Tag Archives: Lisa Vanderpump

April 28, 2022 – Laura Tells Nikolas To Get Rid Of the Scorpion, Onstage, Awarding Daytime, Award Of a Lifetime, VanderParis, Wasting Away & Sublime’s 29th

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Nikolas leaves a message for Ava to call him. On another phone, Spencer says he gets it. Cameron’s girlfriend isn’t happy with him right now, but if he can ride out Joss and Trina hating him, then Cameron can too. Please, Spencer needs him to do this one favor. Esme walks in as he’s talking, and says, what favor is that?

At the gallery, Trina hears a noise, and gets her pepper spray out of her bag. She goes toward the entrance as Rory is coming in, and she says, oh, it’s you. He says, she can put that down now, and she agrees she can, but she doesn’t know if she should.

Portia says she was worried about Curtis. She couldn’t reach him all day. He apologizes for being radio silent, and she wonders if he’s going to tell her that Marshall left town, and he went after him. He nods, and she asks if he found Marshall. He says, he found Marshall; then he lost him again.

Dante meets Willow and Michael in the MetroCourt Garden, since it’s replaced the pool as the hot new set. He says he’s sorry Sam can’t make it. Something came up, and she sends her regrets. Michael asks if everything is good, and Dante says he thinks so. Sam encouraged him to come, so he’s sure it’s nothing too serious.

In the ER, TJ checks Alexis’s vision, and Sam runs in. She asks, what happened? and Alexis says, she and Carly barely escaped with their lives. Girls night out. Sam asks TJ what she’s talking about; is she okay? TJ says, she’s not exaggerating. She and Carly were attacked. Sam asks, by who? and Alexis says, by someone she thought was her friend.

Jordan is in another cubicle with Carly, and Amy tells Carly that the attending wants to monitor her; try to get some rest. As soon as she’s gone, Carly takes off the oxygen mask, and says, she knows Jordan has questions for her, but they’ve got to find Harmony before she goes after Willow and Wiley. Jordan asks why she thinks Harmony is a danger to her own daughter and grandson, and Carly says, Harmony had some kind of psychotic break. She’s desperate to keep the secret that Willow is not her daughter.

Sasha kneels by Harmony, and the photographer says, how’s this for a headline – Supermodel Speedster Slays. She says, can’t he see? This woman is barely breathing. She needs an ambulance right now. On the phone, Gladys says she doesn’t know the exact location, and Sasha says she can’t focus. She tells the photographer to help Gladys, and he takes the phone, while Gladys goes to help Sasha. Sasha says, help her turn Harmony over, but Gladys isn’t sure they should. Sasha says, this lady is barely breathing; she needs CPR right now. On three, she wants Gladys to turn Harmony toward her. One… two… three. They turn her over, and Gladys says, she thought it was a deer, but it was a person. Sasha sees it’s Harmony, all bloody, and she’s shocked.

Alexis tells Sam, she took off on foot. She could be anywhere.

Carly tells Jordan that she found a piece of paper in a file. They were notes from a therapy session, and mentioned Harmony by name. Something about Harmony feeling guilty for taking a child that wasn’t her own. Jordan says, these were Neil Byrne’s notes? and Carly says, when she went to the fireplace, because Harmony was burning some papers, the heading on the paper said, Dr. Neil Byrne, Psychiatrist, and that’s when Harmony came after her with a needle. Jordan says, this could explain why Brendon Byrne was found dead in the water by the pier, and Carly says, all she knows is, when she woke up in her SUV, she could hear Harmony and Alexis arguing. Harmony was threatening Alexis. She went after Alexis, but then Carly tackled her to the ground. The moment Harmony heard Alexis get through to 9-1-1, she took off. Jordan says, this was all because of Neil Byrne’s file. What was so compelling that Harmony would commit multiple homicides to keep it quiet?

Willow says, she’s sorry Sam’s missing out, but she won’t complain about having two handsome dinner companions. Dante wonders if he won’t be the third wheel. Don’t they want a rare night out? Willow says, they manage get out when they can, and asks what Dante’s been up to. Dante says, working. He was just at the gym; Sonny was there. He heard Sonny and Michael had a dust up. Willow says, excuse her. She’s going to call the nanny and check on Wiley. She leaves, and Dante says, that was very tactfully done. Michael asks what their father had to say, and Dante says, he heard Sonny’s side; he was hoping to hear Michael’s. Michael says, it’s between dad and him. It’s best Dante stays out of it.

Curtis tells Portia that he’s sorry about today. He’s in a negative headspace. He had a confrontation with Marshall, and of course (🍷) it didn’t go very well. She asks how this confrontation was any different than the others he had with Marshall, and he says, this time, he had knowledge. He discovered some secrets Marshall’s been keeping from him. She asks how he came across this knowledge, and he says he did some digging. She says, and Marshall was upset about the invasion of his privacy, and Curtis says, so much so, he packed his bags and left town. She says she sees. And what does he think upset Marshall more, that Curtis unearthed his secrets, or that he used Drew to do it?

Rory says he didn’t mean to scare Trina. He noticed she hadn’t locked the door. She says she meant to; she just got caught up with work. He says, she should be more careful. Commissioner Ashford told him to keep watch. She said there’s been some trouble with the press? Although he doesn’t recommend pepper spraying a reporter. Can she put that away now? She says, sorry, and puts it back in her bag. He says, close call. Looks like she has good aim. She says, she does. Her dad is an ex-cop. He says he’s sure he taught her the importance of handling weapons safely, and she says, trust her, she knows. He says, good. He’d hate to have to take her in. She says, like he did with Cam and Spencer? Overreact much? He says, she’s still mad that he detained her friends, but she says, friend. Cam is her friend. He says, and Cassadine isn’t?

Spencer tells Cameron, he’s glad they understand one another, and ends the call. Esme asks, who was that? and he says, Cameron. She says, Cam’s doing him a favor? and he says, if he knows what’s good for him. He told Cam that he needs to watch what he says about Esme in the future, or things might get physical again. She says, he and Cam got into a fight? and he says, they were dragged down to the PCPD, but now Cam knows that he’s not going to tolerate him badmouthing her anymore. She says, he did that for her? He has to be careful. He can’t get arrested again. He says, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her, and tells her that he has to get going. She asks, where? and he says, the gallery, so he can get started on the many menial tasks Ava’s assigned to him. If he goes after hours, he can avoid Ava and Trina. She says she appreciates that. He kisses her on the cheek, says, it always has been us against the world, and leaves.

Nikolas’s phone dings, and the message from Ava says: Plans tonight. Don’t wait up. He throws the phone across the room, when Esme walks in. She says, something on his mind? He says, this is a waste. All that effort, Ava isn’t even taking his calls. He flips over the table set for his and Ava’s dinner, sending everything flying. Esme says, it was a beautiful table. She’s sorry about Ava, and for her part in ruining his plans. He says, it’s not her fault, but she says, Ava isn’t here because Ava resents the fact she is. She starts to pick things up, but he tells her, leave it; he’ll have someone clean it. She says, Ava even put their vow renewal on hold, and he says, no one’s forced her to make those choices. She says, it’s so obvious how he worships his wife. She can’t understand how Ava doesn’t appreciate that. She sees what kind of partner he is, and she wants that kind of passion and loyalty in her life. She takes his hand, and says, he doesn’t deserve to be stuck in this house without the love he so desperately needs. Laura walks in, and says, she comes bearing glad tidings. Nobody has to be stuck. Esme doesn’t have to hide out anymore.

Trina says, she asked Rory not to arrest Cam, if he recalls. Now if he’ll excuse her, she has work to do. She’ll lock up when he goes. He says he wasn’t trying to be a jerk. Commissioner Ashford is really pushing for everything to be by the book. She says, nothing wrong with being disciplined; she can relate. He says, and so she knows, both guys got off with a warning. She says she supposes he’s just doing his job, possibly taking it too seriously, and he says, since she cut him some slack, he wouldn’t turn down something to drink while he keeps watch in his patrol car. She says, Officer Invisible did give her a soda once. She guesses she can return the favor. He says, actually Cabrera, but she can call him Rory, if she ever needs to call him.

Curtis says, Drew told Portia about their plan? and she says, he told her the basics. He said he set up an interview with Marshall so they could do a background check. Curtis says, Marshall was upset by all the subterfuge. He was even more upset that Curtis ignored his wishes to stop searching. She asks, then why did he do it? and he says, he did it for her and Trina; for Aunt Stella and TJ, and everyone he loves. They had to find out what Marshall was hiding. And he doesn’t regret doing it, because what he found out was eye-popping. The man was never in the Witness Protection Program, and no link to organized crime. In fact, his arrest was because of a protest rally decades ago. She doesn’t understand why he would hide that, and Curtis says, he’s guessing, pride. He was embarrassed he never did jail time. Instead, he was sent to a mental institution. He was going to tell her; he just wanted to confront the man first. She says, Curtis doesn’t owe her that information, but she’s wondering why he didn’t share with her how he acquired it. Subterfuge, digging; her perspective could have helped him with this. And she thought they were in this together, but he didn’t trust her with any of it?

Michael says, he doesn’t recognize their father anymore; does Dante? Dante says, of course (🍷) he does. He’s going through some changes. Michael says, changes that directly affect his mother and son. His mother can take care of herself, but Wiley can’t. That means he has to put his relationship with Sonny behind him. Dante asks, for how long? when Willow comes back, and says, Wiley’s just fine. Dante’s phone rings, and he says, now it’s his turn to be excused. He steps away, and Willow asks if everything is okay. Michael says, Dante didn’t try to talk him out of his positions, and she says, relationships with parents are tricky. She needs to check in with her mom about her drinking last night. It’s not like her. Dante comes back, and says, he just got called to the scene of an accident; he has to jet. Willow says, eventful night, and Dante says, it appears so. He tells Michael, whatever happens with him and Sonny, they’re brothers, always. Michael says, always, and Dante says, raincheck on the dinner? Michael says, sounds good. Next time, bring Sam. Dante says, of course (🍷). No more third wheel for them.

Sam says, Alexis couldn’t have known how deep Harmony’s lies went, or what she was actually capable of. Alexis says, she didn’t; not even close. She killed Neil, then became Alexis’s friend, and tried to kill her.

Carly says, Harmony stole a baby. That’s pretty shocking. Jordan asks if it’s sufficient motive to try to kill Carly and Alexis, kill Neil Byrne, and his brother. Was it all to avoid going back to prison, or is there more to the story? Carly flashes back to confronting Harmony about saying owed Nina, and Harmony saying that she misspoke. Carly says she’s not sure, and Jordan says, try her. Carly says she thinks Brendon knew Harmony killed his brother, and Jordan says, then why not come to the police? Especially when he had damning evidence in her file? Carly says, apparently, he was trying to shake Harmony down, and Jordan says, but why go to such extreme lengths? And what was in that file? What else does Carly know?

Sasha does CPR, and Gladys asks, if she dies, are they going to get in trouble? Harmony takes a breath, and Sasha says, she’s back. She tells Harmony, hold on; help is coming. The photographer starts taking pictures, since he learned nothing from Princess Diana’s death, and tells Sasha, look at him.

Jordan wonders if there was anything, any indication why Harmony would kill two people, and try to kill two more, and Carly doesn’t know what Jordan wants her to say, What she does know is, Willow is going to be devastated, and she’s worried about Willow’s safety. Michael and Wiley too, which is why she has to let them know what’s going on. Jordan says, it’s being handled. Everyone has to remain calm, including Carly. So sit tight; got it? Carly nods, and Jordan’s phone rings. She leaves to take the call, and Carly says, you bet I’ll sit tight, and starts to gather up her stuff.

Sam wonders if Alexis needs more medical attention, but Alexis says, she heard TJ. No concussion. She’s fine… at least physically. Sam says she’s so sorry Harmony did this to her; she let that woman into her home. Alexis says she’s realizing Harmony wasn’t just the cause of one bad night, but many.

The photographer snaps photos all around the gurney the paramedics have Harmony on. One of them says, dude, seriously, what are you doing? The photographer goes over to Sasha and Gladys, and says, there’s two ways this thing can play out. He can sell these pictures with Sasha being the heroine who saved the day, or she can stand in his way, and the story is, she caused this tragedy. Gladys tells her to go with the first one. He’s going to sell something. The bad press will make Deception’s stock go down. Is that what she wants? The photographer says, it benefits them both, and he wants his memory card returned. The paramedics bring Harmony through, and one tells Sasha, nice job keeping her alive, and the photographer says, isn’t she great? They go to the ambulance, and the photographer says, his memory card, holding out his hand. Sasha says she doesn’t think so, and starts to walk away. He says, okay, the Face of Collision it is. She asks why he doesn’t leave her alone, and he says, the whole world will see she’s flaming out after she lost her kid. Wow. He’s extra stupid, since I doubt the public would be on his side. Sasha goes after him and Gladys pulls her back. Dante arrives, and gets in the middle, saying, stop.

Portia says, she doubts Curtis would have gotten Drew involved unless she had serious concerns, but she wishes he would have trusted her. He says he does trust her, but ever since they moved in together, he’s been concerned about Marshall’s past showing up on their doorstep. And leaving Trina alone with him when Aunt Stella had her panic attack didn’t help matters. She says, Trina seemed perfectly safe with Marshall, and he says he’s not saying Marshall’s the danger. He’s worried about Marshall’s past, and had to get answers. She asks how he went about it. Didn’t Marshall’s background check come back clean? He says, Marshall had a sealed arrest record. He told Curtis that himself. She says she knows Marshall didn’t tell him the contents of that record. How’d he go about finding out?

Laura sees the mess, and asks, what happened here? Nikolas says, a momentary lapse. What’s this great news? She says she had a conversation with Sonny, and he assured her, Esme has nothing to fear. He gave her his word, and his word is his bond. So they can all resume their normal lives. Perhaps Esme can move out now. Nickolas says, let’s not be too hasty.

Rory is looking at a painting, when Trina comes back. She says, sorry, this is all they have, handing Rory a bottle of Pellegrino. She asks if he likes the painting, but he says he’s not sure. He doesn’t know anything about art. He’s walked past the Chuck museum a thousand times, but never set foot inside. She says, that’s sad; he’s definitely missing out. He says he really likes the front steps. It’s a great place to eat his lunch. She says, trust her. What’s inside is a million times better. He says, even if he has no idea what he’s looking at? and she says, the thing about art is it’s subjective. How does this painting make him feel? Spencer quietly comes in, and Rory says, hopeful? Trina asks, why hopeful? and Rory says she’s putting him on the spot. Something about the mixture of dark and light. She says, she can see that, and Spencer says, that’s called contrast. Rory should ask Trina to educate him about chiaroscuro, the treatment of light and shade. Trina says, he is the expert on all things shady. Why is he here?

Portia says she knows a former investigator has all kinds of sources, and she’s not asking Curtis to reveal them, but getting access to a sealed police record… He says, she doesn’t approve, and she says, she’s not judging him; she’s concerned. He says, about Marshall or his relationship with Marshall? and she says, of course (🍷) she hopes Marshall is okay. She’s sensitive to him wanting to keep his mental health issues private. As far ask their father/son relationship, she’s with Curtis. She supports what he wants. He asks, then why is she upset? and she says she doesn’t want to lose him.

Rory says, if it isn’t the mayor’s grandson. What brings Spencer here? Spencer says, work. He’s here to start his restitution, and since Trina is no longer supervising him, he figured he could make his own hours. Rory says, he bets. Spencer seems to like making up his own rules. Spencer says, if it’s a bad time, he can leave, but Trina says she’ll go. She just needs to finish. Rory says he’ll be in the car, thanks Trina for the water, and leaves, and my God is his belt LOUD. Spencer asks why Trina is hanging out with Rory, and Trina says, not that it’s any of his business, but Commissioner Ashford assigned him to her for her protection. He says, like a bodyguard, and she asks why Rory made that comment about him being the mayor’s grandson. He says, so they’re on a first name basis now, and she says, he used his grandmother’s position to avoid charges. He says, Rory would have found out anyway, and she says, he doesn’t think twice, does he? He just throws money and influence, or both, and expects things to go his way. She thought he’d grow out of it, but she was wrong all along. He’s still the same entitled brat she had the bad luck of meeting months ago.

Nikolas tells Laura, Spencer and Esme can’t support themselves, and Esme says she still doesn’t have access to her trust fund, and Spence is making nothing at the gallery. Laura says she’s sure Spencer could go back to working at Kelly’s, but Esme says, Spencer and Cameron had a… disagreement. Laura says, she’s aware. She was Spencer’s first call from Jail. Esme says she should probably go talk to Spence; tell him the good news. She fakes being happy, and thanks Laura, hugging her. Laura says she’s so welcome, and Esme leaves. Nikolas says he appreciates Laura coming and delivering the news in person, and she says, not a minute too soon it seems.

Dante asks, what happened? What’s going on? The photographer says, he’s bleeding and Sasha is insane. Sasha says, he’s insane, calling him a bloodsucker, and Gladys says, not another word without an attorney present. She’s calling Brando. She tells Dante, Sasha’s not saying another word, so save his breath. The photographer says he needs medical attention, and Dante says he can drive himself to GH. Just don’t leave the hospital before Dante gets his statement. He says, Dante is going to get his statement all right, and Dante says, get out of here. He leaves, and Dante asks if Sasha is okay, but she says, no. How’s Harmony? He says, too soon to tell. What happened here? She says, that horrible man was chasing them, and he asks, was he trying to get photos? Sasha says, she was trying to get away from him. She was driving… He stops her, and reminds her that she does have a right to counsel, but he needs to know what happened with Harmony. How did she get hurt? Sasha says, she ran out into the road right in front of her car. She couldn’t swerve. My God. What if she doesn’t make it? Gladys comes back, and says, that’s enough for now. Can’t Dante see she’s upset? He says he’s going, but Sasha should get to GH; she could be in shock. They can come to the station in the morning to give their statements. Gladys tells Sasha, let’s go, and leads her away. Dante sees something on the ground covered in blood. The memory card?

Michael says, some date night, huh? and Willow says, it started off weird. Sam couldn’t make it, and Dante got called away. It’s not his fault. He says he’s been in a funk since Dante brought up his dad, and she says, having a parent out of your life is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be forever. Look at her and her mom. He says, enough gloomy talk. Like Dante said, it’s a rare night out. Let’s make the best of it. She asks if he has anything particular in mind, and he says he has a few things in mind. They kiss, and his phone rings. He says, of course (🍷). It’s Carly, who asks if Willow is with him, and he says, they just sat down to dinner. Is everything okay? She says, everything is not okay. It’s not about Wiley, but she needs him and Willow to come to the ER right now. She’ll tell him everything when they get here. He says, they’re on their way, and Willow asks, what is it?

Carly asks if Alexis is okay, and Alexis says, she’s fine thanks to Carly. Carly saved her life. What about her? Carly thanks Alexis, saying, if Alexis hadn’t shown up when she did… Sam comes out, and says, Spinelli’s trying to get a location on Harmony’s phone, and Alexis says, Harmony sure as hell won’t be calling her. Her reporter was at the PCPD, and said they have no information yet, but hopefully, they’ll find Harmony, and this will all be over soon. Amy tells Alexis that her discharge papers are ready, and they’re working on Carly’s. Harmony is brought in on a gurney, and the paramedic says she was in full arrest on scene, and a bystander performed CPR. She has multiple head injuries and probably head trauma. Amy says, that’s Willow’s mother, and TJ says a bunch of medical stuff. I laugh, wondering if he even knows what he’s saying.

Gladys says she agrees with Dante that Sasha should be checked out at GH. Brando’s very worried about her. Sasha tells Gladys, just say it. Gladys says, Harmony came out of nowhere. There’s no way Sasha could have avoided her. She lowers her voice to a whisper, and says, the fact is, Sasha was speeding. What’s on that memory card that’s got her so bent? Sasha flashes back to the photographer taking photos of her taking a pill, and she says she’s so sick of being treated like an animal on exhibit. Since she lost Liam, her grief has been judged and analyzed, and she can’t take it. Gladys says she gets it. Don’t worry. The memory card is safe in her purse. Sasha asks if she can have it, and Gladys says, of course (🍷), but she wants to get Sasha to the hospital first. Sasha says she hopes Willow is there. She owes Willow an explanation.

Alexis asks what Jordan found out. Does she know what happened to Harmony? Jordan says, apparently, she was struck in a single vehicle collision, and Sam says, Harmony was able to commandeer a getaway car and crashed it? Willow and Michael come in, and Willow asks if this is about her mom. Where is she? What happened? Jordan suggests they have a seat, but Willow says, tell her what’s going on with her mother. Is she okay? Jordan says, her mother was struck by a car earlier tonight, and Willow says she wants to see her, but Jordan says, they’re stabilizing her now. Carly tells Willow that they’ll do everything they can for her mom, and Willow says, she doesn’t understand. Did her mom drive off the road? Michael ask how Carly found out, and what happened to her face? Carly says, they’ll talk about it later, and Willow asks if Carly knows what’s happening here?

Curtis says he’s not going nowhere, but Portia says, he can’t promise that, not if he’s using questionable methods; he’s keeping her at bay. She went through this whole thing with Taggert. She’s not doing it again. He says, he did what he did to protect what they have, and she says, did what exactly? There’s no way he got that sealed report from a legitimate source. He says he doesn’t want to jeopardize what they’re building, and she says she’s glad to hear it. She knows his past is important to him, but he needs to promise, from this point forward, to put their future first.

Laura says, she seems to have walked in on a sort of close moment between Nikolas and Esme. He indicates the mess, and says, he was upset because Ava wasn’t available for a surprise dinner he’d arranged. He didn’t realize Ava had other plans. Esme blamed herself, and he was consoling her. This makes me cringe, and Laura says, seems to her, he should be consoling his wife. He says, now that Esme won’t be around as much, hopefully, things will improve, and Laura says, she’s worried about Spencer. He’s been fighting with his friends, and he’s becoming increasingly isolated. Soon it will just be Esme and Victor. Nikolas says, and him; they’re still growing closer. Laura puts her hand on his arm, and says, get Esme out of the house. She is the common denominator in all of these strained relationships. He says, Esme’s not perfect, but Laura is giving her too much power. Laura says, she’s manipulative. Can’t he see that? She sows chaos. He says, bottom line, Esme wants to be loved and needed. Once she and Spencer patch things up, and get back on track, Spencer can rebuild his life. Then he and Ava can rebuild theirs, and once that finally happens, they’ll come together as a family. She asks, when did he become an optimist? and he asks if it’s wrong to hope for a positive outcome. She says, not necessarily, but she thinks he’s being naïve. There is a scorpion under his roof. Get rid of her before she poisons all of them.

Spencer says, Trina can’t blame him for using his connections. Another arrest on his record, and he could go back to prison. Isn’t she doing all she can to keep from being incarcerated? She says she’s innocent… not that he believes her. He asks if she really regrets meeting him, and she says, how self-absorbed can you get? She’s facing trial, and a Title 9 investigation that could get her kicked out of school. Out of all the things she stands to lose, he’s the least important. He says, he knows he hurt her, but don’t try to hurt him, no matter how much he deserves it; it’s just not her style. She says, maybe he doesn’t know her after all. She was certainly wrong in thinking she knew him. He says, she does know him. She believes in him. At least she did. She says, he’s the only person who would try to make her feel guilty for his sick wack friendship. He says, that’s not what this is, and she says, yes it is. He’s playing all the hits, but she’s not listening. He abandoned her when she needed him the most. If he wants to work nights, she can work days. He tells her not to interrupt her schedule. He just needed to get out of the house. She says, issues with his dad? and he says, actually, they’re on better terms than they’ve been in a long time. She says, then what is he running from? His beloved Esme?  

Curtis says, there’s nothing more important than their future together, and Portia says, what about Marshall? Will Curtis look for him? He says, Marshall disappeared successfully for decades. He’s beginning to think Marshall doesn’t want to be found. She says, nobody knew to look for him then; now they do. She gets the feeling family means everything to Marshall. He says, then he and Marshall have that in common, because she and Trina are family too. Trina’s not his daughter, but he cares about her. He hopes Portia trusts that he’ll always do what’s best for both of them. She says she does, and he says, ethics and integrity mean a lot to both to them. Going forward, she’s never going to have to worry about that. He kisses her hand.

Nikolas tells Laura, there’s nothing more important to him than Ava and Spencer, and he believes his family will be intact when the dust settles. She says she admires his confidence and resolve. She just hopes he knows what he’s doing.

Spencer tells Trina, believe it or not, he misses going to Kelly’s. He used to feel useful there. He hated the job at first, but started to appreciate how feeling productive can improve his state of mind. She says, then go back, especially if he’s taking nights here. He says, Joss and Cameron won’t want him rehired, and she says, Joss maybe, but Joss is just protecting her, and she doesn’t mind. She gets how it would be important to him. He says, she always does, and she says, but not how Esme gets him, right? She’ll leave him a to-do list, so he can go home to his phony twisted witch who’s the love of his life. He says, Esme is anything but that, and Esme overhears just as she’s about to walk in.

Dante thanks the photographer for his statement, and he says, what about his memory card? The mother-in-law stole it from him, and Sasha attacked him when he asked for it back. Dante looks at his hand, and says, yeah, it looks real life threatening. Bandaging his hand, Amy holds back her laughter, and Dante asks if he wants to press charges. The photographer says, yeah, that’ll show her, and Dante says, that’s cool; that’s his right. But it’s also Miss Gilmore’s right to counter-sue for assault and harassment. The photographer says, forget it, and Dante says, that’s what he thought. Oh, since there will probably be an investigation about illegal vehicular pursuit, do him a favor, and don’t go anywhere. Amy hands him something, and he says, thanks – she leaves – for nothing. He takes out his phone and calls Smoltz. He says, Smoltz will want to hit the ATM with what he’s got that Smoltz is going to want.

Willow asks if Carly was with her mom, and Carly says, not at the time of the accident. Alexis says, before, at Whatchamacallit Point. Willow asks, why? when Harmony is wheeled past. Willow asks TJ if she can talk to her, but he says, no time. Her mom’s injuries are critical. He’ll give her news as soon as he has some. He tells the orderly that they have to get Harmony to the OR now. Sasha and Gladys come in, and Willow wonders, who could have done this to her mom?

Tomorrow, Brando asks Sasha why the photographer was chasing her; Willow says she’ll never forgive herself for pushing Harmony away; Trina says, someone made their choice, so deal with it; and Ava asks Nikolas, please tell her that he’s not letting Esme stay.

🎭 Off the Court…

Olivia takes the stage. This sounds pretty good.

🏆 Best Of Daytime…

What’s up with the Daytime Emmy Awards.

📖 Take a (Rain)Bow…

A well-deserved award. I love to read and he’s the best.

https://www.theroot.com/levar-burton-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-at-2-1848844903

🎆 Another Opening…

Puffy! And is it me or does that restaurant look a little haunted?

🍹 Second Time This Week…

First Gary on BDSY, now this.

https://ew.com/tv/the-real-world-homecoming-new-orleans-preview-julie-drunk/

🏡 Bringin’ It On Home…

Take a break tomorrow with me for some soap, tea, bon mots, and a musical moment. Until then, stay safe, stay ready to lend a hand, and stay making your own rules, but not in an entitled brat way.

April 21, 2022 – Laura Says the Perps Are Her Grandsons, Soap Coupling, Samuel’s Secret, Celebration, First Walk, Sharing & Shining

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase checks on his phone to make sure the cameras are working, and Finn comes downstairs. He says he shouldn’t be long, but if Elizabeth wakes up before he’s back, have her call him. Chase says, don’t worry. He has everything under control. He gets the feeds from all the cameras on his phone, so he doesn’t even have to get off the couch. Finn says he owes Chase one, but Chase says, no problem. They’re going to find out whoever’s been harassing Elizabeth. That’s a promise.

At the station, Jordan says she heard Rory had a problem with a perp tonight, and he says, yes, ma’am. He filled out all the appropriate paperwork. She says she was referring to that bruise, and indicates his cheekbone. It doesn’t look serious, but he might want to ice it. He says he’s good, and she asks, what happened? He says, a fight broke out at Kelly’s. Spencer Cassadine was the instigator. She says, Spencer? At Kelly’s? Who else was involved?

Cameron and Spencer are in their cells, and Spencer asks if Cameron would mind telling him what the hell he thought he was doing back there. It’s not as though they don’t have plenty of time on their hands. Cameron says, will you shut up. He can’t believe he’s in a jail cell right now. Spencer says, if Cameron hadn’t punched him… and Cameron says, he deserved it. Spencer says, that’s not the point. Cameron assaulted him, and he’s locked up for no reason. Cameron says, no reason? Spencer assaulted an officer. Spencer says, it was an accident. Is that guy even a cop? He’s barely older than they are. Cameron says, he’s not the problem. Why the hell did Spencer say that crap about Trina and Josslyn? Spencer tells Cameron that he had to say something. Cameron and his big mouth were about to ruin everything.

On the phone at The Savoy, Maxie says, no problem. She gets that it was an emergency. She was just hoping there were other doctors capable of saving lives… She tells Austin that she really does understand. Do his thing, and they’ll try for a different night. She hangs up, and says she hopes Britt is having better luck with her date.

At Beradino’s, Britt sits sipping wine. A man tries to take the chair next to her, and she says, it’s taken. He leaves, and she says, that is, if he ever shows up. At another table, Britt sees Drew sitting with a woman we don’t know, but later find out her name is Mia. Drew says, the digital side is going well. That credit goes to his nephew Michael. He really knows his stuff, but the print division, that’s lagging, and that’s on account of him. Mia says, he only recently took control, having returned from an extended absence. He says, that’s one way to put it, and she says, let her ask him a question. Does he want to run a media company, or having survived a life-threatening incident, is there something else he’d rather do?

Marshall meets Epiphany at the Bistro, and she says she just finished her shift. She’s glad he called, but then again, maybe he needed to vent. Did something happen between him and Curtis? He says, something like that. He asked to see her because he wanted to tell her personal; he’s leaving Port Charles.

Curtis asks if everything is to Selena’s liking, and she says, he’s exceeded expectations. The back room is set up just as she asked. He says, their deal was, after the first game, she’d provide him with a certain sealed police record. When can he expect that? She says, the game hasn’t even started yet, and he says, just a reminder, per their agreement, she will run clean games here; no guns, no drugs. She says she doesn’t anticipate any problems, but she’s wise enough to expect the unexpected. And she’s right. She watches Sonny walk in.

Spinelli approaches Maxie, and says, Maxinista. He’s wearing what I suppose you could call clubwear, and turns in a circle. He asks what she thinks, and says, It feels a little like cosplay, but the sales associate assured him it was the right look. She says, it’s fantastic, but just a few adjustments. She removes his fanny pack and puts it on the table, and starts to take off his scarf, but he says, this pulls the whole outfit together. She asks if he means pulls it apart. With all due respect to the salesperson who helped him, who’s the fashion editor here? He says, she is, and she puts the scarf aside. She says, now he’s perfect, and he thanks her. He says, it’s been a while since he’s done this, and she says, done what exactly? He says, sought companionship, and she says, something non-serious, or with the potential for something more? and he says, something romantic of course (🍷), but you can’t buy if you don’t shop. She says, don’t say that to anyone – ever, and he says, noted. What about her? Is this work related or is she out with the girls? She says, no. She was supposed to meet Austin tonight, but he had a hospital emergency, which she totally understands, but she could have used the distraction tonight. He says, why tonight? and she says, after months of wavering, Britt is finally on a date. Britt’s been all mysterious about the guy, so of course (🍷) all Maxie wants to do is go over there and see him.

Britt tells herself, face it. The guy is a no-show. She thinks she’s relieved.

Drew asks what Mia is suggesting. He hand over his half of Aurora to Michael, and go trekking in the Himalayas? She says, it’s his life. How does he want to spend it? In the boardroom or clinging to a mountainside? He says, he’s done the mountainside, and there were moments of incredible exhilaration, but he missed out on a lot of time, time he can’t get back, with his daughter and his family. So he chooses the 9 to 5 boardroom. She says, not surprising, but impressive, and he says, she’s lost him. She says she’s asked hundreds of execs some version of that question. They all choose the boardroom. Then they trip over themselves to convince her that deep down inside, there’s some dangerous man or woman yearning to live on the edge. But in his case, he’s actually been to the edge. He says, not everybody who goes gets to come back. He feels he owes it to them and to himself to embrace the life he has here and make the most of it. Not that running a company is a noble endeavor, but if he does it right, a lot of people have jobs and his family has security. She says, he chooses the boardroom. Next question. Aurora or ELQ?

Chase is looking in the refrigerator, when Aiden comes in. Chase says he thought Aiden was at his grandmother’s, and Aiden says, he biked over. Chase says, it’s kind of late. Does he need something from his room? Aiden says he needs Chase’s help.

Rory tells Jordan, Cameron Webber and Spencer Cassadine were arguing; Trina Robinson and Josslyn Jax were also present. He could tell things were starting to escalate, and when he turned around, Cameron assaulted Spencer, a punch to the face. That’s when he intervened. She says, alone? Where was his partner? He says, still at the Byrne crime scene, and she says, he should have been with Rory. Breaking up a fight by himself is dangerous. He says he had it handled. Webber backed off right away, and Cassadine was on the ground. She says, so that was it? One punch. He says, yeah, and she says, and Spencer still wants to press charges against Cameron? He says, Spencer didn’t say one way or the other. He brought them in on disorderly conduct. She says, both of them? and he says, first there was Webber’s punch to Cassadine, which was an assault, and then Cassadine threw an elbow, which was an assault on a police officer. So he followed procedure and took them both in. Webber was cooperative; Cassadine wasn’t. She says, Spencer Cassadine revisited arrest? and he says, not physically, but he was running his mouth the whole time at the station. Who does that guy think he is? Laura comes in and asks Jordan, where are her grandsons?

Cameron says, Spencer’s strategy of lying to his friends and sitting back while they all go down in flames is just genius. He wouldn’t want that to get screwed up. Spencer says, Cameron couldn’t keep his mouth shut for one day, and Cameron says, in case Spencer hasn’t noticed, Josslyn despises him. She’s on fire against him for being protective of Esme and throwing Trina under the bus. So he couldn’t listen to her tear Spencer down, because Spencer is trying, in his own weird pathetic way, to fix it. Spencer thanks Cameron for defending him, and says, don’t let it happen again. Cameron says, don’t worry; he won’t. He was defending Spencer before Spencer landed him in jail. Spencer says he’s not going to press charges. He’ll tell the cops he instigated the whole thing. Cameron asks if he’s sure about that. Will this whole situation violate his parole? Will being arrested land him back in prison?

Curtis excuses himself, and Selena tells Sonny, this is a surprise. He says, it’s her first night poker game. He wanted to check it out. Just curious. She says she heard about the attempted robbery at Charlie’s. She hopes everyone is all right. He says he took care of it, and she says, of course (🍷), and smiles. Brad comes in, and tells Curtis, someone is requesting a brand of liquor they don’t have in the back room. Curtis says, his bar is stocked with the best, and Selena asks if there’s a problem. Brad says, one of the players beer of choice is Conners Ale, and Curtis says, that cheap stuff? We don’t pour that here. Brad tells him, he says it reminds him of the old neighborhood, and Selena says, then go buy some. Brad leaves, and Selena says, he’ll get better. Curtis says, he hopes so and leaves. Sonny asks Selena if everything’s okay, and she says, fine, but he says he disagrees. He thinks she’s making a big mistake.

Aiden says, it’s a school project, putting a Ouija board on the coffee table. Chase says, about trying to talk to ghosts? It’s way cooler than anything he ever did in school. Aiden says, he did a bunch of research online about Ouija boards. He wanted to test one out, and write down what happens. Like an experiment. Chase asks, why not do this at his grandmother’s place? but Aiden says, her apartment is too new and modern. He figured this place would have more spirits attached because the building’s a lot older. Chase says, so that’s how this works, and Aiden says, yes, but the internet says, unless you’re extra sensitive to the supernatural, you can’t use a Ouija board alone. Since his mom is sleeping, will Chase help him? Chase says, sure, but he has to warn Aiden, he doesn’t think anything is going to happen, but Aiden says he does. He has the feeling someone wants to talk to him.

Selena says she’s cleared this with Sonny; the game is going well. She fails to see how she’s made any mistakes. He says, by bringing her nephew in? No disrespect, but Brad is a lying weasel. She has to be careful who she chooses to represent her. She says she understands his reservations about Bradley, but she assures him, Brad is under her supervision now. He’ll do as she says. Sonny says, is that so? and she says, unquestionably.

Maxie says, Spinelli has to talk her down – go. Spinelli says, Britt wouldn’t appreciate Maxie crashing her date, and Maxie says, he’s right; she wouldn’t. What else has he got? He says, she might feel pressure; she’s still trying to get to know her gentlemen, and Maxie says, she’s meeting him for the first time tonight. Maxie is dying to see what this match looks like. He says, match? and she says, Britt’s been using this matchmaking service, Society Set-Ups, and she was matched with six different guys. She’s meeting her first match tonight, but Spinelli is right. Maxie needs to respect Britt’s privacy. He says, one little peek wouldn’t hurt. She won’t even know we’re there. Maxie says, we? and he says he’ll drive. They go out past TJ, and Maxie tells him, gotta run.

TJ asks Curtis if he’s seen Grandpa Marshall. He thought he might find Marshall here. Curtis says he hasn’t, but Drew called and told him what happened at the gym. TJ says, Curtis had Drew do a background check on Marshall? and Curtis says, he did. TJ says, he’s angry. He tried to talk to Marshall, but he didn’t want to. Curtis says, that’s Marshall’s M.O. Everything’s a secret. It makes covering his lies easier. TJ asks what Marshall is lying about

Epiphany says she thought making amends with Curtis was important to Marshall. Now there’s no hope? He says, he and Curtis are at an impasse, and she says, since when? The last time she looked, they were doing fine. He says he thought so too. It seems Curtis doesn’t want a relationship with him. At least, not on terms Marshall can accept. She asks where he’s going to go, and he says, that’s yet to be determined, but come tomorrow, he’s gone. She tells him, she thought he said getting his family back was the most important thing to him. So why is he going to leave again? He says he regrets that, but the fact of the matter is, he should have stayed gone. Expecting his family to let him back in after all this time is too much to ask. She says, damn right it is.

Drew says, Mia has certainly given him a lot to think about, and she says, then her work is done. He says he’s glad they had the chance to meet face-to-face, and she says, her too. He’s a refreshing departure from her usual client. He says he’ll call her, and set up their next consultation, and she says she looks forward to it. They shake hands, and she leaves. Britt looks at Drew, and he comes over to her table. She asks if he ends all his dates with a handshake. She knows it’s been a while, but he might want to speed up the process. He says, that was a business meeting, and she says, so much for her power of perception. He says, forgive the cliché, but is that seat taken? She says, it is now; please join her. He says he hasn’t seen her in a long time. How is she? She says, fine, and he says, that was a real question. Honestly, how is she? She says, maybe she’s not fine, but for now she’s better. For one thing, she doesn’t have to keep holding that seat. He asks if she’s expecting somebody, and she says, so his associate, Aurora or ELQ? He says, what? and she says, his business meeting. He says, maybe a little of both actually. Mia’s a coach. Britt says, he must take his softball league pretty seriously. He doesn’t have to get ready. He seems like he’s in pretty good shape to her. He says, thanks, but she’s an executive coach, to get the most out of your business. He’s back at Aurora, and he’s kind of stuck. He doesn’t know which direction to take, and Mia had some good ideas. Britt says, good luck. Remember, sometimes it’s best to trust your own instincts. Advice can take you in the wrong direction.

