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November 26, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Asks Willow To Marry Him, Soap Suds, This Week in Reality, Weekend Watching, Final Bow, Good Carpet, Thanksgiving Tradition, The Latest In Faunae, A Bit Less Than 10 Quotes & Song

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

In bed with a sleeping Jack, Carly flashed back to telling him that she wasn’t backing out and kissing him. Jack woke up and asked if she had any regrets, but she said, no. She made her choice and was sticking to it.

At the hospital, Lucas apologized to Elizabeth for being grumpy. He hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep his first night at Windymere. She asked if he wanted to talk about it, and he said, everything was great until it wasn’t.  

Dante visited Rocco at the detention center.

At the station, Turner told Nathan that Dalton was supposed to come to her office at 9 am and never showed.

Laura went to her office and Sonny was there. He told her that they needed to conduct business as usual, and she said her priority was Rocco. She was going to work quickly to get him out of there. Sonny said he needed to tell her what happened to Dalton.

Jason went to see Britt and said he wouldn’t have left unless it was absolutely necessary. She said she knew how it worked. Why was he there? He said he wanted to make things right.

Jack said hurting Carly was the last thing he’d wanted and not telling her that Vaughn was in the WSB did that. He was doing what he could to keep his work life separate from her family life. She said they both had to figure out how they fit together, but it might take a while. She went to shower, and Jack called Josslyn and asked where his update was. Josslyn was in bed with Vaughn.

Sonny said it wouldn’t be long before the cops were asking questions and asked if Laura had any trouble with her car. She said, no, but she didn’t look in the trunk, and he said there were no traces inside or out. She asked if there was anything that would link her to the body, but he said there was no body.

Josslyn told Jack that she’d told her mom that it was Lucas’s choice to move in with Marco and they should support him. Her mom was furious, but she scored points with Lucas and thought he considered her a confidant. Jack said he’d follow up later and told her to make up with her mother. She asked if it was for the good of world security or his and Carly’s relationship, and he said, both. She wondered if Jack knew she and Vaughn had spent the night together, and Vaughn said he hoped not.

Jason said Britt could trust him and asked her to tell him what her connection to Dalton was. She said she appreciated that he came back and accepted his apology, but didn’t understand what he expected. He said, the truth. Without it, he couldn’t help her. She said she wasn’t asking for his help. It was her problem to deal with. He could do what he did best and leave.

Turner told Nathan that she’d called Dalton more than once and there had been no answer or returned calls. If she didn’t hear from him within an hour, she was going to ask Nathan to take him into custody. She was starting to believe he’d set up Rocco.

Rocco told Dante that he hadn’t destroyed Dalton’s lab, and Dante said he believed him. Danny and Charlotte were also backing him up and were going to testify. Rocco said they couldn’t. Charlotte was already on the PCPD’s radar and if Drew found out Danny was involved, Danny would never see Scout again. Dante said it was one thing when it was a misdemeanor, but Rocco was facing criminal felony charges. It was their best strategy. Rocco said, what if it backfired? but Dante said it wouldn’t. Rocco stepped up for them, and they wanted to step up for him.

Jack asked what was troubling Carly, and she said she didn’t know what Josslyn had been thinking, encouraging Lucas to move into Windymere. She’d made no allowances that Sidwell was their housemate. She asked Jack’s opinion, and he said it wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but he thought she should make peace with Josslyn and Lucas.

Josslyn told Vaughn that Lucas didn’t deserve this. He was kind and generous, and he’d been through so much. His last ex scared him so much, he moved away for years. Now he was finally back and with a guy she knew was bad news and living on Spoon Island with Jenz Sidwell and whatever lethal project Sidwell was working on, but she couldn’t warn him. She’d had the worst fight with her mom while thinking, she was so right. Lucas should never have moved in. Vaughn said she needed to consider the bigger picture. What was more important, Lucas’s broken heart or shutting down Faison’s final project? She said, obviously shutting down Sidwell was for the greater good, but she hated that Lucas would be collateral damage and would end up with one more broken heart.

Lucas told Elizabeth that he felt Marco still blamed Sonny for his mother’s death. He thought what happened was a tragedy, but couldn’t put it on Sonny. Sonny and Marco’s mom were sort of close, and he could see how Marco thought Sonny played a part. Eventually that happened when Marco disappeared. He flashed back to telling Sonny that if he touched Marco again, he’d be back with the police, and said Marco had plenty of reasons to hate Sonny. Sonny had never faced the consequences for the things he’d done. Since Measure C failed, it didn’t look like he would. Elizabeth said she supported his relationship, but a lot of people he cared about, cared about Sonny. Maybe he should take a step back and let Marco fight this battle on his own.

Jason said he’d never tell Britt how to live her life, but there was one key difference between them. She had an illness. She may hate the idea of needing anybody, but there would come a day when she was going to need someone.

Dante said that didn’t mean Rocco wasn’t in trouble. What he did was dangerous, stupid, and illegal, and had serious consequences. He didn’t deserve to be in there. He needed to stay strong for 24 hours and get to his bail hearing. Rocco said he could do that and asked if Dante thought he’d be home for Thanksgiving. Dante said he didn’t know.

Laura said she’d been up all night searching her apartment for anything that tied her to the body, and Sonny asked if she found anything, but she said she didn’t. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to put Dalton’s body in her trunk and might have taken extra steps to tie her to it. He said that was smart, and she said it occurred to her that maybe she’d played into their hands, covering it up. She thought they should put the body back and she should tell the truth, but she’d keep him out. He said she couldn’t do that. She’d already lied to Nathan, and Nathan knew he’d helped her with her tire. She would open them both up to potential criminal charges. Their grandson already had charges of his own. Rocco was better off with Dalton dead. She said she guessed he was right, and he said he’d never lie to her. She told him that what she’d said to Dalton could be considered a motive, but he said, no body, no crime. She had to live her life and act surprised when she found out Dalton disappeared. Martin walked in with flowers and saw Sonny there. He said she’d won the election, but Mr. Corinthos had jeopardized the whole damn thing.

Josslyn said she’d signed up for the risk, and Vaughn said, but Lucas didn’t. She said she hated lying to the only people she trusted and using someone she loved who was completely innocent and putting them in danger. She snuggled against him and said she didn’t know what to do with all of that. He said if the moment came when she couldn’t take it anymore, he’d back her when she said it was time to get Lucas out of the situation. If Brennan didn’t go for it, they’d do it themselves. She said it would put them both in a lot of danger, and he said, probably, but if she took the risk for her uncle, he’d take the risk for her. They kissed.

Carly said, Jack thought she should apologize to Josslyn and Lucas? and he suggested she reach out to Lucas and apologize for not taking his relationship seriously. Marco would eventually reveal who he was to Lucas, who would be sadder, but wiser. She said she understood Lucas, but didn’t understand why Josslyn supported his decision. Jack said maybe Josslyn supported his happiness, but Carly said, the path to happiness didn’t run through Windymere. He said it was clear she and Josslyn had a special bond and loved each other very much, and she said it meant so much to her that he understood how important her daughter was to her. He said she was just as important to him, when his phone chimed. She said she was going to check on the food, but he said, don’t call on his account. He had a last-minute meeting.

Martin asked if Sonny being in Laura’s office was wise, since he nearly cost her the election, but Sonny said they were family. They had a grandson in trouble. Laura said if the public had concerns, she’d have a press conference and answer any questions, and Sonny said he didn’t want to waste any more of her valuable time. He was going to see Rocco. Sonny left, and Martin said nobody had more respect, love, and concern for her grandson, but she couldn’t be blind to who Sonny really was.

Turner told Nathan that she had to pull the plea deal, but now the forensics report said there was nothing in the lab to back up Dalton’s accusations. Nathan wondered if Dalton didn’t want to perjure himself, and she said he’d dug one helluva hole for himself with the DA’s office. Dante came in and said he’d just come from visiting Rocco. He was terrified. Turner said she was doing everything to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Keep her posted. She left, and Dante asked what she meant. Nathan said he thought she was trying to get Rocco off.

Britt told Jason that she was in remission and felt and looked great. He asked how long she thought it would last. Any time he broached the subject, she was vague. She said maybe she didn’t like talking about it or thinking how it would end. She lived in the now. He said he understood, but she’d seemed healthy since he found her and she never gave him a good explanation. Was working at the Five Poppies what she had to do to stay in remission?

Carly met Josslyn outside the hospital, and said she was there to see Lucas, but was glad she ran into Josslyn. She was sorry about how she’d acted. She was upset about Lucas and took it out on Josslyn. She wished she could say she’d stop worrying, but she couldn’t. Josslyn said Carly wouldn’t be her mom if she wasn’t worried about something, and Carly said she didn’t want it to come between them. Josslyn said she was sorry for not backing Carly. She understood why Carly didn’t want Lucas to move to Windymere, but obviously Lucas cared for Marco and moving in was up to them. Carly said she’d handled the situation badly, but she wasn’t wrong to worry. What kind of man moved his boyfriend in with a man as dangerous as Sidwell? Did she think Lucas could trust Marco?

Lucas said he saw Marco was in pain and wanted to help, but Elizabeth said he couldn’t ignore the animosity between Sonny and Sidwell. There were things he didn’t know about, which was probably a good thing. Just support Marco and celebrate him, but don’t go all in for him against Sonny. He already lived on an island. Don’t isolate himself further and cut himself off from his family.

Dante said Turner was prosecuting the case, but Nathan said he got the impression that the forensics report was good news for Rocco and bad news for Dalton, who was a no-show. He thought Dalton was running scared because he’d given a false statement. Dante said he was sending a car to the house and the university. They had to find this guy now.

Rocco had obviously been roughed up, and the guard tried to make excuses, but Sonny told him, stop lying. If he didn’t, he had no idea what kind of trouble Sonny could land on him.

Vaughn met Jack, who said he assumed Vaughn had something for him. Vaughn said he’d gotten information from a friend that Dalton was throwing them back at the Brown Dog. When he got there, Dalton was pretty loose. Jack asked if he was loose enough to be useful, and Vaughn said he was saying things he shouldn’t. He’d told Josslyn that he had another lab off campus. Jack said, Josslyn was there? and Vaughn said Dalton was liquored up enough to be sloppy and it was a good opportunity, so he called Josslyn in. Jack asked if he wasn’t worried about her safety, and Vaughn said he’d trained her, but hung around in case she needed back-up. Jack asked if that was all he did.

Carly told Josslyn that Marco was smart enough to know who his dad was. If he was willfully ignoring it, he only cared about what he wanted and he wanted to move Lucas in. If that was the case, he didn’t love Lucas at all. Josslyn said, maybe he didn’t, but it didn’t matter. Lucas made his decision, and from his point of view, it sounded like she was making him choose between her and Marco, and she didn’t think Carly would like who he chose.

Rocco said it looked worse than it was, and the guard tried to make excuses again, but Sonny told him to shut his mouth. The guard left, and Sonny asked, what happened? Rocco said he was fine. They’d pulled the guy off before he could do much. Sonny asked why someone came after Rocco, and Rocco said he didn’t know, but thought it was because his dad was a cop.

On the phone in his car, Nathan said there was no sign of Dalton on campus. He was at the MetroCourt, and Dalton wasn’t there either, but his car was in the parking lot. Housekeeping let him into Dalton’s room, but he couldn’t trace Dalton’s phone. He was going to contact Dalton’s assistant to see if they could give him something. Dalton’s disappearance could delay the bail hearing. Dante said there was no way Dalton was going to set Rocco up then drop off the face of the planet. They had to find him and get Rocco out today.

Britt said it was her life and her condition. Jason didn’t get a say. Jason said he wasn’t judging her, but still wanted to help. Whatever her terms were, he’d accept them. She didn’t have to face this alone. He let her down and would probably do it again. He wasn’t perfect, but he was doing his best. He knew sometimes his best wasn’t enough, but she could trust him. She was pushing him away, but he wasn’t going anywhere. He was going to prove she could trust him.

Laura said Martin had forged Monica’s will, but he said he’d been trying to right a wrong. She said he was trying cheat Tracy, and he said Tracy drove him to it… All right. She was right. It was stupid and not the smartest move, but anything he did paled in comparison to what Sonny committed every day. Laura said Martin didn’t know Sonny or what he did, but Martin said he’d like to think he knew her. He got why she’d had a blind spot for their brother, but Sonny was the same. She said Sonny and Cyrus were nothing alike, but he said he wasn’t sure. He’d push Cyrus away and Cyrus would pull him back in. Deep down he was convinced there was something good because of Cyrus’s genuine love for their mother and his sincere desire to have a relationship with them. That’s why he always made excuses for Cyrus making the same mistakes. There was a whole lot more to Sonny than she was willing to admit. She said Sonny had sense of justice. He could tell the difference between who was innocent or guilty, unlike their brother. He said Sonny was a gangster and corrupt. The closer she was to him, the more likely she was to get pulled down with him. For instance, she won the election and Measure C was done, but Sidwell wouldn’t stop until he made her and Sonny pay for it. Laura flashed back to Sonny saying, somebody didn’t like the results, and her telling him, it was Sidwell. She told Martin that he may be right.

Rocco said, please don’t tell his dad, and Sonny said it wasn’t about his dad. It was about him. His dad may be a cop, but he was Rocco’s grandfather and everybody in there, kids included, knew his name. He was all for people facing the consequences of their actions, but they all knew Dalton had framed Rocco. Rocco said he could stick it out for 24 hours. His dad said there would be bail hearing. Sonny said he wanted Rocco home for Thanksgiving. He wanted everybody to know that if they messed with Rocco, they messed with him.

Laura said she knew Martin was coming from a place of love and concern, but Sonny was a true friend. She knew if she was ever in trouble, she could call him, and he’d always come through for her. Martin said she should think about the stakes, when Dante came in. He said he thought she should know that Henry Dalton had gone missing.

Jason said he was going to keep coming back until she told him what was going on. She said he was going to pay the price, and he said he wasn’t going to let her pay the price anymore. There was a knock at the door and Britt opened it to Nathan, who asked if she’d seen or heard from Henry Dalton. She said, no. Why? Nathan said Dalton had disappeared.

Elizabeth said Lucas didn’t have to defend Sonny or support Marco, but stay neutral, and Lucas said it was a fair point. He wished Carly felt the same. She’d taken Sonny’s side and crossed a big line. Recently, she’d said Marco was just using him. Elizabeth said Carly was just worried, but he said she had no respect for his relationship or him.

Carly told Josslyn that she hated how it ended with her and Lucas. It wasn’t okay and she needed to make up. Josslyn asked how she was planning on doing it, but Carly said she didn’t know. She’d say she was sorry. Josslyn asked if she could make a suggestion, and Carly said she could. Josslyn said, maybe not ambush him at work. Give him a few minutes to figure it out. Carly said that was probably a good idea. Even though they disagreed and fought, she still loved Josslyn. Josslyn said she loved Carly too, and they hugged.

Jack said Vaughn had no idea what he was getting into. He’d overstepped with Dalton. A bunch of guys came out, and Jack told them to take care of Vaughn. Vaughn said, what’s going on? and Jack said he warned Vaughn not to pursue a relationship with Josslyn. This was what happened when people disobeyed his orders. Take him away. The guys dragged Vaughn out of the alleyway.

Tuesday:

At the hospital, Elizabeth told Michael that the doctor would be with him soon. If he was hoping to talk to Willow, she wasn’t there. She’d been put on administrative leave until after the trial. He said everything Elizabeth was doing for Willow spoke volumes about who she was as a person. Not many people would let Willow stay with them. She said, Willow wasn’t with her. She moved out.

Willow drug her suitcase into Drew’s house and looked at the photo of them on the mantel. Drew came out and said this was the best thing to happen to him in a long, long time. How did it feel being home?

At the PC Grill, Obrecht looked at The Invader headline, Professor Henry Dalton Files Charges Against the Mayor’s Son, when Nina joined her. Obrecht said Nina needed to use her editorial powers for good and do a story on Rocco and the gross miscarriage of justice from the PCPD.

On Lulu’s porch, Alexis told Danny that they were going to rehearse his and Charlotte’s statements. They needed to be flawless and consistent. Lulu said, once the statements were on record, they could leverage obstruction of justice charges at Dalton and free Rocco. Laura answered the door and said Charlotte had a test, but Lulu was picking her up. Alexis said, if all went well, Dalton would be finished for good.

Britt went to see Rocco and asked, what happened?  

Outside the house, Lulu told Charlotte that her best bet to help Rocco was to do whatever Alexis said, and Charlotte said, anything for Rocco. Nathan came along and asked if Lulu had a second, but she said, not really, and asked if he wanted to come in. He said he couldn’t stay and neither could she.

At the station, Sonny found Turner in the interrogation room talking with an officer, and said he needed a private conversation with her. The officer left, and Turner asked how he thought it looked, a known criminal barging in and demanding a private meeting. Sonny said he didn’t care how it looked. He cared about his grandson and wanted him released now.

Charlotte went inside and Alexis asked, where was her mom? Charlotte said, outside talking with Detective West. It sounded important.

Lulu said she couldn’t leave, but Nathan said Rocco needed her now.

Rocco said he’d be fine, but Britt asked the guard if that was what they did around there, let an injured kid walk around. The guard said it was just a few cuts and bruises, and Britt said she was a doctor and wanted a first aid kit. If anything was infected, they were looking at a lawsuit. Rocco said she shouldn’t be nice to him since he’d stolen the key fob from her. That was how he got in the lab. They were just starting to know one another and he broke her trust. He was really sorry. She said none of it mattered and asked if it had been an officer or another kid, and he said, a kid. Sonny knew and would take care of it.

Turner said she couldn’t give preferential treatment to Rocco, and Sonny said his grandson had been roughed up, assaulted in the detention center. They both knew he shouldn’t be there in the first place. Fix it. Get Rocco out or he would.

Ava visited Sidwell, and he asked, to what did he owe the pleasure of this delightful surprise? Ava said her gallery just received a treasure trove of art that perfectly aligned with his taste, but he said he wasn’t in a mindset to discuss art. She asked if she could help with something else, and he asked if she knew of any piers for sale. She said she was sorry the ballot box hadn’t gone his way, and he said he wasn’t a gracious loser. Shed said nobody hated losing more than she did, but maybe there was a silver lining. Now that he and Sonny weren’t fighting over the piers, perhaps there was space for peace. He said he doubted Sonny had ever known peace or ever would.

Nina told Obrecht that it wasn’t the subject for Crimson, but Lulu was a respected journalist with connections to news organization. Plus, of course (🍷), she had access to the subject. Obrecht said, not at the moment. Rocco was in the juvenile detention center pending a bail hearing. He’d been targeted by this grandmother’s political rivals and their cronies, and she wouldn’t be a passive witness to injustice. Nina suggested she not do anything impulsive that would get him in more trouble, and Obrecht said, like Nina had done for Willow. Nina said Rocco had a village protecting him, but Willow had no one… except for Drew.

Willow said it felt strange, and Drew said now they could live the life they’d always dreamed of. She wondered how he could live there like nothing happened, and he said, the same way he met all challenges – thinking of her. She gave him strength. She asked if he wasn’t afraid someone would come back and finish the job.

(Okay, hear me out. What if Drew hired someone to do it? Someone who would know how to wound him without killing him, so he could pin it on Michael.)

Michael said, Willow moved back in with Drew, didn’t she? and Elizabeth told him that she’d said goodbye this morning. He said Drew probably pitched it as a good legal strategy. If the victim welcomed her back… Elizabeth said it would make a strong statement to the jury. She didn’t understand it, but Willow seemed to love Drew and believed he was her best chance to get her kids back. He wondered if she had a way to convince Willow otherwise, and she asked if he thought Willow could have access to the kids. She knew it was a sacrifice, but wasn’t it one worth making for the kids?

Turner said they’d established she didn’t take orders from Sonny and didn’t take kindly to threats. She was prosecuting Rocco’s case by the book. If she was going to take him down, she’d do it without using his grandson. Sonny said he’d given her the benefit of the doubt, and she used the photos Dalton came up with of his destroyed lab. They both knew he’d destroyed it himself to frame Rocco. What was the hold up? She said she’d been scheduled to question Dalton about the lab photos, but he didn’t show up and she was having a hard time locating him. Sonny flashed back to looking in Laura’s trunk, and Turner said it appeared Professor Dalton was missing.

Ava told Sidwell that Sonny’s current situation was a perfect example. He’d scored a victory with the election, then his grandson was arrested breaking into a lab at PCU. Sidwell said he hoped Rocco wasn’t too traumatized. Detention centers were not kind to men like him.

Britt asked Rocco what Sonny was going to do. Whack a 16-year-old? Rocco said he hoped not. Sonny would get into trouble. Britt said Sonny could take care of himself. In fact, she thought he was liable to make it worse. That’s why he had to get out of there. She told the guard to watch Rocco closely. If Rocco got so much as hangnail, they’d regret it. She left and the guard asked if she was Rocco’s mom, and he said, no. Just someone close to him.

Drew said Michael had put two bullets in his back and tried to rob him of his life and future with Willow and her kids. But he failed and Drew survived. Willow said the way he saw the world was one of the first things that made her fall in love with him, and he said if she had bad memories of the house, they could buy something new. What mattered most was that she felt safe. Willow said she was just overwhelmed, and he asked if she was having second thoughts about moving in or being with him at all.

Nina said she’d stopped by Elizabeth’s and Aiden told her that Willow moved back in with Drew, and Obrecht asked what was wrong with her that she kept going back. She’d been accused of his murder. Nina said Drew knew about Willow’s history of being controlled and used it against her, and Obrecht said, Willow was in her current position not only because of Drew, but because of Nina. She foisted an alibi on Willow, then reneged on it, and sold her out. Nina said it was because of Obrecht too. Obrecht made her think Willow was behind terrorizing Sasha. Obrecht said she still thought so, and Nina said, so she’d wrongly assumed Willow did it and tried to protect her. Obrecht said Nina made her look guiltier. Nina said there was something she’d done to try and save Willow that she actually did regret, and Obrecht said she had a feeling about that. Nina shot Drew, didn’t she?

Danny said they’d heard Professor Dalton was testing on animals, and Charlotte said they wanted to prove it, but needed access to the lab. Danny said, so they lifted a key fob and snuck in during the debate while the campus was distracted. They didn’t find any animals or cages or anything. Charlotte said they were careful not to touch anything, just some papers, and Danny said, but they put them right back. Dalton came in and they hid. Charlotte said she and Danny were about to get caught, when Rocco made a noise, and Danny said, and gave himself up. Charlotte said, to protect them, and Danny said, that’s when Dalton punched Rocco.

Nathan brought Lulu to the detention center to see Rocco, who swore he was okay, but Nathan said he didn’t think they could wait until the bail hearing. Rocco was being targeted for his connections and any time there was dangerous for him.  

Sidwell apologized for Ava coming all that way to listen to him bemoan politics. He’d make it up to her. She said he could come to the gallery and look at the new pieces by Gavin Zeigler, and he said he’d be there. Britt came in and said she needed to speak to Sidwell, but he told her that it was impolite to barge in on the middle of his meeting. Britt said she wasn’t as ill-mannered as he thought. Ava was more than welcome to stay.

Turner told Sonny that the forensics analysis turned up no evidence to support Dalton’s accusations. She suspected that’s why he didn’t show up or answer her calls. Sonny said he knew he could use her to frame Rocco. Now she had proof. What now? She said, Dalton’s disappearance combined with Rocco being at risk was grounds for her to push for an immediate hearing, and she left.

Nina said she didn’t shoot Drew, even though she wanted to, and Obrecht asked what she’d meant. Nina said she’d betrayed a friend, Portia Robinson. Unfortunately, Willow’s defense hinged on pinning the crime on someone else. Obrecht said she assumed that would be Michael, and Nina said, another suspect could only help. Portia did have a motive, but the police didn’t know it. All she did was make sure the information got back to Alexis Davis. Portia’s friendship was valuable to her, and she may have thrown Portia under the bus for nothing. Apparently, Michael’s alibi wasn’t as iron clad as first assumed.

Michael said he respected what Elizabeth was saying, but he was there for his burn treatment, and he relived the whole thing at every appointment. Not just the fire and physical agony, but he was completely alone in Germany, which was its own kind of agony. Elizabeth said she was sorry, and Michael said Willow made no effort to visit him. She said, Willow did try to visit, but he said, one time, and Drew made sure they didn’t see each other. Willow wasn’t the one who set up the calls with his kids; Kristina was. Drew was the man Willow wanted to be with and went back to him no matter what. They could have each other, but not his kids. It wasn’t about keeping Willow away from Wiley and Amelia. It was about protecting them from Willow and Drew.

Willow said she wanted a future with Drew, but she was going to be found guilty. Michael’s father was so powerful, and Sonny and his connections controlled everything and everyone in town. Drew said Alexis was an incredible lawyer and she’d be exonerated. He loved her and loved Wiley and Amelia like his own, and thought she loved Scout the same way. She said she did, and he said he wanted a life with them desperately. That’s why he wanted to ask her – he went down on one knee – Willow Tate, will you marry me?

Alexis said Rocco didn’t tell her that Dalton punched him, and Danny said he was probably embarrassed. Laura asked if they were also embarrassed, and Danny said, kind of. Charlotte said they figured it was Rocco’s story to tell. They didn’t want to contradict him. They were afraid Dalton would lie more. Danny insisted they were telling the truth. Dalton hit Rocco in the stomach. When Dalton found out they knew, he’d realize the trouble he was in and drop the charges. Charlotte said, and Rocco could come home.

Lulu asked if Nathan thought Rocco had been targeted because of his connections to Dante, and he said, or Sonny or both. She said they couldn’t leave him, and Nathan said he had this. He told the guard that he was taking Rocco into custody and bringing him back to the PCPD. If his superiors had a problem with that, talk to ADA Turner.

Michael told Elizabeth that he’d tried every viable option – shared custody, supervised visits – and reached the same conclusion. It wasn’t Wiley and Amelia’s job to be their mother’s salvation. Willow had plenty of chances, but the truth was, she was where she was because of her choices. He thought his kids deserved better than a mother charged with attempted murder.

Willow asked if Drew was sure, and he said he’d never been more sure. No church wedding or big show. Just her, him, Scout, and the people who supported them. She said the list wasn’t long, and he said, so what? They’d show a united front, and it would lead to the charges being dropped. There was no better defense than having him as her husband. She’d be found innocent, and they’d be in a great place to win custody back. Willow said she’d been married before because of circumstances and wanted the next time to be for the right reason. He said it would be. It was going to help her case, but that wasn’t why he was asking her. He was asking her to marry him because he loved her. Didn’t she love him?

Sidwell told Ava that he was terribly sorry, but he had to deal with an irritating bit of business. He’d walk her out. He took Ava to the door, then went back to the living room. He told Britt to watch her step. It wasn’t the first time she’d barged in uninvited when he had company. She was getting sloppy and it wasn’t a good look. She saw what happened to Dalton and he doubted she wanted to suffer the same fate.

Laura asked if they were sure it was the story Charlotte and Danny wanted to go with, and Charlotte said it was the truth. Jason said if the cops caught them in a lie, it could blow up, and that wasn’t good for anyone, and Alexis told them, once they said it on the record, they’d have to live with it, for better or worse. Were they sure they didn’t want to change their minds? Danny said, for sure, and Alexis told them to stay there. She, Laura, and Jason went outside.

At the station, Sonny saw Rocco come in with Nathan and Lulu, and asked, what happened? Lulu said, Nathan happened, and Nathan said it was temporary until the bail hearing. Sonny said Turner was working on it, and Nathan told Rocco to wait in the interrogation room. Sonny asked if he could sit with Rocco, and Nathan said, of course (🍷). Lulu said she couldn’t thank Nathan enough. He was amazing, but she had to ask if he risked his job.

Ava asked if she could join Obrecht and Nina, and Obrecht said, sit. Ava said Obrecht’s daughter didn’t share her decorum, and Obrecht asked what Britt did now. Ava said she was in the middle of a sale and Britt barged in, forcing her client to end the meeting. Nina said, which client? and Ava said, Jenz Sidwell. Obrecht said he seemed to be a powerful man. Maybe Britt went to see if he could help Rocco. Ava said she understood. Sidwell was quite a powerful man and in a short time made himself quite a force in Port Charles.

Britt said Sidwell had to acknowledge that her father’s research would die with her if she didn’t finish. Only she could get the job done and didn’t need a timeline. She did admit she needed him, and not just for the medicine. She needed his help because Rocco was in danger. He asked if something happened to dear Rocco.

Britt said Rocco had been assaulted. Dalton was dead and there was no reason Rocco should still be locked up. Sidwell said it was ample reason to nudge Sonny and Mayor Collins along. Call it unforeseen repercussions for their failure to cooperate. She said, oh my God. He did this. He had Rocco attacked. He said he had eyes and ears everywhere and a long reach to go with them. It was in her best interest to remember that.

Nathan told Lulu, if there was fallout, there was fallout. He was supposed to be looking out for Rocco. Lulu said he did more than anyone. He kept his promise, and she couldn’t be more grateful. Turner came out and said she got a call from the juvenile detention center. They said Nathan had pulled Rocco out and said they could talk to her if the staff had a problem with it. Lulu asked if she was aware Rocco had been assaulted, and Nathan said he was doing her a favor. He made sure that people knew, even the kids she accused were protected from violence. She said she’d back him this time, but don’t do it again.

Rocco thanked Sonny for staying, when Turner came in. She said she got a bail hearing for later today and didn’t see it being denied. Rocco would sleep in his own bed tonight. He was lucky that a lot of people cared about him.

Outside, Alexis told Laura and Jason that the kids were so lying. They can’t go on record. It wouldn’t hold up and making a false statement was a crime. They could end up charged. Laura asked if it could wait until Lulu got back. She was sure Lulu would have a lot to say.

Danny told Charlotte that his dad could see in his head, and she said, maybe he could, but as long as the ADA believed them, they’d stick to the story. Alexis, Laura, and Jason came back, and Alexis said, listen up. They knew Charlotte and Danny were lying. It made no sense. Rocco would have told her if Dalton punched him. If they said Dalton had, they’d both face serious charges. Think about Scout. Danny said that’s all he’d been doing. What kind of role model would he be if he didn’t defend his brother?

Laura said they understood what the kids were trying to do, and Jason said it was reckless. Laura said, but they’d never have to go to court because Dalton was… Jason said, Dalton was nowhere.

Drew went to the Grill and sat down at Nina’s table. He said, what a treat running into them. He was inviting them to his place for a Thanksgiving celebration. He promised they didn’t want to miss it. Dessert was going be spectacular.

Willow found Elizabeth at the hospital and asked if she had any plans for Thanksgiving. Elizabeth said Cameron and Jake weren’t going to be home, and Aiden was going to see Lucky. Other than that, she’d been busy at work and hadn’t given it that much thought. Willow said she’d love for Elizabeth to come to Drew’s and be her maid of honor. (That would be matron, but letting it pass.) She showed Elizabeth her ring and said Drew asked her to marry him again and she said yes. Say she’ll come. Elizabeth said, of course (🍷), and they hugged. Michael watched from around the corner.

Wednesday:  

Brook told Chase that Thanksgiving evoked the kitchen curse. There was no way they’d cook a successful turkey in this house.

Lulu brought Rocco home and said Charlotte and Danny were anxious to see him. She told him that she loved him.

At the gallery, Ava asked Trina if Jordan was interested in the pieces she’d shown her, but Trina said Jordan would be taking her business elsewhere, which was on her. She told Jordan that she’d make sure her dad never went back to her.

Stella met Curtis at the PC Grill, and he asked if she’d like to go to Café Cherie instead. She saw Martin and Drew sitting at the bar and said, not a chance. If anyone should leave with their tail between their legs, it was Drew.

Martin asked what was with the last-minute dinner, and Drew said he had some exciting news about him and Willow.

Obrecht went to Drew’s, and Willow asked what brought her by. Obrecht said she understood Willow was getting married, and Willow asked if Obrecht was there to change her mind.

At the station, Dante told Nathan that Rocco was on his way home. He knew Nathan caught flack for it, but he appreciated Nathan pulling Rocco out. It wasn’t easy seeing him like that. Nathan said Dante would have done the same for him. He was happy to help. Dante said Nathan was not only a good friend, but a good cop, and he wanted Nathan’s help on a case. He wanted to take another look at who shot Drew. Nathan asked, why?

Charlotte asked what they did to Rocco, and Rocco said, kind of badass, huh? Didn’t girls like scars? Danny said they liked tats, and Jason said they had to make sure he never had to go back. Danny said, Dalton was straight up lying about the lab, and Lulu told the kids to catch each other up while she and Jason talked.

Ava said she thought Trina and Jordan got along, but Trina said she’d realized that Jordan had been waiting in the wings, right there ready to exploit the weakness in her parents’ marriage. She told Jordan that she’d keep her father from going back to her. Ava said she could deal with losing a sale, and Trina said her father would listen to her. Ava said giving an ultimatum ran the risk of resentment, but Trina said she didn’t care. She resented her. Portia came in and said, resented who?  

Nathan asked if the PCPD hadn’t done its thing, and Dante said it was more preemptive. Alexis was going to blame the PCPD for botching the investigation and he wanted to work on an effective counter argument. Nathan asked if Chase wouldn’t be a better choice to help, but Dante said he wanted Chase to be as far away from the case as possible.

Willow asked if Obrecht was going to tell her that she was making a huge mistake, but Obrecht said that wasn’t why she was there. Drew wouldn’t be her first choice for Willow’s life, but she wasn’t there to criticize. Willow was family and even if she didn’t agree with Willow’s decision, Willow still had her support. Willow thanked her, and Obrecht said Willow should thank her mother for talking sense into her.

Martin congratulated Drew and asked, when is the big day? Drew said, Thanksgiving. They were keeping it simple, just close friends and family. He hoped Martin could make it. Martin said, sure, and Drew asked if he was willing to officiate. Martin said he felt it was his duty to ask if it wasn’t an ill-conceived idea to bolster Willow’s look at the trial, and Drew said he thought it would have a good effect on the jury, but he loved Willow and couldn’t wait to make her his wife. Martin said, after everything that happened, he didn’t think Drew would win Willow back, and Drew said he always got what he wanted. Martin said, except Measure C, and Drew said he had everything he really wanted. Now he was concentrating on revenge against those who’d crossed him.

Chase said he was ready to take on the challenge, and Brook said Groundhog Day was underrated. She’d suggested Olivia give up and get a pizza oven. He said he thought he could make a great turkey, but she said it had been 30 years since an edible turkey had been served on Thanksgiving. He said the two of them could conquer everything and he wanted to do something nice for everyone. Michael came in, and Brook said they were talking about the possibility of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Michael asked if it wouldn’t be easier to get a pizza oven, but Brook said maybe they could finally pull it off this year. She asked if Michael wanted to help, but he said he and Chase shouldn’t be together in a room full of knives.

Curtis said if Stella was going to give Drew the stink eye all night, it wouldn’t be a good time. They might as well leave. Stella told him to distract her with something more important. How were things with him and Portia? Did they reconcile yet?

Trina hugged Portia and asked what she was doing there. Portia said she was hoping Trina could have dinner with her. Ava was welcome to join them. Ava said she had things to finish up, and Trina said she was sorry, but she had plans with her dad and Aunt Stella. Did Portia want to come? Portia said it was sweet of her to offer, but she thought it best if she didn’t go. Have fun and tell them that she won’t be able to make dinner on Thanksgiving. Dr. Randolph needed to see her father. He wasn’t doing well and she was covering for her. Trina asked if that was how it was going to be from now on, that her parents couldn’t be in the same room. Portia said, of course (🍷) not, but Trina said she felt like her family was being torn apart. Portia said that would never happen. They’d always work together to do what was right by her. Trina said she knew they were trying, but she was worried she’d lose one of them, and Portia said, that would never happen. They hugged, and Ava flashed back to Nina telling her about throwing Portia under the bus as a possible suspect.

