(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Today’s GHFriday Flashback was from March 30, 2018. Max Gail did the introduction, and basically said to get out the tissues. It was when the MetroCourt was turned into One Night at Luke’s. Eddie Maine performed, there were plenty of flashbacks, and Mike had the time of his life.
I just love the whole 90 Day Fiancé franchise. You’d think I’d write about it, but it deserves my undivided attention. It’s little gems like this that make it worthwhile. Long story short, Big Ed kinda looks like a troll. Don’t get me wrong, looks don’t matter. If you can make a woman laugh, you’re probably more than halfway there. Or if you have a sparkling personality. Or you’re rich. Big Ed is none of those things, and pretty much overall annoying, obnoxious, and fearful of anything outside his own world. His potential fiancé Rose was half his age and from the Philippines. She seemed like a lovely girl, but Ed alternated between treating her like he was predator grooming her, with exhibiting behavior that embarrassed her. The cherry on Rose’s cake was when she said she wanted to have two more children – which he knew before he ever made the trip to meet her – and he told her that he already had an appointment for a vasectomy because he didn’t want any more children – which he’d never even hinted at. Well, just look at some of the details yourself.
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. – Mary Anne Radmacher
A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times. – Unknown
Accept me, Lord, as I am, and make me such as thou wouldst have me to be. – MaryLivingstone (Missionary in Africa)
I’m thankful for my struggle, because without it, I wouldn’t have stumble across my strength. – Alex Elle
I kinda get the willy-nillies when the dead guys come out. I have to go lie down. – an Atlanta local, talking about the Walking Dead being filmed there, Ridewith Norman Reedus
When deeds speak, words are nothing. – Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world. – George Washington
I’ll be fine, until I’m not. – The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), Downton Abbey
🏖 Life’s a Beach…
Hey, you made it through another week. And there are rumblings of things opening a crack. Get out and enjoy the outdoors. Just think of a mask as another accessory. God knows the designers are. Stay safe, stay at least six-feet away, and stay hoping drive-ins become a thing even after all the pandemonia is over.
Oh, and if Amy tells you I ran her down to meet Barry Bostwick that time at Town Hall, don’t believe her. I just gently pushed her aside.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Shahs of Sunset
Vida fauns over Baby Shams while out to lunch with MJ and Tommy. MJ says she had to cancel her baby shower because she was on bedrest, so she’d like to have a Sip N See to introduce the baby to everyone. In MJ’s interview, she says, traditionally, a Sip N See is having a few ladies in the living room to meet the baby. (Not according to Phaedra, RHOA. It’s more like a wedding with a baby, instead of a bride and groom.) She says, Persians put their own spin on things. They have it catered, decorate onesies, and tweak it a little. She tells Vida and Tommy that she wants a county fair theme. She’s thinking about having it at the Houdini mansion. Vida asks if that’s not better for Halloween, but MJ says it’s a gorgeous place. Tommy says it’s a beautiful mansion, and he thinks MJ can pull it off. MJ tells Vida that she talked to Reza, and saw everybody. Reza seemed genuinely remorseful, and said he was dropping the charges against Tommy. Vida asks if she’s inviting him to the shower, and Tommy jumps in, saying, no. She says she can’t because of the restraining order. In her interview, MJ says, in a perfect world she wishes Reza would be welcome, but there’s no way she can even entertain the thought until he drops the restraining order.
Reza and Adam go to a pottery making class. Adam asks if it beats Reza’s beekeeping thing, and Reza says the bee thing was amazing. He wishes Adam had been there. He had a really nice time, but then MJ said something to Paulina that upset her. Adam says, MJ is making a lot of people upset. In Reza’s interview, he says the reentry into his and MJ’s friendship is a bumpy flight. The attendants are still able to serve you, but there’s a lot of turbulence. He tells Adam, if his and MJ’s friendship is limited or not, Tommy having a felony record along with a newborn isn’t cool. He thinks karmically, the right thing is to not pursue criminal charges, and he’d rather do the right thing. Adam agrees, and says, at the end of the day, they’re in a great place, and everything is positive. He doesn’t care if Reza doesn’t go through with the criminal charges, but he still wants the restraining order in place. Reza says he totally forgives MJ and Tommy, and wants things comfortable for everyone, and to co-exist, but Adam says they’re where they’re at because of MJ and the Tommy situation, and he’s sticking by the restraining order. In his interview, Reza says he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do. He’s caught between two people he loves. Adam says he’s glad they’re in a better place, and moving forward.
Destiney takes her pup Frank Sinatra with her to look for a baby gift. She calls Mike while she’s at the store, but he says he’s not going to the Sip N See. He says he was going to come, but then MJ made Paulina feel some sort of way. That shouldn’t happen. Destiney says, sometimes the stuff comes out of MJ’s mouth is toxic. In Destiney’s interview, she says, when they were in Hawaii, they were talking about bonds and how friendships matter. Does Mike want to lose that? She buys $250 worth of baby stuff.
Assistant Sienna tells MJ, everything is good. MJ asks her to text the guests that she’ll see them at 2:30, so they’re not late. Everyone starts to arrive, and it’s an amazing set up; games, all kinds of fair food, a donut wall. Reza says, it’s very MJ, and Nema says, it’s the most Iranian thing in the world; a three-month-old having a DJ at their party. Mike texts Nema that he decided not to come, Destiney arrives, carrying a load of balloons, trying to navigate the million stairs up to the party in her heels.
Mike and Reza have some batting practice. At the party, Shervin tells Nema, GG isn’t coming either, and we see her having some dental work done. Nema says, what the hell? In Nema’s interview, he says, whatever their personal drama is, this is about MJ’s son. Party planner Lenora tells everyone that MJ and Tommy are coming, as Destiney finally makes it to the top of the stairs. Nema tells her, Mike’s not there, and she says he felt some type of way (the phrase of the night) about MJ’s comment to Paulina. He’s feeling that she disrespected him; that’s his woman.
MJ tells Shervin, she’ll love GG from afar, until things change. Shervin says, Mike isn’t coming either, and wonders what happened to their ten year friendship. MJ says she feels bad about what she said to Paulina. She had her guard down, and it was in the moment, but she thinks Mike doesn’t want to show up. She thinks it’s a deeper emotion than hurt. She thought he cared, but he’s shown her nothing. He wants to look good in front of his girlfriend, and she’s glad he’s not there.
Nema tells Sara, he can’t wait for Mona to have kids. He won’t be having any, since his parents effed him up too much. Sara says, break the cycle, and Nema says, easier said than done. He’s afraid he’ll repeat the mistakes his dad did. Mona says, it’s his choice. Sara takes Nema aside, and says she lost her dad suddenly in a car accident. He’d just dropped her off at work, and her dad got T-boned in a high speed police chase. He died instantly. When she hears him say he can’t get over it, she thinks he still has a dad. Cherish that. Nema says, a lot of people chime in, but only a few get him to stop and think. He wants to think about what she said.
Tommy takes the mic, and says, his wife is the most legendary creature that has ever graced the planet. When he sees his son, he falls in love with her ten times more. MJ thanks everyone for coming. If they’re there, it means they love them, and it means a lot. Having her son is everything, and she hopes she gets to pass along the things her father taught her. Tommy says if Baby Shams grows up to be half the man MJ’s father was, they’ve done their job as parents. In MJ’s interview, she says, it’s a dream come true. She’s sad that some of her friends have shown that whatever they’re doing in their lives is more important than her baby. She toasts to Baby Shams.
Mom Fatima visits GG, bearing Persian herb stew, among other groceries. In her interview, GG says her mom is her best friend, especially through the pregnancy process. Her mother has been her human punching bag, but GG appreciates that Fatima has been there for her. She tells Fatima that she went to the doctor, and she’s starting the process again in a month and a half. She’ll be doing injections for five weeks. Fatima tells her, congratulations. In GG’s interview, she says, there was a crack in the road, and she stumbled, but she’s going to keep going. She shows Fatima the needle, and it looks gigantic. Fatima tells her, say it’s for the baby, so she can do it with satisfaction. GG says she’s getting emotional, and Fatima says she wishes GG will be a good mother. GG says she had a good teacher, and hugs Fatima.
Mike tells Paulina, he’s going to Sara’s freedom party. We flash back to the disaster of a pool party, and in his interview, Mike says, the last one sucked. Oh sh*t; here we go again. Paulina asks if everyone is going, and says, at some point, they all have to take responsibility for their own actions. Mike says he’s concerned about not going to the Sip N See. They meet Mike’s parents for dinner, and Mike wears a gold medallion that his grandfather had gifted his dad, and his dad passed to him. He thought, why put it in a safe, when he can wear it proudly? Mom Sue asks how his project is coming. In Mike’s interview, he says his parents have doubts about his capabilities. He tells her, it’s going really well, and his dad asks if he’s got proof. Mike says his project manager emails him several times a day on the progress, and it looks good. Sue says he’s almost there, and Mike says, it’s going to be a good year. Sue says she’s proud of him. It’s a big deal. Mike set his mind to it, and he’s doing it. In his interview, Mike says, all he’s wanted is for his parents to be proud. It only took 41 years.
Nema goes to lunch with Mona, half-sister Sara, and dad Fred. In his interview, Nema tells us that his dad had another child with his stepmother, but he’s always looked at her like a full sister. She’s starting at UCLA in the fall, and he’s proud of her. He tells a story about Sara shutting off the X-Box in the middle of them playing, when she was two, and him thinking, he can’t do this parenting sh*t. Mona asks Fred if Nema should have kids, and he says, every dad wants grandchildren. Nema says, no way, and apologizes for bumming everyone out. Fred comes around the table, and hugs him. Nema gets emotional, and goes outside, and his dad follows. Nema says he’s tired of being angry. In his interview, he says he didn’t cause this. The actions of his mom and dad did. We flash back to Nema talking to his therapist, and saying he’s more angry at his dad after reading his mom’s letter. He tells us, he’s had twenty-five years of small talk with his dad. Fred says he knows how much he hurt Nema, and doesn’t want him to suffer. Nema means everything to him, and he hopes Nema can give him room in his life, because he loves him. Nema says, they don’t talk, but his dad says Nema is his son, and he loves him. Let’s fix this. Nema says, at this point, it’s too late, but Fred says, they’re ready for it. He wants them to be close, and wants to help Nema. Nema hopes so. In his interview, Nema says they have had a sincere moment of closeness in years. It’s been like a game of chicken. When they get back to the table, Fred says he loves all of them, and Nema says he forgives him and his mom. He doesn’t want to carry it anymore. He can’t spend the next 35 years like the last ones. He suggests they have more regular meetings as a family.
Tommy asks MJ if Reza is going to be at Sara’s party. MJ says, the scene of the crime. Tommy says he has a bat in the car; he’s got a softball game. MJ tells him, no jokes like that.
In Reza’s interview, he says he left Hawaii thinking he’d be dropping the charges. But Adam is clear that dropping the restraining order isn’t an option.
In Destiney’s interview, she says she has no issue with Sara. She dated Sara’s brother; however, the last time, it was a disaster. We flash back to that. She says she can still be nice and sweet; that’s who she is. Plus, she can rub it in his face that she’s cute. When MJ arrives, she says, do-over, and in her interview, she says she has hella PTSD just walking in. In Reza’s interview, he says talk about going back to the worst experience. He hopes he gets three, four, or five sheets to whatever wind. He blows a kiss to MJ, who tells Vida not to attack him. Vida swears she’s not going to attack anybody. GG sees Sam, and in her interview, she says she needs to have a talk with Destiney. She doesn’t know what Destiney saw in that guy. The way she talked, GG thought he would look like James Bond. WTF?
Reza and MJ step away, and he says he’s trying to avoid her mom. He says he was glad they’re in a good place, making forward motions, but when he walked in, he heard Vida talking about him to Nema. MJ says she wants Reza to say hello; just acknowledge her. Reza gives Vida some polite conversation, and moves along to the bar. Mike tells Nema, he’s yet to get an apology from MJ, and Nema says he thinks it was wrong of Mike not to show up for the Sip N See. Mike says there’s plenty of time for them to catch up. Reza joins them, and Mike says he wasn’t there either. Reza says, it was because of the restraining order. He’s not going to file charges; he doesn’t want a felony case for Tommy, MJ, or the baby. But as far as the restraining order goes, Adam feels safer with keeping it in place. They don’t want to risk another moment of impulse control. Nema asks if MJ knows, and wonders how their relationship can survive. In Reza’s interview, he says, Adam wants him to take a stand for him and their marriage. He’s going to respect his husband’s wishes. How can he not?
Nema asks MJ how it went with Reza, and she says she hasn’t asked if everything is dropped, and Nema tells her that Reza isn’t dropping the restraining order. He just said it. In MJ’s Interview, she says she’s really hurt. She doesn’t believe Reza would make that choice, to double down on something that damaged their friendship beyond recognition. He’d assured her that he was dropping everything in his power. She tells Nema that their friendship is built on lies. Destiney joins them, and Nema says, there’s drama. Reza comes in, and Nema says, perfect timing. A conversation came up about the restraining order. MJ says, everything they talked about was a lie. Nema tells her, that’s not what he said, and she says Reza also talked to other people, and she doesn’t like anyone else being involved. Reza says, what transpired in his household… and MJ says, he changed his mind? He says they’re not pursuing the felony charges, but what if Tommy comes back in six months with a gun instead of a bat? MJ says, so he’s worried about the future? and Reza says, 100%. MJ says if there’s going to be a future between them, please don’t do this. He needs to give her credit for 30 years of being his friend. That’s why she apologized. She’ll burn this house down if he doesn’t lift everything. He says he’s sorry, and she says she can’t do this. In Reza’s interview, he says he doesn’t want the restraining order to be the nail in the coffin of his friendship with MJ. But at the same time, he had to pick between two people he loves. He’s still married, and picked his husband.
On the balcony, MJ yells, these people are full of sh*t, and she doesn’t need to be there. In Mike’s interview, he says, they’re not a bunch of fair-weather friends. This has gone too far. How did they get to this place? In her interview, GG says, certain people will find a happier ending, and certain relationships are completely done. Reza yells for everyone to come and take a family photo, and the guests all gather by the pool. In MJ’s interview, she says she’s heartbroken and gutted. She was open to fixing the friendship, but wonders how they can ever get back from this. She leaves the party.
Next time – the Reunion.
💿 For the Record…
Today on GH’s Flashback Friday, it was an anniversary episode from 2014. I don’t remember seeing this, but I might have still been dealing with repairing the house after Hurricane Sandy. AJ died after Sonny shot him, Lucy was still married to Doc, Noah had broken up with Bobbie, and the Nurses Ball was on the horizon. Since there were flashbacks within this flashback, we saw three different Carlys, and saw Sonny when he was practically an infant. At the end, AJ was met by Emily, Edward, Lila, and Alan, and took the stairs up to heaven. Which is really questionable.
For some reason, my brain translated Phaedra to Rosa. Probably because of Porsha’s misunderstanding of the Underground Railroad. History and pop culture have somehow meshed in my brain.
Remember, No one’s more important than people! In other words, friendship is the most important thing – not career or housework, or one’s fatigue – and it needs to be tended and nurtured. – Julia Child
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
David is not a terrorist. He’s a Catholic. – woman being catfished on Dr. Phil
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde
It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot
It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. – Lewis Carroll
Well-behaved women seldom make history. – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
The most common form of despair is not being who you are. – Soren Kierkegaard
Nobody wanted to be in this situation. It is how we react to it that will define us as people. – David Toborowsky, 90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined
You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? – Rumi
Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. – Voltaire
I had to think of a new and creative way to embarrass my children. – Sarah Michelle Gellar on why she dyed her hair pink during quarantine, TheSkimm. (She sounds like my father.)
📝 Summing Up the Week…
You made it through another one. And I’ve added more things to my list of what I never want to hear/see again, like WFH (I’d actually thought it mean what fresh hell when I first saw it), and #alonetogether (I just want to be alone). The doors are slowly starting to open, and you’ll be out there again soon. See you when it’s time to sail away on Monday. Until then, stay safe, stay on your good behavior, and shake your groove thing like nobody’s watching. Unless they are.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Shahs of Sunset
Reza tells us, when Persians are on vacation, and shelling out cash, they don’t like wasting a moment of time. Except Destiney. Everyone is in the kitchen early for breakfast, but Destiney is still sleeping. Mike asks who’s doing surfing and who’s doing the bees. He puts tattoos on everyone. In Mike’s interview, he says he thought Paulina might have a hard time, bringing the group along on her birthday trip, but they’ve been awesome. He’s helped by acting like a camp counselor. In MJ’s interview, she says she loves Mike, but he can be controlling, and the girls he’s with become subservient. We see a clip from the reunion where Mike didn’t want Jessica to come out, even though she wanted to speak her piece. MJ says, Mike is happy, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the same tendencies to be the guy he’s been for the last 35 years. GG asks where Destiney is.
MJ video chats with Tommy, and looks at baby Shams. She tells him, yesterday was hard. She felt homesick. She asks if Shams has changed, and Tommy jokes that he’s smoking cigarettes now. MJ shows him a lizard on a nearby rock. She says she and Reza had a nice, long conversation. He said his intention was to drop everything. She asks if Reza’s attorney has communicated with Tommy’s, but he says, no. In MJ’s interview, she says she’s going to be there for the man she married, and has a family with. She wants Reza to realize he’s wrong, and drop the charges. She says she’s going to try and have one nice day.
GG wants to do rosé all day, and wonders how MJ is going to surf in her thong bathing suit. Paulina says she’s going surfing, rather than joining Mike on what I find out later is a trip to a bee farm. MJ says Paulina is finally thinking clearly. In GG’s interview, she says, it’s been a while, and she’s having floating thoughts. In the car on the way to the farm, she asks the guys – Nema, Reza, and Mike – questions about sex. In Nema’s interview, he says he and GG haven’t had anything physical, although they’ve had moments that were close. We flash back to the almost-kiss on the ski trip. GG allows him to kiss her, although it’s nothing passionate. In her interview, GG says, less teeth and more lips would have been helpful. Nema says, it was a preview.
Destiney explains that her sister was stung by a bee while doing a handstand in the pool, so she’d rather go surfing. Shervin, MJ, Paulina, and Sara are also in the surfing group. An instructor shows MJ how to stay on a surfboard. She says she has an aggressive thong, which sounds painful, but she masters the stance. Although since the surfboard is on land, it’s kind of meaningless, since the ground isn’t rolling around beneath her. Destiney and Paulina just hang out on their surfboards in the sun. In Destiney’s interview, she says it’s like how Persians go to a pool party, but they don’t go in the pool. It’s same with the beach. It might ruin your hair.
At the bee farm, bee guy Joe gives the other group lots of bee information. GG tells him about seeing a shaman who said her spirit animal was a bee. She used to sting people, but now she wants to stay alive, Reza gets the complete protection suit, but the rest wear variations of gear, and GG just wears the hat and gloves. Reza says, a bitch lost 50 pounds, but the suit is still snug. GG says she knows her homies won’t sting her. Want some honey, honey? True story. The only time I was ever stung by a bee was when I was around four, and I tried to pet it. I love bees. Bee guy Joe takes out the shelves from the hive that are covered with bees. Nema thinks he and GG are two bees who need to pollinate, and Mike says he’s sweating like a whore in church.
The surfing group gets back first, and MJ wants a shot of Patron, even though she doesn’t like Patron. I don’t like it either, but that’s why I don’t drink it. MJ tells Paulina, she knows how it feels to be under a strict regime. It takes her back to her Persian boyfriend. She’s glad she married a white boy. Shervin shakes his head.
Bee guy Joe demonstrates how to make a candle, and the group gets sheets of beeswax to make one. Reza says, they’re expensive; make three or four. Paulina texts Mike, MJ is effing foul. In Mike’s interview, he says, MJ thrives off antagonizing people. It’s like a drug for her to poke at people. It gets her high. Mike says he has to go. He has to see WTF is happening.
Mike stomps in, asking, what happened? and Paulina says, MJ told her that she and Mike remind her of when she used to date Persian men. He says, WTF? and Shervin says, it doesn’t end there. Reza tells MJ that Paulina is upset. Something MJ said hurt, offended, or disrespected Paulina. In her interview, MJ says she’s shellshocked. She thought they were bullsh*tting, having fun, and bonding over men. Paulina tells Mike that MJ said she was glad she married a white guy, and Mike was so controlling. He tells her that he’s sorry she had to go through this. In his interview, he says he vowed never to be like that again, and his prayers were answered with Paulina. He says, MJ needs to know not to f*ck with him and his girl. He tells MJ that there’s been a lot of sh*t talk behind people’s backs, and he doesn’t like his girlfriend being upset. MJ says she loves Paulina; why is she upset? He says MJ told her that she was sorry Paulina was dating a Persian guy. She says she didn’t say that, and Mike says Paulina heard it that way. MJ says the Persian relationship situation reminded her that she married an American, and it’s very different. She didn’t say anything insulting, but she’s sorry Paulina heard it that way. In GG’s interview, she says, MJ is being her authentic self, someone who damages people. GG wants no more to do with it. Mike asks MJ what she’s thinking. Does she not like Paulina? MJ says Paulina is like a breath of fresh air. In Reza’s interview, he wonders why MJ would say what she did when she’s in a huge group, mostly of Persian men. MJ says, it’s a fact that American men are different, and Mike said she was pointing out that things are better. Trying to flip it, MJ asks why it has to be a comparison, and Mike says, she’s effed up. She tells him, she didn’t say he was controlling, which is exactly what she said. GG doesn’t understand how anyone can insert themselves in someone else’s life. Mike says, stop engaging. GG leaves, while suggesting MJ get her own life. Mike admits he’s opinionated, but says he’s not controlling. MJ says if they don’t want her there, don’t invite her, and Mike says he wants her to act right. She asks what she’s doing wrong, and when he wants to apologize, hopefully she’ll be open to it. Destiney says Persian men are controlling, but she loves them. Shervin tells Reza, Adam called and asked if he could fart.
GG goes outside and sits with Paulina. She says she’s sorry she wasn’t there earlier. They thought Paulina was having a great time, then all of a sudden, Mike was raging, In GG’s interview, she says, it’s confusing, having a friend like MJ. They’ve had some amazing times – we flash back to some of those – but on the other side, MJ preyed on her vulnerability – we flash back to MJ and Reza blindsiding GG with Shalom’s ex-wife. GG says they’re talking about the woman who single-handedly sh*t on everyone.
MJ tells Reza, she said Mike was strict, and he still continues to pop off. Let her cool off. Reza says, it’s Paulina’s birthday; talk to her. MJ goes out, joining Paulina and GG. GG is telling Paulina, it doesn’t make sense, and it’s not right. What credibility does MJ have? MJ says she’s sorry if she upset Paulina when she said Mike was strict. They haven’t hung out that much, and Paulina seems easy-going, so MJ let her guard down and was talking sh*t. GG slips away, and MJ sits down. She tells Paulina, she says things that sound harsh, but her intention isn’t from a bad place. Paulina says, hearing that, she wondered what going on. She felt the drama between MJ and Reza, and wondered if she was next. In MJ’s interview, she says she’s realizing, before Paulina has a chance to get to know her, she’s been told bullsh*t. Paulina says it means a lot to her for MJ to explain herself.
Nema says Paulina is adjusting to the group, and how everyone is in everyone’s sh*t. He doesn’t consider it malicious, but just thoughtless. In Destiney’s interview, she says MJ is sh*tty with her comments sometimes, and always comes back with she didn’t mean it, and how much she cares. It makes you think you’re crazy. She’s not sorry; it’s a pattern. Mike says, it’s time for the luau dinner.
A conch is blown. It reminds me of Lord of the Flies, which isn’t far off. A pig has been roasted, and there are hula dancers with a three-piece accompaniment. They toast to a beautiful evening together. MJ hugs Paulina. In Mike’s interview, he says, even though he appreciates MJ’s apology – it’s big of her – it’s more of a concern what a persona says behind his back than in front of his face. In Reza’s interview, he wonders, WTF were they thinking? Who’s eating the pig? He’s half Muslim and half Jewish. He doesn’t screw with swine. I didn’t even think of that. GG says, the pig is scary. I was at an event that included a pig roast once, and they’re gross, but the smell is incredible. It tasted good too, but by the time I got there, almost nothing but the head was left, so all I got was a taste.
Paulina thanks everyone for coming on the trip her love planned for her. Nema says, in 2018, Mike was a pain in the ass, but the 2019 Mike is amazing. Reza says Paulina made someone they loved better, and they toast to her. A beautiful cake comes out, almost like a small wedding cake, decorated with real flowers. The group sings Happy Birthday in Persian. Mike hopes all her wishes come true. Fire dancers come out, and GG ducks behind the table. In her interview, she says she has Puff the Magic Dragon with her, and she doesn’t want to die. They drink some more.
Nema compliments GG, and Mike says they want to see a kiss. Nema says they saw that once today, and the guys all make fun of him. Mike asks GG to show them again, and she says she’s definitely drunk enough. Nema tells her, come on, and she says that’s probably why he’s still single; he has no swag. Mike asks if he ever smashed Erica, and Nema says, he has a major emotional attachment to her. He had no sense of family growing up, and has a hard time letting go. In Nema’s interview, he says, not having a key maternal figure, he doesn’t process relationships the same way, and that’s why it’s hard to let go of Erica. Nema says Erica saved him after his divorce, at his lowest point. He doesn’t like their disrespectful comments. He goes inside.
