was spending too much time at Aurora, but she was wrong. He’s more than proved himself, and now he’s being rewarded for it. He says, if Drew wins this election, chances are the CEO job could be his permanently.

Michael says, Curtis doesn’t have much C-suite experience, and Drew says, Aurora is in a really good place right now. This is just until the election is over. He thought Michael would agree with him that his focus is better spent on the situation at ELQ. Michael says, Drew is probably right. He got into it with Ned earlier about Valentin. Drew says, he wants to act quickly on this and get ELQ back under family control, his and Michael’s. Michael says, and Aurora? and Drew says, let’s just wait and see how the election plays out. (Like Michael needs another job. What’s wrong with him and why does everyone want one more thankless position?)

Willow comes back in the club, probably confusing the hell out of N’neka, and Nina asks if she’s okay. It’s Drew. Willow says, no. She looks over at Drew and says, it’s nothing at all.

Lois says, Gio is going to hear a lot of rumors about Sonny, and he says he’s heard a lot already. She says, a lot of those rumors are rooted in fact. Not all of them, but enough. He says, it’s just hard for him to put the Uncle Sonny that he knows square in his head with the Uncle Sonny people hate, and she says, that’s because, like everyone, you can’t be reduced to just one thing. For every one of the bad things Gio is going to hear about him, there are qualities about Sonny that are admirable. Sonny is the most loyal friend he will ever have. He’s also the most reliable and the most generous. Gio needs to remember that when he starts hearing all the bad stuff. He says he hopes she doesn’t mind him saying it, but he’s heard some bad things about Ned too. She laughs and says, Ned will deny it until he’s blue in the face, but he and Sonny share a lot of the same qualities. Those two are more alike than either one of them are wiling to admit.

Sidwell says he’s impressed. Jason is the second-best player he’s ever had the pleasure of losing to. Jason asks, who’s the first? and Sidwell says, a guest in his camp. Anna says, he has a camp? and Holly says, it’s a lovely spot just a short flight away. Please come and join them. Anna says, no. They couldn’t possibly impose. Sidwell says, nonsense. Please. They never get the chance to socialize. Holly says, they’ve got plenty of room. It’s a tad rustic, but very charming and they have all the necessary comforts. Sidwell says, and cards. Please come. It will give him a chance to repay them for such an entertaining evening. Holly says, and maybe Jason will give Jenz a chance to win back everything he lost, and Anna says, how can they possibly turn down such a lovely offer?

Alone again, Lucky struggles to get up. He takes a knife out of his pocket, and crawls over to the cell door. He pulls himself up and starts to pick the lock with the knife.

Sidwell says his driver will be waiting for them outside. He’ll take them to town, and they can grab their things. They’ll be right behind them. Anna says, great. They’ll see them later then. She and Jason leave, and Holly says she’s glad they’re coming back to the camp. She’s sure he’ll find a way to win back the diamonds he promised her. Jason’s luck can’t hold on forever. Sidwell says, it wasn’t luck, and she asks what he means. He says, there’s more to those two than they’re letting on. But don’t worry. Win or lose, she’ll get her bracelet back. And Jason and Anna will get what they deserve for lying to him. Holly looks worried, as we all would be.

On Monday, Brook says, if Gio repeats that, she’ll deny it and she will hurt him; Molly says, maybe the universe is trying to tell her something; Portia asks why Terry didn’t tell her Brad was back; and Jack tells Carly, things and people aren’t always what they seem.

🧴 Getting His Soap Legs…

It’s funny how he’s hooked on the show now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/carlo-rota-opens-up-about-learning-to-love-daytime-on-gh

🍊 All That OC Jazz…

When did she become Switzerland?

Ugh. Jim  looks like that weird uncle who you don’t want to dance with at a wedding.

In related news. Also be sure to check out the video of Alexis’s Sorry-not-Sorry apology tour.

Does she tune up her photos much?

🧂 Just For the Salt Of It…

At least one meme included in every show!

🗽 Making It Here…

The new season premieres October 1st.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city-season-15-photos-spoilers

Love her hair. Her life ain’t bad neither. I heard her speak at a business seminar and she was great. Definitely one of the best speakers.

https://pagesix.com/2024/09/19/style/spend-a-day-with-new-rhony-star-rebecca-minkoff-during-nyfw/

🌏 Riding Wasn’t Enough…

This sounds like fun, but I’m geographically challenged, so I’d probably be the first one out.

https://people.com/jeffrey-dean-morgan-announced-as-host-of-new-travel-competition-series-destination-x-8715507

🐼 When Is a Panda Not a Panda…

Craig Conover is going to have a field day with this one.

https://people.com/zoo-china-reveals-its-pandas-are-painted-dogs-8716240

You can see the panda pups here, but yeah, no. They’re definitely cute, but they look more like dogs than anything else.

https://people.com/chinese-zoo-dyes-chow-chow-dogs-to-look-like-pandas-8646638

🦞 Quotes of the Week

I actually want to cry, but I can’t cry on TV. – Jamal Lake, contestant on Halloween Baking Championship, when his dessert was deemed a dud

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman (Some of us mature faster than others.)

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein

If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there. If I head north out of Santa Barbara and take five steps a day, eventually I have to end up in San Francisco. So decide what you want, write it down, review it constantly, and each day do something that moves you toward those goals. – Jack Canfield

Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.Mae West

People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. – Steve Maraboli

If you’d have a drink, I’d make a lot more sense. – Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), Boardwalk Empire

🤹‍♀️ A Mosaic Of the Seasons…

Enjoy your weekend of choice, be it in the great outdoors or the adequate indoors. Then meet me here on Monday for soap and a proposal on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not putting your summer clothes in storage yet, and stay never taking out your issues on anyone.

June 23, 2023 – Judge Kim Overrides Drew’s Sentence, Sketchy, Memorable, VanderFilming, Ranks On Deck, Next Fear, Back In, Other Gigs, Shark Boss, Super Rescue, Twice Three Quotes & Out

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Judge Kim sentences Drew to three years, and Carly jumps up, saying, no! You can’t do that.

Ned says, Deanna seems like a really nice person. Trust him. He doesn’t belong here. He feels fantastic. Ask the shrink. Deanna says she just needs to check his vitals, and she’ll be out of his hair, calling him Mr. Quartermaine. He says, Eddie. It’s Eddie Maine.

Doc goes over to the waiting area, and Olivia asks if she’s getting her husband back. Brook asks if her dad is going to be okay, and Doc says, those are all valid questions. He’s afraid he doesn’t know how to say this… Brook says, no. Her father really believes he’s Eddie Maine? Doc says, he doesn’t just believe it. He is Eddie Maine.

Tracy says, so Brook’s solution to rid her son of his delusions is to lean into them? and Alexis tells her, she’s simply saying, if Tracy would let Ned try to work this out on his own, in his own time without constant opposition from her – Gregory comes down the hall and ducks behind the corner, listening – it might help him get better a little faster. Tracy asks when Alexis got her therapist certification. Did they hand it out with her last sobriety chip? Alexis says, you’re impossible, and Tracy says, you’re an idiot. Alexis says, charming, and Tracy says, and by the way, you’d think Alexis’s twelve steps would teach her not to impose her neuroses on Tracy’s son. Gregory comes out, and tells Tracy, he was too much of a gentleman to say it last time, but back the hell off.

Lucy tells Sasha that she wants to apologize for bringing up all that Cody stuff earlier. She was bad, and promises to never do it again. Sasha thanks her, and Lucy says, except it would be great if… Sasha says, Lucy… and Lucy says, Cody could be just snapped up like that by somebody else. Sasha says, don’t be greedy; she has a guy. Lucy says she does, and she wouldn’t trade Marty for anything. At the beginning, it’s kind of delicious, when you’re wondering, not knowing… Sasha says she always found it torturous, but Lucy says, not her. Even as a little girl, she’d get a daisy and do that old petal pluck thing. He loves me, he loves me not… Martin shows up with a bouquet of daisies, and says, he definitely loves you, kissing her.

At The Savoy, Sonny says, nothing’s too good for the woman he’s going to marry, and he and Nina clink champagne glasses. She says, he’s making her blush; no easy task. He tells her, get used to it, when Dex walks in with Josslyn. They come over to Sonny’s table, and Dex says, it looks like they had the same idea. Josslyn asks if Sonny knows how it’s going for Drew and her mom.

Judge Kim says, one more outburst and he’ll have Carly removed, and Carly says she’s sorry, but there must be some kind of mistake. There was a deal on the table. They agreed six months in Spring Ridge, not three years. The judge says, there was a deal in place, however, sentencing is up to the court; not just duration, but location. Due to the gravity of the charges, the court has decided Andrew Cain will serve out those three years in Pentenville Penitentiary.

Tracy says, Gregory has a habit of sticking his nose in other people’s conversations, and Alexis thanks him, but says she doesn’t need defending from Tracy. She’s had years of practice. She sees Gregory has had some experience with her too. Gregory says, they just met the other day, when she was berating his son Chase, and Tracy asks if he means when she was reminding Chase of everything her granddaughter did to get him reinstated as a cop. And they’re back together, so you’re welcome. Feel free to apologize any time. He says he was hoping to clear the air when he saw her again, but after seeing how she treated his friend here, he thinks she’s entitled to something else from him. Tracy asks what that would be, and he says, a lesson in etiquette. He’d be happy to teach her free of charge. Alexis smiles.

Brook says, it’s only temporary, right? Her dad will be her dad again. Olivia says, of course (🍷) he will. He’ll be back to being impossible and lovable as ever… Right? Doc says he wishes he could tell them everything will be back to normal in no time, but he can’t. As she knows, Dr. Ashford ordered a battery of neurological tests, and the team has gone over the results. They’re dealing with a traumatic brain injury. But the neurological indicators and the behavior of the patient himself would indicate something else, something more than a simple case of memory loss. Olivia asks him to break it down, and Doc says, for everything they’ve learned about the human brain, it’s still a mystery. For some reason, Ned’s brain has superimposed over the thoughts and feelings of Ned Quartermaine, with the thoughts and feelings of…

Ned tells Deanna, Eddie Maine. M-A-I-N-E, like the state. He’s telling her, there’s nothing wrong with him – Deanna reaches into her pocket for a syringe – that some fresh air and a room of his own won’t cure. So please, get him out of here. She says, of course (🍷) she will, and injects him. He asks what she gave him, and immediately conks out.

Lucy asks how Martin knew she was thinking about daisies, and he says, it’s a lucky coincidence. He’s using her favorite flower to apologize for being so incredibly busy lately. After today, he promises his clients are going to be breathing a whole lot easier, and he can spend time on them. She says, he is a winner. He’s definitely the best lawyer in town. He says, it’s not his client’s case, but they definitely have a stake in the outcome, and Sasha asks who they are; anyone she knows? Martin flashes back to telling Nina that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure no one knows it was her who tipped off the SEC about Drew and Carly, and tells Sasha that he’s sorry. Attorney/client privilege, and he’s already said too much. What are they up to? Lucy says, Deception and more Deception, but specifically, The Deceptor. Sasha says, sales are through the roof. It seems their clients really appreciate a product that does what it promises to do. Lucy agrees, and says, she promises The Deceptor is going to change the lives of women, men, and human beings everywhere, especially the three humans sitting at this table. And to think she owes it all to him.

Sonny says he hasn’t heard anything from the courthouse, and Josslyn says she’s just glad her mom isn’t facing prison time, thanks to Drew. Nina says, it was very noble of Drew, and Josslyn says, some people know how to put aside their needs for the sake of others. Sonny asks if he can talk to Josslyn a second, and she says, sure. They step away, and Dex sits down. Nina says, they really haven’t had a chance to get to know each other. Now that she and Sonny are… Why don’t they start at the beginning. Please call her Nina. Despite what he might have heard about her, they want the same thing.

Carly asks why the judge would sentence Drew to Pentenville. He hasn’t committed a violent crime; he hasn’t committed a crime at all. This is one big mistake. Judge Kim tells Carly, sit down before I knock you down he holds her in contempt, and Drew asks her to sit. She does, and Zeke says, Miss Spencer may be out of order, but the point she made is valid. His client has admitted to insider trading. He’s taken responsibility for his actions, and the US Attorney has agreed to sentence him to a minimum-security facility; standard practice for a non-violent crime. Judge Kim says, standard practice is subject to circumstance and interpretation by the presiding judge. Zeke says, Mr. Cain is not a common criminal. He’s a respected member of the community. He’s a decorated Navy SEAL. Recently, he even worked with the government to save hostages taken by Victor Cassadine. Are all these things just going to be ignored and forgotten? The judge says, on the contrary. It’s actually because of all those things that he can’t look the other way. There aren’t two sets of laws in this community. One for the privileged – yes, that includes heroes – and one for the rest. No one is above the law. That’s why he’s having Mr. Cain taken from this courthouse and remanded to Pentenville immediately.

Zeke asks the judge to give Mr. Cain time to get his affairs in order. Mr. Cain has a family, including a young daughter, in addition to all the people at his business, Aurora Media, who depend on him. He’s not a flight risk. The SEC lawyer says, the government has no objection to counsel’s request, and Zeke says he agrees with the judge; no one is above the law. The days of privilege superseding accountability are rightly numbered. With that being said, he also believes justice without mercy is hollow and meaningless. Wouldn’t Judge Kim agree?

Martin says, Lucy is giving him way too much credit. The Deceptor is 100% her baby. The credit is 100% hers. Sasha says, Lucy just walked into the office that morning and started spinning this new idea. Could Martin have had something to do with it? Martin says he didn’t, but Lucy says, he did. Stop it. She loves the fact they did this together. Sasha says she wants details, and Lucy says, as she probably knows, every good story begins in bed. Isn’t that right, my magic man?

Tracy says, if anyone needs an etiquette class, it’s Gregory. Maybe he could get his other son to give him lessons, because Finn knows how to… Alexis says, all right. That’s enough. Take a breath. Everyone to their neutral corner. Tracy says she’ll leave Alexis to her friend, because she has real issues to deal with; her son and her family. Real issues that need real compassion. Something Gregory wouldn’t understand. Gregory says he understands a lot more than Tracy thinks. Do them both a favor and stay away from Chase. Tracy says, if he’s as smart as his son – and she means Finn, not the other one – he will stay the hell away from her. She walks off, and Gregory asks Alexis, friend of hers?

Brook says, her father’s brain wants him to be Eddie Maine? and Chase says he doesn’t understand. Ned has everything a man could want; a lobing family, a successful job, standing in the community. Why would he want to give up all that just to relive his glory days? Olivia says, this is all her fault, and Tracy joins them. Olivia says, if she’d just believed Ned about turning in Carly and Drew to the SEC. If she’d only believed him sooner… Tracy says, please. Leave it to Olivia to make this all about herself. Brook tells Olivia not to listen to her. She’s just as scared as the rest of them, but granny’s fear comes out as mean. Tracy says, scared? Her? What Ned needs is a cold splash of water and a good talking to. Olivia says, that is the last thing he needs right now, and Doc says he understands emotions are running high, but turning on each other won’t help anything. Brook says, no wonder dad wants to be Eddie Maine. Can they blame him for wanting a break from this family? She leaves, and Chase follows her.

Brook and Chase go into Ned’s room, and Brook asks if he’s okay. Deanna says she had to give him a sedative to calm him down. Deanna leaves, and Brook says, poor daddy. This whole thing started when they thought he blew the whistle on Carly and Drew. If someone else is to blame, why won’t they come forward?

Nina says she and Dex both care about Sonny. And don’t tell her it’s just a job when Dex took a bullet for him. Thank you for that, by the way. He says, boss dies, he loses his health plan, and Nina says, Dex likes him, she loves him. That makes them both Team Sonny. Now that she and Sonny are getting married, she hopes he keeps an open mind, despite what others say about her. He says, by others she means Josslyn? and she says, all she’s asking is that he reserve judgement until he realizes she wants to keep Sonny safe and happy even more than he does. He says, and she wants him to convince Joss to give her a chance.

Sonny says he’s surprised Josslyn and Dex are still together, and she asks, why? He says, she came to his office and wanted him to fire Dex. She didn’t like Dex working for him. She says, Sonny told her it was up to Dex to ask him that, and Sonny says, it was, but Dex wants to stay in the organization. He wants more than a paycheck; he wants to belong. Dex made peace with him. How about her?

Judge Kim says he’s granting Mr. Cain one week to get his affairs in order. However, he must surrender his passport and remain within the city limits of Port Charles until he turns himself in to the authorities for transport to Pentenville. Zeke thanks the judge, and Judge Kim says, should Zeke’s client not appear, he will be treated as a fugitive, and those three years in Pentenville will seem like a long weekend. This hearing is adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Zeke gives over Drew’s passport, and Carly hugs Drew.

Carly asks, what happened? It was supposed to be six months in Spring Ridge. Zeke says, this isn’t over. He knows with Drew’s skill set, it’s tempting to disappear, but Drew says, when he gives his word, he keeps it. Zeke leaves, and Drew says he’s going to be around here for a while, so why doesn’t Michael take his mother… Carly says she’s not leaving, but Drew says, it’s going to be a while. She says, they have seven days, and hugs him. Michael says, whatever Drew needs. If there are any resources he can provide, he’s here. Just like Drew has been for him and Willow. Michael leaves, and Carly and Drew hug some more.

Lucy says she remembers there was a half-moon shining through the window, and she was lying in Marty’s arms. It was almost like the moon was winking at her; like it knew something. She remembers thinking, this is so yummy, and maybe a little sad because they missed out on time together when they were apart. She wished they could just stop the clock. It was so interesting. All of a sudden, she guesses Martin heard her because he was awake. He said, what if there was a formula or product that could just stop time? Martin says, for heaven’s sake. He was just thinking out loud. She says, he’s being modest again. He was buzzing with so many ideas, and she fell asleep with all that going on in her head. Sasha says, and then? and Lucy says, and then, that’s the best part. Because when she woke up, she knew it wasn’t a dream. It was a product that could actually conquer time, or at least delay it. That was when The Deceptor was born, and Marty was her magic muse. Sasha says, wow, but Martin tells her, don’t dare believe what Lucy is telling her. He swears it was Lucy Coe who took a raw idea, a concept, and perfected it. She’s the one. She made it her own. She’s one sexy genius. He kisses Lucy, and she says, and he’s a handsome, sexy, gallant muse. Sasha says, all this story needs is a fairytale ending. How about it? When are they getting married? They both look at her and say, never.

Gregory says, Finn warned him that Tracy can be quite the dragon, but as Alexis can see, Tracy barely laid a claw on him. She asks if he’s okay. What Tracy said about him not dealing with any real issues was awful. She has a heart of stone, but even she wouldn’t have said that if she actually knew… He says, there’s no reason Tracy should know anything about him. But what he doesn’t understand is why Tracy came down so hard on Alexis. There’s obviously history there. What did Alexis do to her? (I literally lol.) Alexis says, it’s what Tracy did to her. Did he ever hear the expression, first hurt, then hate? That’s Tracy to a T. That’s her M.O. He says, go on. How did Tracy hurt her?

Tracy says she’s going to see her son, but Olivia says, no, she is not. Now sit down and shut up. Tracy says she’s his mother, and Olivia says she’s his wife. What he needs is love and understanding right now; the kind he can get from his daughter, not some horrendous, bitchy monologue from Tracy. Doc says he thinks they may have just gotten a window into why Ned might prefer to be Eddie Maine, and Olivia says, to get away from his mother? Tracy says, or his marriage? Doc says, let’s not look at it as an escape, but rather a journey to find his true self. Tracy rolls her eyes.

Brook says, he looks so peaceful, like all his problems are a things of the past, when Ned grabs her wrist. He says, she wants to solve his problems? Bust him out of here – now.

Drew says, seven days is like a lifetime. They just have to put it in perspective, and think about everything Willow and Michael have been through and how they live day by day. She kisses him, and says she wants more time. He says, they’ll just have to live every day, every minute like it’s their last, and create enough memories until he comes back. She says, what about Scout? and he says he’ll spend time with Scout. When he’s not with her, he’ll be with Carly. He kisses her, and she says she can’t believe this is happening. He says, let’s not think about it like three years. They’ll think about it like 36 car payments. She says she’s so sorry, but he says, it’s going to be okay. She hugs him.

Nina asks if a good relationship between her and Josslyn isn’t good for Sonny as well, and Dex says, no disrespect, but while he’s loyal to Sonny, he’s also loyal to Josslyn. and she gets to make up her own mind. Nina says, but they’re talking about peace, and that’s always a good thing. She wouldn’t even suggest for him to intervene if she didn’t think it would be helpful to everyone, including him. He says he’ll think about it, but just to be clear, he’d never let anyone hurt Mr. Corinthos or Josslyn. Nina says, or Sonny’s wife, I trust, and he says, that goes without saying. As long as she’s important to Mr. Corinthos, she’s important to him.

Josslyn tells Sonny, Dex had this job before she knew him. It’s his life and his decision. She was wrong to go behind his back to Sonny and ask Sonny to fire him. And Sonny was right to turn her down. So yeah, she has made peace with Dex working for Sonny. He says he’s glad to hear it, but that’s not the question he asked. Has she made her peace with him?

Sasha asks, what’s wrong with marriage? and Martin says, nothing, says half the population. It just so happens, he fell into the other half. Over and over again. Know what they say about baseball? Three strikes you’re out? He’s out. He asks if Lucy understands, and she says, I do. I have a history of saying I do when I wish I didn’t. What she and Marty have… He says, is perfect. Why spoil it with a prenup and a trip to Reno? He says he has a conference call, and has to leave. After that, he’s going to relax by the pool. In the meantime, Lucy should put the daisies in water. He leaves, and Sasha says she thought Lucy was the marrying kind. What changed? Lucy says, nothing. She was hoping when she said no, Marty would talk her into saying yes.

