Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Orange County

October 11, 2024 – Brad Wonders What Portia Is Up To, Glow Girl, Salty Talk, She’s a Lot, Charming Update, Villain Down, His Costumes, Upcoming Watch, Runway Worthy, 8 Solid Quotes & This

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly says, Lulu seems to be getting worse, and Lucas says he can’t believe none of her brothers are viable donors. Carly says, wait. Ethan was tested? and Lucas says, apparently, Holly contacted him. She says, with the three of them out of the running, finding a donor seems less and less likely, but he says, between her and Nina getting the word out and Olivia contacting everyone she knows, they still have reason to be hopeful. Ava comes by and says she had no idea Lucas was back in town. Although she can’t say she’s completely surprised considering she didn’t hear from him when he was here for his mother’s funeral. He says he was here for his family, and she says she’s family. Is there any special reason for this visit? Carly says, it’s not a visit. Lucas is home for good. Meet GH’s new trauma surgeon.

Martin visits Alexis and asks, how is his effervescently challenged client today? She says, judging from his effervescence, she takes it he gave the photo to Anna, but he says, actually, he had to leave it with her assistant, and he hasn’t heard back yet. Then again, he doesn’t remember having Alexis convinced that his picture was going to get the charges against her dropped. She says her lawyer instincts kicked in and he says, so did his. That’s why he had his P.I. do a little more digging. She says she takes it his P.I. found something, and he says, she did. As far as he’s concerned, Alexis should be out of here by the end of the day.

Anna goes to Robert’s office, and he asks what brings her by. She says, this, and drops a file on his desk. He says, and this would be? and she says, proof that Alexis Davis is innocent.

Cody sees Elizabeth at the hospital, and she says, if he’s looking for Dante, he’s not here at the moment. He says he just wanted to tell Dante in person that he’s being tested to see if he’s a match for Lulu. She says, that’s great. She’s sure he’ll be pleased. He asks how it’s going. Are people coming in? She says, yes, and people are getting tested in other places as well. He says, Mama Q strikes again. He was bummed to hear that Lulu’s brother Lucky wasn’t able to donate. She says, that was rough, and he says, especially for Dante. He doesn’t know how much longer Dante can hold out hope. She says, he’s not one to give up, and he says, but he’s realist and he knows Dante is bracing himself in case Lulu doesn’t make it.

At the station, Dex asks how Dante is doing, and Dante says, they’re hanging in there. Dex says, Joss told him that Lulu’s brother can’t be the donor. He’s really sorry. Dante says, they’re not giving up, and Dex says he has an appointment to get tested over his lunch hour. Dante thanks him, and Dex says, if Dante doesn’t mind him saying, he’s surprised Dante came in. Dante says he just has to finish some stuff up, then he’s taking a leave of absence to be with Rocco and Lulu. Is it true there was a bomb threat here yesterday? Dex says, someone dropped off a suspicious package. It turned out to be a gun. Dante says, a package with a gun in it? and Dex says, the theory is, it’s the gun Alexis Davis dropped off the bridge. He saw the ballistics report. It’s definitely not the gun that killed Cates.

Sonny thanks Kristina for coming to the penthouse, and she sees Michael is there. She says, Sonny sounded urgent on the phone. Now she knows why. Clearly, Michael told him that she went to see Anna last night. Don’t worry. She didn’t say anything because he stopped her… Sonny says, it’s not about that. He’s not mad. He loves her very much. She says she loves him too. What’s going on? Sonny says he’s made up his mind. He’s not going to let Alexis pay for his crimes. He’s going to confess to killing Jagger.

Ava says, Lucas is moving back to Port Charles. Why didn’t he tell her? Carly asks, why would he? and Lucas says, neither one of them has reached out to the other since he left. She says she sent her condolences when his mother passed, and Carly asks if she read the note that Trina wrote before she sent it. Ava says she’s hoping to have an uninterrupted conversation with her nephew, and Lucas asks if that’s really necessary. Maybe there’s a reason they’re not close, and maybe that doesn’t need to change. She says, he’s right that they’re not close, but they are family. She can’t wait for him to see Avery. She’s grown up so much. She’s so beautiful. He says he knows. Carly sends him tons of pictures of Avery, so he’s all up to date. She says, that’s so kind of Carly, and Carly says, family is important to Spencers. Ava says, Lucas may have grown up with Bobbie and Tony Jones, but there’s no changing the fact that he’s Julian’s son. Carly says, it’s funny she would bring up Julian when he’s the reason Lulu is fighting for her life, and Ava says she’s sure she and Lucas have feelings about that because they were close to Julian and Carly certainly wasn’t. Carly says she’ll tell Ava about Lucas’s feelings, but Lucas says he’d like a minute alone with Aunt Ava. Carly says, sure, and he thanks her for understanding. Ava says, her magnanimity knows no bounds, and Carly says she’ll see Lucas at home, and leaves. Ava asks if they should get a cup of coffee, but Lucas says, right here is fine. She says, okay. Was there something… He says he would like her to explain why she outed Kristina’s girlfriend Blaze.

Elizabeth tells Portia that they’re having so many people being tested for Lulu, their labs are getting backed up. Can she please approve some overtime for their techs? Portia says, consider it done. And speaking of the lab, has she had any trouble with Brad Cooper?

Alexis says, don’t keep her in suspense. What is this new information that’s going to set her free? Martin says, their P.I. was able to get a copy of Jack Brennan’s room service order. Dinner for two with champagne, i.e. ooh-la-la. He’s already emailed a copy of it over to Commissioner Devane. (Really? He’s better than this. That proves nothing except Jack was having dinner with someone.) She says, that’s it? and he asks what she means. You combine that with a picture of Carly going into his hotel suite… Alexis says, at this point, she doesn’t think that’s enough proof, and he says, she’s right. It doesn’t actually prove anything. She says, that’s the funny thing about evidence. It’s supposed to prove stuff. He says, no, it’s not. This evidence is there to cast doubt on Sonny and Carly’s alibi. That’s it. She says she just doesn’t think that Brennan’s room service order or a picture of them is going to do that. He says he’s done a heck of a lot more with a hell of a lot less, and she says she’s so glad he’s so confident. It’s a long shot at best. He says, fine. He’s open to suggestions since she doesn’t seem to like any of his. She says, the only thing that’s going to get her out of here is if Sonny confesses, and he laughs. He says, and how likely is it that a known crime boss is going to let his conscience get the better of him? and she says, not likely. Because he’s not going to put Kristina in the mix. He says, how about if they somehow tie Sonny to the murder weapon? and she says, that weapon is in a thousand pieces somewhere or it’s melted down. He says, fine. So where does that leave them? She says, with the improbable possibility that Sonny is going to put Kristina at risk and come forward and save her.

Anna says, and inside the package is a chrome nine-millimeter pistol, and Robert says, like the one Ric Lansing and Elizabeth Baldwin saw Alexis throw off the Blackstone Canyon bridge. She says, it matches the description, so she’s going to bring them in and see if they can positively ID it. He asks if it’s worth her time. There’s plenty of nine-mills out there. She says, the lab turned up minerals that are found in the Blackstone River, enough to confirm it had probably been there for several weeks. They also ran the serial number, and the gun is registered to Sonny Corinthos. He says, similar to the one that disappeared shortly after Cates’s murder, and she says, yeah. At least they’ll be able to tell if it’s the murder weapon or not. He says, if it clears Alexis, that’s all for the best. He thinks they all know she didn’t do it. She says, there are far more likely suspects, and he says, one in particular. She says, if Sonny did this, they’re never going to find the weapon that he used. The FBI is going to have to build a case without it. He says, it didn’t stop them where Alexis is concerned, and she says, it will now. She’s going to call Martin Grey and let him know. He says, let’s not be hasty.

Kristina says, Sonny can’t do this. She knows he’s doing this because of her. He says he’s doing this so her mother doesn’t have to pay for something she didn’t do, and she says, it’s not going to work. Mom said so herself. She talked to her about it and she said, if Sonny goes to the FBI, they’re going to think it’s only to protect her. Sonny says he’s got it under control. He’s got a meeting with the FBI today. She says, no. She can’t lose him. He says, she’s not going to lose him, but she says she will if he goes to prison. He says, she has to understand something. This is the right thing to do. She says, there has to be another way, and Michael says, this is the only way to keep her mother out of prison. Sonny says, they both know Jagger came at him. Jagger couldn’t get him, so he went after everybody Sonny loves. Jagger wanted to hurt them, and he hurt Kristina in the lowest moment of her life. He had to be stopped. She asks if that’s what he’s going to tell the Feds, and he says he’s going to tell the Feds the truth. He doesn’t want anyone else paying for Jagger Cates’s death.

In the lab, Brad says, it’s good to see Cody, and Cody says he takes it Brad is back at GH. Brad says, on a probationary basis. He really wants this to work out, so no capers, no schemes, no altering lab results. Just doing what he loves where he loves doing it. Cody asks if his aunt is okay with this career change, and Brad says, she finally realized he wouldn’t be a good fit for her business. Cody says he knows Britt would be happy to see him back here, and Brad says, full disclosure. He invoked her name to get his foot in the door. Cody laughs and says, she would have loved that, and Brad says, damn right she would. Cody says, it sounds like Brad is all good, and Brad says, mostly. His ex-husband Lucas is also back at GH.

Lucas says he knows Ava recorded Natalia Ramirez and gave her audio to The Invader, and Ava says she’s sure Carly could wait to tell him. He says, she had no right to out Blaze. Nobody should be forced to come out before they’re ready. She says she agrees with him completely. She had no intention of outing Blaze. She’s spent half her life in the art world. You don’t do what she’s doing without being an ally to the gay community. He says, then why did she do it? and she says she was trying to protect Avery. He says, from what? and she says, Sonny. She was trying to get any proof she could that he was incapable of providing a suitable home for her. He asks what Natalia had to do with that, and she says, Sonny was trying to take Avery away from her. He says he’s still not following, and she says she thought by exposing his companion Natalia for the bigot she is, it would reflect badly on Sonny, and it would help her with her custody case. It didn’t help at all. He says, she’s just like Julian. He never thought about anybody but himself either. She says, he doesn’t think Sonny would do the same to her? Or worse? He asks if Sonny is really the best person to use as a moral barometer, and she says she supposes not. But when it comes to Julian, he was a deeply flawed man, but he loved Lucas with everything he had, and Lucas knows it.

Elizabeth says, don’t hate her for saying this… and Portia says, let her guess. Brad’s work has been flawless. Elizabeth says, it has. Sorry. Portia says, what about his attitude? His demeanor? Elizabeth says, beyond reproach. Trust her. She’s as shocked as Portia is. Portia says she just doesn’t understand why he’s working here. Brad puts the entire hospital at risk. Elizabeth says she’s certainly not going to defend Brad as a person, but since he’s been back, his work has been excellent. For all his faults, he knows his job.

Walking into the hospital, Kristina says, Michael didn’t have to escort her to therapy, and he says he wants to make sure she’s all right. She asks how she could possibly be all right. Their father is about to go to prison. He says, Diane is going to get him the best deal possible, and she says, she’s not a miracle worker. He says, they have to trust dad knows what he’s doing, and Diane knows how to get it done, and she says she knows he’s right. He says, pick her up in an hour? and she asks if he has a real job. (My question exactly!) He says he doesn’t want her to be alone right now, and she says she appreciates that. She means this lovingly, but please just go home. He says, fine. He’ll check on her later. She says, much later, and watches as he leaves. She takes out her phone and sends a text to Dante asking, where are you?

Dante’s phone dings, and he answers, headed to GH soon. She texts back, good. I’m already there. He gets up to leave, and Dex asks if he can talk to Dante for a second. He spoke to the Commissioner, and she wants to keep the ballistics report on the gun confidential for now. Dante asks, why is that? and Dex says he’s not sure, but he probably shouldn’t have said anything, so can they keep this between them? Dante says he already forgot about it, and Dex thanks him. Dante gets another text from Kristina that says, we need 2 talk ASAP!!!

Robert says, Diane has requested a meeting between Counselor Reynolds and her client Sonny Corinthos, and Anna says, to talk about the Cates murder? He says, they both know Sonny killed Cates. His conscience has never bothered him until now. Why bother talking? She says, now this is making sense. Because Kristina came to see her to tell her that she had information about the night Cates was killed. He says, she told him Michael stopped her, and she says, yeah, he did. So whatever it is that Kristina was going to say… He says, Michael knows what it is and they’re both covering for Sonny, and she says, if anything could make Sonny talk, it would be his kids. He asks if she really thinks Sonny would give up his freedom to protect his kids, and she says she thinks it’s possible. What time is this meeting? He says, noon today, and she says, so he wants her to keep the ballistics results under wraps until after Sonny has met with the FBI? He says he doesn’t know about her, but he can’t wait to hear what Sonny has to say, and she says, if he finds out what’s in the report, he’s going to change his mind about talking. Robert says, and the last thing they need is to give Sonny an excuse not to confess.

Anna says, they better get busy then, and Robert says, doing what? She says, breaking Sonny’s alibi. If Carly finds out Sonny is going to confess, then she might change her statement. She’d hate to see Carly go down covering for him. He says, she’d be an accessory to murder of a federal agent, and she says, even so. Sonny’s kids don’t deserve to lose both their parents.

Coming out of the lab, Brad says, enough about him. What’s up with Cody? Cody asks where he begins, and Brad says, how about the rumor that he’s Mac Scorpio’s son? Hospital gossip. Is it true? Cody says, yeah, it’s true, and Brad asks, how’s that been going? Cody says he almost ruined it right off the bat, and Brad says, naturally. Cody says, but Mac’s such a great guy, Mac forgave him, and Brad says he’s sure saving Maxie’s son from drowning probably scored Cody a few points. Cody says, it didn’t hurt, but he’s not really comfortable being seen as the hero. Brad says, why? He looks good in a white hat. Cody says he’s just glad everything turned out okay, and Brad says, because Mac is the best guy he knows. Cody says, he really is, and Brad says, and Lucas is the best guy he knows. So maybe Lucas will forgive him too. He hugs Cody and says, thanks. He’s the best. Portia comes out of the elevator and says, Mr. Cooper. Is this what you consider professional behavior?

Dante asks Kristina, what’s going on? What’s with all the text messages? She says, dad is meeting with the FBI at noon. He’s going to confess to killing Agent Cates. Dante says he doesn’t know anything about any meetings. Is Anna involved in this? She says she has no idea. All she knows is dad said he was meeting Diane at the PCPD to talk to the Feds. She knows Dante has figured out she knows more than she’s let on. He asks if she killed Cates, but she says, no. He asks if she saw who did kill Cates, and she says, no. Dante tells her, then she does what Sonny says. Do nothing and say nothing. She says, and just let him throw his life away? and he says, that depends. Does she trust their father enough to do what he’s asking her to do?

Sonny visits Alexis and she asks if Kristina is okay. He says, she’s fine, and she says she wasn’t expecting to see him. He says he thinks there’s something she should know, and she asks what it is. He says he has a meeting today at noon with FBI counsel Reynolds, and she says, the prosecutor in her case. Why? He says he’s going to tell him the truth.

Alexis says, and by telling him the truth, Sonny means what exactly? and Sonny says he’s going to tell him exactly what happened that night. She says, wow. She wasn’t expecting him to say that. How does he think Kristina is going to handle that? He says he already talked to her. She’s not going to put herself in jeopardy. Alexis says she hopes he’s right because they both know Kristina was at the Quartermaines and she had a gun. And if she doesn’t keep quiet, they’re going to arrest her for obstruction. He says he’s handling it, and she says, he needs to be a tad more specific. He says, before he agrees to tell the FBI everything, they’re going to have to promise him in writing that she and Kristina and Carly will be immune from prosecution.

A woman tells Elizabeth that she’s looking for the head nurse, Elizabeth Baldwin, and Elizabeth says, that’s her. How can she help? The woman says she’s with GH’s legal department. The hospital’s been issued a subpoena from the Court of Appeals regarding Heather Webber.

Portia says, when Brad is wearing this lab coat, he’s representing this hospital, and she assumes he’d act that way. He says, it was just a hug… which will not happen again. She says she’s sure she doesn’t need to remind him that he’s still on probation, and he says, no, she doesn’t. He knows he needs to prove that he deserves this job. She says, if he can, and he says he’s certainly going to try. In fact, the lab’s been really busy lately. If she needs him to work more hours… She says, no, that won’t be necessary now, and he asks if there have been problems with his work. She says, not yet, but why don’t they just keep it that way? She walks away.

At the station, Carly asks Dex, what’s up? and he asks if everything is all right. She says, you tell me. She was summoned here. Anna comes out and says, good. Carly is here. Fantastic. Just follow her. She leads Carly to the interrogation room, and Carly asks if she should call Diane, but Anna says, no. It’s just one question. Does she want to change her statement about the night Agent Cates was killed? Carly says, no, and Anna asks if she’s sure. Carly says, yes. Why would she want to change her statement? Anna says she didn’t think Carly would want to be charged again, and Carly says, charged with what? Anna says, making a false statement to the police. It’s a misdemeanor in the state of New York, as is obstruction, but the murder of an FBI agent is federal. Carly says, even so, she’s happy to stand by her original statement. She heads for the door, and Anna says, the statement is that she was in bed with Sonny the night Agent Cates was killed. Carly says, yes, and Anna says, they were seen having dinner at the MetroCourt. Are they back together? Carly asks why Anna cares, and Anna says, it just looks like maybe her interests lie elsewhere. She shows Carly the picture of her going into Jack’s room.

Cody sees Dante at the hospital and says he wanted to tell Dante in person that he just got tested. Dante says, thanks. He appreciates that. Cody asks, what’s wrong? Something tells him there’s more going on than Dante just worrying about Lulu. Dante says, there always is, but he can’t talk about this. Cody asks if it’s an ongoing investigation, and Dante says, something like that. Cody says, Dante knows he can tell him anything, and Dante says, but not this. Cody says, come on. Dante obviously needs to talk about it. What’s up? Dante says, they’ve got new evidence that could exonerate someone who’s been charged with a serious crime, and Cody says, he means Alexis. Dante asks why he’s naming names, and Cody says, sorry. Cop. Civilian. No names. Dante says, so it’s come to their attention that someone else is going to come forward and confess to this crime, and Cody asks if this other person actually committed the crime. Dante says, it’s highly likely, and Cody says, then what’s the problem? Dante says, they’re really only coming forward to get the other person off the hook, and Cody says, so if this person is exonerated, the real person wouldn’t have to confess. Dante says, that’s right. So they’re withholding this new evidence from the person in custody’s attorney. Cody says, so they have evidence that could exonerate Alexis, but the cops are keeping it from her lawyer so that Dante’s dad confesses to killing that FBI agent? And Dante is wondering if he should warn his dad before he confesses to a murder he probably committed. Is he right?

Anna says, if Carly and Sonny are trying to make a go of it again, why was she seen entering Brennan’s room? Carly says she’s co-owner of the MetroCourt. She was just checking on a guest. Anna says, Jack’s certainly getting the VIP treatment. Didn’t she find Carly in his room a couple of weeks back? Carly says, Mr. Brennan is the new WSB Station Chief, so he is a VIP, and she wants to make sure all her guests have the best stay possible. Anna says, really? Because there’s also a room service order for dinner and champagne that same night. Carly says, sounds like Mr. Brennan had big plans after she left, and Anna says, look. She really likes Carly, so she’s going to level with her. She’s making a big mistake. Carly says, it wouldn’t be the first time, and Anna says, Brennan is a dangerous man. She doesn’t want to get involved with him. Carly says, Anna isn’t going to be offended if she won’t take dating advice from her, is she? and Anna says she’s known him a really long time. She knows what he’s capable of. Carly says she’s calling Diane, but Anna says, it’s fine. They’re done. Diane is going to be very busy this afternoon anyway. So she doesn’t want to change her statement? Carly says she’s good, and Anna says, loyalty is a very commendable thing, but she thinks Carly is giving it to the wrong person. Carly says she’s going to go, and Anna thanks her for her time.

Ava says she remembers how Julian looked when he talked about Lucas. Julian was so proud of him. Lucas says, there were times he was proud of Julian too. But every time they got close, he’d find out some horrible thing Julian had done, or some new secret would come to light or he’d hurt somebody else. And it never stopped. She says, did he ever think the reason Julian made all of those bad choices was his insecurity? He was always so afraid he wasn’t good enough to be Lucas’s father.

Brad says he got Elizabeth’s page. What’s up? She hands him a paper and says, the Court of Appeals has ordered an investigation into Heather Webber’s bloodwork. He says, why? and she says, there are discrepancies between GH’s findings and the other labs. The court wants to know, was there a procedural error, is it some fault in their lab… He says, she wants him to look into it? and she says, the sooner, the better. He says he’ll get right on it, and she thanks him.

Dante says, no more helping his father. He’s a cop. Cody says, right, and he’s obligated to see justice is served. Dante says, it’s kind of his job, and Cody says, so what’s bothering him the most about this? Is it the withholding evidence thing? Because don’t cops do tricks like that all the time to get people to confess? Dante says, it’s the fact that he’s either betraying his badge or betraying his father, and Cody says, even if Dante thinks he did it? Dante says, especially if he thinks Sonny did it. If he tells Sonny what he knows, he’s lost all integrity. He literally would help him get away with murder. Cody asks if Dante wants to know what he thinks, and Dante says he doesn’t think he does. Cody says, probably not, because it’s probably not going to be helpful, but here goes anyways. After everything that FBI guy did to Dante’s family, he thinks it just comes down to one simple question. Which one’s more important to him, his family or his job?

Sonny says, the FBI is going to jump at the chance to put him behind bars. So he’s going to talk about everything that they’ve tried to pin on him. As long as they leave her, Kristina, and Carly alone. She says, because the crime in question isn’t enough, he’s going to tell them the whole story? and he says, they’re not going to play ball if he doesn’t give them something worthwhile. She says, so what about his associates in all his endeavors? What happens to them? He says he’ll deal with that. He doesn’t see another way. She says, so after all these years of him evading the authorities, he’s just going to give himself up, and he says, it’s either that or Alexis is going to spend the rest of her life in prison for something she didn’t do. Does she think he would let her do that? She says, the thought has crossed her mind, but she knows if he was given the choice between her and Kristina… He says he’s doing this for Kristina, and she says she thinks he’s doing it a little bit for her too. He says, a little bit, and she thanks him. He says, take care of our girl, and through her tears, she says she promises. Sonny gets up and leaves.

Lucas says, Julian was always his own worst enemy, and Ava says, at least they can agree on that. He says he didn’t mean it when he said all of his memories of Julian are bad, and she asks if he’d share one with her. It’s been a long time since she’s heard anyone say anything kind about her brother. He says he’s been thinking about the day Julian married Alexis. He was proud to be Julian’s best man, and he was so happy for him. And that day, he thought, maybe his dad could finally be happy. She says, and he would have been if he’d married anybody else. Alexis was literally the worst thing to happen to Julian. Lucas gets up and says, so much for fond memories, but she says she’s just trying to be honest. How many times has that woman broke his heart? He says, probably as many times as he broke hers, and Ava says, her constant judgements, her endless conditions to be worthy of her love and attention wore him down. It wore him out. And in the end, she was the reason he did all of those terrible things before he was killed. He says, she can’t blame Alexis for Julian’s actions, but she says she certainly can. He says, good talk. He’s got to run. She says, before he goes, please keep in mind that nobody should be judged entirely based on the worst thing they’ve done. His father loved him. He says he knows, and he loved him too. She thanks him for saying that. Just so he knows, she loves him too. It’s true they’re not close, but they could be. He says he’ll think about it, and she says, okay. She’d hate to think that he has so much family that he can afford to throw away his father’s side. He says he’d never throw away Avery… or her mother, and he leaves.

Portia says, Terry told her that the hospital received a court order about the lab’s testing, and Elizabeth says, it’s about Heather Webber’s bloodwork. Portia says, what about it? and Elizabeth says, Ric Lansing had her cobalt levels tested, and their lab concluded her levels were still high. Portia says, okay, that’s good, but Elizabeth says, he also had the tests run at three different labs. Portia says, it’s normal to do that, and Elizabeth says, none of the results matched theirs. So they’re just trying to prove that the error is with the GH lab, and that’s why the court is ordering an investigation. Portia says, humans make mistakes. Mistakes happen. You’d think they would drop it. Elizabeth says, a mistake like that could cast doubt over the integrity of their lab. And not just with Heather’s results, but other results in the past that have been used as evidence. Portia says, that’s a good point, and Elizabeth says, but don’t worry about it. She’s taking care of it. She’s sure it’s going to be fine.

Brad compares a paper to what’s on his laptop. He says, oh ho. Dr. Portia Robinson, what have you been up to? and he smiles.

Carly comes into the hospital, and Michael thanks her for coming. She says, something about Kristina? and he says, she’s not answering her phone. Of course (🍷) they can’t tell him whether she showed up for her therapy session or not, but he thinks she ditched it right after he dropped her off. Carly says, he didn’t watch her walk in? and he says, it felt intrusive. They have to find Kristina before she does something rash, and dad’s confession will all be for nothing.

Alexis goes into the visitor room to find Kristina and asks what she’s doing here. She wasn’t expecting to see her. Kristina says, they need to talk about dad, and Alexis says, her dad has been here. She knows what he’s going to do. Kristina asks if Alexis tried to talk him out of it, but Alexis asks why she’d do that. Kristina says she doesn’t know. This is all such a mess. She just wishes she’d told Anna everything she knew. Alexis asks what she told Anna, and Kristina says she went to see Anna to confess. Alexis says, confess to what? and Kristina says, driving Alexis’s care to the Quartermaines, stealing dad’s gun. She was trying to do anything she could to convince Anna that Alexis didn’t do this. Alexis asks if she told Anna anything, but Kristina says, no. Michael stopped her. Alexis says, don’t help. She’s just making everything worse. Kristina tells her, that’s what everyone says, but they need to stop pretending this isn’t her fault, because it is. If she never went to Ava’s hotel room, her child would still be alive. Cates would never be able to charge her with killing her daughter, and dad would have never been upset enough… Alexis says, what’s missing here is the truth and that’s what people need to hear. That her father actually did the thing he’s going to confess to, and he’s doing the right thing by turning himself in. Kristina says, but he did it because of her, and Alexis says, he did it because that’s what he does. Cates was never going to let up until Kristina was destroyed, until Michael was destroyed, until Dante was destroyed, and Sonny wasn’t going to let Cates hurt his children anymore. Kristina says, but if dad confesses, he goes to prison, and she can’t let that happen.

Sonny walks into the station, and Anna says, he’s early. He says he’s meeting Diane, and she says, someone will see her in as soon as she gets here. She asks him to follow her, when Dante runs in. He asks Sonny to wait. There’s something he should know.

On Monday, Molly tells Dex that it’s nice to know they might have some good news coming their way; Brad says he may have found something interesting; Martin asks why he wasn’t notified about Anna’s new evidence; and Alexis says, Kristina’s father got them into this and now he’s the one who’s got to get them out.

🪄 She’s All Glowed Up…

Well, she’s really no slouch before makeup either.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kirsten-storms-shows-off-her-stunning-gh-transformation

🧂 A Dash Of Salt…

Yeah, I doubt she’d risk buying stuff from Alibaba and reselling it. And I remember the whoop-de-do about Alibaba using other merchants’ photos. That’s a big no-no on eBay, even if you’re selling the exact same item.

Apparently, she’s tamed her saltiness while in the clink.

🍊 Putting the C In the OC…

If I agree with Teddi, you know there must be something very wrong going on.

A lot of what?

🍸 Hope He Evacuated…

I miss Michael. He was one of the best things about the show. I’m surprised Patricia didn’t send a PJ for him.

💣 Mustaches Twirling…

Who got the boot. This explains why that first episode seemed so long.

🎃 Halloween Hijinx…

Getting stuck in a hallway because of a Halloween costume sounds like something that would happen to me. Kudos on originality with Baby Forest Whitaker.

https://ew.com/jordan-peele-costume-halloween-beetlejuice-baby-forest-whitaker-8727052

💻 Thinking About Watching…

Major From vibes? I’m in.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/peacock/peacocks-new-dark-thriller-show-teacup-is-binge-worthy-tv-and-it-will-have-you-craving-more

I saw The Platform and didn’t really know what to make of it, so I was surprised it got a sequel. EmpireOnline called it a bloated, murky haze, and the reviews aren’t great, but I’ll probably watch it anyway. Not many spoilers – more of an explanation of the system.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-platform-2-netflix-film-review

I also saw Smile and wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but again, I’ll probably watch it anyway when it comes to a streaming platform in like, five minutes. I saw the trailer when I went to Deadpool & Wolverine. It ain’t no Deadpool, that’s for sure.

🧦 Costume and Fashion…

This is one of the cutest things ever. I would love to see something for tiny hamsters as well.

https://people.com/halloween-2024-halloween-costumes-for-guinea-pigs-8726708

There is no world in which my dogs would let me put these on them.

https://people.com/pet-crocs-crocs-for-dogs-coming-soon-8725361

💼 Quotes of the Week

You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals. – Booker T. Washington

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. – John Lubbock

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. – Unknown

There is no room for mediocrity in karaoke. – an obviously drunk kid I met there

Persons of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others; they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else. – Nathaniel Branden

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.  – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Uh-oh.)

Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. – Shari R. Barr

Let’s kill this f***ing clown. – Richie Tozier (Bill Hader), It: Chapter Two

🧚‍♀️ Dreaming Awake…

Sending those in weathertorn states safety and healing vibes (been there; done that; it sucks), and for those who are in better climes, enjoy the autumn weekend. Then return again on Monday for soap and Sailing. Until then, stay safe; stay considering battery-operated flames for your Jack-o’-lantern (hey, it’s coming faster than you think); and stay never judging someone entirely based on the worst thing they’ve done.

October 10, 2024 – Anna Receives a Surprise Package, His Feels, Side Gig, Heavenly Birthday, The OC Invades London, The Real Thing, Watch These, All Dressed Up & Highway

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Diane goes to the coffee warehouse, and says she needs to talk to Jason. Is his staff still here? He says, it’s just them, and she says she needs him to do something. He says, it sounds serious, and she says she hates to ask, but circumstances demand it. She’s requesting that he betray someone, and he asks, who? She says, Sonny.

