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February 21, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Meets His End, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, Last Release, Those Who Merit, Turning It Around, Pithy Quotes Of 8 & Christmas

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

🛁 The Weekdays…

General Hospital

Sonny told Carly about the shared custody. She asked if he was going to tell her what was really going on. Kai texted Trina asking if she was free tonight. Laura was meeting with Drew about eminent domain and asked Curtis to sit in. Laura felt Drew was using the esplanade plan to retaliate against Jason through Sonny. Anna told Mac that while Jason was at the station, he couldn’t kill Cyrus. Elizabeth snuck into the interrogation room to see Jason and told him that she and Lucky found evidence against Cyrus.

Curtis gave a bunch of reasons Drew’s idea was a bad one, including a lawsuit from Sonny. Laura said Drew wanted to bring in Sidwell. Mac said with Cyrus gone, he couldn’t hurt anyone, but Anna said she’d rather bring Cyrus to justice. She felt they were getting closer. Elizabeth told Jason that they didn’t know Cyrus’s motives and she wasn’t sure the PCPD was up to the job. Cyrus consulted the Bible.  

Trina said it was Josslyn’s first Valentine’s Day without Dex, and she missed Spencer, but Josslyn told her to go with Kai. It was time for her to get back out there. Carly thought there was a reason behind Sonny’s reason for the compromise and he said he had to find where the threat was coming from and wanted to help Michael when he came home. She asked if Jason had mentioned Sasha. Sasha went to see Jason at the station. Martin told Willow that Elaine was out of commission, and he still needed dirt on Michael. Willow didn’t want to blame Michael or hurt him. Laura said Jordan would be at the meeting and Curtis said he’d seen her with Sidwell. When Jordan arrived, she said Sidwell could be legit, but they needed more information. She was going to get it. Drew showed up and said he could tell it was going to be a tough room. Elizabeth told Anna how she and Lucky collected evidence against Cyrus.

Carly said Drew accused Jason of fathering Sasha’s baby, but she didn’t know if it was true. Willow said maybe there was a way to make peace, when Nurse Mindy called her. Her car had been impounded. Laura said Drew gave her a lot to think about and he said there would be matching federal funding. He said if Sonny using piers for criminal activity was the priority rather than the esplanade, let it ride. Elizabeth told Anna about everything that happened at Turning Woods and GH with Cyrus, and said Anna had the authority to exhume the bodies. Sasha went to see Jason, and he said Anna was just trying to keep him away from Cyrus. She said she thought Willow suspected Michael was the father of her baby. Kai told Trina to meet him at The Savoy dressed to impress.

Willow told Mac that Tracy had her car towed after she’d put it in the street. She was starting to see how much she’d lost in becoming a part of Michael’s family and was done letting the Quartermaines run her life. Sasha told Jason about Elaine and said she didn’t want her child raised in the Quartermaine environment. Letting people draw their own conclusions wasn’t enough. She wanted Jason to come out and say the baby was his. Jordan said it could cost jobs, and the project could get tangled up for years, and Curtis said the city shouldn’t get entangled in Drew’s personal vendetta. Drew asked if the potential benefits were worth the risk. Elizabeth brought Anna a bag of stuff and said they’d gone through Cyrus’s trash in the dumpster. Anna saw an order of syringes from Paul Damascus, and Elizabeth said it was a biblical reference. It made sense for Cyrus to use it as an aka. Elizabeth thought digitalis had been in another box, but they couldn’t find an invoice. Meanwhile, Cyrus readied a syringe.

Carly said, if it was true, she needed to support Jason, but Sonny suggested they stay out of it. Anna said Elizabeth was good as an amateur detective, but they couldn’t link Cyrus to anything. Laura said it would be easier if she didn’t have to consider Sonny. Sonny said Jason would tell them if they needed to know, and Carly agreed to wait until Jason said something. Trina left to meet Kai and Josslyn brought out a box with a gun in it. Cyrus put the syringe in his pocket and called GH. He asked to talk to Elizabeth, but she was gone for the day. He said he was sure he’d run into her later. Drew brought roses to the hospital, but Willow wasn’t there. Willow saw Jason and Sasha talking, and Sasha said go with her on this and kissed him. Anna told Mac that they might have a new lead. He saw Sasha and Jason kissing and said, no, no, no!

Tuesday:

Valentine’s Day was happening at The Savoy and Curtis said they had a special surprise performer, when Trina walked in with Kai. On the phone, Spinelli told Maxie that he’d play cupid for Lucas since she was under the weather. He told Lucas that he was pinch hitting for Maxie, and she’d found him the perfect guy. Carly was cleaning up the cookie baking mess in Sonny’s old kitchen, saying, it’s the memories, not the mess. Jack came in bearing roses. Lulu was leaving Eckerd’s Valentine’s Day cupcakes for Rocco in the nook, when Dante came down. TempLucky went to Elizabeth’s, and she said Anna listened to her and was going to arrest Cyrus. She thought they should celebrate, and they discovered Aiden had made a cake. Mac had a migraine, and Anna was working on one. She told Jason that she had to release him, but wanted to convince him not to kill Cyrus the minute he left.

Portia said Trina seeing someone was a big deal, and Curtis said it was one they’d have to watch from afar. Trina asked if Kai had to pull strings to come, and he said, a few. Spinelli introduced Lucas and Gunther the model, and Brad saw them sit together. Carly’s faucet went nuts, spraying water everywhere. Dante told Lulu that Rocco was ice skating and crashing at a friend’s, but he’d barely touched the cupcakes Dante brought home years ago because they reminded him of Lulu. Aiden introduced Tobias to Elizabeth, and she asked if they wanted to join her and Lucky. Aiden said they were going to the Valentine’s Day skate and asked to talk to Elizabeth in private. Mac didn’t buy that Jason was the baby’s father, but then he saw Sasha kiss him. He thought Jason took advantage of her hurt over Cody, but Felicia said, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Anna asked for a BOLO on Cyrus and told Jason. She had enough evidence to connect him to multiple murders, including Sam’s, and hoped the judge would sign off on it right away. She could get justice, but only if Jason let her do her job. She asked him to stay away from Cyrus for her sake. Jack turned the water off and said luckily for Carly, her knight in sopping wet armor had arrived. Spinelli told Maxie that the chemistry between Lucas and Gunther was palpable, and Trina told Kai that she had a confession to make. The owner of The Savoy was her dad. Elizabeth told Aiden that she liked spending time with his dad and to go enjoy himself. Lulu said she didn’t know their son, but Dante said she did and told her to ask questions. She asked about Rocco’s first crush, if he was hard to wake up, how was he doing in school, and did he have friends. He knew about Rocco, and she didn’t. He said she’d catch up, but she said she’d neglected the child she had and was failing as a mother. he said that wasn’t true. Aiden left with Tobias, and Elizabeth said he’d offered to be their chaperone. Anna said she and Jason were friends and people noticed. If Cyrus disappeared, it would perpetuate the idea that there were people above the law who got away with it because of their friendship with her. Jason said he understood, but it didn’t matter when she was talking about the sick bastard who murdered Sam.

Kai complimented Curtis on the club and Curtis said they had to stick around for the surprise musical act. Anna asked Jason to trust her that they’d get justice. She’d taken chances on him, and she was asking him to take one on her and have faith. He wouldn’t regret it. Felicia said she and Mac had their ups and downs over the years. Mac had even left once, but he was her happily ever after. It wasn’t for them to decide who Sasha’s was. They’d make sure the only way Scorpios could. Lucky wondered if Aiden was worried that he and Elizabeth were getting too close, but she said Aiden just wanted to make sure she was treated well. She’d make it clear that she didn’t need protection from him. Dante said Lulu was a good mom. He shouldn’t have made it seem like she was choosing between Charlotte and Rocco. She said she didn’t know what Rocco needed, and Dante said, his mom. She’d made his pain and sadness disappear.

Lucas said the only reason he was on the date was because of Maxie, and Gunther said he understood Lucas wasn’t ready. Get his number from Maxie and tell him when he was. Gunther left and Brook and Chase showed up. Jack fixed Carly’s sink, which surprised her, and he said his father was a plumber. She said she’d envisioned him descending from a long line of super spies, but he told her that his dad always said, even if the world ends, you’re always going to need a plumber. She asked if anyone else knew. She liked knowing something about him that no one else did. He said, knowledge is power. Anna said the trust she and Jason had was unexpected, but real, and also obvious. No one would believe she hadn’t looked the other way, or worse they’d think she helped him cover it up.

Lucas asked if Brad wanted company. Spinelli told Brook that Gunther ditched Lucas, then saw Brad with Lucas. Chase left to check on Brook’s surprise. Curtis told Portia that he loved The Savoy, but Aurora presented a challenge, and he felt like he was growing there. N’neka said it was time, and Curtis introduced Chase. Dante promised to guard the cupcakes with his life, but thought he should take a couple off of Rocco’s hands. Lulu said, don’t you dare. Jack said he’d learned to expect the unexpected with Carly. Lucky said Elizabeth was as beautiful as the day he met her, and they kissed. Anna found out the warrant couldn’t be signed until the morning, and Jason said whatever happened to Cyrus, her office would respect her for the same reasons he did – her strength, courage, and willingness to put herself on the line. He knew she understood why he wanted to kill Cyrus, but didn’t think anyone else did. She said it was because they were alike, and he agreed. She asked him, as her friend, please don’t kill Cyrus, and he said she was a good friend, and he appreciated her friendship. She said that wasn’t an answer.

Chase told the audience that his singing career had been brief, but he’d met his wife through it and was grateful. He said the song was for her and sang one she’d written (Won’t You Stay with Me). As he sang, Lucky left Elizabeth’s, Jack and Carly had champagne, Felicia fed Mac Valentine cookies, and Lulu smushed a cupcake on Dante’s face, then helped wipe it off. Jason left the station. Elizabeth noticed that Lucky left the piece of cake he was taking home. There was a knock at the door, and she assumed it was him, but it was Cyrus.

Wednesday:

Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had an urgent matter that couldn’t wait and walked in. She’d been asking around about him and now had the opportunity to ask questions to his face. Emma asked Josslyn to be part of the benefit. Lulu was rude to a client on the phone in Helsinki and said he’d specifically asked for Brook or Maxie. It was Maxie and Spinelli’s first Valentine’s Day together and she didn’t want to ruin it. Brook said Lulu had no problem ruining it for her and Chase. Drew showed up at The Savoy with Willow, and Portia said, that’s a choice, but Curtis said it was beyond disrespect. It was a throwdown. Portia wondered how Willow couldn’t see through Drew (me too), but thought they should let it go. Willow wondered why Lucas was with Brad. Seeing Willow with Drew, Brad told Lucas that he was in no position to judge, but… and Lucas said it wasn’t their call. Cyrus asked what Elizabeth was trying to find out, and she said, fine. She’d start at the beginning. Why did he try to kill Lulu?

Donna called for Carly, interrupting a kiss with Jack. Emma wanted Josslyn to be an underwriter, but Josslyn said she had no time. She was going through a lot, but she’d be more than happy to donate. Emma argued with her, but Josslyn was unrelenting. Chase told Dante that he couldn’t give Brook the family she wanted to have. Curtis told N’neka that Drew was no longer welcome. Willow said she’d never forgive Brad (wow), and Curtis told Drew that he didn’t want him there. Cyrus said there was no sign of Lulu having an improvement. Just because someone could be kept alive didn’t mean they should be. Elizabeth said she’d watched families make that decision and it was awful, but in the end, it’s a gift. He said she understood, and she asked, what about the others? He said they were all God’s children, and she said, so from one family. He said he’d seen people trapped in their own hell and God gave him a mission to free imprisoned souls. He wept as he asked if Lulu wasn’t entitled to that, and she said, that’s why he turned off the ventilator, but he said, no, that was much later.

Brook said, the client threatened to cancel the shipment of the key ingredient in their cream. Lulu couldn’t talk to people that way. Lucas said he wasn’t sorry for Willow, but they all made mistakes. Curtis told Drew that Michael’s wife was more than welcome to stay, but he reserved the right to refuse service. They were playing the same game. Brad said, once the denial goes away, Willow will be miserable. One thing he’d learned was, lonely is lonely, whether deserved or not. Drew told Willow that he had a surprise for her, and they left. Donna asked why Jack was out so late and suggested he go to bed. She wondered why we have bad dreams, and Jack explained dreams to her. He said when we had bad dreams, something was bothering us. Cyrus told Elizabeth, in his first attempt to free Lulu, he used the wrong medication and drew unwanted attention. She said, that’s why Lulu’s liver failed. He freed Lulu, just not in the way he intended. She understood that, but why kill Sam? He said, Sam got in the way of him carrying out the Lord’s. Her donation would keep Lulu going, but not free her from her prison. Elizabeth asked if it was punishment, but he said it was a consequence of obstructing the Lord’s will. He also discovered that digitalis was the best way to free everyone else. She said it was fast, effective, and relatively painless. But what about Dex? He’d been young and healthy.

Cyrus said, Dex had been in the vicinity of Sam’s room and seen him, and Elizabeth said, it sounded less like God’s will and more like something the old Cyrus would do. He said Dex almost killed him on Sonny’s orders, but he had no malice in his heart. Cyrus flashed back to taking Dex’s hospital wristband when Dex was in the morgue. He said he had to remove Dex, and Elizabeth said, because of his mission. What would happen to the souls that needed to be freed? He said she understood, and she said he was able to help try to free Michael. He said he wanted to liberate Michael from his physical suffering, and she asked if there wasn’t another reason. He’d spoken about how his mother was suffering. He said, that’s what awakened him to his purpose. Martin had her living what barely qualified as a life. If he could set her free, he would. She said, it was a different type of healing, and he thanked her for understanding the importance of his mission.

Emma thanked Josslyn for her donation, but pressure her again for her presence. A worker came in to relieve Josslyn and she left. Gio told Emma that her approach needed work, and Emma said, friends speak the truth. He said she was a great salesperson, and he appreciated her passion. Chase told Dante that it wasn’t Brook, it was him, but Dante said there was more than one way to have a family. Chase said Brook deserved to be a mom and he’d do anything to be a dad.

Elizabeth said Cyrus’s purpose was not unlike hers, to help and heal, and he said nothing was going to jeopardize his mission. She should understand why he had to do this. He brought out the syringe and came toward her, when Lucky burst in. He told Cyrus, get away from her!

Lucas left and Brad sighed. Curtis told Portia about asking Drew to leave. There were no threats, but he wanted to make it clear whose club it was. He didn’t need Drew to ruin his evening. Drew showed Willow his new house and she said she loved it. Brook said it was part of Lulu’s job to answer the phone and be warm and courteous, especially to those who had a rare ingredient that was impossible to get. Lulu said she was at first, and Brook asked if she ever thought of anyone besides herself. Lulu said Brook got everything she wanted. She had the perfect life, job, and husband, and would have the perfect children. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante walked in and asked, what’s going on?

Cyrus told Lucky not to get in the way, and Elizabeth broke free. Cyrus tried to stab Lucky with the syringe, and they struggled.

Dante told Brook where Chase was, and she left. He asked what Lulu said, and Lulu told him that she’d said Brook’s life was perfect. If she wasn’t getting what she wanted, it was her own fault. Dante suggested she back off, and Lulu said, all Brook did was complain about her perfect life. She woke up after four years in a coma to a life she didn’t recognize. By comparison, Brook’s life was heaven. Dante told her to cut Brook some slack. She found out she and Chase couldn’t have children. Emma thanked Gio for his patience, honesty, and commitment to the cause, and he said he enjoyed her company too. Portia asked if Brad had a nice Valentine’s Day and he said, better than expected. She said she was glad to hear it and would see him at work. She told Curtis that she wanted to put the bad stuff behind her and was focusing on what was right in front of her. Willow said she was sure Drew wanted to find a home for Scout, and he said, also for you and our kids, and asked her to move in with him.  While Carly put Donna back in bed, Jack’s phone rang. By the time Carly returned, Jack had his coat on. She asked if something was wrong and he said, unfortunately, something came up at work. They agreed to another time and kissed.

Lucky got the better of Cyrus, but Cyrus stabbed Lucky in the leg with the syringe. Elizabeth called 911 as she came down the stairs and saw the syringe sticking out of Lucky’s leg.

Thursday:

 Brook came home to find Chase, rose petals, and champagne. Dante told Lulu that there was a fertility issue with Chase.

Lucky slugged Cyrus and got a syringe in the leg for his trouble. Cyrus jumped up, tried to strangle lucky, and fled, while Elizabeth called 911. Jordan met with Laura, who wanted to make the esplanade happen, but still protect the city. Anna joined them and Laura said, in a potential battle between Sonny, Drew, and Sidwell, who was the biggest threat? (It’s like, Superman vs. the dinosaurs.) Drew asked Willow to move in with the kids. Jason went to Sam’s grave and said he needed to make a choice between what he wanted and what he thought she wanted. Josslyn snuck around Cyrus’s apartment and looked through his stuff.

Stella came to The Savoy to have a nightcap with Curtis, who had a special Valentine’s Day cocktail for her. Portia left and Stella asked if there was something else going on. He said there may be a favor only she could provide. Lucky was unconscious and Elizabeth did chest compression. Brook and Chase kissed, but she pulled away and said she couldn’t believe she was so lucky. He said, but he couldn’t give her a baby. Lulu felt terrible for Brook and Chase, and Dante said Brook had been nothing but supportive. He said being a father was one of the greatest joys of his life and Lulu said, the same for her with being a mother. Laura asked if Anna would bring Sonny down if she found evidence to do it, and Anna said, Drew was encouraging it. Jordan said that worried her because Drew wanted to align himself with Sidwell. Anna and Laura agreed and said he wanted the port to move his illegal merchandise. Jordan said Drew had a lot of influence, but she’d rather deal with the devil she knew than Sidwell. Willow thought the kids had been bounced around enough and Drew said he wanted all the kids to have stability. He tried his best to talk her into moving in.

Jason told Sam that he could kill Cyrus and get away with it, and he wanted to kill him. One thing held him back. He knew Sam wanted him to put their son before his need for vengeance. Josslyn continued to toss Cyrus’s place. Lulu said Brook knew things about Dante that she didn’t and it was hard, but he said, it shouldn’t be. Carly used their history to break them up, but Brook knew it was wrong and still felt terrible. It was a long time ago and time to let it go. They were friends and that was it. Brook said she meant their vows from the bottom of her heart, but Chase said she couldn’t have expected this. She said it was hard, but sometimes plans changed. It didn’t mean they still couldn’t be parents. Willow told Drew that nothing about their situation was perfect. For one, she was still married. Drew said Michael had filed for divorce and was out of the country, and Willow said he was fighting for his life. Drew said she was alone with the kids, and she said Wiley adored his father. She hadn’t told Wiley that they were splitting up, so moving in felt wrong. Jason promised to always put Danny first.

Josslyn almost left, but kept looking until she found an envelope with hospital wristbands in it, particularly Dex and Sam’s. Laura said they couldn’t have Port Charles in a territory battle and Jordan said Drew was different and not in a good way. Anna said Drew’s willingness to align himself with Sidwell was worrisome, and Laura asked if they could no longer trust him. Anna left to take a call about Cyrus, and Laura got a call from Elizabeth, who told her to get to the hospital right away. Lucky was in trouble.

Curtis said he understood Stella was friends with Congressman Douglas Henderson and she said they went way back. They agreed he was a good man and influential in Washington. Curtis said he needed Stella to introduce him, and he needed to develop a relationship before Drew destroyed everything he was building. Willow said she cared about Drew so much and he said he didn’t want to pressure her. They had the rest of their lives. He thought when she was ready, they should tell the kids about their relationship together, but she said she didn’t want to talk to them while Michael was recovering. Lulu said part of her was threatened by Brook. Not because of Dante, but she lost four years, and it was like Brook stepped into the important parts of her life. Dante suggested she felt like Brook took her place in all their lives and she said, maybe. She was starting to wonder if she had a place there at all. Chase said Brook was a natural at being a mom and she said, however they brought a child into their lives, it would be together, and it would be a part of both of them. Anna arrived at Elizabeth’s where an officer filled her in on what happened and said Cyrus fled the scene. They had an APB out on him and Lucky was in the hospital. Elizabeth told Isaiah that Lucky had been given digitalis and Laura showed up at the hospital. Josslyn said, Dex didn’t deserve this, and took photos. Cyrus walked in.

Lulu said she sounded selfish, but Dante said she wasn’t. She said it was hard to realize the family you wanted wasn’t going to happen and wanted to apologize, but he said Chase told him in confidence. Her phone rang and she told Dante that it was Lucky and ran out. Anna said they’d waited too long to arrest Cyrus and now Lucky could die. On his way in, Aiden overheard. Elizabeth told Laura about Cyrus attacking Lucky because she and Lucky suspected him of killing people, including Sam. He’d said it was a divine calling, saving them from their suffering, and he was the reason Lulu’s liver failed. Cyrus got an ax and said Josslyn shouldn’t have come. Josslyn said he’d killed Sam and Dex and wasn’t getting away with it. He said they’d gotten in the way of his mission, and she had too. He came after her and she shot him.

Cyrus said now Josslyn was the murderer and died (I think). Anna brought Aiden to the hospital and talked to Elizabeth. Chase said if they adopted it wouldn’t be fair to Brook, but she said she didn’t look at it that way. Families were created all different ways, and none was better than the other. He said he was robbing her of the experience. Curtis said Drew was gunning for him and wouldn’t hesitate to stop projects from going through at the federal level, even if they helped his constituents. He’d changed and become vindictive. Stella said he’d backstabbed Curtis and Curtis said Drew would bring the same dark energy to Washington. Would she help him?

Drew came home and Jason was there. Lulu and Dante arrived at the hospital, and Lulu went to see Lucky. Dante wanted in on finding Cyrus and Anna said okay. Josslyn moved the ax, then checked Cyrus’s pulse. She looked at Jason and Jack’s numbers, then made a call. She said, I need your help.

Stella said Drew was gunning for Curtis and she needed to let Doug know what a snake Drew was. There were few people she held in as high a regard. Curtis could count her in, but a word of advice. Drew didn’t like a mirror held up to him. She asked why he was coming after Curtis. Drew said he wasn’t in the mood for another battle, but Jason said he was here to make peace. Drew asked why the hell he would want to, and Jason said, for Sam. Chase said it was because of him that Brook wouldn’t experience a miracle growing inside her and she cried for him to stop. She’d had a baby. She’d been pregnant before. Isaiah came out and Laura asked if her son was alive. Anna found out Cyrus was heading southeast in his car. Josslyn paced the apartment when someone came in. It was Jack. 

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada:

Chase says, what does Brook mean, she had a baby? Is she talking about Bailey Lou, when she pretended to be pregnant? She says she wasn’t pretending. She got pregnant in high school and had a baby. She gave the baby up and never told anyone except her ma, not even the father. Chase asks if Ned knows, but she says, no. She knows it’s a lot to take in. He says, she got pregnant when she was a teenager and has been carrying the secret ever since.

Tracy wants to go over the menu for the library board dinner with Sasha and asks for some tea. Sasha asks if she wants her special blend, and Tracy says, yes. Sasha says, but first, she thought Tracy should know a P.I. has been snooping around. She’s pretty sure it’s to get dirt on Michael. Tracy asks, what makes her say that? and Sasha says she had an encounter with a woman named Elaine and her dog outside Bobbie’s and then in the park. Eventually, Elaine told Sasha herself that someone was looking into her. Tracy asks what Sasha told Elaine before she knew.

Drew says, Jason, of all people, walks into his house demanding peace, and Jason says he wants to respect Sam’s wishes that Danny and Scout stay together, but it’s never going to happen when they’re at each other’s throats. So he’s here about a truce for the kids. Drew says, now he wants to honor Sam’s wishes? He’s just asking because Jason clearly didn’t care when Jason ambushed him the night before the funeral and he’s trying to figure this out. What changed?

Isaiah tells Laura and Lulu that they were able to stabilize Lucky, but he’s in guarded condition. Aiden asks what that means, and Isaiah says he gave Aiden’s dad medication to counteract the digitalis. Since they don’t know how much digitalis is in Lucky’s system, it’s too soon for a definite prognosis. Aiden asks if that’s bad, but Elizabeth says, they can’t say yet. Aiden says, dad might not make it, and she hugs him.  

Portia tells Lucky, hang in there. He made it all the way home from Africa in one piece. Now he has to make it through this.

Anna tells Dante that they tracked Cyrus’s car to Route 41, and Dante wonders why he’s headed in that direction. There’s nothing out there. Does she think Lucky will be okay? She says she doesn’t know. She hopes so. She’s just grateful Elizabeth wasn’t hurt. Dante wonders, why go after Elizabeth, of all people? and Anna says, Cyrus found out that she and Lucky were asking questions at GH and Turning Woods. He didn’t want them to connect him to the murders. He says, did they? and she says, they found evidence that proves it, and he admitted to Elizabeth that he killed Dex and Sam, among others. She asks if Dante is all right, and he says, yeah, because they got him. Anna says, they did, and Cyrus knows that. If he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison, he’s going to disappear. Dante says, he can run, but there’s no way that bastard can hide.

Jack walks into the cabin and tells Josslyn to hand him the weapon. Josslyn gives the gun to him, and he checks it over. He checks Cyrus’s pulse, and Josslyn says she already did that. He’s dead. Jack says, yes, he is, and she says, Cyrus tried to attack her. He was going to kill her. Jack says he knows. He was outside when it happened. Did she call anyone else? She says, no, just him, and he says, good. They still have a small window in which to clean up. She asks if they shouldn’t call the police, and he says, they could. Or they could take care of it themselves.

Brook says she’s so sorry she never told Chase. It was a strange time. When she realized she was pregnant, she was terrified. She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t ready to be a mom. Chase says, of course (🍷) not. She was just a kid. He can’t imagine how scared and alone she felt. She says, at least she had her mom, and he asks if Lois stepped up. Brook says, big time. She was incredible. She wasn’t thrilled Brook got pregnant in the first place, but once the shock wore off, Lois was in her corner 100%. He says he’s glad, but not surprised. Was it hard to decide? She says, terminating the pregnancy didn’t feel like an option at the time. She knew she’d be having the baby and the decision not to keep it came to her pretty quickly. There was just no way she could be a mom. He says he gets it, and she says, when it came down to it, she knew the rest of the family could never find out. She was already so overwhelmed, the last thing she needed were the judgements and opinions of the family. So she went on tour with her mom for five months, had the baby, and went back to her life. Her mom made all the arrangements. He says he assumes it was a closed adoption, and she says she never even saw the baby. She was afraid if she did, she couldn’t give it up. He says, so she doesn’t know if she had a boy or a girl? and she says, no. He says, it must have been insanely hard, especially at that age, and she says, he isn’t angry with her?

Isaiah says he wishes he could promise Aiden’s dad was going to be okay, but they just don’t know. He’s in ICU and being closely monitored. Elizabeth says, they’re doing everything they can, and Isaiah says, they know how strong Lucky is. Lulu says, the absolute strongest, and Aiden says he’s sorry for freaking out. Isaiah says he gets it. Lucky is the best friend he’s ever had. Laura asks if it’s possible for someone to sit with Lucky now, and Isaiah says, absolutely. Laura tells Elizabeth and Aiden to go first and tell Lucky that his mother and sister love him. Aiden and Elizabeth leave to go to Lucky’s room, and Lulu says, Lucky is going to be okay. Laura says she knows. He’ll survive Cyrus like Lulu just did. They hug.

Jason says, Scout and her siblings just lost their mom, and Drew says he’s aware. Jason says, they need to be together, so he and Drew need to work together. Drew says, Jason doesn’t play well with others, and Jason says, Drew doesn’t like how he lives. He doesn’t like how Drew lives. But it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it’s okay for the kids because they’re family. Drew says, and Jason knows all about family.

Sasha says she told Elaine her approximate due date. That’s it. She’s not sure what Elaine was looking for, but she assumes Willow’s lawyer hired her. Tracy says, good guess, and Sasha says she just thought Tracy would like to know that somebody is being investigated. Tracy thanks her for the intel, and Sasha says she’s welcome… Tracy is holding something back. She can tell. Tracy says she’s been known for that, and Sasha tells her, say it. Tracy says she promised not to ask invasive questions, and Sasha asks if she has one. Tracy asks, if Jason is the father, are they planning on getting married? and Sasha says she gets it. Tracy wants to know what she’s looking to make off the Quartermaine name.

On the phone, Anna says, let her know if they turn up anything, and Dante says, it was smart of her to contact Pentenville. Cyrus was in there a long time. He must have made connections. Anna says she was thinking a former associate could tell them where Cyrus might go. The longer they’re without a lead, the less likely they are to track Cyrus. He asks if Elizabeth said why Cyrus killed the patients, and Anna says she thinks it was some kind of divine mission to release them from their suffering. From what he told Elizabeth, he’s been doing it since he got out of prison. Dante says, it doesn’t make sense. Dex and Sam were healthy. Why target them? She says, they got in his way.

In Lucky’s room, Elizabeth asks how he’s doing, and Portia says, he’s holding his own. Elizabeth says, that’s good news, and Portia says she’ll let them have time alone with him. Portia leaves and they go over to the bed. Elizabeth says she’s here. So is Aiden. He needs to hang on and come back to them. She’s going to say it again when he opens his eyes, but she thanks him for saving her life tonight. Aiden says, mom’s safe now and he has to wake up.