Alexis tells Gregory, then wouldn’t you know it? Chase was the arresting officer. He says he can’t believe what he’s hearing; that’s diabolical. Alexis says, Tracy thought she was saving Ned from her evil clutches. She and Ned almost got married a long time ago, and then a couple of years ago, he was married, and she was drunk, and they had a regrettable evening. Two lost souls. He says, say no more. He hopes Chase was smart enough to see through Tracy’s scheme and clear Alexis’s name. She says, it took a village, but in some way, Tracy did her a favor. She didn’t do any of the things Tracy was framing her for, but she was out of control. From that moment, she turned her life around. He says he admires her for rising from the ashes, but Tracy’s frame up could have had a very different ending. Alexis says, let it go; she’s not worth it. He says he agrees, but his son is.

Chase tells Ned that he’s a police officer, and he’s asking Ned to let go of Brook’s wrist. Brook says, he’s not hurting her, but Chase says, let her go. Ned releases her, and she says she promises, as soon as the doctors release him, she’ll take him home. He says, to Vegas? but she says he has a home in Port Charles too. He says he needs to get to Vegas, and she says she understands the need to perform; getting love back from the audience. He says, there’s nothing like it, is there? and she says she can think of some things. Like the love of the people who know you best. Your family.

Tracy says, the only journey she wants Ned taking is the one back to his senses, and Doc asks if she’s considered the possibility that in Ned’s mind, he’s being sensible. Olivia asks if he’s saying Ned being Eddie Maine is a good thing, but Tracy says, Eddie Maine isn’t real; it’s a stage name. Doc says, to her, but to Ned, Eddie Maine represents freedom, gratification, simplicity. And maybe just a touch of the fantasy he needs. Olivia says she needs Ned. She knows it might be selfish, but she just wants her husband back, warts and all, and Leo needs his father. Isn’t there any way they can coax him back? Tracy says, coax him? He needs another bump on the head.

Zeke comes back to the courtroom, and tells Drew that he’s requested a meeting with the judge. Carly asks if the judge is willing to listen to reason, and Zeke says, he is willing to listen, but only after Drew is remanded to Pentenville. Drew says, okay. As long as he’s being held accountable, and not above the law. Carly says, that could take months, or even a year, and the whole time he’ll be locked up in Pentenville. Drew says he’s been in Afghanistan. He’s a Navy SEAL. He’s not worried about Pentenville. Zeke says, the minute Drew goes to prison, he’ll be lobbying for that meeting, and Drew says, anything to expedite this, please. Zeke says, got it. He’d offer Drew a ride, but he has the feeling Drew has better things to do with his time. Drew thanks him, and Zeke says, this isn’t over. This is a significant setback. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and Drew tells Carly, enough about him. She’s about to face a very stiff financial penalty. She says, that’s her problem, but he says, it’s their problem, and he knows how they’re going to solve it.

Josslyn says she’s working toward acceptance. Sonny is who he is, and he did what he did, and she doesn’t have the power to change that. When she’s angry at him, she hurts some of the people she loves, who also happen to love him. So she doesn’t know if that counts as making peace, but that’s the best she can do right now. He says he hopes someday they can both do better, but for now, he’ll take that. Michael comes in, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? Michael says, Josslyn texted him and said she’d be here with Dex. He wants them all to know, he just came from Drew’s hearing, and the judge gave him three years in Pentenville. Sonny says, son of a bitch, and Nina says, it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Josslyn says, oh really? How was it supposed to be?

Sasha says, it’s her fault for bringing up marriage in the first place, but Lucy tells her, don’t feel bad. She can’t believe Marty said, never. She thought if she said, never, Marty would say, my little snookums, never say never, but he didn’t say that. Sasha says, with three marriages and divorces, you can’t blame the guy for being a little gun-shy. Lucy says, maybe. According to Marty, those wives made his life a living hell, but she wishes she could exorcise it out of his head, and he’d be open to the idea of marriage again. Sasha says, Martin loves her. He’s not going anywhere. Not every guy would stay up late encouraging their partner to follow their dream, then help make that dream a reality. Lucy says, she’s right. He hasn’t asked for any share of the profit; not one single penny. Sasha says, that’s true love for you.

A text says, An electronic deposit of $50, 000 was credited to your account, and sitting with his feet in the pool, drink in hand, Martin says, every month, like clockwork. Trust me, Lucy. Marriage would only spoil everything.

Ned tells Brook, no offense, but the more he hears about her father, the less he envies him. Family life is nice and all, and he can tell she really loves the guy, but corporate life and all the ulcers that go with it, not his style. He has the feeling it’s not hers either.

Doc tells Tracy that he’s not aware of any traumatic brain injury being cured by another traumatic brain injury, and Olivia says, if Tracy is even thinking of taking a hammer to her husband… Tracy tells them, calm down. She was kidding. Olivia says, there’s nothing funny about this situation, and Tracy says, money is no object; whatever it takes. Doc says he’s in unchartered territory as well, but he knows a few experts. He’ll consult with them, and draw on every resource and database he can find. In the meantime, he does think Ned should start therapy. Tracy says, Ned or Eddie, because they’re supposed to be calling him Eddie now, right? How long do they have to buy into this fantasy? Doc says, and there’s the disconnect. Not Ned’s, hers. She can call it a fantasy, but to Ned, it’s his life. Whatever they do, don’t deny his reality. Give him space. Brook and Chase join them, and Brook says, he wants more than space. Olivia asks what he wants. Tell her. Brook says, a one-way ticket to Vegas.

Nina says, there was supposed to be a deal in place, wasn’t there? and Michael says, there was, but the judge overrode it. Josslyn says, mom must be devastated, and Sonny says he’ll reach out to Drew and help in any way he can. Michael says he already did. The US Attorney was as shocked as the rest of them. This is completely on the judge. Nina’s phone rings, and she goes to the table to answer it. She says, Ava heard… She just did… She knows. It’s awful, isn’t it?

Drew says he’s just going to get his affairs in order, and he’s going to put Aurora Media up for sale. They’ll use the proceeds to pay for Carly’s financial… She says, absolutely not. Aurora is his creation. It’s his legacy for Scout. He says, Scout is too young to care about that. She’s going to be fine; she’s got ELQ shares. He’s made other investments… Carly says she’s not going to let him give Aurora away. He’ll need it when he comes back. Whatever the penalty is, she’ll figure it out. He says he doesn’t like that, but she says she doesn’t want to think about this right now. She wants to make the most of whatever time they have left. He kisses her.

Lucy tells Sasha, okay. She’s thinking, you know how Marty planted the idea for The Deceptor in her head? Why can’t she plant the idea of wedding bells in his? Sasha says, why not? and Lucy says, okay. To the future, and may all those ex-wives and the damage they’ve done, be a thing of the past. They clink glasses.

Martin’s phone dings, and he says a text from Ex #3: You’ve been avoiding me. That’s a serious mistake. He says, oh God. He swears, the only thing worse than number two at the swimming pool is number three. He rolls over a little too far, and into the pool with his phone.

Alexis tells Gregory, don’t faint, but she’s going to the gym. Maybe they could meet for dinner afterwards. She’s thinking Thai food. He asks if she’s worried he’s going to track Tracy down and put the fear of God in her, but she says, first of all, he’s assuming Tracy fears God. Second of all, he’s too civilized for this… right? He says, Chase can hold his own, but what after she and Finn have told him, it’s clear that woman fights dirty. Alexis tells him not to sink to Tracy’s level. He has more important things to worry about. He says, there’s nothing more important than his sons.

Tracy says, her son thinks he’s a Vegas lounge lizard. This has gone on long enough. Doc can keep his therapy. She’s going old school. She starts to walk, and Brook asks where she’s going. She says, to knock some sense into Brook’s father.

Carly asks how Drew can be so calm, and he says, after weeks of uncertainty, now he knows what he’s facing. He can prioritize. He can do what means most in the time he has left. She says, they have to be strong, and he says, they will be. Seven precious days before he turns himself in. Let’s not spend another second in this courtroom. He kisses her hand, and suggests they get out of here. She looks like she might cry, and nods.

Tracy busts into Ned’s room, Brook, Chase, and Olivia following her. The bed is empty except for Ned’s pressure cuff and the links to the other medical equipment.

Josslyn says, her mom’s not responding to anything. Her phone must be off. Dex suggests they find her, and they leave. Sonny asks Michael how Carly is handling this, and Michael says, how does she think? She’s ready to go to war for Drew. Sonny says, war with who? Even if Ned’s responsible, he doesn’t even know who he is. Michael says, that’s convenient for Ned, and the worst possible outcome for Drew.

Having moved to the back of the club with the phone, Nina tells Ava that she didn’t plan for this. But now that it’s happened, there’s a tiny part of her that almost feels sorry for Carly. Ned comes into the club, and Nina says, what is Carly going to do without Drew for three long years?… She knows. She just feels awkward. Ned sees her, and comes toward her.

On Monday, Esme is afraid this is all going to fall apart; Felicia tells Robert, no matter what, don’t take no for an answer; Anna doesn’t believe her work is done; and Ned says, just the person he’s been looking for.

🚩 Flags Flying High…

Everything that makes Luis sketchy is… everything.

💎 Beverly Hills Memory Lane…

If you want to relive this sort of thing. Although the dinner party from hell is pretty entertaining. It did not benefit that psychic’s reputation.

🍸 Moving On…

You didn’t think I could let it go yet, did you? I’ve got the feeling Sandoval didn’t cancel shows because of filming. Not when he’s been giving twofers.

Who’s Your Boat Daddy…?

Captain Lee will always be my Stud of the Sea, but I have to admit, Captain Jason is quite easy on the eyes. Interesting how the Med lost viewers after the Hannah debacle.

💣 Fearsome Villain Afoot…

I wasn’t thrilled about how they made Victor so awful. Hopefully he doesn’t get eaten to even things out.

https://movieweb.com/fear-the-walking-deads-latest-trailer-reveals-the-return-of-an-old-villain/

⚰️ She’s On Again…

Carol is apparently back in the game.

🤹🏾‍♂️ Busy Guy…

And I swear he’s the voiceover on that Twizzlers ad where the guy on the beach ponders wearing white after Labor Day.

🦈 His Domain…

After zombies and the internet is evil, my third horror sub-genre favorite is giant sharks.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/shark-week-jason-momoa-trailer-2023-streaming-details-discovery/

🐶 Real Life Superhero…

From Batman to Dogfather.

https://people.com/batman-actor-burt-ward-went-from-robin-to-dog-rescue-7547542

🧘🏽‍♀️ Quotes of the Week

People who are trying don’t vocalize it; they just do it. – John, Extreme Sisters

Hope is the destination that we seek. Love is the road that leads to hope. Courage is the motor that drives us. We travel out of darkness into faith. – Dean Koontz

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. – William Arthur Ward

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.Henry David Thoreau

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts. – Joshua Reynolds

I got a lot more respect when I was dead. – Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), General Hospital

💃🏽 Blaming It On the Bossa Nova…

Since Fear the Walking Dead is on a break, so am I, although I’ll be watching Dead City. Judging from the first episode, it looks extremely promising. But I’ll be here on Monday really Tuesday, dishing out soap and a double dose of Deck. Why does Bravo insist on being a pita? One episode a week is quite enough. Until then, stay safe, stay treating what you borrow as if it were your own, and when given the choice, stay going with love and understanding, rather than a horrendous, bitchy monologue.

September 23, 2022 – Three Victims One Hook, Saying Goodbye, Inclusion, Smoltz (!), Meltdown Theories, Interview Review, Ruined Punchline, Pets (!), 2X4 = Quotes & Van’s Moon

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

We see Brando’s empty garage. Sasha sits in the dark, and says, Brando? Can you hear me? Please tell me you didn’t leave. She hears the door open, and someone comes in.

Nina visits Ava, and says she looks a lot better. Ava thanks her, and Nina gives her some flowers, saying, she’s so glad Ava is out of the ICU. Ava says, if only she could get out of this hospital altogether. She can’t wait to get out of here. Nina says, all in due time, right? and sits down. She says, since Ava told her about Nikolas sleeping with Esme, it sounds like her marriage is over. So has she thought about where she’s going to go when they discharge her?

Gregory knocks at Finn’s office door, and Finn asks what brings him by. Gregory says, just checking to see how Finn is doing. He sees the photo on Finn’s phone, and asks if that’s Reiko, and Finn says, it was taken in the Mariana Islands a long time ago. (Okay, my bad on the wrong island, and also in thinking it was Hayden. I did think it must be Reiko at first, but I couldn’t figure out a connection to Elizabeth. Apparently, there is one.) Gregory asks what’s got Finn thinking about his late wife, when Nurse Andrea comes in, and tells Finn, Mr. Sanchez is prepped and ready for him. He tells Gregory that he’s sorry; this might take a while. Gregory says he’ll walk Finn out, and they leave.

Elizabeth studies the portrait she sketched, which we now know is of Reiko. She says, who are you?

At the MetroCourt bar, Diane and Alexis clink glasses, and Diane says, to Alexis. Alexis says, first of all, Diane doesn’t have to toast her, and Diane doesn’t have to drink an iced tea because she can’t drink. Diane says she wanted an iced tea, just like she wanted to celebrate her best friend, especially after, Two Victims, One Hook. Definite clickbait. Brava, Madame Editor-in-Chief. Alexis says she had her reservations at first, but there was a lot of traffic on the website, and Diane says, well deserved. She asks how Kristina is doing. What did she think of the article? Alexis says she doesn’t think Kristina even read it, and Diane asks what she means. Alexis said Kristina walked in on the attack. Is she having a hard time? Alexis says, just the opposite. She doesn’t think witnessing the attack put her in any danger at all. She did manage to keep Kristina’s name out of the article, but what if the attacker saw her, and didn’t realize Kristina didn’t see the attacker? Diane says she doesn’t like that Kristina is taking this so lightly, but she’s not surprised. She’s always been a very gutsy girl. Even witnessing an attack won’t bring her down. Alexis says, she has her mother to do that for her.

Victor says, alone at last, and Lucy says, he sent the waiter away. Does that mean the meal is over? He says, not at all, my dear. It just means now it’s time to serve themselves.

Anna and Valentin hide, and Johann comes out on deck, drinking a beer. Valentin has to sneeze, and Anna puts her hand over his nose and mouth, pushing him back against the wall. Johann hears them, and takes out his gun. He moves toward where they’re hiding.

Sasha says, Brando? but Sonny says, it’s him. Did she think he was Brando? She says she knows that’s impossible. She just can’t believe he’s gone. Sonny says, it is hard to believe. He was one of a kind. Sasha cries, and he holds her.

Ava says, she’s been thinking a lot about what happens when she’s well enough to leave GH, and Nina says, proud as she is of the MetroCourt – and she’s super proud of it – she hates the idea of Ava camping out in hotel rooms, so Ava will just have to stay with her. Ava thanks her, but says she doesn’t want charity, and definitely doesn’t want pity. Nina says, come on. They’re way past that. She thinks by now they’re fully ensconced in the girlfriend zone. And friends help each other. There’s no charity; there’s no pity. Ava says she knows, but… Nina says, Ava really doesn’t want to stay with her because she’d prefer to go back home to Windymere. But Nikolas is there.

Alexis tells Diane, she’s not sure how it happened, but somehow in warning Kristina about the potential danger, she sort of blurted out that Kristina wasn’t living up to her full potential. Diane says, music to her ears, no doubt, and Alexis says, then to add to that, she sort of blurted out that Kristina was risking her life for a dead end job. Diane says she’s sure that worked. Alexis didn’t bring up law school, did she? Alexis says, no. Kristina’s sharp; she knew what was happening. That’s her point. Kristina is too smart to be spending her life making schedules for the waitstaff. Diane says, she completely agrees, but it’s Kristina’s life. Alexis says, she’s painfully aware of that. She’ll try to do better in keeping her opinions to herself. Diane laughs like it’s the funniest thing ever, and Alexis says, yeah, good luck with that. Nikolas approaches, and says he’s glad he ran into Alexis. He needs her help.

Elizabeth looks at the sketch, and flashes back to her memory, but this time she moves the woman’s hair, and sees her face. Nurse Andrea walks up with Finn, and says, Elizabeth is off today. What’s she doing here?  

Dex walks into the garage, and Sonny says, call Gladys; they’re okay. Sasha asks how Sonny found her, and Sonny says, there are two places that Brando always wanted to be. One was with her, and the other was his garage. So he figured if she was looking for Brando, she would come here. She says, Brando really did love this place. She thinks Sonny giving it to him was the best thing that every happened to him. Sonny says, not at all – she was. Sasha starts to cry again.

Lucy says, so there’s more? and Victor says, whatever she desires. She deserves to be waited on hand and foot. He’s utterly at her service; her wish is his command. She says she can’t. This has all been so lovely, to ask for anything else would just be horrible. He says, please ask. She must promise to always be honest with him, no matter what.

Johann continues to move toward where Valentin and Anna are hiding. They go back toward the door to the deck, and Anna tells Valentin to give her his shoe. He says, no way; these things are Italian. He gives it to her anyway, and she throws it out the door so it hits something, and Johann turns around. He goes back to where he was, and as he reaches the opening in the railing, Valentin runs out the door, and kicks him into the water. They watch as he floats downstream.

Nikolas asks if they can talk, and Alexis says, about what? He says he’d rather speak in private, and Alexis looks at Diane, and they both say, Ava. Diane says, fear not. She has to be going anyway. She tells Alexis, it was lovely having half a drink with her. Go easy on Krissy, and herself. She nods to Nikolas, says, Prince, and leaves. Alexis says, there are therapy apps where he could find a marriage counselor, in person or virtually, but he says, that’s not what he wants to talk about. Alexis told him that Ava was too proud to forgive a stupid mistake. She understands the way Ava thinks – Alexis says, God help her – and clearly he and Ava have a volatile relationship. But when Ava was attacked, everything crystallized for him, and he wants Ava in his life. He doesn’t want to lose her. Alexis says she takes it Ava didn’t have the same epiphany, and he says, that’s why he needs some straight talk. Is it time to give up on his marriage?

Ava tells Nina, Windymere is huge, and she and Nikolas have lived there in the past when they’ve been estranged. Nina asks, is this like the strategy, keep your enemies close? and Ava says, something like that. Nina says, Ava told her before that she wanted to wait to pay for cheating on her. Now’s the time? She’s sure Scotty is just chomping at the bit to get Ava a generous divorce settlement. Ava says, she hasn’t spoken to Scotty about this yet, and Nina says, she’s stalling. Ava’s still in love with her husband.

Dex comes back, and Sonny says, he spoke to Gladys? Dex says, she told him to thank Sonny for finding Sasha, and Sasha says, she guesses she should go home. She just wants to stay here. Sonny tells her, stay, and tells Dex to go. Dex leaves, and Sasha says, it felt like Brando was here, working. Like any minute he would walk through that door with some part he forgot to order. He’d smile and kiss her, and say, thanks for waiting, like any other day. But Brando’s gone, no matter how many times she pretends, or wishes, or tries to convince herself this is just some horrible nightmare. She cries, and says, Brando isn’t here. He’s not anywhere. Sonny says, you know what? It’s like his son Morgan. With his dad it’s different; he got to say goodbye to his dad. But Morgan was like Brando; it was unexpected. It was sudden. One minute he’s here, and the next minute he’s gone. They didn’t even have a body to bury. He tears up, and says he has to confess something to her. A lot of times he goes into crowds, and wants to see Morgan. Sometimes the phone rings, and he thinks it’s Morgan. Sasha asks how long he felt that way, and he says, to tell her the truth, he still scans crowds for Morgan. He just wants to be able to see him one last time. His boy.

Victor asks, what does Lucy want from? Name it. She says, no, she can’t. He asked her not to ask him, so she can’t. She won’t ask him, but he also told her to wait, and she’s so bad at waiting. She was never good at it, and she’s just brimming with curiosity. She’s just always loved a man with a big plan. She’s so excited. Come on. Couldn’t he just give her a teensy weensy little hint? Please? The boat moves, and she says, what is that? Are they stopping? He says, they certainly shouldn’t be, and a man runs in. He tells Victor, there’s someone overboard, and Anna and Valentin hide near the inside exit to the room.

Diane comes into the garage, and Sonny asks what she wants. She tells him, Gladys said Sasha was here. She’d like to speak with her. Sonny says, she’s in Brando’s office, and doesn’t want to deal with anybody. Diane says she can wait. She needs to go over some legal issues that have arisen since Brando’s death. He says, it’s a hell of a time to be doing business, doesn’t she think? and she says she’s been asked to serve as interim counsel. Martin Grey is still out of town. He says, they’re dealing with Brando’s widow. Why should he trust her to represent Sasha when she grilled him on the stand? She says, believe her, she could have gone harder, and Sonny sees Dex lingering around, and yells at him to go. Dex goes outside, and Diane says, understand something; she liked Brando, a lot. She loved the fact that he came into town and rescued Carly. She loved the fact that he became a father figure to Dev Cerci, that boy Sonny was trying to keep in the country. He infiltrated Cyrus Renault’s organization, and saved Sasha. All he wanted was to make an honest living. Brando Corbin was a hero who deserved a much better hand than the one life dealt him. Sonny says, she’ll get no argument from him on that, and she says she’s not here to capitalize on tragedy. She’s just trying to do right by Brando by helping his widow at the request of her lawyer and Brando’s grieving mother. Sonny says, she expects him to ignore her grilling him on that stand at Nina’s hearing? How could she do that to him? She says she was fighting for Michael and Willow. She was doing her utmost to win the case for them, as she would for any client, no matter how ungrateful. She’s been through thick and thin with him; she’s been through good and bad. She’s protected him and his, and has done pretty much everything except dig a grave in the Pine Barrens. He says, she sided with Michael, and she says, Michael retained her to defend him in the petition by Nina for visitation. If Sonny recalls, he and Nina weren’t a couple formally at the time, so there was no conflict of interest. And it was Sonny who spontaneously volunteered to testify on Nina’s behalf. He asked Scotty to put him on the stand. She was only cross-examining him the way any halfway competent lawyer would. He says, she laid out his life for everyone to see. That’s personal to him. How can he forget that?