Rory tells Laura that he made the arrest. He didn’t realize the perps were related to the… She says, both perps are her grandsons, and asks where they are. Rory says, they’re in their cells, and she asks, have they been charged? but Jordan says, no. They’re still sorting it out. How did she find out? Laura says she was Spencer’s one phone call. Finn joins them, and says, he was Cameron’s.

Cameron asks how Spencer is supposed to help Trina if he’s back behind bars? Spencer says, they can’t send him back; he’s served his sentence. Cameron asks if part of his sentence isn’t working at Ava’s gallery. How is he going to manage that… Spencer says he’s not going back. No way. It’s a bogus charge. Cameron says, Spencer cracked a uniformed officer in the face, and Spencer says, he’ll sue the PCPD if he has to, for harassment. Cameron says, so that’s his solution? Threats and throwing around money? Thank God Spencer’s not the only one helping Trina. Spencer says, Cameron needs to calm down. They’re going to get out of here, and he’ll go back to making Esme slip up. That’s their best chance of getting Trina exonerated. They just have to stick to the plan. Laura walks in, and says, and what plan is that exactly?

Aiden and Chase sit in the living room, the only light coming from a candle. Aiden tells Chase, you have to place your fingertips lightly on the planchette. He’ll be the leader, that’s the one asking the questions. They put their fingertips on the planchette, and Aiden asks, is there a spirit present? Does anyone have a message for them? Franco? Chase says he doesn’t… and the candle goes out. Chase puts the lights back on, and says, it was probably a breeze, but Aiden says, Chase knows it wasn’t. It was Franco. He’s trying to contact them. Look at everything he’s done so far. The portrait of mom, don’t forget me spray painted on the photos (wasn’t it another painting? continuity, people), mom’s dress, and her wedding ring. Chase says, a lot of unsettling things have happened, but it’s deliberate. Someone wants them to believe it. Aiden says, yes; Franco. The cops can’t find evidence of anyone getting in the house because no one is. It’s Franco’s ghost. Chase says he doesn’t believe in ghosts, but Aiden says, lots of people do. Miss Coe, the cosmetics lady, does. Chase asks why Franco would want to scare his family like this, and Aiden says, he doesn’t mean to. He hasn’t hurt anyone. Not yet. Chase says, nobody’s getting hurt. That’s why he’s here; to protect Aiden’s mom, and find out who’s doing this. That’s why he installed all these cameras around the house. Aiden says, Chase shouldn’t have done that. What if it makes Franco mad?

Spencer says, grandmother, thank God, and Laura asks if they’re both all right. Cameron says, Spencer called their grandma? and Spencer says he didn’t want to wait for his father to get here from Spoon Island. Cameron says he’s sure it has nothing to do with Laura being mayor, and Laura says, Finn is upstairs waiting for Cameron. This officer will walk him up there. The officer lets him out, and Cameron says, sorry about this. Laura says, it’s okay, and Cameron leaves with the officer. Spencer says, what about him? and Laura says she thinks she might leave him there, and he says, why? That guy overreacted. She says she saw the bruise on that officer’s face, and he says, that guy was trying to give him a hard time because he has out for him. She says, that guy is an officer of the law, and he’ll adjust his attitude immediately.   

Sonny says, it looks like Selena has some heavy hitters; he’s impressed. She says she thinks of it as high stakes networking, and he laughs. He says he thinks he’s going to go back and sit down, but she says he doesn’t want to interrupt the game. He says, oh yes he does. They won’t even notice. He leaves, and Brad comes back. He says he’s got the brewskis. Judge Adams is all set. She tells him, never say a player’s name in public. Her associates expect discretion. He says he’s sorry, and she says, this is only his first game, but she expects him to learn quickly. And never ever make the same mistake twice.

Drew says, he takes it Britt has received some less than helpful advice lately, and she says, her mother is pressuring her to use the matchmaking service she signed Britt up for. He says he actually thinks it’s sweet. It’s hard for him to picture Liesl Obrecht having faith in a matchmaker, but he saw on Cassadine Island how much she loves Britt. She probably just wants Britt to be happy. She says, she means well, but some things can’t be forced. He says he’s also felt the pressure from well-meaning loved ones, trying to get him to regain his past life. Reuniting with Scout has been a joy, and family and friends. He’s just having a hard time at Aurora. She says, after all he’s been through, he’s entitled to an adjustment period, but he says, he’s been back a while. He probably should have his act together by now. She says she actually has the opposite problem. She’s really focused on her job. She loves what she does as Co-Chief of Staff at GH, and she doesn’t know if she’s ready for a relationship right now. He says, what if she’s not? It’s okay to be unsure. Life has a way of doing what it wants anyways. You just gotta roll with the punches. She has plenty of time to figure it out. She says, right, and he says he’s sorry if that sounded glib. He didn’t mean to offend her. She says, he didn’t. It’s actually nice to know she’s not the only one struggling. He says, it’s nice to know his struggling brings her comfort, and she says she didn’t mean it like that, but he says he’s just kidding. Maxie and Spinelli come in, and Maxie says, Drew is Britt’s match? Why didn’t Britt tell her? This is amazing! She throws her arms around Britt.

Chase asks if Aiden is mad at him for calling Doc to pick him up, and Aiden says, he could have ridden his bike back to the apartment. Doc will tell his grandma, and she’ll be all worried about him, or worse. Doc will try to talk it out with him. Chase says, it doesn’t hurt to talk. Does Aiden want to talk to his mom? Aiden says, no; don’t wake her up. He doesn’t want them to worry about him. He made a big deal out of nothing. Chase says Aiden doesn’t have to worry. He’ll figure this out, and he’ll stop the scary things from happening.

Maxie says, she’s a little surprised, but she could see it. It could work. Britt says, no. Maxie has it all wrong. Drew isn’t her match; they just ran into each other at the bar. Drew says, she had a date, like tonight? and she says, she got stood up. Remember that matchmaking service she told him about? Her mother signed her up for Society Set-Ups, and she was set up to fail. Her date never showed. Spinelli says, perhaps the gentleman has been delayed, and Britt says, by 30 minutes with no explanation or text? He’s clearly not coming. She didn’t even want to do this in the first place, and now she’s being blown off by some jerk? Spinelli loudly says, that’s not possible.

In the interrogation room, Spencer says, because he basically provoked Cameron, he won’t be pressing charges against him. Jordan says, Cameron is free to go, and Cameron says, what about Spencer? Finn tells him, quit while you’re ahead, let’s go, and they leave. Spencer says, what about me? and Jordan says, it’s up to the arresting officer, looking at Rory.

In the squad room, Finn gets Cameron’s stuff back, and Cameron checks his phone. He sees a text from Josslyn: Are U OK? and texts back: I just got out. Call me. On the desk phone, Finn tells Chase, the charges were dismissed. He’s bringing Cam home to Elizabeth’s. Chase says, just out of curiosity, who was the officer? Finn says, new guy, rookie. Cam’s starving, so they’re going to stop and eat. Does Chase need anything? How’s everything there? Chase says, Aiden was here. Doc just picked him up. Finn asks if Aiden needed to speak to Elizabeth, but Chase says, she was still sleeping. It’s a long story. He’ll fill Finn in when he gets here.

Epiphany says, if Marshall believes the right thing is to cut and run, then he hasn’t learned anything, and he’s definitely not doing his family any favors by sticking around. Is he that man? Because she thought he was different. Maybe he fooled her with his pretty words, and how passionately he played his clarinet. Maybe he put all of his soul into his music, and there was nothing left for the people around in his life. He says, that’s not fair. He loves his family. He only left because he cared about them. She asks if he’s sure, or is it just an excuse he’s making for himself? Because caring from a distance can be a lot easier than sticking around. Now he has a choice. He can disappear or stick it out. Talk to Curtis; fight for that family he says he loves.

Curtis watches as Selena tells one of the players, she has many associates who could have supervised the game, but she chose him because it’s an expression of respect. TJ asks Curtis if everything is all right, and Curtis says, it’s just a busy night. TJ says, it’s a good thing Grandpa Marshall didn’t come here and confront Curtis, and Curtis says he would have confronted Marshall right back for what he’s hiding. He’s not exactly sure what that is or what Marshall’s lying about, but he has the feeling they’ll know soon enough. Sonny comes out, and says, it’s good to see TJ. TJ says, they let him take a break from the hospital every now and then. It’s good to see Sonny too. How’s Avery’s arm? Sonny says, everything is good, thanks to TJ, and tells Curtis, TJ is great. He asks if he can have a second with TJ’s uncle, and TJ says he’ll be at the bar. Sonny says, it looks like Curtis found a way to access the information he wanted, and Curtis asks, what makes him say that? Sonny says, back room poker’s not Curtis’s style, and Curtis says, it’s just business.

Maxie asks if Spinelli is okay, and he says, he just meant to say, no man in his right mind would stand up someone as accomplished and fair of face as Britt. Britt says, thanks? She probably dodged a bullet. Matchmaking is such a desperate and fickle endeavor. How can anyone decide which people click? Spinelli says he prays she doesn’t give up hope. The theory behind matchmaking is sound. Matching based on common interests, meticulous analysis; it provides a solid foundation. Maxie says, look at the  time. They need to go. Spinelli says, they do? and Maxie says, yes. She’s sorry Britt’s date stood her up. He doesn’t know what he’s missing. Britt thanks her, and Maxie says, don’t forget, she matched with five other guys. Drew tells Spinelli that he’s looking sharp, and Spinelli thanks him, and says, his attire is more suited to The Savoy, but because of Maxie’s curiosity and Britt’s date, he had to retire from there prematurely. Drew says, still, looking good, and Spinelli says, since his life has taken an unexpected turn, he’s trying something new. Drew says he knows the feeling.

Spencer says, Rory’s got to agree it was an accident. Spencer didn’t mean to hit him. Rory walked into it. Laura coughs, and Spencer says, but he should have followed Rory’s instructions, he was disrespectful, and he’s sorry. Jordan tells Rory, his call, and Rory says he’s going to let Spencer off with a warning. Jordan and Laura thank him, and he leaves. Spencer asks if Jordan has to report this. Could he go back to prison? He hasn’t done his restitution hours yet. She says, he’s not on parole, so no, there are no consequences. Laura says, but if he had been charged, any judge would take into consideration how quickly he got back into trouble, and add to his sentence. Jordan says, he got lucky, and she hopes he appreciates that. Now he’s free to go.

Chase is sleeping on the couch, and hears something. He calls to Elizabeth, and looks at his phone. He runs out of the room.

Selena tells Brad not to let the beer get warm, and Brad takes it in the back. Sonny says he’s leaving. Good job tonight. She nods, and he leaves. Curtis says, Miss Wu, and she says, please. Selena. They’re partners now in this endeavor. He says, about that. The game’s begun. She promised him Marshall Ashford’s sealed record. He’s waiting. She says, he’ll get it tomorrow, first thing, and goes in the back.

Marshall says, he knows it looks like he’s pulling another disappearing act, and takes Epiphany’s hand. He says he knows he’s probably letting her down too. She says, he’s letting himself down. This is about the man he says he hopes to be for his family. He has so much to give. He says, he wanted to be that man. He wanted to be the man she sees in him. She says, then stay, and he says, she’s making it harder to go. She says, good, because they both know things get harder before they get better. From the way she sees things, everything’s been better between him and Curtis. They just need to ride out this rough patch, and give it some time. Does he really need to leave tomorrow?

Maxie practically runs out of Beradino’s, Spinelli following. He asks, why the hasty exit? Does she think Britt and Drew want to be alone? She says, what was up with him in there? Why was he so interested in Britt’s epic fail of a match up? He says he just couldn’t understand what kind of cad would leave her hanging, and she says, oooh. Is Spinelli interested in Britt? He says, no, and she says, is he thinking of joining Society Set-Ups himself?

Drew says, they deserve another, and Britt hesitates a moment, saying, Spinelli means well… but then says, they do. Drew toasts to an uncertain future, and all it may bring, and they clink glasses.

Laura thanks Jordan for her help and discretion, and Jordan says, this was easy; much ado about nothing. She leaves, and Spencer says, see? Jordan gets it, and Laura says, she’s Commissioner Ashford to him. She hopes he heard her say how lucky he was today, because it could have played out very differently. He says, to continue in the Shakespearean vein, all’s well that ends well. She asks if he thinks this is funny, because she can assure him it isn’t. What is he doing with his life? Is he trying to get sent back to prison? He says, of course (🍷) not, and she says, then act like a responsible adult. Cameron’s not a violent guy, but he’s learned the hard way that his actions have consequences. What did Spencer do to provoke him? He says, it’s over. He and Cameron straightened it out. They’re good. She tells him, never try to dismiss her again. And when an officer of the law tells you to do something, you do it.

On their way into the house, Cameron thanks Finn for getting him, and not telling his mom. He’s just glad she’s getting a decent night’s sleep. Finn says, Cameron’s going to have to tell her, and they go inside. Chase is lying on the floor, unconscious, and they run to him. Finn checks his pulse, and says, Chase.  

Tomorrow, Trina asks Marshall if he’s leaving for good; Ned toasts to Leo; Carly tells Sam, Harmony knows more about the Nina situation than she’s letting on; and Harmony tells Alexis, absolutely not.

💏 Behind the Coach…

This is so cool. I actually thought she was very good, and I liked her look.

🎬 Moonlighting…

Felix’s side hustle. Although now that he’s joined the Lifetime side, Felix may turn into the side hustle.

🌷 Hippity-Hoppity…

Easter celebrations in the soap world.

👠 Made For Walkin’…

Puffy!

🥕 More Easter Antics…

This is just precious. I wish they’d adopt me.

🎏 Drawing the Drape…

Calling it an early night, but come back tomorrow for soap, some tea, sage sayings, and a song. Until then, stay safe, stay going the extra mile, and stay remembering things get harder before they get better, so don’t cut and run.

April 15, 2022 – Nina Has One Comment, Esme’s Daddy, Insane, Kathy’s Defense, Dating, New Boyfriend, Breaking, VanderValley, Dance Move, Max List, Country Time, Nine Of Quotes & Scenes

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase is taking a shower, when his phone rings. He gets out to answer it, and says, he knows, he knows. He’s on his way… Hey, he’s doing them a favor. Relax. He’s got this covered.

Outside Kelly’s, Aiden reads an article about Ouija boards on his phone, when Laura comes along. She asks what he’s looking at.

Elizabeth opens the door to Finn, and asks what he’s doing here. He says he was nowhere near her neighborhood, and thought he’d stop by and say hi. She tells him, get in here, and he goes inside. He says, to be honest with him, it didn’t sit well that she talked him into her staying alone here last night. She says, it’s sweet he’s worried, and he says he’s not sweet, but he is worried about her. She says she appreciates he’s concerned, but Jake and Aiden are safe at Laura’s, and nothing happened last night. He says she can’t possibly think that the threat is over, but she says, no. Somebody’s gone to an awful lot of trouble to get her attention, and it’s working. How can she ever feel at peace until they find out who’s behind this?

Sonny tells Frank, once people find out he’s not the owner, Charlie’s isn’t going to be targeted. Carly walks in, and Sonny says, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The most important thing is, Phyllis wasn’t here when it happened. Everything’s going to be okay, right? Carly says, it seems they agree on that. When was the last time that happened?

Nina goes to Alexis’s office, and Alexis thanks her for coming. Nina says, of course (🍷). It’s not every day that the editor-in-chief of the town’s hottest newspaper asks to speak to you in private. She’s assuming this is all off the record, and Alexis says, yes, as long as it goes in both directions. She invites Nina in, and says, Crimson has done a number of journalistic pieces over the years. Nina says, now she’s definitely intrigued. What’s this all about?

At the MetroCourt, Willow tells Smoltz that Nina completely omitted she’d been with Sonny. Smoltz says, been with him sexually, and Willow says, yeah, and the next time Nina approached her, she confronted Nina. Nina insisted she hadn’t done anything wrong, and she was upset when Willow told her that she couldn’t see Wiley. Michael says, and a few days later, Nina filed for visitation. Smoltz thanks them, and says, that’s all he needs for now. He’ll contact them if he has any follow-up questions. Michael says, it’s important that the first segment is published before the visitation hearing. Willow says, they understand judges are supposed to be impartial, and Michael adds, still, if this story is blowing up on people’s social media, it could get traction in the court of public opinion. Smoltz says, he’s on it, but just to be upfront, he has to reach out to Miss Reeves for her side of the story, so if there’s anything they haven’t told him yet, now would be the time. If there’s dirty laundry, he will find it.

On the phone in one of the private lounges, Harmony says she’s planning on meeting Brendon at 8 pm, but he says, change in plans. He’s leaving Port Charles earlier than anticipated. They need to meet now. She says, fine, and he says, that was easier than he thought. She tells him, what can she say? He has the upper hand, and they both know that. He says, get him the money, and she’ll never have to hear from him again. She says, that’s what she’s hoping for, and looks at the syringe in her bag.

Finn says he should have stayed with Elizabeth, but she says, they’ve already discussed that. He has to prioritize taking care of Violet. Besides if this person is motivated to do these things because they think she’s forgetting about Franco, having him there could make things worse. He says, she can’t keep going like this. When was the last time she had a full night’s sleep? She was probably looking over her shoulder the whole time. She says, Cameron was with her, but he says, Cameron’s in college. He has a girlfriend. He might not be here every night. So if she’s not going to leave, and she’s not going to let him stay with her, he was going to suggest a possible solution to keep her safe. He was thinking… The doorbell rings, and he says, that might be the possible solution right now. Elizabeth opens the door to Chase, who apologizes for being late.

Aiden tells Laura, this is just something stupid his friend sent him, and she asks if she can see. He shows her, and she says, the Ouija board, and laughs. He says, she knows what those are? and she says, when she was his age, they used to have slumber parties and hold a séance, and use a Ouija board to contact the dead. He says, she talked to dead people? but she says, no, not at all. It’s completely pretend. It’s a little game people would play. Clearly, one of her friends was pushing the pointer around the board to trick them into believing it was real, but it’s not. Why is he so interested in the Ouija board? He flashes back to telling Jake, what if it’s Franco? and tells her, it’s just something he saw on TV.

Willow says, their dirty laundry has already been made public, and Michael says, they have nothing to hide, but Nina does. Smoltz says, just to reiterate, they both signed over the exclusive rights to their story to him. They’re not allowed to discuss this with any other outlet; print, radio, TV, online, they’re all off the table. Unless of course (🍷) they want to hire another team of attorneys. Michael says, they understand the terms, and Smoltz says he’ll be in touch. He leaves, and Michael says, they actually pulled the trigger. He asks how Willow feels about this, and she says she doesn’t love it, but she feels like she’s doing what needs to be done. He says he feels the same, and Willow sees Harmony going to the elevator. She wonders what her mom is doing here, and walks over. She asks what brings Harmony to the MetroCourt, and where she’s going in such a hurry.

Alexis wonders if she can ask Nina about the nature of her relationship with Harmony, and Nina says, they don’t really have a relationship. She did recently talk to Harmony about speaking up for her with Willow because she was trying to avoid court proceedings to get visitation rights with Wiley, but that’s it. Alexis and Harmony are friends, right? Alexis says, they forged a friendship in Spring Ridge. Harmony confided in her that Nina used her to get Willow to back down. Nina says she didn’t use Harmony. She had a conversation with her, grandmother to grandmother. Alexis says she doesn’t want to get bogged down in the weeds about that. When Harmony talked to Carly, she said she went to bat for Nina; that she owes Nina something. Does Nina have any idea what Harmony feels she owes her? Nina says she has no idea what Harmony is talking about. She’s not holding anything over Harmony’s head, if that’s what Alexis is implying. She would think Harmony would have some sympathy for her situation because she’s also Wiley’s grandmother. Alexis says, true, but she thinks there’s more to it than that.

Sonny asks Frank to go outside and check on everything, and Frank leaves. Carly says she heard about the robbery last night, and just wanted to come by and make sure everything was okay. Sonny says, good thing Phyllis wasn’t here when it happened, and Carly says, what about Nina? She doesn’t want to get caught off-guard, so is there something she needs to worry about? He asks what she means, and she asks if it’s a sign his enemies are smelling blood in the water.

Elizabeth asks, what’s all this? and Chase says, Finn didn’t tell her? Finn says, Chase’s timing stinks. He was just about to when the doorbell rang. Chase says he knew this was a horrible idea, and starts to leave, but Elizabeth stops him, and says, what was a horrible idea? Finn says, he would have asked, but she’d just refuse, and she says, that is a horrible communication strategy. Chase says, his brother’s communication skills leave a lot to be desired, and Finn says, just as a reminder, he saved Chase’s life, so Chase owes him at least a year’s worth of slack. Chase says, he agreed to six months, so Finn’s coupon has expired. Elizabeth suggests they just let her know what’s going on, and Finn says, Chase is a cop, but he’s on suspension, so he needs to keep busy, and she needs security. So Finn thought Chase could stay here for a few days, just to keep an eye on things. She says, Dante and Jordan are sending patrol cars to check on the house, and no offense, but she doesn’t need a babysitter. Chase says, that’s not why he’d be here. He can try and find out who’s been trying to scare her family for months, and put a stop to it. I have to interject – WTH happened to Chase’s hair??? I think he’s been using Peter’s hairdresser.

Laura says she knows it’s a change in Aiden’s routine, but she promises they’ll have fun. She’s going to give him the run of the kitchen, and he can make Grandpa Kevin any dessert he wants, because he knows his grandpa has a sweet tooth. Lucy comes by, and says, that Doc, he hasn’t changed. Laura hugs her, and congratulates her on Deception’s IPO, and Lucy thanks her. She says she can’t get over it. She knew the company was good, and had high hopes, but she never thought the universe was going to grant her all of this. Laura says she bets Lucy is glad their plans to use the Deception brand as a day spa didn’t work out all those years ago. Lucy says, she appreciates Laura’s good will, but she did offer to set some stock aside for her, since Laura was a former partner in the early 2000s. Laura says she appreciates Lucy’s offer, but as mayor, she thinks it’s best she doesn’t have a vested interest in any of the local businesses, even one as successful as Lucy’s. Lucy says, it’s so crazy. She’s getting all these congratulatory bouquets from all the men in her life; Mac and Scotty and Martin… Not that Martin. She doesn’t talk to Martin. She talks too much, but she doesn’t talk to him right now. Laura says she knows Lucy is still dating her brother.

Carly says, what Nina did to Sonny is common knowledge. He didn’t retaliate and he didn’t punish her. Just the opposite. He protected her, and now he’s sleeping with her, so maybe it sent a message to the other families that he’s weak. He says, she’s overthinking it, and she asks what he’s talking about. Everyone knows he owns Charlie’s. Who would risk robbing the place? Was it one of the other families? Was it Selena Wu? He says, it’s not the Wu’s. He and Selena have an understanding. As far as the robbery, the Five Families mushroom risotto are down to two, so there’s going to be a lot of wannabes who want to make a name for themselves. She says, now that Jason’s gone… and he says, let him make her feel a little better about it. Brick is going to be taking over for Jason. She says she doesn’t want to know. She’s no longer his wife; she doesn’t want that responsibility. He asks what she does want, and she says, she wants his word that Donna and Avery are going to be safe; that they’re always going to be protected. He says, she knows he’s always going to protect his kids, and she asks if that’s equally true for his grandson.

Harmony says she guesses she has a couple of minutes, and Willow says she just wanted to give Harmony a heads up. Nina is petitioning for visitation with Wiley. There’s going to be a lot of media attention on their family. Michael joins them, and Willow says, she and Michael have had to make their peace with the press, but their interests may include their families. She’s sorry, but there’s a good chance the things Harmony has done in the past will be dredged up again. Harmony says she sees, and Willow says she just wants Harmony to know that whatever comes out, she doesn’t look at Harmony that way anymore. She made some horrible mistakes, but she was just as much a victim of Shiloh’s as Willow was. He manipulated her, but she found a way to break free, confessed to her crimes, and paid her debt to society. Michael says, that’s what makes her different from Nina, and Willow says, Harmony owned her mistakes and she’s become a better person for it; she’s grown. Harmony says that means more to her than Willow knows. She really has to go, but not before she does this. She hugs Willow, and says she always wants Willow to know that she’s the most important thing to her in this world. She loves Willow. She leaves, and Willow looks concerned.

Nina says she doesn’t know what this is to Alexis, and Alexis says, she just thinks something else is going on. Nina says, if there is, she’s just as much in the dark as Alexis is. She has no relationship with Harmony; no history with her. Except for… Smoltz walks in and says, hello, Chief. Alexis says, don’t ever call her that, and doesn’t he ever knock? He says he’s sorry for bursting in, but he has the feature of her dreams. He sees Nina, and says, talk about good timing. One of the major players in his feature is right here in front of him. He hopes Alexis isn’t poaching his leads again. Alexis asks if this is the feature he wants her to greenlight, and Nina says, what feature? Smoltz says, he was just interviewing Michael Corinthos and Willow Tate upstairs in the restaurant, about how Nina is dragging them to court, and how she’s spent the last year traumatizing their family. Any comments?

Lucy says, Laura knows she and Martin did have that one date, but then Valentin pointed out it could be a conflict of interest. So she and Martin discussed it, and decided not pursue things. Laura says, Martin is her brother; they talk. And actually, he’s very excited to see Lucy again after he comes home from visiting his mother next week. Lucy says, so when Laura talks to Martin, he mentions her? Laura says, yes. She and Martin haven’t been in each other’s lives for very long, but she can see a change in him. He’s lighter when he talks about Lucy, and Laura thinks his life is better with her in it. Lucy says, if she’s being honest, she’s quite fond of Martin. It’s been very hard, running around avoiding Valentin. It’s ridiculous. So she’s kind of been sending out this positive energy to the universe, asking the benevolent spirits if they’d help Valentin see that it’s okay that she and Martin could possibly be a couple. Of course (🍷), she’d never ask Martin to choose between his best friend, slash, most lucrative client ever. Laura says she can’t speak for her brother, but she doesn’t think it would be a hard choice for him. He’d choose Lucy hands down. Lucy thanks her, and says she thinks it’s just lovely to have Laura’s support. Laura says, of course (🍷), and tells Aiden that she’s going inside to get coffee. She asks if Lucy would mind waiting with him, and Lucy says she’d love it. Laura goes inside, and Lucy sits down. Aiden wonders if he can ask Lucy a question, and she tells him, yeah, shoot. What’s on his mind? He asks if she really believes in spirits.

Elizabeth says, she wishes Finn had run it by her first, and Finn says, she’d just turn him down. She says, yeah, because the whole point of her staying here was to show the intruder that their attempts aren’t working. He says, mm-hm, and she says, and this unknown mysterious person doesn’t get to dictate how she lives her life. He says, mm-hm, but that’s what they’re doing. She’s got Jake and Aiden staying at Laura’s. The only way to put an end to this is to expose who’s doing it. Chase says he respects everybody at the PD, but they can’t dedicate the time to this case. Somebody is still managing to sneak into her house undetected. She says, she knows. That’s the scariest part. She’s trying to convince herself this person doesn’t want to do harm to her and her boys; they’re just trying to send her a message – don’t forget me. Finn says he hopes she doesn’t mind he told Chase that her best guess is that it’s someone who doesn’t want her to move on from her husband. Chase says, but the woman who raised Franco has been cleared, as have her sons. He started thinking about other potential suspects, like Franco’s biological mom Heather Webber, but she’s still on D’Archam Island. She hasn’t even had any visitors since 2018. They can cross her off the list. Elizabeth says, whoever this is, they know intimate details of her marriage. It’s got to be someone close to her.

Nina tells Smoltz to get his phone out of her face. She gets up, and asks if Michael paid him to do a smear piece on her, but he says, no, nothing of the kind. This is a human interest story. Doesn’t she want her side of it on the record? Because Michael and Willow gave a very detailed account. These will be the first public statements made before the hearing is held. If he was her, he’d want to even the playing field, so to speak. She says she has something for him. Come close. She yells, go to hell! into his phone, and tells Alexis, great job cleaning up this sloppy tabloid. Nina storms out, and Smoltz says, when you get told go to hell often enough, it becomes meaningless. Alexis asks if Smoltz wants to explain himself, and he says he told her that he’d bring her a great feature, and here it is. Decent, upstanding young couple are being forced to defend their right to deny visitation with their child. He’s writing a legit story about the issues behind this legal battle. He thinks it will be a great read that will get him some real clout; same with The Invader. She says she has no intention of printing this piece, but he says he thinks she’ll change her mind once she reads it, which is the least she can do, since she screwed him over with his revenge porn story.

Harmony waits in a wooded area, and flashes back to Willow saying, Harmony owned her mistakes, and she’s a better person for it. She takes the syringe out of her bag, when Brendon shows up, and she keeps it out of sight. He tells her, what does she say? Is she ready to make all this go away?

Carly says she’s sure Sonny knows Nina’s filed a petition for visitation. Apparently, she’s running around town trying to collect character references. People who will say she’s a terrific person, and she’s deserving of time with Wiley. He says, Nina assured him that she wasn’t going to put him in a compromising position. She doesn’t want him to take her side, and he wasn’t planning to. She asks what that means, and he says, does he believe Nina should be in Wiley’s life? Yes, but if Michael doesn’t want it, he’ll do what he can to support Michael’s position. She says she’s glad he’s picking his family over Nina. She really wishes he’d done that from the beginning. Sonny rubs his head, since he forgot what a headache Carly is.

Willow asks if her mom seemed nervous to Michael, and he says, jittery is the word he’d use. She says she’d hate it if this public exposure is too much for Harmony, and he says, her mom has survived much worse. He’s come to realize that Harmony has Wiley’s best interest at heart. Willow says, unlike Nina, and he says, they didn’t want this. Nina forced their hand. They’ll get through this, and so will her mom. She says, as much as she’s dreading the hearing – it can’t come soon enough – she just wants this to be over. Nina strides over to their table, and asks if Little Miss Sunshine decided to get down and dirty with the rest of them.

Alexis says, for the last time, she didn’t steal Smoltz’s story. Yes, she took the lead, but their story was entirely different than the tabloid fodder he’d written. He says, fine. If she isn’t interested in balancing the scales, at least see what he’s trying to do here. He envisions this as something you’d find in The Atlantic or New York magazine; a five-part feature bringing heavy traffic to The Invader’s website. She says, okay, and he sits down. He says, this isn’t just about a family court matter. It’s about the gaps that exist in our legal system. Nina Reeves effectively kidnapped Sonny Corinthos. She traumatized the whole family, including the child in question, Wiley Corinthos, who was deprived of his grandfather for close to a year. Now she gets to traumatize the whole family all over again by petitioning for grandparent visitation. And get this. Visitation might be granted, because technically what she did wasn’t a crime. This series is going to put a human face on the legal system that doesn’t overlap with justice. Isn’t that the kind of story Alexis has been encouraging since she started? She says, true, and he says, be honest. If she didn’t know the parties involved, wouldn’t she jump at the chance to publish this story?

Brendon asks Harmony, what’s the hold up? Doesn’t she want him out of her life? Let’s get this over with. She puts the syringe back in her bag, and hands him some money, saying, here. He asks, what’s this? and she says, his money. He says, it’s barely a thousand dollars (I guess he counts fast), and she says, it’s all the savings she has. But she’s staying at Alexis’s for free, and doesn’t have the overhead of a motel anymore, so she can pay him in installments. It won’t be today; maybe not for a few months or maybe a year. He asks if he looks like a bank. He knew she didn’t have the money. She was supposed to get it from Alexis. He guesses that settles it then. If she can’t keep her end of the deal, why should he keep his? She says, he’d be foolish to tell anyone what he knows about her, and he asks, how does she figure? She says, right now she’s in his debt. She’s already made the first payment, and will keep finding ways to pay him. Hell, he can lord it over her for the rest of her life, but the minute he tells anyone, that’s over. He’ll have no one else left to pump for money. He asks if that’s really what she thinks, because he sees it differently. What if he was to tell Michael Corinthos that information? If Nina was to find out Willow was her biological daughter, oh boy, would that complicate their visitation case. Michael hates Nina. He bets Michael would be willing to keep him on his payroll indefinitely to keep that information quiet. The guy’s loaded. Maybe he should skip Harmony altogether, and go straight to him. She says, if he’s wrong, Michael’s first call will be to his brother, the police detective, who will have him arrested for blackmail. He says he’s willing to bet Michael would rather pay to keep him quiet. If the truth does come out, it will destroy Harmony’s relationship with her so-called daughter, which is what she deserves for trying to buy him off with pennies on the dollar. Keep her down payment. He throws the money at her, and says, he can do much better. He starts to walk off, but she stops him, and says, he can’t, but he pushes her to the ground. Her stuff falls out of her purse, and he sees the syringe. He says, what the hell?

Elizabeth says, what’s unsettling is, whoever’s doing this knows her, knows her family. It’s like a horror film when the call is coming from inside the house. Chase says, she doesn’t know for sure it’s someone in her life who’s doing this. It could be some random fan of Franco’s artwork. She says, who’s getting in and out of her house without breaking in? That is not exactly comforting. Chase says, in today’s world, there are all kinds of ways to get private information on someone; bank records, social media, ID theft. She says she’s just so angry at herself for taking something to help her sleep. Clearly she knew someone was in the house, which is why she made it part of the dream. If she’d just woken up… Finn says, so she could freak out the perpetrator, and they’d hurt her or the boys? She says, or maybe she’d find answers, and Chase says, that’s why he’s here. There’s another way to find out who’s doing this. He takes a small piece of equipment out of his bag, and says, they catch them on camera.

Lucy tells Aiden, does she believe in spirits is a very cool, adult question. Where’s that coming from? He says, a book report for school, and she says, it’s great for his school to be so open minded. She’s more than happy to share what she knows with a new age enthusiast. He asks what she means, and she says, she believes the universe is a great big complicated, intricate, loving system with many, many realms within it. He says, realms. Like where dead people go? Is that where ghosts come from? She says, some people call them ghosts. You could call them spirits or fates, an energy that keep us on the right path, and keep us from following our worst impulses. Everybody calls it a different thing.  He tells her, but she said she talks to the universe. Does that mean she can contact ghosts? She says, no. She doesn’t do that anymore. She learned her lesson. She doesn’t find herself so brazen to think she can talk to the dead. She leaves that to trusted, trained mediums. All this stuff can be tricky. For every loved one that just wants to fondly say hello, there are some really evil forces out there who are devious and will try to trick you, so it’s best to leave all that. Don’t even get involved. What she does, is put out positive vibes out into the universe and opens up her heart. That’s what she does instead. He says, right, and she says she hopes she didn’t confuse him too much. His grandma is coming back, so tell Laura that she had to go, but she enjoyed their chat. Ta! She leaves, and Aiden goes back to looking at the Ouija board article.

Sonny asks Carly if they have to rehash this again. He wanted to tell her about Nixon Falls. How many times has he said it. She says, then Jason died, then Sasha and Brando’s baby died; she knows. Phyllis comes out from the back, and says she found four empty cans of club soda in her office. How many is he going through a day? She and Carly say, hi, and Carly says, club soda, huh? Sonny says he told her, he cut back on drinking. Not entirely. The medication and the alcohol don’t work well together. She says she knows. She tried telling him for years, but he never listened. So what’s changed? Oh, let her guess.

Nina sits down, and tells Willow to admit she’s having a smear piece written about her. Michael says, it was a joint interview; he and Willow gave it together. Nina says, she’s come to expect dirty tricks from Michael, but now Willow’s joining in? And she’s still trying to act innocent? Willow says, she’s so fed up with Nina’s drama. There is no reasoning with her; no compromise. She wanted to go to court, so that’s where it will be decided. And if Nina has anything else to say to her, she can do it through Willow’s lawyer. Or she could always give her version of events to Smoltz. She’s sure Smoltz would love to talk to Nina. Nina says she’s in the media. She knows what they’re trying to do. They want to get it out in the press to try and influence a judge. Are these the kind of values Willow wants to instill in Wiley? Willow asks what kind of values Nina wants to teach him. How to lie to an entire family, and watch them grieve a dead man she knew was alive and well? Or maybe she could teach him how to break up a marriage, or sneak around people’s backs, like how Nina tried to use Willow’s mom  to work WIllow after she turned Nina down. That’s right. She’s not going to let Nina play the victim anymore. Willow is on to her, and so is her mom.

Brendon grabs the syringe, and asks what Harmony is doing with this needle. She says, it’s not his; give it back. He asks, what’s in it? Is it heroin, like Neil was using? Is she a user too? Did she hook him on this stuff? Oh my God. His family never understood how or why Neil was using heroin. It wasn’t like him at all. He never used drugs, not even when he was experimenting as a kid. But it wasn’t Neil. Neil never shot up. It was her. She killed his brother, didn’t she?

Elizabeth says, security cameras? and Chase says he plans on sleeping during the day, and keeping watch at night, but he can’t be everywhere in the house at once. These are motion sensory cameras, and the second they sense someone walking around, they’ll start recording. He’ll place them at key points in the house. She says, she knows he’s trying to help… and turns to Finn, saying, it seems a little invasive. He says he understands, but it’s only temporary; one, two days tops, until it’s over. Elizabeth says she’s not going to fight with them. She’s willing to sacrifice some privacy if she can get answers. Chase says, if something else happens, they’ll have evidence. No one is getting in this house undetected.

Laura comes out, and asks Aiden, where’s Lucy? He tells her, Lucy said she had to run. Ta. What does ta mean? She says, it’s just another way to say goodbye, and he asks if they can stop by Logan’s on the way home. There’s something he wants to make for Grandpa Kevin, and he needs an emulsion blender. She says she guesses it’s her prerogative to spoil him. Let’s do it. She walks ahead, and he buys a Ouija board online.

Alexis says, Smoltz is right, and he says, what now? She tells him not to make her say it again. It was painful enough the first time. It is an interesting pitch, and if it weren’t for the persons involved, she’d write it. He says, before she has any ideas to write it herself, Michael and Willow gave him the exclusive. She says, fine. He can write it. But only if he uses an even hand, the human element in a non-exploitive way, and he allows Nina to tell her side of the story. Only then will she sign a deal for exclusive rights to it. He says, awesome, and she says, if she finds out he’s been underhanded or messy in any way, she reserves the right to kill it, and she will kill it. Does he understand? He says he does, but trust him, she won’t be disappointed.

Willow says, every time she’s tried being diplomatic with Nina, Nina has punished her for it. She’s done making peace with Nina. Nina says, Michael must be thrilled, and Michael says, Willow was determined to find a compromise, but Nina made that impossible. She chose this every step of the way. Up to and including going to court. Nina says, fine by her. They want a battle, she’ll give them a battle. She leaves, and Michael says, looks like it’s on.

