What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Drew wonders why Carly isn’t calling him back.
At a table in a restaurant in Jacksonville, Carly reads a book. A woman comes by, and says she admires Carly. It’s not often you see someone reading an actual book these days. They’re just scrolling on their phone. Carly says she can’t take credit. She lost her phone and can’t get a new one until tomorrow, so she bought the book at the airport. Although she is enjoying the digital detox. The woman apologizes for interrupting Carly’s reading, but Carly says, that’s okay, and thanks her for the compliment. The woman holds out her hand, and says she’s Mrs. Wade Honeycutt, but please call her Peyton. Carly shakes her hand, and says, she’s Carly Corinthos.
Michael meets Dex at Pier 54, and asks if there’s any progress. Dex says, Michael told him to take it slow; make sure Sonny doesn’t get suspicious. Michael says, has he? and Dex says he doesn’t think so. He’s supposed to hang around the docks, and make sure the Wu’s are sticking to their agreement. He doesn’t think it puts him in the inner circle, but it’s a step up. Michael says, a small one. Dex saved Ava’s life. What else does he have to do to earn Sonny’s trust?
Nikolas tells Sonny, do his worst. Not that it matters to Sonny, but he’s not the one who tried to kill Ava. Sonny says he knows that, and Nikolas says, Sonny believes him? Sonny says he doesn’t believe a word that comes out of Nikolas’s lying mouth, but he can’t be in two places at the same time. Ava asks what that means, and Sonny says, there’s been another attack.
Sasha asks if TJ said how long Brando was going to be in surgery, and Gladys says, a few hours at least. Sasha says, it’s only been a few minutes since they moved Brando to the OR, but it already feels like an eternity, and Kristina says, GH surgeons are the best. Brando is in good hands. Gladys says she’s positive Brando knows they’re out here waiting for him, and won’t let them down. Nina runs in and hugs Sasha, saying, Sonny called her and told her. What’s the latest on Brando? Sasha says, he’s in surgery, and she feels like she’s falling apart.
Dex says he can get something incriminating on Sonny, but he needs more time, and Michael says he hasn’t had a chance to thank Dex for what he did. He can’t stand Ava, but her daughter Avery is his little sister, so… Dex says, Joss gets more than half the credit. She was with Ava when he got there. Michael says he’s aware. What happened? What was Dex even doing there? Dex says, he had some paperwork for Sonny to sign. The front drive was full of cars, so he took the access road to park by the boathouse. When he got out of the vehicle, he heard someone screaming for help. Michael says, Josslyn told him that Dex was the one who insisted on getting Ava to the hospital, and Dex says, she was on the verge of bleeding out. He had to drive like hell, but Joss was good. She held it together, and managed to keep pressure on the wound. Michael says, those were extreme circumstances, and they had no choice but to work together, but that can never happen again.
Josslyn and Cameron sit at the edge of the pool, and Josslyn asks how Cameron’s mom is doing. He says, she doesn’t say much. She wants him and his brothers to think she’s okay, but he can tell she’s not. Josslyn asks if she’s getting help, and he says, Finn’s been around a lot. He’s been good for her. Josslyn asks if there’s anything she can do to help, and he says, her just being here helps a lot. He can’t imagine going through this without her. They kiss, and on a nearby chaise, Trina tells Rory, she never got a chance to tell him why she was at the PCPD to see Spencer. He says she doesn’t have to explain, but she says she wants to. She learned that Spencer was trying to help her the whole time. He lied about his feelings for Esme and stayed with her, hoping he could find some proof that Esme framed Trina about the sex tape. Rory says, wow. Is that why Spencer showed up at her party? To tell her the truth? She says she thinks so, but he didn’t, and Rory asks how she found out. She says, Ava told her, and that Spencer had feelings for her. He says, no guy is going to risk going to prison for somebody he doesn’t care about, and she says she was trying to talk to Spencer about it, but it was too late; he left for Pentenville, as Rory knows. Rory says, now that she knows the truth, does it change things between them?
Peyton asks what brings Carly to Jacksonville; business or pleasure? Carly says she’s not supposed to be here, but her plane was grounded due to thunderstorms in the area. Peyton says, welcome to their fair city. She apologizes for the inconvenient weather. Carly says, she wasn’t happy that her flight was canceled, but she found a great hotel, she has a great book, and she met Peyton. So far, so good. Peyton says, before Carly goes to the airport tomorrow, she might have a chance to look around their fair city, and Carly says she thinks she might. It’s been quite a few years since she’s been in Jacksonville. Peyton says, Carly has no idea what she’s missed. The Guild has sponsored quite a few projects in Jacksonville in the last ten years alone. Carly says, the Guild? and Peyton says she’s sorry. The Jacksonville Beautification Guild; they just call it The Guild. She’s a board member. Carly says, that’s impressive, and Peyton says, improving public spaces benefits everyone who lives here, especially the property owners. They’re getting ready for their Fall Gala. They take over the ballroom and the hotel grounds. It’s their biggest fundraiser, but it’s an awful lot of work. Peyton looks over at the bar, and sees a man getting romantic with a younger woman. She says, that’s Joshua Clarke. He’s married to a friend of hers, and that woman is most definitely not his daughter.