GG says, Nema needed a break from the conversation. It didn’t work out, and it’s sensitive for him.Why is it fair grounds [sic] to talk about it? She goes inside and sits with Nema, but sees a roach walking across the floor, and freaks out. MJ is on her way in, and GG tries to stop her, telling her about the bug. In his interview, Nema says he knows GG likes to get high, but she’s a little crazy. Who knows what she sees? He swipes the bug outside with his foot, and she sees another one on the ceiling. She’s worried his friend is going to come for her now.
Nema tells GG, any criticism of Erica is difficult for him. GG says he should marry Erica, and he says she wants and deserves tradition, but he can’t give her what she wants. GG asks, why? and he says, it’s awkward to say that he loves her, but he’s attracted to other women. GG says he needs someone who understands that he wants to have fun. If her brain could be put into Erica, it would be perfect. Nema says he would marry her, and GG says then he’d have his cake and eat it too. He asks which she is, the cake or what he’s eating? She says she’s always an option. Paulina interrupts, and says she has a ritual she wants them to do. Nema says, saved by the bell, and GG says, he was saved by the bell. She asks what flavor cake she’d be, and Nema says, red velvet. GG thinks she’d be devil’s food.
Back at the table, Paulina says, for her birthday, she wishes they could have deep friendships, but they’re afraid to be honest. She wants them to write down, anonymously, how they feel. In his interview, Reza says, bad idea, and Paulina tells them, write down what you’re scared to say. In Reza’s interview, he says, give them a slice of coconut cake, and be done with it. Where’s the hula dancer? Where’s Don Ho when you need him? This is a bad, bad idea. Paulina says they’re going to burn them afterward. They move to the fire, and Paulina reads, Nema is passive/aggressive. The next one says, Shervin is too buff. He needs to eat a salad some time. Shervin says, it’s in crayon. It’s Mike. Mike starts to laugh. Paulina reads another one that says, if I hadn’t been vulnerable, I wouldn’t have hurt the people I love. They all seem to know it’s Reza, and she reads, I don’t like to see people who thrive on people in pain. She picks up another, and says, Sara needs to clear out the skeletons in her closet. Sara says, wow, and Mike says, that’s been the chatter amongst the group behind her back. We flash back to Sara talking to Reza about her time with R. Kelly. Sara says, none of them would know what to expect; what it’s like seeing your ex on the news. It’s a ridiculous statement. Destiney says she didn’t write it, but she’s glad someone did. GG insists on switching seats, so Destiney and Sara can talk it out. In Destiney’s interview, she says, even though she and Sam are no longer dating, there’s been some tough sh*t with the R. Kelly situation. She’d never want to make another woman feel less than. They clasp hands. Sara says she feels like everyone is on the hunt. It’s the worst thing, exploiting the situation. MJ says the people they’re closest to, are the people they pick on. Something they need to flip the script on, and learn to be better. MJ says the person she wants to be isn’t hurtful, and she wishes she’d never hurt anyone or ever gotten hurt. She wishes it was different. Reza says the situation between him and MJ was hard for him. He needed to have conversations, and make apologies and promises. Mike says, it has to stop, for everyone’s piece of mind. He wants to move forward. No more sh*t talking or back stabbing. He needs Paulina to be okay. Reza says they need to act nicely, and let this sh*t stay in Hawaii. Burn the letters. Mike throws them in the fire, and says he doesn’t want to hear one more negative thing.
The next morning, GG asks if Nema has any memories of last night. He was pretty wasted. Nema says she was too, and she says she was beyond wasted. We see her clips of GG dancing around, and saying she’s so drunk. She says, mission aborted, and Nema says, between them. In Nema’s interview, he says, GG made it clear that she was open and willing to have sex. We see GG saying, Nema, now! He says, five minutes, and she says, okey dokey, artichokey. GG says, obviously, he was comfortable enough to have sex, or at least take it where it was. Nema says, there may have been a hot tub moment. They both use paper dolls to illustrate their narrative. They got in the hot tub, and Nema put his back against the jets. GG told Nema that he looked good, and he said she did too. GG was drinking and smoking weed, and pulled Nema closer. Nema says, she bit his lip; it hurt. Her hands were feeling around, wondering, what’s going on down there? GG suddenly tosses the paper dolls in the air. In his interview, Nema says, here’s a beautiful woman, who’s been drinking a lot. He doesn’t know if she’d feel the same way if she was sober. One time GG told him that she could get any guy she wants. It’s nice to be the one. He smiles, blinding us with his teeth.
Reza and MJ sit outside on the lawn. Reza says, it took coming there to give them perspective in their lives. They have it so good, and have one another’s backs. He puts his head in MJ’s lap. He says he wants to tell her what’s been going on, and how rough sh*t has been. He can’t go through this again. MJ says they’re on the right track, but her worst fear is that he and Tommy aren’t on the right track. They’ve yet to hear what the status is on the restraining order. Reza had said he was lifting it, and not pressing charges. We flash back to MJ and Tommy talking with their lawyer. Reza says, when he gets home, he’s going to have a conversation with his attorney, and let him know that he doesn’t have an interest in pursuing it any more. MJ says when he finally follows through, it will be a big message to Tommy. In MJ’s interview, she says the judge will most likely dismiss the vandalism, and her husband won’t be a felon. Maybe there’s a chance in hell of healing this catastrophe in their relationship. MJ tells Reza, fingers crossed, they’re in the pool in 2020.
In Reza’s interview, he says, clearly, MJ wants him to drop the charges. He’s figuring out if their relationship will get better after he does. It feels like it will, but…
Next time, a Sip and See for Shams, and Mike isn’t going; Reza talks to Adam about Tommy, but Adam wants to stick by the order; and MJ tells Reza if there’s going to be future between them, please don’t do this.
🏥 On General Hospital’s Flashback Friday today – a flashback in a flashback – Sonny remembered his early days, and changed the past in his head – Dante was married to Sam, and working for the Jeromes, along with Jason; and Anna was police commissioner, but had given up on life after Robin died from AIDS. Sonny realized that whatever we choose, there’s a price to pay.
I had the privilege of seeing Brian Dennehy in Inherit the Wind on Broadway (co-starring Christopher Plummer, no less). He was an amazing actor, who put the same amount of energy playing a neighborhood bully in a TV movie as he did in playing Matthew Harrison Brady.
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – William Shakespeare (Who just got a birthday shout out on April 23rd. )
Be the change that you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide
Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. – Marilyn Monroe
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect). – Mark Twain
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas A. Edison
A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water. – Eleanor Roosevelt
We are the forgers, the survivors, and our dance is fierce. – Patti Smith
If my answers frighten you, Vincent, then you should cease asking scary questions. – Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction
🛫 Even If Just In Your Mind…
Do something different to make the weekend separate from the week. Take in an online Broadway show or concert, tour a museum, a zoo, or Venice. Just think, it’s not often you can just hit pause and go to the bathroom or get a sandwich in the middle of a gondola ride. Do a workout. The online or DVD choices are endless, and you can still go outside. Or read a book. Remember those? Stay safe, stay moving, and stay creative.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Shahs of Sunset
Mike and Paulina go for coffee with pup Whiskey, who is absolutely adorable and surprisingly well-behaved. Mike asks how she felt about seeing everyone at Boots and Brews, and we flash back to that. Paulina thinks they’re dramatic, and Mike says they’ve gone through so much drama, the friendships have been tainted somewhat, but he still loves them. in Mike’s interview, he says they have to start communication, healing, and moving forward. He tells Paulina that he’s planned a trip for her birthday to Hawaii, and she says, how fun. He tells her that he’s invited the crew, and she says Mike is in his early 40s. Come on. He says, it will be an excuse to regroup. The bullsh*t is getting old. In his interview, he says, it’s common sense that just the two of them on the trip would be romantic, but he loves his friends, and wants to show them a great time. Risking Paulina’s love for the love of his friends is a catch-22. He tells her that he wants to share their happiness with his friends, and start fresh. She says, they’ll make it fun.
Nema and Mona’s mom Moshgan is visiting from upstate new York. In his interview, Nema says, when his mom comes to town, she likes to soak up family and kid time. Moshgan says, it’s been the best trip, and she’s been getting in some sun worship. Nema says they’d love it if she made it a permanent thing. Mona says, when she has kids, Moshgan is going to move there. Moshgan tells Nema, if he doesn’t have kids, when he gets old he’ll just have his dog. In Nema’s interview, he says after their parents divorced, his sister stayed with his mom in New York, while he went with their dad to California. It caused damage and trauma that he can’t put into words. Nema says he doesn’t want to upset Moshgan, but his childhood was so traumatic, it strengthened his resolve not to have kids. Moshgan says she’s sorry, but he can’t use what happened in the past to affect what happens with the rest if his life. Nema says it’s hard to hear her say, just get over it, but she says she’s not saying that. She wrote him a letter two years ago about what happened. It was emotional, and it took time; did he read it? He says, it’s frustrating for him to hear that it’s been two years. In his interview, he says he’s too worried about what it says to read it. He’s afraid he’ll read something he can’t come back from. It might taint his relationship with his dad, which is already not strong. Moshgan says, if he wants to know what happened, read her six-page letter.
Destiney meets with MJ at a smoothie place. MJ says she likes Destiney’s energy, and feels like they’re on the same page. She wants them to be good friends in a good place. A lot of lies happened, and it’s where things went south. In MJ’s interview, she says she apologized to Reza at Boots and Brews. We flash back to that, and MJ says, now she wants to open the line of communication, and fix things with Destiney. She tells Destiney, she’s there to apologize, and be transparent. Something small between Ali and Reza evolved into giant nonsense toxic bullsh*t. After the crying and confrontation that happened, she doesn’t want it to be the same thing. In Destiney’s interview, she says she thought she and MJ were like sisters. We see clips from their relationship over the years, and Destiney says, MJ hurt and betrayed her. MJ doesn’t see it, or she’s acting like she doesn’t, and Destiney doesn’t trust her. She tells MJ, she thought MJ had her back, and they were sisters, then sh*t happened. Ali walks in, and Destiney looks shocked. In her interview, Destiney says whatever MJ and Ali have cooked up, she wants no part of it.
MJ goes to the counter to order, and Ali asks how Destiney is. In MJ’s interview, she says, ultimately, she wants both of them in her life. She’s missed Destiney, and her intention is to fix this. When she comes back to the table, MJ says she wants full transparency from everyone. Destiney says she wants to figure out what’s going on, and where they all stand. MJ says she knew Ali had an issue with Reza, and wanted to talk to Destiney, so she said, go for it, but be ready to be real. Destiney says she let her emotions take ahold of her, and regrets how it came off. MJ says, the negativity has been toxic and poisonous. From her perspective of the big picture, Ali had been a close friend, but told Reza she’d said she was concerned about his marriage. Ali says he did improvise there, and MJ tells him, don’t drag her name into it, and say it’s about her concerns. In Destiney’s interview, she says, MJ is making sh*t up to save herself. Ali had said MJ put him up to it, but now he’s kissing MJ’s ass. Ali says he’s sorry he drew that conclusion, and MJ says she wants to be friends, and be on the same page. She asks Destiney if she can have a hug, and Destiney reluctantly gets up. They hug, and Destiney asks MJ to promise she has good intentions. In her interview, Destiney says she wants to believe MJ has good intentions, but deep down, she’s not comfortable.
Adam comes home to Reza, Smokey, and Miss Moo. In Reza’s interview, he wishes he could say things are amazing, but they’re not. He tells Adam that he’s going to be gone next week, so no naked Jenga when he’s not there. In his interview, Reza says he’s committed to and loves his husband. He hopes in time, this will be a distant memory. He asks Adam when they’re going to play naked Jenga, and Adam says he wants to have a conversation about that. Reza says he sounds serious, but Adam says, not as serious as Reza is making it sound, and they sit. Adam says when he went through his texts, he saw Ali was right. He did mention naked whatever, but he said immediately that he was joking. Reza says he doesn’t care about Ali; he cares about Adam doing things that make people think he doesn’t have respect for their marriage. He doesn’t like finding out his husband was potentially engaging in inappropriate behavior. People divorce over these kinds of issues, and it literally plants the seed of doubt and paranoia in someone’s head. Adam asks Reza to stop and listen, instead of shutting down. When Reza gets angry, he doesn’t listen. He interrupts and says Adam’s not making sense. He says he knows Reza mentioned a trip to Hawaii, and Reza says it would be making more of a statement if he didn’t go, and would become a big deal. He and MJ were at the Boots and Brews thing together, and he doesn’t want it to be an issue in the group. Adam says he needs to get something off his chest. He never wants MJ there again. Reza says, it’s Adam’s house too. If Adam doesn’t want her there, no problem. Right now, they’re not in a great place anyway. Adam says, if MJ and Reza get back to a good place, that’s fine, but he doesn’t want her to be around. He can never talk to her again; not even a hello. In his interview, Reza says he wants to respect his husband, but at the same time, he has a yearning for someone who used to be bigger in his life, and it’s something painful to process.
Nema and Mike head into a clinic, and Nema says, real men get Botox together. In Mike’s interview, he says he’s 41, and wants to keep it looking young. Nema says he’s stoked for Hawaii. Mike asks if Mona is coming, but Nema says Mona is mad at him. He sent his parents a text saying they screwed up his life; he has a lot of anger under the surface. Mike says he uses it to justify keeping his life from them. Nema says, if he didn’t care, it would be easy, and Mike says, it’s causing stress, and stress is going to kill him. In his interview, Mike says Nema is a good dude, but he doesn’t understand his Persian parents. They had to flee their country, and started with nothing. It’s hard for people to understand the struggles they face. He tells Nema, when you’re young and in a new country with no money, it’s difficult. They didn’t know any better; he can’t blame them. He needs to have an open heart and mind. Nema says his mom wrote him a letter, talking about her feelings on her end. In Nema’s interview, he says he was finally ready to read it, but it was frustrating. He reads from the letter, his mom writing that watching him leave was the hardest experience of her life, and has haunted her for twenty-five years. She was only twenty-five and powerless. She went back and forth to see him, and worked 70 and 80 hours a week, often the third shift, in order to afford the trip, because she had no assistance. Nema says, but it doesn’t address why he and Mona were separated. He hates the letter because it doesn’t give him an ounce of closure. Mike says, life is short. He prays Nema finds it in his heart to forgive. Come to Hawaii, and chill out. Nema says he’s going to eat his body weight in sushi. The doctor comes in, and Nema says they’re here for a tune-up. Mike looks skeptical, but gets the Botox. He says, Hawaii, here we come.
Destiney, Sara, GG, and MJ meet Paulina for a girls night out. Mike told her to go for a night out with the girls before they leave, and just have a good time. In Destiney’s interview, she says since she and Sara’s brother are no longer talking, hopefully Sara will be in a better mood. They sit outside, and MJ says it’s her first girls night out since having the baby. Tommy’s dad is watching Shams. In GG’s interview, she says MJ doing what she did is one thing – we flash back to MJ’s concern for GG when she got sick at Boots and Brews – but her taking it as an honest gesture is another thing. She’s definitely over having enemies. It’s a heavy burden to carry. They clink glasses, and toast togirls night; no boys. There’s silence, and Sara says, it’s gorgeous, but chilly, and they decide to go inside. MJ shows them how she can line her lips without using a mirror, and GG says she has skills. MJ asks if GG is feeling better, and GG says, itwas an effed up situation. Paulina says she didn’t know anything about it, and GG explains that she had her fallopian tubes removed. The baby was seven weeks when she ruptured, so she’d barely been pregnant. It was a fluke of nature, since ectopic pregnancies are rare. MJ is sorry that GG went through that. In MJ’s interview, she says she feels compassion for everything GG has been through. She tells GG, it sucks they’re not closer. They could have had their experiences together. GG says she’s sorry, and admits there’s a jealousy factor. She would have rather had a child at the end. She’s read to give a baby love. MJ says she’s sure it will be a reality for GG soon, and asks if she can give GG a hug. When they hug, MJ says she didn’t know GG was getting pregnant, and GG asks if that would have made MJ not be mean to her. In her interview, GG says, for many years, she and MJ had a toxic friendship, but GG is a different person now. She doesn’t want MJ as an enemy or a friend. The best thing is to let it go. The girls toast to Paulina’s birthday.
Nema goes to see therapist Todd. He tells Todd that his mom is in town. He wishes it meant more than it does, but he’s frustrated and on edge. Todd asks how often Nema has discussed it with his mom, and Nema says she wrote him a letter on her feelings. She said, when his parents were going through the break-up, Nema’s dad reached out to his grandfather for assistance, and suggested his dad do him the favor of taking the kids to Iran for a month, while they figured things out. She was against it, but they convinced her it was a good idea not to let the kids see them fighting. It was only supposed to be one month, while they figured it out. His first response was wondering how one month turned into nine. His second response was that he’s thirty-six, and still dealing with the fallout. That they did this because they didn’t want the kids to see them arguing makes him angry, and prevents him from having a conversation with them. He’s more angry at his dad. He has an early memory of going to the grocery store with his grandfather, and there being an Iranian guard with an AK-47, watching people. Todd says, he’s in this new world, and the transition didn’t include a conversation about it. His mom laid it out, and wants him to understand where she’s coming from. Nema doesn’t want to be mad, but can’t avoid it. Nema says he has two volumes. One is, he doesn’t give a sh*t, and the other is, listen MF’er. It’s either zero or ten. Todd says, when we bury emotions, they manifest, and he needs to release it. Nema says, the status quo isn’t working. In his interview, Nema says he’s tired of being the victim of what’s happened to him. He’s been angry too long. Todd says if he has a conflict, he needs to put it out there and articulate what’s bothering him. In Nema’s interview, he says he needs his parents to come together, so he can ask why they did it, and tell them why it was wrong. That’s closure. He tells Todd, one step at a time.
As Mike packs, he realizes he always wears black T-shirts. Paulina says, that’s all he needs.
Reza packs 10,000 pairs of shoes. In his interview, he says, he’s not excited about the trip. He and MJ barely scratched the surface in moving forward, but their history makes it worth going.
MJ tells assistant Sienna, it’s weird. Hawaii is where she wanted to go with Reza, Adam, and Tommy, since neither couple had a honeymoon. Obviously, they’re not going on a honeymoon together. In her interview, she says, hopefully, they’ll get where they need to be. She tells Sienna, they’re going to be staying at a multimillion dollar property, and she wants to get back to when their moments of having fun and making fun of each other. She’s not leaving her newborn for no reason. She’s investing in their friendship. In MJ’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to leave Baby Shams for five minutes, but she knows she needs to do this for the friendship. She’ll do or say whatever it takes to help fix things.
Mike says when they travel as a group, they always act the fool. He’s hoping everyone gets along, and Paulina experiences the amazingness of his friends that he’s told her about. In Reza’s interview, he says he plans to be cordial, and ease into interaction with MJ. They fly to the island of Hawaii, and take a limo bus to the property.
Homeowner Goldie greets them, and they’re given leis by the cultural attaché Stephanie. In Nema’s interview, he says, the vibe with MJ and Reza is like an unexpected run-in with an ex. You don’t expect it to be cool, but it’s awkward. Stephanie welcomes them, and says they’re going to do a traditional Hawaiian greeting. They’re to pair up, and touch foreheads, nose to nose; inhale and exhale, then hug. In his interview, Reza says he was hoping to ease into the interaction, but it’s like, boom! Forehead to forehead. Nema and GG face each other. In his interview, Nema says he and GG are in a great place now. In GG’s interview, she says, after a few drinks, she could see Nema as bedroom worthy, but that’s as far as she’ll go.
MJ texts Tommy, asking how Shams is. I covet GG’s headband with two palm trees sticking up from it. Tommy texts back that Shams is great, and tells MJ to have fun. As usual, the food spread is fabulous, as is the property. Everything is beyond. Nema says, it’s going to be fat Nema resurrected in Hawaii. GG says she got fun headbands for the girls, and tattoos for the guys. MJ chooses a headband with flamingos, and I want that one too. Reza approaches MJ, and says he wants a grown up conversation with two people who are special to him. He asks why MJ and Destiney are still engaging with someone who didn’t have his best interest at heart? We flash back to two minutes ago, when Destiney, Ali, and MJ got together, and in Destiney’s interview, she says she tells Reza everything. MJ wonders, instead of confronting his friend of thirty years, why isn’t he saying Ali must be full of sh*t? Why didn’t he come to her? Reza asks why MJ and Ali are super tight, and in MJ’s interview, she says few people showed up at her father’s deathbed. Ali showed up in ways none of her other friends did. MJ says Reza has done stuff to her in the past, but when he came for her, she did nothing. There are certain things she resents, but if she wanted to get mad and screw him over, she would have done it then.
Mike says, this is killing him, and Paulina asks if they’re done. Everyone disperses, and Mike tells them to figure out the room situation among themselves. The rooms are incredible, and the views are stunning. I can’t imagine ever being rich enough to go there, but if that happened, you’d have a hard time prying me out. MJ tells Reza, he’s literally the worst. Reza asks, how? He’s apologizing, and owning every bit. MJ asks where was the call she deserved? Reza says she should have told him that she was feeling five kinds of ways, and she says she wanted him to be in the delivery room. He says he wanted to be, and it broke his heart. In Reza’s interview, he says he didn’t go to see MJ in the hospital because they weren’t in a good place. We flash back to Reza calling MJ while she was recovering, and grilling her about Ali. MJ says she saw him making a huge choice not get clarity from her, but they both lacked empathy. Reza says, it’s unimaginable that his closest friend entertained someone who did something not positive to him. The outcome was sh*tty and effed up. He wants to own his part in that, and that it affected her life in a negative way. MJ says she didn’t think about what he was going through, since she was wrapped up in what she going through. Reza says that’s all he needed. From the bottom of his heart, he forgives everyone, and apologizes with his whole heart. He did to Ali the same thing Tommy did; stand up for his spouse. It made him see Tommy in a different light, and let go of the anger. That’s all he needed from her; to own her part. They can take baby steps; time and action. In Reza’s interview, he says, Adam wants nothing to do with MJ. Now he feels that he has the insurmountable task of respecting his husband’s wishes, and getting back to a beautiful place with his best friend of thirty years who’s gone. Reza asks if MJ doesn’t think this is amazing. MJ says their realization that they both lacked empathy is a breakthrough. Reza says, a big breakthrough.
Next time, fire eaters and sea life, surfing lessons, GG flirts with Nema; and Mike says, there’s lots of sh*t talking and he wants them to act right.
🍸 On Watch What Happens Live tonight, the word of the night was Reza. They said it a total of 33 times. Andy said if we were playing, don’t drive, but I say, if you were playing, you’re probably dead.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
🩺 Just for the record, today’s General Hospital was the episode where Nelle left Michael to die in a burning car, and gave birth in the woods. All alone. Except for Obrecht.
Shahs of Sunset
Would they please change the opening song? Or at least move on to a different verse. It’s been eight seasons now of the same six lines.
GG and Destiney want to exude good fortune, so they go to a clinic to get fillers. Destiney doesn’t like needles, and in her interview, GG says she wants to get back in the swing of things, and forget she lost the pregnancy. With the physical pain of a needle, you feel the pain, and afterwards, it’s like a release. She realizes she sounds crazy. She tells Destiney that she wants to back to her life, and Destiney wants everyone to be on good terms with positive vibes. GG says, it’s wishful thinking. A couple of people are getting along with MJ, but personally, GG doesn’t want to be around her. In GG’s interview, she says MJ used to be there for her. We flash back to them being friends, and GG says MJ was a person who she felt secure to be around, but she doesn’t feel that way anymore. Owner Nayera says Destiney looks nervous, and tells her, don’t get scared. GG tells Nayera, she wants Botox, but not a whole lot. Nayera puts numbing cream on GG’s face. In her interview, GG says she’s been doing fillers since she was twenty-seven. It makes her feel amazing and fresh. Destiney can’t watch. GG tells Nayera that she wants a little everywhere, and Destiney compares it to basting a turkey. She tells GG that she’s crazy. Nayera puts numbing cream on Destiney’s lips, and GG holds Destiney’s hand while taking pictures with her other hand. GG says she hasn’t laughed this hard in so long. She’s going to have to wear diapers next time. After what she’s been through, it’s exactly what she needed.
Reza and Mike go to an arcade, and it looks like a blast. They play games for a while, then get drinks and something to eat. Reza tells the girl at the counter that he’s going to order an obscene amount of food. She introduces him to Guillermo del Pouro, their robotic bartender. The food comes, and it is an obscene amount, but it’s all fair food, like corn dogs and curly fries, and I wish I was there. Mike says he doesn’t like corn dogs, and Reza and I say, what? Mike asks when Reza became a white guy, and Reza says, when he married Adam. Their marriage is hanging on by a shred. Mike says, it all happened after the stupid accusations, and Reza says, that’s not lost on him. In Mike’s interview, he says he’s trying to get them to admit what they’ve done wrong. They both effed up. If MJ will take responsibility, maybe they can meet in the middle, and get it done. Mike tells Reza, if he’d taken the moral high ground, everyone would have been on his side. Reza says, sometimes bitches get caught up in their feelings. Mike says, Reza was upset and hurt, and retaliated. He had misdirected anger against Ali. In Reza’s interview, he says he needs to apologize. A real Persian man stands up in his truth, apologizes, moves forward, and doesn’t make the same mistake over again. Mike tells him, fix this, please.
