Tag Archives: Paige DeSorbo

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.

May 23, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Two Bombshells At the Nurses Ball, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Wait List, Rites Of Pet (!) Passage, Two Quartets Of Quotes & Glow

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Brook called a family meeting, and Ned asked Lois if something was going on at Deception. Tracy seemed distracted lately. Lois said it seemed like Tracy being Tracy.

Dante saw Sasha in the nook, and she asked how Rocco was doing. He said he thought Rocco had learned his lesson, and she said he was a really good kid. So was Danny.

Ned asked Brook what the meeting was about, and Brook said it had been tense since Rocco went to the hospital and Gio was walking on eggshells. He’d been beating himself up. Jason said, so had Danny, and Brook said, for the sake of family unity, could they please move on. Gio listened from outside the door.

Cody it was strange there was no record of Gio being born, but was still skeptical, but Lulu said, the more she thought about it, she thought Camilla had never been pregnant. Camilla had been on tour and the Bensonhurst crew wouldn’t have known.

Drew said he was surprised Portia had said anything to Curtis. In order to be blackmailed, a person had to do something wrong, something that could even cost a doctor their medical license.

Sonny said he knew Willow didn’t want an ugly custody fight. Nobody would win. Willow said it was the last thing she wanted for Wiley and Amelia, but Carly and Michael seemed determined to take her kids from her.

Nina asked Carly if Michael was coming home, and Carly said she hadn’t expected the hearing so soon. Nina said the simple solution was to postpone it, but Carly said, nothing doing. Nina said she’d thought they were together on this, but Carly said Willow would never leave Drew and she had to protect her grandchildren. Nina said they were her grandchildren too, and Carly wasn’t doing this.

Drew gave Curtis a hypothetical situation that was actually real about Portia tampering with Heather’s test results. He assumed the hypothetical doctor’s career would be over and it would be devastating for her daughter too.

Lulu found the name of the group Camilla toured with- The Nicola Quartet. They’d been performing in New Zealand when Gio was supposedly born in LA. Cody said they had to be certain if they were going to upend people’s lives, and Lulu said she wasn’t stopping until she had proof. She was going to find the other members of the quartet.

Tracy didn’t think two teenage boys getting drunk was unheard of and Brook said none of them would have called Rocco’s parents when they were Gio’s age. Gio came in and said he’d used bad judgement that Rocco had almost paid for. He couldn’t change things, but would work to gain back everyone’s trust. Lois followed him out to the foyer, and he said she and Brook needed to stop making excuses for him.

Sasha said Danny was sorry for talking Rocco into going to the party, and Dante said Danny was a good kid, but still reckless. Sasha said Danny was taking it seriously, and Dante said he loved Danny, but he was too much like Jason for his own good.

Sonny said Carly should never have interfered and he thought Willow should get a postponement, but Willow said she was sick of having it hanging over her head and Ric said she could win. Sonny said nobody would win, especially the kids. She should wait until Michael got home and they should compromise. Michael had told him that he wasn’t looking for full custody.

Carly said she was hoping Nina would get through to Willow, but she wanted the kids away from Drew now. Willow would never see him for who he was and she had to do something to protect the kids. Nina asked if Carly had just been pretending to work with her to keep her distracted.

Cody looked up a song that Camilla had once played in concert and found it on a file sharing site. Lulu looked for contact info on the remaining quartet musicians and told him that she’d say she was doing a story on touring musicians and had known Camilla. After doing a search, she found the viola guy.

Ned said he was impressed with Gio, and Jason told them, Gio said it all, and left.

Lois told Gio that she wasn’t excusing his behavior, but they’d all made mistakes. It was part of growing up. Gio said he wasn’t a kid anymore, but she said he always would be to her. He said he didn’t know what he would have done without her. Thanks to her and Sonny, he had an amazing life. He could stand on his own now because of them.

Sasha said she thought Jason was fundamentally a good man, and Dante said Jason loved his kids, but wasn’t a huge help when disciplining them. Danny needed boundaries and with Sam gone, he wasn’t getting a lot of them. Jason had to step up the way father should. Jason walked in.

Lulu left a message for the viola guy.

Curtis told Drew to keep his daughter’s name out of his mouth, but Drew claimed it was just hypotheticals. What if the patient found out a doctor was trying to deny her freedom and got a lawyer? The doctor would be facing a crippling lawsuit, and the doctor and her husband would be responsible for part of the enormous settlement.

Sonny said he’d talked with Michael before the accident, and he’d only asked for full custody as a negotiation tactic. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he and Willow would have worked out joint custody. Willow said Michael wasn’t open to a compromise anymore. She’d flown to Germany, but he’d refused to see her. Sonny said it didn’t seem like Michael at all.

Nina said Carly had gone behind her back and lied to her face. Carly said she never made any promises and Nina was the one lying to her daughter. Nina said she had to stay on Willow’s good side, but Carly thought it was just an excuse to stall. Nina wasn’t a mother and never would be.

Nina said she was a good mother, and Carly said, then act like it. She was acting like a friend. Nina said she’d already lost Nelle and wasn’t losing Willow. Carly said Willow would come around. A good mother sacrificed their own happiness for the good of their child. Nina said Carly had never sacrificed anything. She did what she wanted no matter who it hurt. Carly said Willow should be thankful Nina didn’t raise her, or she’d be a worse mother than she was now.

Dante jetted and Jason wondered what he’d interrupted. Sasha said they’d been talking about Danny, but she should have kept her mouth shut. Jason was glad Danny had so many people looking out for him. There was a knock at the door and a woman served Sasha with papers. Sasha told Jason that she’d been called to testify in Willow’s custody hearing, and Jason said, thanks to Carly, it had been fast tracked. Sasha wondered if Willow knew that Michael was her baby’s father.

Dante came back, and Tracy said he’d missed the family meeting. Dante asked what it had been about, and Brook said, him and Gio. Olivia said the consensus was, Dante was being too hard on Gio and she agreed.

Curtis said, there was no proof, but Drew said a hypothetical doctor wouldn’t give in without it. He was sure the hospital’s system could verify it. A digital footprint lasted forever. Curtis said, so did photos and videos, and no amount of good press would erase the damage done.

Willow said the receptionist was clear that Michael didn’t want to see her, but Sonny said he knew Michael. He wouldn’t want to put his kids through what he’d been through. Willow said she’d been shocked, and Sonny said all the more reason to let it go. Call for a postponement until Michael came home and could speak for himself.

Nina said Willow was an excellent mother, but Carly said Willow was too blind to see who Drew really was. Even if she could, she’d be too gutless to admit it. she just whined and blamed other people. For all they knew, Drew would move them all to DC. Drew was going to do everything in his power to keep the kids from Michael, and Willow would blindly follow. Willow didn’t deserve the kids or to be a mother. Nina slugged Carly and they got into some hair pulling.

Josslyn came in and broke up the fight. Carly told Nina, get the hell out, and Nina said, gladly. There was no way she’d let Carly take willow’s children away and would do whatever it took to stop her. Josslyn asked what was going on.

Jason said only he, Sasha, Diane, and Michael knew Michael was the father. Danny only knew that the father wasn’t him. Sasha said she hadn’t told anyone, and Michael’s name wasn’t on any paperwork. She wondered how Ric thought she could help Willow’s case.

Drew said he intended to prove he was drugged, but Curtis said people would think he was a politician who would say whatever he could to save himself. They’d dismiss him and think less of him. Drew said he had the situation under control, and Curtis said they’d see what happened. Drew said he looked forward to Aurora’s endorsement of Ezra Boyle and Measure C, suggested some editorials on how organized crime was bad for Port Charles, and left.

Dante said he was surprised at Olivia, but she said Dante wasn’t a saint back in the day. Dante said she’d done something about it and gotten him on the right track. No one was doing anything about Gio. Just talking.

Gio said he never realized how much Lois and Gloria shielded him when he was younger, but Lois said, Dante was exaggerating. Gio said he wasn’t. He needed it when he was younger, but didn’t anymore. Lois said family looked out for each other, and Gio said it was clear nothing would change Dante’s mind about him.

Lulu left messages for everyone involved and mentioned Camilla. Her phone rang and it was the cellist, Margaret Harper, returning her call. She said she hadn’t thought of Camilla in years, and it was a tragedy she’d died so young. Camilla had quit the tour with no notice and left them in the lurch, which wasn’t like her. They’d had to cancel the New Zealand leg of the tour. Lulu asked if Camilla had been having a rough pregnancy, but Margaret said, Camilla wasn’t pregnant.

Brook said Gio regretted what he’d done, yet when he was young, Dante couldn’t see that breaking in and stealing was wrong. Gio didn’t need the tough love that Dante had needed. Dante said, as a parent, he got it, and knew Olivia had been trying to make him a better person. He didn’t think Gio was trying to hurt Rocco, but had screwed up, and sometimes you had to be hard on a kid. Brook would see it when she had her own kids.

Gio told Lois that he was sure Dante was trashing him right now.

Josslyn was surprised about the hearing, and Carly said Willow needed be out of Drew’s house. Josslyn wondered how a hearing could be scheduled when Michael was still in Germany, and Carly said she was looking for emergency custody. Josslyn said Carly needed to call Michael and tell him about the hearing.

Jason said some witnesses were never actually called, and Sasha wondered if Ric was hedging his bets. Jason said it was no secret she and Michael had dated and were still friends. Maybe Ric thought she’d overheard or seen something make Michael look bad. Sasha said Ric would be disappointed.

Lois said Dante didn’t think Gio was a bad person, but Gio said Dante had a terrible opinion of him. He’d just stay out of Dante’s way. There was no reason they needed be friends. Olivia came out and told Gio that there was something she needed to say.

Willow said it was only right Michael should be there. She didn’t want Carly to be speaking for him. Nina ran in all disheveled, and Willow asked, what happened to her face? Nina said, Carly happened. She went to see Carly, and she refused to postpone the hearing and said Willow didn’t deserve custody. She told Sonny that Carly had made it clear she was trying to take the kids from Willow, and Willow said there was no room for compromise with Carly involved. She was calling Ric and would tell him to do whatever it took to keep the kids with her where they belonged. She left and Sonny told Nina that he came this close to getting Willow to postpone the hearing. Nina said his ex was a psycho bitch and there was nothing they could do at this point. Carly had gone too far. Sonny said Nina was the one who got Willow’s kids taken from her.

Jason told Sasha not to worry, and she agreed that Ric had no reason to suspect Michael was the father of her baby. Her secret was safe.

Sonny told Nina that he’d been Willow’s last hope. He’d come there for her. If Willow lost her children, Nina had no one to blame but herself. 

Carly said she wasn’t calling Michael, but Josslyn said they were Michael’s kids. He had the right to know. Carly said she didn’t want him to cut his recovery short and come home, and Josslyn asked if she really thought the judge would side with her over Willow who was the children’s mother. Carly said she hoped the judge would look at the facts and see that the kids were in an unhealthy environment. If her strategy didn’t work and Michael lost custody of Amelia and Wiley, he was never going to forgive her.

Dante said when Brook had a child, she’d look at things differently. She was going to be an awesome mom. Brook thanked him, but wouldn’t let him dismiss her opinion. Gio had apologized over and over. What did he want?

Olivia told Gio that it took guts to own up to his mistake. Next time he’d do better. Period. The end. He thanked her and she said her son would come around too. He told her, that’s what Lois had said, but he didn’t think so. She said Dante was upset because he saw so much of his younger self in Gio. 

Lulu told Cody that Margaret was going to send her a picture of her and Camilla on the beach. When the picture came through, Cody said Camilla was hot, but didn’t look pregnant. Lulu said Lois and Brook had been hiding Dante’s son in plain sight.

Curtis listened to the recording he’d made of the conversation with Drew. He looked at Portia’s number in his phone.

Drew called Mac and said he remembered more from that night. He knew who’d drugged him.

Tuesday:

Nina and Drew both tell someone on the phone that the answer is no.

Nina and Drew host on the Nurses Ball red carpet. Nina made sure to make a dig at Drew, asking if his name is Cain or Quartermaine. He tells her, Quartermaine, like there was never any question.

Tracy complained about being late and Olivia asked if Tracy shouldn’t be on vocal rest since she was singing lead. Tracy said she was nervous about Lucy, who was a walking, standing, singing disaster. She didn’t want Lucy’s underwear ruining her act. Olivia said, at this point, Tracy was basically fate’s passenger, and in unison with Ned, she told Tracy, something always happens at the Nurses Ball.

Lulu told Cody that she was riding over with Dante, and he asked if she was going to tell him about her theory. She said she was, but not yet. She had no definitive proof, but if she was right, he deserved to know.

Ric showed up to bug Alexis as she was leaving. He brought her all the paperwork she’d need to cover up her embezzlement and make the investments look legit. She told him to give it a rest.

The Mistress of Ceremonies, Lucy, arrived with a llama. The llama was too precious, and Lucy looked so cute in a red twirly skirt and Nurses Ball T-shirt that I must have.

Nina asked Lucy to tell them about her date, and Lucy said the devastatingly handsome and soft fella was Sebastian. They were on a mission to promote rescue for llamas. She thanked Drew and Nina for replacing the original host who had to drop out. She said they made a glamorous, fabulous, gorgeous pair. Nina asked about Lucy’s special guest, but Lucy said, a lady never tells, but promised it would be worthwhile and fantastic. She told them, Sebastian says, ta, and they left. Sonny and Donna came in.

Brook wondered why Lulu was at the Quartermaines, and Lulu said Dante had offered her a ride. Lois was meeting Sonny at the Ball, and Tracy called her a traitor. Dante was like, really? They were surrounded by Sonny’s family. Olivia and Ned left, Ned telling Tracy to get a ride with Brook and Chase.

Drew blabbed about Measure C to Sonny, but Sonny said the people of Port Charles needed to choose what was best for the city. That was politics, but tonight they were here for something more important. Nina welcomed Donna, who is the cutest child on earth and has Sonny’s dimples. Carly was next, and Drew said, too bad Michael couldn’t be there. Carly said she was sure he missed his favorite nephew. She knew how much they loved to share things. (Snap!) Drew said it was tragic that Michael had been the unintended victim in the attempt on his father’s life and they should pass Measure C for Michael’s sake. (Hard to believe even Drew would think this was the appropriate place and a good look for him.)

Carly said she was against Measure C, which was clearly one politician’s attempt to make himself important at the expense of one of Port Charles’s most generous citizens. Nina asked, what politician? and Carly said, Councilman Boyle. Jordan came in with Sidwell, and Nina asked about her resignation. Jordan said it was about opportunity, and she was now the COO of Sidwell’s company, SRE Worldwide. Sidwell was also picking up the tab for the entire Ball. Sidwell said he’d gotten such a warm welcome from the good people of Port Charles, it was his way of saying thank you to the city. Drew started talking about his own agenda again, when Felicia and Isaiah arrived. Felicia said Isaiah was her friend and co-worker, but not her date, and Nina pointed out that she was married to Chief of Police Mac Scorpio. She asked if Isaiah was single, and he looked at Jordan and said, very.

Ric thought the paperwork would help, but Alexis said it would help if he’d stop blackmailing her. Ric said it wouldn’t be happening if Kristina hadn’t tried to murder Ava, but if their arrangement was unacceptable, he could have Kristina thrown into prison. Kristina came in and wondered why Ric was always there.

Some guy named George told Nina and Drew that they made a great team, and Nina said, lucky her. She introduced Port Charles’s favorite power couple, Ned and Olivia. Drew said he was happy to see how well the family was represented at the Ball, and Ned said he didn’t realize how important the family was to Drew other than using the name. Olivia hustled him off. Portia, Curtis, and Trina came in, and were introduced. Drew said they had a last minute arrival, and Kai said, surprise!   

Kai told Trina that Stella talked to the doctors who gave him the all clear for the night. There was no way he was going to miss her performance. Nina asked about Kai, when Drew interrupted and introduced him as the once and future football star at PCU. Kai said if he got back into football, it was because of the congressman’s generous support. Curtis said he thought the next arrival was coming.

Tracy wanted to walk the red carpet with Lulu and Brook, but Lulu said she was walking with Dante. Dante said he’d promised Charlotte and Rocco that he’d escort their mom. Tracy said, at least her beautiful granddaughter wouldn’t desert her, but Brook said she was planning on walking the red carpet with her husband. However, Tracy was welcome to join them.

Dante and Lulu came in, and Nina remarked on Lulu’s triumphant return. Josslyn and Gio followed, and Josslyn talked up Gio’s violin playing. Gio said he played mostly classical music, but was changing it up tonight, and Josslyn said his performance wouldn’t make up for Nina’s piece of trach co-host. She and Nina had their differences, but she was sorry Nina was stuck working with him. Nina said Josslyn had a feisty spirit like her late grandmother Bobbie Spencer.

Chase’s phone rang and he said it was work. He told the others to go ahead, and Brook walked in with Tracy. On the phone, Chase said, Mac wanted him to what?

Alexis told Kristina that Ric came to see if Molly was there, but she told him that they were meeting at the Ball. Kristina said the Ball wasn’t there, so why was he? Ric asked what happened to her putting her anger away, and she said, that stopped when he decided to help Willow steal her brother’s children from him. Ric said Michael’s mother had pushed the date and reignited the custody battle, and Kristina told him that it said a lot about Willow to choose a bottom feeder like him to represent her. Ric suggested she might want to watch being on her high horse. All it took was one little push. He left and Alexis said Kristina needed to be nicer to him. Kristina said maybe Alexis was losing her mind.

Gio asked if Sonny had seen Lois, but Sonny said it was hard to keep track of her. They talked about Gio’s upcoming number and Sonny asked, how was Gio’s first red carpet? Gio said, Josslyn made it memorable. Josslyn told Carly about taking shots at Drew on the red carpet, and Carly said Drew tried to use Michael to bait her so he could use it at the custody hearing, but she kept cool. Tracy and Brook were introduced, and Tracy grabbed the mic to express support for Measure C. She added that she was heartened her congressman nephew was leading the charge to rid the city of the blight that was Sonny. Drew said it was nice to be on the same side for once, when Chase approached. Nina asked if he wasn’t slated to perform, but Chase said he’d been put back on duty. He asked to talk to Tracy, but she said, in a minute. She was talking about an issue important to the people of Port Charles. Chase said it couldn’t wait, but she said, this couldn’t either. He said he was sorry to do this, but she was under arrest.

Nina took the mic, and Chase suggested he and Tracy discuss it off camera. Tracy said, clearly, it was an erroneous accusation, and she wanted the people of Port Charles to see how ridiculous it was. He said he was arresting her for assault, drugging an individual without their knowledge or consent. Tracy asked, who was drugged? and Chase said, Congressman Drew Cain. Tracy said it was a mistake, but Drew said, no, it wasn’t, and Chase handcuffed Tracy. Dante told Lulu that he hoped Tracy didn’t make Chase use the taser, and Chase read Tracy her rights as he led her away. 

Portia said Curtis seemed distracted, and he said he had some calls to make. He left, and Isaiah looked at Portia, remembering overhearing her say if Curtis found out she lied, her marriage was over. Isaiah brought her a glass of champagne and said, if she ever needed to talk, come find him. Dante told Sonny that he missed Chase arresting Tracy. Drew accused her of drugging him. Sonny said, it couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

Nina introduced Anna and Emma, and said she heard Anna was slated to perform not one, but two acts. Anna said that remained to be seen. The leading vocalist in one act had been led off in handcuffs, and her partner in the other act was the arresting officer. Nina said she was sure Anna would figure it out. Her resourcefulness was legendary. Drew asked if Robin was coming, and Emma said her mom couldn’t make it, so they were here to represent. Anna said there had been so much progress since the first Nurses Ball in 1994. People with HIV were living long and happy lives thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of scientists and researchers. She believed it was just a question of time before a cure was developed. (Truth. I have a high school friend who has been living with HIV for many, many years now.)

Alexis suggested they not let Ric ruin the evening, and Kristina wondered why she was defending Ric. Alexis said they’d made a truce for Molly’s sake, but Kristina said, since he was going after Michael, all bets were off. Alexis said it would be better to keep things even, and Kristina asked if was because she was emotionally volatile and asked if Alexis was going to have her committed.

Cody saw Molly outside, and they smiled.

Cody continued to stare at Molly, who asked if she had a stain on her dress. Cody said, no, and asked if she was heading in. She said she was waiting on her mom and Kristina, but they hadn’t responded to her texts. Cody said, in that case, and held out his arm. He said he promised to leave his pants on, and she took his arm.

Alexis asked if every time they had a difference of opinion, Kristina was going to accuse her of thinking she was crazy. Kristina said Alexis had tried to have her thrown into a mental institution without her consent and It was hard let go of. Alexis said she was just trying to give Kristina advice, but Kristina said she wasn’t going to be nice to Ric when he was fighting to have her brother’s children taken away. Alexis suggested she stay out of Ric’s face. He wasn’t someone they could afford to piss off for Kristina’s sake. Kristina asked what she was talking about.

Nina asked if Molly and Cody were an item, and Cody said Molly had the pleasure of prosecuting him more than once. Molly said she didn’t technically prosecute him, and Cody said they met while he was in custody. Part of his sentence was to escort beautiful women on the red carpet.

Ned said the MetroCourt looked amazing, and Carly and Olivia clinked glasses. Carly left to check on the waitstaff, and Brook asked if Ned saw what happened to granny. Ned asked what she’d done now.

Chase brought Tracy to the interrogation room where Mac was waiting. He uncuffed her and said, for what it’s worth… (🍷) She told him, save it, and Mac asked him to tell Felicia that he was sorry he couldn’t make it. This was definitely going to take a while.

Lucy said there was a problem, and Anna said she’d heard about Tracy. Lucy asked if she or Felicia could sing, but they were both like, no way. Lucy suggested Maxie could replace Tracy, but Felicia said Bailey Lou was sick and Maxie was home with her. Spinelli had brought Georgie and James without her. Anna said she thought Felicia might have solved their problem. 

Curtis told Jordan that Drew was definitely blackmailing Portia – hypothetically – and she asked what he had on Portia – hypothetically. He said he needed to confirm some things before he said, and she asked if he’d talked to Portia. He said, not yet, but he would… eventually. He looked over and saw Portia with Isaiah. A guy named Scott asked Molly who her date was and said he looked familiar. He wondered if he’d seen Cody in Deception ads, and Cody said that was in his past. He was no longer in the Deception business. Molly told Scott, so he says, and Cody said he’d better get her inside before she realized how much better she could do. 

Nina said it had been the last of the arrivals and their work was mercifully done. She thanked Drew, but he said it seemed they’d saved the best for last. Willow stood at the end of the red carpet sporting a funky new haircut.

Drew walked to Willow, said she looked incredible, and kissed her as cameras flashed. Nina looked sick.

Molly told Cody that neither her mom nor Kristina were responding to her texts. 

Alexis said she thought it was healthier if Kristina let go of her anger. That was the plan and as despicable as Ric was, it was a good plan. Kristina said she changed her mind, and Alexis said, change it back. Kristina accused Alexis of trying to control her like she’d done since Kristina was a child. Alexis was policing what she thought and did, and she was sick of it. Alexis said she was trying to keep Kristina from making a terrible mistake, but Kristina said her mistakes were her own. She didn’t need Alexis to protect her. Alexis said, she did, and if she didn’t protect Kristina, they’d both be going to prison. Ric knew Kristina had tried to kill Ava. 

Mac tossed a folder on the table, and told Tracy that Drew said she was the last person he’d remembered being with the night he was drugged. Tracy said that didn’t mean she drugged him, and she wasn’t the last person he’d been with. Mac said he’d seen the video, but he got a search warrant, and they found a vial of ketamine in her car. Tracy asked why she would have… He framed her.

Ned said if Tracy did drug Drew, she wouldn’t have gotten caught. Something was fishy. Brook got a text from Chase: On my way back, will explain everything when I get there.

Nina said Willow looked amazing and introduced her beautiful daughter who was also one of General Hospital’s finest nurses. She said Willow looked absolutely radiant and asked, what was her secret? Willow said she thought it was because she’d never been so happy.

We saw a man watching the red carpet on a tablet in a private plane. Willow said it was all because of Drew, and Nina said, obviously, they were serious. Willow said they were absolutely, totally committed to each other and to their future. She was thrilled to be blessed with blending a beautiful family. Michael The man continued to watch on the tablet.

 To Be Continued…

Wednesday:

Lucy screeched for her gown and Amy brought it. Lucy said all of their hard work was about to pay off, and Sebastian wanted to say, all of you folks, it’s showtime.

Alexis said she knew Kristina tried to kill Ava. It didn’t matter why she did it. She did it and it couldn’t be undone, so they had to cover it up.

Drew and Willow walked into a less than warm reception, and Willow left to change for her performance.

An announcer said, ladies and gentlemen, please help give a warm welcome to our host Lucy Coe, and Lucy came out in a sparkly gown. She said she was excited to be host for the celebration of community and contribution and was so delighted to welcome everyone to the 2025 Nurses Ball. She promised it would be a night they’d never forget. There was applause and a scream was heard from backstage.

Lucy said she was sorry. Everything was fine. Apparently, a stagehand got too close to Sebastian and llamas were very territorial. The stagehand… Let’s just say he won’t do it again. So yay. Moving on. She shared that she’d started the Nurses Ball 31 years ago – applause – to raise awareness and funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It was a teeny idea, and a one-time event grew into a Port Charles institution that she was proud of. They got together with the community to do something for the greater good. Some might think they didn’t have to do so much now, but they had to continue to fight the good fight. She thanked everyone for being there and thanked their amazing benefactor who underwrote the entire ball. That meant every penny went right to the cause. There was more applause, and she thanked everyone. She said they were also going to see all the fine, home-grown talent showing off their stuff. If you saved a life, you were a hero, but if you saved a thousand lives, you were a nurse. She was excited to start the evening by bringing back to the Nurses Ball stage the talented, hardworking, gorgeous medical staff at General Hospital. Once again, proving angels weren’t always wearing wings. Sometimes, they were in scrubs. A group performed Holiday, with Amy and Deanna on lead vocals. Willow and Isaiah also joined them, and they got a standing ovation.

Kristina said she did cover it up and wondered how Alexis knew. Lucky was the only person who knew. Alexis said she talked to Lucky, but after she knew the truth. Kristian said she never meant to hurt Ric and Elizabeth. She’d meant to cut Ava’s brakes. Alexis asked what the hell difference it made. (Right?) Kristina tampered with a car with the intention of hurting somebody and she did hurt two people. Good thing it wasn’t worse. Kristina said she felt terrible. It was all she could think about. She’d give anything to go back and change what she did. She tried to stop it. She called Ava to warn her, but Ava didn’t pick up and she was too terrified to leave a message. Alexis said, good thing she didn’t. It would have been another piece of evidence against her. They knew what she did and could prove it.

Kristina asked, who was they? Ava and Ric or the police? Alexis said Ava and Ric. Ava showed her a video from the security cameras in the garage of Kristina holding the wire cutters and heading toward Ric’s car. They had the car. Kristina said, the car was destroyed. Lucky checked. Alexis said she was sure Ava paid off the impound lot person to say that. They hid the car and only Ric and Ava knew where it was. If the police found it, they would see the brake lines were cut and Kristina would be charged with attempted murder. Kristina said, they hadn’t gone to the police. Why go to Alexis? Alexis said because they were blackmailing her.

Josslyn said she was happy Kai didn’t have to go back, and Kai said he had help. Trina said, Aunt Stella, and Josslyn said, now Trina didn’t have to rush off to see Kai and they could hang out. Trina said, Kai would also get to watch them in person, and Kai said he couldn’t wait. Josslyn noticed Willow and Drew coming in and watched as Willow went past them. She said she’d be back, and left.

Chase apologized for being late, but Brook said she was just glad he made it back. What was going on with granny? She didn’t drug Drew, did she? (Try saying that three times real fast.) Chase said that Mac took over before he got any details, and Brook said she knew Tracy hated Drew, but she couldn’t imagine her doing anything that horrible. Dante suggested her anger had reached epic proportions, and Cody called Drew trash with abs. Chase said Tracy would want Brook to have fun, and she said they had to be there or Gio’s performance. Tracy probably had her legal team on it and there was nothing worry about.

Josslyn found Willow in the bathroom and said she didn’t think Willow could sink any lower, but somehow, she had. It took a lot of nerve being here and all over Drew. Willow said she wasn’t leaving and asked if that was all. Josslyn said Willow would never take Michael’s children away from him.

Drew asked how Kai was feeling, and Kai said, pretty good. He thanked Drew again for everything, and Drew said he was sorry he wasn’t there more after Kai’s surgery. Kai said he’d read about it and hoped everything was okay. Drew said it would be. The documentary was going to be great for both of them. Since Drew is always working, he zeroed in on Portia.

Sonny asked if ADA Turner  was enjoying herself, and she said, perhaps it was the only Nurses Ball they’d be at together. He might find it difficult doing business in Port Charles if Measure C passed. Perhaps he’d relocate to a more welcoming climate. Sonny said Port Charles was his home. Nobody was pushing him out

Drew said he needed Portia to do something, but Portia said he needed to leave her alone. He asked if she’d check on Willow in the ladies’ room, but she said she wasn’t answering to him tonight. She was enjoying a night out with her husband.

Willow said it was none of Josslyn’s business. She was Wiley and Amelia’s mother, and they belonged with her. Josslyn asked, what about their father, the one she was still married to? Out of sight, out of mind? Willow said she hadn’t forgotten Michael. She flew to Germany to talk about all that and he refused to see her. She wanted to work things out, but he didn’t. It made her realize that she couldn’t sit around waiting for Michael to come home and there was nothing more important than moving on with her life and being with Drew. (Wow. Not too admittedly selfish.) She wasn’t going to let Josslyn or anyone else harass her. Drew knocked at the ladies’ room door and asked if Willow was all right. Josslyn said Willow’s hero was there now. Did Willow think he was late because he and his white horse were off scoring blow? Drew walked in and Josslyn reminded him that he was in the ladies’ room. Was he looking for his girlfriend or another hooker? She was sure Willow could help him out. She left. 

Portia met Curtis in the garden and said, the Nurses Ball was a magical night. It made you feel like anything was possible. She was lucky to be there with her handsome husband who she adored… What was wrong? Curtis said it was hard to enjoy the night when he knew she wasn’t being honest with him. She said, about? and he said, Drew blackmailing her.

Lucy introduced Gio, listing his accomplishments, and saying he combined classical sophistication with fresh street energy. It was his first time on the Nurses Ball stage and she asked for a warm welcome. There was applause and Gio did this amazing performance, leaping around the stage while playing. A light show went on around him and smoke from dry ice covered the stage floor. Lulu watched Lois get emotional while watching him. (I have never seen a musician perform on any instrument like this guy just did. It was phenomenal.)

Lois told Gio it was the best performance she’d seen him give. She’d told everybody in the neighborhood to watch him on TV and her phone was blowing up. He made them all so proud. Gio said he missed performing the most. He felt close to his mom on the stage. He felt like she was with him. She would have loved the Nurses Ball. Lois agreed, and Lulu asked to talk to Lois. Before she could, Lucy came backstage and said they needed the area clear for the magician’s water tank act. She told Lois that she needed her – chop-chop – and Lois told Lulu that Lucy was chop chopping already. She left with Lucy, and then Gio left.

Chase said he didn’t know Gio was that good, and Brook said even she was blown away and she saw him rehearse. She asked if it changed Dante’s mind. Or did he still think Gio was spoiled and irresponsible? It took a disciplined, responsible, hard-working guy to play like that. Dante said he thought Gio was great.

Kristina said, Alexis was stealing from the Cassadine estate to pay off Ric and Ava? Alexis said Ace would be fine. There was enough money that he couldn’t spend it in five lifetimes. The real issue was, now she was involved in an embezzlement scheme with the two of them. She needed to play by their rules. If she didn’t, they’d go after Kristina for attempted murder. Kristina was worried about Alexis getting caught, but Alexis said she wasn’t so sure. Ava and Ric thought they had it planned beautifully with shell companies, so their names were hidden. But the bottom line was, if she went down, so did they. The money would stop flowing and all three of them would be in jail. Kristina said they were dangerous. She hated them and they couldn’t be trusted. Alexis said there was no other way, but Kristina said they could tell her dad.

Cody asked if Lulu talked to Lois, but she said she couldn’t get Lois alone. She saw Lois’s face when Gio performed, and she knew she was right. She just needed to confirm her suspicions.

Jordan asked how Sidwell was enjoying his first Nurses Ball, and he said it was absolutely delightful. Isaiah joined them and said Jordan looked beautiful. He congratulated Sidwell. It was shaping up to a very successful event, and it was nice to see his blood money do some good for a change. Sidwell laughed, Isaiah told them to enjoy their night and left. 

Portia admitted Drew was blackmailing her, and Curtis said, over what? She said, Brad figured out that she’d altered Heather Webber’s cobalt levels – which Curtis knew – and he was using it as leverage over her. At first, he asked for small things and she didn’t want to tell Curtis because it was a hospital matter. She thought she’d handle it herself. Curtis was already dealing with so much at Aurora, she didn’t want to add to his stress. She was managing it. Curtis said, until Drew got involved, and she said, that’s when it escalated and became something much bigger. He said, how big? He needed to hear everything now.

Alexis said Kristina couldn’t go to her father. He’d take extreme measures. Kristina said she couldn’t let Ric and Ava blackmail Alexis, but Alexis said she was going to do what they told her. It wasn’t just about doing this for Kristina. She was doing it for Kristina’s sister too.

Curtis said he didn’t get how Portia put them in this position after everything they’d been through in the past, the secrets and lies. She was doing it again. She said she was afraid of exactly what was happening right now, and it was a hospital issue. It snowballed when Drew found out. Then it was too late to tell him. She knew he’d be furious. He said that’s one thing she got right. When he found out Trina was his daughter, Portia promised no more secrets, they’d always be honest. After all that, here they were. Portia said she meant it. She’d never keep something that affected him as much as that did. It was a hospital issue… He said she didn’t get it. It did affect him, all of them. It could be the end of her career. She could end up in prison and it could destroy everything.

Olivia and Carly got on stage, and Carly said they were honored and proud to be the hosting venue. Olivia said the incomparable Lucy Coe was going to delight them with the next performance, and introduced Lucy, Anna, and Felicia… Carly said, hold on. In another expect the unexpected Nurses Ball snafu, welcome to the stage a surprise guest. Anna, Lucy, and Felicia came out in Western wear, along with Spinelli who sang lead on These Boots Are Made For Walking (a karaoke go-to for me).

Kristina said Alexis drew up the commitment papers because Alexis knew what she’d done, and Alexis said it was a strategy to mitigate Kristina’s culpability for what she’d done. She was afraid to tell Kristina because she might tell her sister. Or Molly would find out that she had a mother, sister, and father who were criminals and going to jail. Kristina said she’d be all alone, and Alexis said Molly was also an officer of the court. She’d have to turn Kristina in or look the other way and become an accessory after the fact. She had to protect Kristina to prevent her from going to prison and had to do what Ava and Ric were asking. Kristina needed to let her handle this. Kristina said she’d judged Alexis harshly when Alexis was trying to protect her, as if the guilt she felt about Elizabeth and Ric wasn’t bad enough. Now she had to live with this too. Alexis said it was a mother’s job to protect her children and this was her choice. They exchanged I love yous, and Alexis said Kristina needed to let her handle Ric and Ava. Let her do it her way. Kristina said she was so sorry. Alexis was an incredible mother and woman, and she was so lucky. They hugged.

Curtis asked what Drew was making Portia do, and she said Drew wanted her to get Aurora Media to run positive stories. He said, not only was she lying to him, she was manipulating him. She used their love and marriage to make him play nice with a man that treated him like garbage and was treating her the same way. She said she knew it was wrong, but at that point, she was trying to protect their marriage. He said she didn’t. What she did was keep her mouth shut, first about Brad, then about Drew blackmailing her. She lied because Drew ordered her to and left him and the entire family vulnerable. She didn’t protect their marriage; she ruined it. What kind of marriage runs on lies and manipulation? She asked him to please not walk away. He couldn’t throw away their marriage.

Lois said Spinelli brought down the house. She knew he was brought in at the last minute to replace Tracy, but he was spectacular. Spinelli said, it was an honor to be asked. He didn’t know the music or the moves… Anna said they wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he asked how he could refuse the terrifyingly charming trio. He needed a stiff drink. He left, and Lucy thanked Anna for her brilliant idea. She saved the Nurses Ball. Felicia suggested they get changed and get back to their seats, and they danced out. Lois started cleaning up, and Lulu said she needed to talk to Lois. It couldn’t wait. She had to talk to Lois now. 

Brook told Gio that he was a star, and Gio thanked her and said it meant a lot. Dante watched them, frowning. 

Lois asked what this was all about, and Lulu said she saw Lois watching Gio performing, how emotional and proud she was. Lois said, of course (🍷). He was amazing. Did Lulu not see him play? Lulu said, he was truly great. His mother passed down her music gene. Lois said, she did, but Gio did the work, and Sonny helped with his education and training. She told Lulu that she was going to watch the rest of the Ball. She was sure Dante was waiting. Lulu said Dante was a patient guy. He didn’t mind waiting. That’s what made him a good detective. Lois said Lulu didn’t have to sell her on Dante. She was already a fan. Lulu said he was more than that. He was family. So was Gio and Brook. Lois asked what she wanted, and Lulu said she wanted the truth. She knew Camilla cut her tour short, but not because she was pregnant. Camilla didn’t give birth to a son in LA, but she know Brook did give birth to a son with Dante. And that son was Gio.