Ava tells Nina, in love with Nikolas? Hardly. She’s not the sort of woman who would let a man cheat on her and humiliate her and get away with it. Nina says, besides her, who knows Nikolas slept with Esme? and Ava says, just Spencer and Victor. Nina says she doubts they would throw it in Ava’s face if she decided to forgive Nikolas; she won’t. Ava asks why Nina is pushing her to get back with Nikolas, but Nina says she’s not. She just doesn’t want Ava’s pride to get in the way of her happiness. It’s Ava’s prerogative if she wants to expose Nikolas’s bad behavior or forgives him. She just wants Ava to be happy. Ava says she doesn’t know if she could live with herself if she gave Nikolas another chance. She’d be worried, wondering if it could happen again. She’s lived with that kind of betrayal in the past, and she lost her daughter because of it. Nina says, they’ve both made their share of mistakes, and they’ve both suffered, and paid terrible prices, but they’re still here. Ava says, just barely, and Nina says, she’s on the mend, and it’s pretty amazing how they both found love after everything they’ve been through. It’s kind of like a miracle. Whether or not Ava wants to forgive Nikolas is up to her. If she still loves him… Ava says, she blackmailed Nikolas into getting married in the first place, and that is hardly a foundation for everlasting commitment. She laugh/cries, and Nina says, Ava’s marriage may not have started as a love match, but it’s a love match now.

Alexis asks if Nikolas wants to give up on his marriage, and he says, no, but he’s at the end of his rope. Nothing he’s said has budged Ava, even a bit. She says, that’s because talk is cheap, and he asks if that’s the best she can do. She reminds him that he came to her. He’s more than welcome to vacate that barstool for a more nuanced commentary. He says he’s sorry. He’s just trying to figure out what to do. Does Alexis think he needs to take action? She says she doesn’t know what he should do. She doesn’t know what he did, and doesn’t want to. She’s just asking, whatever it is, will it cost Ava her pride to forgive him? He says, definitely, and she says, then he needs to give something back. He says, like what? but she says she doesn’t know. Something that shows Ava that he values his relationship with her; to put something on the line, to risk something for her. Just like he’s asking Ava to swallow her pride in order to take him back.

Elizabeth goes to Finn’s office, and tells him that she convinced Doc to hypnotize her again, since she was on the verge of remembering something. And then she did. She remembered the face of the woman at the bottom of the stairs. He says, that’s encouraging, and asks who she is, but Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. He says, she saw her face, but didn’t recognize her, and she says, she can’t place her. She has no memory of this person except for the moment on the stairs. Except she feels like the woman wasn’t a stranger. Finn’s phone dings, and Elizabeth picks it up to give it to him, and sees the photo. She stares at it, and he says, that’s Reiko, his late wife.

Anna and Valentin listen, and Victor asks if the man is sure somebody went overboard. The man says, he saw the body hit the water, and told the captain to stop. They’re circling back now. Victor says, what is he standing around here for? Help with the rescue operation. He hustles the man out, and Anna peeks in, gesturing to Lucy. Lucy runs to Victor, saying, oh my God. The man could drown. Victor has to help save him; he’s so strong. Victor says he should supervise. He won’t be long. She says she’ll be here when he gets back. Go… like the wind. He leaves, and she runs back, telling Anna and Valentin, he’s gone. They come out, and she says, wait a minute. Did they throw a man overboard? What happened to Valentin’s shoe? Valentin says, don’t worry about it, and Anna says, it’s just Johann; he never saw them. Valentin says, no one knows they’re here, but that could change at any moment. Lucy asks what they’re doing here, and Anna says, they’re rescuing her. Lucy says she doesn’t want to be rescued, and Anna says, they don’t have time for games. Victor could be back at any moment. They have to go now. Lucy says she’s not going right now, because then Victor will know she’s playing him, and probably know that Anna set her up to do this whole thing. He’s just starting to open up to her. Valentin says, obviously a scene of seduction; champagne petit fours… How does Lucy expect the scene is going to end? Lucy says, she can handle Victor. He is putty in her hand. She flashes the bracelet, and says she hasn’t felt this alive in years. She’s still got it.

Diane tells Sonny, there’s no need to keep discussing this. She would like to speak to Sasha, but if that’s not going to happen, please have Sasha give her a call. She starts to leave, but Sonny says, wait. Sasha needs a good lawyer. Diane says, good? when Sasha comes out. Diane says she’s so sorry about Brando. She was just telling Sonny how much she admired him. Sasha thanks her, and Diane says she doesn’t want to intrude on Sasha’s grief, but Martin Grey is still out of town, and he and her mother-in-law feel there might be some pressing legal issues that require Sasha’s immediate attention. So she’s been asked to serve as interim counsel, if that’s okay with Sasha. Sasha says she guesses, but what’s so important it can’t wait? Diane says, it’s a confidential matter, but Sasha says she can talk in front of Sonny. Diane says, it concerns her guardianship, and Sasha says, that’s settled. Brando… Diane says, Sasha’s agreement to avoid prison stipulates that she must have a legal guardian, and Sonny asks if Diane is saying it’s null and void. Sasha asks if she’s going to prison.

Gregory sees Alexis at the MetroCourt, and says, if it isn’t the women behind the headlines. How’s the response? She says, good and bad. She thinks the general public was glad they were alerted to the fact there’s a hook wielding maniac on the loose. The Police Commissioner is another matter. He says he’d like to hear more, and asks if she has time to join him for coffee. She says, sure. Why not?

Elizabeth says, this is Reiko? and Finn says, a long time ago. They were both with Doctors Without Borders; it was their first post. Elizabeth says, she looks so young. He doesn’t talk about her. Finn takes the phone, and says he knows. He was never able to make piece with how she died, infected with the same disease he was trying to cure. She says, Blackwoods Disease. What brings her up for Finn now? He says, a case he’s working on reminded him of something that he and Reiko went through when they were posted on the Mariana Islands. She says, near Guam, right? and he says, she amazes him. Most people don’t even know those islands exist. When they were there, they had a good friend, a good doctor; he died of a poisonous snake bite. She rubs her head, and he asks if she’s okay. Got a headache? She says, a little bit, and he says, from hypnotherapy? She says, probably. She’s so frustrated because she has these little pieces she can’t seem to put together to see the larger picture. He says, it’s okay. It’s coming. Every day she’s learning more. She says, none of it makes sense. She needs to go home and lie down for a little bit. He says he thinks she’s incredible, and kisses her. He says, she’s going to find the truth, and she leaves. In the hallway, she unfolds the sketch and looks at it.

Anna tells Lucy that she’s in way over her head. She can’t underestimate Victor. Lucy says, she knows, but listen to her. He actually told her that he has a plan. A big plan, and he wants to include her. Anna says, what plan? but Lucy says she doesn’t know because they interrupted. She’s getting thisclose to it. Valentin looks out the doorway to the deck and runs back, saying, someone’s coming. He keeps going out the other door, and Anna says, this is Lucy’s last chance. If she doesn’t come with them now, she’s on her own. Lucy says she’s fine. She’s got this, she promises. Anna leaves, and Lucy scrambles around, deciding to go behind the bar like she was making a drink. Victor brings in Johann, with a blanket around him, and Lucy asks, what happened? Victor says he’s not entirely sure. Johann went overboard, but he isn’t able to tell Victor how or why. He must have gotten a concussion when he hit the water. Lucy says, that’s awful. Drink this. She hands him a snifter of brandy, and Victor says, focus. Tell him what happened. Johann says he was on the deck. Maybe he lost his balance? Victor asks if he could have been pushed. Did he see anyone else? Johann says he doesn’t remember seeing anyone. He was… Victor says, what? and Johann says, having a drink. Lucy says, drinking on the job; that is really dangerous. She takes the brandy away from him, and Johann says, he wasn’t drunk. Victor tells him to go back to his stateroom and dry off. He’ll call the captain and see if they have a medic on board. Johann says he’s sorry for the trouble, and Victor says, they’ll deal with it later. Johann leaves, and Lucy says, poor Johann. Alcoholism is such a serious burden. She takes a sip of the brandy, and Victor says, something’s off.

Diane tells Sasha, the presiding judge needs to reevaluate the plea, and Sasha says she only agreed the first time because she trusted Brando. Now that he’s gone, it’s over for her. Diane says, legally it’s not, and Sonny says, Sasha shouldn’t have to go through this right now. Diane says she completely agrees. That’s why she’s prepared to file a continuance, pending Sasha’s approval. Sasha says, Diane has her approval, and Diane thanks her. She asks if Sasha knows where Brando kept his copy of the guardianship decree, and Sasha says, in his office. Or maybe their place; he didn’t say. Sonny asks if Sasha wants Diane to go in Brando’s office and check for the papers, and Diane says, the sooner they get this sorted, the better. Providing it’s okay with Sasha. Sasha says, it’s fine. She should go home. She’s tired. Sonny says, he’ll take her, and tells Diane, Brando’s office is in the back. Diane says, copy that; she’s on it. Sasha leaves, Sonny thanks Diane, and follows.  

Alexis says she has it on good authority that the Police Commissioner is unhappy with their article, and Gregory asks if she’s surprised. She says she’s not insensitive to Jordan’s concerns, she just considers warning the public to be for the greater good. Gregory says, it doesn’t hurt that the readership is up, does it? and she says, 30%. Most people were glad for the warning, but a small amount said The Invader was fearmongering. He says, the article he read didn’t sensationalize the crime; it just gave the facts. He was very impressed. She says, now she can sleep at night, and he laughs. He says he knows his opinion doesn’t matter, but she says, actually it does. It matters to her.

Sonny calls Nina, and says, he found Sasha. He could use her help. Nina says she’s confused. Sasha was missing? Why didn’t someone call her? Sonny says, they’re at Brando’s garage. He’s going to take Sasha home. Can she meet them there? She says, of course (🍷). She needs to be there. She’ll see him soon. Ava asks if Sasha’s okay, and Nina says, no. Sasha is definitely not okay. She should be with her. Nikolas comes in, and asks if he and Ava can talk. Ava tells Nina, go help Sasha. She’ll be okay. Nina leaves, and Ava tells Nikolas, say whatever it is he came here to say. But know that it’s going to take more than words to make things right between them. He says he knows. That’s why he brought this. He holds out an envelope.

Sasha hugs Brando’s coffee cup, and Sonny tells Dex to make sure he locks up when Diane is finished. He’s taking Sasha home. Dex asks if she’s going to be okay, and Sonny says, she has her family to take care of her. He asks if she’s ready to go, and she says, yeah; she’s done. She sets the cup down, which surprises me, and leaves with Sonny. Dex says, don’t worry. He’ll take care of things here.  

Finn looks at the photo of Reiko.

Elizabeth takes down a box from the shelf in her closet. She looks through it, and takes out a photo album. She turns the pages, and finds a loose photo of herself at a young age with another girl. On the back, it says, Sarah and Elizabeth, Mariana Islands, 1997.

Ava asks, what’s that? and Nikolas says he’s done talking. This is proof of how much he loves her.

Anna and Valentin walk out on Pier 54, and Anna says, the zodiac is docked. Are they coming after us? He says he doesn’t see any sign of a disturbance. He thinks they got away clean… except for his shoe. She says, he’ll live, and he says, she’s glowing. She calls him a smooth talker, and he says, she’s really in her element, isn’t she? She says, it’s fun working together. He says he’s sorry their rescue attempt fell flat, and she says she wanted Victor to be enamored with Lucy, but she’s still very concerned that putting her in his sight is such a risk. He says, it was her call. She didn’t want to leave. What can they do to keep an eye on the situation? If she needs them, they can help her. She says, her worry is that it’s not if, but when.

Lucy suggests she and Victor get back on track, and resume this date they’re having. He says he’s surprised she called it a date; she seemed determined to make it about business. She says she doesn’t know many business meetings she’s had where she’s been presented with diamonds. So she can safely assume this is a date. He says she doesn’t seem angry, and she says, she does feel compelled to tell him that she’s spoken for. She’s really very much in love with Marty. However, Victor is making it very difficult – she plays with his lapels, then his tie – to stay true. And she finds herself wondering what a future with Mr. Victor Cassadine looks like. He puts his hands on her shoulders, and says, well, let’s find out.

Alexis tells Gregory, this coffee is probably the last thing she needs right now. She’ll be up all night. Not that she needs an excuse. She’s still really worried about Kristina. She witnessed that attack, and that could make her a target. He asks if she’s given more thought to the idea of posting an open letter in The Invader to try and draw the killer out. Get them to give something away, some clue that could help the PCPD to catch them? Then Kristina will be safe. She says, she thinks if they engage the killer, keep them occupied, it could give the police more time to investigate. He says, start a dialogue; provide a distraction. She says, maintain balance though. She doesn’t want to give the attacker a platform, just enough rope to hang. She’s been a lawyer a long time, and she’s seen cases like this. And she doesn’t believe for one minute this killer is done.  

Diane comes out of Brando’s office, and looks through a folder, her back to the door. We see someone with a hook outside. A hooded figure comes in, and raises the hook.

On Monday, Gregory asks Alexis when they start; Ava says she’s going to need much more; Valentin tells Anna that he’s going to have to murder his own father; and Diane lies in a pool of blood.

🧰 Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye…

Still nothing that really says why he left. It didn’t sound like he wanted to though. Maybe he was just a sacrificial lamb for the hook storyline. I’m really hoping Diane isn’t.

✈️ Broadening Horizons…

The answer to my dialect question. I love these two. And whoever dresses Selina is spot-on. I love her wardrobe.

📸 Nice Of Her…

Well, I guess if Alexis likes him, he’ll grow on me.

💎 Surprise DEFCON 1…

A coupla things. Kathy was pretty pissed about the tequila. Maybe she was drunk. Then again, there are those estrangement periods with Kyle. Which I can totally understand, since I find her annoying, but Kathy is her sister. Also, weren’t there others who talked about her creating a commotion at the last bar they went to?

https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/kathy-hilton-rhobh-aspen-controversy-explained

🧛🏻‍♂️ Bloody Good…

I haven’t seen the first episode, but I watched a preview special on it, and it looked good.

https://collider.com/interview-with-the-vampire-review-anne-rice-amc/

⚰️ About That Spin-Off…

He’s got a point about revealing who lives.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-jeffrey-dean-morgan-dead-city-interview/

🐕 Wag That Tail…

I’d follow them. The pets, I mean.

🧙🏽 Quotes of the Week

Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do. – Voltaire

For it’s not light that is needed, but fire; it’s not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind and the earthquake in our hearts. – Frederick Douglass

If I was the toe that broke the camel’s back, I apologize. – Kathy Hilton, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable – and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God. – Henry Emerson Fosdick

The Ukrainians don’t even want to be in the Ukraine right now. – Caesar Mack’s friend April, 90 Day: The Single Life, after finding out he was traveling there

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

There is no sincerer love than the love of food. – George Bernard Shaw

🍂 Someone Turned Off the Heat…

Switching gears for the next two days, but put it in park on Monday for soap and a Deck birthday. Until then, stay safe, stay not getting distracted by the minutia, and stay remembering, talk is cheap.

August 26, 2022 – Spencer Is Done With Nikolas, a Temp, Memories, Official, BH Clash, In the Book, Married, Renewed, Joining, Dead Spin, a Goodbye, Moonmen, 8 Great Quotes & Cruel

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn says, one blanket coming up, and walks in to find Elizabeth with his ringing phone in her hand.

Anna says she doesn’t remember the last time the Quartermaines hosted such a… Mac says, rabble? but she tells him, she was going to say event. He says, doesn’t she remember her wedding to Robert, with all the fancy hats that blocked out the sun? and she says, she remembers his girlfriend crashed the party. He says, Dominique always had a flair for the dramatic, when Lucy walks in with Felicia, and says, yes she did. Felicia hands Mac a drink, and says, he needs it more than she does. Anna asks, why? and Mac says, what’s wrong?

Britt asks Austin if she missed anything. Work was no picnic; pun intended. She wants to smack something around. Austin says, the next thing that gets smacked around is going to be her boy toy if he doesn’t stop flirting with his girlfriend. At the grill, Cody asks if Maxie wants some pork, and holds out a pork chop.

Inside, Victor wonders if Valentin brought a decent bottle of Bordeaux. Valentin pours a glass of wine, and says, if he brought a decent bottle of Bordeaux does Victor think he’d be drinking this plunk? The Quartermaines save the good stuff for themselves. He’s surprised to see Victor there. He looks a bit posh for a barbecue. Victor says he’s not there for the cuisine. Their family’s out of order, and Victor has to get them in line. He needs Valentin’s help.

Nikolas kisses Ava, but she breaks away, and says, it’s too late for words. It’s too late for kisses. It’s too late. He broke them the second he had sex with Esme. They see Spencer has walked in, and Nikolas says, Spencer… but Spencer says, don’t. What is Ava talking about? She says, he heard her. His father betrayed her with Spencer’s girlfriend.

Terry sits with her feet in the pool, and Yuri says, apologies. The bar is closed. Terry says, thanks for trying, and tells him, have a seat. He takes off his socks and shoes, and she says she hopes he didn’t mind leaving the party early. He says, the Quartermaines are busy, besides, she’s much better company. He sits next to her, and says, refreshing. She says, nice, huh?

Elizabeth says Finn will want to answer this, showing him the phone. Sarah’s on California time. It might be hard to connect if he doesn’t talk to her now. He takes the phone, and puts it down. He says he’d rather talk to her, and she says, enjoy the rest of his picnic. She starts to leave, and he says, please don’t walk away. Not now. Not like this. Don’t turn away from herself and whatever burden she’s carrying.

Maxie says she’s a vegetarian, and Cody asks if he has any takers. Austin steps up to the grill, and Britt says she didn’t know Cody was a grill master as well as a horse master. Cody says he’s really not, and Britt says she didn’t know he was capable of cooking something without burning it. Cody says he has to keep some secrets before date number two, and tells them that he needs to resupply. Maxie suggests Britt go with him, and Britt and Cody leave. Maxie asks if it’s burnt, and Austin says, it’s… this, indicating the pork chop She asks him to tell her the secret to a good pork chop, and he says, it’s the rub. Mason comes along, and says, nah. Any Gatlin worth his salt knows you can dress a barbecue up, but you won’t get what you want if you don’t turn up the heat.

Mac says, Dominique had a son, and he works for the Quartermaines? and Felicia says, so it would seem. Mac says, impossible. He would have known. Lucy says, what about Scotty? He should have known next. And what about her? She gave birth to Scotty and Dominique’s daughter after all. Anna says, she never gave any indication that she had a son? and Mac says, not once. Felicia says, it’s possible she kept the child a secret to protect him from her husband. Leopold Taub was a controlling monster; he even partnered with Faison. Anna says, a mother will go to any lengths to keep a child secret from an abuser, and Lucy says, you don’t realize who that child will turn out to be as an adult, which is precisely why she called Serena and told her not to come home anytime soon. She wants Serena to stay with her whales until they know more about this Cody person. Mac says, leave it to him, and Felicia follows him out. Lucy says she’s going to help, but Anna grabs her arm, and says she thinks they’ve got it. Besides, Lucy already has one man on her plate. Wait. Make that two.

Spencer says, Nikolas and Esme? but Nikolas says, it’s not the time or the place. Spencer says he’s not moving until Nikolas tells him everything, and Nikolas says, let’s talk about this later. Ava should have been more discreet. Ava says, don’t put this on her, and he says she knew Spencer was standing there. She says she doesn’t have eyes in the back of her head; do not make her the bad guy. They start screaming at each other, and Spencer yells, shut up! He needs to know. If this is just another one of Ava’s lies, that’s fine. Tell him. He knows what she is, and he knows who Nikolas is – his dad. Please… He starts to cry. Please say something. Nikolas says, it’s not a lie. He slept with Esme.

Cody says, it was right here, and Britt says, what? He says, the cooler, packed with burgers, hot dogs, ears of corn. Someone must have swiped it for one of the other grilling stations. She asks if this means his grilling duties are over, and he says, that’s up to Mama Q. She asks, he answers. She says she can’t see Olivia being okay with that nickname, but he says, she loves it. She knows it’s a term of affection. Does Britt have a nickname? She says she does. It’s definitely not a term of affection. He asks what her mother calls her, and she says, a disgrace, but Cody doesn’t believe it. He says, even when Obrecht was smacking him down, he could see her love for Britt. Britt says, mutter has gotten more sentimental these days, but she doesn’t want anyone to know. He says, all right. If she doesn’t want to share her mother’s nickname for her, what was her dad’s?

Maxie tells Mason, welcome. She didn’t think he was going to make it. Mason says he wouldn’t miss it. He needed to see how the other half grills. Besides, Cousin Austin insisted. He didn’t want Mason sitting around twiddling his thumbs. She asks if he’s an expert griller too, and he says, everyone in Pautuck is; some are better than others. He asks if Austin wants to flip over that chop, and Austin suggests Maxie take some food orders; see if her parents want something. Mason says, her parents are here? She should bring them over. He’d love to make their acquaintance.

Elizabeth says, Finn doesn’t know when to quit, does he? She told him… He says, if he brought up whatever’s troubling her again, they’d be over, and she says, so he brought it up with her sister instead? He tells her, he hasn’t said a word to Sarah, and she says, don’t argue semantics with her. He says he’d argue any point he could if he knew it meant helping her, and she says she never asked for his help. She never wanted it; she never needed it. She was just fine without it, but somehow he’s still meddling in her life.

