Tag Archives: quotes

Feb29

February 28, 2020 – A Kidnapping Foiled, After Ferncliff, Soap Twins Celebrate, Tanya Turns It Up, Scary Kyle, Lies All Lies, Quote Octet & a Day For You

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

 

Whatever want just hold her he does

Michael snoozes on the couch with the baby monitor in his hand. Sasha comes in, and touches him. He wakes, and she asks how his day with Wiley went. He says, Wiley doesn’t like sweet potatoes. Who doesn’t like sweet potatoes? She says, apparently, his son. He says, his son. He’s still pinching himself. He’s Wiley’s dad, and that changes everything.

Alexis runs into Lucas at the hospital, and says she didn’t expect to see him. He says they were nice enough to give him his job back. Alexis says, of course (🍷) they would. She asks if he’s okay physically, and he says he’s been given the all clear. The hospital is the only place he feels normal, and Alexis says they could all use more of that.

TJ tells Molly, he knows she has reservations about marriage, but they can make it work. He promises he’ll never ask her to sacrifice her career, or anything else. He wants them to be equals. He wants to spend his life with her. He loves her so much. So will she marry him? She just stares at him for a moment, and says, sorry; she’s overwhelmed. He says, that’s okay. He loves her. She says she loves him too, more than she could ever put in words. He’s very brave to propose after she went off like that, but she doesn’t want to marry him. He says, she’s saying no? and she asks if he’s surprised. He says he is, and she says she just spent 30 minutes railing against the institution. He says, as it applies to other people. This is them. They’re nothing like that. She asks him if being married is important; saying vows and wearing rings. He says, yes, and she says she guesses they’ve never talked about it. She had no idea marriage was something he wanted. He says, now that she does, does it change her mind? She says, no.

On the phone, Elizabeth tells Jason that she just texted the driver’s picture and license number. He can use it, right? Jason sees it’s Cyrus’s guy, and I see his name is Walker. Jason says he knows this guy, and he’s on it. He tells her not to call the cops, and she asks, why not? He says, if it’s what he’s thinking, she could make it worse. Let him check it out. Franco comes downstairs, and asks what Elizabeth is doing. She says, Cameron was kidnapped, and shows him Cameron’s text. He asks if she called the cops, but she tells him, Jason said not to.

Taggert goes into the warehouse. It’s empty, and no one is there. He says he’s there. He followed their orders. Where’s his daughter? Walker comes out, and says, take it easy. Taggert says, bring her to him, but Walker says, the way he sees it, Taggert is in no position to make demands. Taggert says, if he doesn’t see his daughter right now, their plan is going to go up in smoke. Walker calls out, bring them in. Trina and Cameron come out a door at the top of some stairs. Two guys with guns come out behind them, and Cameron practically gets shoved down the stairs. Curtis waits outside with a gun.

Trina asks, what’s going on, and Taggert tells her, don’t worry. He’ll fix this. Walker says, so how are they doing this so Taggert’s daughter and her friend survive? Some other guys come out, and Taggert is surrounded. Taggert says, whoa. They’ve got no problem. Let the kids walk. Walker says that’s not for him to decide. Taggert says he showed up; let them go. Walker laughs, and Taggert asks if he said something funny. Walker says he never thought a man like Taggert would buy into that fairytale. Let’s go.

Willow tells Chase, she doesn’t know what she’s feeling, and he says, it just happened; give it time. She says, it’s so strange. When she gave her child to Brad and Lucas, she missed him every day. At the same time, she knew he was living the life she’d dreamed for him, even if she wasn’t in it. Chase says, then she was in it, and she says, it was the biggest, most amazing surprise. This doesn’t change things. She loves him as much as ever. She’s devastated that he’s not hers, but at the same time, she’s flooded with grief for the baby she held after giving birth; the baby who didn’t make it, and was a physical piece of her. She’s quiet, and Chase says, what is it? She says, if hadn’t given him up, would it all be different? Would her son still be alive?

Michael tells Sasha, Wiley doesn’t go down easy, especially since he’s been moved all over the place. He thought he’d just read a book, sing a song, and rock him. Sasha says, now that he’s Wiley’s dad…  He says, he knows he has to do what’s best for Wiley. Let him cry until he sleeps. She says, his first big parenting decision. He says, before, they just had fun. Now it’s his job to teach and guide Wiley. She asks if setting the rules doesn’t include having fun, and he says, sometimes he caves because it’s easier in the moment, but he’s doing Wiley a disservice. She says she senses Michael has great instincts. Trust them. He says, it’s that simple? but she says she never said anything about simple.

Alexis tells Lucas, she’s so sorry about Wiley – and Brad. It’s just awful that it ended this way. He says, talk about not according to plan. Alexis is one of the few people who saw him. She says, he was beautiful, and Lucas guesses it makes things more bearable if he can help other people. She asks, how can she help him? and he says he could use an assist in his divorce. She says he’s got it.

TJ asks if that’s a hard no, as in never, and Molly doesn’t know what to say. If he wants the truth, the truth is, no; she never wants to get married. He asks if she never did, and she says when she was little, she thought being a bride was like being a princess – the dress, the shoes, the veil – but she’s grown up, and seen how weddings turn normal, rational human beings into Bridezillas. He says, that’s not her, and she says, there are couples who are completely committed who aren’t married; they even have kids. He says that won’t work for him. They’ve been together eight years, and they love each other. He’d assumed marriage was the next step. She says she doesn’t need a paper to validate their relationship or their love. She thought he knew. He says he knew she hated the meaningless display, but he thought, after all they’d been through, when he proposed, she’d marry him. She says she’s sorry, and hands him the ring.

Elizabeth tells Franco, she told Jason that Cameron and Trina had been kidnapped, and sent him the driver’s information. He said he knows the guy, and he’s searching. Franco admits Jason has a set of skills the police don’t have, and Elizabeth says he told her the police would make it worse. She wonders how long she has to wait. He said he’d be in touch. Franco understands why she’d call Jason, and she says she was hoping he’d tell her it was unacceptable, and to call the police. He says, why call Jason? Call the police. Unless she doesn’t want to, in which case he’s behind her 100%. He gives her the phone, and says, it’s 911. She calls, and says she needs to report a kidnapping.

Cameron elbows the guy holding him, and Trina struggles to get away. Curtis comes in, and there’s chaos while they shoot at each other. Taggert yells for the kids to go now. Cameron seriously kicks ass for a moment and runs. Walker says, go after the kid, and shut him up permanently. Trina is still struggling, and Taggert shoots the guy holding her. Curtis grabs Trina and puts her behind some boxes. The shooting continues.

Outside, Cameron falls. One of the guys comes up behind him with a gun, but Jason shoots the guy in the back.

Willow tells Chase, she knows it’s irrational; nothing can change what happened. She’s dwelling on the bottomless pit when she should focus on the next step. Chase says before she does that, the guilt he’s hearing in her voice… She’s entitled to feel how she feels, but remember she’s living with the consequences of Nelle’s cruelty and Brad’s weakness. They did this to all of them, but most of all to Wiley. Nelle is heartless, only thinking of babies as weapons to get what she wants. That’s who she is. Now it’s time to think about the next step. It’s time the people who love Wiley do the opposite of what Nelle did, and make the best choices for him. Willow thinks she knows what that is.

Michael asks how Sasha’s day was. Anything new? She says, Lucy is insane, but in a good way. They had a productive meeting today; it’s an exciting time. Michael says, wow. It’s crazy how just yesterday, they were both in the same place. Now… She says, it’s a whole new world. He says, it happened so fast. They never had a chance to talk about what that means for them. She asks if he wants to talk now.

Jason checks the pulse of the guy he shot. Cameron asks if he’s dead, and Jason says, yeah. Cameron says, all this gunfire. Trina is still inside. Jason says he needs Cameron’s help. Focus. How many men were there. Cameron says, four. There were five, now there are four. Jason asks if they’re all armed, and Cameron says, yes. Jason asks if Trina is tied up, but Cameron says, a guard is holding her. Jason says, who else is in there? and Cameron tells him, Trina’s dad. He was looking to trade himself for them. There was a fight, and everything went crazy. Curtis showed up, and there was gunfire. That’s when he got out, but Trina is still in there. He says he’s going in to help, but Jason says, no. They need a plan, and that’s a bad idea. Cameron has to calm down. They only have one shot at this. Cameron says, tell him what he’s got to do.

TJ looks at the ring, and asks Molly if it’s because she never really dated anyone else. She says, there is no one else. She can’t imagine being with anyone but him. Marriage isn’t for her. He says, even if it’s something he wants? and she says, even if. He says, maybe she just thought she had faith in him that’s not there. He wants to build s life with her, and wants to grow old together. She says she wants that too, but they don’t need a big party to do that. He asks if that’s really what she thinks it’s about for him. He would love it if their mothers could be there, but he wants a commitment through vows. She says, then what? and he asks what she means. She says, sometimes saying the vows puts weight on the relationship, and is the very thing that breaks it up. What if everything is great, and they’re happy and in love, and they get married and expect too much? He says, just because it didn’t work out for her mom, doesn’t mean it’s not for them. She says it doesn’t mean it will either.

Walker says if Taggert was going to double-cross them, he should have made sure his daughter was in the clear first. By the sound of the gunshot, the kid didn’t get far, now he’s going to be forced to see his daughter die. Taggert signals Curtis, and goes around, trying to get behind Cyrus’s guys. Walker says he’s not making a deal; he doesn’t have to. Taggert has trapped himself, and now they’re going to finish it. They won’t be as easy to kill as he thought. Taggert chooses the wrong time to pop out, and gets shot. Trina screams.

Michael tells Sasha, he doesn’t want to make assumptions. He wants her to be involved and a part of this, but he doesn’t expect her to be instamom. He wonders if he’s contradicting himself, and she says, a little bit. He says he’s curious how she feels about all this. She says she’s 100% in favor of the sleeping through the night thing. As for the rest, not everything has to be defined every minute. They love each other, and adore Wiley, and Wiley comes first; his needs are the most important. As for them, she’s good with taking it as it comes, if he is. He says he is, and Sasha says they’ll figure out the Wiley part, and figure out them later. He agrees, and she says, it’s one decision he doesn’t have to make, or at least she’s not asking him to. Michael says, they’ll go with the flow, and she asks if he thinks he can manage to try. He says, somehow, and she says, on that note, she has a conference call in Italy. He says, dinner after? and she says she’d love it. They kiss.

Willow is concerned that it’s confusing for Wiley to be around her. She’s confused, and she’s a grown-up. If she feels this way, won’t Wiley feel it more? He needs someone strong that he can depend on, and she can’t trust herself to not feel grief over the baby she lost and the one who’s not hers. Chase says, it’s like she lost two children at once. She says, it’s too much inflict on Wiley. Chase’s phone dings, and he tells Willow, sorry. There’s been a kidnapping. She asks if there are any names, and he says, it just says, two local teens. She says, go; she’ll be fine. The kids need him more. He says he’ll be back as soon as he can.

Molly tells TJ, sometimes marriage is the very thing that messes everything up. She doesn’t want that for them. He says he asked to spend his life with her. Obviously, he doesn’t want to break up. She says, what about the timing? Does he really think best time is when she’s still finishing law school, and just starting out? He tells her, don’t do that. Act like there’s a chance. She said never. Did she mean it? She says, yes, and he says, then that’s it. Clearly, he did a lot of assuming. He has a lot thinking to do; he’s taking a walk. He leaves, and Molly cries.

Jordan asks Elizabeth to tell her everything. Elizabeth says Cameron and Trina were going to the winter formal, and Jordan asks, who ordered the ride share? Elizabeth says, Cameron; he texted the driver and license plate number to her. Trina’s dad was there only minutes after they left. Jordan says, Taggert was there? and Elizabeth says, he was disappointed he missed the kids, and she showed him the pictures. Then he suddenly left. Franco says, more like abruptly, and Jordan says she needs to know what Taggert said and did. Tell her absolutely everything.

Curtis drags Trina out, and says, listen to him. This is what her dad wanted. He acted as a distraction so he could get her out of there.  Cameron says, Trina, and she runs to him and hugs him. Jason asks, how many are left? and Curtis says, three; Taggert got one. Jason says they have to get him out, but they need to know Cameron and Trina are safe. He tells them to get in the car, and lock the doors. Trina asks if he has a phone so they can call the police, but Jason says, no police; it will just make it worse. Curtis says, Cyrus’s guys think they have more time left than they do. That’s their chance. The kids go to the car, and Jason says Curtis has been in there. What’s the best way to do this?

Michael cleans up  there’s a knock at the door. It’s Willow, who says she hopes it’s okay that she came around back. Can they talk? He says, Wiley fell asleep an hour ago, and she says, fingers crossed he stays that way. He says, tell him about it. She asks how it’s going, and he says, it’s growing pains for all of them. He tells her that he needs to apologize. He should have brought Wiley to see her immediately, and didn’t. He’s sorry.

Molly leaves a message for TJ to call her back. Everything she said came out wrong. She loves him. Alexis approaches the table, and Molly says she didn’t have to come back. Alexis says, her text suggested otherwise. She sits down, and asks, what happened? Molly says TJ asked her to marry him, and Alexis says, she said no? Molly says he caught her off-guard. She had no idea it was something he wanted. They’ve been together eight years, and grew up together. Somehow, she must have missed the importance. She didn’t know it was a deal breaker, and nothing she said came out right. She didn’t make clear how much she loves him, and that she committed to spending the rest of her life with him. Alexis asks how they left it, and Molly says, TJ told her that he had a lot of thinking to do, and walked out. He won’t answer his phone. Alexis says she’s sorry, and Molly asks if she’s crazy. Alexis says she’s just surprised. Molly always wanted everyone married, like Sam and Jason. Molly says she’s older now, and she’s seen what marriage can do to people. Alexis says, specifically what it did to her.

Elizabeth says there’s something Jordan’s not telling them; what’s going on? Franco agrees, and wonders if Jordan thinks the kidnapping is tied to Taggert. Jordan says she doesn’t know. As hard as it is, they have to sit tight, and let her do her job. She has to make a quick phone call, and goes outside. She calls Chase, and says she needs him to run a check anyone with a prior association to Cyrus; anyone who has a drug, organized crime, or racketeering conviction. And get back to her asap.

Trina and Cameron sit in the car. Train wonders if they’re safe, and Cameron says, yeah. She says, right, opens the car door, and throws up.

Jason and Curtis stand on either side of the door. Inside, Taggert lies on the floor bleeding. Walker says Taggert made this harder than it needed to be. If he’d died like he was supposed to, Walker wouldn’t have had to take his daughter. Taggert says, screw you, and Walker aims his gun at Taggert. Curtis and Jason bust in, and Jason shoots the gun out of Walker’s hand. He and Curtis stand there like the badasses they are.

Willow tells Michael, that’s not why she’s there. Michael says he doesn’t know if irony is the right word. He’s been where she is. He knows what it’s like to lose a child, and the grief is indescribable. Now she’s lost two, and he wants her to know he’s aware of it. He knows one child can’t replace another, but thinks it would be a great benefit to Wiley for her to stay a part of his life.

Cameron asks if Trina is okay. She doesn’t understand what’s taking so long, and Cameron says, Jason and Curtis will handle it. She asks, how? and he says, they just will. Trina says she knew her dad was a retired agent, but not in a million years did she think he’d be pulled into something like this. Who are these guys, and why did they hurt her dad? Cameron says, at least she got out. That’s all that mattered to him. Trina says, they’re the dumbest hostages ever, and Cameron asks what they could have done. She says, jumped out, or realized earlier. Cameron says, for all they knew, it was a ride share to the dance. How could they possibly know they were being kidnapped. Trina says, they should have, and he says, it’s not their fault. She says, if she’d realized earlier, maybe her dad wouldn’t have been there. She has to do something. She can’t stand it. She gets out of the car, and Cameron follows.

Inside the warehouse, there’s more gunfire. Jason signals Curtis, and goes around. He shoots two of the guys, and Walker runs out with the other one. Curtis runs after him.

Michael says he’s not asking Willow to be mommy, but a nurturing female presence for Wiley. Kids Wiley’s age put people in categories. That’s how they make sense of the world. He’s transitioned from the guy who puts Wiley on a swing to the bedtime guy. It could take some getting used to, but she can still be her wonderful, sweet, loving, caring self. Wiley needs that, and to be honest, so does he.

Alexis tells Molly, she doesn’t know why she thought none of that would affect her; watching Alexis crash and burn in relationships over and over. Of course (🍷) it mattered, especially with Julian. They were so good, and when they got married, it went so bad. Molly is her stable, intelligent, makes healthy choices girl. An amazing guy like TJ knows she’s the one to spend his life with. She’s sorry she’s been no incredible example in regard to relationships. Molly has no frame of reference, but she’s nothing like Alexis. If she chooses not to get married, that’s fine. It’s her choice to make, but she wants Molly to promise her mother’s past will never be a factor in her decision making.

Jordan tells Elizabeth, Chase is in the field. She knows it’s scary, but they’ll find them. Elizabeth says she called Jason and told him what was going on. She asked him to look into it. Jordan says, as a mom, she has no right to criticize, but as a police officer, she wishes Elizabeth hadn’t done that.

Cameron tells Trina, all they’re doing is putting themselves back in danger. Her dad didn’t want that. She says, she’s not a baby. She can do something; they both can. They get back in the car, and Cameron says he knows the situation is a lot, but Jason and Curtis are good at this; it’s what they do. They said to wait, and as hard as it is, as much as she wants to go back in to help, they need to stay there. She says, help by doing nothing? and he says, yeah. She says, look at him. All mature and stuff. He says, it’s not his first hostage situation. This is the third time. Trina says, it was crazy with guns going off. Curtis pulled her out, and when she looked back, she saw her dad get shot. He holds her, and she cries.

Curtis comes back, and Jason asks if it’s clear. Curtis says, they got away. Jason calls 911, and says, there’s been a shooting. Three men are dead, and one badly injured. Bring paramedics. Taggert asks Curtis if his daughter is safe, and Curtis says, yes. Taggert says, take care of her. He grabs Curtis’s sleeve, and repeats, take care of her. His arm drops, and he closes his eyes.

On Monday, Jordan says Curtis could have been killed tonight, Sonny wants answers, and Trina says he’s waking up.

💉 Mary Pat Lives On…

I was really hoping she’d stick around Port Charles longer, but she got one helluva ending.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/patricia-bethune-mom

🎂 Two Wileys Turn Two On Two/Two…

I’m not a huge fan of babies on soaps, but I’m on board with this baby (or babies as it were). He always looks like he really knows what’s going on.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/theo-erik-olson-second-birthday-party

💃🏾 Atlanta Meets Trinidad…

If I could rock that outfit, I’d be living my best life too.

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/travel/real-housewives-tanya-sam-lived-her-best-life-at-trinidad-carnival/

😱 Still Not As Scary As the Wives…

But possibly a more impressive career move.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kyle-richards-shares-photos-from-past-horror-movie-roles

🎥 They Forget They’re On Camera…

Or think we have short-term memory loss. It’s not a tangled web when everyone knows you’re weaving it.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1125932/caught-in-the-act-when-real-housewives-lies-come-to-light

🥁 Quotes of the Week

Time is not the great teacher. Experience is. – Lynsay Sands

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

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it. – Andy Rooney

I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music. – Billy Joel

I am not good at noticing when I’m happy, except in retrospect. – Tana French

Find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and fight for them, and refuse to let them go. – Lauren Oliver

It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy. – Lucille Ball

When you lose your smile, you lose your way in the chaos of life. – Roy T. Bennett (I think my father said it better. His only advice to me upon leaving home was, don’t lose your sense of humor.)

📅 And You Get an Extra Day…

As we leap into March, see you when it’s time to get in step with the Dead.

Feb23

February 22, 2020 – The Aftermath Of Brad’s Confession, NeNe’s Future, NYC Relief, NuBethenny, Tamra’s Reason, Reunion In Italy, Drita Is Free, Ariana Insured, a Half-Dozen Quotes Twice & Tap Baby Tap

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Sonny comes in along with Michael, who’s holding Wiley. Carly says it’s good to see Wiley, and asks, what about Nelle? Sonny says, the cops have her. Lucas comes up  to Wiley, and says, hey, buddy. Michael says Wiley is a lucky guy. So many people love him. Julian says, he’s happy and safe, and asks Lucas if he needs anything. Sonny says, it’s been a tough night; Julian should probably go. Julian tells Lucas to call or drop by if he needs anything. Michael says they have a lot to figure out, and they will, but one thing they agree on is making this okay for Wiley.

Curtis says, body count? Is Jordan in danger? Taggert says he and Jordan both are, and Jordan says she doesn’t want Curtis involved, but Taggert says, he already is by being married to her. Jordan tells Curtis, it was an undercover operation for the DEA. Curtis says, and it came back to haunt them. Jordan says they were part of a four agent team, assigned to investigate a major drug trafficker, who covered the entire Pacific Northwest. He brought drugs in from Russia through the Canadian border, and distributed them to the western states. Taggert says, he sold drugs to everyone, from CEOs to middle school kids. Jordan says, they infiltrated the organization to get evidence and bust him. Curtis asks, what happened? and Taggert says, he covered himself well. Whenever they found someone who’d turn on him, they’d turn up dead. Curtis says, but here they both are; alive and unharmed. Taggert says, they got the break they needed, and Jordan says, they took the dealer down, and left with their covers intact. Curtis says, no one knew who they were? and Jordan says, that’s what they believed. Taggert says, until their partners turned up dead.

Nelle is put in the cell across from Brad. Brad asks where Wiley is, and what she did with him. She tells Brad, he’s despicable.

Willow wakes up, and Chase says she has a minor concussion, but she’s going to be all right. She asks, what happened? The last thing she remembers, she was watching Wiley. She sits up, saying, oh my God. Nelle was there and wanted to take Wiley. Chase says she was arrested, and Willow asks if Wiley is okay. He says, Wiley is fine; he’s with Michael, and she says, thank God. He says he has a lot he needs to tell her, and she says, it’s bad? He nods and she says, okay. Just give her a minute to be glad her son is okay.

Carly says, Michael is right. Wiley has had a confusing, big night. She knows he’s tired, and it’s past his bedtime. Maybe he’d like a snack first. Michael asks if Lucas wants to give Wiley a snack; they’ll talk later. Lucas says, yeah, and takes Wiley, asking if he’s if hungry. He tells Michael, he’s so sorry.

Carly tells Lucas that he has nothing to be sorry for. He didn’t do this. Bobbie says, no one is blaming him, least of all Michael. Michael says Lucas isn’t responsible, and Bobbie suggests giving Wiley his snack. She and Lucas go into the kitchen, and Carly says, what Michael did just now, giving Lucas time with Wiley, was so generous. Michael says he needs their help, and thinks Lucas could use Carly right now. Carly asks if Michael is okay, and he says he’s still figuring it all out, but he’ll be fine. Carly says Michael is a good man, and she loves him. She hugs him, and he says he loves her too. She goes to the kitchen, and Michael tells Sasha that he forgot to thank her for calling Chase. She says she’s glad she could help in a small way. Sonny says, now that Wiley is in the other room, tell him what the hell happened. How did Brad get his hands on Michael’s son, and keep it a secret for more than a year?

Curtis says, Bob Endicott, Jordan’s former boss, the one she said couldn’t have possibly OD’d. He was part of the team too? She says, and Mark Simon is also dead. Taggert says, also from a drug overdose. Two down, and him and Jordan left. Curtis says Jordan thought she shouldn’t tell him she has a target on her back?

Julian pours a shot of whiskey, and Ava runs in, asking if he’s all right. Is he hurt? He says, no, and she asks, what is it? He said he needed her, and it was an emergency. He hung up, and she thought she’d find him bleeding to death. He says, it’s nothing that simple, and she asks, what’s going on? He says, Brad confessed, and she says, to what? He says, Wiley isn’t Willow’s son; he’s Michael’s son, and Sonny’s grandson. The baby Lucas and Brad adopted was Nelle’s baby. He only saw the baby once. Lucas was in surgery, and Brad took the baby home. He laid the baby in his crib, and when he came back, the baby wasn’t breathing; sudden infant death syndrome. From there, things happened, and Nelle gave Brad the baby she’d had with Michael. Ava asks what he means by things happened, and he says, they switched babies by the side of the road. Somehow, Nelle convinced Brad to take the baby home that she’d had with Michael. Ava asks if Sonny knows, and Julian nods. She asks where Brad is now, and he says, in jail. She says he’s got to be terrified, and Julian says, he’s not the only one. She says, please tell her that he didn’t help Brad steal Sonny’s grandchild. He says he didn’t but… She says, if Sonny finds out… Julian says, he’s a dead man.

Chase tells Willow, it’s going to be confusing. She’s going to have a lot of questions, but he’ll do his best to answer them. The details are pretty hazy, but the central factor is undeniable. She says, okay… and he says Wiley isn’t her son. Nelle and Michael are his birth parents.

Nelle asks if Brad knows how she felt, waking up on a cold, damp road to find a dead baby in her arms. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says Jonah meant everything to her. He was the only thing she had left of Michael, and Brad stole him from her. Brad says, no. She said he had to take the baby. She asks if that’s the story he’s going with; he’s the innocent victim. He says she knows it was her idea, and she tells him to stop lying to save himself. She was overwhelmed with grief, and so was Michael. They were mourning a child they thought was dead because of him. Brad says she told him the baby would be better off if he and Lucas raised him. She didn’t want the baby anywhere near Michael. She says Brad was her only friend; stop pretending. Stop pretending he cares, when on the worst night of her life, he stole her child.

Julian tells Ava, a few days afterward, Brad told him that it wasn’t the original baby, and the first baby died. He said he’d gotten a new baby from some random homeless woman. Ava asks if he believed that, and Julian says he thought it was convenient, but it didn’t occur to him that Brad had helped himself to Sonny’s grandson. She says, Brad eventually told Julian the truth? and Julian says, eventually. She asks what the hell he was thinking. Why not go to Sonny the minute that loser told him that he’d switched babies? He says, unfortunately, Brad is his son-in-law, and when Brad came clean, Wiley was more than a year old. Lucas had time to bond with Wiley, and he wasn’t taking Wiley away from his son.