To Be Continued…

Thursday:

Portia told Curtis not to walk away. They had a beautiful daughter in there. He said, the daughter she’d lied about and kept from him for years. She said Trina loved him and was part of both of them. Don’t undo what they’d built because she’d made a mistake. He said he was the only one thinking about their family and Trina. He didn’t put them at risk, and what was already done couldn’t be undone.

Nina found Carly in the ladies’ room, and said she was hoping to get Carly alone, but not for round two. Carly asked what she wanted, and Nina said Carly had forced her hand by pushing up the court date. Whatever happened next was on her.

Ned said it was very generous of Sonny to pay for Gio’s musical education. What he saw on stage was exceptional. Sonny said Gio was a great kid and he was happy to help out. Ned said there was no denying Gio’s training had paid off. He noticed Willow and Drew walking in and excused himself. He walked over to Drew and said, you son of a bitch. Don’t think for one second I’m going to let you get away with setting up my mother.

Brook praised Gio’s performance and said her goosebumps had goosebumps. Dante said Brook was right. Gio was awesome and incredibly talented. He congratulated Gio, when Lucy grabbed him and Cody. She told them, let’s go to the dressing room now, and hustled them off.

Lulu asked why Lois looked surprised. She already knew Gio was her grandson and she’d been keeping the truth from him for his entire life.

Curtis said he knew what he and Portia had and what it took to build. She took what they built and broke it. She didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, so she lied. Portia said she was sorry. She didn’t know what to do. He said, so she manipulated him. She did Drew’s bidding and left their whole family, and herself, open and vulnerable to Drew. She asked him not to give up on them, and he said he wasn’t. At least not tonight. It would send a signal to Drew that they weren’t a united front and leave her exposed. He wouldn’t do that to her or Trina. They were going to smile and be every bit the loving, happy couple everyone expected. She said, and tomorrow? and he told her, let’s get through tonight, and walked away.

Drew said he had no idea what Ned was talking about, and Ned told him to cut the crap. They both knew his mother wasn’t sloppy. She’d never leave evidence of a crime she committed in her own vehicle. It had Drew written all over it. Drew said Tracy thought she was above the law. That kind of confidence caught up with someone and made them sloppy. Ned said they were going to find out who planted the drugs in Tracy’s car, and told Willow that Drew was an unconscionable ass. They’d all attempted to give her the benefit of the doubt. They’d believed Drew manipulated her and she was as much a victim as Michael. Willow said she was no victim and neither was Michael. He couldn’t be a victim when he wouldn’t even try to solve the problem. Olivia asked what she was talking about, and Willow said she flew to Germany to compromise with Michael, and he wouldn’t see her. Drew was the only person acting in her best interest. Olivia said Drew wreaked havoc and Willow stuck by his side cheering him on. Don’t expect sympathy when the whole thing blew up in her face. Ned and Olivia left.

Carly asked what was next, and Nina said they were going to prove Michael abandoned his children. Perspective was a funny thing. The night of the holiday party, when Michael played the video of Willow and Drew, he wanted Willow to take the children. Carly said, Michael didn’t want to scare the children. That’s how much he loved them. Nina said that was open to interpretation. The facts were the facts. Michael left the children with their mother without so much as a challenge and went to Germany, abandoning the kids. Carly said, for burn treatment, and Nina said, then he refused to see Willow, to speak to the children’s mother, when she flew over. She made the effort and was rejected. That looked bad for Michael. Carly said it was Nina’s spin. Like she’d said, everything was open to interpretation. Nina said there had only been one parent there, a consistent, loving, and stable force for the children, giving them everything they needed, and it wasn’t Michael. It was their mother, and she was going to make sure the court saw that. She left.

Emma talked to Gio about his performance, and Brook said he was great. Gio told Emma that maybe they should make this a regular thing. 

Lois said whatever Lulu suspected, it was absolutely none of her business. Stay out of it. Lulu said she knew Gio was Brook and Dante’s son and could prove it. Dante got Brook pregnant at summer camp. Should she finish or was Lois starting to remember now? (For a while, I couldn’t remember why I hated Lulu before she went into the coma. Now I remember. She’s an entitled mean girl.)

Lucy thanked the audience and told them to check on their silent auction items. We want to take your money away for a good cause. Two detectives, a gifted surgeon, and a cowboy sounded like the beginning of a joke, but she assured them it was no joke. They were the finest Port Charles had to offer, and they were lucky to have them. She introduced Chase, backed up by Cody, Isaiah, and Dante, singing The Look of Love. Chase is a dynamite singer, and the back-up guys were cute.

Lucy wanted to acknowledge one of the newest residents of Port Charles, the CEO of SRE Worldwide. Jenz Sidwell had moved his business and a member of his family to their fair city. He was fitting into their city of communal generosity and had sponsored the festivities. There was scattered applause, but Lucy said they could do better, and the audience applauded more enthusiastically.

Backstage, Chase and Brook kissed, and she said he sounded amazing. Lucy came in and said, no PDA. They’d make people jealous, like her, and it was a working area. Lois joined them and asked if they’d seen Gio. Lucy said he was in his dressing room, and Lois said the tango was about to start.

Portia said she and Curtis couldn’t wait to see Trina on stage, and Trina said she hoped she didn’t let them down. Curtis said she could never let them down, and left to get Portia a drink. Portia asked if Trina and Kai were enjoying themselves, and Kai said they were. They were going to the silent auction. Portia said she was going to wait for Trina’s father and that drink. Bid on something for her. Surprise her. They left, and Nina came in. She told Portia that Curtis was suspicious, but Portia said he was more than suspicious. He knew about Brad and Drew and what they were holding over her. She was worried about what he’d do next.

Jordan said Curtis didn’t seem to be enjoying the evening like the rest of them, and Curtis said Drew was blackmailing Portia. Portia confirmed it. Jordan said she was hoping his instincts were wrong for once, and he said him too. She asked what he was going to do.

Josslyn asked what Vaughn was doing there, and he said, enjoying the evening, supporting a good cause, and keeping an eye on her. Carly joined them and asked, who was Josslyn’s friend?

Lulu told Lois, Brook confided in Cody. Dante got her pregnant at summer camp. Cody drove her the bus station and Lois took her on tour with Miguel Morez, so no one knew. Cousin Camilla was going to keep the baby and went on tour with the Nicola Quartet to cover it up. Gio was born, but not in LA on June 4th. He was born in San Francisco on May 15th as Baby Boy Cerullo.

Vaughn said he knew Josslyn from PCU, and Carly introduced herself. Vaughn said the event was a lot of fun. He’d see Josslyn around and it was nice to meet Carly. He left, and Carly said, he’s cute. What’s the deal with that guy?

Lois asked why Lulu was digging up information on a situation that had nothing to do with her and messing with people’s lives. Lulu said Lois was the one messing with people’s lives. (No, you.) She’d been lying for decades and lying to Gio his entire life. She’d hidden him in plain sight, Dante’s son. She knew Lois and Brook were lying. Lois said Brook didn’t know about Gio. For all she knew, her sone was on the other side of the world and no one could tell her otherwise. She and her mother Couldn’t let Gio go, so they kept him close and kept it a secret from Brook. As Brook’s mother, she made the best decision she could at the time. Lulu said, maybe for her, but not Gio. His whole life was a cover-up. He had no idea where he came from. He wasn’t Camilla and Francis Palmieri’s son. He was Dante and Brook’s. The only question was, who would tell the truth? Gio stood outside the door, overhearing everything.

Lucy said, the next performer was from Australia, but she lived and made music in sunny LA. She asked for a warm welcome for Edie, who sang Old Her

Lois asked if Lulu knew how many lives this would touch and destroy, and Lulu said, like hers? She didn’t mean to be callous. She’d thought of nothing else for months. What Lois had been doing was wrong. Enough lies. It ends now. Either Lois was going to tell Gio and Dante the truth or they’d hear it from her tomorrow. Lulu walked out.

Sonny asked if Anna got a chance to talk to Robin, and Anna said Robin was sorry she couldn’t be there. She and Emma were holding down the fort, and Emma was taking behind-the-scenes photos. Anna said she’d missed a lot of important years, and it felt good to honor Robin and others impacted by HIV, like Stone. ADA Turner asked if she was interrupting, and Anna said, not at all. She had to change for another performance. Mr. Corinthos was all hers. She left, and Turner said, it certainly looked intimate, but Sonny said they were talking about Robin and his great friend Stone Cates. They’re the reason this is happening tonight. She should look them up. He walked away, leaving her look like the jerk she is.

Jordan told Isaiah, nice moves. She wasn’t at all surprised. He said that was nice of her to say, especially since he wasn’t friendly to her date. Jordan said Sidwell wasn’t her date. He was her boss. Isaiah said she was on his arm. Was that part of the job description? She should be on his arm tonight.

Willow said she was relieved Drew’s name was cleared. It made her more confident about her custody hearing. Drew said they were on a winning streak. (Winning!) She’d get permanent custody and then they’d figure out how to start their lives, here in Port Charles or even in DC. Nina approached and said she hoped they were having a great evening. Ric called her and asked if she’d testify on Willow’s behalf at the custody hearing. She told him nothing would give her more pleasure than telling the court what a wonderful mother Willow is. The children belong with her and Drew. She wants them to know, with Tracy’s arrest and Drew’s exoneration, going forward, they had her full support. Willow thanked Nina and hugged her. Drew said it made them happy to hear they had Nina’s support. It meant the world to have her in their corner. Watching all this, Josslyn told Carly that they made her want to throw up. She couldn’t wait for Carly to take Wiley and Amelia away from Willow. Carly said it wouldn’t be long now.

Emma told Anna and Chase, break a leg, and Chase said he had a great partner. He just followed her lead. Emma said her mother would be proud and asked if anyone had seen Gio. Anna said if he didn’t turn up soon, she’d have to put out an APB. Emma left to find him.

Willow told Isaiah that he’d been fantastic, and he said he was glad to contribute to his first Nurses Ball. Maybe she could be his date next year. She said, after his performance, the odds were good. He seemed to be having a good evening. He told her that Willow said the same thing.

Emma found Gio in the garden and said she’d been looking everywhere for him. What was wrong?

Lulu told Cody that she confronted Lois. Lois stonewalled and didn’t make it easy, but finally copped to the whole thing. He asked where she left it with Lois, when Dante approached and asked, what’s going on? 

Kai thought he might contribute to the next Nurses Ball, and Trina asked if he had a hidden talent. He said, other than creating ridiculous paintings, not that he knew of, but he was up for dancing and singing classes if it meant performing with her. She said, a two person act, and he said, the best were. Team work makes the dream work. Trina agreed and they kissed.

Lois saw Lulu talking to Cody and grabbed Brook. Brook asked if it was about granny, and Lois said, no, but they needed to get out of there right now.

Anna and Chase practiced, and Lucy asked where Gio was. Anna said she wasn’t sure, but Emma went to find him. Lucy said that meant he was missing or lost, but Chase said he was probably somewhere. Lucy said he had to be on stage. Nobody liked a silent tango. He wasn’t being professional, like Tracy. Where was he?

Emma asked, what’s going on? Her grandma and Chase were about to go on and were waiting. They needed him to play. Gio said he had to play. That was the gift he got from his mother. He was a violinist, and his mother taught him everything. It was all he had left of her. Emma asked if he was okay. If he was sick, she could tell them that he couldn’t go on. He didn’t have to do this. He said, yeah, he did. The show must go on. He walked to the stage. 

Lucy said Gio scared her half to death, and they were running behind. She handed him his violin.

Dante said Cody and Lulu looked intense, and Cody said Lulu didn’t want to tell Dante, but she’d confided he was by far the standout in their number. No one was looking at the rest of them. Dante said he knew Cody was lying. They were only looking at Chase, who had another performance with Anna. They’d better get a seat.

Lois said she’d explain it at home, but they had to leave, and Brook said, only if it was about granny. Anything else could wait. Gio was about to play, and her husband was dancing the tango. She’d seen the rehearsals, and she wasn’t missing it. Brook left, and Sonny asked if Lois was all right. What was going on? Lois said she was in terrible trouble, but he said they’d fix it after the show.

Lucy said it was a great night. The next act started in the streets of Buenos Aires and Montevideo and was still going bright, this beautiful and ever-evolving art form. She introduced Anna and Chase, with Gio accompanying them, and there was applause. Gio started to play, but stopped and stared into space. Anna went over to him, and he said he wanted to do something he’d never done before. He was dedicating this performance to his parents – Brook Quartermaine and Dante Falconari. Two people who didn’t want him and who didn’t claim him. Who gave him away and lied his entire life. He smashed his violin on the stage floor and walked off.

I wanted to cry and hoped Lulu was happy now.

To Be Continued…

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Lucy asks if everybody is having fun and there’s applause. She says, it’s such a great night and a lot of fun. The next act started in the streets of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. She wishes she could take them there, but she can’t. She can do this – present this beautiful, ever-evolving art form. Keep a long, cool drink handy, because coming at you to tango is Police Commissioner Anna Devane and Detective Harrison Chase and accompanying them on the violin once again is the extraordinary Giovanni Palmieri. There’s more applause, and the three of them come out. Looking grim, Gio begins to play. Anna and Chase begin dancing, but after the first few measures, Gio plays a sour note and stops. Anna goes over to him, saying his name, and he looks at the audience. He says, ladies and gentlemen. I want to do something I’ve never done before… I’m going to dedicate this performance to my parents… Brook Quartermaine and Dante Falconari. Two people who didn’t want me, who didn’t claim me, and gave me away. They lied to him for his entire life. He smashes the violin on the stage floor, looks at a piece of it in his hand, throws it down, and walks out. Everyone looks shocked, and Dante looks at Brook, who has tears in her eyes.

At home watching on TV, Elizabeth says, that was intense even for the Nurses Ball. Poor Gio. Lucas knocks at the door, and she tells him, come in. He walks in wearing a tuxedo and she asks what he’s doing here. He shows her a bottle of champagne and says, happy Nurses Ball.

Emma jets, and Lucy says she told them anything can happen at the Nurses Ball and it just did, but never fear. The show will go on. The show must go on. Picture it like a tiny hiccup. Brook and Lois both leave, and Lucy says, if you have a hiccup, you can drink backward from a glass of water. Have they ever heard that? No? What about a bag? She read if you breathe in and out of a bag it stops the hiccups. Right about this time she bets some of them would like to grab a bag for obvious reasons. Let’s get a drink. Then she’ll get the show going again. Cody goes over to Dante and Dante says he had a child? What was Gio talking about? Lucy says she’s going to do an intermission. Please don’t leave. Have two drinks. She’ll figure something out. They’re going to do something. Dante asks Cody, what happened? as Lucy walks off the stage.

At the station, Mac says it’s the first time he’s ever been glad to see Jason, and Jason says, thanks, I guess. Mac says, the prisoner is in there, nodding at the interrogation room. Jason goes in, and Tracy says, please. Now is not the time for the strong silent act. Get me out of here.

Sonny leaves the room, and Olivia and Ned follow. Lulu starts to go out, but Carly stops her and says, don’t. Hasn’t she done enough already?

Olivia asks if Sonny knew Gio was their grandson, and he asks if she knew anything about Brook having a baby. Ned tells Sonny that he’s embarrassed to say he did not. Chase joins them and Olivia asks, what the hell is going on? 

Walking into an empty room, Dante asks Cody, what was that? What the hell just happened in there? Cody wanted to talk to him. Let’s talk. Cody says he knows it’s a lot to take in, and Dante says, what is this? What does Cody know? Cody says he doesn’t know the whole story, but he knows one thing for sure. Brook had Dante’s baby.

Jason tells Tracy that Diane is calling the judge. Once she’s finished, he’ll post bail, and Tracy will be released. She says, the charges should be dropped. She was framed by that wretched brother of his. He says, even if that happened… She says, even if? Drew sailed up in that barge of his and trespassed on the property. Then he planted that… Jason says, ketamine, and she says, yeah, that, in her car, then called the PCPD and lied that she drugged him. Jason says, that’s probably what happened, and she says, that is what happened. Why is he giving her the dead eye? He says he’s thinking it wasn’t a good idea to team up with Drew.

Josslyn and Trina go backstage, and Josslyn says, could this be happening? Could Brook and Dante be Gio’s birth parents? Trina says she thinks so, and Josslyn says, he’s been told a lie his entire life. He looked crushed. She feels so bad for him. Trina says so does she, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷). Trina knows the feeling better than anybody. Trina says, when she found out Curtis was her dad, that one little piece of information changed everything. Josslyn says she wishes there was something they could do, but Trina says, all they can do is be a safe space for him. Josslyn says, Trina is her safe space. She doesn’t know what she’d do without her. Trina says, I got you, and Josslyn says, maybe they should find him, when Lucy comes in. She says, there they are. What are they doing? Why are they not in costume? Josslyn says, they’re not on for another twenty minutes, but Lucy says, they’re on now. Come. Go change. Run like the wind.

Chase says, it’s not his story to tell, and Olivia says, Brook had a baby? When? This is family they’re talking about. Is it true or not? Chase says, yes, and she says, yes what? He says, yes, Brook had a child in high school with Dante, but they need to talk to Brook. Ned asks what he means. Where did Gio get the idea they were his parents? Clearly Chase knew and was sitting on this. Chase says he has no idea. For all he knows, Gio is just as confused as the rest of them. Sonny says he bets he knows who could clear this up, and Olivia says, not Lois… She was the first one to run out after him. Sonny says, Lois has to know something. He’s sure of it.

Dante asks how Cody knows about this, and Cody says he’s known since that summer. That’s why Brook left camp early. She was pregnant. Dante says, she went to Cody? and Cody says, she needed a ride to the bus and he took her. She was freaking out. Dante says, because she was pregnant with his kid and Cody knew about this and didn’t tell him. They were supposed to be best friends. Why didn’t Cody tell him? Cody says, Brook swore him to secrecy. It’s not a great excuse, but he didn’t know what to do. He was young and stupid. When he didn’t hear anything else about it, he assumed she’d terminated the pregnancy. So what was the point in telling Dante? Dante says, she had the baby, his baby, and Cody says he just found that out yesterday, he swears. Dante says, and that baby was… is Gio, and Cody nods. Dante says, Gio Palmieri is his son, and Cody says, yeah. Dante says his brain is short circuiting, and Cody says he doesn’t blame him. Dante says, Gio is still the little kid lighting sparklers at the 4th of July block party. That was his boy. Cody says, yeah, and Dante asks if Brook knew. Cody says he doesn’t know. Dante has to ask her.

Lucas says, Elizabeth was watching the Nurses Ball? and she says, of course (🍷). The nurses were fantastic and knew she was there in spirit. Lucas says his spirit is there too, but it’s staying off the stage and completely dressed this year. She says, speaking of being dressed, isn’t he overdressed? He says he was working and heard she’d be home because of her injured wheel, so he thought he’d bring the Nurses Ball to her. She says sorry to disappoint him, but she’s not changing, and she won’t look as hot as he does. He takes out a paper crown and puts it on her head and says, there it is. It works on her. She has the perfect head for the camera. She tells him that she’s been saying that all her life, and he says he’s sorry he doesn’t have one for Lucky. She says, Lucky stepped out to run an errand. She’ll fill him in on everything he missed. She’s sure he’s not in a hurry to get back. He’s missing out. Lucas asks if she’s on medication, and she says, no. He says, then she’s not missing out, and he pours the champagne. 

Tracy says, teaming up with Drew was inspired, and Jason says, until it wasn’t. Look at where she is. She says she has no regrets about what she did, but Drew is going to regret what he did to her. Mac comes in and says he doesn’t know how she does it, but Diane worked her magic again. As soon as Tracy signs off, she’s free to go. Tracy goes into the squad room with Mac, and Jason gets on the phone. He asks what they need him to do.

Tracy signs the paperwork and says Mac is lucky she’s not suing the entire department. He says, for what? and she says, false arrest springs to mind. Anyone with a brain can see she was framed. He says, she might want to get a move on unless she wants him to arrest her again for harassment. She asks who she’s harassing, and he says, she’s looking at him. Jason comes out, and Mac says, good. He’s here. He’d say he was going to miss Tracy, but… She says, the feeling is mutual, and tells Jason to take her home. He says he can’t. She’ll have to find another ride. She says, what? and he says he’s got someplace to be. She says, someone’s got to take her home, but Mac says, they’re not a taxi service. Although she happens to be in luck. The number 8 bus stops out front. He leaves.

Lulu and Carly go into the ladies’ room, and Carly asks how Gio found out. Did Lulu tell him? Lulu says, no. She would never do that. Carly says, but… and Lulu says, but she did confront Lois in one of the dressing rooms. It’s possible Gio overheard. She’s got to find Dante. Carly asks, why? It doesn’t matter how Gio found out. At this point, they both know the truth and it’s what Lulu wanted all along. Lulu says, not like this, and Carly says, Dante needs to learn the truth, but he needs to hear it from the people who were actually involved. That means Lois and Brook, not her. She needs to calm down. She set this train in motion and needs to get off the track before she gets leveled. Carly heads for the door, and Lulu asks where she’s going. Carly says she’s going to watch her daughter perform. She suggests Lulu do the same, but the decision is hers. She leaves.

Olivia tells Sonny that Lois is her best friend. How could Lois not let her know they share a grandchild? How could she not let any of them know? Dante comes by and asks if they know where Brook is. Did Sonny know about this? Did Olivia? Olivia says, none of them knew. This is crazy. Dante says, it’s a lot to take in right now, but he has to find Brook. Sonny says, no one knows where she went, and Dante asks if she didn’t tell Chase. Chase says, no, and Dante leaves. Chase starts to follow, but Sonny stops him. Chase says he can’t let his wife go through this alone, but Sonny says, it’s not just about Brook anymore. It’s about Dante too. Ned says, they have to let them hash it out. Does Chase understand what he’s saying?

Lucy gets back on stage and says, see? It’s back? It’s fine. Everything is fine. It’s going to be more than fine. It’s going to be fabulous. The next act is especially powerful and by two PCU students. You know how people say, what’s wrong with kids today? These are two perfect examples of what’s exactly right – Trina Robinson and Josslyn Jax. There’s applause and Trina and Josslyn sing a duet, I’ll Be with You. When they finish, there’s lots of applause and a standing ovation. They hug.

Elizabeth says, it’s more fun to watch with someone else, and Lucas agrees. She asks if he wishes he was there, but he says he doesn’t know. She says, as she recalls, Brad proposed to him at the Nurses Ball. He says, Brad did. And as he remembers, Ric proposed to her at one as well. Elizabeth says, and Carly shared an insight or two with the entire audience, and he says, some things never change. She says, and some things do, and Lucas says, to friends who we love. She says, to friends who love you. They clink glasses and she says, the kids are performing the last song, and he says, yeah, per tradition. His initial instinct was to go watch them perform, but then it hit him. It’s not his job to sit in the audience and fawn over Wiley. She says, they’re in a private living room and he can gush all he wants if he wants. He says, buckle up. It’s going to be a night to remember since they’re in a private living room. She says, they can say all the inappropriate comments they want that they couldn’t say if they were there, and he says, that doesn’t sound like the Elizabeth Baldwin he knows… Like what? She says, the kids are going to be so off-key. Tracy got arrested on the red carpet and she wonders if they had to use a taser. Lucas says he’s just hearing about it now. He’s so glad he came. She says her too. 

Backstage, Portia and Curtis applaud Trina, and Portia says, she was wonderful on stage. Curtis says, it was an amazing performance. She never sounded better. He’s seen a lot of acts at The Savoy, and she and Josslyn killed it. Kai says, her dad is right. She blew him away. It was the best act of the night. Portia says, hands down, and Kai gives Trina a bouquet. Curtis says, nothing can top her and Josslyn tonight, and Kai says, no way. Portia says, that’s why they’re heading home, and Trina asks if everything is okay. Portia says, everything’s fine. It’s just been a long day, and they have work tomorrow. Curtis says, obviously, Trina should stay, and Portia says, have fun and socialize. Trina says she loves them, and Curtis says, they love her too. They leave, and Trina thanks Kai for coming. He says he wouldn’t miss it. Now can he get her autograph? They kiss. In the hallway, Curtis thanks Portia for making it easy, and she says she didn’t want to ruin Trina’s night. Look at how happy she is.

Carly tells Josslyn that their performance was so good, and Josslyn says Lucy begged them to go on early. They were supposed to go on after Anna and Chase’s performance. Then Gio did whatever Gio did. What does she even call that? Carly says she doesn’t know. It was awful. You would have never known Josslyn and Trina were put on the spot. They were amazing and she’s so proud. Josslyn thanks her and says she can’t stop thinking about Gio. It feels awful. And if he’s right, then what? Sonny is his grandfather? Willow and Drew approach, and Willow says they’d like to talk to Carly for a second. Drew says, preferably in private, and Josslyn asks if Carly is all right. Carly says, yeah, and Josslyn leaves. Willow says she wants to end this terrible fight over the kids. It’s not good for anyone, especially Wiley and Amelia. Drew says they want a peaceful path moving forward. That’s why they’re willing to find common ground. He guesses the question is, is Carly?

Olivia says she’s got to find Dante, and Sonny says he knows Dante is hurting, but Dante doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. She says, Dante heard what he had to say. This is life altering, relationship changing, never going to be the same kind of huge. He says, they have to let their son handle things himself. He knows where to find them if he needs support. The same goes for Chase and Brook. They know where to find them. What they need to do is go back into the ballroom and distract their minds. Let the kids do what they’re going to do. Olivia leaves with Sonny, and Ned says he’s right behind her. He says, clearly, Brook confided in Chase and for that, he’s grateful. Chase says, Ned wants to know why she didn’t tell him the truth, and Ned says he’s her father. Did she think she couldn’t trust him with that?

Drew says, Carly knows they have the upper hand when it comes to the custody hearing, but Carly says she doesn’t believe that at all. Drew says, now who’s being delusional? He and Willow talked and really want to try and find a compromise. Carly says, it would be nice if Willow could speak for herself, and Drew says, they’re a unit. (We are Borg.) Carly says she knows. The whole ballroom knows. But the kids are Willow and Michael’s, not his. Willow says she and Drew believe that together they can come up with a custody arrangement that satisfies both sides. Carly says, great. Joint custody. Willow tells her to be realistic, but Carly says she is being realistic. Willow says, they’re willing to let Michael have the kids every other weekend, and Drew says, plus two weeks in the summer. Carly says, really? and Drew says, that way, if they move to Washington, it won’t be as much burden on the kids. Carly asks if Willow agrees with moving Wiley and Amelia to DC. And don’t get her started on Drew. Scout just lost her mother, but they’re going to take her away from her remaining family. Drew says they’re the only family Scout needs, and Willow says she never intended to take the kids away from Michael. They love their father. Carly says she knows that, and Drew says, it’s a fair deal. Carly says she’ll see him in court, and Willow leaves. Drew tells Carly that she can’t say they didn’t try, and she says he may want to run after Willow, but grab some tissues first. He says, the best part about this is when she loses Michael’s kids, he’s only going to have her to blame. He walks away.

Ned says he feels terrible about what Brook had to go through. He had no idea. Chase says, he couldn’t, but Ned says he should have. He could have been there for his little girl. My God. Going through pregnancy and labor at that age, then giving the child up for adoption. Imagine what she went through and how it affected her emotionally. He knows he needs to talk to Brook. chase says, Brook is his daughter, and she loves him so much. She agonized about keeping that part of her life from him. He thinks she thought the truth might hurt Ned. Ned asked if that was really what Brook thought or what Lois made Brook think.

Lucy said, good news, everybody! We did it. We broke our fundraising record. There’s applause and she says, awareness and support for HIV/AIDS research is amazing. She thanks all of them. She’s proud to be a part of all of them. She thanks the amazing performers and the incredible hard-working crew and all the people who did the tiny jobs that made this night possible. Give themselves a round of applause. She thanks them again.

Lucas comes out with a plate of baked goods and says he can’t believe Elizabeth has all these lying around. She says, Aiden is always perfecting his craft, and he says, that kid has a gift. What else did he miss while he was working and driving over. Did anyone faceplant on the red carpet? She says, just Tracy’s arrest and the Quartermaines have a new family member. He asks if someone gave birth on stage, and she says, not exactly. The show comes back on, and Lucy sits in the audience.  

Lucy says she’s very excited for the last performance of five up and comers. It’s special because as they close out this wonderful evening it reminds all of them of what’s truly important. Please enjoy. Georgie, Scout, Wiley, James, and Donna come out, and Elizabeth says, how cute. Lucas says, the cutest, and the kids sing I’ll Be There, cutest kid in the world Donna starting them off. The song ends and there’s applause. Suddenly, Wiley says, daddy! and nuMichael walks toward the stage. Wiley runs to him, and Michael picks him up. Everyone is totally shocked, as one always is at the Nurses Ball, but they’ve outdone themselves this year. Michael looks at Willow, and says, come on, buddy. We’re going home. He walks out carrying Wiley.

Alrighty then.

On Monday, Cody tells Lulu that he doesn’t know if they made the right call; Kai asks if Trina is sure she wants to do this; Emma says she’s not trying to stop Gio, she’s going with him; and Brook says what Lois did was unforgiveable.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit to Print…

The die has officially been cast. We’re moving on.

I still can’t get over his performance.

https://parade.com/news/does-gio-on-general-hospital-really-play-violin

A major part of the Nurses Ball. Why can’t we all have that T-shirt… sniff…

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m not even pretending to watch this. Too boatmancy. I’m saving myself for the OG Decks.

The Valley

Is it me, or do all these people look alike? Other than Brittany. Luke looked at a $14K engagement ring for Kristen. When Danny said it made a statement, Luke said the statement was that he had more money than he did. That much for an engagement ring is insane to me. Unless you actually are a millionaire, why? A good portion of the episode revolved around the discussion of Danny being an alcoholic. My jury’s out, but unless it’s an obvious problem, I’m not too keen on making those judgements.

Summer House

The best part about the finale is that the Jesse/Lexi saga is put to rest – for now anyway – and no more Toegate. Although I’m sure all that will be rehashed at the Reunion. The show finally caught up to real life news with Paige and Craig breaking up. No surprise that Craig was a big baby about the whole thing. Hey, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Get over it and move on. I do love a costume party and there was a huge party with a spooky theme. The specifics were unclear, but it looked Halloween-ish. Lots of gravestone decorations and such. Amanda had zombie contacts which were pretty cool.

Thumbs down on the wardrobe overall.

He’s dead to her.

Random Reality Items

I’m with Melissa. Just make a damn decision already.

Her lawyers are probably exhausted.

You can’t fire me; I quit.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Crimes of the Future. Hulu. I’d wanted to see this when it came out, figured I’d wait for streaming, and then forgot about it. It’s another one you might not want to eat dinner while watching, but it’s Cronenberg, so what else would you expect? Taking place in a grim future world, new organs spontaneously grow in random people. It’s some sort of evolution, but it’s not clear whether it could actually be beneficial in the long run. A sort-of cult has turned it all into performance art and murders abound. The whole thing is rather weird and depressing, but the special effects were amazing, as was to be expected. I’m not sorry I watched it, but I doubt I’d watch it again. If you’re a fan of Cronenberg, this is definitely for you.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crimes-of-the-future-movie-review-2022

Well, I didn’t think it was that disturbing.  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14673037/Disturbing-horror-film-caused-mass-crowds-people-walk-screening-set-air-BBC.html

I’m still waiting for The Substance to come to more mainstream streaming.

https://www.cbr.com/body-horror-movie-like-the-substance/#thread

Nonnas. Netflix. On the other end of the spectrum, this is a tug at your heartstrings, feel good, mostly true story that made me want to move to Staten Island. I loved the cast and it brought me back to the days of Sunday dinners in my Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jimmy’s home – Italian and Lithuanian food for days on the table. It was feel good without being saccharin, and I just loved it.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nonnas-movie-review-2025

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vince-vaughn-called-his-netflix-hit-nonnas-outlaw-movie

Con Mum. Netflix. I love a true crime story and this one didn’t disappoint. A documentary about a con artist who conned her own son, it has twists and turns, and I have to admit, at one point I wondered if it was possible she was telling the truth. It’s not a story I was familiar with beforehand, so that’s always a plus. It also makes you wonder what you’d actually fall for. I’d like to think I was smarter than that, but you never know until you’re in it.

https://people.com/where-are-graham-hornigold-and-dionne-now-con-mum-11704400

🪤 Will Wait For You…

Coming for sure, I think, June 27th.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-three-theory

Hopefully, the apocalypse doesn’t come before Season 2.

https://deadline.com/2025/05/fallout-renewed-season-3-prime-video-1236394147/

I still haven’t finished Season 3 yet, but I’m in.

https://deadline.com/2025/05/yellowjackets-renewed-season-4-showtime-paramount-plus-1236405285/

🎉 Business In the Front, Party In the Tail…

🐈‍⬛ I’m sure I’ve spent money on worse things and kudos for helping a shelter while she’s at it. Love the cake!

https://people.com/15-year-old-cat-gets-lavish-quinceanera-exclusive-11740275

🐶 That one led to this one. Admittedly, it’s a big chunk of change, but if I had that kind of money, I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. Hey, don’t judge.

https://people.com/pets/gabriel-iglesias-throws-100k-quinceanera-for-his-chihuahua-risa/

🐕 They stole my idea.

https://people.com/animal-shelter-holds-puppy-prom-for-rescue-dogs-11738785

🪻 Quotes of the Week

It doesn’t have to be the ten year plan. Just the next step. – Kristen Kish, Top Chef

To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility — these are marks of maturity and graciousness. – William Arthur Ward

Sometimes all you need is a ticket to Disneyland. – Jamal Menzies, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé, The Last Resort

Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions. – Albert Einstein

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible. – Tony Robbins

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. – Rosa Parks

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Aim for the middle. You’ll never miss. – Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), Deadpool & Wolverine

Remembering those who served on Memorial Day.

❤️‍🩹 Hope In Valor…

Until next week, stay safe; stay never leaving a lit grill unattended; and stay letting the truth be told by those actually involved.

January 31, 2025 – Lulu Confesses Her Love For Dante, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Performing, Animal Tales, An Even Number Of Short Quotes & Mountain

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Tara from Turning Woods had info for Elizabeth, but when she and Lucky showed up, Tara was out sick. Natalia told Lucy that she could land an account in LA, but the contact only wanted to meet with her and the silent partner – i.e. Sonny. Kristina went to see Sonny and asked him if everything was okay since he didn’t show up at Charlie’s. She said they had to keep Avery away from Ava and she’d decided to testify at the custody hearing. Anna told Jason about Sidwell being in Port Charles. She asked if he or Sasha were willing to go on record about Sasha’s kidnapping.

Curtis told Nina that Drew was going to undermine the company in congress if he didn’t get his stock back. Chase visited Willow, who whined about Drew being ostracized by his family. Drew met with Martin and told him that Monica wasn’t speaking with him. He was her first truly lost cause, and he wondered if he’d ever really been a part of the family. Anna told Jason not to go after Sidwell on his own. Lucky told the Turning Woods rep that Cyrus wanted a list of his patients who had died so he could send condolences to the family. Curtis told Nina that things had a way of getting out and encouraged her to tell Willow that she’d been sleeping with Drew. Drew told Martin, if they thought banning him from the Quartermaine grounds would keep him from Willow, they had another thing coming.

Jason told Anna that he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Mr. Furner came in while Lucky and Elizabeth were there. Lucky distracted him by threatening a lawsuit while Elizabeth waited for the printout. Chase told Willow that he and Brook were trying to have a baby.  Nina told Curtis that she’d made the devil’s bargain with Drew. She couldn’t tell Willow about Drew, nor he about her. She hoped with time, Willow would trust her more than Drew. Curtis said he had a plan and needed Nina’s help. Anna said the best way of getting Sidwell was to get criminal charges that would stick, but Jason said he had to do it for Michael.

Natalia conferred with Sonny about the LA trip. Anna asked if Jason could guarantee he would be the only target for retaliation. He could break the cycle of violence by not retaliating. Curtis told Nina that he wanted to sabotage Drew’s connections in DC. Chase showed Willow his lab results and she told him to see his doctor. According to the results, he couldn’t father a child.

Tuesday:

Ned told Tracy to show some respect to Willow or she’d be out on her high-class derriere. Tracy said two fingers of bourbon for everyone, and no one was leaving until they figured out what to do.

Felicia took Anna for a manicure and told Anna that she’d seen Emma clubbing. Emma joined them and Anna questioned her. Emma said, it wasn’t a spa day; it was an interrogation. Carly couldn’t figure out Jack’s angle. He said when he first came to Port Charles, he was on a mission. He had no intention of pursuing her until she visited him in prison. He considered her a friend, not an asset. Kai told Trina that his vertebrae was cracked, and he couldn’t play football because he’d risk a spinal injury. She suggested he talk to her mom. Portia told Alexis that Sam had been murdered and how they came to that conclusion. It had been a pattern. Alexis said she wasn’t leaving it to the police and was going to find answers.

Ned said the mess was all on Drew and they should give Willow a chance to create distance. Tracy said they had to make rules and asked what Chase thought. Brook told Lois that she was able to have a baby. Lois asked if she regretted giving her baby up, and Brook said it was the hardest choice she ever made, but she never regretted it. Chase said Willow was a good person and they should respect her. Tracy said Drew would use Willow to his own ends, but Ned said, if they pushed things, Willow would run back to him. Sasha said Tracy was being dramatic, then Tracy screamed because she saw a mouse. She said Sasha was out if she didn’t climb up and get it (like the mouse wasn’t in Chicago after Tracy screamed), but Sasha said she wasn’t climbing anywhere because she was pregnant, quickly adding, it’s not Cody’s.