Ava says, someone else was stabbed? and Nikolas says, where? Who was it? Sonny says, his cousin Brando. He was attacked in the alley behind Charlie’s Pub. He’s in surgery now. Ava asks, how bad? and Sonny says, he’s strong; he’s going to make it. Nikolas asks if they caught the guy, but Sonny says, not yet. Ava asks what makes him think it was the same person who attacked her, and Sonny says, there are rumors the cops said the person who attacked her had a large hook. A witness said a similar hook was used on Brando. Nikolas says, a witness? Who? Sonny says, Kristina.
Sasha thanks Nina for coming, and asks her to thank Sonny for letting her know. Nina says she will, and asks how they all are. Kristina says, pretty freaked out. Why would anybody want to attack Brando? Sasha says she has no idea, and Nina asks why he was in that alley. Sasha says she doesn’t know. He just said he’d be right back, and he left. Gladys says, maybe he saw something suspicious, and went to check it out, and Sasha says, knowing Brando, she’s probably right. He probably saw someone in trouble. Gladys says, that’s who Brando is. He has to help, no matter what the cost to him personally. Sasha says, she just hopes the cost isn’t too high, and Nina and Gladys lead her to the couch. TJ comes out, and Sasha runs over to him, asking, why isn’t he in Brando’s surgery? What’s wrong?
TJ says, Brando is still in surgery. He just came to update them on his progress. Dr. Chang confirmed the hook shattered one of Brando’s ribs. A piece of that rib punctured his left lung. Gladys says, that’s why her boy was struggling to breathe, and TJ says, the good news is that Brando’s heart wasn’t affected, but the surgical team has to make sure to remove every shard of bone, and that takes time. Sasha asks, how much time? but he says, they don’t know yet. Gladys says, at least they know something. They were going crazy waiting for an update. TJ says, he thought they might be. He’s headed back to the OR. He leaves, and Nina and Gladys bring Sasha back to the couch. TJ doubles back and asks if Kristina is all by herself. Where’s Sonny?
Ava asks if the attacker saw Kristina, and Sonny says, he ran off as soon as Kristina started screaming. She saved Brando’s life. He was going stab Brando a second time. Nikolas says, he’s sorry. He and Ava will pray for Brando’s recovery. Ava thanks Sonny for letting them know. She’s sure Sonny wants to be with his daughter now. Sonny tells her to take care. He’ll tell Avery that Ava loves her. He leaves, and outside, Sonny tells Frank, don’t move from this spot. Don’t let anybody in unless Ava says so. Frank says, copy that, and inside, Nikolas asks if Ava feels better now that she knows he didn’t try to kill her, and she says she guesses so. He asks if she wants him be guilty.
Trina says, her feelings for Rory haven’t changed, and he says, despite knowing Spencer was Team Trina all along? She says, it means a lot to her that Spencer believed in her innocence, but he still hurt her. He still lied to her every time he defended Esme. Rory says, but he didn’t mean it, and Trina says, she didn’t know that. Spencer didn’t trust her enough to tell her the truth, and that is so typical of him. He’s always getting in his own way. She’d rather be with somebody who respects her enough to be real with her. Rory says, and he’s real? and she says, really real.
Willow comes into the nook, and asks Drew if she’s interrupting, but he says he was just checking some messages. Long day? He saw that yawn. She says, actually, she just woke up from a nap. He says he didn’t know a busy nurse and mother like her had the luxury of naps, and she says she asked for a reduced schedule at the hospital, and Melanie agreed to stay with Wiley. He says, in that case, he’ll make her some tea, and tells her, have a seat. Her body is going through so much right now. He knows it’s got to be so hard. She asks, who told him?
Michael says, he hired Dex to infiltrate Sonny’s organization because of his combat experience. He’s willing to take risks, and he’s comfortable with situational ethics. Josslyn doesn’t know Dex works for him, so every encounter with her implies a lie of omission. He hates lying to his sister, and hates keeping secrets from her, so the less she sees of Dex, the better.
