Tag Archives: Kat Dennings

May25

May 24, 2024 – Alexis Rests Her Case, Monday, Free Soap, That House, VanderJunk, Post Deck, Range To Behold, Gaga’s Quinn, For Love Of Pets (!), Very Nearly 10 Quotes & Bumper

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Diane and Alexis return to the courtroom. Fergus scowls at them and Diane says, he’s going to give himself a migraine if he keeps that up. Alexis says, he’s doing that because he hates her, which is okay, because she hates him. Diane says, good, and Alexis says, he knows she didn’t have any responsibility in Neil’s death, but that didn’t stop him. Diane says, as lawyers, they both know that sentence was over after she didn’t have any responsibility. Nothing that man has said today bears any relevance in her case. It isn’t factual. He’s completely unhinged. The bailiff says, all rise.

At the hospital, Portia tells Elizabeth that she’s so sorry about what happened. Finn called her and told her about Gregory and that he wasn’t going to be in today. She didn’t know him that well, but she did know him to be an incredibly decent man. Elizabeth says, better than decent, one of the best, and Portia says, he handled his ALS diagnosis with phenomenal dignity. She felt very lucky to see him in his element yesterday. How proud he was of his family and how much he clearly loved them. It was really beautiful. Finn didn’t tell her very much, just that it happened suddenly. Elizabeth says, in his sleep, and Portia says, sometimes when that happens, it can be very difficult for the family members who are left behind. Elizabeth says, more difficult than she ever imagined.

Violet tells Brook that she knows of a lady who lived to be over 100 (she knows my neighbor?). She wonders if her dad could do that. Brook says, maybe, and Violet says she wishes grandpa would have. Brook says she does too, but they know that was impossible because grandpa was sick. Violet says she’s scared, and Brook asks, why? Violet says, because she forgets things all the time. She forgets her times tables, she forgets her dates, and even though she tells herself not to, what if she forgets her grandpa? Brook says, impossible, and Violet asks how she knows. Brook says, because his hugs and smiles and fun stories aren’t things they can memorize for a test. The people who love us and that we love, changes us. That love becomes a part of us, imprinted on our hearts. Violet says, like a tattoo? and Brook says, exactly like that. Violet says, tattoos are forever. That’s why her daddy says she has to be sure if she wants to get one because they’ll stay. Brook says, just like her grandpa’s love for her. It’ll never go away.

Chase says he doesn’t want anyone telling him how to handle losing dad, so he’s not going to turn around and judge Finn on how he’s dealing with it. This is going to be one of the hardest days of their lives, especially for Finn. Finn says, no… but Chase says, Finn had to find him like that. He doesn’t know how Finn did it. Finn says he had no choice, and Chase says, still. Finn says, it’s not like it’s his first dead body, and Chase says, it’s not a body; it’s dad. Finn says, it didn’t look like dad. Their dad’s eyes were kind and understanding, and his mouth… how it curved up at the edges. Chase says, yeah. Like he was always ready to give a smile if anyone gave him half a reason to. Finn laugh/cries and says, yeah. That wasn’t the person he found. He didn’t smell like Old Spice anymore. He was so cold to the touch. Colder than you could ever imagine possible. That wasn’t their dad. Their dad was warm. Chase says, one of the warmest people he’s ever met, and Finn says, yeah… He didn’t want this to happen. Chase hugs Finn and says, neither did he, and they both cry.

Tracy comes into the stable humming, and Cody asks, how was the ride? She says, just what the doctor ordered. She means literally. She has to thank that Dr. Randolph for telling her to get outside more. Sun on her face, wind in her hair… yummy! Cody says, that’s really great. He’s glad. He was told she’s needed up at the house. Don’t worry about the mount and saddle. He’ll take care of that. She says, really? No one was up when she left, and if they’re up now, it’s because they’re gossiping about the Bensonhurst family members she met at the wedding, and thankfully, have already forgotten. Cody says, it sounded pretty important, and Tracy says, really? Who needs her? He says, Chase, but she says, no. Chase and Brook are on a plane to Florence. He says, they didn’t get on that plane. They couldn’t. She says, why not?… Why not? He says he’s sorry.

Portia says, this must be hard for Elizabeth too. Gregory wasn’t simply a patient. She’s practically a part of the family. Elizabeth says, it felt that way, and Portia asks how Finn is holding up. Elizabeth says, he’s struggling. They all are. Portia says, if she wants to take the day off to go be with him… but Elizabeth says she’s pretty sure he doesn’t want her around right now. Portia says, that doesn’t sound like Finn, especially under these circumstances. Is she sure? Elizabeth says, positive, and Portia asks, what’s going on? She is Elizabeth’s friend too, remember? Elizabeth says, she’s also the Co-Chief of Staff, and walks off.

Tracy says, Gregory died? and Cody says he’s sorry. He knows he already said that, but he doesn’t really know what to say. Why doesn’t she take a seat – he pulls out a chair – and he’ll get her a water. She sits down, and he puts a bottle of water in front of her. He puts his hand on her shoulder and says, anything else he can do? She says she wishes he’d seen Gregory at the wedding yesterday, and he sits next to her. He says, Gregory must have been proud, and she says, he was happy. How is it that person no longer exists? She’s sorry. That sounds ridiculous. He says, no. It doesn’t sound ridiculous to him. She says, they all knew it was coming. It’s just that… this was so sudden. Cody says he feels like you can expect something and still feel punched in the gut when it actually happens. He’s sorry she had to hear it from him. She says she’s not. She used to try and imagine what Gregory would have been like when he was young, and you know what? She imagines he was a lot like Cody.

The bailiff says, court is now back in session, and Diane asks Alexis if she’s ready for this. Alexis says she’s done nothing but prepare and be ready for this. What more does Diane want her to do? Diane says, what more does she want Alexis to do? She wants Alexis to get mad at somebody other than herself. And she wants Alexis to fight like hell, or just give it up and go home at this point. She doesn’t care. But what she doesn’t want is even a hint of wishy-washy I deserve this nonsense. The judges take their seats in sync, looking weirdly robotic, and Judge Caldwell says she trusts everyone had productive recess and used the new slide. They’re ready to hear the final statements, starting with Miss Davis. Alexis says, if she may, she would like to return to her earlier points, without them being obscured by opposing counsel, if that is at all possible. Yes, she lied under oath, but that perjured testimony was made in front of a medical board hearing and not in a court of law. Judge Caldwell asks why that distinction matters, and Alexis says, because she wasn’t testifying as an attorney. She was testifying as a private citizen, who was desperately trying to protect the career and the reputation of a man she deeply cared about. A man who just so happened to be the late brother of opposing counsel Fergus Byrne. (Yep, I’m still laughing when they say Fergus, but come on. His brothers are Neil and Brendan, and their parents decided to name their third baby Fergus. One of these things is not like the other.)

Finn says he handled things in the worst possible way, but Chase says, no, he hasn’t. Finn insists he has. What is he doing? Hurting Elizabeth, pushing her away? Being someone Chase and Violet can lean on? No. He selfishly made this about him and that bottle. Chase says, there’s no right way to grieve, and Finn says, but there’s a wrong way. And that’s what he’s done. Chase says, he’s being too hard on himself, and Finn says he’d have thought after all this time, he would have been stronger. Chase says, he is strong, and Finn says, it’s not like they weren’t prepared. They’ve known dad was dying for months. Chase says, but knowing it and experiencing it are two completely different things, and Finn says, he hurt dad. He hurt him so many times, and now he’s gone and blown his sobriety, one of the things dad was really proud of him for. Chase says, now he’s just rewriting history, but Finn says, did he or did he not ruin his relationship with dad? Chase asks if he rebuilt. Did he? Landing in a place of understanding and trust and love. Finn did it with dad; he can do it with his sobriety. Finn says he needs a favor, and Chase says, anything. Finn says, get rid of it, and Chase takes the bottle and glass to the kitchen.

Cody says he’s really flattered that he reminds Tracy of Gregory, but he doesn’t see it. Tracy says, they both have a quiet, open way about them. Unhurried, unworried. Cody laughs and says, believe him, he worries plenty. She says, just good at hiding it? and he says, more like good at alleviating it. Or the horses are rather. He comes here to the stables and hangs out with these guys and figures, a world with them can’t be all bad. She says, that is exactly what Gregory would have said, except about his family. They are what grounded him and what gave him a reason to keep smiling. He says he’s happy Gregory had them, and she says, her too. Does he want some more similarities? He says, if she wants to share them, and she says, he doesn’t talk too much, and he doesn’t miss a thing. And he doesn’t push people around. He gives people a lot of grace. That, my friend, is a gift. She gets up, and he says, going back to the house? She says, no, not yet, and he asks if she’s going to Finn’s, but she says, no. He needs time. Did he notice if she left some clothes in the tack room? He says, yes. He hung them up behind the towels so they wouldn’t get dusty. She thanks him and says, if anybody asks, would he tell them he told her the news? He says, of course (🍷). He really is sorry. She says she really is sorry too, and goes in the back.

Molly comes out of the hospital elevator as TJ is walking by, and he says he thought they were meeting downstairs. He kisses her, and she says she couldn’t remember what they said, so she thought she’d come up in case he was waiting for her. He asks what she feels like for lunch, and she tells him to pick. He says he picked last time, and she says, he did such an amazing job of it. He says, Bobbie’s? and she says, Bobbie’s. Elizabeth runs up to Molly and says she can’t get ahold of Molly’s mom and keeps getting her voicemail. Molly says, to tell her about Gregory? She’s so, so sorry. Elizabeth thanks her, and Molly says, it’s going to be a really big loss for her mom. They were really close. TJ says, it’s not every day you jump out of a plane with someone, and Elizabeth asks if Molly knows where she is or how she could reach her. Molly says, she and Diane are in Albany for the Court of Appeals hearing, and Elizabeth says, right. That’s why she didn’t go to the wedding. How’s it going? Molly says she hasn’t heard anything yet. She should be home tomorrow. Does Elizabeth want her to try and call her? Elizabeth says, that’s okay. She would like to talk to Alexis herself, but thanks her. Elizabeth and Portia lock eyes, and Elizabeth leaves.

Fergus says, as soon as he heard his brother Neil figured into the complaint against Miss Davis, he recused himself from the medical review board. Alexis says, and was replaced by his partner of his law firm, and Diane says, sounds like an inside job to her. Alexis says, something else that she thinks is very noteworthy is that Ava Jerome was the sister of her ex-husband. She thinks Ava’s credibility should be called into question because she had clear motive to have Alexis disbarred. Judge Caldwell says, which was? and Alexis says, retaliation for divorcing her brother. Fergus says, Miss Jerome’s animus toward Miss Davis is irrelevant, but Alexis says she begs to differ. He says, they’re going in circles here. Miss Davis perjured herself, plain and simple. Alexis says, which she already admitted. It’s where she perjured herself that’s relevant. What’s also relevant is that she was never informed of her disbarment hearing, or the fact that Mr. Byrne’s law partner was sitting on that panel, or that Ava Jerome was involved. And had she known any of those things, she would have proceeded differently. It has become very clear to her, and she hopes to the judges as well, that this disbarment is not about her wrongdoing, but about the personal vendetta of the Jerome family and Fergus Byrne.

At Bobbie’s, TJ asks what Molly thinks is happening up there, but Molly says she doesn’t know. She wishes she did. Can he imagine? It’s not out of the realm of possibility her mom comes home from Albany and is able to practice law again. He says he certainly wouldn’t bet against Alexis and Diane, and she says, her either. He says, what about a little Davis girls match-up? and she says, he means if she and her mother went up against each other in court? He asks who she thinks would win, and she says, that is a nightmare scenario that she doesn’t even want to think about. He says, she knows all of her mother’s weak spots, and Molly says, yeah, and her mother would know all of hers. TJ says, even so, he’d put his money on her, and she tells him that he has to say that. He’s her domestic partner. He says, rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? and they laugh. She says, how about DP? and he says he could get used to that. She says she could get used to him, and he says, she’d better, because he’s not going anywhere.

Elizabeth sees Tracy coming out of the elevator and says, it’s a hard day. Tracy says, one of the hardest, and Elizabeth says, if she’s looking for Finn… Tracy says, no. She assumes he’s home. Elizabeth says, he is, and Tracy says, actually, she’s looking for Stella Henry. Does Elizabeth know where she is? Elizabeth says, last time she saw Stella, she was in the breakroom, and Tracy thanks her. She says she’s so sorry for Elizabeth’s loss, and Elizabeth says she’s sorry for Tracy’s. Tracy continues on.

Tracy finds Stella in the breakroom, and Stella says she heard about Gregory. She offers Tracy a chair, and Tracy sits down.

Elizabeth is sitting in the locker room, when Portia comes in. Elizabeth gets up, but Portia says, please don’t leave. She was confused, and honestly, a little hurt that Elizabeth didn’t want to talk to her. Is she wrong about their friendship or… Elizabeth says, no, but what she would be talking to Portia about, it’s not her story to tell. Portia says, okay, but just know Elizabeth can trust her if she changes her mind. She’s worried about Elizabeth. Elizabeth says she’s not the one Portia should be worried about, and Portia says, now Elizabeth is scaring her. Is someone in trouble? Elizabeth says, when she went to Finn’s this morning, he was drinking.

Elizabeth says, Portia has to understand Finn had just found his father’s body. Portia even said how difficult it is when a death is sudden like that. There’s no warning; there’s no chance to say goodbye. Gregory was just gone, and Finn was in shock and needed to hold on to something and he grabbed the wrong thing. It’s all been… Portia says, wrong, and Elizabeth asks Portia not to make her regret confiding this.