Sasha said if anyone had complaints or judgements, oh well, and Gio said he didn’t grow up with a father and turned out fine. Alexis talked to Isaiah about Sam. Trina asked Portia to talk to Kai. Anna said Emma was allowed a social life, but not allowed to lie to her and sneak around. Emma said she’d been to a fundraiser and wondered, since when was Anna so uptight? Jack offered to have Michael’s cultures forwarded to Germany from the WSB to expedite things for Carly.

Tracy wondered why they offered daycare to everyone, and Ned said she’d just kidnapped two more. Portia said Kai wasn’t necessarily sidelined. Anna said there was a difference between uptight and responsible, and she was the latter. Emma said she never saw Anna because she worked so much. Carly called Felicia about the cultures, and Felicia told her to proceed with caution when it came to Jack.

Emma made a deal that if she got straight A’s, Anna would go clubbing with her. Jason asked Sasha if Michael knew about the baby. Chase told Brook that his tests came back, and he couldn’t get her pregnant. Portia suggested Kai get a second opinion from a specialist in sports medicine. Kai said Trina’s mom was amazing and he knew where she got it from. Alexis said she wasn’t going to stop until she found the killer. Jack went to the hotel spa and Felicia warned Carly that Jack had an agenda, but Carly said Jack was intriguing and she wanted to know more. Valentin showed up at the spa to kill Jack.

Wednesday:

Chase told Brook that he was sterile and couldn’t be a father. Olivia and Lois took Tracy for a manicure to destress. Sasha told Jason that Michael knew she was pregnant, and he was the father, but they had a deal that he’d stay out of it. At the hospital, Anna told Lulu that she was glad no one was hurt in Prague. Lulu said she was glad her daughter didn’t get shot a second time. Valentin pretended to be a masseuse and tried to strangle Jack while he was on the table.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Emma told Gio that she wanted to do a fundraiser to stop animal testing. She wanted him to play at it because something classic and boring would get the old people and boomers to contribute. Olivia said asking invasive and intrusive questions was Tracy’s love language, but she should let up on Sasha. Martin came into the beauty salon and said, good luck with that. Sasha said it was none of Jason’s business, but he said Michael had a right to know. Anna said she didn’t have the words to tell Lulu how sorry she was, but Lulu said she could see how it was an accident because of the circumstance. She thought Valentin was dangerous and bad things happened when he was around. Carly went looking for Jack at the spa.

Anna said she had an eye open for Valentin, and Lulu thanked her. Gio agreed to play at Emma’s fundraiser, but wondered if it was a scam to get extra cash. Jason told Sasha that Michael had asked for her and thought it was because he knew she was carrying his child. Sasha said if he wanted to help Michael, make sure no one else found out. Chase didn’t want Brook to miss out on the experience of being pregnant, but she said she loved him more than anything and they’d get through it together. Tracy said Martin would defend anyone and she’d been trying to protect the kids. He said she had a bad habit of rolling over people’s lives and just wanted to hurt Drew. Lulu told Dante that she was the best judge of what she could do, but he said, obviously not. Carly heard a noise in Jack’s room, but an employee said it was nothing.

Jack was lying on the floor when Carly came in and cracked something over Valentin’s head. Chase said he didn’t deserve Brook, but she said he was stuck with her. Emma said she was sick of people treating her cause like it was a joke, and Gio said he was only kidding. She said she’d volunteered for a shelter when she was younger. Some puppies were bought by a lab, and it stayed with her. Cody showed up looking for Tracy. He wanted to apologize for missing their ride, but Gio said she was pretty upset, so Cody should wait on that. Martin said just because Tracy disliked someone didn’t make them disreputable, and Brook called Lois, asking her to come home. Portia told Anna about the pattern of suspicious patient deaths and that someone had injected the patients with a large, unprescribed dose of digitalis that resulted in a heart attack. Carly told Jack to wake up or she’d tell the world he died wearing his bathrobe, and told the employee to call an ambulance.

Brook told Lois about Chase and said she felt like her soul was broken. Gio told Cody about Sasha being pregnant and Jason promised not to tell anybody that Michael was the father. Sasha had no doubt Willow would use her pregnancy against Michael, and she’d do what it took to keep her baby away from the Q’s. She also wanted Sonny to be kept in the dark. Anna told Portia about the Angel of Death syndrome, but Portia said two of the cases involved healthy patients, Sam and Dex. Lulu said she was no longer helpless, but Dante said she was human and had limits. She said he focused on someone else to ignore his own pain and didn’t want to think about losing Sam. Jack said he was fine and the WSB would handle Valentin. Carly asked what he was going to do now, but he said, that’s classified.

Jack made a call to have Valentin killed on sight. Tracy asked what Martin’s problem was with her, and he said she had an obnoxious misguided sense of entitlement. She felt entitled to judge him and Willow and had prevented him from having a relationship with Lucy. Tracy said he should thank her instead of ruining her zen. Lois said Brook and Chase could be as sad as they wanted for as long as they wanted. Brook said Chase suggested IVF, but he was just sacrificing his feelings for her. She thought she should tell him that she’d been pregnant before. Dante said he didn’t blame Lulu for Sam’s death and she asked what he was doing for himself. She knew her presence was a complication in his life. He said he’d never be sorry she was here. Anna asked to talk to Dante. Jason said Sasha didn’t have to do it on her own and he was on her side.

Anna told Dante that Sam was murdered. Sasha let Jason feel the baby move. Carly and Jack kissed.

Thursday:

Hitting the heavy bag, Chase flashed back to his and Brook’s baby journey. Brook told Lois that Chase was mourning the life he’d imagined for them. She wanted him to know the pain and anguish she’d felt giving her baby up so he didn’t feel so alone. Alexis told Diane that Sam had been murdered, while Lulu told Maxie. Cody listened in on Sasha talking to Jason about the baby, but slipped away before he heard Michael was the father. In Baden Baden, Jack went to Carly’s suite and kissed her. She said she needed a minute, and he apologized if he’d read things incorrectly, but she said he didn’t. She just didn’t want to do something she regretted. He said he wasn’t there to sleep with her and had something much different in mind.

Molly visited Cody at the stables to drop off his paperwork from the station. He was less than hospitable. He said his feet were held to the fire while career criminals got away with everything. Jason wanted Michael’s side of the story, but Sasha said she didn’t owe Jason anything. He said she owed Michael. Lulu said she owed Sam everything, but Maxie said, feeling guilty over something she had no control over would go nowhere. Lulu admitted still being in love with Dante. Brook said she’d have to tell Chase the whole truth, that Dante was the father of her child. Dante told Chase about the murders at GH and that Sam was one of the victims. Alexis didn’t know what to do with her feelings about Sam being murdered, and she threw stuff around the office.

Jack brought Carly to the rooftop, where he had a fire going and they had champagne. Carly said, it was cozy, beautiful and private. He toasted to her changing her mind about coming to the spa. Jason told Sasha that he’d back off the second he talked to Michael. Sasha said they were done, but if he talked to Michael, tell him that she was thinking of him and praying for his recovery. Cody said, clearly Molly had an agenda, but she said she was there as a favor to Mac. He said he appreciated it and she left. Diane wanted to say the right thing, but Alexis told her that there was no right thing to say. Diane said, whatever Alexis wanted, she was all in – whatever she needed, whenever she needed it. Alexis said she had to tell Molly and Kristina, who were on their way there. Diane got a text from Jason and promised she wouldn’t tell him anything. Kristina came in and wondered what had happened.

Brook said if she told Chase, she’d have to tell Dante, and she felt sick. Dante told Chase about the digitalis murders, that Dex was one of the victims, and Michael had been saved by Isaiah’s quick thinking. Maxie said she was surprised Lulu admitted she still loved Dante, but it would be weird if she didn’t. Jason met with Diane and told her about Sasha’s pregnancy. Alexis told Kristina and Molly that Sam was murdered. Carly wanted to know what was going on between Jack and Valentin. She thought it was crazy that Valentin tried to kill him. Jack said, Valentin had been a friend, but after tonight, he wasn’t protecting Valentin any longer. He figured Valentin assumed he was the one who fired the shot in Prague. He hadn’t, but he was at that point now. It was a winding, complicated story. Carly told him to order another bottle of champagne.

Dante unloaded on Chase about Lulu and said she had to stop taking risks and be careful for her sake and Rocco’s. He was happy she was there, but Sam was gone because of it. Every time he looked at Lulu, he’d think of Sam and what they’d all lost. At the MetroCourt, Cody saw Diane with Jason. He apologized to Maxie about the other night and told her that Sasha was pregnant. Then he realized she knew already. Jason said Carly couldn’t know anything about this. He was going to the clinic to see Michael, but wanted Diane to keep an eye on Sasha. Jack told Carly that he wanted to rise in the ranks at the WSB and an alliance with Valentin was a smart move, so he sought out Valentin’s friendship. Valentin was the iron fist, and he was the velvet glove. Valentin needed him as much as he needed Valentin, and they became true friends.

Diane promised to keep an eye on Sasha and let her know when Jason got clarity. The fact Michael never told her spoke to Sasha’s credibility. Jason said if he was wrong, he’d gladly admit it, and she said she wanted a ringside seat for that. Maxie asked how Cody found out, but he said it didn’t matter. Maxie said Sasha was clear that she had no plans to tell the father, and Cody said the father was Jason. Sasha told the baby that they could do this on their own and promised she’d always be there. Lois said she didn’t want to influence Brook’s decision, but Brook said she needed Lois’s advice. Lois said Brook was a grown-up now and it was only her choice to make. Brook said she and Chase had to be open and honest and she had to tell him. Dante asked Chase what was up, and Chase said he’d talk when he was ready. Alexis promised they’d find out who did this to Sam. They were going to shield the truth from Scout and wanted to wait for more information to tell Danny. She’d ask Anna to keep it away from the public for as long as possible. They’d have to stay strong and present a united front for Sam.

Carly said there was more to Jack than met the eye. She admired his loyalty. He said there was a big difference between them. She was a good person. She said he wasn’t the bad guy he wanted people to think he was. To her, he was the guy who’d done awesome things for her and expected nothing in return. They kissed by the fire.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In his hospital room, Kai struggles to put on a brace belt and Trina walks in.

Jordan is surprised to find Drew at Volonino’s, and asks if he’s allowed through the doors of Aurora these days. He asks if she means his company, and she wonders if he’s trying to drive away anyone who ever thought they knew him.

Curtis meets Portia at Beradino’s and says, Aurora’s new CEO is looking fine. He says he aims to please, and she asks, what’s with the good mood? He says he’s at breakfast with his beautiful wife. Why wouldn’t he be? She says she saw on the news that there’s a holdup with the McConkey esplanade. It was a big project for him and Aurora. Curtis says, it still is. Don’t worry. He’s steps ahead of it. Since no one eats at home, at another table, Ric says, even though it was gruesome, the fire strengthened Ava’s case. She asks if it’s strong enough to rescue her daughter, and he says he thinks it should. Given her present financial situation, he has a proposal to present to Diane. With any luck, it will convince Diane to wrap things up with her and Sonny. Ava says, that would be ideal, and thanks him. His generosity had been so helpful. He says, what generosity? and she says, him representing her pro bono. He says he’s not doing her case pro bono, and she says, he’s not? Since he stopped hounding her to pay, she assumed… He says, that his service was gratis? Why? Because they kissed?

Lulu meets Laura at the bistro and apologizes for being late. Everything she does seems like something she has no chance with. She was here with Rocco and her baby boy is now a coffee drinker. Laura says, he’s a coffee snob, and Lulu says, he gets that because of Sonny. Dante is so good with Rocco. He’s a great dad, but… Laura says, she’s still in love with him, isn’t she?

Dante bursts into Anna’s office and asks, what the hell is going on? Mac said she ordered him locked out of Sam’s murder investigation. She says, he’s correct, and he asks, why?

Brook goes to the stables and asks Cody if they’re alone. He says, yeah, and she says, good. She needs to talk to him. He says, about what? and she says, the summer romance she had with Dante, and he asks if she means the summer she got pregnant.

In Diane’s office with Kristina, Sonny says he’s going to LA on business for Deception, and she says, that’s a long way to go for a silent investor. He says, Natalia wanted him to go and he wants to go over some things before he leaves. Diane says, that’s why Kristina came, and he says, there are things they all need to discuss.

At Volonino’s, Brad does push-ups, and his trainer suggests a break, but he says, no breaks. The trainer hands him some water and says, he needs to hydrate. Brad takes a drink and says, if he’s going to hit his goal before Miami, he can’t afford breaks.

Ava asks if Ric thinks she kissed him in exchange for legal fees, and he says he hopes not. It was a good kiss, but hardly covers his retainer. He’s attracted to her, but business is business. He’s extending her grace in deferring his payment. She says, he’s a beacon of charity. At this juncture, it’s like the kiss never happened and it’s not likely there will be another. He says, ever? and she says, not until she gets her daughter back. After that, they’ll see what’s on the table. He says he guesses he should be going then, and leaves.

Curtis tells Portia that Drew is stalling the project, and she says, that’s so sad. He says he can think of two other strong words, and she says, Drew is using his office to exact petty revenge. She’ll stick with sad. Tell her about his next steps. He says he’s going to need an ally on Capitol Hill who has more connections than Drew. Nina is setting up something, but if it doesn’t work, he has a back-up. Meanwhile, his focus is on the next step with Aurora, and it involves her, him, a beach, and daquiris on a tropical island.  

Drew says he understands that Jordan is upset about the esplanade, and she says, he brought the project to her, and they worked on it together. Now he’s stalled it. He’s damn right she’s upset. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s sorry, and she says, explain why he’s doing this. He says he’s just trying to hold onto what’s his.

Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s referring to that summer, and Cody says he thought the subject was verboten. She says, it was, and it is. Did he ever tell Dante? He says, she swore him to secrecy, and he drove her to the bus station. She left and he didn’t see her again until he started working here. She asks if he ever told Dante, but he says, no. He hasn’t even thought about it since then. She says, thank God, and thanks him, and he says, no problem. She says she’s sorry to make a big deal out of it, but she had to be sure. He says he gets it, but it was like, a million years ago. Why bring it up now?

Anna says she wants to reiterate how sorry she is, but Dante says he doesn’t want her sympathy. He wants Sam’s file. She says, he barged into her office and asked for access to a case… He says, because Sam  was his fiancé and he loved her, and Anna says, that’s precisely why she can’t let him get anywhere near the case.

Trina offers to help Kai, but he says he’ll do it himself. He struggles some more, and she says, it will be easier when his arm isn’t in a sling. He finally asks her to help him, and she puts the belt on him. As she wraps it around him, they gaze at each other for a moment.

Lulu tells Laura that she loves Dante, but not… He’s still grieving Sam… They were already divorced, but she ended things with Dustin. She was planning on telling Dante that she never stopped loving him, but unfortunately, she never got the chance. Now she’s finally awake, but Dante is grieving Sam… He totally should. Laura says, good to know, and Lulu says, it’s probably better. Things between them are worse. Laura asks, how so? and Lulu says, they fight all the time. When she went to Prague, Dante brought it on himself to follow. It’s a habit and they know how she doesn’t like being handled. Laura says, they do indeed, and Lulu says she wants to try and get along, but he makes it impossible. Laura says, maybe she’s pushing him away, but Lulu says, it’s not that. If anything, she thinks she’s holding herself back.

Sonny tells Diane that he’s concerned Charlie’s is going to be scrutinized. The business is clean, but he did sell it to Kristina. Diane says, she’ll stay ahead of it and tells Kristina to call if there’s a problem. Kristina says, if the Feds tap her phone, she’ll ask for a copy of the recording to help her keep track of things. Sonny says he doesn’t want what he’s done to interfere, and Diane says she’ll make sure of it. She’s about to leave when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Ric and Ava, and Ric says, good. They’re already here. That makes it easier.

Brad kisses his bicep (he’s pretty jacked) and says, woo!

Kai thanks Trina for her help and says he’s sorry for snapping. She says she gets it, and he says he appreciates her coming, but he’s not in the mood. He’s still trying to rap his head around what he’s going to do with his life. She says, that’s why she’s here. Since he was injured in a game, PCU can’t revoke his scholarship. She brought him some catalogs for inspiration. He says he can’t think about classes. He’s barely managed to schedule his rehab. She asks if that means he got a second opinion that was positive, and he says, they told him, no promises.  

Drew tells Jordan that he’s the ultimate team player. He’s dealt with Tracy, navigated Ned’s fragile ego, and sat through his fair share of family squabbles disguised as ELQ board meetings. He does one thing the family doesn’t approve of… Jordan says, he had an affair with his nephew’s wife, and Drew says, and the rest of the Quartermaines are saints compared to most people. Monica banned him from the grounds, and he was pushed out of his own company. Jordan says she gets it. His life as a rich congressman is in shambles. Welcome to politics. They’re not here to talk about Quartermaine infighting. He’s stalling the progress for the good of the city he’s been chosen to represent. He says, it could still happen. That depends on what Curtis chooses to do with Aurora.  

Portia says, Curtis’s plans for Aurora involve them on a beach? and he says, not just any beach. St. George Island, potentially the first site of Aurora’s new resorts. Portia says she loves it, and he says, of course (🍷) he wants to experience the island before moving forward and he can’t without her. What does she say? She says she can feel the sand between her toes, when Curtis’s phone rings. Jordan says she’s calling in a favor, and Curtis says, which one? She tells him to meet her at Volonino’s as soon as he can.  

Anna says, when she told Dante that Sam was murdered, she was speaking to him as a private citizen. That’s why he can’t be involved. He says he can help find out who killed her, and she says she’d let him if the victim was anyone else. He says, because it’s Sam, and she says, imagine if he finds the killer and it goes to trial. What does he think the defense is going to do? He says, object because of his conflict of interest, and she says, they won’t need to. We won’t have a case. It will be thrown out because he was involved in the investigation. He asks if that’s what she wants, but she says, no, but she has to look at it. What if he finds the killer and decides to take the law into his own hands? He asks if she thinks he’d do that, and she says, in this instance, she doesn’t know. He asks what she means by in this instance. Does she have a suspect?

Brook says she’s sure everybody knows she and Chase are trying to start a family, and Cody says, word got around. She says, it’s bringing up a memory for her, living in the same house with Dante. She needs to be sure. He says he never told Dante. He hasn’t even thought about it in years. If she had told Dante back then, he’s sure Dante would have stepped up, unlike other guys. She asks what he means, and he says, it’s an obligation and the guy has to step up. He can’t leave the woman hanging. Brook asks what he’s talking about, and he says, Sasha is pregnant and she shouldn’t be in it alone.  

Drew works out with the weights, when Curtis comes in. He asks if this is why Jordan needed him, and she says, Drew told her that the future of the esplanade depends on Curtis. Care to elaborate? Curtis says, Drew wanted to push Michael out of Aurora, and Jordan says, while he’s in Germany, recovering from third degree burns? Curtis says, yeah. And if Drew doesn’t get what the wants, he’s more than willing to sabotage Aurora. Hence the delay on the esplanade. Jordan says, is that right? and Drew says, Curtis couldn’t be more wrong.

Kai tells Trina that the doctors told him to manage his expectations and set reasonable goals. Don’t get ahead of himself. She says, that’s good advice, and he says his teammates’ doctors said the same thing. She asks if they played again, and he says, one did. The rest never set foot on a field again. She says she’s sorry, and he says him too. He knew it was a possibility, but he told himself that it would never be him. How could he be so stupid?

Lulu tells Laura that Dante would jump in to save any chance he got, whether she needed him to or not. Laura says, Dante just lost someone he loved and maybe he doesn’t want to lose someone else. Lulu says, maybe… probably. She hates seeing him and Rocco in pain and not be able to help. Dante sees her as the woman his fiancé died trying to save. What is it going to be like for the rest of their lives? Laura says she knows what Lulu thinks, but unless she’s spoken to Dante directly, she doesn’t know how he feels.

Anna says she has no suspect yet, but there’s a person of interest, and Dante asks, who? She says, it’s not his case and she’s not disclosing more information. He says, she hasn’t told him anything. Dammit! She needs to tell him… She says she thinks he should go home. She’s placing him on one week’s paid leave and would like him to see the department psychiatrist. He asks if he can say no, but she says she thinks he knows the answer to that. He says, fine, and leaves.

Diane tells Ric to come back when he’s made an appointment, but he says he has an offer regarding the custody hearing. Sonny says, let’s hear it, and Ric says, the recent incident at his domicile caused the destruction of property and injury to his son. Ava says, it was obviously an attempt… and Ric says, it’s obvious Sonny can’t provide a safe home for Avery. At best, Sonny is going to lose. He’s made an effort to save them time and expense. He gives Diane the paperwork and she laughs. She says, visitation every other weekend and Ava has sole custody and all major holidays? Ava says she’s willing to give up Arbor Day, but Diane says she won’t even entertain it. Ric says, then they’ll go to court, and Sonny says, let’s do it. Ric says he’s going to call Kristina to the stand, and Kristina says, no problem. He asks if she’s sure. He’s going to ask about her father’s brutal assault on Dex Heller and his long list of mental and emotional instabilities. He’ll also bring in her impulsiveness and hot-headed temper that led to the attack on Ava and also the death of Kristina’s child. Sonny says, that’s enough, and Kristina says she looks forward to making sure Avery ends up with the right parent. Ric says, it’s impressive, but her keeping it together in her attorney’s office for five seconds doesn’t hold a candle to keeping it together on the witness stand… which she knows. Ava tells Sonny to spare the agony for both him and his daughter and take the deal. Sonny leans on his desk and asks, when’s the date? Diane says, February 25th, and Sonny tells Ric, see you there. Ric says, it’s their final offer, and Sonny shrugs. Ric says, it’s over, and he and Ava leave. Diane says she knows one thing, and Sonny says, they’re desperate. Diane says, right, and he says, Ava’s funds have dried up. Kristina says, Lucy mentioned to her the other day that Ava took a place far below her standards, and Sonny says, Ava wouldn’t trade down if she didn’t have to. Kristina says, that’s good news. If Ava can’t afford it, all they have to do is wait, but Diane says, they can’t rely on that. Ric and Ava’s argument is stronger than theirs.

Dante sees Brook at the stables and asks if Cody is around. She says, he was, then he wasn’t. She doesn’t know if he’s coming back. Is Dante okay? He says, obviously not, and she asks if there’s anything she can do. He says he doesn’t know. Sam was murdered and Anna won’t let him find the bastard who did it.

Lulu says she knows Dante loved Sam, and Laura says, and Sam loved Dante. She’s grateful they gave a good home to Rocco. Lulu says her too, but she’s a little jealous. And by little, she means really jealous. Laura says, Sam is gone now, and Dante has to find a way to live with the loss, and Lulu says, it’s a big loss and here she is, swooping in. Laura says, Lulu is entitled to be here, and Lulu says, Sam is too, but she can’t be. Laura says, but Lulu can, and Dante is afraid he’s going to lose her too. He practically camped out by her bedside and fought like hell for her. She says she knows, and Laura says, from her own life, she knows it’s possible to love two people at the same time. Dante absolutely loves Lulu. Maybe not in the same way she loves him right now, but there’s definitely a place in his heart for her. Lulu says she knows it’s not rational, but she feels like it’s her fault Sam died. If she feels that way… Laura says, maybe Dante does too?

Trina says, Kai isn’t stupid. He doesn’t know how rehab is going to turn out. His first orthopedist told him that he’s never play again. He says he doesn’t feel like a lecture. He needs to figure out rehab now. As for class, he doesn’t know if he wants to go back. She says, why? Even if he never plays again, he’s been given an amazing opportunity. A scholarship most kids would kill for and PCU is an amazing school. He says he knows Trina thinks she’s helping, but she’s not.

Drew says, when he pitched the esplanade, he did it on behalf of his company. Now he’s pitching for his constituents. Jordan asks, then why hold up the project that will give his constituents jobs? and he says, the environmental report was of concern, so it’s been put on pause for review. She says, it’s going to die because he has an ax to grind, and he says, it’s Aurora’s project. Curtis is the CEO and it’s up to him to clear up the issues. Curtis says, Aurora will be fine without the esplanade, and Drew says, there you have it. Curtis says, Drew is screwing them over, and Jordan says, it was a project for the constituents that was supposed to carry on the name of the man who gave Drew a seat in congress. (Good point!) Drew says, Curtis seems tense. What does he say to them working it out in the ring?

Diane says she hates to admit it, but Ric had good points. It’s of public record that the penthouse fire was deliberately set. Sonny says, Avery was at Carly’s, and Diane says, that’s the only reason Sonny still has custody. As for Kristina, she was magnificent back there. Kristina thanks her and says, hate is a powerful motivator. Diane says she has to advise Kristina, no matter how cool and calm she is on the witness stand, Dex’s assault is going to count in Ava’s favor. Sonny says, Ric is all about money. The only reason Ric is representing Ava is to hurt him. He’s going to use Kristina to do that. Kristina says, let him try. She can’t allow Ava to have Avery. Diane says she knew Kristina would say that. She’s going to let them talk. Take all the time they need. She leaves and Sonny says, Diane is right. Ric is going to hammer her on the stand like last time. Kristina says, let him. Ava’s not going to win this case. She doesn’t get to have her daughter back after she took Kristina’s from her.  

At the MetroCourt bar, Ava says, Sonny is itching to take them to court, but Ric says he’s not so sure. Ava says, he has enough money to drag this on forever, and Kristina, with her hair trigger temper, didn’t take the bait. Ric says, no matter. It comes down to Sonny. If he doesn’t want to move forward, it’s all over. She says, too bad he and Diane are determined to do that, and Ric says, maybe he’s wrong, but he thinks something is going on with Sonny.  

On the phone, Anna says, come back to my office and we’ll go over your allegations about Cyrus. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, it’s open. Cody comes in and asks if she’s seen Mac, but she says, he’s out on a call. Is everything okay? He says he needs to get a message to Mac’s brother and doesn’t have a way to reach him, and she says she can reach him. He says, it can wait, and she says, is he sure? It seems urgent. He says, it is… It isn’t important. It’s not like they need to contact international law enforcement. Anna tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is in trouble and it’s Jason Morgan’s fault.  

Brook tells Dante that she’s sorry, and he says, the minute he found out Sam was murdered, he wanted to hunt down the piece of garbage who did this. He’s a cop. She says, the best, and he says, Anna told him under no uncertain terms that he’s too close to the case. She says, maybe he is, and he says, obviously. He went to Anna’s office to show her how he’d handle it, and instead, he proved her right. He lost it on her. He yelled at his boss, and she sent him home. Brook says, Anna made the right call, and he says he knows that. For Sam to die like that, in a hospital bed, confined, unable to fight… If she could have gotten up, she would have fought tooth and nail. Brook says, damn straight, and he says, Sam was there because of him, and she’s gone because of him. He doesn’t know how to live with that.

Lulu asks Laura, how does she not feel responsible? The only reason Sam was in a hospital bed was because of her. Laura says, it’s human to feel like it’s her fault, but it’s completely untrue. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. Only one person is – the murderer. Lulu says she knows that. It’s just so hard to silence the voice telling her that it’s her fault and to think about how Dante sees her. Laura says, he’s grieving, so she can’t assume to know how he feels, but she could ask, and Lulu says, just like that. Laura says, with the connection they have, yeah. It may not be the best time to tell him the full breadth of her feelings, but she can love him as friend.

At the hospital on his phone, Brad orders the deluxe spa package, while Portia tries to quietly go past him. He trots after her and asks if she has any idea where Dr. Jones is. She says, he switched his shift. She can imagine why. He says, speaking of schedules, is there any chance he can get an extra vacation day in Miami?

Curtis says, Drew wants to see him in the ring? and Jordan says, she brought them together hoping they could compromise like the adults she assumed they were, and Curtis says, it was a noble thought. But they both know Drew makes decisions based on what Drew wants. Drew says, and Curtis never misses the opportunity to get on his high horse. Curtis says, it must be real difficult for Drew to see that high up, being so damn lowdown, and Drew asks what Curtis says when the common denominator of the people keeping secrets from him is himself.

Anna asks how Jason is involved with Sasha, but Cody says, forget it. She says, he doesn’t barge into her office saying Robert’s daughter is in trouble and then drop it. He says he wants to talk to Robert directly, but she says, they’re close. What happened? Is Sasha in danger? He says, no. It’s not a crime or a legal thing. She tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is pregnant, and Jason is the father.  

Ric tells Ava, the thing about having a brother as an enemy is, they can read each other. He has a strong feeling something was off with Sonny just now. She asks how he can tell, and he says, Sonny may talk tough, but he has the sense Sonny doesn’t want to see this through. She says, when he dreams, he dreams big. Sonny doesn’t give up. He says, Sonny knows cutting her out will hurt Avery. Maybe he’s starting to care a little. She says she hopes he’s right. She needs to have Avery with her. The sooner he can make that happen, and the sooner she’s back on her feet, the sooner she can pay him. Once he gets paid, maybe after that they can see where things stand between them.

Kai tells Trina that he figured out how to put the brace on and it’s an accomplishment. He appreciates Trina coming, but he needs time to himself. She says, okay. She’ll leave him to it. She goes to the door and says, just so he knows, he doesn’t need to do this alone. She leaves, and he gets on the bed with his phone. He puts on an old game, and the announcer says, PCU is down three and going for a Hail Mary pass… They win, thanks to the golden arm of quarterback Kai Taylor! He puts the phone down, and Trina sees him through the window. She takes out her phone and makes a call. She says, when you get out, come and meet me at GH. Nothing is wrong. I just need help.  

Portia says she’s made accommodations for Brad, and he knows why. Brad says, just because he forced her doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated, and she says she does have limits and if she sticks to them, they shouldn’t have a problem. He says, understood… That said… She says, if he starts asking too much too often, people will start to notice. Don’t push his luck any further than he has. He says, so… is that a yes? and she says, enjoy your vacation day. She jets, and he says, thank you.  

Curtis says, his friendship comes with loyalty and wonders if it’s too much to expect in return, and Drew says, so his friendship is transactional. He’s not applying undue influence to sink Aurora. They’re not in court. Curtis says, let him remind Drew that he’s brand new to congress. He’s alienated his backers by seducing his nephew’s wife. He overextended himself and left himself wide open. Curtis and Jordan walk out.

Sonny asks what Kristina wanted to see him about. Is everything okay? She says, actually, no. The hospital investigated Sam’s death, and it turns out it’s not an accident. Sam was murdered. He asks if they know who, and she says, no, but they know how. She was given a drug she wasn’t supposed to have. Digitalis killed her. He says he’s going to ask a question she might not be able to answer. Does Dante know? She says, probably. The police are looking into it. Should she worry? He says he doesn’t want her to worry. Let him worry. Everybody has a breaking point and she’s carrying too much.

Brook says, it’s not Dante’s fault. She knows he can’t see it, so she’ll let him get there on his own, and he will. He says, she’s right, and she says she knows he’s saying that to get her off his back. She’s here if he needs anything. He says, she’s a pretty good friend when she tries, and she says, don’t tell anyone. He says, they wouldn’t believe him anyway, and they hug. Lulu walks in.  

On Monday, Laura tells Lucky that she has some news; Gio tells Emma that he has a bad feeling about something; Maxie tells Sasha that the more she stonewalls, the more it looks like she has something to hide; and Lulu tells Dante, nothing can be further from the truth.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Looks like a good time. Especially for that random dog who’s probably been stealing food all night.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Sage advice for any condition you might be suffering from: If you are suffering, you have to be your own advocate to keep going… If your doctor doesn’t get it, find a new doctor that listens to you and believes in you, and doesn’t just want to stick you on an antidepressant.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Side gig. I still say Adam Huss was the best Nikolas and they should bring him back.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-wraps-a-movie-with-tuc-watkins

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

In making a sushi dinner for multiple people who don’t eat fish, Cloyce said he had nothing to do but laugh, bang his head against the wall, and innovate. It must be tough for any woman who dates Cloyce to get past him giggling like Anderson Cooper. Captain Glenn joined the guests for dinner and was impressed. Glenn said he still believed in Gary, which is beyond my scope of understanding. In his interview, the captain said, if Gary wanted to step up the ladder, he’d have to grow and mature. Good luck with that. Mixing his metaphors, Captain Glenn said, the crew knocked it out of the park and suggested they put this baby to bed. He’d seen growth and thought they finished the season on a high. The tip was $21K or 2000 euros each, and they’d made a total of $188K for the season. Gary told Daisy that he wanted them to live a fairytale life. She was like, hard no, and wondered why they couldn’t get to a level they could agree on. After the crew night out, Gary waited alone at the jacuzzi while everyone else went to bed. He had a lightbulb moment in his interview, where he said if he was going to be in Glenn’s position, he’d have to start taking more responsibility for his actions. I still can’t figure out what the problem was with the stews and Daisy, except that she wanted them to work. Gary thought there was still hope for him and Daisy, and we flashed back to them over the years. He was intrigued to see what the future held. Glenn said, it was a crazy season and it was done. Margarita time.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In Kyle’s interview, she said she was alone in the house more often because the kids wanted more time away from her. Um… yeah, that’s how it works when kids get older. Boz and Dorit have gotten tight, which surprises me, since Boz doesn’t seem like she’d suffer fools or rambling talkers gladly. Garcelle pointed out that Kyle saying she’s never shared anything PK has said to her sounded like it was more than memes, but Kyle insisted that they’d never discussed PK and Dorit’s marriage. Kyle apologized to the group for yelling and leaving, but in Sutton’s interview, she wanted Kyle to apologize for acting better than everyone else and not being accountable. Kyle used the old it’s not who I am backpedal. I hate when people say that because, if not you, who? It was who you were in that moment and to say that is distancing yourself from accountability.

Dorit and Kyle went for a walk on the beach, and Dorit asked where Kyle’s loyalty lay, with her or PK. Dorit wanted the same respect from Kyle that Kyle would expect from her. In her interview, Kyle said she understood and if it was what Dorit needed, she’d do it, but IMO, she should have understood it without Dorit having to tell her. Dorit was also wrestling with Jagger having asked if she and PK were divorced, since he’d gleaned it from social media. In Erika’s interview, she said it was impossible to shield children in this day of the internet, but I wonder if you even should in the first place. By all means you should explain things at their level and make sure they know you’re there for them (and your partner too, if that’s a factor), but I’m not so sure kids should be shielded from negative situations entirely. God forbid they hear it from someone else like this poor kid. The show ended on an up note for once.

Real Housewives of New York City

It was the Reunion Part 1, so… There’s never a lot to say about these, since it’s just a rehash of the season’s arguments and them getting mad all over again. There was Jenna coming out in robe and turban, which was… original. Brynn spoke more about her assault, and sad to say, it’s someone she’s required to inhabit the same space with on a regular basis. It seemed hard for Erin to understand how difficult it is to out someone like that when it’s a he said/she said situation. There was a big deal with Brynn having said Pavit wasn’t the love of Jessel’s life, when they’d been talking about crazy hook-ups. Jessel was pretty upset about her family seeing the show. It looks to be a lively Part 2.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Ugh. The Reunion Part 2. In a word, tedious. Meredith almost walked off because… Okay, I lost track of the whole thing, but it had to do with something she said or didn’t say and who said she said or didn’t say it. You see how I could get lost, right? Angie said that for a new Housewife, Bronwyn put herself out there and that’s why everyone loved her. Agreed. Seth was a jerk, trying to explain away why he called Whitney a bee-yotch during a dinner. No excuse for that, dude. As NeNe so succinctly put it, stay out of women’s business. Period. End of story. With the exception of RHONJ, where the men should have their own show, the husbands need to stay quiet. It’s not called Real Househusbands. Still this season’s MVP, Mary was the exception. Lots of tears over Robert Jr.’s story, even from Andy. And it shut the other women up for once. That’s quite a feat. Whitney said it helped her kids understand why they didn’t have a grandpa as she hasn’t spoken to her (addicted) father since Season 1.

Southern Charm

Poor JT. I almost have to feel sorry for him. Almost. He’s so clueless as to how he’s going wrong. Although Venita doesn’t see it. She admitted to having a crush on him and I thought, oh, just do it already. Craig called Austen and wanted to hang out, which surprised me, but it didn’t seem to surprise Austen. Shep hadn’t heard from Sienna, who texted that she needed a moment. It made Shep nervous, which made me laugh. He said he wanted beautiful babies and a Bahamian house, making me laugh harder. Patricia and Madison had a pajama party, complete with caviar in bed, making me rethink my friend group, and Patricia said Sienna had approached Whitney on Raya before meeting Shep. Venita invited JT for dinner, and he told her that he was seeing someone. It wasn’t the answer either one of us was hoping for. I don’t like him, but she does, so I felt bad for her. He professed faithfulness, but IMO, he’d been leading Venita on. Not a gentleman.

I don’t remember this guy from Summer House, but I’m not always paying attention.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to watch this. I really did. But it’s just a bunch of relationships that are more complicated than they need to be. I’ve seen enough to know Emmy is a drama queen, so I can just imagine when she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Red flags have been thrown her way before, which she’s put her fingers in her ears and gone la-la-la about, but this seems to be irrefutable evidence. Rut-roh.