Sonny gets out of the elevator near the waiting area, and Kristina runs to him. They hug, and he says, it’s all right. She asks if he saw Ava, and he says he filled Frank in, and he’s guarding Ava. She asks if he still has 24 hour protection over her, and he says, Brando’s attack makes it a lot less likely that it’s personal, but… She says, he doesn’t want to stop her protection, and he says, better safe than sorry. How’s Sasha? Kristina says, scared; she’s worried sick. He says he knows Brando was appointed Sasha’s guardian. It’s a long story. He doesn’t think Sasha is in any shape deal with his attack, and Kristina says, who would be? Sonny calls walks Kristina over to the others, and tells Sasha, if she or Brando need anything, he’s here. Gladys tells him, TJ just gave them a progress report, when Jordan comes out of the elevator. Gladys asks if she caught the monster who hurt her son, and Jordan says, not yet. She just came from the crime scene; forensics is still gathering evidence. She asks if Sasha is all right, and Nina says, if she’s here to ask Sasha anything, now is not a good time, but Jordan says she needs to speak to Kristina.
Peyton sees Joshua leaving with the girl, and tells Carly that she’ll have to speak to the manager. Carly says, about what? and Peyton says, clearly she’s a call girl, plying her trade at one of the best hotels in town. It’s a disgrace. Carly says, Joshua didn’t seem to have a problem with it, and Peyton says, men are weak, and trash like that can’t wait to take advantage. Carly asks, in what universe was that young girl taking advantage? And if Peyton is right and she’s a professional, she wasn’t forcing Joshua to do anything he wasn’t willing to pay for. Peyton says, solicitation of the sex trade is a blight on any city. It brings down the property values and erodes civic pride. One of the most successful projects of the Guild was when they got to rezone Chestnut Street, and got to tear down Ruby Anderson’s house of ill repute. Carly asks if she said Ruby Anderson. They had her house torn down? Peyton says, yes, and good riddance. She said it was boarding house, but they all know what went on there. She thinks there was a real Ruby once upon a time, but that was decades ago. Carly says, Ruby Anderson was real. She should know. Ruby was her great aunt.
Trina asks if Josslyn wants to go to the Garden and get something to drink, but Josslyn says she doesn’t want to leave the pool yet. Is there any chance Cameron would get them drinks? Cameron says, sure thing, and they both ask for iced tea. He says he’ll be back, and Trina sits next to Josslyn. Josslyn says, things looked pretty intense with Rory over there, and Trina says, she told Rory that secretly Spencer was on her side all along. Josslyn doesn’t owe her another apology. It was up to Spencer to tell her how he felt about her. Josslyn says, which he never did, and she’s with Rory now. Trina says, so how much does the truth about how Spencer felt really matter? and Josslyn says, the truth always matters. Trina says she doesn’t have feelings for Spencer. They’re gone; so is he. She was found not guilty by a jury (um… not quite – we don’t know), and she’s getting on with her life without Spencer.
Drew asks Willow, told him what? That pregnancy can be hard? He hopes he didn’t overstep. She says, that’s not what she meant, and he asks what did she mean? She says she has no idea. She has pregnancy brain, and it doesn’t help that she’s half asleep. He says he’s sorry she’s going through such a rough time, but she says, it’s worth it. She just has to get through a few more weeks, and her first trimester will be over. Tea sounds great. She’s unsteady on her feet, and he says, whoa. Is she okay? She says, the baby likes to mess with her equilibrium. He or she is definitely a handful already. He tells her, have seat and he’ll get her that tea, but she says he doesn’t have to. He says, she has a future Quartermaine in there; she deserves to be waited on hand and foot. There it is. She’s smiling. She says she was thinking, Wiley and this baby are lucky to have such a great family. They’re all so strong. Drew says, maybe sometimes too strong, but he knows Wiley and his little brother or sister don’t have to worry about that. Willow will make sure they don’t get caught up in old Quartermaine squabbles.
Ava tells Nikolas, it’s unbearable to think that the man she loves, her husband, might be capable of attacking her. He was so angry that night. He blamed her for Spencer finding out he slept with Esme. He says, she wanted Spencer to know because she wanted to hurt him, and she says, maybe she was just tired of all his secrets. He says, all he wanted was a life with her; to be happy, to love her. She says, instead, he blew it up. He was wrong and weak and stupid. He says he was all those things. When Esme fell off the parapet, he believed Ava when she said she didn’t push her despite the staff hearing them argue. He protected her without hesitation because he loves her. He has from the moment they met. He always has, and always will.