Willow tells Chase, someone made a mistake, and he says he’s sorry, but it’s true. Wiley is Michael’s son. She says, it doesn’t make sense, and he says he can explain. When Willow gave birth at Mercy Hospital on July 29th, 2018, Alexis brought the infant to GH, and delivered him to his adoptive father Brad. Lucas was in surgery, and Brad brought the infant home. Willow asks him to stop calling the baby the infant; his name is Wiley. Chase says, Brad placed Wiley in the crib, but when he came back to check on him, he wasn’t breathing. She says, no, and keeps repeating it as Chase talks. He says, Brad tried CPR, but the baby was unresponsive. Willow gets up, but sinks to the ground, yelling, no! He holds her, and says, it’s okay. I guess because he can’t think of anything else to say, since it’s clearly not okay.

Bobbie says she could wring Brad’s neck, and Lucas says he wishes he could hate Brad as much as she does, but he knows Brad. He knows Brad loves him and Wiley. Bobbie says, forgive her for not being kind and understanding, but Brad created incredible harm. That’s not love; it’s selfishness. Carly agrees, and says what Brad did was wrong, but at least they know Wiley spent his first year in a loving home. Lucas says Wiley gave it right back; he misses Wiley already. Bobbie says he’s Wiley’s father. It’s not like ripping off a name tag and moving on. Carly says Bobbie is right. No one expects him to stop loving Wiley. Lucas asks, what happens now? Wiley chomps on a cracker, oblivious to all the anxiety around him.

Julian tells Ava, the look on Lucas’s face when Brad confessed… He’d give anything not to see it again. She says, it was never going to end well. The problem is, eventually Brad is going to tell everyone that Julian was in on it. Julian says, it’s going to kill Lucas, and Ava says, Sonny is going to kill Julian. They have to get him out of town; out of the country. He says, if Sonny wants revenge, Sonny will hunt him down until he gets it. He’s not running. She asks what the brave act is for, and he says she should know more than anyone what it feels like to fail your own children. When Lucas became a father, he saw a crack in Lucas’s armor, and thought the relationship could be repaired. She says, with Brad in a constant state of panic, and him keeping the secret? He says he had a plan to shut Brad out, and the constant threat. She takes it the plan didn’t work, and he says, none of it would have happened if Lucas hadn’t gotten in that car.

Jordan says she was managing things, but Curtis says that’s not how they do things. When trouble is coming for her, he’s her first line of defense, not Taggert. Taggert says they were traying to figure things out without worrying their families. Curtis says, call Anna, but Jordan says, no. Taggert says they have to do it alone, and Curtis says he can’t believe this. As major drug trafficker has them in his sights, and they don’t want to call for backup? There’s something they’re still hiding. Taggert says Curtis is still jumping to conclusions, but Jordan says Curtis is right. They are.

Willow asks Chase how it happened. How did her baby get switched with Michael’s? He says, Brad was heading back to the hospital, but he was too emotional to drive. He pulled over same road where Michael and Nelle had the accident. Michael was trapped in the car; Nelle left him there. She must have given birth a short time later, since she had the baby with her when she knocked on Brad’s car window. He sits on the floor next to her. Willow says, which one came up with the idea? He says, Brad swears it was Nelle, and she says, of course (🍷) it was. She says that twice, so (🍷)

Michael says, when he and Chase got to the apartment, Nelle was on her way out with Wiley. He distracted Nelle long enough so Chase could grab her, and he took Wiley. He was holding Wiley like he’d done a thousand times before, but now he knew he was Wiley’s father. Sonny tells him to get used to the feeling like his heart is going to burst and he wants to give everything to his child. It doesn’t go away. Michael says he feels for Lucas, and Sasha tells him, they all feel terrible, but don’t let it stop him from feeling joy. It’s not selfish to be happy that his boy is alive. Sonny says both sadness and happiness in your heart is called being human. Michael says it’s not just about him. Wiley is losing the only parents he’s ever known. Sasha says, he’s gaining a father he already knows and loves, who’s always been present in his life. Michael says being the special occasion guy is a whole different thing than being Wiley’s dad, the one he trusts the most. Blood didn’t make Sonny his father. It was the way Sonny took care of him, and how he trusted Sonny. Sonny says, Wiley feels the same way, and knows in his heart Michael loves him. Michael wonders if the right way to love Wiley is to make him leave a house he already knows, with one of the fathers who he already loves.

Brad says Nelle knows what she’s doing won’t work. He’s not taking the blame for what she did. She says, all she did was pass out with a baby in her arms. Brad says she was wide awake when she told him to take the baby. She said it would make Lucas happy. It never would have entered his head if she hadn’t put it there. She says, now she’s a liar? He says that’s what she does. She cons people, and plants thoughts in their heads, so they don’t know right from wrong anymore. She says she’d just delivered a baby. She was weak and unconscious when he took Wiley from her. He says, what about Obrecht? She delivered Nelle’s baby; Nelle wasn’t alone in the woods like she told Michael. She says she had no idea what happened when she was alone. Waking up on the side of the road, all she remembers is that she had a dead baby in her arms. Brad says she has no idea what it’s like to lose a baby, and she says she lost Jonah. First Brad steals him, and now he’s telling her that Wiley loves him more than her. Brad says, that’s not true, and she says he robbed her of time with her son. He knew the truth, that her baby was alive. He says he’s going to make sure everyone knows Nelle gave him to Brad. He and Lucas gave him a home and family, and she’ll never love him the way they do. She calls the guard, and says Brad is antagonizing her. Get him out.

Taggert says, wait, but Jordan says, they started this. That means they’re going to finish it. Curtis says, she’s right. Taggert can’t come up in there saying they were working undercover with the DEA, and not give him the whole story. Jordan says, they’re not guessing about the attacks. The dealer knows who they are, and came there to burn her city down. She knows this because she went to see him at Pentenville. Taggert asks, when? and Jordan says he didn’t come out and say he was after them. It was what he didn’t say that alerted her to what he was doing. Taggert wonders what Cyrus is doing in Pentenville, and Jordan says he got moved. He was always good at making political connections. Curtis asks, who is this guy? and Jordan hands him a file, saying, Cyrus Renault. Curtis looks through it, and says, sounds like a good dude. She says they believe he’s behind the attacks on Sonny, but Curtis says, drugs are not Sonny’s thing. She says, Cyrus gets a fresh new market in taking over Sonny’s territory. Taggert says, after everything they did to put him away; now he’s back. He’s not going to surprise them anymore. He’s going to check with some people. He tells Curtis, now that he knows everything, go easy on her. She was just trying to protect him. Taggert leaves, and Curtis says Jordan never fails to surprise him. Tell him the full story. She says he won’t be happy she did.

Carly tells Lucas, whatever happens next, they’ll get through it together. Bobbie says, his sister is right. Don’t let what Brad did push him away from his family. Carly says, it’s hard. Lucas has every right to be angry, mad, and hurt. Let them be his safe space. Bobbie tells him, never forget he’s done an amazing job raising Wiley. Carly says, nothing can change that. Everyone came together to keep Wiley safe and make him feel loved.

Willow says, of course (🍷) it was Nelle. She hates Michael, and wanted to hurt him. What could be worse than… Chase says, Brad took the baby home, and when the police found Nelle, she had her baby in her arms. The took her to the hospital, where she gave the baby to Michael. Willow says, Michael talked about it in their grief support group. How still the baby was. He wanted to tell himself the baby was just asleep, but he could feel the truth. Even then, he didn’t want to let the baby go. He went to the chapel to ask God why, but God didn’t have an answer. Eventually, the nurse came, and he had to give the baby up. He said it was the worst moment of his life, and she thought she understood. She had to give her baby up when the nurse came to take him for the adoption. She was just missing her baby. Michael was grieving his. Now it’s her turn to grieve her child. She starts to cry.

Jordan tells Curtis, the four of them worked their ways into different parts of Cyrus’s business, but they couldn’t gather enough evidence to bring him up on charges. All that work for nothing. Curtis says he knows the feeling. She says she was in too deep, and losing touch with who she was on the inside. He says, the part of her that’s a mother, and she says she needed to go home, see her kid, and remind herself of what’s truly important. He says it sounds like she reached a turning point, and she says they’d been involved long enough to manufacture evidence, and leave a trail for the FBI to find. So that’s what they did. They framed Cyrus crimes he actually committed. Curtis says, it worked; Cyrus got life, but Jordan says, because they broke the laws they swore to uphold. They were just as dirty as Cyrus. Curtis says, no, no, no, no, no. They didn’t sell drugs to little kids; they saved lives. She says he should be upset, and he says he is. How could she not tell him, and shut him out when trouble came? If the roles were reversed, she’d be furious with him. She says he’s right. She was selfish, and didn’t want her undercover work to touch the life she has with him. He says she’s got to be all in, or it’s not going to work. She says, on the other side, he doesn’t know Cyrus. He’s a monster, and just set up base in their backyard. Curtis holds her.

Sonny says Michael is thinking of giving up his son? All he’d be doing is dragging out the pain. Everyone knows, and more important, Michael does. Even if Lucas moves to China, there’s no amount of distance that can sever that tie. They can’t fix what Brad and Nelle did, but can give Wiley the best life they can. Michael says he’s right about everything, but how does he tell Lucas? Sonny says, say the words, and Lucas will respect that. There’s only one way this can end. Michael knows this. Michael says he still wants Lucas in Wiley’s life, and Sasha says, tell him. It will be a different relationship, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. Sonny says, she’s wise; listen to her. Michael says he does. It just hit him, Lucas isn’t the only one facing a loss. Chase is telling Willow that the child she loved all this time isn’t hers, and her own son is gone.

Willow tells Chase, now she understands why Brad was so tense around her. She thought he was afraid she’d change her mind and take Wiley back. If she’d gone through with rescinding the adoption, she would have taken a baby that wasn’t hers, and when Shiloh tried to get custody, Brad could have stopped it at any time. All he had to do was tell the truth. Chase says, Brad’s weak, and easily manipulated. He’s been under Nelle’s thumb since they switched the babies. That’s why Brad was at Nelle’s parole hearing, and let her stay at his apartment. She’s been blackmailing him. Willow says, he let her.

Bobbie asks if Lucas believes it was all Nelle’s idea, and he says, Brad has told his fair share of lies, but it seems like something Nelle would come up with. Carly says it was the perfect opportunity to hurt Michael, and by extension, hurt her. She’s Nelle’s real target; the focus of Nelle’s envy and obsession. They’re collateral damage. Lucas says Wiley likes to be read to after his snack. Brad usually packs his favorite book. He digs in Wiley’s bag, and brings out a sippy cup. He says if you freeze them, it’s good for teething. Carly says, that’s sweet, and Wiley laughs. Lucas asks if she remembers when he asked her what the hardest part of parenting was, and Carly says, knowing what’s the right thing to do.

Jordan thanks Curtis for loving her, and he says, of course (🍷). He always will. Anyone who comes for her, will have to go through him. She says that’s not what she wants. She doesn’t want him to be the price she pays for her mistakes. He says he can protect himself, and she says, do that, and keep an eye on TJ as well. It will be easier for her to do what she has to. He asks, what is it she’s going to do? and she says she’s the Police Commissioner. No one is going to burn Port Charles down on her watch.

Julian tells Ava, she’ll want to steer clear. Brad is spineless, and could break at any point, and spill his guts. Ava says then they’ll have to intervene before Brad has a chance to give him up.

Nelle says she finally had a chance to be with her son, and now she’s trapped because of Brad’s terrible lies. The guard says they can’t have him badgering other prisoners, and takes him out. Brad says, she’s lying, and when he’s gone, Nelle smiles.

Willow tells Chase, she tried to like Brad over and over, but she didn’t; she couldn’t. Part of her knew what he was like. Brad is a lying coward who cares more about himself than Wiley. Wiley could have had his father the whole time, had Michael raise and love him, and now… He’s so young, and his whole world is upside down. Brad did this to him, his so-called father; the man she chose to raise her son. Chase says, she picked Lucas, but she says, no. She trusted her son to Brad, and Brad let him die. She says, oh my God. Brad traded him in like a faulty appliance. She cries, and says, there was no one there who loved him. No one knew him. She sobs, and Chase takes her in his arms.

Lucas brings Wiley out, and Michael asks if Wiley enjoyed his snack. Lucas says, he did; he ate all of it. Michael says, he loves his animal crackers. Lucas tells Wiley, hey, buddy. He knows his Uncle Michael, and knows how much he loves to play games with Wiley and tell him stories. He has a nice surprise. Wiley is going home with him. He gives Michael Wiley’s bag, and says, there’s more snacks, a bedtime book, and diapers. He tells Wiley, I love you buddy, and kisses the top of Wiley’s head. He gives Wiley to Michael, and tries not to cry. He says, take good care of your son, and Bobbie hugs Lucas. Everyone looks sad.

The acting was so good, even though I can’t relate at all, they had me tearing up.

On Monday, Nikolas needs Elizabeth’s help, Ava asks Franco if Nikolas and Elizabeth had an affair, Julian tells Brad that it’s on him, and Carly tells Sonny that Nelle is the mastermind

🍑 Like She’s Ever Going Anywhere…

They’ll have to pry that peach out of her cold, dead hand.

https://extratv.com/2020/02/20/nene-leakes-talks-kenya-moore-her-own-future-on-rhoa-and-more/?adid=extra_eme_27396_2020-02-21_rightnow6

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/nene-leakes-very-undecided-about-real-housewives-atlant-return-amid-drama/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🗽 Make Room…

LuAnn’s life is once again a cabaret.

https://pagesix.com/2019/10/29/luann-de-lesseps-says-rhony-cast-was-relieved-bethenny-frankel-left-the-show/

✈️ Life Beyond the Wives…

https://pagesix.com/2020/02/21/bethenny-frankel-claims-her-real-housewives-paycheck-was-astronomical/

https://pagesix.com/2020/02/19/bethenny-frankel-announces-business-competition-series-at-hbo-max/

🍽 A Lot On Her Plate…

Although I thought the usual strategy was to just throw it.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/tamra-judges-real-reason-behind-rhoc-exit-exposed/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🛌 It Would Be Weird…

Seriously. Did he think she was going to share his bed?

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/teresa-giudice-refuses-share-bed-joe-italy-reunion-rhonj-episode/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

She should have just dropped the kids off.

https://pagesix.com/2020/02/21/heres-the-first-look-at-teresa-and-joe-giudices-awkward-reunion-in-italy/

🥂 That’s Good, I Guess…

Although it might have been parlayed into another season of Mob Wives.

https://pagesix.com/2020/02/21/mob-wives-star-drita-davanzo-has-charges-dropped-against-her/

🩺 Some Of Us Still Don’t Have It…

I’m on the get better or die plan myself.

https://pagesix.com/2020/02/18/ariana-madixs-skin-cancer-diagnosis-was-prolonged-by-lack-of-health-insurance/

🎤 Quotes of the Week

It takes a lot of time to be a genius. You have to sit around so much, doing nothing, really doing nothing. – Gertrude Stein (I might have found my calling!)

Confidence is 10 percent hard work and 90 percent delusion, just thinking foolishly that you will be able to do what you want to do. – Tina Fey

If his grades get any lower, we’ll have to start renting him out as a speedbump. – Charlie (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

Every now and then I like to do as I’m told, just to confuse people. – Tamora Pierce

The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you. – Bette Midler

I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure. – Mae West

Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door. – Coco Chanel (Love that! Now if I can just learn it…)

There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. – Nelson Mandela

The price of greatness is responsibility. – Winston Churchill

Death, taxes, and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them. – Margaret Mitchell

So, your kids must love the iPad? I asked Mr. [Steve] Jobs, trying to change the subject. The company’s first tablet was just hitting the shelves. They haven’t used it, he told me. We limit how much technology our kids use at home. – Nick Bilton

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. – Dr. Seuss

👠 Friday Night…

I went to see a revival Mack & Mabel on Broadway. I couldn’t find a version of this from the performance I saw, but close enough. Since no good time goes unpunished, this is an appropriate song for today. See you when the Dead return.

Feb15

February 14, 2020 – Nina Takes a Leap, Kandi Wants Her Own, Joe’s Tribute, Gina Says Next, Lisa Identifies, Bong Shares, Stars Remember, Eight Valentine(ish) Quotes & Wishing You Love

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Nina throws a folder on Jax’s desk, and says it’s all his fault. She has to choose between Aruba and St. Martin, but she can’t look at the sand and water, or conceptualize the shoot. All she hears is his voice inside her head saying, come to the fun side of the island. He says, maybe it’s her subconscious talking. Nina asks what it’s telling her, and he says, come to the fun side of the island. She asks if that’s still an option.

Valentin looks at the Cassadine crest ring. He says he never had a use for it, and never even bothered to put it on. Now he’s learned it was never his to begin with. He looks up, and says, how did you do it, Helena? How did you pull off such a horrible lie? Helena is suddenly there, and says, Valentin, my son. Surely you’re smart enough to figure out there was no lie. It’s all the truth.

Sam and Alexis have dinner at the MetroCourt. Alexis remarks on how good the food is, and Sam asks if they’re not talking about the elephant in the room; Neil. Alexis says, is he here? and Sam says, he is. Alexis asks if he’s alone, and Sam says, he was, but not anymore. Alexis looks, and sees Neil sitting with Obrecht.

Sasha tells Michael that some Italian chain stores are interested in Deception. It would be great to branch out from the American market, but that’s as far as her expertise goes. Michael says if she steers clear of Brexit, a lot of the market is set up for expansion. The good news is, he has lawyers who can help set it up for her. She says, and the bad news? He wonders if Lucy will be okay with it.

Willow says, she must have expensive taste; the wine is good. He says, the wine guy comes through again, and she says, the wine guy is a legend. He asks if she’s leaving him for the wine guy, and she says, that depends. Are they still going climbing? He says she asks that like they’re climbing Mt. Everest. It’s at the Y, and they’ll be on harnesses with mats underneath them. She says, it’s kind of the same thing, and he says, it’s not, and she’s going to love it. They’ll have a great time. There’s a knock at the door, and Chase opens it to find Nelle there. She says she needs his help, and throws her arms around him. Chase says he thinks she just assaulted him, and Willow asks if it isn’t a violation of her parole. Nelle says they should be thanking her. Brad and Lucas are thinking of leaving town, and taking Wiley with them.

Sasha tells Michael, Lucy does like things just-so, but she’s made enough mistakes that if someone has a contribution, she wants to hear it. She thinks European distribution is making a contribution. Michael thinks she should go for it, and Sasha says it’s interesting how he honed in on the potential difficulties of working with Lucy. Is something going on at ELQ? He says, with his family, there are always difficulties, and she says, talk to her. He says, it’s funny. He never wanted to be CEO. Ned had a crisis, and threw the company in his lap. Sasha says, it must have been overwhelming, and Michael says, he made mistakes, but as he went along, he learned how everything works, and now he’s pretty good at it. But with the Quartermaines, being good is never good enough.

Brad visits Lucas, and asks how he’s doing. Lucas says, better by the minute. He wants to get out, and be with Brad and Wiley. Tell him about outside world. How was Brad’s day? Brad says, eventful, and Lucas asks, what’s up? Brad says, an opportunity fell into his lap out of the blue. Lucas asks if it’s a job, and Brad says it is. It’s in Portland. Lucas says, as in Oregon? and Brad says, that’s the one.

Alexis tells Sam, not that there was any relationship with Neil, but any implication of one has to be put in the rear view. Does he look interested? Sam says, no. He’s barely listening to Obrecht. She thanks Alexis for dinner, and jets.

Valentin tells Helena, he doesn’t remember much of his childhood in Greece. Living on the island, he doesn’t remember calling anyone mother. She says, his mother lived at the main house. He says he remembers getting the tattoo, and Mikkos dropping him off at boarding school. If he was a bastard, why was he provided for? Why would Mikkos draw up a will leaving him everything? She says, it’s simple. Mikkos believed Valentin was his.

Jax says he enjoyed kissing Nina. He could have gone on kissing her all year. She says, that would have been a long kiss, and he says, but she seemed uncertain. Given the world we live in, he didn’t want to seem like he was pressuring her or taking advantage. She asks if her job hinges on sleeping with him, and he says, the exact opposite, but they do work together. Nina says he is her boss, and he says he didn’t want it to look like he was taking advantage of his position. She says, funny he mentions that, and she closes the door. She says she consulted a lawyer, and as long as neither one of them are married, there’s no quid pro quo, and they’re both consenting adults – Jax says, check, check, and double check – it’s completely legal to do whatever they want. He smiles, and says it seems like with all the research she did, she wants to date him. Unless he’s wrong.

Neil tells Obrecht, he was hoping to get some work done, but she says, no one likes to eat alone. He says he’s a fan, and he only consults with his patients at work. She says she needs help now.

Alexis’s assistant calls, and she says she’s going out where she can hear better. She passes Neil’s table, and Neil says hi. He says he saw Alexis having dinner with Sam, but didn’t want to interfere with mother/daughter time. Alexis says she didn’t want to interfere with his… whatever it is.

Brad tells Lucas that Spinelli and Ellie are moving back to Port Charles, freeing up Ellie’s position. Lucas asks if it was offered to Brad, and Brad says he just got done with a marathon phone conversation. They’re willing to sweeten the pot, and make room for Lucas at the same hospital. Lucas says they must really want Brad, but Brad says, it’s not a promotion. The title is the same, although there’s more money. At first glance, it looks amazing. Lucas asks if Brad is excited, and Brad says he knows the timing is crazy. Lucas just woke up and is still recovering. Lucas says, the timing is perfect. Let’s move to Portland.

Nelle asks if she’s interrupting, and Willow asks, what business is it of Nelle’s what Brad and Lucas do with their son? Nelle says Wiley is her dearly departed husband’s flesh and blood; the only connection she has left. Willow says there’s no proof that Shiloh is Wiley’s biological father. Chase tells Nelle, it’s time to go, and if she comes back, he’ll contact her parole officer. She says he wouldn’t dare, but he thinks, given the nature of their past, it qualifies as stalking. Go. He slams the door behind her, and Willow asks if he’s okay. He says he doesn’t know, and she says she doesn’t know what pissed her off more; that Brad and Lucas are leaving, or that Nelle is taking an interest in it.   

Helena says Mikkos would amuse himself with the island girls, and stay away for months with his ridiculous mistress, the opera singer. Valentin says, so it was easy for her to conceal her pregnancy, and by the time he came back, it was easy to convince Mikkos that the baby was his. She says Mikkos surprised her, being more interested in Valentin than she thought he would be. Valentin wasn’t like the rest of them. He says, the Cassadines have tendency toward insanity, obsession, and megalomania, and she says, their appetites led Mikkos astray. Valentin was her son. He says, brilliant, and not crazy at all. Helena says, the perfect combination. He says, bravo. She managed to trick Mikkos into raising him as one of his own, branding him with the family crest, and leaving him his fortune. She says she was surprised when Mikkos changed his mind.

Nina asks Jax to look at it from her perspective. He’s probably the most stable guy in the world. He’s trustworthy and straightforward. He’s handsome and stable. He’s like an alien in the dating world. Every guy she’s been attracted to has been messed up. She doesn’t have a great track record with sanity, and all of this is different. Jax says, like trying on a new look, and Nina says, a whole new look. He asks, is the look right for her, or does she want to stick with her side of the island? She asks if his side is really fun. What if she goes to his side, and all she sees are spiders and snakes? He says he thinks she can dot every I and cross every T, and call a lawyer to get the green light, but eventually, it’s on her. She’ll have to take a chance, and he sincerely hopes she does.

Nelle sees Sasha and Michael at Kelly’s, and asks if she can’t have a night on the town without them following her. Sasha asks Michael if they should tell her that they were there first, but he says, don’t bother. He asks Nelle what he can do for her, and she says it’s really what really what she can do for him. It’s his last chance to make an offer for her ELQ shares, and it better be good.

Chase says Nelle is looking for a way to mess with their heads. She’s using Willow to get to him, and Wiley to get to Willow. Willow says, like at the hospital, where Nelle almost tricked her into letting her hold Wiley. Chase asks what happened, and she says Michael was trying to find Brad, and she had Wiley. A woman in a wheelchair showed up. She seemed nice, and told Willow about how she lost her baby, and Willow got the impression it had been recently. She asked to hold Wiley, and it was unsettling, but Willow felt bad for her. How stupid was she? Chase says, if she wants to talk stupid, allow him to introduce himself.

Brad asks if Lucas is serious, and Lucas says he’s had a lot of time to think. Julian is an ongoing problem that will only get worse. The only way to go about it might be to create physical space between them. Brad says, in Portland? and Lucas says, why not? It’s a great city, with a great climate. Brad adds, and great schools for Wiley, but won’t Lucas miss his family? Lucas says, especially his mom, but if it’s between that, and Julian always knocking at the door, she’d agree. Lucas doesn’t want it to sound like a complaint. Everyone was awesome, helping with Wiley while he was in a coma, but he wants to get back to their little family; just the three of them. He thinks he needs that right now. Brad completely agrees, and can’t believe they’re doing this. Sam walks in, and Lucas says he was literally just texting her. She says she was literally just pulling up to pay him a surprise visit. Lucas says, fate, and tells her that he needs a second opinion.

Alexis tells Neil to enjoy his evening, but Neil says, it’s not an evening. It’s not even dinner. Well, it’s his dinner. He blurts out, she’s a patient. Alexis says, if there was anything going on, it’s none of her business. She excuses herself, and goes out in the hallway. Obrecht asks if it’s something she said.