Jack says, they don’t have to call the police, and asks where Josslyn got the gun. She says, it’s Dex’s. Everybody knows how much she hates Cyrus and that she thinks he killed Dex. Now she killed him with Dex’s gun. Who will believe it was in self-defense? Jack says, coming in the cabin with a gun does imply intent, and she says, he knows what happened. He says he wasn’t in the room. Technically, people could say he didn’t see what happened. She says, he doesn’t believe her, and he says he does, but it won’t hold up in a court of law. He can take care of it, but once the WSB is involved, no one can know what happened, not even her mother. Can she do that? If not, they’ll call the police right now. She looks at Cyrus’s body and nods. She says she can do it. Stay quiet. Jack says, they’re leaving… and she says, but her fingerprints… He says, now. If anyone asks her, she was never at the cabin. Does she understand? She nods and they leave.

Drew says, ever since he found out he and Jason were twins, his whole life hinged on one moment. What if Susan Moore had brought him back to Port Charles instead of Jason? He would have grown up with Monica and Alan and would have lived the life of luxury as a Quartermaine. Instead, he got Betsy Frank, a group home, and he was on his own at 18. Jason says he had no control over that, and Drew says, they loved Jason, despite his never having appreciated it and hurting their parents, breaking their hearts over and over. He had no need of anything Quartermaine. Jason says, they’re done, but Drew says, it’s his house. He’ll tell Jason when they’re done. Jason wants to come back home? Now that Drew has made a place for himself and took the Quartermaine name. Now he wants to come back? That’s perfect. He and the Quartermaines can have each other. He’ll be over here with his daughter. Jason says, he’s okay with Scout losing Sam, Danny, and Rocco all at once? and Drew says, what Scout is going through breaks his heart, but as her father, he’ll do what’s best for her – always.

Jordan asks if Anna had any luck, and Anna says she had them run the name Paul Damascus and Cyrus never used it before, but when they were running the DEA list of Cyrus’s associates, a name jumped out – Gatlin. Jordan says, Cyrus has a connection to a Gatlin family based in Pautuck, and Anna says, a deep connection? Jordan says, decades, and Anna says, a doctor at GH was shot dead in 2023 who was from Pautuck. Dante says, the murder was never solved, and Jordan says, the doctor had several properties in Pautuck. Anna makes a call, and says she’ll need a list of properties southeast of Port Charles rented or owned by a Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.

Josslyn walks into Jack’s office, and he asks if anybody saw her come in. She says, no, and he tells her to go to the bathroom and shower. Wash away all the evidence. Leave her clothes, jewelry, and phone, anything she brought to the cabin, in the bathroom. There’s a change of clothes for her in there. Can she handle that? She says, yeah, and when she leaves, Jack takes out the gun, wipes it, and puts it on his desk. Colette comes in and says she got his message. Jack says, Cyrus Renault is dead, and she asks, what the hell happened?

In the bathroom, Josslyn flashes back to Cyrus coming at her and her shooting him. She throws up.

Jack tells Colette that Josslyn had a gun he wasn’t aware of, but it’s fine. She only called him. She says, still, the clean-up might not be as easy as he thinks. Renault attacked Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Baldwin tonight. Lucky is in the hospital and there’s an APB out on Renault. Who knows how long it will take Anna to find the cabin?

Laura says, does Lulu remember her saying how Cyrus visited her? and Lulu says, it was too creepy to forget. Laura says, Cyrus told Elizabeth that he had plans to free her from her coma, and Lulu says, aka kill her. Laura says, something went wrong, and it only affected her liver, and Lulu says, Cyrus caused her liver failure? Laura says, yes. She’s very sorry. Lulu says, why? and Laura says, because Cyrus is her brother. Lulu says, it’s not exactly her fault, and Larua says she knows that, but in retrospect, she can see that strange fascination he had in her. Lulu says, no one could predict he would do this, and Laura says, he’s a very sick man, but if Lulu hadn’t woken up when she did… Oh my God. Laura hugs her, cries, and says, they would have lost her.

Aiden says, it’s been cool having Lucky home. It made him realize how much he missed him. Thanks for showing up and being on his side. And grandma and Aunt Lulu want him to know they love him. Elizabeth says, they all think he’s had enough beauty rest now. Come out of this. Aiden says, he has to wake up. He just has to. Suddenly, an alarm goes off.

Jason asks if Drew is really going to keep Scout from her brothers, and Drew says, Scout’s got him. And they’ll have Willow and her kids. It’s all the family they need and she’s going nowhere near the Quartermaines. Jason says, because Drew got his feelings hurt? but Drew says, because the Quartermaines are terrible people. He did all he could to fit in. He did everything he could to keep the family going. The second he does something for himself, they can’t turn their backs fast enough. Because he fell in love with the wrong woman. Compared to what they’ve done? To a murderer hitman, it’s always home. Jason says, Drew is making a huge mistake, but Drew says he doesn’t think so. The Quartermaine name, he’s got it. The Quartermaine money, it’s in the bank. He doesn’t need the people and headache that go along with it. We’re done. He opens the door and says, get out of my house. Jason walks out.

Sasha says she is not discussing her personal life, and Tracy says, good. Just listen. She didn’t get knocked up by some random guy at a bar, a one-night stand with a Quartermaine. Sasha says, allegedly, and Tracy says, allegedly a Quartermaine, but not just any Quartermaine, a family favorite. Sasha says, not hers, and Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s wanted nothing to do with him for years, but her mother adored him, as did Monica. He could do no wrong in their eyes. Sasha asks how many times she has to say it. She doesn’t want or expect anything from the family. Tracy says, what does the family expect from her? and she asks, what happened to her right to make decisions for her own baby? Tracy says, she does, but she can’t keep going ahead like the baby is exclusively hers. Not if it’s a Quartermaine.

Chase tells Brook that he’s not angry with her. Just the opposite. He hates that she had to keep the secret for so long. She says she hated keeping it from him, when she let herself think about it. She trained herself not to. He says, she compartmentalized, and she says she put it in a box and rarely took it out. He says, it makes sense. How is she supposed to move on? She says, the baby was with her for 9 months technically. She loved him or her so much. She wanted to give them the best life possible. He says, she has no idea where they went? and she says, no. She trusted her mom, who worked with the agency to find a good home. She’s so sorry for lying. He says, show him the lie. All she did was keep part of her past private. Just because they’re married, she doesn’t have to share every little thing. She says, it’s not little, and he says, maybe not, but she gets to choose who she shares it with and who she doesn’t want asking questions. He does want to know one thing.

Josslyn wipes the steam from the bathroom mirror. She flashes back to looking at dead Cyrus and leans on the sink.

Jack says, Anna’s not aware of the cabin, and Colette says, not yet, but it’s just a matter of time. He asks if they’re monitoring the PCPD radio, and she says, Renault was spotted on Route 41. The police know his direction and it’s not a densely populated area. He says, the cabin is one of the few options, and she asks if he honestly thinks Josslyn can keep quiet. She’s just a kid. She’ll want to tell someone. He says, let him worry about Josslyn. It’s her job to get a team to the cabin before Anna finds it. She says, a total clean-up? and he says, with one exception.

Isaiah runs into Lucky’s room and Elizabeth hustles Aiden out. Isaiah uses the defibrillator on Lucky.

Lulu tells Laura that Dr. Gannon said her body’s reaction to the liver transplant could be why she woke up after four years. If Cyrus hadn’t tried to kill her, she probably wouldn’t have woken up. Laura says she guesses Lulu is right, and Lulu says, if she hadn’t needed a liver transplant, Sam would be here. Laura says, they’ve been through this. She can’t let herself think like that. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. That’s on Cyrus. She doesn’t care about his crazy savior story. He’s been killing people. If she needs to point a finger, put the blame where it belongs, on Cyrus. And the people he paid off or blackmailed to get out of prison. He never should have been let out.

Elizabeth and Aiden come out and Elizabeth says, Lucky’s heart stopped. He’s in defibrillation. Aiden says, his dad is dying.

They continue to use the paddles on Lucky, and Isaiah says, come on. Don’t do this to me. He begins chest compression.

Jack puts the gun in a bag, then in a bin. Josslyn comes back and he tells her to have a seat. She asks, what happens now? and he asks if she told anyone where she went. She says, no, and he asks if she told anyone the address. She says, no, she didn’t tell anyone. Why did Colette give her the address? He says, she set everything in motion when she asked to see the footage from Rice Plaza, and she says, when she was finding out who killed Dex? He says, it was strategic thinking on her part, and she says, it got her nowhere. The footage was gone. He says, no, it wasn’t, and shows her a still shot of Cyrus. He says, it shows her instincts were spot on, and she says she doesn’t understand. He knew the whole time and didn’t go to the police? He says he wanted to see what she’d do.

Brook says, ask anything, and Chase asks if she’s okay. She says, that’s his one question? and he says he can’t imagine going through something so huge. In high school, his biggest stressor was if he’d make varsity or not. She had to choose a future, not just for her, but her child. She’s amazing. He was already thinking she’s so strong and he didn’t know the half of it.

Isaiah says, Lucky never quit on him before. Don’t quit now.

Anna suggests Dante go see Lulu and find out how Lucky is doing. He says, she put him back on the case, and she says she told him that he could work on the case, not personally apprehend Cyrus. He asks if she thinks he’d go rogue and kill Cyrus. He’s thought about it and death is too easy an out. He’ll follow protocol. Anna’s phone rings and she asks, what’s the address?… Send units. She’ll be right there. Dante says, that’s off Route 41, and Anna says, let’s go now. Dante asks Jordan to keep them posted on Lucky, and she says, will do. Good luck.

Portia says, they got him back. Lucky is stable. Aiden says, he’s going to be okay? and Portia nods. Lulu says, his dad is strong and hugs him. Elizabeth hugs Aiden and Laura hugs Lulu.

Sasha says, privacy is starting to be impossible in this house, and Tracy says, starting? Too funny. Sasha can keep playing the who’s-the-daddy game all she wants, but she’s inclined to believe Cody. Sasha says, fine. Jason is the father. Happy? Tracy shrugs, when Jason walks in. Sasha says she is so done with this day and walks past him and out. Tracy says she guesses congratulations are in order.

Josslyn says, Jack knew Cyrus killed Dex and did nothing? but he says, on the contrary. He fed her clues and followed her. She asks if he’s playing some game because he’s into her mom, but he says, it’s got nothing to do with Carly. It’s clear Josslyn is special. She’s got all the qualities necessary to make a great agent – ingenuity, initiative, willing and able to do what’s necessary. She asks, necessary for what? and he says, for the WSB. He wants her to become one of them.

Brook says, truly, Chase isn’t upset? If he were, she would understand. He says, stop and think. Would she be? She says, so many of their past problems were because of her lying, and this is another one of those times, but he says he doesn’t consider this a lie. He’s curious. Why tell him now? She says, he was beating himself up about her not getting pregnant naturally. She couldn’t stand it. He says, once it had a bearing on their relationship, she told him. She can tell him anything. She says she kept it buried so long, and he thanks her for sharing such an intimate part of herself. She says she loves him and trusts him with her life, and he says, right back at her. They kiss.

Laura says she can’t thank them enough, and Portia says, Lucky is still being monitored closely, but the danger has passed as of now. Aiden thanks her for saving Lucky’s life, and she says she had a lot of help. Isaiah says, Lucky refused to give up, and Aiden says he wants to thank Isaiah too.

Isaiah goes into Lucky’s room and says, it’s not cool making him sweat like that. He guesses it wouldn’t be Lucky if he wasn’t a colossal pain in the ass. He thanks Lucky and says he doesn’t know what he would have done if he’d lost him.

Tracy says, Jason isn’t planning on moving out. This is Danny’s home, and he needs stability. Jason agrees he does, and he’ll do whatever it takes to give that to Danny. Tracy says she knows the living situation is not his first choice – or second or third – but she’s glad his priority is Danny. It shows his loyalty is to the family, because they are family. Despite the past, he’s one of them. Jason says, just not one she wants around. Drew is coming for him.

Josslyn says, Jack set her up to kill Cyrus so he could hold it over her head to join the WSB, but he says he didn’t know she had access to a gun. Did anyone else know? She says, no, and he asks why she brought it. She says, to protect herself – obviously – which does not make her a spy. He says, it does. She shields herself not by hiding, but by acting. What happened in the cabin? Tell him. Josslyn says she found the patients’ ID bracelets and saw how many Cyrus killed. There was one for Dex. Cyrus was going to attack her with a hatchet and she shot him in self-defense. He says, if Cyrus hadn’t attacked her, would she have not pulled the trigger, and Josslyn cries and says she doesn’t know. He says, good thing they didn’t call police then.

Anna’s team approaches the cabin. Anna nods and Dante kicks in the door.

Brook says, it was stupid not to tell him sooner, but Chase says, she told him when she was ready. He wonders if she’s judging herself for her decision, and she says, a decision that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. What if she gave up the baby and it didn’t give them a better life? He asks if she wants to try and find her child, but she says she doesn’t know. He asks if she ever tried, and she says, no. He asks if she thought about it, and she says, of course (🍷), but wouldn’t it be unfair to crash into the child’s life after letting them go? He says, having Brook in their life could only make It better. Trust him. It’s 100% her decision, but if she decides to try to find them, he’ll help in any way he can.

Tracy says, Drew is coming after all of them. She assumes he’s the one who convinced Willow to hire a P.I. to find something that she can use against Michael in the divorce. Jason says, Drew blames the whole family for turning against him, and she says, they’ve made Drew the enemy. She can’t believe she’s saying this, but she’s so glad he’s here. They need him. Welcome home. She pats his shoulder and leaves.

Aiden says, they’re all here. Laura and his mom are here. Lulu says, hey, big brother, and Aiden says, they love him and can’t wait for him to wake up. Lulu tells Lucky, hurry up. Patience is not her strong suit.

Jordan says she heard Isaiah saved another life. Congratulations. Isaiah says, it was a close one and he’s not responsible. It was difficult and he thought he’d lose Lucky. Jordan says she speaks for all Lucky’s loved ones. She’s grateful he fought so hard for his friend. Isaiah says, he’s grateful to Lucky. He’s too stubborn to die.

Inside the cabin, an officer tells Anna, the surrounding area is clear, and Anna says, expand the radios. She tells Dante, aside from everything being completely dust free, no one has inhabited this cabin lately. Dante says, there’s no sign of anything, and Anna tells the officer, get forensics here asap. He leaves, and Anna says, if Cyrus was in the cabin, he left something behind. They have to find what it is.

Josslyn says, what about the evidence in the cabin? and Jack says, it’s been taken care of. Josslyn says, even if she doesn’t accept the offer? and he says, even if. But he strongly urges her to consider it. She’d make one hell of an agent. As far as tonight goes, she needs a story. He hands her some cash and says, buy herself a new phone. Say she lost hers. Her car was driven here. Can she drive home? She says, yes, and he says, be in touch. She leaves, and Colette comes in. Colette says, she gets to walk out, just like that? and Jack says, yes. When she comes back, it’s better if she thinks it’s her idea.

On Monday, Anna needs someone at the station right now; Kai says Trina is the only reason he’s not losing his mind right now; Kristina tells Molly that she’s never going to believe in the system again; and Brook tells Lois that she told Chase everything.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I was kind of surprised they didn’t go the whodunit route, but it was still a great end. Loved him pouring his heart out to Elizabeth. We’ll miss you, Jeff Kober!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/behind-the-scenes-of-cyrus-death-with-eden-mccoy

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jeff-kober-says-goodbye-to-gh-with-the-best-death

Maybe Lucky will be waking up a different man.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-temporarily-recasts-lucky-with-guy-wilson

Finally, we meet Tobias.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/charlie-besso-cast-as-tobias-on-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/colin-cassidy-thought-he-blew-his-audition-for-aiden-on-gh

It does really sound like a goodbye.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/tajh-bellow-shares-a-special-message-for-his-gh-fans

Picking up the pieces.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-shows-off-his-new-house

She left behind a body of work to be proud of.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-and-oltl-alum-alice-hirson-dead-at-95

Beyond the usual soap.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jon-lindstrom-and-cady-mcclain-join-the-cast-of-beyond-the-gates

How they celebrated with their sweeties.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-the-stars-and-their-sweethearts-spent-valentines-day

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

While I didn’t watch this, I did read about Harry’s accident. Yikes!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The trip to see Sutton’s mom ended, and Sutton finally heard I love you from Reba. In Sutton’s interview, she said she hadn’t felt like this with her mother since her sophomore year in college on Mother’s weekend. Dorit was having a 4th of July barbecue, per tradition with her kids, but adding the women. In Dorit’s interview, she said it felt like there was definitely something missing because PK wasn’t there, and she wanted to have fun with her friends and kids. Good luck with that first one. Sutton got there first, and there were zero people to greet her, a huge party faux pas, no matter who you are. You don’t just leave people to wander around on their own. Kyle came next, Dorit still nowhere to be found, and they noticed a table of framed photos that they dubbed a shrine to PK. It was 40 minutes before Dorit made her appearance. Although she still couldn’t be bothered to greet Sutton. When she finally did, she snatched Sutton’s bag and insisted Sutton give it to her, literally not giving it back. In her interview, she said it was about Sutton interrupting her talking about Jagger – we flashed back, and Sutton had good reason – but giving her the bag would equal forgiveness. It was a hard no.

The spread was amazing, and things were good for like, five minutes, until Dorit made a jab at Sutton about drinking alcohol. What is wrong with that woman? Sutton said she was a bitch, which caused Dorit to spiral because Sutton had called her a bitch in her own home. Here’s a hint. If you don’t want to be called a bitch, don’t be one. In her interview, Sutton said Dorit had never apologized for insinuating she had a drinking problem, and we flashed back to Dorit’s various comments about it. Sutton decided she was going to jet, and in the bitch’s Dorit’s interview, she intimated that there must be something to it if Sutton was making such a big deal. No. She’s just sick of you calling her an alcoholic. In Kyle’s interview, she tried to compare her tirade and walking out of Boz’s spa day, even though it was not at all the same thing. Boz thought Sutton leaving was rude, and Garcelle told Boz to quit being Dorit’s spokesperson. Kyle was also irritated with Dorit agreeing with everything Boz said, but they ended up hugging it out. For now.

Where are they now?

Let’s talk about the husband.

Summer House

They toasted to how mature they were. Here’s where I would look at the camera if there was one. Ciara brought up West’s New York Times article at dinner, which is where sensitive, anger inducing topics are always broached. Lindsay broke the tension by needing to run to the bathroom. West kinda sorta apologized to Ciara, Paige avoided getting together with Craig, and it was the same old except for Lindsay being pregnant.

This picture is so weird. It’s like they were suddenly plopped in from different climates.

Southern Charm

Molly, Taylor, and Rodrigo did flamingo yoga, which is like goat yoga but with flamingoes. Biggest reveal? Craig watches a lot of 90 Day Fiancé. Me too! The biggest non-surprise? Sienna is so not interested in a relationship with Shep. I would say it was painful to watch, but seeing him get a taste of his own medicine was too delicious.

Southern Hospitality

It was back from Vegas and back to reality after Maddi and Joe’s fake wedding by Elvis impersonator. She seemed to be wearying of Joe’s attention. The best quote: I’m the bitch that runs the bitches who think they run the bitch.Michols Peña

Random Reality Items

Now there will be no let up about him proposing. Not from Dolores, but everyone else.

Do we really need another branch of the franchise? They’re always intriguing in the beginning. Then they degenerate into a screaming match.

In a surprise twist, Lady Gaga has time to watch TV.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Cassandra. Netflix. My favorite horror genres are in this order: Zombie apocalypse, any zombies, any apocalypse, technology is evil, large monsters like Godzilla and/or dinosaurs, and sharks. This imported miniseries from Germany falls under technology being evil, but with a twist. Cassandra is the face behind a smart house and she’s out of control. The surprise is, she has a backstory, that’s told parallel to the nightmare of the family who moves in.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. Amazon Prime. And in my favorite genre, reveled clearly in the title, this was one exciting zombie romp. A Spanish thriller based on a book, the story revolves around a man and his cat who are trying to make it to a safe place. The action and the special effects were impressive. It wasn’t 2 hours of my life I wanted back and it gave me the zombie fix I so desperately needed. No spoilers here:

Lots of spoilers here. Turn back if you do not want to be spoiled.

https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/i-watched-amazons-new-zombie-movie-holy-cow-i-have-things-to-say

👍One To Watch…

While the words love story aren’t usually in my viewing queue, these two make it look like it will be a fun time. This show also looks like an enriching learning experience about those who are different. One of the things reality TV should foster more.

🌁 Upcoming Watch…

It’s been decreed. The second season of The Last of Us will premiere on April 13th.

https://winteriscoming.net/the-last-of-us-season-2-release-date-revealed-and-we-called-it

🏆 Awards Corner…

BAFTA winners.

https://deadline.com/2025/02/bafta-film-awards-winners-list-conclave-emilia-perez-2025-1236291491/

Warming up for the Academy Awards on March 2nd.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/oscars-2025-red-carpet-events-parties-pictures-1236141330/

https://people.com/oprah-selena-gomez-and-ben-stiller-and-more-announced-as-2025-oscars-presenters-11682130

A new addition to the Daytime Emmys. Actually, it’s more of a pivot.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/the-daytime-emmy-awards-adds-a-new-category

It’s definitely her year. You’ll have to wait until June to see her Tony hosting skills though.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1413663/cynthia-erivo-set-to-host-2025-tony-awards

🐶 It’s Not How You Start…

Dog makes better than good.

https://people.com/abandoned-puppy-left-to-die-makes-finals-most-prestigious-dog-show-uk-crufts-11681282

🍯 Quotes Of the Week

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. – Laozi

I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. – Mozart

Freedom from desire leads to inner peace. – Lao Tzu

You’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind. – Timothy Leary

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Niccolò Machiavelli

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions. – Catherine Cook

You know what they say, candy is dandy, but yay weed. – Victoria Flynn (Katy Mixon), Mike & Molly

🧊 Colder Than a Well-Digger’s…

Until next week, stay safe; stay dressing for the weather, not the runway; and stay remembering, friends speak the truth.

October 2, 2024 – Baseball Day 2, Scrubbing Up, Salt Lake Invades Milwaukee, A Note, A Fact, Pigeons, Last Talk, Mrs. Gaga, Two Coming Up, It’s Started & Season

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Still batting runs in today, but I think GH is on tomorrow… I think.

🧼 Soap Dish…

I’ll bet she’s a blast.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/an-evening-with-soap-star-rena-sofer-see-the-pics

Omg, they look like babies.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-opens-up-about-liz-and-luckys-reunion-on-gh

It sounds like maybe she wanted a quid pro quo with the pay cut. Like maybe some changes for her character.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kelly-monaco-promises-a-proper-statement

🧂 There’s Salt In My Lake…

While I don’t know new Housewife Bronwyn at all, kudos to her fashion sense. Just remember, it’s fashion, not a costume. In Heather’s interview, she confused Alice Cooper with Gene Simmons, and said, honest mistake. Aren’t all actual mistakes honest? And does that really apply here? More like a you-don’t-know-your-rock-legends mistake. In a Housewives first, there was a girls’ trip to Milwaukee. A suite at the Bucks game seemed like the usual, but not so much a trip to the Bobblehead Museum. We flashed back to Mary calling Whitney a bobblehead, but in Mary’s interview, she said Whitney had passed the bobblehead baton to someone else. Do tell.

Bronwyn was upset over Lisa not coming to her defense during last week’s gang-up on her, but she said she wasn’t throwing Lisa under the bus… yet. However, she was turning the bus on. Whitney, Bronwyn, Mary and new Wife Meili went to the museum, where there were over 10,000 bobbleheads, and they were given a scavenger hunt. The collection was quite impressive. Nearly everyone even moderately famous has been made into a bobblehead. There was also a casino close by where the rest of the group gambled. Apparently, there are rumors swirling on social media that Whitney resells jewelry she gets from Alibaba, which is not a good look.

The suite was amazing and the buffet even more so. Heather said she was as happy as a puppy with two peters over the lobster corndogs, which sounds like something Captain Lee would say. Brittani found out that her boyfriend was hitting on Angie’s brow girl, and I’m not sure how much of the game was actually watched. After alerting Brittani, Angie hoped Brittani wouldn’t be pissed at her, which she shouldn’t be, but probably will be. Bronwyn confronted Lisa for not having her back and Heather for her needing her back covered in the first place. In Bronwyn’s interview, she said she wasn’t going to stop until they all realized that all of them talked about each other. She said she wasn’t part of the problem, but she was the best dressed part of the problem. I concur.

Next time, a dance-off, a curling game, and dinner table screaming. In other words, the usual.

🎵 Side note: I’m not loving Heather these days. I think she lost a few other things along with that weight, like her appeal and decency. Her ego must have gotten even bigger when she was on Watch What Happens Live tonight with Sarah Paulson. Sarah scolded her for not coming backstage when she saw Sarah on Broadway in Appropriate. Apparently, Sarah had alerted the entire cast, who’d been very excited about Heather’s presence. Is there really such a meager choice of amusement in the stage world?

Fun Fact: Mary Cosby’s father once lived a street away from Jeffrey Dahmer and wondered where a funky smell was coming from. A week later, Dahmer was arrested, and he saw the whole thing go down. Of course, Mary could be making it up, but that’s pretty random. Six degrees from my part, I once met a guy who was a counselor of Dahmer’s when he (Dahmer, not the guy I met) was in prison. He said that Dahmer was a really nice guy when he was on his medication, but you didn’t want to be near him when he wasn’t. Take from that what you will.

🗽 Rats With Wings…

It wouldn’t be NYC without them. Although there is the eternal question… Why don’t we ever see baby pigeons?

https://extratv.com/2024/10/01/rhony-stars-sai-de-silva-and-ubah-hassan-tease-drama-with-messy-pigeons-exclusive/

🌁 Best On Last…

Hey, we take what we can get until 2025.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-last-of-us-season-2-trailer-1236013278/

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-kaitlyn-dever-abby-first-look-teaser-8718711

For the gamers.

https://www.eurogamer.net/the-last-of-us-tv-trailer-remade-with-gameplay-footage-gets-neil-druckmann-seal-of-approval

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/the-last-of-us-naughty-dog-secret/

🦄 Putting the Modern In Bride…

I don’t know about you, but I’m there for the unicorns. We can still have Chinese food though, right?

https://extratv.com/2024/10/02/lady-gaga-talks-wedding-ideas-courthouse-and-chinese-food/

🎬 Waiting To Watch…

This drops on Shudder tomorrow and I can’t wait to see it. Tusk was one of the best films I’ve ever seen, so I have high hopes for Justin Long’s work on this.

https://ew.com/justin-long-vhs-beyond-tusk-like-fur-babies-brother-christian-exclusive-8716575

This looks very promising as well. The trailer gave me Lovecraft Country vibes. This one is a wait though. It comes to theaters on March 7th, 2025.

https://collider.com/sinners-michael-b-jordan-ryan-coogler/

🐩 Never Too Early For Dress Up…

Get those pets used to wearing a hat now and they’ll have it down by Halloween. Maybe. If they feel like it.

📢 Calling Each Vagabond By Name…

Come by tomorrow for (hopefully) soap and the OC nightmare before Halloween. Until then, stay safe; stay erring on the side of caution and professionalism at office costume parties; and stay never being part of the problem, but being the best dressed part of the problem.

September 26, 2024 – First Loser In Sidwell’s Game, New Soap Who Dis, No Party Goes Unpunished, WWDD, Teasing Us, Digipool, No Joke, Fall Films, Saved By Her Hair & Rain

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Stella meets Tracy at the park, and Tracy says, in her book, on time is five minutes early. Punctuality is a principle she holds dear, and if Stella doesn’t agree, maybe they need to rethink their arrangement. Stella asks who Tracy thinks she’s talking to.

James goes to the stables and Sasha tells him to have fun with his Uncle Cody. Cody says, fun is his middle name.

Drew tells Ned that Valentin is wanted by the FBI. His assets have been seized and it’s not going to look good for ELQ. Ned agrees, and Drew says he wishes Ned had been in agreement when he teamed up with Valentin. They need a less controversial CEO. He can’t do it, so that leaves one person. Ned says, me, and Drew says, Michael.

Sidwell says, it would be easy to kill them all, but he wants to make it more interesting. He’ll give them a chance to keep breathing. Jason asks, what’s the game? and Sidwell says, three players. If Jason wins, he and Anna live. If Lucky’s name is accurate, he and Holly will live. If he wins, they all die. No matter what happens, he can’t lose. Holly says, this is insane. Kill them if he wants to, but not her.

Tracy asks Stella if she was harsh. Timeliness is important to her. Stella says, her too, but there was an accident on Bellmont… She’s not explaining herself. She doesn’t buy that Tracy is this angry because she was late. Tracy asks what she’s angry about then, and Stella says, you tell me. Tracy says her mood has nothing to do with Stella being late. Two staff members were insubordinate and ill-mannered, and she’s annoyed about it. The cook took it upon herself to throw an elaborate brunch for another family at their boathouse and the stable hand was involved. Stella says, that is rude. Some people have no work ethic anymore, throwing a party on the job. Tracy says, the cook wasn’t on the clock. It was her day off. Stella says, it’s a shame about the stable hand, but Tracy says, it was his day off too. Stella says she’s confused. What’s the problem? Tracy says, their blatant disregard for her. Sasha got huffy and defiant, and Cody chimed in on her behalf. Stella says, problems are like onions. You’ve got to pull back the layers to get to the root. She knows what this is really about, and bets Tracy does too.