Jordan says she knows Kristina made a statement to the officer on the scene, but she wants to hear it herself in case he missed anything. Start from when she entered the alley. Kristina says, she arrived at Charlie’s for her shift, and she cut through the alley to the back entrance. Jordan asks if she usually enters through the alleyway, and Kristina says, sometimes. Jordan says, anyone else back there? and Kristina says, sometimes one of the busboys takes out the trash, and people in the neighborhood know Phyllis gives out the remaining food at the end of the night, but it was too early for anyone to be around. Jordan says, continue, and Kristina says, there was a sudden downpour. The sky just opened up and it was hard to see. She saw movement, and this guy in a dark hoodie raised his arm up… that’s when the hook caught the light. Sonny says, Kristina doesn’t have to continue, but she says she’s okay. Jordan asks if she’s sure the attacker was a man, and Kristina says, she just assumed. Jordan asks if they saw her, and Kristina says she doesn’t know. Maybe. It was raining so hard, and she was so focused on the hook, and seeing Brando lying on the ground. She was screaming, and the guy just took off. Sonny suggests Kristina take a break, and when she steps away, he asks Jordan if his daughter is in danger. Jordan says she has no reason to believe the assailant would target Kristina, and he says, they’re talking about the same guy who went after Ava. Now he’s up to two? He could go after anybody, and that includes Sonny’s daughter. Jordan says, anything’s possible, but the attacks seem to be crimes of opportunity.
Sasha says she wishes she could stop her head from spinning, and thinking about everything that could go wrong, and Nina says, it’s the waiting that’s challenging. Sasha says she just wishes she could do something.
Josslyn’s phone dings, and Trina asks if it’s Cameron. Josslyn says, it’s Avery. She’s saying goodnight – and she quotes – to the best sister ever. Trina says, that’s quite an endorsement, and Josslyn says, Avery is just happy she found her bracelet. Trina says, only the best sister would go dumpster diving, and Josslyn says, but? Trina says, but she shouldn’t have done it alone. What if she’d got stuck and couldn’t get out? Josslyn says, um… and Trina says, what? She got stuck? Josslyn says, no. She wasn’t alone. Dex was with her.
Michael asks if Dex is sure he’s the right man for the job, and Dex says, of course (🍷) he is. But the job is to pretend to work for Sonny, so he has play the part of a loyal minion, right? Michael says, as long as he remains clear on the ultimate goal, and Dex says, to tear down Sonny’s organization from the inside. Michael says, don’t get sucked into his father’s world, and Dex says he won’t, but he’s got to admit he doesn’t hate the guy. Michael says, when he first approached Dex, he said he wanted to take a dangerous man off the streets, and Dex says he still does. Taking down Sonny will make up for his mistakes. He’s not going soft. He can still do the job Michael hired him to do.
Rory finds Jordan at the hospital, and says, Dante sent him. What can he do? Sasha comes over, and asks how she can help catch Brando’s attacker? and Jordan tells Rory, take notes. She asks if Sasha knows why Brando left using the back entrance, but Sasha says, no. They were eating dessert, and Brando said he’d be right back. Jordan asks where he was going, but Sasha tells her, he didn’t say. Jordan asks if anyone else was in the pub, and Gladys says, Sonny’s guy Dex. He was talking to Josslyn. Jordan says, the PCPD didn’t get statements from either of them, and Rory says he was just with Josslyn, but she didn’t mention the attack. Gladys says, if memory serves, Josslyn left before everything got crazy, and Sonny says, wait a minute. Josslyn left before Brando was attacked?
Peyton says, Carly’s great aunt was Ruby Anderson? The Ruby? Carly says, the one and only, and Peyton asks if Carly was employed at her establishment, but Carly says, no. She met Ruby years later when she left Florida and moved to Port Charles, New York. Peyton says, Port Charles’s loss is Jacksonville’s gain, and Carly asks where she gets off judging Ruby? Or anyone? Peyton says, there are such ideas as standards, but since Carly has no idea what she’s talking about, allow her to explain. There’s a way to behave. There’s a way to conduct yourself that determines what circles you move in, and who finds you acceptable. She gets up, stepping away, and Carly says, Peyton told her that her name was Honeycutt? Peyton says, Mrs. Wade Honeycutt, and Carly gets up. She goes over to Peyton, and says, he was her second husband. Peyton asks how she knows, and Carly says, her first husband’s name was Daniel, and her daughter’s name was Charlotte Reese Roberts, and they lived on Bedlow Drive. She had a big beautiful house with a swimming pool, and she drove a Mercedes convertible. Carly thought it was so cool. Peyton says, my God. She’s Caroline Benson? She calls herself Carly? Peyton’s daughter is dead, and Carly’s using her name? Carly says, her name is Carly, and she chose it, and she’s been using it most of her adult life, but Peyton says, she wasn’t born with it. It was Reese’s nickname, her sweet, trusting daughter. The worst day of her life was when she met Carly. She came home so excited about her new friend; she wanted Carly to come over. When Peyton talked to Carly’s mother, she knew it was a mistake. She said she was a secretary, so she’d be unable to supervise the girls; she had to work. Carly says, Peyton didn’t super very much. She was always off at some luncheon or meeting. It was the housekeeper who drove them around until Reese was old enough to do it herself. Peyton asks, how many afternoons did Carly spend at their house? How many sleepovers? Little Caroline, always so eager to fit in. She’d never have made it in her discount clothes and the wrong shoes, but her Reese was always so happy to share; they wore the same size. Carly could almost pass as a girl from a decent family, so she let Carly tag along. It made Reese happy, and Peyton didn’t see the harm in it. She didn’t see the harm until it was too late, and Carly betrayed her generosity. Until Carly seduced her husband.