Ava suggests Nikolas talk to his son in private. Here or at Windymere; she doesn’t care. She’s done. Nikolas says she should stay and watch the results of her ambush, but she says, he did this; no one else. He says, this is what she’s always wanted, to see his relationship with his son destroyed. It killed her to see them get close. She says, that’s absolutely not true, and he says, knowing she’d never get the chance to heal with Kiki the way he did with Spencer, but she’s the only one to blame for that. She smacks him across the face, and he says, the truth hurts, doesn’t it? She says, ask his son, and walks out.

Lucy says she agreed to make certain inquiries, so Marty wouldn’t ping on the government’s radar, and Anna says, or more important, his third ex-wife. Lucy says, this is going beyond the pale, but Anna says, not for Lucy. She could lead a master class extract secrets out of people. Lucy says, the old her, not now, and Anna says she’s not asking Lucy to do anything she wouldn’t do. She’s just asking Lucy to exploit the attention that Victor can’t wait to lavish on her. Just shake the tree until information about Valentin comes loose. Lucy asks, what makes Anna so sure she can get Victor to let his guard down? and Anna asks if Lucy has seen the way Victor looks at he. Lucy has the necessary assets to be her asset. Lucy says, nope. Flattery isn’t going to get her anywhere. Anna says, let’s hope for Marty’s sake she’s wrong.

Victor tells Valentin, he’s not asking for much; just another pair of eyes on a developing situation in Nikolas’s family. Valentin says, Nikolas, Ava, and Spencer all loathe him with varying degrees of justification, and Victor says he can’t do everything himself. It’s time his son stepped up and did his duty. If not for him, then for Valentin’s daughter. Valentin says, they agreed to leave his daughter out of this, and Victor says, her temporary stay in that boarding school could easily become permanent. Valentin says, you bastard, when Lucy walks in and asks if she’s interrupting.

Spencer asks Nikolas to please tell him this didn’t happen. He doesn’t understand. Nikolas says, of course (🍷) he doesn’t. Ava vomited that all up… Spencer says, she didn’t know he’d be here. She didn’t know he was standing right behind her. Nikolas says, Spencer doesn’t know that; he doesn’t know that. Never credit or defend Ava; she’s capable of anything. Spencer says, so is Nikolas. When did it start? How long have he and Esme been going at it? Nikolas says, just one time in May. They never repeated it. It was a mistake. Spencer says, Nikolas slept with his girlfriend, and Nikolas tells him, she said they’d broken up. Spencer asks if Nikolas is trying to justify this, but Nikolas says he’s just trying to explain. Spencer says he had his reasons. He had to keep Esme close because he was trying to help Trina. Nikolas says he knows that now; he didn’t know it then. All he knew is Spencer accepted Ava’s offer and took his inheritance over him. Spencer says, is that what this is about? Revenge? Nikolas says, no. He didn’t want to hurt Spencer. Spencer says, it may have actually meant something if Nikolas tried to hurt him, but they’re in the same place they’ve found themselves time and time again. Nikolas didn’t think. He didn’t think about Spencer at all.

Finn tells Elizabeth, he’s in the wrong. She asked him to honor her wishes, and obviously he didn’t. He’s sorry, but the truth is, she’s not the only one he’s concerned about. He’s worried about Violet. She says, how so? and he says, Violet loves Elizabeth and her cousins. When they’re all together, it’s all she talks about for days. Elizabeth makes her so happy. She brings light into Violet’s life, but less so lately. He knows the handling of her health is her decision alone, but he has a decision to make too, and he doesn’t know how to ignore the clear signs that she’s in some sort of distress. She says, it’s her distress, her burden, not his, and he sits. She says, what? and he says, at least they’re finally getting somewhere. She finally admitted she has a burden.

Terry says, Yuri worked for the Quartermaines as a bodyguard. Was it dangerous? He tells her, more, how you say… frustrateous? She says, frustrating, and he says, that. She says, from what she’s heard about the Quartermaines, she’s not surprised. Although she likes and respects Monica. He says, him too, and she says, it looks like they have something in common. She plays with her necklace, and he says, pretty. She thanks him, and says, it was a gift. He says, from a special someone? and she says, her mother. There’s no special someone in her life right now. He says, this is crime.

Austin tells Mason, Maxie’s dad is a cop. He’s Chief of Detectives at the PCPD. Mason says, if there’s any trouble, Austin only has himself to blame. He has obligations to fulfill. To whom much is given, much is required. Austin says, thanks for that, fortune cookie. His dept is repaid. Mason says, his creditors disagree. Ingratitude isn’t a good look on him. He doesn’t think Maxie would find it attractive. Austin says, leave Maxie out of this, and Mason says, he’s the one who brought her up. Or her father, or rather her Chief of Detectives father. He only wants what’s good for Austin. Austin says, the feeling’s mutual, and grabs Mason’s head with both hands, and says, that’s why he’s only going to say this one time. Leave Maxie and her family out of this, or the pain Mason is feeling right now will not be fleeting.

Anna says, she hates being lied to, but Valentin says he’s not lying. She tosses a cornhole sack, and we see his head popping out of the hole, like Whack-a-Mole. It hits him, and he says, ouch. She says, it didn’t look like it hurt quite enough. She’s trying again. Stay still. She hits him with another sack, and he says, ouch. She says, yes, and Maxie joins her. Maxie says, looks like fun, and Anna says, yeah. She gets a sack into the hole, and says, that’ll do.

Lucy says she’s so sorry. She certainly didn’t mean to interrupt a family moment. Victor says, it’s all sorted, and Valentin says, it isn’t, but Victor asks what he can do for her. She says she’s looking for… She sees a jar on the counter, and says, pickles. Outside, gherkins, gherkins everywhere, and not a dill to eat. He says, here you are, sliding the jar over, but slides it back when she reaches for it. She says, he’s playing with her, and he asks how he can resist. Valentin says, will he give the woman her pickles? He’ll see her for s’mores. Victor gives her the jar, but says, no need to rush away, and Valentin says, Martin Grey is probably looking for her. Victor remembers Martin, doesn’t he? Lucy’s boyfriend?

Britt says, back to her father. Surprise, surprise. Cody says, it was an innocent question, and she says he knows she doesn’t like talking about him. Cody says, he thought the boundaries were the Dr. Evil stuff. He didn’t realize, and wasn’t aware, her father was entirely off limits. She says, he’s aware now, and he says, okay, no dad talk. What about her brother? She says, Peter? and Cody says, is he out of bounds, or should they just avoid her whole family and stick with his? She says, good idea, when Felicia and Mac come alone. Felicia says, they’re sorry to interrupt. They’re looking for someone. Mac says he thinks they found him.

Maxie gets her toss in the hole, and Anna says, she’s a natural. Maxie is a natural leader as well. She never said congratulations yet about Deception’s IPO. Maxie thanks her, and says, it was a lot of work, but it helps to have a great team behind you. Anna says, including Valentin? and Maxie says, shockingly. He was a little more involved than she would have liked at the beginning, but he had some great ideas. He’s has been quiet lately. Anna says she noticed that too. She thinks he’s still convalescing from the injury he had a few months ago, and Maxie says, sometimes she thinks he still hasn’t recovered. It’s like his mind is someplace else. With Anna? Anna says, maybe, and Maxie says, what is she doing? She’s supposed to be taking orders. Has Anna seen her mom and dad? Anna says she hasn’t seen them in a while, but there here somewhere, and Maxie asks if she’d like something, but Anna says, she can’t eat when she’s thinking.

Lucy says, it’s the darndest thing. Martin is still out of town. Victor asks if he’s left Lucy unattended again. The man should be tarred and feathered. There is a solution though; allow him. Lucy says she was one leg short for the three-legged race, and he says, all his legs are at her service. Valentin says he’s been trying to reach Martin. Where is her one and only? She says, his mother. He’s so busy taking care of her, he’s had no time to answer her calls or texts. Victor says, a woman of advanced age does need a lot of attention. A dutiful son can be away for some time. Valentin says, he should be back soon, and Lucy tries to open the pickles, but she’s unsuccessful. She says she can’t get this lid unscrewed. Valentin snaps a picture on his phone, and says, if Martin can’t be reached, he’s sure this message will get his attention.

Cody asks if he knows Mac, and Mac says, not exactly. Felicia asks if he’s Cody Bell, and he says he is. She introduces herself and Mac, and Cody says, they’re Maxie’s parents. Nice to meet them. She’s great; he loves that girl. Did they hear about him through Maxie, or… Britt says, don’t be modest. Mac is Chief of Detectives. She’s sure his cops told him how they arrested Cody. Felicia says, to be honest, they only just heard about him, and came right over to meet him. Cody says, why is that? and Felicia looks at Mac. He doesn’t say anything, and she says, they knew Cody’s mother.

Austin keeps his grip on Mason’s head, and says, hurts, right? That’s the parotid nerve. It’s super sensitive nerve, and it hurts even more if you press on it like this. He presses Mason’s head down, and Mason says, let him go. Austin says, he’ll let Mason go as soon as he feels like they they’re understanding one another. Mason says, he can live with the pain – he grabs a knife from the cutting board – but can Austin live with a nicked artery? Austin lets go, and Mason says, blood or no blood, when he calls, Austin will answer, and it will be, yes, sir, and, thank you, sir, when he gives Austin instructions. Got it? Ava comes along, and says, loud and clear.

Nikolas says he knows sleeping with Esme was wrong, and Spencer says, Captain Obvious did it occur to him, not owning up to the truth was also wrong? Nikolas asks, what would be the point in telling Spencer? and Spencer says, not lying would have been the point, but Nikolas says he was more concerned with not hurting Spencer. And it didn’t matter to Esme. Spencer says he knows Nikolas didn’t do this on his own. Esme’s just as responsible. Nikolas says, that’s not what he’s saying. It shouldn’t have happened. Spencer says, he’d really like it if Nikolas would start calling it what it is. It is a betrayal, and there have been so many, including the years Nikolas let Spencer believe he was dead. He’s sick. Nikolas says he’ll never forgive himself for that, but how does sleeping with Esme compare to that? Spencer told Nikolas himself that he was just using her to get Trina out of prison. Spencer says, that is the worst part. Because he stopped loving Esme. She didn’t matter to him, but Nikolas did. He loved Nikolas. Nikolas was his dad and meant everything to him. No longer.

Finn tells Elizabeth, now is the time to get out in front of this thing before it digs in any deeper, before it harms her or someone else. She asks if he’s suggesting she’d hurt someone like she did Chase, and he says, not intentionally, but it’s clear to him that she has a problem. And despite all the denials, he thinks it’s clear to her too. Does she think maybe it’s clear to her boys? How does she think it is for them, seeing their mom struggling, and they can’t help her and don’t know how? And what’s going to happen if they reach out to somebody she doesn’t want them too, like her father? She says, don’t talk about her father. Why can’t he just leave her alone? He says, because he’s been there. He’s been in denial; he’s an addict. He’d probably be dead right now if certain people hadn’t fought through his lies and helped him. That’s why he can’t turn a blind eye when he sees someone in pain. What’s the point of being a doctor? She says, he’s not her doctor. He’s not her anything. She runs out, and he calls after her.  

Elizabeth comes out of the woods, and feels her head. She sees blood on her hands. She hears Finn’s words about her boys, and him asking, what if they reach out to her father? She flashes back to being at the top of the stairs with someone, and saying, don’t talk about my father. The woman asks what she’s doing; they probably don’t want her involved. Elizabeth says, don’t talk about her father. You’ll see what happens if you do. She keeps walking, then stops and looks back.

Cody asks how they knew his mother, and Felicia says, she didn’t know Dominique well, but Mac… Mac says, he and Dominique were friends. He met her when she was married to Cody’s father. Cody says, Mac has his deepest sympathies. From what he’s heard, Leopold Taub was a real piece of work. Mac says, no doubt about that, and Cody promises he’s nothing like that guy, at least as far as he knows, He’s definitely not in a criminal cartel, trying to hold Port Charles hostage. Mac says he doesn’t see a bit of Taub in Cody; plenty of Dominique though. She was a good person. Cody tells him, if you say so, and Mac says he does. Felicia says she’s starving, and suggests they rustle up some ribs. Cody says, the barbecue by the boathouse is out of supplies, so they’ll have to hit up another one. He asks if he can interest Britt in a beer inside, and she guesses it woudn’t hurt. He says, it never does, and tells Mac and Felicia, nice meeting them. Felicia says, him too, and Britt and Cody go into the stable. Cody says, weird guy. Outside, Felicia asks if Mac is okay, and Mac says, why wouldn’t he be? She says, he just lied to Cody.

As she plays with her necklace, Terry tells Yuri, a crystal’s a symbol of transformation. Her mother says, it’s a reminder that change is ongoing. We’re always creating or discovering new parts of ourselves. Sometimes change is big and visible, and sometimes you have to look closely to find it. He says, this crystal is helpful to her? and she says, yes. The clasp is loose, and she needs a new chain, because every time she plays with it – the chain opens and the necklace falls in the water – that happens. Yuri dives in.

Lucy says, Valentin doesn’t have to send Victor those pictures. In fact, she bets she could get ahold of him right now, and make sure he contacts Valentin immediately. As for Victor, she’s so sorry. She just remembered she has to meet Brook, but she sure hopes they can do this again sometime maybe. He holds a pickle spear out to her, and says, no maybe about it. She takes her pickle, thanks him, and leaves. Valentin says, Victor always wants what he can’t have, and Victor says he gets what he wants. It just takes a little patience. But rather than concerning himself with Victor’s personal affairs, perhaps Valentin should focus on his own. Or is Anna proving too hard to handle?

Ava says, good evening, as she walks closer, and Mason puts the knife back. She says, is everything okay here? Mason says, he and Austin were just arguing the merits of medium rare versus well done. She asks what they decided, and Austin says, well done. She says she came out to find a refill, but it looks like she’s out of luck. She looks at them weird, and says, so carry on, gentlemen. She leaves, and Mason starts to follow, but Austin says, don’t even worry about her. Mason says he doesn’t worry, and leaves. Austin follows. I actually get confused for a moment, thinking, aren’t Ava and Austin good friends? But that was Ava and Todd. I mean, Franco.

Nikolas says, Spencer doesn’t mean that. They’ve come too far to let their relationship go. Spencer says, everything he’s done since he came home was to bring them closer; every gamble, every stupid mistake, every act of contrition. All to get his dad back. And for every step he took closer to Nikolas, Nikolas took two steps backwards. There’s no closing that gap now. He thought he knew who Nikolas was, but he doesn’t. He’s done with Nikolas. He walks out.

Mac asks how he lied to Cody, and Felicia says she’s not sure the word friend accurately captures Mac’s relationship with Dominique. He says, ancient history. They guy obviously has mother issues he needs to work out. There’s no reason to add one more thing to his list.

Cody hands Britt a beer, and says, where were they? Oh yeah. She was about to tell him about her brother. She says, no. He was about to ask her if he was allowed to ask about Peter. He says, is he? and she says, stick to your favorite color crayon, worst remake, best Toto song. He says, burnt sienna, he never watches remakes and never will, and Rosanna. She says, Africa, and he says, too obvious. And how is it fair her brother is off-limits, just like when he brings up any of her other family members? She says she thinks about Peter and Faison nearly every day, and talking about them only makes it worse. He takes her beer, and puts it on the table with his, and says, fine. Enough talking. He moves closer to her.

Lucy finds Anna, and Anna asks how it went with Victor. Lucy says, Victor fell for her, hook, line, and pickles, but Valentin was there, so there wasn’t anything of interested revealed. But there’s a heck of a lot of tension between father and son. Anna asks, how so? and Lucy says, she would recognize a thwarted and disgruntled Valentin, but it wasn’t just that. Valentin was going for the jugular when she interrupted them. So her sense is, big daddy has Valentin on a very short leash, and that leash is beginning to chafe. She takes a bite of her pickle, and walks off.

Victor says, he’s noticed Valentin and Anna have become close since Valentin’s return from Tahiti. Has it clouded Valentin’s judgement? Valentin says, he told Victor, he has Anna well in hand, and Victor says, with a little cultivation, he’ll have the lovely Lucy in his hand soon. So a be chum, and delete that photo. Valentin says, yes, father, and does. Victor says, Charlotte would be proud, pats Valentin on the shoulder, and leaves.

Spencer chugs a beer, and goes into the cooler for another. Nikolas asks how much he’s had to drink, and Spencer gives him the standard answer, not nearly enough, but Nikolas says, he’s had plenty. He tries to take Spencer’s beer, and grabs him. Spencer says, let him go, and they struggle. Nikolas says, he’ll never let Spencer go, and Victor comes along, as Spencer breaks away. Spencer says, he’s let Nikolas go. He’s done his last good deed, and now Nikolas can go win Ava back, without even considering Spencer. Good luck. Spencer leaves, and Victor says, what the hell? What just happened? Nikolas says, Ava happened. Oh, I see. Nikolas has changed not-at-all, and is going to blame all his mistakes on Ava.

Mason walks through the boathouse, and says, he thought she came this way. Austin says, can’t he just let this go? but Mason says, she heard them. Austin says, she heard a family squabble, but Mason says, it was more than that. Austin says, Ava doesn’t know that, and Mason says, he can’t take the chance, and neither can Austin.

Yuri brings back Terry’s necklace, and sits next to her again. He says, it’s only water; it will dry. She laughs, and he says, wear it? She says, of course (🍷), and he puts it on her.

As Ava walks, we see someone take a pair gardening gloves, and  a hook is taken from a row of them. Ava says, to Windymere. Living there was nice while it lasted. Hook guy comes up behind her, and she says, if Scotty’s worth his fee, he’ll pry it from Nikolas before the divorce. To divorce. The hook comes down, Ava doubles over. She looks down to see it sticking out of her stomach.  

On Monday, Cody asks Britt, what’s so awful about them being into each other; Finn tells Elizabeth, don’t shut him out; Sonny tells Anna, he can neither confirm nor deny that; and Ava asks someone not to leave her.

😴 Ho-Hum…

Temp Michael is coming back. Again.

💖 Charming Remembrance…

She’s also celebrating her 45th GH Anniversary.

💑 She Likes Him…

I’m glad Sutton has found a man. He seems like a good match for her.

💎 A Feud In Them There Hills…

Diana needs to take a step back, and Garcelle needs her own show. Google me is one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time.

https://www.distractify.com/p/garcelle-beauvais-diana-jenkins-feud

I actually don’t believe this, but then again, who knows?

https://screenrant.com/why-rhobh-fans-diana-used-bots-attack-garcelle/

☎️ Another Number…

I’m not sure why this isn’t in the Who Cares? file. It’s not like they were all kinkballs. At least I hope not.

👰🏻 Knot Officially Tied…

She finally did it. I wish them the best.

https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-stars-scheana-shay-brock-davies-get-married/

🐉 That Was Quick…

I’ll have to hurry up and watch this. The article also contains a recap video.

☠️ Oh Boys…

Another one I have yet to watch. Now there’s even more incentive.

⚰️ Spinning…

I see the both of them are also producers. Smart move.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/walking-dead-maggie-negan-spinoff-new-title-dead-city/

🥀 Goodbye To a Peachy Guy…

He was one of those actors who was in everything too.

https://people.com/tv/beverly-hills-90210-actor-joe-e-tata-dead-at-86/

🎶 On Sunday…

I don’t know if this is everything you need to know, but it’s a lot.

https://ew.com/awards/mtv-video-music-awards-2022-everything-to-know/

📣 Quotes of the Week

Look around you. Everything changes. Everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing and changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant. – Steve Maraboli

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. – Frederick Douglass

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.George Washington

People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use. – Søren Kierkegaard

I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature. – Paulo Coelho

The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state… Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. – James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

My responsibility to myself, my neighbors, my family and the human family is to try to tell the truth. – Toni Cade Bambara

We were good before things went bad. – Silas Clay (Michael Easton, 2013-1015), General Hospital

🏃🏽‍♀️ Never Gonna Break My Stride…

Time to kick back and fill your head with good things. Take in some nature. Or if you’re a rural dweller, take in some concrete. Inviting both city and country mice to join me on Monday for some soap and what’s on Deck in the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay not limiting your friendships to those who think like you, and stay not keeping all the good stuff for yourself.

May 1, 2022 – Daniel Looks For Ofelia, Backstory, Daniel Talk, Good For Each Other, Popular, Minus One Carol & First

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Daniel plays a matching game with Luci. He says she’s letting him win, but she says she wouldn’t do that. He picks up a card, and says he’s seen this before. Luci says, they’ve played a bunch of times before, but he says, that’s not it. Wes comes in, and says he’s going to leave without them. Luci tells Daniel to keep at it; it’s helping him. Daniel says he should be the one helping her, and calls her Ofelia. She says she’s Luciana. Ofelia is no longer here, and Daniel says, she left. He tells Luci, you be careful out there too.

On the USS Pennsylvania, Sarah says, hoofing it, they could make it in two days, maybe one. Morgan asks what they’re up against, and she says, there are a hundred dead outside; maybe more. Luci comes in, and Morgan asks how Daniel is doing. She Luci says, he’s making progress, but it’s slow. Morgan thinks it’s best she stay there, and work some on the memory exercises with Daniel. They need him to get into the tower. He knows how Victor thinks, and why he’s doing this. He’s gone up against Victor in ways none of them have. They have to make sure they get in. Wes tells Luci that Daniel’s not on the sub. The front hatch is open, and a suit is gone. Luci says she’ll look; she’s got this. Wes says, not alone, and Morgan says, they’ll both go. If they have any trouble, send up a mayday.