Stella brings tea and cookies to the table, and Tracy thanks her. Stella says, Tracy and Gregory were very close, and Tracy says she’s glad for the time they had together. Stella says, but she wishes they’d had more, and Tracy says, so much more. Stella tells her, Curtis and Portia said the wedding was magical, and Tracy says, it was. Gregory officiated over the ceremony beautifully. It was important to him. Stella says, and to Chase and Brook, she’s sure, and Tracy asks if she heard anything else. Stella says, about the wedding? but Tracy says, no. About his cause of death. Stella says, from what she understands, it was in his sleep, and Tracy says, no seizures? No paralysis? Stella says, not that she’s aware of. It sounded peaceful. Tracy asks what she thinks it was, and Stella says she’s heard a few theories. Cardiac arrest, pulmonary ambulism. Both are merciful outcomes for an ALS patient. She’s sure Dr. Cramer’s file has the death certificate. Does Tracy want to see it? Tracy says, no, but does Stella think there will be an autopsy? Stella says, no, there won’t be, and Tracy says, good. The family shouldn’t have to go through that. Stella says she agrees, and Tracy says she wonders if Stella could do something for her. Stella says, name it, and Tracy says she knows Stella’s job title is patient advocate, but she gets the feeling Stella sort of runs this place. Stella laughs and says, don’t tell her supervisor. Tracy says, so if anything comes up, like medical bills or official notifications, anything she can handle with her hands or her checkbook, would Stella let her know? Stella says, absolutely.

TJ asks how Molly is spending the rest of her day off, and Molly says she was thinking of taking a walk around the bluffs. He says, that sounds great, and she says, but? He asks if he sounds too much like a dad if he prefers that she doesn’t go alone, and she says, seeing how he’s about to be a dad, he should probably start sounding like one. He says, ask Kristina, and she says she did, and Kristina said yes, but that was a few days ago. Now Kristina’s not answering her calls. TJ asks if that’s his fault that there’s a rift between her and Kristina, but she says she wouldn’t call it a rift. They talked about going for a walk casually. She’s sure Kristina didn’t even know it was a plan plan. He says, okay. Why didn’t she just say that from the start? Because she thinks the minute she mentions Kristina not being the paragon of perfection, he’ll jump on it, right? She says, he’d be wrong.

Brook brings Violet home, and Finn hugs her, saying, he missed her. Violet says, they weren’t even gone a whole hour, but Finn says, it’s still too long. She says, he smells like toothpaste. Did he have lunch yet? He says, no. He was waiting for her. Does a grilled cheese sound good? She says, with tomatoes, like grandpa used to make it? He says, she’s got it. Why doesn’t she go wash her hands?

Alexis says she’s made choices in her life that she wishes she hadn’t, but she’s paid for them. She doesn’t think her personal life, as flawed as it may be, should have any bearing on her ability to practice law. She’s a good lawyer and she has a track record to prove it. She lost her career as the result of a personal vendetta, and she was never given a chance to speak her piece. So she’s speaking it now. Thank you for listening. She sits down and Fergus gets up. He says, Miss Davis asks them for a separation of her personal and professional life. It’s ironic, since all of the mitigating factors she presented were personal. Judge Caldwell tells him, get to the point, and he says, Miss Davis asks us to rely on her ability as a lawyer, citing examples of her work in and out of the courtroom, and those examples are impressive, though decidedly cherrypicked. Before they start polishing her Lawyer of the Year trophy, let him point out a few details that she conveniently left out.

Molly says she thinks when it comes to her sister, she and TJ are both to blame. He says something about Kristina; she jumps to her defense. She says something, it’s his turn. TJ says, right. He hasn’t done too much defending lately. He’s been too busy second guessing every move. He’s sorry. She’s been hesitant to bring up her own sister and that’s not right. She says she thinks it’s easier to worry about Kristina, and he asks what she means. She says she means it’s easier for them to doubt their surrogate because it’s her sister. If it were Andrea or another candidate, does he really think they’d be monitoring her bedtime and showing up with groceries? He says, or looking for parts of their family tree they can chop off, and she says, doubtful. He says, they’d just want them to be healthy and happy and living their lives, and she says, that’s what they should want for Kristina too. He laughs, and she says, what? He says he was just trying to picture how someone else would react to their inquiries, and she says, he means he doesn’t think their surrogate would welcome her showing up on their doorstep with kale and yogurt? He says, obviously, our baby needs protein, and she tells him, say that again. He says, protein, and she laughs. He says, our baby, and she says, they’re having a baby. He says he can’t wait.

Stella says, Tracy would really step up for Gregory’s family like that, and Tracy says, they have enough to negotiate, so if there’s any issue with his literary works or his papers at the university, she’ll just take care of it and get them professionally stored. Stella says, that could be a lot of work, but Tracy says she doesn’t mind. She has one more favor. Stella says, okay, and Tracy says, as much as she’ll miss Gregory immensely, it really is not her loss, and she wants Stella to keep this just between the two of them. She doesn’t want her name all over it. Stella says she understands, and she will, but let her be very clear on something. It is Tracy’s loss. Not hers alone, but it’s her loss. In her neighborhood, when someone is grieving, you bake them a casserole. Tracy laughs and says, no one wants her baking a casserole, and Stella laughs with her. She says, the point is, these are extraordinary gestures, and Tracy says, it’s what she can do. Stella says, a lot of people can do things, but they don’t have Tracy’s heart, so they end up doing nothing. Tracy says, Gregory changed her, and Stella says, for the better. Tracy says, he expected a lot of her and she doesn’t want to let him down. Not this soon anyway.

Fergus says, what Miss Davis didn’t tell them was that she was suspended at one time for discouraging her client, Carlos Rivera, from taking a plea deal which would have afforded him a lighter sentence. That’s a curious choice, until it’s revealed that the man Mr. Rivera would have been testifying against was none other than her husband at the time, Julian Jerome. Judge Caldwell says, and she assumes Mr. Rivera can testify to that, but Fergus says, unfortunately, not. Before the case could come to trial, Mr. Rivera was murdered by Julian Jerome. Perhaps Miss Davis’s plan all along. Both Alexis and Diane jump up, and Diane says, objection. Prejudicial. Fergus says, apologies. It’s just that it’s difficult to keep Miss Davis’s personal and professional life separate when the two are so entangled. Judge Caldwell says she encourages him to try. Avoid such wild speculation. Fergus says, understood, and Diane says, is it though? Fergus says, in addition, his other brother Brendan, futilely attempted to hold Miss Davis accountable for his brother Neil’s death, which tragically, led to Brendan’s death as well. Diane says, that is a wildly inaccurate statement, and Alexis says, he knows very well she had nothing to do with either of his brother’s deaths. Judge Caldwell bangs her gavel, but Fergus won’t shut up and says, does she truly think Neil wouldn’t be alive today if he’d never met her? Of course (🍷) he would, and Brendan would too. The judge bangs the gavel again and says, order in the court. Fergus says, you destroyed my family, Alexis, and I’m here to make sure you never destroy anyone else’s. Judge Caldwell yells for order.

Tracy picks up her bag, and Stella asks if she has someplace to be. Tracy says, not really, but she probably should head home. She’s avoided her family long enough. Stella says, what’s a few more minutes? and pushes the plate of cookies toward Tracy. Tracy holds out her hand and Stella takes it. Tracy picks up a cookie with her other hand, and Stella laughs.

Elizabeth tells Portia that she’s sorry she dumped all of that stuff on her earlier. She’d just come from Finn’s apartment, and they’d gotten into it… Portia says, it’s fine. She can’t imagine what must be happening with the two of the right now, but she is glad Elizabeth trusted her as her friend. Elizabeth says, it’s all just really fresh. She thinks once the dust settles, it’ll all go back to normal. She lowers her voice and says, and Finn having a drink was a complete aberration. He had a moment of weakness, and that’s all it was, a moment. He has to take care of Violet and she knows he’s going to pull himself together and be strong for her. Portia says, and he has patients that are counting on him as well, and Elizabeth says, of course (🍷). He would never put his patients in danger. Portia knows that. She has to keep this a secret. Please. Portia says she knows how important Finn’s sobriety is to him and she’s sure this was a one-time crisis. And it’s probably over already. Elizabeth thanks her and tells Portia that she really needed to hear someone say that. Portia says she’s really glad she could be the one to say it, and Elizabeth leaves, but Portia looks worried.

Violet says she saved Finn the last bite, and he says, she’s too good to him. He opens his mouth, and she pops it in, saying, she knows. He says, so good, and she asks if she can play on her tablet for a little. He says, sure, but first, daddy needs a hug. She hugs him and he says he loves her so much. Never, never forget that. She says she won’t, and goes to her room. Finn tells Brook that he’s so sorry they missed their honeymoon, but she says, their family is the most important thing right now, okay? And she’s here for whatever he needs. Errands, food, laundry, babysitting. Consider her at his beck and call. He thanks her and says, but right now, he thinks what he needs is a meeting. Chase says he thinks that’s a great idea.

Fergus says, lying under oath is perjury. Yes, it took place at a medical board hearing, and sure, some would argue that makes it less impactful. But the repercussions from that lie had enormous impact. Diane says, how many times will opposing counsel say the same thing? and Judge Caldwell tells Fergus to wrap it up. He says, Miss Davis’s lie set off a chain of events, which led not only to the deaths of both his brothers, but removed Miss Davis from the state bar as well. She has demonstrated repeatedly that she has no regard for legal ethics. Nothing that happened can be undone. That should include the disbarment of Alexis Davis. He sits down, and Judge Caldwell thanks him, Diane, and Alexis for their statements. The court will communicate their decision within the next 30 days. Court is dismissed. She bangs her gavel, they rise, and the judges leave. Diane tells Fergus that he should be ashamed, and he walks out. Diane tells Alexis, I’ll say this for you, you swung for the fences.

Next week (I assume Tuesday), Tracy says she’d prefer to skip the platitudes; Alexis tells Fergus that she has the legal system just where she wants it; Sam asks if Spinelli doesn’t want to help her anymore; and Jason says he’s hoping that’s still the case, but Anna says, he can’t be certain.

🧼 Monday Soap Or No Soap…

GH will not have a new episode on Memorial Day.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/soap-opera-soaps-holiday-schedule

🧴 Studio Suds…

If you want a change of pace, this looks pretty good.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/the-bold-the-beautiful/watch-sean-kanans-soap-studio-city-for-free

🏊‍♂️ If They Say So…

The only thing I can see that’s best about it is that it’s almost over.

Why Summer House Season 8 Is the Franchise’s Best Season Yet

For those who want to relive this week’s trainwreck one more time.

Summer House Season 8, Episode 14 Recap: From Dusk Till Donne

🍸 Following the Rules…

GH has told us many a time, the only way past it is through it.

Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Reunion, Part 3 Preview: Ariana Madix Gets Emotional Over ‘Difficult’ Summer

Playing the world’s smallest violin.

Tom Sandoval and Billie Lee Are ‘Not Talking Anymore’

⚓️ Stud Of the Deadly Seas…

I’m thrilled Captain Lee won’t be leaving the screen even though he’s left the Deck. Premieres June 1st.

What You Need To Know about Deadly Waters With Captain Lee

🦬 My Latest Binge…

Love this story and love Josh Brolin. He’s in one of my favorite Tarantino movies, Planet Terror, and the remake of True Grit was better than the original.

https://ew.com/outer-range-season-2-trailer-josh-brolin-time-travel-family-conflict-8631136

https://ew.com/josh-brolin-outer-range-season-2-ayahuasca-trip-8650631

No wonder I like him.

https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/josh-brolin-doesnt-buy-difficult-actors-1235008748/

🃏 The Latest In Harleys…

It will be interesting to see her spin on the character.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/joker-2-lady-gaga-breaks-silence-harley-quinn-role/

🐕 Three Wins and a Loss…

Another partnering for pets.

https://people.com/kat-dennings-on-losing-her-soulmate-cat-adopting-kittens-exclusive-8651686

Glamming it up.

https://people.com/adoptable-pets-dogs-and-guinea-pigs-treated-to-fancy-hotel-photoshoot-8651280

I’m not telling my dogs about this. There will be no living with them.

https://people.com/bark-air-luxurious-new-airline-for-dogs-took-first-flight-8653726

So sad to see her go to the Bridge, but she certainly had a full life. And 18 years is amazing.

https://people.com/dog-behind-viral-doge-internet-meme-dead-at-18-8653525

👄 Quotes of the Week

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. – Friedrich Nietzsche

If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes. – Corrie Ten Boom

A person sees in the world what they carry in their heart. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot

Everlast is a brand name, not a nickname. – Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Golden Girls

It’s easier to track a stuck pig than it is to ask it where it’s going. – The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Fallout

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You…Be Free…Share. – Steve Maraboli

A hypnotist with pink eye is like a boxer with two broken hands. – Bill Doss (Michael Keaton), Documentary Now!

Home of the free, because of the brave. – Unknown

🌭 More Than a Barbecue…

Enjoy the extra time off if you have it, but keep in mind the reason you got it. Then join me on Monday really Tuesday for no soap, but the Deck which gives us no break for memorials. Until then, stay safe, stay giving some thought to those who died keeping you safe, and stay remembering that we’re changed by the people who love us and that we love, and that love becomes a part of us. Like a tattoo.

Dec20

December 19, 2023 – Brennan’s Secret Is Out, Erika’s Update, A Farewell, Getting Ready, All About Emmy, Don’t Sell, Rude, Menu Reveal, Thirsty Or Not, Married, Surviving, Santa Pets (!) & Farm

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Lucy meets Doc at the PC Grill. She says, no wine? and he says he thought he’d wait to order. Aren’t Laura and Martin joining them? She says she doesn’t think they’d mind them having a pre-dinner cocktail. She could use one. It’s been a rough day… week… month… year. He says, that’s a bad time. They see Scotty sitting at the bar, and Doc says, looks like Scotty’s had a rough day as well. Before she says, it, he knows the decent thing to do is to invite him over. She says, Good God, no.