James asks if Cody is happy to be part of their family, and Cody says, the happiest. James says he can’t believe Grandpa Mac is Cody’s dad, and Cody says he can’t believe it either. He learned to be okay with being alone and leaned into the cool parts, but having a family who he cares about and who cares about him is a lot cooler.

Maxie thanks Sasha for the brunch, and Sasha says, it was fun until Tracy. Maxie says, that was a lot of hot air over a quiche. She was checking for updates on Lulu. She’s getting worse and needs a transplant now. Sasha says she’s sorry. She knows they were close. Maxie says, Lulu is her best friend. Always has been and always will be.

Drew says, Michael is the obvious choice, and Ned tells him, says who? Who authorized him to choose? Drew says he’s a member of the family, and Ned says, he made that clear when he changed his name before his run for office. Drew says he makes no apologies, and Ned never apologized for making Valentin CEO. Ned asks if the initials SEC mean anything to Drew, and Drew says, they need to replace Valentin with Michael. Ned asks why he should support that, and Drew says, because he’s a team player. He’s supporting the family over his personal interests. Michael and Willow walk in, and Michael asks if they’re interrupting.  

Holly says she doesn’t know what these people are doing and doesn’t care. She’s not involved. He’s the one who persuaded her to leave Monte Carlo, and now she’s going to be killed if someone doesn’t win a game. Sidwell says he enjoyed his time with her, but doesn’t trust her. She knew these people and didn’t tell him. She says she explained why, but he says he doesn’t like people who keep secrets. He tells the guards to get the women out and secure Lucky and Jason. He asks if they’re ready to play for their lives.

Tracy asks if it isn’t premature for Stella to presume she knows what Tracy means, and Stella says, they’re more alike than Tracy wants to admit. It all boils down to one thing. How Tracy feels about Cody.

James asks if Sasha is part of their family because she’s Cody’s girlfriend, and Cody says, some people have a hard time believing in themselves. Sasha believed in him when he couldn’t and talked him into it. James says he believes in Cody. How can he not believe in himself? Cody says, James wrote the book on cool, but James says he hates writing. Cody tells him, it’s just a saying. For the record, Sasha is part of his family. James says, then she’s part of his too, and they get ready to go for a ride.

Holly and Anna are put in a cell, and Anna looks around. Holly says, she won’t find anything, and Anna asks if she’s supposed to sit around waiting to die. The whole reason they came was to bring Lucky home to save Lulu, but that only happens if he lives. If he wins, that means Jason can’t win. She finds a paper clip and starts to work the lock. She says, that means she’s a dead woman. Why didn’t Holly help Lucky escape when she found him? Holly asks how she would know Lulu needed a transplant. She was two months into the most odious con, and two weeks was all she needed. She would have had millions of dollars, but instead, they show up, and now their lives are at risk. Anna says, Holly always survives. She needs to ask Holly a favor. When she gets out, go to Robert and asks him to tell their daughter how much she loves her. Holly says, Anna is such a bitch. Anna knows she can’t go to Robert and tell him that she left her to die. Anna says she doesn’t see what choice Holly has. Unless Holly has a magic Get Out of Jail Free card, she’s screwed.

Sidwell says he’ll do the honors, and shuffles the cards. A guard whispers something to him, and he says, something requires his attention. In case they think of doing anything stupid, there are guards outside. He leaves, and Lucky asks what Jason and Anna are doing here. Jason says, they’re here to take him home.

Drew says he was filling Ned in on his idea for Michael to take over as CEO, and Ned says, it was more like a mandate. Drew says, does Michael have time to join them? and Willow says, it’s fine. She’ll see him at the boathouse. Michael says, if they miss their reservation, he’ll make it up to her, and she says she knows. She leaves, and Michael says he takes it Ned’s not on board, and Drew says, Ned’s creating conflict where there is none. They need to get ELQ on solid ground and it’s easier if they’re on the same page. Ned says, it’s always two against one, and Drew says, Ned’s right. Ned says, that’s a first, and Drew says, no more two against one. He’s confident they’ll figure it out on their own. He leaves, and Michael says he doesn’t have an agenda. He just wants to do what’s best for the family. Ned says he believes Michael. It’s not Michael he doesn’t trust. It’s Drew.

Tracy asks if Stella is suggesting she’s harboring romantic feelings for Cody. If so, she’s ready too many trashy novels. Stella says she’s not saying that… Not that she would blame Tracy. They’ve been meeting for several months and it’s clear by how much she talks about Cody, that they’ve become close. He even took her out on the lake in that old rowboat. They confide in each other. She was one of the first people Cody told when he found out Mac was his real father. Tracy says she’s mentioned him more than she realized, and Stella says, he’s a good friend and now he’s reunited with his family and he’s with Sasha. Tracy is afraid of losing him. And why not? Look at where they are. She points to Gregory’s plaque on the bench, and Tracy says, it’s been a difficult year. She hasn’t spoken to Finn in months. Stella says, another good friend. Loss is hard. Tracy says, losing Gregory was harder. He was one of her closest confidents. And there’s Luke. She misses him most of all. Luke, Finn, and Gregory were all so compelling, especially Luke. They’re very different, but Cody reminds her of him. Maybe she just wants to see that, but she thinks they share a lot of the same qualities. Stella says, it’s safe to say he’s important to her, and Tracy says she couldn’t stand another relationship slipping away.

Lucky says he appreciates the effort, but Jason says he doesn’t understand. Lucky says, just get himself and Anna out. Sidwell talks a big game, but he’s not going to kill him or Holly. Jason says, there’s no time. Lulu had a medical crisis and needs a liver transplant. Lucky is her best shot at a donor and has to get home as soon as possible. Sidwell comes back and says, apologies. Now, where were we?

Stella says she’s sorry about Luke, Gregory, and Finn, and Tracy says, at least Finn is still alive. Stella says, but he’s not present in the way Tracy wishes he was. Grief isn’t linear. There are ups and downs, twists and turns. Tracy says, her own personal roller coaster. She wants to get off the ride now. Stella says, you think you’re making progress and you’re at peace, then out of nowhere, it hits like a ton of bricks. Tracy says, it sounds like she’s speaking from experience, and Stella says, a few weeks ago, she heard My Girl. She and Irene used to play it over and over, and dance and sing for hours. She was in her car and just lost it. She’s convinced, the deeper the love, the longer the journey. Tracy says, there’s no bond like siblings. She had a brother. He drove her crazy like nobody else. Why get involved with people when you’re just going to lose them? Stella says, everything Tracy feels is normal. Although maybe she should temper her reaction. Tracy says she guesses she owes Sasha an apology, and Stella says, that’s a good place to start. Tracy says she’s sorry for scolding Stella. It’s not going to happen again… if there is an again. Stella asks if Tracy doesn’t recognize a good friend sitting next to her. She’s not a compelling man, but she is a compelling woman if she does say so herself. Tracy says she has to agree.

Ned says he gets that Michael is in it for the family and sees he’s willing to put aside what he wants for the greater good. Michael says, but Ned doesn’t think Drew is, and Ned says he knows Drew isn’t. Michael says, no one has come through for the family more than Drew, and Ned says, they’re grateful, but Drew is a Quartermaine through and through. He wasn’t always like he is now, but maybe his struggles changed him. He knows Drew is out for himself and will take what he wants. Michael says he’s never seen anything to indicate that, but Ned says, keep his eyes open. Just because Michael’s intentions are pure doesn’t mean Drew’s are. He’ll never fully trust Drew, and if Michael is smart, he won’t either. He leaves.

Creeper Drew goes to the boathouse, and Willow asks what he’s doing here. He says he could tell she was upset and wanted to say he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to ruin her night with Michael. She says, it doesn’t matter. She’s continually asked him to stay away, but he doesn’t care. He says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says she has feelings for him that are jeopardizing her marriage, and it makes her feel like absolute crap. He says she doesn’t want her to feel that way, and she says, then stop running into her and checking on her. She needs him to leave her alone.

Sidwell says he’ll put down first, and lays his cards out. Lucky puts his down, but Jason folds. Sidwell tells the guards to take Jason and bring Holly back. Jason’s loss is English’s gain. She always lands on her feet. Give his condolences to Anna. It was pleasure playing cards with him. Lucky says he’s sorry, and Jason says, get home safe. The guards lead him out, and Sidwell says, for a savvy card player, Jason is naïve. Lucky’s not going anywhere.

Maxie sees Ned and says she has papers for Tracy and Brook. He asks if it’s Deception business, and she says, it is. She asks if he can keep an eye on James. One time, the lake; two times, a disappearing act. Ned says he’s got it, and Maxie says she won’t take long. Good luck. Ned asks, what’s new? and James asks if Ned kisses people on the lips. Ned laughs and says he does, but only one person, his wife Olivia. James says, kissing his mom makes Spinelli happy. Why would one kiss make Willow sad?

Cody tells Sasha that he and James talked about her and how grateful he is to have her in his life. James asked if she was part of his family. He hopes he wasn’t out of turn saying yes. She says, nothing would make her happier, and they kiss.

Holly says she’ll never forget the day Anna showed up, the woman from Robert’s past. Anna was awful. Her marriage to Robert was the sweetest time of her life. She thinks she knew in her heart something that special can’t last. Anna says she remembers how at peace and content Robert was with Holly. She guesses she felt bad about getting in the middle of that. She thinks Holly made Robert happy in a way she never did. Holly says, Robert will never be happy again if she lets Anna die here, but she can’t figure out how to prevent it. Anna says she doesn’t think Holly can, but Holly says she told Anna, no way is she going back to Robert and telling him that she left Anna here to die. The guards bring Jason in, and one of the guards punches him in the stomach just because. They take Holly, and Anna says, tell Robert to tell her, but Holly says, don’t give up. Jason says he’s sorry. He lost the game. Anna shrugs and says she knew he would.

Sidwell wonders what Jason’s hand was and Lucky looks at the cards. He says, a losing one, and Sidwell says, Lucky’s trend continues. Lucky says, they did what he wanted. They played his sick game and now two people are going to die. Sidwell says, that doesn’t mean the deal changed. If Lucky loses… Lucky asks if he’s not bored, but Sidwell says, not even a little bit. Lucky says he thinks it’s time they shake things up, put in something for him. They play a hand and if he wins, he goes free. Holly is brought back, and Sidwell tells the guard to take the other two to the courtyard. He welcomes Holly back, and she says she’s glad that unpleasantness is behind them. She’ll forgive him this once. Since they’re still playing, she’ll go to her room. Sidwell tells her to stay and tells Lucky that he’s right. It’s high time they reset the terms.

Cody knocks everything off the table, and he and Sasha start to get busy. Tracy clears her throat, and they see her standing in the doorway. (Why do they continually leave this door open?)

On the phone, Michael says he’s off the grid for the rest of the night. He has plans with his wife. Maxie walks in and says, he makes his family priority. She wonders how he’s not pulled in different directions. She’s having a hard time, and she only works for one company. He says, there’s nothing more important than Willow and the kids, and she says, Spinelli usually gets the short end of the stick, but he’s patient and kind about it. She hereby declares she’s making her relationship a priority. Michael suggests a standing date night. Twice a month minimum, one a week if they can swing it. She says, they’re both lucky they found their person.

Willow says, please just go, and Drew says he will, but he wants her to know that he understands. He’s going through the same thing. She says, he’s not married. He’s amazing and her heart races when she sees him. It puts what matters at risk and she wishes she could make it go away, but she’s having trouble. He can help. He helped her in Greenland. Help her now. Stay away from her. Please. He leaves.  

James asks if sad and guilty are the same, and Ned says, sometimes. James asks what guilty means, and Ned says, it means you feel bad about something and wish you hadn’t done it. He’s confused. What does that have to do with Willow and a kiss? James says he heard Willow tell Aunt Nina that she felt guilty for kissing Drew. (Rut-roh. Congratulations, Ned. You’re the new CEO of ELQ!)

Jason says, Sidwell is going to kill them, and Anna says, he made that clear. He says, their only chance is to jump them, but she says, they’re armed. She has to get the cuffs off of him. She can’t go after them alone. He picks up the paper clip and she works at the cuffs, but she says, it’s not working. It’s not strong enough. It’s just bending. She can find a nail. She searches the bed, and says, if she can get it out… Frustrated, she lifts the bed and it bangs on the floor, and Jason says, just try again. She starts to cry and says she can’t do it. He tells her, stop, and she says, sorry. This is it, isn’t it? They’re going to die in here tonight. She hugs him, and it looks like they’re about to kiss, but they’re distracted by a door clanging. Jason listens for a moment, then kisses Anna. (I wrack my brain trying to remember if they’ve ever been involved.)

Sidwell says, Lucky isn’t just playing to keep himself alive. Holly lives as long as Lucky continues to win. Holly says she refuses, and Sidwell asks if she thinks she has a say. She smacks his face and says, he brought her to this hellhole just to be part of his sad game. He grabs her and says, does she think he didn’t know she was after his diamonds? Does she think he’d let her cheat him? She grabs his gun and tells him not to lay his hands on her. And don’t think of calling the guards. She asks if Lucky can get free, and he says he’s way ahead of her, already out of the cuffs and leg irons. He asks where Anna and Jason are, and she says, they’re in the same cell he was. Sidwell knocks the gun out of her hand.  

Tomorrow, Cody says, Tracy should know if she does, he’s going too; Robert tells Diane, don’t be too sure on that; Brennan tells Carly that he’ll do as much as he can, the rest is up to them; and Sonny says he would have hoped Martin would make that happen.

🧼 At the Starting Gates…

This sounds pretty good. Doubtful I’ll watch it during its daytime slot, but I’m sure it will stream as well. Could this mean daytime is taking a turn for the soap? Premiering on CBS in early 2025.

https://deadline.com/2024/09/beyond-the-gates-cbs-daytime-drama-casts-tamara-tunie-daphnee-duplaix-karla-mosley-1236093722/

🍊 Ti Many Martoonies For Tamra…

Fancy Pants couldn’t figure out why it was two steps forward with Gina and Emily, and said there was a piece of the puzzle missing. Yeah, the piece that’s Heather’s ego. She and Terry got in a little spat, which was interesting. He was annoyed with her talking over him (ugh, same, I hate that), and told her not to admonish him on camera. They tried to hide from the camera when they had that conversation, but Andy sees all.

Johnny J. wouldn’t settle the suit with Shannon (try saying that three times real fast) because he wouldn’t sign an agreement not to say bad things about her. I’m still confused as to who asked for this in the first place, since I thought this whole thing started because she was talking smack about him. Alexis said he’d lost everything, and it was all coming out tomorrow. While we assumed she meant the videos, which he admitted keeping for blackmail purposes (!), it was just an article in the press about the lawsuit, which is par for the course. Shannon butt-dialed Tamra, who heard her wailing about it and saying she thought Alexis’s PR team was behind it.

Katie was having a couples’ dinner party so husband Matt could make friends. It was funny when Katie listed the names of the guests for Matt. I got the feeling they went right back out of his head the second she said them. Ryan had gone on a podcast and trashed Eddie, and Shane wondered if there was going to be a boxing match. I like Shane. He seems normal. In her interview, Katie said, just be kind around the wineglasses. Emily said, Fancy Pants wasn’t invited because she didn’t acknowledge Katie’s existence, but Terry had just undergone surgery to fix his snoring nose, so that could have actually been why. Gina was away, and Katie said she didn’t want Shannon feeling like a ninth wheel, although I’m pretty sure Shannon would still be offended at not getting an invite. Especially since she was whining about being all alone… except she had Archie… sniff… Hey, you can do worse than a dog. When Eddie asked if there were name tags at the table, Emily said he was by Ryan. I literally lol’d and even Eddie had to laugh. Yeah, if I was going to hang out with anybody IRL, it would be Emily and Shane.

Tamra kept downing martinis, and in her interview, Jenn said the last time Tamra got drunk like this, she (Jenn) had a napkin thrown in her face, and we flashed back to that. They discussed Alexis being looney toons and this led to Emily weeping over the whole dress thing again. It’s a shame Emily still feels like she’s overweight. She doesn’t seem to understand that the size number doesn’t matter. Even at my thinnest, my waist only gets so small. Tamra wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, or as Emily put it, the two big elephants. Because you should always discuss these things at a dinner party. At least in Housewifeland. This led to Tamra and Ryan arguing about his love of married women. Eddie kept trying to get her to shut up, while the other husbands looked at the sky, the grass, or their drinks. It didn’t take long for Tamra’s vocal register to hit screech level, and she ended up stumbling out of the party by herself, saying, I’m done.

⚰️  Spinning At You This Sunday…

The latest on Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol. No spoilers.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-our-best-look-yet-at-the-book-of-carol/

https://www.ign.com/articles/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-review-book-of-carol

🌁 Something New From Last…

The latest trailer for The Last of Us. However, it’s not making the new season air any faster… sigh…

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/last-of-us-season-2-trailer/

🦸 Straight From the Merc’s Mouth…

The Amazon version sounds awesome. When it comes out on DVD, I want the Blu-ray with the pop-up Deadpool army. Yes, I bought the Game of Thrones makeup set with the pop-up throne. I’m that kinda girl.

https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/marvel-studios-deadpool-and-wolverine-digital-4k-uhd-blu-ray-dvd

I’m not surprised. There was really nothing like seeing this on the big screen. I would have walked on glass to get there. Not broken glass, but maybe that safety glass like they use for car windows.

https://collider.com/deadpool-wolverine-global-box-office-1-317-billion/

🃏 All Joking Aside…

Lady Gaga proves once again that she’s more talented than the rest of the world put together.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/lady-gaga-fiance-michael-polansky-joker-folie-a-deux-london-photos/story?id=114124780

https://ew.com/joker-folie-a-deux-clip-joaquin-phoenix-lady-gaga-kiss-prison-8713670

🎬 And the Rest…

A list of the movies that may or may not be in your future.

https://ew.com/your-guide-fall-movies-2024-joker-folie-a-deux-wicked-8717208

🐕 Nemesis Of Roadrunners Everywhere…

I saw this on the news and got an adrenaline rush just from watching it. Thank God she was right there and moved fast. We don’t have coyotes here, but we didn’t used to have deer in the backyard either.

https://people.com/tommy-lee-wife-brittany-furlan-saves-their-dog-coyote-attack-video-8717966

🍵 Autumn Is Calling…

Join me tomorrow for soap and whatever nuggets of entertainment I can dig up. Until then, stay safe, stay organizing your environment for inner peace, and stay peeling back the layers until you get to the root of your problem.

September 12, 2024 – Carly Asks Jason To Find Lucky, One Down, Not Interested in the OC, Potomac Premiere, Dead Talk, Coming Up Emmy, Reverse Prediction, Demi’s Delight & Sweater

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody goes to the boathouse and says he got Sasha’s text. He’s here at her disposal. She asks if he’s ready for something fun and exciting, and he says, always. She says, surprise! and Mac, Felicia, James, and Georgie come out.

In the solarium, Tracy chastises Brook for being late to the meeting she called, and Brook says she was getting the kids ready for breakfast. Lucy says, a good boss would have served them breakfast or at least coffee, and Tracy says, Deception is under threat from Sonny Corinthos. An FBI agent was murdered on the property and obviously Sonny did it. Lois says, that’s conjecture, and Tracy says, Deception is vulnerable, and their friendly neighborhood kingpin could take them all down. Lois tells her to think rationally. Sonny hasn’t been charged and there’s no evidence linking him to the crime.

On the phone in his office, Michael asks someone to let him know when it’s fixed, when Josslyn walks in. She says, they need to save their mom from herself.

Carly tells Lulu that she hates feeling helpless, especially when she knows what needs to be done. Bring lucky home and get Lulu a transplant. The first part is difficult. Jason comes in, and she says, Lulu is running out of time.

Diane meets Sonny at the Pozzulo’s, and he asks if there’s a problem. She says, a big one. Alexis just framed herself for murder. A murder Diane is quite sure she didn’t commit.

Sasha says she’s prepared brunch and asks where Maxie and Bailey Lou are. Felicia says, Maxie is at a Deception meeting and Bailey Lou has the sniffles. James suggests they eat, and Sasha says, enjoy. Mac asks if she’s not joining them, but she says, it’s a family thing. Felicia says, she has to eat and they don’t want Cody to be lonely. Cody says, they can’t have that.

Maxie asks, who is she and what has she done with Lois? and Lucy asks if it hurts speaking like that. She thinks Lois is having a stroke and tells them to call 911. Lois says she’s okay. Tracy offered to pay for a dialect coach who gave her the tools to make her accent more palatable to buyers. Maxie says, she got rave reviews for her personal appearances and was a hit on Home & Heart. Natalia says, the ratings were through the roof, and Lucy says she feels they all should have been consulted. Maxie agrees, but Tracy says, it was Lois’s choice. They consult together all the time, and last time they ended up with a mobster investor who installed his moll and made them an accessory to murder. Lois says, Tracy is still upset that Sonny and Carly were doing boom-boom in her room-room, and Tracy says, don’t remind her.

Michael says, their mom is fine, and Josslyn asks if he thinks their mom and Sonny reuniting in Tracy’s bed sounds fine. She said it was a one-time thing, but they know her history, and he’s not concerned? He says he doesn’t think it’s their business, and she says, their mother being hurt, betrayed, and sent to prison isn’t their business? She tried to let go and let Carly make her choices, and it had serious consequences. No way did she suddenly forgive Sonny. She doesn’t buy that they’re back together, but she does buy that their mom gave Sonny an alibi, and it could blow up in her face.  

In the hallway, Carly tells Jason, communication with Doc and Laura is nearly impossible. They were on their way to a camp they think lucky is working at. Jason says, maybe he’s still there, but she says, he’s not and they can’t get in touch with Doc and Laura. Isaiah gave them Lucky’s recent location where he’s being held captive, but they found out the camp was abandoned and moved. Jason asks, who’s telling her this? and she says, Jack Brennan. He heaves a sigh.

Diane says, as an officer of the court, she suggests she and Sonny choose their words carefully, and he asks what Alexis’s status is. She says, they sent her home, and Alexis thinks that’s the end of it. He says, Diane doesn’t? and she says, of course (🍷) not. He asks if Alexis has been charged, and she says, not yet. He asks why she’s acting like he sent Alexis to Pentenville, and she says, evidence. It’s circumstantial, but Alexis has no alibi, and according to her sources, Alexis publicly threatened Cates, and she’s yet to provide an explanation for where and why she procured a firearm that two onlookers saw her chuck off the bridge at Blackstone Canyon. He asks, who? and she tells him, Elizabeth and his brother Ric.

Maxie says, she didn’t come here to discuss Sonny and Carly’s sex life. Let’s get back to why Tracy called the meeting. Tracy says, Sonny is a person of interest in John Cates’s murder and probably killed him, and Lois says, for the millionth time, they don’t know that’s true. Tracy says, it’s natural, reasonable, and accurate to assume, and Deception doesn’t need that kind of publicity. Natalia says, he’s a silent investor, not the face of the company, but Tracy says, if it leads the authorities to their books, they’ll have to explain where the money came from. If Sonny didn’t pull the trigger, he could have hired a hitman. Maxie says, so far, these are just baseless accusations. Sonny might get media attention, but when doesn’t he? They got a wonderful CFO who’s worked wonders with their books. Natalia is a gift Sonny gave them, and she thinks they should all remember that.

Sonny says, leave it up to Ric to insert himself. He’ll pay Ric a visit. Diane says, no need. It’s a matter of record, corroborated by Elizabeth. Alexis told her that they saw her chuck something off the bridge. He asks if she’s representing Alexis, and she says, no, because she’s representing him. He has a solid alibi. Alexis has none. He asks if she’s been charged, and Diane says, no, but she’ll be charged soon, tried and convicted. What is he going to do about it?

Josslyn says she knows Michael is thinking she’s on another anti-Sonny crusade, but she cares about mom. She just got off the RICO charges and now she’s an accessory to murder. Michael says, Josslyn is dealing in hypotheticals, which is not a good idea. Cates was a garbage human. He was an out-of-control animal, a coward with an ax to grind. Whoever killed him did the world a favor. She asks if he’s excusing murder, and he says he’s excusing killing a man who tried to hurt their family. He had Kristina arrested for killing her unborn child because of an ancient grudge. That’s the kind of man Cates was, and he’s not shedding a tear over that bastard’s death.

Jason says, Carly needs to stay away from Jack Brennan, and they go back into Lulu’s room. She asks, why? and Jason says, he’s dangerous. She says she can handle Jack. He gave her what she wanted. Jason asks, what was the cost? and she says, nothing. He says, nothing is free in that world. There’s an agenda. Do not get involved with Jack Brennan.

The family raves about the food, and Georgie says she wishes they could live by the lake. James says, this is where Cody saved him, and Georgie says, he’s told then a million times. Cody says he’s glad he was in the right spot at the right time, and James asks if Sasha sleeps over Cody’s every night. Cody wonders why he asks, and James tells him that Violet said they took a nap, so they must have sleepovers. He wonders if his mom would let him sleep over like Aunt Sasha does.

Maxie says she’s joining her family for brunch, and leaves. Natalia says she’s out too, and Tracy says, tell Sonny to review the morals clause in his investment agreement. Natalia says she will, and leaves.

Josslyn tells Michael that she’s sorry. She didn’t know. Is Kristina okay? Michael says, she’s devastated. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen her this broken. But instead of getting the space to get herself back together, she’s been hustled in and out of the PCPD, and now her mom is being investigated as a person of interest in John Cates’s murder. Josslyn says, who would think Alexis killed somebody? and he says, she’s being questioned, so the worst thing Josslyn can do is run around shouting conspiracy theories. If they think Alexis is fair game, what does she think that makes their mom?

Sonny asks what Diane is asking him to do, and she says, nothing. She’s his attorney and his interests take precedence, but she knows the man he is, and he won’t sit idly by and the mother of one of his children railroaded for a crime she didn’t commit. He says, it’s an impossible situation, and wonders why Alexis didn’t dispose of the gun better or come to him. She says, it’s a shame Alexis didn’t know how to dispose of a gun properly. Alexis is her best friend. Sonny says he knows, and she says, and they both know how Alexis’s mind works. When it comes to her children, she’ll act on instinct. If forced to choose between herself and her children, she’ll choose her children. He says, it’s a complicated situation, but it was under control, and she says, only he would classify this as under control. He says, it was. Now what does he do? Diane says, Alexis was protecting her and Sonny’s child. How do they get her off the hook?

James promises he’ll be good and actually sleep, but Felicia says, that’s a question for his mom. Maxie arrives and says, then it’s a good thing she’s here… or is it? Felicia says, of course (🍷) it is, and Maxie thanks Sasha. James says he wants to sleep over with Cody like Sasha does, and Maxie says she was definitely not prepared for that. Cody says, they don’t have sleepovers, but James says, Sasha is Cody’s friend, right? Cody says, Sasha is his girlfriend. Or at least he’d like her to be.

Jason says, Brennan has a powerful agenda. He tried to abduct Carly. She says, it was a miscommunication, and he says, when she was dealing with the Five Families (alfredo sauce), what did it cost her? She says, almost everything, and he says, the WSB has no honor or loyalty. They’re out for themselves. She says she doesn’t care. The only thing that matters is finding Lucky and saving Lulu. He has to understand that. He says he does.

Lucy tells Tracy that the dialect coach is good. Has she considered taking lessons? Tracy says, get out, and Lucy says, gladly. She leaves, and Tracy says, now she can have the quiche she’s been smelling all morning. She leaves, and Lois says, she’s in a mood. She asks if Brook is okay, and Brook asks, why? Lois says, she seems off her game this morning, and Brook says she’s distracted. Lois asks if it’s the whole Sonny thing, and Brook says, it’s concerning, but she’s sure they’ll figure it out. She can’t get a conversation she and Chase had with Violet out of her head. Lois says, she misses her dad, and Brook says, it wasn’t about Finn. Violet wanted to know when she and Chase are going to start a family.

Diane says, if no one takes responsibility, Alexis could spend the rest of her life in prison, and Sonny says, whatever happens with the case, he wants to know everything. She says she can relay the information as a friend. She expects a call soon and hopes they’re able to help outside the confines of a jail cell. She leaves.

Josslyn tells Michael, whatever is going on has to remain a secret for their mom’s sake, but Josslyn doesn’t understand how she could lie. Michael says, they don’t know she is, and she says, their mom supported Sonny, and he cheated and broke her heart. How can she stick her neck out for him? How did Michael repair his relationship with Sonny? Michael says, it’s pretty simple. He realized hating his father and cutting himself off from him cost more than finding a way to forgive him.

James asks why Sasha wouldn’t want to be Cody’s girlfriend. He’s the best. Georgie says, you don’t ask that kind of question. It’s private. Sasha and Cody go into the boathouse, and Cody says he’s sorry for putting her on the spot in front of an audience. She says, his family, and he says, for better or worse. She says she doesn’t know about that, but she knows she thinks she’d like to be his girlfriend. He says, thinks? and she says she knows that she knows. He says, so they’re doing this? and she says she guesses so. They kiss, and outside, Tracy says, so this is where breakfast is.

Carly asks if Jason thinks she and Lulu have similar personalities, and he says he never thought about it. But he can safely say no one in the world is like her. She says, Dante called her out and said she and Lulu weren’t particularly close in the years before Lulu’s coma. It’s a shame. They were tight once. They got each other. She saw a lot of herself in Lulu. Jason says, she could be tough, and she says, you wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She was funny and could make or take a joke. She was smart and it was easy with them until… He says, it wasn’t? and she says she misses that Lulu, the one who got her, and she got into trouble with. She misses her cousin and wants her back.