Valentin says, Mikkos was an egomaniac, obsessed with his bloodline. He couldn’t stand the thought of the woman who loved his grandson not being his, so he left his estate to Valentin. Helena couldn’t stand that, so she told him the truth. Valentin wasn’t his son. She must have relished having that conversation. She says she did; revenge was sweet. Valentin says, the most Cassadine of the bunch wasn’t even a Cassadine. Helena says that’s when he wrote the codicil, and Valentin says, but Mikkos died before he could publicly disinherit him, leaving the document in her hands. Helena says he’s doing well. Finish. Valentin says she hid the codicil in her portrait as a test. Nikolas had to set aside his hatred for her long enough to find the missing ingredient. She says the fortune was always meant to go to Spencer; that was the goal. He says, that explains how his daughter came to be. He never fully understood, but it wasn’t about Stavros’s child. It was about Helena having an heir from her line, and Luke Spencer. Helena says, my son. Congratulate her. She’s succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. She laughs, and he throws his glass at her, but she disappears, and it hits the wall. He storms out.

Nina tells Jax, before she takes a chance, she has to know why. He says, why what? and she says, there are less neurotic women out there. Why is he interested in her? Jax says he likes how he feels when he’s with her. They have fun together, and he likes being around her. She says her baggage is intense, but he says he likes a challenge, and it would be a challenge to show her that she’s not her baggage. She says he always knows what to say, when to say it, and how. Can he give her a guarantee? He says he can’t do that. He doesn’t know if they’re a match made in heaven, but they’ll never know if they don’t try. It takes a certain amount of risk. Nina says he’s never had his heart broken, but he says he has. He just chose not to shut down, and learn from his mistakes; acknowledge what went wrong, and embrace the good. He’s a believer in it, but he can’t make her believe. It’s not his leap to take. It’s hers. She kisses him.

Michael says Nelle thinks she’s won already, but the ELQ shares haven’t been probated. He’s in a much better position to weigh things out. He offered her money to go away, but if she doesn’t choose to, no biggie. He’ll sit things out. She says the stock is hers, but he says, there’s a 50% chance it will be found that Oscar was misled by a known criminal, and the bequest will be invalid. It could take up to ten years, but he has all the time in the word. Her, on the other hand… Nelle says he’s just like his mother; smug and superior. He thinks he knows everything, but he doesn’t. He’s about to lose Wiley forever.

Chase tells Willow, Nelle was compelling, and he felt bad. So bad, he let her play him. He went to Florida, and let her seduce him. If he’d just shoved her out of his hotel room and slammed the door, but he didn’t. He blames himself.

Lucas tells Sam, Brad got a great job offer, and Brad says, Lucas too. Lucas says, it means relocating to Portland. Sam says, wow. She thinks it’s awesome, and says, if she had a chance or a prayer of convincing Jason to move away, they’d be gone in a second. Julian is a pain, so they should get out while they can. Lucas says, his thoughts exactly. Sam says they might want to reconsider her as Wiley’s designated guardian. Brad asks, why? and she says she’s on parole. It’s not like she can hop on a plane if something happens to them. She asks Lucas to think about it, and he says he will. She says he’ll miss them, and tells them to promise to come home once in a while, since she can’t visit. Lucas promises, and she hugs him. She says she loves him, and thinks it will be good for all of them. Brad hopes so.

Valentin stomps past Alexis, and she follows. He goes out on the terrace, and babbles about the sun, moon, stars, villains, and fools. He says he has a compulsion, and leans on the railing. Alexis asks what he’s doing.

Jax tells Nina, this is his bedroom. She says she sees; it’s gorgeous. He asks if she wants champagne, and she says, again? He says, some things have to be celebrated, and pops the cork. He pours both of them a glass, and says, cheers. They clink glasses, and drink. He says, don’t worry. He has her. They start to get busy.

Nelle tells Michael, Brad and Lucas are moving to Portland, and Wiley will be on the other side of the country. Michael says, if that’s true, it’s their choice, and he’s happy for them. ELQ has an office in Portland, and he can visit every weekend if he wants. It’s good they’ll be far away from her. She tells him, go to hell, and walks away. Sasha says, that was fun.

Willow tells Chase, maybe she didn’t want to see Nelle that way, but he’s right. She’s exactly like Shiloh. She swears she knows the difference between someone too good to be true, and someone who’s just good. He shows her that every day. He says, funny. He was going to say the exact same thing. They kiss, and he says obviously she’s the real deal. He knew from the second they met. Even if she made him work for it. She says, maybe a little. Was it worth it? He says, every second, and they kiss some more. She pulls back a little, and he asks, what is it? Wiley? and she asks if he thinks Nelle said what she did just to get under her skin, or does he think it’s true, and Brad and Lucas are leaving? Chase says he doesn’t know, but say it was true. How does she feel about it?

Valentin tells Alexis, he’s enjoying the view. Is that a problem? She says, no, and tells him, congratulations. He’s not related to Mikkos and the rest of that dysfunctional bunch. It’s a win. He says, being Helena’s son is a step up? and she says he has none of the Cassadine crazy. Trust her, he got off easy. He tells her, have a good night, and leaves.

Sasha tells Michael, she’s impressed. Nelle was working so hard to get under his skin, but he gave her nothing. She has no idea how hard it hit him about Wiley moving. He says he’d like to think Nelle is lying, but she’s not dumb enough to lie about something so easily proven. Sasha says, Wiley won’t be in Port Charles, but Michael says he thinks it’s for the best. Sasha says he’s going to miss Wiley, and he says he will, and they hug.

Willow tells Chase, she wants to spend as much time as she can with Wiley while they live in the same town. She’ll cherish every minute, even though she knows it might not be the best thing for either of them. Her original intent was to never see Wiley again, but life happened, and she’s suddenly allowed to spend time with him. Chase says, it was a gift, and she says, completely, but every time she does, it’s hard not to see herself as his mother. She’s not, so maybe it’s better. Chase says, a good parent makes decisions based on what their kid needs, not what they need. She’s an incredible parent. They kiss, and Willow’s phone rings. It’s Lucas. She asks if everything is okay with Wiley, and he says Wiley is great. He was wondering if she could come see him in morning. There’s something important he need to fill her in on. She says she’ll be there.

Neil comes out on the terrace, and says he thought Alexis could use this, and puts his jacket on her shoulders. He asks how Valentin is, and she says, he’s having a rough time. How’s Obrecht? He says, gone, mercifully. She says he’s a brave man doing therapy with that one, and he says he’s realizing that. She tells him, goodnight, and gives back his jacket. They smile at each other.

Valentin looks at the broken glass, and throws the ring back in the bod. There’s a knock at his door. It’s Nelle, and he says he’s glad she could make it. She assumes he got her message. She’s ready to sell her ELQ stock. He says he’s ready to negotiate, and invites her in.

Jax and Nina bask in the afterglow. He says he’s really glad she took the leap, and she says, it’s the best leap she’s taken in life. His side of the island is really fun. He says, it gets more fun. He’s going to teach her to surf. She asks if she has to wear a wetsuit, and he says, he prefers she wear as little as possible. He tells her, they’re just getting started, and they kiss.

On Monday, Valentin tells Lulu that they can fight or compromise, Nina asks Jax if he has any regrets, Nelle tells Michael that she’s going to leave him and his family in the dirt, and Brando tells Sonny to tell him what he needs to know or he’ll blow everything sky high.

🍑 I’d Watch It…

I love the cast photo, although I’m sure it was photoshopped to death.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoa-kandi-burruss-desperate-spinoff-housewives-fired/

💘 Valentine Joe…

I don’t care how many tributes he posts, he’s not going to get Teresa to move to Italy any time soon.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/joe-giudice-posts-valentines-day-song-talks-changing-habits-teresa-split/

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/02/joe-giudice-valentines-day-tribute-ex-wife-teresa-rhonj-cheating-scandal/

🏡 As She Moves On, He Moves In…

It sounds kind of tight in that three bedroom house though.

https://radaronline.com/photos/rhoc-gina-kirschenheiter-moving-in-boyfriend-travis-mullen-after-divorce-matt/

🌨 A VanderBond Moment…

This is when my TV went wonky during Vanderpump Rules.

https://starmagazine.com/photos/vpr-ariana-madix-driving-car-off-cliff-depression-lisa-vanderpump/

🏆 You Go, Bong…

Again, so pleased the awards were given to someone who so deserved it.

https://hellogiggles.com/news/bong-joon-ho-2020-oscars-parasite-mean-girls/

🥊 Not Forgotten…

While I only watched Y&R for a moment when Marc Singer had a stint as a villain, Kristoff St. John was in one of my favorite workout videos, Kick Butt.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/stars-remember-yrs-kristoff-st-john/

👩‍💻 Quotes of the Week

Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more…to give way to the happiness of the person you love. – Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne

Sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. – Gena Showalter

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Lao Tzu

The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers. – Sydney J. Harris

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. – Jean Anouilh

Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats. – Unknown

Love is the hardest habit to break and the most difficult to satisfy. – Drew Barrymore

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

💝 Summing It Up…

Whether you’re loving the one your with, think love is a many splendored thing, can’t help falling in love, or you’re all out of love, I hope the day dedicated to love was everything you wanted, or at least not too hard on you.

Feb8

February 7, 2020 – Nelle Changes Her Game, Shah Catch-Up, Reunion Teases, Dead Conjecture, Five Plus Six Quotes & More Bad

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What I Watched Today

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

 

🌬 Apparently ABC thinks they’re my mother. They break in to tell me I should dress warm if I go out tonight.

General Hospital

Ava finds Nikolas at the hospital. He asks what she’s doing there, and she asks how his mother is. He says, much better. His sister is in with her. Ava says, thank God, and hugs him. He says she’s put on her show; she can go now. Ava asks if he doesn’t want the world to know how much he means to her.

Nina sips a martini at the MetroCourt. Valentin comes along, and says, a fully stocked bar, and no Ava? His world no longer makes sense. Nina says she and Ava have buried their respective hatchets, and he says he noticed. He also noticed Ava is trying to drive a wedge between them. She says that’s all on him. He asks if they can talk, and she says, about what? He wants to know exactly what he’s done. He tried to give her what she wanted most in the world. He regrets his methods, and causing her pain of course (🍷), but does he regret doing whatever was in his power to make her happy? He doesn’t.

Lulu tells Laura, she’s only known Dustin a couple of months, and he’s risked his life to save both her mother and daughter. What if he hadn’t been there? Laura says she’s grateful, and Lulu should be too. Lulu says she’s 100% grateful, and Laura says, really? Then explain why Dustin saving her life is making her so tense.

Brook sits at Kelly’s, writing a song. She says, not bad, even if she says so herself. Dustin walks by, and she says, Captain America. Isn’t he supposed to be carrying a shield? He says, only if they’re under attack by dark forces. Otherwise, it gets in the way of him teaching Shakespeare. She says, that’s right. In reality, he’s a humble teacher. He says the thought that’s why she broke up with him; he had no superpowers. She says that makes her sound shallow, and he says she’s making him sound dull. She admits she might have been wrong. His turn. He admits she might have been wrong too.

Ned asks if Michael has seen The Invader. Hero mob target rises; Michael Corinthos impacts the Quartermaine dynasty. It doesn’t read like the end of a news cycle, but more like the start of a problem.

Lucas flashes back to a hazy memory of Brad telling him that Wiley is Michael’s son. Brad asks, what is it? and Lucas says, in the car before the accident. Brad was building up to a confession.

Nina asks if it ever occurred to Valentin that she’s no longer interested in the kind of love he has to offer. She needs  more than his misguided romantic gestures of love. They need to move on from each other. She walks away, and Martin joins Valentin. He says he believes that was Valentin’s ex-wife. What’s got her worked up? Valentin says she’s trying to pretend she doesn’t love him.

Nikolas tells Ava that if she gets any more adoring, people will suspect she’s insincere. She says she is sincere. She’s concerned about Laura. Laura has been good to her, and she respects Laura a great deal. She asks Nikolas to give Laura a list she’s made up of the best rehabs; she already made the calls. He thanks her, and she says just because she doesn’t have a heart for him, doesn’t mean she doesn’t have one. He wants her to leave, and says, take his kingdom; take his horse. She says she has those things. Now give the public a convincing kiss goodbye. He leans toward her, and whispers, go away. Go far, go fast, go for good. She kisses him, and he says he’ll see her at home. She walks to the elevator, pondering the kiss.

Brook tells Dustin, it’s a song she’ll never be allowed to sing. He looks at it, and says, her lyrics are better now than… She says, when she got to sing them? He says they’re too good to stay on the page, but she says, they might have to until she gets out of her contract. Anything she sings, writes, or produces belongs to that sleazeball producer. He asks if there’s no way out, and she says her dad is going to intervene; they’ll see. He hopes it happens, and she asks how he can wish her good after she ditched him. He says she’s a musician. Singing is part of her DNA. He stopped writing, but just because it’s not right for him doesn’t mean it’s not good for her. When he watched her sing, he realized it was just a hobby for him. He loved it, and it was fun, but it’s not his passion like it’s hers. Music is her life.

Lucas says he remembers he was angry at Brad. He’d asked Brad a question. He doesn’t remember what it was, but he feels like it was important. Brad has to remember. Brad says, before the accident, he was falling apart. He put his fears and anxiety in perspective when he thought Lucas was going to die. He’s sorry, but he doesn’t know what he said. Julian says it was the most terrifying night of his life. Reliving the fear and worry can’t be good. Lucas needs to focus on his recovery. Lucas says Julian is right. Being alive and awake and going home to Brad and Wiley is all that matters. Willow comes in, and says, Wiley would completely agree. Lucas says he was just thinking about her.

Ned tells Michael, the idea their profits could get caught in an underworld crossfire tends to spook their business partners. Michael says that’s why he’s always been transparent about himself, and how he runs ELQ. It’s completely above board. Ned says that’s what he’s been telling their insurers and prospective partners. Michael asks what else he’s telling them, and Ned says that Michael is the Quartermaine to lead them into the future, and he’s proud to stand at Michael’s side. Michael says he appreciates Ned’s vote of confidence, and Ned says, grandfather told them they’d rise together or fall together. He prized family loyalty. Michael says, even when he was pitting them against each other. Ned says, he was a complex man, with a complex ethical code. Michael says, about the work Ned has been doing… Ned says he’s been happy to help out, but now Michael wants him to step back? Michael says he was going to suggest the opposite. Stay and show the business world that there are two Quartermaines minding the shop. Nelle walks in, and says Michael brought her there so he could kill her.

Lulu tells Laura that she thinks it’s wonderful how Dustin rushes in to help with no thought about himself. Laura says, but it scares her. Lulu says, it does. After what she went through with Dante, she doesn’t think she has it in her to fall in love with another hero.

Brook tells Dustin, it’s a dirty trick, proving nice guys can be… He says, nice? She says she has to meet her dad and Linc. She wishes Dustin could  take out the villain for her, but he says his tights are in the wash. She thanks him for what he said, and he tells her, anytime. About her voice… She tells him, don’t ruin it now, but he says he always thought of that as her superpower. She hopes so, and tells him to give holier-than-thou her best.

Brad tells Willow, it’s not a good time. Lucas needs to rest. She promises she won’t stress him out, and Lucas says he thinks it’s harder on Brad than him. He was unconscious, but Brad had to deal with that, the hospital, and taking care of Wiley. Brad says, the whole family pitched in; Lucas’s mom and sister, and Julian. Willow says, and Michael has been amazing. Wiley adores him. Lucas says, Michael is so good with kids. He’ll make a fantastic father someday. Willow says, Michael loves Wiley as if Wiley was his own. Brad and Julian look at each other.

Ned says he doesn’t know if Michael is trying to kill Nelle, but turnabout is fair play. Michael wonders what his scheme must be, and Nelle says, the boathouse is cold and damp. He says, it has central heating, and she says she can hear the water, and she has men peeking in; there’s no privacy. He says she should be used to it after Pentenville, and Ned says, the groundskeepers are just doing their job. Nelle says she wants proper living arrangements, and Michael says she’s right. The boathouse isn’t suitable. He’ll send for her bags – and place them at the side of the road. She says she’ll go stay with Brad; it’s cozy, hanging out there with him and Wiley. Michael says, it might be crowded now that Lucas is awake.

Martin says until the issue with the codicil is resolved, he’s making sure Nikolas doesn’t get his hands on any of the Cassadine money. Valentin says at least they know where it is, and that Nikolas can’t move it around, and Martin says, for the moment. He can’t keep the DNA test at bey. Valentin wonders, why wait? If they do the test, the codicil will be rendered useless. Martin says, it might be counter-productive, no matter what the result. If Valentin gives them his DNA, he’s conceding the codicil is legitimate. Valentin says, it’s one of Helena’s games. Cassadine blood is in his veins, and if he has to spill some of it, so be it.

Nelle says, how wonderful for Brad, and Michael says he thinks so. Brad has a soft spot for Nelle, but there’s no way in hell Lucas is going to let her near Wiley. He says he can have her things sent to a motel of her choice, bur she thinks he’s being hasty. If he throws her out, how is he going to access her shares? He asks if she wants to negotiate, and she says, it depends on how much it’s worth to him and his family to be done with her once and for all.

Willow says she’s sending Lucas some photos. She took one every day so he wouldn’t miss anything. Julian says that was nice of her, and Lucas thanks her, saying he probably won’t remember anything after Thanksgiving. He knows it’s not uncommon to lose time, but can’t help thinking there’s something else he forgot. Brad tells him, the doctors said not to push it, and Lucas says, it’s fine. He has all the photos, so it’s like he never missed anything.

Lulu says, it’s wrong for her to resent Dustin being brave, and Laura says she’s a woman who feared for her husband’s life every day of her marriage, but this is different. Dante was a cop; Dustin is an English teacher who was in the right place at the right time. Lulu says, three times, and Laura says, even so. She doesn’t think he was looking to make it happen. Lulu says, she’s right. Laura is always right. Laura says, not always, and Lulu says she has to get Nikolas. He’s been hanging around, waiting to visit. Laura wonders what’s stopping him, and Lulu says she told him that Laura could just have one visitor at the time. Laura says, she lied? and Lulu says, of course (🍷). After what he put them through, it was the least she could do. Laura tells her, falling in love is always a risk, but only she can decide when she’s ready to take it.

Nina goes to the gallery, and says she’s glad Ava is at work. It would be awkward to try and see her at Windymere. Ava asks why Nina wants to see her at all, and Nina says Ava made it a point to show up at Crimson. She thought she’d return the favor. Ava says, it’s a little unexpected, and Nina says she’s not sure if they’ll ever be friends in the traditional sense, but non-traditionally, they’re comrades in arms; Sisters united against the Cassadine men. Ava says she loves where this is headed, and Nina says she disgraced one at the altar, and Ava dragooned one into marriage. They never saw it coming. Who says revenge isn’t sweet? Ava says, not her.

Nikolas asks how Laura is feeling, and she says she’s always up for a visit from her kids. He says, it’s nice to know someone in the family is speaking to him. She says, his sister just did, but he says she texted him, and then left without looking at him. She says he has to be patient with Lulu. Her daughter almost died trying to prove her secret bodyguard existed. He says he never saw that coming, but she says he never really thought about Charlotte. He only thought about one thing – revenge; the rest of them didn’t matter. He asks how she can say that, and she says she’s his mother. She can’t love him and indulge his fantasies at the same time. The obsessive need for revenge is a Cassadine trait. If he’s not careful, he’ll end up being as hateful and bitter as the Cassadines who came before him. He tells her Spencer said something like that before cutting him out of his life.

Brad says he’ll check with Michael about Wiley, and steps out of the room. Julian’s phone rings, and he says, it’s work; he has to take it. He sees Brad in the hallway, and asks, what the hell is going on? Brad asks if he doesn’t see it’s over. Lucas doesn’t remember the truth about Wiley. Julian says, not now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t. Brad tells him, the doctors said it’s highly unlikely. Julian says, Brad sees a man who doesn’t remember; he sees a ticking time bomb. Everything Willow says is a potential trigger, and the more she talks to Lucas, the more chances the bomb will go off and destroy the both of them.

Valentin asks Martin how the impending acquisition is going. Martin says, well. As far as he can tell, the next target will soon be in position.

Brook meets Ned at the MetroCourt, and he says she’s late. They needed time to go over their strategy. Brook says she thought the strategy was to just let him do the talking. Ned says Linc will do what he can to bush Brook’s buttons, but if she loses her temper, she’ll lose everything. Brook says she’s supposed to act like it means nothing, but Linc is literally holding her voice hostage. She gets it; she’ll follow Ned’s lead. Ned tells her not to let Linc get under her skin. Linc comes out of the elevator, and Ned says, show time. Ned thanks Linc for meeting him, and Linc says he can’t tell Ned how much he’s looking forward to working with Eddie Maine.

Laura tells Nikolas, Spencer is hurting. He also has a knack for grand gestures. She expects Spencer will shut Nikolas out for a while, but doesn’t believe he’ll hang on to his anger forever. Nikolas asks if Laura would speak to Spencer, but Laura says, to urge Spencer to take Nikolas back into his life before he’s ready would be disrespectful of his feelings. She stood by Spencer when he mourned Nikolas, and she’ll stand by him as he comes to terms with what Nikolas has done. Nikolas says he thought not being dead would be good news. He never thought his retuning would be more painful than him staying away.

Lulu thanks Dustin for waiting at Kelly’s. He says he thought they were meeting at the hospital, and she says they were. But if he ever wants everyone to know his business, just whisper it at GH in an empty hallway. By the time he gets to the end of the hallway, all the nurses will have formed an opinion. He gets it, and asks what they’re talking about. She says, us.

Dustin asks if it’s something he’s done or hasn’t done, and Lulu says, since they’ve been seeing each other, there have been an unusual number of… Dustin says, incidents? She asks what he means, and he says in addition to her mother and Curtis walking in on them… Lulu tells him to never bring that up again, and he says, Charlotte jumped int the harbor, and there was a bar fight. Does she always attract this sort off… She says, incident? He says he doesn’t think she caused them, but what’s a guy got to do to get a quiet night home?

Lucas says, it sounds like Willow did a lot, and she says she pitched in. Brad hired her as Wiley’s nanny, but it didn’t end well. He asks, why not? Wiley loves her, and Brad trusts her. She says, Brad has been fragile since the accident; emotionally unpredictable and moody. Lucas says, more than before the accident? and she says she thinks so. Honestly, she’s deeply concerned, but maybe now the worst is behind them, and Brad will find his footing now that he knows Lucas is okay. If they need anything, she’s there to help. Lucas thanks her.

Michael says, if Nelle agrees to the terms, he’ll arrange a money transfer immediately after she signs. Then she can live wherever she wants, provided that when her parole is complete, she never comes back to Port Charles. She asks how much he’s offering, and looks at the paperwork.

Linc says, Brook is under contract, and Ned says, it’s a sweet deal for Linc. He has her doing 99% of the work, while he takes 99% of the payout. Linc says he’s making 100% of it happen. If not for him, she wouldn’t have a deal at all. Ned suggests he test that, and release her. Let her find out for herself. Linc says he can’t do that in good conscience. When Brook’s feelings get hurt, she lashes out. Ned asks if that’s how he describes her reaction to his sexual assault. Linc says he didn’t assault her or anyone else. He’s an affectionate guy; ask anyone. He’s never had a problem with it being misconstrued; it was a friendly gesture. Brook is obviously having a hard time keeping quiet, and Ned tries to hold her back. Ned says, touching someone intimately without consent. It happens all the time these days, but as they say, time’s up. Do what’s best for everyone involved. Ned slides a check toward Linc, saying it’s the projected revenue of Brook’s next three albums, and the cost incurred. He’ll get all of the reward with doing none of the work. Linc says he’s not interested. Brook can cut an album for him, or stay quiet. If she sings a single note, it’s his.

Nikolas tells Laura, as soon as she’s well enough, he’s moving her and Doc into Windymere. She says, absolutely not, but Nikolas says, one mob shooting is more than enough. He wants to make sure she’s protected. She says she has a security detail, but he says, it’s not the same. She asks if he’s discussed it with the lady of the manor, and he tells her, Ava has no say in what happens at Windymere. She asks if he’d care to put that theory to the test. It’s hard to believe Ava handed over the codicil without laying claim to something. What is the arrangement costing him?

Ava tells Nina, a romance-free marriage is practical. She got what she wanted, Nikolas got what he wanted, and if they both follow the rules of the post-nup, everything will stay in place. Nina asks, what rules? and Ava says, like with any business arrangement, there are consequences if they don’t abide by the contract. Nina asks what she means, and Ava says, cheating. If one of them commits adultery, they forfeit what they’ve got. Nina says, no sex outside marriage is pretty standard. At least they have each other. Ava says, who said anything about sex inside the marriage?

Willow asks if Lucas is sure about this, and he says he thinks it’s the best decision for everyone involved. And it will be a huge favor. Brad comes back in. He feels better to see Lucas happy, awake, and talking. Lucas says, it’s going to be a while before he’s 100%, and Brad will be taking care of him, Wiley, and working. Julian says there are a lot of people who love Lucas. Brad won’t be alone, and they can help until Lucas is back on his feet. Lucas says he knows, but instead of a revolving door of concerned family and friends, he has a better solution. Until he’s back on his feet, he’s hired Willow to keep taking care of Wiley.

Lulu asks Dustin how a bottle of merlot, popcorn, and a mutually agreed upon movie sound? They’ll be no more than three feet from her sofa. He says, no gangsters, or creeps, or kids jumping into open water? Lulu says they can always hang out at he docks and pick a fight with a longshoreman. It’s up to him. He kisses her, and says he thinks a movie at her place is the right kind of quiet.

Brook says she either sings for Linc or stays quiet? Quiet isn’t her thing. She’ll go on record about the sexual harassment. Linc says he looks forward to winning the libel suit. The judge will order her to make even more albums for him. She says, next time he puts his hand on her ass, she’ll cut it off. Ha-ha! That reminds me of the time I told my boss, if he wanted to keep his hand, he’d be taking it out of my back pocket. Brook walks away, and Ned says he comes from a family that has an army of lawyers. One phone call, and they’ll eat Linc alive in ways he can’t imagine. Then he’ll sit back and watch with his daughter, or Linc can take the check. Choose wisely. Ned gets up, and tells Linc, it’s a one-time offer, and goes to join Brook.

