Tag Archives: Lala Kent

October 24, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Pays Ronnie a Visit, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, A Rarity, An Ending, Spooky Viewing, All Dressed Up Plus a PSA, One Dozen Quotes & A Thrill

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

Carly had wine with Jack and asked how his business trip was, even though the moss bowl🎍was probably more interested than she was. He told her about Charlotte’s visit with her father, and she said she hoped he got what he wanted from Valentin. He said he didn’t see the flowers he’d sent, and she said she had to throw them out.

Marco told Nathan that the arraignment was going to be handled by ADA Lansing-Davis. Marco saw Molly come in and went to talk to her.

Nina was brought into the courtroom and hugged Nathan. Willow was brought in, and she stared at Nina.

Michael asked why Dante thought he’d framed Willow. Dante said his grandfather’s gun had been found at Elizabeth’s and Willow said he put it there.

At the tea party, Olivia introduced Lucy to Ronnie, and Lucy immediately gave Ronnie a real estate spiel and her card, but Olivia intercepted it and said it wasn’t a business meeting. They were hoping Ronnie would make Port Charles her permanent home. Lucy said she was also the town historian. Ask her anything. Fun fact. This used to be her house when she married Monica’s husband Alan.

Tracy told Brook that she was glad to throw the party for Ronnie. What better way to demonstrate that she didn’t belong and never would?

Portia saw Elizabeth outside the Quartermaines and said she wasn’t just having morning sickness in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she told Curtis, but Portia said she wasn’t going to until she knew for sure he was the father. They went inside and Stella greeted them. Elizabeth asked, how’s the vibe? and Stella said there were a lot of ladies, tea, and tons of finger food. She hoped they were hungry.

Olivia introduced Felicia to Ronnie and said she was an Aztec princess. Ronnie curtsied, but Felicia said she gave up the title a long time ago. Tracy laughed, and Brook told her not to be mean. She suggested Tracy welcome Ronnie.

Jack asked why Carly threw out the flowers, and Carly flashed back to smashing the vase. She said they’d slipped out of her hands and shattered, and it seemed best to throw them out. He said he was afraid she was still mad about Josslyn and Vaughn, and she said he wasn’t wrong about that.

The judge said, first up, was The People vs Willow Tate, and Willow said she thought she and Nina were going to be charged together. Willow pled not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, and they moved on to bail. Molly said Willow had a history of erratic behavior and her mother had ample means to spirit her away, but Martin said that was absurd. Willow had strong ties to the community, was a nurse, and had two children in Port Charles. She had no criminal history and the victim was there in support of her. But the judge agreed she was a definite flight risk and bail was denied.

Martin saw Lulu in the hallway, and she said she’d been covering for someone from the Port Charles Press. They’d arrived and she had to go to a tea party to meet Monica’s long lost sister. They’d been estranged, but Monica left the house and most of the estate to her. Martin said it must have made Tracy furious and that made him happy, and Lulu left for the party.

Ronnie met Portia, and Tracy told Stella that she was staying out of the way in case she got blamed for stirring the pot. Stella said she took it that Tracy wasn’t a fan, and Tracy asked, what’s not to like about a gold digging grifter? Stella said there still might be trouble. Portia and Jordan were in the same room and on the brink of open warfare. Tracy said as long as Brook couldn’t blame her.

Ronnie said Jordan was absolutely stunning (truth!) and wondered why she was single – not that there was anything wrong with that. Jordan said she’d been focused on her career, and Portia said she had a hunch Jordan wouldn’t be single long. She asked Brook if there was herbal or decaf tea and Brook went to get it.

Jack said he knew something was off, and Carly said she’d been struggling. He said he thought she understood he had no choice, and she said she thought she did, but had time to think about it. Did she really want to be with someone who was basically required to keep things from her, even if they involved the people she loved? He asked if she was ending things.

Nina said she felt terrible, but Nathan said there was nothing she could do. Focus on her own situation. Was she going to take the plea deal?

Drew wondered what the judge was thinking, and Martin said Willow would be transported to Pentenville as soon as Nina was arraigned. His hands were tied. He had to leave and suggested Willow get a lawyer to represent her at trial. He was already representing Drew, and she needed an actual criminal defense attorney, a damn good one.

On the patio, Dante told Michael that he wasn’t there as a cop, but convince him that he didn’t shoot Drew. Michael said the police had evidence that proved Willow was guilty, and Dante said Michael wasn’t there when Chase and Anna came back with the second warrant. Where did he go? Willow said he was in Elizabeth’s house. Michael said Elizabeth told him that he could wait, and Dante said he had ample opportunity to plant the gun. Michael said he didn’t. He wanted to talk to Willow about family therapy. He’d noticed that the visitation hearing was moved to January, and it was too long for the kids to go without seeing their mom. If he framed Willow, that meant he shot Drew. Did Dante think he could? Dante said between Michael and Willow, Michael had the stronger motive.

Carly said, when they met, she and Jack had an easy rapport, even though he’d been keeping secrets from her, big ones. She came to him for help with Lucky and he called in an air strike. He said he knew how important she was to him even thin, more than any woman had ever been. He’d do anything for her. She asked how he could keep her in the dark about daughter.

Felicia said Stella took no guff from difficult patients, and Ronnie said she had her share of nasty customers at the diner. Stella said she had the feeling Ronnie wasn’t a guff taker either, and Ronnie said, nope. Tracy said, et tu, Stella?

Martin found Lulu in the foyer and said she left her phone at the courthouse, but she said it wasn’t hers. She had it in her bag. He was about to leave, when Stella told them to come in and meet Monica’s sister.

Michael told Dante that Willow had every reason to shoot Drew. He’d lied to her from the beginning and slept with her mother. Dante said they’d reconciled, but Michael said maybe she had second thoughts. Dante said Michael and Drew were at odds. Drew blew up Michael’s family and was trying to get his kid, and Michael had a history of violence. Michale said he was protecting his mom and sister, and Dante said they would still use it against him. He should turn himself in. Michael said Dante gave him the same advice last time, and even though he was under 18, he was sentenced as an adult and went to Pentenville. Why would he ever take Dante’s advice again?

The judge called The People vs Nina Reeves. The charge was conspiracy to commit murder, and she asked how Nina pled. Molly said the prosecution was amending the charge to making a false statement, and Nina pled guilty. Willow asked Martin what Nina was doing.

Jack said when he and Carly started getting serious, they discussed parameters and he was clear about his work. Carly said they’d been through so much since then and she learned to trust him. She was convinced he’d never do anything to hurt her, but he did. Nothing was more important to her than her kids and he knew that, but he let Josslyn be pulled into his world and said nothing. Why didn’t he tell her that Josslyn was in danger?

Martin met Ronnie and explained he was a party crasher. He’d thought his niece left her phone at Willow’s arraignment. Stella asked how it went, but he said, not well, and Lucy asked if it was true that the gun was found in Elizabeth’s house. Elizabeth said, unfortunately, yes, and Lucy asked if she thought Willow was capable of shooting Drew. Tracy said she thought Willow would be a poisoner, but she must have thought that took too long, and Elizabeth said it wasn’t the time or place for gossip. Lucy said, it was merely conversation, and Lulu offered Portia some finger food. Elizabeth intercepted the tray and said she’d see if the other guests wanted some, and Portia looked sick. Jordan looked at Portia.

Dante said he’d never forgive himself for the part he played in Michael going to prison, but Michael said he shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry. Dante said, don’t apologize. He knew that and wasn’t trying to upset Michael or make Michael think he didn’t believe in him, but since he’d been back from Germany, Dante had seen a different side. Michael always had the ruthless thing going on, but seemed harder and colder. Michael asked if Dante could blame him, and Dante said he couldn’t, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t worry or wonder what Michael was capable of. Maybe shooting his uncle in cold blood.

Stella told Ronnie that everything in the house told a story, and Ronnie said, if the walls could talk. Stella said she was sure the Quartermaines were happy they didn’t, and Ronnie said she got the sense that when the Quartermaines were quiet, that’s when you had to worry. Stella said it didn’t take Ronnie long to figure them out, when Martin said he was going to get while the gettin’ was good. Stella walked him out while Ronnie sipped her tea.  

Molly said the DA’s office had a plea deal that they were ready to present. In exchange for Nina pleading guilty, she’d get probation for one year and a $10,000 fine. Willow said Nina was recanting and helping the DA to save herself, and Drew yelled, bitch! How could she do this to her own daughter? The judge banged her gavel.

Jack said he didn’t tell Carly because there was nothing to tell. Josslyn was unwittingly dating an agent, but she was never Vaughn’s target or part of his mission. She was never in any danger, but he could understand why Carly was angry. Carly said it was a betrayal like no other, and he said he hated that and felt worse because he caused it. He cared about her and couldn’t lose her. Please tell him that he hadn’t. She asked him to promise one thing, and he said he’d try. She said she knew Vaughn and Josslyn broke up, so it wasn’t an issue, but in the future, if he found out Josslyn was at risk, promise he’d tell her. He promised, and she said he hadn’t lost her. She kissed him and he said, thank God. Did she want to have dinner with him tonight? She said she had a girls’ night with Donna, and he said he couldn’t beat that offer. She suggested a raincheck, and he said, absolutely, as long as they were really okay. She said they were, and he said he didn’t know how it happened, but she was his whole world. She said she felt the same, and he left.

The judge shouted for order, and Drew said Nina backstabbed her own daughter. He hoped she felt good about it. The judge said, another outburst, and she’d have him removed. Molly said Nina had signed a sworn statement, but needed to recant vocally on record. Nina asked if it was really necessary, and Nathan said she had to, for her sake and Willow’s. Nina said, on the night of September 2nd, 2025, between 9 pm and 10:33 pm, she was in her apartment at 979 Carlyle, alone. She didn’t see her daughter until later at General Hospital after Congressman Cain was shot. Willow began to cry.

Michael said if that’s how Dante thought of him, how could he stand to be in the same room? and Dante said he couldn’t ignore what he’d seen. Before the accident, Michael let Willow take the kids. Michael said Dante was ignoring what Willow had done while he was gone and was condemning him, and Dante said the old Michael was more compassionate. Michael said Willow proved herself unfit in his absence and stalked Daisy, but Dante said he didn’t have any proof that Willow targeted Daisy. Maybe he was framing her for that. Michael said he sent his newborn to another continent. Did Dante think he’d do that if he didn’t believe she was in danger? She was growing up without him. Every time Daisy’s mom sent a picture, it was like a knife in his heart. Dante said if he was so sure it was Willow, bring Daisy back, and Michael said he’d love to, but as Dante said, he had no proof. He wasn’t risking Daisy’s life like that. Even if Willow hadn’t been the one targeting Daisy, it wouldn’t matter. He could still prove his children weren’t safe with her. Dante said Willow loved those kids. She loved Wiley like her own. Michael said, letting her adopt Wiley was his first mistake. Wiley was scared and confused because of Willow. Her needs and feelings came first, even if it hurt her children. No more. Dante said it was all just a shame, and Michael said, like Dante told him, he’d changed, and so had Willow. She’d been in a downward spiral for a while. If Dante didn’t think she was capable of putting a bullet in Drew’s back, he was grossly underestimating her.

Olivia insisted that Portia try a stuffed mushroom, and Portia ate one. She said it was so good, then dashed out. Jordan followed.  

Lucy said the house was so beautiful, but felt stuffy, and Ronnie said when she fits got there, she couldn’t tell the difference between the crypt and the main house. Lulu told Lucy that she thought Ronnie had something stronger in her tea, and Lucy said they were going to grab a water for her. Ronnie said, sounds good, and Olivia asked how she was feeling. Ronnie said, good, so good, and Olivia said she knew it was a lot. Maybe Ronnie should lie down for a little bit. Ronnie said, why? They were in the middle of a party. Besides, things are gonna get fun now. She tapped on the teapot with a metal utensil, and asked, who wanted to cut loose and have fun? They could start with the music and play something less snoozy. Who was in charge of the music? She banged on the teapot again, and Tracy said, stop banging. That was her mother’s teapot, and Ronnie could break it. Ronnie said, who cares? It wasn’t a museum. It was a home, and it was her home. She laughed and said, so, ladies, please. In her home feel free to let their hair down and just do whatever they want to do. Kick off their shoes and take off whatever they wanted. She sat on the couch, took off her shoes, and said, that’s better. She put her feet up on the coffee table.

Carly called Spinelli and said she needed his help. But if he did this, he couldn’t tell anyone, not even Jason… Yes, it was that important. Please. She didn’t have anyone else to turn to… She thanked him and said she appreciated this. He needed to create a new identity for her, starting with a fake passport with a digital trail that could stand up to an extreme background check. Can he do that, please?… Don’t ask. Just make it good.

The judge said Nina was free to go. Arrangements were being made to transfer Willow to Pentenville. Willow said, this can’t be happening. It’s not fair. Nina forced her to lie. It was Nina’s idea. Nina said she was trying to help Willow, and Willow said she was going to prison because of Nina’s help. Nina said she’d explain later, but Willow said, don’t bother. It won’t matter. She hated Nina for this. Leave her alone. She was innocent and Nina should be behind bars. Drew had to help her. He said he promised, and as she was taken away, Willow said, he promised.

Dante said Michael would do anything for his kids, wouldn’t he? and Michael said he thought he knew what Dante was getting to. He was going to ask if Michael would kill for them. The answer was yes, but he thought Dante would say the same thing. Dante said it sounded like Michael would have no problem framing Willow – Lucy and Lulu almost walked in, but listened from the hallway – and Michael said if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead. He wished he had framed Willow. He’d make damn sure she was guilty and his children would never have to see her again. Lucy looked at Lulu.

In the foyer, Jordan asked if Portia felt better, but Portia said she felt fine. Jordan said she saw Portia run out and she seemed nauseous, but Portia said she was perfectly fine. Jordan said Portia was pregnant, wasn’t she?

Tracy said Ronnie was clearly inebriated, but Ronnie said she was relaxed. Had Tracy ever in her whole life been relaxed one time? Tracy said, not recently. She wasn’t surprised that Ronnie had a drinking problem. Ronnie said she did not have a drinking problem, but Tracy had a problem, a big problem. Did Tracy want to hear what it was? Felicia said this wasn’t going to end well, and Elizabeth said, but she couldn’t look away. Ronnie said she’d tell Tracy anyway, and Tracy said, of course (🍷). Ronnie said Tracy was uptight, frigid, and completely undersexed. She needed to go out and find herself a debaucherous, degenerate guy to take care of them for her. Stella dropped her cup and it shattered on the floor, and Ronnie laughed, flopping onto the sofa.

Tuesday:

Drew walked into Alexis’s house and said he was making her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Kai met Curtis at Bobbie’s and said he was getting back Trina’s trust. Curtis said that would make it easier for him to ask this.

Trina and Josslyn were at the Brown Dog Bar and Josslyn said she sensed something was weighing on Trina. She was here for Trina, always. Trina said her parents were getting a divorce.

Portia said she wasn’t pregnant, but Jordan listed everything pointing to it. She asked if Curtis knew.

Tracy asked Ronnie to repeat what she’d said, but Olivia thought they got the gist. She left to get coffee, water, or anything, and Brook suggested Tracy go out for some fresh air. Ronnie said Tracy was full of hot air, and Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t speak to her like that. Ronnie said she’d speak how she wanted to in her house, and Tracy said she was three sheets to the wind. She took flowers out of a vase and was about to throw the water on Ronnie, and Ronnie said, don’t you dare.

Trina told Josslyn about Portia altering Heather’s test results. Somehow Drew found out and had been blackmailing her parents. Josslyn said there wasn’t a hole deep enough for Drew to fall into, and Trina blamed herself, but Josslyn said none of it was her fault and there was nothing she could have done to change it. Trina flashed back to telling Kai that she wished she could let them know the evidence was gone, and told Josslyn that she might have one thing that would turn it around.

Lulu came into Bobbie’s and told Curtis that she was pursuing a lead. Curtis introduced her to Kai, and she said she had a new angle on the Congressman Cain shooting. Curtis said when she was ready, he hoped she brought her article to Aurora first.

Felicia told Tracy, put the vase down, and Tracy said it wasn’t worth ruining. Ronnie said Tracy was mean spirited and abruptly sat down, saying the room was spinning. Olivia gave her water, and Tracy said she thought the party was over. Brook wanted everyone to meet Ronnie, and they did. She was a sloppy drunk who used alcohol to give her a personality. Stella said, enough, and Tracy said she was just trying to sober Ronnie up. They could all agree Ronnie Bard in this house was an insult to the Quartermaine family.

Portia said she didn’t have to answer Jordan’s questions and told her to back off. Jordan said she couldn’t pretend not to see what she saw, and Portia said, then don’t pretend. Mind her own damn business. Portia left, and Jordan called Anna. She said she was sending out the bat signal. Meet her at the Brown Dog.

Drew told Alexis that Willow was charged with premeditated murder because Nina lied, giving her fake alibi that she went along with because she thought Nina was guilty. ADA Turner made a deal Nina in exchange for recanting the alibi. Alexis said she didn’t see what this had to do with her, and Drew said Willow had been sent to Pentenville, and Alexis said that was the risk you took when you shot someone, but Drew said Willow was innocent. Michael planted the gun in her things. She didn’t have a lawyer and needed the best. He’d double Alexis’s retainer. Alexis said, absolutely not. It was never going to happen.

Curtis told Kai that he and Portia were filing for divorce. Trina had been blindsided and he was worried she’d need support. Kai said he’d do everything he could to help her get through, and Curtis said he didn’t want her to feel like she had to take sides.

Josslyn told Trina that it sounded like other things were going on, but the blackmail didn’t help. Relationships were hard and sometimes things just didn’t work out.

Anna had a glass of wine waiting for Jordan, and Jordan said she’d just found out Portia was lying to Curtis – again.

Portia saw Isaiah at the hospital and said she’d just been at a tea party from hell.

Ronnie said the room was still spinning, and Elizabeth asked if she was on any medication. Ronnie said, no, and she hadn’t had one drop of alcohol. She wasn’t drunk. They could check her tea. Felicia sniffed the cup and said, no alcohol, and Tracy said, that’s what alcoholics did – deny. Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk and had no idea what happ… Oh wait a minute. Somebody slipped her a micky.

Drew asked why Alexis didn’t want to defend Willow. Michael separated her from her kids and wasn’t it Alexis’s duty as an officer of the court to make sure justice prevailed? Alexis said she couldn’t believe his audacity when he’d kept Scout from her family. She felt sorry for Willow. Because of his selfishness and bad advice, she’d been influenced into making bad decisions, but that was on them. She didn’t want to deal with him in this mess even if he tripled her retainer. He said he had something even more valuable.

Jordan said Curtis held on to the bitter end and finally said it was over, and Anna said she wasn’t surprised. Jordan said they were filing for divorce and now this, and Anna asked what Portia was lying about. Jordan said Portia was pregnant.

Portia told Isaia that Jordan should mind her own damn business. They’d agreed to only telling Trina, but she was convinced Curtis told Jordan. Isaiah said, like she’d told him, and Portia said Curtis running to Jordan all the time made her furious, but Curtis would have custody of Jordan in the divorce and Jordan would finally leave her alone. Isaiah said he had a sure-fire way to improve her mood.

Kai said he hoped Curtis and Portia weren’t divorcing because of Drew. He knew Drew was responsible for Stella’s investigation and targeted her just to hurt Curtis. That opened his eyes to who Drew really was. He was sorry it took so long. Curtis tried to warn him, but he didn’t listen. For that, and a lot of other things, he owed Curtis an apology.

Lucas saw Lulu at Bobbie’s, and she asked him to join her. He said Elizabeth told him that there was a tea party at the Quartermaines, and he assumed she was invited. Lulu said she went briefly, and he said, tell him everything. What did Tracy do? Lulu said she wasn’t there long, but she and Lucy walked in on Michael having it out with Dante. Michael said that if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead, and he wished he’d framed Willow. He would have made sure she was guilty, so she never saw her children again. Lucas said, that meant Michael didn’t do it, but Lulu said Michael was so cold and calculating. He was too smart to tell a cop that he did it, but she was convinced Michael was capable of shooting Drew and framing Willow. Lucas said he thought she liked Michael, and she said, of course (🍷) she did, but who was more likely to shoot Drew in the back, Willow or Michael? Lucas said, in his opinion, Willow was more capable of violence than most people thought.

Tracy said, someone drugged Ronnie? Ridiculous. Ronnie said she’d been a waitress all of her life, and before that, she served cocktails. She learned to tell the difference between someone being drunk and someone who’d had something slipped in their drink. The drugged ones always said the same thing. They felt free, detached from their bodies like they were outside, seeing everything that was happening. That’s exactly how she felt now, like her mind was wrapped in cotton. Tracy said, drop the victim act and sleep it off, and Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk, but Tracy was working hard to convince everybody she was. Somebody wanted to humiliate her, and Tracy was the only person miserable enough to have done it and drugged her.

Anna asked if Jordan thought Curtis would stay with Portia because of the baby, and Jordan said Curtis didn’t get to raise Trina. It looked like Portia found another way to hang onto him. Anna said, then why hadn’t Portia told him that she was pregnant?

Isaiah said the renovations on his cabin were done and it looked amazing. It was the perfect weekend getaway for him and Portia. They could go on a day trip to the village, hold hands, and stroll. No one would know them or care. They could make a fire and open up a bottle of wine, and he might be persuaded to make his famous three-cheese omelet and serve her breakfast in bed. Portia said she’d love that, but wasn’t sure right now was the best time to get away together. He said if she needed to get away and be alone, he could give her the key, and she said, he’d give up his cabin time for her? He said, if she needed it, nothing would make him happier, but she said she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to spend time with him. They kissed.

Curtis told Kai that he knew how easy it was to fall for Drew’s lies. Drew fooled him. He’d considered Drew a good friend until he saw Drew’s true colors. He’s glad Kai wasn’t taken in. Kai said he could barely look at Drew. He was ready to resign, but then Drew was shot. Was it wrong of him to keep working for someone he had zero respect for?

Lucas told Lulu that Willow needed to be a mom. She was consumed with it and blind to everything else. She needed to be with Wiley and Amelia regardless of what was best for them. Lulu said Willow thought she was what was best for them, and Lucas said she was delusional. The things she’d done to the kids were not okay just because as a mommy she decided they were. She wasn’t thinking like a mentally healthy person or a good mom. Lulu said she couldn’t disagree, and Lucas said Willow blamed Drew for not getting visitation and sleeping with her mom when he was seducing her away from Michael. As a mom, it was enough of a motive for her to shoot Drew. She was unwell and Lulu should think twice about going after Michael in the press. Carly would never forgive her, and she’d be helping a guilty woman go free.

Drew said he’d life the restraining order on Alexis and she could spend time with Scout if she agreed to defend Willow, and Alexis said he was going to use that sweet little girl as a bargaining chip? That was the textbook definition of extortion. He’d denied Scout’s family access to a child who loved and needed them and was using it to dangle in front of her so she’d do what he wanted. He didn’t care about what was good for Scout. He only cared about what was good for him. He asked what she thought Sam would want her to do.

Brook said Tracy wanted to prove Ronnie didn’t belong and spiked her tea to make sure that would happen. Tracy said she would never, and Olivia laughed. She said they all knew Tracy got Alexis drunk, then framed her for drunk driving, and Ronnie said, that’s horrible. Tracy did that to someone else? Tracy said she did not drug Ronnie, and Ronnie said she had it with Tracy. Tracy had a lot to say today. Now shut up and let her have her turn.

Lulu told Lucas that she was just trying to report the facts. She couldn’t keep the facts from the public because Carly would be upset. Whoever shot Drew needed to be brought to justice. Lucas agreed, and she said, what if the PCPD had the wrong person in custody? Lucas said Michael was a good man, and Lulu said, so was Sonny, but he could also be completely ruthless at heart. Michael was like his father.

Alexis said she couldn’t believe Drew brought Sam into it, and he asked how many times she’d criticized what he was doing and used Sam. How would Sam feel if she rejected the opportunity to spend time with Scout? Alexis said she hated him, and he said all he was asking was for her to do her job defending an innocent woman. She said that’s why she didn’t want to take the case. He’d do anything to get what he wanted and she refused to be part of it. He said she wouldn’t be dealing with him at all. Willow would call all the shots. She said, fine. She’d take the case. On one condition.

Jordan told Anna that she couldn’t say for sure if Curtis knew, and Anna asked if she thought it was possible Portia didn’t want the baby. Jordan said she had no idea, but it could definitely be the reason she was keeping the pregnancy a secret. Portia was doing what she wanted and not thinking about Curtis’s feelings. Should she?

Kai told Curtis that he liked the work and made great contacts who would consider him for a job after graduation, but it wouldn’t happen if he quit. Curtis said, then stay. He wouldn’t be a hypocrite. A lot of people hated their bosses (truth!), and if he could create a brighter future, why not stay and learn what he could. But be sure to maintain his own sense of right and wrong while he does it.

Ronnie said she tried to get along with Tracy, but from the minute they met in the crypt, where she was trying to say goodbye to her sister, Tracy had been a complete witch to her. In her letters, Monica had said Tracy was mellowing over time, but if this was an improvement, she couldn’t imagine. When Monica sent her letters, she was so impressed with the life her sister had made for herself. A big house, a loving family, she thought Monica had it so damn good, but coming here and meeting Tracy and seeing her in action, she pitied Monica. She would rather be dead broke and sleeping in the streets that put up with Tracy’s nasty insults and temper tantrums. Tracy asked if everybody was just going to stand around and let Ronnie speak to her like that, and Olivia said it was Ronnie’s house. Ronnie said Tracy treated her like someone who snuck in to steal the silver. All she ever wanted was to find out more about Monica. She had no expectations when she came there other than to share stories about her sister, who she avoided most of her life because she stupidly let her angry teenage self, with her whole 16 years of life, determine how the rest of her life was going to go. For that, Tracy attacked her every time she could. Brook was kind to organize this party for her, and it meant a lot. She thanked Brook for that, but Brook’s grandmother had used her kindness to humiliate her. Tracy wasn’t just vindictive, but she was spiteful and cruel. She wasn’t putting up with it anymore. Get out of her house and don’t come back.

Trina asked if Anna would mind her talking to Jordan, and Anna said, of course (🍷) not. She left, and Trina asked if her dad told Jordan that he was getting a divorce. Jordan said, he did. She was sorry. She knew it was hard for Trina. Trina said it was, but they still loved each other. She thought they could work things out, but it couldn’t happen if Jordan didn’t keep her distance from Trina’s dad. Jordan said she and Trina’s dad had known each other a long time, and Trina said she knew, but Jordan needed to give her mom and dad the space to realize they still had so much that tied them together.

Anna sat down across from Josslyn, who said, please sit. Anna said, so Josslyn was a WSB agent, and Josslyn nearly choked on her drink. She said that conversation is not for the Brown Dog, and Anna said Josslyn needed to tell her one thing. When she was at the Five Poppies, did she hear anyone mention the name Cesar Faison? If Josslyn did, she needed to know. Josslyn said she couldn’t tell Anna that information. She wasn’t WSB anymore. Anna said no one knew Faison better than she did. If he was somehow involved in any of this, the situation was going to get very dangerous. Not just for Josslyn, but for a lot of people. Make no mistake, Josslyn was going to need her.

Isaiah asked if that was a yes to going away this weekend, and Portia said she’d absolutely love to spend time alone with him. It would give them a chance to talk about everything going on between them.

Curtis told Kai that Drew would do everything in his power to exonerate Willow. Don’t let Drew drag him into anything illegal, and if Kai needed anything, call him.

Lulu told Lucas that Michael was raised by Sonny and seen Sonny do whatever it took to get what he wanted. It had to have an effect on who Michael was as a person. Lucas said he wasn’t a fan of Sonny’s, but Carly and Monica countered his influence, and Lulu said she hoped he was right. The last thing Michael said was that he hoped Willow never saw her kids again. He seemed to justify anything he did as long as he thought he was acting in the children’s best interest. Lucas said, if that was true, heaven help the kids. Willow was the exact same way.

Alexis said she’d represent Willow if Drew lifted the restraining orders on her, Molly, Kristina, Rocco, and Danny, but Drew said, not Danny. Alexis said Scout missed her brother. She had the right to see Sam’s kids. He said Willow needed a great lawyer and he could ask another one. He would not have that hit man’s son anywhere near his daughter. She said Danny wasn’t Jason. It was ridiculous to pretend he was. Drew said he didn’t care, and Alexis asked, what the hell was wrong with him? How could he be horrible to Sam’s kid? He said it wasn’t his kid, and she said he was a petty little man. He said it was his final offer. Scout could see everyone except Danny. Alexis said she wanted to see Scout tomorrow, and he said, fine, after she met with Willow.

Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t throw her out. They were all okay with this? Olivia said she loved Tracy, but she’d been horrible since day one. Now she drugged Ronnie’s tea. Of course (🍷) Ronnie was throwing her out. She didn’t want Tracy at the MetroCourt either. Tracy said, wow. Thanks for that. She’d been kicked out of the house before, but always made it back. Why? Unlike Ronnie, she was a Quartermaine. Olivia said, don’t start, and Tracy said she couldn’t believe her own family siding with a con artist, whom she did not drug. Brook said she loved Tracy, but Tracy did it to herself, and Tracy told Ronnie that she said it herself. She walked away from Monica. And despite all the correspondence they supposedly shared, Monica didn’t want Ronnie in her life. So didn’t she think they would have met in person if Monica wanted Ronnie in her life? What was cruel was Monica giving this beautiful house to her sister in name only and leaving the woman who spent 45 years with her a jar of relish. Tracy seemed on the edge of crying and said, Ronnie wanted to know about her sister. She was never cruel. Something was very wrong here. This was not Ronnie’s house and would never be her home… but she was going to leave now and she was going to take every framed photograph of her family and every prized possession with her. She’d call for her things in the morning. She left.  

Wednesday:

Lois went to see Sonny and said she hoped he’d show her the same grace as last time. Sonny said, after he found out she’d lied to him and the family for over 20 years.

Josslyn saw Emma outside Bobbie’s and wanted to talk. Emma said it better be good.

At Bobbie’s, Gio told Ronnie that she was the first person to order tomato juice, coconut water, and hot sauce. She said it was the perfect antidote to… a tea party. Brook said breakfast was on her after the stunt Tracy pulled, and Gio asked what Tracy did now.

Tracy woke up on Lulu’s couch and suggested Charlotte and Rocco hit the mute button. Lulu told them, keep it down. Tracy had a rough night.

On the phone, Britt said she was aware she was late. That’s why she was calling. She didn’t know when she’d be in. She’d been detained. Anna let Britt into her office, and Britt said if she lost her job, she was holding Anna responsible, but Anna said that was the least of Britt’s problems and present her with a bill for the manpower and resources used involving her supposed death.

Nathan went to Jack’s office and Jack asked where he’d been for the past seven years.

Steinmauer. Valentin was brought into the visiting area and sat across from a woman. He said when they told him that his lawyer was there, he didn’t expect her. Carly – in a dark wig and glasses – said, Barbara Saunders. She was asked to review his case and recent developments may result in his early release.

Lois said she couldn’t change what she did, but wanted to right as many wrongs as she could. So was Sonny going to invite her in or ask her to kick rocks? Sonny told her to come in and they hugged.

Josslyn said she heard Emma got her job with Dalton. She wasn’t looking to work for him, but Emma shouldn’t be either. Emma said he hadn’t tried anything, and Josslyn said, not yet. He wasn’t the average creep. He was a lot more dangerous than Emma thought and Emma needed to trust her. Emma said Josslyn was the least trustworthy person she knew. Josslyn being unreliable worked in Emma’s favor and she planned on taking full advantage of it.

Ronnie said she’d shared words of wisdom with Tracy, who didn’t take kindly to them, and Gio said he wished he’d been there. Brook said he didn’t, and Ronnie said Tracy accused her of being drunk and she knew she wasn’t drunk, but knew something was off. It hit her that her tea had been spiked. Gio said, Tracy drugged her? and Ronnie said, uh-huh.

Lulu said Tracy was staying a little while, and Charlotte asked, how long? Tracy said it was open-ended. She’d been kicked out. Charlotte stifled a laugh and wondered why, and Lulu said Tracy was a guest and they’d treat her as such. Rocco said he needed help with his French homework, and he and Charlotte went upstairs. Tracy asked if they didn’t go to school, but Lulu said it was an in-service day and they were off. Before Tracy settled in and sent out change-of-address cards, they needed to get a few things straight.

Carly said she’d like to speak to her client alone, but the guard said they needed eyeballs on the inmate all the time. Carly said her client had the right to privacy in this situation and asked if she needed to elevate the matter. The guard left, and Valentin said her credentials must be unimpeachable. She said she had help from a friend, and he said, Jack could have gotten her in with no pretense… unless she was keeping the meeting from him. Why?

Jack told Nathan that they had footage of him getting off an exit before the accident. He’d been on the phone, but no phone was found on him or in the car. Nathan said he didn’t remember, and Jack said there had been a ping from a burner phone before the accident and it was likely from the phone he’d been using. With any luck, they’d find the person he’d been talking to. Nathan asked why he was going through the trouble, and Jack said when someone resurfaced who was presumed dead, it warranted investigation, especially if it was the son of Cesar Faison.

Lois said sitting on the boardwalk in Atlantic City with Brook was one of the best days of her life, and Sonny asked if it was the first time they’d been alone. Lois nodded and he asked if they’d spoken since. She said, no. She’d never ask him for help with that, but needed help with repairing Brook’s relationship with her son. Gio was pushing away and she had to make that right.

Brook said she thought Tracy saw the tea as a chance to show that Ronnie didn’t belong, and Gio said it wasn’t just bad. It was illegal and dangerous. Ronnie thanked him for his concern, but said she was okay today and more than got back at Tracy. She evicted her. Gio said he didn’t expect that, and Brook said, neither did her grandmother. Gio said it was good to set boundaries. If you didn’t, people walked all over you.

On the deck, Rocco said he’d lied to get Charlotte away from Tracy, and Charlotte said Tracy couldn’t just order them around. He said he knew Tracy was a lot, but she could be nice, and she was just kicked out. Be easier on her.

Lulu said Tracy was welcome to stay as long as she needed to, but Charlotte and Rocco were teenagers. That meant they were loud. Tracy said she lived with Rocco and Danny. She knew their ways. Lulu said, not in quarters this close. If she couldn’t deal with their ways, it was best she found someplace else. Tracy said she wouldn’t have to deal with their ways if Ronnie Bard hadn’t gotten loaded and convinced the entire family that she was to blame.

Josslyn asked what Emma meant by taking advantage, but Emma said it was none of her business. She was done talking. Josslyn grabbed her arm and said she knew she’d screwed Emma over and it was fine that she was mad. But don’t let herself get in deeper. She wouldn’t hurt Josslyn, but she’d hurt herself. Trust her when she said Emma didn’t want to be near what Dalton was doing. Emma asked what made her so sure Dalton was bad, and Josslyn flashed back to talking to Jack. Her phone rang, and she told Emma, don’t say I didn’t warn you, and left.

Valentin asked what the state of Carly and Jack’s relationship was, and Carly said, as far as Jack was concerned, she was knee deep work and wouldn’t see him for a few days. He said, Sonny and Jason wouldn’t be happy. She must have a very good reason to see him.

Britt said told Anna that she couldn’t afford it. It was ridiculous. Was it even legal? Anna said Acting DA Turner could find a way to make it legal, or she could feed the bill to the shredder and forget about it. Britt asked how much the memory lapse would cost, and Anna said, who helped fake her death? What was she doing at the Five Poppies and who was in charge? She needed every detail.

Sonny told Lois that Gio had moved in with him and had a job at Bobbie’s, and she said knowing Gio was there made her happy. By any chance did he get a new violin? Sonny shook his head, and she said, what about school? He said, Gio didn’t want to go right now. He was figuring out who he was and what he wanted minus the input of the people who loved him and wished him well. She said she understood why he wanted her and Gloria out of his life, but music was a big part of who he was. It was a gift from Camilla. He said, Gio associated it with the lies he’d been told his whole life, and she said she couldn’t stand it. Gio was giving up something he loved, and her daughter couldn’t have a relationship with her son. The two people she loved most were hurting because of her.

Emma told Gio that Josslyn tried to convince her to quit working for Dalton, and Gio wondered if she had a good reason. Emma said she thought Josslyn wanted her job back. They’d put Dalton on the back burner for too long and it was time to show the world who he really was.

Ronnie told Brook that her son was a good kid, but Brook said she couldn’t take credit. Ronnie said Gio mentioned he’d just found out she and Dante were his parents, and Brook said, they all did, and it came out in the most traumatic way, driving a mile wide wedge between them. They were hoping if they gave Gio some space, he’d come back, but at this point, she didn’t know if he would ever let her be a part of his life.

Nathan said his mother left her past behind and Faison was dead, and Jack said so were Nathan and his sister. He got Nathan’s brain scans and there was nothing there. No trauma or lesions. Nothing that would impair his memory from the time of his supposed death until he woke up in the hospital. Nathan asked if Jack was calling him a liar, and Jack said they had reason to believe Cesar Faison’s syndicate was still in operation. Now was the time for Nathan to tell him if he was involved.

Valentin told Carly that he was content living abroad in relative peace, when Jack tried to shoot him three feet from his daughter. Carly was collateral damage when he’d tried to kill Jack and if Jack was around her daughter, she wasn’t safe. Carly said she planned on destroying Jack Brennan and asked if he wanted to help.

Nathan asked if Jack thought he was part of a syndicate run by a dead man, but Jack said he didn’t know who was running it. He’d exchange full immunity for answers, but if Nathan declined, he would charge Nathan with the same crime – conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and treason. How would his son feel about that? Nathan said he just met his son for the first time and lost seven years of his life. Faison was a criminal who’d threatened the mother of his son and shot him. Faison was no father to him. Ask Anna. Unlike Jack, Anna knew him and would tell Jack that he’d help if he could. He was glad he met Jack because now he knew who Jack was. Jack could threaten him all he liked, but don’t push him around.

Britt said the Five Poppies was out of Anna’s jurisdiction. Anna had no right to question her about something that happened thousands of miles away. Anna said she did if it affected the safety of the people there, and Britt asked if she had evidence connecting it… She didn’t think so. It was time for Anna to let go of her delusion of being an international agent and accept the fact she’d been demoted. Anna said the reason Britt was there was because she sent Jason. He’d assumed Britt was in Croatia because she was going to die and he was willing to let her live out her last days as she saw fit. She told him that the WSB was looking at the Five Poppies and that suggested Britt’s presence wasn’t voluntary. So Jason went to rescue Britt. She wasn’t trying to take Britt down. She was trying to help her.

Lulu asked if Tracy was saying Ronnie framed her. Admit she spiked Ronnie’s drink. Tracy said she didn’t. This was the second time she’d been accused of drugging someone. Where did people think she got this stuff? Lulu said people knew she was resourceful. Was she saying it was someone else? Tracy said Ronnie over imbibed, and she was an easy scapegoat, and Lulu said Tracy had set her sights on taking Ronnie down since she came to town and had her investigate Ronnie. Ronnie lived a quiet, law-abiding life. Tracy said she didn’t believe it, and Lulu asked why she was so convinced otherwise. Tracy said she knew Monica as well as she knew herself. There was no way Monica would give Ronnie a doghouse much less the family estate. That woman was hiding something and she knew it.

Charlotte admitted that maybe she was harsh. She was jetlagged and the visit with her dad was weird. Rocco asked if she meant bad weird, but she said, just weird weird. It was good seeing him, but in a huge creepy prison, it was hard. Rocco said maybe he’d get out on good behavior, and Charlotte asked how dinner with his other family was. He said, good. Liesl and Nathan were cool. She said, what about Britt? and he said she was hard to read, but he thought she cared about her mother and brother. She asked if he noticed anything off, but he said he didn’t know Britt well enough. Why? She said when she was with her dad, he asked her to pass along a message to him. He said Rocco shouldn’t trust Britt.

Valentin said now Carly saw Jack as the son of a bitch he was. What changed her mind? Obviously, Jack had done something to one of her children. She asked what he’d do if Jack recruited his daughter, and he said he wouldn’t rest until Jack was six feet under. How long had Josslyn been a WSB operative? Carly said she thought eight months, but didn’t know how Jack lured her in, and he said there were two kinds of recruits. Those who were interested and those who had to be convinced, exploited. Those prospects were vulnerable and there was leverage – money, a misguided sense of patriotism, a personal tragedy they wanted to avenge. She said Josslyn’s boyfriend Dex was murdered, and he asked if the murderer was found. She said it was Cyrus Renault who disappeared. Josslyn left town afterward. He asked if she thought Jack possibly had something to do with it.

Lois told Sonny that she kept the secret, but could have told Brook before everyone found out and given her a chance at a real relationship with her son. Sonny said she could have also given the family a chance, and she said she was happy Gio let Sonny be a part of his life. Sonny said he thought she was leaving the past in the past and moving forward, and she said that’s what she was trying to do, but needed his help. Gio needed to stop blaming Brook. He needed to know it was all on her, but he wouldn’t talk to her. She needed Sonny to get them in the same room. He said, even if she talked to Gio, it was no guarantee it would change anything.

Ronnie said she thought Gio was trying to make sense of his part in the family, and Brook said she didn’t know why he wanted to be part of the family. He knew the Quartermaines were a bunch of liars, and now he thought they’d drug your tea too. Ronnie said, what’s a family without a little dysfunction? and Brook said, that was a generous take. Ronnie said Tracy wasn’t the only Quartermaine. The rest had been so lovely since she walked in the door, including Gio, who had an open invitation to come back. The problem was, finding a way to draw him back in. Brook said she thought she may have that covered.

Emma said she thought the master key would get them in the lab, and Gio said it would have if Dalton hadn’t taken extra security measures. Between that and her grandma trying to stop them, they were up against it. She said she thought they were in luck. Her grandma had been distracted and was busy. Now what the best chance they were going to get.

Tracy told Lulu than Monica never mentioned her sister, but as soon as she died, Ronnie showed up with letters as evidence. Lulu asked if she didn’t have them looked at by a handwriting expert, and Tracy said, they could be wrong. She was getting a second opinion. She had been closer to Monica for the last two years than anyone and Michael was the center of Monica’s universe. There was no way she’d disinherit him in favor of a sister she hadn’t spoken to in a decade. The will was a forgery. Charlotte wondered what a moving truck was doing pulling into their driveway.

Britt said she didn’t need rescuing, and Anna said the evidence suggested otherwise. Britt said she’d been working in a lab on developing an exfoliant scrub, but Anna said she didn’t think they’d use a bomb to cover up a spa treatment. Britt said it was a competitive market, and Anna said they forgot to add the toxicity screening. That ran up Britt’s bill by 10K, but she’d settle for Britt telling her who she was working for. Britt flashed back to finding her meds with the note signed C, and said, that Eurocreep Pascal, but Anna said, he was the middleman. Who did he answer to? It wasn’t Cesar Faison, was it? Was her father still alive and running the Five Poppies?

Jack showed Josslyn the video of him talking to Nathan, and Josslyn asked if he thought Nathan knew something. He said, didn’t she? and she said she hardly knew Nathan, but heard he was a total Boy Scout. She didn’t think he’d do anything connected to Faison. He said, so he should take Nathan’s memory loss at face value? And she said, look at Jason, but he said, Jason’s answers were less convenient than Nathan’s.

Valentin said he assumed Josslyn felt vulnerable after Dex’s death, and Carly said, she was devastated. She told herself that Josslyn was lost in a personal vendetta, when all the time, Jack used it as a test to recruit her. Valentin said, maybe Jack pointed her in Cyrus’s direction to see how far she was willing to go and she figured it out. Carly wondered if Josslyn murdered Cyrus, but Valentin said maybe she tracked Cyrus down on her own and it was part of Jack enticing her to be a recruit. Jack couldn’t resist, especially if Josslyn finished the job herself. Carly asked if he was telling her that the man she’d been falling in love with turned her daughter into a killer.

Sonny said Lois needed to live with the possibility that things may never be the same with Gio and Brook, but she said she had to try. She was begging him to please help her make this right.

Gio asked Emma to promise that whatever they did, they did it together, and she said, obviously. She needed him for back-up. He said he preferred being her partner in crime, and they kissed.

Brook smiled, and Ronnie said she was guessing that lovely young woman was part of Brook’s plan. Brook said Emma rescued Outback. Dogs weren’t allowed in the stable, but she told Emma that Outback could stay since she figured Emma would come visit. Ronnie said, and Gio would come with her. Not bad. She guessed that Brook was Tracy’s good granddaughter.

Gio’s phone rang, and he told Emma that it was Sonny. Sonny told him that he needed to come back to the house when he got off work, and Gio asked if everything was okay. Sonny said Lois was there and it was important that Gio see her.

Lulu said, everyone knew how much Monica loved Michael. Edward left him a fortune, and she didn’t need to demonstrate her love with more money. Maybe she felt Ronnie needed both. Charlotte and Rocco brought in two big boxes, and Lulu asked what was in them. Tracy said a few items she rescued from the house, and Lulu looked out the window. She said, a few? There was a giant moving truck parked in her driveway.

Britt said she was tired of hearing that name. That man had been a blight on her entire life. Her mother was obsessed with him and ignored her. Now she might lose the only good thing she had going in her life – her job – because Anna dragged her in. She hated to disappoint Anna, but her psycho ex had nothing to do with the Five Poppies and he was dead. She answered Anna’s questions and wasn’t paying the bill. Anna could burn it or bill her, but she just wanted to move on with her life. Anna said Britt thought she was protecting herself by staying silent, but she was making herself vulnerable, and Britt said she was done. She had to see if she still had a job. Thanks for nothing. She left.  

Josslyn told Jack that she was at the Brown Dog with a friend and Anna was there. Anna made a point of interrogating her about the Five Poppies and Cesar Faison came up more than once. Jack said Anna was probably jumping at shadows. However, she did know Faison better than anyone else and they couldn’t discount that. Two of Faison’s dead children showed up in Port Charles alive while they were investigating his last project. That wasn’t a coincidence. They were connected somehow.

Valentin said maybe Jack stepped in and took care of the rest, but Carly said Josslyn was a participant in Cyrus’s death. She may not be able to get Josslyn out, but she could get Jack out of Josslyn’s life before she did something worse or he got her killed. Valentin said they couldn’t do it alone, but together they had a chance. They had the one thing that could destroy Jack. Carly asked, what? and he said, her. She was the only one Jack trusted. Anyone else he’d spot from a mile away. He’d never see it coming. She asked what she was supposed to do, and he said, the first thing was to make Jack think she loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.

Thursday:

Chase saw Michael in the steam room and asked if he saw the headlines in the Port Charles Press. The article said other suspects might be at large. Did Michael really believe Willow was capable of shooting Drew?

Cody went to the main house and introduced himself to Ronnie. She said she had to tell him that she always had a weakness for cowboys. (Nice nod to OLTL.)

Brook knocked at Lulu’s door, and Tracy opened it. Tracy told Brook that she had nothing to say to her, and slammed the door in her face.

Gio went to Sonny’s house, and Lois said she was hoping he would come. He said he almost didn’t.

At Bobbie’s, Martin told Drew that the press did a good job casting reasonable doubt on Willow. He’d do whatever possible to find her a good attorney. Drew said there was no need. He took care of it.

Willow saw Alexis in the visiting room at Pentenville and asked if Scout was okay. Alexis said she was there for Willow. She was Willow’s new attorney.

Jacinda met Kristina outside Bobbie’s and said her agency told her that Kristina requested a meeting. Kristina said she didn’t want to pry, but was going to. What did Jacinda have going on with her brother? Jacinda asked, why? and Kristina said she was concerned. She loved her brother, and he’d been through the ringer. He’d had a difficult recovery, and his ex had told the court that he’d abandoned his children. He might appear to have it all together, but deep down, he had a big heart and had been hurt badly. She was worried that he and Jacinda were getting more serious and moving too quickly.

Chase insisted Willow wasn’t a murderer, and Michael said he didn’t think they should get into this. Chase said he knew Michael and Willow had problems, but it had gone too far. An innocent woman had been arrested. Michael said Chase didn’t know Willow as well as he thought he did.

Alexis said Willow deserved the truth. Drew didn’t leaved her a choice.

Drew said Alexis agreed to defend Willow on one condition, that she be able to see Scout, and Martin said he was glad it worked out. He’d talk to the judge about lifting the restraining order. Drew said he still needed the restraining orders as leverage. He wouldn’t enforce them unless he felt Alexis wasn’t doing what she could to free Willow. Martin asked, what about the rest of the family? and Drew said, the Davis women, but not Danny or the Quartermaines. Martin said that meant Scout wouldn’t get the privilege of meeting her new great aunt. The Quartermaines had a new relationship to play with – Monica’s long lost sister Ronnie.

Ronnie said Monica had written that she was pleased the family finally found a wonderful head groom, and Cody said she loved the stable, but not every horse was hers. Ronnie said, Tracy made that clear, and Cody said the name of Tracy’s horse was Hades. Ronnie said, hard to handle, bad tempered, and bites, but Hades could stay, and Cody said he heard Tracy moved out. Ronnie said she evicted Tracy, and he said he’d gotten to know Tracy and was sorry to see her go. Ronnie said she thought Tracy would be rough to work for, but if there was another side to Tracy, she’d like to hear it. Cody said Tracy was cold, mean, and thought she was better than everybody else, but she could be extremely generous, loyal to a fault, and would literally do anything for the people she loved, and she loved Ronnie’s sister.

Brook continued to bang on the door and said, open up. She would just get louder. Tracy told her, get in here. What did she think they had to talk about? She didn’t drug Ronnie at the tea party. Brook said that wasn’t why she came, and Tracy said Brook had known Ronnie for an hour and a half and known her for her whole life. Why was Brook taking that hash slinging harridan’s word over hers?

Lois said she wanted to take the chance to clear the air, but Gio said he’d rather move on. She said she wasn’t there to explain anything. She’d heard he took time off from school and wasn’t playing music anymore. He said he was working and figuring stuff out, and she said she was worried about him. He was pushing the things he loved out of his life, like music. Music didn’t betray him and neither did Brook or Dante. The person who betrayed him was her.

Lois said he had every right to be mad at her, but she was asking him to put his anger where it belonged – on her, not Brook or Dante, and especially not on himself. Gio said he wasn’t angry, but she said, of course (🍷) he was. He said he didn’t want to be and he wasn’t mad at himself, and she asked why he was waiting tables. He said there was nothing wrong with it, and she said he should be playing concert halls or even the park. He was so incredibly talented. It would hurt Camilla to know he wasn’t playing music, but it would hurt more knowing it was because of her. He said he was still trying to make sense of his whole life, his childhood, his mom. Nothing was what he’d thought it was. She said she knew it would take time to figure all that out, but he also needed to figure out how Dante and Brook fit into his life as well. She knew he was angry, but Dante didn’t even know, and Brook gave him up because she was so young. She came to her mother for advice, and she was the one who told Brook that he’d be better off – she started to cry – if he was adopted out to a young family. She was with Brook when Brook gave birth, and giving him up for adoption was the greatest sacrifice of her life.

Brook asked Tracy, why not make peace? She wasn’t asking her to apologize for the tea party, but for treating Ronnie like dirt. Tracy said she wouldn’t give Ronnie the satisfaction, but Brook said she’d already lost her mother and grandmother. She didn’t want to lose Tracy too.

