Tag Archives: Queen

February 7, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Cyrus Finds a New Target, Soap Suds, This Week’s Reality, Weekend Watch, Rebirth, Coming Soon(ish), Nixed, Wins, Two Different Bowls, A Half-Dozen Quotes & Dust

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Laura told Jordan that Sidwell was charming and cordial and was going to be a big problem for her and the city. Elizabeth and Lucky discovered a Turning Woods patient who had dementia, but was otherwise healthy, had died of heart attack. Lulu said Dante owed her no explanations and he told her about Anna not letting him near Sam’s case.

Laura was worried about Lucky going after Sidwell and told Jordan that Anna thought Sidwell was behind the fire. At the Surf Lodge, Maxie gave Emma advice on living with Anna, but when Sasha came in, she told Emma to find another table. Alexis told Sonny that nothing helped, but pain helped fuel her rage of injustice over Sam’s death.

Trina asked for Curtis’s help in talking to Kai, and Kai told his friend/ teammate Quinn that he wouldn’t be coming back. Lulu apologized to Dante for what she did in Prague and for seeming ungrateful for Sam’s sacrifice. She said he could talk to her about anything. He said he felt badly about not being home much in the weeks before Sam died, and Lulu said it was because he’d been by her bedside. Laura told Lucky about Sidwell being in Port Charles, and Jordan told Isaiah. Emma eavesdropped on Maxie and Sasha. Maxie said some people thought Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy.

Kai asked Quinn to step up because he could lead. Brook met with Lois and said the last thing Dante needed was to find out he’d fathered a child in high school. She wondered if the child even knew they were adopted. Dante told Lulu about proposing to Sam. Sonny said he was there for Alexis, and they hugged.

Sasha wondered why people couldn’t just leave her alone to live her own damn life, and it was no one’s business but hers who the father was. Emma told Gio about what she’d overheard, and Quinn blamed Trina for splitting Kai’s focus. Curtis told Kai his story and said Kai had to live his. He was never going to know if he could fully recover unless he went through the process. Lulu said she was happy Dante had a love like Sam, and he said he didn’t blame her for anything.

Trina told Quinn to check himself. Looking for something to blame wasn’t going to help Kai, and maybe he was the one giving up. Kai said everything he’d planned for was gone and Curtis said Kai’s bravery against the defensive blitz told him who Kai was as a person, and it extended beyond the field. Laura asked what Alexis knew about Sidwell, who showed up at the MetroCourt. Jordan introduced herself and asked what brought him to Port Charles and what he planned to do there. Elizabeth asked Lucky what it was like to be Sidwell’s prisoner, and he said, it was hell.

Curtis suggested Kai accept help and Kai said he couldn’t face the disappointment of his family. Curtis said, focus on healing his body and mind, and Kai said Curtis had given him a lot to think about. Curtis left his number and Kai texted Trina to come by. Emma wanted to tell Anna that Jason was the baby’s dad and Gio had a bad feeling. Maxie said, the more Sasha stonewalled, the more people would talk, but Sasha said she owed no one any explanations. Laura filled Alexis in on Sidwell and said Anna had opened an investigation about Sam. Sidwell told Jordan that he was an importer of gems and rare earths. He knew how to find things of value. Lulu said she got why she couldn’t be the person Dante turned to right now, but if that changed, he knew where to find her.

Tuesday:

NuJack (Pfft! He looks like Nathan Lane and has no accent – very disappointing) and Carly took a private plane back to Port Charles. Anna called Josslyn into her office. Drew got busy with Willow after jumping the fence to get to the gatehouse, and he said nothing could keep him from seeing her. Cody continued to pay off his debt to Selina and she told him she had a proposition for him. Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d stopped Jason from killing Sidwell in Somalia, and Isaiah went to the MetroCourt and saw Sidwell with Jordan. He asked if Sidwell was back to kill him personally. Brook set up a table at the MetroCourt for a Deception meeting.

Sidwell said he and Isaiah had an unfortunate misunderstanding while working together, but Isaiah said, it was no misunderstanding, and Sidwell had sent someone to kill him in Port Charles. Jordan said Isaiah was interrupting and Isaiah told her about Lucky being held prisoner. Lucy came over, having sensed tension, and asked if they all couldn’t get along. Drew said he and Willow shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to see each other, and Willow said everyone was just biting their tongues, but she didn’t want to cause more pain. Selina said she was setting up a high stakes poker game and wanted Cody to play with house money. She would also cancel his remaining debt. He asked for a cut of the winnings and reminded her that Mac was his father. She said anything could be negotiated and his discretion would be honored. He said he’d think about it. Lucky told Elizabeth that Jason killing Sidwell would have been purely about revenge, and he didn’t want to carry that burden. Anna told Josslyn about Dex and Sam being murdered, and that Dex had listed only Josslyn as family. Josslyn asked if Anna said they suspected Cyrus. Collette called Jack on the plane and said there was something he needed to see when he got back.

Lucky told Elizabeth about the poker game and how it had unlocked something in Sidwell, who became fixated on beating him. He’d been infuriated that Isaiah escaped, and when Lucky lost, he would die. Anna told Josslyn that they didn’t have proof, but Portia had banned Cyrus from the hospital. She knew Josslyn wanted justice, but to get it, they’d need evidence. Willow told Drew that she wanted to make things work. The kids adored Monica and this was their home. She also still cared about Michael and thought this would help his recovery, but the toughest person to deal with had been Sasha. Even though she was pregnant by a random guy, Willow felt constantly judged. Drew left, but forgot his tie on the couch. Sasha met Felicia at the MetroCourt, and Isaiah told Jordan, whatever money Sidwell brought in was blood money. Jordan told him to handle the conflict on his own time. Lucy joined the Deception meeting, and Jordan asked what Isaiah’s issue was with Sidwell.

Sidwell said that Isaiah had been his personal physician, but didn’t like the conditions and departed. He wanted to buy Jordan dinner to make up for interruption, and she said, call her office. He left and she texted Isaiah to meet her. Brook told Tracy that Natalia and Sonny went to LA to handle financing. The sales had dropped because of Lois losing her accent. Drew went to see Selina and asked about her previous association with Curtis. He asked if she was a silent partner in the club. She said she could provide interesting insight, providing their exchange was mutually beneficial. Cody came back and asked if Drew got lost helping blind orphans, Seeing Drew there confirmed that Drew was exactly who Cody thought he was.

Lucky told Elizabeth it had been like his dad was guiding him during the poker game, and Elizabeth had helped him too. Josslyn told Anna that she’d volunteered at Turning Woods and Cyrus had everyone there fooled. Anna told her that she was interfering with the investigation and don’t go back. Carly visited Willow, bearing gifts for the kids from Germany. She told Willow that Michael started treatment and wanted the kids to know he loved them. He also wanted to thank Willow. Willow asked if Carly wanted tea and Carly said she did, but when Willow went to the kitchen, Carly found Drew’s tie sticking out of the couch cushion.  

Selina said it was none of Cody’s business, and Drew said he was addressing a constituent’s concern. Cody asked if Willow knew and said Drew and his brother were alike. Drew was sleeping with his nephew’s wife and Jason got Sasha pregnant. Selina told Cody to get out and had her bodyguard escort him.  

Collette showed Jack a cabin where Cyrus had been hiding out, but she hadn’t wanted to go inside without his authorization. Josslyn told Anna that she’d do whatever it took to stop Cyrus and get justice for Dex, but Anna said, the more Josslyn entangled herself in the investigation, the more likely Cyrus was to get away. They needed proof and he already knew he was being watched. If he found out, he’d cover his tracks. She told Josslyn to let the PCPD take it from there. Jordan met Isaiah at the Surf Lodge. He said Sidwell was dangerous and hired assassins to take out those who crossed him.

Lucky told Elizabeth that he’d been close to escaping, but guards caught him and worked him over. He thought it was the end, then he saw her, and she told him that he shouldn’t quit. He should get up off the floor and fight. Jordan said, it was like Sidwell’s crimes had never happened, and Isaiah said it was because he’d committed them in war torn regions where there were no laws. She said she was going to spend time with Sidwell and find evidence to put him away. She’d had experience going undercover and Sidwell was interested in her, so she’d take the opportunity. When Willow came back, Carly was gone, and so was Drew’s tie. Drew went to the MetroCourt to meet with Anna, who had a wish list from the PCPD for federal support. Drew said he’d be happy to suggest funding as long as organized crime was the top priority – i.e. arresting Sonny and Jason. Carly came in and called out Drew for leaving his tie while he was having sex with Michael’s wife.

Jack said they’d tail Cyrus, and Collette asked if he wasn’t curious about the cabin. She wanted to insure their special project wasn’t put at risk. He said it wasn’t their objective to catch a killer, but to see what action Josslyn would take if she found the cabin. Lucky said, Elizabeth had gotten him through a lot, and she said she was glad, but she couldn’t be anybody’s angel. He said he just needed her to be her. He told her about a song he’d heard on a jukebox in Mogadishu that reminded him of dancing with her at Luke’s. He played it on his phone, and they danced.

Isaiah said he thought Jordan liked the rush better than pushing papers, and she said she’d need his help. He’d have to stay away from her because Sidwell couldn’t know about their connection. He said, no way in hell was he staying clear of her. Their connection would also go undercover. Willow left a message for Michael, saying, the kids loved him and talked about him all the time. They couldn’t wait for him to get home.

To add insult to injury, Carly said she’d bought the tie for Drew and found it in the couch. He wanted to talk privately, but she said, no. His nephew was fighting for his life while Drew was sleeping with his wife on property he’d been banned from. She wanted everyone to know he was pathetic. He wasn’t half the man Jason was. Drew said the joke was on her. Jason had knocked up Sasha – the family cook. Wow. He’s outdone himself at being an ass on so many levels.

Wednesday:

Brad confronted Cyrus at the hospital. He said Cyrus was trying to convince the world he was a changed man, but was considered a danger to the patients. Josslyn convinced the custodian at Turning Woods to let her in Cyrus’s room. Willow told Nina about Carly disappearing on her. At the MetroCourt, Sasha told Drew to make a disaster of his own and Willow’s life, but leave her and her baby out of it.

Ric told Elizabeth that she was back to work immediately. Carly told Drew that he had no right to get involved with Sasha’s private life. Tracy said she was going to warn Willow that if it Drew showed up again, she’d be out on the street without her children, but Brook said she’d convince Willow to do what was best for everyone. Anna told Drew that it was inappropriate for him to influence a case against Sonny and Jason. Kristina wanted to wait to tell Danny that Sam was murdered, but Alexis said if he found out from someone else, they risked losing him. Cody told Molly that he was sorry to hear about Sam and that he and Sam were kindred spirits, and she took Danny to see Alexis. Cody told Dante that he should be there for Danny since Danny’s dad was worthless, when Sasha walked in.

Brook told Willow about what happened at the MetroCourt and asked what she was thinking. Lucy said she didn’t see it coming that Jason was Sasha’s baby daddy, but didn’t hate it. She loved spectacles when she wasn’t at the center of them. Drew asked to talk to Maxie. Lucky asked Ric to find out Cyrus’s parole terms and Elizabeth said it would be a personal favor to her, so he agreed – on the house. At the hospital, Lucas told Carly that Jack had been there as his patient and asked if she was dating him. She said, maybe, and he asked if she’d slept with him, but she said they hadn’t crossed that line yet. Valentin had tried to kill Jack, and she’d saved his life. Sasha asked where Cody got off telling everyone Jason was the father and Cody asked if he wasn’t. Josslyn searched Cyrus’s room and noticed a pressed flower in his Bible. The custodian came back, and she said she found what she was looking for.

Sasha said it was none of Cody’s business and asked where he got the idea. He said after seeing them at the boathouse, and she told him to let it go. Brook asked, why wave a red flag at Tracy? and Willow said this was her home, but it was an easy fix, and asked to move back in with Nina. Drew asked Maxie to share her opinion, and she said she felt sorry for Michael. She didn’t think it was cool for him to pull Sasha into the drama. He said he needed a mother’s advice. Lucy pumped Felicia for information, and Lulu asked Anna where Jack was. Lucas said Carly didn’t want to be with somebody who didn’t tell her the truth.

After Ric left, Lucky said, if they got specifics, he could find a way to get Cyrus busted, and Elizabeth said he meant frame Cyrus. Tracy said everything was Sasha’s call. She could fight and would with Tracy’s support. Brook told Willow to take a step back and that Drew was the problem. When she got involved with him, her life fell apart. Nina suggested Willow take some time alone to figure out the direction of her life. Drew asked Maxie to speak to a decorator about his new house. She said he sounded like a great dad, and she’d help him. Anna suggested Lulu call Jack’s office. Lulu said she already had with no luck, but she’d get Carly to intervene. She asked if Anna had heard anything about Charlotte.

Tracy said every woman had the right to live life on their own terms and she’d do her best to watch out for Sasha. Sasha needed to have a game plan. Nina said Willow could stay with her as long as she needed, but Brook said that wasn’t the agreement. Willow said she didn’t care. Anna said she didn’t know where Charlotte was and neither did the WSB. Lulu said Jack was lying because of some spy reason and a lot of people would be sorry when she got her daughter back. Carly said Jack wasn’t like Sonny, but Lucas told her to walk away while she could. It was Jack’s literal job to keep secrets, and she shouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Elizabeth said Cyrus needed to be stopped no matter what. If they had to frame him, so be it. Cyrus noticed his Bible had been touched and the pressed flower was moved.

Thursday:

Brad asked to leave early, and Portia said okay, but Curtis wondered what was up with that. Brad showed off his muscles, and Lucas said, whatever training program he was on was clearly working. Jack met with Josslyn at Bobbie’s, and she said that she was going to prove Cyrus killed Dex. Lois went to see Martin and told him that she really needed a lawyer. Willow told Nina that deep down, she knew Brook was right. She shouldn’t have been in the gatehouse with Drew. Alexis told Danny that the authorities believed his mom’s death wasn’t an accident.

Brook blamed herself for Willow leaving. Willow said when Drew left, all she could think about was Michael, and Nina said the accident robbed her of closure. She could now focus on her next steps. Then like a bad penny, Drew showed up. Portia told Curtis that Stella seemed to like Brad, so she was willing to give him a second chance, and Curtis thought it was time for him to have a chat with Brad. Josslyn told Jack about getting into Cyrus’s apartment, but not finding anything. He said that might indicate Cyrus had a second location. While Rocco listened in, Dante asked Chase who the person of interest was, but Chase wasn’t talking. Alexis told Danny that the police and hospital believed Sam was murdered.

Molly said, Sam wasn’t the only victim, but it was being kept quiet to not alert suspects. Chase made Dante promise not to do anything reckless and told him the suspect was Cyrus. Jack said, even the best criminal left a trail and evidence would surface, and Josslyn asked him not to tell her mom, when Carly and Lucas walked in. Gio told Brook not to blame herself for the actions of others. Tracy showed up and Brook told her it didn’t go as planned. Tracy said it was time to call the lawyers.

Curtis asked if Brad was still working with Selina, but Brad said they’d cut all ties. He would never do anything to jeopardize Portia and Terry’s faith in him. Carly and Jack shared a table, and he asked her not to tell Josslyn about them. Lois told Martin that Brook had a baby with Dante and she needed to make sure no one found out. Danny agreed Scout shouldn’t know about Sam being murdered and asked if his dad knew. Chase said, circumstantial evidence pointed to Cyrus, but Dante said it made no sense. Tracy interrupted and asked Chase and Dante to check for security flaws on the property, and Rocco snuck away. Nina said Drew had put Willow in a position to lose her children, and suggested he move to DC, but he said he’d take Willow and the kids with him. Nina said if he wanted a fight, she was ready to oblige.

Alexis said it wasn’t their job to get involved in the investigation. When Danny left, Alexis said she found it unsettling that he’d brought up his father. Lucas said it looked like Jack and Carly were getting close, and Josslyn said, as long as it wasn’t Sonny, she was on board. She asked if Lucas had ever heard of Austin Gatlin-Holt. Lois told Martin that the baby had been placed with a member of her extended family, but Brook didn’t know. (Is it Gio???) She asked if Brook could find out, when Tracy knocked at the door. She asked why Lois was there.

Stella told Curtis that she believed Brad had turned a corner. Brad asked if Curtis knew about their arrangement, but Portia said, no and don’t tell him. Josslyn said Austin had testified for Cyrus at his parole hearing, and Lucas told her to stay out of it. Lois told Tracy that she’d heard what happened with Willow and that was why she was seeing Martin. Martin said the deal wasn’t legally binding and the blame lay with Tracy. Lois suggested they leave. Brook told Chase and Dante that Willow moved out. Nina told Drew that Willow still cared about Michael and Willow told Drew it was a mistake for them to meet at the gatehouse. She was still processing the end of her marriage. Drew said it would be unfair to deny their feelings, but they were free to be together since it had been made public – if that’s what she wanted.

Willow said of course (🍷) she did. They kissed and Nina saw them. Alexis was worried that Jason would seek vengeance, and Kristina said, some people didn’t look at vengeance the way Alexis did. Rocco talked with Danny and told him that Cyrus was a suspect. When Carly took a call, Josslyn asked Jack to help her find out if Austin had leased or bought a place nearby. Nina called Carly and said they had to end a problem once and for all. After seeing Tracy to her car, Lois came back to see Martin again. He said there were two ways the truth could come out. If the child came of age and requested their birth certificate… Lois said there was no way they knew they were adopted, and he said, also, if Brook met with whoever handled the adoption and asked to meet her child. Lois said it would blow his world apart, and Martin asked if she was in contact with them. She said, Brook’s son was her grandson Gio. (Ha! I was right.)  

Friday’s Enchilada:

Lulu thanks Laura for meeting her at Bobbie’s and Laura says she’s always happy to meet her beautiful daughter, but what’s so urgent? Lulu says she met with Jack Brennan, and she has news, and Laura asks if Charlotte and Valentin have been found. Lulu says, no. Valentin surfaced briefly in Germany, but disappeared before they could track him. Jack wouldn’t give her any other details. Laura says, of course (🍷) not. It’s Jack and it’s classified. Lulu says she’s got to find Charlotte soon. She knows something bad will happen if she’s with Valentin. Laura says she’ll do what she can, but Lulu says, there may be another path she can follow.

Carly brings a folder to Lucas at the hospital because he left it at home, and he says he’s glad she didn’t come to him for dating advice. He sticks by his assessment that dating a spy is a bad proposition. She says she has more important things to deal with than taking the time to point out Lucas’s questionable taste in men. Nina called and wants to see her. She needs him to convince her that it’s not a good idea to work with Nina.

Nina gives Maxie two tickets to the NYC Winter Fashion Formal and tells her that she can take who she wants. Maxie asks what Nina wants, and Nina asks what she means. Maxie says, Nina only gives her stuff when she wants something, but Nina says, that’s not true. Maxie says, Nina gave her Chanel boots when she wanted Maxie to get a million Christmas gifts for Wiley, and Nina says, fine. She needs help. It might sound crazy, but she needs advice on how to convince Carly to work with her. Maxie asks what she wants to work on, and Nina says, breaking up Drew and Willow.

Willow tells Elizabeth, happy first day back, and hugs her. She says, the doctors and nurses missed her and every one of her patients asked about her. Elizabeth says, it feels good to be back and be missed more than she should admit. Portia joins them and welcomes Elizabeth back. Elizabeth says, it’s good to be back, and Portia asks to speak to her before her shift. Portia heads for her office and Elizabeth makes a face at Willow.

At the Grill, Sidwell thanks Drew for meeting him, even if he’s interrupting Drew’s breakfast. Drew says he’s happy for the company and to welcome a new constituent to Port Charles, and Sidwell says, this constituent doesn’t want to waste more of his time than necessary, so he’ll get to it. Drew may not know, but he imports rare gems from around the world. One of the reasons he chose Port Charles was the pending development of the esplanade. He asks what the status is on its progress, and Drew says, unfortunately, it’s being held off because of environmental concerns. Sidwell says, forgive him for being blunt, but did Sonny Corinthos have anything to do with the delay?

At a hospital in Los Angeles, Sonny says he doesn’t like waiting, and Natalia says, it shouldn’t be much longer. Sonny says he owes her for coming to California with him, and she says she was just thinking, how is Sonny going to pay her back?  

Jordan asks if Anna remembers the microdot recorders she bought for the department, and Anna says, they’ve used them successfully already. Jordan says she needs to borrow one, and Anna asks, who will be wearing the device? Jordan says she will.

In her office, Portia says, as Co-Chief of Staff, she wanted to apologize to Elizabeth for suspending her, and Elizabeth thanks her for saying that. She admits it was a relief, and Portia says she never believed Elizabeth would harm her patients. Elizabeth says she knows Portia had to follow protocol, and Portia says she did, but she hated it. As much as she’s not a fan of Ric’s, in watching him fight for Elizabeth, she never realized he was such a good lawyer. He didn’t give the hospital lawyer half a chance and she came to win. Elizabeth says she’s grateful for everything Ric’s done for her, and wonders if she’s allowed to ask the status of the hospital investigation. Portia says, Elizabeth can, but she doesn’t have any new information. Everything they had on the three, almost four, deaths was turned over to the police. It’s officially a criminal investigation. Elizabeth asks if she’s sure it was only three, and Portia says, they had the lab techs go over all the deaths in the last few months and didn’t find any others. Elizabeth says, that’s good to hear. Does Portia know if the police have a suspect? Portia says she hasn’t touched base with them, but prays they catch whoever is responsible, so they don’t destroy any more lives.

Nina says, it’s ridiculous for Drew to be sneaking in behind everyone’s backs, but Maxie says, Willow is an adult. Even if they think her choices are stupid, she has the right to make them. Besides, she doesn’t think Drew would do something to hurt her. Nina says, sorry. She didn’t realize Maxie was a fan of Drew’s. Maxie says, she’s neutral. She’s Switzerland. Nina asks how she can be when Drew’s over-the-top romantic gestures and horrible advice drive Willow to make disastrous decisions? Like moving out of the gatehouse and back in with her. Maxie says she thought Nina would be happy having Willow and the kids living with her, and Nina says, of course (🍷) she wants them with her, but if the entire Quartermaine security staff can’t keep Drew and Willow apart, how can she? Maxie says, she probably can’t, and Nina says, if Drew didn’t live in a hotel room, he’d probably have Willow and the kids move in with him, and that would be a disaster… What’s wrong? Maxie says she has the feeling Drew won’t be in the hotel much longer, and Nina says, because…? Maxie says, because he’s in escrow on a new house… and she told him that she would help him find a decorator. Nina says, Drew is buying a new house and Maxie is helping him with it?

Lucas asks why Carly is considering working with Nina, and Carly says, to break up Willow and Drew. Drew wants to keep Willow to himself, and his schemes are so obvious, even Nina noticed. Jason brokered a living arrangement with Willow and the Quartermaines, and Drew blew it up. He asks, how? and Carly says she visited Willow at the gatehouse and when Willow went to the kitchen, she saw a tie she’d given Drew sticking out of the couch. Part of the arrangement was that Drew wasn’t allowed on the property, and he snuck in like they were star-crossed lovers. Of course (🍷) she loudly confronted him in public at the MetroCourt. He says, of course (🍷). He guesses it didn’t go well. She says, it was a disaster, and Lucas says he can’t talk about being on the moral high ground. He lit into Willow at Christmas, and it was a disaster. Ava had to talk him down. She says, clearly, they’re people who act first and think later, and he says, maybe it’s time they learn from their mistakes.

Natalia asks if Sonny is worried about what the doctor is going to tell him, but Sonny says he tries not to think about it. He hopes it’s not serious, but right now he has to focus on finding who put the firebomb in the penthouse.

Lulu says, it occurred to her to search in a different way, and Laura says, how so? Lulu says she and Rocco were talking about how Charlotte loved riding, and she knows Valentin let Charlotte have a phone. So she started following popular equestrians on social media. It’s a longshot, but she might find a follower with an account that belongs to Charlotte. Laura says, so her focus has changed from where Valentin could be to where Charlotte would want to go, and Lulu says she’s also looking at the best stables and riding facilities in Europe. Valentin wants Charlotte to be happy, so maybe he’ll let her take lessons. Laura says, it sounds promising. She might get a real lead. Laura’s phone rings, and she says, tell her that she got a meeting with Congressman Quartermaine… Ugh. Okay… They’re saying they think he’s there now?… Good job. She thanks them and tells Lulu that she’s got to get to a very important meeting, but keep her in the loop. Lulu says she promises. Fingers crossed it works. Laura says she’s proud of Lulu. She’s smart. Good job. Lulu thanks her, and Laura leaves.

Elizabeth calls Nurse Gail at Turning Woods and thanks her for her help when she and Lucky were there. She hopes she didn’t get Gail in trouble with her boss. Gail says, not at all. Director Furner had no issue with it. Besides, she knows the head nurse at GH wouldn’t ask her a favor if it wasn’t important. Elizabeth says she knew Gail would understand, and Gail says, they’ll talk soon. Cyrus walks in and asks how Gail is. She says, fine, and himself? He says, the same. He was about to visit Mrs. Brown. How is she doing? Gail says, the same, and he says, the poor dear. He’s going to pray with her. Gail says she’s sorry, but he can’t see patients. Not until he talks to Director Furner.

Furner thanks Cyrus for his help and says, they’re grateful for the time he’s devoted to the patients, but feel its best he not visit them going forward. Cyrus says, the decision is sudden, and Furner says, there was a complaint lodged by Mayor Collins about him misrepresenting himself as Lulu Spencer’s medical proxy. Cyrus says he couldn’t help overhearing Nurse Gail talking to Elizabeth Baldwin earlier. Might she have influenced his ban? Furner says, all he knows is Miss Baldwin was here with Lulu’s brother Lucky, and they were upset about his access to Lulu. He was also informed that Cyrus has been barred from volunteering at GH. Cyrus says, it’s a big misunderstanding, but Furner says, that’s not what he heard. Cyrus says, from whom? He’d like to know who’s spreading these lies. Is the source Elizabeth Baldwin? Furner says, Turning Woods is a private facility, and they have the right to decide who they allow to see patients, but Cyrus says, the patients need him. He refuses to abandon them. Furner says, sorry. He’s afraid they’ll have to make do without him, and Cyrus leaves.

Lucas says, the reason he let Wiley go was to make peace and he knew Michael would be a great father, but when Willow took him away from Michael, he had to confront Willow. Carly says she understands that kind of anger. When she found the tie, she lost it. It was in the house Michael shared with Willow and the kids, and it was like a slap in the face. Drew was there having sex with Willow, and she felt she needed to speak up for him. Lucas says he gets it, but don’t do anything to give Drew an excuse to come swooping in like Willow’s knight in shining armor. Carly says she can’t stand that Willow thinks he’s her hero. She’s sure her confronting him just solidified their us against the world thing. He says, they need to stop making an already bad situation worse, and Carly asks what she should do about Nina. He says, if her goal is to stop escalating the conflict with Willow and Drew by working with Nina, do the opposite of that.

Maxie tells Nina that she’s jumping the gun. Drew hasn’t even purchased one piece of furniture yet. Nina says, she’s right. They still have time. Maxie needs to do what she needs to do to delay Drew moving in. Pretend she can’t find a decorator or distract him with terrible color swatches. It will give her time to come up with something to keep them apart. Maxie says she’s not going to be Nina’s underhanded minion on this one. She doesn’t like what Willow and Drew did because it hurt Michael, but they’re adults and they can do what they want, questionable choices and all. Nina says she’s not going to sit by and watch Drew take advantage of her vulnerable daughter, and Maxie asks if she’s doing it because she thinks Drew is bad for Willow or because Willow is now with the man Nina once wanted for herself?

Drew says, Sonny has no sway in the decision. It has to do with his constituents. Sidwell asks if Sonny Corinthos isn’t one of his constituents, and Drew says he could argue that Sonny is a resident, but his business doesn’t necessarily help make Port Charles better. Sidwell asks if he’s considered Pier 55 and the surrounding area as a new location, and Drew says, Sonny owns the building there and has a legal coffee company. Sidwell asks if that isn’t what Eminent Domain is for. (Don’t even get me started on that, Jenz.) Can’t the government claim land if it’s to help revitalize the city? Drew says he’s explored moving the location, but it costs money and time, and Sidwell says, as a future businessman and tenant, he’d be willing to make a large financial commitment if it solves the funding issue. Drew says he’ll keep it in mind, when Laura walks in. She says, just the man she was looking for, and Sidwell says, how nice to see her again.

Anna asks why Jordan wants to wear a wire, and she says she met Jenz Sidwell a few days ago. Anna says, lucky you, and Jordan says, Laura was talking to her about how dangerous he is and not long afterward, he walked into the MetroCourt, so she introduced herself. They talked, and she got the idea he was interested in her, interested in a way she could use to her advantage. Anna says she’s sure Sidwell is interested in Jordan, and Jordan says, apart from what Anna’s already told her, does she have any information that would be useful to get closer to him? Anna says she doesn’t and asks what outcome Jordan is looking for. Jordan says, no law enforcement agency can connect him to his crimes, and Anna says, unfortunately, that’s true. He’s clever and has resources. He was running a small army in Somalia. Jordan says she needs to figure out why he came to Port Charles and what he plans to do, and Anna says, no one has established a real reason. Jordan says, if she can get close… and Anna says, she’ll find a way to catch him.   

Nina says she had an ill-advised short-lived fling after getting caught up in the spell Drew wove over his admiring constituents. That’s all it was. Maxie says, so Nina is really over him, and Nina says, absolutely. 100%. She saw the terrible effect he’s had on Willow, and she’s done. Willow is kind, gentle, and sweet, but with Drew’s help, she’s made one bad decision after another. Drew has a talent of bringing out the worst in people. He did with her. Maxie says she never thought she’d hear Nina say that, and Nina says she should have listened to Maxie. It was a horrible idea, trying to distract Drew from Willow by sleeping with him. Maxie tells Nina that she hates to say I told you so, but Nina tells her, say it. Maxie says, it’s not as much fun when Nina agrees. There’s only one real reason Willow is so out of character and crazy. She’s in love with Drew. Nina says she keeps telling herself it’s infatuation or hero worship thing, but she thinks Maxie is right. It’s something deeper. Maxie says, in all fairness, they’re not in a position to judge what someone will do for a person they love. Nina did stupid stuff when she loved Sonny. How is it any different with Willow and Drew? Carly stands in the doorway.

Drew says, it’s nice to see Laura, and starts to introduce her to Sidwell, but Laura says, they’ve met before. Drew says he didn’t realize they knew each other, and Laura says, that must mean Sidwell didn’t tell Drew that he held her son captive and nearly killed him in Somalia. Drew says, is that true? and Sidwell says, once again, he has to point out that his version of events differs greatly. Laura says, her son has no reason to lie about the man Sidwell really is, and Sidwell says, a more sensitive person might react to the mayor making negative accusations in public with a defamation suit, which would be terribly costly to the city. Thankfully, they have cooler heads, don’t they? Laura says she hears the threat, and Drew suggests it might not be the time or place to discuss it. Sidwell says, nonsense. He’s sure if the mayor joins them, she’ll have plenty to add to their conversation. He’d love to show her that his goal is to contribute to her fair city.

Cyrus walks over to Lulu’s table at Bobbie’s and says, it’s truly a miracle to see her back on her feet. He knew she’d woken up, but to see it for himself fills him with great joy. His prayers have been answered. She says, God does work in mysterious ways, and he asks if she’s fully recovered. She says, nothing about her is any of his business, and he says he didn’t mean to upset her. He just came in for a bite to eat. She says she doesn’t care why he’s here. Her family has a restraining order against him, and if he takes one step closer, she’ll call the cops.

Carly says, Maxie poses a good question, and Maxie thanks her and says she thinks she’ll go now. Please don’t break anything. She leaves, and Nina says, Carly will probably think she’s a hypocrite and she wouldn’t blame her. Carly says she wants to sit for this, and Nina says, watching Drew bulldoze his way into Willow’s marriage was incredibly eye opening. Because it’s what she did to Carly with her marriage to Sonny. Carly says she never thought she’d hear Nina admit she did wrong, and Nina says she did. She can’t go back and change what’s done, but at the end of the day, she’s just a mother like Carly. And like Carly, she loves her child with everything she has. She can’t sit by and watch her daughter destroy her life for a man who’s not worthy of her.

Willow asks if Lucas needed a nurse, and he says he needs to order tests, and he’d appreciate it if she’d deliver the folders. And if they could rush the results, that would be great. She says she’ll see what she can do, and Lucas says, wait. He needs to say something. She says, if it’s about Drew or her relationship with the kids, she’d rather they keep things professional. He says, actually he wants to apologize for what he said the last time they saw each other. He had no business judging her choices or telling her how to live her life. He’s very sorry. She thanks him, and he says, if she or her kids need anything, he’s here for her. No strings attached. He promises. She says she appreciates that very much, and leaves.

Laura says, actually, she’d love to hear what they were discussing, and Drew says, in light of the environmental concerns, Mr. Sidwell proposed they relocate the esplanade to Pier 55. Sidwell says, transforming a blighted area to an esplanade full of shops, restaurants, and new housing developments would be beneficial to Port Charles. Laura says, if he has a proposal, submit it to her office. She’s sure he’s only concerned with what’s best for Port Charles. Drew says he’s looking forward to working toward that end, and she says, that’s part of the reason she voted for him. He says he’s thrilled to know he earned her vote. He’ll do everything in his power to justify her faith. She says, good, because he should know that she doesn’t believe a partnership with Sidwell is the solution to making Port Charles a better place. Sidwell mimes clutching his pearls, and she says, the drama, and leaves. (Sidwell is always a good time, but I want my husband Jack back.)

Anna says she never told Jordan the full extent of what happened when she and Jason were in Somalia to rescue Lucky. Jordan says she knows they barely got out alive, and Anna says, they were almost killed. It’s clear how dangerous Sidwell is, because she believes he’s behind the firebomb at Sonny’s apartment. Jordan says, so she believes Sidwell’s arrival in Port Charles so close to the attack on Sonny is too much of a coincidence not to mean something, and Anna says, exactly. Jordan says, Anna isn’t going to lecture her on how she’s no longer a cop and using a wire undercover isn’t in her job description as Deputy Mayor? Anna says, no. She’s giving Jordan the equipment. If she needs to go undercover to bring Sidwell down, Jordan has her full support. Anna leaves to get the recorder.

Natalia asks if Sonny is going to tell his kids, but he says, they’ve been through too much already. Kristina and Dante are still mourning Sam. Michael is in Germany fighting for his life. He doesn’t want to worry them. She says she understands, and Sonny says, if his business rivals hear about it, it will give them an invitation to come after him and his family. That can’t happen. The nurse says, the doctor is ready for Sonny, and Natalia asks if he wants her to go with him. He holds out his hand, she takes it, and they walk in together.

Maxie tells Willow that she needs help with her son, and Willow asks if he’s sick. Maxie says, no. He’s great, but he’s driving her nuts. He wants her to plan a playdate with Wiley. Willow says she would love that, and Wiley would too. She’ll check her schedule, and they’ll make it happen, Maxie says, it will get James off her back. Nina told her that Willow and the kids moved back in with her. How is Willow doing?

Carly says, the only reason she’s here is because Nina convinced Willow to let her and Sonny see Michael in the hospital. Nina says she thinks they need to work together to keep Willow and Drew apart, and Carly says, okay. Don’t get her wrong. She despises them as a couple, but she doesn’t see how tearing them apart will help. The damage is done. If they find out, Willow will never let them see the kids again. Nina says she thought about that, but thinks it’s a risk worth taking. If they do nothing, that’s a worse option. Carly says she’s not sure about that. She confronted Drew in public at the MetroCourt about how he snuck onto the Quartermaine property to see Willow. It didn’t go over well. Nina says, Willow moved back in with her. At least when Willow was at the Quartermaine’s, Drew didn’t have free reign. Now that Willow is back, she can’t keep them apart. She needs help. Carly asks if they won’t be making a bad situation worse, and Nina says, worse than Drew moving Willow and the kids in with him? How would Carly feel then?

Elizabeth tells Lucas that she talked to Portia about the investigation, but she never said anything about Cyrus. That means Lucas never said anything to Portia about Cyrus being a suspect. He says he didn’t, but Cyrus was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and Elizabeth says she did hear that. She was wondering if his name was off the suspect list. He says he doesn’t know, but he does know they want him caught. Some people have lost too much because of him. Elizabeth says, some more than others. She and Lucky are close to finding something that will prove him guilty.  

Lulu says, Cyrus is violating the restraining order. Stay away from her. Cyrus says, it pains him that her family jumped to terrible conclusions about him. This is all a misunderstanding that’s kept him from doing his good work at Turning Woods. She says, the place where he lied about having power over her medical care, and he says, she was alone, and he cared for her. She says, when she woke up, she didn’t hear him caring. She heard him talking to the doctor about transferring her to another state where she’d be far away from the people who love her and truly alone. He says, she’s confused, but for good reason. He’s not the man he used to be. She missed his transformation from his past circumstances. He wants only the best for her. She says she sees him clearly when she opened her eyes at Turning Woods. He’s the reason she had to run away while she was still weak and recovering. She knew she had to get away from him and his sick plan for her. Cyrus says he sat by her hospital bedside. He read the Bible to her and prayed for her. She has no concept of the devotion he showed her. No one has done for her what he has. Lulu starts digging in her bag for her phone and calls Anna’s office. She says she’d like to speak to the Commissioner. Her family has a restraining order on… She looks around and Cyrus is gone.

Natalia says, getting a pacemaker and on a medical regime is no small thing. Sonny needs to do this. Why put it off? Sonny says he needs to find who put the bomb in the penthouse. It’s all he can focus on right now. He doesn’t find out who’s responsible, his family isn’t safe. After that, he can focus better. She says she hopes he can do it in the next three months. She can come with him for support when he gets it done. He says he’d appreciate the company. It has to be done. She suggests they get out, and they leave. A guy in the waiting room follows and, in the hallway, he takes out his phone. It’s the man who tried to kill Isaiah at the hospital.

Nina says, Drew is in escrow for a new house and wants there to be enough room for Willow and the kids, and Carly says, no. Even if he did, that doesn’t mean he would ask Willow to move in already. Nina says she wouldn’t put it past him, but Carly says, no. Nina says, whether they like it or not they’re connected because they’re Wiley and Amelia’s grandparents and want what’s best for them. Michael is out of the country receiving medical treatment, so for now, Carly is his proxy. As much as she loves Willow, she’s not blind to how easily Willow was convinced to go along with Drew. Carly asks what she suggests, and Nina says, what if she told Carly that they could have access to Drew’s new house. It could be useful. So what does she think? Is she in or out? Will she help do whatever it takes to protect their grandchildren?

Willow says, Maxie is one of the only people to ask how she’s doing. She’s getting lectures on her relationship with Drew and Maxie isn’t judging. She didn’t realize until now how lonely it’s been. Maxie says, they’ll schedule a playdate, and the boys can run around while they catch up, and Willow says, it will be nice. Maxie asks, who’s place? and Willow says, Maxie’s. Nina’s isn’t the best play space for kids. Maxie says she hopes the kids exhaust themselves to the point where they pass out, and Willow says, it sounds amazing. She’s grateful having a place to stay, but she needs to look for her own place with a kid friendly backyard.

Sidwell says he has no control over how people choose to see him, but hopes Drew sees him as an ally. His phone rings and he says he should take it. Drew says he’s got to get going anyway. Sidwell has given him a lot to think about. Sidwell says, that’s all he can ask, and Drew leaves. Answering the phone, Sidwell says, so? The man at the doctor’s office says he followed Natalia to a medical office. The man who she’s with is seeing a cariologist. Sidwell asks, who would that be? and the man says, Sonny Corinthos. (Rut-roh.)

Lulu goes to Anna’s office and says, Anna’s not going to believe what she saw. Cyrus was at Bobbie’s and violated the restraining order by talking to her. Anna asks Lulu to tell her exactly what happened, and Lulu says, he claimed he was just there to get a bite to eat. She was told he was banned from volunteering at Turning Woods, and she told him to leave her alone, but he just kept talking. Anna asks what he said, and Lulu says, he told her that he spent a lot of time with her when she was in a coma. It really freaked her out. Then he said, no one has done for her what he has. What does he mean? What does that lunatic want from her?