There was this priceless quote though: Even though I’m 33, that’s like 50 in gay years, so I’m basically dead. – TJ

I feel the opposite. While the diversity is commendable, the personalities aren’t so diverse. We even have Maddi being James Kennedy 2.0. Sans the alcoholic rants. Wait for VPR’s reboot if you want to relive the glory days. Or actually watch the original glory days on several streaming services.

Random Reality

The latest in Atlanta. Twirl on, Kenya. Twirl on.

Why not? And I actually don’t mind Slade. They seem to be a good match. Maybe he’ll marry her on his deathbed.

Get your lemons ready.

I’m sporadic in watching this, and like with Survivor, I get lost with the challenges, but when I see it, I enjoy it. Alan Cumming is the best host, all theatric and Scottish.

Take the tour.

https://ew.com/the-traitors-host-alan-cumming-season-3-castle-tour-exclusive-8766966

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Sleep. Hulu et al. I was a fan of Korean cinema long before it was popular, and Netflix had a Korean for beginners category. While this wasn’t one of my favorites, that didn’t make it less intriguing. A story of possession masked as a sleep disorder, it has creepiness a plenty. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, which left me kind of hanging, but the style and atmosphere were worth the time spent. I hadn’t thought of it as a metaphor for a deteriorating relationship, but there’s that too. Those of you who feel, if I want to read, I’ll get a book, be forewarned; this one has subtitles.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sleep-korean-film-review

https://nofspodcast.com/sleep-review-new-korean-horror-is-a-methodical-slow-build-of-simmering-scares

Saturday Night. Netflix. This is the telling of the story of the first episode of SNL, and how no one thought it would get on the air, much less stand the test of time it has. A dramatization for sure, but the real-life drama may have seemed heightened since there were so many roadblocks. From John Belushi refusing to sign his contract while ice skating in a bee costume to Milton Berle flashing his legendary junk, it’s a fun watch.

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/saturday-night/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/saturday-night-netflix-review

The truths and the nots.

https://people.com/how-much-of-saturday-night-is-true-8725801

Some of this is a stretch to connect to SNL, but six degrees and all that.

🎸 Who’s Playing For Who…

The Super Bowl performers.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2025-performers-kendrick-lamar-halftime-sza-jon-batiste-8779483

The Grammys performers.

https://ew.com/everyone-performing-at-2025-grammys-charli-xcx-sabrina-carpenter-more-8779877

🐾 Send In the Furbabies…

🐶 It’s always nice to see a celebrity using their powers for good. This must have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve loved Paris since Tinkerbell wrote her book.

https://people.com/paris-hilton-reunites-her-foster-dog-from-l-a-fires-with-the-dog-s-family-8781373

🐎 What would the Super Bowl be without the Budweiser Clydesdales?

https://people.com/super-bowl-2025-budweiser-clydesdale-horse-commercial-8780322

🐕 And don’t forget the best Bowl of all.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/2025/pb-xxi-gallery

https://www.discovery.com/shows/on-tv/puppy-bowl/see/2025

🐐 Quotes of the Week

Anyone who wants to achieve a dream must stay strong, focused and steady.Estée Lauder

A dead end street is a good place to turn around. – Naomi Judd

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. – Groucho Marx

If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small. – Richard Branson

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. – Pablo Picasso

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. – George Burns

Words are the clothing of our thoughts.Jonathan Swift

A ship in a harbour is safe, but it’s not fulfilling its potential. – Susan Jeffers

If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment. – Carlos Santana

I don’t know why they say alcohol is a depressant. It fixes everything. – Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), Mike & Molly

🍫 Like a Box Of Chocolates…

Until next week, stay safe; stay being adaptable in social and professional settings; and stay managing your expectations, setting reasonable goals, and not getting ahead of yourself.

January 3, 2025 – Sonny Makes a Request Of Jason, Soap Suds, Southern Talk, NJ Tirade, Hard To Do, Finished Watch, Coming Up, Holiday Hangover, Star Celebrations, Times Square, Piffle Clone, Ha-Ha, A Half-Dozen Quotes & Feeling

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

On Thursday:

Isaiah told Sonny that he has to see a cardiologist.

In Prague, the sniper shot through the café window, missing Valentin. Valentin grabbed Charlotte and took off, but when Lulu and Dante followed, all they found was Charlotte’s air tag in a nearby planter.

Michael told Sasha that he thought he and Willow were headed for divorce, and Sasha told Michael that she was pregnant, but she didn’t want him involved. Michael reluctantly agreed.

Drew talked Willow into coming to DC with him for his swearing in ceremony.

Alexis told Ava that the Cassadine money had really belonged to Spencer and now belonged to Ace.

Anna went to Jack’s hotel room, and he still insisted he had no information on Valentin. He got a call from Collette about Valentin escaping, and when he hung up, Anna tased him because she wanted his full attention. She told him that she knew he’d met Emma, and that Emma was off limits.

Moving on to Friday…

Prague, Czech Republic. Dante brings Lulu to her hotel room, and she tells him that he doesn’t have to stay. He escorted her back and she’s fine. He can go to his room. He says, so she can hit the streets as soon as he takes off? and she says she could promise that, but she’s not going to lie to him. He asks if she’s going to go to the town square and yell Charlotte’s name when she and Valentin are long gone. She says, thanks to him.

In a car parked somewhere, Charlotte asks if Valentin is sure he’s okay. He says he’s fine. How is she? She says she’s sorry. It’s all her fault.

Sasha comes into Michael’s office and says, she can go if he has something more important going on, but he says, nothing is more important, and asks her to have a seat. She sits, and he says he respects her decision to raise the baby alone, but he has to ask her to do something for him. Stay in Port Charles.

Nina goes to Curtis’s office and says she assumes he hasn’t spoken to Drew. He says, no and he doesn’t expect to. Nina says, he’s in Washington DC with her daughter.

At the penthouse, Isaiah advises Sonny to see Dr. Pasternak. His reputation as a cardiologist is excellent. Isaiah is still new to GH, but his referral should get Sonny in. Dr. Pasternak is usually booked up. Sonny says he’ll get checked out. Just so Isaiah knows, whoever he talks to needs to be discreet. Isaiah says, Sonny’s number one priority should be getting his heart looked at as soon as possible, when Jason comes in and says, good to see Isaish again.  

Lulu tells Dante that she promised to come alone. She kept her promise, but now she’s worried Charlotte thinks she’s a liar. Valentin certainly does. God only knows what he’s telling her. Charlotte hasn’t seen her in four years, and she’s been under the sole influence of her father. It was her one opportunity to regain Charlotte’s trust and Dante blew it to hell. Dante says he was trying to look out for her, and she says, did she ask him to? How did he find her anyway? He says he knows people, and she says, great. Just great. What gives him the right? She’s not lying helpless in a hospital bed. She doesn’t need a minder and he’s not her husband, but Charlotte is her daughter, and she’ll find Charlotte any way she damn well pleases.

Valentin says, none of this is Charlotte’s fault, but Charlotte says, he told her not to contact anyone back home. She texted Rocco and talked to her mom. She told her mom where they were. She did everything Valentin told her not to. Valentin says, her mother is awake after four years and Charlotte wanted to see her. It’s nobody’s fault. Charlotte says she was being stupid. When they were in the Christmas market, she saw families and thought it would be okay to text Merry Christmas to Rocco. Valentin says, she’s a fugitive because of the choices he made. She has to follow the rules to be safe on the run. She says she broke the rules, and he almost got killed. He says, she broke the rules because they’re not fair to her. What he’s asking her to do isn’t fair.  

Sasha tells Michael that part of her wants to stay. Even before she got pregnant, when she was pretending to be Nina’s daughter, she loved the fantasy of having a family. Now she has a family of her own and she’s starting to know them. She’d like the baby to know them too. He asks, what’s the problem? and she says, secrets have a way of coming out, so it’s best if she leaves Port Charles. She gets up, and he asks if it isn’t most important that the baby have a safe, stable life. It would be helpful to have family nearby, including himself. What about a medical crisis? Isn’t it better to have a support system in place? He won’t fight her on her decision. He’s just asking and he’s hoping she decides to stay.

Curtis says, Drew took Willow to his congressional swearing in? and Nina says, what could be more appropriate than Drew putting his hand on a Bible as Willow stares at him with stars in her eyes? Did she forget to mention that Willow brought Wiley? Drew couldn’t be more clear about his intentions. Curtis says, damn. What does Michael think? She says she doubts he knows yet, and Curtis says, she’s probably right. It’s a bold move to take Michael’s wife and son to his swearing in. He knows good and well that it’s a high-profile event and there will be press coverage. She says, what does he care if he blows up Willow’s life even more? She knows Curtis is the new CEO and understands he has more important things to worry about than Drew’s bad behavior. He says, Nina is still his friend. It’s not rocket science to know why she’s upset. Nina says, Drew will destroy Willow’s life. Willow doesn’t see what’s happening and Drew doesn’t care about the consequences. He’s not doing anything to protect Willow or her family. Curtis says, she’s not wrong. Drew will do what’s best for Drew. But they both know that’s not the only reason Nina is so upset.

Isaiah says he’s leaving, and Sonny thanks him for stopping by. He walks Isaiah to the door, and Isaiah leaves. Sonny says, Jason isn’t asking what’s wrong, and Jason says he figures Sonny will tell him if he wants him to know. Sonny says, something is wrong with his heart. He had an incident where his heart was racing and it didn’t slow down, but it passed. He had a twinge when he was with Kristina, but it passed, so he went to the gym and worked out. It felt like his chest was tightening like he never felt before and fell to his knees. He was trying to get his phone, when Dr. Gannon showed up. Jason says, good thing he was there. Sonny hasn’t gone to the hospital yet? Sonny says, no, and Jason says he can arrange for Sonny to go to a private out of state hospital, but Sonny says he thinks they’re overreacting. Isaiah gave him a prescription. Jason says, he can’t mess around with his heart. Isaiah isn’t a cardiologist. He needs to see a specialist. Sonny says he’ll see one eventually. This was a wake-up call, and he has to change how he runs the business.

Curtis says, Nina played a key role in Drew getting elected. Is any part of her pissed that it’s not her standing there? Nina says she wants no part of DC. Drew thinks he can do whatever he wants with whomever wants. She thought there was more to him than that. Curtis says, as did he. He considered Drew a good friend for a long time. He risked his life for Drew and now he’s had to reframe his perspective. Nina wonders what happened. Is Drew so slick he fooled them both or did he change? Curtis says, he definitely changed. He doesn’t know if it was prison or Drew becoming a politician. They can analyze it all night, but Drew is who he is now. The same man who’s willing to sleep with his nephew’s wife and throw him under the bus at Aurora. Nina says she’s sorry. Drew let them all down. Curtis says, he certainly did. Drew isn’t the man they thought he was and he’s going to deal with Drew the way he is now. He strongly suggests she do the same.

Sasha asks if Michael has thought about what happens with him and Willow if she stays. What if they decide to save their marriage? Michael tells her not to let him impact her decision. Let him worry about that. She says, and the Quartermaines. She’s already dreading telling them. They’ll all assume Cody is the father, and when she convinces them that he’s not, they’re going to wonder who is. What does she do? Lie and say it was some random guy she met in a bar? Tracy will love that. He says, it’s no one’s business. They’ll have to respect her privacy. She asks when the Quartermaines have respected privacy. She doesn’t know if she can keep working there and she can’t keep living there. He says, no problem. He can take care of that.

Valentin says, Charlotte admitted she contacted her mother. She trusted him with the truth. She says, because she loves him. She doesn’t want them to keep secrets from each other. He says, when she told him, he should have moved them to a new place, taken them underground. She asks why he didn’t, and he says he wanted this for her. They’ve been praying for this for years and he wanted her to see her mother. It’s his mistake believing Lulu would come alone. She asks if he thinks Lulu is responsible for this nightmare.

Dante asks if Lulu is hearing herself. She came to Prague to meet Charlotte and convince her to go home. Did she think Charlotte was going be ready with her passport? She says she doesn’t think Valentin would let Charlotte go around without proof of identification. She’s sure Charlotte had it with her. He asks if she was sure Valentin wasn’t watching them, but she says, it doesn’t matter. She was this close to Valentin letting Charlotte go with her. He asks what she’s basing that on, and she says, Valentin knew Charlotte was going to see her. Charlotte told him and he gave her permission. Dante says, because he wanted to look like the good guy, and Lulu would look like the bad guy trying to tear Charlotte away. He was manipulating them. Lulu says she was getting through to Valentin. He could see that her taking Charlotte home instead of her having a life on the run was the right thing to do. Dante says, Valentin was playing her.

Michael says, if Sasha doesn’t have the finances, he does, but she says, that’s a firm no. She intends to raise the baby on her own and she’s not asking him for a check. He says, she’s not asking; he’s offering. Before she says, no… She says she did, and he asks if she’ll reconsider. If she has money, it will mean a better life for the baby. She says she can and will raise the baby independently. She promises the baby will have a happy, healthy home and she’ll provide everything he or she needs. They’ll want for nothing, especially love. He says he believes her and in her, but if she finds herself needing anything, promise she’ll reach out. She thanks him and says she knows he means it. She’ll stay in Port Charles. He thanks her, and she says he makes some excellent points. He says, she’s a good negotiator, and she says she had inside information that she already knew the baby’s father is a great guy. He thanks her and she says if she had to get accidently pregnant, she’s glad it’s with him. He says, him too, and thanks her for staying.  

Nina says she sees who Drew is, but Willow doesn’t. She’s spellbound and doesn’t realize he’s responsible for blowing up her life. She’s falling for his act, his noble façade and longing looks, pretending he’s pining away for her. Please. If she only knew everything. He says, Nina could clear things up for Willow. There’s crucial information missing, but he’s sure Nina could provide something to make her see Drew more clearly.

Sonny says, there’s nothing like lying on the floor, helpless, thinking, what happens to his children if he dies? He thought it could be Nixon Falls all over again. Jason says, everyone thought Sonny was dead. He and Carly had to step up and take care of the business. Sonny says, Carly almost went to prison, and Jason says, it’s over. They managed. Right now, business should take a backseat, and Sonny should focus on his treatment. Sonny says he knows Jason can run the business short term, but he’s talking long term. They have to think about what’s coming.

Lulu says she doesn’t need to trust Valentin, and Dante asks if she thought Valentin would let her take off with Charlotte. The same guy who’s been fighting to keep Charlotte to himself for her whole life. She says, Valentin has changed, but Dante says, he hasn’t. She says, Dante didn’t hear him and didn’t see his face. He was a heartbeat away from letting her leave with Charlotte. He says, it’s lucky Charlotte didn’t watch her father die, and she says, the sniper followed Dante. Dante says, she doesn’t really believe that, does she? She was the one tearing through Europe, telling anyone who would listen that she was going after Valentin Cassadine. And she doesn’t think she was on anybody’s radar? The sniper hit five minutes after he got there. Does she think that was enough time for them to trail him, get in position, and take a shot? He’s sorry, but the sniper was following her.

Valentin says he doesn’t think Charlotte’s mother tried to kill him, and Charlotte asks if he’s sure. He says he thinks she’d enlist Dante’s help to get Charlotte back, but doesn’t think she’s responsible for the attempt on his life. He thinks she was followed. Charlotte asks how he knows, and he says, because it would hurt Charlotte, and that’s something Lulu would never do. But there are people who want to see her harmed. That’s why they have to keep running, to stay alive, but she doesn’t have to stay with him.

Sasha goes to the hospital and asks for an appointment with Dr. Navarro. The nurse at the reception desk asks if she’s been a patient, and Sasha says she was. Sasha Corbin. The nurse brings up her chart and says she can make an appointment, but needs to advise Sasha that there have been changes in the prenatal program since she was last here. The patient advocate can update her. Felicia comes by, and the nurse calls to her. Felicia asks if she can help Sasha, and Sasha says, yeah. She thinks Felicia can.

Nina asks how Curtis knows she and Drew were sleeping together. Did Drew tell him? He says, no. She just did. She told him that there could be more between her and Drew, and they’ve been spending more time together. It’s not a far jump. She says, they’re consenting adults and she has nothing to be ashamed of, but he tells her that he’s not saying she did. He’s saying the situation is layered. Drew bridged the gap between her and Willow. She asks if he’s saying she should be grateful that Drew brought them together and ignore that Drew blew up Willow’s married life. Does he think she’s an opportunist? Curtis says he’s not judging, but wants her to be realistic about herself and her daughter. She says, Willow wouldn’t be living with her if Drew hadn’t put it in motion. She thinks Willow is better off without Michael, but should absolutely not be with Drew. But she can’t make Willow see that. Curtis says he knows one way. Tell Willow the truth.

Lulu says, if Dante is convinced the sniper followed her, that means Valentin is being hunted with guns. Charlotte is in danger, and she has to save her. She heads for the door, but Dante stops her. She asks, what should she do, give up? Let Charlotte stay and hope they keep ahead of whoever wants Valentin dead? He says, no. He’s not telling her to give up. He’s saying, let the professionals handle it. She just got her life back and has a son who loves and misses her. She should be grateful for that right now. She says she is grateful. She loves Rocco, but she’s also Charlotte’s mother. Rocco is safe in Port Charles. She can’t stop until Charlotte is home and safe with him.  

Sonny tells Jason that he was five minutes away from going to prison. Jagger was threatening Kristina, and he was ready to confess to the whole shebang. Jason says, he didn’t, and Cates is no longer a problem. Sonny says, there are other problems. Who brought the gun to the PCPD that cleared Alexis of Cates’s murder? Who found his gun and turned it in and why? Jason says, it was too convenient, and Sonny says he just wants to know his children are taken care of. He gave Charlie’s to Kristina. Jason says he heard, and Sonny says, Alexis is worried that it will put Kristina in the spotlight, and it will be audited. Jason says, that’s going to happen. The coffee business gets audited all the time and they pass. And there’s no way Sonny would use his kids. Sonny says, the Feds don’t know that. He’s tired of being a burden to his kids. Jason says he doesn’t think Sonny’s kids think that. They love him and need him. Sonny says he knows. He thinks it’s time to take a step back and hand the business to Jason.  

Jason says, Sonny wants to hand the business to him? and Sonny says, there’s nobody else he trusts to maintain it. Jason has always been in his corner, and he could count on him. He appreciates that. Jason says he’ll always be loyal to Sonny and can be Sonny’s second. He can step up anytime and run the business on a short-term basis, but he’s sorry. He can’t take over the organization.

Felicia says, anything Sasha wants to discuss is protected by HIPPA, and Sasha says she appreciates that. She wants Felicia to know what’s going on. She’s pregnant. She adds quickly, Cody’s not the father, and Felicia says, good to know. How does she feel? Sasha says, nervous… excited. She’s moving forward with the pregnancy. Felicia asks if Sasha minds if she takes a few notes. She assumes Sasha is here because she wants to register for prenatal care. Will the father be involved? Sasha says she’s doing it all on her own, and Felicia says, okay. That’s perfectly fine. They usually access the father’s medical records, but that’s not always possible. The priority is to make sure Sasha feels cared for and she and her baby are supported.

Nina tells Curtis that she can’t just say she forgot to mention she and Drew are sleeping together, but Curtis says he’s sure she’ll find a tactful way. She says, no amount of tact will help her tell Willow that she and Drew are sleeping together while Willow follows him with stars in her eyes. What kills her is that she was so grateful to Drew for bringing her and Willow together, she didn’t see that Drew did it to make himself look good. Now he’s brazenly pursuing Willow and parading her around town, and there’s nothing she can do to stop it. Michael walks in and says, stop what? Nina says she’s not sure if Michael heard, but Willow brought Wiley to Drew’s swearing in ceremony. Willow thought it would be nice for Wiley to see the monuments and see how the political system works. Amelia is with the nanny and Nina is going home soon. Michael says, that’s fine. He wants to talk to Curtis about the projections and the Tokyo project when he has a minute. (I want to know what the Tokyo project is. They’ve talked about it enough.) Curtis says, sure, and Michael leaves. Nina says, that’s strange. He didn’t react at all to the news about Drew and Willow. Curtis says, that should concern her.

Lulu says, Dante is making this about her choosing between her children, but he says, not really. Charlotte chose Valentin, while for the last four years, Rocco has been by Lulu’s bedside willing her to wake up. When she did, she traveled halfway around the world to another continent. She says, to find Rocco’s sister and bring her home. Is he telling her that he wouldn’t do the exact same thing? He says he would, but not like this. Valentin is flying under the radar, but if she keeps chasing him, she’s going to bring attention to him, and it could cause Charlotte to get shot. She says, Charlotte was already shot, and it was kept from her. Valentin told her about Anna shooting Charlotte. Dante says, it was a horrible accident. Right now, it’s her choice to protect Charlotte and not bring her harm. She asks if he thinks she’d knowingly bring harm to Charlotte, and he says he doesn’t. He feels like she’s not hearing him. She traveled here with a sniper trailing her. She could have died. That’s what life is like in Valentin’s world. She says, all the more reason to get her daughter away, and he asks if she’s willing to risk her life. Her son lost her once. He’s not going to let Rocco lose her again.  

Valentin says he watched Charlotte with her mother. They both looked so happy. Charlotte says, it was weird at first, forced. It’s been so long since she’s seen Lulu awake. After they got going, it was great. They talked about Rocco, grandma, and the rest of the family. That’s what she thinks she misses the most, talking and spending time together. He says, she deserves moments like that. She doesn’t have to stay with him. She can go home to her mother.

Felicia says she’ll make sure Sasha gets an appointment with Dr. Navarro as soon as possible, and Sasha thanks her. Felicia says, no pressure, but Sasha should consider telling her parents. Robert is an excellent grandfather. Sasha says she’s not sure how her mother feels about being a grandmother, and Felicia says, Holly might surprise her. Sasha says she’ll think about it. They’ve got a lot on their plate. Maxie knows. She was the first person Sasha told. Felicia says she’s glad Sasha had someone to talk to. She knows Sasha said she wants to do this on her own,  but she has a family who loves her and they’re more than happy to support her. Speaking of which, she needs an emergency contact. Who should she put down? Sasha wonders if Maxie would do it, and Felicia says she’s sure Maxie would, but can’t speak for her. She’ll put herself down for now. Sasha says she likes that.  

Curtis tells Nina that his Aunt Stella says, still waters run deep. That’s Michael. Drew made a big mistake in making Michael the enemy. Nina says, Willow could be collateral damage if she stays close to Drew, and Curtis says, exactly. He knows Nina loves her daughter and she’s worried if she tells Willow the truth about her and Drew that she’ll lose her, but his advice is to come clean now. Secrets are ticking time bombs. The longer she lets it play out, the bigger the explosion will be.  

In his office, Michael looks at his phone. He sees a photo of Willow and Drew in The Invader. He calls Diane and says, Willow went to Washington DC with Drew and took Wiley without his permission. Can they use that?

Jason says, Sam’s death changed everything. Danny had a stable home with her and Dante. That’s not the case anymore. Sonny says, Jason is his only parent, and Jason says, Danny lost his mom and he’s putting Danny first. He deserves that and more, but on a practical level, that leaves Sonny without anyone to handle the organization. Sonny says, there’s nobody responsible enough for him to do that.

Valentin says he’ll put Charlotte on a flight back to Port Charles, but she can’t contact him. She says, if she’s with her mom, she’ll never see him, but if she’s with him, she’ll never see mom? He says, that appears to be the choice. He’s sorry. They both love her, but they have different situations. She says, her mom has Rocco, Dante, grandma, and so many others who love her. They only have each other. That’s how it’s been from the start. She wants to stay with him. He asks if she’s sure, and she says she is. He hugs her, and she says she can’t leave him. He says, okay then, and starts the car.

Lulu says she’s not going to agree to head back and let them handle it, and Dante says, that’s it? Nothing he said made a damn bit of difference. She says, it’s her life, and he says he gets that. It doesn’t matter who sacrificed theirs so she could have it. Sam died so she could have her life. She says, that’s not fair, and he says, she wants to talk fair? Sam is dead, his fiancé and the mother of two kids, the woman who helped him raise Rocco when Lulu couldn’t. She’s dead and Lulu is about to risk everything Sam saved. Her son is with her and she’s going to throw that away. She doesn’t care about any of it. Lulu says she’s grateful Sam died for her and she’s sorry about what he’s going through, but this is still her life. She makes her choices and she’s going to fight for her children. He says, anything she does will put Charlotte at risk or she can come home to the son who doesn’t matter so much to her anymore. He leaves, and Lulu throws a vase at the door and screams, dammit!

On Monday, Carly wonders if Willow has lost her mind; Willow is worried about Michael taking the kids from her; Portia tells Cyrus that he’s no longer welcome at the hospital; and Jack tells Collette that if Charlotte led them to Valentin once, she’ll do it again.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

He’s got some selfcare to do.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-reveals-why-he-left-general-hospital

This is a tease all right. He got headshots. So he has an audition?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-teases-his-new-project

Farewell to the first Carmine.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-alum-john-capodice-dead-at-83

How they celebrated.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/see-how-your-favorite-soap-stars-celebrated-new-years

🧵 Sew Charming…

This week’s recap. Patricia looks amazing for 108. Her age words, not mine. She also looks amazing for 83, her real age.

Here’s hoping Craig doesn’t regress. He’s kind of been the voice of reason since Paige came along.

👠 A Celebrity In Her Own Mind…

This woman is the worst.

😢 Sniff…

I’m sorry to hear this. They seemed like a great couple.

https://people.com/trixie-mattel-david-silver-break-up-after-8-years-dating-8679753

👀 Last Night’s Watch…

I finished this last night and now I’ve started on the book. It started slow, but once it picked up speed, I was all in, and it didn’t disappoint. I love an apocalypse.

https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/mgms-earth-abides-is-a-quietly-compelling-take-on-rebuilding-humanity-from-scratch.php

💻 What’s To Come…

What’s new for 2025.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/2025-new-tv-shows

🎅 Christmas Leftovers…

Amazing winter photos.

https://www.discovery.com/nature/get-in-the-holiday-spirit-in-this-winter-waterland-pictures

Christmas traditions all over the world.

https://www.discovery.com/exploration/6-global-christmas-traditions-pictures

Visit Santa’s hometown.

https://www.discovery.com/exploration/visit-santa-s-hometown-in-finnish-lapland

🎉 How They Rang It In…

How the stars celebrated New Year’s Eve.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20250102_b4a16a250c4a49fd99dc3fbe49873fb6/

https://people.com/best-photos-stars-celebrating-new-year-2025-8767787

🗽 Having a Ball…

Waiting for the drop.

What happens in Times Square stays in The Post.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/31/world-news/new-years-2025-live-updates-photos-from-nyc-around-the-world/

🐶 Piffles All Over Again…

While it might not exactly be the same dog, it’s still amazing.

https://ew.com/queer-eye-dog-mr-piffles-cloned-by-magician-owner-piff-the-magic-dragon-8767593

My Cuddle Clone of Ralph

🃏 A Joke…

What does a polar bear eat after the dentist fixes his tooth?

The dentist.

🔊 Quotes of the Week

A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure. – Bernard Iddings Bell

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

Those aren’t glasses. They’re aquariums with stems. – Molly (Melissa McCarthy), Mike & Molly

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. – Richard Bach

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around. – Unknown

Understudies are the substitute teachers of the theatre world. – Kramer (Michael Richards), Seinfeld

📆 Turning the Page…

Join me next Friday for soap and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe; stay leaving the problems of 2024 behind; and stay remembering that secrets are ticking time bombs. The longer you let them play out, the bigger the explosion will be.

December 13, 2024 – Another Patient Flatlines At GH, Soap Suds, VanderLockUp, Extra Charm, More Pilaf Please, Practically 10 Quotes & Hollis

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

The restaurant manager tells Ava that her card has been declined. Does she have another card she’d like to try? Ava says she doesn’t understand. These cards should definitely work. Ric says, what about his? and the manager says, the second card Ric gave him has also been declined. Ava says, what is going on? and the manager says, they have a $179 bill before gratuities and now it seems they have no way to pay.

Dante and two other officers kick in the door at Windymere and find Lulu in the living room. She raises her hands and says, don’t shoot, officer. She smiles at Dante.

At the Quartermaines’, everyone is cheering the game, when Tracy turns it off. She says, it’s giving her a headache, and they yell for her to turn it back on. She messes with the phone and brings up the video of Willow and Drew getting busy instead. Everyone is shocked, but Tracy laughs out loud and Ned chuckles. Drew says, turn it off, but Tracy says, oh no. Let it play.

Drew shuts off the TV, and Ned says, they’d all thought he’d sunk as low as possible when he kissed Willow. Little did they know he was having sex with her, his nephew’s wife, in his daughter’s nursery. His father would be so proud. Drew tells him, back off. It’s none of his business. Ned says, Drew made it his business when he did that in this house, and Olivia says, that’s enough. Willow looks sick, and Tracy tells Nina, her daughter sleeping with the man she’s gotten so close to must really sting. Josslyn wonders how Willow could do that to Michael, and Trina says she didn’t think Drew was the kind of guy to mess with a married woman. Gio says, wait until Uncle Sonny hears about this. Drew is a dead man.

The manager asks if there’s another card Ric would like to try, but Ric says he’s down to his library card. The manager says he’s sure someday they’ll all look back on this and laugh, but today is not that day. Ric says he already made a few purchases against the check Ava gave him and now he’s overdrawn. (Seriously? He has no money saved?) He asks if there’s another form of payment they can accept. Maybe they can do dishes. Ava says she doesn’t wash dishes at home. She’s certainly not going to do them here. The manager says, maybe it’s time for him to call the police and have them sort it out, but Ava says, that’s not going to be necessary. It’s not a simple case of dine and dash here, especially not in these shoes. The manager says, they’re quite nice, but they won’t cover the bill, and Ava says, there’s been a bit of an unexpected hiccup here. They’ve called some people. Please just give them a little bit more time. Lucas walks in and says he got here as soon as he could. What’s going on? The manager says, his friends have run up quite a large bill and have no way to pay for it. He’s hoping that’s what Lucas is here for. Lucas hands him a credit card, and the manager says, hopefully, this one will go through. He leaves, and Lucas says, please tell him this isn’t why Ava had him rush over here.

Dante tells the officers that they can holster their weapons and asks them to hit the lights. He knows who this is. She’s only a danger to herself, maybe. Lulu says, hilarious, and Dante says he’s got this. He’ll see them back at the station. And call Windymere’s alarm company. Tell them that everything is working fine. It’s a false alarm. One of the officers says, they’ll call when they get back to the boat, and Dante asks him to send the boat back for them. They leave, and Dante says, no broken glass anywhere. How did she get in? She says, he knows her dad taught her how to pick locks before he taught her how to ride a bike, and he asks what she’s doing here. She knows there’s nothing but bad memories in this place. She says, Valentin and Charlotte lived here. She’s praying they left something behind that will help her find them, because she’s going to find her daughter and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop her.

Josslyn, Gio, and Trina go into the foyer, and Josslyn says she doesn’t really want to leave, but Trina says she thinks it’s best that they let the people involved talk. Josslyn says, but he’s her brother, and Trina says, yes, and he might need her later. For now, she thinks it’s best if they stay out here. Gio says he agrees with Trina, and Josslyn sighs and says, fine.

Carly hugs Michael, and Tracy says, Drew is every bit as despicable as she thought he was. Drew tells her to get off her moral high horse. Everyone knows her precious Ned slept with his aunt while she was still married. Ned says he had no idea Monica was his aunt when he slept with her, and Drew asks if he had any idea he was married to Lois when he and Kathryn Bell tied the knot. Ned says, that was a long time ago and Lois forgave him, and Drew says, that was her mistake. Brook tells him to keep her mother’s name out of his mouth. She’s not here to defend herself, but she can get Lois on the phone if he’d like to hear how she feels. Chase says, it’s probably best if no one calls anyone right now, and Brook says, fine, but if Drew says one more word about her mom… Ned says, the golden boy, thinking he was better than everyone else. Oh how the mighty have fallen – right on top of his nephew’s wife. Drew says, if he has to tell Ned to back off one more time, it’s going to get ugly, but Tracy says she thinks they passed ugly right around the time they saw Willow on top of him. Willow goes over to Michael and says, everyone else was shocked. He’s the one who took that video, isn’t he?

Michael says, Willow is right. He recorded it, accidentally. He wanted to check on the new nanny they hired, so he bought a nanny cam. He got a notification on his phone about activity in the nursery and when he checked his phone, that’s what he saw. She says she was with Drew that one time, on the day that Sam died, which means he’s had that video for weeks. Why did he play it now in front of everyone? She starts to cry and asks, why did he do this? Carly says she’s sorry, but Willow is cheating on Michael and trying to make it seem like it’s his fault? After everything he’s done for her, how could she treat him like this? Michael says, let him handle this, but Carly says she’s not going to let Willow try to gaslight him into thinking it’s his fault. Willow says, that’s not what she’s doing. She knows she was wrong. She gave in to her feelings for Drew and she regrets it more than she can say. But Michael has known she and Drew slept together for weeks, and he didn’t say anything. Why? Michael says, because he wanted to wait until after the holidays. He wanted the kids to have one more Christmas together as a family.

Ava thanks Lucas for coming and says she’s so sorry she had to call him. It really was an emergency. Lucas says, an emergency is when someone has a heart attack, not when you can’t pay for dinner, and Ava says, that very judgmental man Lucas just gave his credit card to was about to call the police. She was just acquitted of killing a baby. She can’t have any more run-ins with the law. Lucas says, that makes sense, when the manager comes back. He gives Lucas back his card, thanks him, and says, his card went through without a hitch. He leaves, and Ava asks if Lucas would like to stay and help them finish this dinner he so generously paid for. Lucas says, normally, he hates being a third wheel, but he didn’t have a chance to eat when he was at the hospital, so he’s going to take her up on that. He pulls a chair over and asks the manager if he can get a menu and another bottle of champagne. The manager holds out his hand, and Lucas says, oh, getting his card out again. The manager says, of course (🍷), sir, and Lucas sits down.

Dante tells Lulu, no other people have lived here since Valentin and Charlotte. (Huh? Weren’t Nikolas and Ava the last ones who lived there?) He’s sure whatever was theirs is long gone by now. She says, he’s probably right, but she’s going to tear this house apart board by board if there’s even the slightest chance of something that can help her find her daughter. He says, maybe don’t tell the cop about the future crimes she’s planning on committing, and she says, he’s off the hook. She’s already searched Windymere’s poorly maintained and not so secret tunnels. She didn’t find anything. He says he gets it. They all have someone they love so much, they’re willing to do anything for them. Even coming back to a place that gives you nightmares. She says, people make all kinds of sacrifices for love. Some people care about someone so much, they’re willing to do anything for them, even give their own life if it comes down to it. He says, doesn’t he know it, and she says she’s so sorry. He must hate her so much.

Dante says he doesn’t hate Lulu. He never could. Why would she say something like that? She says, Lucky told her about Sam being her donor, and he says he wanted to tell her about that. It was just crazy. There was a lot going on and she woke up with no warning. She says, her waking up from a four-year coma required a warning? and he says, it would have been good to get a heads up. He could have prepared things like clothes, and food, and Rocco. She says she was so focused on how weird everything was for her. She’s sorry. She didn’t even think about how crazy it was for him and Rocco. He says, crazy doesn’t even scratch the surface. When he saw her, he wanted to ask her a lot of things. There were a lot of things he wanted to tell her. She says, he must have been overwhelmed. She was. But she appreciates him not dumping four years of life on her all at once. He says he wanted to tell her about Sam, and she says she understands why he didn’t. It would have been hard to handle learning that Sam died saving her while her head was spinning. But she knows that now and it’s obvious how much Sam loved him. He says, she did, but she didn’t help Lulu because of him and Rocco. That’s just who she was. She says, his expression changes when he talks about her. It’s also obvious how much he loved Sam. He says he still does. He just can’t believe she’s gone. But he wants her to know he’s happy she’s awake, and it’s just really challenging to balance that with losing Sam. She puts her hand on his arm and says she knows he and Rocco are grieving. And she understands what her waking up cost Sam… and him.

Josslyn says she already knows how this is going to play out. Michael is just going to forgive Willow for cheating on him. Trina says, it’s Michael’s life. He’s the only one who gets to choose how he handles this. Josslyn says she doesn’t want to see him get hurt again. She’s got to get out of here. She can’t look at Drew’s smug face anymore. She’s going to see Dex in the hospital. She leaves, and Gio says he thinks he’s had enough of this Quartermaine party time too. He’s going to go practice now. Trina says she’s probably going to work on her Art History project… On second thought, does he still have that all-access stadium pass he got when he was playing the National Anthem earlier? He says, yeah. Why?

Chase, Brook, and Sasha walk into the nook, Sasha carrying a plate of hors d’oeuvres. She puts it on the table and says, might as well dig in. Chase says, thanks, and Brook says, that was quite a party. She really thought Drew was different, but he’s really living up to the Quartermaine name. Chase asks what she means, and Brook says, fidelity isn’t exactly a top priority for the Quartermaines and they sleep with people they’re not married to. Not her. Obviously. She takes Chase’s arm and says, lucky for him, loyalty and fidelity mean everything to the Cerullos and she’s a Cerullo through and through. He says he’s glad, but he wasn’t worried in the least. Because he knows her and what kind of person she is and he has complete faith in her. They kiss and he says he has been thinking about something though. Maybe he and Sasha shouldn’t have played God with Michael and Willow’s lives all those years ago. Maybe Michael and Willow were never meant to be together.