In the car, MJ tells assistant Sienna that Tommy wants Baby Shams to learn Spanish rather than Farsi, but anyone can learn Spanish. Farsi is hard. Tommy says, no one cares about Farsi, and MJ says, gracias. MJ tells them, Reza texted that he hasn’t been in a good place since the rumors about Adam being unfaithful. He wasn’t ready to meet up when she texted, but he is now, if she’s willing. In MJ’s interview, she says, Reza has proven he’s despicable as a friend. He verbally assaulted her, assaulted and slandered her and her husband online, called the cops on her husband, and lawyered up. He’s on a tear. Who takes a friend to court over a broken bowl? She slept on it, and decided in order for them to heal as a group, she’s going to meet him. Tommy says Reza knew she almost died. He made it seem like she was sitting around like a puppet master. If he thinks she’s capable of that, he’s not her friend. That’s the reason people stopped hanging out with OJ. They couldn’t believe he was capable of murder. In her interview, MJ says she’s going to meet with Reza because she wants to see if he has a decent bone in his body. Tommy tells her, Reza needs to grovel.
Nema meets with Annette and Vincenza, organizers of the Boots & Brew Country Music Festival. In his interview, Nema explains that they’re a multi-million dollar client, and his company creates branded content. We flash back to him helping GG with her cannabis business. He says they’re going to take an already cool thing, and make it ten times cooler on social media. Annette and Vincenza show him around the grounds. In Nema’s interview, he says he invited everyone. His invitations to Reza and MJ are personally selfish. He had to invite both of them, or the one who wasn’t invited would be mad, and he learned his lesson at Sara’s party that the element of surprise can go the wrong way. He’s hoping the collective beef will outweigh their individual beef.
In Destiney’s interview, she says she’s been seeing Sam for two months, It’s his birthday, and he’s coming to L.A. She likes nothing better than putting a smile on the face of someone she cares about. Their relationship is super casual, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be bougie and make him feel good. She goes to a swank hotel, where she’s gotten a suite. Sam arrives bearing roses. In her interview, Destiney says Sam’s sister definitely doesn’t want her talking to her brother. If Sara knew about it, she’d be flipping out. Clearly, she doesn’t give a sh*t.
Tommy calls MJ as she drives, and she tells him that she’s on her way to meet Reza. He asks, what’s the plan? and she says, to bring some sense into this sh*t. He says, she’s known Reza for thirty years, and she should handle it however she thinks she should. Reza is waiting when she gets to the restaurant. He gives her a shopping bag, and says, it’s a gift for the baby. He starts to cry, and says he originally got a baby bracelet, but flushed it down the toilet. He puts on his sunglasses to hide his tears. In MJ’s interview, she says the reason she’s skeptical is, she’s been down this road before. We flash back to Reza telling her that nothing can get between their bond, then fighting with her at the reunion, and then them hugging it out. He tells her he wanted to get a bottle of whiskey, but got something light to drink. MJ laughs, and says she didn’t know he was going to make her laugh right away. He says, it’s better than being angry, and asks how she is. She says she’s looking at her best friend of thirty years. He says he couldn’t respond after her text message. When he had to meet Ali, he thought they’d just be talking naked Jenga, but Ali brought a stack of papers. He was devastated, and asked Ali why he was doing this. He told Reza that MJ told him to do it. MJ says, that’s completely bullsh*t. She had Destiney telling her that Ali claimed she had set it up. Reza says, from that day, his life at home was a living hell. You can’t talk about things in someone’s marriage, and not think it won’t have a ripple effect. It made him a miserable human being. He didn’t have his best friend, and his husband was cheating. He was in the darkest place in his life without her. He can’t compare it with her being in the hospital, but he didn’t set out to hurt her on purpose. He was told his husband cheated, then Ali said Adam was sexually harassing other people, and that MJ had told him to bring Reza the information. He was going crazy. She asks why he didn’t call her, and he says, why didn’t she call him? She says she wishes she had. Reza blows his nose in a napkin, and MJ says he never gave her respect and love when it counted. He could have picked up the phone. It’s very effed up. Destiney lied, Ali lied, and she’s the person who fell on the sword giving birth, and lost her friend of thirty years. He popped off on her at the party, and put her personal information on Instagram. Tommy vandalized his landscaping, and here they are. He says Tommy called and said he’d kill Reza when he was on his way to Reza’s house. He and Adam were petrified in their own house. He freaked TF out. Then MJ was saying she wished everyone has a husband like Tommy, and she was glad he did that. MJ says, if she’s honest, she was holding onto things that happened at the pool party. Reza says he did the most vile thing, and he’ll try to make it up to her for the rest of his life. He wishes he could turn the clock back. He’s forgiven Tommy, and he’s not going to pursue any charges or do anything to hurt him. MJ appreciates it, and apologizes for anything and everything Reza has been through. She’s sorry they’re not closer, and could be there for each other. Reza suggests taking it one step at a time. He wants to go slow, and see where it goes. He doesn’t expect anything; just a little crack so they can text occasionally, and see what happens. MJ says she looks forward to Reza meeting Shams, but Shams needs her right now. Reza says he understands, and asks if he can have a hug. Please. They hug, and she says he kind of smells weird, which is unusual. I’m guessing it’s nervous sweat, which can really stink. She tells him, if he wants to text, don’t hesitate. In Reza’s interview, he says he misses her, and it’s very sad.
Destiney and Sam go to a private room in the hotel restaurant, and order drinks. In Destiney’s interview, she says she’s trying to make his day special. They’re enjoying their time together, and not thinking about the future, but of course she is. They kiss, and Destiney orders steak for both of them. Sam suddenly starts acting really weird, and talking gibberish. In her interview, Destiney says, something is not right. This is not the Sam she’s been talking to. She doesn’t know if he’s on something. Sam adds burping to his craziness. In Destiney’s interview, she says, this isn’t good. She’s all about manners, and she’s over this sh*t. Frankly, I don’t know what to make of it either.
Nema arrives at the festival. In his interview, he says, it’s a Rolex-free day. He gives his drone operator Cody instructions. In Nema’s interview, he says he’s a pretty amazing producer. Part of his job is to work with the talent, and sometimes the talent is eccentric. He might be the best one to produce the group’s reconciliation. Methinks Nema is a tad narcissistic, although not necessarily in a bad way.
Shervin and Reza meet at Mike’s place. Mike says Shervin looks like a gay cowboy.
Sara goes to GG’s condo, and GG says her stomach is bloated. She’s going to need to stay in a wheelchair 80% of the time. In her interview, she says it’s been less than a week since her surgery. She tells Sara, she’s dying to get dressed like a cowgirl and yeehaw.
Destiney joins the others at Mike’s, and Mike wonders why she didn’t bring Sam. In Destiney’s interview, she says, Sam was like an abstract painting. She was super intrigued, and wanted to keep looking at it. She wanted to understand it, but then things changed. We see a clip of later in the evening of Sam’s birthday. He keeps burping, and being weird, and she quietly walks out with her suitcase. She says, they’re no longer talking. GG arrives, carrying a stick pony. Everyone gets into the limo.
Nema meets MJ at the festival, riding a scooter. She tells him that he looks stupid. He supposes there will be no panty dropping.
In the limo, Reza asks when GG saw MJ last, but she doesn’t remember. She says she’s not looking forward to it. She doesn’t think MJ is a good person. Frankly, I think MJ is a confused person, who had Vida for a mother, and misses her dad terribly.
Nema tells MJ the scooter is for GG. She had some medical sh*t go down, and needed emergency surgery. He didn’t think she was going to be able to come. In MJ’s interview, she says, once Shalom came into the picture, she and GG drifted apart. We flash back to MJ and Reza setting GG up by inviting Shalom’s ex to an event. MJ says, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care when something serious happens. She asks Nema when GG had surgery, and he says a week and a half ago. She says she saw Reza, and he was crying the whole time. She just tried to appear calm, and listened to what he had to say.
Reza says he still forgives MJ, even though he knows she was involved. The limo parks, and they all get out. Nema scooters over to them, and MJ says, hey. Nema says he’ll show them the VIP area. GG complains that there’s no cup holder, and wants to roll up like gangsters. They do the slo-mo crew walk, and go to a tent that has tables and booze. They take a group photo, and Nema says he wouldn’t have thought this would happen two weeks ago. And I’m sure he’s mentally patting himself on the back. He says, Persian has gone country, and they wander around. They stop to eat, and GG says it’s the best mac and cheese she’s ever had. Nema admits to loving country music, and Reza asks if they can turn the volume down.
Suddenly, Mike gets up, and says he wants to ask a question. He asks if MJ knew about naked Jenga. We should have had a drinking game with that phrase. We’d have stayed drunk for weeks. In Mike’s interview, he says, in the past, his honesty has been questioned, and they need to come together and get the story straight. Someone needs to tell the truth. MJ says she wanted to tell Reza about the situation as soon as sh*t went down. Mike asks if she knew about the texts, or are the other two liars? She says she knew Ali wanted to bring up an issue with Reza, but he wasn’t clear on what the issue was. Mike says, the problem is, she’s lying. Ali has diarrhea of the mouth; there’s no way he didn’t give the details. He says he loves MJ, and wants her to speak the truth.
In Mike’s interview, he says, it can all be fixed if the truth is told. Reza says, when he sat with MJ, she wanted him to believe her hands were squeaky clean. He just wants to get to a better place. MJ thanks him, and says she appreciates everything about yesterday, but her hands aren’t clean. She knew about the Jenga texts, and knew Ali had an issue about it, but she doesn’t know what happened. Ali made it bigger than it was. She apologizes that they had to go through any of it. She’s sorry that when she found out, she didn’t think it was important enough tell them that she knew. Reza thanks her for taking accountability. In MJ’s interview, she says her intentions were to fix it. She has no problem apologizing, and wants to get to a better place. She thanks Reza, and asks if they can be friends again. He says, absolutely. He’d like to get to a place where they can move forward. They have a lot of chapters, and MJ says they’ll have a lot more. In GG’s interview, she says MJ has been Reza’s BFF for thirty years, and she feels for him. She wants to open his eyes, but he needs to go through it to understand it for himself; there’s no making up with MJ. Mike says he’s proud of MJ for mending the disconnect in the friendship.
They do some line dancing, and GG says she needs to lie down flat somewhere. She goes to the limo, and the others get ice cream. Shervin follows GG, and she tells him to get an ambulance; she’s having a piercing pain. A producer asks if she wants a medic. In her interview, GG says she has a high threshold for pain, so it must be a lot. She tells the medic that she had surgery recently, and he says she has three incisions that could be open. The others run back to the limo, and Shervin tells them what’s going on. Reza thinks GG should go to the hospital, and not risk it. GG says she’d rather go closer to where she lives. She thinks it’s because she hadn’t eaten, and then ate to much mac and cheese. She’s lactose intolerant. MJ tells her to stay lying in the same position. In GG’s interview, she says she guesses MJ woke up on the right side of the bed. She’s being compassionate and caring, and wants to be the big sister. But GG knows tomorrow, MJ might not wake up on that same side. The group heads back.
Mike shakes his head, saying, too much mac and cheese? What? MJ calls to see how GG is doing, and Mike says, she’s sitting up and blowing kisses toward the phone. GG gives him the finger, and he says, now she’s making a heart sign. She tells him it’s for him, not MJ. MJ says they sound like drunken clowns, and Mike says, they are drunken clowns. GG says, it hurts to laugh.
Next time, MJ surprises Destiney by inviting Ali to their meeting; Reza says Adam doesn’t have respect for their marriage; Nema tells his mother, because his childhood was traumatic, it’s strengthened his resolve not to have children.
💰 Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles will begin their new season on May 5th.
💋 The new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills begins April 15th.
Instead of watching the GH rerun, Bravo had a marathon of an old favorite, NYC Prep. I loved this series, and was very disappointed when they didn’t have a second season. For the most part, it was awful rich kids, who I figured would turn into equally awful adults. For whatever reason, this article also plopped a Ramona (Real Housewives of New York) video interview in the middle of it, so it’s double the fun.
The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B. B. King
My morning fiber cookie has better taste than Sophie. – Han (Matthew Moy), 2 Broke Girls
To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now. – Fred Rogers
She’s at track number none. – Robert Springs, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé, referring to a cast member meeting a probable catfish
Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular. – Roy T. Bennett
Just because things hadn’t gone the way I had planned didn’t necessarily mean they had gone wrong. – Ann Patchett
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. – Oscar Wilde
Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be. – Abraham Lincoln
Do one thing every day that scares you. – Eleanor Roosevelt
If I ever hear it again after quarantine, I’ll just burst in tears and curl up on the floor. – Daisy Tainton of Queens, whose neighbor keeps playing the same Ed Sheeran song, over and over, from The City
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Shahs of Sunset
Destiney meets sister Cat for breakfast. In Destiney’s interview, she says Cat is everything to her. She’s strong, independent; a mother, sister, and father-like figure. They’re so close, and even did People’s Couch together. I loved that show! Destiney says she’s trying to get everything out of her head, and Cat thinks things should be brought down a notch. In her interview, Destiney says she doesn’t get the accusations that she planned the bullsh*t between Reza and Ali. She tells Cat, she isn’t getting respect from the people around her, and Cat says, then Destiney doesn’t need them walking with her on her journey. She asks how Destiney’s dating life is going, and Destiney says she went to Vegas, and was catching a vibe with Sara’s brother. They ended up making out. Um… I think it was more than that. She says she’s been dealing with Sara’s drama, and feels bullied. Cat asks if she cares about Sam, and Destiney says part of her is vibing with him, but it’s complicated. It’s driving her crazy. In her interview, she says no one is going to tell her who she can or can’t date. Cat says they have to live life like it’s their last day. She and Destiney high-five.
GG and Sara meet to visit a Reiki master. GG sees a dead bee, and tells Sara, an animal shaman told her that her spirit animal was a bee, and she wonders if it’s a sign. Reiki master Romeo says he’s going to go through her chakras to determine the trauma to her body and soul. In GG’s interview, she says she believes in different forms of healing energy, and hopes this will give her an answer as to why this happened (referring to her miscarriage). She tells Sara that the remaining embryo and placenta is stuck right now. They gave her injections of something to make it dissolve and go away, but that hasn’t happened. Sara says, it’s a lot. In her interview, GG says she’s been pregnant a few times. She’s put her body through so many things. Is this her karma for taking advantage of her body? She believes in walking energy, and that some people have the skill to gather and move energy, and locate where the body needs healing, giving their energy to you. Romeo has both of them close their eyes, and invite his energy in. Afterwards, GG lies down, and Romeo’s hands hover over her. He says her chakras are open. GG asks if she should pursue the things in her mind, or do they need to take a backseat? Romeo says he’s going to ask spirit real quick, and concentrates. He tells her, basically, there’s a lot of positivity in the next three months. In her interview, she says it will take three months for her to heal from the medications she’s been given. He says a shift is going to happen in that time, and GG says, it makes sense.
Reza calls Nema from the car, and Nema tells him, the more he talks to MJ, the more it makes sense that there’s no crazy ulterior motive. He suggests Reza sit and talk. Reza says Nema and Mike have drunk the Kool-Aid, and are being messy. In Mike’s interview, he says MJ was a pawn, and he wants to be done with this foolishness. Reza says, if they want to be friends with MJ, why don’t they crawl up her ass? Nema says, he just wants them to talk, but Reza doesn’t want to. He has a legal case against MJ’s husband, who vandalized his house. He doesn’t want to put himself in harm’s way with her criminally violent husband. In Reza’s interview, he says Nema is only worried about how it’s going to affect himself. He wants to be in the mix, and is just making it worse. He tells Nema, stay out of his business. He doesn’t need help. He hangs up while Nema is still talking.
Nema meets Shervin at a martial arts studio. In Nema’s interview, he says he studies Jiu-Jitsu. Persians don’t have a combat sport, and the only belt Shervin has is Gucci. Their defense system is lawyers and an American Express card. They go through some exercises, and then do a few rounds of what looks similar to wrestling, where Shervin gets the upper hand. In his interview, Nema says Shervin is able to disable and disarm him with his disgusting body hair and sweaty palms, bringing on Nema’s gag reflex. Shervin asks if Nema is really going with the gag reflex defense, and Nema tells him that he’s really gross. They sit down, and Nema says he likes this because it checks his ego. He spoke to Reza, and Reza made it a screaming match. In Nema’s interview, he says when Reza claims Nema is meddling from a place of self-interest, that says his marriage is falling apart, and he’s blaming everyone and anyone around. He tells Shervin, for Reza to risk their friendship shows a disassociation with himself. No matter how tough Reza pretends to be, he thinks Reza is hurt.
Mike brings flowers to his mom Sue. He, Sue, and dad Shawn sit down in front of the traditional tons of food for any and every occasion. Mike asks what they think of Paulina, and after a long pause, Sue says, she looks like a good girl. Mike says it’s the first time he’s dating a Persian girl, and the first time he’s dating a Jewish girl. Why don’t they look happy? In Mike’s interview, he says his parents don’t feel he’s capable of a long term relationship. We flash back to Mike’s failed marriage with Jessica. Sue tells him to take his time. When he hurts, all of them hurt, and they want to make sure he doesn’t do it again. She asks how the progress is with the project. Maybe Mike should sell the permits and plan, and get out; the land is worth a million. Mike says, why make two million when he can make five or six? In his interview, Mike says his mom feels that he’s in over his head with the project. Sue says, it’s going to be two years of hard work. Maybe he’s better off getting out. Shawn tells him to make someone an offer they can’t refuse.
MJ and Tommy go to see a therapist. In MJ’s interview, she says Tommy is normally funny and lighthearted, but now he’s heartbroken, thinking about how he almost lost her. We flash back to Tommy weeping over MJ’s near death experience. She says, they’ve come there to heal. There’s no reason for this bullsh*t in their lives. Dr. K’harja says she’ll start with Tommy, and asks why he’s there. He says he’s had a tough go of it since MJ had the baby. They couldn’t remove the placenta, and it was terrifying. MJ says she knows it has something to do with Tommy’s mother dying. He says he became an angry kid, and got in a lot of trouble. K’harja says the aftermath has the potential to dredge up old stuff again. She brings MJ into the conversation, and in her interview, MJ hopes Tommy will be back to his old self in short order. She wants solutions, and wants to know what they need to be for each other. K’harja asks what MJ’s experience is, and MJ says, having a baby is stressful, but this is another level. K’harja says it’s critical that Tommy get support for his PTSD. MJ says as soon as she woke up, she started making jokes. Culturally, they’re supposed to be strong and move on. In her interview, she says she and Tommy couldn’t be more different. If they don’t have the tools to heal each other, it could poison their marriage past the point of no return. K’harja says, sadness turns to anger if it sits too long. In trying to communicate and support each other, Tommy needs to say he just wants her to listen or he needs a minute. In MJ’s interview, she says she loves Tommy with all her heart, and he deserves to feel that, even if she’s not saying it in the moment.
Reza takes Adam along to buy a car for his mom. Adam says, what if she doesn’t love it? but Reza says he bought her the last car, and she loved it. In his interview, he says his dad left his mom broken, and she did everything she could to give her children the best life. She made so many sacrifices, a car is literally the least he could do for her. He used to car shop with Mike. We flash back to Mike and Reza at a dealership, and Reza telling Mike to act like he doesn’t have money. With the bullsh*t in Arizona, and Mike going to Vida’s retirement party, he’s blocked Mike and Shervin on his on phone, Twitter, and Instagram. Nothing good can come from them trying to fix things.
Mike goes to the development project, and in his interview, he says, it’s hard. He’d love to have his best friend there to help, like when they were building his house. Unfortunately, Reza is mad that Mike’s not siding with him enough, and he doesn’t hate MJ enough on Reza’s Richter scale of hatred.
Reza sees a car coming in on a truck. The kind of truck I hate to be near on the highway, because I’m always afraid one is going to come loose and fall off. He asks how much it is, and the dealer says, $40K. Reza says he wants that one.
Mike meets with real estate broker Jordan. In his interview, Mike says his mom is strongly urging him to sell, but he doesn’t like playing it safe. Jordan tells him the property is worth $2-2.5 million, and in Mike’s interview, he says it’s not worth enough to sell, but now he has to get his mom off his back, and develop it. He thinks it will be worth $10-15 million when he’s done. There are a lot of naysayers and doubters, like Reza, but the reality is, he’s doing it. Jordan asks if he knows what he’s getting into, and Mike says he’s going to fake it until he makes it.
GG is in the ER. She asks Fatima if everything went okay, and Fatima says, everything is good. In GG’s interview, she says she was in a lot of pain on her way home. She went to the hospital, and they did surgery, taking both of her fallopian tubes. She can never get pregnant the natural way. She asks if she’ll be okay, and Fatima says she will. GG is glad it’s over. In her interview, she says she’s been pregnant too many times by accident. To never be able to get pregnant again is karma, and what she deserves for the life she’s led for so many years. She asks if she peed on herself during surgery, and Fatima laughs.
In the car, Shervin tells Mike, the weather is weird, and everyone is bipolar. GG texted him, asking how much she needed to pay him to keep her name out of his mouth. Mike says, GG had complications with a pregnancy, and explains GG had an ectopic pregnancy, and they had to remove her fallopian tubes, but she’s going to try again. He doesn’t understand how she can, and in his interview, Mike describes IVF as a sperm and an egg being put in the vagina, since he apparently doesn’t know exactly where babies are formed, and that you don’t necessarily need fallopian tubes. Shervin tells him, the uterus doesn’t go backward.
GG smokes some weed. The doorbell rings, and it’s Nema. GG says she’s in a lot of pain, so Nema answers the door when Destiney arrives. She tells GG that she knows eventually GG will be okay, and she’ll allow herself to heal, and be in the moment. In GG’s interview, she says, it’s the new her. She’s not angry with world for everything that happens to her anymore. Destiney is wearing a sexy nurse outfit, and GG says she must have died and gone to heaven. Destiney says she’s Nurse Rose, and has brought goodies. She gives GG a fancy domino mask, a feather boa, and prunes, just in case. GG says she went all out.
Mike tells Shervin, everyone was on the text, and Shervin wonders if Reza will show. In Shervin’s interview, he says they went to Vida’s party, and because they chose to be supportive of her retirement, Reza threw a tantrum, took his toys, and left the sandbox. He doesn’t want to play now. Reza talks to other people who have said and done as much, and says they’re friends. He tells Mike, he doesn’t like that Reza made them choose a side, and doesn’t give a f*** what happened. If you don’t stop something like that in its tracks, it continues, catches speed, and there’s no stopping it. In Mike’s interview, he says, Reza has known them both for years, and has hurt him in many ways, but he’s learned to forgive. Shervin says, all the weight of the tension is falling on them, and Mike says they need to learn to forgive each other.
Tommy takes out a new seat, and MJ tells him to clean up the mess, since Polina is coming over. In Tommy’s interview, he says Polina was a friend from many years back, and she’s a sharp-tongued hard-nosed lawyer, who takes no bullsh*t. He tells MJ, that he’s shocked there’s no spread of food to give Polina, since it’s the Persian way. MJ wonders if she can give Polina a diaper, but quickly makes a chartcuterie board. In her interview, she says Tommy has two cases to deal with; one civil, and one criminal. Because Reza called the cops, he’s been charged with vandalism, which is criminal. Reza also filed a restraining order, which is a civil case. The fact that Tommy has to retain an attorney is ridiculous. She says she didn’t sue when Reza damaged her sofa while he was painting her condo. Because that’s so much the same thing.
The Shahs, minus MJ, gather at GG’s place. I wonder where the damn food is. In GG’s interview, she says she wants her friends to know what happened. She hopes they wake up and realize the issue with MJ is minute, compared to bigger issues, like what she went through. She explains that she was pregnant, and it was an ectopic pregnancy. Only 1% of IVF patients have that happen. Everyone is in shock, and she says she got injections to make it dissolve, and her pain was really bad. It can kill a person, so they went in and removed both of her fallopian tubes. Now she can never get pregnant naturally. It is what it is. Everyone gets teary, and she says, it happened so fast, before she was able to… She starts to cry, and says, before she could appreciate being pregnant, she lost part of her reproductive system. That’s what made her realize a lot of this needs to stop between them. She believes it’s karma. Shervin is closest to her, and when she was going in to surgery, she expected to see him. He says he’s sorry, and wishes he’d been there. She says, everybody is going through sh*t, and she wants someone to do something at this point.
Nema says Reza’s comments about him sharing the dynamic affected him massively, and Mike says Reza blocked him because he didn’t chose a side. Reza says there was no compassion and insight to how he was feeling, and Mike was looking at it from the opposite angel. Mike says, you’re either with MJ or Reza, and Nema says he’s invested in them both, and wanted to see two friends come together. If he overstepped, he apologizes. Reza says, it made things ten times worse, and made him angrier. He had to take a moment. The intentions are pure, but he can’t talk right now. He could get in a better place with MJ if he wasn’t hearing the noise. He was in a dark place, and none of them knew what he was going through. Mike says Reza is making it sound like no one has sympathy. MJ was crying, and saying she effed up, and Ali better tun if Mike sees him, but Mike didn’t do anything to Reza. Reza says he needed a hug, and to be understood, but was left in pain, while Mike kept harping on MJ being his friend for thirty years. GG tells them that they can’t talk over each other. They’re individuals who all need to be heard. Mike says he’s supported Reza throughout their entire friendship, and Reza has done the same.