Cody comes out with Sasha, and Tracy says she wanted Hades saddled, but she can see he’s otherwise engaged. And here’s the quiche she’s been smelling, but then was met with a box of instant oatmeal in the kitchen. Sasha says, there’s more than enough, and Tracy thanks her for the offer of food made in her kitchen. She’s just curious. Who asked Sasha to cater a brunch for the Scorpio people? Sasha says she asked Olivia, but Tracy says, it’s not Olivia’s to offer. She doesn’t pay Sasha to feed people who’ve wandered onto the property. Sasha says, it’s her day off. She invited them and paid for the food. Cody asks, what’s the problem? and Tracy says, he’s overstepped his bounds. She starts berating him, and Mac says, that’s enough.

Lois asks if Brook and Chase have talked about having a family, and Brook says, of course (🍷). They both know they want children. That’s not the issue. Lois asks, what is? and Brook says, they have no timetable or plan. Lois says, when they’re ready, they’ll figure it out, but Brook says, what if they’re not on the same page? Lois says she doesn’t see that happening, and Brook says, they both have professional goals. What if they don’t reach them at the same time? Lois says, they’ve barely been married 6 months. They’re young and have plenty of time. Brook says, it keeps running on a loop in her head non-stop, and Lois says, her biological clock is ticking? Brook says, sometimes it’s deafening, and Lois says, other times? Brook says she gets scared. They already have so much going on with their jobs and taking care of Violet. And they’re not married that long. If they throw a baby in the mix, what if it’s too much?

Michael tells Josslyn that he tried to punish their father for over two years, but it didn’t make him feel better. It amplified the pain, and he almost lost Willow. She asks if he’s telling her to just let it go, and he says, she can’t control their mom any more than their mom can control her. Just trust she knows what she’s doing. Josslyn says, it’s hard, but he says, she can do it. He has faith.

On the phone, Sonny says, find out where Ric is staying and let him know if he leaves. Natalia comes in and he asks what brings her by. She says she was at a meeting for Deception and the dead FBI agent came up. He says, what a tragedy, and she says she’s not so sure about that, but the murder isn’t what she’s concerned about. It’s the repercussions of his investment. He says, how so? and she says, Tracy Quartermaine is under the perception that he’s involved in the shooting. He laughs and says, she’s not the most reliable source. She says, Tracy thinks he’s a person of interest and he says, a lot of people are of interest. Cates had a lot of enemies. She says, be that as it may, Tracy may be able to invoke the morality clause, and he says, that’s where she comes in to protect his investment. She says, they have to face reality and move forward accordingly, and he says his daughter lost her child and might be charged with manslaughter. How does he move forward from that?

Carly says she keeps wishing her mom was here, and Jason says, she was the ultimate family matriarch. She say she thought that was Lila, and he says, they both earned the title. So will she. She says, that’s why she feels it’s important. Bobbie kept them all together and now that she’s gone, it’s her job to step up and do anything possible to bring Lucky home. She’s okay with cozying up to Jack. He says, then he guesses he’s done talking. She doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. She says she’s about to now. She’s about to ask him to go to Africa and bring Lucky home.

Mac says, if that’s the way Tracy treats her staff, it’s surprising anyone works for her. She should be ashamed. She hasn’t learned that no one likes a bully. James tells her to take his quiche. He gets cranky when he’s hungry too. He thinks she’s hangry. Tracy thanks him, but tells them to enjoy their brunch with the family. She’ll go back to the house and see what she can scare up. She leaves, and Georgie says she can’t believe James called Tracy hangry. Felicia says, and lived to tell the tale. Mac and Cody go inside, and Cody thanks Mac for stepping in to defend Sasha. Mac says, it was no big deal, but Cody says, it was to him. Maxie says, Tracy shouldn’t use her authority like that, not with Cody or his girlfriend. Cody says, thank God she said yes. He’d be embarrassed if she hadn’t. Mac says he’s glad he was here to witness it, and Cody says, him too. He’s glad for all of this. He thanks Mac for welcoming him into the family, and Mac thanks Cody for his patience until he could, and they hug.

Carly says, Jason is going to hate this. Jack is getting her Lucky’s location and when he does, she’ll give it to him. He has to find Lucky and bring him home. He says he will, and she says, Lucky knows and trusts him, and he has mercenary skills. He tells her that he said he’d go, and she says, he’s not the one she’s trying to convince. He already spent time away from his sons. She and his sons can’t lose him again. He says he promises to do everything to bring Lucky home, and she says, you too. He says, me too, and her phone rings. She says, it’s Jack.  

Josslyn says she thought she and Michael would be on the same page about Sonny, but he says, sometimes you’ve got to turn the page. She says, dad let him down, but he’s still loyal despite everything. Is it worth it to him? He says, his family is worth it, all of them, and dad is a part of it.  

Natalia says she’s so sorry. She knows this is low on Sonny’s list, especially with everything going on. How is Kristina? He says, Natalia is doing her job and doing it well. He’s seen the numbers. She thanks him, but says, still more important, how is Kristina and how is he? He says he’s worried about his little girl. Just when she gets her feet on the ground, they’re taken out. Cates did everything he could to her, but it wasn’t about Kristina. He’s glad Cates is gone. She says she doesn’t blame him, and he says, Kristina’s mother may take the fall. She says, that’s crazy, and asks if he can keep it from happening. He says, Alexis will not go down for murder on his watch.

Lois says, it sounds like Brook and Chase holding off for now is the most comfortable, but Brook says, it’s not. Ever since Violet brought it up, it’s all she can think about. She’s wondering if they should start trying. How does Lois feel about becoming a nonna sooner rather than later?  

Tomorrow, Tracy says, tell her it’s a lie; Alexis asks if Sonny is afraid that she’ll incriminate Kristina or him; and Carly tells Jack that Lulu’s life is on the line. There’s no time to waste.

⚖️ Justice For Johnny…

No surprise, he’s the one not actually charged with murder. Hopefully, the judge and/or jury takes this cowardice into consideration when the others are sentenced. Even better, I hope this second-string player testifies against them.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/johnny-wactor-murder-case-suspect-pleads-guilty

🍊 8 Oranges + 9 Lemons = …

Tamra felt Alexis needed as much support as Shannon. If I’d been on the show, here’s where I would look at the camera like Jim in The Office. Alexis said she’d stayed in her room for 13 hours because she didn’t want to kick Shannon when she was down. Another look at the camera, and I ask, why did you bring up those videos then? One group, including Alexis, went to a cooking class, while another, including Shannon, went to be zen in the forest. For sure I’d take the latter rather than baking with Tamra and Alexis. Alexis claimed she wanted to find a way to coexist, yet that’s definitely not what her actions are saying. We flashed back to Johnny J. saying he’s never loved anyone as deeply as he loves Shannon, and in Shannon’s interview, she said she felt stupid. She shouldn’t. Both Johnny J. and his new lady love are a-holes.

Heather didn’t give a flying what was going on. She was solely focused on her Family Equality fashion event and only cared if the women were still walking in it. Katie felt Gina had set her up, but Gina insisted she’d done nothing. Yeah. She only pushed Katie to say something to Fancy Pants about the paparazzi thing, then backed away not so slowly.

Emily pressed Shannon and Alexis to talk. Shannon said she’d had two days from hell, and the trip put her over the edge. I still can’t believe I’m on Team Shannon for any reason, but this whole thing is, as Emily so aptly put it, dirty and salacious. Shannon told Alexis that she wasn’t interested in talking, and I’ve got to admire her honesty. She said it with no malice, just told her truth, and Beador walked out the door.

From a different angle.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoc-recap-heather-and-gina-face-off-at-gay-rights-weekend

Random OC event.

👠 Not Quite DC…

Was it St. Patrick’s Day? Premieres October 6th.

⚰️ Dead Happenings…

 I didn’t even know Carol had a last name. Wednesday September 18th, 7 pm, Industry City Courtyard, Brooklyn. Get the rest of the deets here.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-the-book-of-carol-special-advanced-screening-01j7k56qvz1e

Friday October 18th at the Javits Center in NYC.

https://www.thepopverse.com/live-the-walking-dead-twd-universe-dead-city-daryl-dixon-book-of-carol-nycc-2024-announce

This season, they braid each other’s hair.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-reedus-mcbride-on-that-friendship-bracelet-scene/

Random Dead item. This looks like your typical slasher film with a little historical storyline thrown in. I’ve found a lot of good and good/bad horror films on Tubi, and I’d definitely give this one a whirl. The trailer looks good, but it could go either way.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/watch-walking-dead-actor-in-devilreaux-horror-movie-for-free-on-tubi-01j7dtx6vhr4

🏆 Small Screen Kudos…

September 15th, 8 pm, on ABC.

https://ew.com/2024-emmys-everything-to-know-8708379

🌟 Guess They Were Wrong…

Don’t let these people pick your ponies for you.

https://ew.com/lady-gaga-responds-stefani-germanotta-never-famous-facebook-group-8711221

🐕 Nothing Eccentric About It…

My favorite chihuahua. Aside from my own of course.

https://people.com/demi-moore-says-sleeping-with-her-dogs-is-part-of-eccentric-nighttime-routine-8709867

The tiny and the mighty. Pilaf and Bing sitting in a tree…

https://people.com/demi-moores-tiny-chihuahua-pilaf-meets-great-dane-from-the-friend-8708705

🐎 Stay Gold, Ponyboy…

Stop in tomorrow and wind down with soap and a cornucopia of entertaining elements. Until then, stay safe, stay not rushing the season, and stay knowing that sometimes you’ve got to turn the page.

September 5, 2024 – Tracy Hires a Tutor For Lois, Isaiah, Her Brothers, Remembering, Bad Johnny J in the OC, His Disorder, VanderBaby, They Will, Extra Salt, New Reality, Joker Plus One, He Lied & Gurls

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn goes home to the apartment, and Trina says, it looks like she’s wearing yesterday’s clothes. Josslyn says, she may or may not have spent the night at Dex’s. He graduated from the police academy and got his badge. He’s now one of Port Charles’s finest. Trina says, he could have broken in his badge here last night, and Josslyn says she was gone one night. What happened?

In Isaiah’s room, Elizabeth tells TJ, it’s unusual to see a patient in this state. He’s not in a coma, but not unconscious. TJ says he’s not experienced in this, and she wonders if it’s a vegetative state or twilight. He did open his eyes last night. TJ says, but it was brief, likely caused by a seizure, and she says, maybe it’s the key to finding out who he is.

Jordan asks Dante how Lulu is, and he says, she’s holding steady. She says she heard Laura met her contact. She’ll let him know if there are any leads about Lucky. Dante asks if she’s ever wished she could be in two places at once, and she says, all the time. He says, Laura is off and he’s here with Lulu. He wishes there was something he could do, that there was some way to help from here.

The Invader headline is about John’s murder with his picture underneath. Ned wonders why Cates called himself Jagger. He wasn’t in a rock band. Tracy says, he wanted a name that sounded like an adolescent body spray, and Brook says she shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. Tracy says, she’s right. You should do it face to face when they’re alive. Olivia says, it’s tragic no matter how they felt about him, and Tracy, a crime was committed in her sacred space. Her bed looked like someone wrestled a bear. Who would do that? Ned says, they all have their own beds to wrestle in, and Lois says, one guest in particular came down looking a little mussed. Tracy chokes on her orange juice, and the others laugh.  

Carly says she needs coffee, and Sonny asks how she slept. She says she slept fine, but it’s kind of hard to get a good night’s sleep if you’re worried about waking up to an accessory to murder charge.

Diane goes to Alexis’s house and apologizes for not getting here sooner. Jason’s snafus present themselves at all hours of the day or night, but Jason’s misadventure is the Davis family’s good fortune.

Nina says, Cates was going to kill Ava and she came to work? Ava says she doesn’t have the luxury of taking a me day. Cates is dead, but his legacy lives on. Robert is going ahead with the ridiculous charges involving Kristina’s accident. Nina says she found a lawyer for Ava and asked him to meet them here. Ric walks in.

Diane tells Alexis that Ava took back her revised statement overseen by the late, not great, John Cates. Alexis asks why she would do that, and Diane says, Cates tried to have her killed. Apparently, he felt she might be susceptible to pressure from Sonny to recant. Alexis says, the written affidavit to her latest statement? and Diane says, that’s the one he could have used against Sonny. Alexis asks how they dodged that bullet, and Diane says, Cates allegedly hired a third party to murder Ava, but Jason threw in a monkey wrench. She’s surprised Alexis isn’t doing a victory dance. Alexis says, Kristina is out of one murder charge, but possibly face with another, and Diane asks whose murder she’s liable for now.

Nina introduces Ava and Ric, and realizes they know each other. Ava says, he’s Sonny’s brother. He represented her in the matter of… Rick says, Connie Falconari’s murder, and Ava asks if this is Nina’s idea of a joke. Nina says, obviously, she didn’t make the connection, or she never would have requested his help. This is where they’re at. Ava needs a lawyer, and Ric is an able one. He might as well give it a go. Ava says, might as well, but Ric says, not on your life.

Sonny says he’s sorry Carly lost sleep, but neither of them is going to get charged. She says she wishes she was as sure as he is, and he tells her that her help means a lot. She says, it’s a habit she’s trying to break. If she’d just taken more time or known how far he was going to take it, it would have been a different chat about the alibi. He asks if she would have thrown him to the wolves, and she says she doesn’t want him going to jail, but she’s not taking it further than she absolutely has to. She has to go. He asks, why the hurry? Is he so terrible?   

Tracy says she’s going to be sick, and Brook tells her to take a deep breath. Ned says, stop being so dramatic, but Tracy says she’s never dramatic. Olivia says she’ll burn the sheets. She’ll buy a new bed. She’ll call an exorcist. Tracy says she can’t believe those reprehensible people made her a party to their four-legged urges by using her bed, and Ned says, that sounds like the name of a new band, Four Legged Urges. Brook says, she’s not going to catch cooties, and Tracy says she’s going to be permanently nauseous. Olivia tells her to have a croissant, and a woman comes in telling her how to pronounce it correctly. It’s far kinder on the ears.

Diane tells Alexis to find out what she can from Kristina. Not as a mother, but as a lawyer. She’ll circle back and they can compare notes. Alexis thanks her, and Diane says she’ll try not to keep Alexis waiting so long next time. She leaves, and Kristina comes downstairs. She asks why Diane was here.  

Nina asks if Ric is saying he won’t represent Ava, and he says his caseload is full. She says she thought he went to the Scotty Baldwin school of law, where it doesn’t matter as long as it’s billable, but he says, even he has his limits. Nina asks why he came if the answer was no, and he says, she was careful to omit the details. Nina says she thought he’d get over his objections when she reminded him that he owes her a favor for trying to rob her blind during their mercifully short marriage.

Olivia says she doesn’t know who the woman is or what she’s doing here. She pronounces croissant the way she eats one. The woman says, incorrectly? Brooklyn, 15th Avenue and 85th Street. Maybe further inland, but no more than 83rd. Olivia says, she’s freaking her out, and Ned asks, who is she? The woman says she’s Robin Finch, dialect theorist and tutor to the stars. Lois must be her new student. She holds out her hand as if for a kiss, but Lois shakes it.

Carly says she and Sonny have a beautiful family together, and he says, they had a lot of good years. She says, the bad ones were a special kind of hell. She loves him, but they’re done. He says he knows, but what’s the harm in playing out the alibi? She says, when the family finds out what they were doing when he was really talking to Cates.  

Trina says, Chase put the whole place on lockdown immediately, and Josslyn says, Cates was no friend of Sonny’s. Trina says, she doesn’t think… and Josslyn says she’s trying not to. There’s a knock at the door, and Gio asks if he can hang with them. Lois told him to steer clear of the big house. Josslyn says, the Quartermaines must be losing it, and Gio says, most of them. Tracy is having a meltdown because two of the dinner guests used her bed. Trina says, eww, and Josslyn says, tacky. Gio says, it was his Uncle Sonny and Josslyn’s mom.  

Lois says she’s sure Robin is great, but she doesn’t know about a tutor. Robin says, it’s tyooter, not tooter, and Olivia says, Robin said she was a coach to the stars? Robin asks if they’re familiar with Meryl Streep, and Lois and Olivia both say, a dingo ate my baby, in an Australian accent. Ned asks if Robin isn’t kind of young to have worked on A Cry in the Dark, but Robin says, she worked with Meryl as a mother. She coached her daughters. Brook says, there’s nothing wrong with the way Lois talks. She didn’t hire Robin. Tracy says she did.  

Josslyn tells Gio, her mother did not sleep with Sonny. They’re messing with him. Gio says, they seemed serious… maybe, and she asks when this happened and how. He says, last night and probably the usual way, and she says, this is a mistake. Trina agrees and says, it sounds like a big game of trashy telephone. Gio says he’s sure heard the wrong thing the wrong way, and Josslyn says she’ll be back. She leaves, and Gio asks, what happened? Trina says, Carly and Sonny’s breakup was mutual, but not amicable.

Carly tells Sonny, it was one time. They’re not back together. He says, they’ll think he’s a sleaze who preyed on poor, vulnerable Carly, but she says she’s not poor or vulnerable. She walked into this with her eyes wide open. He says he’s glad he could count on her, and he’d do the same for her. There’s a knock at the door and Diane comes in. She sees Sonny and Carly, and says, oh no.

Jordan asks if there’s any update on the John Doe, but TJ says, there’s been no change. He’ll let her know if he’s coming to. He leaves, and Dante says, no ID, no phone, and no record of prints, so he’s not ex-military or had any run-ins with the law. Jordan says she’ll call the WSB, and he asks if she thinks they’ll care. She says, possibly, if she drops Laura’s name. She intends to pursue every avenue. That man matters to someone.

Dressed in scrubs, the guy from the airport walks into Isaiah’s room. Elizabeth asks if she can help him.

Ric says, good times, and Nina says, for him, rolling around in her inheritance. He says, and she was a real blast. Almost as much as the prospect of defending Ava in front of Sonny. But Ava kicked his niece out a window and killed his grandchild. Ava says, it wasn’t that way, but he says he can’t take the case. Sorry. He leaves, and Ava asks if Nina has any other bright ideas.

Kristina asks again why Diane was here, and Alexis says, Ava recanted her statement. She’s no longer claiming Kristina tried to kill her. That means without her statement, the FBI’s case is groundless. She still has to file a petition, but she can’t imagine it won’t be dismissed. Kristina says, then it’s over, but Alexis says, not quite. John Cates was shot and killed last night. Kristina says, one down and one to go.

Elizabeth says she hasn’t seen him. Is he new here? The man says he is. He’s here to clean up. She tells him to come back later. The patient needs rest. He says, of course (🍷), and leaves with her.

Dante tells Jordan that he’s going over to the scene and see if he can find anything. He goes to the elevator, and Ric comes out. Dante heaves a Jason sigh and goes into the elevator. Ric goes over to TJ at the reception desk and asks how TJ is doing. TJ says he’s doing okay, and Ric says he’s worried about Molly. She’s putting on a brave face, but he knows she talks to TJ. He was hoping TJ could tell him what’s really going on. TJ says, they’re doing okay… he thinks. They’re in different places with the loss. He doesn’t want to put any more thought or energy into what happened at the hotel room, but that’s all Molly thinks about. She wants to assign blame. Ric says, she wants to see someone punished, and TJ says, him too, but then what? There’s no Irene at the end and they’ll just go in circles causing more pain. He hopes Molly can see it before she loses more than she already has.  

Kristina says she’s not going to cry because Cates is gone, and Alexis says, it’s probably not a good idea to applaud either when Kristina openly threatened him. Kristina says, it’s a good thing only one person heard her and it was her lawyer. Alexis says she’s also Kristina’s mother and she’s concerned. Kristina is talking about a human like he was nothing. Kristina says, she’s had no sleep, had the threat of prison hanging over her, and a daughter worth dying for. Cates was worth killing. Alexis says, did she? and Kristina says, no, but Alexis thinks she did. Alexis says she was gone a good amount of time, and Kristina says she was at the grave and forgot she had the gun with her.

Ava says, maybe she’ll skip town, but Nina says she can’t go on the run. Ava says she has the money and the means, but Nina says, she’ll be looking over her shoulder for her entire life. Ava says, instead of being behind bars. She’s been in prison and doesn’t want to go back. Nina says, stay and fight. Don’t go on the run. It won’t just be Port Charles she’ll never see again. She’ll never see Avery.

Ned says, how Lois speaks is none of her business, but Tracy says, Lois is her employee. She sells products on Home & Heart, and the sales are directly linked to her presentation. Brook says, they’re doing fine, but Tracy says, if they were, Brook wouldn’t be tripping over herself getting Sonny to invest and taking on the hoochie mama that comes with it. She believes the numbers will improve if Lois’s rough edges are smoothed out. Olivia says, what about her? Does Tracy think her numbers will improve if she spoke snob? She knows some great sign language. Brook says, no one is signing anything, when Josslyn comes in the front door. Olivia goes to the foyer, and Brook says, Tracy had no right to hire Robin without her mother’s buy-in, but Tracy says, Lois implied that she did buy-in.

Josslyn says she hopes she’s not interrupting, and Olivia says, of course (🍷) not. Josslyn says, Gio told her something insane about her mom and Sonny, so she’s checking in with Olivia. She sees Olivia’s face and says, oh my God. It’s true, isn’t it?

Diane says, so while John Cates was being gunned down, Sonny and Carly were bedding down in a Quartermaine bedroom. Carly says, they got caught up in the moment, but Diane says she doesn’t believe it and doubts anyone else will. Sonny says, no one can prove otherwise, and Diane asks if they’re sure they weren’t spotted somewhere else on the property. Sonny says, it was dark and raining and everyone was inside. There’s no way they can ID who killed Cates. Diane says she’s praying it doesn’t come to that. She doesn’t relish the idea of selling this rekindled relationship. Carly says, it’s not a relationship, and Sonny says, it was a moment. Diane says she’ll need more than that to sell it. She needs an ongoing pattern. She needs an affair.

On the phone, Jordan tells someone to thank Jack Brennan for his help. TJ asks if she doesn’t think the police can ID the John Doe, and she says, another set eyes doesn’t hurt.

Ric tells Elizabeth that John Cates was murdered not long after they witnessed someone toss a gun off the bridge.

Kristina says she went to take the gun out and it wasn’t there. She thought Alexis took it or she lost it along the way. She never used it. Alexis says she thought Kristina was going to hurt herself. (Me too.) She thought she was going to lose her.

Sonny says, an affair is a non-starter, and Diane says, they have to protect themselves. Sonny says, that’s what he pays her for. Do her job. Carly says, she doesn’t know why she’s doing this… and Diane says, don’t finish that sentence or utter a similar one to anyone. Carly says she can’t do this and leaves the room. Diane says, before she goes, she has a piece of good news. Kristina is out of the woods. Ava recanted her statement. Ask Jason. One more thing, he and Carly need to be in sync on every detail and own it. She can only hold off the police for so long. Unlike her, Anna will not suspend her disbelief. She leaves.

Trina says, Gio is incorrect. He made a mistake. Gio asks her to tell Joss how sorry he is, and leaves. Josslyn comes back and says, her mom is reading her texts, but not responding. Trina says, take a deep breath. She doesn’t know what happened, and if they did, so what? They’re consenting adults with a history. Josslyn says, Sonny has a history of hurting her mom, and Trina says, Josslyn got back with Dex. Josslyn says, he doesn’t use her, and Trina says, maybe that’s how her mom feels about her relationship with Sonny. There are multiple reasons Josslyn and Dex shouldn’t be together, but Josslyn thought it was worth it. Maybe that’s how her mom feels. Does she want to get in the middle of their dynamic? Josslyn says, she’s right. Her mom is a grown adult and it’s her choice. She’s going to focus on her own life, and if her mom wants to mess hers up, she can do it by herself.

Tracy says, Lois was open to the idea unless something changed, and Ned tells Lois that she doesn’t have to give in to his mother’s classism. Tracy says she wouldn’t have hired Robin if she didn’t think Lois was on board, and Lois says she admits that the caller on Home & Heart got to her. It’s one thing to sell a band to a record label, but it’s another to look into a camera and talk to a million people. Her accent can be… Tracy says, toneless? Offensive? Unnecessarily cruel? Lois says, different, and Robin says, different is not always better. Ned tells Lois that she doesn’t have to give in to his mother, and Olivia says, it’s better to be Lois than a phony. Robin says she doesn’t wish to rob Lois of her authenticity, just give her the tools to refine it, if and when she chooses to do so. She’s coached front facing corporate personalities who choose to deploy and drop it at will. It’s not her goal to recreate Lois. She wants to empower her.

Tracy says she’s just trying to help Lois help herself, and Brook says, she doesn’t need help, but Lois says, maybe she does. She asks Robin to stick around and show her what she’s got, and Robin says she shall.  

Jordan tells TJ that if she can find out who John Doe is, it might help her feel less powerless. He says, she’s the most powerful person he knows, but she says she couldn’t help save him from his pain. She couldn’t help save her granddaughter, but if she can just find a name, maybe it will make up for all she couldn’t do. TJ hugs her.

Dante looks around the accident scene. He takes out a handkerchief and picks up a phone.  

On the phone, the man tells someone to put him through to Sidwell. He tells Sidwell that he has eyes on Gannon. Instructions?… Understood. He will never wake up.

Ava tells Nina, of course (🍷) she can’t leave Avery, but she can’t go back to prison. She needs a lawyer. Nina says she’ll talk to Ric again, but Ava says, he made it clear he’s not going to represent her. Nina says she’s sure she can convince him, and Ava asks why Nina is helping her. She betrayed Nina. Nina says she wants Avery to have her mom and Ava can thank Willow. She gave Nina a second chance and she feels like Ava deserves one too.

Carly asks if Diane left, and Sonny says, they’ll have to talk to the police soon. She says she needs to go, and he asks if she doesn’t think they can make people believe their story. They have history on their side. She says, and necessity. She wants him out of prison and in Donna’s life. They have to make people believe what they say happened, happened. He thanks her and she says she’ll add it to his tab. She leaves, and in the hallway, she runs into Josslyn.  

Kristina tells Alexis that she’s sorry. She wasn’t going to hurt herself and never would. Alexis thanks her and says she’s relieved to hear Kristina had nothing to do with the shooting. Kristina says she’d better get the gun back, and Alexis says, back where? She says, it’s dad’s. She took it from the penthouse and he’s going to notice it’s missing. Can she have it back? Alexis says, it’s gone. Possession of a gun is a bail violation. If Kristina was found with it, she’d be in jail, so she got rid of it off the bridge over Blackstone Canyon.

Sonny calls Jason and says, they have a problem. He discovered a gun is missing from his safe.

Ric says, they were witnesses to a crime, and Elizabeth says, they saw a woman drop a gun into the water. It’s not a crime. He says, she may have killed the FBI agent. The police have to know what they saw. He and Alexis have a history, and they might not believe him on his own. Elizabeth saw it and they have to come forward with what they saw together.

Tomorrow, Lucky tells Holly that he can smell a con a mile away; Josslyn asks if Carly slept with Sonny or is she giving him an alibi; and Sonny tells Jason that this is the only thing tying him to the murder.

🎓 Smartest In the Room…

All about Isaiah.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/who-is-isaiah-on-gh-sawandi-wilson-speaks-out

👠 Rich Reunion…

I didn’t watch Dynasty during its original run, but I caught it when it was on late night in the 90s and I loved it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/emma-samms-reunites-with-her-dynasty-brothers

🥀 Tribute To a Friend…

The Talisman is one of my favorite books.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-remembers-his-friend-peter-straub

🍊 Do You OC What I See…

Fancy Pants Heather invited the group to wine country where they stayed at Dawn Ranch in some sweet little bungalows. She was having a tasting of a champagne collaboration she’d done with Family Equality, the organization getting 100% of the sales profit. Four sparkling wines had been created, loosely based on four of Heather’s children. On the way there, Tamra made a big deal about an Instagram post of Shannon sitting by herself at a bar like it was no big deal. Newsflash. Women are allowed to do that now. Shannon claimed she wasn’t drinking alcohol, but in her interview, Heather said she’d never sat in a bar and ordered a mocktail. I’ve never done that either, but another newsflash. Only Shannon and the bartender know for sure, but I have friends who do that all the time. Apparently, if Fancy Pants hasn’t done it, it just isn’t done.

Alexis prompted Katie to bring hairspray on a nature hike in case they came across any bears. I’m guessing that would just annoy the bear, so drop Alexis’s IQ twenty more points. Gina spilled the beans during a small group conversation by saying something about that video thing, prompting Shannon to say, what video thing? several times while everyone looked at the floor, into space, and anyplace but at Shannon. Emily said it was the worst, longest, most drawn out, traumatic breakup ever, and in her interview, Gina wondered, why do you want to hurt someone so badly if you’re so happy in your new relationship? My guess is, he’s not that happy. He’s just a real piece of work who wants to get back at Shannon, and when he’s done, he’s going to dump Alexis. Hey, I can dream.

My biggest question was, who did Alexis give a BJ to in order to get tickets to the Oscars?

https://people.com/rhoc-recap-shannon-beador-says-ex-john-janssen-suing-her-is-extortion-8706651

🩺 Diagnosis In the Valley…

This explains a lot, but my diagnosis is, he’s still awful.

https://okmagazine.com/p/jax-taylor-diagnosed-bipolar-disorder-ptsd-checking-inpatient-facility

🍼 Giving You Lala’s New Baby…

No name yet, but I’m sure it will be something spectacular. I’m voting for Stream or Rivulet.