Willow says she wanted the same thing, one more Christmas as a family. She was going to tell Michael after. Carly says, well, thank God Tracy spared her from having to tell Michael that she slept with his uncle, and Olivia says, okay. They can all stop judging each other. There are no saints in this room. Carly says, is she kidding? What if it were Dante whose life was blown apart? Olivia says she thinks Michael can speak for himself, and Carly says, Willow had an amazing life with Michael. He supported her career. He took care of her when she was sick. He gave her a family and she threw it away. Willow walks out, and Carly tells Drew, and you, you son of a bitch. She knew Jason had a reason for going after him. Jason knew he slept with Willow, didn’t he? He finally found someone who would put him first, even if it meant destroying a family. She hopes it was worth it. He says he’s not going to talk about this in front of the entire family, and Tracy laughs. She says, but he was willing to sleep with Willow in this house where anyone could have walked in on them. He involved them in his tawdriness, so he doesn’t get to keep anything private. Ned says, she’s right, and Tracy says, even his father Alan, with his terrible taste in women and string of sordid affairs, never would have stooped this low. He never would have slept with his nephew’s wife.

Carly goes upstairs, and Drew says, this wasn’t anything that he planned. A woman he once loved, the mother of his child, had just died (getting out my tiny violin) and he was a wreck. He was falling apart and Willow reached out to him. Ned says, I’ll say she did, and Drew says, shut your damn mouth. What happened between him and Willow is between them. It’s none of his damn business. Tracy says she thinks they already determined that it is, and Drew says, just stay out of his life. Please. She says, gladly. And by the way, she thinks he should move to DC now, because once Monica finds out that he slept with Michael’s wife, she’s going to kick him out. And they’re going to leak the video and show the whole world what a low life he is. Drew says, they can do whatever they want to him. Just don’t hurt Willow. Michael says, so now he’s worried about how his actions will affect Willow.

Sasha says she doesn’t see it that way. Michael and Willow wouldn’t have been together this long if there wasn’t something real between them. Chase says, that’s true, and Sasha says she really tries not to judge people and doesn’t want to think badly of Willow, but she’s really struggling to understand why she would cheat on Michael with Drew. Brook says she was shocked too, but he did save Willow’s life by bringing Leisl Obrecht back to Port Charles. It had to change the way she feels about him. Sasha says, that’s understandable, but Willow has this starry-eyed view of Drew. If Drew was the decent guy he wants everyone to think he is, he would have been flattered and left it at that. Brook says, Willow’s a big girl. She’s responsible for her actions too. Chase says, there’s plenty of blame to go around here. Sasha says, none of it is Michael’s, or her and Chase’s for something they did years ago.

Dante says he should have told Lulu about Sam a lot sooner. He’s sorry about that. He didn’t want it to affect her health negatively. She says, he has nothing to feel guilty about, and he says, not about Sam, but he messed up when she went into that coma. She asks, how? and he says he didn’t keep Rocco and Charlotte together. He just let Valentin take her. She says, that would have been next to impossible to get custody of Charlotte. Remember how hard they fought the first time? And she wouldn’t have been there to help. He says, yeah. Valentin is her father, and she wanted to be with him. She says, none of this is his fault. It’s Valentin’s. He manipulated Charlotte so she would never want to get to know the Spencer side of the family. He says his mom kept her close to the Spencers, and she says she’s glad Valentin at least allowed that to happen. But he’s still keeping the fact that she’s awake away from her daughter. She hates that, because of him, she can’t tell Charlotte that she loves her. It does feel like a piece of her is missing without Charlotte here. He says, they’re both going through a lot right now. He’s grieving Sam. He’s going to be doing that the rest of his life. But right now, she’s looking for Charlotte and that’s what’s important right now. So if she wants to tear Windymere apart top to bottom, he’s here to do that with her.

At the stadium, a reporter congratulates Tai on the PCU victory and says, but for most of the game, it looked like a stunning defeat. How did he pull off this win? Kai says, a lot of credit goes to their offensive line. Their defense is great too. They kept him in the game until he could figure out a way to get the ball into the endzone. The reporter says, he certainly did that. Congratulations again and good luck in the upcoming Bowl game. Kai thanks him, and the reporter says, that’s quarterback Kai, taking PCU to their first Bowl game ever. He and Kai shake hands, he thanks Kai and leaves with the camera crew. Kai sees Trina and asks if he should alert security that there’s an intruder in the tunnels. She says, very funny, but no. Her friend just played the National Anthem and gave her his pass. He says, the guy with the violin. He was amazing. Trina says, that’s sweet. She’ll tell him that Kai said that. Kai says, please do. He didn’t expect to see her today, especially not down here. She says she just came to congratulate him, and he says, on their Art History project? She says, no, but she did read what he sent her, and she thought it was amazing. She came to congratulate him on the game. He says he thought football wasn’t her thing, and she says, it wasn’t, but she watched it with some people who are totally into it and they were losing it over his performance. And that was just in someone’s living room, so she can’t imagine what it’s like when he’s playing in an actual stadium. He says, it’s very, very loud, and she says she bets. He had a lot of people rooting for him and he was amazing.

Josslyn comes out of the hospital elevator and doesn’t see anyone around. She hears beeping and Isaiah asking for vitals and saying, continue chest compressions. She goes to Dex’s room and listens at the door. She opens it and sees Isaiah using the defibrillator on Dex. Anna comes up behind Josslyn and says, come with me.

Kai says he was just doing his thing, and Trina says, maybe, but his thing is incredibly difficult. She’s been really hard on him and she’s sorry. He says, no. She’s been calling him out on things he needed to be called out on. He’s glad she held him to high standards. Because of her, he looked into his class schedule and discovered things he never would have known. So he’s grateful actually. She says, that’s nice considering she guilted him into staying up all night and working on their project. He was so exhausted, he almost got killed on the field today. She’s sorry. He says, that’s not why he didn’t play well for most of the game. Llanview’s defensive ends are some of the best in the league. They did a good job of keeping PCU’s offense from finding its rhythm. She says, it all sounds like gibberish to her, and he says he remembers. Football’s not her thing. She says, it isn’t, but she’d like to learn more about it today. Starting with everything he just said. Something about defensive enders? He says, defensive ends, and she says, sounds like a good place to start.

Anna tells Josslyn that she stopped by to check on Dex. When she got to his room, they were already working on him. Josslyn says, but she was just talking to him on the phone. Like, just now. They were talking and laughing and joking. Anna says, when she just talked to him, he was fine too, and Josslyn says, maybe it’s a reaction to one of his medications. Maybe he’s in anaphylactic shock. He could have a blood clot. They were using the defibrillator which has to do with the heart. Anna says, they’re just guessing right now. The best thing to do – she knows it’s hard – is to wait for his doctor to come out and tell them. Josslyn says, yeah, but seeing him like that… Anna suggests they just focus on him having the best of care. She’s going to call Josslyn’s mom. She starts to make the call, and Josslyn says, Dex is so young and healthy. She was told that the injury wasn’t even that serious, so he’s going to be fine. He’s recovered from a lot worse. So he’s going to be fine now. She knows he’s going to be fine. Anna puts down the phone and smooths Josslyn’s hair.

Ava thanks Lucas for rushing over. She’s going to pay him back as soon as she gets things straightened out with her bank. Lucas asks if she’s having problems with them, and she says she assumes so. She’s waiting for a call back from her business manager. Everything was fine yesterday. Now her credit cards don’t work, her debit cards don’t work, nothin’. Ric says his accounts are frozen too. Probably because the check Ava gave him for his legal services bounced. (I’m not getting how Ric has no money other than that check.) Lucas asks if Ava thinks her identity was stolen. That’s been happening a lot these days. Ava says, who on earth would want her identity right now? She’s so sorry she disrupted Lucas’s night. She’s sure he has better things to do than come here. He says he had plans, but she seemed desperate, and he had the feeling he wasn’t her first call. She says, he wasn’t, but he’s the only one who came.

Lulu and Dante walk into the living room, Dante carrying a box. She says she knew she’d find something to lead her to Charlotte, but he tells her not to get her hopes up. She says, that’s the Cassadine crest, and he says, it is, but this could belong to Nikolas or Victor or Spencer. Ava lived here. This could be hers. She says, that’s why they have to get it open, and she knows he’s curious about what’s in there too. He says he guesses he wouldn’t mind seeing, and she picks the lock. She says, got it, and opens the box. She takes out a sparkly top and smells it. She says, this was Charlotte’s, and holds it to her chest. She takes out a toy horse and says she got Charlotte this. She loves horses and she wanted to get Charlotte one that she could carry around and play with. She searched all over for the perfect gift because she wanted Charlotte to like her. She just left it here. He says he thinks she’s looking at it the wrong way. She kept it. It’s got to mean something.

Nina and Willow go into the gatehouse, and Nina says, Willow can stay at her place for the night, or maybe a few nights. Willow says she doesn’t think she can do this. She doesn’t want to take Wiley and Amelia away from Michael, not without telling him first. Nina says, listen to her. They have to play this smart, really smart. Michael is one of the richest, most powerful men in the state. He has connections on both sides of the law. He is a Quartermaine and a Spencer and a Corinthos. All those people are going to take his side and go against her. This is going to get ugly. Willow says, Michael would never do anything to hurt his children, and Nina says, he’d do everything to protect them. Willow says, from her? and Nina says, this is war. If Willow wants any chance of getting custody or even seeing her children ever again, she’ll go get them right now.

Michael says, the time to worry about Willow would have been before Drew slept with her, and Tracy says, Michael’s right. Where was Drew’s concern when he was playing footsie with Michael’s wife? Drew tells them that he’s just saying he doesn’t want Willow dragged into a scandal. He doesn’t want Scout to read about this online when she’s still grieving her mother. Olivia says she agrees with Drew, and Tracy asks if she’s out of her mind. Olivia says, that footage goes public, it only hurts innocent people, and Tracy says, that footage didn’t look innocent to her. Olivia says she’s talking about the kids. Amelia and Wiley, and as Drew just pointed out, Scout just lost her mother. She’s gone through more than any human should have to go through. If this gets out, she will certainly hear about it, and it’s the last thing that kid needs. Whatever blowback Drew deserves, the children do not deserve this, and Tracy knows she’s right. She and Tracy leave, and Drew tells Michael that he knows how badly this footage could play out. For him, absolutely, but for everyone. That’s out of his hands now. It’s up to Michael.

Kai teaches Trina some football stuff, and she says she wants to learn. That way, she’ll know what people are talking about the next time she watches a game. He says, so there’s going to be a next time? She says, yeah, sure, and he says, she’s just in time. They only have one more game and it’s going to be a big one. She says, bigger than this one? and he says, way bigger. The Bowl game. She says she’s not missing that. What’s a Bowl game? He says, just watch and she’ll see, and she says, okay. She kind of wanted to talk to him about something. She really thinks they should do the presentation together. So is the extension still a possibility?

Chase says, when Willow left him for Michael, he was so angry and jealous of him. He thought Michael got everything and he was left with nothing. Sasha says, breakups are hard, and he says, they are, but that wasn’t his point. He was wrong to think he’d never fall in love again. He didn’t realize how wrong – he takes Brook’s hand – until he met Brook. Willow is great, but she wasn’t right for him. He couldn’t see that until he found the person who was. Brook is perfect for him and she always will be. Brook says, right back at him.

Ava’s phone ding-a-lings and she says she’s still getting alerts. She doesn’t have any more credit cards to cancel… It seems she has had something stolen. Just not her identity. She hands Ric her phone and says, please tell her this isn’t saying what she thinks it’s saying. Lucas asks what it says, and she tells him that her entire divorce settlement from Nikolas, the Cassadines have taken it back.

Josslyn asks Anna, what’s taking so long? They should have heard by now. Isaiah comes out of Dex’s room, and Josslyn asks, how’s Dex? He says he’s sorry. They did everything they could. Dex didn’t make it. Josslyn says, what?

The monitor is on flatline, and it’s turned off. Elizabeth removes the tubes attached to Dex and says, this isn’t right. He’s the second person to die like this. It just doesn’t make any sense. Something very wrong is going on here.

Lulu says, they should get going, and Dante says he’d love to, but they’ve got to wait for the boat. She says, islands. They’re a real pain in the butt sometimes. He says, especially this one, and she says, it’s stuffy in here. Does he want to wait outside and get some fresh air? She picks up the box and he asks if she’s kidding him with that right now. She says, this box is coming with her, even though it technically doesn’t belong to her. She knows he’s a cop and doesn’t expect him to get involved. He says, which part? The trespassing, the destruction of personal property, or the theft of stolen goods? She says, all of it, but he says he already is. He takes the box from her and says, why doesn’t she hold the door, and he’ll carry her box of stolen stuff? She says, gladly, and they go outside.

Tracy says, Drew is taking advantage of the Quartermaine name and laughing at them while he’s doing it. Ned says, he spent a lot of time buttering up Monica, only to turn around and sleep with Willow, and Olivia says, what Drew did was despicable, but however they feel about him, if Michael wants to make things up with Willow, they have to support him… Right? Ned says, of course (🍷), and Tracy says, once a cheater, always a cheater, but if that’s what Michael wants, she can play nice with Willow. Olivia says, good. Because Michael is going to have to know they’re here for him, no matter what.

Michael says he won’t be the one who leaks the video, for all the reasons Drew mentioned. To protect his children, to protect Drew’s daughter, to protect Willow from her own humiliating mistake. And that protects Drew too. So Drew is using them to protect his own reputation. So much for Willow’s hero. Drew says, Michael knows nothing about him and Willow, and Michael says, yeah? Why doesn’t Drew tell him?

Nina says, first one to the car gets a treat, and tells Wiley not to trip. Willow says, sorry they had to wake them up. They’re going over to Grandma Nina’s for a little sleepover adventure. Wiley says, okay! and Nina says, let’s go, but before they get to the door, Carly walks in. She asks where they’re all going in such a hurry. They wouldn’t be trying to take Michael’s children away from him, would they?

On Monday, Portia tells someone to take a step back from patient care; Drew asks Michael, would Willow have cheated if it wasn’t real; and Willow says, what happens next isn’t up to Carly.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

You know this now, but still, what a shock.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/evan-hofer-out-at-general-hospital

This is actually kind of ick. No. No future.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-previews-drew-and-willows-future-on-gh

This happened today, but I’m sure it’s on YouTube. Alan Locher does a great interview.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chat-live-with-soap-star-rick-hearst

Gio’s side gig is impressive.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/giovanni-mazzas-new-film-is-premiering-at-sundance

Love this story!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kimberly-mccullough-opens-up-about-her-son-otis

I didn’t know he’d been in GH, but I doff my cap.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-alum-michael-cole-dead-at-84

🍸 Not a Good VanderLook…

So I guess he’s drinking again? That’s a real shame.

https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-james-kennedy-arrested-on-suspicion-of-domestic-violence-8760616

Wow. It didn’t take long for his life to start unraveling.

https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-james-kennedy-removed-from-las-vegas-residency-following-domestic-violence-arrest-8761602

Team Thirsty has to put in their two cents. Bitch, please.

https://people.com/rachel-leviss-reacts-to-james-kennedy-domestic-violence-arrest-8760749

But for how long? Not if he keeps this up.

https://www.tmz.com/2024/12/13/james-kennedy-ally-lewber-not-splitting-after-domestic-violence-arrest/

👒 Working Like a Charm…

Yeah, Shep did a really weird toast at the Easter dinner too. Something about Jesus and Pontius Pilate, but it didn’t make a whole lot of sense and had nothing to do with Easter. It was just weird.

Wow. When Venita gives up on you, you’re hopeless.

So glad it’s only a rumor. I’d hate to see Craig regress, even if he doesn’t think pandas are real.

🪓 But It’s an Undisputed Masterpiece…

I think this film is perfect as is. Christian Bale is Patrick Bateman.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/american-psycho-remake-austin-butler-patrick-bateman

🐕 It’s a Dog’s Life…

I’m pretty sure Pilaf is living a better life than I am, but I’m okay with that.

https://www.instyle.com/demi-moore-molly-ringwald-dogs-photos-8759246

https://www.instyle.com/demi-moore-snake-print-bikini-pilaf-birthday-8743074

📫 Quotes of the Week

We’re not in the Midnight Realm. It’s just the suburbs. –  Owen (Justice Smith), I Saw the TV Glow

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. – Anatole France

It is, of course, quite true that God will not love you any the less, or have less use for you, if you happen to have been born with a very second-rate brain. He has room for people with very little sense, but He wants everyone to use what sense they have.C. S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity (He sounds like Anthony Hopkins in my head.)

Do I seem like the kind of guy who has the energy to argue?Niles Valentine, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days

Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny. – Tyron Edwards

When we talk about understanding, surely it takes place only when the mind listens completely — the mind being your heart, your nerves, your ears- when you give your whole attention to it. – Jiddu Krishnamurti

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

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

As a mortician, I always tie the shoelaces together of the dead. Cause if there is ever a zombie apocalypse, it will be hilarious. – Caleb Wilde, from a post on X or what we still call Twitter

⛄️ Pretending He’s Parson Brown…

Amid your holiday or everyday tasks, take time to smell the poinsettias. Then join me on Monday for soap and Deck doings. Until then, stay safe; stay not drinking and driving home from holiday events (I can never say it enough); and stay never sleeping with your nephew’s wife.

November 4, 2024 – Rocco Thinks He’s Responsible For Sam’s Death, Former Real Housewife On Deck, Proof Of Pandas & Air

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Holly says, if Robert can’t forgive her, she understands. She’s not sure she can forgive herself. What now? He asks what she means, and she says, if he can’t get past her keeping their daughter from him, does that mean he’s cutting her out of his life?

At the apartment, Spinelli says he has the best father-in-law, and Maxie says, he got them out of trick-or-treating. They toast to Mac with some cider, when there’s a knock at the door. Maxie says, there’s no rest for the wicked, and puts on her witch hat. She opens the door and Jason is there.  

In the chapel, Rocco says he hopes Sam forgives him, but Laura says, there’s nothing to forgive. He says, it’s his fault Sam died, but Laura says, nothing he said or did led to Sam’s death. He says, when his mom and Sam were in surgery, he was thinking, if only one of them lived, he wanted it to be his mom, She says, that’s natural he would want it to be his mother, and he says, he put it out there in the universe for God or whoever else to hear. Now it happened.

Sonny asks, what can he do? and Dante says, tell him how to live without her.

Alexis gets up, clutching her throat, and Molly says, it’ll be okay. Alexis says, it’s not. She knows she’s supposed to comfort them. She’s sorry, but she doesn’t know how. She sobs, and I want them to stop stomping on my heart now.

Robert says, what if he said he never wanted to see Holly again and told her to stay out of his life? and she asks if that’s what he wants. He says, there were times he thought she was dead and those were the darkest times in his life, and she says she knows the feeling. He says he doesn’t want her to disappear, but after everything she kept from him, is it possible for them to rebuild trust?

At the Quartermaines, Scout is drawing something with crayons, when Drew comes in. He asks what she’s drawing, and she says, their family at the park mom takes them to. He says, it’s beautiful. She can talk to him about anything. He thought she might want to talk about mom. Are there any questions she might have or worries? He promises to be honest. She asks if mommy is really gone, and he says, yes. He’s never wished more that he could give her a different answer. She says she doesn’t want mommy to be gone, and he holds her and says he’s so sorry.

In the living room, Carly asks if Danny is separating the candy, and Danny says, his mom called it quality control and said she was making sure they were safe, but he thinks she just wanted some of the candy. Carly says, the dentist across the street used to give out toothbrushes, and he says, that’s just wrong. She says she thought so too. (Agreed.) He tells her that one pile is the candy Scout doesn’t like, and she asks if she can have one. He tells her, go for it, and she asks if he wants help. He says he’s okay, and she says, he’s a good brother. He says, mom told him that it was his job to look out for Scout, so that’s what he’s going to do.

Jason asks if the kids are home, but Maxie says, no. Bailey Lou is sleeping, and Mac took Georgie and James trick-or-treating. Is everything okay? Jason says, no, and Spinelli suggests they go to the office where there’s more privacy, but Jason says, they both need to hear this, and Maxie says, he’s freaking her out. Jason says, Sam had a heart attack, and Maxie says she needs to go to the hospital and see her. Jason says, she can’t, and she says, why not? He says, she didn’t make it. Sam died.

Dante says, Sam is the reason he’s alive, and Sonny says, Sam got him through some bad times. Dante says, the PTSD from his WSB assignment. His goal was to be normal, but he didn’t know how. Sam did and helped him put the pieces of his life back together. Sonny says he was scared for Dante. He tried to break though Dante’s wall, but had no luck. Sam had the magic touch. Dante says, she was a friend to him, and Sonny says, and him to her. Dante says, it took time, but somehow, they were each other’s second chance, and Sonny says he’s glad Sam pulled Dante through to the other side. Dante asks, who’s going to do that this time? and Sonny says, you.

Molly asks Alexis to tell them what happened, but Alexis says she doesn’t know. She was with Sam and Sam fell asleep and never woke up. She just wants Sam back. Kristina says, Alexis was with her, and Molly says, at least she wasn’t alone. Alexis says, it’s not supposed to happen. She’s not supposed to lose her children. It’s not supposed to happen, and it did. Molly and Kristina hug her.

Holly says, trust this much. She loves Robert and she’s sorry about being so cowardly about painful confrontation. He asks, who says it’s painful? and she says, the possibility of being rejected was terrifying to her. She couldn’t face it, so she avoided it. He asks how that’s working for her, and she says, not very well. She wasn’t truthful with him or herself, but there was never ill-intent. He says he believes her, and she says, somewhere she was thinking if he didn’t know about Sasha or the things she kept from him, maybe, just maybe, a window would open a crack, and they’d find their way back to being together. He says, she had to tell him about Sasha eventually and they’d be where they are now. She says, the ridiculous part is, deep down, she knew she couldn’t keep the truth forever from him or Sasha, and they’re both important.

Laura says, Rocco needs to believe her. That’s not the way the universe works. The way it happened is tragic, but it has nothing to do with him. He says, Sam was good to him, and she says, Sam loved him. He says, she never treated him like he wasn’t her son. He was one of the kids, the same as Danny and Scout. They had a handshake they used when no one was around. His dad didn’t even know about it. She says she thinks that’s special, and he says, Sam was special. How could he have thought what he did? She says, if Sam was here, what does he think she’d say? He says he doesn’t know, but she says she thinks he does. He says that he had no control over what happened, and she says, Sam wouldn’t blame him, so he shouldn’t blame himself.

Sonny says, Dante is in a different place now, and Dante says, because of Sam. Sonny says, Sam got through to him, and now, they’re here for him. Him, Kristina, Michael, Brook Lynn. There’s a long list of people who would do anything in their power to support him. Dante says, it feels wrong, and Sonny says, it is. Sam should be with him and the children. Dante says, their beautiful little family, and Sonny says, they were right together and that’s a beautiful thing. Dante says, Sam was beautiful. Their life was beautiful. He knows he has to go on for the kids and he will. He has to start some kind of life without Sam, but he doesn’t want to live without her.

Alexis says she knows Molly and Kristina loved their sister and how much she loved them, and Molly says, they were fighting the last time the four of them were together. The last time they saw Sam, she stormed out because they were fighting. She did this gorgeous thing, and they made it about them. Alexis says, no one could have known what was going to happen, and Molly says she’ll regret it for the rest of her life. Kristina says, her too, but Alexis says, no regrets. They’re going to do what they can to hang onto each other because they’re all they’ve got, the three of them. They’re going to love each other forever and are never going to let go. She kisses them and hugs them.

Maxie says, it makes no sense. Lulu needed a transplant. Lulu’s was the life that was at risk. Spinelli says, the surgery was routine on Sam’s end, and Jason says he’s not sure why the heart attack happened. Maxie says she and Sam texted this morning. Since Sam missed Halloween, she got extra peanut butter cups to take to her. She said she was doing great. Jason says, they’re looking into it, and Spinelli asks if Jason saw her. Jason says, they let him… after… to say goodbye. Spinelli hugs Maxie.

Holly says she thought she’d see hatred in Robert’s eyes. She’s seen it before and couldn’t bare it. We flash back to Robert asking why she couldn’t get a simple divorce. She had to destroy the one thing he loved more than life. In the present, Holly says she didn’t want him to hate her, and he says, if memory serves, he forgave her before. That’s what he doesn’t get. She should have had faith in him and think he would do it again.

Carly asks, how was trick-or-treating? and Danny says, it was okay. Scout had fun. He couldn’t concentrate. He was too worried about mom. They went to the hospital to see her and show her Scout’s costume. Carly says, Sam would have loved it, and Danny says, she never got to see it. They got to the hospital and saw Grandma Alexis. She didn’t look so great. She looked scared. Dad saw and told them to leave. Go to Bobbie’s and wait for him. She says she’s sure it was hard waiting, and he says, it felt like hours. She says, he must have been scared, but he says he held it together for Scout. He doesn’t think they had any idea anything could happen to mom. He knew something was wrong, but never thought mom could die.

Scout asks Drew, what happens now? Who will make her lunch and take her to school? He says, they’ve got a lot got to figure out, but one thing he knows – something she needs to know – is that she’s not alone. She’s got a whole family that loves her. She says, the Quartermaines? and he says, they’re family to her. Danny, Rocco, and Dante. Grandma Alexis, Molly, Kristina… She says, Uncle Jason, and he says, she’s surrounded by people who want the best for her and would do anything to help her get through. She says she wants mom, and he says he knows she does. He’d do anything to bring her back. It’s going to be hard for everybody who loves her mom. She asks if he did, and he says, how could he not? She gave him the best gift in the whole world – her. He’ll always be there for her. She tells him, that’s what mommy said.

Spinelli says he can’t accept this reality. His fair Samantha lived a life of adventure, especially danger. Countless times he feared for her safety, but it was always unwarranted. Maxie says, until now, and Spinelli says he can no longer rely on Sam’s cool head or benefit from her sage advice. Maxie says, they were great partners, and he says, she was the best P.I. partner and a better friend. Jason says, she loved him, and Spinelli says, she was the first one to give him a chance and actually see him. Maxie says, that’s no small feat, and Jason says, Sam helped him see Spinelli’s potential. Because of her, he has Spinelli’s friendship. Maxie says, and hers, and Jason says, two more of the things he owes her.

Holly says, she’s the one she didn’t have faith in. Running cons is about creating illusion. He says, she’s excellent at it, and she says, reality is where she’s lacking. The day in and day out. He says, the grind, and she says she wasn’t cut out for making lunches and walking a child to the bus stop. He says, it’s not 1952, and she says, domesticity is not her strong suit. That’s why she left Sasha with her mother. She supported them financially of course (🍷). He wonders if it was money from her cons, and she says she never swindled a mark who couldn’t afford it or hadn’t done something more awful. He says, she’s the most ethical con woman in the business, and she says she wasn’t going to dump this in his lap. He asks if she thinks he wouldn’t help, but she says she knew he would help. She was just worried about the cost.

Danny says he’s glad Scout went trick-or-treating and got to have fun before they found out about mom, and Carly says, he gave her that gift even though he was afraid. He put on a brave face and gave Scout a happy memory. He says he doesn’t think they’ll have one again, but she says she knows they all will. He says he used to love Halloween, and she says, Captain America, three years running. He says, every year, mom would get him a new costume. It must have been annoying. She says, Sam told her that he knew what he liked and stuck with it. She admired him for that. He says he didn’t know that, and tells Carly, peanut butter cups were her favorite. He’d always get extra, so he’d have some for her. Carly hugs him and says she’d like to tell him that everything is going to be okay, but he won’t believe her. So instead, she’ll tell him that he has so many people in his corner that love him so much, and she’s one of them.

Drew says he knows it’s not the same. Scout can’t see or touch her mom, but her mom is always with her. Scout asks, how? and he says, because her mom loves her, and love never goes away. She says, even when someone dies? and he says, it’s strong enough to go beyond anything. She tells him, that’s what Uncle Jason said, and Drew says, he was right. So go on loving and remembering mom, knowing without a doubt, mom will never leave her. He promises. She says she’s glad he’s here, and he hugs her and says him too.

Laura says, everybody has negative thoughts and feelings, and Rocco says, even her? She laughs and says she thinks he’d be surprised. He says he bets she never wished something bad on someone, and she says, what we think and feel doesn’t make us responsible for what happens. What happened was tragic and heartbreaking and feels incredibly wrong. She promises there’s going be a medical reason why Sam died, and it won’t have anything to do with what’s going on in his head or his heart. It’s okay. He says he gets it, and she says, good. Because what Sam did today was beautiful. She gave Rocco’s mother the most precious gift ever. That’s how they’re going to remember her and how he will too.

Dante says he asked Sam to marry him when she woke up, and Sonny tells him that he’d ask what she said, but he already knows the answer. He didn’t know Dante proposed. Dante says he didn’t know what to do. He debated too long and decided to make it official. Sonny asks why he wouldn’t, and Dante says, because they already had it all. Happiness, they shared the kids. He loved her so much. They already had a family. Sonny says, a beautiful one, and Dante says he figured, why rock the boat? Sonny asks, what changed? and Dante says he wanted more. He wanted to make a beautiful human being his wife. He asked her and she said yes. It was all for nothing. It’s over. It was over before they even had a chance to begin. Sonny puts his hand on Dante’s shoulder.

Spinelli hugs Jason and cries, and Jason leaves. Maxie takes Spinelli’s hand, and they cry in each other’s arms.

Alexis says she has to go back to the hospital, and Kristina wonders when they’ll know more about what happened. Alexis says, that’s what she wants to find out, and Kristina says she’ll go with her. Molly says she will too, when her phone dings. She says, it’s the meal service confirming the start date, and Alexis says, it’s fine. The kids need food. Molly says she was so prepared, and cries. She says she was prepared for nothing because Sam is gone. They’re never going to see Sam again. How is that possible? Alexis hugs her and she cries.

Dante says he doesn’t know why he waited so long. Why didn’t he do it when they were taking a walk or doing the dishes? Sonny asks if it would have made a difference, and Dante says he doesn’t know. Maybe it would hurt less to look back on their wedding day and sharing a house with the kids. Sonny says, thinking about it is going to drive Dante crazy, and Dante says, he’s avoiding acknowledging that he’s scared, and Sonny says, what’s next? Dante asks how he moves on without Sam, and Sonny says, it’s hard and scary, but he’ll figure it out. Dante asks how he’s going to roll over and not see Sam in the morning. How is he not going to look across the room, laughing with her about something inappropriate the kids said. How is he not going to hear the sound of her key in the lock, knowing she’s home safe? Sonny says, it might take a long time, but he’ll make it. Because like Dante said, he’s got to go on for the children. And he will. Sonny promises when Dante goes on for the children’s sake, he’ll help him go on. Dante says, he’d better be right, and Sonny says, he’s right about everything. Dante’s got them and they’ve got him. He holds Dante while he cries.  

Laura and Rocco light a candle, and Rocco asks if they can say a prayer. Laura says, of course (🍷) and Rocco tells her that he’s not sure what to say. Will she help him? She takes his hand and says, God, we know Sam is with you now and know she looks over us from above with love. We give thanks for how her love brought us all together. We see Spinelli and Maxie with the kids after trick-or-treating, and hear Laura’s voice, as we remember what a wonderful mother she was – Jason and Danny hug – and as we hold close the gifts she’s given us –Drew hugs Scout – we’ll do our best to be good to ourselves and each other – Alexis hugs Molly and Kristina – and care for each other the way Sam cared for us. And we pray Sam will watch over us until we see her again one day. Amen. Dante hugs Rocco.

Holly asks if Robert doesn’t think it’s best for everyone that she goes, but he says he never thinks it’s best that she leaves. She says, it’s in those moments she has the most hope. When they say goodbye, there might be a chance she’ll still see him again. We flash back to Robert telling her that he’s never loved anyone more than he loves her, and in the present, she says, if this is their last goodbye. there’s something she needs to tell him. There’s never been a moment she’s loved anyone more than she loves him right now. They kiss.

Tomorrow, Molly tells TJ that she’s not sure how much more she can take; Ava tells Nina not to let a man ruin her relationship with her daughter; Diane tells Robert that she’s not kidding; and Sasha tells Willow that she’s got no one to blame but herself.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Emma says she’s not taking Danni and Diana’s sh*t anymore. She doesn’t have the mental capacity to deal with it. She needs a minute. In Emma’s interview, she says she’s just come off a hard charter. She felt like nothing she did was right and doesn’t know where she belongs in the group. They get into two taxis, and Keith brings along a bucket of chicken that he got from… somewhere. Gary asks if Keith is going to hook up with Danni, while in the other taxi, Danni says she’d never make the first move. Drunk Gary says, the chicken is so good.

When they get back to the boat, Daisy says she’s going to bed. Emma says she’s blowing things out of proportion, and Daisy says, Emma is too into her head. Davide floats around in the jacuzzi, while Gary can’t find his pajama pants, then falls into the closet. Danni tells Keith that she thinks they have good chemistry, and in her interview, she says, her ex is dating her best friend and they’re living together. Maybe she needs something super warm and fuzzy, some wholesome sh*t. But by the time Keith figures it out, she’ll be in an old age home. Everyone goes to bed, and a nakey Davide struggles to get into the top bunk above Captain Glenn, nearly falling on him. The captain asks if he’s all right, and Davide says, nearly.

7 hours to charter. Davide says, it’s not his fault. It’s who designed the bed. I literally lol. Daisy tells Diana and Danni, the quicker you get it done, the quicker you finish, which is kind of like, wherever you go, there you are. Emma complains, there’s glitter all over, and I don’t envy her. I have taken care of small children who enjoy crafts, and I grew to hate glitter.

Captain Glenn calls Daisy, Gary, and Cloyce for the preference sheet meeting, and tells them that they’re having an overnight. Tiffany and her husband Daniel are from Dallas, and Tiffany was a Real Housewife. In Cloyce’s interview, he says he met and cooked for an OC Housewife who divorced her husband and became a lesbian. Must be Braunwyn. The captin reads that the guests are hoping the trip surpasses all others they’ve taken. They have high standards. Daisy says, they want a professional photography session on the beach, and a Japanese style dinner. Captain Glenn tells Cloyce to pull out all the stops and that means no swimming this charter. In the galley, Daisy tells Cloyce that she thinks service went well last charter, apart from the cake debacle. He should show off his skills and keep bringing up the bar. They all just need to do better. They’re in this together. In Gary’s interview, he says, Emma’s work ethic isn’t there. He was slow to realize she has no motivation or drive. If she sees him working hard, maybe she’ll think she should be. He should probably talk to her, but he wants to see if she’ll take the initiative. Diana says, the guests look like they’ll be drunk. Go to hell. In Danni’s interview, she says, it will be a better tip for them if Diana is off service. She needs to be more approachable. Gary says, the boat looks good, Daisy says, nice, good job, and Captain Glenn says, everybody in the cockpit.  

The guests arrive, Captain Glenn welcomes them, and says, they’re going to get out soon. Tiffany says, tells Daisy that they’re orgy people (I think she’s joking), and Daisy says, great! They head out, and guest Jerry asks Daisy how far they’re sailing out. She says, about twenty miles, and Jerry asks about the weather. Daisy says she doesn’t know, and he seems annoyed that she works here and doesn’t know everything. She tells him that tequila is her job, and the sails go up. Danni says, please, Lord, can nothing break? and primary ex-Housewife Tiffany says she wants to go really sideways. Emma says she’s preventatively afraid of stuff falling, and we hear crashes. Danni slides across the floor on her back, which looks kinda fun. Captain Glenn says, they’re heeling starboard, and in his interview, he says, the wind shifted. They need to pull out the lazy sheet and switch to go on port tack. I have no idea what that means, but he asks Gary why it’s going so slow. In the captain’s interview, he says, timing is important. They can lose the wind. If the timing is wrong, it messes everything up. Emma says, nothing more is coming out, but there’s still a lot of slack, and Gary says, it’s f***ing ridiculous.

Emma tells Gary that the lazy sheet was working, then it wasn’t. He tells her to use her whole body weight, and in Emma’s interview, she says, this is the biggest boat she’s worked on. The other boats didn’t have lazy sheets or use hydraulic sails. Maybe she’s just a poor little weak girl and can’t do it. The boys are better and she’s just inept. What on earth? She’s going to have to turn in her pride/woman/girl card if she doesn’t knock it off. I never thought I’d say this, but just listen to Gary. Glenn says, the wind has slowed to 4 knots, and puts the sails down. The guests pout, anchor is dropped, and Daisy says she’s going to send Danni to help with the photos. Gary tells Captain Glenn that Emma is greener than he thought. She lacks urgency and drive. The captain says, maybe Gary has to help her a bit. Give her instruction and see how this charter goes. Photographer Andrei arrives, and Gary takes him to the beach in the tender. Afterward, he takes the guests, and Daisy tells Diana that she’s on cabins. Under her breath, Diana says, it’s so annoying. On the beach, Danni tells Keith, gorgeous boy, gorgeous view, and Andrei takes photos of the guests. Danni says, it’s romantic, but Keith says, no flirting in front of the guests. She says, he’s no fun, but he says he’s professional. In Keith’s interview, he says, Danni has no appreciation for work versus play, and in Danni’s interview, she says she feels like they’re dating in the Victorian era. Keith says, there’s a time and place, and in her interview, Danni says, Keith’s work belt is a chastity belt.