Tracy holds a snow globe and says she misses Luke so much, when Lois walks in with Brook. Tracy puts the snow globe behind her back, and Lois says she spies Tracy looking at that, but don’t worry. They won’t tell anyone that they saw her showing some Christmas spirit. Tracy asks why Brook hasn’t responded to her texts, and Brook says she was Christmas shopping with Chase and Leo and Violet. Tracy says, of course (🍷). Her phone doesn’t work in the proximity of small children. Brook says, she stops looking at it when she’s celebrating the joy of the season, and Tracy says, they have a business meeting tomorrow morning to figure out how this arrangement with Deception works. Brook says, tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, and Tracy says she’s well-aware, but now that Brook is going to be her business protégé, she’s going to have to change her priorities. Ned comes in and says, what’s that? Brook says, it’s true. She’s going back to work at Deception. Tracy says, but this time, it’s going to be different. This time, she’s going to be the boss. He asks if Lois knew about this, and she says she did, and she thinks it’s great.

There’s a knock at Ava’s door, and she opens it to Nina. Ava says she thought they were meeting at Rice Plaza to watch Avery and Donna in the Living Nativity, and Nina says she knows, but she needed to see Ava in private, without Sonny and the girls. Ava asks, why? and Nina says she needs Ava’s help before her whole world comes crashing down.

Just when you think Donna can’t get any cuter, they put her in a lamb costume. She asks if she looks okay, and Sonny says, she looks amazing. Michael joins them, and Donna asks if he’s here to watch her and Avery. He says, of course (🍷) he is. She’s going to be an amazing lamb. Donna says, Avery’s a shepherd, and he says, she’s going to be amazing too. He asks if she’s excited about being in the Living Nativity, and she nods. Cyrus approaches and says he is too.

Carly pours coffee for Sam and sees the headline about Brennan being head of the WSB on Sam’s phone. She asks if that’s the guy Sam and Dante are investigating, and Sam says, yes. He’s the new head of the WSB. Carly says, really. Because he told her that he was a security consultant. Sam says, she knows him? and Carly says, John Brennan. He’s been here in the diner a few times. He was here a half hour ago. Sam asks if he said where he was going, but Carly says, no. He got a phone call, and he took off.

At the pier, Anna says her Interpol contact is going to be here in twenty minutes, and Dante asks if she’s sure she can trust this guy. She says, absolutely. She’s confident they’re on the up and up. He says, it wouldn’t be a stretch for the head of the WSB to request interagency cooperation and make them disappear, but she says, not this time. Brennan’s been trying to ruin her life for months, but that all changes tonight. He’s going down.

Lucy tells Doc, sorry. It’s just that Scotty’s been pushing her to travel with him to Florida at Christmas to see Serina and the manatees. He says, Christmas with her daughter. What’s wrong with that? She says, nothing. She’s very tempted, but Scotty didn’t bother telling Serina about his plans and she found out Serina has a brand-new boyfriend… first Christmas and all. Fortunately for her and Serina, Scotty saw reason, and decided not to make the trip. He says he’s sure it will be nice for her and Martin to spend the holidays together, and she says, yeah. Together.

Ava says, Ned is blackmailing Nina too? and Nina says, it’s like a line is forming. If she doesn’t tell Ned information on Aurora, he’s going to tell Sonny that she’s the one who reported Carly and Drew to the SEC for insider trading. Ava says she guesses Nina better find some information that Ned will find useful, but Nina says she doesn’t have access to the inner workings of Aurora. Let’s just say in a perfect world she magically comes up with something and she tells Ned, and Michael finds out. He’s going to retaliate and tell Sonny. This is an impossible situation. Ava says, it is and she feels for Nina, but she’s got problems of her own.

Cyrus tells Sonny that he’s going to be one of the Wise Men. Melchiore, he believes, but they won’t be wearing nametags. He’s just on his way to pick up his crown and robe. Michael says, Cyrus isn’t coming anywhere near his little sister, but Sonny says, that’s all right. He’s taking care of it. Michael says, Sonny knew about this? and Sonny says he’s watching Cyrus like a hawk. No robes or crowns for him today. Cyrus asks Sonny to be reasonable. It’s a Christmas pageant. Sonny asks Michael to take Donna to the Nativity, and they leave. Cyrus says he doesn’t understand. What is the harm in him participating in the celebration of the holy season? Sonny says, celebrate on his own. He’s already been replaced. (Aww.) Laura and Martin join them, Martin wearing a robe, and Cyrus says, et tu, brother? Martin says, the name’s Melchiore, and Laura tells Cyrus, please don’t make a scene. Cyrus says he’s just surprised. Martin’s been averse to Christmas pageants ever since second grade when he tripped on the robe and knocked over the manger. Laura laughs, and Martin says he’ll make sure to watch his step this time. Laura asks if Cyrus will do this for her. Not as the mayor, but as his sister. Cyrus says he wishes them all the joys of the holiday season, and he leaves. Martin says, that’s what he’d call a Christmas miracle, and Laura suggests they be grateful he decided to play nice for whatever reason. Sonny says, thank you, Lord, for making the Wise Man swap, and Martin puts on his crown. Laura says, it looks like the other kings are gathering over there. Perhaps Martin should join them. Martin asks them to say a prayer he doesn’t trip over something, and this is over before they know it. He tells Laura to remember Lucy and Doc are waiting dinner for them, and he leaves. Laura asks if Sonny thinks Cyrus knew Avery and Donna were in the Living Nativity or it was just a coincidence, and he says he’s not sure, but he’s not taking any chances. Like he said before, he doesn’t think Cyrus killed Austin, but he’s not going to trust Cyrus anywhere near anyone he cares about.

Ava brings out the locked box and puts in the combination. It opens, and Nina says, she bought another gun? Ava says she didn’t buy it. It just appeared. She found it in the drawer the day she moved in, along with an ominous note saying, you’ll never know when you’ll need it. Nina says, so someone’s stalking her, and Ava says, or trying to frame her. They’re getting bolder.

Ned asks what Brook is thinking, and Lois tells Tracy that she’s going to need Brook all day tomorrow for last minute Christmas details. Unless of course (🍷) Tracy would like to help. There are cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and then of course (🍷), she got everybody matching PJ sets. She hopes she got Tracy the right size… Tracy says she can move the business meeting to December 26th. The pajamas? That’s a hard pass. She leaves, and Brook says, matching PJs? Really? Lois says, it worked with Tracy, didn’t it? and Ned asks if Lois has lost her mind. How can she, of all people, be happy that their daughter is giving up music to be a corporate executive. Lois tells him to use the good sense God gave him. Obviously, there’s an angle. He says, what angle? and Lois says, Brook isn’t going back to work at Deception for herself. She’s going back to outsmart Tracy and make things right with her friends.

Sam asks if Brennan said why he’s in Port Charles, and Carly tells her, he just said he was a security consultant here on business. He never said he was head of the WSB, but why would he? Sam asks if he said how long he was planning on staying, and Carly tells her, he said he’d be here for a little while. He was a little flirtatious and he seemed harmless. Does Sam know different? (Seriously? Have all those years with Sonny taught Carly nothing?) Sam says she doesn’t have all the facts, but if Carly sees him again, keep her distance and call Dante. Sam jets.

Anna tells Dante, if Forsythe hadn’t come after that report, she doesn’t know if she’d have realized she still had it. It had been stuck in that trunk for decades. But Brennan sending Forsythe is kind of like he dug his own grave. Hume listens from the shadows.

Carly looks at the article again on her phone and sets it on the table. She starts to clean up when she hears the door open. She says, we’re closed, and sees it’s Brennan. He asks if she has time for one more.

Lucy says, Doc is too compassionate for his own good, and he always has been. He says, okay. He’ll bite. What does she mean by that? She says, he really doesn’t understand that they’re completely surrounded by cutthroats and thieves, and sometimes, just sometimes, you really need to look out for number one. He says, just an observation, but it seems like she’s talking about something specific. Care to share? She says, Quartermaines. They never change their spots. He probably knows Tracy stole the company from her, but now she’s given Brook a job at Lucy’s company. This is the very woman who stole all the proprietary information on Lucy’s Deceptor, so she could give it to her grandmother to allow Tracy to file this pernicious lawsuit against them. He asks if it’s possible she’s more hurt than she is angry, but she says she’s so angry… but he’s right. She’s also very, very hurt by the whole betrayal. She trusted Brook. She let Brook in on the team and she turns out to be worse than her grandmother. Even more than Lucy imagined. He says he’s glad she’s getting these feelings off her chest, rather than keeping them bottled up inside, and she asks how he does that. He’s always such a good listener. She thanks him for letting her vent, and he says, she’s welcome. It’s what he does. Just a thought, but isn’t it better that Brook is in the office every day rather than her having to deal with Tracy day in and day out? She says, good point. She guesses she could rise above it, sort of, maybe. Try to make the best out of a bad situation. Scotty comes over to the table and says he can’t believe his ears. Is Lucy going to roll over and let Tracy win?

Lois asks if Ned really thinks she’d be encouraging their daughter to work in an office instead of following her dreams if there wasn’t a hidden agenda. Brook says, mom’s been hounding her for weeks to give in to Tracy. Once Tracy hands over the company to her, then she can give it back to Maxie and make things right. He says, if she thinks her grandmother is going to make this easy, she’s in for a very rude awakening, but Brook says she knows exactly what she’s in for. She either has to convince granny that she’s totally on board, making her completely comfortable enough to give her controlling interest, or due to their close proximity, she’ll have to dig something up in order to blackmail her with. He says, spoken like a true Quartermaine, and Lois says, not that that’s always a good thing, but in this case, Brook would be blackmailing for a worthy cause. He says, as long as her grandmother doesn’t figure it out and turn the tables, and Lois asks if he’s doubting their daughter. He says, absolutely not.

Nina asks if Ava still thinks it’s Nikolas sending her these notes, and that, and Ava says, well, who else? She left him for dead. He’s not going to let that go. Nina asks why he’d send her a gun if his plan is to attack her, and Ava says, or to frame her. For all she knows, this is the gun that killed Austin. Nina says, Ava thinks he’d go that far. That he’d come all the way here just to kill Austin to frame her for murder? Ava says she doesn’t know what to think anymore. For months, she thought Nikolas was dead and she was the one that killed him, and she thought that she could trust Austin. Nina says, she needs to calm down a bit, but Ava says she doesn’t have anyone to talk to about this. Her head has been spinning since Austin died. Nina says she thinks Ava needs a distraction. Why don’t they go to Rice Plaza? Ava says she thinks that’s a good idea. She thinks seeing Avery in that Living Nativity will make her feel better.

Michael tells Donna that she’s all set, and she thanks him for fixing it. He says, of course (🍷), and she asks if they’re going to see Wiley and Amelia on Christmas. He says, yeah, and she wonders if they can hang their stockings together. He says, it’s a great idea, but he thinks she’s going to be at her mom’s on Christmas Eve, and she says, daddy says Michael’s going to be with him and Nina on Christmas Eve. Cyrus watches from the shadows, and Michael says, he, Willow, Wiley, and Amelia and daddy and Nina. Donna tells him, daddy said this is going to be the best Christmas ever now that Nina’s part of the family.

Sonny asks how Laura is holding up, and she says she’s still worried about Charlotte. Physically, she’s on the mend, but emotionally, she’s struggling. He says he thinks she’s old enough to benefit from therapy, and Laura says she agrees. What about Anna? Has he spoken to her? He says, she’s very hard to get in touch with. She blames herself for what happened to Charlotte. Laura says, it was a terrible accident, and he says, they know that, but Anna just blames herself.

Anna tells Dante, the irony is, Brennan covered his tracks so well, he didn’t even realize he was implicated in the report. He kind of just brought this on himself. Dante’s phone rings, and he says he should take this. Hume stands in the shadows, holding a gun, and Dante asks Sam, what’s going on? She tells him, Brennan is in town. Carly saw him in Kelly’s. He must have come into town to take care of Anna himself. He asks if she can call the PCPD and tell the desk sergeant what’s going on, and she says she will. She tells him to be careful, and he says, always. He tells Anna that they have to get someplace less exposed, and they start to walk, but Hume pops out and shoots at them. They duck behind some crates.

Carly says, look who’s back, and Brennan says, apologies. That call pulled him away before he could even put in an order. Now they’re closed and he’s missed his chance. She says, he can stay. The cook is gone for the night, but she can heat up some meatloaf. It won’t be fancy… He says, simple works for him. She’s very kind.

Lucy tells Scotty that she took the deal for Maxie and Sasha’s sake. And besides, 49% of a viable company is a heck of a lot better than 100% of nothing. He says, but she gave away her ELQ tie-breaking vote, and she says she did not. It was extorted out of her by Tracy. If she hadn’t given up her precious share of ELQ, Tracy would have blown the whole deal, and she, Maxie, and Sasha would have been completely bankrupt. He says, so she’s just going to let Tracy trample over the company she built, but she says, absolutely not. She has just begun to fight back. He says, it doesn’t seem like it, and Doc says, what it seems like is Scotty rubbing salt in the wound. Maybe it’s time to head home. Scotty says, all right. He’s not going to justify having to take flack for doing his job. Doc says he doesn’t even know what that means, and I’m glad he said that because I don’t either. Scotty says he’s not going to apologize for representing Doc’s wife’s criminal brother Cyrus or for representing Elizabeth. His Liesl just won’t give him a second chance. Tracy blows in and goes to the bar, where she puts down her bag. Scotty follows and Lucy gets up, but Doc says, Lucy… Stay. She sits back down, and she asks if he isn’t going after Scotty, but he says he doesn’t care about Scotty. He cares about her. Besides, he wants to watch this.