Dante said Chase had a bias about Willow and he wanted to look at other suspects, and Nathan asked where they should start. Dante suggested they start with Michael.

Brook said Chase had nothing against believing Michael was a cold blooded killer, and Chase said he believed Willow was innocent, but had to be objective. Michael said Chase believed he knew Willow so well, and Chase said he did. Michael said then it should come as no surprise that she and Drew were getting married on Thanksgiving.

Willow asked if Obrecht meant Nina, and Obrecht said she and Nina were together when Willow’s fiancé ran in to share the news. Initially, she was less than thrilled. Willow said she was sure Nina felt the same way, and Obrecht said she did, but after Drew left, she had a moment and realized the most important thing was that Willow was happy. Was she happy? Willow said, of course (🍷), and Obrecht said Willow’s mother believed they should support her wholeheartedly. Willow said she appreciated the gesture and asked Obrecht to thank Nina. Obrecht said she could thank Nina herself. Wasn’t it time she made amends with her mother?

Outside, Jason asked if Lulu told the kids, but she said, not a word, and she was told not to bring them in to give their statement. Turner was supposed to question Dalton, but he didn’t show up. The police went to PCU and the MetroCourt, but there was no sign of him. Jason said, he took off, and she said, possibly. She wondered if Sonny had something to do with it.

Nathan said Michael had the strongest motive and weakest alibi. He had access to the weapon and access to the room Willow was staying in at Elizabeth’s house. Dante said, Anna issued a warrant the next day, and Nathan said, she found the gun. Michael had motive, a weak alibi, and access to the weapon. He had the opportunity to plant the weapon and a motive to do it. There was a lot they couldn’t ignore. Dante said Alexis was going to point in Michael’s direction, but Nathan said, if Michael and Jacinda stuck to their story, she wouldn’t get anywhere. And Nina didn’t do Willow any favors by giving a fake alibi. Dante said the security footage showed Nina as being at her apartment at the time Drew was shot. Unless she found another way out. Nathan said Nina would have told them to protect Willow. He thought Nina was a long shot.

Willow asked how she could forgive Nina, and Obrecht said her mother loved her. Willow said Nina had a pattern. She screwed up, begged forgiveness, then screwed up again. Obrecht said if Willow had no forgiveness for those who made mistakes, married life wasn’t for her, and Willow said she was tired of it. Obrecht said she understood Nina made mistakes, but Willow was acting like an ungrateful, petulant child. From the moment Nina found out Willow was her daughter, Nina had done nothing but love her. Nina had made mistakes, but fought for her and protected her and stood by her side. Yet Willow could turn her back on Nina even when she admitted she was wrong. That’s not how family worked. It was time for her to make amends with her mother. There was a knock at the door, and Obrecht said, now was her chance. She opened the door to Nina.

Michael said he’d overheard Willow invite Elizabeth to the wedding, and she was sporting Lila’s engagement ring. Brook said she was sorry. It was appalling. Chase said, it wasn’t Willow’s idea. It was Drew’s.

Trina left, and Portia told Ava that she heard Trina say she resented her. Was she talking about her or Jordan?… Never mind. Ava said she promised it wasn’t Portia, and Portia said they both knew that could change quickly if it turned out that Curtis wasn’t the father. She wasn’t telling anyone until after her first trimester. Because of her age, she wanted to take things one step at a time and wasn’t getting a paternity test until then. She was afraid of losing Trina. Ava said there was something else that could end up separating her from her daughter.

Curtis said he and Portia were going through with the divorce, and Stella said, even with a child on the way? He said they’d co-parent, but she said it wasn’t the same. He showed her the sonogram and said, check this out, and she said she could hear the love and joy in his voice. He said he missed out when Portia was pregnant with Trina. This was a whole new experience. She said that’s why they needed to stay married, so he didn’t miss out on his child’s life for one moment.

Martin said Michael was still at the top of Drew’s revenge list, and Drew said he wished he’d claimed to remember Michael shooting him, but he’d waited too long. Martin said now that Willow had been arrested, the court would assume he was protecting her, and Drew said he could have spared her the trial. Martin said Alexis was doing everything she could, and Drew said, she’d better or she wouldn’t see her grandchild. Martin said Alexis was a damn fine attorney. She believed in her clients and believed in proving their innocence. Drew said he’d feel better if Martin was her co-counsel, but Martin said Alexis was a one-woman show. They best thing was to step back and let her do her thing. Drew said if it went wrong, he’d hold the both of them responsible, and Martin said the best wedding present Drew could give Willow was hiring Alexis, but Drew said the best wedding present would be Willow’s freedom and getting her children back. That included putting Michael behind bars. Once he achieved those goals, he could focus on the other people who’d made the mistake of crossing him.

Charlotte thanked Rocco for saving them, but said he needed to think out the ramifications. He was the grandson of the mayor and Sonny Corinthos. The media might be harsher on him than Dalton. Rocco said it was the right thing and he’d do it again, including breaking into the lab. Charlotte said, even though they’d found no proof? and Rocco said, it was kind of exciting. Danny said, it was pretty good, and Charlotte said, until they got caught, but Rocco said, admit it. She was thrilled. She said, it was pretty cool.

Jason asked if that was Lulu’s way of asking if Sonny had Dalton killed. He could assure her that Sonny didn’t. Lulu said that was a relief, but if Dalton had just run off, that meant he could pop back up anytime.

Chase said Drew put the ring on Willow, and Michael said, and she accepted and agreed to marry his uncle. Brook said, Willow just forgave him? She didn’t know what Willow was thinking, but it wasn’t good. Michael said, unless Willow loved Drew or thought it made her look innocent. Maybe both. He didn’t give a damn anymore. Brook said he had a point. What if it was a ploy for Willow to stay out of prison?

Obrecht said she’d told Nina to wait in the car, and Willow said, so Obrecht could butter her up? Nina said she told Obrecht this was a bad idea. She’d just go. Obrecht said they needed to work things out before the wedding, and Nina said Drew had invited them, but if Willow didn’t want her to go, she wouldn’t. Willow asked why she’d want to come. Nina hated that she was with Drew and hated Drew. She’d hired a hooker to drug Drew to break them up. Nina said that was true, but she’d learn to accept it if it meant she could be a part of Willow’s life again. She missed Willow. If Willow could find it in her heart to forgive her, she guaranteed she’d disappoint Willow again, but promised she’d love and support her for the rest of her life, no matter what. Just give her another chance.

Ava said Nina told her in confidence, but she felt justified telling Portia, since Nina broke hers first. Nina’s alibi fell apart and she was desperate to get the heat off her daughter. So she decided to shine the light on an alternative suspect. Portia asked if Nina knew about Drew blackmailing her.

Trina joined Curtis and Stella and said the Thanksgiving shopping was done. They were prepared for tomorrow. Stella thanked her, and Trina said, of course (🍷). Stella said she still didn’t know how many she was cooking for and asked if Trina’s mother was coming. Trina said her mother had to work and wanted her to say she was sorry, and Stella said, remember to take her a plate. Curtis said she’d be missed, but especially at this time of year, they should focus on their blessings, and Trina said, all they had was each other. That was no guarantee a couple of months ago. She was scared they were going to lose Stella when she was targeted for fraud. Stella said she knew whose fault it was. Drew used the power of his office to target her family, and she thought it was way past time she said something.

Martin said Drew still had a grudge against Curtis, when Stella approached them. She said, good evening, Congressman Cutthroat. How many lives do you plan on destroying this evening?  

Michael left, and Chase said he was under the impression that Brook was considering the possibility that Michael might be guilty. She said she changed her mind. It happened yesterday at the hospital. She was worried about her dad and Michael stopped by. He was supportive about Rocco, Gio, her dad, all of it. She told him that she wished she could reach out to Gio. The way Dante had spoken to him was horrible. Michael called Gio to come to the hospital so they could talk. Chase asked how it went, and she said, better than she could have imagined. Gio finally understood her choice to give him up and a weight lifted off of her. For him too. He called her mom. He said, thanks, mom, and she thought her heart would burst. Chase hugged her.

Willow said she was telling Aunt Liesl that she gave Nina chance after chance, and she kept screwing it up. But she’d also made a few mistakes, and Nina stood by her through all of them. Nina said she always would if Willow let her, and Willow said, that’s what family did. And since they were family, maybe they could work on having a relationship. Nina said she would be so grateful, and Willow said she wasn’t sure she could ever fully trust Nina or that they would be as close as they once were, but she was willing to overlook that part. The truth was, she missed Nina too.

Portia said she couldn’t believe Nina betrayed her, and Ava said Nina didn’t actually say she threw Portia under the bus and didn’t go to the cops. Portia asked if Ava thought it was her, and Ava said if she had to guess, it was. Nina said she felt terrible. Portia said she didn’t give a damn. She thought they were friends and in this together. She trusted Nina. Ava said she was sorry. She felt partly responsible for putting them in touch with each other. Nina didn’t know why Drew was blackmailing Portia or that she tampered with Heather Webber’s test results. Portia said it didn’t matter. The police would figure it out. They’d question Drew and Brad if they could find him. She’d lose her job and career and be arrested for attempted murder. What if she was convicted? She couldn’t give birth in prison.

Nathan said, what about Carly? and Dante said, Drew and Michael ran Aurora together and she’d have access to the Quartermaine estate on occasion. Nathan said, what about framing Willow? and Dante said, it was possible. Nathan said, Carly had access to the weapon and confessed to Anna that she’d wanted to kill Drew. Framing Willow was a no-brainer. Dante said Carly had been in Elizabeth’s house before they found the gun, and Nathan said you’d think her alibi of being with the WSB Bureau Chief was a slam dunk, but Dante said, not when it was her boyfriend. Nathan said they also had Tracy and Sonny, but Tracy saved Drew’s life, and he thought Dante’s dad would be smarter than that. Dante said it wasn’t the right direction. So what was Nathan’s take? Nathan said he thought the investigation was comprehensive. Carly and Michael were question marks, and he thought they should take a look at Curtis.

Martin told Stella that it wasn’t the time to have this conversation, while at the table, Trina asked if Curtis thought they should stop her, but he said, no. Let her cook. Drew said Stella didn’t want to cause a scene, and she said just because she didn’t want to, didn’t mean she wouldn’t. She had nothing to be embarrassed about, but he should crawl up under the bar in shame. He’d abused his power of office to get her investigated by the government and threatened with prison. It was completely and utterly corrupt, and he did it all to get back at her nephew. Drew said his understanding was that she was the one who was accused of corruption and fraud, but he understood when you reached a certain age, things got confusing. Stella lunged for him, but Martin held her back and said they regretted the misunderstanding. The government overstepped and they were wrong. Clearly, the situation had been resolved. Couldn’t they let bygones be bygones? Stella said, as a friend, she asked him to reconsider working for this snake. Drew destroyed everything he touched. She didn’t believe Willow shot him, but she was in this mess because half the town was outraged by him. Drew asked if she was saying it was his fault, and she said, a smarter man would have changed his ways, but he was just as despicable as ever. She wasn’t surprised someone shot his ass. He deserved it. Curtis approached and asked if she’d like to come back to the table. She told him that she had nothing more to say to this sorry excuse for a man. She didn’t want to ruin her appetite. Drew suggested Curtis remind his aunt that investigations could be reopened.

Charlotte said no one could find Dalton, and Danny said he hoped Dalton was gone for good. Charlotte said if Dalton couldn’t testify, there was no case and Rocco was in the clear.

Jason told Lulu, even with Dalton gone, they had to face reality. The kids had strong connections to Sonny, Britt, and Valentin, who all had a long list of enemies that wouldn’t hesitate to use them. Lulu said the kids had targets on their backs. They had to keep them safe.

Chase said he was happy for Brook and knew how much it meant to her. Brook said it gave her hope that she and Gio could have a relationship, and it was all because of Michael. Chase said he’d been so focused on Willow’s innocence, he’d forgotten how kind and caring Michael could be and how Michael was there for Brook when he wasn’t. It was a reminder to keep his priorities straight. She was the most important thing. He hoped she believed that. She said, of course (🍷) she did, and he was her number one priority. Just to prove it, she’d help him roast the turkey. But just in case, there was a new pizza place that was supposed to be great.

Nina said it would be a fresh start, and Willow said, in that case, she hoped Nina would come to the wedding. Nina said she’d be there. Obrecht said, now they had something to truly celebrate, and they had a three-way hug.

Nathan said Nina told him there was a way to prove Michael wasn’t with Jacinda when Drew was shot, and Dante said, if that happened, Michael would go to the top of the suspect list. Nathan suggested they look at Curtis.

Ava said no one was looking at Portia, but Portia said, what if they did? and Ava said she’d answer questions – with a lawyer, of course (🍷). Nina didn’t know what the blackmail was about, but Portia should be prepared. Portia said she appreciated the warning. Ava was a true friend, unlike Nina. Because of Nina, she might have to account for her whereabouts, which would land her in a different kind of trouble.

Dante said, why Curtis? and Nathan said he was an ex-cop and a P.I. and would know how to cover his tracks. He also couldn’t account for his whereabouts. Dante said he’d been at the Brown Dog with Jordan, but Nathan said, supposedly, he’d been in his office alone at the time Drew was shot. Dante said, personally, he felt like Curtis had the weakest motive, and Nathan said he didn’t know Curtis well enough to tell about the business angle, but the investigation into his aunt was personal. While he didn’t admit it, they knew Drew was behind it. Then, after the shooting, the investigation went away. Maybe something else was going on. Dante said, maybe Nathan was right. They should take another look at Curtis’s alibi.

Trina said, that was intense, and Stella said it felt good to give Drew a piece of her mind. But then she started to wonder if she was provoking him. Curtis said, don’t worry. He’d protect his family from Drew by any means necessary.

Martin said if Stella wasn’t off Drew’s revenge list, he couldn’t work for him, but Drew promised not to go after her. Besides, she’d suffer enough when he destroyed her beloved nephew. Martin asked if he thought Curtis shot him, and Drew said, absolutely, especially after the blackmail he had on Curtis’s wife magically disappeared. Michael needed to be the one to go down for it though. As for Curtis, he’d find another way to make him pay.

🫔 No enchilada this week because GH is not on Thursday or Friday.

Next week, Drew and Willow’s wedding day and Thanksgiving in Port Charles.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It flitted through my mind, but I’m not feeling it. Besides, I’m not so sure Nathan is really himself.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/would-lulu-and-nathan-make-a-good-couple-on-general-hospital-vote-now/

What fans think about Carly and Jack, and what Jack thinks about Carly and Jack.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/heres-what-general-hospital-fans-think-carly-should-do-about-jack-brennans-betrayal/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-chris-mckenna-dishes-carlys-revenge-jacks-surprise-move-against-vaughn-excl/

I hadn’t known they dated IRL.

https://ew.com/genie-francis-calls-dating-general-hospital-costar-kin-shriner-her-happiest-time-11855131

Are they on?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/are-the-soaps-airing-new-episodes-on-thanksgiving-heres-the-full-schedule/

Something for the Quartermaines to think about.

https://nypost.com/2025/11/22/us-news/this-li-pizzeria-went-viral-for-its-thanksgiving-pie-with-all-these-trimmings/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Mediterranean

In Max’s interview, he worried that he’d made a mistake hooking up with Kizzy, since he liked Cathy better. I just can’t. Guest Imran quickly sets the tone by saying the crew are their servants, so karma docked the yacht due to huge swells. No surprise, this prompts Imran to tell Captain Sandy how to drive. In Kizzy’s interview, she said there was something about Cathy that didn’t feel real. Nobody actually did their job was that perfect.  Cathy made her feel small, and she hated that someone had the power to do that to her. Once again, Nathan floundered as a bosun, and Captain Sandy told him to get his sh*t together. She was pissed.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The group went to lunch, sans Britani, and asked Lisa and Meredith, WTF? Lisa said she’d just vented to a friend and suddenly she was the bad guy, and Meredith acted like she didn’t know what they were talking about. As usual, everybody was concerned about everybody else, instead of looking in the mirror. Lisa met with Britani and apologized. She suggested they move on with respect and dignity, and I nearly choked on my coffee.

Southern Charm

The show began with Craig having a massive hangover and saying he never had a healthy relationship with alcohol while he was single. We flashed back to him being a mean drunk, proving his point. It looks like this show is starting to get like Below Deck Med with all the crossover romancing. Yeah, let’s call it romancing. Even after watching it twice, I still wasn’t sure who wanted to zoom who. Apparently, Salley is into Craig, who is feuding with Venita. Venita said Salley didn’t know what a girl’s girl was, but she probably doesn’t need to worry, since Craig is clueless. Failing to see his opportunity one night in a hot tub, in their respective interviews, Shep said Craig wasn’t that aggressive of a dater, and Austen said Craig was a p*ssy. Rodrigo was worried that it would be Venita vs Craig again and Salley would side with Craig. In Rodrigo’s interview, he said if he was wrong, he’d eat one of Craig’s pillows. He didn’t want Venita getting hurt.  Shep tried teach Austen to surf, and Salley had a bring-a-single-friend singles party. Austen’s girlfriend Audrey came for a visit, and in Madison’s interview, she said Austen was with Audrey because he knew it was the only way to better himself, but he really wanted something to light a fire under his ass. Austen said he liked it long distance, but Audrey seemed more interested in settling down. He began his wishy-washy act with her, so I predict they won’t be together much longer.

This was the best I could find at the time of posting.

Vanderpump Rules: Raise Your Glass to 11 Seasons was a filler for Bravo’s Thanksgiving week. Not that I minded because, LVP. While Andy did some chatting with her and talked between segments, it was mostly scenes from VanderDays gone by. There was also some never-before-seen footage and a sneak peek at the next generation at SUR.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/andy-cohen-reveals-vanderpump-rules-original-show-title

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/vanderpump-rules-season-12-trailer-cast-premiere-date-spoilers-details

Random Reality Items

She’s not wrong.

Filed under: You can’t fire me; I quit.

New York is again in the house.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Green Book: Guide to Freedom. Paramount+. A travel guide published by Black postal worker Victor Huge Green from 1936 to 1967, it listed the establishments that welcomed Black people. My only beef with this film was that it wasn’t long enough. Eventually listing more than 9,500 hotels, restaurants, etc., they only showed the tip of the iceberg and I would have loved to see more. In a rare moment of actually hearing me, my husband got me a reprint of the book for my birthday.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/25/us/green-book-documentary-trnd

Zombie Apocalypse. Amazon Prime. This is a fun zombie apocalypse romp, nothing you have to put a lot of thought into. A group of survivors are making their way across the country to get to Catalina led by Ving Rhames (one of my favorites). While that’s incentive enough to watch it, the bonus of a zombie tiger didn’t make me mad.

https://slate.com/culture/2011/10/zombies-the-zombie-boom-is-inspired-by-the-economy.html

Otherlife. Amazon Prime. A film about a revolutionary new drug that lets you slip into virtual reality, and in a surprise to no one, the government decides to use it for their own supposed gain. As usual, where technology could and should be used for good, instead it poses a whole new set of problems. I thought this wasn’t bad and the critics seemed to love it, but personally, I found it dragged in spots.

https://slate.com/technology/2017/11/sci-fi-has-been-warning-us-about-virtual-reality-addiction-since-the-1990s.html

Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy. Netflix. A film all about how we shop, why we shop, what we shop for, and how they get us to buy it. There wasn’t much I didn’t already know, but I love documentaries like this, so I really enjoyed it. It also made me rethink dumpster diving.

https://movieweb.com/netflix-documentary-watch-before-christmas-buy-now-shopping-conspiracy/

https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/ending-of-buy-now-the-shopping-conspiracy-bait-and-switch-im-not-upset-about-it

🥀 Farewell Dear Count…

Aww. He was so purdy back in the day. I saw his Flesh for Frankenstein in 3-D, along with Blood for Dracula (both Andy Warhol films), at a revival house and laughed at inappropriate moments. RIP to a legend.

https://www.slashfilm.com/2035543/udo-kier-x-rated-movie-flesh-for-frankenstein-before-netflix-adaptation/

👠 The Green/Pink/Red Carpet…

Behold Wicked for fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37975/wicked-for-good-new-york-premiere-celebrity-red-carpet-fashion

🦃 Loving a Parade…

Everything you need to know about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Believe me, you’re better off watching it on TV, especially this year when it’s going to be windy and freezing. The first year I was in NYC, I went to see it. Not only did I have to get out there at 6 am, I thought I’d never be warm again. I did have one year when the office I worked for overlooked the route and we watched it from there while sipping mimosas and noshing on bagels. If you can do that, by all means, go.

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/

🐕 Animals Trending…

🐶 An extra big balloon dog. I wonder how many clowns it took to blow it up.

https://people.com/freida-the-dachshund-balloon-returning-to-the-2025-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-11857028

🧹 A wickedly trendy name.

https://people.com/wicked-causes-shake-up-in-top-trending-pet-names-of-2025-11856116

🦛 She’s single and loves walks on the beach.

https://people.com/worlds-oldest-living-hippo-celebrates-52nd-birthday-11854641

🪇 Quotes of the Week

I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending. – Mister Rogers

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.Benjamin Franklin

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. – Randy Pausch

My songs will pass and be forgotten. What counts, however, is that I sang them. – Father Andrew Greeley

Opportunities don’t just happen, you create them. – Chris Grosser

Look at her. She’s giving me the side-eye. – Manon Berryman, talking about a goat at a goat farm, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.Ann Landers

There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. – Ray Bradbury

If you don’t believe me, then google it. – Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), General Hospital

🍗 Counting My Blessings…

Until next week, stay safe; stay having a wonderful Thanksgiving, whether it’s alone with your cat, serving at a soup kitchen, or with strangers, friends, or family (I’ve done all those things); and stay focusing on your blessings always.

December 4, 2024 – Jason Throws In With Anna, Salty Talk, Big Apple Bite, Two Movie Watch, Parade Pix, The Tree, Unconventional & Hazy

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Ric and Ava meet at the PC Grill for a drink. Ava tells the server to put it on her tab, but Ric says she may want him to pay for his own drink, and she asks, why?

Molly goes to see Alexis, who tells her that Kristina is back in her own place. Molly says she’s sure Alexis is worried about Kristina, and Alexis says, before she was thrown out of the courtroom, it was excruciating to watch. She believes the jury will go for convicting Ava, and Molly asks if they were in two different courtrooms. There’s no way the jury is going to convict Ava.

Jordan meets Curtis in his office, and he says, Drew is going to double-cross him with Aurora. Jordan asks if he’s sure. Aren’t they friends? He says he thought so, until he heard Drew offer Michael the job.

Dante brings a six-pack of beer to the stables, and Cody asks, what’s up? Dante says he’s stupefied and stumped, and Cody asks if that’s why they’re drinking. Dante says, they’re going to drink to Lulu, and Cody asks if she’s still improving. Dante tells him, you could say that. She’s awake.

Anna tells Jason, now that Lulu is awake, they have to find Charlotte. She knows it’s on her that Charlotte went into hiding with Valentin, but she thought it was the right thing. She felt guilty about the shooting and was reckless. Jason says, she has to stop.

Laura goes into the apartment, sees Lulu, and drops all of her stuff on the floor. Lulu says, hi, mom, and they hug.

Dante tells Cody, it was classic Lulu. She wakes up from a coma, breaks out of Turning Woods, and hitchhikes here. Can he believe that? Cody says, yeah, he thinks he can. He picked up a hitchhiker, a petite blonde in a hoodie. He swore there was something familiar about her. Dante asks where he picked her up, and Cody says, when he was coming back from Beecher’s Corners. Dante says, that goes past Turning Woods. Didn’t Cody realize it was her? Cody says he thought she was still in a coma, and Dante asks what she said. Cody says, she told him some story about a fight with her boyfriend. She was quick, funny, and not entirely trustworthy. Dante says, a Spencer through and through, and Cody asks how he’s taking it. Dante says he’s figuring it all out. Lulu was asleep for so long, and now she’s awake and talking and Lulu again. It feels like some kind of miracle.

Lulu and Laura snuggle on the couch, and Laura says she knew Lulu would come back. She never gave up on her. Lulu says she can’t remember much, but she felt Laura’s presence when she was there. She still smells like mom. Laura says, good thing she remains loyal to her brand of perfume, and Lulu says she can’t believe it’s been so long. Laura says, she has a lot to absorb, but don’t get overwhelmed. She’s so happy Lulu is safe. Lulu says, maybe not. When she woke up, Cyrus was talking to her doctors. Laura says she’s sorry. He’ll never get close to her again. She’s taking out a restraining order. Lulu tells her that Lucky said Cyrus was her uncle, and Laura says, Cyrus is her half-brother. She made it clear that doesn’t give him the right to have a relationship with Lulu. Lulu says, so much has changed. She went to her house and found a little boy demanding to know what she was doing in his house. Laura says, Maxie lives there now, and Lulu says she knows now, but Laura is right. She’s missed out on so much. Like her dad. Laura says she’s so sorry, and Lulu cries. Laura says, her dad loved her so much.

Alexis says, Molly has a different view of how the trial went. She’s sorry she was removed. What happened after she was ejected? Molly says, the defense dad presented was masterful, and Alexis asks if she thinks he convinced the jury Ava was innocent. Molly says she doesn’t know, but he convinced her.

Ava asks Ric if she’s missing something. The jury saw that Kristina was unstable and she fell apart on the stand. That’s a good thing, right? He says he took a calculated risk. The jury may decide Kristina is an unstable, out of control liar or they might decide to go after the ruthless defense attorney who made a devastated, grieving mother cry.

Curtis tells Jordan that he’s not saying Drew owes him the position, but he wasn’t given a chance to show that he’s the best choice. Instead, Drew went behind his back and is closing him out. She says she doesn’t get it. Not only are they friends, Curtis has done a great job. Is it a family loyalty thing? He says, complicated Quartermaine stuff, and she asks what he’s not telling her. He says he doesn’t know why he’s protecting Drew. Something is going on between Drew and Michael’s wife. He said they just kissed, but Michael hinted at something more. Drew is trying to make it up to Michael. She says, by offering him Aurora, and Curtis says, and leaving him out in the cold. She says, collateral damage; unappreciated and undervalued.  

Jordan says she didn’t see that coming. She got the impression there was something between Drew and Nina. Curtis says, there’s something going on there too, and she says, and he’s involved with her daughter? It’s beyond messy. She’s sorry he got pulled in. He says, when Drew told him that he and Willow kissed, he said there were feelings involved. He warned Drew to back off, but Drew didn’t listen and he’s suffering the consequences. Michael wants him to help get revenge. She says, tread carefully and don’t trust Michael. He has his own agenda. Curtis says, Quartermaines playing Quartermaine games, and she says, if he wants to win, he needs to play them both. He says, she has a beautiful mind, when TJ comes in. He says, it looks like they’re in the middle of something, and Curtis asks if he’s okay. TJ says, it’s not a big thing, but he needs a place to stay tonight. He and Molly are taking a break.

Molly says, Ric used her testimony to establish how angry Kristina was when she got the subpoena. Then Ava spoke to Kristina’s state of mind. Alexis wonders why anyone would believe a word out of that woman’s mouth, and Molly says she’s no fan of Ava’s, but her story made sense. Kristina came there enraged and looking for a fight. Ava grabbed her arm, she tripped, and fell. Alexis says, maybe they had the wrong prosecutor, but Molly says, she did the best she could. The only reason it even went before a judge is because a child died and they want someone to pay. They’re not looking for justice. They’re blinded by revenge.

Cody says he’d be freaking out, and Dante says he was. He thinks he’s in shock. Lulu is alive and Sam is gone. Cody says, one can’t replace the other. He wishes there was something he could say or do. Dante says, it’s good to chat and have a beer. Brook runs in and tells Cody that she and Chase finally got some alone time. The next time her grandmother calls him, pick up, or there will be hell to pay.

Lulu tells Laura that she heard someone say, mom, and it was Rocco, her little boy instantly grown up. Laura says she knows it was a shock, but Rocco must be over the moon, and Lulu says she is too. Laura says, he’s grown up. They spend a lot of time playing Fortune Quest. She’s a gamer now and she’s pretty good. Lulu says she needs a minute to process and asks if Laura would mind calling Valentin. She wants to talk to Charlotte.  

Jason says, Anna let get Valentin get away, but she’s not responsible for his actions. He could have left Charlotte with Laura or stayed and faced the charges, but he chose to run. Anna says, Charlotte is missing because of her. She would have moved heaven and earth to find Robin, and now she put Lulu in her own position. Jason says he’s as much to blame as she is.

Laura says, there’s something she has to tell Lulu, when Doc comes in. He and Lulu hug, and he says, Laura told him that she was awake, but he wasn’t sure he believed it. They’ve been waiting so long. Lulu says she loves to make an entrance, and he asks how she feels. She must be overwhelmed. If there’s anything he can do, let him know. Laura asks, where’s Ace? and Doc says, he was having a good time with the nanny, so he said Ace could spend the night. That way, she and Lulu will have more time together. He goes to the kitchen to get something to eat, and Lulu asks, who’s Ace? Laura says, Nikolas’s son, her nephew, and Lulu says, Nikolas has another son and he’s living here? Laura says, sadly, Nikolas is in prison, and Lulu says, Lucky told her. What about Ace’s mom? Laura says, she died, and Lulu says, that’s awful, but Laura took him in. It’s amazing. How is Spencer coping with his new baby brother?

Ava asks, what happened to the lawyer she had coffee with this morning, who said they were going to win? Ric says he wanted her testimony to be confident and steady in contrast with Kristina’s, and she asks if he lied. He says he took an optimistic view, and she asks if it’s waned. He tells her to ignore him. He doesn’t like waiting for verdicts. There’s nothing to do but question every call he made. She says, it should lift his spirits that he got two of his desired outcomes already. Her testimony was confident and steady, and Molly has forgiven him for defending her.

Alexis asks if Molly is sure she’s not preparing herself in case Ava is acquitted, but Molly says she’s accepted it was an accident. If Kristina wants to blame Ava for the rest of her life, she’ll have to do it alone. She can’t anymore. Alexis says she hopes whatever the outcome, everyone is able to accept it and turn the page, and Molly says, that’s her plan. For so long she’s been angry, defensive, and bitter. It was time to realize that sometimes bad things happen and sometimes you lose the people you love. Alexis says she admires Molly, and if Molly is able to find peace, she’s glad. Molly thanks her for accepting that. TJ couldn’t.  

TJ says, Molly thinks he’s pushing her to feel grief like he is, and Curtis says, is he? TJ says he thought they could help each other, but Molly shut down, and Jordan asks if they’re growing apart. TJ says he doesn’t want to admit it, but the grief was too much. Where does that leave him? Jordan says, Irene was his baby girl. Don’t feel guilty for grieving however he needs to. Curtis says, grief is personal, and TJ says he tried to help. Curtis says, he stepped up, going to the courtroom with Molly, and TJ says, Aunt Stella convinced him to go. Not for Molly, but for himself. But hearing it was an accident, he wishes he hadn’t. Curtis asks if he blames Ava or Kristina, and TJ says, Kristina never should have gone to Ava’s hotel room. She’s been reckless and irresponsible her whole life. He didn’t want her to be their surrogate in the first place. Because of Kristina’s decision, their baby is dead. Molly decided it was a tragic accident. Jordan says, he doesn’t agree? and TJ says he doesn’t, and he told Molly, but he had to tell the truth. He doesn’t see how they can possibly find a way back, they’re so far apart.

Lulu says she can’t believe Spencer is gone without a trace, and Laura says, he loved Ace so much. Lulu says, Nikolas… what a turn of events, and Laura says, he gave into all of his worst instincts, but in the end, he did the right thing and turned himself in. He’ll be happy to hear from her. Lulu says, first she wants to call Charlotte, and Laura says, to the best of her knowledge, Charlotte is well and safe, but Valentin got into trouble and disappeared in July. Unfortunately, he took Charlotte with him. She’s so sorry.

Brook says, Tracy is blowing up her phone because Cody won’t answer, and Cody asks why she’s calling. Brook says she’ll just call Tracy back and say he’s too busy drinking beer, and Dante says, that’s Brook’s speed, ratting them out like in the old days. Cody says, like when she threatened to tell the camp counselors if they didn’t put the canoes back in the boathouse, and Dante says, they were just borrowing them. Brook says, they were stealing them, and looking at his phone, Cody says, Tracy has texted, called, and emailed. He suggests Brook take a beer back to Chase, but Brook says, Cody is going to need it when granny chews him out. Dante says he doesn’t know if she will when she hears the news, and Brook asks if everything is okay. Dante says, Lulu’s awake.

Laura says, Valentin did something illegal, and the FBI was going to arrest him, but he disappeared before they could. Lulu asks if the FBI or WSB are looking for Charlotte, and Laura says, both of them are and she’s using all her resources. She reached out to Anna and Anna is doing everything in her power to locate Charlotte. Lulu says she doesn’t know what Anna can do, since she and Valentin hate each other, but Laura says, that’s another thing. They were actually involved. Anna knows his patterns and habits. She’s the best person to track him down. Lulu says, Valentin is on the run again and putting Charlotte at risk. Charlotte doesn’t even know she’s awake. Laura says, they will get Charlotte back, she promises. She never gave up Lulu and she won’t give up on Charlotte. Charlotte will come back to Lulu.

Anna says she involved Jason. She asked him to hold up on giving Cates the phone so Valentin could escape. Jason says he takes responsibility for his own choices, but Anna says she took advantage of him and put Charlotte at risk. She has to make this right. He says she has to get past this guilt. She has to stop beating herself up. She needs to think clearly about what needs to happen next. She asks if he’s still in, and he says he’s in. They’re going to find Charlotte together.

Ava says she saw the look on Molly’s face during Ric’s closing argument. He convinced his daughter that her baby’s death was an accident. Ric says he wanted to give Molly peace, and Ava says she thinks he has. Please be straight with her. What is she looking at if she’s convicted? He says, maximum, 20 years, but a failsafe dropped in his lap. He suggests they raise a glass to it. Here’s to Ava’s real savior champion – Alexis Davis. Ava puts her glass down.

Molly tells Alexis, at least she and Kristina are communicating. Not like her and TJ.  

TJ tells Curtis and Jordan that they wore themselves out and stopped talking about anything that mattered. It was easier that way.

Molly says, they used to share everything. Something wasn’t real until she talked to TJ. She doesn’t know when that stopped being true.

TJ says they’d do anything to avoid a fight. Things got better the closer they got to Irene’s due date.

Molly says, they couldn’t wait to meet the baby. Once they held the baby in their arms, she thought it would close the distance between them.

TJ says he thought they’d be back where they started, as a family, being parents.

Molly says, but it didn’t happen.

TJ says, their world exploded. He doesn’t recognize them. He doesn’t know how to be Molly’s partner right now.

Molly says she wants to, but she can’t make TJ happy. She thinks the best thing to do is let him go. Alexis holds her.

Jordan hugs TJ.