Elizabeth tells Lucas, if they find irrefutable evidence against Cyrus, they’ll hand it over to the police. Until then, it’s important that as few people as possible know he’s a suspect. Lucas says, Cyrus already knows. Josslyn ran into him at the PCPD and accused him of killing Dex. Anna must be aware or at least suspicious about Dex’s death. Elizabeth says she knows it sounds easier said than done, but he needs to keep Josslyn away from Cyrus. If he feels cornered, he’ll get more dangerous. Cyrus walks into the hospital and sees Elizabeth talking to Lucas. He flashes back to finding the flower in the Bible moved and gives Elizabeth a nasty look.

On Monday, Kristina asks Ava where she thinks she’s going; Martin asks if Willow really wants a divorce; Jason asks why Tracy would believe anything Drew says; and Carly asks how far Nina is willing to go to get Drew out of the picture.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I would never put down Chris McKenna’s acting skills, but he’s no Jack Brennan. If it was a matter of money, they should have given Charles Mesure whatever it took to keep him. And really, not even an accent? Come on. They could have done better here.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-recast-shocker-mesure-out-mckenna-in-as-brennan

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/laura-wright-on-ghs-brennan-recast

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chris-mckenna-opens-up-about-taking-over-as-brennan-on-gh

This is for the G’s and this is for the Hustlas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/donnell-turner-on-snoop-dogg-guesting-on-gh

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I didn’t watch this since I’m Below Deck-ed out, but here you go.

Deck OG Kate parlays her Traitors money into real estate.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kate-chastain-new-florida-house-exclusive-photos-interview-details

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Sutton asked Garcelle to go with her to Agusta to visit her mother, and Mauricio took Kyle to a shooting range. She cried because everything was different, and in her interview, she said she was grieving the loss of someone who was still here. Kyle joined Sutton and Garcelle, while Boz, Erika, and Dorit went to Kathy’s for dinner. Kathy called PK PJ which was pretty funny. Erika told Dorit that she had to be proactive. If she didn’t make decisions, life would make them for her. Everything Dorit had told them indicated that PK didn’t want her back.

The Real Housewives of New York City

While on break, Brynn told Jenna that everyone hated her, and she was afraid of everyone. Janna said she was apologizing but not acknowledging what she’d done. Rebacca joined the group, and Brynn said she didn’t share her real life the way the others did. Erin said Rebecca was the most self-involved human she’d ever met. The topic of Scientology was bandied about, and we flashed back to Brynn basically calling Rebecca a snake oil salesman. I don’t know what they have against Rebecca. I like her and I actually thought the prank was funny. For being New Yorkers, this is one sensitive bunch. The Brynn/Ubah situation was rehashed and it’s another drain I didn’t think had to be circled so hard. To quote Erin, it was f***ed up, but Brynn corrected herself pretty quickly. Ubah said she forgave Brynn, but they would never be what they were. Two seconds later though, they were hugging it out, so who knows? These girls hate and love each other in the same breath. If I had to pick a best dressed – they’re all beautiful, even Jenna in her robe, turban, and sunglasses – it would be Racquel. Andy said he hoped it was the first step forward. Yeah. Until next season.

Apparently, Rebecca has had enough.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Britani joined the Reunion Part 3000. She’d been wearing the same dress as Angie, but graciously changed. She probably didn’t want to be included in a Who Wore It Better? list. She said she’d broken up with Jared, who sounds like a real piece of work. After their break-up, he’d gotten on social media and talked quite a bit of smack about the women. He called Bronwyn a low vibrational human being, whatever that means. Britani followed that topic with saying Bronwyn’s flying monkeys spread smack about her to her estranged daughters and Bronwyn had things to pay for.

Andy said he never thought he’d be talking about slut shaming at a Bat Mitzvah, and there was much ado (again) about Britani bringing the wine to Angie’s prayer meeting. I honestly thought it was more of a place and time thing, but I guess not. It was about the Mormon rule of not drinking alcohol. So then why does Angie say she stays pretty sober. (See below.) What does that mean? Just a glass of champagne at weddings? Just weed? So much is just overreaction. Bronwyn’s dog bite was revisited, and not only did she not sue over it – it was a rescue whose owner she knew in a dog park – she paid for the dog to be checked out. There had been a medical issue, and he was now healthy and living where he has room to run. Having dealt with this issue myself, not only do I commend Bronwyn, I suggest anyone who has an overly aggressive dog have it thoroughly checked out by a vet. End of PSA. There was a lot of talking over each other. At the end, they all said nice things about each other and toasted with Mary’s favorite, Miller High Life.

Southern Charm

Venita told Leva about JT having a girlfriend, and Leva said he was a jerk. Agreed. Craig wanted to be a farmer, but his community wouldn’t allow chickens, so he went for the next best thing – bees. FYI: Bee suits are white because dark colors remind bees of a bear. How anyone knows what bees are reminded of is beyond me, but I wouldn’t test that theory. They went to a bee ranch or whatever it’s called, and Craig was pumped. Paige was not as thrilled, but said, if he liked it, she loved it. They checked out the goats and Craig fantasized about living on a farm. Paige said she loved making up fake scenarios in her head – she was a girl – but she had a realistic streak and Craig was more sentimental. She told him that she was only 31, but he sometimes made her feel like she was 75. Yeah, she’s a New Yorker and not ready for waving from the porch in a rocking chair. I honestly think Paige just needs someone closer to home, although Craig might have moved if she’d stuck it out. Throughout the conversation, it really seemed like she was unhappy, but didn’t want to admit it. Shep was still insecure about Sienna and expressed concern in his interview that she was on a higher level than him. Aw, poor Shep. It must be tough being on the receiving end for once.

Patricia had the annual gentlemen’s dinner. Whitney’s hair looked like he’d stuck his finger in a light socket, and he didn’t find it amusing that Patricia had taken the car out with Shep when she hadn’t driven in 40 years. She told the guys that they were using Napoleonic china and Craig said he shouldn’t touch any of it. We flashed back to his previous mishaps, like spilling red wine on a white sofa. She suggested Craig propose, and in Patricia’s interview, she said, in her day, you met, dated, got engaged, and got married. With these guys, it seemed very murky, and they had a schedule with no end to things. The back broke on Whitney’s chair, and Patricia said they never had a dinner where a chair didn’t get broken. And no matter what theme she chose, the dinners turned into arguments, accusations, and breakage. Whitney said the overriding issue with Sienna was that Shep wasn’t rich enough, he was boring, and not famous enough. Ouch. Craig said it was like having dinner with your granddad who had no filter.

The JT plot thickens.

Aww! She’s ready to show her bump. As much as I’ve disliked Madison, I do like Brett, and they deserve some happy news.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to pay attention, but only a few things stood out. They went to Vegas for Maddi’s DJ gig and her face was on the side of a building, which both freaked her out and pumped her up. I’m not sure if it’s because of the cameras, but reality stars seem to get overexcited about hotel rooms. Like they’ve been living in huts and never seen one before. Except for Ramona (RHONY OG), who always complains. This group is obsessed with Will’s cheating and looks like there’s more crying from Emmy to come.

Random Reality

The two Lisas have spoken.

I really hope this works out for her. I loved It’s Complicated.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

I’m still losing myself in Lost, plus doing a Swedish I’m-Not-Dead-Yet house cleaning, so the only extra thing I watched was The Menu on Netflix. It was horror, it was humor, it was surprise after surprise. A group of wealthy diners is taken to a remote island to have a meal at one of the most exclusive restaurants on earth, paying $1200+ a person. Each course becomes increasingly odd, and the final course is a nightmare. It’s detailed – a text describing each course pops up on the side – and was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

In simple terms.

A review without spoilers.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-menu-netflix-review

The particulars.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-menu-release-date-news

Obviously major spoilers.

https://ew.com/the-menu-ending-explained-8783965

🦕 Can’t Wait To Watch…

I never care about the plotlines. I just come for the dinosaurs.

https://people.com/jurassic-world-rebirth-trailer-scarlett-johansson-8712343

🦥 Awaiting New Seasons…

Coming February 16th.

https://www.cbr.com/yellowjackets-season-3-release-date-and-delay-reason/

Coming in April.

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-creators-set-stage-dense-episodes-season-2-exclusive-8783868

https://ew.com/the-last-of-us-season-2-premiere-month-2025-8769682

Remember them? Coming this spring.

https://undeadwalking.com/walking-dead-dead-city-season-2-features-the-return-characters-villainous-ways

No date set yet.

https://www.cbr.com/everything-we-know-about-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3/

Coming never.

https://winteriscoming.net/agatha-all-along-won-t-get-a-second-season

🚫 Boo Hiss…

Mean parole officer. She should still host. I haven’t watched it in years – too busy streaming – but I’d watch that one.

https://ew.com/martha-stewart-reveals-snl-hosting-opportunity-was-nixed-by-parole-officer-8781521

🏆 For the Win…

The full Grammy winners list.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list

The best, worst, and WTF? moments. Note to Rolling Stone: Not everything has to be political. Maybe people are poliweary right now.

The fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37508/grammys-2025-red-carpet-fashion

🏈 Bring On the Bowl…

Who’s performing.

https://people.com/all-about-the-2025-super-bowl-performers-8784892

Breakout shark.

https://people.com/left-shark-from-katy-perry-super-bowl-halftime-reflects-on-performance-exclusive-8779782

The commercials.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/best-super-bowl-commercials-2025

🐕 A Bowl Of Puppies…

Everything you need to know.

https://people.com/everything-to-know-puppy-bowl-2025-8785179

Everything you need to know and more.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl

☄️ Quotes of the Week

Happy accidents are real gifts, and they can open the door to a future that didn’t even exist. It’s kind of nice sometimes to set up something to encourage or allow happy accidents to happen. – David Lynch

If you want to succeed, double your failure rate. – Thomas Watson

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

You can roll manure in powdered sugar, but it still ain’t a jelly donut. – Berta (Conchata Ferrell), Two and a Half Men

🧉 Sticking To the Punchbowl…

Until next Friday, stay safe; stay remembering, it’s just a game (unless you bet money on it, then cry if you lose); and stay not acting first and thinking later.

June 20, 2024 – Spinelli Finds the Prize, Get Your Own, She’s a Tease, Sold, It’s Them Not Her, New Traitors, A Farewell, Posteenth, The Cutest & Don’t

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the coffee warehouse, Carly asks Jason if he’s busy, and he says he’s working. She suggests he check in with Drew. What Drew is doing might affect him.

Terry asks if Elizabeth wants to grab coffee, but Elizabeth says she can’t. She has paperwork. She doesn’t how Epiphany did it. Terry says, they’ll call it a meeting. They do have catching up to do. Elizabeth says, that sounds ominous, and asks if something happened with Terry and Yuri. Terry says, it’s about Elizabeth and Finn.

Finn tells Violet that everything she needs for a pool day with Georgie is in her bag, but Violet thinks it would be more fun if they had a take your daughter to work day. Finn says, they’ll do that another day. He has to arrange it in advance. She tells him that he said there were surprises at work all the time, and Finn asks if there’s some reason she doesn’t want to go to the pool. She says she doesn’t want to leave him here alone.

Mac and Felicia make out on the sofa, and Felicia says, before they get caught up with their reunion, this isn’t their house. Mac says, the kids are out with Maxie and won’t be back for a while, and Bailey Lou is fast asleep. The babysitters have the run of the place. Felicia reminds him that Spinelli lives here now, but Mac says, Spinelli said he had a rendezvous. Mac wants that to remain a mystery.

Sam goes to Spinelli’s gamer den, and he tells her that he found something. She asks him to please not tell her that the FBI is onto him, and he says, her lack of faith in his ability wounds him. Cates still doesn’t know they’re using his credentials. She says, they can’t get sloppy, or they’ll get caught, but he says, that’s not the issue. He found their prize, but now they have a new problem.

Finn says he’d rather hang out with Violet than go to work, but his patients need to see him. He’ll probably be so busy, he won’t miss her. He wants her to go have fun and not worry about her dad. He’s fine. Georgie arrives to get Violet, and Finn tells Violet to have lots of fun. If she needs anything, call him. They hug, and he says he loves her so much.

Terry says she doesn’t want to pry, just check-in, and Elizabeth says, obviously, she’s hurt and confused. She loves Finn and wishes she could be angry and write him off, but she can’t. She knows he’s a good man, but he’s sick and needs help. Terry says, they’re both medical professionals, and have seen this more times than they can count. No one can force Finn to get help. He’ll have to ask for it. Elizabeth says, it’s hard enough to watch Finn spiral, but she’s worried about the toll it will take on her boys. They built a beautiful relationship with Finn, and she’s afraid it will create a void. Terry says, it’s tough, but she’s a great mom and will get them through it. Elizabeth says, but what about Violet? How is she going to get through it?

Finn takes out a bottle and glass, and looks at his hospital ID. He puts the bottle and glass back, and leaves.

Jason wonders what Drew has going on besides running Aurora, and Carly says, there’s no reason his and Drew’s relationship should be as messy as the one he had with AJ. Drew broke up with her because he knew she’d put Jason first. She thinks he was hoping she’d deny it. Jason says he’s sorry, but she says she and Drew are fine. Drew seemed good at Willow’s surprise party. Jason should have come. He would have heard the announcement. His brother is running for congress.

Mac tells Felicia that he’s glad to be home. He missed her. She says, good, and he says he’ll never take off without her again. It drove home how lucky he is. Frisco gave an honest accounting of his mistakes with her and the girls and didn’t whitewash his behavior. (Hmm… Could Frisco be coming back? Is Morgan a red herring?) Felicia says, it must have been awkward, and Mac says, it was, but it was liberating. Frisco was grateful and thanked Mac for being a father to the girls when he wasn’t. He thinks Frisco understands how much he missed out on in leaving Port Charles. He made damn sure Frisco understood how extraordinary the three women he left behind are. She says, they’re lucky to have him in their lives. He made sacrifices for her girls, and she’s sure he felt it would have been easier to take off and start his own family. He says, never. They’re family and he never wanted anything else. There’s a knock at the door, and Mac says, whoever it is has godawful timing. Felicia opens the door to Anna and Robert, who says, there’s a rumor the old man has returned. Anna says she’s here to arrest her brother-in-law for an unlawful absence, and she and Robert hug Mac.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t want it to be strange or awkward, and asks if she wants to check his blood alcohol content. She asks if she needs to, and he says, she doesn’t need to do anything, but they have to work together. That’s it. She says she knows he’s hurting, and she still loves him. He’s still family. He says, she’s Violet’s aunt, and before she asks, Violet is at the pool with Georgie and Maxie is supervising. Elizabeth steps away, and Portia greets Finn. He thanks her for the time off and says he’s eager to get back to work. He wants to check his patient files before rounds. Portia says she and Terry would like a word, and he says, lead the way, following her to Terry’s office.

At the pool, Gio tells James that Josslyn is the lifeguard today, and asks what that means. James says, no cannonballs, and Gio says, they can still have fun. If they follow the rules, maybe he can hook them up with ices later. Georgie says, James has to listen to her, but James says, she’s not the boss of him. Maxie says, correct, and tells Georgie and Violet to go in the pool. James missed a spot with his sunscreen. Nina comes along, and says, like father like son, and James says, Mac is putting in a treehouse for him with Cody. Nina says she hopes she’s invited to the housewarming. Or are girls not allowed? He says, she is, but not Georgie. Maxie lets James go into the pool and tells Nina that she handled Natalia’s complaints. Nina says, good. She trusts Maxie. Maxie is surprised she didn’t hear complaints from Nina about Natalia, but Nina says, she went to Willow’s surprise party and she’s walking on air. Maxie says, they must be getting along better than she thought, but Nina says she had to find Drew and ended up invited. Maxie asks if Nina expects her to believe she was just looking for Drew because of business, and not planning to attend the party. She wasn’t born yesterday.

Carly tells Jason that McConkey is retiring and convinced Drew to run for his seat. Jason says he thinks Drew would make a good congressman. She doesn’t agree? Carly says she thinks Drew has great qualities for a politician. He’s photogenic, he can talk to people, and has a great life story. (Apparently, she doesn’t expect a lot from a political candidate.) Jason asks why she has a problem with him then, and she says, there will be public scrutiny. It will take zero minutes to pick apart Drew’s story and they’ll dig for dirt. With the Quartermaines, there’s plenty to find. AJ’s drunk driving, Jason working for Sonny, all the way to Dante’s shooting, and Jason can’t afford scrutiny

Spinelli tells Sam that he can’t corrupt or delete the file. It’s accessible, but not assailable. Unfortunately, the FBI will be holding onto it. Sam asks what he means by accessible but not assailable, and he said it’s like a real-only file, but they can only listen to it. They can play it, but not delete it. Sam tells him to just play it. Maybe knowing what it is will help them find a way to neutralize it.

Terry tells Finn that his patients are under capable supervision, and Portia says, this conversation can’t wait. They want to discuss Finn’s responsibility to GH and his patients. He says he’s anxious to see how his patients are doing. They can find a time that works for all of them and circle back. Terry says, there’s no need, and Portia says, they’ve cleared his calendar for the day. Terry says, they’re here as his colleagues, but also his friends, and Finn says, the last time they had a meeting like this, he was told to have a lawyer present, but Terry says, they want to keep it informal. Finn asks what this is really about, and Portia says, his drinking.

Josslyn says, Trina is the nicest person she knows, and asks how Gio got in trouble with her. He says, it was just a misunderstanding. They’re fine now. Josslyn tells him that Trina has been going through a lot, but she’s too close to get an accurate reading. It’s been a rough year for Trina. Her boyfriend died unexpectedly in February. Gio says, Trina told him that she’d lost someone close. He’s sorry for her loss and he’ll tread carefully. She thanks him and says she doesn’t mean to tell him what to do. He says he’s used to it. She’s kind of bossy, but nothing compared to his aunts and some of his uncles. Dex walks in wearing his uniform.

Anna says she’s happy Mac is back. She could use his advice and they have a lot of catching up to do. He congratulates her on becoming Commissioner. With respect to Jordan, he always thought she was the best person for the position. Felicia says, Mac was no slouch, and Robert says he raised the bar for everyone. Anna says she tries daily to live up to his high standards, and Robert says, at least he didn’t have Cates breathing down his neck. Mac asks if he means Jagger Cates. Is he back in Port Charles? It will be good to see him. Anna says, he goes by John now and he’s not the sweet young kid Mac remembers.

Carly says, the people who love and care about Jason can be hurt. How does he think Monica would want to see the front page splashed with all of that? Or Danny and Jake reading it? He’ll be thrust in the spotlight against his will. Jason says he’s been through worse.

Sam says, it explains so much, and Spinelli says he thought Jason would rather go to prison than he an informant. He was acting out of love. Sam says, for Carly. That son of a bitch.

Finn asks, who said he was drinking? and Portia says, they were approached by a concerned party. Finn says, Elizabeth. They’re taking the word of his ex as proof of a problem. Terry asks if he’s denying using alcohol, but Finn says he’s denying nothing. He’s seen them drink. Have they ever seen him be impaired at work? He’ll submit to a blood test if they think he’s drunk. Portia says, everyone is different. Finn has a narcotics addiction. Terry says, they can’t risk him treating patients, and Portia says, he can treat them supervised, but has to submit to the physician’s health plan. He’ll have to go to meetings, they’ll monitor his attendance, and he’ll have to authorize his sponsor to give them updates, as well as get drug testing on a regular basis. Finn asks, what if he says no? and Terry says, it will have to go before the Executive Committee, which will make it official. Then the committee will have to notify the Medical Board, which will make it public. They’ll give him a choice of seeing patients under supervision or he could lose his license altogether.

Trina joins Josslyn, and says, Dex is looking official. She tells Gio that there are no more towels, and he says, duty calls. Trina says she’s going with him, and they leave. Josslyn tells Dex, nice uniform. It suits him.

Nina says, possibly Drew arranged for her to show up, and Maxie says, uninvited. Nina says, once she was there, Willow invited her, and Maxie wonders what would have happened had Nina been asked to leave. Nina says, of course (🍷) she would honor Willow’s wishes, and Maxie says, Nina and Willow’s relationship was happening naturally. If Nina hurries and manipulates it, she risks it being worse than before. Nina says, it’s different from her earlier misfires… Her lies, schemes, and cringeworthy sucking up. Now she has Drew on her side and Willow thinks he walks on water.

Finn tells Portia and Terry that they’re smearing his reputation. If he determines there’s slander, be warned. He knows everything about this place. He saved the hospital from going under. If not for him, neither of them would have jobs. GH exists today because he signed his patent to the Blackwood’s cure. Terry says, no one is denying his contribution, and Portia says, they want him to remain to build on it. Finn says, they’re not being friends. They’re bureaucrats and hypocrites. Portia says, they’re looking at him like a valued member of the staff and as a friend, but he says, friends don’t blindside him and threaten to take away something he loves. He’ll save them the trouble. He quits. He walks out.

Carly says, Drew gets to live a great life while Jason slaves at the warehouse, lives in a room above Bobbie’s, and Sonny tells everyone that he’s a traitor. (Um… Isn’t Jason loaded? It sounds like his choice.) Jason says, let Drew have his life. He doesn’t want it. Carly says, it’s not about what Drew has; it’s about what Jason doesn’t. Jason says, it’s not Drew’s fault, and Carly says, it was two years Jason could have spent with his family and that his family spent grieving. Why? What was so important that it was worth him losing that time?

Sam tells Spinelli that Jason lied to her. He’d said he had no choice, but everything he did was because of Carly. Cates has evidence about Carly running Sonny’s organization, and Jason put her welfare above everyone, including his children. Carly always comes first. Spinelli says, it must have been the hardest decision Jason ever had to make. There’s some nobility… She tells him, don’t you dare. There’s no nobility in abandoning his kids so a grown woman can escape the consequences of the life she chose. Anyone who says otherwise never heard a son crying for his father because he’s dead. She asks if Spinelli can make a copy, and he says he can. Why? She says, just do it.

Jason says, there’s an important job he has to do. Otherwise, he never would have left his sons and his family. Once the job is finished, he’ll take his life back. It’s the only life he wants. Carly says she hopes Drew’s campaign doesn’t get in the way. She’ll do everything in her power to defend him. She knows he’d do the same for her. Jason says, okay, and she says she’s glad he agrees. She hugs him and says she’ll see him soon. She leaves and Jason gets an audio file from The Jackal.

Spinelli tells Sam not to do anything hasty, but she says she’s going to do the one thing a good mother does – protect her children at all costs. No matter what it takes. She leaves.

Mac says, maybe he can talk to Jagger and get him to back off, but Felicia says she thinks Anna can handle Cates. Anna says she’d prefer he keep out of it, when her phone dings. She tells them that she has to deal with something, but she expects Mac back at his desk at 5 am sharp. No excuses.

Maxie tells Nina, be careful. Willow’s opinion of both her and Drew could change if she finds out about their affair, and how they hate each other, but can’t keep their hands off each other. Nina says she could keep her hands off Drew if she wanted to. They’re consenting adults, and he got plenty. Because of her connections and advice, he’s running for congress and Willow is his biggest supporter. She’s going to make sure he’s elected. Willow will be grateful, Drew will owe her, and they’ll all be happy. Everyone wins.

Finn sees Elizabeth when he comes out of the elevator and asks if she’s happy now. She got her revenge. She wanted him out, so he’s out. He just quit. She reported him before he had a chance to explain, with no concern how it would hurt him, his patients, or Violet. The only thing that mattered was getting back at him. She says she did turn him in, but she did it for his patients, Violet, and most of all, him. He’s jeopardizing everything good in his life, and it was the way to get back the Finn she knows and loves. The compassionate, brilliant, loving man who would never put anyone in harm’s way. Finn asks if she knows how many lives he’s saved. Of course (🍷) she doesn’t, because she doesn’t know him at all. Maybe she never did. He doesn’t want her near Violet. Don’t call her, don’t see her, and don’t spend time with her. She says, he agreed… but he says, that was his mistake. He thought he knew her, but he was wrong. Stay away from him and Violet.

Gio says, that’s the second time Trina ran interference for Josslyn and Dex, and asks if they’re back together. Trina says, not yet, but maybe they’ll figure things out. She’s trying to give them room to talk things out. He says he likes seeing her look out for Josslyn. She cares about her friends as much as they care about her.

Dex says he could use Josslyn’s help. The department is having beach volleyball. It’s not his game, but he volunteered to break the ice with the other cops. Tom Cruise, he’s not. Josslyn says she’d love to help, but she can’t this weekend. She and Trina are moving to a new place. He says he’s glad for them, but sorry to lose her expertise. She says, He has to learn to negotiate. She’ll give him some pointers if he helps her move. He says, deal, but he would help regardless. It’s the PCPD’s motto to protect and serve.

Portia thanks Elizabeth and says she was right. She saw the way Finn was, and Elizabeth absolutely did the right thing. Elizabeth thanks her and says, when Finn sobers up, he’s going to realize what he threw away. She hopes someday, somehow, he can pick himself back up, but what is it costing Violet?

The kids go back to Maxie’s after the pool, and James wants to talk about the treehouse, but Mac says, Cody needs to be here. Georgie says, Violet’s done some camping and has ideas, and James asks if Violet can stay over. They can camp out. Violet says, her dad won’t let her, but James says, she hasn’t asked. Maxie says, another night. Violet’s dad is expecting her.  

Finn comes home after a hard day of being a jerk. He takes out the bottle and glass and takes a drink. He pours another and drinks that too.

Anna goes to the coffee warehouse, and Jason asks if she’s made any more progress with Valentin. She says she’s going slow and treading carefully, and he says, Cates is getting impatient and wants results. Drew is running for congress and it’s going put him in the public eye. The spotlight will be on him, and if his profile is too high, he’ll be useless to the FBI. He didn’t go through all this for Cates to arrest Carly. He knows Anna wants to do this her way, but he’s running out of time. Cates will get what he wants, and he’ll bust Valentin.

Sam finds Carly, and says, there’s something she needs to hear.

Tomorrow, Cates promises to make it worth Carly’s while; Chase wants to know why Violet is with Tracy; and Jason says, he’s not letting this thing go to waste.

🏊 Must Have…

Well, I’m definitely getting one of these. Although I’d rather have the actual pool.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/get-your-own-gh-metro-court-pool-towel

🍊 New Slice Of the Orange…

Premieres July 11th.

👰🏼‍♀️ Love For Sale…

Dresses. Plural. I had one. Great charity choice though.

https://people.com/summer-house-star-lindsay-hubbard-selling-wedding-dresses-after-broken-engagement-carl-radke-8666037

👠 Never Her Fault…

Yeah, that must be it.

https://ew.com/teresa-giudice-says-feds-targeted-her-because-rhonj-producers-had-her-pay-cash-in-scene-8666098

🚬 Twirling Their Mustaches…

This season’s Traitors.

https://extratv.com/2024/06/05/the-traitors-tom-sandoval-sam-asghari-and-more-join-season-3-cast/

She’ll make it nice.

📓 Goodbye Professor…

All the great movies he made, and yet, whenever I hear his name, I think of Animal House.

https://ew.com/donald-sutherland-dead-mash-actor-was-88-8666623

🎉 Celebrations…

How the stars celebrated Juneteenth.

https://extratv.com/2024/06/18/stars-reflect-on-juneteenth-celebrate-the-freedom/

🐶 Mine For the Win…

You can try though.

https://people.com/worlds-cutest-rescue-dog-contest-2024-submissions-8666051

El Wray sez: I iz a shoo in.

🩱 Got My Suit Damp…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a pre-weekend kiki. Until then, stay safe, stay having a back-up plan when hosting an outdoor party, and stay asking for help if you need it, whether it’s with moving or something bigger.

July 12, 2023 – Brook Confesses To Chase, More Of the Same But In Montana & Rock

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase takes statements at the pool, while Brook tells Tracy that she can’t get her anything else. The Deception crew is watching her very closely. Chase comes over and says, sorry if he’s interrupting, but Brook says, he’s not. He says, that’s not how it looked.

Willow wakes up from her nap, and Michael takes her temperature with a forehead thermometer. She asks if she doesn’t get a kiss first, and he says, that’s coming. She’s good. No fever. He kisses her, and she asks if that coffee’s for her. He says, it is, and she says, the smell of Corinthos Coffee probably woke her up. She asks how long she’s been asleep, and he says, her morning nap almost turned into an afternoon siesta. She says, best sleep she’s had in weeks. Being home is… healing. Although she still feels like she’s dreaming. He says, there’s only one way to be sure, and kisses her again.

Popping out from behind a rack of clothing, Sasha tells Maxie, that sun dress she tried on complements her eyes. She should totally get it. Maxie says, so did that top Sasha tried on. It didn’t seem like her style though. Sasha says her old style belongs to another life. When her guardianship ends, she needs to send a statement to the world. This is Sasha 2.0.

Gladys runs out from the back of The Savoy, Montague following her, and she says, this calls for champagne. He asks if they shouldn’t get some orange juice to justify the early hour, but she says, no. She can’t believe how much energy she has after playing all night. Selina comes out and says, it’s the adrenaline rush. Winning will do that. Congratulations to them both. Gladys says she knows one win won’t make them square, but she can pay Selina an installment today. Selina says, champagne is on her. Enjoy their win. Gladys says, it’s like lightning in a bottle, when Cody comes out, and Selina says, except lightning isn’t supposed to strike twice.

Outside an office, Felicia asks if Lucy is clear on the plan, and Lucy says she is. She’s to keep the lawyer occupied, busy enough so Felicia can have the proper snoop. She does have one question. Why did Felicia have her get all glammed up when the lawyer is probably some short, stodgy, boring bifocaled attorney? Felicia says, the charm offensive is tried and true. Would Lucy rather she be the honey trap? Lucy says she’s better suited to it, as Felicia knows. She just hopes they can find out what Martin’s hiding from her.

Anna takes the police tape down from the unoccupied room at the MetroCourt, and slips inside. She looks around, then looks out the window. She hears someone coming.

Michael tells Willow that he’s missed this. It’s been torture not being close to her. They kiss, and he asks, what’s wrong? She says, unfortunately, the torture isn’t quite over.

Montague pops the champagne, and Gladys squeals. Cody sits with Selina, and says he doesn’t know what happened. It must have been an off night. She asks if he has any idea how much money he’s cost her, but he says he’s better at counting cards than counting losses. She says, from where she stands, he’s a failure at both. His job is to always get her a profit. He says he’s sorry, but she says she hired him expressly to avoid large payouts to players, yet they’ve operated at a loss two games in a row. He can’t afford the luxury of off nights, and if she has to pay, so must he.

Gladys says, finally, it feels like her luck is changing, and clinks her glass against Montague’s. He says, with her daughter-in-law on his new drug regimen, her good luck has no end in sight.

Sasha holds up a couple of tops, and tosses them aside. She picks up a tiny lacy camisole, and asks Maxie, what about this one? Maxie says, wow. That’ll certainly send a statement to the world. Sasha says, and to think she spent the last year praying the press would ignore her. She guesses she’s ready for them to sit up and take notice again. Maxie says, now for something more comfy and PG rated, and takes down a pair of pants from the rack. These are a little short for Sasha, doesn’t she think? Sasha says, they’re not for her. She had Logan’s personal shopper select a few items in Willow’s size; comfortable, mommy dear, but still lovely. Like Willow. Maxie says, that’s thoughtful of her, and Sasha says, she sounds surprised, but Maxie says, more like in awe. If being a great friend had any sway on the judge, he’d grant her petition without a second thought.

Chase says, it seems like every time he sees Brook and Tracy, they have their heads together, and Brook says she pleads the fifth. Tracy asks if a woman can’t spend time with her granddaughter, and Chase says, at ease, ladies. This isn’t an interrogation, just an observation. He’s just happy to see Brook. How is she holding up after last night? Brook says she was just catching grandmother up on the shooting, and how he saved the day. Chase says he was just doing his job, and she says, nobody does it better. She admires his passion and commitment. He tells her that he could say the same about her, the way she feels about music, but she gave that up to go back to work at Deception.

The hotel room door opens, and Anna clocks the person coming in. They fall to the ground, and Anna says, it’s you? Martin says, ow! What the hell is wrong with her? Has anybody ever told her that for such a little thing, she packs a ridiculously big punch? She says, yes, all the time. He’ll find out what else she’s packing if he doesn’t tell her what he’s doing here.

Willow says, yesterday, when Michael stepped out to get her discharge, the oncology nurse went over Terry’s instructions with her in more depth. As he knows, there are a lot of dos and don’ts. He says he knows. He fell asleep reading the packet last night. He’s got the food and medication schedule, and visitor protocol down, but he’ll make time to finish the rest of the packet today. She says she’s sure he will. He’s barely had time to get anything done. He’s already done so much to make her homecoming smooth. He says, what else would he do? and she says, he’s incredible. He does nothing but think of her, and he’s sacrificed so much for her already. She hates having to ask him to sacrifice longer. Because he’s dense, he asks what she’s talking about. What did the nurse say? She says, that they can’t make love.

Martin struggles to get up, and Anna asks how he got a keycard for this room. He says, probably the same way she did, and she says, that’s doubtful. Was he following her? He says, no, not really… kinda, sort of… All right. Fine. Just give him a minute. She does know this hurts, right? Somehow, Valentin got word about the shooting, and reached back to him. Valentin was worried about her, and wanted him to check on her. He was on his way out and over to her place, when he saw her crossing the lobby. She says, he was following her. She didn’t notice that. She must be slipping. He says he’d say she’s still got it, based on the amount of pain coming from his face. That’s his story. Why did she cross the police tape? What in the hell is she looking for? She says she’s sure the PCPD did a thorough job, but she just wanted to check for herself. This is where they found the rifle the sniper used. He says, and that’s of what interest to her?

Felicia and Lucy walk into Jackson Montgomery’s office, and Felicia tells his assistant Cheyenne that they’re here for their appointment. Cheyenne tells Jack that his 10 am is here, and he comes out and introduces himself. Felicia introduces herself, and says, they spoke on the phone. This is her sister Lucy Martin. He says he’s so sorry for her loss, calling Lucy Mrs. Martin, and she holds out her hand, thanking him and asking him to call her Lucy. This little affair with her husband’s estate is very confusing for her. She’s never lived in Pennsylvania, but he did for quite a while… with his other family. Jack says he sees how that could complicate matters. Why don’t they go into his office and see if they can untangle this a bit? Felicia says she’ll wait out here, and Lucy goes into Jack’s office with him. Felica eyeballs the file cabinet.

Sasha takes a top off a hanger, and says, once Willow can get out again, this would be perfect for a romantic outing with Michael. Maxie says, yeah – she looks at the price tag – or she could sell it and take that overdue trip to Paris. Sasha says, Willow would never spend this amount of money on herself, but she deserves a whole new wardrobe for her new chapter. Maxie says, it’s beautiful. She’ll love it. She’d be happy to contribute. Sasha says, it’s incredible. Her friend has all new DNA. It’s like she’s been reborn. She presses the top to her face, and Maxie says, she’s very philosophical today. What’s up with that? Sasha says her court appointed shrink prescribed something that totally revolutionized her approach to wellness. I’ll have what she’s having.

Cody says, as much as he’d like to, he can’t cover Selina’s losses, and she says, last night she received bad news about the proprietor of this establishment, a man she’s fond of. Cody says, N’neka informed him about Curtis and the shooting, and she says, and his incompetence only compounded her distress. He says he’s sorry, and he completely understands if she no longer wants to retain his services.

Tracy asks if Chase doesn’t think her granddaughter is committed to her job at Deception, and he asks if he can speak to his girlfriend in private. They make a mean iced cappuccino at the bar. Tracy says, that sounds dreadful. Why would anybody want to add ice to a perfectly good cappuccino? But she’ll leave, since apparently that’s what he wants her to do. She strides off, and Brook says, that was impressive. There aren’t many people granny will listen to. He asks why she always seems so tense around Tracy, and she says, it’s complicated. He says he knows Tracy wants her to have a career to fall back on, but all she needs is her talent. Don’t let Tracy, Linc, or any of her other personal demons make her doubt her talent. She takes his hands, and says she loves how much confidence he has in her. He says, unlike Tracy? Is Tracy pressuring her? She says, leave it, but he says, not if her grandmother is making her unhappy. Brook says, Tracy doesn’t care if she doesn’t want to work at Deception, and he says, then why not tell her to back off? Brook says, because Tracy put her up to it.

Willow says, they can cuddle and caress, but they have to put sex on hold. She’s so sorry. They didn’t even get a chance to consummate their marriage, and she’s making him wait even longer. He says, she’s not making him do anything. This is about her health. He’s not upset or surprised about it. She tells him that she knew he’d say that. He can tell her if he’s disappointed. He says, what’s disappointing is coming home to an empty house. Or telling Wiley, I don’t know, when he asks when she’s coming home. Imagining a life without her. Which is why, no matter how many times she’s brought up the subject, he’s never wanted to talk about it. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s home to stay with him and their family. She says, but what if it takes a while? She says she wants him. She’s disappointed they can’t be intimate like they used to. He says, first of all, hold that thought, and second of all, she does have him. And when she’s healthy and ready… She says she’ll definitely be ready, and he says, there you go, kissing her.

As she looks around, Anna says, Martin may or may not know this, but she’s currently unemployed. She was hoping she could be a little useful. He says, call it a hunch, but he suspects Valentin wouldn’t be too thrilled if he found out she was putting herself at risk. She makes a frustrated noise, and he says, what does she want? His client cares about her. He misses her. Anna says, she misses him too, obviously, and Martin says, it might come as a shock, but as demanding as the man can be, he does too. He’s with Laura, who’s his closest confidant, and they’re both on the other side of the world, just when he needs them most. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says, wait a minute. She’s a woman. She says, can’t get anything past him, and he says, and she’s close with Lucy. She says she’s been in close proximity with Lucy for extended periods of time, but he says, it’s about Lucy. Anna’s good with riddles, so maybe she can help him with one. An unexpected, unmistakable chill suddenly came between them, and he for one, wonders why.

Felicia looks at Jack’s awards and diplomas, and says, impressive. She tells Cheyenne, if she needs to pop out for any reason, don’t mind her. If she needs to overnight something or if she wants to take an early lunch, it will be their little secret. Cheyenne says, it’s not even 11 am, when Jack comes out and asks if she can run around the corner to the gourmet coffee shop and get Mrs. Martin some coffee. Cheyenne says she’ll make a fresh pot, but Jack says, Mrs. Martin has a very particular coffee order. It would probably be best if she just went out and got it. He hands her a paper, and asks if he can get Felicia anything. Felicia says she’d love a latte, and he says, a latte it is, and tells Cheyenne to get something for herself. Lucy calls out, don’t forget her cinnamon, and Felicia says, her sister takes her coffee very seriously. Cheyenne leaves, and Felicia checks a file cabinet, but all the drawers are locked.

Selina says, letting Cody go doesn’t solve her problems. She still needs a reliable ringer. He says, clearly that’s not him; not any longer. They had a good run, but he’d hate to let her down again. She says, then don’t.

At the bar, Gladys asks if Montague saw the look on his face when she pulled out that third Jack, and he chuckles. She lowers her voice, and says, those drugs Sasha’s taking, they aren’t dangerous, right? He says, not at all, and she says, good. She needs Sasha’s guardianship to stay in place a bit longer, but she does care about Sasha. He says he’s explained this before. The medication is harmless on its own. It’s the reaction with Sasha’s antidepressant that will create the behaviors Gladys wanted, none of which are life threatening. She’ll be off-kilter, foggy, prone to mood swings. Gladys asks, will that be enough? Will people even notice some simple side-effects? He says, trust him. People will notice.

Maxie asks, what exactly did Sasha’s doctor prescribe? and Sasha says, meditation. She just breathes. Maxie’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Georgie. She steps away to take the call, telling Georgie, stop yelling at her brother. Put her on speaker phone. She tells James to give his sister her journal back right now, and Sasha takes another dose of medication. Maxie says, don’t make her have to ask again, or call her again. Just so he knows, tonight, they’re having a talk when she gets home. She comes back and asks Sasha if meditation will help her with her squabbling children. Sasha says, even Zen has its limits, and Maxie says she’s going to have to give in and get a bigger place, where everyone has their own room. She loves her apartment, but it’s time to move on. Sasha says, that’s the spirit, draping a scarf around Maxie. Lean into possibility. Maxie says she’s going to lean into some real estate listings. She really needs to get back to her kids. Is Sasha good? Sasha says, yeah, and Maxie leaves, taking a last questioning look before she goes out the door.