Tracy orders a dirty martini, top shelf vodka, no such thing as too dirty. Scotty sits down near her, and she says, go away. He says, as she can see, his coat was here – he indicates the coat on the back of his stool – so if he’s going to bother her, he suggests she vamoose. She says, nothing he does has any effect on her at all, and he says, fine. She says, fine.

Ava says she’s going to see Avery and will catch up with Nina later, and Nina joins Sonny and Laura. She says, nice to see them. Rice Plaza looks amazing. Laura thanks her, like she did it all herself, and says she’s very proud of their town. It’s really good to see Nina, but she has some things she needs to attend to. She leaves, and Sonny asks why Nina is so late. She says, she and Ava had some girl talk. Why? Did he miss her? He says, always, and kisses her.

Ava says she understands Martin has to learn his Wise Man duties on the job, and Martin says he was a last-minute substitution. Michael joins them, and Ava sees Cyrus going by. She asks, what is that monster doing here? She doesn’t want him anywhere near Avery. Michael says, don’t worry. His dad took care of it. She says, good. Because she doesn’t believe that man’s conversion for a second. Ava flashes back to Sonny telling her that Austin’s boss is Cyrus Renault, and she says she knows Cyrus is as dangerous as he always was.

Carly says she’s glad Brennan is okay with meatloaf. Although it’s going to take a while to heat up. He says he hopes he’s not putting her out. He can just come back another… She says, that’s okay. She wasn’t done closing down the kitchen yet, so she’ll be right back. It’ll just take a minute. She heads for the kitchen, but says, oh, her phone, and turns around. He says, is this it? and picks it up. He sees the article about himself and tells Carly that he sees she knows his secret.

Anna and Dante draw their guns, and Hume says, there’s no way out. Give him what he wants and nobody else gets hurt. She tells Dante, that’s not Brennan, and Hume says, is she willing to add Detective Falconari to her long list of collateral damage? She says she wants to talk to Brennan, and Hume says he’s here to help her before this all gets worse. He hears her latest shooting victim is out of the hospital. Charlotte Cassadine? A child? Really? I say, really? to Hume trying to psyche Anna out. He says, all because of something that happened in the 80s? Let’s end this now. Anna tells Dante, he’s right.

Brook tells Ned that she can’t let granny push her around. The only way to deal with Tracy is to face her head on. He says, sadly, it took him a few more years before he learned that particular lesson, and she says she knows working back at Deception will temporarily take her away from her music career, but she won’t let down her clients. She’ll work 24/7. She’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that granny is out of Maxie’s company. Lois says, Maxie’s company? What about Lucy? Brook says, Lucy has made it perfectly clear she won’t work with her, and Ned says, sounds like she’s facing an uphill battle. Brook says she’s not scared. Nothing is going to stop her from making this right.

Anna says, don’t shoot. She’s coming out. She stands up with her hands in the air and puts her gun down. She says she knows where the evidence is. It’s in a safety deposit box and she has the key right here. She points to her pocket, and he says, slowly. She takes a key out of her pocket, and he says, toss it to him. She says, he knows Brennan’s just tying everything off right now. Forsythe’s dead. Does Hume think he’s going to be next? He says he’s not worried. He earns his keep. She says she’s sure that’s what Forsythe thought too, but Brennan only keeps people who are useful around him. Everyone has a sell by date. Doesn’t he think his is up? In the meantime, Dante has run around behind Hume, and clocks him in the head. Hume goes down, and Sam comes out. Dante asks what she’s doing here, and she says, checking on him. Is he okay? He cuffs Hume, and Sam says, they don’t know who this is. Dante takes out Hume’s wallet and looks at his ID. He says, Roman Hume. It says he works for Pikeman. Hume comes to, and Dante hoists him up. Anna says, where’s Brennan? and Hume says, make him a deal. Dante says, not a chance, and Anna says, they have to find Brennan before he realizes they’ve got his lieutenant. Sam says she thinks she may know where he is.

Carly says, if Brennan had told her that he was the director of the WSB, she would have thought he was a liar, and crazy. He chuckles and says he’s curious as to how she figured it out. She says she looked it up on the internet. (How is he director of the WSB? Not exactly the brightest bulb in the box.) There’s many John Brennans, but only one director of the WSB. She clicked on the link and magic! his picture popped up. Anyway, she’s going to go heat up the meatloaf. He says, Hume told him that her former son-in-law was involved. Falconari, right? The connection’s in there somewhere. She asks how he knows Dante, and he says he’s director of the WSB. If there’s something he wants to know, he knows it. Just as he made it his business to know about Sonny Corinthos, his operation, the people he holds dear. There’s just one thing he doesn’t know. What is he going to do with her?

Nina sees Michael buying cookies and says, they need to talk. In private. They walk off together.

Laura tells Ava that Avery looks adorable, and Ava says, doesn’t she? She’s been talking about her costume for weeks. Laura says, she’s taking her role so seriously, and they laugh. Ava says she knows it’s a difficult topic for both of them, but does Laura have any more information about Nikolas’s whereabouts? Laura says she doesn’t unfortunately, and Ava asks if she thinks she’ll keep looking for him. Laura says she wanted to stay in Europe and keep looking, but she got that call from Valentin about Charlotte and knew she was needed at home. Also, Doc told her that Nikolas will come home when he’s ready to face the people he left behind.

In a more private area, Michael asks what Nina wants, and Nina says, Ned knows she’s the one who tipped off the SEC. He asks what that has  to do with him, and she says, he wants information on Aurora to use against Michael and Drew, and if she gives him that information, he’ll keep taking the blame. He says, she doesn’t know anything about Aurora. What was Ned thinking? She says, he’s thinking she’ll find a way. That’s why she’s talking to him. He needs to help her get Ned off her back. He asks why he’d do that, and she says, think about it. This is like Blackmail 101. If Ned tells Sonny, Michael will have nothing to hold over her head. If he wants her to continue keeping her distance from her daughter and grandchild, he’ll help her out. He says he only kept quiet to protect Willow. She’s going to be devastated when she finds out what Nina did, but maybe it’s best to get it all over with. Nina says, all right. She’ll play his game. If Ned tells Sonny the truth, then guess what? She’ll tell Carly the truth that he knew she was the real informant this whole time and he never said anything. (Wouldn’t a better idea be to tell Willow?)

People run past, startling Ava, and Sonny says, why so jumpy? She asks if he really needs her to answer that question. First of all, they still don’t know who killed Austin. Then there’s the fact that Nikolas is alive and out there somewhere. She can only assume he’s plotting his revenge against her. He asks what she’s not telling him. Did something else happen? Donna runs up and asks if Michael is back with the cookies, and Sonny says, not yet, but he’ll be here any minute. Ava asks if Donna is having fun with Avery. They’re not too cold, are they? Donna says, no. They’re having a great time. Only one thing could make this Christmas even better. Sonny asks, what’s that? and Donna says she wants to open presents with Avery on Christmas, but Avery has to be with her mom. Can Avery and Ava come over to join them? Sonny and Ava look at each other.

Scotty says, that’s a stiff one. How come Tracy is drinking alone? She asks why he cares when he’s clearly doing the same thing, and he says he just figured she’d be at the mansion with the servants and the family. Of course (🍷) they don’t like her any more than he does. She asks if he’s been overserved. Maybe he should go home before he embarrasses himself further. He says, all right. He’s going to raise the white flag right now. It wasn’t that long ago that he was her lawyer. They thought she’d killed that guy, but his assistant had done it. Then remember? They got hot and heavy. (I don’t remember. When was this???) She says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That doesn’t sound like something she’d do. He says he can’t believe she’d forget the look on Lee and Gail’s face when they came in and caught them going at it on top of his desk. The look was priceless. She says, the only thing she remembers was them asking her why she was slumming with him, and he says, so she does remember. She says, correction. She’s trying not to remember. He says, why the high hat all of a sudden? She’s the one who was married to Luke, that no good, criminal jackass. She throws her drink in his face.

Carly says, Brennan has seriously miscalculated. If anything happens to her… He says he knows all about the mobster ex-husband, and she says she’s talking about the Navy SEAL boyfriend, but Sonny will kill him too. He says he was really starting to like her. Now that he’s seen how she parades under duress, he likes her even more. Sadly, they seem to be the victims of rotten luck. He takes out some brass knuckles, and she says, get away from her. She grabs something off the counter and whacks him with it. He stumbles back, as Anna and Dante come in, guns drawn. Anna says, hands where they can see them, and Brennan puts his hands up.

Ava says she knows Donna wants to be with her sister on Christmas, but her family is so big and family gatherings can be tricky. Sonny tells Donna, that’s a great idea, but why doesn’t she let the grown-ups talk? Go find Avery at the Nativity. Donna says, yay! and skips off. Ava says she knows the girls want to be together on Christmas morning, but she knows the situation is prickly. So please don’t do this for her. Sonny says he’s not doing it for her; he’s doing it for his daughters. She says, right. Of course (🍷). But they won’t stay long. She knows this is his first Christmas with Nina as husband and wife. She wouldn’t want to intrude on that. He says he doesn’t think Nina would mind at all. They’re going to have so many Christmases ahead of them.

Michael says he can explain to his mother what he did and why. Can Nina do the same thing with his father? Nina says she’s sorry. She shouldn’t have said that. It doesn’t have to be this way. Willow doesn’t need to know. Can he just make up something about Aurora so she can pass it on to Ned? It helps both of them if Sonny never finds out. Cyrus listens from the shadows, which seems to be the trend in Port Charles, and Michael says, okay, fine. He’ll take care of Ned.

Ned pours some wine, and Lois says, their marriage might not have worked out, but they did raise one hell of a daughter. He clinks her glass and says, agreed. Brook comes in and asks, what’s going on? What did she miss? Ned says, she didn’t miss anything. He and her mom were just having a nice conversation. Brook says, nice conversations and Quartermaines do not go together, and Lois says, but she’s not a Quartermaine. They were just talking about how much they love her. Brook says, is that all? and Ned hugs her while Lois smooths her hair.

Detectives arrive and Brennan is cuffed. Carly asks how Dante knew to come here, and he says, Sam told him about the conversation they had about Brennan. Carly thanks Sam, and Sam says, of course (🍷). She’s just glad they got here in time. Anna hands a detective the folder, and says, this is the evidence Brennan was so desperate to get ahold of. He asks, what’s the significance of the wallet? and she says, if he pulls back the lining, he’ll see a sequence of numbers that lead to a Swiss bank account. She goes over to Brennan and says, long time, huh? She calls him ex-director Brennan and asks if he thinks they’ll invite Frisco back to clean up his mess. He says, at least she’s been exposed as a double agent. Now everyone knows who she is. She says, that’s right, but her past can’t come back to hurt her anymore. He says, she almost killed a child. What does she have left? She says she has herself, and he says, good luck then. She’ll need it. Brennan is led out, and as he goes past Carly, he says, rotten timing? Dante says, it looked like Anna was willing to risk her life for his back there, and Anna says, if it had come to that, she would have. Brennan is right about one thing. She won’t allow anyone else to get hurt because of her mistakes.

Doc tells Lucy, as if on cue. Scott Baldwin can get under someone’s skin unlike than anyone he’s ever known.

Tracy tells Scotty that she’d say she just wasted some premium vodka, but when a better use comes along, you go for it. She walks out, and he says he’ll send her the dry-cleaning bill.

Lucy watches Tracy leave, and Doc says, don’t. Whatever she’s thinking, whatever she’s scheming, he promises her it will not end well. She says, who, me? She doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He really does worry too much. Laura comes in, and asks, was that Tracy Quartermaine she just saw storming through the parking lot? Doc says, yes, and kisses her. Lucy says, so good to see her, but she thought Martin was coming with her. Laura says she’s so sorry, but Martin is still participating in the Living Nativity at Rice Plaza. Lucy says, that’s great. When Laura asked him, she encouraged him to do it. She just didn’t think it would go so late. Laura says, sorry about that. She’s afraid he’s not going to be able to join them for dinner.

Michael gives Donna the cookies and says, she did a great job being in the Living Nativity. She asks if she can share them, and Michael says she can. She goes over to Martin, who says, it’s so nice of her to offer, and takes one.

Nina runs up to Sonny, who says he was just about to look for her. She says she’s so sorry. There was a minor crisis at the MetroCourt, but she handled everything. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, everything she could possibly ever want is right here.

Martin says, serving as a Wise Man was more arduous than he thought. Donna did a stellar job as their lamb tonight. She was better behaved than the angel. He thinks the angel had a dented halo. Cyrus watches from a distance as Martin talks to Donna.

Tomorrow, Portia asks what Spencer really knows about love; Finn tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t know what to do at this point; Charlotte asks Laura, what could he possibly be doing on Christmas Eve; and Anna tells Valentin that she can’t be part of his family.

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The 2023 Daytime Emmy Award Winners!

What you didn’t see.

The Daytime Emmys You Didn’t See on TV!

The fashion. Again, so much black. Thank you, Susan Lucci.

Daytime Emmys 2023 Fashion Gallery

Here, I expected black.

Daytime Emmys 2023: The Guys

🏰 We’re Not Ready…

I see her point, but I’d hate to lose that house. Oh wait. I don’t really live there.