Sonny says, his drinking or not dinking isn’t entirely about Nina, and Carly says, right. He says, okay, and walks in the back. Carly says she’s tempted to drink herself, and Phyllis says, they do make terrific bloody Marys, but she figures she’s the last bartender Carly wants to serve her. They haven’t talked much since Carly found out Phyllis knew the truth about Sonny and Nina, while she was enjoying Carly’s hospitality. Carly says, that’s what Nina does. She puts the people who make the mistake of caring about her in compromising positions. Phyllis says she loves Nina, but can’t argue against any of that. So before Carly finds out in court, she’s going to clear the air. She did vouch for Nina’s character to Willow’s mother. Carly says she didn’t know Phyllis knew Harmony. Why would Phyllis have any sway with her? Phyllis says, back in the day, she and Harmony – or Lorraine as she was called then – used to work in the same building in New York.

Brendon says, it all makes sense. Neil knew the truth about Harmony, didn’t he? And what? Did Neil threaten to do something about it? Did she kill him? Make it look like Neil accidentally overdosed himself? Does she know how much his family has struggled with that? They blamed Alexis. Harmony is living with her now. Harmony pleads for him to please listen, but he says, the police will listen to everything he now knows. Today. She tries to stop him, and they struggle. She puts her hands around his throat, and his foot slips. She shoves him off the edge of the cliff they’re conveniently standing near.

On Monday, Brad wants Britt to just tell him if the answer is no; Laura tells Felicia, that’s a Cassadine move; and Willow asks if Harmony is going somewhere.

👧🏻 Who’s Your Daddy…?

I guess when you’re on a soap, you just roll with it. I remember Anders Hove (Faison) being surprised that he suddenly had children.

📣 Team Margaret…

I tend to agree here. I don’t know how healthy it is for the young ones to be involved in the drama. I don’t even know if it’s healthy to be watching it.

🥄 On the Defense…

Operative words, LisaR stirring the pot.

💎 Life After Diamonds…

I feel badly for this guy. It seemed like Braunwyn was pulling his strings. Good riddance.

💃🏾 Life Goes On…

Is it me, or does NeNe’s new main squeeze look like Peter?

🙁 Shah No…

This is just sad. It’s like finding out one of your relatives is a wife beater.

🍸 VanderSpin…

It’s not a bad idea. I mean, are these people going to be servers until they’re using walkers? Does anyone even still work at SUR?

👠 See You Next Channel…

For those who didn’t know, DWTS will be moving.

🎭 What’s New…

Original shows and movies coming to HBO Max this year. I can’t wait for the next season of The Flight Attendant.

https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/hbo-max-2022-release-dates-for-original-shows-movies

🐎 Doffing My Cowboy Hat…

A list of CMT Awards winners and the pictures to go with it.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/12/entertainment/cmt-awards-2022-winners/index.html

https://ew.com/music/2022-cmt-awards-exclusive-photo-gallery/

🐝 Quotes of the Week

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained. – Lao Tzu

I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive.Henry Miller

If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us.Francis Bacon

It is almost always the cover-up rather than the event that causes trouble. — Howard Baker

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. – Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you. – Henry Kissinger

This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.Ellen Page

The only impossible journey is the one you never begin. – Tony Robbins

You know, everybody dies. My parents died. Your father died. Everybody dies. I’m going to die too. So will you. The thing is, to have a life before we die. It can be a real adventure having a life. — Jenny Fields (Glenn Close),The World According to Garp (written by John Irving)

🌳 Birds Singing In the Sycamore Tree…

For those who celebrate, a very Happy Passover and Happy Easter! There’s no spring break for the Dead, so a new season of FWD begins Sunday. Until then, stay safe, stay not consuming too many macaroons or chocolate bunnies, and stay leaving talking to the dead to trusted, trained mediums. You don’t want to invite evil, devious tricksters in. Don’t even get involved.

February 25, 2022 – News Of Peter’s Death Travels Fast, Kelly’s the Worst, Dolores’s Take, Heather Whines, Absent, Bribery, a Possibility, Dog, a Dozen Quotes For Black History Month & Taking You

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam sees Dante near the hospital reception desk, and runs up to him. She says, Anna called, and said they were back in town. Is he a patient here? He says, no, he’s fine. He just has to do a follow-up for the hit in the head he took. He tells her that she looks beautiful, and apologizes for not calling on the way back. The WSB is debriefing him pretty much indefinitely. She says, he’s healthy; that’s the most important thing. Now will he shut up and give her a kiss? He says, yes, ma’am, and does.

Monica says she knows how disappointed Willow must be to postpone her trip to Paris, and Michael says, she doesn’t have a passport, and she’s having difficulty tracking down her birth certificate. Willow says, according to the State Department, they have no record of her. It’s almost like she never existed.

Alexis calls Harmony, and says she’s just checking in. At Charlie’s, Harmony asks if that’s what Alexis is calling giving her a gentle nudge in the right direction, but Alexis says she’s calling to offer moral support. She knows it’s a big day for Harmony. At one of the tables, cash changes hands for what’s no doubt a shady deal, and Alexis asks if Harmony is there. Harmony says Alexis is right; it’s probably one of the most important days of her life. The day she tells Willow that she’s not her biological daughter. Alexis says her boss is here, and she’s got to go. She’ll check in later. Good luck. Shawn walks into Alexis’s office, and says, Harmony, huh? She asks if he has a problem with that.

Elizabeth looks at the card from Betsy, and flashes back to finding her ring in her locker, getting stuck in the art therapy room, and discovering her dress was slashed. Finn asks if she’s okay, and she says she just zoned out for a minute. She needs some caffeine. He says, with the double-shifts she’s pulling, he’s not sure caffeine is going to do the trick. She says, maybe not, and he asks if that’s the card Franco’s mom sent her. She says, she was going to throw it out, and put the bad memories behind her, but unfortunately, she doesn’t think it will put an end to things. He asks what she means, and she says, something big is going on.

Carly looks at the family photo on her desk, along with her divorce papers. Her assistant says someone is here to see her, and Carly says, send them in. Drew walks in, and she asks, what happened?

Nina says, Sonny wouldn’t have called her if he hadn’t been drinking, but he says he would have called her sober. She says, that would have been a first. He’s looking down the barrel of a divorce because he played fast and free with his meds. He says, she doesn’t know that; he doesn’t know that. All he knows is that he’s going through a divorce, and she’s here. She says, he’s changing the subject, but he says he forgot what the subject was already. She says she can’t remember the subject right now, and he takes her hand. He pulls her to him, and they hug. Then he kisses her.

Monica says, Willow had a rather unorthodox childhood, but the fact that the government can’t produce her birth certificate is egregious. Willow says, it’s very frustrating, and Monica says, it’s ridiculous. If there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Willow thanks her, and the doorbell rings. Willow opens the door to Harmony, and says, hopefully, her mother can give her all the information she needs.

Shawn says he wouldn’t want someone to judge him based on the worst chapter of his life. He made a fresh start, and Harmony is owed one too. If Alexis says she’s changed… Alexis says, he’ll believe she has? He says, he’ll believe she believes it, and she says she’ll take it as a win. She’s sure he doesn’t want to talk about her personal life on company time, and he says she’s right. He has news of his own. News that’s going to change the future of this company.

Sam says, so it’s all over? and Dante says, it’s all over. Peter’s dead. Speaking of which, there’s some people he’s got to tell. She asks if she can be his back-up, and he says he’d love for her to be his back-up, but he should probably do this on his own. Can he meet her at her place afterward? She says she’s going to hold him to that, he kisses her again, and leaves.

Sonny takes Nina’s hand and starts to lead her to the bedroom, but she tells him, wait, stop. What they’re doing, it’s a huge mistake.

Carly tells Drew, she’s sorry; that wasn’t a great welcome home. She’s glad he’s back and safe, but she heard he went with Dante and Anna to find Maxie, and he has a really somber look on his face. He says, it’s all good news. Maxie is home, and she’s safe, and she’s reuniting with her daughter as they speak. Carly says, that’s wonderful news. When she heard what Maxie and Brook did to protect Maxie’s baby, it broke her heart. He says, the good news is, they never have to look over their shoulder again because Peter is dead. The nightmare he brought over all of them is over now. Maxie and her family can be together again.

Nina says she doesn’t want to cross the line with Sonny, but he says, the line’s already been crossed. She tells him not to joke this away. She thinks she’s made a lot of mistakes, and a kiss between them should mean a lot more than a distraction technique from the real issue of him and his meds. He says, it’s not a technique, and she says, the point is, he went on another bender. She doesn’t claim to be an expert here, but aside from the physical health concerns, alcohol can dull the effects of the medication. Even though he’s back on his meds, he could still be emotionally vulnerable until it kicks in. So what they were about to do would be wrong, just like it was wrong the other day. He says, what happened between them, that wasn’t drinking, and she says, no, but he was drinking heavily days before, and his body is readjusting to all the meds. That would explain what happened between them at the Haunted Star. Then Carly walked in on them. He says, what if he doesn’t want to explain it away? What if his drinking had nothing to do with what happened between them?

Finn says, something big is happening. Like what? Sam approaches them and says she’s sorry to interrupt, but have they spoken to Anna this morning? Elizabeth says, no, and Finn says he hasn’t spoken to her in a few days. Why? What’s going on? Sam says, she was in Europe, looking for Peter, and he’s gone. Elizabeth asks if he got away again, but Sam says, no. She means the other kind of gone; he’s dead. She knows she’s had a lot more time to process this, so she’ll say what they’re probably thinking. Peter has always managed to come back when they thought he was gone, but not this time. He’s finally dead, and he will never be able to hurt them, their families, or anyone else ever again.

Drew says, he knows it’s a lot to process about Peter’s death, but he thought Carly would be happy about Maxie. She says she is. She’s so happy Peter is dead. She just wishes Jason was here to see it. He says, Jason, his brother, and her… How would she describe Jason? She says, he was her person. He loved her unconditionally despite her many faults, and she loved him. She still loves him. Drew says, he died saving the lives of people he cared about. He set a course in motion that led to Peter’s downfall. He died a hero because that’s who he was. She says, he was certainly her hero. Always there when she needed him. She still needs him.

Sonny says, the medication and alcohol does explain the connection between him and Nina. They’re drawn to each other like a moth to a flame, and the night at the Haunted Star was a mistake for many reasons; the timing, hurting Carly. Then they talked that night at the chapel. He fell in love with Nina in Nixon Falls when he didn’t know who he was, and those feelings don’t just disappear. Maybe the silver lining is, they now finally get to unpack what they really mean to each other, without all the baggage and deception. She says she understands what he’s saying. They had all that baggage because she’s the one who created that. She described their love in Nixon Falls as pure, and it was, but that was only part of the story. The whole time, she was drowning in guilt. It was wrong of her to fall in love with him when he didn’t have his memory, just like it would be wrong if they explored anything between them when he’s so vulnerable. She goes to freshen up, and there’s a knock at the door. Frank says, there’s someone on the list to see him, and Dante comes to the door. He says, bad time?

Alexis says Shawn doesn’t sound very positive about that news. Should she be worried? Should she be updating her resumé? He says she knows how he keeps his cards close to his chest; it’s actually good news. The circulation for The Invader has actually increased. Aurora Media is downsizing its print division. They’re holding on to The Banner in Llannview for legacy reasons, but they’re divesting from their west coast news readers. She asks how this is affecting him, and he says he’s thinking of buying them up to expand The Invader’s reach. She says, that’s a huge deal; congratulations. He says, there’s just one catch. The offices are located in San Francisco, and he’d have to move there to make this work.

Harmony says, it’s good to see Monica, and Monica says, hopefully, Harmony can help Willow out with this birth certificate issue. Willow asks if they can use the living room, and Monica says, of course (🍷). Willow and Harmony go into the living room, and Monica asks Michael if he thinks Harmony will solve the mystery of the birth certificate. He says he doesn’t know. She’s been pretty evasive so far.

Willow says, Harmony mentioned on the phone that she has some news about Willow’s birth certificate, and Harmony says she does. Willow asks if everything is okay, and Harmony says, there’s something she needs to tell Willow.

Shawn tells Alexis that he’ll have to move his non-profit base of operations to San Francisco, at least for a while. Maybe someday, he can split his time between there and Port Charles. She says, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. San Francisco’s a beautiful city. She’s so happy for him. He says, and yet, she doesn’t sound like she is, and she says, selfishly, she liked having him around again. She liked when they were rooming together; it was domestic and it was happy, like their happy little playing house. He says, like it would have been years ago, if he hadn’t screwed things up as a couple. She tells him, she didn’t say that, and he says, but she was thinking that. She says, they were good together… when they were good together. He tells her, he’d say they still are. He knows there are a million reasons for him to move to the west coast. He was just wondering if there was one better reason for him to stay.

Willow says, whatever it is, Harmony can tell her. She knows they’ve had their ups and downs, but she’s Harmony’s daughter; she’s here for her. Harmony says, she managed to find Willow’s birth certificate, and Willow asks, how? Harmony says she still has some connections in Claiborne County, and their record-keeping system is badly outdated, but she called in a few favors, and they’re going to send her a new copy of the birth certificate. Willow says, that’s great news, and hugs Harmony.

Elizabeth says, Peter’s dead? Is Sam absolutely sure? Sam says, according to Dante, yes. Anna saw Peter take his last breath. The WSB has possession of his body, did an autopsy, and they’re filing all of the paperwork. The reign of terror that Peter had is finally over. Finn asks if Elizabeth is okay, but she says she doesn’t know how to answer that. Peter was responsible for so much loss; Franco’s death and Jason’s death, all those months Maxie was kept away from her baby. It just feels like there should be something more. Finn agrees, and says, there’s certainly something appealing about Peter rotting in prison for the rest of his life, alone, knowing the world’s completely forgotten about him. At least there’s no possibility of escape this time. Elizabeth says she thought after all this time she’d feel some kind of closure. She’s relieved, but it doesn’t lessen what they lost. Sam says she knows how Elizabeth feels, and Elizabeth thanks her for telling them. She says, Sam doesn’t have to stick around, but Sam says, the way she sees it, her and Elizabeth had their lives significantly turned upside down in the past year and a half, but Jake and Danny are Jason’s sons, so they’re always going to be connected. Elizabeth sought her out when she found out Jason was marrying Carly, because she knew how Sam felt. What she’s trying to say is, she’ll always have Elizabeth’s back. Elizabeth thanks her, and says she’ll continue to have Sam’s. Sam says she’ll give them some private time, and leaves.

Drew says, he takes it things haven’t gotten any better between Carly and Sonny, and she says, it can’t get much worse than walking in on Sonny in bed with Nina; that was definitely a low point. And when she saw Sonny in bed with Nina, all she wanted to do was run to Jason. He had this way of making her feel like the world wasn’t going to end, even though the sky was falling. But she’s glad she ran into Drew. He has the same touch. He says he was worried he just made everything worse, considering they almost… They flash back to almost kissing, and she says, almost.

Nina is still in the bathroom, and Sonny invites Dante in. Dante says, he doesn’t know if anyone told Sonny, but Peter August is dead. Sonny says, really? and Dante says, he won’t be hurting anyone ever again. He wanted to let Sonny know before the news broke. He has to go to the Quartermaines, and let Monica and Michael know, unless Sonny wants to let Michael know. Sonny says, it’s better coming from Dante. Is he saying Anna took Peter out? Dante says, it was a team effort, and Sonny says, he’s going to check in with Anna; see what’s going on. Nina sees Dante is there, and stays hidden, and Dante says he’s not in any rush, and he knows Peter is the reason Jason is dead. So if Sonny wants to talk… Sonny says, he appreciates the offer, but he’s doing fine. Dante says, he’s not. Everything that’s going on with Carly, and his best friend that he’d normally confide this stuff in, isn’t here anymore. He’s not saying he’s Jason, but he’s here for Sonny. Sonny says he has nothing to talk about; he’s fine. He just wants to be left alone, that’s all. Dante asks if it’s a business problem, or is there another reason Sonny’s trying to get rid of him. Nina listens in.

Drew says, he and Carly made the right call stepping back that night. Whatever hole was drawing them together, he doesn’t want it to jeopardize their friendship. She says, they were both having a really bad night. She thought she’d spend the rest of her life with Sonny, and she’s sure he thought the same thing about Sam. And like that – she snaps her fingers – everything changed. He says, they’re not in the same boat; she and Sonny are married. She shows him the papers, and says, they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and she says, her too. She feels like she didn’t have a choice. She kept asking Sonny over and over again to tell her what happened in Nixon Falls, and he just wouldn’t. He wanted to focus on the present, and she gets that, but when the truth came out, because it always does, she couldn’t believe how many secrets Sonny was keeping from her. Then when she walked in on him in bed with Nina, she had to choose herself. How could she be a good role model for Josslyn and Avery and Donna if she stayed in a marriage where she wasn’t respected? He says he can’t argue with any of that. So that’s it; it’s over? She says, they met with lawyers, and kept it as civilized as they could. They agreed, for Donna and Avery’s sake, they wanted to make it as seamless as possible, but they can’t really do that. Life is complicated. Her mouth drops open, and Drew asks, what is it? She says, she just realized. Does Sonny know Peter is dead? Does he have any idea the man who killed Jason is gone?

Dante says, Sonny should know by now, he can’t push Dante away that easy. He’s seen this before. He knows what it is, and knows walking away would be a bad idea. Sonny says, Dante is right. He shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. He had a bad day yesterday. He met with Carly and the attorneys to hammer out the divorce, and it didn’t go very well, so he’s embarrassed to say, he went out and had a lot of drinks, and he feels like hell today. He’s hung over. No big mystery. Some other time, they can have coffee and talk. Dante says he didn’t now Sonny and Carly were doing divorce proceedings. He’s sorry about that. He loves Sonny, and he’ll check in later. Call if he needs anything. Dante leaves, and Nina comes out. She thanks Sonny for not telling Dante she was here. She doesn’t feel like answering a bunch of questions. He says, she doesn’t owe anybody any explanations, and she says she’s just curious. Why didn’t he tell Dante that she was here? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, right. That’s just proof the kiss was a mistake.

Willow tells Harmony, she’s glad the answer was so simple. She was going crazy; it was like she didn’t exist. Harmony says, the way she raised Willow, it’s her fault, but Willow says, Harmony is a seeker. She asks the big questions, and sincerely wants to find a better way to live, a better way to be in the world. And the underlying impulses are good ones, even if some of the outcomes have been horrible and difficult. Harmony says she’s sorry if this process dredged up some memories of the past, but Willow says, that’s all it is now; the past. She’s glad they can move on together. She takes Harmony’s hand.

Alexis says, she’ll give Shawn two reasons; TJ and Molly. He says, TJ is a full-grown man, and his son wasn’t what he was talking about, and she knows that. When they reconnected last year, it felt like fate. She says, it did? and he says, it felt like they were given a do-over in their relationship, without repeating the same mistakes. She helped him get out of jail; now he’s helping her get some purpose back in life. They’re helping each other get back on track. They care about each other. So is he right? Has there been something bubbling up to the surface in the last few months? She says she hadn’t really thought about it, and he says, liar. She says, does she want him in her life? Absolutely. 100%. But when Neil died, a part of her shut down, and she’s not sure how to turn it back on again. He says, but she’d like to, right? when Sam comes to the door. Shawn says he’ll get Alexis those reports, and greets Sam on his way out. Sam says she hopes she wasn’t interrupting anything.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t talk about it much, but he knows better than anyone, you don’t get over losing your spouse. It took him a long, long time to make peace with Rieko’s death. There may be a path forward for her, where she can hang onto the good Franco memories, and keep them with her, and at the same time keep the trauma of his death in the past. She says, if only it was that simple. She hasn’t told him what’s been going on with her, and Franco.

Michael asks, what’s the good word? and Willow says, her mom was able to track down her birth certificate. It should be arriving soon. Harmony says she should get going, and Willow opens the door. Dante is on the porch, and Michael asks what he’s doing here. Dante says he wanted to talk to Michael, and Harmony says she doesn’t need to be here for this, and leaves. Willow says she imagines Dante is here to talk about Sonny and Carly; she’ll give them some privacy. Dante says, actually, she should stay, and Monica as well. It involves all of them. He wanted to be the one person to tell them that Peter is dead. He’ll never hurt anyone again.

Drew tells Carly that he has no idea if Sonny knows about Peter. He’s been kind of busy getting debriefed by the Bureau. Carly hates the thought of looking at Sonny right now, but Jason’s family. She should be the one to tell him that Jason’s death was avenged. He says, if she wants some back-up, he’s happy to go with her. She looks at the family photo again, and he says, or he could break it to Sonny himself and take it off her plate.

Nina says, Peter’s dead? She can’t believe it. He made so many people miserable. What happens now that the horrible nightmare is over; it’s ended. He says, what usually follows an ending is a new beginning, and she says she should go. He grabs her arm, and says, she doesn’t have to go now, but she says she does. Whatever happens next, she hopes he considers cutting down on his drinking, or not drink at all. He deserves to have a clear mind when he figures out what he wants to do next. He says he’ll think about it because he believes he owes her that much, but she says, he doesn’t owe her anything. She touches his face, and says, he owes it to himself.

Finn says, so there was more to this besides the ring. Why didn’t Elizabeth say anything? She says, because she felt like she was imagining things, and he says, but it’s real. Tell him. She says, it was Valentine’s Day. She’d decided to donate the dress she wore when she married Franco. She wasn’t going to wear it again, and it had just been hanging in her closet in a garment bag. When the bag was opened, the dress was torn to shreds. She knows all of this seems so random on a case by case basis, but when you combine the ring, the dress, and this card… He says, it’s a pattern. She shouldn’t dismiss that. She says, she just feels like someone is doing this deliberately, and he asks if she’s sure the boys aren’t upset about them and acting out. She says, Cameron is so happy with Josslyn and PCU, his heart is not in a destructive place. He says, Jake and Aiden, and she says, she asked both of them, and they both insist they had nothing to do with the ring. She knows when her boys are lying, and she doesn’t think they are. She guesses she could ask them again. Finn’s phone dings, and he says he has to check on a patient. He’ll see her back at the house. It’s going to be okay.

Alexis asks if Peter’s death gave Sam any closure, and Sam says, closure and relief. Not only for herself, for the entire city, including Alexis. Peter was the one who gaslit Alexis into thinking Franco was a threat to her. Alexis says, she was drunk when she assaulted Dante, and can’t blame Peter for that. Prison, unfortunately, was a wake-up call that she needed to be sober. Sam says, then she reunited with Shawn. How are things going between the two of them? Alexis says, they’re just good friends. He’s also her boss, so anything beyond that would be inappropriate anyway. Sam says she can accept that, even though Alexis is the happiest Sam’s seen her since Neil died. And the way he died was so sudden and unexpected. Alexis pulled herself together, and keeps moving forward. Neil would want her happy. As a matter-of-fact, Sam thinks Shawn was probably the most stable relationship Alexis has been a part of since Sam’s known her. Alexis says, it’s a pretty low bar she’s set, and Sam says, true, but can’t Shawn be Alexis’s confidante, and not Harmony with all her baggage? She knows Alexis said she was giving Harmony a second chance, but has she really changed?

Harmony sits with the shady guy at Charlie’s, and he says, sorry. That seat’s taken. She says, yeah, by her. She’s seen him handle some shady business here and in the alley. Word on the street is, he’s good at forging documents. He says, maybe. What’s it to her? She says, how good is he at forging a birth certificate?

Elizabeth calls Betsy, and says, she knows it’s been a while. She got Betsy’s card, and has some news she thinks Betsy wants to hear. Is there any way she can come to town and talk in person?

Sam says, she freely admits that Harmony has gone above and beyond to redeem herself. She did help them track down Drew, but there is so much history between her and their family. Alexis says, they’ve been through this, and she appreciates it and understands, but she’s going to stop Sam her. Shawn is her friend, and Harmony has been her friend. She cares about both of them. That’s why she’s so grateful that Sam and the girls, including Shawn (I swear, she said it that way) are accepting the possibility that she may have changed.

Harmony gives a wad of money to shady guy, who says, it’s a pleasure doing business with her. He’ll be in touch when he has something. He leaves, and Harmony gets up. She turns around to see Shawn.

Michael says, this is a long time coming. To Jason. He, Willow, Dante, and Monica lift their glasses, and he says, and to all the people not here to see the justice they deserved. They clink glasses, and say, to Jason. Michael says, now they’ll be able to focus on putting all the people whose lives were torn apart by Peter, back together again.

Sonny says, he’ll think about cutting back for his own well-being, and wants to let Nina know it means a lot that she cares. She says she should know better, but she can’t seem to help herself. Sonny opens the door, and Carly and Drew are there.

On Monday, Shawn tells Harmony to watch her step, Alexis asks if Diane doesn’t trust her judgement, Elizabeth wonders if Jake is trying to tell her something, and Drew says he and Nina aren’t going to talk about Carly.

😲 Oh No She Didn’t…

How dare Kelly shade Queen LVP, she who can do no wrong?

👠 A Question Of Loyalty…

Has Dolores seen the show? Teresa isn’t a runner? Since when? Storming off is one of her specialties.

👶🏻 Boo Hoo…

Apparently, someone told Heather this was a sorority.

🧂 Skipping Mary…

Nothing really newsworthy, but amusing.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1320637/see-the-exact-moment-the-rhoslc-cast-learns-mary-cosbys-skipping-the-season-2-reunion

💵 No Accounting…

At least it tips her toward less boring.

💔 Not the Bubbas…

Let’s see. She doesn’t get along with his best friend and business partner, and she’s a go-getter while he’s unambitious AF. And no one saw it coming?

Katie Maloney: Did She Just Announce That She’s Divorcing Tom Schwartz?

🐕‍🦺 All About That Dog…

The article says, everybody was astonished at what the dogs could do, but I’ve had German Shepherds, and I can vouch for the fact they’re no dummies.

https://ew.com/movies/dog-co-director-reid-carolin/

👑 Quotes of the Week

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. – Booker T. Washington

Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. – Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear. – Rosa Parks

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list. – Dennis Leary

I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.Serena Williams

If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. – Shirley Chisholm

Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one. – Duke Ellington

Black history isn’t a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people. – Karyn Parsons

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. – Arthur Ashe

A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage is like a tree without roots. – Dick Gregory

The soul that is within me no man can degrade. – Frederick Douglass

☁️ Drifting To Dreamland…

See you at Deadtime, but until then, stay safe, stay supporting equality for all, and stay not saying, I found your birth certificate, when what you really mean is, you’re not my biological daughter.

January 26, 2022 – Sonny Has a Manic Episode, VanderReunion Round Two, Gift Or Not, Prescription Plot, Old Is New & Sometimes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nina wakes up on Sonny’s couch, but Sonny’s not around. She calls for him.

Sitting on a yoga mat, Carly tries to be zen in an empty classroom. Ava comes in, and says, namaste.

Valentin and Martin walk into Kelly’s, and see Chase there with Bailey in her stroller.

Austen leads Anna, Felicia, and Maxie to a clearing, and says, this is where he found Maxie in labor. But there wasn’t snow on the ground, and it wasn’t bitterly cold. Felicia says she’s sorry Maxie has to endure all this. How is she holding up? Maxie says, it was quite a shock seeing that cabin again. She has memories of running for her life, trying to get away from that fake nurse. Anna says, always a survivor, then and now. She knows this is going to be hard, but she promises if Maxie will stick with it a bit longer, they’ll get to the point where they know what happened to Louise the night she was taken.

Britt walks into Peter’s room, and he says, what have we here? A morning visit from the Co-Chief of Staff? She thanks him for finally dropping the dear sister routine. It’s been stale since forever. He says she’s obviously lost her edge. She’s given in to propriety rather than embracing their father’s propensity for taking what he wanted. She says, following in his footsteps has really worked out well for Peter. He’s facing a myriad of charges in various jurisdictions, and now he’s going back to the place where he was poisoned. He’s king of the world.

Josslyn lets Cameron, Esme, Spencer, and Trina into the cabin, and says, here it is. Spencer says, wow, and Trina says, the mountain is so close, and runs to the window. Cameron says he can’t wait to hit the slopes. They got some nice dry powder last night. Josslyn says they can head out as soon as they unload the car.

Sonny says, hey, surprised Nina is there, and she says she was just going to the guardhouse to tell them he was missing. He says he shoveled the way to the treehouse. That way Donna and Avery can have a picnic. She says, it’s a little cold for a picnic, but he says, no, it’s fun. They can drink hot chocolate. He was thinking of running an electrical cord all the way to the treehouse. They could have heat and electricity, and maybe insulation all year round. Can she imagine? Has she ever seen those tiny houses? He goes to his laptop, and she says, he hasn’t slept, has he? He says, no. He doesn’t need to because he feels great.

Trina and Josslyn lug their suitcases into the cabin, and Trina calls to Esme for a hand. Esme says she couldn’t wait to see the rest of the cabin. It’s fantastic. Josslyn and Cam must take the master bedroom; it has the biggest bed. Josslyn says that’s so thoughtful of her, but shouldn’t Esme be getting her two bags out of the car? Esme says, Spence will take care of that, and asks if anyone can build a fire; it’s chilly in here. Spencer comes in with Esme’s bags, and Cameron says he thinks it’s best they don’t leave a fire going while they’re out skiing. Esme says, Spence doesn’t ski since his accident. They can stay in the cabin. She’s sure they’ll manage to find something to do. Spencer says, actually, he was planning on skiing too, and Esme says, since when? He says, since he and Trina talked about it, and he realized how much he missed it. She says, they didn’t bring their skis, but he says, they can rent. Josslyn says, good for him, getting back out there, and he says, Trina’s enthusiasm was contagious. Esme mumbles, like the plague, and Trina says, what was that? Esme says she thinks it’s great. Shall they get changed?

At the hospital, the reception nurse asks if she can help Victor, and he says he hopes so. He found this sonogram on the ground, and he’s sure the parents must be missing it. Unfortunately, the name’s been torn off. She says she can use the patient ID on the back and see who it belongs to, and he says, how fortunate. She says she’ll take care of it right away, and he thinks her.

Peter asks why Britt is here, and she says, to personally inform him that she signed off on his discharge. He’s being released from GH tomorrow, and once again becomes Pentenville’s problem. So… bye-bye. She starts to leave, and he says he can’t be released. He still needs treatment here. She asks if he means for his fabricated back pain. She’s sure his remaining tests will prove that he’s faking. He asks if Maxie knows he’s being transferred, and Britt says, why would she? Maxie’s been very clear that she wants nothing to do with him; that he means nothing to her. He says, he’s Louise’s father. As long as he and Maxie share a child, they’re bound together. Forever. Britt smiles, and leaves.

Anna asks how Maxie is holding up. Has it sparked anything for her? Maxie flashes back to telling Austin, thank God he’s not Peter, and Austin saying, thank God she’s not a bear. Maxie tells Anna, no, nothing. She asks Austin if he’s sure they’re in the right place. The woods look very different in the winter. Austin says, this is the spot. He grew up in these woods. He knows them in every season. He passed that boulder before he ever laid eyes on her. Felicia says, good. Let’s recreate it. Where was Maxie? He points, and says, right there. Anna spreads a blanket, and tells Maxie, have a seat. Try to recreate it as best she can. Maxie kneels on the blanket, and Anna asks how she’s feeling. Maxie says, hurt, scared, helpless… very vulnerable. She was in pain, and she tried to keep running, but she couldn’t because of the contractions. Felicia says she’s sorry to make Maxie relive it, but keep going. Maxie says, there was this light. She thought it was Peter; she thought he’d found her somehow. Austin says, but it wasn’t Peter; it was him. He gets in the position he was in that night, and says, he introduced himself. Remember? He holds out his hand, and Maxie flashes back to them introducing themselves. She says she does. She was so happy to see him. She thought she was going to have to give birth all alone. Felicia says she thanks God Austin was there for Maxie, and Austin says, so does he.

Valentin says, may I? and Chase says, of course (🍷). Valentin peeks in at Bailey, and says she’s grown since he last saw her. Chase says he imagines so, and Valentin asks if she’s on solid food. Chase says, she just started. She loves bananas. Valentin says, Charlotte did too. Excuse him. He goes back to his table, and Chase tells Bailey, that went well, considering.

Sonny says, he told Nina last night she could stay or she could go, and she can go now if she needs to. She says he needs to sleep, but he says he’s not tired. She asks when was the last time he ate something, and he says he doesn’t know. When was the last time she ate something? She suggests she make them something to eat, but he says he has to get these tiny houses. What about a contractor? What does she think? She says he can do that after they eat something, but he says he’s not hungry. Stop telling him what to do. He put up with her last night because she stayed out of his way. Just go. He doesn’t even want to look at this now. He sets the laptop aside, and leaves the room.

Ava asks if Carly took the morning off, and Carly says, yes. Ava says, her too, and Carly tells Ava that her mom said this was a great class. She’s just trying to clear her mind. Ava says, mind if I join you? and sits down. She asks, how are things? She knows Carly’s been staying at the MetroCourt, and Carly tells Ava that she doesn’t have to say it in a hushed voice; it’s not a secret. She’s okay. She’s just trying to practice some self-care. Ava says, that’s good. She imagines it’s Sonny, of course (🍷), but she’s ready, willing, and able to take Avery at any time. Carly says, Ava can discuss that with Sonny, but she doesn’t want Ava to worry. She’s there every morning and every night. She doesn’t want the girls to notice an interruption in their routine. Ava thanks her, and says maybe Carly won’t have to do this much longer. How was Avery this morning? Carly says, great, so happy after her sleepover with Carly’s mom. Ava says, Avery was with Bobbie? when Brook comes in. Brook says, look at us. All three of us here, early, together. Yoga can feel so peaceful. Ava says, if Avery needs a change, Avery can stay with her. Or doesn’t that even occur to Carly? Brook says, or not.

On the phone, Britt asks, what’s going on? and Nina says, she spent the night at Sonny’s. Britt says, okay… Good for you? Nina says, it’s not like that. Sonny has been acting really strange, and she didn’t want him to be alone last night. She called Phyllis, but Phyllis hasn’t called back. She thinks Sonny is off his bipolar meds. Britt asks if he’s having a manic episode, and Nina says, he won’t eat, he doesn’t want to sleep, and he almost gave himself frostbite shoveling his backyard without gloves. She needs Britt’s help. She needs medical advice. What should she do? She’s out of her depth here, but she knows this is bad. Britt says, Nina needs to convince Sonny to go see his doctor and get back on his meds, and Nina says, okay, but he’s not going to be open to that. Britt says she has to at least try, and it’s very important not to argue with him. Nina says, it’s a little too late for that. They argued about him eating, and he stormed out. Britt says, okay, but moving forward, Nina needs to try and keep Sonny as calm as possible, and do not engage in any grandiose ideas or proclamations. Nina says, it’s like Britt is checking all the boxes, and it’s exactly where they’re at. If she tries her best to keep him calm, what does she do if that doesn’t work? Britt says, in all honesty, it might not. People experiencing mania feel good. They feel energized like they could take on the world. Sonny probably doesn’t feel like there is anything wrong. That’s why the first step is getting him to acknowledge he’s having an episode. Nina says she’ll try to do that, and Britt says, what about family? She’s sure they know how to deal with him in this state. Nina says, he doesn’t want his kids to see him like this, and he flat out forbade her to call Carly last night. Britt says, Nina does not want to handle Sonny alone. She has to be careful. People in the grips of mania can lash out and become violent. She needs to call one of Sonny’s minions, and get the hell out of there.

Carly asks if Ava is going to start a fight with her because Avery had a sleepover with her grandmother, and Ava says, Bobbie is not Avery’s grandmother because Carly isn’t Avery’s mother. Carly asks what the hell is wrong with Ava? Ava brought Avery to her when she thought she was leaving Port Charles. Does Ava remember that? Sonny was gone, and Ava trusted her. She’s not trying to take Ava’s place, but she does love Avery as her own, and her mother loves Avery like a grandchild, so what is wrong with Avery having as much love as possible? Brook suggests they all take some cleansing deep breaths, and Ava says, if Sonny is so distracted by Carly moving out that he can’t take care of their daughter, then Avery should be with her, and not pawned off on Bobbie. Carly says, the sleepover had nothing to do with Sonny. Her mom wanted the girls over because she wanted a distraction after Luke’s memorial. Maybe that would have dawned on Ava if she could think of someone else besides herself. Ava says, oh. Well, she probably overreacted. Brook says, ya think? and Ava says she just admitted she was wrong. She just doesn’t want Avery mixed up in Sonny and Carly’s drama. Carly says, Ava is going to talk about drama with her on again, off again relationship with Nikolas? Ava holds up the hand wearing her wedding ring, and says her relationship with Nikolas is solid. From what she hears, Carly is the one on thin ice, so she might want to tread carefully. Because if things don’t work out for her this time, Sonny has somebody else to turn to.

Josslyn asks if Cameron is all set, and he says, this place is awesome. She says, it is, although she kind of wishes they were here alone, or at least without Esme. He says, a weekend alone with her would be nice, and she says, next time. They kiss, and he says, he has everything for tonight. If they decide that they’re ready. She asks if they didn’t decide that already, but he says, if she changes her mind, it’s all good; whatever feels right. She says, whatever feels right for us. And she trusts him. She wants her first time to be with him, and he says he feels the same way. She says, then tonight’s the night, and they kiss some more.

A man comes out, and asks the reception nurse for a blanket for his aunt. She’s been asking for one for some time, and he thinks the request got lost in the shift change. She says, she’s sorry; she’ll get him one. She tells Victor that she’ll be right back, and leaves. Because GH has the worst security in the world, Victor goes behind the desk to look at the computer screen. Britt asks what he thinks he’s doing.

Martin tells Valentin that he’s sorry. It must be difficult seeing Chase with Bailey. Valentin says, it is, but he seems to love her, so that’s good. Martin says, that reminds him. There’s something he’s been meaning to bring up regarding Bailey, but Valentin says, don’t. Brook’s ELQ shares are signed over to him, and Bailey’s with her rightful parents. There’s nothing further to discuss on the matter. Martin says, except for the fact, Valentin is still legally her father.

Anna says, when Austin was on his hike, did he see or hear any cars or vehicles? He says, no, and she says, as he delivered Louise, did he get the feeling there was someone else nearby? Or did he hear any footsteps? He says, no. Maxie was very upset because the baby didn’t make any noise, but then Louise was okay. Maxie says, right. She was relieved when she heard Louise cry, just like when James was born on the side of the road. Then she thought, this is crazy. Why can’t she just do this in a hospital? Austin says, from what he remembers, Maxie didn’t want to go to the hospital. He flashes back to Maxie saying he can’t do that; Peter will find them. He asks if he shouldn’t call the police, but she says, no. She just has to get to Beecher’s Corners. In the present, Maxie says, she was concerned Peter was going to find her and Louise after he hired that nurse to kidnap them. Anna asks, how and when did she show up? and Maxie flashes back to Austin saying she can do whatever she wants after they swing by the hospital. He’s going to call an ambulance. She tells Anna, Austin was right next to her when fake Chloe came up behind him and attacked him. Austin says he doesn’t remember being attacked, and Felicia says, it’s common with head injuries. Austin says, it is, but it’s frustrating. It’s like he can almost remember, then he hits a wall. Anna asks what the nurse did next, and Maxie says, it all happened so fast. She got up, and fake Chloe grabbed Louise. We see Maxie running through the woods, and she tells Anna, she tried to hold on; she tried to fight her. But she was weak, and fake Chloe took Louise from her. We see her stopping to look behind her, and Maxie says, she tried to run after her, but passed out. When she came to, fake Chloe was gone with Louise. They must have met her in the woods, and she handed Louise off. Anna asks if Maxie heard anybody nearby. Did she hear anyone in the woods? Did this woman talk about meeting someone? Maxie says, no. She just said she wanted to keep Louise for herself. She flashes back to telling Louise that she’s going with her Auntie Brook now, and handing Louise to Brook. She tells Anna, she just remembers she grabbed Austin’s cell phone and called 9-1-1. That’s when Austin woke up. Anna asks if Austin remembers anything, and he says, someone else was here. Someone else was here with them.