In Mike’s interview, he says there have been so many times he was having trouble, and Reza told him what he needed to hear. We flash back to Reza telling Mike that he sucks at being a husband, and Mike says, now he’s done the same because of what he learned from Reza, and he’s the bad guy. Reza says he was talking emotionally, and trying to explain how isolated he felt. Mike says Reza insisted he was either with him or MJ. GG says they deal with things the same way every time; deal with it differently. Reza says he was never mad at them. He gets irrational when he feels like he’s under attack and hurt. He was very alone and isolated. He’s an accountable person, and said disgusting vial things because he was hurt. He could have done it differently, but he was stupid, and wants to apologize. He put everyone in the position that they had to choose between two people they care about, and he didn’t mean to.
Tommy asks Polina, what if Reza decides to drop the charges? and she says the restraining order is in Reza’s hands. MJ says, Reza needs to come to his senses, and Polina says, if he does, it will be thrown out, but the criminal charges are up to the judge. It could be either a misdemeanor or a felony, if it’s over $400 in damage. In MJ’s interview, she can’t believe over $400 is a felony. Polina says, it’s not as light an offense as they thought. Tommy says, it’s all bullsh*t, and asks what the worst case is. Polina says he could spend time in county jail. In her interview, MJ says, all this mess could have been avoided if Reza hadn’t called the cops over broken pottery. Oh, okay. I guess it couldn’t have been avoided if Tommy hadn’t broken the pottery in the first place. Tommy says he has to take responsibility, and in MJ’s interview, she says it’s a nine inch nail in their friendship and family. It’s over.
Mike says, dirty sh*t happened, and they all stepped outside of their norm. Shervin, Mike, and Reza have a three-way hug. In Reza’s interview, he says he feels better now. Clearly, he needs to apologize to MJ. Maybe they can form a new relationship and friendship from ground zero. Reza tells them, after the hug, he never needs to wear cologne again.
Next time, Destiney and GG get injectables, Reza and MJ meet, and GG needs an ambulance.
Don’t believe every stupid thing you think. – Dr. Daniel Amen
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. – Robert Frost
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain
Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution. – Albert Einstein
Integrity is doing what is right and truthful, and doing as you say you would do. – Roy T. Bennett
The queen doesn’t rage text. – Andy Cohen after James Kennedy blamed his nasty texts on being British.
Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst. – Joyce Carol Oates
The future is uncertain, but that can be a good thing. – Jennifer Niven
The past is made out of facts. I guess the future is just hope. – Isaac Marion
Let’s f*** sh*t up is my legal middle name. – Juggernaut (voiced by Ryan Reynolds), Deadpool 2
🤷🏻♀️ What’s a Weekend…?
There are never any days off for me, but I’m sure it’s weird for a lot of people when Saturday is just like Monday. Remember, this too shall pass. Everything in life is temporary, even life itself. Well, maybe not if you’re one of The Walking Dead. See you then, and in the meantime, stay safe out there.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Yeah, yeah, I missed the beginning again. Because I had even more time than yesterday. Maybe I should start deliberately running late.
Finn we’re fam yeah they are walk her
In Franco’s studio, Ava tells Nikolas, no need to wait, but he says he’s curious about the process. She says, too bad. She doesn’t want him annoying her while she’s posing. He says, Franco is a great artist, and he’s sure Franco could paint her smiling even if she isn’t. Franco comes in, and says they’ll start as soon as Nikolas leaves, but Nikolas says he’s not going anywhere.
Elizabeth thanks Cameron for coming to the hospital, and he says he almost didn’t. She says, it’s just one session, and he says, one he doesn’t need. She says, if that’s the case, and Neil agrees, Cameron will never have to see Neil again. Cameron says, and if Neil disagrees? They’re paying money they don’t have for something he doesn’t want. By the reception desk, Portia tells Neil, here’s another GH newbie, and introduces him to Britt. She tells Britt that Neil was in private practice before GH snatched him up. Britt says he looks familiar for some reason, and he says he gets that a lot. He must have one of those faces. He leaves, and Britt looks after him quizzically.
The bartender asks if Alexis wants another, and she slides her glass over, saying, sure, why not? She ponders the shot, and takes out her phone. She gets Finn’s voicemail, and calls Molly. This time she leaves a message, saying she forgot Molly had social justice class tonight. It’s nothing. She’s just seeing how Molly is, and what’s going on with TJ. She says she loves Molly, and will talk to her later. She moves on to Neil, but hesitates.
Trina and Josslyn hang out in Sonny’s kitchen, along with the moss. Josslyn asks if Trina thinks Cameron is acting weird. It wouldn’t surprise her. He was in a horrible shootout, after being kidnapped six months earlier. He feels more freaked than he’s admitting, even though he’s acting macho. Josslyn stops for a moment, and says here she keeps talking about Cameron, when she should be worried about Trina.
Elizabeth tells Cameron, he has to talk about what happened, but he says if he needs to talk, he can talk to his friends. She says he needs to talk to someone who can guide him through the healing process. He says, and that someone is Dr. Bern?
Nikolas tells Ava that he thought he’d stick around to help pass the time while Franco is painting. She says it was thoughtful of Elizabeth to defend him to Britt. Despite her angelic face, Elizabeth can certainly throw down. Franco arrives, and says he’s just got an hour. He wants to see Elizabeth and Cameron. Ava asks if everything is fine, and Franco says, Cameron is seeing a therapist. Elizabeth thought it was a good idea after the hostage situation. Ava says Elizabeth must be worried; she’s sure it took its toll. Nikolas decides to leave them to it, and Ava closes the door behind him. She says, okey dokey, Picasso. Where does he want her?
Carly and Sonny come into the hospital. Carly sees Portia, and says she didn’t know Portia was on staff. Portia says, it’s a recent development. Sonny asks if she’s seen Mike, and Portia says she did. She’s never met Mike, but Trina talks so much about him, it’s like she knows him. He has a wrist injury. She thinks it’s a sprain, but they’re taking an image to be sure. Carly asks if he fell, and Portia says they don’t know what happened. Sonny asks what Mike said, but Portia tells him, Mike hasn’t spoken since he got there.
Nelle tells Michael, Monica told them Wiley was in no immediate danger, but Michael says he has a heart defect that could affect his growth, and possibly give him long term problems. Nelle says Michael is acting like Wiley is having his tonsils taken out. It’s a major surgery. Michael says, major, but common, and she says it’s nice it worked out for him, but she also had an operation that she’s never fully recovered from. She depends on medication and has chronic pain. How could he do that to his own son?
Britt says hello to Anna and Finn, and Finn says he sees she got her license back. Britt says she did. The more things change… Speaking of change, or the lack thereof, her mother seems to have become a habit with Anna. Anna says maybe Obrecht will pay for some of her crimes, and Britt says, good. She has a lot to answer for.
On the hospital roof, Nelle tells Michael, she can’t stand the thought of Wiley being under anesthesia if it’s not necessary. He says, it is necessary, but she says, she’s not willing to take that risk. She knows Michael, and he’s not either. There has to be an alternate solution to keep their little boy safe. Michael says he’ll check with the doctors, and see if they have any recommendations, and goes back inside.
Portia says, when Mike was at dinner, the aide noticed his wrist was swollen. They don’t know what happened, but he was using like normal until the aide tried to examine him, and he pulled back in pain. Carly wonders how Mike could use it if he was in pain, and Porta says, he might not have made the connection between the discomfort and his wrist. As Alzheimer’s progresses, it’s harder for the patient to understand cause and effect. She doesn’t think it’s broken, but since they can’t tell what’s wrong, she thought it best to take an X-ray. Carly says she made the right call, and Sonny asks if he can see Mike. Portia says, sure, and Carly says she’ll stay. She doesn’t want to overwhelm Mike. Sonny leaves, and Carly sees Michael coming down the stairs. He asks if Monica talked to her, and she says, no; what’s going on? He says, Wiley is in the hospital.
Julian walks into the bar (not the start of a joke), and says he heard Alexis needed a ride. She thanks him for coming, and tells him, the bill is already taken care of. They start to leave, and the bartender asks if she doesn’t want her second drink, but they just walk out without saying anything.
Elizabeth knocks on Neil’s door, and asks if he’s ready for them. He says, absolutely, and introduces himself. Elizabeth leaves, and Neil tells Cameron, have a seat. Cameron says, just so Neil knows, he’s only there because his mom is worried. It’s a waste of everyone’s time; he’s fine. It happened; it’s over; he survived; and it’s all good. Neil says, that took all of 45 seconds. His mom paid for a full hour. Sit down and tell him what happened that’s over and all good now.
Josslyn tells Trina, sorry; she’s an idiot. Trina tells her to stop. She knows Josslyn cares and wants the best for her, and that’s awesome, but she thinks Josslyn understands better than anyone, the best thing is to treat her like herself. If Josslyn wants to talk about Cameron, they should do it. Josslyn asks if she’s sure, and Trina says she thinks Josslyn is right. The shootout messed up Cameron more than he’s saying, and he’s doing things he wouldn’t normally do. Josslyn says, like what?
Carly asks Michael if the surgery Wiley needs is like the kind he had. He says, they do it differently now, but yeah. Wiley’s breath was shallow, which means his heart has deteriorated. The surgery is elective, which means he won’t die this second. Carly says, but it’s obviously necessary, and Michael says, Monica thinks so. So does every doctor in the hospital, but Nelle refuses to sign. He practically begged her to reconsider. It’s his worst nightmare; that psycho putting Wiley’s life on the line. Carly says they won’t let her do it, and Michael says he can get an injunction, but it won’t be enough. She tells him to deal with the legal aspect, and she’ll deal with Nelle. They’ll figure this out.
Julian drives in silence, and Alexis says, she drank tonight. It was just one, but she doesn’t consider it a victory. She just kicked her three-years of sobriety to the curb, but she didn’t have a second. Julian says, which begs the question, why she had the first. She says she has no idea, but he doesn’t buy that. She’s not somebody who would throw her sobriety away for nothing. Something happened. She doesn’t need to tell him, but he thinks she needs to tell someone.
Nikolas sees Elizabeth, who looks away. He asks if she’s all right, and she says she’s fine. He says, no offense, but she doesn’t look fine. She says she’s worried about Cameron. She doesn’t think he’s okay. She’s terrified that he’s keeping it inside, and locking away what happened. If nothing changes that, it will break him. She says, Nikolas saw what happened after she was raped. It’s not the same, but Cameron is close to the same age, and he’s been through two traumas in the past six months. She hates the idea of him going through anything like she did.
Ava tells Franco that Trina skipped school to come to the gallery. She said she needed to feel normal. Franco says, poor kid, and Ava says, she’s so young. Franco says Trina is lucky to have Ava, but Ava doesn’t know about that. She wasn’t such a good mother toward the end. She hurt her daughter, and put herself first. Now Trina is coming to her for guidance. Maybe Trina ought to run the other way.
Alexis tells Julian that she’s upset, and he asks, about what? She says she and Sam had a huge fight. It was her fault. Sam is distraught about being put in jail, and being on parole for something that was self-defense, and she can’t see Jason. Julian says, that’s no big loss, and she says, it is to Sam. She should have known, but she told Sam to suck it up, and get over it. Then Sam unloaded on her, and told her what a huge disappointment she is to her. She called Alexis a coward because she didn’t fight for someone she cares about. Julian says he’d like to think she was talking about him, but he thinks it’s Neil. Alexis says, there is no her and Neil. There can’t be.
Neil says, so Cameron thought he was going a dance, and ended up in an incredibly dangerous hostage situation. It must have been frightening. Cameron says, yeah, but while it was happening, Curtis and Jason showed up. Neil says, so no big deal? and Cameron says, not no big deal; it just all worked out for him. He’s okay. Neil says, except he went through a traumatic experience that the toughest guys can’t shake. Ignoring it’s not an option. Cameron asks, what is? and Neil says, they’ll work though it, find out how bad it is, and get him to the other side.
Josslyn tells Trina that Cameron’s behavior isn’t crazy. He’s just been checking in; that’s what friends do. Trina says, he’s getting worse than her mom. Usually their texts to him go into a black hole where responses go to die. Josslyn says, he was like that after Oscar died; super attentive and sensitive. Cameron loves to play like he’s the shallow guy, but there’s so much more to him. He’s actually amazing. Trina flashes back to the kiss, and says Josslyn is lucky to have him. Josslyn says, Trina has him too. He’s just as much her friend. Trina says, just admit it, and Josslyn says, okay. She and Cameron have known each other since they were in diapers. She had a crush on him when they were second grade, but that was forever ago. Since high school, it’s been the three of them, and that’s how it’s going to stay.
Finn is surprised Britt thinks her mother is guilty, and Britt says, her father dug a deep hole, and Obrecht is desperate to claw her way out. She can totally see Obrecht doing it, especially after she talked to Peter. Anna says, they’ve talked? and Britt says, they’ve talked since she got back, but they’ve kept in touch. Anna says she had no idea, and Britt says Peter is her half-brother, which makes them… Anna says, absolutely nothing, and Britt says, thank God. Finn says Britt and Peter have a unique perspective as Faison’s kids. Britt says, unique is one word for it. They become close, and Peter told her that Jason is convinced he’s guilty. She knows it took a lot for them to believe Peter over Jason. Anna says, Jason doesn’t usually let his emotions get in the way, but he was being judgmental. In the end, the evidence pointed to Peter’s innocence. Britt is glad Peter was vindicated, and now, after this weird cordial moment, she’s taking off. She leaves, and Anna says, the Britch is back.
On the phone, Michael thanks Diane. Sonny asks where Carly is, and Michael says, on the roof, dealing with Nelle. Sonny says, that doesn’t sound good, and I laugh. Michael tells Sonny, Wiley has the same heart condition he had as a baby. The doctors hoped he’d grow out of it, but that didn’t happen, and now he needs an operation. Sonny asks if that’s where Wiley is now, and Michael says, no. They need both parents’ consent, and Sonny says, and Nelle wouldn’t give hers. Maybe he should intervene. Michael says, Diane is on it, and Sonny says, so is Michael’s mom. Okay, it’s handled. He wishes he could sic Diane and Carly on Mike’s problem, but there’s not much he can do for Michael’s grandfather right now.
The roof door opens, and Nelle thinks it’s Michael. She says she’s sorry. She knows he’s worried, and she is too, but she thinks they have to work together as parents to… Carly says, save it. Her performance is wasted. Nelle asks what Carly is doing there, and Carly says she’s there to give Nelle some friendly advice. Nelle says they’re not friends, and Carly says, thankfully, they’re nothing, but she’s still there to help. Nelle is on the verge of overplaying her hand. Wiley is leverage to her; it’s all he’s ever been. A weapon she can wield. Her power over Michael. But if Wiley dies, Nelle’s leverage will go up in smoke.
Julian says, so Alexis really doesn’t have a problem with Neil, and she tells him not jump to conclusions. She’s an alcoholic; that’s why she drinks. She’ll use any excuse, and her excuse is Sam. Sam pointed out that even when Alexis makes a healthy choice, she makes a mess of it. She makes a mistake, and takes a road she never intended. Alexis admits she’s the one who sabotaged it from the start; it’s on her, but it’s an improvement over being kidnapped and having a knife at her throat. She’s making progress. She tells Julian that he missed the road to her house, and he says he’s taking her to a meeting. She says he doesn’t have to, and he says he knows.
Cameron tells Neil, there’s one thing he can’t stop thinking about. When they were in the warehouse, when the guy holding him let go, Trina’s dad told him to run, so he ran. He doesn’t want to be the guy who leaves his friends behind. Neil asks Cameron to walks him through it. There were five armed gunmen. Did Trina’s father have a gun? Cameron nods, saying, and Curtis, and Neil says, so he and Trina are the only ones without guns. His guy loosened his grip, and he deprived his guy of a hostage. Cameron says, that’s not the point. He doesn’t know why he ran. He doesn’t know if he was being smart or a coward.
Nikolas remembers how brave Elizabeth was. She worked it out at her own pace. Elizabeth says she didn’t go to therapy right away, but got she got there. Cameron will too. Laura told her that she shouldn’t push him; let him figure it out for himself, and if it’s something he needs. When she thinks about the time she was raped, she thinks about Emily, Lucky, and Nikolas. They were the people she could talk too. Cameron just told her pretty much the same thing. Maybe she’s screwing it up. She has to get back to work, and Nikolas hopes the doctor helps her too.
Ava asks if Franco thinks she really has anything to offer Trina, and he says, of course (🍷). She’s made a lot of mistakes, and will probably make more. Ava asks if there’s a but in there, and he says, but in the end, Kiki ended up with things that made her better than average. Strength, intelligence, confidence, resilience, and a zest for life. She got all that from Ava, and Ava can share the same things with Trina.
Michael tells Sonny, as scared as he is for Wiley, part of him knows it will be okay. Sonny says, of course (🍷) it will be. Whatever comes, they can give Wiley what he needs. Michael says that’s what he learned from Sonny at a young age. He learned whatever comes, your dad is always there to take care of you, as Sonny has always done. Too many times, Mike didn’t show up for Sonny, yet here Sonny is, showing up for Mike. Sonny says he’s trying. Alzheimer’s isn’t like Nelle; it can’t be neutralized. Michael asks if Mike is talking, and Sonny says, the times Mike has been lucid are few and far between. Michael says, but Sonny hasn’t left. He’s been there, and it’s really important.
Nelle says Carly would love that if her baby died. She’d no longer have a hold over Michael. Carly thinks Wiley is tainted because he’s hers. Carly says, just the opposite. She knows Wiley is precious because he’s Michael’s. Rotten people can have good children. Look at Michael, and look at Michael’s father. Nelle says, and his mother. What if Wiley is gone, and Nelle is left empty-handed? She tells Nelle to sign the form. She might win some people over. It’s a turnaround moment for her. Take it.
Anna tells Finn, she might regret saying it, but she’s glad Britt is back. Peter should know his sister. Finn says, it’s nice that she’s supportive; he guesses Peter could use it. She says Peter is in a good place with Maxie, James, and Georgie, and now he’s getting to know them. Peter’s future looks bright. He says, it does, but not against the competition. He doesn’t think Peter’s future is nearly as bright as theirs. Anna says, impossible, and he says he’s glad she feels that way, and they kiss.
As Julian drives, he says he’s glad Britt could make it. She says she had nothing else going on, and he asks if she wants to get something to eat. She says, when you text someone U Up? food is not on the menu. He doesn’t have to wine and dine her. Clearly what’s on the menu is her.
Franco adjusts Ava’s jacket, and says, Trina, or anyone else, should be happy to have her in their corner. She thanks him, and he tells her that she’s welcome. He starts to paint.
Neil says, so Cameron ran. Then what happened? Cameron says the guy was chasing him through the woods, and he tripped. The guy had a gun, and Cameron thought he was going to die, but Jason shot him. Neil asks how that makes Cameron feel, but Cameron doesn’t know. Relieved mostly, that he’s still alive. Jason was there, and the guy was dead. It feels unreal. Neil asks what happened then, and Cameron says, Curtis showed up with Trina, and they were sent to the car. Neil asks if there was nothing in between, and Cameron says, before Curtis came, Jason asked him questions about what happened in the warehouse. They were going back in to try and save Trina. Neil says, Jason wanted to take an unarmed teenager back in to the situation? and Cameron tells him, Jason said they had one shot to get it right. Neil says Cameron was willing to put his life on the line. That doesn’t sound cowardly. Cameron says he forgot that part, and Neil says, it probably matters, right? Cameron tells Neil, if he says so. Elizabeth pokes her head in, but says she can come back if they’re not done, but Neil says, perfect timing. He asks if he’ll see Cameron next week, and Cameron says, that would be cool.
Portia comes by Sonny’s, and asks if Trina is ready to go. Trina says she’ll text Josslyn later, and Portia says they just spent hours together. What’s left to text about? Josslyn gets a text from Cameron, asking if they can talk, and she texts back, yes. Trina asks, wasn’t Portia ever her age? Portia says they had no cell phones, and Trina asked how they lived. Portia says, quite happily.
Sonny tells Michael that Mike’s wrist is sprained, not broken, and Michael says, good. He asks if Sonny is taking Mike back to Turning Woods, but Sonny says they’re keeping Mike overnight as a precaution. If he’s better, they’ll discharge him tomorrow. Michael asks if Sonny saw him, and Sonny says Mike was sleeping, but he stayed a bit. Michael says, so Mike is okay, and Sonny says, yeah, for now.
Nelle’s hand hovers over the form, and she says she doesn’t know. Maybe it is good for Wiley. Carly says, it would be, but Nelle says, no. Carly doesn’t get to win. Carly says, that’s not what it’s about, and Nelle says Carly certainly doesn’t get to tell her what to do. Carly has no power; she’s just the grandmother. Nelle is the mother, and the one making the decisions. It’s up to the parents, and she’s the parent. Carly guesses that’s it, and takes the clipboard. She walks to out the door, and locks it, leaving Nelle on the roof. Nelle says Carly can’t do this. Open the door. Carly just looks at her.
Tomorrow, Curtis tells Portia that he told his wife everything, Trina says she thinks she messed up, Sonny asks what’s going on with his father, and Sasha asks what changed Nelle’s mind.
Shahs of Sunset
Mike brings us a public service announcement to catch us up. Lifelong friends, MJ and Reza, are having a terrible feud. MJ is upset that Reza didn’t visit her in the hospital when she was giving birth and almost died. Reza is upset because he feels MJ conspired to break up his marriage. Reza posted MJ’s medical history on Instagram, and MJ’s husband Tommy retaliated by destroying Reza’s backyard. Reza got a restraining order against Tommy. Meanwhile, Destiney is spiraling because she got involved with what she knew about the rumors. This is new level of warfare they’ve never seen before.
In Phoenix, Mike eats Skittles for breakfast. Destiney wonders if she even ate dinner. In Destiney’s interview, she says, after dinner, she wanted nothing to do with Mike, Shervin, and Nema. As soon as she walked out to promote the event, she saw them waiting, and it meant a lot. Maybe they do believe her. Her assistant Rose says they were supposed to go over everything last night, but clearly that didn’t happen. In her interview, Destiney explains that her company, Liquid Sweets, promotes events, and her dancers are promoting the fighting even tonight. She tells Rose, Bloody Mary and pool.
MJ meets with assistant Sienna (everyone has assistants – I need an assistant) to check out the space for Vida’s party. In MJ’s interview, she says her mom worked hard for 35+ years, and she’s retiring. Everything she never wanted as a mom, you want as a cosmetic advisor. Vida can tell people things that would get other people fired. Like, you have bad skin, and you need these products to make it good. She has that je ne sais quoi. Before MJ’s pregnancy, dealing with Vida was like trying to hug a porcupine. We flash back to Vida being insulting to MJ. MJ says she didn’t give up on Vida, and now she’s like a koala bear. She’s so glad to be able to give Vida a grandson, even though Vida tried to talk her out of it throughout her entire life. MJ says she’s going to have her friends dress up like Vida, with a blond wig, jewelry, and blazer. The manager tells her, no confetti or glitter. I can’t say as I blame her. After doing crafts with kids, I’ve grown to hate glitter and play-dough. MJ says Vida is going to love it, and Rose asks if MJ doesn’t think she’ll be offended because everyone is dressed like her.
Shervin and Nema are already at the pool, when Destiney gets there. She asks where Mike is, and Shervin says, Mike took a spill on a Segway. We see a clip of them racing down a dirt road on scooters, and Mike hitting the dirt. Shervin says Mike was borderline wheelchair, but he’s getting a massage. Destiney’s phone rings. It’s Reza, and Nema says he and Shervin are eavesdropping. Reza says he wishes he could share the delicious Mai Tai he’s sipping. The curtain behind them opens, and Reza pops out with Adam. In Reza’s interview, he says he and Adam were going to Hawaii to decompress, and work on their relationship. Their marriage is under tremendous stress since the naked Jenga (<snort>) and cheating allegations. Destiney was disappointed that they weren’t going to Arizona, so they thought they’d change their flight and come to support her. Reza jumps in the pool.
At the Iron Boy match, Destiney goes backstage. She tells her dancers to remember, it’s happy-go-lucky. She’ll let them know when they’re supposed to go out. In her interview, Destiney says she’s super OCD, and it’s the first time she’s letting her staff handle things. She wants to enjoy the fight, and hang out with her friends.
Mike finally gets there, and Nema asks how his back is. Mike says it hurts, but the massage helped a lot. They get in the limo bus, and head to the event. Reza says that he got a text from Vida asking what MJ’s done to make him hate her, and saying everyone knows he’s a backstabber. It was pretty foul. MJ sent her husband to eff him up. Mike says MJ didn’t send him, and Vida’s text isn’t foul; Reza is just receiving it that way. Shervin says MJ feels upset and isolated. They talked last night. We flash back to that, and Shervin says, she ate sh*t. Reza insists MJ put Tommy up to it, but the other guys say she didn’t. Mike says he knows Reza is upset, but he’s throwing away a thirty-year friendship for this bullsh*t. Reza says MJ threw it away when she decided to come at him. We flash back to the pool party, and Reza says they can never be cool again. He was vandalized. Mike says it was MJ’s husband. He’s not taking sides, but it started with someone doing something they shouldn’t have done. Reza asks if he’s blaming Adam, and says, they’re ridiculous. He gets off the bus, and goes into the arena.