Ronnie gave Cody some snacks and said she’d gotten the recipe from her line cook, and Cody said he’d kill for the recipe. She said, tell her more about Monica, and she’d give it to him, and he said he didn’t know her as well as everybody else, but he was told that before Monica and Tracy became close, it was the clash of the titans. In the end, Tracy was Monica’s mouthpiece, bodyguard, and attack dog. She stood up to Drew Cain when Monica couldn’t do it herself. Ronnie asked why she kept hearing that name. Michael had a lot of things to say about Drew, and she was hoping he was exaggerating. Was he really as bad as Michael said? Cody said, if anything, he was much worse.

Martin said Monica left her estate to her long-lost sister, not Michael, and Drew said he didn’t realize Monica had a pattern. She cut him out of her life like she did her sister.

Jacinda told Kristina not to worry about her and Michael, and Kristina said Jacinda came to see him after his grandmother died. Jacinda said she came to offer her condolences. There was nothing serious between them, but she got why Kristina was protective. She’d do the same thing. Kristina offered to get Jacinda coffee, and they went inside. Drew said, if it wasn’t the call girl that was paid to drug him. He bet the police would love to hear about her and Kristina’s meeting of the minds.

Alexis said she agreed to defend Willow because Drew offered her access to Scout, and Willow said she was truly sorry Drew put her in this position. Scout wanted to see her aunt and brothers. Alexis said, her brothers weren’t part of the deal. At least not Danny. Willow said she’d do what she could to help change Drew’s mind about the restraining orders. She also wanted Alexis to defend her because Alexis believed she was innocent, not because she was forced to. Alexis said, coercion or not, she’d defend Willow to the best of her ability. She would listen to Willow and Willow only, but if Willow didn’t want her services, say it now.

Michael said Willow was more traumatized by Dawn of Day than anyone knew. She’d made huge mistakes. Chase asked if he honestly believed she’d shot Drew, and Michael said anything was possible. Chase said there were other suspects, and Michael said, like him. Chase said, yes. Him, his mother, and anyone else who went in and out of the Quartermaine mansion. Michael said, Willow was in and out of the mansion, but Chase said she’d moved out months ago. Michael said they hadn’t changed the locks and she was the one who’d stalked his daughter Daisy.

Lois said, giving up Gio for adoption was the hardest thing his mom ever had to do, and Gio said he thought of Camilla as his mom. Lois said he was right. Sorry. Camilla was his mother and always would be. She’d never take that away from him. He asked why the family wanted something from him that he couldn’t give. He knew Brook and Dante were his biological parents, but they weren’t much more than that. They were people he kind of knew growing up, but it wasn’t like he had a relationship with them and he wasn’t sure he wanted one.

Brook said if Tracy told Ronnie that she was sorry, Ronnie would give her another chance. She knew Tracy was angry at Monica. Tracy said she knew in her bones that Monica didn’t do that, but Brook said, don’t exile herself to make a point. A house could be replaced. She couldn’t.

Drew threatened to tell the police about Michael paying Jacinda for a fake alibi and told Kristina not to mess up the deal he’d made with her mother. Jacinda suggested he watch his step, and he said he could still press charges. She said, do it. She’d love to explain to the police how he was loaded with ketamine and hired her for the evening and night, then got caught. Next time he hired an escort – and there was always a next time – don’t do body shots in a room of people with phones. He said she didn’t want to push him, and raising her voice, she said he got a lawyer to give her $50K to stay in Australia. That wasn’t something you did when you were looking for justice. He said she knew the justice system, having been arrested three times, and she said she had a record. So big deal. He said he paid her good money to stay away, and she asked if it was taxpayer money. He said the next time he saw the police, he was pointing them straight to her.

Willow said if Alexis was willing to help, she accepted, and Alexis told her about the paper suggesting suspects had been overlooked. They had a lot of ground to cover and when she asked questions, she needed Willow to answer honestly. Did she shoot Drew? Willow said, no, and Alexis asked why the weapon was found in her belongings. Willow said, Michael put it there, and Alexis asked why he’d do that. Willow said he was framing her to keep her away from her children. Michael shot Drew, not her.

Chase said that was insane. Willow didn’t stalk Daisy. Michael asked if he remembered the night Daisy was missing, and Chase said she’d been in her bassinet the whole time, but Michael said she hadn’t. And there was the other incident after Daisy was born. There were things that never made sense. She’d been moved from her crib and was facing a different direction and wearing a different onesie. Chase said, Sasha just forgot, but Michael said, she didn’t. Then there was the first incident when Sasha was brought the wrong baby. Willow was there because of her meltdown at the courthouse. Chase asked why Michael didn’t tell him when it was happening, and Michael said he had no proof. Willow likely broke in to terrify him and Sasha. She could have easily gotten her hands on the gun.

Ronnie asked why this guy hated the family, and Cody said, after Drew seduced Willow, Monica turned on him and threw him out. He claimed all he did was fall in love. Ronnie said, with his nephew’s wife? and Cody said, exactly. After that, Drew was out for payback from Monica and the Quartermaine’s, especially Tracy. He was using his political power and money to attack them. She said, that’s a lot, and he said, there’s more. Drew went too far. He had Tracy arrested for drugging him with ketamine. She said, Tracy drugged him too?

Brook said Tracy might consider the possibility of being nicer to Ronnie, and Tracy said she wasn’t apologizing for something she didn’t do. Brook said she was asking Tracy to try and make Ronnie feel welcome, but Tracy said she couldn’t. She knew Monica did not want that woman to have that house. She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise to get along. Brook said Tracy was needlessly rude and now she was camped out in Lulu’s living room. Was that what she wanted? Tracy said if her family turned their backs on her for standing up for Monica’s wishes, so be it. At least she’d know she took a stand.

Lois said she knew Gio’s walls were up and it was all on her, but maybe someday he’d find a way to let the walls come back down. Gio said he needed to get going. He was meeting friends and stuff. Lois said, have fun, and keep his heart open to music and whatever, and he said he got it now. She never meant to hurt him. She was just doing the right thing. She said she still was. All she could do was try. Gio asked how things were with Brook, and she said, not good. He said he was sorry to hear that. He knew how close they used to be. He hoped they got back to that someday. She said, her too, and he left.

Jacinda told Drew, do your worst, and Kristina said, let it go. A public official hired a woman for her time and embarrassed himself. Let’s go. It’s a congressional scandal, nothing special. Outside, she told Jacinda that she had no idea Drew would be in there, but Jacinda said he was just a jerk. No wonder Willow took a shot at him. Kristina asked if she wanted to go somewhere else for coffee or a drink, but Jacinda said she’d take a raincheck. There was something she had to take care of. She left, and Kristina looked inside at Martin and Drew.

Willow said she prayed Drew remembered what happened the night of the shooting, and Alexis said, if he did, she hoped it was for his sake, not Willow’s. Willow asked what she meant, and Alexis said, in this instance, a sudden memory would look suspicious to the court and be exploited by the prosecution. They’ll think he was making it up to exonerate her. Willow said, so if he did remember… and Alexis said, it wouldn’t help her case. She thought she had what she needed, and they’d pick this up tomorrow. Willow thanked her and said she felt a lot better knowing Alexis was fighting for her.

Chase said Michael was being malicious, accusing Willow of stalking a baby. He had no evidence. Michael said that’s why he didn’t file charges, but it showed what Willow was capable of. Chase said, the one most capable of shooting Drew was Michael. He had more access, bigger motive, and the resources to protect himself. Willow was on her own. That was the definition of injustice. Chase walked out.

Cody told Ronnie that he didn’t know what happened at the tea party, but Tracy didn’t drug Drew. He did it to himself and when he got caught partying, he tried to put the blame on Tracy. Tracy had done a lot of things, but she didn’t do that. Ronnie asked if she should give Tracy the benefit of the doubt, and Cody said, if Tracy did drug her and she called Tracy on it, he thought Tracy would say to her face, you’re damn right and I’d do it again. Ronnie said she worked hard to get along with Tracy, and Tracy humiliated her in front of everybody. When she left, Tracy took the family photos and possession and looked like a walking estate sale. The movers left a box, and she had to call them. Cody said he’d run it over, and she thanked him. He said he was happy to help. He had to make himself look good for the new boss. He picked up the box and left.

Brook told Tracy, fine. Sit in Lulu’s house, surrounded by her pride and relics. But before she left, she needed Tracy to know she loved her and that would never change. So call her anytime. She left.

Lois called Brook.

Cody went to see Willow at Pentenville and asked how she was holding up. She said, better now. How were the kids? He said, fine, and she asked if there were any developments in the case, but he said, not yet.

Jacinda thanked Michael for meeting her at the coffee bar, and he said she wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. What happened? She said his sister Kristina asked her for coffee and to check on them, and he wondered if she’d asked about anything. Jacinda said, no. She was sweet and very protective of him. That wasn’t the problem. Drew was. He threatened to send the cops after her for drugging him. Michael said, let him. He had no proof. She said she had priors and took money from the congressman to stay out of town. Nothing seemed to touch him. Michael said he couldn’t argue with that. How could he help? She said she needed to disappear – again.

Brook went to Sonny’s, and Lois said, she came. Brook said just because she came didn’t mean she was going to stay.

Alexis met Kristina at Bobbie’s and asked what was going on. Kristina said Drew was there earlier and said the strangest thing. She should check in with Alexis before she ruined the deal. Don’t worry. She didn’t lose her temper. Alexis said she would have understood, but before they got into it, she had to tell Kristina that she was defending Willow.

Chase said he was going to investigate Drew’s shooting as a private citizen until Willow was exonerated, but Willow said, don’t. It would cause nothing but problems. He said she was his friend and he had to help, but she said, not if it cost his job. He said he’d do it on his own time, and she wondered if he’d get into trouble for undermining the DA’s case. He said he had every right and the department couldn’t stop him. She said she didn’t want him to risk his neck, but he said someone had to. A person should not go to prison for a crime they didn’t commit.

Jacinda said she knew Michael was counting on her, but she had to watch her own back, and he said running wasn’t the way to do that. They were each other’s best option, and she should stay put and stick to the original story. It was a terrible alibi, but he thought he had a solution that would work for both of them. He’d pay her to fall in love with him

Cody brought the box to Tracy and asked how she was doing. She said she was living with two teenagers. How did he think? He said she could impart her worldly wisdom on them, but she said what she wanted to impart involved duct tape and chloroform, but Lulu wouldn’t approve. How was Hades? He said, fine. Once this had blown over, she could see for herself. She said she should probably board Hades somewhere else, and he asked what was in the box. She said, Alan’s train set. He would put it out every Christmas for the children, but he was the only one who played with it. She thanked him for bringing it, and he said it wasn’t his idea. Ronnie… She said, do not extol the virtues of St. Ronnie, and he said they weren’t so different. She said she hated him for saying that, and he laughed. He said they were both strong women. Ronnie was just nicer about not letting people push her around.

Ronnie opened the door to find Drew and she said, thank you, but I have a nice relationship with the Lord. He said that’s not why he was there. Did she happen to be Veronica Bard? She said she was. How could she help him? He said the question was, how could he help her?

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Brook asks when Lois got into town, and Lois says, this morning. There were a few things she needed to take care of, and Brook was at the top of her list. Brook says, the last time they saw each other in Atlantic City, they shared a nice moment. Let’s not ruin it. Lois says she knows things are still bad between them, but there’s something Brook needs to know.

Carly walks into the steam room and sees Britt lying on a bench with her eyes closed. Britt says she’d like to have another cucumber water and eucalyptus towel, and Carly wings a towel at her head. Britt sits up and asks what the hell Carly thinks she’s doing. Carly says, teaching her an important lesson – how to share.

Spinelli thanks Jason for meeting him at the Brown Dog Bar, and Jason asks what he needs. Spinelli says he was hoping Jason would be so kind as to impart his parental wisdom, and Jason asks, why? Spinelli says he has the utmost respect for Jason’s relationship with Danny despite their regrettable time apart. They seem close. Jason says, and? and Spinelli says he loves James like is own son, but now that James’s father is back, he fears James may be taken away.

Nathan visits Lulu, and she says she was wondering when she’d finally see him. He says he needs to thank her for saving his life, and they hug.

At Bobbie’s, Kristina says, Alexis is defending Willow after everything she’s done to Michael? and Alexis says, if they want to see Scout, yes. She’s going to defend Willow, and in turn, Drew will drop the restraining orders against them. Kristina says, that’s good news. She’s sick of Drew punishing them all. Alexis says, unfortunately, he’s still punishing one of them, and Kristina asks what she means. Alexis says she doesn’t want to get into details. Scout will be here any minute. But Drew refuses to drop the restraining order against Danny. Kristina asks if Danny knows, but Alexis says she didn’t have the heart to tell him or that theirs have been lifted. Kristina says she doesn’t blame Alexis, and Alexis suggests they cherish their time with Scout… and there she is. Scout walks in and Alexis hugs her and says it’s good to see her.

Jacinda asks if it isn’t suspicious that Michael happened to be with an escort when Drew was shot, and Michael says, it’s a terrible alibi, but he thinks he has a solution that will work for them both. She says she’s listening, and he says he wants to pay her to fall in love with him. She says, to be clear, her time is for rent, but her emotions are not. Maybe he needs to find another alibi.

Ronnie says she’s not into politics, but she knows she’s definitely seen Drew’s face on the news, and Drew says he wishes the reporting was more accurate. He’s doing what he can to right that. How is she settling in? She says, it’s an adjustment, and he says, everybody in the house was born with a silver spoon in their mouth except them. They have more in common than she thinks. She says, really? and he says, give him a chance to prove it to her.

Britt says she got here first. If Carly has a problem with the way she seems, Carly can leave. Carly says she owns the hotel, including the spa and steam bath. She’s not going anywhere. Britt says she gets it. Carly is rich and owns everything. But does she have to remind everyone every five minutes? Carly says she doesn’t want Britt here and can throw her out when she wants, but Britt says she doesn’t think Jason would like it.

Spinelli says, the situation with James’s father is tricky. That’s why he needs Jason’s guidance. He possesses valuable insight into what Nathan is thinking because he’s worn similar shoes. Jason says, when Danny and Jake thought they’d lost him until he came back, and Spinelli says, yeah. And in the wake of his absence, he had to rebuild the relationship with his sons and it’s gone well, right? Jason says he’d like to think so, and Spinelli says, good. That’s what he wants for him and James. He wants them to have an unbreakable bond like Jason has with Danny. What he doesn’t want is for James to be taken away by the father he already has.

Nathan says he’s been meaning to come by and see Lulu. He couldn’t talk at the arraignment because his sister needed him. Lulu says she’s glad he was there for Nina. If Britt got locked up, they could throw away the key. He says he sees her antipathy with his other sister, and she says she’s not going to let Britt ruin the moment. She can’t believe he was the guy in the crashed car. He says he’s grateful, but wishes he knew how he ended up there, and she asks how it is being back. He says, it’s hard not remembering the last seven years of his life. The last he remembers, he and Maxie were married and Maxie was pregnant. Now Maxie is gone and James has grown up. Lulu says, it’s a lot. Maxie has them spinning. He says he just wants to take care of James and make a good life. Get his old job back at the PCPD. Lulu says she wants him to get his job back, but he doesn’t need that to be a good dad to his son. James will love him no matter what. Nathan says he hopes so, but he’s not sure what he’s up against here, and she says she understands better than he thinks.

Scout says it’s been so long since she’s seen them, but Alexis says, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they’re together and today is a Davis Girls fun day. Kristina says, except for Aunt Molly. She got stuck at work, but they can video chat with her later. Alexis asks Scout’s nanny if she thinks they can spend time alone, and the nanny says she can keep an eye on things from the counter. Alexis says she’s sure, and the nanny leaves. Alexis says she wanted to make sure to tell Scout how brave she’s been and how proud of Scout she is. She was very brave when her dad was in the hospital. Scout says she’s glad he’s home, but the police made a mistake and took Willow away. Her dad said Alexis was going to help bring her home.

Drew says he’s sure Ronnie got an earful about him and just hopes she doesn’t take what she hears at face value. The Quartermaines don’t take kindly to outsiders like them. He’s been part of the family for a long time and if they can smear his name as easily as they have, imagine what they could do to somebody like her. Ronnie says she doesn’t have to imagine. Tracy says it right to her face. He says, let him guess. Tracy says she’s not good enough to be here and says she’s an opportunist just after the Quartermaine name and fortune. She’s very quick to shame and name call, isn’t she? Ronnie says, Tracy probably just hates everybody, and Drew says she’s probably right. There’s something else they have in common – Monica.

Michael tells Jacinda that he’s sorry. Every word came out wrong. She says she hopes so, and he says he didn’t mean to imply he could buy her feelings. Quite the opposite. He really liked her the night they met. That’s why he wanted to buy her a drink. He had no idea she was… She says, that she was an escort? and he tells her that he was going to say he had no idea she was the woman involved in Drew’s ketamine scandal. Now she’s involved in something a hell of a lot bigger. If they want a believable alibi, they need to find a way to have a real relationship, something other people believe because they believe it themselves. She asks if he thinks people would believe a man like him fell for a woman like her, and he says, why wouldn’t they? She’s smart, beautiful, and magnetic. No one would be surprised that he’d be with her. The real question is, why would someone like her be with someone like him? She says, maybe because he’s sexy, intelligent, and successful, and he says, they sound pretty great and pretty believable as a couple. She says, who is she to argue? and takes out her phone. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, taking a selfie. If people are going to buy this, they need to leave a social media trail. She takes the photo.

Brook asks why Lois is at Uncle Sonny’s, and Lois says, Sonny graciously let her use this place to take care of a few things. Gio was just here. Brook asks, why? and Lois says she was giving him a gentle nudge toward her and Dante. Brook says she wishes Lois hadn’t done that, and Lois says she knows. It’s her butting in again, but she had to try. Brook says she didn’t have to do anything, but she chose to anyway, and Lois says she doesn’t want to argue. She doesn’t want to leave the country with them in a bad place. Brook asks why she’s leaving the country, and Lois says, an opportunity fell into her lap and if she takes it, she’ll be leaving the country.

Lois says, because she was with L&B Records and Miguel Morez, somebody reached out and offered her a job as tour manager, and Brook says she’s happy for her. She’s a great tour manager. Lois says she didn’t expect Brook to tell her that, but it may not even happen. Not without Brook’s blessing. Brook asks what she means, and Lois says it’s for Brook’s client, Blaze. Brook says, right. Blaze finished opening for Miguel. Lois says, Blaze did such a great job, she made an even bigger name for herself. She gained so many new fans that Miguel’s people want to capitalize on it and send her on a tour all of her own. They asked her to manage it, but she’s not taking the opportunity away from Brook. So it’s her call.

Alexis says she promises to do everything in her power to help Willow, and Scout says, good. She likes Willow and hopes Willow marries her dad for real one day. Kristina says she wants to know how Scout is doing. The last time they talked, Scout was trying out for the swim team. How did it go? Scout says she made the team, and Alexis applauds. Scout says her first meet is next Tuesday, and Alexis promises she’ll be there. Kristina says she’ll be right next to Alexis, and they’ll be cheering Scout on. Danny and Rocco come in, and Scout hugs Danny. The nanny’s beady eyes watch them.  

Drew tells Ronnie that Monica was the person who welcomed him into the family. She didn’t know anything about him, but as soon as she found out he was Alan’s son, that was all she needed. He’ll always be deeply grateful for her being there during the toughest time of his life. Ronnie says, that sounds like her sister, but not from personal experience. They were not close. He says, they weren’t very close either, at least during the last year. They’d had a serious falling out. He made some mistakes and was trying to fix them, but because Tracy interfered, Monica wouldn’t even give him a chance. He wishes he’d had the opportunity to deal with it before she died. It’s painful to have to live with for the rest of his life. He’s sure that’s something Ronnie knows all about too.

Michael tells Jacinda that Willow has been charged with Drew’s shooting, but he’s still on the suspect list. He’s much, much higher than her, so he needs her a whole lot more than she needs him. She says, true, but he gets points for being honest, and he says he’ll always be honest with her. It’s the only way to make this thing work, if they have trust, and he needs her to trust him. She says, because? and he says, if they want it to work and for people to believe them, she needs to get a different job.

Outside Bobbie’s, Danny says, whatever he did, he’s sorry, but Alexis says he didn’t do anything. Drew did. Danny asks why Drew can’t just leave them alone? and Alexis says, because he’s an ass. He agreed to lift the restraining orders on all of them, except he kept Danny’s in place. Danny asks if that means everyone can see Scout except him, and she says, yes, but it’s not going to last long. She’s going to fix it. She hates this so much, but in the meantime, they need Scout to spend time with the rest of them to balance the bad influence Drew has. Rocco says, everyone but Danny, and Alexis says she knows it’s not fair, but at the moment, they need to go by Drew’s rules. It’s unconscionable, she knows, but she’s going to take care of it. Danny says he knows she will. She always does.

Drew tells Ronnie, sorry. He’s texting his daughter’s nanny. Ronnie says, that’s fine. She can certainly see how he’d made his life in politics after the speech he gave her. He clearly has a way with words. He says he was just telling the truth. He loved Monica. That didn’t stop because they weren’t speaking. She says, one thing she knows about Monica, once she made up her mind about you, it was really hard to break through. Anyway, she’s glad they had the chance to chat. He says him too, and she says she’s sorry, but she can’t shake the feeling he came to her with an ulterior motive. He says he wouldn’t call it an ulterior motive, but there was something else he was hoping to talk to her about.

Jacinda tells Michael that she’s not saying he’s wrong. Her continuing work as an escort will give people a reason to doubt their relationship, but not having an income is not an option. She has bills to pay. He says he totally gets that, but he can get her a job that pays well, and who knows? Maybe she’ll like it more than the place she’s at right now. She says he’s going to a lot of trouble to make this work. That makes her think he has something pretty serious to cover up. She wasn’t actually with him that night, so she has no idea what he did or didn’t do. He says he didn’t shoot Drew, but he did come dangerously close. He was mad that night and drove over to confront Drew, but then he got out of his car, and it hit him. What Drew was going to do was escalate things. That’s what he always does. Nothing good would come of it and he decided to move forward, for him and for his kids, and leave Willow, Drew, and all that behind. Jacinda says, every time he talks about his kids, he lights up. She can tell how much he loves them. You’re a complicated man, Michael Corinthos, but underneath it all, you’re a good guy. He says he really wants to be, and she says, by the way, she does. He says, does what? and she says, believes him about not shooting his uncle.

Lulu tells Nathan, for her, it felt like a good night’s sleep, but for everyone else, four years had passed. Her little boy and girl were teenagers, her father was dead, and so was her Aunt Bobbie. She felt like she was living in another world, an alternate universe. Nathan says he’s really sorry, and she says, yeah, so is she. He says, that stuff messes with your head, right? and she says, it’s hard to explain the anxiety, the questions, the displacement, the guilt. Dante had to raise Rocco, and her daughter went with her father, so she knows all too well what he’s going through. He says he guesses she does. He has so much guilt about Maxie. She might be the only one who can walk him through it.

Spinelli tells Jason, before Maxie was transferred to the hospital in Boston, he promised to keep the family together and James is an integral part of the family. He needs to play this exactly right. Jason says he doesn’t know Nathan too well, but everybody thinks he’s a good guy. He’s sure Nathan will respect everyone’s feelings when he gets to know his son. Spinelli says, he’s right. Nathan is a good guy. That’s why Maxie… loved him. He was arguably the love of her life, and Nathan made it clear he still loves her. Jason says, stop. He has to stop. That was the past. Maxie loves him and James has plenty of room in his life for him and Nathan. Spinelli thanks Jason for saying that. He doesn’t want to lose James.

Carly says, funny. Britt acts like she wants as little to do with Jason as possible, yet she finds a way to drop his name in every conversation they have. Britt says, exaggerate much? and Carly says she and Jason have been best friends for a very long time. She’s in his life and that’s not going to change. Jason wouldn’t care at all if she threw Britt out of the hotel. He’s seen her be way pettier and never blinked an eye. Britt says she gets why Carly would brag about that, and Carly says she tells it like it is. Britt says Carly talks a big game, but she knows it’s driving Carly crazy that Jason flew all the way to Croatia to find her. How hard did Carly try to convince him not to go after her? She’s sure it made Carly mad that he didn’t listen, and she knows Carly is upset that Jason still can’t stop thinking about her after all this time.

Brook tells Lois that she has a lot going on right now. Gio, Chase’s job, Monica’s estate is in limbo. She could never take on a position like that, even if it was offered to her. Lois says, Brook has a lot on her plate, and Brook says she usually does. Blaze just lost her mother. Even though she and Natalia didn’t have the best relationship, she can understand why Blaze would want maternal energy around right now. Things aren’t great between her and Lois, but she trusts that Blaze will be in great hands. Lois says, that means… and Brook says, take the job. Lois has her blessing. Lois thanks her and says, that means a lot. Brook asks when she’s leaving, and Lois says, today.  

Michael says it’s likely both he and Jacinda will be called to testify at Willow’s trial. So there can’t be a traceable money trail between them. She’ll still get paid a sizeable amount, just under the table. Jacinda says, that’s fine, and Michael says, good. She needs to have a reason that she left her last job. He’ll cover her expenses, and she’ll need a legit title and position. She asks what kind of job he has in mind. Does it come with health insurance?

Alexis comes back and asks, who’s ready to order? and Scout asks, where are her brothers? Alexis says she’s sorry. They had somewhere to go. They wanted to stay and said to tell her how much they love her. Kristina says, Scout hardly saw them. They didn’t get to talk.

Drew says he loves that Monica left Ronnie the estate. Keeping the house in the family is a great way to preserve Monica’s legacy. He also understands Port Charles is not her home and she might have a life she wants to get back to. If that’s the case, he’d love the opportunity to make and offer on his family’s home. If that’s what she decides, he hopes he’s her first call. Danny and Rocco come in, and Danny tells Drew, get the hell out of our house.

Carly says she’s not surprised Jason can’t stop thinking about Britt. He’s loyal to a fault, even to the people who lie to his face. Or did she tell him what she was really up to in Croatia? Britt says, who’s asking? Carly or her WSB agent boyfriend, Jack Brennan? Carly says she doesn’t do Jack’s dirty work, and Britt says, just Jason’s. Carly says she and Jason have been through things Britt can’t even imagine. Once again, the reason alludes her for Jason putting himself on the line for Britt. Why not do something to justify his faith in her, like be a decent person? Britt says she really misses the Five Poppies spa. It was so much quieter. Carly says, then she should go back… Unless she can’t.

Spinelli tells Jason that the other day, he tried to hint that what James needs is routine and consistency in his life. In other words, James should stay with him and James’s sister, but Nathan mistook that and thought he meant that James needed him to consistently be a hands-on father. Jason tells him, all he can say is, when he came back to town, he saw Sam and Dante had built a blended family and Danny loved being a part of that family. He didn’t want to disrupt that, so who knows? Maybe Nathan will feel the same way. Spinelli says, even so, things changed with Danny and Jason is with him full-time, and Jason says, only because Sam died. Spinelli says, that’s exactly his point. What if the worst happens and Maxie doesn’t make it? What happens to his family then?

Nathan tells Lulu that he can’t stop wondering if things had been different, if he’d never left, would Maxie feel the same? Maybe to him it didn’t feel like seven years had gone by, but they had. Maybe in all that time, she fell out of love with him. Lulu says, no. Maxie never stopped loving him. She was devastated when he died and mourned for a really long time. Then she moved on with her life. In true Maxie style, she made big mistakes along the way. Nathan says he heard about it from Nina, and Lulu says, Maxie never would have gotten involved with Peter August if she hadn’t been spinning out over losing him. It took years for Maxie and Spinelli to reconnect. She loves Spinelli and he worships Maxie, but she truly thinks Nathan was the love of Maxie’s life. And when Maxie wakes up – and she will wake up – she’s going to be stunned, then thrilled that he’s alive. But if he’s wondering if Maxie will choose him or Spinelli when she comes back to him, only Maxie has the answer to that.

Lois says she’s flying to Seoul later today, and Brook says, that makes sense. Blaze has a lot of fans there. How long is the tour? Lois says, TBD. She’s adding new dates all the time. It’s part of the job description. Brook says she’s sorry. She knows things aren’t great, but she hates to think that Lois won’t be here and waiting when she’s finally ready. Lois says she’ll always be there for Brook. It doesn’t matter how long they’ve gone without speaking – days, weeks, months, God forbid years – the second Brook needs her, she’ll drop everything and come running. Lois starts to cry and says, Brook is her heart, beating outside her chest. She always has been. Brook starts to cry too, and says she needs Lois, every single day, a thousand times a day. Not an hour goes by that she doesn’t wish she could call Lois, but something in her isn’t ready to move on from this. Lois says, don’t feel bad about the way she feels. She kept a secret from Brook that wasn’t hers to keep. She swears she’s learned from her mistake. She just hopes she gets the chance to prove it to Brook someday.

Scout asks if she can come over for a sleepover, and Alexis says she’d love that, but they’d have to ask her dad. The nanny says, it’s time to go. Scout’s dad wants her home. Kristina says, they haven’t even ordered, but Alexis says, that’s okay. They’ll see each other soon. Scout says, okay. She loves them. Alexis hugs her and says she loves Scout too. She’ll see Scout at the swim meet. Kristina says, they’ll be the ones cheering the loudest, and hugs Scout. The nanny says, let’s go, and she leaves with Scout. Kristina says, what the hell was that? and Alexis suggests they not make a scene. She’s sure Drew’s little spy called and told him that Danny was here. Then their time with Scout was over before it got started.

Drew says he was just here to talk to Ronnie about adult business. It doesn’t concern Danny either. Danny says, it does. He lives there. Drew isn’t even allowed on the grounds. How did he get past the front gate? Drew says, Ronnie decides who gets to be here now, and Ronnie says, okay. Let’s just cool it, okay? She and the congressman were just having a chat, but Danny is obviously upset about something. Maybe they could discuss it and work out some kind of understanding. Rocco says, she doesn’t know Drew like they do. He’s a bad guy. He’s been keeping their sister away from them and still won’t let Danny see her. Drew says, it’s a long story, and Danny says, Drew filed restraining orders against Scout’s entire family to keep them from seeing her. Ronnie says she doesn’t understand that. The way he was talking, he seemed like someone who really values family. Why is he keeping his daughter away from hers? Drew says, Danny put Scout in danger. He kidnapped her… Danny says, that’s a lie. He was bringing her home. The doorbell rings, and Ronnie says she’ll get it. When she’s gone, Drew says he’s just about had it. They’re both entitled little punks that don’t know when to shut up. It’s time that they get something straight.

Lois opens the door, and Brook says, ma, and goes to her. They hug and cry, and Lois says, hey. When Brook was growing up it was them against the world. She hopes they’ll be that way again someday. She loves Brook so very much. Brook says she knows. Safe travels. Lois says, okay, and leaves. Brook watches as she walks away from the house.  

Nathan thanks Lulu for what she said about Maxie. Most people say if she wakes up, but Lulu said when. It helps. Lulu says she can be this confident because it happened to her. She fought her way back. Maxie is a fighter, like they are, and Maxie is going to come back for James, like she came back for Charlotte and Rocco. Nathan says he hasn’t met Charlotte yet, but Rocco’s a great kid. He’s smart, interesting, and polite. She thanks him and says she thinks so too. When did they see each other? Nathan says, they had dinner last night, and she says, him and Rocco? He says, him, Rocco, his mom, and Britt.

Jason says, Spinelli has to stay strong and positive for Maxie and the kids, and Spinelli says, he’s right. Jason says he knows how hard it is on him. If there’s anything he can do to help… Spinelli says, actually, he could talk to Nathan. Tell Nathan his story and that he knows what it’s like to want to reconnect with his son, but he held back and took it slow for Danny’s sake. Convince him it’s the right thing to do in this situation. Jason says he doesn’t know why Nathan would listen to him. He barely knows the guy. Spinelli says, Jason did save his sister’s life. That should give him an in. Jason says, okay. If it will make Spinelli feel better, he’s happy to do it. But Nathan’s not a dumb guy. He may think Spinelli sent him and think Spinelli is trying to keep him away from James. Spinelli says that should have occurred to him, and Jason says, so why not be more direct? Why not invite him over and let him see James as part of a big loving family? Then he’ll see with his own eyes how happy James is. Make Nathan a partner in parenting. Spinelli says, it’s not only wise, but surprisingly full of heart. Perhaps Jason is becoming less stone cold and a little more warm and fuzzy. Jason just looks at him, and Spinelli says, or not. They get up, and Spinelli almost hugs Jason, but Jason is like, no. Spinelli says he’ll let Jason know how it goes leaves.

Carly says they all know Britt is hiding something. Between her, Jason, and Jack, they’ll figure out her dirty little secret. Britt flashes back to the note that came with her medication, and says, this place sucks. It doesn’t even have a cold plunge. She leaves.

Kristina says, what if Drew thinks they had it planned to have Danny show up and takes Scout away from them again? and Alexis says she’ll have to make sure he knows it was a coincidence – and it was, by the way. Kristina asks, what if he doesn’t believe her? but Alexis says, Drew wants Willow acquitted and knows she’s the best person to do that. But if she fails, he’ll keep Scout away from them for good. Kristina says, if anyone can get Willow free, she can, and Alexis says, the problem is, if Willow claims she’s innocent, she has to give the jury someone else to find guilty. Kristina says, please tell her that she’s not trying to pin Drew’s shooting on Michael.

Jacinda tells Michael that she has one stipulation. She doesn’t want the job to just be her cover. She wants to actually do the job, learn something new. She’s a hard worker. Who knows? Maybe this will be her next career. Michael says, don’t worry. She’ll have full autonomy. He doesn’t want to micromanage her. He wants her to succeed here. She says, good. Then she’s in. He says, okay, and holds out his hand, but she says, please. They want this to be convincing. He says, done, and they kiss.

Drew says, Scout’s nanny told him what Danny did. He showed up at Bobbie’s earlier while Scout was there. That cannot happen again. Danny says, or what? It doesn’t matter how many restraining orders he hits them with. They’re seeing their sister. He can’t watch her every second of the day. She’s not his prisoner. Rocco says, Scout is smart and she loves them. He can’t keep them away without making her hate him. Drew says he doesn’t want to play these games with them. If he feels Scout isn’t safe here in Port Charles, he will take her and relocate to DC. How often do they think she’ll see them then? In the meantime, he’s going to have both delinquents arrested and thrown in jail, just like Danny’s dad and just like Rocco’s Uncle Lucky. Ronnie brings in Laura, who says, I beg your pardon. I believe you’re out of your depth now. You have a much bigger problem than my grandson and his brother. You’ve got me.

On Monday, Curtis says, Jordan isn’t the reason his marriage is over; Trina asks if she’s interrupting Isaiah and Portia; Kristina tells Sonny that he might not be so happy when he hears what she has to say; and Drew says, all Ronnie had to do is name her price.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, and she’s blowing up on Instagram.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-scarlett-spears-donna-will-star-as-young-glinda-in-wicked-sequel/

Failed retirement looks good on her.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/why-failed-retiree-jane-elliot-is-thrilled-with-her-general-hospital-resurgence-as-tracy/

At first, I was leaning toward him actually being Faison, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think evil twin, but it’s not unheard of.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-nathan-really-back-on-general-hospital-fans-weigh-in-on-his-mysterious-return/

Daytime Emmy stuff.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-52nd-annual-daytime-emmy-awards-the-complete-winners-list-as-it-happens-live/

https://ew.com/daytime-emmy-awards-2025-winners-list-11831588

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/daytime-emmys-2025-inside-the-winners-circle-with-stars-of-general-hospital-young-and-restless-and-more/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/the-2025-daytime-emmy-awards-what-you-didnt-see-behind-the-scenes-during-and-after-the-ceremony/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The captain told Nathan that he had some people who didn’t get it, and in Nathan’s interview, he said he’d given them the benefit of the doubt first charter, but now it was looking like a joke. Primary Grant wanted something to eat at some ungodly hour and Aesha stepped in, suggesting fries. Of course, he insisted on truffle being added, but by the time they were served, he wasn’t hungry anymore. He wasn’t belligerent or even demanding, but he was idiotic and insensitive to the fact that the crew members were human. After being told no swimming, guest Jack also tumbled, or rather bounced, into the water while drunk. The guests did leave a $20K tip, $1818 each, which kinda, sorta made up for a charter of idiots. Looks like a deckhand might be headed for walking the plank though.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The Below Deck trip was planned, but Heather said she couldn’t enjoy herself on a superyacht. They were savages. Lisa was annoyed that she couldn’t bring her glam squad and tried talking smack about Angie to Heather, but Ozempic Face wasn’t having it. Heather told Meredith that Lisa was never going to own it and apologize, but Meredith preferred giving Lisa the benefit of the doubt. Todd suggested Bronwyn stop getting in the gutter and rolling around in the slime. She assumed she’d be fighting with Lisa and was setting herself up for it. Whatever happened was on her.

Housewives Wife Swap

This is what reality TV should be about – learning how other people live who aren’t you. Angie from RHOSLC swapped with Lindsay, a wife living off the grid. In the 24-hour period when the swapped wives play by their rules, Mary showed up when Lindsay was demonstrating how to gut a fish. Seeing Mary’s face was priceless and was one of the many moments that made it worth watching.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

These women should always stay high. Gina and Fancy Pants did mushrooms and romped through fields of tulips, while Shannon tried her hand at riding a plaster horse. Gina was mesmerized by clogs with flowers in them! While there weren’t any knockdown drag outs, there was plenty of behind the back gossip, which I find tedious since it’s always rehashing the same stuff over and over. In Gretchen’s interview, she said if Tamra hadn’t changed when she accepted Jesus, what made them think she’d changed now? Good point. I could see why Tony Geary moved to Amsterdam. It looks amazing and so much fun – the markets! the canals! the flowers – weed included!

Random Reality Items

I smell desperation.

Tease is right. There’s not much to see there.

Yikes. It’s so creepy that people do this.

Looks promising. I was totally surprised when I realized how much I like this show. Those who can’t do watch it on TV.

Getting some Lala.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Perfect Neighbor. Netflix. A documentary about someone who is very far from being the perfect neighbor. When the entire neighborhood hates you, they can’t all be wrong. Racist and antagonistic, Susan Lorincz is a neighbor you don’t want to have, constantly berating the neighborhood children for being children. Hand to God, I had a downstairs neighbor like that when I lived in an apartment, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Lorincz takes things too far, fatally shooting a mother of four through a locked door and then using Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as a defense.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1424110/the-perfect-neighbor-what-happened-to-susan-lorincz-ajike-owens

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025). Netflix. The reviews weren’t good, but I didn’t hate it. It is what it is. A slasher film with all the tropes. There was a more complex plot than the original, which only led to unanswered questions, but does it really matter? This is the kind of mindless film where you just kick back with your popcorn and not think too hard. Probably the best thing about it was the inclusion of actors from the original film and an amusing fantasy sequence with one of them.

https://decider.com/2025/10/17/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-2025-digital-streaming-movie-review

https://www.splicetoday.com/moving-pictures/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-ages-gracelessly

🔮 Watch Of the (Near) Future…

Genius casting!

https://ew.com/wicked-for-good-casts-colman-domingo-cowardly-lion-11832887

Airing November 6th, 8 pm on NBC, streaming on Peacock the following day.

https://ew.com/first-look-at-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-in-wicked-for-good-tv-special-exclusive-11834430

It’s almost here.

https://ew.com/welcome-to-derry-on-set-it-prequel-tracing-pennywise-origins-exclusive-11830263

👠 Over At the Frankenstein Place…

I can’t wait to read his memoir.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/tim-curry-makes-rare-appearance-045437579.html

🐝 Time To Buzz Off…

One of those good things that will be coming to an end.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/yellowjackets-ending-season-4

🎃 Halloween Watch…

Obviously, best and scariest are a matter of opinion, but there are some good ones here.

https://ew.com/best-halloween-movies-streaming-11832026

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/scariest-movies-of-all-time

🐈‍⬛ Casting a Spell On You…

🍄 Omg, the mushroom Pug.

🗽 These costumes make me feel guilty for not being more ambitious.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/19/us-news/costumed-canines-strut-stuff-at-nycs-halloween-dog-parade/

https://hyperallergic.com/1050567/the-goodest-boys-of-nyc-halloween-dog-parade-2025/

🐕 And of course, ways to keep your pets safe.

🦉 Quotes of the Week

I don’t want to pinch your bubble. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?

You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. – Shonda Rhimes

A good character is the best tombstone. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. – Charles Spurgeon

Whatever you are, be a good one. – William Makepeace Thackeray

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker

The road to success is always under construction. – Lily Tomlin

Leaders who win the respect of others are the ones who deliver more than they promise, not the ones who promise more than they can deliver.Mark A. Clement

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

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou

Success is defined as the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. – Unknown

You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.Leymah Gbowee

We’re married now. My hell is her hell. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🪄 Magic In the Night…

Until next week, stay safe; stay keeping your pets out of the mix on Halloween; and stay not doing body shots in a room full of people with phones if you hire an escort.

October 17, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Willow Has No Alibi, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, To Watch Later, Delayed Wind, Kiss Goodbye, Cosplay This, Pet Regalia, Unlucky Number Of Quotes & This

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                        

Monday:

Brook packaged Tracy’s tea set so she wouldn’t blow a gasket if Ronnie made same mistake again and the world came to an end. Chase helped since he wasn’t working, having been told that he couldn’t be objective about one of the suspects.

At the hospital, Drew suggested Willow move in with him when he went home today.

Trina and Kai went into Drew’s house to walk through what happened the night Drew was shot. Kai said it was their last chance to cover their tracks.

Curtis told Portia that he thought they should hold off on the divorce.

Anna told Dante that they had to execute the warrants quickly, when she got a call on the desk phone. She said, send him in, and Nathan came in. He and Dante hugged.

Nina went to Bobbie’s and told Carly that she was pleased Michael was finally being reasonable.

Michael met Sonny at Diane’s office and said Michael was going to need a lawyer.

Kai said Drew wanted him to get the house ready, so if anyone asked, he’d say he’d needed Trina’s help. They began to go through everything they remembered from the night Drew was shot and flashed back to all that.

Curtis told Portia that a divorce was risky because he wasn’t certain they would be cleared. Drew strongly suspected both of them.

Nathan said he’d gotten a clean bill of health, but it was a bit of an adjustment, and Dante said he identified. Nathan thanked Anna for breaking the news to his family that he was still alive, and Anna said Felicia told her that he met his son. Nathan said James was smart, funny, and constantly surprising. James reminded him so much of Maxie.

Willow said she didn’t want to rock the boat with Michael, but Drew said Michael was just trying to keep them apart. She should show him that she was moving on, and moving in was the best way to do that. Willow said she didn’t want Michael to change his mind, but Drew said, then it would be proof he was using the kids to keep them apart. It would make her custody case stronger.

For the 5034th time, Carly brought up Nina not telling Willow that she’d slept with Drew, but Nina said a lot had changed since then. Maybe Michael and Willow could reach a custody compromise. Carly said Willow was seeing the children only under supervision of a health professional, and Nina suggested Michael paid them off, but Carly said he didn’t have to because he wasn’t worried about maintaining full custody. Nina said, from what she read in the papers, Michael wouldn’t be free for long.

Sonny told Michael to hope for the best and prepare for the worst and have a defense in place. The police were already tightening the noose. Before he brought in Alexis and Diane, he had to ask, was it him? Michael said he didn’t shoot Drew, and Sonny said he needed 100% of the truth and Michael’s mom wasn’t there. He asked again.

Dante left and Nathan said it was nice to see Anna back as Commissioner. He was lucky. He’d been gone so long and got his friends and family back… mostly. She said she was sorry about Maxie, and he said he needed his badge back.

Brook told Chase that she could understand how Chase could hurt the case, and he said he was worried that he’d put Willow in Anna’s crosshairs by suggesting Drew had the judge killed. He’d had no proof, and it showed Willow had motive. He’d turned her into a suspect.

Kai and Trina continued to flash back to the night Drew was shot.

Carly said Nina was at the top of the list of people who’d line up to shoot Drew, but Nina said she’d been using Drew. She’d never wanted him. When it was clear she wasn’t going to receive the desired result, she moved on. Carly said Nina was angry that Drew ruined her daughter’s life, and Nina said she’d been on a walk with her daughter at the time and wasn’t a suspect. Unlike Carly’s son whose only alibi was an escort who would do anything for money, including giving her son a phony alibi.

Willow said she wasn’t gambling with her children, and Drew said Michael would be arrested any minute. She said she couldn’t take chances based on headlines, but Drew said Michael had a history of violence and had motive. When he was convicted, she’d get her kids back. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.

Michael told Sonny that he hated Drew and was mad that he and Willow got back together. He’d gone to the Port Charles Grill, and a beautiful woman sat down next to him. They got to talking and he went to her room. Sonny told him to be ready to be arrested. Diane would defend him, but Drew handed him a motive. Michael said Drew handed a motive to half the town, but Sonny said Michael’s alibi wouldn’t stick. He was sure Drew would remember something that would lead the cops straight to Michael. Who was the woman he met? Michael said, Jacinda Bracken, and Sonny asked if she could stand up to questioning. Would she hang out in Port Charles long enough to testify? Michael said he wouldn’t be the one who was charged, and Sonny asked if Michael knew something he didn’t.

Brook said Anna would find the person responsible based on the evidence, and Chase said when Drew got his hooks in Willow, he’d pulled her down. She said he kept acting like he was still responsible for Willow, but he wasn’t, and he said he kept wondering how he’d gotten so lucky with Brook, when things went so wrong for Willow.

Nathan told Anna that he knew he couldn’t pick up where he left off, but had no memory loss when it came to the law. He’d do what it took to be a detective again. She said she wasn’t sure it was going to be that easy, and he said there had to be something she could do. He had a son to support. She said James had Mac, Felicia, and Spinelli, and Lulu and Brook set aside their differences to help. Nathan said, Brook Lynn? And Anna said it was a long story. What was important was his recovery. He said he was recovered. He was glad everyone pitched in, but as great as Spinelli had been, he was James’s father and wanted to take care of him. Anna said she’d look into the feasibility of his return, but thought he had to be realistic and face the possibility he might never be cleared to rejoin the force.

Portia told Curtis that there was no longer proof. No proof, no motive. She didn’t shoot Drew. She had the chance to kill him in the operating room and thought about it, but didn’t do it and never would. He said, to be safe, he thought they should hold off, but she said she didn’t need his protection. Did he need her help? If that was the case, they could wait. He said if she was asking if he shot Drew, he would never have shot him in the back. He’d want Drew to see it coming. He wouldn’t throw his life away for Drew, especially since it would devastate Trina.

Kai said, then they heard the ringtone, and Trina wondered if the shooter was scared off by the call. He said, Scout might have saved her father’s life.

Drew said he was asking Willow to believe in him, in them. He knew they could have a good life together like they’d planned and be a family. She said it was all she wanted. She’d move back in. He said everything had fallen back into place, and kissed her. She said she had to go, and he said he’d see her later at home.

Michael told Sonny that he didn’t know anything. They weren’t railroading him, but following the evidence. It wasn’t him. Sonny said he had to do everything to prove his innocence, but Michael said he was focused on his kids. He needed to protect them. Sonny said if Michael hadn’t gotten hurt, they wouldn’t be here, and Michael said his marriage was over when he found out Willow had feelings for Drew. The fire didn’t tear his family apart – Drew did, and Willow let him. What broke his heart the most was that he couldn’t trust the woman he’d loved unsupervised around their kids. He was going to do what he could to make sure she didn’t get them back.

Anna said Nathan was a great officer and she’d do everything she could to bring him back, but he’d been gone seven years and missed a great deal. He said he’d do what he could to get back up to speed. Name it and he’d do it. She said what she needed to know was what he’d been doing all that time and who he associated with, and he said he swore if he knew, he’d tell her. She said he didn’t look like he’d been asleep for seven years. When she had an account of where he’d been, they’d go from there. He thanked her, they hugged. and he left. Again with the strange, grim Nathan face when he was hugging her.

Kai said he’d grabbed the bat for protection, and Trina said she’d wanted to call 911, but before she could, they saw the car. Kai said he made a point of not touching the door handle, but left the bat near Drew. It was covered with his fingerprints, and he was afraid if the police found it, it would point to the safe. Trina said, and put a target on her parents.

Dante met Sonny and Dante said he was sorry, but as a father he needed to ask Dante something. Were the police going to arrest Michael?

Nina told Carly that she didn’t blame Michael. Drew ripped his life apart, but she was willing to admit Willow made mistakes and had the opportunity to stop it. Carly said they’d tried to convince the judge that Michael had abandoned his children, and Nina said, if Michael had compromised, they wouldn’t be where they were. Carly said Nina didn’t know that, but Nina said Carly told him to take the hard line and pushed the fight to the extreme. Drew was waiting in the wings to play hero. Maybe Michael wasn’t the one who tried to end Drew. Maybe it was Carly.

Kai told Trina that there was no reason his prints shouldn’t be on the bat. He was Drew’s loyal intern and an athlete, so he’d swung the bat. Trina said, who knew how many other people had? Her dad needed to see her, and she didn’t want to keep him waiting, but Kai said, one more thing. He checked the safe, saw it was open, found the evidence on her mom, and took it. She thanked him again and said she wished she could tell her parents so they wouldn’t worry, but he said, then her parents would know they were there. She said they couldn’t. No one could ever know what they heard. He said they didn’t know who pulled the trigger, and she said she was glad they didn’t see who it was. He said, from now on, they had to forget it ever happened.

Curtis said if they couldn’t get Michael, pressure would be exerted on the PCPD to come after them, but Portia said they weren’t interested in Michael and she was pretty sure they were in the clear. She was at Elizabeth’s when the PCPD showed up with a warrant to search the premises. He asked if Elizabeth was a suspect, and she said, no, but her houseguest was – Willow.

Sonny said he was just asking so Michael could have the best possible defense, and Dante said, Michael actually had a motive, more than one. But he was a grown man, and Sonny couldn’t shield him from the consequences of his actions. Sonny said Michael told him that they’d follow the evidence… It sounded like they’d made up their mind. Dante said they had a few warrants out, but none of them were for Michael, and Sonny breathed a sigh of relief. Dante said, but he didn’t think Sonny would like who they were bringing in, and he left.

Brook said now Chase had to deal with her and her crazy family, and he said he loved her crazy family, who were his family now. She said he had to bring a search warrant to his own home, and he said, technically, it was Ronnie’s home. Monica gave it to her. (Ha-ha-ha! I love that and hope it’s a thing now.) He knew life wasn’t perfect, but they had each other, and he couldn’t remember the last time he was bored. He had more than he ever dreamed he would. He had a wife who he could be completely honest with, who had compassion and a willingness to see the good in people, which made him love her more. His phone chimed and he said it was the station. They wanted him to pick up a warrant and make an arrest.

Carly said, between them, Nina had so many reasons to shoot Drew, and Nina said, Carly would do anything for her son and they both had a violent temper. Carly said she’d never killed anyone, but Nina said she thought Nelle would have something to say about that. Carly said Nelle was a baby thieving psycho like her mom and psycho sister, when Nathan came to the counter and asked if everything was okay.

Trina went to Curtis’s office and saw Portia was there. She asked, what’s going on? and Curtis said they didn’t want to make it public yet, but thought she should know. They were sorry. They’d tried hard, but… Portia said they were getting a divorce.