Dorinda Medley Has Plans To Sell Blue Stone Manor

💎 In Agreement…

I’m sure Annemarie wants to be relevant, but she came across as a bully. It’s like when you have a disorder that’s not visible, and someone says, you don’t look sick.

Tiffany Moon Drags ‘Rude’ Annemarie Wiley Over Sutton Stracke Esophagus Drama

🍔 Something About a Menu…

Now if they’d only actually open.

The Something About Her Sandwich Menu First Look (Kind Of)

🫦 Giving You Lala…

While I begrudge Ariana nothing, Lala’s not wrong. I think what’s happened is, Ariana is being looked upon as an Everywoman. I also think it’s exaggerating to say her posts are thirsty. And if they are, then she’s always been thirsty.

Why Lala Kent’s Latest Thirst Trap Reeks Of Jealousy

👰🏻‍♀️ Wishing Them Happiness…

I wouldn’t have thought of pairing them up, but they’re two of my favorite celebrities. I’m a huge 2 Broke Girls fan and I’ve loved Andrew W.K. since Party Hard. I’ve often suggested he run for President. Mazel tov!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/larryfitzmaurice/kat-dennings-andrew-wk-married-wedding-details

🤪 All Those Shrinks Can’t Be Wrong…

Some practical tips to get you through the holidaze.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-without-anxiety/201212/10-tips-surviving-the-holidays

🎅🏽 If All Else Fails…

Dress your pet up like Santa or one of his elves or one of his reindeer. And if you don’t have a pet, get one.

https://people.com/celebrity/santa-pets-your-cats-and-dogs-in-holiday-style/

👖 Sisterhood Of the Homebody Pants…

Join me tomorrow for soap and whatever annoyances I can point out during RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay recognizing the beauty in imperfections, and stay watching your step if you’re a Wise Man in a Christmas pageant.

May15

May 14, 2021 – Plan C Is Set In Motion, Secret Sonny, Sad Situation, All About Brandi, What a Girl Wants, Reunion Shade, New Series, Why He Left, VanderPreview, This Summer, Perfect Match, A Suit’s Number Of Quotes & Beautiful

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny gets into Eli’s office, and a security alarm goes off. He starts tossing things around, pulling things out of drawers, and throwing them on the floor.

Eli tells Nina that he’s glad they got that straightened out. That means he can do something he’s wanted to for a while. He moves in for a kiss, and Nina says, how about them Mets? It’s a lovely night. Why rush things? Now that she’s decided to stay in Nixon Falls, they have all the time in the world.

Sonny continues to mess up Eli’s office.

Carly thanks Diane for coming on such short notice. Can she offer Diane a glass of Sonny’s scotch? That’s how they discussed legal matters, right? Over a glass of single malt? Diane thinks her, but says she’ll take a raincheck for now. The main matter is Jason. She finds it a little disappointing and disconcerting that two clients wouldn’t trust her enough to fight groundless charges, and instead, chose to resort to a dangerous, albeit daring, criminal escape. While she’s certain she can still argue that Jason didn’t kill Franco, he now faces additional charges. Carly says she’s sure Jason did what he felt he had to do. Now she has to do the same. She has some legal work she needs to go over with Diane. Diane asks, what kind of legal work? and Carly says she needs her will revised. She needs Diane to bring it up to date.

Michael sees Willow coming into the Quartermaine mansion. She says she knows it’s Wiley’s bedtime, and wanted to say goodnight before he fell asleep. He says she’s about 15 minutes too late. The little guy was out like a light. She says she’s just going to tiptoe into his room and give him a kiss; he won’t even know. Michael says, he will. A kiss from her is pretty hard to forget.

Lucy approaches Brando at the MetroCourt, and says she owes him a big, fat apology. He says, for what? and she says he probably knows Sasha is such an asset to Deception, an asset that’s expanding every day now. She never properly thanked him for saving Sasha’s life.

In the restroom, Sasha is on the phone. She says she’s a patient of Dr. Navarro’s and wondered if she can prescribe something for morning sickness… Great. She’ll be expecting their email. She puts some water on her face, and leaves. Gladys comes out of one of the stalls, and says, so. The super model went and got herself knocked up. Damn.

Brook reads about water births from her laptop. Labor pains will still happen, but the water provides a relaxing, soothing environment. She listens to a narrator talk about water birth, while hearing a women groaning with labor pains in the background. Her phone rings, and she says they’re not going to believe the video she just watched. She’s completely on board with getting Bobbie involved. In fact, she thinks it was a stroke of genius. Maxie says she doesn’t have long to talk. Her live-in nurse brought her to GH to meet her new OB/GYN. She needs Brook to meet her there. She needs to Brook the keys to the house in Beecher’s Corners, so Brook can meet her when the baby is born. She needs Brook to go there, stock it with supplies, so everything is ready… Is Brook still there? Maxie and her baby need her. Brook says, don’t worry; she’s all in. Brook opens the door to leave, and Valentin is there. He says, going somewhere?

Maxie turns around and sees Peter. She asks how long he’s been there. What is he doing there? He says, as the father, he was informed of her appointment with her new OB/GYN. He’s just there to offer moral support. She says, that’s so considerate. Fortunately her live-in nurse came with her. She introduces Chloe to Peter, and Peter says so she’s the woman Maxie chose to care for their child. It’s nice to meet her at last. Chloe says it’s nice to meet him too, and Maxie rolls her eyes.

Valentin says he and Brook had an agreement; they’re in this together. She says she wasn’t aware their agreement meant she had to clear her comings and goings with him, and he says they agreed to do what’s best for the baby. She says it might have helped if he hadn’t hired Boris Badanov to, quote unquote, shadow her. He’s about as inconspicuous as a two-legged fridge. He says, Yuri is a good man. He trusts Yuri with her. She says she knows what’s good for her baby, and he says, their baby. She says, their baby. But Valentin is the one with the long list of enemies. If anyone’s putting them in harm’s way, it’s him.

Sasha comes back, and sees Lucy talking to Brando. Lucy says, if he hadn’t acted so quickly, they wouldn’t have just lost a spokesmodel, but a very dear friend. It could have been a million times worse if he hadn’t just jumped in. He says he’s sure anyone would have done the same thing, but she says he’s being way too modest. Deception owes him an extreme debt of gratitude, and Sasha owes him her life. Gladys joins them, and says, really? Tell her more. Brando says it doesn’t concern her, but she says, her son concerns her. Lucy was saying he saved Sasha’s life. Lucy says she wasn’t there, but Sasha told her all about it, and Brando managed to step in in the nick of time.

Sasha looks at her phone, and says, thank God; a prescription for nausea. Cyrus comes by, and says, good evening, Ms. Gilmore. Small world.

Diane tells Carly, in her dealings with Sonny, she knew what she wanted to know, and made very sure she didn’t know what she didn’t want to know. And she doesn’t want to know about Carly’s new responsibilities. Carly says, okay. Then let’s leave it at this. She wants Diane to update her will in the event that something should happen to her. The house phone rings, and Carly says, of course (🍷). Thank you. She asks Diane to excuse her, and goes to the door. Ava is there with Avery, and says, Avery has been wanting to have a sleepover with her sisters, so she took the chance of dropping by. Or is this a bad time? Avery says, please?

Eli tells Nina, time has a habit of slipping away, and he doesn’t want to lose a moment with her. He starts to move in again, but his phone dings. He looks at it grimly, and she asks, what’s the matter? He says, it’s a message from his security company. There’s been a break-in at his office. She says, what? How horrible. He says, the police have already been contacted, and he’s sorry, but he has to get over there. He’ll drop her off. She says, no! She’s coming with him. He says, that’s really sweet, and she looks at her watch.

As the alarm continues, Sonny is copying information from Eli’s computer. He says, come on, speed it up. He hears sirens, and sees flashing lights through the window.

Michael asks Willow if Chase’s condition improved after he left, and she says, whatever Finn gave him, helped with the symptoms, but unfortunately, it still isn’t a cure. Chase thinks Finn isn’t telling him the whole story. He asks why Finn would withhold information, and she says, it doesn’t seem like something he’d do, but Chase brings it up every time they talk. He says, maybe Chase is just bored and frustrated. He would be in Chase’s place. The doorbell rings, and Michael lets Ned in. Michael says he can’t get used to Ned ringing the bell; it’s still his place. Ned says, not at the moment. He came back because he forgot something. Michael asks if that’s really it, and Ned laughs, and says, busted. Today was really a breakthrough. Things weren’t quite as tense between him and Olivia. They actually enjoyed themselves singing songs. It was only for a few hours, but it was really nice to be part of the family again.

Valentin says he and Brook may have gotten into this situation accidentally, but she’s carrying their baby; that means something. She says she knows she’s been hard on him, and she’s not backing down from their agreement about the stock, but that being said, she finds it reassuring knowing the baby has him. She has faith that he’ll do everything he can to protect this baby, and she finds that really comforting. Ned comes in, and asks if everything is okay. Brook says they’re just resetting some ground rules. She asks if she can go to the bathroom, or is Yuri going to follow her in there too? She leaves, and Valentin says, it’s the hormones talking, but Ned says, it’s the DNA talking Get used to it. Brook dashes out the front door.

Peter says he thinks Maxie is overtaxing herself by coming there, considering she’s still on bedrest. She says, if it makes him feel better, she had Chloe check her blood pressure before they left, and it was stable, so there’s no risk to the baby. Chloe confirms that, and Maxie says, besides it’s really important she has this meeting. She was so comfortable with Britt, and she needs to get to know Dr. Navarro. He says it’s such a shame his sister is no longer in charge there, and tells Chloe that he’s counting on her to do whatever is necessary for the baby. Understood? Chloe says, that’s the plan.

Avery says, hi, Aunt Diane, and Ava says, sorry. She didn’t know she’d be interrupting anything. Carly says, Avery is always welcome, and tells Diane, Ava thought Avery would like a sleepover with her sisters. Avery says she made a picture in school of Donna, and Diane suggests the go up and show it to her. They go upstairs, and Ava says, look at that. One smile from Avery, and it can melt even Diane Miller’s cold heart. Diane says she heard that, and Carly says she’s thrilled to have Avery there, but they both know the surprise sleepover is just an excuse. What does Ava want? Ava says, the truth.

At Eli’s office, Nina arrives with Eli, and they go inside with an officer. Eli says, they really trashed the place, and the cop says, just like all the other robberies. He’ll dust for prints, but doesn’t expect to find anything. Just another smash and grab. Nina says, this is becoming way too common in Nixon Falls, and Eli says he doesn’t understand why anyone would break in his office. He doesn’t keep anything of value there. Petty cash… He looks in the box, and says, which they seem to have found. It makes him wonder. Is this just another robbery, or is someone trying to send him a message?

Sonny puts the cash in the register at the Tan-O, when Phyllis comes in. She says he’s not fooling her. She knows what he’s been up to. She saw him put money into the register. He should be saving up for his future. That’s the trouble with him; he’s too darn generous for his own good. Not only with Lenny and her. He says he doesn’t know what she means, and she says she’s talking about Nina. How come she’s out with Eli tonight instead of him?

Eli tells Nina, he can’t figure out why anyone would break in his office. He doesn’t keep anything there worth the risk of breaking in. Nina takes off her earrings, and quietly drops them to the floor. The officer says he’ll have to get a statement from Eli, and Eli tells Nina that he has to go to the station. He’ll drop her off. She tells him not to think about that. He has to move quickly to find out who did this. She can walk; she needs to get in her 10,000 steps. He says he’s sorry their night had to come to an abrupt end, and she says, her too, but if he can help the police find out who’s behind this, then it’s worth it. He says he’ll take a raincheck, and they can finish what they started, and she nods enthusiastically, and walks out with him.

Carly asks if Ava wants to explain what truth she’s after, and Ava says, she’s sure Carly remembers that recently she asked Ava to host a dinner party; the guest of honor being Nikolas’s new Uncle Cyrus. Carly says she remembers it ended sooner than it was supposed to, and Ava says if Carly had told her the reason she wanted Cyrus to stay, she could have been better equipped to detain him. Carly says, the real reason, and Ava says she wants to play it like that? She’ll play, and she’ll state the obvious. While she was entertaining Cyrus, Jason was escaping from General Hospital. That can’t possibly be a coincidence.

Cyrus says, not to be unkind, but Sasha doesn’t look well. Is she feeling all right? She says there’s something going around, but fortunately, her doctor has something to remedy the situation. If he’ll excuse her… He says he’s heading to GH shortly. He’ll tell Brando to bring the car around. She says, no thank you, and he says he’s disappointed she’s so standoffish. He was hoping they could put past mistakes behind them. She says, like she told him, as part of her recovery, she has to be careful who she associates with. He says, what could be more beneficial to her recovery than being with the Chairman of the Board of the very hospital that saved her life? She says, the way she remembers it, the night she collapsed, he didn’t care if she lived or died.

Lucy tells Gladys, there was actually a time when Sasha was on a date with Cyrus Renault. Apparently, they ended up back at his penthouse. Power does make a man very attractive to an ambitious young woman. Gladys asks how her Brando fits in, and Lucy says, unfortunately, Sasha had a sudden heart attack, and Brando stepped in at just the right time, and got her to GH. Gladys says her son is a hero… Now it looks like Sasha and Cyrus are closer than ever.

Valentin says he wants to know what’s going on with Brook, and texts Yuri, but Michael says, in case he didn’t notice, Brook values her independence. Valentin says he noticed. He would never dream of stifling her independence, but he needs to know that she and the baby are protected. Willow thinks Valentin’s concern for the baby is touching, and Ned says it bodes well for their future as co-parents. Valentin says, it bodes well for the whole family, because once he returns the shares he acquired from Brook, the Quartermaines will be in control of ELQ once again. Ned says, this isn’t about ELQ, and Michael says they’re doing well. Let’s just take a breath. Yuri comes in, and says he got Valentin’s text. Valentin asks where Brook is, and Yuri says he thought she was with Valentin.