Out in the nuclear semi-wasteland, a masked Daniel speaks in Spanish. He asks if she can hear him. A merry-go-round in a nearby playground squeaks, and Daniel sees a zombie stuck in it. Another grabs him, and his mask falls off. It gets him down, but he stabs it in the head. He gets back up, and asks, is that you? He knows he’s close. Tell him where she is. He hears footsteps, and gets all excited. He sees two people emerge, and asks if that’s Luci. He tells them to take their masks off, and fires a warning shot. The pair take off their masks, and it’s Luci and Wes. Daniel says, he knows who they are, and Luci asks what he’s doing out here? He shows her the card with the boat, and says, she needs me. Luci says, who? and he says, Ofelia The last time he saw her, she was on a boat. She’s trying to send him a message. She says, he’s out here because of the card? and he says, because of what she told him in the submarine. She said, Ofelia’s not here, which means she’s out there. Luci says, that’s not what it means. His daughter is dead. She died in Mexico years ago. He says, no, she’s alive, but Luci says, that’s impossible. They all know what they saw. Wes says, Daniel is confused, and Daniel says, Luci told him that he was doing better. She says, he is, but he’s wrong about Ofelia. He says, Ofelia is alive; Luci is the one who’s wrong. In Spanish, he says he cares about Luci, but Ofelia is his daughter, and he cares more about her than anything. Is Luci trying to help him, or trying to take Ofelia’s place in his life? He’s sorry she’s alone, but she’ll never replace his daughter. Luci says, he doesn’t mean that, but he says, he does. Wes asks what he’s saying, and Luci tells them, let’s go back. Wes says, zombies are coming, and Luci says, the gunshot must have alerted them. Wes says, that’s not the dead, and tells them to run, but a masked Arno steps out and says, boo. They’re surrounded. Time to take a little trip. He puts a mask over Luci’s face.

In a boat graveyard, boats are linked together by walkways, and the nuclear dead hope for someone to fall underneath. Luci wonders where they are, and Daniel says, they wouldn’t be here if she’d just let him look. Wes says, they wouldn’t be here if Daniel had stayed in the damn sub. Daniel says he was a soldier trained by the CIA. He’s not scared of these people. What’s scary is what he’s going to have to do to them. Eli says, we’re screwed, when Arno comes in. He tells them to remove their gear and hang it up. Luci asks how they know it’s safe, and Arno tells them to test for themselves. Wes confirms that it’s safe, and Arno says, they’re lucky the wind hasn’t brought anything nasty their way. They want to keep it as such. Luci tells Wes that she recognizes Arno, and Wes says, they’re the ones who were following Teddy. Luci says, that’s not going to help them make friends.

Outside, Arno says, home sweet home, and tells his people go inside. Their guests aren’t as interesting as they think. Luci asks if they all live here, and he says, thanks to Alicia. They don’t have to remind him who they are. Daniel asks why they don’t use the walls, and Arno says, they tried, but they didn’t hold. At least where they are keeps the living away. Victor got one thing right with the tower. Arno tells Sage he wants to talk to them one at a time, and Daniel tells Luci that he should be looking out there for Ofelia. Luci tells Arno to let them go. Maybe they can help him. Arno says, not likely, and Daniel grabs Arno’s gun and says, he’s going to look for his daughter. Let them out. Sage steps forward, but Arno says, he’s got this. Daniel says he’ll kill Arno, and Arno says, go ahead. Daniel shoots, but the gun just clicks. The men rush Daniel, and Daniel laughs. Wes says, they’re out of bullets? and Arno says, they’re hard to come by. The empty clip works on people; the dead don’t scare. He tells Daniel that he heard their radio chatter from the sub. They might want to stop broadcasting their plans. He knows they found the weapons cache, but doesn’t know the coordinates. Luci says they’re not going to tell him, and he says, then they’ll end up down there. Daniel looks at a boat across the way, and says, The Abigail… Ofelia. Arno tells him, quit daydreaming, and tells Sage, save him for last. He pats Wes’s shoulder, and says, this one first. Lucy says, they’re not telling Arno anything, and Arno says, if they don’t, they’ll up down there.

Daniel and Luci are shoved into a room, and Daniel looks outside, his eyes lighting on Victor’s old yacht. Luci says she knows he thinks he can get them out, and Daniel says, they don’t have to escape; this is perfect. He takes out the card, and says, Ofelia is on the boat. Luci says, it’s not the boat he’s thinking of, but he insists it is, and calls for the guard. Daniel says, all he has to do is tell them where the weapons are, and they’ll return Ofelia. She says, he doesn’t have the coordinates, but he says he knows where Dwight is. The guard tells him, this better be good, and Daniel says, he has information for Arno. The guard says, if he’s playing tricks, they’ll be thrown in with the zombies, but Daniel says, he doesn’t play tricks with his daughters life. Luci says she has to come too. Daniel’s English isn’t as good as it used to be, and she needs to translate. In Spanish, Daniel tells her, don’t try to stop him, and she says, don’t make things difficult. The guard leaves, and Luci says, Daniel is right about her not having anyone. If she’s being honest, she hasn’t been right since she lost Nick. Meeting Daniel made her feel less alone, and she doesn’t want to lose him. When he discovers Ofelia is dead, she worries about what will happen to him. He says, don’t worry. He’ll find her, and none of them will be alone again. The guard comes back, says, let’s move, and they leave.

Arno has put Wes in a cage that hangs over the zombies. He asks where the weapons are. Wes isn’t talking, and Arno says he’ll see if Wes changes his mind down there. It’s his last chance. Wes says he’s not betraying his people, and Arno says, he betrayed Derek. Derek was Arno’s friend and Wes killed him. Wes says, Derek was his brother, and he loved him, but Derek killed some of his friends, and was going to kill more. Arno says, Wes has another choice right now. Answer the question or die ugly. Where are the weapons? Wes says he’s not telling Arno sh*t, and Arno says, he would have done this anyway, when the guard arrives with Daniel. Daniel tells Arno to let Wes out, and they’ll talk. Arno says he’s the one with the leverage, but Daniel says he knows how to make people talk; that won’t do it. Arno says, it’s worked so far, and Daniel says, he probably kills everybody who comes in here. He kills them, he has nothing. Arno asks if he really knows where the guns are, and Luci says, don’t do this, in Spanish. Arno asks what Daniel wants in return, and Daniel says, his daughter. Arno asks where she is, and Daniel says, in that yacht, The Abigail. Arno says he doesn’t know what Daniel is talking about, but Daniel says he thinks Arno does, and grabs him, holding a knife to his throat. He wants his daughter back. Arno tells Daniel to let him go. He’s right. Maybe he does have Daniel’s daughter. Daniel says, now start talking, but Luci says, don’t. Daniel doesn’t even know if what he’s remembering is real. In Spanish, Daniel says, they can’t trust him, but Arno says, not true. Do they think they can get over on him by speaking Spanish? They’re not fooling him. Daniel is right, He has Daniel’s daughter; she’s on the boat. Daniel says, he knew it, like he told Luci. Arno better not have hurt her. He wants to see her. Arno says, tell him where the weapons are first. It’s the least they can do after consigning them to this life. That’s not okay. Wes says, there are worse places, and Arno says, Alicia and Morgan will get them killed. Luci asks him, what’s coming? and Arno asks, where are the weapons? He’s protecting his people, the ones Alicia couldn’t. Daniel asks how he knows Arno has Ofelia, and Arno says, give him the coordinates, and if they’re correct, he’ll get his daughter. Luci says, Arno can’t give her back, but Daniel asks, what choice does he have? He writes the information down, and Arno tells Sage to send a patrol. In Spanish, he tells Daniel, old man, if you lie to me, all of you will end up down there. Daniel tells him to let Wes out, they release Wes, and Arno tells Wes, it’s his lucky day.

Back in the room, Wes says he’d die before he’d give them information, and Daniel says, if he’d died by the hands if that man, he would have been a fool. Wes says, Daniel can’t use whatever is going on in his head as an excuse to hurt people, but Daniel says, he’s done what he needed to do; no one got hurt. Luci says, their people can get killed if Arno’s people get there first, and Daniel says, he just sent half of Arno’s people 20 miles in the wrong direction. Wes says, Arno is going to kill them when they get back, but Daniel says, they won’t be here. It will take them 24 hours to get there and back. Wes says, half as many guards, and Daniel says, without weapons. They can’t stop them. He shows Wes and Luci a knife, and says, he got it from the idiot who shot him. They’re badly trained, these people. Luci says she knows Daniel thinks this will work, and Daniel says he knows it will. He knows his memory’s not improving, but when he thinks of rescuing Ofelia, everything becomes clear. The problem with his memory is because he didn’t tell Ofelia the truth about his past. When she found out, he didn’t give her an explanation or an apology for his lies. His mind has to be clear when he does. Luci says, that’s not going to happen, but he says, it is. He and Ofelia will thank Luci, and she’ll be welcomed into their family. Now let’s get the hell off this boat.

Daniel pretends to be out cold, and Luci yells for the guard. She says she told him that Daniel wasn’t well. He’s not breathing. If he turns. its on him. The guard asks if she checked his pulse, and when he leans over, Daniel grabs him, and holds the knife to his throat. He says, that’s what he gets for calling him old man. He tells the guard to get up and take them to the yacht, and the guard says, his daughter’s not here. Daniel says, then where is she? and the guard says he doesn’t know, but she’s not here. Daniel says, he’s lying, and Wes says, they need to leave. Daniel says he’s not going without Ofelia, and Luci says the guard heard him. Take them to the yacht. She tells Wes that Daniel won’t leave. It’s the only way to get him to understand, so they can get out. On their way to Arno, Luci asks what Arno was talking about. What’s coming? The guard says, the dead. They’re gathering in a crater. After the warhead detonated, they’re more dangerous. Daniel asks why Arno is scared, and the guard says, Arno doesn’t tell any of them very much. Daniel pushes him onto the yacht, and Luci and Wes follow. Daniel asks where she is, and the guard says he told Daniel; she’s not here. Daniel starts pushing him over the side of the deck, and the guard says, don’t do this. She was never here. Arno wanted to know where the weapons were. Daniel says, the card was a message, but Luci says, Daniel needs to accept the truth. Ofelia died in Mexico. Daniel told her that he buried Ofelia himself. She’s sorry, but Ofelia is gone. Daniel says, he has to tell Ofelia who he is, and apologize for his lies. Luci says she knows it’s what he wanted and still wants, and his mind is telling him that he can, but he can’t. Daniel looks at the zombies, and says, that’s why he’s confused. The guard says, this wasn’t his idea. Arno lied. Daniel says, and he went along with it. A mind is a fragile thing. It’s easy to break, but hard to put back together. The guard tells Wes that he knew Derek, and Daniel slits his throat. Wes says that wasn’t Daniel’s call, but Daniel says, Wes is better off not knowing. The truth about people is always disappointing. Daniel walks out on the bridge, but takes out a piece, so they can’t follow. Luci asks where he’s going, and he says, Arno has to pay for what he did. He doesn’t want them to stop him. He knows Luci doesn’t want anything bad to happen to him, and he feels the same about her. He’ll be back. He walks away, and there’s nothing they can do.

Luci asks if Wes is okay, and he asks if she found anything. She says, nothing that will hold, and tells him that she’s sorry. Wes says, he was hoping the guard would tell him that Derek knew he was in Tank Town, but launched the attack anyway. She asks, why? and he says he killed Derek. It’s the only way he can live with that, and not wake up every day feeling like a POS. He knows he deserves to die. Luci says she doesn’t think that will make him feel better, and he says, there’s got to be another way off this thing.

Sabrina spears a zombie climbing up the wall, and Arno says, that’s the third one. She says, they’re building up the gate, and he suggests they think of something to draw them away in the meantime. He thanks her, and she leaves. He watches the zombies, when Daniel says, boo, and holds the knife to Arno’s throat. He makes Arno go into the cage, and Arno says, he’s making a mistake, but Daniel says, Arno’s mistake was lying to him, and Arno says, Daniel will anything to protect his daughter. He as doing same his people. Daniel says, they’re not Arno’s family, and lowers the cage, telling Arno that his Spanish is very good. The zombies reach in, and pull at Arno, and his whines turn into screams as they begin to feed on him. Lucy and Wes run over, and Luci asks what Daniel is doing. Daniel tells her, what Arno said made him do this. Wes brings the cage up (why bother), and Arno tells Luci, there’s no new beginning. They’re going to die because of them. Luci asks, who? and he says, the people Alicia was supposed to take care of… the ones he promised… the ones he…. She says, listen to her. She’ll make sure they’re okay, she promises, but he has to tell her what’s coming so she can help them. He says, the dead in the pit… they’re escaping. Someone’s letting them out. You can’t touch them… you can’t go near them even. She has to get everybody to the tower. There’s nowhere else… nowhere else… He dies, and Wes takes a spear to his head. Daniel says, he’d be alive, but he lied. Things are simple in Daniel’s world. Wes tells Daniel not to lose any sleep over this a-hole. Arno tried the same thing to him. Daniel says, this is  the second time he almost got Luci killed. She should leave him. Luci says she understands why he did it, but Arno manipulated him. That’s why he still needs her help. He says, no one knows his background. Ofelia never understood, but Luci does. She’s seen it, but she’s still here. Why? Luci says, they all make mistakes, and in Spanish, he says, even though she’s not of his blood, as of today, they’re family. She thanks him, and Wes asks what they’re going to do about everybody who lives there. Luci says she doesn’t know, but what about the zombies? Wes says, she heard Arno. You can’t touch them or get near them. She says, they need to leave now – all of them.

Luci tells Arno’s people, she knows they’ve been enemies. She knows some of them hurt people they care about, and they did the same to them. They all need to escape the dead and this land, and need each other now more than ever. They need to fight Victor, and take the tower. Only then can they have a new life, a new beginning, together. Who’s with them? Sabrina says, it’s what Teddy would have wanted, and everyone is like, yeah, and put on their masks. Wes asks if Luci thinks they can trust them; they killed their leader. Luci says, Alicia would want it, but he says, she couldn’t convince them and they couldn’t convince Arno. Daniel says, none of it will matter when they find out Luci can’t deliver on what she promised. Luci says, they can take the tower, but Daniel says, the last time, there was a nuclear war. She says, they didn’t have what they do. Someone who knows what Victor is thinking before he does. Daniel can get them there. He says he can’t get simple things straight. He lost his cat before this mess, and almost got them killed leaving the sub. Luci says, he freed them from prison and made it to the yacht. How did he do it? He says, when he wanted to get Ofelia, his mind was clear because his daughter gave him focus. Wes calls Luci over, and says, she’s not thinking what he thinks she is. She says, all of these people and everyone on the sub are depending on them. This is the only way. Victor’s outsmarted everyone else, and Daniel will get himself killed if he goes by himself. Wes says he can’t, and leaves. Daniel asks, what’s wrong with him? and Luci sits next to Daniel. She says, Arno told her something before he died. Ofelia is alive, and he told her where she is. Daniel says, Luci told him that she was dead, and she says, that’s what she thought, but Arno knew where she was. Victor has her in the tower. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she was afraid he’d go alone and get himself killed. He asks why she’s telling him now, and she says, because of what he did here. If knowing Ofelia is alive gives him clarity, he can lead all these people and take the tower from Victor. Daniel says he wants to believe this, but his mind isn’t clear. Luci must be certain, because if she’s wrong, if this is not true, if this is another lie, it could break him for good. Is she sure? Luci says, it is true, and he says, then we’ll get in the tower. Her, him, and Ofelia. They’ll always be together right? She says, yeah.

They come out, and Wes tells Luci, they’re ready. Luci suggests they head out, and walks with Wes. Wes says, he and Derek had this thing used to say, people are people. She asks what that means, and he says, it means people suck. Victor and Alicia tried to make him see things differently, and they did for a while after they found him, but then they were at each other’s throats. Morgan hasn’t done much better. What she was doing for Daniel made him want believe he might be wrong and there’s hope, but what she just did is proof she’s no better. She says she’s sorry, but that’s not what this is, and he gives her his radio, telling her to take it in case needs to call the sub. He’s not going with them. She says, don’t do this, and he tells her, good luck. She asks where he’s going, and he says he doesn’t know. What does know is, he can’t be around somebody pretending be someone they’re not. Daniel is confused. He’s not right, but he can’t help it. She knows exactly what she’s doing. He leaves, and Daniel asks, what happened? Where is he going? Should they go after him? Luci says, no. She doesn’t think they can change his mind. Wes walks down the road.

On the sub, Sarah looks at the weapons, and says, that’s a lot of heat. Dwight says he’s glad it worked out, and Morgan says, it more than worked out. It might make all the difference. They should take inventory. Dwight says, now they just need the soldiers to carry them. Luci walks in, and Morgan asks if she found Daniel. She says, not just Daniel; Arno’s people. They want to help. He says, no Wes? And she says, he’s not coming. Morgan says, but he’s okay? She says she hopes so. She thinks he needs some time. Daniel says, they found the weapons, and Morgan says, yes, they did. Daniel says, all they need to do now is plan how to overthrow Victor.

Wes goes to the tower callbox, and I say, no… no. He says he needs to talk to Victor. Tell him it’s Wes. Tell Victor that he wants to make a deal. The man who answered asks why Victor would want to deal with him, and Wes says, because he can help save Victor’s tower.

So I guess Wes sucks too?

Next time, John thinks he found the right opportunity, Victor wants to be shown they believe in this place, and someone else is thrown off the roof as Victor laughs, and twirls his metaphorical moustache.

I Forgot Too…

What happened to Ofelia.

https://www.distractify.com/p/how-did-ofelia-die-fear-the-walking-dead

🔬 Dissecting Daniel…

Ruben Blades talks life and Fear.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/walking-dead-ruben-blades-daniel-salazar-end-rcna26436

👩‍👧 Mother/Daughter Act…

More on Madison’s return and how Alicia figures in.

https://screenrant.com/fear-walking-dead-alicia-leader-madison-return-good/

⚓️ Water Works…

Apparently, viewers are enjoying the sub spin-off, but it’s not like it’s on Netflix.

https://www.cbr.com/ftwd-dead-in-the-water-popular-why/

💔 She’s Out…

Looks like the spin-off of Carol and Daryl is going to be just Daryl. I wonder why they couldn’t be more accommodating here. Or why she agreed in the first place.

📅 Another Page Off the Calendar…

Join me tomorrow in saluting a brand new month with some soap and Deck shenanigans. Until then, stay safe, stay straightforward, and stay not being a person who sucks.

March 10, 2022 – Sonny Offers To Help Nina, Filling In, Explosion In A-Town, Joe #2 Talks Drama, Sad Split, Dead Isle & Bubblegum

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Michael tells Willow that her exams are behind her and it’s time to celebrate. He’s barely seen her, and Wiley missed her goodnight story and kiss last night. He told Wiley that she was learning to save people’s lives like a real life superhero. She looks unhappy, and he tells her not to be upset; she’s definitely the cool parent. She says she’s not a superhero or even a cool parent. She messed up.

Sonny lets Nina into the penthouse, and she thanks him for seeing her. He says she told him it was important, and she asks how he’s feeling. He says, it’s the anniversary of his sister’s death. Don’t worry about it. He didn’t go on any benders. Is that why she’s here? Is she checking up on him? She says, they have to talk, and he says he’s not a fan of those four words. (I don’t think any man is.) She says, it’s about their grandson.

At The Savoy, Diane says, judging from her exterior only, she’s guessing all is right again in Alexis’s world. Alexis says, let’s not get excited. Everything’s fine. Surprisingly, she’s enjoying her job. Diane says, Alexis Davis, editor-in-chief, suits her, and Alexis says, better than her last career as a drunk with intent to murder. She’s gotten by with a lot of help from her friends, Diane and Harmony, who she invited to join them. Be nice.

Maxie comes into the hospital carrying the box of Peter’s belongings, and Austin says, she made it. She says she told him she’d be there, and he says she did, but he thought now that Bailey was back, Maxie would want to spend as much time with her as possible. Maxie says, lesson number one, she means what she says, and he says, good to know. Are there other lessons? She says he’ll find out, and he says he can’t wait. It’s nice to see her. She says, him too, and they almost kiss, but Mac clears his throat. Maxie turns around, and Mac is there with Felicia.

At the MetroCourt, Robert tells Anna, Mac just texted; he and Felicia are on their way. It gives them a chance to catch up. He hasn’t seen too much of her lately. She says she’s been busy, and he asks if that’s code for I’m trying to avoid you. Or is she simply getting used to living with Peter’s ghost.

On the phone, and pressing the elevator button repeatedly, Gladys says she knows Brando is getting married. Don’t do anything without talking to her first. The elevator opens, and Carly comes out. Gladys says, thank God, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Gladys says, Brando’s about to make the biggest mistake of his life, and Carly is going to help her stop it.

At Bliss Street Auto Repair, Brando tells Sasha, he’s been back there for a while. He doesn’t think the guy knows what he’s doing. She tells Brando, go check on him. He doesn’t have to babysit her. He says he’s not babysitting her; he’s keeping her company. She says, then let the man do his job. He says he will. All he’s saying is that the man should have fixed the car by now. She says, the chapel will still be there when they say the car is ready, and he says, then they get to say I do. He can’t wait. She says, neither can she, and they hug.

Gladys says, please tell her Carly got the jet in the divorce, and Carly asks, what’s going on with Brando? Is he okay? Gladys says, Brando’s the farthest thing from okay. He and Sasha are getting married. Carly says, that’s it? and Gladys says, what does she mean, that’s it? They’re eloping tonight. Carly says, Brando and Sasha went through something no parent should have to go through, and it’s not like they’re doing something dangerous. Gladys says, marriage is dangerous. Carly of all people should know that. If she won’t help, Gladys bets Sonny will. She turns and nearly runs over the hostess, and Carly says Gladys has been drinking. Gladys says she’s fine. She had one or two, maybe three. Carly says she’s not letting Gladys go anywhere like this. She’ll drive Gladys to Sonny’s herself. Let’s go. Gladys says, that’s cool, but she’s going to have to floor it. They get in the elevator.