Nina tells Ava, let her get this straight. There’s no sex outside the marriage, and no sex inside the marriage. Ava says she can hold out as long as Nikolas can. Nina doesn’t know about that. Ava and Nikolas are both attractive, healthy people with needs. Ava says, exactly. Nikolas is a passionate man, and this this game of chicken ends when he gives into his urges. One indiscretion, and she wins. Nina asks how long Ava thinks it will take, and Ava says she has the feeling it will be sooner rather than later. Much sooner.

Nikolas tells Laura, don’t worry; they have an agreement. Laura says, that’s what worries her. She can’t bear the thought of Nikolas spending his life trapped in a loveless marriage. He says, believe him. He has no intention of staying married to Ava for the rest of his life.

Nelle says, it’s the same offer she tore up earlier, but Michael says there are added incentives. She says she’s not a CEO, but she knows a goldmine when it’s in her hand, and this isn’t it. He says, no more games. What does she want? She says, apparently more than he’s willing to give her. She’ll find a buyer who’ll treat her with the respect she deserves. She walks out, and makes a call.

Martin’s phone rings, and Nelle asks if he remembers the item they were talking about selling. She’s ready to entertain offers. Does he know what she’s looking for? He says, a life changing number, and she asks if he can deliver. He believes so, and says he’ll be in touch. He goes over to Linc, and says Linc was saying Brook would do anything, give anything, to get out of her contract? He’ll be in touch.

Valentin’s phone rings, and Martin asks if he remembers the acquisition Valentin wanted him to expedite? They’re about to go shopping. Valentin says, wonderful. He’s looking forward to joining their family.

On Monday, Anna needs to know about Finn’s conversation with Sam, Spinelli is moving back to Port Charles, Neil tells Alexis that they want her to testify, Carly asks if Brando knew who she was when he saved her, and Sonny tells Jason they were totally exposed.

🌴 Drama On Sunset…

I can’t believe it’s been over a year.

https://www.etonline.com/shahs-of-sunsets-mike-shouhed-addresses-all-the-reza-farahan-drama-and-his-new-relationship-141123

Catching up. Tommy and Baby Shams’s matching PJs are too much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQNhxsTeErs

🛥 Tastes Like Reunion…

A Reunion tease.

https://www.eonline.com/ap/news/1120440/below-deck-s-captain-lee-walks-off-set-while-it-s-the-men-vs-women-in-tense-reunion-trailer

Captain Lee calls ‘em like he sees ‘em.

https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck/season-7/videos/captain-lee-rosbach-calls-out-the-deplorable-behavior-of-the-below-deck

A precap of the Reunion, as well as a video of the Captain and Kate dishing about the season and yachting in general on Reality Check. Stay tuned for Adam and Jenna (Below Deck Sailing Yacht) afterward.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-reunion-captain-lee-rosbach-walk-off/

And the most important thing – what are they wearing?

https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck/season-7/videos/the-below-deck-season-7-reunion-looks-revealed

⚰️ Walking Into a New Season…

According to the comics.

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1238866/Walking-Dead-Do-the-Whisperers-get-defeated-in-The-Walking-Dead-Alpha-Negan-comics

Nerd speculation and the trailer.

https://nerdist.com/article/the-walking-dead-cave-death/

Theories.

https://www.inquisitr.com/5879955/the-walking-dead-michonne-exit/

And Beyond.

https://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead-world-beyond

🖨 Quotes of the Week

If you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. If you have a girl, you have to worry about them all. – Herb (Ryan Stiles), Two and a Half Men

Maybe you think you’ll be entitled to more happiness later by forgoing all of it now, but it doesn’t work that way. – Ann Brashares

In a surprise twist, I made more than I could eat. – Doug (Kevin James), King of Queens

Faith is realizing that you always get what you need. – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It’s not a scrapbook; it’s a freezer. – Paul (Paul Reiser), Mad About You

If I’m wrong, educate me, don’t belittle me. – unknown, from YourTango article on how public shaming can be harmful

Don’t wait for the right moment to start, start and make each moment right. – Roy T. Bennett

I’m an underachiever, not an idiot. – Jake, (Angus T. Jones), Two and a Half Men

I don’t want to hear the specials. If they’re so special, put ’em on the menu. – Jerry Seinfeld

Life gives us choices. You either grab on with both hands and just go for it, or you sit on the sidelines. – Christine Feehan

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

🥀 No Hearts & Flowers Here…

See you Sunday on Sunset. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

Feb1

January 31, 2020 – Some Dust Settles in PC, Salt Lake Parties, VanderSuit, Bachelorette Breakdown, Freeing the Juice, an Engagement, More Mud, a Breakup, Close To a Dozen Quotes & Groundhog Tune

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What I Watched Today

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

 

🌞  And we’re back.

General Hospital

At the warehouse, Carly asks if Jordan can get the ambulance there faster, and Gladys tries to comfort Brando. Jason has shown up, and Jordan asks if he can tell her what happened.

Josslyn is at the hospital, where Chase asks if she can retrace her steps for him. Josslyn says she went to the pier because she’d left her journal behind. That’s when she saw the shooter. Chase asks if he was headed for Sasha and Michael, and Josslyn says he was, but she thinks it was really Michael he wanted, and she had to warn him. If she hadn’t, the shooter would have killed him. Chase says Michael is lucky to have such a brave sister. She saved his life.

Michael arrives at Sonny’s, and asks a guard how everything is. The guard says, no sign of trouble, and Michael says Sonny is taking Mike back to Turning Woods. He wonders how things are at the warehouse, but the guard says Tony hasn’t checked in. Michael says he hasn’t heard from his mom either. Dev comes in, and asks, what’s going on? The place is crawling with guards and he can’t go anywhere. Michael tells him, something bad went down.

Finn tells Nikolas that it’s terrible to have forced Hayden to abandon her child. Nikolas says he never intended it to go there, but Finn says, he did. His greed cost Violet her mother. Nikolas says, temporarily; Hayden will come back. Finn asks if he’s supposed to take Nikolas’s word for it because he’s a prince. Finn says Nikolas thinks he’s gotten away with it, but promises he won’t.

Jax thanks Elizabeth for taking care of his daughter, but she says she didn’t do much. He says he appreciates it anyway, and he’s sorry for what Nikolas did to Hayden. Jax regrets enabling him. Elizabeth asks what Nikolas did, but Chase interrupts. He thanks Jax for letting Josslyn answer questions, and says he might have some follow-up. Jax tells him to call any time, and he says Jax’s daughter is a brave young woman. However, Jax should have a talk with her about the difference between brave and reckless. He moves on, and Elizabeth tells Jax that whatever he has to say can wait; Josslyn needs him. He says it kills him that Hayden can’t be with Violet, and she says, thanks to Valentin. He says, Valentin isn’t the one who forced Hayden into hiding.

Ava tells Valentin that criminals who get off on bail often go on to convictions. He says she inspires him. How many times has she been charged with murder, and beat the conviction? Nina says, enough, and Valentin says he’s made mistakes, but loving her isn’t one of them. He’s not stopping until he gets back everything he lost.

Gladys tells the EMTs, please help. They can’t let her son die. An EMT says they’re ready to move, and Gladys says she’ll ride with him. Jordan tells her, go ahead; an officer will take her statement later. Carly says she’s going too, and asks Jason to tell Michael that she’s okay. Jordan tells Jason that she got an update from the NYPD. Sonny was the intended target in the Brooklyn shooting. On the pier, it was Michael, and then they have the warehouse. The coordinated attacks begin with him.

Dev asks if Josslyn is okay, and Michael says, she’s fine. Dev asks why she didn’t come back, and Michael tells him, she’s at GH; her father wanted her checked out. Dev says, thank God no one was hurt, and Sasha thinks Michael should tell him the rest. Dev says, there’s more? but Michael’s phone rings. It’s Jason, who asks if Michael is okay. Michael says, he, Sasha, and Josslyn are fine, but Laura was shot; she’s in the hospital. Jason tells him about the warehouse being targeted, and Michael says his mom was there. Jason says she wasn’t hit, but she went with Gladys to hospital. A guy was shot, and they’re riding with him. but he doesn’t have any more details. Michael says he’s got it, and Jason says the police are there. He’ll call when he knows more. Jordan says Jason might express his gratitude by cooperating for once.

Valentin tells Nina that he misses her. All he thinks about is that they belong together. Ava tells Nina not to humor this nonsense. Valentin doesn’t know what she needs. Nina says, everyone thinks they know what she needs today, and asks what Valentin wants. He says, her. He always wants her, and deep down, she feels the same way. They can work it out. She says, it’s over, but he says he doesn’t believe that. They had a life at Windymere; her, him, and Charlotte. She says the life they had there is long gone. Doesn’t he get it? She was in it with Ava. Valentin needs to get it through his head that she helped them take him down.

Jax tells Elizabeth that Nikolas recruited him to help get him back to Port Charles, where he knew there was a document that could reinstate him as heir. He recruited Hayden as well; her job at Aurora was just a front. They were both helping Nikolas. Valentin caught on, and targeted Hayden, pressuring her for information. Elizabeth says Hayden must have thought she had no other option than to leave Violet. Jax says, it’s not that simple. Valentin offered Hayden money for information. Nikolas found out about it, and wanted to get her out of town before she talked. Nikolas staged the attack that forced Hayden to leave. Elizabeth says, he wouldn’t do that, but Jax says, he did. Hayden was an impediment in his plan, and he moved her out of the way. Elizabeth says Jax knew? and Jax says he found out after Hayden disappeared. He confronted Nikolas, who told him everything. He tried to reach out to Hayden, but her phone is off, and he has no way to trace her. Elizabeth says she can’t believe Nikolas would do this to Hayden and Violet. Separating a mother from her child is despicable. Nikolas approaches, and Elizabeth cracks him one across the face. He’s been getting a lot of that lately.

Jason tells Jordan, the Brooklyn shooter is dead, and she says, Jason killed him. She talked to the NYPD, and knows what happened. Surprisingly, Jason wouldn’t talk without his attorney being present, but the waitress exonerated him, and the NYPD is satisfied it was self-defense. She is too. She knows there’s no way Jason wanted a gunfight in the middle of a restaurant. Jason says, no, he didn’t, and she wonders who targeted them in Brooklyn. Who knew they’d be there?

Elizabeth asks Nikolas what he did to Hayden, and Nikolas supposes he has Jax to thank. Jax wisely says he’ll give them some space, and jets. Nikolas says he was going to tell Elizabeth, and she says Hayden helped him pull off his plan, and this is how he repays her? How could he do this to her? Him, of all people. Valentin tore him away from Spencer, and forced him into hiding, and he did the same thing to Hayden. Nikolas says he never intended for it to be more than a few days. He thought Hayden would check in. He didn’t know she was going to make herself unreachable. Elizabeth says Violet means everything to Hayden, and he convinced Hayden to leave to protect Violet. He knows Hayden doesn’t do things halfway. She’s disappeared without a trace, and they have no way of finding her to tell her it’s all a lie, staged by her friend Nikolas. She says he has to go find Hayden. Her daughter needs her.

Jax lets Finn know that he told Elizabeth the truth. Finn asks if he wants a thank you, but Jax says, no. He regrets his part in it. If he’d known what Hayden was going to do, he would have stopped Nikolas. He asks how Violet is, and Finn says, it’s hard coming up with excuses when Violet asks for her mother. What would Jax tell Josslyn if Carly disappeared? Elizabeth tells Finn that he’s needed in the ER. A second shooting victim has been brought in.

Several of Sonny’s guards are in the hospital waiting area, and Chase asks if one of them is visiting a patient. The guard says nothing, and Chase says he didn’t think so. The PCPD is providing security, so they can go. The guard doesn’t move, and Chase says if he and his boys don’t leave voluntarily, he’s going to arrest them. He thinks Mr. Corinthos has had enough trouble today, and sure as hell doesn’t need more. Sonny’s security team leaves.

Dev is obviously upset, and Michael tells him that he needs to calm down; it will be okay. Dev asks how he knows, and Michael says he doesn’t, but Dev can’t imagine the worst. Josslyn, Carly, and Sonny are safe. Dev asks what they do now, and Michael says, wait it out. If Dev wants to do something to help, he can be with Avery. Michael suggests Dev watch a movie with her; make sure she feels safe. Dev says he can do that, and goes upstairs. Sasha asks if Michael really thinks that will calm Dev down, and Michael says, it will make him feel less afraid. He and Morgan used to do it with Josslyn. She says, comforting Dev seems like second nature, and wonders how many times he’s done it before. He says, calm someone down? and she says, or explain away someone trying to kill him.

Ava says she’s confused as to why Valentin is still there. He heard Nina; there’s nothing left there for him. He says Ava doesn’t speak for Nina, and Ava says, nor does he. He’s deceived her time and time again. Now beat it. She and Nina have important things to discuss. Valentin asks Nina to hear him out, and she asks, what’s left to say? He says he loves her. Nothing he’s done was with malice. He can still make her happy. Ava says he’s delusional. He thinks if he says he acted out of love, it will absolve him of the lies and betrayal. In reality, the sad truth is, he doesn’t know the first damn thing about love.

Josslyn comes out of the ER with Jax, and sees Gladys, who says, it’s nice to see a familiar face. Jax asks, what’s going on? and Gladys says, it’s such a disaster. She doesn’t know what to do or how to help. Josslyn says she’s helping just by showing up; it will be okay. Gladys tells her, that’s sweet to say, but she can’t relax until she hears it from the doctor. She saw her boy, lying there shot and bleeding. Jax asks who she’s talking about, and she says her boy Brando. He got shot saving Carly’s life. Carly joins them, and hugs Josslyn, saying she was so worried, and asking if Josslyn is okay. Jax says Josslyn got the all clear, and Josslyn says she’s allowed to leave. Carly says, thank God no one was hurt, and Josslyn says she didn’t hear. Carly says, hear what? and Josslyn says, Michael was with Laura on the pier, and Laura’s been shot. Gladys says, this night is getting worse and worse. Carly tells Jax and Josslyn that Gladys’s son saved her life. They had to stop by the warehouse, and suddenly some guys started shooting. The bodyguard got Gladys into the office, but Carly was stuck outside with bullets flying. A guy showed up, and pulled her to safety. Gladys says her boy is a hero, but he got shot. Carly says, it’s not bad; he’ll make a full recovery, but Gladys says, he lost a lot of blood. She can’t lose her son; he can’t die. Josslyn says, he’s in great hands, and Jax says he’s glad he’s okay, but what’s going on? Carly says, it’s all a mess, and he asks where Sonny is. He saw Sonny’s bodyguard there. Carly says he’s getting Mike settled back in Turning Woods. There were two attacks out of town. Obviously, someone is making a move against Sonny, and Jason is talking to the cops at the warehouse.

Sasha tells Michael, she’s not naïve. It’s not like she hasn’t heard who Sonny is. Michael asks if it’s a problem now, and Sasha says, after he nearly got killed, it might be. He says he knows it’s awful, and wishes she didn’t have to go through this. She says she’s terrified, and he says she has a right to be. He’s experienced things like this before, and learned how to handle a crisis like this. She asks if there will be more, and he tells her, it’s hard to say. His father is a powerful business man, and gets unwanted attention from time to time, but it’s Sonny’s business, not his. Sasha says either the gunman didn’t know that or didn’t care. He didn’t see Michael Corinthos, the head of ELQ; he saw a target. If not for Josslyn coming back, he could have died in front of her. She doesn’t think she can go through that again. He holds her, and says, it’s okay. She won’t have to.

Chase joins Jordan at the warehouse, and she says Tony was just taking her through what happened. She asks Tony to tell her again, and Tony says, it was a normal afternoon. A shipment of beans had just come in. They were offloaded, and the workers were gone. Carly stopped by to drop off some paperwork, and brought Dev’s grandmother with her. Gladys wandered off, and Tony went after her; that’s what the shooting started. Jordan says, he saw it begin? and he says he put Gladys in the office, and returned fire. Carly was pinned down, and there was no way for him to reach her. Chase asks if it occurred to them to call the police, and Tony says they were a little busy. Jordan tells Tony, continue, and Tony says, the gunfire came closer, and was about to reach Carly, when this guy swooped in to cover her. Jordan says, Brando, and Tony says he didn’t recognize the guy, but he must be a professional the way he covered Carly and got her to a more secure location. The gunmen shot at them until they ran out of ammunition, then took off. Jordan says, they shoot up a warehouse that’s the property of a powerful alleged mob kingpin, and just leave?

Tony says he doesn’t know what to tell her. The gunmen were shooting, then they were gone. Chase arrives, and she asks if Tony minds retracing his steps again with Chase. Tony says, no, and Jordan tells them to get started while she talks to Jason outside. She and Jason step out of the warehouse, and Jordan says, hypothetically speaking, if there was an attack on a warehouse, would the shooters run out of ammunition and leave? Either they’re the most incompetent gunman ever, or Tony isn’t telling the whole story. Jason says he wasn’t there; he can’t say. She says, of course (🍷) not. She admires him on some level. He’s raised non-incrimination to an artform. Taggert shows up, and says he knows from past experience how uncooperative Sonny and his associates can be. She says tell her about it.

Jax tells Carly that he’ll take Josslyn to his place, but she asks him to take Josslyn back to Sonny’s. It’s well-protected, and Michael, Dev, and Avery are there. It will make Josslyn feel better – and her. Jax says, Brando saved her life; impressive for a supposed dead guy. Carly tells him that she doesn’t know why Gladys lied, or if it really is Brando, but she’s sticking around. She wants to find out why Brando got dragged in, or if he was involved with the whole thing.

Valentin tells Ava, before Nina, he didn’t know trust or love. He thought love led to misery and unhappiness. He supposes he wasn’t far off, but he didn’t know the big picture; the joy and connection of knowing someone completely. Of having someone love him back, without judgement. He didn’t know what it was like, but he does now. Ava says he’s just wasting his breath. He says Ava doesn’t know a thing about love. That’s why she’s easy to manipulate. Ava asks what he’s talking about, and Nina says she’s trying to do a job. Both of them need to leave. Ava says she has some redecorating to do in her castle, and Valentin says, good luck with that. Ava says Valentin’s taste is ostentatious and pretentious, which makes sense, since he was pretending to be a Cassadine. Not to worry. She’ll have the place spruced up in no time. Nikolas walks in, and she adds, with the help of her husband. Nina says she has to make a change in security. She can’t take anymore. Nikolas says he figured Valentin would weasel his way out of jail, so he took the liberty of drawing up some paperwork. He hands Valentin an envelope.

Valentin takes the papers out, and says, it’s a restraining order. Nikolas says to keep him far away from Windymere, and adds, keep reading. Valentin says, nice of Nikolas to arrange a DNA test. Nikolas says Valentin can refuse, and he’ll petition the court for an order, but that will be a clear indication that Valentin is not a Cassadine. Valentin says Nikolas doesn’t see it; he’s so caught up in revenge. Helena is playing him. She set him up from beyond the grave. She left a trail of breadcrumbs to what he wants most – to be the prince – but Valentin is the rightful heir. Valentin Mikkosovich Cassadine. Nikolas is the punchline to Helena’s last pathetic joke.

Gladys tells Carly that she can’t stand waiting, but Carly is sure Brando is having excellent care. GH has the best doctors in the state. Gladys says, Brando has always been brave, with no thought to his own safety. Carly says she’s grateful Gladys’s son saved her life… Gladys says, but? Say what she’s thinking. Carly says Gladys told them that Brando was dead. Why say that when she knew he was alive? Finn comes out, and Gladys says she’s Brando’s mother. She asks how her son is, and Finn says, he’s stable. The bullet passed clean though. Gladys says, prayer is working, and he tells her, keep it up. The bullet missed all key organs and arteries. Gladys asks if she can see him, and Finn says, of course (🍷). Gladys goes inside, and Carly thanks Finn. Finn says he was just doing his job. Whoever bandaged Brando on the scene did good. Carly says, thanks, and he says he’ll make sure she gets updates.

Elizabeth leaves the bag with Brando’s personal effects at the reception desk.

Josslyn goes back to Sonny’s, and Dev hugs her, practically knocking her over. He says Michael told him what happened; he was worried. Michael says he told Dev she was all right, but Dev says he had to see for himself. Jax says Sonny has enough security guards to start a football team. Sasha tells Josslyn that she didn’t get a chance to thank her. If she hadn’t called out, things could have ended differently. She saved Michael’s life. Michael agrees she did, and Josslyn says he owes her big time. Jax tells her to get some rest, but she says she’s not doing anything until her mom gets home. Jax says Carly and Gladys are fine, but whatever happened at the warehouse was bad; they could have been killed. Dev says, a shooting at the warehouse and pier at the same time must mean something, and Jax says, nothing good.

Chase tells Jordan the preliminary findings match Tony’s story – to a point. There were two shooters outside, and three inside; Brando, Tony, and Brent, who worked there. An associate chased the gunmen, and didn’t return. Taggert says, he probably grabbed a gunman to hold for Sonny. Jordan introduces Taggert to Chase, and tells Chase they worked in the DEA together. Taggert says it was after his tenure at the NYPD. He and Sonny worked different sides of the same street in Brooklyn. He’s not there in an official capacity, but asks Jason, if he was, who might try to take over Sonny’s territory? Jason says he’s not answering any questions without his attorney present. Taggert says, some things never change. Sonny must have pissed someone off. Jordan says, Sonny is at Turning Woods, getting Mike settled. Tagger says, Mike was involved? It must have been pretty traumatic for him. Jordan is glad Sonny is taking care of Mike, but when he’s done, she has plenty of questions.

Carly sees Brando’s stuff, and noses around. She slides something out of the bag.

Elizabeth sees Finn, and tells him that Jax told her about Nikolas. She’s still in shock. He tried to justify his actions, but keeping Hayden from Violet is unforgivable. Finn says Violet misses her mom very much, and Elizabeth asks how he’s doing. He says he loves Violet, and wants to be the father she needs. Elizabeth hopes he doesn’t feel alone in this. He has Anna for support, but she doesn’t want him to forget that he’s officially part of her family now. Violet has a lot of people who love her, including three cousins who’d like to see more of her. Finn says it’s kind of her, and suggests arranging a playdate. He can’t believe he said those words, and she tells him, get used to it.

Valentin tells Ava and Nikolas, enjoy their brief stay. Don’t go crazy redecorating. Ava married his nephew, and thinks she married a prince, but he’s nothing. Nikolas tells Valentin to stay away from his home. Valentin says he still has his true love, and Ava says, too bad it’s not reciprocated. She imagines there are a lot of fine-looking upstanding men who will be lining up to treat Nina better than Valentin did. Valentin says, maybe she’s right, but they can’t love her like he does. Nina says, goodbye, and he says, for now. He leaves, and Nina smiles at Ava.

Josslyn tells Sasha, a random guy showed out of nowhere to help, and he was shot. Her mom insisted on waiting at the hospital with Gladys. It’s was Gladys’s son Brando who saved her life. Jax says, Dev’s father.

Carly looks at a photo of Dev and Gladys.

Jordan says, three shootouts going down at the same time is no coincidence, and Chase says, if it’s connected to Sonny’s truck getting stolen, it’s a huge escalation. Taggert says, they wanted to get rid of the competition fast and final, but Jordan says, the good news is, they failed. Jason and Sonny are still standing, along with their families. She tells Jason that when he talks to his lawyer, he might want to think about all they stand to lose if this blows up into a mob war. She doesn’t mean territory, but their families, and innocent bystanders. What’s coming for them has no code. It’s going to be public and ugly, and she’s going to stop it if she has to take him and Sonny along with them.

On Monday, Willow tells Brad to manage Nelle or she will, Gladys asks Brando what he’s doing in Port Charles, and Carly asks Sonny why they’re doing this to him.

🧂 Some Non-News…

It’s not very exciting, but there’s not much on the new Wives yet.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/26/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-cast-parties-during-lil-jon-performance/

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/25/vanderpump-rules-stars-hang-with-hopeful-housewives-of-salt-lake-city/

👎🏼 Bad Employee…

I guess the law of averages says into all businesses, some d-bags must fall.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/lisa-vanderpump-dog-foundation-sued-sexual-harassment/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👰🏻 Just Can’t Get Enough…

Ariana breaks down the breakdown.

https://www.eonline.com/shows/pop_of_the_morning/news/1117046/ariana-madix-discusses-kristen-s-role-in-vanderpump-rules-bachelorette-party-breakdown

👙 Yeah, Well…

It’s not like he probably wasn’t doing this all along.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1116974/joe-giudice-spotted-partying-with-women-in-mexico-after-teresa-giudice-split?source=email&medium=emn-content-6&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

💍 Moving On…

Eternity meaning, until someone better comes along.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/rhoc-shannon-beador-ex-husband-david-engaged-new-girlfriend-lesley-cook/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

⚾️ It Never Ends For Meghan…

I’ve noticed that taking ownership is the new not taking responsibility.

https://radaronline.com/photos/jim-edmonds-meghan-king-edmonds-threesome-feud-podcast-intimate-knowledge/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

💔 Kinda Saw It Coming…

Their relationship had it’s ups and downs, and I was rooting for them, but it’s not a surprise. What is a surprise is that they’re being publicly nasty.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1117148/90-day-fiance-s-tiffany-franco-and-ronald-smith-announce-split?source=email&medium=emn-content-1&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

🛎 Quotes of the Week

It’s almost time to die. – Judge Judy upon finding out how many people in the courtroom didn’t know who Rip van Winkle was.

Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense. – Gertrude Stein

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune. – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Artistic growth is, more than it is anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness. The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy; only the artist, the great artist, knows how difficult it is. – Willa Cather

I had to learn who I was again through animals, because animals know who you really are. – Kim Novak

Sometimes when you least expect it, the tables turn and that scary feeling that has taken hold of you for so long somehow turns into hope. – David Archuleta

It turns out, nature is more imaginative than we are. – Abraham Loeb, a theoretical physicist at Harvard (I’d say God is, but okay.)