Brook says she was not expecting great news, and Dante says, that’s why they’re having a couple of beers. Brook asks if Rocco knows, and Dante says, he had a nice reunion with his mom. She says she’s happy for him, and Dante says, the whole family. Brook’s phone rings, and she says, it’s granny again. She’ll call and let her know Hades is fine. Did they tell her about Lulu? Dante says he thinks they should let Lulu talk to Tracy, and Brook says, in that case, call Tracy back. She has business to attend to. She leaves, and Cody says he thought Brook would be happier, but Dante says, she and Lulu weren’t close. For one thing, back when he and Lulu were dating, Brook tried to break them up. Cody asks if Brook still wanted Dante back after all those years at camp.

Ric says, Alexis’s expulsion might give them grounds for an appeal or a mistrial, and Ava says she never thought she’d be grateful for that woman’s big mouth. They clink glasses, and she asks if Ric knew that would happen. He says he knows his ex-wife. He’s hoping an appeal is unnecessary and the jury goes their way. She says, he had the courtroom in the palm of his hand. The jury believed everything he said. So did she. Is he that good or does he finally believe in her?

Molly says, they wanted a baby so badly, without her, there’s nothing left, and Alexis says, sometimes grief brings people together; sometimes, it pulls them apart. Molly says, that’s exactly what happened. TJ thinks she’s rushing past it. Just because she’s not throwing herself on Irene’s grave like Kristina doesn’t mean she’s not feeling it. She’ll never stop grieving their baby and her last chance to be a mother. Alexis asks what she’s saying, and Molly says, this loss, this sadness changed her. She’s not the same person she was before. Alexis says, give it time. Feelings change as the pain lessens. Molly says she doesn’t want another child. She’s done.

TJ says he can’t force motherhood on Molly. She felt betrayed by her own body, but instead of processing that reality, she had her mind set on having a child by any means necessary. After they lost their first baby, he wanted to pause, but Molly was so determined and despondent. Enter Kristina. He just wanted to make Molly happy. He saw them together forever, raising a family, growing old. He never imagined a future without her. Curtis suggests maybe counseling, but TJ says he knows they can’t go on like this, so they’re taking a break. That’s what they’re saying, but it feels like the start of a separation. Jordan says she’s sorry, and TJ says he tried, but he feels hopeless. Jordan asks if there’s anything she can do, but TJ says, there’s nothing anyone can do. Curtis says he gives TJ credit for trying, but there’s something to be said for it being time to take a break from all that trying. TJ says, Aunt Stella told him to share his feelings with Molly. He wonders, what if he’d tried harder? Jordan asks if he believes that, but TJ says, no. He realizes how much he wants a family and Molly doesn’t. It’s a lot to overcome. He guesses they both have to start over.

Cody says, Carly paid Brook to break up Lulu and Dante? Did it work? Dante says, no, and Lulu has a very long, mean memory. He’s going to check on Rocco. Good luck with Tracy. Cody hands Dante a lollipop and says, if he sees Lulu, give her this and tell her that she owes him 20 bucks. Dante leaves and Cody laughs.

Ava says, Nina warned her about Ric, and he says, enlighten him. She says, Nina told her that he was a user, but she defended him. He says, for the record, he believes her, and she thanks him. She says, not a lot of people in this town do. It’s nice to hear it from time to time. He says he believes her.

TJ says he still wants the best for Molly. He wants her to be happy, but he doesn’t think he can make her happy. Curtis says, he did everything right. He was honest with himself and Molly. Jordan says, it will be painful because they still have love, and Curtis says, TJ has to figure out where he’s going to go. He’ll have to run it by Portia, but TJ is more than welcome to stay with them. Jordan says, or her, and TJ says he loves them. Jordan says, he’s not alone. Remember that.

Molly thanks Alexis for not telling her that she might change her mind, and Alexis says she trusts that Molly knows what she wants. She wishes she could take the losses from her. Molly says she knows Alexis is grieving too. Sam was the strong one, the one holding them up. She misses Sam. Molly cries, and Alexis says she misses Sam too. Molly says she needs Sam so much, and Alexis holds her as she cries.

Lulu puts on her shoes, and Laura asks where she’s going. Lulu says she’s going to find her daughter. She’s not letting Valentin take her again. She’ll start at Windymere. Laura says, there’s no one there. It’s been abandoned for over a year. (Um… Didn’t someone buy it from Ava for a skabillion dollars?) Lulu clutches her side, and Laura asks if it’s her incision. She calls to Doc, and Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte. Laura says she promises they will, but now she has to get Lulu to GH to make sure she’s all right. Don’t argue. She’s taking care of Lulu tonight.  

Anna thanks Jason, but he says he hasn’t done anything yet. She says, for having her back even when she’s in the wrong about something, and he asks if anyone’s ever told her that she’s too hard on herself. She says, it doesn’t matter. She hopes he has a new angle to pursue. Every lead she’s had goes to the same dead end. He says he has an idea, and she asks, what is it? He says he’s going to give Valentin an incentive to bring Charlotte back, and he leaves.

Tomorrow, Jordan says she can’t let Isaiah sigh that contract; Carly asks if Anna is saying Jason helped Valentin escape; and Jason offers someone an out.

🧂 You Got Salt In My Pepper…

I didn’t pay a lot of attention to this tonight, but I’m growing weary of people being kicked out or storming out of parties. Tonight it was Angie’s turn to get the boot from Meredith’s bas mitzvah for slut shaming Britani’s hair and then Britani. As Bowling for Soup so eloquently put it, high school never ends. Angie practically had to be physically extracted from the building, and in Lisa’s interview, she said, Angie remembers the reaction, but not what she did to provoke it. I absolutely know people who do this, although I call it, skipping over their part which started it. But my main question for tonight was, how is hair a little porn-ish? What does that even mean?

https://people.com/rhoslc-meredith-marks-has-angie-k-escorted-out-of-her-bat-mitzvah-8756319

Mary was also on Watch What Happens Live tonight.

🗽 Traveling Back In Time…

In case you wanted more of the skinny on last night’s RHONY.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

In addition to the too many series I have going on, I caught up on a couple of films I wanted to see. Civil War wasn’t the movie I thought it was from the clips I’d seen. It was less about the war than it was about the journalists covering it, but I wasn’t disappointed. I’d always identified most with Al on Fear the Walking Dead, how she kept filming for posterity, and I’m intrigued by journalists who get down in the trenches by choice. The thought of a civil war in the US is a scary one, and this film doesn’t explain the details, but we do know there’s a rogue president who’s in the White House for a third term and is doing whatever he likes, the Constitution be damned. One faction is out to kill him and another out to protect him. A lot of the war scenes are brutal, but the cinematics are brilliant, and the cast is stellar.

No spoilers.

Definitely spoilers.

https://screenrant.com/civil-war-movie-what-started-war-explanation-wish/

Excellent interview.

https://deadline.com/2024/11/civil-war-kirsten-dunst-interview-1236188167/

On the other hand, I was glad I only lost an hour and a half out of my life to watch I Saw the TV Glow. If you like artsy coming-of-age allegories, this one is for you. It wasn’t for me. Like We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, this had a great premise, but I wanted… more?… something else?… more horror, less allegory?  Was it too YA for me? I understand Martin Scorsese loved it and that it’s up for several Spirit awards, but I think better can be done to get the point across. The main characters, Owen, who’s on the spectrum, lonely, and neglected, and Maddy, who’s in the closet, lonely, and neglected, are obsessed with a TV show called The Pink Opaque. I actually loved the show within the show and would have liked to see more of it, especially the villain Mr. Melancholy, who was decidedly creepy. I was also moved by a poignant and telling scene where Owen sees the show again years later and it’s not what he remembered. It was a beautifully sad illustration of how we look at things with excitement and magic when we’re young, but when we’re older, we see how mundane they really are. So yeah, it had some great moments, but there were also stretches of nothingness that could have shaved a good twenty minutes off of the film. It might have been better served as a Black Mirror episode. I was a little unsettled when Maddy disappeared and all they found was her TV set. I’m hoping that won’t be me.

Oh, I’m also convinced that a lot of more recent shows/films take place in the 80s or 90s just so they can have a fabulous soundtrack.

https://www.avclub.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-movie-review-1851326195

There will be spoilers.

https://gamerant.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-ending-explained/

https://www.avclub.com/martin-scorsese-i-saw-the-tv-glow

☔️ Don’t Rain On My Parade…

Highlights from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I half-ass watched it, since I was cleaning up my email before the food commenced. My main takeaway point was, Ariana Madix needs to learn how to lip sync if she’s going to do this kind of thing. It was not a good look.

https://people.com/2024-macys-thanksgiving-parade-best-photos-8753195

https://macysthanksgiving.fandom.com/wiki/The_98th_Annual_Macy%27s_Thanksgiving_Day_Parade_(2024)/Gallery

🎄 No Escaping It Now…

If Black Friday didn’t do it, the holiday season has officially begun with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This is another event you’re better off watching on TV. I used to work in one of the buildings in Rockefeller Center, so I decided to stick around after work one year to watch. It’s nearly as crowded as Grand Central the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which – take it from me – is as crowded as it gets. And good luck if you have to go to the bathroom.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/rockefeller-christmas-tree-lighting-2024-live-updates-rcna182186

This year’s tree.

https://people.com/sweet-story-behind-2024-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-8756156

🦬 It’s Raining Orangutans and Bearded Dragons…

For the most part, don’t try this at home.

🐺 Winter: It’s Not Just For Starks Anymore…

Join me tomorrow for soap and whatever the airwaves bring. Until then, stay safe; stay making a holiday shopping list and staying committed to it; and stay never feeling guilty for grieving however you need to.

November 27, 2024 – Ava’s Trial Concludes, Final Bow, Salty Talk, 60 Years, They’re Off, Everything Parade, Pardoned, National Pups (!), Happy Thanksgiving & Give Thanks

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

Olivia asks Gio about playing the National Anthem at the PCU/Llanview game, when Chase runs in looking for Brook. Lois asks, where’s the fire? when Brook comes out, grabs his hand, and they run upstairs, saying that they’re going to finish a movie. Olivia says she knows where the fire is, and Lois says, they all know.

Sasha tells Maxie that she can’t believe it. She hasn’t slept with anyone since Brando, and spends one night with a guy from the bar… She doesn’t know if she can do this.

Lulu walks into her house and says, what the…? James comes out and asks who she is. She says, sorry, but who is he? And what is he doing in her house?

Lucky says, Cyrus was here? and the manager says, he volunteers at Turning Woods. Lucky asks if he thinks it’s okay that a violent, convicted criminal has access to patients, and Elizabeth asks why the family wasn’t consulted. The manager says, Cyrus is Lulu’s uncle and said he had authority to act on the family’s behalf, and Lucky says, like hell he does.  

Kristina says she loved her child and would never hurt her, and Ric says, not more than she loved her father. That’s why she went to the hotel room, isn’t it? To protect her father. She put her father first before the baby. ADA Turner objects, badgering the witness, and the judge sustains it. She tells Ric, question the witness or dismiss her, but don’t testify on her behalf. He says, Kristina wanted to protect her father more than her sister’s child, and Kristina says, she was her child. It was an impossible situation. She wanted to protect her family. He says, the baby was her niece and Kristina’s reckless action caused her death. She’s the reason Irene Davis-Ashford is dead. Alexis stands up and says, that’s enough. Leave her alone.

The judge tells the court to come to order, and Alexis says, the defense attorney is attacking the witness and assaulting her emotionally. It’s egregious. (Alexis’s favorite word.) The judge says, Alexis has no standing in this court and needs to leave before she’s cited for contempt. Alexis says, Ric should be cited for contempt of the judicial process, and the bailiff starts to move toward her. Sonny says, they’ll leave, and the ADA requests a recess, but Ric says, it’s not necessary. No further questions. The judge gives them 15 minutes anyway, and Ava tells Ric that he made Kristina look sympathetic. He says, she already looked sympathetic, but now she looks volatile and reckless. That’s what they wanted.

Kristina says she blew it, but Dante says, not necessarily. He’s been on the stand numerous times, and the jury responds to the truth. She told hers. Molly tells TJ that she’s afraid, and he says, of which part? Ric breaking Kristina down or Kristina saying their baby was her baby. Molly says, if Kristina’s testimony gets Ava acquitted, she’ll never forgive herself. Molly goes over to Kristina and hugs her. She says she’s sure their mom will take Kristina home, but Kristina says she’s not going anywhere, and stares at Ava.

Alexis tells Sonny that Ric knows he can’t win on his own merit, so he’s shattering Kristina. Sonny says, it’s a desperate move and the jury will see right through it, and she says, Ric wanted to make Kristina look like a loose cannon, and she’s worried the jury will believe him. Sonny asks if she wants to go home, but she says she wants to wait. She tells him to go inside. His daughter needs him. He goes back in the courtroom.

Maxie says she knows Sasha is scared, but she meant what she said. Sasha does have a support system and they’ll be here to help. Sasha says she knows. She has a lot of decisions to make, and this isn’t the only one. Maxie says, she just found out that she’s pregnant and needs to do what’s best for her.

James says, it’s not her house. It’s his house. Lulu says she doesn’t know who he is or what he’s doing here. If he tells her where he lives, she’ll help him find his way home. He says he doesn’t have to tell her anything, and she says she lives at 34 Cherry Lane. He says, that’s here, and she says, this is her house. He yells, mom! Stranger danger!

Lucky says, Cyrus has zero authority to act on the family’s behalf, and Elizabeth says, they’ll figure it out. When Cyrus came to visit Lulu at GH and Lucky’s mom found out, she had him removed from the list. Lucky asks the manager why his mother would ban Cyrus from GH only to turn around and authorize him to act on the family’s behalf, and the manager says, he’ll have to ask the mayor. Their focus is on patient care, not family disputes. Lucky says, Lulu vanished, and no one noticed, and the manager says, they have state of the art security equipment. An orderly listens from outside the door, and Lucky says he wants to see the footage – all of it – up until what happened to his sister.

Cyrus is working at the PC Grill when his phone rings. The orderly says, it’s Joe from Turning Woods. Cyrus’s nephew is here, and he’s upset. Cyrus asks if something happened to Lulu, and Joe says, his niece is missing.

Ric calls Natalia to the stand, and she looks surprised. (Um… wouldn’t she have to know if she was going to testify? What if she hadn’t come to court? I don’t think surprise witness means the witness is the one who’s surprised.)

Gio says, Chase and Brook were in a hurry. It must be a great movie. Olivia says, kicking back and watching a movie is just what they need, and Lois says, they need to take it easy. Gio says he’s going to go practice, and leaves. Olivia and Lois laugh, and Olivia says, Lois is going to be a Nona soon.  

Chase and Brook kiss their way to the bed, and Chase says he’s sorry he’s late to make a baby with her. They get busy.

Maxie runs out with a bat in her hand and looks around. She says, James Malcolm West, what is going on? She thought someone was in the house. He says, there was, and she says, she told him not to joke about something like this. He says he’s not. There was a lady in the house. She asks if the lady gave him cookies, but he says he got them from the kitchen. She asks how many he’s had, then says she doesn’t want to know, taking the plate. He says he’s telling the truth. There was a lady in the house. Maxie says, that’s not possible. The doorknob is locked. She goes over to the door, turns the knob, and it opens. Sasha says, it’s not locked, and Maxie asks if James did this. James says, there was a lady standing by the chair, and Maxie and Sasha look outside. Maxie says, this is weird. He doesn’t usually make up stories. She picks up the rock and sees the spare key is gone.

The manager says he’ll call security in the morning, but Lucky says, now. The manager says he’s sorry, but there’s protocol, and Lucky suggests they call the cops. The manager says, they’ve started a search. Lulu was probably sent to the wrong room. Lucky says, their incompetence doesn’t make him feel better. Give him the footage.

Ric asks if Natalia was recently in a car accident, and did she make a 911 call on November 11th? She says, it was earlier in November, and she’ll trust him on the date, and Ric enters her 911 call into evidence. He plays it for the jury and asks if that’s Natalia’s voice. She says, yes, and he asks, who’s the other voice? She says, Kristina Corinthos-Davis, and he says, she and Kristina in a car accident? She says, technically, yes, but they didn’t hit. He asks about Kristina’s emotional state, and she says, Kristina was shaken. He asks if she was rational, and Natalia says, totally. He asks, who caused the accident? and Natalia says she did.

Maxie asks if James promises he didn’t take the key, and he says he promises. Sasha says she’s going to let Maxie handle this, and Maxie says, they’ll talk tomorrow. She doesn’t want Sasha to think she’s on her own. Sasha says she’ll call in the morning, and opens the door. Spinelli is about to come in, and Sasha says, hi… bye, and leaves. Maxie asks James to tell her more about this mysterious stranger, and James tells Spinelli that there was a strange lady here, but mom doesn’t believe him. Maxie says, James is convinced there was an intruder, and James says he promises it’s really true. Maxie says, if the intruder returns the key, she’d appreciate it, and Spinelli says he believes he has a way to solve the mystery.

Lucky storms into the PC Grill, Elizabeth following him, and asks Cyrus, where the hell is his sister?

Gio plays his violin outside, when Lulu comes by. When he finishes the song, she says, it’s a good thing he’s playing not singing it. The high note always trips people up.

Lois tells Olivia not to put the stroller before the baby. Brook isn’t pregnant yet and she doesn’t want to jinx it. Olivia says, it’s only a matter of time. She’s glad Brook did it in the right order, not like she did, but it worked out for the best… She’s sorry. Lois did everything right too. Lois says she thinks she’s learned there’s no right or wrong way to live your life. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. Olivia says, one way or the other, and Lois asks if she’s okay. Olivia says she was thinking about Sam, Dante, and the kids. One minute, they were a big happy family, and the next minute, it was all gone. Lois says, it makes you appreciate how fragile and unpredictable life can be, and Olivia says, Brook and Chase are going to live long, happy, healthy lives. And Lois is going to be the second proudest Nona in the world. Lois says, all she wants is for Brook and her grandchildren to be happy, and Olivia says, grandchildren. Monica is going to have to put on another wing.

Chase says, mission accomplished, and Brook says, it’s too early to know if she’s pregnant, but mission definitely accomplished. Promise her something. She never wants making a baby to take precedence over them and for it to feel like a chore. He says, the most important thing is for them to enjoy each other. Everything else will come in time. She says she has another mission, should he choose to accept it, and he says, definitely. They kiss.

Ric reminds Natalia that she’s testifying under oath, and says, she claims the accident was her fault? She says, yes. It was definitely her mistake. He asks her to tell the court what happened, and she says she was driving when she got a text. She’s embarrassed to say, she looked down at it and drifted into oncoming traffic. He says, it must have been important, and she says, it was from her daughter. Their relationship is strained and they’re not speaking, so the text surprised her. He asks why she said she didn’t need emergency services, and she says, they were both fine. He asks if she called anyone else, and she says, Kristina’s dad. He picked her up. He asks if an insurance claim was made, but she says, no. They took care of it themselves. They didn’t want the insurance to go up. He says, of course (🍷). She testified that she caused the near collision and Kristina acted rationally in the aftermath. Natalia says, correct, and he says he has no further questions. The judge asks the prosecution to redirect, but the ADA says she has no questions. The judge tells Natalia that she can step down and asks Ric to call his next witness. He calls Molly Lansing-Davis to the stand.

Spinelli says, the answer is in the palm of his hand, and James says he’s bored. Spinelli says he has the mobile app for a camera he just installed at the front door, and Maxie says, so it records everything outside. They look at the video and see Lulu taking the key. Maxie says, James was right, and James says he tried to tell her. Spinelli says, her hood is covering her face, and Maxie says she knows she owes James an apology, but she needs him to focus and describe the woman. James says, she had blonde hair, and Maxie says, that narrows it down. Spinelli says, James can give the description to the PCPD, and James says he’s going to help crack the case, and runs off.

Lucky says he was just at Turning Woods and Cyrus was the last person spotted with Lulu, and Cyrus says, it’s surprising Lucky showed up. He’s been there to support his niece during these trying times. Lucky says he wants to make it clear. Cyrus is not welcome near his sister. Cyrus says, Lucky’s mother is busy running the city and raising his nephew. Lucky is rarely on the continent, much less at Lulu’s bedside. If he’s not there, who is?

Gio says, no one wants to hear him sing, and Lulu asks if the Quartermaines hired him to play. He says he lives here, and she asks if he’s a Quartermaine. He says, it’s a grey area between guest and extended family. No one has asked him to leave, so he must be doing something right. Lulu says, the way he plays, they should keep him around, and he tells her that Lois said the same thing. She brought him here. She says, Lois Cerullo? She thought Lois lived in Bensonhurst. He says, she did, until last year. He’s answered her questions and now he has one of his own. Who is she? She says she’s sorry she interrupted him, and he asks if she knows where she’s going. He could take her somewhere. She says she appreciates it, but she’s had her fill of stranger danger for one night and they just met.

Ric asks if Molly was with her sister when Kristina was served with the subpoena, and Molly says, yes. He asks, what was Kristina’s reaction? and Molly says, she was not happy. He says, define not happy. Was she angry? ADA Turner objects, leading the witness, and the judge says, sustained. Ric asks if Kristina stated she was planning on testifying, and Molly says, she said she didn’t intend to comply. He asks if she informed Kristina that failure to comply is a punishable offense, and Molly says she did. He asks what Kristina’s reason was for not complying, and she says, Kristina was afraid she would incriminate her father for an unlawful act. He says, her father is Michael Sonny Corinthos, Jr. So Kristina would rather protect her father than state the truth. Molly says, Kristina was set on not testifying, and he asks if Kristina confided her intention to confront Ava. She says, Kristina told her that she was going to get Ava to drop the subpoena. She didn’t specify that she was going to confront Ava. Ric asks what she said and how did Molly respond, and Molly says she warned Kristina not to see Ava. He says, Kristina didn’t take her advice, did she? Why does Molly think that is? Molly says, she was angry, and there are mumbles throughout the courtroom. He says, so Kristina Corinthos-Davis, 38 weeks pregnant with Molly’s child, was aware the subpoena would not be lifted, yet sought out and confronted Ava to protect her father from her testimony. Molly says, yes, and Ric has no further questions.

Ava takes the stand, and Ric says, Kristina arrived at her hotel suite upset. Ava says she understood. Kristina is very protective of her father. He says, Ava subpoenaed her, and she says she believed Kristina would see her obligation to tell the truth and consider what was at stake, the well-being of her half-sister Avery. He asks if Kristina asked her to lift the subpoena, and Ava says, she demanded it. He says, and Ava refused? and she says, yes. He asks about Kristina’s mental state, and Ava says, she was angry. He asks if Kristina made threats, and she says, Kristina threatened to bring up her alleged past transgressions to damage her custody case. He asks how Ava reacted, and Ava says she was upset, but she didn’t wish harm on Kristina’s baby. He asks if Ava laid a hand on Kristina, and she says, yes. They were arguing and Kristina was pushing past her. She reached out and grabbed Kristina’s shoulder, and Kristina pulled away. She lost her balance and tripped. She fell against the window and crashed through it. It was horrific. He asks what she did, and Ava says she went to the window and closed the drapes. He asks if she saw what Kristina tripped over, and she says, a duffel bag belonging to a man she was involved with. He asks if she replaced it with another item, and she says she moved the bag to the other room and replaced it with a pair of shoes. He asks, why? and she says, the man she was involved with was an FBI agent. She didn’t want to draw him into any trouble. He asks if she had any intention of harming Kristina or her child, and she says she could never harm a child. Her own daughter was brutally murdered, and she’d never wish the pain of losing a child on anybody. He says, one last question. Does she have any regrets about that day? She says she regrets that they both thought they had to protect their families. She regrets that their differences weren’t addressed in a courtroom, and deeply regrets that an innocent baby lost her life before she had a chance to live it. She knows it was a tragic accident and for that she has so much regret and sorrow. Ric says he has no further questions.

Lois says, all she wants is one beautiful healthy grandchild, and Olivia says, being a Nona is the best. You get to say yes to everything. That reminds her. She made Rocco his favorite cookies. Lois says she thought Dante didn’t want him eating those, and Olivia asks, what did she just say?

Brook says, that didn’t feel like a chore, and Chase says he’s looking forward to that big, beautiful baby belly. She says, he’s made it clear that he’s excited about Project Baby Bump, and he says he’s excited about everything to come. She says, her blowing up like a balloon, and he says he knows she has the harder part, but when she starts to show, it will feel real. She says, he’s going to be the best father, and he says he’s excited they’re doing this together for the first time. He’s excited about all of it.

Elizabeth says, they were wondering if Cyrus saw anything suspicious at Turning Woods, and Cyrus says he was told Lulu was showing improvement. He was too focused on the good news to notice. He’ll be more vigilant next time. Lucky says, there’s not going to be a next time. He made it clear that Cyrus is to have zero access to his sister going forward. Cyrus says, that’s a mistake. Lulu needs him. Lucky says, Cyrus needs to get it in his head. In no way is he Lulu’s family. Cyrus says, Lucky’s been absent for more than a decade. Now he graces them with his presence and gets to decide who’s family. When he’s spent more than a month with his own child, then they can discuss family.  

James wonders when Grandpa Mac is getting here with the police, and Maxie tells him to sit and read. Spinelli says, perhaps James is right, and they should get the police involved. Whoever came in, is out there with the spare key. James flips through a photo album and suddenly says, this is her. The lady who was in the house. Maxie takes the album and sees Lulu’s photo.  

Lucky says, it doesn’t matter where he’s been. He’s here now and he’s going to do everything in his power to protect his family. Cyrus says, as will he, and Elizabeth says, getting arrested isn’t going to help. Lucky says he just got the security footage, and he and Elizabeth look at it. They watch as Lulu gets the clothing out of the drawer behind the reception desk, and Lucky says, she’s awake.   

It’s time for the closing arguments, and ADA Turner says, by her own admission, the defendant physically struggled with Kristina. She moved the bag Kristina tripped over, restaging the crime scene. She lied about closing the curtain and hid having an affair with an FBI agent. But the biggest lie was that she claimed Kristina Corinthos-Davis’s fall was an accident. The truth is, Ava Jerome got angry, and with intent and malice, pushed Kristina through a third-floor window, causing the death of her baby. Irene Davis-Ashford would still be alive if it weren’t for the actions of Ava Jerome, and for that, the jury must find her guilty of manslaughter.

Ric says, the central fact of the case is, a baby is dead. A baby that was loved and wanted, mourned and grieved. When a tragedy happens, it’s natural to want to blame someone, when often, nobody is at fault. They heard testimony confirming Kristina was angry and out of control. She showed up at Ava’s hotel suite even though she’d been advised that visiting would not result in lifting the subpoena. What was her intention? Both parties admit they were heated and emotional, both intent on protecting their families. They argued, and in that argument, Kristina tripped over a piece of luggage and crashed through window. It’s horrifying and tragic… but not a crime. The prosecution would have them believe Ava was callous and caused the death of another woman’s child, even though she’s gone through that unimaginable loss. He’s sure all parties question their choices that day and if they could have changed course, but that’s why it’s called a tragedy. Random decisions caused the death of a child. It’s only way more tragic if they wrongfully assign blame. There’s enough blame to go around, so they should leave it here today. Call it what it is – an accident, a tragedy – and let the healing begin for all those involved.

The judge says, the jury must agree by unanimous verdict. When they do, notify the bailiff. She asks the bailiff to escort them to the jury room. Ava tells Ric, nice job, and he says he hopes at least one of the jury members agrees. Everyone gets up to leave, and TJ asks what Molly thinks. She says she thinks this was a tragedy.  

In the hallway, Kristina says, they can’t fail. The jury has to find Ava guilty and punish her.

Lulu walks into the Quartermaine mansion. She walks through the foyer and into the living room. She hears someone come in, and Rocco says, mom? She turns and sees him and says, Rocco?

Next week, Laura tells Lucky, the only time she would do something is when she was in danger; Lulu tells Rocco, long time, no see; Molly says she’ll do anything for TJ but that; Drew says, the second Jason moves into the Quartermaines, he and Scout are gone; and Kristina asks Sonny to tell her the truth.

🎭 Quite a Life…

I didn’t watch Ryan’s Hope, but I remember seeing her in the Soap Digest. I had no idea how accomplished she was.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/ryans-hope-star-helen-gallagher-dead-at-98

🧂 There’s Salt In My Lake…

According to Heather, the Mormons have two great claims to fame – potato sacks and polygamy. Who knew? While I’ve grown weary of the whining, what stood out in this episode was Robert Jr. confessing to his mother what we’ve known all along – he’s a drug addict. Mary was nothing but compassionate and supportive, and in her interview, she said she was disappointed with herself, having failed him in some way. She said she thought he’d stop at weed and edibles, but was clearly wrong. When she tearfully told him that he could kick his habit and they’d get through this together, it was as real as it gets.

🛸 Standing the Test Of Time…

I’ve never seen this, but I don’t think I’d hate it. I’m all for the so-bad-it’s-good movie.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/santa-claus-conquers-the-martians-60-year-anniversary

 👠 Oz, The Next Generation…

I won a ticket to see this from an online instant win contest. I’m waiting until the dust settles to go though. Fewer kids. I don’t want to feel like I’m in the middle of a school bus during a field trip.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/wicked-review-fantasy-diversity-representation

🦕 Before the Parade Passes By…

The balloons. My favorite, Pikachu, is flying with a buddy this year.

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/lineup/

https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/pikachu-eevee-bring-pokemon-fun-to-the-2024-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade

The human performers.

https://deadline.com/2024/11/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-nbc-2024-1236164013/

The parade route. I’ve seen it in person twice. Once from the sidewalk in front of the store and once from inside an office building while drinking mimosas. Guess which one was better? Seriously though, you’re better off watching from home. It’s supposed to rain anyway.

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/route/

Before the parade. I knew a guy whose whole family did this every year, bringing hot chocolate and snacks. Sounds like fun, but again, weather.  

https://nypost.com/2024/11/27/us-news/hundreds-watch-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-balloons-get-inflated-in-nyc-mind-blowing-doesnt-really-describe-it/

🦃 Official Release…

Weird how this suddenly became a thing.

https://people.com/presidents-with-the-turkeys-they-pardoned-8403658

🐕 After the Parade…

I catch as much of this as I can every year, but I usually miss the end because Thanksgiving dinner approaches.

https://people.com/where-to-watch-2024-national-dog-show-thanksgiving-8751701

The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. – Norman Vincent Peale

I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. – Jon Stewart

🍗 Stretch Pants Activated…

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, your long weekend, your whatever, and see you on the flipside. Until then, stay safe, stay leaving room for dessert, and stay knowing there’s no right or wrong way to live your life. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.

December 1, 2023 – Ava Spills To Nina, Posing, Side Gig, Shade On, VanderUpdate, Parade Pics, Windows, Finale Of Fear, More Turkey, Holiday Pets (!), Just Over 8 Quotes & Philly

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook walks into the nook where Lois is chopping vegetables. Lois says, there’s her girl, and Brook says, okay, but Lios says she can do better than that. Where’s her main squeeze? Brook asks if she means Chase, and Lois says, no, her other main squeeze. Yes, Chase. Brook says, he’s probably halfway to Canada by now after grandma’s tirade on marriage.

Kristina shows Molly into her apartment and tells her to stay there while she secures the necessary provisions. She leaves and comes back with two glasses and a bottle of wine. Molly is still standing by the door, and Kristina says she didn’t expect her to still be in the same position. She leads Molly to the sofa and says, talk to her. What happened? Molly says she realized she’s never been here before.

Elizabeth and Finn are having dinner at the PC Grill (the restaurant of the moment), and Elizabeth wonders if they’re celebrating a special occasion. He says, that depends, and she says, on? He says, whether you deem the calm before the storm special.

A tall, impeccably groomed, well-dressed man walks up to the counter at Kelly’s and Carly welcomes him. She asks if she can get him something, and speaking with a British accent, he says he certainly hopes so.

Sonny and Dex walk into Pozzulo’s, and Dex says, Hume would have been waiting for Sonny if they’d have let him. Sonny asks if he was alone, and Dex says, just him and his briefcase, which he can only assume was full of cash like last time. Sonny says, okay, let’s hear what Pikeman has to say, and takes out his phone.

At Windymere, va opens the door to Nina, who says she’s completely freaked out. Ava sounded frantic. What’s going on? Ava says, this arrived in the mail today, handing her the note with the picture of dead Austin.

Elizabeth says she takes it that it didn’t go well with the hospital lawyer. What’s her name again? Finn says, Dede Clark. It went fine on the surface. She talked a lot about cooperation and implied they’re all in this together on the malpractice suit, and that he could do his part just by answering some questions. She says, but underneath? and he says, the more questions she asked, the more clear it became that GH’s plan is to sacrifice him and save themselves.

Kristina says, that can’t be true, but Molly says, it is. Think about it. Whenever they hang out, Kristina comes to her place, or they meet up at mom’s or Sam’s or a restaurant somewhere. Never here. Kristina says, Molly’s never been to her apartment (neither have we), and Molly says, no. Kristina says, that is weird. Well, welcome. Molly thanks her, and Kristina says, for the record, it’s not like she’s throwing parties or entertaining. Her kitchen is essentially a barren desert. It’s easier to go out. She pours the wine, and Molly says, Kristina doesn’t have to defend herself, but Kristina says, doesn’t she? Molly is her sister and hasn’t even seen her apartment. She hopes Molly knows it’s not intentional. She now has an open invitation, any time she wants to come here, day or night. Molly says, be careful. She just might take her up on that. Kristina says, she better, and they clink glasses.

Lois tells Brook, tirade is a bit of a stretch, and Canada is not that far away. Doesn’t she think she’s being a little overdramatic? Brook says, no. After some of the things grandma said to Chase, she can’t even go there. It was mortifying. Lois says, it’s a good thing to know, nobody ever died from embarrassment, and it didn’t seem to bother Chase all that much. Brook says, he was being polite, but Brook says, or maybe he was seeing Gloria for who she is, a meddling Italian grandmother whose views on modern relationships are stuck in the 1800s. Lois says, exactly, and Brook says, she and Chase have never even discussed marriage. They just moved in together. Lois says, indicating that marriage is probably the next step, but Brook says, they’re nowhere near that step and that’s okay by her. Lois says, good to know, and Brook says, it is good. Lois tells Brook that she just said that, and Brook says, she and Chase are perfectly happy the way things are. Chase walks in with a bottle of wine, and Lois says, he made it.  

The man tells Carly that he’s in Port Charles on business, and he has a craving for a burger. The concierge at his hotel recommended this place. Carly says, he must be staying at the MetroCourt, and he says, she knows it. She says she knows it well, and he says, if he were staying somewhere else, would they also recommend Kelly’s? She says, absolutely. Kelly’s is a Port Charles institution, and they have the best burgers in town, if she does say so herself. He says, wild guess. She works here. She says she owns the place, third generation. So how does he like his burger?

Nina looks at the photo and says, is this real? Ava says, as real as it gets. Austin is dead. Nina asks, how? and Ava says, he was shot to death in Pautuck. Look. She shows Nina the envelope and says, a Port Charles postmark. It could have been sent by anyone. Nina asks if it was just the picture, but Ava says, no. It came with this sweet little note. She gives Nina the paper that says, you’re welcome, and Nina says she doesn’t understand. Ava says, join the club, and Nina says, clearly, the killer wrote this. Oh my God. Would they just assume Ava would be grateful Austin’s dead? Ava says, that’s her guess, and Nina says, she has to take this to the police. Ava snatches them back and says, no. That’s the last thing she’s going to do.