Chase asks why Tracy is making Brook work at Deception, when Tracy comes back, and says, that’s between her and Brook. This coffee drink is not half bad. Lucky she’s open-minded. Chase says, it kind of sounds like there’s more to the story, and Tracy says she knows he’s trained to look for crimes everywhere, but this really doesn’t concern him. He says, it does if she’s exerting undue influence, and she says, undue, shmundue. She’s just compelling. Brook says, like the guillotine, and Tracy says, that’s enough. Brook says, she’s right. It is enough. She’s done jumping through Tracy’s hoops. Say this, not that. Work here, not there. Hide this… Chase says, hide what? and Tracy says, be careful. Chase says, Brook knows she can tell him anything, and Brook takes a deep breath. She says, months ago, she asked granny for a favor that concerned Chase, and she granted it. He asks, what favor could Tracy possibly do for him? and Tracy says, getting his badge back.

Cody stares at Gladys, and Selina asks if she has his attention. He says, sorry, and she says, the more he apologizes, the less it means. So is this funny business? An accomplished ringer who couldn’t lose suddenly can’t perform. She finds that odd. He says, happens to the best of us from time to time, and Selina nods to Li, who comes over to the table. She asks why Cody insists the best course of action is to dismiss him, after he recently pressed her to stay on. Is he trying to get fired?

Montague tells Gladys, if Sasha took the medication as prescribed, her body will have metabolized it, and its interaction with her antidepressant has already had an effect.

Michael opens the door, and Sasha says, surprise! She hopes they don’t mind her dropping by like this. That’s what they get for adding her to the approved guest list. Can she come in? He says, Willow will be happy to see her, and tells her that she has to wear a mask, handing one to her. She yells for Willow, who says, what a surprise. They keep their distance, yet both hold out their arms, and Sasha says, until we can do that, let’s close our eyes and reach out our hands and pretend to hug. Can she feel the embrace? Willow half-heartedly attempts this, but Sasha is obviously into it. Michael’s phone rings, and he steps outside to take the call.

Michael asks Josslyn, what’s up?… He’s just getting Willow settled. Why?… Oh my God. When?

Felicia goes through Cheyenne’s desk drawers and finds a ring of keys. She tries them on the file cabinet, and finally hits the right one.

Anna tells Martin, all right. She’ll bite. Describe this unmistakable chill between him and Lucy. They sit down, and Martin says, maybe chill’s the wrong word. More like a distancing, and he doesn’t like it. He’s not used to being kept at arm’s length. Usually, you can’t slip a ruler between… Anna holds up her hand, and says, visual, and he says, up to this point, he and Lucy have been on the same page with just about everything. And he means everything – vacation, family, home… The perfect evening, shaken, not stirred, true crime over sports, cake over pie, companionship over marriage… Anna says, stop right there. That’s his problem. The Lucy Coe she knows likes marriage. He says, she used to like marriage, but been there, done that, several times. As has he, and neither one of them is anxious to make the same mistake again. Anna says, is that what she told him? and he nods. Anna says, she doesn’t mean it. She’s exhaustively romantic. He says, Lucy insists she’s happy with things as they are, and she says, yet here they are, dissecting his relationship. Has marriage been brought up lately? He says, actually, yes, but they both said they’re not interested. Anna tells him, it’s one thing to say that to yourself, but it’s quite another thing when the man you love says, nope, it’s not happening.

Chase says, so Tracy orchestrated his rehiring. That’s how he got the CCRB meeting and his badge back. Tracy says, actually, all she did was get the Board back in the room. They made a decision based on the case he presented, so really, that’s all him. Brook says she cost him his badge, so she called the one person she knew who could help, and he says, and now that person is holding it over her head. Tracy says, hello?  That person is standing right here. He asks how Deception fits into all this, when his phone rings. He steps away to take the call, and Tracy asks if Brook is under the influence. Brook says, Tracy knows she doesn’t do drugs, but Tracy says she means truth serum. First, it’s her colleagues, now it’s with Chase. How long is this confessional going to go on? Brook says she has nothing left to confess. In the past, her relationship with Chase ended over secrets. Tracy says, no. Her relationship ended because she got caught. Brook says, Chase doesn’t want her to be perfect, just honest, and Tracy says, transparency leads to questions, which she’ll soon find out when Mr. Perfect gets off the phone. Chase comes back, and Brook asks if it was about the shooting. He says he can’t get into it right now, but he is going to need some answers from her.

Brook tells Chase that she didn’t want to say anything because she didn’t want to involve him, and he says he’s got to get back to work. Unfortunately, this is going to have to wait. Tracy says, work? As in the job she helped him get back? He says he owes her nothing, and neither does Brook. If Tracy is strongarming Brook into something unethical, he’s going to find out. Brook tells Chase that she’s so sorry. She’s so done with secrets. He says he has to go, and tells Tracy, this isn’t over. He heads for the exit, comes back, and kisses Brook, then leaves. Tracy rolls her eyes.

Felicia looks through the files. She takes one out that says Maquillage, but it’s empty, so she puts it back. She goes over to the credenza and looks through the drawers. She’s about to take a crack at a safe, when she hears Lucy saying she hasn’t been in Pine Valley in so long. It’s a shame The Chateau closed down. Jack says, the real shame is that he isn’t able to do much for her at this juncture, but it was a real pleasure to make her acquaintance. She says, and it was such a pleasure to make his, and he says, but she’s right. The Chateau was the gold standard in Pine Valley for many years, but he thinks she’ll enjoy this new restaurant he told her about. He’ll see her at 8. Lucy says she can’t wait, and Cheyenne comes in with the coffee, apologizing that it took so long. Lucy thanks her, and says she’ll take hers to go. She scoops up the coffee on her way out the door, and Felicia follows suit.

Martin says, so Anna is telling him that Lucy is angry because he doesn’t want to get married again, and she says she’d bet her career on it, but… He says, she doesn’t have one, and she says, yeah. He says, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would you put your head back in the lion’s mouth? Lucy’s heard all his horror stories, and knows his track record. Anna knows about it. She tried to blackmail him over it. She says, that’s bygones. She doesn’t think Lucy would ever compare herself to his exes. She thinks Lucy sees herself as someone entirely different. He says, she is entirely different. He’s never met anyone like Lucy before. She gets him. Anna says, then what’s the problem? Won’t he at least consider it? He says his mama is only going to walk him down the aisle so many times, and Anna says, make light of it if he wants, but buy himself a sweater. Because that chill he’s feeling from Lucy is liable to set in. She wants to amend something she said earlier about Lucy not comparing herself to his exes, because there is one area where she’s keeping score. And that is, he was willing to marry them, but refuses to take the plunge with her.

Sasha enthusiastically describes the clothing she bought for Willow, as she pulls it out of the shopping bag, and Willow tells her, slow down. She can’t keep up. Sasha thought of everything. Sasha says she just wants Willow’s homecoming to be perfect, and Willow says, just being with the people she cares about is perfect. Sasha gasps, pulling out another top, and asking, isn’t it exquisite? She suggests Willow try it on, but Willow says she shouldn’t. She has to wash or clean everything before she wears or uses it. She notices a security tag, and points it out to Sasha.

Cody asks Selina why he’d try to get fired. She pays him nightly more than he makes in months working with the horses. She asks, why continue with horses? and he says, they make him happy. She asks if he’s happy in her employ, and he says, who wouldn’t be? Right, Li? He holds up his hand for a high-five, but nothing. Selina says, there is one way to find out if that’s true, and asks Li to bring the cards used in tonight’s game.

Brook lies down on the chaise, and Tracy says, Chase isn’t the only one with work responsibilities. Doesn’t Brook have someplace to be? Brook says, nope. Chase now knows Tracy helped get him reinstated at the PCPD. Tracy says, so? and Brook says, so Tracy no longer has any leverage over her. The sun is out. The pool awaits. And today seems like a wonderful day to resign from Deception… again. Tracy says, Brook is forgetting something. She committed corporate espionage. What would her pious policeman think about that?

Anna says her advice to Martin is very simple; just be honest with Lucy. Share his frustrations about marriage. He says he has; she’s heard them all. Anna says, no. She’s heard him bitching about his ex-wives. He has to figure out if this has translated into an institutionalized phobia. Tell Lucy his fears. But before he does that, he needs to be very honest with himself. Is he worried that it’s too soon? Is he concerned about compatibility? Is he afraid of failing again? Or is it something else? He says, it may be too soon. God knows they’re compatible. Yes, all of the above; frightened, concerned, afraid. He hates to commit again, and then fail again. She smiles, and he says, what? She says, he forgot the something else. Because there is another reason, isn’t there?

Down the hall, Lucy asks how she did. Did Felicia have enough time? Did she get anything? Felicia asks if Lucy made a date with the man she spent the last hour lying to, and Lucy says, good point. It usually takes her half the time. She’s slipping. It must be trauma from that whole Victor thing. She sips her coffee, and says, she told him no whipped milk. Felicia gets her attention, and Lucy says, maybe she did make a date, per se. Felicia says, remember what happened when she went rogue with Victor? Spending more time with Jackson Montgomery opens them up to exposure. Lucy says, okay. Did Felicia get anything? She doesn’t see anything. Did she get a file? Lucy doesn’t see a file. Did she find a flashdrive? What did she get? Felicia says, no. She got nothing. The assistant was glued to her desk. By the way, that was a brilliant gambit of Lucy’s, ordering coffee. Lucy thanks her and says, Anna Devane eat your heart out. Felicia says, making the order more complicated was a stroke of genius, and Lucy says, it was all part of her plan. Felicia says she needs to continue to search. And she thinks she knows where. The Maquillage file wasn’t with the other documents, but she thinks it’s in that safe. She bets if she can get into it, she can find that file, and they can find out what Martin’s been hiding. Lucy asks if Felicia can really crack a safe, and Felicia says she has skills. So she guesses it’s a good thing that Jackson will be otherwise occupied tonight at 8. They clink their to-go cups.

Martin says he doesn’t know what Anna’s talking about. All the reasons she listed, besides compatibility, are perfectly valid. And legitimately good reasons not to want to get married again. Anna asks, what about the giant one in particular? The one that hasn’t been listed? The one she found out when she knew about his three ex-wives. Because one of them is so different from the others, isn’t she? He says, number three. She’s far more sadistic. Anna says, and rich. She’s the only one he doesn’t pay alimony to. In fact, she pays him, a cool 50K a month. And if he remarries, his ex-wife is going to cut him off, and that’s what this is really all about, isn’t it? He can either marry Lucy, or ride the gravy train, but he can’t do both. And what he can’t tell Lucy is that he’s already made his choice.

Montague says he has to catch some winks before his next session. He’ll see Gladys at Sasha’s next session. He believes he’ll have a lot to report to the judge. He leaves, and Cody tells Selina that Gladys is up to something. Selina says, his chance to come clean is over when Li returns. Li comes back with the cards, and gives them to Selina. Cody says, give him a chance to explain. It won’t happen again. She says, no, it won’t, and looks through the cards. She holds up a card, and says, white ink, but he swears he didn’t know where that came from. She says something to Li, who grabs Cody and frisks him. He pulls a small ink bottle out of Cody’s boot, and Cody says he can explain, but Selina says, there’s no need. It’s evident what happened here. Cody threw her game.

Sasha says, so much for being perfect, putting the top back into the bag. She’ll have to return it to the store to have the tag removed. Willow tells her, don’t worry about it, and Michael says, Chase is here. Willow says, the more the merrier, and Chase says, it’s good to see her outside the isolation room. She says, tell her about it, and he asks to talk to Sasha. Sasha tells him to hold on a second, and pulls the top out again, telling Michael that it’s for him to take Willow someplace nice, like a sunset cruise. Chase tries to get her attention, and she tells him, wait, but he says, this can’t wait. She’s under arrest.

Tomorrow, Sasha says, lawyers are for guilty people; Sam asks Gladys what that woman has on her; Sonny’s not going to rest until he finds out; and Curtis’s surgeon calls for a crash cart.

🍊 The Real Housewives of Orange County were still inflicting themselves on Montana, and Gina was still bawling about Jenn’s infidelity. Or Ryan’s. Or both of them. In her interview, she said there were a lot of triggers all over for her. Like how recently she’d gone to a church wedding, and she’d gotten married in a church. Pretty soon it’s going to be, people were breathing, and Matt breaths. As much as I hate agreeing with Fancy Pants, this girl needs therapy. Tamra said, if she didn’t care about Jenn, she wouldn’t have announced the whole world that Jenn’s boyfriend is a lying liar who lies. Again, as with Fancy Pants, it’s not what she says, but the way she says it. And when. To Fancy Pant Heather’s credit, she did bring weed for the whole class. Instead of in tents, they slept in a 9500 square foot villa, and got more stoned.

In the morning there was a choice between fly fishing or white-water rafting. On the phone, Jenn cried to Ryan that Tamra hit below the belt. Apparently, she doesn’t know Tamra and has never watched this show. In Jenn’s interview, she said she’d decided to wait until she and Ryan were face to face before confronting him with wanting to hit on Tamra. Shannon, Gina, and Fancy Pants went fishing, while the rest rafted. In her interview, Fancy Pants said, diction should be taught in Montana since she confused the word waders with waiters. Go home, Fancy Pants! You’d think being a fitness enthusiast, Tamra wouldn’t have screeched quite so loudly during the rafting expedition. There was a lot of screaming and such coming from the fishing group as well, but I’m not sure why. Fancy Pants said, cowgirl is hard, so maybe that’s it. There was also quite a to-do over the rafting guide’s shorts having a peek-a-boo issue.

There was a candlelight dinner outside where they talked highs and lows, and Shannon got all misty about reconnecting with Tamra. Fancy Pants pretended shoveling sh*t was her high because it reminded her about how hard people work. Her low was how left out she was when Tamra and Shannon reconnected. She whined about them not inviting her to their PJ party of two, but in Tamra’s interview, she called bullsh*t, and Shannon wondered how much attention she needed. Shannon thought Fancy Pants saw it as a competition, and made a mini speech about how she and Tamra had been through so much, and she never thought this day would come when they’d be sitting together again.

Fancy Pants said she was sorry she’d shared, and in her interview, she said, it wasn’t like it was an isolated incident. We flashed back to her being a third wheel a bunch of times, and she said, they’re friends again and she’s nowhere. Taylor thanked Fancy Pants for helping her with her acting skills, and Heather somehow made that into a bad thing. Jenn felt badly about being a trigger for Gina, who got weepy all over again. Fancy Pants had to ask how much longer Travis was going to put up with this endless cycle, and Gina said he wasn’t putting up with anything; she was a human and these were her feelings. In her interview, Gina questioned whether Heather was really her friend.

Back in the OC, the gym was over with, but Tamra said she and Eddie had a successful THC product business. She told Eddie about Ryan saying he wanted to f*** her, and Eddie said, Ryan’s friends told him that he likes to prey on married women. Tamra said he’d cheated on Jenn already, and in Tamra’s interview, she said it reminded her of Vicki and Brooks. I didn’t see that, but it gave a good reason to flash back to those two morons.

Annabelle had her first modeling job, and Emily was concerned about getting to the point where Annabelle would say, have Emily’s people call her people. As a mom she felt it was her job to make sure her kids were happy and able to pursue their dreams. Sounds reasonable. She should probably escape now. Jenn told Ryan about what Tamra had said, as a Golden Retriever with a sad expression watched. Jenn said she, Tamra, and a different Heather, not Fancy Pants, had been friends. Heather stirred the pot, spreading rumors about Ryan, Jenn started to question Ryan, and they all parted ways. Ryan was all deny, deny, deny, and in Jenn’s interview, she said, if Tamra wanted to talk to her, Tamra needed to come to her and not announce it to the group. Can’t blame her there.

Gina told Travis that she’d thought it would be a nice getaway and relaxing. Seriously? She hasn’t been on one of these girls trips before? In her interview, she said she was mad at Fancy Pants. She had few close friendships, and had let Heather in. She told Travis about how Heather took her phone when she wanted to call him, but didn’t even bother checking in later because she was hanging with Tamra. Gina asked if she shouldn’t talk to him, but Travis said it was his job in the relationship. I was distracted by his beard/moustache combo that looks painted on, and in his interview, he said he was her person, and they were there to help each other. Frankly, I think Gina is taking this way too personally, since Fancy Pants is also Bossy Pants. She just likes to control everything. Do as my father told me. Smile, nod, then do what you want.

Next time, a boat ride; Emily tries to talk sense to Heather; Tamra throws a napkin at Jenn, and screams that Jenn should leave her boyfriend. At a restaurant.

 🦙 Off To Count Llamas…

Come see me for a dose of soap and tea tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay not worrying about tomorrow’s problems today, and stay leaning into possibility. (Hey, just because Sasha’s high doesn’t mean she can’t have a good idea.)

June 5, 2023 – Mason Gives Ava a Task, Awful Summer People Conclude Their Reunion, Disco Queens On Deck & Break Free

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase and Brook share an ice cream cone as they dip their feet in the pool I want for my living room, especially with those glow balls floating in it. He says, it’s delicious, and she asks what flavor it is. He says he couldn’t care less, and kisses her.

Dex tells Josslyn that she’s special. Once in a lifetime. The thought of losing her scares him because he’s in love with her. Now it’s his turn to ask; is this too much for her? She kisses him and helps him take off his shirt. My bad. I could have sworn she said she loved him too, but maybe I just automatically filled that in, in my head. They get busy and there’s a song part.

Trina tells Spencer, finally Esme will be held accountable for what she did to them, and once she’s charged, he should have no problem getting custody of his baby brother. He says, except last time, Ace went with Esme to Spring Ridge. Who’s to say that won’t happen again? She says, first of all, Pentenville is on a whole other level of what’s appropriate for a baby. Second, Ace isn’t fresh out of the hospital this time around. He’s settled into Laura’s place, and Diane could argue it’s best not to disrupt his life. Spencer says, she’d be right, and Trina says, she never thought she’d be grateful to his Uncle Victor. He really came through for Spencer, and uncovered evidence that the PCPD missed. She asks what they’re waiting for, and starts scooping everything up, but he says, she can’t do that.

Ava tells Mason that he’s too late. Any connections she had with the Jerome family business died twice. Once with her father, and again with her brother Julian. Mason says, they were impressed by her pedigree. The fact that she’s a Jerome did get their attention. She tells him to take his request down Route 31 to Pentenville, and give his request to her sister Olivia, but he says, alas, Olivia Jerome can’t help him. Austin tells Ava that Mason gets off playing mind games with people because he’s never really figured out what to do with his life. He, on the other hand, has some appointments coming up, so can they move this along? Just tell them what it is he wants. Mason says, when he referred to Ava’s family, he’s not talking about the Jeromes or even the Cassadines, what’s left of them. He’s talking about the father of Ava’s daughter. The biggest value she holds for them is her connection to Sonny Corinthos. I give up trying to figure out what the hell these people do, since it seems to shift every time Mason comes on the scene.

Jordan orders a margarita on the rocks, no salt, at the pool bar, because we are going to work that pool into every scene possible. She takes her old wedding ring out of her bag, and flashes back to telling Curtis that she hopes he and Portia are happy, together or apart, but she has to truly let go. Two years was too long to put her life on hold. She can’t wait a minute more.

Thank God.  The moss bowl🎍is safe. Carly tells Michael, the fact that this footage exists is dangerous to his father. Has he shown this to anyone else? He says, Willow’s seen it, and she says, Willow knows he’s working against his father? He says he only showed it to her recently, and Carly asks what she said. He says, Willow asked him to get rid of the footage, and Carly says, she’s right. He has to destroy this flashdrive.

Brook asks why Chase is looking at her like that, and he says, it’s the only way he knows how to look at her. Does she want him to stop? She says, don’t you dare. She asks how things are in detective land, and he says, they caught the guy that was robbing all the shops on Charles Street. She says, that must’ve felt good, and he says, it did. He’s going to get another beer. Does she want anything? She says, everything she wants is right here, and they kiss. Tracy says, how sweet. Will Chase run and get her a Singapore Sling?

Portia asks when her next appointment is, and the desk nurse tells her, ten minutes. Portia says she hasn’t run the clinic in so long; she’s not used to this many walk-ins. Zeke walks in, and says, a doctor’s work is never done, in an English accent. She hugs him, then punches his arm. He asks if that’s any way to great her little brother, and she asks what he’s doing in Port Charles. Why didn’t he tell her that he was coming?

Trina asks why Spencer doesn’t want to go to the PCPD, but he says he’ll go. She doesn’t have to be involved. She says, that’s a joke, right? Not only was she Esme’s original target, she was here when he opened this thing. She’s in it. He says, but the police don’t have to know that. He’ll take care of this. She says, he’s acting shady, but he says he’s not. She asks why he’d shut her out on this, of all things? and he says, because if the police ask where the evidence came from, she’ll tell them the truth.

Josslyn asks if Dex meant it, and he says, that he’s in love with her? Yes. She says, he probably noticed that she didn’t say it back, and he says he doesn’t care… Obviously, he cares, but he didn’t tell her because he needed a response. He told her because he wanted her to know how he feels. She doesn’t have to say anything. She says she knows, but she wants to.

Carly tells Michael, the only way to make sure this footage isn’t used against Sonny is to make sure it doesn’t exist, but he says, this footage is a way for her to stay out of prison without her having to testify against dad. She says, that’s just semantics. She won’t have to turn against his father in public, but he’ll be behind bars because of her. And what about Josslyn? Dex works for Sonny. Any government investigation will put Dex in prison right next to him. Michael asks if she’d have an issue with that, but she says, Josslyn would have an issue with that. If Dex goes to prison, Josslyn is going to be devastated. She knows they’re butting heads right now, but she can’t believe he wants that for his sister. He says, Dex would come out of it okay, and she asks how he can say that. Michael says, he just would, and she asks, what’s going on? What does he know that she doesn’t know?

Tracy says she’s surprised to see Brook here, and Brook asks, why? Tracy asks, where’s her drink? and Chase says, it’s coming right up. He asks if Brook would like anything, and Brook says, just for him to come right back. Tracy asks, what the hell is Brook doing?

Chase says hi to Jordan, and she asks if he’s enjoying his afternoon off. He says, yes, and her? She says, yeah, and he asks the bartender for another El Rey Sol and a Singapore Sling. He asks if Jordan is sure she’s okay.

Tracy asks, how Brook can be her eyes and ears at Deception if she’s here sunning herself by the pool? Brook says, A, it’s after 5, and B, hasn’t she heard of summer? Tracy says, oh, her bosses cut back on office hours in the summertime, but Brook says, they give leeway. Maxie, Sasha, and Lucy care that their employees are happy. Tracy asks, what kind of business plan is that? and Brook says, that’s enough. Why is Tracy so interested in Deception?

Trina says, obviously she’d tell the police the truth. Is Spencer saying he wouldn’t? He says he thinks they should downplay where the evidence came from, and she asks what he’s going to say. He says he doesn’t know, which is exactly why they can’t go to the cops right now. He needs time to think. The police are going to be suspicious of anything that comes from Victor Cassadine, including and especially evidence they failed to uncover during the investigation. She says, they’re going to be a little embarrassed, but that’s no reason to lie about it, and he scoops up the papers, saying, he doesn’t want to talk about this right now. She asks, what’s wrong with him? but he says, nothing. She says, obviously, he knows something she doesn’t, but he says, the only thing he knows is, involving his uncle in this is going to complicate things significantly. They’re going to hold this evidence under a microscope. She asks if they won’t do that anyway, and he says, what happens if Esme’s lawyer decides to use Victor’s crimes to discredit this evidence, or get it thrown out entirely? She’s going to walk. They get one shot at this. If she’s found not guilty, they can’t try her again for the same crime. She says she doesn’t buy a word he’s saying. Tell her what he’s keeping from her, or she’s out.

Josslyn tells Dex that she’s not hesitating because she’s unsure about how she feels about him. Just telling someone she loves them makes her nervous. She’s only said that twice, and really meant it both times, but neither love lasted. With Cam, they just outgrew each other, and with Oscar, who knows? They probably would have too. He says, she wasn’t given the chance to find out, and she says, they both knew he was dying when they said I love you. He says, that was incredibly brave to open her heart like that, knowing there was no future for them, and she says she doesn’t regret it. What she had with Oscar was really special. Sorry. Is it weird she’s talking about that? He says, no. he wants her to feel like she can tell him anything. I notice he’s wearing his dog tags, and wonder if those don’t get in the way when… never mind. She says she wants to, and knows she shouldn’t let her past come between them, but he says, that’s not how he sees it. They’re both who they are because of their experiences. He’s grateful for her past. He’s grateful for her.

Carly tells Michael, Josslyn said Dex had a plan; that he wasn’t going to be working for Sonny forever. She just thought it was wishful thinking, but Josslyn was adamant that Dex didn’t want to be part of the business. Now here Michael is with footage of Sonny trafficking illegal weapons, and shockingly, it won’t implicate Dex. The night Dex was shot, he was found on the Quartermaine grounds. Dex was there to see Michael. Dex is working for him.

Ava says, Mason is crazy if he thinks she knows anything about Sonny’s business, but Mason says, she’s in a good position to find out. They co-parent their daughter Avery successfully, and she’s on good terms with Sonny’s fiancé Nina Reeves. She says, this is how that would go. Hey, Sonny, how’s your business? What’s it to you, Ava? Butt out. Austin says, Mason is essentially asking Ava to hang a target on her own back, but Mason says, they’re only asking her to maintain a rapport with her bestie and baby daddy. The information will come. Ava says, somehow, she doesn’t think that would be the end of it, and Mason says, she’s right. There’s a small task they need now, but she’ll be perfectly placed to receive her marching orders. (I don’t think that means what he thinks it means.) She says she doesn’t take orders. Not from him. Not from anybody. Mason says, there’s a lot of dangerous anybodys in the world, but she says she hasn’t seen anything to back up his threats, so how does she know this great and powerful Oz isn’t some hillbilly behind a curtain? He says, she doesn’t know, but Austin knows. Ava says she’s had enough, and gets up, but Austin says, please. She needs to hear Mason out.

Zeke says he got tired of hearing Portia tell him everything was fine, so he decided to come see for himself. She says she’s sorry she wasn’t more forthcoming, but she didn’t want to face him, and for him to see the mess she made of her life. He says, because she’s a fool. On what planet does she think he’d judge her? She’s his sister; he loves her. She says, no matter what? and he says, no matter what. Unless she switched from being a 49ers fan to a Bill’s fan; then all bets are off. She says she actually roots for the Patriots now, and he says, bye. She says she’s kidding, and he says, she’d better be. She thanks him for coming all this way, and for teasing her; for making her feel normal again. He asks how things are with Trina, and she says, she guesses they’re improving. Slowly, but surely. She’s determined to give Trina space, even though the distance is killing her. The whole thing with Spencer, and getting caught up in that mess with the Cassadines… She’s never been so terrified in her life. He says, that Spencer kid was trouble when he met him at the reception, and she says, he’s a real vibe, right? Zeke says, that’s one way of putting it, and Portia says, Spencer has caused Trina nothing but pain. He says he doesn’t get why Trina is with him, and she says, it’s her fault. Not fully, but the rift between her and Trina certainly didn’t help. He says, as in, it made her turn to Spencer? and Portia says, and made her cling to him even tighter. But now… He asks what she’s planning, and she says, Zeke’s here and Trina’s here. Maybe he can talk some sense into her.

Trina says, Spencer promised he’d never lie to her again, and he says he hasn’t. She says, he’s keeping something from her, and she wants nothing to do with that in their relationship. Let her lay it out for him. Tell her the truth right now, or she’s gone. She’s not playing with him. He says, his uncle may have falsified this evidence. In fact, he’d be shocked if his uncle didn’t falsify it. She asks why he’d think that, and he says, because a few months ago, he asked Victor for help in getting custody of Ace, and he implied he was going to kill Esme. He said, no, because he wants Esme out of Ace’s life, not dead. That’s insane. So what Victor suggested, or rather said, was that he was going to find new evidence. She says, so this new evidence is definitely fake, and he says, most definitely. Which is why he needs to be the one who brings it in. She says, he’s not bringing this evidence anywhere.

Carly shoves the flashdrive at Michael, and he says, yes. Dex is his mole in Sonny’s organization. She asks, how long? and he says, from the beginning. He planted Dex. She says, so Dex is only working for Sonny… He says, to gather evidence against him. Dex isn’t a criminal; he’s ex-military. He hired Dex from a private security company. She asks if Josslyn knows, and he says, not at first. When they first met, Josslyn thought he was one of Sonny’s guys. He told Dex to stay away from her. Carly says, he’s a great listener. Michael knows his sister; she’s not going to give up on something. He says, at some point, without consulting him, Dex told Josslyn the truth, and she asks if Josslyn knows about the footage. He says, yeah. That’s what they were arguing about at the hospital. Josslyn helped him realize that the footage will give Carly the best deal with the Feds. She says, no, but he says, it’s the best way of keeping her out of prison. She says, listen to her. She will not sacrifice his father to save herself. He says, then do it to save her family.

Jordan tells Chase she’s fine; just decompressing. He says, so was he, until Brook’s grandmother showed up.

Brook says, Tracy never did tell her why she wants her working at Deception, but Tracy says she did. She wants information on the patent for The Deceptor, and everything else Brook knows about the new product line coming out. Brook says, there’s a new product line? and Tracy says, she’s utterly useless.

Spencer tells Trina, they know Esme is guilty. She filmed that video of Joss and Cam, she framed Trina, she nearly killed that Oz guy. Does it really matter how she’s brought to justice? Trina says, let her think about it… Yes. He says, if she really feels that way, then go, and forget about everything she saw here. He’ll be the one to take this on.

Ava says, they have no idea the strides she and Sonny have made in order to co-parent their daughter successfully. She’s not going to blow that for whatever grand ambitions Austin’s cousin and his puppet master have in mind. Mason tells Austin to get Ava under control, and Ava is like, hey, but Austin says, just take a minute. He just needs her to hear Mason out. She says, Austin just said it himself; crossing Sonny could put her at risk. He says, she’s more at risk if she doesn’t do what they’re asking. He’s just trying to help her out. She has to trust him on this one. He’s looking out for her. Ava says, Mason claimed he had something they both need to do, but so far, it looks like it’s only her, and Mason says, Austin’s job is to keep her on task. She says, lucky him. Even if she were to agree, Mason has no idea of the history between her and Sonny. He says, they know all about it. It’s a tall order, he knows, but they have faith in her. Start by cultivating a greater role in his life. Ava says, to what end? and Mason says, let’s just take it step by step, shall we? Get him to confide in her. She says, he won’t, and Mason says, then make him. Bring back anything she hears about his association with a company named Pikeman.

Josslyn and Dex get dressed, and she says she did offer to leave town with him. He says he remembers. The fact she was willing to do that… She says she still would, if it was their only option, but he says, they talked about this. He doesn’t want her to have to leave her family, friends, and career. She says she doesn’t want that either, but she would if it meant being with him, and he says, they’ve been through a lot together. She says, more than most couples in their entire life, and we go down Dex and Josslyn Memory Lane. She says she doesn’t want anything to come between them, not the Feds and not her own fears. She loves him.

Ava asks, what kind of business is that? but Mason says, no more questions. If she needs to know more, he’ll tell her. Just keep her ears  open. Anything she hears, report to Austin, and Austin will report to him. He knows Austin will keep her on task for both their sakes. He knows she thinks he’s like an ignorant hayseed, but remember he knows a lot of things other people don’t, like where Nikolas Cassadine really is. And Nikolas’s mother, the PCPD, and his son would be very interested to hear from him. Ava says, he’s made his point, and he says he doesn’t want to overstay his welcome. One more thing. Throw in the moss bowl🎍. If either of them is thinking of doling out the same fate that befell Ava’s husband, he’s not the one in charge. As Austin knows, they disappear him, they’ll end up with much more heat than they could ever handle. He leaves, and Austin shuts the door.

Zeke says he’ll help Portia with Trina any way he can, and she thanks him, saying, they can talk about it when they get home. He says he’s staying at the MetroCourt, but she says, no. He says, she’s got enough on her plate, and he’s doing some business in Port Charles with no ending, and doesn’t want to overstay his welcome. She says, that’s impossible. He has a client in New York? He says, when he heard where he was located, he got excited and jumped on it. Any excuse to see her and Trina, starting tonight hopefully. Can she join him for dinner? The desk nurse tells Portia that she has a patient waiting in the exam room, and Portia says, thank you. Zeke says he should have known better than to try and surprise a doctor, but she says, how about lunch tomorrow? He says, perfect, and she can tell Trina that he’s in town. She says, he’s playing peacemaker already, and he gives her two thumbs up. She says she’s so grateful, and he says, bottom line, neither she nor Trina will be happy until the relationship gets repaired. She says, it’s so good to have someone on her side, and he says, always. He hugs her, and says he’s got her.

Trina says she can’t just unsee this, but Spencer says, sure she can. She says, just hear her out. She knows how tempting it is to use this evidence… He says, they don’t know for sure the evidence is fake, but she says, this isn’t the way. It’s just wrong, and also illegal. If the cops discover any of this evidence isn’t legit, he’s the one who’s going to go to prison. Then what’s going to happen to Ace? He says, she’s right, and she says, so they’re agreed that they’re going to destroy all this evidence. He says, yes, of course (🍷), and her phone dings. She says she forgot, she has to meet her dad for dinner… Taggert, and he says he knew what she meant. She says she doesn’t think she’s ready to call Curtis dad yet, and he tells her, she said yet. Does that mean maybe someday?

Michael says, Carly is the glue that holds this family together, and the moss bowl🎍is offended. He says, what about Donna? and Carly says, it’s going to kill her to be away from Donna, but she’ll be okay. He says, without her mother? and Carly says, she’ll have Sonny, but he says, they both know that’s not the same thing. Wiley and Amelia need their grandmother. Josslyn needs her. He needs her. She says, he’s not playing fair, and he says, maybe not, but everything he’s saying is true. He holds out the flashdrive, and says, please give this footage to the US Attorney’s office.

Trina says she’s taking things with Curtis one step at a time, and Spencer says he thinks that’s a good plan. She says, her dad is also supportive, and he says he also thinks everything is going to work out. She says she’s starting to believe so too, and he tells her get out of here. He’ll get rid of the evidence and give the key back to the bank. She says she’ll see him later, and he says, definitely. She kisses him, and leaves. He sits down, looking at the evidence.

Ava asks if Austin was just going along with Mason to get him to leave. Does he really think she’d entertain spying on Sonny Corinthos? He says, Mason is a very dangerous guy, but she says she’s dealt with a lot worse than him. Austin says, he’s just the messenger. He’s not the person in charge. She says, clearly, Austin knows who is, and he says he thinks it would be better if they just dealt with Mason. She asks, who is this big, bad boss calling the shots? and he yells, stop! He says he’s sorry. He’s serious. She already knows too much. He leaves.

Spencer puts the stuff back in the box, and says, just in case.

Brook says, Tracy told her that she wants her working at Deception. What Tracy hasn’t told her is why. It’s clearly not because she has an interest in makeup or fashion. Tracy says she’s not dignifying that with a response, and Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s not. Chase comes back with Tracy’s drink, and she says she hopes he’s off duty. He says he is, and Brook says, he actually caught those guys who broke into Logan’s today, and Tracy says, that’s nice. Would he get her some pâté? He says, they actually only serve that in the main dining room, and she says, and? He says, oh, okay, and leaves.

Zeke asks Jordan if the seat next to her is taken, and she says, it’s all his, but for the record, she won’t be good company. He says he’ll take his chances, and sits down, smiling at her.

Dex tells Josslyn that she doesn’t have to say it because he did, and she says she knows, but it’s true. She loves him. he says he loves her too, and they kiss. He says, they’ll figure it out together, and she says, together, kissing him again.

Carly tells Michael, if she takes that flashdrive to the US Attorney, which proves Sonny violated the National Security Act, he’ll go to federal prison for the rest of his life. Then what? What happens to Port Charles? What happens to Sonny’s territory? There is no Jason to step in, and she certainly can’t do it. Is there anyone else in Sonny’s organization who can take over? He says, no, and she says, so it leaves a vacuum, and other players will rush in; the Wu’s and everyone else. And they’re all going to want to prove Sonny’s finished; that he no longer has power, including the power to protect his family. If Sonny goes to prison, they’ll all become targets, especially her, because she knows the most about the business. He says, she’s making a lot of assumptions, and she says, my God. This is exactly what happened two years ago when Sonny disappeared. She and Jason risked their lives to keep the organization together. If they hadn’t, someone else would have taken over and they would have been killed. Every single one of them. With Sonny in prison, they’re all vulnerable and she’s not going to let that happen. He says he doesn’t see it that way. He sees it as her best chance to stay out of prison, to save herself. She says he wants his father to go to prison? She knows he’s disappointed Michael. He’s disappointed her, so badly. Destroying him isn’t going to heal them, and someone will die. He puts the flashdrive on the island, and says, in case she changes her mind. It’s encrypted, so it’s safe. It’s her choice what she wants to do with it, and he’ll respect whatever decision she makes. She says she loves him, and he leaves. She and the moss bowl🎍look at the flashdrive.

Tomorrow, Laura has made a decision about something; Curtis asks Drew if giving up Sonny is an option; Maxie says, it’s is too good to be true; and Tracy tells Brook that something is going to change, and soon.

Summer House – The Reunion – Part Two

Paige says she doesn’t want to speak to Lindsay, who says Paige speaks about her. She’d rather be nuts than boring. Andy asks Amanda if she had a problem with Lindsay and Carl dating, and she says, they have to figure out their own journey. Andy asks where and when they’re getting married, and Carl says, Mexico in November. Andy asks which housemates are invited, and they tell him nothing’s been decided yet, and ask at the end of the night. Lindsay says, they only want people who are supportive, and Carl says he hopes they can find a way to remove the deep rooted anger and hate. He thought today they’d have the chance to finalize the list. Andy says, Kyle and Carl had an unbreakable bond, but this year had them wondering if this house share would be their last. We flash back to their moments of angst, and Andy asks what the current status of their friendship is. Carl says, it’s hard work changing a friendship when you’re changing your lifestyle, and it came to a head. He takes responsibility because he didn’t open up, even though Kyle gave him a lot of opportunity, and it’s super important to him where they are today. Kyle says, Carl’s role in the business was shifting to  being events and marketing driven as opposed to VP of sales. Last year, he felt kind of taken advantage of. Andy asks why he blamed Lindsay, and Kyle says, it was one thing after another when Carl and Lindsay’s relationship was hitting its stride, and Carl says he understands how Kyle could see it that way, but he made his own decisions. Amanda say she tried to explain to Kyle that he was only hearing one side, and not knowing what the other side was doing. Carl says, he was frustrated, giving advice only on what he knew, and Lindsay says she told Carl that he had to talk to Kyle, and not quit, blindsiding his best friend. Kyle says he apologizes for pinning it on her. He was trying to simplify something complicated. Andy says Kyle vented his frustration to an audience that didn’t include Carl, and we flash back to that dinner where Kyle was ranting about Carl. Andy asks how Carl felt, and Carl admits he showed up coked up at the job, but wishes he’d had the opportunity to say it himself, not Kyle. He’s ashamed and embarrassed by his past, and hoped to repay it with hard work. It hurt to have his addiction brought up publicly. Kyle says he felt like the dirtiest guy in the world the second it came out of his mouth. He’s ashamed and embarrassed. He doesn’t think he realized the extent Carl was struggling early on. It was him at his worst. Carl says, he’s best friend didn’t grasp what he went through, and Andy suggests they hug it out, and they do. Carl says, he doesn’t need a reminder, and Kyle says he’s sorry for bringing up. Carl says he’s sorry Kyle’s seen him at his worst. Andy asks how Carl felt seeing Danielle go to bat for him. Carl says he texted her. She’s fierce and loyal, and has always been like that. Kyle says he didn’t realize how out of line he was until then, and at this point, everyone needs a tissue. I don’t because I still think they’re immature brats and everyone is too old for this. Kyle says he didn’t realize how much Carl did to change course; he’s a new . Andy say, the shame addicts carry is exponentially greater than the anger the person they’ve hurt has for them, and Carl says he understands saying things you regret. During the Season One interviews, he was all over the place. He was showing up drunk during the week. Then he spoke to his brother about his heroin addiction when it wasn’t his place, and it hurt their relationship. He harbored anger because he didn’t realize he had his own issues. They hadn’t spoken again, and his brother passed away, so there was no chance to tell him that he’s not harboring anger and hate toward him. Kyle says, Carl has been through so much, and there are more tears. Kyle says he loves Carl. Never change.