Willow says she’s glad Drew’s back with his family. He’s a good influence. Drew says he doesn’t know about that, but thanks her. Michael comes in, and asks why Willow didn’t respond to any of his calls. She says she left her phone at the gatehouse. What’s wrong? He says he just heard from Kristina, and Brando is in surgery at GH.
Ava asks what Nikolas wants from her, and he says he wants her to believe in him, the way he believes in her. Their marriage started on blackmail and suspicions, but it grew into a true union of their souls. He thought she understood him like no one else could, because deep down, they’re the same. They know each other’s heart, and accept each other for who they are. They’ve both made mistakes, but the person he thought knew him best, does she believe he’d stab them and leave them to die? She says she’s not the one who broke the trust between them, and he says he thought when something broke, you fixed it. She says, not always, and he asks if she’s saying there’s no way back.
Trina says, Cam made it seem like Josslyn was alone in the dumpster, and Josslyn says, Cam assumed, and she didn’t correct him. Trina says, because she was with Dex, and Josslyn says she doesn’t understand what the look is for. Dex was doing something nice. He helped her find the bracelet. It’s no big deal. Trina says, if it wasn’t a big deal, why didn’t Josslyn tell anyone she was with Dex? Josslyn says, because she knew people would do what Trina is doing now; making it something it wasn’t. Trina says, she isn’t bothered by Dex helping Josslyn. She’s bothered by Josslyn lying about it. Josslyn says she didn’t lie; she just didn’t tell anyone. Trina asks, what’s the difference? Cameron comes back with the drinks, and asks what he missed. Does he even want to know? Josslyn shakes her head just enough so Trina sees, and Rory comes in with another officer. Trina asks if he left his phone or something, but he says, it’s police business. He needs to talk to Josslyn. Josslyn asks, why? What happened? Rory says, Brando Corbin was attacked tonight.
TJ comes out, and Sasha asks if Brando is out of surgery. How is he? TJ says, he’s sorry, but there’s been a complication.
Michael says, the attacker fled after Kristina screamed. Sonny showed up shortly after and called the paramedics. Brando is at GH. Willow says, poor Sasha. She was already struggling emotionally, and now this? She’s going to the hospital. Michael says he’ll go with her, but needs to call his mom first. Drew tells them, go; he’ll call Carly. They leave, and Drew makes the call. He says, come on, pick up.
Carly says, she’d known Payton’s husband since she was 12 years old. She didn’t know how to say no to him. Peyton says, she doesn’t make excuses for her Daniel. As she said, men are weak, and Carly was only too eager to give him what he wanted. Carly says, that’s not true, and Peyton says, he could see what she was; what she is, a greedy piece of trash. She envied Reese’s life, and thought she could get it by sleeping with her father. She’s a ridiculous tart. Peyton could laugh about it if it hadn’t broken Reese’s heart; if she hadn’t found out. She never should have been driving on the day of the accident. She was all upset, and all of it was Carly’s fault. Carly says, she was 16 years old. Peyton’s husband was in his 40s. By definition, it was his fault. Her family meant so much to Carly, she was too afraid to stop him. But she’s not Caroline Benson anymore, wearing the wrong shoes. She’s a grown woman, and doesn’t owe anything to anyone, least of all Peyton. Peyton advises Carly to get on her plane as quickly as she can. She doesn’t belong in Jacksonville. She never did. Peyton walks out.
Ava says, Nikolas isn’t the injured party here. She’s the one who was betrayed. She’s the one in the hospital bed. It’s not her fault she doesn’t trust him anymore. He asks if that trust is gone forever, but she says she doesn’t know. He says she needs rest. He’ll go. He leaves, looking back when he gets in the hallway. Ava wipes away tears.
Gladys asks TJ, what complication? Where’s her son? TJ says, Brando’s still in the OR, but his surgery has been suspended to get his blood pressure stabilized. Sasha says she wants to see him, but TJ says, he’s sorry, but that’s not possible. Brando is going to remain in the OR until Dr. Chang can resume surgery as soon as he’s stabilized. Sonny sees Dex arrive, and TJ says, they’re doing all they can.