💏 Charming Engagement…

Aww. Rodrigo and boyfriend Tyler are two of the few cast members I like. Hoping it’s all rainbows and more rainbows.

🧂 Salt Lake City Multiplied…

I’ll probably be skipping this one. RHOSC is enough for me.

💣 Outplaying In Secret…

Another one that probably won’t be on my list. Not that it doesn’t sound good, but I get confused when Jeff Probst lists the challenge steps on Survivor.

🔥 A Match Made In Hell…

Apparently, this is a musical. I’m intrigued.

https://people.com/joker-2-first-reactions-folie-a-deux-venice-film-festival-8697650

Taking it to the Venice streets. Amazing. Joaquin Pheonix is actually smiling. And not as the Joker.

https://extratv.com/2024/09/04/joaquin-phoenix-and-lady-gaga-bring-the-joker-to-the-venice-film-festival/

🐈 No Cats Allowed…

I’m with Travis on this, but I have to admit, I laughed at Jason’s ingenuity.

https://people.com/jason-kelce-says-it-ll-be-hilarious-when-his-kids-meet-taylor-swift-s-cats-8706379

🪁 Seeing You In September…

Join me tomorrow for soap. whatever entertainment rabbits come out of my hat, quotable quotes, and perhaps an earworm. Until then, stay safe, stay embracing the change of seasons, and stay not giving into four-legged urges on somebody else’s bed.

June 3, 2024 – Carly Gives Sonny a Reality Check, Blog Revamp, No Wine On Deck, New Pairing, Inside Scoop, Number One, Who’s On Stage, Furbabysitting & Born

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Poor Jason can’t get any real work done. Two gunmen slip into the coffee warehouse, but he can feel it. He chucks his clipboard, takes out his gun, and ducks behind some shelves before shots come his way. There’s a shootout and Jason hits one of the gunmen. The other is apparently a coward and runs out.

Carly says, if Jason doesn’t sell his half of the coffee business to Sonny, what does he plan on doing about it? Sonny says, it’s just business, but Carly says, it isn’t. Sonny made it personal when he insisted Jason was the enemy. Sonny says, that’s who he is now; he’s working with the Feds. He was free to make a choice how to handle it. Sonny made his. She says, he told her that what happens next is on Jason. What the hell does that mean? What did he do?

Kristina sits at a beautifully set table in Blaze’s room and says, when Blaze surprises a girl with dinner, she really goes all out. And her favorite chocolate cake for dessert. She can’t believe Blaze remembered that. Blaze says, to be fair, Kristina talks about the chocolate cake a lot, and Kristina says, yeah, because it’s her favorite. Not that she’s complaining, but what’s the occasion? Blaze asks if she needs an occasion to spoil Kristina… Maybe there’s a little something else going on here. She knows Kristina has been having a hard time with what she saw at the wedding reception. She just wanted to do something to show Kristina that she’s not alone. She’s here. Kristina says, that’s really sweet of her, and thanks her. It has been hard lately. It’s been hard facing the reality of who her dad actually is, but talking to Dante really helped because she could see he was struggling with the same issues. Blaze says she’s glad, and Kristina says, also, being here with her like this makes her feel even better. She feels so safe with Blaze. She used to think the only person in this whole world who really understood her was her dad, and now she knows that’s not true because she has Blaze. Blaze says, Kristina does have her, and Kristina says she knows. She’s glad Molly doesn’t know about this because if she did, Molly would be out of control, and she really can’t handle that. She asks Blaze, what’s wrong? and Blaze says, Molly does know. She told her.

Ava records on her phone: Welcome to the first US exhibition of the work of Lagos based Harriet Nikia, exclusively at the Jerome gallery, when… She says, dammit, and rewinds. She says, welcome to the first… when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Natalia, who says, she hopes this isn’t a bad time. Is it?

Deanna brings Jack into his hospital room and says, he did a good job keeping up with her on his walk. Now he should get some rest. She helps him back into bed, and he says, being in a hospital is a lot like being in a casino. You have no idea what time it is. (Didn’t Heather say that too?) Deanna says, his stab wound might be healing, but his aim is to regain his flexibility with two or three walks a day. He says, it’s always good to have a goal, and the guard handcuffs him back to the bed. The guard’s phone dings, and he says, there’s a disturbance on the third floor. They need his help. Jack says, take your time. He’s not going anywhere. Deanna says, they’ll be fine, and Jack thanks her. She follows the guard out, and Jack takes out a paperclip and undoes his cuff. He gets out of bed and finds some conveniently stashed scrubs in a drawer in his room.

Jason tosses the gunman’s gun aside and checks for a pulse. He hears someone and draws his gun, but it’s Anna coming in with her gun drawn. She says, he seems to have a dead man on his floor, and he says, there was a second shooter, but he got away. She asks if he got a look at him, but he says, no. He was too busy returning fire. She asks if he has any idea who sent them, and he says, she got here right after the shooting stopped. That’s perfect timing, unless she’s watching the place. She says, what? No, it was a coincidence. She was coming over here to get more details about Sonny attacking Dex. She heard shots and she drew her weapon. She’s going to call this in. She takes out her phone, they hear sirens, and she says, it appears someone beat her to it.

Sonny says he doesn’t have to explain himself to Carly after all her lies and broken promises. She says she never lied to him about Jason, and he says, just broken promises. Is that better? She asks if he knows what she thinks, and he says he’s sure he’s going to hear it. She says, he still hasn’t made up his mind about Jason. Deep down, Sonny still trusts him. He might want to hate Jason, but he still trusts him. He asks if that’s what she thinks and starts to leave, but she grabs his arm and says, wait a second. He came here for the reality check he knew she would give him, so here it is. He never had a friend like Jason, and he never will. And even now, after everything Sonny has accused him of, Jason still has his back. And he knows it. Deep down he feels it. He says, does he? and she says, does he know why he’s struggling with all of this? Because he can’t erase Jason from his life. And if they’re both being honest, he doesn’t want to. He says he didn’t come here to bare his soul to her. He’s going upstairs to see Blaze. She asks if he’s serious. Please tell her that he’s not going up there to ask Blaze to defend him to Kristina.

Blaze says she’s so sorry. Telling Molly was a complete accident. Kristina says, how? How does someone say something like that by accident? Blaze says she ran into Molly outside of Kelly’s. At first, it was a totally normal conversation. Then Molly wanted to talk about what happened with Kristina at the wedding, so she thought Molly knew about Kristina’s dad, but it turns out she was just fishing. Kristina says, of course (🍷) she was. Of course (🍷) she was just fishing. That’s what Molly does. She gets information out of people. She’s a lawyer. She’s a damn good one too. She can’t believe Blaze fell for that. Kristina gets up and Blaze follows. Blaze says, Molly could tell by her reaction that something had happened, and she was afraid that if she didn’t tell Molly, she would just ask Kristina and it would upset Kristina even more. So she told Molly what Kristina’s dad did to Dex and that she witnessed it and called Blaze from the ladies’ room. Kristina asks why Blaze didn’t tell her this right away, and Blaze says she didn’t want to make it a bigger thing that it was, so she assured Molly that Kristina and the baby are fine. Kristina says she highly doubts Molly believes Blaze. Molly and TJ are already convinced she’s not responsible enough to take care of this child as it is. Now, this is definitely not going to help. Blaze says she’s so sorry. If she could take it back, she would. Kristina says, this is really bad. Molly is an ADA. She has the power to prosecute Sonny even if Dex doesn’t file charges for himself. Blaze says, she seemed completely fine when they said goodbye. She didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, she said she was headed to their mom’s house. Did Kristina see her there? Did she say anything about it? Kristina says, no. She said nothing. And that makes it even worse.

Ava says she assumes Natalia is here to see Sonny. He isn’t home yet. She’s expecting him very shortly though. Natalia is welcome to wait if she’d like. Natalia says, okay, thanks, and Ava invites her in. She asks if she can get Natalia a drink, but Natalia says, no thank you. She actually comes bearing alcohol because she remembered that single malt scotch Sonny like so much, so she picked him up a bottle. Just to say thank you for inviting her to the Quartermaine wedding. Ava says, that’s so thoughtful. She heard it was a very lively affair, especially the reception. Natalia says, was it?

Jack slips out of his room wearing the scrubs. He goes out to a stairwell, leans on the railing, and says, son of a bitch. Valentin is at the top of the stairs, and Jack says, it took him long enough to make this happen. Valentin says he’s got to give Jack credit. Not everyone would stab themselves in the stomach. He doesn’t know how many people would have thought of that, since there are other ways to communicate. Jack says he’ll remember to tell Valetin that when he’s the one behind bars, and Valentin says, the last time they talked, they agreed they weren’t going to see each other face to face. So this better be important.

Jack says he has information that couldn’t wait, and Valentin walks down to him. Valentin asks where he got this information from and how much did it cost, and Jack says, suddenly now money’s an object? Nothing. It was completely free. It came from Carly Spencer. Valentin says, now Jack has his attention, and Jack says, Carly came to visit him in Pentenville. She wanted information, then let something of her own slip. He knows which three letter agency is investigating Pikeman – FBI. Valentin says, he heard that from Carly Spencer? and Jack says, it seems the FBI relocated an agent to Port Charles, specifically to investigate Pikeman. John Cates. Valetin says he’s aware of John’s presence, and Jack tells him, do the math. If the FBI went through the trouble to bring Agent Cates here, they can safely assume they’re also the ones responsible for creating Alan Jacobs aka Jason Morgan and having him infiltrate Pikeman. Valentin says, now they know that Jason Morgan is reporting to the FBI.

In the interrogation room, Ann comes in with a recorder and tells Jason, let’s start from the beginning, shall we? He says, she knows everything he already knows. He was working, and two men he didn’t recognize came into the warehouse. They opened fire; he fired back. One is dead and the other one ran away. She asks if he has any idea who might have sent the gunmen, but he says, no. She asks if anyone has threatened to kill him, and he says, ever? She says, recently, say, where it could have been overheard by witnesses, like outside the MetroCourt ballroom for instance. Diane walks in and says, okay. Not another word. An officer tells Anna that he’s sorry. He tried to stop her. Anna says she can handle it. Don’t worry. He leaves, and she says, Diane got here fast. Diane says she happened to be in the area and came right here when she got the call. So she’d like a word with him alone. Anna says, fine, and leaves. Diane asks Jason, who tried to kill you? and he says, there were two shooters. One’s dead and one got away, but she has to get to Sonny and warn him that the cops are going to come to question him.

Sonny says he doesn’t need Carly’s permission to tell him what’s best for his daughter, and starts to walk away. She says, come on. Wait. She knows how much he loves Kristina and how much he cares about that baby, but if he pressures Blaze to intervene with Kristina, he’s only going to push Kristina further away. He has to let Kristina reach out to him first. He says, what if she doesn’t? and Carly says, it might take longer than he wants, but he has to let Kristina come to terms with this on her own, and she’ll definitely contact him. Despite what Kristina saw him do, she loves him fiercely, and that doesn’t just go away. But if he tries to manipulate Blaze into talking to Kristina, Kristina is going to find out, and she’s going to see it as him going behind her back and that’s just going to make everything worse. He says he knows what’s best for his daughter and goes to the elevator. His phone rings, and he says, Brick, can this wait?… How many shots were fired?… Cops there?… All right. Thanks for letting him know. He’ll handle it.

Blaze says, considering the fact that Molly didn’t bring up what Sonny did to Dex means that she trusts Kristina, but Kristina says, really? They don’t even trust her to go to the grocery store or take a yoga class. Does Blaze think they’re going to be okay with the fact that she’s been hiding from them? That she freaked out in a public restroom after seeing her father brutally attack someone? Blaze says, she doesn’t even know that Molly told TJ, but Kristina says, she told TJ. If she hasn’t yet, she’s about to. This is so bad. Now they’re going to start putting more restrictions on her… Blaze says she knows Kristina is worried about a lot of things right now – her dad and the baby – but please don’t let herself spin out. Molly and TJ are rational people… Kristina says, Blaze doesn’t know them like she does, and Blaze says, Kristina… but Kristina says, no. She trusted Blaze. She trusted her more than anyone and Blaze has completely betrayed her. She walks out. (Please don’t let them break up. They have more chemistry than all the other couples put together.)

Diane says, Sonny just ordered a hit on Jason, and he’s worried about her warning him? and Jason says, she’s Sonny’s lawyer. It’s her job. She says she’s his lawyer too. And right now, she’s a lot more worried about keeping him alive than she is warning the man who just tried to have him killed. Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Sonny. Jason says, she should answer it. Go ahead. Diane answers, and Sonny says, Brick just told him there was trouble at the coffee warehouse. He rubs his forehead and says he needs her to meet him there. She says she’s sorry. She’s with another client at the moment, when Jason gestures to her. She says, hang on, putting the phone on mute, and Jason asks if that’s Sonny. She says, he wants her to meet him at the coffee warehouse, and Jason tells her, go. He’ll be fine. She says, he just shot and killed a man. He claims it’s self-defense, but there’s no guarantee the police are going to believe him. It’s more likely they won’t. He says, either Anna is going to release him or she’s not; either way, he’ll be fine. Sonny might not be. He’s going to say something incriminating if she’s not there to protect him. Diane says she’ll just assume Jason knows what he’s doing, and tells Sonny that she’s on her way. Sonny says he’ll see her there, and Jason thanks her. She says she wants him to think about something. While he’s in here worrying about Sonny, how does he know Sonny isn’t planning another hit on him? She leaves.

Ava says she takes it that means Natalia didn’t stay for the reception, but Natalia says she did. Sonny insisted she see the MetroCourt Garden all decked out for the party, so she couldn’t say no. Ava asks if she enjoyed herself, and Natalia says, it was an interesting evening. Sonny knew everybody, but she only knew her daughter, and Kristina of course (🍷). Ava asks if she stayed until the very end, and Natalia says she doesn’t know when Allison and Kristina left, but she got tired and Sonny was off socializing. She just thought she shouldn’t overstay her welcome, so she went up to bed. Ava says, it sounds like everybody had a lovely time. And it must have been nice for Sonny to see Blaze and Kristina so happy together. Just between the two of them, Kristina has been a bit of a problem child over the years. Natalia says, really (and I say, Ava, why?), and Ava says, she’s made some bad decisions. Luckily, Natalia’s daughter isn’t one of them. Natalia says, while they’re sharing, she has to say their relationship is a little too unconventional for her liking, and Ava says, in what way? Natalia says, they’re not really a normal couple, are they? Kristina is pregnant with her sister’s baby. She’s holding hands with Allison out in public. She’s scared to death someone is going to take a picture and sell it to the tabloids when her daughter’s career is taking off. It’s going to be such a scandal. Ava says, would it be? It’s 2024. She thinks most people seem to be very comfortable with both those things. And since Natalia and Sonny have struck up a friendship, she should know, career worries aside, Sonny is completely supportive of Kristina in every way, sexual identity included. Natalia says, it would seem so. She just can’t say she’s of the same mind.

Carly sees Kristina coming out of the elevator and calls to her. Kristina says she’s sorry. She was in her own head there for a minute. Carly says she knows Kristina has a lot on her mind, and Kristina says she does. Carly says, baby brain. It’s a real thing. She used to go to the freezer to get some ice cream and open the door and just stand there staring, wondering what she went there for, and the ice cream is sitting right there. (Am I pregnant???) She asks if Kristina is feeling okay, and Kristina says she feels great with the baby. Honestly, whenever she feels it kicking or moving around or making her uncomfortable, it’s kind of nice because she knows it’s safe and healthy. She knows it sounds kind of weird. Carly says, it doesn’t sound weird; it sounds perfect. Kristina says, it’s crazy how much she cares about this little life growing inside of her, considering it’s not hers. But it is hers for nine months, right? Carly says she thinks it’s amazing what Kristina is doing for her sister. It’s selfless. And this little baby may be her niece or nephew one day, but it’s always going to be a part of her. Kristina thanks her for saying that, and Carly says, just like Kristina is always going to be a part of her father.

Valentin tells Jack that they already knew Jason Morgan was working with one of the agencies. All Carly has done is confirm it was the FBI. Jack says he’s glad Valentin is taking the news so well, but it does present a problem. If Jason knows Valentin is heading up Pikeman… Valentin says, but he doesn’t. Otherwise, he’d be sharing a cell with Jack. Jack says, then don’t do anything to draw attention to himself. Leave Jason Morgan well alone.

Anna tells Jason that she just saw Diane leaving. Does he want to postpone this conversation until she can be present for it? He asks if he needs her, and she says, it’s his right. She encourages him to protect himself. He says he’s fine, and she says, okay. They found the dead guy’s ID. They put him through the system, and wouldn’t you know he’s had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. He’s a low-level member of an organization with ties to the big guys downstate. She shows him the gunman’s picture on her tablet and asks if Jason recognizes him. Jason says he’s been away for a long time, and Anna says she’ll take this as a yes. It seems his organization has done business with Sonny in the past. Jason tells her, like he said… She says, he’s been away a long time. She doesn’t believe this man was a stranger to him. She thinks Jason knows exactly who he worked for. Why doesn’t he just say it? It was Sonny who tried to have him killed.

At the warehouse, Detective Bennett says, Sonny needs to let them do their jobs, and Sonny asks what he’s talking about. This is his place. He’s checking the damage. Diane comes in and says she advised him not to talk to the police. Sonny asks where she’s been, and she says she got here as fast as she could. She introduces herself to Bennett, and he says, Detective Bennett. Please be advised that her client is a person of interest. She says, for what crime? Surely not this, because Mr. Corinthos wasn’t even in the building when shots were fired, so how could he be a person of interest? Bennett says, she’ll be able to get more information down at the station, and she says, fine. She’d like to speak with her client first, however. Please tell her that he’s not denying her client his right to speak with his attorney, because that’s not going to end well for him. He tells her, make it quick, and she says, oh, okay. Diane and Sonny go into the office, and Diane says, he knows she can’t help him unless he tells her the truth. Was he responsible for that?

Sonny says he can’t tell Diane what happened tonight, but he can tell her this, he had nothing to do with it. He wasn’t even here. Jason uses this place as his office. Maybe she should ask him the same question. She says, Jason was here tonight when two armed men broke in and started shooting at him, one of whom ended up very dead. If Sonny wants her to represent him to the very best of her ability, he has to tell her everything she needs to know before those cops take him into custody.

Anna tells Jason, sit down, and reluctantly, he does. He says he’s told her all he knows, and she asks if he has a death wish. He says, no, and she says, really? Because that’s not what it looks like. He just came within an inch of being killed tonight, and he’s still protecting Sonny. He says, he’s not… and she says, they both know that Sonny threatened to kill him the other day. How many bullets is Jason going to take for him? She gets loyalty. She understands it, but she thought he was smarter than this. He’s looking out for Sonny, and Sonny is sending people off to kill him. When does it end? And how much blood will be shed before it does?

Valentin says he’s meeting a very interesting side to Jack. Jack’s got issues, and he’s not just talking about the stitches in Jack’s side from his self-inflicted stab wound. He thinks Jack needs to relax. He thinks Jack needs to delegate, trust other people. Jack says he thinks Valentin is forgetting how he got where he is and the people who helped him do it. It took Valentin a long time to get to the top. It’ll only take him seconds – Jack looks down the stairs – to fall all the way back down. Valentin asks if they’re threatening each other, and Jack laughs. Valentin says he’s going to assume it’s the painkillers talking. So heal up and let him take care of everything. Jack says, they don’t even know what Jason told Cates about Pikeman’s operations, and Valentin says, assuming he knows anything. He may not. Jack says, Valentin wants to put their entire operation at risk over may not. Jason Morgan was smart enough to infiltrate Pikeman without getting caught. If he puts the pieces together… Valentin says, calm down. Once Jason Morgan figures things out – assuming he does – Sonny will already have taken him off the chessboard and saved them both the trouble. (Oh ho! Got it.)

Jack says he doesn’t know how long the guard will be occupied. He has to get back to his room before the guard does. Valentin says, okay, but can they get one thing straight? Once Sonny eliminates Jason, he’ll get word to Jack in Pentenville. Until then, they are not to talk to one another. Jack asks what he’s supposed to do. Stab himself again when he wants some fresh air? Valentin says, he’s an enterprising fellow. He’ll find something to do. Join a book club. Make a friend. It’ll be fine. Jack says, Valentin has been stalling for months. When the hell is Valentin going to get the charges against him dropped? Valentin says he hears Jack. He just needs a little bit more patience. Because if they shine a light on the WSB/Pikeman connection, it’s going to backfire. It’s all going to blow up in their face. So stay strong. Be patient. He has everything under control.

Kristina says, obviously, Carly knows what’s going on between her and her dad, and Carly asks if they can sit. Kristina nods, and they sit down. Carly says, Jason called her right after he broke up the fight. He told her that Kristina saw Sonny attack Dex and threaten to kill him. Kristina says, then she also knows everything Josslyn ever said about her dad is true and she’s so stupid for even arguing with her because Josslyn was right all along. Carly says she loves her daughter more than anything, but Josslyn has her own issues with Sonny, and Kristina tells her, it doesn’t even matter what Josslyn said. She knows what she saw, and she keeps seeing it over and over and over again. Watching her dad be so violent and out of control. Carly says, it must have been so awful for Kristina. She’s so sorry Kristina had to go through this. Kristina says she thinks it’s something that all of Sonny’s kids have to go through eventually, right? Carly knows that more than anyone with Michael. She’s just the idiot who took so long to finally see the truth. Carly says, she’s not an idiot, and Kristina says, not anymore, because now her eyes are wide open. And whether Dex files charges against her father or not, she’ll never forget what she saw her dad do. So now, she’s just ashamed she didn’t admit what she saw right in front of her sooner. Carly says, that’s because she wanted to see the best in Sonny. It’s because she loves her dad. Kristina says, Carly loved him too once, but does she think she really knew him?

Ava says, it sounds like Natalia doesn’t approve of her daughter’s relationship with Kristina, and Natalia tells her that she could say that. Ava says she doesn’t want to pry, but is it because they’re gay? and Natalia says, no. She’s not a prude. Whatever people do behind closed doors, that’s their own business. She just feels like gay people, or whatever alphabet soup they’re calling themselves these days, they’re flighty. They’re just not very serious about life. (Regardless of what she believes about sexual identity, that’s an odd statement to make.) Ava says she doesn’t think that’s true at all, but Natalia tells her that she just said herself that Kristina has had her own problems with bad decisions. Ava says, years ago. She was younger. You could say the same thing about a lot of straight people too. Kristina’s really gotten herself together. She works hard. She’s very serious about her baby. Natalia says, that choice of words is very interesting because it’s not really her baby now, is it? and Ava says, not in the way Natalia is talking about it, no. Natalia says, right. So she’s going to be pregnant for nine months, give birth, and just hand the baby over. To her, it just seems like Kristina and Allison think, wouldn’t it be so fun to have a baby because we don’t have to do any of the hard work or be serious about it. What are they going to do? Visit the child every once in a while, or take it to an amusement park sometimes? (I don’t think she understands how this works.) Ava says she’s sorry if this offends Natalia, but she thinks that is just a very unfortunate way to look at this beautiful thing that Kristina is doing for her sister. Natalia says, Ava is entitled to her opinion, as is she. She does try to stay open-minded. It’s just that if her way of thinking is considered old fashioned, so be it. (It’s not even old fashioned; it’s just weird.)

Anna says she knows how deep Jason’s loyalty to Sonny goes. She used to look at him through rose colored glasses herself. But what if the person he used to know no longer exists? Or worse, it was an illusion all along, and Sonny never really was the man Jason believed him to be? (That would be one long ruse.) An officer comes in with an evidence bag containing a phone and says, forensics thought Anna would want to look at what they found. She thanks him and he leaves. She puts on gloves and tells Jason that it might have been useful for reporting back to whoever it was that ordered the kill.

Natalia gets up and asks Ava to do her a favor and make sure Sonny gets her gift. Ava says, of course (🍷). She’ll walk Natalia out. Ava opens the door and says she enjoyed their chat. They should do it again sometime. Natalia says, perhaps, and leaves. Ava closes the door and sits down. She sees that her phone was still on record and listens to Natalia saying that she just feels like gay people, or whatever alphabet soup they’re calling themselves these days, are flighty and not very serious about life. She half-smiles.

Carly tells Kristina that she married a complicated man, and she knew that going in. And without making excuses for Sonny, he was capable of many things – great love, great anger. She watched Sonny have incredible highs and amazing lows, but he was never downright cruel. He always had a reason for doing what he did, and he never hurt someone just because he could. Kristina asks if she thinks he’s the same man now, or does she think he’s changed? and Carly says, that’s hard to answer because they’re not as close as they used to be, so she doesn’t know. But what she does know is the bond that Kristina has with him. Her father loves her more than anything. He brags about her all the time. He would give up his life for her. So she has to decide how much that matters, and where it fits into the relationship she has with Sonny, along with the stuff she’s learned about him recently. About to cry, Kristina says, what if it doesn’t fit at all? and Carly takes her hand and says, then she’s going to have to really think about if she can live her life without her dad.

Sonny tells Diane that he’s been trying to figure out what those guys wanted, but nothing makes any sense. They’re a coffee warehouse. It’s not like they have product here that anybody wants to steal. They don’t keep a large amount of cash here. He opens a desk drawer, takes out a metal box, and says, they do have small bills for cash expenses. He opens the box and says, everything is right there. Does she see that? She says, all right. So it wasn’t about the money. They must have had some other target in mind. He says, whatever they wanted, they didn’t get it, and Jason made them pay for breaking in. So why is it his problem?

The guard sees the door to Jack’s room is open a bit and hurries in. Jack raises the hand that has the cuff on it and says, miss me? The guard closes the door, and Jack smiles.

Anna tells Jason, only one number in the call history. She’d really like to know who it belongs to. She dials the number, and it rings a few times. Valentin says, is it done… Just tell him if it’s been done. Anna looks stunned, and Valentin frowns and hangs up.

Tomorrow, Chase tells Brook that it’s the best way to pay tribute to his dad; Elizabeth talks to Finn about his drinking; Drew asks how Carly feels about the possibility of that; and Sonny says he has to confess something.

🔎 Reviewing the Situation…

I have some things coming up in my life that, while positive, will require a lot of my time, so I had to rethink what I’m doing with my time now. I adore GH and while it might sound weird, I even enjoy typing it out. It’s sort of like being sucked into their world and leaving mine behind for a while. However, the reality shows have become another story.

Personally, I think the Housewives are dead, but Andy won’t let them lie down. I’m not sure what it is about these shows in general, but they’re all starting to smell like The Real World did when it took a turn from being incredibly interesting and something to look forward to, to a mess of drunken hot tub sex. It’s like they start off well, but within a few seasons, it turns into one big screaming match, or worse. I have the feeling production has a lot to do with it, possibly using cattle prods to urge the cast to create drama for screen time. I’m sure alcohol doesn’t hurt either. It isn’t quite as bad in the shows where there’s an actual job involved, like Below Deck, but where the hell are they getting some of these crew members? And who knows what will happen with Vanderpump Rules? I think Lisa should move on rather than mother a new brood at SUR. It’s all been too much of a steady diet of argument and angst. In an informal poll of my friends, we all agreed that we’d rather less arguing, more fun.

Perhaps production is catching on. The most embarrassing Housewives of all, New Jersey, aren’t even having a Reunion due to animosity. (See below.) And another season at all is questionable. Good job, Teresa. But here’s a thought. Maybe it’s time to scrap the whole thing and do something fresh. Or at least actually real. The exception seems to be the 90 Day Fiancé franchise on TLC. The first time I watched it wasn’t on purpose. I thought it sounded stupid, but I was waiting for the next show to come on. I was immediately hooked and have loved the spinoffs. These people are going through a real process and have real problems. Not whether or not they can get on a yacht with their sister-in-law or if they can be in the same room as their lying, cheating ex while they’re living their best life.

While I won’t leave them behind totally, it’s time for them to go into the background. Less time spent with others’ stories and more time spent on my own. So recaps will be less detailed, some scrapped altogether, and GH possibly only a couple of times a week, but always on a Friday. I hope those of you who read this blog will come along for the overhaul, and if there are ever any ideas for change or improvement, let me know.

https://people.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-season-14-reunion-canceled-exclusive-8655924

Below Deck Mediterranean

Aesha is back as chief stew and so is Captain – teamwork makes the dream work – Sandy, on a 180-foot yacht called the Mustique. This season is in Greece, and from the preview, it looks like there will be some crying too. No doubt after drinking. There’s already a leak in the forward cabin, so we’re off to a good start.

Iain (pronounced Ian), who was called Mr. Magoo by his parents prior to landing on his misspelled name, is the bosun. Chef Jono, who calls himself a culinary architect, will be providing the food porn this season. Elena is back and aspiring to be a chief stew. Nathan, Joe, and Gael are the deckhands, and Bri is another stew. Bri says she has room to improve with her cocktail skills, but I get an inexperienced overall vibe. Elena thinks the crew is exceptionally good looking, but it’s rare when one of them isn’t. There are no ugly people in yachting. The deckhands are bummed to find out Gael is taken, by an engineer no less.