They take a break everyone dashes to the bathroom. Sam visits with Kory in the dressing room, and Lindsay asks if Carl is uncomfortable, but he says he’s not. He wants to have a fun summer at the house before they get married. Lindsay says she’s going to ignore the barking of immature and ridiculous people. The only ones who matter are the ones they’ve had relationships with for years; her, him, Kyle, Amanda, and Danielle. She wants to focus on those. I’m confused. Amanda tells Kyle that she wonders when they can move on from the stuff with Lindsay, and he says his usual strategy is to fall on his sword, and forgive and forget. He suggests they get off their chests what they need to. It’s the only way the group has a chance of rebuilding. They reconvene, and a producer snatches a drink from Kory. Andy says, they watched Sam work through her roster until her dream guy walked in… and ignored her. He asks if she was starting to think that guy didn’t exist, but Sam says she held out hope to find someone crazier than her. A viewer brings up Kory’s concern about long distance relationships, and asks if he didn’t have a similar worry with Jess. Why did he think it would work with Sam? He says, she’s not Jess. He actually likes Sam. Andy asks if it’s strange, watching the show back and seeing Ciara was interested in him. Would knowing that have changed anything? We flash back to Ciara saying she’d do Kory, but I already know he’s smart enough to answer, no, regardless of how he feels. Kory says, they were flirty, but he didn’t read into it. It’s flattering, but he doesn’t think it would change anything. Andy says, a viewer mentions that Sam said Kory seemed like the kind of guy who would stop texting when she caught feelings for him. When did she realize she was wrong? Sam says, she asked him to send her some photos from the summer, but he said he needed an excuse to talk to her every day. To this day, she’s getting one photo a day. Aww! I kind of like them, but if they hang around long enough, they might turn awful. Andy says, Paige and Craig were going strong, but when Craig brought up the next steps in their relationship, Paige’s reaction made Craig wonder if she was stepping back. We flash back to that, and Andy says, Paige burst into tears when she thought they’d be engaged in six months. Paige says, people don’t talk about how scary it is getting older and growing up. She’s only lived in New York, and thinking of being a plane ride away from her family when she’s starting her own is scary. Andy says, Suzanna from Melbourne wants to know why the only choice is Paige moving to Charleston. Why doesn’t Craig move to New York? Paige says she doesn’t think Craig would be happy long term in New York, and she doesn’t want to put that on him. She also felt when she had a family, she’d move to the suburbs when the time was right. Andy says, we watched Mya and Olivier’s meet cute, but something seemed off this summer. We flash back to her confronting him, and Andy asks when their status changed, and Mya says, when you know, you know, and she knew. He wasn’t honest, and even when it came to light, she didn’t know the extent of it. She found out he’d had 11 women Everyone’s head explodes.

Andy asks if Danielle is still friends with Oliver, but she says she curses the day he was born. Andy wants to get into Danielle and Robert’s break-up, announced this fall. He asks if she felt like they were starting to grow apart this summer, but Danielle says she thinks their relationship was normal. She wanted them to spend more time together, but that was nothing new, and we flash back to her saying that. Andy says, it was okay until it wasn’t, and Danielle says, she wanted to work on it, but Robert wanted to continue going to Aspen, and not work on it. Andy says, Lindsay was best friends with Danielle almost the entire time, and asks if she was surprised or did she see red flags? Lindsay says, yes and no. She was surprised, and thought they’d work through the conflict, but it’s hard dating a chef. Andy asks if Danielle feels like she was projecting her own relationship issue on Lindsay and Carl, but she says she’d never do that. It had nothing to do with not wanting her best friend to have a happy and successful relationship. Andy asks what Lindsay believes, and Lindsay says she was doing a deep dive to figure out the root issue, and thinks projection was part of it. But she thinks a lot had to do with Danielle being scared of losing a friend. Kyle says, it had nothing to do with Robert. He’d had some business with Robert, and asked how they were last summer. Robert said they’d been fine, other than the usual speedbumps any couple had. It had nothing to do with Carl and Lindsay’s relationship. Carl says, Robert said something similar to him when he reached out to him. Danielle wonders why he didn’t reach out to her, and he says he felt bad that he didn’t. Danielle says, Lindsay didn’t reach out either, but Lindsay says, she thought because Danielle went to Aspen, they were working it out. She wasn’t sure what was going on. Danielle says, nor did she care. Everyone else reached out. Carl says, it was a tough spot. He’s sorry; he wasn’t sure what to do. Lindsay says, Danielle could have told her that she needed her, and Danielle says she realized their friendship was incredibly one-sided.

Andy says, the biggest relationship shocker was the tres amigos. Danielle and Lindsay had a bond more like sisters, and there was a status change in a way no one saw coming. Andy asks when things changed, and Danielle says, when she told Paige that she thought they might be moving too fast. We flash back to that, and Paige relaying it to Lindsay. Danielle says she felt they were expediting being together, but  it would be usual to figure out your career and finances first, along with Carl’s sobriety at the forefront. Andy says, those seem like concerns any best friend would have. Why not talk them out? Lindsay, says, that’s clear now, but it wasn’t during the summer. Danielle says, all Lindsay heard was her being critical, and discarded her, and Andy asks what the real problem was; that Danielle said it or that Lindsay got the information from Paige, since she doesn’t like Paige. Danielle tells Paige, she was messy as hell, and don’t throw her under the bus again. Lindsay says she would have been upset had she heard it from anybody else, but Danielle doesn’t think she would have had the same reaction with anyone else. Paige says, Danielle wasn’t allowed to be friends with them, but she did anyway. Since he likes beating a dead horse, Andy says, Danielle was upset about Lindsay moving too fast. Why not just take it as a friend’s concern? and Lindsay says, Danielle moved in with her boyfriend after two months of knowing him. She thought it was hypocritical. She’s known Carl for seven years, and they’ve been through so much. Danielle says she’s been through everything with them, and Mya says she thinks it was about not hearing it from Danielle directly. Andy wonders if Lindsay was just upset that Danielle wasn’t playing the supportive role, and Ciara says, Lindsay lost her little soldier. Lindsay says, it wasn’t a role; it was a best friendship, and Andy asks if Carl understands why Danielle was upset to be left out of the engagement. He’d told Kyle and Chris. All the guys knew. It seems huge that Danielle was the one person not told. Carl says he wasn’t out to hurt Danielle or leave her out. Lindsay says, he didn’t tell any of the girls in the house. He told Danielle that he’d been ring shopping, and she screamed into a pillow. We flash back to that, and Carl tells Danielle that she didn’t say she’d love to help him, and Danielle says she never knew he was planning an engagement. He’s just proving her point. She has no disdain, but she’s just frustrated. She always had the best intentions, and she doesn’t want them to think she doesn’t want them to be happy. Carl apologizes for not including her, but he did what he thought was best to surprise Lindsay. Plenty of people get engaged, and their best girlfriends have no idea it’s coming. Danielle asks if she’s five, and Lindsay says, she acted like it. Carl says, he was in the hospital two days before, and Danielle says, he doesn’t give a sh*t about her. He says he feels bad, but he did it for him and Lindsay.

Carl says he didn’t think it all through, and Andy asks if he understands Danielle spinning at the engagement party. Given all the years of friendship, can they understand why she was upset? They say, no, and Andy asks if there’s anything Danielle would change about that night, and she says, her outfit, the amount she was drinking, and the amount of people she talked to. We flash back to Danielle telling anyone who would listen that she just learned about this an hour ago, and Danielle says, it’s a real reaction; it wasn’t malicious. She was beside herself and hurt. She would have loved to organize a lot of it, or be involved in any way. In a million years, she wouldn’t have tried to make the party about her. If that’s how Lindsay feels… Lindsay says, that’s what happened, and Danielle says she’s super apologetic. She never wants Lindsay to think she was unsupportive. She only wants Lindsay’s happiness. Andy asks if Lindsay accepts the apology, and Lindsay says she does. She understands why Danielle was feeling hurt. She’d also want be part of a best friend’s milestone. Andy asks if they can put a period on this, and Lindsay says, sure, but things are never put to rest in Bravoland. Andy says, watching back their final conversation – we flash back to that – does Danielle regret what she said, and Danielle says, no. He asks if Lindsay regrets anything, but she says, no. That’s how she felt in the moment. Danielle tells her that she said they’d never been friends. Kyle says, Lindsay was the coldest, most emotionless person he’s ever seen, and she dopped Danielle like a mic drop. I agree. Lindsay was literally creepy. Lindsay says, it wasn’t cut and dried, and Kyle tells her, all Danielle said was she thought they were rushing things. Lindsay says, he has no intention of seeing her perspective, and Kyle asks if what Danielle did was so bad. Lindsay says she was hurt by the things she heard that Danielle said the entire summer. Kyle says, she was so cold, it was hard to watch, but Lindsay says she has no regrets. Danielle was making it about her. Andy says, Danielle apologized, and Lindsay said she understood. Ciara says, Lindsay’s not trying to see or hear Danielle, and Danielle is her best friend. Lindsay says, like Ciara cares.

Andy asks if Lindsay thinks Danielle has bad intentions for her and Carl, but Lindsay says, no. He asks if she thinks Danielle isn’t supportive, and she says she doesn’t know how to answer. Andy is surprised after all Danielle said, and Carl says he thinks Danielle supports them. Lindsay says she’s trying to figure out the deep rooted issue, and Mya says, Danielle is struggling to figure out how she feels about them as a couple and separately. Andy suggests that led to them to not communicate, and they were hearing other people and playing telephone. That it was people Lindsay doesn’t like made it seem more conspiratorial, but Danielle wasn’t gathering her enemies; she had genuine concerns. It wasn’t as dire and crazy as it seemed. Carl says, him excluding Danielle from the engagement hurt her in a way he didn’t expect. She spiraled and somewhat ruined it, but he knows it was never intended that way. It snowballed through things beyond two women who loved and cared about each other for a long time. He thinks the reason they’re fighting so hard is because they care about each other, and have for so long. Lindsay agrees, and Danielle says, the issue has never been about Carl and Lindsay as a couple. She had an opinion, but she’ll always support them and want their happiness. She wants this friendship to go back or start something new. She cries, and tells Lindsay that she can’t say she doesn’t miss her. Lindsay says, they got off track. There’s a special reason they formed a bond, and she’s hopeful they can find a version of that after this.

Andy says, Kyle is the ringleader, and I envision him in a top hat at the circus. Andy asks if he sees a path forward, and feels good about next summer. Kyle says he’s positive. You don’t just throw all that away. No one has to be best friends. Andy wants to wrap things up with shots; water for Carl. The shots are brought out in tiny boots with tiny cowboy hats on top, and Andy suggests Kyle lead them in a toast. Danielle is worried they’ll be here all night, and Kyle says, through thick and thin, this crew figures out how to have a good time and spend it together. Which really isn’t a toast, but they clink boots. Andy says, summer should be fun, and Lindsay says, summer can be fun.

Later that night. We see a text to Andy from Carl, along with a photo of Carl, Lindsay, Danielle, and Gabby: Wanted to share the live update. Got Lindsay and Danielle at dinner! Will keep helping things along. What a day. Thanks again for your guidance and support. Appreciate all that you do!

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

We flash back over Daisy and Gary and Colin over the years. Mostly Gary, since Colin had a girlfriend. It ends with Daisy and Colin in bed.

Igy Marina. Mads and Gary are behind closed doors, but we hear things I’ll never unhear. In Colin’s interview, he says he and Daisy have always been flirty, but he had a girlfriend, so nothing was acted on or thought about. In some ways, it was just a matter of time, but he’s surprised. He’s picking up what she’s putting down.

28 hours to charter. Lucy says, her head’s banging, and poor Chase cleans up. Ugh. Mads returns to the guest cabin Gary says he’s glad she came back to the room, but she says she’s only here because Colin is in her cabin with Daisy. Later, Gary tells Colin, rumor on the street is, he hooked up with Daisy. In Gary’s interview, he says he didn’t see that coming. Mom and dad? Gary thanks Alex for interrupting him and Mads; it was a d*ck move. They both laugh, so I guess it’s all good. In Daisy’s interview, she says, the minute she and Colin met, she thought he’s hot, but she’s never known him being single. It was a good kiss. The producer says, give us more than that, and Daisy says, obviously there’s sexual energy there. Lucy looks messy, and when Chase tries to talk to her, she says, her head hurts and that’s all she knows. In Lucy’s interview, she says, be real, and we flash back to last night’s dinner when she abruptly got up after he made lewd suggestions. She says, Chase can’t just talk to her after that. He’s a wanker. Mads tells Lucy that she had sex with Gary, and surprisingly, Lucy doesn’t ask, why? In Glenn’s interview, he says, there’s still a lot of stuff to keep an eye on with the engine. The gaskets are a problem, but they have new insolation that’s not full of oil. Gary and Colin work on the engine, and Colin asks if Gary likes Daisy. Gary says he thought he did, but he’s happy Colin and Daisy hooked up. Colin asks if he’s upset. He gets the feeling Gary liked her. Gary says he thought there was chemistry, but he guesses not, and in Colin’s interview, he says, Gary is telling him one thing, but his face is saying another. Still, he hopes they’re good enough friends that Gary would tell him. Gary says, go for it, and Glenn calls Gary, Daisy, and Ileisha for the preference sheet meeting. I hate how they use the term hook up for a lot of different things. Like, did they have sex or did they just make out? Or did they go fishing together? Who knows?

Glenn says, it’s four lovely ladies. Primary Jill is fun loving and celebrating her recent retirement with her best girlfriends. They want to be treated like royalty, with fruity drinks in hand at all times. It’s an overnight, and they want a 70s disco theme party at night, then the next day, a trip to the beach for games and food. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, only four. Is she on vacation? Daisy orders disco balls, and other 70s paraphernalia. She tells Gary that it was rough waking up, and asks what he thinks of her and Colin kissing. He says he thinks it’s nice; they definitely have chemistry. She says she’s asking because they’ve kissed and they’re friends. Gary says, maybe there’s a little jealousy, but he hooks up with Mads. She asks why he’s jealous, and he says he thought they had something, but where was it going to go? He talked to Colin about it. Daisy says, he can’t tell her that he has feelings for her? and he says, maybe he’s a coward. In Daisy’s interview, she asks what warped zone she’s in. Gary has feelings for her now that he’s seen her with someone else. She thinks he’s upset at not having her being his backup. It’s f***ing annoying.

Gary tells Daisy that he couldn’t pursue anything. He thought he had no chance, and she told him to stay away from her. Daisy says, he’s in a relationship with her roommate. Does he want to compare them, and see who he has more chemistry with? They’re three weeks into the season, and he’s been hooking up with Mads for three weeks. Chase asks if this is private, but Gary says, no, and jets. In Gary’s interview, he says he thinks there the sexual tension will always be there until he and Daisy have sex… again… He’s joking. Now she’s hooking up with Colin. The boat is prepped, and Daisy asks if Colin regrets kissing her, but he says, not at all. She says she’s not someone who hooks up, and he asks where they go from here. She says she’s not thinking too much about it, and Colin says, keep it professional. No PDA in front of the crew. On the bridge, Glenn is on the phone, telling someone that he had a dream a donkey was trying to kill him. It kept kicking him. It was freaking scary. In the morning, provisions come in, and Colin finishes the insulation.

The guests arrive, and Glenn welcomes them. He says, they’ll get their luggage on, and get out quick. Daisy gets ready to give them the tour, and they ask if they can have something other than champagne. I spaced out and missed what it was, but it’s something made in a blender. A daiquiri maybe? One of the guests remarks that it’s a handsome crew. Chase tells them that he heard their from the Carolinas, and he’s from South Carolina. In Chase’s interview, he says he knows what these women want; manners, and a little taste of home. Daisy asks Lucy to make the drinks, and in Lucy’s interview, she says, her method of handling stress is to moan then finally do the job. She crams too much into the blender at once, and it won’t spin.

During the commercial break, I see Sandoval blubbering. No sympathy whatsoever.

Guest Erica says, there are some good looking people here, and Ileisha makes canapés. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, these ladies are classy, and will appreciate something Southern. She’s catering to their flavors, but putting her twist on it. Glenn puts the sails up, and the pirate movie music starts. Glenn tells Colin that they’re almost going as fast as the engine. Colin tells Daisy that Gary’s birthday is tomorrow, and they plan something for before they go out. Alex comes to the cabin while they’re talking, and Daisy says, nothing to see here. He tells them, just don’t touch his sh*t. The wind is dying, so the sails come down, and they anchor. The guests invite Glenn to dinner, and Daisy brings out all the 70s stuff. In Glenn’s interview, he says he had a lot of fun in the 70s, sneaking into discos. The 70s were great. He had a big afro. We see his picture, and wow, he sure did. He says, streaking was big. Groovy, baby. Guest Lorrie tells Daisy that she took off her diamond necklace and earrings, and they’re gone. She asks if they have a video of who might have come into the room, but Daisy says she promises no one took them. She goes to check with the stews, and mumbles, now they’re accused of stealing. She asks if Mads moved anything in the cabin, but Mads says, no. Erica says, she told Pat not to leave stuff out. She’s shaking. Daisy asks Lucy if she moved anything, but she also says, no. Daisy tells Glenn that a guest misplaced her diamond earrings and necklace, and is concerned someone took them. Glenn laughs, and says, he’s never dealt with a theft on a superyacht. Daisy tells the stews, whoever does the turndowns, check the covers. She tells Lorrie not to worry. In Glenn’s interview, he says, you’d have to be an idiot to steal on a boat. It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t even like most of these people that much but I don’t believe for a second that they’d steal a guest’s jewelry. Not to mention, Glenn is right. Where you gonna go with that?

They guests come to dinner in their 70s finery, and Alex says, disco queens! Even Glenn gets dressed up, and they take photos. Daisy tells the guests that Mads is having a good look in Lorrie’s room, and Alex checks the bunny pad. Mads says, literally the only thing she hasn’t gone through is Lorrie’s stuff. She goes through Lorrie’s purse, and says, she’d steal money if she was going to steal. She finds the jewelry, and shows Daisy, who shows Lorrie. Lorrie is thankful, but in Glenn’s interview, he says, she should at least apologize to the crew. Instead, Lorrie toasts to the crew. However, she doesn’t add, for finding the jewelry that she stupidly misplaced and blamed them for stealing. Glenn passes Lucy at the downstairs bar, and jokingly thanks her for giving it back. The crew puts on their disco outfits, and they dance with the guests. In his interview, Glenn says he thinks these ladies were a bit wild in the 70s. He tells Ileisha that the dinner was delicious and came fast, and in her interview, she says she’s reeling the captain in. Mads goes to bed, and Gary knocks at the cabin. In Gary’s interview, he says, a goodnight would be nice. That’s just blatantly rude. The guests go to the hot tub; two in, two hanging out by the side. They suggest Gary get in with them, and Gary tells Chase that the guests want male company. In Chase’s interview, he says he knows this type of lady, and he’ll take one for the team. It’s f***ed up that this is the only female attention he’s getting.

Chase apologizes to Lucy, saying, when he drinks, he can be full-on and offensive. He wants them to leave as friends, and asks to hug it out. Even though Lucy isn’t a hugger, she gives him a hug. In Chase’s interview, he says he has to take responsibility for his actions, and going forward, be aware of what’s coming out of his big, stupid mouth.

Last day of charter. Daisy and Colin kiss, and Alex and Gary head to the beach to set up. Daisy tells Lucy that she’ll be going with the guests. Alex comes back with the tender, and takes them. They play cornhole and swim, and Gary asks Lucy to tell Mads that he’s pissed she didn’t say goodnight after they had sex. In Alex’s interview, he says he thinks it’s strange that Gary is giving Lucy a message for Mads, but he’s enjoying watching Gary squirm a little.

The guests come back, and Lucy tells Mads what Gary said. Mads says, this is the kind of sh*t that annoys her. In Mads interview, she says, they’re not in love. It was just casual sex, but when she steps back, it seems like Gary needs more attention. It’s annoying. Glenn docks the boat, and the crew lines up for the guests’ departure. Guest Pat cries, and Glenn says, they’re amazing. Jill says, it was so lovely; the service and the food. They’ll have the memories forever. She gives Glenn the tip envelope, the crew waves, and the horn is tooted. Chase says, another one dusted, and the crew dances in a circle. Daisy tells Colin that the toilets aren’t flushing, and in Colin’s interview, he says, this is the sh*ttiest part of being an engineer; it’s hard to diagnose the problem. I’m not sure if the pun is intended. He says, tells the other crew members to watch the bowls, and if anyone is religious, say a prayer. He pressurizes the system, and Gary says, the bowl in the captain’s cabin is bubbling. He thinks arugula just came out. Colin goes in, and says, it stinks, and Gary blames the girls. It can’t be him, since he hasn’t had a solid sh*t in so long. Gary is always sharing information no one wants to know. Colin says he’s sucking it out now, and Gary retches. Colin tells the girls to flush, but nothing’s happening. Colin says, this is his worst nightmare. He’s going to have to break some pipes. Gary gags.

This season, not easiest dock; Glenn says, we’re in France bitches; a feather dance; a thrupple; demanding, rude guests; Daisy’s sister visits and hooks up with a crew member; Glenn tells a guest that if he sees anyone getting angro, they’re off the boat; Colin finds out about Daisy and Gary hooking up, which I can’t believe he didn’t know about; Daisy says, now that she’s with someone else, Gary wants her; and Daisy wants Gary out of her f***ing head.

🪅 Just Another Manic Monday…

Come back tomorrow for more soap, and Part Two of the awful Jersey debacle… I mean, Reunion. Until then, stay safe, stay thinking about the consequences of your actions before you make them, and stay ignoring the barking of immature and ridiculous people.

December 5, 2022 – Sonny Asks If Dex Is Up For More Responsibility, Doctors But No Truffles On Deck & Tale

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dex says he’s trying to do the right thing here, and Josslyn tells him, try being honest instead. He says, she wants honest? and kisses her, when Sonny knocks at the door. Josslyn asks what Sonny is doing here, and Dex tells her to pretend no one’s home. Sonny says he knows Dex is in there; open up. Josslyn asks, what’s Plan B?

Robert is looking at photo of him and Holly, when Olivia comes to his office. She asks if it’s a bad time, but he says he’s not sure what a good time is anymore. She says she’s so sorry about what happened with Holly, and he says he visited the doctor. He says she has a long road ahead of her, but he says she’ll pull through. Olivia says, thank God, but she was actually talking about what went down between the two of them.

At the MetroCourt with Mac and Felicia, Laura asks if Robert’s changed his mind and is going to join them, but Mac says, Robert hasn’t answered his texts. Felicia thinks he needs some time, but Mac says he knows his brother. He’s brooding. Sitting around worrying and waiting to hear about Holly’s injuries. It’s not good for him. Felicia tells Laura, says the other stubborn brother, when Valentin approaches the table, and asks if there’s any news on Holly. Laura says, word has it, she’s holding her own, and Valentin says, good. Hopefully, that continues, and she makes a full and speedy recovery. Felicia says, they appreciate the well-wishes, but Mac gets up and says, whatever happened to Holly has Valentin’s family’s fingerprints all over it. Everyone knows where the Ice Princess is involved, the Cassadines aren’t far behind.

Cody comes out of the hospital elevator, when his phone dings. He looks at a text from Mac: At the MetroCourt. Can we meet? Important. Britt sees Austin at the reception desk, and says, he’s not on the schedule New Year’s Eve; does he have plans? He says, not yet. He and Maxie will probably make reservations somewhere. Why? She sings, I’m throwin’ a birthday party, and Cody hears, and says, sounds like fun. Is he invited?

Michael says he knows Willow wanted to keep it private, but the secrecy is working against her; against them. She says she’s just not ready for people to know about her diagnosis. It’ll change the way people treat her, and she’s afraid Wiley will pick up on it. He says, Wiley is going to pick up on it eventually anyway, but she says she needs to do this in her own time, on her own terms. He says he wants to support her in this, but it’s impossible.

In the home of the beloved moss bowl🎍, Carly says she thought Drew was hitting dead ends in looking for members of the commune where Harmony had Willow. He says, one of his contacts was doing a story about a firefighter in Clairborne County, and found out the subject was a member of the Peace and Love Commune. He realizes there’s no guarantee in getting them to talk, but he likes his odds. She asks, why? and he says, because the firefighter agreed to fly here and meet with him. They’re checking into the MetroCourt tonight.

Britt says she’s sure Cody will be much to busy to attend her birthday celebration; grifting women with shiny inheritances takes time. He says, au contraire. His charm offensive only take half an evening at most. Unless he heiress is as closed off and secretive as she is. She asks Austin not to leave, telling him that Cody was just leaving, and tells Cody that she’ll thank him not to barge into her birthday celebration the way he just barged into her private conversation. Cody says he knows he hasn’t behaved well, and gets why she’s angry with him, but she says, anger implies investment. They went out a few times; they shared a couple of laughs. He says, it was more than that, and she knows it, but she says, what she knows is, there’s no future here. He’s a gambler. He knows how to cut his losses. He says, what if he doesn’t want to? and she says, we don’t always get what we want, do we? He didn’t get Taub’s necklace, so he should know better than anyone.

Mac says, where there’s trouble, there’s Victor, and Valentin asks if Mac has evidence his father is behind Holly stealing the necklace and absconding with it. Mac says he can’t connect Victor directly, but Victor’s been all over town, pulling strings, causing people to make desperate decisions, of which he’s sure Valentin is aware. He doesn’t want to hear Valentin defending his father, considering how he framed Anna for what happened to Lucy. Valentin says he and Anna are very close, and Lucy is his business partner. If Mac has evidence, he’d very much like to hear it. Felicia says, Anna is their good friend too, just as Lucy is their friend, and Mac says he’s trying to remain optimistic about Lucy, but there’s still no sign she survived. Felicia says, they’re still trying to work things out, and Valentin says he’s not trying to defend anybody. Mac would be wise not to assume where his loyalties lie. Mac says, he would be wise, would he? Let him give Valentin a piece of advice. If it takes the rest of his life, Valentin’s father is going down. Just take care not to be too close when it happens. Mac storms off toward the bar.

Olivia says, the last thing she expected to find was Robert staring at pictures of the woman who double-crossed him, and he says, however wrong Holly was, it can’t erase the memories they have together. He wishes he could. She says she knows how very much Holly mattered to him. She just wishes his feelings would have mattered a little more to Holly. He says, Olivia is going to think he’s making excuses for Holly, but in many ways, she got a raw deal. Holly had some hard choices to make. She says, even if he is making excuses for Holly, she’d say that’s very generous. She’s not sure Holly deserves that kind of generosity. He says, despite everything that happened, Holly didn’t deserve what happened, and she says, of course (🍷). Is he going to visit her during treatment? He says he can’t, and she says she hears him; his generosity can only extend so far. He says, it’s not that. He doesn’t think it will give them the closure they need. He’s not sure that closure exists. She says she’s not sure a therapist would agree, and he says, that’s why he doesn’t have one. Maybe he and Holly were never destined to work out. Every time they get close, it goes up in smoke, and this time it took the Ice Princess with it. Olivia says, that’s why Holly stole that necklace; it was part of the Ice Princess. He says, might be. He wanted his people to look at it, and confirm that one way or the other. She says, he must be on such bad terms with the WSB, and he says, they’re not happy, but he can handle it. She says, he’s the DA, and he’s working with the WSB. Holly had to have known how much it would cost him. There has to be more to this than greed. With all he and Holly have been through together, there had to be a bigger reason for Holly to betray him.

Carly says, Drew is amazing. Getting that guy to fly all the way here to talk. He says, a woman actually; Clairborne County’s first female firefighter. That’s why his guy was doing the story on her. Carly says, that’s impressive. What makes him think she has anything to offer? He says he’s not sure what she knows, but Denise and Harmony were friends for a while back then, and he’s hoping Denise can either confirm or deny Harmony’s story of how she came to have Willow. Carly says she sees, and he says, she has doubts. She says, no. She just thinks he’s putting a lot of expense and effort into finding Willow’s birth parents, and hopes he’s not disappointed if it doesn’t pan out. He says he knows the possible pitfalls, but he’s still got to try. He should call Willow… but she tells him that he doesn’t want to do that.

Michael says, look what happened when Willow was arguing with Nina. If Nina had known… Willow says she doesn’t want Nina pitying her, and Michael says he understands. She says, the best thing for her health is staying as far away from Nina as possible, and Michael says he feels the same way about Sonny, but Willow says, there’s no comparison.

Dex opens the door, Josslyn having disappeared, and Sonny asks, what took him so long? Dex says he was in the middle of something, and Sonny says he has to talk to Dex about a business opportunity. Dex asks if he should meet Sonny in his office, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? Dex says, if it’s a business conversation, they should have it where Sonny does business, and Sonny asks why Dex wants him out of here. Is he hiding something? Josslyn listens from the hallway.

Valentin sits down, and says he’s sorry if he upset Mac, but Felicia says, he just needs a minute to cool down. He’s been running himself ragged with Lucy’s disappearance, and Anna being framed and on the run. Now this thing with Holly. It’s very personal to him. Valentin says he can understand Mac’s hostility toward his father. Did he have anything to do with what happened to Holly? Laura says, Robert believes Holly was passing information to Victor, and she suspects it has something to do with Ethan because no one’s been able to reach him. Valentin asks if Ethan is Holly’s son, and Laura says, yes. He asks if they think something happened to him, and Laura says, they don’t know. All they know is that he’s done a disappearing act. Valentin says he might be able to help. He still has some associates at the Bureau. He’ll make a call. Felicia says, oh no. He can’t.

As they walk into Britt’s office, Austin asks, what just happened with Britt and Cody? but Britt says she’d rather talk about her birthday. What does he think about renting the Haunted Star? He says, if she wants to go all-out, and she says she’s never had a birthday party in her life, but he says, she’s exaggerating. She says, no, and he says, even the unpopular kids got a cupcake. She says she had an untraditional upbringing, and thinks it’s high time she throw the fiesta to end all fiestas. He asks if there’s any particular reason she wants to do that this year, and she asks if this is him treading lightly, but he says, apparently not. She says, they both know there’s no telling how many birthdays she has ahead of her, so she might as well go out with a bang.

Carly says, Willow fainted yesterday, and Drew asks if she’s all right. Carly says, she seems to be. Nina came over to pick a fight, and when Willow fought back, she collapsed. He says, Nina is relentless, and Carly agrees. She suggests they question Denise first, then see if there’s anything to report back. He says he appreciates her insights, but he thinks it’s better if he questions Denise one-on-one, so she’s more comfortable; so she doesn’t feel outnumbered. Carly says, he’ll fill her in afterward? and he says, she’ll be his second call after Willow. He doesn’t want to get Willow’s hopes up, but wants to keep her in the loop. So many people have lied to her in the past.

Willow says she knows how betrayed Michael feels by his father, and Michael says, for months Nina and Sonny have caused them nothing but grief. She says, everything that’s happened is because of Nina. That woman is fixated on causing trouble for their family, and Sonny is actively supporting her. Michael says, agreed. So what is he missing? She says, just how much his anger at Sonny is costing him.

Sonny asks where Dex laid low after he got shot, and Dex says he was on foot. There was no way he could make back here, and didn’t want to compromise Sonny, so he found a spot that was secure spot. Sonny says, on his own? and Dex doesn’t answer. Sonny says, that’s what he’s talking about. Dex is always holding things back. Dex says he promised the person who helped him that it wouldn’t come back, and Sonny says, Dex also promised he could trust him. Dex says, Sonny can, but he can’t prove that by betraying someone else. Sonny says, that’s not good enough, but Dex says, it’ll have to be. Sonny says, Dex has one last chance. Who stitched him up? Who gave Dex the means to email him? Who helped him out? Josslyn comes out, and says, it was her.

Austen says, he appreciates this living life to the fullest thing, but it’s not going to be Britt’s last birthday. She says, it might as well be. How can she sing karaoke if she’s slurring the lyrics, and barely able to stand? (I have news for her, a lot of people do, especially after a night of drinking.) He says she doesn’t know that’s going to be the case, but she says she doesn’t know it’s not. If he’s thinking she’s given up or made peace with it, she hasn’t. She’s not at peace, and mad as hell. She’s so mad that she’s renting out the Haunted Star and wearing four-inch heels. And she knows she doesn’t have enough friends to even fill her mother’s apartment bedroom, but she doesn’t give a damn; she’s going to do it anyway. She’s going to throw the biggest, baddest birthday party. And co-workers, family, and friends, and casual acquaintances can all come, as long as they look fabulous, and are prepared to party on the dance floor, which is what she’s going to do. He says, fear of death is for those who have regrets, and she says she has loads of those. She doesn’t fear death; she fears the getting to it. She knows how this is going to end. That’s why she’s choosing to live in this moment, and not think about tomorrow; she may not like tomorrow. So she’s going to dance like it’s 1999, and revel under the bright lights, and lose herself on the dance floor. He says he’s in, and she says, yay. She wants to do it with those nearest and dearest to her, and she doesn’t even care if he sings off-key. (Again, there’s a lot of that too.)

Cody meets Mac at the MetroCourt bar, and Mac says he figured Cody wasn’t coming. Cody says, Mac texted that it was important, and Mac says, it is. He gestures toward his whiskey, and asks if Cody wants one. Cody says he’s normally a beer guy, but something tells him that he’s going to need it. Mac asks the bartender for the drink, and says he’s got some news. That necklace that belonged to Leopold Taub, the one Cody was due to inherit, was stolen. Cody says, so that story in the news, the woman who left, that was his necklace, and Mac says he’s glad Cody is up on current affairs. He doesn’t have to explain what happened. Cody says, the hell he doesn’t. He can start with how he’s going to track it down. Mac says he’s afraid it’s unrecoverable, and Cody asks if Mac is just giving up, but Mac says, they know where it is, or was. It was destroyed in a fire.

Laura asks why Valentin can’t look for Ethan, and Felicia says, not everything with Holly is what it seems. Laura asks what that means, and Felicia says, the person Laura really wants to talk to is Robert. Laura says, before she forgets, Charlotte wanted her to invite Valentin for dinner. Any night this week is fine, so let her know. She really has to run. Valentin says, of course (🍷). He’ll be in touch. Laura tells them, have a nice night, and jets. Valentin asks Felicia if he’d be right to assume his contacts at the Bureau would turn up zero trace of Ethan, and she says, that’s a theory. He says, it’s a good one. Victor has taken Holly’s son hostage as well, hasn’t he?

Robert asks if it really matters why Holly did what she did at this point, and Olivia says, of course (🍷) it does. If that necklace holds the key to something bigger… Whatever Holly’s reasons, she’s paying for them now, and so is he. If he ever needs to talk… He thanks her, and says he appreciates her dropping by. She tells him, whatever happens, he’s not alone, and leaves. Robert opens a desk drawer, takes out a box, and takes out the necklace.

Carly stares off in space, and Drew asks where she went. Did something happen? Did Nina do something, or Sonny? She says she wanted to tell him that Nina saw her and Brick together, and got the wrong idea. She went running to Sonny, and told him they were having an affair; the same thing she said about TJ and Willow. She can’t stand that woman. He says, that’s why Carly told Sonny about them, and she says she’s sorry, but she heard Sonny was giving Brick a hard time and she couldn’t stand it. He says, it’s too bad Michael and Sonny are on the outs. They could have used Sonny’s resources to track down Willow’s birth parents. She says, who needs Sonny when Drew Cain is on the case? She thinks he handles things just fine. He says, does she now? and kisses her.

Josslyn says, Dex wouldn’t tell her how or why he got shot, but she figured it had something to do with Sonny, and Sonny just confirmed it. Dex says he needs to talk to Sonny. He’ll call her later. She says, fine, and tells Sonny that she doesn’t know why Dex is so loyal to him, since so far it’s gotten him shot and hung from a meat hook, but it’s Dex’s call. It’s got nothing to do with her. She starts to leave, but Sonny says, hold on. Did she come over alone? She says she did, and Sonny tells her to have Frank drive her home, but she says she doesn’t want a ride from him. She doesn’t want anything from him. She leaves, and Sonny says, out of everybody in the city, Dex goes after his stepdaughter for help? Dex says, he would never purposely put Josslyn in that position, and Sonny asks, how so? Dex says he was weak and barely thinking. He remembered the Quartermaine boathouse had supplies. She was on the grounds, he collapsed, and she found him. She took him back to her dorm room. Sonny punches the wall, and something falls to the floor. He says, big mistake.

Michael says his focus is on Willow and their baby. He’s dedicated to helping her fight this cancer. She asks, how can he be if he’s fighting his father at the same time? She’s not asking him to drop his anger for Sonny’s sake, or defending anything Sonny’s done, but the more Michael feeds into his anger, the more he’s letting Sonny win. He’s smarter than that. He says, now she’s appealing to his vanity, but she says she’s stating a fact. He knows the difference between what seems important and what truly matters, doesn’t he? He says, what truly matters is her and their children. He asks if it would be okay if he stepped out for an hour or so, and she says, sure. Is everything all right? He says he just has one last thing to take care of, and then he’s all hers. He kisses her and leaves.

Dex tells Sonny that he was out of it when Josslyn took him back to her dorm. He didn’t want to stay, but when you’re losing blood and developing an infection, options are limited. Sonny says, and not telling him? and Dex says, Joss saved his life. The least he could do was minimize her exposure. If that cost him this job, so be it, but just know, he’ll never speak of their dealings either. Sonny says he doesn’t want to talk about this; they’ll deal with it later. But this thing with Josslyn cannot become a habit. Dex says, he’s tried telling her, and Sonny says, then try harder. They’ve come to him with an offer to use his facilities for some unofficial exports. If he decides to take the offer, Dex is going to be stepping into a role with more responsibility. Is he up for that? Dex says he is, and Sonny says, he’d better be. There’s no more room for mistakes. Sonny leaves and Dex closes the door.

Josslyn walks into the kitchen where Carly and Drew are kissing, and says, don’t mind her. Carly asks if everything is okay, and Josslyn says, everything’s great. Her? Carly says, everything will be great when they don’t have to worry about getting caught kissing. Josslyn flashes back to kissing Dex, and Sonny interrupting, and says, I hear ya.

Austin says he hasn’t spoken to Maxie about New Year’s Eve, but put them down as will attend, and Britt says, excellente. Partying with her peeps; her final epic turn-up. He says, final? and asks if she’s planning on making an early exit. She asks if that isn’t her choice, and he says, what about the peeps she just said she wanted to party with? She tells him, don’t worry. Her oath to do no harm extends to herself. She’s just not into being a burden. He asks if she’s leaving Port Charles, and she says, after the party. He says, again, what about the peeps that want to be there for her? but she says, it’s not about them. It’s about how she wants to go out. She’s not pushing anyone away; she’s protecting her privacy. He asks, what just happened with Cody? but she says she doesn’t want to talk about it. He asks if she’s really done with that guy, or is she pushing everyone away because of her illness?

Cody tells Mac, so he lost another inheritance. That’s got to be some kind of record. He downs his drink, and Mac asks if he wants another; Mac is buying. Cody says, diamonds are notoriously hard to destroy. Is Mac sure there’s nothing left? There was this place he used to work where there was a wild mustang everyone said was untrainable. It was a beautiful animal, and he was smitten immediately. He took to gaining the horse’s trust, and would feed and groom him. Finally he got a saddle and harness on him; it was one of the greatest days of his life. Two minutes in the saddle, and he bucks up and tosses Cody off. He broke his wrist, and most of pride in the fall, but the horse didn’t care, It was not in his nature to be ridden. Cody didn’t know Leopold Taub, and he’s glad; he sounds like a rotten guy. But was it his nature or was it something he chose? And what about him? Are the things he does his nature, or does he just keep making the wrong choice over and over? For a second, he thought the was going to have an inheritance; something of worth that would make him worthwhile. Now he’s back to nothing. Mac says, money isn’t everything, and Cody tells him, says people who have it. Mac must think he’s shallow. Mac says he thinks it’s a shame Cody grew up without a father. He gets why Cody was invested in Taub’s money. It’s likely the only good thing he’d get out of being Taub’s son.

Robert flashes back to Holly telling him, the Ice Princess has a bad habit of destroying those who covet it, and telling him to be careful. Laura knocks at the door, and he hides the necklace. He tells her, come in, and she says she just had a very interesting chat with Felicia. It seems there’s more going on that Robert hasn’t told her about. He says, she’s right. There is, and she deserves answers. Starting with this. He takes out the necklace, and shows it to her. She’s like, whoa…

Felicia says, it’s true, Victor has Ethan, and Valentin says, of course (🍷) he does. She asks what he meant by, Victor has Ethan as well. Who else has Victor captured? He says, it’s Victor’s M.O. Ask Drew Cain or Liesl Obrecht. He had Valentin locked in his prison in Crete. But who is she thinking of? What is it she’s not telling him?