Kai told Drew, welcome home. He tried to make everything perfect for his return. Drew said he appreciated that, and Kai said it had to be hard for him. Drew said he wasn’t going to let that night define the house for him. He was committed to moving on. He brought big news. Willow agreed to move back in.

Nathan and Nina clinked BLT sandwiches and said, cheers. Sonny came in and told Carly that the jet was on the tarmac. The cops were pulling a warrant. She asked if it was Michael, but he said, no, and that left her. Chase came in the door, and Sonny told her, don’t say anything unless her lawyer was by her side. Nina told Nathan that Carly was going down, but Chase came over to her. She asked, what’s going on? and Chase said she was under arrest. She asked, what are the charges? and he said, conspiracy to commit murder.

Willow was with the kids, playing with building blocks, when there was a knock at the door. The therapist answered and said they were in a session, but Anna said it was official business and couldn’t wait. Dante asked Willow to stand up, and she said she was with her children. Michael took them onto the couch, and Willow got up. She asked, what’s going on? and Anna said she was under arrest for the attempted murder of Congressman Drew Cain.

Tuesday:

Elizabeth found Outback sniffing at Alexis’s outside basement door. She opened the door, went down the stairs, found Ric, and released him.

Cody saw Molly at Bobbie’s, and she asked about Outback, since he’d done the right thing and got the girl. He said Outback was good, and Molly asked if he’d ever used a lariat.

Martin went to Drew’s house with news of an arrest in his case. Drew assumed it was Michael, but Martin said they’d arrested Willow.

Carly and Sonny told Michael about Nina being arrested, and Michael said Willow was arrested too. Sonny asked if he’d known it was going to happen.

Ava was at Alexis’s office when Nina called and said she needed help, and Ava said she’d take care of it. Alexis asked Ava what the charges were, and she said, conspiracy to commit murder. Alexis asked who Nina was supposedly conspiring with, when Willow was brought into the station.

Ava said she couldn’t picture Willow shooting Drew, when Marco came in. Alexis told him that Ava needed a favor, and Ava said Nina’s regular lawyer was tied up at the moment (BA-DUM-CHH!). Marco agreed to help, Alexis said Nina was at the station, and he left.

Cody told Molly that a lariat was a rope used for trick roping, and he did his fair share back in the day. Molly asked what it looked like, and he described it. He asked if she was giving up law for the rodeo.

Kristina saw the basement door ajar and heard Elizabeth inside. Ric hugged Elizabeth and was about to kiss her, when she said, Ric… wake up. He saw it was Kristina, and he was still tied to the bed. She told him that it was time for lunch.

As Willow passed Nina, she said, do something. Willow had been arrested in front of her children. Willow was taken to the interrogation room and Nina demanded to speak to her, but Turner said she was in no position to demand anything.

Drew was incredulous and said Martin had to get Willow out. Martin said she was unlikely to get bail, but he’d try. Drew told him to pull strings and pay whatever, but get her out, and Martin said it wasn’t that easy. They must have evidence, and Drew and Willow’s public break-up and the reason for it could be seen as a compelling motive. Drew said she was innocent and that was all that mattered, and Martin said he was on his way. He left, and Drew made a call. He said it had been a while, but he needed to see them now.

Michael said Willow had been handcuffed in front of the kids. Did Sonny think he would have planned something like that? Carly asked how the kids were, and Michael said they’d been upset, but calmed down once they got home. Sonny said Anna wouldn’t make an arrest without evidence. Did Michael find out what they had? Michael said he hadn’t.

Molly said she was doing research and asked how long Cody had done rodeos. He said, a few years, when she got a call and he stepped away.

Ric wondered, why no pill? and Kristina said, the prescription ran out. But this time tomorrow, the money would be back in Ace’s trust, and he’d be free as a bird. He said, not only was she getting away with attempted murder and kidnapping, she got Ava to help. Kristina said, the enemy of my enemy is also my friend, and Ric said she’d been quick to judge him, but look at her now. How did it feel knowing she was no better than he was?

Michael said the case had nothing to do with him or Sonny and Carly. He was surprised to hear Nina was involved, but his focus was on the kids. They were his main priority, and he was staying out of the investigation. He hoped they would too, but Sonny said it was too late.

Willow asked if Dante thought she was capable of shooting Drew. She loved him. What evidence did they have against her? She was with her mom that night. Dante suggested she call her lawyer, but she said Ric was her lawyer and no one knew where he was. She had no one and was with her children for the first time when she was ripped away from them and they were made to watch. Why were they doing this to her?

Nina said Turner was Sonny and the Quartermaines’ own private legal system, and Turner said she wasn’t helping herself or Willow. Nina said Michael was the obvious suspect and should be sitting there, not Willow, but Turner said Nina should be worried about herself. She was facing serious charges. Marco came in and said he was representing Nina and would like a moment alone with his client. He told Nina that Ava sent him, but he had no details. Nina said her daughter was in the interrogation room being railroaded by the police.

Alexis told Ava that it was almost over. The whole ordeal would be done tomorrow morning, and the money would be back in the trust. Ava said minus her divorce settlement. Then she and Kristina could destroy Ric’s car and the evidence that Kristina cut the brakes. Alexis said she’d told Anna that Ava was at the house because they were brokering peace and it would be great if they could get some peace out of the whole mess. Ava said she thought it had helped them come to an understanding, and Alexis agreed. It would be good if they could get the past in the past. They’d all learned that holding a grudge made them do desperate things and she apologized for fueling the resentment. When they let Ric go, it would be a good idea to let go of their remaining animosity.

Marco said he couldn’t represent both Nina and Willow, and Nina told him to take care of Willow. Make sure she didn’t say anything they could use against her. Martin came in and said he was looking for his client Willow. He was trying to understand the basis of these outrageous charges.

Diane said Willow and Nina shared an alibi that fell apart. The gun was found during a search of the room Willow was using while she was staying at Elizabeth Baldwin’s. She asked Michael if he had any idea how Willow got her hands on Edward’s gun, and he said, who knew how long she had it? No one used Edward’s study anymore. She’d lived there and knew where the cameras were and the blind spots. Diane said Martin was representing Willow, and Sonny asked if Drew thought Willow shot him, but Carly said, of course (🍷) not. His ego couldn’t entertain the idea. Sonny asked if anybody had been in Elizabeth’s house in the last few days, and looked at Carly. Carly said if he wanted the answer, he’d have to marry her.

Drew opened the door to Sidwell, who said he’d been abruptly summoned. Drew said Willow had been arrested. Michael should have been hauled in, but he was walking free. The police needed to shift their focus. Sidwell said, and his role in this…? and Drew said he knew Sidwell bribed Judge Haran to implicate Sonny and make it look like Michael bribed her, then killed her when she came after him. Sidwell said it was too late. Drew became suspect number one in the judge’s murder when the police found the wire transfer receipt from the bribe in his safe. Drew said he didn’t bribe the judge or put the receipt in his safe, and Sidwell said, regardless. Unfortunately, the person who killed the judge was probably long gone and there was nothing he could do to counter the damage done. Drew said, it was Sonny. Sonny put the receipt in his safe. Sidwell said he wouldn’t know, and Drew said it was another reason for Michael to shoot him. Michael knew they’d find the receipt during the search and Sonny would be in the clear.

Martin told Willow that Drew had hired him and asked Dante to give them a minute. Dante left, and Martin promised it would be all right. Tell him that she hadn’t said anything to them.

Chase asked how Willow was doing, and Dante said she was in a tough spot. Chase said she’d been arrested in front of the kids, but Dante said they had no choice. She and Nina had to be arrested at the same time and Michael had been with the kids. Chase had to be careful and treat Willow like a suspect. Chase said he couldn’t believe Willow would shoot anyone, and Dante said maybe Chase should keep his distance or he might be considered biased and compromise the case.

Martin told Willow that Anna showed up at Elizabeth’s place with a search warrant. The two bullets from Drew matched a gun registered to Edward Quartermaine. Willow asked why she was here and not Michael, and Martin said they found the gun in Elizabeth’s guest room, but Willow said that was impossible.

Kristina told Ric that she’d never forgive herself for cutting the brake lines, but she’d never be that desperate or that broken again. Ric said life was long and she was young to have sunk that low. Who knew what the future held? He wondered how she could look Molly in the eye. She said she’d always be sorry that he was hurt as a result of her actions, but in this situation, he got greedy and blackmailed her mother – Molly’s mother. Maybe he should think about that the next time he talked to his daughter. She put his gag back in and left.

Elizabeth came into Bobbie’s and Molly asked what was going on. Elizabeth said Willow had been arrested and asked if Molly knew it was going to happen. Molly said she didn’t, and Elizabeth said it was during a supervised play session with the kids at the hospital. Molly said she wasn’t involved. Turner was handling the case. Elizabeth said Molly’s dad was the best and Willow needed an attorney. Had she heard from him? Molly said, no, and Elizabeth asked if she knew the name of the spa Ric went to for his digital detox. Molly said, the first she’d heard of him going was in the email he sent and there weren’t a lot of specifics. Elizabeth said she got the same, but the more she thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense.

Turner said they’d gotten a warrant for the security footage, and Nina went to her apartment at 9 pm. There was only one entrance and exit, and she didn’t leave until 10:33 pm, after Tracy Quartermaine found Drew Cain and called 911. That meant Nina gave a false statement. Marco said the footage was clear, but Nina didn’t shoot Drew, but Turner said, she was being charged with conspiracy to commit murder. She believed they planned it ahead of time. Nina recently had an affair with Drew, who ended it to be with Miss Tate. According to reports, she’d been vocal about Drew’s behavior being responsible for Willow’s loss of custody and the false alibi proved they were in it together. Marco said that was quite a leap, and Turner asked how well he knew his client. For a woman who was in a coma for 23 years, she had an extensive history of violence. She’d induced Ava’s labor and stolen her newborn baby. That took planning and forethought. Nina said this wasn’t about her. Willow wasn’t a killer. Turner said, from her experience, some mothers would do anything to protect their children.

Sonny told Carly that the cops would ask the same thing, and Diane said, so will Martin. So with all due respect, she was going to ask before Martin did. Did any of them have the opportunity to plant the gun? Carly said she’d been in Elizabeth’s house, and Sonny asked what she was doing there. Carly said Elizabeth heard her threaten Drew, and she asked Elizabeth if the police followed up, but they hadn’t. She didn’t plant the gun. Diane asked if Elizabeth was with her the entire time Carly was in her home, and Carly flashed back to Elizabeth getting the call from her plumber. She told Diane that Elizabeth left to take a call, but she didn’t plant the gun. Diane said even she knew when Carly was lying. It was Michael’s turn. Had he spent any time with Elizabeth lately?

Alexis said there was no transfer confirmation yet, and Ava said she thought she had to do some light blackmail in the beginning, but they should have never taken her divorce settlement back. Alexis said, refresh… refresh… and Ava said she earned that money after what Nikolas put her through, but holding onto the sense she’d been wronged didn’t get her anyplace. Her mistake was letting Ric in on it, but she supposed she did get a little greedy. Tomorrow, it would all be over and she was getting on with her life and not looking back.

Molly told Elizabeth that Ric never had the best track record for showing up when people needed him, but it was strange for him to be gone this long. She couldn’t imagine he was that invested in his relationship with Ava to be that upset. Elizabeth said she knew Molly and Ric had gotten close and he was good in a crisis. Willow was going to need him.

Sidwell said the judge’s murder was unsolved and Drew would be under suspicion. Drew said, Sidwell killed her, and Sidwell laughed. He said anything he did to the judge, Drew did too. There was evidence tying Drew to all manner of crimes. He’d sought Sidwell out to help drive Sonny out of Port Charles. Drew said he never agreed to murder, and this was where Sidwell needed to leave.

Willow asked if Drew thought she shot him, but Martin said, of course (🍷) not, and she asked why he was there. He said he thought getting the charges dropped was sort of unrealistic, but he could put in for a speedy arraignment and bail hearing. Drew made it clear that he’d pay any price to keep her out of prison. He’d do what he could. Sit tight and say nothing to anyone. He told her that he’d be back soon and left.

Chase said he had an update on Wiley and Amelia and asked Turner if he could see Willow. She’d been worried about her kids, and he spoke to the nanny. He wanted to let Willow know her kids were all right.

Michael said he went to Elizabeth’s yesterday to offer Willow supervised visits with the kids. Elizabeth did leave him alone for a few minutes. Diane asked if it was before or after Anna came with the search warrant, and he said, after the one with the wrong address. Diane said he suddenly decided to talk to Willow? and he said there was no reason for him to stick around. He’d been thinking about it since he’d been told the hearing was pushed back to January. He didn’t want the kids to go that long not seeing their mom. Diane asked if he thought any jury on earth was going to believe either one of them.

Ava said Kristina gave Ric lunch, but no sedative? and Kristina said they were out of them. Ava handed her a key, and Kristina asked if the money went through, but Ava said, not yet, but soon. She had no need to hold on to that any longer. As far as she was concerned, their vendetta was over. Go live her life. Kristina said, for what it was worth (🍷), she was sorry. Ava said her too. They weren’t going to hug… Kristina said she didn’t think so, and they shook hands.

Molly did an online search for the detox spa and told Elizabeth, who knew there would be so many results? Elizabeth said she imagined they were protective of their clients’ privacy, and Molly said her father had been gone for so long, she was getting scared. If she had to, she’d use her pull at the DA’s office. She’d do whatever it took to find her dad.

Cody found Outback digging at Alexis’s outside basement door and called her his nosy little princess pie. He had something to give to Molly and then they were getting out. Outback barked, and he asked her, what’s wrong? Is it an eat it, drink it, or roll around in it situation? Even with the gag in his mouth, Ric started yelling, help me! I’m down here!

Drew said Sidwell set him up, and Sidwell said he needed a politician at his beck and call. Don’t fret. As long as Drew did exactly what he said, Drew would reap the benefits. He assured Drew that it didn’t mean they were allies. Drew wouldn’t be demanding his presence like he just did. Drew would come when Sidwell called him. Because from now on, Drew worked for him. Step out of line, and watch as his life went to hell. Sidwell walked out.

Turner said she thought it would help Willow to tell her that the kids were all right, and Chase thanked her. He went into the interrogation room, and Dante said he didn’t think Turner would let it happen. Turner said she hated that Willow was arrested in front of her children, but she and Chase seemed close. Dante said they were, and she said, if Willow confessed to anyone, it would be someone close. If she was guilty, the sooner she started to cooperate, the better it would be for her.

Chase and Willow hugged, and she said, this can’t be happening. She was arrested in front of Wiley and Amelia.

Turner asked if Dante’s partner could be trusted to tell them if Willow admitted anything, and Dante said Chase was a good cop. He was a good person and would tell the truth if Willow did that.

Chase said the kids were all right. She had to hang in there.

Marco said, Ava admitted Nina was lying about being with Willow. How would it look to a jury if Willow’s mother thought she was capable of shooting Drew. Admit it or not, there was footage. Nina said, maybe it was altered or a deepfake. Help her daughter. He said, if she wanted to save her daughter and herself, she’d have to tell him the truth.

Carly said it didn’t matter because they weren’t on trial, but Diane said it absolutely mattered. If Martin could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they showed motive to shoot Drew and they both had the opportunity to frame Willow. Sonny asked, what’s the plan? but Diane said she didn’t know right now. Not yet. But she knew this for certain. Willow might be under arrest, but Michael and Carly’s problems were just beginning.

Chase told Willow that he spoke to Melanie. The kids were confused at first, but were fine now. Willow thanked him and said she’d been going over it in her head. She knew what happened. Chase said he knew she was scared, but he promised the best thing was to tell the truth. She said Michael set her up. He planted that gun.

Wednesday:

At Steinmauer, Lulu sat across from Valentin, who said Jack assured him that he’d see Charlotte. Lulu said if he wanted to see his daughter, he’d have to deal with her.

Britt sat near Vaughn at the MetroCourt bar and Vaughn told the bartender that Britt would have a negroni. She said, if it isn’t the Five Poppies gym pro… or rather WSB agent Vaughn.

Lucas met Marco for lunch at the MetroCourt, when Tracy inserted herself between them and said she needed a lawyer. Lucas told Marco that what she meant to say was forgive me for interrupting, but Tracy told him, if she’d wanted to say that, she would have. Marco asked her to make an appointment, and she said, thanks to Drew Cain getting himself shot, Diane and Alexis were unavailable. Marco said, as was he, and Tracy told Lucas, get lost. Lucas said it was fine. Once she started, you couldn’t stop her. Just close your eyes and wait until it’s over. He left and Tracy sat down. She told Marco that there was a squatter in her house, and they were going to throw her out on her down-home rear.

Gio was behind the counter at Bobbie’s and Ronnie ordered a BLT and an iced tea. She said she was new to Port Charles and Bobbie’s was already her go-to because of that sandwich. He asked what brought her to town, and she said she came there for a funeral and wound up with a mansion. He said she was Ronnie Bard. He was Gio and used to live at the Quartermaine’s. Now it was her place, her house. She asked what made him move out?

Brook was unwrapping the tea set, and Chase said he thought they’d boxed it up so Tracy wouldn’t punch Ronnie in the face. Brook said she had a great plan for improving the Ronnie and Tracy situation.

Molly found Dante at the station and said she was worried something had happened to her dad.

Ric heard Cody open the door, when Alexis came home with Ava. They wondered why the transfer hadn’t gone through yet, and Alexis said maybe it wouldn’t be initiated until midnight. Ava said, by tomorrow, the money would be theirs and they could bid good riddance to their special houseguest.

Cody went downstairs, saw Ric, and said, what the hell…?

Brook said it was Ronnie’s house now and she could do what she wanted. Maybe she’d decide to move back to Durham, or maybe she’d move there permanently. Chase said, Tracy’s head would explode, and Brook said, or Ronnie could send them all packing. He said, she could sell it and they could buy it back, and she said, Ronnie may own the Quartermaine home, but the way she saw it, if they wanted to keep it in the family, they had to make Ronnie part of the family.

Ronnie asked for a straw, and Gio said it was his first shift. She said he was doing great and she’d been waiting tables her whole life. If it wasn’t too much trouble, would he mind if they continued their chat? The Quartermaine family tree was new to her and now she was living in her sister’s house. He said, she meant, her house, and she said it was going to be tough getting used to. He said it was a long story, but he was new to the family, and she said, good. They had something else in common.

Marco said, Tracy wanted to contest Monica Quartermaine’s will? and Tracy said, supposedly, her sister-in-law left the family home to a virtual stranger – a sister she hadn’t said a word to in 50 years. It made no sense. Marco said it wouldn’t be the first time that happened. Maybe she had a claim. He’d look into existing cases that supported her position. But he warned her that she wouldn’t evict anyone anytime soon. It would most likely take years.

Vaughn said he was no longer active in the field and had been promoted to Department Station Chief. He wanted Britt to answer some questions and debriefing over a drink at the bar was preferable to sweating it out at one of the Bureaus black sites. Britt said she was out of his league, when she saw Lucas. She said Lucas could stop pretending she didn’t exist and talk to her now.

Charlotte said it was taking forever, and Jack said there was a strict protocol. She said she thought her mom was laying the ground rules, and he said her mom cared about her a great deal. She said, unlike him. She knew people would use her to get to her father, but never thought it would be the government. He had her father arrested and put in prison. If her father deserved to be there, Jack did too.

Valentin said he wasn’t aware that he and Lulu had business, and she said his daughter was becoming a normal teen. She had a great life – friends, school, a brother. She had stability and a life free from fear. Valentin said she didn’t have a father, and Lulu said Charlotte missed him. That’s why she was there today. That’s why Charlotte was there too, but before she let him see her, she needed to know he wasn’t going to make her feel guilty about starting over. She needed to understand it was okay to live her life without him physically in it. She needed to know he’d put Charlotte first. He said, always. That’s why he let himself be caught and let her go. Don’t think Charlotte would be with her if he didn’t want her to be.

Molly explained to Dante that she didn’t know where Ric was doing his digital detox, and neither she nor Elizabeth had heard from her dad even though they’d reached out. Dante said they were probably not supposed to be on a device, but Molly said he had to know Willow was in trouble by now, and it wasn’t like him to abandon a client mid case or be out of touch for so long. She asked if Dante would ping Ric’s phone help her try to figure out where he was.

Alexis said Ava turned the car over to Kristina in good faith and she appreciated that. Ava said she didn’t feel threatened anymore. They would have never gotten through all this without each other. If she’d learned one thing, aside from making sure her captive swallows his meds, it was that Alexis was a good mother. Alexis said she thought they had that in common.

Cody took the gag out of Ric’s mouth and asked if he was okay. Ric asked if he looked okay, and Cody said he didn’t know what Ric and Alexis were into or who forgot the safe word. Ric said he was being held captive and needed to get out. He heard noise from upstairs and said they were home. Cody asked what the hell was going on, and Ric said, free him before those psychos killed them both.

Ava was about to check on Ric when Kristina came in. She asked if Cody was there. His truck was parked outside. Alexis suggested he and Molly went for a walk, but Kristina said Molly was at work. Ava said she was just going to check on Ric, Kristina said she’d go as back-up, and Alexis said she’d call Molly.

Cody cut Ric loose and helped him up. He said he had to get Ric to a hospital, but Ric said, wait. He had something else in mind first.

Lucas said he wasn’t ignoring Britt, but she said when she saw him at GH, he didn’t seem to see her. He said they were working, and he was keeping it professional, and she asked if that was how he categorized his recent behavior toward Brad. She knew Brad came back to GH, then left. His number wasn’t working, and his socials had evaporated. What did Lucas do to drive him away?

Tracy said she couldn’t wait days, much less years, and Marco said there were other downsides. The probate court was painfully slow, and Monica’s lawyer was very good. She wouldn’t get anywhere alleging malpractice unless he broke the law. And it could be costly. Tracy said it wasn’t about money. It was about exposing Ronnie Bard for the con artist she was.

Ronnie said Yuri was an interesting fellow, and Gio said, one of many, starting with Tracy. She probably wasn’t Ronnie’s favorite person. Ronnie said she wasn’t in Tracy’s top five either, and Gio said, what about Jason? She said he didn’t talk much. She liked him. He said, and his grandparents, Ned and Olivia, and she said, good hair and accent. He said, last but not least, Brook, Chase, and Dante. Brook was married to Chase and she and Dante were his parents. He just found out the mom who raised him wasn’t his real mom. Ronnie asked where she was now, and he said, she passed away when he was younger. Ronnie said she was so sorry, and he said he went to Monica’s funeral, and it felt different. Now that he was family, he wasn’t sure if they were welcoming him because they liked him or because he had their name. She said she could see why he moved out. As a new friend reminded her, it’s her house now and he was welcome anytime.

Jack said he wasn’t surprised that Valentin blamed him for his crimes, but he was surprised Charlotte believed him. He thought she was smarter than that. She said she knew who her father was. He wasn’t innocent, but never pretended to be… unlike some people.

Lulu said she appreciated Valentin sending Charlotte back. She’d searched a long time. She was just asking him to be selfless again and support Charlotte in her new life. Valentin said he wanted Charlotte to be happy, and she said she knew how important the relationship between a father and daughter was. She wanted to protect Charlotte, but didn’t want to come between them. He thanked her and she left. Charlotte came in and she and Valentin hugged.

Brook told Chase that they had to make room for Ronnie. If she had her own connections and friends in Port Charles, the less vulnerable she’d be to granny’s digs and she’d think twice about offloading the house. Chase wondered if tea was Ronnie’s cup of tea, but Brook said it was about the guests. She was inviting the best and brightest Port Charles had to offer. And she’d do it here, surrounded by memories of Monica. It was the perfect plan. Chase said, if the tea party was there, where would Tracy be? and Brook said she picked a date where Tracy had a prior engagement. The less contact, the better.

Ronnie thanked Gio for the wonderful food and even better service. She told him, keep the change, and gave him a $50 bill, but he said, no. It was too much. She said, never turn down a good tip. May she give him another one? He said, sure, and she said she was a lot younger than him when she saw her sister for the last time. They had a pretty nasty fight. She asked Monica for something she hadn’t earned, and Monica made it clear… Ronnie got so angry and pulled away. She cut her sister out of her life, and it ended up being the last time she saw her sister. She’d pick up the phone to call and halfway through dialing, she’d hang up. Her point was, she should never have let one fight define everything. Now her sister was gone. He asked if Ronnie missed her, and she said she’d been missing her for a long time. He didn’t want to miss anyone that long. If he ever felt he wanted to reach out and forgive and forget, do it. We always thought we had more time, but he was a wonderful young man and his family deserved to know him… even Tracy. She left.

Lucas said he had no idea where Brad was. He knew the truth was a foreign concept to Britt, but it was all he’d wanted from Brad. They were getting closer and the idea of getting back together seemed possible. Then Brad revealed more dishonesty and lies. Britt said what she was hearing was that Brad was vulnerable and confessed, but instead of giving him credit, Lucas punished him. He said, Britt stole an embryo to trap a man and didn’t get to lecture him on decency, and Britt said she fought for love. He let it walk away. He said he came over there to deal with the guy next to her, and Vaughn said, excuse me? Lucas said they had things to clear up.

Jack asked if Valentin said anything of note, and Lulu said he confirmed Jack was using their daughter as a bargaining chip. She hoped he got what he needed because she was never going through this again.

Valentin said, how grown up Charlotte looked, and she said she missed him so much. She called him dad, and he said he knew one day she’d be too grown up to call him papa, but he loved dad. Tell him everything. She said she was still riding. She’d improved and was doing competitions. He asked about school, and she said it was fine. She was acing Mandarin and Frenc. He said it was a benefit of traveling the world with her father. She was thriving and it was all he wanted. She said she wasn’t thriving, but he insisted she was and it was good. It was all he wanted for her. She said it was hard at first. It hurt not to see him. He said he missed her too, but being together again made all that a distant memory.

Dante said he was tracking Ric’s phone, and Molly said she hoped she was just an overly concerned daughter. Dante said he didn’t know she and Ric were close, and she said it was a new development. He’d come back for Irene’s funeral and become a constant in her life. They reconnected and it made her realize how much she needed him in her life. She couldn’t lose him.

As Alexis was leaving Molly a message, Cody walked in with Ric. Alexis said she’d call Molly back, and Ric said she didn’t want to put him on the phone? Call Molly back. He had so much to tell her.

Brook said she had a fun idea that she wanted to run by Ronnie. There were so many people in Port Charles she’d like to introduce her to. What if they had everyone over for a tea party? Ronnie said it wasn’t really her style, but Brook said it would be super casual and low key. She just wanted to use the tea set. She wanted to introduce Ronnie to some great people to help her feel more at home. Chase said, please say yes. It would mean a lot to both of them. Ronnie said she appreciated the thought and thanked them, but she was going to pass.  

Marco asked if he should start researching old probate cases, and Tracy said it taking years was concerning. Was there no other option? He said, if Ronnie was really problematic, find a way to get others to see it. It would help expediate the process.

Lucas said he knew Vaughn broke his niece’s heart. If he hurt Josslyn again, Vaughn would have to answer to him. He left, and Britt said, instead of threatening her, it sounded like his time would be better spent talking to Mrs. Nash.

Ava and Kristina saw that Ric was gone.

Ric asked, what’s wrong? when Ava and Kristina came in the back. Kristina said, Ric escaped… She saw Ric and Cody, and Cody said, would someone please tell him what the hell was going on? Ric said, sure. Would the three lunatics like to tell Cody how they kidnapped and drugged him, or shall he?  

Brook asked if Ronnie was sure there was nothing that could convince her, and Ronnie said she was sure. Brook said she knew it was something Monica would want her to do to honor her. Monica wasn’t just the head of the hospital. She gave so much to the town – committees, boards, fundraisers. The party would be about Ronnie continuing her legacy, being an integral part of the community. Ronnie said Brook was good. She had to play the sister card. Brook asked if it worked, and Ronnie said, yeah. She accepted Brook’s invitation. Tracy came in and said, accept what? What was Ronnie taking from her family now?

Valentin said the best part was that Charlotte was living with her mom and brother. She deserved to be happy. He knew Britt Westbourne had come to town, the woman who gave birth to Rocco. Charlotte couldn’t trust her and needed to make sure Rocco knew.

Jack assured Lulu that it wasn’t for nothing. The information he got from Valentin would be used for the greater good and could benefit everyone. Lulu said, all it would do was show Valentin’s enemies that they could get to him through Charlotte. Jack put a target on her back. He said there were eyes on Charlotte all the time and he’d protect her. The danger Charlotte faced wasn’t the result of his actions or the WSB. It was who she was, the daughter of a brilliant, but very dangerous man.

Dante told Molly that the last time her dad used his phone was today and he was in the state. If he called, he could pinpoint it within a five-mile radius… No. That can’t be right.

Alexis said it wasn’t what it looked like, but Ric said it was exactly what it looked like. These harpies held him hostage in the basement. What day was it? Alexis said it seemed a little crazy, but Cody said a little crazy didn’t cover it. Alexis said there was a rational reason why they did what they did, and Kristina said Ric was blackmailing her mother and extorting Ava. Ric said they stole the money from a child, but Alexis said that wasn’t true. Ric was blackmailing her for months, and it wasn’t not like they hurt him. They fed him and played cards. She played his hand. They were just keeping him until they fixed what he did. Ric asked if Cody remembered when he brought Molly to the hospital after his car accident. It was because that little psycho cut his brakes to kill him… Sorry. He had the details wrong. She was trying to kill Ava. Ava said it was ancient history, and Alexis said she was telling the truth. Give them one more hour to make sure the money they stole was transferred back to Ace. Ava said she’d compensate Cody, and Ric said, if money was important, he’d gladly offer a legitimate finder’s fee and give him a better deal. Kristina said, just one hour, and Cody headed for the door. Ric said he couldn’t be serious, leaving him with them. Do the right thing.

Dante went into Bobbie’s and said he was grabbing a cup of coffee if it was cool with Gio. Gio poured the coffee and said, on the house. He smiled and went in the back.

Brook said she was having a tea party to introduce Ronnie to some people in Port Charles, and Tracy said she was looking forward to it. Brook said, unfortunately, it was the same day as Tracy’s fundraiser in the city, but Tracy said she’d send a check with regrets. There was no place she’d rather be tan here to welcome Ronnie to Port Charles.

Britt said Vaughn could have shut Lucas up by outing Josslyn, but he said he couldn’t do that. Britt said she could. She just might, unless the WSB made it worth her while to keep the secret. Vaughn said nothing positive would come from it. Britt had no friends, and the walls were closing in on her. She had to be extremely careful in how she proceeded. He told the bartender that the drinks were on him and left.

Lucas asked how much Marco ordered on Tracy’s tab, and Marco said they’d have leftovers for the rest of the week. Britt came over and introduced herself. She said Marco was Lucas’s new boyfriend, so he knew Lucas’s ex was her best friend. He should know he’d never live up to Lucas’s high standards. Lucas said, forgive her. She was a sociopath. Britt left, and Lucas said all he wanted was honest and Brad never gave it to him. Ignore everything Britt said. He knew Marco wouldn’t lie like Brad.

Kristina said if Cody knew who Ric was, he wouldn’t think of helping him, and Ric said if Cody didn’t side with him, he’d go to jail like them. Cody said they were all nuts. He had no idea how they were related to Molly. He was going to grab his dog and get out of here. He opened the door, and Molly was there.

Valentin asked who Charlotte was hanging out with, and she wondered if she was asking if she liked anyone. Jack came in and said, time’s up, and Charlotte and Valentin hugged and exchanged I love yous. Lulu came in and Charlotte hugged her, and they left. Jack said, all right. He did his part. Now it was Valentin’s turn. Valentin was going to tell him everything he knew about the final project of Cesar Faison.

Thursday:

Carly looked at roses she got from Jack, the moss bowl🎍shrugging it off, when Jason came into Sonny’s old kitchen. She said he was going to be mad, and he asked what she did. He said it wasn’t her; it was Jack.

At Steinmauer, Jack wanted Valentin to tell him everything he knew about Cesar Faison’s last project, but Valentin had another condition. He wanted Anna.

Dante told Anna that forensics found nothing at Nina’s apartment, but he did have an update on something else – Valentin Cassadine.

On a private jet, Lulu said she was sure Charlotte was still processing, and Charlotte said, it was a lot. Lulu was afraid she’d made the wrong call, but Charlotte said she was glad she saw him. When could she see him again?

Felicia told Elizabeth that James was good, but she was worried about Nathan deciding James should live with him.

Nathan and Obrecht walked into the MetroCourt restaurant and saw Britt. Nathan said Obrecht couldn’t avoid being in the same room with her forever, but Obrecht said she could try. Nathan went over to Britt and asked her to join them.  

Cody said they were all nuts, and he couldn’t believe they were related to Molly. He was getting his dog and getting out. When he opened the door, Molly was there. She saw Ric and ran to him. She said she was so worried. What happened? Ric looked at Alexis.

Britt said Obrecht clearly didn’t want to see her and the feeling was mutual, but as she was leaving, Obrecht said, if Britt’s brother wanted to include her, she was welcome to join them. Britt said she was going to pass and went to the elevator. The doors opened and Rocco was there.

Elizabeth asked if Nathan said something, and Felicia said, no, but they were walking on eggshells at home and it was weighing on Spinelli. Elizabeth said, of course (🍷), and Felicia said, with Maxie gone, James needed the security and familiarity. Natan was wonderful, but he was a stranger to James and didn’t know where he’d been for the last seven years. Elizabeth asked if Nathan wanted to be James’s father, and Felicia said he did. And if he wanted to take James legally, he had every right to.

Molly asked if Ric was okay. He looked terrible. She was happy he was there. They’d all been getting along and she’d been missing him to complete the family. Where had he been? Ric seemed flustered and said he knew the digital detox would be extreme, but he’d been in hell for the last 30 days. Cody saved his sanity and maybe even his life. He glanced at the laptop and closed it. He said the digital detox was the worst mistake he ever made. He joined a cult. (I literally lol’d.)

Charlotte said she was sorry. She shouldn’t ask for more. She knew what a big deal it was. Lulu said, so were Charlotte’s feelings. She was allowed to miss her dad and want to see him. Charlotte said she was surprised he sounded and looked the same. Deep down, she was afraid he’d be different. Lulu said Valentin loved her. Knowing she was safe and happy gave him comfort and the strength he needed to get through this. Charlotte said she knew Lulu hadn’t wanted to do this and did it for her. She thanked Lulu.  

Anna said Valentin was in Steinmauer, and Dante said he’d had visitors, Lulu and Charlotte, courtesy of Jack. Anna said she was all for Charlotte seeing her dad, but couldn’t believe her mother agreed. She must have realized Jack didn’t arrange it out of the goodness of his heart. He did this because he wanted something from Valentin, something big.

Jack said Anna wanted nothing to do with Valentin. What they’d had was over. He was lucky to be alive after what he’d done to Carly, but that could change. Anna was dealing with the murder of a judge and the attempted murder of Congressman Drew Cain. Valentin said if anyone could multitask, it was Anna, and Jack said tell him about Faison. Valentin said he couldn’t help but wonder why Jack was so intent about a dead man.

Carly told Jason that the guy Josslyn had been spending time with, Vaughn, who worked at PCU was a WSB agent, and Jason asked how she heard that. She said Josslyn told her. She confronted Jack and he confirmed it. She felt betrayed. It was the first guy Josslyn had a connection with since Dex’s death, and Jack had been lying. She was furious, but when she calmed down, she realized he couldn’t tell her because it was classified. Jason asked if she was okay, and she said she didn’t love it, but Jack assured her Josslyn had been safe. Jason said Jack was lying to her and had lied about everything.

Ric said it was hazy, but he gave them his phone, then drank tea, and Molly said, he literally drank the Kool-Aid? He said he was told it was part of the detox process, but it wasn’t tea. It was aya… Alexis said, an ayahuasca trip? and he said, an extended one. When he came to and had some wherewithal, he grabbed his phone and got out. That’s when Cody found him.

Rocco told Britt that he was meeting Obrecht and Nathan, and went over to them. He hugged Obrecht and she introduced him to his Uncle Nathan. Britt said Nathan didn’t tell her it was dinner with the whole family. Count her in if it was okay with Rocco.

Jack said Faison’s daughter and son had resurfaced in Port Charles, and Valentin asked if he was worried that Faison’s work was continuing from beyond the grave.

Carly said Jason always assumed the worst about Jack, and Jason said she needed to know that Josslyn was in the WSB.

Ellizabeth suggested Felicia talk to Nathan and tell him about her concerns, and Felicia said she believed he cared about James’s welfare. Elizabeth said, encourage him to be part of the family. Nathan couldn’t know her concerns unless she voiced them.

Obrecht said Rocco was lovely company, and Nathan asked to talk to her privately. When they left, Rocco asked if Obrecht was mad at Britt.

Molly said Cody rescued her dad, but Cody said he didn’t know about all that, and Ric said Cody’s dog found him lost and wandering in the woods. He thought he was coming down and was convinced the cult was going to sacrifice him to their pagan god. His brain wasn’t making sense, so he got out and tore into the woods. When his head cleared, he was lost and in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception. Then that four-legged miracle showed up when Cody was out on a hike. Cody saw what bad shape he was in and helped him. Kristina said Cody came through for Molly’s dad. That meant everything to her. Cody said he didn’t do that, but Ava said, don’t be modest. He saved the man from a cult and brought him home safe to his family. Everything was back to normal. Alexis said Ric should get some rest, but Molly wanted to take him to the hospital. Ric said there was no need, but Cody said he’d drive and asked Kristina to watch Outback. They left, and Ava said, the money. They all dove for the laptop.

Lulu said seeing Charlotte’s father came with a certain level of risk and as a mom, it was her job to access the risk and mitigate it to keep her safe. He had enemies and being his daughter made Charlotte vulnerable. Charlotte said her dad gave her that speech more than once and she couldn’t change who she was. Lulu said she didn’t want Charlotte to change, but her father’s world had no rules or limits and people looked for leverage. That was why it was so important they told each other the truth. If Charlotte was honest, Lulu could protect her and their family.

Dante said Brennan was using Charlotte as a bargaining chip, but Lulu got it, and Anna said Lulu was smart. So was Charlotte. Charlotte was also committed to Valentin and would have gone behind Lulu’s back, It was good Lulu was making herself the person Charlotte could trust. She hoped Lulu could keep her daughter safe. Dante said he wanted eyes on Charlotte and Roco, and Anna said she didn’t like the timing of any of this.

Carly said, Josslyn was not WSB, Vaughn was, and Jason said, so was Josslyn. Carly said Josslyn went to college and was living at the Quartermaines, but he said he saw her on assignment at the resort in Croatia. He found Britt and Josslyn was there undercover with Vaughn on a recon mission. They were posing as newlyweds under Jack’s orders.

Britt said her mother was mad at her and to be honest, she deserved it. They didn’t agree on her reasons and how she left before. She’d hurt Obrecht and didn’t think Obrecht could forgive her. Rocco said Obrecht might just need time. When he found her, he freaked out, but then he wanted to know more. He found Obrecht’s email, wrote, and told her who he was and that he had questions about Britt. He didn’t expect her to fly to Port Charles to give him answers, but she did. Britt said her mother was unpredictable, and Rocco said Obrecht wanted to talk about her and obviously loved her.

Nathan said Obrecht’s anger was blinding her to what was important. She had both of her children back. Obrecht said it wasn’t the same. Nathan was taken and had no choice, but Britt faked her own death. She’d grieved deeply and was still grieving when Britt strolled into the hospital. She was selfish. Nathan said Britt made a mistake. He’d made them and Obrecht had made them. Instead of holding a grudge, she should be grateful they were there alive and together.

Cody and Molly brought Ric to the hospital, and Elizabeth asked, what the hell happened? He said it was a long story, and Molly said he was lost in the woods and had exposure and was dehydrated. Elizabeth said they’d take care of him, but Ric said it wasn’t serious. He was wheeled away, and Molly thanked Cody. She was going to stay in case Ric had to be there overnight, but he didn’t need to wait.

Carly said it made no sense. Jason was wrong somehow. Josslyn had been in Australia while he was gone. Jason said she was lying, and Australia was her cover, and Carly asked him to tell her what he thought he knew and how he found out. Jason said, through Anna’s connections at the WSB and Brennan, she found out Josslyn was on a mission in Croatia. She couldn’t tell him, so she pointed him to Britt in Croatia and that’s how he found Josslyn.

Anna told Dante that Jack wouldn’t play the Charlotte card if he didn’t need information. She wondered why he’d need information at the exact same time Faison’s two children resurfaced. Dante asked if she thought it had something to do with Faison, whose brain was in a jar, and she said she knew he was dead. They did an autopsy on his brain. But she also knew who he worked and knew what his work looked like. And more than anyone, she knew she could never assume anything, no matter what the facts were.

Jack said Britt was conducting research at a luxury resort called the Five Poppies, and Valentin said if she was working on anything that had a connection to Faison, she was just a cog in the wheel. Faison would never have trusted her to lead. Jack asked who he did trust, and Valentin said he couldn’t tell Jack, but could tell him on thing. Faison was not working alone.

Alexis said, the transfer went through, and Ava said her divorce settlement was back where it belonged. Kristina said Ric’s car was really destroyed this time, and Ava said, Ric’s power over them was gone. Kristina said she thought he was going to tell Molly everything, but Alexis said he couldn’t expose them without exposing himself, and Molly’s opinion was more important than money. Ava said Alexis should be happy, but Alexis said, even though Ric was out of the woods, they weren’t.  Laura would want an explanation and Ric had to answer for the emails they sent in his name. And she knew he’d want revenge.

Elizabeth said once Ric was hydrated, he could probably go home, and he said he couldn’t wait to sleep in his own bed. Elizabeth said he probably had a million messages just from her. She was worried. He needed to rest up. He had a lot of work ahead. Willow was in a mess. Ric said he had to come clean about something. He couldn’t let her go on thinking something about him that wasn’t true.

Molly said, if not for Cody, her dad could still be out there. He could have gotten hurt or gotten hypothermia. Cody said Ric was resourceful, but Molly said he wasn’t outdoorsy. He could have died, and she couldn’t imagine losing anyone else she cared about.

Anna told Dante, Valentin wasn’t part of Faison’s inner circle or a true believer like Obrecht, but Faison valued him enough to work with him more than once. He respected Valentin’s intellect and ability to facilitate operations. Dante said Valentin had been close to Faison’s other son, Peter August, and Anna said it couldn’t be a coincidence that Jack arranged for Charlotte to see her father when Britt and Nathan just got back. Dante asked if Britt and Faison didn’t go on the run together, and she said she didn’t know how close they were, but Faison’s interest was always with Nathan. Faison was fixated on him.

Obrecht apologized for snapping at Britt. Nathan had wisely pointed out what mattered most was that they were there together. She thought they should document it with a photo, and Rocco said he’d get it. Obrecht told him to make it a selfie, and Nathan said Rocco was mixed up in a crazy family. Rocco said all families were crazy, and Britt said theirs was extreme. Rocco said he’d like to hear more, and Obrecht said they were an open book. Rocco asked why Britt grew up with her and Nathan grew up in Nina’s family, and Obrecht said she thought it best to hide Nathan from his father Cesar.

Charlotte said she knew what protected her was to make smart choices, but what if they disagreed? and Lulu said it was allowed and she might surprise Charlotte. She admired Charlotte’s loyalty to people she cared about, even though it wasn’t easy and people didn’t understand why. Charlotte said people thought they knew who her dad was, but they didn’t. As long as they got it, that was all that mattered.

Carly said, Jack knew Josslyn had been there, and Jason said he guessed that her trip to Easter Island was when she had training. Carly asked, what the hell is happening? Why did Jack bring her daughter into the WSB? Jason said, because of the assignment. Jack needed something or someone and used Josslyn to get it. She said Britt had been back for a month, which meant Jason had known that long. Why didn’t he tell her? He said Josslyn asked him not to. Before she went off on Jack, remember that Josslyn was undercover, which protected her. She said she wasn’t letting Jack put somebody she loved in danger.

Alexis said Ric wouldn’t talk. He had as much to lose they did. Ava said, what about Cody? He had nothing to lose. Kristina said he did – Molly. If he came forward, Ric would land in prison. Alexis said with them behind him, and Ava asked if Kristina was sure playing Molly’s hero wasn’t tempting. Kristina said it wasn’t going to happen. He knew Molly loved her family and didn’t want to be the reason she lost them.

Ric said Elizabeth gave him credit for doing the work for Willow pro bono, but he wasn’t. Nina was paying him, but Willow wouldn’t have accepted the help if she thought Nina was involved. What was the point in believing in him if he lied? She said, before this nightmare, he wouldn’t have volunteered that information. As bad as it was, something good came out of it or the ayahuasca. He said, no, her. She saw the best in him, the little there was. She said she was just glad he was safe.

Molly said there was something she meant to tell Cody that night at the stable. He said, the Ava night, and she said she didn’t love his methods, but she knew he was trying to help her. She didn’t get to tell him what she’d been hoping to say. He said he had the time. Tell him now. She said it would be easier if she showed him, and was about to kiss him, when Elizabeth said, sorry. Her dad was asking for her.

Rocco sent Charlotte the selfie, and she flashed back to Valentin telling her not to trust Britt and to let Rocco know.

Rocco asked what Faison was like. Terrible things had been said about him, but the bad stuff about Obrecht and Britt wasn’t entirely true. Britt said there was nothing redeemable about her father. All Rocco needed to know was that Faison was an awful man and thankfully dead.

Dante said they didn’t know what happened to Nathan or where he’s been this whole time. But he did know that Nathan would never have anything to do with Cesar Faison. Anna said, maybe that’s why Nathan didn’t remember. That was exactly how it started, a stream of coincidences that weren’t coincidences and led somewhere that trapped everyone and involved a connection somehow to him. They didn’t know what happened to Nathan, but they did know Britt faked her death. If anyone could convince them of a fake death and lull them into a sense of thinking for one moment they were safe, it was Cesar Faison.

Jack said if Faison had a partner, he needed a name, but Valentin said he didn’t have one. The project they were running was huge. Jack said it was a huge risk. It was cold fusion, and they were running it out of Port Charles. Port Charles was Charlotte’s home, and she was at risk. It would behoove Valentin to tell him everything he knew to protect his daughter. Valentin said he already told Jack everything. Whoever was running it, didn’t give a damn about the risk and wouldn’t quit until they reached their goal. They were just as dedicated as Faison himself.  

Carly said she had to get Josslyn out, but Jason said she couldn’t. Josslyn had a cover and she couldn’t burn it down and get her out. She said, the hell she couldn’t, and he said she’d put Josslyn in danger, but she said, Jack put Josslyn in danger. She had to get her out. He said, even if it killed her? and Carly threw the vase of roses at the wall and smashed it. The moss bowl🎍said, phew!

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Nathan thanks Dante for meeting him at Bobbie’s, and Dante says, of course (🍷), of course (🍷). So what’s going on? Does he want to catch up or is there something on his mind? Nathan says, back at the station, he asked if there was anything he could do about what was going on and put Dante on the spot, but he needs to know. Tell him, what are the charges against his sister?

Turner told Nina that the clock was ticking. Did she want to be arraigned for accessory to attempted murder or work with the DA’s office against her daughter? The choice was hers.

Willow says, Martin has to make the judge see that somebody set her up, but he says, that’s an argument she can present at trial. Right now is the arraignment. All they have to do is convince the judge to grant bail. She says, that’s not enough. She has to do more than prove her innocence. He says he’s not sure he wants to know what she means. It’s just the arraignment. The magic words they’re looking for are, not guilty and bail granted. Drew will pay whatever it is. Willow says, they have to shift the blame to the person who really tried to kill Drew and that person is Michael.

Brook says she knows her reasons for the tea party aren’t entirely selfless, but she doesn’t want to make Ronnie more comfortable. Michael says him too, but a tea party? Ronnie strikes him as more of a shots and beers kinda gal. She says, after this, they might all need a couple, but seriously, she wants Ronnie to fall in love with the house and maybe a couple of people in it. That way, if she decides not to live here, she won’t try to sell it out from under them. He says they can just outbid whoever she wants to sell it to, and Brook says, if she’ll sell it to them. He says, honestly, he hopes Ronnie keeps the house because he likes her, but also because the kids already lost their mother. He doesn’t want them to lose their home too.

Drew hobbles into the station on his crutches and says he needs to see Willow, but Chase says, congressman, you need to stop right there. Drew says he won’t, because as Chase said, he’s a congressman, and Chase says, he’s also the victim and Willow is the accused. That means he has to keep his distance.

Britt sees Jason sitting outside Bobbie’s and says, he just can’t stay away, can he?

Josslyn says, Donna is off to school, and Carly says, great. Thanks for getting her out the door. She’s happy to spend time with her big sister. Josslyn says, she got so big. Was she really gone that long? Carly says, yeah, but she’s Josslyn’s mom so she’s biased, and Josslyn says she’s back now and can make up for lost time. Carly says that’s great for the both of them, but try not to make promises she can’t keep, and Josslyn says she would never. Carly says she knows it’s not on purpose, and Josslyn asks why she said that. Because she’s been so busy? Carly says, so busy with school, work, and travel, it just doesn’t seem like she’s given herself enough time to just be still. Josslyn says, since when? and Carly says, since she lost Dex.

Anna goes to see Jack in his office, and he says he’s surprised to see her. She’s arrested not one, but two suspects in the congressman’s shooting. He thought she’d be up to her ears in interrogations. She says, yes, she seems to have even more on her plate, thanks in part to him, and he asks how he’s added to her load. She laughs and says, he went to Switzerland so Charlotte could have a visit with her father in Steinmauer. He says, did he? and she says, not out of the goodness of his heart either. He was using Charlotte as leverage to get Valentin to give him information on Cesar Faison, right? And she needs to know what he found out.

Jason says, Britt told him to come get his stuff and she wasn’t home, and she says he doesn’t have much. He could have been in and out in five minutes. He says, she made him give her the key, and she says, right. Sorry. She forgot. Couldn’t Carly give him the key? He says he didn’t want to invade her privacy, so he waited, and Britt looks in her bag. She flashes back to taking out her medication along with the note from C, and says, actually, on second thought, she’s coming in with him. She doesn’t want him to rummage through her stuff. They go inside.

Carly says she knows how difficult it was for Josslyn, especially when she found out Cyrus was the one who killed Dex. Josslyn flashes back to shooting Cyrus, and says, you’re right. She was very, very lost after Dex died and didn’t know if she was going to move on, let alone how she was going to live her life. Carly says, somehow, she did, right? She got her life back. Josslyn says, yeah, but she thinks she was just going through the motions. When the opportunity to go to Easter Island came up, she took the chance to run away. Carly says, she’d hardly call it running away. It was a great opportunity, right? Once in a lifetime. Josslyn says, no. She’d call that running away, but she’s glad she did, because it ended up being the best decision she ever made.

In Turner’s office, Marco says, the charges are a classic example of prosecutorial overreach. When they get to the arraignment, he’s filing to have the charges dropped for lack of evidence. Turner says, good luck with that. They have proof Nina lied to the police. Even if she dropped the conspiracy charges, they’d still have obstruction and providing false information. Marco says, both misdemeanors. They’ll take their chances. Turner says, Miss Reeves signed a statement saying she was taking a walk with her daughter at the time Drew Cain was shot. Unfortunately for his client, they have footage from multiple angles of Miss Reeves entering her apartment building in question and with that, perjuring herself. Nina says, it was a deepfake. It has to be. She was with her daughter. She didn’t shoot Drew and neither did Willow.