Victor says, Britt caught him. He was just looking for information on Peter August. She says, he knows they can’t give out patient information, and he says the nurse told him. He must say, she runs a tight ship. How are you feeling, Britt? She says, she’s fine, and it’s Dr. Westbourne to him. He says he does apologize. Liesl spoke so highly of her, he feels like he knows her. She says, stay away from her mother. He should be in prison for her kidnapping. The WSB should have never given him the deal he finagled. He says, it’s a slight misunderstanding that’s been cleared up since. He’s so glad she’s not experiencing symptoms yet. She says she has no idea what he means, and he says, Huntington’s. It’s such a horrible disease.

Trina asks Josslyn, where is everyone? and Josslyn says, Cam is grabbing snacks before they head out, and Esme and Spencer are probably coordinating their ski wear. Trina wonders how they get anywhere when it takes them so long to get ready, and Spencer comes out, saying, it takes time to look this good. Josslyn says, wow. Maybe focus more on the incline, and less on his fashion statement. Esme says, Joss is right. He needs to take it slow. He says, the bright side, if he does break both his legs again, maybe he can postpone going to Spring Ridge a while longer. The three girls say, that’s not funny, and Cameron comes out. He says, all right; let’s go outside. Josslyn tells them to lock the door, and Spencer tells Esme that he’s really glad they get a chance to ski together, and not just sit by the fire. She says she’s so happy Trina convinced him to ski again. She’ll have to pay Trina back.

Valentin says, Brook hasn’t amended Bailey’s birth certificate? and Martin says, nope. He hasn’t received notification that Valentin’s name’s been removed, so as far as the court is concerned, legally, Valentin is still responsible for Bailey as her father. Valentin says, excuse him, goes to Chase’s table, and sits down. He asks why Chase and Brook haven’t changed Bailey’s birth certificate.   

Maxie says, Austin must be remembering fake Chloe, but he says he doesn’t think so. He doesn’t know why he feels that way, but he doesn’t think so. Anna suggests closing his eyes, and trying to remember, but Maxie says, he was knocked unconscious. He’s not going to remember anything. Felicia says, this could be a breakthrough, and Austin remembers hearing Maxie say, just take her. If she says goodbye to her, she won’t be able to let her go. Austin says, there were two voices, and Maxie says, her and fake Chloe. She was yelling at her to leave Louise alone. Austin says he doesn’t think so. The tone was more conversational. Felicia says, the person who took Louise was in this clearing.

Brook says, that’s enough. Ava crossed the line. Ava says, it doesn’t concern Brook, but Brook says perhaps Ava is unfamiliar with the traditions and social mores of Bensonhurst. Family sticks up for family. She’s not going to sit around while Ava insults her Uncle Sonny and his wife. Carly thanks her, but says she’s been dealing with Ava’s BS for years. The custody agreement is between Ava and Sonny, just like it always was. If Ava has a problem with the current agreement, have her lawyer call Diane. Meanwhile, she can assure Ava that she and Sonny aren’t going to let their issues affect the girls, a concept that’s seemingly foreign to Ava. Ava says, this is what she gets for expressing concern for Carly, and Brook asks if Ava means sticking her nose in other people’s business. Ava says she thinks she’ll take the next class, and leaves. Brook asks Carly if everything is okay, and Carly says, she’s used to Ava’s shenanigans. They don’t get to her. Brook says she means the big picture. Are things really that bad with Carly and Sonny?  

Nina finds Sonny in the foyer, and asks where he’s going, and he says he found some plans for the treehouse; the tiny house is too big. So he’s just going to get a heater and some electricity, so the girls can have fun. Nina says, how nice. Can he just wait a minute? She’d love to talk to him. He says, about what? and she says she’d love to know more about bipolar disorder. He tells her, stop it with this bipolar. What does she want? She says, she doesn’t want anything. If she’s making mistakes here, she’s so sorry, but she woudn’t make them if she understood a little more. He says he has to go, but she says, it will just take a minute. He says, she wants him to tell her what it’s like? and she says, yeah. He says, okay. It’s like, you have thoughts just zipping around in your head. Like you’re in a nightmare and can’t wake up. You see people are there, but they’re not there. Then you’re exhausted, but you can’t go to sleep. But that’s not happening now. She asks if he’s sure, and tries to stop him, but he grabs her wrists, and says, don’t push him. She says, he’s hurting her, and he lets go, saying, he’s sorry.

Brook says, Carly moved out? and Carly says, she moved to the MetroCourt, but it’s convenient, since she owns the place. Brook asks if  things are that bad, and Carly says she just needed a little time and space; don’t worry about it. Brook says she is worried. Carly and Sonny have always been so good together. They’ve always each other’s backs. Carly says, they did, and Brook says, but not anymore?

Sonny says he didn’t mean to grab Nina that hard. He doesn’t hurt women. She says, of course (🍷) he doesn’t, which proves he’s not himself right now. He asks if she’s okay, and says he can get her some ice. She says she’s fine, and he says he didn’t mean to hurt her. He just wanted her to leave him alone. She says she can’t do that when he needs help, and he says she’s not afraid of him, is she? She says she’s afraid for him. He says, you know what? Maybe she’s right, because he’s feeling – he wipes some tears away – a little tired, but… She says, his meds help him with that, right? Where is it? He says he’s out, and sits down. She sits next to him and says, okay, then why don’t they go to GH? He can talk to his doctor, and get him to refill the prescription. He says, Dr. Sullivan? and she says, yes, Dr. Sullivan. She asks him to please call his doctor, and he nods, still crying. He puts his head on her shoulder.

Britt asks why Victor mentioned Huntington’s, and he says he quite understands why she wants to keep the diagnosis quiet. It could undermine her position if it got out she had a degenerative disease. She says she has no such thing, and he says, playing it cool. He likes that. Just like her mother. If it weren’t the case, why would Liesl rush off to a conference on that very subject? She says, the conference wasn’t even real. It was bait to get her on a plane, so Victor could kidnap her. He says, Liesl thought it was legitimate. Perhaps she went not so much as a doctor, but more as a concerned mother. Britt says she doesn’t have time for his fantasies, so she repeats; stay away from her mother. And while he’s at it, stay away from her.

Chase says Valentin’s got him at a loss, He didn’t realize Brook hadn’t changed the birth certificate yet. He’ll be sure to mention it to her. Valentin says, Chase’s cavalier attitude is disconcerting. Legally, he’s still Bailey’s father, with all the privileges and responsibilities attached. Chase says he’s sure Brook started the process, but it just hasn’t gone through yet. He thanks Valentin for bringing it to his attention, and Valentin goes back to his table. Martin says, no bloodshed. Kudos to him. Valentin asks if it’s a complicated process to change the father’s name on a baby’s birth certificate. Martin says, all Brook has to do is notarized and file the proper form, along  with proof of paternity, and Valentin says, unless of course (🍷), there is no proof Chase is Bailey’s father.

Britt opens an examining room for Sonny, and Nina brings him in. Britt says, Dr. Sullivan won’t be long, and Sonny says, that’s what the doctor told him. He takes off his jacket, and says he wishes Nina hadn’t involved Britt in this, but Nina says, Britt is a brilliant doctor, and will protect his privacy. Britt says, everything that happens here is confidential, and Sonny asks if Nina wants to go, but she says she’s happy to stay until Dr. Sullivan gets here. He says he doesn’t need a babysitter, and Britt says she’ll give them a minute. She leaves, and Nina says she understands, but just wants to make sure Sonny is okay. He says, he’s fine, and she says, okay. She starts to leave, but he calls her back. He asks how her wrist is, and she says, it’s fine; he didn’t injure her. He says he grabbed it hard, and felt bad. He thanks her for caring, she nods, and leaves.

On the phone, Ava says she heard Aver had a sleepover last night. Was it fun?… Good… Yum. She knows how much Avery loves waffles… Yes, tomorrow is the day. Nothing is going to stop her from seeing Avery… She wants Avery to know that she can call whenever, any time she feels like it… Okay. She loves Avery very much.  

The kids come back from skiing, and Cameron says he’s bummed that the ice cut their time. He would have loved one more run. Josslyn says, it was getting pretty slick, and Spencer says, Trina had no problem; she shredded that slope. Trina says, it’s just that she was going so fast, and he was going, sooo slooow. Spencer says, it was his first time on skis in years, and Esme says she’s proud of him, and kisses him. He says, and might he remind them, it was icy out there, and that’s why Trina was going fast. He had controlled velocity. Trina says, emphasis on controlled, and Esme says, that’s one reasons it’s good for them to stay overnight – she looks at Spencer – one of them anyway. Josslyn says she wants to get out of her wet clothes, and Esme says, her too. Cameron says, he’ll start a fire. Don’t worry; he knows how. Esme asks if Spencer is coming, and he says, in a minute. The girls leave, and Spencer tells Cameron, tonight’s the night, but Cameron says, he’s not doing this; change the subject. Spencer says, that’s cool. The only reason he’s inquiring is that he wants to make sure Cameron is prepared. He has extra condoms if Cameron needs them. Cameron says he doesn’t, but thanks Spencer. Spencer says, nobody wants any last minute surprises.

Victor walks down a hospital corridor on the phone. He says, yes?… He stops walking. It’s confirmed?… None of them… Good. Well done.  

Austin says he knows there’s something. It’s right there, but then he can’t remember it. Anna tells him to take a deep breath. Were the voices male, female, both? He says, they were both female, and Maxie wonders if it’s a true memory. He never mentioned another person. Felicia says, that’s precisely why they came back here, to see if it would spark anything. Anna says she has no service, and Austin says, it’s spotty here, and tells her to keep climbing. Anna walks off, and Maxie says she’s freezing; can they just go? Felicia wants to touch base with Anna first, and suggests Maxie go back to the cabin and get warm. Maxie says, good idea, and Austin remembers hearing Maxie say, it was your idea to begin with. Maxie asks if he’s coming, and he says, it was her. Maxie says, she’s cold, and he says he remembers. She was one of the women he heard talking, not yelling, talking. Who was she talking to?

Victor walks into Peter’s room, and Peter asks, where’s the guard? Victor says, taking a well-timed coffee break. Peter says, Victor should know, he’s being transferred back to Pentenville tomorrow. Victor says, then it’s fortunate he stopped by, and Peter says, what Victor should be doing is trying to find Peter’s daughter. He’d better act fast if he wants Peter to tell him what he wants to know. Victor says, no need. He just received a very interesting phone call. He’s here to hold up his end of the bargain.

Chase tells Bailey, it looks like he and mommy need to have a little conversation, but don’t worry. They’ll get it figured out. He promises to look out for her, no matter what. He jets, and Valentin tells Martin, they certainly left in a hurry. Martin asks what Valentin meant earlier. Why would there be no proof Chase is Bailey’s father? Valentin says, for the same reason there was no proof he was. He took Brook at her word. Chase said he took a DNA test, and he took Chase at his word. Shame on him. Martin says, after everything that’s happened, he doesn’t believe Chase is Bailey’s father? Valentin says, some men might not care that another man is the legal father on their child’s birth certificate, but by the book, upstanding Detective Harrison Chase would care. Unless it’s a fabrication, and Chase knows about it. Martin says, so Brook lied about her child’s paternity a second time. Why? Valentin says, why not? She’s a proven liar. The real question is, why would Chase go along with the lie?

Spencer sits next to Trina on the couch, and asks, when did a skateboard without wheels become a legitimate winter sport? Snowboarding has eleven Winter Olympic events; Skiing only has five. That is outrageous. Trina says, snowboarding requires balance, whereas in skiing, you use two poles to hold you upright. Esme comes in, and says she made hot toddies for everyone. Spencer says he’ll help her, but she says she’s got it; keep talking amongst themselves. Cameron says he was thinking of trying some snowboarding tomorrow. What does Josslyn think? She says, cool. She and Trina snowboarded a couple of times. It’s actually safer than skiing. Esme stands around the hot toddies, a plastic baggie in her hand. Spencer says, maybe he’ll give it a try, and Trina asks if he’s crossing over into the dark side. No one notices Esme lurking around the cups. Or her looking over her shoulder to see if they’re looking.

Britt says she’s glad Sonny decided to refill his meds, and he says, make sure to keep her mouth quiet. She laughs, and says, don’t worry. He doesn’t want his family to know he went off his meds, they won’t hear it from her.

Nina walks into yoga class, and says she had no idea Carly would be here. Carly asks if this is the part where she says she doesn’t want any trouble, and turns around and runs the other way? Nina says she’s not doing that anymore, but since they’re both here, she has something to say. Carly gets up, and says, great. So does she.

Tomorrow, Maxie says she’ll tell what really happened, Valentin tells Martin that the debt will be paid, Nina says Carly needs to hear her out, and Brando tells Sonny that he needs help.

Vanderpump Rules – The Reunion – Part Two

Andy asked Sandoval, what about Katie’s involvement in the new bar upset him, and Sandoval said they’d were trying to open a business, and were so stressed. Katie started talking, but Schwartz tried to stop her. She said she had a vested interest in Schwartz’s business venture. God forbid something should happen to Schwartz; she’d inherit his debt. She said she genuinely cared, and was excited for them, and Raquel apologized for what she’d said about Katie on Watch What Happens Live. We saw the clip, and Raquel had said Katie should butt out. She thought Katie was bored with her life, and that’s why she was interested in the new bar. Raquel said her mom called to explain that when you married someone, you were in a business relationship. Whatever business your partner was in technically, it was a 50/50 partnership, and Katie was entitled to her say in Schwartz’s 50%. Lisa said, that’s why you were entitled to half in a divorce, and Ariana thought it was bullsh*t. Lala said, Ariana wasn’t married, and Scheana said Ariana and Tom saw it as a piece of paper, and were just as married. Andy asked what the status of Katie’s involvement was now, because he apparently wasn’t paying attention this season. Schwartz said Katie and Sandoval never had good work energy, but he’d seen Katie was fired up about the new place. He got caught off-guard, and in the end, it didn’t work. Andy said, moving on to Raquel’s nose.

We flashed back to Raquel’s nose job woes, and Raquel said she’d felt the tip was bulbous and too big for her petite face. She wanted her features to match her face. Andy asked if she was happy with it now, and she said it wasn’t the way she’d imagined, but she’d come to terms with it. Andy asked James about his comment that, if something went wrong, he’d be the one who had to look at it. James claimed he was only trying to say, don’t make a beautiful thing less beautiful, and Andy told him, saying she was beautiful as is might have been a better way to say it, like James didn’t know that, and James said, if he could, he’d take it back. Andy asked Charli what gave her the idea for Toes for Nose, to raise money for Raquel’s nose job, and Charli said she always loves a fundraiser. Andy asked why Lisa bought the feet pics, and Lisa said she didn’t want to see them fail. Andy doubled back, and brought up James saying that Raquel would leave him if he lost his looks, and there was a big unnecessary discussion about that.

During the break, Charli told Raquel that she was strong, and doing a good job. Andy came back with the topic of Scheana’s love life. He said she and Brock had met at a music festival, and she was wooed by his accent and his dirty dancing move. (Just one?) He asked if Brock had seen the show before he met Scheana, but Brock said he hadn’t; he just thought she was hot. Andy said Scheana had admitted a green card would be a bonus if Brock married her, and asked how much time he had left on his visa. Brock said he had two years on his business visa, and Lisa said she’d had to invest $700K for hers. He said he’d put up his gym as collateral, and a green card meant freedom. Andy said Brock claimed he’d come to the states so he could support his family, but then didn’t pay support. Brock said, when he left, he and his ex had an agreement about him sending her money, but not a required child support . When they began to argue about his access to the children, communication stopped, and she got government support. As soon as he was contacted, he began to make payments; he’d been paying since 2018. Charli suggested he take a bartending job at SUR, and Andy asked about him not seeing the children. He said he had to prove he was a changed man, and he hadn’t done it to his ex’s satisfaction yet. Scheana said he hadn’t totally caught up, and until he was, he woudn’t have access. We saw Lala pretending to snooze, and Andy asked about the restraining order. Brock said, he and his ex had an argument, he slapped her, and six months later, she dropped the order on him. Lala said he misrepresented himself, and Brock said he’d been vulnerable with Lala, telling her about it, and she’d used it against him. She said him minimizing domestic violence was triggering for her. Andy asked Raquel about being adopted, and Raquel said her biological mom was her adoptive mom’s sister. They weren’t that close, but she’d never thought of her adoptive mom as anything other than her real mom. Her dad was coming tonight to help her pack, and she’d be staying with her sister Kate until she found her own place. James said he never felt that Raquel’s family accepted, loved, or wanted him to marry Raquel. We saw a clip of Raquel’s dad talking to Lisa, saying, he didn’t want his daughter to marry an alcoholic, and he had a shallow grave he could put James in. Andy asked Raquel what her family was concerned about, and we flashed back to the insane side of James. Raquel said the way he reacted and his temper. James said, even last Thanksgiving, Raquel’s dad sat next to him, drank a bottle wine, then had a go at him. He was offended James hadn’t worn the hiking boots he’d gotten for James. After all the work James had put in, he was upset about the boots. James said he tried his best to make it work. Lisa asked, what about Grandma Buttons? and Raquel said, Grandma Buttons loves James. And it was obvious everyone loved Grandma Buttons. Seriously though, how could you not love someone called Grandma Buttons?

During the break, Scheana told Brock that she just needed him to be supportive, not ask if she was upset. Andy said Lala hadn’t thought Scheana paid attention to red flags about Brock, but Lala said, clearly, she was no expert, and Andy presented a montage of what was not playing so great in Lala’s rearview mirror, mostly Lala saying what a stand-up guy Randall is and how he’d never play her. Lala said she cared for Scheana; Scheana had the most amazing heart, and she felt terrible. Brock had been nothing but a kind and loving partner to Scheana, and she should have focused on her own thing, Brock said it was hard to be angry considering where they are now. In the moment, it did damage and it hurt. Scheana said that Lala hadn’t seemed concerned when she was first dating Brock, and it came up a year and a half and a child later. Lala said she hadn’t known Brock couldn’t see his kids, and Scheana said everyone else did. Brock said Lala was too busy flying around in private jets and hanging out with Machine Gun Kelly. This struck Charli as hysterically funny. Andy said Sandoval had brought up possible rumors about Randall, and we flashed back to that. Lala asked why he wouldn’t come to her, but Sandoval said it didn’t seem like something she wanted to know, and she didn’t want them talking about her personal life. Andy asked what the rumor was, and Sandoval answered vaguely. It sounded like Randall had hit on someone who worked with the boyfriend of a sibling of someone Sandoval knows. Andy asked James about any rumors, no doubt hoping he’d answer more simply, and James said, hotel room stuff; meeting girls. He saw Randall buying drinks for the hottest girls in SUR, and that was after the baby was born. Lala said, not one time did anyone say, this is what your dude is doing. Randall creeping around on her wasn’t brought to her attention. We flashed back to James trying to tell her early on, and Lisa said, everyone had been loyal to Lala by not discussing it on camera behind her back. Agreed. Andy said it was now public that they’d officially split, and asked when Lala noticed signs of trouble. She said, he was never home, telling her it was work related, and on his phone non-f***ing-stop. Katie called her on October 15th about some pictures that had come out of Randall and two girls. That’s when she knew he wasn’t who she thought he was. They kept cutting to Charli smiling, and I wanted to smack her. Lala started to cry, and said he knew what he was out doing, yet Randall had made her feel safe enough to bring a child into the world, and she felt disgusted. Andy asked what lengths Randall went to, to get Lala to stay, but Lala said there wasn’t much for him to do. She closed off for a week, and stayed in her bedroom with the door locked. Then he decided he needed to go to Miami. We flashed back to Miami Girl, and Ariana said, never let your man go to Miami. Lala said she packed five years of things, and got TF out. Scheana said, on Sandoval’s birthday, Lala had confided to her that she didn’t have a partner like Scheana had in Brock. It was the first time Scheana realized there were any issues. Lala and Randall always put on a front that everything was great. She was queen of that club, so she got it, but her heart broke for Lala. She couldn’t imagine having a child with someone who wasn’t a 50/50 partner. Andy said Lala had called Raquel dumb, and asked how Raquel felt now. Like Raquel is going to be mean. Raquel said she’d never heard any rumors, but wasn’t surprised about the break-up. She knew when Lala started seeing Randall, it was as a mistress (another thing Charli found incredibly amusing) and it seemed like history was repeating itself. Lisa said, sometimes the way you get them is the way you lose them.

Lala said when she and Randall met, he told her that he was separated. They were on the road two months straight. They didn’t come back once, and she wondered what wife would allow her husband to leave for two months, and not come back one time. Brock said, her, and we flashed back to five minutes ago when Lala said Randall was never home. Lala said she didn’t know people rolled that way, and Lisa wondered how she could not know Randall was still living with his wife. Lala said she never even heard him call home, and they were always traveling. Brock said she had a Range Rover and an amazing lifestyle, and was on the outside looking in. Lala got annoyed about his interruption, and asked if she could keep going, She said she believed Randall had led a double life for a long time, and would stop at nothing to make sure his life wasn’t exposed. Brock said when she was in the moment though, it was fun. Lala said when she found out Randall wasn’t what he seemed – and she was still finding out – in her mind, life wasn’t cookie cutter. They were soulmates, and had fallen in love. She didn’t think he’d do that to her. Lisa said a leopard didn’t change its spots, and Lala said, 100%. Her years with Randall were now a lie. Andy said, life changes could be triggering for someone in recovery, and asked how she was doing. Lala told him, she was proud to say she’d never been stronger in her sobriety, and everyone applauded. Andy asked James what he was thinking, and James said he was disgusted with Randall. Randall was f***ing 50, and too old to learn. He had the money, clothes, cars, and house, and Lala at home with the baby. James had put on a smile, but he’d never liked Randall. Ariana asked if this meant they didn’t have to play pickleball, and Schwartz told her not to bring pickleball into it. James said Randall had reached out to him, asking for relationship tips. Lisa said, from him? and James said, from him, equally surprised. Andy thanked Lala for her openness, and said he was sorry for what she was going through.

Andy asked about the sandwich shop, and how Katie felt when Schwartz had partnered with Sandoval. She said they’d talked about it as a future venture, and Schwarz said he’d thought of it as a golden years thing. Ariana said they were looking at other investors, and had some visuals and a logo that should be done today. Lisa said she was tempted to get involved, and Ariana said the door was open. The Randall investment wasn’t going to be happening. Lisa said she didn’t think anyone was taking his phone calls, let alone his money. That would be pretty funny if Randall turned out to be a pariah because of this. Lala said people thought Randall was offering to put in $150K, but he’d approached a friend of Katie’s for half, and was going to split the difference with a partner, so he was really only investing $25K. Ariana said he was borrowing from other people, and Andy said he was selling the investment. Not that it makes him any less of a sleazeball, but I got that Randall wasn’t personally investing all that cash. He did say he had to talk to his partners, so I don’t think this was anything shady.

Andy asked about Brock and Scheana’s impending nuptials, and said most people didn’t get a prenup before they got engaged. Scheana said they knew they were getting married, and already had a baby. They were just getting their ducks in a row. If a surprise wedding happened, they’d be ready. Andy asked Lala about Brock asking for her and Randall’s help with the proposal, and then disappearing when it was time to pay. Lala said she’d loved the idea, but when her assistant asked about the budget, Brock went ghost on them. Brock said, at that point, he’d found out they wanted $20K to rent the movie theater, so he pulled the plug. Lala was stirring the pot with how she was making it come across. Lisa suggested maybe he pay his child support arrears first, and Brock said, 100%, but he wasn’t paying the government in a hurry. Lisa pointed out that it would open the door to his relationship with the kids, and should have been a priority. They  talked some more about how Brock spent his money, but at that point, I no longer cared.

Andy asked why Sandoval initially agreed to marry Brock and Scheana during James and Raquel’s engagement weekend. Figuring it was the last time he could use the joke, Sandoval said he was between a Brock and a hard place. He felt the pain of having things postponed and cancelled, and Ariana said she saw how defeated they were. Andy said if Scheana didn’t want to take away from the party, why did she announce her engagement there. Scheana got all emo, and wondered why she didn’t get to be happy about what happened in her life. She hadn’t wanted to take away from the party, but she did want to tell the people closest to her about something big that happened in her life. Andy asked Katie’s impression of what happened, and she said she was a little toasted. We flashed back to that, and Katie said, after there’d been so much planning and money spent, it was upsetting to have someone hijack the weekend. Scheana said she’d had to tell Lisa, but Lisa disagreed, saying, it wasn’t Scheana’s moment. Scheana whined, didn’t she get to have a happy moment? and Lisa said, it was Raquel and James’s party. Scheana said, but all of them were together, but Lisa wasn’t having it. She said she saw what Scheana did, and Scheana would have been horrified if it had been done to her. Andy thought maybe they should hear from the one person whose opinion mattered – Raquel. No surprise, she was gracious, and said she understood, and heard where Scheana was coming from; she was just surprised. Ariana said Scheana deserved her moment, and Katie said Ariana didn’t understand because engagements and weddings weren’t important to her. Ariana said just because she made a decision in her own life, didn’t mean what her friends went through wasn’t important to her. James said it was a tacky move, and he’d never do that to a friend. He wasn’t that tacky or cheap. Scheana said, nothing happened; they didn’t go thought with it. Lala told James to calm down, and Andy asked where James and Brock’s relationship was. James said he wasn’t holding a grudge, but he stuck by saying how cheap and tacky it was. He was just trying to get through today.  

Andy said, it was the end of the Reunion, and another season. They were going to toast to strong performances with strong cocktails, and a mocktail for James. Sandoval said the cocktail was named for Summer, and was called The Summer’s Eve. Andy asked what was next for Lisa, and she said TomTom was finally in the black, they were opening Paris in Las Vegas, and she was a bloody grandma. Andy said James was at a crossroads. Tomorrow, Raquel was moving out. James said he loved Raquel so much, and was sorry things didn’t work out. He wanted the best for her forever. It was the end of a chapter, but the beginning of the best rest of her life. Andy said it had been Raquel’s lifelong dream to help kids with disabilities. They’d already known Raquel was a wonderful person with a huge heart, and that said everything they needed to know about her. He wished her good luck on her journey. Andy asked about Schwartz and Katie’s plans, and Katie said, open the sandwich shop, be super successful, and have a baby. Andy said, Lala needed to regroup, and asked what was getting her through. No surprise, she said, her baby. She felt grateful, and Andy said she had a lot of support. Andy congratulated Scheana and Brock on their engagement, and asked if they’d set a date. Scheana said, next November. They were hoping the Australian borders would be open by then, and wanted to have the wedding in Bali. Brock said he was stoked. Andy said Ariana and Sandoval had eggs in the freezer, and Ariana said maybe they’d have embryos. Andy asked who got custody of Raquel and James’s dog, and Raquel said it was heartbreaking, but her parents had gotten Graham as a graduation gift for her, and she was taking him. (See below – you decide.)

Once again, Andy said it was the end of a season and Reunion. Cheers. They clinked glasses. Everyone dispersed pretty quickly, Andy stopping James for a hug. James and Raquel talked for a moment, and it sounded like he was going home to say goodbye to the dog before she came with her dad to get her stuff. He told her that if she needed anything, call him. They gave each other a side-hug, and we saw James leave alone. Scheana saw Raquel outside, and told her, whatever she needed from them; they were friends always and forever. Raquel met dad Carey, and told him that she thought it went well. He told her it would all be behind her, and they drove away. It was kind of sad.  

👩🏼‍🎓 Grad Gift Or…

In this article, it says she and James adopted Graham together. It’s possible the parents paid the adoption fee, but I’m wondering why she said the dog was a gift from them. Not that I don’t think she’s the best choice. I’m not so sure James could be responsible enough to take care of a dog.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/raquel-leviss-shares-an-update-on-her-and-james-kennedys-dog-photo

☕️ Slipping Them an Esme…

So it’s tramadol? They give that to dogs for pain after surgery, albeit in smaller doses. I really thought it would be something more formidable.

💎 For the Youngers and Forgetful Oldsters…

All about the Ice Princess.

🚉 Last Train Home…

Come take a break tomorrow for some soap and brands on the Runway. Until then, stay safe, stay calling out injustice, and stay keeping mind, sometimes the way you get them is the way you lose them.

January 25, 2022 – Nina Rescues Sonny, VanderReunion Begins & Hymn

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Victor literally runs into Maxie as he’s about to leave Charlie’s, and she drops all her stuff. He tells her to let him get it; it was his fault entirely. He picks up her sonogram, and says, what have we here?

Esme sees Cameron sweeping up outside Kelly’s, and asks if he’s getting his blood pumped before they go to the great snowy north. He says he’d be more pumped if his majesty was pulling his weight, but alas, he feels he’s not experienced enough for exterior work. She says, now, now. Where’s her hard-working worker? Cameron says, he’s inside, warm and cozy with Trina.

Trina sits at the counter, and Spencer says he’s not super keen about the forecast. He sees frigid temperatures and a snowy drive in their future. She wonders why that’s a problem. She thought he was a ski bunny. He says he kind of lost his taste for it when he broke both his legs off-piece. In skiing parlance, that means… She says, that he’s pompous? She knows what off-piece means. She’s a snowboarder, not an idiot. She says she’d better get going. She’ll see him après ski. In skiing parlance, that means while she shreds the slopes, he’ll be making the cocoa.

Carly and Josslyn walk into the MetroCourt, and Josslyn says she wants to get the French onion soup. It’s her favorite on the winter menu. Carly says she’s not really hungry, but Josslyn says, they came to the restaurant because she says the cheese is never melty enough when she gets room service. Carly says she’ll have to tell the staff about that, and Josslyn says, and she hates the thought of Carly being alone in her hotel suite. Why is she the one who had to leave when Sonny messed up?

Curtis and Marshall clink glasses, and say, to The Savoy. Sonny approaches their table, and Curtis asks, what’s up? Sonny says, he wants Curtis’s club, and Curtis says he’s sorry. Maybe they can talk about this tomorrow; he’s in the middle of something. Sonny says, it’s important, and Marshall says, is that right? He knows how to occupy himself if Curtis needs a moment. Curtis says, no, it’s fine, and introduces Marshall to Sonny. Sonny asks if they can just go to Curtis’s office; he wants to sort this out. Curtis says he’s busy at the moment. He’s afraid Sonny’s business is going to have to wait. Sonny says he just wants The Savoy, and he’s not leaving until he gets it.

Victor says, a sonogram photo. What a miracle of modern technology these things are. He surreptitiously looks at the patient ID on the back, and asks if congratulations are in order again. She says she’s not pregnant, and he says he meant nothing by it. He just thought… She says, it’s her daughter, Louise. It’s all Maxie has left of her. He says he’s so sorry. Still no word on her whereabouts after all this time? She wonders why he doesn’t ask his friend Peter, and he says he can assure her, Peter is no friend of his. She says, really? Prove it. He asks, how? and she says, kill him. He laughs, and says, let him offer an alternative suggestion. How about if he offers all his resources to bring Louise home again? She says she would sooner wear socks with sandals, and he asks if he’s so objectionable that she would turn her nose up at his offer of help. She says, his help comes at a cost, and she’s already paid enough. She’ll get her daughter back herself. She heads for the ladies room, and Victor leaves.

Austin tells Britt, sorry to interrupt their conversation; it was the hospital. She says she was starting to think he slipped out the back, and he asks if she thinks he’d pull an Irish goodbye with his boss. She laughs, and says she knows what a ditch looks like. He says he finds it impossible to imagine anyone would ditch her, but she says, please. She’s the ditcher, not the ditchee. She could write a how-to about the best ditch techniques for any situation. He says, she’s an escape artist, and she says, he’s clearly not. So what happened? Why does one measly question about his private life have him all silent sad sack emo?

Sam comes into Charlie’s, where Kristina is bartending. Kristina says Sam is out late, and Sam says she’s waiting for mom; Sam can’t seem to drag her away from her desk. Kristina says, good luck. She hasn’t been able to get ahold of mom since she took on that sex discrimination case against the cigar cartel. Sam says, a week ago, Alexis’s life started to spiral and she had no direction, and now she has a job and a future. Kristina says, things seem to be looking up for her, and Sam says, now that she put Harmony on notice, nothing is going to hold her back.

Alexis is typing, when Harmony knocks at her office door, and says, stop the presses. Alexis says, unfortunately, this issue has already gone to the press. She was working late on a memo for the sports section. Harmony says, The Invader has a sports section? and Alexis says, yeah; they cover the Woodchucks. Harmony says, the minor league ball team. That’s it? Alexis asks if Harmony knew there was a minor league basketball team, and Harmony says, The Pride. Alexis says, that’s news to her, but it won’t be news to Port Charles unless she makes sure they have equal coverage. Harmony says, look at her. She’s glad Alexis is putting her stamp on the paper. The Invader and Port Charles will be better for it. Alexis thanks her for the vote of confidence, and says she’s very supported there. Harmony says Alexis has a big fan in Shawn, but Alexis says, it’s not just Shawn; Harmony too.

Carly says, isn’t Josslyn on the road a little early tomorrow? and Josslyn says, so? Carly asks if she doesn’t have to pack, and Josslyn says, it’s taken care of. Carly says, that’s a first, and Josslyn says, consider it an early return on Carly’s investment in her higher education. Time management is just one skill she’s picking up at PCU. Carly says, tell her another, so she feels like she’s getting her money’s worth, and Josslyn says, close listening. Carly says, as opposed to distant? She doesn’t get it. Josslyn tells her, it means actively listening to the information provided by the speaker, including what they don’t say, and the questions they don’t answer. Carly says, okay. She’s here at the hotel because Avery and Donna spent nine months without Sonny. They need to be with him. Josslyn says, it’s still not fair.

Sonny says, let’s make this happen, and walks over to the bar, taking out his wallet, but Curtis tells him to put his money away. Marshall says, Mr. Corinthos… but Sonny says he’s not talking to Marshall. Curtis suggests Marshall have Nika set him up, and it’ll give him and Sonny a few minutes. Sonny says, it’s not going to take more than a few seconds. What does he have to do to make this happen? Curtis says, the club is not for sale, but Sonny says he doesn’t want to buy the club. He wants to rent the club for a night to show Carly a good time. He wants to get a band and the whole thing. He’ll pay for the staff. Curtis says he’d lose money emptying out his club for two guests, and Sonny asks what Curtis made last Saturday; he’ll double it. Drew approaches, and says he was hoping Curtis would be there tonight, and tells Sonny, it’s good to see him. Sonny says, this has got to happen this Saturday, but Curtis says, that doesn’t work for him. He has an act booked, and tables paid for. Sonny says, he’ll refund the band, whatever he has to do; just tell him. Just take the money. He tries to hand Curtis a bunch of bills, but Curtis says, it doesn’t work for him, okay? Nina comes in and stands at the other end of the bar, and Curtis asks Sonny if he can suggest another nightclub. Sonny yells, nobody tells him what to do, but Curtis says, in his nightclub, he does.

Spencer tells Trina that he supposes he might be convinced to strap on some skis again, but she says, don’t do anything on her account, on or off-piece. He says he might as well get used to taking orders from her. He’s going to be at her beck and call at the gallery soon enough; making restitution and all. She says he’s right to worry. Cam takes things easy on him. She, on the other hand, intends to make him work for it. He says he’s up for the challenge, and she asks if he’d care to make things interesting, moving closer to him. He says, he thinks they passed interesting a long time ago, and she says, she plans to be tough on him, but fair. He says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Wow. He thinks that was five minutes. She says, five minutes of what? and he says, that he wasn’t thinking about going to prison. Esme watches them through the window.

Cameron says he doesn’t want to get involved in all the drama, but Esme says, there’s no drama. Trina and Spencer are friends. He says he knows, but sometimes it seems like she has a problem with that. She says, the more friends Spence has, the better. Besides, she knows for a fact Spence isn’t the one Trina wants.

Carly says she doesn’t want Josslyn caught in the crossfire. Sonny loves Josslyn, and Carly knows Josslyn loves him. Josslyn says, loving him doesn’t mean she agrees with the way he’s treating Carly, and Carly says, she gets that, but no matter what happens between her and Sonny, she doesn’t want Josslyn losing someone she’s close with. Josslyn says she didn’t need to go to college to learn that sometimes you can’t protect yourself from being hurt, but we can be there for each other when we feel it.

Sonny apologizes to Curtis, saying, he didn’t mean to yell like that, and Drew says, if Curtis can’t accommodate Sonny, they can put their heads together. They’ll find a place Carly’s going to like just as much. Why don’t they sit down… He puts his hand on Sonny’s arm, and Sonny yells, don’t touch me! Drew says, he’s just trying… and Sonny says, he understands that, but stay out of his business. Who the hell does Drew think he is? Drew says he’s Sonny’s friend, and Sonny says, Jason was his friend. Drew is just a knockoff, a poor shadow of his brother, not Jason. Sonny’s voice quivers with tears, and he says, now Jason is under a rock, halfway around the world, when he should have let Drew rot in hell. Curtis says, Sonny… and Sonny says, Drew’s not his friend. Understand him? Actually, Drew is his friend. When he was Jason, Drew was his friend. He was a much better man then. You know what he is now? NOTHING! Get out of his face. He walks past Drew, and puts his arm around Curtis, saying, hey buddy, you’ve got to give me this club. Marshall says Curtis gave him an answer, but Sonny says he’s not talking to Marshall. Curtis tells them, chill, and Drew comes over. Nina jets to Sonny, and says, let’s go. He says he’s not going anywhere with her, and she says, does he want to get picked up by the police? He says, the police? and looks around, then tells Nina, all right; let’s go. Nina tells Curtis and Drew that she’s sorry about this, and follows Sonny out. Marshall says, what the hell was that? and Curtis says, damned if I know.

Maxie comes back out, and sees Felicia at a table. She asks, how was the memorial? and Felicia says, it was a typical Luke Spencer affair, complete with an appearance from Helena Cassadine. Maxie says, please tell her that Helena’s not back from the dead too, but Felicia says, no, it was pre-taped. Ding-dong, the witch is still dead. Maxie tells her, if only we could say the same about Victor.