Deanna tells Maxie that Dr. Navarro will be with her soon; come with her. Maxie says Peter doesn’t need to stick around. She’s just having a casual meeting with Dr. Navarro. Brook gets out of the elevator, but stops when she sees Peter. Maxie suggests Peter and Chloe take this time to get acquainted. After all, hiring a nurse was his idea. Brook scoots around the corner, and Peter says it makes him happy that Maxie sees them as one big team. (Ugh.) He’s sure he and Chloe will find plenty to talk about. Maxie heads for where she saw Brook go, but Deanna comes out  of the examining room, and says, all set? Maxie goes in with her, and asks if Deanna every does private nursing. Chloe is nice and all, but she’d rather it be Deanna. Deanna says she’s flattered, but her schedule at GH is full at the moment. Brook sneaks around some more.

Valentin tells Yuri, Brook’s car is gone. Is this what Yuri calls keeping an eye on her? Yuri apologizes, but Valentin says Yuri better hope she turns back up, or he’ll be looking for another job… in the Ukraine.

Ned tells Michael and Willow, there’s a part of him that’s very proud of Brook for refusing to let Valentin boss her around. However, as a father… Michael says, we have rights, and Ned says, exactly. He knows Valentin is worried about the baby, as he should be, given his history with making enemies. Valentin listens outside the door, and Willow says she can only speak to her experience of Valentin with Charlotte, but he’s a loving, devoted father. She imagines he’ll be the same with this baby. Michael says, leave it to her to find a way to bring this family together, especially when there’s a child involved.

Deanna leaves the examining room, and Brook jets in. She says, that was a close call. She looked like a deer in headlights. If Peter would have turned around and seen her… Maxie says they don’t have much time. She gives Brook the keys to the house in Beecher’s Corners, and says they need to go over the plan one more time, just so she knows they’re on the same page. Brook says, they leave town separately, and Maxie says, so Peter and Valentin can’t track that they’re together. Whoever gets there first will set up the house, and make sure they have supplies. Brook says, and Bobbie will come to deliver the baby. She’ll wait in another room… Maxie says, no. Brook will need to help. Brook says she’s been watching a lot of videos, and doesn’t think she’s cut out to be so up close and personal with a delivery. Maxie says she knows the situation is anything but ideal, but without Britt, they have to make it work. Louise’s life depends on it. Brook says she’s right. Keeping Maxie’s baby safe is the only thing that matters, and if she has to be part of the delivery, she’ll manage. But Maxie has to manage stringing Peter along, and make him not suspicious. Maxie says Brook has to do the same with Valentin, but Brook says, Valentin’s not so bad. He hovers, but he means well, and actually respects her as a person. He’s not some creepy stalker like Peter. Sorry. Maxie says, don’t ever apologize for speaking the truth. Peter is dangerous and deluded, and he can never go anywhere near this baby. Brook says, he won’t. She promises to meet Maxie at Beecher’s Corners. She slips out, and goes to the elevator, and Maxie tells the baby, it won’t be long now, sweetie. Maxie knows her birth is going to be a little unorthodox, but as soon as she knows Louise is safe from her father, they can be together forever.

Carly tells Ava, sometimes a family dinner is just a family dinner, and Ava says, and other times, it’s a diversion. Carly needed to free Jason, and she needed to do it that night because he had to be at a very important meeting. Carly says she doesn’t know what Ava is talking about, and Ava says, she may be out of the game, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still hear things. The Five Families stuffed shells met for the first time since Sonny’s death. From what she heard, Cyrus was late, but he did show up, and things could have gone very differently for the Corinthos family, but apparently, they did not. Carly says, enough. If Ava has something to say, say it. Ava says she wants to tell Carly something. After everything she heard – unofficially, of course (🍷) – she has a new appreciation for Carly. She knows they have a rocky past, but they have a common enemy in Cyrus, so she’ll tell Carly again. If there’s anything she can do to help bring that man down, count her in.

Sonny tells Phyllis, Nina’s a big girl. If she wants to spend time with Elijah, so be it. He thought she was Eli’s biggest fan. She says, she’s quite fond of Eli, but the truth is, she expected Sonny to make a move on Nina by now. He laughs, and she says she recognizes sparks between to people when she sees them. Or maybe he doesn’t care as much about Nina as she thought. He says he definitely cares about Nina, and walks over to the phone.

In Eli’s office, Nina sits at his desk. She turns on the computer and puts in a flashdrive. The screen says, initializing keystroke history, and it signs her in. She says, okay, she’s in. Let’s see what she can find.

Valentin says, Brook has not checked in to General Hospital, and Ned says he’s not going to call the jail? Valentin says he was hoping Brook could resist provoking local law enforcement, since she’s pregnant. Brook walks in, and says, don’t stop. He was saying? Valentin asks to speak to Brook alone, but Ned’s not so sure that’s a good idea. Brook says she’s got this, and Ned says he never doubted it. He, Michael, and Willow leave, and Brook says, now that they’re alone, is this where Valentin tells her the deal is off?

Peter tells Chloe that he’s happy to see this is working out so well. Maxie seems to already trust her. She says, a crucial part of her job is gaining clients’ trust. He knows that, or he wouldn’t have hired her. He says, shhh… Maxie is the one who hired her. Don’t ever let her think otherwise. It’s important Chloe cultivate trust with Maxie, so when the time comes for the baby to be delivered… She says she knows the plan. She makes sure Maxie and the baby leave Port Charles, and arrive at the place in Podunk. He says, Pautuck. He likes to think of it as an idyllic getaway for him and his family, before they vanish to begin their new life, far from the reaches of everyone there who wants to keep them apart.

Dr. Navarro tells Maxie that she and the baby are right on schedule. Maxie says she can’t believe it. It won’t be long before she’s holding little Louise in her arms, even if it’s just… The doctor asks if everything is all right, and Maxie says, everything is great. Dr. Navarro says she’ll see Maxie soon, and leaves. Peter asks how it went, and Maxie says, couldn’t be better. He says, good. That’s just what he wanted to hear.

Cyrus calls Brando over, and says, the lady would like a drink. He can handle that, can’t he? Brando asks what she’d like; a martini, vodka and soda? She says she’ll be fine with just sparkling water, and Brando goes to the bar. Cyrus says she’s really taking her recovery seriously, isn’t she? and she says, more than he knows.

Gladys says, they certainly seem to have some chemistry, don’t they? and Lucy says she never noticed before, but something is going on. They’re practically giving off sparks. Gladys says she could imagine if they had kids, with her good looks and his determination, and Lucy says, that would be a devastating combination. Lucy asks Gladys to excuse her, and intercepts Sasha on her way to the bar. She asks if she can steal the face of Deception for a teeny, tiny moment, and steers Sasha to the other side of the bar. She says, oh my gosh, it’s him, isn’t it? Sasha says she doesn’t know what Lucy is talking about, and Lucy says she doesn’t know why she didn’t think of it sooner. The two of them were splashed all over Page Five. Cyrus Renault is her baby daddy, isn’t he?

Carly says she doesn’t know what Ava heard, or who she heard it from, but her main concern is keeping her family safe until Jason is exonerated, and assumes control of Sonny’s business. Ava says, Jason does have a talent for beating charges, but in the meantime, know that if there’s anything she can do to keep Avery safe, she’ll do it. All Carly has to do is ask. Diane comes downstairs and says she doesn’t see any blood on the floor. She’ll take that as a good sign. Ava says she and Carly have reached a new understanding. Please give Avery a goodnight kiss for her. She leaves and Diane asks if Carly wants to tell her what that was actually about. Carly says, Ava just paid her a compliment, and Diane says, proceed with caution. When Ava Jerome becomes a member of your fan club, it’s time to reassess. Carly says, don’t worry. She doesn’t need Ava’s approval, or her help.

Sonny says he’s starting to get worried about Lenny. Maybe Phyllis should check on him at the clinic. He’ll hold down the fort. The phone rings, and he says he’ll take care of it. Phyllis says, if she were a more suspicious person, she would think he’s trying to get rid of her. She leaves, and Sonny says, Tan-O. Mike speaking. Nina says, their plan worked like a charm. Eli and the police think it was just an ordinary Nixon Falls break-in. She came in through the back door that he left open, and thanks to the software he installed, she has access to Eli’s computer. He says, tell him about her victory later when she’s out of there. Has she found anything incriminating? She says she found something interesting that could lead her to more. He says they don’t need more; they need her out of there. She says she has to print a hard copy of the things she found, and has to make sure there’s no trace of her being on Eli’s computer. The documents start printing.

Ned tells Michael, when he sees Olivia, just tell her how much he enjoyed seeing her today. Michael says, he’s got it. he’s pretty sure Olivia enjoyed it too. Ned hopes Michael is right. He really needed this. He leaves, and Willow says she should be getting back to the gatehouse. Michael says, before she goes, he wanted to thank her. When it looked like Ned and Valentin were going to DEFCON 1, she stepped in and helped keep the peace. She tells him, what can she say? Someone has to be the voice of reason. He says he hopes she provides that voice for a very long time to come. He walks her to the door, and they say goodbye.

Valentin tells Brook, their deal is very much still on. He’s not sure why she would think otherwise. He realizes he can’t ask her to give up her life just because he’s made some enemies. She says, welcome to the 21st Century, and he says he thinks he’s come up with the perfect solution. He, Charlotte, and Yuri will be moving in. That way, they can all be together.

Peter says Chloe is outside, waiting to take Maxie home. He likes Chloe, and thinks Maxie made the right choice in picking her. Maxie says, her too, when Dr. Navarro walks in. Maxie says she remembers the baby’s father, Peter, and the doctor says, of course (🍷). It’s good to see him again. Peter says if the doctor wants to see Maxie alone, he can step out, but Maxie says, it’s okay; he can stay. She’s a little confused though. She thought Dr. Navarro said everything was okay with the baby. Is there a problem? The doctor says, the baby is fine, but she was going over Maxie’s birth plans. Dr. Westbourne said she’s open to inducing? If that’s the case, there’s really no reason to wait. She recommends they induce right now. I don’t know much about birthin’ babies, but I find it difficult to believe the doctor would suggest that if there’s nothing wrong. On the day she and the patient are supposed to be getting acquainted, no less.

Sasha tells Lucy, Cyrus is definitely not the father of her baby, and stop trying to figure out who is. She already told Lucy, the father doesn’t even know she’s pregnant. Lucy says, then Sasha needs to tell him, and let her know as soon as she does. She’ll call Sasha later; feel better.

Brando brings Sasha’s water over to her, and says, the last time he saw her at GH in the elevator, she said they should talk another time. How about right now? That night at the garage, she seemed happy, and he knows he was, so if he said or did something wrong, he doesn’t want to lose their friendship because of it. She says he didn’t do anything wrong, and he says, then what is it? What’s wrong?

Gladys tells Cyrus, she heard congratulations are in order, and he says, excuse me? She says she heard he’s becoming a father. He looks pretty puzzled, and I laugh.

Diane says she and Carly have known each other a long, long time, and while she’d never presume to speak for Sonny, she can advocate for those two little adorable girls upstairs. It’s very apparent, in the brief time she’s known Avery and Donna, even to this cold heart, how much they love and rely on Carly. Carly says she loves them just as much, and will do whatever it takes to protect them. Diane says she knows Carly is more than capable of doing that, but it comes at a price. So she’s going to talk to Carly, not just as her lawyer, but as her friend. Of course (🍷) she can change some things about Carly’s will, but please, don’t do anything to change her life, because it’s their life too. And they need her in it. Diane picks up her bag, and leaves.

Sonny says, Nina, dammit! Get out of there. She says, it just finished printing. She’s on her way. She takes some papers out of the machine, folds them up, and shoves them in her bag. Eli walks in, and asks her what she’s doing there. Sonny listens, still on the other end of the phone.

On Monday, Brando asks Sasha what’s going on, Peter asks if there’s something the doctor isn’t telling them, Cyrus says some messes are unavoidable, Nina says she can explain everything, and Brook says, over her dead body.

🏡 She Has Her Reasons…

I’m not in a hurry either.

Cynthia Watros Reveals Why Nina Is Keeping Sonny a Secret on GH

👨‍👩‍👧 Caught In the Middle…

Jennifer and her mother are still not on speaking terms.

https://www.distractify.com/p/jennifer-aydin-parents

🤸 Nothing To Cheer About…

The former Dallas Cheerleader has had a rough couple of years. And apparently, it was not LeeAnne who spilled the infidelity.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/11/brandi-redmond-details-tragic-october-2020-car-accident/

‘RHOD’ Brandi Redmond Opens Up About Husband Bryan’s Infidelity and Shares Marriage Status, Plus She Suspects LeeAnne Locken Leaked Cheating Video as Stephanie Admits Fearing Brandi Would “Do Something to Herself”

RHOD’s LeeAnne Locken Leaks Text Messages From Brandi Redmond and Denies Sending Cheating Video of Bryan to Brandi’s Daughter as Brandi Admits Video of Husband Hurt Their Family

⚠️ Dudes, Pay Attention…

What Eboni is looking for in a man. Start brushing up.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/11/rhonys-eboni-k-williams-on-what-shes-looking-for-after-broken-engagement/

🕶 Well, We Already Knew He Was Shady…

I didn’t see the RHOA Reunion, but I did notice on the commercial that they were all wearing black and the most giant earrings ever seen on this earth.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/one-rhoa-reunion-moment-had-142100625.html

💃🏾 Porsha Spins Off…

She’s done pretty well for someone who once thought the Underground Railroad was a real railroad.

https://people.com/tv/porsha-williams-getting-limited-series-bravo-focusing-life-and-family-source/

🏖 Stepping Away…

That’s exactly why I stepped away from watching Jersey Shore.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/13/ronnie-ortiz-magro-stepping-away-from-jersey-shore-over-mental-health/

🍸 Lala Speaks…

The new mom tells all about the new VPR season.

https://pagesix.com/2021/05/04/lala-kent-new-season-of-vanderpump-rules-will-be-very-different/

📺 Summer Watchin’…

What’s coming up for your viewing pleasure.

https://ew.com/tv/summer-2021-tv-preview/

✨ They’ll Party Hard Together…

Two of my favorites collide.