Sonny says, before Hume gets here, how long did Dex tail Austin? Dex says, only when that nanny was working for Sonny. Betty? Sonny asks if anyone called Dex on it, and Dex says, a couple of times at the hospital, he was asked what he was doing there, but he always had a cover. Sonny asks if he roughed Austin up, and Dex says, when Ava disappeared, he questioned Austin. He stonewalled, Dex put him in a headlock and told him if Ava wasn’t back, he’d be back for him. Sonny says, that could be a problem. Austin was murdered and if anyone saw Dex threaten him, they could assume he did it.

Ava says, Dante has already been out here to question her, and Nina asks, why? Because of Austin? Ava pours drinks and says, there’s so much Nina doesn’t know. Nina says, then fill her in, and Ava asks if Nina remembers walking in on her and Sonny having an intense conversation a few months ago, and Nina says, yeah. She asked what was going on, and neither of them would tell her. Ava says she was being blackmailed, and Nina asks, for what? Ava says, when Nikolas went missing, she had every reason to believe he was dead, and Nina asks her to define every reason. Ava says she thought she’d killed him, and Nina says, oh my God. Ava says, he came here, and he was in a rage. He was threatening to disappear and take Avery with him. She had to do what she had to do to stop him, and she grabbed a statue and she hit him. She just wanted to stop him, that’s all, but he fell. He stopped moving and she panicked. She thought he was dead. Nina says, thank God she was wrong, and Ava says she was trying to hide his body when Austin found her. He told her that he’d help her cover it up. Then the body disappeared, and Austin’s cousin Mason claimed he had it. He said he would bring it to the police if she didn’t do everything he told her to do. Nina says, so Austin’s cousin Mason was blackmailing Ava because she killed Nikolas, but he wasn’t actually dead? and Ava says, but Mason wasn’t acting alone. It turned out, Austin was working with him.

Dex says, after questioning Austin about Ava, he never went near him again, and Sonny says, if the cops decide Dex is a suspect – and that’s a big if – tell them that he’s not talking to anybody without his attorney present, and that includes his son Dante. Dex says, understood, and Sonny says he takes care of his people. If Dex gets picked up, he has the best representation. Dex says he appreciates that, and Sonny says, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. The less attention the cops pay to Dex, the more valuable Dex is to him.

Carly presents the man with his burger and says, tell her what he thinks. Don’t spare her feelings. He takes a bite, and she says she wants to know the real deal. He makes happy food noises and says, talk about the real deal. She says, really? and he says, it’s delicious. It’s full of flavor, perfectly cooked. She tells him to enjoy his dinner. She looks at the door and says, not again, and they turn to see a homeless man hanging around the doorway. She goes outside.

Carly tells the man that he can’t be out here, and he asks her not to call the cops, but she says, that’s not what she means. It’s too cold. He needs to come inside.

Kristina asks if Molly wants to tell her what happened, and Molly says, shoot. She had a folder at the park. It’s filled with really personal information… Kristina says she’s got it. She picked it up from the ground when they were leaving. Molly thanks her and says, she’s a life saver. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and takes the folder out of her bag, giving it to Molly. What’s in it? She doesn’t have to share that. It’s 100% her right. Molly says, no, it’s fine. Open it. Kristina looks inside and says, surrogacy candidates. She doesn’t understand. Is there something wrong with them? Molly says, there’s something wrong with her, and Kristina says, watch it. That’s my sister you’re talking about. Molly says she has this whole folder of potential new surrogates and TJ has no clue she’s even looking at them.

Lois brings out glasses and thanks Chase for the wine. She says, it’s very thoughtful of him, and he asks if she wants him to open it. She says, is the Pope Catholic? and tells him to pour while she works. She goes back to the cutting board, and Chase asks if they have a corkscrew. Brook gets it for him, and he asks what they were talking about. Lois says, you, and Brook says, you and Blaze. And how you used to sing together and now she sings alone. Speaking of which, what does he think of her new song?… Hello? Chase says he’s sorry. He got distracted. It’s amazing how Lois can do all that with those nails. Lois says, there’s nothing she can’t do with these nails.

Elizabeth says, Finn has to separate the hospital from the hospital’s lawyers. Sure, it may be a good legal strategy to use him as a scapegoat, but Portia and Terry would never, and she’s sure the Board would follow suit. He says he doesn’t know anymore. If the Muldoons can prove that the hospital somehow knew he was negligent and turned a blind eye, it’s possible they’d be liable for damages. Martin thinks GH’s best plan is to say that he was negligent, but he acted without the knowledge of the hospital. She says, but he wasn’t negligent and he’s going to explain that to a jury when he testifies. They’ll have to be sympathetic to him. He says, really? Has she met him?

Finn says, his testimony alone could tank the case, and Elizabeth tells him, says who? He tells her, says his lawyer; he said it a bunch of times. She says, that’s ridiculous, and he says, really? She says, if Martin Grey doesn’t believe in Finn, fire him, and Finn says, Martin does believe in him, but he’s also a lawyer. Good lawyers point out the landmines. This case at the core is about a grieving family who are looking for answers, and really, can you blame them? She says, of course (🍷) not, and he says, then it’s possible a jury might feel that way too. She says, and it’s possible to have empathy for the family, and realize their loss wasn’t his fault. He says he doesn’t know. He just feels that when he gets on the stand, the jury’s sympathies are going to be with the Muldoons, and the only way he can win them over is to get them to… like him. She says, he did it with her and she’s a way tougher sell. A bunch of strangers? Cakewalk. He says he doesn’t know whether to take that as a pep talk, but all he heard was, she likes him. She says, very much so.

Chase asks if Lois is sure she doesn’t need any help, but she tells him, just sit back and relax and enjoy the wine, which is very good by the way. Brook says, it’s delicious, and Chase says he’s got a guy. Lois says, he’s got a wine guy? and Brook says, it’s true. His recommendations are always on point. Lois says, good to know, and she’s very glad the two of them can join her for dinner. Chase thanks her for the invite, and she says, it gives her a chance to get to know him better. And to apologize for all things Gloria. He says, get out of here, and she says, not really apologize, because God knows she loves her mother, but she does know she could be a bit much. Brook says, a bit? and Lois says, but she means well. Her mother is a romantic. She’s in love with love, and for a woman from her generation, if you’re in love, you put a ring on it. Brook chokes on her wine.

Molly tells Kristina that she was contacted by the matching professional about looking for a new surrogate, and she was excited about getting things going again. Kristina asks if TJ felt differently, and Molly says, when she told him, he said it was too soon. Kristina says, too soon for whom? and Molly says, for him. For them, she guesses. He’s not ready to get back on that roller coaster again. Kristina asks how Molly feels about that, and Molly says, deflated… frustrated. This whole thing is bad enough, but to not be on the same page as your partner. Anyway, she ran into Dr. Navarro when she was leaving the hospital, and she says so kind and steady, and she really put things in perspective. Kristina asks what the doctor said, and Molly tells her, basically, the risk of miscarriage is the chance that you take, no matter who’s carrying the child. But when you weigh that against the chance of actually having a baby, so many people have had success through surrogacy. She wants to be one of those people. Kristina takes her hand, and Molly says, she took the meeting alone. Kristina asks if it was productive, and Molly says, it was, until mom showed up.

The homeless man tells Carly that he’d rather stay outside. He doesn’t like being around too many people. She says, at least let her bring him something to eat, and he says, really? Carly says, of course (🍷), and he says, that’d be great. Thanks. She says she’ll be right back, and if he changes his mind, the door’s open. She runs inside and goes directly to the kitchen, as the man at the counter watches.

Nina says, she didn’t know Austin well, obviously, but he seemed to really care about Ava. Ava says she thought so too. She thought Austin was someone she could trust. When he tried to convince her that he was being coerced, that he didn’t want to help his cousin, that he was trying to get her out from under the blackmail, she believed him. But Nikolas wasn’t dead, and she’s convinced Austin knew all along. Nina says she just doesn’t get it. What was his endgame? Ava says, per usual, in this underworld at least, all roads lead back to Sonny.

Dex shows Hume into Sonny’s office, and Sonny says, well? Hume says, Pikeman needs him to facilitate another shipment, and Sonny says he thought he made himself clear. He doesn’t do anything for Pikeman unless they tell him who the shooter was at the MetroCourt. Hume says, they’re not the police or the WSB. Pikeman is a manufacturer. Sonny says, that exports merchandise through his channels, and Hume says, and they’re willing – he puts his briefcase on the table and opens it – to pay double this time. We see the briefcase is crammed with stacks of bills.

Kristina asks if Alexis is trying to discourage Kristina from trying again, but Molly says, no. It was just typical mom. She wants what Molly wants. But when Molly told her about taking the meeting without tell TJ… Kristina says, technically, she did consult TJ, but Molly says, Kristina knows what she means. Mom said whatever she and TJ choose to do, they have to make the decision together, but she just has this sinking feeling that TJ might never be ready. So she went to the park to clear her head and ran into Willow and Amelia. It was nice. Willow was really sweet, and she got to hold the baby. Kristina asks if it wasn’t hard for her, and Molly says, at first, but it was so amazing to hold this tiny little human in her arms. Once she left them, she couldn’t stop thinking about how she might never have the child of her own. She wants to be a mom so badly. She starts to cry, and Kristina says she knows Molly does.

Chase asks if Brook is okay, and Brook says she will be once her mom changes the subject. Lois says, in a sec. The biggest thing Chase can take away from all of this is that Gloria obviously likes him. That’s not an easy feat because that’s not a woman you can win over very easily. And for what it’s worth (🍷), Lois likes and approves of him too. Chase says, it’s worth more than she knows, and Lois says, he makes her daughter happy. She can see it in her face. She can hear it in her voice and in the way she moves. As a mother, that’s all she could ask for. Chase says, for the record, her daughter makes him very happy too, when Lois’s phone rings. She says she has to take this and asks Brook to finish up for her. She leaves and Brook asks if Chase brought his shovel for the hole he’s going to dig, where she’s going to hide for the remainder of her days. He asks if she doesn’t think she’s being a little dramatic, and she asks why everyone keeps saying that to her… Do not answer that. She’s so, so sorry. He says, why? He’s not.

Finn says, it’s too bad they can’t clone her and have a whole jury box full of Elizabeths. She says, that’s a terrifying thought, and I laugh at the mental picture. He says, not to him, and she says, truth? He says, sure, and she says, sometimes he can be a little… He says, abrasive… guarded… socially awkward, and she tells him that she was going to say standoffish. But once people get to know him, they see what she sees. He says, and what’s that? and she says, a man of the utmost integrity; a brilliant researcher; a dedicated physician; a loving, sometimes neurotic, father. He says, sometimes? and she says, a person who really cares and a doctor who never quits on his patients… and someone who needs a little work on their maple tapping skills. He says, a lot of work, and she says, he’s saved hundreds of lives, and he has the potential to save so many more. He says, not if he loses this malpractice suit.

Carly takes a to-go bag out the homeless man and says she hopes he likes goat cheese. There are fries in there, she threw in a piece of pie, and here’s a coffee. She hands him a cup, and he thanks her. He asks if it’s okay if he sits out here and eats, and she tells him, of course (🍷), and stay as long as he likes.

She goes back inside to the counter and asks the not-homeless man if he’d like anything else. He says he thought she was going to run that guy off. Instead, she fed him. How come?

Nina asks what Sonny has to do with any of this, and Ava says, Austin and Mason were working for Cyrus Renault. Nina asks if Sonny knows, and Ava says, he’s the one who told her. Nina wonders why he didn’t say something, and Ava says, he doesn’t want Nina involved. God knows she wishes she wasn’t involved. Nina says, so Cyrus is the one who had her kidnapped? and Ava says, yes. He wanted Austin to testify for him at that hearing in Pentenville. Nina says, his hardship release. So he had Mason take Ava hostage to guarantee Austin’s testimony. Ava says, helluva guy, huh? and Nina says, Austin did what Cyrus wanted and testified to save Ava. That means Ava did mean something to him. Ava says, something maybe, but not enough.

Sonny closes the briefcase and tells Hume to take it back to his superiors along with this message – he’s out. He’s not moving anything else for Pikeman for any price. Find another harbor. Hume says he’ll relay the message, and Sonny says, you do that. Hume leaves and Dex closes the office door. Sonny says, Dex is going to have an opinion on what he just did. So what does he think? Dex says he thinks Sonny made a mistake.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he thinks the biggest question is going to be why he didn’t screen Muldoon for more tests that would have indicated the presence of cancer. She says, Finn told her that he wanted to, and Muldoon didn’t want to have any more tests. Finn says, he knows, but they might say something like he didn’t explain it to him fully, or maybe he was open to the tests and Finn just didn’t bother. She says, and what? Finn told him he was fine and pushed him out of his office? Finn tells her that they might say he got busy with his research or other patients. She says, he would never do that, and he says he knows that, and she knows that, but what if the jury doesn’t know that?

Brook says, all this marriage talk has got to be wigging Chase out, and he says he’s not wigged out. And he’s pretty certain no one says that anymore. She says her family just really loves weddings, in an unhealthy co-dependent kind of way, and he asks if she’s been to a lot of them. She says, weddings? Oh yeah. Between the Cerullos and the Falconaris, there are too many to count. He asks what they’re like, and she says, big, loud, enough food to feed an army… and the people there fighting. And the dancing. Nobody dances the tarantella like her grandma. He says he’d love to see that someday, and she says, he will. Not at their wedding… She didn’t mean that. She meant at a wedding, probably one of her gajillion family members. Is it hot in here? She fans herself and he says, she needs to relax, but she says she feels terrible. Everyone’s all up in his grill. He says, nobody’s up in his anything, and she says her grandma has probably already reserved a church for them, but they can’t blame her. It’s all she knows. The moment you turn 18, every nona keeps asking when it’s going to be your turn. So she understands it from her grandma. Or at least she’s trying to. But from her mother? That’s a completely different story.

Counter man says, not to sound callous, but he can’t imagine it’s good for business to have a homeless man hanging around outside, and Carly says, probably not. She did tell him to come inside, but he didn’t want to, so she just brought him some food. He says, that was kind of her, and she says, they wrap up all the unused food and send it to the homeless shelters, so she would have been feeding him anyway. At least this time he’s getting a hot meal. The man says he’ll pay the check when she gets a chance, and can she give this to her friend outside. He hands her some cash, and she says, thanks.

Ava tells Nina that Austin came to see her at the gallery the night he died. When she found out he’d known she was held hostage… He could have gone to Sonny. He could have gone to the cops, but he did nothing. He was silent. She was furious. They fought about it. She told him to leave and he left. Nina says, and that was the last time she saw him? and Ava says, yeah. She just doesn’t have any way to prove it. Nina asks if there aren’t cameras at the gallery. Can’t they prove Ava was there at the time Austin was shot? Ava says, the cameras in the back aren’t working, and that’s where she was most of the night, and Nina says, well, that is going to be an issue. Ava says, even if the cameras were working, she doesn’t think it would help her. That’s why she can’t bring the note and picture to the cops. They’re just going to think she hired somebody to get rid of Austin. Even dead, that man is still making trouble for her.

Sonny says, Dex thinks he should have taken the deal? and Dex says he thinks it’s better to play along than make himself an obstacle that needs to be removed. When he was in Afghanistan, there were a lot of these private security groups there. Sonny says, including Pikeman, and Dex says, these are powerful people. They have connections to all the major security ops, the CIA, the WSB. If they come at Sonny, it may be at a level he hasn’t seen before. Sonny says he appreciates Dex’s insight. He’s already considered all that, and he realizes his best move right now is to get out. He doesn’t want Pikeman investing any more in him. He’s betting that they think he’s more trouble than he’s worth and move on.

Molly says, it’s like she’s lost all self-control, but Kristina says she thinks that’s a good thing. Molly says, that she’s a human walking waterworks? and Kristina says, yes actually. For the first time, Molly’s allowing herself to feel what she feels, without trying to edit it or control it. Being a mom is hugely important to her. Molly says, it’s like she won’t be her if she doesn’t, and Kristina says, that’s really beautiful. Molly says, not if TJ won’t consider these surrogates. And she won’t have a child without him. She won’t do that to him. Kristina takes her hands, and they sit down. She says, TJ will come around. She knows he will, and when he does, let Kristina help her. Let her carry a baby for them.

Chase says he doesn’t want Brook to be mad at her on his account. He thinks she’s awesome. She says, he does? and he says, Brook obviously comes by her beauty and her spark naturally. Brook thanks him for the compliment and for just being overall amazing. How’d she get so lucky? He says he asks himself that every day… about how he got lucky, not her. (Ha-ha!) She suggests they agree they’re both lucky, and he asks what she say were the three most important moments of her life. She says, when she scored Jonas Brothers tickets in 2010, and he says he’s being serious. Humor him. She says, all right. The last time she ever saw her great-grandfather Edward; that’s a big one. The first time she ever wrote a song, and when she gained a little brother in Leo. He says he wants this moment right now to be on that list, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, Brook Lynn Quartermaine – he gets down on one knee, taking her hands – will you marry me?

Finn pulls his chair closer to Elizabeth and says, she called him caring. She says, because he is, and he says he thinks he knows that somewhere deep down. He also doesn’t like being questioned or doubted, and when he gets defensive, he gets awkward. These jurors aren’t medical professionals, and this medical jargon thing will go right over their heads, and the only thing that’s going to resonate with them is that this man is dead, and his family is grieving. And there’s this doctor on the stand saying he did everything right. She tries to interrupt, but he says, no. What if he would have pushed harder for Muldoon to get those tests? Made him. Demanded he get that colonoscopy. Would Muldoon still be alive? She says, no one can answer that question. But what she can tell him is, all they can do as medical professionals is their best, and he did that. She knows that. So they need to teach him how to project that inward kindness outward, so the jury will believe him and maybe even like him. He asks if that’s even possible and she says she thinks… Yeah. They’ve got their work cut out for him. They kiss.

Kristina takes Molly’s hand and says she knows Molly was originally against it when she offered to be their surrogate. And admittedly, she hadn’t really thought it through, not fully. Maybe there was a part of her that wanted to swoop in and be the hero. Molly tells her, when she said that before, that was her pain talking. She was disappointed and bitter that Kristina could carry a child and she couldn’t. But that was unfair and she’s sorry. Kristina says she’s sorry Molly is going through this at all, and she’s sorry Molly lost her first baby. Molly says, it’s not Kristina’s job to fix it for them, and Kristina says she doesn’t think it is. Not at all. That’s not the way she sees it. Bringing Molly’s child into this world is something she can and truly wants to give her. Not just for Molly, but for this baby who’s going to be in this family with the most incredible parents. Molly says, she’s absolutely positive? and Kristina says, 100%, no backsies. Molly says, now she knows Kristina means business, and Kristina says she does. Molly says she has to talk to TJ about it; they have to be together on this. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and Molly says, no matter what they decide it means everything that Kristina has offered. Molly thanks her, and Kristina says she loves Molly. They hug, and Molly says she loves Kristina too.

Ava looks at the photo of dead Austin, then picks up the note and puts them both in the fireplace. She watches them burn.

Dex says, so Sonny will end his association with Pikeman and hope they cut their losses, when there’s a knock at the door. Nina comes in and says, Frank told her that she could come in. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and Nina says she just came from Ava’s. She knows about Austin and Ava said he was working with Cyrus. More importantly, she said Cyrus still may be after Sonny. Sonny says, damn. Ava has no business telling her that. Nina says, no, she doesn’t really. The person she should hear it from is him.

Carly thanks the man for coming by, calling him Mr. Brennan (I guess he used a credit card). She hopes they see him again at Kelly’s soon, and he says he can practically guarantee it. He gathers up his things and heads for the door, when Hume comes in. He tells Brennan, we have a problem. Corinthos refuses to move any more of our shipments.

On Monday, Brook says, let’s take the topic off the table and forget it ever came up; Ned says, if he doesn’t figure out how to stop him, Michael will push him out; Molly wants TJ to hear her out first; Blaze asks if Kristina wants to celebrate; and Nina tells Sonny that she’ll do whatever she can to make sure someone comes home.

📸 Meant For More…

I never knew this. That photo doesn’t even look like him.

💣 Happier Villainy…

I still haven’t seen this, but it looks like a fun show.

💎 Shades Of Mess…

While I don’t normally side with Erika, I thought this was weird too. Denise seemed drunk. Maybe she was. Maybe there’s something we don’t know. First world problems.

🍸 Take Two…

If anyone still cares.

🍂 Goodbye Autumn…

In case you didn’t see the parade.

🎁 Switching Gears…

Another thing better seen online. You would not believe how crowded this stuff gets. The tree lighting looked insane.

⚰️ Rehashing the Dead…

All about the Fear finale. The best part – if you haven’t seen it, major spoiler – Skidmark made it! Even better, when he showed up, secretly thanks to Alicia, Daniel just asked, where have you been? No, how the hell did you appear out of thin air after disappearing for years? Or even, what are the odds? It was a great moment. It was a great finale. Nothing left unsaid.

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-series-finale-kim-dickens-interview-8402455

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-colman-domingo-reacts-to-victor-strand-finale-ending-8403734

https://ew.com/fear-the-walking-dead-showrunners-explain-alycia-debnam-carey-finale-return-8404001

🦃 Twice the Thanks…

I saw Thanksgiving for my birthday. They were giving out swag and I got a poster.

While it was a good time, and Eli Roth is a great director, this news surprised me.

https://people.com/thanksgiving-slasher-film-getting-sequel-2025-director-eli-roth-8409658

🫏 Practice Run…

Warming up for pets dressed as Santa, Santa’s elves, the Grinch, and whatever other humiliating holiday costume their pet parent can find.

I have no clue who these people are, but their celebrities somewhere and they have cute pets.

https://push.abs-cbn.com/2022/12/24/celebrities-flex-their-pets-on-christmas-day-1413

🐳 Quotes of the Week

My songs will pass and be forgotten. What counts, however, is that I sang them. – Father Andrew Greeley

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.Lou Holtz

Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment.Arthur Jersild

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

No matter who you are, we’re creatures of habit. The better your habits are, the better they will be in pressure situations. – Wayne Gretzky

The world needs a-holes. Otherwise, where would the sh*t go out? – Dusan Mirkovic (Christoph Waltz), Downsizing

If you’re going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now. – Marie Osmond (Who knew she was such a philosopher?)

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.Ann Landers

Tomorrow I’m going to feel the pounds. – Andrei Castravet, 90 Day Fiancé, The Other Way: Pillow Talk

🐹 On the Holiday Hamster Wheel…

Take some time to stop and smell the pine needles this weekend, and join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and that mess in the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping realistic expectations of yourself and others, and stay allowing yourself to feel what you feel, without trying to edit it or control it.

November 21, 2023 – Charlotte Makes a Confession, Sniff, Seeya Eddie, Legacy, What’s On, Bravo’s Con, To the Curb, Truth, Heritage, The Parade, Adorable Pilgrims & Love

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody goes to Maxie’s office and asks why she’s blowing up his phone. What does she need? Ferdinand for another shoot? She says, no, she needs him, and drags him over to a table littered with photographs of him and Sasha. She tells him to feast his eyes. Aren’t they gorgeous? He says, gorgeous, focusing on one with only Sasha in it.

At the MetroCourt, Finn thanks Diane for meeting him. He knows she’s juggling a lot of clients, and he can’t tell her how grateful he is that she agreed to take his case. She tries to interrupt, but he keeps going, wanting to show her what he has with him, but she says, nope. She doesn’t want to see it. Can’t see it. He says he thinks these notes are crucial to his defense, and she says she’s sure they are, but let’s cut to the chase. She can’t possibly represent him.

Curtis thanks Jordan for coming by, and she says, of course (🍷). What’s going on? He asks if she’s thirsty, but she says she’s sure he didn’t invite her over here for a tea party. So tell her, why is she here? He says, because she’s the only one who can understand what he’s discovered.

Carly looks in Kelly’s window from the courtyard, and Drew asks if she’s spying on her employees. She kisses him, and he asks what that was for. She says, just celebrating.

In a private area of the MetroCourt, Valentin thanks Anna for coming and she gives the standard answer, of course (🍷). They sit down, and Valentin asks what she’d like to drink, but she says she’s fine. He says, is she? and she says she’s just trying to find her footing. How’s Charlotte? He says, she’s healing, getting stronger every day. He’s hoping to have her home by Thanksgiving. She says, thank God, and he says he now knows why she was targeting Anna.

Nina goes into Charlotte’s hospital room, and gives her a giftbox, saying, it’s a little special something for a very special lady. Charlotte says, Nina didn’t have to do that. Her being here is gift enough. Nina says, it’s nothing. Just an excuse to see her really. Charlotte opens the box and says, riding gloves. They’re so soft. She loves them. Nina says, they’ll go riding again soon. It seems like it’s been forever since their last adventure. Charlotte says she’d love that. Nina is always so good to her. Some people are just nice because of papa, but she thinks Nina really cares about her. Just her being her. Nina says, by some people, does she mean Anna?

Cyrus scrubs the floor at the PC Grill, when Sonny walks in.

Drew and Carly sit at a table, and Drew asks if the celebration has anything to do with her buying back her half of the MetroCourt, but she says, no. As tempting as it was, she couldn’t do it. She turned down the offer. He says, so she decided to come to her restaurant to do a little people watching? but she says she was just appreciating what she has. She went to the MetroCourt today to turn down Nina’s offer and when she stepped off the elevator, she had a sense of déjà vu. She found herself staring into the dining area, watching the activity of the day, and then she saw Nina. It was hard watching her stand where Carly used to stand, like she owned the place. And she knows Nina does, but it was hard watching her live the life Carly used to live. She knows it must sound awful to him. He says, it doesn’t sound awful. It sounds human.

Valentin says, read this, it explains everything, and hands Anna Victor’s letter to Charlotte. She says, it’s from Victor? What’s he doing writing to Charlotte? Valentin says, it’s all in there, and Anna reads: It is with a heavy heart I must write to you and share my concern about our family’s future… Anna has completely manipulated your father. She’s taken advantage of his infatuation with her… She’s used [her charms] to control your father. Her extensive training in espionage has afforded her the ability to mask who she really is. I tell you this, Anna Devane is not who she seems. Do not trust her. Not for a minute.

Charlotte says, Anna pretends to be nice, but it’s just a way to get closer to papa, and Nina says, her grandmother Laura told her and Charlotte’s papa that Victor warned her about Anna, that he said she was dangerous. Charlotte says, because she is. She tricked him. He can’t tell that she’s using him.

Cyrus says he’s sorry to disappoint Sonny, but they don’t open until 5, and Sonny says, that’s all right because he already ate lunch. Cyrus can keep working while they talk. Cyrus says, they’re going to talk? but Sonny says, he’s going to talk; Cyrus is going to listen. He thinks he’s so slick. Father Teresa. Mr. Clean. It doesn’t matter what part he plays, they both know who he is. Get used to that mop because it’s the last job he’s going to have in Port Charles, and Sonny’s going to make sure of that. Cyrus says, then he guesses he’d better get back to it, and Sonny says, stay focused. Because if he gets a glimpse or hears a whisper that Cyrus is back to his old tricks, he will shut Cyrus down permanently.

Jordan asks, what’s this new discovery? and Curtis says, meditation. She says, TJ’s been trying to get her to try it, and he says, it’s a great way to quiet the noise in your head and to slow down your thoughts and just be still. She says, it sounds profound, and he says, she’d be surprised what comes from stillness. He got this memory of a case they worked on in Baltimore. He doesn’t remember the details, only how he felt. Following the lead, putting the clues together, connecting the dots… that spark, and the answer comes.

Finn asks, why the sudden reluctance? and Diane says, it’s very complicated. Under other circumstances, she’d be all in to represent him, especially since she doesn’t want to disappoint Alexis. He asks, what’s holding her up? and she says, when Alexis called her this morning, she was running around. She didn’t quite understand all of the details, and after they hung up, she got a call from the Muldoons, the family that’s suing him.

Maxie tells Cody, every shot is a masterpiece. She can’t stop thinking about their next Deception campaign. Sasha is about to come in, but stops and listens from outside. Maxie says, Salvadore’s people are already on board, and Cody asks if she’s sure about him. She says, he can’t stop talking about how much camera chemistry Cody and Sasha have. Cody says, listen, he just… She says, picture this for the next Deception campaign. Think, sophistication meets untamed allure. He says, untamed allure? and she says, yeah. Him, in a tux, with a twist. Shirt slightly undone, showcasing rugged charm. Then there’s Sasha opposite him, looking exquisite in a radiant ballgown. Think, cowboy meets elegance. Sasha continues to listen, and Maxie says she can see it now. Stark desert landscape. The sunset painting the sky. He says, at least it will be a short shoot, and she says, they’ll spend the holiday setting up for that moment. He says, good luck. He’s sure it’s going to be great, whoever they get to stand next to Sasha by that sunset is going to look… Maxie says, come on. It screams Cody. He says, sorry. No can do. He’s out.

Anna continues reading: She will use your father and lead him into danger. She will lead him to his death. My dear Charlotte, you are the only one who can protect your father from Anna Devane. She puts the letter down and asks Valentin, what did he do? He put so much fear into a young person’s mind like that. Charlotte was just trying to protect him from her. He says, Laura finally got Charlotte to open up. Victor didn’t just write a letter. He visited her in boarding school. He filled her head with stories that Anna was a threat, that her motive was to ruin him and put him in prison or worse. Anna says, so all of her actions were just a young girl desperately trying to save her father, and he says, yeah. She thought by getting Anna out of Port Charles, she was keeping him out of harm’s way. Anna asks if she admitted to everything. Burning her house or…

Nina asks why Charlotte didn’t tell anyone about Victor’s letter, and Charlotte says she didn’t think anyone would believe her. Nina says, that’s a lot for her to carry, isn’t it? She thought Anna was a threat, so what did she do? Charlotte says, Nina already knows, doesn’t she? Grandmother must have told her. Nina says, Laura told her that she wanted Anna to leave Port Charles. Will Charlotte tell her? What did she do to make Anna want to go?

Curtis says, that memory of him and Jordan working on that case. It was not just nostalgia; it was a wake-up call. Jordan says, from what? but he says, not from, to. It reminded him of who he is deep down. He thought he left the P.I. world behind him. She says, he was finding a new path, and he says he just didn’t want to get pigeonholed. And he’s still doing that work, badge or no badge. Helping Drew figure out where Victor Cassadine took Trina and Ace was a huge part of him. That’s who he is at the core. He wants to live to uncover the truth, to seek justice. She asks if he thinks he lost that part of himself, and he says, not lost. Just sidetracked, especially after the shooting. The PCPD hasn’t made any progress, and he can’t just sit here waiting for something to happen. He’s got to dig in. He’s got to take matters into his own hands and figure out who put him in this wheelchair. But to do that, he needs access to the police investigation. She says, and that’s where she comes in.

Finn says, Diane is going to represent the family that’s suing him and General Hospital for malpractice? and she says, yes, she is. The deceased, Dennis Muldoon, she and his father-in-law go way, way back. He was her client before she was even truly established. The Muldoons have her on retainer. Finn says, oh, that’s nice, and she says, so they should probably cut this chat a little short, considering they will soon be on adversarial sides in a courtroom. However, she does have some unsolicited advice for him. He says, by all means, and she says, he may trust the higher ups at General Hospital, but trust her, when push comes to shove, the GH lawyer will focus solely on the hospital’s reputation, not his. He’ll be an afterthought. He tells her, Alexis said the same thing, and she says, Alexis was right. Gregory comes in, using a cane, and Diane says she does wish him the very best of luck. She gets up, and Gregory says, don’t let him interrupt. If they need more time, he can wait at the bar. She says, not at all. Her business with Dr. Finn is done, for now. She leaves, and Finn says, yeah, that went well.

Maxie says, come on. She doesn’t understand why Cody is being so obstinate. She will pay him. In fact, she has his last paycheck around here somewhere. She digs it out, and says, see? handing it to him. He says he appreciates… Oh wow. That is a hefty sum. She says, it’ll be heftier when he signs on as the male Face of Deception, but he says, sorry. This face has seen its last paycheck. He appreciates it, but he can’t do this. Sasha looks worried, and Maxie says, fine. She’ll give him a sign-on bonus, double what’s on that check. He says, it’s not the money. It’s Sasha.

Cyrus says he doesn’t imagine Sonny will believe it, but this is him trying to start fresh. Every move he’s made since his release has been by the book. This job is a genuine attempt to go straight. His past issues with Sonny, water under the bridge. Sonny says, that’s hard to believe after everything Cyrus did to set him up, and Cyrus says he has no idea what Sonny is talking about. Sonny says, maybe there’s too much bleach in his brain. Let him refresh Cyrus’s memory. His boys Austin and Mason blackmailed Ava Jerome to put a mole in his house, his daughter’s nanny, Betty. She did a perfect job. She did what she had to do. She got to the computer, grabbed the information, brought the information to Austin, and Austin brought it to Cyrus at Pentenville. Then Cyrus gave it to the Feds because he thought it would take Sonny down. Cyrus says, that’s a hell of a story, and Sonny says, here’s the punchline. All the information Betty stole was a lie. It was all a trap. And guess what? Cyrus walked right into it.

Carly tells Drew that she’s not going to keep dwelling on everything Nina did. She’s moving on from the past. He says, that sounds very healthy, and she says, look at everything she has. Him. He’s back from Pentenville, and this amazing business her mother gave her with a major connection to her family history. Her kids are healthy and happy, she has an amazing moss bowl🎍home. She has so many blessings. He says, and she’s so resilient and strong. He’s got to be honest here. Her optimism inspires him. She says she gets that from him. He always teaches her to see the bright side, to move forward. He says, moving forward doesn’t mean she pushes Carly down, and it especially doesn’t mean she lets the people that hurt her have another shot.

Curtis tells Jordan that he knows it’s a grey area. He’s not asking for a free pass to the evidence locker. He’s just asking if she can bend the rules, just a little bit. She says, it’s a thin line, but given he was the victim, the one who got affected, it seems to her he has the right to know what’s happening with the investigation. She’ll get him access to the statements, evidence, leads, the works, but… He says, thank you, but she says, hold on. Don’t go getting all grateful just yet. There is a catch.

Finn says he sees Gregory brought a friend. How’s that working out? Gregory says, these things really do make you feel older, but it does provide a grounding and he’s more steady on his feet. Finn says, stability is everything, and Gregory says, not to pry, but did something happen with Diane? Finn says, that? Just some legal nonsense. Of greater importance, Violet had her first school debate. She and her team defended humans against robots as better helpers. Violet pointed out that although robots might be better at following instructions, humans have intuition. That we are better able to sense when something’s off. We can adapt and provide comfort. And more important, no batteries required. Gregory says, sounds like Violet is talking about the difference between Finn and Elizabeth, and Finn says, ha-ha-ha. That’s a good one. Gregory says, as much as he enjoys talking about his intuitive granddaughter, it doesn’t take intuition to see something’s bothering Finn. Was it the meeting with Diane? Finn says, yeah. It didn’t go the way he’d hoped.

Charlotte tells Nina that she never did anything to hurt Anna. She was just trying to scare her. Nina says, by doing what? Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. She’s done some foolish things when she was upset. Charlotte asks if Nina remembers the article coming out about Anna being a double-agent, and Nina says she does. Charlotte says, one night, after she saw that article, she went to Anna’s house and painted the word murderer on her door. Nina says, and? and Charlotte says, and after the fire at her house, she got another idea and went to Anna’s hotel. She snuck in with a keycard she borrowed from papa and messed up Anna’s stuff. She even wrote on Anna’s bathroom mirror with lipstick. Then on Halloween, she was going to spray paint another message in her apartment, but then Anna found her, and she had a gun. Anna shot her. Charlotte starts to cry.