Sonny says, what about Michael and Wiley? Everything all right? Nina says, Wiley is fine. She just thought Sonny deserved a heads up. She’s suing for visitation. He asks, why? and she says, she and Willow had a little chat, and Willow says she doesn’t see a path for her to have any access to Wiley, so she told Willow that she’s going to exercise her legal rights as Wiley’s grandmother. Michael hasn’t told Sonny that? Sonny says he hasn’t talked to Michael, and she says, which means Willow hasn’t told him yet, but Sonny says, Michael’s still not talking to him. She says she’s sorry to put him in this position, and he says he doesn’t blame her for doing what she feels she needs to for her family, but she can’t do that.

Diane says, yay, Harmony’s coming. When did that happen? Alexis says, Harmony just texted her. She’s having a hard time, so Alexis texted her back, and asked her to join them. Temp Harmony (see below) walks in, and thanks them for including her on their girls night out. She tells Alexis that she looks great, and Alexis asks if she had a tough day at Spring Ridge. Harmony says, tougher than usual, and Diane says they all have those, right? What is she drinking? The first round’s on her. Alexis tells Harmony to relax. She’s in a much better place than she was on New Year’s Eve. Harmony says, in that case, she’ll have one of those cocktails The Savoy is famous for. Diane says, two outrageous cocktails and one sparkling water coming right up. She goes to the bar, and Harmony says, there must be ice skating in hell. Alexis asks what that means, and Harmony says, that was one of the most positive interactions she’s had with any of Alexis’s friends. Alexis says, Diane is drama free. She looks at Michael and Willow, and says, speaking of drama free… Harmony supposes she should go say hi, and gets up.

Michael brings Willow a drink, and tells her, take a breath, take a sip of her drink, and tell him how she thinks she messed up. She says she knows she messed up, when Harmony approaches the table, and says what a nice surprise. She’s here with Diane and Alexis, and thought she’d say hi. Willow says she’s been meaning to call, and thanks Harmony again for dropping off her birth certificate. Harmony says, her pleasure. Now the two of them can enjoy that trip to Paris. Michael says, Willow definitely deserves a celebration and a break. She took exams yesterday. Harmony is sure Willow sailed through it.

Maxie asks how Mac’s check-up was, and Felicia says, couldn’t have gone better. Mac’s gunshot wound is healing perfectly, but Maxie isn’t getting off the hook that easily. She and Austin are an item now? Maxie says, it’s new, and Mac says, they look forward to getting to know him better. Felicia says, as much as they’d like to stay and chat, they have a prior engagement. Call her later. She hugs Maxie, and Maxie says, only if Felicia promises to behave herself, but Felicia says, no promises. She says it was a pleasure seeing Austin again, and Mac gruffly says he’s sure they’ll be seeing more of him. They leave, and Maxie laughs, saying, she’s so sorry about that. He says, no, it’s great. He guesses Maxie Jones lesson number two is that she’s really close to her family, and that might take some getting used to. She says, something like that, and he says, no problem. What’s in the box? She says, something she was hoping he could help her with. She needs to get rid of Peter.

In the elevator, Mac asks what they really think about that, and Felicia says, personally, she thinks it’s too soon for Maxie to be in a relationship with someone new. But she’s a grown woman, living her own life. Mac says, they’ll keep an eye on her, and him. If Dr. Gatlin-Holt gets out of line, he’ll smush him like a bug.

The mechanic comes out, and tells Brando, the car needs a new fuel pump, but he can’t get the pump in until tomorrow morning. Sasha says, so they’re stuck here all night, but Brando says, not necessarily. A busted fuel pump can be jerry-rigged; he’s done it a bunch of times in emergencies. The mechanic says he’s welcome to take a look, and Brando goes in the back with him. Sasha takes the pills out of her purse. She sees she doesn’t have much left, and gets out her phone, but there’s no service. She flashes back to Brando telling her that they’re on a back road that runs alongside the river, and if you listen hard, you can hear wedding bells. He says, those bells are ringing for another couple, and she says, soon, they’ll be ringing for them… and for Liam. His brief life will have meaning because he will know, and the whole world will know, he was born out of love. She takes another pill, and Brando says, Sasha?

Robert tells Anna, August bonded everyone by leaving no one unscathed. If she finds herself waking up at night with guilt problems, reach out. She has plenty of support system out there. Don’t ever forget, Peter and Peter alone did all the damage. She takes his hand and thanks him, and says, there’s someone else to blame other than Peter. The man who helped him escape; the man who may have murdered Luke. He says, Victor Cassadine, and she says, one nightmare ends, and another one begins.

Maxie tells Austin, Peter named Britt executor, and his personal effects were given to her, and Britt didn’t want them, so she offered to dispose of them. Does he think he can help her with that? He says, no problem, and she thanks him. He leans in for a kiss again, but Obrecht yanks him back, saying, how dare he come near her dear Maxie after everything he’s put her through? She puts her arm around Maxie, and says, don’t worry, liebchen. She promised Dr. Gatlin-Holt that he’d answer to her for betraying Maxie, and she always keeps her promises.

At the bar, Diane watches the room, and Harmony asks if Willow was able to get her passport. Willow says, not yet. She has an appointment.  They just want to see her birth certificate, and have her fill out an application. After that, they’ll expedite her passport. (It’s not quite like that, but okay.) Michael says he’s sure it will be fine. He and Willow aren’t anticipating any problems.

Diane sits back down, and Alexis says, let’s have a good time. She’s in the mood for some fun. Diane says, she’s in luck, because a very attractive man at the bar cannot take his eyes off her. Alexis says, what? No. The man approaches their table, and says he knows he’s being incredibly bold, but he could help noticing Alexis. He’d like to buy her a drink. Diane says, he may, but Alexis says she already has a drink. He says, maybe some other time, and Diane face palms. She says she just wants to shake Alexis. Alexis said she wanted some fun, now go get it.

Nina tells Sonny, she’s sorry, but the only way she’ll have access to Wiley is if she goes to court. He says, let him lower the temperature with Michael before she resorts to anything drastic. She says she really appreciates the offer, but she’s not sure how much luck he’s going to have. Even if he convinces Michael that she can see Wiley, there’s Carly. He says, Michael’s his own man and makes his own decisions, and she says, that may be true, but Carly’s influence carries a lot of weight. And once Carly finds out Sonny is helping her with Wiley, she’ll be on the warpath. He says, he and Carly are done. It was her choice. She cannot get mad at him for wanting to help his grandson. Nina asks if they’re talking about the same woman, because honestly, Nina is surprised Carly hasn’t come after her already. There’s a knock at the door, and Sonny opens it to Carly and Gladys. Carly sees Nina, and smiles.

Austin says he doesn’t know how many times he has to apologize to Obrecht, but he’s sorry, he’s sorry, he’s sorry, he’s sorry. He should never have trusted Victor. Obrecht says, he was so obsessed with targeting Brook that he blabbed to that fiend in a tailored suit. Of course (🍷) he took the information straight to Peter, letting that schwein know Bailey was really his daughter Louise. He says he made his amends. She put the bug on Victor, and he had to listen to that guy talking for hours and hours and hours, trying to pinpoint where Peter had taken Maxie. Obrecht says, he was scrambling to correct his egregious mistake talking to Victor. He hurt Maxie and her baby, and for her, that’s personal. That requires a different kind of penance. Maxie says she really does appreciate Obrecht looking out for her… Obrecht says she’d do anything for Maxie, and Maxie takes Austin’s arm and says, then she wants Obrecht to forgive him.

Alexis tells Diane, her idea of fun does not include that man, nor does it include any man for that matter. Diane says, it’s been far too long since Alexis had any romance in her life. He seemed nice. Alexis says, so did Neil. So did Julian. One died in her bed, and the other one almost chopped her head off. Diane says, Julian never seemed nice. One of these days, Alexis will have to open herself up to love. The right guy is going to come along, and she’s never going to know it. Alexis says she’s not interested in a relationship, when Harmony comes back. She asks what she missed.

Willow says, after all her lectures about co-existing and keeping the peace… Michael says, so this is about Nina, and she says she ran into Nina at the hospital. He says he’s sure that was a laugh a minute, and she says, Nina asked if she could spend time with Wiley. He says, after his mother just caught her in bed with his father, and Willow says, that was pretty much her reaction. He asks how she thinks she messed up, and she says, Nina caught her off guard, especially since not five minutes before, they were talking about how Nina withholds information. Carly and Sonny are in the middle of a divorce, and Nina’s timing was terrible. She snapped. He says, to be honest, he would have loved to see her go off on Nina; it would have made his day, his week. She says, she pushed Nina too far. Nina told her that she’s going to exercise her legal right to visitation with Wiley. He tells her, don’t worry. They’ll shut her down. That woman isn’t getting anywhere near their son.

Gladys says she’s sorry for crashing their date, and Nina says, it’s not a date. Gladys says she needs Sonny’s help; Brando and Sasha are eloping. They’re on the Canada side of Niagara Falls. Please call his people and have them fire up the jet. They may already be too late. He says he knows she wants to be at her son’s wedding, but if Brando and Sasha are eloping, they probably want to do it alone. She says she doesn’t want to be at their wedding; she wants to stop the wedding. They’re in no state to make a decision like this. She needs to talk to Brando before he ruins his life. Carly says, it’s not her choice to make, and Gladys asks if none of them is worried the least little bit. Brando and Sasha are still grieving their baby. How do they figure they’re capable of entering into marriage? Nina says, Gladys has a point. They owe it to Brando and Sasha to make sure they’re getting married for the right reasons.

Sasha asks, what’s the verdict? and Brando tells her, it’s like Vern said; the pump is shot. She says she was thinking they could get a Ride Share and still make it to the chapel before it closes, but she has no cell service. Brando says, neither does he, and Vern says, the service can be spotty out here. They’re welcome to use the garage phone to call a cab. He’ll place the order for a new fuel pump. Brando tells Sasha, as much as they wanted to get married today, maybe it’s best if they do it in Port Charles, with all of their family and friends… She says, no, and he asks, what’s going on? Is there something she needs to tell him about? She says, it’s just that she has this feeling, if they don’t get married tonight, they never will, and she’ll lose him. He says she’ll never lose him, but she says, he can’t promise that. He says he can and will. He’ll marry her tomorrow in a courthouse or a treehouse, a swamp. Wherever there’s an ordained minister and a witness, that’s where he’ll say his I dos. Vern says, excuse him. He couldn’t help overhearing. He’s actually ordained. Brando says, he can marry them? and Sasha says, today? Vern says he’ll call his wife Lorna and she can be their witness. As long as they don’t mind getting married in a garage. Sasha and Brando look at each other, and say, it’s perfect.

Robert says, if Victor killed Luke, that can only mean one thing. Luke figured out what Victor was up to. Felica says, whatever that is, and Mac says, if the Cassadines and the Ice Princess are involved, that spells trouble for the rest of them. Anna says, somehow, Drew Cain is the key. Drew, Sam, and Dante are trying to trap Victor into exposing whatever it is he’s up to. Robert asks, what if they’re unsuccessful? and Felicia says she and Anna have a plan of their own.

Harmony suggests she go, so Diane and Alexis can work out whatever tension is between them, when Michael comes by and asks if he and Willow can talk to Diane for a minute. Diane says, absolutely, and goes back to his table with him. Harmony says, none of her business, but if Alexis need an ear, she’s happy to lend one. Alexis says, a very nice man offered to buy her a drink, and she said she wasn’t interested, and then Diane goes off and starts talking about her love life, or lack thereof. She does it all the time. Harmony says, let her guess. Alexis overreacted. Alexis makes a gesture meaning a little bit, and Harmony says she spent her life following people who thought they had the answers. The truth is, no one does. Alexis is the only one who knows what’s right for her. She’s sure Alexis has asked herself these questions about romance a hundred times, and came up with the answer based on her experience. She doesn’t want to date? Then that’s the answer, and it’s perfectly okay.

Carly says, Sasha is fragile since she lost the baby. She puts on a tough front, but she’s still struggling. Sonny says, Brando’s still raw, but even though he and Sasha are acting impulsively, they’re good for each other; they’re strong for each other. Carly agrees, and Gladys says she can’t believe she’s hearing this. Nina is close to Sasha. Tell her that she agrees they have to stop the wedding. Nina says, she’s sorry, but after listening to Sonny and Carly, she agrees with them. Carly rolls her eyes, and I want to smack her. Nina says, Sasha and Brando are adults; they make their own choices. And they have a strong relationship. They’re bonded by shared loss. Carly says, Brando and Sasha are grieving together, so they have to trust getting married was the right decision for them. Gladys says, if Sonny isn’t going to lend her the jet, she’ll just rent a helicopter, and Sonny says, wait. He knows her first instinct is to protect her son. Nina says, Gladys can’t make those choices for him, and Carly says, as parents, they have to sit back and let their kids live their lives. Gladys says, so that’s what they all would do in her shoes? and Carly says, yep, and Nina says, afraid so. Sonny says, it’s the hardest thing about being a parent, but it’s got to be done. Gladys says she guesses she’s just not like them. Doing nothing is not in her vocabulary. Nina says, she’s not doing nothing, and Carly says, Brando is always going to need her love and support. She can give him that by letting him do what he needs to do. Sonny says, you just got to be there for him, and whatever comes next.

Outside Bliss Street Auto Repair, Brando says, ready? and Sasha says, ready. Lorna puts on the Wedding March, and Sasha walks out in a super pretty white dress with red flowers on it, carrying a bouquet. Where she got it, who knows? Vern says, they’re gathered here today to join Brando and Sasha in holy matrimony. As they embark on their journey as partners through life, the vows they exchange are their sacred pledge to each other; a contract bound by love. Brando says, they actually didn’t have time to write their vows, and Sasha says, they just jumped in the car, and headed for the nearest chapel. Vern asks if they’d prefer the traditional vows, or would they like to speak from the heart? Sasha says, they’d like to… and Brando says, speak from the heart.

Robert says, don’t keep them in suspense; what’s the plan? Anna says, Victor can’t achieve his objective if he’s in prison, and Felicia says, which means they need to prove Victor murdered Luke. Anna says she’s going to Austria to get proof, and Mac asks where Felicia fits in. Felicia says, they have to make sure Victor doesn’t catch on. If Anna goes to Austria alone, he’ll be suspicious. Anna says, Felicia is coming as her cover, and Mac says, absolutely not. Felicia says, hey! He doesn’t get to tell her what she can and cannot do. He says he’s grateful she rescued Maxie, but he still has nightmares about Peter running her car off the road. She can’t take that risk again. Felicia says, Mac can’t go with Anna. His recovery is coming along nicely, but he’s not fully healed. Robert says, they know what Victor is capable of. Maxie brought home her daughter, and needs Felicia. Felicia’s granddaughter needs her. Felicia says she knows, and she loves being with them, but she and Anna decided that going together would draw the least amount of suspicion. Anna says, they’ll say they’re going to be debriefed about the circumstances surrounding Maxie’s escape, and Peter’s subsequent death. Felicia says, and  to draw the least amount of suspicion, they’ll rent a car and drive to Innsbruck. Anna says, she’ll start the investigation into the tram accident, and Felicia says, Anna is doing the investigation? She knows she’s Anna’s cover, but she can’t be expected to sit around in the hotel room while Anna does all the work. Mac says, he’s in awe of how Anna took down Peter, but Felicia isn’t trained as a field agent. Victor is ruthless. Anna says, they’re going to an office to look at transportation records. If anything even remotely suspicious happens, she’ll get them out of there ASAP. Robert says, they all know what Victor is capable of, but they owe it to Luke, his family, friends and community, to stop him.

Brando says, Sasha has the most kind and generous heart of anyone he’s ever known, all wrapped up into one fierce shell. He’s seen how she fights for those she loves, and he’s honored that she’s chosen to spend the rest of her life with him. He promises to spend the rest of his life loving her and being her partner, whatever may come. He loves her. She says she admits, at first she didn’t know what to think of him, but something undeniable drew her to him, and she learned how brave and selfless he is. He saved her life in so many ways. She was used to being on her own, and looking out for herself, but in him, she’s found the perfect complement to her life. He’s truly her partner, and she’s so thankful she found him.

Maxie says, Austin is in her life now, and it would be easier for all of them if Obrecht would just accept that. Obrecht says, for Maxie, she will agree to co-exist with Dr. Gatlin-Holt. If he makes another mistake, he won’t live to regret it. He says he thinks she means to say, he will live to regret it, but she says, no, she didn’t.  

Brando puts Sasha’s ring on her finger, and says, with this ring, I thee wed, and Sasha does the same with him. Vern says, by the power vested in him, he pronounces them husband and wife. Brando may kiss his bride. And he does. A lot.

Michael says, Nina insists under New York state law, she has the right to see Wiley, but Diane says, Nina is mistaken. The statute Nina is referring to stipulates that if one of the biological parents is dead – in this case, Nelle – the biological grandparent has standing to file for visitation. So Nina has the right to bring her petition in front of a judge, but all that guarantees her is a hearing. She still has to convince the judge to give her access to Wiley. Michael says, but they can argue against it, and Diane says, correct. He says, if she files, he wants Diane to shut her down. Diane says, nothing would give her more pleasure, and Willow says, she was in favor of compromise, but it’s not possible with Nina. She’s repeatedly asked to see Wiley under what amounts to false pretenses. They can’t trust her. Diane says, which is why they need to keep this out of court. The downside is simply too risky. Michael’s a strategist, so think strategically. He’ll have more options if he keeps this out of court. He says, if Nina does file, they should be prepared, and Diane says she’ll delve into case law. In the meantime, her best advice is, do not engage. She’ll call them tomorrow, but for tonight, here’s some unsolicited advice. Push Nina from their thoughts, and enjoy the rest of their evening. She leaves, and Willow says she’s sorry she started this, but Michael says, no, Nina started this, but they’re going to be the ones to finish it.

Sasha says, they did it, and Brando says, it’s real now. She says, speaking of reality, he should call his mother and give her the good news. Vern says they can use the landline inside, and they go in. Brando makes the call.

Sonny asks what Gladys says. Does she want to give her son a chance at his own life? Her phone rings, and it’s Brando. He says he’s in Canada. He and Sasha decided to elope. Gladys fights back tears, and asks him to put her on speaker. He does, and she says, Brando and Sasha, you have all my blessings for a happy life. They thank her, and she says, come home soon, so she can congratulate them in person. He says they will, and he loves her. She says she loves him too. Sonny tells her that she did right the thing, she touches his shoulder, and leaves. Carly thanks him for helping her with Gladys, and follows her.

Felicia asks if Mac is on board about her going to Austria with Anna, and he heaves a sigh. He says, she’s the one who found Maxie and took down Peter. He’d be crazy to think she couldn’t handle herself. Robert says, he and Mac will hold down the fort here, and hopefully keep Victor’s attention off the two of them. Felicia says she loves Mac, and gives him a kiss, telling him, don’t do anything to jeopardize his recovery. He says, aye-aye, captain. Be careful. Find out what Victor is up to, and put a stop to it. Anna asks if she’s ready to go to Austria, and Felicia says, you bet. She wants to see Victor in prison for helping Peter.

Austin says, they got the whole meet-my-family thing out of the way, and Maxie says, she’ll come around. He asks if she has any idea when, and she says, it’ll take a while, but don’t worry. Maxie’s opinion is the only one that matters. Now their real problem is, how do they get rid of Peter’s box? He says, well, this is a hospital, and hospitals are really good at disposing of toxic and hazardous waste. She says she knew he would have the answer, and he says, he does. Come on. It’s time she saw the morgue.

Diane sits back down, and Alexis says she’s sorry she snapped at her. She’ll buy the next round. Diane says, no need. She’s sorry she pushed. Alexis says, she meant well, and Diane says that Alexis is being so nice, and asks what Harmony said to her. Harmony says, she just supported Alexis’s decision, that’s all, and Alexis says, after Neil, she can’t, okay? Diane says she gets it. Alexis gave up her law license for him. Alexis says she thought he was more important than her law license, and he thought drugs were more important than her. Harmony says, that will leave a mark on you, and Alexis says, they all have marks. Let’s just lighten up. Debbie Downer has left the building. Harmony says, there may have been darkness in Alexis’s past, but now the light has returned, and she’s been given a new beginning. That’s something to celebrate. Alexis says, to the light, and Diane laughs. Alexis says she doesn’t know about them, but she’s going to dance.

Nina says, that could have been so much worse, and Sonny says, when someone’s right, Carly’s not afraid to admit it. She asks if Carly and Michael will admit that Wiley deserves to see his other grandmother, and he says, all he can do is try. She says she knows he can be very persuasive when he sets his mind on something, so she’ll put her legal action on hold if he thinks he can convince Michael to let her see Wiley. He thanks her, and says he thinks that works best for everybody. She says, what about Carly? Obviously she doesn’t know Nina threatened to go to court to see Wiley, but she will find out. He tells her to just lay low. He’ll see what he can do about Michael, and they’ll worry about everything else later. She says, he’s right. She’ll focus on the newlyweds.

Outside, Carly says, Gladys did good, and Gladys says, Carly should be nominated for sainthood. If she saw her ex with that woman, she’d rip her hair out and set it on fire. Carly says she’s not a saint. She’s just a woman movin’ on.

Sasha says, surprised? and Brando says, relieved. He asks if there’s a cab company he can call, and Vern says they’re pretty out of the way. It’ll take a while for a cab to pick them up. Lorna suggests Brando and Sasha stay with them tonight. They don’t have a spare room, but one of them can take the sofa, and the other a sleeping bag. (Ideal for a honeymoon!) Vern says, and he’ll be able to get the pump replaced early tomorrow. Sasha thanks them for their very generous offer, and says they accept. Vern asks Lorna to help him clean up, and give these honeymooners some privacy. They leave, and Sasha says, the first night of their honeymoon. She’ll flip him for the sofa. He says he’s truly sorry it didn’t turn out how they imagined, and she says, please don’t tell her that he already regrets marrying her. He says, no, never, but she deserves the world. He knows this wasn’t her fantasy elopement, but she says, it is her fantasy elopement. At the end of the day, he’s her husband. He says, and she’s his wife. She says, for the rest of their lives, and they kiss.  