In Reza’s interview, he says, Mike should be concerned that MJ is plotting and scheming against her best friend. The others meet Reza at the bar, and Shervin says, they’re not taking sides, but it’s not okay. MJ didn’t think it was okay. They move to the VIP lounge. The dancers get ready, and arena manager Roberto tells Destiney that she’ll introduce them. Nema asks Reza if they’re good. No one wants to see him upset; they love him. Mike says he’s not there to take sides, and Reza says he aspires to be as neutral as Mike is one day. He hopes to find forgiveness.
GG calls mom Fatimah from the car. In her interview, GG says, since she’s been pregnant, her body hurts and she has insomnia. She should be paid for the mileage she’s logging going to her doctor’s office. It’s a lot. She asks Fatimah to cooking something healthy for her, and in her interview, she says she’s about to be a mom, but still likes to be babied by her mom, especially when her mom is cooking. Fatimah tells GG that if she eats too much rice, she’ll gain weight. GG says her weight is fine; just make the food.
It’s time for Destiney’s halftime show, and she tells the girls to go, calling them bad bitches. They go out to the arena, and she tells them to pose. Roberto wonders why the girls are on stage, and Destiney realizes they’re not supposed to go out for another four minutes. She says they’ll make it work, and tells them to look pretty and don’t move. In her interview, she says they weren’t livestreaming for another four minutes. Destiney fans herself, and the DJ waits. It’s a long four minutes, but Destiney finally gives the DJ the signal, and the girls dance. When they’re done, the audience applauds, and Destiney tells them, yes, ladies!Everyone was wondering what was going on, but it worked out perfect. Adam asks if Reza has seen boxing before, and Reza tells him, it’s not boxing; it’s MMA. Adam says he’s tired of all the arguing, and Reza admits he overreacted at the pool party. In Reza’s interview, he says, it was a mistake going to Arizona. It seems like his friends are getting involved in a dynamic they should be staying out of. He tells Adam, he wishes he’d left the party, but he didn’t. In his interview, he says he needs to start acting like Adam is a priority, and not just talking about it.
Back home, MJ goes to Mike’s house with Baby Shams. She tells Mike that she forgot to wear shoes. Mike asks if Shams is pooping, and MJ says he has good maternal instincts. In MJ’s interview, she says her mentality was that life stopped until her dad was healed. Mike was the only one who said she can’t do that. She can’t let her father’s illness stop her from moving forward. She hopes he knows that when he shows up, it counts. Mike holds Shams, and talks about how cute Shams is, telling MJ that he was an ugly baby. He’s happy that she came by; he doesn’t like the fighting with Reza, and thinks it was blown out of proportion. She needs to focus on the right thing – they both effed up. In MJ’s interview, she says she should have told Reza that Ali was going to confront him, but that’s the only thing she’s guilty of. She says Reza didn’t call her to get the truth, and Mike says they both need to take responsibility. She should tell Reza that she’s sorry for not letting him know, or she thought it was a joke, and whatever he heard didn’t come from her. They could solve three-quarters of the problem if she, Destiney, and Ali are all on the same page. He wants them to put it to rest; it’s draining. MJ says she doesn’t want Shams to miss out on uncle time, and he says he’s glad she brought the baby.
Reza meets Destiney and GG for lunch. GG says she has so much to tell them, but wants to hear about Arizona. Reza says, Shervin was there, and very much a part of the MJ conversation. In GG’s interview, she says, everyone is going through something. Reza has to vent, and she’d feel selfish if she intervened. Unless the check shows up, but there will be other lunches. GG says, the pool party got Reza in trouble, and he says he wishes he’d gotten in the Uber with her. GG says she had to go; she was pregnant. Reza says, she’s pregnant? and she says, was. She tells them that she started IVF in October, and it took a while. She tears up, and Reza tells her, don’t cry. She says, it took a long time, but they finally put the embryo in. On Sunday, she was in pain and bleeding. In GG’s interview, she says, this definitely wasn’t the way she was planning to reveal she was pregnant. She tells Reza and Destiney that she woke up in the middle of the night, doubled over in pain, and went to bathroom. She was bleeding out, and knew she lost the baby. Reza says he’s sorry; he had no idea. GG says they might have to remove her fallopian tube, and Reza says, the other stuff is stupid in comparison. In his interview, Reza says he was talking about the bullsh*t he and MJ are going through, when GG’s news is tragic. She suffered by herself in silence, and it’s crazy to him. All three of them dab at their eyes, and Reza tells GG to get better, and GG says, if it’s karma, it’s the worst kind. She’s praying to Jesus that she doesn’t need the surgery.
Nema goes to a costume shop, and tells the clerk that he needs a short blond wig to transform into his friend’s mom, and shows her a picture. In his interview, he says everyone should be Vida for one day; it’s liberating. You can be a huge d*ck, and it’s expected. Mike joins him, and asks if they sell sh*tty attitudes too. The clerk says, sometimes. They try on wigs, and practice their Vida accents. Nema says they have to get jewelry, and they check some pieces out. Mike tells Nema that Reza wants him to pick sides. In Mike’s interview, he says he hates being caught in the middle between MJ and Reza. Reza wants him to choose, but he won’t. It’s not his fight. Nema says, those involved need to take ownership of their part. When are they going to say it’s enough? In his interview, Mike says they can’t mend fences if they’re not operating with 100% integrity. Nema puts on a dress, and twirls. Mike says, that’s Vida, bro.
Shervin meets Destiney at Saunabar. They want to push the bad stuff out. In Destiney’s interview, she says, infrared sauna is UV light. She doesn’t think it has anything to do with the sun, but it’s supposed to make your skin glow and detox your lymphatic something. As they lie in the sauna beds, Destiney tells Shervin, she’s been on a liquid diet. Everyone is going through hurt, and she’s hurting the most, but Reza and MJ are hurting. Shervin suggests that’s why Destiney is choosing to drink it away. When the truth comes out about her and Ali’s input, it will stop. Destiney says, when Ali told her, he swore MJ told him. She didn’t think he wanted to relay the message to Reza and Adam. She felt horrible at the party, and was clearly used as a puppet. In Shervin’s interview, he thinks Destiney feels guilty that she hurt Reza and Adam. She says it was brought to her attention that Reza and Adam weren’t on great terms, and the texts Ali showed her didn’t make her feel good. Ali went to Reza and told him what he needed to know, and Ali was the one who constantly told her it was MJ who told him to do it. She tells Shervin that she cared for MJ, and MJ knew it. In her interview, Destiney says she feels foolish for thinking MJ cared about her. Shervin says MJ didn’t stop loving her. Not to justify it, but MJ is going through a lot. Destiney says she was dying from afar for MJ. Shervin says, the only way to fix it is like how they’re getting the toxins out. They need to get the truth out. In his interview, he says it’s a waste of a beautiful friendship and sisterhood. He makes her laugh by saying there’s a pool of sweat in his bellybutton, and they listen to it dripping onto the bed.
MJ is stressed out as the guests arrive. Nema, Shervin, and Mike come in wearing their costumes, and Mike says, act natural. MJ says Vida has no idea. Ali arrives, and MJ dies laughing at how he looks. In Nema’s interview, he says he works with a team who creates prosthetics, and asked for their help. They can do drag queens, but can they tackle Vida? MJ isn’t sure that Vida is going to be cool with her inviting Destiney and Ali. Nema says they’re all so bothered by this. MJ is sure Destiney knew what Ali was going to say, and in his interview, Nema says he thinks Destiney doesn’t want to face the music. She’s 100% not a pawn. Just own this. Paulina has also dressed up, and MJ says she really looks like Vida; it’s awesome. Using Vida’s accent, Nema tells Paulina her dress is too short, and to pull it down. Sara says the guys look better than they do.
Reza meets GG for brunch. They sit on the restaurant balcony, and GG feels very Romeo and Juliet. She says she’s excited to have alcohol; she hasn’t in so long. In her interview, she says now that her pregnancy ended in a terrible way, she might as well have a drink. Reza orders a double Yak (brandy) with a Coke back, and GG orders rosé. Reza tells her about Vida’s party, and in his interview, he says Vida was like a second mom to him. He loves her, and to know everyone but him is at the party breaks his heart. He tells GG that he can’t be around MJ and Tommy. He’s afraid he’ll say something, and Tommy will show up with a bat at his house. The waiter brings the drinks, calling Reza’s tomorrow’s regret. GG says MJ is temporarily out of Reza’s life, and here they are sitting together. We flash back to several altercations over the years, ending with Reza calling GG mentally unstable at a reunion. Reza drinks the brandy straight down.
Vida arrives at the party, and everyone shouts, surprise! Vida dies laughing, says she had no idea, and keeps saying, oh my God. In MJ’s interview, she says the Vida she’s been dreaming and waiting for, but thought she never had in her, is here. Instead of ruining the biggest moments of her life, Vida is making them better, sweeter, and more fun. Vida tells Mike to take off his shirt, since he has a nice body and it’s her party. She tells Sara that she heard Destiney is dating her brother, and Sara says her brother is dating everybody. I wish I could understand what the big deal is with that.
Ali introduces himself to Sara, saying he’s heard all about her. Sara says Destiney loves to talk about her, and Ali says, it was nothing bad. Sara says, it’s not that Destiney is talking about her that bothers her; it’s Destiney’s behavior. Destiney comes in, and MJ calls her over to introduce Shams. Mike hugs Destiney, and asks why MJ is crying. MJ says she’s happy.
GG wonders what Mike is up to, and Reza says, he’s probably sitting in Vida’s lap.
The cake is brought out. It says Happy Retirement Vida Joon, and Vida cuts it. She says it’s strawberry shortcake, and wants to make sure everybody has a piece. Nema tells Mike, it’s not adding up; Destiney said she was used as a pawn. They all sit around a table, and Mike calls Ali over. He says Destiney told them that Ali blindsided her. Destiney says, he blindsided her that day, since she didn’t expect him to say all that to Reza. Nema says she’s playing semantics now. In his interview, Nema says he’s tracing Destiney’s logic. They met and discussed what would go down, but it happened at an inconvenient time for Destiney. They both look guilty. Mike tells Destiney, she looks like an effing liar. MJ says, every time Destiney told Reza that MJ knew about it, it poured gasoline on the fire. In Sara’s interview, she says not clear on who’s right or wrong. Destiney goes on a rant, and in the end, she doesn’t know what Destiney is even talking about. Destiney says MJ knew what was going on, and MJ says she was at home nursing a newborn. Destiney had Reza thinking the incorrect thing, and she was broken. In Mike’s interview, he says he saw the texts allegedly from Adam to Ali, but he’s lost track of why Reza is mad at MJ, instead of being mad at Adam. MJ thinks Destiney sent the little weasel in (i.e. Ali).
Reza tells GG that he and MJ had good times, and have great memories. Those don’t get wiped out, but some accountability is needed.
MJ says she still sent Reza an apology, but he never responded.
Reza shows GG the text from MJ. GG reads that MJ wants to take full responsibility for the situation, as well as Tommy’s reaction. Reza asks if GG sees MJ saying I’m sorry, and GG says, no. She says MJ is delusional, and doesn’t see where she went wrong. Reza says he’s hurt.
MJ says Reza didn’t have to put her medical history on the internet, and thinks everyone should say he’s a POS. Destiney says, he’s hurt, but MJ tells them, they should all tell Reza to go f*** himself, and deal with Adam. Is he cheating? She doesn’t give a f***. Handle your marriage. The end.
Next time, Mike says his parents need to let him handle the construction project, Tommy talks to a lawyer about the vandalism charge, and GG goes to the hospital where she just wants to be better again.
🍾 Quotes of the Week
You don’t make no Nigerian woman pissed. – Molly Hopkins, Pillow Talk; 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try. – Beverly Sills
The roughest roads often lead to the top. – Christina Aguilera
No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse. – Randy Pausch
The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it. – Henry Ford
No pain, no crown. I need a cocktail. – Evelyn Whitland (Jennifer Dale), Homekilling Queen
That milk has been here so long, its own picture is on the cover. – Max (Kat Dennings), 2Broke Girls
Nothing in this world happens by chance. – Paulo Coelho
If you have wonderful moments, don’t second-guess them, just enjoy them. – Martin Short
Don’t bite off more than you can chew because nobody looks attractive spitting it back out. – Carroll Bryant
Laura…never complain of what you have. Always remember you are fortunate to have it. – Ma Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie: The Long Winter
Sometimes the only way to ever find yourself is to get completely lost. – Kellie Elmore
🏋️♂️ At Week’s End…
You did it. You’re still here. See you when the dead walk. I’ll bring the tea. In the meantime, enjoy a respite from the apocalypse.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
No surprise, I missed the beginning. Heaving huge sigh, but knowing you’ll figure it out.
Brook says, it’s one thing for Lulu to mess with her, but she spit in the face of all the Quartermaines.
Chase asks if Violet got to sleep okay, and Willow says, it only took three stories. Chase praises Willow’s skills, and tells her, having fun is serious business. She says it’s nice hearing him laugh again; it’s been a while. The same with his smile. He hasn’t been smiling as much as he used, and he has such a sweet smile. He says that’s on her.
Michael tells Carly, they have to sit down as a family tomorrow, and figure out how to stack the odds against Nelle. Carly says, another ELQ disaster; they’ve seen their fair share. She asks what his strategy with Nelle is, and he says he’s been following Diane’s instructions to the letter, including allowing Nelle to visit. Carly knows. Nelle couldn’t wait to show her a selfie. He says, if it’s any consolation, he and Sasha were with her every second, and Carly says, it’s some, but not much. Michael needs to win custody by any means necessary.
Jason tells Anna, he and Peter are nothing alike, and she says he sees no parallels? He says, zero, and she says, has he or has he not been every DA’s whipping boy? He insists he’s not like Peter, and she asks if he’s not at the top of the list of the PCPD’s usual suspects. When he walks down the street, people stare at him. He says he doesn’t notice, but she says he notices everything. There’s the look of fear from complete strangers because of his reputation. He says he doesn’t care what strangers think about him, only the people he cares about; Robin, Maxie – and her.
Spinelli goes to Maxie’s apartment, and Georgie runs to him, asking where he was. Peter tells him the sitter had to leave; a family emergency. She had to rush to the airport, but he’s in for the night, and spending time with Georgie is a real treat. Spinelli directs Georgie’s attention to her coloring, and asks Peter if he can explain how the sitter worked her way down the telephone tree, and got to Peter. Peter says, she tried Maxie, and then Spinelli, but couldn’t get ahold of them. He was next on the list, but he’s glad it worked out. It gave him and Georgie a chance to do some old-fashioned bonding. Spinelli is sure any time Peter spends with Georgie is more than abundant, and Peter says now that Spinelli has moved back to Port Charles, he’s sure they’ll have plenty more.
Nina tells Jax, Maxie is family. The last thing she wants is a rift. He tells her not to beat herself up about it. Maxie has gone through disappointment before, and she’ll be fine. Nina says, not like this, and not from her. She says, this isn’t working for her, and he asks if she wants him to go, and she says she does. She needs to problem solve before the damage snowballs out of control. Maxie breezes in and gives Nina a paper, saying it’s something she whipped up. Jax tells her that he knows she deserves a raise, but the budget is set for the year. They can make it work next year. Maxie says, they won’t, and Jax says he promises. She says, they won’t because they can’t, and Nina says, because Maxie is resigning. Maxie says, she’s quitting.
At the MetroCourt, Valentin wants to talk to Lucy. She says, if it’s about his number for the Nurses Ball… but he says, it’s about Deception. He can expedite her company’s return to the market. Why have multiple investors, when she can have just him? She says she heard his wallet has diminished since Nikolas came back to claim his inheritance, but he says he has other sources of income.
Brook asks where Lulu’s gratitude is. She grew up in the Quartermaine mansion when her father was sponging off Brook’s granny. Lulu says she didn’t grow up there; she only lived there a few years. Brook asks if she doesn’t owe Michael any loyalty, and Lulu asks if Brook even knows what the deal is about. ELQ is merging with a foreign med tech company. That means they’ll be closing a local facility, and people will be out of jobs. Thanks for the lead. Brook says Lulu doesn’t care about the workers, just getting over on her. She knew Lulu was jealous, but didn’t know how bad Lulu wanted her life. Lulu says she really wants to be busking in the subway, and Brook says, at least she has talent. All Lulu has are kids from another broken home.
Chase says he loves Willow so much. She’s a never-ending source of joy. She asks if he’s not laying it on kind of thick, but he says he’s serious. Even when he’s not happy, he’s happier when she’s with him. She asks why she feels like there’s something off, and he says, Nelle, and everything she’s been putting Michael and Sasha through, and them by extension. It’s exhausting. She says she thought he was upset with her, and wondered why he didn’t immediately shoot the suggestion down that she marry Michael. Chase says they were all in shock. He and Sasha agreed they wanted to protect her, Michael, and Wiley, but not with some crazy idea. Willow says, he and Sasha agreed to what?
Michael says by any means necessary, he assumes Carly means exclusively legal methods. Carly says, yeah, sure. She and his father are ready to help; just say the word, He says, let him handle it, and she says if he wants to explore other options, just ask. He says she and Sonny have enough on their plates, and Sasha says she hates to be that girlfriend, but Michael has a workout on his calendar. He says he didn’t put one on there, and she says she did. He needs to blow off steam. He says they’re in the middle of something, and she says they’re not going anywhere; he is. He says they’re getting rid of him, and asks if everything is okay with him and Sasha. Sasha says they’re fine. It’s just the last 48 hours have been a challenge with Nelle. He leaves, and Sasha tells Carly, she wishes she could do more to help, but Michael won’t let her. Carly knows the feeling.
Jason says he respects Anna, but she’s using it to shield Peter. He can deal with that, but Spinelli is different. He loves Georgie, Maxie, and James, and doesn’t want to see them hurt. The truth is Peter is behind Drew’s plane going down, Andre getting stabbed, and the attack on Andre and Franco. Then he conveniently shot the assassin. Anna says, meanwhile, the WSB confirmed Obrecht was behind all of it.
Peter gives Spinelli a beer, but Spinelli sets it down. He looks around, and says he’s sure Georgie played with every toy. He’s glad; it’s time well spent. Peter says they played Operation, and Georgie won. It’s cool she wants to be a doctor. Spinelli says, yesterday, she wanted to be a wallaby, and the day before, a rainbow. Peter says he’ll support whatever she wants to be, and Spinelli says, it’s getting late. It’s a shame he can’t wait for Maxie. He tells Georgie, daddy is in a hurry, and looks for her teddy bear. Peter says he thinks it’s in the kitchen; they were going to make cookies. Spinelli asks if it isn’t late, and if Peter’s intention was to get her hopped up on chocolate chips. Peter says, it was a sugarless recipe. Spinelli says Peter has an answer for everything, and Peter says, clearly, he has an adversary in Spinelli.
Jax says that Maxie doesn’t really mean it; it’s just negotiating tactics. Maxie says she’s assisted and supported Nina through her entire career, and proved she’s capable of much more, but she’s not worth any compensation. Jax isn’t willing to loosen the purse strings. Jax wishes Maxie well, but says, the market is dicey. She’s going to have a hard time finding a job. Maxie asks if that’s a threat, and he says, no. He’s just saying she might not get a better deal. She says, so she should settle for an unhappy situation, but Nina says, why leave a sure thing when she has two kids? Maxie says she teaches her kids to stick up for themselves, and she’s setting a good example. Jax says he’s known Maxie a long time. She’s creative, intuitive, and impulsive, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But do herself a favor, and take a step back before she does something rash. She says she appreciates his concern, but she always lands on her feet. She’ll only be unemployed until tomorrow. Nina asks if she has another job lined up.
Valentin tells Lucy, he has an intriguing proposition. He’s offering her independence, and he’s willing to finance it. Lucy says if she throws in with him, she’ll blow her deal with Crimson out of the water. No thanks. She needs Nina’s power, money, and influence more than what he can provide. So, ta. She leaves, and Valentin says, ta.
Lulu asks if Brook knows why everyone hates her. She drives away anyone she knows. Brook says Lulu should truly ask herself why Dante dropped his life and ran off. He’d rather take another bullet than endure her boring self-righteous, passive/aggressiveness. No wonder he went nuts. He couldn’t stand coming home to a boring basic bitch any longer. Lulu calls Brook a has-been who never was. She shakes up the bottle of champagne, and sprays it all over Brook.
Lulu says, who’s basic now? and Brook punches her in the face. Lulu hits Brook back, and Brook grabs Lulu, swinging her around into a table. Valentin watches as they start hair pulling, going around in a circle. Lulu kicks Brook, who smacks into someone else. Valentin tells Lulu, his money is on Brook, and Lulu tells him, shut up. Brook yells, bitch, and gets Lulu down on the ground. Valentin starts filming with his phone.
Chase tells Willow, the other day, he ran into Sasha, and they were talking about what Michael and Willow are going through, and wanted to make sure they were okay. He didn’t mean to overstep. Willow says she’s glad Chase can talk to Sasha. She and Michael share a terrible loss in different ways, and sometimes she’s worried that they’re leaving Chase and Sasha one the outside looking in. Chase’s phone rings, and he says he’s on his way. He asks if they’re good, and Willow says they are. She tells him to be careful.
Carly tells Sasha, she’s noticed that Michael separates himself when it comes to solving problems about Nelle. Sasha wishes he’d expand his horizons when it comes to Carly’s expertise. She got rid of Michael so they could talk about Nelle. Her ideas keep getting shot down. Carly says, such as? and Sasha says she thinks Michael should marry Willow.
Nina asks if Maxie has been entertaining other offers, and Maxie says she wasn’t, but apparently she is in some demand. She asks Jax if knowing that loosens the purse strings. She knows the financial picture can be manipulated when it suits him. He says he wishes her well, and is sure they can keep Crimson humming without her. Lucy comes in, and Maxie says, say hello to her new boss.
Spinelli tells Peter, it’s just that no one advised Georgie’s father about her sugar intake. Peter says they’re certainly not friends, but he’d like it to be different. Spinelli says, that’s difficult when they’re at opposite ends of the cosmos, and Peter suggests they change that. They could grab a beer or go on a hike. He’d like them to be more than barely cordial. He’s the man who’s going to be in Georgie and James’s life, and he’s going to be in Maxie’s life permanently. Spinelli asks what Peter means, and Peter says he and Maxie are getting married.
Anna asks what it would take to convince Jason. What would it take for him to consider Peter might not be guilty? Does he have to see it with his own eyes? He can’t deny the evidence. Jason says, it could have been doctored. Peter framed Obrecht. Anna says, Obrecht framed Peter. She said she’d destroy Peter, and set out to do it. The sad fact is, Jason is playing into her hands. He’s not the first person Obrecht has played for a fool, but he’s the most bright. She leaves the gym, not bothering to work out.
Lulu says she’s going to kill Brook, and Brook says she’d like to see her try. Bring it, bitch. Lulu throws a bottle at Brook, but misses. Brook starts to throw something back, and hits Chase, who’s just walked into the fray. She says, oops.
Sasha tells Carly that Michael marrying Willow would make a stronger argument for him getting sole custody. Sasha was his first choice, but… Carly says, Sasha committed fraud, and Sasha says, exactly. Willow is a different story. The only time she went to jail, it was to protect Wiley. It speaks to her courage and commitment. Carly says she can imagine how that went over. Sasha says she thinks Willow was considering it for a moment; Michael too. Carly says she’s impressed. She didn’t think Sasha had it in her.
Willow tells Anna, welcome home, and Anna asks how Violet was. Willow says, an angel, as usual. Anna thought Chase was there, and Willow says, duty called. Anna says, it has a habit of doing that. Willow asks how Anna’s workout was, and Anna says she skipped it. She asks if Willow wants a drink.
Jason hits the punching bag, and Michael comes into the gym. Jason says it’s all his, and Michael asks if Jason has something on his mind. Jason says somebody he respects a lot is lying to themselves. People believe what they want to, and their belief is being used as a smokescreen to get away with murder.
Spinelli asks if Peter and Maxie are engaged, and Peter says, not yet. Spinelli was there at the MetroCourt when Maxie said they were planning to get married. Spinelli says her exact words were, what if they get married? It’s not a statement of intent. But if it’s on Peter’s mind, why doesn’t he propose? Peter says he doesn’t want to rush Maxie into a commitment just to prove something to her former non-husband. When Spinelli challenges the relationship they have, he wonders if it’s because he doesn’t trust Maxie, or does he still have feelings for her?
Nina says after their negotiations, Lucy poached her creative director? Lucy says she did no such thing, but Nina says Lucy got the seal of approval from Crimson, and this is how she repays Nina, by stealing her talent? How long has she been whispering in Maxie’s ear? Lucy says she has no idea what’s going on; it’s a misunderstanding. Jax says they were under the impression Maxie has a new job with Lucy, but Lucy says, it simply isn’t there. Sometimes she feels it would be great if Maxie had better listening skills. Maxie says Lucy gave her a card and said to call if Nina didn’t see what she had in her. Lucy says she wanted to give Maxie a shoulder to cry on. She’d never take her away from Crimson. Maxie says, so no fresh start? She just quit her job for nothing? She walks out, and Nina says, don’t go, but she keeps walking. Lucy says, that was quite a scene. Jax and Nina don’t look amused.