Valentin tells Anna that he hasn’t discussed it with Charlotte. He just knows she told Laura that she was trying to drive Anna away. Anna says, Charlotte tried to terrorize her… He says, she needs professional help, and Anna says she thinks Charlotte needs intensive deprogramming, doesn’t he? He says, but everything she did was to protect him. She wasn’t acting out of malice. Anna says, it’s powerful conditioning, and he says, it can be fixed. Have faith. As soon as Charlotte is on the road to healing, then the three of them can move forward together. She says she’s really not sure how that’s going to happen.

Cody says he doesn’t know if Maxie heard, but Sasha said she doesn’t want to work with him anymore. She was crystal clear. Maxie says, once she understands… Cody says, no way. He’s not going to let Maxie force Sasha into doing something she’s uncomfortable with. Maxie says she wouldn’t do that to Sasha. This is just business. He says, well, it’s personal to Sasha. She’s been through hell. She was being used by Gladys for months and controlled by Montague. She’s just now getting her life in order. She deserves to have her wishes respected. He’s not going to interfere with anything like that. He already told her, he’s out. He heads for the door, when Sasha appears and says, maybe not.

Finn tells Gregory, there’s a situation at the hospital that he’d rather not discuss. It’s nothing to worry about, especially with everything else on his plate. Gregory asks if Finn means his ALS. While he can’t alter his condition, he can alter how he chooses to deal with it. Like this cane. Speaking of which, Finn should have seen Violet’s face. She doesn’t think less of him because of it. In fact, she said she thought it makes him look like a dapper snowman. Finn laughs and says, classic Violet. Greogry says, if Finn is grappling with something, share it. He may not be able to provide an answer, but maybe it will give him a break from his own troubles. Finn says, okay. Gregory asked for it. Yesterday, he got some unsettling news. Gregory says, he’s not sick, is he? but Finn says, nothing like that. It’s work. He was informed that he, along with GH, are being sued by the family of a former patient for malpractice.

Carly asks Drew, so what’s going on? He’s usually the one telling her to let things go. He tells her that he’s just saying to be aware and stand on guard. She never told him what that kiss was celebrating. She says, the fact that he’s free to show up out of the blue, that means she can kiss him whenever she wants. Compared to a month ago, her life is so much better. He says his too, and she says, then what was that comment about, not letting people hurt you again. He says, Ned. Ned’s pushed him one step too far.

Sonny says, Cyrus must have seen the headlines about his arrest. Corinthos in Hot Water; FBI Brews Trouble for Coffee Kingpin. It was basically a comedy of errors. Cyrus handed them watered down espresso for that bogus data. Cyrus says, Sonny gives him too much credit, and Sonny says he was actually in shock at how much credit they gave Cyrus, but he got his release, right? Cyrus says, because of his poor health, nothing else, and Sonny tells him to make sure he takes good care of that precious health. Because it’s going to get a lot worse if Cyrus crosses him.

Valentin tells Anna that they can get through this. Charlotte wasn’t acting in her right mind. It wasn’t truly her. Anna says she doesn’t have a problem with Charlotte. But he’s known since the night her hotel suite was ransacked that his daughter was the one threatening her, and he said nothing. He tells her that he was hoping… She says, hoping what? That he could manage it from behind the scenes? Like they did when they were agents in the field? He decided not to tell the woman he claims to love that instead of fearing professional assassins, she was merely facing a misguided teenager. He says he didn’t know how to handle it, and she says, because he has no faith in her. If he’d told her the truth from the start, then they could have talked about it. They could have handled it themselves. And she would have never pulled a weapon that night. It’s all because he doesn’t believe in her. Does he know why he doesn’t trust anyone? Because he himself cannot be trusted.

Nina says, other than the spray paint and the hotel, did Charlotte do anything else to try and frighten Anna away? Charlotte says, no, she promises, and Nina says, okay. Anna’s house. It was just the spray paint? Charlotte says, yes, and Nina takes her hand. She says, this is her that Charlotte is talking to. There is nothing she could ever say or do to get Nina to stop loving her. She will never stop loving Charlotte, but in order for them to make this right, Charlotte has to be honest with her. Did she have anything to do with the fire in Anna’s house?

Drew tells Carly, let’s just say, Ned is back to his old self, as arrogant as ever, and she says, wow. What did he do? Drew says, he stopped by Aurora, and everything seemed fine at first, until he found out Michael had salvaged a deal for ELQ. And he kind of freaked out. Instead of being grateful for it, he said Michael had no authority to broker that deal. She says, even though he wasn’t around to do it himself? and Drew says, exactly. Instead of thanking Michael, Ned told him to keep his nose out of ELQ business. She says, it’s unbelievable, but it sounds just like Ned, and he says, it does. Proving once again, Ned puts his pride, puts his ego ahead of what’s best for the company. Carly asks what he’s going to do about it.

Jordan says, she and Curtis are both investigators at heart. She wants to be right there in the trenches with him. He asks if she isn’t Deputy Mayor, because digging could ruffle some feathers and cause embarrassment to the whole city, which could make her life very difficult. She says, difficult is relative. She can handle the heat. And she’s happy to ruffle any feathers if it means putting the person who shot him behind bars for twenty to life.

Gregory says, so Alexis arranged for Diane to represent Finn, only to discover Diane is representing the family suing him? Finn says, yeah, that’s pretty much the gist of it. Gregory says, Finn’s always been an outstanding doctor. This is his first brush with a lawsuit, right? Finn says, yes, and Gregory asks if he believes the suit has merit. Finn says, no, but sometimes in cases like this, grieving families have sway with the jury. Gregory asks if he has his bases covered with malpractice insurance (FYI, if he didn’t, it’s doubtful the hospital would have him on staff), and Finn says, of course (🍷). If for some reason the jury favors the Muldoons, the insurance will pay out a settlement. Gregory says, that’s a silver lining at least. Finn won’t be staring down the barrel of financial ruin. Finn says he doesn’t know. If the insurance company has to pay out because of this case, they’ll find a reason to drop him. Without malpractice insurance… Gregory says, he won’t be able to practice medicine, and Finn says, this lawsuit could be the end of his career.

Sasha says she really appreciates Cody’s willingness to step away from Deception because of her feelings, but if Maxie asked him to work with any other model, would he say yes? Cody says, he… and Sasha says, they’ve been pretty honest with each other so far, so don’t stop now. Cody says, yeah. If it was another model, he’d take the job. Sasha asks Maxie if having Cody as the male Face of Deception is important to their brand, and Maxie says, only if they want to be successful. Their chemistry was off the charts. It jumped through the screen at Home & Heart. These pictures capture it perfectly. Cody looks at her, and she says, but Cody is right. Sasha’s wishes and comfort come first. Sometimes she gets a little excited. Sasha says, no. You know what? She needs to trust and pay attention to that excitement. If Maxie thinks this is for the best, then she wants to do it… for the company. Cody asks if she’s sure, and Maxie jets over to her and says, really? Sasha says she’s sure, and Maxie says, oh my God, this is so amazing. She promises it won’t be awkward. No blind gossip pieces about their pairing. This is just business. Strictly professional. Sasha and Cody look at each other and we see a photo of them with Ferdinand.

Gregory says, Finn dedicated his life, he poured his heart and soul into medicine. He can’t let them take away his calling. If GH’s lawyers won’t stand up for him, he’ll have to stand up for himself. He says, that’s what he’s trying to do, and Gregory says, someone doesn’t get Stage IV cancer out of the blue. There had to have been signs, symptoms. He knows from personal experience. When he was diagnosed with ALS, there were countless warnings. He was too stubborn to see them. Finn says he knows that… and Gregory says, listen to him. If that patient was Stage IV, then there had to have been indicators that were overlooked or ignored. Finn thanks him, and Gregory says, for what? Finn puts his hand on Gregory’s and says, for believing in him. For always feeling the weight on his shoulders and trying to lighten the load. Gregory puts his hand on Finn’s and says, always, son. Always.

Charlotte tells Nina that she never set fire to Anna’s house. She was just trying to get Anna to leave town. She had to keep papa safe. Nina has to believe her. Nina says she does, and hugs Charlotte, saying, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.

Valentin says, Anna’s right. He is at his core untrustworthy. When he learned about Charlotte, his first instinct was to hide the truth. She says, it’s called lying, and he says, to protect his daughter. But also maybe to protect their love. He’s dreamed of a life with her forever. He just doesn’t have the faith. He was afraid she’d leave him when she found out. Maybe he’s afraid she doesn’t love him the way he loves her. She says she thinks he always doubted them, and he says he thinks she’s right. She sighs and wipes tears from her eyes. She says, it’s never been about how much she loves him. It’s just been this persistent mistrust that’s created this chasm. Except that now the lies and secrecy ended up with her shooting an innocent kid. He says, Charlotte will recover, and she asks what that even means. She picks up a napkin and dabs at her eyes and asks if that makes it okay. It doesn’t absolve her. Charlotte is never going to get over this trauma, ever. No matter how much deprogramming, it will never erase it. Every time Charlotte sees her, she’ll be reminded of that night. And Anna is afraid every time she sees Valentin, she’ll be forced to relive it. So she thinks if she’s going to have any peace in her life, she needs to see him as little as possible. She’s sorry. She leaves, and Valentin hangs his head.

Curtis tells Jordan that all he wanted was access to the police files. He can handle the rest alone. Besides, if he comes up empty, it will only be his time he wasted. Jordan says, it was that memory of them investigating in Baltimore that gave him this idea to begin with. That should be a clue that she’s right. They made a great team. He says, they were a force, and she says, and closed a lot of tough cases, cases that stumped everyone else. They were unstoppable because they complimented each other’s strengths. He says he remembers, and she says, so they team up. They can get to the bottom of this faster together. What does he say? He says, there’s no point in fighting her, and she says, because he knows she’s right. He says, true that. Let’s get started.

Carly says, okay. With Ned back to throwing his weight around, what’s Drew’s next move? He says he’ll tell her what he’s not going to do. He’s not going to make any more rash decisions, giving Ned more power for his pals at the SEC, so they can maneuver him back behind bars. She says, so he does think Ned was the one who tipped them off, not the FBI? He says, the theory that they were targeting Carly to get to Sonny makes sense, but sometimes things just are what they are. There’s no grand conspiracy. Ned was even going to tell him something about the SEC right before he started freaking out about Michael and ELQ. She says, with everything he just told her, Ned hasn’t changed one bit. He says, exactly. People act on raw emotions, like anger and spite, and given Ned’s ego and his obvious resentment toward him, it fits. Ned saw an opportunity for revenge, and he took it.

Sonny says, let him make himself clear. Cyrus is to stay away from him, his family, his business. And when he says his family, they’re all under his protection. Sasha Gilmore, Ava Jerome, his ex-wife. Cyrus crosses paths with them, he crosses paths with Sonny. Cyrus says, anything else? and Sonny says, yeah. Keep working on that mop. He moves closer and whispers that he’s got his eyes on Cyrus. Every hour of every day. Cyrus steps over the line, Sonny’s going to make sure no one ever sees him again. Sonny heads for the door, and Cyrus says he understands. Sonny comes back and says, one more thing. Lay off Laura. Don’t show up at the city hall. It embarrasses her. Or at her house. It’s Laura’s choice if she wants to see him, but don’t just go there uninvited. Are they clear? Cyrus says, oh yeah, and Sonny says he’s glad they understand each other. Now get back to work. Sonny leaves, and Cyrus looks like he’s barely keeping a lid on it.

Tomorrow, Curtis says, Nina may not be happy after she hears what he has to say; Gregory asks what Martin suggests they do; and Valentin tells Anna, stay away.

😢 Say It Ain’t So…

I’m so bummed! I wasn’t totally crazy about the Austin character, but Roger Howarth made it his own. IMO, he’s one of the greatest actors in daytime, if not the greatest.

👔 Different Kind Of Goodbye…

Now he has to put suits on again.

🎓 In Memory Of Billy…

His death was such a shock. I’m sure he’d be proud of the memorial scholarship.

Billy Miller’s Family Creates Memorial Scholarship in His Honor

🦃 This Thursday…

In an odd twist, GH decided to air a new episode on Thanksgiving, even though they haven’t in years. Don’t expect a recap on Thanksgiving. I’ll be busy letting out my waistband.

🎰 What Happens At BravoCon…

Maybe there was a reason Sutton ignored her.

No surprise here.

In related news.

💎 Gets My Vote…

I’ll say it again, I don’t see any new Erika. What I see is the old Erika waiting for the right moment to pounce. We got a taste of it when the elevator randomly stopped on their floor, and Erika’s Magic Mike friend just happened to be riding in it, along with her… whatever he is, Mikey.

☔️ Not To Rain On the Thanksgiving Parade…

Time to rewrite history right.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thanksgiving-myth-and-what-we-should-be-teaching-kids-180973655/

🌻 Something To Celebrate…

The resolution.

https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/us-senate-passes-resolution-recognizing-november-2023-at-national-native-american-heritage-month

The facts.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a38083079/native-american-heritage-month-facts/

Ideas for celebrating.

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/how-to-celebrate-native-american-heritage-month

🥁 Before It Passes By…

About the parade.

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/

The new balloons. Scroll down for the gallery.

Macy’s Parade Eve. I knew someone who used to do this every year. Nope. That’s why God invented TV sets.

https://abc7ny.com/nyc-thanksgiving-parade-balloon-inflation-upper-west-side-macys-balloons-american-museum-of-natural-history/14088735/

🐾 Good Pilgrims…

A gallery of adorable pilgrims. I just can’t.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/25-pets-in-pilgrim-costumes-photos_n_2160020

🍼 At The Kids’ Table…

Stop by tomorrow for pre-Thanksgiving soap and picking a bone with Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay taking advantage of seasonal items while you can (maple everything!), and stay knowing that sometimes things just are what they are. There’s no grand conspiracy.

November 23, 2022 – Martin Teams Up With Valentin, Everything Parade, Thanksgiving & Song

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Drew punches the heavy bag at the gym when his phone rings. It’s a reporter from the Aurora affiliate in Tucson, and she tells him that she tracked down the last known location of the Friends of Peace and Love commune. He says, great work, but she says, unfortunately, that commune pulled up stakes years ago, and vanished into the Mohave Desert. Sonny walks in, and Drew says he appreciates the effort, but she’s got to keep searching. Somebody somewhere has to remember something; they have to remember Willow. Sonny says, sounds like he hit a dead end, and Drew says, it’s starting to seem impossible actually. Sonny asks what he means, and Drew says he’s looking somebody who remembers Willow when she was Callie Miller. He’s looking for Willow’s biological mother.

At the MetroCourt, Nina asks if Carly would care to see the cocktail menu. She recommends the Kir Royale. Carly says she’s just biding her time until her room is ready.

Chase asks what letter Brook was supposed to write, and Dante says, he doesn’t know? He knows Chase wants to be a cop again, so he mentioned to Brook that the Civilian Complaint Review Board might be open to reinstating Chase again if she wrote a letter explaining what happened with the incidents. Chase says, punching Valentin and Linc, and Dante says, if she told them Chase was defending her, and put some context around what happened, they would be open to reinstating him perhaps. Chase asks when he suggested this to Brook, and Dante says, a few weeks ago, but she’s busy so… Chase says, yeah, maybe.

Brook says, let her get this straight. Linc is offering to return her music, the songs she put her heart and soul into that he’s been profiting off of; selling as commercial jingles for dog food and paper towels. Linc says, the commercial tunes are non-negotiable; they’re sold forever. The rest of her songbook can be hers. She says, as long as she keeps her mouth shut about all those women Linc sexually harassed, including her.

Britt says, that’s a first; her mother is speechless. Obrecht says, this isn’t funny. When Britt says she’s sick, does she mean the Huntington’s disease has progressed? Britt says, they’ve known for over a year she has the marker. Still, to hear the doctor say it’s no longer theoretical, that the disease is affecting her, is pretty shocking. They can’t deny the truth. Obrecht says, they’ll get a second opinion, and a third. There’s a specialty clinic in Zurich. She’ll fly Britt there. Britt says, this isn’t not a matter of opinion; it’s a fact. The symptoms have started, and they’re not going away. They’re here to stay.

Valentin sees Martin at the pier, sitting with a cake that has one long thin candle in it. Valentin asks what Martin is doing here, and Martin says, missing Lucy. Valentin says, what’s with the cake? and Martin says, once upon a time, he told her how much he loved hummingbird cake, and how hard it was to find in upstate New York. She threw herself into learning how to bake one. Valentin says, that was thoughtful, and Martin says, yes and no. It was touch and go for a while; some of them were just dreadful. But she never gave up. He lights the candle, and says, eventually, she perfected it. So to answer Valentin’s question, what he’s doing here is trying to remember, because Valentin’s girlfriend murdered his.

Diane sees Robert at the MetroCourt restaurant, and asks if she can finally buy him that drink. Or is he waiting for somebody? He says, yes and yes, and she sits down. He says he’s waiting for his contact from the WSB to relieve him of this. He indicates the briefcase, and she says, he must have some very important papers in there, and he asks if she’s ever heard of the kid’s game Rock, Paper, Scissors. She says, Rochambeau. Paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors, scissors cut paper. But what does that have to do with that? He says, diamonds cut anything. She says he’s got diamonds in that case, and he says, not just any diamonds. Did she ever hear of the Ice Princess? Holly walks in, and flashes back to confessing to Robert that she’s been doing Victor’s bidding.

Sonny asks why Drew is interested in finding Willow’s biological mother, and Drew says, Willow is actually looking for her biological father as well… for her own reasons. Sonny asks if Drew is saying it’s none of his business, but Drew says he’s not trying to be mysterious. It’s no secret Willow was raised in a commune by a woman she thought to be her mother. The way Willow explained it to him was that she knew Harmony wasn’t the best parent, but Harmony was still her mom, and it gave Willow’s life a little structure. Now her life is one big mystery, so Willow’s made the decision to track down her parents, and Drew said he’d help, for Willow, and for Sonny’s son.  

Carly says, let her know when her room is ready, and Nina says, Carly’s staying here, in Nina’s hotel? Carly says she’s surprised Nina doesn’t know; she booked the honeymoon suite. Only the best. Brick’s on his way. He’s going to stay the night. Nina says, Carly spoke to Sonny, and Carly says she did. And she and Nina need to have a little chat. Nina says she doesn’t think it’s necessary, but Carly says, they need to get a few things straight before Nina tells more lies about her and her family.

Dante says, maybe Brook didn’t want to get Chase’s hopes up, so she didn’t tell him about the letter, and Chase says, that’s one explanation. Dante says, maybe she’s waiting for the right time. Although time is of the essence. The Review Board meets every quarter, and the next meeting is next week. Chase asks if Brook knows, and Dante says he tried to convey that to her. Chase says, which makes him wonder if Brook changed her mind about sending the letter ,or ever intended to send one at all.

Linc says, Brook is entitled to her opinion, but so is he. They don’t live in a corporate world with HR departments. They’re artists. They live by a different set of rules. She says, please, don’t give her that tired old line, and he says, they’re both adults here. What they’re talking about is a he said/she said situation, and in those situations, no one usually wins. That’s why his solution benefits them both. Once Brook signs an NDA, he’ll continue to promote Blaze, and Brook can focus on making Chase the next big thing. She can hear him perform her music the way she always dreamed it to be. Do they have a deal, or don’t they?

Valentin says he knows Martin needs somebody to blame for Lucy’s disappearance, but he’s wrong about Anna. Martin says, is he? In spite of all that evidence. The drone footage of Anna shooting Lucy was enough for the police, and enough for Commissioner Ashford to have Anna arrested and arraigned. And let’s not forget, when her prison transport miraculously crashes on the way to Pentenville, what does she do? She escapes. Forgive him, but he’s been around courtrooms long enough to know innocent people don’t run away. Valentin says, not if they’re if framed. Listen to him. She wasn’t just thinking about herself when she crawled out of that prison van. She wanted to find Lucy, hopefully alive, and bring her home. She wanted to identify the real perpetrator. More than anything, she wanted to make sure justice was served. That’s why he’s on the pier. He’s doing his part to help Anna. He’s retracing the steps of whoever… Martin asks if Valentin hears himself. He’s in love with the woman. His judgement is questionable at best. They got video. Even Valentin’s father thinks she did it. Valentin says, it’s in Victor’s best interest for the world to think Anna is guilty. Martin asks, how? and Valentin says, is he going to make a wish or what? Martin picks up the cake, and says, for Lucy. Valentin says, for Lucy, and Martin blows out the candle. Valentin says he hopes Martin’s wish comes true. He really does.

On the phone, Holly says, Robert’s in the MetroCourt restaurant with the briefcase handcuffed to his wrist… She understands. They can’t let Robert hand off the briefcase to the WSB… Yes, she knows. If the Ice Princess falls into the hands of the WSB, Ethan pays with his life. She knows… Get it to her soon. That’s what she needs to get the diamond. Sooner rather than later.

Diane tells Robert, everyone has heard of the Ice Princess; it’s the stuff of legend. He says, there’s a necklace made out of diamonds from the Ice Princess in the case, and Diane asks if she could have a look. Just a little one; she won’t tell anyone. Robert says, absolutely not. The less she knows about this, the better. Holly comes by, and asks if she can join them. Robert says, have a seat, and introduces Diane Miller, attorney extraordinaire and his frequent opponent in court. He tells Diane, meet Holly Sutton, his ex-wife, and a woman he trusts with his life. Holly says, Diane’s name sounds familiar. Didn’t she just… Diane says, cheat death? Yes. She thinks that’s one thing she and Holly have in common. Holly says, yes, but make that two. Clearly they’re both fond of this chap, even if he is a little paranoid. Robert says, he’s just cautious, and Holly says, nothing is going to happen in the middle of a restaurant. She has to powder her nose, but suggests a round of tequila shots, on her, for old time’s sake. (Bleh. Why is it always tequila?) She leaves, and Diane says, she’s lovely. She understands why Robert fell so hard for her back in the day. He tells her, don’t be fooled; she can be quite lethal. He guesses it’s a combination he finds irresistible. Trish comes by, and he asks for a round of tequila shots, something top-shelf. Trish says, coming right up. Johann sits at the bar, and Holly stands behind him, looking at her phone. She asks, have you got it? and he says, just as she asked, surreptitiously slipping her a vial. She says, this should do trick.

Dante says, Chase and Brook are both his friends. The last thing he wants to do is cause trouble for them. Chase says he appreciates Dante’s honesty. He just wishes Brook would have done the same and told him about the letter. Dante tells him, don’t go dredging up trouble. He knows Brook cares for Chase. He’s sure Brook meant to tell him, but… Chase says, show biz always seems to get in the way, and Dante tells him, Sam says the same thing to him about police work.

Linc says he’s offering Brook what she’s been asking him for, for months; ownership of her songs. Her music, her way, with a bonus that they’ll be sung by the guy who rocks her world. Tell him it’s not a win-win situation for everyone. She says, tell that to Blaze, and tell it to the next girl who comes off a flight from the Midwest with her own artistic dreams, but with the unfortunate luck of meeting him as her first contact in the music business. He says, they all come here with their wide open eyes. He just gives them what they want. She says, he’s just going to keep treating those future women the same way he treated her, as long as she keeps her mouth shut. He asks if he said that. She misunderstands him. He doesn’t want her silence. She asks if that isn’t the whole point of the deal he’s offering, but he says, to close this deal of theirs, he’s going to need much more.

Obrecht says, time is of  the essence. As it happens, there’s a conference in Toronto, and one of the leading experts in Huntington’s is attending. Britt says, Dr. Talone? Thanks to Austin, she was examined by Dr. Talone earlier today. Obrecht says, and? and Britt says, it turns out while she was on the run with dear old dad, and in prison, she was experiencing Stage 1 of Huntington’s without even knowing it. What she thought was just fear and anxiety turned out to be the opening stages of the disease. And now she’s progressed to Stage 3. Obrecht says she wishes Britt had told her that she was seeing Dr. Talone, so she could have been there for support, but Britt says, Austin was there, and he’s become a good friend to her. Obrecht says she’s glad Britt wasn’t alone. Was the doctor able to give her a prognosis? Britt says, five to fifteen years, but being realistic, Dr. Talone said, a year and a half from now, she could be in assisted living needing full-time care. Obrecht says, now that they have her prognosis, they can begin experimental treatments. They’ll engage a nutritionist; whatever it takes. Britt says she doesn’t need a doctor; she needs a mom. They hug, and Obrecht cries, saying, that, you shall always have.

At the gym, Drew says, Sonny is still here, and Sonny says he’s curious why Willow feels the need to search for her birth mother, when she didn’t want to be a part of her life. Drew says, that’s true, but now that Willow is pregnant, he thinks the doctors could use any family history, medically speaking. Sonny says he’s also interested in why Michael wouldn’t come to him to help find Willow’s birth parents, and went to Drew for help. Apparently, Sonny hasn’t been paying attention. Drew says he’s family too, and he and Michael they’re business partners, had the merger of ELQ and Aurora gone through. Sonny says, the merger that didn’t happen. He heard it’s caused problems for Drew and his ex.

Nina says she doesn’t need Carly to tell her that she misinterpreted something, and Carly says, misinterpreted her ass. Nina saw what she wanted to see, and couldn’t wait to accuse Willow of cheating on Michael. Nina tells Carly that she apologized to Willow, and does she know what America’s sweetheart said in return? And I quote, drop dead. Carly laughs, and Nina says, of course (🍷) Carly would think that’s funny, but Carly says she doesn’t think it’s funny. Willow has been struggling since her pregnancy began, and this kind of gossip isn’t helping. And Nina couldn’t give a damn. Nina says she was thinking about Wiley growing up in a broken home, and Carly says, the only home wrecker she knows is standing in front of her. Nina says, Carly had to bring in Sonny, but Carly says, let her make it clear. She doesn’t care about Sonny. Nina is welcome to him. And Nina can spread whatever malicious lies she wants about her and Brick. She could not care less. Nina wants to come at her? Bring it on. But when Nina goes after Carly’s son and his family, don’t pretend she’s thinking about Wiley. Nina is looking for payback because they don’t want someone like her around their son? How’s that working for her? Is she spending any time with Wiley?

Sonny says, when he brought Josslyn back to the house, Drew was there, and it’s no surprise. He wasn’t there for a family visit, and Carly confirmed as much today. Drew says, Carly told him about them? and Sonny says he knows they have to be discreet because of trading issues. He doesn’t know why Carly felt the need to tell him, but she pretty much told him about her and Drew. Drew says, honest to a fault, but Sonny says he doesn’t know anyone who knows Carly who would describe her as honest to a fault. Drew says, after Carly told him, how did Sonny react? and Sonny says, the thing with ex-spouses, it takes a while to find your way forward with each other. He told Carly that Drew’s not a threat to him, and he’s happy for her. Drew tells Sonny, it’s nice of him to say, but does he mean it?

Chase tells Dante, Sam makes a good point. If and when he’s lucky enough to wear the badge again, the last thing he wants to do is take work home. Dante says, Brook wouldn’t like that any more than Chase likes her keeping things from him, and Chase says, maybe she’s just being careful not to make things more complicated by writing the letter.

Brook says, assuming she agrees to keep her mouth shut about what a miserable misogynist Linc is, unfortunately, she knows firsthand that Linc sexually harasses women. What else could he possibly want? He says, like he told her, he’s not interested in her silence. He’s looking for a different narrative. Like she said, they worked together in the past, and she’s uniquely qualified to tell the world what kind of man he is. She says she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He can’t be serious. He wants her to paint a good picture of him? He says, in every interview she gives, in every PR release she writes, she’ll sing his praises… Poor word choice. She can’t sing now, can she? He says, all he’s asking is that she speak from her heart, and she tells him, her heart says he’s a loathsome dirtbag who preys on vulnerable women. He says, fine, don’t speak from her heart; speak from her head. Because at the end of the day, she knows she’s not going to get a better deal than this. All she has to do is swallow her pride, and paint a picture of him that’s so warm and winning, it counters any false accusations that are out there… and those yet to come, from Blaze or anyone else. She says, he’s telling her, think defensively, because if there’s a bad narrative about him, she can be dragged down with him? He says, she has a reputation for being strong, some might even say feisty. So if she goes on the record in his favor, she’ll be extra motivated to nip in the bud any outrageous complaints about his less than gentlemanly behavior. Otherwise, she’ll look like a traitor to her sisters, or just a sellout who only cares about herself. She says, make no mistake, she sees him for exactly who he is, and he says, great. So this is a no brainer, right? If she really believes in Chase, she’ll go this extra mile.

Holly comes back, and asks why Robert and Diane are waiting to do their shots, and Diane says she just came back from an extended stay at General Hospital. Her doctors put the kibosh on alcohol for the next three weeks. Robert says he was being a gentleman, and waiting for Holly to return. She says, wait no more. Cheers. She downs her shot, and says, his turn. He says he knows she has holes in her memory, but surely she hasn’t forgotten their ritual? She says, he’s absolutely right and don’t call her Shirley. It’s not too late. She points to Diane’s shots, and Robert says, there’s only one way to drink a tequila shot. He says he was on a cruise… Holly sneaks the salt off the table, switching it with another salt shaker, and Robert says he met a woman who told him a phrase he never forgot. He puts the salt on his hand, and says, lick it. He licks the salt, and says, slam it. He downs the shot, puts the glass upside down on the table, and says, suck it. He bites into a lime, and says he’s still got it. Holly says, he certainly does.

Sonny tells Drew, he wouldn’t say he was happy for Carly if he didn’t mean it, and Drew says, he doesn’t mean to question Sonny’s word, but he knows Sonny and Carly had a long, complicated history. It woudn’t be a huge surprise if Sonny had mixed emotions about her moving on. Sonny asks if Drew has mixed emotions about Sam and Dante moving in together, and Drew says he guesses he waked into that one. Sonny says, Carly will always be Donna’s mother, and he only wants what’s best for her.

Nina says, Carly can’t waltz in here and insult her like she used to. Has she forgotten? She doesn’t own this hotel anymore; Nina does. Has she looked around? Nina not only hired a new chef, she’s added subtle yet significant touches to every aspect of this hotel. It’s thriving, from the restaurant to the spa. But she wouldn’t expect Carly to appreciate such things. Trish comes by, and Carly calls her over. Carly says, let her see this, taking a bowl off the tray Trish is carrying. Nina tells her, don’t, but Carly says she wants to see for herself the subtle changes Nina made. This looks like soup. Nina says, it’s potage, with a dollop of white truffle cream, so put it back. Carly says, does Nina want it? Because she can have it. Ugh. I hate when Carly acts like a middle schooler.

Dante says, Brook wants Chase to have it all; the star on his door, the badge on his chest, everything. He should have kept his mouth shut. Chase says he’s happy Dante told him about the letter. He just has to trust that Brook knows the right thing to say, and the right time to send it.

Brook calls Linc a bastard. She didn’t think he could sink any lower, now he wants her to cover for him? He says he’s just asking her to present a counter narrative, but she says she’s not doing it. He says, her choice, but then his offer goes away. And all she has left of her precious songs is more dog food jingles and a singing cop without a badge, or a future.  

Holly drinks her other shot, and Robert asks, what happened to their ritual? She says, times change, and she has to limit her salt intake, but come on, his turn. He says he thinks he’s had enough, and Holly says, Diane is her witness. She noticed since she came to Port Charles that their dashing and daring Aussie is in a bit of a rut. Robert is looking woozy, and she says, the right diet, the right exercise, a straight and narrow job. He even has the right friends. Personally, she thinks he needs to indulge in a few more unpredictable evenings, like tonight. Even with a hint of danger, and a few acquaintances that are slightly unreliable. Diane says, such as? and Holly says, her English accent always fools people into thinking she’s posh and proper, but she’s never claimed to be respectable. Has Diane? Diane says, she was involved with someone who worked for the mob, so there are a few people out there who would say she’s less than respectable, but she thinks Robert deserves a say in this. What does he say? Robert nods out, his forehead hitting the table.

Carly says she’s sure it’s amazing, putting the bowl back on Trish’s tray. Trish gets the hell out of there, when Drew and Sonny join them. Drew asks if everything is okay, and Carly says she was about to throw a bowl of soup in Nina’s face, but she changed her mind, because she has too much respect for this place and the people who work here. Not for herself apparently. Sonny tells Drew, thanks for helping Willow out with the search, and tells Nina, let’s go. They leave, and Carly asks if it’s true that Drew is going to help Willow find her birth mother, and he asks if that’s a problem.

Dante says, duty calls, and Chase says he’s glad they had this talk. Dante asks if Chase is sure. Maybe Chase is lying and he’s not happy Dante brought all this up. Chase says, Dante is just being a true friend, to him, and Brook. They bro hug, and Dante leaves.

Obrecht tells Britt that she’s so sorry. It’s her natural instinct to fix something, not nurture it. Her training, her medical knowledge comes so easily to her, but being a good mutter… She was given two children to love, and twice she failed. Britt deserves better. She deserves a mutter who will say and do all the right things, not her; not the woman whose obsession with Cesar Faison did this to her. She sobs, and Britt tells her, stop. Her Huntington’s disease isn’t Obrecht’s fault. And as much as she hates to admit it, it’s not her father’s fault either. She inherited it from him, but he inherited it too. It’s just the luck of the genetic draw. Obrecht says, no. She won’t let it win that easily. They’re both doctors, intelligent and well-trained. They have to fight back. They can’t let it win this easily. Britt says, there’s something she needs Obrecht to do, and Obrecht says, of course (🍷). Anything. Britt says, go home to Scott, but Obrecht says she can’t. Britt says she’s asking a favor. Please. Obrecht unexpectedly found love at this stage of her life with Scotty. She starts to cry, and says she wants Obrecht to embrace that, just like she needs to embrace being alone.

Linc says, either Brook is all in or… Chase asks if everything is okay over here. The conversation looked pretty intense. Linc says, they’re just getting the details of their agreement nailed down, but Chase says he wasn’t talking to Linc. He was asking his manager. Is Brook okay with Linc’s terms?

With not much cake left, Martin says, so much for the hummingbird cake. He doesn’t know about Valentin, but he doesn’t feel any better. Lucy’s still gone. Valentin says, Anna’s still out there on her own, but Martin says, at least Valentin knows she’s alive. He has people offering unsolicited advice, telling him, until they find a body, there’s reason to hope. It’s getting harder and harder to keep hoping. He guesses he misses her too much. Valentin says he’s sorry, and Martin says, so is he. If only she hadn’t come down here the night that shot was fired. Valentin says, two shots. There were two shots fired, weren’t there? Martin asks, what his point? and Valentin says, why two shots? If Anna was the shooter, she wouldn’t need two, especially at close range. Martin says, in the heat of the moment, but Valentin says, think about it. The police only found one bullet casing from Anna’s gun; the second one was never found. Martin says, so? and Valentin says he doesn’t know, but when he figures it out, that’s how he’s going to save Anna.

Diane shakes Robert, who’s dead to the world, and asks Holly if they should call an ambulance. Holly says, no; he’s just passed out after doing one shot. She guesses it’s true; they’re not as young as they used to be. Diane says she’s going to order him some black coffee, and Robert says he’s okay. Holly says, he’s hardly okay after one shot doing him in like this. She’s going to take him downstairs, and let him sleep it off. He says he’s got to wait for his contact. They should be here any minute. Holly says, he’s in no shape to do business, and asks Diane to do them a favor. Wait for Robert’s contact, and direct them to Robert’s room. Holly takes Robert away, as he babbles, but Diane isn’t liking it.