Rory says, Josslyn was at Charlie’s Pub earlier? and she says, yes. He asks what exit she took when she left, and she says she went out the back. Trina asks, why? and she says she was following Dex Heller. Cameron says, Dex was there? Sonny’s man? Josslyn says, he was at Charlie’s with Sonny. He left his sunglasses, and she grabbed them. She tried to follow him out to give them back to him. Rory asks if she found him, and she says, no. She still has his sunglasses. Rory asks if she saw anyone in the alley, but she says, it was empty. Cameron asks if Rory thinks the guy with the hook was when Josslyn came out, and Rory says he hopes not. Josslyn says, that’s not creepy. She’s sorry she couldn’t be more helpful. Rory says, that’s okay. Maybe Mr. Heller saw something.
TJ says he has to return to the OR. Have the nurse page him if they have any other questions. While the others sit down, Sonny goes over to Dex, who says, he got Sonny’s text. Sonny says he saw Dex and Josslyn talking at Charlie’s; they seemed friendly. Dex says, it was totally innocent, and Sonny says he knows that’s true. Because if Dex tried anything, he’d kill him. He laughs, and Dex says, if Sonny wants, he’ll stay away from Josslyn, but Sonny says, that’s not what he wants. He and Josslyn seem friendly, and Josslyn seems to like Dex a little more. Can he trust Dex to discreetly keep an eye on her? Dex says, Sonny can count on him.
Tomorrow, Sasha asks what the bad news is; Curtis wonders if Jordan is asking as the Commissioner or as his wife; Brad tells Britt, if she likes the guy, take a shot; and Dante questions Cody.
Southern Charm
Paige FaceTimes Craig, who says he got a bunch cabinets in, and thinks they’ll like it. He shows her on the phone, then goes upstairs to the computer where the signal is better. She asks how the boys dinner was, and he says, it was a lot of fun until he spilled red wine on Patricia’s couch white carpet. She tells him that he needs a sippy cup. He says, then he got a text. Someone saw that Shep was still on Raya and took a screenshot; his profile is still active. Shep says he doesn’t know how to take it down. Paige says, he was smart enough to get it on there. If Craig did that, she would fly down and burn his new construction to the ground. Craig says, Taylor doesn’t hold Shep accountable.
Shep tells Taylor that he’s been thinking a lot about what she’s not happy with. The Raya thing… She says only a loser is 40 and on a dating app; he deserved what he got. She tells him, when she saw it, she was confused, and he says he’s off of it now. In Shep’s interview, he says he feels like they’re the focal point of everybody, and he’s under a microscope. Get off his back. Craig tells Paige that Shep invited them all on a trip to Georgia, and we see a clip of Shep saying he wants to take Taylor on vacation. Craig tells Paige, that’s Shep trying control everything, and Paige says, the only thing they can do is have empathy for Taylor until she wakes up and realizes she deserves better. Shep tells Taylor that he’s caused strife for her, and for himself. He got to thinking about how sometimes she gets frustrated when he goes off for a few days with the other guys. He thinks they should host a trip a somewhere, and have their friends with them. Oh yeah, that should balance things out. He suggests St. Simons Island, and she says she’s down for it. She tells him that Little Craig is the glue that keeps them together, and I can understand that. The worst thing about breaking up with someone is, you have to break up with their dog, their cat, their friends, their family, their apartment….
Whitney orders a bottle of wine while he waits for Naomie at a restaurant. When she gets there, he says he hopes the wine is up to her standards, but she says she’s not that picky. Whitney says, his father was responsible for him becoming an oenophile. He would take Whitney to tastings when he was younger, and instead of spitting it out, Whitney would gulp. His father would drive him out hammered. Naomie asks about the dinner, and he says, it was hilarious, but they tried to pin Shep down on a commitment. She says, Leva sent her a screenshot Shep’s Raya profile. It only comes up if you’re active. Whitney says, maybe it had been up a while ago, and she’s like, come on. He’s full of sh*t. He knows the profile was up when Shep was in Bermuda and dating Taylor. Whitney asks if they know Shep and Taylor were monogamous, and in Naomie’s interview, she says, it’s insane how men skirt around an issue. If you’re on an app, you’re probably trying to cheat. Whitney says he knows Shep’s been faithful for the last eight or nine months, and Naomie says, they’ve been dating for years. In her interview, she says, it’s scum of the earth behavior, and she’s not on board with it. Whitney says, you can’t force the issue. When you pressure someone, they freeze you out and go away. Naomie asks if he wants her to go away, but he says, no. I’d be really shocked if they got married, but I could see it.