Drew says he’s got to get going, and leaves. Josslyn says, that’s going good, and Carly says, yeah, but they can’t keep it from the world forever. Josslyn says she’s going to shower, and gives Carly time alone with the moss bowl🎍.

Michael goes to Dex’s apartment, and Dex says, close call. Sonny was just here. Michael says, that won’t be a problem anymore, and hands Dex an envelope, saying, here’s what he owes Dex, plus a bonus for his excellent work. The job is over. How soon can he get packed to leave?

Austin asks if Britt is just afraid Cody won’t be able to handle her illness, and she says, they know what’s ahead of her; years of progressively painful slow decline. She doesn’t want her mother to see it. Why would she want Cody to deal with it; a guy she barely knows. Austin says, what about the people she knows well, and who know her well? They’re going to worry about her and look for her. They’re going to be hurt if they’re not by her side in all this. She says she hopes they realize she’s sparing them, but he says, she’s not sparing anybody. She’s trying to spare herself. She doesn’t want to see her reflection in their eyes; anyone other than her being her vibrant, beautiful, feisty self. She says, what if she doesn’t? Is that so wrong? Austin says, it’s not wrong, but it’s selfish.

Laura says, so that’s why Holly let her go, and Robert says, she was never at any risk. She says, it would have been nice to know that. He couldn’t let her in on any of it? He says, Holly was petrified that any leak at all would endanger her son, and Laura says, okay. She’s glad Holly didn’t betray him. He says, and she’s now free to rescue Ethan. Victor is going to lose another prisoner. She says, Victor needs to lose everything.  

Felicia says, forget she said anything, and Valentin says, Lucy is alive, isn’t she? She tells him that she never said that, but he tells her, she didn’t have to. His father prefers keeping his assets as leverage. Lucy’s body was never found. She says, a reliable source says Lucy was shot with a rubber bullet, retrieved from the harbor, and spirited away. He says, that explains the two shots. The first, a rubber bullet to push Lucy in the water; then a live round to leave a shell casing for the police. There’s no time to waste. He needs Felicia to tell him where Anna is now.

Robert tells Laura, Victor gave directives, but no explanations. They know the diamonds came from the Ice Princess. She says, and they know Victor doesn’t care about the rest of it, since he planted it on Jennifer Smith. He says, there are secrets hidden in these diamonds, and she says, they’ve got to uncover them. They’ve got to stop Victor Cassadine once and for all.

Valentin says, Anna needs to know Lucy is alive, but Felicia says, she’s way off the grid. He asks if she’s left the country, but Felicia says she doesn’t want to jeopardize Anna’s security. He says he doesn’t either, but this is information Anna needs. She’ll have to trust him. She writes something down, and gives it to him. She says, if Anna sought refuge in Europe, there’s one person who will know where she is, and that person can get word to her. He looks a little shocked, rips up the paper, and puts it in his full glass. He thanks her, but she says, don’t thank her yet. Getting word to Anna won’t be easy.

Mac says he doesn’t know Cody well, but he can see Cody’s not the same man as his father, and Cody says, about that… Felicia asks if Mac is ready to go, and Mac says, almost. Cody was saying? Cody tells him, the DNA test result was his loss, and Mac says, theirs too, and leaves with Felicia.

Britt tells Austin, ouch. What is this? Painful truth day? He says, sure, let’s do that. Maybe selfish is too harsh of a word. Let’s call it proud. His father was a very proud man, and wanted to spare them, so he avoided a lot of conversations they should have had. In the end, COPD made those conversations impossible. He gets she’s trying to spare them, but has she considered she’s robbing them of precious moments they want to spend with her? She says she hadn’t, and he suggests she give it some thought. And another thing while they’re at it. What is the dress code for this party? She tells him to have Maxie pick out his clothes, and he says, cool. It’s painful truth day. He thanks her, and says, it means a lot to him. She said she was only inviting her nearest and dearest, and he’s grateful he made the cut.

Drew goes to the gatehouse, and worries he woke Willow up, but she says, this baby is active; he wears her out. He says she does look pale, and she says, anemia. Britt has her on a regimen. What’s up? He says he says he wanted to check in, and make sure she’s 100% committed to finding her biological parents. She says, more than ever. Has there been a development? He says, possibly, and she should know that whatever he finds out could possibly be a disappointment. So before he goes down that road, he wants to make sure nothing has changed. She says she and Michael are ready to do whatever it takes to find answers.

The moss bowl🎍 stands in all its glory, as Carly calls Olivia, who says she was just thinking about Carly. Does she remember how they rewarded themselves when they completed payroll? Carly says, chocolate martinis, and Olivia says, it’s not the same without her. What’s up? Carly says she needs a favor; no questions asked. Olivia says, she’s got it, and Carly says, there’s a woman named Denise McKenzie staying at the MetroCourt tonight. She needs Olivia to notify her when Denise checks in.

Dex tries to hand the envelope back, but Michael says, Dex got shot because of Sonny. He got tortured because of him. Dex says he’s still standing, and Michael says he appreciates Dex’s dedication, but his priority is his family now. Dex says, Michael’s family overlaps with Sonny’s. As long as Sonny is a target, they are too. Isn’t that what Michael told him when he hired him? Michael says he did, but things have changed, and Dex says, the best way to protect them is to stop Sonny. Sonny was here telling him about a new business opportunity. It sounds highly profitable and highly illegal.

At the MetroCourt, Valentin presses the elevator button – Dex says, something big is coming. Sonny didn’t provide details but I know one thing – Sonny comes out of the elevator, and passes Valentin going in – we can’t quit now – Sonny and Valentin exchange glances – not when we’re this close to taking Sonny down.

Tomorrow, Stella asks if Marshall’s diagnosis is wrong; Curtis says, Jordan has a way to end this nightmare; Cyrus hopes Spencer has realized which side he can trust; and Victor says something is unacceptable.

Below Deck

Rodney Bay, 6:30 am, Turnover Day. Captain Lee struggles to get to the bridge, and radios Ross, telling him, the weather is clear. They’re going to be moving to the dock. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s not getting better. As a captain, he’s used to being in control, and to relinquish that, even to own his body, is hard to deal with. It pisses him off.  Hungover, Rachel wonders where she is. She tells Fraser that she’s tired, so she’s going to be quiet, and in her interview, she says, it’s a new crew learning a new boat that’s bigger than Moby’s d*ck. She has to do better next charter, and needs to get her sh*t together. In Ross’s interview, he says he’s pissed at Katie, who’s still asleep. Sometimes, you’re bleeding alcohol out of your skin, but you need to show up for work. He goes to her cabin, and tells her that they’re already doing the tendering. She says she didn’t know what time they were supposed to be up, and he says, he told them last night, 7:15. We flash back to that, and that’s confirmed. He tells her to get on deck; they’re going to dock. Anchor is pulled and in the pocket, and Fraser teaches Hayley how to fluff a pillow. In Hayley’s interview, she says, when she was 20, she had a chief stew from hell, and was made to sleep in the laundry room for two months. Fraser is patient and kind. He’s her boat mummy. She tells him that he’s the bed whisperer. The captain radios for the crew to get their sh*t straight now. He’s going to dock, and wants radio silence. One peep from the interior, and their asses are on the line. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, the first time docking a new boat is always tough. His job is to get to the dock. Quit sniveling. In Tony’s interview, he says he’s never been scared of hard work, but he doesn’t want to make a mistake and get whacked by Captain Lee’s stick. The captain radios for the deck team to come to the bridge, filling them with fear. He tells them that he thought they did a good job docking, and he appreciates it. Carry on. Fraser calls an interior meeting in the Sky Lounge. He tells the stews, obviously they have overall teething issues, and it got dark, but they got through it, and they’ll get through it again. He thinks they’re getting along well, and Camille says, generally, which is an odd word to use. We flash back to Allison whining to Fraser about Camille, and Fraser tells them, try not be short with each other. On deck, Ross tells Katie that he’s sure he told her 7:15, and he’s not happy. They can’t be late on deck, and it’s probably not coincidental it’s after an evening out where alcohol was involved. In Katie’s interview, she says, getting chewed out by her boss sucks, but it sucks more in front of a guy she has a crush on. Ross says, she has to work harder. If it happens again, he’ll have to let the captain know.

Captain Lee still isn’t satisfied with his laundry, and goes over how it’s done with Camille. In his interview, he says, they’re on a superyacht, not a tramp steamer. His shirt had more wrinkles than a basketball, but he has no problem teaching how to do it. Rachel and Tony trade adventure stories, and Rachel says she’s jumped out of a plane still drunk from the night before. Tony tells her about playing with sharks, and in his interview, he says, Rachel is crazy as hell, and she feeds him. He loves her. The captain radios Ross, Rachel, and Fraser to come to the Sky Lounge for a preference sheet meeting. The next charter is a group of female doctors from Seattle, who became friends during their residency, and have been traveling the world together for ten years. The primary is Michelle Pearl, and they’ve requested a Hollywood glam night, and a dinner highlighting truffles. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it’s going to be epic, and the guests are going to love it. She’s the menu murderer. They also want a beach picnic, and a red, black, and gold Moulin Rouge night. The captain says, it’s going to be a good time, and laughs, I assume sarcastically. Camille’s second round of laundry passes his inspection. Tony and Ben find common ground in having experienced racism, and fist bump. The boat is readied, and Captain Lee tells his leg to pay attention and start working. Pizza arrives, and the crew eats in the mess. Fraser says he feels badly for the captain, and in Camille’s interview, she says, the captain can’t move fast at the moment. She doesn’t want him to be in a sticky situation, and not be able to perform to his full capacity. Her father is sick and can’t physically accomplish what he’d like to, so she feels like she has a bit of understanding. It makes her sad.

In the morning, Tony works out and makes noises. In his interview, he says he’s exhausted. Working out is therapy for him. He thought working in yachting would be traveling and working at the same time, but it’s not like that. You finish work, and there’s more work waiting. I can never understand when a crew member is surprised this is a real job. Obviously, they never watched the show. It’s five hours to charter, and provisions come in. Just as I’m thinking, there are no unfit people in yachting, Hayley says she feels like she did an hour of Zumba. In Katie’s interview, she says she’s feeling the pressure. In Miami, people thought she must be a sugar baby. She might be a pretty face, but she knows how to rock it. Alissa complains to Hayley about Camille, and in Alissa’s interview, she says, Fraser needs to stop being lenient. It’s backfired on the team, and makes her feel like sh*t. She whines that Camille took a cigarette break and didn’t finish her work. The captain tells the crew to be on the aft deck in five, and the guests arrive.

Captain Lee tells the guests, welcome. The crew is here at their service, and they’re going to knock it out of the park. ⚾️ In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s nice to do something for those who have sacrificed for them. These are the doctors in the ER who are going to save lives. If they want to get drunk and puke over the side of the boat, cappy will hold their hair. Their service and dedication mean that much to him. Fraser mistakenly calls them nurses, and in his interview, he says, awkward. He’s glad he did it now though. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, the boat isn’t as responsive as he would like. They could do a lot of damage. Ross is concerned they’re going to hit where they can’t put a fender, but they make it. Ross says, that was close, and in his interview, the captain says, close doesn’t count. If you miss by two inches or twenty miles, you still miss. That’s why we get paid the big bucks. Alissa talks to the guests about Jamaica, and in her interview, she says she got her work ethic from her dad. He moved to Delaware from Jamaica at age ten, and got made fun of in school. He went on to become a pilot, a real estate agent, and an entrepreneur. He’s controlling and strict, but even if they’re not close, she wants to make him proud. In Ross’s interview, he says, the team is doing well. It’s important for him to delegate key responsibilities. Otherwise, he’s running around the boat like a mental man. It’s exhausting. Rachel tells Fraser that dinner is going to be Italianesque/Mediterranean, and in her interview, she says, at a real Hollywood dinner, they wouldn’t eat because they’d be anorexic; fueled by cocaine, vodka, and hate. Since the guests have requested truffles, and they’re all females, she’s calling it the Muff-truff Experience. Fraser, Camille, and Hayley put up Hollywood themed decorations, and Rachel can’t find her truffles. She says, it’s a truffle kerfuffle. The guests walk a red carpet, and hand out Oscars at the bar. Rachel says, if she doesn’t find the truffles, she’s going to retire. Alissa takes group photos, and guest Jewell gets pissed when guest Hollie messes with her wig – while it’s still on her head – causing it to slide. Even I say, why? Who does that? Wisely heading to the restroom, Hollie tells guest Alla that she was just being silly. Jewell tells Michelle to check her friend or she will, and that sh*t will not go okay. It took everything in her not to react. Rachel continues to look for her truffles, and in her interview, she says, on a bigger sized vessel, it’s easy to lose sh*t. She decides to pull out everything that has truffle in it, and make lots of mushrooms. Maybe they won’t notice. At the dinner table, Hollie tells Jewell that it wasn’t her best moment, and apologizes. Jewell says, at a certain age, you know not to be an a-hole (you’d think so, but sadly, not true for many people), and Hollie says she messed up; she’s sorry. In Rachel’s interview, she says, she’s not proud of it, but she pulled off a truffle tasting menu with no truffles. She resuscitated dinner service. The guests get in the hot tub, and pronounce it amazeballs. Alissa gives orders to Camille, and in Camille’s interview, she says, no one as any regard for the amount of work she does. All everyone sees is, it’s not enough, yet she’s doing twice the word being a deck stew. She feels like the runt baby who can’t get to the nipple. The guests request Ben remove his shirt, and when he does, they put nipple covers on him, and he dances. Well, captain, they might save my life in the ER, but here, just no. Alissa asks Camille to do literally what she’d told her to do; make sure the bottles are fully stocked in the pantry. Camille suggests if Alissa has so much time to check on this stuff, she should just stock it herself. In Alissa’s interview, she says, Camille doesn’t want to do the job or be corrected. It’s childish. I hate to say it, but Camille does kind of have a point. I honestly don’t know on which side the problem lies, since we don’t see everything, but I don’t know if Alissa should be giving Camille orders.

Captain Lee calls the doctor in the morning, and says he’s lost feeling in his left leg. It gives out and won’t support him. The doctor says, they need figure this out. In Ben’s interview, he says he feel the vibes. There’s something different; a disturbance in the force. Fraser serves the guests wellness shots, and Jewell says she’s not drinking anymore. Another guest points out that she ordered a mimosa, and she says she’s not drinking after that. As Camille walks by, Alissa starts to give her some things to do, but Camille says she’s on deck and Alissa isn’t her boss. As she keeps walking, Alissa says, that’s the lazy sh*t she’s talking about. Camille tells Ben that Alissa acts like she’s her boss, then asks if Alissa is her boss. Jewell wonders how she’s supposed to live normally after this. She can’t go back to daily life. At the beach, Tony gets in the water for a dip, and in his interview, he says, it’s what they call pura vida. Camille radios that they’re coming with the guests, and Alissa tells her to bring the coolers. Camille says she hasn’t seen them, and wonders why they’re her responsibility. Alissa says, they’re by the ice machine, but Camille says, they’re already on their way with the guests. Alissa says, the guests can’t come to the beach without the coolers, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, he can’t be Mr. Nice Guy. He has to put his foot down. He’ll have to be that bitch.  

Next time, Alisson flirts with Ross… or is it Ben; Katie cries in her cabin; and Captain Lee says, his mind and heart are there, but his body won’t cooperate. He’s made a decision.

🧜🏽‍♂️ Ruling the Waves…

Come by tomorrow for soap and whatever rabbits I pull out of my blog hat. Until then, stay safe, stay not feeling like you have to do it all, and stay dancing like it’s 1999, reveling under the bright lights, and losing yourself on the dance floor. Even if it’s just in your living room.

June 3, 2022 – Sonny Won’t Let Nina Go, Why, Opening Up, Joining Salem, a Farewell, So She Claims, Reaction, VanderNews, Premieres, New Motel, Quotes of Eight & Somebody

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny picks up Nina’s necklace from in front of Nelle’s gravestone. I knew it!

In a cab, Nina tells the driver that she’s going to the airport; the international terminal. Her phone dings, but she brushes it aside.

On the phone, Sonny tells Phyllis not to worry. He’s going to find her.

Sam says, when Cody said, partners in crime, is he talking about Detective Falconari? Cody says he can’t wrap his head around the cop part. This guy’s mom sent him to summer camp to keep him out of trouble, and he got in a lot more while he was there. Dante says, that was because of Cody, and Cody says, right. He’s the one who led Dante astray; Dante’s the innocent one. Sam says, they’ve known each other that long? and Cody says, we were twelve? Thirteen? Dante says, twelve. He came home from school one day, and his mom had a bag packed. He was going to camp for the summer. Stay out of trouble and get into nature. Sam says, and Cody was the bad influence that corrupted Dante? Cody says he was a bad influence, but so was Dante back in the day.

Josslyn sees Cameron at the pool, putting out towels, and says, two shifts? Kelly’s, now here? He says, with everything going on with his mom, he figured he could use the extra work, and she asks if they can talk about what’s going on with them.

In front of her house, Trina says she can’t believe she and Rory stayed out so long, and he says he guesses that means they were having a good time. She says she guesses so, and thanks him for everything back at the pool, and for dinner, and for ice cream. She’ll pay him back for everything. He tells her not to worry about it, and thanks her for introducing him to that amazing food truck. She says, right? She only knew about it because it goes by PCU on certain days. He says, another testament to her incredible taste. Good art, good food. He can’t wait to see what else she introduces him to.

Spencer says he promises whatever Esme has to say, he’ll listen, but can he please go first? He’s had a lot of time to think about what she said to him; how he takes her for granted, and how Trina gets under his skin. But he evades every time she calls him out on it, and he realized she’s right. She deserves some answers.

Ava says, don’t tell her that he hired a divorce lawyer already, and Nikolas says, no, but he was ready to give up on their marriage. She says she was too. She drew a line in the sand, and she was ready to walk away. Thankfully, she realized it was the last thing she wanted. They can find their way back from this, can’t they?

Dante says, Cody didn’t corrupt him, but he definitely coerced Dante into going along with his more harebrained schemes. Cody says, like Dante didn’t have any suggestions, and Dante says, Cody knows it wasn’t his idea or choice to take a canoe out in the middle of the lake, and tip it over on purpose. Cody starts laughing and banging the table, and says, they pretended they were drowning, and yelled, help! help! until the prettiest CIT came over. Dante tells Sam, that’s Counselor-in-Training, and Cody says, she swam over. She – air quotes – rescued us – end air quotes – and boy she was mad. Dante says, they got banned from the beach for the rest of the summer, and Cody says, then Dante stole all the camp director’s cigarettes out of his cabin. Dante says, and why did he do that? and Cody says, because he dared Dante to. Dante says, they got busted because this guy smoked every cigarette in the pack, and started puking all over the place, and Cody says, nothing like a little adrenaline rush to let you know you’re alive. Sam says, it’s like jumping out of a plane and crash-landing on an unsuspecting woman, and Cody says, talk about mad… and pretty. She actually reminds him of that CIT. Still, if she hadn’t been there, it would have been a perfect landing. Dante says, instead of a potential negligence lawsuit, and Cody says, look at Dante, former renegade, embracing the straight and narrow path to a humdrum life. Dante says he doesn’t know if staring down the barrel of a loaded gun is as dangerous as jumping out of a plane, and Cody says he’s just messing with Dante. He’s going to get another round for that dinner Dante is going to buy him. He gets up, and puts his hand on his back. Sam asks if he’s okay, and Cody says, that tumble just fired up some old injuries. He’s good. A little pain just lets you know you’re alive. He goes to the bar, and Sam wonders why Dante never mentioned him before. Dante says he doesn’t know. They saw each other at summer camp, had a helluva time, but they lost touch after Dante stopped going. Sam says, that’s too bad. He seems like a good guy. Dante says, he is a good guy. Good at getting in trouble.

Josslyn says she feels like she and Cameron should be able to tell each other everything by now. Unless this is something bigger. Does he feel like they need time or something? He says, no. He doesn’t want that. Does she? She says she doesn’t know what else to do. Clearly, something is going on. Cameron flashes back to telling Spencer that he’s not going to lose Josslyn because Spencer can’t keep his head in the game. Make it happen, or he will. Cameron says, Josslyn is right. There’s something he has to tell her. She says, okay, when Adam walks in. Cameron says, isn’t that…? and she says, the creep who tried to hit on her when she thought they were just study buddies? Adam says he’s sorry to interrupt, but he really needs to talk to her.

Taggert tells Portia that he was hoping Trina would get home before he left, and she says, Trina is actually supposed to be back by now, but she has been working a lot. Dealing with everything hanging over her head, Portia doesn’t blame her. She wishes there was something she could do to make things better, and Taggert says, she will. He asks her to give Trina a big hug from her dad, and she says she sure will. Trina’s still a daddy’s girl; don’t worry. Taggert opens the door to find Rory and Trina standing there, and asks, sweetheart, who’s your friend?

Nikolas downs a drink, and Ava says, they had a fight; so do most couples. She just had to remember everything they’ve shared. How they’ve survived, despite everyone’s predictions to the contrary. Because they love each other. Because they understand each other. It’s going to take a helluva lot more than an argument to sever that bond. He flashes back to… I don’t want to talk about it, and says, to be fair, it was more than one argument. There are things between them that aren’t easy to resolve. She says, nothing between them has been easy, and it hasn’t stopped them yet, but he says, she walked away from him; from them. He thought it was over. She says she thought so too, but it’s because they’re both stubborn, passionate people. When they’re at odds, things can get really ugly, but when they’re together, they’re unbeatable. That’s the problem. They stopped working as a team. They started to let their own agendas drive them, and forgot to protect this life they’ve created together. That life is beautiful. It’s remarkable, and utterly their own. And she’s not going to let Spencer and Esme tear it down.

Spencer says he’s so sorry for how bad things have gotten between him and Esme. He’s so sorry for the way he treated her. He takes her hand, and asks if she’ll please forgive him.

On the phone, Sonny asks if Brick can track down Nina for him. She’s not returning his calls, his texting, or nothing… He’s just afraid she’s not in a great state of mind, and she might do something she’s going to regret.

Nina thanks the driver for making the stop; she left her passport in the office. She realizes her necklace is gone, and asks him to wait. They have to make another stop before he drives her to the airport.

Cody comes back with beers, and says, to Port Charles finest. That means Dante. Dante says, to unexpected reunions, and they clink bottles. Sam says, no wedding ring; he’s not married? He says, free as a bird, and she says, no kids? He says, no, and she asks if there’s anyone special in his life. He says, she asks a lot of questions, and Dante says, Sam is a private investigator; occupational hazard. Sam says, it’s like jumping out of a plane and landing on a roof. It’s sort of like skydiving. Is that what Cody does for a living, or is it his side hustle? Cody says, actually, for a long time, he was a stunt horseback rider, and Dante says, cool. Cody was always good with horses. Cody says he grew up around them, and when he moved out west, he worked on ranches. That’s where he learned stunt riding, but after too many tumbles, he had to hang up his saddle. Now he makes a living doing short term gigs. Sam asks if dropping out of the sky isn’t hard on his back, and he says, yeah. He’ll probably have to quit that too. So how long have Sam and Dante been together? Dante asks if Sam wants to take that one, and she says, they’re coming up on a year. Cody asks how they met, and Dante says, Sam has been a family friend for years. Sam says, her ex-husband was best friends with Dante’s father. Cody says, Dante found his father. He remembers Dante wanted to know who he was. Dante says he got to know his father a little over 10 years ago, and Cody says, that’s significant; tell him about him. Dante says, he’s a businessman in Port Charles, and Cody asks, what’s his business? Dante says, Corinthos Coffee, and Cody says, his dad is Sonny Corinthos?

Sonny tells Brick, talk to him… a plane ticket, where?… Dammit. Milan?… How soon?… All right. He’s on it. He starts to leave, but meets Nina, who’s coming into the cemetery.

Cameron says, if he was Adam, he’d get the hell out of here, but Josslyn says, it’s fine. Let’s hear what he has to say. Adam asks if they can talk in private, and Cameron says, he’s joking, but Josslyn says, it’s fine. He’s got a minute. Cameron steps away, and Josslyn says, one wrong word, and he’s in the pool, and she’s pretty good at it. He says he’s been afraid to talk to her at school, but he saw her come in there, and figured it’s now or never. She says, for what? and he says, an apology.

Nikolas tells Ava, as convenient as it would be to blame Spencer and Esme, they’ve struggled with trust and honesty from the beginning, and he takes his responsibility in that. Ava says she knows they have legitimate issues to work through, but despite that, there’s love here. There’s a kinship even, and there’s certainly no denying their attraction. Surely those things can see them through. What does he say? Is still in this with her? He says, don’t call him Shirley.

Esme says she appreciates Spencer’s acknowledgement that he’s treated her badly, but it’s not that simple. She removes her hand from his, and gets up. He follows and says, he knows he messed everything up. He’s trying to work it out. He wants to be the man she deserves, but in order to do that, he may need a second, third, or fourth chance, and he doesn’t even know which one he’s on now. Just believe he’s trying to do better by her. She says she needs more than trying, and from where she’s standing, it doesn’t look like he’s trying very hard, except to justify his behavior. She’s been willing to stand by him, no matter what, but she hasn’t gotten anything close to that from him. She deserves better. His father reminded her of that.

Nikolas says he’s with Ava, always and forever. She moves to kiss him, but he backs up a little. She says, forever lasted all of four seconds, and he says she just surprised him. She says, and his instinct was to recoil; that’s not very reassuring. He says he’s as in love with her as ever. He wanted to grab her in his arms so many times, and he had to restrain himself. They came so close to the edge of giving up. It might take time for him to feel normal. She says, there is still one giant thing between them. If they really want to move forward, they have to settle it once and for all.

Spencer says, Esme talked to his father about him? and Esme flashes back to – oh! My eyes! She says, among other things. Nikolas saw her suitcase, and she accidentally broke the news about Ava’s offer for them to move out of Windymere in exchange for an allowance from his trust fund. One thing led to another, and she told him they fought, and she was on the verge of walking out on him. Spencer asks what Nikolas said to make her stay, and she says, Nikolas cares about Spencer and doesn’t want to see him hurt, so he talked her down. He gave her a new perspective on relationships. It was a lot to take in, but it made her realize she has to be honest in what she needs from Spencer. He says he knows their relationship has been rocky. He’s been in a bad head space ever since he came back from Spring Ridge, but he’s ready to do whatever it takes to make this work between them. She asks if he really means that.

Portia asks if she can get Rory anything to drink, but he says he’s fine. Trina asks if Taggert wasn’t supposed to be leaving, and Portia thinks she remembers Rory. Wasn’t he at the courthouse at Trina’s arraignment? He says, yes. It was the first day he officially met Trina. Trina says, Rory got her a soda when she was in the interrogation room. Portia says, well, that’s an interesting story, and the three of them force a laugh. Taggert says, mm-hm, and Rory says he heard how Taggert and Commissioner Ashford took down Cyrus Renault. Great work. Taggert says, ya think? He broke the law. He had to convince his ex-wife and daughter that he was dead for nearly six months. Trina says, which she had a problem with at first, but then she realized he was just doing what he had to do. Rory says, it sounds like Taggert did what he needed to do to protect his family and community. He admires that. Taggert asks if Rory likes breaking the rules. Is that the real reason he’s hanging out with Taggert’s daughter?

Josslyn says, Adam wants to apologize? and he says he does. He’s sorry for being a total jerk. He had no right to say the things he said. She says, no, he didn’t; so why did he? He tells her, he’s ashamed to say it now, but all he saw was a hot girl in a video. He didn’t think about how it felt to have her privacy violated. Then he read her article in The Invader. Reading about what she went through, it was seriously messed up, and made him check himself. If someone did that to his sister, he would be furious. He’s really sorry, and sorry he made it worse for her. She thanks him, and says she accepts his apology. He asks if they should hug it out or something, and she says, remember the pool? Don’t push it.

Dante says he’s guessing Cody knows the name Sonny Corinthos, and Cody says, he knows Sonny roasts a mean bean. Can Dante hook him up with some free coffee? Dante says, some things never change; always looking for an angle. Cody says, it’s not what you know, and Dante says, it’s who you know. Cody asks what Dante is up to tonight. Does he want to raise a ruckus to honor the old times? Dante says he has an early morning, and Cody says, Dante has to keep those bad guys off the street. Dante says, and get his kid to school. Cody says, look at Dante. He’s a dad with a great job, and a cool girlfriend. He didn’t think Dante had it in him. Cody is happy for him. It looks like he grew up to have a full life. Dante thanks him, and says, it looks like Cody got the life he wanted too. Cody says, more or less. He’s glad they had this chance to catch up, even if it’s just one night. Sam says, they’re having dinner at her place tomorrow night. Why doesn’t Cody come by?

Sonny says he was worried about Nina. He called and texted, but she didn’t return his calls. She says she put her phone on silent; she wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. He says he heard her petition to see Wiley was rejected. He’s sorry. She asks if he’s upset about how she let Scotty go after Michael, and he says he doesn’t like to see Michael in pain, but can’t he feel for her too? She says she won’t be hurting Michael or anyone anymore. She’s headed to the airport as soon as she finds… He says, this? holding up her necklace. He won’t give it to her, and she says, she’s running late; there’s a car waiting for her. He says, too bad. He’s not letting her go.

Ava says, her offer to Spencer wasn’t only to get him and Esme to move out; it was for her and Nikolas. Nikolas says, she wanted to give them space to work on their marriage, but it hurts that his son chose money over their relationship. Ava says she means no disrespect, but in Spencer’s eyes, Nikolas did the same thing. As a gesture of good faith and to show him she’s committed to their marriage, she won’t make Spencer choose. He says, if she reneges on their deal, Spencer will be furious, but she says, no. She’ll still give him the money, on the condition he remain here. Of course (🍷) she’ll still have to put up with Esme. He says, not necessarily. Esme and Spencer might be breaking up. Esme seems to think so. Ava says, maybe that’s why Spencer was looking for her. Maybe she’s gone already. This calls for a toast. Things are looking up already.

Spencer tells Esme, he means it with all his heart. He wants them to make it. Can she please accept his apology? She takes his hands and says she loves him. She wants to make this relationship work, so yes, she forgives him. She hopes this can be a new beginning for them. He says he wants that too. He’s ready for all this drama to be a thing of the past. She says, the best part is, she knows he means that.

Portia tells Taggert, this isn’t an interrogation, but Rory says, it’s a fair question. Actually, he’s a by-the-book guy. That’s why he looked it up, and there’s no rule he’s not allowed to be friends with Trina while she’s awaiting trial. Taggert says, he’s a rookie, right? There’s something Rory needs to understand about law enforcement; there’s written rules, and unwritten rules. Rory says, yes, sir. He takes that seriously. Just like he takes seriously their oath and motto, to protect and serve; that’s why he was drawn to the job. He’s not violating the oath or motto by hanging out with Trina. If someone has a problem with that, it’s on them, not him. Portia asks what Rory likes to do in his spare time, and he says, Trina is teaching him about art; she has a great eye. Trina says she keeps telling him, art is subjective, but she guesses she’s been around it more. Rory says, no false modesty; own it, lady. Trina says she guesses she’s pretty good at it, and Rory says he likes to keep active; play sports, swim, work out when he can. The job keeps him pretty busy, and the whole work/life balance is tough. Portia says, let her know when he’s got that figured out, and he says, right now, he’s trying to remind himself to make more time for the things he enjoys. He and Trina smile at each other.

Cody tells Sam, he appreciates the offer, but he’s got to hit the road tomorrow. She says, no way. He’s only there for the day? He says, life in the gig economy. His next job’s in the Finger Lakes area, but Port Charles seems like a nice town. Sam says, it is. Too bad he can’t stick around and get to know the place. Cody says he never gets too comfy in one place; got to pay the bills. Sam asks if he’s looking for something long term, and he says, since he quit riding, he just goes where the wind blows. He’s open to opportunities. Why does she ask? She says she might know of a job that’s a good fit, if of course (🍷) he’s interested.

Nina tells Sonny, she can’t stay here. She hates losing him, leaving him, but she can’t keep doing this. Her mistakes have cost him everything, and they’ve finally caught up with her. He says he meant what he said on the stand; he forgives her for what she did to him. She thanks him, and says, it means everything, but it doesn’t change the fact she lost Wiley, her grandson, her flesh and blood, the last link she’ll ever have to her daughter. He says, she doesn’t know that for sure, and she says, Michael and Willow won’t let her see Wiley after everything that happened in court today. He says, Michael and Willow can’t keep her from her grandson forever, but she says, they can. They won’t let that little boy see anything redeemable in her. Willow accused her of being exactly like Nelle. And Nina said terrible things. She has a habit of lashing out when she feels cornered. She missed her chance at getting what her mother stole from her. She won’t know Nelle, and now she won’t know Nelle’s son. The only thing she has left of them is that necklace. Please give to her so she can go. It hurts too much to stay here. He puts the necklace in her hand, and asks her to do him a favor. Before she leaves; let him ask her one thing. How does she think Wiley will feel when he finds out she gave up on him?

Sam tells Cody, her kids spend a lot of time at their grandmother’s. They have stables and horses. They just got a new horse, and they’re actually looking for another handler. Cody says, so old money? New? She says, does it matter? He said he worked on ranches. Does that mean he has experience in managing and grooming horses? He says, yeah. When he was a kid, his family tended to some horses that were on an estate near the camp. He helped out, and even took over for a couple years before he went out west. She says she can’t promise anything, but she and Dante can get him a foot in the door, but Dante says, he thinks it’s a good idea, but he doesn’t think it’s the right one for Cody. Never too comfy in one place, right?

Cameron gets a text from Spencer: All good. Plan on track. Josslyn comes back with Adam, and Cameron says, everything okay? She says, yeah, and Adam says, he was telling Josslyn that he read their article in The Invader, and how sorry he is everything went down the way it did. They’re really brave, and he appreciates them both. Cameron says, cool, thanks, and Adam leaves. Cameron asks if he’s legit, and Josslyn says, actually, yes. He apologized, and told her that when he read the article, he changed. They changed his perspective. It’s just more validation that they made the right decision in agreeing to do the article. He says he guesses they did. He’s glad she’s finally getting some closure. She tells him, she wouldn’t say that. She won’t get any closure on any of this until Esme gets what she deserves.

Spencer and Esme walk in, and Ava says she’s glad Spencer is here. She has some news. She’s decided to amend their agreement. Spencer says, she’s giving him full control of his trust fund? but she laughs, and says, no. She’s still giving him an allowance like they agreed, except Spencer won’t be moving out. He’ll stay, and work things out with his father. Spencer says, she wants him to stay here? and she says, yes, and it seems the timing has worked out perfectly. Nikolas told her what happened. Esme looks at Nikolas, who gives a small shake of his head, and Esme asks Ava, what was that exactly? Ava says she understands Esme and Spencer have been having some difficulties, and are looking to take a break. She’s not going to insult Esme’s intelligence by saying she’s sorry to hear that. She’s sure Esme will land on her feet; find some other family to terrorize, as long as it’s not hers. Esme says, that’s where Ava is wrong. She and Spencer worked everything out. He stays; she stays. Does that alter Ava’s terms? Ava looks at Nikolas.

Nina tells Sonny, she’s not giving up on Wiley; she’s fighting to stay in his life. Sonny says, until now. She had one setback, and she’s going to throw in the towel? She says she can’t sit on the sidelines and watch that little boy play out the rest of his life without her, knowing his family poisoned his mind against her. It just hurts too much. He says, if she runs away, Wiley is going to believe the lies. He’s going to grow up, and want to know his mother and her family. He’s going to seek Nina out, and maybe want a relationship with her when he finds out how great she is. She says she doesn’t see that happening, but he says, they don’t know the future, but he can tell her right now, she’s not going to have a relationship with Wiley if she’s not here. She says she just feels hopeless, and he says, so she’s going to run. That’s what she does; it’s her pattern. She has to break that pattern. Otherwise, Wiley is going to grow up believing all the lies people are telling him. She says, what if it’s too late? but he says, that’s her fear talking. Remember what she said to him? The only way she could make it up to Wiley is to prove how much she loves him. She believed that then, believe it now. She says she doesn’t know what she believes, and he says, stay here. She has a life here. She could have one with Wiley, but she’s never going to know if she runs away.

Cody thanks Sam for the offer, but says, it’s not the right gig for him. Dante says, ever since they were kids, Cody’s had adventure in his veins, and Cody tells Sam, he’s right. Dante’s always had his number.

Cameron says his break’s just about over, and Josslyn says, he was going to tell her something before Adam interrupted them. He says, it’s not really important; it can wait. She says, really? Because she can’t shake the feeling he’s hiding something from her. He says, no. He’s sorry. He’s probably giving off weird vibes; he’s worried about his mom. She says, right. She’s sorry, but he knows he can tell her anything, right? He says he loves her, and she says she loves him too, and they hug.

Ava says, the most important thing is that Nikolas and Spencer work out their problems. If Esme and Nikolas are back track, it seems that Esme will be sticking around. Nikolas says, that is if Spencer decides to stay; the decision is his. And Nikolas supports whatever he decides. Esme says, seems like win-win to her, and Spencer says, how can he refuse such a generous offer? but the look on his face is skeptical. Ava says, then it’s settled. As a welcome home gift, she’ll wire his first payment. She jets, and Spencer says he’ll come too. He follows Ava out, and Esme tells Nikolas, she thought they’d never leave. In the hallway, Spencer asks if Ava is really okay with Esme staying here. She says she’s committed to her marriage, just like she’s committed to Spencer and his father moving forward. If that means putting up with Esme, Ava will do her best to tolerate her. She walks away, and inside the room, Esme says, so Nikolas didn’t tell Ava? She doesn’t suspect? Nikolas says, no, and what happened between them can never happen again. They’re back together with their partners, and have another shot at making it work. He thinks it’s best if Spencer and Ava never find out, and Esme says she totally agrees. Ava and Spence never have to find out. Nikolas leaves.  

Rory says, it’s nice meeting Portia and Taggert, but unfortunately, he has an early morning. Portia says, it was nice meeting him too, and Taggert says he was just leaving; he’ll walk Rory out. Rory says, see Trina soon, and leaves with Taggert. Trina laughs, and picks up her phone. Portia says, he was nice, and he was cute too. She picked up a little connection. Trina tells Portia, like she said, he’s a nice person, but she barely knows him, and Portia says, okay. Whatever Trina says. They both squeal.

Nina touches Nelle’s gravestone, and tells Sonny, okay. She’ll stay in Port Charles, for Wiley. He says, she’s making the right choice, and she says, she’ll watch that sweet little boy become a stranger to her, or worse, afraid of her because of what his family has said about her. She’s not sure how she’s going to handle that. He says, she’s not going to handle it alone. She has him, Phyllis, her family and friends. He takes her hand and says they’re here for her, and she says, that’s a good thing. He says, every step of the way, and she says, because she doesn’t know how she’s going to watch Wiley grow up without her, or how she’s going to live without him. Sonny holds her, and she cries

On Monday, Portia asks if Marshall gave Curtis a reason to trust him; Valentin tells Ned, everything has a price – what’s yours; Willow tells Carly that dealing with Nina helped her come to a big decision; and Elizabeth tells Finn that he’s hurting her more than he realizes.

⌨️ Why the Temp…

It was a little startling. The weird thing was, I kind of thought he made a better Michael than the regular Michael.

🏍 It’s All Good…

I’ll bet it was nothing in comparison to his wife having a baby with another dude.

🧼 Joining Beyond…

The latest actors to jump onto the Salem bandwagon.

🥀 Goodbye Too Soon…

I vaguely remember him from Melrose Place. It was sad to read he’s leaving behind a wife and 8 children.

https://people.com/movies/brad-johnson-always-and-melrose-place-actor-dead-at-62/

🍷 Have Some More…

So how many f***s do you think she gives now?

🚗 Smarter Than the Average Car…

I don’t get the attraction either.

🍸 At the Pump…

Is this the royal we, or is she having a change-of-life baby?

We’re not sure how Lisa can show a text that [neither PK nor Dorit] can show on their phone, so we don’t know, [Kyle] Richards, 53, told us last week.

Unhinged? More like the worst human on earth.