Kristina tells Sam, back up. What was this about Harmony? Sam says, don’t worry. She nipped it in the bud. Kristian asks, how? and Sam says, she simply sent Harmony a message. She said, we appreciate you helping mom out in prison, but she’s not in prison anymore, so you need to steer clear. Kristina says, who’s we? Sam never asked her about this. Did she ask Molly? Sam says, no, but she assumed Kristina, of all people, wouldn’t want to sit next to Harmony at brunch at mom’s house. Kristina asks if Sam did this for her or mom, and Sam says, both. Is that okay with her? Kristina says, Sam butting in on mom’s life on her so-called behalf without her permission? No. She’s not okay with that.

Harmony says she knows Alexis had to work late because she was attending a memorial service. Was it anyone she was close to? Alexis says, actually, yeah; Luke Spencer. They had a very unique bond. What brings Harmony by? Harmony says, like Alexis didn’t see this, and hands her a giftwrapped package and card. Alexis says she did notice; what’s in it? (Why do people ask that? That’s why it’s wrapped; so you don’t know until you open it.) Harmony says, it’s just a little something to mark the auspicious new beginning, and she’s hoping it will inspire Alexis. Alexis says, there’s only one way to find out, but Harmony says, please don’t open it now. She doesn’t want Alexis to pretend she likes it if she doesn’t. Alexis says she’ll love it, and thanks her. Harmony asks if Alexis wants to grab a coffee, but Alexis says she’s still working. Harmony says, maybe another time, but Alexis says she doesn’t think they can continue this friendship.

Austin says, there are parts of his life he’d like to keep to himself, and Britt says, she gets that. She’s not super proud of her family either. He says, he didn’t say he wasn’t proud of his family, and she says, or whatever. They laugh, and she says, it’s not her favorite topic of conversation. Her father’s been on every top 10 wanted list in the world, from before she was born until the day he died. And her mother likes to dress up as Krampus and terrify small children at the Christmas market. He says, good for them. They’ve achieved notoriety. She says she thinks he means infamy, but go ahead. He says, his family is the complete opposite. They’re intensely private people. And the one time he did invoke his father’s name, it got dragged through the mud, so he’s a little protective of them. She says she gets being protective, but from her? What is she going to do? Call a press conference? Alert the town crier? He says, probably not, but even so… She says, if he doesn’t trust her, he wouldn’t be the only one. Hell, sometimes even she doesn’t trust herself. He says, okay. The reason he has a personal connection to Leo’s case is, his brother is on the spectrum.

Drew says, Sonny just came in here, and demanded use of The Savoy? and Curtis says, pretty much. He’s never seen Sonny like that. Drew says he has, and it’s not pretty. Curtis says he heard what Sonny said to Drew, and Marshall says, if anyone had spoken to him like that, he’d have to pop them one, mob boss or not. Drew asks if they’ve met, and Curtis says, his bad, and introduces them. Drew says, his pleasure, and Marshall says, same here. Curtis asks if Marshall is okay, and Marshall says he is. Drew leaves to get a drink, and Curtis sits back down with Marshall, asking a waitress for some water. Marshall asks how Curtis came to cross the infamous Sonny Corinthos, and Curtis asks what Marshall knows about Sonny. Marshall says, enough not to cross him, and Curtis says, until now, he and Sonny have been cool. In fact, he was thinking of Sonny to take care of Marshall’s… problem. Marshall says, he’ll do no such thing. He won’t have his son beholden to Sonny Corinthos. We see Drew pondering at the bar.

Frank asks if there’s anything he can do, and Sonny tells him, yeah, take off. Nina says, Sonny… and Sonny says she should have stayed at the club. Go. He takes out the scotch decanter, and Frank leaves. He asks Nina what she’s doing. She didn’t hear him? Nina says she did. She just doesn’t feel it’s prudent to go. He laughs, and says, prudent? No one’s going to come to her for wisdom. She says, he’s right, because she makes terrible choices, but they can both say he nearly bought himself a world of trouble at The Savoy. He asks, what’s it to her? and she says he knows the answer to that. He says, it doesn’t matter, but she says, it does matter. He matters to her, and he’s not acting like himself. Sonny says she doesn’t know him well enough to ask him that, and she says, he’s right; she doesn’t know him. He’s made that abundantly clear, but she thinks she knows a manic episode when she sees one.

Felicia hands Maxie’s sonogram back to her, and says, Victor needs to keep his distance. She’s going to call Anna. Maxie asks, why? So Anna can tell him not to speak to her so politely? Felicia says she can’t believe Maxie asked him to kill Peter, and Maxie says she wasn’t serious. Okay, so she was, but she knew he wouldn’t go for it. And where were they? Felicia says, at Charlie’s, and Maxie says, where everything is fine. Felicia says Maxie doesn’t sound fine, and Maxie says, maybe she’s on edge because Felicia is on high alert to fix things. She can’t fix everything in Maxie’s life. Felicia says she has a point, and Maxie says, or maybe it’s just the prospect of going back to Pawtuck. Felicia says she’ll try not to be over-protective, and as far as their trip to Pawtuck goes, she thinks they can prepare for that, right here, right now. Maxie says, like coordinating footwear that’s insulated and comfortable, yet also fashionable? but Felicia says, no. She means like setting ground rules, so Maxie doesn’t feel the pressure. They can go slow, or stop altogether if it gets to be too much. Maxie says, okay, let her think, and Felicia says, rule number one. Maxie says, lay off talking about her and Austin, and Felicia says, why? Maxie says, she knows why, and Felicia says, about them having a soft spot for each other?

Cameron tells Esme that he and Trina flirted a little in high school, but they were clearly meant to be friends. Esme says, because it wasn’t what Trina wanted? and he says, because it didn’t work out. Why is she so interested? She says, she’s still getting to know everyone, and doesn’t want to step on any toes… any more than she already has. He says, here’s an idea. Don’t. She says she’s only asking because, as an outsider, it seems obvious to her the way Trina behaves around him and Josslyn. There’s this kind of tension or something. He says, there isn’t, and she says, forget she said anything. She just wants everyone to get along, with the five of them being cooped up in a cabin together for two days. She guesses she’s too sensitive for her own good. Cameron goes back to sweeping, and looks in the window at Trina and Spencer.

Spencer says, he must sound like a broken record, boo-hooing about going to prison, but Trina says he doesn’t talk about it that much, at least not to her. He says, he didn’t think she’d want to hear it. Or maybe he couldn’t bring himself to tell her about it. She says, why not? and he says, she probably thinks he had it coming, for one, and it’s embarrassing. She says, going to prison? but he says, to admit how scared he is; that he feels like a coward. She says, prison is scary, and she doesn’t think it’s cowardly to own up to your mistakes. In fact, it’s brave. He thanks her, and says, he hopes one day he can feel like that. Right now, he wishes he could go back to being the guy he was when they met; simple, uncomplicated Victor. She says, simple, uncomplicated Victor had a habit of asking her to lie to her friends, and vandalized an art gallery. He says he guesses Victor wasn’t so hot, and she says, not so much, but Spencer is starting to grow on her.

Carly tells Josslyn, she’s had enough Sonny talk for one night. About the cabin. She was in touch with the management company, and had the whole place stocked for their arrival. Josslyn says she didn’t have to do that; she’s got it taken care of. Carly says she’s sure Josslyn does, but she’s Josslyn’s mom. And as amazing as it is Josslyn supports her, it’s her job to take care of Josslyn.

Sonny asks, since when did Nina become an expert in mental illness? and she says, she never claimed to be an expert, but she remembers a time when Phyllis and Lenny told her about an incident with him in Nixon Falls, when Phyllis found out he was bipolar. They got him back on his meds, and he got better. And what she’s seeing right now seems like what they described. Is she wrong? He says, no; she’s right. She shouldn’t be here right now. She asks if he’s off his meds, and he says he’s fixing things. He’s trying to fix his life. The life she stole from him, remember? She says she has no intention of interfering with him and Carly ever again, and he tells her, then get out of here now. She says, it’s not just his house and his life. There are two little girls who share this house with him that might be afraid of how their father is behaving. Sonny tears up, and asks if she’s saying he’s going to hurt his child. She can’t trust him with his little girls? She says she trusts him with her life. It’s the bipolar disorder. She doesn’t trust that. He says he has things under control, but she says she doesn’t believe he does. He tells her, it’s none of her business, and he’s not going to tell her again. She says he doesn’t have to, and takes out her phone. She asks why he doesn’t tell Carly. She’ll call Carly right now. If she doesn’t know how to deal with him when he’s like this, she’s sure Carly will. He has to make a choice. It’s either her or Carly.

Carly says the house is fully stocked, but Josslyn’s gear is up to her. Does she have all her hats and gloves? Josslyn says she does, and Carly says, phone charger, snow tires on the car? and Josslyn says, check and check. Carly says, contraception?

Sam asks if Kristina is okay with mom hanging out with Harmony, the woman who drugged Kristina? Kristina says she knows what Harmony did. She also knows Harmony testified against Shiloh. She’s trying to rebuild her life like Kristina is. The last thing Kristina wants to do is be the reason their mother can’t be friends with someone who’s been good for her. Sam says, so Kristina is telling her that she’s okay with mom being friends with Harmony? and Kristina says she doesn’t know, but if it’s a problem, she’ll deal with it. Sam doesn’t need to take it upon herself to deal with it for her. Or mom. Let she who is without mess sweep the first broom. Sam asks if Kristina is saying she’s messy.

Alexis says she knows Sam said she would be okay with it, but she’s not sure Kristina will be, and Harmony says, it’s okay. She always understood and accepted that they couldn’t have friendship if it made things difficult with Alexis’s daughters. Alexis says she’ll still talk to Kristina; maybe she’ll be okay with it. Harmony says, she thinks they all know how Kristina feels about her. Honestly, she wouldn’t want to put Kristina in a position where she had to swallow her feelings for Alexis’s sake. Alexis asks if Harmony has met her middle child. She doesn’t swallow her feelings for her mother’s sake. Harmony says, that was before Alexis went to prison. Kristina is probably so grateful Alexis is back, she’ll just put up with anything, which isn’t fair to Kristina. Alexis says, it’s not fair to anybody, and Harmony says, no, but Alexis is a mom. Alexis says she is a mom, and her kids come first, so she’ll look out for what’s best for Kristina. Harmony says she’s sorry it didn’t work out, but she’s not sorry she got to know Alexis. Alexis says, back atcha. Absolutely. Harmony says, it’s funny. All she wanted to do was make amends for her mistakes. She didn’t think she’d get a friendship out of it, even for a short while. It’s all gravy. She tells Alexis, take care, and leaves.

Britt says, so Austin’s brother is on the spectrum. Is that a big deal? He says, it depends on the company; not everybody gets it. He can try to teach and enlighten, but his brother is a real person, not a visual aid, and has a right to privacy, a right to live his life; and his story isn’t Austin’s story to tell. She asks if he couldn’t do the teaching, and leave his brother’s name out of it. Neurodiversity and neurodivergence awareness is incredibly important work. He says, agreed. He walks the walk when he has to. She says, like with Leo, and he says, Leo is technically family. She says, and Leo, Ned, and Olivia could really benefit from Austin’s experiences. They don’t need to know how he come by  them. He says, maybe, but it’s private. She says, there’s private and there’s secret. What’s secret is misunderstood, stigmatized. Forgive her for saying this – she doesn’t think it’s how he feels – but a secret is often indicative of shame. He says, agreed. She’s not wrong, but he doesn’t feel shame about his brother; not at all. He’s not embarrassed. That’s his brother; he just sees him. If there was a complicated medical situation presented in Britt’s family, would she be open about it?  She doesn’t say anything, and he says he believes it’s her turn to open up. Victor comes in, and asks if he might have a word with Austin. Austin says, what about? and Victor says, a simple medical question about the ins and outs of a sonogram.

Sam asks, what part of her life is so messy? and Kristina tells her, she didn’t say that, but Sam says she implied it. Kristina says, fine. Did it ever occur to Sam that dating Dante might be a bit eyebrow raising? Sam says, because he’s a cop? and Kristina says, because Sam’s her sister and Dante is her brother. Sam asks if Kristina has a problem with it, and Kristina says, what if she did? Sam says, then she’d like Kristina to say something. Does she? Kristina says she doesn’t, and Sam says, okay then. Why are they having this conversation? Kristina says, because if she did have a problem with it, she would have hoped she kept it to herself. Her point is, it’s Sam’s life, not hers, and she doesn’t get a say. Capisce? Sam says, capisce, and Kristina says, for the record, she thinks Sam and Dante make a cute couple.

Alexis reads Harmony’s card, which says, Alexis, Congratulations on taking the reins of your own life again, and thank you for taking me along for the ride. Your friend, Harmony. Alexis opens the box, and inside, there’s a fancy pen. Above it is written, Truth never damages a cause that is just – Gandhi. She closes the box.

Cameron goes back inside Kelly’s and asks if Spencer filled the ketchup bottles like he asked. Spencer says he’s sure their customers can make do with half-filled ketchup bottles, and Cameron asks what Spencer was up to while he was working outside. Spencer and Trina look at each other, and Cameron says, okay, cool. So Spencer’s little hang out sesh with Trina will count as his break. Now, the ketchup bottles. Spencer gets to work, and Cameron says, can you believe that guy? Trina picks up her coat, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, yeah. She was just thinking about the trip; she better get going. He asks if she still wants to go, and she says, of course (🍷). He asks if she’s sure she’s okay being there with Spencer and Esme, and him and Josslyn, and she says she’ll be fine. He says, okay. He was just checking.

Esme digs in a bag outside, and takes out a Smartphone 5 box and a prescription bottle. She looks at them a moment, and puts them back. Trina comes out, and Esme says, see her tomorrow; she can’t wait. Trina says she’s hitting the drugstore for a last minute run before they meet up, and asks if Esme needs anything. Esme says she has everything she needs, and Trina leaves.  

Carly tells Josslyn, open lines of communication, remember? and Josslyn says, there’s open, and whatever this is. Carly says, they’ve always been able to tell each other everything. So? Josslyn says, so she’s being careful and responsible. Carly says, good. She loves Josslyn. Josslyn says she loves Carly too.

Nina tells Sonny, she can’t leave unless she knows someone who cares about him is close by or there. Can she call Michael? Or Dante, because she’s not sure Michael will return her call. Or anyone else? Just give her a name, and she’ll get out of his hair. He just looks at her, and she says, fine; Carly. He tells her, stop. He’s caused too much trouble for Carly already. She says, then who? and he says, she can stay or go; it doesn’t make any difference to him. Stay out of his way. He takes the decanter, and goes into another room, and Nina sits on the couch.

Curtis says, he’s assuming Marshall means well, and Marshall says, of course (🍷) he does. Curtis says, but he’ll decide who he associates with. He doesn’t take kindly to being told what to do in his own nightclub. Marshall says, Curtis is going do what he’s going to do, but don’t do it on his account. He gets in bed with Sonny Corinthos, Marshall’s got to walk. He leaves, and Drew sits down. He says, Curtis’s dad seems like a decent guy, and Drew tells him, if he says so. He wants to talk about Sonny and Drew, but Drew asks, what’s left to say?   

Victor tells Austin that he just stopped in for a little nightcap. How fortuitous to run into him here. Austin says, not really. He and Britt are both a little tied up. Britt says she’s got an early day tomorrow. She has an early day every day. She gets up, and says, enjoy their nightcap. As she walks away, Victor says, regards to her mother, and without turning around, she tells him, go to hell. Victor says, it’s a pity Dr. Westbourne had to leave, but this won’t take any time. He sits down, and says he’d like to draw on Austin’s considerable medical expertise. He takes out Valentin’s sonogram copy, and says, he found this sonogram in the street. He’s afraid it’s missing, and it’s torn; all the identifying information is gone. Austin flips it around, and says, see that right there? It’s the patient ID number.

Maxie tells Felicia, she’d much rather talk about anything else. If Felicia feels the need to sing Austin’s praises… Felicia says she’ll zip it, and Maxie thanks her, but Felicia says, can she just tell Maxie how much she likes him? Maxie says, they’re not going to Pawtuck for a day of antiquing, or to check out the scenery. They’re revisiting a crime scene. Felicia promises to stay on task, and says, she talked to Lucy. She says she has a very good feeling about tomorrow. She said it would be pivotal, and when Lucy has a good feeling about something, she’s usually spot-on. Maxie says Felicia is right. What did she say? Felicia tells Maxie, Lucy said, one way or another, Louise starts her journey back to Port Charles tomorrow.

Victor says, by using this number, he can return the sonogram to the right patient? and Austin says, that number is there in case the patient information goes missing or gets messed up. He can take it to GH, match it up, and make sure it gets to the right person. Victor flashes back to looking at Maxie’s patient ID, and says, that’s okay. He found this, and he’d like to see it through. Austin says, he really thinks it’s more appropriate if he does it. He holds out his hand, and says, he’ll make sure it goes where it needs to go, but Victor gets up, and says, no need to worry. He’ll do right by all concerned. Just imagine, mixing up one baby with another.

Tomorrow, Britt asks Victor what he thinks he’s doing, Felicia thinks this could be a breakthrough, Carly tells Ava to maybe think of someone other than herself, and Sonny says, stop telling him what to do.

Vanderpump Rules

I hate reunions. Everyone yells at once about things they supposedly let go of a year ago, and you can’t even hear what’s going on. Andy told us, the last time they were all on stage together was March 2019, and Lala, Katie, and Schwartz would be joining in later, remotely. Lisa talked about new grandson Theodore, and said he would call her Nanny Pinky. Andy remarked on Sandoval’s 1930s-ish suit and tie, and Sandoval pointed out he also had a manicure, calling his look, future retro. We relived Ariana literally falling down drunk at her birthday party, and Andy mentioned that Brock was the only one of Scheana’s beaus to make it to the Reunion. Charli showed Instagram posts of her at 45 pounds heavier during quarantine. She said she’d been binge drinking and eating – yes, she ate the pasta – but with a lot of work, dedication, and discipline, she was back down to where she was.

Right off the bat, Raquel said she and James were breaking off the engagement. Everyone was absolutely floored. Everyone. Raquel said she’d been having nightmares about the wedding, and thought that was a telltale sign something was wrong. James said, as heartbreaking as it was, Raquel wasn’t wrong. They’d worked on the relationship, and he thought not drinking would fix it, but it didn’t. They realized they weren’t soulmates, and the last thing he wanted was to be divorced with a child down the road. Sandoval couldn’t believe how mature and rational they were being. Ditto. James cried, saying, Raquel had been his best friend for five years, and we flashed back to their relationship over the years. James said, nothing was wrong, but they both knew it wasn’t right. Lisa asked, what changed? and James said, quarantine. Raquel said they hadn’t been having sex, and James asked if she wanted to get detailed. Raquel said, there were also those rage texts, but everyone was like, that was two years ago, and we flashed back to that. Since Raquel didn’t respond to that, I wondered if there had been more recent rages. James said it became official because of the Reunion. They didn’t want to fake their way through it. It was embarrassing, and he felt vulnerable; it brought all the emotions. Sandoval laughed about how big Rachella was, and Andy said he was thinking about all the money Sandoval spent. Sandoval said it was still worth it.

Andy asked if anyone was in touch with Jax and Brittany, and Scheana said they’d just gotten together with the kids. Sandoval said they were in different places, and Ariana said Jax hadn’t come to Katie’s Christmas party because Sandoval was there. It was agreed that Brittany was sweet and baby was adorable, and I once again wondered how much of a fan of irony Brittany is, that she married the most horrible human on earth. Andy moved on to James’s sobriety, and asked him to define California sober. James said you could smoke weed, and he was high right now. Lisa said that was probably why they weren’t having sex, but Ariana said weed made it better. We saw the worst of James in flashbacks, and Andy asked if James’s rage issues were part of him and Raquel growing apart. Raquel said she’d been living the L.A. life, and putting off being a pediatric occupational therapist, because she couldn’t do it when she was feeling drained. She then gave James his ring back, and said she’d envisioned a life with him, and it was like closing a book, and redirecting her energy. Brock suggested James learn from this and get help, but James was like, no, you. He said Brock had never been a good friend, and he was a loser. Then he walked off the stage.

Scheana said Raquel was a catch, and deserved better. Sandoval went to find James, and gave him a hug. James said they were making him look like the bad guy, but the truth was, he and Raquel loved each other, but were no longer in love. On stage, Charli said James didn’t want to admit it wasn’t his choice. James told Sandoval that it had never been easy. Raquel’s parents hated him. He gave up his lifestyle, but that wasn’t enough. While waiting on James to get it together, Andy said Charli had gotten a lot of positivity on social media from being open and honest about her food struggles. James and Sandoval came back, but Andy told Charli to continue, and she said the worst thing was people pressuring her to eat. It brought back the little girl who didn’t have a choice, and when a wrong decision led to bad things. Andy asked about Brock’s friend hitting on Charli, and we flashed back to that. Charli said he’d gotten handsy, and she would have liked her friend to step in, rather than being known as the one who was a bitch to Brock’s friend. Scheana said she wished she’d reacted the way Charli needed her too, but she hadn’t known what was going on. Andy said, Charli and Scheana had gotten close during quarantine, but Charli said being friends with Scheana came with expectations. The Danica thing didn’t sit well with her. Raquel said Scheana didn’t want her to be friends with Danica, but Scheana claimed she’d said, if Raquel continued to hang out with Danica, she’d be uncomfortable. Then Scheana told a detailed sad story about her miscarriage, that ended with her not wanting Danica in her inner circle, and Raquel was like, oh, I get it then.

After calling him Rob by accident, Andy applauded Brock for beating Rob’s TV hanging record by coming in at 5:35. I’m not sure it counts though, since one night, hearing a crash, Charli thought someone had broken in, but it was just the TV falling off the wall, taking the plaster with it. Scheana gave some excuse about the wrong tools, or parts, or something, and Charli said Scheana had sent out some mean tweets after she’d posted about it. Scheana had called her thirsty, but she didn’t need to do things for attention. She wasn’t Scheana, and people just liked to watch her. Charli said, things were never Scheana’s fault, and Scheana needed take accountability for the first time in her life. She said this last part while she clapped her hands in time to the words, which was incredibly annoying. Like something your fourth grade teacher would do. I liked Charli at first, but as time went on, I found her off-putting. I think she is a bit thirsty, and I’ve noticed how very often she talks over people. I hate that.

Schwartz, Katie, and Lala joined at this point, and Andy asked James to fill them in. James told them about the engagement being called off, and that he and Raquel came to the conclusion they weren’t soulmates. They were as stunned as the rest of the group, and Raquel said her heart was no longer in it. Schwartz said, some people never had that conversation, and twenty years later, it was, I hate you. He thought it was brave of them. Lala said it was sad, but she admired them doing it the right way. Raquel said they’d both grown since meeting, and had been in each other’s lives for a reason. Andy moved on to the topic of losing baby weight, and Scheana said she’d gained 55 pounds. She realized she’d been producing a whole other human, but it was a struggle afterwards. Andy asked Lala if her bounce back had been diet, exercise, or a pact with Satan. After saying, all three, Lala attributed it to genetics, but said, things were still sitting differently, and she had insecurities. They talked about Schwartz having his sperm tested, and he said they didn’t understand how hard it was to execute a sample with a full crew in the house. We also found out Ariana froze her eggs, and if she dies, they go to Sandoval. Scheana said if she had another baby, it would be via a frozen egg and a surrogate, since she’d had some dangerous heath issues with her pregnancy and delivery. Brock said the doctors were poor at explaining things during the delivery, and Scheana said, Summer didn’t make a sound for the first 45 seconds, and she’d thought Summer was stillborn.

Andy asked why Katie shared her abortion story, and Katie said, it could feel isolating and off limits. Schwartz said their relationship was a disaster at the time, and Katie said, a pregnancy wouldn’t fix a relationship. Sandoval said he had no idea, and Schwartz said they hadn’t told anyone. It wasn’t easy or a snap decision, but it was their decision. Andy steered the conversation to Schwartz and Sandy’s, and Lisa said she’d just wanted them to take this seriously. Andy asked Schwartz to sum up the vibe in ten seconds, and Schwartz said, a funky, vibrant, cozy, dive lounge, in his favorite part of Hollywood, Franklin Hills. He kept going, but the clock ran out. Andy asked how Lisa found out they were creating their own place, and she said Jax had told her. Sandoval said he thought they’d be open in spring 2022, and were currently below budget. We saw a video tour, and it was a vast improvement, but nowhere near done.

Andy said from the start, Katie had been critical of Sandoval’s ideas, but Katie said the criticism was really from Schwartz, who’d been airing his grievances to her. Andy asked why Katie being involved upset Sandoval, and Sandoval said they’d decided on no significant others involved, since the risk and business venture were stressful enough. Schwartz said he hadn’t anticipated Katie being so passionate about being involved, and Sandoval said he thought it was overwhelming. We flashed back to Sandoval telling Katie that he’d brought money into their house, and Sandoval said, while it might seem like he was pushing Schwartz, he was just trying to get them to the next level. Schwartz said he knew Sandoval was his advocate, but seeing the conversation with Katie, it was the most cocksure he’d ever seen Sandoval. Ariana said Sandoval wasn’t boasting, and at this point, Lala looked like she might go get a sandwich, or change the channel. Schwartz said, it looked condescending and patronizing, and Sandoval said he’d had propaganda spread about him. Lala laughed, and James said, Sandoval drove the motorcycle, and Schwartz was in the sidecar. Lisa thought what Sandoval had said wasn’t okay as a friend, and Katie said Schwartz was doing all the work right now, while Sandoval was sleeping.

Next time, the conclusion, who heard what about Randall, Scheana’s engagement party, James says he’d never do that to a friend, and Lala tells her break-up story.  

🚗 You Drive, I’ll Nap…

In a twist by Bravo, there will be no RHOC tomorrow, but the Reunion continues. It looks like it might get a wee bit nasty. Until then, stay safe, stay not being afraid to ask for help, and stay knowing, truth never damages a cause that is just. Gandhi says so.

January 11, 2022 – Carly Tells Sonny To Get Out, a Secret VanderWedding Is Planned & Freeze

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Marshall thanks Curtis for coming back to his motel room. He says he didn’t feel much like having this conversation in the hospital. He offers Curtis something to drink, but Curtis asks if they’re going to do this or not. Marshall says, please. This isn’t easy for him. Curtis says, you know what isn’t easy? Growing up without a father, and thinking he’s dead. And then finding out he didn’t die. Marshall simply walked out on his family, leaving them on their own. So why doesn’t Marshall stop procrastinating and tell him the truth? Where has he been all this time?

Sonny hums as he cooks, and Carly walks in. He asks if she’s hungry.

Nina puts an ice pack on her cheek, and flashes back to Carly slapping her. There’s a knock at the door, but she says she’s not here. She gets up, saying, this better be important, and opens the door to Willow.

Austin and Britt go to The Savoy. Austin asks how this works, and she says, it was his idea. He says, it was, but just because it was his idea doesn’t make it a good idea. He has no idea what he’s doing. Britt says, first, they arm themselves with a drink, and they establish a formal operating base at the end of the room, with a nearby base camp at a table for tactical intrigue. He says she’s funny. She makes it sound like a battle. She tells him, dating is a war.

Maxie and Felicia walk into Charlie’s, and Maxie says, what’ll it be? Felicia isn’t sure tikis fit the occasion, and Maxie agrees. No colorful drinks with equally colorful umbrellas, or pineapple wedges, or anything frou-frou. Felicia says, if there was ever a time for straight-up whiskey, it’s drinking to the memory of Luke Spencer.

Laura asks how Victor got in her house, and he says, Spencer and his charming girlfriend invited him in. They’re in the kitchen right now making tea. He does apologize if he surprised her, and she asks why he’d apologize. They both know he planned it.

Austin brings the drinks to the table, and asks Brook why they’re pink. She says, because drinking beer makes him look like a knuckle dragger, and a martini is too threatening. He asks what pink says about him, and she says, a Cosmo says, you’re comfortable with your sexuality, and you can have fun, but not too much fun. He asks how they mingle, and she says, he’s never done this? How did he meet women in Pawtuck? He says, square-dances, and she just looks at him. He says, it’s true, and church bazaars. He made a decision that he was more comfortable around gentle woodland creatures than he was around humankind. But that’s over now. He’s in. He’s a volunteer, and he’s her wingman, so wherever she goes, he’s ready to follow. She tells him to take the lead, but he says, ladies first. He insists. She says, they’re two accomplished bold-faced names, comfortable in a high pressure environment. They can navigate a night out in a club on their own… Right? He says, absolutely.

Maxie says she spoke with Anna; she’s keeping an eye on Robert. Felicia says, poor Robert. He must be devastated. Maxie says she heard him singing Waltzing Matilda in the background. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Felicia says, it depends. Was he singing on key? Maxie says, really? and Felicia says, at least he’s feeling no pain. First Holly, then Sean, now Luke. So much loss. Maxie asks what she can do, and Felicia says she’s doing it just by being there with her. Maxie says she knows Luke and Felicia were close at one point, and Felicia says, Luke wasn’t always easy to get along with, but he was there for her when it counted. Maxie says she can’t help but think about Lulu. She’s going to wake up one day, and ask about her dad. What are they going to tell her? Felicia says, Laura will have the right words.

Victor says, still just as feisty as ever, and Laura says he’s still just as brazen, and smarmy. She heard he cut himself an immunity deal by throwing his partner, Peter August, under the bus. He says, the WSB’s priority was always Peter. He was just happy to do his part for the greater good. Laura is sure that deal served no one better than Victor. The WSB snared one snake by releasing another one. He applauds her way with words, and says he’s sure that helped her get elected as mayor. She asks what he wants, and he says, aside from the pleasure of her company? All in due time. He’s not going anywhere.

Marshall says he gets it; Curtis is angry. He has every right to be, but Marshall is getting real tired of Curtis coming at him with this attitude. Curtis says he’s getting tired of Marshall dodging the truth. He didn’t want to talk at the hospital, and he didn’t want to talk on the ride over. Now they’re at the private place Marshall wanted, and Marshall is talking about his attitude. Marshall may be his biological father, but Marshall doesn’t know him at all if he thinks Curtis is putting up with this. Marshall says, that’s not what he’s saying, and Curtis asks, then what is he saying? And don’t say he’s not telling Curtis what he’s been up to all this time. Curtis doesn’t know why he bothered. He’s thinking Marshall will tell him something different than he has all those other nights, when he coughed up these vague excuses instead of the truth. And don’t even tell him that he’s better off not knowing. Marshall says he’s sorry. He thought he could do this. Curtis asks if all of a sudden, it’s safe to speak, but Marshall says, it will never be safe, man. Never.

Nina asks if Wiley is okay, and Willow says, he’s fine. Nina puts the ice pack back on her face, and Willow says she’s not sure Nina is. Nina says she’ll be fine, and Willow asks if she can come in. It’s important. Nina says, isn’t it always? She’s got five minutes. Six if she leaves Carly’s name out of it. Willow says she’s come to apologize. She’s sorry she couldn’t honor her promise not to tell anyone about Nina and Sonny. And she’s sorry for accusing Nina of setting her up at the hearing. Nina says, so Willow believes she wanted to stay out of Carly and Sonny’s marriage, even if she was found guilty of fraud and identity theft? Willow says she does, and Nina supposes Willow feels better having said all that. Willow says, a little, and Nina supposes that makes one of them.

Carly says, Sonny is cooking, and he says, there wasn’t any food at the penthouse, and he missed this. He asks her to do him a favor and taste the sauce, but she says she’s not hungry. He says he’s not going to make her a plate; he just wants her to see if it needs anything. She tastes it, and says, it could use some more sugar. He says, he thought he was being too conservative with the sweet stuff. How about some mozzarella or parmesan? She says, she’s really tired, so… He says, there’s also some bread warming up in the oven. Guess where it’s from? Eckerd’s. She kind of smiles, and he says he can cut some mozzarella and melt it… Or does she want some wine? He’ll do whatever she wants. She doesn’t say anything, and he says, okay, they can just forget the bread and cheese. Can they just sit down and talk? Or are they too far gone for even that?

Laura says she can’t imagine there’s much here to interest Victor, and he says, his family is there. She says, he and his brothers put Port Charles through hell, and he says he hasn’t forgotten. He’s lived with that mistake every day of his life since. She says, not everyone was so lucky, and he says, it was a terrible waste, and an ugly stain on the Cassadine legacy. He hopes someday the Cassadines will be remembered for better deeds. She says, like how to fake one’s death to avoid justice? He says, his work required anonymity and a free hand, and she laughs. She says, dare she ask what kind of work he was up to? and he says, it’s simple really. His work for atonement.

Curtis says, Marshall keeps telling him it’s not safe for him to know the truth, and Marshall says, Curtis has to understand how dangerous it could be for him if he knew everything about Marshall. Curtis says he’s not the same little boy Marshall left behind thirty years ago; he’s learned to take care of himself. Marshall says, no, and Curtis says, don’t come near him or his family again. Curtis starts to leave, and Marshall says, wait. He got into trouble. He got into trouble and left his family, before his trouble became theirs.

Nina says Willow doesn’t owe her an apology. She put Willow in an impossible situation when she made Willow promise not to tell anyone about her relationship with Sonny in Nixon Falls. It was her responsibility to deal with the consequences. She shouldn’t have put that responsibility on Willow. And then when Willow had the responsibility to tell the truth, she shouldn’t have asked Willow to perjure herself. It could have jeopardized Willow’s position with Wiley, and Wiley already lost one mother. She’d never be able to forgive herself if Wiley lost another. Willow asks if Nina is actually apologizing to her, and Nina says, yeah. Willow can save hers. Willow says, thanks. She has the feeling she’ll need to be well-stocked in apologies if Michael finds out she came to see Nina.

Carly plays with a piece of bread, and Sonny says, maybe this was just a mistake. She says she guesses neither one of them is hungry, and he says, he was cooking because he wanted to distract himself. She says, from us? and he says, yeah. From them, and… Did she talk to her mom? She says, no. Her mom left her a voicemail, but she hasn’t listened to it yet. Why? He says, Laura came by. It’s Luke… He died. It was an accident. He doesn’t have anything specific… She jumps up and says she has to call her mom. He says he talked to Lucas, and he said Bobbie went to bed early. He gave her something to help her sleep, so maybe Carly doesn’t want to disturb her. Maybe she should go upstairs and see Avery and Donna, and he’ll just clean up… She says she can’t. She can’t do this. She can’t act like their life isn’t falling apart.

Laura says, so Victor is in Port Charles seeking redemption. Good luck with that. He says she’s a force to be reckoned with in Port Charles. Her word carries enormous weight. She says she’ll never advocate for him, and he says, never is a strong word. He knew just one conversation wouldn’t be good enough to convince her of his good intentions, so he’s prepared to wait. For the moment, he’ll focus on smaller things. Spencer and Esme come in with the tea.

Austin and Britt make faces and gestures at each other from across the room, and Britt finally approaches a guy. She says, come here often? She sits with another guy, and says, one time, at band camp, she was playing the tuba… He starts looking around, and she says she’s joking. She tells a third guy, Greece? She’s not a fan. She meets Austin at the bar, and asks if he’s striking out too. He says he’s not even in the game anymore. She looks like she’s having fun. She gives him a look.

Maxie and Felicia toast to Luke. I’m going to Charlie’s from now on, since that’s one generous whiskey pour. They each take a sip, and Maxie says, wow. Felicia coughs, and says, that’s a drink. Maxie asks, how much drinking to Luke is appropriate? and Felicia says she thinks one each is plenty. Besides, there’s something she’s been meaning to talk to Maxie about, and they have to be sober for it. Maxie says, how sober? and Felicia says, relatively sober. Maxie asks if it’s the same subject Felicia wanted to talk to her about before they were interrupted with the news about Luke. Felicia says, it is. She’s concerned about Maxie. Maxie says she knows, but she’s fine. Felicia says, no one knows Maxie better than she does, and she’s concerned Maxie’s not well.

Curtis says, explain trouble, and Marshall says, Curtis’s mother and him were young, and had Curtis and Tommy to take care of. At least he was in a band, and doing well. Curtis says, well enough to provide for a family? but Marshall says, not quite. He was getting more gigs in classier nightclubs; the brass ring was in sight. Curtis says, until… and Marshall says, he had this habit of getting involved with… things that should have been none of his concern. Matters that took his focus from his music and family. Curtis says, criminal matters? and Marshall says, he tried to mind his own business, but got hung up in it. Before he realized how far things had gone, it was too late. He wasn’t in control anymore. Curtis asks, who was? and Marshall says, another player, bigger than him. He didn’t stand a chance. The only way to keep family clear of all he almost brought to their doorstep, was to leave and never look back, and take steps to make sure no one came looking for him. He guesses it worked, because no one ever did.

Sonny says, they’re not falling apart, and Carly tells him, if he says so. He says, they’re not in the best place right now, but they’re going to beat this thing. She asks if he’s going to beat his feelings for Nina, and he says he’s going to outlast them. It doesn’t matter, because they don’t compare to his feelings for her; Carly is who he wants. She says, but not the one he turned to. He left something out when they were talking about Nina earlier. About how Nina found him drunk at Charlie’s Pub, and helped him get to the penthouse, then kept him company. He asks if that’s what Nina told her, and she says, Nina also said if he came to her now, she wouldn’t turn him away.

Nina says she’s going home, and suggests Willow do the same thing. Willow says, just one more thing. The friction between Nina and Michael is bad for Wiley. It’s just the situation she wanted to avoid, but if they work together, they may be able to prevent the situation from escalating any further. Nina asks how Willow proposes they do that, and Willow says she’ll work on lowering the temperature with Michael, if Nina gives up her legal claim on Wiley.

Maxie asks why Felicia thinks she’s not doing well. Is it the way she’s parenting James and Georgie, or doing her job at Deception? Felicia says, no. Her grandbabies are wonderful, and she heard through the grapevine that Maxie does good work at Deception. Congratulations. She’s doing well. Maybe too well. Maxie says, she’s doing so well she’s not doing well? Felicia says, Peter is out of his coma, and Louise is still missing. Maxie says she gets it. Felicia thinks she should be falling apart. Felicia asks, why hasn’t she? and Maxie says she almost did; she got a grip. She doesn’t have the luxury of having a breakdown right now. Her kids need her to be strong. Felicia asks what Maxie needs, and Maxie says, besides Louise? Nothing she doesn’t already have. Felicia says, which is? and Maxie says, the best support system in the world. Felicia, Mac, Anna, Robert, Liesl, Britt and Nina. Maxie flashes back to being with Austin at Jason and Carly’s wedding, and says, and other people too. Felicia says, like who?

Britt tells Austin that he’s fired. Congratulations. He’s the worst wingman ever. He says, fair enough. He thinks maybe this was a bad idea to do this at all. They’ll figure out a different way to get her matchmaking mother off her back. She says, his mother doesn’t buy him dating services for the holidays? and he says, not yet, but just because she hasn’t thought of it yet. Britt asks what he does when she asks him how he’s going to meet a nice girl. He says, he tells her that he already has, and Britt says, so he lies.

Curtis says, Marshall faked his own death. Was he in witness protection? Marshall says he took another name, and kept a low profile. He played a few gigs here and there, but always bounced around. He never stayed in another place long enough to make friends, a home, or a family. Until now. He knows it’s a lot to take in, and bets Curtis has a bunch of questions, but Curtis says, just one. That player Marshall mentioned; was it the mob?