Austen calls Taylor, and says he hasn’t seen her since Friendsgiving. He wants to catch up, and she suggests they go on a pre-Georgia shopping trip. In Austen’s interview, he says he feels protective over Taylor, and doesn’t want to see her walked all over. She says she’ll text him when she’s finished cleaning out her car. Meanwhile, at Shep’s house, Little Craig! Shep calls Marcie, who has Baby Edie with her. In Marcie’s interview, she says, Edie’s full name is Edith Cummings Crowe. The delivery was excruciating, but Edie is sweet, little, and innocent. She tells Shep that she wants three more, and highly recommends it, and he tells her, don’t put more pressure on him. Taylor meets Austen at a store similar to Land’s End, and he says, this store is dangerous for him. She says, they’re shopping for shrimping, golfing, and tennis, and she wants to get a gift for Shep. Austen asks why she’s shopping for him, and in his interview, he says he wants Taylor to end up with a faithful man who will treat her with respect. He’s been there when Shep hasn’t done that. They try on boots for shrimping, and Austen asks how things are with Shep. Taylor says, Shep has built walls over time, and when she calls him out, he thinks she’s attacking him. She’s trying to help him get better. Austen asks how many times he’s done that, and Taylor tells him that Shep said he wanted to work on it. Austen says he doesn’t think it has to do with walls. You build walls when you’ve had a bad experience, and don’t want to open up again. Being d*ckhead isn’t building a wall. Taylor says, valid point, but Shep says he didn’t mean it. For a long time, she let it go, but she thinks they’re getting more serious. Austen says, they’ve been dating two years, but Taylor says, it’s the beginning of working on things. Time will tell if he’s serious. She sees his heart and what an amazing human he is. Austen says he’s seen all sides of Shep, but she’s no longer just Shep’s girlfriend to him. He loves her. He tears up, and says, the way Shep talks to her breaks his heart. He just doesn’t like it. He’s been there. He’s not saying Shep is a terrible person; he loves Shep. But he does something like he did at Auldbrass, and then reels Taylor back in. She can’t justify it every time. It makes it seem like Shep can get away with anything, and there are no consequences. Shep’s a lucky man. She’s the catch of catches. He wants her to stand up more for herself, and she says, Shep definitely took advantage of her kindness, and something has to change. If it doesn’t, she has to walk away.
Leva tries get her little dog to eat some food it doesn’t want to, and I identify. Again, dogs, the great leveler. Her phone rings, and it’s Naomie. Naomie asks what Leva is bringing, but Leva says she won’t be in attendance. She decided she doesn’t think she has the bandwidth for the boys and their bullsh*t. In Leva’s interview, she says, the boys keep popping off and screaming at each other. They’re fine the next day, but they’ve stolen six hours of her happy time. The girls are drained, and the boys are off playing golf. It’s disrespectful. She wants time to relax, and have a date night. Naomie tells her to do what she needs to do.
Everyone meets at Shep’s house. Shep, Austen, and Olivia take one car, and the rest take another. Craig says, Kathryn can’t come because she has the kids, and Whitney and Naomie are coming later, but separately. In Shep’s interview, he says, St. Simons is like Hilton Head. Beautiful settings, Spanish moss, oak trees, and beaches; golf, tennis, and fishing. That’s how he grew up. He tells Olivia, everybody knows everybody; it’s quaint, and she says, until they get there. Austen says, everybody is going to hate them. In the other car, Taylor says, the girls have a villa, where Shep will also be staying, and Whitney has his own villa because he’s a princess. They talk about sending nudes, and in Craig’s interview, he says, a guy should never send an unsolicited d*ck pic, but if you’re a girl, he doesn’t think anyone would be mad. Olivia asks if Shep is going to play tennis with Taylor, and Shep says he’s not playing against Taylor in any activity for the rest of his life. We flash back to the egg debacle, and Shep says, they all do things they regret. Olivia says, 100%, but moving forward, you have to work on it. Shep says, everyone knows how he feels about Taylor. He wants her to quit her job. Austen says, that’s so dumb. That’s how Shep gets complete control. Shep insists he doesn’t want control, but he wants Taylor to travel with him. Austen says, Taylor would be relying on Shep financially. It’s so the wrong move. In Olivia’s interview, she says, this is not a step in the right direction, and it’s presumptuous. Does Taylor want to quit her job? Austen says, if she has any self-respect, she won’t do it, and in his interview, he says he’d never ask a woman to quit their job. Growing up, his mom and his aunts worked; it was their source of independence. Shep says, every time he crosses a state line he crosses his fingers and makes a wish. Austen says he’s done with Shep.