Dante says, Nathan knows he can’t discuss an ongoing investigation, even though he’s not directly involved in the case, and Nathan says, not normally. Dante says, when his sister was questioned about the night of the shooting, she said she was with her daughter Willow. The alibi was flimsy to begin with and has since been proven false. Nathan says, that’s all they have on Nina? and Dante says, yeah. Willow is the prime suspect and was in possession of the weapon. Nina says, so Nina panicked and gave her daughter a false alibi. It’s not great, but it hardly proves conspiracy. Dante says, if she doesn’t recant and sticks to her story, they can build a case against Nina for conspiring to murder Drew, and Nathan says, it sounds like she was protecting her daughter. Dante tells him that he says it sounds like a case of how far Nina would go. Would she take the fall for Willow if it came to that?

Brook tells Michael that she’s been spending time with Wiley and Amelia. Watching their mother get arrested hit them hard. Michael says he tried to shield them, but couldn’t stop it from happening, and she says, none of this is his fault. What were Anna and Dante thinking, barging in on a playdate with their mother? He says, Chase told her, and she says she knows why they had to do it that way, but it was traumatic for the kids. He says, that’s not what he had in mind when he set the whole thing up. Even so, it got the desired result. She says she thought the supervised therapy thing was so the kids could spend time with their mother, and he says, that’s what it was supposed to be, but it served his purpose well. Now Willow will never be able to see the kids without supervision.

Martin tells Willow, right now, they need to focus on the arraignment. He has to argue about getting her bail and pray it’s granted. Willow asks where Drew is. She needs to see him.

Drew says he and Chase both know Willow is innocent. She needs all of her friends behind her, so please, can they put their differences behind them? Chase says they need to trust the legal system will exonerate Willow, and Drew says he’s going to see her. Chase asks if Drew heard what he just said. Drew is the victim. He can’t just… Drew says he’s not her victim. If there’s a problem with his actions, send a letter to his office.

Martin says, if Willow gets bail, they have to work on… Drew comes in and Willow runs to him and hugs him. She says, it wasn’t her, she swears, and he says he knows. They hug again and even though her face is half hidden in his shoulder, it looks like Willow is smiling.

Carly says she knew Josslyn loved her time on Easter Island, but didn’t realize it was life changing, and Josslyn says she didn’t realize it would be either. She thought she was going to a place she’d always wanted to check out, someplace not Port Charles, where she’d learn where learn new things. Carly says, it sounds like she did, and Josslyn says she did. She just didn’t learn what she thought she would. It definitely lit a fire under her. Carly asks, how? and Josslyn says she just felt so helpless after Dex passed, and the trip gave her a new sense of purpose. It gave her a new direction. So she guesses she got what she needed out of those giant stone heads. Carly says, that’s great. She remembers when Josslyn came back, she had a different energy. She was more focused, which makes sense since she’s getting ready to graduate. Josslyn says, better late than never, right? and Carly says, it’s just – and this might be all I her head – since Josslyn came back, she’s had the feeling there’s a distance between them. Josslyn says, really? She knows she’s been so busy, but she promises nothing between them has changed. She’s here and they talk all time. Carly says they don’t. It’s not the same. She doesn’t know. Maybe it’s because Josslyn is grown up and moving out because something’s going on. If it’s grief or just life, she’s here. Josslyn can tell her anything, no matter what.

Jack says, Charlotte was eager to see her father, so he pulled some strings, and Anna says, he traded the visit for Valentin’s knowledge of Faison. So she needs to know what Valentin told him. He says, she knows that’s classified, and she says she understands why, but if Faison orchestrated something before he died that is going to come down on Port Charles, they need to work together to stop it

Nina tells Turner, it must have been a deepfake. They took footage from another date and altered the time stamp. Turner says she assures Nina that it’s authentic, and Marco says, it’s clear she wants their cooperation. What’s on the table if they give it to her? Turner says, if Miss Reeves recants her alibi, they can plead her down to making a false statement. Like he said, it’s a misdemeanor. Nina asks what that means, and Turner says, probation for a year and a fine. Marco says, then all this will be over, and Turner says, yes. Nina says, over for her maybe, but what about her daughter? and Turner says she’ll give them a minute to confer, and she leaves.

Nathan thanks Dante for the update, and says, it’s strange being so out of the loop with the PCPD and his family. Dante says he imagines it’s got to be hard, and Nathan says, Nina’s got a daughter she’d sacrifice everything for. Dante says, Nathan told him that Nina was a protective older sister. Imagine her as a mother. Nathan says, good point, and Dante says, no one wants to go down for something they didn’t do… except maybe Nina. If Nathan thinks of anything, let him know. Nathan says, will do. Now that Dante’s filled him in from the department standpoint, what does he think? Did Willow do it? Dante says he can’t discuss something officially, and Nathan says, so unofficially? Dante says, very unofficial. He doesn’t know if she did it or not.

Nina says that woman believes she’d sell out her own daughter, so she didn’t go to trial, and Marco says, it’s a good deal. The evidence is rock solid and strong. He recommends they take it.

Josslyn says, if there was something she needed to tell Carly, she would tell her, even if it was something bad. She knows they’d find a way of working through it. Carly promises they would, and Josslyn says, if they are distant, it’s because she’s focusing on graduating. After that, it’s adulting. Does anybody actually prepare for that? Carly says she doesn’t know. She hasn’t tried. Josslyn says they’re fine, and no matter what, they always will be. Carly says, okay, and they hug. She says she was worried that she’d gotten caught up with so much going on – Michael, Willow, the kids – that she wasn’t giving Josslyn the attention she needed. Josslyn says she’s so happy about Carly’s relationship in Michael’s life. Wiley and Amelia need their grandma. Carly thanks her and says she knows Josslyn doesn’t approve of her seeing Jack. So is that why there’s distance between them?

Jack says he and Valentin had a great deal to discuss. What gives Anna the idea it was about Faison? Anna says, Faison’s two children, both presumed dead, resurface under mysterious circumstances. All in the span of a few months. It’s got to strike even him as something that can’t be played off as coincidence. Jack says, it’s certainly noteworthy, and she laughs. She says, and then, Valentin used to work for Faison and Jack goes out of his way for a face to face now. She finds the timing noteworthy. Jack says he and Valentin have unfinished business, and she says, what business? What’s so important he’d risk the wrath of Lulu setting up a family reunion so he can have a chat with the man he set up to take the fall? Jack says, if he needed her help, he would have asked for it. This has nothing to do with her.

Nina tells Marco that she’s not changing her story because it’s not a story, when there’s a knock at the door. Nathan comes in and Nina hugs him. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he heard she was in trouble. He and Marco introduce themselves, and Nathan says he wanted to catch Nina before the arraignment. Dante brought him up to speed on the case. He takes it the DA offered a deal. Nina says, yeah. Community service and a fine. All she has to do is sell out her own daughter. Marco says, it’s pointless to stick by her story when everyone knows it’s not true, and Nathan says, please. He’s afraid he agrees with her attorney. She needs to tell the truth.

Martin asks if Willow is standing by her alibi that she was with her mother, and Willow says, the truth is, she doesn’t have an alibi. She went out for a walk by herself. She would never lie, but Nina blurted out that they were together. Drew says, why not tell the truth from the beginning? and Willow says she thought Nina needed her to protect herself. Drew says, so she thought Nina shot him? and Willow asks if she should tell that to the judge, but Martin says, no. Not at this point. She’s going to have to discuss all of this with her defense attorney. She asks if it isn’t him, But he says, absolutely not. He’ll guide her through the arraignment process, but that’s it. He’s representing the victim and it’s a huge conflict of interest. A judge would never allow it past this point and in good conscience, neither would he. She needs a criminal defense lawyer and he means the best she can find.

At the station, Dante asks what he missed, and Chase says, in less than an hour, Willow would be arraigned for attempted murder. Anna was making a huge mistake. Obviously, Michael planted the gun to frame Willow. Dante says, okay, but that’s a bit of a leap, and Chase says, not really. He had plenty of time between warrants to move the gun. Dante says, there’s no evidence tying Michael to the gun, and Chase says, Michael also stated that he was at Elizabeth’s home waiting for Willow, alone. He had plenty of time to plant the gun. Dante says, forensics went over the gun and there were no prints, but Chase says, it was from the Quartermaine collection. Dante says, Willow had access to it, and Chase says, so Michael left the house before it was searched, and the gun ended up where they found it. What was wrong with him? Dante says he gets what Chase is saying, and it tracks, but it’s all circumstantial at best. Chase says, people got convicted on way less, and Dante says, Chase doesn’t sound impartial or sound like he wants to solve the case. It sounded like he was trying to find a way for Willow to be innocent.

Michael said he proposed supervised therapist visits when the visitation hearing was pushed back until after the new year. If the kids waited that long to see their mother, it would feel like they were seeing a stranger. Brook says, that’s not good for anyone, especially not the kids, and he says, that’s why he allowed her to see them in a controlled environment with an impartial person from outside who could intervene if she made them feel uncomfortable. Brook says, after everything Willow has done, she wouldn’t trust her with the kids, but Michael says he realized if he played his cards right, he could ruin Willows advantage and completely box her in.

Following Jason downstairs, Britt says, one more thing, and he says he double-checked. Everything in the closet is hers. She says she needs a car, and he says, she wants him to buy her a car? She says, no. She just needs him to co-sign a loan. She wouldn’t ask, but she’s desperate and needs something to get her from point A to point B and to practice. He says he’ll loan her the money, but she says she didn’t want to ask this much. She doesn’t have much choice. Nina’s been arrested, things with her mother are complicated, and Nathan’s credit is probably just as bad as hers, so… Forget it. He says, hold on. Give him the papers. She hands the papers to him.  

Josslyn says, is Jack her favorite person? No, not really, but if he makes Carly happy, then she’s happy for her. Carly says, Josslyn’s just saying that to be nice, and Josslyn says, because she’s very shy about expressing her disappointment. Carly says, they have that in common, and Josslyn says, if Jack makes Carly happy, she’s happy. She doesn’t have to worry. Carly says she’s a mom. She’ll always worry. Josslyn says she appreciates that, and Carly says, really? Josslyn says, yes, really. After Dex died, she felt disconnected and her instinct was to isolate herself. Then she went east and realized the only way to make Dex’s death worth anything was to do something useful with her life, something that helps Carly and Donna and Michael. To make a difference. Carly asks, how is she going to save them all? and Josslyn says, environmental science, her major. She wants to make the world a better place and thinks she can. Carly says, of course (🍷) she can. She thinks Josslyn can do anything she sets her mind to. They hug, and Josslyn says, they have that in common. Carly says they do.

Jack says, as he told Anna, what he said in his conversation with Valentin is classified. Is there anything else he can do for her? She says, yes. She’d like him to reconsider refusing to read her in. Everything that’s happening – Britt and Nathan reappearing like this – that’s straight out of Faison’s playbook. Jack says, she’s obsessed with Faison. He understands. He knows what Faison did to her and her family, but the man is dead. Anna says she knows. She saw them put his brain in a jar. It was the best day of her life. He says, then she knows he can’t harm her, yet she’s still fixated on him. He can’t help thinking she should see somebody about that. She says, go to hell, and he says he’s already been there, same as her. He hates seeing her take all this so personally. She says she knows Faison better than anyone and she’s trying to get Jack to let her help him. He’s in way over his head. He thinks he’s in control, but he’s he not, and that overconfidence it what gets people killed. She leaves.

Nina tells Nathan that she deeply regrets giving that alibi to the police. She was trying to protect her daughter and just made her look more guilty. Willow didn’t get the opportunity to give her own account that night and it’s her fault. Nathan says he understands, but she still needs to recant, but she says, no. She has a responsibility to her daughter to see this through. She tells Marco that she’s sorry, but she’s not taking the deal. Marco says, fine, but the best he can do is argue that they didn’t have an independent test done on the footage to make sure it’s not being manipulated. Nina thanks him, and he says, it’s also his duty to inform her that he doesn’t believe it’s a good start for her and Willow. Nathana says, the longer she sticks with the alibi, the harder she’ll make it on Willow.  

Martin said representing both Drew and Willow would be malpractice. The answer is no. Drew says, fine. If he can’t help, get out. They don’t need him. Martin says he knows something they do need. They want Willow to get bail. He’ll see himself out and see them at the arraignment. He leaves and Willow says she’s so sorry. He was right about Michael, and she should have listened.

Dante says, Chase doesn’t sound like a cop. He sounds like a defense attorney. They talked about this. The evidence is clear. Willow is a suspect and doesn’t have an alibi. Chase asks if Dante believes Michael was with an escort, and Dante says he thinks the alibi is terrible, but Jacinda backed it up. Chase says, Michael paid her to, but Dante says, the point is, it hasn’t been proven Michael’s alibi is false. Willow’s, on the other hand, has. Chase says, okay. For a second, put Michael and Willow side by side. Who does he think is more capable and willing to plan and commit this crime?

Michael says he knew Willow wouldn’t refuse, and Brook says, why would she want to? If all went well, they could keep going. He says, that would mean all visits had a watchdog and Willow wouldn’t want that, and Brook says, but if Willow said no, he’d could say she turned down an opportunity to see her kids. Didn’t part of him think the therapy sessions would be good for Willow? He says, there was no way of knowing if it would help, and Willow was the last thing he cared about. The only real reservation he had was him and the kids continuing with therapy sessions. Now he didn’t have to worry. Willow had been arrested for shooting Drew and was out of the way now.

Jason says, a Mercedes? Britt said she wanted to practice. Britt says, that’s what she was driving at the Five Poppies until… He says, until what? and she says, there was an incident with a donkey. (Ha-ha-ha! The donkey!) He says, she hit a donkey with a Mercedes? and she says, it was fine. It had a little limp, but it healed. He asks how she knows it healed, and she says she’s a doctor. That donkey had a death wish. He asks if she can afford the car payments, and she says, if she has to live in a rented room above a diner, at least she can drive a nice car. He says, her insurance payments will go through the roof, and she says, why? He says he’s seen her drive, and she says, is he going to sign or walk her through driver’s ed? He signs the papers.

Nathan says, if Willow shot Drew in a rage, it was a crime of passion. She’ll do time, but any attorney can build a defense. Marco says, considering Drew’s reputation, it wouldn’t be hard to convince a judge that she was pushed to the brink. Nina could testify on her behalf and Willow could get a light sentence. If it goes to trial, she could be convicted of conspiracy, coldly ambushing a sitting congressman. Willow needed to construct an alibi. Nina covering for her proved it was premeditated. They were both looking at life sentences in federal prison. Nina said, if she recanted, it left Willow without an alibi, but Marco said, her daughter was without an alibi already. It was gone. It had been disproven. Nathan asked if Nina was absolutely sure Willow was innocent. There was a big difference between not wanting her to be guilty and her actually being innocent. If she wanted to help, she really needed to tell the truth.

Chase tells Dante, Willow is a nurse and a good mom. She’s made mistakes, but has no history of violence. Michael, on the other hand, is a person who brutally murdered a woman. Dante says, the circumstances were way different, and Chase says, Michael was practically raised in the mob. Dante says, if he follows the evidence, right now it points to Willow, and Chase says Dante keeps telling him that he’s biased, but Dante can’t see the possibility of his brother being a suspect, even if it means an innocent woman goes down for the crime. Chase walks out.

Willow says she never imagined that during the session Michael set up, she’d be arrested in front of her children, and Drew says, he’s a vindictive bastard. Willow says, more than that. He’s framing her. That means the father of her children broke into Drew’s home and shot him.

Brook tells Michael that Willow’s judgement was awful, especially when it came to Drew, but Wiley and Amelia loved their mom. And no matter what she’d done, Willow adored them and was capable of being a good mother. Michael says he’s not interested in saving Willow from herself. Not anymore. He was trying to stop her from doing more harm than she’d already done. Now, by the time the visitation hearing came around, Willow would be serving a life sentence for trying to kill Drew and would be out of the kids’ lives completely.

Britt thanks Jason, when Josslyn arrives. Jason asks if she’s seen her mom, and she says, yeah. She just came from her place. They had a great conversation. He says, anything in particular? and she says, no. Her mom just told her how much she’d missed her. She thought her mom missed her more than she realized. Britt says she wonders if Carly would have missed her as much if she knew Josslyn was lying to her face the whole time, and Josslyn says she’s very grateful that Britt saved her life, but she’s done doing this. And if Britt even thinks about telling her mom that she’s WSB, she will burn Britt’s life down because she can do it.

Carly is alone with the moss bowl🎍, and flashes back to Jason saying that Josslyn is in the WSB. She leans back on the sink and remembers asking Jason, why is her daughter in the WSB? Jason says, the assignment. Jack needed someone to get something and used Josslyn to get it. She flashes back to telling Jason that Jack put her daughter in danger and she had to get her out. There was a knock at the door, and Jack came in. He asks, did you miss me? (Aww. I feel sorry for Jack.)

Michael tells Brook, as a father, he’s responsible for keeping his children safe. That means keeping them away from Drew any way he can. The doorbell rings, and Brook says, her first guests. Does he want to come to her tea party? He says he just had one with Amelia. He’s good. She says, his loss, and leaves to answer the door.

Nina tells Nathan that she needs back-up. Please help save her daughter. Nathan says he is trying help, but if she sticks to her story, she and Willow will both end up in prison. Marco says, her brother is right. It won’t help giving an alibi that everyone knows is false. Instead, it will look more like Willow is a cold-blooded killer. Nina says she needs to do something, and Nathan says, drop the alibi. Do that, and it will give Willow a fighting chance. Turner came back and asked if they’d reached a decision.

Willow tells Drew that they have to get Wiley and Amelia away from Michael. It’s not safe. Michael is a dangerous man. Drew says, she has to prove she’s innocent first. Then they’ll get the kids away from Michael and back with her. She says he told her that he was willing to tell the police that he remembered Michael being the one who shot him. Would he really do that for her and her kids?

Dante walks into the nook and says, good. Michael is here. Michael says he is. What’s going on? Dante says he’s here as a brother – he puts his badge on the table – not as a cop. Convince him that he did not frame his ex-wife for attempted murder.

On Monday, Stella says Tracy might have some trouble on her hands anyway; Ronnie says, things are gonna get fun now; Dante tells Michael that he has to come forward and turn himself in; and Carly asks how Jack could keep her in the dark about her daughter.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A little scary, and not in a Halloween way. Here’s praying for a successful surgery and quick recovery. Maxie’s family needs her back and so do we.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-star-kirsten-storms-addresses-reason-for-show-break-11829923

I love how she looks at growing up on the show.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-eden-mccoy-marks-10-years-as-josslyn-what-a-special-thing-to-be-able-to-celebrate/

The Daytime Emmy noms. I’m rooting extra for Gregory Harrison.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-nancy-lee-grahn-alexis-dishes-ric-hostage-story-and-daytime-emmy-nom-excl/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-laura-wright-on-daytime-emmy-nomination-i-was-really-proud-exclusive/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-jonathan-jackson-going-for-sixth-daytime-emmy-is-a-very-surreal-thing-exclusive/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gregory-harrison-reflects-on-general-hospital-run-and-earning-a-daytime-emmy-nomination-at-75-excl/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

The crew had a night out, and Christian and Max were at odds throughout the whole episode. The primary was a repeat of someone Aesha served during her stint in Australia. She said he was very specific and she wasn’t wrong, although he wasn’t overly demanding. He did want truffles though, and a-hole Max decided to chow down on the remainder of them sitting in the galley – during the dinner service. Luckily, there were spares. Christian floated away on a jet ski with no way to get back, and in Nathan’s interview, he said he tried to motivate Max and Christian, but they were dead weight.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The best moment ever was when Mary turned down caviar because she might end up with salmon babies in her belly. I have to admit to not paying much attention except for hearing Brittani tell the group how Jared was whining about how much he’d paid for things. There was also a beautiful lunch at a winery that degenerated into some argument about soup where they all tried to recall the line from Seinfeld – no soup for you! – but failed miserably.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

The group went to Amsterdam. One of those trips none of us will ever get to take and that they never really enjoy since there’s always a fight or six. Fancy Pants Heather was going to spread some of her father’s ashes there as her parents lived in Amsterdam while she was in college. They split into two groups – Gretchen, Fancy Pants, Gina, and Shannon went for space cakes, while Tamra, Emily, and Jenn decorated d*cks. Not real ones. They all met for dinner, which was hysterical to watch with a high Shannon and Fancy Pants looking at each other through their water glasses. After that was the Red-Light District, and in Jenn’s interview, she said maybe they would get through the trip alive. But then we saw next week’s promo. No such luck.

Real Housewives Of Miami – Reunion Part 3

We revisited Kiki spitting out an oyster and the ratchet/wretched controversy. Marysol said she was getting a procedure done on her knees after Adriana’s comment, which was just sad. Larsa apologized to Jody backstage, and Lisa and Larsa made up. Until next season. Thank God this one is over. I hate Reunions and this was one of the worst.

Random Reality Items

In case you were wondering. I find it difficult to feel bad for him though.

Giving you Lala.

I actually remember her. God forbid they cast someone a little out of the Beverly Hills norm.

Aww. This made me feel sad. They were so cute together.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Substance. HBO/MAX. A phenomenal film. Demi Moore deserved the Oscar for making body horror poignant, but even more so for making a statement about a real life horror – the dismissal of a woman as she ages. It’s sad that even today, women are judged by their appearance, while men are judged by their accomplishments. Moore plays a famous fitness instructor whose boss is looking for the next new shiny young thing. She ingests something called The Substance and births out a younger, prettier self. What happens next contains a million messages all pointing to how messed up society still is. The ending broke my heart.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1996873/the-substance-oscar-winning-horror-movie-hbo-max-streaming-charts/

This was the stupidest theory ever. It wasn’t Dallas.

https://screenrant.com/the-substance-elizabeth-mind-fan-theory/

Victoria Beckham. Netflix. I’ve always loved The Spice Girls (don’t judge) and loved Posh when she did her reality shows back in the early 2000s. I thought she was smart and had a wicked sense of humor. This documentary focuses on her pivot from pop culture celebrity to designer of couture. While her clothing mostly isn’t for my body type, I admit to owning a pair of her jeans. What struck me most was how mean people have been to her and the horrific things people have said, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet. Yet, she stuck it out and achieved her dream. Okay, it didn’t hurt to have David by her side.

https://people.com/victoria-beckham-docuseries-reveals-business-debt-including-shocking-cost-of-office-plants-11828928

You, too, can channel her fashion.

https://people.com/victoria-beckham-netflix-outfits-october-2025-11830679

The Woman in Cabin 10. Netflix. A step up from a Lifetime movie – it has Guy Pearce! – a journalist is invited to cover a fundraiser and travels there with other guests on a yacht. She believes she’s witnessed someone falling or being pushed overboard, but all the evidence points to it never having happened.

https://www.thereviewgeek.com/thewomanincabin10-moviereview/

I was glad to read about the changes from the book. I was sure I’d read it, then started to doubt myself as I was watching the film.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-woman-in-cabin-10-netflix-review-movie-vs-book

It’s bigger than the one on Below Deck, but with the same rules.

https://people.com/all-about-the-woman-in-cabin-10-filming-locations-11830042

Sinners (again). HBO/MAX. I started watching this just to watch a specific scene again and got sucked in to the whole thing. It’s not just a horror masterpiece, it’s a masterpiece on every level. The cinematography, the acting, the soundtrack, and story are all brilliant. I loved the real life horror parallel and how multi-dimensional it was. If it doesn’t win all the Oscars, something is very wrong.

https://www.meer.com/en/93659-sinners-a-masterpiece-of-cinema

🔮 Watches Of the Future…

Premieres on October 26th and I can’t wait.

https://ew.com/when-does-welcome-to-derry-come-out-cast-trailers-11827313

https://ew.com/welcome-to-derry-on-set-it-prequel-tracing-pennywise-origins-exclusive-11830263

This looks interesting and kind of weird. And I didn’t hate WandaVision.

https://ew.com/visionquest-closes-wandavision-trilogy-billys-brother-tommy-11828643

🐉 Write Faster, George…

Yeah, no one wants to die, but people do, so get writing.

https://ew.com/george-rr-martin-winds-of-winter-delay-controversy-11828778

🎸 He Loved It Loud…

I was sad to hear this. IMO, Ace had the best of the KISS solo albums. New York Groove is a gem.

https://people.com/kiss-cofounder-ace-frehley-dead-at-74-11831585

🧌 Where the Rubber Suit Meets the Road…

Where else could a K-Pop Demon Hunter literally walk into a bar with Deadpool and Monkey D. Luffy?

https://nypost.com/2025/10/11/us-news/celebrities-and-cosplayers-take-part-in-new-york-comic-con-2025/

👻 All Dressed Up and Everywhere To Go…

🐩 Costumes on celebrity pets.

https://www.tmz.com/2021/10/29/celebrity-pets-all-dressed-up-for-halloween/

🦖 Costumes for ambitious pet parents.

https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/holidays/15-diy-pet-costumes-for-halloween-pictures

🦎 And costumes for not-so ambitious pet parents.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/pets-animals/2025/10/13/top-2025-halloween-pet-costumes-for-cats-dogs-and-more/86676756007/

🕷 Quotes of the Week

Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie. A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby. – George Herbert

To thrive in life you need three bones. A wishbone. A backbone. And a funny bone.Reba McEntire

Many things—such as loving, going to sleep, or behaving unaffectedly—are done worst when we try hardest to do them. – C.S. Lewis, from Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, compiled in Words to Live By

I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest. – Venus Williams

The meaning of life is that it stops. – Franz Kafka

That food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. – Ann Wigmore

The opportunity of a lifetime is to pick yourself. Quit waiting to get picked; quit waiting for someone to give you permission; quit waiting for someone to say you are officially qualified… and pick yourself. – Seth Godin

We can have peace if we let go of wanting to change the past and wanting to control the future. – Lester Levinson

Healing comes from taking responsibility: to realize that it is you – and no one else – that creates your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions. – Peter Shepherd

If you want change, get out there and live it. – Steve Maraboli

We work to become, not to acquire. – Elbert Hubbard

We remember autumn to best advantage in the spring; the finest aroma of it reaches us then. – Henry David Thoreau

What did Columbus discover? People were already here. It’s like crashing your car into Starbucks & saying you discovered coffee.Jimmy Kimmel

🐦‍⬛ On a Midnight Dreary…

Until next week, stay safe; stay making sure your porch has secure/easy child access if you’re passing out treats on Halloween; and stay not throwing a tea party for a shots and beers kinda gal.

October 3, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Ric Attempts To Escape, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Addressed, Starting the Season, Uncanny Sightings, X Quotes & Scary

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Tracy told the unfamiliar woman that her timing was terrible, and it was private property. The woman said she was there to pay her respects to her sister. Her name was Veronica Bard, but Tracy could call her Ronnie.

Spinelli and Felicia were at Bobbie’s with James, who seemed quiet. Felicia asked him to look at the desserts, and he went to the counter. Spinelli said James wasn’t okay, and Felicia said he missed his mom. Spinelli said, now they were about to upend his life all over again.

Obrecht met Nina at the hospital, when Britt came out of the elevator asking, what was the big emergency? Was Nina trying to get her fired? Nina said she was trying to arrange a family reunion.

Willow asked how Nathan was feeling, and he said, great. They introduced themselves and she said she was his niece.

Anna looked over the suspect list, when her phone rang. She said, well, that is a turn of events. She’d follow up.

Ric woke up, and Ava said he seemed restless. She had just the thing for that.

Kristina and Molly went to see Michael, and gave him their condolences, and he introduced them to a friend of his, Jacinda.

Obrecht said she wasn’t interested in a reconciliation, and Britt said she wasn’t either, but Nina said, just stop. Something incredible happened. Whatever they were going through, they’d need each other to get through this. Nathan was alive.

Willow said it was a huge shock finding out Nina was her mother, and Nathan said finding out who his parents were turned his world upside down. She told him about Obrecht volunteering for her bone marrow transplant, and he said family was important. She said they were family, and he said he liked it. A new niece and a son he never met.

Spinelli wondered how they were going to tell James that his father wasn’t dead, but there in Port Charles, and Felicia said they’d done a DNA test and the man in the bed was Nathan. James had a right to know his father was alive. Spinelli asked if his mother shouldn’t be there to guide him, and she said they both wished Maxie could be there, but she wasn’t. So they had to step up and be there for James together. Maxie would want James to know the truth.

Ava said they couldn’t have Ric waking up. It would go easier if he just took another nice long nap. Ric said, no more drugs. Let him go. She said she promised she would, just not today. Open his mouth. She put a pill in his mouth, gave him some water, and said, swallow it. That’s a good boy.

Michael said Jacinda stopped by to offer her condolences, and Jacinda said she lost her grandmother not long ago. She wanted to make sure Michael was holding up okay. Did Kristina run Charlie’s? Kristina said it was her place, and Jacinda said she was sorry about the fire. Kristina said it would be up and running soon, and Molly asked how Jacinda and Michael knew each other. Jacinda said they’d crossed paths and hit it off, and Kristina asked if she could borrow Michael for a second. She and Michael went to the foyer.

Tracy said she’d had Monica investigated before she married Alan and knew about Ronnie. Ronnie asked if Monica never mentioned her, and Tracy said, not a peep. Obviously, Monica didn’t want Ronnie in her life, so why was she popping up now that Monica was dead? Ronnie asked if Tracy always greeted visitors with hostility, and Tracy said just the uninvited ones that showed up at the family crypt. Monica didn’t want Ronnie in her life. Ronnie said they were estranged and had led very different lives, but Tracy was wrong about how things stood between her and her sister. Everything had changed well before Monica died.

Obrecht asked if Nina was certain, and Nina said she was afraid to believe it, but they’d done a DNA test, and she’d spoken to him. Obrecht’s son and Britt’s brother was alive. Obrecht said she needed to see her son, and Nina said she’d take them to him. They followed her to Nathan’s room and Willow opened the door.

Kristina asked if Michael and Jacinda were on a date, but Michael said, Jacinda came to offer her condolences. Kristina asked if he knew Jacinda was the escort with Drew the night of his ketamine bender, and he said, it was one night and just business. Jacinda was a friend. Kristina said he might be her next mark, but he said he was good. She said she was just looking out for him.

Jacinda asked what Molly did, and Molly said she was a prosecutor, an ADA. Were she and Michael dating? Jacinda said they were getting to know each other, when Kristina came back with Michael and said they should head out. In the foyer, Kristina said she wanted a full recap of Tracy throwing Drew out of the memorial, and Michael said he’d make sure she got it. Tracy went full-on Tracy. Kristina and Molly left, and Jacinda told Michael that she wasn’t sure they bought it.

Tracy wondered how Ronnie and Monica conveniently reunited without her knowledge, and Ronnie said Monica wrote her a letter. No one was more surprised than she was. Monica had never reached out, even though she’d been easy to find. She assumed Monica wasn’t interested, but thought has we grew older, we faced mortality and regrets loomed large. Tracy said she assumed Ronnie wrote back, and Ronnie said, of course (🍷). They’d written back and forth for the past year or so, Tracy wanted to see proof. She didn’t know Ronnie, but knew Monica’s handwriting anywhere. She also knew that Ronnie hadn’t darkened Monica’s doorstep in over 50 years, but when she got wind of the fact Monica died, she came circling like a vulture. Why was she really there?

James came back and asked if something happened to his mom, but Felicia said, absolutely not. She talked to his mom’s doctors every day and they were taking excellent care of her. James asked, what’s wrong? and Spinelli said they had good news. There had been a strange mistake, and his dad was alive. James said, he wasn’t. He was an angel who lived in heaven.

Obrecht said, my son. It was really him. She hugged Nathan and cried. Britt looked stunned.

Ava said Ric was missing out on a lot of billable hours. Drew had been shot, and half the town was being investigated. Ric asked if Drew was alive, and Ava said, yeah, and Willow was a prime suspect. He said she had to stop this, and she told him that she said she would, just not right now. It didn’t have to be this way. They’d had a good thing going and were cut from the same cloth. She guessed the heart wanted what the heart wanted, and he wanted Elizabeth, the fairest maiden in all of Port Charles. It allowed Kristina to play him for a fool, but the reason he was here was because he got greedy. He said, so did she, but she said she deserved every penny. In ten days, all the money he stole would be back in the Cassadine estate, minus her divorce settlement of course (🍷). Cheer up. By the time he could form a coherent thought again, it would all be over. Sleep tight. She went back upstairs.

Ronnie said she could see Tracy was grieving. That’s why she was trying to be polite. But she’d stepped over a line no decent person would cross. Tracy said Ronnie showed up unannounced and uninvited to a private memorial, probably to ask for a handout. Ronnie said she didn’t want a thing from Tracy or her sister. She got along just fine. She read that Monica died and knew the funeral was private, so she came there instead to pay her respects. Tracy said the funeral was for select invitees, close family and friends and respected colleagues, of which Ronnie was none. Whatever she came for, she wasn’t going to get, so she could sneak out the way she snuck in. Ronnie said she didn’t sneak. The gate was open. Tracy said she’d have it fixed, and Ronnie said, Monica wrote a lot about her family – Jason, Michael, Michael’s children, and her great-grandchildren. She’d like to meet them and give her condolences to the family. Tracy said the family was nothing to her and she was nothing to them.

Obrecht said her son had been restored to her. Where had he been? Nathan said he didn’t know. The last thing he remembered was being shot by Faison. She said he was found on the road in a car crash. Was he trying to escape someone? He said he really didn’t know. He did know he and Maxie had a son and he wanted to meet James as soon as possible.

Spinelli said they did believe James’s father was in heaven, but it turned out they were wrong. He was in Port Charles. Felicia said she’d seen him and spoken to him. He was in GH. James asked if he was hurt, and she said, no. He was in an accident, but he was okay. He didn’t remember where he’d been. James asked if his father remembered him, but Felicia said they’d never actually met. James was born after he went away. James said he didn’t know his father except for what his mom told him and pictures, and Spinelli said he knew it was a lot to find out. It was for them too, but they were all in this together. If James wasn’t ready, he didn’t have to meet his father until he wanted to.

Alexis came home and asked Ava, how’s Ric? Ava said she’d just given him a sedative and asked how it went with Anna. Alexis said the appointment was canceled. They didn’t reschedule, so she was taking it as a win – for now. Ava asked if she thought she was in the clear, and Alexis said she was cautiously optimistic. They couldn’t let the PCPD know what was in the basement. Ava said they just had to endure 10 more days, and the money Ric stole would be back where it belonged, and they could wash their hands of each other permanently.

Ric spit out the pill and hid it under the mattress. He struggled with the handcuffs.

Anna said she had something of interest to Turner, and Turner asked how questioning Alexis went. Anna said she wasn’t ruling Alexis out, but the evidence was pointing elsewhere, and Turner said, Sonny? Anna said, no. The strike marks on the bullet matched one from an earlier crime and the gun was registered to a highly unlikely suspect – a dead man, namely Edward Quartermaine.

Ronnie said Tracy was making assumptions about her character when Tracy didn’t know her, and Tracy said she didn’t want to know her. Ronnie said maybe Tracy didn’t know Monica as well as she thought, and Tracy said Monica never once mentioned Ronnie’s name in the 45 years she knew her. Monica didn’t want anything to do with Ronnie, and she intended to honor that and follow suit. Ronnie said she and Monica had been separated as children and raised in the foster care system, and Tracy said she knew Monica’s foster mother. Ronnie said she and Monica were estranged by circumstance, not by choice. They didn’t grow up as sisters and when she found Monica again, Monica was already a young woman, married to her first husband, and in the middle of her medical internship. She was building a life that was a far cry from the past they’d shared, and Monica wanted nothing to do with her. She took it hard and said things she regretted. So did Monica. Life took people in different directions, and although her life had different trappings than Monica’s, she was proud of it. She never asked or needed anything from her sister. Tracy said it was a compelling story, but she didn’t believe a word of it.

Alexis told Ava that the situation with Drew had been enlightening. His behavior was so extreme, he pushed someone else to extremes and got shot. Ava and Kristina had gone to extremes with Ric because of their eye for an eye vendetta. It was going to end. The money would be put back, and they’d push the reset button, putting it in the past for all of them. Ava said she was willing, and it seemed like Alexis and Kristina were willing, but one person might not be so amenable – Ric. Alexis said he had no choice. If they went down, he went down. She knew Ric. He’d get upset, lick his wounds, and get over it. It would be fine. Ava said everybody had a limit to how far they were willing to be pushed, and she left.

Anna said the gun was from an entire collection registered to the Quartermaine address, and Turner said, where a suspect lived – Michael. Anna said, Tracy lived there and was discovered first on the scene. She despised Drew, but if she’d wanted him dead, he’d probably be dead. Turner said Drew destroyed Michael’s family and was working to take away his children. Michael had access and plenty of motive. Anna said, just because it could happen didn’t mean it did. Had Turner ruled anyone out? Turner said Carly had an alibi – Jack – but Anna said Jack would lie for Carly in a heartbeat. Turner said Carly once shot a man point blank in court, and Anna said Carly would definitely kill to protect her children. Turner said they couldn’t rule out Curtis, and Anna said he and Drew had been at each other’s throats for almost a year and Curtis held Drew completely responsible for his aunt’s arrest. Turner said, maybe he’d reached his breaking point, and Anna said he’d been a cop and could stage a scene and cover his tracks. Turner said, what about Nina and Willow? and Anna said they had a complicated relationship. They were both sleeping with Drew at the same time (ew!). Turner said, they might both want revenge and were in on it together.

Nina thanked Willow for treating Nathan. She couldn’t believe Liesl had her son back. Maybe she and Willow could call a truce. Willow said that wasn’t going to happen. She was happy Nina had her brother back, but it changed nothing. Nina lied to her and manipulated her. She didn’t want anything to do with Nina. Nina said Willow could hate her all she wanted, but in reality, they needed each other. They were each other’s alibi.

Molly told Kristina that Jacinda was an escort and Michal’s alibi. It had been a set-up.  

Jacinda said she wasn’t sure how much it shored up Michael’s alibi, but it was worth a try. She really was sorry for his loss. He thanked her and said he appreciated her help. She said, it was calculated. Most people would be too caught up mourning to think about it. Would his grandmother have approved? He said he hoped so.

Ronnie said she didn’t come to Port Charles to convince anyone of anything. She came to honor her sister and wished they’d reconnected sooner. Tracy said Monica Bard may have been Ronnie’s sister, but the little girl she remembered became Dr. Monica Quartermaine, a skilled surgeon and a pillar of the community. She was too busy helping others to bother to look back. There was no room for Ronnie in the future of Monica’s family.

Willow said she didn’t need Nina, but Nina needed her. Nina didn’t have an alibi and had a history of violence. Drew used her for sex, then threw her away. It was a damn good reason to shoot someone. Nina said, if it came to that, she hoped that’s what the police believed, because Drew was instrumental in Willow losing her children. It was a damn good reason to shoot someone too.

Nathan said, tell him about his son, and Obrecht said James was magnificent, intelligent, and strong. Nathan should see him throw an ax. Britt said they should go. Nathan had head trauma and needed to rest. Obrecht said, family was equally important in healing, but Britt said Obrecht knew she was right. Obrecht told Nathan that his sister was correct, and hugged him. She said, Britt surely wasn’t going to walk out without so much as a hug, and Britt said, sorry. She hugged him and said, welcome back, and they left. In the hallway, Spinelli, Felica, and James came out of the elevator. (Before they left, Nathan gave Britt a really odd look. My theory? Hear me out. Nathan is Faison. Faison has shown up as both Duke and Luke using a mask, but perhaps his brain was put into Nathan this time.)

Kristina told Molly that Michael was going through a difficult time and seeking comfort from a woman he was seeing. She wasn’t the first sex worker he’d hung out with. Molly shouldn’t be judgmental and shame Jacinda for what she did. Molly said she wasn’t, but the run-in was orchestrated. She worked in the DA’s office and knew he was securing an alibi.

Michael said it should have been a day about his grandmother, but Jacinda said she was sure his grandmother loved him and would want him to get out of the Drew situation clean. He said, she would, and Jacinda said she thought his grandmother would have no problem with him doing what he needed to do, even today. He said he just hoped it was enough. They both knew if the cops looked deeper, his alibi wouldn’t hold.

Anna told Turner that she’d secure a warrant to search the estate. If word got out that’s where they were focusing the investigation, the Quartermaines would close ranks. They did what they could to protect their own, even cover up an attempted murder of one of their own.

Ronnie said, in Monica’s letters, she described Tracy as aggressive and abrasive, and Tracy laughed and said, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Ronnie told her that Monica said she got her abrasiveness from her father, but it was tempered by her mother’s heart. She also said Tracy’s good intentions were masked by her armor of entitlement. What she left out of her assessment was how cold Tracy was. Tracy said Monica waxing poetic about her proved Monica was losing control of her faculties. She wanted Ronnie to leave. Ronnie said masks had a tendency to slip and she suspected Tracy may not be entitled to everything she thought she was. Her sincere condolences on this very sad day. She left.

On the phone, Alexis talked to her assistant about what was on the docket, as Ric snuck around behind her.

Tuesday:

No soap – baseball.

Wednesday:

Ditto.

Thursday:

Hit us one more time.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

As Ric sneaks around behind her, on the phone, Alexis asks Suzanne, what’s on the docket for tomorrow?… Right. The reading of Monica Quartermaine’s will. That ought to go smoothly. Do her a favor. There’s a hard copy on her desk… She doesn’t need to messenger it. Just send an email. She’ll be in early in the morning… She turns around, then says, sorry. She must be hearing things.

Nathan reads the headline about himself in The Invader.

Felicia says, Nathan is awake and has a visitor, and Obrecht tells James that his father has been asking all about him. James says, really? and Obrecht says, of course (🍷), and she knows he’ll be delighted to finally meet James. James asks if he can see his father right now, but Britt says, wait. She’s his Aunt Britt. She’ll tell him all about it some time, but right now she needs to speak to the grown-ups for a minute. James says, okay, and she says, because he’s being so understanding – she gives him some cash – he can go get a soda from the vending machine. James asks Spinelli, can he? and Spinelli says, it’s after dark, so… James says, no caffeine, and Spinelli says, go for it. James says, copy, and runs off. Spinelli says, he’s out of earshot, and Obrecht says, good. Perhaps Dr. Westbourne will explain why they’re delaying the long-awaited reuniting of father and son. Britt says, sorry. But they can’t let James see his father.

Sonny looks at Monica’s photo on the memorial wall, when Ronnie approaches. She asks if Monica was a friend of his, and he tells her that he wouldn’t say that. They knew each other and he admired her very much. How about her? She says, Monica Quartermaine was her sister.

At the crypt, Tracy says, just when she thought she’d seen everything, along comes Ronnie. Thanks, Monica, for leaving me a mess to clean up. Michael walks in and she says, here comes another one.

Anna thanks Carly for coming to her office, and Carly asks if she needs Diane for this. Anna says, that’s up to Carly, but she’s just following up on questions from the night Drew was shot. Carly says, Anna already knows everything she needs to know. She was with Jack. End of story. Anna says she remembers Carly telling her that, but it’s not about her. It’s about Michael.

Elizabeth gives Molly the records she requested, and Molly says, the DA’s office is grateful for her cooperation. Elizabeth says she’s happy to help, but before Molly goes, has she heard from her dad?

Alexis thanks Suzanne and says she’s been helpful. She appreciates it. They’ll talk soon. She takes off her shoes and lies down on the couch. Suddenly, the Cassadine dagger is at her throat and Ric says, look what I found.

Obrecht asks, what’s wrong with Britt? James needs to meet his father, and Nathan would like to meet his son. Britt says she’s concerned jumping the gun here. Just because James’s father has resurfaced, doesn’t mean he should be rushed into a reunion. Father and son both need to be ready. Obrecht says, of course (🍷) they’re ready. Nathan said as much, and James wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want to. Spinelli says, Britt makes an excellent point, but Obrecht says, not everyone choses to stay away from a family that wants them. Nathan deserves to meet his son. Britt says, can she forget about her precious son for once and think about James? Do they really think Maxie would be okay with this?

Sonny says he’s sorry for Ronnie’s loss, and Ronnie thanks him. They introduce themselves, and Sonny apologizes and says he didn’t know Monica had a sister. Ronnie says, apparently, she’s the best kept secret Monica had. They didn’t grow up together, and after that, they sort of became estranged. Monica had her life, and she had hers. They only recently got in touch again. She doubts Monica would have told anyone in Port Charles about her. Sonny says, she definitely wouldn’t have told him, and she says, for most of her life, that was true for her too, but here they are. She guesses he was paying his respects. He says, Monica was an impressive woman, and they cared a lot about the same people. His adopted son Michael was Monica’s grandson. Ronnie says she knows that name. Monica wrote about him all the time in her letters. She was so proud of him. Sonny says, there was every reason to be, and she says, Monica adored Michael’s children Wiley and Amelia. Sonny laughs and says, they’re great kids. They were crazy about Monica. So was Michael. They had an incredible bond together, him and his grandmother. She says she was hoping to meet Michael back at the estate, but someone put stop to that, and he says, let him tell her something. Tracy Quartermaine loves to throw her weight around for a woman her size. Too bad. They’d have so much to talk about. She says, then they will. She’s not about to be scared off by Tracy Quartermaine.  

Michael asks if he’s interrupting, and Tracy says she was just having a word with his grandmother. He asks if everything is okay, and she says, peachy. Monica left her a hornet’s nest to deal with. He asks if there’s anything he can do to help, but she says, no, considering he’s the one who kicked the nest. He asks how he did that, and she says he can thank his marital woes. Now it falls to her to keep him from getting convicted of the attempted murder of a sitting congressman. He says, it might feel that way to her, but he doesn’t need her to save him, all right? He can take care of himself.

Carly says, Michael has an alibi with that Jacinda woman, and Anna says, the escort. Carly says, it is what it is. Michael is a grown man and makes his own decisions, but an alibi is an alibi. Anna says, well, that’s true, yes, but she still needs to verify his movements for that evening, especially the points that intersect with Carly’s. Carly says, okay, and sits down. Anna says Carly spoke with him that night, did she not? and Carly says, yeah. Anna says, it’s not really a question. She has Michael’s phone records. What was the call about? Carly flashes back to telling Michael that Willow caved and went back to Drew. That meant Drew was calling the shots. Michael asks who told her, and she says, Drew, and Elizabeth confirmed it. She knows Drew is threatening him and saying he has proof that the judge took a bribe, but do not fall for it. Do not give in to Drew. Michael says he agrees with her. Drew has been making a lot of assumptions about what he can control, but he has no idea how quick circumstances can change for him. Carly tells Anna that she talks all the time to her son. She’s sure she was just telling him about her day. Anna asks if Michael can confirm her account, and Carly says, yeah.

Molly says she hasn’t heard from her dad, but she guesses that’s the whole point of the digital detox, and Elizabeth says, but it’s Ric they’re talking about. Frankly, she’s shocked he’s sticking to it. Molly says she’s surprised too. She’s supportive of the whole unplugging thing, but she never thought Ric would last this long. Elizabeth says she knows Ric loves to bend the rules, and figured by now he’d have gotten in touch, and Molly asks if she thinks he reached out to someone else. Elizabeth says, if Ric was skipping out on the detox, he’d contact Molly first, and Molly says, they’re the top two and her dad’s not here. Elizabeth says, she can totally understand Molly’s dad’s need to get away, but he couldn’t have picked a worse time to drop off the face of the planet.

Ric says, remember this dagger? He’s sure Alexis’s mother would. Alexis says, fine. You win. What do you want? He says, a shower more than anything, but first a phone call. She says he doesn’t have his phone, but he says, that’s okay. He’s got hers. She’s going to call the cops and confess everything that she’s done.

Alexis tells Ric that he needs to take a minute and think about this. If she calls the police, they’re all going down. That’s Ava, that’s Kristina, that’s her, and that’s him. He says, that was more of a concern before she decided to trap him in her basement, and she says, he’s going to like the basement more than prison. He says he’s sure he can make the jury very, very sympathetic, but she says she’s not so sure. He brandishes the dagger again, and she says, he needs to calm down. He knows when he’s angry like this nothing good comes of it. He says he’s definitely angry. More than angry, closer to enraged actually, but his thinking is clear. She says, if his thinking is clear, put the knife down, and he says, and deny himself the self-satisfaction of watching the cops haul her and her psycho daughter off? She says, he’ll be right behind them, and Molly won’t like it if he kills her mother. Ric says, she’s right. Molly wouldn’t, but he’s got a better idea.

Ronnie says she went to the crypt to pay her respects and in walked Tracy, and Sonny says, must have been interesting. She says, yeah. It was something. Monica had written about her, but boy, Monica did not do justice to what she just saw live and in person. He says, let him guess. Tracy didn’t welcome her with open arms to the family. She says, no. Tracy kicked her off the property. Someone named Yuri was supposed to lock the gates behind her. He says, sounds about right, and she says, so he knows Tracy. What does he make of her? He says, the honest truth? and she says, yes, please. He says, she’s an entitled snob, and she says, it’s the same word Monica used and the same word she did. She thanks him, calling him Mr. Corinthos, and says she appreciates the validation. He says, call him Sonny, and she says, okay.

Michael says, Tracy may recall he does have an alibi, and she says, the call girl. He’s incredibly naïve. Not only is a call girl a weak alibi… He says, they like to be called sex workers now, and she says, thank you for that. This sex worker also has a history with the victim. He says, a very brief history, and she says, an unsavory history, and that is not a good thing. He says, well, it’s the only alibi he’s got. Had he known he’d need one, he would have gotten an appropriate one beforehand. She says she knows he’s lying because she can place him in front of the house at the time of the shooting, and he says he drove over there, but he didn’t shoot Drew. She asks why else he’d be there, and he says, to confront Drew. She says, did he? and he says, no. She asks, why? and he says, because he realized there was no point. He was standing next to the car, getting soaking wet from the rain, and realized confrontation was exactly what Drew would have wanted him to do, so he didn’t give Drew what he was looking for, okay? Tracy says, so he just hopped in his car soaking wet and drove away, and he says, yes. He swears he didn’t go in the house. She says, there it is. He just proved he’s as Quartermaine as the rest of them. She can’t tell if he’s lying.  

Carly says she can’t recall what they talked about, so she has no idea what Michael would say, and Anna says, fair enough. Carly asks if Anna is really going to bug Michael. His grandmother just died. Can she give it a rest? Anna says that’s what she’s doing. Out of respect for Michael’s loss, she’s questioning Carly. She thought, given Carly and Monica’s history, Carly wouldn’t be attending, so… Carly says she’s not grieving the way Michael is, but she’s sad that Monica died, and Anna says, of course (🍷). So things changed between her and Monica then? Carly tells her that she can’t say they got close, but over the years, she and Monica had something in common. Anna says, which was? and Carly says, Jason. Jason, Michael, Wiley, and Amelia were enough for Monica, so they were enough for her. Anna asks if it would be fair to say that Carly is welcomed at the Quartermaine estate, and Carly says, except for Tracy, yes, she is.