The guests are hungry, and in Cloyce’s interview, he says, it’s Japanese night. He’s not experienced as a Japanese chef, but his sophomore year in high school, he honed his craft. But that was a while ago. It’s either going to be incredibly chill or the worst thing he’s ever done. So far, IMO, it looks amazing. The guests head back, and Daisy tells Cloyce that they’re ready when he is. The guests are seated, and a Japanese food porn parade comes out. Honestly, if I had that kind of money, I’d go on one of these yachts just for the food. Like a really expensive floating restaurant. Jerry orders an espresso martini, and Daisy tells Cloyce that the guests are happy. He says, they’re about to be happier, and comes out with the sea bass entrée. Diana makes the martini for Jerry, but he says, it’s bad luck. It’s missing one bean. He likes having health and wealth, but needs happiness. Diana says she’s giving him decaf from now on, and in her interview, she says, the original recipe calls for three beans, but she’s seen them with one or two. It’s not going to make a difference to the cocktail. She tells Daisy that she’s hating them right now, but Daisy tells her to try not to let it get to her even if they’re an a-hole. Diana says she was joking. She doesn’t really care. Daisy says, the guests care, so put a big smile on. Danni makes Jerry another martini with 3 beans, and Jerry says, a three-bean classic. He toasts to wealth, heath, and happiness, and asks, who made the martini? Danni says she did, and he and Danni dance around, giving each other high-fives. In Diana’s interview, she says, it’s annoying to her ego. Go f*** yourself. The guests agree that they like Danni; she’s fun. The guests go to bed, and Emma starts on the night shift. In Emma’s interview, she says she loves interacting with the team and the guests. The night shift is 8 hours of no one, and it’s not nice when you’re already feeling sh*tty about yourself.

Last day of charter. Keith asks if Emma needs to focus on anything, but she says she’s done the whole boat. He sees one of the decks is wet, and Gary asks him if Emma didn’t do something. Keith says, the cockpit was piss wet, and in Gary’s interview, he says, it should be 100% dry before the guests get up. Emma’s not getting the whole boat. They dock and the guests pack. Tiffany says she’s sad to leave, and Gary asks Emma, what happened on the boat last night? She can rinse the aft when the guests are up. Emma says she’ll bear it in mind for next time. Captain Glenn tells the crew that it’s time for guest departure. Everyone says their goodbyes, and Tiffany says, they were blown away by the crew’s professionalism and level of service. Danni makes the best 3 bean martini. She hands Captain Glenn an envelope as a token of appreciation for all of them and their hard work. They hope to see them again in the future. Captain Glenn toots the horn, and everyone waves. I have to admit, the way the preview was edited, it didn’t make Tiffany and company look good, but aside from Jerry being a bit of a jerk, they were great guests.

The captain says, they’re on a roll. Another good one. Emma calls her sister Lauren, and in her interview, she says, Lauren is one of the best people she’s ever known. She’s great to get advice from. Lauren asks, what’s wrong? and Emma says she’s had a hard last few days. She messed up and she’s getting frustrated with herself. In Emma’s interview, she says, Lauren has always been very clever. She sniffles and says she was always compared with Lauren, so she would act up and make life hard for her family. Lauren says, there’s no point in minimizing how Emma feels. She needs to move forward. It’s six weeks. Emma says, it’s not nice to feel like you’re on the outside.  

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Glenn says, another charter in the can. Well done. Gary kept the guests safe on the photography trip and the guests enjoyed it. Great work. The food was great, and Cloyce got lots of compliments. Excellent work. Cloyce says he thinks the communication improved and he likes the teamwork. Surprising the hell out of us all, the tip is $25K or 2391 euros each. Kudos again to these guests. In Cloyce’s interview, he says, money is cool, but it’s the forever memories that he’s here for… Just kidding. He’s never mad at 3K in his bank account… ever.

The crew leaves to go out, and Diana is hoping there are hot people there. At the restaurant, Daisy asks if Emma is okay, and Emma says, not really. They step away for a smoke, and Emma says she knows she’s over-sensitive and her anxiety gets the better of her. She feels like she’s becoming a hindrance and it’s stressing her out. Daisy says, her advice is, let it roll off of her. The more Emma lets it eat at her, the more friction she’ll create and ruin her experience. Emma says she panics, making it 100 times worse. In Emma’s interview, she says she feels like a giraffe just born – shaky. She tells Daisy that she needs to rest. She’s sweating so much. She asks if Daisy will get her stuff and explain that it just came on suddenly. In Daisy’s interview, she says, Emma is definitely struggling with the workload. She’s being hard on herself and a bit in her head. She’s feeling like a lonely island at the moment.

Daisy tells the others that she thinks it’s heat exhaustion, and Danni says she thinks it’s Davide’s fault because the air con isn’t working. Danni jokes about Keith being the love of her life and not responding to her, and Keith says, the guests come first. Emma goes back to the boat, where Captain Glenn is making himself a fancy drink. The crew moves on to a club, and Keith asks if he can buy Danni a drink and have a chat. The take their drinks to a booth, and she says, it feels like he’s only fun when he decides to be, while she’s constantly flirting. There’s no banter. Keith says, when they’re with the guests, he doesn’t think it’s okay. He wishes the circumstance were different but they’re here to do a job. In Danni’s interview, she suggests he grow some balls, and he says he doesn’t know the boat or the crew enough.

Danni says she’s not going to wait until Keith becomes more relaxed. She’s going to carry on with her life regardless. He says he doesn’t think it’s fair, and she asks if they’re done. He says, let’s go have fun. Davide puts a sparkler in his man bun, and I pray his hair catches fire. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the only two men allowed to have man buns are Roger Howarth and Sensei Guillermo Gomez. Daisy thanks the deck crew for their help. It’s next level and allows them to be with the guests. It’s refreshing to see. Danni chats with Gary. On the boat, Glenn watches a football game. Danni and Gary dance, and Danni says, it’s the best party ever. Keith tells Cloyce that Danni is giving him weird vibes, and Cloyce says he’s getting positive vibes from Daisy.

The crew heads back in the taxis, and Keith says, it was not a great night. Danni asks if Gary is going to make it to the hot tub, and he says, perhaps. Daisy tells Keith, don’t apologize for being sensitive, and Keith says he doesn’t know why he’s pissed off. In Daisy’s interview, she says she thinks Keith would make a great partner and it’s unfair, but nice guys finish last. Back at the boat, Daisy goes to bed, while the others head for the jacuzzi. Daisy asks how Emma is, and Emma says she’s better. At 3:45, only Danni and Gary remain, and in Danni’s interview, she says she’s been deprived of the attention that Gary is giving her. It’s the banter that she needs. They decide to jump off the boat into the water. They kiss, and in her interview, Danni says, whoops.  

Next time, Daisy tells Cloyce that the guests expect a bit more; Diana and Danni butt heads; Diana tells Keith that she thinks Danni and Gary kissed; and Keith says, it’s a bit of a gut punch.

🐼 Exhibit P…

I thought it was the weirdest belief ever when Craig said pandas weren’t real. Another way Paige is good for him.

https://people.com/paige-desorbo-dresses-cat-as-panda-after-boyfriend-craig-conover-claims-bears-arent-real-8736874

🩰 Like Dancing Dreams…

It’s been a long week, and it’s only Monday. Join me tomorrow for soap, NYC in the shade, and post-Halloween quarterbacking. Until then, stay safe, stay considering reservations for Thanksgiving, and stay remembering that what we think and feel doesn’t make us responsible for what happens. That’s not the way the universe works.

December 26, 2023 – Nina Makes a Confession, Premature Exit, Silent Night, What They Did, Switching Wives, Paige Tells All, Christmas Lists, Merry Chickmas & My Year

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the hospital, Carly tells Laura that Christmas Eve never gets old. Did she see how magical it was for the kids? Laura says, it’s the same for her. It was even more magical because she got to see Ace seeing it for the first time. Where does the time go? Carly says, Josslyn’s in college. How did that happen? Sonny joins them and says he thinks he enjoyed Laura’s reading more than the kids did. Laura says, rumor has it that Sonny funded the festivities at the hospital, even more generously than before. He says, rumor has it, and she says, a lady never reveals her sources, but thank you. It’s a shame Nina wasn’t here to see it. She remembers the year Nina headed the committee to plan the party, so obviously, it means something to her. Carly says, Sonny told them she was coming, and Sonny says, Willow told him that she decided to stay in church a little bit, but she’ll be here.

In the confessional, Nina tells the priest, really Cyrus, that she’s never been to confession before, but she didn’t know where else to turn. She wonders if it’s okay that she’s here, but Cyrus says, God is eager to help all His children. Go on. She says she did something terrible. She was spiraling out of control and knew the second she did it, that it was wrong, but she had no idea it would hurt so many people so much. He asks who she hurt, and she says, people who may not be saints, but they didn’t deserve what happened because of her. He asks who these people are, friends, family? and she asks if it matters, but he says, to truly advise her, he needs more information. Let go. Open her heart. God wants to hear everything.

Spencer tells Trina that he doesn’t think he’s ever seen Ace fall asleep that fast. He was out before his head hit the pillow. She says, he’s probably exhausted from all the excitement of the party. He was so happy being around all those people fussing over him. Spencer says, not half as happy as he was. How did he get so lucky to spend Christmas with her and his little brother? She says, Esme was generous to let him have Ace for the night, and he says, maybe this is part of her turning over a new leaf thing, and Trina says, maybe. Or maybe there’s another explanation. Maybe she wasn’t being generous. Maybe she just had plans. He says, doing what? and she says, maybe Esme had a date.

At Windymere, Esme flashes back to setting up the revenge porn, then turning in Trina for it. Then she remembers telling Spencer that he’s delusional if he thinks she’s going to let Trina off the hook, and she remembers taunting Ava, saying Ava drove Kiki to her death. Then she flashes back to setting the Christmas tree on fire in the tower room.

Ava comes into Windymere, and sees the broken window. Her phone rings, and it’s her security company. They tell her that they received a signal of a break-in, and the PCPD should be there shortly. She thanks them, takes out her gun, and says, it may be too late. Dante says, police, don’t move, and then realizes it’s Ava. He asks what the hell she’s doing here.

Spencer asks Trina who Esme would be dating. She doesn’t know that many people here, and the ones she does, know her history. Trina says, Esme’s circle might not be as small as he thinks. She’s got a new job and a new apartment. Maybe she met someone who only knows the new Esme, a co-worker or a neighbor. He says, and she thinks Esme’s on a date with that person? and she says, it’s possible. Would that bother him if she was? He says, absolutely not. Esme is a grown woman; she can do what she wants. If Esme were to start dating, the only thing he’d worry about is how that person treated Ace. Esme should feel free to go off and have a life of her own. Trina says, good, and he says, especially if it leads to more nights like tonight where Ace is asleep in the other room and they’re here alone. They have the place to themselves. Whatever will they do? She says she wonders what, and they kiss. His phone rings, and he says, speak of the devil. Trina says she’ll get them something from the kitchen, and Spencer answers. Esme says she’s so glad he picked up. She has something to talk to him about. He asks if something is wrong, and when she doesn’t answer, he says he gets it. It’s her first night away from Ace after getting the new place, and she’s naturally worried about it, but she doesn’t have to be. Ace had a fabulous time at the party, and now he’s asleep in the other room, dreaming about all the presents he’s going to open tomorrow. She says she’s glad, but that’s not exactly what… She hears Trina asks if Spencer wants cinnamon in his eggnog.

Laura says she thinks this is the first time she can remember being at this party without Bobbie being here. It’s taking her so long to settle Luke’s estate (😕). Carly says she thought Bobbie would be done weeks ago, and Sonny says, estates can be complicated. Knowing Luke, he’s sure Luke left Bobbie a few surprises. Carly says she spoke to Bobbie on the phone earlier, and she sounded cheerful, but when isn’t she? She did say Luke’s affairs were a mess, but she’s making headway. Laura says she guesses they’ll hear all about it when Bobbie gets back.

Nina says, if she had one wish, it would be to turn back the clock. Then she wouldn’t do all the damage she’s done. Cyrus says, this spiteful act, did it cost someone their life? and she says, not their life, but something almost as bad. His freedom. Someone went to prison because she reported them to the authorities when she didn’t have to, and he suffered, and so did the people who love him. She’s also letting an innocent man take the blame for reporting that crime, because she’s a coward. People are so angry with him when they should be angry at her. Cyrus says he understands. Go on. She says she’d like to change it, but it’s too late to make it right. he says, it’s never too late, and she asks if he really thinks so, because she’d do anything to fix it. He says, then she needs to confess to the people she hurt, not just him in this confessional, but she says she can’t. She wishes she were strong enough to tell the truth, but if she tells her family what really happened, she might lose them. She could lose everything. He says, if she doesn’t, the guilt will continue to eat away at her conscience, and it will destroy any chance she has at future happiness. The truth will always set you free. She says, to be free of this burden, this pain, if only, and he says, anything is possible. Be courageous.  Be strong and correct the wrongs she did, and remember, she doesn’t walk alone. God is always with her. She says, God is with her, and thanks him. She says she won’t forget, and leaves the confessional. He says, neither will he.

Dante says he thought Ava and Avery moved into Nina’s place, and she says, they did, but she hasn’t sold Windymere yet. It’s still her property. He says he guesses he can’t stop her from wandering around her house with a loaded weapon, and she says, so he’s not taking her in… for defending herself in her own home after a break-in? He asks if she’s defending herself or looking for an intruder to shoot.

Carly says she couldn’t get over the kids’ faces as Laura was reading, when Nina comes out of the elevator. She hugs Sonny and says she’s so sorry. She can’t believe she missed everything. How did it go? Laura says, it was amazing, due in no small part to her husband’s generosity, and Nina says, the man she married is pretty great. Did he take a lot of pictures? He says, no, but Carly took a great picture of Donna. Could she send it to him? Carly says, sure, and Laura asks if she can see. Carly shows Laura her phone, and Nina asks if Willow didn’t tell Sonny where she was. He says, at church, but he expected her sooner, and she says he didn’t have to worry. Frank drove her here and she felt totally protected and safe. He asks if she got what she needed at the church, and she says she thinks so. He tells her that Willow said she was thinking about Nelle, and she says, yes, Nelle… and others.

Esme tells Spencer that it sounds like there’s someone else there, so she’ll make it quick. Trina asks Spencer what she’s calling about, and he says he doesn’t know, but it’s not going to take long. He asks if Esme is still there, and she says she just wanted him to know that she’s not going to be picking up Ace tonight. He can wake up with Spencer on Christmas morning, and she’ll pick him up later tomorrow. He says, okay. Wow. That’s great. He’d love to be able to spend Ace’s first Christmas morning with him. Is she sure she doesn’t want to take him home? She says, positive. Merry Christmas. He says, merry Christmas, but she’s already gone. Trina asks what all that was about, but he says he’s not sure, but he’s starting to wonder. Maybe Esme does have a heart after all.

Nina tells Sonny that she really needed something tonight, and found it at All Saints, with a new understanding. He says, about what? and she says, it’s probably… His phone dings, and he says, it’s Ava. There’s been a break-in on Spoon Island. Nina says, what? and Laura says, tell her to call the police, but Sonny says, the police are there right now. Dante’s there, but Ava wants him to go because Dante’s his son and he can keep it unofficial. Laura says she might be able to help; she’ll go with him. Sonny says he doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but Laura says she wants to go. It was her son’s home and if this break-in is somehow related to him in any way… If for some reason he might be back, she wants to be there. Sonny says he understands, and asks Carly to tell Donna that he loves her and merry Christmas. Nina says she’ll take care of Avery. She wishes she could go with him. He says he’ll talk to her later and thanks her for picking up Avery. She says, of course (🍷), of course (🍷), and Sonny and Laura leave. Carly says she’s going to pick up Donna and go home, but Nina asks if she can wait a second. She has something to say to her. She stayed at the church today because she wanted to ask the priest for guidance… about Carly.

Spencer tells Trina that Ace didn’t even flinch when he stubbed his toe and said a word his grandmother definitely wouldn’t approve of. He thinks it’s safe to say he’s out for the night. Trina says she should get home because her mom is planning a whole breakfast and opening presents tomorrow morning. She has to get started early. He says, that’s a bad idea. Stay here, because it’s so much harder to be away from her, especially after their trip to New York. She say she feels the same way, and they kiss. He asks if something’s wrong, and she says, it’s just that she can’t stop thinking about something else. He says, that’s just what every man wants to hear after he kisses the woman he loves, and she says, it’s Esme. He says, of course (🍷) it is, and she asks if he really believes what he said, that she’s had a change of heart. He says he doesn’t know. He’d like to. She put his grandmother and Ace first tonight. That’s a big step for her. Trina says, it is, and he says he’d really like to think Esme’s turning a corner here, but they don’t know that. So doesn’t she think they talked about Esme enough for one night? She says, they’ve talked enough about Esme for a lifetime, and he leads her to the sofa, saying, so maybe they should stop talking about her altogether. They kiss.

Ava asks if Dante thinks she’d be reckless enough to go after a burglar all on her lonesome, and he asks if she really wants him to answer that. There’s a knock at the door, and Ava open the door to Sonny and Laura, who says she decided to tag along. They go into the living room, and seeing the broken window, Laura says, whoever did this wasn’t looking to hide themselves, were they? Ava says, and everybody knows this place has a security system. Whoever did it thought it was worth risking getting caught. Sonny says, let him take her home. Let Dante do his job. Ava says, absolutely not. She’s not leaving until she finds out who broke in here. Laura suggests she and Dante take a look around, but Dante says he doesn’t think it’s a good idea. The house has been declared a crime scene. She says she used to live here, and her son owned the property for many years. She knows her way around this very large, very confusing home. She’s happy to show him around if it doesn’t interfere with his procedure at all. He says, it probably falls under some kind of grey area, and she says, great, let’s do it, but he says, they don’t know if the house is empty. Please stay behind him. She says, sure, and follows him out.

Esme looks at a photo of Spencer on her phone and wonders what she was thinking. Did she believe she was just going to own up, and he’d forget about all the things she did to Trina? That he’d congratulate her and say, great news, and forget all about Trina, and the things she did? And she, him, and Ace would have this happily ever after? He only cares about Trina and protecting her, and if she told him what she did… She cries and hears footsteps. She puts her ear to the door.

Sonny says, so Ava thinks whoever broke in here is the same person who sent her the pictures of dead Austin? It’s possible, but there’s no way to know. She says she’s sure the intruder is long gone by now.

Carly says, Nina asked for guidance about her? and Nina says she did. Whenever they’re together, they’re always sniping and arguing, and since it’s Christmas Eve, in the spirit of Christmas Eve, she thought it would be nice if they spent some time talking. Carly says, talking about what? and Nina says, when she was sitting in church, she realized, after all the pain, everything she’s been through in her life, she’s so blessed to be able to spend Christmas Eve with her family. She never thought she’d be able to say that. Spending Christmas Eve with her daughter and her children… Carly says, she’s a lucky lady, and Nina says she is. She’s very grateful for all of her family. She and Carly thinking a lot of family in common, and she started thinking about Carly and what she’s been through this year. The accusations of insider trading and financial problems and Drew going to prison… Carly asks if there’s a point to this because she has to go get Donna, and Nina says, there is. She’s sorry, and she’s trying to ask for Carly’s forgiveness. Carly says, forgiveness for what?

Nina says she not proud of herself, that her need for revenge is what drove her to hurt Carly and not tell her that Sonny was alive in Nixon Falls. Carly says, Nina has told her this before, and Nina says, something shifted. She wants to be a better person. She wants to be the kind of mom Willow brags about and the kind of grandmother that Wiley and Amelia are proud of. Sitting in that church – maybe it’s because of all the love around her, and support and peace – she realized there’s still a part of her that’s broken. There’s a part of her that still wants revenge for her daughter… Carly says she’s going to stop Nina right there. She knows what Nina is going to say.

Ava tells Sonny, anyone could have broken in here tonight. Maybe some kids playing a prank. He says, on Christmas Eve? and she says, why not? There’s no neighbors on Spoon Island, and it’s not exactly a professional job, right? It looks like something kids might do. He says, it’s possible, but there’s somebody out there sending her pictures of a dead guy and leaving a gun in her apartment. Now he’s broken in here. So does she think that would be kids or somebody playing mind games? She says she’s so sick of the whole damn thing, and he says, sick enough to do something reckless? That’s not going to happen, because he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe. She thanks him, but says she thinks he knows she can protect herself. He says, what if she’s not the real target? What if he is?

Esme runs around looking for a place to hide, as Laura and Dante approach the tower room. They go in and Dante looks around with a flashlight. He says, the turret door is open. He’s going to check it out. She says, not without her, and he tells her to please just stay behind him. As they go into the turret, Esme runs out, dropping a glove.

Laura asks if Dante saw anything, but he says, nothing. Maybe forensics can find something. She says she’s sure they can. This person wasn’t really concerned with hiding their footsteps. He says, whoever was here didn’t get out by jumping off the turret, and she says, can they really be sure the intruder was in here? It’s possible Ava left the door open before she moved out. He says, it’s freezing in here. If Ava left the door open, it would be colder than the city. Someone must have left the door open more recently than that. She says, he’s right, and it is cold. She’s going in. They go inside, and Laura says she’s going to check on Ava. She seemed really shaken up. Dante says he’ll be down in a minute, and she starts to leave, but he says, wait. He picks up the glove with a pen.

Sonny tells Ava, the cops haven’t found the gunman who put Curtis in a wheelchair. The target could have been Anna, but it could have just as easily been him. She says, so he thinks whoever took that shot at the MetroCourt pool is sending her pictures of dead Austin and breaking into Windymere. He says, could be if it’s Cyrus, and she says, so he thinks Cyrus is stalking her to get to him? He says, they can’t rule anything out, but she says, as much as she’d like to blame him for her current situation, she does have enemies of her own. He says, whoever hurts her, hurts Avery, and he can’t allow that. So that’s why he’s taking a personal interest in her security.

Nina says, Carly knows? and Carly says, it’s really not that hard to figure out what’s going on here. Nina went to church and got caught up in the emotion of it all. Maybe it was the glow of the candles, or maybe it was the way the priest looked at her. She doesn’t know, but Nina’s guilty conscience started to get to her and now she feels the need to apologize. Nina says, that’s partly… and Carly says, but what’s really going on is that Nina feels that forgiveness is the last gift under the Christmas tree, and she really wants to open it and enjoy it. It makes sense because Nina’s gotten everything else she’s ever wanted. She’s got Sonny, Willow, her grandchildren, and the MetroCourt. Nina says, yes. She’s been very blessed this year. Carly says, at least Nina isn’t going to insult her by pretending she doesn’t see it. So why not feel entitled to ask for forgiveness too? She’s sorry to disappoint Nina, but she’s going to have to seek redemption somewhere else. Carly walks away.

The priest sees Cyrus and says, excuse me. Cyrus asks if there’s something wrong, and the priest says he was supposed to hear a confession and he was unavoidably delayed. Did he see a lady waiting? Cyrus says, as a matter of fact, there was someone here, but he saw her leave. The priest says he’s sorry he missed her, but hopefully, she’ll be back soon. Cyrus says he’s curious. How does he do it? The priest says, do what? and Cyrus says, when the lost come to him, unburden the heaviness of their souls, how does he help them? The priest says, it sounds like Cyrus is asking about someone in his own life, or himself, and Cyrus says, he’s very perceptive. He is asking for someone he knows, but it’s not him. He’s thinking about a friend who’s feeling lost and alone tonight. The priest says, the holidays can often make people feel that way, and Cyrus says he’s felt that way a time or two himself, but tonight he wants to help them, and he’d appreciate any advice the priest might have about how best to do that. The priest says, his friend is lucky to have him looking out for them. Confession is good for the soul. Merry Christmas. Cyrus says, merry Christmas, and the priest leaves. (Not very good at giving advice, is he?) Cyrus says, confession is good for the soul, but if Nina doesn’t do what’s good for her soul, he might have to do it for her. He dips his hand in the holy water, blesses himself, and leaves.

Nina follows Carly and says, please. It’s Christmas Eve. It’s a time when people are supposed to come together, and Carly still won’t give her an inch? Carly says she’s given Nina more than an inch. She’s given Nina more than a mile. She’s invited Nina to family gatherings and stood there while Wiley’s given Nina a hug and a kiss, and bit her tongue until it bled. And she tells herself over and over again that for his sake, she has to try and make things work. Then she has to remind herself that Sonny’s happiness affects Donna and Avery, so she keeps things pleasant, but that’s not good enough for Nina. Nina helped herself to Carly’s husband and her hotel. Now she wants Carly’s forgiveness on top of it? And she assumes she’s entitled to it. That sappy smile and saccharine speech is going to get her everything she wants? She doesn’t get to demand forgiveness; it’s a gift, and she’s not giving it to Nina. Nina says she’s come to Carly with the best of intentions, and Carly’s decided to stomp all over them. She’s not even listening. So much for peace on earth and good will to men. What does Carly want to do next? Does she want to kick over that Christmas tree? Carly says, Nina is unbelievable. She doesn’t get what she wants, and she’s so put upon. She loves playing the victim. Nina says she doesn’t want to fight with Carly. She didn’t come here to fight with Carly. She came here to make peace, to tell Carly her truth. She’s been sincere. Carly says she’s had a really long day. She wants to grab her little girl and go home to her family and enjoy what’s left of Christmas Eve. She walks out. I just have to interject that Carly keeps making it sound like Nina stole the hotel out from under her. She stole Sonny maybe, but Nina didn’t want the hotel in the first place, Carly had to sell it because of financial problems of her own making, and I’m sure Nina paid top dollar. I’m tired of them making it sound like she swindled Carly out of it.

Spencer asks Trina to tell her mom that she couldn’t get a Ride Share. Because of all the holiday parties, they were just awesome busy, so she had to stay a little bit longer. She says, they’re trying to get her mom to like him, remember? So keeping her daughter away from her on Christmas Eve is not a good idea. He says, that’s true, and she says she stayed longer than she planned, and she promised her mom and Curtis that she’d open one present at midnight. He says, fine, but if he had it his way, he’d spend this entire holiday with her. She asks how he’s so sweet, and he says, must be the Spencer side of his DNA. They kiss, and her phone dings. She tells Spencer, it’s her car, and he says, fine. He’ll let her go as long as she promises he can see her in the morning. He kisses her hand, and she says she still has to give Ace his present. He says, then it’s a date. Merry Christmas, Trina Robinson. She says, merry Christmas, Spencer, and they kiss.

At a sparse cemetery, Esme says she doesn’t even know what she’s doing here. It’s not like he was some great father who raised her from birth, and it hurts to live without him. He was as far from that as possible. But she can’t tell anyone else that she’s got her memories back. She thinks he and crazy Heather Webber are the only people who would understand her keeping it a secret. How messed is that? Her parents would be the ones telling her to lie. She guesses it’s true what they say, Christmas Eve is the loneliest night of the year. This year, she’s talking to a serial killer who just happens to be her dad. Talk about desperate. But why is it so hard? It should be easy to be a good person. She should want to take that path, but he never showed it to her. She had to learn it all on her own, and even then, it’s only because she lost her memory. But she’s made a good life here in Port Charles. She has a good job and an amazing child and her own apartment. With Ace’s stuff scattered all around the place, it really feels like home. Their home. And she’s happy. At least she thinks she is. The feeling is still so new to her. But there is another path too, the crooked one that he showed her. It would be so easy to go back, but what if she doesn’t have a choice? What if it’s out of her control and she’s supposed to be bad because it’s in her DNA? That is the legacy he left her. She goes to put on her gloves and realizes there’s one missing.

Dante puts the glove in an evidence bag and asks if Laura recognizes it. She says she doesn’t know. Does he think it could be Nikolas’s since he’s always been into ladies’ gloves? Dante says he knows she’s been looking for Nikolas, but he doesn’t see anything to indicate Nikolas was here, and this isn’t a man’s glove. This wouldn’t fit him. She says, of course (🍷). He’s right. She’s sorry. She’s not thinking rationally, is she? She guesses because it’s his house, she just thought maybe… She doesn’t know. He says, it’s okay. Maybe it’s Ava’s.

Ava says she doesn’t want or need Sonny’s goons following her around. Does he know what it’s like trying to get anywhere with them in tow? He says, very well actually, and she says she can handle whatever this world throws at her and he knows it. She always comes out swingin’. He says, sometimes she needs a little help. Like the help she got from Dante and Dex when she was kidnapped by Mason. She was grateful to them. He has to do what he needs to do. It’s not just about her. She asks what he has in mind, and he says he doesn’t like this any more than she does, but Avery will. She says, why? and he says, until the figure out what’s going on, she’s living with him.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Chase that it’s going to need to happen faster than they anticipated; Felicia asks why Robert can’t get over it; and Alexis tells her daughters that she doesn’t think it’s entirely true.

🥀 Too Soon For Goodbye…

So sad to hear this. I really liked him on OLTL.

🎸 Channeling Eddie…

Eddie’s alter ego gives us a Christmas serenade.

🎄 Soapy Celebrations…

What the soap stars did for Christmas. Probably the same thing you did.

🍊 Wait… What…?

Wow. I missed something somewhere, but yes, let’s get her on RHOC ASAP. However, a promise ring? How old are we? 14?

🍹 Spilling Charming Tea…

Paige gives the lowdown on her relationship with Craig. It’s definitely one I never saw coming, so I’m guessing it will somehow work out.

🎬 For Those Not Done Yet…

The classics.

https://ew.com/movies/essential-classic-christmas-movies/

And the not-so classics.

https://ew.com/movies/best-christmas-horror-movies/

TV episodes worthy of a ho-ho-ho.

https://ew.com/tv/best-christmas-episodes/

🐔 A Chicken For Christmas…

And they come with a lifetime of free eggs.

We actually raised chickens when I was a kid, but I had no idea this was a thing.

👖 Sisterhood Of the Elastic Waist Pants…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and an assortment of useless knowledge. Until then, stay safe, stay not drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve (there are so many options today, there’s no excuse), and stay making sure it’s a priest you’re confessing to if you go to confession.

February 24, 2023 – Heather Has One Condition, New Wife, All By Herself, Sharing, Trial Desire, Two Pairs, Shady Scheana, First World Problems, Edit Err, Pets (!), Teetering On 10 Quotes & Mountain

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Esme holds her baby, who looks suspiciously like Baby Amelia. She says she doesn’t remember much, but she knows she’s his mommy. They have each other and that’s all that matters. Heather comes in, wearing an orange jumpsuit, and says, there’s her baby girl and her new baby. Esme says, Heather shouldn’t be here, but Heather says she’s Esme’s mother; where else would she be? Esme picks up the nurse call button, but Heather stops her, and says, Esme doesn’t want to interrupt family time. She can’t wait to start spoiling her little grandson. In fact, she’s starting right now. She reaches for the baby, and Esme sits up with a start. The guard lets Laura in, and she asks if Esme is okay. Esme asks, where’s Heather? and Laura says, she’s in custody at the police station. Esme says, please don’t let her take my baby away.

Spencer points to a baby through the nursery window, and tells Sonny, that’s his baby brother. He’s handsome, isn’t he? Sonny asks if the little guy has a name, but Spencer says, not yet. Sonny asks if Spencer is still suing for custody, and Spencer says he may not have to now that his father has disappeared.

Dex tells Josslyn that he was hired to find evidence that would put Sonny away once and for all, but he’ll tell his employer that he’s out if that’s what she wants. She says, it’s not her decision to make, but he says, let’s not make this about Sonny; let’s make this about you and me. (Huh? It’s all about Sonny.) She hates that he’s working for Sonny. How does she feel about him working against Sonny? (What I said.)

Elizabeth looks at a photo of the boys, and remembers Scotty chastising her for letting Nikolas talk her into his cockamamie plan. Cameron comes in, and she says she wasn’t expecting him this morning. He asks if she’s as freaked out as he is about Esme.

Ava asks the reception nurse if Austin is allowed to have visitors, and Mac asks why she wants to see Austin. She says, why would she want to see the man who nearly bled to death on her living room floor? Does that really seem so strange? He says, that depends. Felicia said Ava encouraged her to leave Austin behind when Heather said they could go. She says, so they could get him help, and he says, but instead, she went after Ryan with a gun. (Really, Mac? Does any of that sound strange?) She says, Austin didn’t need both of them to get him help, and she needed to confront the man who made her life a living hell. Mac’s the one who ultimately killed Ryan. He says, the world’s a better place now that Ryan Chamberlain’s dead, and she says, they agree on something. Is Mac done? He says he has a few more questions. Why don’t they start with why Austin was on Spoon Island in the first place.

Robert congratulates Jordan on catching Heather. He can assure the public that their safe, that The Hook killer’s been caught, and that she’s going away for good. She says, her people have already made progress, when Dante walks out, and says, Heather is ready to make a statement. Scotty walks in, and says, hey, Mr. D.A., but Robert asks if it can wait. Scotty says he’s about to make Robert’s life a whole lot easier.

Jordan and Robert go into the interrogation room, and Jordan says, Dante told her that Heather wants to make a statement. Heather says she does. She’s done some very bad things that she’s ready to confess. Jordan says, Heather wants to confess to The Hook attacks without a lawyer present, and Heather says she only wants to unburden her soul. Dante sets up the recorder, and tells Heather, it’s her right to have an attorney present, but she says she doesn’t want an attorney. She just wants to tell the truth. Jordan tells her, start talking, but Heather says she does have one condition.

Scotty tells Robert that he has a client with information about The Hook attacks, and they want to make a deal.

Cameron asks how long Elizabeth thinks Esme has known Ryan and Heather are her parents, but she says she has no idea. He says, she realizes, if Heather is Esme’s mom, that makes her Franco’s half-sister. When Esme moved to Port Charles, he really tried to give her a chance because Spencer was so into her. Does Elizabeth think she was working with Ryan when she was interning at Spring Ridge? Elizabeth says, before she lost her memory? and he says, what if she’s been faking this whole time? He wonders if Joss knows about everything that’s happened.

Josslyn tells Dex, Sonny was in her life for a very long time. Not as a father – she had one obviously – but as a stepfather. They were a family. Dex says, he was good to her, and she says, he was, when she was little and didn’t know about his business. He says, Sonny still considers her family. It’s one of the reasons Sonny thinks he’s not good enough for her. She says, like he has the right to judge anyone after what he’s done? He had Dex beaten and tortured, and Sonny’s hurt so many people, she can’t even count. Where does he get off thinking he’s better than anyone else? The hypocrisy of it all. He asks if that means she wants him to see it through, and see that Sonny goes to prison.

Sonny asks what Spencer means, and Spencer says he doesn’t know what to think anymore. How can someone just walk out on their child? He doesn’t even mean himself at this point. How can someone walk out on an innocent baby? Sonny says, Spencer’s not responsible for his father’s actions. Spencer can’t fix his messes. Spencer says, someone has to. His baby brother has an absent father, and a mother who’s in police custody. That little guy must feel all alone in the world. Sonny says, they can fix that.

Laura tells the guard that he can leave them alone, and tells Esme that she had a nightmare. Esme wishes that’s all it was; that she hadn’t been forced to break out of Spring Ridge, and her parents weren’t serial killers. Laura says, unfortunately, that is true, but she told Esme, Heather is in custody, and can’t hurt her. Esme asks, where’s her baby? and Laura says, in the nursery. He got a perfect bill of health despite his impromptu entrance into the world. Esme says, thank God, and thank Laura and Dr. Collins for helping bring her baby into the world. Laura says she feels lucky that she could be there for her grandson’s birth, and Esme says she just realized, she has a son. Laura asks if Esme wants her to arrange for the baby to visit, but Esme says, no; he should stay away. Laura asks, why? and Esme says, it’s not safe. Her parents are killers. For all she knows, she could be a killer too.

Heather says, what she wants is pretty simple, and Dante says, if she cooperates fully, they’ll see about her request. She says, he knows that’s not how it works, but he says, she doesn’t know how anything works, and grabs the recorder. Jordan gets up, and says, waste of time, but Heather says, fine. What do they want to know? Dante puts the recorder back, and asks if she attacked Ava in August, and she says, yes. He asks if she attacked… She says, it’s going to take all day. She’s The Hook, okay? Anyone stabbed with a hook, it was her. Jordan says, they need details, and Heather says, Ava Jerome, with a hook, at the Quartermaines. Brando Corbin, behind Charlie’s with a hook, except that was a mistake; she was really after Josslyn Jax for making her daughter’s life so miserable. Diane Miller, in the garage. The bartender, Oz Haggerty, at the docks. Nikolas Cassadine, with a hook… Dante says, wait a second, and Jordan says, she attacked Nikolas Cassadine?

Ava tells Mac, that’s one of the reasons she’s here. She wants to ask Austin how he’s doing, and why he came to Windymere last night. Mac says he didn’t know they were friends, and she says, friendly perhaps. Austin treated her after Heather attacked her at the Quartermaine picnic, but she wouldn’t say they bonded over it. He thanks her for her time, and she says she just can’t wrap her head around the fact that Spencer’s girlfriend from boarding school is Ryan and Heather’s daughter. He says, quite a coincidence, but she says, it isn’t at all. Ryan told her that he sent Esme to that boarding school specifically to ensnare Spencer. Ryan was intent on splitting her and Nikolas up, and he succeeded. Mac says, maybe now that the truth has come out, she and Nikolas can find their way back to each other.

Dante asks when Heather attacked Nikolas, but she says she doesn’t know. In the fall? It was breezy. Jordan asks where it happened, and Heather says, at Windymere. It wasn’t her finest hour; he escaped without a scratch. He’s still breathing, unlike that doctor on New Year’s Eve. Dante asks if Britt was a target, but Heather says, no. She appeared out of nowhere, and decided to play hero, and again, Josslyn Jax escaped. Everyone stood between her and protecting her little girl. Jordan says, about Officer Cabrera. A keepsake from one of Ryan’s victims was found on Rory’s person. How did it get there?