They arrive in St. Simons, and the girls are dropped off at a gorgeous rental house. Shep goes with the other guys in a golf cart to hotel, which is also impressive. Craig suggests, if the girls are going to play tennis, why don’t they get in the hot tub and drink beers? Shep doesn’t want to, and Austen calls Olivia to see what the tennis situation is. He asks, who’s playing? and Shep and Craig bicker in the background. Everyone decides to play tennis, and Naomie says she hasn’t played since high school; she’s all talk. They play doubles; Austen and Naomie against Craig and Olivia. In Craig’s interview, he says, he’s a competitive person, and good at a lot of things. Modest too, I see. He says, basketball is the only sport Austen can beat him in. In Austen’s interview, he says, Craig thinks he’s the LeBron James of everything. He’s been on courts his whole life. Play on, player. Austen and Naomie win 40 to 30, and Craig doesn’t understand it. Venita and Naomie then play against Shep and Taylor. Taylor and Shep begin by failing miserably, and Shep gets testy, but they recover, and end up winning.
Taylor wonders if the guys are jealous because Shep is with the girls. I’m wondering how that happened. Does he not want her without him there? It’s a little creepy. Everyone gets ready for dinner, and Austen tells Craig about Shep wanting Taylor to quit her job. Craig says, it’s classic textbook control. They can’t deny what’s going on. In Craig’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Shep understands the severity of what he’s asking. If Taylor loses her independence financially and has to depend on Shep, he’ll have that power over her, and it will lead to resentment. Austen drives the other guys over, and Shep says he’s like a fox in a henhouse.
They go to a restaurant called Mullet Bay, and on the way, there’s a big discussion on mullets. Their table is already set, and Shep says, nothing gets the convo going like shots and coconut shrimp. He then remarks that Austen’s butt got big, and in Austen’s interview, he says, Shep is always talking about his butt. He’s just jealous. Shep has an infatuation with his butt. In Shep’s interview, he says, Austen’s butt has gotten more bubbly and bigger. It makes him want to do leg day. Everyone is talking, and the waitress has a hard time getting the orders. When she leaves, Naomie suggests they be better about acknowledging her, and Craig asks how many years Naomie was a server; he was a bartender. In Naomie’s interview, she says she didn’t realize she had to submit her résumé in the food industry to convince them to be respectful of the waitress. (Didn’t her parents own a restaurant that she worked in?) She says she wasn’t talking to him personally, and Austen says, this is what it’s like being at the same table as your ex. Craig says, when Naomie makes generalized statements, he’s going to jump in. Austen wonders what the hell Craig is ranting about, and Craig says, Naomie challenged them on how to act. Austen says, she didn’t challenge anyone, and in Craig’s interview, he says, Naomie’s facial expressions and tone are causing him to relate this to the bad last year of their relationship. Hearing her being judgmental sets him off. Taylor says, this group has more triggers… In her interview, Naomie says she doesn’t think the problem was her yelling or being mean to Craig. It’s just how Craig is. She’s learned to control her emotions. Clearly, he hasn’t.
Whitney arrives, and asks what he missed. Naomie says, Craig yelling at her, and Shep says, he missed everything. Austen randomly tells Venita that Whitney is hung like a bull, and she literally falls backward in her chair, laughing. Craig asks Whitney to come with him to the bar for a shot, and Shep wonders what Craig is up to; he’s drinking his nuts off. Austen says, he also made a bourbon drink at the tennis court. Craig comes back, and says he thought everyone was happy, but Naomie is sitting there frowning. Turn that frown upside down. Naomie says, what would turn her frown upside down would be if Leva hadn’t told her that Craig said mean things about her at Friendsgiving. He asks what she’s talking about, and we flash back to Leva telling Naomie that Craig said she was a psycho ex-girlfriend. Naomie asks why he’d say that, and he says he didn’t. Olivia says, Leva wouldn’t make something up. She watches out for people. In his interview, Craig says, everyone calls their ex crazy. Um… not me. Well, except for the actual crazy ones. Whitney says he’d defend Naomie’s honor, but he can’t hear what Craig is saying. Nevertheless, he calls Craig an a-hole. Craig tells Naomie to move on with her life, and stop bringing him into this, and leaves the table.
Next time, golfing; catching a squid; a drinking game whenever Shep says crazy or happy in a conversation with Taylor; Shep is sick of being attacked, and screams at Austen; Naomie tells Venita to shut up; and Craig attempts to fight Austen.
🗯 I feel badly for Naomie. She did the kumbaya thing with Paige, and she certainly seems to have moved on with Whitney. Who, dumbass as he can be, is not a bad catch. Just because you don’t want to hear mean things said about you, doesn’t mean you haven’t moved on. Craig seems to be the one who can’t move on. He’s triggered by her facial expressions and tone? Come on.
🦪 Carly Finds a Purl…
I have to admit, I didn’t recognize her as Peyton. She’s definitely had some work done, but actually looks better than she did when she was younger. Or they have one hell of a lighting system.
And I thought she was known for a million and one TV movies.
🤹♀️ No Diggity Here…
Saunter in at your leisure tomorrow, for soap, some tea and quotable remarks, and a musical break. Until then, stay safe, stay approachable, and stay remembering, the truth always matters.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 