Diane tells Trish, she’s got to leave, but if Trish sees a man asking for Robert Scorpio or a man with a briefcase, please have them call the front desk and ask for Robert’s room. Sonny comes in with Nina, and says, it’s nice to see Diane up and about. They hug, and Diane says, it’s nice to be up and about. She greets Nina, and says she’s calling it a night. She leaves, and Nina hangs her head. Sonny says, she’s just got to let it go, and she says she’s trying, but someone needs to tell Carly that.

Drew says, Carly sounds surprised he’s helping Willow find her birth parents. She’s not opposed, is she? Carly flashes back to finding out Nina is Willow’s mother, then telling Drew that she isn’t. She says she has no objection, but she thinks it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. He’s going to need all the help he can get. He says, sounds like she has someone in mind, and she says, he’s looking at her.

Brook tells Chase, everything is clear to her now, and tells Linc, they’re good. Linc says, terrific. He knew he could count on her. Now to let Blaze in on the good news. Linc leaves, and Chase says, it’s not too late. Brook says, for what? and he says he trusts her to do the right thing for both of them. She knows that, doesn’t she? They walk to the door.

Obrecht says she can’t leave Britt at a time like this, but Britt says she means it. She needs time alone to gather her thoughts. Obrecht says, from the time Britt was tested, they’ve known Huntington’s disease would be a part of her life, but there was no way to know the timetable. It could have been decades before Britt showed the symptoms. But now that it’s happening… Obrecht cries, and says, if Britt needs a mom, then she needs her daughter, more than ever. They hug and cry.  

Martin tosses the cake box away, and tells Valentin, all gone, just like Lucy. Valentin says, not gone; missing. There’s a difference. Anna was set up to take the fall. Come on. They have work to do. Martin asks where they’re going, and Valentin says, they’re going to find out what really happened to Lucy.

On the phone, Diane leaves a message for Robert, saying, she doesn’t feel right leaving him alone with Holly. She has a bad feeling about all of this. So would he please call her when he gets this? Robert stumbles out of the elevator, looking disheveled, the handcuffs dangling empty from his wrist.

Holly opens the briefcase, and takes out the jewelry box. She removes the necklace, looking it over.  

Next week, in the hospital, Robert tells Diane, get Ashford here now; Jordan tells TJ, the DA was drugged; Laura tells Holly that she won’t take no for an answer; and Heather says she’ll tell everything… for a price.

🥁 Before the Parade Passes By…

Absolutely everything you need to know.

https://www.macys.com/social/parade/

The condensed version.

https://ew.com/tv/how-to-watch-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2022/

Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.Jonathan Safran Foer

Be thankful for what you have. Your life is someone else’s fairy tale. – Wale Ayeni

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. – Charles Dickens

After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations. – Oscar Wilde

🦃 Giving Thanks…

Clocking out early for Thanksgiving break, but join me on Monday for some soap and OG Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay thankful no matter what day it is, and stay remembering, until they find a body, there’s reason to hope. And on a soap, they can even find a body, and there’s reason to hope.

November 23, 2022 – Robert Confiscates the Necklace, Is This Thing On, Andy Speaks, ShahNope, Done, Mishaps & Alice

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Alexis, Sam and Dante are eating at the MetroCourt, and Alexis says she’s glad they found the time to get together, since they’re all so busy. She’s not going to ask any questions about The Hook, or ask Dante any questions about his investigations with the PCPD. Nina comes to their table, and apologizes for interrupting. Sam asks if everything is okay, and Nina says, that depends. She’s not asking Dante for any details about the case, but she needs to know. How worried does Ava have to be about Esme Prince?

Britt kneels in her office rubble, holding the necklace, and Cody asks if she’s all right. Did someone break in and try to steal the necklace? She says, no, and he asks if she wants to tell him what happened. She puts the necklace back in its box, setting it on the desk, and says, there’s no point in getting into it, but he says, humor him. Pretend he’s useful. Please, let him help.

At the hospital, Michael asks if Willow is okay, and she says, they’re early. She doesn’t want to wait by the chemo treatment room. She knows it’s silly… He says, it’s not. Whatever makes her comfortable, that’s what they’re going to do. Carly sees them, and asks what they’re doing here.

Victor says he’s beginning to wonder if Robert is as trusting as Holly led him to believe, and Holly says she’s done everything she can to convince Robert that she has no memory of the last two years. And as far as she can tell, he believes her. Victor yells, stop it! Stop lying to him.

Sam says, Esme has been seen in town, and didn’t she attack Elizabeth Baldwin? and Alexis says she didn’t know that. Dante says, Elizabeth is doing fine, and Nina says, if Esme is behind these hook attacks, that would makes sense, because it fits in with the PCPD theory that these attacks are connected to Trina Robinson’s trial. Alexis says, it wouldn’t be the first time Esme went after Trina, given the victims, and Nina says, starting with Ava. Alexis says, Ava was a mentor to Trina, and Diane represented Trina. Diane also told her that Haggerty sold Esme the phone she used to record Josslyn and Cameron. Nina says, Elizabeth is Cameron’s mother, so she would be targeted too, and Dante says, the investigation is ongoing. Nina asks if he can just tell her if Ava is safe. Or should she be expecting Esme to show up at her door with a giant hook? He says, all he can suggest is they stay vigilant, but go ahead and live their lives. Nina apologizes for interrupting again, and moves on. Alexis looks at Dante, and he says, the investigation is ongoing. She says, got it, holding up her hands.

Blaze says, it’s not that she doesn’t like Brook’s song; she does. The lyrics are terrific, but she’s not singing back-up for Chase. Brook says, the song is perfectly balanced. Both of them get a solo verse, before singing the chorus and a third verse together. Blaze says, when they do sing together, she’s always the melody, while his part shows off his range. Her part is a little boring. Linc says, that’s an excellent point, babe, and puts his hand on hers, but she slips hers out quickly. Linc says, Blaze deserves her time to shine, and Brook says, it sounds like a rehearsal issue. It’s a collaboration. They communicate, and fix it. After all, they’re on the same side, right? Blaze says she just wants the song to be good, and Chase is sure they can figure out a way to showcase them both. Linc says he’s sure they can work something out. Blaze plays nice; don’t you, babe? He puts his hand on her thigh, Brook and Chase notice her negative reaction.

Britt tells Cody, sorry. She’s just going through a tough time. He says he’s had a few of those, and she says, you know what’s funny? When her father died, she thought, it’s over; he’s finally dead. Little did she know the reach that man had. His brain is in a jar in the WSB somewhere, and his body is literally in the wind. They scattered his ashes, and now the man who spent his life trying to destroy the world, is spending eternity polluting it. She kicks some stuff on the floor, and says, he’s dead and gone, and he’s still hurting her. She spent most of her life striving for his approval, but no matter how much she accomplished, it was never going to happen. Cody says, he must have been delusional not to see how great she is, and she says, maybe he was. He picks his way through everything, and says, that’s the spirit. If her old man can’t appreciate her, that’s on him, not on her. She asks if it’s really that easy for him, and he says, kind of. He wasn’t that close to his family. His mom – the woman he thought was his mom – she had to work just to put food on the table. She didn’t have time for him. Only if he outgrew his sneakers or she had to tell him that he couldn’t play hockey because she couldn’t afford the pads. She says, thanks, but it’s not the same, and he says, he knows, but he knows what it’s like to be overlooked, and feel like you’re a burden, like you’re not… She says, worth loving? and he says, she’s definitely worth loving. She says, even with what’s been passed down to her?

Holly says, for God’s sake, Victor is the only person she’s not lying to. She’s completely betraying Robert, her friends, and probably several countries because he’s holding her son’s life in his hands. Victor says he’s worked too hard, and come too far. One more life means nothing to him. He’ll kill Luke’s son as easily as he killed Luke himself, although perhaps not as quickly as he killed her sister. She says, he doesn’t have to remind her of everything he’s taken from her, and he says, trust him. She’s got a lot more to lose. And if she’s sloppy in arousing Robert’s suspicions… She says, Robert still trusts her, and he asks, then why wasn’t Anna in the safe house? Holly says she doesn’t know. Anna is an expert at evasion. If she doesn’t want to be found, he won’t find her. He says, lucky for Holly, or Robert woudn’t have given her a second glance years ago. Does it still sting knowing she’s always played second fiddle to Anna?

Michael says he didn’t expect to see Carly here. Everything okay? She says, everything’s fine; she’s just keeping busy. What about them? Is Willow working or does she have an appointment? TJ comes along, and tells them, happy Thanksgiving. Willow says she has a question for him; it’s a nursing thing. They step away, and Carly asks Michael how Willow is doing. Has her pregnancy gotten any easier? He says, actually, he and Willow are kind of nervous. She decided that she’s going to find her birth parents.

Linc says, this is an opportunity for both Blaze and Chase, but Blaze is the one with the following. He asks how many followers she has, and she says, a few million. He says, since Chase is the one riding Blaze’s coattails, he thinks it’s on Chase to make it work. Brook suggests she and Linc grab a coffee at the counter and let the talent talk, and Linc says, a little one-on-one time with BLQ? He’ll be happy to suss things out. They leave, and Chase says he hopes Blaze doesn’t mind him saying so, but she seems a little uncomfortable around Linc; with how touchy and handsy he can be. She says, that’s business. They’re artists, not accountants. It’s all hugs and kisses, not handshakes. Chase says, he’s not talking about schmoozing. What Linc is doing is far beyond that, but she can fight back.

Brook tells Linc to sit a seat away, and he asks, why? She says she’s not letting him grope her, and he says, she always was dramatic. She says, and he always was a sleaze, and by the way he treats Blaze, not much has changed. He says, she doesn’t hear Blaze complaining, does she?

Chase says, what Linc is doing is at the very least sexual harassment, but Blaze says she has a contract with Linc. She’s worked hard to get where she is. She’s not going to blow it now. It doesn’t matter how talented you are if you get a bad rep for being difficult. They’re here to talk about the song. So let’s do that.

Alexis wonders if Esme’s been living in Port Charles all this time, and Sam says she heard Esme posted on social media a few days after the trial from the south of France, but it could have been faked. Alexis says, either she left and came back, or never left at all. But it’s possible she could have attacked Ava back in August. And everyone gets to speculate about that except them. Sam says, don’t drag her into this, and Alexis says, okay. Everyone gets to speculate except her because of Dante. He says, she can speculate all she wants. He’s just not allowed to join in. Go ahead. Alexis says he’s no fun. If they can’t talk about the case, she wants to talk about food. Dante says he likes food, and Alexis asks, what’s Sonny cooking for Thanksgiving? Dante says, it sounds like he’s cooking way too much food; there’s going to be leftovers for weeks, and they’re going to go bad. Sam says, Alexis is good with the kids spending Thanksgiving eve with her, right? and Alexis says, she’s not cooking. The oven will be off. She’s ordering in, and they’re having a little picnic on the floor in the living room. Sam asks if she’s disappointed the kids are going to be at the Q’s for Thanksgiving, and Alexis says, why would she be disappointed? Besides, she gets to have them all to herself tonight. What are Sam and Dante doing for Thanksgiving? Sam says, they’re going to Sonny’s after they drop the kids off at the Q’s. Dante says, and after they go to Sonny’s, they’re going back to the Q’s for pizza. Alexis says, there’s going to be a big crowd at the Quartermaines’, and Dante says, sounds like it. The usual, plus his mom invited Cody, but he’s probably going to have to take a beer to the stables, so Cody doesn’t spend the holiday alone. Sam says, Cody’s not spending the holiday with Britt? and Dante says he doesn’t know. Cody didn’t say.

Nina asks Obrecht if Britt is spending tomorrow with her and Scotty, and Obrecht says, unless she gets a better offer. Nina says, she’s talking about Cody. Are things serious between them? Obrecht says, not yet, but it is inevitable.

Cody asks what Britt means, but she says she doesn’t know how to say it; she never has. She tried to make it go away. She figured if she didn’t acknowledge it… He says, it being… She says, her father’s legacy; the only thing he ever gave her. He looks at the necklace, and asks if she’s talking about… She says she tried to put Faison out of her mind, and it actually worked. Of course (🍷) he’d pop up every up now and then, but he’d never linger. Now she’ll remember him for the rest of her life. However long that is. He tells her not to talk like that; her dad’s dead and gone. She says, but he left something behind, and Cody says, throw it away. She says she can’t, but he says, sure she can. Just give it to him.

Obrecht asks how Nina and Sonny are spending Thanksgiving, and Nina says, Sonny’s hosting. Obrecht says she’s surprised, and Nina asks, why? Family is very important to Sonny. Obrecht says she doesn’t mean to sound harsh, but who in Sonny’s family is speaking to him? Nina says, his daughters, and Obrecht says, the toddling ones, but Nina says, and Kristina, and TJ and Molly, but she’s sure they have other plans. All family are welcome. Obrecht says, even that ingrate Michael?

Carly says, Willow wants to find her birth parents, and Michael says, and any other relatives who might be out there. Carly flashes back to finding out Nina is Willow’s mother, and she tells Michael that she’s curious. What changed Willow’s mind?

Willow tells TJ that she feels like a coward, leaving Michael to deal with his mom, when she’s the one who wants to keep her condition private. TJ says, Michael can deal with his mother. Willow is facing leukemia. She should feel free to handle that however it works for her. She says she knows everyone would be supportive, but she can’t risk Wiley finding out she’s sick. It would scare him too much. He says, they’ll tell Wiley when the time is right, and if that’s many years from now, even better. She says, here’s hoping. Right now, she wants to keep it as quiet as possible. They both look at Michael talking to Carly.

Dante looks at his phone, and Sam says, good news? He says, it could be, if Brook would get back to him. Alexis asks how things are between  Dante and Brook, and we see his text to her says: Where are u? He says, pretty good, but this isn’t about them. It’s about the Civilian Complaint Review Board. They’re going to reevaluate Chase’s case. Alexis asks if he’s going to get his badge back, and Dante says he hopes so. Alexis says she hopes so too. It’s not easy to lose your job. It’s hard to bounce back. Sam says she thought Alexis was happy at The Invader, and Alexis says she’s okay. Dante looks at Brook’s reply: Kelly’s. In meeting. Y? He texts: Need to talk. CCRB needs letter. Brook replies: Will call soon. He says he has to deal with this, and gets up. Sam says, duty calls? and he says, something like that. Alexis asks if there’s anything he’d like to add off the record, and he thanks her for lunch, kisses Sam, and leaves.  

Victor says, perhaps the reason Holly isn’t the distraction he’d hoped she’d be is because Robert is waiting for Anna to tire of Valentin. She says, as Valentin has tired of Victor? Why is it his one and only son isn’t by his side, aiding and abetting his crimes? Victor is going to be so lonely when he finally creates whatever ridiculous world it is that he’s forging, and has absolutely no one to share it with. He says, careful where you tread, missy. Lest I teach you the true meaning of loneliness. She says she’s very sorry. She takes it back. Victor knows how loved he is, as Holly knows Robert loves her. Victor says, as she loves Robert? but she says, it doesn’t matter. The only person she cares about at the moment is her son Ethan, and she wants to talk to him. Victor says, he can’t come to the phone right now, and she says, if she doesn’t speak to him, how does she know the worst hasn’t happened? He tells her, don’t be so melodramatic. She gets a proof-of-life photo every day. She says, photos prove nothing, and he says, then she’ll just have to trust him. She says, as he’s going to have to trust her to take care of Robert.

Britt says, give it to him? and Cody says, she didn’t want it anymore, and it probably belongs to him anyway. Win-win, right? She asks what he’s talking about, and he says, her father’s legacy; the necklace. She laughs, and says, he thinks this is about the necklace? He says, it’s hardly just a necklace, and she says, of course (🍷). He asks, what else could she be talking about? and she says, of course (🍷). It’s the $35 million in jewelry on her desk. After all, the only thing Cody cares about is getting rich. She can’t believe she’s even surprised. It was the necklace he wanted; she was just here. He says, this conversation just took a massive wrong turn. He didn’t mean… and she says, he didn’t mean what? He didn’t mean for her to let her guard down? He didn’t mean for her to be vulnerable for five minutes after he’d been grilling her for months? He says he wanted to get to know her, and she says, sure he did, so he could get that stupid necklace. She shoves it into the box, closes it, and says, he wants it so bad? Here you go. She pushes the box at him, and says, get out.

Chase says he’s not sure what Blaze thinks is missing; she’s got some great vocal moments. She says, it’s not the song per se; it’s actually great. He says, so when she was complaining before… She says, totally posturing. She loves it, but when Linc talked about taking her in another direction, this is not what she had in mind. He asks, what’s wrong with the direction she’s on? and she says, between the wigs and the costumes, she doesn’t recognize herself. He says, fair enough. What direction does she want to take this? She says, honestly? She wanted a folk song. He says, she likes folk? and she asks, what’s wrong with it? He says, not a thing, but it’s a 180 from her usual songs. She says, her first manager came up with her look, and she went along with it. Linc signed her as a pop singer, and says, her fans won’t accept her singing anything else. She wants the chance to try new things. Doesn’t he? He says, no, not really, and they laugh. He says he likes things he knows, and she says, singing standards. He says, being a cop, and she says, like in The Village People? He says he was a detective with the PCPD. He kinds of fell into singing. She says, but his heart’s not in it, and he looks at Brook, telling Blaze, he wouldn’t say that.

Michael says, with the baby coming, they decided it’s important to know as much as possible about Willow’s medical history, and Carly says, that makes sense. Willow and TJ come back, and Carly asks how Willow is going about finding her birth parents. Michael says, they’ve been doing their own research, and Drew offered to help. TJ says, sorry. He’s got to run, but happy Thanksgiving. Carly asks what he and Molly are doing tomorrow, and he says, his mom is coming over, and Alexis is going to Sonny’s, which would be super awkward, so they won’t see her until Friday. Carly asks why it would be awkward, and TJ says he thought she knew. She says, what now? and Michael says, Nina accused Willow of sleeping with TJ, and Sonny believed her.

Britt asks what Cody is waiting for. Congratulations. His plan worked. He takes the jewelry box, and she says, now get out of my office, and out of my life. She opens the door, and Robert is there with an officer. He says, sorry to interrupt. It looks like she’s had a break-in. Britt says, no. She wanted it like this. He says, her call, and asks Cody, what’s in the case? Cody says, none of Robert’s business, but Robert says, if it’s a $35 million necklace recovered from Peter August, it is his business. He takes out a paper, and says he has a warrant here for it. Hand it over.

Blaze says, Chase and Brook? And he was giving her a hard time about Linc. He says, it’s completely different. Brook is more than his manager. She says, clearly, and Chase says, Brook is also his best friend. They’ve helped each other through a lot. She says, this business arrangement between them seems one-sided, but he says, they’re both committed to this relationship. She says, but they’re still doing what Brook wants, not what he wants, and he says, singing might not be as fulfilling as police work, but he’s happy to do it for Brook. He’d do anything for her, and he knows she would do anything for him.

Linc says, what Brook needs to accept – she says she can’t wait to hear this pearl of wisdom – she’s old news. What does he need her for when he has Blaze, and he’s thisclose to signing Magdalena Perez. Brook says, she can’t be more then 17, but he says, she’s 18. And don’t let the name fool you; she’s no virgin. Brook says, he’s disgusting. She thought she could stomach working with him, but nope, wrong. He says, fine by him, but she says, this definitely won’t be fine for him, because from this moment on, she will not let him harass one more person. He says, is that right? Whatchu gonna do, BLQ? She says she’s going to expose him for the creep he is. She’s going to tell everyone how he treated her when he was her manager. He says he just has one question. If he’s so awful, why is she working with him now? Do her worst. No one is going to listen to a bitter has-been. She says, it won’t be just her.

Alexis asks Sam, what was the face about when Dante mentioned Cody? Sam says, Cody hinted Dante may have done something… maybe something illegal when he was younger. Alexis asks if she means like egging cars, or going on a random bank heist, and Sam says, they didn’t get into details, but he made it sound serious. Alexis asks, at what age they’re talking about? and Sam says, they lost touch when they were around 16, so she imagines it was before then. Alexis says, did she ask Dante about it? and Sam says, no. Alexis asks what Sam’s thinking, and Sam says, it’s Cody. He’s probably exaggerating, but she has this instinct. She needs to know what happened.

Carly says, Nina lives to cause trouble, and Sonny knows Willow would never do something like that; at least he should. Willow says, Nina claims she was worried how Willow’s affair would affect Wiley, and Carly says, of course (🍷) Nina used Wiley as an excuse. That woman never stops. She tried to make Sonny think there was something going on between her and Brick. Michael says, what? and she says she’ll explain later. She’s got to go. She leaves, and Michael and Willow exchange glances.

Obrecht says, so Nina engaged in a little gossip and got it wrong, and Nina says, really wrong; like twice. Obrecht asks if Nina destroyed Willow and Michael’s saccharine union, and Nina says, no. Obrecht says, then they have no cause for complaint. If they try, let her know. Nina says she thinks she can handle it. The tension with Michael really upsets Sonny, and she doesn’t like seeing Sonny hurt; he feels things very deeply. Obrecht asks if Sonny is treating Nina as well as he should, and Nina says she’s never been happier. Next year – she laughs – maybe they could have Thanksgiving together; Sonny and her, Britt and Cody, Obrecht and Scotty. But they both know that’s never gonna happen.

Cody says, Robert can’t just walk in here and take his necklace, and Britt says, my necklace, jackass. Cody says, she just gave it to him, and she says, it was a futile attempt to shame him. Was he really going to take it? He says, no, but Robert can’t have it. Robert tells Cody, this warrant says he can. And as per the State of New York, they have reason to believe the diamonds in that piece were obtained unlawfully. So until that’s resolved, it stays in their possession. The officer tells Cody, hand over the necklace, and Robert says, best not to resist. Robert Scorpio, his friendly neighborhood DA? And until recently, almost his uncle. Cody says, close call, and Robert says, apparently. The officer holds out his hand, and says, sir? Britt says, for Pete’s sake, and grabs it out of Cody’s hand, giving it to the officer. Robert looks at it, and says, fits the description, and the officer puts it into a briefcase. Britt says, come back any time, and Robert leaves with the officer. Britt tells Cody, he’s on the wrong side of her door. Get out. He says, wait, and closes the door. If she wasn’t referring to the necklace, what legacy is she talking about?

Walking through the hospital, Robert tells the officer, from here, he needs to be escorted to the MetroCourt Hotel. Then he can head back. The officer says, maybe he should stick around, but Robert says he thinks he can handle this, and Bureau guys are coming over. He suggests the officer cuff it to his wrist, and the officer handcuffs the briefcase to Robert. They leave, and Johann comes out from his not-so-secret hiding spot. He calls Victor, and says, the package just changed hands. Victor asks, how? and Johann says, Scorpio went to Westbourne’s office with a cop. Don’t worry. He knows where they’re headed. Victor says, excellent.

Brook says, all she has to do is light a match, and Linc’s career, his reputation, his family will go up in flames.

Blaze says, Chase is kind, sweet, and easy to work with, and he thanks her. She tells him, get out of this business while all that is still true. She has to run. New costume fitting. She has to make sure she can breathe in it. Chase says, it was good working with her, and think about what he said. On her way out the door, Blaze runs into Dante, who says, she’s Blaze, right? She says she is indeed, and he says his son loves her; he’s a big fan. She says, and he doesn’t? but he says he does. He just didn’t recognize her without all the stuff. She says, disappointed? and he says, not at all. She leaves, and Cody asks if he got her autograph. Dante says, no, but he should have. Rocco would love that. What is Blaze doing in Port Charles? Chase says, they’re actually working on a song together, and Dante says, that’s amazing.

Willow says, they’d better head upstairs, and tells TJ, first day of chemotherapy. TJ says, she’s going to do great. If she needs anything, so not hesitate to call. She says she will, and thanks him for the support. Michael says, TJ has been a great friend. TJ leaves, and Michael asks if Willow is ready. She says, absolutely.

Alexis stops Nina as she goes past the table, and asks if she has a second. Nina asks how she can help Alexis, and Alexis says she was wondering why Nina is so sure Esme is The Hook killer. Nina says, that’s really something Alexis should talk to Ava about, not her, but Alexis says, Nina is living with Ava. So if Esme should decide to attack again, Nina could be in danger. Nina says, how about if she talks to Ava about this, and Ava will give Alexis a call? and Alexis says, okay. Nina leaves, and Sam comes back. Alexis tells her, this Hook story keeps getting bigger and bigger, and more dangerous. People keep promising her information they’re not giving her. Meanwhile, she’s sitting on what she knows, which could be helpful. Sam says, she’s talking about the letter the killer sent? and Alexis says, yes. She held back and didn’t print anything in exchange for Jordan giving her an exclusive. Jordan’s given her the runaround, and she’s worried about waiting. Sam asks what she’s going to do.

Britt asks what Cody is still doing here; leave. Cody says, no. He wants to know about this legacy Faison left her. She says, why? It’s not anything he could sell. He says, he made a mistake. He was truly just trying to help her though. She says, how? By taking 35 million off her hands? He says, it didn’t seem like she wanted it, and if he’d known she was talking about something else… She says, goodbye, for good, and he asks if they’re at that point where she slams the door in his face. He made a mistake; he’s sorry. He knows she has a hard time opening up, just like he has a hard time not putting his foot in his mouth; but he can’t be expected to have the perfect reaction every time. She says she didn’t expect him to have the perfect reaction. Hell, she would have taken something somewhat less mercenary. He asks her to please tell him what it would take for her to give him the benefit of the doubt, and she says, more than she has to give. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, come in. Obrecht walks in, and asks, what is going on here? Cody says, absolutely nothing, and walks out.

On the phone, Victor says, you understand?… Good. He tells Holly that her time has come, and she says, meaning? He says, meaning, Robert has acquired something he wants. It’s in a briefcase. Robert is on his way to the MetroCourt, and it’s Holly’s job to intercept him, and get the briefcase. She says, that’s easy enough, but he says, one little wrinkle. The briefcase is handcuffed to his wrist. She says, he’ll have to uncuff at some point. Tonight when he’s asleep, she’ll steal it. Victor says, but the WSB is on their way to recover the contents of that briefcase as they speak. She asks how the hell she’s supposed to get around that, and he says he doesn’t know. She’ll think of something. Let Ethan be her inspiration.

On the phone, Alexis says she’s the editor-in-chief of The Invader. If they’d be so kind as to give Commissioner Ashford a message from her. Tell her that Alexis will be printing the letter the killer sent to her. It will be on the front page of the paper tomorrow. Ask her if she has any comments.

Willow waits for her treatment, and Michael puts his hand on hers.

Carly sees Nina across the room, and they lock eyes.

Linc tells Brook that he did nothing wrong. No woman ever told him no. She says she did, several times, but he says, she overreacted. She says, the only reason women keep quiet about him, the only reason women hold their noses and let him touch them, is because he’s convinced them if they don’t their careers will go buh-bye. Fortunately for her, she doesn’t have to worry about her singing career anymore. Fortunately for them, they won’t have to worry about him anymore. Not when she becomes their manager. He says, she’s going to poach his clients? and she says, that’s right. She’s not just going to expose him; she’s going to completely ruin him. She’ll destroy him. He says, or… she can get her songs back.

Dante tells Chase, he’s been leaving all these messages for Brook. He had to come here to track her down. Chase says, cut her some slack. Brook has been working 24/7 promoting his new single, booking gigs, you name it. Dante says he’s happy to hear how well everything is going for Chase, and Chase says he can’t complain. Dante says, with this new career Chase has, maybe Brook doesn’t have to write the letter, and Chase says, what letter?

Obrecht tells Britt to let her help, but Britt says, please don’t! She frantically picks things up, and Obrecht asks, what happened? Britt says, nothing. Just one more mistake. Obrecht says she thought Britt and Cody were well on their way to being a couple, but Britt says she doesn’t have the time. Obrecht says, please, tell her what’s wrong so she can help, but Britt says, there’s nothing Obrecht can do. She’s sick.

Holly says, Victor is asking the impossible, but he says, nonsense. She’s ideally placed to retrieve the necklace from her ex-husband, providing she’s not lying about Robert still trusting her. She says, it’s not a question of trust; it’s a question of logistics. He says, then what is she waiting here for? Better get going before the WSB gets their hands on the briefcase.

Robert comes out of the elevator at the MetroCourt, the briefcase cuffed to his wrist.  

Tomorrow, Linc asks if they have a deal or don’t they; Chase asks Dante what letter Brook was supposed to write; Sonny says, it looks like Drew hit a dead end; and Carly says, if Nina wants to come at her, bring it on.

🍗 A Side of Soap With Your Turkey…

See if your soap is on Thanksgiving Day. GH is a rerun, and there’s football on Friday.

🗽 New York Shame…

Not really anything new, but I’m still shaking my head. What’s wrong with people?

🧂 No Shah No Return…

It doesn’t sound like Jen will be returning. I get it, but I’m waiting for the lawsuit that happens when Teresa flings a glass at an innocent bystander. Why is she still on RHONJ?

👩🏾‍🍳 That Was Fast…

This is too bad. Reality is always more palatable when there’s a distraction like a business involved.

🦕 My Advice, Duck…

I’ve seen the parade in person twice. Once from in front of Macy’s, getting there at 6 am on the coldest day of my life. And again from an office I worked at that was on the parade route, accompanied by mimosas and bagels. I don’t need to tell you which was more preferable. But back to topic, it is really weird when those balloons are over you. Nope. Didn’t like it.

🥗 Low Carbing…

Tomorrow, discussing the Below Deck Med Reunion – which was a real snoozefest – and the usual soap, so come on over. Until then, stay safe, stay gathering innocuous topics for the Thanksgiving meal, and stay knowing what someone means by their father’s legacy before you assume it’s jewelry.

November 23, 2021 – The Excavation Team Looks For Jason, Hospital Exit, Remembering OLTL, NYC Woman, Bad Behavior, All About the Parade & Macy’s

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha tells Dr. Navarro, their son is in an incubator and can’t be moved, right? Which means they have to go to him. She asks Brando to get her a wheelchair, and he says, she can’t even sit up right now. She says she’ll do whatever it takes to be with her son, but Dr. Navarro says, that’s not the problem. In her post-operative condition, she can’t visit the NICU right now. She needs time to heal first. Sasha says her baby needs his mother, but the doctor says, he needs his mother to be healthy and whole for what’s to come.

Gladys asks Maxie if that’s Sasha’s room, and Maxie says, Brando is with her, and they’re talking to Sasha’s doctor. Gladys stands outside the door, and Dr. Navarro says she knows it’s hard, but she strongly advises Sasha to use this time to rest. Gather her strength, so when she’s cleared to visit her son, she’ll be prepared. Brando says, prepared for what exactly?

Carly runs into the hospital and finds Sonny. She thanks him for calling her, and asks how Sasha and the baby are. He says, Sasha is out of surgery, and recovering in the ICU, and Carly says she doesn’t understand. Last she heard, everything was fine. How did he hear Sasha and the baby were rushed into surgery?

At the reception desk, Epiphany tells Valentin that the doctor wants him to spend one more night for observation, but he says he’s going to take care of himself; effective immediately. She says, that would be an ill-advised decision, but it’s his choice. He’s going to have to sign a form saying he’s leaving against medical advice. He tells her to give him the form, and she says, fine. Wait here. He asks her not to take too long, and she gives him a look. Nina comes along, and gives Valentin a hug. She asks why he’s leaving, and he says he has to move out of the Quartermaine mansion, and find the strength to say goodbye to his daughter one last time.

As they walk in, Chase asks if Brook doesn’t think it’s a little sacrilegious to hatch a plot in a chapel, and she says, a non-denominational chapel. He asks what that means, and she says they need place to talk away from Valentin. He says he’s listening, and she says, enough of his self-assured, nothing bothers you attitude. Does he have any idea what he’s gotten himself into, pretending to be Bailey’s father? If the truth is found out, he’ll have two enemies – Valentin and Peter.

Anna asks if she can call Maxie back; she’s in the middle of something. Maxie says, Peter just called her. He promised he was going to see her soon. Anna says, they have Peter in custody, and Maxie asks if she’s sure he’s in custody. Anna says, he’s in handcuffs, and waiting to be transferred back to Port Charles to stand trial. Maxie asks if Anna is saying it’s really over, but Anna says, it’s not over yet.

Obrecht examines Drew, and Britt says, let her know when she’s done. She wants to make sure Obrecht’s stitches didn’t open up when she fell in the tunnel. Obrecht says, she’s fine, but Britt is going to have to recite the alphabet backward to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Britt says, Z, Y, X, W, V. Is that enough? Obrecht says, for now, and asks if Drew has any other injuries he needs to tell her about. He says, just what she saw. The last time she examined him was when Peter wanted to make sure he was in tip-top shape to kidnap Maxie. She says, thankfully, that plan never materialized, and Britt says, Maxie’s safe, but at what cost to Jason?

Maxie asks, what about Liesl and Britt? Has Anna seen them? Anna says she’s with them now; they’re fine. Maxie says, thank God. She knew Jason wouldn’t let anything happen to them. She thanks Anna for bringing Peter to justice, and Anna says she owed it to Maxie; it’s long overdue. Maxie asks her to thank Jason and Britt for her too, and asks when they’re coming home. Anna says, the situation is quite fluid right now. She’ll be able to have a longer conversation when she gets back. All she wanted was to keep Maxie safe. Maxie hangs up, and sees a text from Brook, saying, must talk. 911. Where are you?

Nina tells Valentin that she doesn’t understand. Is he sending Charlotte to boarding school? He says, not Charlotte, and she asks, what’s going on with Bailey? He says, she’s not his, and Nina asks, what makes him say that? He says, Brook lied to him, and she says, he must be devastated. He says, Brook used Bailey as a bargaining chip to get her ELQ shares back. It was nothing more than an elaborate ruse to get back in her father’s good graces. Nina says, Brook actually said that? and he tells her, she said a lot of things, but it was about ELQ, plain and simple.

Brook asks if Chase has any idea what he signed up for, and he says he wasn’t thinking long term; he was thinking on the fly. She says, until they know Peter’s not a threat anymore, he’s going to have to continue with the fly. He’s going to have to tell everyone. Is he ready to tell his parents that they’re going to be grandparents again? He’s going to have to tell Finn, and how about Willow? It’s not the first time he’s had to tell a lie for the greater good. He says, and the lie worked. It kept Nelle from getting custody of Wiley. She asks if he’s ready to tempt fate again, when her phone dings. She says, Maxie is freaking out about something. She wouldn’t blame Chase if he didn’t want to take this charade any further. Maybe they should go back to Valentin, tell him the truth, and beg for his help. Then Chase wouldn’t have to be part of the charade, and get in any deeper.

Nina asks if Valentin is sure it’s about ELQ; maybe there’s another reason. He says, like what? and she suggests giving Brook the benefit of the doubt. Even his biggest detractors have to admit he’s an amazing father to Charlotte. Maybe the biological father isn’t a good guy. Could that be the reason Brook lied to him? He says, no, because Chase is the real father. Chase told him, and Brook confirmed it.

Carly tells Sonny, if there’s a problem with Sasha and the baby, Brando must be losing his mind. Sonny is the only family Brando has in town besides Gladys, so of course (🍷) Brando reached out to him. Maxie walks past, and Sonny asks, what’s the latest? Carly asks if the baby is okay, and Maxie says, which baby? Carly says, Sasha and Brando’s baby, and Maxie says, of course (🍷). She’s sorry; she has a lot going on. Sasha had a baby boy, and needed an emergency C-section. She’s fine, but the baby is in the NICU. Her phone dings, and she says she’s sorry. That’s all she knows. She walks the other way, and Sonny wonders if it’s just him, or was Maxie all over the place? Carly is sure all this reminded Maxie of the trauma surrounding Louise’s birth. He says it reminds him of what they went through with Donna, and she says, she’ll never forget, but like Sasha, she had one advantage Maxie doesn’t. He asks, what’s that? and she says, a loving, supportive partner by her side.