Mac asks if Ava has heard from Ryan, but she says, no, and she doesn’t expect to. Things between them had gone too far, and she’s accepted that she’s lost Nikolas for good. Ryan’s destroyed her life, again. Mac says, at least it’s for the last time, and she says she has him to thank for that. She’s just sorry she didn’t kill the bastard herself. He says, after everything Ryan has put her through, killing him would be self-defense under any circumstances, and she says, he has no idea what Ryan has taken from her.

Obviously not having read The Invader, Scotty tells Robert that his client has information on the PCPD’s number one suspect, the one and only Esme Prince. Robert says, keep going, and Scotty says, his client knows Esme’s whereabouts before she showed up at the Haunted Star, soaking wet, with child and no memories. Robert says, so this client will only divulge said information if Scotty makes deal? and Scotty says, that’s why he’s here. Robert says, if this client knows what they know because they’re an accomplice to the crime, he should be telling them to turn themselves in, and he walks away.

Elizabeth asks if Cameron has spoken to Josslyn recently, but he says, no, and he doesn’t plan to. She says she knows the break-up really hurt him, but they’ve been friends their entire lives. He says he feels like that makes it worse, and she asks if he’s hoping they can be friends again someday, but he says, with what Josslyn did… She’s not the person he thought. Maybe she never was.

Josslyn says, it would be easier to figure out how she feels about this, if Dex would tell her who he’s working for, but he says he can’t. She asks, why not? and he tells her, all he can say is, he trusts his employer. She says, and this mystery person wants to take Sonny down, and he says, it’s the whole reason he’s here. She asks how close he is, and he says he doesn’t have any solid evidence yet, but Sonny’s about to get involved with some people in arms trafficking. The plan is for him to get some evidence and turn it over to his real boss, who will turn it over to the Feds. She says her first instinct is to tell him, do it. No one’s forcing Sonny to break the law, and he’d just be reporting what he saw. But if this goes wrong, and he gets caught, that’s on him, not his mystery boss. What happens if he calls the whole thing off? Does he have to work for Sonny for real? Sonny’s not going to let him just walk away.

Esme tells Laura that Heather and Ryan want her baby for themselves. They were talking about all of these plans… Laura says, Heather is locked up, but Esme says, Heather has a revolving door in and out of Spring Ridge, and Ryan… Laura says, Ryan is dead. She’s sorry. He died last night on Spoon Island. Esme says, good. He was a monster, and she’s glad he’s dead. She was terrified of that man. Laura says, what about Heather? and Esme says, Heather kept saying she wanted to protect her, but she’s so crazy. She’s the offspring of two monsters, so she must be a terrible person. Oh my God. She did all of those things she’s accused of; the revenge porn and trying to kill that man. Laura asks if she remembers doing those things.

In the nursery with the baby, Sonny tells Spencer that his family has every right to meet this baby. Spencer says, all he wants to do now is protect him from the world, and Sonny says, it’s the most amazing thing. Spencer asks if Sonny thinks his father felt like this when he was a baby, and Sonny says he guarantees it. Spencer says, that’s good. That means he has to come back now that his new son is here. How could he stay away knowing what he’s missing? Sonny asks if Spencer is changing his mind, and Ava peeks in the window.

Laura asks if Esme remembers her past, but Esme says, no, sorry. Her memory of before she showed up on the boat is still a blank. Laura asks why she said she was guilty, and Esme says, with parents like Heather and Ryan, how could she not be? Laura says, you’re not destined to be bad no matter who your parents are. Does she think her baby is bad? Esme says, no, he’s completely innocent. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen to him. If she’s found guilty, she’s going straight back to prison. Laura says she hasn’t stood trial yet; let’s not jump to conclusions. Esme asks, where’s Nikolas? Why isn’t her baby’s father here?

Heather says, when she discovered she was pregnant with Esme, she left Ryan. She took this chain of trophies he had as insurance, in case he ever decided to come after her. Dante says, that was twenty years ago. How does Cabrera end up with it? She says she wore the chain during The Hook attacks because she was getting justice for their daughter. She just thought it was fitting. Dante tells Jordan, that’s the sound Josslyn heard when Brando was attacked in the alley, and Jordan says, Brando heard it too. Heather says, Cabrera surprised her. They tussled a bit, and in the struggle, he managed to grab one of the trophies off the chain, but she didn’t realize it until she got back to Spring Ridge. Jordan says, so she’s confessing to murdering six people, and attacking four others? but Heather says, it was five, not six. Brando, Oz Haggerty, the venom guy, Rory Cabrera, and that doctor, whatever they said her name was. Dante says, what about Corrections Officer Williams, who was stabbed to death when she and Ryan escaped? but Heather says, she didn’t kill him; that was Ryan. He stabbed Williams. He planned the escape. He forced her and Esme to go with him. They can’t pin this on her.

Dex says he can’t just tell Sonny that he’s not cut out for this, not without him getting suspicious, and Josslyn says, if Sonny had any idea Dex was working against him… He says, Sonny would kill him, and she says, he’s right; Sonny can never know. He says, so either he keeps working for Sonny, or he has to leave Port Charles. She asks if Dex’s mystery boss would be okay with him quitting, and he says, not okay. He’s gone to a lot of trouble to set this up (what trouble; the occasional phone call to Dex?), and he’s close to getting what he wants. But if Dex tells him that he wants out, he’ll let Dex go. She says, but that doesn’t solve anything. He wouldn’t have to spy on Sonny anymore, but he’d still have to work for Sonny; smuggle arms and commit crimes, hustle coffee or whatever it is. And if he gets caught… Dex says, he goes to prison, and she says, as long as he stays in Port Charles, he’s trapped. I guess Dex can’t possibly get another job? Like a normal one?

Cameron tells Elizabeth that he couldn’t have predicted in a million years that Josslyn would hurt him the way she did. It makes him feel like he never knew her at all. She says, it always hurts when someone you love lets you down, but it doesn’t negate what the two of you had. People make mistakes all the time – big ones – but all you can do is come clean, and deal with the consequences. He asks if they’re still talking about him and Joss.

Scotty tells Robert, his client got involved in a crime that was already in progress, and they would like to make things right, and testify against the real perpetrator. Robert tells him, say more, but Scotty says he needs to hear the deal. Robert says he needs more information, and Scotty says, his client is a good person, not a criminal. They got mixed up in some bad business. So Robert can go after a person who made a mistake, or go after the real felon.

Spencer comes out, and says, Ava’s not here to see… He doesn’t mind if she is; he’s just surprised. She laughs, and says, actually, she’s here to see him. She saw him with the baby though. Cute. He’s a natural. He thanks her, and asks what she wanted to see him about. She takes it he knows Ryan was Esme’s father, and he says, yes, and Heather Webber was her mother. Odd how something can come as a perfect shock, yet make perfect sense. She says she thinks they all felt that way, and he says, is that it? but she says, not quite. Esme and Ryan knew who they were to each other. He says, since Esme came to Port Charles? and she says, since before he met her. Ryan sent Esme to that school in France to get close to him. He asks if she’s saying Ryan sent Esme to France to seduce him in some long game to break up her and Nikolas. That’s good. She says, think about it. Whose idea was it to come to Port Charles and stalk her? Was it his, or was it Esme’s?

On the phone, Mac tells Jordan that he spoke with Ava, and he’s about to question Esme Prince. Jordan says, check Esme’s answers against what Heather told them, and he says he thinks once he talks to Esme, they’ll have a clearer picture about what happened on Spoon Island.

Laura says she doesn’t know where her son is, and Esme says, he came to see her at Spring Ridge to try and get her to sign her rights to the baby over. Why isn’t he here now? Laura says she wishes she knew, when Mac walks in, and Esme says she remembers him from the roadside outside the prison. He stopped to help them, then Ryan hit him over the head. Is he okay? He says he’s fine, thanks. He’s Chief of Detectives Mac Scorpio, and he has some questions. Esme says, Heather and Ryan kidnapped her. They forced her to escape. Ryan even killed a guard right in front of her. He asks if Heather helped him, but she says, no. The guard was questioning her and Heather, and Ryan snuck up behind him and stabbed him in the back; it was horrible. Then Heather told her that she had to do what Ryan said, or he’d hurt her. He asks if Heather seemed scared of Ryan, and she says, not really. He asks, what happened next? and she says, Heather let them out of the prison. Laura asks, whose idea was it to escape? and Esme says she’s not sure. She thinks Heather and Ryan were planning it together, but Heather was the one who knew her way out of Spring Ridge.

Dante says, they know Heather and Ryan were working together. They were planning this escape for months. Heather says, no, no, no, no. She didn’t even know Ryan could walk and talk until Esme showed up at Spring Ridge. He never even told her that he could. They’ve got to believe her. He showed her that he’d been faking his condition when Esme showed up just because he wanted her help with getting Esme out. Dante says, which she was more than happy to provide, but she says, Ryan terrified her. She had to do what he said. Jordan tells her, he isn’t saying anything; he’s dead.

Spencer says, Esme was always going on and on about how Ava pushed him out of his father’s life, and said he should push back. She encouraged him to get revenge. Ava wonders if he ever asked himself why Esme cared so much. She was no one to Esme, and they had the kind of life teenagers dream of. They had Europe at their fingertips. Wouldn’t living his best life have been the best revenge? He says, apparently not. Esme was determined to get him back here. Ava says, because Ryan ordered her to do all of that, and look what happened. She and Nikolas are divorced, and he and his father are more estranged than ever. It was Ryan. Ryan played them all. (Way to get Esme and Spencer off the hook. No pun intended.)

Heather says, thank God, and Dante tells her, give it a rest. She wanted Ryan gone so he can’t contradict her narrative. They know she gave Ava a gun, and sent Ava after Ryan. Heather says, Ava killed Ryan? and Jordan says, no, but she shot him in self-defense. Heather says, of course (🍷) it was self-defense. After everything he’d done to her; running her life, killing her daughter. Ryan was a cold-blooded murderer. Dante says, unlike her, and she says she was just a mother protecting her child. Jordan says, a child she abandoned, and Heather says, because she wanted to give her a better life. But she never stopped missing her. When Esme arrived in Port Charles, she was overjoyed. Then she saw what Esme’s life had become. She saw Trina Robinson’s attempts to humiliate and destroy her. What else could she do? She had to defend her family. Dante says he feels for her, and she says she’s told them everything she knows; she’s confessed to The Hook murders. Can’t they just grant the one little thing she asked them? Otherwise, she can always recant. Who’s going to trust the word of a crazy person anyway?

Laura asks what Sonny is doing at the hospital, and he says, looking after her grandsons, both of them. Congratulations, by the way. She thanks him, and he asks if she was with Esme. She says she was, but now Mac’s questioning her, and he asks if there’s anything he should know. She says she doesn’t think so; not yet. Is Spencer at the nursery? He says, yeah. Spencer’s been here all morning doing the big brother thing; he’s good at it. She says she doesn’t know if he heard, but Ryan died last night, and he says he heard the good news. He also heard Heather Webber killed his cousin Brando. She says, it would appear that way, and he says, that’s a mistake going after his family, but she says, let the justice system do what it does. He says, she knows him. He just protects the people he loves.

Dex tells Josslyn, option one. Say he disappears from Port Charles. Sonny might come looking for him, but he can cover his tracks. She says, if Sonny can’t find him, neither can she, and he says, not for a while anyway. She says she’s not liking option one, and he says, him neither. He says, option two. He tells his real boss that he’s out. He keeps working for Sonny, legitimately following his orders, but Sonny told him that he can’t go near Josslyn. They would have to hide that they’re together indefinitely. She says, marginally better than option one, but not by much. He says, option three. He sticks with the original plan, and gets evidence on Sonny. He turns it over to his real boss, who turns it over to the Feds, Sonny goes to prison, and he’s in the clear. She doubts it will be that easy, and he says, probably not, but it’s the only option that gives him what he really wants; a chance to stay here, a chance to be with her, free of Sonny. She says, option three it is, and he says, option three, kissing her. He says, no matter what happens, he can’t walk away from her, and she says she doesn’t want him to. Um… For all Josslyn’s talk on how she cares so much about her sisters, how come Donna and Avery, and the effect this might have on them, hasn’t been mentioned once?

Elizabeth’s phone rings, and she asks what he said… Yeah, she’s sure. She’ll be right there. She tells Cameron that she has to go, and he asks if everything is okay. She says she loves him, and jets.

Spencer admits he didn’t think Ava knew him so well, but she’s right. He didn’t want any of this to happen until he met Esme, and she used his resentment toward Ava to talk him into stalking her. He owns up to what he did, his part of it, but the escalation – putting the bear on Avery’s bed, setting Ava’s car on fire, putting Kiki’s hospital ID badge next to the wreckage – that was all Esme. He didn’t even know it was done until it happened. Ava says she believes him. All that misery because Ryan couldn’t stand her being with someone else. He says he can’t believe he was so blind, and she says, they all were. They were all blind, and used, and manipulated… He says, manipulated or not, he did Ryan’s dirty work for him. Spencer suddenly looks terrified, and says, he drove his father away, but Ava says, no, it wasn’t him. Nikolas would still be here if not for Ryan Chamberlain.

Mac asks, when was the last time Esme saw Ryan? and she says, he was in the woods with Ava Jerome; she had a gun on him. He was focused on Ava, so she made a break for it. Is she okay? He says, Ava’s fine, and she asks Mac to tell Ava thank you for helping her get away from Ryan. he says he’ll pass along that message. He thanks her for the information, and says, if he has anything more to ask… She lifts up her arm, showing she’s cuffed to the bed, and says, he knows where to find her. He congratulates her on the birth of her son, and she says, before he goes, maybe he could tell her what’s going to happen to her and Ace. He says, Ace? and she says, her baby. He says, she named her baby Ace? and she says, it just came out. Sounds right to her for some reason. Ace? Where did that come from?

Jordan asks if Dante believes Heather, and he says he does. Robert joins them, and says he may have additional answers on this hook business. Baldwin has a client who says she knows what Esme was doing at the time she went missing. Jordan asks, who? when Scotty walks in with Elizabeth, and says he thinks they all know his client.

Laura tells Sonny, she’s glad Spencer is spending time with his baby brother, because he really needs something positive to focus on right now. Sonny says he feels Spencer needs the baby as much as the baby needs him, and Laura’s phone dings. He asks if everything is okay, but she says, no. She’s got to go. She jets, and he follows her.

Josslyn tells Dex that she’s got to go back to her family, and needs to talk to Trina. It’s been a crazy couple of days. (Boy, does she have some news to catch up on.) He says, people need her, and she says, she needs him. So do whatever he has to do, but watch his back. Option three only works if he’s alive at the end of it. He promises to be careful, they kiss, and she leaves.

Laura and Sonny go to the nursery, and Laura asks Spencer, what’s wrong? He says he messed up, and she says, take a deep breath, and tell her what’s going on. He says, because of him, he and his baby brother no longer have a father. It seems even in death, Ryan Chamberlain wins. Laura says, they’ll find his father, and when they do, they’ll explain to him what took place here, and she’ll talk some sense into him. Until then, take a look around him. He’s not alone. Sonny’s here, she’s here… Sonny says, always, and she says, he and his brother are going to have more support than they know what to do with. Ava slips away.

Mac goes into Esme’s room, and asks if she’s sure about this. She nods, and the guard brings Heather in. Heather sort of smiles, but Esme just looks at her blankly.

On Monday, Dante tells Molly that they need to start that search immediately; Laura tells Spencer to think before he acts; and Curtis asks how long Jordan has known Trina might be his daughter.

👠 For Now…

She’s the only one I like at this point on RHONJ, but give it time.

https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/rachel-fuda-from-rhonj-husband-family-instagram-bio

👰🏻 All About the Love, But Alone…

Are you kidding me? She had the option of her brother walking her down the aisle, and decided to be the turd that she is. My father passed away before I got married too, and my sister walked me down the aisle. Teresa just wanted to give Joe #2 another slap in the face and get more attention for herself.

🧉 The Unending Grope…

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Anyone who could slap LVP in the face could do anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if she drank the blood of virgins to help her face fillers last. Although I would be surprised if she could find one in L.A.

💎 What Victims…?

You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip, but I’ll bet she has bags that cost more than my house. And being an entertainer with a 12th grade education doesn’t mean you don’t know how many zeros are on the check.

🏖  Summer Lovin’…

Paige might be close to one of the normal ones if she wasn’t attached to ticking time bomb Craig.

Great. The only genuinely normal one. Let’s hope Austen isn’t her rebound. Or anyone else who enters the house for that matter.

🍸 Passing the Shade…

She is clueless when it comes to Girl Code. And did she watch this week’s episode? She pushed.

🎰 Showing Her Cards…

Gambling has never been my jam. I went to Atlantic City once to see a show, and played the slots for a few hours first – back when they were actual slot machines and somewhat exciting. I’d gotten a certain amount of rolled coins from the bank, and decided that would be the only amount I’d play with. I came home a quarter shy. Yeah, it was cool on the spins when a bunch of money came out, but I didn’t feel the need to play any more when I had to get going. Or ever.

Geez. I take better pictures for eBay.

🛣  In Last Week’s Last…

I have to admit, I didn’t even notice.

https://people.com/tv/the-last-of-us-fans-point-out-hbo-editing-error/

My favorite reply.

🐈 Prosperous Pets…

I’ll bet they all still poop on the floor.

🎯 Quotes of the Week

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. – Chief Seattle (Once again, don’t step on any butterflies.)

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. – Oscar Wilde

What I did or said should never be more important than why I did it or said it.Andrea Kelly

There is only one way to avoid criticism: say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. – Elbert Hubbard

Just knowing you don’t have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn – and those are all good things. – Dick Van Dyke

Each day we are given the opportunity to choose between that which is easy and fast and that which is more difficult and slow. The fast and easy track is attractive, but doesn’t bear fruit. The slow and hard track is intimidating, but has the most potential. – Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy. – Dean Koontz

Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!Steve Maraboli

There is no room for mediocrity in karaoke. – some obviously Drunk Kid I met there

🚶🏽‍♀️ Walking It Off…

Come back fresh on Monday really Tuesday for soap and the return of Captain Lee, which might offset the middle aged adolescents in that House. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping your head in the clouds, but your feet on the ground, and stay letting living your best life be your best revenge.

March 25, 2022 – Jordan Follows Up On a Tip, Their Song, Hold Up, New Start, a Fight, a Spin-Off, a Crossover, Two Firsts, Teresa Tales, Nasty, Apology, On the Range, Legacy, New Award, The 12 Of Quotes & Spice

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny asks what kind of favor Curtis is talking about, and Curtis says he knows Sonny has access to certain kinds of information. Sonny asks if he can be more specific, and Curtis says he has to get his hands on a certain police file.

Nikolas says, perhaps it’s time Victor told them exactly what he’s been planning since before he got back in town, and Victor says, maybe Nikolas is right. Nikolas says, he’s got their attention; what’s the big plan? Victor says he’s afraid the information is for family only, and Nikolas says, they are family. Victor says, some more so than others, and looks at Ava.

At the MetroCourt, Taggert tells Portia, stop worrying; Trina is only ten minutes late. And frankly, it’s giving him some time to wrap his head around this Joss and Cam sex tape. Whaat? Portia says she doesn’t think you can actually call it a sex tape when the people involved don’t know they’re being taped, and he says, that would be considered revenge porn, and that is against the law in the state of New York. She says she just thinks it’s disgusting that anyone would target Trina’s friends in that way. To her, too much of their kids’ lives are already on the internet for everyone to see, but to exploit someone’s private moments like that, that’s disgusting. He asks, what about Spencer Cassadine’s girlfriend? Really? Accusing Trina of posting this video? Portia just hopes this makes Trina realize that Esme and Spencer are bad news all around for her. He says, look who it is, and nuTrina walks over. They hug her, and Taggert says he’s so glad she could make it. He’ll tell the hostess they’re ready. Trina says she can’t stay; she has class in thirty minutes. Unless they want her to blow off class. Portia says, perish the thought, and Taggert says he’s amazed at Trina’s schedule; full time student at PCU, along with her new job at the gallery. Trina says she knows what they’re doing, and Portia says, trying to spend time with their precious girl? but Trina says, they’re trying to see if she’s surviving all this craziness. Taggert says, since she brought it up, how is she handling this Joss and Cam thing? Trina says, it’s horrible, but it’s made her realize she needs to be more careful about who she spends her time with.

Stating the obvious, Spencer says, this is a pregnancy test, and Esme snatches it out of his hand. She says, what it is, is none of his business. He wants her out of here? Fine. She’ll go. He says, wait, and she asks what else he can say, because he’s already broken her heart.

At the station, Dante asks if he can talk to Jordan, and she asks, what’s up? He says he was talking to ADA Rodriguez about possible charges against whoever put that video of Joss and Cameron out on the internet… and she says she’s stopping him there.

Cameron and Josslyn walk into an empty classroom, and Cameron asks if they’re really that late. Josslyn says, that’s weird. She thought Professor Kahn would still be there, so at least they could explain the situation. He asks if she thinks they’re the first to use still talking to the police as an excuse for missing class, but she says she thinks Professor Kahn has heard every excuse in the book. He says, Josslyn was quiet on the ride over, and she says she was thinking about her interview with Detective Lopez, going over her statement in her head, making sure she covered everything. Why don’t they check and see if the professor is in her office? He says, they don’t have to leave just yet; they can spend a few more minutes here. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says he just thinks things are a little chaotic out there. They can spend a sec in here, while everyone is getting situated in their classes. She says, so there’s fewer people watching them walk down the hall? and he says she’s got him. She asks if he really cares what random people think, and he says he doesn’t want to care, but it’s their first day back since the video came out. It’s obvious people are talking about us. She says, about us? It’s mostly about her.

Sonny says he knows Curtis had a big part in taking down Cyrus Renault when he was living in Nixon Falls, and he kind behaved badly at The Savoy a couple months ago… Curtis says, don’t even worry about it. He knows Sonny was going through a lot. He was trying to save his marriage. Curtis’s marriage with Jordan blew up over a year ago, and he knows exactly how difficult that is. Sonny says he appreciates that. So Curtis wants him to get a sealed arrest record? Before he goes any further, who’s it for? Curtis says, it’s for his presumed dead, but very much alive, father.

Portia says, tell her more about who Trina is going to allow in her life, and most important, who she’s not. Trina says she visited Spencer at Spring Ridge, and made it very clear she can’t be friends with him as long as he’s involved with Esme. And Spencer stayed with Esme, which definitely clarifies things, and frees her from any impulse to worry about him. Portia says she’s proud of Trina, and Taggert says, good for her for standing up for herself. Trina says, but it’s hard, because she still thinks he’s a good person deep down. Taggert says he doesn’t know about that. He remembers way back when, when Nikolas was a few years older than Spencer. He was dating Taggert’s sister Gia, and he doesn’t think the Cassadines strike him as particularly deep. Portia asks what class Trina is off to, and Trina says, Social History Through Art. Portia asks if Joss and Cam are in that class too, and Trina says, no, but even if Joss was, she wouldn’t be there. She hasn’t been in any of her classes since… Taggert says he knows about the video. Her mother told him all about it. So how is Joss handling all this? Trina says she’s not sure. She’s been staying at her mom’s rather than the dorm. It’s like Joss needs to hide out for a while, which she totally understands, so she’s trying to give Joss her space. Portia says, if she were in Josslyn’s position she wouldn’t want space; she’d want her best friend. Trina says, Joss hasn’t texted her in a while. She figures if Joss wants to hear from her, Joss will let her know.

Cameron says, us, you, it’s doesn’t matter; we’re in this together. Josslyn says, they’re both in the video together, and both had a private moment stolen from them, but the fallout is different. It shouldn’t be, but it is, because she’s being slut-shamed all over the place. People are making fun of her, they’re critiquing her body, they’re judging her for even having sex at all, and Cameron tapped that. She’s just some tramp who gave it away. He says he’s sorry, and she says, it’s nothing that he did. It’s just the way things are. She knows the only way out is through, and she just has to face it down, and keep moving forward. Trust her, that’s what she’s going to do, but she hates that she has to deal with something that’s so ugly, sexist, and blatantly unfair. He says he’s sorry, and he knows it’s unfair. He saw the way she reacted when they thought people were whispering, and she says she thought she handled it pretty well. He says, no one else would have noticed, but he knows her. He knows when she’s confident, and when she’s only pretending to be. She says she loves how he knows her, and kisses him, but then pulls away, saying, she hates how this bothers her so much because it shouldn’t. They didn’t do anything wrong. He says, this is why he didn’t want to do the Invader article, but she says, they needed to go on record. They needed to state they didn’t record that or post it themselves. And it’s also important for people to know how invasive this entire experience was, and they can help other victims of revenge porn. He says he agrees with everything she’s saying. He just can’t bear to see her get hurt. She says, he doesn’t have to protect her; it’s not his job. She didn’t ask for any of this, but here they are, and she’s not going to hide. He tells her, he didn’t say they have to hide, but they don’t have to be in the spotlight either. She asks why he didn’t say this before, and he says he did. She asks him, then what is he saying? This is her fault now?

Nikolas says, as far as he’s concerned, Ava is more his family than Victor. Anything Victor has to say, he can say to both of them. Victor says he’s sorry, but no, and Ava says, that’s okay, and gets up. It’s sort of a compliment really. Nikolas can tell her later; she’ll be at the bar.

Spencer says, Esme knows he’d never intentionally hurt her, and she says, like he knows she’s not the one responsible for that disgusting video. He says, they’re not talking about the video. Why does she have a pregnancy test? She asks why he thinks? They made love that night before he went to Spring Ridge. He says, she’s pregnant?

Dante says, revenge porn is a crime in the state of New York; what’s the problem? Jordan says she’s aware of that. An investigation into the video of Josslyn and Cameron has been opened. He can provide back-up support as needed, but that’s it. Josslyn is his stepsister. She can’t risk the defense casting doubt on any information he receives. He says, who his father married shouldn’t disqualify him as an investigator, and she says, he needs to take a step back from this one. And any evidence he does uncover, he needs to take to Detective Lopez immediately. He says, by the book; got it. She says she understands his frustration, but take it from her, nothing good comes from breaking the rules. Been there, done that, and it didn’t end well.

Curtis tells Sonny, his dad who he thought was dead, suddenly shows up in Port Charles a few months ago. You would think he’d be ready to answer some questions, but instead, he’s been extra cagey about where and when he’s been. He says he wants to start over. Curtis had Drew do a deep dive into his background, which prompted Marshall to admit to Curtis that he has a criminal record, and it’s been sealed. Sonny says, with all due respect, why is it Curtis’s business? and Curtis says, normally, it isn’t. They all have a past they’re not proud of, including him. Sonny says, but Curtis wants him to get sealed information on his father, and Curtis says he has reason. Marshall’s been lying to him.

Victor says, he’s spent too many years preparing for this to have it all fall apart now, and Nikolas says he still has no idea what Victor is talking about. Victor says, Time was, the Cassadines were among the most powerful families on this planet, and Nikolas asks if that’s not a little exaggerated, but Victor disagrees. Heads of state would routinely line up to do business with them. They were true power players on the international stage, and it’s high time they reclaimed that influence.

Ava goes over to Portia and Taggert’s table, and says, good evening. She asks if Trina will be joining them, but Portia says, she’s already come and gone; she had to get to class. Taggert says, they were lucky to get ten minutes with her. It amazes him how that girl races through life. Ava says, ah, the energy of youth, when Taggert’s phone rings. He steps away to take the call, and Portia invites Ava to join her. Ava says, just for a minute. She’s actually here for a family celebration. She sits down, and Portia asks, what’s the celebration? Ava says, Spencer’s release from Spring Ridge, and Portia says, forgive her if she doesn’t find that a reason to celebrate. Ava says she agrees with Portia, but for Nikolas’s sake, she’s playing nice. Portia says, better Ava than her, and Ava says, make no mistake though, it’s going to be difficult, especially when Spencer starts work at the gallery for restitution. It helps that he won’t be answering to her directly; Trina will be supervising him. Portia says, that’s not going to happen.

Spencer says, Esme is pregnant? Why didn’t she say anything? She asks when she was supposed to tell him, before or after he called her a monster? For the record, she hasn’t taken the test yet, but she is late. She kept waiting to get her period, but after ten days, she finally chalked up the nerve to get the test. He says, she thought she might be pregnant for over a week, and didn’t say anything? and she says, it was his last week in prison. She thought he had enough to worry about without the possibility of being a father. He says, well, let’s find out. She needs to take that test – right now.

Cameron says he doesn’t want to fight, and Josslyn says, neither does she. He says they have to remember they’re in this together, and she says, yes, they are, and there’s no reason to hide in here, so let’s go. Trina walks in, and says, hi. It’s been a few days since they’ve seen each other. Cameron says, which is pretty weird, right? and Trina says, right. How are they doing? Josslyn says, hanging in there, and Cameron says, class is over. Why is Trina here? Trina says she was looking for Professor Kahn, but Cameron says, she already left. Trina says she’s got to get to her next class, but Josslyn says, wait. This is crazy. Trina says, it is. She missed them so much. Josslyn says, they missed her too, and they have a three-way hug.

Sonny asks how Curtis knows his father was lying, and Curtis says he had Drew go along with the background check. He found some information that made Curtis question Marshall’s account of where he’s been all these years. He’s all for a person’s right to privacy, but when they start lying to him, he needs to know why. Sonny flashes back to picking Marshall’s prescription bottle off the floor and giving it back to him, and says he can’t help Curtis.

Portia says she thinks Spencer’s a bad influence on Trina, and she knows Ava cares about Trina, which is why she’s asking Ava to reconsider making Trina Spencer’s supervisor. Can’t someone else do it? Ava says, when she spoke to Trina about it, she seemed fine working with Spencer, but Portia says, things change. She suggests Ava check in with Trina, and see how she’s currently feeling about Spencer.

Jordan tells Dante, don’t get her wrong. She’s done questionable things in the past when her family was involved. She learned her lesson the hard way, and it’s because of that experience that she refuses to bend the rules again. It’s a very slippery slope. He says he knows, and he doesn’t want to compromise the case, but he’s concerned about Joss and Cameron and what they’re going through, and wants to help. She says she feels the same, but Josslyn and Cameron are doing okey. Detective Lopez said their statements were clear and very helpful. He says he doesn’t want it slipping through the cracks, and she says, it won’t. Josslyn and Cameron are victims of a crime, and the perpetrator’s not getting away with it.

Trina says, it was good of Cameron to leave them alone, and Josslyn says, Trina knows Cam. He’s super considerate, and she’s in desperate need of some girl time. Trina says, her too. Did Josslyn get her text? Josslyn says, no. When did she send it? Trina says, when the video came out. She wanted Josslyn to know she was thinking about her. Josslyn says, she got so many pervy messages that day, she started deleting them without looking. She must have accidently deleted Trina’s too. Did Trina get her text? Trina says, she did, but all it said was that Josslyn was staying at her mom’s house, and then she didn’t hear anything else. Josslyn says she didn’t hear anything else from Trina either. Why didn’t she text again? Trina says, when Josslyn didn’t respond to her first text, she figured Josslyn needed space. Josslyn says, space from the world, absolutely, but space from Trina, never. Trina should know that. Trina says, how? Josslyn didn’t come to the dorms; she didn’t respond back to Trina’s text. Josslyn says, she explained that, and Trina says she gets that now, but then, she thought Josslyn didn’t want to hear from her. Josslyn asks why she wouldn’t want to hear from Trina, and Trina says, Josslyn knows how her brain works. When she doesn’t get information, her brain makes up crazy scenarios, and the longer the silence was, the crazier they got. Josslyn says, like what? and Trina says she thought Esme got to Josslyn, and she believed Trina was behind the video.

Esme says she’s not taking this test now, and Spencer asks, why not? She says, because she needs to get out of here. She can’t stand to look at him one more minute. If Laura hadn’t kept her here, she would have been long gone. He says, without telling him that she might be pregnant, and she tells him, stop making this about him. It’s her body. He agrees it is, but if she’s pregnant, it’s his baby too. She asks if he’s going to grow out of his clothes. Is he going to have morning sickness? Is he going to grow a person inside of him for nine months? He says, they’re getting way ahead of themselves. They don’t even know if she’s pregnant. They used protection. She says, which isn’t 100% effective; no one likes to talk about that, but it’s the truth. What is she going to do with a baby? She can’t even take care of a dog. He says, they don’t know there is a baby, which is why she needs to take the test. There’s a knock at the door, and he tells her to ignore it, but she opens it. Cameron says, he’s sorry. Is this a bad time? Esme says, no. She was just leaving. Spencer says, no, they need to talk, but she says, her body, her choice, and leaves. Cameron asks, did just say… and Spencer says, there’s a chance Esme could be pregnant. Outside, Esme leans on the door a moment. It’s hard to tell what she’s feeling, since she makes a bunch of faces, then she leaves.

Curtis asks if Sonny can’t help him or won’t, and Sonny says, Curtis should know the truth, and he could help, but he chooses not to. To him, it’s a family matter between Curtis and his father. He doesn’t want to get involved. Curtis says he needs to know the truth, and Sonny agrees. Curtis should know the truth, but he should get it through Marshall himself. Hear him out. Marshall’s not a fan of his, and if he gets involved, it’s going to make it worse.

Nikolas says, that’s it? All of these mentions of a momentous plan, and Victor has just been referring to a business merger? Victor says, this is no simple business merger. He can assure Nikolas, the resources they’ll gain from Bronze Hills Holdings (I think – sounds like) will be a significant step in this family regaining its former power. Nikolas tells Victor, he’s not saying it won’t be a financial benefit, because he knows it will be. He just expected more. Victor says, like what? and Nikolas says, Victor made it sound like something… Victor says, sinister? Like world domination? He’s not quite as out there as Nikolas’s grandfather Mikkos was. Nikolas tells him, he was going to say criminal. They’ve both crossed that line in the past. Victor says, true. He’s not one to arcane laws and petty bureaucracy get in his way. However, right now he’s focused on building a power base. The question is, does he have Nikolas’s support?

Cameron tells Spencer, hold on. Can they back up? Esme had her bags packed and they were obviously fighting. Does he want to know what it was about? Spencer says he accused Esme of recording Cam and Josslyn and posting it. Cameron asks what she said, and Spencer says, she denied it of course (🍷). Then she tried to blame Trina, which is absurd. Cameron says, completely, and Spencer says, he defended Trina, which made Esme furious, and they broke up. They just had the same argument at Spring Ridge, and she stormed out, but he didn’t know it was over. Esme decided they were, and she was almost out the door before he saw she had a home pregnancy test. Can Cameron believe she wasn’t even going to tell him? Cameron says, that’s a lot, and Spencer says, if Esme is pregnant, he’s going to be a father. Cameron asks what Spencer is going to do, but Spencer says he honestly has no idea, and goes upstairs with his bag.

Josslyn says, she and Trina both know it was Esme who posted that video, after she found a way to record her and Cam without their knowledge. It was her. It was all her from the jump. How could Trina think Josslyn could blame her for this? Trina says, it’s just that things got so weird that night at the cabin. The hot toddy hit her so hard, she still can’t remember everything that happened, and since that was the night the video was made… Josslyn says, please. It was Esme. Esme has hated Josslyn from the second Esme laid eyes on her. Why? Because Josslyn could tell she was psycho. It was Nelle 2.0 waiting to happen. And that’s why Josslyn got so frustrated when Esme presented Trina that phony apology at Kelly’s, and Trina went along with it. Trina takes Josslyn’s hands, and says she owes Josslyn a major apology. Esme was all upset because Spencer gave her that art book, and Trina didn’t want Esme to feel like she was taking her boyfriend. Not because of Esme, but Trina didn’t want to feel like that kind of person. She also didn’t know how she felt about Spencer. But Josslyn’s right about all of it. Esme is a whack job, and Spencer’s just… blind. She should be thanking Josslyn for calling Esme out, instead of being offended. Josslyn says, it’s okay, but Trina says, don’t tell her it’s okay. Josslyn is going through hell, and Esme is trying to blame Trina for it. She’s hateful and horrible, and Trina should have never tried to compromise with her. Josslyn says, they came to it from two very different experiences. Trina believes in compromise, and most of the time, compromise is a good thing, but not when it comes to Esme. She sees that, and takes it as a sign of weakness, and that gives her an opportunity, an opening. That’s why Josslyn shouldn’t have even gone on the ski trip in the first place, because Esme pushed so hard for it. She should have realized Esme had an agenda. Trina asks if Josslyn thinks Esme always meant to tape her and Cam, and Josslyn says she thinks Esme always meant to hurt them. Not her and Cam, but her and Trina.

Officer Perez hands Jordan an envelope, saying, this file was just delivered. Detective Lopez sent it over. It’s information on that PCU sex video from the anonymous tip line. She thanks him, and since Dante has nothing better to do than lurk around, he appears at Jordan’s shoulder and asks, what kind of information? She looks at it, and says, the damning kind. An eyewitness account, naming the perp.