Chase handcuffs Brook, who asks if that’s necessary. Valentin says Brook is hardly an active threat, but Lulu says, you can’t be too careful. Brook says, Lulu started it, and Chase says, tell it to the judge. He reads her rights, as they go into the elevator.
Lucy tells Nina, she’s sorry. It was just a miscommunication. Jax says they know better than that. Lucy didn’t want to risk the deal, and tried to bring Maxie on after it was too late to back out. Nina says, it’s never too late. There’s no partnership anymore. Lucy tells her, don’t throw the baby out with the rose water, but Nina says Lucy can buy ad space, at the premium rate, no discount, but as far as an endorsement goes, she’ll get no help from Nina.
Spinelli says he wondered when Peter would resort to that tactic, but Peter says, it’s a legitimate question. Spinelli says, once upon a time he believed Maxie was his soulmate, but then he grew up and met Ellie. So the answer is no. Peter says he didn’t think so, but he had to be sure. Even a whiff of angry jealousy could poison Spinelli and Maxie’s relationship. Spinelli asks if Peter is implying his relationship with Maxie is at risk, and Peter says if Spinelli can’t find a way to tolerate him, Maxie will be forced to make a choice. Peter is comfortable with that, but is he? Maxie storms in and says, nobody talk to her. She’s says, Spinelli is here already? Don’t answer. She’ll tell him when. He says he’ll gather Georgie and bid her goodnight, but she says her daughter can’t see her like this. Spinelli asks if she’s ill, and she says, worse; unemployed.
Michael asks if Jason is talking about Nelle, but he says, no. Michael says, whoever it is, if Jason needs him for anything, he’s there. Jason says he’ll figure it out, and Michael says he has no doubt. Jason asks, what’s going on with Michael’s custody battle? and Michael says, Nelle had her first visitation. She has as much legal right to custody as he does, but so far, the only tactic he’s been given is to marry Willow.
Sasha tells Carly, it’s not like she’s pushing Michael to marry Willow. Carly says, it doesn’t serve Sasha’s own interests; it serves Michael’s. Sasha says, exactly, and Carly says she’s not judging Sasha; she’s applauding her. Some people blur the lines to get ahead, and others do it so the ones they love get ahead. She’s willing to let Michael marry another woman just to get Wiley away from Nelle. Sasha is her kind of person. A good person who knows how to do bad.
Anna asks if Willow would like another drink, and Willow says she would, but she’s driving. Anna thanks her for looking after Violet, and Willow says, it’s her pleasure. Violet is an angel. Anna says Violet really likes Willow, and Willow says she doesn’t have anywhere to be right away. They’ve never had a chance to talk and get to know one another. Anna say she appreciates that, but Willow should go, and find Chase. She has work to catch up on. Willow says the WSB keeps her busy, and Anna says, some cases refuse to be closed.
Jason asks Michael, whose idea it was for him to marry Willow, and Michael says, Sasha’s. Jason guesses Carly would probably agree. It makes sense. Michael says, if they ignore the fact that Willow is in love with Chase, and he’s in love with Sasha. Jason asks if he could ignore that, and Michael says, possibly, but Willow couldn’t and it’s not fair to ask her. He’ll have to find another way.
Sasha says the last time she was expelled from a family for being a liar and a schemer. She never thought she would be welcomed into a family for the same reason. Carly says, it’s Nelle they’re talking about. It’s not revenge, but justice, and thanks to Sasha, Carly is feeling better about the odds. Sasha says she hasn’t done anything, and Carly says, not yet, but her imagination can do anything. Michael doesn’t think outside the limits of the law, but it’s an obstacle to be tiptoed around. Sasha asks what Carly wants her to do, and Carly says she has Michael’s ear and can bend it. She has the feeling they’ll come up with the perfect plan to take care of Nelle.
Chase closes Brook’s cell door, and she says she’s sorry. She didn’t mean it. He says it felt like she did. She says she wasn’t trying to assault him; she was trying to assault Lulu. It was mutual. He asks if she remembers what he told her about remaining silent. For once in her life, just do it.
Valentin tells Lulu, way to create content, and she says, get bent. And delete the video. He says, too late for that, and Lucy comes out of the elevator. Lulu is on her way in, and Lucy asks, what happened? but Lulu doesn’t say anything. She says, thank God Valentin is still there, and he says, from Prince of Darkness to the Almighty. He says he was on his way out, but she tells him to stay; have champagne on her. They have business to discuss. He asks what business she’s talking about, and she says the earlier business that’s so near and dear to both of their hearts. The business of Deception.
Nina asks Jax what she’s going to do without Maxie, and he says he’s sure she’ll do fine. She’s had the magazine humming along for years. She says that’s because of Maxie’s continuity, industry, and savvy. Now she’s gone. Jax says, hire her back. Let bygones be bygones. She asks if that means she can give Maxie the money now, but he says she knows the answer. She says she also knows Maxie has too much pride to take her job back under those circumstances, much less ask for her job back.
Maxie breathes into a paper bag. Spinelli is sure Nina will take her back, but she sasy she can’t go back. She made a huge scene, and insulted Jax. Her phone rings. It’s Lucy, and Maxie says she has some nerve, and Lucy says she thinks Maxie overplayed her hand; she didn’t make an offer. Maxie says, it was implied, and Lucy says, it wasn’t, but forget that. It’s explicit now. Lucy wants Maxie on her team. Maxie asks if Lucy isn’t worried about Nina pulling out of the deal, and Lucy says, she already has, but that’s okay. The two of them and Sasha can work without Crimson. Maxie asks, how? and Lucy says she just secured an investor who will not only ensure the launch, but their success for years to come.
Valentin hands Lucy a drink, and they clink glasses.
On Monday, Sonny gets bad news, Curtis needs a favor, and Jordan asks where the hell her son is.
Shahs of Sunset
Mike asks MJ, what happened? and she tells him that Reza said she had ten abortions. Mike can’t believe what came over Reza, and MJ says Reza yelled that she was 50 years old, and ended up bleeding out in the hospital because she’d had ten abortions. Mike says he didn’t realize they were going to act like animals. When he persuaded Reza to talk to her, he thought they’d talk. She says Reza decided to believe Ali over his friend of 30 years. In Mike’s interview, he says, Destiney approached Reza, and soon after, all effing hell broke loose. We flash back to the lunch with Ali. Mike says, in the meantime, MJ was giving birth, and we flash back to Reza reading Mike the text he got from Tommy about MJ needing emergency surgery. Mike thinks MJ heard a rumor and spread it , but didn’t start it. MJ says Reza brings up sh*t they know about each other, and she doesn’t do that. Mike begs to differ, and we flash back to MJ telling Reza to go back to his cheating husband just before the whole thing exploded. She says she didn’t bring attention to everything, and their problems have nothing to do with her. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza and Adam’s troubled waters aren’t a secret. We flash back to the reunion when Reza said they’d talked about divorce, and the naked Jenga stuff. She says, they were Adam’s actions, and it’s easier for Reza to blame her than look at himself and his husband. We see a clip of her calling Tommy from the party, and saying she told Reza to get TF away from her, and he screamed that she was 50 years old, and nearly bled to death because she’d had ten abortions. Mike says, it’s going to get messy. MJ says if Reza is going to Phoenix, she’s not coming. She has her baby to focus on, and she’s going to pray for Reza.
24 hours later. Reza looks at his patio, which is a mess. In his interview, he says he and Adam were having brunch with Reza’s mother, and Adam got a Ring notification on his phone. We see a clip of Tommy on their patio, smashing stuff and throwing things around. Reza comes in the house through the back. He tells Adam, when they were driving to his mom’s house and Tommy called, he didn’t realize that Tommy was in the car headed toward their house. In Reza’s interview, he says Tommy called in a state of rage, saying he was going to effing kill Reza. Reza thought, okay, low class trash, and hung up. Adam says he doesn’t feel safe.
MJ meets Nema for lunch, and wonders how she and Reza got there. She’s saddened that this is a time in her life when she should be celebrating. It’s all about love and being supported. Never in her wildest dreams did she think Reza would act like that. Nema says MJ threw water in Reza’s face; it’s an invasion of personal space. She says, Tommy had the proper reaction (!), and Nema wonders who says that? Mike joins them. I note he’s wearing a magenta beanie, and wonder about his fashion sense.
Reza asks what MJ was thinking. Was she sending her criminal thug husband over there to scare or hurt them? He’s not intimidated. He tells Adam that he has a temporary restraining order against Tommy until the court hearing on June 14th. He wants to make sure Tommy stays away, and wants to see him prosecuted.
MJ wonders how she got dragged into this. Nema asks if she knew Tommy was going over there, and Mike says, of course. Nema asks why she didn’t stop him, and MJ says Tommy has to protect his wife and son. When someone says horrific things, and takes it to social media, they can’t expect him to lay [sic] down. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza went on an Instagram rant, showing private texts between him and Tommy, and her personal medical history that Tommy confided in him. Tommy was furious; Reza fanned the flame, and poured gas on it. MJ tells Mike and Nema that she doesn’t feel good about what Tommy did. Nema asks if she thinks it was okay, and she says she never said that, but he just messed up some plants; so what? In Mike’s interview, he says he thought MJ would be apologetic, but she’s being defensive, and making light of it. It makes her look worse. Nema says she needs to come down on Tommy, and she says she did. Nema says, it’s a game changer, and in the end, it’s on her and Reza. He wonders if their group of friends is going to be like divorced parents, and spend one day with Reza, and a different one with her. In Nema’s interview, he says, MJ just had a baby. She has better things to worry about. He tells MJ, she needs to own her part in it, and be done with it. MJ says she wanted to clear the air, and that’s it. She says she’s had enough bullsh*t, and leaves.
GG goes to see her lawyer Atousa. Arousa asks GG, please don’t tell her that she’s in trouble, or needs a prenup. GG says she doesn’t, and Atousa says GG just got divorced. She got a phone call from Shalom saying he’d sign the documents, and send them overnight. GG is in shock, and says she doesn’t know how Atousa did it. Atousa says she just kept it real, and told him what he was doing wouldn’t resolve it; the law is not on his side. In GG’s interview, she says, Atousa is an amazing attorney. She thought she was just going to have to file papers, wait in line for a court date, and be divorced. She was married six and a half to seven weeks, and the divorce took about two years. We flash back to the reunion when she talked about being in the process. Then we see a clip of Mike on the phone with Shalom, telling him to stop calling GG, and Shalom saying he loves her. Atousa says Shalom still wants her back, and no matter how they communicate, he’s going to end up being sulky and not happy as a result. GG says, especially if he finds out she’s trying to get pregnant. Atousa warns her that they’re still not past the time period where Shalom can contest the divorce. He could say there was fraud, or he didn’t know about things she didn’t disclose. Don’t cause trouble, and leave him alone. GG says her whole being was for this, and Atousa says now let her whole being be for the baby. GG tells Atousa, she used an anonymous sperm donor. In her interview, she says she saw his picture, and she had her nose done, but his was good to begin with. She weighed everything out after the genetics.
Destiney meets Nema at a restaurant, and they order drinks. She says she didn’t want to go to Sara’s party, and he says he didn’t even see her interact with Sara. He didn’t realize she was still talking to Sam, and she says Sara didn’t want her to. We flash back to Sara telling Destiney not to continue seeing her brother. Nema says Sara really must not like her. Destiney smokes a hookah, and says she was going to see Sam in Vegas but her flight was delayed. In her interview, she says she and Sam are still talking, and as long as it’s fun and flirty, she’ll continue enjoying the moment with him. She says her event in Arizona is on Saturday, but she’d like them to come earlier. She’s invited everyone except Sara.
GG drives to an In-N-Out Burger. In her interview, she says it’s been ten days since the transfer. She has to eat before her mom gets to her house. Lord help her with a Persian mother. She doesn’t know if she’s eating for two or nervous eating.
MJ changes Shams’s diaper. In her interview, she wonder what a mother should call her son’s penis, and decides it’s not pecker. She brings Shams out. Her assistant Sienna is there, and her trainer Craig lets himself in. In MJ’s interview, she says she’s been in bed a month now, and it’s time to start getting healthy. Craig says he came bearing gifts – collagen water and healthy drinks. He asks how MJ’s state of well-being is, and she says she’s a bit of a wreck. He thinks she should address this thing, and make sure she’s feeling good about where she is in life.
Destiney goes to Mike’s house, and he says she’s in time for breakfast. He asks if she has any idea why Reza wants to talk to all of them. She guesses he wants to talk what went down at Sara’s pool party. In Mike’s interview, he says he loves Reza, but Reza has a way of rallying his troops. Either you’re going to be on his or their team.
Reza and Adam get to Mike’s, with Nema following. In Reza’s interview, he says, the loss of a best friend is unimaginable. He needs all the love and support he can get right now. He tells Mike and Destiney that he can never have anything to do with MJ and Tommy again. First, she sent her gay minions to destroy his marriage. We flash back to Reza calling MJ about the lunch with Ali, and Reza says, then, she sends her thug husband to… what? Rough him up? Mike says he and Nema met with MJ, and told her that Tommy’s actions were unacceptable. Reza asks if she was remorseful. In Mike’s interview, he says they acted like savages, but you can’t flush a friendship over a disagreement. Sara joins them, and asks where GG is, and Reza says she had an appointment at 10. He apologizes profusely for acting like an animal. We flash back to him throwing papers all over the place. He says he’s so sorry, but Sara says he doesn’t have to apologize, and asks who invited MJ? Nema says he was trying to bring friends together, and realizes it was wrong. He was thinking they had a 30 year friendship, it was a tiff, and it would be over. Reza says he thinks Nema was being flippant, but he’s disappointed in himself, and wishes he hadn’t said what he did. MJ’s medical history had nothing to do with what the argument was about.
Craig tells MJ that her dad came to him in his sleep. He said he’d really like her to be able to address the situation with Reza. In MJ’s interview, she doesn’t think revisiting the disgusting things Reza said will help her heal. She tells Craig, she hates talking about this, so he brings out resistance bands, and suggests they regroup.
Paulina is the last to get there, and Reza says he wants to fill everyone in courtwise. Tommy has to stay 100 yards away from their home, Adam, himself, and their cars. Nema asks if there are jailtime consequences, and Reza says there are. He asks them, please do not try to mend things or help the friendship or relationship with MJ or Tommy. In his interview, he says he doesn’t want be friends with MJ’s friends. He wants no connection, or for her to know anything about him. He tells Destiney, as much as he wants to go to Arizona, he’s taking Adam to Hawaii for his birthday. He tells everyone that he loves them.
Nema rings Shervin’s doorbell, and Shervin jokes that he’s not interested in whatever Nema is selling. Shervin, Mike, and Nema head to the airport. In Mike’s interview, he says they’re having a guy’s weekend. They’re going to watch mixed martial arts fighting, and get away from the drama. Mike says he can’t wait to get away.
In Phoenix, Destiney gets ready, along with her assistant Rose. She says, what are the odds that her package would get lost? In her interview, she says, all her clothes, including the dance costumes, never arrived. Her company is doing an anime/boxing event. It’s a vibe. She’s glad her friends are coming, but wishes Reza was going to be there. Rose is her left hand, and she has to delegate. She wonders why she can’t just live and enjoy the moment.
The guys arrive at the hotel. In Nema’s interview, he says they were late because they were kicked off the plane in L.A. because they’re middle Eastern. In Mike’s interview, he said someone was saving seats for them, and a guy ran to grab them, but the attendant had already made up her mind that they were guilty, and they had to get off the plane. We flash back to when they were detained in Israel. Mike says, thank God the worst is out of the way, and Nema says they hope it’s the worst. They decide to have a cocktail, and Nema says he wants to see Shervin strike out. Destiney meets them in the lobby, and Nema asks how is she hammered already? Mike says she smells like tequila. In her interview, Destiney says her dancers are on point, and the fighters are prepared for the weigh-in. Now everybody is cleared and ready to go. In Mike’s interview, he thinks she’s holding guilt over Reza and MJ, and that’s why she’s wasted the day before her big event. She tells them, dinner in an hour, and Mike says, no more for her.
Vida visits MJ, and in MJ’s interview, she says her mother is retiring after 36 years as a make-up artist at Bloomingdale’s. MJ thinks Vida is ready to have a new chapter with her grandson. She tells Vida that Destiney was talking to her about the event months ago, but decided she needed to cover her ass, so MJ didn’t get an invite. In her interview, MJ says, Destiney should keep as far away as possible. The moment she faces the truth, she’ll be implicated as a being a big liar. We flash back to MJ telling Destiney that she can’t blame people who aren’t there to defend themselves. Vida says it’s better for MJ to stay with her precious baby. One day they’re friends, and the next, they’re enemies.
GG sits with friend Yasmin and mom Fatima. Fatima says GG is getting cravings early, but GG says she doesn’t know if she’s pregnant yet. In her interview, she says it’s been an agonizing twelve days. Her anxiety has built up, and she can’t focus. The fertility nurse calls, and she hesitates to answer, but finally does. The nurse says, guess who’s knocked up? and they all scream. The nurse says GG is going to be good mother, and congratulates her. GG hugs Fatima and Yasmin.
Looking for Shervin, Mike says he’ll just follow the smell of Drakkar. In his interview, he says, it feels weird that his best friends aren’t there. Who will he worry about, since MJ was always late? And he’ll miss Reza’s sense of humor. You haven’t traveled until you’ve smelled the spray of the finest liquid ass money can buy. We flash back to their RV trip. MJ calls, and Mike says he, Shervin, and Nema are grabbing dinner. He asks how she is, and she says she hates missing out. She didn’t feel good after their lunch. She felt like they gave her the third degree and attacked her. Nema wonders if she’s crying, and Mike says he’s sorry she’s upset, but it’s not a little feud. Everyone is talking about it, and each person involved has a responsibility in what happened. She says she doesn’t know why Destiney and Ali lied, and Mike says that’s two people who are saying she was involved. She says she’s not trying to duck out of this, but Tommy went storming out. Do they think she wanted that to happen? We flash back to the pool party, where MJ called Tommy, and while she was giving him a blow-by-blow, Mike was saying, don’t do it. She says she’s not in charge of her husband’s behavior or her best friend’s. Mike says she hasn’t taken responsibility for what she’s done. MJ says she was aware Ali wanted to talk to Reza, and didn’t think the issue exceeded strip Jenga. Which still continues to sound stupid. In Mike’s interview, he says MJ is crying because she realized she stirred the pot. It’s setting in that she took it too far. He tells her that he hopes they get past it, and she says, okay.
The guys go downstairs to the steak house. Nema feels the stress of the fallout. Destiney says she ordered already, and Mike tells her that MJ called, but she’s not taking responsibility for what she told Ali. She said she doesn’t condone what Tommy did, but she can’t control him. Nema says, she knew the intention was there. In Destiney’s interview, she says MJ knew what Ali was going to say, and told him to do it. She says, it’s sad that MJ’s not owning up to it. She looked Destiney in the face, and said Destiney was lying, but MJ put her in the situation, and made it seem as if she was lying when she wasn’t. She didn’t know what Ali was going to say. Mike tells her, be honest, and she asks what she’d have to lose. They’re drinking the Kool-Aid. Shervin tells her to own her sh*t. She knew about the rumor, and brought it to Mike instead of talking to Reza. She asks if he’s smoking crack. Mike tells her, don’t bullsh*t, and she says she doesn’t need to bullsh*t. Enough is enough. No matter what the end of the journey, she knows where she’s going. She calls Shervin a POS, and leaves. Mike tells her, don’t walk away, but she keeps going. Nema says she knows she’s caught. If she’s innocent, why is she acting guilty? Mike says, nothing is settled, and Shervin says, she’ll never own up to what she did.
At MJ’s house, Tommy feeds Shams. In MJ’s interview, she says, after the horrible things Reza said, the next day, he posted her and her son’s medical history on Instagram. She was shocked and shook, and shared it with Tommy. He called Reza, who hung up on him, and Tommy made a beeline for the door. He stood up for her, even though there were legal consequences. Tommy tells her, he broke some plants, but he wanted to break Reza’s legs. Reza is lucky. Reza can’t talk like that to people, or someone will come and break his legs. They’re two men, and he wasn’t coming to play Jenga. He was there to kick ass. MJ says, at the same time, that’s not who they are. Tommy says he’s grateful no one was there, or it would have escalated. MJ tells him, calm down, and he says he promised her dad and made vows to her to protect her and keep her safe. When she was in a hospital bed, he couldn’t do anything. Tommy cries. In her interview, MJ says when Tommy was waiting to find out if she’d make it, he was taken back to the loss of his mother. Tommy tells her, everyone said it would be the best night of his life when he’d hold his kid, but it was the effing worst experience of his life, and he can’t get it out of his head. She says she doesn’t want to see him like this, but he says he can’t help it. He cries about it all the time. She says the best thing is to look at their beautiful baby. Their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is in the nursery. She knows it will become a distant memory, and she loves him. In MJ’s interview, she says, in the last fourteen months, she lost her father, got pregnant, almost died, and almost lost the baby. If her friends knew the truth, they’d understand what pushed Tommy to the limit. She’s 100% standing by her husband, and doesn’t care if he’s wrong in the eyes of the law.
Next time, Destiney’s even happens, Vida has a birthday, and MJ doesn’t give a f***.
👩🏽🏫 Quotes of the Week
In an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it. – Herbert Simon
The things which have the greatest value in use have frequently little or no value in exchange; on the contrary, those which have the greatest value in exchange have frequently little or no value in use. Nothing is more useful than water: but it will purchase scarcely anything; scarcely anything can be had in exchange for it. A diamond, on the contrary, has scarcely any use-value; but a very great quantity of other goods may frequently be had in exchange for it. – Adam Smith
Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager. – Susan Sontag
🌪 Just When You Thought Friday Would Be Easy…
This week is over now, right? Stay safe out there, and see you when the dead walk.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Franco brings Elizabeth to The Floating Rib. Sam and Spinelli walk in, and Spinelli tells Sam, it pains him to admit it, but Peter did a masterful job framing Obrecht. Sam says, one might say she had it coming, but Spinelli says, in this time and in this moment, she shouldn’t be in jail. Franco doesn’t mean to interrupt, but asks if they just said Obrecht was in jail. Sam says, Anna arrested Obrecht yesterday, and Franco asks, why? Spinelli says, a plethora of charges, including trying to kill Franco.
In her cell, Obrecht shouts that she’s a victim of Nelle’s maternal guilt, and that woman needs a psychiatrist. Nina comes in, and Obrecht says, it’s so good to see a friendly face. Nina doesn’t look happy, and Obrecht asks, what’s the matter?
Chase and Willow walk into Charlie’s, and Willow says she swears Nelle was goading her on purpose. Chase says, of course (🍷) she was.Nelle is always scheming. If she can get you to blow up, she can play the victim. Willow says, so she should ignore her? He says, if possible. Try not to give her anything she can use in family court. The goal is to weaken her case, and strengthen Michael’s. She tells him that Sasha told her about Diane suggesting they get married, and she’s considering it. He says, Michael is too. Harmony walks in, and Willow asks if she wants to join them.
Julian says, Britt works with his son Lucas at GH, and she says she did. Although she’s closer to his son-in-law. Brad’s her best friend. He says she might want to find a new one. He’s facing serious time. She says she just saw him at the courthouse before they transferred him to Pentenville. Julian asks how he’s doing, and she says, at rock bottom. She can’t believe he kept Wiley’s paternity secret all by himself. It’s crazy. She’d almost say it’s unbelievable.
Michael tells Sasha, hypothetically, if they did get married… Sasha says, hypothetically, it could tip things in his favor with Wiley’s custody. He says he doesn’t want to pressure her into something she’s not ready for, and she says she didn’t think she was at a place where motherhood works for her, but then she ran into Willow. The thought of Wiley growing up with Nelle gave her a sinking feeling, and she’ll do anything she can to stop Nelle. And she can. If marrying him will help protect his son from that awful woman, she’s in.
Curtis asks Jordan, what’s going on? and she says maybe it wasn’t the best idea for her to see Cyrus tonight. She was more emotional than she realized. Her phone dings, and she looks at a text. Tell no one about TJ. Don’t want to ruin Aunt Stella’s visit. You’ll have a visitor soon. Be alone. She tells Curtis, ballistics traced every shell casing, but there’s nothing that tie it back to Cyrus. He asks if that’s all, and she says she told him, she shouldn’t have gone to Pentenville. Cyrus was gloating about killing Taggert without actually incriminating himself. Curtis says, of course (🍷), and she says, every time he said Taggert, she saw Trina’s face, and she lost it in front of him. She got emotional, and showed him that she was in pain, and she hates giving him that satisfaction. He tells her not to let it poison her. She doesn’t have to go back. It’s over. She says they both know it’s not, and asks him to take Stella out to dinner so she can decompress. Tell Stella his neurotic wife needs time alone. He says his beautiful wife isn’t neurotic. He’ll book Stella a room at the MetroCourt. She thanks him, and he says he’ll let her know where they end up getting dinner. If she changes her mind, they’d love for her to meet them.