Carly shows up at the penthouse, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? She says, Holly is looking for him, and asks if any strangers have been hanging out nearby or if he’s seen a parked car. He says, his people would notice. Why? She says she had dinner with Jack, and someone was watching them.

Alexis says, Martin visiting her at night can’t be good, but he says, on the contrary. He has the key to her salvation. He shows her a picture of Jack and asks if he looks familiar. She says, not in the slightest, and he says, Jack Brennan is the WSB station chief in Port Charles. He’s a player and has a different girl in every town. His P.I. took this picture of Jack with Carly. Why would a known playboy host a late-night dinner in his hotel suite with Carly when she’s supposed to be reunited with Sonny? Shameful.

Kristina says she has information about the night John Cates was killed, and Anna asks if anyone knows she’s here. Kristina says, no, and Anna asks if she wants to call someone, like a lawyer. She needs to think carefully. Kristina says she feels like Anna is trying to get her not to talk, but Anna says, on the contrary. She just wants Kristina to understand the potential ramifications, not just for her mother, but for her.

Elizabeth finds Dante in Lulu’s room, and says she was just checking on him. She saw Sam leave with Rocco and thought this would be a good time. Is he staying long? He says he can leave if anyone comes to spend time with Lulu. He wants to make sure someone is always with her. She says she’s here if he needs anything, and he says, she can help him learn to keep his mouth shut. She says she’s sure whatever he said isn’t as bad as he thinks, but he says, his son will feel differently if he can’t keep his promise that Lulu will make it.

In the chapel, Lucky says, if God is listening, he could sure use some guidance. He’s pretty desperate and will take whatever He’s got. Laura comes in and says, Lucky? They hug, and she says, he’s home. He says, sorry it took so long, but she says, he’s right on time. Thank God. She’s so grateful. Now he’s able to help his sister.

Dante says he told Rocco that Lucky can’t be the donor, and he took it to heart. She says, so did Lucky, and he says he promised there would be another donor, but it’s a long shot, right? She says, it’s not impossible, and he says, she can’t get a donor from the National Registry. All of her relatives have been tested and they’re not a match. They’ve got to convince a stranger who doesn’t know Lulu to give her their liver when she’s in a coma and may not wake up.

Laura says she missed Lucky so much, and he says he missed her too. She says she heard what happened in Somalia. Does it hurt? He says, you should see the other guy, and she says, his hair is so long. He says he was thinking about cutting it, but she says, don’t. He reminds her of his father. She likes it. He says, it’s strange. He knows Luke is gone, but when he was halfway across the world, he expected to see him. She says she still has moments like that, and they sit down. She says she’s so sorry she wasn’t here to welcome him, and he says, that’s his fault. If he hadn’t gotten himself in trouble, if he’d been here with Lulu, she would be safe and healthy. She asks if he’s seen Aiden, and he says, he’s quite a kid. She says, he takes after his father, and Lucky says he hopes not too much. She says, he has so many wonderful qualities, but he says he credits Elizabeth for raising Aiden. She says she hopes their reunion was okay, and Lucky asks if Elizabeth mentioned anything. She says, no. Did something happen? He says he doesn’t know how to tell her, and she tells him, just say it. He tells her that Elizabeth said he can’t be a donor, and Laura starts to cry. She asks, why? and he says, the first round of tests checked out and he was a viable donor. Then they did a test to see if his liver was in good enough shape to donate, and it’s not. He’s so sorry. He’d do anything to save Lulu, but he can’t help.

Kristina says she appreciates Anna’s concern, but she’s thought about this a lot, and Anna asks where she was the night John Cates was murdered. She says she was at her mother’s house, and Anna says, not all night. Kristina says she went to visit her daughter’s grave, but Anna says, that’s not the only place she went. According to Chase, she drove that night or got a Ride Share or possibly Sam’s car. She had trouble remembering. Kristina says she remembers now, and Anna asks if she drove Sam’s car, but Kristina says, no. Anna says, hers? and Kristina says, no. Anna says, whose car? They know Alexis had hers. It was caught on camera entering the Quartermain estate. Kristina says, that’s not true. Alexis didn’t drive her car. Anna says, did she? when Michael barges in and says, stop talking. They’re leaving now.

Diane says she’s already committed several ethical violations by talking to Jason. Alexis is probably going to be convicted if she doesn’t do something. A trial date has been set and they need to put an end to this travesty. She wants him to convince her client to confess to a murder they both know he committed. She knows it’s a bad idea, but doesn’t see any other way to help. Alexis is her best friend, and she can’t let Alexis go down for a murder they know she didn’t commit. He needs to convince Sonny to do the right thing. He’s the only one Sonny will listen to. He says, Sonny already decided to turn himself in, and she asks if he’s at the PCPD. He says, he’s with Carly, filling her in, and she says, that makes sense. There are big implications for Carly. He says, that’s why they need to stop him.  

Sonny asks why Carly thinks a P.I. is tailing her, and she says, at the very least, they know she was in Jack’s hotel room. He says, she’s the owner of the hotel and can explain it away, but she says, having dinner alone with him will raise eyebrows. He says, that depends on who’s tailing her and why, and she says, maybe it’s the false alibi. She bets it’s Martin. He wants to prove Alexis is innocent by proving Sonny is guilty. Sonny says, smart play. Alexis’s trial is coming up fast and Kristina’s not doing well. She’s going to do something to get the Fed’s attention. The whole thing is getting out of control. There’s only one thing to do. He’s going to confess to killing Jagger. She says she’s his alibi, and that means she’s going down with him.

Alexis asks how Martin got the photo, and he says, the P.I. he had tailing Carly. She asks what else he found, and he says, nothing yet. Brennan is no fool. He thinks Brennan already made his investigation. Alexis says, he’s kidding. Shocking. He says, it doesn’t matter, but she says, it does. Carly knows they’re onto her and she’s not going to get caught again. It’s not enough.

Anna says, they’re in the middle of an interview, but Michael says, the interview is over. Kristina knows better not to talk to the police without a lawyer and so does Commissioner Devane. Let’s go now. Kristina looks at Anna, who nods, and she and Michael leave. Michael looks at Anna and shakes his head as he closes the door.

Jason says, this can’t be the only way to save Alexis, but Diane says, it’s the only option. A trial won’t end well. Jason says, they could still find the gun. They just need time. Diane says, the Feds aren’t going to agree to a continuance, but Jason says, this can’t be how it ends for Sonny. She says, it’s not what she wants either. She loves Sonny too. She hasn’t worked all these years agreeing to be his lawyer because he pays her well. Underneath that gruff exterior lies a heart of gold. Jason says he had a deal with Cates. He finds out about Pikeman and Cates leaves Carly alone. Diane says, Cates was using him to bring Sonny down, and he says he created the situation. He should have done his job and killed Cates when he had the chance.

Sonny says he’s not going to let Carly go down. If he’d known what was going to happen, he wouldn’t have asked her to get involved. She’s got to see it a different way. She says she knows he’d never let the mother of his child go to prison for something he did, but Kristina’s not going to let that happen. If Alexis goes to trial, she’s going to start talking and get all of them convicted of something. He says he can’t promise there will be no consequences for her, but Carly’s not going to prison. He’s got to get things under control. He’s got a plane on standby. All she has to do is get Donna. She says, he wants her to leave the country? and he says, there are places with no extradition where she can’t be touched. She says, that means he’ll never see Donna again, and he says, Donna will be better off losing him than losing both parents, but Carly says she can’t do that.

Laura asks why Lucky can’t be a donor, and he says, there’s an anomaly in his liver from a parasite. It’s not dangerous to him, but it could kill Lulu. Laura asks if he’s sure he’s okay, and he promises he’s good. He’s healthy, but not good enough to save Lulu. The whole reason he came back was to help Lulu. He thought he could make up for not saving her when she was a baby. He already failed her once. Now he’s failing her again. She says, he’s not. He can give her his love and strength and use his incredibly strong will to convince her to pull herself through. He says, whatever happens is on him, but she says, he didn’t create Lulu’s illness. He’s not responsible for her recovery. He says, the reason he can’t donate is that he spent the last 13 years in combat zones. Everything he was exposed to, affected his body. It’s not a freak accident. It was the reckless life he chose to lead.

Dante says he was convinced Lucky was their miracle, and Elizabeth says, they’ll use every available resource to find a donor. If he needs anything, let her know. He thanks her, and she opens the door to find Olivia. Elizabeth says she’s glad Olivia is here. Her boy needs her. Elizabeth leaves, and Dante tells Olivia that Lucky can’t be the donor. She says she’s so sorry, and he says, that was their last shot. Now what do they do? She says, they’re going to do more than hope.

Laura says she’s not going to let Lucky beat himself up. It’s not going to do his sister any good. He had no way of knowing what was coming when he left, and he deserved to live his own life wherever it took him. He says his responsibility was here, but she says he also had dreams that had a profound effect on other people. Where would those doctors and patients be if he hadn’t provided security? He saved lives. Lucky says, but he can’t save the life that matters most, and she says, if his sister knew, she’d say she was proud of him for the work he’s done in this world.

At the café, Michael says he knows Kristina is worried about her mom, but that was a bad idea. She asks how he knew where she was, and he says he had Spinelli put tracking software on her phone. She’d asked for help. She says she didn’t ask him to invade her privacy, and he says, she refused to listen. Telling the police what she did could put her future in jeopardy, and likely make it worse for Alexis. She could be convicted for a murder that their father did.

Sonny says, it’s not easy, but they’ll fight this out, and Carly says she’ll support the family while it collapses. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, Elizabeth called. Lucky’s not a viable donor. He says he’s sorry, and she says, Lulu is too sick to use the registry, and finding a private donor is a long shot. She’s going to die and there’s nothing they can do. That’s why she can’t leave the family. And Rocco and Dante need Sonny. She knows beating the charges is a long shot, but she has a chance while he doesn’t have one.

Diane asks when Jason could have changed the outcome, and he says, the minute Cates said Carly’s name. She says, he would have been thrown in solitary and his family would have believed he’d died in Greece. He says he had plenty of opportunity, and she says, Cates was a federal agent. The government is going to great lengths to find his killer. He can’t presume he could have walked away. He says, what happens to him isn’t as important as what happens to Sonny and Carly, and she says she doubts his sons agree.

On the phone, Anna says, it seemed like Kristina was about to admit to killing Cates, or admit to knowing who did… Of course (🍷) she knows what that means. Alexis is going to be convicted for a crime she didn’t commit. What are they going to do about that? Suddenly, an alarm goes off, and Chase comes in. He says, they have to evacuate, and she asks if it’s a fire. He says, no. A bomb.

Laura says, they all have flaws. Ask her husband about hers. Lucky says, she’s one of the strongest people he’s ever known. If he winds up half the person she is, he’d be good. She says, he is good. He’s a good man and strives to be better all the time. He helps others. He says he could have done that here, but she says she’s not so sure. She’d always known the day would come when he’d leave Port Charles and her. He’s so much like his father. Lucky was on the run with them when he was a just a little baby. By the time he was crawling, he was going off on his own adventures. Does he remember when they had the Triple L? Eventually, trouble caught up with them there too. We flash back to the diner explosion, and she says, Lucky was separated from him for weeks. Any other parents would have been beside themselves with worry. Of course (🍷) they knew, even at his tender age, he could take care of himself. Lucky says, they taught him how to survive, and she says she hopes they taught him how to thrive. The day came when he couldn’t thrive in Port Charles, but she’s always known he’d come back one day when he was ready. And here he is. Just when she and his sister need him the most.

Chase tells Anna that they’re checking the cameras in the garage now. Everyone has been moved back 200 feet and the hazard team is working on it. She asks how they knew, and he says, the dogs reacted to a suspicious package. They pulled the surveillance footage, and it looks like the package was placed in a blind spot so they wouldn’t get caught. Anna says, whoever did this knew what they were doing.

Michael says, Kristina going to the police was an impulsive decision. She didn’t count all the possible consequences. She says, just like she didn’t count all the possible consequences when she went to see Ava.  

Jason says he hates how the fallout affected his sons, but they’re used to living without him, and Diane says, they’ll lose more than they’ll gain. There are people who love and need him, and it’s no longer a luxury for him to decide his life isn’t worth more than someone else’s. Imagine how hurt his sons will be. Think about that the next time he decides to sacrifice himself for someone else.

Carly says, Sonny will have to get his affairs in order and warn Dante. He doesn’t want Dante to be blindsided by this. She’ll talk to Josslyn. Sonny asks her to tell Josslyn that he’s sorry, and Carly says she agreed to help him. Now she has to deal with the consequences, but Cates is gone, and their kids are safe. He says, all it cost them was their parents.

Alexis says, one picture doesn’t prove anything, but Martin says, all he has to do is call into question the US Attorney’s narrative of the crime. They’ll never go for a conviction with a hole this big in the case. They’ll have to let her go and reopen it. Alexis says she’ll still be seen as a suspect, but he says, she won’t be their number one suspect. They’ll have to redirect their attention back to the real killer. It’s their only card to play. Alexis tells him, do it, and he says he’s already on it. She says, when he turns the photo over, if he feels tempted to suggest Sonny is covering for Carly, go ahead.

Lucky wishes there was something he could do, and Laura says, so does his brother. He was crushed to find out he wasn’t a viable donor. She thinks he felt like if he could do that, it would help make up for the bad choices that put him in prison. Lucky says he knows it’s hard for Laura to see Nikolas behind bars. He can understand Nikolas wanting to make almonds amends. She says, no one can bear every burden, and he says he’d settle for just one. Lulu went through so much when he was away. He wishes he’d been here for her to lean on at least once. They hug, and Laura says she thinks she’ll be leaning on him plenty before this is over.

Olivia tells Dante, done. She left a message for Nina to have her media contacts get the word out about Lulu’s condition. She texted an SOS to everyone on her contact list – friends and family, people in the old neighborhood, vendors, contractors, dishwashers… Just wait. People will roll up their sleeves in droves to get tested. He says he hopes it’s soon. Lulu is looking weak. She says she knows Lulu is in trouble, but so were the Mets in Game Six, and look how they turned out. Dante says, but they like the Yankees, and she says, today, they’re Mets fans. The same rules apply. Miracles happen. Like the Mets say, you gotta believe.

Kristina tells Michael that she wishes she could change what happened, but she can’t. He’s right to say she’s impulsive and there could be consequences she’s not prepared for. She’s living them now, so she’s going to listen to him and keep quiet – for now. But if it comes down to it, she’s not letting her mom stay in prison when she’s innocent.

On the phone, Anna says, if there are any changes, she’ll let them know. She tells Chase that Brennan is the last person they need help from. A guy from the hazard team tells them they can go back inside, and Anna asks if the bomb was disarmed. He says, it was a false alarm. There was no trace of explosive material. An officer brings the box and Anna wonders, what the hell is it? Chase suggests they open it and find out. (This is why he’s a detective.)

Jason says he doesn’t want to fail his boys again, but he doesn’t want to fail Sonny either. Diane says she gets that sacrifices come with the job description, but he can only make sacrifices if he’s here to do it. He says, they’re in danger of losing Sonny, and she says, Sonny chose this life. So did Carly. Jason says, still, she shouldn’t have to pay the price, and Diane says she promises if the day comes, she’ll stand up for Carly to the best of her ability. He asks, what are the odds of success? And she says, not great, but that doesn’t mean they don’t try. Her phone rings, and she says, speak of the devil. Sonny tells her that he’s with Carly and they need to talk now.

At the penthouse, Jason asks, what’s going on? and Carly says she’ll let Sonny tell him. On the phone, Sonny says he’ll let Diane know when it’s time. He asks if Carly filled Jason in, but she says she thought he should. He says he’s putting an end to this. He’s turning himself in. Diane is making a deal right now. Jason asks, what kind of deal? and Sonny says he’s confessing to Jagger’s killing and everything else. Everything the Feds want, and the statute of limitations allows. Jason says he knows it’s Sonny’s choice, and Sonny says, he’s going to give them everything, cop to it all, everything they’ve always wanted. In exchange for one thing. No one pays for Jagger’s death but him.

Alexis lies in her bunk when the guard yells, lights out!

Outside Anna’s office, Chase tells Martin that Anna is unavailable, but Martin says he’s got to see her now. It’s vital in getting Alexis out of prison. Chase tells him to take it up with the US Attorney, and goes into the office. Anna says, it’s not what she expected, and shows him a gun. She says, it’s a nine-millimeter, and he says, like the one Elizabeth and Ric saw Alexis dump from the bridge. Anna says, the gun Alexis said would exonerate her if it was found.

Laura tells Lucky that his sister’s body has been though an awful lot. Time is not on her side. He said he wanted to do something. If the worst should come to pass and they have to let their girl go – she cries – please stay with her and hold her hand when she says goodbye. He says, of course (🍷), and they hug. She thanks him and cries.

Tomorrow, Martin tells Alexis that she’ll be out by the end of the day; Ava asks someone if there’s a reason for this visit; Anna asks if Carly wants to change her statement; and Sonny says, someone has to be stopped.

🩺 Nothing More Than Feelings…

I’m still preferring the old Lucas, but I like his attitude.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/van-hansis-opens-up-about-taking-over-as-lucas-on-gh

🚑 After His Schedule Was Cut…

Another underused character. I’d love to see him have an actual storyline. I’d love to just see him show up again.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-marc-anthony-samuel-stars-in-a-new-netflix-movie

💖 Sweet Remembrance…

It was so sad when he passed away. They really seemed to be in love, even after all those years.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/susan-lucci-remembers-her-late-husband-on-his-birthday

🍊 Down In the OC So Low…

After receiving her un-invitation, Alexis suggested if Shannon could host a trip, she could afford to pay the money she owes Johnny J. The women got mammograms and Fancy Pants Heather found out she had a 39% chance of getting breast cancer because of familial history. She was surprised that no one asked her how hers went when they were all swapping results. In Jenn’s interview, she said, an apology from Tamra was just words, but in Tamra’s interview, she said she was just being honest. She wondered if she should give Ryan a tampon since he was a little bitch, and Eddie told her, just stop. Good luck with that.

When I saw the amount of luggage, I wondered how long the trip was going to be. Six months? On the plane, Fancy Pants announced that it was Shannon’s 60th birthday and she was single. I could feel Shannon cringe. They stayed at an amazing, humongous penthouse where a tea was already set up, and drew keys for rooms. If Ramona had been there, she would have checked all the rooms, removed the key to her first choice, and had her suitcases unpacked before anyone else even got to the bowl.

Shannon gave all the women a bag of English-themed gifts, including a Burberry scarf that retails for $595. I knew this before the text showed us, since I thought, maybe I can afford a scarf, but nope. In her interview, Tamra wondered why Shannon was dishing out scarves like candy when she claimed she had no money to pay the lawsuit. Tamra and Fancy Pants discussed Shannon’s appearance on Jeff Lewis’s podcast, and the inconsistencies with what she was saying now. Not only did she come close to admitting the money was a loan, she said that she’d never thought about whether or not Johnny J. heard the accident. In Heather’s interview, she wondered why Shannon was telling her one thing, then saying something vastly different on Jeff Lewis. In Tamra’s interview, she said, Shannon was playing the victim.

After having some cotton candy, the women went on a Captain Rocket boat ride. The life jackets were actual long-sleeved jackets, which I’d never seen before. There was a bit of a tour, where they saw Big Ben and the new London Bridge. Tamra informed us that the original London bridge was in Havasu – so weird – and we saw a clip of that. They sped up, which some of the women enjoyed, and some not so much. Gina thought the cotton candy beforehand was a bad idea.

The women dressed for dinner, and Tamra wore a low backed jumpsuit that she compared to a mullet – business in the front and party in the back. They went to The Londoner for a five-course meal, and Fancy Pants finally spilled her feelings – as one does at a group dinner – about no one asking how her mammogram went. For maybe the first time ever, I felt badly for her when she told them her risk percentage for breast cancer. Everyone seemed genuinely surprised and sorry. They’d thought when they heard her say, yay, she was in the clear, but Fancy Pants said she’d been cheering for Gina who’d had a harmless lump.

Moving on, Katie said she and her family were going to Korea for her 40th birthday, and she would be meeting her birth mother who’d had her when she was 15. Yikes! Somehow, we circled back to the loan/gift thing, and in Tamra’s interview, she said Shannon told her it was a loan. Once more, this became a dinner table discussion. I always wonder what the servers think as they put plates in front of crying and/or screaming women. Shannon screeched that she was not a victim and was working on herself, and bolted. She went directly to the bar, not passing go or collecting $75,000. Gina followed, and Shannon showed Gina a text she’d found from 2018, where Alexis was clear that both she and her ex-husband Jim were suing Shannon and Tamra for defamation. We flashed back to Alexis insisting she’d had nothing to do with that, and Shannon said it was the smoking gun. Gina said, holy sh*t!

That’s right. She’s got receipts! Proof! Timelines! Screenshots! A text from 2018!

Next time, jazzercise; Gina says she’s trying to figure out how to be a friend to Fancy Pants; and Fancy Pants says, that was a lot.

If you’re craving more Orange.

🧟‍♂️ Beauty Or the Beast…

My next watch on Netflix. Because I don’t have enough going on.

https://extratv.com/2024/10/07/lyle-and-erik-menendez-s-bombshells-about-their-parents-murders-in-netflix-doc/

So how much time does she spend helping innocent nobodies on death row? Apparently, the DA is on board as well.

https://extratv.com/2024/10/04/kim-kardashian-calls-for-release-of-menendez-brothers-they-are-not-monsters/

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Among the many series I’m in the middle of, I watched V/H/S Beyond on Shudder. While I love a lost footage theme, this one was hit and miss. I’d been intrigued by Justin Long’s Furbabies, but it wasn’t my favorite. There were some great moments overall, but two hours was too long. Some mild spoilers here.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vhs-beyond-review

When it was first on, I got lost watching Lost and gave up on it. I decided to give it another go though, and I’m not hating it. In addition to my From favorite, Harold Perrineau, I’d forgotten Naveen Andrews (Abby, Planet Terror) was in it. I love a good binge, and this has enough episodes to go on for a while.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/lost-on-netflix-a-experts-guide-to-bingeing-the-121-episodes

Speaking of From, here’s what happened this week. All spoilers all the time.

👻 Not So Roguish Gallery…

Never enough pets in Halloween costumes.

https://www.tmz.com/2021/10/29/celebrity-pets-all-dressed-up-for-halloween/

🌄 The Year’s Sunset Sky…

Come on by tomorrow for soap and what’s watch worthy (or not). Until then, stay safe, stay planning to keep your pets indoors on Halloween, and stay never letting your apology be just words.

October 4, 2024 – Lucas Comes Home To Port Charles, A Review, Reunited, Her No Good Very Bad Look, VanderWeen, Engaged, First One, Sorry About That, Pet (!) Costumes, OctoQuotes & Thrill This

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Gino plays his violin outside of Bobbie’s, when Trina puts a dollar in his violin case. She asks if he knows any Billy Eilish.

Chase says he can’t put his finger on it, but something is different around here, and Brook says, good different or bad different? He says, definitely good. Listen… It’s quiet. She says, the kids are all in school, Tracy is out on a ride, Olivia is at the MetroCourt. Somehow, all of the planets are finally aligned, and they have this entire place to themselves. He says he has the afternoon off work. The planets can’t get any more aligned than that. He kisses her, when her phone rings. He asks her to ignore it, but she says she can’t. She looks at her phone and says, it’s Violet’s school. They’re sending her home.

Ric asks if Ava is suggesting someone at General Hospital altered Heather’s test results, and she says, it wouldn’t be the first time. He asks, who would do that? and she says, somebody who wants Heather kept behind bars. He says, lab tech?… Someone with maybe a little bit more authority. Somebody who could go in and out of any room in the hospital without being stopped. It’s also got to be somebody who is so invested in keeping Heather in prison, they’d be willing to risk anything to keep Heather behind bars.

Lucky knocks on Sonny’s office door and says, sorry to disturb him. He knows it’s been a long time. They hug.

Carly tells Josslyn, the doctors need to do a secondary screening of Lucky’s liver to make sure everything is okay, and then they can move forward with the transplant. Josslyn says, but Lulu’s going to be okay, and Carly says, it’s looking that way.  There’s a knock at the door and Carly opens it to Lucas. They hug, and he says, she’s looking good. She says, he’s home.

On the phone, Brook says, of course (🍷) … Absolutely. They’re on their way. She tells Chase, Violet’s fine. Physically fine. He says, so she’s not sick or hurt? and Brook says, no. He asks why they called, and she says, she hit a boy in her class. He laughs and says, no. Violet wouldn’t do that. She says, her teacher saw her do it, and he says, she got in a fight or something? Brook says she doesn’t know. Violet wouldn’t tell the teacher what happened. He says, since when does Violet not talk about anything? Something’s up. He’s going to go get her. Brook says, they’ll both go. It might take the both of them to get the truth out of her.

Ric asks if there’s someone at the hospital who was attacked by Heather, because that person would definitely want her to stay where she was, and Ava says, Heather and her hook put her in the hospital. So she won’t exactly be shedding any tears if she stays where she is. He says he’s sorry, and she says she’s just saying, the hospital is a big place and there are probably a lot of people who weren’t too excited about the possibility of running into Heather at the supermarket. He says, that’s a fair point, but if he’s going to prove GH’s tests are untrustworthy, connecting it to somebody might be helpful. She tells him to go ahead and prove his grand conspiracy. In the meantime, his client Heather will be rotting in Pentenville. He says, not if he connects the dots real fast, and she says, if he accuses a hospital employee with tampering with the tests, every lawyer GH has is going to come running, and nothing about his case will move fast. He asks if she thinks he should ditch the whole tampering theory, and she says she thinks if he wants things to move quickly, he should give GH an easy out. Just tell them up front that he thinks it’s probably an honest lab mistake. The hospital is sure to agree it’s a faulty test. He asks when she became such an expert in legal strategy, and she says, just giving him an alternative. If he wants to do it his way, do it his way. She doesn’t care. She has no dog in this fight. He says he thinks she does. So who is she protecting?

Lucas and Josslyn hug, and he says he’s missed her so much. He can’t wait to hear all about her life. He wants pictures, videos, all of it, especially the embarrassing stuff. She says, that’s most of it. She’s going to just reschedule with Trina. He says, go be with her friend. They have plenty of time to catch up. She says, it’s going to take a lot of time to get him fully caught up, and he says he’ll block out three hours. She leaves, and Carly says she knows they’ve been talking about him coming back for a while now, but until he texted her that the plane had landed, she just didn’t believe it. He says, it was time, and she suggests they sit down and talk. They go into the living room, and she asks if it was hard leaving Boston, but he says he didn’t have many ties there. Boston’s great, but he was working all the time. It made him a better doctor, but he didn’t want to live like that. He missed the family. She says, they missed him too. She’s so happy he’s here. He can stay as long as he likes, but just be warned. Donna is really into crafts, and he’s going to find beads and glue everywhere. He says he’ll keep an eye out, and she says she’s so glad he’s home. She knows it’s hard for him to be in Port Charles. He says he’s sorry he didn’t stick around after mom’s funeral, but she says, it’s okay. She gets it. He says he knew she would, and she says she just wants him to be okay. He says he’s getting there, and she says she knows he’s excited about the job. It’s just that after everything he’s been through, is he sure he’s up for it?

Sonny says he can’t express how happy he is that Lucky is home safe, and Lucky says he’ll never be able to repay Jason or Anna or Carly for everything they did to get him back here. Sonny says, even though Lucky got all the help, he heard it was hell to get back. He’s sure Lucky’s dad would be very proud that he did this for his sister. Lucky says, his dad might be relieved, but he’s not so sure he’d be proud. Sonny asks, what makes him say that, and Lucky says, because they both know he should have been here all along.

Gio finishes playing, and Trina applauds. He says, thanks, but he still needs to work on that bridge. She says, it sounded perfect to her, and he says he’s glad, but he needs something perfect to both of them. She says, that’s fair. What is he even doing out here? He says, change of pace. It’s a nice vibe. Fresh air, sound of the birds, the wind. Kids laughing, people talking. She says, so he likes to play surrounded by… life, and he says, when he plays outside, he feels like he’s part of this big orchestra that’s always playing, but they forget to listen to it. She says, and here she thought it was just about the acoustics. She’s glad she ran into him. She felt terrible that his performance at the gallery got canceled. He says, it wasn’t her fault, and she says she knows, but she’s been working overtime getting Harriet Nakia’s show back on the book and she finally did. She’d love to rebook him. He thanks her for the offer, but says he has to pass, and she asks, why? He says he knows how much she cares for Ava, but she pushed Uncle Sonny’s pregnant daughter out of a window and killed her baby. He’d never work for that woman now.

Ava says she’s not protecting anyone, and Ric says, she’s right. He doesn’t need to find out who did this. She says, really? Two seconds ago, he was Columbo. Now he’s going to walk away? He says, no. He’s just reevaluating the new information. She asks, what new information? and he says, the fact that she doesn’t want him to know who did this. He’s not going to pressure her into telling him who it is. She says, that would be a waste of time because it isn’t anyone, and he says he thinks he’s gotten to know her pretty well, and he knows she wouldn’t stick her neck out for anybody. So this person must mean a lot to her. He guesses he’s just going to have to figure out Heather’s case with what he’s got. He says he’ll see her later, and leaves.

Lucas asks if she’s questioning his skills as a surgeon, but Carly says, not at all. She just knows it isn’t easy for him to be back in Port Charles. He says, when he saw an opening for a trauma surgeon at GH, he didn’t even think about it; he just applied. She says, if there’s anything she can do for him to make it easier, let her know, and he says, just her being here makes it easier and better. He thinks this job was the universe telling him that he can’t run away forever. He doesn’t want to be that kind of man. She says, a man who runs from difficult situations? and he says he knows he will never be Wiley’s father, but he’d sure like a shot at being uncle. He thinks he could really nail that. (Isn’t Wiley, like, in college by now?) She says she thinks he’ll be a great uncle. Has he talked to Michael? He says he emailed Willow and Michael before he accepted the position. They’re both completely on board. She says she knows it’s going to be difficult to see Wiley, but if anyone can navigate that situation, it’s him. Speaking of navigating a difficult situation, has he been in touch with Brad? He says, no, and he’s not going to be. But while they’re on the subject of past relationships, what is this he hears about her and Sonny?