Putting a guy who’s in the closet in the closet? It’s like gay nesting dolls. – Max (Kat Dennings), 2 Broke Girls

Let me start with anger management. Don’t piss me off. – Pao Mayfield, 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk

It feels like a summer camp for drunk third graders. – Kate Chastain, Below Deck, referring to unruly guests

My mother always used to say: The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana. – Betty White

🦡  To See Or Not To See…

Just please don’t drop the groundhog. (That was the closest thing to a groundhog emoji I had.)

Jan25

January 24, 2020 – Still Waiting With a Side of Updates, 90 Day Rewind, Donnalicious, a Real Peach, Wives News, Off Probation, LalaCast, GoT Redux, a Farewell, Nearly Ten Quotes & Have a Happy Rat Year

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

So what do General Hospital and the trial coverage have in common? General Hospital has been on for fifty years, and the same information is being repeated for what feels like fifty years. Seriously, when this is over, these people should get newscaster jobs. They also love to repeat things over and over.

The scoop (or as much of it as we have):

https://www.inquisitr.com/5853008/general-hospital-update-impeachment-preemptions/

A message:

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/message-regarding-preemptions?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9392&recip_id=5057&list_id=9

The spoilers:

https://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2020/general-hospital-spoilers-brando-corbin-johnny-wactor-back-from-the-dead-sonny-demands-answers-from-carlys-savior/?fbclid=IwAR1KmPqLrFotd-KgiooLEsPh3vRNERGMKy6kW2BnNB9htRspbBuMA8_eJVs

This pretty much says it all:

💍 Catching Up With 90…

I figured since GH is on hiatus, and this Friday had a gap (I will forever miss you, Z Nation <sniff>), I’d give you the skinny on the latest 90 Day Fiancé couplings. I am obsessed with this franchise. So much so, I can’t even recap it – I want to take in every second. While I love all of the spin-offs (this could give Law and Order and CSI a run for their money, even put together), my favorite is Pillow Talk/Watch Party, where former cast members watch the latest show, and give commentary. The only thing better than watching TV, is watching other people watch TV. The original is back for a new season, and here’s where they are, in case you want to take the plunge.

American dude Mike and Natalie, a beauty from the Ukraine, seemed to be on shaky ground from the start. Mostly because Natalie’s method of communication is to bore holes in Mike with her eyes, and expect him to know what’s going on in her head. And what’s going on in her head is ridiculous. Mike went to the Ukraine to help her get a K-1 visa, and his time ran out while it was still hung up in the process. During a joint interview, where they were asked if they loved one another, Mike was quick to say yes, while Natalie hemmed and hawed, and said love would come as they got to know one another. Since they were already engaged, this didn’t exactly thrill Mike, causing Natalie to react like a petulant child. She literally threw the ring into his suitcase, but then ended up accompanying him to the airport when she didn’t get the desired response – which was that he should put the ring back on her finger, apologize (for what, was unclear), and sweep her into his arms. She ended up accompanying him to the airport, where she continued to bore holes into him until he left. This was definitely left up in the air.

Finnish lovely Jasmin arrived in America to meet with her fiancé Blake, and so far, it’s a match made in disaster. They have absolutely nothing in common (that I can see anyway), and even worse, Jasmin is a teetotaler/health nut who gets miffed every time Blake dares to have an alcoholic beverage. It doesn’t stop there though. Jasmin refused to get to know his friends, and answered all their questions with barely monosyllabic answers. The topper came when Blake’s best friend was having a birthday. They were supposed to go to a more intimate dinner with just the two couples and on to a party, but Jasmin begged Blake for a dinner alone with him first. This wouldn’t have been so bad if she hadn’t then refused to go the party, and decided to visit her sister instead, who happens to live nearby. I don’t think it takes a Sherlock to figure out there might be some ulterior motive here. Even the sister is telling her that she’s behaving badly. I would have packed this one back to Finland by now.

American born Tania and Syngin from South Africa would be a match made in heaven, if it weren’t for the fact that Tania is a self-centered twit. Syngin has it all; he’s good-looking, articulate, funny, and a hard worker. While he’s not allowed to have a job until he has a green card, he’s still proven his diligence by doing anything and everything that needs to be done, from garden work to revamping a shed for their living space on her mother’s property. A shed Tania was supposed to have finished by the time he got there, but surprise! there was nothing done. As a reward for being such a great guy, Tania took off for 30 out of their 90 days to attend a workshop on natural healing in Costa Rica. Since this is her chosen career, and they agreed it was an investment in their future, Syngin was cool with it. He wasn’t so cool with Tania getting sh*tfaced on the weekends with her classmates, and refusing to call him when she got back to where she was staying. It wasn’t even her getting wasted that he minded, although what he didn’t see was her also flirting shamelessly with any halfway decent dude at the bar. All he wanted was to know she was safe after her night out, because, you know, she was getting blackout drunk in a foreign country. Because her world revolves around herself, Tania failed to see how this was anything but being possessive and harshing her buzz. And even though Syngin had toted and fetched for her mother 24/7 while she was gone, when she came back, Tania was pissed that Syngin hadn’t investigated woodworking courses as she’d instructed him to. Never mind he’s in a foreign country where he knows no one, has no real money, and she left him hanging five minutes after he got there. My advice: Run, Syngin. Run.

Angela from America and Michael from Nigeria are back and badder than ever. I never thought they’d last, much less be riding the Fiancé franchise for this long. Sadly, Michael’s K-1 visa was denied, although it’s unclear as to why. This often seems to be the case, where the applicant is kept in the dark over important particulars. When a visa is denied, the couple has two options. They can appeal the denial or get married in the country of the applicant, and reapply. No surprise, Michael’s family is pushing for the marriage in Nigeria, while Angela wants to be surrounded by her family and friends. Michael shed real tears while giving the news to Angela, so she hopped on the next flight to see him. In the meantime, Michael also told his friends, who have given him grief about the relationship and had gotten in an altercation with Angela on her last trip, to piss off. This is when I started thinking maybe he actually cares for her. With the two being at odds as to how to approach the denial, their reunion started off on shaky ground. It didn’t get any better when, at a gathering of his relatives, their age gap (22 years, with Angela being older) became an issue when the subject of children came up. Michael’s uncle suggested that if Angela’s one remaining egg couldn’t produce progeny, he should have kids with someone else. Needless to say, this didn’t go over too big with Angela. It’s just one more argument in the long line that is their relationship.

American Robert and Anny from the Dominican Republic are a perfect match, just not for each other. Robert has a four-year-old son who he co-sleeps with, while Anny is more interested in another type of threesome. While Anny isn’t behaving like any prize, Robert also misrepresented himself, telling her that he’d buy her clothes when she got there and not to bring anything, and saying he’d take care of all her needs. If her needs were a small one-bedroom for two and a half people, and clothing from the second-hand store, then they were met, but her dreams were a little bigger than that. While their trip to a strip club for her birthday, at her suggestion and complete with a lap dance for her, was a little awkward; him taking her to look at an apartment, only to tell her he’d just signed a one-year lease where they already were, was downright mean. He gave her a give-it-time speech, but I’m not so sure she’s willing to wait. And to be fair, it’s not what she signed up for. I’m also not so sure he wants the stepmother of his son to be quite so freewheeling sexually.

Emily from America met Russian Sasha while she was teaching English in his country. They got to know each other so well, she was pregnant by the time they were on the show. Now they’re living in America, preparing to wed, and Emily has had the baby, but hasn’t shed the baby weight. Fitness coach Sasha has taken this as a personal challenge to get his family healthy, which I think is code for getting Emily to drop a few pounds. In a bold move, he started tossing anything he deemed junk into the garbage, while Emily wailed that the veggie chips were fat free. He doesn’t exactly seem too hands-on with being a father either, and did I mention he has two ex-wives who he also got pregnant before marriage? Sounds like a pattern to me. Still, I think this could go either way. We’re down to getting the wedding dress.

American Michael met Brazilian model Juliana while in Croatia. After a rocky start, and a denied visa, Juliana is now in the US. Another couple with a big age gap (19 years, with Michael being older), Michael has an ex-wife and two children. You’d think this would be a hurdle, but you’d be wrong. His children are a delight, wise beyond their years, and his ex has become Juliana’s biggest ally, even going wedding dress shopping with her. Juliana has also been married before, but it was more of an arranged situation, where she was mistreated, and she split. There was a shaky moment, where Michael suggested a prenup (he has a few bucks), but seriously failed in explaining it to Juliana, who freaked out because he’d dropped out of her life once before when she was still in Brazil. Wisely, he scrapped this idea, and we’re at the wedding. Since I read they’re in the process of adopting her niece and nephew, hopefully, this one lasts.

The one that already didn’t last was Anna from America and Mursel from Turkey. I would have bet the farm on this one at the beginning too. Drawn together online with a shared love of beekeeping, neither one knew the other’s language when he arrived to begin the 90 days. Her two sons weren’t thrilled, mostly the older one, but how could two beekeepers not make it? They were so cute together in their bee suits. Anna had picked out her dress, when she decided Mursel keeping her children a secret from his family was a no for her. She insisted he tell them, and the reaction was not good. During FaceTime with his mother, Mursel got honest, and his mother told him to come home, saying that Anna was no good. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he made it sound like he’d just found out, when he knew all along. When his mother called Anna a deceptive liar, he made no move to correct her. No matter how much Anna cried and begged, Mursel packed his bags, and went home to mommy and daddy. The worst part was, as he was headed to the plane, he turned around and came back to Anna. Both Anna and the viewers thought he’d changed his mind, but he had only returned for another tearful goodbye. I’m all for respecting one’s family, but he’s 35.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1113701/is-the-perfect-world-shattered-for-90-day-fiance-s-mike-and-natalie?source=email&medium=emn-content-4&cmpid=morning-a&content=emn-news

👧🏼  I’ll Have What She’s Having…

I’m using the fact that she was on GH to justify including this, but I swear, every time I see Donna Mills, I’m startled. She’s nearly 80, and doesn’t look much different than she did when she was on Knots Landing. Either she has one helluva plastic surgeon or miracle genes.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/18/donna-mills-reflects-on-knots-landing-40-years-later-sexual-harassment-in-hollywood/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20200118&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-8541949-711673032

🍑 NeNe NewsNews…

Reminiscent of Flavor of Love.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/16/nene-leakes-tries-to-spit-on-kenya-moore-in-rhoa-mid-season-trailer/

They’ll have to pry that peach out of her cold, dead hand.

https://extratv.com/2020/01/21/is-nene-leakes-leaving-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/?adid=extra_eme_27356_2020-01-21_rightnow6

🏃🏻‍♀️ All the News That’s Fit To Run From…

Coast to coast Housewives.

https://pagesix.com/video/denise-richards-alleged-affair-and-more-housewives-news/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20200124&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-8557701-711673032

🥂 Much Ado About Uber…

Publicity for LuAnn is a double edged Chambord.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/13/luann-de-lesseps-now-drinking-responsibly-accepts-ride-home-from-stranger/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20200114&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-8529823-711673032

💋 Lala and…

I love how she thought up a podcast name that could be changed just in case. Planning is everything.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/17/lala-kent-and-randall-emmett-launch-podcast/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20200118&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-8541949-711673032

✍️ Write Faster…

One of my greatest fears is that George R.R. Martin will die before he finishes these books.

https://pagesix.com/2020/01/23/game-of-thrones-fans-may-finally-get-their-wish-a-new-ending/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20200123&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-8554178-711673032

🖐 So Long Mr. Lacey…

And my favorite Willie.

https://popculture.com/celebrity/2020/01/23/john-karlen-dead-86-dark-shadows-cagney-lacey-actor/?fbclid=IwAR0sOLsMypfpxY4oPYXU81xkZ6SqICQPb_uXGCQIYgy99GxrvE3lmNyMHoA

🗣 Quotes of the Week

We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. – C. JoyBell C.

The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it. – Tricia Cunningham

Hey, fellas – stop manspreading. – Awkwafina, the new voice of an NYC subway train. And the voice of reason.

Always forgive, but never forget, else you will be a prisoner of your own hatred, and doomed to repeat your mistakes forever. – Wil Zeus

Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have. – Doris Mortman

If you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. If you have a girl, you have to worry about them all. – Herb (Ryan Stiles), Two and a Half Men

I am not good at noticing when I’m happy, except in retrospect. – Tana French

If you ask me I don’t think there are any such things as curses. I think there is only life. That’s enough. – Junot Diaz

Luck affects everything. Let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it there will be a fish. – Ovid

🐭  Pay No Attention To That Rabbit…

It’s the year of the rat. Happy Lunar New Year!

Jan11

January 10, 2020 – Sonny’s Truck Is Found, Nearly Ruined, Baby Mama Drama, Wife Feuds, VanderCrash, Vicki Frets, Danielle Quits, I Vent, Quotes Helen Ends & Begins, Pup Birthday & No Waiting

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

We get another rare glimpse of the outside of the hospital. Elizabeth is straightening up an examining room, and stops to look at her phone. She frowns, and makes a call. She leaves a message for Laura, saying, she noticed Laura has called, but she’s not leaving messages. She hopes everything is okay, and asks Laura to give her a call. She hears someone say her name, and she says she’ll be right with them. She turns around to see Nikolas.

Jason goes to Jordan’s office. She asks if a truck from Corinthos Coffee is missing. They found one abandoned and torched. Does he happen to know if they made themselves an enemy?

Lucy shows Maxie a portfolio, and says, it’s just a sample to get the conversation started. She thinks Deception is going to be absolutely fabulous once it’s up and running. Advertisers are going to be lining up beside them. Maxie says, it’s impressive, but that’s just her opinion. Lucy has to run it by Nina. Nina says, run what by her? and Maxie says, Deception’s pitch to be a Crimson’s partner. Lucy tells Nina, picture it; Crimson and Deception, the perfect marriage. Not that anyone needs marriage to be perfect. They’re strong, independent women, and perfect unto themselves. Nina says she’d like to see a proposal. They go to Nina’s desk, and Lucy hands her a mock-up of a Crimson cover featuring Sasha.

Sasha finds Michael in the empty ELQ boardroom, and asks if she’s interrupting. He says she is, and thanks her. She said he mentioned he’d be there, and he says the meeting finished early. He was looking over resumés for a part-time nanny for Wiley. In between work, and going to Turning Woods to see Lucas, Brad is drowning. Wiley was fussy at daycare, and when Brad didn’t answer, they had to call him. A nanny is the obvious solution, but none of the candidates seem right. She says, nobody is good enough for Wiley? She wonders why.

Brad asks who took his lab results; he needs them back now. Willow comes by, and asks if this is what he’s looking for, handing him some paperwork. He asks where she found them, and she says, where he left them. In the breakroom near the coffee maker. She tells him, Lucas being at Turning Woods, and returning to work is a lot for anyone, and he has Wiley on top of it. Brad says he can handle it. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks.

At Charlie’s, Sonny says Carly saw Julian and Brad at the pier. He knows what they talked about after Carly walked away. Julian asks what they were allegedly talking about, and Sonny says, him, his wife, his son, and Wiley.

Elizabeth says Nikolas hasn’t changed, and he says she’s as beautiful as ever. She says he’s supposed to be dead, and he says, it was a very close call. She says, it’s been three years; where has he been? Does his mom know? Laura has been calling, probably trying to warn and prepare her. However she wants to look at it, he’s back. It’s not a dream. She touches him, and says, it’s him. She promises not to faint, but Nikolas says he might. They hug.

Jordan tells Jason, the truck was found by the side of the road. There was no cargo or driver; just the burnt frame. Were they aware the truck was missing? Jason says they knew the shipment never arrived, and she asks if they were concerned. He says they were, and thanks her for locating it. She asks if he has any idea where the driver could be, and he says the employees were canvased, and everyone is safe and accounted for. She asks him to have a seat, and says what if she requested the manifest and interviewed the driver? He says he doesn’t know how much the driver could tell her. She says, so the driver pulled over to stretch or get some fresh air, an unknown party stole the truck and drove off, and they never saw anything?

Nina looks at the mock-up cover, and says she thought Sasha turned down Lucy’s offer to model. Lucy says she has an extreme knack for persuasion. She’s prepared to offer Nina 5% of the equity, priority placement, and integration. Like Maxie said, it’s a win-win. Maxie says it’s a high end brand, but Nina says, no. Lucy says they’re already a high placement brand, and it’s a golden opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Nina thanks her, and says she’ll definitely consider it, as long as Lucy finds another model to represent the brand. Lucy says, that’s not an option. Sasha isn’t just a brand ambassador; she’s an equity partner.

Sasha wonders if Michael is looking for a degree in psychology and nutrition, as well as training in CPR, mountain climbing, and gourmet cooking skills. He says he forgot to add that. He asks if he’s being too protective and involved, and she says, maybe, but in the sweetest, sexiest way. He says he knows what he’d like to do. Pull back from ELQ, let Ned pick up the slack, and block extra time to spend with Wiley. Sasha asks, what’s stopping him?

Sonny ask if Julian hasn’t learned by now to stay away from his family. Does he have to keep reminding Julian? Julian says Wiley is his family as well. He comes up in conversation. Sonny says Julian warned Brad to be careful around Carly so he wouldn’t get wind of something about Michael, because Sonny protects his son. He tells Julian, if he’s got something brewing, think twice. He knows Sonny always protects what’s his. Julian says he hears Sonny, and when it comes to his family, he feels the same way.

Jason says Jordan will have to call Diane for the manifest. Jordan says Diane will ask for a warrant and probable cause. It’s sketchy, but without witnesses, all they have is a missing truck that was found. It’s already annoying enough. She asks if it’s possible the driver went rogue, and someone else got the delivery. Jason says all the employees are vetted, and have years of experience. Jordan wonders if it’s a calling card from Sonny’s rival. If there’s a turf war brewing, she needs to know.

Lucy tells Nina, it’s business, not personal. Deception would be good for Crimson, and vicey versey. Nina wishes her luck. She’s sure Lucy will find another publication to promote Deception, but she passes. She’s sorry, and wishes Lucy the best of luck. Lucy thanks her for her time, and leaves. Maxie sits down, and says she wishes Nina would reconsider. Nina asks why she should invite Sasha back into her life, and Maxie says, Lucy’s partnership proposal has merit. They can find a work-around. She’ll do everything, and Nina can just sit back and rake in the revenue. How does that sound? Listening outside the door, Lucy smiles.

Sasha tells Michael, it’s possible to do both, especially when you have enough money. He’s been a daily presence in Wiley’s life, and he can add a few extra hours. Michael says he can set it up coordinating with Brad’s schedule. When Brad goes to work, he can spend the mornings with Wiley, and drop him off at the hospital daycare or at his grandmother’s with the nanny. Later, he can pick Wiley up, and get him to Brad for dinner. Sasha says he’s already got a strategy, and he says, thanks to her. It will cut into his free time with her, but she says, it’s a worthy cause, and she happens to like Wiley. They kiss. Sasha’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Lucy. He tells her, the first rule of business is, always answer your partner’s call. Lucy says, she’ll make it quick. Nina said no. Sasha says she tried to warn her, but Lucy thinks maybe there’s a little crack. She needs to kick the door open. She tells Sasha, get there pronto, and Sasha says she’ll be right there. Michael asks where she’s going, and Sasha says, to kick open some doors.

Willow brings Brad some coffee, saying she thought he could use it. He says, yeah. His nerves are just jangled. Everyone is doubting him all of a sudden, and Lucas’s whole family is against him. Willow says, that can’t be true, and he says Bobbie has called fifty times, Carly thinks he’s overwhelmed, and Julian agrees. Michael wants to hire a nanny. She says that’s not a bad idea.

Julian says he has no beef with Michael, Carly or Sonny. He thought they turned a corner the night Sonny offered to let him visit Wiley. He’d like to keep that going. Sonny ask why he warned Brad about Carly, and Julian ask if Sonny has seen Brad lately. He’s in completely over his head, raising Wiley alone, and Julian doesn’t want people to see him fall apart. He might be nervous, but Julian thinks Brad will be fine. He was just helping. Sonny says maybe Julian was helping himself. Lucas wants nothing to do with him, and with Lucas out of the picture, Julian has a chance to swoop in and get close to his son. This actually sounds stupid, since Julian just brought up Sonny offering to let him see Wiley.

Julian says he and Lucas have had their differences, but it doesn’t matter now. All he cares about is his son waking up. Until he does, Julian has to do right by Wiley. Sonny has his family, Carly is busy, and Michael has his girlfriend and work, but Julian has free time to devote to his grandson. Sonny asks how he thinks Lucas will feel if he wakes up and finds out that Julian took advantage of his accident. Julian says Sonny doesn’t speak for his son, but Sonny says he’s speaking for himself. Julian asks how Sonny knows about the conversation anyway. Carly left, and he and Brad stayed there. He’s curious who Sonny’s associate was following; him or Sonny’s wife? Sonny suggests Julian take the same advice he gave Brad; steer clear of his wife, and anything Corinthos related. He leaves.

Michael tells Brad, Wiley has a strong support system. The Quartermaines and Corinthoses; two houses with nurseries and full-time nannies, with room in both. When Brad is working, Michael can put him down at night. Willow asks if Michael will really be able to pull back at ELQ, and Michael says he has someone to step up. He wants to do this, and gives Brad his word that he can carve out the time. Brad says, absolutely not.

Maxie tells Nina to take the personal part out of it. It’s possible to have a business relationship with someone you dislike. Lucy pops back in, and says, Maxie is right. Nina says she thought Lucy left. Lucy says, think classic. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger; Simon and Garfunkel; Abbot and Costello. Maxie says, who? and Nina and Lucy both say, ‘s on first. Nina says it’s better if she doesn’t force a relationship. It’s her prerogative. She made a mistake, and she’s not doing it again. She’s going to focus on moving forward. Sasha walks in, and says what Nina calls moving forward, she calls just plain stupid.

Elizabeth asks where Nikolas has been, and he says, Europe mostly. He was rescued by a yacht crew sailing past the island. He pursued some leads, and started to reclaim what’s his. Last night, he was able to do it. Nina walked out on Valentin; the wedding didn’t happen. Elizabeth says Nina gave her the impression that she was going to stick by Valentin no matter what. He says, apparently, she reached a breaking point, but there was still a wedding – his.

Jordan says she thought she and Jason had come to a place where they understood each other. Maybe he’s reconsidered in the light of Sam’s conviction, but it was a Federal prosecution, and removed from her jurisdiction. Jason says when  they’re done with the truck, Sonny will have a towing company haul it away. She’s sure the taxpayers will be happy, and says, there’s one more thing. The truck was abandoned in a no parking zone. She hands him a ticket, as Curtis walks in. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and Jordan says, Jason was just leaving. When Jason is gone, Curtis asks what that was about. She says, it was about her wasting her breath. Jason could give a master class in stonewalling. He’s every defense attorney’s dream come true. He’s never nervous, and never discloses anything. And he’s had plenty of practice since he’s been arrested so many times. She says, now that she’s vented, why is he there? He asks if it’s not a good time, but she says, it’s fine. He says he did a follow-up on her friend Bob’s death. He knows how busy she is, and he has a connection in DC. He wanted to learn a little more, and get her closure. Jordan knows he meant well, but hopes he didn’t intrude on the family’s grief. He says he was careful not to, and she asks what he found. Cancer? A heart attack? He says, no. A drug overdose.

Elizabeth says, Ava? and Nikolas says he sees her Ava, and raises her a Franco. She says, Franco has completely changed. She can’t say the same for Ava. He says he can’t either, but each of them brings something the other can’t live without. Elizabeth is pretty sure it’s not love. How did he get with Ava? He says, that’s the hard part. He’s been in Port Charles since September. She says, four months, and he never thought to contact anyone who loves him?

Sasha says she admires Nina’s business savvy; her creativity, and ability to think outside the box and take risks. She saw how stubborn Nina can be; determined and pragmatic to a fault. Nina says she’s wasting her time, but Sasha says she’s not finished. The partnership has nothing to do with their history; it’s what’s best for their businesses. Deception’s target audience is the youth and wellness market, a major opportunity that Crimson can be a part of. If Nina is the savvy businesswomen Sasha thinks she is, she’ll jump at it. If she doesn’t, she can watch from the sidelines while they become a major success without her.

Brad says he can’t let Michael compromise being CEO of ELQ to babysit. Michael says he’s choosing to give up his time to help Lucas. Brad says Lucas wouldn’t want him to do it. He’s proud of Michael, and admires his position on the ELQ and hospital boards. Michael says, Lucas would want Wiley to have all the support he needs. No one can do it all, and Brad shouldn’t try to be a superhero. Take the help. Brad says he didn’t think about it until now, but he knows the perfect person take care of Wiley. Wiley already knows them, and there should be no problem with them stepping in. Willow always said she’d do anything to help. Now he’s asking for help with his son. Julian stands behind Brad, listening.

Jordan says, an OD? Did she hear wrong? Curtis knows it’s a shock, but Bob died from an OD. She asks if something went wrong. He got the wrong prescription, or a bad interaction with medications? Curtis says, it was opioids; a straight-up OD. She says, Bob wasn’t even much of a drinker. She never saw him have more than a beer, and never saw him using. Curtis knows it’s hard to hear, but as someone who has more experience than most, he can tell her, once you become an addict, you become an expert in hiding it.

Sonny asks Jason, what’s the damage? Jason says they lost a truck and a shipment of beans. Diane is handling the driver’s severance pay, and his relocation to Tennessee. Sonny asks if the driver was injured, and Jason says, just shook up. He followed company policy, and took off. Sonny says to tell Diane to be generous with the severance pay. He asks if the truck was impounded, and Jason says, what’s left of it. They also got a parking ticket, since it was left in a no parking zone. Sonny laughs, and says, make sure it gets paid. He wants the Commissioner to see they’re good citizens. Jason wonders who would target a coffee truck, and Sonny says, someone who  has no idea how he does business.

Sonny says, maybe someone thinks they’re using the coffee warehouse as a front. They didn’t do their research. Jason suggests maybe they tried to send a message. Port Charles is a valuable asset. It’s close to the border, and near international waters. Sonny limits what moves, and some people want him to share. Sonny says, sharing is overrated.