Andrew W.K. & Kat Dennings got engaged

🐝 Quotes of the Week

Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood. – George Orwell

We know how gravity works. – Leah McSweeney, The Real Housewives of New York City, when answering if she thought Ramona had a facelift

Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another. – Anne Raver   

The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept. – George Carlin

The difference between genius and stupidity is: genius has its limits. – Alexandre Dumas-fils

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

There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. – Oscar Levant

Do you want to drink about it? – Somebody on Summer House; it doesn’t matter who

What I did or said should never be more important than why I did it or said it. – Andrea Kelly

Pizza and vodka’s her favorite. – Jennifer Love Hewitt on Drew, regarding Betty White

If you get too many men alone and leave us alone for a while, we kind of become morons. – Andrew Yang

Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. – Vince Lombardi

The great Western disease is, ‘I’ll be happy when… When I get the money. When I get a BMW. When I get this job.’ Well, the reality is, you never get to when. The only way to find happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here. And happiness is not next week. It’s now. – Marshall Goldsmith, American Author (Adding my favorite, when I lose weight.)

🙃 Wherever You Go, There You Are…

Another week is done, or you’ve tallied another five days on your wall, depending on how you look at it. Hopefully, if you’re not at the former yet, you’re getting closer. Or you don’t care. No matter your viewpoint, stay safe, stay fearless (withing reason; don’t be an idiot), and stay never apologizing for speaking the truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz50PKaOUHg
Oct16

October 15, 2020 – Cyrus Wants To Recruit Brando, Watching Charm, Dorinda’s Exit, Bethenny’s Break-Up, Alleged Botch, Endings, Winnings, Two Words For Shamers & No Fear

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly goes through a box of Mike’s belongings, and asks Sonny if some booklets count as sports memorabilia. He says, it counts as old junk; racing forms and programs. She thinks they should have Diane send a clerk over to catalog it. It might not have monetary value, but Mike’s stuff is valuable to him, and he doesn’t want to throw it out. Sonny isn’t so sure, and Carly looks through some pictures. She takes out one of Sonny as a young boy.

On the phone, Brando says, of course (🍷) he’s grateful, but wants to know what it’s going to cost him. Cyrus says, just a few moments of his time. He wants to meet. Tonight.

Peter tells Jackie that he had his doubts when Lulu wanted to bring her in. She says she’s fond of Port Charles, and he says he knows she cut her teeth at The Herald. She says, for a few years in the 80s, she investigated her sister’s abduction. The trail led her there. He says, the city where she made her name. He asks how Port Charles has changed for her, and she says, it’s certainly bigger… shinier, faster. But none of that changes its essential character. At its heart, it’s the Port Charles she left behind.

Maxie tells Robert, she hopes he didn’t say something to upset Mac. He asks why he’d do that, and she says he can’t seem to help himself sometimes. Anything with Peter goes back to Faison with him. He says, excuse him for being overprotective, and she says she doesn’t need him to protect her from Peter. He isn’t like his father any more than she’s like hers.

Anna asks Finn to give her the basics on epigenetics. He says he loves when she talks sexy, and she says she’s being serious. From her research she sees that epigenetics involve changes that don’t have to do with the DNA sequence. He says some stuff I don’t understand and she says, meaning one identical twin could have a trait that their child inherits, a trait not necessarily present in the other twin. He asks what she’s thinking, and she says, this is how she can prove whether or not she’s Peter’s mother.

Someone looks around The Floating Rib from the back hallway. Dante comes out into the alley, and says, there are a lot of people in there. Peter will have to wait.

On the phone, Olivia says Ned doesn’t have to call her back, but she wants to talk to him when he gets home. She ran into Brook at the reception, and got quite an earful. She hangs up, and says he has no idea how lucky he is to actually have his baby there at home.

Brook stomps over to Valentin and says he played her. She let him use her against her own family. Chase doesn’t think the conversation will do anyone any good, but she says the only good thing about being fired in front of God and everyone else is, now she can tell Valentin what she really thinks. Valentin says, please do, and she says she should have warned her father that he was after ELQ. Instead, she let him buy her silence. Now her life is a dumpster fire. That’s what she gets for trusting him. He says from his perspective, the only person she has to blame for her wreck of a life is herself. Chase suggests they sit down, and starts to steer Brook away, and Valentin says he doesn’t want her to think he’s unsympathetic to her current situation. If she’d just told him that her voice hadn’t healed, he could have gone to Lucy and made arrangements. Instead, she did whatever the hell this just was, and embarrassed the entire company. She laughs, and says, please. As if Lucy’s never made a public spectacle of herself and he’s never told a lie. He says he didn’t lie to the buyer and get caught. He understands her. she wants to fix everything on her own, so she doesn’t have to admit when something is broken. It worked to his advantage when he made a play for ELQ, but today, it’s the very thing that sunk her.

Anna tells Finn about Maxie and Peter’s genetic screening appointment. She says, there was nothing concerning, but Peter had a marker for rheumatoid arthritis. She knows she doesn’t have it since she got a full genetic workup when she was diagnosed with PV. He says, that means Peter inherited the gene from Faison or… She says, her sister. If Alex has the marker, that means Peter is her son, not Anna’s.

Peter says he can imagine Jackie had some nostalgia for the place she got her start, but she says she has other irons in the fire. She has family of her own there, and she’s interested in the city whether they work together or not. He asks if exposing a philanthropist as a major drug trafficker isn’t high on her to-do list, and she says, if Cyrus is dirty, he’s done an incredible job of covering his tracks. Any investigation would be risky, labor intensive, and costly. He says he’s willing to pay. She and the story are worth it. She says the money isn’t what’s holding her back. It’s him.

Maxie tells Robert, her dad was addicted to adventure. He wasn’t cut out for parenthood, and cut out on his family, but he’s not in the same universe as Faison. Robert says, agreed, and she says she was making a point. Her father is an absentee parent. She’s not. Faison was an evil lunatic, but Peter isn’t. Robert needs to stop worrying. He says, worrying about the people we love comes naturally. It’s what makes them human. She asks, you know what else makes them human? Sharing in joy with others.

Maxie sees Spinelli talking to Brando and squeals that he’s there. Spinelli says, and by fortuitous coincidence, she’s present also. Brando says they know each other? and Maxie says they have a child together; Georgie. Who’s going to be so excited that Spinelli is there. Brando says he’s going to take off, and congratulates Maxie again. Spinelli says, congratulations are in order? He asks if it’s something Georgie will like, and Maxie says, she’ll be over the moon, and not just because she gets to wear a special dress for the occasion. He says he can only surmise she and Peter are getting married.

Carly looks through the photos, and asks if Sonny remembers them. He says he recognizes the old building, but that’s about it. She says he was so young, it’s not surprising he doesn’t remember. He says, objectively, she’s right, but he can’t help thinking about what happened to his dad. When did he know he had a problem? Carly says, that’s a huge leap, going from something he doesn’t remember when he was six, to thinking he has Alzheimer’s, and he says, it’s a question he’s been asking himself since his dad was diagnosed. Is it going to happen to him?

Brando meets Cyrus, and thanks him for getting the cops off his back. He asks how Cyrus managed it, and Cyrus says, he has a voice at the PCPD. Having been unjustly incarcerated himself, he has an affinity for others who might be denied due process. Brando asks, why use that voice for him? and Cyrus says, partly to make amends for Brando landing in the hospital. Brando says, so Cyrus got the guys who beat him up sent away, and got the cops to stop investigating him for the motorcycle crash. That’s a lot of good will on Cyrus’s part. Cyrus says, someone had to step up for him. It was clear Sonny wouldn’t.

Sonny tells Carly, the last few years, he’s been focusing on his dad, but he has been wondering if the Alzheimer’s was passed on to him. She says she’s done some research, and a person with a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s does have a higher likelihood of developing it, but there are many other factors. He says maybe he should start figuring out the odds; there are tests. She says, they’re not for everyone, but he says, they are an option for people with a family member who has Alzheimer’s.

Spinelli tells Maxie, traditionally, it’s not unusual for someone expecting a baby to wed, but he thought she might take a less conventional route. She says she thought he might step up and be happy for her, but clearly, that’s not what’s going to happen. He says he always wishes for her happiness, but she says, not one more word. She’s the one whose engagement party was just rained on, and now it’s her turn to talk.

Jackie tells Peter, the best publishers she’s worked with stay out of the limelight. He has a bad habit of becoming the story. His father, his kidnapping, his recent arrest… He says he was cleared on all charges, and she says he doesn’t have to sell her on Port Charles or The Invader, but he does have to sell her on himself, so make his pitch. Why should she take a job with him given his reputation? He says, it’s tempting, but he’s not going to pitch her. It’s clear she’s already been given the hard sell by Robert Scorpio.

Anna says, there are cases where one twin acquired a gene, no? and Finn says, there are, but it’s more likely Peter acquired the gene from Faison. She says, then the next step is to find out if Faison had the marker for rheumatoid arthritis. He says, or she could tell Peter the truth. Family secrets can be devastating and they always come out . He thinks Peter should hear it from her. She asks if he’d like to elaborate on why he can’t patch things up with his stepfather, even for Chase.

Valentin says he and Brook aren’t so different. The black sheep of powerful families. Chase says, okay, that’s enough, and Brook says she’s nothing like Valentin. Nothing. He says, methinks the lady doth protest too much, and Chase says, they’ve both said what they had to say. He’s calling this. He tries to get Brook to go, but she says she’s not done. She might be selfish at times, but Valentin is worse. He’s the type of selfish person who believes he’s selfless, and that the things he does for himself are motivated by his love and devotion to others. At least she owns who she is. He smiles, and she asks if something is funny. He says, no. He thinks it’s remarkable that, after everything she’s gone through, she still ahs that spark. He likes it.

Jackie says she never said anything about Robert, and Peter says she didn’t have to. His vendetta and paranoia are all over the conversation. It’s no secret they have a history, and clearly (WOTD) Robert’s opinion matters to her. She says, why shouldn’t it? He might have an attitude, but he’s the closest thing she’s witnessed to an honest to God hero. He says, as opposed to his father. An irredeemable villain who tainted him by association. She asks what good her story would do if it was printed by a publisher her readers didn’t trust. She needs to trust him. He says, trust isn’t won overnight. His numbers are spiking at a time when people are saying print is dead. If that isn’t good enough, he suggests she take a leap of faith

Maxie tells Spinelli, she and Peter are having a child together. She loves him, and asked him to marry her, and he accepted her proposal. It’s a done deal. If she had any doubts, she wouldn’t be marrying him. Can’t that be enough? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, all right then. She won’t ask him to be happy for her. She won’t invite him to the wedding He doesn’t even have to get them a gift, but he does have to be fair to their daughter. That means keeping his opinion about Peter to himself. Do not influence Georgie’s opinion of him. if Spinelli can’t play by her rules, she’ll no longer consider him her friend. She walks away, and walks past Robert at the bar.

Robert goes over to Spinelli, and Spinelli says he guesses Maxie convinced Robert to drop their investigation of Peter.

Brando says he’s not going to talk to Cyrus about Sonny, and Cyrus says, then let’s talk about the job he’s offering. As a driver, among other things. Brando asks, what other things? and Cyrus says Brando is an ex-marine, a combat vet. He could use Brando on his team. Brando is sure it doesn’t hurt that he’s close to Sonny, and Cyrus says he thought Brando didn’t want to talk about Sonny. (D’oh!) Brando say,s Sonny is his cousin and has done a lot for him. It would be wrong of him to work for Cyrus.

Carly says Sonny spent more time with Mike than anyone. He’s just in the beginning stages of grief. Give himself some time before he takes a step like being tested for Alzheimer’s. He says, it’s not just his future at stake. If he knows his status, then Kristina, Donna, and Avery can decide later if they want to get tested. Even Dante. She says, even if he found out Dante was at risk, what good would it do? Dante doesn’t want to talk to anyone in the family. He says, that’s not true anymore.

The doorbell rings, and Olivia answers it. Dante says he’s come back. She throws her arms around him, and hugs him.

Jackie says, Peter wants her to take a leap of faith on him, and he says, he is on her. He’s heard she can be demanding. She says, exacting, and he says, aggressive. She says, persistent, and he says, difficult. She says, the D word. She knows what people say about her. If she was a man, they’d say she was a go-getter. He says, good assessment, but off point. He’s willing to take a risk in spite of her reputation. Why can’t she do the same with him? She says, there would be some conditions. She only works with Lulu, and they only report to him. No editors or middlemen in between. He says, done, and she says, she and Lulu get final copy approval. He says, with his input, but she says, no. Final editorial approval. He says he’s sure they can work something out, and she says, the only thing left to do is set up her expense account. She’s sure he doesn’t mind her writing the drinks off. He says, by all means, and she says, she’s sure this is the start of a beautiful working relationship. He says, God save them both, and excuses himself.