Sonny says, they all make the best decisions at any particular moment, and Lucky says he can’t help wondering how his dad would feel about him letting Lulu waste away in that bed. Sonny says, if Aiden messed up, would Lucky judge him? and Lucky says, of course (🍷) not. He loves Aiden. Sonny says, there’s his answer, and Lucky says, that’s just part of being a parent. Sonny says, not all parents. Even with him. He made that same mistake with Michael and still regrets it to this day. He can tell Lucky something about his father. He wouldn’t judge Lucky because he loved him. Lucky thanks him for saying that, and Sonny tells him that he’s saying it because it’s true. Don’t beat himself up. He’s here. That’s all that matters. Lucky says he has a lot of work to do, and not just the stuff with Lulu, and Sonny says, then do it. Has he seen Aiden? Lucky says, not yet. He’s been to some of the most dangerous places in the world, and here he is in Port Charles afraid to see his own son.

Trina says, Gio really won’t play at the gallery? and he says he’s sorry. Uncle Sonny’s been good to him. Maybe if Ava gets cleared, he’ll consider it. Trina says, it’s fine. If that’s how he feels about it, she’ll just ask someone else. But don’t worry. She’ll never ask him to play at the gallery again. She goes inside Bobbie’s.

Brook and Chase walk into the nook with Violet, and Chase says he knows Violet didn’t want to tell her teacher about what happened today, but she can tell them anything. Brook says, they love her like crazy, and Violet says she doesn’t want them to get mad. Chase says, she must have been pretty mad to hit that kid. What was his name? Violet says, Garth, and Brook says, what’s the story with Garth? Violet says, he’s a mean bully and he lies, and she hates him, and Chase asks what he lied about. Violet says, her dad, and Chase asks what he said. Violet tells him that Garth said her dad’s a drunk.

Carly says, Lucas is in town all of two hours. How does he know what’s going on with her and Sonny? He says, Joss, and she says she should have known. He says, she really should have. So? She says, so, it’s complicated. Can they just leave it at that? He says, for now. She’s going to tell him eventually. She says, probably, and he says, Joss also told him about Ava and Kristina. Does she think Ava did what they’re accusing her of? She says she doesn’t think Ava is innocent of anything, but to be honest, nobody knows what happened in that hotel room except for Kristina and Ava. And it’s a whole mess right now. Molly and Kristina are… Is he sorry he came back yet? He says, no. He thinks it’s good he came back when he did. He’s sorry if he sounded judgmental about her relationship with Sonny. After the relationship he had with Brad, he has no right to judge anyone. She says she understands, but she also knows he’s not going to let her off the hook that easily, and he says, definitely not. Now while she comes up with her Sonny story, he’s going to GH to fill out some forms and get his new ID. She says she’s happy he’s home. Their family really needs him right now. He says, somebody’s got to keep an eye on her, and leaves.

Lucky says he doesn’t even know if Aiden wants to see him, and Sonny asks why he wouldn’t want to. Lucky says, because he dropped the ball. They used to email and videochat every couple of weeks and he hasn’t made contact in a long time. Sonny says, Aiden still cares what Lucky thinks, but Lucky says he doesn’t know about that. Sonny asks if Lucky cared about what Luke thought about him, and Lucky says, more than anyone. Sonny says, then that’s what’s got to be at the front of his mind. Not what he wants to change, but what Aiden needs from him. Lucky says he doesn’t even know what that is, and Sonny says, he’s not going to get it by sitting here talking to him. He’s just got to show up no matter how tough it is. He’s got to show up. Lucky says, Sonny is right. He’s going to go see Aiden. Sonny says, he’s probably in school, right? and Lucky says, something else he should have known. Sonny says, he’s going to figure it out sooner or later, and when he does, they’ll change the start time of school and change the vacation schedule, and he’ll have to start all over. Lucky says, good to know. He guesses he’ll swing by GH and check up on Lulu and his buddy Isaiah. He thanks Sonny, and Sonny says he’s glad Lucky is back. Lucky says, him too. It’s good. Sonny says, that means he’s supposed to be here, and Lucky leaves.

On the phone in Bobbie’s, Trina says she saw their ad online and she was wondering if they’re still available. Give her a call back and they can talk details.

Outside, Gio puts away his violin, when Josslyn comes into the courtyard. She says she didn’t know he’d be here, and he says he was just rehearsing. She says she was about to head inside and hang out with Trina. Does he want to come? He says, it’s probably not a good idea. Trina isn’t going to want him there. She asks, what happened? and he says, they don’t see eye to eye on something, and neither of them is going to change their mind. She says, that doesn’t sound like Trina. She’s always down to share other people’s points of view. He says, not about Ava Jerome. Trina wanted him to play at the gallery and he said he couldn’t. Not after what Ava did to Kristina. Josslyn says, that’s it. Come with her. He follows her inside.

On the phone in her office, Portia leaves a message for Trina, letting her know she was thinking about her. She hopes school is going well. Trina doesn’t have to call her back. She just wanted to let Trina know that she loves her. There’s a knock at the door, and Ava walks in. Portia asks what she can do for her, and Ava says, as Portia is probably aware, Ric Lansing is representing her in her current legal difficulties. Portia says, okay… and Ava says, he’s also representing Heather Webber. Portia says she did know that, and Ava says, what Portia may not know is, Ric had several blood panels run to test Heather’s cobalt levels, four to be exact. Three were normal. One was not. Does she want to guess which one? Portia says, not really, and Ava says, the one test that showed Heather Webber still had elevated levels of cobalt in her blood was conducted right here at the GH lab. Portia says, their lab is excellent. She’s sure if there’s a problem, they can do another test. No issue at all. Ava says she’s surprised to hear Portia say that, and Portia says, why is that? Ava says, because Ric has come to the conclusion that someone here at GH tampered with those test results. Someone with an interest in keeping Heather in prison. Someone with access. Portia says, someone like her?

Brook asks what Violet thinks Garth meant when he said that about her dad, and Violet says, a drunk is someone who drinks too much. Brook says, it’s not a nice word, and Chase says, her dad has a disease. Brook says, we don’t call people unkind names because they’re sick, and Chase says, that’s right. Violet says she told her friend Jamie her dad couldn’t take her to the pumpkin patch this year because he was in a special hospital, and Brook says, that’s right. Violet tells them that she was saying that her daddy is going on lots of hikes and talking to people. But then, Garth said he wasn’t in a hospital. That he was in rehab because he was… Chase says, got it, and Violet says, then she hit him as hard as she could, but then he poured grape juice all over her shirt. Brook says, her dad bought her that shirt, didn’t he? and Violet says, yeah, and now it’s ruined because of stupid, mean Garth. Chase hugs her and says he’s so sorry any of that happened to her. He thanks her for telling them the truth, and she says she’s sorry she hit Garth. He just made her so mad. She’s sorry about her shirt. Brook says, that’s okay. Why don’t they go upstairs? Violet can change and she’ll throw the shirt in the washing machine. She’s sure she can get the stain out. Violet leaves and Brook follows her.

Isaiah walks around on crutches in his hospital room, when Lucky walks in. He says, not bad. Now pretend the Yankees won the series and jump up and down. Isaiah laughs and says, about time. What did he do, walk from Sidwell’s? Lucky says, looking pretty smooth there, and they shake hands. Isaiah says, this is actually him improved. It’s good to see him. Lucky says, it’s good to see Isaiah too. He guesses he owes Isaiah one. Isaiah says, oh yeah, and one day, he might actually take Lucky up on it. Lucky says he knows Isaiah is joking, but he’s not. They may not be trapped in Sidwell’s compound anymore, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have Isaiah’s back. Isaiah says he knows, and Lucky says, good. Because he does and he always will.

Carly walks into Pozzulo’s, and Sonny says he can make Carly an espresso in 25 seconds. She says, that’s impressive, but that’s okay. She’d feel like she was cheating on his old machine. He says, she doesn’t know what she’s missing, and she says, one more mystery she has to live with. He says, have it her way, and leads her to his office. He says, guess what? Lucky was here earlier. She says, how’d that go? and he says, he’s adjusting to being back in Port Charles. She says she’s sure it’s a lot for him, and he says, he’s a lot like his father. He’s tough. He’s going to be okay. She says she doesn’t know if he’s heard, but Lucas is back. He says he heard. How is he? She says, he’s good. He’s ready to start the next chapter of his life. He’s also concerned that they’re getting back together. Sonny says, this is going to be over soon, and she says, good, because that’s why she’s here.

Terry lets Lucas into her office and says, everyone is excited about him rejoining the staff, and he thanks her for making his transition back so smooth. She says, they’re lucky to have him. She’s sure he had his pick of hospitals. He says, GH was always his first choice. He’s looking forward to a fresh start in his hometown. She says she wants that for him too, but there’s something she thinks he should know.

On the phone, Trina says, if they’re schedule changes, let her know. She turns around to see Josslyn with Gio, and says, whatever they’re trying to do, the answer is no. Josslyn says, Ava is not worth losing a friendship, and neither is Sonny, but Trina says, this is between her and Gio. Josslyn says, they both see good sides to Sonny and Ava. How, she doesn’t know, but it doesn’t matter. She’s not here to waste her time or her energy trying to convince them that they’re wrong. Trina says, the world won’t end if everyone doesn’t have the same opinions, and Josslyn says, she’s right, but they don’t have to fight Sonny and Ava’s battles for them. Let them screw up their own lives, but don’t let them change one thing about theirs.

Portia asks if Ava really thinks she’d risk everything to get back at Heather, and Ava says, what she thinks is, if her daughter were in danger, she’d do everything she could to protect her. Changing a test result? That’s nothing. She’d pull strings, she’d pay bribes, she’d even kill if it meant keeping her child safe. And she’d sleep very well at night. Portia says she guesses they’re different in that way, but Ava says, no, they’re not. But Trina doesn’t know how far Portia would go to protect her. She’s getting her life back together. She’s going back to school. For the first time in a long time, she’s thinking about the future. Portia says, that’s exactly what she’s been praying for, and Ava says, well, it’s happening, and Trina doesn’t need to see her mother’s career crash and burn because of something she did to protect her daughter. Portia says she appreciates Ava coming to speak with her, but she doesn’t know what Ava is talking about. Ava says, come on. It took her all of three minutes to realize it was Portia who messed with those test results. And she won’t be the only one. So like it or not, Portia is going to need her help.

Lucas walks into the lab where Brad is working. He says he heard Brad was working here.

Trina says she understands why Gio feels the way he does about Ava. She was at the pool when Kristina fell. It was horrifying. Gio says, if Josslyn hadn’t done everything exactly right that day, Kristina would have died, and Trina says, that’s why he doesn’t want to do anything with Ava, and if he doesn’t want to perform at the gallery, don’t. He thanks her, and she says she’s just asking as his friend to consider the possibility that the fall was an accident. He says he wasn’t in the room with Kristina and Ava, so he’ll let the judge in the case decide who’s guilty. As far as the gallery gig, he won’t do it for Ava, but he’ll do it for her. She asks how he knows she hasn’t found his replacement.

Brook asks if Chase wants to go beat up Garth with her. She’s kidding… mostly. He asks how Violet is doing, and she says, she’s doing better. She’s upstairs changing her clothes. She’ll be down in a minute. Has he seen her phone? He says, she left it here when she went upstairs, and gives it to her. She checks something, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she’s looking for Garth’s parents’ phone number in the school directory. She’d like to have a little chat with them. He says, that’s probably not the best idea right now, and she says, he’s right. They should drive over there and have the conversation in person. That way, they can get eyes on Garth, see what his story is. He says, that might make things worse. Although there’s nothing stopping him from putting a boot on their car. She says she likes where his head is at on this, and he says, but you know who wouldn’t? Finn. She says she hates it, but he’s right. They need to focus on Violet. He says, there’s always going to be Garths in this world. They need to teach her how to deal with them. Short of her uncle tasing them. She says, that’s a good idea. The teaching, not the tasing. They just need to put their feelings aside and listen. He says he thinks Violet misses Finn more than they realized, and Brook says, it’s her way of crying out for help.

Lucky asks what Isaiah thinks of Port Charles, and Isaiah says, all he’s seen so far is the airport, the side of the street, and inside the hospital. Lucky says, all the hot tourist spots, and Isaiah says he’s also gotten to know some people around here. Lucky says, anyone interesting? and Isaiah says, one or two. Lucky says, sounds like Port Charles is growing on him, and Isaiah says, Lucky never told him much about his life here, which is cool, but now might be the time to tell him anything he needs to know. Lucky says, like what? and Isaiah says, like anything that might keep him from putting his foot in his mouth. Lucky says, Isaiah has met his ex, and Isaiah says, she’s pretty awesome. And he’s looking forward to meeting Lucky’s son. Has Lucky seen him yet? Lucky says, not yet, but he will soon, and Isaiah asks if Aiden knows what Lucky’s been doing. Lucky says he hasn’t given him too many details. He didn’t want to scare him. Isaiah says, he should know that Lucky’s been helping people. Isaiah is happy to tell him that, and more if Lucky wants. Lucky says he might take Isaiah up on that at some point. There are going to be a lot of questions, and he certainly doesn’t have all the answers. Isaiah asks if Lucky is worried how Aiden is going to react, and Lucky says, that, and he’s focused on his sister. He’s waiting to hear if he’s a match. Isaiah asks if he’s concerned about the surgery, and Lucky says, which one? Lulu’s or his?

Brad says, Lucas is back, and Lucas says he is, but not for Brad. They’re both going to be working here, so he thought he’d make some things clear since they’re bound to run into each other. If they speak to one another, it will only be about work. No catching up, no hashing things out. Nothing. The past is the past and that’s not going to change. He’s moving forward with his life and that doesn’t include Brad. Are they clear? Brad says, crystal, and Lucas says, good. Because he wants nothing to do with Brad – ever.

Portia asks why Ava wants to help her. What’s in it for her? Ava says, Trina. She doesn’t deserve to watch her mother lose everything. She’ll think it’s her fault, and she’s been through enough without adding that to it. Portia says she was just trying to protect Trina, and Ava says, keep doing it. Do what Ava tells her to do. No one has to know she’s doing it. Portia says, it’s already too late. Brad Cooper is back working at GH. He’s working in the lab and he’s already suspicious of her. Ava says, lie low. Don’t try to cover her tracks. Don’t try to hide what she’s done. The bigger deal she makes it, the bigger deal it’s going to become. Portia asks what she does about Ric Lansing, and Ava says she’ll handle Ric Lansing. She can certainly keep him away from Portia. Portia says, it’s not going to work. Ric Lansing will get Heather out of prison. They have to stop him.

Carly says, Sam told her that Alexis is protecting Kristina by not defending herself, and Sonny says, Alexis isn’t doing herself any favors in this case. Carly says she gets that, but Alexis shouldn’t be punished for a crime she didn’t commit, and he says, that’s why he hired Martin Grey to represent her. He’s already working on her defense. She says, he’s going to let this go to trial? but he says, no. He believes Alexis’s case is going to fall apart. She says, what if it doesn’t? and he says, it will. She says she’s on his side. She always has been and always will be. He asks why she thinks he came to her for an alibi, and she says, why does he think she gave him one? She doesn’t want anyone to go down for Cates’s murder. The world is a better place without him in it. He can’t destroy another life. Sonny says, he won’t, and she says, okay. Then he needs to tell her what they’re going to do to protect Alexis.

Violet comes downstairs, and Brook asks if she feels better. Violet says, yes, and Chase says, Garth shouldn’t have said what he did, but her dad wouldn’t want her to hit someone either. Brook’s phone rings, and she says she has to take this. She steps away, and Violet says, if Garth hadn’t said those mean things about her dad first, she wouldn’t have punched him. Chase says he knows, but he needs her to believe in her dad right now. Can she do that? Violet says she guesses so.

On the phone, someone tells Brook, the principal would like to speak to Violet’s guardian as soon as possible.

Violet says she’s sorry she hit Garth. Does Chase think she’s going to get in trouble? He says, even when you have a good reason for doing something, if you break the rules, there are consequences.

Gio asks if Trina is saying she already got someone to play at the gallery. Where did she find them? Trina says, the internet? and Josslyn says, there’s no way they’re better than him. Gio thanks her, and Trina says she will tell them that the musician she found is a little sketchy, so she’d be very happy if Gio would reconsider her offer and take the job. He says he’d be very happy to accept the offer – for her, and Josslyn says her work here is done. Gio says, if the environmental science degree doesn’t work out, she could always be a talent agent, and Trina says, very true. She could.

Ava says, unfortunately, there’s nothing they can do to stop Ric from trying to get Heather released from prison, but Portia says, there has to be. Ava says, he’s got three tests that prove the GH test was faulty. Heather Webber was affected by cobalt in her system. Portia says she can’t just sit here and do nothing, but Ava says, she can’t be seen anywhere near Heather’s case. Ava’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Ric. Ric says he’s got great news. He filed a summary motion on Heather’s case. He asked that her conviction be overturned immediately, and there’s a good chance it will be. Ava says, congratulations, and he says, don’t worry. Her mystery friend will remain a mystery. She thanks him and says she means it. Can she call him later? He says, no need. He just wanted her to know about the motion. He hangs up, and Ava looks at Portia.

Brad says, Lucas must hate him, and Lucas says, all of this would be easier if he did. He does feel sorry for Brad. He understands all the reasons Brad did what he did. Brad says he still shouldn’t have done it, and Lucas says, Brad was drawn into a nightmare. But Brad pulled him in too, and it’s a nightmare he never wants to think about or experience again. So goodbye, Brad. He walks out.

Isaiah says, so if Lulu’s body accepts Lucky’s liver, it will take her back to her baseline. He’ll have given her the best possible chance to wake up from her coma. Lucky says, don’t kid a kidder. The odds of that are pretty slim. Isaiah says, slim is better than none, and Lucky says he guesses. Isaiah says, Lucky is going to need about a week in the hospital, and another six to eight weeks after than to recover from the surgery. That being said, there are risks. There’s no such thing as a routine transplant surgery. Lucky says, and Isaiah wouldn’t consider… Isaiah says he’ll give advice and offer support, but he’s never going back into surgery. Lucky says, sorry. He never should have asked. Isaiah has done more than his part. Isaiah says, he means the whole risking his life to get Lucky help thing? and Lucky says, without him, he’d still be in the desert. Whatever happens next is on him.

Sonny says, don’t worry about it, and Carly says, he does have a plan to help Alexis, doesn’t he? He says, they can protect Alexis and everybody involved. All they have to do is find the gun Alexis threw away. She says, what if he doesn’t find it? and he says, then he’ll prove Alexis didn’t kill Jagger Cates. She says, how? and he says he’ll turn himself in.

On Monday, Willow says, maybe she and Michael can figure it out together; Robert tells Diane, Holly’s back in town; Terry has Lucky’s test results; and Lucky owes someone a huge apology.

🪥 Brush Up On Your Lucas…

A refresher course or an introduction.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-lucas-jones-ryan-carnes-158930

🎉 Mother and Child Reunion…

Laura’s head is going to explode when Lulu wakes up.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/genie-francis-returns-to-general-hospital-2024

I dunno about him being like Luke. Luke was never that altruistic.

https://ew.com/general-hospital-will-reunite-laura-with-lucky-genie-francis-jonathan-jackson-8723567

🎉 Receipts, Proof, Timelines, Lemons In a Bowl…

I really do feel badly for her, but she seriously needs to curb her drinking.

Confirmation!

🍸 Something About Horror…

It beats the horror of the last two seasons of VPR.

💍 Charming Proposal…

She’s finally moved on from creeper Austen. Good for her.

🥸 That’s a Lot Of Laughs…

Wow. Fifty – 5-0 – seasons.

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-first-snl-episode-after-saturday-night-movie-8722822

💸 Regrettable Millionaire…

This came after the shame of being included in The Dark Side of Reality TV. I kinda, sorta remember it, but I’m not a fan of the finding love shows. I always feel embarrassed for the contestants. No doubt they feel embarrassed for themselves too, after it airs. And it’s rarely love that they find.

https://ew.com/joe-millionaire-producer-regrets-convincing-women-to-do-show-8714985

👻 Get Your Ideas Here…

This article shows costumes you can buy and where you can buy them, but it’s not that hard to DIY some of these ideas. I’m no seamstress, but I’ve handmade dog costumes a few times. You try to find Rocky Horror costumes for dogs.

https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets/best-dog-halloween-costumes

Omg, the little football.

https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/20-funny-creative-outrageous-pet-costumes

💡 Quotes of the Week

The really magical things are the ones that happen right in front of you. A lot of the time you keep looking for beauty, but it is already there. And if you look with a bit more intention, you see it. – Vik Muniz

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.Abraham Lincoln

October is the fallen leaf, but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations about them once again. – Hal Borland

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. – Terry Simpson

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. – Mike Tyson

You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter. – Nicholas Sparks

I said no cilantro. I might as well shove a bar of goddam soap in my mouth. – Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), The Penguin (Same.)

No one knows what it is, or how it works, but everyone wants to possess it. – Nomad (Michael Berryman), Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time

🍁 Here’s To October…

Get your weekend on, then join me on Monday for soap and seeing what’s on Sail. Until then, stay safe, stay within the parameters of a party (in other words, don’t be nosy about the host’s home), and stay never calling people unkind names because they’re sick.

October 3, 2024 – A Sliver Of Hope For Heather, Pulling Back the Curtain, Another Goodbye, Shannon’s Tea Party Birthday, Steal These Ideas & Mash

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Lucky skulks around Bobbie’s. He looks through the window and sees Elizabeth. He goes inside, and she turns around. He walks toward her.

Molly visits Alexis in Pentenville. When she’s about to hug Alexis, the guard says, no contact with the prisoner, but Molly says she’s exercising her privilege as ADA, and they hug.

Trina walks into the gallery while Ava is on the phone. Ava says she understands, and she’ll be at the gallery all day. Trina asks if it’s about a piece of art, and Ava says she wishes. She’d rather be focused on keeping the gallery in the black than keeping herself out of prison.

Ric goes to see Heather, who says she appreciates that he hasn’t given up on her. She hasn’t either.

Marshall asks what Curtis is doing at The Savoy when he has a big fancy company to run. Curtis says he does, but Marshall going back to keeping secrets distracted him.

Dante brings Portia some donuts for the staff to thank them for taking good care of Lulu. She’s hanging on and it has a lot to do with the people here. She says, they provide the medical care, but he and the family give her something to live for.

Jason sits by Lulu’s bed and says, she’s doing her part, staying strong and hanging in. He’s grateful he and Anna could help.

Lucky says, coffee is going to stunt Elizabeth’s growth, and we flash back to when they met, and they both looked like they were 12. Elizabeth says she thinks it’s cigarettes, but he says, she never gave up coffee and she hasn’t changed a bit. She hugs him.

As Jason leaves Lulu’s room, he runs into Dante coming in.

Elizabeth asks if Lucky slept on the plane, and he says, a little, but sleep has been in short supply lately. He’s hungrier than he is tired. She says, he’s in the right place, and he says he loves the name, but hopes the menu hasn’t changed. She says, Carly would never, and asks a server for a BLT with onion rings and extra pickles. She asks how the flight was, and he says, a few bumps, nothing flying on the WSB’s dime couldn’t fix. She tells him that she’s now head nurse, and he congratulates her and says, there’s nobody better for the job. She says she can think of one or two, and he says, Aunt Bobbie would be proud. She says, Bobbie wouldn’t be proud if she misses her meeting, but he says he was hoping they could talk. She says, her nurses can wait a few minutes, and he says, they have a lot of catching up to do.

Curtis asks how long Marshall was going to hold out on him. He got a phone call congratulating him on his father’s big, national concert tour. The Wynton Marsalis Quartet – that’s big time. Marshall says, it’s something. Who told him? Curtis says, a booker called, wondering why he didn’t promote Marshall, and Marshall says he’s sorry he put Curtis on the spot. Curtis says he’s sorry he ruined Marshall’s surprise, but Marshall says, there’s no surprise. He’s not taking the gig.

Ava tells Trina that John Cates’s death changed nothing. She’s still going to trial for Kristina’s accident, and she’ll need to step back from the gallery. She’d like Trina to run it in her absence. Trina says she doesn’t know if she can swing the gallery and school, and Ava says, she’s going back to PCU? Trina says, it’s time she put Spencer, Esme, and Heather behind her and gets back to her life.

Ric says he’s sorry the tests didn’t corroborate their theory, and Heather says she started envisioning a life without her grandson, but then met her new cellmate, his ex no less. He laughs and asks if Alexis swooped in with her optimism. Heather says, Alexis was accused of killing someone to protect her daughter. The only difference between them is Alexis was of sound mind. If Alexis thinks there’s a chance she’ll beat her charge, why shouldn’t she? Ric says, she can’t compare the two cases. Heather committed multiple murders, and as it stands, her brain chemistry wasn’t altered. Heather says, hogwash. She wasn’t born a serial killer. Something made her one.

Portia talks to Deanna about Lucky’s tests. Her phone dings, and she almost runs into Brad while she’s looking at it.

Alexis tells Molly not to exploit her position on her behalf. She doesn’t want Molly to lose her license. Molly says, fine, but it’s on Alexis now to do everything in her power to defend herself. Alexis says, that’s the plan, but Molly says, not if she allows herself to be put in prison so Sonny won’t be.

Lucky and Elizabeth sit at a table, and he says, he wasn’t at his former camp. She says, which camp? and he says, they’re all basically the same. She asks if he was there by choice, or he was a prisoner? If he treats it like a mystery, so will everyone else, and that won’t fly with some people. One person in particular. He says, his mother? and she says, get used to telling the story. He tells her about Sidwell and how he kidnapped Isaiah, and she says, she met Isaiah. He’s a charmer. He asks if Isaiah talked about him. Did he flirt with her? She says, back to Sidwell, and he says he got snagged trying to bust Isaiah out. She says she gets why they’d want a physician, but why did they want him? He says, it turns out Sidwell is a big gambler, and they played cards, a lot of cards. She asks if there were big stakes, and he says, just lives. Eventually, Anna and Jason showed up and here he is. No big deal. She suggests he make it a big deal to their son. He’d feel better if Lucky was away for a good reason, and that it wasn’t just easier to be there than here.

Dante tells Jason that he’s not going to make it a big thing, but he and Rocco appreciate what he did for Lulu. Jason nods and leaves.  

Alexis says, Molly has spoken to Martin, and wonders if he doesn’t understand attorney/client privilege. Molly says, they’re looking out for her best interests, and Alexis says, his job is to give her the best defense. Molly says she thinks the best thing is for Alexis to go to trial armed with evidence as to who killed John, but Alexis says she thinks her best defense is to find the gun she disposed of. Molly says, neither Sam nor the PCPD have found it, so she’ll have to proceed. Alexis says she gets that Molly wants her to point the finger at Sonny, and Molly says, but if she does, Kristina will speak up or throw herself in the crosshairs. It’s her future she’s putting on the line to protect Kristina and for what? If Kristina hasn’t already ruined her life, she will, and all of Alexis’s efforts will be for nothing.

Trina tells Ava, enough time has passed. She has to get as close to normal as she can. Ava asks if she has to or is she ready to? and Trina says, maybe both. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever be ready. She talked to her mom and Aunt Stella, and they agree. She can’t get accustomed to what feels easy. She has to push past her comfort zone. Ava asks if that’s the gallery, and Trina says she doesn’t want to disappoint Ava, but Ava says, Trina could never disappoint her. Just promise if she needs a change, she’ll honor that. She’d hate if Trina felt pressured. Trina is invaluable to her and she couldn’t run the gallery without her, but Trina is more important to her as a friend.

Heather tells Ric that something was wrong with her, and it was put right when they took out her hip. She feels different and people say she acts different. He says he understands she wants to get out and seek compensation, but she says, it’s not about the money. It’s always been about Ace. One day, he’ll be old enough to understand why she went to prison, and when he does, she wants him to know it’s not because she’s a killer at heart. It can’t be all she amounts to in his eyes. That’s why she refuses to go down without a fight. She’ll take any angle she has to take, but she can’t do it without his help.

Portia asks what Brad is doing here, and he says he works here. She says, he’s not scheduled until later, and he says, somebody called in sick. He’s trying to be a team player and a model employee. She says, they’ll see how long that lasts, and he says she can hate on him all she wants. He doesn’t blame her, but he’s not going to screw this up. He owes that much to Britt. She says, so that’s how he got Terry’s recommendation. He played the dead best friend card.

Ric goes to the gallery and tells Ava that he may have hit on something in her statement that might be able to get her case thrown out. Ava says she likes the sound of that, and he says, now if he can just have that sliver of hope for the rest of his clients. She asks if things aren’t going well with Heather, and he says, having been the town pariah, he thought she’d have some empathy, but she says, not even one bit. He says, Heather has done some horrible things, but she just wants to be treated like a human being. He knows the feeling and imagines Ava does too.

Molly says, if Alexis goes to prison, who’s going to protect Kristina when she messes up? and Alexis says, she hopes Molly and Sam. Molly says she won’t. She can’t have a relationship with Kristina until Kristina can be responsible for her actions. It’s one thing to mess up her own life, but now she’s throwing Alexis under the bus. Alexis says, it was her choice, and if it was Molly, she’d do the same thing. Molly says she would never put Alexis in that position, and Alexis says, Kristina has severe postpartum and severe post-traumatic stress. She’s not in her right mind. She can’t make sane decisions right now. Molly says, what about the terrible decisions she’s made in the past? and Alexis says she’s Kristina’s mother. She has to protect her. She wishes Molly could understand. Molly says, but only a mother could, right? and Alexis says, that’s not what she meant, but Molly gets up and walks away.

Marshall says he needs Curtis’s signature on some papers that have been piling up, and Curtis says he’s at a loss. This is what Marshall always wanted, to play with the best on the biggest stages in the country. What if the opportunity doesn’t come around again? Marshall says, maybe it won’t, but he’s not going to get another son. Curtis asks if Marshall isn’t taking the gig because of him.