Curtis tells Jordan, the cause of death was an OD; it was on the police report. She says forensics would look at the chain of evidence, tracing where it came from, and who sold it. He says he called his friend on the force in DC and got a copy of the report. There’s not a lot there. On the outside, it looks squeaky clean, all legit. Everyone who knew him had the same reaction that she did; he wasn’t that type of guy, and basic disbelief. Jordan asks if she can talk to his friend, but he says the friend has already stuck his neck out. He doesn’t want to put them on the spot, or lose them as a contact. She appreciates that, and says, it’s such a shock. Curtis asks if there’s anything else he can do, and she says, maybe later. He says, sure, and leaves, but Jordan is obviously distressed.

Lucy thanks Nina again for her time. Maxie looks at package Lucy brought, and says, it’s generic. Lucy needs to underline the brand, to prepare for when she’s ready to reveal what they are. Her proposal is too conservative. Crimson needs at least 15%; Maxie will adjust it accordingly. Lucy is going to have to step up her opening foray if she wants involvement increased. Nina tells Lucy, leave her proposal, and she’ll consider it.

Brad says, it’s a perfect solution. He and Willow both work at the hospital, and she’s great with Wiley. Michael says she has a full schedule at the hospital, and doesn’t have the luxury of delegating. Butting into the conversation, Julian agrees it’s unfair, and Brad shouldn’t put Willow in an awkward position. He knows Brad is under stress. Brad says, don’t remind him. Willow agreed that she wanted to help Wiley. Willow says maybe she could adjust her schedule, but Julian thinks it’s asking too much. End of discussion. Oh, okay. Everyone will listen to the guy who just arrived to the party, who no one wanted there in the first place. Brad says Lucas wanted Willow to be a part of Wiley’s life, and he thought Willow wanted to spend more time with Wiley. Michael says they have plenty of options, and not to put Willow in an uncomfortable position. Brad says, who better to give Wiley the care he needs until they get Lucas back, which he prays is soon. Willow says, of course (🍷). How could she say no? Ugh. Julian needs to ditch that turtleneck look he’s been sporting lately.

Elizabeth asks if Nikolas wasn’t tempted to tell anyone he was alive. Nikolas says he can’t begin to tell her how hard it was. His mom came by Jax’s place while he was there. Everything inside him wanted to embrace her, but he couldn’t. He had to bide his time, and put his plan in place, or it would have undone everything. Elizabeth gets it intellectually, but emotionally, he has so many people who love him who were devastated. Hayden has a little girl, Violet; she’s the cutest. Hayden left Violet in Port Charles while she’s away, but wait until she finds out he’s back. Valentin is no longer a threat, so Hayden can come back be and be with her. He promises to do all he can to bring Hayden home. Elizabeth says, if anyone can do it, he can. She doesn’t know whether to slap or hug him, and he says he’ll take the hug. He’s already had smacks. They hug.

Maxie tells Lucy and Sasha they’ll be in touch. She’ll go over the proposal in depth. Lucy says, fingers crossed, even though she doesn’t need it. She has a kick-ass partner who was spectacular. And she can’t believe Maxie was so convincing without making her boss look bad. She hopes Nina knows what she has in Maxie. Come to think of it, if Maxie ever wants to talk about some work, here’s her number. Lucy gives Maxie her card, and Maxie says she already has it. Lucy says that’s Lucy as a realtor; this is Lucy as a potential partner. Think about it. They leave, and Maxie looks at the card. I think Deception should launch their own magazine.

Nina looks at the mock-up cover. She opens a jewelry box containing the half-heart pendant, and takes it out.

Brad thanks Willow, and says he’s so grateful. Julian grabs Brad’s arm, says, excuse them, and steers Brad away. He asks if Brad has lost his damn mind. Sonny already knows something’s up.

Michael asks if Willow is sure she’s okay with this. Brad isn’t sensitive on a good day. She knows it’s challenging, and will have to protect her heart, but Brad is in a jam and she can help out. Michael says, so can he, but she says, for whatever reason, Brad isn’t comfortable with him. He’s intimidated by Michael. Michael is the kind of person everyone loves, and Brad probably feels Michael will overshadow him. He says, Wiley is more important than Brad’s ego, and she says she’ll do her best not to intimidate anyone. He’s not sure about that. He thinks Wiley likes her more than him, and he’s jealous. She says she can’t help it if Wiley has great taste. Dreams come true. She’s going to spend time with Wiley, and savor every moment. And when it’s over, she won’t look back.

Brad tells Julian, if he had walked in five minutes later, Michael would have been taking care of Wiley, and when he was busy running ELQ, the Quartermaines and Sonny would come around. Julian is second guessing him, and he knows what he’s doing. Julian says, he’s right, and Julian is going to see that he gets all the help he needs.

Jordan looks at her computer, and makes a call. She says she needs them to do her a favor. Drop whatever they’re doing, and get to Port Charles as soon as possible.

Jason says, if they get an overture, how does Sonny want to respond? Sonny says, same deal. They can move through Port Charles; no drugs, no guns, and they have to pay double for torching his coffee truck. It was rude. (I literally LOL.) Jason says, what if there’s no offer? Doesn’t Sonny want to figure out who it is? Sonny says if so, they made a mistake, and he’ll make them regret it.

On Monday, Brook has a big announcement, Tracy asks Michael what’s more important than ELQ, Spinelli asks if Maxie is leaving Crimson, and Franco says he owes Jason his life.

🍑 Meanwhile, In Hotlanta…

There’s always someone who almost spoils the surprise.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/cynthia-bailey-slams-kenya-moore-after-she-nearly-ruin-proposal/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌎 Only If You’re Worse At Geography Than I Am…

I’m wondering how anyone would confuse being on RHOA with a big Hollywood dream.

https://radaronline.com/photos/nene-leakes-son-baby-mama-slams-buying-house-wants-rhoa-bryson-bryant/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🔫 The New Hatfields & McCoys…

More on them feudin’ Wives.

https://starmagazine.com/photos/real-housewives-top-feuds-2019-new-york-beverly-hills/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚗 It’s Not a Drive Thru…

Someone really wanted their food to go.

https://radaronline.com/photos/ferrari-crashes-lisa-vanderpump-restaurant-west-hollywood-cops-no-arrests-injuries/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚤 Someone Is Thirsty…

A bit of a rehash with vacation photos added.

https://radaronline.com/photos/vicki-gunvalson-and-fiance-end-cruise-amid-rhoc-axe-rumors/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🚫 She Said Of New Jersey…

I saw the Watch What Happens Live when Danielle quit, but she chose her words carefully. She was very specific saying she’d never be on The Real Housewives of New Jersey again. My guess is, she’s moving.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2020/01/danielle-staub-quits-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🙎 I Don’t Usually Get Personal, But…

While I throw in an opinion here and there, it’s rare for me to write something based solely on my view of a show, but I feel strongly about this one.

I’m not sure what it is. Whether it’s because the Housewives are thirsty for screen time, or they’re just getting meaner, but I was disturbed by Wednesday night’s Real Housewives of Dallas Reunion: Part Two. My being troubled by the Real Housewives in general is nothing new. Beverly Hills certainly left a bad taste in my mouth last season, and the screeching in the OC is working my last nerve. Regardless of the branch of the franchise, what bothers me most is when several, or all, of the Wives gang up against one. Wednesday night’s Reunion, bothered me so much, I had a nightmare that I’m sure it was the source of.

I rarely have nightmares, and when I do, they’re not the conventional kind. This isn’t to say I don’t dream about zombies taking over, or other dangerous situations, but those are more like full-color action films, with Marc Singer often fighting alongside me. My real nightmares are more Dean Koontz than Stephen King, and involve genuine fears, and I usually wake up crying. This time, I roamed a large place that was a mix of a hospital and library. I was in emotional anguish, and no one would even look in my direction. I walked through crowds of people, and tried talking to some, but they were dismissive. On a humorous note, Perry Shen (Brad, General Hospital) and Jane Lynch were there. I often cast random actors in my dreams. Anyway, I woke up crying, and I knew Dallas was at the root of it.

In what could have ended with a teachable moment,  the whole show was nothing but an attack on LeeAnne from start to finish. Including her wedding vows. WTF? In talking about being human, Kameron was the only one who acted like a human. I don’t think any of them, including Kary, cared nearly as much about the racism issue, as they did about pummeling LeeAnne and feeling self-righteous. Racism is a huge hot button issue, and there is no one, except a racist, who would feel it was okay. They had no concern that most of the world wouldn’t have their back in rising up against LeeAnne. It was a safe bet, and kept reminding me of what Bernadette (Terrence Stamp) said in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: You know, my girlfriend used to be a boyfriend. It’s always good for a supper invite. It was less about the issue than it was about them using it for something, with the exception of Kameron. It was like teaching a kid not to hit by hitting them. Although I don’t think they were interested in teaching anybody anything. It was an opportunity to be mean, and they used the issue. It didn’t even begin there.

From the beginning, they were gunning for LeeAnne, as well as putting a halo on Kary. They harped on LeeAnne’s wedding – everything from the food, which looked adequate to me, to the vows she had written herself at the last minute. Even her waiting so long to write them was suspect. Rich must be a saint, not because he puts up with LeeAnne, but he also puts up with this sh*t. Yes, the woman has some deep-seated problems, which will probably take a lifetime to overcome, but this was an important day – her first marriage, at age 50, no less – why drag it all over the place? It just went on and on and on. And to her credit, LeeAnne took it. Ever the diplomat, Kameron pointed out that it was LeeAnne’s day, so wtf? LeeAnne was right in saying, that no matter what she said, it was never going to be good enough for Kary. This is a bunch of mean girls, except for Kameron, who gets called out for being more concerned with what’s right, rather than who’s right. As much as we’d like them to be, things aren’t always black and white, and there’s the human factor.

I have a desire to take care of tiny things, protect the underdog, and things that are alone or small in the world. LeeAnne looked that way Wednesday night. She’s done stupid things from the jump, and lashed out because she hurts, but they finally found something they could grab onto that was acceptable and other people would care about. Except there is a difference between evil and stupid. Between sincerely hating a race, and saying dumb sh*t. Instead of helping LeeAnne be a better person, Brandi threw down a folding chair, where she thought LeeAnne should sit facing her jury. After that, the women became the bullies. A questionable video of Brandi’s surfaced recently, which is also insensitive, but not racist, yet she thinks LeeAnne is alone in being stupid.

There’s proof positive it doesn’t have to be like this. Three of my favorites in the Bravoverse are Below Deck, Southern Charm, and Shahs of Sunset. Oh, they fight, and they can land low blows, and do the occasional hair pulling, but there’s a difference. Somehow, they’re more like family. When Golnessa lashes out, we know it’s because she’s in pain, and so does her crew. While they might even freeze her out for a moment, at the end of the day, they’re there to support and love her. There might often be an undercurrent of snark on Deck, and Kate does get away with more than the others, but she’s put in her time. Captain Lee is like a really good parent, who knows how to use discipline, but fiercely protects and loves his children. He’s also indulgent with his favorite daughter. Shep is an elitist a-hole much of the time, yet if there was an emergency, he’d be the first one there. To watch Kathryn grow from a rebellious child to a responsible mother has been nothing less than amazing, and to have Patricia admit she was wrong about Kathryn – albeit because she listened to Thomas – was a true miracle. Maybe a Wife would throw a bag of old Vuittons in your direction, but they’ll tell everyone about how self-centered you were, yapping on about your house burning down, or your horrifying childhood.

With the first episode of the OC, I said it was the future of television. There had been reality TV before, starting with An American Family, a series filmed for PBS. It was rerun one year in the 90s, and I caught it. It was fascinating. Just cameras following a family. And The Real World started off strong. Giving us people with real jobs and interests, and Pedro Zamora who eventually passed away from AIDS. Somewhere along the line, it degenerated into mostly a lot of drunken hot tub sex, and I drifted away. I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn’t what I signed up for. My guess is that alcohol played a big part. As is my guess about a lot the Wives problems. Just the other day, my husband was just walking past when one of them (ha-ha – I can’t remember which one) was on, and he said, they drink too much. And he doesn’t even pay attention. He could probably pick NeNe or Teresa out of a line-up – LVP for sure – but he doesn’t watch them. Alcohol isn’t the only problem, but it exacerbates whatever else is going on. But the Wives were different, and paved the way for all the others. Until Andy Cohen became King of the World. Or at least reality TV.

There are kinder, gentler shows on other networks, TLC being a mainstay. Born This Way was one of the sweetest shows I’ve ever seen, watching young people with Downs Syndrome begin to navigate the world on their own. More recently, Welcome to Plathville introduced us to the Plath family, who live off the grid, but some of the kids were looking to branch out. In a variety of series about the Amish, Mary Schmucker became my favorite reality star of all time. A woman we would all love to be our grandma, baking cookies and dispensing wisdom, but also down for kicking back and doing shots at an NYC bar. That’s my kind of Amish.

It was enjoyable to watch the Wives at first. There was some table-flipping and leg-tossing, but it seemed like all harmless fun. Sometimes it still is, but more and more, it’s screeching and finger-pointing, and not owning up to their own sh*t before casting stones. Mob mentality has taken over. This isn’t to say there aren’t exceptions, like Kameron and Camille, but they’re accused of being wishy-washy because, even if they didn’t like a behavior, they still cared about the person. NYC as a whole seems to be fair, except for Ramona, who’s only out for herself, but I could be biased. Back to LeeAnne.

What she said was wrong, but it really wasn’t any worse than things she’d said in previous seasons. The others just finally found something they could publicly call her out on, and knew they’d be backed by the world. I doubt they cared much about racism before LeeAnne called Kary a chirpy Mexican (I’d actually thought chirpy was a really odd choice of word, and figured she wasn’t thinking). And Kary laughed about it with the others at the time. Again, Kameron came out ahead here. Not on that particular issue, but she made it her business to research what LeeAnne had said about sex workers in Thailand. In other words, she cared about those things called facts.

Fact: LeeAnne definitely made excuses for not reaching out to Kary, some of which were lies, or at best finagling of the truth. Like when she said they weren’t supposed to talk to each other before the Reunion. That was true, but there were several months prior to that when they could have talked. I do think she was telling the truth when she said things like that were hard for her, especially since she believed she’d be met with hatred. Also possibly true. Kary was receptive to zero of what LeeAnne had to say, no matter what the topic was.

Fact: LeeAnne said she latched on to a word Kary herself had been using a lot, and had she used a different word repeatedly, LeeAnne would have used that. I believe this is true. Even I was getting tired of Kary saying it. I was like, all right already, I get it. You’re from Mexico and it’s cool. We all have things we’re proud of, and probably talk too much about. LeeAnne made a piss poor choice, but I don’t think it was with a racist attitude. It was with an I’m-sick-of-Kary attitude. Whether LeeAnne thought it would air or not, who knows? But it’s hard to believe anyone would think that, considering what has been aired in other seasons, and how easily information gets out today. I also find it difficult to believe the others would have been intimidated by this thought.

Fact: LeeAnne was truly sorry. We’ve yet to see if she backs up her words with actions – i.e. stops saying stupid sh*t when she’s angry – but she was sorry. That these women continued to berate her while she sat there crying and taking it, was depressing. If the goal is to change the world, and bring light to the darkness, how does drumming someone into the ground accomplish that goal? Someone who is suicidal, no less. It’s hard for someone to change their ways when you keep kicking them.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the way of the world now. It’s less about teaching what’s right than being right.

🌋 Quotes of the Week

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light. – Helen Keller

Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend. – Sarah Dessen

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. – Oprah Winfrey

I have the attention span of a meerkat. – guy on Blind Date

How do you fold an egg? It’s impossible. It’s witchcraft. – Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), King of Queens

Mantras are a powerful tool that can help us be aware of our own power, goals, strengths, and resilience. – Dr. Jennifer Newman (I am rich. I am rich…)

When things break, it’s not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. It’s because a little piece gets lost. – John Green (I’m sure he was referring to people as well.)

Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. – Carl Sandburg

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands. – Anne Frank

I take craps bigger than him. – Jerry (Scott Bakula), Two and a Half Men

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller

🎉 A Happy 13th Birthday…

To dogs I still call the babies.

Juliet'sBabies4 (2)

👐 Wait No More…

Your weekend is here. See you at the hospital or on deck.

Dec28

December 27, 2019 – Port Charles Celebrates Christmas, Teresa Teams Up, Uncoupling, True Prediction, Tori Wants In, Trying Too Hard, a Loss, Ringing In 14 Quotes & This One Is It

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Curtis plays Santa in Rice Plaza. Jordan tells him the traditional drink is hot cocoa, but he says he could use something stronger. She says she’ll have everything he needs after his shift, and he ho-ho-hos back to work.

Gladys wants to pack up some cookies at Turning Woods, but Sonny says they’re for the residents. She says, Mike is a resident, but he didn’t eat any, and Sonny pays them to keep Mike there. Carly arrives, and Sonny asks how Lucas is. She says, he’s just lying there. He looks like he’s asleep, but it’s not the same. It’s like how Michael was; you can just tell. Michael woke up, so they have to believe Lucas will. It’s Christmas, so it’s the right time. The time when they’re supposed to believe good things happen.

Josslyn tells Dev, if he liked Thanksgiving, he’s going to lose his mind over Christmas. Santa comes down the chimney, and leaves presents for all the good boys and girls. Dev says, Santa was born in Turkey, and has been dropping money down chimney’s since the 1400s. They celebrate Christmas in Turkey, just not like they do in America. She says, the first thing America kids learn is that Christmas isn’t something you can buy. The presents are great, but the true meaning of Christmas is in your heart. It’s about being a little kinder, and having more patience, and if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life who love you, taking the time to let them know you love them back.

Cameron tells Trina that she can stop with the pictures. Trina says he looks handsome. What’s wrong with him? He should be in a good mood. Franco is home. Cameron says, he’d like to be home, but instead he’s there finishing his community service in a Christmas tie. Trina tells him to embrace it and own it, but he just wants to get it done.

Leo sits on Curtis’s lap, and Curtis tells him that he’ll get his crew on it. Right, crew? Cameron hands Curtis a candy cane, and says, right. Curtis tells Leo, don’t ever forget the true spirit of Christmas. It’s better to give than receive. Leo hugs Curtis and says he loves him. Jason asks Scout (who’s made a bit of an age jump) if she’s ready to talk to Santa. He wonders what she’s asking for, and she says it’s a secret she’s only telling Santa.

Nelle tells the guard she should be in the infirmary, but the guard says she’ll be fine, and puts her back in with Sam. She asks if Sam missed her, and sees that Sam got cards from her kids. She bets Sam misses them like crazy. She knows what that’s like.

Tracy asks Monica what possessed her to obliterate years of memories? Monica says they still have them, but Brook says, granny is having difficulty with hers. Maybe Monica could prescribe something. Tracy tells Brook to call her Tracy. She wasn’t advised that Monica was redecorating. When she left, Monica said it was her house too. Monica tells Tracy, she said because Tracy was leaving, and she was in the grips of sentiment. Of course (🍷) the house is all hers. Alan gave it to her. Tracy says that’s because her brother was an idiot, and Brook says, ouch.

Brook and Monica look at the tree. Brook likes it, and Monica agrees. Tracy says, it’s better than the rest of the room, and Brook says, resistance to change is a precursor to dementia. Monica says it’s just Tracy’s personality, and asks if Brook thinks Olivia will be disappointed. Tracy asks why she cares, and Brook says, they have a deal. Monica says Olivia gets all of the other holidays, including Arbor Day. The house was filled with flowers. Tracy says she’s wandering from the subject, and Monica says she gets Christmas. It’s her house; her tree. Olivia decorates the nursery, and it’s a gingerbread fantasy, but the kids love it. She’s sure Olivia would prefer a shiny silver tree, but don’t they think, in the spirit of Christmas… Both Brook and Tracy say, absolutely not. Monica says they agreed on something. It’s a Christmas miracle. Michael and Sasha come in. Michael ho-ho-hos, and stops when he sees Tracy. He says he didn’t know she was coming, and she says she’s questioning the wisdom of her visit.

Scout sits on Santa Curtis’s lap. He says he knows her; Scout. What can he give her for Christmas? She says she wants her mommy to come home.

Nelle asks if Sam heard about her brush with death. Ryan nearly plunged a scalpel in her one remaining kidney. It was just a millimeter away. Sam says, amazing, and Nelle says she could have died. She wonders how Josslyn would feel. She’d have to live with the guilt. She got lucky. Sam wonders how Ryan got a scalpel, and says if he’d wanted Nelle dead, she’d be dead. Nelle says, too bad she didn’t run into Josslyn at GH; she ran into everyone else. Michael was there with Wiley. She guesses he was watching Wiley after the accident. Poor Lucas. He’s not doing so hot. Too bad Sam is in there for killing Shiloh; she could be helping. Nelle is sure Christmas will be melancholy for Sam’s kids. She imagines how Christmas would have been with Michael if their little boy had lived. They’d all be gathered around the Quartermaine Christmas tree. But sadly, Jonah is gone. Her baby is dead, but Sam still has hers, even if can’t see them until who knows when.

Curtis tells Scout that Santa might not be able to bring her mommy home, but he can give her some magic. Cameron gives Curtis a candy cane, and he gives it to Scout. He says he knows it looks like every other candy cane, but this one is magic. Whenever she when licks it, it will remind her of every happy and fun time she had with her mommy. At the same time, her mommy will remember too, and it will make them both feel better until her mommy comes home. Danny suggests they finish up, so they can wrap mommy’s presents. Jason thanks Cameron for assisting, and Cameron says he’s just doing his job. Curtis asks Jason to tell Sam that Santa says hi.

Trina asks Josslyn if Cameron doesn’t look great, and Josslyn says she loves it. It’s very Christmas choir boy. Trina says, it’s part of his community service. Just one more week, and he’s a free man. Dev says they should celebrate; drinks are on him. Trina wants an espresso, and Dev says she’d love Turkish coffee. He knows to get a hot cider for Josslyn. Cameron says he has to get back, and he’ll see them later. Dev goes to get the drinks, and Trina asks if Josslyn is going to make Dev’s Christmas wish come true. Josslyn says she got him a wireless speaker, and Trina asks if she’s blind. Can’t she see Dev is crushing on her?

Carly hopes Sonny doesn’t mind that she invited Brad for Christmas dinner. Whatever his faults, no one can deny he loves Lucas. Sonny says, technically, Brad is on her side of the family, so he’s putting up with Brad for her sake. She guesses so; why? He says that means he can ask her to put up with a guest from his side. Gladys tells Carly, merry Christmas, and Carly asks if she came to visit Mike. Gladys says she did, but Sonny was kind enough to invite her to stay for Christmas.

Michael asks if Brook knew her grandmother was coming to visit, but she says she had no clue. He explains to Sasha that Tracy was living in Amsterdam, and swore she was never coming back. Yet here she is. Brook says, Tracy does nothing without an ulterior motive. Either she screwed up in Amsterdam, and has to lie low, or she’s planning some shenanigans; a double-cross or a takeover. She tells Michael, watch his back.

Tracy tells Monica that she heard they lost Oscar and his father. It’s a lot to handle; she’s sorry. Monica says she takes consolation in that they got to know and love each other. Oscar also left a wonderful legacy to the Kilimanjaro Foundation. Tracy says she heard there was a problem with probate, but Monica says, Ned and Michael are taking care of it. The good news is, the foundation has been funded, and kids are already making their way up the mountain. Ned comes in with Olivia and Leo, and says, merry Christmas, every… Hello, mother. Olivia says, merry Christmas, and Tracy says, this must be Leo. She introduces herself, and Olivia says it’s nice to have her home for the holiday. Ned says, it is indeed. What is she doing there? Tracy says, Amsterdam was too tranquil. She needed a good dose of family. Monica says, lucky them.

Nelle tells Sam, you’d think they’d let her recuperate in the infirmary. She nearly paid with her life to prevent Ryan from escaping. Her lawyer says they’re calling her a hero. What if she gets pardoned, and sent home? She’d get out before Sam, but she’d be happy to help Jason. Sam’s children must be missing her. Scout is too young to know what’s going on, but Danny is old enough. Sam tells Nelle to shut her mouth before she shuts it for her.

Jason thanks Santa’s assistant for watching the kids while he got hot chocolate. He tells them that they’re grandma is going to be there shortly, then they’ll decorate the tree and hang their stockings.  He’s going to need help, since he’s terrible at both. Danny laughs, and says Jason does so many cool things. Why is he so awful at decorating? Jason says he just is, but he’s good at following directions.

Alexis tells Jordan that she doesn’t feel merry, and doesn’t think she can be happy, but she’s hanging on. Jordan is sorry Sam is still in Pentenville. They took the case out of her jurisdiction. Alexis says she’s sorry about all of it. Between Sam’s situation and hers, it’s been quite a year. Jordan says, there are some things to be grateful for, and Alexis says they had an exceptional blessing, but it was at the expense of Lucas, who’s still in a coma.

Josslyn asks if Trina thinks Dev is into her because he knows she likes hot cider. Trina says she asked him, and Josslyn asks what he said. Trina says, something lame and incoherent, like boys do when you call them out on their feelings.

Cameron tells Dev that his family got their Christmas wish; he shouldn’t complain. Dev says his happy family is complete, and Cameron asks about Dev’s home in Turkey, and Dev says Christmas came for him too. Sonny welcomed him into the family, and he became friends with them, but Cameron says, what about back home? Dev says everything he needs is there. He has no complaints. Trina and Josslyn join them, and Josslyn tells Dev that her mom is expecting them. Trina says she’ll stay and be moral support for Santa’s assistant. Josslyn tells them, merry Christmas, and Trina says watch out for the mistletoe. Dev asks what that is, and Josslyn tells him, come on.

Sonny tells Carly that Gladys was keeping his father company, and at the end of the visit, his dad wanted him to ask her to stay over. Gladys says, Sonny was kind enough to make it an official invite. Sonny says he couldn’t say no, and Carly says looks like Gladys is joining them for Christmas. Gladys asks if Carly wants a cookie.