Tomorrow, Brook asks Michael if Chase said he’s interested in her: Carly asks Josslyn to tell her what’s going on, and they’ll fix it; Esme says, show time; and Cameron tells Jake, don’t! as he’s about to do something on his phone.

👯 Interim BFF…

She was good, but I hope the original comes back soon.

🍑 Peach Pits…

I’m not a regular, but I drop in once in a while.

🤹 Calling Number Two…

Joe Gorga spills the appletini.

💔 Say It Ain’t So…

This made me sad. I really thought they made a great couple.

https://people.com/home/million-dollar-listing-star-josh-flagg-and-husband-bobby-boyd-divorcing-after-5-years-of-marriage/

⚰️ Dead Spin…

The news I’ve been waiting for. I’m not a huge fan of Maggie – she’s aight – but I love Negan, and think he deserves his own show.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-maggie-negan-spinoff-isle-of-the-dead-lauren-cohan-jeffrey-dean-morgan-amc/

🔌 Time To Recharge…

Hit me up tomorrow for some soap, tea galore, meaningful words and as always, a random track. Until then, stay safe, stay on your mettle, and stay knowing that ultimately, only you know what’s right for you.

September 19, 2021 – Aaron Questions a Whisperer, Dead In the Family, Baby Daddy, Unused Ending, Fear Preview, a Look At Beyond, Two Kinds Of Winners & Dance

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

The Walking Dead

Aaron walks through the woods with Grace. An unmasked Whisperer with a W carved on his forehead asks if they’re lost. Grace says she’s scared, but Aaron says it will be okay, and to stay close. They hear whistling, and another Whisperer comes out with a gun, one more with a knife. A real zombie joins them, and Aaron kills it. He calls for Grace, but she’s gone. He’s surrounded by Whisperers and zombies, and they close in, hacking at him. He wakes, and sees Grace sleeping peacefully.

Jerry quietly steps over some sleeping kids to go to the bathroom. He looks out sees a zombie, and yells, breach inside the wall! Everyone scrambles around, and Aaron tells Grace to head downstairs to the basement and stay there, like they practiced. Does she have her whistle? He leaves.

A zombie is eating a random guy in the street, and everyone is running toward a section of the wall that’s been pushed down. Carol, Aaron, and some others try to put the panel back in place, but the zombies aren’t making it easy. One grabs at Aaron, who’s trying to block what’s left of the opening. Jerry finally whacks it in the head with a hammer. They get the wall back in place and fortified.

At the Commonwealth, Eugene and company watch a welcome video. Director of Ops, Lance Hornsby, says if they’re watching this, they’ve made it through the rigorous screening process, and are on their way to becoming part of the community. He explains they’re under the leadership of Pamela Milton, and they’re 50,000 strong. Each person is assigned a job best suited to their skillset in order to keep the community thriving. This orientation will give them a taste of what’s in store. The future starts here. We see an ice cream truck and a sack race, and Lance says, community. We see some happy old people, and he says, care giving. We see the stormtroopers under a banner that says, Fight the Dead, Save the Living, and he says, security. That’s the Commonwealth way.

Yumiko says, Pamela Milton. Wow. Princess smiles and nods. Am I supposed to know who she is? A man gives each of them an envelope, and Eugene says he’s in the high school teacher pool. Princess takes out her $2 bill, and says it’s a good sign. Eugene asks what this is, and the man says, their job and housing assignments. Eugene says taking up permanent residence wasn’t their intention, but the man says, if there’s a problem, take it up with their case supervisor. Eugene says, they’re not there to work; they came to get help. Princess wonders if they can’t stick around. She got a retail position, and maybe there’s a mall. Ezekiel says, he got animal control, and thinks the positions were based on what they’d done before. Yumiko says, hers isn’t an assignment; more like an invitation. It’s from an Edmund Widgeway, to meet and talk about opportunities in the community. Princess says, sounds fancy; it must be the accent. Eugene they have to leave asap, before these entanglements usurp their Plan A. He’s supposed to meet Stephanie, and Princess says she’ll go with him, since she wants to see more of the city. Ezekiel tells Yumiko, maybe whoever gave her the invite can help. Yumiko goes over the man’s desk, and he tells her to see her case supervisor, but she says she doesn’t have one. She only has this letter. He looks at the letter, and seems impressed. He asks how he can help, and she says she was inquiring about a family member she thinks lives there, but hasn’t heard anything. He says he’d be happy to help with that.

Zombies gather outside Alexandria. Rosita says, the wall is fragile since it broke, and Aaron says, they need a long term fix using updated tools. Rosita says, they’re back to square one soon with the food, and Aaron says, it’s nasty (if you remember, it’s horse), but it’s going fast. Maybe they should check Hilltop. Carol says they could make a run, and see if there’s any game along the way. I find it difficult to believe there isn’t even a bird or squirrel around. And again, nuts? Berries? Roots? Rosita says, what if there’s nothing left? What if they can’t make it safe? They need to look into other options. Aaron says, this is their home, and he’s not ready to abandon ship. They’re going to try and make it safe first.

Maggie and Negan fight a zombie together in the woods, and bring it down. Negan tells her, the only way this works is if they trust each other. She asks why she’d ever trust him, and he says, he doesn’t know. Maybe she wants to stay alive, the same as him. Maggie says she’ll stay alive in spite of him, not because of him. He says, if that’s how she feels, he doesn’t understand why she hasn’t put him down yet. She flings a knife toward his head, and he ducks. It lodges in the head of a zombie behind him. He says, sh*t, and she says, she asks herself that question nearly every day. She walks past him, and he says, no sh*t. He follows her.   

Aaron, Carly, and Jerry ride to Hilltop, which is a burnt out mess. Aaron says, it’s been picked clean. There are some zombies toddling around, and Jerry says, heads up. Those are our people. A zombie writhes on the ground close by, and Lydia says, that’s Troy. Carol says, let’s just get it done, and Jerry looks sad. They walk around, dispatching the roaming zombies, and Aaron stabs Troy in the head without looking at him.   

Back in Alexandria, Judith teaches the children the art of fighting zombies, using wooden swords. They see some teenage kids teasing a young zombie who’s poking his head through an opening; putting their hands close to his mouth to make him snap, and banging on the wall. Judith strides over, and says they shouldn’t be doing that; it’s dangerous. The tallest kid tells her, calm down. They’re just having fun. Judith says, if they don’t stop it, she’s going to tell Rosita. The boy says, she talks too much. No wonder her mother abandoned her. Judith tells him, what did you say? and he says she’s such a baby. Her mother must have gotten tired of her whining. Judith puts a knife to his throat, and tells him, say it again. I dare you. Grace comes over, and asks her to come away from them. The boy says, stay away, psycho, and Judith walks off with Grace.

On the road, Maggie and Negan walk into a suburban area. They go inside a house, and Negan says, it doesn’t look like anybody’s been here. She says, so they wait, and he asks, how long? She ask how long he’d want someone to wait for him, but he says, the longer they stay, the more likely those lunatics will catch up to them. They should just take the food from there back. It’s not a lot, but it’s something. She says, it’s nothing. They need to feed a whole community. He says, she needs to know when to cut her losses, and she says, those losses are her people. He says, she still has people; she still has Herschel. She asks if he doesn’t know that’s the reason she’s doing this. He says, she can’t. That’s his point. He knows he doesn’t get a vote, but here it is anyway. They should give it until sundown. If they others don’t show by then, they should go.

Yumiko looks in a bakery window. She goes inside, and smiles. A baker comes out and asks how she’s doing. They have a fresh batch of donuts. She says she’s looking for someone, and another baker comes out, carrying a cake. He says, ready, boss, and sees Yumiko. She says, hi, Tomi, and he drops the cake.

Aaron and the others go through Hilltop, and Aaron says, it’s all gone. Jerry says, a lot of them are still standing; remember that. Carol says, it’s war. They need to take care of the stray zombies before they keep searching. They see a group of zombies walking like they’re pushing the wheel in Midnight Express, and Lydia tells them, look at the way they’re moving. They’re being herded. Aaron says, Whisperers, and they run toward the zombies, Aaron using his metal mace arm to smash heads. One falls to the ground, and it’s a Whisperer. Jerry rips its mask off, and Lydia says she knows him.  

And ice cream truck plays music from The Sting, which is better than that crappy music they usually play. Eugene waits by the sidewalk, and Stephanie brings him a cone. He takes a lick and approves. They walk, and he tells her, if she doesn’t mind him saying it, this place has creature comforts he didn’t know he missed. It’s a fine day for him. She says, it’s a fine day for her too. She’s glad he’s here. He sees a woman pushing a stroller, and Stephanie asks where he is. He says, his people. Back where he’s from, there used to be a place like this. He could be content indefinitely, but he wouldn’t be the man he is if he didn’t do what he came there for. He can’t stay. He has to help his friends. Since there’s significant red tape to become a citizen, does she have any advice on how to cut through it? She wishes she did have some, and they sit on a bench. She looks up at the radio tower, and he looks at her. She says she bets he’d feel better if he could talk to his people. It’s not in her realm of responsibility, but she wants to help. Ezekiel and Princess join them, and Ezekiel says, the deputy superintendent said it would take five weeks to see the boss. It might as well be five years. Princess asks if there isn’t an unofficial version, and Eugene hands Princess his ice cream cone. They all walk toward the train station where the tower is, as Mercer watches.

The kids are all running around the house, when Judith comes in. She finds a handprint thing that Carl made for her, and she asks who broke it. She goes up to the bully kid, and asks if it was him, but he says, no. She says, don’t lie, and he tells her not to pull another knife on him. He said he didn’t do it. Grace says she can help fix it. RJ says, he can too, and Herschel says they all will.

Judith sits outside with the broken piece, when Rosita comes by. She says she remembers when they made those. She was so small, and Carl wanted them to have a memory together. Judith says, now it’s broken, and Carl is gone. Everybody is. Rosita says she misses them all too, and Judith asks if it gets easier. Rosita says she’d be lying if she said it did, and Judith says she’s worried she’s going to start forgetting about them. Rosita sits next to her, and says she never really knew her dad, and her mom died when she was a little older than Judith is now. For a long time, it was just the two of them. They moved a lot, from job to job, but her mom always managed to keep them going.  She didn’t know it then, but her mother was teaching her to survive on her own, so Rosita would be okay if she wasn’t there. Carl and Judith’s dad did the same for her. She’ll always be able to get through tough times. Pieces wood are nice, but she doesn’t need that to remember how much they love her. Rosita adds that she’s really good at fixing things.

Aaron asks the Whisperer his name; and no Alpha/Beta garbage. The guy says his name is Keith, and Aaron asks what he’s doing there. He says he’s not hurting anyone. The herd scattered, and those who weren’t killed or burned, they all left. Aaron asks why he’s keeping the walkers, and he says, protection… comfort… old habit. Jerry asks what Aaron thinks, and Aaron says, he’s never met a Whisperer who wasn’t a liar. Lydia says he believed Mary, and Aaron asks how she knows Keith isn’t lying. Why is she so certain? She says he wasn’t part of her mother’s inner circle; he was afraid of her. Aaron says, all that proves is, he’s got eyes, and Keith says, during the long winter, he took care of Lydia. Does she remember? She says she’s not sure, but it doesn’t matter. Aaron says, he’s hiding something, and Carol says, Aaron is right. They need make sure he’s not a threat. Aaron says they’ll put him in the cellar until they decide.

They go down to the old jail cell, and Jerry says, dude… Aaron asks, what is it? and Jerry says, nothing good. Four people are crouched along the wall, and Aaron says, he’s not alone. Let’s see what else he lied about. Aaron digs around the cell, and finds a mask. He asks, how many more? and Keith swears that’s it. Aaron says, Keith just led to him, and Lydia tells Aaron, look at them. They’re scared. They’re just trying to be people again. Aaron asks how they know they’re not a threat; hiding in plain sight before they get ambushed. She says, they weren’t all monsters, and Jerry sees a scarf. He said it belonged to Nabila. They were in Alexandria. They burned down their home. Carol asks Aaron what they’re going to do, when Keith grabs a knife. Lydia yells, look out, and Keith lunges at Aaron, slicing him. The others run out during the distraction, and Aaron says, his turn, and knocks Keith out.

At the Commonwealth, Stephanie leads Eugene into the train station. Remind me not to let these two spy for me. They’re so nervous, it looks obvious they’re up to something. Ezekiel sits in the waiting area, and Eugene and Stephanie go upstairs. Princess watches everything.  

At a sidewalk café, Yumiko tells Tomi that she’s good with a slingshot too. He says, not bad for a barrister. He tells her that she’s changed, and she says so has he. How did he find this place? He says he fled Chicago after it first started going bad. He ran out of gas about 20 miles from there. He was lucky enough to find good people, and they walked there. It was early on, and they had just a few secure blocks when they first started, but they expanded. He almost forgets what’s going on outside the walls. She says, he’s been there the whole time making cakes? and he says he likes baking; it makes him happy. She says, he could save people, and he says she’s still trying to run people’s lives. She says she just wants what’s best for him, and he asks, when was the last time she saw him happy, truly content? She says she can’t remember. Maybe now. He says he likes his life the way it is. It’s the one gift he got out of the world falling apart. Don’t ruin it for him. She says, of course she wouldn’t ruin it, but tell her one thing. Is it as good as it seems? He says, better. She says, if she wanted to get help for her people, could she do that there? He says, anything is possible, as long as she follows the rules. Does she want some cake? She says, hell yeah.   

Princes sees Mercer coming up the steps to the train station, and runs out. She says, fancy meeting him there. She admires his muscles, and says, clearly, they’ve got a gym. He asks her to excuse him; he has business inside. She says she wanted to thank him, and he says, for what? She holds up the $2 bill, and says, for making sure she got this back. He says, no need to thank him. He was returning her property. Is there something else? She says, yeah… He has really beautiful eyelashes.

Keith hangs by his arms, and Aaron says tell him where the others went. He holds a zombie on the end of a stick, close to Keith, and says, how many more? Answer him. He brings the zombie closer, and it bites at Keith’s jacket. Keith yells for Lydia to help him, and Aaron asks, where are they? Keith says, the Alexandrians pretended they were better than the dead, but dead is honest. His friends are better off dead. Aaron lets the zombie bite Keith, and Lydia is clearly disturbed. Aaron says, the clock is ticking. Does he feel better off? He can help Keith by cutting off his hand before the infection spreads, but they don’t have much time. Where are they? Keith says he doesn’t know; he swears. Aaron asks if the Whisperers are still a threat, and Keith says, no, but Aaron says, stop lying. Lydia says, enough, but Aaron says he needs answers. Lydia says Aaron wants something else, and she won’t be there to watch. Jerry, who’s holding Keith’s arms up via a pulley, drops Keith closer to the zombie, and Aaron says, tell the truth. Keith asks what Aaron wants him to say. There were more, but they’re gone. He doesn’t know where. Carol shoots the zombie in the head with an arrow, and Aaron asks, what the hell is she doing? She says, she’s stopping him from doing something, but he says he’s doing what he has to, to keep safe. She, of all people, should understand. She says, not like this, but he says, look around. They’re standing in the ashes of what the Whisperers destroyed. Grace is hungry because of them. There’s a world full of people beyond saving, and he’s not waiting for them to show up on their doorstep. Carol says she knows how it felt after Henry was murdered, when she let it take control of her, and take her down a dark path. Now with everything she does, she carries it with her. It’s a path he doesn’t want to go down. Let him go. Jerry drops Keith, and Aaron says, he can cut Keith’s hand off, or he can do it himself. The choice is his. He drops a knife in front of Keith. Geez, not even an ax.

Rosita fixes the handprint thing, and hears Eugene on the radio. She asks if he’s okay, and says it’s good to hear his voice. He says, they’re all safe, and yes, he’s doing okay. How are things there? Rosita says, the war is over. Alpha and Beta are dead, but Alexandria is trashed. They’re running out of food. He starts to break up, and she asks if he’s still there. Where is he? Judith says, he’s gone.  

Eugene says he lost the feed. Something is haywire. Mercer marches in, and tells him, hands up. He tells some guys to search Eugene, and says Eugene is under arrest for unauthorized use of company property. Eugene is taken away.  

Negan puts stuff in his bag, and Maggie asks what he’s doing. He says he’s leaving, and she says, not with the supplies. Their mission isn’t finished. He says, it is for him, and they struggle over the bag. He tells her, get over it, and she pushes him. They look at each other for a hot minute, and she pushes him again. They hear someone about to come in, and get in position, grabbing weapons. Elijah brings Gabriel in, and Maggie says, he made it. Elijah says the found each other in the woods, and Gabriel says he didn’t know if he’d survive. He knew they would be there, but what about the others? She tells him that Duncan, Cole, and Agatha are dead, and Alden is holed up in a church; she doesn’t know about the rest. Gabriel says, so we wait. Maggie nods, and says, we wait. She looks at Negan, and he sits.

Eugene paces in the office, where Ezekiel and Princess wait with him. He asks, where’s the young woman who was with him at the train station? and a man says they’re being charged with unlawful trespass, reckless endangerment, and illegal communication with a foreign entity, according to article whatever, and section whatsis of the Commonwealth criminal code. They’ll have a hearing before a judge, and if found guilty, they’ll be dropped in a zone far outside the Commonwealth walls, and banished from the community forever. Princess asks if they can’t talk to a lawyer, and the man says, they have an attorney? Ezekiel says, a fancy one. If they like rules so much, they need to have one. The man says, they’re asylum seekers, not citizens, and Eugene asks again about Stephanie. He says, she’ll be charged separately as a citizen, and Eugene says, they weren’t doing anything wrong. He says, tell it to the judge, when Lance walks in with Stephanie. He tells the man, let them go, but tells the group, don’t move. He’s going to find Mercer. He leaves, and Ezekiel says, was that…? Princess says, the video guy. Eugene thanks Stephanie, but she says, she might have stopped them from being banished, but they’ll have to pay in one way or another for what they’ve done.

Keith tells Lydia that he understands. Alpha would have done worse. Carol gives him some mushrooms as sustenance for him and the others, and he thanks her. He tells her that they’re not all like Alpha; some of them just want to survive. Lydia tells him, don’t ever look back. The group loads up their wagon, and Keith says, they don’t think he’s changed. Jerry tells him, that’s not for him to say, and Keith says he can prove it. Jerry asks, how? and Keith says he saw one of their people. She came out of the cave where Alpha kept the horde. The cave collapsed, and she was all alone. She looked hurt, but alive. Carol asks when he last saw her, and he says, in the woods by the screaming cave. Carol asks if Lydia knows where that is, and Lydia says she does. Carol says, they’ve got to go. Connie is alive. Aaron says, it will be dark before they get back. They’ll go at first light. The group heads out, and Aaron looks back. The other four Whisperers come out, and go to Keith.

Next time, Kelly says, something’s not right; and Connie is trapped by someone.   

😱 How Much Is That Zombie In the Window…?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton’s son Gus did a zombie cameo in tonight’s episode. Giving us proof that you can’t escape bullying even when you’re dead.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-gus-morgan-cameo-season-11-episode-5-jeffrey-dean-morgan-hilarie-burton/

👶 Old News…

Does anybody even care about Shane anymore?

https://www.insider.com/is-judith-ricks-kid-cailey-fleming-response-2021-9

🗯 Everybody Has an Opinion…

Why shouldn’t Rick have his own ending?

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-show-andrew-lincoln-unused-ending-perfect/

⚰️ Save the Date…

The new season of Fear the Walking Dead begins October 17th.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1008292/fear-the-walking-dead-season-7-apocalypse-survivors-preview/

🌄 And While We’re On the Subject…

Walking Dead: The World Beyond starts it’s second and final season October 3rd.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1008293/the-walking-dead-world-beyond-season-2-preview-rick/

🏆 For the Win…

Tonight’s Emmy winners.

https://ew.com/awards/emmys/emmy-awards-2021-winners-list/

And the most important part – the fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/33272/emmys-2021-red-carpet-fashion

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/emmys-red-carpet-fashion-2021-best-worst-looks-1235016236/

Some of the worst. Although I actually like the thing with the charms hanging from it, and the humongous belt buckle.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10001837/The-worst-dressed-stars-2021-Emmys.html

🍃 Making Like a Tree…

Funny how another Monday happens every week. Or how meaningless the word Monday is to those who have abandoned calendar living altogether. See you for soap and on shenanigans on Deck tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay being your bad self in a good way, and stay not letting anything take you down a dark path. Not even a zombie.

April 13, 2021 – Peter Takes a Page From Faison’s Playbook, Temp Taggert, Sonny Reflects, Soap Siblings, Bittersweet, a Denial, a Real Couple, a Royal Farewell & Let Go

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn goes to The Savoy, and tells Curtis, wow. This is very impressive. Curtis says he sees Finn finally dragged his butt down there to check it out, and Finn says he has something for Curtis. He sets a lunchbox-type case with a bow on it on the bar.

Jordan literally runs into Portia at the hospital because she’s busy on her phone. She apologizes, saying she should know better, and Portia says, it’s best to keep your wits about you around here. Jordan says she should have called first. She wanted to take TJ to dinner, but he’s assisting in surgery. She guesses she’ll go back home, but Portia says, or Jordan could join her for coffee. She looks on edge. Would it help to vent?