Elizabeth says, Lucky doesn’t owe her anything, but Aiden is a different story. He’s growing into a special young man, but he’s not bulletproof, and Lucky needs to handle him with care. Lucky asks how else she thinks he’d handle Aiden, and she says, Lucky doesn’t know him and she knows he didn’t come back for Aiden. He came back for Lulu and that’s fine; she gets it. She’s glad Lulu has hope, but she’s not assuming that means he’s staying, and she doesn’t want Aiden to assume that. he says he won’t make promises he can’t keep. That’s the least he owes her. She asks when he plans on seeing Aiden, and he says, today, but first, he’s due back at the hospital for another test. He doesn’t suppose the head nurse would want to accompany him. She asks if needles still freak him out, and he says, very much.

Jason sees Sam, and she asks if he’s okay. He says, everyone is in one piece, and Sam says she thinks he should talk to Danny. He says, that was his next stop. He’s sorry he didn’t talk to her before he left. She says, it was probably a good idea. She would have overreacted. As a matter of fact, she owes Carly an apology about him going to Africa. She should have known he was going to go. He says, because Carly asked? but she says, because of who he is. He never pretends to be anything else and she’s grateful. So are Dante and Rocco. She thanks him and says, if anyone ever gives him hell for being himself, including her, ignore them. (Um… I think he already does that.)

Outside Bobbie’s, Lucky asks what else Elizabeth can tell him about Aiden, and she suggests he find out for himself. He says, she did a beautiful job on the sign, and she asks if Carly told him that she painted it. He says, no. He’d know her brushstroke anywhere.

Jason says, before he goes, Sam’s not wrong to be upset that he didn’t come to her. She deserved to hear it from him, not Danny. She says, that means a lot, and he says, it means a lot that she understands why he had to go. Elizabeth and Lucky arrive at the hospital.

Curtis says, Marshall is passing on a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Marshall says, it was decided he’d run The Savoy while Curtis concentrated on Aurora. He made a commitment to his son and he’s not about to go off to play his clarinet. He can do that in Port Charles, in this very club. Curtis says, not with Wynton Marsalis. He can get somebody to run the club. Marshall says, if he takes the gig, he leaves tomorrow and he’s gone for four months, and N’neka is in grad school. Curtis says he’ll do it, but Marshall says, that’s impractical at best, and foolhardy at worst. The Savoy is Curtis’s baby and Aurora is his future. He needs to be here so Curtis can pursue his dream. He was a terrible father. Curtis says, Marshall isn’t going to feel guilty about what he can’t change. If he allows Marshall to pass on his shot, he’ll be a terrible son.

Brad says, Britt’s name may have come up. Terry felt bad enough for him to give him another chance. What’s the big deal? Why does Portia care if he works here or not?  

Heather asks how Alexis’s visit was with her daughter, but Alexis says she’s not discussing her family, and her case is a hard no. Heather asks if the weather is off limits too. They might as well make the best of it here. Alexis asks if that’s because they’re going to be in here a while, but Heather says, Alexis is innocent, and she was under the influence of cobalt. They’ll get out sooner or later. But say it’s later. She knows her way around here and Alexis is going to need looking out for. Alexis asks what she wants in return, and Heather says, there is something she wants from Alexis.

Ric says he’s not diminishing Heather’s crimes. He only knows her as his client, but not only does she seem confused as to why she did what she did, she seems genuinely repentant. That doesn’t sound like a typical murderer to him. His phone dings, and he says, she may not be. Ava asks why he thinks that, and he says, because of the tests he had rerun in two independent labs. They contradict the numbers from GH. Ava says she’s guessing that affirms his theory, and he says, in a word, yes.

Elizabeth introduces Deanna to Lucky, and she says, one last test, and he’ll get the green light for the liver donation. He leaves with her, and Jason comes over to Elizabeth. He says, Elizabeth seems like she’s in a good headspace, and she hugs him.

Sam goes to Lulu’s room and asks, how’s the patient? Dante says, hanging tough as usual, and she says, what about him? He says he’s better now that Lucky is here. He owes Jason and Anna big time. He asks if she talked to Jason, and she says, he apologized for not telling her that he was leaving, and she apologized for the way she reacted. He says, an adult conversation. Good. Does that mean they’re turning a corner?

Marshall says he wants to do right by Curtis, and Curtis says, then go show the world what an Ashford can do. Show him, TJ, Trina, and Aunt Stella. There’s no greater reward than seeing someone you love achieve their dreams. Marshall says, so if he goes, that’s his gift to his family? and Curtis says, live his life to the fullest, and he’ll be right there with him.

Heather says, it’s something Alexis can’t give her. It’s something she’s got to earn. Alexis wonders why she feels like she’ll regret asking, and says, what is it? Heather says, someone to believe in her the way Molly believes in Alexis. Ric said Molly is her biggest advocate. Alexis says she’s fortunate, and Heather says she dreams about something like that, having someone to fight for her. Nobody sticks up for someone like her. Why would they? She’s made some big mistakes. Alexis says, they all have, but Heather says, Alexis didn’t give up her kids. Maybe if she’d had someone like Alexis to follow their lead, it would have been different. Alexis did it right.  

Brad says he’s legitimately curious as to why he bothers Portia so much, and she flashes back to changing Heather’s lab results. She says, because she’s Co-Chief of Staff and is responsible for the patients and the employees. He’s demonstrated that he’s not responsible for anyone, much less lab work. He says he’s not trying to cause trouble. He just wants to put in his 8 hours and go home. She says, he has 7 to go. After that, who knows? He’s on probation, right? He says, that’s why he wants to be the perfect employee. He leaves, and Trina comes in. She asks if Portia is okay. (If Portia tries to pin this on Brad, I can’t with her anymore.)

Ava says, so a high reading would show that the hip replacement had no impact, and Heather was of sound mind when she went on her hooking spree, and Ric says, a lower number would show the violence stemmed from her bad hip. The results were only high at GH. If he brings it to trial, he has to account for those results. Ava says, maybe it’s not a mistake at all.

Ric asks if Ava is suggesting someone at GH altered the results, and she says, it wouldn’t be the first time. He asks, who would do that? and she says, somebody who wants Heather kept behind bars.

Portia tells Trina that she’s fine. There’s just a lot going on. What about her? Trina says she talked to Ava about going back to school. The issue now is her remedial art history class at the Sorbonne. It’s messing with her schedule. She asks if that’s Brad, and Portia says, he’s back at the hospital… for now. Trina says, Aunt Stella calls Brad a bad egg, and Portia says, he casts a long shadow. Trian says, like Esme and Heather, and Portia says, yeah, but Esme and Heather are out of their lives for good.

Marshall says, Curtis wins. He’ll accept the offer on two conditions. Curtis and the family come and hear him play… Curtis says, they expect the best seats in the house, and Marshall says, done. And two. The second Curtis’s juggling here and Aurora becomes too much, call him and he’ll come running. Curtis says he will, but Marshall won’t have to. Now can he offer his dad congratulations? Marshall says, bring it in, and Curtis says he’s so proud of Marhsall. They hug, do fancy handshakes, make noises, and yell, Wynton Marsalis! over and over.  so proud hug my dad his son

Alexis asks what Ric said, and Heather tells her that Ric said her cobalt test numbers weren’t down, and currently don’t support that theory. Alexis asks if he used the term currently, and Heather asks why it matters. Alexis says, Ric might be hedging his bets. Heather needs to have more tests run. Maybe they’ll paint another picture. Technology isn’t foolproof. Heather says she knows what that is… hope.

Sam tells Dante that she’s trying to shift her perspective. It’s a work in progress. She realizes Jason did a good thing. He took a risk for Lulu and her family, for Dante and Rocco. She’s okay with that. All she wants is for Lulu to make it. Dante says him too, but it’s important for him that Sam knows the person he needs and the person he’d be lost without is her.

Jason tells Elizabeth that he’s glad he could help. Now all they need is for Lulu to pull through. Lucky comes out, and Jason says he’ll see them later and leaves. Elizabeth asks, how’d it go? and he says he didn’t faint and got a juice box. She says, so he didn’t need her, and he says, let’s not go overboard. She says she has to start work, and he says he’ll see her later. She asks if he’s going to see Aiden first, and he says, yeah. He thanks her for everything and says he has a good feeling about this. She says, so does she, and leaves.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Chase that it might take the both of them to get the truth out of her; Rick asks who Ava is protecting; and Lucky tells Sonny that they both know he should have been here all along.

🔥 Behind the Explosion…

Take a look behind the scenes with Jason, Anna, and Sidwell. Carlo Rota seems like he’d be fun to work with.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/go-backstage-at-gh-with-steve-burton-and-finola-hughes

🥀 A Hale Farewell…

Sadly, the old Mike has left the old Kelly’s for the last time.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/soap-star-ron-hale-dead-at-78

🍊 Johnny J. and the Oranges…

After Tamra ruined Katie’s dinner party by overreacting, we found out that the Ryan/FBI insinuation was regarding illegal gambling and Ryan’s business partner Matt using Ryan’s address as his business address. It seemed like the issue was really with Matt, who’s a professional gambler. Tamra said it was disgusting and Ryan was a horrible human being. Wow. She sets the bar pretty low for disgusting and horrible. How about thirsty middle-aged women who get baptized for screen time, then never act like a Christian again? Katie summed it up best when she said, what a f***ing night.

Emily went over to Gina’s new place and checked out the kids’ room. They each took turns spinning on the fireman’s pole, and in Gina’s interview, she said she wouldn’t be worthy of a stripper name because that sh*t is too much work. I concur. I can just imagine landing on my ass while trying to spin on a pole. In Fancy Pants Heather’s interview, she said she would have liked the opportunity to talk to Emily about the size issue. Here’s where I looked at the camera like Jim in The Office because she did have the opportunity. It was even in the flashback from last week. Emily started to tell Fancy Pants that she just wanted to have a conversation, when Fancy Pants interrupted her and asked her to be quiet for a minute. Oh wait. Fancy Pants meant a one-sided conversation. Otherwise known as a lecture.

Katie was discovering her Korean roots, which she wished she’d been introduced to as a child. Same with my Lithuanian/Native American roots. In her interview, she said, the only Korean phrase she knew was, f*** your mother, but the text said that she was actually speaking Mandarin, so apparently, she doesn’t even know that. I understand though. I took two years of French and all I can do is tell you how to pack a suitcase and curse you out.

Shannon had a 60th birthday age-appropriate tea. She laughed about being a spinster, but I have no doubt she’s not laughing on the inside. No surprise, Fancy Pants suddenly wanted to talk to Emily at the tea, and when Emily said she’s already tried that, Fancy Pants said, I wasn’t in the moment at the time. Because it’s all about her. Gina hit the nail on the head in her interview when she said that Fancy Pants always needed to remove herself, step away, and come up with the perfect thing to say. I think that’s because she wants to control all situations, whether they involve her or not. Alexis sent a flower arrangement with an olive branch in it, but Shannon said it was too late. She had no interest in being friendly. I can’t say as I blame her, and I agree with Emily, who said in her interview that Alexis had been making Shannon’s life hell. Shannon said, Alexis’s coach, aka Johnny J., was telling her to be nice now, and in Tamra’s interview, she scoffed and rolled her eyes, but I tend to agree with Shannon. Alexis isn’t smart enough to devise this kind of hate campaign. Shannon said she was hosting a trip to London for the group, but Alexis wasn’t invited. Everyone shared their favorite memory of Shannon, and they all involved a lot of laughter, which is something I wish we saw more of on this show. Exhausted was the word of the episode.

Katie and Jenn paid a visit to Alexis in order to gently let her down about the trip. After hopping around and flailing her arms, Alexis said she just wanted peace in the group. Katie told her to check her phone, and there was a text from Shannon saying she wasn’t interested in an olive branch. Johnny J. showed up in Alexis’s interview and said his hands had been tied, as the statute of limitations was nearly up for a loan lawsuit. Even though Katie wanted to be Asian Switzerland, she admitted in her interview that she thought Alexis had leaked the lawsuit to People.

Next time, the OC invades London.

🐕 Dress Like the Stars….

IMO, the Beanie tag is cute, but lazy.

👟 Blame It On the Boogie…

Calling it an early (for me) night, but join me tomorrow for soap and a Friday frolic in entertainment. Until then, stay safe; stay springing for the good individually wrapped and sealed candy; and stay not getting accustomed to what feels easy and push past your comfort zone.

September 26, 2024 – First Loser In Sidwell’s Game, New Soap Who Dis, No Party Goes Unpunished, WWDD, Teasing Us, Digipool, No Joke, Fall Films, Saved By Her Hair & Rain

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Stella meets Tracy at the park, and Tracy says, in her book, on time is five minutes early. Punctuality is a principle she holds dear, and if Stella doesn’t agree, maybe they need to rethink their arrangement. Stella asks who Tracy thinks she’s talking to.

James goes to the stables and Sasha tells him to have fun with his Uncle Cody. Cody says, fun is his middle name.

Drew tells Ned that Valentin is wanted by the FBI. His assets have been seized and it’s not going to look good for ELQ. Ned agrees, and Drew says he wishes Ned had been in agreement when he teamed up with Valentin. They need a less controversial CEO. He can’t do it, so that leaves one person. Ned says, me, and Drew says, Michael.

Sidwell says, it would be easy to kill them all, but he wants to make it more interesting. He’ll give them a chance to keep breathing. Jason asks, what’s the game? and Sidwell says, three players. If Jason wins, he and Anna live. If Lucky’s name is accurate, he and Holly will live. If he wins, they all die. No matter what happens, he can’t lose. Holly says, this is insane. Kill them if he wants to, but not her.

Tracy asks Stella if she was harsh. Timeliness is important to her. Stella says, her too, but there was an accident on Bellmont… She’s not explaining herself. She doesn’t buy that Tracy is this angry because she was late. Tracy asks what she’s angry about then, and Stella says, you tell me. Tracy says her mood has nothing to do with Stella being late. Two staff members were insubordinate and ill-mannered, and she’s annoyed about it. The cook took it upon herself to throw an elaborate brunch for another family at their boathouse and the stable hand was involved. Stella says, that is rude. Some people have no work ethic anymore, throwing a party on the job. Tracy says, the cook wasn’t on the clock. It was her day off. Stella says, it’s a shame about the stable hand, but Tracy says, it was his day off too. Stella says she’s confused. What’s the problem? Tracy says, their blatant disregard for her. Sasha got huffy and defiant, and Cody chimed in on her behalf. Stella says, problems are like onions. You’ve got to pull back the layers to get to the root. She knows what this is really about, and bets Tracy does too.

James asks if Cody is happy to be part of their family, and Cody says, the happiest. James says he can’t believe Grandpa Mac is Cody’s dad, and Cody says he can’t believe it either. He learned to be okay with being alone and leaned into the cool parts, but having a family who he cares about and who cares about him is a lot cooler.

Maxie thanks Sasha for the brunch, and Sasha says, it was fun until Tracy. Maxie says, that was a lot of hot air over a quiche. She was checking for updates on Lulu. She’s getting worse and needs a transplant now. Sasha says she’s sorry. She knows they were close. Maxie says, Lulu is her best friend. Always has been and always will be.

Drew says, Michael is the obvious choice, and Ned tells him, says who? Who authorized him to choose? Drew says he’s a member of the family, and Ned says, he made that clear when he changed his name before his run for office. Drew says he makes no apologies, and Ned never apologized for making Valentin CEO. Ned asks if the initials SEC mean anything to Drew, and Drew says, they need to replace Valentin with Michael. Ned asks why he should support that, and Drew says, because he’s a team player. He’s supporting the family over his personal interests. Michael and Willow walk in, and Michael asks if they’re interrupting.  

Holly says she doesn’t know what these people are doing and doesn’t care. She’s not involved. He’s the one who persuaded her to leave Monte Carlo, and now she’s going to be killed if someone doesn’t win a game. Sidwell says he enjoyed his time with her, but doesn’t trust her. She knew these people and didn’t tell him. She says she explained why, but he says he doesn’t like people who keep secrets. He tells the guards to get the women out and secure Lucky and Jason. He asks if they’re ready to play for their lives.

Tracy asks if it isn’t premature for Stella to presume she knows what Tracy means, and Stella says, they’re more alike than Tracy wants to admit. It all boils down to one thing. How Tracy feels about Cody.

James asks if Sasha is part of their family because she’s Cody’s girlfriend, and Cody says, some people have a hard time believing in themselves. Sasha believed in him when he couldn’t and talked him into it. James says he believes in Cody. How can he not believe in himself? Cody says, James wrote the book on cool, but James says he hates writing. Cody tells him, it’s just a saying. For the record, Sasha is part of his family. James says, then she’s part of his too, and they get ready to go for a ride.

Holly and Anna are put in a cell, and Anna looks around. Holly says, she won’t find anything, and Anna asks if she’s supposed to sit around waiting to die. The whole reason they came was to bring Lucky home to save Lulu, but that only happens if he lives. If he wins, that means Jason can’t win. She finds a paper clip and starts to work the lock. She says, that means she’s a dead woman. Why didn’t Holly help Lucky escape when she found him? Holly asks how she would know Lulu needed a transplant. She was two months into the most odious con, and two weeks was all she needed. She would have had millions of dollars, but instead, they show up, and now their lives are at risk. Anna says, Holly always survives. She needs to ask Holly a favor. When she gets out, go to Robert and asks him to tell their daughter how much she loves her. Holly says, Anna is such a bitch. Anna knows she can’t go to Robert and tell him that she left her to die. Anna says she doesn’t see what choice Holly has. Unless Holly has a magic Get Out of Jail Free card, she’s screwed.

Sidwell says he’ll do the honors, and shuffles the cards. A guard whispers something to him, and he says, something requires his attention. In case they think of doing anything stupid, there are guards outside. He leaves, and Lucky asks what Jason and Anna are doing here. Jason says, they’re here to take him home.

Drew says he was filling Ned in on his idea for Michael to take over as CEO, and Ned says, it was more like a mandate. Drew says, does Michael have time to join them? and Willow says, it’s fine. She’ll see him at the boathouse. Michael says, if they miss their reservation, he’ll make it up to her, and she says she knows. She leaves, and Michael says he takes it Ned’s not on board, and Drew says, Ned’s creating conflict where there is none. They need to get ELQ on solid ground and it’s easier if they’re on the same page. Ned says, it’s always two against one, and Drew says, Ned’s right. Ned says, that’s a first, and Drew says, no more two against one. He’s confident they’ll figure it out on their own. He leaves, and Michael says he doesn’t have an agenda. He just wants to do what’s best for the family. Ned says he believes Michael. It’s not Michael he doesn’t trust. It’s Drew.

Tracy asks if Stella is suggesting she’s harboring romantic feelings for Cody. If so, she’s ready too many trashy novels. Stella says she’s not saying that… Not that she would blame Tracy. They’ve been meeting for several months and it’s clear by how much she talks about Cody, that they’ve become close. He even took her out on the lake in that old rowboat. They confide in each other. She was one of the first people Cody told when he found out Mac was his real father. Tracy says she’s mentioned him more than she realized, and Stella says, he’s a good friend and now he’s reunited with his family and he’s with Sasha. Tracy is afraid of losing him. And why not? Look at where they are. She points to Gregory’s plaque on the bench, and Tracy says, it’s been a difficult year. She hasn’t spoken to Finn in months. Stella says, another good friend. Loss is hard. Tracy says, losing Gregory was harder. He was one of her closest confidents. And there’s Luke. She misses him most of all. Luke, Finn, and Gregory were all so compelling, especially Luke. They’re very different, but Cody reminds her of him. Maybe she just wants to see that, but she thinks they share a lot of the same qualities. Stella says, it’s safe to say he’s important to her, and Tracy says she couldn’t stand another relationship slipping away.

Lucky says he appreciates the effort, but Jason says he doesn’t understand. Lucky says, just get himself and Anna out. Sidwell talks a big game, but he’s not going to kill him or Holly. Jason says, there’s no time. Lulu had a medical crisis and needs a liver transplant. Lucky is her best shot at a donor and has to get home as soon as possible. Sidwell comes back and says, apologies. Now, where were we?

Stella says she’s sorry about Luke, Gregory, and Finn, and Tracy says, at least Finn is still alive. Stella says, but he’s not present in the way Tracy wishes he was. Grief isn’t linear. There are ups and downs, twists and turns. Tracy says, her own personal roller coaster. She wants to get off the ride now. Stella says, you think you’re making progress and you’re at peace, then out of nowhere, it hits like a ton of bricks. Tracy says, it sounds like she’s speaking from experience, and Stella says, a few weeks ago, she heard My Girl. She and Irene used to play it over and over, and dance and sing for hours. She was in her car and just lost it. She’s convinced, the deeper the love, the longer the journey. Tracy says, there’s no bond like siblings. She had a brother. He drove her crazy like nobody else. Why get involved with people when you’re just going to lose them? Stella says, everything Tracy feels is normal. Although maybe she should temper her reaction. Tracy says she guesses she owes Sasha an apology, and Stella says, that’s a good place to start. Tracy says she’s sorry for scolding Stella. It’s not going to happen again… if there is an again. Stella asks if Tracy doesn’t recognize a good friend sitting next to her. She’s not a compelling man, but she is a compelling woman if she does say so herself. Tracy says she has to agree.

Ned says he gets that Michael is in it for the family and sees he’s willing to put aside what he wants for the greater good. Michael says, but Ned doesn’t think Drew is, and Ned says he knows Drew isn’t. Michael says, no one has come through for the family more than Drew, and Ned says, they’re grateful, but Drew is a Quartermaine through and through. He wasn’t always like he is now, but maybe his struggles changed him. He knows Drew is out for himself and will take what he wants. Michael says he’s never seen anything to indicate that, but Ned says, keep his eyes open. Just because Michael’s intentions are pure doesn’t mean Drew’s are. He’ll never fully trust Drew, and if Michael is smart, he won’t either. He leaves.

Creeper Drew goes to the boathouse, and Willow asks what he’s doing here. He says he could tell she was upset and wanted to say he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to ruin her night with Michael. She says, it doesn’t matter. She’s continually asked him to stay away, but he doesn’t care. He says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says she has feelings for him that are jeopardizing her marriage, and it makes her feel like absolute crap. He says she doesn’t want her to feel that way, and she says, then stop running into her and checking on her. She needs him to leave her alone.

Sidwell says he’ll put down first, and lays his cards out. Lucky puts his down, but Jason folds. Sidwell tells the guards to take Jason and bring Holly back. Jason’s loss is English’s gain. She always lands on her feet. Give his condolences to Anna. It was pleasure playing cards with him. Lucky says he’s sorry, and Jason says, get home safe. The guards lead him out, and Sidwell says, for a savvy card player, Jason is naïve. Lucky’s not going anywhere.

Maxie sees Ned and says she has papers for Tracy and Brook. He asks if it’s Deception business, and she says, it is. She asks if he can keep an eye on James. One time, the lake; two times, a disappearing act. Ned says he’s got it, and Maxie says she won’t take long. Good luck. Ned asks, what’s new? and James asks if Ned kisses people on the lips. Ned laughs and says he does, but only one person, his wife Olivia. James says, kissing his mom makes Spinelli happy. Why would one kiss make Willow sad?

Cody tells Sasha that he and James talked about her and how grateful he is to have her in his life. James asked if she was part of his family. He hopes he wasn’t out of turn saying yes. She says, nothing would make her happier, and they kiss.

Holly says she’ll never forget the day Anna showed up, the woman from Robert’s past. Anna was awful. Her marriage to Robert was the sweetest time of her life. She thinks she knew in her heart something that special can’t last. Anna says she remembers how at peace and content Robert was with Holly. She guesses she felt bad about getting in the middle of that. She thinks Holly made Robert happy in a way she never did. Holly says, Robert will never be happy again if she lets Anna die here, but she can’t figure out how to prevent it. Anna says she doesn’t think Holly can, but Holly says she told Anna, no way is she going back to Robert and telling him that she left Anna here to die. The guards bring Jason in, and one of the guards punches him in the stomach just because. They take Holly, and Anna says, tell Robert to tell her, but Holly says, don’t give up. Jason says he’s sorry. He lost the game. Anna shrugs and says she knew he would.

Sidwell wonders what Jason’s hand was and Lucky looks at the cards. He says, a losing one, and Sidwell says, Lucky’s trend continues. Lucky says, they did what he wanted. They played his sick game and now two people are going to die. Sidwell says, that doesn’t mean the deal changed. If Lucky loses… Lucky asks if he’s not bored, but Sidwell says, not even a little bit. Lucky says he thinks it’s time they shake things up, put in something for him. They play a hand and if he wins, he goes free. Holly is brought back, and Sidwell tells the guard to take the other two to the courtyard. He welcomes Holly back, and she says she’s glad that unpleasantness is behind them. She’ll forgive him this once. Since they’re still playing, she’ll go to her room. Sidwell tells her to stay and tells Lucky that he’s right. It’s high time they reset the terms.

Cody knocks everything off the table, and he and Sasha start to get busy. Tracy clears her throat, and they see her standing in the doorway. (Why do they continually leave this door open?)

On the phone, Michael says he’s off the grid for the rest of the night. He has plans with his wife. Maxie walks in and says, he makes his family priority. She wonders how he’s not pulled in different directions. She’s having a hard time, and she only works for one company. He says, there’s nothing more important than Willow and the kids, and she says, Spinelli usually gets the short end of the stick, but he’s patient and kind about it. She hereby declares she’s making her relationship a priority. Michael suggests a standing date night. Twice a month minimum, one a week if they can swing it. She says, they’re both lucky they found their person.

Willow says, please just go, and Drew says he will, but he wants her to know that he understands. He’s going through the same thing. She says, he’s not married. He’s amazing and her heart races when she sees him. It puts what matters at risk and she wishes she could make it go away, but she’s having trouble. He can help. He helped her in Greenland. Help her now. Stay away from her. Please. He leaves.  

James asks if sad and guilty are the same, and Ned says, sometimes. James asks what guilty means, and Ned says, it means you feel bad about something and wish you hadn’t done it. He’s confused. What does that have to do with Willow and a kiss? James says he heard Willow tell Aunt Nina that she felt guilty for kissing Drew. (Rut-roh. Congratulations, Ned. You’re the new CEO of ELQ!)

Jason says, Sidwell is going to kill them, and Anna says, he made that clear. He says, their only chance is to jump them, but she says, they’re armed. She has to get the cuffs off of him. She can’t go after them alone. He picks up the paper clip and she works at the cuffs, but she says, it’s not working. It’s not strong enough. It’s just bending. She can find a nail. She searches the bed, and says, if she can get it out… Frustrated, she lifts the bed and it bangs on the floor, and Jason says, just try again. She starts to cry and says she can’t do it. He tells her, stop, and she says, sorry. This is it, isn’t it? They’re going to die in here tonight. She hugs him, and it looks like they’re about to kiss, but they’re distracted by a door clanging. Jason listens for a moment, then kisses Anna. (I wrack my brain trying to remember if they’ve ever been involved.)

Sidwell says, Lucky isn’t just playing to keep himself alive. Holly lives as long as Lucky continues to win. Holly says she refuses, and Sidwell asks if she thinks she has a say. She smacks his face and says, he brought her to this hellhole just to be part of his sad game. He grabs her and says, does she think he didn’t know she was after his diamonds? Does she think he’d let her cheat him? She grabs his gun and tells him not to lay his hands on her. And don’t think of calling the guards. She asks if Lucky can get free, and he says he’s way ahead of her, already out of the cuffs and leg irons. He asks where Anna and Jason are, and she says, they’re in the same cell he was. Sidwell knocks the gun out of her hand.  

Tomorrow, Cody says, Tracy should know if she does, he’s going too; Robert tells Diane, don’t be too sure on that; Brennan tells Carly that he’ll do as much as he can, the rest is up to them; and Sonny says he would have hoped Martin would make that happen.

🧼 At the Starting Gates…

This sounds pretty good. Doubtful I’ll watch it during its daytime slot, but I’m sure it will stream as well. Could this mean daytime is taking a turn for the soap? Premiering on CBS in early 2025.

https://deadline.com/2024/09/beyond-the-gates-cbs-daytime-drama-casts-tamara-tunie-daphnee-duplaix-karla-mosley-1236093722/

🍊 Ti Many Martoonies For Tamra…

Fancy Pants couldn’t figure out why it was two steps forward with Gina and Emily, and said there was a piece of the puzzle missing. Yeah, the piece that’s Heather’s ego. She and Terry got in a little spat, which was interesting. He was annoyed with her talking over him (ugh, same, I hate that), and told her not to admonish him on camera. They tried to hide from the camera when they had that conversation, but Andy sees all.

Johnny J. wouldn’t settle the suit with Shannon (try saying that three times real fast) because he wouldn’t sign an agreement not to say bad things about her. I’m still confused as to who asked for this in the first place, since I thought this whole thing started because she was talking smack about him. Alexis said he’d lost everything, and it was all coming out tomorrow. While we assumed she meant the videos, which he admitted keeping for blackmail purposes (!), it was just an article in the press about the lawsuit, which is par for the course. Shannon butt-dialed Tamra, who heard her wailing about it and saying she thought Alexis’s PR team was behind it.

Katie was having a couples’ dinner party so husband Matt could make friends. It was funny when Katie listed the names of the guests for Matt. I got the feeling they went right back out of his head the second she said them. Ryan had gone on a podcast and trashed Eddie, and Shane wondered if there was going to be a boxing match. I like Shane. He seems normal. In her interview, Katie said, just be kind around the wineglasses. Emily said, Fancy Pants wasn’t invited because she didn’t acknowledge Katie’s existence, but Terry had just undergone surgery to fix his snoring nose, so that could have actually been why. Gina was away, and Katie said she didn’t want Shannon feeling like a ninth wheel, although I’m pretty sure Shannon would still be offended at not getting an invite. Especially since she was whining about being all alone… except she had Archie… sniff… Hey, you can do worse than a dog. When Eddie asked if there were name tags at the table, Emily said he was by Ryan. I literally lol’d and even Eddie had to laugh. Yeah, if I was going to hang out with anybody IRL, it would be Emily and Shane.