Monica wants to try a new Quartermaine tradition – wassailing. Sasha says she’s read about it. It was a medieval precursor to caroling. Monica says, absolutely right (soon to become my new drinking game phrase, along with absolutely not). Alan always wanted do it. Tracy says, Alan was too sentimental for his own good. Monica says, in spite of the tragedies that have befallen them, they’re all together, some from near and far. It’s the perfect time. She passes out the wassail, saying, Alan would want to wish them good health; that’s what wassail means, and what their family needs. Tracy says, Monica didn’t poison it, did she? and Monica says Tracy’s visit was unexpected. She didn’t have time. Maybe next year. They toast to a merry Christmas. A friend of mine brought wassail over one Christmas Eve. It’s pretty tasty.

Alexis tells Jordan that she has to get going. She and Jason are wrapping presents once the kids are asleep. Jordan says she remembers those days. Alexis goes over to Jason and the kids, and Danny tells her about the magic candy cane. She says they’ll have to put it in a place of honor. Jason says he needs to take off, and asks if Alexis minds taking the kids home. She says, even Sonny takes Christmas off, and he says, everything he’s doing, he’s doing for the kids.

Gladys admires the decorations at Sonny’s house, and Carly asks Sonny if there are any other surprise guests. He says, Michael and Sasha, and Gladys says she’d love an Old Fashioned. Carly says she’s going to check on Donna and Avery. Gladys asks who they are, and Carly says, their children. She goes upstairs, and Gladys says, isn’t it wonderful to have a house full of kids? Sonny says, bourbon or rye? And she says they’re both from the old school. If it’s not rye, it’s not an Old Fashioned. Sonny laughs, but says they’re not both from anything. He pays her for a service. Dev and Josslyn arrive, and Gladys tells Dev, look what Santa brought; his nana. She hugs him.

Jason tells Danny to get started, and he’ll be there in a while. Be good. Danny asks if Jason will be home before his bedtime, and Jason says, definitely, and before Santa gets there.

Nelle tells the guard that Sam attacked her, and could have busted open her stitches. The guard calls Sam to come out. Nelle says, what about her? but he says only Sam. Under her breath, Sam calls Nelle a bitch as she goes past.

Brook asks how Leo’s visit to Santa was, and he says he asked for everything from his list. Brook says Santa might not bring everything he asked for, so he should ask for more than he’ll get. Sasha says negotiating seems to be a Quartermaine family trait. Michael is a master and was kind enough to handle a negotiation for her today. Brook asks if he’s becoming an agent, but he says he was just doing Sasha a favor. Leo suggests Michael negotiate for him, so he can get everything on his list, and Brook says, spoken like a true Quartermaine. Tracy asks Michael how things are going at ELQ.

Curtis continues to ho-ho-ho, and Jordan says, it’s almost over. He says things are winding down. He’s thinking of saying to all a good night. Would she care to take a ride on his sleigh? She says, gladly, but they see another kid waiting. Jordan’s phone rings, and he asks if it’s police business. She says, no, but she has to take it, and steps away.

Trina tells Cameron that she has some cocoa for Santa’s personal assistant, per North Pole etiquette. They clink paper cups.

Dev says if he’d known Gladys was coming, he’d have gotten her a present. He goes upstairs, and Carly says she made up the guest room. Sonny tells Carly that after Christmas, he’ll send Gladys away. Josslyn calls Gladys Mrs. Corbin, and she says to call her Aunt Gladys, since they’re practically family. Josslyn says, they’re not. She knows Gladys is part of the deal to keep Dev in the country. Gladys says, still, she appreciates them sharing their home. Otherwise, she’d be all alone, looking at old photos of her son. She remembers it like yesterday, how excited Brando was, thinking he heard Santa’s sleigh. She tears up, and says she needs some air. She goes out on the terrace, and Sonny tells Josslyn, a word of advice; the less she says to Gladys, the better. Josslyn says she can’t stand the phony acting, but Sonny says they don’t want Gladys to know how much they’re protecting Dev. Carly says, it gives her too much power. Josslyn says she’s sorry; she hates this. Carly says, her too, but it’s temporary. Out on the terrace, Gladys is on the phone. She says she can’t tell them how much she misses them. She said terrible things she regrets. Now, at this time of year, she can’t stop thinking about them, and wishing it was all different. Sonny comes out, and asks who she’s talking to. She says, Brando.

Nelle asks the guard if Sam is in solitary, and he says, not exactly.

Alexis gives Danny and Scout their stockings to hang up. Danny picks up one that says mom, and wonders if they should hang it up. Jason comes in, and Danny asks where he went. Jason says he was working on a Christmas surprise. Sam is behind him, and asks, who wants a merry Christmas? She hugs the kids, and everyone is all happy.

Trina tells Cameron that he does look handsome. Once she posts his picture, every girl in school is going to show up. He says she’s not posting that, and chases her. On the phone, Jordan says she appreciates it, and thanks them for letting her know. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and she says, an old friend just passed. He asks if it’s someone from their Baltimore days, but she says it’s no one he knows. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, just shocked, but she’s not dwelling on it. It’s Christmas, and she’s going to cherish what’s in front of her; starting with Santa. He hugs her.

The guard tells Nelle that Sam made parole. She’s surprised, and he says he is too.

Sam says she’ll have to give Santa a thank you note, and Alexis says, her too. She got her gift. She tells Sam, welcome home. Sam tells her, merry Christmas, and thanks her. They hug, and Alexis says she’s going home and letting Sam be with her family. She loves them – even Jason. She won’t question him about his errands again. Sam asks who’s going to help mom find her stocking, and Danny gives it to her.

Nelle takes a big piece of cardboard out from under her mattress. It says, Nelle’s Aspirations 2020, and is covered with pictures cut from magazines, most of them of little boys.

Brook says she can tell Tracy that ELQ is doing great. She read the shareholder report, and they’re in the black. Michael says it’s nice to make money, and be kind to the environment. Tracy thinks they should care less about the environment, and more about the bottom line. Michael says they’re doing great. Ned thinks they need to table the discussion for today, but Tracy says Brook needs to be more realistic. She’ll never get rich singing, and needs to look to her stock in ELQ. Couldn’t the family company use another junior executive? Michael says his mom and dad are expecting them, and asks them to film the caroling. They jet, and Olivia tells Ned to get his guitar. Ned calls Jason, and asks if he’s coming by to wassail and carol, but Jason says staying there with Sam. He thanks Ned for that, but Ned says, all he did was tell them that Sam was an excellent candidate for parole. He’s glad they agreed. He tells Jason, merry Christmas to you and yours. Hold them close tonight. Tracy says Ned isn’t doing a favor for Jason, is he?

Jason picks up Scout, so she can hang up her stocking. Danny tells Scout, she did it. She told Santa that she wanted mom home, and he did it. He doesn’t want another present. He tells Sam that they have to help Jason decorate the tree, since he’s terrible at it. Sam and Jason kiss.

Carly brings out cookies, and asks if Josslyn is okay. Josslyn say she’s just writing her thoughts, and Carly says maybe she should try that. Dev comes down with some presents, saying, he’s not the best at wrapping, but he tried. He puts them under the tree, and asks how the carolers get past the guards. Carly says they don’t have those, and Dev says, another iconic American myth shot down. Josslyn says, at least Santa will make it.

Gladys tells Sonny, it’s pathetic really. She’s been paying phone bill since Brando died, so she can hear his voice on the message. Sonny probably thinks she’s a sentimental kook, and maybe she is, but she misses him so much. He died thinking she was mad at him. Sonny tells her, come inside. He’ll make her another Old Fashioned with rye.

Tracy tells Ned, Jason made it clear he doesn’t consider himself a Quartermaine. Dealing with him will only get Ned into trouble. Ned says a lot has happened since she’s been gone. He’ll leave it at that. He suggests they get on with Christmas, and she says, by the looks of things, she got there just in time. Ned brings his guitar into the sitting room, and Olivia thinks they could all use some tidings of comfort and joy.

Brook, Ned, Olivia and Leo sing The First Noel. Monica gives Tracy a drink, and they touch glasses. Tracy hugs Monica.

Finally out of his Santa suit, Curtis takes Jordan’s hand, and they kiss.

Cameron tells Trina, his picture can’t get out. She says she’s deleting it. She already posted it… Psyche! She says she’d never do that. She’s always got his back. They leave the plaza.

Josslyn and Dev go out on the terrace, and Josslyn says, there he is. Dev asks, who? and she says, Santa, pointing to the sky. Doesn’t Dev see him? He looks up, and says, she’s right. He sees him too. He tells her, wait. Something is moving, and Josslyn says, oh my God. You’re right.

Michael and Sasha get to Sonny’s, and Carly tells them, merry Christmas. Josslyn and Dev run in, and Josslyn says they saw the sleigh. Carly tells her, the kids are asleep, but she says she’s serious. There’s a light moving through the sky. They all go out, and gather on the terrace, Gladys hanging back a little. Dev points, and everyone looks up. Sonny says, merry Christmas.

The tree is finished, and Sam watches her family, dabbing at her eyes. Jason puts the lights on. He puts his arms around Sam and the kids, and they all look at the tree.

On Monday, Carly asks Sonny if it’s another interrogation, Sonny says he wants the truth, and Carly says it’s time to tell him exactly what’s going on. It’s looks like it will be a new episode on Monday, Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) is a repeat encore episode, and Wednesday (New Year’s Day) is football.

👯 Super Frenemies…

This article wasn’t exactly a font of information, so I’m skeptical. What could these two possibly be advertising?

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/teresa-giudice-and-caroline-manzo-film-super-bowl-commercial/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

😴 No Surprise…

In case you were living under a rock.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/rhony-teresa-giudice-joe-giudice-separate-20-years-marriage-divorce-rumors/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👍 I Haven’t Heard Anyone Say It Yet…

Vicki was right.

https://radaronline.com/videos/jim-edmonds-daughter-hayley-says-meghan-king-ruined-family-divorce/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌴 Better Than Brandi…

I would love to see Tori Spelling on RHOBH. I don’t see how her money situation has anything to do with it. Bethenny Frankel couldn’t pay her rent when she started on RHONY.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/tori-spelling-begs-real-housewives-90210-flop/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🍹 I Thought He Was In Jail…

Frankly, I think the show is doing just fine without him.

https://radaronline.com/photos/southern-charm-thomas-ravenel-kids-thriving-custody-battle-kathryn-dennis-filming-delayed-photos/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🎭 A Light Goes Out On Broadway…

He composed several of my favorite musicals – Mame, Mack & Mabel, and La Cage aux Folles. He was also a true man of the theater, evidenced by this quote:

I said, I can absolutely do it. I know all about Israel, recalled the composer much later. And I knew nothing about Israel.

http://www.playbill.com/article/jerry-herman-composer-of-tuneful-broadway-hits-dies-at-88

🎊  Quotes of the Week

I never worry about being driven to drink; I just worry about being driven home. – W. C. Fields

Ring out the false, ring in the true. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – William E. Vaughn

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. – Benjamin Franklin

Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. – William Shakespeare

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. – Germany Kent

Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming. – Mike Dooley

Many years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to never make new year’s resolutions. Hell, it’s been the only resolution I’ve ever kept! – D.S. Mixell

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. – Carl Bard

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one. – Brad Paisley

Get the f*** out of my house, Kenny G. – Amy (Mila Kunis), Bad Moms Christmas

🎈 We Can Hope…

Still waiting on that Christmas miracle too.

 

Dec21

December 20, 2019 – Franco Learns About Drew, Close Call, Re-engagement, Wayne Revealed, Dog Tantrums, Ten Holiday Quotes Plus a Long One & Eight Crazy Nights

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

I miss the first millisecond. Nothing important, except Lucas is now breathing on his own. Elizabeth tells Julian that they’re all pulling for Lucas. Franco says he’s ready to go home. Elizabeth says she missed Franco, and he says if he’d known he was away, he would have missed her too. She gives him back his wedding ring, he puts it on, and they kiss.

Michael opens the door to Willow, who asks if everything is okay. His text was vague. He says he has some fun things planned for today, and thought she might want to join in.

Anna looks over some folders at her desk. Finn tells her that he just put Violet down for a nap, and he wants one too. Anna says it will take time, and he says he’s never second guessed himself so much. He wants to do things right. Are cartoons good or bad? Anna says the answers will change with his mood. Wait until the first time he hears himself say, because I said so. He says he’s looking forward to that. He asks what all that is on her desk, and she says, research. He says, on? and she says, her son.

Sporting an elf hat, Maxie tells Peter it breaks her heart to see so many kids in the hospital at Christmas. Peter says GH does its best to make it special, and she made them smile. Maxie wishes Lucas was awake to make fun of her hat. Peter says they should have a progress report soon, and it is the time of year for miracles. She asks if he’s ready for their next stop, and he asks if she’s sure they’re not intruding. Maxie says, she’ll love it. She sees the guard outside Nelle’s door, and says, someone’s been naughty.

Martin tells Nelle that she’s looking well. She says hospital gowns have always suited her. He asks if this was her big plan, to get stabbed? and she says, of course (🍷) not. He asks, what happened? and she says, a serial killer happened.

Brad tells Lucas that he doesn’t know what to do. That’s a lie. He at least knows what Lucas would want him to do. Send Wiley back to his true father, but what if he can’t? If he hadn’t come across Nelle that awful night, and taken a baby that wasn’t his, Lucas wouldn’t be there. He wants to make it right, but doesn’t know what to do. Julian comes in, and tells Brad, the test results are in. Brad kisses Lucas’s forehead, and follows Julian.

Michael says he’s taking a personal day, and knows how Willow loves spending time with Wiley, but it’s awkward with Wiley’s dads around. He asks if it’s still hard on her, and she says, no. She was just thinking of Lucas, and how horrible it all is. Michael says, hopefully, Lucas will get better. In the meantime, they can keep Wiley laughing. Willow says Michael has been great taking care of Wiley, and Michael says, of course (🍷). He’s family.

Martin says, Nelle wanted to be released, and this is how she engineered it? If she’d gotten killed, he would have gotten bupkis for his hard work. She’s unreliable. He has one question; why is she doing this?

Anna tells Finn that she can’t get the conversation with Jason out of her head. The list of crimes he believes Peter orchestrated is unbelievable. At the same time, considering Peter’s recent behavior, she can’t dismiss it out of hand. She’s pulled everything she can find, and is trying to make a connection to Brice and the gunman’s deaths. The gunman spent a lot of time in Pentenville, but up until about a week ago, he was in Europe, where he has no arrest record. He worked security for two companies, Eurotech and another one I don’t catch, before and after his stint in prison. Finn thinks the company names should mean something to him, and Anna says they’re known by the WSB to be DVX companies. Finn says, shell companies. Peter lived in Germany, so that would be the connection. Anna says Andre also has connections in Europe, and Brice spent time there. Finn asks if there’s nothing to single Peter out, and she says, no.

Amy tells Elizabeth the paperwork will be ready shortly. Jordan asks Franco to look at a photo of his assailant, but when he does, he says he’s got nothing. But they weren’t really after him. They were after Drew. He’s not telling her how to do her job, but maybe she should be speaking to Drew. Elizabeth asks if Jordan needs anything else, but Jordan says, that’s it. Amy tells Franco that his walking papers are in. Enjoy his homecoming. Elizabeth says, they will, and Franco asks her, what’s going on with Drew? She says they have a lot to talk about, but they’ll do it at home.

Anna says, neither Brice, nor the assassin were in Afghanistan, and Finn says, that implicates Shiloh. She says, exactly, but Shiloh has no known connection to Faison. Finn says, that implicates Peter, but she says, there’s no implication anywhere. Finn says she wants to exonerate him, and she says she wants to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s not guilty. Finn says, that’s impossible. It comes down to what she feels. She says, nothing contradicts Jason’s version of the events, but Finn says, Jason has his own bias. In the absence of real evidence, it comes down to who or what she believes. The doorbell rings, and Finn goes to get it. He brings back Maxie and Peter.

Michael and Willow roll a ball back and forth with Wiley, and discuss a ball rolling Olympics event. Willow asks how Michael got to be so great with kids. Being a big brother? He says, that’s part of it. There was actually a time where he had custody of his sister Avery. It’s a long story, and not complementary of him. Willow doesn’t believe it, but he says, believe it. It was a very complicated, messy, human situation, where everyone acted badly. Willow says she’ll reserve judgment on that. Michael says his biological father was AJ Quartermaine. AJ and his mom didn’t get along, and she left him for Sonny when Michael was two years old. Sonny was the only father he knew. AJ wanted him back, so there was an ugly custody fight. Flash forward to five years ago. AJ and Sonny hated each other, and Ava got thrown in the mix. AJ attacked Ava, and Sonny shot him. He died, but Michael didn’t know it was Sonny who shot him until a month later, and he went a little crazy. It was pretty bad, and he trumped up a legal excuse to get custody of Avery. He wanted to hurt his father, and knew nothing would hurt him more than taking Avery away.

Nelle says maybe she doesn’t need Martin. She got herself out; she can find a way to stay out. Martin says he’s her only prayer to get out before her 60th birthday. If she does exactly what he tells her, and sticks with the program; be a model prisoner. She asks why she should trust him, and he says it’s his only chance of getting paid. Jordan comes in, and asks how the prisoner is. Nelle gives her two thumbs up.

The doctor asks Julian and Brad if they’re waiting for Lucas’s mother, but Julian says they convinced her to get some rest, so go ahead. The doctor says Lucas’s brain swelling is down, but he slipped into a coma. Julian says he’s been in a coma since he got there, but the doctor says it was medically induced to help his body heal. Even after they reduced the sedatives, he’s not waking up. Brad asks, what happens now? and the doctor says Lucas can’t stay there indefinitely. He’ll have to be relocated. They think Turning Woods is the best option; they have long term care. They’ll transfer him as soon as Brad signs off. Julian asks, what’s the rush? and Brad says, they need the bed. Lucas isn’t healing fast enough, so they’re kicking him out. He walks off, leans against the wall, and slides down.

Elizabeth brings Franco in, and says, ta-da! Franco says, check it out, and looks at the huge Welcome Home sign. He asks if Aiden did that, and she says, of course (🍷). Look at what else he did. Franco sees  a cake on the table, and says, chocolate ganache; his favorite. He asks where Aiden is, and Elizabeth says he was invited to spend Christmas in Ireland. He was torn; He wanted to go, but wanted to be there to welcome Franco home. Cameron convinced him that Franco would want him to experience new places, and they took him to the airport this morning. He’s come a long way from the uncertain withdrawn little boy, and it has a lot to do with Franco. Franco says he just followed her lead. She says they can still have a celebration. Cameron and Jake will be home soon. He has no idea how much the boys missed him. And how scared they were, although they tried not show it. He says he can imagine, and he’s sorry he put them through it. She says they’re sorry he went through it. He says he didn’t. It’s a matter of perspective. To him, no time passed. She got the raw end of the deal. She says she’s glad he’s home; that’s all that matters. She asks how it feels, and he says, safe and warm, and familiar and new at the same time. It’s weird that he hasn’t seen Drew. He must be busy. Elizbeth says, it’s worse than that. There’s a lot they need to deal with, and in time he’ll adjust. Drew handled it wonderfully, and was determined to get him back. Franco asks where Drew is, and she says, he’s missing, and presumed dead.

Julian tells Lucas, take more time to rest. Don’t worry about Wiley. He’ll fix this thing. By the time Lucas wakes up, everything will be back on track. He’s going to wake up. He has to.

Amy finds Brad, and sits next to him on the floor. She says, it’s not the end. Lucas probably just needs more time. Brad says it’s his fault, and she tells him, don’t say that. He says, it’s true. Between the two of them, everyone knows Brad is the bad one. Lucas doesn’t lie, cheat, or break the law. He’s perfect. Amy says Brad is no angel, but what everyone knows is how much Brad loves Lucas, and how much Lucas loves him. She asks if some gossip would cheer him up. Guess who traded their cellblock for a hospital bed? Nelle. That wacko is back in Port Charles. Brad says he has to do something, and jets. Amy wonders if it’s something she said.

Nelle tells Jordan, they can’t make her go back. Jordan says they can, and Nelle asks how heartless can they be? Ryan nearly carved out her one kidney. Jordan says she’s exaggerating, but Martin says her release is premature, given her medical history. She’ll need more extensive tests. Jordan says, if the doctor says she needs them, she’ll get them. Otherwise, it’s back to prison. Martin says, let’s find out. As he follows Jordan out the door, he turns back to look at Nelle, and she mouths, do something.

Anna quickly clears her desk, and Maxie says they brought gifts. Anna says they shouldn’t have, and Maxie says they’re not for her. She’s been going through Georgie’s old clothes, and thought Violet could use some of them. They’re out in the car. Anna asks Finn to help Peter get them. Anna tells Maxie that she’s glowing. Peter has an effect on her. Maxie says he’s made her happy. She didn’t think it was possible. After Nathan died, she thought that was it. How many chances does one person get? But in walks Peter, now they’re building a life together, and a family. Anna says she’s thrilled for Maxie, and they hug.

Willow asks how long Michael kept Avery, and he says, three or four months. He realized his revenge was tearing his family apart and hurting the people he loved, especially Avery. The only solution was to give Avery back, and forgive his father. Avery was the easy part; forgiving his father, not so much. Eventually, he got there. Willow says, remarkable, but he says, not really. It was a shift in perspective. Avery wasn’t a trophy; she was just a little girl. After he focused on that, everything else fell into place. The point he’s making is, he played dad for a minute. He laughs, remembering when he brought Avery to work, and a big investor came in. He found Michael on the floor, playing blocks with Avery. He already looked young, and  needless to say, Michael didn’t close the deal. Willow says, that investor was short-sighted. Anyone playing blocks is engaging, thoughtful, and committed. If it had been her, she would have totally invested with him. Michael’s phone rings. It’s Amy, who says she was just with Brad. Lucas is still in a coma, and being transferred to long term care at Turning Woods. Brad is taking it hard, so she was wondering if Michael could bring Wiley to the hospital. Brad needs to see his son.

Brad walks into Nelle’s room, and she says, nice work, talking his way in there, especially considering what he’s going through. He says his husband being in a coma, and his son without his fathers? All of it is her fault.

Franco asks Elizabeth if there was no body, and she says the plane was found in the water. When it was determined there were no possible survivors, the search was called off. Franco says, it was because of him, but Elizabeth says, Drew was on the plane because he felt it was the right thing to do. Franco says, it’s not fair.

Brad tells Nelle, none of this would have happened if he hadn’t gotten involved with her. All of it happened because he didn’t have the guts to stand up and do what he should have done all along. What Lucas would want him to do – what’s best for Wiley.

Michael and Willow come into the hospital through the loudest sliding door ever. Michael gives Wiley to Willow, and says he wants to give Brad a heads up. Willow tells Wiley that someone is going to be happy to see him.

Anna tells Maxie, she’s happy to hear she and Peter are moving in together. She was a bit surprised though. She thought Peter was getting his own place. Maxie says, he was, but the deal fell through. That’s why he was on the pier the night he helped Dev and Wiley. Anna says, everything happens for a reason, and Maxie says she thinks so. Peter is great for her and James. They’ve finally moved past the baggage. Finn and Peter come back in, and Finn thanks Peter for the stuff. Peter says he didn’t have much to do with it. Finn asks how it’s going since the excitement at the hospital. Peter says he feels horrible that a man lost his life, but Franco is back to himself. It must be liberating, not being bogged down with Drew’s memories. Finn says, it must be.

Elizabeth tells Franco that she’s sorry. Franco wishes he could have tried to save Drew, and she says he did. He got Drew out of the house, and away from that horrible man. Franco says Drew died as a direct result of what was going on with him. Elizabeth says what Franco did changed everything. He, as Drew, chose to give Franco back his life because of what he did all those years ago.

She says she dreaded this moment, telling him about Drew. She knew how hard to would be. He holds her, and says Drew is the closest thing he’ll ever have to a brother. She says he can’t bring Drew back. The only way to honor him is to learn from his own life. Be happy and make the people he loves around him happy. He says he’s an expert at being whiny and bitchy. She says, he is not. Maybe a little. He says he’s so grateful for her. From now on, he’s grateful for everything. She says he has no idea how unbearable it was to see him, and it not really be him. Not just the lack of recognition – that was painful enough – but everything. The way he carried himself, the way he spoke, the way he said her name. He wouldn’t make inappropriate comments, or make her laugh with his terrible jokes. He says, they’re funny because they’re terrible. She says she would look in his eyes and search, but she wouldn’t see it. She sees it now, and she’s so happy. he says, if he makes her happy, that’s the single greatest achievement of his life. She says she loves him so much, and they kiss.

Jordan sees Julian, and says she heard Lucas was being moved. He says he just got off the phone with Lucas’s mother, and told her about Turning Woods. She says they’ve received the final report about Brad’s car.

Michael looks at his phone; Brad called. Martin comes by, and introduces himself, saying he has the honor and privilege of being Nelle’s attorney. Michael isn’t sure that’s an honor, and Martin says, Nelle is a remarkable young woman whose gone out of her way to turn her life around. Michael says, Nelle destroys anyone who crosses her path. Stay away. He walks, and Martin says, tough crowd.

Michael sees Amy, and tells her that Wiley is waiting with Willow. Where can he find Brad?

Anna asks if Maxie and Peter can’t stay longer, but Maxie says, it’s Christmaspalooza. They have the coat drive at Rice Plaza next. Anna asks if they’re going to  be there for Christmas, and Finn says, that’s the day that’s merry not happy. Anna looks at him, and he says she lives in America now. Maxie and Peter leave, and Finn says, they seem good. Anna says, better than good, and he asks what she’s thinking. She says she’s thinking of taking his advice. She’s going to give Peter the benefit of the doubt. He says she’s taking his advice? and he tells her, enjoy it while it lasts. He goes upstairs to check on Violet, and she straightens her desk. She flips through a folder on Peter, and says, no.

Franco and Elizabeth kiss. She pulls away, and he asks, what going on? She says, you know how it is when your head and your body are feeling two different things? That’s how she’s feeling. She knows she shouldn’t be upset… He asks, what’s going on? Just tell him; they’ll get through it. She says, when Drew was in his body, he had sex with Kim.