Aww! They’re all growed up.

📺 Coming Right Up…

TV premiere dates for 2022.

https://ew.com/tv/2022-tv-premiere-dates/

👠 In the Pink…

I can’t wait to see this show. I love Trixie.

https://www.queerty.com/trixie-motel-book-queer-5-reasons-tune-discovery-pride-season-20220602

🏓 Quotes of the Week

Trust is lost in buckets and gained in drops. – Judge Faith Jenkins

The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax. – Albert Einstein

If I were to search for logic, it wouldn’t be among the English upper class. – Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith), Downton Abbey

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. – Audrey Hepburn

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers. – Kahlil Gibran

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them. – Orison Swett Marden (Or smack them out of the way.)

There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.Nelson Mandela

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

🧍🏽‍♀️ Just Taking a Step To the Right…

Come hither again when the Dead are Feared. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping your priorities straight, and stay not letting your pattern be running away. And if it is, break it.

June 2, 2022 – An Old Friend Of Dante’s Drops In, More Than an Actor, Judgements, Shifting Sands, Wedding Leak, Shane Update, Pets (!) & Break Free

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Britt fumbles around under the parachute, and pops up, saying, what the hell was that? The parachutist pops up from the other side, and says, now that was interesting. Hello, Port Charles! Britt asks for someone to help her out of the pool.

Michael asks Carly, what is it? As long as it isn’t bad news. She looks at the envelope, and flashes back to opening it, and reading, Patient A has a 99.9999999999999 chance of being related to Patient B. Carly says, if this is true, Nina is Willow’s mother. Michael asks if she’s okay, and she lets out an audible breath.

Sonny comes into Charlie’s, and Phyllis says, that look on his face better not be disappointment. He says he’s always happy to see her, and she asks if he’d be happier if Nina was here. He asks if she came by, and Phyllis says, not today. He says, he called and texted, but she didn’t get back to him, and Phyllis asks if he’s worried about the hearing. He says, she didn’t let him know if the judge ruled, and Phyllis says, maybe it’s still going on. He could head over there and offer his support. He says he already did that, and he just made it worse.

Carly tells Michael, she’s fine. She’s just trying to decompress from the day. Willow says, tell her about it, when Drew joins them, and asks how it went. Michael says, they won, and Willow says, Nina has no one to blame but herself. Drew tells them, congratulations, and Willow takes Michael’s hand, saying, it really does feel like a victory, doesn’t it? After everything Nina put them through, and all that crap she said on the stand, it’s over. Nina can never lay claim to their family again.

At the park, Josslyn says she can’t believe Wiley beat her again. Maybe they should just play a different game. Wiley says, like what? and she says, like volleyball, but he says, no way; she’s too good. She says, finally, a little respect. Her phone dings, and she wonders who it could be. Wiley says, Cameron? and she says, he guessed it. Wiley says, Cameron texts her a lot. She reads: Don’t worry about Spencer. Will set him straight about Esme.

As they head for the room where Esme and Nikolas are, Spencer picks something up from the floor, and tells Ava, this is Esme’s jacket. He calls to Esme, and inside, she and Nikolas break apart. Nikolas says, Spencer. Spencer looks at Ava, who shrugs, and he tries the door, but it’s locked. He says, that’s funny. This door’s been locked. Who would have done that?

Brad continues to film, as Britt hoists herself out of the pool, and says, don’t worry about me. She struggles to stand up, using a table as leverage, and Maxie asks if she’s okay. Britt says, does she look like she’s okay? She tells Dante, feel free to arrest that guy at any time, but Spinelli thinks invoking the law is a little extreme. Britt says, he could have killed her, and Maxie says, don’t be dramatic. Britt says, excuse me? and Maxie says, he was obviously part of the entertainment, and did a really cool stunt. Brad says, he, for one, is thoroughly entertained, and Britt tells Dante, arrest him. Dante says, first things first, and asks the guy to get out of the pool. The guy says he’s a little tied up, and fiddles with his harness, and Dante tells him, get untied up. Come on, get out of the pool. He’ll give the guy five seconds. Britt says she’ll count. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5! Dante says, come on, and the guy frees himself, saying, all right. It’s official. He’s completely free. Britt says, not for long, and Dante says, Cody? The guy says, Dante? and Dante says he doesn’t believe this. Britt makes a face.

Carly says, if there’s one thing they’ve learned, it’s that Nina isn’t going to disappear quietly into the sunset, and Michael says, she took her best shot and lost. Can they please stop talking about Nina, and go home and celebrate with Wiley? Carly says, if only it were that simple, and Willow asks why it isn’t. Drew wonders if he can steal Michael for a minute, and they step into the hallway. Michael asks if it’s about the hearing, and Drew says, yes… and no. It’s mostly about ELQ.

Phyllis says, that hearing sounds like a nightmare, and Sonny says, it was. She says, maybe it’s naïve of her, but things were simpler back in Nixon Falls, weren’t they? If you had a problem with a neighbor, you worked it out over the fence. He says, or over a nice cold beer in town, and she says, and families duked it out at Thanksgiving not in court. He says, and lawyers get their fees, and everyone walks away like they lost, even if they won. She says, it must have been excruciating, standing up for Nina, knowing what it would do to his relationship with his son. Be honest though. If he could go back, and do it all over again, would he make a different choice?

Spencer jiggles the doorknob, and calls, Esme. Are you in there? He says he guesses not, throws the jacket on a chair, and leaves. Ava is about to knock, when Nikolas opens the door. Ava asks, what exactly was he doing in there?

Esme runs out onto the parapet in her underwear.

Brad hands a shirtless Cody a towel, and Britt says, really? Brad says, what? He looks cold. Cody says he’s sorry about getting Britt all wet, but in his defense, he was told the pool was going to be cleared. She says, well, it wasn’t, and he says he sees that now. Dante asks what Cody is doing here; working as a skydiver? Cody says, yeah, and Brad says, Jack of all trades. Cody says, exactly. Where did Dante Falconari end up, besides Port Charles? Britt says their little catch-up is cute, but can Dante arrest him now? Cody says, get out of town. Dante is a cop? and Dante says, guilty as charged. Cody says, him, an officer of the law? and Britt says she swears, if Dante doesn’t do something… Cody says, that is hilarious, and Dante puts handcuffs on him, and says, how about now? Is it funny now, or not so much?

Carly asks how Willow is feeling, and Willow says, mainly relieved. She can’t wait to move forward, and get on with their lives. Carly says, it got pretty intense with Nina. She’s never seen Willow that angry. Willow doesn’t think she’s ever been that angry. For them to go through what they did, and have Nina come begging, after the fact. After having her lawyer say in open court that Michael is violent toward women; that Nelle, a psychotic murderer was cowering in the shadows with her baby because she was scared of him? Why would she let Nina near her child after she did that to Wiley’s father?

Drew says, he’s not going to tell Michael what to do when it comes to his dad, or anything for that matter. If Michael wants to take Sonny down, that’s his call, but he can’t have Michael distracted. This is a high risk business venture, and they need to be present and focused. If whatever’s going on with Michael’s dad gets in the way, he’s going to have a problem with that. Michael says he hears Drew, but wants Drew to know where he’s coming from, and Drew says, fair enough. Michael says, Nina lied to his family for six months. She carried on a romance with Sonny in Nixon Falls for six months, while they grieved a man they thought was dead. She also came to visit Wiley under false pretenses, and took advantage of their generosity in giving her a second chance. That’s why they fought this petition; Nina is a bad influence. She’s not a person they want in Wiley’s life, and as Wiley’s parents, it’s their choice to make. Drew says he couldn’t agree more, and Michael says, Sonny disagrees. Today, he got on the stand and testified on Nina’s behalf. Drew says, it doesn’t surprise him that Michael is furious, but he had this campaign against his dad way before this hearing. Michael admits Drew is right.

Sonny tells Phyllis, would he change anything? He kept asking himself that as he walked out of the courtroom. She says, and? and he says, no, he wouldn’t. He knows that probably makes him a traitor, especially in Michaels eyes, but he sees it as being true to what he believes. She asks if he said that in his testimony, and he tells her, he said he thought Wiley deserves more love, not less, and people should put him first. And even if you make mistakes, you should learn by them, and lead by example; no one’s perfect. She says, amen to that, and he says, that includes him, but he’s not going to apologize for who he is. He’s not going to sit back and let a loving grandmother be cut out of her grandson’s life. It’s wrong. She says, wow. Nina means that much to him? and he says, Wiley means that much to him. He just hopes Wiley grows up, and he doesn’t want Wiley to just be Michael’s son or his grandson. He wants Wiley to be his own man.

Josslyn says, Wiley is so lucky he doesn’t have a girlfriend who drives him crazy, and he says he has a girlfriend. She says, who? and he says, her. She asks if she drives him crazy, and he says, not today. She says, good to know. You know what else she knows? He’s going to be real heartbreaker when he grows up. He asks, what’s a heartbreaker? and she says she has an idea. Does he want to take a little trip? He asks, where? and she says, you’ll see.

Spencer looks at Esme’s suitcase, when the doorbell rings. It’s Cameron, who says, what the hell? Spencer says he didn’t have to come all the way out here, but Cameron says, from the sound of Spencer’s text, he did. What happened with Esme? Spencer says, things were going great, he swears. He cut a deal with Ava to get him and Esme out of the house, and in exchange, he was going to have access to his trust fund. Plus, it would have the added benefit of giving him and Esme time together. It was a win-win-win. Cameron says, it’s perfect. Where did it go wrong? Spencer says, Esme started tearing into Trina. He couldn’t help it; he lost his cool, and he took off. Cameron asks, where? and Spencer says, he went for a ride to clear his mind. He realized he’d messed up, and came back to try and talk things out, but Esme was gone. Cameron says, Esme’s left the island? but Spencer says he doesn’t know. Her suitcase is here, but he can’t find her. It’s like she vanished.

On the parapet, Esme gets her clothes on, while inside, Nikolas asks if Spencer is with Ava. He thought he heard Spencer’s voice. She says, he did. Spencer’s looking for Esme; has he seen her? Nikolas says he hasn’t, and she says, he seems nervous. He says he’s just getting his bearings. He was reading, and fell asleep. She says, with the door locked? and he says, was it locked? The wind must have blown it shut, locking it by accident. She says, it must have been some nap. His hair’s all mussed up, and he missed a button. He suggests they go downstairs, but she thinks they should stay here; it’s quiet and private. Perfect for what she has to say. He says he thinks she made her feelings perfectly clear when she threatened to walk out, and she says, about that. They hear something outside on the parapet, and Ava says, what was that? Outside, Esme curses herself for dropping her shoe.

Dante says, Cody could have hurt someone, and Britt says, yeah, here. Cody says, it was a paid gig. If there’s an issue, take it up with the people who hired him. An officer asks if Dante needs a hand, but Dante says, no, and thanks him for the cuffs. Brook says she knows Chase wants to get in there. it’s just a few more weeks. He asks if they can sit and talk, and they go to a table. Britt says she’s curious about Cody’s job description. Did it say party crasher? Cody says he was supposed to land in the pool; make a big splash… literally. But then… What is her name? Brad says, her name’s Britt, and Britt kicks at him. Cody says, then Britt was smack in the middle of his landing zone. Spinelli says, it is a brilliant marketing strategy; a singles event with eligible men literally raining from the sky. Not that he took any pleasure in how it transpired. The main thing is Britt’s okay, yes? She says, she’s fine, and Cody says, see? She says, but she could have downed, so off to jail he goes. Cody says, Dante’s not doing this, is he? and Britt looks at Dante.

Willow tells Carly, Nina is certifiable. In one breath, it’s, take pity on me; you’re wonderful parents. And in the other, it’s, just kidding; Michael is a woman and child abuser. Carly says, she’s a piece of work, and Willow says she’s just done. Nina better not show up, or try to contact them. The judge made her decision; it’s over. Carly says she couldn’t agree more, and puts the envelope in her bag. She says, all that matters now is giving Wiley the best childhood possible, and Willow says, that is 100% the plan. I can’t wait for this to backfire.

Michael tells Drew, he knew Sonny was different after he returned from Nixon Falls, but when he realized he didn’t know who Sonny was, was at Nina’s trial, when Sonny defended her. A few weeks later, Sonny slept with Nina, and a few weeks after that, Sonny and Carly were divorced. Drew says, Michael is furious on his mom’s behalf, but Michael says, he’s furious with himself. All the years wasted on believing in Sonny, his honor, loyalty, and love. But he sees Sonny for exactly what he is now; he’s a criminal with a long line of luck. This is where his luck ends, and Michael is going to see to it. Drew says, this is where he steps in. He knows what’s going on; Dante told him. Michael plans to use ELQ to go after Sonny. Michael says, and Drew wants no part of that, and Drew says, no, he doesn’t. He’s not just some guy Michael works with; he’s Michael’s uncle. Obviously, he wants to protect ELQ, but more than that, he wants to protect Michael. Michael says he’s good, but Drew says, hear him out. He’s never been that close with Sonny, even when he thought he was Jason, and he agrees Sonny has acted badly. He’s going to stop short of saying Sonny failed his family, because it’s a complicated and tricky situation. Michael says, that is exactly what he did, but Drew says, a lot of people close to Michael don’t feel the same way. So the harder he pushes Sonny, the harder it’s going to be for Dante, for Kristina, and especially for Avery and Donna. They’re too young to be able to grapple with all this. Michael says, loving his siblings, and propping Sonny up are two different things, but Drew says he’s not asking Michael to prop Sonny up. Michael says, it’s what they do every time they pretend Sonny is a legit coffee importer. Michael’s not a gangster. He’s not going to go in guns blazing. He’s a businessman. He’s going to outmaneuver Sonny, and he’s going to do it without ELQ. Drew asks if Michael is sure about that, and Michael says he’s not going to let his issues with his father get in the way of his business with Drew. Drew says, he’s going to keep them separate, right? Because their company, and the people who depend on them, can’t be used to punish Sonny. Michael says, understood.

Phyllis says she doesn’t need a transcript to know Sonny’s heart’s in the right place. She saw it in Nixon Falls. The way he stood up to Elijah when he saw Elijah was trying to take advantage of them. How he treated them like family… when Lenny got sick. He says, they are family, and she says, hell, he almost died when he pulled her and Nina out of that fire. He says, make sure she tells Wiley that one day, but she says she has the feeling he’ll get the chance to tell Wiley himself. The Pub phone rings, and Phyllis answers. It’s Scotty, and Phyllis says, no, she hasn’t come in… I see… Of course (🍷) I will. She says goodbye, and tells Sonny, Nina lost.

Cameron says he can’t believe Spencer let Esme get inside his head – again. Spencer says he doesn’t need a lecture. Not today. It was bad enough seeing Trina with Officer What’s-His-Face at the gallery. Cameron says, she was with Rory? and Spencer says, there was nothing going on, but he didn’t love it. Then to have Esme rip into her… Cameron says, Trina doesn’t need Spencer defending her honor; she can take care of herself. Spencer says he understands, but Cameron says, clearly he doesn’t. His brothers are upset enough that their mother is away, and Joss goes into combat mode every time he suggests Spencer’s not evil incarnate. Spencer says, he knows it’s rough, but Cameron says he doesn’t need Spencer’s sympathy. What he needs Spencer to do is expose his girlfriend already.

Nikolas rebuttons his shirt, and Ava heads to the door to look outside. Nikolas says, it must have been the bats. This is the time of the afternoon they come out. Because everyone knows bats come out in the daytime. Really? He says, they should be grateful the bats eat all of the insects, and Ava says she’ll be sure to send a thank you note. She steps away from the door, saying, bats, vermin with wings. Esme listens from outside, and Nikolas asks if Ava will join him downstairs. She says, in a minute. She needs to apologize. She’s sorry she threatened to walk out on him. She didn’t mean it. She’s so sorry. She shouldn’t have done that.

Spinelli asks Sam if she can’t persuade her beau there’s no need for such drastic measures, and Britt says, what? Brad says, he agrees; let muscles off with a warning. Cody says, or a good spanking, and Dante says, the law’s the law. He’ll do Cody a favor and not arrest him in front of an audience. Let’s go. Sam runs up, and says she’s coming with Dante. Cody asks if she’s Dante’s girlfriend, and Dante introduces them. Cody says, the pleasure’s all his, and Dante says, let’s get out of here. Dante leads Cody away, and Britt calls, enjoy lock up!

Brook says, so much for finding true love, huh? and Chase says, happily ever after is hard to come by. Brook wonders if it’s not better to quit while you’re ahead; save yourself the agony. Chase says, it’s definitely a smart play. Fortunately, Finn was the smart one in the family.

Going back in the courtroom with Michael, Drew asks if everything is okay, and Willow says, everything’s great. Carly says, everything turned out the way it was meant to for everyone involved, and Michael asks if Willow is ready to go home. She says, so ready, when Wiley runs in. Michael picks him up, and Willow asks what he’s doing here. Josslyn says she figured they’d want to see him. She hopes it’s okay. Willow says, it’s more than okay, and thanks her. Michael says, Wiley is a sight for sore eyes, and Wiley asks why his eyes are sore.

Sonny leaves Nina a voicemail, saying, he heard the news; he’s sorry. Call him back when she can, or text him, and he’ll be right there. He tells Phyllis to do him a favor. If Nina comes in, let him know. She asks where he’s going, and he says he’s going to find Nina. She says, they’re both worried, but possibly, Nina may not want to be found. Maybe the point is for her to be alone right now, to process, to grieve, to scream. He says, the last time she was like this, she went to Nixon Falls, and Phyllis asks if that doesn’t prove her point. He says he needs to be with her, and she says, he doesn’t even know where to start. He says, that’s where she’s wrong, and he leaves.

Nikolas flashes back to him and… please don’t make me look at this again. Ava asks if he isn’t going say something, and he says he thought it was over; that she was giving up on them. She says, no. She guesses she was thinking about it, but she went to the firing range to blow off some steam and ran into his mother. Laura told her that he’d asked her to write a letter of recommendation to the Adams Day School for Avery. He says, he knew his mother would be happy to help. Turns out she knows the headmistress. Ava tells him, that’s what she said. The letter is already sent, and she has a call in to the Director of Admissions, and that’s great. She’d really like Avery to go to Adams, but hearing what he did, without making a big fuss or wanting any credit, was a wake-up call for her. She was reminded how thoughtful and generous he can be. After her anger cooled down, she was able to hear his mother’s sage advice. He asks if she’s sure it wasn’t a lecture, and she says, maybe a little of both, but it got her thinking. Not that they don’t have real issues to work through – they do – but she’s never been a quitter, and doesn’t intend to start being one now. Does he?

Brook says, so Chase isn’t a world famous physician like his brother, but he’s smart in other ways. He asks, how so? and she says, like knowing when to step in and save her from blowing it with Valentin. He sacrificed so much to protect Bailey from Peter. He says, that’s not necessarily smart, and she says, heroic then. Maybe she was wrong. He says, about? and she says, the whole quitting while you’re ahead thing. Maybe it’s the exact opposite. You need to jump in more, think less. He says he can do that. In fact, he’s going to make the leap right now. He’ll do everything he can to help her get her music back.

Spinelli gives Britt some coffee, assuring her, it’s the best way through. He has a prediction. One day they’ll look back on the events of today, and see only fond memories. Brad says, he will, but Britt tells him, don’t get any ideas. He’s all mine.

At Charlie’s, Cody says, he thought for a second, Dante was actually going to haul him in, and Dante says, for a second, he was. They bring beers over to the table where Sam is sitting, and Dante says, a tip if he may? The next time Cody decides to jump out of an airplane for money, make sure he doesn’t jump in a pool, public or private. Cody says, noted, and Sam says, Cody is lucky Dante had an extra change of clothes in his car. (Like they’re the same size. Hint: they’re not.) Cody says, gracias, compadre, and Dante says, Cody’s welcome, but he wants them back. Cody says, that Britt woman, she’s something else, and Sam says, that’s one way to put it. Dante says, Cody should thank them. They saved him from Britt’s wrath. Cody says he’ll pay them back by letting them buy him dinner. After all this commotion, he’s starving. Phyllis comes over, and Dante introduces Cody. He asks Phyllis if everything is okay.  

Sonny runs into the cemetery, calling for Nina. He goes over to Nelle’s grave, and bends down.

Michael asks if Wiley had fun with Aunt Josslyn, and Wiley says, they played a game, and he won. Josslyn demands a rematch, and Willow thanks Josslyn for taking care of Wiley while they were… Josslyn says, indisposed. Of course (🍷). Anytime. Is everything good? Wiley asks what Michael and Willow are doing here, and Carly says, Wiley wasn’t the only one playing a game. His mommy and daddy won too. Josslyn says, they did? and hugs Michael. She says, thank God, and hugs Willow. She’s so happy that the game worked out the way they’d hoped. Michael says, so are they.

Spencer says, Cameron is right. He can’t keep ping-ponging from Esme to Trina if he’s going to make this work. He needs to show Esme that he’s all in. It just drove him crazy seeing Trina at the gallery with that cop. Cameron tells Spencer, he’s going to say something and he needs Spencer to hear him. He’s going back to take care of Jake and Aiden. He will not lose Joss because Spencer can’t keep his head in the game. Do whatever it takes at this point; Cameron doesn’t care. Confess to Trina, suck it up to Esme, just make it happen tonight. Or he will.

Nikolas asks, what brought on Ava’s change of heart? and she says she just told him. He says, right; his mother and a letter of recommendation. She says, and herself, and he asks why she didn’t tell him before. She says, before what? He recovers nicely, and says, before they came so close to losing what they have. She says she’s telling him now. That’s got to count for something. He says, it counts for everything. Yes, they still have issues, and of course (🍷) they need to discuss them, but not here. Come with him. She won’t regret it. He holds out his hand, and she takes it. They leave, and Esme walks in from the parapet. She says, how wrong you are, Nikolas. Ava will regret it, and so will you.

Brad says, Britt has the hots for parachute guy? Not that he blames her, but those weren’t the vibes he was getting. She says she’s interested, but only to the extent that he helped her prove her point. What’s better evidence that true love is a lie than a cynical attempt to sell it with stunts? Spinelli says, there was nothing cynical about it, and Brad says, what’s wrong with a little romance? Bonus if it’s wrapped in a package as drool worthy as Candy’s. Spinelli says, Cody, and Brad says, whatever. His name could be Elmer for all Brad cares. Britt says she’s going to sue him for assaulting her, and Spinelli says he thinks assault is a bit of a stretch. She says, she’s going to sue him, even if she has to sue him for every stitch of clothing he’s not wearing.

Sam and Dante come back to the table, and Cody asks if everything is copacetic. Dante says, yeah; it’s just family stuff. Cody says, let him know if he can help, and Sam says, who is he? He says, Cody Bell. We met at the pool? She says, she knows, but until an hour ago, she didn’t even know he existed, now he and Dante seem to be picking up where they left off. Dante says, you know how it is when you’re friends from childhood. They literally grew up together. Cody says, and got into trouble together, and Dante says, that too.

Chase says, maybe he does think too much, and Brook says, he does. He says, maybe he should start seizing the moment, and she says, there’s no time like the present. They almost kiss, when Chase’s phone dings. He says, it’s his brother. He’s having a tough time with everything that’s going on with Elizabeth. She says, Chase should go be with him, and he says, really? She says, really, and he says, okay, thanks. And tomorrow, it will all about her and him, and getting the goods on Linc. And once they do, they can use it to get her music back. She says, she’ll see him tomorrow; she can’t wait. He says, him either, and heads for the door. Brook goes over to Britt’s table, and says, that was quite a splashdown. Brad says, Cody can splash into his bath anytime, but Spinelli says, technically, a tub is indoors, and you can’t splash down into it. Brook and Chase steal a glance at each other.

Carly asks Wiley for a hug, and says she loves him so much. Always remember that. He says he will, and Josslyn leaves with Willow, Michael, and Wiley, amid congratulations from Carly and Drew. When they’re gone, Drew says, what was that head nod? Was it because of the DNA results, or because Willow doesn’t know yet? Carly says, it was the results; she heard from the lab. He says, and? and she says, Nina’s not Willow’s mother. He says he guesses it was for the best, and Carly says, especially after the hearing; it was brutal. He says, Michael told him a little bit about it. Sonny testified for Nina. She says, that was the least of it. And the whole ordeal happened because of Nina; because of her selfishness and entitlement issues. Poor Willow is just exhausted, and she’s angry, and she wants Nina as far away from her family as possible. Drew says, it would have been awful if Nina was her mom, and Carly says, but she’s not. He wonders why Harmony said she was, and Carly says, Harmony was a troubled woman, but it doesn’t matter where Willow came from. It matters who she is today, and how much she loves Michael and Wiley, and the life they have to look forward to. I dunno. I’m not so sure Drew is buying this.

Sonny finds something on the ground, but we don’t see what it is. He looks around. I wonder if it’s Nina’s necklace.

Spencer walks into the now unlocked room, and Esme is there. He says, finally. Where has she been? She says, she’s been around, and he says he’s been looking everywhere for her. There’s something he needs to tell her. She says she has something she needs to tell him too.

Ava says, Nikolas is acting strange. What’s going on? He’s scaring her. Spit it out. He says, there’s something she needs to know.

Tomorrow, Rory can’t wait to see what else Trina introduces him to; Cameron says he has something to tell Josslyn; Sonny says, Nina may do something she’s going to regret.

📋 Exit Interview…

I’d forgotten he also writes for GH. He was co-writer of today’s episode.

💳 All That Glitters…

I’m not too keen on that pot stirring model. Anyone who has to tell you they’re amazing, probably isn’t.

🌇 Changing City…

I know there are worse places, but it is kind of amazing how such a cosmopolitan city still needs to catch up in so many ways.

💏 Love Bubble Coopted…

On a scale of one to hair pulling, I wonder how mad Teresa is.

⚖️ He’s Legal…

I like these two, and I’m glad things are working out all around.

🐩 On a Furry Note…

Enjoy some celebrities with their pets. Or just enjoy the pets.

⚓️ Pulling Up Anchor…

Pop in tomorrow for some soap, tea of all kinds, a thoughtful collection of quotes, and a musical moment. Until then, stay safe, stay taking only your own inventory, and stay being true to what you believe.

January 7, 2022 – Sonny Goes Back Home, Postponed, Luke’s Death, an Exit, Last Bow, Possible Wife, SI DUI, Ring Clap, Ringing It In, the First Dozen Quotes This Year & a Tale

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the Deception office, Chase asks if Brook is working late. She says he didn’t have to come himself. She would have called the baby nurse to pick up Bailey. He says, now that Peter’s awake, he doesn’t want to take any chances. If it were up to him, he’d never take his eyes off this little angel. (Bailey is really cute, and one of those very aware babies who seems to know what’s expected in a scene.) Brook says she appreciates that. Unfortunately, Peter isn’t their only problem now that her grandmother is back in town. He says, her grandmother Tracy? and she says, yes. If he sees her anywhere in the house, steer clear. He doesn’t want anything to do with her. He says, so she doesn’t want him to take Bailey back to the house? and she says, kind of like at the last possible moment. He tells Bailey, it looks like it’s just you and me, kid.

Trina and Ava are seated at the MetroCourt, and Ava asks for another place setting. Trina asks if someone is joining them, and Ava says, yes. This is a working dinner with their new employee. Spencer walks in, and Ava says, he’s right on time.

At Charlie’s, Cameron tells Josslyn, there’s a lull right now, so if she wants to vent about her mom and Sonny, now would be the time. Josslyn says she’s so pissed at Sonny, and he says, keep going. She says, he totally protected Nina in court. She’ll never have to pay for what she did. He doesn’t even view it as a crime. He’s completely betrayed his family, especially her mom. Cameron asks if her mom has said anything, but she says, not directly. He should have seen her on New Year’s; she was hurting so bad. He takes her hand, and says he’s sorry her family has to go through this, but he thinks everything will be okay. How many times have her mom and Sonny been married? She says, one more time than they’ve been divorced, and he says, exactly. He thinks they’ll get through this. She says, this time, she’s not so sure. She really thinks her mom and Sonny may have broken up for real. Esme walks in, and says, oh my God. That’s terrible. Josslyn says, it is, and thanks her. Esme asks if that means they can’t use the cabin.

Phyllis knocks at Nina’s office door, and asks if she’s interrupting. Nina says, is she kidding? Of course (🍷) not. She’s exactly the person Nina needed to see. She takes Phyllis’s hands, and says, as a matter-of-fact, she was going to drop by Charlie’s when she got off work. Phyllis is glad she saved Nina a trip, and Nina says she bets Phyllis can guess what she needed to talk about. Phyllis says, the hearing? and Nina says, it was crazy. She won’t believe what happened. Phyllis says she knows exactly what happened. It finally came out that Nina and Sonny fell in love. Nina says, it was a disaster, and Phyllis says, she’s right. So what is she going to do about it?

Olivia says, Sonny told Carly how he felt about Nina, and she was honest with him about how she felt about Jason on her wedding day, but has she been honest with Sonny about how she feels about Jason still? Sonny walks in, and Carly asks what he’s doing here. He says, he lives here, and doesn’t want to leave until they settle things. He asks Olivia if he can have time with his wife, and Olivia says, of course (🍷). She was just on her way out. She tells Carly that she’s rooting for her; don’t let her down. She leaves, and Sonny asks how Donna and Avery are. She says, they miss him. She told them that he was away on business. He says he doesn’t want them to think he’s gone, and she says, unlike Nina, she has no desire to keep him away from his family. He says, good, because he wants to come home. They’ve been apart too long. He knows he made a mistake, and he should have told her from the beginning, despite his reasons. She asks, what reasons? and he says he told her, Jason died. She says, then Sasha and Brando lost their baby, and he didn’t want to cause any more pain. He says, Sasha and Brando went through a terrible tragedy, and it broke his heart. Then they lost Jason, and Carly was able to express her hurt and grief. He lost his best friend, his brother, and he had to stuff all that inside. He had to be tough for her. He didn’t want to lose her, and didn’t want this thing with Nina to come between them. He didn’t say anything, and he should have, and it made it worse. But now, he’s been apart from her for nine months, and one night. He doesn’t want to spend one more minute without her.

Elizabeth sees Finn in the hospital locker room, and he asks if they’re still on for tonight. She asks, why wouldn’t they be? and he says he doesn’t know. Emergency? Family? Friends? The weather? She laughs, and he says, maybe she’s having second thoughts? She says, no, never. There’s no way she’s missing their first official date. She even brought a dress for the occasion. Don’t tell her that he changed his mind. He says, him? No. He’s just – he takes her hand – he’s just really happy if she feels like she can move on with him. She flashes back to putting her ring away, and says she thinks Franco would want her to be happy, and she is happy, with him. He kisses her.

Josslyn says, that’s nice. Her mother’s marriage is falling apart, and Esme is worried about a weekend getaway. Esme says she’s right; it was insensitive of her, and she’s truly sorry. Josslyn says, apology accepted, and Esme says, it’s just that all she can think about is Spence. He’s with Ava right now to discuss restitution. It’s torture. Not only this business with Ava, but the whole going to prison thing. She sits down, and says, the only thing Spence was looking forward to was their time in the cabin. Josslyn says she’s really sorry, but the last thing she wants is to ask Sonny for anything, and Esme says she understands. She doesn’t know how she’s going to tell Spence the weekend is off. On top of everything else, how can she take this from him too?

Spencer says he didn’t know Trina was going to be there, and Trina says, same here. She’ll leave if they’re going to be discussing… He says, please don’t leave on his account. He never minds seeing her. Ava on the other hand… He sits down, and Ava says, there’s no need to flatter Trina; he already has the job. He says, a job is usually paid for; this seems like indentured servitude. Ava says, court mandated indentured servitude. He owes her. The fake blood did damage to her gallery, not to mention the art itself. She opens the menu, and suggests they have a little something to eat before they talk business. Surf, turf, or both? Spencer says, he can’t afford to eat anything there. Ava has a stranglehold on his trust fund. Ava asks who he thinks is paying for this meal? She tells Trina to order whatever she likes. It’s on Spence.

Brook asks if Chase has heard anything about his suspension, but he says, not a peep. Which is fine. Not having to work means having more time to look after this little troublemaker, and when he’s not watching her, he fills his time with working out, and looking up brand new facts. Did she know the severed head of a sea slug can grow its whole body back? She says she doesn’t find that fascinating; she finds it repulsive. He says, why can’t it be both? and she asks if he’s really okay. He says, he was just so eager to get out of the wheelchair, and now that he’s able-bodied, he’s still kept from doing what he loves. It’s beyond frustrating. She says she’s so sorry, and he says, he told her, it’s not her fault. She says she can’t help but feel responsible. He was suspended for punching Valentin in her honor. He says he would do it all over again. Olivia comes by, and says, thank God Brook’s here. Brook asks if anyone is hurt, but Olivia says, not yet, but if Brook doesn’t talk her down, she’s going to Crimson, and rearranging Nina’s lying face.

Nina says, Phyllis knows what happened at the hearing? She was under the weather, so Nina assumed she was out of the loop. Phyllis says, one thing she’ll never take for granted again, in Nixon Falls, when she and Lenny had problems with their marriage, they never ended up on the news. Nina says, what? Phyllis found out about this on the news? Phyllis says, yes, and Kristina also filled her in on what happened at the hearing. Nina is sure Kristina had a mouthful to say about her, and Phyllis says, she did, but she’s hurt and confused, like Phyllis imagines Nina is. Nina says Phyllis has to believe her. She never wanted anyone to know about her and Sonny. No one, especially not like this. Now Sonny and Carly’s marriage was in trouble, and he was a wreck on New Year’s Eve. Phyllis says, she saw Sonny on New Year’s Eve? Alone? She’s asking for trouble.

Olivia says, then Willow testified that she heard Nina and Sonny talking about falling in love in Nixon Falls, which then Sonny confirmed, also on the stand. Chase says, poor Willow, and Brook asks, how’d Carly react? Chase says he has to meet his brother at GH, so he’ll take Bailey, and leave them to talk. Brook says, he’s introducing the baby to his brother? and he says, yeah. It’s going to be fine. He hands her a paper bag, saying, he almost forgot. He thought she might be working late, so he got her turkey on rye, her favorite. He added a banana because she always seems to steal his. Brook thanks him, but says, don’t think for a second her banana stealing days are over. He says he wouldn’t have it any other way, and says, goodbye, wheeling Bailey’s carriage out. When he’s gone, Olivia asks Brook to tell her every single detail. Brook says, about what? and Olivia says, her and Chase obviously.

Ava says, she and Trina came up with a list of projects Spencer can tackle at the gallery after he serves his sentence. Spencer says, if he’d thought this plea deal meant working for her, he’d have asked for more prison time, and Ava says, that’s gratitude for you. Luckily, she has good news. He won’t be working for her. He’ll be working for Trina.

Cameron tells Esme that he’ll break the news to Spence once he finds out what’s going on with Sonny, but Josslyn says, that’s okay. Esme’s right. They promised Spencer a fun time at the cabin, and considering it’s the last fun he’ll have in a long time… Esme says, that’s so decent of her. She knows it will mean the world to Spence. Josslyn says, the way she sees it, after what he did to her mom, Sonny owes her, and she could use some time away. Esme says she knows the feeling. Before they died, her parents were in the process of splitting up. It was brutal. Cameron says, it’s never easy; he’s sorry. What happened? Esme says, what didn’t? They both know the drill. He betrayed her, and they blamed each other. It was devastating. Josslyn says she’s sorry, and Esme thanks her, but says, she’s not. She may have been just a kid, but it taught her a valuable lesson. There’s a circle in hell reserved for people who tear families apart.

Nina says, nothing happened with Sonny, but Phyllis says, trust her. When the two of them are together, something happens. They have unresolved feelings for each other, and whether they act on those feelings or not is beside the point. Right now, being together, even casually, is inappropriate. Nina says, Phyllis is probably right, but Sonny has unresolved feelings for her. Phyllis asks what point Nina is making, and Nina says, she was chatting with her friend Ava, and it got her thinking. They all deserve happiness in life, right? She knows it sounds crazy, but right or wrong and not now, what if Sonny’s happiness lies with her?

Carly says, that’s the man she married, and Sonny says he thinks that’s who he is. She says, Sonny told her that he has reasons for keeping the truth about him and Nina from her. What reasons? He says, it doesn’t matter; it doesn’t exist. She says, that’s not the truth, and he asks what she means. She says, the reason he didn’t tell her was because he knew she’d ask the inevitable question. He asks if they have to do this now, and she says, yes, they do. She says she asked him last night, and she’s going to ask it again, and if he can’t answer it this time, he can turn around and leave. Does he have feelings for Nina? He doesn’t say anything, so she shouts, does he have feelings for Nina? and he says, yeah.

Trina says, Spencer’s working for her? But it’s Ava’s gallery. Ava says she won’t be there very much in the coming months. She and Nikolas are going to renew their vows. Their first wedding was last minute, so they want to plan something elegant, and in her absence, Trina will supervise. Spencer says, that’s no better. No offense, Trina. Trina asks if he thinks she wants this. Excuse her. She jets, and Spencer says, wait. Ava tells him, sit down. They’re not finished here yet.

Cameron says he knows how it feels. His family was torn apart when Franco was killed. He almost let his anger get the best of him. Esme says, sometimes anger can be fuel, and Josslyn’s phone rings. She excuses herself, and steps away. Outside, she asks Trina, what’s up? and Trina says she’s at the MetroCourt with Ava and Spencer, and things just went totally sideways.

Esme apologizes for getting intense, but Cameron says, she’s entitled. She thanks him, and says, it’s just that she didn’t grow up with her biological family, and the family that chose her imploded. That’s probably why she’s so devoted to Spence. He’s her family now. Cameron says, makes sense, but as far as anger… She says, he doesn’t agree? and he says, he’s sure she’s right. Anger can be fuel. But they can’t let it overrun them. Wasn’t it anger that drove her and Spencer to stalk Ava?

Sonny tells Carly, it’s complicated. He has feelings for Nina, but he’s getting over it. She says, you don’t just get over that, and he asks if she’s speaking from experience. She says, don’t do that. When he asked her about Jason, she was honest. He says, but she didn’t tell him right away, and she says, she told him within days. Didn’t she answer every question he asked? And she’s been asking for months for him to tell her what happened in Nixon Falls, and he was consciously keeping it from her. He says, that wasn’t him, but when she was with Jason, that was her. She says she doesn’t blame him for what he did as Mike, but he owes her the truth. He says they’re not going to be able to get through this if they’re not under the same roof, and she tells him, he said he wasn’t Nina’s victim. Now she realizes how true that was. Sonny was Nina’s accomplice.

Nina asks how many times Phyllis has told her, she and Sonny shouldn’t ignore their feelings for each other, but Phyllis says, she advised Nina to come to terms with her feelings. That’s very different. Nina says, if Sonny and Carly separate – if – does Phyllis think it’s possible for her and Sonny to be together? Phyllis says, first, she’ll answer the question Nina asked. Yes, it’s possible. Now she’ll answer the question Nina didn’t ask. If it’s possible, does she think Nina should act on her feelings? Hell no.

Josslyn says, basically, Spencer would be working as a handyman? Has he ever even held a hammer? Trina says she doesn’t think it’s just about the work. Ava isn’t making this easy on him. Josslyn says, he and Esme stalked Ava for months. They made implied threats to Avery, and, oh yeah, set Ava’s car on fire. She knows Spencer’s their friend, but after what he’s done, he’s getting off easy.   

Ava says she admits she had a little fun at Spencer’s expense, and he says, she means, kicked him when he was down. That’s low, even for her. She says, still not quite as low as leaving a teddy bear teddy with a murderer’s voice for her child to find. He asks, why involve Trina? and she says, besides paying for what he did to her, his true task is to make restitution to Trina. Does he think she needs the money him doing odd jobs at the gallery will save her? Restitution isn’t only about money. It’s about righting wrongs. Repairing what’s broken. Restoring what’s been stolen. He says he never took anything from Trina, and she asks if he can honestly say he didn’t hurt Trina. He says, one of his greatest regrets is how he treated Trina. He should have been honest. He should have told her that he already had a girlfriend. He shouldn’t asked her to cover for him, when she didn’t realize he was actually going after Ava. He doesn’t think he’ll be able to make that up to Trina, but Ava says, he can try. Him framing a few pictures with Trina at the gallery isn’t going to fix the trust that’s broken, but trying to make Trina’s job easier could go a long way.