Tamra kept downing martinis, and in her interview, Jenn said the last time Tamra got drunk like this, she (Jenn) had a napkin thrown in her face, and we flashed back to that. They discussed Alexis being looney toons and this led to Emily weeping over the whole dress thing again. It’s a shame Emily still feels like she’s overweight. She doesn’t seem to understand that the size number doesn’t matter. Even at my thinnest, my waist only gets so small. Tamra wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, or as Emily put it, the two big elephants. Because you should always discuss these things at a dinner party. At least in Housewifeland. This led to Tamra and Ryan arguing about his love of married women. Eddie kept trying to get her to shut up, while the other husbands looked at the sky, the grass, or their drinks. It didn’t take long for Tamra’s vocal register to hit screech level, and she ended up stumbling out of the party by herself, saying, I’m done.

⚰️  Spinning At You This Sunday…

The latest on Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol. No spoilers.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-our-best-look-yet-at-the-book-of-carol/

https://www.ign.com/articles/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-2-review-book-of-carol

🌁 Something New From Last…

The latest trailer for The Last of Us. However, it’s not making the new season air any faster… sigh…

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/last-of-us-season-2-trailer/

🦸 Straight From the Merc’s Mouth…

The Amazon version sounds awesome. When it comes out on DVD, I want the Blu-ray with the pop-up Deadpool army. Yes, I bought the Game of Thrones makeup set with the pop-up throne. I’m that kinda girl.

https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/marvel-studios-deadpool-and-wolverine-digital-4k-uhd-blu-ray-dvd

I’m not surprised. There was really nothing like seeing this on the big screen. I would have walked on glass to get there. Not broken glass, but maybe that safety glass like they use for car windows.

https://collider.com/deadpool-wolverine-global-box-office-1-317-billion/

🃏 All Joking Aside…

Lady Gaga proves once again that she’s more talented than the rest of the world put together.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/lady-gaga-fiance-michael-polansky-joker-folie-a-deux-london-photos/story?id=114124780

https://ew.com/joker-folie-a-deux-clip-joaquin-phoenix-lady-gaga-kiss-prison-8713670

🎬 And the Rest…

A list of the movies that may or may not be in your future.

https://ew.com/your-guide-fall-movies-2024-joker-folie-a-deux-wicked-8717208

🐕 Nemesis Of Roadrunners Everywhere…

I saw this on the news and got an adrenaline rush just from watching it. Thank God she was right there and moved fast. We don’t have coyotes here, but we didn’t used to have deer in the backyard either.

https://people.com/tommy-lee-wife-brittany-furlan-saves-their-dog-coyote-attack-video-8717966

🍵 Autumn Is Calling…

Join me tomorrow for soap and whatever nuggets of entertainment I can dig up. Until then, stay safe, stay organizing your environment for inner peace, and stay peeling back the layers until you get to the root of your problem.

September 20, 2024 – Sidwell Extends an Invite, First Day, OC Tea, Iconically Salty, Big Apples, Expanding His Territory, Oh No They Didn’t, An Octuplet Of Quotes & Fair

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Curtis says he’s glad they did this tonight, and Portia says, her too. She really needed it. N’neka brings their drinks and says, this is what she likes to see. Two beautiful people in love, and her favorite boss back where he belongs. Curtis say he appreciates it, but don’t get used to it, and N’neka says she’d hoped seeing him was a sign he’d be around more. He says, unfortunately, no. He does miss this place and he misses them all, but Aurora’s keeping him crazy busy. Portia says, maybe, but it is a Quartermaine business. They could be at each other’s throats any minute now. Drew walks in with Nina, and Portia says, unless Nina gets to Drew first.

In the nook, Michael says, let him deal with it, and Ned says, he told Michael, let him handle it. Willow says, maybe they should table the ELQ business for now, and Lois says, and discuss matters closer to home, like the fact the boathouse is still a crime scene. Michael says he’s concerned about that too, but right now, they need to get this situation squared away. Ned says he has it covered, and Michael says, nobody’s seen ELQ’s majority shareholder and it’s been weeks since he disappeared. Ned says he has their best people working on tracking him down, and Michael says, and yet, the FBI says his trail has gone cold and Ned is saying he can find him. Ned says he can, and Michael says, they can’t count on Valentin being caught. They need to lock ELQ down so Valentin can’t offload his shares to fund his new life. Ned says he doesn’t need Michael’s constant reminders about not locking down ELQ, and Michael says, maybe if Ned had sided with him and Drew instead of collaborating with Valentin, they wouldn’t be in this mess. Ned says, yes, and maybe if Michael hadn’t invited Sonny over to the house, John Cates might still be alive.

Looking very broken and beaten up, Lucky is thrown into a cell by two guards. One says, maybe that will teach him to keep his mouth shut. At least they’ll have peace and quiet until he wakes up. The other guard says, if he wakes up.

Holly says, Anna seems to have her hands on a phone that doesn’t belong to her, and Anna says, stay out of this, but Holly says she’s afraid she can’t do that. Anna is a thief, and she’s caught her red-handed. What choice does she have but to sound the alarm?

At the table, Sidwell throws down his cards and says, a straight flush. So what has Jason got? Don’t keep him in suspense. Jason folds, and Sidwell says, you fold, you lose. He’s going to collect his winnings and his woman and call it a night. Jason says, not yet. Their night isn’t over.

Portia says she loves Nina’s dress, and Nina thanks her and says she loves Portia’s dress too. 🥱 Drew says, Curtis looks okay, and Curtis says, just okay? He did his hair and everything. Portia says, they both look amazing, and Curtis says, before he forgets, he has a call for Monday. Their negotiators are closing the Tokyo deal, and he wants to run some things by Drew. Drew says he’ll make sure to be there. They’re going to get a table. Curtis tells them to enjoy their evening, and Nina and Drew go to sit down. Portia says, those two seem awfully close. She wonders what’s going on between them. Curtis says, who knows? and she says she guesses she’ll find out eventually. That stuff with the Tokyo deal sounds pretty positive. He says, she’s not disappointed, is she? and she says she wants him to succeed. She doesn’t begrudge him his success. He says, but she might wish he found it someplace else, and she says, it’s not that. It’s just that she has heard some stories at the hospital. Individually, the Quartermaines are lovely people, but as a group… He says, their family battles are legendary, but he’s noticed it’s usually confined to ELQ business. Drew and Michael get along great at Aurora. She says, still. Please have his exit plan in place. Just in case. He laughs and says, there’s no reason to leave Aurora. He has some plans for their family and it’s going to pay for it all. So stop worrying. Things are only going up from here.

Nina says, someone is in a good mood, and Drew says, why wouldn’t he be? The election’s coming up and he’s ahead in the polls. She says, don’t get cocky. He’s up by 7% with a 4% margin of error. This election is by no means a done deal. He needs to direct his full attention to the final push for votes. He says he will, but he really doesn’t want to talk about politics tonight, and she says, great. Then they’ll talk about business instead. He says, there are a lot of other things to talk about, and she says, it’s impossible for him to take that Monday call and do his debate prep at the same time. He can’t do everything. She thinks it’s time for him to turn over the reins at Aurora.

Lois says, everyone, time out. Take a few deep breaths. Willow says she thinks that’s a good idea, but Michael says, no. He thinks if Ned has evidence that his father wasn’t where he said he was when Cates got shot, he should turn that over to the police. Lois says, and if not, zip it, and Michael says, they need to focus on ELQ. They’re in a position to remove Valentin from the company and from their lives entirely. Ned says he’s instructed their ELQ lawyers to get in touch with the SEC and they’re moving to stop Valentin from making any ELQ stock transactions. Does that suffice? Michael says, all he wants is to keep ELQ growing long enough to provide for their families, and Lois says she thinks everyone can get behind that. Ned says, great. Then stay out of his way and let him do what he does best. Michael asks if that’s betraying their family, and Willow says she knows they planned to stay in tonight, but she could really use a night out. What does he say? Michael says, yeah. He’d love to take his beautiful wife out on the town. She says, great. Let’s go get ready. He says he’s right behind her, and she leaves. Michael follows, and Lois gives Ned a thumbs up and says, way to clear a room.

Sidwell says he’s had enough gambling for one night, and Jason asks if it really counts as gambling if he cheats. Sidwell says he doesn’t cheat, and Jason says he doesn’t lie. He grabs the wrist of the woman next to him, and she says, let go of me. He pulls an ace out of her sleeve, holds it up, and says, it’s a lot easier to win if you have help. Sidwell signals the guards to take the woman away, and says he doesn’t know that woman, much less be in cahoots with her. Jason says he’d like to believe that and he’s sure everyone else in the club would too. How can they be sure? Sidwell sits back down and says, deal. Jason says, he’ll take another 50,000, and a fresh deck.

Anna says, Holly doesn’t know what she’s doing, and Holly says she’s interrupting a crime. Anna say she thinks she’s doing exactly the same thing. Is Sidwell aware of Holly’s… what should they call it? Her colorful history? Maybe he would really appreciate an old friend’s perspective on her. Holly says, let’s not be hasty. Sidwell has more than enough to go around and she’s more than willing to share. She asks for Anna’s discretion, and Anna says, Holly can keep his money. She just needs help replacing his phone before he realizes she’s taken it. Holly says she wants no part in whatever WSB shenanigans Anna and Jason are cooking up right now, but Anna says, this isn’t for the WSB. This is for Luke.

Lucky groans and tries to get up, but he can’t. A woman smooths his hair back, and we see it’s Elizabeth.

Anna tells Holly, Lulu’s in trouble. She needs a transplant in order to survive and she doesn’t qualify for the national registry. Sidwell’s guard listens from outside the door, and Anna says, their best hope is to get a donation, and Lucky is their best chance. So she and Jason have come here to find him and bring him home. That’s assuming he’s still in one piece. Holly says, he was yesterday, and Anna says, she saw him? She saw him and didn’t do anything to help him? Holly says she didn’t have the opportunity, and Anna says, of course (🍷). She’s still lining up her latest score. Holly says, Sidwell surrounds himself with a small army, and he has redundancies in place of security apparatus. Anna says she’s trying to circumvent his security by getting the information off his phone, but Holly says, it won’t do her any good. He changes the passcode every day. It doesn’t matter how good she and Jason are. The chances of them getting in and out undetected are nil. Anna says, it’s going to have to be an inside job then.

Sidwell places a bet and Jason says, call, putting in more chips. Sidwell turns over his cards, then Jason turns over his. Sidwell sighs and says, damn it. Jason looks over at the bar and sees Holly.

Drew asks if he can borrow Curtis for a minute, and Portia says, go. Just don’t be too long. He says he’ll be back before Portia finishes her drink, and leaves with Drew. Nina says, Portia is a good sport. Talking business isn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her night either. Portia says she didn’t expect Nina to spend her night here with Drew, and Nina says she thinks it’s good for Drew to be seen out and about before the election, and she’s happy to help his campaign. Portia says she just doesn’t remember Nina being interested in politics before, and Nina says, she wasn’t… until Drew.

Drew thanks Curtis for getting Aurora Wellness up and running. He’s doing an amazing job. Curtis says he can’t take all the credit. He has a terrific team and great leadership from the top. Drew says, that’s what he wants to talk to Curtis about, and Curtis asks if he should be worried. Drew says, no. He’s just saying his campaign requires his full attention. So does Aurora, and neither can reach their full potential if his focus is split. Curtis says he knows Drew isn’t stepping away from the campaign trail, and Drew says he’s stepping away from Aurora effective immediately and leaving Curtis as acting CEO.

Ned tells Lois, Michael has the worst qualities of all of his parents. AJ’s self-importance, Carly’s bad faith, and Sonny’s hypocrisy. Lois says she wishes there was a way for Ned to get along with Michael. She wishes he was able to put his problems with Sonny behind him. He says, that’s not going to happen, and she says she’d be happy to sit down with him and Sonny and hash it out. He asks why she’d want to put herself in the middle of all this, and she says, the last thing she has time for is to be a peacemaker, but if it would help… He says, it won’t, and no one’s asking her to. She says, being part of a family is not waiting for an invitation. He and Michael and Sonny are a family. He says, that’s a bit of a stretch, and she says, Sonny is Michael’s father. They’re always going to be a part of Ned’s life. Why does he want to hold onto this hatred for Sonny? How does he benefit? He says he’s never going to change how he feels about Sonny Corinthos, and she says, he spent all last summer thinking he was Eddie Maine. He pushed everyone away except for one person – Sonny. He says, that was Eddie. Obviously, he was delusional. She says, it didn’t matter to Sonny. Sonny still looked out for him. Isn’t that something that family does for each other? Gio stands at the door, and Ned asks why it’s so important to Lois that he get along with Sonny. How does she benefit?

Portia says, so the man Nina sent to prison for insider trading enticed her to work on his campaign, and that kickstarted her interest in politics. Nina says, she and Drew both had to make amends for their past, but she thinks her opinion of him started to change when she saw how much Congressman McConkey respected him. It was the congressman who suggested Drew run for office. Portia says she was sorry to hear about Mr. McConkey. He was a good man. Nina says, a very rare, good man, and when she saw how much he liked Drew, she started to wonder if her combative relationship with Drew blinded her about all the good he could do. He saved the life of someone she loves more than anyone else in the world. Her daughter.

Michael and Willow come into the club, and N’neka says, it’s nice to see them both. She has a great table for them, unless they’d rather sit with their family. Willow looks over to see Drew talking to Curtis.

Drew says he knows it’s a lot to ask, and Curtis says he’s shocked. Being acting CEO wasn’t even on his radar. Drew says, Curtis is his righthand man and he knows he’s been clear about how happy he is with the work Curtis has been doing. So is he in? Curtis says, hell yeah, he’s in. He thanks Drew for believing in him and says he won’t let Drew down. Drew says, it never crossed his mind, and Curtis says, one question. How come he didn’t ask Michael to be acting CEO? He’s run Aurora. Drew says, Michael will be available if Curtis needs his help, but the better part of Michael’s attention is required elsewhere.

Lucky says he must be worse off than he thought, and Elizabeth says, contusions, bruising, and lacerations. They all need stitches. Probably internal injuries and a concussion. He says he thinks the concussion’s pretty obvious since he’s talking to someone who’s not here, and she says, let’s get you upright. He moans as she helps him sit up, and she asks, what happened? He says, she’s going to have to be a lot more specific, and she says, helping people is all well and good, but he’s right. This is as far as he can go. He’s run right up to the edge of his very own grave. Now what?

Jason says, luck must be on his side tonight, and Sidwell bangs his hands on the table. He gets up and goes to the bar, and Holly says, don’t worry. He’ll win it back. Anna goes to the table, slipping Sidwell’s phone back into his jacket pocket. Jason says, it took her long enough, and she says she knew he could handle it. He says he’d like to cash out please, but she says, so soon? Quietly, she tells him, change of plans. Keep winning. She has it on good authority that Sidwell really enjoys the competition, so if he plays his cards correctly, they’re going to get an invite to his camp. He says he can’t guarantee he’s going to keep winning, and she asks if he learned anything from his card shark ex. If he runs into a problem, just think, what would Sam do?

Gio says he’ll just grab this and get out of here, but Lois says, he doesn’t have to go, and tells Ned, if a truce between him and Sonny brings nothing more than a little peace and quiet, it would be worth it. Ned says he might actually believe that if he could trust a word she says, and she says she’s the most trustworthy person in this house. Gio says, she’s not wrong, and Ned says, she was, then she ditched her accent. She threw away something that made her unique like it was nothing. She says, words, consonants, vowels, and in her Brooklyn accent, she says, who cares? Ned says he does, because it’s her. He’s known her for years, and he loves her accent. This other person she sounds like, he doesn’t even know who she is. So does she blame him for wondering if he can trust a word that this new her says? Gio says, a little harsh, and Ned says, the truth often is, and leaves.

Sidwell tells Holly that he’s lost enough already, and he wants to be alone with her. She says she’s never known him to walk away from a table with so little to show for it, and he says he prefers to leave with something rather than leave with nothing. She says, that’s not very sporting of him. Does he really want to leave empty handed? Go back to their guest and tell him that he encountered another player as good as him and turned tail and ran?

Jason says, it’s risky, and Anna says she knows, but she thinks it’s better than breaking into Sidwell’s camp uninvited. Sidwell comes back and says, Jason has had quite a run lately. Congratulations. He puts on his jacket and says, it’s getting late. He’s done. Anna says, perhaps he can point them in the direction of the high rollers table then, and Holly says, this is the high rollers table. Anna says, oh, this is, and Sidwell sits down again. He says, maybe he has one more hand in him, and Anna and Holly exchange glances. The dealer gives out the cards and says, place your bets. Jason puts a bunch of chips into the pot, and Holly whispers to Sidwell that maybe he could draw on his credit… unless he’s reached his limit. Does he have any cash? He says he can do better than that, and takes a jewelry box out of his pocket. He opens it, displaying a diamond bracelet, and puts it on the table. Anna says, that’s beautiful, and asks Jason if he can win it for her. Jason says, done.

Portia says, Nina was just telling her about her political awakening. She said Willow had a lot to do with that. Willow says she doubts she had anything to do with it, but Michael says, she’s being too modest. Not only did she encourage Nina to get involved in the campaign, she’s Drew’s biggest cheerleader and she got the entire family together to support him. And they know how rare unity is for the Quartermaines. Portia says, here’s to hoping for unity… and victory, and Nina says, from her lips. Portia says she’s going to find her husband. Enjoy their night. Portia leaves, and Willow says, so Nina and Drew are here together. Nina says, Drew asked her to accompany him in public in the final stretch of his campaign, and Willow says, and she doesn’t mind? Nina says, no. It’s a small favor she can do for him, especially if it means helping him get to DC. Willow says, right, and looks over at Curtis and Drew. She says she needs to freshen up and asks them to excuse her.

In the hallway, Willow asks N’neka to do her a favor. She’s not feeling so well. N’neka asks if she can get Willow something, and Willow thanks her, but says she thinks she’s just going to get a car and go home. Would N’neka let her husband know she left? N’neka says, of course (🍷), and creeper Drew says, N’neka doesn’t have to worry about that. He can tell him. (Because even though he’s only about 50 feet away, Willow can’t do it. Didn’t N’Neka think this was in the least bit weird? Like, her ride is right there.)

Lucky says he needs Elizabeth to know… and she says, save his strength, but he says he needs her to know, being away from her was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. She says, that’s interesting, because he never looked back. He struggles to speak and says he thinks about her every day, and their family all the time. She says, Aiden is great by the way, and he thanks her for taking such good care of their son. She says, he misses Lucky, and Lucky says, really? He misses Aiden too… constantly. He winces in pain and says he couldn’t be the father Aiden deserves. That’s why he had to leave. She asks if he would do it again, and he says he doesn’t know, but he did do it. He has to live with that, and helping people here was the only way he knew to atone for everything. She says, great story, but she’s not buying it. She thinks the truth is, he’s too much of a coward to face his family as anything but a hero. Easier to dodge bullets in the desert than own up to being flawed. He says he messed up, but he’s flawed, and she says, he could have come to her. She would have helped him. He says, she wouldn’t if she’d known who he really was, but she says she would have helped him anyway. He says, of course (🍷) she would have, because she’s so much better than he is. He was torn. To see the disappointment in her eyes, he couldn’t live with that. He couldn’t take it. Not from her. She says, so he just decided for all of them. No one else gets a say. He says he’s sorry, and she says, if he’s so sorry, then come home. Not as a hero, but as a man who messed up and has the guts to admit it. He asks if she thinks he can, and she caresses his face. She says, you tell me. Are you brave enough to come back to your family?

Standing to the side, Holly says, so Anna and Jason, huh? Alan would be rolling in his grave. Anna shushes her, and Holly says, does Robert know? Robin? Anna says, oh, shut up. She looks at the table and says, that’s going to look good on her wrist.

Anna goes over to Jason, and Sidwell leaves the table. Anna says, remind her to send a thank you note to Sam, and Jason says, making Sidwell angry isn’t getting them any closer to Lucky. She says, just wait for it.

Holly says, Sidwell promised her those diamonds, and he says, there will be plenty of others. She says, not like those. Get her bracelet back. He says he has nothing more to play with, and she says, he has plenty of diamonds back at the compound. If he wants to get back in her good graces, invite them to the camp and win her bracelet back. She walks away, and the guard comes up to Sidwell. He says, a word? and Sidwell says, get lost. The guard says, Sidwell will want to hear what he has to say. It’s about his competitor’s girlfriend and a conversation she had with his. (Rut-roh.)

Nina asks how Michael and the kids are adjusting to Willow being back at the hospital, and he says, it’s taking a little time. Her schedule is kind of up in the air right now. She says she’s sure it will calm down once it becomes routine. Although that might change if Drew wins the election. He asks, why? and she says, because he’s going to have to hand Aurora off permanently. He asks what that has to do with him and Willow, and she says she already told Drew that he’s going to have to step aside and name an acting CEO until the election is over and he seems like the natural choice.

Willow says, Nina told her that Drew asked her to accompany him for the final push on the campaign trail, and he says he did. She says she’s glad Nina could help, and he asks if she’s okay. He saw her notice him and kind of bolt out. She says she convinced Michael to go out tonight to get away from their… troubles. She doesn’t want to cause any trouble so she’s going to leave. He says, wait. They can’t take turns leaving every time they run into each other. People are going to start to notice and it’s going to draw attention to a problem that doesn’t exist. She asks how he can say that, and he says, because nothing is going on between them and nothing ever will. Nothing at all.

Gio asks if Lois is okay, and Lois says she stopped letting Ned get to her a long time ago. He says, as far as he’s concerned, no matter what anyone says about her accent, she’ll always be the same person who took him to his first punk show. She laughs, and he says, but he kind of misses her sounding like the Aunt Lois he grew up with. She says, he’s got her. Always have, always will. He says, she doesn’t mind? and she says, is he kidding? It’s a relief. And she’s so glad that he remembered the first show she took him to. He says he loved it, and she says, everybody remembers their first down and dirty punk rock show. Sonny took her to hers. (Somehow, I can’t quite envision that. I see Sonny as listening to Italian opera or classic rock from the 50s.) He says, that doesn’t surprise him. They both have great taste in music. Somehow (he stole my word), he can’t see Ned going to see a punk rock show. She says, Ned is a good guy. He’s just stressed. He says, that does not make it okay the way he talked to her, and she says, he’s right. No one should take their issues out on anyone. Remember that. He says, what’s his problem with Uncle Sonny anyway? and she says, there is a lot of bad history there. It’s too much to get into. He says, it seems like everyone has bad history when it comes to Sonny. Sonny has always been so nice to him, it’s hard to believe. She says, believe it.

Michael asks if Drew has seen Willow, and he says he just bumped into her a few minutes ago. Sorry to leave him stranded with Nina. Michael says, no. They had a pretty interesting conversation. She said that Drew was stepping back from Aurora. Drew says he is. Michael was next on his list to tell. Michael says, that’s okay. He’s ready to step up if Drew needs him. Drew says he appreciates that, but he just talked to Curtis and he’s going to step up as acting CEO.

Curtis and Portia clink glasses, and she says she’s so proud of him. He says he’s pretty surprised, and she says she was worried that he was spending too much time at Aurora, but she was wrong. He’s more than proved himself, and now he’s being rewarded for it. He says, if Drew wins this election, chances are the CEO job could be his permanently.

Michael says, Curtis doesn’t have much C-suite experience, and Drew says, Aurora is in a really good place right now. This is just until the election is over. He thought Michael would agree with him that his focus is better spent on the situation at ELQ. Michael says, Drew is probably right. He got into it with Ned earlier about Valentin. Drew says, he wants to act quickly on this and get ELQ back under family control, his and Michael’s. Michael says, and Aurora? and Drew says, let’s just wait and see how the election plays out. (Like Michael needs another job. What’s wrong with him and why does everyone want one more thankless position?)

Willow comes back in the club, probably confusing the hell out of N’neka, and Nina asks if she’s okay. It’s Drew. Willow says, no. She looks over at Drew and says, it’s nothing at all.

Lois says, Gio is going to hear a lot of rumors about Sonny, and he says he’s heard a lot already. She says, a lot of those rumors are rooted in fact. Not all of them, but enough. He says, it’s just hard for him to put the Uncle Sonny that he knows square in his head with the Uncle Sonny people hate, and she says, that’s because, like everyone, you can’t be reduced to just one thing. For every one of the bad things Gio is going to hear about him, there are qualities about Sonny that are admirable. Sonny is the most loyal friend he will ever have. He’s also the most reliable and the most generous. Gio needs to remember that when he starts hearing all the bad stuff. He says he hopes she doesn’t mind him saying it, but he’s heard some bad things about Ned too. She laughs and says, Ned will deny it until he’s blue in the face, but he and Sonny share a lot of the same qualities. Those two are more alike than either one of them are wiling to admit.

Sidwell says he’s impressed. Jason is the second-best player he’s ever had the pleasure of losing to. Jason asks, who’s the first? and Sidwell says, a guest in his camp. Anna says, he has a camp? and Holly says, it’s a lovely spot just a short flight away. Please come and join them. Anna says, no. They couldn’t possibly impose. Sidwell says, nonsense. Please. They never get the chance to socialize. Holly says, they’ve got plenty of room. It’s a tad rustic, but very charming and they have all the necessary comforts. Sidwell says, and cards. Please come. It will give him a chance to repay them for such an entertaining evening. Holly says, and maybe Jason will give Jenz a chance to win back everything he lost, and Anna says, how can they possibly turn down such a lovely offer?

Alone again, Lucky struggles to get up. He takes a knife out of his pocket, and crawls over to the cell door. He pulls himself up and starts to pick the lock with the knife.

Sidwell says his driver will be waiting for them outside. He’ll take them to town, and they can grab their things. They’ll be right behind them. Anna says, great. They’ll see them later then. She and Jason leave, and Holly says she’s glad they’re coming back to the camp. She’s sure he’ll find a way to win back the diamonds he promised her. Jason’s luck can’t hold on forever. Sidwell says, it wasn’t luck, and she asks what he means. He says, there’s more to those two than they’re letting on. But don’t worry. Win or lose, she’ll get her bracelet back. And Jason and Anna will get what they deserve for lying to him. Holly looks worried, as we all would be.

On Monday, Brook says, if Gio repeats that, she’ll deny it and she will hurt him; Molly says, maybe the universe is trying to tell her something; Portia asks why Terry didn’t tell her Brad was back; and Jack tells Carly, things and people aren’t always what they seem.

🧴 Getting His Soap Legs…

It’s funny how he’s hooked on the show now.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/carlo-rota-opens-up-about-learning-to-love-daytime-on-gh

🍊 All That OC Jazz…

When did she become Switzerland?

Ugh. Jim  looks like that weird uncle who you don’t want to dance with at a wedding.

In related news. Also be sure to check out the video of Alexis’s Sorry-not-Sorry apology tour.

Does she tune up her photos much?

🧂 Just For the Salt Of It…

At least one meme included in every show!

🗽 Making It Here…

The new season premieres October 1st.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city-season-15-photos-spoilers

Love her hair. Her life ain’t bad neither. I heard her speak at a business seminar and she was great. Definitely one of the best speakers.

https://pagesix.com/2024/09/19/style/spend-a-day-with-new-rhony-star-rebecca-minkoff-during-nyfw/

🌏 Riding Wasn’t Enough…

This sounds like fun, but I’m geographically challenged, so I’d probably be the first one out.

https://people.com/jeffrey-dean-morgan-announced-as-host-of-new-travel-competition-series-destination-x-8715507

🐼 When Is a Panda Not a Panda…

Craig Conover is going to have a field day with this one.

https://people.com/zoo-china-reveals-its-pandas-are-painted-dogs-8716240

You can see the panda pups here, but yeah, no. They’re definitely cute, but they look more like dogs than anything else.

https://people.com/chinese-zoo-dyes-chow-chow-dogs-to-look-like-pandas-8646638

🦞 Quotes of the Week

I actually want to cry, but I can’t cry on TV. – Jamal Lake, contestant on Halloween Baking Championship, when his dessert was deemed a dud

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman (Some of us mature faster than others.)

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein

If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there. If I head north out of Santa Barbara and take five steps a day, eventually I have to end up in San Francisco. So decide what you want, write it down, review it constantly, and each day do something that moves you toward those goals. – Jack Canfield

Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.Mae West

People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. – Steve Maraboli

If you’d have a drink, I’d make a lot more sense. – Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), Boardwalk Empire

🤹‍♀️ A Mosaic Of the Seasons…

Enjoy your weekend of choice, be it in the great outdoors or the adequate indoors. Then meet me here on Monday for soap and a proposal on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not putting your summer clothes in storage yet, and stay never taking out your issues on anyone.

September 19, 2024 – Anna Steals Sidwell’s Phone, Reunited, An Open Book, A Cloud Over the OC, Full Circle, Trick Or Tasty, Modern Gods, Working Hippo, Donate & Dogs

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dante asks if Isaiah wants company, and Isaiah says, that depends on who he is. Dante introduces himself, and says, Lucky is his ex-brother-in-law. He was married to Lucky’s sister Lulu. Isaiah introduces himself, and says, Lucky is the best friend he’s ever had. He heard about Lulu’s condition. He’s sorry. Family wasn’t Lucky’s favorite topic, but it was clear he loved his sister. If he knew she needed him, he’d move heaven and earth to get home.

Going into Lulu’s room, Cyrus asks, how’s his favorite niece? He knows he’s not being fair and deserves to be called out for how long it took him to see her since she was moved to GH. He had good reason. He provides comfort to the needy and he’s been trying to help others. He knows it’s hard to believe, but he’s trying to be a better person. The jury’s still out.

Josslyn gets Jordan’s takeout order at Bobbie’s, and Jordan says, it’s not for her. She thought Isaiah could use a break from hospital food. Josslyn says, they appreciate the lead about Lucky and hope Lulu hangs on. Jordan says, where Lucky is and who he’s with, he’s not going to be easy to find or bring home, and Josslyn says, Jason and Anna are on their way to find him. Jordan says she doesn’t know Jason well, but she’d put her life in Anna’s hands any day of the week.

Sidwell and Holly are in a secret gambling establishment resembling something in Monte Carlo where everyone is dressed in formal attire. They have a champagne toast, and Sidwell says, only an extraordinary woman could put up with such primitive conditions. Holly says, he’s worth it, and he says, it won’t be much longer, and they’ll be off top Dubai. She says she’s enjoying this last-minute excursion, and he says, it’s difficult to find if you don’t know where to look. She says, he always knows where to look for everything, and she notices Jason and Anna sitting at a table across the room.