Sonny says, it doesn’t matter what Nina said. He’s not going to her. He’s here with Carly, and he wants to stay with his wife. She tells him, that’s not what Nina said, and he says he doesn’t care what Nina said. Carly tells him, Nina said there was more to Nixon Falls than she knew. That things between the two of them got so real, they almost slept together. He says, nothing ever happened, and she says, it didn’t, but it almost did. And not because there was a memory of her in the back of his mind, calling out to him and telling him to stop. It didn’t happen because Nina stopped it.

Nina says, there it is. Willow isn’t here to apologize; she’s here to do Michael’s dirty work. Willow says, no one knows she’s here. This is on her, and what’s best for Wiley. Nina says, and what’s best for Wiley is for her to stop being his grandmother? That little boy loves her, and Willow can’t even imagine how much she loves him. Willow says, she knows, and she’s not saying Nina should be forcibly separated from him. Nina says, she thinks something’s wrong with her hearing, because Wiley is her blood relative, and she thought she heard Willow suggesting she shouldn’t claim a legal relationship with him. Willow says, not now, but if Nina renounces her claim, Michael will see it as a gesture of good will, and eventually he’ll see it’s in all their best interests for Nina to have a relationship with Wiley. Nina says, grandparents have legal rights to visitation in New York, and Willow is suggesting she surrender those rights. Willow says, yes, but Nina won’t lose her connection to Wiley. Nina asks, says who? and Willow replies, says her. I says that I wouldn’t trust Michael as far as I could throw him, and Willow must be either forgetful or out of her mind.

Spencer says he didn’t expect Laura home so soon, and she says, she’s just full of surprises today. So is Spencer, inviting his Uncle Victor into the house. Esme asks if there’s a reason Spence shouldn’t have. He’s always telling her that Laura thinks family is everything. Victor says, so it is, but the last thing he wants to do is upset Laura. He just wanted to want drop by and see Spencer before he left for Spring Ridge. Spencer thanks him for the reminder, and Victor says, buck up, boy. He owes a debt, and a Cassadine never welches on a debt. Spencer says, he’s right; they don’t. Esme asks if Laura or Victor want some tea, but Victor says he thinks he’s overstayed his welcome. Spencer says they barely got a chance to talk, and Victor says, some other time. Laura says, stay, and Victor asks if she’s sure. She says, absolutely. Spencer’s gone to all the trouble of making him tea, and even brought out cookies. Victor says, if she insists; he doesn’t want to impose. Spencer says, he’s not imposing, and Laura agrees, but Victor says, the fact is, Spencer’s grandmother has had a very taxing day, given the tragic loss to her family.

Britt asks if Austin is seeing someone. Why didn’t he tell her? He says, he sees her… if she’s standing right in front of him, and if they’re in the same room. Britt says, he likes her; she likes him? and Austin says they’re not standing in front of a row of lockers in a middle school hallway. He’s not having this conversation. She says, so instead, he acts single and available, and he says, he is single. She says, but he’s not available, and he says, she is not available. Britt says, she’s married? but he says, no. It’s very complex, and he doesn’t think it’s appropriate for him to be having this conversation with her because she’s his boss. She says, they’ve been out trying to hook up. Now he’s concerned about propriety? Does she know this person? Does she work at the hospital? He says, he’s not playing twenty questions with her. Can they stop? She asks, why he doesn’t want her to know who holds the key to his heart? He says, if she ever decides she doesn’t want to be Co-Chief of one of the best hospitals in the state, she could have a career as a romance novelist. She says, he’s deflecting, and she’s not going to stop until he tells her. He says he likes Maxie, and Britt squeals with joy.

Maxie brings two umbrella drinks to the table, and tells Felicia, she’s sure Luke won’t mind if they celebrate in their own way. Felicia says, he was an iconoclast, but now that Maxie has procrastinated long enough, answer her question. Who else has Maxie come to rely on? Maxie asks why Felicia needs to know this, and Felicia says, so she can put him, or her, in her phone tree, and send out message alerts about Maxie. Maxie almost chokes on her drink, and says, Felicia doesn’t really do that, does she? Felicia says, yes. She calls Mac, Mac calls Robert, Robert calls Anna, Anna calls Nina, and Nina calls Liesl. Maxie says, it’s good to have that firewall between Anna and Liesl, but a phone tree about her? Doesn’t Felicia thinks that’s a little extra? Felicia says, every single one of those people is prepared to drop everything, and run to help her. They are Team Maxie. So Maxie can see why it’s important not to leave anyone off. The more people on her side, the better. Maxie says, since she knows Felicia won’t leave her alone until she tells her, it’s Dr. Gatlin-Holt. Austin.

Laura, Victor, Spencer, and Esme have tea, and Laura says, if Victor would like to express his condolences, he should reach out to Luke’s partner Tracy. He says, he intends to do so, but Luke was important to her as well. He was her husband once, father to Lulu and Lucky. Laura says, that marriage ended a long time ago, and Victor says, as short lived as his relationship with Luke was, Luke remained large part of his life. She says she doesn’t live in the past; clearly, he does. He says, that’s why he aims to make amends, and she says, he aims high. Tell them. How does he plan to make it right?

Nina says, Willow is proposing that she sever the only legal link she has to her grandson. On the scant hope that Michael – whose only wish is that she drop dead in the most horrible way possible – will eventually deign to let her be near Wiley, which he’ll do out of the goodness of his heart. What fantasy world does Willow live in? Willow tells her, she’s not saying it will happen overnight, but Michael can be reasoned with. He’ll always do what’s best for their son. Nina says she’d like that notarized, and Willow says, Michael let Nina see Wiley before, despite Carly’s wishes, and he will again. As long as he sees she’s not a threat to his family. Nina says, all right. If Willow can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that Michael will go along with what she says, and not use her generosity against her or cut her throat, maybe she’ll consider backing down.

Sonny says, he and Carly have so much to work out without litigating things that never happened. She says, let’s start with his refusal to say what happened between him and Nina in Nixon Falls couldn’t happen again. He hesitates, and she laughs. He says, this is exactly what he wanted to avoid. She says she put the fear of God in Nina, so if he’s concerned about that, go see her. Carly doesn’t think Nina would mind if he checked on her. As a matter-of-fact, she thinks he would like it.  

Curtis says, it sounds like Marshall got involved with a criminal organization, with a player is so powerful, he left his family to believe he was dead. Is he wrong? Just tell him. Marshall says, there’s no need. He’s sorry it took so long for him to tell Curtis, but now he’s got the gist of it. Curtis says he needs specifics, and Marshall asks if he hasn’t heard enough. Curtis says, it’s just a start. He can’t do much unless Marshall tells him about the organization. The participants, who prosecuted the case. Who was Marshall’s handler? Marshall asks why Curtis needs to know all that, and Curtis says, Marshall came to Port Charles. He gave up his cover; he’s a man on the run. Marshall says he wouldn’t have come back if he didn’t feel it was far enough in the past. Curtis tells him, he said himself it wasn’t safe still, and Marshall says, these are things that can come back on you. You think you’re done, but if you’re not careful, the develop a second wind. Curtis says, one call, and he can stop all that. He has contacts; he knows people. Marshall says, so does he, but Curtis says, that’s the law. This is the opposite. He knows some people who can cover all of this, but first he needs to know who Marshall crossed. All he needs is a name.

Laura says, Victor talks about atonement and redemption, and making amends. Tell them. How is he going to make good? He says, be being here, and rebuilding his family. She says, a family he hasn’t seen in decades; they thought he was dead. He says, it’s never too late to start afresh, and she says, in Port Charles? He says, his family is here. How else will he get to know them better? Or protect them?  

Britt says she knew Austin was friends with Maxie, but never suspected he was into her. He says he cares about Maxie a great deal. Can they please just leave it at that? She says, he does know that Maxie’s no longer in love with Peter, and he says, it’s not that. Maxie has a lot on her mind. There’s no room for him in her life. Britt tells him, who’s to say that won’t change one day? And if nothing else, he has really great taste. He says, thanks. Great taste; terrible timing.

Felicia says, Austin, huh? and Maxie says he literally saved her life the night he delivered Louise in the woods. And he’s been great ever since, except when he’s fighting with Brook. Felicia says, his number? but Maxie says, no. They’re just friends, and the phone tree seems to be just family. Felicia says, friends are just as important as family, sometimes even more so.

Esme asks Spencer if it’s just her, or does his grandmother have a problem with his great uncle? Spencer says, problem? Try blood feud or vendetta. Laura sees Victor to the door, and he says he appreciates her suffering his presence. He’s sure he was an unwelcome sight, and hopes soon to change that. In the meantime, he’s sure they can find common ground with Spencer. She says, can they? and he says he sees she wants what’s best for him, as does he. She says she thinks what they want for Spencer differs, and he says he hopes to prove her wrong. As for Luke, a tragic loss; he’s truly sorry. She says, now she knows he’s lying. Goodnight. He says, good – she slams the door – bye.  

Marshall thanks Curtis for his offer of help, but he’s said all he intends to say. Curtis says, even though he has the power to save Marshall from having to look over his shoulder ever again. Marshall says he truly appreciates. It’s more than he ever dreamed of getting from Curtis. Curtis says, he misunderstands. Marshall telling the story doesn’t change the history between them. The past is a lie. The present is nothing to envy, and there won’t be a future if Marshall doesn’t keep talking. This isn’t about helping Marshall. It’s about keeping Aunt Stella and TJ safe from whoever’s chasing Marshall, no matter how far he thinks they are behind him. Marshall says, in that case, he guesses there’s nothing left to talk about. He opens the door, and Curtis walks out, but Marshall calls to him and he stops. Marshall tells him, stop asking questions. Just leave it be. It’s the only way to keep Stella and TJ safe. Curtis stomps down the hall.

Willow tells Nina that she can’t guarantee Michael will do as she hopes. She can promise she’ll try, and she’ll never stop until Michael grants Nina access to Wiley again. Nina says, not good enough, and Willow says, Sonny’s family is in so much pain, losing him for nine months. The pain won’t end unless someone takes the first step toward healing. Nina says, and the first stepper should be her. She gets it. She screwed up, and she’ll spend the rest of her life making up for that, but she will not do it at the expense of her relationship with her grandson. Willow says, it would not be permanent, and Nina says, at least Sonny knows she’s not evil incarnate, and she’ll be damned if she’ll let anyone convince Wiley that she is.

Sonny says, he told Carly; he’s not going anywhere. She says she can’t do this. She needs him to be gone by tomorrow. He says, this is his home, and she says, she asked him for some time. She asked him for some space and time alone so she can figure this out. He says, she can’t figure it out alone; they have to do this together. She says, what if they don’t figure it out? If he’s here in the morning, don’t bother leaving; she’ll go. She storms off, and he asks where she’s going to go

Tomorrow, Brook asks Austin to let bygones be bygones, Ned asks why Tracy is being so mysterious, and Sonny asks if Carly wants to call it quits.

Vanderpump Rules

Raquel told James that they needed to get a covid test before the weekend, and in her interview, she said they were taking every necessary precaution. There was a lot of money on the line, and they had family coming in, including Grandma Buttons. Raquel didn’t want to take any chances with her getting sick. She told James there was going to be a wine tasting, and a Paint and Sip. James said he never paid for so much alcohol in his life, and he’s not drinking any. He told Raquel that he was glad their moms were getting along, and in his interview, he said his mom got drunk on Thanksgiving at Raquel’s family’s house. It ruined the first impression, but now his mother was sober and he was sober, and it allowed their families to hit the restart button. Raquel said she wasn’t as worried about their family situation as she was about James and Brock. James asked who was Brock to give him advice; he’s big and clueless. Raquel thought Brock was coming from a good place, but his delivery was off. She said they’d have to expect the worst, and hope for the best. It wasn’t a great place to be in.

In Brock’s interview, he said, the Homebody shoot would be the first visual impression of the company. He couldn’t afford what he wanted on a start-up budget, and needed to get value for today. It would lead to him putting himself in a better position to pay off his debts. Scheana told Ariana that Raquel wasn’t responding to her texts, but Ariana said Raquel was texting her back. In Scheana’s interview, she said she wondered if Raquel was upset about what happened with James and Brock. She’d never gotten upset with Raquel when James caused a problem. The group got hair and makeup done, while Brock talked to the cameramen and director about his vision. Lala told Katie that it didn’t seem like a start-up photoshoot, and wondered where Brock got the money. In her interview, Lala said, this was the same guy who couldn’t keep up with his child support. The photoshoot was insane, when it was something that could be done on an iPhone. His priorities were f***ed up. She told Katie about Brock expecting her and Randall to pay for his and Scheana’s engagement/wedding, and Katie said she’d be upset in that position. Brock told Sandoval how good he looked in the women’s tank and leggings, and in Sandoval’s interview, he said he’d done women’s clothing – we flashed back to him in drag – but he’d never modeled women’s sportswear. Brock told everyone that James had texted he didn’t feel well, but Schwartz was also sick, so maybe he was telling the truth. In Brock’s interview, he said, who knows? Hopefully, James wasn’t using Schwartz as an excuse. Ariana said she thought James had been rude, and Scheana said, 100%. She thought James felt he and Brock weren’t as close as they’d been, and in her interview, she said James needed to get his anger under control. He couldn’t blame it on the alcohol anymore. Brock told everyone they were going to have fun and get some sick shots. They all jumped around, and did sporty poses. Afterward, Brock thanked them, and they took a group photo. In his interview, Brock said, it was perfect. It was a great turnout and event, and he got some good content. His ending balloon drop was a bit of a fail though, as it took several tries. The balloons finally fell, and they got a few more shots.

Katie talked to Schwartz about pitching the sandwich shop to Randall. They were going to ask him for a couple hundred thousand. In Katie’s interview, she said Randall had been begging the Toms to take his money. It would be embarrassing if he said, no thank you. Scheana and Brock signed their pre-nup, Scheana saying in her interview that they needed all their ducks in a row. With her first marriage, there had been an addiction problem, and he hadn’t wanted a divorce. She suggested they split their bank account, and he agreed. It was a big lesson. No matter how much you loved each other, there was always a risk you could lose everything, and she didn’t want to take that risk again. She told Brock that she still wanted to be surprised when he proposed, and Brock told her that she was going to be f***ing surprised.

Katie got to SUR first for the meeting with Randall, and called to see where Ariana was. Ariana was signing loan documents for a home refinance, and in Katie’s interview, she said, they were asking for hundreds of thousands. You’ve got to show up on time. If they don’t show they value the investors time, how will the investor believe they’ll value their money? Randall talked to Lisa first, saying she’d been in the restaurant business a while, and he wondered if he was going in the right direction. In her interview, Lisa said she wasn’t giving Randall advice. There was no upside for her. If it went right, he wouldn’t thank her, but if it went bad, he’d blame her. Katie explained to Randall why Ariana was late, and Randall set a timer for 30 minutes, saying he couldn’t waste time when he had plenty to do at the office.

Katie started telling Randall that they wanted to get a baker in-house, when Ariana finally showed up, saying, she parked the most illegally she ever had. Randall suggested she try to be punctual in the future. His partners weren’t as patient as he was. In Ariana’s interview, she said she was being held hostage by a notary, but her mortgage would be $3000 a month cheaper, so, worth it. I wondered what it is they’re paying if they can reduce it that much. They told Randall about the shop being unapologetically feminine, and the name Something About Her. He liked it, and asked about the budget. Ariana said they were still working it out, but figured they’d need $100-200,000. He asked what they were offering for the investment, and Katie said they definitely knew one thing they wanted to offer him – the Randall Emmett Production sandwich. He said he was in, and would tell his partners he was getting a sandwich, but they’d still want the numbers. Lisa came by with Puffy (!), and said, numbers were everything; they didn’t do it for love. She moved on quickly, and Randall said, Katie and Ariana weren’t involved with the Toms’ restaurants either, and he’d been kicked out of good restaurants, so they’d both rise from the ashes. Show him anything tangible, and he’d show it to his partners. In Ariana’s interview, she said, now it was wait and see, which was the worst. They’d lure investors in with their sandwich ideas. If Randall didn’t work out, they’d move on to the Vanderpumpernickel. Katie said they were a dynamite duo and couldn’t fail.

Brock and Scheana went back to wherever they were staying, but Brock made Scheana wait outside, then came back with a blindfold. He brought her in blindfolded, and led her to a room filled with rose petals and white and gold balloons, along with Marry Me signs. He said he had her mom’s help. He didn’t want to do anything without her anymore. She was the best mom, and the best girlfriend, and he wanted to make her the best wife. Erika watched from the sidelines with Summer as Brock presented the ring. He put it on her, they kissed, she said he did good, and Erika brought Summer out. In Scheana’s interview, the producer asked how she could not know, and she said she had a feeling it would be soonish. Brock told her that the only time they’d have is when they go away to James and Raquel’s engagement weekend, but Scheana said, she didn’t think she should even wear her ring. He said they’d sneak away to a secret place, with just her mom, Ariana, and Sandoval, who was ordained, and they’d be secretly married. They couldn’t breathe a word of it, and she was the weakest link. In her interview, she said there was no point in waiting. Why not do it this weekend? They agreed no one could know, and Scheana reasoned that they weren’t taking anything away from James and Raquel if they didn’t know.

Everyone got ready for the weekend, Scheana packing a wedding dress or three. In the car, Sandoval told Ariana that he brought his license, but he was having second thoughts. In his interview, he said Scheana was his oldest friend in L.A., and James was a good friend. The last thing he wanted was to be the catalyst for James going to the dark side. He was between a Brock and a hard place.

The vineyard/villa was pretty impressive, or how Schwartz put it, classy stuff; like a postcard. He said James had come a long way, and we flashed back to James being beyond obnoxious. In Charli’s interview, she said if she wasn’t the life of the party, this party would be done by nine. Katie told Schwartz about the meeting with Randall, and said they’d have an answer this weekend. She told him that Lisa was disappointed that Schwartz & Sandy’s was stuck where they were. Schwartz said that Lisa had 30 years’ experience. In his interview, he said they were just starting out, and learning as they went. They’d get there; it was just painstakingly slow. The rooms are rustic and gorgeous, and in Ariana’s interview, she said she felt like she was in a magical castle, where she could look out upon her wine kingdom. She asked if Sandoval had seen or talked to James since he’d lost it, and Sandoval said James had been giving him attitude. Ariana said it rubbed her the wrong way how he got in it with Brock, then came over to Raquel, and grabbed her wrist because he wanted to go. She’d called Raquel on FaceTime, and James was rude to her. We saw a clip of her asking Raquel to talk privately, and saying the wrist grabbing sh*t didn’t fly with her. Suddenly, James stuck his face in the frame, and said when Ariana was done venting about him, she could think about her own life. Sandoval said, you could just take so much. It had gotten to the point where it couldn’t be justified by a bad mood or a funk, but was a personality trait. Ariana said she didn’t know if James was going to be a Groomzilla, but so far, he was.  

Sommelier Joann took the group on a tour and wine tasting. Brock and Scheana arrived just after it started, and in Scheana’s interview, she said she and Lala had gotten hotel rooms, since they had the babies. They knew it was a good hotel, because Lisa was staying there too. We saw a clip of Scheana and Lala with their babies, and Lisa holding Puffy (!). James and Raquel were the last to get there, and Raquel was thrilled with their room, which had its own terrace. In James’s interview, he said, it was ironic that he was having his engagement party at a winery, but holy sh*t. Joann asked who was the lucky person who would have wine funneled into their mouth directly from the barrel, and Charli said, this bitch. In her interview, she said she came there to drink. These bitches would never be able to keep up. She was really annoying this whole episode, basically bragging about how much she could drink, and making fun of those who, according to her, couldn’t keep up. I have nothing against a party, but why is this a badge of honor suddenly? James and Raquel joined the group as the Paint and Sip started. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he enjoyed them; it was his third one. He wondered if they had a beer and macrame class. They painted a tree, and Ariana won, with Lala being the runner-up. In their respective interviews, Lala said she thought she should be first in everything, and Ariana said she thought she sucked at painting, but liked winning, so she’d take it.

Sandoval told Brock that he was nervous, and if it got found out in any way, shape, or form, he was going to freak out. In Sandoval’s interview, he said, he told Brock that he’d help out, so he was going to do it, for better or worse. And it felt like would get much worse.

Everyone sat down to dinner, and the manager congratulated James and Raquel. James thanked everyone for coming, and said he was feeling the love and energy. Their families would be joining them tomorrow. It was a huge thing, and he wouldn’t want to spend it with any other group. Ariana asked how James was feeling, since he’d been firing off at people. She brought up his intruding on her conversation with Raquel, but he said it was a small apartment; how could he not hear it? He apologized for the digs, and also apologized to Brock, but not for long. Brock said he’d had zero aggression toward James, and James got defensive, saying Brock accused him of saying something he hadn’t. He also didn’t need a daddy lesson. Brock said he didn’t want to walk on eggshells around James, and James said he’d felt distant; the friendship wasn’t where it had been. They ended up fist bumping, and Ariana toasted to the best weekend ever. Charli said, these bitches are weak, when they decided it was time to leave the table.

Tom grabbed his officiant license from the car, but told Brock if got a bad vibe, it wasn’t happening. Scheana joined them, and said James could be a d*ck, but she’d never do that to him. She also didn’t want to take anything away from Raquel. In Scheana’s interview, she said she was glad Sandoval put that doubt in her head, since she’d already had it. At the same time, James and Raquel had already had a weekend, and she could take some time for herself. Sandoval said they’d move forward optimistically.

Next time, the finale, Lisa doesn’t understand the delay with Schwarz & Sandy’s, and Lala tells James about Scheana and Brock’s wedding plans. <sigh> Every time I like her, and think she’s matured, then she makes me not like her, and acts like she’s in high school.  

👩🏽‍🚀 To Infinity and Beyond…

I had extra time, so I’ve been running late all day. It’s some sort of sub-Murphy’s Law. Drop by tomorrow for soap and a little OC. Until then, stay safe, stay doing the best you can with what you’ve got, and stay not planning a secret wedding during your friend’s engagement weekend. There’s always a weak link.

January 4, 2022 – Bad News Travels Fast, Brock Makes New Wedding Plans & Friend

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis wakes Portia with kisses, and says, good morning, gorgeous. Happy New Year. She tells him, good morning, and happy New Year to him too. She supposes he has to go to the club and check on things after last night, but he says, nope. Nika’s got it covered. The club’s closed today. What about her? Does she have to go to the hospital? She says she’s off all day long, and he says, then there’s no reason for either one of them to leave this bed anytime soon. They get busy.

Brook feeds Bailey, and Leo says, Bailey is drinking a lot of milk. She’s going to burp a bunch. Brook laughs, and tells him that he’s correct. When he was this age, she used to help his mommy burp him. Leo makes a face and takes off, and Olivia says, not much of a filter on this guy. Brook says, that’s why he fits in so well with the Quartermaines. If only she’d taken what Austin said more seriously, maybe they wouldn’t have… Olivia says, no. She’s just as guilty, but that’s over now. They’re moving forward and moving on, and they can handle this. Together, they’re so much more strong as a family, and that includes Brook’s beautiful little baby girl.

Ava and Nikolas see Victor sitting in the MetroCourt lobby, and Ava suggests they take the opportunity to get to know dear old Uncle Victor. He has information that he can hold over Nikolas. They approach Victor, who says it’s good to see them both. Ava tells him, happy New Year. They were just headed upstairs for some breakfast. Would he like to join them? Victor thanks her, but says he’s already eaten. She asks if they can join him for a bit, and he says, it would be his pleasure. He apologizes for all the newspapers; he was catching up on the news. Call him old fashioned, but he still prefers the print edition instead of that digital garbage. Nikolas sees The Invader, which now looks like a legit newspaper, and asks, what the hell is this?

Valentin comes into the hospital, but Bobbie intercepts him, saying, no, she doesn’t think so. He says, hello to her too. She’s looking resplendent this New Year’s Day. She says, thank you, but she knows what he’s up to. He’s not getting in to see Peter August.

Drew walks into the Quartermaine mansion, and Monica tells him, happy New Year. It must have been a good night if he’s just getting in now.

Tracy tosses and turns on Laura’s couch, and Laura touches her, startling her awake. Laura apologizes, and says Tracy was having a nightmare. Tracy says, the worst kind; the kind when you wake up and realize it’s real. She can’t believe he’s gone. Luke’s gone. Laura takes Tracy’s hands.

Doc gives Tracy and Laura coffee, and Laura says she hopes Tracy was comfortable last night. She tried to wake Tracy, and move her to the guest room, but she wouldn’t budge. Tracy says, probably because she hasn’t slept in two days. She takes a sip of coffee, says, this is terrible, and hands it back to Doc. Laura says she was able to reach Lucky, and he’d heard about the cable car crash in Austria, but he didn’t know his father was on it. Laura starts to cry, and Tracy says, it was horrifying. She was glued to the television, watching the wreckage and flames, and she was hoping Luke wasn’t on it. But then the authorities brought her his personal effects, and told her that they’d identified his remains. She convinced herself that Luke was going to be all right. She was the reason he was in that accident in the first place. It’s her fault Luke is dead.

Monica says she heard Drew was going over to see Sam and Scout. Dare she hope there’s a reunion in the works? He says, he and Sam are co-parents, and that’s enough. She says she’s sorry. She’s been up half the night with a heart-to-heart with Ned and Olivia, and she saw him come in, and… She’s sorry. He asks if it’s more ELQ drama, but she says, no; family matter. She’ll let Olivia tell him about that. It’s not her place really. But speaking of ELQ, there are some issues Drew needs to settle. He says he came home to shower and change. He has some unsettled business of his own to deal with.

Brook asks how Leo is doing with the specialist, and Ned says, he’s doing well. They’re consulting experts on the best way to explain to Leo that he’s on the autism spectrum. They want to have that conversation with Leo first, before he hears the term autism from anybody else. They think he’s old enough to understand. Brook says Leo is lucky to have them, and Olivia says, they’re also starting the process of Ned adopting Leo. Brook hugs Ned, saying, she’s so happy for him. She’s no longer an only child. He says, Leo is his son in every way that matters. It’s about time they made it official, and tell the world that Leo is a member of this family. Olivia asks Bailey what she thinks about that. Leo Quartermaine has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? How’s Bailey going to feel having that cute little boy as an uncle?

Bobbie tells Valentin, she has no love for Peter. If she could, she’d rough him up herself, but as a nurse and a staff member of this hospital, it’s her responsibility to keep him alive. Valentin says he has no intention of killing Peter. He just wants some information. She says, then talk to Victor. He just came to see Peter. He says, she’s telling him that Victor Cassadine, the man who claims to be his father, has been there to see Peter?

Ava says, The Invader looks so different. What does the article have to say? Nikolas says, it’s about a bullying retaliation accusation against a plant manager. Top management at the company said the best course of action is to pay off both parties to circumvent more bad P.R., and the payoff is conditional on them signing a non-disclosure agreement. This article is specifically designed to make Cassadine Industries, and more specifically to make him out to be the bad guy, like he had any part in this. Shawn walks in, and says, what’s the old saying? The buck stops here? He sees Nikolas has a copy of his new paper. How does he like it?

Portia says, before last night, she couldn’t help but wonder if it would feel the same, her and Curtis being together after almost twenty years. He says, it seems like just yesterday. Has it really been twenty years? She says, just about, and he asks how it felt. She says, it felt so much better in every way. They know who they are now. They know what they want, and it feels right this time. He says, because it is. When they got together the first time, mistakes were made. What if they could go back in time and do things differently? Just waited until they were free and ready. Maybe they wouldn’t have wasted so much time. She says she’s sorry, but she woudn’t take back what happened all those years ago even if she could. She wouldn’t change a thing.

Drew says, Peter August is awake, and Monica says, that’s unfortunate. He says he needs to see Peter before he gets transferred back to Pentenville, but Monica says, bad idea. He says he has questions about his conditioning; about how to get rid of it for good. She asks if he thinks Peter is going to help him, but he says, no, but Peter has the information he needs. He’s going to figure out a way to get it from him. He can’t go on with his life with this hanging over him. He knows she’s aching to talk him out of it, but she says she could never talk Jason out of anything, so she doubts she’ll have any better luck with him. Just please be careful. She lost one son to Peter. She doesn’t want to lose another. They hug.

Valentin asks Bobbie if Peter asked to see Victor, or Victor came there on his own, but she doesn’t know. He asks what they talked about, and she says, it was a private conversation. No one else was in the room, but she has to imagine, it wasn’t anything good. She was here when Victor and his brother Mikkos came to town years ago. They hurt a lot of people. He says, then it’s even more important that he talk to Peter. He needs to know what Victor wanted. She asks if she needs to call security. Don’t think she won’t. Alexis comes along, and asks if there’s a problem. Bobbie says, Valentin wants to see Peter August, and won’t take no for an answer. Her phone dings, and she says, it’s Laura; she says it’s important. Alexis tells her, then go; she’ll corral Valentin. Bobbie thanks her, tells Valentin, behave, and leaves. Alexis says, he heard her.

Doc says, it’s not Tracy’s fault Luke died in a freak accident, but she says, Luke had a tip on a can’t miss scam opportunity. This time it was in Austria. He did say he wouldn’t go without her blessing, and instead of simply saying she wished he wouldn’t go, she screamed at him, and said if he was even considering going back to that life, he didn’t care about her at all. Laura says, Tracy knows there’s nothing she could have said to stop Luke from doing what he wanted to do, and Tracy tells Laura that she said terrible things; things she can’t take back. She laughs, and says, leave it to Luke to get himself killed, so he gets to have the last word. Doc says he can rearrange his schedule if she wants to talk, or he can arrange for a referral, but she says she doesn’t need a shrink. She just needs Luke. He can’t give her that. Laura’s phone dings, and she says, it’s Bobbie; she’s on her way over. Tracy gets up, thanking them for the kind offer, but she needs her family. Laura says she’s not waiting for Bobbie? and Tracy says, no. If she sees Bobbie, she’ll just dissolve, so… She opens the door, and Laura says she’s welcome there anytime. Tracy tearfully says she knows, and leaves. Laura closes the door, and Doc asks how Laura is doing. She says she wishes she could have done something more to help Tracy. She’s devastated, but she’s so strong; Laura knows she’ll survive. He says, she’s tough, but he wasn’t asking about Tracy. Laura starts to cry, and he holds her.

Leo asks if Brook knows octopus have nine brains, three hearts, and blue blood. She says she knew about the blue blood, but not about all those brains and hearts. They must be very smart and very kind. Leo says, they are, and playful. Does she want to see the Photo Ark book he got for Christmas? It has a big picture of one up close. Brook says, sure, and Olivia tells her to hand Bailey over. Brook asks if Olivia is sure, and Olivia says she may never get Bailey back. Brook takes Leo’s hand and they leave. Olivia puts Bailey in the bassinette, and Ned says she’s a natural. She says, that’s the one benefit of having a baby when you’re young; you can get all sorts of advice, and you’re still very moldable. He says, she’s a pro now. He’s so happy they’ve settled the matter of him adopting Leo. Now, they just have one outstanding matter. Us.

Alexis asks if Valentin is going to be a good boy and forget about Peter, and Valentin says, if Victor was in there with Peter, he needs to know why. She says, that is concerning, but she can’t let him make a liar out of her, because Bobbie is really scary when she’s aggrieved. Trust her. He says there’s a lightness to Alexis, like a calm, and asks if she had a relaxing evening last night. Alexis says, hell no. She just came from a meeting. She almost fell of the wagon last night.

Olivia says, us? and Ned says, our relationship. She says she guesses with everything going on with Leo lately, it’s been easy to kick that particular can down the road. He says they don’t have to do this now, but she says she wants to. It’s time. They sit down, and she says, when she found out he cheated on her, it ripped her heart in shreds. He says he knows, and he’s so sorry, but she says, let her finish. A lot of marriages survive infidelity, but only if the partner who’s strayed is willing to make changes, and really commit to putting things back together. He promises it will never happen again, and says, the question is, can she forgive him? She says she already has. That indiscretion was the symptom of a bigger problem in their marriage. They lost faith in each other, and forgot how to communicate. He says, guilty as charged, and she says, so is she. In the last few months, little bits at a time, piece by piece, she started remember. She can see him again as a partner, as a confident. The way he stood up for her son – their son. She looks at him now, and she sees he’s the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. They kiss.

Monica opens the door to Tracy, and says, oh my God. Brook asks what Tracy is doing here, and Tracy says she really needs her family.

Laura says she’s so sorry; she didn’t want to burden Doc with this. He says, burden? Because she’s affected by Luke’s death? He’d be worried if she wasn’t. If she thinks he’s going to be threatened by her past with Luke, he’s sorry to break it to her, but she has the wrong guy. She says, no, she has the right guy. She’s so lucky she found him. He says, they’re both lucky, and hugs her. He says he doesn’t want her to hold in her grief on his account. Luke was a pivotal part of her life. She says, he really was, and cries. She thinks it was a month ago, she found herself looking at the calendar, and realized it was 40 years to this day she and Luke got married. She can remember it like it happened yesterday. That chapter of her life has been over for so long… How is she going to tell Lulu when she wakes up? He says, she has plenty of time to figure it out, when there’s a knock at the door, and she says, here we go. She wipes her eyes, and opens the door. She thanks Bobbie for coming right away, and Bobbie says, Laura told her it was urgent. What’s going on? Doc says he has to go out, and tells Laura to call if she needs him. They exchange I love yous, and he says he’ll see Bobbie soon. He leaves, and Bobbie says, something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?

Nikolas asks why anyone would want to publish this dreck. What the hell is The Invader trying to prove? Shawn says, the new direction of The Invader is to promote or expose issues of social or political relevance. When he pointed his team in the direction of Cassadine Industries, they were pretty shocked at the things they uncovered. Nikolas says, so Shawn is directly responsible for this, and Shawn says, his non-profit purchased The Invader over the holidays. Nikolas says, the non-profit he funded, and Shawn says, he figured, other than purchasing sporting goods and equipment to fund after school programs, they should tackle something more substantial. So in a sense, this is all possible because of Nikolas. He’s sure Nikolas will be hearing more from his team. He leaves, and Victor says, it seems Mr. Butler is becoming a bit of a nuisance. Nikolas says, to put it mildly, and Victor tells him, say the word, and he’ll handle the situation for him.

Curtis says he’s sorry. He assumed after all the pain their affair caused, Portia had regrets. She says, of course (🍷) she has regrets about how things went down back then, but she has no interest in changing the past, only learning from it. Every decision they made led them to where they are right now. If they hadn’t had that past relationship, they might not have reconnected. He might not have been there to save Trina when she needed him. She wouldn’t have encouraged him to start a new life with The Savoy. He says, to that point, he thanks her, because she pushed him in that direction to open a new club, and start a new life. It meant everything to him. She means everything to him. She says she feels the same way about him. She’s starting to feel a little nervous. She knows they decided to take things slow, and they are, but she’s starting to… He says, don’t be nervous. There’s something he’s wanted to say to her all morning. He’s falling in love with her.

Victor says, a long walk on a short pier can be arranged, and Ava says, except when Naomi Dreyfuss took a walk off that pier, it only brought the spotlight closer to them. Nikolas says, besides, that’s not how they deal with their problems, and Victor says, maybe not nowadays, but shall they revisit what happened in a certain garage seven years ago? If Nikolas doesn’t want his help, fine, but he should know this. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. Winds of change are coming, my dears. This family needs to be ready. Nikolas says, it’s not the first time Victor has alluded to some grand plan for the family. Why doesn’t Victor stop hinting at it, and come out and tell them? Victor says, they’ll get their answers, as soon as he gets the answer he needs. Doc walks in, and says he’s glad he found Nikolas. Nikolas needs to check in with his mother. Nikolas asks if everything is all right, but Doc says he’s afraid not. Luke has been killed.

Ned says, does this mean…? and gets down on one knee. Olivia laughs, and he says he’s making it official. Let’s renew our vows, and tell the world we’re back. She tells him, get up, and they hug. She says, she’s in, but it’s going to be different this time. They’ve got to be honest and start to put each other first. They have to drown out all the noise from the people who want to interfere, like… He says, his mother? and she says, yes. Tracy walks in, and Olivia says, although she doesn’t have to worry about his mother since she’s on the lam. Olivia turns around, and says, Tracy.  

Laura asks how much Bobbie has been keeping up with the news over the holidays, and Bobbie says, not as much as usual. It’s been busy. She asks if Bobbie heard about the cable car crash in Austria, and Bobbie says, it’s sad, especially after holidays. There were a few casualties, weren’t there? Laura says, it took the authorities a few days to identify the victims… Bobbie says, stop. She doesn’t want to hear it. Laura says she’s so sorry to have to tell her, and Bobbie gets up and takes her phone out of her bag. She calls Luke’s number, and says, it’s his sister Barbara Jean. Drop everything and call her. Laura says, he’s not going to call, and Bobbie says, stop. Laura says she’s so sorry. She didn’t want to believe it either, but she’s afraid it’s true. Luke is gone. Bobbie cries, and Laura hugs her.

Valentin asks what triggered Alexis? Was it being around all that unbearable holiday cheer? Alexis says she’s sure it didn’t help, but when you’re an alcoholic, you don’t need a reason, right? She admits she’s been feeling directionless, and it’s gotten worse, not better, since her release. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and asks her to tell him if there’s anything he can do. She says she’s working on it. The person who gave her the pep talk last night, reminded her that the answers are not at the bottom of a bottle. Valentin says, a little help from a friend, and she says she guesses so. She’s got to go. Please keep her in Bobbie’s good graces. He says he’s not making any promises, and she says, at least she tried. They fist bump, and she leaves.

Nikolas asks how his mother is, and Doc says, she’s with Bobbie now. Of course (🍷) she’s worried about everyone else. She spoke with Lucky, but then there’s Ethan, who’ll be the hardest to find. Nikolas says he thinks he knows a way to reach him, and Doc says, that would be a help. Victor tells Doc, his condolences to him and his family. As Doc knows, his wife and Victor go way back, as does he with Luke. Doc asks if he means when they stopped Victor’s brother from blackmailing world governments, and Victor was aiding and abetting him, but Victor says, his brother is long buried, as Luke soon will be from a senseless accident. Luke was so much larger than life. It’s a shame he had to go out in such a trivial way.

Ned asks why Tracy didn’t call when it happened. He would have come to Amsterdam to be with her. She says, because telling them or anyone would make it real. She was riding in the cab, and just kept thinking, everything looks so normal. People walking around like nothing’s changed, and for them, nothing has changed, but for the people who know… knew Luke, the world’s empty. So to answer his question, she just wanted to get back home. The thing is, they all know how she and Luke used to battle. She pours herself a drink, and says, but when they got together in Amsterdam a few years ago, she was so sure this was it. They were going to be together to the end. The joke’s on her. She didn’t know how soon the end would come. Ned puts his arm around her.

Bobbie says she should have known something was wrong. Luke always calls her around this time of year. If he was a few days late, he’d say, it still counts, Barbara Jean. Laura says, Luke loved her so much, and she knows how much they meant to each other. Bobbie says, they didn’t always show it. None of this makes any sense. Laura says, she knows. He cheated death so many times. For him to go out in a random accident is just… Bobbie says, it was no accident. Someone did this on purpose. Someone killed Luke.