Elizabeth tells Gladys that she can go in; she knows Gladys is family. Gladys thanks her, but says she doesn’t want to intrude. The doctor sounds so serious. That’s never good, right? Elizabeth goes in, and Brando asks if she’s seen their baby. Sasha asks, how is he? and Elizabeth says, he’s currently in an incubated on a ventilator to assist with breathing. He also has an umbilical line to administer steroids and antibiotics. Brando says, that’s standard procedure in the NICU, right? Because babies are born with under developed lungs all the time. Dr. Navarro says, in this case, it’s not a question of lung capacity. During the placental disruption, their son was deprived of oxygen, and in some babies, that can result in <insert medical term here>, a condition that, depending on the severity, causes disabilities, brain damage, and in some cases, death. Elizabeth says, those are worst case scenarios; they don’t have all the answers. Dr. Navarro says, Dr. Fleming and the wonderful team in the NICU have started a very advanced treatment called hypothermic therapy, which calms the baby down, and has been shown to give the brain an opportunity to slow brain cell damage. Sasha cries, and Elizabeth says, they need to think positively. Sasha asks how she can think anything positive when her baby is hurting, and it’s all her fault?

Sasha says she must have missed a sign, or ignored a symptom, but Dr. Navarro says she’s not to blame. There’s nothing Sasha could have done to prevent what happened. Her placenta separated from her uterus, a completely involuntary medical condition. Sasha says she felt a twinge or something. She definitely knew she wasn’t comfortable, and didn’t reach out to the doctor. Brando tells her to listen to Dr. Navarro. She didn’t know this was going to happen. He’s not going to let her blame herself. Elizabeth says, and most discomfort during pregnancy is harmless. The doctor says Elizabeth is correct. It’s possible what Sasha felt had nothing to do with the abruption. They need to focus on the next steps, when the hypothermia treatment concludes. Brando asks how long it takes, and she says, it can take up to 72 hours. Once it’s done, Dr. Fleming will order an EEG to determine brain function. Brando can visit the NICU now, and if Sasha is strong enough in the morning, she can be wheeled down to see her son. She’ll check in on Sasha later. She leaves, and Elizabeth asks Sasha to listen to her. She knows as moms it’s easy for them to blame themselves, but Sasha  did everything right. She went to her doctor’s appointments, she had bloodwork done, she went on bedrest when she was told to. No one has a crystal ball. Sasha says, so all they can do now is wait? and Brando says, wait, and pray.

Anna says, the excavation team has landed, and they’re headed to the tunnels. Drew says he wants to help, and Britt says, her too, but Anna says, it’s too crowded and dangerous for them to go down there. This is a highly trained team, and they’re equipped with the latest technology. The best thing they can do for Jason is stay out of their way. There’s going to be a formal debriefing with the WSB, but before that happens, she needs to know what the hell went on down in those tunnels. Obrecht says, Peter activated Drew, and when Jason and Drew were fighting, Peter dragged her and Britt into those unstable tunnels, and then got lost. Anna says, by activated, she means conditioning? and Drew says, Peter used Faison’s old shortcut. Anna asks what he had Drew do, but Drew has no idea. The first time was in Crete, and he came to in his cell, grazed by a bullet and bleeding. Anna thinks he sustained the injury during the assassination attempt, and he asks how she knows. She says, she was the target.

Maxie walks into the chapel, and says, please tell her Gladys… She stops, and says, Chase. If he doesn’t mind, she’d like to speak to Brook in private. Brook says, if it’s about Bailey, anything Maxie has to share with her, she can say in front of Chase. He knows everything.

Nina says, Brook told Valentin that Chase was Bailey’s biological father? and he says, yes. She says she’s so sorry; she knows how painful it is. He says he knows she does, because she knows what it’s like to love someone like a daughter, and find out she was deceived, because he did that to her. Call it karma or poetic justice, but what he inflicted on her, Brook inflicted on him. She has every right to gloat.

Sonny says he’s happy that Donna has so much strength and is so healthy, and Carly says, they’re so lucky. She prays the same for Brando and Sasha; that whatever comes their way, they can weather it together as a team. Sonny says, they did it, and she says, they did. She knows it’s a weird time, but they didn’t get to finish their conversation earlier about Nina, and there’s something she needs to say.

Sasha says, she knows she and Brando haven’t taken the most conventional route as a couple, and there’s still so much they don’t know about each other, but he never struck her as the praying type. He says he guesses he’s old enough to admit there are things in the universe he doesn’t understand. Is there God? He doesn’t know, but he’s seen a rainbow after a storm. He’s seen some pretty awesome sunrises and sunsets. In Iraq, in the war, he saw some pretty awful things, but he also saw some of the most profound acts of human kindness. All this is a long way to say he doesn’t know what he believes, but he’ll consider anything that gets them a happy ending with their son. She says, her too. Does he think it’s possible? He says, an hour ago, he didn’t know if she and their son were going to make it. He never prayed like that, even in the war. Now she’s out of danger, and their son is alive. She tells him, people always say babies are resilient, and he says, Maxie was just telling him that James was born on the side of the road, and he’s fine now. Babies can have shaky starts and still grow into healthy strong kids. Their kid has their genes. She says, which makes him a fighter, and he says, damn right. She says, faith is not her strong suit. What if it’s not enough? He says, they have each other, and their son has them, not to mention some of the best medical care there is. Whatever the EEG tells them, he’ll be cherished and loved. If he needs a little help, they’ll provide that. There’s not a thing they can’t see him through. She says, what about what he needs right now? Being stuck in this bed, she can’t help feel… She cries, and he says, it’s okay. They’re in the same boat. They’re both first time parents, and their son is in trouble. Talk to him. She says she feels like she’s already a failure as a mother.

Nina says, when she found out Valentin hired Sasha to pretend to be her daughter, she was devastated. She was so angry and hurt, but she woudn’t wish that pain on anyone. She’s certainly not enjoying watching him lose his daughter. He says, because she’s a good person, but she says she’s done some things lately that make her question that. She does know one thing; when you’re driven by love, you’re pretty much capable of anything.

Carly says, she and Sonny have to resolve the issue of Nina. He referred to Nina as his friend, and she can’t tell him how bad it hurt her. He tells her that he didn’t exactly say that, and they sit down. She says she knows he was talking about his days in Nixon Falls when he was Mike. She wants him to know that she understands he had a life there, and it felt like home. He says, when he got his memory back, coming back there, they were his home; her, his kids, and his grandkids. She says she doesn’t want him to feel like he has to defend life he didn’t choose, but he has to understand she has a big problem with Nina, and what she did to him. She doesn’t want that to come across as her not trusting him. She has 100% faith that he’ll always do what’s best for their family. So as hard as it may be, if he feels what’s best for their family moving forward is for her to lay off Nina, she promises to do her best to try and respect that. He says, try? and she says, it’s her. He can’t expect miracles here. He says he knows it’s not easy. This whole thing… he just… He doesn’t want to talk about this anymore or fight about it. Can they not do that? She says she feels same way. She suggests they go find Sasha’s room, and see if there’s anything they can do for Sasha and Brando.

Maxie says, in this situation, Brook is going to need to define what everything is, and Chase says he knows Bailey isn’t Valentin’s daughter, or even Brook’s. She’s Maxie’s, and Maxie and Brook cooked up this plan to hide her in plain sight to protect her from her actual father, Peter August. Maxie says, sounds like everything, and Brook says, don’t look at her; she didn’t tell him anything. He figured it out on his own, and it’s a good thing. After Gladys came to tell Valentin she was deceiving him, she almost confessed everything. Thankfully, Chase walked in, and said he was the father. Chase says, the timing works. Brook was bunking with him around the time she supposedly got pregnant. Maxie says she needs a second to process this, and sits. She asks how Valentin took the news, and Brook says, how does she think he took it? He’s a wreck. He’s really angry at her for lying to him. Poor guy. Maxie says she knows how much love he has for her baby. Do they think he believed Chase is the baby’s father? Chase says, he seemed to. Chase even acted mad at Brook for lying to him. Maxie says, okay, good. Because now that Peter is coming back to Port Charles, they can’t take any chances. She called Anna, and she said Peter had been apprehended in Greece, and they were extraditing him to Port Charles. Chase says, then their problems are solved. With Peter in custody, Maxie can reveal Bailey is really Louise, and take her daughter back. Maxie says, as much as she wants that to happen, they can’t tell the truth about Bailey anytime soon.

Sonny and Carly see Gladys, and Sonny says, congratulations are in order. She’s a grandmother now. She says she hasn’t been able to see baby. She’s sure he’s beautiful; how could he not be? Carly asks if everything is okay. Did something happen to Sasha or the baby? Gladys says, Sasha is recuperating, but her grandson might not recover.

Valentin says, he wanted to protect what he and Nina had so much, that he ended up hurting her very, very badly. He doesn’t think he understood how much it hurt her to lose Sasha until now. And here she is, giving him a sympathetic ear. She’s just amazing. She says she doesn’t know about that. It’s easy to absolve someone when you realize you need absolution yourself. Maybe one day he’ll find it in his heart to forgive Brook’s deception about Bailey, the way her heart has forgiven him.

Maxie says, even though Peter is in custody, he doesn’t sound scared. He promised he’d be seeing her really soon. So she and her daughter are nowhere near safe. Chase says, she told them Peter is in WSB custody. He’s going to face charges in court. Maxie says, Peter has proved over and over again that he always eludes justice, but Brook says, try finding a jury in the state of New York that wouldn’t convict him. Maxie says, there’s one thing she’s learned from this nightmare, and that’s don’t count Peter out. Until he’s exhausted every legal challenge, and is in prison for life, she’s not comfortable revealing the truth about Bailey. Brook says, understood. What does she need from them? Maxie says, right now, she needs them both to be her daughter’s parents.

Britt suggests Obrecht call Scotty. She knows how badly he’d like to hear her voice, and know she’s coming home. Obrecht says, she will, but first, she wants Britt to tell her how she is. Britt says she’s fine, but Obrecht says she doesn’t have to put up a front for her; the stress must be affecting her. Britt lowers her voice, and says, if Obrecht is talking about Huntington’s, there’s no evidence that trauma causes early onset. Obrecht says she not talking about Britt’s physical condition. Not knowing whether Jason is dead or alive must be taking a toll on her emotions. Brit cries, and says, Jason was only there because she asked him for help. If he dies, how does she live with that?

Gladys tells Sonny, the door to Sasha’s room was open enough for her to hear what the doctor told them. She wants to be supportive to them, but they might think she’s overstepping; she knows she tends to do that. Sonny says, at least Gladys is here, and she’s thinking about them. Gladys says he doesn’t need to be so kind, given… everything. He says, hey, family’s family.

Brando says, Sasha didn’t fail their son. She took better care of herself than any mother. She bought books to read to him, put good things into her belly. The nursery she created, it’s so warm and cozy; it’s a child’s wonderland. She was a wonderful mother before their son was even born. She says she feels so helpless. She wants to hold their son so badly. She wants him to know his mother is there for him. She wants to protect him and comfort him. That’s her job. He says, that’s their job, and she asks if he’ll do something for her. He says, anything, and she says, go see their son. He says he wants to see their son, but he doesn’t want to leave her alone. He can text Maxie or Lucy… She says she’ll be fine, but their son needs at least one of his parents to be with him right now. The best thing he can do for her do right now is to do what she can’t. Go tell their son that she loves him.

Valentin thanks Nina for forgiving him. He was so caught up in his own stuff, he hasn’t seen her since she came back. Is she okay? She says, she’s good. She’s fortunate her return to Port Charles wasn’t met with a group of people carrying pitchforks. He says he can’t imagine her doing anything to deserve that. If she ever wants to talk about it… She thanks him, and says she might take him up on that, but tonight is about Sasha. She went into labor, had complications, and needed to have surgery, and that’s all she knows. He says, my God. He made this all about him. Go be with Sasha. He tells her that she set an example, taking the high road, and she says, he can do the same with Brook. At least she hopes he’ll try. She leaves, and Epiphany slams a clipboard on the desk next to Valentin, saying, was that fast enough for him? She keeps walking.

Brook says they have to decide how to break the news to everyone, and Chase says, he should probably act mad at her for a while. She asks if that’s really necessary, and he says, if she kept his baby a secret from him in reality, he’d be furious. She says, so he still has to be a liar in this scenario? and he says, in all fairness, she faked the pregnancy. She says, that’s true. So they’ll go with Valentin’s theory that she always knew Chase was the father, and pretended Valentin was the father to get back the ELQ stock. Maxie says, people will believe that, and Brook says she knows. Maxie says, please know she’s grateful to the both of them. It means everything to her to know she has at least some control over her child’s well-being, especially in light of everything going on with Sasha. Chase asks, what happened with Sasha? and Maxie says, she went into labor, but there were some complications. Chase says, she was so excited the last time he saw her, and asks if she’s okay. Maxie says, Sasha made it through the surgery, but she’s waiting for an update. Brook suggests they keep everything in perspective, and says, the most important thing is to keep Bailey safe from Peter. They can do this. Chase says, they can and they will.

Gladys sees Brando, and runs to him, saying, she was so worried. She hugs him, and Sonny asks how he’s holding up. Brando says, kind of numb actually. Sasha thought it was important that he see their son. He’s downstairs in the NICU. Gladys says she’ll go with him, and Carly asks, when was the last time Brando had something to eat or drink? He says he doesn’t know, and Carly says, then she’ll go to the cafeteria and get him something. She asks Gladys to come with her, since she knows all of Brando’s favorite things, and takes Gladys’s arm. Gladys says, he has to keep up his strength, and Carly tells Brando that she’s sending all of her love to his baby. Gladys lets Carly lead her away, and Sonny asks how Brando is feeling; talk to him. Brando says he’s scared, and Sonny says he wouldn’t be a father if he weren’t. He just has to get past all that. He’s got a brand new son coming into the world, who’s going to need his father and his love. Brando says, what if he doesn’t know what to do? and Sonny says, that’s just fear talking. When he sees that little boy, it will take care of everything. They hug, and Sonny says, got it? Brando says, yeah, and leaves. The elevator opens, and Nina goes to the reception desk. She tells Elizabeth, she’s there about Sasha Gilmore. She knows Sasha gave birth, and needed surgery. Are there any updates? Elizabeth says, Nina knows she can’t give out confidential patient information, but Sasha is recovering in the ICU. Nina says, it’s that bad? How is Sasha? What about the baby? Can Sasha have visitors? Elizabeth says, only family right now, and Nina says, she and Sasha were family once. Please? Elizabeth says she’ll see what she can do.

Brando goes to the NICU, and Epiphany tells him to get dressed so he can meet his son.

Elizabeth asks how Sasha is doing, and if she’s in any pain. Sasha says, nothing physical. She supposes that’s because of the painkillers. Elizabeth says, if Sasha ever wants to talk mom to mom, she’s just one call button away. Sasha thanks her, and says, Elizabeth has been so kind to her. Elizabeth asks if she’s up for a visitor. She’s not family, but wants to see Sasha, and Elizabeth can look the other way. Nina stands in the doorway.

Epiphany tells Brando, she’s there to help. Does he have any questions? He asks if the baby is in any pain, but she says, no; he’s sedated. He asks if it will hurt if he touches the baby, but she says, it won’t hurt; go ahead and touch him. Talk to him. Let the baby know he’s there. If he’s been talking to Sasha’s stomach, the baby is already familiar with his voice. He goes to the incubator, and says, hello, son. I’m your dad. I’m here now.

Outside, Anna tells the excavation guy, run another scan. She goes back in, and Britt asks if the excavation team found Jason. Anna says, they penetrated the tunnel, using radar based technology, to search for a heartbeat. Drew asks what they found, and Anna says, there was no signal. Nothing. Obrecht says, maybe the equipment was faulty, but Anna says, they have both audio and video devices. She’s really sorry, but there’s no sign of life in the tunnel where they last saw Jason. Britt looks out the window.

Maxie says, now that they’ve agreed on the best way to move forward, she’s going to see if she can get an update on Sasha. Chase says, keep them posted, please, and Maxie says, of course (🍷). She leaves, and Brook says, well, baby daddy, she thinks it’s time they told her family. He says, have fun with that, and she says, if he thinks she’s telling the Quartermaine clan herself, he has another thing coming. She can promise him one thing. It will be a helluva Thanksgiving.

Valentin asks if Maxie’s heard the news, and she says, about Peter’s capture? He says he figured Anna would reach out to her first, and she says, actually, Peter beat her to it. He used his one phone call on her, and promised he would see her real soon. He says he hopes she knows Anna would never let that happen, and she says she wishes she could wake up from this nightmare unafraid, but Peter’s pretty relentless. So far, he keeps evading justice. Valentin says, those days are over. Now Peter will pay the price for his actions. Maybe he’ll divulge some information on the fake nurse Chloe that will lead them to Louise. Whatever he can do to help, he’ll do. He knows now there is no greater pain than having a child ripped away from you.

Carly asks if Gladys and Sonny want to see if Sasha’s ready for visitors, but Sonny suggests they sit for a second. Elizabeth said it’s going to be a little more time, and Sasha’s going to get some rest. Why doesn’t Carly give Gladys some pointers on how to be a grandmother? His grandson Wiley adores Carly, just like Gladys’s grandson is going to adore her. He’s going to think she’s irreplaceable.

Sasha tells Nina, she doesn’t know if it’s in her head, but she keeps hearing babies crying. How will she know his cry? Nina holds Sasha while she cries.

Brando tells the baby that he has a message from his mom. He opens the hatch, and touches the baby. He says, she already loves him more than anything. So does he.

Tomorrow, TJ asks why Marshall is there now, Olivia tells Austin that she doesn’t want to waste more time, and Ned asks if Brook is going to tell him who the father is.

⚾️ Another One Out…

Looks like Jason might be staying under that rubble for a while.

https://people.com/tv/steve-burton-out-at-general-hospital-after-refusing-to-comply-with-covid-vaccine-mandate/

🎬 End Of Life…

I recall the end of OLTL too. <SOB!> Even though their characters changed on GH, Kristen Alderson’s final scene with Roger Howarth was made all the more poignant because they really were saying goodbye after a long working relationship.

🗽 Roxy Rocks NYC…

I met her years ago. She was funny and very down-to-earth. This is exactly how I would have pictured her home.

Tripping…

I don’t know if it’s going to be an ongoing thing, but Bravo showed the premiere episode at 8 pm tonight (Tuesday). Since that’s a bad time for me, I didn’t see much of it, but there was drama already. I don’t know why anyone should be surprised that Ramona acted like a brat. She’s been like that since forever.

🦃 That Time Again…

Everything you need to know about this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

https://www.macys.com/social/parade/

🌜 Wynken, Blynken, And Nodden Out…

Tomorrow, it’s a dose of soap and the horror show that is Winter House, which looks like it’s drawing to a close. It’s a short TV week for the usual, since GH will be airing a rerun on Thanksgiving – the February 5th episode – why, when they have a wealth of Quartermaine emergency pizzas? – and on Friday, it’s football. But no matter what’s on your viewing schedule, stay safe, stay aware that words hold power, and stay knowing that, although there are some pretty awful things in the world, there are also profound acts of human kindness.

November 27, 2019 – Hayden Makes a Decision, Jersey In Jamaica, What Is It About, Flipping Jeff, Too Cautious, No FOMO & Film For T-Day

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Chase and Willow go to Anna’s place, and Finn introduces Violet to Uncle Chase. Chase likes the sound of uncle, and asks if Violet has any other uncles, but she says, not yet. He introduces Willow, who tells Violet that Chase is a keeper. He’s been known to let kids have ice cream for dinner. Chase brought her a present – an Aquamat. No one knows what it is, including me, but Chase says Willow helped him pick it out. Violet goes to set it up with Chase and Willow, and Anna says she’s never seen Finn so happy. He says he is, and thanks her for being great about this. She says it’s worth it for his smile. (FYI – I looked up the Aquamat, and it’s pretty cool. You fill it with water and “draw” on it. The water evokes the colors, and when the water is gone, so are the drawings. Magic!)

At The Floating Rib, Michael invites Sasha to Thanksgiving dinner at the Quartermaine mansion. She doesn’t want to put anyone in an awkward position, and he says he can’t promise there won’t be a knockdown, all-out fight, or two, but he can promise those fights will have nothing to do with her. She says she could do with a double-dose of family. She doesn’t have one anymore; real or fake. He tells her, consider herself an honorary member of his two, and they kiss. Obrecht comes in, and Michael asks if they can help her. She sits, and says they already have. Maxie and Nina have accepted her back into the family, and back into James’s life. For that she’ll buy them a drink. Sasha wants to put it behind her, but Obrecht says, that’s the point. It’s over. Michael says, actually, it’s not over. Not yet.

Brad comes out of the elevator at the hospital, and sees Lucas at the reception desk. He says he just clocked out. Any chance Lucas can come home with him? Lucas says his shift isn’t over. Brad says he’s been working so much. It’s been days since they’ve had dinner as a family with Wiley. Lucas says it’s obvious Brad is hiding something from him, covering with lies and half-truths. Now he wants Lucas to sit down to a nice family dinner? No. Brad says, that’s it? Just no? Lucas says, pretty much. Until Brad gets the courage to tell him what’s going on, he’s going to spend time with Wiley on his own. Brad says, what about tomorrow? Can they at least spend Thanksgiving together?

Valentin says, his father amended his will and Helena hid the document in the portrait. Martin takes it Valentin didn’t know, and Valentin asks if Martin has any more specifics. Martin says Jax and Laura seem to believe that the codicil takes the estate away from Valentin.

The guy who jumped Hayden at the pier puts his hand over Hayden’s mouth, and she struggles with him. Nikolas shows up.

Neil tells Alexis, as requested, he’s having the lab analyze the mystery pill Kendra tried to force feed her. Alexis is anxious for the lab to clear it up. She honestly can’t believe Kendra would give her something that harmful. Kendra won’t even let her eat wheat. She would think thallium was out of the question.

Chase confesses, he was hoping to see Finn at a tea party, and Finn says he should have gotten there earlier. Chase says he’s proud of Finn. It’s like he’s been waiting to be a father his whole life. Finn says it’s almost like he has. It feels really good. Willow tells Anna, Violet is adorable, and Anna says, Violet loves her father too; no surprise there. She wishes Hayden hadn’t kept Finn from knowing for so long, but it is what it is. Willow steps away, and takes a breath. Chase asks if she’s okay, and she says she’ll be fine. She doesn’t know what happened. He says it’s his fault. He didn’t think it through. What happened with Finn and Violet must remind her of what happened with Wiley.

Brad tells Lucas, it’s a family holiday, and he arranged to take it off months ago. Lucas says he volunteered to cover the ER, and Brad says he knows Lucas is angry, but it’s Thanksgiving. They should be together with Wiley. They need to find a way to get past this hiccup in their marriage. Lucas says Brad needs to come clean. If Brad tells Lucas what he’s hiding, he’ll find someone to cover the shift. On three. One… two… He didn’t think so. Brad says because of a stupid accusation, but Lucas says, it’s more than that, and Brad knows it.

Obrecht hopes Sasha and Michael aren’t trying to undermine her hard won serenity. Sasha says Michael was just giving her a heads up about Curtis’s investigation. Obrecht says, what investigation? It’s over. Sasha confessed, and Obrecht is paying for cocktails. What more could there be? Michael says there was still a sample on file at GH, and Curtis had it retested. Sasha says it proved again that she and Nina are mother and daughter. Michael says he tried to convince Curtis to drop it, but he said his reputation as a PI is at stake. He’s still looking for answers, and eventually he’s going to realize Obrecht was involved.

Martin tells Valentin that he’s sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Valentin wonders why his father changed his will, unless he was pressured by Helena. Helena hated him. Martin says Valentin must have suspected, or he wouldn’t have sent Martin to Jax with that story. Valentin says he needs to get his hands on the painting, and Martin agrees. If Jax finds it first, Valentin will lose his island, his home, his horses, his business holdings, and even the nicely tailored shirt on his back. Valentin says he has no intention of losing anything. This makes their project all the more important.

Nikolas fights with Hayden’s attacker, and dude runs off. Hayden asks if he’s all right, and he says she was the one who was almost carried off; is she hurt? She says, no, and he asks if she saw who it was. Does she know what they wanted?

Martin asks how Ava acquired the portrait if Valentin threw it out, but Valentin doesn’t have a clue. Martin asks if Valentin is going to reach out to her, or let him, but Valentin tells Martin that Ava said Valentin would never put his hands on the portrait. Martin says, another person less than fond of Valentin. Valentin says Ava suffered a psychotic breakdown, but that’s not the cause of her animosity toward him. She has a perfectly sane reason to hate him. What bothers him is that she imagined she saw Nikolas.

Hayden tells Nikolas, he just came out of nowhere. He didn’t take her purse; she thinks he wanted to kill her. Nikolas says he was afraid something like this would happen. That’s why he came back. He started to worry that Valentin would make good on his threat. She says it’s nice to know he still cares. She asks if he thinks Valentin sent the guy, and he says, she doesn’t think it’s a coincidence, does she? The day after Valentin tries to coerce her into working for him? She wonders what she should do, and he tells her that she should leave now. He’ll help her. She says, what about Violet?

Willow tells Chase that she’s fine. She gets to be a part of Wiley’s life, which is more than she dreamed possible. She’s beyond  thrilled that Finn has a daughter, and Chase has a niece. How lucky can a little girl get? He asks if she wants to get out of there, and she says, only because she’s starving. Chase tells Finn and Anna that they’re going to let them have Violet all to themselves. Anna is surprised they’re leaving already, and thanks them for coming. Chase congratulates Daddy Finn, and Willow tells Violet that she loved meeting her, and can’t wait to see her again. Chase says, he was thinking maybe Violet wants to be an honorary officer of the law; Sergeant Violet. He gives her a badge, and asks, or does she want to be a detective, or a spy like Anna? Violet says she wants to be a doctor like her daddy.

Brook Lynn shows up at the hospital, and says, paging Dr. Lucas Jones, heartthrob of Port Charles High. He says, Brook Lynn, and she says, in the flesh. They hug, and he says she looks fantastic. He keeps checking the music charts for her. She says she’ll get there; her career is on pause. She’s visiting the family, but Olivia is still frosty with her for trying to break up Dante and Lulu a million years ago. He says he tries to stay away from the family drama, and asks how long she’s staying.

Obrecht says Curtis should mind his own business. Her thank you cocktails might have been premature. She tells them to buy their own drinks, and jets. Sasha tells Michael, she almost feels sorry for Obrecht. Almost. Michael says Obrecht would bake Hansel and Gretel into a pie if she could. Sasha says when Obrecht realized they had the same goal – namely Nina’s happiness – she literally became Sasha’s partner in crime. Michael says he’s curious. Sasha said the sample came from Valentin. Where did Valentin get them?    

He says they couldn’t have come from Nina, or it would have been an exact match. Sasha says she has no idea where Valentin got them; she just followed instructions. Chase and Willow approach their table, and Michael says they’ll talk later. Chase asks if he and Willow can join them, or is this a big date? Michael tells them to sit, and says he’ll get the drinks. Chase says he’ll go with Michael, and Willow says just a club soda for her. Sasha says, if she’s hungry, they ordered way too much food. Dive in. Willow says she’s not hungry anymore, and Sasha asks if she’s okay. Willow says, just queasy. She’s going to wash her hands. She loves playing with the kids, Wiley and Chase’s new niece Violet, but kids are geniuses at picking up germs.

Obrecht sees Brad in the alley behind the Rib. He asks why she’s still alive. She says they made an agreement, but Brad says she broke it when she told Lucas that he had a bigger secret than the lab test.

Alexis tells Neil, maybe Finn was right, and it’s a disgruntled client, or the victim of one who walked. Neil says, anyone but Kendra? She tells him, say he’s right. That means she rolled out the red carpet for someone who wanted her dead. She wonders what that says about her. That she’s gullible? Clueless? Maybe stupid? He says she’s blaming the victim, and she should know better.

Finn asks what Anna is making for dinner, and she says she has ice cream. He thinks there are other courses they need to worry about, and she says she did stock the pantry with anything she thought a child would like. She has organic tater tots, and Finn asks if he has to share them with Violet. Anna says he can have anything he wants. He thanks her for accepting Violet into their lives, and she says she’s happy to be part of his journey through fatherhood. He says it looks like one of those ancient maps that says, beyond this point, there might be dragons. She says there’s nowhere else she’d rather be, and he asks how he got so lucky. She says she asks herself that all the time; how did he get so lucky? He kisses her, and Violet sings, Daddy and Anna sitting in a tree – K-I-S-S-I-N-G.  

Valentin tells Martin, if the codicil is real, than Spencer stands to inherit everything. He would expect Laura to be involved, but not Jax and Hayden. Martin says, the infamous daughter of Raymond Berlin, and Valentin asks if he knows her. Martin says she reminds him of someone in another life altogether. (BA-DUM-CHH! Another nod to All My Children.) Valentin says they’ll regret it. The important thing is he stands to lose his inheritance to a teenager; a spoiled prince, fixated on the notion that Valentin murdered his father. Martin says, did he? and reminds Valentin of attorney/client privilege.

Nikolas says he remembers how Hayden cared for Spencer. She says she still does, and he says she must be a wonderful mother. Taking Violet with her will put Violet at risk. Anna and Finn will keep her safe, and right now, it’s the best place for her. Hayden says she can’t just leave Violet, and he asks if she thinks he wanted to leave Spencer. He wants to let his son know he’s alive, but he can’t put Spencer in danger. They knew what they were getting into had risks. She says, leaving her child… and he says he knows how hard it is. It’s been years for him. For her, it might just take weeks. She says she can’t leave Violet. Nikolas says he can’t tell her what to do – he never could – but knowing Spencer is safe is the one thing that makes it bearable. They sacrifice for their kids, even if it means removing themselves from their world. It’s the best way to protect Violet. Give up the joy of being with her right now.

Alexis asks if Neil didn’t fire her as a patient. He says, which time? and she says, touché. He says, patients usually deflect to avoid responsibility. She wants to shoulder it. She says she’s done it before; let someone in her life, no questions asked. It appears she may have done it again.

In the ladies room, Willow pats water on her neck. Sasha comes in, and asks if she’s okay. She was getting worried. Willow thanks her, and says she’s fine. Sasha checks the stall, and says they’re alone. So, club soda? Queasiness? Maybe it’s not her place, but is Willow…? Willow says, don’t say it out loud. She doesn’t know, but she’s late.

Chase tells Michael that they were with the kids all day; Willow is probably exhausted. They had a great time, but he can tell it took a lot out of her. Michael asks how Finn has taken to fatherhood, and Chase says, super well. He never thought of Finn as dad materiel, but he’s a changed man. Michael says, kids will do that to you.

Brad tells Obrecht that his husband is threatening to leave him. All he’s done is protect Lucas. Obrecht says, even after Brad tried to kill her? He says his husband is barely speaking to him. He loves Lucas and Wiley so much. He wants them to be closer, but he’s losing Lucas, and being pulled in different directions. He starts to cry.

Lucas tells Brook that he and Brad hit a rough patch. He loves Brad, but Brad’s not being honest about what he’s saying. Protect their family from what? Brad can’t tell him, but they’re supposed to be partners. Brook asks what he’s going to do, and he says bury himself in work. He’s on the schedule tomorrow. She says, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. He should be with family. He has to be with family.

Valentin tells Martin, when he and Nina are married, Charlotte will have the family she always wanted; what they’ve both wanted. Like Martin cares. He’s too close to lose now. Martin admires Valentin’s determination. Valentin says, if he tells Martin, money is no object, is he willing to step outside legal boundaries, into a grey area? Martin says Grey is his last name. What does Valentin have in mind? Valentin wants eyes on Spencer. He wants to know where is, and what he’s doing. Martin says, why? If the others find the codicil before Valentin does, what happens to the boy?

Hayden shows up at Anna’s, and Anna says she thought they had Violet until tomorrow. Hayden says they do, and tells Violet, the sleepover is still on. She just thought Violet might want her blanket and a few other things that she loves. Finn says, it’s nice of her, but Violet could have gone a night without them. Hayden says, she could have, but why should she? No one should have to go without the things they love. Violet shows Hayden her gift, and says she drew Hayden a picture. Finn tells Hayden that he understands what she’s feeling. She’s not there because Violet needed her things. She’s there because she really misses Violet.

Neil tells Alexis, he doesn’t see why she needed to fix her life in the first place. She says she wanted it back on track, and he says, it was on track. She was making progress, and even managed to trust herself to try and have fun at Drag Bingo. Alexis says, it’s good to try, and he asks why not trust herself now? She has beauty, brains, a sense of humor, and an endearing personality. She says, it’s been a rough week. She could use a boost. He says he hopes she realizes she can say those things to herself instead of hearing it from someone else.

Brook tells Lucas, Thanksgiving is the one holiday not fraught with impossible expectations. It’s just turkey, football, and gratitude. Despite his marital troubles, he can still care about his family. If not Brad, Wiley. He says, it’s not that simple, and she says look at her.

Obrecht asks what Brad is doing; stop blubbering this instant. Brad says Lucas can’t know; he’s going to lose Lucas. Obrecht doesn’t quite put her arms around him, and pats his shoulder. She says, pat, pat, pat. That’s enough consolation. Man up. He made his bed, he has to lie in it, and continue to lie. He has to be strong. They both must. It’s the only way to get through this. She walks away.

Michael tells Chase, when Nelle told him that she was pregnant, he was blindsided. The relationship was already toxic by then, but he loved the idea of being a father so much, he kept his eyes on the prize. He asks if Chase has ever thought about being a father.

Willow tells Sasha, she can’t be pregnant. They’ve been careful. Sasha asks how late she is, but Willow isn’t sure. She noticed a few days ago. She’s been so busy; she may have forgotten to take her pill a few times. Sasha says she has to tell Chase. They’re a serous couple, and need to talk about what they want for the future. Willow says what if she doesn’t know what she wants. Sasha says, then they’ll figure it out together. Just be honest with him.

Martin tells Valentin, when he said grey area, it was a euphemism for… How far to the dark side does he want to go? Valentin says he’s not killing the kid, if that’s what Martin is worried about. He has to admit it’s a fair question, but he wants his great nephew happy and healthy.

Hayden says she brought Violet’s favorite book; she likes a story at bedtime. Finn says he got Eloise for Violet, and Anna says she found Robin’s old books. Hayden says, sometimes Violet gets picky, so she brought a few. Finn says it looks like a whole library, and Hayden says she brought some extra toys and clothes, and detangler; be careful brushing Violet’s hair. Finn says Hayden is only a phone call away, but Hayden says she wanted to make sure Violet felt at home. She hopes it wasn’t presumptuous. Finn says, it’s perfect. She thanks him, and asks if she can have a moment to say goodnight. Anna says they have to finish making dinner anyway, and they go to the kitchen. Hayden goes to Violet, and asks what she’s working on. Violet says she’s making a drawing, and Hayden says she’s sorry to interrupt, but can she get a hug? She holds Violet.