On the phone, Trina says she thinks they calmed down a bit. It was looking pretty intense for a while. She thanks Josslyn for letting her vent, and Josslyn says, anytime. Trina knows Josslyn’s got her back.

Esme says, Cameron is right; about the anger thing, and what she and Spence did to Ava. She’s a work in progress. He says, they all are. Trust him, he’s not judging. If she knew what anger drove him to do when Franco was killed… She says, do tell, and he tells her, all he’ll say is, he was impulsive, and he was reckless. He’s very grateful he had people around him who were patient and forgiving. She says, angry Cameron sounds quite intriguing, and he says, she’ll never meet him, not if he can help it. Josslyn comes back in, and says, that was Trina. Sounds like Spencer’s super unhappy over whatever Ava cooked up for his restitution. Esme says, Trina’s there? Spence didn’t mention she’d be at the meeting. Cameron says, maybe he didn’t know, and Josslyn says, even if she is, what’s the big deal? They’re all friends here, right?   

Chase brings Bailey/Louise to the hospital, carrying her in a baby sling, and Elizabeth says it’s so nice to see her. Is she all snuggly and comfortable with her daddy? Finn says, it’s about time he got to meet his niece, and Elizabeth says, she’s beautiful. Chase says, that’s all her mother, and Finn says, definitely, but Elizabeth says she thinks Chase has something to do with it. She has to get back to work, and tells Chase, congratulations. She tells Finn that she’ll see him later, and leaves. Finn says he can’t believe his little brother is a father, and Chase says, Bailey’s not the only good news in the family. Is he imagining things, or do Finn and Elizabeth seem… closer? Finn says, he thinks he and Elizabeth have decided to see where this can go, and Chase asks, what finally changed? Finn says, she did; mostly. She’s been through a lot, and he thinks she’s ready now. Chase says, it’s been a tough year for both of them. He’s glad they can look forward to a future together. Finn suggests they not get ahead of themselves. And what about Chase? What does his future hold?

Brook tells Olivia that she and Chase are friends; there’s nothing going on with them. Olivia says she saw the energy between them, and don’t argue with her. She has a nose for these things. Brook says, that’s not why Olivia came there. How’s Carly taking the news about Sonny? Olivia says, that’s why she’s so steamed. Carly is so angry at Sonny right now, and rightfully so, but she’s also torn. She desperately wants to forgive Sonny, but it’s a massive betrayal to get past. Brook says, if Olivia can forgive her dad… Olivia says she’s forgiven him for many things, and Brook says, then Carly can forgive Uncle Sonny, can’t she?

Phyllis says, sorry she was so blunt, but Nina says, that’s okay. She just doesn’t want Phyllis to get worked up when she’s recovering. Phyllis says, some of the responsibility of this situation lies with her, and Nina says, no. What did Phyllis do? Phyllis says, if she’d been completely honest with Nina after Sonny regained his memory, Nina might not still be fantasizing about a future with him. As Lenny would say, it’s never too late for settin’ straight. So is Nina ready to get real?

Sonny says, Nina’s accomplice? and Carly says, he’s Nina’s protector. He told Carly to lay off Nina. He says, he didn’t want a war, and she says, look where that got them. He promised Nina would stay away from their family, but that didn’t stop the two of them from reminiscing in the hospital chapel. Is he kidding her? Is he going to stand in her way now, and asks her not to go after Nina, after she fired the first shot at the hearing? Is he? He says he doesn’t know what that’s going to accomplish; just forget about Nina. She says, like he has? and he says, she doesn’t want to trust him, and doesn’t want to forgive him. Is he wasting his time? Is she saying there’s no hope for their marriage?

Chase tells Finn, fatherhood has been great, so far, but without his job, he feels useless. Like he doesn’t have a purpose. And he gets the feeling he’s starting to bug Brook. Finn says, first things first. Being a dad is the greatest job there is. There’s nothing useless about spending time with his little girl. That being said, he understands Chase’s suspension has made him feel restless, but it’s not going to last forever. Chase says, here’s hoping, and Finn says, he thought Chase and Brook were good friends. Chase says, they usually are, but lately, their vibe has been off. Hanging out with Brook is effortless, but lately, it’s just awkward. He’s not sure what’s come between them. Finn laughs, and says, you’re wearing her, bro. Co-parenting Bailey with Brook has brought a new dynamic into their friendship. There’s bound to be some bumps in the road, but they’ll figure it out. Chase says, that makes sense, and Finn says, it’s going to all fall into place. Chase asks how Finn can be so sure, and Finn says, it comes from frequently being right. Just think of all the things Chase overcame this year, and he’s still standing, literally. Chase says, thanks to him, and Finn says, and Chase’s own resilience. He knows he’ll never have Chase’s optimism, but he hopes he can learn to embrace life like Chase does. Elizabeth goes by, whispers, hi, and Chase says, it looks like he already has.

Trina comes back to find Spencer heading for the reception area, and she asks where he’s going. He says he’s going to find a waitress. He can’t stand being here one more second. So he’s going to get his dinner to go. After all, he did pay for it. Trina says, Ava ambushed both of them. She didn’t know Ava was going to have her supervise him. She’ll decline. He says, no. He’s grateful to have the opportunity to work for her, if she’ll have him. She says, why not? Good help is hard to find.

Esme gets some coffee, and asks what she owes Cameron, but he says it’s on the house. She thanks him, and says he’s a life saver. She tells Josslyn that she hopes her mom and stepdad weather the storm, and if they can’t, Josslyn emerges strong anyway. She thanks Cameron for the caffeine, and Josslyn for the cabin, and says, she knows what it’s costing Josslyn. Esme leaves, and Josslyn says, is she crazy, or did Esme almost seem sincere?

Nina says, Phyllis has always been real with her. That’s why she values their friendship so much. Phyllis says she hopes they continue to be friends after she says this. Sonny may not see himself as a victim, but what Nina did, pretend not to know who he was, and keeping him from his family, including the grandson they shared, allowing Sonny to fall in love with her, that was a violation. And the only way to make this right is to leave Sonny alone. Nina says, what if he doesn’t want to be left alone? and Phyllis says, let Sonny and Carly figure this out. Whatever the next step is, it’s not hers to take. Phyllis gets her coat, and leaves.

Carly says, if there’s any chance for them, Sonny needs to be honest with her. He says, he’s already admitted he has feelings for Nina. It’s confusing and complicated, and he doesn’t want to have these feelings. That’s as honest as he can be. She tells him, he said they didn’t have sex; did he kiss her? Did he touch her? He says, it doesn’t matter, but she says, it does to her. He asks why she wants to hurt herself; she’s already hurt. She says, she can’t forgive him if she doesn’t know what she’s forgiving. He says, it’s not going to help, and she says, it can’t be worse than what she’s imagining in her head. Tell her. He says, to move forward, you have to forget, but she says, for her to move forward, she has to know every last detail. He says, that was Mike; he’s Sonny. She points at a plate, and says, his daughter wanted him to have that cookie, and walks out of the house.

Trina goes back to the table, and says, Ava knows she’ll do anything Ava asks, but when she asked if Trina was comfortable having Spencer work at the gallery, Ava never mentioned she’d be supervising him. Ava says, she doesn’t want to supervise him, and Spencer’s the one being punished, not her. Trina asks why she’s being punished, but Ava says, she’s not; she’s being rewarded. Doesn’t Trina think it would be a little satisfying, bossing Spencer around after everything he’s done to her? Trina says, honestly, no, and Ava says she doesn’t know why she’s surprised. Trina is cut from a much kinder cloth than she is. Now she feels bad that she sprang this on Trina. Can Trina forgive her? Trina says, of course (🍷), and Ava says, good. Because Trina is going to run her own gallery one day, and she’s going to need this experience, boss’s orders. Trina says, when Ava puts it that way… They see Spencer, carrying a to-go bag, and waiting for the elevator. Trina catches his eye.

Cameron says, it was sincere for Esme, and Josslyn says, it certainly was a surprise, Esme confiding in them about her childhood. Cameron wonders if it was a good surprise or a bad surprise, and Josslyn says, that depends on whether Esme was lying or not. He says, it seemed like she was telling the truth, and she says, it did. She hates to admit this, but there may be an outside chance that there’s more to Esme than she’s given her credit for. He says, if Spencer likes her, how bad can she be?… Gotcha. He asks if they should give Esme the benefit of the doubt, just this one time, and Josslyn says, she gets an A for effort, but they’ll see if she passes the class.

A nurse hands Esme a bag at the hospital pharmacy, and asks if it’s a new prescription. Esme says, it is, and the nurse says Esme needs to speak to the pharmacist. Esme says, that won’t be necessary, but the nurse says, the dosage is strong. She advises a consultation to go over proper usage. Esme says, no need. She knows exactly how to use this.

Olivia says, thanks for the chat, and Brook says, anytime, walking her to the door. Brook says, huh, she actually meant that, and Olivia says, no one is more surprised than she is. Brook says, don’t tell everybody they’re getting along; she has a reputation. Olivia says, Brook definitely has a reputation, and thanks Brook for keeping her from punching Nina in the nose. Brook says, what Nina did was truly messed up, and Olivia says, but? Brook says, but she’s made choices she knew would hurt people. Sometimes for reasons people think are right in the moment, and dig holes that are just too big to climb out of. Olivia says, Brook’s made mistakes, and Brook says, one or two. Olivia says, but beneath all of Brook’s barbs and bluster, she’s got a beautiful heart. She loves without reservation, and Olivia thinks Brook just wants to be loved in return. Brook says, the heart is a muscle; it will atrophy without use. Olivia says, start using it, and Brook says, easier said than done. Olivia says she doesn’t know about that. Sometimes the very thing we’re looking for is right in front of us.

Finn thanks Chase for introducing him to his niece. He tells Bailey that he’s so glad to finally meet her, and Chase says he wants to get her home. Finn says he should probably go find a cure for a disease or two, and Chase says, only if he has the time. He’s thrilled for Finn. He was starting to enjoy curmudgeon Finn, but thinks he can learn to like nice Finn too. Finn tells him, don’t get carried away. He knows he and Elizabeth took their time getting here… Chase says, it took them forever. They were the last two people to realize there was a spark between them. Finn says, sometimes it works that way, right? There were some obstacles, but now it seems like nothing is standing in their way.

In the locker room, Elizabeth takes out her dress. Something falls out of the locker, and she picks up her wedding ring.

Sonny is all alone in the kitchen, without even the moss bowl 🎍 for comfort. He flashes back to when he was in the Nixon Falls clinic after the fire at the Tan-O. He remembers Nina saying, what they have is real. If he leaves, she wants him to know something. She honestly loves him. He takes a swig of his drink, then smashes the glass.

On the phone, Nina says she’s sorry. Her meeting ran late. She’s on her way. She’ll be in the conference room in five minutes. Carly comes in, and slams the door. She tells Nina, you’re gonna miss that meeting.

On Monday, Trina says she saw the Ava that Josslyn warned her about, Victor tells Spencer that it’s time he lived up to being a Cassadine heir, Sonny says he really screwed up, and Nina says there’s something else Sonny didn’t tell Carly about.

😷 Down But Not Out…

Supposedly, it won’t affect the schedule.

🧼 Good Soap Characters Never Die…

Since Tony Geary is still alive and well, and living in Amsterdam smoking weed, I’m not buying it.

https://ew.com/tv/general-hospital-killed-off-luke-spencer/

Relive the moments.

⚖️ Say It Ain’t So…

What the what? But he and Obrecht are so cute together.

🎭 Closing the Curtain…

One Life To Live liked her so much, she came back later to play a different role. I had no idea she was Arthur Miller’s sister though.

https://people.com/theater/joan-copeland-broadway-star-and-sister-of-playwright-arthur-miller-dead-at-99/

💎 Wifely Tease…

I wouldn’t mind seeing her added to the cast. I liked that reality show she had with Dave Navarro.

https://www.justjared.com/2022/01/07/carmen-electra-teases-possibility-of-joining-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-cast/

🏎 Influenced Wife…

Apparently using the Kim Kardashian filter on that IG post.

💍 In Defense Of Morganite…

It’s still a gorgeous ring, and it was still expensive. I think my engagement ring was around $500.

https://people.com/style/scheana-shay-claps-back-at-fans-who-criticized-her-pink-morganite-ring-i-didnt-want-a-diamond/

🎉 Happy Last Year…

You didn’t think I’d forget. The celebration continues, even if only in my mind.

Celebrity Celebrations.

https://people.com/celebrity/happy-new-year-2022-see-celebrities-celebrating-in-photos/

How Daytime does it.

📯 Quotes of the Week

The moment we choose to love, we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. – Bell Hooks

The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized. – Rachel Carson

There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. – Soren Kierkegaard

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

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

Art is not what you see but what you make others see. – Edgar Degas

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. – Maya Angelou

Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness. – Steve Maraboli

If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive. – Audre Lorde

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. – John Powell

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil

Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them. – George Eliot

🌃 Into the Night…

It’s the second weekend of the new year. That two-day break from work if you’re still doing that, and if you’re on the resignation bandwagon, call it whatever you like. But whatever you call it, enjoy a change of scenery, even if it means moving your computer to another room. You’ve got an open invite to join me on Monday for soap and Deck adventures. Until then, stay safe, stay leaving them wanting more, and stay leaving it alone, if the next step is not yours to take.

September 27, 2021 – Maxie Has Something To Tell Carly, New Old Deck, Another House, the Show Went On & Champs

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yuri brings Brook to Charlie’s, along with Bailey/Louise, and says he’ll be sitting at another table, looking – how you say? – discreet. She says, that’s him; straight with a capital T. Maxie comes in, and Brook tells her, Yuri is here, so no worries. Maxie says there are also two plainclothes cops outside. As far as worrying goes, it seems like that’s all she’s doing lately. First, she was worried that Peter was going to go after the baby; now she’s worried she’s his target.

Valentin sits on Chloe’s bed, where she’s unconscious and hooked up to machines. He wonders, did Peter do this to her? Or was it someone else? Either way, she’s safe now. Anna comes in and asks how Chloe is, and he says, the doctors say she’s still unconscious. Any luck? She says, no. She didn’t find out much beyond Chloe’s name.

Obrecht tells Victor, she can’t lose her Britta; not after losing her Nathan. She has no choice but to trust he’ll keep his word. He stands behind her, puts his hands on her shoulders, and says, don’t worry, darling. The worst is over now. She whips around and puts a knife to his throat, and says, wrong again, darling. She shot him once and left him for dead, and he survived. This time, he won’t be so lucky. He asks if she’s sure this is how she wants to play this.

Elizabeth looks at a flyer that says GH Trivia Night, when Finn comes out of the elevator. They say, hi, and he says he saw one of the flyers for Trivia Night upstairs. Is she interested? She says she hasn’t given it much thought, and he says, him neither. She presses the elevator button, and says she has to get these files upstairs. He says he’ll see her around, and she gets in. Chase comes by and asks Finn, what’s up with him and Elizabeth?

Sonny tells Nina, she needs to stop fooling herself. Mike’s gone. She needs to forget he ever existed. She says she’ll never forget what she and Mike shared together, and he says she had nothing with him. She was in love with some guy she thought he was. Let’s start with that. Tending bar in Nixon Falls, mopping the floors; if he wanted to do that, he would have stayed in Brooklyn. That wasn’t his life plan, and it still isn’t. She says, this is? Is he happy with this life here in Port Charles? He says, yeah, with his wife, his kids, and his business, even though she wishes he wasn’t.

Jason tells Carly that he has to go and talk to Diane about this Buscema/Novak thing. He knows the cops are going to call him down. She says there’s something they need to talk about. What are they going to tell Sonny? How are they going to make this okay for him? He asks what she means by okay. Sonny doesn’t know their marriage was almost real, and it doesn’t matter because it’s over. (First World made-up problems.) She says she knows that, but Sonny’s been gone for nine months. Unless he said something to Jason, they have no idea how he’s been dealing with his bi-polar disorder, or if he’s been dealing with it at all.

Terry sees Elizabeth, and thanks her for the assist in keeping Britt’s mind off her mother. Elizabeth says, she totally saw right through it, but it was pretty fun nonetheless. Terry wonders if she dare say Britt’s growing on her, and Elizabeth says, stranger things have happened. Terry says Elizabeth seems distracted. Is everything okay?

Maxie tells Brook, she’s being as safe as she physically can be, so she knows she’s being irrational. Brook says, those are the same instincts that kept her away from Peter. She should listen to them. There’s no harm in a little extra caution. Maxie thanks Brook for arranging this, and Brook says, of course (🍷), but if anyone asks, they’re here on Deception business. Josslyn comes over to their table, and says hello to Maxie and Brook, and remarks that Bailey is getting big. Brook says, champion eater, this one, and Maxie says she’s surprised to see Josslyn there. She thought Josslyn would be home celebrating. Brook says, celebrating what? Carly and Jason’s wedding? Maxie says, Brook hasn’t heard? Brook says, obviously not, and Josslyn says, Sonny’s alive.

Nina asks if Sonny was happy as Mike, but he doesn’t know how to answer that. She asks again, and he says, yeah, he was happy, but he didn’t know what he was missing. She says, doesn’t that tell him something? That there was this happy, non-violent, better guy living inside of him, just waiting to come out. He says, no. You know what that  tells him? The guy had amnesia, but the real him was still in there. Remember when there was trouble, he’d take care of the situation? She says, true. They went to Corinth, and there was that guy. She was terrified that Sonny would come out, but there was Mike. He was kind to the guy. Sonny says, because he made the smart move. He may not always be right, but he doesn’t like to think he’s stupid. Why would he beat the hell out of the guy when he could make the guy his ally? You have to look at the situation and turn it to your advantage. She says she thinks that’s part of it, but she doesn’t believe that’s all of it. He says she has to listen to him, okay? He’s sorry that she fell in love with Mike. She says, and Mike fell in love with her, but he says, that was an illusion, plain and simple.

Carly says, she and Jason don’t know anything that’s been going on with Sonny the whole time he’s been gone. He seems okay, which makes her think he got his hands on some kind of medication, but if he hasn’t, maybe he thinks he doesn’t need it anymore. He says she’s right; Sonny seems pretty level. She says, although there were times before when he wasn’t on medication and seemed level, and then he crashed. Jason says, and if anything is going to make him crash, it’s this. She says, us.

Finn sees Chase at the hospital, and asks how he is. Chase says he got the all-clear from his physical therapist, and Finn says, back to work? Chase says, back to work; back to everything. Finn says, that’s really great, but cautions him to go easy in the gym. Chase says he’s been warned, and Finn says, but will he listen? Chase asks how Finn and Elizabeth are. From what he saw on the camping trip, things seemed to be progressing between them. Finn says he guesses they were, and Chase asks, what happened? Finn says, it’s more like what didn’t happen. They almost kissed.

Anna tells Valentin, Chloe abandoned her car after the accident, and made her way into this little village. She said she was an American, and gave them her name. Then she collapsed, so the local authorities were alerted, and the American consul ran her name and identity. He says, she was listed as a missing person, and Anna says, exactly. He says, and that alerted the WSB because she was already in their register, and Anna says, because the fake Chloe used her ID when she kidnapped Maxie and the baby. But how the real Chloe ended up here is anyone’s guess. He says, it has to be Peter, right? and she says, but she doesn’t remember Faison having a base of operations there in Greece. He says, other than the work he did for Helena? and she says, of course (🍷). Cassadine Island is very close, isn’t it?

Victor says, one of the things he’s always found sexy about Obrecht, was her intelligence. But let’s review the situation. Obviously, she’s on his compound, with a full staff keeping watch, so does she really think pulling a knife on him is her best strategy? She says, it’s the only strategy. She’s not available to be his prisoner. She’s getting out of there, and going home to her daughter. He says she didn’t used to be this sentimental, and she says, losing her son changed her. It made her understand what is important and what is not. What is worth it, and what is not. Clearly a lesson he hasn’t learned. So in case there is any doubt, she will kill him to get back to her only remaining child in a heartbeat.

Chase tells Finn, last he heard, almost kissing was a good thing. Finn says, it was just a moment. He’s not sure Elizabeth wanted it to happen. Chase asks why he’d say that, and Finn says, it’s awkward now between them. Chase saw them just now. Chase says, he did. The vibes were coming from both of them. Did Finn want the kiss to happen? Finn says he got lost looking into her eyes. If Scotty hadn’t fallen from the sky, who knows? Chase says, Finn would still be kissing her right now, but Finn says he doesn’t want to push anything. If she’s not into it, or she’s having second thoughts, he understands that. Chase says, okay, but what if she’s neither of those things?  

Elizabeth tells Terry, things were going really well. The kids were off with Chase, and she and Finn had a moment alone. Terry says, and…? and Elizabeth says, and they were close to kissing, when Scotty showed up. Terry says, so they were interrupted. Big deal. Just pick up where they left off. Elizabeth says, that’s the thing. She’s not sure Finn wants to.

Victor says he’s sorry he and Obrecht rekindling their relationship isn’t in the cards, but he still doesn’t think their time together was a waste. She says, nein, but he says, it’s given him a chance to see her in a whole new light, and appreciate her even more. He sees how much she loved her son, and regrets Nathan wasn’t his. He also regrets that they have to do this the hard way. She tells him, don’t worry. She won’t kill him unless she absolutely has to, but he says he doesn’t think she’ll see it the same way he does. Obrecht feels a gun in her back, and Peter says, hello, Liesl.

Josslyn sits down, and tells Maxie and Brook, it was so surreal to walk into that room and see Sonny. Not only alive, but smiling. She didn’t know what to feel first. It was a roller coaster of emotion; shock, to joy, to confusion, to relief. Maxie says she can’t imagine it. When she heard, she was blown away. Josslyn says, that’s an understatement, and asks how Maxie found out. Maxie says, she hears things from people who know stuff, and Josslyn says, that’s just so weird. Sonny only came home to her mom and Jason… Brook says, on their wedding night. Josslyn says, that’s a whole other story, but then Dante showed up, and she and Michael got the text to come over. She asks if Dante was the one who shared the news with Maxie.

Sonny tells Nina, forget the fact that he’s married. He had an entire life. What did she think she was going to do, go on indefinitely? Even if his memory never came back, that humble bartender is so far from who he is. She says he’s right. She was in denial, 100% complete in denial, but she wants to make something really clear. There wasn’t one morning, not one, she didn’t wake up and say to herself, today is the day she tells him the truth, and makes things right. He says, but she didn’t, and she says, because she’d see him smile, and see how peaceful he was, how happy. Then her willpower would just evaporate. It was like Nixon Falls was a parallel world where only good things happened; there was no pain and he wasn’t in danger. She never meant to hurt him. He says she didn’t think it would hurt him being away from his family, leaving Carly and Jason to pick up the pieces? She was great. They were great together, but it wasn’t real. She nods.

Jason tells Carly, the vows they said, the life they thought they were going to have, that’s not going to happen. The feelings will go away in time, and they’ll get back to normal. She says, what if Sonny finds out they were planning a real marriage? Jason knows how Sonny operates. His paranoia is huge when he has a manic episode. Jason says, and if Sonny is having a manic episode, they don’t know. She says, the worst thing that could happen would be Sonny being paranoid against them. The two people who can help him.

Finn says, it’s complicated, but Chase doesn’t get why. Finn and Elizabeth are both adults, who work in the same field, who for weeks and weeks worked to try and save his life –thanks for that, by the way – it makes sense they would have grown closer together. Finn says, it was a heightened situation, and Chase says, so? Finn says, so Chase is better, thank God. Now things are going back to normal. Chase says, exactly. Finn and Elizabeth have a chance to explore things between them in a regular setting. Finn says, that’s what worries him.

Elizabeth tells Terry, when Chase was sick, it was a distraction. Terry says, she means from losing Franco? and Elizabeth says, yeah. And working with Finn to save his brother was all consuming, and exactly what she needed. Not to mention, they made a pretty good team. Spending all that time together… Terry says, they got closer, and Elizabeth says, it felt that way. Terry says, it looked that way too, but Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. Now that things have calmed down, they’ve taken a step back. Maybe she mistook their teamwork for something else.

Valentin says, Anna is right. Cassadine Island isn’t far; it’s about twenty minutes by boat. She asks if he’s okay with that. How does it feel being so close? He says he has mixed emotions. He left the island when he was six, so he doesn’t have any fond memories there. What really bothers him is Nikolas got the entire inheritance. Anna says, in such a dramatic way. Typical of Helena to set things up that way. He says, absolutely, but the fact of the matter is, the money wasn’t his to inherit; he’s not a Cassadine. He’s not beholden to Mikkos or Helena. He is the man that he made himself to be. She says, he’s his own person, and he says, and you know what? He thinks he’s starting to like him. Anna says she thinks she is too. Yes! I love them together.

Victor moves the knife away from his throat, and says Peter certainly took his time. Peter says he was busy launching himself off a cliff to escape Anna and Valentin. Victor says, and he was busy arranging Peter’s retrieval. And he’s welcome. Obrecht says, they’re working together, and Peter says, that’s not any of her concern. She tried to kill him. She says she tried to kill him because he deserves it. She only regrets it didn’t work. He’s a despicable excuse for a human being. Victor says, perhaps, but he has his uses. He asks if Peter took care of that mess in Pennsylvania, and Peter says he burned that hole-in-the-wall bar to the ground. Oh, and Obrecht’s niece was inside. He doubts anyone survived. Now that he’s taken care of one loose end, time to tie off another. He aims his gun at her.

Brook tells Josslyn, she’s learned to never ask Maxie about her sources. Maxie knows things, and they get to benefit from that. Let’s backtrack. Sonny is alive? This is incredible. What happened? Josslyn says, when Sonny fell in the river, he didn’t drown. He washed ashore in a small town in Pennsylvania, but had no memory of who he was. Some nice people took him in, and he’s been living for the past nine months with no idea he had an entire other life waiting for him. Brook asks if he’s okay, and Josslyn says he is. Brook says she can’t wait to see him, but doesn’t want to push herself on him if he’s overwhelmed. Is he really doing okay?

Nina tells Sonny, he keeps saying it’s not real, and she understands; she really does. But at the same time, it happened. We fell in love. Sonny says, don’t say we, and she says, she and Mike fell in love, but he was Mike. He says, but he wasn’t. She had feelings for someone, but it wasn’t him, and he gets the feeling she doesn’t like Sonny Corinthos very much. She says, she just didn’t know him very well. She believed he had every reason to hate her, and she’s read stories and articles that put him in a negative light. But Mike didn’t happen in a vacuum. Mike’s kindness, that love, patience, and willingness to listen came from him. He has those qualities, but she didn’t know that. So her saying Mike is a better version of him, is her judging him. She didn’t know him really, and obviously, now she never will.

Carly tells Jason, everyone was there, and saw them at their wedding, including Michael. Michael knows it was more than just politics for them, or at least it was going to be. If Sonny gets suspicious and asks questions, what do they tell him? Jason says, if he asks, they tell Sonny the truth. They wanted a real marriage, but it didn’t get that far, because Sonny came back, and everything changed. What he needs her to hold on to is that they didn’t do anything wrong. I’m finding it difficult to see what the big deal is.

Terry says, the first thing she’s going to caution Elizabeth against, is putting herself in Finn’s head. She has no idea what he’s thinking. Elizabeth says, doesn’t she? Last night they were talking about the camping trip, but all Finn brought up was the kids. Nothing about the almost kiss. Terry asks if Elizabeth brought it up, but Elizabeth says, there was a reason she didn’t. Terry says, like what? and Elizabeth says, like maybe it’s just too soon. For Finn and her too. Terry says she doesn’t believe that for one second.  

Finn tells Chase, Elizabeth lost her husband not that long ago, and he’s fresh off a bad breakup. Chase says, fresh might be a little bit of a stretch, and Finn says, the timing’s not right. Chase says, the timing is perfect, and Finn says, not to mention Violet. Chase says, who adores Elizabeth. She thinks Elizabeth walks on water. Finn says Chase saw how hard Violet took it when he and Anna ended things. Say he and Elizabeth get close, and then it doesn’t work out? He’s not putting Violet through that again. Chase says he’s right, and Finn says, he is? Chase says he doesn’t think Finn should get involved with anyone ever again on the off-chance it doesn’t work out. Finn tells Chase, he’s not saying that, but Chase says, yes, he is.

The doctor tells Anna and Valentin, brains do heal. They’re hoping for the best with Miss Jennings. Valentin asks if he has any idea when she’ll come out of it, but he says he’s sorry; there’s no timetable for this. Anna asks what he can tell them about her condition, and he says, she has a concussion, most likely from the car accident. She was also dehydrated, disoriented. She’d clearly come from some stressful situation. Valentin says, she’s probably not a person who ran off the road because she was drunk on vacation, and the doctor says, no. Anna says, it’s sounding more and more like Chloe was being held against her will.    

Victor steps in between Obrecht and Peter, and asks what Peter is doing. Obrecht is his guest. Peter’s not calling the shots; he is. Put the gun down. Obrecht tells Victor to take what he wants, the knife or her life, just let her kill Peter first. Victor says, that’s the trade? and Peter says, stupid woman, but Victor says, hold on. Let him think about this.

Josslyn tells Brook and Maxie that Sonny seems great, but she doesn’t know. She has no scale to judge it on. Last night was amazing and wonderful. Sonny was so happy to see them, and they were just as happy to see him. He seemed to be the Sonny she’s always known. Brook asks if Sonny told them what he’s been up to, but Josslyn tells her, he didn’t say much. She’s sure he will once he settles in. Brook says, that makes sense, and Josslyn tells them, Sonny said he knew where he was and what he was doing, but nine months is a long time. She’s sure there are holes. She doesn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, and gets her not revealing her sources, but if she does know something, it would be great if Maxie would tell her mom. Maxie says, she thinks Josslyn is right. She definitely needs to talk to Carly. Why, Maxie, why? Why aren’t you letting Nina do that?

Jason says he and Carly would have never let themselves go down that road if Sonny hadn’t disappeared. Carly says, of course(🍷) not, but she doesn’t want Sonny to think he’s in their way, or that they’re still together, because they’re not. Jason says, they’re not, but there’s nothing to hide, and Sonny will pick up on that. So let’s just take this step by step. Carly says she’ll talk to Sonny about his bipolar disorder, and they’ll take it one day at a time, and if he asks any questions, they’ll tell him the truth. Jason agrees, and she says she hopes he doesn’t ask.

Nina says her reckoning day has come, hasn’t it? All the lies she told to the people left to grieve for him. They’re going to feel betrayed, and they should. Because that’s what she did; she betrayed so many people. She betrayed their trust, and the trust she and Mike/Sonny had with each other. She betrayed Michael and their grandson. Sonny says she didn’t lose the connection, did she? When she was video chatting with Wiley, that call wasn’t dropped; she ended it because she didn’t want him to see his family. She says, yes. Of all the choices she could have made, she chose the one that alienated everybody. Now she has to live with the anger and resentment; theirs and his.  

Preface: These are two separate conversations going on at the same time. Elizabeth says, then there’s the whole Violet angle, and Terry says she’s shutting it down before it’s begun. Finn says, no, he’s not, but Chase says he’s way overthinking this. Elizabeth says, no, she’s trying to be an adult, and Terry says, and does she want to be a happy adult? Finn tells Chase, of course (🍷) he does, and Chase asks if Elizabeth makes Finn happy. Elizabeth tells Terry, yes. She loves spending time with Finn. Chase tells Finn, then get out of his own way already, and see where he and Elizabeth are with each other. Then he can find out if they’re on the same page. Terry and Elizabeth get in the elevator, and Terry says, if they’re not, no harm, no foul, but Elizabeth will never know if she doesn’t try. Finn tells Chase, okay. When he puts it like that… Chase says Finn didn’t think his little brother was so wise, and Finn says he didn’t, but let’s not go overboard. Chase says, he’s there for advice anytime Finn needs it, and Finn says he’s created a monster. He tells Chase to show himself out, and turns, running into Elizabeth and Terry coming out of the elevator.

Peter says Victor can’t be serious, and Victor says, as tempting as he finds Obrecht’s offer, the truth is, he can’t trust her. Obrecht says, but he trusts Peter? and he says he and Peter have their own arrangement. She says Victor is a bigger imbecile than she thought. Peter will double-cross him as soon as he sees an opening. Victor says, that’s just a chance he’ll have to take.

Carly tells Jason that she loved their wedding and their reception, and she’ll treasure those memories for the rest of her life. But that’s private, for them. She’s not trying to shut Sonny out, but he wasn’t there; he wasn’t a part of it. Trying to explain it to him will only cause tension. Jason says, first of all, It’s Sonny. The three of them have been through way worse than this. It’s a good thing Sonny’s back. She says, it’s a miracle. She prayed for this every moment he was gone, but at the same time, it’s disorienting. He says, there’s always going to be bumps, but they have Sonny and he has them. It’s going to be okay. She laughs, and says she loves that about him. When he says it’s going to be okay, he means it. He laughs, and tells her, now you say it, and she says, it’s gonna be okay. They hug.

Sonny says, let him tell Nina something, and it’s coming from experience. It’s never a good thing to play God with someone’s life, and that’s what she did. Now there’s going to be a fallout. She says she knows, and he says he’s sorry about that. Being honest, aside from her first initial impulse to get back at Carly, he doesn’t think she did anything with malice. He thinks she made a mistake, and just kept going on. She says, that pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? For what it’s worth (🍷), she truly is really sorry. She hopes he doesn’t suffer from her mistakes. She leaves, and he ponders this.

Yuri tells Brook, he ordered avocado on toast for Monica, and Brook says, that’s so sweet of him. She’s sure Monica will appreciate that, but they have bigger fish to fry. He says, Peter August, and she says, he’s still out there. The guy’s got a screw loose, and for all they know, Peter could be planning a full-blown assault on the house. Yuri says, if he tries, it will be the last thing he ever does. He won’t get near her or that baby.

Anna thinks she and Valentin should head to the village, and conduct some interviews. See if someone saw Chloe, the car, or both. You never know what sort of details you can turn up. He says, let’s go, and Anna tells the doctor to notify him if she wakes up. He says, will do, and they leave. I have a bad feeling about this.

Finn smiles, Elizabeth smiles, Terry smiles, and Chase moves over by Terry. Finn says, hi again, and Elizabeth says, hi. Chase says he thinks they should make themselves scarce, and Terry says that’s their best bet. They walk to the reception desk, and Elizabeth laughs. Finn says, so how is she at trivia? and she says, not great, but it’s more about fun than skill, right? He says, right, and it’s for a really good cause. She says, exactly, and he says, so maybe next Wednesday? She says, sure, okay. She’ll be there. She grabs Terry by her lab coat, and they leave. Chase smiles at Finn, and Finn shakes his head.   

A lackey grabs Obrecht, and she asks where he’s taking her. Victor says he’s saving her soul, and the lackey takes her away. Peter says Victor is making a mistake keeping Obrecht alive; she’s dangerous. Take it from someone who knows. Victor says he’s well aware that she’s dangerous – to Peter. That’s why he locked her up. Peter asks, why take the risk when he can get rid of her? and Victor says, that’s for him to know, and Peter not to. Peter says Victor isn’t nearly as smart as he thinks he is, and Victor says, they’re done here. Peter walks out, and Victor’s phone rings. He asks what they have for him. The doctor with Chloe says, Miss Jennings just had two visitors from the WSB.

Josslyn brings Maxie to the former home of the moss bowl, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says Maxie has something she wants to tell her.

Sonny goes to Mike’s grave, and says, hey, dad. He’s home. It took him a while, but he finally made it. It wouldn’t have happened if Mike hadn’t come to him in the woods. Mike saved his life. Sonny threw his watch away… It’s a long story, but… Jason joins him, and Sonny says he’s glad Jason is there, but first things first. Can they get rid of that thing? He points to his own gravestone.  

Tomorrow, Willow thinks something is going on with Nina, Valentin says he’s staying with Anna, Carly wants to know what Nina knew and when she knew it, and Sonny tells Jason that it’s Nina’s fault.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy tells Malia, the reality is, during the first meeting, she’d asked Malia to come to her if there was an injury, so do it from now on. Any injury is a liability, even if it’s a bruise, and David has a massive effing bruise. She says she can’t trust Malia. Malia goes back on deck, and says, f*** that; she’s over this. Courtney and Katie put the finishing touches on the boat, and Malia tells David that he has to make a report to the First Officer. David tells Mzi that he could hear the captain screaming at Malia. Mathew wonders if it’s going to be an early morning/early night crowd. In Katie’s interview, she says she had seven girls under her in the past, and now she has one. If it blows up in her face, that’s on her, and she’ll take responsibility. Malia tells Mzi and Lloyd that she should have reported David’s injury, but it hadn’t been during working hours. She’s obviously upset, and Lloyd and Mzi hug her.

Mathew asks David what the vibe is on deck, and David says, limping tea. Mathew says, since it’s a religious group, they should get with the prayers. In his interview, he says he’s like Matt the Cat, and feels that he’s escaped the fire many times. As usual, Mathew is a nervous wreck, but David says he’s done five charters, and the guests have loved everything he’s done. The captain calls Malia to the bridge, which I always think must be like being called to the principal’s office. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she didn’t know severity of David’s injury. He might feel fine now, but God forbid it gets worse, and he gets a blood clot or something. If an injury isn’t reported, those liable are the owner of the vessel and her.  

Lloyd and Mzi discuss what superpowers they’d like to have, and Mzi says he’d like to read minds. Lloyd says he’d like to speak to animals, but what if they’re thick, and all they’re saying is what they’re saying. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, it’s worrying leaving there. He’ll have to be concerned about people’s impressions of his lifestyle. The captain tells Malia that she made it clear from day one, if someone is injured, she doesn’t care what it is; she wants to know about it. Malia says, if it had happened when David was working, she would have filled an incident report out, but it happened after hours. Captain Sandy says she sees where Malia is going with this technically, but David is limping. Malia says she sees what the captain is saying; it could become more serious. She’s sorry. In Malia’s interview, she says, the captain has the right to know what’s going on with the crew at all times, especially an injury. She should have reported it, and at the end, it’s her fault. The captain says she trusts Malia 1000%, and it was a blow when she found out. Malia says the captain saying that she didn’t trust her, hurt her to the core. She’ll make sure it happens from now on.

Doctor Tea calls the captain, and says three of the guests were delayed in travel, and now they need to wait for negative covid test results. In Malia’s interview, she says she’s putting David on the night shift, since there’s not as much physical labor. She tells him, as long as he can stand and wash dishes. She says, Lloyd and Mzi are going to need to step up their game during the day. Hopefully, the captain will see that she’s trying to remedy the situation. Captain Sandy radios the crew to get ready, and tells them there will be three latecomers. The crew gets in their whites, and Katie quickly goes over everything with Courtney. The guests come up the dock, and the captain says, Katie will show them around the vessel. They board, and Captain Sandy finds out the other guests’ tests are negative. Katie gives the tour, and Mathew makes charcuterie boards. In Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t believe they’re doing the trip with only two stews. The anxiety is real.

In Mzi’s interview, he says he hasn’t manned the bow before, but it seems straightforward. Malia tells him that he’s got this. Primary Anthony tells Katie that his go-to drink is Sprite, and he laughs about it. In Katie’s interview, she says, he doesn’t drink, and it’s what she and Courtney needed right now. Malia says, all straight lines are on board, and tells Captain Sandy that she’s awfully close to a dolphin. In the captain’s interview, she says, the Lady Michelle is a heavy vessel. 909 gross tons, two different currents, and the wind going with one, makes it difficult to get out of a hole. She’s coming out heavy on the stern, and could hit a dolphin. She makes it, and tells the crew, nice work. Malia tells Mzi, good job, and Katie asks the deck crew to clean the crew mess. Anthony says when they’re in a restaurant, they order like children. Everyone gets a Shirley Temple. Malia tells the captain that she’s put David on nights, and the captain thanks her. She tells Katie that Malia is scouting picnic areas, and Malia says, they’ll set up using two of the deck crew. In Malia’s interview, she says, this is where Delaney would help. Sometimes extra hands are just extra hands. It’s unnecessary stress on the deck crew. Malia says they’re going to a national park, and Katie tells Courtney, they’ll be fine.