Influencer Jacob is the first primary, bringing along his fellow internet besties. In Aesha’s interview, she can’t believe these kids are taking pictures and living it up on a superyacht, while she’s living in a van with her boyfriend and sh*tting in a bucket. When the provisions come in, the provisioner is having some issues, so there’s no wine, prosecco, or champagne. At the protocol meeting, Captain Sandy tells them, pressure makes us better. I must be perfect by now. Luckily Aesha finds one bottle of champagne in the crew mess for the welcome.

The guests are very young and very excited. Captain Sandy finally calls the provisioner, not asking, but telling them to send wine. The provisioner agrees to send over a few things until their bigger order can get there. There’s still no rosé or red wine, and the captain tells them, it’s unacceptable.

Athens is the oldest capital city in Europe, and the captain points out all the places that aren’t covered in tourists, but will be now. Like that lake in the Progressive commercial. Bri grew up with a maid and finds laundry a real challenge. She takes so long, Aesha wonders if she’s blowing on the garments to dry them. In Bri’s interview, we find out she’s never made it through a season in her three years of yachting. There’s the usual battle with the slide, and not surprisingly, the guests record everything for social media posterity. They’re not too happy about the laundry delay and not wrong in saying, it’s a great service, but if it can’t be fulfilled, it’s bullsh*t. Aesha finds out provisions have gone in the wrong water taxi and tells the provisioner, your company f***ing sucks. The chef doesn’t have lobster either, and decides to work with the crab legs he wisely bought.

Elena travels with her costumes, which she says are 10% PG-13, and wears a sequined top with metallic spandex pants to serve dinner. There’s a disco party afterward, even though this bunch wasn’t a twinkle in their parents’ eyes in the 70s. Maybe even their grandparents. There’s a confetti gun involved, and all I can think is, someone is going to have to clean up that mess. Late night munchies are requested after the guests get in the hot tub, and in her interview, Elena says she feels overwhelmed and needs help. She tries to wake Jono to rustle up some snacks, and he says, I don’t think so. Nice, since a good portion of the tip relies on food. Rather than press the issue, Elena tells the guests that all they have is grilled cheese. One of them wonders what’s in grilled cheese. Maybe he should actually take a look at the internet sometime instead of just posting content.

While Elena is wondering what the hell she’s going to do, somehow the guests coral Gael and demand the drinks they’ve been waiting for. Gael ends up helping Elena out, and in Elena’s interview she says, Jono’s selfish behavior is making her look bad. She gives waking him up another try, and in Jono’s interview, he says he hates being woken up. Aw, me too, princess. Elena tells him that she’s giving him another chance before this becomes a problem for him. It isn’t going to be good for him. In his interview, Jomo says, bitch, are you stupid? This is not going to be good for you.  

Next time, missing pants, Elena in tears, and the first crew night out.

Best quote tonight: Nothing’s lost until mom can’t find it. – Iain Maclean

Meet the cast:

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37027/below-deck-mediterranean-season-9-meet-the-cast

💘 Another Shocking Twist…

Didn’t see this one coming, but it’s cute.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-josh-kelly-and-chloe-lanier-are-dating

🍹 Ladies Who Lunch…

Looks like stiff competition this year, but no surprise, I’m rooting for Finola Hughes.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/inside-the-emmy-nominated-actresses-lunch

💣 The Victor Before the Last One…

What the original bad guy is up to now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/days-of-our-lives/catch-up-with-soap-star-thaao-penghlis

🎷 They’ve Got Essence…

This looks like an amazing line-up.

https://www.essence.com/gallery/efoc-2024-performers/

🐩 Most Trusted…

Much easier than caring for an actual celebrity.

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/blog/pets/favorite-famous-pets/

🌻 Because It’s June…

Join me next time for soap and whatever’s worthy. Until then, stay safe, stay enjoying what summer life has to offer, and stay not promising a great service if it can’t be fulfilled. Or as Captain Lee would say, don’t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash.

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

Standard

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.

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

🍸 Following the Rules…

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

Playing the world’s smallest violin.

⚓️ 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.

🦬 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.

March 18, 2024 – Marshall Correctly Diagnoses His Misdiagnosis, Two Goodbyes On Deck, Let’s Talk About Ones & Born

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn asks what Nina means. Dex was there when Cyrus was there? Nina says, that’s right. Cyrus survived the beating from Sonny and also survived his hospital stay, which she’s guessing was just as dangerous. Josslyn asks what Dex was doing there, and Nina says, he was in hospital scrubs. Let’s not forget that detail. Josslyn’s smart. She’ll figure it out. Nina leaves, and Josslyn looks at Dex.

Sitting next to Dante’s bed, Sonny says he knows Dante is in God’s hands, and he believes Dante’s spirit is strong enough to come back to them. He knows Dante can hear him and wants Dante to know he hasn’t given up on him, and he doesn’t want Dante to give up on himself. If Dante can hear him, Sonny wants him to know that his father is always with him. He puts his hand on Dante’s.

Tracy puts a blanket on Olivia, who sits up and says, Dante. Is he okay? Tracy says, no change, and he’d want her to sleep. She was at the hospital all night. Olivia checks her phone and says, no word from the hospital. She thinks she’s going to take a nice, hot shower. Tracy says, actually, she just walked past Olivia’s room, and Sam and Scout are asleep on her bed, and Olivia says, hot coffee it is (because there are no other showers in the house). Tracy says, coming right up, and Olivia says, Tracy is going to make it? She didn’t think Tracy knew how. Tracy laughs, and leaves for the kitchen.

At the gallery, Trini tells Ava, what a talented artist. Ava knows she studied at the University of Paris, right? Ava says she knows that, and Trina says, so many colleges and universities, all a part of each other and around each other. Paris is really the perfect creative environment. Ava says she understands the impulse to throw yourself into work to help you cope, but maybe being here, around all of this, isn’t helping. Trina says, yeah, but she doesn’t know what will.

Diane says, the Appellate Division came for Alexis after a ruling in front of the medical board, correct? That’s a division of the Department of Health, and that’s deep state. Alexis says, now they’ve gone from magical thinking to just being ridiculous. It was regulatory body; she was under oath. Diane says she knows plenty of elected officials who have lied under oath and none of them have been disbarred, and Alexis says she knows a lot of them should have been disbarred, but how does any of this have anything to do with her?

Marshall tells Doc, it’s true. During that time, he was a young Black man, down on his luck. And yes, he felt a certain kind of way toward the world around him. Curtis says, angry, right, pop? and Marshall says, yes. He was angry. Stella says she has to take issue with two things. They don’t characterize low-income people as poor. Being deemed poor isn’t good for one’s self-esteem or state of mind. And that anger Marshall was feeling was justified. But she understands what Doc was trying to say. Marhsall says, so does he, but given how things were back in the day – his age, his social standing, his Blackness – how well-adjusted could he possibly be? That doctor called him schizophrenic. Did he have to be mentally ill to feel how he felt? Doc says, exactly. Marshall just correctly diagnosed his misdiagnosis.

Josslyn asks why Dex went to the hospital, and Dex says he was told to go. She says, by Sonny? and he says, yes. She says, to deliver some sort of message? and he says, no. She asks why he was in scrubs, and Dex doesn’t answer. She asks if Sonny asked him to do something, and he says, yes. She says, to kill him? and he says, yes.

Lois puts a cup of coffee under Olivia’s nose, and Olivia sits up. She says she must be really tired. Wasn’t Lois just Tracy a few minutes ago? Lois says, no. Never in any lifetime. But she did have to go, so she asked Lois to look after Olivia. She said to bring her this – she hands Olivia the coffee – and make sure she enjoys every sip. Olivia says, aww, and takes a sip. She says, damn. That is good coffee. Did Lois make this? Lois says, no, and asks if Olivia is okay, but Olivia says, no. Is there any word from the hospital? Lois says, no, there isn’t, but she can call if Olivia wants her to. She just figured they’d call if they needed anything. Olivia asks if she means like if there’s any change in her son’s condition. Honest to God, she doesn’t know if she should be relieved or terrified.

Ava says she knows it sounds trite, but Trina has to give herself time. She’ll get through this. What did she say about that painting? It’s fire? That’s more than going through the motions. Nina comes in and asks if Ava has time to talk, and Trina says she’ll just take the painting to the back. Trina leaves, and Ava asks if Nina is okay. What’s going on? Nina says she’s not okay. The Invader ran this really insensitive story about the shooting on the pier that mentioned Sonny. Ava asks why she’s acting surprised by this, and Nina says, because she’s the publisher of The Invader and they slipped it by her and published the story. If she’d known, she would have done damage control or she would have killed it altogether. Ava says, if she’s worried about Sonny, he couldn’t care less about the story, and Nina says she ran into Josslyn. She went over to Dex’s and Josslyn was there. Ava asks why she went to see Dex, and Nina says, because she can’t see Sonny. She can’t even go to the hospital to check on Dante. Ava asks if Dex said anything, and Nina says, no, and she probably just made everything worse. But she doesn’t care because she’s being pushed aside when her husband needs her most. She has to find a way to get to him and she’s running out of options. She needs Ava to help her.

Diane says, right off the bat, she wants to take issue with a couple of things. The charge of perjury against Alexis came long after Dr. Byrne’s hearing in front of the medical board in 2020. Right? Yes. And that charge stemmed from Julian Jerome and Britt Westbourne, both of whom were known perjurers, both of whom were criminals, both of whom are dead. Alexis says, but neither of them brought this to the attention of the bar, and Diane says, but they had to be deposed and they’re both liars. That’s off to the side. What she wants to circle back to now is why Alexis never defended herself. Why she never mounted any sort of filing for herself. Alexis says, because it was true, and Diane says, irrelevant. Let’s just say, she was never presented the opportunity… No. She can’t do that. It’s just them here. Alexis knows full well she has the right to mount a defense. So why didn’t she? Alexis says she guesses at the time she didn’t think she had anything left to fight for. Diane says, well, snap out of it. Shake off the poor me’s and wrap whatever’s left of that steel-trap mind because she’s got two things to focus on now. Number one, why working here isn’t working for her, and number two, how she plans to get out of it.

Doc asks if any of them have heard of a book called The Youngest Science, and Stella says she read that. If she recalls correctly, it’s an account about medicine evolving as a science from an influential doctor’s point of view. Doc says, yes. It’s a personal, historical accounting of 20th century medicine’s evolution. It’s a fascinating read. Marshall says, sounds great. Maybe he’ll pick it up. Why are they talking about it? Doc says, as a reference. Medicine as a science has come a long way, but after a long period of time. Psychiatry is much younger, and as a discipline, it’s made all the same mistakes all the other disciplines have made. Think of it as how astronomers used to believe that the sun revolved around the earth. The point is, scientists and researchers like to be right, and they often fall into the trap of proving what they already believe. Curtis says, that happens everywhere, and Doc says, which brings them to Dr. Braddock and his work. He wasn’t alone in his beliefs and practices. And Doc won’t defend the mistakes his discipline made when psychiatry was still trying to figure out what the heck mental health even was. The point being, the big question at the time was, what is normal and does that mean being like everybody else? Curtis says, like everybody else, and Doc says, right, and if you’re a mid-twentieth century psychiatrist making that determination, you tend to look to the people you already know, which are going to be decently educated, employed, church going, and predominantly white. That was the control group, and if you didn’t belong to this normal, predominantly cultural group, if you don’t share any of those hallmarks, or maybe you’re not as adept at code switching, then you present a problem, an illness.

Josslyn says, so Sonny gives Dex that order and he says, yes, boss. She can’t believe he’d agree to something like that. He says he tried to talk Sonny out of it, and she says, of course (🍷). Dex would never go through with something like that. It’s just Nina stirring up trouble, per usual. He says, except that’s not how it went down. He was going to do it, but Sonny stopped him.

Tracy goes into Dante’s room and says hi to Sonny. She says, any news? and he says he’d give her some if there was some. She says she left Sam and Olivia are both back at the house. They both needed sleep. She hopes he won’t ruin her reputation as being cold and unfeeling, and he says, her secret is safe with him. She says she’s sorry. Every time she sees a hospital bed, it reminds her of seeing Luke lying in it.

Diane says, perhaps Alexis’s memory is impaired, because as she recalls, Alexis wasn’t living her best life at the time. Alexis says, no. She was drinking. Defintiely not making good choices. Diane says, she never even had a proper hearing. She was the one who informed Alexis of the decision by phone. Remember? Alexis says, rings a bell, and Diane says, there’s also a case to be made for bias. Alexis says, why? Because she’s a woman? Diane says, because she’s a lawyer. Who does the medical profession hate more than anyone? Alexis says, lawyers. She hates most lawyers too, but more than anything in the world right now, she wishes she still was one.

Doc says, long ago, psychiatrists deemed aggression, anger or offensive dislocation from the dominant cultural group as a mental maladjustment. Never mind the societal injustices that existed only because they hadn’t been challenged for centuries. Curtis says, which was the actual maladjustment to begin with, and Doc says, right. So defiant, anxious, young Black men were tagged as schizophrenic, whether the diagnosis was accurate or not. Especially when one of the hallmarks of the disease is a misconception of reality, such as an institution or society at large is out to get them. Someone might be obsessed about it or angry about it. Marshall says, or desperate to figure out why his heart is suddenly racing for no reason. Why his hands are sweaty and it’s suddenly hard to breathe, or why people are just looking at him funny. He couldn’t play his horn like that. He was mad and frightened. He thought something was wrong with him. He thought somebody was trying to do something to him. Doc says, so he sought help and he, like a lot of young men, was deemed schizophrenic when all he was doing was perceiving the reality around him. On top of that, the medications he was likely prescribed would cause unexplained behaviors, which would likely reinforce the diagnosis. Stella says, Lord have mercy, and Doc says, an entire generation of unhappy women were prescribed valium. It’s a muscle relaxer. Gay, lesbian, and trans people were tranquilized, hospitalized, or worse, electroshocked into acquiescence. And that’s only if they had health insurance, by the way. Did Marshall? Marshall says, for a short time, until the insurance companies knew he’d been institutionalized, and he was dropped. Out the door with all those others he was talking about who couldn’t pay. They’d be found in the streets or bars or prisons, worried they’d pose a danger at home to the people they most loved – he puts his hand on Curtis’s shoulder – or bring shame on them. Doc says, it’s no shame for Marshall. The shame is, and always will be, ours.

Josslyn asks if it was that night Adam was in the hospital… Oh my God. It was, wasn’t it? She was in the chapel, and he came in. She fell asleep. When she woke up, he was in there, and she remembers thinking how lucky she was that he was there, and she could always depend on him. Now he’s telling her that if Sonny hadn’t stopped him, he would have what? Just come and sat in the chapel with her. He says he doesn’t know what would have happened. All he knows is what did. He was in scrubs. He had lifted a bottle of fentanyl from the pharmacy storage, and he was going to inject it into Cyrus’s IV line, when Sonny showed up. She says, and if Sonny hadn’t stopped him, if he hadn’t walked in right then, Dex is telling her that he would have done it? Dex says, yes, and she says, who are you? (Like, she didn’t know he’d been a mercenary? Told you that she was too immature for him.)

Nina says, Ava promised to help her put her marriage back together. The need to come up with a strategy, a way to break through Sonny’s anger and get him to see he still needs her. Ava says, the timing isn’t very good for Nina. What is she going to say? Sonny, don’t look at your son whose life is hanging on by a thread. Look at me. Nina says, of course (🍷) not. No, it’s more like, Sonny, let me be there to support you. Let me love you. Let me be there while you’re going through this incredibly difficult time. Let me be your wife again. That’s what it would be. She cries, and says she understands why Ava was with Sonny at the warehouse, but that means Sonny trusts her. If Ava advocates for her, he will listen. Trina comes in and says she just tracked the other packages, and another should be coming in today; a delivery was pushed up. Ava says she has to go out. Is Trina up to staying here and receiving it? If it comes before she gets back, just log it in and lock up. Trina says she’s got Ava. Is she all right? Ava says she’ll be fine and leaves with Nina.

Lois asks if Olivia remembers when her Nona told them that boys were easier to raise than girls, and Olivia laughs, saying, she lied. Either that, or she didn’t know any of the kids Dante grew up with. Lois says she thinks maybe it was just their neighborhood, because those boys were maybe just a step above hooligans, and she means a tiny step. Olivia says, and Dante was one of them. That kid got into so many scraps at that high school, they felt they had to send him away for counseling. She was scared to death there was actually something wrong with him. But it turns out it was just Dante being Dante. He was always standing up to bullies, defending the weaker kids, and not letting anyone get pushed around. That’s why he’s such a great cop. The best kind. The ones who know what it truly means to protect and serve.

Stella tells Doc that she was a social worker for many years before she was a patient advocate. The reason she switched was because she saw the inequities I the medical system firsthand. Those mistakes he spoke of were born of racism, sexism, and all the other isms, plain and simple. And what happened to Marshall wasn’t a mistake. It was malpractice, signed, sealed, and systemic. She’s sure he’s seen the stories of how Blacks, minorities, and women experience medical bias. It’s all over the news lately, but it’s nothing new. It’s been going on since the Jim Crow era and they still aren’t taken seriously by medical professionals. She knows because she has patients she has to fight for in this very hospital. Not to mention the ongoing maternal health crisis for women of color. And what burns her up is, they have great, talented medical professionals in this country. There’s no excuse for any of this. She’s sorry. She could go on, but she’s done. Curtis says, as Doc can see, his auntie is a passionate social justice warrior. Stella says, but she’s getting tired of this fight. Why, after all this time, are they still reckoning with things like this? They’re all human. It doesn’t matter the variety. Biology is biology. Doc tells her that she’s an advocate in every sense of the word. He hopes she never stops. He knows an apology from someone like him at this late date is meaningless… Marshall says, no, not meaningless. Not at all. Doc told the truth. He validated what Marshall has been going through most of his life. He just wishes he’d been able to understand all of this sooner, and not handed over his sanity and his life to some guy with a degree because he thought the doctor was helping him. Curtis says, that’s hard to do if the person he trusted to help him was attacking him. It’s insidious. He just wonders how many other people Braddock did this to. Doc says, oh there were others. Braddock was a respected, published doctor. Marshall says, they always figured it was something like this. Not only did Doc confirm it, but he’s shone the light on his life. It’s a lot to process. He gets up and says he’s so grateful to Doc, calling him kind sir, and Doc says he’s sure Marshall is a bit leery of shrinks right about now, but his door is always open if he’d ever like to talk this through. Marshall says he’ll think about it, and Doc laughs, saying, of course (🍷). They shake hands.

Dex says, Sonny gave him an order. He didn’t have to option to refuse. Josslyn says, he’s telling her that he would have killed for Sonny, and he says he didn’t want to. He just didn’t see a way out. But Sonny asking him was a test. And either he passes, or he’s the one who gets eliminated. He’s just lucky Sonny changed his mind. She says, he’s not understanding her. In her head, yeah, he’s working for Sonny, but he’s also working for her mom and her brother, her whole family. She never thought he would cross this line. She’s pictured a life with him that isn’t possible. She was willing to give up everything for him. Now she feels like she doesn’t even know him. He says, that’s not true. She does know him. And he knows her. He’s glad it didn’t happen. He didn’t see the point in getting himself killed for refusing to take out Cyrus. She says, this isn’t about Cyrus. She hates Cyrus. This is different. Neither him nor Sonny were being shot at. There were no guns out. This was a defenseless old man in a hospital bed. She cannot unsee the image of him going into that room. This is about him killing someone. Does he understand? He says he’s killed before, and she says, he’s right. He has. And she’s put him on this pedestal in her head and never imagined this is something he’d be okay with, but she’s not. This changes everything. She can’t do this anymore. She picks up her things and leaves.

On the phone, Alexis says, when they wake up, give her a call and let her know if there’s any news about Dante. Love you. Bye. Diane says, Sam? and Alexis says, voicemail. So what did she find out? Diane says, apparently, she has to file an appeal with the Appellate Court before she can file an appeal with Appellate Court. She’s glad Alexis understood what that means. Maybe she’s remembering how redundant and full of catch-22’s the law actually is. Maybe that steel trap isn’t as rusty as she thought. Alexis says, it’s creaky, but functioning. She’s supposing it has to be a special pleading since she did lie so Neil wouldn’t lose his medical license, and then he lost it anyway. Diane says, Alexis threw away her career for him, and Alexis says, why did she do that again? Diane says, because she’s a rescuer. She wants to be the heroine in everybody’s life but hers. In hers, she’s the arch villain. So no punishment is ever enough.

At the desk, Tracy tells Stella that she’d like to request a phone call if there’s any change in Dante’s condition. Her cell phone number is on file with the hospital board. Stella says she’ll note it in Dante’s file. And speaking of the board, there are a few things she needs to run by Tracy. Tracy says, oh? and Stella says, but they don’t have to get into it right now. Tracy says she’s here right now, so let’s get into it right now. Unless Stella has something else she needs to be doing.  

Curtis finds Marshall in the PT room and asks how he’s doing. Marshall says he’s sorry he took off. He just figured he needed some time to himself. Curtis says, some history lesson, and Marshall says, Dr. Collins broke it down for them, didn’t he? But he didn’t say anything they hadn’t already put together. Curtis says, if Marshall wants to be left alone so he can rant, vent, curse, and damn Dr. Braddock’s name to hell, he can take off. Marshall says he came in here intending to do just that, to holler and curse, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t get something Stella said out of his head. Curtis says, which part? She said so much. Marshall says, she’s something else, but she got him when she said they’re all human, and Curtis says he guesses at the end of the day, that’s what it all boils down to. Marshall says, then why in blazes can’t they act like it? It’s so wrong. Most everybody is all wrong about everything they think about. He lost decades because of how people wanted to see him or not see him. That doctor lost a lifelong career because of his misbeliefs. It’s so senseless. Curtis says, Marshall’s being very philosophical about this doctor. Him? Not so much. Marshall says, he’s dead, and now he finds himself in the position where he has to forgive that man. Because that’s what Curtis’s momma would want him to do. Irene always said, forgiveness isn’t for the other person as much as it is for ourselves. If he carries around hate for that man, he’s going to turn into a hateful person. He’ll be just like him. Curtis says, maybe he has to work harder on that, but he will. For Marshall and himself. Marshall sits down and says he just thought of something. That disgraced doctor is six feet under and he’s here. He’s here with his family; his beautiful, accomplished, talented family. A family any man would be proud of. Everything he thought was wrong somehow turned out to be right. Or is it just another proof that there is a God?

Josslyn come into the gallery crying, and Trina hugs her and asks, what happened? Is it Dante? Josslyn says, no. She doesn’t know how Dante is doing now, but… Trina says she needs Josslyn to calm down and stop crying, because she’s two seconds away from joining her, and if she starts, she’ll never stop. So take a deep breath – Josslyn does – and tell her what happened. Josslyn says, it’s Dex, and Trina asks if he’s leaving town again. Josslyn says she hopes so. She hopes he never comes back. Trina says, what? and Josslyn hugs her again.

Stella says, Tracy is the only board member who hasn’t made an appointment for their annual complimentary wellness exam. Tracy says, it’s not necessary. She’s no longer seeing Dr. Finn. His brother is marrying her granddaughter, so it felt a little too close. Stella says, there are a lot of doctors in this hospital, and Dr. Randolph would be happy to see her. Tracy says she’ll get around to it, and Stella says, when? Tracy says, when she gets around to it. What’s the big deal? Does she look sick to Stella? Stella says, no. Tracy looks foolish. She just came down off a soapbox, talking about the inequities in the medical system, and how people are literally dying for proper care, and here Tracy is, the very picture of privilege, refusing to get a free annual exam.

Lois asks Olivia if it isn’t a rip. Olivia’s son and her daughter growing up together, and now she’s going to marry his partner. Olivia says, life is funny. Chase is really a sweetheart. Lois agrees, and Olivia says, very devoted to his job. How is Brook handling that? Lois says, she’s crying her eyes out and hiding it from Chase so that she doesn’t worry him, and Olivia says, that’s her new reality. She honestly doesn’t even know what to say to her about it. Lois says she doesn’t know how Olivia put up with it all these years. She’s terrified that her daughter is about to marry a cop. Olivia says, you’d think it would matter that Dante is on the right side of the law. A bullet doesn’t care. Sonny didn’t get shot. Dante did.

Alexis says she doesn’t think she’s still her own nemesis. She’s had her dark night of the soul. She goes to meetings, she does the work, she knows that she’s going to be the only one to champion herself. Diane says, so she’s out of the rescue business? and Alexis says she may get a cat. Maybe three. Diane laughs, and Alexis says, but in her personal life, she’s hung up the cape. But old impulses die hard. She still roots for the underdog. Diane says, until they get her law license back, the only underdog she wants Alexis rooting for is herself. Now she’s going to see how far and how fast she can push this appeals process along. In the meantime, she needs two things from Alexis. Don’t sleep with any more doctors. As far as she’s concerned, attorneys should just sleep with attorneys. Alexis says, maybe just District Attorneys. That way, they narrow down the pool. Diane says, the second thing is, get rid of that insipid gossip columnist that came for her. She leaves.

Ava puts her hand on Sonny’s shoulder. He looks at it, then back at Dante.

Josslyn tells Trina that she thought nothing could ever change the way she feels about Dex, but she was wrong. She feels like she doesn’t even know him. She feels like he’s a different person. Or maybe he’s always been this person and she’s just now seeing it, but what he’s okay with, she’s not okay with. And what he can live with, she can’t. She won’t. Trina hugs her.

Dex gets on his phone and says he needs the police non-emergency number.

Tracy tells Stella not to make a federal case out of this. She’ll get her free wellness exam. Stella says, good. Should she set it up now? Tracy says, no. She has to check her calendar. She’ll get back to Stella. Stella says, fine. You do that. Tracy says she will. Stella starts to leave, when Tracy calls her name. Stella says, yes, Miss Quartermaine? and Tracy apologizes for being rude. She’d also like it if Stella would call her Tracy. Stella says she was a little worked up already and Tracy has been rude to her before. They both start to laugh.

Sonny says he’s surprised they let Ava in, and she says, no one stopped her. In fact, they told her at the nurses’ station that Dante was stable. He says, they’re not really supposed to give out that information. Only to family. She says, maybe they thought she was Nina, and he says, don’t say that name. She says she’s sorry. She won’t even talk. She’ll just stay and wait here with him a minute. She stands at the foot of the bed, and Sonny takes Dante’s hand.

Tomorrow, Brook says John is a disgrace to his badge; Carly tells Josslyn that it’s not a realistic option; Dex says he did it and he’s prepared to pay for it; Sonny asks if someone can keep a secret; and Jason says, they can make it like it never happened.

Below Deck

Captain Kerry tells Kyle and Jared that he can hear them in his cabin and tells them to hit the sack. In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s the second time he’s been woken up, and this time, it sounds like threatening behavior. He heard yelling and screaming, and it’s unacceptable on his boat. In the morning, everyone fumbles around, hungover. Kyle says, rock and roll. In Jared’s interview, he says he doesn’t feel like he handled last night well. He has a lot on his mind and he’s stressing out. We flash back to him trying to call his daughter and not being very smooth with Barbie. He says, it doesn’t excuse how messy things were. He could have handled it better. The girls talk about Jared getting reamed out by the captain, and Barbie says, he was a total d*ck last night. Ben dances around stupidly, and Kyle says, Jared was on his ass before he had a chance to clean up.

Kerry calls Kyle to the bridge, and in the captain’s interview, he says, there was a lot going on he didn’t see last night, but it looked like Kyle was trying to deescalate the situation. Jared has a history of getting drunk and he’s going through sh*t. He needs to know the facts of the evening. Talking to the captain, Kyle admits he left a mess. They were all drinking. Separately, Barbie tells the captain that Kyle was bunking with her, which was no problem, since they’re stupid friends. Kyle stormed into the room. Captain Kerry asks if he made threats, but Barbie says, it wasn’t directed toward her, so she didn’t feel threatened. Kyle says, it was more demeaning, and Jared was angrier than he needed to be. Barbie says she thinks it was a personal thing. Cat tells Xandi that she feels alone, even though she’s surrounded by people, and Xandi tells her, that’s what she says about yachting. You’re never alone, but you’re lonely. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Jared released heavy equipment on the dock without permission, and he’s made several docking mistakes. We flash back to that, and the captain says, alcohol doesn’t help. We flash back to Captain Kerry lecturing Jared, and he says, at the end of the day, his primary responsibility is the safety of the vessel and crew, and this guy is creating a problem. Barbie tells Fraser about Jared busting into her cabin, and Captain Kerry calls Jared to the bridge. He tells Jared that they had a discussion yesterday and he told them all to have a great night. Jared’s not getting it. He was absolutely f***ed for the second time and exhibited bad behavior. He’s in a leadership role and he’s got to be above the fray. The way he’s treating the crew isn’t acceptable. The captain has tried to show compassion, but Jared’s got sh*t going on and he’s his own worst enemy. He needs to depart the vessel.

Jared says, it sounds like he’s getting the boot, and the captain says, yes. He’s got a lot going for him, but his emotional side apparently isn’t where it should be. Jared says he’s not in the right place at the right time, and Captain Kerry says, exactly. He doesn’t blame Jared. Take the time to work on himself. Keeping him would be doing him a disservice. Jared says he respects that, the captain says, goodbye, and they shake hands. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s not going to be easy on the rest of the crew in the short term, but in the long term, it’s the right decision. Jared distressed and acting out, and it’s not fair to his crewmates or safe. He’s got to go. The captain calls Ben to the bridge.