Spinelli tells Britt that they discussed it and had taken Maxie’s feelings into consideration. They couldn’t see how they could deny James the chance to meet his father. Britt says, James has already waited seven years. What’s one more night? Obrecht says, we’ve respectfully listened to your opinion, even though no one has asked for it. We can take it from here. Britt asks if they’d consider consulting a child therapist who can think of the best way for James to be introduced to his father, and Felicia says, well, that’s certainly something they could talk about. Spinelli agrees and says he guesses he’ll go break the bad news to James, but Britt says he doesn’t have to be one to disappoint James. She’ll do it. Obrecht says, the perfect choice. After all, who’s more proficient in doling out disappointment? Felicia says, when James comes back, she’ll help him to understand they want what’s best for him, and what’s best for him is to wait.

James goes into Nathan’s room, and Nathan says, hello there. James says, hi, and Nathan says, you must be James.

James says he got Nathan a soda. He didn’t know which kind Nathan liked, so he got orange and grape. Nathan can pick. Nathan says, James isn’t going to believe this, but orange and grape are both his favorites, and James says, really? Nathan says, really. So James has to help out by picking his favorite. James says, orange and grape are his favorites? No way. If he had to choose, he guesses he likes orange a little more. Nathan says he’ll take the grape. He likes that one a little more. They open their soda cans, and Nathan says, you know, we should have a toast. James says, to what? and Nathan says, to having the same favorite sodas as his son. (I gotta say, these two are very sweet together. If Ryan Peavey doesn’t have kids, he needs to get some.)

Outside Bobbie’s, Sonny says, Bobbie’s is the Port Charles institution that everyone comes to. That includes Ronnie’s sister. Ronnie says, Monica never struck her as the diner type, but Sonny says, Monica was full of surprises. They go in and sit down, and Ronnie says she’s been waiting tables since junior high and this place… Sonny says, yeah? and she says, the water glasses are full and the customers are happy. The food smells great and she loves the menu. He says, try the BLT. It’s unbelievable. She says, will do. The place is immaculate. Whoever owns it obviously cares. He says he’ll tell her. His ex-wife Carly owns it and she’ll be thrilled she’s getting rave reviews from a pro. They laugh, and Ronnie says, he’s been so kind and welcoming. She can’t imagine why he and Monica didn’t get along. He says, she had her reasons, and Ronnie says she’s sure Monica did. Even as a child, she had very strong opinions. When they finally got in touch again, she saw Monica hadn’t changed much, but then neither had she. He says, if she doesn’t mind him asking, when did they stop talking? and she says, a long, long time ago and as she said, they’d only gotten in touch recently. When Monica wrote her a letter, it was the surprise of her life. He says, good surprise? and she says, hell yeah. Oddly enough, that surprised her too. She hadn’t realized how much she missed Monica and now that she’s gone, she finds herself… He says, regretting the time she had? and she says, yeah. He says he’s been there.  

Tracy tells Michael, congratulations. He inherited the family’s superpower. He says, if she’s so sure he’s lying, why not go to the cops and tell them what she saw? She says she thought she’d made herself clear. She doesn’t care if he shot Drew or not. She only cares that he stays a free man.

Carly tells Anna that her grandchildren live with the Quartermaines. Of course (🍷) they allow her on the property. Anna says, so she can go see them whenever she wants, and Carly says she absolutely can. Anna says, okay then. Great. She thanks Carly for her time and help, and Carly says, someone shot Drew. The SOB had it coming, but it wasn’t Michael, okay? It wasn’t Michael. So why doesn’t Anna do her job and stop trying to pin it on the obvious suspect. Anna says, it’s her responsibility to investigate every suspect, obvious or not, and Carly says, Michael didn’t shoot Drew. He’s not a killer. Anna says, Claudia Zacchara might beg to differ, and Carly says, he was defending her and his sister. Anna says, and she knows Carly would do anything to defend him, and Carly leaves.

Alexis asks what Ric is going to do with Elizabeth, and he says he’s guessing his Porsche isn’t parked in Alexis’s driveway. She says, no, and he says, that means he needs a ride home. She suggests he call a Ride Share, and he says, this may come as a complete surprise, but after being locked in her basement for a while, he’s not willing to negotiate. Now call Elizabeth and put it on speaker. She makes the call.

Elizabeth asks if Molly thinks her dad reached out to Ava, but Molly says, not a chance. So who does that leave? Elizabeth’s phone rings and she says, it’s Molly’s mom. She answers, hi, Alexis, when Ava comes out of nowhere, throwing a liquid in Ric’s face. He screams, aagghh! My eyes! Psycho! (God forgive me, I’m dying laughing.) Alexis disconnects the call, and Elizabeth says, that’s weird. Molly’s mom is texting her. Molly asks what she’s saying, and Elizabeth says, she called by accident. Molly says she guesses it happens, and Elizabeth says, it does, but… Molly says, but what? and Elizabeth says she could have sworn she heard Ric’s voice. Molly asks if Elizabeth thinks her dad ditched his detox without a word to either of them so he could meet up with her mom.

Ava hits Ric in the face and then over the head with something and he falls to the floor.

Sonny says he and his father were estranged for years, but not as many as Ronnie and Monica, but Ronnie says, it’s not a contest. He says, for a while, it was tough. As tough as it was and as many times as he told himself he didn’t care about his father or what happened to him, the time apart didn’t make him love his father any less, and believe him, he tried. She asks if they ever found their way back to each other, and he says, yeah. Their final year together… Ronnie says she knows he’s suffering, and he says, everybody’s different. She says, not so different. Before Monica died, she was working up the nerve to suggest meeting in person. She almost brought it up in her last couple of letters, but she didn’t. Then she said she was definitely going to ask the next time, but then… He says he’s sorry, and she says, her too. He says he doesn’t know if this will help, but his son Michael said, even though in the end her health wasn’t good, Monica was happy with her life, and she went peacefully. She says, that does help, and thanks him. He says, anytime.

Michael says he honestly doesn’t understand the sudden drive to protect him, and Tracy says she thought it would be self-explanatory. He says, if he’s convicted, all his stocks go into a trust which will increase Ned’s standing. She and Ned can broker leadership rolls. Hell, they could even groom Gio to follow in Edward’s footsteps. It’s what she always wanted for Ned. She says she thought he knew better than that. She’s a woman who always pays her debts. He asks what she could possibly owe him, and she says, nothing, but she owes Monica. No matter how many times Monica threw her out. Monica always took her back. Monica wouldn’t want anything to happen hm, so it’s her job, her duty, to see nothing does.

Anna tells Molly that they got the ballistics back, and the two bullets taken from Drew matched a gun already in the system, a gun that once belonged to Edward Quartermaine, part of the Quartermaine collection. Molly says, okay, but a lot of people come in and out of that house every day, and Anna says, Carly and Michael have a strong motive and a weak alibi. Molly seems hesitant, and Anna says, what is it? Molly says she and Kristina were at the Quartermaines this morning to give Michael their condolences. Anna says, and? and Molly says, it’s probably nothing. Anna says, Molly formed a perspective as an ADA. Did something occur at the Quartermaines that could be germane to this investigation?

Britt says, if Spinelli and Felicia want a reference for a child therapist to talk to James, she can find one, and Obrecht says, as can she, if they find it necessary. Felicia says she just hopes James gets in to see someone soon, and Spinelli wonders, where is James? He should be back by now.

Nathan says, now you try the grape one and I’ll try the orange one, and James says, okay, but he thinks they should have water first. Nathan says, good idea. Will he help out? James says, yeah, and Nathan tells him to get the cups. Spinelli, Felicia, and Obrecht stand in the doorway smiling, while off to the side, Britt doesn’t look happy.

Elizabeth says, they’ve been waiting on the x-rays and Britt said she’d be right back, and Britt says, sorry. Her seven-year-old nephew is in that room meeting his father for the first time, a man he knows nothing about and is supposed to be dead, until a couple of days ago. She found that concerning, so she took a break. If Elizabeth has to fire her, go ahead, but she’s not leaving this spot. Not yet. Elizabeth says, okay, and Britt says, okay, meaning what? Elizabeth says they make allowances for family situations, so take all the time she needs. She’ll get the x-rays. Just let her know next time.  

James says, guess what? He and his dad have the same favorite sodas, orange and grape. His father likes grape a little more and he likes orange a little more. Obrecht says, isn’t that remarkable? and Nathan says, now that they’ve covered sodas, why doesn’t James tell him what else he likes. Maybe they have more stuff in common. James says he likes comic books, horses, jumping off… In the hallway, Felicia asks if Spinelli is okay, and Spinelli says, they shouldn’t have brought James here.

At Bobbie’s, Carly thanks Sonny for sticking around, and he says, no problem. What’s up? She says, the PCPD thinks Michael is the prime suspect in Drew’s shooting, and he says, why is that? She says, because Anna just called her in for questioning and it became immediately clear Anna wanted her to say something that would incriminate Michael. She should have called Diane. He says, she didn’t give Anna anything, and she says, no, but she feels like she did. She feels like she gave something away.

Molly tells Anna that when she and Kristina got to the Quartermaines, Michael wasn’t alone. Jacinda was there. Anna laughs and asks if Molly thinks they’re involved, but Molly says she doesn’t know. Jacinda claimed she was there for the same reason she and Kristina were there, to give her condolences. Anna says, is that it? Is there something else? Molly says, that’s it. She doesn’t have any proof for this, but she got the feeling Michael orchestrated the whole thing. Anna says, how so? and Molly says Michael knew they were coming over; he invited them. So she feels like Jacinda was there for her benefit. If so… Anna says, Michael was shoring up his alibi.

Alexis and Ava struggle to get Ric back in the bed, and Alexis asks, why is he so heavy? Ava says, it must be his fat head. The more important question is, how his big fat head got loose. (Ha-ha-ha!) Alexis says she has no idea, but he was very lucid for a guy who’s been drugged for a while. Ava says she gave him a pill before she left, and starts feeling around the mattress. Alexis says, not that she’s complaining, but why did Ava come back? and Ava says she came back for her planner. She wasn’t going to, but… Damn it, Ric! Alexis says, what? and Ava says, he must have been spitting them out. She’s sorry. She didn’t see him do it. She should have jammed the pills down his throat with her fist. Alexis says, there are ten pills in there. He’s been trying to escape for ten days. Ava says, he took his shot. He missed and he’s not getting another one. Ava puts Ric in the handcuffs, and Alexis asks if she needs help. Ava says, no thank you. Of course (🍷), after all, they’re in this together, aren’t they. Ric comes to and sees he’s handcuffed again. He yells, nooo!  

Elizabeth leaves a voicemail: Hey, Ric. It’s me just checking in. You’re still doing your technical detox and not back in Port Charles, are you? Call me back.

Ava tells Ric, you know what’s funny? If you’d just kept running, you’d be a free man by now, but you couldn’t do that, could you? You had to come back and try to get one over on Alexis. Like I said, you’re a greedy man… and an ass. A greedy ass. Ric says, she can’t keep him locked up here. It’s inhuman. Alexis says, sorry her basement lacks the amenities of the panic room he built to have Carly stashed in, but besides his abominable behavior… He says, his abominable behavior? and Alexis says, there is good news. Because soon, all the money he forced her to embezzle will be back in the Cassadine trust. Ava says, except for her divorce settlement of course (🍷), and Alexis says, yeah. So just wait ten more days… He says, ten days? and Ava says he won’t even notices. It’ll fly by because he will be feeling no pain at all. He says, no, no, no, and keeps his lips tight. Ava says, open up, and tells Alexis, hold his nose. She gets Ric’s mouth open, and says, swallow it. He gulps, and she says, they need to be sure. Say, ah. She checks his mouth and says, all right. Atta boy. Alexis asks if Ava wants to do the honors, and Ava brings out a gag. Ric asks if it’s really necessary, and Ava puts it in his mouth. She says, that’s better, and she and Alexis high-five.

James says he’s glad that his dad is back. Isn’t his Oma? Obrecht says she couldn’t be happier, and Nathan says him too. It’s like he went to bed imagining what his son would be like and woke up to the best present ever.

In the hallway, Felicia says, it seems like they were worried about nothing. James and Nathan haven’t missed a beat. Spinelli says he can see that, and she asks, what’s the matter? He says he’s a bit embarrassed, but he can’t help feeling a little jealous. He’s been James’s de facto dad and now… She says, his real father is back. He knows how much James loves him. He says he does. He’s sure it’s the green-eyed monster talking, but something feels very wrong. Britt watches them, and James tells Nathan, when they let him come home from here, he should go ax throwing with him and Oma. She taught him how to throw like a Viking. Nathan says, she did? And is he good? James says, yes, he is.

Carly tells Sonny that Anna has Michael’s phone records from the night Drew was shot. She knows when he talked and knows how long. Sonny asks, what happened on their call? and Carly says she gave Michael the perfect motive. She told him that Willow was going back to Drew. She didn’t tell Anna that. He asks what she did say, and she says she told Anna to give Michael a break. His grandmother just died, for God’s sake. He asks if she and Anna talked about anything else, and she says, they talked about how she and Monica mended fences. Then Anna asked if she was allowed to visit Wiley and Amelia at the house, and she said yes. He says, so Anna started off asking questions about Michael, then started asking questions about her. Carly says she’s not a suspect. She was with Jack. He says he doesn’t buy that, and she says, if he doesn’t, Anna won’t either. He says, Anna knows she would kill for Michael and so does he.

Molly says, Michael had easy access to the gun used in the shooting, so that gives him means and he certainly had motive. If Jacinda is covering for his whereabouts, then he’d have the opportunity. Anna says, right. That puts him at the top of the suspect list, right next to Carly. Molly asks if Anna is going to secure a warrant to get the gun, and Anna says, it’s in the process as they speak, but the gun is almost certainly going to be wiped down. She guesses she’ll give it to forensics and see what they pull. Molly says, if they can tie gun to Michael or Carly, can that be enough for an arrest?

Michael thanks Tracy for everything she’s willing to do for him, regardless of who she’s doing it for, and she says, Monica loved him. He says he appreciated the way Tracy cared for her and how she’s looked out for the rest of them. He’d truly like to express his gratitude… Tracy says, when he inherits the house – and he will – she would hope he would extend the same hospitality to her that Monica did. This will soon be his house, but it will always be her home.

Sitting down in her hotel room, Ronnie says, what a day. Her phone rings, and she says, oh no. Okay, okay. She gets up, shuffles to the bed, and gets her phone out of her purse. She says, hello… Yep, this is she… Oh yes. Of course (🍷) I will be there. She ends the call and says, well, this should be interesting.

On Monday, Carly can’t shake the feeling that she said something wrong; Alexis tells Curtis that the police are closing in on him and he has to protect himself; and Jason asks why Britt is trying to stop James from seeing his dad.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

My vote is for Tracy, who should in turn give it to Jason. Who would probably not take it. Although Tracy seems to think so, I don’t know if she’d leave it to Michael.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-should-monica-leave-her-house-to-on-general-hospital-vote-now/

I concur. I think it’s Willow.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-drew-shooting-fans-are-convinced-this-person-pulled-the-trigger/

They’re pushing the envelope.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/2025-daytime-emmy-awards-presenters-include-stars-from-bb-btg-days-gh-and-yr/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

The first episode of a Below Deck season is always tough for me. I got spoiled when it was the same crew for many seasons in the beginning. Now there seems to be a new set of names every time the boat docks. Aesha is back as chief stew, and of course, Captain Sandy, so there’s that. Nathan of the first boatmance baby was trying as bosun, but crashing a jet ski into a very expensive piece of equipment wasn’t a good look. I’ll pay more attention as the season goes on and the guests get obnoxious. The first charter was a bit of a snoozefest. Not loving Kizzi, who likes to toy with boys. Ugh.

the new cast.

https://ew.com/below-deck-mediterranean-season-10-cast-11820451

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It really is hard for me to look at Heather’s hollow cheeks. That being said, Lisa had a luncheon to explain how her dismissed lawsuits had been dismissed, complete with Mad Men easel and storyboards. Apparently, the louder you are, the more believable you are, and Lisa finally got to the point where she was waving around a board like she was on a highway corner advertising for Bob’s furniture, while chanting, dismissed, dismissed, dismissed! The one thought that often comes to mind while watching any Housewives is, are we five? and this was that moment. There was a kerfuffle about Whitney’s failed business, and Whitney ended up walking out, saying Lisa was triggering her. Alrighty then.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoslc-recap-welcome-to-lisa-barlows-unhinged-lawsuit-luncheon/

Real Housewives Of Orange County

Fancy Pants Heather was offended that no one thought she could possibly be funny, and Gina said she just didn’t know Fancy Pants was a comedian. Fancy Pants asked her, what do you think acting is? Touché.  Emily told Tamra about Gretchen and family praying before taking a trip, Tamra said Gretchen was no Christian since she spread rumors, and was hiding behind the Jesus curtain. Here’s where I looked at the camera like Jim from The Office. Not only did Tamra make a huge production about becoming a Christian – water baptism and all – she then proceeded to continue acting like a screeching shrew. When Emily said both she and Fancy Pants trusted Tamra the least of the group, Tamra stomped upstairs in her age inappropriate skirt. She came back down, since it was her house and the planned activity for the day was a lesson in cake decorating. Since Tamra continued hammering at pretty much everyone, the cake decorator lady couldn’t have looked more uncomfortable. Tamra did a take-two, stomping upstairs again after a tirade about Jenn following the boy band member Tamra allegedly banged. She also quit for the second time. I think. As everyone left, Gina asked, should we bring the cake? as we all would have.

Real Housewives Of Miami – Reunion Part 1

Andy said this was the only reunion only to begun with a tequila shot, which I thought was probably a bad idea. There was a lot of non-tequila shot for shot, like when Guerdy said no one backed her when Julia threw water at her. This prompted Alexia to point out how that’s happened to just about everyone. Julia apologized to Guerdy for the 4256th time. I loved Stephanie’s formal introduction to the franchise, where she would not apologize for loving being filthy rich, but did admit to coming off as harsh after seeing herself. They ended with a bang – pun possibly intended – when Julia blurted out that she and Adriana had slept together. Whaaat?

Random Reality Items

Yeah. No.

In case you were worried.

They brought the drama.

https://okmagazine.com/p/reality-tv-drama-exits-style-moments-2025/

👀  Last Weekend’s Watch…

28 Years Later. Netflix. No big surprise, I enjoyed the hell out of this. It was relentless from the beginning, and brought something new to the table with its Alpha zombies. Although I did find them a little reminiscent of the Abbies in Wayward Pines. Young lad Spike lives with his parents on an idyllic island – at least as idyllic as you can be in a post-apocalyptic world. Spike’s dad is taking him to the mainland to learn how to hunt those with the Rage virus (i.e. zombies) and check out what’s been going on out in the world. There are no zombies on the island, and while citizens are allowed to travel to the mainland, if you get in trouble, you’re on your own. No one is going to come looking for you. There was a bit of humor here and there, none of it seeming contrived. One thing that really stood out were the sets, from the bar on the island (seriously, I would never leave this place for the mainland) to the gorgeously designed Bone Temple. Sony Pictures CEO said, the next one (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple) is much more about man’s inhumanity to man. Isn’t that what all zombie films are ultimately about?

Cobweb. Netflix. About five minutes in, I thought, if this is an allegory about child abuse… and it kinda was, but at least less misleading than Woman in the Yard. And also more rewarding at the end. A young boy with horrific parents is hearing something in the walls and he insists on finding out what or who it is.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1978092/the-boys-actor-antony-starr-horror-movie-cobweb-netflix-charts/

You can see the trailer here.

https://www.bgr.com/1977000/the-boys-antony-starr-2023-horror-movie-cobweb-netflix-streaming-charts/

Wayward. Netflix. This limited series sucked me in immediately. Seeing Toni Collette in anything is always a treat. Even when it’s something I’m not crazy about, watching her  is like watching a master class in acting. She’s also one of those chameleon actors, like Guy Pearce, who has the ability to absorb a character to the point that you forget it’s her underneath. All I needed to know was that it was about a school for troubled children that’s not what it seems to be, and I was intrigued. The characters are diverse and multi-dimensional, it had a great sense of humor, and the plot keeps you guessing about who’s trustworthy or not. I nearly binged the whole thing, but saved the last two episodes for my next streaming sesh.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/wayward-review-netflix-conspiracy-thriller

https://www.slashfilm.com/1980246/hereditary-star-toni-collette-psychological-thriller-series-wayward-netflix/

Here’s hoping.

https://people.com/will-there-be-wayward-season-2-11821438

M3GAN 2.0. Peacock. it’s as bad as the reviews said, but I didn’t hate it. Still, I wasn’t sure if they were trying to be ironic in the stupidity of it all. M3GAN has become a caricature of herself as she comes out of retirement to confront AMELIA, a killer robot bent on destruction. The acting wasn’t bad, and I actually enjoyed the robot dance-off, but I could have done without the Freddy Krueger one-liners. You wouldn’t give your children cocaine. Why give them a Smartphone? Why indeed.

https://slate.com/culture/2025/06/m3gan-2-0-movie-megan-2-review.html

⚰️ The Ambiguously Coupled Duo…

This actually didn’t answer much of anything except they say they haven’t slept together.

https://ew.com/the-walking-dead-addressed-daryl-carol-relationship-confusion-11812991

🎃 And So It Begins…

An interesting, eclectic list. However, I’d go with the original 1977 version of The Hills Have Eyes. Michael Berryman is the best. I’d also stick with the remake of Thirteen Ghosts. The acting is great, but the house and special effects make it so worth it.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ravenishak/best-horror-movies

🦄 Oddities Of the Animal World…

🦧 So do you think she’s coming up with a story for her husband?

https://people.com/endangered-monkey-with-orange-head-fur-born-oklahoma-city-zoo-photos-11814650

🐢 Giving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a run for their money.

https://people.com/rare-conjoined-turtle-twins-separated-with-surgery-hours-after-birth-11817942

🐕 I’m including this because my Golden Retriever was literally afraid of his shadow and would stare at a frisbee until it bonked him in the head. No Air Bud he. Even better, his name was Einstein. It was a false prophecy.

https://people.com/air-bud-returns-talent-search-winners-2-golden-retrievers-buddy-role-11819165

🐦‍⬛ Quotes of the Week

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.Terry Simpson

You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter. – Nicholas Sparks

The easiest way to prove them wrong is to do what they say you can’t. – Rita Moreno (Yep. I wanted a chocolate wedding cake. Everyone said, you can’t do that. I did.)

Your great strength is knowing who you are. – Oscar de la Renta

Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly. – Neil Gaiman

Life is trying things to see if they work. – Ray Bradbury

A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall. – Serena Williams

Actions are the seeds of fate. Deeds grow into destiny. – Harry S. Truman

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.Abraham Lincoln

What is this place? It smells like cheap perfume and questionable life choices. – Dani Dupree (Karla Cheatham), Beyond the Gates

👻 Like Steps Of Passing Ghosts…

Until next week, stay safe; stay brushing up on your Halloween pet safety (more on that later in the month); and stay not waiting too long to ask for that in-person meeting with someone you care about.

May 16, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Sonny Wants To Make Peace, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Last Weekend’s Watch, Postponed Knight, Tails Of All Kinds, Lucky Number Of Quotes & 16th

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Laura met with Jordan and asked what was going on with Sidwell. Jordan said she thought Laura was in big trouble.

Curtis told Portia that even Willow thought the coverage about Drew was fair. It was factually accurate, and Drew hadn’t yet proved he was drugged. He asked why Portia was defending Drew and she said because she had to.

Lulu said she was trying to get Ned to endorse her mother for mayor, but Tracy said she thought it was about Lulu and Brook. Brook spoke out of fear, panic, desperation, and pain. Lulu said she didn’t know Brook and Chase were planning to adopt, and Tracy said Lulu did know Brook gave up a child when she was young. She’d found the shattered pieces of Brook’s broken heart in Martin’s hotel room and had been tormenting Brook ever since.

Brook wanted Chase and Anna go over their tango number for the Nurses Ball. Gio came in to play the violin and said he’d had a rough night last night.

Emma went to see Dalton and he told her that she didn’t get the research assistant position.

Josslyn met Carly at the MetroCourt to catch up. She asked what was going on with Carly and Sonny.

Sonny said he was considering selling the piers to Sidwell, and Jason asked if Sonny really felt comfortable handing his territory over. Sonny said it was the only chance they had to walk away from the business and for their family’s sake, he wasn’t passing it up.

During the commercial, Gio filled everyone in on Rocco and said he was good. Maxie asked Brook about a tango outfit for Chase, and Brook said Chase would rather break his own leg than wear it. Maxie suggested she just say, pass. Brook said she should never have asked Maxie to pick sides, and she was sorry. Maxie accepted her apology and asked what changed. Brook said she and Chase were starting the adoption process and she thought it was a good time to start acting like an adult.

Emma said she got the best grades in class and thought the job was hers to lose, and Dalton said, unfortunately, that’s what happened. He couldn’t have a research assistant who couldn’t put together a decent data model. Emma said it was perfect, but he said it was a mess. He showed her and she said that wasn’t her work.

Carly said nothing was going on, but Josslyn said Donna had been worried her father was sick. Carly told her that Sonny had heart surgery, and she was sorry she’d lied. The surgery was a success, but they had to keep it quiet. Sonny had been a part of her life for a long time, and she needed to be there for him, but she and Sonny were over. She was with Jack now. His supersonic ears hearing his name, Jack came to their table. Carly asked if he’d been spying on them, but Jack said he kept his business and personal life separate.

Jordan told Laura about the meeting with Sidwell. They’d all decided to put their differences aside to focus on their common goal of driving Sonny out of Port Charles. Because Laura was tied to Sonny publicly, they were probably gunning for her as well, so they could install Boyle as mayor. Laura said if Tracy hadn’t defended her, she really was in trouble. Tracy had a lot of sway in this town. Jordan said it might be Sidwell who came to Laura’s rescue.

Sonny told Jason that he could walk away with millions and put it in legitimate businesses. Sidwell bet if Sonny wasn’t associated with the piers, the referendum would go away. Jason said Sidwell would take control of their territory, and he had the feeling it was a trap.

Curtis asked why Portia had to defend Drew, and Portia said, she had to play devil’s advocate for him. If he ran the editorial, Drew wouldn’t let it stand and might bring a lawsuit. Curtis had forced Drew out of Aurora, and it had the potential to backfire in a big way.

Lulu said she wasn’t aware that Tracy knew about the baby, and Tracy said Brook told her that Lulu stumbled on the information in Martin’s hotel room and had been poking around in Brook’s life ever since. Even if they couldn’t get along, how could Lulu not have compassion for something she’d been through herself? Lulu said she did feel for Brook, but it was complicated. Tracy said Lulu’s father told her that people got to choose the burdens they carried, and she was sorry for adding to Lulu’s, but she didn’t understand why Lulu wanted to add to Brook’s.

Maxie said she hadn’t spoken with Lulu because they’d been busy, and Brook said she was sorry for asking Maxie to choose, but if she had to… Maxie said she loved them equally and would never choose.

Emma said that wasn’t the work she’d completed, but Dalton said he’d have to choose someone else. He was sorry. It wouldn’t affect her grade, and she was still his top student. She said he had no idea how important that job was to her.

Carly asked Jack to join them, and Carly said Jack knew the real reason she was in LA. He’d given her a ride home. Josslyn got a text from Dalton and said she had to leave.

Sonny told Jason, the pros outweighed the cons. There would be a power vacuum, and someone would try to take over. Jason said all the families would make a play for it and Sonny’s conditions went away if he wasn’t in charge. Sonny said selling it to Sidwell would avoid a war. Sidwell would lay down the law real fast. Jason asked if that’s what they wanted for Port Charles. Sidwell was ruthless and they’d be handing him the keys to the city and putting targets on their backs.

Lulu promised Tracy that she wasn’t judging Brook for giving up her child. The article wasn’t judging adoption. She’d pitched three ideas, and the editor had chosen that one. Tracy said Lulu had pitched the adoption article anyway and couldn’t be blamed if it was chosen. She didn’t understand why Lulu was involving herself in something that happened 20 years ago, and Lulu said she thought Brook should tell the baby’s father, but Brook didn’t agree. Tracy said it wasn’t her business and wondered if it was Lulu’s way of disagreeing with Brook publicly. How would Lulu feel if she’d been keeping a big secret for a long time, Brook found out and decided to produce a song about it? Lulu said she wouldn’t love it, and Tracy suggested she rethink things and kill the article.

Emma told Gio that she didn’t get the job with Dalton.

Dalton gave the research assistant position to Josslyn. She’d completed the course work and handed in an impressive data model in a short amount of time. She was smart, motivated, and focused, and he had high hopes for her. She said she was sure she’d learn a lot.

Curtis promised he’d consult with his lawyers before publishing, and Portia wondered how it was going to look for Aurora if Curtis slammed someone who might have been victimized. It might look like he was bullying Drew. Willow’s devotion was sincere, and she could sway public opinion. Could he please do what she was asking for her sake? Curtis asked what it had to do with her.

Jordan said Sidwell was making a move that might unintentionally make life easier for Laura. She told Laura about Sidwell’s offer to buy the piers and that Sonny said he’d think it over. The referendum would no longer be about Sonny and Laura would be a shoo-in for reelection. Laura said Sidwell would be the de facto mob boss of Port Charles, and if she had to choose between them, she’d choose Sonny.

Sonny said Sidwell was on his best behavior and if that changed, they’d let the Feds, and the PCPD shut him down. The people could vote against Sonny and send him packing, and he didn’t want that to happen. He wasn’t getting out of the business unless he sold to Jason and Jason didn’t want it, so he’d have to sell it to the highest bidder. Jason said maybe it was their one shot, and Sonny said there was just one piece of information he needed to know.

Emma wondered how her data model got screwed up, and Gio asked if the original wasn’t on her laptop. Emma said her latest work hadn’t been included and Dalton had already picked someone else. Gio asked if it wasn’t worth giving it one more shot and Emma said she guessed she could talk to Dalton.

Maxie asked Anna if Sidwell had done anything illegal lately, but Anna said not to her knowledge. Maxie said Deception was making a lot of money off his zincite and she was scared he’d do something to pull the rug out from under them. Anna told her to keep documenting their dealings with him and keep looking for other supply chains. Gio told Anna that Emma was headed back to school, and Brook said it was time for Anna, Chase, and Gio to get their act together.

Josslyn wondered when she’d get started, and Dalton said the real work didn’t start until the end of the semester, but she could help him get organized. But before she did anything, there was one condition that was a deal breaker.

Carly told Jack that Josslyn didn’t like how Sonny’s trouble seemed to rub off on her and she wasn’t wrong. She’d lose her mind if she knew Carly was anywhere near the attempted assassination, but she was fine thanks to him. He’d done Brick and Sonny a huge favor and she appreciated it. He said he’d done it for her.

Laura said Port Charles had always had an organized crime presence, and she didn’t see it changing. With Sonny in control, it had been stable and relatively peaceful. When a challenger showed up, it got ugly. Jordan said that’s why she was undercover. If Sidwell gained control and broke the law, she’d be there to catch him. Laura said his offer was an intriguing development, and Jordan said Sidwell was never dull. Laura told her to be careful, and Jordan said she knew what she was doing.

Sonny said before he made a deal with Sidwell, he had to make sure Sidwell wasn’t behind the firebomb. Jason said, if he was, he was probably behind the assassination attempt in LA, and Sonny said it was time they did some digging. Jason said he was on it.

Portia said Willow was her employee and if Curtis went hard against Drew, it could make things difficult for her and the hospital. Curtis said he couldn’t let drew have his way, but Portia said he should let the city handle it. There were legitimate arguments against Measure C and Laura’s reelection, and they should let those arguments speak for themselves. Curtis agreed to lay off Drew – for now.

Dalton said Josslyn had to sign an NDA. She couldn’t talk to anyone about the work she did as his assistant. All the research was exclusively his and she couldn’t use anything as the basis of her own work. She said she was happy to sign it, and he welcomed her on board.

Lulu said this was her journalistic comeback, but Tracy said Lulu could do anything she set her mind to do. Lulu asked if Tracy couldn’t tell Brook to let it go, and Tracy asked if Lulu would be able to let it go. Please do this for her. Lulu said, fine. She’d call the editor and pray they agreed, but she was only doing it for Tracy. She loved Tracy even though she’d gone full stepmonster.

Anna and Chase danced as Gio played that same tango music we always hear when there’s a tango. Maxie was impressed with Chase’s moves.

Carly said Jack hadn’t kept his personal and professional lives separate when he’d helped her. Wasn’t he worried he was going to get in trouble? He said he hadn’t done anything he couldn’t justify, and she wondered if he shouldn’t be doing his actual work. (My eternal question.) He told her that multitasking was the hallmark of being a good agent. Besides he was doing what needed to get done. He’d dedicated his life to the Bureau and earned the right to take a few things for himself. She was everything. They were about to kiss when Lulu interrupted, saying she needed to talk to Carly. In private.

Portia called Drew. She said she thought she made some inroads, and he’d get what he wanted.

Jordan met Curtis at the Brown Dog Bar, and he said he needed someone he could trust. He though his wife was lying to him.

Emma went to Dalton’s office and found Josslyn there. Josslyn said she worked there.

Jason met Tracy at the MetroCourt, and she said she thought he could put his skills to good use for their family. She wanted him to find her great-grandson.

Maxie said she thought it was going to be the performance of the night and took Anna to find her costume. Chase told Gio that he wanted to dance the tango with his wife. Brook said she didn’t know how to tango, but he said, just follow his lead. Gio played and they kissed.

Carly went to Lulu’s house, and Lulu said Carly had warned her not to blow things up the way Robin did, but there was a difference between keeping a secret and perpetuating a lie. Right now, someone was lying – Lois or Brook or maybe both – which was why she needed to find Dante’s son.

Sonny thanked Laura for coming by and said he wanted to discuss a few things. She asked if he was okay, and he said he was doing great. The doctor said he’d make a full recovery. Sidwell wanted to buy his piers and he was considering it. It would solve his problems and hers.

 Tuesday:

Maxie, Lucy, Anna, and Felicia wanted to rehearse their number for the Nurses Ball, and Felicia wondered where their fearless leader was.

Josslyn told Emma that she was Professor Dalton’s research assistant, and Emma said Josslyn stole her job.

On the phone in her office, Portia told Drew that she’d gotten through to Curtis, but couldn’t be at his beck and call 24/7. Trina showed up.

At the Brown Dog Bar, Jordan said she thought Curtis would be better off confiding in someone else about his wife.

Sonny said selling could solve both his and Laura’s problems, but Laura said Sidwell was a horrible man and Sonny couldn’t sell to him. Sonny said she had to see the bigger picture. He didn’t trust Sidwell, but sometimes it was worth making a deal with the devil.

Carly said the child wasn’t Lulu’s and Lulu might think she was doing the right thing, but she was making a huge mistake.

Tracy told Jason that he couldn’t give the information to anyone and explained that Brook had a baby boy she gave up for adoption in high school. She needed Jason to find him.

Josslyn said she’d earned the position fair and square, but Emma said Josslyn should have told her, especially when she’d opened up about how important it was to her. Josslyn promised she didn’t tell Dalton anything that Emma had confided in her, and Emma said Josslyn had stabbed her in the back.

Maxie said she’d fill in for the absentee player, and Lucy said she wanted the number to be a showstopper. They really had to bring it. Sidwell walked in as they were about to rehearse. He said he thought he’d make sure things were running perfectly. (Because he puts on shows in the barn on Spoon Island.)

Jason said it must have been hard on Brook, and Tracy said Brook went to her mother for help, but Lois never told anyone except her own mother. They’d arranged a closed adoption. Jason asked if Brook wanted Tracy to find her son.

Sonny said Sidwell was willing to pay a lot of money for the waterfront property. If he sold, Measure C became a non-issue, and Laura would be free of him. He was a burden to her politically. Laura said she was strong enough and tough enough to do it. She didn’t want Sidwell to build a powerbase in Port Charles, and was surprised Sonny would allow it. If he was willing to sell his property, it could only mean one thing. He was planning his exit strategy.

Lulu said she wanted to find out who Dante’s son was. Then she’d decide if they should be reunited. (Now I remember why I hated this character so much before she went into a coma.) Carly said Lulu was playing God with other people’s lives and looking for a way to justify it. Lulu said she was pretty sure she already knew who Dante’s son was. She thought he was in Port Charles and Dante had been interacting with him without knowing they were related. It was Gio.

Curtis said Jordan was the only one he could talk to about this, and she asked if Portia was in trouble. He said he hoped not and was hoping Jordan would tell him that he was misreading the situation. Portia had become a Drew apologist overnight.

Portia asked what brought Trina by, and Trina said Kai was in physical therapy, so she thought she’d hang out with Portia. Kai had to put on a good front because of the cameras in his face. All she wanted to say was how she felt about Drew. Portia said it wasn’t their job to convince people about Drew’s true nature. Aurora was going to print a negative editorial about Drew and she talked Curtis out of it. Trina asked, why?

Josslyn admitted she should have been more upfront and apologized. Emma said Josslyn had used her daddy’s influence and asked if Josslyn had brought Dalton a check. Josslyn said her father had nothing to do with it and if she found out Dalton was doing anything unethical, she’d let the authorities know. Emma said she’d been an idiot to trust Josslyn and thought they’d bonded. Josslyn said they had, but Emma said she was right about Josslyn all along. Josslyn was nothing more than a selfish, spoiled, untrustworthy bitch. She left and Josslyn had tears in her eyes.

Lulu said Gio was the right age, but Carly said Gio wasn’t adopted. Lulu said, when Camilla died, Gloria and Carmine had taken Gio in with Lois’s help. Carly said it was a huge leap, but Lulu said not if Carly had seen what she did last night.

Sonny told Laura that he thought it was time for him to step back from the business and concentrate solely on family. She wondered if guys in his line of work got to retire, and he said it would be tricky. He wasn’t leaving Port Charles and would have a target on his back. He’d need some security, but he thought it was time for a fresh start. Laura said she had to think about what his retirement meant to Port Charles, especially if he was handing off his territory to Sidwell. He said Sidwell claimed to be legit, and they both laughed. He told Laura that she and the PCPD would keep an eye on him, plus they had the WSB. If he sold to Sidwell, the transition would be peaceful and prevent wars. She said he was selling to a dangerous man, and she was concerned about what Sidwell was planning to do in Port Charles.

Lucy said they’d show Sidwell what they’d been working on, when Emma came in looking for Gio. Anna asked if they could take five so she could talk to Emma, and she and Emma left. Lucy told Sidwell that everything would run like clockwork at showtime, and thanked him for underwriting the Nurses Ball. He said it wasn’t completely selfless and admitted to having an ulterior motive.

Josslyn locked Dalton’s office door and checked the office for bugs. She looked in Dalton’s desk and found a notebook. She started looking through it, then heard someone at the door.

Curtis told Jordan that Portia talked him out of printing an editorial that said Drew hadn’t proved his innocence. She’d said he’d be asking for trouble if he used Aurora Media to attack Drew. Jordan thought maybe Portia was just looking out for him, but he said he’d walked in on several of their private conversations. Something felt off. 

Jason said Tracy couldn’t look for Brook’s kid without her permission, but Tracy said she had a great-grandson out there. Didn’t he think the boy deserved to know his family’s legacy? Jason said it didn’t matter what he thought. It wasn’t his business, and he didn’t want to get involved.

Carly asked why Lulu was convinced Gio was Dante’s son, and Lulu said Dante had ripped into Gio and it got heated. Then Lois intervened, but it was more than meddling. It was over the top protective and Lois said Dante didn’t know who Gio really was. She tried to cover, but Lulu thought it was a slip of the tongue. Carly wondered if Brook knew, and Lulu said Brook was a good liar and she was 50/50 about it. Her theory made sense, and if Gio was Brook and Dante’s son, she had to tell Dante.

Emma told Anna about Josslyn getting the research assistant position. There was no way Josslyn had time to put together a data model that was as good as hers, and Dalton said hers had been corrupted. She told Anna about dropping the thumb drive at the beach, and said Josslyn had sabotaged her.

Dalton’s office door opened, and Vaughn came in. Josslyn asked why he was there, and he said he thought she could use help from the maintenance department. She told him that Emma was upset, but he said it wasn’t their concern. Let’s get to work.

Carly asked if Lulu had thought about what Brook and Dante’s son needed. She had to consider how profoundly she’d turn Gio’s life upside down. Lulu said she’d be giving him a family, but Carly said Gio would learn everyone he loved had lied to him, including his mother. It would be devastating. Lulu asked if it wasn’t better for Gio to know the truth than live a lie, and Carly said even if Lulu was right, she had to let it go. It wasn’t her secret to tell.

Tracy said in exchange for Jason’s services, she would withdraw her support for the anti-Sonny campaign and advocate for Sonny to keep his waterfront property. That’s how much it meant to her. She trusted Jason to do whatever it took, even if it meant breaking the law. Brook’s son was a Quartermaine and deserved to know that.

Sidwell told Lucy that she’d pointed out his donating might change people’s perception of him, and she was right. People had been more welcoming. She was a fantastic ambassador, and he couldn’t thank her enough. She said, in the beginning, she’d had some misgivings, but when she saw how generous he was and how much he loved his son, it became her mission to let everyone else know how special he was.

Laura said Sonny’s presence kept the peace among the local crime bosses and she didn’t think Sidwell gave a damn about it. She thought he’d usher in a new level of crime in the city. Sonny said they both had reservations, but was it his responsibility to make sure Sidwell didn’t get out of line or was it up to her? Laura said she hadn’t been fair in asking him to put the city ahead of his family and himself. If he thought it was time for him to walk away, she fully supported him.

Portia told Trina that she didn’t want Curtis or Aurora to be open to a libel suit. If Drew proved he was drugged, Curtis would be on record casting doubt on the victim. She hadn’t been in favor of Kai’s surgery, but it worked out. Maybe they should back off Drew a little bit. Trina said Kai seemed happy, and Portia said she’d love for their family to find middle ground with Drew. Trina asked if Portia wanted Curtis to make peace with Drew.

Curtis told Jordan that he believed Portia hated drew, and felt she was taking a kinder, gentler position because she had to. That meant Drew had leverage on her.

Vaughn and Josslyn snooped around, took pictures, and copied data.

Anna said maybe Emma was being paranoid, but Emma was positive Josslyn had stolen her data model and passed it off as her own. She wanted to tell Dalton, but Anna said she couldn’t without proof. Why was it so important? Emma said she needed to be a part of Dalton’s groundbreaking research, but Anna said a decision had been made. She knew Emma was disappointed, but felt Emma should let this go.

Watching Lucy and Sidwell with their heads together, Maxie noted that Lucy had gotten over her reservations about Sidwell. Felicia asked, what about her? and Maxie said Sidwell’s zincite had made Deception a lot of money, but she was worried their association with him would come back to haunt them. Felicia said if Maxie kept her eyes open, things would be fine. Sidwell had to leave, and Lucy promised it would be worth the wait to see their performance at the Nurses Ball.

Laura didn’t want Sonny using her political future as a factor in his decision making. He deserved to be secure and happy, and that should be the only thing guiding his thoughts. He wasn’t sure if that meant walking away or staying with the status quo. There was risk in both. She said he was smart and would make the right decision. Whatever he decided, he’d always have her love and respect. He said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he’d let her know.

Jason said he felt for Tracy, but he couldn’t help. Brook made a decision, and he had to respect that. If Brook wanted his help, she could come to him, but he had to hear it from her. Tracy said she’d have to find her great-grandson through other means, and trusted Jason would keep this to himself. He had sealed Sonny’s fate. She was willing to back off, but now she wasn’t going to stop until she ran Sonny out of Port Charles for good. Jason walked away.

Lulu told Carly that the secret affected a lot of people she loved besides Dante and Rocco. Gio would be Tracy’s great-grandson and Sonny’s grandson. Carly said she felt bad, but would still keep it from Sonny, and Lulu said Sonny being in Gio’s life only proved she was right. She didn’t think Sonny knew, but thought Lois went to Sonny for help because he was Gio’s grandfather. Carly said, if Lulu was right, it was one huge mess, and Lulu said, if she was wrong, she’d stop searching. If she was right, she had to tell Dante. Carly said Lulu needed proof and if she didn’t get it, this would blow up in her face.

Portia told Trina that she’d settle for coexisting. Let Drew do his thing, and they’d do theirs. She made her pitch, and it seemed like Curtis was listening.

Jorand said Curtis had good instincts, but needed to talk to Portia. It was better than wondering and being suspicious. But a word of caution from someone who’d caused friction between them by telling him lies. After the first lie, it was hard for her not to dig herself in deeper. There didn’t seem to be a way out. Maybe Portia fell into the same trap, and he should hear her out. Curtis said he’d try, but prayed he was wrong.

Vaughn said he’d have the Bureau run an analysis, but didn’t think Dalton would leave anything incriminating lying around. Josslyn said she signed an NDA about working in the lab, and Vaughn said what they were looking for wasn’t in Dalton’s office… She said, it was in the lab, and they smiled at each other.

Lulu said Ned didn’t know, but she’d fished for info. Like where Lois and Brook were around the time Gio was born. They’d been on a tour with Miguel Morez. Brook claimed she gave birth in San Francisco, but Lulu wondered if the tour stopped in LA where Gio was born. Carly said, good start, but don’t whisper a word until she could back it up. Lulu said she knew she needed proof and knew just where to find it.

Tracy saw Sidwell and said she was doubling down on her effort to rid Port Charles of Sonny. Sidwell said he was just as determined, and she said they’d talk later. She was late for rehearsal. She went into the rehearsal room and told the women, let’s get this show on the road. She wouldn’t be dancing, but would stay put and sing while they danced around her, Maxie said that was how they were doing it and they took their places.

Sonny said Laura’s friendship and support meant everything, and Laura said she felt the same way. She told him to take care of himself, and when Sonny opened the door, Jason was there. Laura left, and Sonny said he told Laura about Sidwell’s offer and how it solved all their problems. Laura didn’t like it, but understood and accepted it. Jason said Tracy offered an alternative. She would cut off her support for Measure C if he did a personal favor for her, but it wasn’t something he was comfortable with. He turned her down, so it still left them in a bind. Sonny said, in spending time with Laura, he got clear on a few things. One thing she’d said was that he needed to take care of his family and that’s what he was going to do.

Wednesday:

Kai’s PT coach was impressed with his progress. Stella stopped by and Kai said he needed a huge favor.

Josslyn told Trina about getting the job with Dalton, and Trina wondered if that wasn’t the job Emma wanted.

Nina showed up at Willow’s and asked if she could come in. Willow said that depended on whether or not Nina accepted her and Drew.

At the MetroCourt, Boyle wanted to gossip with Drew about Laura, who was at a nearby table with Lulu and Lucky, but Drew wanted to focus on Measure C. Boyle asked what Drew had done with Jacinda.

Laura told Lulu not to be too hard on Rocco, and Lucky said Elizabeth was getting better every day. Lulu said they wanted to know the good stuff. Were he and Elizabeth officially back together?

Ric stopped by to see Elizabeth and noticed Lucky’s absence.

At Lulu’s, Kristina told Dante that her mom didn’t think she turned out too great.

Spinelli went to see Alexis, who said she had a job for him.

Jason thanked Carly for helping with Danny while he was gone, and Carly said he was a lot like Jason. He was wild at times, but a good kid. Diane came by and said they had a disaster on their hands of Carly’s making.

Lucky said things between him and Elizabeth were great, and Laura was glad he was there to help Elizabeth. He said it felt right, and Laura asked Lulu how the adoption article was going. Lulu said she put it on hold.

Boyle said he’d never known Jacinda to leave town and wondered if Drew had paid her off. Drew asked if Boyle had seen the press conference where he said he thought she was hired to drug him. Boyle said Willow’s mother had come up to him and Jacinda when they were hanging out.

Willow made it clear she was standing by Drew, and Nina said seeing Willow at the press conference was inspiring. She trusted Willow’s judgment and if Willow believed Drew, she did too.

Diane told Jason and Carly that a court date had been set for June 2nd. Did Carly think Michael would be healed and stronger by then?

Spinelli was intrigued, and Alexis said she was the client and confidentiality was crucial. He said not a day went by when he didn’t think of fair Samantha and he’d do anything for anyone she loved. Alexis said what she was going to ask him to do might save Kristina’s life.

Kristina told Dante that Alexis was trying to have her committed without her consent, but he said that didn’t sound like her. Kristina said she’d seen it for herself. She thought Alexis believed she was overwhelmed, since she’d had a hard year, losing a baby and Sam. Dante said no one would judge her if she decided to get better. Kristina said it would have been different if someone else had come to her, but it was her mom. She couldn’t move past it and didn’t know if she could forgive and trust Alexis again.

Elizabeth told Ric that Lucky was having breakfast with his family. They couldn’t spend every second together. Ric asked if she needed anything and she said she was fine. She noticed he bought a Porsche, and it made her think about the accident. She said before they crashed, he’d said something about the brakes.

Stella said she couldn’t get Kai released if the doctor wouldn’t sign off on it, but Kai said he wanted to support Trina at the Nurses Ball like she’d supported him.

Josslyn told Trina that she felt terrible about Emma. She hadn’t thought she’d actually get the job. She never thought Dalton would choose her. Emma wasn’t happy and Josslyn didn’t blame her. Trina said it wasn’t like Josslyn stole the job. She got it fair and square.

Carly said family court usually took forever, and Diane said the judge had an unexpected opening. Carly said she had to get the kids out of Drew’s house as soon as possible. It was what Michael would want.

A server came by Drew’s house and served Willow with the divorce papers. Michael was filing for divorce and wanted full custody of the kids.

Lucky left, and Laura asked Lulu why she’d put off the article. Lulu said writing the piece might hurt the people she loved.

Dante said Alexis loved Kristina, but Kristina said that didn’t make what she’d done okay. Dante said he didn’t trust Sonny for a long time, but through talking and connecting, they got past that. If it was possible for them, it was possible for Kristina and Alexis. Kristina just wanted to bring their family back together. It’s what Sam would have wanted. When she’d confronted Alexis, Molly had her back, and they were closer than ever. Dante said she had him too, but he felt like something else was bothering her.

Alexis said Spinelli had to find Ric’s totaled car. No one seemed to know where it was. He asked what she wanted with Ric’s car and what did she think she’d find, but she preferred not to say. Could he find the car or not? He said her annoyed exasperation made him feel like he was talking to Sam, and he thought he could find the car by lunch.

Elizabeth said Ric wasn’t able to slow down, and Ric said it was because of the black ice. The insurance company had collected the car, and it was gone. He thought the best thing to do was put it behind them, but if Elizabeth had been seriously injured, he would have made sure someone paid for it.

Drew came home and looked at the papers. Willow said it didn’t make sense, but Drew thought Michael was being vindictive. They needed a lawyer, and he knew exactly who to call.

Diane said she could ask for a postponement, but it risked giving Drew and Willow ammunition. They would say Michael’s health prevented him from raising his children, and it was a persuasive argument. Jason said they may have opened the door for Willow to get full custody.

Josslyn and Trina discussed the Nurses Ball and Josslyn wondered if they should go to The Savoy afterward. Trina said she was excited about performing with Josslyn, but when they were done, she was leaving.

Kai wanted to walk the red carpet with Trina, but Stella said she was sorry. That wasn’t going to happen.

Willow gave Ric the background on her and Michael’s breakup and said Michael had agreed to let her take the kids. Nina said, just for the night, not forever, and Willow said when she went to DC without telling Michael, he filed for full custody. Drew said it had Carly’s fingerprints all over it, and Ric agreed to come on as counsel. If the whole thing aggravated Sonny, all the better.