Anna orders champagne and Jason orders, beer, bottled. Anna says she thinks Brennan’s intel was spot on. They see Sidwell and Holly, and Anna says, that must be Sidwell’s girlfriend. Why is she not surprised? Jason says, Holly? and she says, yeah. When Isaiah said he called his girlfriend English, it didn’t occur to her that it was Holly, but it makes perfect sense for her to be involved with someone like Sidwell. Jason wonders if they caught a break, but Anna says, not necessarily. He asks if she doesn’t think Holly would want to help, and she says, Holly’s signature goal is to help herself.

Cyrus says he never intended to neglect Lulu, but he’s sure she’s had a lot of visitors. This is a nice change from the long-term care facility, but he wishes the reason for the transfer was more positive. He’s sorry he’s not able to be a donor, but that doesn’t mean he’s not here for her. Family never abandons family, no exceptions. (Ah, if only that were true IRL.)

Jordan tells Josslyn that she’s sorry. She knows what her family went through when she was waiting for a transplant. Josslyn says, they’re trying to hold on to hope, as long as Lucky is still out there, and Lulu is still breathing. Jodan says, hope is everything, and Josslyn says, organ donations are amazing. Jordan says, it’s the most generous donation and a debt to be honored and make good on. Josslyn says, it’s an incredible gift and makes you want to live life to the fullest to make the sacrifice worth it. Jordan says, Josslyn is doing a great job, and Josslyn says, her too. The food comes, and Josslyn says, Jordan’s money is no good. Isaiah’s meals are on the house for years and so are hers. Jordan thanks her and leaves with the to-go bag.

Dante says he wanted to talk to someone who’d been with Lucky, and Isaiah says, he could still be there, but operations were winding down at the site. Dante asks how he and Lucky met, and Isaiah says, Lucky was doing security for humanitarian organizations, but most of them aren’t strip mining. Dante says, that attracts a certain person, and Isaiah says, a ruthless and powerful one. He was coerced into treating Jenz Sidwell. He wasn’t sick, but he’s vigilant and paranoid. He was given the option to take a position or be killed, so he took the position. Even though he didn’t ask, Lucky decided to rescue him, but when they escaped, he was the only one who got out. Dante says, they’ve sent help, and Isaiah says, if Lucky will wait for it. Dante says, it’s not his style, but if anyone can get out of that mess, it’s Lucky.

Cyrus says he knows he bears the responsibility for Lulu being here. He was in such a dark place and made terrible choices, but he never meant for this to happen. If that snake Julian hadn’t botched the job… Julian is the one responsible for Lulu being taken away from her loved ones. He’s so sorry. He knows the pain of being kept from your family, but what’s here is worse. She’s caught between two worlds, and it’s not fair or natural. He puts a daisy near her hand and says, people gave up on him, but he won’t give up on her. Somehow, he will help her. He leaves.

Ric and Elizabeth go to Bobbie’s, and he says he appreciates her allowing him to buy her coffee. She says she’s just glad they’re not at the PCPD, and he thanks her for helping him interpret the lab results. She says she doesn’t understand. The differences are staggering and problematic. She’ll send the sample out to different labs if Heather is willing to cooperate. He says, Heather will do anything to have a relationship with her grandson. He identifies with that sentiment. She says she knows, and he wonders if they’ll graduate from coffee. He understands it might take a while, but she says, the speed doesn’t matter. They’re not going anywhere.

Isaiah asks if Lucky and Lulu have always attracted this type of loyalty. Several people are traveling to Africa to find Lucky, and there’s a line outside Lulu’s door, including her ex. Dante says, they have a son Rocco, and Isaiah says, so he’s here for Rocco, but Dante says, and Lulu. Not that she knows he’s here. Isaiah says he’s heard stories about patients hearing loved ones while they’re in a coma and he’s had patients say they loved the music he played during surgeries. Miracles aren’t scientifically proven, but he believes in them. Dante asks what kind of surgery he did, and Isaiah says he’s a transplant surgeon. Dante asks if he’s any good, and Isaiah says he thought he was. Lucky is a great match for Lulu. Full siblings usually are. The one thing that might be a difficulty is the condition of his liver. Dante asks if he thinks it will be a problem, and Isaiah says, Lucky drank beer on occasion, but if there’s anything he knows, it’s that anything is possible.

Looking at Anna, Sidwell says he’s never seen her. And that’s not the kind of woman you’d forget. Holly says she’s sitting right here, and he says, she pales in comparison to Holly. She says, too little too late, and he asks if he can earn her forgiveness with the sparkling things she loves. She says, how sparkling? and he says, very. He wonders who Jason and Anna are, and says, perhaps they should invite them over. Holly says she thought this was a private celebration, but he says, there’s plenty of time for that. She says, fine. If he’s so keen on making friends, she’ll order another bottle and make new friends. He says he loves that she’s possessive. He doesn’t like to share things.

Jason says he thought Anna and Holly were friends, and she says, sometimes. It’s complicated. It’s possible Holly’s interests don’t align with theirs. He asks if she doesn’t think Holly would be interested in saving Lulu’s life, and Anna says, yeah, but in her bones, Holly is a con woman. The odds that she’s pulling a con now are extremely high. He says he wonders if she knows Lucky was being held at the compound, and she says she’d like to believe if Holly knew, she’d try to get the word out. She’s resourceful. He says, so are they. Should they hit the tables? Anna says, yes. It’s time she bumped into an old friend.

Holly tells Sidwell that a spot opened up at the tables, and Sidwell takes the seat. Anna says she guesses an old friend just screwed them.

Josslyn brings over a plate of fries, telling Elizabeth that she made too many. Ric says, he may be jealous, and Elizabeth says, of French fries? but he says, she accepted food from Josslyn, but not him. She says, his food comes with questions and hopes. He should know where she stands about a romantic relationship. He says he knows, he’s just not clear on why. She says she had a hard time moving on from losing Franco. Her relationship with Finn was rock solid, or so she thought. It ended badly, and she doesn’t want to do that again to herself or her kids. He asks, who says it will end badly? and she says, odds, history, life… He says, sorry about Finn. He can beat him up. Elizabeth says, he went to rehab and she’s sure he’s beating himself up enough. Ric says, he should be. He can say that because he’s been there.

Anna says she shouldn’t be disappointed or surprised. Holly will make things interesting. Jason says, they need a new strategy, and she says, they can’t come directly at Sidwell. They’ll have to find a different way to get Lucky’s location. He says, what about Sidwell’s phone? and she says, it should have the information to find Lucky. If they can get his phone, she can copy the chip with the device Brennan gave her. Sidwell’s phone rings, and they watch as he takes it out of his pocket, then puts it back when he’s finished. Anna says she has to grab his phone, but she needs Jason’s help to do it.

Gio goes into Bobbie’s and asks Josslyn if it’s okay for him to sit at the counter. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). Why wouldn’t it be? He says he didn’t know if she was still upset, and she says she’d be doing a lousy job if she didn’t serve anyone who’d pissed her off. He orders a BLT and says he’s really sorry. He shouldn’t have said that stuff about Uncle Sonny and her mom. Josslyn asks if he means them sleeping together. He doesn’t need to apologize. It wasn’t the best news to get, but she’s glad she got it. He says, they don’t even know if anything happened. Tracy was ranting about it, but she rants about everything. Josslyn says, this time, she was ranting about something real, and he says, are they…? She says she doesn’t know what they are, but they’re something.

Dante sees the flower on Lulu’s bed, picks it up, and leaves. He stops a nurse and says he found this in Lulu’s room. Does she know who left it? She says she just came on shift, and he says he doesn’t want random people visiting his ex-wife. She says she’ll alert security, and leaves. Rocco comes out of the elevator, and Dante asks, what’s going on? What is he doing here? Rocco says he needed to see his mom.

Cyrus goes to Isaiah’s room and says, he’s awake. He thought he heard the doctor say he was unconscious. Isaiah asks if he’s a surgeon, and Cyrus says he visits patients to provide spiritual comfort and pray with them if they want. He was just visiting Lulu. Isaiah says, Spencer? Her ex was just here. Cyrus asks if he can get Isaiah anything. He’ll be happy to pray with him if he likes. Isaiah says he’s not religious, and Cyrus says, understood. Isiah says he knows he prays when the Bills play, and Cyrus says, he must pray a great deal. Isaiah asks if he’s a Giants fan, but Cyrus says, Seahawks. Isaiah asks if he needs to remind Cyrus about the Seahawks/Patriots game, but Cyrus says, it’s still too fresh.

Dante asks how Rocco got here, and Rocco says he asked Matt’s mom to drop him off. Dante asks if Sam knows, and Rocco says he told her that Dante asked to meet him at the hospital. Dante says, that’s not true, and Rocco asks if he’s mad. Dante says he doesn’t like Rocco lying, but he can’t wander around with them not knowing where he is. Rocco says he had to come. He’s the only one who hasn’t seen her since she transferred to GH. It’s not fair. Dante says he’s sorry. Rocco can come anytime. Just let them know. Why did he feel he couldn’t tell the truth? Rocco says he thought Dante didn’t want him to see his mom and he’s been more worried than usual. Dante says he’s trying to be strong for Rocco, and Rocco says, Dante has been keeping everyone together. Dante says, Rocco has the right to know what’s going on with his mom, and Rocco asks if it’s bad. Dante says, since she was transferred, she’s gotten sicker. He wants Rocco to be prepared. Rocco asks if Dante will go in with him, and Dante says he will.

Gio asks if Carly said she and Sonny were together, and Josslyn tells him, she said they were involved… whatever that means. Gio says he heard their last split wasn’t friendly. She doesn’t have to tell him anything. She says, it’s not a secret. Sonny disappeared for months and when he came back, he said he was in love with another woman. She gets the impression Gio only hears good stories about Sonny or what he wants to believe. But no matter what they think, Sonny and her mom are like a rubber band. No matter how far they’re pulled apart, inevitably, something happens, and they snap back together. He says, it’s romantic, and she says, it would be if it wasn’t toxic. He says, her mom is smart and successful. He wouldn’t have pegged her as a victim. Josslyn says, she’s not, and he asks why she keeps going back. She says she doesn’t know.  That’s what drives her crazy. He says, maybe she shouldn’t let it.

Cyrus tells Isaiah that Lulu is his niece. His sister is Lulu and Lucky’s mother. She’s formidable and wonderful, and she happens to be mayor. Isaiah says, formidable and wonderful sounds like the Deputy Mayor. She saved his life. Cyrus says, thank the Lord, and Jordan walks in. She says, he can thank Him somewhere else. Out. Now. Cyrus says, nice chatting with Isaiah, and leaves.

A seat opens up next to Sidwell, and Anna says, it’s time for Jason to put his poker face to good use. Nab the seat, and she’ll come over to wish him good luck. She’ll lift the phone, copy the chip, and put the phone back. He asks how long she needs, and she says, it’s going to take some time. He says, it’s a lot to pull off with the security cameras and bodyguards, but she tells him, just stay in the game or they’ll be done for. He can’t lose to quickly. Don’t worry. The WSB will pay his bet. He says he can pay his own. Shall we?

A woman takes the seat next to Sidwell, and Anna tells Jason, hang on. She goes over to a man near the bar and says she hopes his friend had better luck than the previous player. She lost everything. The man goes over to the table, whispers something to the woman, and she leaves. Jason sits down and tells the dealer, 50,000. He moves Sidwell’s champagne glass to the other side, and Sidwell says, that was his drink. Jason says he’s sorry, and signals for a server. He assumed the champagne was for the lady. His mistake. The server brings over a new glass, but Jason knocks it off the tray. Some of it spills on Sidwell’s jacket, and Jason says he’s sorry. The woman’s friend tells Anna, she wasn’t kidding. That chair is jinxed. Jason says he’s sure Sidwell doesn’t want to play wet, and Sidwell takes off his jacket. A guard helps to put it on the back of his chair, and Sidwell says, a little spill won’t stop him from clearing out Jason’s bank account. Deal. Jason looks at Anna.

Josslyn follows Gio outside and says, he had a point. She loves and respects her mom and will never understand why she runs back to Sonny. But it’s not her choice to make.

Ric asks if there’s any exception to a romantic relationship with them sometime down the road, and Elizabeth says, no. He says he accepts that and respects her wishes, and she says, if he’s just saying that to bide his time until the next time he asks, please don’t. She has shields up. He says, she doesn’t have to shield herself from him. Other than Molly, she’s the one person he cares about and would do anything for, even if it means leaving her alone.

Isaiah asks, what just happened? and Jordan says, stay away from him. He’s a dangerous man who’s done horrible things. He says, to her? and she says, and to the people she cares about. She used to be in the DEA and went undercover to infiltrate his drug organization. They nailed him and he went to prison. In return, he killed two agents and attempted to kill another one. Isaiah says, he said he was visiting his niece Lulu, and she asks if he told Isaiah that he was the one who ordered the explosion that put her in a coma. Isaiah says, he left that part out, and she says, there’s nothing she wanted more than to take him down. She thought she’d be the one, but she failed. Isaiah says, if you fail people, they die. He gets that equation. Is that food for him or is that delicious smell for torture? She says, for him. She’s not that heartless. He says, she shouldn’t have, and they laugh.

Rocco says, she still looks like mom, and Dante says, she still is his mom. He suggests Rocco say something, and Rocco asks what he should say. Dante tells him to say what he wants, and Rocco sits next to Lulu’s bad. He says, Jason went to Africa to find Uncle Lucky. She has to hold on until he gets back. He knows it’s hard and she’s probably tired, but she can have some of his strength. He’ll be strong for both of them.

At the bar, Holly quietly says she hasn’t told Sidwell that she and Anna know each other, and Anna says, that much is blatantly obvious. Anna goes over to Jason, wishes him luck, and lifts Sidwell’s phone. She leaves, and Holly watches. Jason looks at his cards.

Isaiah tells Jordan that she can have some fries as a reward. He’ll have to get used to her being Wonder Woman. She asks if he can find a way to pay her off, and he says, one French fry at a time.

Elizabeth says, Ric doesn’t have to completely leave her alone. She has the bandwidth for a friend. She doesn’t know about him, but she could use one. He says he’s honored to take the title. He’ll take what he can get with her. Can he have a French fry? She asks if he means a friend fry, and he says, that’s bad. They laugh. (Today’s theme: French fries.)

Dante suggests Rocco tell Lulu about school, and Rocco says he has a teacher who’s a real try-hard, but he thinks they’ll be okay once they loosen up. He’s got a new unit in science and Abby Samuelson is his partner. She checked him out the other day. Dante puts his hand on Rocco’s shoulder.

Sidwell puts more chips in the pot and looks at Jason. Jason puts in more, and Sidwell says, this club and its patrons frown upon those who don’t honor their bets. The penalty is quite severe on the rare occasion it happens. Jason looks over at the guard, who moves his jacket so that Jason sees his gun. Jason says, understood, and Sidwell says, a straight flush, laying down his cards.

In a darkened hallway, Anna loads her gun, and Holly says, excuse me. Anna seems to have her hands on a phone that doesn’t belong to her.

Tomorrow, Nina tells Drew that it’s time to turn over the reins of Aurora; Ned tells Michael that he can find him; and Sidwell says he doesn’t cheat, but Jason says he doesn’t lie.

🫂 Feeling Fraternal Again…

The second guy this year who came back with an ages old grudge against Sonny.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/rick-hearst-on-reuniting-with-maurice-benard-on-gh

👬🏻 That Boy Is a Monster…

I don’t know as I’d call this a period piece. True, the 90s were before we became dependent on electronics, but I think of a period piece as more of a costume drama. I realize I’m being some kind of nitpicky. This looks excellent.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicholas-chavez-opens-up-about-playing-lyle-menendez-in-monsters

🍊 Follow the Bouncing Orange…

Yep. I ask myself the same question every time. Why am I watching this? It might not be as bad without Alexis in the mix, but hopefully I’ll feel it was worth it when Johnny J. dumps her. Fancy Pants Heather was co-presenter with Meredith Marks at the GLAAD Media Awards. No surprise, for Outstanding Reality Competition. In Alexis’s interview, she talked about being here to create a world that was loving, kind, and accepting. Here’s where I look at the camera like Jim from The Office. Does she ever hear herself and understand how hypocritical she is?

Vicki and Shannon rehearsed for the Dos Amigas at a comedy club. Brava to them for hanging onto their side gig despite Tamra leaving them high and dry. I get her reasons, but it is an income source. What we saw of the show was a Q&A with Shannon and Vicki, and a musical number where they were wearing little hats, like the Men On Films guys on In Living Color. Too bad I wasn’t watching that. Now that was a fun show.

Emily had enough of Alexis, saying in her interview that Alexis was annoying and looney, which is a perfect description. Jenn had an evening get together with the group – minus Shannon, who was with Vicki – at Ryan’s big ass house. Jenn has several cute dogs, one of which looks like a Pekingese mix, which would have been my comfort focus had I been at this gathering. It wasn’t long before Emily brought up her issues with Heather’s fashion event last week. Emily noticed that she was the only one asked to bring her own jeans and felt singled out. Even worse though, was that she and Alexis were given the same dress to wear. I dunno about the jeans, but I’d be pissed if I was the only one in a fashion show who wore the same thing as another model. It’s like seeing someone in the same dress as you at the prom.

Emily had legitimate gripes, and it wasn’t like she said Fancy Pants did it on purpose personally, but Fancy Pants immediately went on the defense. In Katie’s interview, she hit the nail on the head when she said, anytime Heather was viewed as less than perfect, she got defensive. Fancy Pants said she wasn’t the one who doled out the details, which was true, but IMO, she should still bear some responsibility for how Emily was treated by the staff. Or at the very least, just say she’s sorry and it shouldn’t have happened. I have to add, too, Emily was informed that a jacket she was given was oversized about 12 times. Fancy Pants whined that Emily was blaming her and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Before Emily could even attempt to get her point across, Alexis jumped in and wailed that Emily was blaming her. Huh? Adding insult to injury, in Alexis’s interview, she as much as said she couldn’t help being thinner and prettier than Emily. In Katie’s interview, she said, maybe she should have gone to Shannon’s show instead. She added that instead of listening, apologizing, and moving on, Fancy Pants made it about herself. Fancy Pants had nothing on Alexis though, who went into full spiral mode, crying that she was already a broken bird. Another look at the camera. She screeched that Emily had dragged her into this when she’d clearly dragged herself in. In Tamra’s interview, she said, Heather didn’t single Emily out to fat shame her, proving she also wasn’t listening to what Emily said.

Fancy Pants refused to discuss the issue with Emily because apparently the feelings of a Snuffleupagus don’t count. Alexis would not stop ranting about how she was being blamed, and no matter how many times Emily told her to STFU, she wouldn’t. Gina said it was like there was a cloud over the group, but when hasn’t there been? The only difference is, this season, the cloud is named Alexis.

https://people.com/rhoc-recap-emily-simpson-calls-out-heather-dubrow-for-giving-her-size-12-clothes-8715653

⚰️  Another Day Another Dead…

A puppy needs to earn Daryl’s love? What? It took Dog all of ten seconds.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-book-of-carol-norman-reedus-melissa-mcbride-cover-story-8713756

🎃 Cooking Up Some Halloween…

Those who can’t do watch other people doing it. Two of my favorite seasonal treats are Halloween Wars and Halloween Baking Championship. The creations are absolutely magnificent, and I actually get a little depressed when the season is over.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-wars

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-wars/meet-the-teams-competing-on-halloween-wars–season-14

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-baking-championship

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-baking-championship/photos/meet-the-competitors-of-halloween-baking-championship-season-10

☄️ Something Else To Watch…

I started watching Kaos last weekend, and it’s a lot of fun. I love Jeff Goldblum as the narcissistic Zues, pouting because he’s not being worshipped enough. However, Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan) is my favorite character, the god of all things frivolous who wants a promotion to a more serious position.  His adoption of a kitten who he brings with him everywhere didn’t hurt either.

https://www.cbr.com/kaos-gods-myths-explained/

The cast overall is stellar.

https://www.thewrap.com/kaos-cast-characters-gods-netflix/

🦛 Move Over Doug…

You can’t blame her really.

https://people.com/viral-baby-pygmy-hippo-moo-deng-working-on-patent-8715387

🌼 Welcoming Summer’s Ghost…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a Friday foray into entertainment. Until then, stay safe: stay investing in wardrobe pieces like coats and boots, and not trendy items (get those at Old Navy); and stay considering being an organ donor. It’s the most generous donation.

https://www.organdonor.gov/

September 18, 2024 – Ric Gives Heather Bad News, Return From Nowhere, Salt This, A Saint, Not Allowed, Surprised, VanderFilming, Two To Watch, Runaway Capybara & Night

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Judge Otis says he’s made his decision. The defendant is to be held without bail and remanded to Pentenville to await trial. Alexis says, given the nature of the charges, it’s not unusual to deny bail, but there are other options for incarceration. Noah says, it’s not her first time in Pentenville, but she says she was transferred from Pentenville to a minimum-security facility. Noah says, the charge is the murder of an FBI agent, and it’s the only appropriate course of action. The US government asks that the judge stand by his decision. Alexis says, it’s cruel and extreme, and the judge says they can address the charges at trial, but his decision stands. Kirstina jumps up and says, he can’t do this.

On the phone, Sonny tells Brick that he doesn’t care. Just get him here. There’s a knock at the door, and Natalia asks if it’s a bad time. He says, it’s been a day, and she comes in carrying a bottle of champagne. She says she thought they should take a moment to celebrate.

At the hospital, Portia asks Elizabeth, why do they want to be in charge again? and Elizabeth says, she seems to be in a good mood. Portia says she’s having dinner with Trina after work, and Elizabeth tells her to give Trina a hug and enjoy their time together.  

Ric visits Heather, and she asks how her handsome attorney is today. He asks how it’s going, and she says, the sandwich sitch isn’t great, but it won’t be much longer, right? He says, sorry, but she’s never getting out of here.

Heather asks, why? and Ric says he received the results of her blood test and there need to be significant differences before and after surgery. According to the results, the difference is negligible. Heather asks how that’s possible. It’s not like she’s sucking cobalt lollipops all day. He says, she can ask the health experts there, and she says, they have one lame doctor and a couple of nurses. Maybe they’re feeding her cobalt rich food. Her bacon did look a little blue. He says, her previous hip didn’t poison her. She committed the crimes of her own accord.

Kristina says, this is a huge mistake, and Judge Otis tells Alexis to get her daughter under control. Alexis says she’s so sorry. Her daughter has been through a series of traumatic events. The judge says he’s sympathetic, but he won’t tolerate disruptions in the court. His ruling stands. Pentenville, no bail. Court is adjourned.

Sonny asks what they’re celebrating, and Natalia says she thought he’d like an update on his investment. She just closed a 3-year deal with Goddess Gleam Beauty that will generate more than 10 million dollars minimum. She wonders why he’s not more excited, and he says he’s got a lot on his mind. She says she knows Alexis’s arraignment is today, and honestly, she was trying to take his mind off of it. He says he can’t focus when he knows Alexis is facing time for a crime she didn’t commit, and she says, he seems sure. He says, she’s not capable of it. She will defend and protect her daughter, but that, no. She says, they need to just have some faith, and he says he’s not on good terms with the Almighty. She says she’s talking about the legal system. If Alexis is innocent, the authorities will figure it out and find the actual murderer. (She clearly hasn’t been in Port Charles very long.)

Sonny says, Alexis is Kristina’s mother, and they don’t always see eye to eye, but they’d both do anything for their daughter. Natalia is impressed that he’s still communicating with some of his exes, and he says, for better or worse. She says, Ava is the worst. She can’t stand to be in the same room with Ava for more than ten minutes. He says, sometimes two, and she says, they can drink to that, when Sonny’s phone rings.

Kristina hugs Alexis, and Sam joins her. Molly stands to the side, but Alexis brings her in for a three-way hug.  

Heather says, what she needs help with understanding is, her former lawyer was sure this was a solid case. He convinced her to pursue it. Ric says, they both should have managed her expectations better, but the case had a lot of potential. She says, it makes no sense. She’s been better since the hip replacement. Her dark thoughts have stopped, and she can make no sense of her actions before that. He says, maybe she anticipated feeling that way even if her condition had nothing to do with it, but she says, no. She doesn’t think she’s different, she is different. She’s never been an angel, but when she was consumed with hatred and revenge, something was off, and she’s so much better now. He says he can’t see a path forward with the case, and she says, that’s just it? He says he’s sorry, and she says, thanks for trying. It’s not his fault or what he wanted. It would have been a big payday. He says, that was the hope, and she says, for a lawyer, he’s honest. There’s value in that. It was never about the money for her, but it would have been great. It would have allowed her to be a better grandma to Ace. It would have allowed her to be a grandma at all… He just lost a grandchild, didn’t he? She takes his hand and says she’s so sorry. There’s nothing worse than losing someone who’s supposed to outlive you. After losing Esme and Franco, this was her last shot at having a family. He says he’s sorry, but he’s afraid he has to go.

Alexis is handcuffed and the guard leads her out. At the door, she smiles and nods at her girls.  

At the hospital, Sam tells Kristina to sit, and Kristina says, they should be helping. Sam wonders how, like breaking Alexis out? Kristina says, if she could, she would, and Sam says, they’re helping now. Kristina asks, how? and Sam says, Kristina is getting the help she needs. She fell out a window and nearly died. She lost a baby… Kristina says, and a sister, and Sam says, and everything Cates put her through. Kristina says she wishes she’d killed him, but Sam says, it’s not right to take a life out of revenge. Kristina says, Jason and her dad would agree, and Sam says she’s not a professional, but after everything Kristina has experienced, it had to cause PTSD. Kristina says she feels like she’ll never be the same. It’s like she’s… broken. Sam says, she’s not broken. She’s getting professional help because she can’t do it on her own. Kristina suggests they call her dad. He knows what to do in situations like this. He always has a good idea. Sam tells her, stay put and talk to the professional. She’ll be right back. Stay here. She leaves and Kristina takes out her phone.

Sonny’s phone rings again, and Natalia says, Mr. Popular. He asks, what’s going on? and Kristina says, the arraignment is over. Her mom was denied bail and sent to Pentenville to await trial. Sonny says, she’s no danger to the community, and Kristina says, it was the murder of an FBI agent, and they sent a Fed to prosecute her. There’s no death penalty in the state of New York, but there is in a federal case. He tells her, just breathe. Where is she at? She says, GH. Sam took her here. Sam thinks she needs help. He says, Sam did the right thing. She can’t handle this herself, none of them can. Let him take care of her mom’s situation. The best thing she can do is help herself. She tells him that Sam said the same thing, and he says, when she’s right, she’s right. They exchange I love yous, and Natalia says, that didn’t sound like it went well. He says, no bail and Alexis was remanded to Pentenville. She says she’s sorry. It’s crazy. Is there a trial date set? Sonny says he’s going to do everything he can so that Alexis doesn’t spend one more second than she has to in Pentenville.

Alexis’s mug shot is taken. She puts her jewelry in a bag and has her fingerprints taken. (No ink needed anymore!) The guard searches her and gives her a uniform. (Do they not get underwear?) She hands her clothes to the guard and changes.

Elizabeth asks Ric what he’s doing at the hospital, and he says, saying hi to his favorite ex-wife. She says she’s probably the only one who doesn’t want to kill him, and he says, and she’s probably the one who should want to the most. She says, that almost sounds like an apology. What’s the real reason he’s here? He says, to confirm test results. It was going good for a while, but now it’s all over for Heather.

Felicia says she’s glad Kristina is here. She’s amazed Kristina is still standing. Kristina says, so is she, and Felicia says, they have a wide array of support resources and services, and suggests they go to the conference room where it’s more private. Sam promises to stay, and Kristina leaves with Felicia. Dante comes by and Sam hugs him.

In the conference room, Felicia says she’s here solely on Kristina’s behalf. She can speak openly and honestly. Kristina says she doesn’t usually hold back, but lately she doesn’t know where to start. Felicia asks how she’s doing right now, and Kristina says she’s upset and angry. She feels sad and guilty and feels like a failure. She feels empty. She cries and Felicia says, what she’s feeling is normal after going through what she experienced. Kristina tells her that Sam said she had PTSD, but Felicia says she’ll let the professionals decide. Losing a child is devastating. Kristina says, when she was pregnant, she had all the fears of what could happen to her child, but she never imagined they actually would. Even when she was in the hospital, she never let herself think Adela could… She’s sorry. Felicia says, don’t apologize, and Kristina says she guesses it’s true that grief comes in waves. Lately, it’s been tsunami after tsunami. Felicia says, she’s been through a number of traumas. She just fell out a window. Kristina says she keeps replaying it in her mind, and Felicia says, to add to her injury and loss is her relationship with her sister. Krisina says, it’s a lot to process, and Felicia says, most women in her situation have postpartum depression, hormonal changes, and PTSD. As her advocate, she’ll walk Kristina through the mental health resources, but as a mother, one who lost her own child, she wants to help Kristina get through it. She’s not alone. She knows what it feels like. Kristina asks, what’s next? and Felicia says, that’s up to her. She can connect Kristina with the hospital’s psychiatrist who’s a specialist in postpartum depression, and there are grief support groups that meet weekly. Kristina says, no offense, but she hates that idea, and Felicia says, bereft mothers find connecting with each other to be invaluable. Kristina says, okay, but she has to tell Sam. She knows if someone doesn’t hold her accountable, she’ll never go. Felicia says, it may not feel like it right now, but if she does the work, the pain will be significantly less.

Elizabeth asks if Ric will still be staying in Port Charles, and he asks if she wants him to. She says, idle curiosity, and he says he’ll be staying for a while. Molly needs him since Alexis was remanded to Pentenville. They were all blindsided. Ric’s phone rings and he steps away.

Sam tells Dante that she wonders how things got this bad. Kristina being Molly’s surrogate was a terrible idea, but no one could have predicted this insanity. Dante says, it’s tragic, and Sam says, even before that, Kristina was thinking about keeping the baby and Molly felt betrayed. She understands both sides. Dante says, Kristina made a promise that was impossible to keep, and Sam says, it’s all anger and blaming, and they haven’t even begun to grieve. Dante says, then Cates openly went after Kristina, and Sam says she’s glad he’s gone. He says he doesn’t think many people are going to miss him, but he’s like a roadblock to her family grieving. Where’s Molly? Sam says, probably somewhere being upset because the focus is still on Kristina, and he says, Kristina is needier? Sam says she thinks Kristina doesn’t remember that Molly also lost a child, and he wonders how neither one of them cannot understand the other’s grief and loss. She says, they’re not dealing with it head on and making it about each other. She’s terrified about what’s going to happen to her family.