Jared tells Barbie that he’s been let go, and she tells him to go meet his daughter and be happy. Captain Kerry tells Ben that Jared is leaving, so they’ll be down a crew member. Can he handle being bosun if person they’re a person down? Ben says he can, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he doesn’t have a whole lot of choices. Ben knows the boat, so this needs to happen. Ben will have to lead and go along with decisions he might not agree with because the captain said so. He asks if Ben will be okay with more pressure, and Ben says he will. In Ben’s interview, he says he’ll finally be able to show Captain Kerry what he can do. Jared says goodbye to everyone and pretends he’s happy about it. In Jared’s interview, he says he thought he was in a good headspace, but he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that it wasn’t as much as he’d like. The situation sucks, but he does feel lighter. His last words to the St. David are, damn, I’ll miss you. See you down the line. As he leaves, they all yell that they love him.

Kerry texts yacht staffing about a bosun and calls a crew meeting. He tells them that the deck team is down a person. He’ll help and Ben got a promotion. Either they’re going to bust out this charter or unfold. Fraser gives the stews some instruction on making beds, and I take notes on fluffing pillows. Captain Kerry calls a preference sheet meeting. The primary is Lesley, who is a mortgage loan officer. Ben reads that the guests want a surf and turf dinner with Mardi Gras décor. They also want to go to Carriacou, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s the most beautiful, sexy beach on the planet. There are reefs everywhere and people flock there for diving. The place is magnificent. Anthony is happy to read, no French food, and says, it’s like a vacation. Ben reads that the guests request a murder mystery after-party, and the captain congratulates Ben on his promotion. It’s a big deal. How he’ll interact with the crew will need to change. Meanwhile, Barbie tells Xandi and Fraser that her mom is a sex therapist, and in her interview, she says she tells her mother everything. Her father is super conservative and she’s in the middle. It does get weird, but she embraces it. It’s weirder for her brother. Cat’s friend calls and she’s crying hysterically. In Cat’s interview, she says, it’s a situation she can’t talk about, but her friends are her family. So she feels sh*tty that she can’t be there for her.

In Ben’s interview, he says, the tender is out and they’re a deck member down. There’s two of them on deck to run a 60-meter boat and get it off the dock. Provisions come in, and they almost make scrambled eggs trying to balance the egg cartons. There’s the last-minute running around, and Anthony calls his mom, who asks if the guests and passengers are happy. Anthony says, so far, and asks if Fraser wants to say hi. Fraser talks to Anthony’s mom in French, and says, everybody is happy with Anthony. She must be proud of him. In Anthony’s interview, he says he misses his mom.

The guests arrive, and Captain Kerry welcomes them. Fraser gives the tour and promises snacks at all times when he finds out primary Lesley is a snacker. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he’s working harder because he’s a team player. He worked with a captain who would be in his room and pretend to be on the phone. He caught him with the phone next to his head and no call. What kind of a-hole doesn’t help when it’s needed? They pull out, and in Ben’s interview, he says he’s nervous, but can’t let it show. He saw the pressure Jared was under and saw Jared’s mistakes before he made did them. He knows what the captain expects. When they get out to sea, Ben says, and we are underway. Thank God.

Fraser schmoozes with the guests and finds out all the women do mortgages and there’s one realtor. Sunny goes out on the tender, and in her interview, she says she was never given the opportunity to prove herself on her other boat. She wanted to learn the tender and she did. She does a happy dance. At least I assume that’s what it is; she didn’t preface it. Fraser welcomes the guests to Pan Asian Japan for lunch and tells Barbie that the table is stunning. Sushi is served, and Fraser tells Anthony that the guests are loving it. Would he lie? Yes. Is he lying now? No. Anthony comes up for compliments from the guests, and Fraser says he has huge lashes like a baby camel. The guests get in the water, and in Captain Kerry’s interview, he says he’s watching Ben and things are running smooth. He has more confidence in Ben than he did Jared. Ben is ahead of the game. The guests get in the hot tub, while Mardi Gras décor is put out. In his interview, Anthony says, tonight is surf and turf, the filet medium rare. If you ask him for medium well, he’ll say, f*** you. Agreed. In Sunny’s interview, she says she went to bed with a lead deckhand and woke up with a bosun. It’s kind of hot. She hopes it doesn’t create a rift in their relationship. Fraser tells the other stews that his sister is at Mardi Gras. She’s got huge knockers. The guests are seated, and even the beet salad is exquisite. In the pantry, Captain Kerry says he’ll do the dishes and fixes Fraser’s tie. As the lobster and filet mignon are served, I realize I’m staring at this amazing dish open-mouthed. Food porn at its finest. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s like a butterfly flying around the galley. It’s perfect. The guests love it. It’s a celebration day.

The stews are behind with the cabins, and Fraser tells them to go as quick as they can, and Barbie joins in with housekeeping. Anthony comes up with the vanilla cheesecake and takes a bow. Lesley tells the others that you can say what you want in French, and it doesn’t matter. These easy-going guests go to bed at 11:11, and Barbie deflates the unicorn.

Second day of charter, en route to Halifax Harbour. Guest Brian wonders how Fraser is so chipper all the time, and Fraser says he’s got to be. As the boat heads for Tyrelle Bay, Xandi radios Cat several times before getting a response. She tells Cat to check the sinks and mirrors. All surfaces weren’t wiped. Cat says she’s done. She’s over this sh*t. Barbie asks if she wants to talk, but Cat says, no. She goes into the bathroom and cries. Breakfast is lobster eggs benedict, and I weep into my box of  water crackers. Fraser asks if Cat is okay, but she says she’s not good, as she sobs in her bunk. She says she wants to push through, but she’s losing her mind. Fraser says he’d rather put her health and mental health first and get her help as soon as he can – if that’s something she wants him to arrange. She says she feels like she might need it. She’s sorry. They hug, and in Fraser’s interview, he says he doesn’t know what’s going on, but there’s a look in the eyes sometimes that says a person has no more to give or do. They’re going through enough. Cat needs to do what’s right for her. He tells her that she’s been amazing and to do what’s right for her. Get her stuff together and they’ll make this happen. Barbie says she thinks Cat is finished, as the guests rave about the incredible food. Kyle tells Ben that Cat is leaving, and Xandi asks if Cat wants to talk. Cat says she can’t, and Xandi says, if Cat does, she’s here for her. Fraser tells the captain that Cat was in tears. She doesn’t want to disclose the information, which is fine, but he asked he if she needed to deal with it immediately and she answered yes. In his interview, the captain says he was worried about Cat’s mental state, and we flash back to Fraser telling him that Cat is fragile. Fraser says, it could be horrific, but maybe not. They need to give her the benefit of the doubt. Captain Kerry says, to Cat it’s horrific. Cat packs and anchor is home. Fraser tells Kyle and Sunny that Cat is leaving. Sunny asks if she’s all right, but Fraser says he doesn’t think so. The captain tells Cat to ask if she needs help, and in his interview, he says, his number one job is to take care of the crew. He’s well aware of mental health and Cat has to go now. He helps her with her suitcases, and Ben radios the crew to the aft deck. A guest wonders what’s going on, and the crew says goodbye to Cat. In Cat’s interview, she says she wishes she could stay, but no. It’s way too much. She needs to be with the people who need her. She’s at her breaking point and needs to protect her mental health. Her support system is at home, not here. She gets in a little boat, and heads for shore. Ben says, that’s yachting, mate, and Captain Kerry says, being one down will be hard. Two down… He sighs. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s been in tough situations before, but this is one of the toughest. Regardless of personal issues, where the guests happiness is concerned, they could all be in trouble.

Next time, a murder mystery party; new guy Dylan arrives, and Sunny is turned on; and a storm.

⚰️️ This Week In Ones…

A helicopter accident; creepier zombie deterioration; progress and redemption through innovation; Michonne reminds Rick of his own words, when folks try to save the world their own way, it tends to go to sh*t; Michonne gets trapped; a double eye poke; a double zombie poke; and lots o’ lovin’.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season1-episode4-recap-spoilers

🗣 Asking For a Friend…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderChatter. Until then, stay safe, stay not standing in front of the elevator (or train) doors when waiting for them to open, and stay being the hero in your own life before trying to be the hero in anyone else’s.

October 13, 2023 – The Wedding Is On, Thought, Back, Fitting, MIA, A Goodbye, Salty Talk, Postscript, Hard Times, Back To the 80s, Dead Stuff, Costumed Pets (!), Totally Ten Quotes & Monster

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis lifts weights, when there’s a knock at the door. He wheels himself over to open it, and Stella asks if it’s a bad time. He says, not at all, if she doesn’t mind waiting for him to finish another set. She says, not at all, and comes in. She asks if somebody else is here, but he says, no, just him, picking up one of the weights. He asks if she thinks they shouldn’t have left him alone, and she asks if she said that. He says, no, and she says, he’s been on his own for a while now, and he’s doing just fine. He works with the weight, and says, she’s been tracking him, huh? She says she always has; she’s not going to change now. He’s working hard; very impressive. He says he’s just trying to keep it all together, and she says, he’s doing more than keeping it together. She’s very proud of him. He thanks her and says, all these exercises, in fact everything he does, is for Trina and Portia and Marshall. She says, how’s that? and he says, every morning there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to get out of bed. Then he thinks about his family. They need him, and he will not let them down. There’s a knock at the door, and Stella says she’ll get it. She opens it to Selina and says, what do you want?

TJ tells Portia he heard a rumor going around. The buzz is totally positive. She says she has no idea what he’s talking about, but he says, spill. She says she doesn’t want to talk about it yet. Not until she gets a chance to tell Curtis, and she wants to tell him in person. He’s going to be so hurt if he finds out everyone at GH knew before he did. She’s trying to sneak out of here so she can see him. TJ says, he’s going to be thrilled.

Josslyn knocks on the door at Windymere, and Giles answers. He asks if he can help her, and she says, he probably doesn’t remember her, but she’s Josslyn Jax, Avery’s older sister. He says, of course (🍷). What can he do for her? She says she’s looking for Ava. She never picked Avery up from the nanny last night. Giles invites her in.

A guard walks Cyrus to the visiting room, and Cyrus says, another visitor during off hours? He sees Laura, and she says, hello, Cyrus.

Austin sits at his desk and flashes back to him telling the judge that Cyrus is weak because of his heart attack, and no longer a physical threat to anybody. He says, yeah, weak like a great white shark is weak. He remembers telling Mason that he did what was asked and to let Ava go, and Mason saying, neither one of them call the shots. There’s a knock at the door, and Dex says, sorry to bother him, but has he seen Ava Jerome?

Puerto Rico. Here Comes the Bride plays as Nina walks to Sonny, and everyone looks all happy. The priest welcomes everyone and says, they’ve been blessed with a beautiful day to witness the joining in matrimony of Michael Sonny Corinthos and Nina Reeves. This is a joyful occasion, and a solemn one. Marriage as a traditional ceremony is an honorable one, not to be entered into lightly, but a pledge between two people to honor, support, and love one another for the rest of your lives. Is that the pledge they’re willing to make? Nina says, we are, and Sonny says, yeah, we are.

Selina says she’s here to see her friend, but Stella says, she doesn’t have any friends here. And no way she’s buying any with that gift basket. Stella looks at the bodyguard holding a basket of fruit behind Selina, and Curtis says, it’s okay. Selina’s a business associate. Stella says, uh-huh, and Selina walks in. (Oooh. The bodyguard has a bakery box too.) Selina says, his aunt is very protective. She admires that in a family. Stella excuses herself, and Curtis asks what Selina is doing here. She says, he’s been back home for a while now. She thought she’d give him some time to get accustomed to his new life. He says, that was considerate, and she says she hopes now he’s come to his senses and is ready to sell her The Savoy.

Cyrus says, what an unexpected and wonderful surprise. He didn’t know Laura was back from her trip. She says, they just got back, and he says, and she chose to come and see him. He’s touched. She says, he cut his hair, and shaved, and… He says, since he found his true calling, he didn’t find the need to hide behind appearances, and she says, he looks great. So tell her, how is he feeling? He says, their brother told her about his little medical problem, and she says she doesn’t know that she’d call a heart attack a little medical problem, and she’s glad Marty told her. He asks if Martin also told her that it was her aura that pulled him through in his darkest hour, but she says, it was Drew Cain who saved his life. He says, without the will to live, his CPR might not have been effective, but he is a good man. She says, he’s a very good man. That’s why it’s such a shame he’s in here with… Cyrus says, with men like me. He gets the feeling checking on his health isn’t the only reason she’s here. She says she heard about his application for early release, and he asks if she’s here as his sister or the mayor.

Giles says he’s also concerned about Miss Jerome’s whereabouts, and Josslyn says, so she hasn’t been here? He says, she was home when he left. That was night before last. She didn’t mention any plans to be away, but when he came to work yesterday, she wasn’t here. She never came home. Josslyn says, so no maid or no housekeeper has seen her, and he says, no one on the staff has seen or heard from her, but he did find a broken martini glass on the floor here. He points near the fireplace, and says, it could have been an accident. Perhaps she’s staying with her friend Miss Reeves? Josslyn says, no. Nina’s in Puerto Rico getting married. He says, Dr. Gatlin-Holt’s been a frequent guest recently. He was under the impression the doctor and Miss Jerome might be close.

Austin says, recently, no, he hasn’t seen Ava, and Dex asks if he remembers the last time he saw or heard from her. Austen says, two or three days ago. Why is Dex asking him this? Dex says, she hasn’t been to her art gallery, and no one has seen or heard from her, and Austin says, Dex works for Sonny Corinthos; is he right about that? Dex says, yeah, and Austin says, a couple of days ago, Ava mentioned she was thinking of maybe taking a trip to New York. She said there was an artist she was interested in signing. Dex says, that could be very helpful, and thanks Austin for his time. Austin says, no problem, and as he walks past Dex, Dex punches him in the stomach and gets him in a headlock. As Austin struggles to breathe, Dex says, Sonny has a daughter with Ava Jerome, so he cares about her. If he finds out Austin has something to do with her disappearance, he’ll be back, and he won’t be asking questions. He lets Austin go and walks out.

In the hallway, Dex’s phone rings, and Josslyn tells him that she thinks she might have found something.

The priest says, it’s his understanding Sonny and Nina have elected to say their own vows, and Nina hands her bouquet to Willow. Sonny says he guesses Nina wants him to go, and she says, yeah. They join hands, and Sonny says he spent all morning writing his vows. They’re in his pocket, but when he looked in Nina’s eyes, he felt like he didn’t need to write his vows because he can always speak from his heart to her. He thanks her for trusting and loving him, and for seeing the better man in him than he ever saw in himself. He appreciates her kindness and her strength and her willingness to fight for their love, even though everybody was against them. When they doubted they should be together, they did everything they could to get through it, and here they are. He’s convinced more now that they belong together, because of how he feels right now in the moment. How he always does; she makes him secure. He knows she loves him and he loves her that much more, and he always will.

Selina asks Curtis to just hear her out. She’ll keep the entire staff at The Savoy – Stella walks back in – and the entire name of the club will remain. He and his entire family will have VIP memberships for life, and she’ll increase her original offer to twice what he paid for the club. He says, that’s an extremely generous offer, and she says she agrees. So what does he say? He thinks a moment and asks why she’s determined to buy his club. Why doesn’t she start her own and find a location that’s half the price? Stella says, good question.

Cyrus says, in case Laura is wondering, he has no idea how the judge is going to rule. He hasn’t heard anything yet. Now that she’s back, will she oppose his release? She says, he looks as strong and healthy as the day he got in here, but that said, she’s not a doctor. And as the mayor, she doesn’t interfere with judicial decisions. He says he supposes putting in a good word for her brother is out of the question, and she says, yes. He asks if Marty also told her that he gave away all of his money.

Dex arrives at Windymere, and Giles lets him in. Josslyn introduces Giles, and says, Giles told her that Ava hasn’t been home since night before last, and nobody on the staff has seen or heard from her. Dex says, she told him that she found something, and she says, this cellphone and this lollypop. The cellphone was under the coffee table, and the lollypop was just kind of sticking out of the couch. And Giles found a broken martini glass on the floor. Giles says, Miss Avery must have dropped the lollypop last time she was here, but Josslyn says, this isn’t Avery’s. Dex asks how she knows, and she says, because it’s grape and Avery hates grape. So somebody else had to have been here. And Ava would have never left her cellphone in case Avery needed to get in touch with her. Dex says he saw cameras everywhere as he walked up to the house. There have to be more, right? Giles says, yes, and Dex says he needs to see the footage from the minute Giles left Ava.

Nina says, to be honest, she never imagined she’d be here right now with Sonny. It’s actually the last thing she ever expected or wanted, and she fought it for a very long time. She kept telling herself that they would never work, and as she kept saying that, her heart kept falling deeper and deeper in love with him. And she couldn’t fight her heart anymore, could she? Or him. His charm, his humor, his compassion, his courage, his loyalty… his dance moves. What more could a person ask for in someone they love? Then she saw him parent his children, who he fiercely loves, and how he’s willing to fight for them, for their protection. She’s always wanted that family, since she was a little girl. Her daughter is now a part of her life – she looks at Willow – and the two of them are part of his family. He’s given her so much. He’s given her a family. And she wants to give him something. She’s going to surround him with love for his entire life; she promises him that. And they can leave all their mistakes behind them. She’ll walk with him, hand in hand, right beside him, loving him, for the rest of his life.

Selina tells Curtis that she doesn’t have the time or the inclination to open a new club. It’s too much work and she has a busy schedule. The Savoy is already established; that’s why she’ll be paying him top dollar for it. Stella asks if he heard how Selina made it sound like it’s a done deal, when Portia walks in. Selina tells her, good afternoon, and Stella says, she got here just in time. Miss Wu brought them a basket filled with treats. Why doesn’t Portia have a seat and she’ll make them some tea so they can all get to know each other better. She asks what kind of tea Selina would like, and Selina says, that’s kind of her, but she has another appointment. Stella says, that’s just too bad. Maybe another time then. She opens the front door, and Selina nods to her bodyguard. She tells Curtis that she’ll be in touch, and he thanks her for the basket. I want to know what’s in the bakery box. Selina leaves with the guard, and Stella closes the door, putting her back against it, and says, amen.

Dex looks at a tablet, and Giles says, he can see the front entrance is well-covered by several cameras. Dex says, there Giles is, leaving. This is the night before last. Ava was alone when he left? Giles says, yes. Feel free to examine the rest of the footage. He must check on a delivery. Please help Miss Jerome. He leaves, and Dex points at the tablet, saying, there. Someone’s coming in. Josslyn says she sees him, but she can’t see his face; he’s wearing a hood. They keep watching, and Dex says, they’re at about twenty minutes later. Josslyn says, there’s Ava. She’s with him, but Josslyn can’t tell if her hands are tied or if she’s just walking super close to him. Dex suggests they check the dock camera around that time… They didn’t use the launch. Josslyn says, he would still have to go back to Port Charles, no? and Dex says, right there. He has his own boat. That’s what they left on. If he and Josslyn want to see where they came ashore, they need to see the harbor security cameras and the traffic cameras from that time. They can’t do that without going to the cops. Josslyn says, there’s another way.

Josslyn knocks at an apartment door, and a voice asks, who knocks? She looks up at a camera and says, Spinelli, it’s Josslyn. You’re watching us through the security camera. Spinelli opens the door and says, greetings, clever girl. What brings them to his door?

Austin gives TJ a folder and says, the prognosis was very impressive. He coughs and drinks some water, and TJ asks if he’s all right. Austin says he’s fine. He went to a concert last night and he was very enthusiastic. TJ asks, who was the band? when Mason walks in. He says he’s sorry. His cousin here wanted to see him.

Cyrus tells Laura that he’s seen so much suffering in here, he thought his money could do more good trying to help these poor souls. She says, Marty did mention to her that he’d given some of his money to a recidivism organization, but he says, not some of his money, every dime. He says, she doesn’t believe that, and she says she guesses they’ll see, won’t they, if he’s granted his early release. He says, how little faith she has in her brother. They were ill-gotten gains. He’s come to realize and appreciate that. She says she hopes so, and he says, she doesn’t seem to doubt the generosity of her friend Sonny Corinthos when he gives away his dirty money. He’s not wrong.

The priest says, Sonny and Nina’s vows were so clearly from the heart. Now please repeat after him. They say the traditional vows; in sickness and health, forsaking all others until death do us part. The rings are exchanged, and the priest says, in the presence of God and these witnesses, they’re now husband and wife. What God has joined, let no one put asunder. He thinks they know what happens next. They laugh and Donna says, you’re supposed to kiss. They do, and everyone smiles.

Portia asks what that was about, and Stella says, that woman was trying… Curtis says, Selina came to talk business, but what is Portia doing here in the middle of the day? She says she wanted to tell him something in person, but she wanted it to be official. Stella says, for what to be official? and Portia says she’s been named Co-Chief of Staff at General Hospital. Curtis says, congratulations, and she says, it’s going to be a lot more administrative work and a lot of emails, but… Stella says, Portia knows she can handle all of that, and Curtis says, she’ll be great. Portia says, and it’s going to be a little extra money. Stella says, as it should be for all that extra work, and Curtis says, they’ll be very lucky to have her. He couldn’t be more proud of his intelligent, accomplished, and very gorgeous wife. She kisses him and says, thank you.

Dex tells Spinelli that they couldn’t download the video from the system at Windymere, so all they have is the footage he had access to. Josslyn says, they also found Ava’s cellphone at Windymere, but she doesn’t know how to get in. Can he break in? He says, he can, but it will take time Ava doesn’t have, and Dex says, let’s get back to what we’ve got. The butler departed the house at 10:57 that night. At 11:18, an unidentified figure, likely male, entered the house. There’s no footage from the interior, so we don’t know what happened inside, but at 11:59, the hooded figure left by the front door with Ava. They were close together. He appears to be leading her, and from her posture, it’s likely her hands were tied. They arrived at the docks at 12:03 am and left in a single engine outboard. That’s what we have. Spinelli says, well done, and Josslyn says, what they really need to know is where they docked the boat in Port Charles. Does he think he can get access to the harbor security and traffic cameras?

Austin tells TJ that the apologizes. His cousin is unaware of hospital protocol. Mason could have just interrupted a consultation with a patient. Mason says he’s sorry. He’s just a truck driver and doesn’t know anything about hospital protocols. So he hopes TJ can forgive him. TJ says, no problem. They’re finished. He thanks Austin and is about to leave, when he says, so Mason is a truck driver? and Mason says, used to be. Now he kind of does a little bit of everything. TJ says, it was good to see him again, Mason says, him too, and TJ leaves. He pauses for a moment outside the door, then walks on. Mason tells Austin, do not get high and mighty with him about manners. Austin said he needed to see him right away, so what’s going on? Austin says, Sonny Corinthos knows.

Laura says, Sonny has nothing to do with the way she views Cyrus, but he says he’s well-aware of that. He and Sonny were in the same kind of business for years, and he ever thought much about Sonny. But then he’d see Sonny treated with such reverence, an honored member of the Port Charles community with a respected family when he’s no better than Cyrus is. Again he’s not wrong.

Kristina congratulates Nina and welcomes her to the family, hugging her. Donna goes over to Sonny and says, her turn. He says, come here, girl. Give me a hug. He wants her to know something. Daddy always loves her. She knows that, right? She says she loves him, and they hug again. These two are too cute together. Donna asks Nina if she can call her Mama Nina now, and Nina says she would love nothing more. She hugs Donna.

Willow tells Sonny, congratulations, and hugs him. He says, her mother is the best thing that ever happened to him. He just wants her to know that she means everything to Nina. Willow smiles at him, and tells Nina, congratulations. Nina thanks her, and says, it means so much that she’s here. Willow hugs her, and I feel sick thinking about this all falling apart. Michael hugs Sonny and tells Nina, congratulations. Welcome to the family. He kisses her on the cheek.  

Stella says, this is definitely cause for a celebration, and Portia agrees. Stella says she’s taking the two of them out for dinner tonight to celebrate. Marshall and Trina too. Portia says, they can actually have dinner in here tonight, have some champagne. It’ll be a little bit more relaxing, right? Curtis says, no. Auntie’s right. This is a big deal and they should celebrate it, right? Stella tells him, you said it, baby.

Laura tells Cyrus that she supposes she and Sonny have the sort of friendship that surprises some people, but she had no idea it upset him that much. He says he’s sorry. He’s not upset at Sonny. He supposes he just envies Sonny’s life, and how Sonny seems to have a closer relationship with his sister than he does. She says she’s known Sonny for a very long time, and he says, he knows it’s unlikely, but if he does get his release, perhaps he and Laura can build a bond that’s even stronger than the one she has with Sonny. She kind of shrugs and smiles, and the guard says, time’s up. Cyrus says, wish me luck, and she tells him, good luck. He laughs and pats her hand. He thanks her so much for coming. He hopes to see her again very soon. He leaves with the guard.

Just for the record, I’m aware they spell the prison Pentonville on the show, but I think Pentenville looks more like penitentiary, so, artistic license. Like with Windymere.

Dex says, there. That was the boat. Josslyn is surprised he can see it, and Spinelli says, keen powers of observation. Here they are. Dex says, Pier 17, and Spinelli, the abductor, if that’s what he is, chose his spot well. See what’s around the pier? It’s all warehouses. They’d be deserted at that hour, so even if Ava were to call for help, he doesn’t think she’d be heard. Josslyn says, wait. He took off his hood. Dex asks if Spinelli can tighten it, and Spinelli says, yes, of course (🍷), but the cameras are not high res; it might be grainy. Dex says he knows that guy. That’s Austin Gatlin-Holt’s cousin… Mason.

Austin says, one of Sonny’s guys was here asking about Ava, and Mason says, so? Austin says, what does he mean, so? No one’s heard from her in a couple of days. Mason says, because she’s locked in a basement somewhere. Who cares? Austin says he cares. He cares very much. Mason says, that’s sweet. His cousin is in love. Austin says he’s not joking around here. Don’t you hurt her. Mason says, Austin knows better than to threaten him, and Austin asks if it isn’t enough that Ava spent all this time thinking she killed Nikolas, and Nikolas is alive and well. He’s fine; he’s in Europe. Mason says he didn’t tell the guy to take off. He and Cyrus were the ones who kept him alive in the first place. Austin says, Nikolas is Cyrus’s nephew, and Mason says, forgive him. Cyrus has never struck him as the sentimental type about family, but Austin says, maybe they’re wrong about that. Mason needs to convince Cyrus to leave Ava alone. If that guy comes back for him… Mason says, put him off, but Austin says, no. He thought he already had. He punched Austin in the gut and grabbed him in a chokehold. He said, if anything happens to Ava, he’s coming back for Austin. Mason says, looks like you’ve got a problem, cuz.

Sonny and Nina, and Michael and Willow slow dance, while Kristina dances with the kids. Michael’s phone dings, and he says he has to take this real quick. He’ll be back. Willow calls Wiley over to dance with her, and Sonny asks if he can dance with his little girl. Donna says, yeah, and much cuteness happens. Willow suggests Wiley ask his grandmother to dance, and Wiley asks Nina if she wants to dance. She says, does she? Yeah. They dance as much as you can dance with a three-foot height difference. On the side, Michael says he’s at a family function. He can’t talk long. So, they have the name of the person who turned Drew Cain in to the SEC?

We don’t see his face, but a man tells Michael, the SEC was contacted by a lawyer named Martin Grey, acting on behalf of a client. Michael says, Grey was just a go-between. He needs the name of the person who pointed the SEC to his mom and Drew… He turns around and looks at Nina having a grand old time with Wiley. Ugh. I mean, I get it. She did wrong, but I still feel badly about it since it all finally came together, and everyone is so happy.

Curtis reaches for his water, and Portia tries to help, but he says he’s got it. Doesn’t she have to go back to the hospital, Co-Chief of Staff? She laughs and says she does actually, and he says he’s going to take a shower and he’ll see her tonight. She says she can’t wait, and he wheels himself out of the room. Stella suggests Portia take the basket over to the hospital for the nurses to enjoy, and Portia says, okay. When she gets closer, Stella lowers her voice and says, Portia doesn’t have to do everything. She just got a wonderful well-deserved job and she’ll be making more money. Portia says, right, and The Savoy is making money, and Stella says, but Curtis isn’t there. In his mind, he’s not making a dime. Curtis needs her, he needs all of them, to live out their lives as normally as possible and not walk on eggshells around him. He can go out the restaurant and have a fine time. Portia says she was just thinking he’ll be more comfortable here, that’s all, but Stella says, if something is making Curtis uncomfortable, he’s a grown man and he can tell them himself. Believe her. She knows Curtis and he will. Portia says, okay, and thanks her. They hug, and Stella hands Portia the basket. Portia asks if she’s sure, and Stella says, absolutely. They don’t want nothing that woman has to offer, but she will be keeping the baked goods. Portia takes the basket and leaves.

Josslyn asks if Dex is sure that’s the same guy, and Dex says, positive. Maybe Mason has ties to someone working against Sonny; he’s not sure who yet. Josslyn asks how he can tell from this picture, and Dex says, when he was following Mason, he always had a lollypop in his mouth. Josslyn says, that would explain the grape lollypop at Ava’s, and Spinelli says, here we go. The vehicle that Ava and Mason got in is registered to a Pautuck Trucking Company, Pautuck, New York. Dex says he’s going to need a list of all the employees employed by the trucking company and their addresses, as well as any properties owned or leased by the trucking company. He tells Josslyn, that’s where they’ll find Ava.