Jordan tells Julian, they were unable to determine the cause of the crash. There was too much damage to the undercarriage, and they can’t pinpoint how the brakes failed. He asks if they’re closing the investigation, and she says they have nothing further to learn. She tells him, good luck with Lucas’s transfer. She hopes he comes out of it.

Anna says, Eurotech, and looks in the gunman’s folder. She says, ugh; no. Peter was there at the same company at the same time the gunman worked there. She looks through pictures of Peter, obviously taken without his knowledge.

Michael looks in on Lucas. He tells Brad, sorry. He knows it wasn’t the news Brad wanted to hear. None of them did. Brad says, it was a lot to take in, and Michael says he brought someone to cheer Brad up, if he’s up to it. Wiley is here.

In the hallway, Willow holds Wiley, and Nelle rolls up in her wheelchair. She says, what a beautiful baby boy.

On Monday, Monica reads A Christmas Carol to the kids at the hospital, Robert calls Finn a Scrooge, Obrecht says Christmas is the time put aside their differences and spread good will, and Finn becomes Scrooge. I’m really looking forward to that.

🏥 Her Choice of Friends Scares Me…

I love Denise, but her being good friends with Brandi is scarier than any medical emergency.

https://extratv.com/2019/12/18/denise-richards-reveals-emergency-medical-scare/?adid=extra_eme_27315_2019-12-18_rightnow4

💍 Congratulations, I Guess…

Since they were divorced, but never really apart, it’s hard to get excited.

https://extratv.com/2019/12/17/reality-stars-robyn-and-juan-dixon-engaged-again-after-2012-divorce/?adid=extra_eme_27314_2019-12-17_rightnow1

🎭 Whose Mask Is It Anyway…

I’ve loved Wayne Brady forever. I was blessed to see him in Chicago on Broadway, and hung out afterward, to ask him to sign my program. There were quite a few of us waiting, and every time the stage door opened, you could feel everyone get ready. Then, when it wasn’t him, there was a collective feeling of disappointment. Now we call every letdown after anticipatory feels, a Wayne Brady moment. He did eventually come out and sign programs just in case you were wondering.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/bbs-wayne-brady-wins-the-masked-singer/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🐕 God’s Best Invention…

Dogs are the best! If you keep watching, there’s a whole sequence of videos of dogs throwing tantrums for various reasons. This first one is annoyed by a cat in her bed. It reminds me of when our cat used to deliberately sit in the middle of the doorway because the dogs were too afraid to go past him. The cartoons have it backward.

https://digg.com/video/dog-throws-a-temper-tantrum-when-she-catches-cat-sleeping-in-her-bed?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

🔔 Quotes of the Week

Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words. – Harlan Miller

A good conscience is a continual Christmas. – Benjamin Franklin

Hanukkah is about the spark of the divine in all of us made in God’s image. – Suzanne Fields

We’re not doing anything that hasn’t been done better by Burl Ives, God rest his soul. Possibly. I don’t know whether he’s dead or alive. – Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), King of Queens

Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room. – Nora Roberts

Just as Hanukkah candles are lighted one by one from a single flame, so the tale of the miracle is passed from one man to another, from one house to another, and to the whole House of Israel throughout the generations. – Judah L. Magnes

And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent… –  Taylor Caldwell

Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see. – The Polar Express

Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance—a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. – Augusta E. Handel

Ho-ho-ho! – Santa Claus

🎁 And One More…

Scrooge was better than his word.  He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father.

He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.  Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but his own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.

May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

HappyHanukkah5

🎇 It’s a Mitzvah…

Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hanukkah!

Dec15

December 14 (really 13), 2019 – Excuses, Ava Decides To Auction a Masterpiece, Lucky Number Quotes, Short Cut & Almost a Carol

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What I Watched Today

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

 

🎅 As promised, Friday’s GH. Sorry to be a day late, but last night I did some Christmas caroling at a nursing home with a group of karaoke friends, and then made an appearance at a neighborhood holiday party. Since Yahoo Groups is closing, when I got home, I frantically scrolled through photos there in case there was anything important that I didn’t have. You know. Like pictures of other people’s dogs. Moving on.

General Hospital

Peter tells Deanna that he’s trying to ascertain the patient’s condition. The gunman wouldn’t be fighting for his life, if not for him. Jason walks over, and says, the gunman is fighting for his life because tried to kill two people. Peter says, even so, he’d like to know how he’s doing. Deanna says, he’s still in the OR, and Peter asks, what about Franco?

Anna finds Elizabeth drowsing in a chair near Franco’s bed. Elizabeth tells her that Andre just took Franco for an MRI. Anna asks if he’s still unconscious, and Elizabeth nods. Anna wonders if it’s to be expected at this point, but Elizabeth has no idea. Anna says, uncharted territory, and Elizabeth tells Anna that she just wants Franco to wake up; as himself or someone else. Whatever it is, they’ll deal with it later; just wake up.

Carly tells Sonny, she hates that Ava is at their house. He says, Avery was asking for her, and Carly says she knows it’s the right thing, but she still hates it. Ava comes downstairs, saying, it was a nice visit. Carly says, now it’s over. Time to go. Ava says, Avery is doing so well; she’s a fantastic kid. Carly rolls her eyes, and Ava thanks Sonny for taking such good care of Avery. He says he did it for Avery’s sake; the same reason he brought Avery to Shadybrook. Ava says she’ll never forget it, and Carly says she’ll never forget Ava trying to have Mike arrested for kidnapping Avery when he was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The lack of compassion is ironic, since Ava just got out of a mental ward she checked herself into. Ava says, turns out she was mistaken. She’s never been more sane.

Laura meets Curtis at Kelly’s and they hug. He says, it’s been too long. She says, work. Running the city would be so easy without it. He asks about the overcrowding at Pentenville, and she says there’s a mass of prisoners slated for early release, and her constituents are not happy about it. He says, it’s too bad they fill one of those freed up cells with Valentin’s ass. She says she hopes they can relieve Valentin of his fortune, and return it to it’s rightful owner. Curtis says he’ll drink to that, and they clink glasses.

Nina flashes back to Ava showing her Helena’s portrait at the gallery, and Ava saying she knows exactly what they’re going to do next. Jax appears, startling Nina, and he tells her Valentin paid him a visit last night.

Nikolas texts Jax; Pier 17 ASAP. He hears Valentin and Charlotte coming. Valentin is on the phone with Martin, telling him that their priority is the painting. He tells Charlotte to stay where he can see her, but she skips off, and sees Nikolas behind a gate. She whispers that she knows who he is. Valentin says, of course (🍷) the painting didn’t disappear. Nikolas tells Charlotte, of course (🍷) she knows him; he’s her secret bodyguard. She says she saw his picture on her grandma’s phone, and he says that’s because he saved her life once. That’s how Valentin knew he was trustworthy. She says she fell off the monkey bars, and when she called for him, everyone laughed. He says he has to keep out of sight, but she says she thought he got paid to help her.

Laura can’t believe TJ is thinking about getting married, and Curtis says, he’s gearing up to pop the question. She asks how Molly can be that old. He tells her, Jordan is on the fence. It’s not that she doesn’t adore Molly. Laura gets it. She likes Dustin, but… He says, they’re not thinking of getting married, and she says, they’re just in the getting-to-know-you phase. He says he thinks they walked in on that phase. She suggests they talk about Valentin. He’s dangerous, but no one has been able to pin anything on him. Curtis says, no one on the fringes, but maybe it’s time they took a look a little closer to home.

Jax looks at Nikolas’s text. He tells Nina that he’s worried about her because there’s more tension between him and Valentin. He doesn’t want her getting caught in the middle. She says she’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. He says he knows that, but it’s escalated past that point. She says, things have been escalating for months, and Jax says, ever since he rescued her from the wedding, Valentin has been openly hostile. She asks if that’s what last night was about, and he says Valentin accused him of trying to bring him down so he can have Nina for himself. Nina laughs, and asks if Valentin was right.

Anna tells Elizabeth, it stands to reason that if Cabot – who’s half the doctor Andre is – was successful, the odds are in Andre’s favor to reverse the procedure. Elizabeth says she’s sorry to sound ungrateful. They wouldn’t even be having this conversation if not for Peter. She wouldn’t be waiting for Franco to wake up; she’d be burying him. Anna’s son saved her husband’s life.

Deanna tells Peter that she’s sorry, but she can’t share the Franco’s status with him. Peter tells her not to apologize. He’ll check with Elizabeth. Jason wonders who Franco will be when he wakes up, and what he’ll remember. Peter jets, and Jason sees Anna. He asks if they can talk, but not there. They get in the elevator.

Laura says, Curtis wants to bring Nina into this? She’s Valentin’s apologist and chief. She’s been making excuses for him for years. When she did manage to take her blinders off, she put them back on, and she’s going to remarry him. Curtis feels that Nina’s decision was uninformed, and Laura asks how much information Nina needs? Her long lost daughter, who Valentin hired, admits she’s not Nina’s long lost daughter. What a scam. Curtis says they know Valentin was behind it, but Sasha still claims she acted alone. Laura says, Nina is the only person on the planet who believes it. He tells her, if they present hardcore evidence to Nina that Valentin was involved, she would ditch him and help them. Laura asks if hardcore evidence exists, and does he have it.

Jax says he has no desire to take Nina away from Valentin. That would presume she can’t make her own decisions. He thinks she should remove herself entirely from the situation. He asks if that’s still the plan, or did her revenge plot hit a snag? She asks him not to call it revenge. It’s evolving, but the snag is the same. She hates Valentin’s lies, and wants to bring him to his knees as payback, but she can’t deny that he and Charlotte brought her happiness, especially Charlotte. Being part of that family has meant everything to her. It’s made the walk on the wild side worth it. When Charlotte came into Valentin’s life, it was like a missing piece of the puzzle. Jax asks how a man doesn’t have a child one minute, and does the next. Didn’t it set off alarm bells?

Nikolas tells Charlotte, she has to be in way more serious trouble for him to come. Valentin calls to Charlotte. He asks what she was doing, and she says, talking to someone. He asks, who? and she says she’s not sure. Valentin says they’ve had this discussion, and she can’t talk to strangers. She says, he’s not a real stranger, and Valentin says she knows how important this is. He tells her, they’re late to meet Nina, and have to go.

Carly asks if sane what Ava calls the slo-mo nervous breakdown she’s been having for months. Ava says she’s no longer seeing things that are not there. Sonny asks how she came to this breakthrough, and she flashes back to Nina showing her the ring, and saying, ghosts don’t wear rings with the Cassadine crest. There are only a few in existence, and Nikolas has one of them. Ava tells Sonny that she realized sometimes there’s more truth to a so-called hallucination than there appears. Donna cries, and Ava says she’ll let them get back to their lives. She thanks them again for taking care of Avery during this difficult time. She tells Carly, Lucas is a lovely person. She hopes he gets better quickly. She’d say Carly is in her thoughts, but then Carly might think she’s crazy. Carly and Sonny look at each other.

Jason and Anna go into a conference room. Anna asks, what’s going on? and Jason says, it’s Peter. He’s the reason Sam’s in prison.

Leaving a message for Jax, Carly says she just saw Ava, and she’s not at Shadybrook. She checked herself out, and Carly thinks it has something to do with their mutual friend. Call her. She’s rapidly losing patience. Sonny tells Carly that Donna is asleep. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she was just negotiating something regarding Jax’s roommate. She asks if Sonny believed Ava’s performance, and Sonny asks if she doesn’t buy it. Carly says, there’s no doubt she’s better, but there’s more going on than Ava is saying. He says as long as it doesn’t involve Avery. He has more important things on his mind. Carly asks how it went with Mike last night, and Sonny says, it was fine; they played dice. She tells him that Josslyn told her about the Joe Skully thing, and that Mike thought he was Skully, and thought Dev was Sonny. Sonny says it’s not a big deal, and if she knows the answers why is she asking? She says they can’t be in denial. They need to have an honest discussion about what’s best for Mike. He laughs, and she asks what he’s laughing about. He says she’s talking about honesty when she and Jax have been lying to him for weeks.

Nina says, Claudette a mercenary little snake who was married to her late brother, then had an affair with a priest. He’s since left the priesthood, and calls himself Dr. Griffin Monroe. Jax says he just met Griff; he’s in town for a bit. Nina says fast forward to Claudette coming to Port Charles and wreaking havoc on Nathan. She produced a beautiful little girl, who she first said was Nathan’s, then Griff’s, and then she disappeared. Then Valentin announced Charlotte was his. Valentin is this bachelor with an angelic little girl, and looking back, it’s clear she fell in love with the pair of them. Jax asks how Lulu fits into it, and Nina says, after his announcement, Valentin explained that Lulu was Charlotte’s biological mother, and Claudette was a surrogate. Jax says, and by the time the truth came out, Claudette was gone? Nina tells him, it was reported as a suicide, and he says, unless Valentin  murdered her. Nina must be troubled by that possibility. Nina says, no.

Curtis tells Laura that he has evidence. He puts the odds of convincing Nina at about 80%. Laura thinks it’s not good enough. If Nina isn’t swayed, she’ll run back to Valentin, and tell him what they’re up to. He asks if she doesn’t think Valentin is on to them already. What about the run in she had with the lawyer who asked about the portrait?  Laura says Valentin wants the painting as much as they do, and he says Nina is the closest one to Valentin. If there are any skeletons in his closet, she can bring them to light, and they’ll bury him. They have everything to gain, and not much to lose. She says, not for her, but Nina is a friend of his. It could put a permanent rift in their relationship. He asks what kind of friend would he be, if he let Nina marry Valentin after what he’s done? and she says he wouldn’t be the friend he is. Valentin walks in, and she says, speak of the devil. They can’t afford lose sight of the portrait, so if Curtis is going to make his case, do it fast.

At the hospital, Elizabeth tells Peter that she’s glad to see him. He saved Franco’s life.

Anna asks if Jason wants her to believe Peter is responsible for all of it. Jason says Shiloh chose his words carefully, but dropped Peter’s name, so it would get back to Peter and light a fire under him. Shiloh was threatening to tell what Peter did to Jason and Drew. They know Peter was at the original memory transfer, and Andre confirmed it, but he played a bigger role than he’s ever let on, and Shiloh knew it. Anna asks if he has proof, but he says, no.

Jason says he wouldn’t say this if he wasn’t absolutely sure, but she says he has no evidence. He tells her, he can connect Peter to Brice, who implicated Sam in Shiloh’s breakout. Andre ID’d Brice as his attacker, and it ties into Drew’s disappearance. Anna asks where Brice is now, and Jason says, he’s dead, but he was cutting a deal to give Peter up to the Feds. Brice told him that Peter sent him to eliminate Andre before he could treat Franco. When it didn’t work, Peter sent a gunman to try and kill Franco and Andre in the OR. She asks, then why would Peter stop the man trying to kill them? Jason says, maybe the plan went south, or maybe the plan changed, but Peter didn’t want anybody messing with Franco’s head. He didn’t want the wrong memory to surface and implicate him.

Carly asks what Sonny is talking about? Sonny says she was whispering on the phone, but she says she wasn’t. She told him that she was talking to Jax. He says, about whoever is shacked up at Jax’s house, keeping Josslyn from staying there. She says Jax is trying to protect her, but Sonny says, she’s a junior in high school. It won’t blow her life apart if she finds out Jax has a new girlfriend. She says, after the year Josslyn has had? and Sonny says, she’s lying. She says, he’s the expert, and he says he can see right through her. Tell him that he’s wrong. What is she up to with Jax that she’s afraid of him finding out?

Nikolas paces at the pier, and says, where the hell are you, Jax? He looks at Spencer’s picture, and promises they’ll see each other again soon.

Trina shows up at the gallery, and Ava says, there she is, her intrepid intern. She hopes Trina didn’t mind being called in on her day off. She thought Trina would like to see how the prepare for an auction. This is the perfect opportunity. Trina asks, for what? and Ava says, a payoff that’s long overdue.

Laura says it’s a treat to see Charlotte, and Charlotte says they’re meeting Nina. Laura suggests they peruse today’s selection of scones. They go to the counter, and Valentin says he hopes he’s not speaking out of turn, but Nina misses Curtis. Curtis says he misses her too, and Valentin asks how come he hasn’t reached out? Curtis says he didn’t think Nina would want to hear from him. Their last conversation didn’t end well. Valentin asks if it’s Curtis’s plan ghost her over him, or can Curtis see fit to accept their relationship, and wish her well?

Jax says he doesn’t buy it. There’s no way Nina would look the other way when it comes to murder. Nina says he’s right, but as it happens, she didn’t have to; Claudette isn’t dead. He asks who told her, and she says Valentin did, but she has more information. Valentin staged Claudette’s suicide, and payed her off. She took the money, and it would have worked if Cassandra hadn’t taken her to use as leverage. But Cassandra slipped into a coma, and Valentin freed Claudette. He asks where Claudette is now.

Elizabeth tells Peter that she and her boys owe him a huge debt of gratitude. The only reason Franco is coming back to them, is because Peter got in the way of a killer. He says he only did what had to do.

Jason asks if Anna doesn’t think it’s strange that Peter was by the OR at the same time. There are too many coincidences. Peter being in the wrong place at the wrong time too many times. It all adds up. She says, it adds up for him. He was Peter’s prisoner, held for five years, drugged and insensible, away from his family. She hasn’t forgotten. She can’t excuse it, but she can’t give him back five years of his life. Peter has remade his life, and he’s not the same person he was.

Ava asks Trina if she’s pulled up the caterer’s information. She wants Trina to handle the necessary arrangements. She’ll need waitstaff, and enough food and drink for thirty people. Trina asks if Ava wants her to work the auction, and Ava says, unless Trina doesn’t feel she’s ready. Trina says can handle it, and Ava says she’s counting on Trina. Tonight, the Jerome Gallery is going to host some of the most discerning tastemakers in Port Charles. They’re going to auction off some of their most iconic pieces, including their most controversial one. Trina says, not Heather Webber, but Ava says, no. This beautiful masterpiece, and picks up the portrait of Helena.

Laura tells Charlotte that she’s glad they had cranberry scones; Charlotte’s favorite. Seeing Charlotte’s bandaged hand, she asks what Charlotte did to it, and Charlotte says she fell off the monkey bars. Laura tells her to be more careful, but Charlotte says she didn’t think she had to. Papa hired a bodyguard who’s supposed to protect all the time.

Nina tells Jax that she has no idea where Claudette is. She’s probably off swindling someone else. If Valentin was as bloodthirsty as everyone says, it would be easy for him to make the suicide real. Jax says she’s back to defending Valentin, but she says she’s not. She’s sorting things out; the good and bad. It would be easier if she could be childish, and say Valentin has always been the bad guy who she’ll hate forever, but Valentin’s not just that. There’s a lot of good in him. There’s a lot of love in him, and he’s done kind and generous things. She’s weighing the good and bad, and seeing which one will win. Jax says, it’s levelheaded of her, and she says she’s sensing sarcasm. He says,. He hopes Nina sees that she’s better off without Valentin. The alternative is that she keeps rationalizing no it, until all the bad catches up with Valentin, and she and Charlotte pay the price. He leaves before she can respond.

Carly tells Sonny that Jax asked her to do him a favor. Sonny says, a favor she can’t tell him about? and she says, yes. He asks if she’s cool with that, and she says, no. She didn’t want any of this. It’s just something she has to do. He asks if Jax is blackmailing her, and she says, no. She found out something she wasn’t supposed to. If Sonny knew… Sonny says, knew what? and she says it would make it worse for everyone, including him. He needs to not push her. Let her do this. He asks if she doesn’t trust him, and she says she’s asking him to trust her. She didn’t choose to know what she knows, but she can chose to carry it herself. He says, so now she’s doing him a favor? Carly’s phone dings, and it’s a text from Jax: Pier 17. NOW. Sonny asks, is that it? and she says she has to go. He’ll understand soon. She leaves, even though he asks her not to.

Peter asks Elizabeth how Franco is doing, and she says, he hasn’t woken up. He’s having an MRI. He asks if Andre has made a prognosis, but she says, no. They’re in the super fun wait-and-see stage. At least it’s an option. She was afraid he wouldn’t make it through procedure. Peter says, but he did, and she says, thanks to him. She wonders if she should check in, and he says, anything that would offer her peace mind, he’s for all it. She says, you and me both, and leaves.

Jason tells Anna that Peter kept him prisoner for one reason; to kill Faison, which is exactly what he did. Anna says she thought he was protecting Carly. He tells her that he hates having lost five years, and that he was kept locked up until he was needed, but he put it aside and got his life back. Out of respect for her, he put all that aside, but Peter used Sam. He paid Brice to tell the cops that Sam paid him to break Shiloh out. Now she’s locked up away from her kids. It all started with Peter. He knows Peter is her son… Anna says she doesn’t know what he wants her to do, but he says she does. The question is, will she?

Ava calls Sonny, and he asks what she needs. She says she just wanted to thank him for how well he handled her recent struggles with Avery. She’s doing so well. She was appropriate concerned, but not frightened or upset. Ava thinks they’ve finally landed in a good place of co-parenting. Sonny says he’s glad she and Avery had a nice time. He’ll set up another visit soon. She says, that would be wonderful. Take care. He hangs up, and looks puzzled.

Carly waits at the pier. Jax joins her, and she says, it’s about time. He asks if Nikolas is there, and she says, is he supposed to be? Jax says Nikolas texted him to meet there. He says he got her message; what’s going on with Ava? She says, first things first. Sonny is on to them. He’s going to figure it out, and Jax is handing over the information Sonny needs to deport him. Jax says, that’s not a wise tactic, considering Sonny’s cousin is there illegally. Carly says, Sonny doesn’t care. He’s going through so much with his father, it’s affecting his judgement. Jax appreciates the warning, but he’s handling things. He’s in the process of cutting Nikolas loose. Nikolas arrives, and says, good. They’re both there. They have a lot to discuss.

Curtis tells Valentin, make no mistake. He’ll be there for Nina, Valentin or no Valentin. Valentin says, good. Make sure he RSVPs. Curtis says he wouldn’t miss it. At the counter, Laura tells Charlotte, back up a second. What does she mean, bodyguard? Charlotte says she’s not supposed to talk about it. Her papa hired him after Cassandra snatched her. He’s always around, but she never sees him. At least not when anyone is around. Laura asks if he’s there now, and Charlotte says he said he’d only appear if she needed help, but how did he let her get this. She holds up her hand. Valentin calls her over, and Curtis goes to the counter. He asks if something is wrong, and Laura says she’s not sure, but she thinks after what happened with Cassandra, maybe Charlotte has a little PTSD. She’s conjured up an imaginary bodyguard.

Nina apologizes to Valentin and Charlotte for keeping them waiting, especially Charlotte. She got in so late last night, Charlotte was asleep. Valentin says she’s been burning the midnight oil a lot at Crimson. She says she has a tight deadline and a lot of pieces to put together. She didn’t know Valentin was going to see Jax last night, and he says he was hoping for a meeting of the minds. He’s hoping she wasn’t expecting a truce though. Charlotte excuses herself, and Valentin tells Nina that he didn’t come away completely empty-handed. Jax confessed that his motives aren’t purely financial. He wants Valentin out of the way, so he can have Nina to himself. She asks if Jax said that, and Valentin says, he didn’t have to. Jax will never come between them, just like he’s not going to get his hands on that portrait.

Trina asks how much Ava thinks this horror show is worth, and Ava says, mid six figures. Trina understands that the painting has inherent value, but who would want to hang it on their wall? Ava says, it is pretty nasty, but the art business is all about marketing. Zero in on the right audience, and you can make a fortune. She hits send on her phone.

Jax looks at the dry cleaning in Nikolas’s hand, and says, really? Nikolas says Jax took his sweet time, so he did some errands. Jax says all Nikolas should care about is finding the ring. Carly asks, what ring? and Jax says, the one with the Cassadine crest. Carly says, the ring no one could possibly have except Nikolas? Ava knows. She just saw Ava, and she’s making all kinds of noise about seeing things clearly, and how some hallucinations are real. Jax asks if Nikolas knows anything about that, and Nikolas says he haunted Ava the other night at Shadybrook, but it paid off. He got her to admit she still has the portrait. Jax asks if Nikolas had the ring on his finger when he left, and Carly says, oh my God. Nikolas says, the situation is still salvageable. All he needs is just one more crack at the painting. Jax’s phone dings, and he says Nikolas just might get his shot. He shows Nikolas the phone.

Laura gets a text from Ava. She says, Helena’s portrait. Valentin shows Nina his phone. There’s a picture of Ava with the portrait, and underneath, it says, J. Garrin’s masterpiece is up for auction tonight. Bring your checkbooks.

Ava tells Trina, that’s what you call building anticipation. Now all they have to do is sit back… Trina says, and watch the money roll in. Ava laughs, and says, you wouldn’t know to look at it, but this is the kind of art people kill for.

On Monday, Laura needs to talk to someone about Charlotte, Andre tells Elizabeth that Franco signed a DNR, Jax tells Nikolas to stop interrupting him so he can make it happen, and Valentin says may the best man win.

🙌 Quotes of the Week

We really ended in places no one has a reason to go, not even reindeer! – Mathilde Le Moullec, who searched for reindeer in the far reaches of Norway to track their recovery

Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. – The Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank

Perception is reality, and the truth is not. – Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, in Lauren Greenfield‘s chilling new documentary The Kingmaker (What freaks me out is, I think a lot of people subscribe to that theory.)

There’s more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty. – John Steinbeck

Sometimes, we are so attached to our way of life that we turn down wonderful opportunities simply because we don’t know what to do with it. – Paulo Coelho

If she has one more facelift, she’ll be wearing her ass as a hat. – Evelyn Harper (Holland Taylor), Two and a Half Men

🌃 Not Quite an Early Night…

Cutting it short, since I have zero cards sent out, and I’m not much further along in my Christmas shopping. I’d love to blame it on the late Thanksgiving this year, but the truth is, it’s my own fault. The wreath, however, is on the front door. So points for me.

🎄 Get Out Of My House, Kenny G…

Not exactly a Christmas song, but it was at the end of Bad Mom’s Christmas, so close enough.