They drop anchor in Borovnik, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s better at her job when she’s running around like a headless chicken. She’ll take physical stress over emotional stress any day. The delayed guests arrive, and Katie pops champagne. Guest Holly says, that is the song of my people, so I guess the late group drinks alcohol. In David’s interview, he says he feels useless, although he’s helping in the laundry. Katie tells Mathew, it’s going to be a bitch to carry everything, and In Mathew’s interview, he says, the vibe is better and more chill without Lexi. His spiral has subsided. In Malia’s interview, she says the picnic site is on top of a mountain over the water, and contains the remnants of an old movie set. The sites in the Med are usually castles or old ruins, as opposed to sandy beaches. Anthony asks if Captain Sandy will join them for dinner, and she accepts. In Malia’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be a d*ck, but they need an extra person. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s worked for billionaires and celebrities, but none of them have seen him have a meltdown and kept him employed. He wants to prove himself more to Captain Sandy than the guests. Malia and Mzi set up the picnic, and it’s quite a hike up the mountain. These jobs are a workout unto themselves.

Malia tells Mzi that they need to double-time it. Back on the boat, Katie is impressed with Courtney’s laundry skills. Mzi and Malia set up lunch on the mountain, and the late guests have a shot. Mathew asks Katie, how does it feel to be the world’s best chief stew? and she responds with an unenthusiastic, yeah. Mathew just keeps cooking. I imagine if the guests don’t drink, they’re going to want to eat. The guests arrive for the long trek up the mountain, and Anthony is impressed that the crew hauled everything up there. The food looks so good, I can almost taste it. It’s a build your own poke bowl buffet, with tons of stuff. David almost falls over the railing of the boat, leaning to unhook the tender, and I almost have a heart attack. Wait until Captain Sandy watches this. The guests talk about what they’re doing next, and one says he wants to get on the jet board. I’m assuming the mixed up jet ski with paddleboard, unless there’s some hybrid I don’t know about. In Courtney’s interview, she says, no matter what, Mzi is a friend for life, but she knows she doesn’t want anything more than friendship. Her last boyfriend dumped her during lockdown. To make it worse, they were watching Ozark together, and she never finished. He ruined it for her. I could totally understand this.

The guests return to the boat, and tell Captain Sandy that her team pulled it off. It’s the best charter ever. On shore, Katie and Lloyd take pictures, posing like they got married, It does not look like fun hauling this stuff around. In Courtney’s interview, she says she feels… exhaust? and a producer says, exhausted. Yep, she’s that tired, since she’s been working 9 hours without a break. Katie tells Mathew, the guests loved it, and Anthony says he wants to jet ski for a second. Malia tells him that they have to stay 300 meters off shore, and another guest goes with him. One bounces on the trampoline, and another paddleboards. David tells Malia that he thinks they took the jet skis to town, and Malia says she’ll go to the bridge and get eyes on them. She sees them go under a bridge, and tells the captain that they went into town. Captain Sandy tells her, go get them, and in Malia’s interview, she says they’re going to get a ticket. Lloyd says, they are in big trouble.

Malia takes the tender out, and yells, hey! at the guests, reminding them of being 300 meters from shore. Courtney takes a break, and the captain says, bad boys. Malia shows them the way back, and radios the captain, telling her the capture of the guests was a success. When they get back to the boat, David tells them not to go under the bridge. They use the slide, and a few of them jump off the boat into the water. I would love to go down that slide, but jumping off the boat, not so much. It’s awfully high. Mathew asks Katie about dinner, and in her interview, she says she enjoys working with Mathew. It’s nice that he asks her opinion, but at the same time, she needs him to do his job and make his own decisions. He asks if he should put the parmesan on the table or on the dish. The guests get in the hot tub, and Lloyd brings up the slide. Katie brings out snacks, and the guests chant her name. Courtney yawns, and Katie tells Mathew that dinner is at 8:30. He asks her to say a prayer that the captain likes everything. In his interview, Mathew says, it’s generational. His dad is an actor, and his mom is a chef. He works better off positive reinforcement. I wonder, doesn’t everyone? Guest Ben chats with Katie as she works, telling her about taking a camper van through Europe. In her interview, she says she’ll take whatever she can get right now. She has nothing else going on.

Courtney hangs tiny lights about the dinner table. In Katie’s interview, she says Courtney rocks the laundry and can smash a cabin out, but wasn’t confident in service. She’s definitely improved since she’s had the opportunity. It does look beautiful. Lloyd calls his dad for help with his CV, and in his interview, he says David recommended him for a job. The guests sit for dinner, and in Mathew’s interview, he says he always wants to make the guests happy, but Captain Sandy gave him a third chance, and he wants to impress her. His stress levels are up. He tells no one in particular that he’s freaking out. The captain joins the guests, and says, it’s her first dinner; she’s excited. The captain asks what their favorite part of the cruise has been, and guest Holly tells her, the hike and the picnic site. It was like being in a movie. Captain Sandy says, everywhere they anchor in the Med is pretty spectacular. Katie brings a pasta course, and the captain asks where her Italian accent is. She tells them again, sounding like someone from Saturday Night Fever. Katie tells Mathew, the guests are loving it. Malia goes over the morning responsibilities with Mzi, and Mathew asks Katie, who’s the happiest? Please say Captain Sandy. Katie says the captain is telling a story right now. We see her talking to the guests, and I think it’s the pirate story. The captain excuses herself from the table, and stops by the galley. She tells Mathew, dinner was excellent, but her plate had a lot of dark fish, and she doesn’t like that. He apologizes, and she says, now he knows. In his interview, he says, that sucks. He looks really sheepish and sad, and Captain Sandy tells him, it was still delicious. In Mathew’s interview, he says, she’s 100% right. If he ordered bass in a restaurant, and had more dark than white pieces, he’d be disappointed too. He tells Katie all about it, and in her interview, she says, she’s not his mother.  

Lloyd’s dad tells him that his CV looks good, and the guests go to bed. For Courtney and Katie, it’s been 16 hours with no break. David goes on anchor watch, and the crew starts getting up at 5:30 am. It’s Mzi’s first morning shift. Holly is up at the crack of dawn, wanting to paddleboard, and in his interview, Mzi says, it’s a lot of responsibility in the morning. Captain Sandy tells Malia that no one was there first thing, and Malia says it’s Mzi’s first time on mornings. She’ll tell him for next time. She explains to Mzi that the boards should always be out, and Mathew makes all kinds of baked goods. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he’ll be leaving the supportive bubble he has there, and he’s concerned about what happens going forward and trying to get the same level of acceptance with new people. I’m not sure why he feels this way, since it’s not like he acts in some bizarre way. Mathew asks Katie what the vibe is, and she says, they love him. In his interview, he says he feels insecure when he gets any criticism. All he hears is that he f***ed up, and that’s not healthy.

It’s time to haul anchor. The anchor is home, but as they get to port, Malia says a fender is in the wrong spot. The captain tells them to take the anchor ball down. They don’t look like pros. In Malia’s interview, she says she thinks people are getting tired and not doing a thorough check of their work, but she’s not letting it slide. The crew has six minutes to get in their whites, and the captain tells them to hustle. The lines are thrown, and Malia says there’s a dolphin in front of the boat. Mzi says, they’re about to hit some ground lines and it’s his fault.

Next time, a crew night out without Lexi, Malia says they’re making rookie mistakes, Katie says everyone is anxious, Malia thinks something is off with Lloyd, and Lloyd ends up at the doctor with high blood pressure.  

🛥 Delayed Captain…

The new season of Below Deck, my favorite of the Deck franchise, will return October 25th. Captain Lee will be arriving a little late though.

https://screenrant.com/below-deck-meet-new-season-9-cast-members/

It’s Not Possible…

And I thought Summer House was bad. Winter House, premiering October 20th, looks like a real nightmare. The gents from Southern Charm share a Vermont rental with the Summer House cast. No surprise, there will be some peeing in the snow. And not by a dog.

https://www.bravotv.com/winter-house

🎭 Curtain Up, Light the Lights…

The winners.

https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/

You know.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1303336/74th-annual-tony-awards-red-carpet-fashion-see-every-look-as-the-stars-arrive

🧸 Rockabye and Goodnight…

Tune in tomorrow for soap and a VanderReturn. Until then, stay safe, stay spicy, and stay never playing God with someone’s life. Because there will be a fallout.

August 6, 2021 – A Letter From Ryan, James Finally Makes a Decision, Sadness On Set, a Dinner, the Latest On Erika, Block Lifted, Everything Dead, Slightly More Than 10 Quotes & Free

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Spring Ridge, Nikolas asks Sam how the investigation into Hayden’s shooting is going; any progress? Sam says, working on it, and he says, if anyone can figure it out, it’s her. The hard truth is, they may never know who shot Hayden. Alexis comes in, and says she’s glad to see Sam. They hug, and Nikolas asks if he can cut in on that. Does Alexis have a hug for her favorite nephew? She hugs him, and Sam says, he’s her only nephew; there’s no competition. Alexis says, it wouldn’t matter, and Sam asks if Alexis is doing okay. Alexis says she is, but the company leaves a lot to be desired. Sam says, Ryan? and Nikolas asks, how is Ryan?

Ava sits at a table by the pool (🍷), and Shawn comes along. She says, as she lives and breathes, and he says, good to see she’s still doing both. She says, despite the efforts of many. She heard he was out of prison. How long was it? He says, six years, and she says, all to protect Sonny. Was it worth it?

Carly leads Jax to a private room, and says they can talk in there instead of by the pool (🍷). No one can hear them. He says they didn’t need to before, and she says, before, they weren’t talking about the Novaks. He says, she means the mobster who accosted Josslyn? and she says, Josslyn wasn’t accosted; she was approached. He says, it wasn’t an act of violence, just the threat of one. She just got through telling him that nothing she and Jason have done has put Josslyn in harm’s way. It was obviously a lie.

Laura thanks Dante for meeting her at the MetroCourt, and he says, of course (🍷). They sit at a table, and he asks how New York was. She says, fine: very little traffic, and he says he assumes she didn’t want to meet up to talk about congestion on the FDR. She says, no. She was there to meet with Lulu’s doctors. He asks how Lulu is doing, and she says, the news is not good.

Anna is getting a shake at Kelly’s (which seems to be a thing now), when Finn and Elizabeth come in with Violet. Violet runs to Anna, who hugs her, and says, what a great surprise. She asks how Violet is, and Violet says, daddy’s team won the softball game. Anna congratulates Finn, and says she was just on her way out. Finn says, Violet’s excited about coming over for afternoon tea this Saturday, and Anna says she’s going to make some scones; it will be great. She gives Violet a kiss, and leaves. Outside, Joey Novak sits with his cronies, being loud. Elizabeth tells Violet, victory milkshakes are on her.

Jason does pushups in the boxing ring, and Spinelli calls. Jason says, Joey Novak approached Josslyn… No, she’s fine. He just needs to have a talk with this guy. Can Spinelli fine out where he is right away? Obrecht approaches the ring, dressed like a spy from a James Bond film, and asks if Jason is plotting an assassination, or is he busy arranging his upcoming nuptials? He tries to leave the ring, but she steps in front of him and says, nein. He will not get away free and clear this time. He was with her Britta at the most vulnerable moment of her life. She gets in the ring, and says, then he abandoned her for his best friend’s widow. What kind of man is he?

Jason tries to get past her, but that’s not happening. She says her daughter trusted him with her heart. She trusted him with her life. More important, Obrecht trusted him with Britt’s heart and life. Her Britta might be jaded, but next to Obrecht, she’s Heidi the something-I-don’t-catch maiden. He says he doesn’t… and she says, Heidi the orphan girl. She swears, he’s as illiterate as he is inconsiderate. He’s one of only three people who knows Britt has the genetic marker for Huntington’s, and when she needed him, he walked away. He says he knows. He let her down.

Violet says, the game was so fun. For a while, she thought their team was going to lose. Finn says, they were all worried they were going to lose, and Elizabeth says, Violet’s daddy really gave his all today. She couldn’t believe it when he stole third. Finn says having his daughter there to cheer him on really inspired him, and they clink milkshake glasses. A woman comes in, and says, Violet, is that you? Doesn’t Violet know her? She’s grandma. Violet runs to her and hugs her. Finn and Elizabeth look at each other like, whaaat?

Carly tells Jax, Josslyn is their daughter, not just his. He asks if she’s sure, because he’s the only one acting like a parent. She says he needs to calm down and back off, and he says, he needs to back off? She painted a target on Josslyn’s back, and he’s the one who needs to back off? Carly says she didn’t paint a target on Josslyn’s back; it’s the first time she’s been approached. He says, it better be the last, and she says, it will be. He says, good. Josslyn should never be put in the position where a rival crime family can threaten Carly by approaching her. Carly says she’s handling it, and he says, of course (🍷) she is. She is the head of the Corinthos Organization.

Shawn sits with Ava, and she asks if he regrets giving up years of his life for Sonny, only to be released after Sonny is no longer around to reward him? He says he can live with the decisions he’s made. Can she say the same? She says, touché, and asks if he’s there to get marching orders from the belle of the mafia, Carly. He says he doesn’t work for Carly; his choice. She says, in that case, she has a proposition for him. She needs a man.

Alexis says, Ryan is as locked in as ever, but there’s something she finds troubling. He has an aid who’s been helping him write letters. Sam says she thought his condition had him locked off from the rest of the world. How’s he even communicating? Alexis says, with his eyes; he blinks. She saw him dictate a letter that way. An excruciatingly slow process, but psychopaths are notoriously patient, and he’s got nothing but time, right? She was wondering if he’s abetting Ava’s stalker or actually is the stalker by proxy and using these coded messages through his writing. Nikolas says, anything is possible with that guy. They need to talk to his aide. Alexis says, one more thing. His aide, they know her. Sam asks, who is it? and Alexis says, there she is now. They see Harmony dealing with a patient.

Carly says she had to step up after Sonny died, and Jax says, had to? He hears, chose to. I wonder if Carly shouldn’t be wearing some foundational support with that dress, and she says it was the only way to protect her family. He says, that’s the biggest lie right there. If she’d walked away from Sonny’s business after he died, there would be nothing to protect them from. She says, that’s not how it works. It’s really easy for him to judge a complicated situation he knows nothing about. He says he knows his daughter – sorry, their daughter – is in danger because Carly is determined to hold on to Sonny’s territory. Just like he knows her marrying Jason is a business arrangement.

Laura tells Dante, Lulu’s doctors were very direct. They’ve been caring for her for eight months, and there’s been no improvement. He asks if she’s thought about looking at medicine beyond Western medicine; some kind of alternative medicine? She says she has, but it hasn’t produced any results. He says he doesn’t get it. She’s young, she’s healthy; there’s got to be something they can do. She says she’ll never give up on Lulu, but she’s given this a lot of thought, all the way back to Port Charles, and she thinks giving up isn’t the same as moving on.

Shawn says he’s listening, and Ava asks if he’s heard about the troubles she’s been having. He says he knows she and her husband are getting a divorce, but she says, a stalker. He says he also heard she had some trouble at the gallery, and she says, that was one incident of many. That’s why she needs a bodyguard. He looks at a guy lying on a lounge chair, and says, it seems she already has one; he can tell when someone’s carrying. She says, he works for Nikolas, and she has to make it perfectly clear that she’s cut all ties with Nikolas. He says, she needs to prove that o her stalker? and she says, yes. Sadly, it’s necessary, so she needs to hire her own protection. She was impressed with him back in the day. He says he didn’t think she liked him very much, and she says, he worked for Sonny. It was the competition, and his competence made her life difficult. She’s been out of the game for quite a while now, and so has he. They woudn’t have any conflicts of interest; they’d be on the same side. So what does he say? Will he protect her? She bats her eyelashes, and he laughs.

Nikolas says, isn’t that Shiloh’s disciple from Dawn of Day, who drugged Kristina? Sam says, Harmony. She actually flipped on Shiloh, and helped get him convicted. Alexis says, after aiding and abetting him for years. Nikolas says, maybe Ryan doesn’t need to send letters to the stalker. Maybe it’s someone he sees every day. He goes over to Harmony, and says they haven’t met, but he’s Nikolas Cassadine. She knows his cousin Sam. Harmony says hello to Sam, and he says it’s his understanding that she works for Ryan Chamberlain. She says, not exactly. She works for the Department of Corrections as a health aid at this facility. Mr. Chamberlain is one of several inmates she assists. Nikolas asks if her duties include doing Ryan’s dirty work, and Sam says, Nikolas. He says, just answer the question, and Harmony says, which is? He says, someone has been using Ryan’s playbook, including recordings of his voice to stalk and threaten his wife, so if she was involved in any way, it’s in her best interest to come clean right now.

Finn says he didn’t know Naomie was planning to visit, and she apologizes for the lack of advance notice, but she just couldn’t wait to see her granddaughter. He says she couldn’t call, text, or shoot off an email? and she tells him, you know what they say about hindsight. She says hello to Elizabeth, who barely responds, and says, Violet looks so much like her mother. Violet asks, where’s mommy?

Obrecht says she must hand it to Herr Morgan. His façade of quiet concern for her Britta, fooled even her, and she lowered her guard, letting him in. He says he hasn’t broken that confidence, and she says he only broke her Britta’s heart. Tell her, was everything they discussed that day a lie, or is his sole redeeming trait that he made sure Peter August’s absence continued? Anna has come in during the conversation, and has been listening. She asks what’s going on, but Jason gets a text, and jets while he can.

Obrecht puts on gloves, and Anna say she didn’t know Obrecht boxed. She says she doesn’t; she just likes to hit things. Anna says Obrecht proved that at the Rage Room, and Obrecht says Anna was pretty good herself. She could use a spotter. Anna holds the bag as Obrecht punches, and Obrecht says, Jason Morgan is lucky there’s no sledgehammer available today. Anna says, not to undermine her righteous anger at Jason, but Obrecht does realize he was just humoring her by listening to her tirade? Obrecht says, of course (🍷) she knows that. Despite his many glaring faults, he’s a chivalrous person. Perhaps he thought listening to her tirade was a way of paying penance for failing Britta. Anna says, perhaps. He doesn’t normally let people down. Obrecht says, then there really is a first time for everything. Anna asks what this has to do with Peter, and Obrecht says she thought, or at least hoped, that Jason played a role in Peter’s disappearance, which would mean Peter is six feet under the Pine Barrens where he’s no longer a trouble to anyone. Obrecht makes one last punch, and goes to towel down. She says she heard on the news that Anna is working with local investigators to locate Peter, and Anna says they’re sharing information. Obrecht says, perhaps in the spirit of generosity, Anna wants to share what the investigation has uncovered. Anna says, nein, and Obrecht says, no need to say anything now. Her inability to bring Peter to justice has taken it’s toll. So – she shoves the gloves at Anna – it’s her turn.

Shawn tells Ava that he’s not for hire anymore. He already has a job; finding the person who shot Hayden. She says someone hired him to investigate a cold case? but he says he’s working for himself now. She says, a noble pursuit, and she sees why he’d want to do it, but so much time has passed. He says, a cold trail is still a trail. Whoever did this needs to pay for what they did to Hayden, and him.

Harmony says she knows some people – Nikolas’s aunt among them – still think Ryan is dangerous. Sam says, Ryan is dangerous, and Harmony says, maybe before he was locked in. Sam says, as long as Ryan can communicate in any way – hell, as long as he’s breathing – Ryan Chamberlain is a threat. Nikolas asks how they know Harmony isn’t following his orders. She has access to him, and he communicates through her. Harmony says, it’s not telepathy. She points to letters on a board, and he blinks to let her know which ones he wants her to wrote down. Nikolas asks if Ryan is dictating letters or issuing instructions, and she says, okay. She’s sorry for whatever happened in his life that’s made him so afraid, but she’s there to assist Ryan with his comfort and correspondence. She’s not doing anyone’s bidding outside of this facility. Sam says, they’re supposed to take her word for that after everything Harmony did to her, and especially her little sister? Harmony says she can’t apologize enough for what she did. She was literally brainwashed, but she’s not anymore. What she is, is on parole, and she has no intention of going back to prison. She’s trying to turn her life around. Sam says she actually believes Harmony. From someone who’s also on parole, she knows where Harmony is coming from. Can Harmony at least tell them how long she’s been working with Ryan? Harmony says, a few weeks, and Alexis says, the stalker’s threats were going on long before that. Nikolas asks who he writes to, and Harmony says, lots of people; she doesn’t remember their names. Most of them don’t write back. In fact, most of the letters are returned unopened. Sam asks if the letters are at Spring Ridge, and Harmony says, yeah, but their harmless. There are no threats, there’s nothing unusual. They’re screened before they’re mailed. Nikolas says, maybe Ryan’s sending coded messages, and Alexis says, it woudn’t be the first time. Nikolas asks to see the letters.

Carly tells Jax, if she’s marrying Jason for love, business, or because she has nothing better to do on Thursday, that’s her business, not his. He says, that’s funny, because the last time he checked, where Josslyn’s safety is concerned, that is his business. He says, never mind. Just tell him what this incident with the Novak family actually means. Carly says, it wasn’t the Novak family, just one rogue idiot named Joey Novak.

Joey peeps into Kelly’s window, looking like a creeper, and Violet asks if her mommy is with Naomie. Naomie says she’s sorry, but no, and Elizabeth says Violet must be sticky from her milkshake, and suggests they get her cleaned up. They go to the bathroom, and Finn asks what the hell Naomie was thinking. She says, regarding? and he says, just stopping in like this after ignoring Violet for a year. She says she was in Europe, and he asks, what was the guy’s name? She says, what does it matter? It didn’t work out. Now all she wants is her family around her, and since she doesn’t know where her daughter is, that means her granddaughter. He doesn’t think that’s a good idea, but she says, please. Let her make it up to Violet. She’s begging him. Don’t punish her for her daughter’s mistakes. Finn asks what that’s supposed to mean.

Outside Kelly’s, one of Joey’s cronies asks why they’re hanging around; there’s no action here. Joey says, there’s about to be, and gets up. Jason walks up, and Joey says, took him long enough. If I were Jason, I’d grab Joey by the ear, and bring him to his uncle.

Harmony says she can’t let them see the letters. Ryan still has a right to privacy, never mind that they’re someone else’s letters, and that’s illegal. Alexis says, mail theft. It’s a Federal crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years. Nikolas says, then he won’t get caught, and Harmony says, he won’t, because he’s not getting anywhere near those letters. Nikolas asks if she did any research. Does she have any idea what Ryan’s done? She says she’s aware, and Nikolas says, if there’s any chance Ryan is sending coded messages, and continuing to torment people, how can she let that continue? She says, because she can’t lose her job, and she can’t do more time. She’s sorry.

Shawn brings Ava a drink, and she says, now that he’s back out in the world, where is he staying? He says, TJ and Molly, and Alexis’s house, and she says, that’s great. She hopes he and TJ are making up for lost time, but he says, TJ and Molly are so busy, they’re hardly ever there. In the meantime, he’s looking for his own place. She says she can understand that. She has to ask. Now that he’s a free man, and she’s a free woman, him and Jordan? He says, that’s the past, and she says she thought they were pretty serious before he went to Pentenville. He says, before he found out Jordan was a DEA agent, or TJ was his son? She says, sometimes a fresh start is best, and toasts to fresh starts. They clink glasses.

As Anna punches the bag, she says, Obrecht knows she can’t share information from an ongoing investigation with her, but Obrecht doesn’t see why not. She’s hardly a stranger to the case. Did her family not suffer because of Peter? Anna says, yeah, and Obrecht says, was Nathan not killed because Peter lured Faison to Port Charles? Maxie was terrorized, and her baby kidnapped on Peter’s orders. Anna says she agrees with Obrecht; Peter has a long reach. Obrecht says, how disappointing to hear her speak of him in the present tense.

Dante asks if Laura has been talking to his mother, and Laura says, about what? He says, about what’s going on with Lulu. He guesses Olivia is just worried about him. Between being a cop and being a dad, and these visits with Lulu, she thinks he might be a little stuck in limbo. Laura asks if that’s how he feels too, and he says he didn’t think about it until Olivia brought it up. Laura says, now that she has? and he says, life is busy. With Rocco and being back on the force, he’s got a full plate. She says, but? and he says, there are things he could have in his life beyond being a cop and being a dad, and he doesn’t want to run anymore. He never stopped loving Lulu. She says she knows, but she doesn’t expect him to wait for her.

Carly says she’s texting Jax the contact information for Josslyn’s bodyguard, and Jax says, fantastic. A bodyguard. What every college freshman dreams of. Carly says, Devon is discreet, and he looks young, so he’ll blend in on campus. He says she just got him thinking. His daughter’s first year of college, having someone there to look out for her might not be such a bad idea. She says, Cameron will be there too, and Trina. He says, Josslyn’s been through a lot. Having two good friends there is fantastic.

Finn asks what Naomie means by Hayden’s mistakes, and she says, abandoning Violet of course (🍷). He asks if she’s sure she doesn’t know where Hayden is, and she says she only wishes she did. Now will he give her a chance to reconnect with her granddaughter? Violet and Elizabeth come back out, and Violet asks if Naomie is staying, Finn says, grandma has to go, but they’ll see about setting up a playdate in the future. Violet says they can have a tea party, and Naomie says she’d like nothing more. She’s staying at the Woodbridge Motel until she finds a more permanent place. Finn says, she’s moving to Port Charles? and Elizabeth says, permanently? Naomie says she’s wasted too much of her granddaughter’s life already. She doesn’t want to waste another second. She sends Finn her number, and says she hopes he calls soon. He says, like he told her, they’ll figure something out. Naomie says she’ll see Violet soon and leaves. No hug, no anything, which is really weird. Elizabeth says, what was that?

Jason tells Joey that he crossed the line when he spoke to Josslyn Jax. Joey says he doesn’t know; she seemed receptive. (Another clueless man!) He says, a pretty girl like that, and Jason steps closer. He says, further contact with Josslyn will result in full retaliation. Joey asks if this is coming from him or from Mrs. Corinthos. She’s the one in charge, right? Jason says Joey is in over his head, making trouble nobody wants, not even his own family. His uncle will not tolerate this show of disrespect, and neither will the other families. Joey literally snorts, and says he’ll take his chances. He walks off, the rest of his idiots following.

Laura says she prays for Lulu’s recovery every day and always will, but she knows her daughter, and knows Lulu wouldn’t want her to put her life on hold just to sit by her bedside every day. Lulu wouldn’t want that for him either. Every day they get to be in the world, laughing, crying, watching the sunrise; they are all precious, and she knows Lulu would want him to live them to the fullest. For Rocco too, because Dante has to show him how. Dante knows Laura is right, and Lulu would be okay with whatever changes may come… She asks if he’s met someone.

Sam hugs Alexis goodbye, saying she has to pick up something for her kids. The next time she won’t bring Nikolas’s problems with her. He says he heard that, and she says she meant for him to hear it. Next time he wants to question someone, go away and let her do it. Nikolas says, pity she has to go, and Alexis tells them to quit it. Kiss the kids, and get a brownie at Kelly’s; tell them it’s from her. Sam leaves, and Alexis tells Nikolas it’s too bad they couldn’t get through to Harmony. He says, maybe Sam was right and he pushed too hard, and Alexis says, she was and he did. But she understands why it’s important to him. He says, the only way to stop the divorce is to identify the stalker, and prove there’s no longer a threat. Harmony comes in with a stack of files and sets them on the table. She says, dammit. She hopes she doesn’t accidentally misplace Ryan’s file with those letters in it. She’ll just come back and look for them in about 20 minutes. She leaves, leaving Ryan’s file behind.

Shawn tells Ava that he’s sorry about Kiki. He sees her face, and says he didn’t mean to upset her, but she says, it’s okay. She’ll take any reminder. He says, and Avery? and Ava says, she’s perfect. She’s wonderful. She’s a delightful little chatterbox, always has been. She misses her dad, of course (🍷). Right now she’s staying with Carly, since Ava doesn’t think it’s safe for Avery to be with her. He says she really thinks the stalker would hurt Avery? and she says, yes. He broke into their hotel suite, and left a teddy bear for her to find; a bear with Ryan Chamberlain’s voice. He says, that’s messed up, and she says, it’s very messed up. She can’t forget it. Avery standing there with an unfamiliar toy with an unmistakable voice.

Finn puts headphones on Violet, and sets her up with an activity book. Elizabeth asks if Naomie said anything about Hayden, and Finn says, only that she doesn’t know where Hayden is. Elizabeth wonders how much contact Naomie should have with Violet, and he says he’s just worried it will make Violet miss her mother more, and ask more questions that he doesn’t know the answers to. How does he explain Hayden’s absence when he doesn’t understand it himself?

Anna says, one usually refers to the subject of a manhunt in the present tense, and Obrecht asks if she’s saying it wasn’t Peter’s body that had law enforcement crawling in the basements and subbasements of GH. Anna tells her, she can say this, if Peter were dead, she’d tell Maxie right away. She couldn’t allow Maxie to continue to be in fear of her life. Obrecht says she’ll continue to hope Peter has been dispatched, but until they know for sure, they must all be on their guard. Peter is his father’s son, and she and Anna know better than anyone how people underestimated Faison. They would assume he was dead, only to meet their own demise. Anna says she won’t believe Peter’s dead until she sees his body herself.

Anna and Obrecht sit on a bench near the ring, sipping drinks from Kelly’s, agreeing that they’re refreshing. Anna says, they could do with a smoothie bar, and Obrecht says, or a water fountain. As for Kelly’s, their attempt at schnitzel was an attempt at sadness. It’s good to know they can get something right. Anna says, despite their differences, she doesn’t think anyone understands their aggression the way they do. Obrecht says, in the meantime, she looks forward to Peter’s capture… or death. She’s partial to the latter. May it be slow, excruciating, and final.

Finn packs up Violet’s stuff at Kelly’s, and Violet says, now that grandma’s back, maybe she can take her to see mommy. He says, we’ll see, and she says, that means no, doesn’t it? Elizabeth pays the check, and Sam comes in. She says she was going to call Sam, and Sam asks what she did this time. Elizabeth says, yesterday, Sam asked her about Hayden. Guess who showed up in town today? Her mother, Naomie Dreyfuss.

Dante says he’s not seeing anyone, and Laura says, don’t panic. She’s not there to give him the third degree. Besides, she thinks Olivia probably has that one covered. He says, she does. He thinks she should be recruited for the PCPD because if she doesn’t badger a confession out of a perp, she can coax it out of them with her ziti. Laura says if he needs mayoral approval, he’s got it. When he starts dating again – and he will – she doesn’t want him to feel he needs to hide it from her. She considers him a part of her family; he’ll always be a part of her family. All she wants for him is his happiness.

Carly says, so both she and Jax are going to PCU’s Parents Week? and he says, them, and her security team. She tells him to give it a rest, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, come in, and Jason asks if she’s got a minute. Jax asks if Jason knows Josslyn was approached by Joey Novak today. Did he handle it? Jason says he did, and Carly says they can talk about Parents Week another time. Jax says he can see the happy couple wants to whisper sweet battle plans into each other’s ears, and Carly says he needs to let it go. He says he doesn’t think he will, and leaves. Jason closes the door, and Carly asks, what’s going on? He says, something’s up. Joey was way too confident when he confronted him about Josslyn. She says, confident how? and he says, when he told Joey that his uncle and the other families woudn’t tolerate this show of disrespect, he laughed it off. She asks if he thinks Joey has allies, and he says, could be. Let’s go. They leave and Jax watches.

Shawn tells Ava, this was actually quite pleasant, and she says he doesn’t have to sound so surprised. He says he’s not. He tells her to take care of herself, and leaves. His phone rings, and it’s Sam, who says she just got some very interesting news. Hayden’s mother is in town.

Ava calls Avery and asks, how was her day?… She misses her too. So much.

Nikolas and Alexis go through the letters, and Nikolas says, Seattle, Chicago, Milwaukee, Chicago again, Venezuela, Russia… It’s mostly university professors and psychiatrists. She says, offering his medical expertise on mental health. When she  thinks of the arrogance… She stops, and he says, what is it? She shows him an envelope addressed to Spencer in France.

On Monday, Scotty wonders if they’re about to get rich, Austin thinks he has a way to turn this long shot into a sure thing, and Alexis says, no need to panic.

Million Dollar Listing New York

Steve talked about how much he loved living in the apartment in Chelsea; it was where they brought Rose home and became a family. He’d convinced the owners to let him sell apartments there, and done well, so he asked for more apartments. He’d been given two 3 bedroom apartments and one 4 bedroom. They were harder to sell, so he actually put on a suit, which was rare. First up was a 3 bedroom, 4 bath, just under 3000 square feet, going for $7.450 million. Steve said the building was a piece of art in architecture, and I had to agree. It was designed by Zaha Hadid, a Pulitzer Prize winning architect, who, sadly, had passed away. The coolest thing about it was the glass curtain wall construction with hand-hammered steel, which was a constant photo op for people passing by. Amenities included a 75’ skylit pool, a spa suite that could be booked privately, a kids innovation lab that I would have loved to play in. In Steve’s interview, he said he could show the amenities with passion and pride since he knew what it was like to live there. There was a private IMAX theater, and an automated parking garage, although the garage was a little pricey, costing around another $500K for a spot. But if you’ve ever had to park in NYC, you might actually think that was worth it. In his interview, Steve said the building was amazing, but there was a lot of inventory on the market, so he had his work cut out for him.

Ryan’s Australian buyer James had been shown a million place, but none of them hit home for him. Really? Ryan was super frustrated, and I didn’t get WTF this guy wanted either. All the showings were being done virtually, and since James didn’t even know the city, he was an ignoramus. In Ryan’s interview, he wanted to sell an apartment on the other side of the world without the client actually being there, since it would be a major achievement.

Meanwhile, KJ was in Switzerland with her family, visiting her in-laws. While she was there, good friend Giovanni called he about selling one of his assets in Tribeca. He’d been renting it at $30K a month, but the tenants were moving, and Giovanni thought it was time to sell and invest in something new. Because of travel restrictions, Giovanni couldn’t travel from Italy, but agreed to have mutual friend Jacopo show her around. The apartment had been KJ’s first big sale for $3.6 million in 2012. It had been a foreclosure and took a year of negotiations. It had made her feel like a badass broker. The apartment was gorgeous (like there are ugly ones on this show), 3652 square feet, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, and 10½’ ceilings. It was the old Sugarloaf building, built in 1882, which had been converted into condos in 1992, and housed a lot of celebrities, like Orlando Bloom, Taylor Swift, and the Olsen Twins. Although it had been renovated, a lot of original details remained, like cast iron columns. In her interview, KJ said those details equaled dollars. Jacopo thought KJ could bring in $10 million, but she thought that was a little ambitious for the market. She was thinking along the lines of $9.4, but Jacopo said Giovanni didn’t need to sell, and would rent again until the market improved if he couldn’t get the price he wanted. She had a two-week window to sell, which she said in her interview, was nearly impossible. The potential commission was $300K, and KJ said, it would be like closing the circle.

Ryan had a place on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street that he thought would be perfect for James, and checked all the boxes. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, all on one level, a full-service building, and within James’s budget. He met with the seller’s rep Michelle, and noted the spectacular views (he was not kidding about that – they were to die for) and beautiful finishes. In his interview, he said you couldn’t get more NYC than being on Fifth Avenue. He got James and broker Sammi on separate phones to give the tour. The apartment was 1554 square feet and 10’ ceilings for $3.950. James said it was just what he was looking for, and they were almost there. He wanted something bigger. Michelle said she did have something bigger, but it was in the mid sixes, so a different price point. I had the feeling there was just no pleasing this jerk. In Ryan’s interview, he said it was called the upsell. You thought he didn’t have any more listings in his pockets? That’s what he had pockets for. The other apartment had the same views, but was 1954 square feet, had 2.5 baths, was on a higher floor with 11’ ceilings, and priced at $6.725 million. Ryan said he’d have to invent new boxes for James to find more to check. James whined that it was hard to tell what you could fit without it being furnished, and Ryan was like, really? James said, spot on, mate, but still made no commitment, saying he’d get back to Ryan after he and Sammi had a chat.

Emelia brought Zena over to Steve’s for a playdate with Rose, since the girls were besties now. Steve told Zena that she had better style than her father in her sweet bunny outfit. Ryan thought he might have some buyers for the 4 bedroom, but wanted to check it out himself first, so they were killing two birds with one stone. As apartments had gone down in price, Steve’s had been $12 million, but now the same one upstairs was going for $8.995 million. Steve showed Ryan around his own place, and his closet was pretty amusing with a clothes rack where 50 of the same white T-shirts were hanging. Ryan thought if the price was right, the upstairs apartment would work for his clients. He thought Chelsea was the perfect neighborhood for a family new to NYC.

KJ was busting her ass looking for buyers, but had no offers yet. She told Jacopo that it was against odds, but she was hopeful for the weekend. In her interview, she said it would mean a lot to her to sell it the second time around. KJ had several showings, including a virtual one with an Italian architect who was looking for a second home, but she said the market was speaking loud and clear, and confirming what she thought – it was overpriced.

Ryan had good news and bad news for James. The apartment he’d liked had been sold. In Ryan’s interview, he said someone had literally swooped in and bought it, which sucked, since it was the only one James showed real interest in. The good news was that there was another off-market apartment available. It was the same exact layout and footage, but on the 46th floor (the other had been on the 50th), and on the opposite side of the building. The original price was $6.7 million, and had been dropped to $6.1 million, but Ryan thought he could get it down the mid fives. James wanted to see the view, but Ryan said there was no time. There was already a potential buyer who hadn’t pulled the trigger, but was in conversation. By the time he was able to show it to James, it would already be too late. This sloth of an Australian was literally learning the meaning of the American phrase, you snooze, you lose. Still, he said he’d need to see the floorplans and have a chat with Sammi before submitting an offer. In his interview, Ryan said James needed to act quickly or he’d lose this one too. He got on the phones with James and Sammi, and James suggested starting with 30% off the original asking price, which was $4.750 million. I literally laughed out loud. In Ryan’s interview, he said, while it could sometimes be bad giving a low offer when other buyers were already bidding, he didn’t know what the other offers were, and at least James’s foot was in the door. He sent Michelle the offer, which she said was too low, but $5.5 million would get the deal done. Since James seems to have a brain issue, he offered $5 million, to which Michelle said if he didn’t come up, they were going with the other buyer. Back on the phones, Sammi suggested $5.2 million, and Ryan said he was like the United Nations of real estate right now. Ryan put in the offer, and told James and Sammi that they’d pushed, and he was sorry, but James would have to buy a condo in NYC for $5.2 million. In his interview, he said, this was the future of real estate, selling anywhere, and it felt good.

Next time, an apartment 900 feet in the air selling for $29 million, and Ryan calls one of Fredrik’s clients directly

Photo

Steve’s Chelsea Building

📽 Could Be Worse…

At least he died doing what he loved.

https://ew.com/tv/general-hospital-jay-pickett-dies-movie-set/

🍽 Drama Be Damned…

No matter the drama, you still gotta eat.

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/03/ramona-singer-eboni-k-williams-have-dinner-amid-rhony-drama/

👠 And This Is Just the Beginning…

Speaking of Wives drama, the latest Erika news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/05/erika-jayne-accuses-garcelle-beauvais-of-betraying-her/

https://pagesix.com/2021/08/05/erika-jayne-feels-bravo-pulled-a-fast-one-with-garcelle-spat/

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/30/erika-jaynes-inconsistent-statements-from-rhobh-to-be-used-in-court/

🔧 David’s Condition…

These kids have a shrink already, right?

David Beador Allows Daughters to Film RHOC Under This One Condition After Producers Step in, Plus Shannon Beador Shares Why Ex Wanted to Block Kids From Show

⚰️ Bring Out Your Dead…

What’s going on with Season 11.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-original-story-not-from-comics-producer-denise-huth-the-reapers/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-lauren-cohan-maggie-returns-different-person-denise-huth/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-trailer-live-for-them-fight-survival-alexandria/

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-two-new-cast-members-ian-anthony-dale-laurie-fortier/

📬 Quotes of the Week

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.Oscar Wilde

It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. – Lewis Carroll

What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming. – Muhammad Ali

Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. – Dennis P. Kimbro

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. – Mark Twain

If you can’t laugh at yourself, at least let me do it. – Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

You’ve been given the innate power to shape your life…but you cannot just speak change, you have to LIVE change. Intent paired with action builds the bridge to success. You can’t just want it; you have to do it, live it…BE it! Success isn’t something you have, it’s something you DO!Steve Maraboli   

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong. – Richard Dawkins

Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering. – Santosh Kalwar

🛣 Am I There Yet…?

This week has been at least a year long, but hey, there’s another one coming. Regrouping, but until then, stay safe, stay doing things you love, and stay being notoriously patient. It’s not just for psychopaths anymore.