Franco tells Spinelli, when Andre was performing the memory map procedure, they were interrupted by a gunman. Anna thinks Obrecht hired the gunman? Spinelli says, Anna was led to believe Obrecht hired the gunman, and Elizabeth says, by whom? Sam says, evidence. That’s what they heard. Sam says sorry to interrupt their night, and Spinelli says, apologies. They move on, and Elizabeth tells Franco, sorry. She knows Obrecht has done her fair share of terrible things, but she and Franco are friends. Franco says, there’s no way Obrecht hired the gunman, and asks if Elizabeth disagrees. She says, Anna isn’t one to act rashly. If she arrested Obrecht, it was for a good reason.
Obrecht says Nina doesn’t actually believe the heinous lies that are being told about her. Nina says she’s lost track of how many times she’s forgive Obrecht. Each time, she’s convinced herself she did the right thing, but Obrecht is making it harder and harder to defend her. Obrecht says she was framed by Anna’s devious son. Peter arranged Drew’s plane crash, and sent the assassin after Andre and Franco. And that conniving weasel set her up to take the fall.
Britt tells Julian, Brad adores Lucas. He’d never intentionally hurt his husband. She admires that about Brad. She doesn’t know if she would have done the same in his shoes. Julian asks, what? and she says, take the fall by himself. Julian tells her to just come out and say what she’s after, but she says, where’s the fun in that? She knows he was helping Brad. What made him throw Brad to the wolves?
Harmony apologizes to Willow for not being more available, and asks how she’s holding up. Willow says, some days are better than others, and Harmony says she’s grateful Willow has Chase. Chase say he’s doing the best he can, and Willow says, he’s been amazing. Harmony says Willow has her as well. Willow thanks her, and says she knows it’s been a lot for Harmony too. Harmony says as long as Willow’s okay, she’ll be fine.
Michael asks if Sasha is really okay with this, and she says, better than okay. He takes her hands, and says he’s lucky to have her. She says she’s the lucky one. He’s always had faith in her, even when she didn’t deserve it. His support restored her faith in herself. He’s a good person, and she’s stronger with him. He says they’re stronger together, and Sasha agrees. He says he’s not just saying this because it’s what you’re supposed to say to someone you’re marrying, but he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he asks if she could love Wiley. She says she already does.
Franco tells Elizabeth, Obrecht’s track record is troubling, but she’s always been there for him. She’s never judged him, even for his past, and she’s been such a rock of a friend; it makes no sense. She says the only one who can answer that question is Obrecht. Franco wants to go to the PCPD, but it’s their night out. She says they’ll have plenty of nights out, and he deserves answers. She tells him to go; she’ll wait there.
Spinelli asks why Sam cut him off, and she says he was about to tell Elizabeth and Franco everything they know about Peter. He says, the more people that know he’s deceptive, the better, but she says, no. Peter will feel cornered and desperate, and who knows what he’ll do. He could come after them or their families. Spinelli says he’d like to think Peter wouldn’t actually hurt Maxie or her children – not physically – but the toll it’s going to take on Maxie, knowing she trusted the wrong guy… Sam says she’s sorry, but there’s no way they can help or warn Maxie. If Maxie is pushed, she’ll feel forced to choose, and they both know what her choice is going to be.
Stella asks if they aren’t waiting for Jordan, but Curtis says they’re going without her; she needs alone time. Stella didn’t know her presence was such an inconvenience, and Curtis says, it’s not her. Jordan’s not up for company right now. She says, family doesn’t skip out when someone is struggling, like Jordan is. She wants to be there to support her. Curtis says supporting Jordan means giving her the space she asked for. Stella says, for the record, she’s still worried about Jordan, and Curtis says, noted, and they can talk all about it after dinner from the lovely room he booked her at the MetroCourt. She says he’s sweet.
Jordan sends a text. I’m alone. Now what?
Nina tells Obrecht, Peter changed. He and Maxie are building a life together. Obrecht says, one destined to be ruined, but Nina says, he’s not the same man. He’s actively trying to be a better person – unlike some of us. Obrecht says she’s committed many transgressions in the past. But while Peter only pretended to change, she really did. She didn’t kill Drew, and didn’t order the attack on Franco and Andre. Please believe her and help her. Nina asks why should she? and Obrecht says, because Nathan would want her to.
Julian says Britt doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but Britt says she and Brad have a very open friendship. He tells her everything. Julian agreed to work with him, then bailed, and worked against him. What gives? Julian supposes Brad failed to tell her that he was blackmailing him; threatening to tell Sonny that Julian was keeping his grandson from him. Britt admits Brad did fail to mention that. He doubts Brad told her that he repeatedly refused to listen to him, and sabotaged their plan at every turn. It’s Brad’s fault everything fell apart. She says she hasn’t seen Brad in a while. He’s completely lost his nerve, and is still concerned what people think. Julian says, that’s not a bad thing, but Britt says, people should live however they want. Why care about the choices you make? She sure as hell doesn’t.
Harmony’s phone dings. She looks at it, and frowns. Willow asks if everything is okay, and Harmony says, it’s work; she has to go. Willow suggests a hike on Saturday, and Harmony says, maybe. She tells Willow that she really appreciates the second chance, and she’s taking it seriously. She leaves, and Willow says, that was interesting. Chase says he didn’t realize Willow and her mother were getting close.
Michael tells Sasha, they’ll talk about any problems that come up, and they will because that’s life. Sasha promises to be honest and communicate, and he says he’ll do the same. She says, so does that mean… He gets down on one knee, and says, Sasha Gilmore, will you marry me? She says, yes, and they kiss.
Obrecht says, Nathan made them a family. If he was there, he’d want Nina to help her. Nina says he sure as hell wouldn’t want Obrecht to use his memory to manipulate her. Obrecht says, that’s not what she’s doing, but Nina says she’s done being dragged into this; it’s gone too far. Obrecht is on her own. Obrecht says, please, wait. She can explain how Peter did it, but Nina tells her, save it. Accept the consequences of her actions just once. She’s in a cell because of herself. If she genuinely cared what Nathan would have wanted, think about how important Peter is to Maxie and James. He’d want them to be happy. Consider that the next time she wants to tear their world apart. Nina calls for the guard, and leaves.
Diane asks Michael why she’s there. More Nelle shenanigans? He says he and Sasha have given some thought to the best way to fight Nelle. Diane suggested he get married, and Sasha agreed to be his wife. Diane says, that’s an absolutely awful idea.
Britt says, bottoms up, and she and Julian drink a shot. He says it’s probably a bad idea, but she says, who cares? Life is too short. No one hands you happiness. You have to reach out and grab it for yourself. Julian says, that’s awfully philosophical. Maybe when he was in his 20s, but he has a family now. She says that’s not what she heard.
Willow tells Chase, her mom is busy, and they mostly email or text. Chase says, letting her mom back in her life is a big deal, even if it’s in a small way. Willow says Shiloh messed with her mom’s life as much, if not more, than he messed with hers. It took courage to face it and break free. Her mom stood up to Shiloh, and she’s proud of her. She doesn’t want to waste a chance at a relationship with her. Chase says, if that’s what Willow wants, he supports her. He hopes Harmony lives up to her expectations.
😷 Here’s where there was a special report, but you know the drill.
Jordan looks at the picture she was sent of TJ. There’s a knock at the door. Jordan opens it, and asks what they’re doing here. Harmony says, Cyrus sent her, and walks in. Okay. Didn’t see that coming.
Franco visits Obrecht, who says he doesn’t believe this nonsense. He says, is it though? Is it nonsense? Did she hire someone to murder him? She says she’d never do anything to harm him. He’s her best friend. He says best friends don’t do things like hit you over the head at the pier, and she says, or put you in a position to get caught by the police. He says that’s what he’s talking about. Maybe they’re not so close after all. She says she never wanted him dead, and he says, except that one time she did. She says, not ever. He says, so when Andre was performing the procedure to restore his memory, she wasn’t concerned Drew might remember something that would incriminate her? She says she wasn’t involved in Faison’s demented scheme, but he says, maybe she was. Maybe her cover was blown, and she had to improvise. That meant destroying everyone who was in her way. Even her best friend.
Julian says Britt doesn’t know anything about his family, and she says Brad told her about his bumpy relationship with Lucas and his daughter doesn’t speak to him either. He says she really doesn’t care if she hurts someone else’s feelings, does she? but she says, she’s just saying what’s the point in acting like life’s a fairytale? You should take life as it comes; good, bad, and everything in between. He says she has a point, and she says she’ll drink to that. He says if she insists.
Diane says, the whole point of the marriage is to show that Michael can provide a more stable environment than Nelle, and can give Wiley a stable mother figure. He says, Sasha is a lot more stable than Nelle, but Diane says based on Sasha’s previous conduct, Nelle’s attorneys could argue otherwise. He asks who she thought he was going to get married to? and she says she may have been a little hasty in the suggestion department, especially now that she’s been briefed on Sasha’s past. He says, she did a background check? and she says, yeah. She wants to beat Nelle’s lawyers to the punch, and needs the full picture before the custody hearing. She was unaware of how untruthful Sasha had been while she’s been in Port Charles. Sasha asks if she would hurt Michael’s chances if she married him, and Diane says, unfortunately, she would.
Spinelli looks at his iPad, and says, there is no perfect frame. He’s going to find something to expose Peter. At the bar, Sam asks Elizabeth how Cameron is doing. Elizabeth says, he’s staying strong, but still has nightmares about that guy chasing him down and trying to kill him. She’s glad Jason was there. Sam says she thought the kids were in a warehouse, but Elizabeth says, they were. Then Taggert told Cameron to run, and he did, but a gunman followed him, Jason shot him before he could hurt Cameron.
Stella tells Curtis how much she enjoyed the meal, and he asks, what’s next? She says he doesn’t have to humor her anymore. She knows he’s worried about Jordan. She doesn’t blame him. The last time Jordan pushed them away, she was dying of kidney failure. Curtis says they learned a lot from that, and she’ll never keep anything important from him again.
Jordan says Harmony is working for Cyrus? How the hell did that even happen? That’s what I’d like to know too. Harmony asks if it even matters, and Jordan says, that she’s working for the head of a drug cartel? She’d say it matters a little bit. Harmony says she does what she can to get by, and Jordan says, why her? Harmony says she’s easily overlooked and dismissed. The crazy cult lady with the weird name. No one would suspect she’s working for Cyrus. They won’t suspect Jordan either. Jordan asks what that’s supposed to mean, and Harmony tells her, she’s going to be Cyrus’s person inside the PCPD. When shipments come in, she’ll assure the police attention is elsewhere. Cyrus will communicate through Harmony, and if she has a message for Cyrus, Harmony will make sure he gets it. Jordan says Cyrus thought this one up. Does Harmony know he has her son TJ, and he’s threatening to kill TJ if she doesn’t cooperate? Harmony says Jordan had better do what Cyrus says, and Jordan asks how long she’s supposed to break the law before TJ is freed? What guarantee does she have that TJ will be let go if she follows his orders? Harmony says, none. The only guarantee she has is what Cyrus will do to him if she doesn’t. She knows what Jordan is thinking. That she won’t compromise her morals, and turn the tables on Cyrus somehow. She thought the same thing. She has some advice. Jordan shouldn’t waste her time thinking. Cyrus is too powerful and his reach is too long. Until he says otherwise, Harmony works for Jordan, and so does she. Cyrus doesn’t want a trail leading back to him, so if she wants to reach Cyrus, she goes through Harmony. Jordan asks what Cyrus has on her, and Harmony says he offered to pull some strings so she could go with the early release program. She jumped at the chance to be near her daughter, but didn’t know the favor she’d have to do would be this big. If she messes up, it won’t be just her that pays. Jordan says Harmony is an accomplice to kidnapping and extortion, all while she’s on parole. Does she have any idea how big of a risk she’s taking? Harmony says, going against Cyrus is an even bigger risk. She has to go, and Cyrus will be in touch – through her. Jordan says, before Harmony leaves, she has a message for Cyrus. She needs proof TJ is alive. She wants photos of her son with the date and time, every single day. Harmony nods, and says she’ll do that. She leaves, and Jordan leans against the door.
Nina goes to The Floating Rib, and runs over to Stella, hugging her, and saying she’s glad Stella is okay. Curtis slides over so Nina can sit. Nina says the jetset lifestyle suits Stella, but Curtis is always happier when she’s in town. He says, he is? Nina says, he is, and she wishes she could say the same about herself and Obrecht. Stella says she heard about Obrecht’s arrest, and Nina says, unfortunately, she thinks Obrecht is guilty.
Obrecht says she won’t let Franco throw away their friendship, and he says then she has to give him something to work with; evidence, an alibi. She has to give him a reason to believe her. She says she can do one better. She’ll give him the person who actually did this – Peter August. He needed a fall guy, and chose her, and it worked. Everyone is willing to rush to judgement against her. She just never thought Franco would too. He knows better than anyone what it’s like to be wrongfully accused. She’s done things she’s not proud of. She wasted years of her life on Faison, but that ended when he killed Nathan. She’s a changed person, and didn’t do what she’s accused of. He has to believe her.
Diane says Sasha committing fraud is a problem, and Sasha says, even though she was never charged? Diane says she’s sure Nelle’s lawyers can find people who are willing to testify as to how she deceived Nina. That could badly undermine Michael’s case. Michael says, there has to be a way around it, and Sasha tells him, don’t. Diane is the only lawyer in the room right now, and knows what the courts will be looking for. Diane is right. She can’t marry him. Diane says that’s her recommendation. Unless Michael can marry a paragon – someone with good character, potentially Snow White and Mary Poppins all in one, don’t get married at all. She leaves, and Michael says, sorry about that. Sasha says, don’t be, but he says he wishes it was different. She laugh/cries and says they were engaged for all of fifteen minutes. Why is she so disappointed that they’re not getting married?
Julian comps Willow and Chase’s meal, saying he enjoyed seeing Willow take Nelle down a peg. Willow tells Chase, she may have thrown a drink in Nelle’s face. She knows it’s not very mature, but she couldn’t stand hearing Nelle talk about Wiley. It’s obvious she doesn’t care about him, and is just using him to hurt Michael. Chase asks how it happened, and Willow says, Nelle said something, then she said something back, then Nelle said something, and then she was wearing a drink. It’s everything he warned her not to do, but she can’t say she regrets it. He wishes he was there to see it.
Julian asks if Britt wants another round. She says she shouldn’t, but he pours it anyway, and she laughs. She says she has to visit her mom in the morning in jail. She definitely doesn’t want to be hung over for that. She told herself she was never setting foot in a jail again. At least she’ll be on the other side of the bars this time. But tomorrow is still some time away. She feels like letting loose tonight. She drains her drink.
Spinelli and Sam clink beer bottle and glass, respectively.
Obrecht asks Franco to tell her what he’s thinking, and he says he honestly doesn’t know. She asks him to chose to believe her, but he doesn’t think he can. She’s been a good friend, but she’s a survivor and it frightens him how far she’d go to protect herself. He leaves, and Obrecht looks really sad.
Jordan asks Curtis how dinner was, and he says it was nice. He thought she was going to bed. She says she can’t sleep anyway, and he says she didn’t even change her clothes. She says she got distracted, and asks if Stella is upset about not staying there. Curtis says, a little, because she wanted to help Jordan. Jordan looks like she might cry, and Curtis says he’s there for her; they’re in this together. She says she’s just upset about Cyrus. He doesn’t seem to have any weak spots. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does. Everybody does. They just need to find his.
Michael tells Sasha he’s sorry, and she says, don’t be. He says, even though she’s not Wiley’s stepmother, Wiley is lucky to have her in his life. So is he. She thanks him, and he says he trusts her with Wiley completely. She says she trusts him, and they kiss. She asks what they do now, and he says, go back to the drawing board. There are plenty of ways to beat Nelle, and they’re going to find one that works for them. She says, sounds like a plan.
Willow asks Chase if he thinks Nelle will press charges for having a drink thrown on her. He says, anything’s possible, and she says that’s why she shouldn’t engage, but she’ll always stand up for Wiley whatever the cost. He says he loves that about her, and they kiss. He suggests they get out of there before Julian changes his mind. She says she feels weird leaving without thanking him again. Did Chase see where he went?
Julian is in the back room, crazy kissing with Britt. They get busy while there’s a song part. Didn’t see that coming either. Well, not until they started drinking anyway.
Sonny gets bad news, Jordan gives Sam false information, and Cyrus is surprised.
Shahs of Sunset
At Mj’s house, she says that life is baby laundry, nursing, pumping, feeding, and golden showers. The best gift she got is a peepee teepee, to keep Baby Shams from taking a shot at her during a diaper change. She’s focused on her incredible, beautiful, innocent angel. He is pretty cute. Nema video chats with her, and asks how Shams is. She says, he’s very well-tempered. Nema can’t believe he hasn’t seen her, Tommy, and Shams since the baby was born. He tells her to soak up much Shams as she can, but they should hang out. We flash back to Shams’s birth a month ago, and in her interview, MJ says if her uterus wasn’t removed, she was going to die. No one saw her or came to visit. It was like she and her baby weren’t important. Nema says he can’t wait to see her. In MJ’s interview, she says Reza’s favorite thing about pup Marti is how he clasps his paws, and Shams clasps his hands the same way. It reminds her of Reza, and it’s like a tsunami of pain. Her friends were anywhere but there.
Adam visits GG, and she asks where her cake is. He says he kind of ate it. She asks what happened after she left the cooking class, and Adam says, everyone was worried. In GG’s interview, she says the pain sharp, and we flash back to her leaving the class. We see a clip of GG calling the IVF nurse. The nurse tells her if she’s not having spotting, she’ll be okay. Spotting would mean she’s having a miscarriage. GG, Anita, and Yasmin go back to GG’s condo, and she goes into the bathroom. She comes out, and says, no blood. So should they party? She says she’s just kidding. Adam says the wondered if she could be pregnant, and in GG’s interview, she says that’s not the way she wanted anyone to know, and she’s not ready to tell them. She tells Adam that she’s already upset with Destiney. It’s like she has a new personality. She slept with Sara’s brother, and d*ck seems to be more important than friendship. She wants to talk to Destiney, but if Destiney comes at her hard, she’ll snatch Destiney’s wig off. Adam tells her about Reza wearing a piece of Destiney’s weave on the party bus going back.
Reza meets Sara at Aerial class, and says, it smells like excitement and regret. In his interview, Reza says somehow he lost his way, and gained some weight. If using the silks can help him lose some, he’s all for it. The instructor shows them how to hang upside down, which I’m sure is harder than it looks. Reza slides to the floor. He wraps himself up in a silk, and says he’s sure there’s a market in Iran. After class, he and Sara sit on the floor and talk. Sara tells him about two special agents knocking on her door, and serving her with a subpoena about her ex; his life is playing out in the media. In Sara’s interview, she says there’s a lot of media attention about her ex-boyfriend. Reza asks who the hell her ex-boyfriend is, and she says, Robert Kelly. They met in 2013, and were together three years. In her interview, she says he was charming and kind, and definitely not what she expected. Reza asks if he was anything like the person being described in the documentary (Surviving R, Kelly), and she says, no. It was an adult relationship, and there was never anything that was a red flag. Reza says, all she can do is speak the truth. She says she broke up with him when she found out he was sleeping with other women. In her interview, Sara says that he was having a party in Chicago, and told her, if she can’t be cool, don’t come, It was literally a full-on club; a happening. When a couple of women showed up, it hit her that he was screwing everyone. She watched the documentary, and the person she loved was a monster. Reza says she can’t blame herself, and she says she doesn’t understand how it’s possible. In her interview, she says that it wasn’t a perfect relationship. He was controlling, but she thinks her experience was different because of the boundaries she set. In hindsight, every small boundary and decision altered the dynamic, saving her life. Reza is glad she confided in him, and promises he won’t say a word to anyone.
Destiney goes wig shopping. In her interview, she says wigs are her thing. Hers was not a normal childhood, so maybe she’s living her childhood life as an adult. She chooses a wig that she thinks looks like a cross between Marie Antoinette and Elvira. She says, her first alter-ego was Rosie, who had a bowl haircut. She asks can she hide things in the wig, and the clerk is like, um… GG joins her, and says she didn’t recognize Destiney, who’s now a blonde. GG says she’s never worn a wig, and Destiney thinks she should try some on. She does, and says it feels like she’s wearing a helmet. She broaches the subject of the cooking competition, and Destiney says, it was intense. GG says she was irritated, and has been seeing a different Destiney than the one she met. Destiney was all about woman power and loyalty. Destiney says if she’d slept with GG’s brother, she would have talked to her first. GG says, maybe that’s why Sara is hurt, and they should have a conversation. In Destiney’s interview, she can’t understand why she’s pissed everyone off. Frankly, me neither.
Reza goes to a fancy jewelry store, and picks up a $95K Rolex. Nema joins him, and Reza says it brings a tear to his eye that Nema is getting his first Rolex. In Nema’s interview, he says, if you’re in the market for gold, a Rolex, or rubies, get a Reza. Nema’s life goal is to connect with his Persian culture. The next step in the evolution of his Persianity, is a gold Rolex. It goes gold, Rolex, Bentley, He says Reza is bougie when it comes to his Rolexes, and he and Nema’s tastes don’t line up. Nema picks out a simple $6500 watch, and the clerk congratulates him.
Mike puts together a wagon for Paulina’s kids. In his interview, he says he never thought he’d be with a woman who had children, and he wants to be with Paulina for the rest of his life. He wonders what he’s doing sometimes, and if he’s ready to be a stepdad. What Nema said, affected his thoughts, and it runs in his head non-stop. We flash back to Nema telling Mike that he doesn’t think Mike is ready to be a stepdad. Nema doesn’t get that Paulina knows Mikes strengths and weaknesses. He shares his insecurities with her, and he’s sure she knows he’s not perfect, but because she loves him, she sees he’s attempting to do it, and gives him a pass.
Nema meets MJ for lunch. He says she looks amazing, and she compliments his white teeth. He says it’s hard to see what happened to her and Reza. She says Reza claims she meddled in his marriage, and Nema says, instead of going to Reza directly about Adam, she went to Destiney; then Ali got involved. MJ says she had nothing to do with it. Nema says that’s huge difference from what Destiney is saying, that she was at the start of this. It makes her look like a homewrecker. Like she was bored in her hospital room, wondering how to eff up Reza’s life. She says she’s sure she wasn’t bored. Nema doesn’t want the perception of her to be like that, and she says that’s not her problem. It’s coming from people who are riddled with fear, jealousy, and lies. In Nema’s interview, he says both MJ and Reza like to meddle in other people’s drama constantly. We flash back to MJ and Reza springing Shalom on GG in the middle of a public event, and telling Jessica about Mike cheating. Nema tells MJ about Sara’s pool party that’s coming up. In his interview, he says, at the end of the day, Reza and MJ are better together. He tells MJ that she can come as his plus one. Thirty years of friendship is worth a conversation. She says she’ll think about it.
Destiney aka Veronica, who has shoulder length kind of blue hair, meets Sara at a restaurant. Destiney tells Sara that she wanted to go over some things. She did get Sara’s text about the party, and Sara says she hopes Destiney comes. Destiney thinks it would be super weird if she goes before they have a conversation. Sara says she’s not concerned that Destiney hooked up with her brother; it’s just awkward, since it’s not like a real love connection. Sam and Destiney are at different places in their lives. She wonders why Destiney is even talking to Sam. In Destiney’s interview, she says Sara can tell her this all day, but aren’t they all adults? Destiney says they’re planning on seeing each other again, and Sara doesn’t understand what she wants. Destiney says nobody is going to tell her how to navigate anything in her life. In Sara’s interview, she says when she and Destiney met, it was awkward. Now Destiney is hooking up with her brother. Sara says Destiney wanted to meet up to talk more sh*t, and it takes the soul and energy out of her. (I’ll have to remember that one.) Destiney doesn’t understand why Sara feels that way. Sara says she wants Destiney to come tomorrow, but doesn’t have the energy to care more. As she’s leaving, Sara says her brother won’t be there.
Adam tells Reza that he doesn’t know how to play Monopoly. Reza says, the game was made for Persians, and helps make you more successful in life. In Reza’s interview, he says he and Adam are doing better. We flash back to Reza confronting Adam about strip Jenga, and the inappropriate texts. Because Sara is having a pool party, he called a tanning guy to come and spray him and Destiney. He asks Adam if he wants one, and Adam says he’s in. Destiney joins them, and Reza asks what happened when she met with Sara. He knows she feels hurt. Destiney says she doesn’t hook up randomly, but doesn’t regret it. She and Sara had a powwow, and she tried to tell herself to understand, since she doesn’t have a brother. Reza says he wants details. WTF did she say? She says Sara wasn’t okay with it, and didn’t realize they were going to continue seeing each other. Reza says, she thought he was just going to hit it. Destiney doesn’t want it to be uncomfortable at the party. Spray tan specialist Robby arrives, asking, are they excited for tans or what? reminding me of a substitute dance teacher I had once. Reza wants to get alarmingly tan. Robby drops pearls of wisdom like, once you go Persian, there’s no other version, and the key to a good tan is drying as you go. In Reza’s interview, he says the spray tanning makes him sad because it reminds him of MJ. We flash back to when they got tans together. Robby says, the tanning has come to an end, and Reza says, he feels like he had a three-way. In his interview, he says he never imagined that on the day MJ give birth, she’d be thinking of coming at his marriage. It makes him feel sad.