Carly said they’d keep the court date, and Diane said she’d contact Michael, but Carly said he couldn’t rush his recovery. She’d fight on his behalf.

Stella said the doctor told her, no way Kai could be released this soon, but Kai said he felt great. Stella told him to keep working hard. Tomorrow was another day.  He wondered if he could still be discharged in time for the Nurses Ball, and she said anything was possible.

Trina told Josslyn that Kai had been going through a lot and needed her. He’d handled everything so well, but football and his team were everything. She knew what it was like to have your world ripped away from you and also have somebody there for you at your lowest point. Josslyn had been that person for her, and she wanted to pay it forward.

Spinelli found the lot number Ric’s car was taken to after it was towed, and the lot had Ric’s car marked as destroyed. Alexis said she had reason to believe someone paid off the lot to remove the car. Could he find any tow trucks that had picked up, but not dropped off?

Lucky went home and asked if Elizabeth was doing okay. She said Ric stopped by to show off his new Porsche and she remembered something about the accident when he was there. She’d told Ric to slow down, and Ric said he’d lost control because of black ice.

Laura said both the mayor and journalist positions were similar. They had to be responsible to the people and do the right thing. Lulu said she wasn’t sure what that was. The truth could change lives, and she wasn’t sure she was ready. Boyle butted into their conversation and Laura told him to make an appointment. Or go on social media. He was such a rat. He asked if she was going to sic her best friend Sonny on him.

Diane thought they could file emergency petition for custody. They had video and photos of Drew’s debauchery, and Drew’s press release. One could argue that the children were in danger living with Drew. Carly said there was a good chance she could beat Willow and Drew and rescue her grandchildren.

Ric said he’d get the files from Martin, and Willow said Martin hired a P.I., but found nothing on Michael. Ric said they’d have to ask for a postponement, and Drew said he had the perfect strategy.

Lulu said she thought she just found her next piece, but Boyle said no one would take it seriously if it was written by the mayor’s daughter. Laura thanked Lulu, but said she’d handle it. Boyle prattled on and talked smack about Rocco. He wouldn’t stop, and Laura ended up throwing a drink in his face. She and Lulu laughed. (Me too.)

Kristina told Dante not to worry. Alexis probably picked up on her worry about Molly’s dad. His car had been smashed up and it was triggering. Thank God Ric and Elizabeth were okay. Dante wondered how she’d seen Ric’s car that night.

Spinelli said, victory was theirs. Four tow trucks had visited the impound lot three days after Ric’s car was brought there. Three went to legit destinations and one went to a storage facility on 12th Street. Only one account was opened there that day – Jerome, Ava. They high-fived.

Elizabeth told Lucky that the insurance company had taken the car and there was nothing to do but move on. Lucky seemed surprised that Ric said an insurance company took the car.

Diane said Willow had placed the children in an unsafe environment. Keeping the children in Drew’s home reflected poorly on Willow’s judgement. All the evidence might get the children removed from Willow’s custody, but that didn’t mean Carly was going to get them. They could be placed with their other grandmother, Nina. Carly was willing to take the risk.

Drew said, judges didn’t take kids away from their mothers when they’d done nothing wrong, but Willow begged to differ. They hadn’t had the most stable home life. Drew said, judges understood people fell in love (he’s such an idiot), but Ric wanted to talk legal strategy. Drew said Michael chose to leave the country for treatment when he could have stayed close by. He hadn’t reached out to his kids once through their mother. As far as Willow was concerned, Michael was MIA. Michael had encouraged Willow to take the kids, so they’d paint him like an absentee father. There was no chance he’d get custody.

Thursday:

Outside the boathouse, Brook looked up and says she hoped her child was happy, healthy, and loved. Make today really special. Chase joined her and asked, what’s wrong? She said it was her son’s birthday.

Donna burst in on Gio practicing and asked him to play her song. He played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

At a coffee shop, Lulu was on the phone trying to track down a Catholic adoption agency based in Brooklyn… St. Ignatius… She told them she could be reached at this number, when Cody walked in. He asked if she was still doing research for her adoption story. Tracy said she’d walked away from it.

Kristina told Dante that she was on her way to work and saw there was an accident. She didn’t know whose car it was, then Molly got the call about her dad, and she figured it must have been Ric. The car looked so bad, she didn’t think anyone was going to survive.

Alexis was getting ready to go when Ric walked into her office and asked where she was off to in such a hurry.

Elizabeth asked why Lucky cared so much about what happened to Ric’s car.

Sonny told Lois that the kids were rehearsing, and Donna heard Gio playing the violin. Lois said, then there was no stopping her. How was he? He said, hanging in, and Donna said Daddy had been sick, but he was all right now. Gio asked if she liked Sleeping Beauty, and she said that was her favorite princess. He said then she’d know this one and played The Garland Waltz by Tchaikovsky (otherwise known as Once Upon a Dream in the Disney classic). Donna danced to the music.

Brook told Chase that she couldn’t stop thinking about her son now that they were starting a family. She’d completely missed his whole life. It had been an abstract thing before, and now it was a gaping hole. Chase said for over 20 years, she’d tried to bury it, and she said, he’d be 22, older than she was when she had him. He said, after all this time, it had been dug up, so of course (🍷) she was thinking about him. She said she dreamt about him all the time now and would give anything to meet her son.

Lulu said she gave up the adoption article, and Cody asked what was with the phone call. She said she was tying up loose ends, and he said he knew she and Brook had stuff and probably always would. But Tracy said Brook was really hurt and found the article invasive and insensitive now that she and Chase were starting the adoption process. Lulu said she wasn’t looking in them, and he wondered why she was asking about agencies. He kept catching her in lies and she explained them with half-truths. He needed the whole story. Lulu said she needed more time to give it to him, but he said, no. Digging into his friends’ personal business wasn’t cool. She said she was looking into adoption agencies that were around when Brook was in high school. Brook gave birth to Dante’s baby, a boy, then gave him up. (Yep. I hated Lulu back in the day and was glad she went into a coma. Now I remember why.)

Lucky told Elizabeth that he was surprised Ric wasn’t suing half of Port Charles. He never expected Ric to let his insurance company handle it. Lucas came by with flowers (white lilies – aren’t those usually for funerals?) and said he wanted to catch up, but could come back if it was a bad time. Lucky said he had a quick errand to run and left. Lucas said he was sorry he interrupted something. He was hoping at least it was the sexy variety.

Alexis said the office was closed and she was on her way out, and Ric said they needed to adjust her investment schedule for Dolos. She said she’d offer him something he never offered her – a way out. With all of his meticulous planning, it was still embezzlement. The more they embezzled, the more likely they were to get caught, and if they got caught, they’d go to prison. He and Ava had already made s pretty penny. If they got out now, she’d let bygones be bygones. She didn’t want to see their daughter get hurt and she would be if she knew her father was blackmailing her mother. He said Ava wouldn’t care, and she asked if he did. He said, of course (🍷), but it was Alexis’s caring that mattered. She asked if he thought she’d be doing this if she didn’t care, and he said they’d now come full circle. Even if he considered her offer, what make her think Ava would? She said, leave Ava to her.

Ric said, they were in this together and would all go down together, and Alexis said don’t come crying to her when Ava dragged him to hell. Out. Now. They left.

Elizabeth said Lucas didn’t interrupt anything. Ric was showing off his new car and she was telling Lucky about it. Sorry to disappoint him. Lucas said the upside was, it sounded domestic, and she said they were living together. He said the temperature had to be rising, and she said it was, and it was incredible, but at same time, terrifying.

Chase said it was okay for Brook to change her mind, but she said she needed to let her son be. It didn’t matter how badly she wanted it. It was probably a good thing St. Ignatius was closed. He said they’d get through the fallout together, but she said, people would get hurt, especially Dante. If her son wanted to find her, she’d face any consequences, but he had to be the one who wanted to find his birth mother. Chase said she had what it took to make a good mom, putting her son’s needs before her own. He couldn’t wait to see her in action with their baby. She was going to be a wonderful mom. She said she had to go to rehearsal and thanked him for being the best husband on the planet. He said it was hard work, but someone had to do it.

Cody told Lulu that he’d assumed Brook didn’t have the baby. She never mentioned it again. Was Lulu positive? Lulu said she was, and he asked if she had proof. She said she broke into Martin’s hotel room to get information on Valentin’s whereabouts. He had nothing on Valentin and Charlotte, but she did find his notes on Brook putting her baby up for adoption. She thought he’d met with Lois, who told him everything. Dante was listed as the father, and she confronted Brook who confirmed it.

Rocco came home and Dante asked, how was school? Rocco said, fine, and Kristina told him that she was glad he was okay, and left. Dante said, now that everything had settled, tell him everything that happened at the beach party.

Donna twirled and bowed as the number ended, and asked if Gio could play another, but Sonny said she had to get to rehearsal. Donna asked if Gio could play at her birthday party, and Gio asked when it was. She said, September 30th, and he said that was a long way away. She said she wanted to make sure no one got him to play at their party first and asked when his birthday was. He said, June 4th, and she asked if he was having a party. He said he wasn’t sure, but if he did, she was definitely invited. Sonny said they had to get to rehearsal… now, and she left with him. Gio began to play, and Lois quietly said, Happy birthday, Gio, and left.

Lois went to the boathouse, and Chase said she’d just missed Brook. He thought she was here for the same reason. It was Lois’s grandson’s birthday.

Lulu told Cody that she tried to get Brook to tell Dante, but Brook said it was better that he didn’t know since the adoption was closed. She thought Dante deserved to know and begged Brook to do the right thing. Brook sicced Chase on her and he threatened to arrest her. Brook said she didn’t send him, but they knew she was a liar. Cody said he never thought she’d keep a secret this big from Dante. They’d been friends forever. Lulu said she tried to stay out of it, but she couldn’t. Brook knew they had a grown son, but Dante didn’t, and it wasn’t right… Forget she said anything. Cody said he’d been lied to most of his life about who he was. Now she was telling him that Dante had a son Brook had been keeping from him. That wasn’t happening. He wanted to help. (This is making me crazy, since Brook didn’t know until Lulu told her, but of course < 🍷> Lulu left that part out. And Cody should know better than to take what she says at face value.)

Rocco told Dante that it was fun at first, then he got dizzy. After that, everything was fuzzy. Danny had nothing to do with it. Dante said Danny shouldn’t have left him alone, but Rocco said Danny shouldn’t be his babysitter. Danny had no way of knowing what he’d do. Dante told him not to defend Danny or Gio, and Rocco said, Gio did nothing wrong.

Sonny told Gio that apparently, parents weren’t welcome at rehearsal and thanked him for playing for Donna. She got a kick out of it. Gio told Sonny that he meant what he said about Donna’s birthday party. He heard her say Sonny wasn’t feeling well. Sonny said he had a minor surgical procedure and then someone attempted to assassinate him, but he was following doctor’s orders and on the mend. He heard it had been an eventful couple of days with Rocco. Thank God he was all right. Gio said, especially since it was all his fault.

At the storage facility, Alexis told the manager that she had an order signed by a judge. What was inside pertained to an ongoing case. He barely looked at it, and told her, whatever you say, unlocking the gate. He left, and she opened it. It was empty except for an oil stain on the floor and an envelope propped up against the wall that said, ALEXIS.

Kristina flashed back to talking to Dante and texted Lucky: You around?

Alexis took out a note that said: LOOKING FOR SOMETHING? She crumpled it and tossed it across the floor, where it bounced to where Lucky was standing.

Lois told Chase that every year on her grandson’s birthday, she allowed herself to remember. Or forced herself to. She wasn’t sure which. He said, probably a mix of both, and she said, it was so tough on Brook. Going through labor and having to give the baby up. She tried to support and comfort her. Brook had more strength in her eyelashes than most people had in their entire body. She was so proud. Chase said Brook was lucky to have Lois by her side. She was scared, but she told him that she felt safe and loved because of Lois. Lois said she wondered how he could be so kind and supportive, then remembered she’d met his dad. He said he also loved her daughter, and she said, Brook loved him too. It had to be brutal keeping it from Dante.

Rocco told Dante that he didn’t see Gio at the party and was almost positive Gio didn’t know he was there either. When Danny came to look for him, he could barely keep his eyes open. The next thing he knew, Gio was there. He didn’t want to get in trouble because of London and the debate trip. Dante said Gio was the adult in that scenario. The last thing he should have worried about was Rocco getting into trouble. Seeing the state Rocco was in, Gio should have called him first thing. Rocco almost got killed. What was Gio thinking?

Gio told Sonny that he should have called Dante or Lulu. Instead, he snuck Rocco into the boathouse. He thought Rocco could drink some water and sleep it off. Sonny asked how he could know Rocco had alcohol poisoning. He was a musician, not a doctor. Gio said, Cody knew, and Sonny said Gio did the best he could at the time. Gio said Dante didn’t see it that way, but Sonny said Dante was afraid for his son and unloaded on the nearest target. Gio said he wished he could go back and do it all over, and Sonny (and I) said, don’t we all? If he knew Gio did something wrong, he’d be angry, but he didn’t think Gio did. He appreciated what Gio did for his grandson. If he was ever in a jam, Sonny wanted to be the first person Gio called. Gio said Sonny might come to regret that, but Sonny didn’t think so.

Elizabeth told Lucky that it was nice to talk to someone about it. She loved Laura and Lulu, but clearly, they wanted her and Lucky back together. Lucas asked if she wanted them together, and Elizabeth said she loved Lucky. Lucas asked if she was in love with him, and she said she didn’t think there was ever a time she wasn’t. She’d been with other men she loved deeply, but with Lucky, there was an intense connection since the beginning and they’d been through so much, good and bad. Since he’d been back, it had been amazing with him and Aiden. It made her want to believe they could make it work this time. Lucas asked if she didn’t think they would.  

Lucky said he never took Alexis for the littering type, and she said she was just having a dramatic moment. He handed her the crumpled paper, and she asked what he was doing there. He said he thought they were there for the same thing. He was under the impression Ric’s car had been crushed at the impound, but apparently, it had been moved. She asked why he was looking for Ric’s car, and he said, the brake lines were cut. That’s what caused the accident. She asked if he knew who cut them, and he said, so did she – Kristina.  

Cody said he was in, and Lulu said it was a relief to know someone had her back. Everyone told her to stay away, but it was time to tell the truth. Her phone rang, and she thanked them for getting back to her… Really?… Were they positive?…. That was all she needed. She thanked them and told Cody that Brook said she used St. Ignatius for the adoption, but they closed their doors in 1987. There was no way Brook placed the baby with them. Cody wondered, why lie? (I guess it doesn’t occur to these two dolts that Lois might have lied to Brook. I’m sooo disappointed in Cody.)  

Brook ran into Gio’s rehearsal room, apologizing for being late. Kristina said she was hoping to watch Donna, but apparently, family members are distracting. But she got to see them. Sonny said they could watch Gio practice, unless it made him nervous. Brook said, Gio played The National Anthem in the PCU stadium, but Gio said it was worse playing for family.  

Elizabeth told Lucas that what she needed in a relationship, Lucky might not be able to give her. He was the kind of guy who always left. What would make a difference now? Lucas said, time… circumstances… life, and she said there was always a part of Lucky that wanted to be out in the world. She wasn’t like that. She liked being settled here with family, friends, and her work. Lucas suggested that in coming home, maybe Lucky realized that’s what he wanted maybe same, but she said, Lucky may not be made for a settled down life. Her biggest fear was asking him to stay and him trying, but in the end, it just not working. Luke called Lucky cowboy, and that’s basically what he was, riding off into the sunset on the hunt for his next adventure.

Lucky told Alexis that he knew it was Kristina the night of the accident. She came into Charlie’s and wasn’t making sense. Then she took off again. He was worried, so he followed her. She pulled over at the site of the crash and said, it was supposed to be Ava driving, not Ric. He realized she was responsible and told her to go back to Charlie’s and act as normal as possible. He went to the impound lot, but they said they’d crushed it already. Alexis said, if only that had been true, and he said, today, Ric told Elizabeth that the insurance company took the car. Somebody is lying. Alexis asked how he ended up here, and he said, instead of destroying it, the impound lot had it towed to this location, but he had to work for the information. What the hell was going on? Why was Ric lying?

Lucas said, what if Elizabeth talked to Lucky? and she said he honestly thinks he’s going to stay this time. Obviously, he loves her and she knows he wants to be with her, but she also thinks he’s so afraid to let her down, she can’t trust him to be honest.

Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d done what he could to protect Kristina. He’d lied to everyone, including Elizbeth. So he felt like he had the right to know. Alexis smoothed out the paper and gave it to him. She said Ava and Ric left it for her, and he said, they had the car? She nodded and said she didn’t know where. They also had footage that strongly implied Kristina cut the brakes. She had to keep paying them or they’d tell Molly what Kristina did and blow up what was left of her family and see to it Kristina was charged and convicted for attempted murder.

Dante said it was all Gio’s fault, but Rocco said, Gio didn’t know how much he had to drink. Dante said it didn’t matter. Gio should have called Rocco’s parents. Rocco had no idea how close they came to losing him. If Cody hadn’t found him, he doesn’t know what would have happened. After losing Sam, he doesn’t want to think about losing his only child. Gio screwed up big time and it’s on him.

Everyone encourages Gio to play, and he begins.

Chase told Lois that keeping it from Dante was difficult, but Brook was his wife, and he made the decision to stand by her. Lois asked if he thought she made a mistake not encouraging Brook to keep the baby, and he said, Brook was so young. Lois said she did her best to protect Brook, but sometimes wondered how all of their lives would have been had she made a different decision. He suggested they focus on the here and now. Soon – God willing – he and Brook would adopt a child and start a family. Wherever Brook’s son was, he was surrounded by a family that loved him. Maybe one day, they’d be lucky enough that he’d come looking for his birth mother.

Lulu said she thought Brook lied because she knew exactly where Dante’s son was, and Cody said that made him think she did too. Did she know where the kid lived? She said she did. He was at the Quartermaines. Cody laughed and said, that would be funny… Oh my God. She was serious. Who was he? She said she thought Gio Palmieri was Dantes son, then smiled like a cat who ate the canary. I want to smack her.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Isaiah practices a dance for the Nurses Ball when Willow comes in. She said, nice moves, Dr. Gannon, and he says, thank you, Nurse Corinthos. How about her? He assumes she’s here to rehearse. She says, honestly, right now she’s just grateful to have a distraction. He asks, from what? Her job? She says, no, her marriage. She won’t be Nurse Corinthos much longer.

Nina tells Curtis that she can’t figure out why he and Aurora Media aren’t going full court media press to take down Drew.

In her office, Portia is reading The Invader’s headline, Set Up Or Cover Up? on her tablet, when Ava comes in. She asks if it’s an okay time, and Portia says, yes. She was just perusing the latest developments of Drew’s drug fueled night out on the town. She hands Ava the tablet and Ava laughs and says, on the town, on a bar top, on a woman who for once is not his nephew’s wife. She has to admit, when the story broke, she had to wonder if this was Portia’s handiwork.

Tracy meets Drew at the boathouse and asks how he even got on the property. He says he drove over in his new boat, and she laughs. She says, of course (🍷) he did. How nautical of him. He says he figured he’d be welcome though, since they’re working together to take down Sonny.

Sonny brings Donna home to Carly’s, and Carly asks, how was rehearsal? Donna says, so fun, and Carly says she’s sure Donna had a good time. And she’s sure daddy was proud to see her. Sonny says, daddy couldn’t see her. It was a closed rehearsal. They wouldn’t let him in. The kids get too excited with dads watching. Donna says, before they rehearsed, Gio played the violin for her and daddy.

Lulu tells Cody that she knows she’s right. She just needs to slow down and think. The baby Brook was pregnant with… Cody says, Dante’s baby. She thinks the baby is Gio? Gio walks in with Brook.

Gio asks if he heard his name, and Cody says, yeah. They were just talking about what happened at the Quartermaines with Rocco. Gio says he’s sorry about what happened. He should have handled it differently. Lulu says she’s just glad Rocco is okay, and Brook says, it’s a good thing Gio got Rocco back to the boathouse. If he hadn’t, Cody wouldn’t have found them and then gotten Rocco home. Cody says, it was definitely a team effort. What matters is they were looking out for Rocco. Gio says, as long as Rocco is all right, and he asks if Brook wants to get coffee. She says, let’s do it, and they go to the counter. Lulu says, a mother/son coffee date? (Hating her more every day.)

Sonny says, Gio played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for them on the violin, and Donna says, it was perfectly beautiful. She can’t wait to see him perform at the Nurses Ball. Carly tells her, it’s time to tackle homework, Donna thanks Sonny, and goes upstairs. Carly says, she’s a mess, and Sonny says he can’t wait to see her perform at the Nurses Ball. Carly asks, how is he doing? She hopes he’s not overdoing it. He says, Dr. Gannon told him to stay active, and Donna is the best medicine. Carly says she hates to ruin a good mood, but since he’s here, there’s something she needs to tell him. He asks if he should take his pills, and she says, he should keep them handy. They’ve got a court date for Michael’s divorce and custody hearing.

Willow says they’ve got a date for the divorce hearing, also custody, and Isaiah asks when it’s happening. She says, June 2nd, and he says, that soon? She says she figured it was a long way off. Michael is still in Germany getting treatment. Now the date is on the calendar and in her face. He says, when they talked, she was worried the judge might find her and Drew’s relationship unfavorable. Is that still the case? She says, no. She has complete faith in Drew. He says, even with… you know, but she says, Drew was set up and a judge will see that. Drew will do whatever he has to, to protect her and her children.

Tracy asks how far Drew is pushing this, and he says he thought he made himself clear. She gives him what he wants when he runs Sonny Corinthos out of town. When Measure C passes, they’ll take over the piers and have Ezra Boyle running for mayor on the anti-Sonny ticket. She says, Ezra Boyle is an idiot. He’s also a slob. She doesn’t understand why he, of all people, is a piece in the getting rid of Sonny puzzle. Drew says, Ezra getting elected is going to eliminate Sonny’s hold on the mayor’s office, but she says, drop it and drop him. They can get Measure C passed without removing Laura. With the exception of an obvious blind spot, she’s a good mayor. He says, clearly, she’s soft on Sonny and as long as Laura is in office, Sonny has a foothold on the city. If she truly wants Sonny gone, Mayor Collins has to be collateral damage.

Portia says, whoever tried to take Drew down seems to have failed, but Ava says she wouldn’t be too sure about that. People aren’t buying his story about being set up. Portia says, he seems to have a lot of support, but Ava says, not really. Poor, deluded Willow believes him, but that doesn’t mean anybody else does. Just think. Drew could be out of office and out of her hair in a month. Portia says, as wonderful as that sounds she highly doubts it, but Ava says, we’ll see. The people of Port Charles can be downright puritanical when comes to passing judgement against others. Portia says, here’s hoping, because right now, Drew is putting more pressure on her than ever.

Nina says she doesn’t get it. Curtis should want to nail Drew against the wall as much as she does. Curtis says he does, but Portia persuaded him not to sensationalize Drew’s story. Nina says, Drew did it to himself when he went on a ketamine bender and did body shots off a woman at a club full of people with cameras. He says, even so, Portia thinks it would make Aurora look bias, but Nina says, Drew has a financial stake in Aurora and negative coverage would show the opposite of bias. He says his feelings for Drew aren’t exactly secret, and she says, what she doesn’t get is that Portia knows better than anyone what Drew has done. She doesn’t understand why Portia would want to go easy on him. Curtis says, Portia is being blackmailed.  

Gio thanks Brook for sticking up for him with Lulu, but she says she didn’t have to. She was pointing out the truth. He was looking out for Rocco and Rocco is alive because of him. He says, because of Cody, and she says, because of both of them. If Lulu can’t see that, it’s her problem. He says, and Dante’s. Things have been tense since the night of the party. He doesn’t know how long he can keep dodging Olivia. He hates the idea of her being angry with him. She says, everything will go back to normal soon. She promises. The barista calls out, Brook Lynn and Guyo, and Brook laughs. She says, that’s us, and they get their coffee. On their way out, Brook asks if they’ll see Cody and Lulu at the Nurses ball, and Cody says, oh yeah. Lulu says she wouldn’t miss it, and Brook says, this guy will knock their socks off. Gio says he doesn’t know if he’ll do that, but Brook says, he’s a star. Cody says, he’s all right, and Brook says, see ya. They leave and Lulu says, I rest my case.

Portia tells Ava that Drew is already disappointed she hasn’t come through with more than she has, but his latest demand is impossible and ridiculous. Ava says, Drew is impossible and ridiculous. What does his majesty insist on now? Portia says, he wants no negative coverage on him in all Aurora Media outlets. That’s one. Ava says, good luck with that. What else does he want? Portia says, he wants Curtis to support him on the Measure C referendum and also wants to get Curtis’s endorsement for Ezra Boyle as mayor over Laura. Ava asks if either thing is even remotely possible, and Portia says, no. She doesn’t give a damn about Measure C and if all of a sudden she takes a strong interest, Curtis is going to get suspicious. Ava says, Drew thinks everybody is as easy to manipulate as Willow, and Portia says, as Curtis’s former friend, he should know better. Curtis is Laura’s friend and supports what she does as mayor. He’s not going to go against her. Ava says, everybody knows that. Drew certainly should. Portia says, maybe he knows and doesn’t care. No way Curtis would support a cretin like Boyle, even if Laura wasn’t running. Ava says she’s sorry to add to Portia’s already full plate, but she should know Drew appears to be making demands on Trina as well.

Nina asks why Curtis thinks Portia is being blackmailed, and he says, it’s the only thing that makes sense. She says, and he suspects that because Portia asked him to have Aurora go easy on Drew? and he says, she supported all his programs at GH. At first, the whole thing seemed innocuous, but then asked himself why Drew only asked Portia. She’s Co-Chief, and as far as he knows, Drew never approached Terry. Nina says, the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) is a good program, and he says he knows. At first, he thought Portia was being objective in acknowledging the program’s merits. That’s the thing. If you look at each thing separately, you can explain it away. Nina says, but if you look at it all together… He says, it’s the only thing that makes sense. Drew has leverage over his wife. He found her at Drew’s house. Nina asks why she said she was there, and he says, she said she was there to try and talk Drew out of pressuring Kai to have his surgery. Nina says, that’s not unreasonable, but he says, then she tried to mitigate the situation by saying if Kai’s surgery went well, then it would show Drew had good intentions all along. Nina says, it doesn’t make sense. She doesn’t believe Portia would ever willingly support Drew. He says, so she’s thinking he’s holding something over Portia? but she says she doesn’t know. He tells her that he’s already said too much. He should be having this conversation with Portia. She says he knows where to find her if he wants to talk. She can’t believe how much damage Drew has done. It seems like everything rolls off that man’s back. The latest scandal should have been enough to send Willow running, but it somehow bonded her closer to him and it’s going cost Willow her children.

Willow tells Isaiah, don’t get her wrong. It’s not like she doesn’t have regrets about the way things ended with Michael. She made choices that weren’t fair to him. Isaiah says, most people in relationships can say that at one time or another, and she says, maybe. She’s genuinely sad about how she and Michael ended things, but she knows she’s finally where she’s supposed to be with Drew. He says, since they’re talking, if she doesn’t mind him asking… She says, go ahead, and he asks where the kids fit in with all this. She asks what he means, and he says, in a perfect world, what would she want after the divorce was settled – the ideal scenario for her children? She says, Michael is a good father, but she wants the kids with her, and in an ideal world, Michael would understand the children belong with their mother. He says, and Drew?

Tracy says, remind her when Laura was soft on Sonny as mayor, and Drew says, even the appearance of impropriety is unacceptable. Tracy and I laugh, and she says, sorry. Are there photos of Laura doing body shots off a hooker on top of a bar somewhere? He says he was set up. Laura is protecting the resident mobster. They revised the plans for the esplanade and the reason Laura called for the referendum is because she’s cornered. Tracy says she doesn’t like it any more than he does, but it’s not Laura’s fault law enforcement is so incompetent they haven’t put Sonny behind bars. Drew asks why she’s protecting Sonny, because that’s what she’s doing when she sticks up for Laura. She says, Laura is her friend and Lulu’s mother, and Sonny has been a plague on this city and her family – Drew says, our family – for decades. Sonny has to go. He says he couldn’t agree more. Sonny has to pay for the pain he’s caused all of them. That’s why he agreed to work with her. They have a common goal, a common enemy, but they do need to get really clear on the terms of their deal.

Sonny asks how a divorce hearing could be scheduled when Michael is out of the country, and Carly says she had Diane petition the court for the earliest possible date. Michael served Willow with divorce papers before the fire. It’s exactly what he wanted. Sonny says, when he was here, and she says, he made his wishes clear. They had the paperwork and all they did was get a date. He asks, when is it? and she says, June 2nd. She thought they were safe until August, but an earlier date popped up, so they were slotted in. He says, but Michael’s not here. Please tell him that she didn’t ask Michael to cut his treatment short in Germany for this. She says she wouldn’t do that. She’s going to handle this herself. He says, that’s a mistake.

Back at the nook, Gio asks how Rocco is feeling, and Rocco says, good. He cleaned every inch of his mom’s house twice and is basically grounded until he’s 54, but good. Brook says, glad to hear it. Not about the grounded part. Rocco tells Gio that he wants to apologize. He put Gio in a really bad position that night and he’s sorry. Gio says, Rocco can’t take the blame. He was the adult… Rocco says, Gio didn’t make him play the game. Gio didn’t force him to get drunk. Gio didn’t even know he and Danny were at the party. He begged Gio not to call his parents, and he told that to his dad. Gio says, his dad is still mad, isn’t he? and Rocco says, yeah, but he needs to understand that Gio helped him get back here and he’s grateful to Gio for that. Gio wishes he’d done more to help him, and Rocco says, it stinks that Gio is being blamed. None of this is his fault. He’s so sorry.

Portia asks, exactly what kind of demands is Drew making of her daughter? and Ava says, fortunately not the same kind he’s making of her, but imagine her surprise when Trina stopped by the gallery with a camera following her every move. Portia says, Drew’s documentary, and Ava says, so she knows about it. Portia says, Drew’s guy Josh wanted to be in the operating room when Kai was having his surgery. Finish telling her what happened with Trina. Ava says, Josh was quite polite and did his best to seem invisible but… Portia says, he was following Trina around with the camera, and Ava says, yes. Trina was lovely of course (🍷), as always, but she could tell Trina was uncomfortable with a camera in her face. She shooed Josh away. Portia says, thank you for that, and Ava says, of course (🍷). Then Trina told her that Drew was behind the documentary. Since he was paying for Kai’s surgery she felt a need to be a part of the project. She and Kai are sort of together now and she felt it was the least she could do. Portia says, Drew is so good at that, convincing people to do his bidding, then making them feel like it was their idea. Now he has her daughter in his tentacles. Ava says, just a little. She’s keeping an eye on things. Portia says, more than a little. He’s pressuring her and Trina to weaponize themselves against Curtis. She doesn’t want to hate anybody, but she truly hates Drew Cain and all of it. It’s got to stop. Ava says, she’s right about that. She thinks Portia has clearly reached the point where she needs to change tactics. Portia says, how? What can she do? Ava says, at this point, she needs to tell Curtis the truth.

Curtis asks Nina if there’s been any movement in Willow’s custody case. She still has the kids, right? Nina says, yes, but who knows for how long. The court date is June 2nd, which doesn’t leave much time. Drew convinced Willow to embrace it. Curtis says, Drew doesn’t have a problem doing that, does he? and Nina says, no, he doesn’t, and now he wants Willow to push for full custody on the grounds that Michael has abandoned them. He says, because he went to Germany? and she says, yes. He has Willow believing that if she goes after Michael in court when he’s out of country for recovery treatment in a burn unit, it will somehow end with her getting permanent sole custody of her children. He says, even if that was possible, Michael’s family won’t stand for that, and she says, never ever. She has a bad feeling this is going to end in disaster.  

Willow tells Isaiah, Drew is a great father. He should see Drew with his daughter Scout and her kids. He loves them and they love him. They’re really building a new family together. Isaiah says he’s not judging. He’s happy for her. She thanks him, and he says, but he hopes she’s prepared for the possibility Michael won’t feel the same way. She says, he asked her what she wanted in an ideal world. Ideally, Michael would see what’s truly best is for the children to be with their mother. Their mother is with Drew, and being with her and Drew gives Wiley and Amelia love and stability they wouldn’t have otherwise. He asks what she means by otherwise, and she says she doesn’t want this to turn into an ugly situation where she has to fight Michael for sole custody, and he never gets to see his kids. Isaiah says, so she’s going for sole custody?

Sonny asks if Michael knows he has a court date, and Carly says, technically, no. He asks what she means, and she says, the court notified Diane, then Diane notified her, and she asked Diane not to tell Michael. Sonny says, she knew he’d want to be here, and she says, yes, but she doesn’t want him to give up one minute of his recovery. Trust her. She’s got this. He asks what she means by she’s got this, and she says, Diane is going to argue that Willow put the children in an unsafe environment. She’ll get an emergency custody order, and the kids will come home with her until their father comes home. He asks if she thinks it’s going be that easy. Willow is going to have her lawyer, Drew, and Nina there for back-up. Willow is their mother, and since Michael can’t physically be in court, she’ll be the only parent at the hearing. Carly says, that’s right. And Drew will be by her side playing hero and he’ll be the reason she loses those kids. He’s proof she’s unfit. Sonny says, he’s a congressman, and she says, a congressman who partied on ketamine and did body shots off a call girl in a bar on video. A congressman who slept with his nephew’s wife in the kids’ nursery, also on video. He says, when they show the video in court… She says, no judge will let Michael’s kids within ten feet of Willow or Drew. They’ll come home with her and stay with her until their loving father comes home.

Cody says, no offense, but when it comes to Gio and Brook, he thinks Lulu is seeing what she wants to see. Lulu says she thinks she saw what she saw, and he says, okay. Gio is a good kid with no parents. Lois helped raise him and Brook saw him grow up. He thinks the way they treat Gio is more Bensonhurst than anything else. Lulu says she’ll give him this. She’s not sure Brook knows Gio’s her son. She’s not positive. He says, she doesn’t know if Gio is Brook’s son, but she says she knows Brook is a good liar. She’s experienced it firsthand. Brook has been lying to Dante for years and lying to Cody since he came to Port Charles. He says, that may be so, but none of it adds up to Gio being Brook and Dante’s son. Lulu says, everything in her gut is telling her he is. She just needs to prove it.

Gio says he appreciates Rocco letting him off the hook, and Rocco says, he shouldn’t have been on it in the first place. Gio says he can handle Rocco’s parents being mad, but Rocco’s got to promise, no more drinking until he’s 21. Rocco promises, and Gio says, okay. He says, Rocco and his dad are lucky to have each other. Don’t let what happened with him cause it to go wrong. Rocco says he won’t. So they’re good? Gio says, they’re good, and Rocco leaves. Brook says, Gio handled that well, and he thanks her. She says, it’s big of him to protect Rocco and Dante’s relationship like that. He says, Rocco needs his dad and at this point, he can’t worry about what Dante thinks. Brook says, he’ll get over it. He’s just a hothead worried about his kid. Gio says, everyone keeps telling him that Dante is just worried about his kid, but that doesn’t mean Dante doesn’t feel the way he feels about him. Dante made it perfectly clear that he has no use for him and he’s good with that. Brook says, everyone also says it’s temporary, but Gio says, he doesn’t want her or anybody else trying to convince him that deep down, Dante really likes him. It’s obvious he doesn’t and there’s no point in pretending. He tells her that he’s got to go study, and leaves.

 Drew says, if and when he succeeds in removing Sonny, he wants the Quartermaine name back, and Tracy says, they already established that. She’s only giving him one thing. He says he wants to be clear on the terms. He gets access to the Quartermaine estate and grounds again. She says, good luck with that, and he says, as of now. She says, that’s not the way deals work. If he wants access, he’ll have to talk to Monica, and she doesn’t think what happens to Sonny is going to matter. Drew asks if she doesn’t think it will matter that he’s rid the town of the man who murdered the only child Monica had with Alan. It feels to him like it would hold a lot of weight. She says, Drew destroyed Michael’s marriage and prevented Monica from seeing her great-grandchildren. He says, that’s not what… but she says she’s not debating this. He’ll get the name back when he gets rid of Sonny. For the rest, he’s on his own. He says, that’s not good enough, but she says, it better be good enough. Find another dock. Get back on his damn barge. It’s Monica’s property… Alan gave it to her. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!) Tracy leaves, and Drew laughs. He’s about to leave, then doubles back.

Willow tells Isaiah that when Michael refused to see her in Germany, it sent a really clear message. She has to do whatever it takes to protect her children and get custody of them. He says he hears her. He’s sure she’s had plenty of advice from other people and doesn’t need more from him. She says she’s sorry. She shouldn’t have snapped at him. He says, it’s fine. He just wants her to know that he thinks she’s an excellent nurse and during the time he’s known her, he’s only seen her to be a good person with a kind heart. Trust it. He leaves.

Sonny says he gets that Carly has a plan, and she says, let her guess. He doesn’t like it. He says, it’s not her call, but she says, Michael can’t be here to fight for his kids, so she has to do it for him. He says, there’s no guarantee it’s going to work, and she says, with that evidence, she thinks there’s a pretty good chance, but he says, she’s overstepping. This is Michael’s life. It’s his family and he’s not going to thank her for making decisions without his permission. He’s just saying, it’s going to cost her. She says, Michael will understand she’s doing this to protect him and his family. And if he’s mad at her, she can live with that. It’s worth it to make sure her grandchildren are happy and safe, and the only way to do that is to get custody of them.

Tracy asks Brook if everything is all right, and she says she feels bad for Gio. Dante came down on him and he’s taking it hard. Tracy says, Gio is a good kid and Dante is scrupulous to a fault. They’ll figure it out. Brook says she hopes so, but that’s not the only reason she feels a little blue today. Tracy asks, what is it? and Brook says, it’s her baby’s birthday today.

Lulu tells Cody, the way Lois reacted to Dante tearing into Gio. Then she got into it with Dante. She was protective in a way that goes way beyond cousins. Cody says, like she was tapping into her primal grandmaternal instinct, grandmama bear, and Lulu says, yes, and if Brook is telling the truth, Lois handled the baby’s adoption. Paired with the fact that Gio’s mother was conveniently a Cerullo cousin, it all makes sense… Cody’s still not buying it. He says he’s not not buying it, but if it’s true, Lois went through a lot of trouble to cover this up. She wonders how they prove it. Gio’s so-called mother is Cousin Camilla. She’s the key.

Ava says Curtis already knows Portia tampered with Heather Webber’s blood tests. All she has to tell him now is that Brad and Drew found out and they’re using it as leverage. Portia says, he’s going to wonder why she didn’t tell him right away and she doesn’t have a good answer for that. Ava asks, how is, I couldn’t tell you because I was being blackmailed, not an acceptable answer? It’s the point of blackmail. Portia says, Curtis won’t see it that way. She made a choice the moment she started giving into Brad and left her whole family vulnerable. Ava says, she got in over her head. It happens. She can still fix it and Curtis can help her get out. Portia says she knows Curtis and there’s no third chance. He’ll never forgive her for this.

Curtis asks if there’s any way Willow can get a postponement, and Nina says she suggested it, but Drew shot it down and Willow fell right in line. He says, what was the reason? and she says, because this is the perfect time to steal Michael’s children right out from under him and present the children to Willow as his gift. He asks if those were Drew’s words, and she says, no, but his thoughts were so loud, they might as well be spoken words. (Love that!) Drew thinks that he and Willow are going to walk into court looking like the perfect stable couple with the perfect stable built-in family, and Michael won’t be there to defend himself, so they’ll win. Curtis says, all the more reason to make a postponement happen. If Drew won’t listen to reason, then she needs to find someone who will. Maybe a lawyer or someone who has sway over Michael. She says, there might be one person Michael will listen to. She’s got to go. She thanks him for listening and thanks him for everything. He says, anytime, and she leaves. He makes a call and says he needs to see someone in his office now.

Sonny asks if Carly thinks Willow is a bad mother. The Quartermaines would do anything they could to keep their kids safe. Carly says, hell yeah. Willow’s not the woman they thought she was. She’s not the woman Michael married, and not the woman Michael allowed to adopt his child and start a family with. Sonny says, she changed, and Carly says, hell yeah. She’s trying to take Michael’s kids from him and raise them with their great uncle. She’s infatuated with Drew, who isn’t the man they thought he was. Sonny says, they all bought his act, and she says, yeah. If he’s asking her if she questions Willow, absolutely. She doesn’t trust Willow anymore and doesn’t want Drew or Willow anywhere near Michael’s children. He says he hopes it works out for her. If it doesn’t, and Michael loses his children because of her, she could lose her own child.

Brook tells Tracy that now with everything that’s come out, all these feelings are back and coming out with a vengeance. She can’t stop them or push them away. Tracy says she doesn’t think Brook should. The only way out is through. Brook says she’s going through it all right. She can’t stop thinking about her son and wishing him a happy birthday. He’s 22. Tracy says she has something that might cheer Brook up, and Brook says, by all means. Tracy says, consider this a little birthday present for her and her boy. She spoke to Lulu and she’s dropping the adoption article. Brook says, really? How did she… It doesn’t matter. She’s so relieved. Tracy says she thought Brook might be, and Brook says she hated that Lulu was digging around with no consideration for anyone else. She doesn’t want Lulu disrupting her son’s life. Tracy says, she’s not gonna, so Brook can relax. Unless Brook chooses otherwise, no one will know she gave up a child for adoption. They hug.

While on her laptop, Lulu tells Cody that Brook said she gave birth in San Francisco. According to this, Baby Boy Cerullo was born on May 15th, around the time Gio was born. The records also indicate the mother is Brook Cerullo. He can’t think it’s a coincidence. Cody says, no. Using Lois’s last name was probably the easiest thing to do. Lulu says, and Brook wasn’t a legal adult. Lois didn’t go to a lot of trouble to hide this. He says, why would she? She had no reason to believe anyone would dig up Gio’s real origin story. She tells him, Gio said he was born on June 4th in LA. According to the records, a lot of baby boys were born that day in LA, but no Baby Boy Cerullo or Palmieri. He says, all this proves is there wasn’t a baby born under that name in LA County. He could have been born in Orange County or Ventura, or Camilla used a different name. She says, he’s absolutely correct, and he says, statistically, it was bound to happen someday. She says, there’s only one way to prove Camilla’s not really Gio’s mother. Find out where Camilla was and what she was doing the day Brook gave birth.

Portia says, when it comes to secrets and lies, Curtis has zero tolerance, and Ava says, he’s going to have to get over that because it’s an impossible standard. Portia says, it’s why he and Jordan broke up. They didn’t grow apart. He left because Jordan lied. Ava says, if he forgave her for keeping Trina a secret all those years, this is nothing, but Portia says, not when she’s been lying to him for months. Ava says, stop lying now and her marriage might survive. After another six months, not so much. She’s digging herself in deeper. Isaiah approaches the room and hears them, and Portia says she can’t. If Curtis finds out that she lied to him again, her marriage is over.

Drew goes to Curtis’ office and says, Curtis wanted to see him? Curtis says, yeah, he did, and Drew says he sounded stressed on the phone. What’s wrong? Curtis says, Drew’s been blackmailing his wife.

Sonny finds Willow and asks if she’s got a minute. She says, yeah… What does he need? He says he heard she and Michael have a court date, and she says, they do. He says, it’s going to get ugly, and she says she thinks so too, but he says he thinks they can stop it before it starts. She says, how? and he says he knows how much she loves her children, and she knows how much he loves his grandkids. She says, they love him too, and he says, then she should know that they can figure out a compromise. Willow wonders if they should be talking without… He says, no lawyers, no Drew, no Carly. Just cooler heads trying to figure out what’s best for the kids and also find a way to make peace.

Nina knocks on Carly’s door, but Carly says she doesn’t have time for this. Nina tells her to make time. It’s their last chance to stop this before Drew completely wrecks their grandchildren’s lives.

On Monday, Lulu tells Cody that she’s not stopping until she has proof; Drew tells Curtis that he has the situation under control; Sasha wonders why Ric Lansing is calling her to testify; and Nina slugs Carly.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A bittersweet comeback.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1192056/general-hospital-nurses-ball-2025-details-lynn-herring-exclusive/

A reminder that Monica isn’t really upstairs. And Lesley isn’t with her either.

https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/news-gh/rivals-monica-lesley-two-legends-gone/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I remember the disco ball helmet!

The Valley

So now that Jax has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, does that mean Brittany will get double the rage texts?

I can’t wait to see Lala with this group.

Summer House

Lexi broke up with Jesse for the last time… I think. It’s really been hard to keep score with those two. Lindsay made an Instagram post detailing what the last year had brought to her, and Carl was miffed because it all started with their break-up. I don’t see why he’d care unless he still cared, but maybe he didn’t want everyone to be reminded about how he blindsided her on camera. It wasn’t the worst episode, but the finale looks great. Not just because it’s finally the end of the season, but it’s some kind of costume party.

Lindsay’s Freedom Dinner.

Random Reality Items…

They’re probably waiting to see if they get a better offer elsewhere.

For those brave enough to go.

A miscommunication? Sure. I believe it if she believes it.

I love how some of the old case shaded the reboot. Did they think they’d be on it until retirement? They don’t even work at SUR anymore.

👀 Weekend Watch…

The Ugly Stepsister. AMC+/Shudder. Subtitled. Whatever you do, don’t watch this while eating dinner. And this is coming from someone who has a strong stomach for gore. I actually loved the real Grimm’s Fairytales as a kid, and this is closer than any Disneyfied version. Cinderella’s stepsister will do anything to marry the prince, including cutting off body parts and swallowing tapeworms.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-ugly-stepsister-horror-movie-review-2025

A Deadly American Marriage. Netflix. A true crime documentary that kept me guessing for a while.

https://people.com/a-deadly-american-marriage-true-story-11733406

The first wife.

https://people.com/all-about-margaret-fitzpatrick-jason-corbett-first-wife-11734052

The kids.

https://people.com/where-are-jason-corbett-kids-now-11730696

The killers.

https://people.com/where-are-jason-corbett-killers-molly-thomas-martens-now-11730846

Heart Eyes. Netflix. At first, I sighed and thought, typical slasher film with typical slasher film characters, but I have to admit, the ending was one I didn’t see coming. I appreciated a chaotic drive-in movie scene, but not so much the cornfield that was bigger than the one that clown is hiding in. Still, so much better than I expected it to be and not a waste of my time. Takeaway point: Never underestimate the underdog.

https://www.cbr.com/heart-eyes-netflix-streaming-hit/

https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/heart-eyes-is-a-killer-box-of-chocolates-you-never-know-what-youre-gonna-get.php

⚔️ No Knight Yet…

Looks like I got excited about a year too soon.

https://www.avclub.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-delayed-to-2026

🐾 All Pets All the Time…

🐩 The famous.

https://vocal.media/petlife/the-famous-pets-of-celebrities

🐕 The not-so famous.

https://bestfriends.org/stories/features/10-inspiring-pet-adoption-stories-2024

🦚 And the fashionable.

https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/instagram-famous-dogs-model-springs-top-10-fashion-trends

🪇 Quotes of the Week

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

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. – Mahatma Gandhi

It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it.Rick Hanson

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. – Alan K. Simpson

Attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude.Hilary “Zig” Ziglar (Corny, but I like the alliteration.)

Hell was made for people like you, Leslie. Enjoy the burn. – Mona Wilson (Karan Kendrick), Beyond the Gates

🌾 The Gateway To Summer…

Until next week, stay safe; stay celebrating the rebirth and renewal of spring; and stay never forgetting, the only way out is through.

September 13, 2024 – Mac Makes an Arrest, No Return (Yet), Explanation, Salty Talk, A Share, Along Soon, Grotesque Premiere, New Lot, First Treats, A Joke, Newsworthy Faunae, VIII Quotes & Early

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mac and Felicia kiss outside the boathouse, and Felicia looks at Mac. He asks if there’s something on his face, and she says, on his face and all around him. He’s glowing. Everything about him radiates happiness. He asks if that’s what this feeling is, and she says, yes, and he’d better get used to it because it’s all smooth sailing from here. He says he’s not sure about that, and she asks if that’s pessimism she hears. He says, it’s hard not to feel that way with everything that just happened, and she asks what he’s talking about. He asks if she didn’t catch the stink lines radiating from Tracy Quartermaine a few minutes ago.

Brook brings Lois some water and asks if she’s all right. Lois asks if she’s serious. She and Chase are going to make her a Nona? Tracy walks in and says, this house is going completely downhill. Entitled cooks, babies that cry all night, interloping hoi polio that move in and never leave, and now we can add liar to the list. Brook says, someone lied to her? and Lois says, let her guess. Michael… Drew… Ned. Tracy says, no. Of course (🍷) it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them were lying, but this time the person is Violet.

On the phone, Carly asks what Jack has got for her, and he says he loves a woman who skips the small talk and gets right down to business. She says, Lulu’s life is on the line, so there’s no time to waste, and he hangs up the phone. Carly tells Jason, he hung up on her.

Anna walks into Jack’s office, and he says he’s going to need a new assistant if this one keeps letting her in here. She says, if he thinks any assistant is going to stop her, then he’s woefully underqualified for this job. Who chooses her town, or is he just passing through?

Kristina goes to Michael’s office, and he asks how she’s doing. She says her mom is being targeted for murder, so not great, and he says he knows it’s not easy, but it’s important she let the investigation run its course. She says, if he’s asking her to trust that the police are going to clear her mom as a suspect, she can’t do that, and he says, if she’s thinking of going to the cops… She says she has to. She’s the one who got her mom into this mess. He says, if she tells the police the truth about the night Cates was murdered, it’s just going to put her in their crosshairs, and she says, if it gets her mother out of their crosshairs, it’s worth it. He says, it could make things worse. Chase could think she and her mother were both involved in this. She says, but that’s not true, and he says, if they think it is, she could get charged with murder and her mother as an accessory. She asks what she’s supposed to do, and he says, there’s a way to keep her out of trouble and her mom from getting in any more of it.

Alexis lets Sonny in and he says he would have come sooner, but it’s been a busy couple of days. She says she’s been busy herself, trying to keep their daughter out of jail, while being treated like a criminal herself. He says he’s sorry she’s in that position, and she says she can handle herself. Right now, they have a much bigger problem. He says, Kristina, and she says, how are they going to keep their daughter from being charged with a murder they both know she didn’t commit?

Kristina asks what Michael is thinking, and he says, her mother has an uphill battle. Kristina says, because of her criminal history? and he says, and all the evidence against her. And she threatened Cates in a room full of cops. She was in possession of a weapon which she got caught disposing of and she doesn’t have an alibi. Kristina says she already knows how bad it is, and he says, more important, Cates is a federal agent, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure to make an arrest and convict the killer. She says, it really doesn’t sound like he has a plan, and he says, they may not be able to detract from the case with Alexis, but they may be able to deliver them a stronger one against someone else. She asks if he has someone in mind.

Sonny says he gets why Alexis is worked up, and she says she has every reason to be worked up. He may be used to being interrogated… He says, and she’s not? and she says, he’s the career criminal. He says, and she’s only an incidental one? and she says, them swiping at each other isn’t going to do them any good. He says, do him one favor. Hold her judgement for their daughter’s sake until he’s gone. She says, okay. Maybe he could do her a favor than and own up to his role in all of this. He asks if she doesn’t think he knows this is all because of him, Jagger holding a grudge for over 30 years, using their daughter to try and get his revenge. She says she was referring to more recent events at the Quartermaines, and he says, Jagger is dead. So is Jagger’s vendetta against him and his family. He wants to put all of this behind them. Does Alexis know what she was doing that night? Alexis says, Kristina was here with her until she left to steal a gun from him.