Curtis says he wasn’t sure he was ready to move on. This all happened quicker than he expected. He loves her, but doesn’t expect her to say it back until she’s ready. She says she’s falling in love with him too, and they kiss. She asks if they can just do one thing. Can they make a deal? Since they can’t go back and change the past, can they leave it there where it belongs? The only thing she wants to do is focus on him, and focus on a new life with him. He says, so does he. A new year; a new start. They kiss some more.

Shawn meets Alexis outside her house, and says, special delivery, handing her The Invader. He thought she deserved a personal copy. She says, a first edition. Should she frame it? He says, not before reading it, he hopes. She looks at it, and laughs, saying, he certainly executed his new vision. He says he had a pretty clear idea of how he wanted to set the tone. He needs to focus on the day to day end of things – they go inside – but what he really needs is someone to work under him, a second in command who can support his editorial vision of the paper. She says, sounds like a plan. Got anyone in mind? He says he’s looking at her.

Drew walks into the hospital, and Valentin says, hello. He assumes Drew is there for the same reason he is, and Drew asks if he’s seen Peter. Valentin says, there’s a Pentenville guard outside the door. They’re not allowing any visitors; it’s probably just as well. Drew tells him, he can’t say he agrees, and Valentin says, Peter is responsible for the death of Drew’s brother, and held him captive for how many years. What good is it going to do Drew to see him? Drew says, he has questions only Peter can answer, and Valentin says, Peter is treacherous on the best of days; now he’s desperate. Drew would be giving him an invitation. If there’s a chance he could activate Drew’s  conditioning, he’d say, stay away. It’ll be safer for everyone that way. Drew asks why Valentin wanted to see Peter, but Valentin says he didn’t get in; it doesn’t matter. Good to see him. Valentin starts to leave, and Drew says, one more thing. He’s had a lot to process, and ELQ has been far down the list. Valentin says, don’t let the Quartermaines hear him say that; he’ll get disowned. Drew says, they’re very passionate about that company, and Ned has been dropping hints that Drew could figure into a power play, but he’s not clear on the details. Valentin says, it’s pretty simple. He controls Drew’s voting stock.

Olivia says, whatever Tracy needs, they’re here for her, and Ned says, if she needs help with arrangements… but she says, no. She doesn’t want anybody to drop their plans to attend a funeral. Brook says, Luke would be disappointed if there wasn’t a wake or something, where his friends could knock a few back in his honor, and Tracy says, she supposes that’s more like it. There are a lot people who need to know. Ned says, they can handle that. He’ll call Dillon. Monica says, she’ll call Skye, and Ned suggests Olivia contact Robert and let him know. Everyone disperses, except for Tracy and Brook. Bailey cries, and Brook goes to her, saying, she just ate. Tracy says, okay, it’s just them. Why is Brook still pretending that baby is hers?

Doc says, not many people would characterize an accident with multiple fatalities as trivial, and Victor says, bad choice of words. His apologies. It’s a tragedy, of course (🍷), but what he meant is, Luke cheated death so many times, and in such spectacular fashion, one would have expected when he went out, when it was his time, he’d go out in a blaze of glory. Ava suggests Nikolas reach out to Ethan now, so Doc can speak to him. Nikolas tells Doc that they’ll find a quiet spot, and they leave. Ava says, they’ll be seeing Victor soon, and goes upstairs. Victor picks up The Invader, and his phone rings. He sees an incoming call from a blocked number.

Bobbie tells Laura, Luke had enemies out there. Somebody sabotaged that cable car. Somebody was targeting Luke, and those other poor souls paid the price. They have to find out who was after him. Laura says she knows it would be easier if they had someone to blame, and she knows Bobbie wants to make sense of it, but she can’t. It was a senseless accident. Bobbie says, no, and Laura hugs her.

On the phone, Victor says, the hit on Mayor Laura Collins can be dropped now that Luke has been neutralized. He thinks it’s time to proceed to phase two.

Tomorrow, Tracy tells Brook that she finds it hard to believe; Alexis asks if Sam really thinks she can do this; Victor tells Valentin, never say never; and Robert says he has bad news.

Vanderpump Rules

Katie visited Lala, and they talked about Lala’s party. Lala said Ariana didn’t say one word to her. She didn’t know why she was shocked, since Ariana didn’t acknowledge anything in her world. In Katie’s interview, she said she didn’t want to be in the middle. She thought it was easier for Ariana and Lala to say they didn’t give a f*** about each other, than admit they’d been hurt by each other. She told Lala about the sandwich shop, and in her interview, she said she’d gotten into business with a best friend before. We flashed back to the Witches of WeHo Wine enterprise, and Katie said, it ended terribly. When things went south with the friendship, the business went south, but she didn’t have to worry about where one began and one ended with Ariana. Katie said she’d told Randall at the pickleball tournament, when she opened a business, he could invest in it, and Lala said, Randall had been waiting for his moment to invest. Katie asked if Lala had any advice, and Lala suggested Katie go in offering to name a sandwich after him. All he wanted was something named after him, and she didn’t think he was getting a boy anytime soon. He’d have to live on through the sandwich.

James visited Schwartz with some sound equipment, and in Schwartz’s interview, he said he and Sandoval were still on a break. He wanted to soak up some of James’s experience and confidence. It had always been a dream of his to play music in his own bar. James said he was coming up on two years of not drinking alcohol, and told Schwartz that he was going to stop smoking weed. He was going to try giving up everything for a month. In James’s interview, he said, weed made him feel normal, and he didn’t think he could function without it, but he was willing to give it a shot. James asked what Schwartz would say to a crowd, and Schwartz said, hey, everybody; hope you’re having a good time. Very original. James laughed, and said it was worse than he thought.

Brock went over to Sandoval’s home gym to work out. Sandoval said he was sorry about the wedding falling through, and asked how long Brock had been thinking about it. Brock said it had been a while, and we flashed back to him broaching the subject to Randall six days ago. In Brock’s interview, he said, between Homebody, child support, and the engagement ring, he couldn’t afford $20K right now for a party. He asked Sandoval what was up with Schwartz, and Sandoval said he was okay with Katie right now, but didn’t want to be the source of any problems. He and Schwartz were taking a step back, except for business situations. Schwartz told James that he’d lost his spark, and everyone had been upset with him. He’d thought maybe he and Sandoval shouldn’t hang out as much until they were further along with the bar. It was a healthy break. James told Schwartz that Sandoval had made a post of him and Brock working out – #NewBesties. James and Schwartz took a picture with James giving two middle fingers – #NextRealDuo. Sandoval laughed, but said, it hurts.

Lala went over to Scheana’s place, and Scheana said her and Brock’s gym was opening this weekend. Lala told Scheana that she and Katie had been doing EMS, and her ass looked perkier. She asked Scheana how much she knew about Brock’s failed attempt at tying the knot, and Scheana said the rest of them probably knew more than her, but in Lala’s interview, she said, Scheana seemed to know more details than Brock, who was supposed to be planning it. Scheana said Brock didn’t want to compromise his vision, and in her interview, Lala said she wanted to give Brock the benefit of the doubt, but he’d wanted her and Randall to pay for the engagement/wedding. Brock already had two children he didn’t pay for, and now he wanted to marry Scheana. Scheana said she never thought she’d do a prenup, but after her divorce, and giving up half her bank account, she was doing it. In Scheana’s interview, she said, to get Shay to sign the divorce papers, she had to split her finances with him. She needed to protect herself and her daughter. Lala said she was all about plan B, and Scheana said, when Lala had talked about it, she’d thought it took all the fun out of it. You should be marrying someone you can trust. Lala said she wanted something clear that said, what’s yours is yours, and what’s mine is mine; go away.

The Toms met with Greg, designer Lucinda, and contractor Dan at the new bar. Greg said they as long as they had the materials and the game plan, they could get this off the ground. In Schwartz’s interview, he said, they were about to break ground, and every day was costing money. They were about twelve months behind. Dan thought they could do it in three or four months, but Lucinda said they needed to do it faster. In his interview, Schwartz said, he didn’t think Sandoval experienced time, deadlines, and pressure like other human beings. Sandoval said, once they broke ground, he would feel better, and they’d see what it looked like to have progress. He wanted to have a get together, so everyone would see the before, and appreciate the after. He just wished they had more progress done.

Raquel’s sister Kate came by to help Raquel finalize the engagement party plans. In Raquel’s interview, she said she had zero knowledge about flowers; only that they made every party pretty. Kate had been there, since she was married, and Raquel didn’t want to cry over dead flowers at her engagement party. They went over the seating chart, and talked about the Toms’ new bar. Kate said the engagement party sounded like a wedding, and Raquel said the venue was like one. James talked about stopping weed, and Kate said they’d had that conversation the last time. In James’s interview, he said, weed helped with his daily anxiety and his appetite. He was over the judgy thing. If you didn’t like what he was doing, too bad. Raquel said she was proud of James having two years of no alcohol under his belt, and Kate congratulated him.

Brock called Sandoval and Ariana, saying, he wanted to run an idea by them. He was going to propose to Scheana at home, and his prediction was that Scheana would say yes. He thought when they went to the engagement party venue, he and Scheana could get married on the sly. Only the four of them would know. Ariana could be a witness, and Sandoval could perform the ceremony. Ariana said, the only way to pull it off without being d*ckish was if no one knew, and in her interview, she said, she’d told Brock not to give up on it, but she didn’t think it would end up being at James and Raquel’s engagement party. Sandoval said, if James found out, he would be pissed. He’d go along with it, as long as no one knew until after the fact. Brock insisted it would stay secret, and Sandoval said it would ruin the trip if anyone found out.

Katie and Ariana met with Lisa about the sandwich shop. Katie said they’d kicked around ideas for a concept and vision, and Lisa asked if the Toms would be involved, but Ariana said, no. Jay Zee wasn’t a partner in Lemonade. She told Lisa that the guys wanted to have a progress party, and Lisa said everyone would have an opinion, and Sandoval didn’t like opinions. Katie said, she and Ariana wanted their shop to make a statement, and wouldn’t say no if Lisa wanted to invest. Lisa was like, pitch it to me, but Katie said they hadn’t practiced their pitch. They were also meeting with Randall, who wanted to invest. They wanted the space to be unapologetically feminine, and the name was Something About Her. In Lisa’s interview, she said it wasn’t what she’d call a bar, but she also wouldn’t call a bar Schwartz and Sandy’s, so go figure. Katie said she wanted more for herself, and didn’t want to sit at home and be a wife. Ariana said Katie was capable of so much, and Katie said she wanted feel the need to go somewhere. Lisa told her to be motivated by that, and Katie said she felt this shop was what she needed. It would be her baby. In Katie’s interview, she said she’d been having and existential crisis, and didn’t know who she was or what she wanted to do. Now she’d found something she could wake up and look forward to.

Tom and Brock went to see jewelry designer Kyle Chan. After a shot of Drambuie, Kyle brought out the ring, which was 12.97 carats. Sandoval said, his only issue about the wedding thing was James, and in Brock’s interview, he said he and Scheana could get away, and have a ceremony with people who care about them in a nice venue. It could be special for them. Yeah, and he wouldn’t have to pay for it. I’m starting to agree that this guy is a bit of a skater. The stone was huge, a rare pink diamond, and the total was $25K. Sandoval encouraged the purchase, and in his interview, he said, if it was a $25K vacation, he would say absolutely not, but an engagement ring was for the rest of your life, and he was for it. Brock said he had to put it on three cards, since his credit in America wasn’t active yet. He was going to be light. Between the ring and child support, he was going to be broke for the next six months. In Brock’s interview, he said, for the first time, he was making a commitment based on love. His cards went through, and Brock told Sandoval, sh*t just got real.

Everyone got ready for the progress party, but Sandoval wasn’t liking the plastic cups. Schwartz said, he felt it was time they came off their break, and they bro-hugged, after which Schwartz presented Sandoval with a friendship bracelet. He felt Sandoval completed him. Ariana and Katie arrived first, and in Ariana’s interview, she said she knew it was a work in progress, but thought she’d be able to sit. Oscar the Grouch would like it because it looked like a dump, but she’d like a chair. Schwartz said, his and Sandoval’s friendship was fully back, and in the Toms’ dual interview, Schwartz said, the only thing that hurt his feelings was Sandoval’s post with Brock. The usual suspects showed up, along with Lucinda’s design crew, and Lisa and Ken brought Puffy (!).  Schwarz welcomed everyone to the spot soon to be Schwartz and Sandy’s. In Lisa’s interview, she said, the point of a progress party was to see progress, but she was still seeing Mexican flags and piñatas. You didn’t see anchors and dildos at TomTom’s progress party. We flashed back to when Lisa and Ken originally looked at the space, and it had been a sex shop. Lisa added, they were in her handbag. Sandoval said he had an amazing team and an amazing partner, and told everyone, this is the before picture. Schwartz said he made a bootleg of their sign, and brought out something that said Schwartz & Sandy’s on it, probably on par with a set piece in a high school play. In Raquel’s interview, she said, she had higher expectations for the sign, but it was minimal effort. Maybe they could use a mood board. Sandoval said, when you saw it from the outside, it was unassuming, and they wanted to spin the effect. Lisa asked how much it was going to cost, but Sandoval said he didn’t have the exact dollar amount. Ken wondered if they had a budget, and in Sandoval’s interview, he said, he appreciated the concern, but it was his business and none of theirs. In Lisa’s interview, she said, the Toms had ideals in their heads, but no budget or timetable. She thought it was going to be more and longer than they thought. The Toms were two people who didn’t know what they were about to endure, and frankly, she was worried. Ken said that he was afraid they were going to lose a lot of money.

Scheana told Lisa that she and Brock were signing a prenup. Brock got to keep his motorcycle, and she got 7% of Homebody because she liked that number. In Scheana and Brock’s dual interview, she said she was Brock’s first investor, and they proceeded to argue about how much she’d put in and what he’d paid back. Brock got touchy, then weepy, saying, now he was taking a handout. Raquel asked Katie and Ariana if they knew about the dress code and color palette for the engagement party, and Ariana was worried they’d have to wear earth tones all weekend, but Raquel said it was just for the big party. Lisa asked Schwartz what the hold-up was with the bar, and he said, they’d had to wait on permits, and the financing took a while, but he got the business loan. Lisa said, they had the money and energy, why not start? He said the restaurant industry was tough, like this was something she didn’t know, and she said, they hadn’t even started yet. In her interview, she said, she wanted them to move forward, but they seemed to be stagnating. Ken said let them know if there was any way they could help.

Brock asked if James was excited about the engagement party, and wondered if there would be quiet time, or was the weekend jam packed? James said, there was an activity for every day, and the guests could work around that. In Brock’s interview, he said he was pretty sure they’d just celebrated James and Raquel’s engagement. We flashed back to Rachella, and Brock said, why not? What they didn’t know woudn’t hurt them. James said he wanted to quit weed, but it was a bit of a stressful time, and in his interview, Brock said, James was the last person to take blame for anything, but you had to be accountable for your actions and words. He told James not use stressed as an excuse, and James got loud, saying, he wasn’t; that wasn’t true. Brock was actually pretty articulate and collected, and said James needed to learn how to talk to people. This caused James to go back to his old schtick, acting like he was ten years old, making fun of Brock talking. Scheana suggested he not say something he couldn’t take back, and Brock said he only mentioned it because he cared. James whined that he and Brock never hung out anymore, and Brock said that James had been rude when he’d asked him to help with the Homebody shoot. We flashed back to Brock saying James had texted him, for free? lol, and in Brock’s interview, he said, James’s texts highlighted where they were in the relationship. It made him realize he didn’t have time for this. He had a newborn, was trying to work on his life, and James was exhausting to deal with. He told James not to do the shoot if he didn’t want to, and James told him to enjoy his whiskey, which was quite telling, and explained why James got so pissed so fast. He was not enjoying any whiskey. James told Raquel that Brock was ungrateful, and in his interview, he said, Brock wanted to throw down the friendship card, saying he was just looking out for James. James was over this, and Brock. He and Raquel left, and Ariana held up the water bottle James had been holding, which was totally squashed where his hand had been. She asked, what is that?

Next time, the Homebody shoot, Katie meets with Randall and Ariana is late, engagement weekend begins, and Sandoval gets nervous about Brock and Scheana’s wedding plans.

🩰 Pirouetting Off the Stage…

Closing the shop for tonight, but come back tomorrow, when I’m open for soap and whatever the OC is up to. Until then, stay safe, stay always learning something new, and stay not regretting or wanting to change the past, but learning from it.

December 28, 2021 – Sonny Is Called To the Stand, Lala Gives Them a Party, All About Wu, How They Celebrated, Erika’s Edict & My Year

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Scotty asks Willow if Sonny touched on the nature of his relationship with Nina, and she says, he did. Sheridan objects, but Judge Milford says, overruled, and Scotty asks if Willow can be more specific. She says, she overheard Sonny say, whatever happened between us in Nixon Falls has to come from me, and it will. Scotty asks, and what was that? What went on between the alleged victim and the accused? Willow says, love, and Scotty asks if she’s saying Sonny and Nina fell in love in Nixon Falls. She says he’d have to ask them that question.

Brook asks if Chase thinks she wants space, and he says, what else can he think? Sometimes she’s happy that he’s around, but other times, it’s like he’s annoying her or in the way. Olivia comes in with Leo, followed by Ned, and tells Leo that Brook and Chase are in charge; they’re going to be watching him. She seats him at the counter, and Chase asks what he’s got there, looking at Leo’s fidget spinner. Brook asks how Olivia and Ned are feeling, and Ned says, they’re ready for whatever they have to learn. Olivia says, whatever Leo needs, and asks if Brook is okay with being in charge. The last time… Brook says, lose a kid once, you can never live it down, and Olivia says, Leo has two sets of eyes on him today. It’s nice having Chase around. She and Ned leave, and Brook says, too nice.

Obrecht goes to Britt’s office, and Britt says she’s early for lunch. Obrecht says she couldn’t wait one more minute for Britt to open her Christmas present, and hands Britt a thick envelope. Britt thanks Obrecht for understanding why she wanted to work on Christmas, and Obrecht says, she tried not to be offended that Britt would rather be there than celebrating the holiday with her mutter. Britt says, with Obrecht and Scotty practically fused at the hip, she would have been a total third wheel. Obrecht says, Britt could be in love too. In fact, once she opens her gift, she’ll never have to spend another holiday alone.

TJ thanks Shawn for showing him around The Invader, and Shawn says he’s determined to reboot The Invader as a reputable, credible resource for inquiring minds. TJ says, it’s a great new beginning for the paper and Shawn. Now that the PCPD has cleared him of shooting Hayden, nothing can hold him back. Shawn says, what about TJ? Did he forget about their plans to enjoy the game? He didn’t return Shawn’s texts. He’s either crazy busy or something has him preoccupied. Is there something he’s holding back?

At the Bistro, Stella wonders what Curtis wanted to ask her, and he says he just discovered something unexpected about Marshall. It occurred to him how little he knows about the man. She says, that’s not surprising, considering his father hasn’t been in his life since he was a child. So what did he discover? He says he discovered his dad is a musician, and she says, a fine one too. He says, that’s why he called her here, so she could fill in the blanks about his father. Tell him everything there is to know about Marshall Ashford.

Sheridan asks where the relevance is in this line of questioning, and Sonny tries to get Carly to leave, but she says she wants to hear every word. Sheridan asks what bearing this has on the charges, and Scotty says, there is relevance, and he can explain. Sheridan says, it’s not a trial, the witness hasn’t been deposed, and there’s been no appropriate discovery related to her testimony. Scotty says, hell. Sheridan put her on the stand, and he has every right to question her.

Ned and Olivia sit on a bench at the hospital, and she says, the waiting is making her crazy. Ned says he’s nervous too, but they’ve done the research, asked the questions, and observed Leo’s behavior. They’re as prepared as they can be. She doesn’t think any amount of preparation can really prepare a parent for the possibility they can’t… that she can’t provide for her child’s needs. He says, the diagnosis doesn’t change how they feel about their son, and she says, of course (🍷). It doesn’t change how much they love Leo, but Leo needs something she can’t give him. Dr. Newman comes out and says, it’s time to talk about Leo.

TJ says he has something to tell Shawn, but it’s a tricky topic. It’s about someone who makes his Uncle Curtis incredibly uncomfortable, and TJ didn’t feel it was his place to announce his arrival. Even though he wants to reconnect with family, TJ doesn’t want to get to know him without telling Shawn. Shawn says, so some distant family member resurfaced? but TJ says, not so distant. Marshall Ashford is here in Port Charles. Shawn says, Tommy and Curtis’s dad is alive?

Stella asks how Curtis realized his father was a musician, and Curtis says, a group of volunteers was playing for the patients at GH, and there was Marshall playing the clarinet. She says it sounds like his dad, and he says, that’s an example of what he’s talking about. He has no idea of what sounds like Marshall. He doesn’t know the guy, but Stella does. She says, when Curtis was growing up, he never asked about Marshall, and Curtis says, that’s because when his name came up, they saw how much it hurt her and their mom. So he and Tommy made a pact. They weren’t going to cause her and mom anymore grief by asking a bunch of questions about dad. She says, it breaks her heart. She and Irene never wanted them to feel they couldn’t ask questions about their daddy. He says, he and Tommy just decided to go another way, and she asks what he means. He says, it means they made up stories. In their imagination, their dad was courageous and brave; he was a hero. Then Curtis met him, and he was just a man, but he has no idea who that man is. Does she?

Scotty asks how Willow knows Sonny and Nina were in love, and she says, Nina said so. He asks what exactly Nina said, and Willow tells him, she said their love was the purest thing she’s ever known. He asks if she thinks Sonny reciprocated that, and she says, Nina told her that Mike felt the same way. He says, Mike being Mr. Corinthos, and she says, yes, but Nina also said it ended once he got his memories back. Scotty says, once he got his memories back, he decided Miss Reeves wasn’t legally at fault. How telling. No further questions. Sheridan asks for a redirect, and Judge Milford tells him, proceed. Sheridan apologizes that his colleague put Willow in this position. He only has two more questions for her. First, has she ever asked Mr. Corinthos about his alleged romantic relationship with Miss Reeves? Willow says, no, and he says, so they’re taking the defendant, a woman who’s been charged with fraud, at her word. Scotty objects, and the judge tells Sheridan, less editorializing. Sheridan says, final question. Does Willow believe the feelings Miss Reeves had for Mr. Corinthos motivated her to fraudulently conceal his identity? Scotty objects, saying, the DA is asking the witness to speculate what was going on in his client’s head at the time, but the judge overrules, and says, Scotty opened this door. The witness will answer the question.

Brook asks if Leo is ready for some breakfast, but Leo says he had breakfast hours ago. She says, they can’t all be such early risers, and asks what he wants to do today. Does he want to go to the movies, or visit the aquarium? Maybe play with some super nifty action figures his cool stepsister got him? Leo doesn’t say anything, continuing to play with his fidget spinner, and Brook says, okay. She knows what to get him next year. Chase says he thinks they’re pretty cool, and she says now she knows what to get him too. He says, going back to that boundary conversation. How much of it is her dad, and how much is her? Is he getting on her nerves? If he’s around too much, just say the word. Maybe that’s why she’s so grumpy. She flashes back to her dream, and says she’s not grumpy; she’s frustrated.

Britt says, Obrecht signed her up for a matchmaking service? and Obrecht says, not just any matchmaking service. Society Setups is an elite service catering to upwardly mobile professionals. Britt says, uck. Could this be more pretentious? Obrecht sits down, and says she knows Britt is struggling, and for good reason. For all his flaws, Jason Morgan was a remarkable man, but he’s gone; there’s no use pining. Learn from her example instead. She and Scotty bonded while mourning the loss of Franco. If she can find love in the midst of grief, who’s to say Britt can’t too?

Sheridan asks if Willow believes Nina’s personal feelings for Sonny motivated her to fraudulently conceal his identity, but she says she’s not in Nina’s head. She couldn’t tell him what Nina’s motive was, and he says, fair enough. Let him ask a less speculative question. Is it true, the man who called himself Mike in Nixon Falls was single and available to Miss Reeves, while Sonny Corinthos has a wife and a family? She says, yes, and he thanks her, saying, he appreciates her honesty. He has no further questions, and the judge tells Willow to step down. She makes a beeline for the hallway, and Michael follows her. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she never meant for him and his family to find out this way. She didn’t want them to find out at all. He says he’s having a hard time understanding this.

Shawn says, Tommy and Curtis thought that man was dead. Now he shows up? Where’s he been? TJ tells him, he won’t say. He just wants to move forward, but Curtis isn’t having it. He thinks Marshall can’t be trusted. Shawn says he completely agrees with Curtis. Showing up after all these years without any explanation? They both know the past can be complicated. TJ asks if he means like his complicated past with Tommy, and Shawn asks if Marshall knows. TJ says, Marshall knows he’s not his biological grandfather. He saw the Father’s Day post TJ dedicated to Shawn on social media, but he loved Tommy as a father, and Tommy considered TJ to be his son. Marshall knows that too. He still wants to get to know TJ, but if that makes Shawn uncomfortable… Shawn says, it’s up to TJ. He’s a grown man. Curtis is entitled to his feelings about Marshall, but so is TJ. Just be cautious. There’s a knock at the door, and Marshall comes in, saying, he’s looking for the arts and culture… TJ? What is he doing in a newspaper office? TJ says, him first, and Marshall says, he’s putting together a band, and was hoping to generate some interest from an arts and culture reporter. TJ says he’d have to talk to the publisher, who happens to be standing right here; his father, Shawn Butler. He tells Shawn, this is Marshall Ashford, and Shawn holds out his hand, saying, nice to meet him. Marshall says he has no intention of shaking hands with the man responsible for his son Thomas’s death.

Scotty would like the court to note, for the record, the DA questioned the voracity of what his client said to Miss Tate, but he didn’t recall Mr. Corinthos. Judge Milford says, so noted. While it’s the prosecution’s right to call the witnesses they deem appropriate, it’s also within his discretion to call the witness he feels are pertinent. Given there are some questions as to the nature of the relationship between the accused and the alleged victim, he recalls Sonny to the stand. Sonny gets up, and Carly looks like she might explode.

Willow tells Michael, she wishes to God she’d never heard Sonny and Nina. She was in the wrong spot at the wrong moment. He says he’s not blaming her for happening on a private conversation, but why didn’t she tell him? She says, Nina convinced her not to say anything. That keeping quiet was somehow protecting him and his family. He says, she was wrong.

The judge asks if Sonny had a personal relationship with Nina in Nixon Falls, and Sonny says he had many personal relationships when he knew himself as Mike, the bartender. He forged friendships; he built a life. Judge Milford says, they just heard Willow testify under oath that she heard him and the defendant allude that they had a prior romantic relationship. Did she perjure herself? Sonny says, no, she did not. Willow told the truth. The judge says, that truth being what? and Sonny says he and Nina had a relationship, and they ended up falling in love.

TJ tells Marshall, that’s not fair, but Shawn says, it’s okay. He can understand why Marshall feels the way he does. Marshall says, Shawn understands because it’s true. Shawn shot his son, after he slept with his wife. Shawn says he’s made mistakes in his life, and his last encounter with Tommy is something he’ll always regret, but Marshall doesn’t have all the facts. Marshall says, fact: Shawn had an affair with his son’s wife. Fact: he fathered a child with her. Fact: when Tommy confronted him about his betrayal, Shawn shot him in cold blood. Now if he’s missing something, please enlighten him. TJ says, it was in self-defense, and Shawn says, he had no choice. Tommy wasn’t in his right mind.

Curtis asks what he doesn’t know about Marshall, and Stella says, what she knows about Marshall is limited to a few years, decades ago. He says it’s still more than he knows, and she says, Marshall was a very private person, but Curtis’s mom Irene was the center of his world. He waited on that woman hand and foot, unless he was playing that darn clarinet. Curtis will never believe this, but Marshall loved that old thing so much, he gave it a name. Curtis asks what he called it, and she says, Henrietta. He carried it everywhere he went. Irene used to scold him for leaving the case on the kitchen table. Curtis says, then what? and she tells him, like she said, Marshall was very private, but he was also very generous. It seemed Curtis and Tommy would get a pair of new shoes, and barely break them in before Marshall was donating them to the local group home. It drove his mama crazy, but Marshall would just smile and say, his sons have a daddy who can pay for a new pair of shoes with just one gig, but those other boys don’t have nobody.

Chase asks if Brook is saying he’s frustrating her, but she says, it’s not him; it’s the situation. The uncertainty is overwhelming. He says, because she doesn’t know how long it’s going to last, and she picks up an action figure. She says, even though the bad guy is out of commission, it’s only temporary, and they’re stuck in limbo. Chase says, what if the bad guy wakes up, and starts fighting the good guys again? They may have to play these roles indefinitely. She says, yes, and in a perfect world, the villain would retire forever, they could take down the bat signal, and Krypton could return to normal. He says she doesn’t know much about the superhero multiverse, does she? and she says, who cares? The point is, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, bat signal or not. He says, that’s not true. If the bad guy loses his powers, then a woman can get her child back. She says, and another woman has to let go.

Dr. Newman says, when it comes to developmental disabilities, they can’t use straight forward diagnostic tools, like blood tests or X-rays. They rely on history and behavior for diagnosis. Based upon the recent developmental assessment, language evaluation, and the social screening he conducted recently, as well as the supplemental information they provided, it’s his diagnosis that Leo has autism spectrum disorder. Ned takes Olivia’s hand, and she asks if that’s conclusive. The doctor says they’re always free to get a second opinion, but he believes other physicians will concur with his findings. Ned asks, so what’s the next step? and the doctor says, for Leo, they talk about the many state and hospital resources available. For them, he recommends they take some time to process this diagnosis and all emotions it may bring.

Britt tells Obrecht that she doesn’t know how to say this, but she’s not interested. Obrecht says, fine, but people in control of their own romantic destiny often make ein Durcheinander (I’m guessing – it means a mess). Look at Nina. She pinned her hopes on an unavailable man, and her life is unraveling as a result. Britt asks if it’s the guy Nina was seeing in Nixon Falls, and Obrecht nods. Britt asks if Obrecht knows him, and Obrecht says, they both know him. Nina fell for Sonny Corinthos.

Judge Milford tells Sonny, should this case go to trial, the defendant may be found guilty of a crime. In the eyes law, he’d be the victim. Does he consider himself the victim of a crime? Sonny says, no, and the judge tells him, step down. Carly fumes.

The judge asks for closing statements, and Scotty says his client does not stand accused of fraud for monetary benefits. His client is charged with deliberate deception to damage a victim. In his own testimony, Mr. Corinthos, the alleged victim, claims he wasn’t one. No victim, no crime. That’s why he’s asking that the court dismiss the charges today. Sheridan says, whether or not Mr. Corinthos considers himself the victim of a crime isn’t relevant in their system of jurisprudence. This circus today doesn’t negate an undisputed fact; Nina Reeves committed a criminal and civil infraction when she deceived Sonny Corinthos and all who knew him. The state has met its burden of proof. The fact that Miss Reeves deceived a man, who we now know she was in love with, only emphasizes the depth of her depravity.

Willow says Michael parents must be devastated, and he says, Nina claims to love his dad, yet she let this happen? Willow says, she’s not sure Nina knew it would come out, but he says, of course (🍷) she did. Willow might not realize it, but in keeping Nina’s secret, she played into Nina’s hands. Nina got exactly what she wanted.   

Marshall asks what Shawn is implying, and Shawn says he’s not trying to cast aspersions on Tommy; just the opposite. Tommy had every right to  be angry with him, but that day, he went so far beyond anger. He’s sure PTSD was part of it, but Tommy was in crisis and out of control. He pulled a gun on Shawn. He had a black eye coming. It was completely justified and he owned that, but he never expected Tommy to try and kill him. And he never thought he’d have to stop Tommy the way he did. TJ says he fully believes if Tommy had gotten help for his PTSD, it never would have ended that way. It’s not Tommy’s fault, and it’s not his dad’s fault. Marshall says, he’s right. It was his fault.

Chase says he gets it. Brook has been able to keep Bailey safe for months, despite negative attitudes and assumptions coming her way, and however long this lasts, there will come a time when it’s over, and things will go back to their natural state. She’ll have to make yet another huge sacrifice; it’s heroic. She says she’s not calling herself a hero, and he says, maybe not, but he is. Whatever she needs to keep this going, he’s here to help, and when the time comes to say goodbye, he’ll be by her side. She says she appreciates that, but doesn’t want him to feel obligated. He says, they’re not just co-parents to Bailey, she’s his friend. She says, even when she’s grumpy? and he says, yes; the friendship goes both ways. She’s seen him at his worst, and didn’t give up on him. She says, she’s also seen him at his best, and he says, like the time she saw him n-a-k-e-d? Leo says he can spell, and Brook says, of course (🍷) he can, so he needs to w-a-s-h up for lunch.

Olivia gets up and says, processing emotions? It’s not about them, it’s about Leo. Dr. Newman says, learning your child is going to have lifelong disabilities can be challenging. They’ll have to readjust their expectations about how Leo will grow into adulthood, and his diagnosis will likely change what they thought their parenting experience was going to be. It’s okay to be emotional about it. Ned puts his arm around Olivia, and says, they just want to give Leo all the support and opportunities possible. Olivia says she agrees with Ned. They can handle their emotions together. She’s just afraid this will make Leo’s life so much more difficult. The doctor says, it’s an understandable fear, but the good news is, this diagnosis means they can offer appropriate intervention programs for Leo right away. Programs that will help them engage with their son, and help their son engage with the world. It may be helpful to think of raising a child with autism like a road trip. They won’t reach their destination in a straight line; there will be detours, but those detours will lead to discoveries along the way. Ned says he likes that analogy, and asks the doctor to be honest with them. Does that journey lead to Leo having meaningful relationships and living independently as an adult? Olivia says, please tell them it’s possible, and the doctor says, it’s definitely possible for Leo to lead a happy and fulfilled life. GH has extensive resources, and can work with Leo’s school to implement a plan. Ned says, so Leo will be able to remain in school? and the doctor says, every case is different, but many children on the spectrum benefit socially and developmentally from learning I non-ASD classrooms. Olivia asks, what happens next? Does Leo come in to see him again, or…? Dr. Newman says he’d like to check on Leo periodically. He’s also going to refer Leo to a geneticist for further testing. It won’t change the diagnosis, but it might help diagnose medical conditions associated with symptoms of ASD. Just for a complete picture. Do they have any other questions for him? Olivia shakes her head, and Ned thanks the doctor, saying, he’s been very helpful. Dr. Newman says, there’s no reason Leo can’t live his best life. The journey may look different now, but the goal is still the same.

TJ asks how it can be Marshall’s fault; he wasn’t even around. Marshall says, that’s his point. Perhaps if he’d been present to guide his son, Tommy might still be there. TJ says, that’s a lot to carry, but Marshall says, it’s his job to carry it, and he’s been off his job for a long time. He’s glad TJ has a dad to do what he couldn’t – protect his son.

Curtis asks if Stella thinks Marshall even wondered who bought their shoes after he left, but she says she can’t answer that. He asks what Marshall did, outside of his music gigs. Who were his friends? Did he have any other family? She says, he’s asking the wrong person; he needs to ask Marshall. He says he tried. Marshall doesn’t tell him much. She says, could it be he’s asking the wrong questions? Maybe going about it the wrong way? Nobody appreciates being interrogated. Curtis says, Marshall abandoned him, now he wants Curtis to let him back in his life. Doesn’t he deserve answers? She says, of course (🍷). It’s natural for him to be curious, but Marshall is within his right to keep his own counsel. He asks where that leaves them, and she says he should know she met privately with Marshall. She told Curtis that she won’t let anyone agitate this family, and she had to be sure of his motives. He says, and? and she says Marshall wants to get to know Curtis, and it sounds to her like Curtis wants the same thing. So talk to the man. Start small and build from there.

Michael says, Nina swore Willow to secrecy so she could use this as a bombshell, and play it to her best advantage, but Willow says she doesn’t know. Nina seemed grateful that she was keeping her secret; she seemed eager not to cause any more pain. He says, Nina played all of them. Judge Milford says they’re going to take a recess. He’s going to weigh the testimony and evidence presented, and consider the charges. Carly flies out of the courtroom, and Nina says, she didn’t want this. She’s so sorry. Sonny follows her, and Michael wonders what’s going on. Sonny says, he’s going to make this right. Don’t worry about it.

Obrecht tells Britt, Nina’s only hope of avoiding a trial is for Scotty to get someone on the stand to admit Sonny and Nina were in love. Britt says, that would explain why Nina kept going back to Nixon Falls, and what Peter was holding over her head. She wasn’t just trying to protect James, she didn’t want to lose her boyfriend. Obrecht says, now she’s in legal jeopardy, and Britt says, she’s also going to face the wrath of Carly when this comes out.

Chase says he’ll help Brook clean up. Today was a lot of fun, but he never wants to be a source of stress in her life, Maybe her dad is right. Maybe they should set some boundaries. She says. no boundaries. She wants him here.

Marshall leaves, and TJ says he’s sorry for the way Marshall treated Shawn, but Shawn says he has nothing to apologize for. He can’t blame Marshall for wanting to protect his son. He’d do the same thing, forever, if he knew someone hurt TJ. TJ says he knows his uncle has questions about all the years Marshall’s been gone, but everything he’s seen leads him to believe Marshall just wants to be part of this family. He hopes Curtis comes to see that too.

On the phone in his hotel room, Marshall talks to someone he calls Chief, and says he thought he’d be done by now, but he has some unfinished business in Port Charles. The last thing he wants to do is set their progress back… He’s following protocol. There’s a knock at the door, and he says he’ll be in touch. He opens to door to Curtis.

Chase says, he wants to be here too, but after everything Brook has given up, he also wants to respect that she’s entitled to a life of her own. She says, then they’re on the same page. He’ll be there just for appearances. He says, to co-parent Bailey, for as long as it takes. He’ll stay out of her way otherwise. She says, great. Deal. He says, deal, and she asks if there’s anything else. He says, tell their daughter he’ll see her soon.

Olivia says, the doctor seemed nice, and Ned says, yes, and very knowledgeable. Leo will be fine. She cries, and thanks him for bringing her to her senses. She asks where they go from here, and he says, home to be with their son. She tells him, like Dr. Newman said, they start their road trip today, as a family, and she hugs Ned.

Britt says, Obrecht still hasn’t heard from Scotty? and Obrecht says, nein. She has no idea if Nina’s going to get out from under the charges. Britt says, if she does, she might find out that freedom can be worse.

Nina asks what Scotty has done, and he says, he kept her out of a hamster cage. No thanks necessary. She walks out, and sees Willow and Michael. Willow says, Nina used her.  

Sonny tells Carly, wait, and she stops. He tells her to just let him explain. Will she listen to him? She says, listen to who? Mike? Sonny? Or someone else completely?

Tomorrow, Stella is afraid the reality will crush Curtis, Curtis asks if Marshall intends to play house in Port Charles, and Carly asks Sonny how he can say that to her.