Peter goes over to where Maxie is sitting, and says he takes it Spinelli isn’t thrilled with their engagement. She says, he thinks it’s a disaster. In all fairness, he didn’t use the word disaster, but it was written all over his face. She can’t take it anymore, and gave him an ultimatum. She said he couldn’t influence Georgie’s opinion of Peter, or make anymore ridiculous paranoid accusations. If he does, their friendship is over. She wanted to take it back the second she said it, but she can’t.

Spinelli tells Robert they can’t drop the investigation. Peter has killed in the past, and may very well kill again. Robert asks, what happens if he says that to Maxie? and Spinelli says, she’ll end their friendship and cling more tightly to Peter. Robert says Spinelli has to change his tactics. He has to convince Maxie that she can trust him again. Spinelli asks, how? and Robert says, lie to her.

Valentin goes to Anna’s house, and she tells him they have to make it brief. He says her fiancé doesn’t approve of him, and she says, he’s heard one too many allegations about Valentin’s unsavory past. Most of which are true. He suggests Finn doesn’t like the fact he knows Anna better, and always will. She asks why he’s there, and he says they need to decide how they’re handling her sister. Anna says, maybe they don’t. Since the initial call, she hasn’t tried to make contact. He says, direct contact. There was an attempted ambush in Berlin. She says, according to him. He says he thought he was there because she requested him, but… he starts to leave, and she says she’s sorry. she’s not implying otherwise. It’s just hard to accept that her sister has gone from sabotaging her career to wanting her dead. Valentin has a suggestion. Kill her before she kills Anna. Anna says Alex is her sister. She can’t just… kill her. He says, if she’s playing Alex’s game, it’s the surest way to die, and it looks to him like she is. They’ve lost valuable weeks since the ambush. It gives Alex the advantage of time and momentum. They need to act. If she’s not going to, he will. She asks, why the urgency? and he says if Alex knows he’s involved, then she’s a present danger. Not just to him, but his daughter. He’s not going to let anything happen to Charlotte. Anna seriously doubts Alex gave Valentin or his daughter a second thought. This is about Peter. He says it sounds like she knows something, and she says she does. He says, how about telling him, since she obviously knows more than he does? What is Alex’s fixation with Peter? Anna says, she might be his mother.

Brando tells Cyrus that he’s not betraying Sonny, and Cyrus says, nor should he. He and Sonny called a truce. By taking a job with him, Brando would be a liaison of sorts. Someone to keep the lines of communication open. Brando doesn’t think Sonny would agree with that perspective, and Cyrus says, Sonny’s a practical man. He has no doubt sonny would approve of any arrangement that keeps the peace. Come work for him. Everyone benefits.

Olivia lets Dante in, and says he feels good. Olivia says, the beard is a little scraggly. He does look scraggly, but I like it. He says he wanted to see her first before shaving, and she guesses she raised him right. She’s overcome, and tells him that she doesn’t know what to say. Is he really there? Is he there for good? He says, he’s home, and it’s all because of her.

Carly says, Dante’s home for good? and Sonny says, he’s healing. She says, he’s healthy enough to come home, and Sonny says, they gave him everything he needs to stay healthy. She says, Dante can be tested, and the girls, but the right now, the only opinion that matters is Sonny’s. He says, what if he just wants to do it? and she says, what if he wants to do it, thinking if he has the courage to do it, he’ll get the results he wants? She understands that kind of magical thinking. If I’m brave enough to face the worst, maybe the worst won’t happen. But with Alzheimer’s, it’s hard to know for certain. The tests are narrow in scope and not predictive. He asks what she became a medical professional, and she says she’s not a doctor, but she’s his wife. She doesn’t want him to torture himself about something if he doesn’t have to.

Chase and Brook go back to the bar. He asks if she’s given any more thought to moving back home, but she says she doesn’t think there’s enough room for her and her family. Underneath the bickering, there is a lot of love, but there’s also judgement. She’ll never be equal to Michael, Dillon, or her father, if she doesn’t stand on her own two feet. Even then, they’ll have to come to her with an apology. He says he’s sorry to hear that, because he has more bad news.

Valentin asks what Anna means, Alex is Peter’s mother? and she says, might be. Does he remember the night he got her to admit she had Faison’s baby? He says, of course (🍷) he remembers that night. He watched her unraveling in his living room. Please tell him it was Alex. She says she can’t be certain. He knows she was subjected to memory transfer. Something from Alex was imprinted in her, and this might be it. He says, thank God. This means he didn’t follow her that night. She didn’t sleep with Faison, and he didn’t deliver her baby to Faison. He didn’t betray her. She tells him, stop it. Everything he did was despicable, whether it was to her or Alex. He says, of course (🍷) it was Alex. He thinks he always knew it. She says he knows more than she does, because it’s just a theory. She thinks she might be able to prove it by specific genes, and he says, run all the tests she wants to, but he knows it was Alex; they both know. She would never do the things Alex did. She says, Peter has to believe she’s his mother, and Valentin says, okay. That’s why she’s afraid of Alex. It’s not what Alex will do to her, but to Peter. She’ll tell him the truth. Anna says she doesn’t want him involved with this anymore. It’s her problem, and she’ll handle it now. He asks how? when Finn comes in. Finn says he didn’t realize they had guests, and Valentin says he just dropped by for a quick word with Finn’s fiancé. Finn says, if this is about the planned ambush, he already knows.

Spinelli says, and after he convinces Maxie that he approves of her marriage to that miscreant? Robert says, stay close. She’ll need someone to lean on when the bottom drops out of everything, and it’s going to, because he’s going to make it. Spinelli says, and Robert is going to continue with the investigation? Robert says, Peter is guilty, and he intends to prove it.

Peter says he’s sorry Maxie’s feelings were hurt, and she says, as much as she cares about Spinelli – and she always will – if she has to choose, she chooses him. Spinelli has to see, this time he has to compromise. Spinelli approaches the table, and asks if he could have a moment. He needs to apologize to them both. He never offered his congratulations on their engagement, but offers it now with a full heart. He wishes them every happiness. Peter thanks him, and Maxie says it was beautiful, but what made him change his mind?

Dante says, Olivia saved him. It wasn’t until he heard her that he realized he had to do everything in his power to get home. She needs him; his family needs him. Olivia says she’s his mother, and she’ll always need him, but she didn’t save him. He saved himself. She just let him know he always has a place to live, no matter what. He says he was worried she’d given up on him, and she says she tried, but she knew in her heart that she’d see him again. She has to call Sonny.

Sonny tells Carly, when they buried his dad next to Morgan, he was thinking that Morgan inherited being bi-polar from him, so maybe he inherited Alzheimer’s from his dad. If he did, they’ll deal with it. Carly says, there’s no medication you can take to prevent it. Live a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, which he does, and eat well, which he does. She guesses he could drink less, and he says, maybe he can box more and drink the same. She laughs, and says she thinks one of the greatest things about being a human being is that you don’t know how life will turn out. They have no idea what’s going to happen next. If it were her choice, she wouldn’t want to know, but it’s not her choice; it’s his. He says, something to think about, but not anytime soon. She says, it’s a decision he shouldn’t rush. If he ends up slipping like his dad at some point, promise she’ll tell him. She says she will, and she’ll be by his side the entire time, the way he was with his dad. Always.

Valentin says Finn knows more about the situation than he does, so tell him, is she setting a trap for Alex or not? Anna says, there’s been a change in plans. She’ll deal with her sister herself in her own way. He says he respects her more than she’ll ever know. That’s why it pains him to see her indulge in denial. Her sister has unfinished business with her, and she will be visiting Port Charles. It will either be on her terms or Anna’s.

Chase tells Brook that he needs his couch back; his whole apartment really. She says, but he told her… He says, she could stay until she got back on her feet. She needs to start doing that. She says she just lost her job, and he says he believes in her. He believes she’ll stand on her own, but that doesn’t mean she can’t carve out a place for her family. The longer she lets this fester, the more it will take on a life of its own.

Valentin leaves, and Finn asks if Anna changed her mind. She says she’s changing tactics, and needs his help. She won’t throw Peter’s whole life into question until she’s exhausted every option. He says, what options? Alex is a fugitive, and Faison is dead. She says, dead, yes, but not gone.

Robert asks if Jackie had a nice time cozying up to Peter. She says she’s decided to work with Peter, but not with him. Like she told him, if he wants to dig up dirt on Peter, do it on his own time. He says he intends to, but when she finds something – and she will – she’ll know how important it is that they work together. She’s met his niece, and knows what’s at stake.

Spinelli says, Maxie warned him that his continued actions were ruining their friendship. He had to step back and reassess his priorities. They’re Georgie’s parents, and continue to raise her in mutual admiration and regard. He hopes to regain her trust, and hopes to get Peter’s. Peter says, it’s over; let’s put it behind us. Spinelli says, that’s very gracious, and Peter says it’s all he can do. All he’s ever wanted is to prove himself. Spinelli says he’s done that by making Maxie happy. Maxie asks if that means Spinelli is coming to their wedding and he says she couldn’t keep him away.

Dante tells Olivia, he tried to make Mike’s funeral, but he missed it. Sonny was still there, saying goodbye. She says she saw Sonny afterward, but he didn’t say anything. Dante tells her, he asked Sonny not to. He wanted to see Lulu and the kids first; he didn’t want them to hear it from anyone else. He went to Lulu’s house, and there was someone else there. She says, Dustin, and he says, seems like they’re pretty serious. She says, Dustin doesn’t hold a candle to him, and he thanks her, but says he doesn’t think her opinion is going to make a bias. She says, this can wait until morning, because he’s there. He’s staying there, in this house. They have 20 million guest rooms, and even if they didn’t… He doesn’t know how long she’s waited for this moment. Her baby is home. She hugs him, and says, everything will be okay.

Carly says Sonny was so cute, and he agrees, pointing out his dimples. She bets he was as modest then as he is now, and he says, just about. The doorbell rings, and Sonny goes to get it. It’s Brando, and Sonny asks if he has an update. Brando says he has some news, but sees Carly, and stops talking. Sonny says there are no secrets between them, and Brando says he just met with Cyrus. Cyrus wants to recruit him. Sonny says, good.

Tomorrow, Ava is starting to believe Nikolas cares for her, Nikolas tells someone to take it now or the deal is off, and Sonny tells Julian that he doesn’t have the luxury of turning him down.

🍹 Tonight’s Bravo offering was the season 4 finale of Southern Charm, with Craig, Shep, and the two Toms from Vanderpump Rules watching virtually. Craig and Shep were together; ditto the Toms. The first thing that stood out was how much Tom Sandoval is looking like Freddy Mercury with blond highlights. These guys were way chattier than anyone has been so far, and there was a lot of discussion between boxes. Part of the episode was when the cast went to Key West, and also included a party hosted by JD (bleh). Cameran gave a lecture to a more than hungover Craig, and Shep came by, still keeping the party going. When Shep focused heavily on a sandpiper, Schwartz said, when you’re drunk and hungover like that, there’s a raw appreciation of nature. Ugh. I don’t think I’ll be testing that theory, since just watching Shep brought me back to the couple of times I’ve continued drinking into the next day, and I actually felt a little sick, even though it was many years ago. Sandoval did a lot of fashion critiquing, called out household hints, and had a lot to say about how he would have handled various situations. The Toms also pumped Craig and Shep, who reminded me of frat boys, for information on other cast members. The episode included some high tension between Craig and Naomie, who were seeing each other at the time, and Craig not-so-humble bragged about how he had passed the bar, and was now a lawyer, as it had been a bone of contention with Naomie. While watching Craig tell Naomie how he was done with her criticism, Shep said it was the most boring scene he’d ever seen. He made me laugh, but he also may have been right. When it was over, Craig suggested they watch Vanderpump Rules with the Toms. Sandoval was all for it, but Schwartz said he was out. All in all, it was a fun show.

🐴 Beating a Dead Horse…

Dorinda wanted to make it nice, but needed a vacation.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1195138/dorinda-medley-opens-up-about-her-rhony-exit-for-the-first-time

💔 Millionaire Matchmaker Maybe…

Even if it didn’t work out, he’s still better than Suckerfish Hoppy.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1197260/bethenny-frankel-and-paul-bernon-break-up-after-2-years-of-dating

🩺 Botch This…

I find it highly doubtful Terry would do inferior surgery.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/botched-dr-terry-dubrow-sues-defamation-patient-seeks-10-million-malpractice

📺 Pandemically Canceled…

Some shows that are saying goodbye.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1195388/all-of-the-tv-shows-that-were-forced-to-end-because-of-covid-19

🎼 In Case You Couldn’t Attend…

The winners.

https://parade.com/1103840/parade/billboard-music-awards-2020-winners-list/

And more important, the fashion.

https://parade.com/1104207/paulettecohn/billboard-music-awards-2020-red-carpet-fashion-photos/

What you shouldn’t miss.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/bbma/9465898/billboard-music-awards-cant-miss-moments/

And what you didn’t see.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/bbma/9465931/2020-billboard-music-awards-things-you-didnt-see-on-tv

🗯 What Would Max Do…?

A concise clap back by one of the 2 Broke Girls. She has two words for body shamers, and they’re not happy birthday.

https://pagesix.com/2020/10/14/kat-dennings-tells-billie-eilish-body-shamers-to-f-k-right-off/

📅 When Is a Week Not a Week…?

How is it a week can drag by, yet the month between mortgage payments goes by fast? One of life’s mysteries. Along with how the hell did such a promising number as 2020 treat us so badly? But you’re still here. Keep it up. And while you’re at it, stay safe, stay thinking beyond now, and stay not torturing yourself about things you don’t have to.