Brook tells Tracy that she’s never known Violet to lie. But if she’s telling a fib here and there, it’s completely understandable. Especially after everything she’s been through. Tracy says, if they let her get away with this, who knows what’s next? Brook says she hardly thinks Violet telling a fib here and there is going to set her on a path to a life of crime, and Lois says, no, but maybe they want to think about getting her a therapist. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s happy to get Violet whatever she needs, but first, she’d like to hear the whole story. What did Violet lie about that’s got Tracy so upset? Tracy says, she’s going around telling everybody that Brook and Chase are having a baby, and Brook looks at Lois. Tracy says, oh my God. Tell her that it’s a lie. Or at least a misunderstanding. Brook says she and Chase aren’t having a baby, but she is thinking about it.

Felicia says, Tracy was in a bad mood today, and Mac says, Tracy’s been condescending to her employees for decades now, but today was ridiculous. Sasha’s not allowed to have friends here? She lives here. Felicia says, so does Cody, but she didn’t go after him, and Mac says, it’s only a matter of time. She says, Tracy generally applies the same amount of spite to everyone. Cody just seems to get off easy. Maybe there’s a reason Tracy doesn’t go after Cody. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is interested in Cody.

On the phone, Carly says she doesn’t care. She needs to talk to him… Okay. Please tell him to call her. She tells Jason that his assistant keeps telling her that Jack can’t come to the phone right now, and he says, Brennan will call her when he has something to tell her. They walk out of the elevator, and she says, why should they wait for him when they can tap into the resource they have right here? She leads Jason into Isaiah’s room and says, Isaiah Gannon, this is Jason Morgan. She believes they already met on the shoulder of Route 41.

Jack says he thought Port Charles would be big enough for both of them, and Anna says, it can be. On her terms. He says, which are? and she says, when she requires something from him, he delivers. He laughs and says he doesn’t work for her, and she says, he does know the WSB rents this building from the City of Port Charles. If he makes things difficult for her, maybe these premises just won’t be up to code. He says he sees they’ve moved on to the threats portion of this conversation. Just curious. How does it feel to be a big fish in a little pond? She says she likes it. How is it going to feel for him when he has to inform his boss that he’s been run out of town? He asks what she wants, and she says she wants Lucky’s location, and he’s had plenty of time since last night to find it. He asks what makes her think he even kept looking, much less found anything? and she says, because she’s learned that if she does actually require something from him, her best chance is to request it from Carly Spencer, because he seems to be very eager to do whatever it takes to make her happy. He tells her, Sidwell was headed northeast, the Puntland, and holds up a paper. He has a secondary operation there. She reaches for the paper, but he snatches it away and says, does she know he could report her for going rogue?

Isaiah says he hears he should be grateful to Jason for helping him. Is he a cop or something? Jason says, just a coffee importer, and Isaiah says, interesting career choice. Jason says, and a friend to Lucky, and Isaiah says, they have that in common. He just wishes he could have helped his buddy. If he hadn’t gotten hit by that car, someone could have gotten to him sooner. Carly says, they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to find Lucky’s location. Jason says, once they have that, he’s going there to bring Lucky home. Isaiah says, by himself? Jason nods, and Isaiah says, Sidwell’s surrounded by guards. It’ll take more than just some coffee importer to get him out. He’s coming with Jason.

Anna asks if Jack is threatening her. She actually might like that. He says, not threatening, warning. She’s no longer a WSB agent. She says, this isn’t a Bureau operation. This is off the books. She’s acting independently of any agency. He says, which also means she doesn’t have any support or backup, and she says she can handle this herself. He says, Jenz Sidwell is more dangerous than she realizes. He doesn’t care who he hurts or kills in the process of getting what he wants. She asks if he’s pretending that he cares about her, and he says he mostly cares about the potential of her little quest to blow back on him. She’s going into danger with Bureau intelligence, alone. She says, then give her a team that she can take with her, but he says, she knows he can’t do that. She says, then give her the one thing he can, which is give her Lucky’s location, and he says, only if she tells him why this Lucky character is worth risking her neck. Even worse, she owes him a favor.

Felicia says she wasn’t implying Tracy is interested in Cody romantically, and Mac says, good. He didn’t gain a son only to watch Cruella de Quartermaine turn him in to a saddle. She says, Tracy considers Cody a friend, one that she cares about very deeply. Tracy has lost so many people over the years. Her parents, Luke, and now recently Gregory. Tracy must be very lonely. He says, she lives in a house full of people, and she says, but Cody’s different. He’s nice to her. He’s sweet and he’s uncomplicated. He says, she makes him sound like a Golden Retriever, and she says, put himself in Tracy’s shoes. She comes to the stables to talk to Cody, a man who may be her only real friend, only to find his attention is completely taken up by his new family and a beautiful young woman who is just as smitten with him as he is with her. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is jealous, and she says, absolutely. Don’t let Tracy get to him. He says he won’t. Because he’s going to find Cody a new job and a new place to live far away from Tracy. (I’m thinking he might want to consult with Cody first.)

Alexis tells Sonny that she was absolutely frantic when she came out and saw Kristina had left with her car. And when she came back, Kristina was all wet. Sonny says, where did she say she’d been? and Alexis tells him, she said she’d been to his house and then to the baby’s grave. He says, she told him about the gun. She didn’t say anything about the grave. Alexis says, he knows their daughter is suffering right now from severe postpartum trauma, along with everything else that has happened. He says, she needs help. Does Alexis think they should admit her to a facility? She says she doesn’t know what she thinks or what’s best for Kristina right now. All she could think of were the implications of Kristina being in possession of a loaded weapon. He says, she was right to worry, and she says, it’s a violation of bail, and if it weren’t enough that she was afraid Kristina might shoot somebody, she was worried Kristina might hurt herself. He says, Kristina assured him she wouldn’t do that, and she says, given Kristina’s state of mind, she had no choice but to get rid of the gun, did she? He says, Kristina told him. Diane told him. Unfortunately, there’s witnesses. She says she knows. Ric and Elizabeth just happened to be strolling by just in time to watch her toss the gun off the bridge into the river. What she didn’t know at the time was John Cates had just been murdered and the police were off looking for the 9 millimeter gun that killed him, which is the same kind of gun they witnessed her getting rid of.

Michael says he did some digging into Cates’s past, and he made a lot of enemies when he was a Fed. Criminals who might be willing to place themselves at the scene of the crime for the right incentive. Kristina says, he wants to pay someone to take the fall for this? and he says he wants to ensure that she doesn’t take responsibility for a crime she didn’t commit. She says she’s surprised he’s telling her all this, and he says, she should know. It’s her life and her decision, but more importantly, she should know that this plan is pointless if she speaks up in Alexis’s defense. She says, oddly comforting how well he knows her, and he says, she’s his sister. Her phone rings, and it’s Chase. He asks if it would be possible for her to meet him at the station. She asks if this is about the federal charges, and he says he has a few questions he needs to ask her. She says she’s in the middle of something right now and isn’t able to get down there, but he says, this isn’t a request.

Sonny wonders why Alexis wouldn’t want Kristina admitted to a facility, and she says, because she asked Kristina, and she seemed shocked. So she genuinely thinks it didn’t occur to her. He says he feels the same way, but that means she wanted to use the gun on someone else. She says, what a comforting thought, and he says, the good thing is, now they don’t have to think she’s going to harm herself. She says, so now what do they have? Kristina took the gun from his place, she got rid of it, and now the police have come looking for her. He asks what she told them, and she says, why? What is he worried about? Is he worried she’s going to incriminate Kristina or him?

Kristina and Michael go into the interrogation room, and Chase tells Kristina to have a seat. He’s not sure why Michael is here. Michael says, they couldn’t get in touch with Diane. He’s sure his presence here won’t be a problem. Right, friend? Chase says he’s just doing his job, and Michael says he’s just a brother looking out for his sibling. He’s sure Chase can relate. Chase says, they need to discuss Kristina’s whereabouts the night Agent Cates was murdered. Michael asks if she’s a suspect, and Chase says he’s letting Michael stay while he questions Kristina. In return, he expects Michael’s silence. Kristina says, it’s fine. She was at her mom’s house that night. Chase says, the whole night? and she says, from the time her mom and Sam picked her up from the station until the next morning. He says, she never left at all? and she says she did leave for about half an hour. He asks where she went, and she says, to her daughter’s grave. He asks if she was alone, and she says, yes. He asks if there was anyone there who can corroborate that, and Michael says, in the cemetery in the middle of the night? Chase says, let Kristina answer, and Michael says, Kristina’s done talking. He tells Kristina, come on, and tells Chase, if he has to ask Kristina anything else, call her lawyer. Chase says he will, and they leave.

Felicia says she knows this is hard for Mac, but sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things. His phone rings and he says, it’s the station. He answers, then says, yeah, okay. Thanks for letting him know. He’ll take care of it himself. Felicia asks if something is wrong, and he says, some new evidence came in about John Cates murder. Enough to make an arrest.

Brook says she knows what’s going on here. Violet brought up the subject of having kids to her and Chase, and they told her that they definitely want them. Tracy says, great. They’re going to be perfect parents in ten years. Lois says, Tracy… and Tracy says, well, definitely not now. Their marriage is only months old, and Chase isn’t going to give up his dangerous and grossly underpaid line of work, and they have Violet to take care of. Their hands are full. Brook says, true, but they’re not waiting ten years, and Tracy asks if she’s crazy. She’s too young to have children. Brook says she’s not that young and the longer they wait, the harder it could be. Tracy says, she has access to the best fertility treatments there are, so she can definitely put breeding on hold for a while. Lois says, breeding? and Tracy says, Deception can’t take Brook’s absence. They have a snake for a CFO, a mobster for an investor, and a fool for a founder. The company needs her. She needs her. Lois says, news flash. Not everything is about her, especially Brook’s family planning.

Anna asks why her interest in Lucky even matters to Jack, and he says, because she’s asking for his help. And she’s as determined as he’s ever seen her to get. If she doesn’t want to share, there’s the door. She says, he knows who Lucky’s father was, and he says, Luke Spencer. She says, then he must know how much Luke did for the WSB over the years, and he asks if she’s rescuing Lucky to pay off some imaginary debt the WSB owes his father. She says, no. She’s doing this for Luke. They were friends for many years. He says, special friends, and she says, if Robin had ever been in any kind of trouble, there’s nothing Luke wouldn’t have done to bring her home safely. He looked out for her. So she doesn’t know about Jack, but she pays her debts. (Is she a Lannister?) He says he’ll remember that when it comes time for him to collect, she takes the paper out of his hand, and leaves.

Isaiah tries to get up and groans. Jason says, he’s not going anywhere, and Isaiah says, neither should Jason. Jenz Sidwell is a dangerous man. Carly says, Jason can take care of himself, but Isaiah says, it’s Lucky he’s worried about. Sidwell is smart. He’s always got guards around him. Jason says he figured, but thanks Isaiah for the heads up. Isaiah says, it’s going to take more than a lone wolf. It’s going to take a government agency. Carly says, the WSB seems to be dragging their heels. They’re not sure if the WSB is even going to get involved in this. Jason says, either way, he’s going, and Isaiah is in no condition to join him. Does he have any insights he can share? Are there any weaknesses in Sidwell’s security? Isaiah says, none that he knows of, and Jason says, all he needs is a single vulnerability, something that will give him a tactical advantage. Isaiah says, there’s only one. Sidwell’s girlfriend.

Back at Michael’s office, Kristina says she guesses it’s official. She’s a suspect in John Cates’s murder. Michael says, she’s a person of interest, and she says, Chase wanted her exact timeline (receipts, proof, and screenshots!) for the entire night. He says, it’s a good thing she told him the truth, so it can’t come back to hurt her. She can’t afford to be caught in any lies right now. She says she doesn’t understand how he knew she left the house, and he asks if she’s sure no one saw her at the cemetery. She says, it was dark and deserted. She thinks if someone were there, she would have seen them. He says, there must have been some other way. Who knew she went out that night? She says, just her mom and Sam, but they never would have told Chase, and he says, maybe someone overheard them talking about her going out, but she says, no. That’s impossible. They never even left the house. When she walked in, they were still calling around. He says, they called him and presumably dad. Who else did they call? She says, Molly. They called Molly.

Sonny tells Alexis, you know what? She can say anything she wants about him. She can tell anybody who will listen her theory on what happened to Jagger that night. Bring it on. She says, then step forward and tell the truth that he killed Cates, and he says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She says, he hated Cates. He was at the Quartermaines at the time Cates was killed. He had motive and opportunity. He says he was there, but he wasn’t alone, and she says, he means to tell her that Lois is covering for him? He dragged her into it? Or even worse, he dragged Michael into his mess. He says, Carly was with him, and she says, really. Carly is his alibi? He says, they were at the Quartermaines. They all saw him and Carly together, in particular, Tracy Quartermaine. She says, just weeks ago, Carly nearly went to prison for him, yet she’ll cover for him murdering an FBI agent. Talk about symbiotic. He says, they’ve always had a special bond and they’ve always been close. Then they got together… She says, stop. It’s horrible enough that Carly would be an alibi for him, but the fact that they would do it again after everything Sonny’s done to her… He says his time was accounted for. Why is that so hard for her to accept? She says, because if he’s telling the truth and he’s innocent, he wouldn’t need Diane and Diane would be free to defend her, which she isn’t because she’s busy defending him.

Anna lets Felicia into her apartment and thanks her for coming so quickly. Felicia says, it sounded like it was urgent, and Anna says, it is. She’ll fill Felicia in on all that in a minute. She wanted to find out how Mac is doing. Felicia says, he and Cody are getting along really well. He and Tracy Quartermaine, that’s a different story. She’ll fill Anna in later on that, but here’s her anti-malaria tablets that she requested. She hands Anna a bottle, and Anna thanks her. She says she didn’t have time to put in for a prescription, and takes one. Felicia says she can thank Frisco. If he hadn’t asked Mac for help last year, then she and Mac would have gone to Africa, and she would have taken the pills herself. She just hopes they’re still affective. Anna says she’s sure they’re fine. They have a very long shelf life. Felicia says, and Anna is hoping to get this through TSA? and picks up a machete. Anna says, no. She’ll check that. Felicia asks why she’d need that for a safari, and Anna says, it’s not really a safari. It’s more of a hunt. Felicia says she loves animals too much to help Anna… Anna says, not that kind of a hunt. She’s looking for someone. Felicia says, someone she knows? and Anna says, Lucky Spencer. Lulu’s in so much trouble and Lucky’s in trouble too. She’s hoping that she’s going to track him down and bring him home. Felicia says, not alone she’s not. She’s coming with Anna.

Isaiah says, Sidwell’s girlfriend is the one person he trusts, so she’s Jason’s best bet in trying to get to him. Jason asks what he knows about her, and Isaiah says, she’s beautiful, classy, and she’s got Sidwell wrapped around her little finger. She’s the one person he trusts. Jason says, so she’s his way into the camp, and Isaiah says, assuming she’ll help him. Sidwell provides her with a great life. She looks the other way from his crimes. Carly says, what’s her name? Maybe they can do a little research. Isaiah says, Sidwell calls her English, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly sees Jack through the window, and Jason thanks Isaiah and says, he’s been very helpful. Isaiah says, tell Lucky, he cheats at cards, and Carly says, he can tell Lucky himself when Jason brings him home. They leave and Isaiah smiles.

Tracy tells Lois, careful. Her Bensonhurst is showing. Her accent back, Lois says she doesn’t care. If Brook and Chase want to have a baby, they can have as many as they want, whenever they want. It’s not up to Tracy. It’s none of her business. Tracy asks Brook if this is about Deception. She knows things have been strained since they brought Sonny in, but she and Brook have been working really well together. Brook says, no. She loves her job, and she loves working with Tracy. But she can work and have a family. Back to her new accent, Lois says, of course (🍷) she can. Because it’s 2024 and women can do anything. Tracy tells Brook, that’s easy to say now, but things change when you have a child to take care of. Lois says, that’s for Brook to decide. Come on. Despite all her griping, Tracy is excited. She’s going to go bananas over her own great grandbaby. Chase walks in and says, what? Is Brook pregnant? Lois tells Tracy, let’s let the newlyweds talk, and leads her out of the room. Brook says she’s sorry Chase walked in on that. She didn’t want to start this conversation like that. He says he’s fine. Just tell him. Is she pregnant? She says, no, but maybe she’d like to be.

Sonny says, Alexis hasn’t been arrested or charged with anything. If that day comes, he’ll get her the best possible defense team. She says awesome. Because now she doesn’t have anything to worry about. He says, it’s the only thing they can do right now, and she says she wants to know what he’s going to do for Kristina because she doesn’t want to believe Kristina killed Cates. She wants to believe they raised their daughter better than either of them. He says, they have, and she says she guesses it doesn’t matter much what they think. What matters is what the police think. And if they find out she was gone that night and had a gun, Kristina will be as much of a suspect as she is. He says, that’s not going to happen because Kristina didn’t kill Jagger, and Alexis says, neither did she. He asks if she honestly thinks Anna isn’t going to have an airtight case. They’re talking about the death of an FBI agent. She doesn’t want to screw that up. Alexis says, they both know there are miscarriages of justice all the time. Kristina could very well be arrested for this, and if that happens, how far is he willing to go to save their daughter? He says he will not let Kristina take the fall for Jagger’s death, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, they’re not done with this discussion, and opens the door to Mac.

Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this, but Michael says, they don’t know Molly is to blame. She says, Molly is the only one who would have told Chase that she was out, and he says, she really thinks Molly would go this far. She tells him that he said it himself. She’s an ADA. She’s the best at her job. Molly hates her right now and blames her for Adela’s death. Molly is trying to get revenge on her for turning her in for something she didn’t even do. (Um… then she’s not the best at her job, is she?) He says, whether or not Molly talked to the police, it doesn’t matter. Because if that’s the only evidence she or anyone else has, it’s not much… Unless there’s something else she’s not telling him.  

Brook says she knows she and Chase have talked about having kids and that they both want them, and he says, absolutely. She’d be a great mom. Their future kids are so lucky. She says, and he’s going to be a great dad, but one thing they haven’t talked about is when they want to start trying. He says he just assumed she wanted to wait with Deception taking up so much of her time, and she says she assumed he wanted to wait because they’re taking care of Violet. He says, if she’s factoring in Violet, he’s pretty sure she’s all in about them having a baby. She can’t wait to be an older cousin. It sounds like Tracy’s the only one who’s going to be having a problem with this. She says, don’t worry about her grandmother. She can handle her, but she’s worried they won’t be able to handle a growing family while they’re taking care of Violet. He says he doesn’t think that will be a factor. Finn gets out of rehab in one month and the first thing he’s going to want to do is to take Violet home with him. The important question is will there be a recast, is she ready to start a family? She says she was going to ask him the same thing, and he says he loves her. He adores Violet and spending all this time with her, but he wants a child of their own. He was just waiting on her.

Jack tells Carly, Sidwell is running another wildcat mine. He’s probably holed up there, and it’s likely he’s holding Lucky there too. He’s sent Carly the coordinates. Carly says she’ll forward everything to Jason, and Jason says he’ll leave right away. She says, please be careful. If something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. He says he’ll be fine. The important thing is to bring Lucky back to save Lulu. She thanks him and asks Jack if there’s anything else he can do to help Jason. He says, the political situation in Somali prevents the WSB from intervening in any way, but Jason says, it’s fine. He’ll do it on his own. Jack says, not necessarily.

Felicia says she doesn’t like the idea of Anna taking off on her own on some risky mission without any backup, and Anna says, the urgency of the matter demands immediate attention. If she has any hope in finding Lucky, she has to cut some corners. Felicia says, she doesn’t. She can come with Anna. Anna doesn’t know how good she is with a machete. Anna says she’s sure and thanks her for the offer. At any other time, she’d jump at the chance, but she’s hoping to hook up with Laura and Doc. She thinks more people are just going to attract attention, and Felicia knows as well as she does, that if she comes, Mac isn’t going to be far behind. Felicia says she wants to help Anna. Luke was her friend too. Anna says, that’s why she wants Felicia and Mac waiting for her in the wings just in case something goes wrong… which it won’t. She has everything under control. Anna picks up her gun, and Felicia looks alarmed. Anna says, Felicia knows what a cautious woman she is.

Lois and Tracy walk to the boathouse, and Lois says she can’t wait to be a grandmother. She was going to claim the title of Nona, but if it makes Tracy feel any better being a great grandmother, then it’s all hers. Tracy says, nothing is going to make her feel better about Brook having a baby so rapidly… Come on. Brook and Chase having a baby might be a done deal, but Lois doesn’t have to have that smug smile on her face. Lois says she’s not smiling because of a potential baby. She’s smiling because she spent years worrying about Tracy’s relationship with Brook. She really believed Tracy would treat her daughter like dirt, resent Brook because she’s hers. They all know how Tracy feels about her, but she was wrong. She can see how much Tracy adores Brook and how much Brook looks up to her. The two of them have a very special relationship. Tracy says, they disagree about everything, and Lois says, that’s because they care about each other, because they want the other person to be better. She knows Tracy has had a rough couple of years and she’s really grown to depend on Brook. She thinks Tracy is afraid if Brook starts a family, she’s going to lose that. But she won’t lose Lois’s daughter if she has a baby. It will only bring the two of them closer together. She promises. Tracy says she doesn’t do diapers, but Lois says she does.

Chase says he’s really glad he overheard Tracy throwing a fit. Otherwise, he doesn’t know how long it would have taken them to have this conversation. She says, at least they’re on the same page. When does he have to be back at the station? He says, about forty-five minutes, and she says, that’s plenty of time. They start kissing. (Hopefully, they move to their own room or Tracy will have another fit.)

On the phone, Carly leaves a message for Laura. She says she knows phone service is spotty, but when Laura gets this, please call her. They may have found a location on Lucky. Jason is on his way to find him. Please call her, day or night. Jack joins her and says, it’s an awful feeling, isn’t it? She says, what? and he says, sending someone off to risk their life while you stay behind. Don’t get him wrong. Watching and waiting from afar is safer physically, but it’s a special kind of hell. She says she wouldn’t have guessed he felt that way. Nothing seems to bother him. He says, now she knows better.

Anna is on the plane, and hears, the cabin doors are now closed. Their flight time to Nairobi will be eighteen hours and fifty-two minutes. She takes off her jacket and buckles her seatbelt. She closes her eyes, and Jason says, excuse me. She looks at him, and he says, she’s in his seat. She smiles.

Kristina says she’s not hiding anything, and Michael says, she blinked a lot. Whenever she’s lying, she blinks more than usual. She says she did make one other stop the night of John Cates’s murder, but she doesn’t even know how that’s relevant. It really can’t hurt her or her mom, because she’s positive nobody saw her. She just pulled into the end of the driveway, thought about it for like a second, and then she left. He says, pulled into whose driveway and what was she thinking about doing? and she says, the Quartermaines. She knew John Cates was there. She went to kill him.

Alexis says, nice to see Mac. What brings him by? He says he’s sorry, but he’s here to make an arrest, and Sonny asks how Mac knew where to find him. Mac says he’s not here for Sonny, and Alexis says, Kristina’s not here. Mac says he’s not here for Kristina either. He came himself because he wanted to make this as painless as possible. Alexis is under arrest for the murder of John Cates. He puts the handcuffs on her and recites her rights. Sonny says, come on, but Mac walks Alexis out the door.

On Monday, Tracy says, Sasha is going to want more out of life than trying to make Cody happy; Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this; and Ava asks if she can trust Ric.

🧴 Before You Get Excited…

This is a bit of a clickbait headline. You’d think she’s coming back, but she talks about when she came back last time. Although there’s still hope for both her and Finn to return. And I’m just going to say it. Why is it the non-heterosexual couples never pan out? These two were the worst blow, since they had more chemistry than any of the other couples on the show. Yes, I’m bitter about it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-opens-up-about-returning-to-gh

🍊 Johnny J. Just Says No…

I thought he was the one who wanted a non-disparagement clause. I’m confused.

🧂 Needs More Salt…

Premieres September 18th, 9 pm. As inappropriate as she is, Mary is a lot of fun to watch.

🍼 Giving You Sosa…

She does know Beyoncé’s birthday isn’t a national holiday, right?

https://people.com/lala-kent-reveals-name-of-her-second-daughter-and-shares-first-photo-8709130

🧹 Flying In Soon…

Agatha arrives September 18th on Disney+.

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-vision-quest-expanding-wandavision-corner-of-marvel-universe-8705558

🪓 Murphy’s Murder Mystery…

Premieres September 25th on FX or you can Hulu it the next day.

https://ew.com/travis-kelce-ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-niecy-nash-set-videos-8645637

https://deadline.com/2024/09/ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-premiere-date-fx-trailer-1236039050/

⚰️ Because We Needed Another One…

I wonder how many times they can film the same King book? How about doing one that hasn’t been done? I’d love to see The Regulators on film, but it’s doubtful that will ever happen, since it’s so weird. Possible, but not probable. The Talisman (written with Peter Straub) is another one that would be great.

https://ew.com/salems-lot-lewis-pullman-makenzie-leigh-book-changes-pressures-adapting-stephen-king-exclusive-8706884

🎃 Never Too Early…

Why can’t it be both? Or maybe it’s a dog movie. I love Zero.

https://ew.com/movies/nightmare-before-christmas-halloween-or-holiday-movie-debate/

And what’s Halloween without drag queens?

🦙 They’re All a Bunch Of Animals…

It’s all fun and games until they spit on you.

https://people.com/portland-airport-offers-emotional-support-llamas-photos-8707772

🐠 I would have liked to see a little more of the aquarium. How this turned into another Taylor/Travis article, I don’t know, but it did.

https://people.com/brittany-mahomes-welcomes-new-addition-home-aquarium-8710807

🦛 Do not harass the hippo. Although this raises the question, do people just walk around with shellfish in their hands in Thailand?

https://people.com/baby-hippo-doubles-zoo-visitors-and-prompts-safety-warnings-8712177

🐕 You didn’t think there wouldn’t be something about a dog, did you?

https://people.com/my-golden-retriever-dog-model-for-cone-of-shame-book-exclusive-8710225

😄 A Joke:  Q: What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do? A: Stays up all night wondering if there’s a dog.

💈 Quotes of the Week

The Apocalypse means never having to say you’re sorry. – Murphy (Keith Allan), Z Nation

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

There are no regrets in life. Just lessons. – Jennifer Aniston

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (before he started talking to empty chairs)

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. – Bruce Lee

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. – Potter Stewart

If you fall, make it part of the dance. – LuAnn de Lessops

🍁 Every Leaf Is a Flower…

Enjoy the last of summer, the first of fall, or both, and come back on Monday to enjoy some soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay stopping to admire the changing landscape, and stay remembering that sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things.

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

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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.

August 7, 2024 – Donna Is Rushed To the ER, Tough Scene, Listing Millions, Her Life, Trying To Move On, Lala Speaks, They’re Contenders, More For the Pool, Giving Them a 10 & Taylor’s August

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dex and Josslyn wake up, and Josslyn says she forgot for a second about Kristina. Dex says he texted a cadet who was on the nightshift, and Kristina made it through the surgery. He has no information on the baby though. She thanks him for finding out, and he asks what else he can do. She says, he’s already doing it, and they snuggle.

TJ looks at memorial services online, and Molly asks if he’s seen her briefcase. He asks why she’s dressed for work, and she says, her caseload is insane. He says, she can’t go in, but she says she has to. They need her. He says he needs her more.

At the hospital, Portia says, Elizabeth is just the person she wants to see, and Elizabeth asks, what’s up? Portia says, she and Terry looked at Elizabeth’s proposal for the nurses’ schedule change and they love it. She’s doing a fantastic job as head nurse.

In her cell, Ava tells the guard to take the food away. She doesn’t eat slop. (FYI, it does not look like slop or even like jail food. Maybe Denny’s.) Trina comes in and asks if it’s okay that she’s here. Ava asks why it wouldn’t be, and Trina says she didn’t know, considering her statement helped put Ava in a cell. Ava says, the police asked Trina questions, and she answered honestly. It’s all she could do. She’s still reeling from yesterday. It was a terrible, tragic accident. Trina asks, was it an accident or did Ava push Kristina?

Jason asks Carly if things are good, and she says, Avery and Donna are playing with Pilar. He asks if Avery had any questions, but she says, none. She’s here all the time, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary. She’s glad Sonny is okay and took it upon himself to reach out and see Doc. Jason says, that shows how hard it hit, and she asks how Sonny seemed when Jason drove him home. Jason says, he was quiet. He didn’t talk much. She says, but he did ask Jason to drive him, and Jason says, he did. She says, Sonny is coming back to them. She knows he is.

There’s a knock at the penthouse door, and Doc comes in. Sonny says he didn’t know doctors made house calls, and Doc says, touché. He thought he’d come and see how Sonny is feeling. Sonny says his mind is clearer, and Doc says, good. That means the meds are working. To be honest, he’s concerned about Sonny’s emotional state. What does he think about discussing what happened last night?

Carly tells Jason that she’s relieved Sonny realized there was a problem. She was convinced he’d stopped taking his meds, but she saw that she was wrong. She hopes Doc was able to recalibrate them. Jason says, he still has to deal with what happened, and Carly wonders what the hell Kristina was doing in Ava’s room. Jason says he talked to Dante, and Ava had served Kristina with a subpoena for Avery’s custody case. She says, because Kristina saw Sonny beat up Dex. Ava wanted to force her to put it on record. He says, they’re assuming Kristina was served and went to confront Ava, and they argued. She wonders if Ava could push Kristina hard enough to break a window, and he says, they don’t know exactly what happened, but Kristina was there to protect her father.

Dex says he’s going to make coffee. Didn’t Josslyn tell Donna that she’d be with her today? Josslyn says she did, but she’s willing to skip coffee to stay in bed with him. He asks if she’s avoiding the real world, and she says, yes. It’s a horrible, scary place. Only good things happen in this bed. Is it terrible she wants to stay? He says, no, and kisses her. They get busy.

Elizabeth says she’s just doing her job, and Portia says she made a promise to herself that if the staff was doing a good job, she wants them to know it, and Elizabeth is doing a very good job. Elizabeth says she learned from the best, and Portia says, Epiphany. Elizabeth says, Epiphany was the type of nurse she aspired to be. Professional and no-nonsense, but kind and compassionate.

Sonny tells Doc that he was sent to the dark side. He felt responsible for Kristina losing the baby, and his niece Molly told him as much. Doc says, it must have been hard to hear, and Sonny says, Jason and Carly figured out something was off, that he wasn’t thinking clearly, but he didn’t trust them. Doc asks if that isn’t unusual when it comes to Jason and Carly, and Sonny says, it should have been a warning sign, but he didn’t understand. Doc says, Sonny was fine according to himself, and Sonny says, until last night. That’s why he went to Doc’s office. Obviously, his pills need readjusting. Doc says he got the results of Sonny’s blood test. He put a rush on it. There was no lorphenadine or lithium in his system – none. Sonny says, that doesn’t make sense. He takes his medication every day like clockwork. Doc says, and as prescribed? and Sonny says, yeah. Doc says he’d like to schedule some sessions until Sonny’s meds are recalibrated, and they determine a new protocol. How does Sonny feel about this? Sonny says, confused, but relieved he has something physical to blame. Doc says, just a triple check. Sonny never skipped a dose? Sonny says, never. That’s why it makes no sense.

Ava tells Trina that she had nothing to do with Kristina’s fall. Kristina was in a rage, manic, there was no reasoning with her. She tripped on a shoe and fell through the window. It happened so fast, she’s still spinning from it. She would have grabbed Kristina if she could have. Trina asks, if that’s true, why was she arrested? and Ava says, when something this awful happens, people need someone to blame. It can’t be the woman who lost her child. That’s too cruel, so it falls on her. She knows how most of the people here feel about her. It’s easy to make her the scapegoat. Trina asks if that’s really all it is, and Ava says she’s completely innocent.

Molly says she thought TJ’s mom was coming, and he says, she is, along with Aunt Stella and Curtis. They’re going to help pack up the nursery. Doesn’t she want to be here? She says she can’t, and he says he knows how incredibly hard it is. She says, it’s impossible. The nursery is like a time capsule, but instead of the past, it’s the future they’ll never have. She knows she has to let it go and she will, but she can’t physically get rid of what’s in there. Does he understand? He says, yeah, but some things can’t wait. Like a name for their daughter. They still need to plan a funeral. Molly says, they’ll talk later. Pick what he wants. He says, it happened to both of them, when there’s a knock at the door. Molly lets Jordan in, and says she’s got to go to work. Just for an hour or so. She’ll check on the urgent cases and be back. She leaves, and Jordan asks if she’s all right, but he says, how can she be?

Stella tells TJ that she’s so sorry. It’s the most unfair, unfathomable loss. She hugs TJ, and Curtis asks, where’s Molly? but Jordan shakes her head.

Finally. We see what we all need right now – the moss bowl🎍– and Carly tells Josslyn that she just missed Jason. He went to check in on Sonny. Josslyn says, it must have been tough, and Carly says, it was tough on Josslyn too. It’s good to see her. Josslyn says she texted, but Carly says, it’s not the same. She needs eyes on Josslyn to know she’s okay. Josslyn says she’s fine, and Carly says she was so worried about her. She was the lifeguard on duty, and it had to be devastating. Josslyn says she’s happy she knew what to do in that moment, and Carly says, her too. She’s proud of Josslyn and glad she had Trina to be with to decompress. Josslyn says she wasn’t with Trina. She spent the night with Dex.

Molly goes to see Ava, and says, Cadet Heller is here as an impartial witness. The ADA isn’t allowed to speak to a defendant without a third-party present. Ava asks, how’s Kristina? and Molly says, she survived. Her baby did not. That’s one reason Ava is here in a cell. Ava says she’s so sorry. She knows what it’s like to lose a child and it’s unbearable. Molly takes out some papers, and says, it’s the autopsy report. She’d like to take a look at the facts. The patient was a newborn female, 5 pounds, 2 ounces. Death occurred one minute after delivery by emergency C-section. The examination determined the death to be from blunt force trauma to the head and body.

Stella says she’ll make some food, but TJ says he’s not hungry. She says she won’t accept that answer. She’ll scrounge something up. Jordan says she’ll help, and they go to the kitchen. Curtis sees the laptop and asks if that’s what TJ has been doing. TJ says he wanted to bring up the funeral to Molly, but whenever he mentions the baby, she shuts down. Curtis says he knows it can’t be easy, but if it’s any consolation, people deal with grief differently. TJ says he’s worried Molly’s not dealing with it at all.

Jason goes to the penthouse, and Sonny thanks him for bringing him home. Jason says he was happy to, and Sonny says, he’s not going to ask questions? Jason says, no, but he’ll listen to what Sonny wants to tell him, and Sonny says he talked to Alexis. Jason asks how Kristina is, and Sonny says, she’s resting after the surgery. It’s got to be tough on her, not just the injuries, but the emotional toll from losing the baby. Jason says, luckily, she has family and friends to help her through it, and Sonny says, Molly blaming him for the fall hit him hard. She’s not wrong. He always hurts the people he loves. He didn’t want to do that anymore, so he went to the roof. Jason says, of the hospital? and Sonny says he just wanted the pain and suffering to end, and felt it was the only way out. Jason asks, what stopped him? and Sonny says, Morgan.

Trina shows up at Portia’s office and asks if she’s got a minute to talk. Portia says she has infinite minutes for Trina, and hugs her. She asks, what’s wrong? and Trina says she can’t stop thinking about Kristina. She was doing an amazing thing for her sister, and she was almost at the finish line. Now the baby died, and she feels awful for her, Molly, and TJ. They had the baby’s whole life planned out and now it’s over. Portia says, it’s heartbreaking, and Trina asks why some people are taken too soon. Portia says she wishes she knew the answer. This time, Ava shoulders the blame. How could she push Kristina that hard? Trina says, that’s not what happened. Ava told her. Portia says, she went to see Ava in jail? and Trina says, that’s where she just came from.

Molly continues to read, the infant died from internal bleeding and blunt force trauma to the head and body. Because of Ava, her child’s life ended before she had a chance to live. Ava says she could never intentionally hurt a child, and Molly says, that’s why she’s being charged with manslaughter instead of murder. She didn’t plan it, but her actions led to the baby’s death and it’s time for her to take responsibility.

TJ pushes away his plate, and says, it’s delicious, but he can’t eat any more. Stella says she understands, and he says he’s glad someone does. None of this feels real. How can his daughter be gone? Curtis says, they’re all trying to wrap their minds around it, and TJ says, everything was fine. Despite his worrying, Kristina was healthy, and the baby was healthy. It was a standard pregnancy, except for the surrogacy, and she was due in 3 weeks. They finally built the nursery, when Kristina goes to Ava’s hotel about a stupid custody battle. He feels like such an idiot. Jordan asks, why? and he says, out of all the ways he imagined Sonny could endanger his child, not once did he expect this.

Sonny tells Jason that he was convinced his children were better off without him. Then Morgan showed up and kept telling him that his kids needed him and pleaded for him to live. Jason says, maybe it was that part of him that knew something was wrong, his medication was wrong, and Sonny says, when he figured it out, he had to do something. He couldn’t sit in that darkness anymore, so he went to see Doc. Jason says he’s glad Sonny did, and Sonny says, him too. Jason asks what Doc said about Morgan, but Sonny says he didn’t tell Doc. He doesn’t want to talk to Doc about it. Jason is the only one.

Josslyn says she was surprised to realize that Dex was the one person she wanted to see, and Carly says, after her mother and the moss bowl 🎍. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). He makes her feel safe. That’s the only way she can explain it. Carly says, it sounds perfect. Does that mean they’re back together? Donna runs in and says, Josslyn came. Josslyn hugs Donna, and Donna asks if she wants some vitamins. Josslyn asks, what kind? The chewable ones? and Carly asks what she’s talking about. Donna says, daddy’s vitamins, and shows her the bottle of lithium. Carly asks if she took any, and Donna says, she took a bunch, but doesn’t want any more. Her tummy hurts. Carly tells Josslyn to grab her keys. They’re going to see the doctor. (I’m guessing these are the placebos, but Donna seems a little old to be doing something like that and you’d think she would have been told not to touch prescription bottles.)

Stella says, they’ll take the boxes to the shelter and asks if there’s something TJ wants to save. He says, no, but she asks if he’s sure. He says, it hurts to look at it, but she says, someday there might be something he wants to remember his daughter by. He looks in one of the boxes.  

Trina says, Portia knows she and Ava are close, but Portia says, given what just happened, she doesn’t understand what compelled Trina to visit Ava. Trina says she felt guilty, and Portia says, for what? Trina says she told the police that she saw Ava looking down from the window, and Portia says she didn’t know that. Trina says, just because Ava was looking down and standing there doesn’t mean anything. They don’t know what happened. Ava is more than her optics. Everyone always thinks the worst of Ava, but she’s seen another side of her. Ava would never hurt a child on purpose. Ava was there for her when Spencer died, so she doesn’t want to abandon her. Portia asks if Trina believes Ava is innocent, and Trina says she wants to. Portia asks if she’s not sure, and Trina says, deep down, Ava is a good person. She knows she is. Portia says, sometimes good people are capable of doing bad things.  

Molly tells Ava, plead guilty. Do the right thing and save them the pain of a trial. Ava says she did nothing wrong – the opposite. Has Molly asked herself what Kristina was doing in her suite? She didn’t invite Kristina over for a chat. Kristina forced herself in and refused to leave. She lost it, attacked Ava, tripped, and fell. She’s sorry for Molly’s loss, but she needs to face reality. She’s not responsible for the baby’s death. Kristina is. (Did she forget about all those pictures that show her with her hands on Kristina?)

Curtis and Jordan leave with the boxes, and Stella tells TJ to let it out, but he says he doesn’t want to. She says, the only way past pain is through it, but he says he can’t. It’s too much. When he tries to envision his life now, it’s blank. There’s nothing. She says, they say that grief is love with no place to put it. What feels like sadness and anger is actually the love he had for his baby girl that has no place to call home anymore. That’s why it feels so heavy. She’s here to help shoulder the burden and collect the love piece by piece and find a new place to put it. TJ says he’s not ready to let go, and cries. She says, he doesn’t have to. They’ll cross that bridge when they come to it. She hugs him as he cries, and he says he can’t do it.

Carly tells Elizabeth that they need to see a doctor now. Donna may have taken some of Sonny’s lithium. Elizabeth tells a nurse to page Dr. Fernandez and tells Donna and Carly to go to a room. She asks Josslyn to give them a minute, and Josslyn hands her the bottle. Elizabeth says, they’ll do everything they can. She promises.

Sonny says, he was happy that Avery stayed with Carly last night, and Jason says he was just there, and Avery and Donna were having a great time. Sonny’s phone rings, and he sees it’s Josslyn. He says, that’s strange, and answers. Josslyn says, he needs to get to the hospital right now. Donna might have taken some of his lithium pills and they brought her to the ER.  

In the hallway, Jordan cries, and Curtis hugs her. She says she can’t stand to see TJ like this. She’d do anything to take away the pain. He says him too, but all they can do is show up and show their support. Jordan says, just like his domestic partner… She’s sorry. That was bitter and immature. He says, it was human, and she asks, where’s Molly? She should be here. They should be together. Curtis agrees and says he’s sure she’ll be here soon. Jordan hopes it’s sooner rather than later. They need each other. He says he’s sorry for her loss. He knows she had big hopes and dreams for her grandchild. Jordan says, now she’s gone. She wants to be strong for TJ. Curtis says, she is, but she says, it doesn’t feel like it. He says, remember he’s here for TJ and her, and she thanks him. They go back inside, and Stella says she thinks they should leave. Jordan asks if she’s sure. She was planning on staying. TJ thanks them for everything and says he’s grateful for their support, but they have lives to get back to and he could use the alone time. Curtis says, they’re only a phone call or text away, and hugs him. Jordan hugs him and tells him that she loves him, and they leave.

Trina asks if Portia honestly thinks Ava would push a pregnant woman out a window, and Portia says, she didn’t jump. Trina has a big heart and is afraid she’s trusting someone she shouldn’t. She said herself that she’s not sure she believes Ava. Why? Trina says she doesn’t know exactly. Ava did feel off. That being said, Ava just spent the night in jail. She’d be off too. Portia suggests they go a different route. Who’s most likely to lie? Ava or Kristina? Ava has been arrested and is behind bars. The police must have evidence that makes them believe Ava is guilty.

Doc goes to see Ava, who says she’s a popular girl today. She can’t believe this is happening. The incident keeps playing over and over again. It’s like a nightmare she can’t wake up from. She’s worried about Avery. Doc says, she spent the night at Carly’s and she’s fine, but Ava says, she needs her mother. Sonny is out of control and can’t be counted on. She suggests Doc come to her arraignment and speak on her behalf. Tell them that she needs to make bail and get emergency custody of Avery. Avery’s wellbeing depends on her. He says, she can rest easy about Avery, and she says, how? He says, Sonny won’t be a concern. He’s getting treatment.

Sonny and Jason come into the hospital, and Carly tells them that they’re pumping Donna’s stomach. It happened so fast. Sonny asks if Donna is scared, and Carly says, a little. He thanks them for calling him, and Josslyn says, he’s her dad. Sonny asks, what happened? and Carly says, Donna found a bottle of what she thought were daddy’s vitamins in Avery’s overnight bag. How many pills did he have left? Sonny says he’s not sure, and asks what Pilar was doing. Carly says, she was in the playroom with Avery and Donna didn’t want to share. Sonny asks if Donna was still talking, and Carly says, she seemed okay, but said her stomach hurt. Jason says, it’s good they got her here fast, and Carly says, their little girl’s got to be okay.

TJ looks at a pair of baby socks and cries, because we all haven’t wept over this story enough. Molly hears him from outside, and he clutches the socks to his chest. She almost leaves, but then goes in.

On the phone, Portia says, when?… She understands. Thanks for the heads up. She tells Trina that she needs to go. That was Pentenville. Heather Webber is on her way to GH for a follow-up.

Ava asks what Doc means, but he says, that’s going into doctor/patient confidentiality. He’s already said too much. The main thing is Avery is safe and not in danger. Ava says she’s pleased to know Sonny is getting help, when Doc’s phone rings. He says he has to take this, and walks out as he’s talking. He says, what kind of problem with Sonny’s meds? and Ava hears him.

Elizabeth comes out and Carly asks, how’s Donna? Elizabeth says, she’ll be fine, and Josslyn says, thank God. Elizabeth says, she’s still groggy from the anesthesia and her throat will be sore, but she’s doing great. Jason wonders, what’s the problem? and Elizabeth says, the remaining capsules weren’t lithium. Sonny asks, what was it? and she says, nothing. He asks what she means, and she says, there was no medication in the pills. Carly says, she was holding Sonny’s prescription bottle and said she’d taken the pills from the bottle, but Elizabeth says, not only was there no lithium in the pills, there was none in Donna’s system. She would have had different reaction – vomiting, confusion, seizures, a coma. Sonny asks if she’s telling him that he’s been taking a placebo.

Tomorrow, Anna says, the list is long, and someone is about to add their name to it; Heather asks, what’s in it for Scotty; and John tells Ava, Sonny’s days of trampling over people are coming to an end. Hmm… I think it’s John’s trampling days that are coming to an end.

💣 Up On the Roof…

Wow. He did these scenes after he took a break for his own mental health.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-maurice-benard-on-shooting-the-difficult-rooftop-scenes

💰 Welcome To the Market…

Tracy had a listing with a glass bathroom. No. Just no. This time, JoshF’s listing had no dead rat, but there was a rat trap to which the potential buyer said, eww! as we all would. In an ironic twist, JoshA had a listing that JoshF made an offer on for himself, since his childhood dreamhouse turned out to be a bust. To be specific, he had Tracy make the offer, which she told JoshA was going to be lower than [he’s] gonna like.

🎉 Fabulous Mid-Life Existential Crisis…

What happened with Whitney this week.

https://www.accessonline.com/videos/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-whitey-says-shes-having-a-mid-life-existential-crisis

Whitney also planned a bachelorette party for her niece and had to explain adult toys to her half-sister.

https://popculture.com/reality-tv/news/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-whitney-way-thore-goes-all-out-bachelorette-party-planning-in-exclusive-sneak-peek/

🌾 Not So Welcome Anymore…

While everyone tries to tie up loose ends, the usual suspects – Ethan and Barry – still hang on by a thread.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-recap-olivia-plath-says-ethan-plath-still-texts-her-8691420

🍼 Have Some Lala…

She’s ready for single motherhood, round 2.

https://okmagazine.com/p/lala-kent-declares-single-motherhood-suits-best-await-baby-no-2/

I’m with her here. Yeah, the whole thing sucked, but Sandoval was certainly getting ripped a new one from just about everyone, and there could have been a workaround for the show.

🏆 Nom, Nom, Nom…

This year’s nominees.

https://ew.com/2024-mtv-video-music-awards-nominations-full-list-8690719

🦸 Because I Can’t Stop…

All the cameos.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-cameos-8681113

Another good reason to stick out the credits.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-post-credits-scene-chris-evans-dirty-monologue-exclusive-8689972

Puberty sucks sometimes.

https://ew.com/walker-scobell-kidpool-deadpool-and-wolverine-exclusive-8686020

🐳 The Olympics Are For Animals Too…

The only time I ever watched the Olympics was when Tonya Harding was whining over her skate lace, but I would definitely watch these two.

https://people.com/whale-breach-during-paris-olympics-surfing-semifinal-tahiti-8690769

https://people.com/polar-bear-at-alaska-zoo-goes-viral-for-diving-in-exhibit-watch-8687366

Imagine the possibilities. I’m pretty sure all of my dogs would be an Olympic fail. Unless there was cheese involved.

https://tlcfirst.com/news/if-olympic-sports-were-designed-for-pets-a-whimsical-look-at-the-possibilities

You, too, can make an Olympic champion out of your dog!

Doglympics 🔥

🎢 Riding Life’s Rollercoaster…

Join me tomorrow for soap and sitting in the OC shade. Until then, stay safe, stay not being afraid to ask for help when you need it, and stay helping to shoulder someone’s burden, because grief is love with no place to put it, and it feels so heavy.

July 21, 2024 –Carly Hears the Audio File, On Returning, No Social, Almost Brandy, OC Drama, Coming Deck, VanderJunk, Expectations, Reunion, Animal Tales, Jesting, More Than 8 Quotes & Love

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly says she’s sorry to keep Sam waiting, and Sam says, crisis averted? Carly says, more like crisis handled for now. Sam says, good, because she’s going to need Carly’s undivided attention. She only wants to do this once. Carly says, do what? and Sam says she knows why Jason let them think he was dead.

Anna tells Jason that she’s having dinner at Valentin’s house tomorrow. She’ll find the opportunity to search. Then she’ll get the evidence that he’s running Pikeman. Jason says his way is simpler, and she says, if by his way he means he’s going to break in, search, and if he doesn’t find anything, he’ll beat the truth out of Valentin, that’s not going to work. He says, her way will? and she says, yes, because she’s Valentin’s blind spot. She can take him unawares. Jason just has to be patient. Jason says he sacrificed over two and a half years to protect Carly. He will not let this go to waste. He needs to prove to the FBI that Valentin is their guy.

Chase says, Brook really went all out for dinner, and she says, it’s their first homecooked meal as a married couple. It’s a big milestone. It doesn’t matter that she’s cooked a ton for him in the past. This was the first official one. He says, then he officially declares it delicious, and she asks how he’d rate it. He says, five stars. And the food was pretty good too. He kisses her.

Maxie says, Bailey Lou has had her second bath and is in bed, and James asks her to tell Georgie that he didn’t throw food as a baby. Maxie asks Violet if they’re still fighting about this. Who’s winning? Violet says she thinks it’s a tie, and James says, that means he won. Georgie says, no, it doesn’t, and Maxie says, they’re all winners. Why doesn’t Violet get her stuff and she’ll take her home. Georgie says, they really don’t want Violet to go home. Can she please sleep over? Spinelli comes in and says, hello, family, and the lovely Violet. He’s sorry he missed dinner. Maxie says, he also missed clean-up. How was work? He says he’ll fill her in after dinner, and James asks if Violet can’t stay. Maxie says, maybe next time. Violet’s dad really wants her home. Violet says, it’s okay. She had a lot of fun today, but she hasn’t to go home now. Her dad gets really sad and lonely when she’s not there.

Finn lies on the couch, his phone playing morose music alongside an open bottle of tequila. (Why? Why is it always tequila?) He wakes with a start, sits up, and holds his head. He picks up the bottle and takes a swig. (Ugh. It’s bad if you’re drinking straight from the bottle, and Michael Easton is so good, he’s making me feel ill.) He notices a smear of blood and some glass on the table, and looks at his hand, realizing he has a piece of glass imbedded in his palm. He pulls out the glass, takes another swig, and pours some tequila on the wound, which is obviously painful. He tries to get up, but falls on the floor and stays there.