Vanderpump Rules

Schwartz and Katie worked out, and in Schwartz’s interview, he said he missed working out in Sandoval’s state-of-the-art gym. Katie asked if he was going through withdrawal, but he claimed he wasn’t. He said, you can mix business with pleasure, but not pleasure with business. Although I’m not sure what the difference that makes. Raquel’s sister Kate paid a visit to Raquel, and James told her about his plan to be totally sober. She said, if he felt his good not without alcohol, imagine how he’d feel quitting everything, Raquel talked about getting Sunstone Villa and Winery for their engagement party, and Kate asked about a bachelorette party. Raquel said that was down the line, but she didn’t want any penis straws. James agreed and added, no strippers, saying, he didn’t want it to be trashy. In his interview, he said strippers were tacky, old, and boring, and we flashed back to someone’s bachelorette, maybe Scheana’s. After James left, Kate asked if he was always overprotective and stern. It sounded like he wasn’t giving Raquel opinions, but making decisions. Raquel said James thought he knew what was best for her, but Kate wasn’t cool with James’s controlling side.

In Lala’s interview, she said, Scheana needed a lot of reassurance in a friendship. Rather than telling Scheana that she had her back, she wanted to show Scheana that she was her friend. She invited Scheana over for a spa day, while a whiskey sommelier catered to their men, since Brock had said he drank scotch. In Brock’s interview, he said he was really more of a tequila guy, but scotch had sounded good at the time. Lala told Scheana about getting an assistant, and in her interview, she said it was time to elevate her brand’s game. She wanted to target an audience she hadn’t tapped into yet. Brock told Randall that he was going to propose to Scheana, and in Brock’s interview, he said, this summer, he realized this could be a thing. By a thing, I assume he means serious. He said he was getting a rooftop place, and telling everyone it was a movie premiere of one of Randall’s movies, so they’d come dressed up. His double-surprise was, they were going to get married right then and there. In his interview, Brock said, he and Scheana had both been married before, and a big wedding wasn’t for them. The surprise factor and quirkiness spoke to them both. Randall was honored and excited.

Katie came by Sandoval and Ariana’s house. Sandoval asked how Schwartz was (remember? they were taking a break), and Katie said he was a little mopey. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he was trying to look at the break as a positive thing. He’d have an opportunity to get things done, but he still missed Sandoval. Katie told Ariana, you’d think someone went off to war. Ariana asked about the sandwich shop, but Katie said Schwartz kept saying, eventually, or telling her that she should do it. Ariana said she was game, and in her interview, she said she wasn’t into owning a bar. She preferred starting and finishing early, and not dealing with stinky alcohol and people puking. In Katie’s interview, she said she was ready to move on from the Schwartz and Sandy mess. They agreed to open a shop together, and clinked glasses.

In her interview, Lala said she was grateful for the women who were helping her raise Ocean. Otherwise, there was no way she could be a mother and have a brand at the same time. James came by, and they discussed James DJ’ing Lala’s launch party. She told him that the party was from seven to ten, and he misunderstood, thinking it was seven to ten hours long, which was pretty amusing. Lala said she’d seen James step into a position of control with Raquel more than once, the latest when he shut down the bachelorette discussion. He told Lala that he wasn’t saying Raquel couldn’t have it, but he was entitled to his feelings.

Lala and Randall met with Brock in Lala’s new office space, and went over the plans for the surprise engagement. He said he had everything for the wedding, including a dress. In Lala’s interview, she said, Scheana loved surprises and a man sweeping her off her feet, but she thought  Scheana was going to be shocked. Brock said the rooftop rental hadn’t worked out, and Randall suggested using an actual movie theater. In her interview, Lala said, Brock wanted to make this happen in two days, and that wasn’t doable. Even though it was a half-baked plan, she still wanted Scheana to enjoy it. And nothing would stop her from making it happen. Randall told his assistant and Lala’s that they were on wedding duty.

In Charli’s interview, she said her feet pics were still for sale. They didn’t raise enough money for Raquel’s nose job, but she loved making money, and wasn’t ashamed of her game. Raquel was concerned about future employment. See You Next Tuesday had begun again, and there was a party for Schnookie’s birthday. In Lisa’s interview, she said she liked to do things for the men in her life. On Ken’s birthday, she did something special, and on Schnookie’s birthday, she did something incredible. Outside, behind SUR, Brock said he’d heard from Lala about James not wanting Raquel to have a bachelorette. James said he was kind of pissed that everyone was nitpicking, especially about something as petty as a c*ck straw. We saw a clip of James saying he thought Raquel liked him making the decisions, and her saying it was the one thing she couldn’t stand.

Lala invited Sandoval over to get glam before the party. Scheana met Charli for lunch, and they were both glad to end their beef. Charli said she’d gotten exhausted, having the same conversation over and over. She asked if Scheana and Brock were getting married, and Scheana said Brock had been planning a surprise, which apparently wasn’t very good as surprises go, since she knew about it. Lala told Sandoval that she was shook; Brock was talking about getting married. Sandoval said he venue fell through, and Lala said, forget the venue. He’d had nothing else planned. In Sandoval’s interview, he said he couldn’t plan a birthday party in two days. James and Raquel’s engagement took him over a month to plan. In Lala’s interview, she said her assistant reached out to Brock for his credit card number, and got radio silence. She told Sandoval that Brock wanted the James Kennedy discount, meaning for her and Randall to pay. In her interview, she said she felt bad that she’d told everyone about Brock’s past, but not bad enough to pay for a wedding. Charli asked if Scheana was down for a surprise wedding, and Scheana said she’d already gotten a couple of dresses. In Charli’s interview, she said she didn’t know the definition of surprised in the dictionary, but she was pretty sure you weren’t supposed to know about it. She asked Scheana if Brock’s visa was ending, and Scheana said he didn’t have a green card, but he’d told her mom he was marrying Scheana because he loved her. The green card was just a bonus. Lala asked if Sandoval was doing Brock’s Homebody shoot, and Sandoval said he was, and he’d signed up for tumbling lessons. He’d always wanted to do an amazing backflip. She said James had told her that Raquel couldn’t have penis straws at her bachelorette. In her interview, Lala said James was insecure when it came to Raquel. Her theory was that one day Raquel would grow a pair of hefty ovaries when she couldn’t deal with the control anymore.

Everyone came to Lala’s Give Them Lala launch party, and in Schwartz’s interview, he said it was weird seeing Sandoval. He suddenly felt self-conscious about the boundaries in their friendship. In Lala’s interview, she said tonight was a party, but it was still business. She had to work the room, and form relationships. GG and Reza from Shahs of Sunset were there, and Lala said she had to be on her effing game. James DJ’d, and Katie and Ariana talked to Lisa about opening the sandwich shop, since the boys wouldn’t let Katie in on the new bar. Lisa told them, don’t get mad, get even. Brock said the venue wanted $20K, and he just started paying child support. In her interview, Lala said, anything to do with payment, Brock drops the ball. Sandoval told James that Lala claimed he’d put a damper on Raquel’s bachelorette, and James said it had just been a suggestion. He thought penis straws were tacky and lame. Sandoval said, sometimes they were funny, and in his interview, he wondered why James was so against c*ck straws. Did he have a bad experience with one? Did he think it was a gateway drug to real c*cks? James admitted he’d been controlling in the past, but he wasn’t now. In James’s interview, he said, Lala had an opinion on literally everything. Everyone had problems, but Lala loved talking about his problems. He told Tom that he didn’t give a f*** what Lala thought of his relationship.

Surprisingly, people actually bought some feet pics. Ariana had sold two to someone she thought was called foot lover in French. She only knew two people who spoke French, and one of them was Lisa. Lisa admitted it was her, saying the phrase was lover of feet. In her interview, she said she didn’t want the girls to be embarrassed that no one bought their feet. She felt like a heel, and didn’t want to toe the line. She wanted to help them get a foot in the door, so she bought the pics. James confronted Lala, saying, Brock and Sandoval told him that she’d thought he was controlling. Lala said she wasn’t worried about anyone’s relationship other than her own, and James said, she was either worried or talking sh*t, but she said it was more casual conversation within the friend group. He seemed to accept this, and in James’s interview, he said that he wasn’t lashing out at Lala proved he wasn’t controlling, angry, and crazy. Everyone needed to mind their own business.

Randall brought out a gorgeous cake, much like a simple and elegant wedding cake, white with gold accents, a giant flower on the side. In Lala’s interview, she said, life was perfect, and wondered, how did she get here?  

Next time, Schwarz and Sandy’s gets a sign, Sandoval is ignorant about what things cost, Scheana’s engagement ring comes and it’s huge, and James gets controlling, angry, and crazy at Brock.

🕶 Meet Celina Selena…

Okay, so I’ve been spelling her name wrong. What else is new?

🎄 Ghosts Of Christmas Passed…

How the soap stars did the holiday.

📜 A Holiday Message…

Erika Slezak brings tidings of great joy.

🚶🏽‍♀️ Slipping Out the Back, Jack…

No OC tomorrow, but I’ll be here for soap and perhaps a drop of tea. Until then stay safe, stay not bothering with those pesky resolutions, and stay knowing that on every road trip, even if there are detours, there will be discoveries along the way.

December 14, 2021 – Michael Gives His Impact Statement, the Toms Take a Break, Madcap Moment, Sad On Deck, Nominees Of Gold & Her List

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Stella tells Curtis, no more secrets, when Marshall walks in. She says, Marshall Ashford. What are you doing here? and he says, Hello, Stella. Good to see her again after all these years.

Austin comes out of the hospital elevator and sees Britt. He says, just the person he was looking for, and she says, lucky her. Does he remember when he said things could only get better? He says, did something prove him wrong? He’s sorry. Let him make it up to her; he has news on her brother. She asks if it’s his obituary, and Austin says, close. He’s in the ER, and he’s more dead than alive. Austin leaves Britt to ponder this.

Maxie asks Finn, arsenic or strychnine? She hopes whoever poisoned Peter took that into consideration. He says, it’s possible it wasn’t intentional. Inmates get botulism from homemade prison alcohol. She says, in solitary? and he says, just speculating. She asks if he speculated the best case scenario, like, what are the top three deadly toxins in a prison? Which one could be killing Peter August right now? He says, if Peter were poisoned intentionally, getting it to him in solitary would take real effort. Who would go to that kind of trouble? She says, who wouldn’t?

Elizabeth peeks out from the ER, and goes to Peter’s bedside. She looks at the scalpel in her hand, and flashes back to Peter saying he’s being persecuted the same way Franco was, and Finn stopping her from attacking him. She remembers finding Peter at the bottom of the stairs when Finn thought he’d killed him, and saying, Peter doesn’t get to take another life; they won’t let him.

Carly comes home, and tells Sonny, she has so much work at the MetroCourt, she can’t believe she let him convince her to blow it off. He says, they need to take a break. Sasha and Michael are going through hell, Michael’s making a statement at Brad’s parole hearing, and everybody’s climbing the walls because Peter August is back. She says, here’s hoping he dies quickly. Although it seems to be taking forever. Sonny asks if they can just focus on the fact that he’s home with his family, and celebrate, and she asks what he means. He brings her into the living room, where everything is decorated, and says, Christmas.

Sasha tells Brando, if she has to stare at these walls much longer, she’s going to scream. Does he think that’s how their little boy feels in the NICU? Does Liam feel trapped in that incubator? He says, no. Liam feels safe, and cared for, and loved. She asks if he thinks Liam can feel that, how much they love him, and he says, of course (🍷) he can. She says, some people go through their whole lives and never have that. Every challenge they have to face, if their son can feel that they love him, isn’t that enough?

Willow asks if Michael feels nervous about the hearing, when Brad is brought in. Michael says he’s never felt more sure about anything in his life.

Brando says, he and Sasha love their son so much, if he’s aware of nothing else, he’ll at least know that. She says, even if his life isn’t perfect, even if it’s hard, he will at least know love. She knows it’s not going to be easy, and at times it will feel impossible, but with Brando as Liam’s dad, they’ll get through it. She’s not giving up. He says, they’ll do whatever it takes to give their boy a fighting chance.

Elizabeth looks at the scalpel, and moves closer to Peter. Finn comes in, and says her name, startling her.

Britt asks Austin, what happened? Did someone attack Peter in prison? He says he’s not clear on the details. Should he not have told her? She says, is he kidding? it’s the best news she’s heard all day. She had to tell terrible news to anxious parents, and she has a very dear friend who has his parole hearing today, and she can’t be there to support him. And she was just recently told, she was a bad influence. He says he’s sure her friend knows she’d be there if she could. As for her being a bad influence…

Celina comes into the hearing, and goes over to Michael. He says it’s a pleasure to see her again, and introduces Willow as Wiley’s mother. Celina says, it’s an honor, and Willow says, for her as well. Celina says she wants Michael to know that she in no way condones what her nephew did. She also wants to assure him, should fortune fall in Brad’s favor, she will be responsible for him. He will never again disturb Michael’s family. Michael says he appreciates it, but after the board hears his statement, there’s no chance in hell her nephew sees the light of day. I guess Michael thinks he’s in Cool Hand Luke.

Sonny tells Carly that Pilar is bringing the kids down from the nursery, and she asks how he managed this right under her nose. He laughs, and says, it’s a gift; does she like it? She says she loves it; it’s beautiful. Has he checked the calendar? They never decorate this early. He says he missed Christmas with his family last year, and wants to make up for lost time. Family is everything. It’s all that matters.

Curtis leads Stella to a seat, and asks if she’s all right. She says she is, but it’s a shock. It really is him. Marshall says he didn’t mean to startle her, and Curtis says, it comes with showing up in places he’s been asked not to. Marshall says he came there to see Curtis. How would he know Stella would be there? Curtis says, that’s beside the point. His presence is unsettling and unwelcome. His auntie is recovering from a stroke. Marshall says, what? He’s sorry to hear that. How’s her recovery coming? Curtis says he’s sure a lot better before she saw him. She thought he was dead, so seeing him alive after all this time, they’re lucky she didn’t have a relapse. She says, actually, that’s not exactly true.

Sonny tells Donna and Avery, look at all those presents, waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. Avery asks if he’s going to be there Christmas morning, and he says, there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Carly says, and he’s going to be there Christmas Eve to help set out the treats for Santa. He says, then he’s going to read them The Night Before Christmas and tuck them in. Last year, he wasn’t able to be there, but it wasn’t his choice. Avery asks, whose choice was it? and he says, it’s so amazing that he’s able to be with his little girls today. He’s going to make up for lost time and never let them down again. Can he get a hug? The girls hug him.

Michael thanks the parole board for being able to address them today. Three years ago, he laid to rest a child he thought was his newborn son, Jonah. His family mourned with him as they buried his baby boy, and grieved for the life he’d never have. Later, they discovered he was actually alive; now being called Wiley and being raised by Mr. Cooper. It was only when Mr. Cooper was forced to tell the truth, that he intentionally misled Michael, his family, and even Brad’s then husband, Lucas Jones. Worse yet, the day he got his son back was the day Willow Tate realized hers was gone forever.

Brando asks if they’re ready, and Sasha asks if they’re ever. Since the day they met, they’ve always been scrambling. Now with Liam coming earlier than expected, here they are scrambling again. Not on the menu, was it? They don’t prepare you. He asks if she’s up for this, and she says, they’re done scrambling. They need to be ready. She wants to start planning to give Liam his best life. How about him? How does he feel? He says, like it’s time to get some answers.

Austin says, he hasn’t been at GH a long time, but he’s been watching Britt, and sees how she is with her patients and her staff. She has a better bedside manner than she thinks, and she’s always fair with the staff. She was more than fair with him when his career was on the line, and he holds Maxie in high regard, and Maxie holds Britt in high regard. She respects Britt and comes to her for advice; she listens to Britt. He doesn’t know who this individual is who says Britt’s a bad influence, but maybe they just don’t know her. At all. Britt pauses a moment, then says, sorry. He says, why? and she says, the reasons she’s terrible usually don’t sound nice. He says he doesn’t think she’s terrible, and she says it’s her job to bolster the staff, not the other way around. He says he won’t tell if she won’t. Brando interrupts, asking if Britt has a minute to talk, and Austin says he’ll leave her to do what she does really well. She says, if Brando and Sasha are ready, she’ll tell them everything they need to know.

Curtis asks, what isn’t true? and Stella says she’s certainly surprised that Marshall… Marshall says, Curtis is right. This was no way for Stella to find out he was still alive. (I’m guessing she knew he was alive by the way she’s looking at him.) If he’d respected Curtis’s wishes, he wouldn’t have disturbed her health. She says she’s fine. She just needs a moment to process his return… and some water. Curtis goes to get her water, and she says, it really is Marshall. He says, here they are. Look at her, like not a day has passed. She asks how he’s here, now, and Curtis says he asked the same question. Marshall wasn’t very forthcoming, so maybe she’ll have better luck getting to the truth.

Finn says Elizabeth doesn’t need that. He reaches for the scalpel, and says, it’s okay. He’s going to take that from her right now. She says he doesn’t understand, but he says he does; he knows. He takes it. Austen comes in, and Finn hustles Elizabeth out. He tells her that he understands she’ll regret it.

Stella says she’s sure Marshall will share his truth when he’s ready, and Curtis asks if he’s really hearing her say that, because she never had such a liberal view of truth telling when she raised them. If his memory serves him correctly, her stand on honesty was pretty cut and dried. She says, lessons are made simple for children; everyone here is grown. Marshall says he knows he can’t take credit for the man Curtis is today, but he can thank Curtis’s aunt for her part in it. In his absence, she made sacrifices. She took responsibility for his family, and he owes her. She says, they all did their best at the time, and Curtis asks how she can say that. They don’t know what this man did after he abandoned his family. Stella says, Curtis… and Curtis says he’s sorry. Out of respect for her, he allowed Marshall to say his piece, but he’s saying nothing. So, sir, please leave; this time for good.

Austin comes out of the ER, and Maxie asks, what’s the latest? He says, nice to see her too, and she says, is Peter going to die? Austin says, Maxie… and she says, please. Just tell her Peter is going to die.

Michael tells the board that Willow chose Brad and Lucas as her son’s adoptive parents. Unfortunately, the baby succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome within hours after being brought home. Then Brad conspired with Michael’s son’s biological mother, the late Nelle Benson, to switch the babies. She convinced Michael that his son had died, while giving his son to Brad to raise. Complicated, yes, but the consequences are still felt to this day. Should they grant Brad parole, a man who has shown a staggering lack of character and judgement, they’d be opening a wound that has just begun to heal. He and Willow implore them on behalf of their sons – the one who is gone, and the one they’re raising together – to protect this community and deny Brad Cooper parole. He thanks them, and a board member says, before they question Brad, would he like to make a statement? Brad thanks them, and says, first, he wants to apologize again to Michael and Willow. He says again because he’s done so before, but he knows no amount of contrition will ever be enough. Today, he’s asking for a chance to try and redeem himself. They have statements from several CO’s and the warden that he’s been a model prisoner. They also have a letter of support from his dear friend Dr. Britt Westbourne. One line from Dr. Westbourne’s letter has stayed with him. Despite his mistake, Brad Cooper is infinitely more capable of virtue than vice. Brad says he’s more than his mistakes. Please grant him parole, and he promises to live a life of virtue.

Carly looks at a keychain that says Caroline on it. Sonny clears his throat, and she looks up. He says, the girls are decorating cookies with Graciela and Pilar; they’re going to be bouncing off the walls. She says, that’s okay. The sugar crash will make them sleep like babies. Look at him. He’s been sampling the icing himself. She wipes his mouth, and he says he sees she found the ornaments. He was thinking of inviting a bunch of people over to trim the tree, and she says she’d love that. He says they can get a head start with the girls. She says, yeah, and he asks, what’s wrong? She says, last year, they trimmed the tree without him; it wasn’t right. He says he knows his coming home hasn’t been seamless, and she says, but it’s a dream come true. He asks if she can promise him something, and she says, anything. He says he wants her to know it’s all right to share her feelings about Jason.

In Finn’s office, Elizabeth says she can’t believe what she almost did, and he says, that look on her face. He recognized it. When Peter dangled the antidote that would save Chase in his face, and then threw it off the roof, it was that same look of rage that made him want to push Peter down the stairs. She says, if he hadn’t stopped her… and he says he wanted to spare her the regret he had, thinking he’d almost killed someone. She says, spare her? Peter murdered her husband. He’s the reason Jason is dead, and the reason her boys are in a constant state of grief. If he hadn’t spared her, she could have given her sons some semblance of justice. But no, Peter is still alive because she couldn’t rid the world of the monster Finn tried to kill.

Austin says, Maxie knows he can’t discuss Peter’s medical condition with her, and she says, please. She has the right to know if this nightmare she’s living is going to end. He says, all right. Here’s what he can say. Wow. That guy behind the curtain is in really bad shape. She says, and? and he says, and whoever did this to Peter, it was intentional, not an accident. Someone wanted him dead. That doesn’t surprise her?

Carly tells Sonny, Jason gave her the keychain years ago, when she showed up on his doorstep pregnant with Michael. She told him Carly Roberts was really Caroline Benson, Bobbie’s long lost daughter. They spent that Christmas together, and every year she puts it on the tree, and remembers. Sonny puts the keychain on the tree, and she puts her arms around him from behind. She says she he knows things have been hard for him, with how complicated things had gotten with Jason. As much as she misses Jason, there is only one man in her life, and it’s him. She kisses him, and says, they’re going to get through this, as long as they keep being open with each other.

A board member tells Brad that the panel will deliberate, and inform him of their decision at the earliest opportunity. He thanks Michael for his statement, and says, this hearing is adjourned. Michael looks at Celina.

Curtis tells Marshall that he won’t say it again. Get out of his club and stay out of his life. Marshall nods, and tells Stella to take care of herself. He starts to leave, but Stella says, stop. She knows Curtis’s father’s reappearance in his life has thrown him, but Curtis says, Marshall hasn’t been his father for a very long time. Stella says, he’s always been Curtis’s father. Whether he’s been around or not, or whether Curtis likes it or not, Marshall Ashford is the only father Curtis has. And by some miracle, he’s standing here, whole and well. Curtis asks what she’s suggesting; that they pick up where they left off? He’s a little too old for toy lawnmowers. She tells him that she’s not saying that at all, but what has it cost Marshall to show up here? At least hear him out. Curtis tells her that Marshall has nothing to say. He’s a ghost with no public record, who makes sketchy references to a possible danger. Marshall says, just hear him. As much as it killed him to go, every minute he remained in their lives, he put Curtis and Tommy at risk. If he’d stayed, what kind of father would it have made him?

Britt says she’s happy to answer as many questions as Brando and Sasha can think of, but she needs to provide a more thorough explanation of their son’s prognosis. Liam’s brain is severely impaired. Sasha says, they know that, and Brando says, it’s already been explained to them, but Britt says she needs to clarify what that means. Liam will never breathe on his own. He will never open his eyes, never recognize their voices or have any awareness of his surroundings. Life for Liam will entail permanent ventilation, a feeding tube, and around the clock care. Sasha says, they know it’s a lot. If it’s too much for them to care for him at home, they’ll bring him here. Britt says, General Hospital’s not set up to care for what their son needs, and Brando says, then where? Britt says, they’d have to transfer Liam to a long-term care facility, and Sasha says, away from his parents? No. He needs love. There must be a way for Liam to come home. Britt says, she’s sorry to be so blunt, but Liam’s quality of life… Sasha says, he won’t have any quality of life without them. If Britt refuses to help them, they’ll find someone who will.

Curtis says, so it wasn’t safe for Marshall to come back when Tommy died, and it wasn’t safe when his mom died. In all those years, it wasn’t safe when Aunt Stella took on his responsibility, but now it’s safe for him to waltz back in here, and they’re required to do what? Be his captive audience? Stella says Curtis has every right to answers, and someday his father provide them, but can Curtis consider for a moment that Marshall was trying to protect him? Curtis says, from what? and Marshall says, a complex situation that would had repercussions on the entire family, and still could. Curtis says, what situation and what repercussions? Tell him; he can take it. Marshall says, just know he didn’t leave because he wanted to; he left because he had to. Curtis says, this is bull, but Marshall says, it’s all he has to offer Curtis, at least for now. Curtis says, it’s not enough, and Marshall says, it’s enough for TJ. Curtis says he thought he told Marshall to stay away from TJ, and Marshall says, he came here to reconnect with his family. Blood or no blood, TJ is his family. If TJ, Tommy’s son, wants to have a relationship with him, it’s his call. If Curtis wants to have one, Curtis can find him at the Harbor View Inn. He leaves, and Stella says she’s so sorry. Curtis asks what she has to apologize for.

Sonny opens the door to Michael, Willow, and Wiley, and asks how the parole hearing went. Willow says, Michael was very eloquent, and Sonny says he doesn’t doubt that. Michael says he didn’t expect to give his impact statement in front of Celina, and Sonny says, she is Brad’s aunt. Willow asks if Wiley would like to say hello to Grandma Carly, and they leave. Michael says he hopes he didn’t make it awkward for Sonny’s business relationship, and Sonny says he told Celina that Michael had every right to oppose Brad’s release, and she understands. Michael says he’s glad the hearing is over. He just wants to put all this business with Brad behind them.

Carly asks if Wiley wants to go to the kitchen, and have cookies with Donna and Avery, and he says he does. She tells him, go, and he leaves. Willow says, it’s like a wonderland in here; Carly really went all out. Carly says she can’t any credit; Sonny did it all. Willow says, good for him, getting back in the swing of things, and Carly says, he missed last year, and thought the family needed a big dose of Christmas. Any word about Brad? Willow says, not yet, but Michael spoke so passionately, she’s sure he got through to the parole board. Carly says, whatever happens, Wiley has the full protection of the family. Willow says she knows, and she appreciates that, and Carly says, but? Willow says, no buts. She knows Carly always has Wiley’s best interest at heart, even when they don’t see eye to eye. Carly says she may tend to chime in when it comes to her grandson, and appreciates Willow’s grace, and Willow says, Carly’s instincts tend to be spot on.

Elizabeth tells Finn, her boys loved Franco. Not because she loved him, but because he earned it. He reached Jake through art, and helped Aiden be comfortable with who he is. Cameron was a battle and a half, but Franco was willing to give his life for that boy, and Peter ripped Franco away from all of them. She wanted to hurt him like he hurt her. Finn says she knows that’s not how it would have gone. If she’d succeeded, she’d go to prison, and allow Peter to take from Cameron, Jake, and Aiden, allow him to take their mother on top of everything he’s already taken. He doesn’t think Franco or Jason would want that. When he thought he’d killed Peter, he wanted to go to the police and confess, remember that? She stopped him from making a choice that would have taken his daughter from him. He’s returning the favor, like it or not. She can be as angry as she wants, but it’s not going to drive him away from her.

Brando says he and Sasha are frustrated with the situation, not Britt. They appreciate her time. Sasha says she’s so sorry, but Britt tells her, don’t apologize. She can’t possibly imagine what they’re going through. She would help them look into everything they need for home care, if it were feasible. If they want a second opinion, or third, or fourth, or if they want to talk to every specialist on the planet, she’ll reach out for them and make it happen, but they should consider Liam’s likely lifespan and quality of life. Brando says, a lifespan of how long? and Britt says, he could live for years. Sasha says, years, with hope in her eyes, but Britt says, in a permanent vegetative state. Brando says, as to quality of life? and Britt says, he would have none. Liam is being kept alive by machines, and his little body is vulnerable to seizures, pneumonia, sepsis, sepsis shock, fractures, and the high likelihood of bed sores. She’s so sorry to be so direct, but she can’t leave them make this decision without seeing the full picture. Sasha asks how they can make a decision when they don’t know all the options, and Brando says, it sounds like Dr. Westbourne is saying there’s only one option. Sasha says, what’s that? and Britt says, to take their son off life support. Brando says, they let Liam go, and Sasha says, no, and cries in his arms. 

Brando asks what Sasha is thinking, and she says, she’s thinking, even though he’s only been here such a short time, she can’t imagine a world without Liam in it. Brando says, him neither, and she says, then they don’t have to, right? There must be something they can still do. This can’t be the end of the road.

Finn tells Elizabeth, next time she needs to unload, unload on him. If she wants to punch it out, his shoulder’s all hers. Anything she needs to move forward, he’s right here. She kisses him, and jets.

Curtis says he hopes it didn’t rattle Stella, seeing Marshall after thinking he’s long dead. He promises not to allow that man to haunt or guilt her, or TJ. She says, Curtis Ashford gonna do what he’s gonna do, and TJ’s got a good head on his shoulders. And it’s not like Marshall can surprise her again. Curtis says, well, he’s gone, and she says, what he needs to do is give her a tour of his beautiful club. Live his life, and free himself from all the burdens of the past. It’s what his mom would want. Curtis agrees, and Stella says, how about if she makes him a promise? As long as there’s a breath left in her body, she’s not going to allow anything or anyone to upend this family. They hug.

Michael picks up Wiley, who puts an ornament on the tree, and everyone is all, yay! Carly says they have to pick out the next ornament, and goes over to Sonny by the tree. She asks, what’s this? indicating a gift, and he says she’s got to wait until Christmas. His phone rings, and it’s Celina. She said, the parole board has made its decision. Her nephew is being released in a few days. He has her gratitude. He says, a deal’s a deal, and Carly asks if everything is okay. Sonny says, everything is good, and Carly goes back to the kids, saying, they have to put more ornaments on; start looking. Sonny looks grim.

Tomorrow, Kristina says, it’s a disaster waiting to happen; Chase tells Finn, stop looking if something’s not there; Michael says Brad gets no second chances with his family; and Britt tells Celina, she has no idea who she’s messing with.

Vanderpump Rules

In James’s interview, he said he’d been going less to social events, and we flashed back to him drinking through the week. He told Raquel it wasn’t about him questioning his sobriety; he was done with it. He’d been to three events that week, and was tired. Raquel suggested they get together with friends and family, and celebrate their engagement. She thought it would be fun to go somewhere outside L.A. Everyone else was hanging out at TomTom. Sandoval told Lala that Ariana thought he was taking her to a late birthday lunch, but they were really going to Madcap Motel (see below). He took Katie aside, and they sat in a booth. Katie said the situation at her house got out of hand, but he said his goal was to create situations where they were not only hanging out having and having fun, but making money. They were getting to the next level, and he’d worked his ass off to turn his and Schwartz’s friendship into a brand, and bring money into her household. He also had to deal with Schwartz’s insecurities, so he seemed like he was extra and pushing it. Katie said she had a different perspective. She saw it as Sandoval thinking his ideas were better. He said he was protecting Schwartz’s interest, and had his back. She told him that all she was saying was to listen to her husband’s ideas. He took credit for what Schwartz had done, and wanted to dress him up like a Barbie, and put him in a sidecar. We flashed back to Sandoval doing just that, and he told Katie that he built people up and praised them; she just wasn’t there to see it. She told that she wasn’t saying he didn’t support Schwartz, but he had an effing ego problem. He said, so did she, having been reduced to elementary school responses. Katie told Schwartz that Sandoval was an effing a-hole, and in his interview, Schwartz said the mediating was killing him inside. He wanted to throw his hands up and walk away. Go to Florida and open a tiki bar. In Lala’s interview, she said Sandoval was like the other woman in Schwartz’s life; he was like Schwartz’s mistress. They had cocktails and manifested sh*t. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he couldn’t have days where everything was falling apart because Katie and Sandoval were butting heads. He knew he had an issue with riding the fence, but they both had valid points. They needed three-way couples therapy.

Brock and Scheana talked about the photo shoot for Brock’s company, HomeBody. In Brock’s interview, he said he didn’t think he’d been asking for too much. He wasn’t asking for a kidney. Scheana whined about Charli saying she hadn’t been a good friend lately. Sorry; she just had a baby. Brock asked why she was always apologizing, and she said if Charli felt hurt, her feelings were valid. He said, what about Scheana’s  effing feelings? Scheana said she felt she’d been rightfully selfish. It had been a year since her miscarriage. When she was pregnant with Summer, she’d been afraid of getting sick, or being around anyone. All she cared about was the baby.

Katie paid a visit to Villa Rosa – Puffy! – and in her interview, she said she didn’t like asking for Lisa’s time, but she understood the restaurant business, and had officiated at their wedding. Who else would she ask when the business put a strain on her marriage? Katie told Lisa about her conversation with Tom, and how it went bad. He’d taken credit for the TomTom brand. In Lisa’s interview, she said it had been her idea, and she’d surprised them at Schwartz’s wedding. We flashed back to that, and Lisa said Katie had put having a baby on hold, and in one way, this had been her baby. Katie said, now it was just Schwartz and Sandoval’s, and asked if Lisa thought they were ready to open their own place. Lisa said, no, but they were working with someone who had experience. She did think Greg might get frustrated with the Toms chasing their own tails. Katie said Schwartz’s defense of Tom made her upset, and Lisa said she would not let her husband have more loyalty to another man than her.

As Sandoval and Ariana got ready for the fake dinner, Sandoval said he thought Katie was being unfair. Ariana said Lala thought there was more going on between Schwartz and Katie, and they should take a break. Sandoval thought that was terrible advice, and Ariana thought it was extreme, but in her interview, she said there must be something Lala knew that she didn’t. In Sandoval’s interview, he sai,d the Madcap Motel was an awesome art installation with different rooms and actors. He was stoked. He and Ariana went into a pseudo laboratory, then walked through a decontamination chamber, to find all their friends waiting. Sandoval said they were to enter at their own enjoyment, and thanked everyone for coming. He told them to have drinks and explore. They went to the rave room, which Scheana said was a combination of Stranger Things and the Twilight Zone. It would be a fun place to take mushrooms. The Toms went to standard motel room that was slanted, and sat on the bed. Schwartz said he didn’t want to kill the vibe, but Katie told him some crazy sh*t. She’d told him that Sandoval said he was the one making the money, and made it sound like Schwartz was a charity case. Sandoval acted like he never heard of such things, when everything Katie told Schwartz was what he’d said. Sandoval said their friendship was a brand now, but Schwartz said they weren’t creating a brand, just awesome sh*t. Sandoval was like, no, it’s a brand, and Schwartz said he knew Sandoval spearheaded things, and embraced it. But Katie thought Sandoval was taking him away from his wife, and she was going to unravel. Sandoval got all animated, and Schwartz told him, easy. Katie and Lala’s conversation on the subject was much more concise. Katie told Lala what Sandoval had said, and Lala called him a little punk ass bitch.

After Madcap Motel, the group went to a bar called Tramp Stamp Granny’s. Sandoval toasted to Ariana, the love of his life, and said they were all lucky to know her. In Katie’s interview, she said Tramp Stamp Granny’s was a great name for a bar. In James’s interview, he said he didn’t know anything about Brock’s HomeBody app, and told Lala that he wasn’t doing it for free. His Instagram was a whole other thing, and he didn’t want to advertise for Brock. Lala said James was the best roller coaster she knew. James talked about staying sober, and Lala said, even though that was the goal, it wasn’t about not drinking. It was about being a better human. In Lala’s interview, she said James had done a lot of self-work. He still had outbursts, but giving up alcohol was a big deal. I agree, especially in the business he’s in. A ton of pizza arrives, and James gets everyone to chant, pizza! Ariana sat with Charli and Raquel, and ate a miniscule amount of toppings off Raquel’s slice. They talked about Scheana, and Raquel said Scheana had asked her to end friendships. Ariana said she and Scheana went through some f***ed up sh*t as friends. When she started dating Sandoval, Scheana thought he was the devil. We flashed back to Scheana discouraging the pairing, and in Ariana’s interview, she said their friendship almost ended, but they were like family now. Ariana went to the bar, announced she hadn’t eaten anything all day, and promptly fell on her ass. In her interview, she said, when Sandoval told her they were  going to dinner, she didn’t eat. Things were escalating. She yelled, it’s my effing birthday! and tried to have a conversation with Katie. She suggested she and Sandoval, and Katie and Schwartz all go to the dinner the next night, but Katie said she’d rather do anything else. Ariana offered to lick both their buttholes, and cupcakes with candles in them came out. Perfect timing. I thought she was so drunk, she wasn’t even going to remember this. Ariana smashed a cupcake on Sandoval’s face, then proceeded to lick it off. She told him that she hated chocolate (who hates chocolate?), and yet she was still licking it off his face. She effing loved him.

Lala talked to Randall about getting an assistant, and in her interview, she said she’d started off with a lipstick, and now she was a successful brand. Since becoming a mom, she’d been overwhelmingly busy, and she was planning a Give Them Lala beauty party. Randall had suggested she get an assistant so she’d stop harassing his. Randall told one candidate that the company was all Lala. He’d wanted to be a part of it, but she kicked him to the curb. In Lala’s interview, she said she did it all herself. She didn’t want to be dependent on a man. Candidate Jessica worked for American Idol, and was good with social media. She told Lala that she knew what it was like to be a filter. She was the chosen one, and Randall said Lala did great.

In Schwartz’s interview, he said the whole thing had reached a breaking point. Something had to give, and it wasn’t going to be his wife. He wasn’t choosing Sandoval over Katie, ever. Maybe he and Sandoval needed to sort some things out. Ariana told Sandoval that it mattered to her to have Katie in their lives, and Tom whined that women were entitled to yell, but as a straight man, if he raised his voice, he was wrong. Katie told Schwartz to look Sandoval in the eye and say, you can’t talk to my wife that way. Let him know who’s effing number one. He went to Sandoval and Ariana’s house, and I was impressed with how quickly they got a drink in his hand. I didn’t even see anyone pour it. It was like magic. Poof! A drink.

Ariana made herself scarce, and Schwartz said something had been weighing on him since the blow-up at TomTom. Sandoval agreed it had been dark and depressing, and Schwartz said, the bottom line was, he needed Sandoval to respect Katie. Sandoval said he wanted to keep his distance from Katie. He felt like no matter what he said or did, it got twisted. Schwartz said it was partly his fault, and he took responsibility for that, but Sandoval needed to give Katie a higher level of respect, and she’d extend the same courtesy to him. Sandoval thought it was best they stick to being business partners, and keep non work related socialization to a bare minimum. Bar hopping wouldn’t be happening for a while. Schwartz agreed they should take a break, and in his interview, he said it sucked to keep it strictly business, but thought it’s what had to be done. Schwartz told Sandoval that they could still have some fun; 90% business and 10% pleasure.  

Next time, Brock wants to propose to Scheana, James asks Raquel if he’s controlling, and Schwartz becomes self-conscious about the boundaries in his and Sandoval’s friendship.

😵 It’s a Madcap World…

It looks like a really cool place.

🛥 Deck’s Loss…

I’d just watched the first season again not long ago. He seemed like a nice guy, but it sounds like he didn’t exactly live a healthy lifestyle.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1313178/below-deck-mediterranean-star-captain-mark-howards-cause-of-death-revealed

🏆 They’re Golden…

Hard to believe it’s almost 2022.

Winners & Nominees

⚽️ Kicking Back…

Tomorrow, the usual soap, and I’ll see what Fancy Pants is up to in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay not letting the holidays be a big stress ball, and stay being infinitely more capable of virtue than vice.