Britt comes into Maxie’s hospital room, where Maxie is packing her bag. She says Maxie’s papers are ready, and then asks, what’s wrong? Maxie says she just got off the phone with Peter’s assistant. She can’t find him, and wants him to know Carlton Media expressed interest in The Invader. Britt asks why Maxie is upset by that, and Maxie says, Carlton is a media conglomerate. Britt says, maybe it’s a cold offer, but Maxie says, or Peter plans on selling The Invader, and taking the money to leave Port Charles and the US, and taking her and the baby with him. Britt says Peter isn’t taking Maxie anywhere, but Maxie says, if he’s trying to make a deal, that means he’ll have the money to do it at any time. Britt says, then it’s good she bought the time they need by telling Peter that Maxie needs bedrest and no stress. Maxie thanks her again, and says she needs to go home and figure out what’s next. Obrecht comes in and says she’ll do no such thing. Get back in bed this instant.

Anna asks Peter what they forgot, and he says, they’re not the only ones who can make plans. She asks what he means, and he says if they go through with this, someone they care about will die. She says Peter isn’t in a position to make threats, and Valentin says, they’re taking him to a containment area until they get the evidence to convict him. Peter says, it sounds like the two of them; abducting him, and telling themselves that it’s all about justice. No matter. He set his plan in motion long ago, and the only way to stop it is to let him go.   

There’s a knock at Chase’s door, and Brook says she knows he’s in there. He’s too much of a grandpa to leave the lights on if he’s not home. He lets Brook in, the blanket wrapped around his shoulders, and she asks if he overslept again. Wake up; she has coffee. Is he doing okay? He looks like hell. What’s wrong with him?   

Michael tells Willow, he dreamed of this, and she says, her too. He’s glad it’s real, and he can finally say what he’s been wanting to say for months; what part of him has known longer than that. He loves her. She says she loves him too, and they get busy again.

Finn says, it’s Curtis’s very own portable defibrillator. He’d said he wanted one for behind the bar in case of an emergency. It’s a sound idea. Curtis thanks him, but says he was just asking for Finn’s input. He didn’t expect Finn to buy him one. Finn asks if Curtis is turning it down, but Curtis says, no; it’s going behind the bar. He says he appreciates Finn, and Finn says he appreciates Curtis letting him stop by. He just came from dinner with Chase, Jackie, and his dad. Curtis asks how it went, and Finn says, it went better than expected, but it was still incredibly awkward. Curtis says he knows how awkward things can get. He asks if Finn and Anna worked things out, but Finn says he’d rather talk about the new club. How is the opening coming? Curtis says, maybe it’s a good thing he’s still waiting for his liquor license. He has about a thousand decisions to make. He needs to hire a sound engineer and an audio guy, create a bar menu… Finn says Curtis is loving this, and Curtis says, every bit. It feels right. Finn is glad things are working out for Curtis, and Curtis says, at least here they are.

Obrecht asks Maxie, what’s all this talk about going home? She was ordered to rest; get in bed and start resting. Why she wasn’t told Maxie was admitted is a mystery to her. Britt says, it’s no mystery. They didn’t want people to know. How did Obrecht find out? Obrecht says, she’s not people; she’s oma. Maxie says she needs to get home before Mac and Felicia spoil James rotten, and Obrecht says she’ll straighten James out, but first she needs to examine Maxie. Britt says, she’s Maxie’s OB, not Obrecht. Is Obrecht questioning her as a doctor or as Chief of Staff? If her answer is yes to either, she’s going to ask Obrecht to leave immediately.   

Peter says, the best way to deal with a strong enemy, or enemies, is to target who they love. It’s effective. They made a feeble attempt to destroy him, but is it worth sacrificing someone they care about? Anna lunges for Peter, but Valentin grabs her and pulls her across the room. She says that’s what Faison used to do. Find a vulnerability and go after it. Valentin says, Peter knows he screwed up by killing Franco, and he’s trying to rattle her. It’s right out of Faison’s playbook; don’t let him. She says, but when Faison made a threat, there was always something real to back it up.

Brook sips her coffee, and says, thick rich foam, sublime vanilla, and sweet, sweet caffeine. Chase comes back in, and she asks if he feels better. He says he splashed some water on his face, and she says, it looks like it helped, but things are still not right. She tells him not to sit near her, and asks, what’s going on? He says he thought he had food poisoning, but his head is killing him. Should she be drinking that? She says, it’s decaf, but his is full strength; good for a headache. He says he’ll pass. He just drank his weight in water. She says if he wants to lie down, she’ll just make herself at home, and he asks, what’s going on? Is she trying to escape her dad? She says, more like Olivia the Hun. She swears Olivia has supernatural powers, and senses whenever Brook is going to put something sweet, salty, or fishy in her mouth. Olivia is monitoring every single thing. She can’t live like that, plus she wanted to see him, since they had no chance to catch up, and she could use a friend. Can she please stay a while?

Michael says, so many times he wanted to reach out to Willow, and kiss her, and make love to her. He remembers when she said she was moving out and looking for an apartment, his heart dropped. The thought of not seeing her every day tore him up inside. Now, he can talk about their future. She says she likes the sound of that – their future; her, Michael, and Wiley. He suggests he and Wiley move in. They could create their own home, and be close to the relatives, but not too close. Willow says she loves that, and asks if they should keep the bed in the living room. He says they probably should move it, but not now, and they get more busy.   

Curtis says he and Jordan decided to call it quits, and Finn says he’s sorry. Curtis gets Finn a ginger ale, and says that he and Jordan knew each other for a lot of years. They spent a lot of time dancing around each other, as friends, partners, extended family, and adversaries. When they finally acknowledged that they had feelings for each other, they took the next step. It wasn’t without challenges, but he loved Jordan, and wanted to marry her with all his heart. He doesn’t regret a single day, but love wasn’t enough to keep them together. He had to realize the relationship would never be Jordan’s first priority.

Portia asks Jordan how it’s going at home, now that she’s responsible for Taggert, and Jordan says, it’s not too difficult. Even when they had to be in close quarters on a stakeout, they learned how to co-exist, and how to stay out of each other’s way. Portia tells her, Taggert said the same thing when he came in for his post-op checkup, but something also came up that she wanted to talk to Jordan about.

Anna says she’s going to check on her family, and suggests Valentin make some calls. Valentin tells her that if he can’t get ahold of Charlotte, he’ll reach out, and Peter says, bye, Auntie Anna. She leaves, and Peter says he doesn’t suppose Valentin will loosen his bonds while they wait. Valentin says, no, and asks if Peter has anything else to say. Peter says he’s saving his strength. After all, actions speak louder than words, don’t they?

Obrecht tells Britt, she meant no disrespect. She just wants to do what’s best for Maxie and the baby. Britt says she forgives Obrecht. They both want what’s best for Maxie, and as for opi, it’s her opinion that Maxie would be better off at home. Maxie says Obrecht knows how noisy the hospital can get, and don’t get her started on the thread count of the sheets. Obrecht says, Britt is right; Maxie will be more comfortable at home. Still, she’ll need care, and Obrecht has the perfect solution. She’ll move in.

Chase says Brook can stay, but he might have to crash. Maybe he can get back to the good dream he was having. She says, sounds juicy; do tell. He says, it was about Willow. She wanted to move back in, and go back to the way things were. Brook flashes back to asking Willow saying she wasn’t sure where either she or Sasha stood with Michael, and that it was complicated. She tells Chase, sounds like some dream. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. He says, it’s becoming more and more reality. Willow is giving him a second chance. They’ve been through some heavy stuff, but he has every reason to believe they can get back to where they were.

Michael tells Willow, as much as they’ve enjoyed the mattress being there, it should probably be upstairs. He asks if she’s okay. Does she want to talk? What’s on her mind? He’ll help if he can. She’s thinking about Chase, isn’t she?

Obrecht says she’ll get her things, and meet Maxie back at the apartment. Maxie says, no. Obviously, she appreciates Obrecht stepping up to help, but she can’t have Obrecht doing that. She wants to look after James and Georgie. Time with her kids is the best medicine for her. Obrecht asks if Maxie is sure she’s not trying to close the door in Obrecht’s face to keep it open for Peter, and Maxie says, Obrecht needs to trust that she knows what she’s doing. Obrecht says, what Maxie must do is abandon the illusion; wake up and smell the psychopath. Get Henrik out of her life once and for all.

Curtis tells Finn, Jordan is a cop through and through. He knows how all-consuming a job it is. That’s why he started using. He thought being a P.I. would keep him in the game and close to the action, but it’s not the same. Finn says, so Curtis found something new. It takes courage and a high tolerance for risk. Curtis says he never thought he’d own a nightclub, but it just feels right. He hasn’t felt like this in years. Finn says, amazing. Curtis faced the facts that his old life wasn’t working for him, and found a new one. Curtis says, the only problem is, he lost Jordan along the way.

On the phone away from Peter, Valentin tells Charlotte that he’ll be home as quick as he can. He loves her. His mouth duct taped again, Peter mumbles that Valentin is wrong. Valentin rips off the tape, and says, what? Peter says, Valentin is worried about the wrong thing. Unlike Valentin, who used an infant against Anna, he’d never hurt a child. Valentin calls Brook, and leaves a message to call him. Peter says, oh no, and laughs. Valentin says, if Peter harms anyone he cares about, he will kill Peter.

Chase asks if Brook has ever had the feeling that there’s still the familiar caring and ease, even after she’s been away from someone? She says she has, and he says, it’s still there. It’s how he feels with Willow. He’s glad to have her back in his life. Brook says, they are starting from scratch, right? Not picking up where they left off. He says, yes and no. They still have history; it doesn’t disappear. He knows it was wrong to deceive Willow, even though he did it for the right reason. He learned his lesson, and wants to do everything right this time. After dealing with his family, he understands the damage secrets can do. Brook says she read the article, and it went over the line. She wanted to punch Peter in the face. He says he wouldn’t have arrested her, and she asks how he’s dealing with the fallout. He says, in the beginning, he wasn’t dealing with it at all, but after some coaching from Willow, he did better. He went dinner tonight with his family. She says, good, and he says, in theory, but in reality, it was pretty damn awkward. Then he came down with food poisoning to top it off. After talking about Willow, he’s feeling better. Brook says he’s got to take it slow, and he says, Brook only has one speed, full throttle. She says, it’s gotten her in a lot of trouble, acting without thinking of the long term consequences. Then when she’s faced the consequences, it’s too damn late. He asks, what’s going on? Is she in some kind of trouble? Is there anything he can do?

Willow says she can’t help but feel awful for Chase. They agreed to try again, and she wanted to make it work, but all the while, Michael was the only man in her heart. He wishes that didn’t make her sad, and she says, loving him doesn’t make her sad, but she needs to talk to Chase. He says, that’s not going to be an easy conversation. If she needs anything… Willow thanks him, but says, it will hard enough without him there. She thinks it’s best if she does it alone.

Valentin tells Peter not to ever doubt that he would kill him, not for a single, solitary second. Peter doesn’t have a protection plan, but if he does, and it involves harming anyone Valentin loves… Peter says his protection plan is simple. If they do nothing, someone dies. If they let him go, he’ll put it on pause. If they don’t let him go to live his life, someone innocent, whose only crime is being important to them, will pay the price.

Portia tells Jordan that Taggert knew she’d had an affair when he was undercover, and figured out it was Curtis. Jordan says she didn’t tell him, and Portia says she knows. Taggert put it together; it’s not surprising. They had a really good talk, and she made it clear that she and Curtis were in the past. It’s a delicate situation, and she wanted Jordan to know, especially since she’s living with Taggert. Jordan thanks her, and Portia says she doesn’t think Taggert will confront Curtis, but she didn’t want Jordan to be blindsided just in case it came up. The last thing she wants to do is add more turmoil to their lives. She’s hoping Jordan and Curtis work things out. Jordan says, actually, that’s not going to happen. That’s why she was there to see TJ, to let him know she and Curtis are getting a divorce.

Curtis tells Finn that he doesn’t give up easy. He fully intended to grow old with Jordan. Finn says he supposes he understands, and Curtis says he needs to look for a divorce lawyer. Finn asks if Curtis thinks it will get ugly, but Curtis says, it’s just a formality. They’re both going to leave the marriage with what they brought to it, but the toughest part is living with the question, could he have done more, and second guessing himself, wondering if his moral stance on the truth a real boundary. Finn says, the truth is important, but what’s the alternative? Married people have and keep secrets. Curtis says, it depends on what kind. He knows he made the right decision, but he misses Jordan. Finn says he knows that feeling too, and Anna comes in.

Brook tells Chase that she had the best intentions, when there’s a knock at the door. Chase says he’s got it, but she says he looks like death warmed over. He’ll scare whoever it is. He tells her to take full advantage of her pregnancy. Next time he might not be such a gentleman. He opens the door, and a big guy walks in and heads toward Brook. Chase is like, hey, but Brook says, it’s okay. He’s hers. He’s her bodyguard Yuri. She calls Valentin, and says, what? and he says she doesn’t return his calls or texts. She says he told her that she wouldn’t notice the bodyguard, and now she has the Incredible Hulk in a suit following her. Valentin says, Yuri can be unintrusive if she plays by the rules, and she says she’s busy. She can’t always stop to call and check in. He says he needs to know she and the baby are safe, and she says she’s fine. She’s sorry she worried him, but if anything was the matter, doesn’t he think Yuri would call? Valentin says, not if he’s dead. Valentin is concerned, having been a WSB agent, that people from his past might want to harm him. She says, and her? and he says she’s not in immediate danger – if she follows the rules. Do what Yuri says, and return his calls. She says, fine, and Yuri goes back outside. Chase asks if he was lurking in the hallway the whole time, and Brook says, here’s the deal. Valentin is an extra hands-on father, but kind of paranoid. He used to be a USB fighter or something, and is constantly concerned something will happen, so he hired a bodyguard. Obviously, she said no, but he told her that he’d have someone follow her anyway. It was up to her. She could cooperate, or he’d have some guy behind her 24/7. Willow knocks at the door, and when Chase opens it, she asks if everything is okay. There’s a big guy standing in the hallway. Brook says he’s hers; he follows her around like a puppy. Willow says she doesn’t want to barge in, but Chase says she’s not. He’s glad to see her. 

Obrecht tells Maxie that she knows how it is with a brilliant, dangerous man. He assures you that you’re the only woman who understands him, and you feel somehow privileged to be worthy of his affection and adoration. You convince yourself that you’ll turn your partner into a great ally, and you’ll help him reach his true potential, but nothing you can do will change who he is. Peter is a dangerous, twisted man. Maxie says she’s horrified about the crimes Peter is accused of, but he’s the father of her child. She can’t cut him out completely. Obrecht says Maxie has a kind heart, which she’s benefitted from time and again. Maxie has forgiven her so many times. Peter isn’t worthy of Maxie’s forgiveness. Peter and Nathan share their father’s blood, but they’re nothing alike. Nathan was decent and loving, which Peter can never be. Britt says they never doubted that Nathan and Peter are completely different, and Maxie says she loved Nathan with all her heart, and misses him every day. No one will ever replace him, but she still has to do what’s best for her child. She can’t close the door on Peter completely.

Portia says, divorce is such a huge step. Is Jordan sure she and Curtis can’t try to work through their issues? Jordan says, you need two for that, and Curtis is tried out. Portia says she’s so sorry. Anyone could tell Jordan and Curtis had something real. Jordan says, they did. They’ll always love each other; she knows she will. She kept secrets from Curtis, and lied at times. She told herself that she had a good reason, to protect him, but she was also protecting herself. As much as she loves him, her first instinct will always be to handle things on her own. Portia asks if Jordan is sure her job is worth the sacrifices she’s making, and Jordan says, being a doctor is a demanding job. There had to be times Portia couldn’t be there for Trina. Portia says she knows what it’s like to be a spouse on the other side of the law enforcement equation. You shut out the one person you share your life with. Jordan says she wanted to be the wife Curtis wanted, but she couldn’t. She had to let go. As much as it’s killing her, sometimes love isn’t enough.

Anna asks if Curtis minds if she steals Finn, and Curtis says he has plenty to do, making himself scarce. Finn asks if Anna has a tracking device on him, but she says she called, and the nanny told her where he was. They sit, and he asks, what’s going on? She says she wanted check and make sure he was all right. He says he is, as far as he knows. Why? Is something going on? Is she okay? She says she is, but Peter is showing his true colors. He’s dropped the pretense of innocence, and hates her. She’s worried he’s going to come after the people she loves. He says he’s fine, and Violet’s fine. Violet knows not to open the door to a stranger, and to look both ways when crossing the street. Anna says she’ll hold him to that. She’s sorry he still has to deal with her baggage, but he says he doesn’t hold it against her. Be careful, and he’ll do the same. Don’t worry. It didn’t work out, but he wants her to know, if she needs him, he’ll be there.

Chase invites Willow in, and she says she should have called first, but Brook says she was just leaving. She drops her bag, and Willow helps her pick everything up. Willow asks if Brook has part of a fetal heart monitor in her bag, and Brook says, remember how Valentin rushed her to the ER to get checked out? Somehow, it ended up in her purse. She says she has to go, and tells Chase, feel better; they’ll talk tomorrow. She signals Yuri, and he follows her. Willow says Chase isn’t feeling well? and he says he just has a headache. She says he looks flushed; that’s a sign of fever. He takes her hand, and says, stop worrying. Seeing her is the best medicine for him. She says they need to talk, and he says, about what?

At the gatehouse, Michael tells Wiley that this will be his new bedroom now. They’ll just hang out there until Wiley feels sleepy. They’re the luckiest guys in the world. They’ve got an amazing woman to love, and she loves them right back. He puts his arm around Wiley.

Obrecht says it’s not Maxie’s fault she was deceived be that worthless parasite. Obrecht lowered her guard, and accepted a job from him. She even went so far as to thank him for his generosity. In retrospect, any kindness he showed her was deployed to win Maxie’s trust. Maxie is pregnant with his child, and it’s a reality she’s been forced to deal with. Obrecht only wants to help in any way she can. Maxie promises to let her know if there’s anything she can do, and Britt says, but for now, the best thing is to get Maxie home. She’ll take Maxie herself. Britt starts to pick up her bag, and drops it, yelling in pain. Obrecht asks, what’s wrong? and Britt says, sorry. She just hit her funny bone against the bed. It startled her and hurt like hell. Maxie says she never understood why it was called that; there’s nothing funny about it. Truth! Obrecht tells Britt to be more careful, but Britt says she wasn’t running with scissors. She hit her elbow. Obrecht says, it’s made Britt crabby, but she won’t hold it against her. She hopes they take care of themselves and each other. Call if they need her. She leaves, and Britt picks up her bag. Maxie asks if Britt is really okay, and Britt says she’s fine. Maxie says, good. She can’t do any of this without Britt.

Portia says, if Jordan needs to talk, or needs anything, call her. Jordan says, she understands what comes next, but she can’t believe it yet. Portia says, it’s a painful process, no matter how civilized they are. She’s there if Jordan needs to be talked through it. Jordan says, look at them They’ve come a long way. 

Anna calls Valentin, who says he’s good. He asks about Robin, and Anna says she’s fine. Valentin tells her that he spoke to Charlotte and Brook, and they’re both fine. She says, Peter is bluffing; she’s coming back. He says he thinks she should hold off on that for a while. Peter is too confident, and he doesn’t like it. He says, Peter seems willing to play this out, but Anna says, he’s a master liar who’s learned from the best. Don’t let him play anymore.  Finn leaves a message for Chase to call him back, and Anna asks if everything is all right. He says he’s just trying to get through to Chase. He’s probably sleeping; he’s not feeling well. The four of them had dinner at Peridino’s, and it seems like Chase is the only one who got food poisoning.

Peter asks Valentin if Anna is on her way back from her fact finding mission. He can’t stress enough that time is of the essence. Valentin better let him go before it’s too late.

Michael says he’ll tell Wiley a secret. This is their home now. He laughs, and says, from now on, he, Wiley, and mom will be together all the time. They’re already a family, but now it’s even better. He and mom finally said the words. They said they love each other.

Chase checks his phone, and tells Willow, sorry. She wanted to talk? She says, yes, but he could take the call from Finn. He says he’ll call Finn later, and suggests they sit. She tells him to take the couch, since he’s not feeling well, but when he goes to sit down, he falls to the floor.  

Tomorrow, Willow wants to take Chase to the hospital, Jackie tells Finn that they have unfinished business with someone else, Peter asks if Valentin wants to tell Anna, and Sonny says, who knows what he has up his sleeve?

👥 Another Day Another Taggert…

I’m starting to wonder if they flip for which Taggert it will be today.

✍🏼 Read All About It…

Maurice Benard pens a memoir, and the nerds like it.

🎉 Celebrating Siblings…

Celebrities, they’re just like us. Except they can fly their sister in for a visit. First class.

👶🏻 Tidings Of Joy…

Nearly a year after the daughter of RHOC’s Jeana mourns a death, she welcomes a new life.

https://people.com/parents/kara-keough-bosworth-welcomes-son-vaughn-mack/

https://people.com/parents/kara-keough-bosworth-marks-1-year-anniversary-son-mccoy-death/

👠 She’s Not Owning It…

LisaR claims it wasn’t her.

💘 Negan and Lucille Unveiled…

Some great interviews, including news on Jeffrey’s latest project. That had to be my favorite Walking Dead episode of all time.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-negan-lucille-jeffrey-dean-morgan-hilarie-burton-interview/

https://collider.com/jeffrey-dean-morgan-interview-walking-dead-unholy/

💂🏼‍♂️ Farewell, Sweet Prince…

A love story for the ages. A queen says goodbye to her Prince Charming, along with some wonderful pictures of their life together.

https://www.eonline.com/news/848345/inside-the-immeasurable-life-of-prince-philip-a-man-dedicated-to-his-queen-and-his-country

https://www.eonline.com/photos/32351/prince-philips-life-in-photos

🐊 Later Gator…

See you when it’s time for New Jersey from New Jersey. Whatever state you’re in, stay safe, stay indomitable, and stay living life courageously, with a high tolerance for risk.