Valentin tells Martin, if the day ever comes that Laura announces all his worldly possessions belong to Spencer, he needs leverage. She’s convinced he’s cold-blooded. He just needs her knowing that he knows where Spencer is at any given time. She won’t risk her grandson. Is Martin in? Martin says he’ll get eyes on Spencer right away. They clink glasses, Martin downs his drink, and leaves.

Alexis puts on some makeup, and Neil says, she looks better already. She says, it’s amazing what a little concealer, bronzer, and lip gloss can do. She was about to text Molly. He says he stopped by the lab, and she asks if he found out what Kendra was adamant about having her take. Cyanide? Hemlock? He says, gingko biloba.

Brook tells Lucas, if she can put herself out there, and try to mend fences, can’t he? He says he already got put on the schedule; he can’t back down. She says he needs to put aside the business of saving everyone else’s lives, and save his family instead.

On the phone, Brad leaves a message. He says he thought they might be too busy to answer since they got their medical license back. Congratulations. And happy Thanksgiving, in case he doesn’t get a chance to call tomorrow. I miss you, Britt.

Chase says Michael doesn’t shy away from tough questions. Michael says he didn’t mean to pry, but that’s what friends are for. Chase says, Willow definitely wants kids. As for him… Sasha and Willow come back, and Chase says they thought they’d lost them to better prospects. Willow says, there aren’t any. Chase wants to show them pictures of Violet, so they can marvel at the resemblance between Violet and her favorite uncle.

Valentin calls Hayden. She looks at the phone, and Violet asks, who is it? She says, nobody she wants to talk to. She wants to take a picture. Violet puts her arms around Hayden, and she snaps a photo. She says, perfect. Just like Violet. She wants to make sure Violet knows how much mommy loves her. All the way to the sky and back, a million times over, forever. Violet says she loves Hayden all that, plus one. Hayden says, daddy is a really good man. He’ll take good care of her. She wants Violet to remember, even when she’s not there, mommy loves her more than anything and everything. Never forget that. She tells Violet that she can draw now, and tries not to cry. She puts an envelope in Violet’s backpack (I think). Finn asks if everything is okay, and Hayden says she’s good. He says, about tomorrow. Would she mind picking Violet up in the afternoon? He’d like to spend the morning with her. She says, sure; that’s perfect. He promises with every ounce of his being that he’ll take care of Violet. She says she knows. She leaves, and cries on the porch.

On the pier, the guy comes back, and grabs Nikolas. Nikolas tells him, knock it off. The guy asks how he did, and Nikolas says, he was a great success. He terrified a woman half his size. Mission accomplished. The guy says it was Nikolas’s idea, and Nikolas says, it was necessary; not for fun. The guy says he did it for the money. Now how about his bonus? Nikolas shoves an envelope at him, and says, take it and go. The guy walks.

Next time, Kendra asks what Alexis isn’t telling her, Andre tells Franco it’s not too late to change his mind, and Julian says he’s been given no choice.

The guide shows GH as being a new show tomorrow, but if it is, I probably won’t be able to recap until Friday, if at all. I’ll at least post the highlights. On Friday, ABC will be airing football. The traditional program that accompanies the after-dinner coma.

🍹 A Quick Look…

At The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which I’m only peripherally watching. Marge has to sell her property because she settled a $12 million lawsuit for $300K. I couldn’t figure that one out, but I guess she has a lot of bills to pay. She and Joe #3 also own the property next door, and since she was whining about having to sell, I wondered why she didn’t just subdivide. Melissa and Joe #2 were investigating having another baby in vitro. Melissa felt it was now or never. Jackie had a birthday party for one of her kids, and I appreciated her viewpoint. She said all kids needed for a party was, friends, pizza, and cake. The priority was that the kids have fun. Ever the competitor, that wasn’t enough for Jennifer, who said in her interview, her party would win in a popularity contest, and Jackie’s party was just like a playdate at her house. Ugh. I also continue to mix up Jackie and Jennifer, who I think should switch names. Jackie felt Teresa was bullying her – a term which seems to have a pretty loose meaning on these shows – and Teresa said Jackie was bullying her because she’d said something Teresa didn’t like, which goes way past a loose definition. The women went to Jamaica, where Jennifer separated Jackie and Marge in a hotel room away from the rest of the group. Or as Marge described it – they were in the servants’ quarters, and the others were in a mansion. To be fair, we’re talking really nice servants’ quarters, but they had to hike to where everyone else was. Jennifer couldn’t see why there was a complaint, since she’s Jennifer. Marge made an off-hand remark about Teresa liking them over 21, that Teresa let pass, but no doubt we’ll go back to it until the Apocalypse. I’m starting to resent any Housewives going on these glorious trips that they waste by being petty and fighting. Melissa was happy they got through a dinner that they actually ate, but next time, the Marge pisses Teresa off, so I’m sure there will be fireworks. And not the kind in the sky.

🍜 It’s Still About the Pasta…

I actually never questioned what it was about, which was James being out-of-his-mind drunk.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/11/tom-sandoval-jokes-about-vanderpump-rules-cocaine-rumors-book/

🍸 No Surprise Here…

They do drink an awful lot on Flipping Out.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/11/flipping-out-jeff-lewis-functioning-alcoholic-amid-ongoing-custody-battle/

🎬 Let the Holiday Viewing Commence…

I’m just going to say it. People are offended too easily these days. While I can agree with some points made in this article, it goes a bit too far to say the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp are drawn in stereotypically Asian fashion. They’re drawn like Siamese cats, and if that’s stereotypically Asian, blame the cats. Or God for making the cats. Where does it end?

https://redtri.com/warning-these-classic-movies-include-racist-stereotypes/

🎆 From the Parade’s Mouth…

All you need to know. The best thing you need to know is, don’t have FOMO over not being there. I’ve gone twice, and you’re better off seeing it on TV. The second time wasn’t so bad. I worked in an office over the parade route, and they served bagels and mimosas. If you can snag one of those invites, go for it. For the regular parade goer, it’s a nightmare. I had to get there at 6 am, I froze my everything off, and I thought I would never get warm again. If that wasn’t enough, the balloons are scary hanging over your head, and you can see where they’ve been patched and stuff. They’re not as pretty as on TV. And you can see the obvious lip-syncing by the musical artists. Seriously. Stay where you’re comfy and warm, and can get a sandwich or go to  the bathroom.

https://www.macys.com/social/parade/

ThanksgivingTurkeyHand

🍗 Have a Happy Thanksgiving…

My film recommendation every year is the same – Henry Jaglom’s Eating. It has a dual storyline, the plot revolving around a birthday party for three women – one thirty, one forty, and one fifty – and a woman making a documentary about women and food at the same party. It’s a hidden gem and fabulous. Every woman should watch it, as well as all the men who would like to know women better.

November 20, 2018 – In the Museum of Mayhem, Charter Chaos, Jenni’s Last Flip, nuTJ, Vanderpump Vogues & Be Prepared

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

We’re at the Port Charles Museum of Mayhem. Jordan is led in blindfolded. Anna promises no strippers. Curtis is led in from the other side, also blindfolded. He says the strippers better be worth it. The blindfolds are taken off and he tells Jordan he was just joking about the strippers. Anna says their wedding party consulted with each other, and it’s clear what they don’t want to do. They vetoed bars, strip clubs – Chase adds, and skydiving – all that was left was the escape room. I note nuTJ is among the group. Anna wanted to make it more competitive, so the bachelor and bachelorette teams will be in separate rooms. Nina says they were short a sleuth, so she brought a ringer – Peter.

Laura runs into not-Doc when she’s leaving Kelly’s. She warns him that he’s about to have to answer a lot of questions about what’s going on with him.

Stella thought she’d never see Marcus again. He says, it’s been long time. She tells him that she tried to find him on social media, but had no luck. It’s probably for the best. She wasn’t sure he’d want to see her after their last fight. He says, it was a doozie. But age gives wisdom. She had to do right by her sister and her boys, and if she’d stayed, he wouldn’t have met his wife. She says, it sounds like it worked out for the best. He asks, how are the boys she raised? She tells him, Curtis is getting married tomorrow, and he says, congratulations. She must be thrilled.

On the phone, Carly asks Spinelli to break into the Ferncliff server. She needs to get the name of the person in the room next to her. She thanks him, then sees Ava sitting in the lounge. Ava says, how nice to run into her. She hasn’t seen Carly since her horrible ordeal at The Floating Rib. Carly says Ava usually keeps a low profile around her. Why is tonight an exception? What’s gotten her so brazen? Ava says things are finally going her way.

A trail of clothing leads to Sasha’s bed. Kiki walks in, and says, oh my God. I find it hard to believe if they were hitting the sheets, there would be several pieces of clothing lying on top of the covers, but okay.

Jordan says her team is going to wipe the floor with Curtis’s team. The host, who is barely paying attention, telling someone on the phone that he’s not waiting when his shift is over, asks them for their phones. He takes Jordan’s team to a dark room. Lacking enthusiasm, he tells them that they’ve just learned Helena Cassadine has stolen the formula for carbonic snow. She plans to launch another Ice Age. They have an hour to foil the plan and notify the authorities. The lights come on, and there are figures of all the Cassadines and their cohorts. Cool!

The host tells Curtis’s team that they’ve been kidnapped by Ryan Chamberlain, and taken to an abandoned funhouse. There’s a gas leak, and they have one hour to escape Ryan’s same fate. There are figures of various killers from Port Charles, including Franco. Carnival music starts.

Griff wakes up. Kiki says she didn’t want to believe it. She thought Franco must be wrong, and saw Sasha with someone else. He sees her, and jumps out of bed. He looks down, and realizes he’s naked. He says, this isn’t what it looks like, and Kiki tells him to stay away from her. He pulls on his pants, and goes after her. Sasha looks around for a moment, and goes back to sleep

Carly tells Ava most people would be traumatized to discover a headless body in their place of business. Either she’s immune to death, no matter how grisly, or she had something to do with it. Ava says she’s been cleared; Carly can’t pin it on it her. Carly says she can make Ava leave the premises. She tells Ava to get out or she’ll have security take her out the back way, near the dumpster, where she belongs.

Laura tells not-Doc, for the sake of her campaign, she had to release a statement about their separation. Reporters will want his side. He says he’ll tell them that they’ve grown apart. She asks if that’s what he thinks happened. He says they’ve been through this; she left town – Laura interrupts, noticing he took his ring off already.

On Jordan’s Team, Molly says, the best way to win is look for hidden clues; keys in drawers or papers can lead to the first clue. Alexis looks at Jerry Jax, and says she fails to understand why this generation thinks is fun. In the other room, Finn startles Sam, who tells him Diego Alcazar sent threatening text messages before he took his victim’s lives. TJ says Ryan was one sick puppy. Chase sees a “C” on Ryan’s knife. He doesn’t remember Lulu saying anything about that in her articles.

Not-Doc asks Laura, why wear his ring? Laura says the marriage isn’t over yet; they’re separated, not divorced. It’s a sign he’s moving on. Why is he so ready to let the marriage go? Why can’t they talk? Where is the man she fell in love with? He says he’s not the same man he was when she left for a year. She says, message received. He starts to go into Kelly’s, and stops. He says, Ava? Ava shows herself, and he says he’s surprised she’s still out and about. She tells him that she didn’t need the pills after all. She’s going to sleep like a baby tonight. She just knows it.

At the MetroCourt bar, Kiki orders vodka straight up. Griff runs in, and she asks him, please, stay away. He doesn’t know how to explain, and she says, it’s pretty straightforward. He says Sasha wanted to apologize, and called him; he can prove it. The message is gone, but he says he’s not lying. He wouldn’t cheat on her. She says he didn’t have a problem cheating on her mom.

Sam tells Peter that Heather Webber terrorized her, just like Franco. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – or should she say severed branch? Nina says, Peter is not Faison. Sam says, he’s responsible for keeping Jason prisoner for five years.  Peter thinks, for Curtis’s sake, it’s probably best if he leaves, but the exit door is locked.

Anna looks at the figure of Faison. Jordan thinks maybe this was a bad idea. The Floating Rib is calling their names. She asks who’s up for a margarita, and everyone is in, but the exit door is locked.

Peter says the exit is locked. He yells, saying he wants the hell out of there. Jordan says they’re breaking several fire codes. Molly says, the host is supposed to monitor the game at all times. Where is he? Asleep at his desk, wearing headphones, while they gesture at the cameras. A cleaning person comes through his office, but he doesn’t wake up. Finn says, and he seemed to have such a strong work ethic. Molly overheard him telling someone that he wasn’t going to wait. He was leaving at the end of his shift. They’re locked in.

Sam says they’re locked in, and the host took their phones. Curtis says they’re trapped in there for the night. Jordan says she can’t be locked in; she’s getting married tomorrow. TJ says there can’t just be one way out. Molly says they have to beat the game in time.

Maxie says they came to play the game, solve the puzzle, and enjoy the look on the guys’ faces when they beat them.

Finn finds what looks like an old wooden box, and gives it to Chase, saying it’s locked. Chase reads the bottom, which says, property of MOCA. He wonders what that is.

Maxie sees a gum wrapper, and wonders if it’s a clue. Lulu says she’s avoiding the question about her and Peter. Maxie says they have a lot of time if they’re stuck. Lulu says, it can’t happen; face your fears. She looks at the figure of Stavros, and finds a chess piece; a queen. Jordan looks around, and finds a small chest near Jerry Jax. It has a combination lock; four numbers. Anna asks if there’s a book by PK Sinclair in the bookcase. Molly finds Daughter of Eternity. Anna bets their first clue is in there.

Griff tells Kiki that she has to listen. He wouldn’t do that to her. Laura wonders what’s going on. Carly doesn’t know, but she’s going to have to ask them to leave if it doesn’t stop. Laura says, trouble in paradise? It’s going around. She starts to cry, and says her marriage is falling apart.

Kiki says she fell into this. If you cheat with someone, you’ll cheat on them. Griff says he only remembers walking into the room. He makes her feel the lump on his head, and she asks if things got crazy in bed. He asks, what if someone is trying to set them up?

Not-Doc tells Ava that she seems content. She says Kiki is going to realize what kind of man Griff is, and it’s only a matter of time before her daughter comes back to her. She thanks him for encouraging her to go after what she wants. Is he taking his own advice?

Stella tells Marcus that she’s happy Curtis is happy. He says that’s all they can ask. He wonders what about Tommy, and she says unfortunately, he passed away in Iraq. He asks how it happened, and she tells him, a friendly fire incident. She thinks of how alone he must have felt when he died. Marcus says, more than anything, you want someone to blame.

Some pages are marked in the PK Sinclair book. Jordan says they’re the combination to the lock. They open the box.

Sam thinks MOCA is the Museum of Contemporary Art. Franco had a show there, and staged it to look like Jason pushed him off the roof. Nina suggests something I don’t catch, and Curtis says the lock has letters and numbers like a phone. He tries a combination, and it opens.

Sam looks in the box, and takes out a black light. Chase says they’re used to find out how nasty hotel rooms are. Finn says, hit the lights. Curtis goes around the room with it. On the floor, he sees 716 555 0103. Nina says the host took their phones. Peter asks if anyone sees a phone.

Jordan finds a floppy disk, and they decide it must be clue for later. They keep looking. Alexis touches the Helena figure, and says, much warmer than the real thing. She shows Helena the watch, and says, mine. Looking at a brooch on Helena’s jacket, she finds a note. Molly says it’s a configuration for a chess game.

In Sasha’s hotel room, Griff asks if she remembers him showing up. She says, no, and she doesn’t remember sending him a text either. He says she has oversized pupils, one of the telltale signs of being drugged. Kiki bets she knows who did it.

Ava tells not-Doc that she saw him and Laura together, and thought they might be reconciling. Not-Doc says she’s a perceptive woman, but that’s not the case. They’re going public with the divorce. It’s for the best for many reasons.

Laura says she never should have dumped on Carly. Carly says she’s been there. Sometimes you need to talk about it to work through it. Laura says she never knew. Even in France they seemed in sync. When she came home, there was a weird distance between them. At first, she chalked it up to the anniversary of Ryan’s crimes, but now she doesn’t know. Carly thinks he has been acting strange. At the harvest festival, he snapped at her when she asked about the patient next to her in Ferncliff.

Sam finds a phone. Finn says, call someone. Sam says it doesn’t work, but she can text. Diego texted messages. She texts the number from the floor, and a combination pops up on the screen. TJ asks, what that’s supposed to mean?

Molly and Valerie play chess. Anna says there’s a missing peace. Lulu brings out the queen she found. When they place it on the board, they hear something open.

Peter, for reasons that weren’t said or I missed, says, turns the lazy Susan on a nearby table. Something unlocks. Chase says it came from the clown picture. They go over to this giant clown face, and slide it over. It opens into another room.

Maxie asks, what’s that, and Valerie says, the lock on the bookcase. She slides it over, and it opens to another room.

Curtis says Peter can crash his bachelor party any time. The others can get out.

Jordan’s group walks into a small office with a desk, computer, and wall clock. There’s a clock, and Maxie says they only have six minutes to get out. Jordan tries another door, but it’s locked too. Molly wonders if the computer can unlock the door. It has a floppy drive, so they put the disk in. It tells them, let the clues be the key to the password. It will unlock the door. If they don’t get it in three tries, the game is over. Whatever that means.

There’s a keyboard where Curtis’s group is. Peter asks if anyone knows how to play piano. Sam reads the combination, and they realize it’s notes. Nina thinks if they play it, it will unlock the door.

Carly tells Laura that she knows who’s currently in the room; Nelle. She doesn’t know for how long, but she was not the man howling next door when she was there. Laura asks why his identify is so important. Carly doesn’t know, but if there’s one person at Ferncliff who shouldn’t be there, she has to find out. She’s not giving up until she has answers.

Ava tells not-Doc, it’s a shame when a marriage has to end. Kiki flies up, and tries to smack her, but Ava grabs her arm. Kiki says she knows Ava drugged Sasha, and knocked Griff over the head to make it look like they slept together.

Marcus tells Stella that he felt angry when his wife was diagnosed. She says it’s hard to make peace with Tommy being killed. Marcus says he realized being angry wasn’t getting him anywhere. It was distracting him from precious time he could have spent with his wife. Since then, he’s spent time with her, and told her things he wanted her to hear, and it helped, but he’ll always regret the time he wasted.

Curtis plays something on the keyboard, but nothing happens.

The password is eleven letters. Jordan types in escaperoom, but that isn’t it. Anna says it has to do with the game, and Jordan tries portcharles, but is denied access again. Maxie says they have two minutes.

Nina asks Curtis if he’s sure he’s playing it right. Chase asks if there are any clues they haven’t used yet.

Anna says the prompt didn’t say it had something to do with the game, but specifically, the clues. They go over them, and put them together. Jordan types in iceprincess. At the same time, TJ figures out that the “C” on the knife means C sharp. Curtis plays again. Both solutions work, and they all get out.

Stella tells Marcus it sounds like he had a wonderful marriage. He says for every happy memory, he has a regret about a fight. When he found out his mother-in-law was coming to live with them, he didn’t speak to his wife for two days. It seems silly. What he’s learned is, anger can make you feel better sometimes, but forgiveness gives life. Anger only gives you more anger. He has to get back, and they hug. He’s glad to see her happy. When he’s gone, she ponders.

The bachelor and bachelorette groups meet back where they started. Jordan says they won. Confetti falls. Everyone cheers.

Griff tells Sasha keep drinking to flush the drugs out. Sasha asks if he thinks she was roofied. She didn’t have a drink. She ordered room service. She wonders why someone would want to drug her. Griff has a good idea

Ava asks not-Doc if she and Kiki can privately discuss this misunderstanding, and he steps away. She tells Kiki that she has no idea why she’s upset. Kiki says Franco told her someone she cared about saw Griff and Sasha together. She knows it was Ava. Ava asks if something happened, and Kiki says she knows it did. She drugged Sasha. She didn’t learn a thing after what happened with Morgan. She hit Griff in the head. What if he had brain bleed or was dead? She uses people as weapons, and tried using them to hurt her. Ava says she did it for her. She knows Griff will hurt her. Kiki tells Ava not to claim she did it for her. Ava can’t stand to see her happy. She has a weird competitive streak with Kiki about younger men. And when she’s hurt, she wants to make the world hurt as much as she did. When she was growing up, Ava let her do whatever she wanted, and she thought she had the coolest mom. But Ava really didn’t know how to be one. Maybe she didn’t want to. Kiki knows who she is now. Ava says, that’s not true. Kiki says every time she forgives Ava, and lets her back in her life, Ava hurts her in a new way. If Griff and Sasha want to go to the police, she won’t hesitate to back up their story. She leaves, and not-Doc comes back. He stands behind Ava, looking at his phone, but says nothing.

Laura says there might be a place in her administration for Carly. Carly says her temper is too short, and there are too many skeletons in her closet, even for a politician. She has to take a call, but makes Laura promise that she’ll reach out if she needs anything. When Laura is gone, Carly asks Spinelli if he has anything for her. A name?

Maxie is glad they’re not in that room anymore. Lulu says when she was looking at Ryan, she though how weird it was that someone so evil shared a face with someone so kind. She tells Maxie, he went by the name of Todd Wilson. Maxie says, a psycho by any other name is still a psycho.

Not- Doc steps away from where Ava is. On the phone, he says, the patient is agitated? Up his medication; it’s the only option. Another thirty milligrams. It will keep him calm. He knows Mrs Wilson needs to be calm.

Carly gets a pen, and thanks Spinelli. She writes down the name Wilson.

Tomorrow, Spencer asks if Valentin is threatening him, Sam tells Jason to leave, and Laura wants the truth from not-Doc.

Below Deck

Captain Lee tells Chandler this is about as effed up a deck crew as he’s seen. It’s beyond embarrassment. How can they load up a boat with supplies, and drop the guests off without them. It’s rudimentary Deckhand 101. Chandler’s crew is on him, and his excuses are silly. He’s not doing his job, and if the captain has to solve his problems, what does he need Chandler for? In his interview, Captain Lee says instead of just apologizing, Chandler is looking to make excuses. It’s a screw up. He tells Chandler that he’s excused.

Kate tells Josiah that the captain is pissed. A kid is wandering around, and Josiah juggles handling the drinks, and getting the kid back to where she belongs.

Adrian says he never had a whole table tell him the food was bad. Tonight, he’s blowing them out of the water. Kate tells Captain Lee that it’s the rock star party tonight, and he’s joining the guests for dinner. He tells her that his bosun is dropping the ball. In her interview, Kate says when the deck crew doesn’t do their job well, the interior tries compensate, so they still get a good tip, but it would be nice if everyone would do their jobs.

Ashton tells Chandler, if they’re all on the same page, they don’t need to know what do. Ross adds that they’ll make fewer mistakes. Chandler says, no one knew what was going on, and Ashton says that’s what needs to be addressed. Chandler thinks they need to dial that sh*t in; they’re on the fourth charter. There are always going to be surprises. The captain tells Kate, it’s one more fubar, and she says they’re almost at the end. In her interview, Rhylee says there’s no reason for Chandler’s attitude or mistakes. If it was her boat, she would have fired him.

Adrian is done with Caroline. He’s staying professional, but he’s working twenty-hour days, and she has so many problems. He can’t take it.

The guests get rock starred up. The captain joins them. Adrian says he’s doing the best he can, and hopes they enjoy it. The stuffed mushrooms get approval. Kate tells Adrian, they’re so happy. She’s not just saying that. He accompanies the pork tenderloin with cognac braised apples, and tells them, enjoy. Albert says, the food is excellent tonight.

Rhylee tells Ross that she finished blading the deck, and everything is put away. She appreciates him and Ashton speaking up. In his interview, Ross says he tries to respect Chandler, but it was a sh*t show today. One of the little kids asks Captain Lee if he knows how to make a tissue dance. He asks how, and she says, put a boogie in it. The captain laughs like he didn’t fall off his dinosaur the first time he heard that. Most of the crew goes to bed. Josiah calls home, saying the kids remind him of his niece. He loves being an uncle, but it’s hard being away when she’s growing up.

Chandler is dreading the day. His dad has a calm, collected style that he learned and likes to mirror. More like dazed and confused. The captain explains where they’re going. Chandler says they have no time to waste. The captain says dinner is at 5:30. They’re taking the pig out first, and will have to make several runs. He wants it to go smoothly.

In the morning, the guests ask for juice. Caroline asks Adrian if they have any in a box. That’s a no, so she has to squeeze oranges. In her interview, she says a group of ten is a lot for one stew. A guest says their Bloody Mary is terrible. Been there. Never order one of those at Friday’s.

Kate says if Caroline can’t handle coffee and croissant platters, they’re in trouble, and comes to Caroline’s rescue. Anchor is up and they’re on their way. Kate asks Caroline what she put in the drink; they want another one. In Kate’s interview, she says, Caroline’s foot is healed, but the bad news is, she’s still Caroline. Kate can cover for her, but Caroline is repeatedly telling Kate that she can’t do her job. This is about work, and she’s not doing it.

Chandler confers with Adrian, who says he’s roasting the pig on the boat. Chandler says he’ll get the beach stuff loaded. In his interview, he says he wants to be liked by his team, but wants the boat to be successful as well. He tells the deck crew that he wants everything the guests might want to do on board and on the beach. They need to make up for yesterday. Kate tells Josiah that Caroline couldn’t even handle a full breakfast. She’s almost getting worse. In his interview, Josiah says Caroline is like his Great Aunt May when she went through menopause. Just chill out.

A dolphin! Kate calls for local dancers and musicians. Chandler calls the captain about some petty thing, and Adrian is like, omg, figure it out. Kate tells Josiah, the hierarchy of safety is, safety, charter guests, captain, crew, and they make up a dance to that. Kate wishes Chandler would take it down a notch. She knows he’s walking on eggshells, but it’s a struggle for her not to put him in his place. Adrian explains that he’s cooking the pig at the boat, and finishing it on the beach. The guests will never know.

Caroline calls Kate, who asks her to organize the laundry room. Chandler tells Rhylee that he doesn’t want any more wet towels on the deck; use her eyes. She tells him to stop being condescending, and he says – wait for it – no back talk. He tells her to stop yelling, and she says she’ll yell, so he can tell the difference. I laugh, since I’ve said that. She tells him if he speaks to her condescendingly one more time, she’s taking it to the captain. In his interview, he says, don’t talk about it; just go to the captain. He tells her not to tell him how to do his job, and they’ll be fine. She needs to open her eyes. She tells him to speak to her with respect, and he says as soon as he gets it. She asks, where is his accountability?

Chandler asks the captain if it’s okay to go over to the beach, and Captain Lee reminds him to leave someone there. Ashton and Rhylee stay on board. Kate asks Josiah to stay on guest service, and she’ll pack. Chandler tells Ross they’ll be fine, but in his interview, Ross thinks it’s a difficult reef. It’s super shallow. He has confidence in his capability, but this is another level. He and Chandler take the supplies over. In Chandler’s interview, he says it’s a huge beach set up, and there can be no mistakes.

At the boat, the guests are using the slide. A little girl says, no sea vegetables allowed, which strikes me funny. Ross thinks the rescue tender can be used in shallow water during the day, but not at night. He tells the captain that he’ll explain when he gets back. On the yacht, he shows Captain Lee a shallow reef on the monitor, and says he’s not that confident about it. The captain says dinner is at five, the dancers are doing a twenty minute show; at that point, bring everyone back.

The captain radios that they’re sending the guests out at five. Ooh. It’s a tree coming out of the water, with birds sitting on it, in silhouette. Where’s my camera? Oh wait. I’m not there. <sob!> Captain Lee says he can’t have those guys out at night. They’ll sink one of the effing boats. He tells them, get going. He doesn’t like the way this is shaping up. He has to instruct Chandler on driving the boat, and says he shouldn’t have to tell anyone that.

Musicians play, mostly drums, as the guests arrive at the beach. The captain calls Ross, telling him, not after dark, even if he has to cut it short. The guests will have to live with it. He’d rather have that than someone getting hurt. Uh-oh. A guest is down.

Ashton and Chandler are literally carrying the female guests from the boat to the beach. There’s a shale walkway, and somehow, the guest Chandler is helping slips, or he slips, or something. In his interview, Ashton says, not only is Chandler dropping the ball, he’s dropping the guests. HA-HA-HA! Rhylee asks if the captain thinks the guests had a good time, and he says he wouldn’t know. He was too busy putting fires out. He radios Chandler, and tells him that they’re going with Plan B. Let the guests enjoy their time, and everyone else heads back. They’ll send a van to pick up the guests. It’s way too dangerous via boat. They’ll pick them up in the tender where it’s safer.

Chandler tells Rhylee about drying something somewhere, and she says she didn’t know they were doing that. he says, it’s common sense, and she says maybe she doesn’t have any. She’s over it. She’s done taking it from him. Ross tells her, just go in. He thanks her for working hard, and tells Chandler that he let her have a break. Chandler tells Ross to deal with her; he’s done. On the beach, the guests give compliments to the chef. He nailed it.

Kate calls for the taxi. The captain says he still has to assume everything was executed properly. It’s dark out now, and Chandler’s not around. Finally, Chandler radios, saying they’re coming in. Captain Lee tells Caroline to have drinks waiting when the guests get back. Kate gets the guests in a taxi, and while she and Josiah aren’t looking, a dog roots through one of their bags. The captain takes a picture of the Tahitian moon. He tells Chandler that Rhylee did a good job putting away the jet skis. Chandler must be boiling. Ha-ha!

The captain apologizes to the guests about the inconvenience, but it was in the interest of safety. Caroline manages to get some glasses of champagne on a tray, but then drops one. The injured guest says she got dropped, and Captain Lee says that means she was carried, and not successfully. He tells them champagne is waiting. Caroline radios about the broken glass, but not before Master Pearson steps on a piece and starts wailing his head off. The captain is like, wtf is going on? Caroline is like, f*ck! Pearson’s mom tells him it’s a battle wound, and the captain says he doesn’t even have one of those. He and Pearson fist bump. In his interview, the captain says, it’s a clusterf*ck.

Josiah and Kate clean up. Kate tells Josiah not to chop his fingers off folding the chairs; she can’t lose him. In her interview, she says once again, she and Josiah are doing all the work. There’s no reason why not one deck team member is helping. Josiah says, welcome to yachting. Albert makes the drinks. Caroline keeps apologizing. Captain Lee tells her to take care of the guests. Just get them what they need and relax. Chandler will clean up. She asks Pearson if they’re good, and he’s already forgotten about it.

In Caroline’s interview, she says she already felt like an a-hole. Knowing Pearson cut his foot on a glass she dropped makes her feel terrible. She gives Albert bandages. The guests need tequila stat. Kate is starving, exhausted, and angry. A guest tells Caroline that she’s not the best at mixed drinks. Kate comes to the rescue again. The dropped guest tells Rhylee that Chandler dropped her, and didn’t even apologize. Josiah gives her a cold compress. Kate says, it’s nuts, but she’ll just keep making drinks. Flesh wounds are not five star. In Caroline’s interview, she says, at this point, she’s overwhelmed and miserable.

The dropped guest complains to Chandler that he didn’t say sorry. He tells her, sorry; it was a hectic morning. Wow. He does have a problem with apologizing. She says Albert bandaged her. The captain watches all this. Caroline does laundry. Kate tells Captain Lee, it’s chaos. Guests are bleeding, there are dishes to be done, and drinks need to be made; she’s carrying towels back from the beach party in the dark. Something needs to happen. The captain tells her to keep the deck crew until she doesn’t need them. She tells Chandler to wash dishes. He says he’ll take a please. He’s the worst.

Ashton folds laundry. He thinks it’s fun. Caroline asks if he’s bad at science and driving. Kate asks for something from the beach club. Ross says he’ll do it. Kate asks who was on earliest, and tells them to knock off. In his interview, Ashton says, Kate taking charge is refreshing. Someone is taking charge.

Chandler is messing around in the galley, and Kate asks if he’s making dinner. She hasn’t eaten. He says he’s having ice cream, and she’s like, no, you’re not done. She tells him to put away the leftovers, and asks if any towels are out. She puts the ice cream back, and he whines that he was letting it thaw. She tells him worry about work first, and he asks why she’s trying to boss him. The captain is his boss. She asks if he didn’t hear the captain on the radio. He says he’s getting things done and will eat his ice cream as he wishes. This dude needs a smack in the face. She says it’s not happening yet, and he tells her Rhylee can finish. She knows he loves to delegate, but he’s a big boy, and he’ll get his ice cream. He says that’s the second time she’s disrespected him, and she says it’s past the second time. In Chandler’s interview, he says he busted his ass all day, and she’s a glorified housekeeper. I gasp out loud. Kate tells Chandler if he can’t understand the captain’s decision, she can’t help him. He says everyone was working hard. He mumbles that she’s disrespectful. In his interview, Captain Lee says he expected more. If it was just one thing, it wouldn’t be so bad, but there are so many. We flash back to all of those. He says they still have the rest of the season. How much is he willing to jeopardize or how much is he willing to bet Chandler will make a turn around? Chandler sits eating ice cream.

Ashton says he should have carried the guest. Aiden makes gluten-free chocolate muffins. Gluten-free sounds unappetizing, but they look delicious. Caroline says, it’s a bad day to be a deckhand. The anchor is up, and they’re moving. The way the kids are eating the muffins proves they’re good.

It’s time to say goodbye. Albert says it was the coolest vacation they’ve ever had. Torrie says she doesn’t want to leave. In his interview, Chandler says he’s ready for it to be over. This is the worst charter he’s ever done in his life. Albert says, in general, they had a great trip. Mistakes were made, but they all make mistakes. They really, truly appreciate it. It looks like a fat envelope. Kate says, cutest family ever. The captain says, let’s knock the soul out of this bitch. Kate wonders why he was looking at her when he said it.

Chandler knows he’s about to get his ass handed to him, and he’s terrified. I’m delighted. Captain Lee tells them, be in the crew mess in fifteen.

Captain Lee doesn’t know where to start. It was just horrendous. There were a lot of things they did wrong. The managed to award two purple hearts, one to kid; a first for him. They got $20K, but the captain thinks they left five on the table they would have gotten if they performed better. Tomorrow is another day. Kate thinks they tipped because they didn’t die. Rhylee is annoyed that the captain didn’t point out that the major problem is Chandler. I’d say Caroline is a close second.

The captain calls Kate to the wheelhouse. She doesn’t know why she’s being called, but she can tell he’s not happy about something. Captain Lee says he needs her to be witness. Kate says, not good. The captain radios Chandler, and tells him to have a seat. He thinks the time has come for them to have the chat he’s been putting off.

Next time, waterfalls, the primary is a charter broker and yacht salesman, Caroline accuses Kate of being abusive. Rhylee is sick of everyone. and someone needs to get off the boat in an hour. I can only hope it’s Chandler.

😵 Tonight was the Flipping Out season finale where Jeff and Jenni had their big fight. I hadn’t known he basically fired her. Long story short, she said she’d passed up a serious chance at a Nicholas Cage film, because the filming schedule would have interfered with her job as Jeff’s assistant. He called her a liar, saying there was no such opportunity, and she cried over him always squelching her dreams. He told her to take a week off, and then they met to talk. As he was talking, and saying he realized that he really was standing in her way, both she and I realized he was telling her goodbye. I thought he was being sneaky and phony in the way he did it, but I’m hoping to be proved wrong, and that he’s right in the long run.

🙋 Meet the New TJ…

Not sure what happened to the old one.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-tajh-bellow-jt-ashford-168503

🍸 Vanderpump Rules Vogue…

Giggy!

https://www.vogue.com/projects/13547011/babes-in-pump-land-vanderpump-rules-bravo/

🍗 In Preparation…