Sonny opens the door to Martin, who says, Sonny’s communications director is very persuasive… Mr. Brick. Sonny says, just Brick, and Martin says, of course (🍷). Sonny asks if Brick explained why he needed to see Martin, and Martin says he’s got the gist. If Sonny wants him to step in for Diane, he’ll be more than happy to act as Sonny’s counsel. Sonny says, Diane is his attorney, and with all due respect, she’s the best. Martin isn’t here to represent him. He wants Martin to represent Alexis Davis.

Alexis is walked to her cell.

Kristina thanks Felicia, who tells her to reach out with any questions. She hopes she didn’t overwhelm her with information. Kristina says, it’s not that. She feels behind in her grief. There are already so many things she should have been doing. Felicia tells her, you know what they say about planting trees, and Kristina says she’s not exactly a gardener. Felicia says, the best time to plant is 20 years ago. The second-best time to plant is right now. There’s no timetable for life. She’s here getting help right now. Kristina says, what if it’s not enough? She knows she won’t get over it, but she thinks she can learn to carry it. Felicia says, it’s possible. Believe her. She knows. Kristina says, what she thinks she doesn’t know is how. How does she carry her guilt? Felicia says, for what? and Kristina says her baby died because of a fall that happened because she was somewhere she shouldn’t have been. Felicia says, one thing she’s learned about guilt is, it does no good and doesn’t help, and Kristina says, it could have been different if she never went to Ava’s hotel room. Her sister Molly blames her for what happened to the baby and her biggest fear… is that Molly is right. She is responsible. Felicia says, Kristina didn’t jump out the window, but Kristina says she created the circumstances for the accident to happen. Felicia says, the accident. Sometimes terrible things happen and it’s nobody’s fault. Kristina says, even if it’s nobody’s fault, there’s always someone accountable, right? Losing the baby, the rift with her sister, and everything that’s happening with her mom is all because of her. Felicia says, what if it is? What is she going to do with it? What if it isn’t? How is she going to deal with that? Kristina says she guesses that’s what she’s here to figure out, and Felicia says, the best thing for her to do for her mom is to work on herself and her mental health. That’s what she’s doing and it’s a great first step. Kristina cries and Felicia holds her.  

Sonny tells Martin that Diane can’t handle Alexis’s case because she’s representing him in the same case. Martin asks how Sonny is involved, and Sonny says he was a person of interest before Alexis. Martin asks who her current attorney is, and Sonny says, she’s representing herself. Martin says, she’s making a mistake. It’s a fool’s errand. Scotty would be better. Sonny says, Alexis likes doing things her way, but Martin says, she can’t. She should know that. Sonny says, that’s why Martin is here. He needs somebody to represent Alexis who can beat these charges. Martin says he’d be a fool to not be interested. The murder of a federal agent? That is huge. You can’t buy that publicity. Sonny says he needs somebody who’s doing it for the right reason and would do anything to win, and Martin says he certainly has no intention of losing. Sonny holds out his hand and asks if they have a deal. Martin shakes it, and says, they have a deal.

Sam tells Dante, no one is thinking clearly. All the sanity is up to her. He says, that’s a scary thought. They have to focus to help her mom. Sam says she did have a chat with Michael about that. He said they should focus less on who killed Cates, and more on finding the evidence to clear her mom. Dante says, it makes sense. The only thing involved is the gun. She says, it’s not the gun that killed Cates, and he says, ballistics will prove it, but it’s still in the river. The police divers can’t find it. She says she wishes they knew an expert diver… She is. He says, the water is choppy, but she says she can handle an undercurrent. (so does everyone who drowns here due to one every summer.) He says he’s not loving the sound of this, but assumes there’s no talking her out of it. She says, waste of breath, and he says, so what’s next? She says she’s going to find the gun her mom tossed off the bridge and end this nightmare for her family.

Elizabeth says she sees Ric is still here, and he says he was wondering if he could ask her a question involving a medical issue. She says, as long as it’s not violating a patient’s privacy, and he shows her some paperwork. He says, the results from both labs are from the same blood same taken at the same time. Shouldn’t they be redundant? She says, the test results are wrong. They’re not even close. The level from the outside lab is much lower. The tests should be done again. Something is seriously wrong.

Alexis sighs, and a guard comes by. She says she was told she has a cellmate, but she’d like to lie down and doesn’t know which bunk… The guard keeps walking, and another guard arrives. She unlocks the cell, and Heather walks in. Alexis sighs again. (I’m dying laughing.)

Cyrus sats, somehow, he will help someone; Ric says, Elizabeth is the one person he’d do anything for; Dante says he wants Rocco to be prepared; and Jason guesses he and Anna caught a break.

🧴 Blink and You Missed It…

I’m not sure if you can return if you’re not really gone, but okay. I’m also not sure if Drew and Nina posing as a power couple is going to help his campaign, but double okay because I’d rather he be with Nina than creeping on Willow.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-returns-to-general-hospital

🧂 Salt On the Snowflakes…

My bad yesterday. I forgot Million Dollar Listing LA was over and has no Reunion. So on to Salt Lake.

During the gorgeous opening shots, I was immediately reminded of how much I love and miss snow. While it’s not like I live in the south, near the ocean, the winters are often mild, and nowadays, we’re lucky if we get one good blast during the entire winter. But I digress.

After Mary told her that she looked thin, Heather made the disturbing comment in her interview that she finally cracked the code. She lost 25 pounds, and Mary loves her. She does look great, but it’s sad how much being liked is tied to appearance, whether it’s a real thing or just perception. Although Mary did get Angie an invite to Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party, so maybe it’s wise to be on her good side, no matter what that entails.

New Housewife Bronwyn (no, not that one) has six dogs, so she’s okay by me. They all look like Boxers too, so I doff my cap. Those dogs can be a handful. What I didn’t like about Bronwyn was her anecdote about meeting Lisa (whose coattails she rode in on). She and Lisa first met at an upscale department store and when Lisa complimented her on what she was buying, Bronwyn brushed her off because she was wearing sweats. Bronwyn said she didn’t remember it – it was what Lisa had told her – but it sounded like something she would do. As the Countess would say, don’t be all uncool.

And what’s up with Angie and Mary in the Burger King crowns?

🍊 And In a Shocking Twist…

Maybe he should have stayed with the devil he knew.

🚫 No Friends For You…

Gina stuck herself in the middle with Fancy Pants and Katie. And who said she’s not allowed to be friends with Katie? Bowling for Soup was right, high school never ends.

🃏 Maybe She Is Just Stupid…

Has she watched herself? Was shutting up about Johnny J. and his blackmail Ring tapes not an option?

🍸 Only Andy Knows For Sure…

Is it a spinoff? Is it a reboot? Is it something completely different? Does anybody really care? Okay, I might if LVP is involved.

💻 What Else To Watch…

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this film, other than the enjoyment of seeing Jason Momoa shirtless through most of it, but had I known it was a meditative art film wrapped in a bloody genre blanket, buried deep in a scorching sci-fi desert, I might have put more thought into it. While I didn’t pick up all the nuances this reviewer did, no one enjoys an apocalypse more than I do (okay, maybe Murphy from Z Nation), and I still appreciated the hell out of it. This review is years old (from when the movie actually came out), but the film remains the same and is now on Netflix. Warning: Major spoilers ahead.  

https://www.rogerebert.com/features/why-the-bad-batch-is-one-of-the-best-films-of-2017

I’d been waiting a while for this one to stream, since I love an animal/human hybrid theme. This is no Sweet Tooth, but it still contains the element of people fearing what they don’t understand and ridding the world of those who are different. I would have liked to see more of the animal/human hybrids, but it was a fascinating watch all the same. I also would have preferred a different ending, but that doesn’t make it bad. Actual animal, the main character’s dog Albert, added a touch of realism since he was no Lassie, and ran off in the face of danger as my dogs would. You can stream this on Hulu or Disney+ – in French with subtitles. Minor warning: A few small spoilers, but they don’t give the whole film away.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-animal-kingdom-film-review-2024

🦔 Where In the World Is Cinnamon…

Capybaras are one of my favorite animals. They’re kept as pets in some places and seem pretty chill, so I’m wondering why she’s so hellbent on not going back, especially since her capybara family is there. I hope it’s just because she has an adventurous soul.

https://people.com/cinnamon-capybara-runs-away-from-zoo-found-in-nearby-field-8714849

🦥 Dreaming Through September…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the OC for sure. Until then, stay safe, stay not sacrificing comfort (or safety) for style, and stay not carrying guilt. It does no good and doesn’t help.

September 13, 2024 – Mac Makes an Arrest, No Return (Yet), Explanation, Salty Talk, A Share, Along Soon, Grotesque Premiere, New Lot, First Treats, A Joke, Newsworthy Faunae, VIII Quotes & Early

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mac and Felicia kiss outside the boathouse, and Felicia looks at Mac. He asks if there’s something on his face, and she says, on his face and all around him. He’s glowing. Everything about him radiates happiness. He asks if that’s what this feeling is, and she says, yes, and he’d better get used to it because it’s all smooth sailing from here. He says he’s not sure about that, and she asks if that’s pessimism she hears. He says, it’s hard not to feel that way with everything that just happened, and she asks what he’s talking about. He asks if she didn’t catch the stink lines radiating from Tracy Quartermaine a few minutes ago.

Brook brings Lois some water and asks if she’s all right. Lois asks if she’s serious. She and Chase are going to make her a Nona? Tracy walks in and says, this house is going completely downhill. Entitled cooks, babies that cry all night, interloping hoi polio that move in and never leave, and now we can add liar to the list. Brook says, someone lied to her? and Lois says, let her guess. Michael… Drew… Ned. Tracy says, no. Of course (🍷) it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them were lying, but this time the person is Violet.

On the phone, Carly asks what Jack has got for her, and he says he loves a woman who skips the small talk and gets right down to business. She says, Lulu’s life is on the line, so there’s no time to waste, and he hangs up the phone. Carly tells Jason, he hung up on her.

Anna walks into Jack’s office, and he says he’s going to need a new assistant if this one keeps letting her in here. She says, if he thinks any assistant is going to stop her, then he’s woefully underqualified for this job. Who chooses her town, or is he just passing through?

Kristina goes to Michael’s office, and he asks how she’s doing. She says her mom is being targeted for murder, so not great, and he says he knows it’s not easy, but it’s important she let the investigation run its course. She says, if he’s asking her to trust that the police are going to clear her mom as a suspect, she can’t do that, and he says, if she’s thinking of going to the cops… She says she has to. She’s the one who got her mom into this mess. He says, if she tells the police the truth about the night Cates was murdered, it’s just going to put her in their crosshairs, and she says, if it gets her mother out of their crosshairs, it’s worth it. He says, it could make things worse. Chase could think she and her mother were both involved in this. She says, but that’s not true, and he says, if they think it is, she could get charged with murder and her mother as an accessory. She asks what she’s supposed to do, and he says, there’s a way to keep her out of trouble and her mom from getting in any more of it.

Alexis lets Sonny in and he says he would have come sooner, but it’s been a busy couple of days. She says she’s been busy herself, trying to keep their daughter out of jail, while being treated like a criminal herself. He says he’s sorry she’s in that position, and she says she can handle herself. Right now, they have a much bigger problem. He says, Kristina, and she says, how are they going to keep their daughter from being charged with a murder they both know she didn’t commit?

Kristina asks what Michael is thinking, and he says, her mother has an uphill battle. Kristina says, because of her criminal history? and he says, and all the evidence against her. And she threatened Cates in a room full of cops. She was in possession of a weapon which she got caught disposing of and she doesn’t have an alibi. Kristina says she already knows how bad it is, and he says, more important, Cates is a federal agent, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure to make an arrest and convict the killer. She says, it really doesn’t sound like he has a plan, and he says, they may not be able to detract from the case with Alexis, but they may be able to deliver them a stronger one against someone else. She asks if he has someone in mind.

Sonny says he gets why Alexis is worked up, and she says she has every reason to be worked up. He may be used to being interrogated… He says, and she’s not? and she says, he’s the career criminal. He says, and she’s only an incidental one? and she says, them swiping at each other isn’t going to do them any good. He says, do him one favor. Hold her judgement for their daughter’s sake until he’s gone. She says, okay. Maybe he could do her a favor than and own up to his role in all of this. He asks if she doesn’t think he knows this is all because of him, Jagger holding a grudge for over 30 years, using their daughter to try and get his revenge. She says she was referring to more recent events at the Quartermaines, and he says, Jagger is dead. So is Jagger’s vendetta against him and his family. He wants to put all of this behind them. Does Alexis know what she was doing that night? Alexis says, Kristina was here with her until she left to steal a gun from him.

Brook tells Tracy that she’s never known Violet to lie. But if she’s telling a fib here and there, it’s completely understandable. Especially after everything she’s been through. Tracy says, if they let her get away with this, who knows what’s next? Brook says she hardly thinks Violet telling a fib here and there is going to set her on a path to a life of crime, and Lois says, no, but maybe they want to think about getting her a therapist. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s happy to get Violet whatever she needs, but first, she’d like to hear the whole story. What did Violet lie about that’s got Tracy so upset? Tracy says, she’s going around telling everybody that Brook and Chase are having a baby, and Brook looks at Lois. Tracy says, oh my God. Tell her that it’s a lie. Or at least a misunderstanding. Brook says she and Chase aren’t having a baby, but she is thinking about it.

Felicia says, Tracy was in a bad mood today, and Mac says, Tracy’s been condescending to her employees for decades now, but today was ridiculous. Sasha’s not allowed to have friends here? She lives here. Felicia says, so does Cody, but she didn’t go after him, and Mac says, it’s only a matter of time. She says, Tracy generally applies the same amount of spite to everyone. Cody just seems to get off easy. Maybe there’s a reason Tracy doesn’t go after Cody. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is interested in Cody.

On the phone, Carly says she doesn’t care. She needs to talk to him… Okay. Please tell him to call her. She tells Jason that his assistant keeps telling her that Jack can’t come to the phone right now, and he says, Brennan will call her when he has something to tell her. They walk out of the elevator, and she says, why should they wait for him when they can tap into the resource they have right here? She leads Jason into Isaiah’s room and says, Isaiah Gannon, this is Jason Morgan. She believes they already met on the shoulder of Route 41.

Jack says he thought Port Charles would be big enough for both of them, and Anna says, it can be. On her terms. He says, which are? and she says, when she requires something from him, he delivers. He laughs and says he doesn’t work for her, and she says, he does know the WSB rents this building from the City of Port Charles. If he makes things difficult for her, maybe these premises just won’t be up to code. He says he sees they’ve moved on to the threats portion of this conversation. Just curious. How does it feel to be a big fish in a little pond? She says she likes it. How is it going to feel for him when he has to inform his boss that he’s been run out of town? He asks what she wants, and she says she wants Lucky’s location, and he’s had plenty of time since last night to find it. He asks what makes her think he even kept looking, much less found anything? and she says, because she’s learned that if she does actually require something from him, her best chance is to request it from Carly Spencer, because he seems to be very eager to do whatever it takes to make her happy. He tells her, Sidwell was headed northeast, the Puntland, and holds up a paper. He has a secondary operation there. She reaches for the paper, but he snatches it away and says, does she know he could report her for going rogue?

Isaiah says he hears he should be grateful to Jason for helping him. Is he a cop or something? Jason says, just a coffee importer, and Isaiah says, interesting career choice. Jason says, and a friend to Lucky, and Isaiah says, they have that in common. He just wishes he could have helped his buddy. If he hadn’t gotten hit by that car, someone could have gotten to him sooner. Carly says, they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to find Lucky’s location. Jason says, once they have that, he’s going there to bring Lucky home. Isaiah says, by himself? Jason nods, and Isaiah says, Sidwell’s surrounded by guards. It’ll take more than just some coffee importer to get him out. He’s coming with Jason.

Anna asks if Jack is threatening her. She actually might like that. He says, not threatening, warning. She’s no longer a WSB agent. She says, this isn’t a Bureau operation. This is off the books. She’s acting independently of any agency. He says, which also means she doesn’t have any support or backup, and she says she can handle this herself. He says, Jenz Sidwell is more dangerous than she realizes. He doesn’t care who he hurts or kills in the process of getting what he wants. She asks if he’s pretending that he cares about her, and he says he mostly cares about the potential of her little quest to blow back on him. She’s going into danger with Bureau intelligence, alone. She says, then give her a team that she can take with her, but he says, she knows he can’t do that. She says, then give her the one thing he can, which is give her Lucky’s location, and he says, only if she tells him why this Lucky character is worth risking her neck. Even worse, she owes him a favor.

Felicia says she wasn’t implying Tracy is interested in Cody romantically, and Mac says, good. He didn’t gain a son only to watch Cruella de Quartermaine turn him in to a saddle. She says, Tracy considers Cody a friend, one that she cares about very deeply. Tracy has lost so many people over the years. Her parents, Luke, and now recently Gregory. Tracy must be very lonely. He says, she lives in a house full of people, and she says, but Cody’s different. He’s nice to her. He’s sweet and he’s uncomplicated. He says, she makes him sound like a Golden Retriever, and she says, put himself in Tracy’s shoes. She comes to the stables to talk to Cody, a man who may be her only real friend, only to find his attention is completely taken up by his new family and a beautiful young woman who is just as smitten with him as he is with her. He asks if she’s saying she thinks Tracy is jealous, and she says, absolutely. Don’t let Tracy get to him. He says he won’t. Because he’s going to find Cody a new job and a new place to live far away from Tracy. (I’m thinking he might want to consult with Cody first.)

Alexis tells Sonny that she was absolutely frantic when she came out and saw Kristina had left with her car. And when she came back, Kristina was all wet. Sonny says, where did she say she’d been? and Alexis tells him, she said she’d been to his house and then to the baby’s grave. He says, she told him about the gun. She didn’t say anything about the grave. Alexis says, he knows their daughter is suffering right now from severe postpartum trauma, along with everything else that has happened. He says, she needs help. Does Alexis think they should admit her to a facility? She says she doesn’t know what she thinks or what’s best for Kristina right now. All she could think of were the implications of Kristina being in possession of a loaded weapon. He says, she was right to worry, and she says, it’s a violation of bail, and if it weren’t enough that she was afraid Kristina might shoot somebody, she was worried Kristina might hurt herself. He says, Kristina assured him she wouldn’t do that, and she says, given Kristina’s state of mind, she had no choice but to get rid of the gun, did she? He says, Kristina told him. Diane told him. Unfortunately, there’s witnesses. She says she knows. Ric and Elizabeth just happened to be strolling by just in time to watch her toss the gun off the bridge into the river. What she didn’t know at the time was John Cates had just been murdered and the police were off looking for the 9 millimeter gun that killed him, which is the same kind of gun they witnessed her getting rid of.

Michael says he did some digging into Cates’s past, and he made a lot of enemies when he was a Fed. Criminals who might be willing to place themselves at the scene of the crime for the right incentive. Kristina says, he wants to pay someone to take the fall for this? and he says he wants to ensure that she doesn’t take responsibility for a crime she didn’t commit. She says she’s surprised he’s telling her all this, and he says, she should know. It’s her life and her decision, but more importantly, she should know that this plan is pointless if she speaks up in Alexis’s defense. She says, oddly comforting how well he knows her, and he says, she’s his sister. Her phone rings, and it’s Chase. He asks if it would be possible for her to meet him at the station. She asks if this is about the federal charges, and he says he has a few questions he needs to ask her. She says she’s in the middle of something right now and isn’t able to get down there, but he says, this isn’t a request.

Sonny wonders why Alexis wouldn’t want Kristina admitted to a facility, and she says, because she asked Kristina, and she seemed shocked. So she genuinely thinks it didn’t occur to her. He says he feels the same way, but that means she wanted to use the gun on someone else. She says, what a comforting thought, and he says, the good thing is, now they don’t have to think she’s going to harm herself. She says, so now what do they have? Kristina took the gun from his place, she got rid of it, and now the police have come looking for her. He asks what she told them, and she says, why? What is he worried about? Is he worried she’s going to incriminate Kristina or him?

Kristina and Michael go into the interrogation room, and Chase tells Kristina to have a seat. He’s not sure why Michael is here. Michael says, they couldn’t get in touch with Diane. He’s sure his presence here won’t be a problem. Right, friend? Chase says he’s just doing his job, and Michael says he’s just a brother looking out for his sibling. He’s sure Chase can relate. Chase says, they need to discuss Kristina’s whereabouts the night Agent Cates was murdered. Michael asks if she’s a suspect, and Chase says he’s letting Michael stay while he questions Kristina. In return, he expects Michael’s silence. Kristina says, it’s fine. She was at her mom’s house that night. Chase says, the whole night? and she says, from the time her mom and Sam picked her up from the station until the next morning. He says, she never left at all? and she says she did leave for about half an hour. He asks where she went, and she says, to her daughter’s grave. He asks if she was alone, and she says, yes. He asks if there was anyone there who can corroborate that, and Michael says, in the cemetery in the middle of the night? Chase says, let Kristina answer, and Michael says, Kristina’s done talking. He tells Kristina, come on, and tells Chase, if he has to ask Kristina anything else, call her lawyer. Chase says he will, and they leave.

Felicia says she knows this is hard for Mac, but sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things. His phone rings and he says, it’s the station. He answers, then says, yeah, okay. Thanks for letting him know. He’ll take care of it himself. Felicia asks if something is wrong, and he says, some new evidence came in about John Cates murder. Enough to make an arrest.

Brook says she knows what’s going on here. Violet brought up the subject of having kids to her and Chase, and they told her that they definitely want them. Tracy says, great. They’re going to be perfect parents in ten years. Lois says, Tracy… and Tracy says, well, definitely not now. Their marriage is only months old, and Chase isn’t going to give up his dangerous and grossly underpaid line of work, and they have Violet to take care of. Their hands are full. Brook says, true, but they’re not waiting ten years, and Tracy asks if she’s crazy. She’s too young to have children. Brook says she’s not that young and the longer they wait, the harder it could be. Tracy says, she has access to the best fertility treatments there are, so she can definitely put breeding on hold for a while. Lois says, breeding? and Tracy says, Deception can’t take Brook’s absence. They have a snake for a CFO, a mobster for an investor, and a fool for a founder. The company needs her. She needs her. Lois says, news flash. Not everything is about her, especially Brook’s family planning.

Anna asks why her interest in Lucky even matters to Jack, and he says, because she’s asking for his help. And she’s as determined as he’s ever seen her to get. If she doesn’t want to share, there’s the door. She says, he knows who Lucky’s father was, and he says, Luke Spencer. She says, then he must know how much Luke did for the WSB over the years, and he asks if she’s rescuing Lucky to pay off some imaginary debt the WSB owes his father. She says, no. She’s doing this for Luke. They were friends for many years. He says, special friends, and she says, if Robin had ever been in any kind of trouble, there’s nothing Luke wouldn’t have done to bring her home safely. He looked out for her. So she doesn’t know about Jack, but she pays her debts. (Is she a Lannister?) He says he’ll remember that when it comes time for him to collect, she takes the paper out of his hand, and leaves.

Isaiah tries to get up and groans. Jason says, he’s not going anywhere, and Isaiah says, neither should Jason. Jenz Sidwell is a dangerous man. Carly says, Jason can take care of himself, but Isaiah says, it’s Lucky he’s worried about. Sidwell is smart. He’s always got guards around him. Jason says he figured, but thanks Isaiah for the heads up. Isaiah says, it’s going to take more than a lone wolf. It’s going to take a government agency. Carly says, the WSB seems to be dragging their heels. They’re not sure if the WSB is even going to get involved in this. Jason says, either way, he’s going, and Isaiah is in no condition to join him. Does he have any insights he can share? Are there any weaknesses in Sidwell’s security? Isaiah says, none that he knows of, and Jason says, all he needs is a single vulnerability, something that will give him a tactical advantage. Isaiah says, there’s only one. Sidwell’s girlfriend.

Back at Michael’s office, Kristina says she guesses it’s official. She’s a suspect in John Cates’s murder. Michael says, she’s a person of interest, and she says, Chase wanted her exact timeline (receipts, proof, and screenshots!) for the entire night. He says, it’s a good thing she told him the truth, so it can’t come back to hurt her. She can’t afford to be caught in any lies right now. She says she doesn’t understand how he knew she left the house, and he asks if she’s sure no one saw her at the cemetery. She says, it was dark and deserted. She thinks if someone were there, she would have seen them. He says, there must have been some other way. Who knew she went out that night? She says, just her mom and Sam, but they never would have told Chase, and he says, maybe someone overheard them talking about her going out, but she says, no. That’s impossible. They never even left the house. When she walked in, they were still calling around. He says, they called him and presumably dad. Who else did they call? She says, Molly. They called Molly.

Sonny tells Alexis, you know what? She can say anything she wants about him. She can tell anybody who will listen her theory on what happened to Jagger that night. Bring it on. She says, then step forward and tell the truth that he killed Cates, and he says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She says, he hated Cates. He was at the Quartermaines at the time Cates was killed. He had motive and opportunity. He says he was there, but he wasn’t alone, and she says, he means to tell her that Lois is covering for him? He dragged her into it? Or even worse, he dragged Michael into his mess. He says, Carly was with him, and she says, really. Carly is his alibi? He says, they were at the Quartermaines. They all saw him and Carly together, in particular, Tracy Quartermaine. She says, just weeks ago, Carly nearly went to prison for him, yet she’ll cover for him murdering an FBI agent. Talk about symbiotic. He says, they’ve always had a special bond and they’ve always been close. Then they got together… She says, stop. It’s horrible enough that Carly would be an alibi for him, but the fact that they would do it again after everything Sonny’s done to her… He says his time was accounted for. Why is that so hard for her to accept? She says, because if he’s telling the truth and he’s innocent, he wouldn’t need Diane and Diane would be free to defend her, which she isn’t because she’s busy defending him.

Anna lets Felicia into her apartment and thanks her for coming so quickly. Felicia says, it sounded like it was urgent, and Anna says, it is. She’ll fill Felicia in on all that in a minute. She wanted to find out how Mac is doing. Felicia says, he and Cody are getting along really well. He and Tracy Quartermaine, that’s a different story. She’ll fill Anna in later on that, but here’s her anti-malaria tablets that she requested. She hands Anna a bottle, and Anna thanks her. She says she didn’t have time to put in for a prescription, and takes one. Felicia says she can thank Frisco. If he hadn’t asked Mac for help last year, then she and Mac would have gone to Africa, and she would have taken the pills herself. She just hopes they’re still affective. Anna says she’s sure they’re fine. They have a very long shelf life. Felicia says, and Anna is hoping to get this through TSA? and picks up a machete. Anna says, no. She’ll check that. Felicia asks why she’d need that for a safari, and Anna says, it’s not really a safari. It’s more of a hunt. Felicia says she loves animals too much to help Anna… Anna says, not that kind of a hunt. She’s looking for someone. Felicia says, someone she knows? and Anna says, Lucky Spencer. Lulu’s in so much trouble and Lucky’s in trouble too. She’s hoping that she’s going to track him down and bring him home. Felicia says, not alone she’s not. She’s coming with Anna.

Isaiah says, Sidwell’s girlfriend is the one person he trusts, so she’s Jason’s best bet in trying to get to him. Jason asks what he knows about her, and Isaiah says, she’s beautiful, classy, and she’s got Sidwell wrapped around her little finger. She’s the one person he trusts. Jason says, so she’s his way into the camp, and Isaiah says, assuming she’ll help him. Sidwell provides her with a great life. She looks the other way from his crimes. Carly says, what’s her name? Maybe they can do a little research. Isaiah says, Sidwell calls her English, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly sees Jack through the window, and Jason thanks Isaiah and says, he’s been very helpful. Isaiah says, tell Lucky, he cheats at cards, and Carly says, he can tell Lucky himself when Jason brings him home. They leave and Isaiah smiles.

Tracy tells Lois, careful. Her Bensonhurst is showing. Her accent back, Lois says she doesn’t care. If Brook and Chase want to have a baby, they can have as many as they want, whenever they want. It’s not up to Tracy. It’s none of her business. Tracy asks Brook if this is about Deception. She knows things have been strained since they brought Sonny in, but she and Brook have been working really well together. Brook says, no. She loves her job, and she loves working with Tracy. But she can work and have a family. Back to her new accent, Lois says, of course (🍷) she can. Because it’s 2024 and women can do anything. Tracy tells Brook, that’s easy to say now, but things change when you have a child to take care of. Lois says, that’s for Brook to decide. Come on. Despite all her griping, Tracy is excited. She’s going to go bananas over her own great grandbaby. Chase walks in and says, what? Is Brook pregnant? Lois tells Tracy, let’s let the newlyweds talk, and leads her out of the room. Brook says she’s sorry Chase walked in on that. She didn’t want to start this conversation like that. He says he’s fine. Just tell him. Is she pregnant? She says, no, but maybe she’d like to be.

Sonny says, Alexis hasn’t been arrested or charged with anything. If that day comes, he’ll get her the best possible defense team. She says awesome. Because now she doesn’t have anything to worry about. He says, it’s the only thing they can do right now, and she says she wants to know what he’s going to do for Kristina because she doesn’t want to believe Kristina killed Cates. She wants to believe they raised their daughter better than either of them. He says, they have, and she says she guesses it doesn’t matter much what they think. What matters is what the police think. And if they find out she was gone that night and had a gun, Kristina will be as much of a suspect as she is. He says, that’s not going to happen because Kristina didn’t kill Jagger, and Alexis says, neither did she. He asks if she honestly thinks Anna isn’t going to have an airtight case. They’re talking about the death of an FBI agent. She doesn’t want to screw that up. Alexis says, they both know there are miscarriages of justice all the time. Kristina could very well be arrested for this, and if that happens, how far is he willing to go to save their daughter? He says he will not let Kristina take the fall for Jagger’s death, when there’s a knock at the door. She says, they’re not done with this discussion, and opens the door to Mac.

Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this, but Michael says, they don’t know Molly is to blame. She says, Molly is the only one who would have told Chase that she was out, and he says, she really thinks Molly would go this far. She tells him that he said it himself. She’s an ADA. She’s the best at her job. Molly hates her right now and blames her for Adela’s death. Molly is trying to get revenge on her for turning her in for something she didn’t even do. (Um… then she’s not the best at her job, is she?) He says, whether or not Molly talked to the police, it doesn’t matter. Because if that’s the only evidence she or anyone else has, it’s not much… Unless there’s something else she’s not telling him.  

Brook says she knows she and Chase have talked about having kids and that they both want them, and he says, absolutely. She’d be a great mom. Their future kids are so lucky. She says, and he’s going to be a great dad, but one thing they haven’t talked about is when they want to start trying. He says he just assumed she wanted to wait with Deception taking up so much of her time, and she says she assumed he wanted to wait because they’re taking care of Violet. He says, if she’s factoring in Violet, he’s pretty sure she’s all in about them having a baby. She can’t wait to be an older cousin. It sounds like Tracy’s the only one who’s going to be having a problem with this. She says, don’t worry about her grandmother. She can handle her, but she’s worried they won’t be able to handle a growing family while they’re taking care of Violet. He says he doesn’t think that will be a factor. Finn gets out of rehab in one month and the first thing he’s going to want to do is to take Violet home with him. The important question is will there be a recast, is she ready to start a family? She says she was going to ask him the same thing, and he says he loves her. He adores Violet and spending all this time with her, but he wants a child of their own. He was just waiting on her.

Jack tells Carly, Sidwell is running another wildcat mine. He’s probably holed up there, and it’s likely he’s holding Lucky there too. He’s sent Carly the coordinates. Carly says she’ll forward everything to Jason, and Jason says he’ll leave right away. She says, please be careful. If something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. He says he’ll be fine. The important thing is to bring Lucky back to save Lulu. She thanks him and asks Jack if there’s anything else he can do to help Jason. He says, the political situation in Somali prevents the WSB from intervening in any way, but Jason says, it’s fine. He’ll do it on his own. Jack says, not necessarily.

Felicia says she doesn’t like the idea of Anna taking off on her own on some risky mission without any backup, and Anna says, the urgency of the matter demands immediate attention. If she has any hope in finding Lucky, she has to cut some corners. Felicia says, she doesn’t. She can come with Anna. Anna doesn’t know how good she is with a machete. Anna says she’s sure and thanks her for the offer. At any other time, she’d jump at the chance, but she’s hoping to hook up with Laura and Doc. She thinks more people are just going to attract attention, and Felicia knows as well as she does, that if she comes, Mac isn’t going to be far behind. Felicia says she wants to help Anna. Luke was her friend too. Anna says, that’s why she wants Felicia and Mac waiting for her in the wings just in case something goes wrong… which it won’t. She has everything under control. Anna picks up her gun, and Felicia looks alarmed. Anna says, Felicia knows what a cautious woman she is.

Lois and Tracy walk to the boathouse, and Lois says she can’t wait to be a grandmother. She was going to claim the title of Nona, but if it makes Tracy feel any better being a great grandmother, then it’s all hers. Tracy says, nothing is going to make her feel better about Brook having a baby so rapidly… Come on. Brook and Chase having a baby might be a done deal, but Lois doesn’t have to have that smug smile on her face. Lois says she’s not smiling because of a potential baby. She’s smiling because she spent years worrying about Tracy’s relationship with Brook. She really believed Tracy would treat her daughter like dirt, resent Brook because she’s hers. They all know how Tracy feels about her, but she was wrong. She can see how much Tracy adores Brook and how much Brook looks up to her. The two of them have a very special relationship. Tracy says, they disagree about everything, and Lois says, that’s because they care about each other, because they want the other person to be better. She knows Tracy has had a rough couple of years and she’s really grown to depend on Brook. She thinks Tracy is afraid if Brook starts a family, she’s going to lose that. But she won’t lose Lois’s daughter if she has a baby. It will only bring the two of them closer together. She promises. Tracy says she doesn’t do diapers, but Lois says she does.

Chase says he’s really glad he overheard Tracy throwing a fit. Otherwise, he doesn’t know how long it would have taken them to have this conversation. She says, at least they’re on the same page. When does he have to be back at the station? He says, about forty-five minutes, and she says, that’s plenty of time. They start kissing. (Hopefully, they move to their own room or Tracy will have another fit.)

On the phone, Carly leaves a message for Laura. She says she knows phone service is spotty, but when Laura gets this, please call her. They may have found a location on Lucky. Jason is on his way to find him. Please call her, day or night. Jack joins her and says, it’s an awful feeling, isn’t it? She says, what? and he says, sending someone off to risk their life while you stay behind. Don’t get him wrong. Watching and waiting from afar is safer physically, but it’s a special kind of hell. She says she wouldn’t have guessed he felt that way. Nothing seems to bother him. He says, now she knows better.

Anna is on the plane, and hears, the cabin doors are now closed. Their flight time to Nairobi will be eighteen hours and fifty-two minutes. She takes off her jacket and buckles her seatbelt. She closes her eyes, and Jason says, excuse me. She looks at him, and he says, she’s in his seat. She smiles.

Kristina says she’s not hiding anything, and Michael says, she blinked a lot. Whenever she’s lying, she blinks more than usual. She says she did make one other stop the night of John Cates’s murder, but she doesn’t even know how that’s relevant. It really can’t hurt her or her mom, because she’s positive nobody saw her. She just pulled into the end of the driveway, thought about it for like a second, and then she left. He says, pulled into whose driveway and what was she thinking about doing? and she says, the Quartermaines. She knew John Cates was there. She went to kill him.

Alexis says, nice to see Mac. What brings him by? He says he’s sorry, but he’s here to make an arrest, and Sonny asks how Mac knew where to find him. Mac says he’s not here for Sonny, and Alexis says, Kristina’s not here. Mac says he’s not here for Kristina either. He came himself because he wanted to make this as painless as possible. Alexis is under arrest for the murder of John Cates. He puts the handcuffs on her and recites her rights. Sonny says, come on, but Mac walks Alexis out the door.

On Monday, Tracy says, Sasha is going to want more out of life than trying to make Cody happy; Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do something like this; and Ava asks if she can trust Ric.

🧴 Before You Get Excited…

This is a bit of a clickbait headline. You’d think she’s coming back, but she talks about when she came back last time. Although there’s still hope for both her and Finn to return. And I’m just going to say it. Why is it the non-heterosexual couples never pan out? These two were the worst blow, since they had more chemistry than any of the other couples on the show. Yes, I’m bitter about it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-opens-up-about-returning-to-gh

🍊 Johnny J. Just Says No…

I thought he was the one who wanted a non-disparagement clause. I’m confused.

🧂 Needs More Salt…

Premieres September 18th, 9 pm. As inappropriate as she is, Mary is a lot of fun to watch.

🍼 Giving You Sosa…

She does know Beyoncé’s birthday isn’t a national holiday, right?

https://people.com/lala-kent-reveals-name-of-her-second-daughter-and-shares-first-photo-8709130

🧹 Flying In Soon…

Agatha arrives September 18th on Disney+.

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-vision-quest-expanding-wandavision-corner-of-marvel-universe-8705558

🪓 Murphy’s Murder Mystery…

Premieres September 25th on FX or you can Hulu it the next day.

https://ew.com/travis-kelce-ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-niecy-nash-set-videos-8645637

https://deadline.com/2024/09/ryan-murphy-grotesquerie-premiere-date-fx-trailer-1236039050/

⚰️ Because We Needed Another One…

I wonder how many times they can film the same King book? How about doing one that hasn’t been done? I’d love to see The Regulators on film, but it’s doubtful that will ever happen, since it’s so weird. Possible, but not probable. The Talisman (written with Peter Straub) is another one that would be great.

https://ew.com/salems-lot-lewis-pullman-makenzie-leigh-book-changes-pressures-adapting-stephen-king-exclusive-8706884

🎃 Never Too Early…

Why can’t it be both? Or maybe it’s a dog movie. I love Zero.

https://ew.com/movies/nightmare-before-christmas-halloween-or-holiday-movie-debate/

And what’s Halloween without drag queens?

🦙 They’re All a Bunch Of Animals…

It’s all fun and games until they spit on you.

https://people.com/portland-airport-offers-emotional-support-llamas-photos-8707772

🐠 I would have liked to see a little more of the aquarium. How this turned into another Taylor/Travis article, I don’t know, but it did.

https://people.com/brittany-mahomes-welcomes-new-addition-home-aquarium-8710807

🦛 Do not harass the hippo. Although this raises the question, do people just walk around with shellfish in their hands in Thailand?

https://people.com/baby-hippo-doubles-zoo-visitors-and-prompts-safety-warnings-8712177

🐕 You didn’t think there wouldn’t be something about a dog, did you?

https://people.com/my-golden-retriever-dog-model-for-cone-of-shame-book-exclusive-8710225

😄 A Joke:  Q: What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do? A: Stays up all night wondering if there’s a dog.

💈 Quotes of the Week

The Apocalypse means never having to say you’re sorry. – Murphy (Keith Allan), Z Nation

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost. – Robert H. Schuller

There are no regrets in life. Just lessons. – Jennifer Aniston

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power. – Clint Eastwood (before he started talking to empty chairs)

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. – Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. – Bruce Lee

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. – Potter Stewart

If you fall, make it part of the dance. – LuAnn de Lessops

🍁 Every Leaf Is a Flower…

Enjoy the last of summer, the first of fall, or both, and come back on Monday to enjoy some soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay stopping to admire the changing landscape, and stay remembering that sometimes doing nothing is the best way to handle things.

September 12, 2024 – Carly Asks Jason To Find Lucky, One Down, Not Interested in the OC, Potomac Premiere, Dead Talk, Coming Up Emmy, Reverse Prediction, Demi’s Delight & Sweater

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody goes to the boathouse and says he got Sasha’s text. He’s here at her disposal. She asks if he’s ready for something fun and exciting, and he says, always. She says, surprise! and Mac, Felicia, James, and Georgie come out.

In the solarium, Tracy chastises Brook for being late to the meeting she called, and Brook says she was getting the kids ready for breakfast. Lucy says, a good boss would have served them breakfast or at least coffee, and Tracy says, Deception is under threat from Sonny Corinthos. An FBI agent was murdered on the property and obviously Sonny did it. Lois says, that’s conjecture, and Tracy says, Deception is vulnerable, and their friendly neighborhood kingpin could take them all down. Lois tells her to think rationally. Sonny hasn’t been charged and there’s no evidence linking him to the crime.

On the phone in his office, Michael asks someone to let him know when it’s fixed, when Josslyn walks in. She says, they need to save their mom from herself.

Carly tells Lulu that she hates feeling helpless, especially when she knows what needs to be done. Bring lucky home and get Lulu a transplant. The first part is difficult. Jason comes in, and she says, Lulu is running out of time.

Diane meets Sonny at the Pozzulo’s, and he asks if there’s a problem. She says, a big one. Alexis just framed herself for murder. A murder Diane is quite sure she didn’t commit.

Sasha says she’s prepared brunch and asks where Maxie and Bailey Lou are. Felicia says, Maxie is at a Deception meeting and Bailey Lou has the sniffles. James suggests they eat, and Sasha says, enjoy. Mac asks if she’s not joining them, but she says, it’s a family thing. Felicia says, she has to eat and they don’t want Cody to be lonely. Cody says, they can’t have that.

Maxie asks, who is she and what has she done with Lois? and Lucy asks if it hurts speaking like that. She thinks Lois is having a stroke and tells them to call 911. Lois says she’s okay. Tracy offered to pay for a dialect coach who gave her the tools to make her accent more palatable to buyers. Maxie says, she got rave reviews for her personal appearances and was a hit on Home & Heart. Natalia says, the ratings were through the roof, and Lucy says she feels they all should have been consulted. Maxie agrees, but Tracy says, it was Lois’s choice. They consult together all the time, and last time they ended up with a mobster investor who installed his moll and made them an accessory to murder. Lois says, Tracy is still upset that Sonny and Carly were doing boom-boom in her room-room, and Tracy says, don’t remind her.

Michael says, their mom is fine, and Josslyn asks if he thinks their mom and Sonny reuniting in Tracy’s bed sounds fine. She said it was a one-time thing, but they know her history, and he’s not concerned? He says he doesn’t think it’s their business, and she says, their mother being hurt, betrayed, and sent to prison isn’t their business? She tried to let go and let Carly make her choices, and it had serious consequences. No way did she suddenly forgive Sonny. She doesn’t buy that they’re back together, but she does buy that their mom gave Sonny an alibi, and it could blow up in her face.  

In the hallway, Carly tells Jason, communication with Doc and Laura is nearly impossible. They were on their way to a camp they think lucky is working at. Jason says, maybe he’s still there, but she says, he’s not and they can’t get in touch with Doc and Laura. Isaiah gave them Lucky’s recent location where he’s being held captive, but they found out the camp was abandoned and moved. Jason asks, who’s telling her this? and she says, Jack Brennan. He heaves a sigh.

Diane says, as an officer of the court, she suggests she and Sonny choose their words carefully, and he asks what Alexis’s status is. She says, they sent her home, and Alexis thinks that’s the end of it. He says, Diane doesn’t? and she says, of course (🍷) not. He asks if Alexis has been charged, and she says, not yet. He asks why she’s acting like he sent Alexis to Pentenville, and she says, evidence. It’s circumstantial, but Alexis has no alibi, and according to her sources, Alexis publicly threatened Cates, and she’s yet to provide an explanation for where and why she procured a firearm that two onlookers saw her chuck off the bridge at Blackstone Canyon. He asks, who? and she tells him, Elizabeth and his brother Ric.

Maxie says, she didn’t come here to discuss Sonny and Carly’s sex life. Let’s get back to why Tracy called the meeting. Tracy says, Sonny is a person of interest in John Cates’s murder and probably killed him, and Lois says, for the millionth time, they don’t know that’s true. Tracy says, it’s natural, reasonable, and accurate to assume, and Deception doesn’t need that kind of publicity. Natalia says, he’s a silent investor, not the face of the company, but Tracy says, if it leads the authorities to their books, they’ll have to explain where the money came from. If Sonny didn’t pull the trigger, he could have hired a hitman. Maxie says, so far, these are just baseless accusations. Sonny might get media attention, but when doesn’t he? They got a wonderful CFO who’s worked wonders with their books. Natalia is a gift Sonny gave them, and she thinks they should all remember that.

Sonny says, leave it up to Ric to insert himself. He’ll pay Ric a visit. Diane says, no need. It’s a matter of record, corroborated by Elizabeth. Alexis told her that they saw her chuck something off the bridge. He asks if she’s representing Alexis, and she says, no, because she’s representing him. He has a solid alibi. Alexis has none. He asks if she’s been charged, and Diane says, no, but she’ll be charged soon, tried and convicted. What is he going to do about it?

Josslyn says she knows Michael is thinking she’s on another anti-Sonny crusade, but she cares about mom. She just got off the RICO charges and now she’s an accessory to murder. Michael says, Josslyn is dealing in hypotheticals, which is not a good idea. Cates was a garbage human. He was an out-of-control animal, a coward with an ax to grind. Whoever killed him did the world a favor. She asks if he’s excusing murder, and he says he’s excusing killing a man who tried to hurt their family. He had Kristina arrested for killing her unborn child because of an ancient grudge. That’s the kind of man Cates was, and he’s not shedding a tear over that bastard’s death.

Jason says, Carly needs to stay away from Jack Brennan, and they go back into Lulu’s room. She asks, why? and Jason says, he’s dangerous. She says she can handle Jack. He gave her what she wanted. Jason asks, what was the cost? and she says, nothing. He says, nothing is free in that world. There’s an agenda. Do not get involved with Jack Brennan.

The family raves about the food, and Georgie says she wishes they could live by the lake. James says, this is where Cody saved him, and Georgie says, he’s told then a million times. Cody says he’s glad he was in the right spot at the right time, and James asks if Sasha sleeps over Cody’s every night. Cody wonders why he asks, and James tells him that Violet said they took a nap, so they must have sleepovers. He wonders if his mom would let him sleep over like Aunt Sasha does.

Maxie says she’s joining her family for brunch, and leaves. Natalia says she’s out too, and Tracy says, tell Sonny to review the morals clause in his investment agreement. Natalia says she will, and leaves.

Josslyn tells Michael that she’s sorry. She didn’t know. Is Kristina okay? Michael says, she’s devastated. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen her this broken. But instead of getting the space to get herself back together, she’s been hustled in and out of the PCPD, and now her mom is being investigated as a person of interest in John Cates’s murder. Josslyn says, who would think Alexis killed somebody? and he says, she’s being questioned, so the worst thing Josslyn can do is run around shouting conspiracy theories. If they think Alexis is fair game, what does she think that makes their mom?

Sonny asks what Diane is asking him to do, and she says, nothing. She’s his attorney and his interests take precedence, but she knows the man he is, and he won’t sit idly by and the mother of one of his children railroaded for a crime she didn’t commit. He says, it’s an impossible situation, and wonders why Alexis didn’t dispose of the gun better or come to him. She says, it’s a shame Alexis didn’t know how to dispose of a gun properly. Alexis is her best friend. Sonny says he knows, and she says, and they both know how Alexis’s mind works. When it comes to her children, she’ll act on instinct. If forced to choose between herself and her children, she’ll choose her children. He says, it’s a complicated situation, but it was under control, and she says, only he would classify this as under control. He says, it was. Now what does he do? Diane says, Alexis was protecting her and Sonny’s child. How do they get her off the hook?

James promises he’ll be good and actually sleep, but Felicia says, that’s a question for his mom. Maxie arrives and says, then it’s a good thing she’s here… or is it? Felicia says, of course (🍷) it is, and Maxie thanks Sasha. James says he wants to sleep over with Cody like Sasha does, and Maxie says she was definitely not prepared for that. Cody says, they don’t have sleepovers, but James says, Sasha is Cody’s friend, right? Cody says, Sasha is his girlfriend. Or at least he’d like her to be.

Jason says, Brennan has a powerful agenda. He tried to abduct Carly. She says, it was a miscommunication, and he says, when she was dealing with the Five Families (alfredo sauce), what did it cost her? She says, almost everything, and he says, the WSB has no honor or loyalty. They’re out for themselves. She says she doesn’t care. The only thing that matters is finding Lucky and saving Lulu. He has to understand that. He says he does.

Lucy tells Tracy that the dialect coach is good. Has she considered taking lessons? Tracy says, get out, and Lucy says, gladly. She leaves, and Tracy says, now she can have the quiche she’s been smelling all morning. She leaves, and Lois says, she’s in a mood. She asks if Brook is okay, and Brook asks, why? Lois says, she seems off her game this morning, and Brook says she’s distracted. Lois asks if it’s the whole Sonny thing, and Brook says, it’s concerning, but she’s sure they’ll figure it out. She can’t get a conversation she and Chase had with Violet out of her head. Lois says, she misses her dad, and Brook says, it wasn’t about Finn. Violet wanted to know when she and Chase are going to start a family.

Diane says, if no one takes responsibility, Alexis could spend the rest of her life in prison, and Sonny says, whatever happens with the case, he wants to know everything. She says she can relay the information as a friend. She expects a call soon and hopes they’re able to help outside the confines of a jail cell. She leaves.

Josslyn tells Michael, whatever is going on has to remain a secret for their mom’s sake, but Josslyn doesn’t understand how she could lie. Michael says, they don’t know she is, and she says, their mom supported Sonny, and he cheated and broke her heart. How can she stick her neck out for him? How did Michael repair his relationship with Sonny? Michael says, it’s pretty simple. He realized hating his father and cutting himself off from him cost more than finding a way to forgive him.

James asks why Sasha wouldn’t want to be Cody’s girlfriend. He’s the best. Georgie says, you don’t ask that kind of question. It’s private. Sasha and Cody go into the boathouse, and Cody says he’s sorry for putting her on the spot in front of an audience. She says, his family, and he says, for better or worse. She says she doesn’t know about that, but she knows she thinks she’d like to be his girlfriend. He says, thinks? and she says she knows that she knows. He says, so they’re doing this? and she says she guesses so. They kiss, and outside, Tracy says, so this is where breakfast is.

Carly asks if Jason thinks she and Lulu have similar personalities, and he says he never thought about it. But he can safely say no one in the world is like her. She says, Dante called her out and said she and Lulu weren’t particularly close in the years before Lulu’s coma. It’s a shame. They were tight once. They got each other. She saw a lot of herself in Lulu. Jason says, she could be tough, and she says, you wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She was funny and could make or take a joke. She was smart and it was easy with them until… He says, it wasn’t? and she says she misses that Lulu, the one who got her, and she got into trouble with. She misses her cousin and wants her back.

Cody comes out with Sasha, and Tracy says she wanted Hades saddled, but she can see he’s otherwise engaged. And here’s the quiche she’s been smelling, but then was met with a box of instant oatmeal in the kitchen. Sasha says, there’s more than enough, and Tracy thanks her for the offer of food made in her kitchen. She’s just curious. Who asked Sasha to cater a brunch for the Scorpio people? Sasha says she asked Olivia, but Tracy says, it’s not Olivia’s to offer. She doesn’t pay Sasha to feed people who’ve wandered onto the property. Sasha says, it’s her day off. She invited them and paid for the food. Cody asks, what’s the problem? and Tracy says, he’s overstepped his bounds. She starts berating him, and Mac says, that’s enough.

Lois asks if Brook and Chase have talked about having a family, and Brook says, of course (🍷). They both know they want children. That’s not the issue. Lois asks, what is? and Brook says, they have no timetable or plan. Lois says, when they’re ready, they’ll figure it out, but Brook says, what if they’re not on the same page? Lois says she doesn’t see that happening, and Brook says, they both have professional goals. What if they don’t reach them at the same time? Lois says, they’ve barely been married 6 months. They’re young and have plenty of time. Brook says, it keeps running on a loop in her head non-stop, and Lois says, her biological clock is ticking? Brook says, sometimes it’s deafening, and Lois says, other times? Brook says she gets scared. They already have so much going on with their jobs and taking care of Violet. And they’re not married that long. If they throw a baby in the mix, what if it’s too much?

Michael tells Josslyn that he tried to punish their father for over two years, but it didn’t make him feel better. It amplified the pain, and he almost lost Willow. She asks if he’s telling her to just let it go, and he says, she can’t control their mom any more than their mom can control her. Just trust she knows what she’s doing. Josslyn says, it’s hard, but he says, she can do it. He has faith.

On the phone, Sonny says, find out where Ric is staying and let him know if he leaves. Natalia comes in and he asks what brings her by. She says she was at a meeting for Deception and the dead FBI agent came up. He says, what a tragedy, and she says she’s not so sure about that, but the murder isn’t what she’s concerned about. It’s the repercussions of his investment. He says, how so? and she says, Tracy Quartermaine is under the perception that he’s involved in the shooting. He laughs and says, she’s not the most reliable source. She says, Tracy thinks he’s a person of interest and he says, a lot of people are of interest. Cates had a lot of enemies. She says, be that as it may, Tracy may be able to invoke the morality clause, and he says, that’s where she comes in to protect his investment. She says, they have to face reality and move forward accordingly, and he says his daughter lost her child and might be charged with manslaughter. How does he move forward from that?

Carly says she keeps wishing her mom was here, and Jason says, she was the ultimate family matriarch. She say she thought that was Lila, and he says, they both earned the title. So will she. She says, that’s why she feels it’s important. Bobbie kept them all together and now that she’s gone, it’s her job to step up and do anything possible to bring Lucky home. She’s okay with cozying up to Jack. He says, then he guesses he’s done talking. She doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. She says she’s about to now. She’s about to ask him to go to Africa and bring Lucky home.

Mac says, if that’s the way Tracy treats her staff, it’s surprising anyone works for her. She should be ashamed. She hasn’t learned that no one likes a bully. James tells her to take his quiche. He gets cranky when he’s hungry too. He thinks she’s hangry. Tracy thanks him, but tells them to enjoy their brunch with the family. She’ll go back to the house and see what she can scare up. She leaves, and Georgie says she can’t believe James called Tracy hangry. Felicia says, and lived to tell the tale. Mac and Cody go inside, and Cody thanks Mac for stepping in to defend Sasha. Mac says, it was no big deal, but Cody says, it was to him. Maxie says, Tracy shouldn’t use her authority like that, not with Cody or his girlfriend. Cody says, thank God she said yes. He’d be embarrassed if she hadn’t. Mac says he’s glad he was here to witness it, and Cody says, him too. He’s glad for all of this. He thanks Mac for welcoming him into the family, and Mac thanks Cody for his patience until he could, and they hug.

Carly says, Jason is going to hate this. Jack is getting her Lucky’s location and when he does, she’ll give it to him. He has to find Lucky and bring him home. He says he will, and she says, Lucky knows and trusts him, and he has mercenary skills. He tells her that he said he’d go, and she says, he’s not the one she’s trying to convince. He already spent time away from his sons. She and his sons can’t lose him again. He says he promises to do everything to bring Lucky home, and she says, you too. He says, me too, and her phone rings. She says, it’s Jack.  

Josslyn says she thought she and Michael would be on the same page about Sonny, but he says, sometimes you’ve got to turn the page. She says, dad let him down, but he’s still loyal despite everything. Is it worth it to him? He says, his family is worth it, all of them, and dad is a part of it.  

Natalia says she’s so sorry. She knows this is low on Sonny’s list, especially with everything going on. How is Kristina? He says, Natalia is doing her job and doing it well. He’s seen the numbers. She thanks him, but says, still more important, how is Kristina and how is he? He says he’s worried about his little girl. Just when she gets her feet on the ground, they’re taken out. Cates did everything he could to her, but it wasn’t about Kristina. He’s glad Cates is gone. She says she doesn’t blame him, and he says, Kristina’s mother may take the fall. She says, that’s crazy, and asks if he can keep it from happening. He says, Alexis will not go down for murder on his watch.

Lois says, it sounds like Brook and Chase holding off for now is the most comfortable, but Brook says, it’s not. Ever since Violet brought it up, it’s all she can think about. She’s wondering if they should start trying. How does Lois feel about becoming a nonna sooner rather than later?  

Tomorrow, Tracy says, tell her it’s a lie; Alexis asks if Sonny is afraid that she’ll incriminate Kristina or him; and Carly tells Jack that Lulu’s life is on the line. There’s no time to waste.

⚖️ Justice For Johnny…

No surprise, he’s the one not actually charged with murder. Hopefully, the judge and/or jury takes this cowardice into consideration when the others are sentenced. Even better, I hope this second-string player testifies against them.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/johnny-wactor-murder-case-suspect-pleads-guilty

🍊 8 Oranges + 9 Lemons = …

Tamra felt Alexis needed as much support as Shannon. If I’d been on the show, here’s where I would look at the camera like Jim in The Office. Alexis said she’d stayed in her room for 13 hours because she didn’t want to kick Shannon when she was down. Another look at the camera, and I ask, why did you bring up those videos then? One group, including Alexis, went to a cooking class, while another, including Shannon, went to be zen in the forest. For sure I’d take the latter rather than baking with Tamra and Alexis. Alexis claimed she wanted to find a way to coexist, yet that’s definitely not what her actions are saying. We flashed back to Johnny J. saying he’s never loved anyone as deeply as he loves Shannon, and in Shannon’s interview, she said she felt stupid. She shouldn’t. Both Johnny J. and his new lady love are a-holes.

Heather didn’t give a flying what was going on. She was solely focused on her Family Equality fashion event and only cared if the women were still walking in it. Katie felt Gina had set her up, but Gina insisted she’d done nothing. Yeah. She only pushed Katie to say something to Fancy Pants about the paparazzi thing, then backed away not so slowly.

Emily pressed Shannon and Alexis to talk. Shannon said she’d had two days from hell, and the trip put her over the edge. I still can’t believe I’m on Team Shannon for any reason, but this whole thing is, as Emily so aptly put it, dirty and salacious. Shannon told Alexis that she wasn’t interested in talking, and I’ve got to admire her honesty. She said it with no malice, just told her truth, and Beador walked out the door.

From a different angle.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoc-recap-heather-and-gina-face-off-at-gay-rights-weekend

Random OC event.

👠 Not Quite DC…

Was it St. Patrick’s Day? Premieres October 6th.

⚰️ Dead Happenings…

 I didn’t even know Carol had a last name. Wednesday September 18th, 7 pm, Industry City Courtyard, Brooklyn. Get the rest of the deets here.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-the-book-of-carol-special-advanced-screening-01j7k56qvz1e

Friday October 18th at the Javits Center in NYC.

https://www.thepopverse.com/live-the-walking-dead-twd-universe-dead-city-daryl-dixon-book-of-carol-nycc-2024-announce

This season, they braid each other’s hair.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-reedus-mcbride-on-that-friendship-bracelet-scene/

Random Dead item. This looks like your typical slasher film with a little historical storyline thrown in. I’ve found a lot of good and good/bad horror films on Tubi, and I’d definitely give this one a whirl. The trailer looks good, but it could go either way.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/watch-walking-dead-actor-in-devilreaux-horror-movie-for-free-on-tubi-01j7dtx6vhr4

🏆 Small Screen Kudos…

September 15th, 8 pm, on ABC.

https://ew.com/2024-emmys-everything-to-know-8708379

🌟 Guess They Were Wrong…

Don’t let these people pick your ponies for you.

https://ew.com/lady-gaga-responds-stefani-germanotta-never-famous-facebook-group-8711221

🐕 Nothing Eccentric About It…

My favorite chihuahua. Aside from my own of course.

https://people.com/demi-moore-says-sleeping-with-her-dogs-is-part-of-eccentric-nighttime-routine-8709867

The tiny and the mighty. Pilaf and Bing sitting in a tree…

https://people.com/demi-moores-tiny-chihuahua-pilaf-meets-great-dane-from-the-friend-8708705

🐎 Stay Gold, Ponyboy…

Stop in tomorrow and wind down with soap and a cornucopia of entertaining elements. Until then, stay safe, stay not rushing the season, and stay knowing that sometimes you’ve got to turn the page.