Austin says, Mason’s right. He has a problem. Because for some reason, Cyrus hates Sonny Corinthos. Can Mason please explain that to him, because he doesn’t understand. Isn’t there enough to go around for everybody? There’s plenty there. At least there used to be. Mason says he doesn’t get it either. Honestly, he thinks the whole thing started when the boss found out Mayor Collins was his sister. Austin asks, what’s that got to do with anything? and Mason says he doesn’t know. He’s just telling Austin, that’s when Cyrus started mentioning Sonny more and more. He would rant on and on about Corinthos and the life he had. Austin says, what life? They both have the same life. They’re mob bosses. Mason says, he called Sonny respectable. It’s almost as if it’s something he wanted for himself and doesn’t have. Austin says, so his life is in danger because Cyrus is jealous of Sonny Corinthos, but Mason says he thinks it goes deeper than that. Austin says, if that guy comes back, Sonny’s guy, he’s going to spill his guts. And they’re next move is to come after Mason, and then Mason will be as dead as him. Mason tells him, don’t do anything stupid. Austin’s only protection from Sonny is the boss, so just do as he’s told. Let the boss handle Sonny. He leaves.

Wiley and Donna chant, cake, cake, cake, and pound on the table. Sonny and Nina get ready to cut the cake, and Michael watches from the sidelines.

The guard says, this is it, opening the door, and Cyrus goes out into the sunshine wearing civilian clothes. He takes an envelope of the possessions he came with from the guard, and the guard says, he knows his way out. Cyrus says he certainly does, and tosses the envelope into a trashcan on his way to the gate.

Sonny and Nina cut the cake, and Sonny feeds Nina a piece. Michael watches.

Before going through the gate, Cyrus takes a deep breath and smiles.

Sonny and Nina wipe icing off of Donna and Wiley’s faces. Michael glares at Nina. This is bad.

The prison gate opens, and Cyrus walks out. He turns to look back at the prison.

Sonny and Nina kiss and drink champagne. Michael glares some more.

Cyrus gets in a car, and it drives away.

On Monday, Cody wonders if Sasha is going to walk away from her life after just getting it back; Willow says, Michael never told her who he was talking to; and Kristina asks what someone is doing here.

💭 A thought: Interesting that Nina and Cyrus have parallel goals of wanting a family and are both going about it all wrong.

🩺 The Doctor Was Out…

This is embarrassing. He’s my absolute favorite soap actor and I didn’t even realize he’d been gone for so long. Well, nice to have him back.

🧳In Sonny’s Defense…

The punishment fit the crime; being exiled to Bridgeport. And one of the funniest interactions ever, starting with her opening the door to give Sam the boot and him standing there.

🕵🏾 The Latest in Waldos…

It’s time to put him back on the canvas. Taggert is definitely underused.

🥀 Ringing Down the Curtain…

He had a wonderful run.

🗽 Her Face Is Irrelevant…

Doubtful she was joking considering her ego. Tribecca does not need her endorsement.

🧂 Four Teaspoons Of Salt…

This week in RHOSLC.

The slam.

The non-clap back.

To be filed under don’t care.

https://people.com/jen-shah-husband-sharrieff-shah-sends-50th-birthday-well-wishes-prison-exclusive-8303004

🍊 Orange You Done Yet…?

Fancy Pants Heather’s hint.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/style-living/rhoc-season-17-reunion-recap-heather-dubrows-new-house

It was pretty bold for one just released from banishment.

Apparently not too bold though, since the status quo stays the same.

💎 Possible Final Word…

So, they’re separated, but not divorcing, and it’s no one’s fault.

👠 Those 80s Ladies…

Normally, this wouldn’t be my type of film, but I do like an 80s flashback.

https://ew.com/tv/ladies-of-the-80s-lifetime-movie-first-look-photos/

https://people.com/ladies-of-the-80s-a-divas-christmas-lifetime-first-look-photos-8305219

⚰️ News Of the Departed…

Reddest herring in the world.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-melissa-mcbride-season-2/

It makes sense since Jadis was a huge part of the Rick story.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-adds-terry-o-quinn-pollyanna-mcintosh-teaser-photos/

There better be some good explanation of why Victor went from antihero to antichrist.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-scene-madison-victor-reunite-kinda/

Dead at the con.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-york-comic-con-2023-recap-the-walking-dead-universe-rick-michonne-daryl-dixon-carol-fear/#1

🐩 Best In Costume…

I could look at this stuff all day.

https://www.thelist.com/646383/the-best-celebrity-pet-halloween-costumes-ever/

https://www.hola.com/us/lifestyle/20211022325485/celebrity-halloween-costumes-pets-roundup-gallery-1/

📣 Quotes of the Week

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell

If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content. – Leo Tolstoy

I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor. – Horatio Nelson

Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man. – Schopenhauer

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

Our experiences don’t define us. It’s what we’ve learned from them that matters. – Monkey D. Garp (Vincent Regan), One Piece

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. – Mahatma Gandhi,

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. – Henry David Thoreau

Few things will make you feel better than a job brilliantly done. – Robin S. Sharma

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping. – Gertrude Stein

🪄 Putting a Spell On You…

Visit again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s happening in the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay never blowing out a Jack O’Lantern before midnight on Halloween, and stay being aware of hospital protocol before you barge into a doctor’s office.

June 2, 2023 – Mason Comes Calling, The Bureau, Hot Doc, Her Reality, Seeking Peace, VanderCompost, Chef Farewell, Dead Spin, Model Pup (!), Seven Solid Quotes & Born

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jordan is about to knock on Curtis’s door, when she flashes back to their kiss. As she starts to knock, Curtis opens the door, surprised to see her, and she says he’s probably wondering how she knew he was here. He says, so she came to see him? and she says, yes. His wife told her where to find him.

The bank officer tells Spencer that everything seems to be in order, and brings him the safety deposit box. Per instructions of the late Victor Cassadine, the contents of the box now belong to him. He’s sorry for Spencer’s loss. Instead of laughing, Spencer thanks him, and he leaves. Spencer tells Trina, it’s not too late. They can leave the box and walk out of here. He knows his Uncle Victor, and no good will come from opening this box. She asks if he really doesn’t want to know what this box might be protecting his family from.

Ava finds Austin at the hospital, and wonders if she can ask him a question. He says, sure, and she says, it’s about her post-op recovery. She suggests they find somewhere private, and he says, you bet. His voice gets louder, and he says, if they’re going to discuss her post-op recovery, they should probably do it in his office. They walk down the hall, and she says, they’ve got a problem.

Michael walks into Sonny’s old kitchen, and Carly says, perfect timing. She just made brownies. What brings him by? Not wanting to admit he’s there to visit the moss bowl🎍, he flashes back to Josslyn telling him to give Carly the evidence to save herself. Carly says, it’s not bad news, is it?

Josslyn goes to Dex’s apartment, and says, they’re in private, so no one can listen to them. Can he please just email her the video of Sonny taking the shipment from Pikeman? He says he doesn’t have it.

Sonny sees Dante at the pool, and asks if he’s seen Nina, but Dante says he’s been too busy looking at that pretty girl over there, indicating Sam. Sonny says, it looks like they’re in a good place, and Dante says he can’t complain. Sonny seems lighter. Sonny says, maybe it has something to do with him and Nina being engaged, and Dante hugs him, saying, congratulations. That’s awesome news. Things are looking up in Sonny’s world. Sonny says, not everything, as Ned walks in. Sonny goes over to Ned, and Sam asks Dante, what’s going on with Sonny? Dante says he doesn’t know, and asks if Sam knew Sonny and Nina got engaged. She says she just overheard him telling Dante, but she guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. This means he and Carly have truly moved on.

Carly asks if Willow is okay, but he says he spoke to her this morning, and so far, so good. She asked about Carly. She’s worried; they both are. Carly says she doesn’t want Willow worrying about her. She has to focus on herself. Would he please tell Willow that she’s fine? He says, they both know she’s not fine, and from what she told him, she doesn’t have many options. She says she’ll take her chances in court, or go for a deal, okay? and he says, which means offering up Drew or dad to the Feds. She says she knows it’s not much of a choice… and he says, so she’s going to take her chance in court? She says she doesn’t know, but it’s her decision to make. That’s why she doesn’t want him and Josslyn fighting over this. This is her problem. He says, what affects her, affects them, and she says she knows that. Whatever decision she makes will be what’s best for this family. He asks what decision that will be.

Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t have the footage? and he says he gave the only copy to Michael. She asks, why? and he says, because it’s his property. Michael paid him, he gave Michael the footage; end of story. She says, it’s not end of story, because that video’s the one shot her mom has at not going to prison. He says, then she needs to get it from Michael, and she says she can’t believe he risked his life to get this video, and he doesn’t keep a copy for insurance. He says, that’s not how he works. He provides a service. When he was in the military, he had a mission, an objective, and he completed it. He didn’t take ownership of it. It’s the exact same thing now. Michael hired him; the footage belongs to him. Even if he had a copy, which he doesn’t, he couldn’t give it to her.

Ned says, no need for Sonny to get in his face. He has no beef with him. Sonny says, only with Carly, ratting her out to the SEC? That’s low, even for a Quartermaine. Ned says he doesn’t owe Sonny any explanations. He’s here to see his wife. Sonny says, Ned’s not going anywhere until he’s done with him.

Ava tells Austin that Nikolas inherited property in the Chechen Republic, and Laura thinks that’s where he’s been hiding out. Austin asks, why? and she says, the theory is that Victor hid him there once before, and Laura wants to fly to Chechnya, find him, and bring him home. He says, she told him they have a problem. If Laura wants to go to Chechnya, she’s not going to find him. Let her go. Let her try. Ava says, it’s dangerous. She could be hurt or worse. They have to stop her. He says he’s going to push back on that just a little bit. If Ava goes to Laura and tells her not to go to Chechnya to look for her long lost son, she’s going to want to know why. He totally understands that she’s worried, but she can’t say anything to Laura. She can’t do anything to raise suspicion. She says she can’t have any more blood on her hands, especially not Laura’s.

Curtis says, Jordan spoke to Portia about him? but she says, don’t worry. She didn’t tell Portia what happened with them at The Savoy. Isn’t he going to invite her in? He says, absolutely, and she walks in the house. She says, it really is lovely here. When was he going to tell her that he moved back home? He says, actually, he was coming to find her right now. He opened the door and there she was. She says, she’s always here when he needs her, except she’s not sure it works the other way around. He says, she’s angry, and she says, he can add hurt to that. Definitely confused. After they kissed, they agreed she’d wait, and while she was waiting, he reconciled with his new wife.

Spencer puts the key in the box, and tells Trina, if Pandora had left that box closed, the world would have been spared its evils. She says, hope also came out of that box. Stop stalling. He opens it, and she asks if that’s what she thinks it is. He says, what fresh hell? and takes out a tablet. He tries it, and says, of course (🍷). No juice. Maybe it’s sign. He puts it back in the box and closes it, but she says, it just needs a fresh charge. Good thing his girl always comes prepared. She digs in her bag, and says, her dad has a rule; she should never be without a charge. She takes out a charger, and he says, remind him to thank her dad the next time he sees him. She plugs in the tablet, and he takes an envelope out of the box, pulling out a paper. She asks if that’s a receipt, and he says, from an online pharmacy. This is a prescription filled from Esme for the same drug that almost killed Oz Haggerty. She says, and poisoned her.

Carly says she’s not selling anybody out, but Michael says, maybe she shouldn’t look at it that way. She asks how she’s supposed to see it. She either turns on the man she loves or the man she used to love, who happens to be the father of her kids. He says, she told Sonny that she wouldn’t double-cross him. While that’s admirable, from where he’s standing, Sonny hasn’t exactly extended the same courtesy to her or this family. She says, that’s not true. Sonny offered to give her information that she could offer the Feds; something he could defend himself against. She turned him down. She doesn’t want to open that door. He says, what if she had something Sonny couldn’t defend himself against?

Ned suggests he save Sonny and himself some time. If he doesn’t pull some strings and get the SEC to stop the investigation against Drew and Carly, Sonny makes him pay. Is that the gist of it? Sonny says, Ned’s going to pay, and Sam tells Dante that he may want to do something about this. Ned asks if Sonny is threatening him, but Sonny says he doesn’t threaten people; he gets even. He thought they had mutual respect, until Ned went after the mother of his kids. Ned says he had nothing to do with it, and they start yelling at each other. Dante comes over, and tells them to settle down, but Ned says he’s not the one who started this. Sonny says he’ll finish it. Is that what Ned wants? Olivia comes out, and asks, what the hell is going on here?

Ava tells Austin that she’s a mother too. She understands what Laura is going through, but she can’t risk anything happening to Laura while she searches for Nikolas, especially since it’s her fault he’s gone in the first place. He says, let’s do it. Let’s figure out a way to stop Laura. She thanks him, and he says he’d like to propose some terms though. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t see any reason to rush things. It’s probably hard for anybody to go to Chechnya, let alone an American, and it’s probably not going to be easy for Laura to get out of Chechnya. So whatever plan Laura comes up with has to be well thought out and considered, and hopefully, that will give them some time to really think about how to stop her.

Curtis tells Jordan that him moving back in with Portia isn’t a reconciliation. It’s just a first step. She asks if Portia knows that, and he says he’s staying in the guest room. She says, even so, what gives? Was he ever considering reviving what they had together, or was she just there to help him sort out his feelings for his wife? He says he’d never play her like that. What happened between them was spontaneous. It was compulsive, but it was completely organic. She says, maybe this is on her. She got wrapped up in a single kiss. She misread the situation, didn’t she?

Spencer says he wasn’t sure Trina knew that Esme drugged her that night at the cabin, and she says, her mom and Curtis suspected it. She barely drank that night, and certainly not enough to make her feel so out of it. How did he know? Did Esme tell him? He says he found pills. He was going through all Esme’s things trying to find something that would clear Trina in court, and he brought one of the pills to Britt. She told him that it was an opioid analgesic, something if mixed with alcohol could cause a person to lose consciousness. He’s so sorry. She says, so is she, and he says he means he’s sorry he didn’t tell her about this sooner, but things just kept happening, one thing on top of another, and he guesses it just got buried. He’s sorry. She says, she knows. It’s okay. it’s been a lot, but it sure comes back up though. It was such a violation, and it started the whole revenge porn case. At least she didn’t end up like Oz Haggerty in a coma. He says he wanted to be the one to save her, but he didn’t have any actual proof. She picks up the prescription, and says, until now.

Ava thanks Austin, and says she feels so much better. It really helps her that she has someone to share this with. He says, literally any time. When she said there was a problem, he thought she might have heard from Mason, but she says, not a peep. He says, that’s great, but weird, because usually when he has his hooks in somebody, he’s not inclined to let go. She says, small favors, as he opens his office door. Can they hope that Mason has given up… Just outside the door, Mason says, given up on them? Never.

Dex opens his laptop and tells Josslyn, look for herself. She says, if he tells her it’s not there, she believes him. She has to. Because if he’s lying, they’ve got nothing. He says he spent months telling her half-truths and keeping secrets. He won’t do that again. She says, even if it’s his job? Just like it was his job to get the video for Michael, and not keep a copy, and not give it to her? He says, to him, honesty and evidence are two different things. He can tell her what he’s doing, but he can’t make her a part of it.

Ned says, he and Sonny were just having a friendly chat; one where he just shuts up and listens. Olivia says, in case Sonny’s forgotten, this is her place of business, and Sonny says, so he can’t have a conversation in her hotel? Sam says she thinks what Olivia means is, they should do this more privately, and Dante says, like not at a patio with a pool full of witnesses. Sonny says, to be continued, and Ned says he gets that Sonny is pissed. Had he done what Sonny is accusing him of doing, Sonny would have every right to threaten him, but as God is his witness, it wasn’t him.

 Michael says, at least he and Sonny are in agreement about one thing; they both don’t want Carly to go to prison. Carly says she knows he has huge issues with his dad, and he says he does. Despite everything that happened, he still had to come to grips with wanting to save his mother at the expense of his father. Carly says, it’s a good thing he doesn’t have to, and Michael says, Joss is worried about her and so is he. If it came down to the choice of saving her or Sonny… She says she’s not going to sacrifice Sonny to save her own skin; she won’t do that. He says, what if he does it instead?

Trina wonders how this receipt got here. Is there something else in that envelope? Spencer takes out a folded paper, and says, it’s a letter, handing it to Trina. She reads: Dear Maggie, I need your advice. I may be in a lot of trouble… He says, that’s Esme’s nanny, takes the letter and reads: That sleazy bartender I met has been harassing me. I tried to convince him to leave me alone, and things got out of control. I slipped him something so I could get away. I may have seriously hurt him. Trina asks if Spencer realizes what this is, and he says, evidence. She says, it’s got to be Esme’s handwriting, and he says, it looks like it. She says, isn’t that just like Esme, trying to slant things to make herself look like the victim? She’s the one who purposely drugged Oz Haggerty. You could never induce that girl to tell the truth. He says, total amnesia could, and Trina says, this is amazing. A receipt that proves Esme bought the drugs that could incapacitate two people, and a written confession. What else do they need? He asks if she thinks it’s enough, and she says, only one way to find out. She opens the fastest charging tablet in the world, and they look at it.

Curtis says, Jordan didn’t misread anything. His feelings for her are real, and him moving in here doesn’t change that. I call him an idiot, and she asks, how real are his feelings for Portia? He says he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have feelings for Portia as well, and she says she’s out of here. He says, she accused him of not giving their marriage the chance it needed, and she was right. When Jordan wanted to work on things, he walked away because he wasn’t ready to handle the pain at that time. Now he’s trying to learn from his mistake. It wouldn’t be fair to her and Portia if he walked away from his marriage before he sorted out his feelings. She asks how he plans on doing that, and he says, by not avoiding Portia, by committing to having the hard conversation, by doing what he didn’t do with her, and that’s putting in the hard work. She says, that’s admirable, and great news for Portia, but where does that leave her?

Ned says, Sonny is right. They’re families have had an ugly history, but they share a family member. They both prioritize family, and granted, the Quartermaines don’t always show it. But when push comes to shove, they’re loyal and they pull together. When he threatened Drew, he was angry, but that’s where it ended. And he considers Carly family, not just because she’s Michael’s mother, but she’s Olivia’s best friend, and loved by his son Leo. He would never hurt her. Sonny suggests they not pretend Ned would never act in his own self-interest. His family loyalty took a vacation when he threw in with Valentin, and that’s the reason Carly lost half her hotel. Ned says, and he regrets that, which is why he’d never kick her while she’s down. Olivia says, she and Sonny go way back, which is why she’s not asking him to believe Ned. She’s asking Sonny to believe her. Her husband didn’t do this.

Mason says, don’t Austin and Ava look comfortable; all cozy and at ease. Did they miss him? Mason comes in, and Austin closes the office door. Mason says, sorry he’s been gone so long. He was out of town on important business. But worry not. He didn’t forget about them. He’s keeping tabs. Austin asks, how? and Mason asks if anybody ever told Austin that he worries too much. He should be more like their girl Ava. She’s been living her life; carrying on without a care in the world. It’s almost as if she didn’t miss her husband.

Dex says he’s sorry. Josslyn’s scared about her mom, and she came to him thinking he could save her, but he can’t. He feels like he’s failing her. Josslyn says she came up with a plan that didn’t work. She thought he could give her something he literally doesn’t have. So it’s not his fault. None of this is his fault. It’s her family’s mess, and she doesn’t know how to fix it. If her mom doesn’t turn in that evidence, and goes to prison, then Donna literally has nobody except Sonny and Nina, and she needs her mom. He says, Donna will have her. He thinks Josslyn needs her mom too, and Josslyn says, but she’s grown, and she shouldn’t need her mom as much as she does. He says, we always need the people who care about us the most, and she says she can’t sit here and do nothing. She has to find a way to help her mom. He suggests she start by trusting her mom.

Carly tells Michael, the Feds have been circling this family for years. She hasn’t talked, and she’s not going to start now, even for a deal. He says, she could probably send Sonny away with what she already knows, and she shrugs. He says, but there’s a way to ensure she never has to open her mouth. He takes out the flashdrive, and tells her, what’s on this flashdrive is irrefutable evidence that Sonny violated the National Security Act. Just give him the word, and he’ll make sure the relevant parties see it. Her hands will be clean. She asks, what’s on the flashdrive? and he says, video footage of Sonny and his crew finalizing a deal to transport a dangerous weapon. She asks how he knows this. How did he even get that flashdrive? He says, because he commissioned it.

Sonny says, because of Olivia, this is over, but if he hears Ned had any part of this… Ned says he won’t, and Olivia tells Sonny, see you around, and leaves with Ned. Sam gives Sonny and Dante some space, and Dante says, what the hell was that? Sonny says, from what he knows, Ned had something to do with Carly’s problems with the SEC. What does Dante expect him to do? Dante says, not that. He wants to go to bat for the mother of his children, that’s fine, but don’t go after Ned in a public place. Ned has an accident or something, and who does Sonny think they’ll want him to talk to? Sonny. Does he really want both of Donna’s parents to end up behind bars?

Carly says, Michael paid someone to spy on Sonny? and he says he needed proof of criminal liability that could send Sonny to prison for the rest of his life, and this was more than he could ask for. Obviously upset, Carly asks what he was thinking. What’s on that drive could destroy their family. He says he knows. Willow told him the same thing. That’s why, after they got married, he decided to forget about taking Sonny down anymore. She says, but he still held on to it, and he says, it’s a good thing he did. This could be the only thing that’s standing between her and federal prison.

Dex says, Josslyn can’t tell Carly how to handle this, anymore than Carly can tell her how to handle her life. Josslyn says, she definitely has opinions, and he says, about him; about her being with him. Josslyn says, she told him; her mom just doesn’t want to see her get hurt. She never directly told Josslyn not to be with him. She knows Josslyn wouldn’t listen. He says, it would have solved all their problems if he’d done what Michael wanted and left Port Charles, but she says, not really, because she offered to go with him, and she meant it. He says he knows, and the fact that she was willing to do that terrified him.

Ava says, you freak, and Austin steps between her and Mason, who says, ouch. Is that really what she thinks of him? After everything he’s done for her? Does he need to refresh their memories about what would have happened if he hadn’t stepped in to solve their little problem? They don’t like sunshine and fresh air? Because he could go to the PCPD right now, and guarantee they never see those again. Austin asks, what’s his point? Is there one? Does he have a purpose, or is he just there to torment them? Mason says, don’t rush him. Although he appreciates the go-getter attitude. He’s going to need it. It’s time for the two of them to show poor old Mason some appreciation.

Looking at the tablet, Trina says, is that… Spencer says, Esme with the bartender, and she says, this looks like a still from the security camera on the docks. What are they doing? Spencer says, that’s a hand-off, and Trina asks if this is proof Esme paid for a burner phone; the same one she filmed Joss and Cam with? He says, sure looks like it, and she says, all this time they thought Esme could cover up her tracks so well. She guesses there’s no such thing as a perfect crime. He says, no. At least not where his Uncle Victor is concerned.

Curtis says he knows this is uncomfortable for Jordan, and he knows it isn’t fair. But he never would have asked her to wait if he thought she was some consolation prize. She asks if Portia knows she’s the other half of this equation, and he doesn’t say anything. She says, for someone who hates dishonesty, doesn’t he think he should be fully transparent to both women in his life? He says he does. There’s just more at play here. She says, Portia told her the news. He’s Trina’s father. He says he is, and she says, congratulations. He thanks her, and she says, he’s navigating so much. Is there really room in his life for another complication? He says, she’s much more than that. It just took him too long to realize it. Can she give him just a little bit more time?

Mason says, if it wasn’t for him, they would both be behind bars, and Austin suggests Mason just tell them what he has in mind. Mason says he has something he needs them to do, and Ava says she’d be happy to buy him a bus ticket out of town. He doesn’t even have to ask. Mason says, Ava’s attitude will come in handy, as well as her charisma and fearlessness. Ava’s got all the charisma they need. Ava says, his needs are not her problem, and her ample charisma is none of his damn business. Mason says, so feisty, and Austin says, she is. Why doesn’t he just explain to Ava what he wants from her? Mason says, we want to work your very specific connections, and Ava says, we who? And what connections is he talking about? Does he want a deal on a piece of art? Mason says, it’s not about her art. It’s about her family.

Trina says she has so many questions. How did Spencer’s uncle obtain all this evidence, and how long was he sitting on it for? And if he hadn’t died, would Spencer have ever known? Spencer says, those are all valid questions. This safety deposit box contains a smoking gun. This is exactly what he was hoping for. Trina suggests they get everything together and go to the PCPD. He has everything he needs to get custody of his baby brother.

Jordan says she’s been living in limbo since her and Curtis’s divorce. While he reunited with Portia, fell in love, and proposed, she found herself buried in work, even resisting going out on dates. He says he never wanted that for her, but she says she’s not blaming him. It was her choice not to move on. Maybe subconsciously she was holding out for hope. He says he doesn’t want to keep her waiting. That’s exactly why they’re having this conversation, so he can find out where he stands with Portia, and find out where he stands with her. She says she knows where they stand. She hopes he can find what he’s looking for here, and hopes he and Portia can be happy, together or apart. He says, and her? and she says she has to truly let go; finally. Two years was too long to put her life on hold. She leaves.

Olivia says she’s sorry, but Ned says he doesn’t blame her. He’s let her down before. She says, he’s also been there before, like with Leo. She should have never doubted him. Can he forgive her? He says, maybe. Can she remind him what she said to Sonny again? She says, my husband didn’t do this? and he says, one more time. She repeats it with tears in her voice, and he kisses her.

Josslyn tells Dex, she gets it. This is just too much. What started as a casual thing just got way too intense. He says, they’ve never put a label on their relationship. In the beginning, he was excited to just spend time with her, but usually she was tearing into him for working for Sonny. Then she rescued him from a meat hook, patched him up when he was shot. She even covered for him when he took a shot at that killer on the docks. She says, anyone would have done that, and he says, not anyone would have gone to the lengths for him that she has.

Sonny says, Donna shouldn’t have to lose time with her mother in jail, and Dante says, okay, but Carly’s actions bear some responsibility, no? Sonny says, she didn’t do it on purpose, but whoever pointed the SEC at Carly and Drew sure as hell did. There’s an agenda. Sam comes back with drinks, and Dante says, Sonny sounds like he has someone in mind other than Ned. Sam says, that tip to the SEC was anonymous, and Sonny says, anybody could be trying to get to Carly, or use Carly to get to him.

Carly covers her face with her hands, and Michael says he’d decided this information would never serve a good purpose, but now he realizes it could save her. Does she want to use it, or does she want him to? Carly says she’d prefer it didn’t exist, and he says he respects that, but if she changes her mind… She says she won’t. This footage can never see the light of day. Who else knows about this? Wait. I haven’t seen the moss bowl🎍since that first scene. Did Michael steal it when she wasn’t looking?

Dex says, Josslyn has defended him to her mom, gone to bat for him with her brother, and even pleaded his case to Sonny. She’s special; once in a lifetime. The thought of losing her scares him because he’s in love with her. Now it’s his turn to ask; is this too much for her? She says she loves him too, and they kiss.

Pfft! for a Friday ending.

On Monday, Tracy asks what the hell someone is doing; Mason wants Ava to use her connection to Sonny; and Trina asks Spencer what he’s keeping from her.

💣 Spy Vs Spy…

What the WSB is all about.

🧑🏽‍⚕️ Most Wanted…

It doesn’t surprise me that everyone wants to work with him. And he’s one of the few I’ll allow to have a man bun.

👏🏼 She Has the Clap…

My least favorite OC Housewife.

💎 Good Luck With That…

These people are just weird.

🍸 You Know the Drill…

Bombshells and rumors.

Ariana speaks.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Although I do think the reason she’s so vapid is that Ariana was right the first time; she finds her identity in men. Without a puppeteer, she’s a literal blank slate.

https://www.etonline.com/raquel-leviss-addresses-her-future-on-vanderpump-rules-after-scandoval-205751

Most of this isn’t shocking. It’s a little sad how Ariana feels about LVP. Of course LVP can do no wrong, but I actually see where she’s coming from. She’s a lot older than the cast, and she’s always taken on the mom role. It’s not that she condones what that awful weasel with a moustache did, but as one of her kids, she’s not totally turning her back. And seriously, is she supposed to pull out of her investment in TomTom?

https://screenrant.com/shocking-reveals-scandoval-unseen-vanderpump-rules-season-10/#production-pushed-raquel-to-text-ariana-an-apology

👩🏽‍🍳 Packing Her Knives…

Obviously I watch more than I recap, and this one’s a favorite of mine. She’ll be missed.

⚰️ Spinning In Their Graves…

What’s coming up on the Dead horizon.

🐕 Canine Recreation…

This is precious.

https://people.com/christie-brinkley-senior-dog-recreate-2014-people-cover-exclusive-7505871

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You’ll find they haven’t half the strength you think they have. – Norman Vincent Peale

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt (Oooh, snap!)

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. – Haruki Murakami

There’s diseases in mouse poops. – the son of a hoarder, Hoarders

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

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. – Malala Yousafzai

The haunted house was a success. We made people cry.Jonah Johnston, 7 Little Johnstons

🌿  Springing Into Summer…

Enjoy your break from the daily, unless enjoyment is your daily. If so, carry on. Perhaps there will be a dip in the Dead pool on Sunday, but definitely on Monday really Tuesday there will be soap, Deck, and awful Summer people for all. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping cool in hot situations, and stay opening any safety deposit box you’re bequeathed. You never know.