Sara gets the house ready for the party, while friend Benny helps out. The DJ sets up, the food comes, and floaties are put in the pool. I’m ready.
Nema gets ready. In his interview, he says he’s the product of divorced parents. He’s had two separate Christmases his entire life. Awkward or not, he’s bringing MJ. All he’s asking is that she and Reza talk. If they talk, and still can’t move forward, at least he’ll know he tried.
MJ meets Nema at his place. Tommy brings in Shams, and Nema says they must be on cloud nine. In MJ’s interview, she says, what really mattered was her best friend of thirty years should have been there.
GG says she hired muscle, in case someone decides they want to step up to her. She’s more familiar with getting into a fight, and might forget what she’s going through, since it’s brand new. Destiney is a blonde, and GG’s bodyguard introduces himself as C. Destiney tells GG that she’s Cynthia today, and in GG’s interview, she says, fashion is expression, so let it be.
Sara loves the set-up, and thinks the bartenders might need to take a drink, since her friends are a lot. Destiney makes GG go in first, and Destiney walks in on C’s arm. In Sara’s interview, she says, Destiney is always like, look at me. Reza and Adam arrive, and GG attacks the food. Mike and Paulina come in, and Mike thinks Destiney looks like a character from Mod Squad. Destiney keeps getting her heels stuck in the deck, and GG says, maybe Cynthia isn’t feeling it today.
In the car, Nema tells MJ to absolve Reza, since he’s coming from place of hurt. He helps MJ put on her necklace, and says she has too much hair. She tells him, she has too much weave.
Adam jumps in the pool, trying to land on a floatie. Nema says he brought a friend, and Reza says he’s leaving. GG says she’s going too, and Reza says he’s not at a place where he’s ready to talk. The betrayal is in his heart, and he needs time to process sh*t. Nema tells him, don’t leave, and follows him, saying, a thirty-year friendship. Reza says Nema could have texted him. Nema says MJ has a different perspective; hear her out. GG asks how Nema could do that, and not tell anyone, and he says he wants to be peacemaker. She says ambushing people isn’t peaceful. At the party, MJ says Reza ran like a bitch. In MJ’s interview, she says, how dare he? Where does he think he’s going? And after she’s been loyal for thirty years.
Mike tells MJ that she should engage with Reza. Ali is the problem. MJ says she almost died, but she should go away? This had nothing to do with her. Out by the cars, GG says, MJ isn’t a good person. She’s screwed everyone who’s good to her. What did Adam ever do in all this? Nema asks Mike to convince MJ to come down. In Mike’s interview, he says he sees the issue from both sides. They need a therapist or a mediator. MJ tells Destiney, she can’t blame other people who aren’t there to defend themselves. Destiney told them that MJ told her to bring up Adam’s cheating. Destiney tells MJ, she never said that. She had lunch with Reza and Ali, and Ali brought it up. What motive would she have to say MJ told her to do that? MJ says she chooses not to believe Destiney, and Mike says, it’s too many years of friendship to waste on a possible rumor. In Mike’s interview, he says a sliver of him thinks maybe Reza is in such a dark place, because he didn’t have his friend of thirty years to confide in. He hopes they connect, and make sense of this craziness.
Reza goes back to the party, and MJ tells him to get away from her. Destiney says, it’s a thirty year friendship (should have done a drinking game with that one). MJ tells her, STFU, and Reza asks if MJ isn’t embarrassed. MJ tells him to go back to his stupid husband. They can cheat on each other, and go to the bathhouse. I’m not even sure if there are still any of those around. I think the last one in NYC closed recently. If you haven’t guessed, I’m a font of useless information.
It gets kind of chaotic, and by now, everyone has noticed, and is like, WTF? Destiney says she never lied, and MJ throws a drink in Reza’s face. He asks if she isn’t embarrassed, and now Sara says, WTF is going on? Reza says MJ has no shame, and she tells him, STFU, which is obviously her go-to phrase. Adam gets into the mix, and Reza tells MJ to screw herself. Go home and watch her baby. Why is she even there? Mike says it’s all he can do not to slap the sh*t out of Reza; WTF is he thinking? He’s talking to a woman.
MJ says Adam’s cheating has nothing to do with her. Reza says no wonder MJ’s uterus exploded, since she’s had ten abortions. I literally gasp, and say, nooo. I can’t believe he said something like that, and in the middle of a crowded party. Destiney says, enough is enough. Stop. Mike asks WTF Reza thinks he’s doing, and Reza says, f*** you people. He takes a binder out of a car (MJ’s?) and throws the contents up in the air, and the papers rain down. MJ says he’s an effing liar, and Mike goes after Reza.
Next time. Mike says it’s going to get messy, Tommy trashes Reza’s patio, Tommy says he broke a plant when he wanted to break Reza’s legs, GG says it’s the most agonizing twelve days of her life, and Reza tells Nema to butt out.
Just so you know, the only Corona you’ll find here, is beer.
🎙 Quotes of the Week
Sometimes it’s easy to lose faith in people. And sometimes one act of kindness is all it takes to give you hope again. – Randa Abdel-Fattah
It is our wounds that create in us a desire to reach for miracles. – Jocelyn Soriano
When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. – Malala Yousafzai
Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of. – Roy T. Bennett
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. – Maya Angelou
Anger, it’s a paralyzing emotion, you can’t get anything done. – Toni Morrison
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. – Niccolò Machiavelli
We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane. – Kurt Vonnegut
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. – Lao Tzu
The great Western disease is, ‘I’ll be happy when… When I get the money. When I get a BMW. When I get this job.’ Well, the reality is, you never get to when. The only way to find happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here. And happiness is not next week. It’s now. – Marshall Goldsmith, American Author
🎪 No Surprise…
Of course this week would end with Friday the 13th. See you in the Deadzone.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
New York City. On the phone, Alexis thanks Diane. She says she hasn’t been to an opera in a long time. The usher tells her she has a box seat, and she goes in. She sees someone else sitting in the box, and says she doesn’t think it matters, but… She realizes it’s Neil.
Jordan says TJ mentioned he was taking Molly out for a special dinner, and Molly says that’s what she wanted to talk about. TJ never came home. She went to the hospital, and found out he never showed up for work either. Jordan asks if Molly is sure he’s not there; maybe she missed him. Molly says the registry confirmed it. She figure he needed space after what happened. Jordan says Molly needs to be complete honest. What happened? Molly says she thinks she broke TJ’s heart.
Cameron asks if Trina wants a cookie, but she says, no thanks. He says their parents are conferring, and they could be there a while. Trina says, on second thought, sure. They clink cookies. In the living room, Portia thanks Elizabeth for taking care of Trina. Elizabeth says Trina is incredibly brave, and Portia says she should never have gone to the medical conference; she should have been there last night. Elizabeth says she was there, and Cameron was still kidnapped. They had no way of knowing what was going to happen. Portia says, Taggert never warned them.
At Crimson, Maxie is on the phone with Sasha. She says Sasha is a natural, and to send over the agreement so Nina can sign off on it. Nina’s plane was early, but she probably won’t be there until tomorrow. Nina walks in, and sets her coffee on Maxie’s paperwork, spilling some on it. Nina says, the shoot in Tunisia was fantastic; the beaches were phenomenal. She asks Maxie for the post-production budget, and Maxie says she’ll call Sasha back. She starts to leave the office, and runs into Jax coming in. He says he was looking for Nina, and Nina comes out, saying, you found her.
On the phone at the MetroCourt, Peter says, tell Davis to stay at the courthouse, and keep him posted. Sitting at a table, Violet tells Finn about the animals she’s learned about in school. Finn asks if she wants a snack, and asks the waitress for milk and shortbread cookies. Violet says, no. Tea and scones, and Finn laughs. He sees Peter, and barely nods.
As Obrecht leaves the courtroom, Anna opens the door and blocks her way. She says Obrecht thought she got away with it. She thought wrong. Obrecht asks what brings Anna to the courthouse, and Anna tells her to save the pleasantries; she’s neither pleasant nor rehabilitated, and has no place in Maxie and James’s lives. Obrecht asks why she’d say that, and Anna says. It’s over; the lies and deceit. Obrecht said she’d changed, but she hasn’t. She’s been carrying on Faison’s legacy, and Anna is going to make her pay for everything she’s done.
Nina tells Jax that she should have taken the day, but she couldn’t wait to get back and work on the next issue. She missed the office. He asks if that’s all she missed, and she says she supposes not. Maxie brings in the budget Nina asked for, and Nina wonders how to get out of the document Maxie left on her screen. Maxie says, it’s the agreement for the ad campaign, and Nina should take a look at Deception’s layout; it’s brilliant. Nina says she’ll get to it later, and Jax says he’ll take a look. Maxie says they can focus on that, while she handles everything else – as usual. She leaves, and Jax asks Nina if Maxie is okay, but Nina says, she’s just being Maxie. He asks if she’s given any thought to taking him along on her next business trip. She’s surprised he wants to take such a public step, and he says he just got an email from HR about them.
Obrecht says he has no clue what brought on Anna’s attack of righteousness. Faison is dead, and burning in hell like he deserves, and his legacy died with him. She wasted the better part of what should have been a brilliant medical career, and found a way to go on. She has a respectable job, and she’s close with Maxie and her grandson. She’s trying to rebuild her relationship with Nina, and doesn’t take her second chance for granted. Anna says Obrecht had to get rid of her witnesses.
Peter stops by Finn’s table, and tells Violet, hello… or cheerio. She says, like in Mary Poppins, and he says Anna was asking about her. Finn says to tell Anna they said hello, and cheerio to him. Peter sees Maxie fly in, and asks if she’s looking for someone. She says she feels ignored and taken for granted. She does all the heavy lifting while Nina jet sets and goes out for coffee. He asks if she wants to tell him about it.
Cameron pours some milk, and Trina says, milk and cookies? He says, it beats oatmeal. He didn’t tell her, but when he was on his trip visiting colleges, the coach made them eat oatmeal every morning because it’s high in fiber or something. Each college had amazing dining halls – French toast, pancakes, anything you wanted – but they had to have oatmeal. I remember visiting those dining halls too, and it’s no wonder students gain a freshman fifteen. Trina says, it seems like a million years ago, and last night seems like it was another life. In a way, it was. It was the end of her father’s life.
Portia tells Elizabeth that Taggert was good with the divorce. He didn’t want anything, and gave her no argument about custody. He understood the stress of his work, the danger and uncertain hours, and knew it was no way to raise a child. He didn’t want Trina exposed to the worry. She can’t understand why he would show up in Port Charles when he knew his daughter was there, and he was a target.
Molly tells Jordan that TJ proposed, and she said no. Jordan is surprised, and Molly says, it’s not because she doesn’t love him or want to be with him; she does. But from what she’s seen of marriage, it causes more problems than it solves, and she doesn’t want their relationship to change. Jordan says she gets it. Molly doesn’t want marriage right now. Molly says, or ever, and Jordan says, ever is a long time, but they love each other, and that’s all that matters. They’ll figure out a way. Molly says she thinks she really hurt TJ. He even left her at the restaurant.
Alexis asks Neil if Diane put him up to this, but he says he bought a ticket at the last minute. He thought he’d decompress with his favorite opera before the hearing. She says, weird. She thinks Diane had a client who wasn’t using their ticket, and she’s never seen Aida. Neil says the box is all hers; he’ll find another seat, or maybe another show. She says, stay… please.
Nina tells Jax, if they’re get pushback from HR, she’s going to be annoyed with her lawyers, but Jax says HR signed off on them. They’re documented, and free to see each other. (Huh? Is this like parental permission?) He’s confident they can maintain a distance between their personal and professional relationship. She’s glad he’s confident. The Tunisia shoot was incredible, but she kept thinking how it would be a nicer experience to be seeing the beaches with him. He says, there will be more shoots, more adventures. All in good time. She likes the sound of that, and plans on enjoying every moment. They kiss.
Neil says, Alexis wants him to stay? and she says, it’s not like they’ve done anything wrong. It’s a crazy random fluke. Nine million people in New York; what are the odds? A gazillion to one, so have a seat and enjoy it. He thinks there are other seats, but she thinks it’s sold out. They don’t have to talk. They’re just spectators in the dark, watching a tragic tale of forbidden love. The orchestra begins to tune up, and the lights dim. They sit.
Molly tells Jordan, when TJ didn’t come home, she thought he was crashing in the on-call room, or maybe with a friend. She wishes he’d text back. Jordan says maybe they should exchange text messages, and figure out a timeline. Molly says TJ last texted her at 8:47, and Jordan says she’s gotten texts since then. She thinks maybe TJ is just getting some space. Molly says, he was really upset. In retrospect, she should have gone after him. Jordan says, it would have just made things worse, and Molly says, they’ve always talked things through. How can they do that if he’s not around? Jordan says, give him time to process. She knows him, and he’ll calm down and come to his senses. Unfortunately, she has to get back to work. Molly says she’s honored that TJ proposed. She would love to have Jordan as a mother-in-law. It’s just about the institution of marriage. She wishes she had explained it better. Jordan says, don’t worry. Whatever happens, happens. Molly will be her first call if she hears from him.
Trina bets Cameron wishes he’d gone to the dance without her, and he says, what about her? She would have been stuck with Hunter. She says seeing her dad and the guys shooting at him, and Curtis grabbing her away… She tells herself it’s a nightmare, but then remembers it’s real.
Elizabeth tells Portia that she knew Taggert when he lived in Port Charles. She was friends with his sister Gia. He was a good man. Portia says, he was a good father. Committed and supportive, but he was in law enforcement before they met. There was no way he was going to quit. Little by little, she started noticing that he rarely came home. He was at a late night stakeout or combing through files at the office. She told him that he cared more about drug dealers than his own family. It was only a matter of time before his worries caught up with him. She guesses she was right.
Violet asks if stuffed owl Otto would like more tea. Finn wonders what she’s been doing in school, and she hands him some drawings. He looks at drawings of Otto, Roxie, and Anna’s bulldog. Violet asks if she can show Anna the picture, and he says, they’ll see, a favorite phrase of all parents everywhere. Robert comes by, and says, tea for three? Violet asks if he wants to join them, and he says he’d love to. Finn says, yeah, sure, and Robert pulls a chair over to the table. He asks who the owl is, and Violet says, Otto. Robert says Otto kind of looks like her dad. Put some funny glasses and a furry coat on him, and you couldn’t tell them apart.
Obrecht asks what Anna is babbling about. How can there be witness to something that doesn’t exist? She’s fully reformed; Anna has seen it. Anna asks if Obrecht thinks she forgot how she said she lost her son and was going to take Anna’s from her. Obrecht says, this is about Peter? and Anna says it’s about how she framed Peter every step of the way, up until he tried to kill Franco. Obrecht says Franco is her best friend. She could never try to kill him. Anna says she can and did, and she has proof.
Trina wonders what she could have done differently to distract the gunmen, so her dad could get away, and Cameron tells her, stop doing that. He did the same thing with Franco, thinking he could have fought harder and run away. It’s no good blame herself. She says, Franco came back; her dad is gone forever.
Outside of Elizabeth’s house, Jordan leaves a message for TJ, saying, whatever happened, Molly doesn’t deserve the silent treatment. He needs to call Molly, and her. She adds that she loves him, and knocks on the door. She apologizes for showing up announced; she was just checking in. Portia says, Jordan? and Elizabeth introduces them. Jordan says she’s so sorry for Portia’s loss. She hates this. They’re finally meeting, but it’s under these circumstances. Portia agrees, and says she’s heard a lot about Jordan.
Alexis and Neil watch the opera. Alexis looks at Neil, then turns away, and he looks at her. She looks back, and they smile.
Jax‘s phone dings, and Nina says they should probably both get back to work. He says, it’s not work; it’s Joss. Two of her friends were involved in a kidnapping, and her friend’s dad died. She’s kind of freaked out. Nina says, oh my God, and Jax sends a text back, telling Nina, he’s glad they’re in the same time zone so he can be there for her. Nina is glad Josslyn has a great dad, and Jax says he’s lucky he’s got a great kid.
Maxie tells Peter, she’s steamed, and needed to walk it off. Nina breezed in, bragging about the photo shoot, and spilled her macchiato on the files Maxie was working on. She doesn’t think Nina even noticed or cared. She’s been running things while Nina is off planning fake weddings, going to beautiful beaches, and romancing the CEO. Peter reminds her that Lucy made an offer to bring her on board at Deception. She might want to consider it. Maxie says, if Nina keeps this up, she’d rather unbox stock at Saks.
Obrecht tells Anna, she has no time for this nonsense. If Anna has uncovered any wrongdoing, look no further than her son. Ask Robert. He knows the truth about Henrik, and she suspects Anna does too. Anna says that’s all Peter will ever be to her; Henrik. Obrecht says he persuaded Nathan to do an interview that he knew would make Faison come running, and Jason would kill him. Nathan was collateral damage, and it destroyed her, but she accepted and handled it. Anna says Obrecht is an excellent liar, but Obrecht says the only liar is Anna, lying to herself. Henrik is up to his neck in Faison’s crimes. Anna says all the evidence points to Obrecht. She’s hardly surprised, considering Obrecht’s extensive criminal record. Two men come in, and Obrecht says, whatever proof Anna has, she’s wrong. She has nothing to do with this. Anna tells her she’s under arrest for murder and attempted murder. Obrecht says, it’s a miscarriage of justice, as the men take her away.
Alexis tells Neil, she didn’t expect to be so emotional, but he says, don’t feel bad; it’s one of the greats. She says she can’t imagine why she’d find it difficult to see a conflict between love and a sense of duty. Neil says, it’s just his opinion, but perhaps she’s projecting. He asks which character she identifies with most, and she says she’s a Cassadine, so she’s almost like a princess. He says that would make him Radames, although he’d make a good general. She says she might too, because she’s a Cassadine. We like blood. He says she terrifies him sometimes, and she says, don’t be afraid. He tells her that he’s going to get some water, and asks if she’d like something. She asks him for the same, and when he leaves, the usher asks if she’s enjoying the show. Alexis says, it’s so good, it’s affecting her. The usher says Alexis and her husband are adorable, but Alexis says, he’s just a friend. The usher – who I don’t trust – says, sure.
Nina says, obviously, Josslyn is going through lot, so if Jax wants to slow it down until she gets used to the idea… Jax says Josslyn is too busy being a new aunt to worry about his personal life. Nina says she’s missed a lot. Who had a baby?
Peter looks at his phone, and frowns. He says, what the hell? He tells Maxie he sent a reporter to the courthouse to cover Nelle’s arraignment, and he just got a message that Obrecht was arrested by the WSB for the attempted murder of Andre and Franco.
Robert tells Violet about a dog who knew left from right. Finn asks Violet if she would mind asking the waitress for more tea for the table, and she leaves. Robert says Anna won’t tell him why Finn moved out. If he ever wants to talk… Finn thanks him, but says he’s fine. He just hopes it gets easier. Robert says, parenthood? and Finn says, only the part about keeping his daughter safe.
Cameron tells Trina that he’s not trying compare the situations. He’s trying to say he understands some of what she’s going through, and he’s there for her. She says she knows, and she’s sorry; she’s just mad at everything, especially the fact that she didn’t get more time with her dad. Her parents were divorced most of her life, and she never got to ask about him about the stupid stuff he and her mom did. Cameron wonders why she doesn’t ask her mom, but she says her mom doesn’t talk about that stuff. She thought she and her dad would finally have a chance to know each other. Cameron gets that, and wishes he’d known his father.
Jordan tells Portia that they’re investigating the person behind the kidnapping, as well as Taggert’s murder. Portia says, Cyrus Renault? and Jordan asks how she knows that name. Portia says, when Taggert told her that he was going to Port Charles, he said he was following up on a case from years ago; sending Cyrus to prison.
Cameron tells Trina, his biological father died before he was born. His mom told him some stuff, but not a lot. It was pretty messed up with his father’s crimes. He still has a lot of questions. His mom loved his dad once; there must have been some good in him. Sometimes he wonders what life would be like if his dad had lived. Maybe he would have turned his life around, and Cameron would know what it was like to have a father in his life to show him how to do stuff, like shave. She says, he shaves? and he says it’s his dumb way of saying that he’s glad she had her father for as long as she did, but he wishes she didn’t have to wonder about the questions she has.
Jordan tells Portia, Cyrus is still in prison, but they think he’s running a shadow network to get back at those wronged him. The evidence points to him for the kidnapping and Taggert’s murder. Elizabeth asks if Trina was used to lure Taggert, but Jordan says they don’t know if she was the target, but Cameron was collateral damage. Portia says, when Taggert left, he told her to stay safe. He was always paranoid, so she didn’t think anything of it, but now it makes sense.
Maxie tells Peter, as far as they knew. Obrecht had nothing to do with the memory mapping, but what if she was involved somehow, and she was tying up loose ends so nothing ruined her new life? Andre said if Franco didn’t get his memory back, Drew’s memories could intensify, but why would Obrecht try to kill Franco? He’s practically her only friend. She thinks a moment, and says, Obrecht probably has contact with Faison’s associates, and she works at the hospital, and can get in and out. She could have sent an assassin if she wanted to. How could she do this to all of them, especially James? How is she supposed to tell him that he’s never going to see his oma again, because she’s spending the rest of her life in prison? Peter hugs her. I can’t even express how pissed I am that they decided to make Peter a bad guy. And not even a fun bad guy, like Obrecht, or Faison. If nothing else, Maxie deserved better than this storyline.
Robert tells Finn, the world is a dangerous place; more so when you’re a parent. Finn says, so he’s seeing, and Robert asks what in particular bothers him, if anything? Violet comes back, dragging Anna with her. She says look who she found, and Anna says she thought she found Violet. She tells Robert and Finn that she has major news for both of them.
Nina tells Jax, she had no idea the extent of Nelle’s insanity. She’s glad she got Charlotte away from Nelle when she did, and hopes she’s prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s heartening that Michael was reunited with his son though. Jax says, Michael’s joy came at Lucas’s expense. Nina says, losing a child he came to love as his own, and Willow coming to grips with the fact that Wiley isn’t her child, and the death of her own child. There’s no love lost between her and Willow, but she must be in unspeakable pain. Jax asks if she’s okay, and she says she has a magazine to run. Vamoose. They can become official when there’s less to do. He asks, what about dinner tonight? and she says, absolutely. She’ll call him. He says, not if he calls her first, and they go back and forth until Nina says she’s already calling him. He leaves, and she looks at some papers, but puts them back down. She takes out the heart necklace.
The theater fills with applause, and Neil and Alexis give a standing ovation. Neil asks what Alexis thought, and she asks if the pile of tissues tells him anything. He says, nothing like a good tragic love story, and she says, at least they were together in the end. He says, it was a beautiful fantasy. Not the dying part, but the opera. He’s glad he saw it with her, and she says, her too. She hopes the review board doesn’t lock him in a crypt, and he says he won’t be singing about it if they do. He asks if she wants to share a cab, and she says she’s staying at the Columbia; she can walk. He says that’s where he’s staying; they can walk together, and get coffee in the lobby bar. She says she’d like that, but does he think it’s risky? He says they just did this, and they’ll be doing that. He thinks they can handle it. They walk out together, and the usher watches. I trust her even less now.
Trina thanks Elizabeth for her hospitality, and Porta thanks her for everything. Trina holds Cameron’s hand for a moment, and leaves. Jordan tells Elizabeth, she’ll be in touch, and goes out with them. Elizabeth hugs Cameron. Outside, Portia asks Trina to wait in the car. Jordan wants Portia to know she’s sending officers to keep an eye on her and Trina. Portia says, if she thinks it’s necessary, of course (🍷), but it should be fine. Cyrus got what he wanted; Taggert is dead.
Maxie asks Peter how she could not see this. She believed Obrecht had changed. Now she’s now been arrested for… Oh my God. If Obrecht really crashed Drew’s plane, how is she going to face Sam again? She knows she should be hating Obrecht, but all she can think about his how much she and James are going to miss her. She hugs Peter, and says, at least she has him. Thank God she can trust him.
Anna tells Finn and Robert, Obrecht was behind all of it; the plane crash, the murder attempt, all of it.The evidence points to her trying to cover her own crimes by saying it was Peter. Robert says he’s going to make a call to the Bureau. He leaves, and Anna says now Finn sees why she believed in Peter; he’s innocent. She doesn’t blame Finn for wanting to make sure, but now that Peter is in the clear, does he think he wants to come home?
On Monday, Nina tells Sasha that they’re on the brink of something exciting, Maxie wonders how she didn’t see what was right in front of her, and Spinelli tells Jason that Peter framed Obrecht.
I’m still annoyed about them killing off Taggert. It sounds like it was a bit of a surprise for him too, since in, like, five minutes, he went from this:
At first, they’ll only dislike what you say, but the more correct you start sounding the more they’ll dislike you. – Criss Jami
I’m telling you a lie in a vicious effort that you will repeat my lie over and over until it becomes true. – Lady Gaga
What I’m looking for is not out there, it is in me. – Helen Keller
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. – Niccolò Machiavelli
Our ability to adapt is amazing. Our ability to change isn’t quite as spectacular. – Lisa Lutz
A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever. – Mary Lou Retton
Love is not what you say; love is what you do. – John Hagee
🎡 It’s On…
See you when walking is not just for the living anymore.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 