Sonny says Curtis’s father has some kind of problem with him because he saw Sonny at the hospital with TJ, and he didn’t like it one bit. Curtis says, so his long lost dad doesn’t like Sonny; that’s why Sonny is protecting him? Sonny tell Curtis, he’s not saying no for Marshall’s sake. He’s saying no for Curtis. He knows what it’s like to be in a difficult relationship with a father. He didn’t speak to his dad for years. Everybody tried to intervene; everybody tried to fix it. But there was only going to be two people who could salvage the relationship – him and his dad. So if Curtis wants to know what’s in that sealed criminal record, he has to go to Marshall. Marshall walks in, sees them, and does not look happy.

Taggert says he’s so glad he and Portia decided to stay for dinner. It’s nice. What is this Trina is telling him about her and Curtis shacking up? She says, shacking up? Really? They’re buying a home together. It’s out by Queen’s Point, it’s right on the water; it’s so beautiful. He asks if they’ve moved yet, and she says, they’re in the process. He says he’s happy things are so going so well with her and Curtis, and she thanks him, adding, it means a lot, considering their history. He says, the past is long gone. The only thing is to move forward. She says, and now that Spencer’s in the rearview, things are looking up everywhere. He says, Trina and Josslyn still need to get beyond that speedbump in their relationship, and she says she thinks they will. They’ve been friends forever. It’s almost like they’re sisters. He says, he and his sister had some vicious fights back in the day, and she says, but at the end of the day, he and Gia always loved each other. The same goes for Trina and Joss.

Josslyn says, Cam’s a guy. He tried to accept Esme for Spencer’s sake, but Esme always saw both of them as a threat for different reasons. She was always going to try and take them down. Trina says, it’s so good to hear her say this. To see through that hateful… Josslyn says, bitch? Trina says she loves the way Josslyn hates, and Josslyn says, it’s a true talent. Trina says she just wishes she’d known what Josslyn was thinking, but Josslyn says she should have reached out. Trina asks why she didn’t, and Josslyn says, this whole situation was completely overwhelming. It’s total public humiliation. Everyone on social media has an opinion on it. She can’t tell Trina how many people she doesn’t even know called her some variation of a slut or a whore. But it gets even grosser. She’ll also see messages and posts calling her hot, and asking if she and Cam are exclusive. Trina says, that’s so inappropriate, and Josslyn says, yeah, but they’re of legal age now. Does Trina remember how excited and happy they were when they were turning 18 and got to vote? Trina says, yeah, it felt so grown up, and Josslyn wonders, is this the other side of adulthood? What happened to common decency? It feels like it’s been open season on her. Trina says, it’s beyond awful, and Josslyn says, it’s horrible, and when she didn’t hear from Trina, she thought Trina was embarrassed to be her friend. Trina hugs her, and says, never in a million years.

Spencer says, the more he thinks of it, Cameron had the right idea. Cameron asks what he means, and Spencer says, staying a virgin for life. Cameron says, Spencer and the whole world know he’s not a virgin, but Spencer says he seriously doubts that Cameron’s little video has been seen by the whole world. Cameron says Spencer is a poor excuse for a friend, and Spencer says, possible father here. That’s way bigger than a temporary embarrassment. Cameron says, maybe for him, but for Joss, it’s so much worse. They’re being absolutely savage to her online. He’s getting virtual high-fives, while they’re calling her a slut. It’s not fair. Spencer says, it’s awful. He’s really sorry Josslyn is going through that. Cameron says, now Spencer believes Esme is behind the video? but Spencer says he doesn’t want to believe it. Esme’s been so good to him. Cameron says, that works out nice for Spencer, but what about the rest of the planet? Spencer says he knows, just because Esme is good to him doesn’t mean she’s necessarily good to everyone else. Cameron says, Spencer has to face it. She’s sneaky and vindictive. Spencer says, and possibly the mother of his child.

On the phone, Ava asks Avery how her arm is. It hurts? She’s on her way; she’s coming right home. She tells Nikolas and Victor, sorry fellas. She hopes they had a nice chat. Avery needs her, so she’s going home. Victor says, seeing as Spencer is a no show, he’ll leave with her. Nikolas says he’s going to wait for his mother, and Ava says she’ll see him at home. Victor says, no hard feelings, and Ava says, of course (🍷) not. Nikolas sits back down, and Esme sees him from the doorway. She watches Ava and Victor get in the elevator, and goes over to the table. She asks if Nikolas will help her.

Dante says, she wouldn’t do something like that, let alone to Cam and Joss, and Jordan says, that’s what she thought too, but every possible tip needs to be checked out. He says he’ll take care of it, but she says she’ll handle this one personally, and leaves the station.

Sonny tells Curtis that he’s got to go. Think about what he said. Good luck. He leaves, and Marshall asks why Curtis was talking to Sonny Corinthos. Curtis says, Sonny was telling him about a run-in he and Marshall had. Care to explain? I’m honestly surprised Curtis didn’t ask Marshall where he got off telling him who to talk to. Especially since he’s been so cranky lately.

Cameron says, he and Josslyn gave separate statements to a detective, and Spencer says he’s glad the cops are taking this seriously. Cameron says, so is he. Detective Lopez says, whoever did this is looking at up to a year in prison. Spencer asks if Cameron knows what that means. That means his baby could be born in prison. Cameron says, way to keep it real, and Spencer says, it could happen. Cameron says, maybe Spencer should find out if Esme is actually pregnant before he starts shopping for jail baby clothes. Spencer says, Cameron is right, but he doesn’t even know where Esme went. He really hopes Esme’s not pregnant, because if she is, and she wants to have the baby, he’ll be tied to her for life.

Esme sits down, and tells Nikolas, she was going to stay at the MetroCourt for the night, so she had a place to get her thoughts together. She thought she had enough money to cover it, but her credit card was declined. He asks if she’s sure she and Spencer can’t work things out, but she says, Spencer said horrible things to her. If that’s really what he thinks of her, she can never be with him again. But what is she going to do? He’s the only guy she’s ever loved, and what if it turns out she’s… Nikolas says he remembers being her age. Every argument felt like the end of the world, but he’s sure with a good night’s sleep, things will be clear in the morning. She says she has nowhere else to go. Is there any way she can stay with him? I have an idea. Pay for her hotel room, but for Pete’s sake, don’t take her home.

Taggert asks Portia if that’s the notorious Esme Prince who Trina keeps talking about, and she glances behind her. She says, oh, he’s never seen Esme before, and he says, no, first time. She seems pretty upset. He wonders what the drama is this time, and Portia says, just be glad they’re not involved. They both look over at Esme, and Portia says she’ll bet him anything Esme is the one behind the video of Joss and Cam. She’s so relieved Trina is finally out of Esme’s orbit.

Josslyn says, it feels so good for things to be back to normal, and Trina agrees. She says she knows Josslyn wants distance from the video, but don’t tune her out. Josslyn can talk to her about anything. Josslyn says she knows and she will. It’s so nice to hear that. They’re a team, and always will be. Trina says, count on it, when Jordan walks in. Josslyn asks if there’s a lead in her case, but Jordan says she’s actually here to see Trina. Trina says she’s sorry, but she’s already late for her next class, but Jordan says, this can’t wait. She needs Trina to come down to the station, and answer some questions.

On Monday, Harmony says, it’s under consideration; Jordan asks if Trina minds answering some questions; Josslyn says, the person Dante should be talking to is Spencer’s psycho girlfriend; and Scotty asks why Nina doesn’t want to go down the legal road.

📻 Not An Oldie…

All about the song that Sonny and Nina danced to yesterday. Normally, I try to look that stuff up, but was pressed for time. Apparently, inquiring minds wanted to know.

👗 Reunion Runway Fail…

Apparently, Shannon had to get something off-the-rack. Oh, horrors. I do wonder what the blip was up with Bones though.

https://people.com/style/project-runway-bones-jones-talks-shannon-beadors-reunion-dress-outfit-botched/

https://www.distractify.com/p/shannon-beador-rhoc-reunion-dress-drama

You decide what held things up.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/style-living/andy-cohen-reveals-what-held-up-filming-during

🍊 Freshly Squeezed Start…

The only question for me would be, is there enough room for Mr. Puppers to live his best life?

🥊 In This Corner…

Another showdown between the east and west coast. Maybe they can have a rap battle.

https://screenrant.com/rhugt-dorinda-medley-vicki-gunvalson-covid-vaccine-fight/

🗽 NYC Spin…

Twice the Housewives fun.

🍹 Conover Crossover Continues…

So will Paige be showing up on Southern Charm? Speaking of which, will Southern Charm be showing up?

https://people.com/tv/craig-conover-talked-about-kids-spending-life-with-girlfriend-paige-desorbo/

🎂 Never Too Early…

Oh why not?

🍍 In Teresa News…

The latest on Luis.

I wonder what procedure she had. Then I think it’s pretty sad that I’m wondering about that.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1324490/teresa-giudice-thanks-fans-for-prayers-and-well-wishes-after-hospitalization

👇 Bar Set Even Lower…

I think Kelly might have outdone herself this time. Not only does she sh*t all over people who can’t afford as much as she can, she thinks material goods reflect good parenting. What they reflect is a future on a shrink’s couch.

🙏 New Apologizer…

Pretty soon, Ramona is going to have some competition. And she was thisclose to saying the old, I’m a work in progress. Ugh.

🐎 Josh On the Outs…

This looks good, and I love me some Josh Brolin. I think he’s one of our most underrated actors.

https://ew.com/tv/outer-range-trailer-josh-brolin-amazon-prime-video/

📽 Hurts So Good…

No Kiss of the Spiderwoman? No Eyewitness?? No Altered States??? I thought those were pretty memorable.

https://ew.com/movies/william-hurt-most-memorable-roles/

He will be missed.

https://ew.com/movies/william-hurt-death-reactions/

🏆 The People’s Oscar…

Looks like the Academy Awards are sliding into the MTV Movie Awards territory. Fine with me. That’s the only interesting awards show.

🌬 Quotes of the Week

We don’t have a choice in the matter. We must go where history takes us. – Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon), The Gilded Age

A person’s life purpose is nothing more than to rediscover, through the detours of art or love or passionate work, those one or two images in the presence of which [their] heart first opened. – Albert Camus

I’d bet on rabbits if you could get them organized. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons. – Confucius

The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality. – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

You can’t cry on a first date. – Veronica Rodriguez, Pillow Talk: The Single Life

For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know. – The Wiseman (Scott Glenn), Sucker Punch

When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. – Wayne Dyer

Everything in moderation, including moderation. – Oscar Wilde

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. – Desmond Tutu

The great Western disease is, ‘I’ll be happy when… When I get the money. When I get a BMW. When I get this job.’ Well, the reality is, you never get to when. The only way to find happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here. And happiness is not next week. It’s now.Marshall Goldsmith, American author (And adding my personal favorite, when I lose weight…)

What a day. What a goddam day. – Warlord Ian (Michael Biehn), The Walking Dead

🙂 Don’t Worry, Be Happy…

It’s time again for us to part company until the Dead Walk. In the meantime, stay safe, stay fighting against double standards, and stay knowing the only way out is through. You have to face it down and keep moving forward.

March 11, 2022 – Video Aftermath, Why, Recast, Bel Air Return, Sonny’s Son, Wu’s Back, Kandi’s World, Claims, Deaf Shah, Sly Guest, Lala’s Ex, Ringless, Excuse, Changes, Winning Country, Ennead Of Quotes & Run It

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Willow asks Michael, on a scale of one to ten, how much does he think Wiley loves Annabelle II? He says, it’s an eleven for sure, and she says she wishes their schedules weren’t so hectic; they could get a dog of their own. (Let me just note here, they’re having this conversation in the nook of the main house, so I guess someone from there can’t look after a dog?) He says, someday, and she asks, when will that be exactly? It’s not as if things will slow down when she becomes a nurse. He says, you know what he can’t wait to do? Sleep in when they’re in Paris. She asks if he’s out of his mind. She’s never been, and there’s so much to see; the Louvre alone. He says he guesses he’ll have to find other ways to get her to stay in bed, and she says, he can be very convincing. They kiss, when Brook walks in. She says, it’s good to see some things haven’t changed. At least the two of them are still together.

Chase goes to Finn’s office, and Finn asks what Chase is up to. Chase says, very little. Does Finn want to know how many hours are left for his suspension? Finn says, Chase has two more months to go, and Chase says he does, but he can still tell Finn the answer to that question. Finn says he knows Chase may be bummed, but Violet is loving having her Uncle Chase at her tea parties. Chase says, that is one up side to unemployment. When is Finn’s next date night, so he can babysit? Finn says Chase is welcome to visit Violet any time he likes, but his date nights with Elizabeth are over.

Elizabeth asks how Cameron wants his eggs, but he says he’s not too hungry right now. She says, who is he and what has he done with her son? Is he not feeling well? He says he went to bed late, so he’s half asleep; he’s fine. Jake comes in, and asks, what’s for breakfast? Cameron says he thought Jake didn’t have school today, and Jake says he doesn’t. Cameron asks why he’s up so early then, but Elizabeth says, this is so nice, all of them eating together. Jake says, Finn too? and she says, no, but she’s glad he brought Finn up. They need to talk about him.

At the MetroCourt, Ava and Nikolas look at her phone, and she asks Nikolas if it isn’t a little ornate. He says, it is, but isn’t that the point, to make a show of their vow renewal? Draw Uncle Victor in under the guise of family togetherness? Assuming Spencer shows for the ceremony and the family is actually together. She says, that is the plan, but the ceremony isn’t only about Victor, or Spencer for that matter. It’s still very much about them, isn’t it? She loves him, and can’t wait to exchange vows with him and actually mean the words. He says he can’t wait for that either, and they kiss.

In the elevator, Esme looks at her wrist, and pulls her sleeve down. She walks out into the MetroCourt, sees Nikolas and Ava kissing, and tells herself, it’s show time.

Josslyn walks into the kitchen, and Carly tells her, good morning. Josslyn says she hopes it’s okay that she slept here, and Carly says, is she kidding? Best surprise ever. Josslyn says she would have given Carly a heads up, but it was late, and Josslyn didn’t want to wake her. Carly says, no heads up needed; this is her home. Is everything okay? Josslyn says, yeah. She just didn’t feel like sleeping at the dorms last night. Carly says, any particular reason why? and Josslyn starts to cry and says, she can’t go back to school. Never. She throws herself into Carly’s arms.

Ava says, the flowers must be spectacular of course (🍷), and a fabulous bouquet for when she walks down the aisle. Esme says, wedding planning? and Ava says, for their vow renewal, yes. Esme sits down, and says, Laura told her that they were having a private ceremony, just the two of them, which is super romantic, but Avery would make an adorable flower girl. Nikolas says, actually, they’ve changed their mind about that, and decided they want their family there. Esme says, really? Spence didn’t mention anything; does he know? Nikolas says, not yet, and Ava says, they just decided last night. Nikolas says he’s going to visit Spencer, and invite him in person. Esme says, she hates to say it – Ava says, but she will –she wouldn’t bother inviting Spence at all.

Michael asks how the visit with Brook’s mom went, and Brook says, good. Her mom said and did all the right things, she got to see her cousins, and they went to all their favorite spots. Michael says, Giuseppe’s? and Brook says, of course (🍷). Willow asks, what’s that? and Brook says, only the best pizza in Brooklyn. Michael says, it’s off the charts, and Willow says, sounds like Brook kept busy. Brook says, it was great to back in the old neighborhood; she needed to get away. Michael says, now she’s back, and Brook says she guesses the first order of business is getting her stuff out of the beach house. Michael says, that’s done. Everything had to be out last week, so he and Chase moved her stuff. Brook says, what? Sorry. Thank you. He says, no problem, and she says she guesses it’s time to get back to real life. Willow asks what that looks like for her, and Brook says, she has absolutely no idea.

Elizabeth says they won’t be seeing Finn for a while, and Cameron asks if they broke up. She says, more like taking time apart. She just wants to be able to spend time with their family right now. Jake asks if it’s because of the weird stuff that’s been happening, but Elizabeth says, it’s more than that. She does have to figure out what’s going on, but she wants to make sure her boys are safe and happy. They are her number one priority. Cameron says they know that, and Elizabeth asks if Jake does. He says, yes, and she says, good, but things haven’t really felt safe and happy lately, right? Which is why she made Jake an appointment to see Dr. Massey today. Jake says, a shrink? and she says, a psychiatrist. She thinks it might be good for him to talk about his feelings. Jake says, that’s just great. She thinks he’s a psycho. He walks out of the kitchen.

Chase asks, what’s going on with Finn and Elizabeth? and Finn says, she’s concerned about the whole portrait thing. Chase says he gets that, and Finn says, he does too. Chase says he spoke with Dante, and he has a patrol going by every hour, and Finn says, that’s a big relief. Chase says, but? and Finn says, Elizabeth thinks it might be something closer to home; in the home, to be exact. She thinks Jake might be acting out. Chase sits down, and says he thought Jake and Aiden denied doing it. Finn says, they did, but now that Betsy Frank has been crossed off the list, Jake is the mostly likely suspect unfortunately. Chase says, so Elizabeth breaks up with Finn because she’s having issues with Jake? Isn’t that an overreaction? Finn says, not when you consider everything the kid’s been through.

Carly tells Josslyn, talk to her. Let her help. Josslyn says she can’t. It’s too horrible. She can’t even think about it, let alone say it out loud. Carly says, Josslyn can tell her anything. Tell her what’s going on, and they’ll fix it. Josslyn cries and says, it can’t be fixed, but Carly says, try her. Josslyn says, the weekend they spent at Sonny’s cabin, she and Cameron had sex, and it was their first time. She never thought something like this could even happen. She feels so stupid. Carly asks if Cameron got her pregnant.

Nikolas says, Esme really believes Spencer won’t come to the ceremony? Last time he saw Spencer, it felt like they were making progress. Esme says she thinks things are getting better with Nikolas and Spence too. It’s just… Ava says, Spencer will never accept her as part of the family, and Esme says she’s sorry, but he won’t. Nikolas says he hopes she’s wrong, because Ava’s not going anywhere. Ava’s phone rings, and she steps away to take the call. Esme peers at Nikolas, and he says, what is it? She says he’s not the man she thought he was. She had a picture in her head from everything Spence told her about his father. He says he can guess what Spencer said about him, but she says she doesn’t think he can.

Michael says he guesses it’s hard to get back to normal life without Bailey, and Brook says she still has Deception. She gets up, and says she’s going to be fine. This was always the plan. Actually more than the plan; this was the goal. For Bailey to go back home to Maxie where she belongs. Willow says, of course (🍷) that was always the plan, but that doesn’t mean Brook didn’t fall in love with that little girl, and it’s not hard on her. Michael gets up, and says, it’s okay to admit that. She wasn’t in Port Charles at the time, but he’s sure his family filled her in, when he found out Sonny was responsible for AJ’s death. Brook says, the father that raised him killed his biological father; that must have been brutal. He says he retaliated. He took from Sonny what he loved the most – Avery. He was able to find legal grounds to prove Sonny was unfit, an was appointed Avery’s custodial guardian. For months he was her only parent. He knows it’s not a perfect parallel, and she says, close enough. He says, Avery was his child, she was his sister. He knew the whole time deep down that the situation was only temporary, but all those months, he saw her and was with her every single day. He was the one to read her stories, to feed her, to change her. He brought her to work, and played blocks with her… Willow joins them, and he says, then when his mother convinced him to give Avery back, Avery left a huge gaping hole in his life and in his heart. And even though he knew it was the right thing to do, that didn’t make it any easier. Brook says, okay. Giving up Bailey is excruciating, but she’s going to get over it. And when she does, she’s going to go back to her single, carefree life; the life she always wanted before all this. Michael asks if she thinks she’s the same person, and Willow says she doesn’t. Michael says, Brook did an amazing thing protecting Bailey from her father, and Brook says, it didn’t start out that way. Michael says, it doesn’t matter how it started, and Willow says, Maxie was in trouble and Brook came through for her friend. Brook says, they didn’t expect that from her, did they? and Michael says, no, but he should have. He’s always known she had a big heart. Brook says she didn’t do it alone. When she needed help, Chase was right there.

Chase says, wow, he didn’t know Jake went through all that, and Finn says, pretty grim stuff for anyone, but a kid that age? Chase says, no wonder he’s having a hard time, but that was years ago, right? Wasn’t he doing better? Finn says, he was, after some serious counselling. He was doing really good, but think about it. First, he loses Franco, then Jason, Finn enters the picture, and all of a sudden, these strange things start happening. Elizabeth’s wedding ring, her dress, the portrait… Chase says, all unsettling, but not overtly dangerous, and Finn says, exactly. What if it’s Jake crying out for help?

Elizabeth says, first of all, she doesn’t like the term psycho, and Jake says, fine. Nuts? Crazy? Loco? Take your pick. She says she doesn’t think he’s any of those things, and Cameron says, look. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you’re crazy. Elizabeth says, they all need to talk to someone once in a while, and Jake says, they think he put the painting there, even though he swore he didn’t. They don’t believe him. Cameron tells him, that’s not what mom’s saying; Jake’s just been through a lot lately. Jake’s phone dings, and he says, Conner sent him a video, asking if it’s really Cameron. What did he post? Cameron says, nothing, and as Jake is about to open it, Cameron says, don’t!

Josslyn says she’s not pregnant, and Carly says, thank God. Josslyn says, they used protection; that’s not the problem. Carly asks, what’s going on? and Josslyn says, that night was perfect. At least that part was. It was everything a first time should be. But then, in sociology class, everyone’s phones started blowing up, and all eyes were on her and Cam, and they had no idea why. She begins crying again, and says, someone sent this video to Professor Kahn’s computer. And the whole thing played in front of the whole class on this giant screen. Carly says she doesn’t understand. What was on the video? Josslyn says, Cameron and her, having sex. Someone filmed them and sent it to the entire school.

Esme tells Nikolas, that’s not what she meant at all; Spence loves him. It borders on worship actually. He said Nikolas was the best father in the universe. It made her jealous of how close they were when Spence was growing up. Spence made it seem like it was the two of them against the world. He says, she told him that he wasn’t the man she expected him to be, yet Spencer painted him in a positive light. She says, glowing light, and he asks if that means he’s worse than she expected.

Carly asks how someone could do that to Josslyn, and Josslyn says, she guesses it’s not the worst thing in the world. Everyone has sex tapes or naked photos… Carly says, it’s not funny; this is not a joke, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know what else to do. Carly says, this is a complete violation. Someone took a private moment between Josslyn and her boyfriend, and made it public without her consent. She’ll get Spinelli to take it off the web. How did this happen, does she know? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. She didn’t even know there was a camera (ha-ha! I typed Cameron) in the bedroom; neither did Cam. Sonny wouldn’t have… Carly says, God no, and Josslyn says she didn’t think so. The only people in the cabin that night were her, Trina, and Cameron. Carly asks, what about Esme and Spencer? and Josslyn says she told Carly, they left. Esme had the nerve to accuse Trina yesterday. Carly asks if she’s serious. Did Esme really think they’d fall for that? Josslyn doesn’t say anything, and Carly says, Joss? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. Trina got pretty drunk at the cabin, to the point she didn’t remember what happened. Carly says, that doesn’t sound like Trina, and Josslyn says, and she didn’t drink that much. It just seemed to affect her like that. She also told them she felt left out when Josslyn and Cam got together. Carly asks if Josslyn really thinks Trina could have sent that video.

Cameron grabs Jake’s phone, and Elizabeth says, what is going on? Cameron says, it’s just a stupid video of him, and he doesn’t want Jake to see him making a fool of himself. He deletes it, and Jake takes his phone back, saying, he can still find it or just have Conner send him the link. Cameron says, leave it alone, please, and Elizabeth tells Jake to get dressed; his appointment’s in 45 minutes. Jake says, what about breakfast? and she says he can eat after he’s dressed. He says, fine, but he knows she’s just trying to get rid of him. He goes upstairs, and Elizabeth tells Cameron, he’s going to watch that video. Cameron says he knows, and she says he may as well just tell her. He asks if he can just die instead, but she says, not an option. Did he do something stupid or dangerous? He says, nothing like that, and she says, then what? He says he can’t tell her while she’s looking at him, and she keeps her back to him, pouring herself some coffee. He says, there’s a video of him going around, and she says, that much she gathered. A video of what? He says, him and Joss having sex.

Chase says, knowing that about Jake, he can see where Elizabeth is coming from, but it’s still a bummer. Finn says, the hardest part for him, is thinking about Elizabeth dealing with this on her own. He’d like to be there for her, but if he does, he’s not respecting her wishes. Chase says, Finn’s between a rock and a hard place, and Finn says, pretty much. If she feels the only way he can help is to keep his distance, so be it. Chase says, how long? and Finn says, how long what? Chase says, how long is this… pause going to be? Finn says, it’s hard to tell. It’s all very depressing. Tell him something good. How’s Brook? Chase says, as far as he knows, she’s still out of town, and Finn says, as far as he knows? Chase says he hasn’t heard from Brook since she left.

Brook says, it blows her mind that Chase just stepped up. He said he was Bailey’s father without her even asking him. Willow says, that’s a good friend, and Michael says, they regret giving Chase a hard time. Willow looks at the clock, and says she has to go; she’s observing rounds at GH. Michael tells her, show those doctors up, Nurse Tate, but she says she’s not a nurse yet. He says, soon enough, and she leaves. Brook tells Michael that he and Willow are nauseatingly cute, and he says, things are going well. What about her? It’s nice to have Willow by his side, someone to do life with. She says, so? Coupledom isn’t for everyone. Some people value their space. He asks if she’s saying she’s one of those people, and she says, isn’t it obvious? He says, not the way she was talking about Chase.

Finn tells Chase, that surprises him. Brook is dodging his calls? Chase says he hasn’t called her, and Finn says, yet people say Chase is the people person. Chase asks what that means, and Finn says, Chase is the one who said he wanted to at least be friends with Brook, and he hasn’t reached out to her? Chase says, he texted her, and Finn asks what he said… wrote… whatever. Chase tells him, he said, how are u? He just put the u; he didn’t spell it out, Finn says, pure poetry, and Chase says, Brook replied, but all she put was a thumbs up, nothing else. So obviously she doesn’t want to talk to him. Finn says, Chase should definitely give up then.

Brook asks if Michael is forgetting the part where she and Chase were pretending to be partners in crime, not romance, he says, she told him Chase was there for her. She says, he was, because he’s a good guy and they’re friends. He says, that’s it? and she says, that’s a lot. It might be a shock to him, but she doesn’t have a long list of close friends; she can’t afford to lose one. Besides, even if she felt something for Chase, it was probably a result of the situation; heightened emotions from taking care of Bailey together. He says, it looked like more, and she says he needs to get his eyes checked. They sit on the window seat, and he says he went over to Chase’s to apologize. She asks how it went, and he says, pretty good, actually. He thinks in time, if he plays his cards right, he and Chase might be friends again someday. But the point of him telling her that is, he could tell Chase was lost without her and Bailey. Just like she is. She says, he could tell how? Did Chase say he was interested in her?

Josslyn tells Carly, there’s no way. Trina would never humiliate her like that, or Cam. Carly says, it sounds more like something Esme would do, and Josslyn says, my God. Everyone saw her having sex. Carly puts her arms around Josslyn and says she’s sorry, and Josslyn says, a lot of people think she did this on purpose; not only film it, but make it public. How sick is that? Carly says, no one who knows her and Cameron would ever think that, and Josslyn says, people who don’t would think that. She’s just a freshman; she’s new on campus. She had so many messages, she had to turn her phone off. Carly says, from random people? and Josslyn says, mostly, but some of the girls on the volleyball team texted her, wanting to know what’s going on. How will she face them? How will she face anyone again? She sits on the floor, and Carly holds her.

Elizabeth says she can’t believe someone sent that video to Cameron’s whole class, and he says he thinks to the whole school. She asks if he can find out who it was, but he shakes his head, and says, it’s pretty easy to stay anonymous when you send stuff out like that. Plus, once it’s out there, it’s out there. Even Jake’s friends are seeing it. She says she’s sorry he’s going through this, and he says, it’s way worse for Josslyn. There’s still a double standard about sex. While he’s getting virtual high-fives, she’s being called a slut. It’s not right. She says, it’s not, and asks how Josslyn is holding up. He says, she turned off her phone last night, and Elizabeth says, smart move. He says he hasn’t heard from her, and he’s a little worried. Elizabeth says she’s worried about him. Double standard or not, this is happening to him too. Does he wasn’t to tell her how he’s feeling about it? He says, he never wants to talk about it ever again, and she says, he can tell her anything. He says, just not this, okay? but she says he should talk to someone. He says, a friend? and she says, if he wants to. He says he doesn’t. He wishes Franco was here. She says, her too, and he says, Franco would know what to say. Or at least find a way to get him to laugh about all  this. She says, he’ll get through this, but he asks, how?

Nikolas says, letting Spencer believe he was dead, he’ll always regret that decision, but Esme says, he misunderstood what she meant. Spence described him as a man with singular focus. For example, when Spence was young, that focus was on him. Now. according to Spence, he’s all about Ava, but she can see that’s not true. There’s room in his heart for more than one person. He says, of course (🍷) there is, and wonders why Spencer can’t see that. Ava is no threat to him or Nikolas’s love for him. Esme says she’s so sorry she helped Spence hurt him and Ava. They were wrong, and she’d like to make almonds amends. She’s been talking to Spence on his behalf, urging him to   reconcile with Nikolas. Nikolas says he appreciates that, and she says, maybe she should talk to him about the vow renewal; soften him up before Nikolas speaks to him. Ava comes back, and says she’s sorry she  took so long. Nikolas says, important call? and she says, it was about Ryan.

Elizabeth says if Jake wants breakfast, he should come downstairs. He comes down in the same clothes, and she says she told him to get dressed, but he says he’s not going. He doesn’t need to see a shrink. She can’t make him go. She says, actually, she can. It’s not punishment. She thinks talking to Dr. Massey can help him. He says, he knows he messed up after Cassadine Island, but he was a kid then. He’s fine now. Why doesn’t she believe him? She says she doesn’t think any of them are fine, not after losing Franco the way they did. Now Jake’s lost his dad. She knows he misses him; she misses him too. He says, it’s not the same, and she says he’s right. She hasn’t been with his dad in a while, but she’ll always love him because they made Jake. She can see him in Jake. Jake says, she can? and she says, he’s so strong, just like his dad was, and when Jake gets upset, he gets quiet like his dad. He says, dad didn’t talk a lot, and she says, he didn’t, but he always listened to Jake, didn’t he? Jake has so many people who love him, but sometimes it’s easier talking to a stranger. It helped when he talked to Dr. Maddox, didn’t it? He says, yeah, and she says she’s sorry he isn’t around anymore, but Dr. Massey is great. Will he at least give it a try? Cameron listens from the kitchen.  

Carly says, Josslyn has nothing to be ashamed of. The video was made without her knowledge or permission, and she didn’t decide to make it public. Josslyn says, people don’t know that, and Carly says, the people who matter do. As far as the rest of them, screw ‘em. You can’t control what people think. Josslyn says she can’t believe this is happening. She’s never been so embarrassed in her life. The whole world saw her naked. Carly says, that’s not true. She doesn’t want to minimize what Josslyn is going through or how she’s feeling, but she wants Josslyn to keep it in perspective. She knows Josslyn feels like everyone is judging her, but they’re not. Josslyn says, but the people she sees every day, what about them? Carly says she knows this seems insurmountable, like she’ll never be over it and never live it down, but life goes on. People forget, and the next scandal is going to replace this one. Trust her, she’s weathered her own and she’s still standing. Josslyn says Carly is stronger than she is, but Carly says, no. Josslyn is stronger.

Michael says, Chase didn’t come out and say he was interested in Brook, but they’re not exactly buddy-buddy right now, so why would Chase confide in him about something like that? Brook says, here’s the deal. If she told Chase that she wanted to be with him, and he wasn’t into it, there aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how awkward that would be. They wouldn’t be able to look at one another, let alone be friends. Why would she risk losing Chase altogether, when she doesn’t even know how she feels about it? He says, she’s looking at it all wrong. Instead of focusing on what she might lose, how about focusing on what she might gain?

Chase sees Willow at the hospital, and she says she’s sorry. She has to run. She doesn’t want to miss rounds. He says, the life of a nurse? and she says, nurse in training. She got so caught up talking to Brook, she didn’t realize the time. He says, she spoke to Brook on the phone? but Willow says, in person. She’s at the house right now. Willow keeps walking, but Chase stops, stunned.

Nikolas asks who’s calling Ava about Ryan, and she says, Doc. He’s been monitoring Ryan from a distance to keep tabs on him at Spring Ridge, but he went to see him face-to-face, and there’s no change. Ryan is still locked inside his body. He wouldn’t even communicate with Doc; no blinkity-blink like he does. Under the table, Esme digs her nails into her palm, and Nikolas says, Ryan shouldn’t be communicating with anyone after what he did to Ava. They should toss him in a cell and lose the key. Ava asks Esme if there’s something wrong, but Esme says, no. It’s just terrible what Ryan did to her. Ava says, yes, but it’s over, and so is he. She’s just relieved they can plan their ceremony without worrying about that monster. There’s absolutely nothing Ryan can do to them from Spring Ridge. Ava’s phone chirps, and she says she has to get back to the gallery. Nikolas says he’ll go too, but Esme says she was hoping they could talk a little more about Spence. Ava tells him to stay, and he says he’ll walk her out. He wants all the time with her that he can get. Esme says, aww, that’s so sweet, and Ava says, they don’t call him a prince for nothin’. Esme tells Nikolas to take his time, and looks at her palm.

Elizabeth walks into the hospital, and sees Finn. Jake walks in behind her, and she tells Jake that she’s proud of him for agreeing to see Dr. Massey. He tells her, let’s just get it over with, and keeps walking. She exchanges looks with Finn and follows.  

Brook flashes back down Chase Memory Lane, from her seeing him again for the first time after pretending to be pregnant, and ending with their kiss in the hospital. There’s a song part, and she looks at his number in her phone. She wonders what she’d even say, when Chase walks in, and says, hi. You’re back.

In the MetroCourt elevator, Carly tells Josslyn that Spinelli was able to wipe the video from all the public websites. That’s good, right? Josslyn says, yeah, but who knows how many people have it saved in their private files? Carly is sure not as many as Josslyn thinks. It’s a start. Josslyn agrees, and Carly asks how she’s feeling. Josslyn says, exposed? She guesses a little better after making through the lobby without any whispers or stares. All she can say is, these better be the best blueberry pancakes she’s ever had. Carly says, they will be. She’ll make sure of it. Everything is going to be okay. Spinelli’s on his way to the cabin; he’s searching for a camera. They’re going to find out who did this, and they’re going to make them pay. They get out, and see Esme on her phone. Carly takes Josslyn’s hand and marches her over to the table. Using her best concerned voice, Esme asks how Josslyn is doing. Josslyn asks how should she be doing after someone purposely humiliated her and Cam with that video? Esme says, it’s so awful. Josslyn is so brave to be out in public with this. She doesn’t know if she could do it. If they’ll excuse her… She gets up, but Carly blocks her path, saying, I don’t think so. Sit down.

On Monday, Curtis asks Selina, what’s in it for him besides the money; Josslyn tells Carly that she needs to fight her own battles; Cameron says Spencer can’t drag him down; Carly asks whose life Esme is going to ruin now; and Britt asks, how much trouble could they get into? I’m guessing a lot.

🌡 Absentee Inga…

Luckily, she wasn’t out of commission for long.

👩🏾‍🎓 A Different Path…

While I’m sad to hear there will be a new Trina, good for her in furthering her education. I wish I’d done that.

🌴 Fresh Move…

She’s going back to a town called Bel-Air.

👨‍👦 Proud Papa…

Like father, like son.

👠 Wu Wu…

Glad to hear she’s back. I like the female mob boss thing.

🍭 Inklusive Kandi…

Kandi gives brings the diversity to her new show.

💰 Bandwagon Of Claims…

The number just keeps growing.

💵 Marketing Op…

But is she paying taxes on it?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10596451/RHOSLCs-Jen-Shah-releases-not-guilty-merch-ahead-fraud-trial.html

🛥 Shady Rose On Deck…

I don’t like this woman.

💫 In Lala’s Orbit…

What a toad.

By God if they’re not right.

💔 Possible VanderSplit…

Why all the mystery? It just seems like with all the blabbermouths on that show, there would be something more definitive.

😍 Exclusively Charmed…

Sounds pretty flimsy.

🦋 Ever-Changing…

I dunno. The Kardashians are magicians with makeup and filters, so who can tell?

🪕 For Those a Little Bit Country…

The winners and the fashions at the ACM Awards.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/entertainment/acm-awards-2022/index.html

https://www.eonline.com/photos/34087/acm-awards-2022-red-carpet-fashion

🎺 Quotes of the Week

You keep coming back like a bad smell. – Tom Brooks referring to Jesse Meester, Darcy and Stacy: Tell All

Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies, and the character of his friends. – K@SH

Survive and tell me what’s harder, zombies or senior year? – member of the archery team, All Of Us Are Dead

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you don’t know about. Be kind. Always. – Robin Williams

I was pretty well grounded. I was being teased and whatever and I didn’t have anger skills, so I would go to the parents and say your children are brats and tell them they were bad parents. – Michael Berryman

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. – Carl Gustav Jung

People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good. – Mark Manson

I don’t know if I have the strength to keep going back and forth with this lady. – Cynthia Bailey referring to Ramona Singer, Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip

Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. – Henry Ford

🎆 Rocking Off To the Casbah…

See you next time the Dead Walk. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering to turn your clock back, and stay knowing you can’t control what people think. So if they don’t matter, screw ‘em.