Sam puts her phone on Carly’s desk and says, what she’s about to hear isn’t all about her, even though she knows Carly is going to make it that way. Sam’s life and her children have been affected. Elizabeth and Jake, and anyone who’s ever loved Jason and mourned his death.  Carly asks where she got this and how she knows it wasn’t altered, and Sam says, it’s real. Spinelli got it from the FBI’s evidentiary database. And of course (🍷) Carly will be able to confirm its authenticity. Sam hits play, and Carly’s voice says, as you all know, my husband is dead, but his organization isn’t. It’s still strong and stable. The only thing that’s changed is the person who sits in Sonny’s seat, and from now on, that will be me.

John comes into the warehouse and asks, where is she? Jason says, where’s who? and John tells him not to play games. He knows Anna was here. Jason says, and now she’s not. John asks what they talked about, and says, Jason had better have been smart enough to record it. Jason says he never records conversations, and John says, then they have a problem. Unless he’s figured out another way to prove Anna is the one running Pikeman. Jason says, John’s not going to find anything on Anna because there’s nothing there. Or does proving it not even matter anymore?

Anna says, sorry she’s late, but Valentin says, don’t worry about it. He’s just glad she wasn’t canceling. She says she did think about it, but she wanted to see him. He says he’s glad, and she says, whatever he’s cooking smells delicious. He says, coq au vin, and she says, the classics. They never get old. She’s always loved how he decorated this place. He says, that makes him happy because it’s all for her. He bought this house hoping they would share it. Does she know what goes well with coq au vin? A Bordeaux he brought back from his travels. Would she like a glass? She asks how she could say no, and he says, she can’t. He’ll be right back. He goes into the kitchen, and she says, take your time. When he’s gone, she starts snooping around.

Violet thanks doorman Carl for walking her up and he says, anytime. Tell her dad he said hi. She closes the door and sees Finn on the floor. She says, dad? and runs to him. She shakes him and says, she’s home. Wake up. She sees the blood on his hand and takes his phone off the table. She sees he missed a call from Tracy, and she hits the number to call back.

Tracy picks up and says, it’s about time. She’s left him three messages. She was beginning to think he was avoiding her. Violet says, her dad needs help, and Tracy asks, what’s wrong? Violet says she thinks he’s dead, and Tracy says she’ll be right there. She calls 911 and says she needs to report an emergency. 347 Portside Road, apartment 9.

Spinelli kisses Maxie, and says, it seems as though she may be somewhere else. Is something wrong? She says, no. She’s just worried about Violet. He asks if something happened when she dropped Violet off, but she says, it was a completely normal drive. She just really heard what Violet was saying while she was here. How she needed to get home and be with her dad because she was worried about him. It kind of sounded like she was raising Finn, not the other way around. Spinelli says, she does seem responsible for her father, but what if that’s just their normal relationship? After all, in the dictionary, under the word precocious, there’s a picture of Violet. Maxie says, even so, it’s possible for a child to be too sensitive. She feels like there might be something going on at home.

Tracy runs into Finn’s apartment, and Violet says, he won’t wake up. Tracy says she called an ambulance, and asks Violet to wait by the door until they get here. She checks Finn, and the paramedics come. Violet tells them, he’s over there, and they go over to him. Tracy says, his daughter found him like this when she came home. Luckily, Violet had the good sense to call her. She tells Violet that she thinks her dad is just sleeping, and Violet says, on the floor? Did he fall? Tracy says, maybe, probably, and Violet asks why there’s blood on him. Tracy says she thinks he cut his hand when he fell. The paramedics will take care of it and they need to give them room. She’ll talk to them. She tells Violet to stay where she is, and asks one of the paramedics how bad Finn is hurt. The paramedic says, the cut? and Tracy asks if they checked his airways and his heart. The paramedic says she’s sorry to put it this way, but drunk is not an emergency. Tracy says she knows that, they know that, but Violet doesn’t know that. She has to get her out of here, so she’ll be back. She tells Violet that the paramedics want a little time to help her dad. Grab her bag. She thinks they should visit her Uncle Chase. Violet says she’s already been gone too long today, and Tracy says, her dad didn’t hurt himself because she was gone. She knows how happy it will make her Uncle Chase to see her, and she’ll come right back here and make sure her dad is as good as new. Violet says she doesn’t want to go, and Tracy says she understands, but she would say her dad needs to rest, wouldn’t she? Violet says, what if he doesn’t wake up like grandpa? but Tracy says, it isn’t the same thing. Her grandfather was really, really sick. Does she remember all the doctor’s appointments and the special things he needed to walk and to breathe? Her dad just needs a little time to feel like himself again. Violet asks if she’s sure, and Tracy says she is. Violet asks if she can give him a kiss before they go, and Tracy says she wishes Violet could, but they need to give them room to work. Violet says, okay, picks up her bag, and leaves with Tracy.

Carly says she can’t believe this, and Sam says, she didn’t know the FBI had evidence against her? Carly says, no. All Jason told her was that he was an informant. She assumed they had evidence against him. It never occurred to her… Sam says, that it was her, and Carly says she can’t believe this recording even exists. It took place over three years ago with the heads of all the families under incredibly tight security. Sam says, obviously not tight enough, because the FBI was able to record the whole meeting, including Carly’s declaration that she was taking over for Sonny as head of his organization. Carly asks why Sam even went looking for it, and Sam says, because she wanted to know what the FBI was using to force Jason to cooperate. So she was able to borrow and copy Agent Cates’s credentials, and Spinelli was able to hack into the evidentiary database. Their plan was to get rid of the evidence once they had it, but Cates’s access did not allow for him to alter or delete the file. So all Spinelli could do was make a recording of the audio file. Carly says she can’t believe Jason was protecting her. Everything he’s been through… Poor Jason. Sam says, he’s not the victim here. Jason abandoned his children and let anyone who ever loved him think he was dead.

Anna rifles through Valentin’s desk, listens for him coming, then looks on the shelves. He comes back with two glasses of wine and says, sorry to keep her waiting. He hands her a glass and she says, some things are worth the wait. He asks if she found what she was looking for.

Chase opens the door to Tracy and Violet, and Tracy says, sorry to come by unannounced, but she told Violet how happy they’d be to see her. Chase says, of course (🍷) they are. He can always use some more Violet time. He invites them in, and Brook says, they were just talking about how much they miss her and want to hang out with her, and here she is. Perfect timing. She just made dessert – apple pie – and they were about to dig in. She’s sure Violet wants a piece. Violet says, that’s okay. She’s not hungry. Chase asks if she wants some hot cocoa. She can put all the marshmallows she wants in it. (All I can think is, Chase, it’s 90 out today.) Violet says she’s fine, except she was in the pool all day and put her wet swimsuit in her bag. It gets all gross if she leaves it in there. Brook says, come with her, and they’ll hang it up. She and Violet leave, and Chase asks Tracy, why is Violet with her and what’s going on?

Anna says, Valentin caught her. She was just looking at all the titles on his books; they’re so interesting. He knows how she’s always pretending she’s going to read at night instead of going to sleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. He says he always loved the untouched stack of books on her bedside table. She’d never let him move them because she said she was going to get to them. She says she promises she will one day… when she retires, and he says, it sounds like her work is very busy. She says, the Commissioner’s job is never done, and he tells her to try the Bordeaux. She takes a sip and says, that’s delicious. Yum. He says he’s glad she likes it because there’s plenty more where that came from for them to share in the future. She says, that’s a bit presumptuous of him, and he says, hope springs eternal, darling. She says she did actually find out an interesting piece of information in her work about Jack Brennan, and he says, he’s ancient history, but she says, he’s not so ancient. He was injured recently in Pentenville. He was taken to GH for treatment. He got caught in a knife fight. He says, that’s unfortunate. Still, you can count on Jack to make enemies of those he’s stuck with behind bars. She says she was alerted when he was taken in for treatment. Jurisdictional courtesy and all that. She went to see him. Valentin says, and? and she says, he knows Jack. You can never get a straight answer out of him. But he did strongly imply that he did stab himself in the hopes he’d get a visit from Carly of all people. He says, hopefully, he’ll recover. He’s really not interested in discussing Jack. He’d really rather discuss her. She says, he’s so good at deflecting, and he says he learned from the best. He suggests they adjourn to the patio and have dinner.

John tells Jason, the good people of Port Charles may have been fooled into seeing Anna as a dedicated public servant, but you don’t have to dig very deep into her background, especially her time at the WSB, to uncover evidence that proves Anna is the head of Pikeman. Jason says, the evidence can be interpreted any way he wants, and he wants Anna to be guilty. John says he won’t be lectured by a man who spent years working for Sonny Corinthos, and Jason says, John is also derailing his investigation by targeting the wrong person. John says he’s following the evidence, and if Jason won’t or can’t find him what he needs to shut down Pikeman and close this case, he won’t go back to Quantico empty handed. He will take Carly Spencer with him. He walks out.

Carly closes the door and says, Sam knows Jason didn’t want to leave Danny and Jake or anyone else he loved. He was doing it to protect her. Sam says, yes, because he loves Carly more than he loves his own kids, and Carly says, it isn’t Jason’s fault. If Sam wants to blame someone… Sam says, blame her? Don’t worry. She does. She thinks Carly is just as responsible for this as Jason. She showed up at a mob meeting. She claimed to be running Sonny’s organization. She incriminated herself. And instead of paying for her actions like the adult she is, Jason abandoned his children and abandoned his life to cover for her. Carly says, Jason was doing what he thought was right, and Sam says, how convenient for her. She doesn’t ever have to pay for her mistakes. Carly says, why doesn’t Sam direct some of this anger toward Agent Cates? He’s the one who started all this, not Jason. Sam says, Carly will always stick up for Jason like Jason sticks up for her. What about everyone else? What about the people who believed in Jason? What about the people he left behind… for you? Sam walks out.

Tracy tells Chase, Violet just walked in on her father, passed out, drunk, and bleeding on the floor, and Chase says, bleeding? She says, he cut his hand. It wasn’t serious, but it was messy. Violet didn’t know it wasn’t serious. She actually thought he might have died while she was having fun on a playdate. She blamed herself because she left him alone all day. He asks how she found Violet, and she says, Violet saw missed calls from her on Finn’s phone and called her back. Violet told her that her father needed help. He says, poor Violet, and Tracy says, he should have seen the look on Violet’s face when she walked in there. She was terrified. He says, Tracy wanted to get her out of there, so she brought Violet here, and she says, Violet adores him and she thought maybe he could distract her from what she just saw. He asks, where’s Finn now? and she says, he’s at home with the paramedics. She called 911 and hopefully, they got him bandaged and sobered up by now. She will soon see. He says he’s coming with her, but she says, no, he’s not. He says, of course (🍷) he is. Why wouldn’t he? She says, because when Finn wakes up, he’s going to want to see Violet and he just can’t. Not like this. So she wants him and Brook to take Violet back to her house. He asks, why? and she says, he doesn’t have the room here for Violet to stay here, and what if Finn decides to come and get her back? Does he really want Finn pounding on his front door, putting her through that after everything else she’s been through tonight? He says, God no, and she says she can handle Finn. He needs to comfort his niece. She needs her Uncle Chase to make her feel safe. He says, okay. He’ll do it here way, but she has to keep him posted on Finn’s condition. She says she will. She has Violet’s keys so she can let herself back in. He thanks her for all of this, and she says, he knows she loves Finn. He’s her friend. And she also knows this is what his father would want, and she’s grateful she can help his son any way she can. He says he can’t believe Finn would let Violet see him like this. The pain he must be in to let this happen. He wants to be here for his niece, but he feels like he’s failing Finn if he doesn’t go with her. She says, he’s done everything he can to help his brother, and truthfully, she can say things to Finn that he can’t. And what she’s going to say to him, he really needs to hear. She leaves.

Spinelli and Maxie snuggle on the sofa, when there’s a knock at the door. Maxie asks if Spinelli is expecting anyone, and he says, no. She says, great, and gets up to answer it. She opens the door to Sam, who says she’s sorry she didn’t call. She has to discuss something with Spinelli. Maxie says she owes the kids some butterfly kisses, and leaves. Spinelli says, Sam left him earlier quite expeditiously. Dare he ask where she was going? She says she went to see Carly, and he says he thought she’d go see Jason. He should have anticipated her need to confront Carly. She says she wanted to see what Carly knew about Jason and the FBI, and he says, she played the recording for Carly? She says, Carly can lie like a pro, but her reaction was genuine. Tonight was the first time she knew that Jason spent the past two years under the control of the FBI so she didn’t have to face charges of racketeering.

There’s a knock at Carly’s office door, and she says, come in. John asks if she’s got a few minutes, but she says she’s a little busy. He says he’ll make it worth her while, and holds up a bottle of champagne. Full disclosure, even though she owns half the hotel and could get this bottle for free, he charged it to his suite. She says, he didn’t expense it to the FBI? and he asks who she thinks pays for his suite. He just never thanked her properly for coming to his rescue that night in the alley or spending the night nursing him in his suite (WOTD). Things could have gotten a lot worse had she not been there, and he appreciates her help. She says, he’s welcome, and he says he’s also grateful that she didn’t tell anybody about it like he asked. She says, and that deserves an expensive bottle of champagne? and he says he just thought he should celebrate. His investigation is almost finished. A little more time wrapping things up and he’ll be heading back to Quantico. She says she’ll be sorry to see him leave Port Charles, and he says he won’t miss much about Port Charles, but he will miss her.

As they walk back inside, Anna tells Valentin that his coq au vin is perfect, and he says he’s glad she liked it. But he can’t take full credit. It’s not his recipe. She says she appreciates honesty. It’s so rare these days. He says, and all the more precious because of it. In the spirit of honesty, he has an armagnac that makes the perfect digestif. He pours them each a glass, and asks, what should they drink to? She says, their lovely conversation under the stars, and he says, that is cause for celebration. Anna says, or they can talk about something they haven’t touched on yet. Like his success at ELQ. He seems to be jetting around all over the place lately. What exactly is he up to these days? He says, most of his trips to Europe are just excuses to pop in and see Charlotte. It’s one of the perks of having access to a corporate jet. She says she wouldn’t know. And the rest of the time? He says he’d bore her to tears with all that corporate stuff. He thinks her work is far more interesting. What case is she working on now? What mysteries is she solving at the moment? She says, everything she’s working on is classified, and he makes a pouty face. She says, which reminds her, she has a very big day tomorrow. This is really lovely. Thank you, but I have to go. He takes her hand and says, no. Please don’t. There’s something he has to tell her.

She says, sounds serious. Should she be concerned? He says, it is serious. They’ve been dancing around this for a long time. A long time ago, the trust between the two of them was damaged. She says she expects that’s true for both of them, and he says he really only believes 30% of what she tells him. She says, that’s interesting. Her percentage for him is actually a lot lower. He says he supposes he deserved that. If he hasn’t completely drained the trust tank, he’d like to say something to her, and he thinks she’s going to understand it’s completely honest. She says, and that is? and he says he loves her. He always has. It’s in his DNA; it’s like the color of his eyes. Being apart from her is the hardest thing he’s ever done, and he keeps wishing that this hopeless feeling of loving someone he can’t have will fade away. But it doesn’t. He doesn’t think it ever will.

Carly says, since John is opening up a bottle of fancy champagne and celebrating heading home, does that mean he’s rounded up all the bad guys and put them in prison? He says, wouldn’t that be nice? and she asks if that means he hasn’t. He says, investigations are rarely cut and dried. One thing about bad guys, there’s always one more out there. She asks if this one more is really dangerous, and he says he’s not sure what they’re capable of, but this person has done some very bad things. She says, interesting choice of words – this person. Does that mean the bad guy is really a woman?

Spinelli asks if Carly is worried about the information on her that the FBI is holding over Jason’s head, but Sam says, they really didn’t talk about it. She was more concerned about what Jason was up to. He says, perhaps when she has time to process, she’ll realize the great jeopardy. The recording incriminates her for possible RICO violations… Sam asks why he’s worried about Carly being charged. That’s never going to happen. Jason made his choice. He turned his back on everyone to keep Carly safe. Now he’s going to have to live with those consequences.

Chase says he knows Violet is scared and worried about her dad, but he promises her dad is going to be okay. She asks how he knows that, and he says, sometimes, grown-ups just know things. Brook says, he’s not lying to her. Her Uncle Chase is a cop. He’s telling her the truth. Violet asks if Chase knows how to cook, and he says he sure does. She asks if he thinks he could teach her how to make stuff besides sandwiches. Maybe her dad won’t look so tired or be so sad if she can make him some good things to eat when he comes home from work. Chase says he knows she wants to help her dad, but it’s not… Brook shakes her head, and he says, it’s not that hard to – Brook nods – to make something special. How about this? They’re going to go and spend the night at the Quartermaines, and in the morning, he’ll make some French toast. Sasha can cook for everybody else, but he, Violet, and Brook will have their own thing. It’ll be his special recipe with cinnamon. Violet says, with whipped cream on top? and he says, of course (🍷). It’s no good any other way. He puts his arm around her and hugs her to him.

Finn half sits/half lies in a chair, his hand bandaged. Tracy comes in and says, hello? She looks around and says, they just left him like that. She kicks one of Finn’s feet, but he barely stirs. She kicks him again, but nothing. She sighs and gets her phone out of her bag. As she fights back tears, she takes pictures of Finn, the broken glass, and the nearly empty bottle, with the blood smear next to it. She gathers her composure and takes another photo of Finn. (Reality check. It’s highly doubtful the paramedics would have left Finn alone and passed out. If something had gone sideways, like him dying from alcohol poisoning, they could be sued.)

As he opens the bottle, John says, if he didn’t know any better, he’d say Carly was trying to worm confidential information out of him. She says, he’s the one who showed up here with champagne trying to lower her defenses. He says, maybe he just wants to celebrate the beginning of the end, and she says, by all means. He pours the champagne and says, as for the gender of the bad guy, a good agent never tells. He hands her a glass, and she asks if he’s a good agent. He says, the best, and she says she’ll drink to that, and they clink glasses.

Anna says, as much as she tried to fight it, she’s still very much drawn to him. And like him, she wishes she didn’t feel it. It’s late. She really should go. She’s had such a lovely evening. She takes his hand, and he thanks her. He kisses her hand and says he loved it too. He just wishes it didn’t have to end. She says, maybe it doesn’t, and he kisses her. They continue to kiss, as Jason lurks around the front of the house. He sees them through the window. He looks… I don’t know. It’s Jason. He never looks any kind of way but Jason.

Violet says, spending the night at the Quartermaines will be fun, but she didn’t bring her PJs. Brook tells her not to worry about that. Scout has a bunch at the house she can borrow. Violet says, all right, but she still has to call her dad and ask if she can come. He cut his hand, and it was bleeding. He might need her help tonight. Brook suggests she give Violet’s dad a call and make sure it’s okay. She thinks she left her phone in the kitchen and asks if Violet wouldn’t mind grabbing it for her. Violet says, sure, and goes to the kitchen. As soon as she’s gone, Brook says, all she wants to do is take care of Finn. It’s breaking her heart. Chase says he knows. Him too. She says she didn’t think she could love him any more than she does, but watching him be such a great uncle to that little girl… He says, is she kidding him? He’d do anything for that girl. He hates lying to her. It feels wrong. Brook says, no, it’s not wrong. There are certain things children need to be protected from. What Finn is going through right now is one of them. Violet is too young to understand the truth of what’s going on. It will only scare her. They’re keeping Violet safe. So any time he starts to feel guilty, remind himself of that, okay? Brook calls to Violet that she found her phone. She called dad and he said it was okay for her to spend the night at the Quartermaines.

Tracy walks into the living room with Finn’s medical bag. She fishes around in it and comes out with a capsule of what (I think) they used to call smelling salts. She pops it open under his nose, and he sits up, coughs, then groans. He says, what the…? What happened? Tracy says, you tell me, and Finn looks at her for a moment, then says, where’s Violet? Where’s his daughter? Tracy says, she’s gone. She’s not coming back.

Tomorrow, Carly says she has to fix this and make this right; Kristina asks if Ava wants to do the honors, or should she; Violet asks Brook, what if he thinks she doesn’t love him anymore; and Finn tells Tracy, if anyone tries to stop him, he’s calling the police.

🧼 After His Break…

It’s great how GH gives actors wiggle room and also fosters their other talents.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/dominic-zamprogna-opens-up-about-his-break-from-gh

🔌Ryan Unplugged…

Can’t say I blame him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ryan-paevey-explains-why-hes-retreating-from-social-media

🥂 Valentin’s Digestif…

I’d never heard of this before. The more you know…

https://www.liquor.com/articles/brandy-armagnac/

🍊 That Boy Is a Monster…

Looks like someone has been on Ozempic. Maybe everyone. Most of this is just sad. I don’t remember a lot about Alexis, but I’m guessing she’s not super bright. Rhyming door with Beador isn’t exactly poetic genius.

🛟 Preview On Deck…

What’s coming up on the next Med.

🍸 Perception Of the Rules…

The VanderQueen herself.

This season’s MVanderP.

On the VanderOutskirts.

⚰️ Setting the Bar…

Wake me when September starts.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/norman-reedus-sets-high-expectations-of-daryl-dixon-the-book-of-carol-01j08qn5shvk

🎸 Together As a Hole…

I loved this band. Whatever else you think of Courtney, she’s a brilliant musician.

https://people.com/hole-courtney-love-melissa-auf-der-maur-reunite-in-studio-8666898

🃏 A Joke…

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, Jesus knows you’re here. He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard a voice say, Jesus is watching you. Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

Did you say that? he hissed at the parrot. Yep, the parrot confessed, then squawked, I’m just trying to warn you that he is watching you. The burglar relaxed. Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?

 I’m Moses, replied the bird.

Moses? the burglar laughed. What kind of people would name a bird Moses?

The same kind of people that would name their Rottweiler Jesus.

🦄 It’s Okay To Be Different…

Kind of like that eagle in Strays.

https://people.com/intersex-tortoiseshell-kitten-found-in-oregon-8661653

Who knew he was a farmer at heart? Or is he hoping to hatch a dinosaur egg?

https://people.com/chris-pratt-chickens-washington-state-ranch-8665857

The donkey has found his people… er, elk.

https://people.com/pet-donkey-missing-5-years-found-living-with-wild-elk-8667442

🐓 Quotes of the Week

Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.John Steinbeck

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. – Annette Funicello

Behind her back, like a lady and a professional. – Kate Chastain (Below Deck) on how one should gossip

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

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. – John Burroughs

The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same. – Colin R.Davis

Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. – Rita Mae Brown

Sometimes when you have a lot of bars and a lot of people, people make bad choices. – law enforcement officer, Drugs Inc.: The Fix

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

🤽‍♀️ Coming Up For Air…

Enjoy the first weekend of official summer, or the A/C if it’s too hot where you are, and join me on Monday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay always using sunscreen, stay saying the things a friend needs to hear, especially if others can’t. 

May 9, 2024 – Gregory Makes a Decision, Hey Cuz, Reflection, Houses Of Awful, Possible VanderMove, Off the Runway, Them Again, Nepo Furbabies & Home

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase says, Finn’s going to do the talking, right? and Finn tells him, that’s what he said. It’s just he was thinking Chase could say it better. Chase asks why he could say it better, and Finn says he’s not exactly known for his bedside manner. Chase, on the other hand… Chase says he what? and Finn says, he does things with care and compassion. Chase says, Finn can be caring and compassionate when he tells their dad that they don’t think he should come to the rehearsal dinner tonight. And he can’t wait to go to Coney Island. Gregory comes in and says, good morning. He’s sorry it takes him so long to get up and get dressed. Did he miss seeing Violet off to school? and Finn says, yeah. She’s only going for a half-day, and he’s going to pick her up so she can change before going to the airport. Gregory says, sounds like a plan, and Finn says, speaking of plans, they wanted to talk to him about this evening, and he… Chase?

Alexis opens the door to Laura and says she was just preparing for her hearing next week. Laura says she was so happy to hear Alexis was taking steps to overturn her disbarment. How’s it going? Alexis says she thinks she’s as prepared as she can be, but at this point, she’s just spinning her wheels. Laura says she thinks Alexis is going to do great. She knows Alexis is an excellent lawyer. As a matter of fact, that’s why she’s here.

At the MetroCourt, Ava tells Sonny that she contacted two of their most high-profile artists to see if either of them would like a large commission to create a piece for the city. Sonny watches Jordan talking with Olivia, and says, turns out that’s not going to be necessary because he’s moved on to another idea. Ava looks over at Jordan and Olivia.

There’s a knock at Blaze’s hotel room door, and Blaze opens it to Natalia. Natalia asks if she can come in. She doesn’t want to see anything she shouldn’t see. Blaze says, since she knocked instead of barging in, she thinks Natalia is safe. What brings her by? Natalia says she wanted to see what outfit Blaze is going to go with for the Quartermaine wedding, and Blaze says she hasn’t decided yet. Why? Natalia says she doesn’t want to clash with it.

Jason is doing actual work at the coffee warehouse when Sam runs in and asks, where’s Danny?

Laura says she went to see Heather in Pentenville the other day, and Alexis asks how she’s doing. Laura says, pretty well. She’s still recovering nicely from the surgery, but other than that… Alexis says, she’s still the same Heather, but Laura says, no. She’s really not. Since the replaced the bad hip, the changes in Heather are striking. Alexis says, in a good way? and Laura says, it appears so. Alexis says, appears being the operative word, and Laura says she knows Alexis and Doc talked about this a few weeks back. She just wondered if Alexis was able to find anything that would suggest they might be able to revisit Heather’s case. Alexis says she’s surprised Laura actually wants to move forward with this, and Laura says, it’s just that the more she talks to Heather, the more she believes the cobalt poisoning was affecting her ability to reason. Alexis says, so the metallosis was the reason she killed those people, and tried to kill all those other people, and had two decades of horrendous and cruel behavior? Laura says she’s not qualified to say. All she can say is, up until this point, Heather has always felt justified in her actions. Alexis says, and now? and Laura says, now she’s beginning to question her violent behavior. And she’s showing signs of real remorse. She thinks in general, Heather is feeling more in control of herself and containing her anger better. That she actually witnessed. Alexis asks if Laura thinks Heather is actually growing a conscience, and Laura asks if Alexis was able to find anything to help her. Alexis says, actually, she did.

Gregory says, of course (🍷) he wants to hear everything Chase has to say, but first, there’s something he needs to say. If it’s all right. Chase says, please, and Finn says, by all means. Gregory says, having the rehearsal dinner on Coney Island is such a fun idea. (I actually wish I’d thought of something like that) And it’s beyond generous of Tracy to bring them all down there, so that Brook can revisit one of the great joys of her childhood. Everything about it seems unmissable… Chase says, the thing is… but Gregory says, please let him finish. He hopes they won’t be upset with him. He promises he’ll apologize to Brook and her family, but he really feels he needs to conserve his energy for the wedding itself. Chase asks if he’s saying… and Gregory says he’s thought long and hard about it. As much as he wants to go, he’s not going to go. He’s asked Tracy if she would stand in for him at the rehearsal. Chase says he really wishes Gregory could make it too, but he understands, and he’ll make sure everybody there does too. Gregory thanks him, and Finn says he knows it must have been a hard decision, but for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks it was the right one. He can call a home help agency and see if he can get someone to stay with Gregory. Gregory says, no. That’s not necessary.

Blaze says, since when is Natalia going to Brook’s wedding? and Natalia says, since Blaze’s invitation arrived. Or did she not get a plus one? Blaze says she did and she’s taking Kristina, and Natalia asks, why? Blaze says, because Kristina’s her girlfriend, and Natalia says, how could she forget? Blaze says, it seems to slip her mind a lot, and Natalia says, Blaze’s relationship with Kristina is always on her mind, especially at times like this. Blaze says she knows she’s going to hate herself for asking, but times like what? and Natalia says she thinks it’s unwise for Blaze and Kristina to go as a couple to such a public event. She thought they had an understanding about that. Blaze says, so did she. Apparently, they were both wrong.

Jason says, Danny’s not here, and Sam says, all she knows is that he’s not in school. She got a call from his counselor. He was concerned because Danny missed an appointment. He asks why Danny is seeing a counselor, and she says, because Danny occasionally has trouble following the rules. Anyway, he wasn’t marked as present in his first period class, so she used that location app on his phone to see where he was… He says, she’s tracking Danny? and she says, the app said his phone was at home. So she went upstairs to his bedroom and his phone was on his bed under a pile of clothes, which means he deliberately doesn’t want her to know where he is. Jason says, maybe he just forgot his phone, but she says, no teenager ever let’s their phone out of their sight. Especially Danny, considering she just gave his phone back to him. He says he hasn’t seen Danny, and doesn’t she see that she’s training Danny to lie to her?

Sam says, first of all, Jason doesn’t know anything about her relationship with Danny. Danny knows he can trust her. Jason asks, how would he know that? Every time Danny brings up the truth in wanting to spend time with him, he gets into trouble. He thinks maybe if he lies, there’s a chance he won’t get caught and won’t get in trouble. She says she just warned Danny that being around Jason is dangerous and their son refuses to listen to her. He says, okay. If they agree that he and Danny can spend some time together, he won’t be somewhere dangerous. She says, what happens if he just shows up at Jason’s place like he did the other day? Can he promise her that Danny won’t be walking into something dangerous? He says, no, and she says, exactly. And that’s what terrifies her. It’s not just about Danny getting to know him and spending time with him. He wants the danger. He chases it just like Jason. Just like she used to. He says, this is different. There was a time when he didn’t care if he lived or died. He doesn’t see that in Danny. She says, then tell her what it is he sees in their son as opposed to the last time he was in town, and he says he just sees a kid who likes freedom. She says, he’s a teenage boy. They all want their freedom. He just doesn’t know what to do with it. Jason really doesn’t know anything about raising a teenager. He says, maybe not, but she says, definitely not. Because the first rule in raising a teenager is being there, and he wasn’t. He was alive and she still has no idea where he was or what he was doing. And nice tattoo by the way. Did he show that to Danny? Did he at least explain to him where that came from? What are the odds Danny is going to want a tattoo too? (Ha-ha! Tattoo too.) Let’s just hope he goes for one and doesn’t go full out with a whole sleeve. She actually doesn’t know. Maybe that just happened one tattoo at a time over the past two plus years. He says he’ll explain to Danny… and she says, he’ll explain to Danny that he should just hide Jason in the boathouse and not tell her. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Danny walked in on him in the boathouse. He didn’t seek Danny out. She says, he told their son to lie to her about it, and he says, because that was the safest thing for Danny right then. That was his decision. Be mad at him. She says she is mad at him, but she’s afraid for their son, and he says, she’s afraid that she can’t control him. He doesn’t even think she sees it. And no matter what Danny does, it feels like he’s in trouble, and it’s wrong. He’s a kid. If he skips school, he’s going to get into trouble. He’s got detention, he gets grounded, take the phone away. He’s going to pay the price. Life goes on. She says, if he knows so much about their son, where is he right now?

Alexis tells Laura that she found two cases where post-condition release was granted because the key witnesses recanted their testimony. The most relevant was a forensic psychiatrist who acknowledged his findings were based on incomplete evidence. Laura says, so then a diagnosis of cobalt poisoning would have helped Heather’s defense, and Alexis says, possibly. If Laura can get a transcript of Heather’s court appearance, she’ll take a look at it. Laura thanks her, and she says, but Laura has to manage her expectations. Metallosis or not, there is no judge that will want to vacate her conviction because the body count is too high, and she confessed, and she pled guilty. Laura says, yes, but all of her actions were under the influence of something out of her control, and Alexis says, maybe she didn’t murder anyone before the metallosis, but Laura can’t pretend Heather was some sort of quirky free spirit. Laura says, she’s right, and Alexis says, it’s a long shot. Laura asks if Alexis is saying she can’t help anymore, because she certainly would understand that, and Alexis says, as a citizen of Port Charles, as a human being, she’s hesitant. As a once and hopefully future attorney again, she believes everyone is entitled to a fair defense, even Heather. Laura says, then she’ll see about getting Alexis those transcripts.

Blaze says she’s taken Natalia’s advice on keeping her private life private. As much as she hates to say it, Natalia has a point. She hates that people are so intolerant. Even a quarter of the way through the twenty-first century, things for queer people… Natalia says, please don’t refer to herself that way, and Blaze says, things for people like her are getting harder and harder. All of this to say, this is a family wedding, not a public event. Natalia says, sometimes Blaze can be such an innocent. Yes, this is not a public wedding, but everybody is going to read about it, and all the lucky invitees are going to be plastering their social media with photos and selfies, especially since there’s going to be a celebrity in their midst, which Blaze is. Blaze says she doesn’t think anything is going to change because they saw her standing next to Kristina, but Natalia says, that doesn’t even count all the professional photos that are going to be out there on the newswire. And that’s not just locally. It’s going to start at The Invader and then it’s going to proliferate outward. Blaze says she wouldn’t worry. The Quartermaines are used to protecting their privacy from the press. Yes, it will be a well-attended event, but only by close family and friends, and she’s going with Kristina. Natalia says, she’s thinking about this in the absolutely wrong way, and Blaze asks how she should be thinking about it. Natalia says, she’s not going as just a regular person, and certainly not as somebody’s girlfriend. She has to think about herself as a brand. Sure, Ally can go to any old wedding she wants to with whoever she wants to, but the second somebody takes a photo of her and puts it online, she’s no longer Allison, she’s Blaze. And they’ve worked too hard to create this brand so carefully. She doesn’t want to see all this hard work and effort just be for nothing.

Olivia asks Sonny how he likes the new menu, and he says he loves it. He wants one of each. Ava says, so does she. She’s heard wonderful things about the new chef. Olivia says, they were a real find. She hopes Sonny wasn’t bothered by the guys in the ballroom. They’re pulling out all the stops. They want everything to be perfect for Chase and Brook’s wedding. Ava says she’s sure the reception is going to be absolutely beautiful, and her phone rings. Sonny says, whatever Olivia needs, she knows he’s here, and Ava says, it’s Trina at the gallery. They’re expecting a new piece today. Excuse her. Olivia says, hurry up. She doesn’t want to miss that. Ava leaves, and Olivia says, please. Tell her that he’s not bringing that one to the wedding.

Gregory says, Violet will be away with them, and while the caregivers are all perfectly nice, he could use a break from this endless procession of strangers in this apartment. Finn says, they’ve been through this before, and Chase says he’d feel more comfortable knowing Gregory isn’t alone. Gregory says, they won’t even be gone overnight. They’re flying back this evening. Chase says, they’ll probably be pretty late, and Gregory says, regardless, he’ll be fine. Finn says, it’s one thing if he spends the evening worrying about Gregory, but it’s Chase’s rehearsal dinner. He should be able to enjoy it without wondering if he’s abandoning Gregory. Gregory says, and Finn of all people would know what it’s like to be abandoned before his wedding. He recalls feeling great at his rehearsal dinner with Jackie, and then wondering where the hell Finn was when the wedding started. But by all means, lecture him on proper wedding etiquette. (Touché and ouch.) Finn says, okay. He thinks that Chase can take the conversation from here, and leaves.

Sam’s phone rings, and she tells Jason, it’s Danny’s school. She answers and listens a moment. She thanks them for letting her know, and tells Jason, that was Danny’s counselor. He got the time wrong. Danny’s at his appointment right now. Jason says, so where’s he been? and she says, in class. The first period teacher didn’t put the attendance into the computer until after the class was over, so go ahead and just say it. Tell her, I told you so. He says he’s just glad Danny is safe, and she says, her too. She’s going to get out of his way, and Sonny’s. He says, Sonny’s not here, and she asks where he is. Jason says he doesn’t know, but she says, of course (🍷) he would know where Sonny is. What’s going on? Did something happen between him and Sonny?

Blaze says, Brook’s wedding has nothing to do with her branding, and Natalia says, maybe she hasn’t been clear enough, but this wedding, her manager’s wedding, has everything to do with her branding. It’s like the most amazing photo op. An event like this, as prestigious as this Quartermaine wedding, and her going as Brook’s client, this is incredible PR. Photos of her and Brook together or even of the two of them together is all brand awareness for Blaze and her music. Blaze says she won’t use her friend’s wedding as a career steppingstone, and Natalia says, but her friend is also her manager, and she should be all over this. Blaze says she loves Natalia and she’s so grateful for everything Natalia has done for her finances. Not just when she started making money, but even before, to help her with her singing. From voice lessons to paying for studio time and everything, every little detail that’s helped her get this far. Natalia says she hears a but, and Blaze says, but there are decisions about her life that only she can make. And this is one of them.

Alexis tells Finn, come on in, and he thanks her for letting him come over. She says, of course (🍷). Start at the beginning. Tell her everything. He says he and Chase both thought it would be best for Gregory if he didn’t go to the rehearsal dinner tonight in Coney Island. So they went over to talk to him, and he beat them to the punch. He said he was going to stay home and rest for tomorrow. She says, okay. That’s great. He says, except he wanted to bring in a caregiver to keep an eye on him while they were all away, and she says, oh. So she guesses he didn’t like that idea. Finn says, no. Gregory reminded him that he slept with Jackie and didn’t show up at his wedding. She says, whoa. That wasn’t the turn she expected this to take. Finn says, him either, and she asks what he said. Finn says, nothing. He left, called her, and here they are. He abandoned his father again. She says, he walked away from an unwinnable argument. That is not abandonment. He says he kept Gregory out of his life for almost thirty years. He convinced himself that after what he’d done, staying away was the right thing to do. He blamed Gregory for moving on so quickly when Finn’s mom died. He even changed his name. He tried to distance himself from his father as much as he could. She says, and then they found their way back together. They worked it out. Finn says, if he ever thought Gregory was going to forgive him, this morning proved otherwise.

Sonny tells Olivia that he’s not bringing Ava. Lois made it a point to not invite her. She doesn’t even know those people. Olivia says, she may not know those people, but those people definitely know her. Ava comes back and says, what people? Olivia says, the Cerullos, the Falconaris, all the people from the old neighborhood. They’ll be at her stepdaughter’s wedding tomorrow. She tells Sonny that she’ll send the waitress right over, and leaves. Ava says, not that he asked, but just in case Sonny wants a plus one for the wedding, she did pick out a pretty spectacular outfit. No pressure. He says, there is no pressure because she’s not going.

Chase tells Gregory that he’s making himself breakfast if he wants anything, and Gregory says he’s so sorry. He shouldn’t have said what he said. Now he feels like he’s spoiled the evening for Chase and his brother. Chase says he doesn’t think Gregory spoiled anything. He and Finn just want to make sure he’s okay here and has help if he needs it. Gregory says he understands. He shouldn’t have lashed out like that. He let his nerves get the better of him. Chase says, he’s nervous? And Gregory says, of course (🍷) he’s nervous. Tomorrow is a huge day. Tonight’s an important night too. It’s the night before his son starts his life as a married man. And as much as he wants to be there with Chase and Brook and everybody, tomorrow is more important. He wants to go over everything he wants to say and make sure he gets a good night’s sleep, and he can’t do all that if some stranger he’s never laid eyes on before is asking him if he’s all right every fifteen minutes like he’s a toddler. Chase says he’s sorry, but Gregory says he doesn’t blame Chase. He doesn’t even blame Chase’s brother. He knows Finn’s just doing it out of concern for him. He’s sure from Finn’s perspective, he thinks he’s right. Chase says, it’s not just that. Sometimes he wonders if he and Brook made a mistake asking him to preside over the wedding. What was Gregory supposed to do? Say no? Chase is concerned that with Gregory’s illness, they’re putting too much pressure on him. Gregory says, presiding over Chase’s wedding is the opposite of pressure. He puts his hands on Chase’s shoulders and says, it’s the greatest honor of his life.

Blaze says she’s going to this wedding with Kristina, period, and Natalia says, she’s made that clear. Blaze says, but Natalia keeps trying to talk her out of it, and Natalia says, no. Blaze has made her decision… a bad one. She apologizes if Blaze has found her concern and her honesty disagreeable. Blaze says she actually understands Natalia’s concerns. She knows how hard Natalia has worked for her continued success. Not just for herself; she knows Natalia is doing it for her too. Natalia says, for her first, and Blaze says she knows how important her image is, especially how important it is to Natalia, but nothing she’s done – nothing that she and Kristina have done – is a threat to her career. On the contrary, her music is taking off. Her fans are going nuts on social media, demanding she release her new single, and she thinks it’s going to be her best one yet because she’s so happy with Kristina. Natalia says, happy musicians don’t make great music, and Blaze asks if Natalia is saying she has to be miserable to have a successful career. Natalia says she just knows Blaze made her decision. Do what suits her and they’ll see which one of them is right. She picks up her bag and walks out.

In her office on the phone, Laura says, Webber. W-e-b-b-e-r. First name, Heather. Jordan walks in, and Laura says, there won’t have been a jury trial, but look for the arraignment, expert witness hearings. Maybe one or two of those would be medical and psychiatric, then sentencing… Okay. Thank you. She tells Jordan, sorry about that. What can she do for her? Jordan says she wanted to give Laura an update on the progress for that urban renewal project, and Laura says, that’s moving forward already? Jordan says, mm-hmm, and it just got a big boost. Laura says, from where? and Jordan says, McConkey. Laura says, Congressman McConkey? That’s amazing. Tell her more. Jordan says she will, but first, she needs to ask Laura something. What was all of that about Heather Webber?

Sam asks if this is about Dante’s shooting, because everyone knows it wasn’t Jason. Jason pretty much saved his life. Jason says he’s been working as an undercover informant for the FBI, and she says, what? She doesn’t understand. How? He says, it doesn’t matter, but she says, of course (🍷) it does. He says, what matters is, the undercover part is over, but his connection to the FBI is not.

Ava asks what Olivia said about her, but Sonny says, she didn’t say anything. The Cerullos and the Falconaris are going to be there, and they have long memories. She says she knows what they think she did, but there is… He says, they don’t need to have proof. They know because Olivia knows, and he knows. She walks into that wedding, it’s disrespecting Connie’s memory and he can’t do that. She gets up and says, if that’s how he feels, maybe she should rethink her place in his house, and he says he can’t believe… She says, what happened to being the only person he could trust? and he says he can’t believe she doesn’t see this. It doesn’t matter that the – he lowers his voice – evidence was destroyed. She still did what she did. She says, what happened was a very long time ago, and he asks, how long before she lets go of what Ryan did to Kiki? She says, how dare he throw her daughter’s murder in her face? and he says, that’s how the family’s going to feel if she walks into the wedding. He gets up and says, listen to him, okay? If she wants to move out, she can move out. It’s safe now, so he’ll buy a place for her, and Avery or Avery can stay with him. She says she’ll take care of her daughter herself, just as she always has, and walks out. He sits back down.

Laura says she’s taken it upon herself to investigate what legal proceedings were held in Heather’s case, and Jordan says, for the Hook murders? Laura says, yes, and for everything that happened on Spoon Island with Ryan and Esme. Jordan asks what she’s hoping to find, and Laura says she just wants to see what expert testimony was given, if any. She doesn’t know much about the case. She distanced herself from it at the time it happened. Jordan says, that sounds wise, but why this sudden interest? and Laura suggests they sit down. She says, it has recently come to light that Heather has been suffering from a medical issue that was brought about by a disintegrating hip replacement. Jordan says, that sounds awful, but what does it have to do with her case? Laura says, the hip raised her levels of cobalt and other metals in her system to the point of toxicity, and it’s quite possible that chemical imbalance was affecting her judgement. Jordan says, driving her to commit a series of kidnappings, jailbreaks, acts of terror, and murders. Laura says, metallosis, or cobalt poisoning, is not permanent. So once the bad hip replacement is removed, the patient can begin to recover. Jordan says, that sounds great for Heather, but… Laura tells Jordan that she’s not saying this excuses Heather for any of the violence she unleashed on this city. She’s just saying it’s possible that it may mitigate some of her responsibility for those crimes.

Sam says, if Jason has been working with the FBI, does that mean he’s working with that Agent Cates, the one that tried to question Danny? He says, yes, it does, and she says, and that’s why Sonny’s turned his back on him. He nods, and she says, and why he hasn’t been in Port Charles. He says, yes, and she says, how the hell did he of all people, get involved with the FBI? but he says he can’t tell her. She says, he means he won’t, and he tells her that he’s saying this because he didn’t choose to stay away from his family. He would never do that.

Alexis says she knows what Gregory said hurt Finn, but Finn says, it was true. She says, what is also true is that Gregory has forgiven him now, ten times over, and Finn says, he hasn’t forgotten. She says, it wasn’t that easy to forget, but it’s history. She can tell him, most people would not have been able to overcome that. He says, if this is a pep talk, it’s not going really well, and they laugh. She says, but they both overcame it. Unforgivable things can be forgiven. She knows this. She’s been on both sides of the sword. He says, like with her daughters? and she says, yeah. She and Sam did not have a great relationship when Sam found out she gave her up for adoption. And Kristina. She thinks they’ve been duking it out since Kristina was in the womb. He says, and Molly? and Alexis says, she’s perfect… No, there’s been things. She’s not perfect. He asks what lesson she learned from angering her daughters, and she says, sometimes she was the injured party. He says, of course (🍷). He’s sorry. He apologizes. She thanks him and says, but what they’re talking about is his lesson here. Which is, the fact that Gregory felt safe enough to snap at him, means that he has faith in this relationship. Finn says he’s glad Gregory feels safe, and she says, Finn doesn’t. He says, not particularly, and she asks, why not? How does he feel? He says he needs a meeting. She gets up and says, let’s find you one, and he says he’s his brother’s best man. But how can he even think about getting on a plane tonight and flying down to that rehearsal dinner while his father is sick and refuses to let anyone stay with him? She says, he’s not missing his brother’s rehearsal dinner, but he says he doesn’t see any other way around it. Not that his dad would even want him there at this point. She says she has an idea.

Laura asks if Jordan has any questions, and Jordan says, just one. What is she hoping to discover? That Heather can no longer be held responsible for her crimes and be let off? Or that she can still be held responsible and kept safely away from the public? Laura says she’s just trying to get to the truth, and Jordan says, and then what? Look, she can’t be objective. Not only did Heather terrorize Curtis’s daughter, which hits very close to home with her, but Trina’s involvement with Spencer was part of the motive for Heather to commit this series of murders, including a cop. Laura says, Rory Cabrera (I feel guilty because I’d totally forgotten him), and Jordan says, yeah, and all of this was to avenge Heather’s daughter, who clearly didn’t need help avenging. Laura says she’s well-aware, and Jordan says, then she must be aware how this must make the families of the victims feel. Laura says she’s not taking this lightly. Quite the opposite. Jordan says she’s glad to hear it. Because the entire city suffered during Heather’s reign of terror. Does Laura want her advice? Laura doesn’t look like she does, but says, please, and Jordan says, do not go near this. Don’t challenge the convictions Heather Webber so clearly deserved. Laura says, but from an objective, legal standpoint, and Jordan says, Laura is not a lawyer and neither is she. If Laura feels Heather needs a lawyer, then find a third party to hire one, but for her to get involved would be political suicide. Laura says, but she’s not trying to have Heather exonerated, or even released from custody necessarily. Jordan says, necessarily will give her political rivals enough rope to hang her and her constituents will line up to cheer them on. This city needs her. She’s a strong and effective mayor. She’d hate to see Laura sacrifice her career and the welfare of this city for the likes of Heather Webber.

Natalia walks into the MetroCourt and sees Sonny, who looks like he has a headache. She says, good morning, and he says, it’s better now. She says she sees he’s waiting for someone, and he says, how does she know it’s not her? (Oh man, dude is smooth, even in his spiral.) Have a seat. She thanks him and sits down. They smile at each other.

Gregory says he’s so sorry, and Chase says, again, he doesn’t have to apologize. Gregory says he feels like he does, especially to Chase’s brother, and Chase says he’s sure Finn knows he didn’t mean it. Gregory says he hopes so. Anyway, tonight isn’t about him, so go ahead and call the home help agency. Chase thanks him… for breakfast, and goes in the back. Gregory’s phone rings, and he asks Alexis, to what does he owe this pleasure? She says, her anxiety? She’s heading to Albany in the morning. He says, already? He thought she had a little more time before she had to make her case. She says, yeah, but she’s doing some last-minute research, and she could use his ears and his brain. How would he feel about her bringing over some Chinese or Mexican food and they can go over her plea to the Appeals Court? He says, tonight? It… Sure. He’d be happy to help. Alexis gives a thumbs up to Finn.

Sam thanks Jason for telling her and apologizes for jumping to conclusions about him and Danny. He says he’s just glad Danny is where he’s supposed to be, and she says, her too. And about the whole boundaries thing they discussed about Danny… He says he’ll honor those, and she thanks him. She leaves, closing the door behind her.

Outside, Sam makes a call. She says, I need to see you, and keeps walking.

Tomorrow, Ava says she thought she’d come to the expert; Josslyn asks Dex to race; Sonny asks Natalia if she’s in a hurry, because he’s not; and Anna tells Jason that it makes their job exponentially harder.

👋 Nice Knowin’ Ya, Spence…

There’s a new love interest in town.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/newcomer-giovanni-mazza-joins-general-hospital

🥀 They Never Leave Us…

It was definitely worth the wait.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/laura-wright-reflects-upon-ghs-tribute-to-jacklyn-zeman

🤽 This…

On unsupportive partners night, I’m not sure who was worse. Kyle who literally freaked out and went on a drunken rampage when Amanda dared have a dream outside of his precious Loverboy. Or Lindsay, who wouldn’t support an idea of Carl’s if it came notarized and delivered in the Publisher’s Clearing House van. She isn’t afraid Carl will be pigeon-holed, she’s afraid she’ll have to quit drinking.

And these people who should have run while they had the chance instead of feeding into the perpetually immature machine.

🍼 They’re Reading My Mind…

GMTA? Do I get a cut if it happens?

🧜‍♀️ Project Runway On Meth…

I have to admit, I didn’t really know Julia Fox except for some vague recollection of her name. Another fashion designer competition, but speedier and so far outside the box, it’s got it’s own box without borders. The creations are amazing, and I’m fascinated. I barely have the patience to sew on a button, but those who can’t do, watch.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/julia-foxs-omg-fashun-review-a-glorious-f-u-to-fashion-normies

👹 More Scarier the Second Time Around…

I watched this the first weekend it was out, and it lived up to the first season. I’m a big fan of a horror story paralleling real life horrors, and it was a treat to see Pam Grier. There’s a nod to the first season at the end, but you needn’t have watched it to understand this one.  

Them Season 2 Review: Deborah Ayorinde’s Horror Series is Truly Terrifying

https://mamasgeeky.com/2024/04/them-the-scare-review.html

🐈‍⬛ Fame In the Fur Family…

I would definitely dress as Choupette for the Met Gala.

💣 Love Is a Minefield…

Come back tomorrow for soap and a bouquet of entertaining distractions. Until then, stay safe, stay not blocking the baggage conveyor at the airport, and stay remembering that unforgivable things can be forgiven.

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎭 Old Gig, New Gig…

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

This looks promising.

💫 What Goes Around…

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

👄 Knotty Girls…

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

💃🏿 Back With the Wind…

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

🏊‍♀️ Another Awful Summer…

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

If you must have more.

🪀 Rebounding From the Rebound…

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

🍸 Giving Them Reunion…

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

🎰 Speaking Of Reunions…

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

🍻 Two Dogs and a Cat Walk Into a Bar…

As Reggie said in Strays, poop for your freedom!

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

Get rid of the dude. Keep the dog.

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

Do you know this kitteh?

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

🎺 Quotes of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✈️ Absence Makes Someone Not Here…

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